November

There are 25 posts tagged November (this is page 1 of 5).

This is Me Today – Making Myself Crazy

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Being a perfectionist is a vicious circle of events. Nothing is ever good enough. So we (or I) end up keeping endless stuff because I feel I have to finish it, get it right before I can let it go. I feel obligated to the stuff and myself. I’m letting myself down if I don’t do everything and do it right. I can’t just let things go so they pile up.

Ironically, the piles of actual stuff make me feel pressured and I can’t deal with all of it.

On top of that, no woman is an island. I get request from others who want me to do things for them. They even have deadlines and complain when stuff isn’t done, for them. Then I get annoyed because they expect me to just drop everything and put them first.

The joke is on me. I’m getting so little actually done that things are piling up (of course). In the end – I am the one on the bottom of the pile under all this stuff.

So, the plan is to wait until sometime in November when I will have the house (most of it) to myself and I can move things out of my work room and into other rooms. This will give me some space and maybe clear my mind a bit. If I feel I have some space to work in maybe I can actually get to work and get some of this stuff done.

Of course, we come back to the perfectionism issue.  Is making the space enough? Can I let things be imperfect? Can I decide to just get rid of some things, undone, not completed? Can I give up on some of the things which I thought mattered so much? That will be the hard part. It isn’t the stuff or the lack of space so much as feeling I am losing parts of myself and who I think I am and should be.

If I get rid of everything which makes me feel like I’m someone, what will be left of me? Once I am clutter free how will I know what to do with myself?

The Train Not Taken

Originally posted: November 17, 2006

He was on the train again. The guy with a shaved head, charcoal grey suit this time and a red silky looking scarf. No hat, he never wore a hat no matter how much it snowed or rained. I always watched him, shy, from my seat. Sometimes he noticed me, sometimes he didn’t.

I hadn’t seen him this past week. One whole week of commuting without seeing him. I had nearly cried on Friday night, thinking he must have moved or changed jobs and I would never have the chance to meet him now. I regretted not doing something, even something really dumb.

But, there he was back again. Same shaved head, same suit and that same smiley face. He was just one of those people who seemed to smile easily. Sometimes he had conversations with the people around his seat. He laughed easily too and it was a laugh that made me smile, even on the hardest days when I felt worn down to a stub of myself.

I had to meet him tonight, finally. I couldn’t let another day pass by. Maybe he had moved and today was one last trip on the old commuter train. My palms were slick and my stomach in knots but I just had to do something this time.

I knew I looked ok, not one of my better days for looks but it wasn’t too bad. Hopefully I didn’t get too wind blown while I was waiting at my stop for the train. I couldn’t quite dare reach up to pat my hair, he might look over at just that moment. Continue reading →

Decorate Cookies for Day of the Dead

dodcookieMy sister would love these. She decorated her whole face as a skull last year for The Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos). They actually call it the sugar skull. You have probably seen it somewhere by now.

The Day of the Dead is not about Halloween or zombie movies. It is a real event in Mexico, a long time tradition.

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday celebrated October 31, November 1st and November 2nd in connection with the Christian days for All Hallows Eve, All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day.

Family gather to remember and pray for deceased friends and family members. Traditions include building private altars to honour the deceased. The altars are decorated with sugar skulls, flowers and the favourite food and drink of the departed family and friends. Gifts and/or possession of the dead are left on graves. The living will spend the day (and possibly the evening) at the grave. They pack food and have a picnic in the cemetery.

Day of the Dead is not a grim holiday. Other cultures may not understand that this is a family holiday, a day of remembering and giving thanks for the people who have been important and valued in our lives. Pagans have a very similar holiday, Samhain, which is also based on remembering the past and celebrating the harvest in the present. In North America we call this Halloween, but it has lost most of the original meaning behind the holiday.

Moustache Growing Month: Movember

emergmoustacheDo you know about Movember?

Movember is about men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. The idea of Movember is for men to grow a moustache in November and/or contribute to the cause of their own health. Growing a moustache is changing the face of men’s health, in a literal way.

Growing a moustache (also spelt mustache) myself doesn’t appeal to me. But, I’d wear a fake moustache for Movember. There are plenty of them to choose from once you get looking around online. You could choose them by facial hair style or hair colour. Of course, with a fake one you get to decide if you like felt, plastic, paper or something else too. You don’t even have to wear it on your face. I found necklaces, hair clips and mugs and glasses which make it look like you have a moustache when you drink from them.

 

How to Grow, Trim and Maintain a Moustache

 

What to do When you Can’t Grow a Moustache

 

Men’s Facial Hairstyles

 

Would you Keep a Moustache After Movember?

Would you grow a moustache just for the sake of having a moustache?

My Uncle has had a full beard and moustache for as long as I can remember. He has always maintained it well. But it’s fuzzy. I’ve seen him itching it at times. Often he gests something in it when we have dinner. I know he keeps his beard clean and combs it out too, but it must still be a weird feeling to have all that hair on your face. It gets in his mouth when he doesn’t keep it trimmed close.

There are certainly downfalls to having a hairy upper lip.

But, there are men who look really good with a moustache.

 

Find More Moustache Guys

What to Do in Barrie When it Rains

I live in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. I’m still a tourist here, at heart.

I didn’t grow up in Barrie but I’ve lived here more than five years. I like Barrie, it’s a small city north of the bigger city, Toronto, Ontario. But, Barrie has everything you need right here: art, culture, shopping, night-life, outdoor and indoor activities.

One of the best things about Barrie are the people who show up for all the events, festivals, gatherings, and holidays. Several times over the year the main street, Dunlop, will be blocked to all road traffic, the local buses will be detoured but all foot traffic (all people) are welcome to join in the masses who show up for fun and culture in the downtown heart of the city of Barrie.

Barrie Has Art

Start with the MacLaren Art Centre in downtown Barrie. Check the website for current and upcoming exhibitions, events and festivals. The gallery is open year round with art and exhibits from local and Ontario artists in painting, photography, sculpture with an emphasis on contemporary visual arts.

The MacLaren Centre was moved to the historical Carnegie Library building in Barrie, in 1990. The building itself is worth the visit if you are a fan of architecture and old buildings.

The Barrie Art Club is not part of the MacLaren Art Centre but it is another indoor place for artists to explore while in town on a rainy day.

Barrie Has Theatre

Barrie Has Museums

The Simcoe County Museum is the larger Barrie museum, just on the outskirts of the town of Barrie itself. The museum is a fairly new building, opened in 1962 at this location. Over years the collection has grown and even the new location has been expanded until it now has five galleries with 16 outdoor heritage and display buildings.

I especially like the outdoor heritage buildings and the Barrie Main Street exhibit. Check the website for updates to the list of festivals, exhibits and events.

Barrie also has a military museum, the Grey and Simcoe Foresters Regimental Museum. This museum is located in the historical (restored) Armoury and drill all built in 1889 for the volunteer militia.The museum is open May through November.

Barrie Has a Library

Barrie has a large, freshly renovated library. The Barrie Public Library is worth a visit just to see the modern renovated look to the building. It’s bright, spacious and has many places to sit and enjoy a good book.

The library provides free courses for adults, teens and children. You can find the current list of available courses and other events on the library website.

This is not the only library in Barrie, but this is the largest library in downtown Barrie and the one I like to visit myself.

Of Course, Barrie Has Shopping Too

See More of Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Read About Barrie’s History

Originally posted to HubPages.

Happy December!

December is my favourite month. It’s not just because Christmas is this month. If anything I can think of several things (like my birthday now that I’m 40+) that could take away the luster of December, if I let them. There is just something about the month of December, the first snowfall (even though it started in November this year, if you want to get technical). I like the freshness of December. It’s the first month that feels like winter. It gives us a cold snap to sharpen our senses. December brings all the traditions like building a snowman, drinking hot chocolate and thinking about Christmas holidays and birthday getaways (if you happen to be born this month).

What do you like, or not like, about December?

Happy New Month!