May I recommend
Taking a stupid little mental health walk.
It’s become a cliche at this point that going for a stupid little mental health walk is a good thing, but goddamn it, it IS.
Prior to the Great Staying at Homing I liked to walk fine enough— walking the dog was kind of a chore but was also usually nice; hiking was pleasant as long as it wasn’t too steep, too long, too buggy or held any potential of getting lost and spiralling into a Blair Witch situation; running errands in my neighbourhood was enjoyable; meeting friends for a walk was a pleasant and morally virtuous way to get together. It was all perfectly fine and good.
BUT THEN… When the Pandeminator arrived, walking really was the one activity that you could do without too much worry, and it became a lifeline. Getting out of the house, putting one foot in front of the other, breathing in that fresh air, seeing a different perspective from your own walls (need paint) family (need attitude adjustments) and routines (is this what life is now? Just a daily repetition of the same things over and over in a Bill Murray-esque nightmarescape?) became massively important.
I don’t know about you, but I’m still recovering (I think) from what the hell these last few years were. I feel a little discombobulated and off about the world, myself and what really is the meaning of it all… Or maybe this is just a normal midlife existential panic… Either way, that stupid, simple, insanely easy and immensely rewarding mid-day walk is a key tool for my navigation of all this nonsense.
My daily walks allow me to think through plot points on my latest novel, mull over my family worries, contemplate all my professional concerns, say hello to neighbours, exercise my dog, breathe in all that fucking pollen (sincere thanks to the antihistamine industry — the true love of my life), snoop on the local real estate market, spot cardinals — so many this year! — listen to podcasts, talk on the phone and daydream.
It’s free. It’s joyous and really, I know I am the first person in the history of the world to make this observation, but taking a walk is amazing.
Do you love a walk? Tell me all about it!
Recovering from a traumatic brain injury
How to Survive a Car Crash in Ten Easy Steps
Fascinating, funny and harrowing — worth a read
A nurse tells you to get an eyepatch to make it easier to focus on one image. On paper, this sounds insanely cool because you have visions of yourself as a badass war reporter like Marie Colvin or a drunk pirate like Jack Sparrow. But you also have glasses, so the nurse just tapes the right side of your frames with medical tape and you look so much like a bullied fifth grader that you feel the urge to stuff yourself in a locker.
The history of measuring is surprisingly interesting
What about a pinch? A dash? A touch?
Smidgen likely comes from the Scottish word smitch, which also means a very small amount. (A side note: it is interesting that many words for small quantities start with “sm”—including the word “small” itself; for example, “smithereen,” “smattering,” “smudge.”) Smidgen is generally used to refer to an almost trace amount, a few grains or a tiny sliver.
Funniest movies of all time?
The 25 Comedy Movies of All Time
Not sure I am on board with all these choices, that mostly seem to come from a pretty white male perspective — Where’s my Mean Girls? Where’s my Legally Blonde? Where’s my CLUELESS?
Still, there’s some good ones on this list.
These days, comedy seems to have taken a back seat, with iconic actors of the genre, such as Will Ferrell, Seth Rogen and Sacha Baron Cohen, exploring other creative avenues. Instead, comedy has found its way into sci-fi and fantasy flicks, with seemingly every new release having a good deal of levity to it, for better or worse. With that being said, comedy has always existed as part of other genres, present in Ivan Reitman’s Ghostbusters, Peter Jackson’s Braindead and Gerard Johnstone’s M3gan.
Book Stuff
I should find out next week whether THE FOULEST THINGS won The Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada. Cross your fingers for me, and if you want, watch this video of me being interviewed by Crime Writers of Canada, Erik D’Souza!
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Oh my goodness
Excuse for Abba content
Hot tip, also I enjoy how exasperated she is
Bird watching is like snorkelling
I’m just a simple person
Curious cat
New fave song
He’s a very loving cat
Cigarette Grandma Summer
How batteries work
Oh hi mummy
I don’t sleep on Les Miz/Schitts Creek crossovers
Going on a roadtrip
Interesting, but also, that cloud of flies around his face…
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One of the best things about having a dog is that I am forced to take stupid walks for my stupid mental health. (But my dog is never stupid.)
Excellent blog this week, Amy! Fingers crossed for the Howard Engel.