In my wanderings, I sometimes encounter things that I don’t necessarily want to see. The night of December 3rd was just one of these occasions; I was driving home when I passed a freshly killed cat on the roads right outside of my apartment. Pause. Breathe. I wrote out this post the night of the…
Author: marialegault
I spend my time hiking in nature and reading great novels.
Birthday Thoughts
Today is my 24th birthday. I’m working – in secret – on a list of things that I want to accomplish in my 24th year. Or thereafter. It doesn’t really matter, since I’ll probably just keep a reflective diary of my progress. I’m thinking almost daily about what’s important to me. Rest assured that if…
Ways to Stay Optimistic during the Job Search
This week I’ve been reflecting on the nature of the job market and increasingly finding reasons to be happy and relaxed about the whole situation in which I currently find myself. Yes, it’s true that I’ve graduated from university (twice) with stellar marks, an excellent track record, and lots of supporters – yet still can’t…
Female Bullying as Cultural Force
When I was much younger, I was fully exposed to the censure of female criticism. Female bullying – which often occurs with words rather than physical violence – can happen anywhere from grade school right through adulthood (these ideas have been extensively portrayed and popularized in movies like Mean Girls). Stereotypes about women are as…
Life and Death in the Nook of a Tree
While out walking a dog several days ago, I happened to glance down in passing at the base of a tree. Crouched in the nook of that tree, barely visible, was a small squirrel. My canine charge, not really concerned about this tiny creature, ambled on until the leash ran out of slack and began…
Who ‘Ya Gonna Call? Cat Behaviorist Reads Feline Minds
Have you ever heard the expression “like herding cats” in reference to a futile or exceedingly difficult task? Cats are a symbol of myth and largely misunderstood by their owners in the modern day; but Pam Johnson-Bennett is the woman who knows – and I mean really knows – about cats. She is currently the…
The Joys of Walking
While dog, cat, and house sitting this weekend, I took the time to go out for a really long and meditative walk. Walking has always been one of my greatest pleasures and most enjoyable pastimes. All it requires is that I put on sturdy walking shoes, season-appropriate clothing, and a thoughtful mindset. In return, I…
End of November = End of Movember
As many of you will know, November is a month for celebrations and commemorations of all things big and small in our world today. In a previous blog posting, I outlined how November is rife with ‘days’ of recognition (e.g. World Toilet Day is November 19th), and the month itself holds great meaning (e.g. November…
Let the Shopping Begin!
Today is Black Friday, which is “often regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season” (Wikipedia article). The term ‘Black Friday’ originates in “Philadelphia, where it originally was used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving” (Wikipedia article). Origins of the name are…
To Millennials, with Love
It seems like every day brings with it a new report, news article, or media release on the economic and educational status of the Millennial generation. Today was one such momentous date, bringing with it several new sources of data. I’m pleased to say that one of these articles was based on research conducted by…
The Heat of Scrutiny and Praise
Yesterday I successfully defended my thesis to my committee, which was comprised of: Dr. Troy Glover (Reader), Dr. Sanjay Nepal (Committee Member), and Dr. Bryan Grimwood (Advisor). I began my 20-minute Powerpoint presentation with a video that took my examiners on a virtual hike of my research on the trails, then had to respond to two…
Career Women and Why I Don’t Sympathize
In my recent job application endeavours, I have noticed an intriguing trend; women are listed as a ‘minority’ demographic and thus privy to special considerations denied to the male gender. But with “each generation, the notion that female workers are secondary to their male counterparts fades more and more […] A whole new crop of…
Maria Legault 