tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24384272012-02-13T01:51:51.817-05:00dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.comBlogger16261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-6638003372379057692012-02-10T22:22:00.001-05:002012-02-10T22:23:07.332-05:00

  Went to a play a few nights ago called In Absentia. It's set in winter in a lakeside cottage owned by Colette and her husband Tom. A young man shows up and Colette lets him in and he brings the story along. You find out that Tom has been abducted while working in South America and ransom negotiations abruptly stopped over a year ago and Colette's waiting, hoping, frozen, lost. She talks to

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-58561936563279119092012-02-10T07:56:00.002-05:002012-02-10T22:24:17.605-05:00

Apologies to anyone who still stops by, I have been out and about, living, travelling, reading, brooding, thinking, sitting very still, dreaming, learning....

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-55469396716767828502011-12-24T23:07:00.001-05:002012-02-10T22:23:35.859-05:00

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-55288048089557997132011-12-14T11:18:00.000-05:002011-12-14T11:21:42.714-05:00

For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-16432003533942845612011-12-03T13:14:00.001-05:002011-12-03T13:17:41.703-05:00

You can hide your heart forever, but that doesn't mean that I will ever stop loving it.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-80428534863622755202011-11-27T23:39:00.001-05:002011-11-27T23:42:21.849-05:00

(photo by J.F. Houpert)  Driving back into Montreal, 40 kilometres out and I catch my first glimpse of the city, lights off in the distance and the beacon beaming out into the night sky, lighting up the clouds. You are tantalizingly close. As I travel closer my anticipation to see you grows, my heart starts to flutter and become lighter, forgetting things that weigh on me. I cannot wait to see

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-81563904679636633702011-11-03T07:53:00.000-04:002011-11-03T07:53:52.022-04:00

I woke up with Bruce Springstein's "I'm on Fire" playing in my head. Of course in my head it's an acoustic version - just Bruce and a guitar. I don't mind the train-track rhythm of the produced song, but I've always thought that a total lack of adornment would make it perfect - the feel of a man sitting with a guitar pouring something out from his gut. That's how the song plays for me, with

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-16269906581934031602011-10-31T14:28:00.000-04:002011-11-03T18:30:13.947-04:00

My little girl, you are six today and I now have a taste of what your teenaged years will be like. Your life is dramatic, full of emotion and movement and love and tears. You have become the pivot in the household, the one that your brother and I follow in games and songs, the one that we wait for when a coat choice has brought you to the brink of utter despair, the one who creates and believes

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-71931705191394995522011-10-03T20:56:00.001-04:002011-10-03T20:56:06.418-04:00

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-12496388618649240262011-09-20T15:42:00.001-04:002011-09-20T23:07:13.221-04:00

September 11 was the inaugural children's concert for Montreal's newest concert hall. Five years after the project was approved, and 266 million dollars later, La Maison Symphonique is open for business! I bought our tickets in June, some of the last available in the balcony, and waited all summer in anticipation of the opening. I read the less-than-stellar reviews of the grand opening first

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-90050063269794489582011-09-08T12:39:00.001-04:002011-09-20T15:43:29.789-04:00

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-91257716123098493792011-09-03T18:06:00.002-04:002011-09-03T18:07:20.824-04:00

I got sacked.....

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-90731690771017986902011-09-01T22:51:00.002-04:002011-09-01T22:52:52.355-04:00

My son has returned to school and my daughter had her very first day yesterday. One drop off, one pickup, new classes, new friends, new teachers. I'm thinking some of that newness and excitement and adventure is rubbing off on me as well. Wish me luck!

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-41794619965646300472011-08-28T22:45:00.002-04:002011-08-28T22:52:21.696-04:00

I'm positively frozen with cold and damp, shivery and hunched inside a warm sweater, occasionally warming my hands on a cup of tea. The trailings of Irene hit today and the high winds and torrential rain reminded everyone of the approaching change of season. I woke up with the sweetest little monster in my bed, mouth open, snoring softly and leaving a faint trail of drool. She spent huge

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-69055836215539092412011-08-27T11:54:00.003-04:002011-08-27T12:00:45.446-04:00

"Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today." - Mark Twain

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-10484373040966207592011-08-23T10:00:00.003-04:002011-08-23T10:02:42.350-04:00

"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." - Anais Nin

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-32895815729344105802011-08-14T21:35:00.004-04:002011-08-14T21:48:34.186-04:00

I have a longing tonight for something sweet, simple, and genuine, with a side of smiling eye crinkles and the knowledge that you would do anything to make me smile because you just love my smile that much. Serves me right for listening to The Bee Gees, they make me naively happy. I'm missing you and smiling wherever you are.....and that's no jive talkin'....

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-48645098116179889322011-08-11T21:59:00.002-04:002011-08-11T22:03:25.881-04:00

I asked Ben what he did today at camp: "We watched a movie, played running around and screaming, I ate my lunch, went swimming, and played zombie tag." Stupid grown up job stuff......

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-79287983561622256722011-08-10T22:16:00.004-04:002011-08-10T22:49:09.601-04:00

My daughter crawled into bed with me last night in the wee hours. Coincidentally, I was awake because the neighbour was up on a ladder a few feet away from my bedroom window taping plastic over the empty hole where the bathroom window used to be. He took the window out to replace it during the day and didn't finish. The previous tape job he'd concocted had given out in the rain, and he was

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-33211680898903960072011-08-09T22:27:00.001-04:002011-08-09T22:29:47.071-04:00

Having a tough hormonally imbalanced week which is leaving me incapable of coping with even the smallest of dips in the sidewalk at various points during the day. One minute, I'm perfectly normal and the next my brain short circuits and I am overcome with the urge to break into tears for no apparent reason. I'm trying to avoid all meaningful situations until this blows over, but I think that I

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-49026686586509943472011-08-09T21:00:00.004-04:002011-08-09T21:06:18.127-04:00

Picking up the kids last night after they'd been gone for a week and going out to draw and play on the sidewalk and hang with the neighbours. It made a rotten day disappear....

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-19796553699704006602011-07-31T23:11:00.001-04:002011-07-31T23:13:23.125-04:00

Just spent nearly half an hour with my arm trapped in a radiator.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-75399939150046863722011-07-18T09:27:00.002-04:002011-11-03T18:29:49.574-04:00

Oh wow my little boy, you are eight! How can it be when just yesterday it seems like you were curled up in a ball sleeping on my chest? Eight has brought new experiences and challenges. Grade two was not the greatest academically or socially, and I struggled along with you and felt every moment of confusion, every push from a bully. And yet your capacity for forgiveness and your good heart shone

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-71727976266738364022011-07-16T22:28:00.001-04:002011-07-16T22:34:18.669-04:00

Words can't fix anything tonight.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-31793520649452184912011-07-15T14:59:00.001-04:002011-07-15T15:01:17.047-04:00

My friend Guislaine just sent me this quote and I must share:"Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend."— Stephen King

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-25413821076998681072011-07-14T21:37:00.003-04:002011-07-14T21:40:27.660-04:00

On the drive back from the Townships last Saturday evening near sunset, Naomi was fast asleep and Ben was awake, staring out his window, lost in thought. Suddenly he said, "Mom, look! A balloon!". Sure enough, there was a hot air balloon in the distance, half hidden from view by some trees. We watched it appear and disappear from view, then the highway turned and suddenly there it was in plain

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-34156664690576645892011-07-13T09:10:00.003-04:002011-07-13T09:14:35.029-04:00

I am too embarrassed to explain the major fuck-uppery mess I made the night before last. Think about something you did that still makes you cringe and shudder when even the tiniest inkling of the memory appears in the smallest, darkest corner of your mind - and then fill an oil tanker with that episode until it sinks. That would be my night.The results of my epic debacle have left me questioning

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-1967821036084110902011-07-12T13:25:00.001-04:002011-07-12T13:27:55.305-04:00

It's the people who are still around despite everything that you do who really matter.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-82337367385415301112011-07-11T16:20:00.001-04:002011-07-11T16:22:43.217-04:00

Museum display people have a good sense of humour.... these were up on the top shelf by the way.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-42477659202796620952011-07-08T23:21:00.004-04:002011-07-08T23:43:29.436-04:00

Sometimes you're just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love you. And sometimes, you think that you are probably better off just eating all the cookies instead.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-271938645358577052011-07-06T21:49:00.003-04:002011-07-06T22:25:25.128-04:00

When you are down, call a friend. They make everything better :-)

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-68727188060905842152011-07-06T13:49:00.004-04:002011-07-06T14:01:53.261-04:00

My job today feels very stupid and unimportant. I want to throw everything aside, climb out my window and run - run past the streets, cars, condos, stores, run past the restaurants, and the cemeteries, and the parks and the fountains, and the trees, and just keep going and going and going until someone catches me up into their arms and holds me and says, "You can stop running now, you're here".

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-9527391233339876382011-07-05T16:21:00.001-04:002011-07-05T16:23:29.002-04:00

Sometimes, you just get so tired of hearing the word "no", that you stop trying.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-90039266134520693332011-07-04T22:23:00.003-04:002011-07-04T22:30:32.524-04:00

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."-Mother Theresa(via I can read)

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-64654151775272149742011-06-28T22:05:00.008-04:002011-06-28T22:41:43.009-04:00

The long weekend had its periods of sucky dampness, crying and whining children, and general exhaustion, but redeemed itself at the end. Friday it rained, really rained, rained like people should drag out their ark plans and make a trip to the lumber store. Of course the morning started at 6am because we didn't have to get up early. I turned on the tv, a mom's snooze button, and tried to get a

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-27625014063663491242011-06-23T23:00:00.003-04:002011-06-23T23:54:39.185-04:00

Yeah, I know the title sounds too self-help Oprah-esque...Finally seeing the end of this damn cold! It has caused more problems than it was worth and now I have a mountain of work and things to catch up on and not a single run in more than a week! Short week because of the holiday!Ben's last day of school today!Naomi had her daycare graduation ceremony and she did great! She wore her flower girl

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-23006150333597731372011-06-21T16:06:00.005-04:002011-06-21T17:57:13.048-04:00

I'm sick. One of my office mates was sick last week and came into work anyway coughing his germs all over the room and Wednesday night I started to feel a tickle in my throat. I thought it might have been because I turned the a/c on in the car for the first time this year, but by Thursday morning I couldn't swallow without the help of tylenol. I soldiered through the day, but Friday I decided not

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-30756690028693829432011-06-12T12:48:00.002-04:002011-06-12T12:53:46.609-04:00

I have the best friends on the planet! I love you more than the awesome cake :-)Perfect moments: Laughter, good food, lots of wine, thoughtful gifts, word play, cleaning up to Billy Idol, a wonderful man to kiss goodnight ..... bliss!

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-56742398164968344752011-06-09T21:57:00.002-04:002011-06-09T22:01:11.485-04:00

Two children doing their homework at the dining room table must be at least three feet apart at all times. This would have prevented the crayola/glue stick massacre of 2011.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-23807962308382859512011-06-09T10:25:00.002-04:002011-06-09T10:26:20.670-04:00

I would like a sign that I can wear telling people that I ran 19k Sunday, ran 10 this morning, and did exercise classes Monday and Wednesday so I am not judged taking the elevator to the second floor....

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-40265431507584763012011-06-08T14:58:00.003-04:002011-06-08T15:03:33.627-04:00

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-83883632632293644922011-06-05T08:49:00.004-04:002011-06-05T09:13:23.428-04:00

I am interested in what everyone else is doing and thinking about life and personal happiness. I like reading other peoples' life lessons, secondhand self help. I don't always agree with them, but I am fascinated and curious to learn others' observations and often I learn something that I can apply to myself (or remember when I do something disastrous) and my little meander. In the spirit of this

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-84519988275151020162011-06-03T07:39:00.003-04:002011-06-03T07:41:47.282-04:00

Being the first one up in the morning and sitting with coffee and thinking while watching the sun pour in through the windows.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-43323130840300603552011-06-02T23:07:00.002-04:002011-06-02T23:11:36.572-04:00

A few tiny thoughts before I fall asleep:I have got to stop sitting down to write and then feeling like I have nothing to say, and then when I get up to do something useful suddenly get ideas, but then be too busy doing the useful thing to go and write, and then when I sit down and write forget what the hell I wanted to write and and feel like I have nothing to say.That just must stop.My daughter

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-57596375031977764272011-05-29T10:16:00.006-04:002011-05-29T10:58:25.589-04:00

Last week I went to my first live, full-length opera.Up until a few years ago, I was not an opera fan, although my exposure had only been the Bugs Bunny versions from Saturday mornings. I liked the music, but it just wasn't something that I was interested in going to watch-a bunch of people singing in languages I didn't know being overly dramatic all over the stage, visions of fat ladies in

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-36025935924182292952011-05-22T22:17:00.003-04:002011-05-29T08:30:45.264-04:00

On our way to a friend's house tonight and Naomi is sitting in the back of the car, in a dress and tiara of course. A police car is waiting next to us at the light. As it turns green she says, "Mom! The policeman waved at me!". I turned to see the officer giving her a big thumbs up with a smile on his face as he's driving away. I look back and Naomi is giving a big thumbs up and said, "Look! I'm

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-60036878038522280212011-05-21T08:44:00.001-04:002011-05-21T08:45:50.493-04:00

Waking up on a warm night to the sound of the rain and feeling the soft breeze on your face before falling back to sleep.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-12662399057708763732011-05-20T22:30:00.003-04:002011-05-21T16:23:48.164-04:00

So there was this mouse. This past winter I was cleaning stuff off the pantry floor, picked up a discarded cloth grocery bag, and discovered a few cups of catfood inside. I was confused for a moment until I noticed little mouse droppings in a corner. Great. And yes, I'm the worst housekeeper ever. Mr Mouse had been stashing that away for a while I guessed. So I threw out the bag and cleaned up

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-68376317097323779712011-05-19T13:17:00.001-04:002011-05-19T13:19:24.376-04:00

Other people are not you.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-27190684268191440392011-05-13T21:21:00.001-04:002011-05-13T21:24:33.817-04:00

Another wonderful concert on Tuesday. A week before, I went to see Nagano conducting Liszt and Shostakovich which was pretty fantastic and made more so by a cheap last-minute seat in O right down the middle. This Tuesday I went to a show entitled The Evolution of the Symphony. Gabrieli, Bach, Webern, Stravinski, and finished with Beethoven's Fifth. The Fifth is near the top of my list. I am

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-65709384640182326122011-04-26T22:38:00.001-04:002011-04-26T22:50:45.219-04:00

I want to write something longer about this, but can't right now.Today was stressful, and all I could think about doing at the end of the day was coming home and playing piano.And I did and everything felt better, or at least more right, and I don't know why it makes me so happy, but it does.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-53138496545617436992011-04-20T22:02:00.002-04:002011-04-20T22:07:02.537-04:00

There was a light in my day, it means more work, but I walked down the sidewalk in the cold, wet, non-Spring weather with a smile on my face this afternoon. I can do it, I can do it, I can do it......

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-14959128537704300782011-04-18T22:32:00.001-04:002011-04-18T22:34:39.050-04:00

Work, run, home, garbage, laundry, made soup, made muffins, made granola, cleaned kitchen, collapsed.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-926778511355755272011-04-17T23:19:00.000-04:002011-04-17T23:20:06.210-04:00

Yeah, you know I miss him.....

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-64840599300278090392011-04-16T16:29:00.004-04:002011-04-16T16:38:12.138-04:00

Ben came home last week with a library book on Monet and told me that he was going to be an artist when he grows up. So we all sat down and looked at the book, and talked about the paintings. This week he brought home a book on sculpture, which we've also enjoyed perusing. This morning after gymnastics, we hopped in the car and went down to the museum and looked at the art. The MMFA has a nice

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-10240539339144104022011-04-14T15:40:00.002-04:002011-04-14T15:42:06.092-04:00

I feel invisible today. Like I could not be here and no one would notice....

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-32976920932222092632011-04-12T12:28:00.000-04:002011-04-12T12:29:14.400-04:00

My son running towards me up the sidewalk on a sunny morning shouting "I Love you, Momma!"What my sad heart needed today.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-25508853863443905842011-04-11T21:03:00.000-04:002011-04-11T21:04:14.045-04:00

"Jogging is very beneficial. It's good for your legs and your feet. It's also very good for the ground. If makes it feel needed."Charles Schulz

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-78518990765083926792011-04-07T08:45:00.003-04:002011-04-07T09:20:41.724-04:00

Spring is lifting my heart. This winter felt a bit too bleak and cold for me. It had wonderful moments, but not enough to sustain my joy and hope. Now, the sun has started to shine when I wake and I spend a lot more time smiling. Things have not really changed, or maybe they have? Either way, I am inspired and am back to feeling full of possibilities. Now I only need a slight change of scene and

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-33660076494540069092011-04-04T14:28:00.002-04:002011-04-04T14:36:17.547-04:00

She woke next to him in the dark. He was curled away from her, mostly uncovered and snoring softly, occasionally saying words she could not understand. She pulled the blankets back over him and wrapped her arm around his chest. He snuggled back into her warmth and let out a soft, contented sigh, something he would never do when he was awake. She smiled and placed the lightest kiss on his shoulder

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-24425022451065201572011-04-02T13:39:00.000-04:002011-04-02T13:40:23.770-04:00

Naomi came into bed early this morning and moved over to share my pillow, her sweet little head nestled up against mine, breathing softly. Is she really all mine?

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-25174163167899025682011-03-27T23:19:00.001-04:002011-11-03T18:31:34.860-04:00

I still smell him in my hair.....

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-25383089878957906082011-03-19T22:19:00.002-04:002011-03-19T22:21:34.946-04:00

Tonight there was a super perigee moon, the first in 18 years. My kids and I have a little love affair with the moon, so after sunset we put on snowpants and coats and went out to find it. It was hidden on our street, but when we got around the corner to the top of the park, there it was, shining low over the playground equipment, bright and huge and yellow. The kids ran to the bottom of the park

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-39966053858873660042011-03-17T19:10:00.002-04:002011-03-17T19:12:38.720-04:00

I have reached the weepy stage of exhaustion. Something has to give, and it can't be me anymore. Universe, please give.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-84400599883633452782011-03-07T14:46:00.002-05:002011-03-07T14:46:40.807-05:00

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."— Albert Einstein

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-22067193349642388482011-03-03T23:46:00.004-05:002011-03-04T14:49:35.492-05:00

So, Naomi lost her first tooth yesterday. It's the bottom middle-right, and the left is already loose. I missed it, but I'm told that she was very excited and talked of nothing else the entire day. A great deal of attention and thought was given to how exactly to ensure the tooth's safe dispatch to the tooth fairy. She finally decided on a box within a box under her pillow. The twoonie received

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-65888411325259879732011-03-02T14:26:00.002-05:002011-03-02T14:29:39.190-05:00

I found the best bread yesterday, I should never go to Akhavan hungry - the bread, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, smoked salmon, feta, almonds, yogurt = eclectic dinner. I wasn't surprised when I woke up from a nightmare involving purple trees that talk like Dame Edna.Could not get a last-minute ticket for the MSO last night, truly bummed because I was looking forward to it. I needed some

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-79909778753038589342011-02-26T14:22:00.002-05:002011-11-03T18:32:16.521-04:00

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-35591229045218533872011-02-16T13:56:00.003-05:002011-02-16T13:59:51.286-05:00

You have ridden in on your white horse and saved me so many times.And you were there again yesterday.Your initials are scratched into my heart because the marker started to fade.Thank you.xox

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-70555634387054073952011-02-14T12:18:00.001-05:002011-02-14T12:18:51.090-05:00

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-20710634115594296392011-02-09T21:55:00.006-05:002011-02-10T15:27:59.620-05:00

A friend just mentioned love notes, and it put me in mind to write one, or two...Let's start with the easy one.To my Ben and Naomi, I cannot remember what I was like when you were not in my life. I do remember a time before I had you, I see the pictures, I tell the stories, but it is a memory without texture, a story lacking a focus, a purpose, and depth. You make me more, you make me want to be

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-10663098979491558492011-02-07T21:34:00.003-05:002011-02-07T21:53:59.729-05:00

Haven't been able to write for a while. The ideas come into my head, sentences form, images appear, then as I sit to put it down it dissolves. Tonight I feel like something has to come out. I picked up Naomi at daycare today and there was a letter hanging over her hook, and the hooks of all the other children. It informed us that a wonderful teacher, Naomi's favorite teacher, and a woman I

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-53006493197077604362011-01-03T09:16:00.002-05:002011-11-03T18:34:12.047-04:00

The part of my life that is always good and always right.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-6974827873088313812011-01-03T08:48:00.003-05:002011-01-03T08:55:52.950-05:00

I had this long description of Christmas, but it was boring, so here are the highlights:Kids slept in until 7 Christmas Day! They were so excited that Santa had come and ripped open most of the presents before I had time to make coffee.Ben - legoNaomi - dollsMe - watching my kids jumping up and down - Santa magic is the best magicPancakesParkChicken dinnerVisit SteveSupper, and FIREWORKS! The

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-40789928873689012762010-12-24T22:57:00.002-05:002010-12-24T23:03:25.114-05:00

My folks are not coming into town for Christmas. Mom had to go in for some tests, and they have made her very tired and ill. I decided not to go down, I don't want my mom trying to clean her house or prepare a meal - if I tell her not to, she will do it anyway and it will be too much. So, it's disappointing, but we'll celebrate when she's feeling better. But what to do? There's no point in me

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-79279984552016432912010-12-24T14:57:00.003-05:002010-12-24T15:02:34.250-05:00

On Wednesday I was driving to work and realised how calm and happy I felt. Cards would not go out on time, things would not be cooked, the house would not be spotless before the holiday and that was ok. That bit of the holidays that I missed for so many years because I was always so rushed and stressed, arrived for the second year in a row. I call it the Grinch epiphany, the time when I remember

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-36351268063443119132010-12-23T09:23:00.000-05:002010-12-23T09:31:15.197-05:00

I love EVERYONE! XOX

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-69155980882343988882010-12-19T00:05:00.002-05:002011-11-03T19:40:36.893-04:00

One of my friends stopped by today and over a cup of tea while we were getting caught up, told me that his sister had called to say that she had some bad news. He told me that his 15-year-old nephew had just been diagnosed with Aspergers. He indicated that the diagnosis was no surprise to him, and we talked about that. I automatically corrected about the term "bad", "Well, that not really bad

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-64184467576593149292010-12-10T12:35:00.003-05:002010-12-10T12:40:59.359-05:00

Watching my son, bleary and pyjama-ed, walk into the pantry, grab the jar of peanut butter and a spoon, and head to the dining room.Listening to an improvised version of "All I Want for Christmas" substituting "cookies" for "teeth".Passing by my daughter's room and seeing her laying upside-down on the bed putting on her tights.My son's hat hair.The dance my daughter did for me in the window of

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-87181928842001146972010-12-09T00:00:00.002-05:002010-12-09T00:03:09.488-05:00

Just finished listening to all six of Bach's Cello Suites performed by Jean-Guihen Queyras. His playing was marvelous - lively and crisp, playing that tore at my soul and then lifted it into the sky. I sat there in awe that anyone could store this much beauty in his head and bring it out from his fingertips. At the first break, Adriana turned to me and asked how anyone who is able to play

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-19525125531472399012010-12-07T22:34:00.005-05:002010-12-07T23:05:49.618-05:00

Admittedly, the snow is far less fun when I have to shovel out my car. We just had our first storm yesterday - 15cm and gusting winds that created snow drifts over my knees in my front walk. After work I headed down to Place des Arts and got a great last minute for the MSO. Bach, Brahms, and Bruckner. I almost didn't go, preferring to hibernate at home, but I parked underground to avoid any more

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-31517394911941954682010-11-27T16:34:00.002-05:002010-11-27T16:38:26.934-05:00

Last night while we were sleeping, the snow came. It wasn't a lot, a bit more than a dusting, enough to have to brush off the car, and wear boots, and even enough in some places to make snow angels. The kids woke up late (I woke up early, why can't sleep ever coordinate?) and came in for a snuggle and we talked for a bit about our dreams and the plans for the day. Then, I told them to go and look

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-8459582832244502222010-11-20T22:06:00.004-05:002010-11-20T22:14:00.279-05:00

(This post is way overdue, just finding some time now.)At this moment I am so proud of myself. At the beginning of the year when I came up with the crazy idea of running a half marathon (originally for the end of April, which was postponed) I do not think that I really believed it could happen.Running half that distance was a challenge for me, and my knees were not super thrilled, plus, let's

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-92100581663394958292010-10-31T21:39:00.002-04:002010-10-31T21:51:15.809-04:00

Holy cow! Five! This morning I woke up and you were all curled up in my bed because you snuck in last night. I looked at the clock and realised that five years ago you had just told me that it was time to get to the hospital, which, as per the doctor's instructions from the last quick birth, we did as quickly as we could. You arrived about two hours later, wrinkled and mad and screaming at the

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-4101836654294923062010-10-27T14:56:00.004-04:002011-05-21T08:47:54.241-04:00

Goodnight my beautiful....I will be back to finish my vacation write up soon. Right now I'm up to my neck in work explosions...

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-12898655592020990092010-10-20T09:38:00.004-04:002010-10-20T10:16:18.333-04:00

Yesterday was a slower day. I spent the morning drinking coffee on the dock while the mist rolled across the smooth, still water. The hammock chair in the living room has become my favorite place for reading and writing. I have book stations around the house, a different book at every one so that no matter where I sit I can pick one up.I decided on a shorter run yesterday, about 8k. I drove to a

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-44456485462130847412010-10-19T08:20:00.002-04:002010-10-19T08:35:17.369-04:00

Decided on a hike up Table Rock in Grafton Notch. Drove there, parked, looked at the sign pointing out the trails, and crossed the road. Heading off I passed a guy coming out. That was the last person I saw on my hike. There were signs for a number of trails, I took the Table Rock trail and followed it up. Once again, it seemed harmless. It got steep rather quickly and turned into an antediluvian

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-22025170919722125372010-10-18T11:30:00.002-04:002010-10-18T11:33:38.341-04:00

Slept in until 8! Woke to the sun on the leaves, making them glow bright red and yellow and orange against the deep blue sky.And I believe to the sound of a passing logging truck.Have been reading and writing and lounging all morning, but must get out at some point and wander about. Trying to determine if my knees will accept a hike up Grafton Notch, or whether they'd prefer a 10k run. I'm fairly

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-69519993128031870172010-10-17T09:37:00.001-04:002010-10-17T09:42:49.988-04:00

Woke up this morning to see a pink sunrise and water rippling and everything was so quiet and lovely. Threw some clothes on, made some coffee and went out to the dock outside the back door to enjoy it.Sipping hot coffee, world so peaceful, beautiful Fall colours, birds, chill in the air, sound of the water lapping against the dock. Bliss. Noticed one of the metal chairs had fallen into the water.

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-10543357835608089592010-10-16T22:46:00.002-04:002010-10-16T22:53:28.410-04:00

I'm here!When I looked up the directions on Google maps and printed them out, I must have inadvertently chosen the "scenic but deadly" route option. I must have also mentioned "meandery" because the first thing it did was take me off the 10E, send me through Chambly, then back onto the 10E. Just a reminder that you must always read all of the directions FIRST. Whoops. Lesson learned. Perhaps

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-68284591953856506162010-10-14T21:44:00.005-04:002010-10-15T19:59:14.910-04:00

I woke up in the middle of the night in a sweat. I had a nightmare, my heart was pounding, brain racing, that sick feeling of fear that stays with you as you lie there in the dark. My phone went off, a text: "heart attack".I thought it was a joke.I found out it was no joke. Someone who means an awful lot to me had just finished being rushed to emergency, then to a second emergency to relieve a

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-77609101210713306952010-10-05T11:12:00.002-04:002010-10-05T11:21:08.629-04:00

Hi Everybody!This is the first year of the (I hope) annual Benny Run.As you all know, I started running a few years ago. This year, I decided that I was ready to attempt a half marathon, and I have been training most of the year. It will take place November 6 at Oka.I am raising money for the Autism Clinic at the Montreal Children's Hospital. I am hoping that you will sponsor me and help support

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-61446149429511477752010-09-25T17:31:00.001-04:002010-09-25T17:32:53.308-04:00

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-44597096886001173702010-09-23T22:39:00.001-04:002010-09-23T22:39:57.914-04:00

red riding hood - musicalOriginally uploaded by dina the m and oninjas!

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-72835671354207749472010-09-17T00:04:00.000-04:002010-09-17T00:05:07.924-04:00

It was beautiful. My crush conducted marvelously ;-)I set off through town, 30 minutes before the show (friend got stuck in traffic), only to find myself stuck in even more traffic. I finally managed to find a spot on Rene Levesque and ran up the street in the rain, in heels, umbrella being blown inside out, dodging puddles and feeling the damp chill on my legs. Worked through the maze of

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-81311693372004552642010-09-01T11:44:00.002-04:002010-09-01T11:49:55.099-04:00

Some days all you want is for someone to show up at your door with flowers, and it happens....

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-41797006588819772562010-08-23T09:31:00.003-04:002010-08-23T09:34:00.745-04:00

I have had a couple of incredibly sad days. Not sure if it's the weather, hormones, or the fact that I haven't had a hug from my kids in over a week, but I've got that curl-up-into-a-ball-and-cry feeling and it needs to go away....

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-35492455509734835692010-08-21T23:50:00.000-04:002010-08-21T23:54:46.730-04:00

Hmmmmmmm, I think I drank too much......

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-73227353811051545862010-08-19T22:19:00.001-04:002010-08-19T22:22:30.387-04:00

I know, long time, no blog. Here are a few things I've been up to and I hope to elaborate soon:Music - Mahler, Les Miz, Jazz Fest, Chopin, Beethoven, and SchumannOther - comedy fest and fireworks, my birthday, Ben's birthday, a few other good BBQs, some vacation time, some hikesFood - Some good brunches with my ladies, cake, a kiss-ass picnic, lunches, too much cheese, all clothes officially

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2438427.post-82244311805671079112010-08-19T08:59:00.004-04:002010-08-20T12:32:50.639-04:00

I seem to have two states of being: the one where I'm writing on paper/computer, and the one where I'm writing in my head. Lately I sit and jot down a few ideas and stare at the screen and lose all interest in continuing my thoughts. But they are there and numerous - a veritable jungle of thoughts, overgrown, one tangling into another forming this mass of confused, yet interconnected ideas and

dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639321334060812295noreply@blogger.com0