Sharon's Blurb

  There are a few areas of the world where people regularly live to be 100 years old. They happen to call them Blue Zones. Not because they are full of blue haired people. But because someone just circled the areas in blue marker on a map. There are five such communities and they are in Italy, Greece, California, Japan and Costa Rica. Scientists have studied what it could possibly be that allows or causes the residents in these locales live to be so old. They have narrowed it down to a few things. Among them are food, exercise, and socializing. All of these places are somewhat remote. Isolated slightly from mainstream culture and society. I personally feel it may have more to do with the food than anything else. There is likely no chance these people consume any processed food whatsoever. Everything they eat is from the land, or made directly from ingredients from the land. Whether it be protein, dairy, vegetables, wheat, rice, etc. Not a chemical to b...

  It was 9 o'clock on a Saturday morning. I had no particular place to be. Some online work to take care of, but then the day was mine. To do with as I pleased. A "Me" day. They don't happen very often. And I was almost at a loss as to what to do. My Day-Timer was free and clear from any commitments. And once my penciled-in "to-do's" of my daily yoga and going for a walk were done, there was nothing else on my plate. What to do, what to do. Hubby was up at the boat; my closest living family lives in England; and friends were busy with their own lives. One of the unwritten "rules" I have given myself of late is to find a daily connection. Connecting is one of the so-called secrets of living a good and healthy life, researchers say. Much as I love my alone time, I have acquiesced to this research finding, and now strive to have at least one daily connection. If there are more, so be it. My usual daily routines norm...

Can you feel it? The excitement in the air is palpable. Taylor Swift, music icon and legend, is performing her opening show in Toronto tonight. She's here for six shows - in the SIX. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, rest, then repeat the following week. Where does she get the energy? Hopefully it is fueled somewhat by the thousands of fans who are descending upon the city in droves to see her. Security is tight. Streets will be closed. And rightfully so. For with such popularity also come the detractors. Witness the concerts in Vienna, Austria, which were cancelled because of security threats. But this is more than just a concert. This is an event in the grand scheme of things; a polarizing mark in the space-time continuum. Where were you when Taylor Swift came to Toronto? Her largesse extending to the economics surrounding the venue; cities and towns reaping the benefits of the rewards of a visit by Her Swiftness. It has even been dubbed "Swiftnom...

 I have started a new book. It's called The Horse Whisperer. You may have seen the movie. I encourage you to read the book. It is written by a man who inherently cares so much about horses that he writes with excruciating detail. In fact I can only manage a few pages a day. I am wrought by such emotion that I need a whole day to process the events. And it is not a Schindler's List kind of emotional draining. It is a good emotional draining. A great way to start my day. Kind of like Holly Hunter's character in the movie Broadcast News where she starts each frenetic day bawling alone in her office, to clear out her emotional pipes, I guess. And as I sit there, weeping while I am reading, Princess the cat sitting on the mat in front of me, looking up at me wondering what she can do to help me, I have a confession to make:  I read in the bathroom. Yes, while I am having my morning constitution, I am indeed getting my read on. There, I admit it. I am sure I am not alone. There i...

  Princess hopped up onto the ledge and into the sunbeam. It was her favourite spot in the whole house on sunny days. Despite being a black cat, very nearly becoming too hot to the touch after sitting in a sunbeam for any length of time, she loved her sunshine. The problem this day was that Chester, the other black cat, was already lying on that ledge. Something Princess had seen and taken note of, but jumped up there anyways. Perhaps in her old age she didn't care that the ledge was already taken. Perhaps she thought she could squeeze into the other half of the sunbeam that wasn't already being taken up by Chester. At any rate, there she was, up on the ledge, a mere three inches away from Chester. Chester, for his part, was flabbergasted. Neither of them are cuddle buddies; in fact Princess is very particular about her bubble, preferring a fairly big one around her, all day, every day. Chester at first was startled at the sudden presence of Princess. ...

  Remember the one where Penny fell in the shower and Sheldon had to drive her to the hospital? Or the episode where Sheldon got several cats to replace Amy but then ended up giving them away to kids along with $20? Or the one where... It doesn't really matter which episode you watch. They are all great therapy after a really long, hard day. Or an emotionally grueling experience. Or you just need some mind candy for awhile to take your thoughts off things. Great therapy. As all the characters wend their way through their own foibles, there is always a message in there somewhere for all of us. As Howard negotiates his overbearing mother, and frighteningly similar wife, somehow, somewhere, we can all relate a little. And there is always a great deal of humor to get us through. Always at someone's expense, but in the end, all is forgiven in the name of friendship. And there's always a lesson thrown in along the way. Either for Sheldon, as he learn...