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Hello All.

It is absolutely gorgeous,

here in my beautiful ugly.

The sun is shinning,

the birdies are singing,

the flowers and trees are in bloom.

The smell of,

Apple blossom and lilacs,

fill the air.

Spring came late this year,

but,

right now,

it is at it’s prettiest.

I am busy,

lots going on.

Been a sad time around,

my church community,

lots of illness,

and lots of people dying.

When your community is,

made up of older people,

well

…

This afternoon,

I am going to a memorial,

for a lovely man,

who was a member,

of my church.

He was a sweet, sweet man.

Bob was,

a simple,

loving,

God fearing,

man.

I didn’t know him super well,

but, I liked him.

He loved baseball, hockey, his church,

he belonged to a bowling league,

we was generous and kind,

he had many friends.

He went quickly,

heat attack in the middle,

of the night.

You know,

I have discovered,

that,

I don’t mind,

funerals,

so much.

Remembering,

honouring,

celebrating,

someone’s life,

that is,

a good thing.

I like church funerals,

but,

that is because I like church,

but, they can be anywhere,

and we can call them,

whatever we want,

but, time must be spent,

acknowledging,

the passing of a life.

Celebrating a life,

long and well lived,

or lamenting the loss,

of one too young,

the fickleness of life.

This weekend is my birthday,

I will be turning 57,

not a sexy number,

by any means,

but,

I am so very happy,

life is so sweet.

Have a wonderful weekend,

you all.

May the sunshine,

kiss your skin,

and peace be with you.

Later girls,

BB

Hello everyone!

It’s been a while.

I have been crazy busy,

still busy but,

taking a few minutes.

Catherine and I are going to see,

Fran Lebowitz tonight,

here in my beautiful ugly.

Woo Hoo!

She will be interviewed,

take questions from the audience,

and then sign books.

Catherine bought the tickets,

way back in July,

I remember telling her,

“I guess you believe in the future of our relationship”

I think she smiled, maybe even laughed a little.

Catherine is a woman who listens more,

than she talks.

Catherine like me, loves Fran.

We both get her,

she is snarky and very New York.

A woman who has suffered from writer’s block,

for decades.

I liked Fran’s book,

she wrote two but,

I own the compilation:

The Fran Lebowitz Reader.

However I think she really shines,

as a speaker.

I love everything about her,

her cadence, her style,

her fuck you attitude,

I am not like her,

and neither is Catherine,

we are grown women,

who think and speak,

for ourselves.

We are not New Yorkers,

we are Montrealers,

less angry,

more happy.

But, just as she loves New York,

and is very critical of it,

I love my beautiful ugly,

and see it warts and all.

So does Catherine,

but, Catherine is more polite,

more quiet.

Underneath the quiet,

lives a true urban woman.

She loves Montreal,

her plateau,

her museums, galleries, art scene,

bookstores and urban streets,

and she gets,

Fran.

I am one lucky butch,

swoon.

Be still my heart.

Be well you all.

Later girls,

BB

The blank slate that was my office.

Hello you all,

one year ago I moved into,

this beautiful flat that is my home.

I had packed and prepped,

for a few months previous,

to the move.

I had culled,

given away,

pared down.

My bff,

who also happens, to own this place,

had painted the entire place,

this lovely shade of,

cream,

Devonshire cream,

with a very slight,

yellow tinge.

The light plays so well,

on this colour,

and everything looks good,

against it.

It is a very optimistic colour.

————-

Moving is not easy,

it’s exhausting,

it’s expensive,

but, in this case,

it was so good.

I left behind,

a flat that was,

never really mine,

and moved,

to a new home,

My home,

a new beginning.

I decorated, I furnished,

it was my vision.

I lived with nothing,

on the walls,

for a few weeks.

I picked what went on the walls,

out my collection of,

pictures, photos,

memories.

It is truly my vision.

There is light in this flat,

there is peace in this flat,

I am sandwiched in between,

two people I have known,

for decades,

they are family,

I am safe here,

my Georgie,

is happy here.

The move precipitated,

so many good things,

it brought balance to my life.

I made choices about,

my future,

what I wanted,

what I didn’t want.

When Catherine invited me,

to go to an art exhibit,

I went, with enthusiasm,

knowing I was free,

to be me,

in our relationship.

I am so grateful,

for this home,

which truly represents,

another chapter in my life.

Every month when,

I pay my rent,

I thank God, the Universe,

and most of all my BFF,

for this wonderful,

Home.

Today, I celebrate one year.

Life is good.

Be well everyone.

Later girls,

BB

Good morning all, Happy Easter!

I am going to breakfast,

with my friends, my neighbours,

and then I am going to church, it’s Easter.

I woke up early but I stayed in bed,

cuddling with George,

George is a fabulous cuddler.

After a while I reached over,

for my phone,

on my Facebook feed,

there was an advice columnist,

giving advice on wether,

a person should send her stepchildren,

things that had belonged to their father.

The Columnist gave good advice.

That got me thinking about my mom.

My mom read newspapers,

she read both French and English newspapers.

Mom read advice columns as part,

of her daily newspaper reading.

She read Ann Landers and Dear Abby,

sometimes she would share something,

that she thought was touching,

sometimes she would share something,

that she thought ridiculous.

When she died there was an Ann Landers,

column in her wallet, The Stranger In the Mirror,

about aging and it’s challenges.

It seems to me advice columnists,

were ok, but, culturally they seem,

a thing of the past, sort of like,

print newspapers.

I still read the Saturday papers,

in French and English,

and most weeks there are stories,

that I think mom would like.

I read them to be informed,

but also, a lot,

to be close to my mom.

It’s Easter, I miss mom,

I miss my grandparents.

But it is a beautiful sunny morning.

Blessings on all of you,

whatever your creed may be.

Later girls,

BB

Good morning everyone.

I hope you are all well.

We are having a cold spell,

here in my beautiful ugly.

I have been ultra busy,

and,

have a ton on my mind.

Perhaps, this is why,

I found myself awake,

before 5 am, this morning.

Sometimes, it is best not to fight it,

just get up and start your day.

I fed George, made some tea,

and sat down to write this post,

yesterday was,

the blog’s anniversary,

I thought it was 10 years,

turns out it is,

12 years!

12 years, through the end,

of the bookstore,

several jobs,

a couple of relationships,

a hysterectomy,

the death of a precious friend,

the awakening of faith,

scary times,

the loss of my mother,

the best of times, the worst of times.

I am not the woman,

I was 12 years ago,

and yet…

I am still the,

jean clad, boot wearing,

butch who started writing,

this blog on the advice of,

a customer,

who thought,

I had lots to share,

opinions about books,

movies,

politics,

it started that way,

and morphed.

It has kept me going,

through, some,

really hard times,

as well as great euphoric times.

Readers, have come and gone,

that’s normal,

12 years.

Thanks for accompanying me,

on this ride,

thanks for being a witness.

Happy anniversary Bookish Butch!

Maybe… who knows,

maybe another,

12 years.

Later girls,

BB

Hello everyone.

I hope you are all well.

I trust you are all happy,

that Spring is coming.

It has been a cold Winter,

here in my beautiful ugly.

But, the air is now, warmer,

and the light..

happy sigh,

the light is gorgeous.

My caps are out,

the Winter boots are no longer,

right by the door,

they aren’t far…

Montreal, March,

one must be cautious,

but, I am wearing my,

Spring/Fall boots.

I have a pair of Chelseas from,

Thursday Boots,

I love them,

they are fly.

It’s grey, today but, Spring grey,

the warm weather, the sun is on,

it’s way.

I have been working a lot,

reading,

leading a bible study,

I even did a sharing,

at my church.

I don’t consider my talks,

preaching,

I share, my thoughts,

my faith, my journey.

Catherine came,

to hear me speak,

it meant, a lot,

to me,

she offered.

We are so well suited,

we are so happy.

Just checking in, popping my head,

around the corner,

to say ‘Hi’,

hope all is well with you all.

Talk soon.

Happy Spring!

Later girls,

BB

Good morning All.

It is a greyish Friday morning,

here in my beautiful ugly.

I don’t usually work,

on Fridays,

but, my hours at work,

have increased,

which I am frankly,

thrilled about.

I can handle more hours,

now,

I am in a better place.

I have been quite busy,

since I last wrote,

work projects,

church stuff,

took a class,

have started a bible study,

for the Lenten period.

Catherine and I have been,

spending quality time together,

life is slowly returning to,

a semblance of normality.

The savage and ongoing,

attack on the Ukraine,

is a tragedy for the people,

of Ukraine,

indeed for the whole world,

I pray for peace.

I have been reading,

a lot.

I have read two Joan Didion books,

her last book of essays,

published right after her death,

and this week I finished,

which is the second book of hers I read,

about death, grief, aging,

what a truly fantastic writer,

she is/was.

I am almost finished,

Gordon Parks’s : A Choice Of Weapons,

the first book in his memoirs.

I have long adored Parks’s,

photography,

and he is a wonderful,

writer, memoirist,

brutally honest,

but, kind, no axe to grind,

just truth as he sees it.

I have ordered the next,

three volumes,

and look forward to spending,

lots of time with Gordon.

The sky is getting lighter,

almost white,

apparently,

snow is coming.

Oh well, it’s March,

almost Spring.

Take good care,

you all,

hang in there,

soon,

the flowers,

will come.

Later girls,

BB

Good morning all.

Happy Valentine’s Day,

to you all:-)

I know lots of people think,

Valentine’s Day is corny,

or invented sentiment.

I am Not one of those people.

I love Valentine’s Day.

I have been blessed with great,

Valentine’s days,

in my day.

But in the last few years,

I wasn’t sure I would find love,

again.

I have!

We met on a singles website,

we met just prior to a pandemic,

we got to know each other,

slowly.

We fit so well.

We love being together,

we love being on our own.

We love art,

we love music,

we love the same,

slow songs from the 80’s,

to dance to.

She is the most wonderfully,

considerate, uncomplicated,

beautiful woman.

I am so crazy about her.

Happy Valentine’s to all of you,

may you all find,

as wonderful a Valentine,

as I have found.

Love each other.

Be well you all.

Later girls,

BB

Hello all,

another freezing cold,

January day.

I am so sick of,

this pandemic,

so sick of,

not seeing people,

so sick of,

people I know,

being sick.

Add to that,

it being cold,

I know January, duh,

but, really,

I am sick of it.

My morning,

was a series of calls,

of emails.

I spoke with seniors,

people I am in contact,

with,

through work.

They are all so grateful,

for a phone call,

for someone,

checking in on them.

Brings me back,

to how lucky I am.

I work,

I have an amazing home,

an awesome girlfriend,

such good friends,

many of them.

I have community,

church,

my neighbourhood,

and I am sick of it.

I can only imagine,

people stuck at home,

alone,

with no one to talk to,

or people stuck at home,

with too many people,

to talk to.

I made lunch,

some soup I made,

a few days ago,

a turkey and pickle sandwhich,

a cup of tea,

listened to music,

on Spotify,

and chastised,

myself.

Things are not great,

there are sick people,

all over the world,

and very close to home,

but, we have free healthcare,

and a government,

that has many faults,

but, I don’t think,

one of them,

is not caring.

It’s easy to bitch,

and frankly,

we need to,

a little,

evacuate,

but, ultimately,

we need to be strong,

to be positive,

we need to get through this,

together.

Thanks for listening,

I hope it wasn’t too,

platitudinal.

Be well, stay safe, stay warm.

Later girls,

BB

Hello everyone.

Hope you are all surviving,

this cold January.

I know, I am supposed to,

embrace Winter,

be positive about it,

but,

I gotta say,

I dislike Winter,

intensely.

I have a good coat,

that is warm, comfortable,

even,

attractive,

well,

as attractive as a parka,

can be,

I have warm boots,

long johns,

wool sweaters,

flannel shirts,

socks,

and hats,

and yet,

I still dislike Winter,

and like to spend,

as little time outside,

as possible.

But, that leads to feeling,

down,

so no matter,

if I need to go out,

I still do,

I must,

fresh, albeit, frigid air,

is necessary to my survival.

It is tempting,

to not go out,

I work from home,

Amazon delivers,

pretty much anything,

but, out I must go.

If I don’t go out,

interact with people,

even if it just nodding,

on the street to neighbours,

It affects my mood,

and when my mood,

is affected,

that effects,

my concentration,

and my memory,

and I sure don’t want that,

so I will keep going out,

for my memory,

for my sanity.

I skipped,

the November blues,

it seems like,

January has hit me,

with a vengeance.

Any of you,

finding this Winter,

particularly,

hard?

Let me know.

Hang in there you all.

Later girls,

BB