COLOURFUL

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/04/30/rdp-sunday-colorful/

Yesterday was my Twinless Twins meeting. Originally it was going to be held in the home of our Regional Coordinator but it was changed to a hotel in the city. At the end of the meeting she told us that they aren’t allowed to have a meeting in a home in case something were to happen. I left my apartment at 10:30 to allow plenty of time and almost everyone else was already there. We ended up with 6 people total including myself and the woman hosting it. Disappointing since it’s a lot of work to organize a meeting. Not to mention the cost.

Since we had a small group we had plenty of time to share stories about our twins. The last meeting I went to was fairly large so we didn’t have a chance to. We laughed a lot.

This picture ties in with the prompt for today. I posted a photo I took of myself wearing the shirt on Facebook asking if it was too dressed up to wear. Everyone thought it was pretty and completely appropriate. I felt like I was too dressed up since 2 of the women had their conference t-shirts on with black sweatpants. It’s been 10 years since I’ve been to an in person meeting. I think people are definitely dressing down since covid. The shawl was made by a fellow twinless twin. When I went in after I had hung up my coat and got settled she came over and had me pick out one. It happens to have the colours that we like. Pink and purple are my favourite and it has hunter green and blue for Janet. Each shawl has a word attached (if you see the card on the bottom). Mine was “passionate”. I don’t think that’s my word but it’s a beautiful sentiment. I’m not sure where to put it since it should be displayed somewhere. I think I will drape it across the back of my sofa in the office for now.

TGIF April almost over

This has been an interesting week. On Wednesday I got an email that our Twinless Twin meeting is now going to be held at a hotel in the city. I can see the rationale to this as it’s closer to the 401 (highway) for people coming from other cities and there is plenty of parking. From reviews I’ve read online it’s a little run down but I’m sure it’s adequate for a meeting. I’m all set with fresh haircut, at home hair colour and my outfit picked out. I’m actually glad that’s it’s not going to be too warm as I’m going to be wearing a 3/4 length dress shirt.

I booked my birthday manicure this week despite the fact that my birthday isn’t until June. Last year I left it too late and they were completely booked up. I usually go for lunch too but since I will be going out with my friend in July I think I will just order something in. I’m hoping that it won’t be as hot as it was last year! I already have 2 peeves for Monday! I have been looking online trying to find a decent place to go for lunch with family that is also appropriate for someone who is vegetarian. The fancier places are basically just serving dinner for lunch. Either the food is good but the service is awful or the music is too loud. Why is it so hard??

I should book my hotel for July pretty soon as well. It’s hard to think of summer preparations when I still have the heat on! There is such a sense of accomplishment of crossing things off the to-do list!

3 YEARS

Yesterday I had an appointment with a dietician at the diabetes clinic. Since it’s in a hospital everybody coming in has to put a mask on. They used to have a person at the entrance who would hand you a mask with tongs after you sanitized and would ask you screening questions and then ask if you knew where you were going. The first time I went in person it was a lot but I got used to it. Yesterday they had a box when you entered on a table and a different box on a table further down. Apparently one mask was for people waiting for urgent care and the other is for “regular” patients. When I went into the waiting room for the clinic there wasn’t anyone else there. They still have the chairs roped off for physical distancing. My appointment was at 11AM and pre-covid I would have brought a snack with me. Needless to say I was quite hungry by the time I got home! We always talk about the things that I have to work on and one of those things is meal prep. A little harder with the cost of groceries going up. She also said that despite the fact that it is almost 3 years later we are only now having our first in person appointment. It’s been a lot of change to our routine. YES! It’s only been the last couple of months where I have felt like things have gotten back to a routine with coffee dates with my friend, walking to my local coffee shop etc. BUT there is that realization that the world has changed. As much as we wish for it we aren’t going back to the way things were before.

Today I learned that they are “relaxing” the rules regarding masking at hospitals. Basically you only need to wear it in the room with the Dr or staff that you are seeing. It seems completely ridiculous. I can go to the cafeteria surrounded by people, sit in the waiting room maskless but I have to put one on as soon as the Dr comes in. Who is going to monitor that?

I think today is just one of those days where I am frustrated. It seems like the goal post keeps moving.

A COMMUNITY PART 2

This morning I saw a post by a coffee shop in Wortley Village that the Old South Community Association has organized a fundraiser for the cafe that was destroyed due to fire. While the cafe does have insurance I’m sure that it will take a while before everything gets settled. This is a way for a community to help, to give back. 2 days after it happened they have already organized this. It makes me feel like there is good in the world. As a side note they have found the person that was responsible for the fire and has been charged.

While reading the comments people have said that they are going to get coffee at the other cafe. Some said they are going to wait. It made me realize how we all have our spots that we go to. Janet and I would go to Red Roaster because we liked the sense of community. There was a group that would meet every Saturday. If you brought your own mug you would get a discount and you could get a refill for 50 cents. Yes, it’s over 15 years ago so the price everywhere has gone up. When it closed and changed ownership my friend and I tried it out but it was just too upscale for us. I also saw a comment with regards a coffee shop near Wortley Village. The woman said she didn’t like the vibe. Even though my local coffee shop is very modern and people use it for Instagram photos (including myself) it still has a neighbourhood feel. Personally I think it comes down to the owner. He is in there regularly and his staff are really friendly. As I sad in my last blog post we could go anywhere to get coffee. It’s a choice where we spend our money. The places that have loyal customers are the ones that recognize that and treat you as such.

A COMMUNITY

Just before lunch I saw a news story online about a fire at a coffee shop in Wortley Village. Looking at the extent of the fire and water (so much water!) damage it’s likely that they will have to tear it down and start over. I follow a page on Instagram that promotes the businesses in London. There is another coffee shop a few doors down that posted how sad they were and that they would come together as a community. I think I’ve been to the coffee shop once. Janet and I preferred going to Little Red Roaster. It had more of a neighbourhood vibe. We would always see someone that we knew there. It has changed ownership a couple times since then and while I’ve never been to the new cafe I’ve heard good things.

I have been to the downtown location a few times with friends since it’s near me. It’s great to go in the summer because they have a large patio. It is off a busy street so you do have to put up with traffic noise. My friend and I went last September and it was interesting people watching. A lot of crop tops!

After covid a lot of coffee shops closed. It’s such a loss to the community when a small business owner decides to close. There is a new coffee shop on the same street that I live. I haven’t tried it out yet but I look forward to. I love going to my local coffee shop because the baristas are so friendly. I often get take out and one time they wrote my name on the bag with a happy face.

Coffee shops aren’t just a place to have coffee and a treat. If you wanted that you could go to a chain cafe. It’s a place to gather with friends, neighbours. A place where you find out about the neighbourhood events on the bulletin board. People sitting outside with their babies and puppy (and the owners provide dog bowls with water). We need more places like this in our cities.

TGIF Summer weather

This week has been a bit of a roller coaster for me. Mostly good but a couple of difficult/emotional things. On Wednesday I noticed a picture of a woman that I unofficially follow on Instagram where she was sitting in the living room of the house I grew up in. It was tagged with the name of a home decor store in Wortley Village (which is near Old South neighbourhood). When I clicked on the link there were pictures of her home decor items in the house. While she and her husband “own” the house it’s almost an extension of her business. It’s the type of styling that you see in a magazine but nobody actually lives there. Even though it’s not my house it’s still hard to see a place that was a home used as an investment.

When I phoned a woman that still lives in the neighbourhood I came away from the phone call realizing that maintaining a relationship with this woman is not good for me. The biggest thing is feeling judged and belittled.

After a rough day I went out to get a much needed haircut and then had my lunch at my local cafe. I lucked out and got the last table outside that was still in the shade. With the construction there was a lot more traffic but it wasn’t as noisy as I thought it would be. I tried a new sandwich on the menu. It was “ok” but not one I will order again. Today I had my lunch on the balcony. I had mushroom and rice soup from my local bakery with a cheese biscuit. I listened to the bird chirping. It was really lovely.

It’s the little things

Yesterday I went to my accountant’s office to sign my income tax and pay for their services. The receptionist (a really friendly guy) told me that I would be getting a refund. I kiddingly told him that it would pay for a weeks worth of groceries. He joked “yeah, if you don’t buy eggs”. There is something about starting the day with friendly people. It just makes the day brighter. Tuesday is my grocery delivery day. She unloaded all my groceries onto the counter and then handed me my fruit tray. I put it down on the counter and said “I have to get my hug”. While I could use Instacart or PC Express I would miss the personal interaction I get weekly.

This week we are FINALLY getting warmer weather. We just went straight to summer! I put on my new zebra print pants from Old Navy and discovered they have pockets. It’s a big deal when we find clothes that have pockets in them. I have a couple friends that feel the same way. I told an influencer on Instagram (who has family that lives in my city) that it’s like wearing pajamas only you can actually wear them outside. She liked that analogy.

Of course it being patio weather I’m going to go to my local coffee shop and either have lunch there or on my balcony. They are doing construction right beside so I will depend how noisy it is.

TGIF Sunsets

This week I have taken sunset pictures 3 days in a row. The cool thing about sunsets is each one is different. Last night it was streaks across with cotton candy clouds. Because I live on the 3rd floor once there are leaves on the tree I can no longer take sunset pictures.

I’m getting a couple treats from my local bakery. Hot cross buns because it’s tradition. I was looking at the flyer online and I was shocked at the difference in price from store bought ones but a bakery has higher quality ingredients. I was watching a video online of shoppers at Walmart in Calgary. One woman said there won’t be a turkey this year because it was too expensive. I usually make myself a nice dinner for holidays but with groceries so expensive I chose not to.

I’m so excited that next week it’s FINALLY going to be warm enough to sit outside at a patio. It’s a beautiful sunny day today after some rainy days…storms in some places. It’s all about the little pleasures in life.

The Garden Dawdler

What do you find yourself splurging on the most?

Clothes and food. With the cost of things going up I’m trying not to “splurge”. I’ve cut back to every other week food delivery from my bakery. While I bought new clothes recently the lavender jeans I can wear with a shirt I already have or a white t-shirt. I will admit that I’m an emotional shopper. If I’m having a bad day I will buy something.

What is your top writing tip?

Write for yourself.

Are you a regular recycler, and if so, what are five of your top recycling tips?

I am. Break down cardboard boxes! At my apartment I was also told to remove shipping labels from boxes. It’s a pain.

Are you someone that wants to be or needs to be heard and seen, or are you content to be found behind the scenes?

A little of both. I wouldn’t have a blog if I didn’t want to be heard.

How approachable do you think you are in real life and away from the keyboard, and do others feel the same way about you?

Very. My super always stops to chat with me. Janet and I had people come up to talk to us because we were twins.

Do you sit more on the fence or the edge of the knife?

I’m more on the fence. It’s not because I don’t have an opinion I’ve just learned that in this day and age it’s not worth it to argue the point. I will post information on candidates on Facebook but I wouldn’t engage in political debate.

What do you remember the most about your grandparents?

The first thing would be how much they loved each other. They were the type of couple that everyone should aspire to be. My grandmother was very old fashioned in that we had to wear a skirt for school photos, panty hose to church and no wearing night attire to breakfast if we slept over. My grandmother made our clothes and I still have my grade 8 grad dress in my closet. The took our school pictures with them to Florida and put them on the night stand. The would tell the cleaners those are our grand kids. My Dad’s parents died before we were born.

How important to you is validation from your readers to your written content – do you need acknowledgement from others to create?

It’s nice but not necessary.

What is it you would have liked to have been asked about your life but have yet to be?

I’m not sure.

Influencer

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/04/02/rdp-sunday-influencer/

I joined Instagram a little over 2 years ago. If you looked at my page it’s predominantly food. Most of the businesses I follow on Facebook are now mostly using Instagram. The bakery that I order from is quick to respond to any questions I have when I message them.

To me the word influencer has both good and bad connotations. I don’t officially follow Jillian Harris but occasionally I will check out her page. Last fall I purchased a shacket from the Jillian Harris collaboration with Joe Fresh. I went online the morning of the launch and was able to get a pink one in my size. On her stories people were lined up as soon as the stores opened. Was I “influenced” to buy this. Partly. I needed a lighter weight winter coat and it’s super cute. I have already worn it a few times.

In December I purchased this advent calendar. It is also Jillian Harris…through Canadian Tire. I haven’t used it yet but I hung it up in the front hallway to take a picture. I was able to buy one drastically reduced just before Christmas for a friend this Christmas. I love that the pockets are big. Since I don’t have kids it’s more for activities…go for hot chocolate with a friend, watch a Christmas movie etc. I see it as a good investment because I can use it over and over again. At the same time I must admit that everything in her Christmas collection was very expensive. This is the “influencer” part that is a little cringy. If you were to follow her everyday it would seem like a commercial.

I also follow plus size influencers. This is different because they are promoting clothing/makeup brands. I can’t say that I have gone out and bought something because of what they were wearing. Last fall I purchased an off the shoulder dress from an online live sale. Growing up my parents were very strict in the way we dressed and there were times my Dad made me change. I’m open to trying new things. I never would have thought I could wear that but it’s pretty. It’s about building a community that builds each other up. I will never understand the need to trash someone on Instagram. Don’t like them…move on.