Hit and Miss

Hit and Miss #347: Grab bag

April 28, 2024

Hullo! It’s been a good weekend—tending to some long in-progress projects, planning some new ones, and trying to do some maintenance around the house. Also,...

Hit and Miss #346: Clean the tabs, share the links

April 21, 2024

Ahhh. That feeling of relief, of deepest contentment. The shoulders unhunch, the jaw unclenches, the body rests. What, dear reader, did I do to earn such...

Hit and Miss #345: Books abound

April 14, 2024

Hello! It’s been a neat week. We hosted my former roommate as she moves back to Ottawa (yay, cool people in Ottawa!)—it was nice to have someone else around,...

Hit and Miss #344: Endless Saturdays

April 7, 2024

Folks, it’s beautiful out! This is not a drill!! I’m sitting in the yard, laptop and cider in hand (different hands, don’t worry), nothing but me and the sun...

Hit and Miss #343: First quarter updates

March 31, 2024

Ahahaha we’re a quarter done the year!? Ooooookay then. Small chronicle of things that’ve happened since the start of the year, to mark time passing, and...

Hit and Miss #342: The usual moves

March 24, 2024

It’s a beautiful spring afternoon (visually, at least), and I’m feeling pretty good with what we’ve done this weekend. It started with stress at so much to...

Hit and Miss #341: Continuing themes

March 17, 2024

Between time-change jet lag, some more responsibilities at work, and a fair bit else on the go, I haven’t yet fully appreciated the “longer days”—I’m so...

Hit and Miss #340: Blackbirds are back

March 10, 2024

Thursday, as T and I walked the Rideau River, I thought I heard that familiar, beloved call, of the red-winged blackbird, back from its winter adventures. I...

Hit and Miss #339: Sure, winter, see ya later

March 3, 2024

We’re somehow 1/6th done the year!? Ahahahahahaha I have so many projects I thought I’d be further along on by now. But also, winter, showing ourselves...

Hit and Miss #338: How it goes these days

February 25, 2024

The cats seem to be fighting over time with me this morning—I’m sitting in the den with Pema, and Arthur’s standing at the door, begging to get in. This has...

Hit and Miss #337: Love and friendship (and data and government)

February 18, 2024

Good evening! It’s been a great week. T and I had some great meals out, plus time with friends (also involving excellent food, including a delicious...

Hit and Miss #336: Wouldn’t it be nice

February 11, 2024

Hello! Have had one of those off days—it wasn’t bad, really, just low energy, the time always passing more quickly than hoped. Ah well. I’m currently sitting...

Hit and Miss #335: Discomfort is (partially) the point

February 4, 2024

Hello! After a bit of agonizing, I spent a few happy hours in the community woodshop this afternoon. It was great to be back, and motivating—while machines...

Hit and Miss #334: Byeeee, January!

January 28, 2024

The winter doldrums are alive and well this week. T and I are both on the up-and-up, slowly, but have varying kinds of lingering meh. Coupled with the...

Hit and Miss #333: Sick, again

January 21, 2024

So it seems I have COVID. For extra real, this time—tested positive and everything. Optimistically, T had it in late December / early January and I didn’t...

Hit and Miss #332: Wintry neighbours

January 14, 2024

Winter, it seems, is finally here. The last few days of snow made for an entertaining time getting T to work yesterday morning—scoping out nearby carshare...

Hit and Miss #331: Benchin’, cattin’, linkin’

January 7, 2024

Thank you to all who wrote in with kind words wishing T and I well last week. Happy to report that we’re both back to our normal selves. (Which, for me,...

Hit and Miss #330: So, we made it

December 31, 2023

Whew. I’m writing you today from our living room, A in my lap, T in the other room. It wasn’t what we’d planned for the week—today, I was meant to be on a...

Hit and Miss #329: Another year’s books

December 24, 2023

Phew, hi! It’s been quite a week—A was sick (better now!), some difficult conversations in and around my extended family (ongoing…), and all kinds of...

Hit and Miss #328: omg me too

December 17, 2023

Hello! Much like Sameer, I’m finding myself with little to say before the links these days. So, in addition to encouraging you to go read Sameer’s (frankly...

Hit and Miss #327: Hoorah for “blank time”

December 10, 2023

Hullo! A good Sunday to you :) It’s been a good week—I was, unusually, somewhat on the ball in getting up when I meant to; it makes a huge change in the day,...

Hit and Miss #326: Bring on the winter of (inter)dependence

December 3, 2023

This morning, T and I sat in the den, me reading and her knitting, as snow peacefully but steadily fell, filling the roads, paths, and trees around us with a...

Hit and Miss #325: Independent living depends on a healthy land

November 26, 2023

It’s been a good weekend—full of the right activities, in the right proportion. T and I are rewatching Ted Lasso for probably the fifth time while hosting...

Hit and Miss #324: Responding to change (links on)

November 19, 2023

After a very days-and-nights-busy work week, it was nice to have things a bit more normal this week. T and I are getting ready to host our first overnight...

Hit and Miss #323: Change for thee, but not for me?

November 12, 2023

It’s been a very full week! We hosted our first few meals in the new place—none fancy, but we’re not particularly fancy people anyhow. We also got in some...

Hit and Miss #322: Maintenance before a busy week

November 5, 2023

Good morning! Yesterday was one of those lovely “maintenance” days. Both in the broadest sense—getting groceries, making sauce for the week ahead, going for...

Hit and Miss #321: Finishing things

October 29, 2023

Another weekend of juggling too many things—one day I’ll be sensible about what I can actually accomplish in a day, a year, a life! There’s a long list from...

Hit and Miss #320: Home (anew)

October 22, 2023

Whew. It’s been a week—a month—a season—a year. Fall’s a third over, but it’s flown by. A month ago we returned from Japan, and turned in short order to...

Hit and Miss #319: Old standbys

October 15, 2023

Hello! Things have been quite busy here the last few weeks, but the end is in sight, with quieter, calmer days ahead. T suggested—whether she realized it or...

Hit and Miss #318: Port season

October 8, 2023

Was feeling down today—a rainy weekend, a Thanksgiving in Ottawa instead of with family (but for very good reasons!), distressing imagery and news from...

Hit and Miss #317: Old favourites in a time of change

October 1, 2023

Hello from a mostly-not-jet-lagged Lucas! It was quite a time adjusting to Ontario, uh, time, but I far preferred being awake early to always wanting to...

Hit and Miss #316: Home from Japan

September 24, 2023

Hello! T and I are back from a few weeks in Japan. Mindboggling to write that, not least because my brain’s in another timezone and suffering from...

Hit and Miss #315: Untitled pt. 2

September 17, 2023

Hello! In the midst of vacation, trying to channel Rach Smith’s “no inputs day”. It’s… hard! Changing context helps, of course, but those inputs are always...

Hit and Miss #314: Untitled pt. 1

September 10, 2023

Thank you to everyone who wrote in about my break email last week. I’ll likely keep going, but relieve myself of the stress of titling these posts for the...

Hit and Miss #313: Break?

September 3, 2023

Hello! Ah, September—what a pleasure! Though it’s been a while since the academic year shaped my life, I’m still keenly aware of it—the rhythm of thirds has...

Hit and Miss #312: Enjoy those cool evenings

August 27, 2023

Folks! The evenings are cool and the mornings crisp! Fall is coming! This is not a drill!! Very full days behind and ahead of us—with some exciting news to...

Hit and Miss #311: “Low risk”

August 20, 2023

Folks, I took that advice I shared in the last two issues—Mandy Brown’s energy makes time—and hoo boy does it ever work! Spent the afternoon in the woodshop...

Hit and Miss #310: Feelin’ eh

August 13, 2023

Hello! Bit of an off day energy-wise—trying to fit in too much, not doing a great job cutting myself slack when I can’t fit all that, and wallowing over all...

Hit and Miss #309: Good summer

August 6, 2023

Ah, August—the good part of summer. Still hot, yes, but less consistently so. Cooler nights, the occasional balmy day, little treats to make the heat more...

Hit and Miss #308: Full of fulfillment

July 30, 2023

Hello! A happy Sunday to you :) Writing, again, at the end of a full but fulfilling weekend. This weekend featured hours in parks, enjoying the grass and the...

Hit and Miss #307: The internet is good, actually?

July 23, 2023

Hello! Writing after an unexpectedly full weekend, tired but thankfully not drained: Yesterday morning was an awesome hand tools course at Ottawa City...

Hit and Miss #306: Cheers for “Grandparent hobbies”

July 16, 2023

Hi! Exciting things afoot, but I’m low on energy and brainspace this afternoon. I don’t have anything in particular to say or share this week, but am pleased...

Hit and Miss #305: Extra extra extra!

July 9, 2023

Hello! Coming off a lovely weekend full of T time, family time, friend time, and hobby time—very glad for all the people I get to share life with. It’s left...

Hit and Miss #304: Midyear goals

July 2, 2023

Hello! We’re just wrapping up a really lovely visit from my family, which included a brunch today with our closest Ottawa family, S+V. Very glad for the...

Hit and Miss #303: See other

June 25, 2023

Hello! It’s been a very full week, and I don’t have much in the tank to write today. I hope you’re all doing well, and taking care, especially if you live...

Hit and Miss #302: Better conversations

June 18, 2023

Hello! Sunny, blue skies have emerged from an overcast morning (though I like the gloom, some days—it encourages a general feeling of quiet, a welcome break...

Hit and Miss #301: Full of food, family, and love

June 11, 2023

Hello! Writing, very (very) full with food, after a full day visiting family. We’ve had a busy few weeks, with lots of emotional ups and downs, but are glad...

Hit and Miss #300: Living the principles

June 4, 2023

Hi! A very happy Sunday to you. We’ve had a whirlwind few days, but in a way that feels as relaxing as it’s been full: a woodworking course yesterday morning...

Hit and Miss #299: Issues elsewhere, issues here

May 28, 2023

Hello! I spent the morning as a biking kit man to T and T’s mom, who ran the Ottawa marathon today. CONGRATS BOTH!! It was so awesome to see their...

Hit and Miss #298: Manure breach heat agreement

May 21, 2023

Hello! I smelled manure from the Experimental Farm while out biking this morning, and it gave me a great smile—manure’s a smell that reminds me of home,...