When 30 Years Feels Like Yesterday – The Chronicles and Confessions Of A Brain Tumour Survivor

Sept 16, 1991, Monday Dear Diary, The nerologist, Mr. Young, told me that I have a brain tumor. It`s the size of a nickle. They are sending me for more tests this week ... I`m kind of still in shock. I never expected this. I expected epilepsy or, many be nothing. Jenn took it hard. …

Advertisement

My Tragic Childhood Cat Tales, The Legend is True – A Flashback Friday Repost

Time for a Flashback Friday post!Originally posted on April 5, 2018. One of my favourite posts. Cat lovers, proceed with caution.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As a child, I loved cats. However, the title of "Tammy's Favourite Cat" was dubious because they all died. Natural causes. Alright, semi-natural. My history with cats is traumatic - and a tad gory. Feline …

Next Time You Hear The Beep, It Might Be A Canadian Game Show

A month ago, I watched a snippet on Facebook of Family Feud. A contestant stood beside Steve Harvey, and he watched in horror as his family lost by two points at the end of the show. It's simple to say, really? Name an animal that gallops and you said giraffe? But that's an arm chair …

Dusting Off Memories of a Synchro Competition – A Golden Anniversary

This is a repost, however, this includes photos from the 1990 Arborg Ice Show, Movie Mania. ~~~~~~~~~~While it feels like yesterday, it was 30 years ago today. It was the 1990 Interlake Regional Precision Competition at the Stonewall arena. The final competition of the season for our 16-member Arborg Junior team. For some reason, Interlake …

My Short Career as an Anthem Singer – O, It was Cool

It started at a restaurant. In 1995, I was working the closing shift at Arborg's newest, coolest, hippest restaurant, "The Wild Apple." At the helm, two guys barely who were barely 23 years old working with servers who were also under 23 years old. My eight-hour shifts flew by as I served pasta primavera and …

Left Maxillary Sinus Surgery, Radio, and Pizza – Waiting for a Call While You’re in the Booth

I could've sworn the curtains were on fire. Ah, the summer of 2014. Tornado warnings, floods, FIFA, and Butterscotch the Cat rose to unfortunate fame with a birdcage on his head. Remember Butterscotch? In May 2014, I signed a three-month contract with 680 CJOB as a reporter and weekend evening news anchor. Nothing breaks in an anchor …

From Eight to Sixteen – The Story of a Synchronized Skating Team

Synchro skating isn't about medals. It's about the memories. Medals are a bonus though. During the Arborg Skating Club's 1988/1989 season, our coach produced three successful synchronized (precision) skating teams. I was on the eight-member senior team, winning two silver medal. Two competitions, two silver medals. Not too shabby. We won our second silver medal …

Rebooting the Journey, Again!

I'm a storyteller. And I'm rebooting the journey. 4-0 style. When I was turning 40, I set out to write 40 posts in 40 days. Even from a hospital bed. I tried again at 41, but I didn't feel that "thingy." And when I was turning 42, the attempt was there, and I did post, …

My Tragic Childhood Cat Tales – The Legend is True

As a child, I loved cats. However, the title of "Tammy's Favourite Cat" was dubious since they all died. Natural causes. Alright, semi-natural. My history with cats is traumatic - and a tad gory. Feline lovers, you might need tissue. I grew up on a dairy farm in the hamlet of Geysir outside Arborg, Manitoba. Hamlet sounds so quaint. …

The Cusper 1980s and 1990s Rocked – Stuck in the Middle

Music triggers memories. I'm not an '80s or '90s music person. I'm a cusper. Stuck between two decades. There was a MuchMusic show called "Back in," and they'd countdown the top videos from 1980 to 1994. I'd recognize an odd video from the early '80s. What happened in 1981? Despite some of the horrid videos, …

Searching for a Bride, Years After Her Wedding

I love old photos. Especially when there's a story behind them. But it's sad when you have the photo, and you know there's a story - but you have no clue what it is. When I started college in September 2009, I found myself in the heart of Winnipeg's Exchange District. The downtown Red River …

Nothing Says Happy Valentine’s Day Like Jury Duty

It's February the 14th! Happy birthday, Yuka Sato! Oh, yes, and it's Valentine's Day. When we celebrate enduring love for our significant other with heart shaped boxes of chocolates and red roses. This year, I'm alone on Cupid's annual arrow day. Some people are probably thinking, "Poor girl. Probably so lonely. Must be awful. Hang in …

A Warm and Fuzzy Repost – Revisiting Christmases from the Past

In 2007, I put the star on our family Christmas tree.Later, I posted the photo on Facebook. I joked that I was happy the Sears Catalogues were hidden from the photo.That photo showed up today in Facebook's "Hey, guess what! Today is 10 years since your fish died" notifications. In Red River College, we had …

Throwback to a Walkman – When iTunes and Spotify Fail

An app on my Smartphone keeps crashing. Today, I spent two hours talking to Fido. When the app crashes, my display screen changes. But the worst thing happened for the first time. One second I was listening to Disturbed on Spotify and - after a reboot - it returned as "ad supported." My main concern was, …

Dusting Off Memories Of A Synchro Competition – A Throwback Thursday

It seems like yesterday. But it was 27 years ago. I'll let that soak in for a moment. The 1990 Interlake Regional *Precision Competition at the Stonewall arena. I remember the weirdest parts of that afternoon. Eating pizza buns at a teammate's house. Her mom driving my teammate (her daughter), my sister, and me to the …

Rediscovering Myself – One Makeup Mistake At A Time

I'm struggling for a topic. Despite rumours, writing isn't hard but it's not simple. You want to be poetic, without being brash. Witty, without being crude. And you want to write substance rather than sludge.It's strange, because I write all the time. It's my job. I'm a reporter. I'm writing a novel. I have other …

A Few Things About Me – I Hope I Chose The Right Jam

It’s a shame to never allow others to understand you as a person. Letting people form their own opinions of you based on assumptions and rumours just plain hurts. For me, I'll clear up some misconceptions. I’m not a snob; I’m shy around unfamiliar people. I’m not a b***h; I’m passionate. So, here’s me in …

I Had the Time of My Life – Silk, Satin, Houndstooth and All

I miss high school dances. I’d always dress up. Usually in a new dress, because heaven forbid someone recognize my outfit from a previous dance. I'd take extra time applying makeup and punishing my long hair with hot curls and tight half-dos. Leaving a mass of strands on the floor, sticky from concrete hold hairspray. …

Dear 12-Year-Old Tammy – Enjoy the Moment

Dear 12-Year-Old Tammy, First of all, you’re not fat. You’re 105 lbs. Stop being bitter about being a middle child. You have a big sister and a little sister. Cherish them, even when you’re at odds. Because you’ll need them when you’re older, and they’ll need you. Don’t wear black eyeliner, purple eye shadow and …

A Palm Reader, Cayenne Pepper, and My Destiny

I went to a palm reader. And I interviewed a psychic. I’m not skeptical, though I’m guarded. The element of surprise. It’s better sometimes than knowing what’s ahead. When it’s accurate. February 1996. My friend *Lynn and I were at Polo Park Shopping Centre in Winnipeg. On the lower level was a palm reader. We …

Pack Up, Class of 1994 – You’re Retiring in Arborg

It’s an idyllic thought. The other night, retirement came up when I was messaging a friend. I giggled when I went to bed. Because wouldn't it be awesome if the entire Class of 1994 returned to our small town Manitoba roots to retire? Back to the Town of Arborg? So, I propose, when we’re all …

Pondering a Throwback Thursday Issue

Forget Friday. It's all about Thursday. Throwback Thursday. When social media sites are cluttered with #TBTs. Yes, this nostalgia buff practically has #ThrowbackThursday marked on the calendar. It’s the time to post childhood photos and your 1990s shenanigans with friends. But what about the real past? On Facebook, a photo surfaced last month on a …

From Baby Shoes to Grad Shoes – My Mementos Aren’t Going Anywhere

My house is fairly organized. Some visitors have called it “spotless.” They’ve been shielded from my office – lovingly referred to as “the pit.” Remember the “Friends” episode with Monica’s closet? Problem is, I have two more pits. Oh, that sounded weird. I have two memory totes. Full of childhood and teenage nostalgia – and the tip of …

Hindsight a Decade Later – The Countdown Begins

It seemed like a great idea. I was about to turn 30, and I wanted to approach the Winnipeg Free Press pitch a daily column: “Thirty days until thirty.” A countdown until I hit the big 3-0. It seems like yesterday since I hatched the idea at 29. In April, I turn 40. So call …