Suzy’s in the pre-week of the Raw Diet. Meaning, she is cutting back on certain things like meat and processed stuff. The idea is to eat better and lose weight. I’ve never had a problem with girth; if anything, I shy away from shorts because of my “chicken legs” (as my sister used to call them). I’m heavier now that I’ve ever been, but that’s 157lb. I was a svelte 145 when I got married (in 1999). But I’ve been feeling kinda blah lately, so I thought I would join Suzy’s journey by giving up something, to see what happens. I decided to give up beer and bread. Beer makes…

It’s harder than it sounds. When I bought the 10-acre clearcut in 1994, I just wanted some land. Then I thought I would just build a little shack to “get out of the rain.” Then I consulted an architect. And buried power lines underground. And added a clawfoot tub. Then an outdoor shower. This year it’s screening in the porch and adding LED outdoor lights. What does Simplify really mean? Life without convenience sucks. But discipline and hardship are essential to happiness. I really believe that. So where’s the balance? These days I long to spend time in the woods. The first few days I’m at Walden among my trees…

I’ve decided to take three days off this week. Wed-Friday. Since this option occurred to me this morning, I’ve been positively giddy. Now I can do stuff that’s fallen behind, way behind. Here’s a quick list: Sort socks. I just keep buying more when I need clean pairs. The result is two laundry basket-fuls of almost-matching black socks. The worst part is that the kind that is most numerous also includes several with a hole in the toe that is only visible when you put them on. Trial and error and trial again! Fix the toilet. We have two at home. Due to a leak in the tank of the…

I’m happier when I write here. It’s weird. So I’m going to try to do it more. ’cause I want to be happy. or -ier. Or is it more happy. Frack. Today I swept out the carport shed. Lots of mouse turd. Puddy sniffed at me with greater attention when I came in. Gross. Jasper and I went to Zellers last night and stocked up on Sens hats and shirts in anticipation of tomorrow night’s game (we have nosebleed seats). Baseball hats with hockey logos. After we got home and all tried on the hats Suzy told me Maria from Simon’s daycare called to report lice. Nice. So between the…

It’s time to refocus. I’ve been quite preoccupied by the Project over the past two years. And now it’s time to restore some balance. The tipping point was just reached today when it occurred to me that just last week I’d come within 10km of Walden (the real, original one) in MA, and it didn’t occur to me to exit the I90 for a look-see. I’d rented a car for the 2-hour trip between Springfield and Boston and I just drove right by Concord at 70MPH singing along at the top of my lungs to 80s tunes to sap the stress. For years I’ve been looking forward to a chance…

It’s sunny today. The snow has dropped by about 18″, enough now to reveal the top of the forsythia bushes on the south side of the house. We can see the Christmas lights again from the road. The back yard is another matter; I’m sure there’s a patio set out there. I’m kind of hoping someone’s stolen it. Funk. I should go outside, but I feel greasy and unmotivated. I’m taking vitamin D when I should be sitting in the sun. The chairs are buried. Usually when I feel this way I cheer myself up by getting rid of stuff. There’s also a toilet to fix. I could do that.…

I killed a mouse with a broom tonight. Was on the phone wishing happy birthday to my grandmother in PEI, who turns 95 this week, when Suzy wailed from up stairs. Gram was raised in rural PEI on a farm in a tiny community called Pleasant Valley. Now she plays Internet Scrabble. She’s sharp as a tack, but I was alarmed to learn from her just tonight that she’d spent 3 days in hospital earlier this month “because my heart was fluttering and the nitro didn’t help.” Since Dad died, I get most of my Hickox news from Mark in New England. So I had to let Gram go. “Gram,…

I think my favourite Easter was spent in Jerusalem, 1995. I’d just spent 3 months wandering alone through Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan and ended up in the Holy City on Palm Sunday. The next week was religious chaos. I participated in the procession of the stations of the cross through the old city and at one point was lifted off my feet by the crush of the moving crowd through the narrow streets. It was exhilarating and terrifying. They say you can’t go to Jerusalem and not have a religious experience. It’s true. I was already susceptible, and was swept away. My least favourite Easter was in hospital in…

This weekend I heard somewhere something I’ve been thinking about a lot. You can aim for a happy life or a meaningful life, but you can’t have both. They are exclusive. People who are happy live in the moment, appreciate what’s right here and now, and don’t dwell on the past or fear the future. People who aim to live a meaningful life, on the other hand, seek to understand the past and are concerned about the future. Is it true? It might explain why people who meditate – who really meditate, not just dabble – don’t have blogs. And why SUVs often have fat drivers. I’d like to be…

I had a blue weekend. Just this week I remarked to someone that 2007 was the first year in maybe ten that I didn’t have a bit of an emotional ebb in November. I said I thought it was the daily vitamin D pill I’ve been taking for 6 months. A miracle! But yesterday I felt like I should rebook my old shrink Hammy. We spent almost 3 years together (once a week) earlier this decade after a pummelling of three family deaths, and 5 years before vitamin D made the cover of Time. How could a little white pill the size of a pencil lead give me a normal…

Last year at this time I resolved to write more cards to people. Like, snail mail. That lasted about a week, ending abruptly when I realized I don’t know how much a stamp costs (and I still don’t know). And, ironically, 2007 was the year I spent the least amount of time in touch with close friends and family. Facebook was new, but it didn’t really help. So this year I’m renewing the old resolution with a twist: Instead of more Facebook, I pledge to spend more face time with people I care about. I’m sure it will make for a happier new year, and there’s no postage required.

I was sweeping the car port today, for the first time ever in January, when I thought, “God, I’m turning into one of those obsessive compulsive types…” Then I thought, ‘It’s too late.’ The thing is, I love getting rid of stuff. It’s become an obsession. And it occurred to me today when I was sweeping that what I really want to be in 2008 is the guy who has the most and the least. The exciting thing is, it’s totally within my grasp. The happiest times in my life have been those when I had the least stuff: 1) at the cabin when it was just built, 2) in…

At 1AM this morning I was doing a very bad karaoke duet of Macho Man with my colleague Suzanne at The Navy Club on Victoria Island. It was the Porchlight Christmas Party. Seven hours later I was pinning a Palestinian head scarf onto my seven year old as he scrambled to the stage in the inn keeper chorus during the annual Christmas pageant at Rideau Park United Church. Simon joined him later as a wee shepherd among the 30-odd kids who were part of the program (including two to made up a lumbering camel). It was an awesome concert. Simon’s line was “Wow, angels!” Today was my happiest day of…

It’s cold in PEI. -20C last night, which makes it about as cold as it gets here. The taps are left dripping a bit, and the bales of straw are doing the trick. The water’s still on. And this means I get to soak in my claw foot tub in the bath house, a quick run in bath robe and slippers through the snowbanks from the cabin. It’s worth the exposure. Jasper and I are nestled in.

“Isn’t it incredible?” she said, “Two of the passions of my life in one.” Cheese spreaders with snow-globe handles. It’s good to be loved.