The Power of NO
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- Grammar 57
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Life
Cancer’s Legacy
The first time I remember hearing about cancer, one of my young school friends had been diagnosed with it. Growing up with severe asthma, I spent a lot of ti...
Sensitive Santas Around Ontario
I’ve written before about how Christmas can be a tough time for kids on the spectrum, or kids who have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), or kids with a host...
Travel Tuesday #JennDoesTheCapital (part II)
My last #JennDoesTheCapital post was predominantly about the beer - and though I enjoyed quite a few very nice beers over the course of my trip, they weren’t...
Solo Travel #JennDoesTheCapital (Part I)
I don’t live all that far from Ottawa - about 5 hours driving, depending on the route. I’ve been to Ottawa a few times - grade 8 trip, grade 11 music trip, w...
Football Friday - it’s What We’re Made Of
Two weeks ago, the town of Charlottesville Virginia was the location of a rally by members of the so called “white nationalist” movement (really a white supr...
Word Wednesday - All Good Things Must (Eventually) End
It’s no secret that change is hard for me. I like the familiar, I find comfort in routine. I’m an introvert by every definition of the word so I don’t like b...
Five Fidget Toys I Recommend
Unless you’ve been under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the latest craze hitting the schoolyard - fidget spinners. I’m going to take an unpopular stand ...
Word Wednesday - On Facing my Fears
I’m an overthinker. I like to weigh out decisions carefully, and make the best possible choice and even then I often second guess myself. I’m the person you ...
Outdoor Fun In Ontario’s Lake Country with #LetsGoMaple
Last week I wrote about all the indoor fun I had exploring Ontario’s Lake Country on the #LetsGoMaple retreat. Between the absolutely amazing food, the table...
Indoor Fun in Ontario’s Lake Country #LetsGoMaple
Last week, I was fortunate enough to go back to one of my favourite places, Casino Rama Resort, for a few days of winter fun thanks to the wonderful ladies a...
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop
I swear if I have one more “friend” on Facebook or Twitter follower or casual acquaintance tell me to stop being so political I’m going to lose it. I was rai...
A Message for the Mean Girls at the Gym
Full confession: I’m not a gym rat by any means - I prefer to get exercise by walking or swimming, though I have rediscovered the fun of the recumbent bike w...
Word Wednesday - I resolve…no wait, I don’t.
It’s not much of a secret that I think New Year’s resolutions are a bit of a fool’s game, and not only because I’m already sick of the weight loss and fitnes...
Word Wednesday Not Quite Feeling It (Yet)
In case anyone hasn’t noticed, the holiday season is creeping up on us rather quickly. Here in Ontario, we’ve had our first snowfall and all of the requisite...
Word Wednesday on Thankful Thursday
I couldn’t quite make up my mind on whether or not this should be a Word Wednesday post or if I should call it Thankful Thursday so I decided to make it both...
Word Wednesday: A rewarding experience
It’s been a few busy weeks and sadly, my beloved Word Wednesday posts have paid the price. Today I deliberately sought out some time because I wanted to post...
Word Wednesday - Autumnal thoughts
Fall has arrived and with it fall weather - which is awesome (with the exception of leaves - which aren’t so awesome when you’re highly allergic to leaf mol...
Word Wednesday - too cute for words
I’ve got a secret. It’s something I don’t say out loud too often because when I do people react badly. Some gasp, some try to convince me that I’m crazy, and...
Word Wednesday - Escape
Even though I work (at least partially) alongside the education system, I don’t really go “back to school”. Still, it’s a new beginning - and as the song say...
Outdoor Football in Toronto - Thoughts at Midseason
I’ve been an Argos fan since I was born. I’m old enough to remember watching games at the old Exhibition Stadium on the CNE grounds, and of course the Skydom...
Word Wednesday - Self Care isn’t Selfish
I’m a worrier by nature. For as long as I can remember I’ve been anxious about things such as fire, and plane crashes (though this one has pretty much disapp...
Word Wednesday - Courage - My Word
This isn’t the post I intended to write this week, or the post I imagined I would write on this word. Things change, however, and though I may be completely ...
Word Wednesday - Not “Just” Anything
This isn’t my usual etymological Word Wednesday post, but is a post about a word and it is Wednesday, and I created Word Wednesday and am free to switch it u...
Thinking about Thinking Day (Founder’s Day)
This past Monday, February 22nd, was a special day for members of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides / Girl Scouts worldwide. February 22nd is the shared birthday of...
Depression, Grief, and #BellLetsTalk
Today is Bell Let’s Talk day - a day where mental health takes centre stage on Canadian social media. I’m not normally a huge fan of corporate sponsorship, b...
Better Late Than Never
I took a bit of a break over the holiday season from posting - not only because things in my non-online life were getting crazy, but because I felt I needed ...
Teaching your child with ASD about gifts
One of the most common questions I hear during the holiday season is “How do I teach my child gift etiquette?” Gift giving occasions with kids on the spectru...
Word Wednesday Holi-daze
As of today, there is one month left until Christmas, and only 12 days left until the beginning of Hanukkah. Tomorrow is US Thanksgiving and the traditional ...
Heartache and healing
Regular readers may remember about six weeks ago, I published a post about music, depression, and grief that outlined how music helps me through some of the ...
Word Wednesday - An Act of Remembrance
Today I will stand at a cenotaph and speak at a Remembrance Day event. I will have the honour to shake hands with veterans who served this country in times o...
Saying Goodbye to SkyDome
Tonight is the end of an era, albeit one that many Toronto sports fans (particularly CFL fans) have struggled with over the last 27 years. Tonight the Toron...
Word Wednesday - New Beginnings
Canada got a new Prime Minister today. Just 16 days after Canadians voted decisively for real change, Justin Trudeau was sworn in as Canada’s 23rd Prime Mini...
Word Wednesday #BlissDom Canada ‘15 edition
It’s no secret that I’m an introvert by nature. I like people and once I’m comfortable with you, I’ll never shut up, but groups of people, make me seriously...
When Depression Lies, Music speaks the truth.
Almost two years ago, my mother passed away very suddenly. I will never forget the moment I found out, the pain in my father’s voice, or the task of calling ...
An Open Letter to Parents of Special Needs Children
I’ve got something to tell you, and I’m pretty sure you all need to hear it right about now. Whether it’s back to school time coming up shortly, or your kid ...
Wordless Wednesday - Looking up at the Sky, through the woods, and into a campfire
As much as I love #WordWednesday, I’m up on a mini vacation right now and am too busy staring at clouds, following overgrown paths in the woods, and gazing i...
How to ruin a friendship in one easy step - look in their fridge!
Forget snooping in the medicine cabinet (where you shouldn’t actually ever keep medicine anyway because the humidity in a bathroom is bad for storage conditi...
A great night out with Art Tonite
When I was invited to check out Art Tonite by my friend Hollie, I was excited but also somewhat trepidatious. I’m not an artist, not by a longshot. I prefer ...
A Month of Heartache
I used to love May. It meant the school year was almost over, the days were still getting longer, the weather was (usually) getting warmer, and it meant I c...
The Walls Have Ears…
One of the things that brings me joy is my work with children and teens who have Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). When I tell people that I tutor an...
The Book Lover’s Ball - After Dark
I’m a classic introvert - I love to spend an evening curled up with a good book and with my BlackBerry at my side. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy goin...
Changes…
It’s been an eventful few months and I’ve been trying to decide what to do with my blogs. Do I a)keep them separate b) merge them or c) ditch both and start ...
Science really does Rock!
As a kid, one of my favourite places to go in Toronto was the Ontario Science Centre. Between the bouncy bridge, the electrostatic ball that made my hair sta...
Hair today…
I have a love-hate relationship with my hair. It grows quickly, which is both a blessing and a curse (my one experiment with a fringe was extremely frustrati...
My Comfort Zone and Why I’m Jumping out of it for BlissDom Canada
On October 27th 2013, my world was turned upside down. My mum, who was my rock, passed away quite unexpectedly. I had just started teacher’s college and was ...
2 am ramblings
Tonight, I tried to fill my head with beauty to mitigate the horror my mind is imagining to go along with the news stories I read. I worked a holiday concert...
Making sense of the senseless
I woke up this morning, a little bleary eyed but happy. I went to babysit a friend’s 6 month old while she volunteered at her daughter’s preschool. Nothing o...
Poppies
I have a thing for Poppies. I love them. I love what they symbolize, I love that I can grow them, and I think that they’re one of the prettiest flowers out t...
Remember
Remember verb ri-ˈmem-bər
Thoughts on She’s Connected 2012
In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been blogging over at my other blog Adventures with my BlackBerry for the last few months. I’m going to have another wrap ...
Please Excuse my absence.
It’s been a rough couple of months. Every time I think I’m going to get back on track and blog again something happens. First it was pneumonia. I have had it...
Stupid Driver Tricks
I may not be the best driver in the world. Occasionally I speed. I have been known to get impatient with other drivers when they cut me off. I have also b...
Sponsorship Questions
I’ve been invited to attend the She’s Connected Conference in Toronto in September. I’m really excited to go because I want to learn how to make my blog and...
Swimming with beavers
This post got eaten. I’m going to blame the beaver at the cottage. Maybe he’s shy and didn’t want the notoriety that being on my blog would bring. I’m not...
Cottage
I love heading to the cottage. Not the drive but just the act of actively getting away from it all. It’s not that I don’t love life in Kitchener but I feel...
Only Children…
Some recent news articles have made me think about my status as an only child. My mum, asked me a few months ago whether I felt left out because I was an o...
Wordless wednesday - The train
Found in the lake 30 or more years after it was left on a beach
Unfair
Life is unfair sometimes. I am an adult and I get that concept. What I don’t understand is why my friend Mishi is being dealt such a crap hand by the unive...
Let Me Introduce Myself.
So I’m super-inspired by all my blogging friends - I want to have a blog that people read and that makes them think twice about their preconceived notions - ...
Stupidity
Driving home from a meeting tonight I saw some shining examples of stupidity that prove that while Kitchener-Waterloo may be one of the most intelligent comm...
A question
Why do smoke alarm batteries always die and start chirping in the middle of the night? Mine started at 3:04 (or at least that’s when it woke me up). the ...
exhaustion
the past week has been exhausting both mentally and physically - how does my body choose to react to the stress? By making sure I get less than 5 hours of s...
on the loss of a friend
I lost a friend tonight. Not just a friend but an ally. She took her own life because she couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now here’s where I...
Hello world!
I never thought I’d blog.. but sometimes I need to get my thoughts down in some sort of organized manner. This seemed worth a try. so welcome to my mind.
Grammar
Word Wednesday: Storms of Historic Proportions
It’s been awhile since I got really pedantic on here but it’s happening today. I was going to write this post last week but then decided that the issue reall...
Word Wednesday - All Good Things Must (Eventually) End
It’s no secret that change is hard for me. I like the familiar, I find comfort in routine. I’m an introvert by every definition of the word so I don’t like b...
Word Wednesday In the Garden
One benefit to living in the country is that we have a lot of space for gardens at the house. At times this can be a blessing and a curse - as looking at lar...
Word Wednesday - Break Time
I’ve been neglecting the blog a little recently, partly because I haven’t had a word that I wanted to write about and a couple of the other pieces percolatin...
Word Wednesday: I’m a Logophile and I’m Okay
First off, I’m sorry if I gave you a Monty Python earworm with the title. Actually no, I’m not sorry since the lumberjack song is one of my favourite Monty P...
Word Wednesday - On Facing my Fears
I’m an overthinker. I like to weigh out decisions carefully, and make the best possible choice and even then I often second guess myself. I’m the person you ...
Word Wednesday - I resolve…no wait, I don’t.
It’s not much of a secret that I think New Year’s resolutions are a bit of a fool’s game, and not only because I’m already sick of the weight loss and fitnes...
Word Wednesday - The Princess Who Wasn’t
I like to joke about never having seen Star Wars - as in I’ve never sat down and consciously watched more than a single Star Wars movie at a time. I have see...
Word Wednesday Not Quite Feeling It (Yet)
In case anyone hasn’t noticed, the holiday season is creeping up on us rather quickly. Here in Ontario, we’ve had our first snowfall and all of the requisite...
Word Wednesday - Present Tense
In case you’ve been living under a rock, last Friday was Black Friday and even though Canada doesn’t have the day off like many Americans (nice job getting a...
Word Wednesday - Losing Faith
It’s been a week since I woke up to the news that Donald Trump had won the US Presidential Election. I’d like to say the world is the same place in the week ...
Word Wednesday on Thankful Thursday
I couldn’t quite make up my mind on whether or not this should be a Word Wednesday post or if I should call it Thankful Thursday so I decided to make it both...
Word Wednesday: A rewarding experience
It’s been a few busy weeks and sadly, my beloved Word Wednesday posts have paid the price. Today I deliberately sought out some time because I wanted to post...
Word Wednesday - Autumnal thoughts
Fall has arrived and with it fall weather - which is awesome (with the exception of leaves - which aren’t so awesome when you’re highly allergic to leaf mol...
Word Wednesday - too cute for words
I’ve got a secret. It’s something I don’t say out loud too often because when I do people react badly. Some gasp, some try to convince me that I’m crazy, and...
Word Wednesday - Para what?
As I wrote in an August Word Wednesday Post, I love the Olympic and Paralympic games. I love the way entire countries rise up behind their athletes and how s...
Word Wednesday - Escape
Even though I work (at least partially) alongside the education system, I don’t really go “back to school”. Still, it’s a new beginning - and as the song say...
Word Wednesday - Golden words
It’s really no secret that I’m a huge fan of the Olympics and the Paralympics. I’m a huge fan of sport in general and think that the Olympics can bring out t...
Word Wednesday - Be the Duck
This is the 4th Word Wednesday post I’ve started to write this week - hence why it’s being finished on a Thursday - the others will come out when the time is...
Word Wednesday: Burning The Candle at Both Ends
I suppose this won’t come as a surprise to those who know me well, but I’m at the stage of the summer where I’m just about done - both physically and mentall...
Word Wednesday - Fortune’s Favour
I’ve been AWOL of late - and for that I apologize. Depression and grief took hold for a while, and then things got really busy for a while, and then I felt s...
Word Wednesday - Self Care isn’t Selfish
I’m a worrier by nature. For as long as I can remember I’ve been anxious about things such as fire, and plane crashes (though this one has pretty much disapp...
Word Wednesday - Rocks and Hard Places
Most of you already know that I have a slight healthy obsession with board games. I love to play them with friends and I use them to teach social skills suc...
Word Wednesday - Courage - My Word
This isn’t the post I intended to write this week, or the post I imagined I would write on this word. Things change, however, and though I may be completely ...
Word Wednesday - Fire
I have a love - hate relationship with fire. On one hand, I’m a Girl Guide, so I love nothing more than to sit around a campfire telling stories, singing son...
Word Wednesday - A Royal Occasion
Birthdays are always special, and milestone birthdays even more so. I’ve been fortunate enough in my life to work with a lot of senior citizens and I’ve foun...
Word Wednesday - Not “Just” Anything
This isn’t my usual etymological Word Wednesday post, but is a post about a word and it is Wednesday, and I created Word Wednesday and am free to switch it u...
Word Wednesday: Nothing if Not Persistent
For those who know me off-line, it comes as no surprise that I characterize myself as persistent and mildly stubborn. It’s not that I don’t like change, it’s...
Word Wednesday: It’s Fashionable!
I’m not the kind of girl who can spend a whole day at the mall. I don’t mind window shopping with a friend, but it’s not a solo activity I actively pursue (u...
Word Wednesday: Circular Logic
It should come as no surprise that I subscribe to two different “word of the day” emails - I love language and jump at any chance I get to expand my vocabula...
Word Wednesday - I detest that!
Last year, I wrote about the Canadian General Election and how it seemed to go on forever. What I didn’t mention at the time is that our elections seem to go...
Word Wednesday - Why I need a vacation!
It seems that practically everybody I know is either on vacation, planning for a vacation, or just back from a vacation. Currently my father is in Arizona, v...
Word Wednesday - Be Generous
Today isn’t just any Wednesday, it’s Ash Wednesday, the traditional beginning of Lent. I used to do the whole “giving something up for Lent” thing, but I fou...
Word Wednesday: I Grok That (finally)
After a bit of a respite from Word Wednesday, I’m back at it again. I didn’t think I would miss it but I did. I am an unabashed logophile (more on that anoth...
Word Wednesday - through with the cough
I had big plans for a bunch of posts right around this time last week. Then I got hit hard with a virus that is going around. It started off with me being re...
Word Wednesday Holi-daze
As of today, there is one month left until Christmas, and only 12 days left until the beginning of Hanukkah. Tomorrow is US Thanksgiving and the traditional ...
Dos and Don’ts of Giving Gifts to Special Needs Children
With the holiday season fast approaching, I’ve had a few queries as to how best to alert friends and family members as to what the best gift for a special ne...
Word Wednesday - An Act of Remembrance
Today I will stand at a cenotaph and speak at a Remembrance Day event. I will have the honour to shake hands with veterans who served this country in times o...
Word Wednesday - New Beginnings
Canada got a new Prime Minister today. Just 16 days after Canadians voted decisively for real change, Justin Trudeau was sworn in as Canada’s 23rd Prime Mini...
Word Wednesday - Decaf edition
All my life I’ve been a tea drinker. There are pictures of me with tea in my bottle (thanks grandma!) and with my British heritage, not drinking tea wasn’t a...
Word Wednesday - chaotic edition
I’m not sure if this happens to everyone but every time I head to a conference, like the fabulous Blissdom Canada Conference, I return to utter chaos. It’s n...
Word Wednesday #BlissDom Canada ‘15 edition
It’s no secret that I’m an introvert by nature. I like people and once I’m comfortable with you, I’ll never shut up, but groups of people, make me seriously...
Celebration!
It comes as no surprise to those who know me that I’m a sports nut. Football (particularly the CFL and the Toronto Argonauts, but also the NFL and the Detroi...
Word Wednesday - with a twist!
In case you haven’t guessed I’m pretty passionate about my work with kids who have autism. This means that I occasionally get pulled into some of the Autism ...
Word Wednesday - Not so extra-terrestrial.
I spent a lot of time this summer with my eyes turned towards the skies. Unlike last summer where it seemed to rain every time I went up to the cottage, and ...
Word Wednesday - Breaking the Rules
There are certain grammar rules that seem to have been passed down through the generations as “thou shalt not” commandments, when, in fact, they are more “u...
Word Wednesday - Let’s talk!
I’ve written before about my introverted nature and how I can actually be very shy in social situations, but to those who know me well, I’m a chatterbox. I a...
Word Wednesday - In search of the ghost of Tom Thompson
It’s been a busy week around here. I spent most of the day Thursday and all day Friday and Saturday getting ready for Dad’s 60th birthday party at the cottag...
Word Wednesday - Election 42 Edition
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or aren’t Canadian), you will have heard that a general election has been called for October 19th The election per...
Word Wednesday - An old word that has new life in the Internet Age
It’s been an interesting week here. Had an amazing time out with friends Friday, went up to the cottage on Saturday, and returned Tuesday. Oh… and last Wedne...
Word Wednesday - VI
Well, I had to turn to the internet to help find a word for this week. I still have my list but none of them felt right today. Sometimes that’s just the way ...
Word Wednesday 5th edition
Another Word Wednesday is upon us, and this time my problem is picking which word I want to do - I had 3 words lined up and then I read Alexander McCall Smit...
Word Wednesday Part IV
So I’m feeling a bit of pressure here. I’m told that the fourth installment of a series should be the best. Many of my geeky friends argue that the fourth St...
Word Wednesday - Again!
I swear I’m going to get a non Word Wednesday post up soon - life has been hectic and I’ve got a bunch of drafts started but haven’t managed to finish any of...
#WordWednesday: The sequel
Okay, So it’s looking like this may stick. At least for the next little while. Today’s word is one that I love using and as many of my friends will attest, I...
#WordWednesday
Okay, So I know that #WordlessWednesday is a thing, but I’m a writer by trade and I love using the perfect word for the situation so I’m going to try to do s...
BlackBerry
How my BlackBerry Passport Equals Mobile Freedom
It’s no secret that I love my BlackBerry devices. I have a BlackBerry in my hand for a good 60% of the day. One of the things I love most about BlackBerry i...
I’m All About That Case…
I love my BlackBerry Classic and my BlackBerry Z30 and I am very excited to be getting a BlackBerry Passport this month. What’s that? I have a phone addictio...
Android Applications on my Z30
I admit to being a purist. I prefer native apps to Android ports. Built for BlackBerry apps give me the best user experience on my Z30, but apps that have be...
I’ve been Bobbed!
Once in awhile the universe surprises you with something so wonderful, there are no words for it. Then again, I make my living with words so I’m going to fin...
Application Permissions on BlackBerry 10
With all the hubbub recently about Facebook Messenger and the myriad of permissions it requests just to be able to run in the background, I was curious as to...
Thank You
I think as a society we focus too much on the negative and not enough on the positive. This applies to BlackBerry too. We are all too eager to jump all ove...
Blaq for BlackBerry 10
When I said that I would blog about Blaq later, I didn’t think it would be later today. I am at BlackBerry Live in Orlando next week and I’m not bringing my...
Apps I can’t live without.
Hi everyone, It’s been awhile - I’ve been busy with life and spending far too much time with my BlackBerry Z10. The advantage of spending so much time with ...
Initial impressions on the BlackBerry Z10
On Wednesday, January 30th, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Toronto launch for the BlackBerry 10 smartphone. I had been eagerly anticipating the...
To whet your ‘app’etite
A number of people have been asking me to review apps for the BlackBerry Gven that I am not currently in possession of a BlackBerry 10 device, I thought I...
Elevator Pitch
Somebody asked me today to explain, briefly, why I’m so enamoured with my BlackBerry Bold 9900. He said “pretend we’re in an elevator and you need to explain...
The Grey Cup with BlackBerry
It’s no secret that I love my BlackBerry devices. I also love the Canadian Football League. With the 100th Grey Cup practically in my backyard, I decided tha...
She’s Connected and my BlackBerry
You know what I absolutely love hearing when showing off my Bold 9900? “Wow, I didn’t know a BlackBerry could do THAT”. I heard that a lot this weekend at ...
Conference Time!
I’m very excited to be going back to the She’s Connected Conference this year. Last year I had a great time meeting new people and learning a lot about blog...
Ten Things you need to know about your BlackBerry
Since I started this blog, I’ve met a lot of other members of Team BlackBerry. One of the things that constantly astounds me is how few people regularly bac...
Why I’m Retiring the GPS
I don’t actually have a GPS but my parents do, as do a lot of my friends, so when I’m going somewhere where there’s a good possibility of my getting horribly...
Synchronizing Calendars between devices
I’ve been a little quiet on here lately, mostly because I’ve been busy giving BlackBerry Traffic a workout! A friend who has recently purchased a PlayBook a...
Why my loyalty isn’t going anywhere
In case you couldn’t tell from the title of my blog, I’m a BlackBerry fan. I have tried iphones and Androids and while they were a lot of fun, my infatuatio...
The Camera Question Part II - PlayBook Edition
One of the best features of my BlackBerry PlayBook is its portability. I didn’t want a tablet I’d need a separate bag to lug around. I wanted something tru...
How my Playbook saved the evening.
I was visiting my parents last weekend and one evening, we were bored. There was nothing on TV and we were all talked out. Yes we have tons of DVDs but the...
Protect yourself and your smartphone with BlackBerry Protect
BlackBerry Protect is one of the most useful tools available from BlackBerry app world. Not only is BlackBerry Protect a convenient way to backup your data ...
Identify yourself with the BlackBerry ID
BlackBerry ID falls into the category of things your really need to do first on your BlackBerry. It makes life so much easier. Once you’ve created your Bla...
What’s the secret (Pass)word?
A few weeks ago, the social networking site LinkedIn was hacked and millions of passwords were stolen. I dutifully went and changed my password and promptly...
Near Field Communication
One of the features of my BlackBerry Bold 9900 that I hadn’t explored until recently was the ability to use Near Field Communication or NFC. NFC is used with...
BBM
One of my favourite applications on my Bold 9900 is BlackBerry Messenger or BBM. BBM is more than simply a messaging system - it’s an easy way to keep in tou...
The Camera Question
By far the most frequent question I get asked about my Bold 9900 is about the camera. People ask why I would want a smart phone with a crappy camera. My an...
A word of Introduction
My Beloved Bold 9900 - as a TARDIS !
Frustrations
In addition to his full-time job, dad runs a consulting business. I help out with IT and some other stuff as needed. One of these “as needed” things was to...
Sports
Football Friday - it’s What We’re Made Of
Two weeks ago, the town of Charlottesville Virginia was the location of a rally by members of the so called “white nationalist” movement (really a white supr...
Word Wednesday - Para what?
As I wrote in an August Word Wednesday Post, I love the Olympic and Paralympic games. I love the way entire countries rise up behind their athletes and how s...
Outdoor Football in Toronto - Thoughts at Midseason
I’ve been an Argos fan since I was born. I’m old enough to remember watching games at the old Exhibition Stadium on the CNE grounds, and of course the Skydom...
Word Wednesday - Golden words
It’s really no secret that I’m a huge fan of the Olympics and the Paralympics. I’m a huge fan of sport in general and think that the Olympics can bring out t...
Saying Goodbye to SkyDome
Tonight is the end of an era, albeit one that many Toronto sports fans (particularly CFL fans) have struggled with over the last 27 years. Tonight the Toron...
Celebration!
It comes as no surprise to those who know me that I’m a sports nut. Football (particularly the CFL and the Toronto Argonauts, but also the NFL and the Detroi...
Word Wednesday - An old word that has new life in the Internet Age
It’s been an interesting week here. Had an amazing time out with friends Friday, went up to the cottage on Saturday, and returned Tuesday. Oh… and last Wedne...
Book Review: Emily Giffin’s The One and Only
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Thoughts on She’s Connected 2012
In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been blogging over at my other blog Adventures with my BlackBerry for the last few months. I’m going to have another wrap ...
Why I love the CFL
Recently I’ve had a number of conversations on twitter and out in the real world about the CFL and how it’s seen to be bush league or second tier. First off...
Cheerleader etiquitte
Okay this post is a week overdue. Sorry about that but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t overreacting to the situation. Last weekend I went to the opening game ...
The Good, the Bad, and the Argos
I’m not going to play armchair GM at 2 am the morning after a loss. Especially after a home game where I didn’t see all of the game because I was playing in...
Random thoughts on a CFL standard
I know a lot of CFL teams have at least one “football 101” day for women to learn about football. Today, as I was explaining some of the basics of the game ...
Bye Week
So it’s the bye week for my team the Toronto Argos - I’m going through withdrawal even though there were 2 very good teams playing football this week. The B...
Venturing into Enemy Territory
Every fan of a CFL team needs to go on a road trip with their team at least once in their lifetime. It may not be feasible to go and see your team in every ...
Sexism and the CFL
Look, I’m not new here. I get that football is a male dominated sport and that some teams like Toronto and Hamilton have an amazing rivalry going. I get th...
Why I love the CFL
I am a football fan. I like pretty much any football - Canadian, American, college, junior, heck even midget and pee-wee. I love the strategy and tactics o...
On injuries and life in the CFL
This has not been a good week for CFL players. Two of the nicest guys in the game have gone down with season-ending injuries. Fred Stamps of the Edmonton E...
Daddy’s Little Girl
I am my father’s daughter and I’m damn proud of it. My dad never shied away from teaching me about sports because of my gender, in fact it became something ...
on women and football
Okay this has been a few days in the writing. Earlier this week I had the unfortunate experience of being talked down to by a misogynist asshole. He told m...
Autism
Sensitive Santas Around Ontario
I’ve written before about how Christmas can be a tough time for kids on the spectrum, or kids who have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), or kids with a host...
Five Fidget Toys I Recommend
Unless you’ve been under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the latest craze hitting the schoolyard - fidget spinners. I’m going to take an unpopular stand ...
Making the holidays manageable for kids on the spectrum
The holidays are supposed to be full of fun and relaxation – but to many kids on the spectrum (and their parents), they are just the opposite. Between the in...
Teaching your child with ASD about gifts
One of the most common questions I hear during the holiday season is “How do I teach my child gift etiquette?” Gift giving occasions with kids on the spectru...
Dos and Don’ts of Giving Gifts to Special Needs Children
With the holiday season fast approaching, I’ve had a few queries as to how best to alert friends and family members as to what the best gift for a special ne...
Word Wednesday - with a twist!
In case you haven’t guessed I’m pretty passionate about my work with kids who have autism. This means that I occasionally get pulled into some of the Autism ...
An Open Letter to Parents of Special Needs Children
I’ve got something to tell you, and I’m pretty sure you all need to hear it right about now. Whether it’s back to school time coming up shortly, or your kid ...
So, Your Child is Having a Meltdown
As someone who works with kids on the spectrum, I’ve witnessed my fair share of meltdowns. As I said in my sensory 101 post, a meltdown is not a tantrum. A...
Summer is coming - is camp in your plans?
I know it seems like march break was only yesterday, but it’s time to start thinking of warmer things - sunshine, warmth, and summer camp! As a kid, I loved ...
Board games I like for kids on the Spectrum.
Last week I blogged about how I use <a href=”http://jennannis.com/its-my-turn-the-challenges-of-turn-taking-with-kids-who-have-asd/” title=”“It’s MY TURN”...
Why can’t we all just get along?
Let’s stop all the infighting and focus on what really matters - improving the quality of life for those who live with autism and those who care for and abou...
“It’s MY TURN” - The challenges of turn taking with kids who have ASD
One of the most common non school related questions I hear from parents with children on the spectrum is how to teach turn taking / game playing. Being able...
Sensory 102
Earlier this week, I wrote about the two most common sensory issues that affect children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – sensitivity to clothing and to...
Sensory 101
One of the hardest things for many parents to understand about their child with Autism is their sensory issues. I’m writing from my experience, which is with...
The Walls Have Ears…
One of the things that brings me joy is my work with children and teens who have Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). When I tell people that I tutor an...
Reviews
Teaching Acceptance One Book at a Time
When I came online today, the first thing I saw were posts about the Ottawa Catholic School Board’s decision to limit access to the graphic novel Drama to ki...
Five Fidget Toys I Recommend
Unless you’ve been under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the latest craze hitting the schoolyard - fidget spinners. I’m going to take an unpopular stand ...
Word Wednesday - Break Time
I’ve been neglecting the blog a little recently, partly because I haven’t had a word that I wanted to write about and a couple of the other pieces percolatin...
How my BlackBerry Passport Equals Mobile Freedom
It’s no secret that I love my BlackBerry devices. I have a BlackBerry in my hand for a good 60% of the day. One of the things I love most about BlackBerry i...
Board Games I Love
I admit it, I’m a board game fanatic. Luckily I have a great group of friends who also love playing board games and we get together 1-2 nights a month to pl...
Book Review - Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson
I’m a historian, and as such, I’m generally leery of reading historical fiction set in the time period I studied - World War One. Small inaccuracies can dri...
Book review - Juliet’s Nurse by Lois Leveen
The Roman Philosopher Marcus Aurelius said that: “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth”. This is t...
Book Review: Emily Giffin’s The One and Only
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Books
Teaching Acceptance One Book at a Time
When I came online today, the first thing I saw were posts about the Ottawa Catholic School Board’s decision to limit access to the graphic novel Drama to ki...
Word Wednesday - Break Time
I’ve been neglecting the blog a little recently, partly because I haven’t had a word that I wanted to write about and a couple of the other pieces percolatin...
Book Review - No Relation by Terry Fallis
“What’s in a name?” Juliet famously queried. “That which we call a rose, would smell as sweet” were it called something else, she noted as she contemplated t...
Book Review - Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson
I’m a historian, and as such, I’m generally leery of reading historical fiction set in the time period I studied - World War One. Small inaccuracies can dri...
Book review - Juliet’s Nurse by Lois Leveen
The Roman Philosopher Marcus Aurelius said that: “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth”. This is t...
The Book Lover’s Ball - After Dark
I’m a classic introvert - I love to spend an evening curled up with a good book and with my BlackBerry at my side. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy goin...
Book Review: Emily Giffin’s The One and Only
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Travel
Travel Tuesday #JennDoesTheCapital (part II)
My last #JennDoesTheCapital post was predominantly about the beer - and though I enjoyed quite a few very nice beers over the course of my trip, they weren’t...
Solo Travel #JennDoesTheCapital (Part I)
I don’t live all that far from Ottawa - about 5 hours driving, depending on the route. I’ve been to Ottawa a few times - grade 8 trip, grade 11 music trip, w...
Word Wednesday - On Facing my Fears
I’m an overthinker. I like to weigh out decisions carefully, and make the best possible choice and even then I often second guess myself. I’m the person you ...
Outdoor Fun In Ontario’s Lake Country with #LetsGoMaple
Last week I wrote about all the indoor fun I had exploring Ontario’s Lake Country on the #LetsGoMaple retreat. Between the absolutely amazing food, the table...
Indoor Fun in Ontario’s Lake Country #LetsGoMaple
Last week, I was fortunate enough to go back to one of my favourite places, Casino Rama Resort, for a few days of winter fun thanks to the wonderful ladies a...
Games
Board games I like for kids on the Spectrum.
Last week I blogged about how I use <a href=”http://jennannis.com/its-my-turn-the-challenges-of-turn-taking-with-kids-who-have-asd/” title=”“It’s MY TURN”...
Board Games I Love
I admit it, I’m a board game fanatic. Luckily I have a great group of friends who also love playing board games and we get together 1-2 nights a month to pl...
Uncategorized
Word Wednesday - Baby It’s Hot Outside (and Inside)
Summer took awhile to arrive this year here in Ontario - we flirted with mid to high 20s (I’m Canadian, and read my temperature in degrees Celsius - for my A...
relationships
How Not to be an Asshole When a Friend’s Parent Dies
originally published on Yummy Mummy Club (view as published via Internet Archive)