Happy Leap Year (2024) and Leap Day (Feb 29)!

Leap Day happens once every four years, on a Leap Year. This year (2024), we have 366 days instead of 365. What are you going to do with your extra day?

All this 'leap' stuff is a good excuse to watch the romantic-comedy, Leap Year (2010) with Amy Adams and Matthew Goode. 

• Declan (Matthew Goode): I don't want to not make plans with you. I want to make plans with you.
• Anna (Amy Adams): You do?
• Declan: Yeah I do.

Today's Challenge

Post a comment on one of my blog posts. I'll reply! 

Photo credit: here 

mistletoe is never around when you need it

my new lip balm is

100% natural 

shea butter 

flavor ‘sweet mint’: 

i'm ready to be kissed. 

Music Monday

Livingston "Last Man Standing"

Sing along optional:

'Cause you don't gotta fight so hard
Darling, this is love not war
All I want is who you are
That's what I've been looking for

Did someone say 'zombies'?

I've been a fan of The Walking Dead for years. Well, until about Season 7. After that, the show fizzled out for me. But the franchise is back with a new series, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. I'll be watching the premiere episode tonight on AMC.  

Looming York University strike - brings back memories

Back in 2018, graduate teaching assistants (TAs) and other contract faculty at York University walked off the job. This strike would last 87 days, and be the longest university strike in Canadian history. 

This strike hit home for me. At the time, I was working as a TA at YorkU. I walked the picket lines in solidarity with my colleagues. This strike happened during the winter months and somedays it was bitter cold outside. But we stood together, bound by the goal of making working conditions better for future TAs and contract staff in higher ed.

Another TA strike is looming at YorkU, and may happen as soon as Monday. While I consider it an honor to work as a TA, this job also deserves a living wage. TAs are truly the backbone of universities. Having previously worked as a TA (for six years), I stand in solidarity with teaching assistants knowing the value and worth of their work. May a fair deal be reached. 

Strike at YorkU 2018, Photo credit: here

My Homemade Date Squares

Tonight, I made date squares using my grandmother's recipe, in her very own handwriting. Main ingredients: oatmeal and pitted dates. 

Yes, I miss my grandmother. She passed away when I was 12 years old. Nothing has been the same since... 

Question #16

Question: Name 3 things you learned this past week.

My answer: 

1) The flour brand I normally buy is still 'out of stock'. 

2) Learning happens when you least expect it.

3) A template or scaffold is useful and sometimes necessary. 

Bonus answer: Patience is very sexy. 

Photo credit: here

i think i'm going to be sick

when i found out 

he was dating several women at the same time 

[and i was just one more for his roster]

i cancelled our date:

i'm too old school for this

and too old for games. 

Sunday Wisdom

On December 31st, last year, I wished everyone a new year filled with learning, loving, and dancing. In support of learning, today I'm sharing a lecture by Sir Ken Robinson. It's an hour and 4 minutes of brilliance. 

If you ask me nicely, I'll make you popcorn.

Tonight, my dad requested some of my homemade popcorn. So, I made him some. 

Post-Valentine's Day Advice

2/15/24

Today, 

instead of listening to love songs, 

and receiving cute cards from friends

letting me know they care

I was out shovelling snow:

Post-Valentine's Day Blues. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Dear Blog Readers,

Despite everything I've been through over the past few years, I still believe in love. Call me a hopeless romantic.

May love warm your heart today.

Kind wishes,

melissa 

"I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day." 

— Noah in The Notebook

Music Monday (on Tuesday)

I'm starting Valentine's Day early... Tonight, I'm playing some classic romantic tunes. 

Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes "The Time of My Life"

Sing along optional:

Just remember
You're the one thing
I can't get enough of
So I'll tell you something
This could be love, because

Homemade Apple Biscuits

Tonight, I baked some healthy apple biscuits. Ingredients include: sliced apple, cottage cheese, 1 egg, some flour, 2 teaspoons of honey. They are so good! 

It's a Canadian thing

I'm not watching the Super Bowl tonight. But I do watch the Stanley Cup finals. 

Music Monday (on Saturday night)

It's the weekend before Valentine's Day... and time for a dance party. 

Jennifer Lopez "After Love (Part 1)"

Sing along optional: 

What comes after love?
I wanna know there's something for me after us
I don't think my heart was made to break this much
Tell me there is happy ever after love
Tell me there is happy ever after us

Single on date night

I went to grab some bread and apples and kale at the grocery store this afternoon. That's when I noticed him. 

He was standing at the entrance of the store with a small bouquet of pink carnations in his hand. He looked nervous. He kept scanning the parking lot looking for someone. Then I realized it was Friday and 'date night'. I assumed that this was a first date scenario. 

I smiled, excited for this stranger. Maybe he was about to meet his soul mate. 

Then my smile faded. 

I have no date tonight. I haven't been on a date in almost 18 years. I don't even know date protocol anymore. 

But one thing is for certain. Whenever I do get to dating, sink or swim -- I'm ready. I look forward to experiencing firsts again -- first kisses, first dances, first glances. I might even get lucky and find my soul mate!

Photo credit: here

What a cool invention (from 1864)

It was my first time... using an apple corer! 

L.O.V.E

Do you take electricity for granted?

Wethal (2023) states:

"The centrality of infrastructures to practice becomes evident during a blackout: electrical infrastructure serves as the ‘backbone’ to most devices used daily, and to our understanding of what it means to live a modern, normal life in a high-income country" (p. 149). 

Photo credit: here

Sunday Baking

I baked some healthy "energy" snack bars, with dark chocolate, almonds, oatmeal, apricots, walnuts, and bananas. This snack is simply delicious!

Saturday Night at the Movies

Tonight, I'm watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). The Ninja Turtles were a favourite of mine growing up. For a movie snack, I decided to make a homemade pizza in honor of the Ninja Turtles. I bought the dough, rolled it out, and topped it with pasta sauce, some leftover vegetables, and cheese. Cowabunga! 

Thursday Throwback

Me, jumping for joy circa 2010