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[fransiweinstein]

A touching reminder of what really matters ...

A touching reminder of what really matters …

It was cold last Friday and extremely windy so I wimped out. Truth be told I was also lazy, so I took a Lyft where I was going. Lyft, in case you don’t know, is a ride-sharing company like Uber.

The minute I got into the car before I’d even settled myself enough to close the door, the driver told me that mine was his favourite apartment building in Toronto. He then immediately went on to tell me…

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[fransiweinstein]

Busy, busy ...

Busy, busy …

While it was certainly tempting to crawl into a well-heated cave and hibernate until Spring during our recent deep freeze I was, instead, taking advantage of some of the many things Toronto has to offer.

Yes, with the exception of only a few breathtakingly cold days cocooned at home, wrapped in a blanket, I bundled up in multiple layers of sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves and down-filled coats,…

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[fransiweinstein]

I am SO over it ...

I am SO over it …

I’ve never been a winter enthusiast, but over the last several years, I’ve started to embrace the changing seasons and have stopped kvetching about snow and colder temperatures.

Well, I’m here to tell you that my honeymoon with winter is now over.

Last Fall it was predicted that we would have a brutal winter this year. Long, very cold and lots of snow. For a while, I thought Mother Nature was…

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[fransiweinstein]

(sigh) ...

(sigh) …

In a tribute to the late poet, Mary Oliver, Maria Popova re-posted in last Sunday’s BrainPickings, an essay Oliver wrote — “Of Power and Time.” In it, she writes about how “creative work needs solitude … concentration without interruptions.” It really resonated with me, because I’m so easily distracted these days. It wasn’t always thus, but it’s been a problem for a while now.

Thankfully, my…

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[fransiweinstein]

Four hours later ...

Four hours later …

Omg! For months now, every time I went into my spice cupboard I’d say to myself, “Fransi, you really have to go through this stuff.” Well, I finally chose last weekend to do it. I’m thrilled with the outcome, but what a time-consuming chore that turned out to be! Omg.

I know, I know, you’re probably sitting there saying, “spice cupboard???? How many spices could she (meaning me) possibly…

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[fransiweinstein]

The pause that refreshes ...

The pause that refreshes …

For the first time in forever, I did absolutely no work over the Christmas break. I honestly can’t remember ever doing that before. Seriously. And I cannot tell you how great it feels. My brain is quiet. It’s never quiet, but it is now. I’m refreshed and rejuvenated. Won’t last long, but that’s okay. It’s had a long overdue rest and that’s all that matters.

I rarely turned on my computer —…

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[fransiweinstein]

Happy New Year … 2018. What a year it was. I can't say I'm sorry to see it go. An annus horribilis if ever there was one.

[fransiweinstein]

Merry Christmas … Santa's come and gone and hopefully, he and the missus, the elves, Rudolph, Donner, Comet, Prancer, Cupid, Dasher, Dancer, Blitzen and Vixen -- well-sated from all the milk and cookies -- are now safely back home and enjoying a well-deserved rest. As for the rest of us, here's my Christmas wish: Peace on earth, good will to men. 

[fransiweinstein]

Ho, ho, hum ...

Ho, ho, hum …

It’s a week until Christmas and I’m just not feeling it.

I stopped buying gifts for grown-ups years ago and there are no little ones in my orbit, so it’s been a while since I personally got caught up in the shopping/wrapping frenzy. But I’ve always gotten into the spirit of the season watching everyone else run themselves ragged.

But it doesn’t seem to be happening this year. The stores I’ve been…

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[fransiweinstein]

Liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar pants on fire ...

Liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar pants on fire …

It truly is gobsmacking.

I’m speaking, of course, about Robert Mueller’s most recent court filings. Robert Mueller, in case you’ve been living under a rock for the past year or so, is the Special Prosecutor who was appointed to look into the alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government and also possible obstruction of justice.

That such an investigation is necessary is…

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[fransiweinstein]

I can't help but wonder ...

I can’t help but wonder …

This has been a year when we’ve had front row seats as America has said goodbye and thank you to Barbara Bush, John McCain and now, former President George H.W. Bush.

We’ve seen and heard the tearful tributes and fond memories shared by numerous friends, family, colleagues, global leaders and even journalists who covered them over the years. We’ve watched footage of the significant moments of…

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[fransiweinstein]

Curiosities ...

Curiosities …

There’s nothing pressing on my mind I want to share at the moment. So here are some things I’ve been wondering about:

I just got off the phone with Rogers (my cable/internet/wireless provider). I was questioning something on my bill and when we were done the rep I was speaking with asked if I had a minute so he could go over my account and make sure I was getting the best deal possible. He soon…

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[fransiweinstein]

A pox on telemarketers ...

A pox on telemarketers …

Grrrrrrr!!!!!

I am besieged with telemarketing calls. I get calls at 8 a.m. I get calls at 10 and 11 o’clock at night. I get calls on weekends and holidays. On any given day I can get upwards of five or six of them. I get these calls on both my landline and iPhone. I am on a “do not call” list (for both my landline and iPhone) and have been since they’ve been in existence.

The problem…

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[fransiweinstein]

Am I getting old and cranky or is common courtesy no longer common?

Am I getting old and cranky or is common courtesy no longer common?

I’ve been on the hunt for a new winter coat and winter boots for a while. Amazingly, I haven’t found anything in the stores yet. What’s going on? It’s the middle of November in Toronto. Winter is fast approaching. What are retailers waiting for?

A friend suggested that I try Nordstrom Rack. She’d seen a lot of down coats there. So off I trotted this past Sunday. She was right. There were tons of…

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[fransiweinstein]

Fingers crossed ...

Fingers crossed …

Hell, I’ve got everything crossed, including my eyes. Today’s a big day. Mid-term elections in the U.S. and I’ve got to say my emotions are all over the place. One minute the polls seem hopeful and then I remember what the polls showed during the 2016 presidential election. So I’m not getting ahead of myself.

You might be wondering why I’ve got my knickers in such a twist, me being Canadian and…

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[fransiweinstein]

I'm struggling ...

I’m struggling …

I was brought up in a home where everyone was welcome. I was taught to treat everyone kindly and decently, to respect everyone — regardless of where they came from, their race, religion, economic status or sexual preferences, whether I agreed with their beliefs and opinions or not. I was taught to look for the (more…)

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[fransiweinstein]

It never ceases to amaze me ...

It never ceases to amaze me …

I don’t go to an office job every day. I’m a freelance writer and although the last several weeks have been very hectic, I do usually have a fair amount of time each week to myself. Which means I don’t have to cram my entire to-do list into just two days — Saturday and Sunday.

So can someone tell me why I start every week with a new list and I end every week with some items still not crossed off?…

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