Dear Barb: I am the youngest of three who are all in our thirties now. My oldest brother and I do not get along. He has always been abusive and demeaning to me, so I decided to stop speaking to him. That was five years ago. Recently we learned my dad is not doing well. … Read more »
What if I said your secrets, denials, and suppressed and faked emotions are treasures? Yes, treasures! Weird, hey? But I believe your secrets and denials exist to help you grow. Yes, they could help you grow into the most stunning swan. Thus, I’ve come up with four weird but wise tips to help you realize… Read more »
It is getting nicer outside as summer approaches, and warm weather means its time to get your grill on! May was the right mix of warm, hot, and fresh, at least for Edmonton it was, but June is finally here. So, for all you home cooks who don’t have the confidence to cook a great… Read more »
Fear is a fickle thing to which the famous 4 F’s of the brain’s hypothalamus do scanty justice. Besides fight, food, fucking, and flight, limbic fear also propels us over mountainous humps we’d have hitherto imagined as insurmountable. So it was with trepidation that I took the stage along with my graduating cohort at the… Read more »
Every year I host a backyard barbecue for my family, but this year I had to enjoy the entire feast myself. For those who are working or studying from home, backyard barbecues are usually a great way to enjoy the company of your loved ones. And with the current loosening of public health quarantine measures,… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi, I have heard that losing a child is one of the worst traumas in life. I don’t have children, but I have had a few relatives and friends who have lost children and they were never the same after the loss. One was a friend who had a miscarriage, one couple lost… Read more »
For those of us who carouse the dating scenes, breakups happen. After all, we could be looking for just the right person, maybe a true love to marry. No harm in that (for those who save sex for a lifetime partner). But if you’re married, common-law, or have a multi-year relationship, break-ups crush your soul. … Read more »
An ironic thing happened to me on the way to writing this column. I’d forgotten the page number for a reference I’d found in a snail-text (book) I’d checked out of the AU Library. Google’s wonders shortly provided the needed notation: the answer, as such, was to be found on page 30 of Jean Baudrillard’s… Read more »
The debate about whether homeownership is an asset or a liability continues. It’s a controversial subject, so it’s hard for some people to make a confident decision. Those on one side continue marching towards financial freedom alongside Dave’s “baby steps.” At the same time, the other side keeps hollering, telling us we need to wake… Read more »
Bored of your classic cereal for breakfast? Want some flair without having to prepare an extravagant breakfast? COVID-19 has given me the opportunity to explore more diverse breakfast options without resorting to the most efficient, bland-tasting breakfast. Lately, having the urge to try something different for breakfast, I’ve created several recipes that might help with… Read more »