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Upcoming Event
I hope to make an appearance at the Ottawa Romance Book Fair, when a date is officially announced for 2027. This is a one-day event held at the Conference Centre, so check back soon for updates.
I hope to make an appearance at the Ottawa Romance Book Fair, when a date is officially announced for 2027. This is a one-day event held at the Conference Centre, so check back soon for updates.
2026-02-26
No doubt, my spelling of the word 'kazooed' is off by a mile but the intent of the word is quite clear. Yes, there are moments when feeling kazooed, getting kazooed, going beyond the point of being kazooed can all be reached. Not entirely, however, as was the case this past Saturday evening, when I enjoyed appies and drinky-poos at a friend's condo, along with her fiancé and my sibling.
I've never made any bones about it to anyone, I adore Ottawa, always have, always will. It's the perfect City with plenty space. There are amazing canal paths for running, walking and cycling (over 300 km's worth) and a good size downtown core in which to live, with easy access to pretty much anything, including night clubs, bars, pubs, live music venues, and a plethora of restaurants, some of which are fine-dining. Finally, our annual roll-out of craft and music festivals, the Bluesfest being a hot-ticket and apparently one of the ten largest in North America. As we near Spring, due to hit on March 20th, we'll first get to relish in receiving more sunlight on March 8th when Daylight Savings Time arrives and our clocks bounce forward by one hour. It means it will still be light out, closer to 7 PM. Right now, sunset occurs at 5:45 pm. You can feel the vibes in the air, when it comes to Spring getting ready to be sprung. Hearts and minds are gearing up for the melting of the snow.
I take a positive attitude when it comes to winter, which I believe is the only attitude worth adopting, given that the months of November, December, January and February are characteristically dark and freakin' cold, such as our weather had dished out in January, when temperatures dipped to -35 Celsius for a good length of time. I managed to make it out skating seven times on the Canal, before I had two falls in a row, and needed to allow my shoulder some extra time to heal. Next week, my bike gets its annual tune-up, to beat the crowds, all of whom will descend on the local bike shops to do the same. It's a grand time of year, when you can feel the winter doldrums beginning to lift, and this was evident this past Saturday evening, when my Root Beer vodka cooler was absorbed like sweet-honey, which I washed down afterward with a cold Corona beer with lime. White wine and other coolers were also inhaled so that by the end of the evening, and I won't say who, one of us was feeling kazooed, happy and excited for the big Olympic hockey game the next morning. We all know now how that game ended. Allow me to express my congratulations to the US hockey team for the win. We'll get 'em next year for sure.
I declined the offer to watch the game in the morning because I can't cope with alcohol too early in the a.m. but my friends had indulged. By all appearances they had a wonderful time. Spring has that effect on us, to open the flood-gates to the land of the kazooed, and no one seems to mind. I sure hope you don't either, when family and friends let their guard down at 8 AM. Why begrudge someone who wants to enjoy themselves? It's not everyone's cup of tea to indulge in alcohol in the early morning hours, but look at it this way, if you don't go to bed at all, and manage to stay up well into the early morning hours, then technically you're not indulging too early in the morning because you've cleverly blended the early-morning hours with the prior late-night hours, to pour one great-tasting drinky-poo.
The end of March as well signifies getting closer to the conclusion of the second Uni semester. I won't forget the Uni parties that burst open, around this time of year, spilling onto the streets as Spring revs up that desire to enjoy mingling, while struggling to prepare for exams that roll out in April. I used to share a house with two men and another woman and it was situated close to University of Ottawa, where I had undertaken French language courses, as well as night courses in political science. It was especially noisy at this time of year. My housemates and I contributed to the level of partying in the neighborhood, as you're supposed to do in your 20s, when you're feeling immortal and invincible, and going out of your way to get thoroughly trounced, or as this blog title suggests kazooed, in a manner that best suits your limitations, and for some well beyond.
This week, the official line-up was released for Bluesfest (July 9th to 19th) and I've already purchased two VIP tickets for The Guess Who.
What's not to love about Spring?
I've never made any bones about it to anyone, I adore Ottawa, always have, always will. It's the perfect City with plenty space. There are amazing canal paths for running, walking and cycling (over 300 km's worth) and a good size downtown core in which to live, with easy access to pretty much anything, including night clubs, bars, pubs, live music venues, and a plethora of restaurants, some of which are fine-dining. Finally, our annual roll-out of craft and music festivals, the Bluesfest being a hot-ticket and apparently one of the ten largest in North America. As we near Spring, due to hit on March 20th, we'll first get to relish in receiving more sunlight on March 8th when Daylight Savings Time arrives and our clocks bounce forward by one hour. It means it will still be light out, closer to 7 PM. Right now, sunset occurs at 5:45 pm. You can feel the vibes in the air, when it comes to Spring getting ready to be sprung. Hearts and minds are gearing up for the melting of the snow.
I take a positive attitude when it comes to winter, which I believe is the only attitude worth adopting, given that the months of November, December, January and February are characteristically dark and freakin' cold, such as our weather had dished out in January, when temperatures dipped to -35 Celsius for a good length of time. I managed to make it out skating seven times on the Canal, before I had two falls in a row, and needed to allow my shoulder some extra time to heal. Next week, my bike gets its annual tune-up, to beat the crowds, all of whom will descend on the local bike shops to do the same. It's a grand time of year, when you can feel the winter doldrums beginning to lift, and this was evident this past Saturday evening, when my Root Beer vodka cooler was absorbed like sweet-honey, which I washed down afterward with a cold Corona beer with lime. White wine and other coolers were also inhaled so that by the end of the evening, and I won't say who, one of us was feeling kazooed, happy and excited for the big Olympic hockey game the next morning. We all know now how that game ended. Allow me to express my congratulations to the US hockey team for the win. We'll get 'em next year for sure.
I declined the offer to watch the game in the morning because I can't cope with alcohol too early in the a.m. but my friends had indulged. By all appearances they had a wonderful time. Spring has that effect on us, to open the flood-gates to the land of the kazooed, and no one seems to mind. I sure hope you don't either, when family and friends let their guard down at 8 AM. Why begrudge someone who wants to enjoy themselves? It's not everyone's cup of tea to indulge in alcohol in the early morning hours, but look at it this way, if you don't go to bed at all, and manage to stay up well into the early morning hours, then technically you're not indulging too early in the morning because you've cleverly blended the early-morning hours with the prior late-night hours, to pour one great-tasting drinky-poo.
The end of March as well signifies getting closer to the conclusion of the second Uni semester. I won't forget the Uni parties that burst open, around this time of year, spilling onto the streets as Spring revs up that desire to enjoy mingling, while struggling to prepare for exams that roll out in April. I used to share a house with two men and another woman and it was situated close to University of Ottawa, where I had undertaken French language courses, as well as night courses in political science. It was especially noisy at this time of year. My housemates and I contributed to the level of partying in the neighborhood, as you're supposed to do in your 20s, when you're feeling immortal and invincible, and going out of your way to get thoroughly trounced, or as this blog title suggests kazooed, in a manner that best suits your limitations, and for some well beyond.
This week, the official line-up was released for Bluesfest (July 9th to 19th) and I've already purchased two VIP tickets for The Guess Who.
What's not to love about Spring?
2026-02-24
Grocery shopping is a very serious business, and I mean really and truly, a very serious business. Inflation takes no prisoners, and as we'll soon enter the third month of 2026, it's been reported by the Canadian Government that food inflation has already increased in Canada by more than 4 per cent. Ouch!
Now a percentage increase of four per cent on the surface doesn't seem to be too large. Only, try a little test on your own and work out the math, were you to increase your mortgage or car payments by 4%. You'll very quickly work through the numbers to arrive at the same conclusion that 4% is bloody high, considering that some strive to lock in their mortgage at as low an interest rate as possible, while others will opt instead for a variably rate, to give themselves wiggle room in order that they may take advantage of the times when financial institutions will lower the lending rate.
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Now a percentage increase of four per cent on the surface doesn't seem to be too large. Only, try a little test on your own and work out the math, were you to increase your mortgage or car payments by 4%. You'll very quickly work through the numbers to arrive at the same conclusion that 4% is bloody high, considering that some strive to lock in their mortgage at as low an interest rate as possible, while others will opt instead for a variably rate, to give themselves wiggle room in order that they may take advantage of the times when financial institutions will lower the lending rate.
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2026-02-23
I envy the conflicted soul,
stirring up the broth of thought.
In contemplation, I ought to release my notions,
Preconceived as to who I am.
Today, maybe,
I might recognize a flicker of myself,
in the grove of trees urging me
to come lean my furrowed brow,
on the strength of simply being.
Here for eternity,
I grow my identity
Temporarily caught in my throat.
COPYRIGHT © Patricia K McCarthy
stirring up the broth of thought.
In contemplation, I ought to release my notions,
Preconceived as to who I am.
Today, maybe,
I might recognize a flicker of myself,
in the grove of trees urging me
to come lean my furrowed brow,
on the strength of simply being.
Here for eternity,
I grow my identity
Temporarily caught in my throat.
COPYRIGHT © Patricia K McCarthy
2026-02-19
When you have the P's and Q's in your pocket, you've got your ducks lined up in a row or you're playing with a full deck of cards or you're nobody's fool. This is how I grew up to understand this well-known expression, that in a nutshell, it means you're as sharp as you think you are, because you've got all your P's and Q's in your pocket.
However, this isn't the only version, nor is it the correct one.
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However, this isn't the only version, nor is it the correct one.
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2026-02-17
The planets will soon become misaligned, so it's time to get your flake on. We'll enter into a three-week phase called Mercury Retrograde from February 26th until March 20th. Mercury is the planet that rules communication and has an impact on all things with moving parts, like computers, cars, electronics, mobile phones. If you're like me, and you refuse to hop onto the Microsoft OneDrive train, or you refuse to back up your mobile phone to the cloud, allow me then to recommend that you take a moment to connect your mobile phone vis-a-vis the adapter cable, to back-up your photos to your hard-drive. This is how I ensure my photos are not lost, as well as my latest work-in-progress (novel eight). I have deeply rooted issues of distrust with Microsoft, and their OneDrive application is proof positive that they want your data, all of it, and will automatically make a copy of whatever is stored on your laptop's hard-drive to the Cloud, even without your permission.
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2026-02-12
The body count will grow in 2026. I'm referring to tornado season, rather than the body count of those linked in the release of millions of infamous E-Files. Weather forecasters anticipate that in 2026 alone, there'll potentially be over 1,400 tornadoes to hit the USA in the Central Plains, that is to say in Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa and Texas. Not all will be lethal. It really only takes a handful to leave their devastating mark.
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2026-02-10
It has been three weeks and a bit since my role was phased out at the firm where I've contributed my professional expertise as an Executive Assistant for nearly two decades. Not because of performance issues, rather like many corporations, a review of total coverage across offices had resulted in restructuring.
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2026-02-09
He's stuck in the past,
rooted like a determined weed.
And no matter how often he discusses,
he re-hashes again the same subjects.
I fantasize
slitting his throat,
And dismembering his body parts.
I fantasize
telling the world he left without a word.
Telling them, now,
he belongs to the past —
lovers to the last.
COPYRIGHT © Patricia K McCarthy
rooted like a determined weed.
And no matter how often he discusses,
he re-hashes again the same subjects.
I fantasize
slitting his throat,
And dismembering his body parts.
I fantasize
telling the world he left without a word.
Telling them, now,
he belongs to the past —
lovers to the last.
COPYRIGHT © Patricia K McCarthy
2026-02-05
Back in the early 1980s, CNN was one of the first 24 hour news stations to throw out the term "off-line." This descriptive differentiated when an individual or broadcast service was connected to a live network vs how some view connectivity in the 21st Century, that off-line means being unreachable — not by mobile, and by extension text, email, or via social networks.
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2026-02-03
There's a difference between ritual and routine.
Routine is a mindless act that we carry out each day with no forethought or after though, such as when we shower and wash our bodies in the same manner each time — beginning with one arm, next arm, neck, back, torso, private parts, toes and legs. Whereas, a ritual is a prescribed order of actions, a ceremony, if you will, used by many to ground themselves in the here and now, to anchor their thoughts and feelings, and to connect to a higher state of consciousness. For many they'll perform a ritual of protection for all those they hold as dear.
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Routine is a mindless act that we carry out each day with no forethought or after though, such as when we shower and wash our bodies in the same manner each time — beginning with one arm, next arm, neck, back, torso, private parts, toes and legs. Whereas, a ritual is a prescribed order of actions, a ceremony, if you will, used by many to ground themselves in the here and now, to anchor their thoughts and feelings, and to connect to a higher state of consciousness. For many they'll perform a ritual of protection for all those they hold as dear.
Read More
2026-02-02
The essence of my nature revealed itself
when I gave myself to him and his young body.
I chose those lips of heaven-sent mist
and marveled at how I wanted to be with him.
Then the pain crashed through between my legs
and he pushed on, and my brain caught fire.
The pain alight in my head as he tore through my flesh
and plunged his tongue inside my mouth.
And he squeezed both breasts inside his hands
pressing upon my nipples erect. My eyes shut tight,
and my body started spinning. I became that moment,
cherishing the freedom of my womanhood.
COPYRIGHT © Patricia K McCarthy
when I gave myself to him and his young body.
I chose those lips of heaven-sent mist
and marveled at how I wanted to be with him.
Then the pain crashed through between my legs
and he pushed on, and my brain caught fire.
The pain alight in my head as he tore through my flesh
and plunged his tongue inside my mouth.
And he squeezed both breasts inside his hands
pressing upon my nipples erect. My eyes shut tight,
and my body started spinning. I became that moment,
cherishing the freedom of my womanhood.
COPYRIGHT © Patricia K McCarthy
