In the same vein as endnotes or parenthetical references in an essay, this page provides references to things or people mentioned in various entries throughout my blog, especially those who’d prefer to remain otherwise anonymous.
Regular References (in alphabetical order):
- ACD: Anti-Candida Diet. An eating plan for those who suffer from sugar cravings, recurrent yeast infections, or other conditions that might support an overgrowth of candida albicans in the body. I followed a very restrictive form of this diet for over 2 years, a while back; I started a more flexible plan in August, 2008, then was hit once again with candida in December, 2008 and began a very strict program in March 2009 (which I still follow). I talk about the diet in general in this post; and provide some helpful links to other anti-candida materials in this post. There’s also a dedicated page on the blog for Candida FAQs.
- The Architect: a dear friend whom I met the year I separated from my starter marriage, in a support group for divorced people (how cute!) back in the ’90s. We helped each other through separation and singlehood, servings as each other’s perma-dates, until we both met someone else (at about the same time, too).
- Babe: One of my oldest friends, whom I’ve known since we were seven. After the movie Babe came out, we both loved it and soon, the nickname “Babe” began to stick. It was vetoed after I unwittingly called out to her in a coffee shop, “Hey, Babe, what kind of muffin do you want?” and several elderly women threw glaring looks our way. But this is my blog, and I can be as immature as I like here–so the nickname resurfaces!
- CBC: Cool Boston Chick (not to be confused with THE CBC, or Canadian Broadcasting Company): my older cousin who lives in Boston and is a cherished cousin, “mom” and friend. She’s the coolest!
- The CFO: my younger sister, a Chartered Accountant in Montreal.
- DDD: This is an abbreviation for the original name of my blog: Diet, Dessert and Dogs. If you’d like to know why I chose that name, see the About page.
- Decade of Firsts: roughly equivalent to my 20s, when I first went to university, first found love, and first lived on my own.
- Decade of the Dinner Party: roughly equivalent to my 30s, when I was a little social butterfly hosting almost weekly dinner parties for friends.
- Dr. Ditsky. My beloved mentor from the University of Windsor, who I met during my first year as an undergraduate there, and with whom I maintained a friendship until he died in 2006. He was the major force behind my decision to pursue a PhD (and also my impulse to write a whole lot of really bad poetry). I write more about our relationship here.
- Ellen. Yes, the one you’re thinking of: the funny, smart, TV-Show hostin’, Cover-Girl sportin’, Idol Judgin’, giveaway-and-game expert, married to Portia deRossi, Ellen Degeneres. I want to serve vegan, sugar-free goodies on her show, and started a campaign on April 2, 2010. Help me out and win a free cookbook! Details here.
- Eternal Optimist: One of the most talented, hard-working people I’ve ever met, the EO and I met through a local literary festival where she used to work. Now a marketing whiz, she’s also my role model as someone who’s funny, smart, and able to put a positive spin on any situation.
- GBR: Great Bed Rest (also Grievous Back Relapse): the period of ten days in March-April 2008 when I injured my back so badly that I was completely immobilized for almost a week. I did learn a lot about patterns in ceiling stucco, however, as you can read here.
- Gemini I, Gemini II: my two dearest friends, identical twins with whom I’ve shared fun and laughs since we were all about four years old (and those multiple decades make Oprah and Gayle look like recent acquaintances, believe me).
- H.H. : My Human Honey (who prefers to remain anonymous), as opposed to my furry honeys, Elsie and Chaser.
- LLC: Long Lost Cousin. In reality my second cousin, this artist-cum-mom of three and I recently reconnected after a long lapse. It’s great to have one family member living so close to us!
- Marketing Guru (MG): my second cousin who grew up in Boston and now lives in Florida. As kids, we spent almost every summer visiting each other either in Natick or Montreal; he’s still one of the funniest people I know.
- MGW (Marketing Guru’s Wife): my cousin’s wife, a Physician’s Assistant. Her energy, sincerity and wit inspire the devotion of both her patients and her two daughters (not to mention guests from Toronto).
- NAG diet: diet I learned about in nutrition school (stands for “Natural, Alive, Good-Quality”). To learn more see this post.
- The Nurse: my older sister, an operating room nurse in Montreal.
- Nutrtionista: A good friend I met while studying natural nutrition a few years ago. We bonded over Starbucks, studies, and the fact that we were both keeners in school. Coincidentally, we live just 4 blocks from each other–how convenient!
- Phil (short for “The Philanthropist”): a dear friend that I’ve known since high school. Trained as a lawyer, The Phil is one of the most generous and giving people I know. When she finally realized law wasn’t for her, she left to help raise money for various worthy causes, including a women’s walk for breast cancer that broke all previous records.
- PR Queen: a friend I first met when she signed up for one of my cooking classes, she is one of the most outgoing individuals I’ve ever met. And while she doesn’t actually work in the PR field, she’s definitely got that bubbly, magnetic (if those two can coexist) personality.
- Rocker Guy (He of the Black Leather Pants): rather charming, somewhat good looking psychopath I dated for a brief interlude after my separation from the Starter Husband. For some bizarre reason, references to RG seem to recur with alarming regularity on this blog. (Who, me? Bitter? Pshaw!)
- Spaghetti Ears: My first “real” boyfriend, the first person with whom I truly fell in love. We used to giggle at the saccharin-sweet nicknames our friends gave their beloveds, so we came up with the most outrageous sobriquets we could think of for each other; his was Spaghetti Ears. And mine? You’ll have to wait for that one.
- Starter Husband: the ex-husband from my first (far too young, far too immature) marriage. Luckily, we ended it fairly quickly, lessons learned.
- Sterlin: one of my very best friends; our friendship was sealed back in high school because we were both sans boyfriend throughout that time and so bonded with each other (no, not in that way, silly!).
- Sweeny: my family’s cocker spaniel from my childhood. Temperamental, usually disobedient, and entirely food-oriented, he was nevertheless an adored family pet.
- The Poet: one of my best friends from high school, with whom I hung out for countless Saturday nights. We lost touch in university, but then rekindled our friendship after meeting again at a high school reunion.
- WOCA: Week of Chocolate Asceticism. Every few months, after a particularly repetitive, damaging binge on chocolate, I decide to cut it out of my life for a week or two as a way to return to a more moderate way of eating, and detox the chocolate out of me. The first few days are the worst, but then I feel much better. Really.