“because exercise doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing”

The cancellation fee thing is the only place where Uber has ever failed me and where I saw how drivers can work the system to make money for no effort. It was 4:30 AM last March and I was waiting for my Cabify, which I’d booked a month in advance, to show up to get me to the airport by 5:00 for a 5:45 domestic flight.…

Oh, wow! Where I live in Mexico I have zero hope of finding radicchio, but Costco sells a kale and brussels sprouts salad that comes with a terrible dressing. So I’ve been making a vinegar and oil coleslaw dressing for it instead. This dressing sounds like it would be a really nice change!

I had a babysitting empire when I was younger and only ever got fired from one gig, which is where I learned a super useful lesson that has served me in all jobs since: set priorities.

Haven’t seen this series, but Hannah’s series where she cooks from ancient recipes is a now a favourite. She’s a bit of a strong personality, but is starting to be very endearing.

Wait, those onions are burnt? I thought that’s just what properly cooked onions look like. I already add onions that look like that to my gravy, but never thought to blend them in and make them one with the gravy. Claire, you continue to astound me with your genius.

How I did it was to simply decrease the amount of sugar until I got to no sugar and I could appreciate the taste of coffee. It took a few months, but I got to the point where I cannot stand sugar in my coffee anymore. I also can’t stand fat. So my pot of coffee that I have a day is pretty much zero calories. I used to…

I’ve been working for myself for eight years. I don’t have to pretend; I am at the office even if my office is in my home. My commute and regular break times are used to catch up on household chores. I don’t go back to the office after my work day is done unless I have to do admin-type stuff after dinner. I am always…

I get to the airport super early only if I’m flying internationally, which has yet to happen from Mérida, Mexico, where I live. Even if I’m flying to Canada, the Mérida-CDMX leg is considered domestic. Mérida airport is tiny and those super early commuter flights to CDMX aren’t busy. So I’ve learned to leave home no…

On my last flight home to Mexico, Toronto to Mexico City, I witnessed CBSA agents escorting a sobbing family of four, in handcuffs, onto the plane. I witnessed a deportation. I still get so upset just thinking about it.

I stand in my space, not encroaching on my neighbour’s space or making any move indicating that I’m trying to race for the exit, crouched down under the overhead bin, because my body is not proportional and I have super long legs for my height, which means that even if I’ve only been in the air an hour, my legs hurt…

Knowing your airports really helps in planning layovers. My last trip I was travelling from Mérida, Mexico, to Regina, Sk, and back, via Toronto. On the way to Canada I gave myself an inordinate amount of time to clear immigration and customs in Toronto and find my next gate, something like three hours, because…

A friend of mine has been having a progressive meltdown these last few days while travelling as tiny little molehills have been made into giant mountains because she schedules herself so tightly and has zero room for contingencies. When I’m travelling, I’m the complete opposite. Travel days are all about getting from…

I once got a promotion and raise, where I went from earning 36K a year to 50K a year. I jumped a tax bracket and my take home pay at the end of the month, counting extra taxes I had to pay and all the deductions and benefits I lost, meant I was taking home nearly $500 less. Thankfully, I was planning to move around…

Landed in Belgrade three years ago. Got scammed by my taxi, so I was properly initiated. Arrived at my Airbnb flat. Was greeted by a guy who claimed to be the brother of the guy I’d been communicating with. Told me the same thing as in the horror story above - previous tenant flooded the flat I was supposed to rent…

Cheers for this. When I lived in Yukon, I’d always stop at the Braeburn Lodge for their cinnamon rolls as big as my head (look them up on  YouTube if you think I’m exaggerating). I think I’m going to try to use these tips to recreate them...

I still fail to see where you think that I think that anyone who disagrees for me and makes an educated choice that’s right for them is wrong and stupid. Case in point, my best friend knows Windows inside and out in a way I’m envious of. She’s also on a tiny budget. Sticking to Microsoft is the best thing for her and…

“Apple sells one for $50.” Ha ha — here’s one of my sore points about Apple. Buying non-Apple products is a crapshoot as to whether they will work and if they work, they often stop working at the next OS update. Drives me nuts, especially when it’s a device, like a 12V car charger, that Apple doesn’t even sell! I’ve…

When I have this discussion one-on-one, I explain my reasoning to people. I’m not going to open that can of worms here!

Meanwhile, if the those raging against Apple while calling me an Apple sheep actually listened to me, they’d see how deeply unhappy I am by the hardware compromises I have to make in order to get the operating system that I prefer. I’m not thrilled that I’m going to have to drop about 3K on my next computer with fewer…