All posts in category Off-topic

Canadian Word of the Month: Toque

Hello!

I was born and raised in Canada but have lived in the U.S. since 2007. People don’t usually notice my accent but discover I’m Canadian through words I use.

Since I think these are great words and strongly believe they should catch on, I thought it would be a good idea to provide you with a word per month education.

I won’t try to claim these words are everywhere in Canada or nowhere in the U.S. They are simply words that I use in everyday conversation, but that most Americans around me have never heard before.

Toque or tuque: a knit cap designed to keep your head and ears warm.

Americans often call them hats, toboggans, or beanies.

Let’s be clear. A toboggan is something you sit on to slide down a snowy hill. Not something you wear on your head.

Let’s chat: Do you use a word other than toque?

3 Comments

by dianaleahwilson on January 9, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Canadiana, Off-topic

Tagged Canadian, toque, tuque, words

Posted by dianaleahwilson on January 9, 2014

https://projecteatme.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/canadian-word-of-the-month-toque/

Currently…

Thinking…that I haven’t posted anything for over a week. And because of that I thought I’d try to give you a slightly fancier post than usual. This is it. It’s inspired by Cassie from back to her roots who does these types of posts regularly. I hope you enjoy my version but you should go check out her blog too. I really enjoy the writing and pictures to the point that the content doesn’t really even matter, not to say that she doesn’t write about some fun things.

Feeling…excited that I’m getting furniture delivered today and am finally getting the bookcase that I’ve wanted since high school.

Watching…The Wizards of Waverly Place. It’s a Disney show featuring Celena Gomez as a teenage wizard. I’m pretty sure the target audience is 12 years old which means it suits my tastes perfectly.

Reading…textbooks. I start teaching two separate Introduction to Nutrition classes in 11 days so I’m trying to get all of my materials ready.

Listening…to the ACL 2013 playlist I made on Grooveshark.

Excited…about the trips I have planned for October. I’m going to the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Houston where I will get to learn a ton, catch up with some RD friends, and pick up some swag. I’m also going to the Austin City Limits Music Festival which for me means time to chill out with fancy friends.

Missing…friends. While I love moving around and experiencing different parts of the country, I do miss the friends I leave behind.

Wondering…when it’s going to start warming up again. It’s only August but the weather makes it feel like fall. Not that I’m complaining. I’ll take any excuse to warm up with a chai latte or Mexican mocha.

Working…on so many things: sending out the first newsletter for the year for the Durham – Chapel Hill Dietetic Association; building a Pinterest page for the Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group; writing a social media article for Surround Health; updating nutrition education materials for work; preparing for my classes this semester; and the list goes on.

Stressed…about how expensive furniture is.

Proud…that I can run 3 miles in less than 30 minutes. Now to enter a 5K so my speediness will be recorded for all to see.

Thankful…that there’s a product that can make my armpits smell like cucumbers.

Wanting…more opportunities to spend time with the kitties.

Wishing…I got paid more. Don’t we all?

Eating…fresh veggies from the Raleigh City Farm. Okra, grape tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, tomatillos, and giant zucchini.

Drinking…chai lattes and free coffee from my apartment lobby.

Loving…my friends. They’re kind of awesome.

2 Comments

by dianaleahwilson on August 16, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in Off-topic

Posted by dianaleahwilson on August 16, 2013

https://projecteatme.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/currently/

6 Types of People That Ride The Bus

Hey there,

I’m in New York City for meetings with the Executive Committee of Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association (or SCAN for short).

I am so super excited to work with all of the awesome dietitians that are here with me!

Catching a musical on Broadway or doing a little shopping won’t hurt my mood either.

Anyway, I thought I’d do a post that’s a little off topic today.

I don’t ride the bus very often but when I do, I always seem to see the same people, or at least the same types of people.

So here is my list of…

6 types of people that ride the bus

The guy listening to really loud music

This is almost always a male, but he could be anywhere from 8 to 80 years old. He probably has headphones, but you can hear every word to every song he listens to. There is definitely reason to be concerned about his hearing in the future.

The person that made herself at home

She usually sits in the seats just behind the handicapped seats so that she can spread her papers out over 3 seats. She is oblivious to the fact that there are other people who would really like to sit. You suspect she may be staying on the bus for multiple loops, taking advantage of the climate control and free WiFi.

The snorer

Honestly, he might not be snoring, it might be more like a snort or otherwise indescribable guttural sound. Try not to think about it too much.

The person engrossed with his smart phone

You have no ideas what he’s doing on his phone – maybe looking at a map, writing a text message novel, reading the work emails he’s been avoiding for a week, stalking you on Facebook. But either way, he seems to have forgotten he is on a bus and may well miss his stop. He definitely hasn’t even noticed the scary guy.

The scary guy

He might just have a really grumpy expression permanently glued to his face. Or he might be clutching a metal baseball bat. Either way, the thought of getting on his bad side gives you the heebie-jeebies.

The loud talker

She might be talking unnaturally loudly to her friend, just to ensure that no-one on the bus misses out on the important aspects of her love life. Or she might be extremely friendly but unaware of the social cues that would otherwise imply that not everyone wants to her her story about the McDonalds cheeseburger that was missing the cheese.