Melissa McLean Montgomery

It's Thanksgiving...the time of year when it is traditional to be thankful for what we have. So here goes.... I am thankful for my full belly. I am thankful for my clean, warm home. I am thankful for leftovers. I am thankful I get to sleep in Sunday, Monday AND Tuesday. I am thankful for my health. I am thankful for my clean clothes and linen. I am thankful for the rain. All 30-50 millimeters of it. I am thankful for this laptop that enables me to be creative. I am thankful for everything that has happened and for everything that is yet to come. I am thankful I have 2 followers for my blog. HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I have been working in an office for the last 3 weeks. It would appear on the surface that outside of the office, I have no life. There is plenty of life inside the office : phones, faxes, emails, voicemails, families, doctors, nurses, aides, plants, residents, cigarettes, handidarts, appointments, companions, complaints, coffee and cheezies for dinner tonight. I honestly do not know how the average person works for 40 years , 9-5, five days a week with 2, maybey 3 weeks off a year. I cannot imagine living that way. It is too regimented and would take up too much of my time. I have stuff to do during the day! It's not normal. Unless, one really enjoyed having to be somewhere by 9am every day. Then I could envision them doing it and not being burnt out, depressed and embittered. Having to be at the same place at 9am every day seriously goes against my flow.

I grew these! All I had to do was buy them, plant them, and stick them in the ground. And add water. Mother nature did the rest. They are so beautiful I had to take a picture of them. They are perfect in their imperfection: no pesticides or funny chemicals needed here. Now all I have to do is figure out what to tell my chef make with them. Gazpacho? sauce? salsa? As summer winds to a close tommorrow, I am reminded of how much I love ALL of nature. I found a wasp this morning dying on the inside of my window- I caught it in a glass and let it outside for one last flyby in the rain. I love the rain. Flowers. Insects. Vegetables. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head that I do not love in nature is rats. Happy Fall Equinox, everyone!

I love chips! Yesterday, I got a big bag at Costco ( and I mean the BIG) bag. Plain with salt. My favourite. I love them. I can eat the whole bag- well maybey not a whole Costco bag but the smaller bigger one. I could never have an eating disorder, I love food too much. YUM. I love everything except: octopus, organ food of any kind, mussels, squid, and oysters. My favourite foods are: toast, pasta, steak, lobster, cheese , and chips. I am lucky in that I live with someone who does all the cooking. I love to eat but I don't like to cook. I like to eat. And do the dishes. And shop for food. Food glorious food- where would I be without it? People often ask me how I got to be this tall. It's because I ate so many Big Macs. Honestly.

Last week, My sister was here visiting me with her two year old son. I child - proofed the apartment before their arrival: hid everything, tied/locked things up in preparation for what is supposed to be the ' terrible two's' arrival. I expected the place to be trashed by the little hellion. Surprise, surprise! I have to say I think that is a bit of a myth because my darling nephew did not drink bleach, rip my cashmere sweaters, or colour on the wall using lipstick. He went to bed nicely and his only moment of 'terrible two-ness' was when he poured water on the floor, but I let it slide ( my sister gave him a time out ). I think the trick to avoiding the terrible two's moments is best described in one word: Outside. Children like to be outside, running, climbing, playing, screaming and yelling. It is fun for them and tires them out, so that when they are inside they simple don't have the energy to destroy the house. And they are ready for bed. It's my the...

I just spent 10 days with my partner's niece. She is 16. It was such fun having a teenager around. They are interesting creatures: part adult, part child, part alien. Here are some of my teenage observations: -Teenagers spill their milk -Teenagers get food on their clothes while eating -Teenagers do not clean their braces -Teenagers eat leftover popcorn for breakfast while still in bed -Teenagers have ipods, phones, cameras and blow dryers- something is always plugged in and they sleep in a mass of chords -Teenagers are more computer savvy than you -Teenagers are observant- they notice things about you that you thought you were successfully sweeping under the rug -Teenagers have enquiring minds- they want to know about art, architecture, history, politics, people, university, jobs, travelling and of course, shopping -Teenagers stay up super late and make cookies, then they sleep in super late -Teenagers can eat a brownie in 2 bites

Recent sightings of cheapness: A friend who transported 3 chicken wings from Kelowna to Vancouver so they could have them as a snack, DAYS later. The same friend brings cheese to burger joints to add to their burger so they don't have to pay for cheese. A former friend who lobbyied for financial aid from every friend and neighbour for an overseas trip when they had plenty of money in the bank and could have easily purchased the plane ticket themselves. The same friend cried out, " EIGHT DOLLARS? " at a copy store when the cashier told them the price of their photocopying. They had to be revivied by paramedics. Another example: An invitation to a pool party- don't bring anything, the email said. I arrived at the party and was stunned ( along with the rest of the guests ) to see that there were only cut up carrots, cucumber and zucchini on the table. This for a 6 hour pool party of 10 people. Cheap? In my books, yes. Cheap to the point of being backwards. Others wou...