Originally intended to simply focus on book reviews, over time, KaliDesautelsReads has morphed into its own entity.
I write about issues that are near to my heart, be they political, feminist, motherhood, mental health, or, as the title holds, books.
A thirty-something Canadian woman in my mid-thirties, I have been “super married” to my high school sweetheart since 2006, and together we have two crazy, clever, kind, hilarious, wonderful kids.
My first book – How Not To Blog: Finding Myself, One Post at a Time is available on Amazon (in eBook formats for you clever tech readers, and paperback for those of us who love that new book smell!)
I have tried a podcast – it’s still on Apple and Google Podcasts – but writing is where my heart is.
My life changed dramatically when my husband was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in 2018, and I am now a writer for a leading Canadian Cancer Non-Profit.
I am lucky enough to have a family that loves me and pushes me to be my best, even if it is outside of my cushiony comfort zone. I have a village of friends that nourish me, mentally, and spiritually.
Welcome to my thoughts. Sit down. Stay a while. Enjoy a cup of coffee!
Another day closer to the end of this man’s radiation!! Can I get a HELL YEAH??? The meds are making him feel awful, but that means they are doing their job, and killing the invading cancer. 9 more treatments and he is on to the next stage of his treatment plan!!
In other news, I would like to thank my mother for this travel mug that is ACTUALLY spill-proof! Because coffee.
Happy Thursday – just a reminder that you are important and the world needs more of your unique gifts and talents.
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Posted @withrepost • @sugarandcloth I had high hopes of a very cute mother-daughter photo in front of the quote because it’s definitely one to raise kiddos on, but Gwen was prioritizing her sleep schedule instead, ha! Experiencing some magical, sunny moments here in Waco for #SpringAtTheSilos with @magnolia and @texasmonthly, thank you so much for having us! Have any of y’all been to Waco? I think it’s going to be a small town to watch for sure! #partner #sugarandclothtravels #texasmonthly #igerstexas #familytravelblogger #anthrostyle #myanthropologie
#followforfollow
#bestoftheday
#sky
#ootd
#sunset
#l4l
#makeup
#f4f
#hair
#pretty
#model
#motivation
#women
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Today, New Zealand taught the world what an appropriate and timely reaction to a massacre is as the sale of automatic weapons and magazines was banned.
“New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Wednesday that the country would ban the sale of all assault rifles and semi-automatic guns, less than a week after a shooter opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, killing 50 people.
“Today I am announcing that New Zealand will ban all military-style semi-automatic weapons. We will also ban all assault rifles,” Ardern said at a press conference, according to The Guardian.
“We will ban all high-capacity magazines. We will ban all parts with the ability to convert semi-automatic or any other type of firearm into a military-style semi-automatic weapon. We will ban parts that cause a firearm to generate semi-automatic, automatic or close to automatic gunfire,” she continued.”
When racism and hatred are at hand, the need to have a gun is never justified. A religion does not make an enemy, hatred does. So, I take this moment to applaud PM Ardern and spotlight her administration’s swift and appropriate response to a deadly shooting. Maybe we will learn from her, and remember that hatred only begets hatred. Do not allow anyone to bring you to hatred. Do not buy military grade weapons to deal with hatred. Do not allow the slaughter of innocent people in the name of hate. Jacinda Ardern, we see you, and we applaud you! ❤️
On a beautiful sunny day like today, there is nothing I would like more than a quick trip to Seattle for a slice of Dahlia Bakery’s Triple Coconut Cream Pie! I am a sucker for teensy bakeries, or cafes, or bookstore, or…. basically any place that is as cute as this. Have you been to Dahlia Bakery? What’s your favourite treat?
#love
#instagood
#photooftheday
#bakery
#beautiful
#happy
#cute
#tbt
#like4like
#followme
#picoftheday
#follow
#me
#selfie
#summer
#art
#instadaily
#friends
#yellow
#pie
#kalidesautelsreads
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“Now in the city there are two worlds. One world has walls around it and one world has people around it. The second world is outside, with the late-winter sky and the bare trees and the hard pavements that stretch in every direction, and with the bright shining shop windows and the chattering crowds. This world has a sightless malicious face, which is the face of the crowd. The face of the crowd is not immediately to be seen, it only becomes apparent after a while, when it shows itself in wondering side-long looks and sharp glances.
I nearly forgot to pay homage to my favourite Irish writer – the beautiful, sharp, clever Maeve Brennan! I was introduced to her through Kate Bolick’s fabulous memoir Spinster, and have proceeded to read every single piece of writing that the Long-Winded Lady that I could get my hands on. So, in keeping with Irish Stew and all things green, I have added a quote by Ms. Brennan to the day of Irish remembering.
Happy St Patrick’s Day! In our family, that means green pancakes and Irish Stew. Do you celebrate? My friend posted something this morning about how people are going all out for their kids for St Paddy’s Day… I didn’t realize that was a popular thing! I thought it was “wear green or be pinched”, and that was about it… and also the day that the food colouring industry ramps up green dye production in North America.
I have also read that strongly Irish-descended catchments in the US put on more of a show for St Pat’s than do the Irish. I wonder why that is?
Well, whether you trap leprechauns, eat green food, or get drunk on green Guinness, I hope you have a wonderful, and safe, St Patrick’s Day! 💚💚💚
In October, there is a blush of pretty pink objects with the intention of raising money for Breast Cancer.
In November, buildings are alight in a wash of purple for Pancreatic Cancer Month.
In March, there are ads about endangered butts in Canada. As Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, March is ushered in with a model’s bottom painted to look like an endangered species, including the polar bear. Endangered Butts – Colorectal Cancer Canada is meant as a lighthearted reminder of a serious subject. Using body paint, on bare bums, which are then tended and moved to animate the animal (seriously, click the link if you think it sounds crazy), providing some insight into an insidious cancer.
According to the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC), Colorectal Cancer accounts for 13% of cancer diagnoses, second only to Lung Cancer (in non-gender discriminating cancers. The most common cancer in women remains Breast Cancer, whilst in men, the most common cancer is Prostate Cancer) as the most common cancer in Canada.
The thing about Colorectal Cancer is that in a puritanical society such as ours, anything related our bodily functions is a source of embarrassment. We are taught that “bathroom talk” is reserved for the bathroom or the doctor’s office, thereby creating a stigma that makes talking about our rectums, or anuses, or other defecation-related subjects taboo. We blush when we pass gas, giggle when someone belches, lower our voices to mutter diarrhea, apologize for “stinking up the bathroom”, and overall try to pretend that that basic human function does not exist. This means that whether we know, inherently, that we should be able to talk to our doctor’s about it, when we are concerned that there is a problem, we don’t, because even in the privacy of our Doctor’s Office, we feel the overwhelming societal humiliation deep through our pores.
So, in order to combat this, and remind us that giggling about our butts does not mean we should ignore them, we have http://www.endangeredbutts.ca/.
Since 2000, the incidence of Colorectal Cancer in younger adults (defined by the Cancer Agency as any adult under the age of 50) has increased, while Canada-wise screening has seen a decrease in overall instances of that cancer. So why are younger and younger people being diagnosed with a disease that is so common, but traditionally atypical in young adults? The CCAC attributes some of this to the increased rates of Diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise, the consumption of red or processed meats, and smoking.
Why should you listen to the polar bear talking out of a model’s butt? Because Colorectal Cancer is the second most common cause of death of males from cancer, with a 1 in 29 chance of dying from the disease. Because it accounts for 12% of all cancer deaths. Because the survival rate for adults diagnosed with any level of Colorectal Cancer is 68%. Because the symptoms are terrible. Because the longer you wait for diagnosis, through early diagnosis, the worse the results causing more invasive and painful treatment. Because stigmas do not save lives.
Due to the slow growth of an average Colorectal Cancer cell, it is common to be diagnosed at a later stage than some cancers. This means that you may not exhibit symptoms for months, if not years, until suddenly, they arrive and quickly become unbearable. Below is the CCAC staging reference sheet:
“After each element has been determined, they are combined to form and overall stage of the cancer in roman numerals, the higher the number, the more advanced the cancer. This is generally how the cancer is referred to between doctor and patient:
0– The cancer is confined to the innermost layer of the colon or rectum. It has not yet invaded the bowel wall.
I– The cancer has penetrated several layers of the colon or rectum wall.
II– The cancer has penetrated the entire wall of the colon or rectum and may extend into nearby tissue(s).
III– The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
IV– The cancer has spread to distant organs, usually the liver or lungs.“
So, now you have seen the funny polar bear, read the scary statistics, understand the staging of the cancer. That leaves only one more thing to include in this Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Public Service Announcement – the symptoms that should have you running, or at very least briskly walking to your doctor’s office.
Common symptoms are as follows:
blood in your stools,
narrower than normal stools,
unexplained abdominal pain,
unexplained change in bowel habits,
unexplained anemia, or
unexplained weight loss.
Ok! So, remember that March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness. If you can #EndTheStigma for mental health, you can totally end the stigma and talk to your doctor about early detection, to hopefully nip this in the “butt” (get it? Instead of buds!?!? 🤣)
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In the interest of having more energy and better health, I am working to improve my eating habits. My brother is crazy about nutrition, and has been giving me tips on foods that would be simple, that the kids will eat and that I can enjoy. He has even tested out some of his recommendations when he has babysat my kids, to make sure that these are kid approved. On this beautiful, sunny Spring day, apparently we are both in an egg and tomato mood.
This week sucks. This week really, really sucks. This week has taken everything it has and has thrown it at us, as hard as it can. It has steamrolled through our family and went as fast as it could. But guess what? Through the grace of God, the love of our friends and family, a fantastic medical team, support from amazing people who have been here for us, my grandmother sleeping on my couch, we are doing alright. We are “embracing the suck”. We are dusting ourselves off, and crawling forward. Because in the end, when this is all finished, as the Black Knight from Month Python and the Holy Grail said, this will have been “only a flesh wound”.
Kali J Desautels 