Living – The Ginger Genie

How I Tapped Into Creativity and Joy

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020 VickiLeave a comment

Journal, Happy Journal — This is my Happy Journal

This is my “Happy” journal. It is one of hundreds of journals I have. This is one I started January 1997. It was a time when I began to grasp my mental health identity and discover strategies to live with it effectively. Up until this point, I journalled only when I was having a depressive episode and I would write all my negative thoughts on to a page to purge it. It was helpful. Sadly, I had pages and pages of anger, sadness and hurt. Pages I kept to reread and remind myself of the pain I needed to release. It was therapeutic it’s own way but not exactly uplifting.

During this particular time in my life, a lower time, I was browsing through an old book shop and I came across this journal. I am a lover of cats so it stood out to me. When I picked it up I fell in love with the pages – some blank, some with beautiful prints of cats, and some with cat quotes. It was speaking to me and I purchased it. I held on to it for a bit – afraid to christen it with content that I might later find to be unworthy. Finally, there was a day when I began. The first entry was a typical entry. I introduced myself to any future selves reading it, spoke about my journey and how that day was a new day.

There were a few entries similar to that. Then, I came to a cat page – a page that had I couldn’t write on because it was filled with a picture. I stared at it. I didn’t want to pass it by without finding a way to use that page. I wrote on the margin – a wish. One wish. Something I wanted to write down in case writing it down would turn it from a wish to a reality. Then, I wrote another wish. And then, another. Before I knew it, wishes were coming to me. Things I was hoping for; things to get excited about; things that inspired me. I paused and realized something was happening. I was generating a feeling of well-being and enthusiasm. I was using a space in a way I never had before – I was writing in different directions, using different coloured pens. I had found an inner pot of creativity that was waiting to be tapped and it was producing joy. It was wonderful and from that moment, I knew that this journal must only be for positive and creative expression. I have a need to purge the dark and unhealthy thoughts and feelings in an expressive form but not here. I have another journal for that. This one will be the one that I come back to fill me full, to spark my imagination and to challenge me to find new and different ways to be inspired.

How do you connect with that inspiration?

What can you do on Old Mission Peninsula in Michigan?

August 11, 2019August 25, 2019 Vicki2 Comments

Who knew there was so much to see in Michigan? Being from Southern Ontario, right next door to Michigan, we usually see it from the highway on our way to more Southern destinations. The highway doesn’t give the best perspective when judging what a place has to offer. Getting off the beaten path can prove to be a rewarding and surprising experience for the whole family.

We had planned a much longer trip to the Mid-West for this summer but life always throws curveballs. My husband ended up starting a new and exciting chapter in his work life but it meant we had to shorten the vacation and the purse strings to allow him to build his credibility and repertoire in his new position. There were some groans from the peanut gallery, aka my 10-year and 14-year old sons, when I mentioned the thought of vacationing closer to home in our neighbouring Michigan. I knew from experience, when you pick a place to visit and keep an open mind, you can be surprised by the unexpected jewels that you find that you would otherwise never experience. Once of those gems was Old Mission Peninsula.

I have to admit, I secretly had a selfish reasons for heading to Michigan. I am a BIG fan of The Curse of Oak Island on the History channel. If you are into anything Knights Templar, pirate treasure or lore you may have heard of it. If not, I suggest you look up Oak Island on Google – there’s A TONNE of stuff. Basically, it’s a 200 hundred year old hunt for treasure on a small island off the coast of Nova Scotia in Canada. Two brothers from Michigan, Rick and Marty Lagina, are invested in the search for this infamous treasure. So much so, they are part of a reality series on the History Channel. On the side, Marty and his son Alex, have a winery in North Western Michigan that I’ve been dying to visit since they aired an episode about it a couple seasons ago. I love wine, I love Oak Island, I need a relatively close place to vacation ~BOOM ~ vineyard in Michigan owned by the Lagina’s heading up the Oak Island treasure-search. I’m in.

Mari Vineyards, Old Mission Peninsula, Laginas, Michigan — Entering Mari Vineyards

Before reaching my destination of preference, we travelled to Traverse City, Michigan to spend the night. I didn’t know what to expect in Michigan, except for the area around Birch Run as I have been known to frequent the Premium Outlets back when our dollar was much stronger. I chose to stay at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa because it had a 4.9 star rating out of 5. It certainly lived up to its rating. There was an indoor water park for the kids, shopping, golf, restaurants and lots of other things to enjoy. And we were only there for the night but we had a great time. Not-to-mention there were breath-taking views and nature all around. The kids wanted to have a longer stay but we had a full agenda and needed to move on. I will certainly mark this beauty of a resort for future excursions.

We hit our destination early on the second day and it was wasn’t quite open so we headed along Old Mission peninsula for a scenic drive to fill the time. We ended up at the point and visited old “Mission Point Lighthouse“. It was a perfect spot to stop with some parking, a heritage cabin, a shallow beach and of course, the lighthouse itself. This was our first opportunity to get up-close and personal with Lake Michigan. It’s a marvel. The water was crystal clear. One of my “bucket-list” items is to set my feet in all 5 of the Great Lakes and I was able to mark this one off. It was a bit cool for the morning but definitely would have been excellent for a dip in the heat of the early afternoon. My youngest and I skipped some stones on the smooth water before heading up to check out the lighthouse itself. I must also mention there is a cabin These are the things that have the most impact for me. Finding those little off-the-beaten-path treasures that end up finding a place in the memory bank of your mind.

Cherry orchards are plentiful on Old Mission peninsula as well. Where I come from, apple orchards are the norm so seeing so many trees with small red cherries as opposed to larger round apples, was a bit unique. My husband is a cherry lover so we stopped at a road side stand and got some cherry juice and other cherry treats while there.

Upon doing a little reading of one of the local tourism publications before heading out in the morning, my husband learned of a little craft brewery hidden away on Old Mission peninsula and suggested that since we were here we might as well check it out. We stopped in the Jolly Pumpkin. There were so many beers to try. My husband had a couple of samples before deciding on a pint of a pale and citrusy ale. Myself, I opted for more variety and went for a flight of their “sours”. There were some darks, a red and a couple of others. My favourite was a paler ale, much like the one my husband chose, with a sour but refreshing citrus after taste. The kids got to enjoy a summer drink too! They relished in some ice cold and fresh squeezed lemonade and learned a little about about the pub from the super-cool bartender.

By this point in the day, our destination of choice, Mari Vineyards, would be open and ready to accept visitors so off we went. It was the highlight of my trip. The grounds for the winery were magnificent. It felt like it was right out of a Tuscan post card. My husband and I tasted a few different varieties of wine while our boys enjoyed juice boxes outside on the patio. Our wine expert was Debbie whose energy was contagious. She (seemed to) shared my enthusiasm for the Oak Island adventure and mentioned that Alex was her General Manager. I could hardly contain my excitement – I am such a celebrity geek (I even get excited meeting local radio dj’s – it totally embarrasses my kids and husband). She showed us the chainmail tunic over the fireplace in the main lobby and said, “you must know all about our owner’s (Marty Lagina) enthusiasm for the Knight’s Templar and such”. She didn’t have to complete the sentence, I was nodding my head wildly in acknowledgement. We ended up leaving with 2 bottles of wine, a souvenir glass and 3 Oak Island T-shirts. If I didn’t see anything else in Michigan, I would have been completely satisfied with this visit. And here’s the thing, they have a whole tour of underground caves where they store the wine. We didn’t even get to that because we had the kids with us. Although they enjoyed their complimentary juice boxes they weren’t nearly as impressed with the winery as my husband and I were. They did enjoy the view and the Oak Island connection more than made up for it.

Should you Subscribe to a Genealogy Resource?

November 8, 2015July 2, 2018 VickiLeave a comment

Have you been considering a subscription on an online genealogy resource but aren’t sure if it’s going to be worth it? Check out my first vlog post to get some insight into why it might be a great idea:

Liebster Award Nomination

October 14, 2015July 2, 2018 VickiLeave a comment

I blog to share because “sharing is caring”. I’ve said that before. It’s therapeutic for me to just share whatever I’m passionate about in the moment and if other’s join me on my journey, wonderful. If they comment and share back, even better. Yesterday though, I received a gift that I never dreamed of. I was nominated for The Liebster Award. An award to spotlight new bloggers and to allow them the opportunity to pay it forward. I’ve seen the badges on other blogs but never thought I’d get to put the badge on mine. Well guess what? Today, that all changes.

I need to thank Beth Wylie for the nomination. She is a fellow blogger (Life in the Past lane) that I met a few months ago through blogging and Twitter. On her brief bio she is described as: “an Arklahoman- an Arkansas native who became an Oklahoman by marriage. She’s on a mission to shake all of her ancestors out of her family tree even if it takes a lifetime. When she’s not researching family history, she’s busy being a healthcare administrator, wife and mommy to a precocious three year old”. Through brief conversations over blog posts and twitter, I derived that we have much in common. We are both Gingers, which in itself creates a unique bond, we are passionate about our family history, we love to blog despite upholding demanding careers and busy families and we love Outlander. Practically twins if you ask me. I love to visit her blog to hear about a family history search South of the border. I am truly grateful, honoured and thrilled that Beth nominated me.

There a few rules to accepting a Liebster nomination:

My Nominator’s Questions:

1. What motivated you to start your blog and how long have you been blogging?

I am a journaller. I think I got my first diary when I was 8 and from then on, I was writing my feelings. I have a subconscious need to get my story out. I’m not sure why or where this comes from for I have always had a need to do this. In my early twenties, it became therapeutic when I suffered a few identity crises. With the onset of blogging and social media it was a natural progression to take to the internet to get the stories out. As I mature, my writing has a more meaningful purpose and blogging has helped with that evolution. I’ve been blogging for about 4 years but only 1 seriously and consistently.

2. Where do you get the ideas for your blog posts?

Good question. I don’t always know. I make lists but I rarely choose from my list. It is usually a surge of inspiration that will come at random times. The Crestleaf 12 Month’s of Fascinating Family Finds challenge has been a great way for me to stay on track with my family history. I have lots of great stories to share about that and the challenge gives me the focus to do it. I’m pretty certain I have ADHD so any help with focus is great.

3. Do you ever get “writer’s block,” and, if so, how do you deal with it?

I have yet to experience writer’s block with blogging. I used to suffer it immensely with university papers. It helps when you write for yourself. When I have to write to someone else’s expectations, it’s much more difficult.

4. What is the best advice you can give your fellow bloggers, especially new ones?

Read all you can about creating a blog and then toss it all away. Take what you understand and make your own rules.

5. How do you network with other bloggers?

Twitter and by posting on their blogs. I’m interested in taking it to the next level and start going to blog conferences to actually meet some of my “Blog World” friends in person. I’ve met so many unique and wonderful characters in the Cyber World but it makes me long for a physical face-to-face chat over a cup of tea or coffee. As great as it has been to meet so many people I’d otherwise never get to know, I love the energy of being with another person in the physical realm.

6. What is the best feedback you have ever gotten on a blog post?

One where someone read a post about a lost family branch and actually knew my family and gave feedback on sources of more information. It was like finding a chest of rubies in the shipwreck you’ve been trying to uncover for years.

7. What kind of writing experience did you have prior to starting your own blog?

Bachelor of Arts in Drama. I thought I’d be doing more acting but ended up writing a lot of papers about plays. I’ve also written a few magazine articles about graduates for the post-secondary institution I work for.

8. What is one goal you have for your blog in the next 12 months?

To finish all 12 months of the Crestleaf challenge without missing any months.

9. What is your favorite blog?

I have many favourites for different reasons. I like Life in the Past lane because I feel I relate to Beth’s genealogical journey. I like ADHD Kids Rock because of challenges myself and my son face with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder). I like A Bowl Full of Lemons because I like organization and DIY stuff.

10. Who is the one person (not related by blood or marriage) that has influenced you the most.

Richard Branson. I love his “Screw It, Let’s Do It” mantra. And I love his philosophy that if you take care of the people they will take care of you.

11 Random Facts About Me

First female ice-resurfacing machine operator in the Township of Norwich (the Zamboni driver)
My favourite food all my life has been spaghetti
I can clog
I love Macaroni and Cheese loaf
Christmas fanatic
I’ve written 3 (maybe 4) major papers about George Bernard Shaw
My first album was Destiny by The Jacksons
I saw Michael Jackson in concert when I was 11
I am fussy about food textures
I have a secret crush on Hugh Jackman and Robert Pattinson
I’ve seen every episode of Friends at least 3 times

My Nominees

I am an Image/Leadership Consultant on the side and I’ve fallen in love with Christina Proctor‘s blog Wear Out There. For me, it’s (somewhat) local – I’m Canadian in a Southwestern Ontario world so I relate to many of the local business and style recommendations. I also connect with her on her “About” page. I believe that choice of style and expression can be the difference in the pursuit of success. Congratulations on a great blog and presence Christina!

2. On Becoming a Wordsmith is a special blog to me. It was created by my high school English teacher, Elaine Cougler on her “journey to publication and beyond”. After high school, I ventured off to the world of post-secondary education, established a career and a family and several years later reconnected with Elaine. She had since retired and told me about her dream to publish. I enjoyed following her blog about all the steps she took to make her dream come true. The first book of her trilogy “The Loyalist’s Wife” is a remarkable telling of a story of a young couple’s struggle to start a life in a new world with a looming Revolutionary War. The young man in the story, John Garner, joins Butler’s Rangers in the fight for Loyalist freedom. “So what”, you say? My 6X great grandfather, William May, was a member of Butler’s Rangers. It was like reading my own history. Not only am I so very proud of my teacher’s pursuit of her dream but she has been a huge inspiration to me in following my own. Congratulations Mrs. Cougler! (I know it’s Elaine but there is a certain amount of endearment that comes from referring to you as the teacher who helped instil a love of literature and writing in this girl’s heart).

3. My close friend and colleague, Susan, started a blog a while back, My Travels, to capture her travel experiences. She only blogs when she travels but it allows me to almost be there with her. With a busy family of 2 young boys, I don’t get to travel as much as I’d like so it’s a great way for me to feel a part of it. Unlike other travel blogs, for me, I know Susan and can imagine her experiences. I am nominating her blog and hope it encourages her to continue sharing her journeys.

4. I don’t think my next nominee qualifies as a small blog but I believe it is relatively new. Jeff Rasmussen is a 15 year old individual with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder). He has had significant challenges going through school and at 13, he created a web site and blog to share his experiences, strategies and stories to help other kids who have similar challenges. I love visiting his blog ADHD Kids Rock, because someone close to me is one of those kids. Jeff embraces his ADHD and celebrates his gifts. It’s a unique perspective. Often, when I am researching ADHD to understand how to work best with its challenges, the focus is on “how to deal with it” or “what are the symptoms”, “how to medicate it”, “how to feed one with ADHD”; most resources are about reacting to ADHD and not accepting it. Thank you to Jeff for having the courage and the drive to go forward with his vision. He has certainly touched us and given us a positive place to go to learn about and embrace ADHD. Congratulations Jeff!

To my nominees, I pose the following 11 questions.

How has blogging changed your life?
Where do you get ideas for your posts?
What 3 tips would you give new bloggers?
What do you find the most challenging about blogging?
Has blogging brought you any surprises that you didn’t expect when you started?
Which social media platforms do you use (if any) to promote your blog?
How did you gain your expertise on blogging? Did you take courses, have someone assist you or did you just jump in?
What is the single most rewarding thing you get out of blogging?
Have you attended any blogging conferences? If so, what did you gain from attending?
How do you nurture relationships with your followers?
Which of your strengths has helped you the most with your blogging?

I hope you enjoy your nomination as much as I did. Thanks for your inspiration and your stories. I wish you abundant success as you continue on your blogging journey.

One Step at a Time – Lyrics (Jordin Sparks)

September 9, 2015July 2, 2018 Vicki3 Comments

Adapted from “One Step at a Time” performed by Jordin Sparks

Hurry up and wait
So close, but so far away
Everything that I’ve always dreamed of
Close enough for me to taste
But I just can’t touch

I wanna show the world, but no one knows my name yet
Wonder when and where and how I’m gonna make it
I know I can if I get the chance
In my face as the door keeps slamming
Now I’m feeling more and more frustrated
And I’m getting all kind of impatient waiting

[Chorus:]
I live and I learn to take
One step at a time
There’s no need to rush
It’s like learning to fly
Or falling in love
It’s gonna happen when it’s
Supposed to happen and I
Find the reasons why
One step at a time

I believe and I doubt
I’m confused, I got it all figured out
Everything that I’ve always wished for
Could be mine, should be mine, would be mine
If they only knew

[Chorus]

When I can’t wait any longer
But there’s no end in sight
when I need to find the strength
It’s my faith that makes me stronger
The only way I get there
Is one step at a time

[Chorus x2]

Writer(s): Robert S. Nevil, Lauren K. Evans, Mich Hansen, Jonas Jeberg, Joseph Belmaati
Copyright: Murlyn Music Publishing, Laurel Krown Music, R. Nevil Music, Cutfather Publishing Limited, Murlyn Music Publishing/ Crosstown, Joe Belmaati Publishing Limited

Be King of Your Content

September 3, 2015July 2, 2018 Vicki1 Comment

“CONTENT IS KING” is the message that resonates through the social media know-how kingdom. What does that even mean? There are so many thoughts out there on what one should think about when preparing content for social media that I found it difficult to sift through it. “Connect emotionally with your audience”, “use video on your site”, “be sure to use as many ‘keywords’ as possible to ‘optimize’ your ‘search engine optimization’, “use a content calendar to strategically post at times when your audience is online”, “use plenty of images”, “don’t use too many images”, “use other’s content”, “don’t use other’s content”, “hashtag everything”, “be careful how often you hashtag”, “here’s 22 things to include as content for your blog …” etc. etc.

I thought “there’s too much to know, I can’t do this effectively, why even bother”. Despite those feelings of inundation in the beginning, I carried on. I eased myself into the vast, evolving and ever-changing world of social media much the way one might enter the water from a sandy beach; step-by-step, adjusting to the water as I gradually gained confidence to take the next step. Getting different perspectives on expectations for a credible social media presence was good but I’m glad I didn’t let the different schools of thought squash my desire or need to get out there in the social realm. From my experience so far, I’ve surmised 4 key things that keep me forging ahead and striving to be King (or Queen) of my content.

Allow Myself Time

I am of the type to want to reach perfection instantly. The learning curve is not my favourite part of a journey. I want to start out an expert. When I was reading up on content, I thought I needed to write the best posts and capture the best of other’s content so that I would sign in as a superhero of social media immediately. I wanted to have a hundred posts ready to go so that I could post continuously while creating new content. I had to take a step back and give myself permission to take time to grow as a social media persona. I know I have a long way to go and I’ve accepted that. The journey is providing me with learning opportunities. If I waited until I felt I was an expert, I’d never be here, creating content on feeling confident to create content.

Keep It Sweet and Simple.

This is one rule that I come back to again and again in all areas of my life. Content creation is no exception. I think back to my years of textbook reading. If a page was solid text, I was less enthused about reading it but if it had lots of pictures, graphs or tables with text boxes and quick bullets of information, it was much more appealing to read and digest. The same thoughts happen with any kind of media content. Visual appeal with quick points are more likely to entice me to continue reading so I keep that in mind when preparing content.

Stay True to Myself

When all else discourages or overwhelms, I stay true to me. Sometimes, I just have to ignore the hyperbole and go with what my heart tells me to write. Of course, I need to give consideration to my audience to entice them to return but if it isn’t true to me, the audience will see through it and I may lose valuable trust. In my opinion, it’s best to be transparent. You’d be surprised at how many others were just waiting to hear something that resonated and your content was it.

Use a Scheduling Tool or Calendar

It seemed scary to prepare a content calendar at first. What content would go where over the course of a month seemed like a lot of work. When all was said and done, it saved time and more importantly, anxiety. It helped me organize thoughts and keep creativity flowing because I wasn’t stressing over what to post and when. You can go online and source out content management tools or create your own in Word or Excel. It’s worth it.

Despite all the blogs, posts and information out there on all the things to consider when creating content for your social media presence, these 4 ideals have helped put it all into perspective. Are you King of your content?

The Sound of Happiness

July 23, 2015July 2, 2018 VickiLeave a comment

When I was young, let’s say my teen years, happiness was loud. Sounds of laughter, loud music, screams from roller coasters, the phone ringing when a friend would call, traffic because I was in a car travelling to the next event, parties etc. I loved the buzz of having noise around me. I preferred visiting the city over camping and hiking. If I was alone, I turned on the television or the stereo at high volumes to have sound with me all the time. I fell asleep at night to the radio. I felt safe and I was happy.

Sometime in my early twenties, that changed. I spent 4 months in England for school and when I think back to my most loved memory of that stint, it was a day spent outside Inverness, Scotland, on a rock, skipping stones on Loch Ness. We ventured away from the crowds of tourists who wanted to view the lake from Urquhart Castle and shimmied our way down an embankment with a snack of apples, crackers and cheese. There were just 3 of us, 2 other travel companions and myself. It was so tranquil. I remember being hyper-aware of the sound of each skip of the stone before the final “plop” into the lake. I felt calm and I was happy.

Another time, my oldest was 2 and we were at a cottage in the winter in Northern Ontario – far off the beaten path of civilization. My husband, son and I were outside playing in the snow – real snow – 5 feet deep. We were doing somersaults and jumping off the deck into the fluffy banks below. After one spectacular jump, landing on my back looking up at the giant flakes of snow gently falling from the sky, I felt I had been pulled back out of warp speed and my senses became super-attuned. It became quiet, my body completely relaxed into the snow-form my body made from my jump and I could hear the sound of every snowflake land around me. I felt love and I was happy.

Just this morning, being on holidays and sleeping in without the hurried routine that I am accustomed to on a “regular” day, I had the window open and I listened to the birds as they began their calls. The world was still asleep. There were no cars, back-up alarms from heavy trucks, sounds of conversation or lawn mowers. Just the sound of the birds and the trees swaying in the breeze. I felt peace and I was happy.

The sound of happiness has changed from when I was young. Once busyness and noise was necessary to feel content. Now, the absence of noise is much more profound in experiencing happiness. I still have great moments of happiness when there is lots of uproarious laughter and sounds but I do cherish the tranquil moments of silence.

What are the sounds of happiness for you?

In My Own Backyard

July 1, 2015July 2, 2018 VickiLeave a comment

Ode to be Canadian…

The Ginger Genie

I was born, raised and live in Southwestern Ontario. You would think, with that much time spent in one area (over 40 years but under 42 years), I would be able to explain everything about it, right?. And being Canadian, I could define the Canadian experience – right? I’ll tell you, one can certainly have a Canadian foundation but really not know, nor understand, anything about what it is to a be a Canadian. It wasn’t until I spent 4 months of my life living and travelling abroad, that I began to realize I needed to explore my roots and embrace my nationality.

View from the Glass Ceiling atop the CN Tower

During university, I spent 4 months living, studying and travelling abroad. I was based in London, England, but being in such close proximity to so many other countries, I used my weekends, school breaks and summer, to travel the UK and…

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Bye-Bye To Bill’s Pizza of Tillsonburg

June 26, 2015July 2, 2018 VickiLeave a comment

At the far south end of Tillsonburg, amongst the tumbleweeds where activity once abounded, lies a treasure hidden within a small hole-in-the-wall shop between the old “Royal Hotel” and the bowling alley. A treasure now buried but to be remembered fondly. A treasure of amazing pizza and people: Bill’s.

I just read The Tillsonburg News page that Bill’s Pizza in Tillsonburg is done. I’m in shock and disappointment. Without question, the best pizza around as far as I’m concerned. So great, in fact, I had intended to write a blog post about it as one of the best things about living in Southwestern Ontario: convenient access to Bill’s pizza. It was one of those “best kept secret” kind of places I would recommend to someone spending time in the area. Not just for the pizza but the staff and the joint also.

The crust was thin and homemade. According to End of an era: Saying goodbye to Bill’s Pizza posted in the Tillsonburg News, Bill’s went through 4 homemade batches a day. The sauce was just the right amount of spice and sweetness with a deep rich, red colour. My usual order was an extra large cheese pizza for my fussy family. Once in a while I got a deluxe or a meat-lovers if the occasion warranted. The bacon was always real pieces of deli bacon, not bacon bits as many contemporary chain pizzas offer, and the deluxe would have fresh vegetables. And the cheese, I can’t forget the cheese. There was always a tonne of cheese. So much, that when it melted there was a shimmery coating of grease that would sit on top. I know that may not sound appealing and your arteries may constrict just thinking about it but that was what made it a taste phenomenon. Before even taking a bite my taste buds would do sommersaults in anticipation of what was coming at them.

Bill’s Pizza quickly became the favourtie of my and my sister’s, out-of-town significant others and we have passed on the tradition to our children as well. This was our go-to pizza growing up in Tillsonburg and a must-have when we are back visiting. There is simply no other pizza like it. It’s what I imagine a New York pizza to be like if I ever the opportunity to try it.

Bill’s has survived many years on their incredible reputation for great pizza and customer service. It even managed to be one of the only businesses (that I’ve patronized) that never succumb to the use of electronic fees transfer. If you wanted to purchase a pizza from Bill’s you had to do it “old-school”. No debit or credit. Cash only. Luckily, the bowling alley next door was equipped with a bank machine or there would have been several nights of disappointment for me. It was part of the charm of Bill’s. It stayed constant and authentic through all the 43 years in business.

It was always a marvel as well, to see Irene or Don every time I would go in to pick up the pizza. I wondered if they ever took a holiday. According to the Tillsonburg news, I guess they didn’t. Obviously they loved what they did. They were always chatty and congenial. Every pizza passed over that counter was delivered with a smile and a thank you. 43 years of dedication and commitment to getting the best pizza out to generations of hungry patrons. With retirement already underway, I wish them the best and happiest wishes for an amazing life from the other side of the counter. And may they sense the biggest smile and sincere thank you from one grateful and satisfied customer.

6 Annoying Movie Cliches

April 20, 2015July 2, 2018 VickiLeave a comment

I love movies. It’s on my list of “8 Fun Things”. I know that what happens on the screen is only a reflection of what happens in life and sometimes it is completely make-believe. It is not real life. No matter what, however, it is to be believable (depending on the genre) to the audience; they are to believe that what the characters go through in the film, are reality for them. Having seen many films in my day, there are some common occurrences that are simply NOT believable and they have become pet peeves of movies for me. You may agree. Here is a list of 6 that come to mind:

1. Shut-up Moments – When in an argument in real life, no one ever comes up with that one magic line that shuts the other one up and shocks them into silence. At least, not in any of my arguments. I see it happen a lot in Hollywood whether on television or film. One of the best “shut up” moments came in A Few Good Men when Jack Nicholson was pushed to the edge with questioning while on the stand and responded to the statement “I want the truth!” with “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!”. What do you say to that?

2. Choreographed Dance Scenes – I love a good dance sequence but in some movies, I find it distracting when a group joins in the dance and they know all the moves. Like the closing scene in Footloose, Kevin Bacon yells out “LET’S DANCE” and the teens of the town, who were previously forbidden to dance, join him in a perfectly choreographed number on the dance floor. Wouldn’t happen … unless it was a flash mob I guess.

3. 16th Century Glamour – In historical romance movies, the romantic couple usually consists of a beautiful Hollywood actress complemented by an equally beautiful male counterpart. Shakespeare in Love comes to mind. The exquisite Gwyneth Paltrow and the handsome Joseph Fiennes make a most lovely couple in this movie about William Shakespeare’s love interest. Guess what? Back in the 16th century, nobody would look like that. Their teeth would be brown if they had teeth at all and their hair would be frizzy dull mops. There wasn’t any toothpaste or moisturizing conditioners back then. I don’t think they would pluck unsightly stray eyebrow hairs either but I could be wrong.

4. Crazy Fighting Stamina – It drives me crazy when a hero in an action scene, gets shot, punched, kicked and slapped several times and keeps fighting as fiercely after 15 minutes as he did when he started. Chances are, if someone gets shot, they are down. Maybe not dead but definitely hindered. Die Hard is a perfect example. How many times does Bruce Willis get punched, shot, body-slammed and head-butted and still carries on with wild intensity. No way.

5. TURN ON THE LIGHT! – I always wonder why the main character in a suspense thriller, never turns on the light when s/he is searching for strange noises in the dark. Seems like a no-brainer to me. I find myself screaming at the protagonist to TURN ON THE LIGHT!. I mean come on, that’s a stupid move. I turn on lots of lights even when I’m just home by myself let alone when I hear a strange noise and want to investigate it. Maybe that’s just me.

6. Real Life Soundtrack – Music certainly can enhance a film and help to set the tone of any particular scene. I find it disappointing in real life, that a soundtrack is not playing overhead to give me cues to perhaps in-suing danger or something uplifting to build inspiration. When my husband walks through the door, certainly we should hear “Take my Breath Away” right? Or when I am getting ready for a night on the town shouldn’t I hear “I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain?

What are some of your “Unbelievable” movie cliches?

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