Book Review: The Poisoner’s Handbook
When I first saw The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum, I hadn’t read more than the few sentences in the summary before I made up my mind that I had to get it. Forensics? History? In one book?? It doesn’t get any better…
Master of Our Domain
Have you heard of Zach Anner? If not, you’re in for a treat. But first, a soapbox moment. Or two. The other day, I got one of those inspirational e-mails that circle the Internet on a regular basis. This one was a story about a blind boy sitting by a building with a hat by…
Mindlessness
It’s official. I’ve totally lost control of my life. I get up each morning to email in two places and a browser filled with open tabs – love the wee buggers, but if you start the day with that much work lurking, it’s hard not to feel like Sisyphus. The last couple of weeks before…
Pride Goeth
My latest MyRACentral post ponders the eternal question of why I can’t learn to stop before I hurt myself: “It was as inevitable as the tides, the sun rising in the east and the Toronto Maple Leafs getting nowhere near the Stanley Cup finals.” The rest of the post is here.
Getting It
I was at the Market the other day, getting myself some red leaf lettuce, leaves crinkled into tight waves of deepest green and darkest red, put a yellow pepper next to it, watching the colors spark off each other. Waiting to cash out, I made funny faces for a little boy in a stroller, not…
Seeking Inspiration
I’m stalled out. Again. I overdid a bit. Again. I didn’t realize until it’s too late. Again. Will I ever learn? After a week of sitting as still as I’m capable in an attempt to heal, there hasn’t been much progress. I have thoroughly lost my sense of humour, but I’m not sure if that…
An Accidental Metalhead
My sister used to be a metalhead. I’m sure it’s not a secret and if it was, I may be able to evade severe punishment by owning up to growing up in the 70s which meant the music I liked when I was a teenager is far more embarrassing. Which gets me – rather swiftly…
Love Among the Ruins
This week on MyRACentral, I write about finding love when you live with a chronic illness: “When I was a teenager, I asked my mother if I’d ever find love. My friends were dating, but I’d never met a boy who could see me instead of the packaging I came in – my rheumatoid arthritis…
Irreplaceable Treasures
I rented Leap Year last week and it’s a good thing I had a coupon and got it for free or I would’ve been stomping back to the store, demanding my money back. Load of formulaic crap with the same amount of originality, soul and entertainment as a paint-by-numbers rendition of a stag by a…
Two Rants
The last week’s been interesting, news-wise. Two issues in particular have poked at my rant gland and today seems like a good day for sharing. (rant gland?? Is there such a thing?). Rant #1: the G-20 summit. Or rather, the G-20 security budget. For those of you not living in Toronto and/or obsessively checking news…
Finding Peace in the Oddest Places
I was at the dentist the other day getting a small cavity fixed and as I’m reclined in the (surprisingly comfy) chair, the draining thingy hooked on the left side of my mouth, gurgling quietly while my dentist and his assistants both have various other implements – some of them making that shrill whining noise…
Precautionary Nervous Breakdowns
This week on MyRACentral, I write about scaring yourself to stay safe: “It was December 27 and I was waiting to hear if I had skin cancer.” You can read the rest here.