2011 Canada Reads: 10 Finalists

2011 Canada Reads: 10 Finalists

The Top 10 Canadian Novels of the Decade have just been announced. Six men and four women make up the list of finalists. Congratulations to

1.The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis (Ontario)
2.The Birth House by Ami McKay (Nova Scotia)
3.The Bone Cage by Angie Abdou (Saskatchewan)
4.The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill (Ontario) 
5.Bottle Rocket Hearts by Zoe Whittall (Quebec)
6. Essex County by Jeff Lemire (Ontario)
7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Spain)
8. Pattern Recognition by William Gibson (U.S.)
9. Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden (Ontario)
10. Unless by Carol Shields (U.S.)

Hey Reader! What do you think of the fact that Life of Pi was a Canada Reads finalist in 2003, Three Day Road was a finalist in 2006, and The Book of Negroes won the competition in 2009. Should previous finalists be ruled out to give other Canadian authors a chance to be among the top 10?

Among the original top 40, there was a strong showing from the Maritimes with 9 writers and, of course, from Ontario where the bulk of the population resides (17 writers). I compiled this information based on my research into the authors' place of birth. But I do acknowledge that Ann-Marie McDonald grew up in the the Maritimes, making the ratio of writers from the Atlantic provinces 1:4. (Something in the water?). It was also nice to see a fairly even split among women and men writers (21/19).


A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews (Manitoba)
Bottle Rocket Hearts by Zoe Whittall (Quebec)
Clara Callan by Richard B. Wright (Ontario)
Come, Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant (Newfoundland)
Conceit by Mary Novik (British Columbia)
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson (Ontario)
Drive-by Saviours by Chris Benjamin (Nova Scotia)
Elle by Douglas Glover (Ontario)
Essex County by Jeff Lemire (Ontario)
Far to Go by Alison Pick (Ontario)
February by Lisa Moore (Newfoundland)
Galore by Michael Crummey (Newfoundland)
Heave by Christy Ann Conlin (Nova Scotia)
Inside by Kenneth J. Harvey (Newfoundland)
Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay (Ontario)
Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Spain)
Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill (Quebec)
Moody Food by Ray Robertson (Ontario)
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (Ontario)
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson (U.S.)
Room by Emma Donoghue (Ireland)
Shelf Monkey by Corey Redekop (Manitoba)
Skim by Mariko Tamaki (Ontario) and Jillian Tamaki (Alberta)
Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb (Ontario)
The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis (Ontario)
The Birth House by Ami McKay (Nova Scotia)
The Bishop's Man by Linden MacIntyre (Newfoundland)
The Bone Cage by Angie Abdou (Saskatchewan)
The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill (Ontario)
The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan (Ontario)
The Fallen by Stephen Finucan (Ontario)
The Girls Who Saw Everything by Sean Dixon (?)
The Last Crossing by Guy Vanderhaeghe (Saskatchewan)
The Stone Carvers by Jane Urquhart (Ontario)
The Way the Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald (Germany)
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (Ontario)
Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden (Ontario)
Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden (Ontario)
Twenty-Six by Leo McKay Jr. (Nova Scotia)
Unless by Carol Shields (U.S.)



Other Reviews
Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle
Reads from Men 
Happy Home For Broken Hearts
Death to the Dictator! by Afsaneh Mosadam
The Selves by Sonja Alhers
Living Downstream by Sandra Steingraber

Read more »

DIY: Home Spa Salt Scrub

DIY: Home Spa Salt Scrub

Former McGill student and herbal maven Angie Oriana Jenkins has been kind enough to offer us a recipe to make our own Home Spa Salt Scrub completely free of the Dirty Dozen, or the 12 toxins commonly found in commercial cosmetic products sold in Canada. At least 80% of all cosmetics sold in this country contain at least one ingredient among the Dirty Dozen.

According to Angie...

Salt scrubs detoxify, exfoliate and soften skin, leaving you with a healthy glow. They are even reputed to clear your energy field (aka aura or subtle body). Apply the scrub all over your body while you're in the bath or shower and then rinse. You may want to avoid sensitive skin areas on your face. Use the following scrub once or twice a week.

First of all, find a container that you love. Fill it with:
* 3 parts course (“small” grain) Sea Salt
* 1 part Oil (She likes to mix Grapeseed, Sweet Almond and Apricot Kernel)
* a palmful of Fragrant Herbs (Ideas: Lavender Flowers, Roses, Mint, Rosemary)
* OPTIONAL: a pinch of Colourful Herbs (Ground Elderberries for purple, Turmeric for orange, Alkanet Root for maroon). You may need to purchase whole elderberries and grind them in a coffee grinder.
* a few drops of a non-irritating Essential Oils (Lavender, Chamomile or Patchouli). Some essential oils, such as Cinnamon, burn the skin so be sure to do some research beforehand. A good aromatherapy resource is The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless.

Stir all of this together (Angie uses specially designed chopsticks for cosmetics), and voila!  Your salt scrub is ready.

If you like this recipe, you may want to check out Angie "Oriana" Jenkins' other salt scrubs and herbal cosmetic products at Sister Lotus. She also has a Facebook page.

Pssst...My husband used my homemade shampoo and his hair looks good, albeit voluminous.

Related posts:


DIY: Moisturizer and Shampoo
Cosmetics: the Dirty Dozen
Dirty Dozen in my Personal Care Products
Living Downstream by Sandra Steingraber
Airing our Dirty Laundry
The Mile End Buzz around Beekeeping


.

Read more »

DIY: Moisturizer and Shampoo

DIY: Moisturizer and Shampoo

In my quest to rid our everyday cosmetics of the Dirty Dozen, I made a request via Facebook to see where I might get a reference guide for making my own cosmetics. Luckily, herbal maven Angie Oriana Jenkins gave me my first resource, A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, which I immediately ordered online. As I quickly discovered, a basic resource is key because of the sheer volume of information in cyberspace. 

There was no shortage of e-recipes. I found step-by-step instructions on how to make moisturizers, lip balms, shampoos, facial masks, and the easiest of them all, hair conditioners. There were even recipes for getting rid of lice. Just a word of advice. Once you decide on a recipe, make sure that you are familiar with the measurement units the recipe calls for. I chose one with measurements in ounces and was continually reaching for my pencil to figure out what that would be in grams.

Deciding on a recipe was not difficult, but coming up with all the ingredients required two trips to Tau, a large health food store here in Montreal. This was an eye-opening experience. Did you know it is possible to buy a large bar of beeswax and a bottle of avocado oil? I spent about $75 for all the ingredients, and I know that this sounds expensive, but the high-end commercial moisturizer I usually buy, which does not disclose all of its ingredients, retails for about $60. If we end up using the shampoo and moisturizer over the winter months then the experiment will be well worth the money. Besides, these two experiments were FUN!

The moisturizer

1. Combine one cup of almond oil and 1/2 cup of beeswax in a small pot and stir with a wooden spoon until melted.
2. Using a wire whisk, beat the liquid while it cools.
3. Add a few drops of essential oils (lavender and ylang ylang) and the contents of three vitamin E capsules.
4. Pour mixture into sterilized jars.

From this combination, I ended up with a small mason jar and a half of moisturizer, and our house was impregnated with the sweet smell of beeswax. Saturday being bath night, I tried the moisturizer on my kiddies' legs. It took about an hour for the moisturizer to be absorbed, but there was no sticky residue after that. My husband's reaction, which is very important: the moisturizer smelled "okay." Some more food for thought, beeswax was hard to get off the whisk, wooden spoon and pot. It's important to use an old rag to wipe down the pot immediately after use before the wax sets. Then throw the rags out because they can catch fire in the dryer if you try to clean them. Also keep in mind that this product can clog your drain.

NB, The consistency of the above mixture is more of a balm or salve. Angie Jenkins told me that moisturizers are usually water based with a creamier texture and call for a lot more ingredients.

Rosemary/Sage Shampoo

8 oz of liquid Castile soap. (Castile soap is made from 100% olive oil.)
1/2 oz of rosemary (stimulates hair follicles and is known to prevent premature balding.)
1/2 oz of sage (acts as an anti-oxidant and conserving agent.)
a few drops of lavender oil (helps to control itchy scalp.)
*Optional 1/2 oz of nettles (stimulates hair growth and blood circulation.)

1. Mix the herbs in a mason jar and add the lavender, then seal tightly.
2. Boil two cups of water.
3. Add three tablespoons of the herbal mixture to the boiling water and let it stand for 30 to 45 minutes.
4. Strain the herbs off the water into a clean bowl.
5. Take two 8oz shampoo bottles, add 2 oz of the herbal water to each and then add 4 oz of Castile liquid soap to each bottle.
6. Shake both bottles well.
7. Voila! You now have two bottles of Rosemary/Sage herbal shampoo!

Results
I washed both my kids' hair with this, and I was pleased with my daughter's reaction, "Mom, it smells so good!" Success on one end. There was a little bit of lather without the evil sodium laureth sulfate (Dirty Dozen number 11). My husband said that it smelled "okay" and that he would try it. My kids' hair looked just as it usually did after washing. I guess we'll still have to reassess this at a later date to see how this shampoo performs in the long run, but so far, so good. Just a note to readers. I had a lot of leftover herbs and herbal water from this recipe.

Fast forward to one month later to see the results of these experiments.

Reflection
I enjoyed these two experiments, and I was pleased with the results. However, I still feel overwhelmed by all the information I found on herbs and their properties, and if I'm being completely honest, the sweet smell of beeswax in the kitchen the next morning made me feel slightly sick to my stomach. Good ventilation is important.

Another point: I've been off sick with pneumonia for two weeks, but our everyday lives of raising two kids and working full time are pretty busy. Therefore, in my heart of hearts, I find myself looking for convenience.

We can all read labels to avoid the Dirty Dozen in our cosmetics, but maybe we should defer to an expert for things such as cosmetics. When we pay for a product, we are paying for overhead, ingredients, labour, etc, and while I have no issue with companies making profits, I do object to their profit-making taking precedent over our well-being.

In my research, I came across many lines of homemade beauty products. However, I met herbalist Angie Oriana Jenkins who has worked extensively in the health foods industry and who is a go-to person for all things roses, which includes giving classes at Acadia University on the subject. I have gone through her line of products and her list of ingredients, and I have found her prices reasonable given her expertise and the actual cost of ingredients.

Angie's line, Sister Lotus, is a great place to start if you want to avoid the Dirty Dozen and capitalize on her experience. Besides, isn't it nicer to buy something from an individual rather than a huge corporation?

We also owe a big thanks to the David Suzuki Foundation for bringing the Dirty Dozen to our attention.

Related posts:
Cosmetics: the Dirty Dozen
Dirty Dozen in my Personal Care Products
The Mile End Buzz around Beekeeping



.

Read more »

Dirty Dozen in My Personal Care Products

Dirty Dozen in My Personal Care Products

After my research yesterday, I thought I had a relatively good handle on the Dirty Dozen, or the 12 cosmetic ingredients consumers should avoid according to the David Suzuki Foundation (DSF). However, I ran into a problem with the chemical names that were similar but not exact matches. For all of us who took high school chemistry, we know that a tiny change in name suggests a whole different substance. No need to despair! I discovered Chemicals in Cosmetics, a UK database where more of these little beasts are listed.

I took the first three bottles I found in our bathroom. The first one is Colgate/Palmolive Softsoap, a liquid hand soap that we all use. Here is the list of ingredients that figure among the DSF's Dirty Dozen:

Number 11- Sodium Laureth Sulfate: This is what makes the foamy suds, and it may contain 1,4 dioxane, a possible carcinogen that does not biodegrade.
Number 7- Parfum: Some types have been linked to cancer and neurotoxicity and may trigger asthma and allergies.
Number 5- DMDM hydantoin: This is a formaldehyde releasing preservative. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen.
Number 8- PEG-120 and PEG-7: Both are petroleum-based compounds that may be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane.
Number 12- Triclosan: The anti-bacterial agent found in a wide range of consumer products. It is a suspected endocrine disruptor, does not biodegrade and may react to create dioxins, which are highly toxic. There is also some concern that extensive use could result in antibiotic-resistant bacteria.


Therefore, there were six Dirty Dozen ingredients in our hand soap alone. Not very reassuring, as it's the product we use several times a day. Then there were the names that were not perfect matches, as in the following:


Cocamidopropyl Betaine: According to the Chemicals in Cosmetics database, this substance may cause skin and eye irritation.
Polyquaternium-7. As you may recall from the list yesterday, Polyquaternium-15 is named. According to the UK database, Polyquaternium 7, 15, 31, 60 etc. are all formaldehyde releasing substances. I'm adding this entire family to Dirty Dozen Number #5.


The second item was Klorane shampoo with camomile, which I assumed to be a gentle shampoo for my daughter. The ingredients are as follows:

Number 11- Sodium Laureth Sulfate: Think foamy suds, and it may contain 1,4 dioxane, a possible carcinogen that does not biodegrade.
Number 7- PEG-7: A petroleum-based compound that may be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a possible carcinogen.
Number 7- Parfum: Some types have been linked to cancer and neurotoxicity and may trigger asthma and allergic reactions.
Number 5- Polyquaternium-7: A formaldehyde releasing substance. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen.

Therefore, in my daughter's gentle shampoo, there are four Dirty Dozen ingredients.

The final product and also the one with the longest list of ingredients was Le Petit Marseillais shower cream. Here are the Dirty Dozen ingredients I discovered:

Number 11- Sodium Laureth Sulfate: I think I can do without the suds now.
Number 3- Cocamide MEA: On the list, you might recall that the name was Cocamide DEA, but because DEA, MEA and TEA are all under the same heading, I'll opt to be better safe than sorry. DEA, MEA and TEA can combine with other chemicals to form carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Number 11: Sodium Lauryl Sufate: This is a known eye, skin and respiratory tract irritant.
Number 5- Polyquaternium-7: A formaldehyde releasing substance. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen.
Number 7- Parfum: Some types have been linked to cancer and neurotoxicity and may trigger asthma and allergic reactions.

It also names the following as its fourth ingredient:


Cocamidopropyl Betaine: According to the Chemicals in Cosmetics database, this substance may cause skin and eye irritation.

Now that we're all sufficiently depressed, I'll start to look into some possible solutions for my next post. If you have or know of any home remedies or commercial brands without any Dirty Dozen ingredients for shampoos, soaps or moisturizers, please drop me a line and share them with us.

Related posts:
Cosmetics: the Dirty Dozen
Living Downstream by Sandra Steingraber
Airing our Dirty Laundry
The Mile End Buzz around Beekeeping

Read more »

Cosmetics: The Dirty Dozen

Cosmetics: The Dirty Dozen

According to the David Suzuki Foundation (DSF), the ingredients found in cosmetics are not "pretty." In fact, the DSF states that U.S. researchers from the Environmental Working Group have reported that 1 in 8 of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, which include carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, plasticizers, powerful degreasers used to clean industrial machinery and surfactants.

The DSF surveyed Canadians to find out how many of the Dirty Dozen (list below) were in their cosmetics, and unfortunately, 80% of all products contained at least 1 toxic ingredient.

As you can well imagine, after reading through the list, I headed to the bathroom. I know that my husband and I have the metabolic rate, body weight and immune system to handle a greater toxic load than our children, but I shudder to think what these chemicals could do to my three- and eight-year-old.

I took the list, which, yes, is pretty daunting, and pulled back the shower curtain. BTW, if you're going to do this, I suggest you bring a magnifying glass or yer bifocals. The print is indeed small.

I have gone through the ingredients of the above three products in my bathroom. Check in tomorrow to hear about my hair-raising finds.

Here's what to look for when you go shopping:

The Dirty Dozen

1. BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene). They serve as preservatives in make-up and moisturizers. They are also suspected endocrine disruptors and may cause cancer.


2. Coal tar dyes: Look for p-phenylenediamine hair dyes and in other products colours listed as "CI" followed by five digits.Possible carcinogen and may contain heavy metals that are toxic to your brain.

3. DEA (diethanolamine):  This is used in creamy moisturizers and sunscreens. Cocamide and lauramide DEA are found in sudsy products, such as shampoos, cleansers and soaps. Also be on the lookout for MEA (monoethanolamide) and TEA (triethanolamine). Like DEA, MEA and TEA can combine with other chemicals to form carcinogenic nitrosamines.

4. Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP): The plasticizer used in some nail care products. Suspected endocrine disruptor and a reproductive toxicant. Another phthalate (pronounced tha-late) to look out for is DEP or diethyl phthalate.

5. Formaldehyde releasing-preservatives: Arm your decoder for this list! Keep your eye out for DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine and quaternium-15, which release small amounts of formaldehyde, a carcinogen. This is found mainly in cosmetics.

6. Parabens: Again, this is used as a preservative in a variety of cosmetics, and it may interfere with male reproduction functions.

7. Parfum: This is also known as fragrance, which cosmetic manufacturers are not compelled to disclose the ingredients of, as they constitute a trade secret. Parfum is found in a wide variety of cosmetics, including those marketed as unscented. Parfum can trigger both allergies and asthma. Some types have been linked to cancer and neurotoxicity.

8. PEGs (related compound-polyethylene glycols): Petroleum-based compounds widely used in cream bases of cosmetics. Depending on the manufacturing process, this compound may be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a possible carcinogen that is also persistent. In other words, it doesn't break down once it washes down the drain. Keep an eye out for the "eth" as in polyethylene glycol.

9. Petrolatum: Also known as mineral oil jelly, petrolatum is used as a barrier to lock moisture into skin. It may also be used in hair care products to make your locks shine. Petrolatum can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Studies suggest that exposure to PAHs over extended periods may cause cancer. The European Union has classified PAH a carcinogen.

10. Siloxanes (cyclotetrasiloxane (D4), cyclopentasiloxane (D5), cyclohexasiloxane (D6) and cyclomethicone (D4 + D5 + D6)): Look for ingredients ending in "siloxane." These silocone compounds are used in cosmetics to soften, smooth and moisten. They are used in deodorant creams, moisturizers and facial treatments. Environment Canada has found D4 and D5 to be toxic, persistent and to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms. The European Union has classified D4  as an endocrine disruptor. D5 has been found to cause uterine tumours and compromise immune and reproductive systems.

11. Sodium laureth sulfate: This is found in bubble bath, shampoos and cleansers. It may also be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane (a possible carcinogen). Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a related agent that is a known skin, eye and respiratory tract irritant. Also be on the look out for other ethoxylates, or the chemical names with "eth" in them, as in sodium laureth sulfate.

12. Triclosan: This is an anti-bacterial agent that can be found in everything from hand sanitizers to furniture fabric and facial tissues. Triclosan enters through the skin and is a suspected endocrine disruptor. Because triclosan is persistent, it does not biodegrade, and in nature it may also react to create dioxins, which are highly toxic. Another concern of the extensive use of Triclosan in consumer products is that it may result in antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Source: the David Suzuki Foundation.


Too Much for You to Remember?

If you think that this list is too much to remember then here are some tips and tools that the DSF recommends when shoppping for cosmetics:

1. Purchase products with fewer ingredients. Buy shampoos with only 12 instead of 25 ingredients.
2. Only purchase products with ingredients that you can pronounce.
3. Download the DSF's wallet-sized dirty dozen list that you can refer back to.
4. Consult the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety data base if you want to investigate a particular product before buying. Keep in mind that the ingredients may differ in Canada, as the EWG is a U.S. organization.

Read more »

Halloween in Villeray

Halloween in Villeray

Much to my chagrin, I was too sick to go out with my children to trick or treat last night. My husband took the kids up to our new neighbourhood (effective July 2011) in Villeray, instead of doing the rounds in the Mile End. Even though fewer people give out candy on the Plateau, when they celebrate Halloween, residents go all out. In other words, the scare factor is always given due consideration, and this usually includes tapes of scary noises, stuffed dummies sitting in lawn furniture and frightening masks. Last year, we even had a convincingly creepy lady play scary music on her accordion. In addition, Plateau residents give out lots of loot: candy, little toys and chocolate.


According to my kids, Villeray was not great from a candy standpoint. My son actually came home with a bottle of water, which resulted in an eye roll from my daughter measurable on the Richter scale. There were lots of stairs to climb for a sucker and a few candy kisses. (BTW, has anyone in the history of Halloween ever eaten a Halloween kiss? Didn't think so.) However, everyone in Villeray seemed to take part in Halloween, so no childless individuals answered the door dazed and confused to find two little kids standing on their doorstep in Halloween costumes. I told my kids that there would be places in Villeray that would be just as good as those on the Plateau. We just had to find them.

I'm sure there's someone in Villeray dying to scare the bejeezus out of me with his boa constrictor, as was the case last year. To see the boa click here.

Related post
Halloween in the Mile End

Read more »

Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle

Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle

Much has been written about Gregory Boyle, the founder and Executive Director of Homeboy Industries, a social reinsertion program for gang members in Los Angeles, but Tattoos on the Heart is the first book written by Boyle himself. An LA native, Father Boyle has been working with gangs since 1985.

In 1992, with a sizable donation from Hollywood Agent Ray Stark, Boyle opened his first business, the Homeboy Bakery, a place where gang members could find employment once they decided to leave gang life. Over the years, the number of businesses has expanded to include Homegirl Café, Homeboy Maintenance, Homeboy/Homegirl Merchandizing, and the most successful, Homeboy Silkscreen.

Another important component of Father Boyle's work is the tattoo removal unit, which obviously makes reinsertion possible. However, it is the counseling services and one-on-one discussions with this remarkable man that has led many young gang members down the road to change. But as the book points out, the "success" or the triumph-over-adversary narrative, so prevalent in pop culture, does not happen quickly. In fact, actual progress in the streets is a very slow process, or as Boyle describes it, "three steps forward, five steps back."

Now believe it or not, this book is very funny. Boyle tells both hilarious and moving tales of some of the people he has known over the years. He has attended 167 funerals since he began his ministry in1985, and what is most amazing, besides his resilience, is Boyle's ability to see beyond the attitude, tattoos and criminal records, in other words, his faith in those seated before him.

Boyle is often asked about his success stories, and he likes to quote Mother Theresa, "We are not called to be successful, but to be faithful." According to Boyle, in salivating for possible instances of  success, you overlook the people who carry the heaviest burdens and stop seeing the person seated in front of you.

I found this book extremely uplifting. While reading it, I started to think about how quick we are to judge others. The faster we classify and categorize people, the less likely we are to talk to them if they don't meet a certain standard. The root of the problem seems to be our attitude towards success. We live in a success-obsessed society, as if there was no other way to approach life. Yet, I wonder how many people who have attained "success" have actually experienced fulfillment...or maybe I've been reading too much Buddhism.

This book is a well-needed reminder that we are not all born with the same privileges in life and that fulfillment may well come through connection and kinship.

Further reading on Fr. Gregory Boyle's work:
Homeboy Industries: "Nothing Stops a Bullet Like a Job"

Other reviews
Reads from Men 
Happy Home For Broken Hearts
Death to the Dictator! by Afsaneh Mosadam
The Selves by Sonja Alhers
Living Downstream by Sandra Steingraber


.

Read more »

St-Viateur: the Polish Bazaar

St-Viateur: the Polish Bazaar

Every year in the basement of the St-Viateur church, a large bazaar is held. Although the shamrocks on the outside of this imposing church would lead passersby to believe that it serves the Irish community, which may have been the case in decades past, today the congregation is largely Polish, and the bazaar is a great chance to pick up some beautiful Polish items and enjoy some Polish food for next to nothing.

As can be expected, there are hand-painted wooden Easter eggs, which usually cost about $10 each in a specialty store, some nesting dolls and, of course, amber jewelry. I learned today from the vendor that amber is worn to ward off throat infections and as a protective measure against stress. In fact, she told me that "I could spit on her if I wanted, but nothing would cause her stress!"

Although the amber she had was tempting and inexpensive, I didn't find exactly what I was looking for. God knows after being sick for 10 days, I would do ANYTHING to protect myself from stress and throat infections. I did, however, find two beautiful hand-painted pen covers for a dollar each. When the tiny tube with ink is used up, you just put in a new refill.You can see one of them on the left in the basket along with the Easter eggs I bought. Double click on the picture to enlarge.

I'm a big fan of church bazaars. They are great for finding vintage items at low prices.

Related posts

The Mile End Buzz Around Beekeeping
For the Love of Vinyl
Airing Our Dirty Laundry
Filming on St-Viateur


.

Read more »

Filming on St-Viateur

Filming on St-Viateur

On St-Viateur last weekend for a family lunch, I noticed this filming and took a picture to show that there is always something happening in our neighbourhood. On our way to the table at the B&M restaurant (I know...not the most appetizing of names), I showed the picture to my husband, who informed me that the monsieur with the glasses and unruly hair was Xavier Dolan-Tadros. I pointed to the dog hiding behind the sign, looking as if he were waiting for his cue.
"Do you know who he is?" My husband asked.
"No," I said, as I took off my son's coat.
"He won a few awards at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival," he said.
"So why is he filming on St-Viateur outside the B&M restaurant?" I asked, "There must be more exotic settings elsewhere."
"Probably using every opportunity he has to keep learning," he said.

As I looked at the menu, I noticed the B&M served "les flotteurs" and erupted into laughter.
My husband asked me what was so funny, and I told him that they should have called the restaurant the M&B.


Book Giveaway this week: Heave by Christy Ann Conlin, also the book I recommended for the Canada Reads 2011.

Hood-related posts
The Mile End Buzz Around Beekeeping
For the Love of Vinyl
Airing Our Dirty Laundry

Read more »

Review: Enough! by Chönyi Taylor

Review: Enough! by Chönyi Taylor

Enough! A Buddhist Approach to Finding Release from Addictive Patterns
Chönyi Taylor
Snow Lions Publications

This review was also posted at Elevate Difference.

Ordained by the Dalai Lama in 1995, Chönyi Taylor is a retired psychotherapist who fuses Buddhist teachings with western psychology to assist psychotherapists and health care professionals in helping individuals to break the pattern of addiction. In Enough! Taylor states in her acknowledgments that the most insidious addiction is not related to drugs, but to our own self-pity and small-mindedness. In her words, addiction is primarily a state of mind, the result of an initial personal decision that is repeated until it becomes habit-forming or compulsive. The problem is not the availability of alcohol, drugs, sex or food (pick yer poison), but our initial and subsequent choices to use them for short-term pleasure.

Because addiction begins in the mind, this is where the addictive pattern has to be broken. The process is slow and involves, first and foremost, recognizing the existence of a problem and finding the motivation to change. The next step is to become mindful of what we are running away from or the things, people, places and emotions that trigger our addictive pattern. This is how we uncover the causes and effects of our addiction. Being addiction-free also involves breaking the hold of selfishness, as it only enables addiction. The self-centered mind exaggerates impending disasters if our addictive need cannot be met. Dramatics and catastrophic-thinking need to be undone by equanimity or even-mindedness. The three basic steps towards breaking the pattern are mindfulness, introspection and equanimity. Repeated practice through meditation of these three elements is intended to make them pattern forming.

Taylor gives the basics on how to meditate and ends each chapter with a meditation. In Enough! we learn that we are all addicted to something. Even if our addiction is only to negative thinking, it still unintentionally undermines our potential for satisfying happiness. Although I found mindfulness and introspection relatively easy to grasp, I had a hard time getting my head around equanimity or curbing the exaggerated thinking and emotion-fueled jumping to conclusions. But I guess I’m not alone, as the book has four meditations on that alone: equanimity towards our feelings, environment, people and ourselves. There is also an inspiring chapter on managing pain, making choices and building self-confidence.

This book is meant to be read slowly, and the meditations duly practiced, preferably with an experienced group leader to reap maximum benefit. I also recommend that you not read more than one chapter at a time or choose a chair with a very straight back, as the abundance of abstract nouns makes this book highly soporific. Although I didn’t find the real-life cases that Taylor chose to be very helpful, I found her approach to addiction extremely positive and highly enlightening.

Other Reviews:
Reads from Men 
Happy Home For Broken Hearts
Death to the Dictator! by Afsaneh Mosadam
The Selves by Sonja Alhers
Living Downstream by Sandra Steingraber
Book Review: The Next Generation of Women Leaders
Book Review: The Spare Room by Helen Garner
Aya: The Secrets Come Out
Film Review: Mary and Max
Doc Review: Finding Dawn by Christine Welsh
Book Review: Violent Partners by Linda G Mills
Review: Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan
A Review of Montreal's Bixi Rental Bike

.

Read more »