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Mourning the loss of subtlety
I was recently enjoying a cup of chai with the delectable Asma of Curry Go and we got to talking about a phenomenon that happens every spring in Montreal. That is, the minute the temperature rises, the city breaks out with barely contained breasts, half-released bums and long white thighs. We discussed the possibility of [...]
Teaching music / teaching yoga
One of the pleasures of reading is the possibility for synchronicity to occur. Your eyes follow the lines and suddenly, you come across a passage that marries two parts of your understanding into one meaningful and electrifying whole. This happened earlier this week while reading an article by Jeremy Denk in the April 8 issue [...]
Gender, sexuality and biology – some thoughts
I finally understand why I love Tilda Swinton. Apart from being an exceptional actress, style icon and performance artist, Tilda Swinton is a strong indication of how we are evolving as a species. More precisely, Swinton defies rigid labels and sexual roles. She simultaneously embodies the feminine and masculine parts of her identity (both physical and gestural). [...]
Travel notes from Amsterdam
*Three cheers for a great travel bag! My green leather satchel from Rudsak has been stressed by beach sand in Italy, softened by sweat during a hot three weeks in Spain, jostled on public transit rides all over the eastern United States, whipped by wind in Nova Scotia and is now bearing cool temperatures from [...]
Yes, I did write about you in my story.
You know how it is, writers. You share your writing with a curious friend or family member and shortly after, the questions and comments begin… Is the character of Jeremy based on your ex? Did I see a little of me in the character of Sarah? The cherry pie incident sounds familiar! Won’t your mom [...]
What I’m learning from practising hot yoga
The quick answer: Not to take yoga so seriously. The full story: About a year ago, I figured out that I needed to practise 3-4 times a week at a studio that was close to home and that offered a large selection of class times. So I started going to Moksha Yoga Montreal. I quickly learned [...]
Mothers and daughters
Once, when I was about 8 years old, my mother asked me to make my brother’s bed. When I asked her why, quietly wondering whether he had broken an arm that morning and I just hadn’t noticed, she replied, “Because it’s a girl’s responsibility to make the beds.” It took a few moments before I [...]
Important things first
I was upstairs celebrating a neighbour’s birthday this past weekend and we got to talking about making art. She’s an art historian who “gave up drawing long ago” and I subsequently mentioned by own struggles with balancing work and creative writing. Her advice was simple, but effective: “Important things first.” Her idea being, why take [...]
On turning 40
The questions and comments started a few months ago. From What have you planned? and Have you started going to bed at 10pm yet?, to It’s all downhill from here! and Better not eat that, you’ll never lose the weight now! And the closer it gets to my birthday – which is in March – the more the exclamation marks continue to [...]
Single for so long*