Tag: Holidays
Aliens in the Midst
Uncovering an invasion of space aliens, cleverly disguised as readers of Popular Mechanics. There are aliens among us. Space aliens, that is, not illegal aliens, although when you think about it, they may well be both. After all, it’s hard to see that stealthy invaders from another galaxy would have …
Love Never Fails
The over-abundance of tacky Valentine’s Day gifts leads to musings about the true nature of love.
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
Transforming an often miserable Hallowe’en into the Day of the Dead – a remembrance and celebration of our dead. The snowdrifts are knee high and hard crusted; the snow underfoot is so dry it squeaks. With the temperature hovering at minus 20 Celsius, the wind does its level best …
The Test of Life
We have lost the test of life, he informs me, handing my drycleaning over the counter. I am, in quick succession, startled, panicked and then indignant: who knew a test of life had even been scheduled? Some hand waving clarifies his meaning: we have lost, not the test, but the …
Only in Canada, Eh?
Happy Simcoe Day! What’s that you say? Never heard of it? You’re in good company—or numerous company, at least. Most Torontonians have never heard of it either, and they have less excuse than you do: it’s been their version of the August Civic Holiday since 1968. While I hate to …
Once is Happenstance
He’d won. Ignoring the reviews, we’d gone to see the dick flick (exploding helicopters) instead of the chick flick (exploding relationships). It was terrible: he admitted as much, during the credits. But I couldn’t leave it alone. As we shuffled out of the theatre, feet sticking unpredictably to the floor, …
Everything I Need to Know About Love, I Learned at the Movies
Herewith, Week #3 of my 5-week ‘tribute to the movies’ series. As Valentine’s Day looms, this week’s topic is love, true love. Men can’t help lying about sex; women can’t help telling the truth. I don’t know which is worse. In 1962, Boys’ Night Out romped through the not-very-romantic premise …