It’s that time of year again, isn’t it? It’s hard to believe this is the third annual NEAROF! gift guide. Every year, it’s getting harder to write this thing, probably because I’ve included all sorts of great stuff in prior […]
Arbitrary
Arbitrary: The return of hot coffee season
Remember when coffee shops sold coffee? If a bump on your noggin prompted the loss of all memory prior to May, you’d be forgiven for thinking that coffee shops sold only pastries, iced coffee, frozen hot chocolate and decaf grande […]
Arbitrary: Why I love my balcony garden
Until moving to Calgary, the closest I came to balcony gardening was the flower bed in front of our old apartment in Edmonton’s Belgravia neighbourhood, which the owners actively encouraged us to plant with veggies and herbs. Try as we […]
Arbitrary: So, you’re a vegetarian. Why buy a BBQ?
I’m a pretty half-hearted carnivore. Sure, I like the occasional steak (cooked to well done), and I quite like kebabs, satay, souvlaki, shawarma, donair, gyro, and all manner of marinated chicken breasts, especially cooked on a grill. And chicken tikka? […]
Arbitrary: The First Slurpee of the Season
There’s something magical about the first Slurpee of the season, isn’t there? The sweet, frosty, icy, slushy soft drink is a staple of the summer season in this part of the world, and there is much to celebrate on the […]
Housekeeping: Sick Day
I never get sick. As a lifelong patron of public transit, I have the beefy immune system of an elementary school teacher, a day care worker and a drop-in-clinic doctor combined. And yet here I am, a scratchy-throated, headache-addled, runny-nosed […]
Arbitrary: Some bubble-filled options for New Year’s Eve
When toasting the new year, the easy choice is a sparkling wine. It’s traditional, it’s a zazzy crowd-pleaser and it’s the simple thing to pick. But maybe others don’t like the whole champagne at midnight thing? Maybe they’d like another […]
NEAROF!’s Christmas Gift General Ideas 2011
I did one of these Christmas gift lists last year, and I had fun doing it, so why not give it another go. Don’t be surprised if you spot items that seem vaguely similar to things from the 2010 list. […]