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Babies & Friendships Born at the Beach

When people ask me where I’m from, I never quite know how to answer. I was born in Toronto, did most of my schooling in Kingston, but where I felt most at home was a small Ontario tourist town called Wasaga Beach. My children were born while living there. I’ve lived in the USA for [...]

11Jul2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

Changing Scenery / Road Trips

I LOVE road trips. For me it’s the ultimate freedom. Yesterday I left home with my 15 and 16 year old for a 20 hour drive to Orlando. It’s been years since the three of us have traveled together and I suspect this might be the last one for a long, long while. They’ve hit [...]

19Jun2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

Window to the World

Media has always been the window to the world for those of us who don’t get to see it ourselves. Personally, I’ve always believed that it’s best to “see for yourself,” especially when it comes to opinions of others. I listen, file the information, and wait to make my final interpretations when I see the [...]

29Apr2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

The Pot Of Gold at the End of the Razor

Would you shave your head to show solidarity with kids fighting cancer? I learned about St. Baldrick’s through one of my networking meetings. Emily Macbeth began supporting the cause after losing her child to cancer. She is organizing a fundraising event to be held at the Uptown Grill on Maple Road in Commerce. (If you [...]

8Mar2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

What Do Paula Deen and the Terminator Have in Common?

I’ll tell you! As you may know, I’m recently divorced and with the separation of assets I was left without a few household items. Since there’s many things to replace with limited funds, I’m trying to be frugal so I hit my local Walmart. One of the purchases was a brand new set of pots. [...]

4Mar2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

Better Than Reality TV: I LOVE These Guys! Chevy SXSW

I am so not a reality tv buff, but I think the Chevy Challenge should be a made-for-tv reality show. The concept is brilliant. Yay Chevy! Take four community and social media active people from 9 locations across the USA. Give them a Chevy to drive from their home city to the South by Southwest [...]

1Mar2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

Having Trouble Saying “No” to Your Kids?

As parents our first instinct is to give our children everything they need, but we have trouble drawing the line at giving them everything they want. Learning to say no to your children is an important part of their development; it keeps them safe, teaches them gratitude, it even shows them how to self-regulate their [...]

20Feb2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

Island Getaway – Gone to the Birds

The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is named after a Michigan born cartoonist who was instrumental in getting the 8,000 acres of land protected under President Truman by blocking the sale of land to Sanibel developers. I began the day wandering through a road traveled by car, bike and foot within the refuge and [...]

18Feb2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

Island Getaway – Everglades City

Day two signaled the end of the 70 degree weather while rain clouds hung heavy in the sky. I decided to get off island and took a road trip down into the everglades. I had been on an airboat once before and wanted to do it again. This was a much shorter trip and alligators [...]

15Feb2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

Island Getaway

The biggest lesson I learned in 2009 is that I have the best friends in the universe. I’ve never been one to rely on others but have always allowed them to lean on me. This past year, I needed support, and my friends were there without question. I am so very thankful to each and [...]

12Feb2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

Wax my What? My 1st Ms. Esthy Visit

I’ve been home waxing for several years but recently stopped because my hair became so fine it was difficult for me to remove it with one fabric tear. I also found the process too time consuming. Last year I attended a conference where Tiffany stood up and spoke to the presenters about promoting her personal [...]

28Jan2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

OnStar Command Center

Last night I visited the OnStar Command Center. I was just a tad bit excited but I think I managed not to embarrass myself. Except for being so smitten with my surroundings that I didn’t see the gift on the seat and sat on it – several times – before noticing it. Doh. The group [...]

25Jan2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

Star Qualities I Appreciate

I don’t have the groupie mentality. If I see a star, I see someone just like us, a person who puts their pants on the same way I do. I don’t even bother to collect autographs. Except in the case of one star: OnStar. I feel a little silly admitting I am gaga over a [...]

22Jan2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

Jersey Boys Rocked the Fisher Theater

Between Christmas and New Year I decided to introduce my two teenage boys to a little theatre culture. It wasn’t their first experience, they’ve seen Lion King in Toronto and Annie in Columbus, Ohio but they were much smaller and easier to impress then. I hadn’t heard much about Jersey Boys other than it was [...]

18Jan2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

Should Independent Thinking be a Punishable Crime?

Earlier this week I received the following email from the high school my children attend: A disciplinary action has been assigned to “Name”. The offense was Improper Use of Dist Technolog. This offense happened on 01/04/2010. The staff member who referred your student was “Name” The action taken was Before/After School Detention. “Name” must serve [...]

7Jan2010 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

30 Days of Thanks: Day 22 & 23

By the time I hit my early twenties, I was carrying around a lot pain and anger. I had a right to be angry and the pain was expected, but deep down I knew the only person those negative feelings hurt, was me. I thought long and hard about how to alleviate the antagonistic emotions [...]

23Nov2009 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

30 Days of Thanks – Day 20 & 21

The problem with having moved around a lot in my life is that each moving truck leaves a wake of good friends. As a child I moved from an apartment where I played with a girl down the hall whose name I no longer remember. I took ballet with other young preschoolers and wowed the [...]

21Nov2009 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

30 Days of Thanks – Day 15

Growing up, we always had Sunday dinner at Nana & Grampa’s house. Nana would slow cook a roast, mashed potatoes, vegetables and dessert. She’d also cook up some Yorkshire Pudding for us to drench in gravy. I continued the same tradition with my family minus the gravy and Yorkshire pudding but the past few years [...]

15Nov2009 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

30 Days of Thanks – Day 13 & 14

Somehow I fell behind again! Here it is Day 15 and I’m just now getting around to being thankful for Day 13 and 14. Perhaps I should be grateful there aren’t any 30 Days of Thanks police! Day 13 I was at a Marching Band Banquet. The whole time I was there I was thinking [...]

15Nov2009 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued

30 Days of Thanks – Day 12

I’m in my mid-forties and facing a divorce. Although, I’m still hesitant about wanting to date again, there’s a part of me that wonders – if I wanted another relationship – am I too old? I’m no longer a young, beautiful woman. I have wrinkles forming at the corners of my eyes, my mouth and [...]

12Nov2009 | Pat Williams | View Comments | Continued