Melissa McLean Montgomery

That's not my line, it belongs to Christopher Small- designer and advocate for proper colour and architecture everywhere. While standing in the rain today, we discussed the lack of " good " architectural design in our fair city. Both of us are native Vancouverites. We abhor the recent tauping of Vancouver. My personal un-favourite is the salmon peachy pink cement home. Since when is that a pretty colour in a city where it rains and rains and the peachy pink inevitably turns to.....something not- so- peachy- keen. We bemoan the faux gingerbread architecture that has found its way into Steveston - a rip off of New England architecture..... which by the way, is on the other coast, people! I guess it comes down to a matter of personal taste, or as Christopher said so diplomatically those colours/styles, " belong elsewhere."

I love poutine! When in Rome, or Montreal it's best to do what the Romans (or Montrealers ) do. Tommorrow I'm going to Schwartz's! Double YUM. Is it any wonder I feel the need to periodically blog about food? There is a great middle eastern market near my mom's and we shop there often. There are so many varieties of food and people here. Not just Western and Asian like in Vancouver. Montreal is TRULY multi-cultural. In my opinion. So look at the photo and drool! Anyone who says they don't like poutine is a big liar!

I'm in Montreal. Helping Mom clean her house. It's funny how everything is different between us , yet the same. She gives me shit for eating a chocolate bar before dinner and I give her shit for dropping her coat on the floor. Montreal is busy and messy. My mom is busy and messy. I fluctuate between wanting to walk out the door and never come back and stay home forever. But I do not live there anymore. My home is elsewhere. We laugh and fight, cry and yell, laugh, insult each other, drink coffee and drag the dog on errands. It's so cold here. And lively. Montreal has a flavour all it's own. I am trying my best to help my mom organize. It is natural for me, unnatural for her, hence the chaos. The house is looking better- at least she is willing to let stuff go and realize that people are the most important thing.

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.