Vodka & Friendship

There's something about the smell of fresh baked muffins on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The way the sun creeps into the window, making that one spot on the hardwood floor warmer than the rest. The way the urge to drink a coffee hits you, as you stare at the color of the grass, trying to imagine what the snow looked like only a month ago. The humming of the laundry machine is in the background, a movie on in the living room. An unmade bed and heaps of clothing lying behind the closet doors. The consistent movement of my dog's chest as he naps beside me on the couch. This is life. And I'm living it.    New pastimes have emerged, like kickball. Never in a million years did I think I'd be playing on a team, where 99% of the people on my team are strangers. Where the goal is to save your beer and run to base and laugh along the way. Never in a million years did I think I'd enjoy a hot yoga class. Where you sweat, even when you move your wrist....

I bet you were waiting for the punch line.... Let me back up a bit. I was meaning to post another blog issue in March, but a health matter prevented me from doing so. Near the end of March, I started to experience excruciating pain in my head, neck, and shoulders. This pain progressed and after numerous trips to my doctor and others, I was seen by a neurologist. He diagnosed me with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.  This mimics a brain tumor and causes a build up spinal fluid in the brain. The amount of pressure affects your vision and causes the pain in the muscles I was experiencing. A spinal tap is a way to relieve this pressure. As soon as I had mine, I had instant relief. My pressure was very high and to have it come back down to normal levels felt amazing. Since this whole ordeal I've been left with the effects of the double vision I was having. I need to sport an eye patch to strengthen my eyes and get my bearings about me. Eyes are slo...

In true Canadian spirit, I witnessed a wonderful 'Go Canada Go' moment this morning. 5am to be exact. On Friday afternoon, I, like many other tweeters, saw our Premier Alison Redford had given the 'red light' (hockey fans know) on letting our bars open their doors at 5am and be able to have their taps flowing with golden deliciousness. Why you ask? Well if you're not Canadian, I'll explain. We are that die hard to watch our Canadian boys kick some Swedish butt for a sport we have flowing through our veins since birth. I decided to hop on that bandwagon and immediately told myself I'm going to be apart of this moment. Before becoming single, this is something I wouldn't have done. I would have valued my sleep or, watched at home in my slippers. And I certainly would not have stuck a toque on my head and headed down 17th to meet up with people I had never met besides one other person. But why not? Why not kick-start a little adventure, and be abl...

Another Valentine's Day has come and gone, and after the candy wrappers have been thrown out, and the flowers have wilted, are you still in love with your significant other? Or better yet, did said significant other do anything for you? It's pressure, man. Pure pink and red pressure this time of year. But for us singles? Depression.... oh c'mon, I'm only joking. But I have heard this made up holiday is also named 'Singles Awareness Day'. And yes, it does make singles very  aware. A couple singles and I went out for a pricey Valentine's day meal on Friday. We were comrades, singles going into battle against a day full of XOXO. We managed to enjoy our meal, the company, and of course, the wine. (And beer, and Champaign) but I couldn't help but notice that not every couple was sitting around smiling. One couple behind us was literally on their phones, chins resting in their hands, starring into the screen instead of their lovers eyes. Really? Is that...