Do you know what is always there and basically never lets me down?

It doesn’t matter if I’m riding high or nearing rock bottom. I ask much of it and it only takes the years off my life I wouldn’t have wanted anyway.

McDonald’s, I love you.

I’m so thirsty! Oh, there’s a McDonald’s. Their new Red Bull drink will quench my thirst and power me through my afternoon shows.

I REALLY need to go to the bathroom.

Sweet, McDonald’s! I hope nobody is in there…

My speaker isn’t fully charged and I’m worried it might not make it through my next show.

I’ll just charge it at McDonald’s and have two McDoubles and a Junior Chicken while I wait.

Man, it sure is hot out but I only have a toonie. Sure could go for a nice, cool drink.

Brilliant! A McDonald’s is only a few minutes away. I can grab an iced coffee!

I “forgot” to pack my lunch.

Don’t worry. You will pass five of them today!

I sure could use some free Wi-Fi.

All good! You’re already at McDonald’s!

I’m mostly serious and only slightly kidding. If you’re traveling and just need a taste of home, McDonald’s will hit the spot.

If it’s freezing outside, go warm up, grab a coffee, and watch others freeze.

Have a bunch of feral kids that need food because apparently they need three meals a day?

Buy some Happy Meals, throw them in the playroom, and hope their owner comes and picks them up soon.

It’s also extremely convenient; almost too convenient.

They are everywhere, and you don’t even need to leave your car.

No wonder I see so many super-sized people these days.

Do you know what just started and is loads of fun?

McDonald’s Monopoly.

Who doesn’t like collecting fun little tokens and winning free stuff?

This guy traveled all over the world taking photos of different McDonald’s locations and published a book called McAtlas.

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2025/01/travel/mcdonalds-around-the-world-cnnphotos/

https://mcatlas.com/pages/book

He must really, really love McDonald’s.

Is there lots of bad that goes along with McDonald’s?

Obviously.

But only the best love is sort of toxic.

I'm 40

 

I somehow didn’t see this coming. One day, you’re young, hot, and have your life in front of you. The next, you’re worried about gas prices, the upcoming winter and a suspicion your cat only likes you for the wet food. Is aging better than the alternative?  I suppose but the older I get, the more this quote resonates with me:

“Youth is wasted on the young.”

You look at older people and can understand that each day brings you closer to looking like them but somehow, it is still a shock. It’s relentless as well. Each second we get older. Tick tock, tick tock. 

Today will be the youngest you will ever be again. Tick tock. Tick tock. 

Is your back a little tighter? Need to squint to read that recipe? Feel a little heavier? Tick tock, tick tock.

When I taught kindergarten in Thailand in 2011, those kids were about 5 years old. Those kids are now in university! Those kids will soon have their own kids; it is all very unsettling. 

I was grabbing lunch the other day and one of the few remaining Microplay’s was in the plaza I was parked in. 

(Microplay was/is a video game store that was similar to Blockbuster)

When I was in grade 9, the owner called me and asked if I wanted to work there. It was a dream come true. 

Apparently, I was there often enough for him to know who I was and thought I would be a good employee. We would get movies before they were released, take home games to try out and have opinions about and basically just hangout and talk about movies and video games and call it work. This was so long ago that I remember taking a DVD player from Microplay home because we would rent them out to people!

I summarized this experience to the two Microplay employees and I wouldn’t exactly categorize their interest level in my story as high. 

When I was a kid, we sold fruit punch out of these fridges!

People don’t really want to hear stories from old people. My stories are only going to get worse and I will forget whatever interesting stories I do have and will just end up yelling about the wind (man, I hate the wind; Ottawa is so windy and it’s not great for big bubbles)

Are there upsides to getting old? I’m sure there are older people than me that trick themselves into believing the best is yet to come. It isn’t and that’s okay but let’s not lie to ourselves. They do studies about happiness and in a shocking twist, things are about to get worse!

I think 80 year olds might be happier because they know they don’t have to take out the garbage or shovel ever again.

Have my first 40 years been better than most? I think so. Will the next 40 be? Stay tuned.

“Aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life.”

Kitty O’Neill Collins

Do You Even Hygge?

 

I was once like you; clueless of the lessons hygge had to offer. I am here to show you a softer, warmer, cozier, friendlier, and more fulfilling way to experience life.

 

Two weeks ago, I had never heard of hygge. I have a deep love for free library books (and Nintendo Switch games). I find books I might like or that I might be interested in, pick them up from the library, wait a few weeks and return most of them unread. However, this book was smaller than the others and had pictures so it skyrocketed up my list.

 

So, what exactly is hygge? It seems like it is a main aspect of Danish culture of cozy traditions that make you slow down, rest, relax with friends and cherish the moment you are in. People in Denmark rank among some of the happiest people on the planet despite having less than optimal weather. How do they do it? Many credit hygge. What might make up a hygge experience? It seems like candles are at the top of this list. People in Denmark use by far the most candles per capita in Europe. Fireplaces are also high on the list for turning up the hygge. 

Other elements that help set the mood are hot drinks, Christmas, board games, music, books, Sundays, stormy weather, alcohol and pets. According to The Little Book of Hygge, the hygge manifesto involves atmosphere, presence, pleasure, equality, gratitude, harmony, comfort, truce, togetherness, and shelter. Imagine being in a cabin, a snowstorm is raging outside, a fire it lit, you are with some of your closest friends after an exhausting day of skiing, having a cocktail, listening to nostalgic music, wrapped up in a blanket, reminiscing with those you care for most. That (apparently) is hygge.

 

Ok, Mr. Hygge expert, what kind of food and clothing are associated with hygge?

Think cake, coffee or hot chocolate. It’s about indulgence and treating yourself. Pastries, baked goods, and desserts. Stew, sausages, or Danish meatballs in curry. Doesn’t this make you want to be in Denmark in terrible weather with your close friends all cozied up?

Comfort is king for hygge clothing. Sweaters, sweat pants, cozy socks, big blankets, layers and scarves set the tone. This sweater is from a popular Danish show that exemplifies hygge fashion: 

 

The author works for The Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen and apparently, spending time with people you love will make you happier. According to a study, the ideal number of people it takes to hygge is 3-4 people. You can hygge alone or with loads of people but it seems like only a few close friends is optimal. I can get onboard with these small gatherings. I would much rather hangout with a few close friends than be at a bigger event with strangers. There is a staff room where all the teachers in lunch; I wouldn’t be caught dead in there at 12:05pm. However, when I have prep at 3pm, not a soul is around and I find that much more agreeable. Maybe I am hygge.

 

Want to bring hygge into your daily life but also cheaply? The book recommends playing board games, make a fire, watch an outdoor movie, sledding or playing together.

 

Some other winter activities could involve TV nights or a ski trip. Spring activities might include a weekend cabin or cooking over an open fire. A summer picnic or watching the Perseid Meteor shower is oh so hygge. Fall activities are eating chestnuts, foraging for mushrooms or a soup cookoff.

 

The book recommends these items for your hygge emergency kit:

-candles

-high quality chocolate

-your favourite tea

-your favourite book

-jam

-woolen socks

-a nice blanket

-a notebook

-music

-photo album

 

These places are apparently very hygge:

 

 

This video sums up hygge quite succinctly:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl74ybpyNLk

 

Winter seems like a great time to add more hygge into our lives. Turn on your record player. Turn off your phone. Reminisce about the Bubble King. Now that is hygge.

“Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom.” Benjamin Franklin

I Might be a Cat Guy

 

 

We have a cat and I love him but let’s go backwards.

 

 

August 31^st is Caitlin’s youngest kid’s birthday. We went goat cuddling and it was a real delight. You get to cuddle goats! At the end of our visit, the man running the farm let us know we can buy corn, beef, and if we wanted to bring a barn cat home, the cost would be zero dollars. Having a cat was not on my bucket list. Not a huge pet guy. Lots of responsibility and I heard they eventually die which could break my bubble heart.

 

One of the kids picked up the kitten and it started to dawn on me that we were now going to be a cat house. As the girls are getting ready to leave in the car, the man comes out with the kitten in its little crate. We now own the kitten.

 

It took about 7 minutes for them to name our new boy kitten Pickle. He’s pretty cute but he’s also very mischievous. Here are some pictures of my new favourite living thing:

 

 

What does he do all day? Causes trouble, sleeps on our laps and steals food. He’s a real big back. He chases a small mouse that makes noise that isn’t annoying at all. He is fascinated by toes and fingers so better to be on guard 24/7. He has little secret hideouts to take an afternoon Pickle nap in. Loves jumping up on counters, window sills, and he’s recently started jumping where we keep the TV; don’t love the last one.

 

One time I came home from work and didn’t close the front door fast enough. He doesn’t usually go too far but that time he did. For about 7 minutes, I thought we might not see him again. Fortunately, Caitlin’s fattest kid found him in the garage.

 

I can now see why people buy those cat backpacks and take their cats on trips with them. He’d love to go on walks like we walk dogs. He also sometimes sleeps in our bed and it’s maybe the cutest thing in the world. Hearing his little purring or having him sit near my head; super cute.

 

I might be 60 when this cat eventually dies which is a little wild to think about. I like that we can leave him for most of the day and there isn’t as much guilt as leaving a dog. We often had to come home early to take care of the 15-year-old dog we had. Unfortunately, Calla is now in doggy heaven causing even more trouble up there.

 

That is your cat update. I know it’s cooler to like dogs. I get it. Dogs can save your life and are more manly but I love Pickle and I don’t care who knows it. 

"Cat fact: Once you own a cat, the probability that you bring up cats in conversation increases by 200%." Mickey and Mort

A Year Without Chains: Dining Local for 12 Months

I was eating at McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and other delicious, unhealthy, but mainly super convenient fast food chains because I was thirsty, hungry, and lazy. Some weekends, I can have up to 7 bubble shows, and if I don’t pack a lunch, my overall enthusiasm dips and that’s not good for business. I didn’t like the overall quality of food I was eating, the amount, the cost, and feeling like I was at the mercy of the next drive-thru. My solution: stop going to any type of chain coffee shop or restaurant. No Time Hortons. No McDonald’s. No Arby’s. No Keg. Nothing. If it were a chain, I would avoid it. Did I fully think this through? Of course not.

 

 

First question is: So, what exactly is a chain? Is more than one location a chain? What if there are three? What if there is one in Ottawa and one in New Brunswick? These questions kept me up at night. My overall strategy was if there were more than 5 locations, it was a chain. Most successful food establishments have more than one location. You can also visit a store, and it gives up chain vibes, which is not what I was looking for. Another reason for this challenge was that since I run a small, local business, it might make sense for me to support local, since I hope parents choose me over a Michael’s birthday party (yeah, they do birthday parties; actually sounds kinda fun…)

How annoying/challenging was this? I would say it wasn’t too bad, but once summer hits and everyone is eating Dairy Queen and having dollar drinks, I was about ready to snap. Occasionally, clients will ask me if I want a slice of pizza or a cup of coffee from their catering from Starbucks. Here is how that conversation would go:

 

Client: Would you like a slice of pizza before you go? We have lots.

 

Me: (starving and dying of thirst) Umm, where did you get it from? I’m doing this thing where I can’t eat food from a chain restaurant.

 

Client: (while looking at me like there is clearly something wrong) Ahhh, it’s from Pizza Pizza.

 

Me: Oh, ok. Thanks anyway.

 

Then awkwardly walk away. Not exactly leaving on a high note.

 

Do you know what is convenient? Drive-thrus. It’s amazing. You don’t need to leave your car. It was a brilliant idea, but I noticed that there aren’t any healthy food stores offering a drive-thru. You cant drive up to a Freshii and get a Buddha Satay Bowl.

Did I feel healthier after this year of no chains? I can’t say that I did.

 

Did I save money? I suppose I did, but that money doesn’t appear to have bought me a car that can get me up my driveway, so maybe wasn’t that helpful.

 

What lessons did you learn? Tons of food options aren’t chain restaurants. They do cost more and take more time, and aren’t usually located on main roads, but if you want a more local experience, maybe do a month of no chains because only a sick person would do this for a year.

 

What was your first meal back? I believe it was a couple of McDoubles and a junior chicken from McDonald’s.

 

How was it? Delicious.

 

How long did you wait until having it? Well, I didn’t plan this out well enough, but Caitlin and I were downtown after midnight on January 1st and we walked to a Wendy’s I saw on Google Maps. Turns out, it wasn’t a real location, so once we got there we couldn’t get food, so it was a rough start to 2025.

 

What did you miss the most, other than convenience? The occasional McDonald’s ice cream, Wendy’s lemonade, and any free food I couldn’t eat after a show.

 

Have you slowed down your overall drive-thru intake? I might have overdone it the first 3 months back, but things have calmed down a little bit, and now I am struggling with my 2025 challenge.

 

What challenge is that? No new books and no news.

 

How is that going? Not well!

"One of the many downsides of our fast food culture is that food is no longer a revered cultural icon. This is probably one of the most detrimental aspects of our diet: the myriad of fast food restaurants are cultural icons and Sunday dinner with the family is not." J. Natalie Winch. Ditching the Drive-Thru.