Well into year 3 of retirement, I’ve settled into a routine. Get up early. Earlier than I thought I would in retirement, but I am a morning person. Make coffee and breakfast. Watch the news. Work on my blog, or my next book, or a short story. Go to the gym (downstairs in the condo … More Retirement Bonus #Staycation!
Does anyone else have favourite and dreaded times of the year? I’ve always said that November is my least favourite month. It means that summer is for sure over, no more chance at a freak heat wave, and snow can realistically be expected at any time. There’s a greyness to the month that I dread. … More November Doldrums
I’m loving retirement. September is a great travel month, even in Canada, so off we went for a three day trip to Niagara Falls; we’ve always wanted to do the Niagara region wine tours. A beautiful, muggy hot summer-like day, perfect for tasting the fine results of all that plump, juicy fruit dripping off those … More Retirement Thrill for an Army Brat
As a military kid then spouse, I can’t remember how many times I’ve crossed the country by car. It seems all the postings were from East to West or vice versa. I won’t bore you here with the wheres to wheres – If you read my book Camp Follower One Army Brat’s Story by Michele … More Travel : Road Trip 2019, Northern Ontario
The chirps and calls of birds in my courtyard woke me this morning. I remembered we can leave windows open at night now. And that the birds are in full springtime mode! It’s the May long weekend, the start of summer in Canada. As a military child then spouse, I experienced many types of weather … More Summer Starts Today
This is my third winter of retirement. It occurred to me this fine, freezing Quebec January morning, that my winter survival habits have changed since my working days. In those quickly-forgotten working days of January, I would bundle in as much winter gear as necessary to catch the bus, where I would overheat on said … More Winter is Better in Retirement
I know Christmas Day is still a week away, but for me, Christmas Season is well underway and almost over. I don’t know if it’s because we’re a military family, with members spread far and wide, or because we’re just a normal family, with grown children and expanded families of their own to attend – … More Christmas Season 2018 in pictures
I love the War Museum in Ottawa. First, it’s a splendid building. Unique, although it does remind me of a castle. As a kid in Germany I visited many castles and that feeling of them, ruined or restored, was just like the modern War Museum here : splendid. Full of architectural splendour of concrete and … More War Museum – Ottawa
The People you Meet! Such a busy summer for Camp Follower One Army Brat’s Story by Michele Sabad. I made it to London, Ontario; Souris and Winnipeg, Manitoba; Aylmer, Quebec; and of course lots of places around Ottawa for book sales and signings. Here are some fun notes about how these things can go: London, … More Summer Through the Lens
Hometown? Not exactly. As an army brat, I don’t have a hometown. But Souris, Manitoba is where my father lives. Not exactly the tourist destination one thinks of for summer vacation when you live in Aylmer, Quebec. But when relatives live across the country, (and we military families do get sprinkled across the country), you vacation … More Road trip 2018 – Part 2
Stevie Szabad, Author 