Turn of Phrase Blog

Appreciation to You!

by | May 1, 2025 | 1 comment

Blogs don’t exist without readers, so whether you’re new to turnofphrase or a long-time loyal supporter, I thank you. Truly. Growing pains have meant none of you have received notifications of the last few posts. Here’s a link to the one published at the end of April about what a prominent Canadian politician and I may have in common.

If you are reading this, all is well and no need for you to do anything, except read (if you like). Glitches fixed. Thanks again.

If you are curious about the photo with this message…Sometimes I learn from my dog. She’s wishing and hoping, putting in all the “cute” work to get those delicious-smelling meats into her mouth…but it’s just not working. However, she remains hopeful. She keeps doing the work, kind of like writing for a living.

PHOTO ID: A small brown dog sits on a kitchen floor, gazing longingly at a delicious-smelling frying pan of meat on the stove, out of reach.

Written by Carmen G. Farrell

An emerging writer and mother of two, Carmen Farrell (she/her) lives in North Vancouver. In her memoir-in-progress, she explores both personal and societal ableism, sharing her experience of raising a son with impairments in a world that devalues disability.

Archives

What Pierre Poilievre and I May Share

I used to believe Ges’s condition—how his mind and body work—made him broken. That he was somehow “less than” because of his impairments. It was hard to talk about his disabilities because I feared judgment — that he’d be pitied. It came from a set of beliefs my...

Calling the Police Isn’t the Answer

Chase DeBalinhard was shot dead by police in a suburban Vancouver neighbourhood one afternoon in mid-February. His parents believe their fifteen-year-old boy was on his way to his schoolyard to make a video, something he enjoyed doing. Like Ges, this boy had ASD...

Five Ways to Support Writers

Follow writers on social media and subscribe to their newsletter, blog (thank you!) or website. My social media handles are: https://www.instagram.com/carmengfarrell/, (21) Carmen G. Farrell | LinkedIn, https://www.facebook.com/carmen.farrell.142/. On Instagram and...

“Hey, Chiquita!”

Normally, going to the grocery store doesn’t make me angry. But this multinational conglomerate picked the absolute wrong day to flaunt their transnational corporate attempts to sanitize their treatment of employees—especially women—in my face. stop wrecking the...

I Want the World to Be Kind to My Son

Every parent of a neurodivergent child understands and embodies this wish. It’s dangerous for me to suggest I can read the minds of other parents, but for me—someone whose child will never live independently—I am confident other parents in my situation universally...

Who’s Your Hero?

We go to every animated movie that comes to the theatres. That means this month “Inside Out 2”, “The Garfield Movie”, and it means “Despicable Me 4” next month. I love movies in theatres, and while most children grow out of cartoons, I’m okay that Ges (“Jess”), aged...

Different is Normal

I’ve been keeping a secret from you. Those of you who follow this blog, and know me and my family know the secret. Following the travel adventures on these digital pages, you wouldn’t know one of its members has disabilities that encompass physical, social, and...

How many Trinity’s Can One Province Have?

On our way to Bonavista, I read about historic Trinity Village which sounds super charming. Admittedly, I might have paid more attention to the veracity of my source material, but after my connection to the world, aka my smartphone, DIED in St. John’s I had been...

How to Enter a Newfoundlander’s Home

Here’s part of a fun quiz I read in our Newfoundland travel guide (if you’re from Newfoundland or related to a Newfoundlander, no yelling out the answer): Let’s say you’re visiting a friend, perhaps for the first time, at their house. At the front door, do you: Knock...

1 Comment

  1. Síonain

    Cute picture!

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