This past weekend, I had the opportunity to watch the 2009 documentary film Big River Man. Though the film was often shaky and the voice overs a little grainy, I had to go for a long walk to reflect on the movie after watching it. My emotional response to the footage was immediate and intense….
Author: marialegault
I spend my time hiking in nature and reading great novels.
How to #Profit from Blogging (And Lose Your Soul in the Process)
I am a humble 15, 488 words into my NaNoWriMo novel on this day in the month of November. Even though I’m probably a little bit behind, and my writing has degenerated into something more non-fiction than fiction, I’m completely and utterly okay with it. The reason for this cool self-assured response? I am writing…
What a Monday!
So today, unfortunately, is a Monday. It’s not a particularly bad Monday for me personally, although the Weather Network is threatening rain and wet snow throughout the day here in Kitchener, Ontario. It’s an unfortunate Monday because it seems to be a capsule for tumultuous and violent events around the world. First, today is Remembrance Day…
Libraries – They’ve Got What You Need!
Yesterday I had some free time on my hands and decided to wander into the main branch of the Kitchener Public Library (KPL) in downtown Kitchener. Though I had to navigate my way past a massive amount of construction work – the building is undergoing a substantial renovation and expansion project – it was worth…
That Sweet Elixir, Coffee
While partaking of the pleasures of my early-morning coffee beverage, I was struck with the astounding thought that I know very little about this wonderful elixir and mainstay of my caffeine consumption. Both raw coffee beans and the brewed beverage have a culture and a fanatical following the world over, founded on generations upon generations…
The Romance of Snow
Sometime early this morning, I peeked out the darkened windows and saw an unusual brightness touching the landscape – a dull but persistent light shining off the very ground itself. Closer inspection revealed that this phenomenon was caused by snow. Snow is a meteorological event that can inspire romance on the one hand (there’s nothing…
The Waiting Room
Sitting in the waiting room, my hands knot together and then fall limp, my gaze directed towards some vague spot on the wall. A television blares out a daytime show that I’m not familiar with, and the perky, artificial voices of the hosts fall into the empty silence of the white-washed room. Magazines sit on…
The Bitter-Sweet Taste of Rejection
As with all forays into the deep, branching world of the internet, yesterday I randomly stumbled across an interesting insight on the psychology of rejection. People the world over have experienced rejection in some form – be it from a potential romantic partner, a possible place of employment, or a desired life event. Most people…
The Mousetrap
It was late in the night when I heard the distinctive ‘snap’ from the kitchen. I had been debating, until I heard that sound, whether I should just get up and throw the infernal device into the garbage. It would have been so easy to get rid of. But now the thing was done. Baiting…
Nostalgia is The Red Green Show
Recently, I have acquired Netflix and been enjoying access to the limited spread of television shows and movies available to Canadian consumers (Akkad, August 29th, 2012). For a light and brainless activity in the evenings, shows like Community and Futurama suit quite well. Trends in viewing amongst young people are increasingly oriented towards this form…
Social Intelligence and Talking to People
Over the past week, I haven’t been required to interact with too many people. I’ve not had to go to a job, nor have I had that many social gatherings to attend. When this happens I tend to forget how to talk to people – even, sometimes, how to write coherently. My internal monologue gets…
How to Tell if You’re Being Tracked Online
Last night, I had a disturbing experience online. My partner found a website called BlueKai, which deals in big data for marketing companies and offers customers with a registry so that they can see what information data companies collect and distribute about them. The blurb on BlueKai explains that your preferences “may be used anonymously…
Maria Legault 