I just want to put this out there – I intensely dislike shopping, and shoe shopping takes me to a special level of hell. I am always appalled at the cost of a simple pair of shoes. My orthotic inserts and fussy feet also mean that my shoe choices are limited and a wrong decision…
Author: marialegault
I spend my time hiking in nature and reading great novels.
To Play the Fool by Laurie R. King
King, Laurie R. (1995). To Play the Fool. St. Martin’s Press; New York. If you’re someone who is particular about starting a murder mystery series with the first book, do not start reading about Kate Martinelli in To Play the Fool. Instead, start with A Grave Talent and proceed from there. The story and characters…
I’m Over [Blank] Age and Still Learning!
Several weeks ago, I was reflecting on my long list of to-do’s and wish items for the 2014 year. I have written down on this long sheet of paper things like learn to sing, take part in at least one dance class for a month, and start learning a new language. The more I look…
A Hedonistic Package Deal in Niagara-on-the-Lake
As mentioned in yesterday’s post, my mother and I were lucky enough to get a package deal during our stay at the Queen’s Landing hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. After spending half the morning exploring the little boutique shops of the main street, we hopped into our car and toured to the three main destinations provided…
Winter in Niagara-on-the-Lake
After touring through Burlington and the Royal Botanical Gardens, stopping by Niagara Falls, and traveling up along the Niagara River, my mother and I completed our first day of our March Break travels at Niagara-on-the-Lake. There are an incredible number of hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, wineries, and historic sites in Niagara-on-the-Lake (see the TripAdvisor overview…
Winter at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
During my March Break wanderings with my mother as my traveling companion, I had the chance to see Niagara Falls in a state of semi-solidity. The term “Niagara Falls” refers to the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; the tourism industry in and around Niagara Falls; and the three waterfalls which are the namesake and…
Winter at the Royal Botanical Gardens
Although the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG), located on Plains Road West in Burlington Ontario, is better seen in the summer, their winter programming also promises much in the way of nature-based educational entertainment. While visiting the RBG Centre this past March Break, I had the chance to see their exhibit on Savage Gardens/Nature’s Ninjas. All…
Rusalka by C. J. Cherryh
Cherryh, C.J. (1989). Rusalka. Ballantine Books; New York. As a young adult, I devoured the tales of the brilliant and consummately skilled science fiction writer C.J. Cherryh. The first of her books that I enjoyed was Rider at the Gate, and the memory of it still leaves me with chills of mystery, magic, and adventure….
A Qualitative Space Cadet
Although I no longer consider myself to be deeply inured in the academic system, there are still days where I spend a lot of time thinking about the nature of research and the processes which go into interpreting and communicating the world around us. My graduate days, after all, are still relatively close behind me….
The Terrors of a Long Commute
We all know people who have to commute long distances to get to a job. Living in one city and working in another, with perhaps a one-hour car ride between both, may seem reasonable at first. But the true health and financial cost of commuting over one’s lifetime will quickly wear away at any benefit…
This Mud Puddle Lures Me
This past weekend, the time jumped one hour ahead and the hope of spring erupted into everyone’s hearts. After weeks of negative 30 degree Celsius temperatures and seemingly endless snowy, icy, grey days, we had plus-six degrees outside today. Giant piles of snow started to sweat and release their hard-packed bulk into the streets and…
What a Contrast! You’re Either Overpaid or “Free”
It’s a crazy world we’re living in. Truly. Making the news these days we can see examples of extreme weather events the world over, and the employment situation is not too far behind. It seems that you’re either burning hot or frigidly cold as an employee – or, to put it in less analogous terms,…
Maria Legault 