I was watching a rerun of Oprah the other day and I am glad I did. I don't normally watch daytime story shows like them but I had been flipping channels and she came on. She was doing a show on women who are past 50, these are women who are powerful in their own right. So I decided instead of concentrating that I was now over a half of a century old I would find positive things about being the age I am. And who knows... maybe someone or more then one person that reads this will say hey yea I can DO that. So here goes... what I learn by the time I hit Fiftyish:
1. I finally figure out how to be a parent and my children are adults and moved away from home.. COME HOME!! I finally know how to do this
2. That it is more important to sit on the floor playing with a grandchild then it is to be washing floors.
3. I can wear a purple dress with large red cabbage roses on it. Not that I ever would but if I wanted to I could
4. I don't have to follow the latest fashion craze
5. I can now blame all my screw ups and mistakes on senior DUH moments.
6. My parents were right when they said "Stay in school"
7. Families ARE THE MOST important thing in your life
8. That although I have to pick my battles I do not have to win each war
9. That I can and do stand up for what I believe instead of listening to someone saying "that's the way it's always been done"
10. That I can say no when I am asked something and then not feel guilty afterwards,. (Seems like I still have work to do on this one ;)
11. That's it's ok to have your dessert before you have your meal.
12. That if I don't cross everything on my to do list it is ok it will all be there for me tomorrow.
13. That I am more in tuned with my inner Spirit then at any other time in my life.
14. That it is good to cry in front of people. And although I know this in my head my heart is a lot slower in heeding that call but I am working on it.
15. That who cares if hubby and I stay in jammies all day long on his days off and we just watch movies and tv shows on tapes we made of our family since day 1.
There are more but I am still working on that.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Thursday, September 06, 2007
History... to do or not to do
As most of you that read this know, I am passionate about family history. Well at least passionate about mine.. not so excited about John Doe’s. I was looking up something in one of my grandparent’s history book the other week and realized that although the book was less then 10 years old, so much information had changed. People had married, died, given birth, moved etc.
A thought has been niggling at my brain cells for some time now but I kept piling other stuff on top of it pretending like it wasn't existing. But just as I never stop talking in real time, my brain never shuts up either even when I am sleeping so this thought just kept cropping up and getting stronger. I gave myself excuses after excuses most of which began with "I do NOT have any more spare time" but that has never stopped me in the past..
After looking through the book I knew in my heart of hearts what I needed to do. I needed to write a new history book of my father's line. I have done so much genealogy on both of my parents’ side I am knee deep most days. It isn't that I want to do this book to toot my own horn... it's because of something my paternal grandmother told me before she died. Her greatest concern was that our family would stop getting together after she was gone. She knew we would all be busy with our lives, jobs, children, and for some of us grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She knew that the only time we would get together if at all would be at funerals and weddings.
My mom told me once when I was whining about why we had to be poor and why people made fun of us when we were growing up, that all you really have in life is your name and your family. She also told us to never do anything that would put tarnish on our family name.
I value my heritage. I work hard at keeping traditions that belong to our family. The first thing that attracted me to my church was the focus on families. I was hooked. Now with 12 grandchildren “attached” to my hip I tell them stories about their ancestors. I know that when I am gone they will have stacks of journals to keep them occupied reading about the good old days.
Genealogy isn’t just about pedigree charts. It’s about writing in journals, it’s about telling others of the stories that you were told. It is about asking questions and questions and then some more questions. It’s about never assuming “it’s already all been done”. That is why I NEED to do this book. I need to make sure that I make my grandmother proud. I need for them to know I had been listening to their stories. I especially need my descendants to always know who they are. After all you can’t know where you are going if you don’t know where you’re from.
A thought has been niggling at my brain cells for some time now but I kept piling other stuff on top of it pretending like it wasn't existing. But just as I never stop talking in real time, my brain never shuts up either even when I am sleeping so this thought just kept cropping up and getting stronger. I gave myself excuses after excuses most of which began with "I do NOT have any more spare time" but that has never stopped me in the past..
After looking through the book I knew in my heart of hearts what I needed to do. I needed to write a new history book of my father's line. I have done so much genealogy on both of my parents’ side I am knee deep most days. It isn't that I want to do this book to toot my own horn... it's because of something my paternal grandmother told me before she died. Her greatest concern was that our family would stop getting together after she was gone. She knew we would all be busy with our lives, jobs, children, and for some of us grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She knew that the only time we would get together if at all would be at funerals and weddings.
My mom told me once when I was whining about why we had to be poor and why people made fun of us when we were growing up, that all you really have in life is your name and your family. She also told us to never do anything that would put tarnish on our family name.
I value my heritage. I work hard at keeping traditions that belong to our family. The first thing that attracted me to my church was the focus on families. I was hooked. Now with 12 grandchildren “attached” to my hip I tell them stories about their ancestors. I know that when I am gone they will have stacks of journals to keep them occupied reading about the good old days.
Genealogy isn’t just about pedigree charts. It’s about writing in journals, it’s about telling others of the stories that you were told. It is about asking questions and questions and then some more questions. It’s about never assuming “it’s already all been done”. That is why I NEED to do this book. I need to make sure that I make my grandmother proud. I need for them to know I had been listening to their stories. I especially need my descendants to always know who they are. After all you can’t know where you are going if you don’t know where you’re from.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
If I knew then...
·If I knew then what I know now: I would have paid more attention to the stories that my grandparents told me and taken more of an interest in the scrapbooks and photo albums when we looked through them. Now my grandparents are gone (for the past 20+ years) and no one knows what happened to the Family Bible or the scrapbooks. Luckily I do remember some of the things my grandparents told me and some of those things have helped me to unlock a few mysteries.
·If I knew then what I know now I would have added every bit of documentation to the notes/sources area of my genealogy as I put it in. It is so much harder to find it again and add it now than if I had added it as I found it.
·If I knew then what I know now I'd ask better questions of the living and not assume it would all be obvious later. I did interview my grandfather a couple of times and got it on tape. But it never occurred to me that I would have so much difficulty figuring out how his "Aunt Delia" was related to him. There are numerous things I have run across that I naively assumed would be clear when organized together, but many connections still elude me as I try to piece together the puzzle of family relations. The right questions asked of my grandfather would have helped immensely since with his death I have yet to find anyone else still alive who knows the answers.
·If I knew then what I know now where my great-grandparents had come from in Quebec, when I was there for my work a few years ago, I could have probably walked where they walked and met some cousins and seen what they had seen. I am in awe of the things they must have gone through to get to this country and start a new life, leaving behind their familiar life and family members. I don't believe I could have done that! And to think the majority of people today couldn't care less about their ancestors!
·If I knew then what I know now, I would have visited all the cemeteries in every town I ever lived in, and would have taken the time to record in a note book, the names of all the family members, and when they were born, and when they died.
·If I knew then what I know now, that one of our sons would move away, I would have made it a point to give him a written account of our family and my birth-family. I think I would have written him a book of "Mother's Advice" that could have prevented him from making any mistakes after leaving home.
·If I knew then what I know now I would have saved years of research. I was told by my mother, my aunts, the whole family, that my maternal grandmother’s maternal grandmother was Marie Louise Cloure who lived and died in Quebec. After years of looking for that name and checking census, birth records and marriage license I came across the name in Burlington Vermont. After much searching I finally received her birth, marriage and death certificates. Although she lived in Quebec, all her info was American. There big as life, Memere was Marie Louise Cloure born not in Vercheres Quebec but in Burlington Vermont. I could have saved years of frustration, but I'm now on the right track...I would still like to know how the family had pictures of her at 106 years old when she died of smallpox in her early 20’s. Maybe some day. Oh those elusive kin of mine.
·If I knew then what I know now I would have added every bit of documentation to the notes/sources area of my genealogy as I put it in. It is so much harder to find it again and add it now than if I had added it as I found it.
·If I knew then what I know now I'd ask better questions of the living and not assume it would all be obvious later. I did interview my grandfather a couple of times and got it on tape. But it never occurred to me that I would have so much difficulty figuring out how his "Aunt Delia" was related to him. There are numerous things I have run across that I naively assumed would be clear when organized together, but many connections still elude me as I try to piece together the puzzle of family relations. The right questions asked of my grandfather would have helped immensely since with his death I have yet to find anyone else still alive who knows the answers.
·If I knew then what I know now where my great-grandparents had come from in Quebec, when I was there for my work a few years ago, I could have probably walked where they walked and met some cousins and seen what they had seen. I am in awe of the things they must have gone through to get to this country and start a new life, leaving behind their familiar life and family members. I don't believe I could have done that! And to think the majority of people today couldn't care less about their ancestors!
·If I knew then what I know now, I would have visited all the cemeteries in every town I ever lived in, and would have taken the time to record in a note book, the names of all the family members, and when they were born, and when they died.
·If I knew then what I know now, that one of our sons would move away, I would have made it a point to give him a written account of our family and my birth-family. I think I would have written him a book of "Mother's Advice" that could have prevented him from making any mistakes after leaving home.
·If I knew then what I know now I would have saved years of research. I was told by my mother, my aunts, the whole family, that my maternal grandmother’s maternal grandmother was Marie Louise Cloure who lived and died in Quebec. After years of looking for that name and checking census, birth records and marriage license I came across the name in Burlington Vermont. After much searching I finally received her birth, marriage and death certificates. Although she lived in Quebec, all her info was American. There big as life, Memere was Marie Louise Cloure born not in Vercheres Quebec but in Burlington Vermont. I could have saved years of frustration, but I'm now on the right track...I would still like to know how the family had pictures of her at 106 years old when she died of smallpox in her early 20’s. Maybe some day. Oh those elusive kin of mine.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Forgive and Forget
I spent the entire morning the other day with the only other person that knows me other then Keith, talking about how easily it is for us to say I forgive you for a wrong doing. But part of the forgiveness process involves forgetting the incident totally. We talked about something that happened in my life that took my breath away. I have always been capable in forgiving people who had wronged me in whatever way and then moved on with my life. But a wrong was done to me But this has left me in a stew pot for 2 months now. As a practicing Christian I was taught the Golden Rule, do the right thing, and forgive and forget. And one of us would say but I forgave them last time and then did it again and mom would say you have to do it 70 times 70 as Christ told us.
And now being a Latter Day Saint being able to forgive and forget needs to be done or you do not go to the temple. You can not go in their with a grudge or bad thoughts in your mind heart or soul. I am 51 years old and this is the first time I have not forgiven and it will be a long time before I can forget. So what do I do?It is not something that I can fixed; I am just very hurt. My friend and I talked for hours that morning saying how people seem to say those two words "I forgive you" but then then bring it up at every disagreement or when they want to drive a point across.
To me I have always had both of them together I forgive and I forget and I move on with my life. And that was the reason why the call with my friend. After a few hours yakking we really had not accomplished more of anything else. I won't be able to go to the temple now till I get that sorted out. And that is going to hurt. I could just go anyway but seeing as they do ask the patrons there if anyone has any bad feelings towards the others you may want to step away, I have such a gullible face they would seek me out with a missile let me tell you,
Then we talked about how I had forgiven this person on his death bed and I had told him that and I told him how hard it had been to live with that kind of garbage but I told him I loved him and all was forgotten. He said I know and in a split second had a stroke and never regained consciousness. So if I already forgive for the things that happened in our youth then does that count for the new stuff I just got knowledge of? I don't know what to do. It is all I can think of all summer and it is filling me with feelings that had long been buried, Some that had been forgotten for many decades. Only now they are all resurfacing at the same time and it is sensory overload. I do not know what to do. How do you forgive someone that is dead?
And now being a Latter Day Saint being able to forgive and forget needs to be done or you do not go to the temple. You can not go in their with a grudge or bad thoughts in your mind heart or soul. I am 51 years old and this is the first time I have not forgiven and it will be a long time before I can forget. So what do I do?It is not something that I can fixed; I am just very hurt. My friend and I talked for hours that morning saying how people seem to say those two words "I forgive you" but then then bring it up at every disagreement or when they want to drive a point across.
To me I have always had both of them together I forgive and I forget and I move on with my life. And that was the reason why the call with my friend. After a few hours yakking we really had not accomplished more of anything else. I won't be able to go to the temple now till I get that sorted out. And that is going to hurt. I could just go anyway but seeing as they do ask the patrons there if anyone has any bad feelings towards the others you may want to step away, I have such a gullible face they would seek me out with a missile let me tell you,
Then we talked about how I had forgiven this person on his death bed and I had told him that and I told him how hard it had been to live with that kind of garbage but I told him I loved him and all was forgotten. He said I know and in a split second had a stroke and never regained consciousness. So if I already forgive for the things that happened in our youth then does that count for the new stuff I just got knowledge of? I don't know what to do. It is all I can think of all summer and it is filling me with feelings that had long been buried, Some that had been forgotten for many decades. Only now they are all resurfacing at the same time and it is sensory overload. I do not know what to do. How do you forgive someone that is dead?
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Perfect Tan
As I was putting my flip flops on this morning to go out, I realized just how tanned my feet were compared to the white lines of the sandals. Then I noticed just how white the rest of my legs were past my calves.. of course that led to checking out my arms and neck and thought OH MY GOSH I have the ultimate farmer's tan!!! The kind that I used to laugh at and make fun of in my idiot youth years and swore up and down I would never have ONE of those tans....
Goes to show you what thought thought of that thought huh? It has been just so rainy here since spring who wants to wear shorts out yet I so hate to wear shoes so I would just wear my flip flops. I guess I never got sunscreen on my feet. I never suntan. Ever. Not that I can't I just choose not to. I never leave the house even in the middle of winter without at least a SPF 30 on my face, neck and arms. No thanks.. too much cancer in my family to bake and fry. But looking at my arms and feet I guess I have to come up with an alternate plan next year hehehe
Goes to show you what thought thought of that thought huh? It has been just so rainy here since spring who wants to wear shorts out yet I so hate to wear shoes so I would just wear my flip flops. I guess I never got sunscreen on my feet. I never suntan. Ever. Not that I can't I just choose not to. I never leave the house even in the middle of winter without at least a SPF 30 on my face, neck and arms. No thanks.. too much cancer in my family to bake and fry. But looking at my arms and feet I guess I have to come up with an alternate plan next year hehehe
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Steak and Potatoes
I got this off our son Kim's site :)
1. If I looked in your trunk, what would I find?
I have a Jeep so don't have a trunk
2. Do you go to the bathroom with the door open or closed?
Open if there are no males here.
3. Are your underwear and socks folded in your drawers, or just thrown in?
Folded.
4. Sleep on your back or stomach?
sides
5. Are you a cuddler?
Yes
6. What would I find if I looked under your bed?
My side? A honking big black flashlight to fight off the boogeyman. On Keith's side? His slippers and whatever toy he was playing with the cat before he went to sleep
7. Something that happened today that has made you mad?
I was not mad today.
8. What were you doing before this survey?
Watched Celebrity Fit Club.. I will be sooooo happy when real shows come on tv next month
9. What will you do after this survey?
hmmm clean my office if I get my 2nd wind
10. Marriage or living together?
Marriage
11. What are you wearing right now?
pink jammies and kiddie pink socks that have those non slip thingies on the bottom as we all know I do tend to slip and slide into things
12. How many times have you been in love?
twice
13. Do you talk about your feelings or hide them?
Only talk about them with 2 people in my life.. the rest of the world sees a happy face :)
14. Someone that has died that you want to see in Heaven?
my Mom's dad
15. Is there something you regret and wish you could take back?
yup
16. First thing you do when you wake up?
hit the snooze button
17. Last person you told you love them?
Keith
18. Kiss with your eyes open or closed?
Depends.
19. Bite or Lick?
depends on what is in front of me with the choice
20. Last argument you got into?
hmmm can't remember the last time I got into an actual arguments. I get into disagreements a lot but I just keep giving the other person more information till they end up agreeing with me :)
21. Do you tend to rip the paper off water bottles?
No why would I do that? then I would have to clean it up
22. If the mob was after you, what would you do?
why would they be after me?
23. When you shut off your alarm clock, do you tend to fall back asleep?
When I "shut it off" no I get up, but if I hit the snooze button I do sometimes go back to sleep. And actually I turn off my alarm clock Kim I don't shut it off :)
24. If you were given the chance to take care of a monkey for a weekend, would you?
No ewww gross I saw one pick it's butt on tv the other day then smelt his finger!
25. What is the current advertisement on the side of the screen?
None, thankfully
26. What are you looking forward to in the next few weeks?
my wedding anniversary
27. When will you turn 50?
been there done that last summer
28. If you were being chased by an alligator, what would you do?
same answer as the mob one.. why would I be chased by an alligator? I live in BC
29. How many pillows are on your bed?
only 7
30. What song are you currently listening to?
before I started this, the theme song to CSI NY
31. Have you ever passed out from drinking?
nope
32. If you caught a significant other cheating on you what would you do?
forgive and forget?
33. What time did you wake up this morning?
5 when Keith woke up and asked me if I had made his lunch
35. Can you imagine yourself living in a cardboard box?
no!!
36. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Keith
37. What is the WORST subject they teach in school?
when I was in school it wax Catechism..
38. Where do you plan on living when you retire?
right here.. unless I can convince all my kids to move to Fort Langley with me :)
39. What was your dream this morning?
which one? The one that was most vivid was that I was living with Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed
40. How many times have you seen your favourite movie?
too many to even begin to count
41. Where was the last place you travelled?
Nanaimo
42. How was your past weekend?
it was good.. finished with my camping
43. What is your favourite song?
Remember When by Alan Jackson
44. If puppies stayed small forever, would you buy one?
yes cause puppies are sooooo cute.
45. What is the best ice cream flavor?
Vanilla
46. Do you think you are attractive?
hmmm not really although Keith says I am but as my hubby he's the designator agreerer
47. Is someone on your mind right now?
yup my mom cause she is under a lot of stress and I was going to call her but when I got to the phone I forgot who I was going to call so decided to check my mail then saw this survey then remembered just as I read this question but now it's too late with the time difference
48. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Yes.
49. Do you worry about how you look?
No.
50. Would you ever change for a boy/girl?
I used to in my youthful idiot years
51. Pro-life or Pro-choice?
Both.
52. Have you ever been on stage?
Many times
53. Can you whistle?
Yes
54. Would you do anything for that special someone?
well I wouldn't kill for them so I guess that would be a no
55. Do you know who Stewie Griffeth is?
no even after reading Kim's answer of the Family Guy I still don't know who/what that is
56. Do you have any plans for today?
just crash
57. Are you friends with guys or girls?
Yes.
58. Why?
because I live in a world made up with guys and girls DUH
59. Have you ever thought a friend could be more than a friend?
Yes and I kept giving him more information till he agreed with me :)
60. Do you like the beach?
Yes, and what are you saying Kim? That we don't have bathing suits out here?"
61. What colour is your toothbrush?
blue and white
62. What makes you laugh?
Keith
63. Are you ticklish?
yes but very few people know where and we are going to keep it that way.
Your turn :)
1. If I looked in your trunk, what would I find?
I have a Jeep so don't have a trunk
2. Do you go to the bathroom with the door open or closed?
Open if there are no males here.
3. Are your underwear and socks folded in your drawers, or just thrown in?
Folded.
4. Sleep on your back or stomach?
sides
5. Are you a cuddler?
Yes
6. What would I find if I looked under your bed?
My side? A honking big black flashlight to fight off the boogeyman. On Keith's side? His slippers and whatever toy he was playing with the cat before he went to sleep
7. Something that happened today that has made you mad?
I was not mad today.
8. What were you doing before this survey?
Watched Celebrity Fit Club.. I will be sooooo happy when real shows come on tv next month
9. What will you do after this survey?
hmmm clean my office if I get my 2nd wind
10. Marriage or living together?
Marriage
11. What are you wearing right now?
pink jammies and kiddie pink socks that have those non slip thingies on the bottom as we all know I do tend to slip and slide into things
12. How many times have you been in love?
twice
13. Do you talk about your feelings or hide them?
Only talk about them with 2 people in my life.. the rest of the world sees a happy face :)
14. Someone that has died that you want to see in Heaven?
my Mom's dad
15. Is there something you regret and wish you could take back?
yup
16. First thing you do when you wake up?
hit the snooze button
17. Last person you told you love them?
Keith
18. Kiss with your eyes open or closed?
Depends.
19. Bite or Lick?
depends on what is in front of me with the choice
20. Last argument you got into?
hmmm can't remember the last time I got into an actual arguments. I get into disagreements a lot but I just keep giving the other person more information till they end up agreeing with me :)
21. Do you tend to rip the paper off water bottles?
No why would I do that? then I would have to clean it up
22. If the mob was after you, what would you do?
why would they be after me?
23. When you shut off your alarm clock, do you tend to fall back asleep?
When I "shut it off" no I get up, but if I hit the snooze button I do sometimes go back to sleep. And actually I turn off my alarm clock Kim I don't shut it off :)
24. If you were given the chance to take care of a monkey for a weekend, would you?
No ewww gross I saw one pick it's butt on tv the other day then smelt his finger!
25. What is the current advertisement on the side of the screen?
None, thankfully
26. What are you looking forward to in the next few weeks?
my wedding anniversary
27. When will you turn 50?
been there done that last summer
28. If you were being chased by an alligator, what would you do?
same answer as the mob one.. why would I be chased by an alligator? I live in BC
29. How many pillows are on your bed?
only 7
30. What song are you currently listening to?
before I started this, the theme song to CSI NY
31. Have you ever passed out from drinking?
nope
32. If you caught a significant other cheating on you what would you do?
forgive and forget?
33. What time did you wake up this morning?
5 when Keith woke up and asked me if I had made his lunch
35. Can you imagine yourself living in a cardboard box?
no!!
36. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Keith
37. What is the WORST subject they teach in school?
when I was in school it wax Catechism..
38. Where do you plan on living when you retire?
right here.. unless I can convince all my kids to move to Fort Langley with me :)
39. What was your dream this morning?
which one? The one that was most vivid was that I was living with Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed
40. How many times have you seen your favourite movie?
too many to even begin to count
41. Where was the last place you travelled?
Nanaimo
42. How was your past weekend?
it was good.. finished with my camping
43. What is your favourite song?
Remember When by Alan Jackson
44. If puppies stayed small forever, would you buy one?
yes cause puppies are sooooo cute.
45. What is the best ice cream flavor?
Vanilla
46. Do you think you are attractive?
hmmm not really although Keith says I am but as my hubby he's the designator agreerer
47. Is someone on your mind right now?
yup my mom cause she is under a lot of stress and I was going to call her but when I got to the phone I forgot who I was going to call so decided to check my mail then saw this survey then remembered just as I read this question but now it's too late with the time difference
48. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Yes.
49. Do you worry about how you look?
No.
50. Would you ever change for a boy/girl?
I used to in my youthful idiot years
51. Pro-life or Pro-choice?
Both.
52. Have you ever been on stage?
Many times
53. Can you whistle?
Yes
54. Would you do anything for that special someone?
well I wouldn't kill for them so I guess that would be a no
55. Do you know who Stewie Griffeth is?
no even after reading Kim's answer of the Family Guy I still don't know who/what that is
56. Do you have any plans for today?
just crash
57. Are you friends with guys or girls?
Yes.
58. Why?
because I live in a world made up with guys and girls DUH
59. Have you ever thought a friend could be more than a friend?
Yes and I kept giving him more information till he agreed with me :)
60. Do you like the beach?
Yes, and what are you saying Kim? That we don't have bathing suits out here?"
61. What colour is your toothbrush?
blue and white
62. What makes you laugh?
Keith
63. Are you ticklish?
yes but very few people know where and we are going to keep it that way.
Your turn :)
Good Morning to me
Well I am having a great start to my day. My alarm goes off and I rolled over to turn it off not realizing I was laying EXACTLY on the edge of the bed and I rolled onto the floor. My left hip hit the cedar chest and my head hit the book shelf. Wonderful. I decided I was still tired so I would take the bus to work rather then walking meaning I could change the alarm to sleep an extra 45 minutes. Great. Then it goes off again and I look at the time falling out of bed once again when I saw it was 9:30!! I am supposed to be at work at 9:45 and have missed my bus. I am flying around the house trying to get ready when I notice the digital machine showing just past 8:30. I checked all the other clocks and they all say the same 8:30ish. I go back to the bedroom and figured when I changed the alarm time to wake up I must have also changed the time. Hey I was more then half asleep. As I went to get changed I noticed a hard "lump" stuck to my stomach and the inside of my clothes. I thought what the heck?? So I lifted up my top to find a kids half eaten sucker stuck on me. What the heck is that doing there?????
I hate rushing like that. I trip over things, run into things and I don't give my muscles enough time to wake up properly and stretching. Oh well... now that my adrenaline rush is over I guess I can calmly walk to work now. Happy Morning to Me!!
I hate rushing like that. I trip over things, run into things and I don't give my muscles enough time to wake up properly and stretching. Oh well... now that my adrenaline rush is over I guess I can calmly walk to work now. Happy Morning to Me!!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Back Home
Well it's the last week of the summer (where it went is beyond me) and I sit and think about what I have accomplished. I had several building projects I wanted to do as well as refinish my dining room table but never got around to it. Things just seemed to get in the way. We did manage a week of camping and did spend a week with our one son and his family from Lethbridge but even that went by so fast.
I must be getting old. I remember my mother talking with her mom and sisters saying the older they got the faster time flew by. At the time when all I could think of was to leave home, I thought time was going by TOO slowly. Now I understand. On Saturday I realized that it was 4 months exactly till Christmas. Are you kidding me????
It hasn't totally been a wasted summer though. I have started a family history web site (still under construction though) and am working on my online store business. I have been putting pictures in groups for some scrapbook albums and that is always a time consuming task. I also sewed a dress for one of my granddaughters. She was a flower girl for her uncle's wedding.
I also have been bike riding. Although people that say you never forget how to ride a bike no matter how long it has been don't tell you that you may not forget HOW to do it but you DO forget how jelly like your legs become when you try and get off. I am also almost done with my first novel.. a little more then 3/4 done I think so all in all I guess it hasn't been a completely wasted summer although I did want to accomplish more with my time.
The picture of the tomato plate (thanks Kim) are of my last tomatoes from my one plant pot, and fresh basil that I grew from scratch this spring. I added fresh bocconcini cheese from an Italian deli and it tasted like heaven... yummy.. although Keith did look at it and turned up his nose. There is no accounting for taste.
The other picture is of our grandchildren from Alberta. It was taken just before they left for the wedding. The blue dress is the one I made. Well that is it I think for today. Same old same old different day. But on a good ending note.. it is almost NO RERUNS season coming.. yea!!!! All new shows on tv. I hate reruns!
I must be getting old. I remember my mother talking with her mom and sisters saying the older they got the faster time flew by. At the time when all I could think of was to leave home, I thought time was going by TOO slowly. Now I understand. On Saturday I realized that it was 4 months exactly till Christmas. Are you kidding me????
It hasn't totally been a wasted summer though. I have started a family history web site (still under construction though) and am working on my online store business. I have been putting pictures in groups for some scrapbook albums and that is always a time consuming task. I also sewed a dress for one of my granddaughters. She was a flower girl for her uncle's wedding.
I also have been bike riding. Although people that say you never forget how to ride a bike no matter how long it has been don't tell you that you may not forget HOW to do it but you DO forget how jelly like your legs become when you try and get off. I am also almost done with my first novel.. a little more then 3/4 done I think so all in all I guess it hasn't been a completely wasted summer although I did want to accomplish more with my time.
The picture of the tomato plate (thanks Kim) are of my last tomatoes from my one plant pot, and fresh basil that I grew from scratch this spring. I added fresh bocconcini cheese from an Italian deli and it tasted like heaven... yummy.. although Keith did look at it and turned up his nose. There is no accounting for taste.
The other picture is of our grandchildren from Alberta. It was taken just before they left for the wedding. The blue dress is the one I made. Well that is it I think for today. Same old same old different day. But on a good ending note.. it is almost NO RERUNS season coming.. yea!!!! All new shows on tv. I hate reruns!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
IT'S HERE!! IT'S HERE!!!
I opened up my front door last night and I got so excited! The Sears Wishbook was on my doorstep! WOOOHOO!.. I still turn into a kid when I get it.. have to sit down and go through every single page slowly to absorb everything in it. It's like Christmas shopping without all the crowds etc. Happy day!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Letter to Normals
Hello Family, Friends, and Anyone Wishing to Know Me,
Allow me to begin by thanking you for taking the time out of your day to spend some time with me and get to know me better. A person’s time is their most valuable asset and yours is appreciated.
I want to talk to you about Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS). Many have never heard of these conditions and for those who have, many are misinformed. And because of this judgments are made that may not be correct… So I ask you to keep an open mind as I try to explain who I am and how FM/MPS has assaulted not only my life but those whom I love as well.
You see, I suffer from a disease that you cannot see; a disease that there is no cure for and that keeps the medical community baffled at how to treat and battle this demon, who’s attacks are relentless. My pain works silently, stealing my joy and replacing it with tears. On the outside we look alike you and I; you wont see my scars as you would a person who, say, had suffered a car accident. You wont see my pain in the way you would a person undergoing chemo for cancer; however, my pain is just as real and just as debilitating. And in many ways my pain may be more destructive because people can’t see it and do not understand....
Please don’t get angry at my seemingly lack of interest in doing things; I punish myself enough I assure you. My tears are shed many times when no one is around. My embarrassment is covered by a joke or laughter, but inside I want to die....
Most of my "friends" are gone; even members of my own family have abandoned me. I have been accused of "playing games" for another’s sympathy. I have been called unreliable because I am forced to cancel plans I made at the last minute because the burning and pain in my legs or arms is so intense I cannot put my clothes on and I am left in my tears as I miss out on yet another activity I used to love and once participated in with enthusiasm.
I feel like a child at times... Just the other day I put the sour cream I bought at the store in the pantry, on the shelf, instead of in the refrigerator; by the time I noticed it, it had spoiled. When I talk to people, many times I lose my train of thought in mid sentence or forget the simplest word needed to explain or describe something. Please try to understand how it feels to have another go behind me in my home to make sure the stove is off after I cook an occasional meal. Please try to understand how it feels to “lose” the laundry, only to find it in the stove instead of the dryer. As I try to maintain my dignity the Demon assaults me at every turn. Please try to understand….
Sleep, when I do get some, is restless and I wake often because of the pain the sheets have on my legs or because I twitch uncontrollably. I walk through many of my days in a daze with the Fibro-fog laughing at me as I stumble and grasp for clarity.
And just because I can do a thing one day, that doesn’t mean I will be able to do the same thing the next day or next week. I may be able to take that walk after dinner on a warm July evening; the next day or even the in the next hour I may not be able to walk to the fridge to get a cold drink because my muscles have begun to cramp and lock up or spasm uncontrollably. And there are those who say “but you did that yesterday!” “What is your problem today?” The hurt I experience at those words scars me so deeply that I have let my family down again; and still they don’t understand….
On a brighter side I want you to know that I still have my sense of humor. If you take the time to spend with me you will see that. I love to tell that joke to make another’s face light up and smile at my wit. I love my kids and grandbabies and shine when they give me my hugs or ask me to fix their favorite toy. I am fun to be with if you will spend the time with me on my own playing field; is this too much to ask? I love you and want nothing more than to be a part of your life. And I have found that I can be a strong friend in many ways. Do you have a dream? I am your friend, your supporter and many times I will be the one to do the research for your latest project; many times I will be your biggest fan and the world will know how proud I am at your accomplishments and how honored I am to have you in my life.
So you see, you and I are not that much different. I too have hopes, dreams, goals… and this demon…. Do you have an unseen demon that assaults you and no one else can see? Have you had to fight a fight that crushes you and brings you to your knees? I will be by your side, win or lose, I promise you that; I will be there in ways that I can. I will give all I can as I can, I promise you that. But I have to do this thing my way. Please understand that I am in such a fight myself and I know that I have little hope of a cure or effective treatments, at least right now. Please understand….
Thank you for spending your time with me today. I hope we can work through this thing, you and I. Please understand that I am just like you… Please understand….
Allow me to begin by thanking you for taking the time out of your day to spend some time with me and get to know me better. A person’s time is their most valuable asset and yours is appreciated.
I want to talk to you about Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS). Many have never heard of these conditions and for those who have, many are misinformed. And because of this judgments are made that may not be correct… So I ask you to keep an open mind as I try to explain who I am and how FM/MPS has assaulted not only my life but those whom I love as well.
You see, I suffer from a disease that you cannot see; a disease that there is no cure for and that keeps the medical community baffled at how to treat and battle this demon, who’s attacks are relentless. My pain works silently, stealing my joy and replacing it with tears. On the outside we look alike you and I; you wont see my scars as you would a person who, say, had suffered a car accident. You wont see my pain in the way you would a person undergoing chemo for cancer; however, my pain is just as real and just as debilitating. And in many ways my pain may be more destructive because people can’t see it and do not understand....
Please don’t get angry at my seemingly lack of interest in doing things; I punish myself enough I assure you. My tears are shed many times when no one is around. My embarrassment is covered by a joke or laughter, but inside I want to die....
Most of my "friends" are gone; even members of my own family have abandoned me. I have been accused of "playing games" for another’s sympathy. I have been called unreliable because I am forced to cancel plans I made at the last minute because the burning and pain in my legs or arms is so intense I cannot put my clothes on and I am left in my tears as I miss out on yet another activity I used to love and once participated in with enthusiasm.
I feel like a child at times... Just the other day I put the sour cream I bought at the store in the pantry, on the shelf, instead of in the refrigerator; by the time I noticed it, it had spoiled. When I talk to people, many times I lose my train of thought in mid sentence or forget the simplest word needed to explain or describe something. Please try to understand how it feels to have another go behind me in my home to make sure the stove is off after I cook an occasional meal. Please try to understand how it feels to “lose” the laundry, only to find it in the stove instead of the dryer. As I try to maintain my dignity the Demon assaults me at every turn. Please try to understand….
Sleep, when I do get some, is restless and I wake often because of the pain the sheets have on my legs or because I twitch uncontrollably. I walk through many of my days in a daze with the Fibro-fog laughing at me as I stumble and grasp for clarity.
And just because I can do a thing one day, that doesn’t mean I will be able to do the same thing the next day or next week. I may be able to take that walk after dinner on a warm July evening; the next day or even the in the next hour I may not be able to walk to the fridge to get a cold drink because my muscles have begun to cramp and lock up or spasm uncontrollably. And there are those who say “but you did that yesterday!” “What is your problem today?” The hurt I experience at those words scars me so deeply that I have let my family down again; and still they don’t understand….
On a brighter side I want you to know that I still have my sense of humor. If you take the time to spend with me you will see that. I love to tell that joke to make another’s face light up and smile at my wit. I love my kids and grandbabies and shine when they give me my hugs or ask me to fix their favorite toy. I am fun to be with if you will spend the time with me on my own playing field; is this too much to ask? I love you and want nothing more than to be a part of your life. And I have found that I can be a strong friend in many ways. Do you have a dream? I am your friend, your supporter and many times I will be the one to do the research for your latest project; many times I will be your biggest fan and the world will know how proud I am at your accomplishments and how honored I am to have you in my life.
So you see, you and I are not that much different. I too have hopes, dreams, goals… and this demon…. Do you have an unseen demon that assaults you and no one else can see? Have you had to fight a fight that crushes you and brings you to your knees? I will be by your side, win or lose, I promise you that; I will be there in ways that I can. I will give all I can as I can, I promise you that. But I have to do this thing my way. Please understand that I am in such a fight myself and I know that I have little hope of a cure or effective treatments, at least right now. Please understand….
Thank you for spending your time with me today. I hope we can work through this thing, you and I. Please understand that I am just like you… Please understand….
Friday, August 17, 2007
Obsolete
Well I got a first tonight. We went to Costco to get some groceries after supper and while we were standing in line I remembered I needed more film so off I went. Our Costco has been going through renovations last couple of months (very annoying to say the least) and I couldn't find the film in the electronic department where they usually are. Thinking they had been moved although why I don't know as the cameras were still in the same place, and not wanting to take more time I asked an employee where they were.
He smiled at me and said we don't carry them anymore. I said ha ha really my husband is already in line can you just point me in the right direction. He said I am sorry but we don't carry regular film anymore. Stupidly I asked why not? He said cause no one uses regular film anymore and it just took up too much space. Are you kidding me???? Am I the only one that still uses a regular camera? He said well if you go to a department store you can probably find some there. Yeah right at 1o times the cost.
Not a happy camper let me tell you. This on the evening of a Halloween party at the campground Saturday, a granddaughter's blessing at church on Sunday, family dinner that night with ALL our children there (not a small feat by any stretch of the imagination) and son's family here all next week. Sure I want to go pay 10 bucks a roll of film.. sniff sniff
He smiled at me and said we don't carry them anymore. I said ha ha really my husband is already in line can you just point me in the right direction. He said I am sorry but we don't carry regular film anymore. Stupidly I asked why not? He said cause no one uses regular film anymore and it just took up too much space. Are you kidding me???? Am I the only one that still uses a regular camera? He said well if you go to a department store you can probably find some there. Yeah right at 1o times the cost.
Not a happy camper let me tell you. This on the evening of a Halloween party at the campground Saturday, a granddaughter's blessing at church on Sunday, family dinner that night with ALL our children there (not a small feat by any stretch of the imagination) and son's family here all next week. Sure I want to go pay 10 bucks a roll of film.. sniff sniff
Friday, August 10, 2007
Elder Faust
All,
Sad news to report this morning. KSL in Salt Lake City is reporting the passing early this morning of Elder James E. Faust, 2nd counselor in the First Presidency. Elder Faust was 87, and passed away due to complications associated with old age. What a dear, sweet man he was, and his good example and kindness will be dearly missed.
Sad news to report this morning. KSL in Salt Lake City is reporting the passing early this morning of Elder James E. Faust, 2nd counselor in the First Presidency. Elder Faust was 87, and passed away due to complications associated with old age. What a dear, sweet man he was, and his good example and kindness will be dearly missed.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Cutural Differences
I was watching a movie late last night with a story line of how 2 different cultures clashed. A young couple was getting married with the bride being Jewish and the groom being Italian. Now both of them were Americans and had been in the US for several generations. The story goes on about how, even though they were both the same as in American, when they started planning the wedding and the 2 families started in, they might as well have been from 2 different planets.
After I had gone to bed and should have been asleep I kept thinking of the movie. I thought about how multicultural the Lower Mainland (Vancouver area) is. But I wondered if that really had anything to do with it. I come from a small town in Saskatchewan. The town was about 99.99% French. Every body was the same. I didn't know that the rest of the world did not behave or do the things that we did or believed in.
Even if I had just seen my grandparents a few days prior, if I was to meet them again it was with an embrace and either a kiss on the lips or one on both cheeks. Imagine my surprise when I left home and moved to the big city of Moose Jaw to find out that kind of behavior was likely to get you smacked across the head. I thought maybe it was because of being raised in a small town, but then remembered when my Quebec relatives would come to visit they did the same thing.
In the States their main holiday is Thanksgiving. Every one goes home for that holiday more then for Christmas but for the French it is Christmas. You go to midnight mass then to your grandparents for gift opening and a reveillon ( a full dinner). There was music and dancing till the morning. I have a very good friend who is 100% Italian and although French and Italian are miles apart we have at least one thing common in our cultures. Without your family you have nothing. Every single event is celebrated with your family and with food. You never knew you were poor cause there was always lots to eat. And when you are a kid, that is the most important thing!!
There are members at our church who are South American. They celebrate every thing with dance and music. South Asian culture the same. One could argue that immigrants bring these cultures from their countries. But my dad's family has been in Canada since the early 1500's, my mom's family since the 1700's. There has been plenty of time to change our culture but it hasn't changed.
What makes us so unique and yet in some ways, so alike? Is one culture more important then another? When do you stop doing things of the "old days" and start assimilating what is around you? When do we stand up for what we believe in and what is a part of us? When is it ok to let something go as not important anymore? Does that happen when we reach a certain age? Should people stand their ground? Do we give in too easily?
When we lived in Regina, every June was a huge event called Mosaic. It was a culmination of just about every known land and culture. It was a 4 day event that was spread out over the entire city. Every nation that participated would have a big arena, school gym, conference centre etc. to display what was important to their culture. It was free to attend. You could pick your actual passport at any Safeway store and as you went from one venue to another you would get it stamped. There was always tasters food tidbits that were free but of course you could also buy meals there. They all had entertainment going on from 10AM to 1AM. During this 4 day period you only had to show your passport to any bus driver and the bus fare was waived. So very few people drove.
I used to think all Asian people looked alike till I went to their venue my first year. First they had a female dancer in full national dress doing their national dance. Then they would have all 5-6 females coming on the stage at once and then you could really see the different characteristics that made each unique. At the French venue you had maple syrup and logging contests, lots of loud music, and of course the infamous Tourtiere.
I loved that event and we booked sitters well in advance so that we could go. During those 4 days there was never yours or mine, it was our country and we were all Canadian. I wish we had that still here. I miss being French out here. I miss speaking in French, I miss the traditions of everything family although people that know us here would wonder what I was talking about as we do everything with our children. But it isn't the same as being in a town where everyone was related to each other, every one spoke the same language, everyone was the same. Now I feel we are no longer Canadian. We are Indo-Canadian, African-Canadian, etc. At times I wish we weren't such a melting pot of cultural differences but were rather one and the same. Which of course would be French :-D
After I had gone to bed and should have been asleep I kept thinking of the movie. I thought about how multicultural the Lower Mainland (Vancouver area) is. But I wondered if that really had anything to do with it. I come from a small town in Saskatchewan. The town was about 99.99% French. Every body was the same. I didn't know that the rest of the world did not behave or do the things that we did or believed in.
Even if I had just seen my grandparents a few days prior, if I was to meet them again it was with an embrace and either a kiss on the lips or one on both cheeks. Imagine my surprise when I left home and moved to the big city of Moose Jaw to find out that kind of behavior was likely to get you smacked across the head. I thought maybe it was because of being raised in a small town, but then remembered when my Quebec relatives would come to visit they did the same thing.
In the States their main holiday is Thanksgiving. Every one goes home for that holiday more then for Christmas but for the French it is Christmas. You go to midnight mass then to your grandparents for gift opening and a reveillon ( a full dinner). There was music and dancing till the morning. I have a very good friend who is 100% Italian and although French and Italian are miles apart we have at least one thing common in our cultures. Without your family you have nothing. Every single event is celebrated with your family and with food. You never knew you were poor cause there was always lots to eat. And when you are a kid, that is the most important thing!!
There are members at our church who are South American. They celebrate every thing with dance and music. South Asian culture the same. One could argue that immigrants bring these cultures from their countries. But my dad's family has been in Canada since the early 1500's, my mom's family since the 1700's. There has been plenty of time to change our culture but it hasn't changed.
What makes us so unique and yet in some ways, so alike? Is one culture more important then another? When do you stop doing things of the "old days" and start assimilating what is around you? When do we stand up for what we believe in and what is a part of us? When is it ok to let something go as not important anymore? Does that happen when we reach a certain age? Should people stand their ground? Do we give in too easily?
When we lived in Regina, every June was a huge event called Mosaic. It was a culmination of just about every known land and culture. It was a 4 day event that was spread out over the entire city. Every nation that participated would have a big arena, school gym, conference centre etc. to display what was important to their culture. It was free to attend. You could pick your actual passport at any Safeway store and as you went from one venue to another you would get it stamped. There was always tasters food tidbits that were free but of course you could also buy meals there. They all had entertainment going on from 10AM to 1AM. During this 4 day period you only had to show your passport to any bus driver and the bus fare was waived. So very few people drove.
I used to think all Asian people looked alike till I went to their venue my first year. First they had a female dancer in full national dress doing their national dance. Then they would have all 5-6 females coming on the stage at once and then you could really see the different characteristics that made each unique. At the French venue you had maple syrup and logging contests, lots of loud music, and of course the infamous Tourtiere.
I loved that event and we booked sitters well in advance so that we could go. During those 4 days there was never yours or mine, it was our country and we were all Canadian. I wish we had that still here. I miss being French out here. I miss speaking in French, I miss the traditions of everything family although people that know us here would wonder what I was talking about as we do everything with our children. But it isn't the same as being in a town where everyone was related to each other, every one spoke the same language, everyone was the same. Now I feel we are no longer Canadian. We are Indo-Canadian, African-Canadian, etc. At times I wish we weren't such a melting pot of cultural differences but were rather one and the same. Which of course would be French :-D
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Charity Never Faileth
Yes I know that is the name of my blog but it truly does work!! I had promised our 11 year old granddaughter a "new" bike for awhile and have been scoping second hand stores for one that fit my budget but hadn't been successful. She really wanted one to take camping with us so this morning I called and asked if she wanted to go to Salvation Army to check it out once again as they always have bikes there. We get there and of course there isn't one. She was disappointed and when we got into the van I just had a feeling inside of me and asked my daughter if she wanted to go to Value Village to check that store out even though it was at the other end of the city. They always have tons of bikes there and she said sure.
We drive all the way there and of course there are 2 tricycles and one small 2 wheeler. We were just standing there for a minute trying to think of where else to look when a man that had been standing right beside us looking at something else asks us if we were looking for a bike and what kind. I am always hesitant talking to strange men (besides Keith and my sons of course) but it looked like he was with his teenage daughter so I explained what we were looking for. I told him she was too short for an adult women's bike but had too long of legs for a regular kid's bike.
He asked me how much shorter I thought Britnee was compared to his daughter and I said probably about 6 inches. He said we have one at home that she hasn't used in a couple of years if you want to come take a look at it you can have it. Again I hesitated but asked how much and where did he live. He said in Guildford area and if I picked it up and it fit I could just take it. I thought sure it's free it must be rusted out or missing brakes etc but figured out what could I lose?
So we made arrangements and got his address. He said he was going to head over right away and just make sure it was still there in the garage. He calls about 30 minutes later and said yes it was there. We were just a couple of minutes away so kept heading over. I really was expecting an old rusty bike but here was this wonderfully kept CCM bike ready for us! Not only was it ready but he had already oiled the gears and the brakes and was riding it on his driveway when we drove up to make sure everything still worked.
Britnee tried it and rode a bit down the back lane and it fit her like a glove. She was soooo excited! I thought ok here goes the sales pitch. I asked again what he wanted for it and he just simply said "Nothing just take it away". We loaded it up and I turned to him and his daughter and we both thanked them again. I told him that they would be blessed for doing this for this young girl.
Who said the Golden Rule no longer applies? Who said there isn't good people out there anymore? Who said that no one shows charity anymore? Today I would beg to differ.
We drive all the way there and of course there are 2 tricycles and one small 2 wheeler. We were just standing there for a minute trying to think of where else to look when a man that had been standing right beside us looking at something else asks us if we were looking for a bike and what kind. I am always hesitant talking to strange men (besides Keith and my sons of course) but it looked like he was with his teenage daughter so I explained what we were looking for. I told him she was too short for an adult women's bike but had too long of legs for a regular kid's bike.
He asked me how much shorter I thought Britnee was compared to his daughter and I said probably about 6 inches. He said we have one at home that she hasn't used in a couple of years if you want to come take a look at it you can have it. Again I hesitated but asked how much and where did he live. He said in Guildford area and if I picked it up and it fit I could just take it. I thought sure it's free it must be rusted out or missing brakes etc but figured out what could I lose?
So we made arrangements and got his address. He said he was going to head over right away and just make sure it was still there in the garage. He calls about 30 minutes later and said yes it was there. We were just a couple of minutes away so kept heading over. I really was expecting an old rusty bike but here was this wonderfully kept CCM bike ready for us! Not only was it ready but he had already oiled the gears and the brakes and was riding it on his driveway when we drove up to make sure everything still worked.
Britnee tried it and rode a bit down the back lane and it fit her like a glove. She was soooo excited! I thought ok here goes the sales pitch. I asked again what he wanted for it and he just simply said "Nothing just take it away". We loaded it up and I turned to him and his daughter and we both thanked them again. I told him that they would be blessed for doing this for this young girl.
Who said the Golden Rule no longer applies? Who said there isn't good people out there anymore? Who said that no one shows charity anymore? Today I would beg to differ.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Raining again
I am so sick of this rain. I swear we have not had more then one nice week at a time this summer yet. Supposed to be same weather tomorrow. I am sitting here with a thick hoodie on over a shirt and thick socks AND debating whether or not I will turn the heat registers on!! But I won't cause it is the principle of the whole thing. It is summer so you can't turn on furnaces!
So it was back to work today at the Family History Centre. I have never worked mornings before but with so many people on holidays including managers I volunteered. Must have been a good pain day the day I did that schedule hehhee. It was so busy today we could hardly keep up between people checking in, the phones, and the questions. I had even brought a storey book to read and never even touched it. But being busy there is a good thing. Especially for summer. I am there every day this week so will have to plan my work then work the plan cause I still have to finish getting things together for the garage sale on Saturday and finish getting the trailer cleaned to reload it as well as finish packing stuff for it and finally get the house ready for Kim and Mary when they get here next Thursday,,, WHEWW I am already tired just from making my list! Better go have a nap
So it was back to work today at the Family History Centre. I have never worked mornings before but with so many people on holidays including managers I volunteered. Must have been a good pain day the day I did that schedule hehhee. It was so busy today we could hardly keep up between people checking in, the phones, and the questions. I had even brought a storey book to read and never even touched it. But being busy there is a good thing. Especially for summer. I am there every day this week so will have to plan my work then work the plan cause I still have to finish getting things together for the garage sale on Saturday and finish getting the trailer cleaned to reload it as well as finish packing stuff for it and finally get the house ready for Kim and Mary when they get here next Thursday,,, WHEWW I am already tired just from making my list! Better go have a nap
Monday, August 06, 2007
Camping and granddaughters
I can't remember the last time I was this excited about a coming up camping trip. Camping is my absolute favorite pastime and I could do it 24/7. My ultimate is going up in the mountains with nothing around you but the mountains and a creek or river for fishing. But this coming weekend has me smiling every time I think of it.
It will be the first time that our 3 1/2 year old granddaughter will ever go camping and although not the first time that our 2 1/2 year old will be going with us, she really was too young last summer to remember.
I have been out shopping for new things we needed for last couple of weeks with things starting to stack up. Rosaleen and Miranda have seen these cool things in the house and keep taking them out of the storage bins to show us and we have to keep saying "put it back that's for camping". They have no idea what camping means except that when we finally get to do it they will have their own new Dora and Princess dishes and cutlery, new Dora and Pooh beach play toys, new sleeping bags and all those treats and mini cereal boxes and their eyes keep growing.
Miranda can't pronounce words beginning with "sw" but swimming and being on swing sets are her favorite pastimes right up there with pushing her babies in her stroller. So for last couple of days she keeps saying "I'm going wimming and winging at camping right Nana?" How can you not love them hehehehe
They don't understand "pretty soon" or "later" just they know every time they ask are we going there now they get told pretty soon and then they say "in a little bit right Nana"? Yup in a little bit. But the highlight was when Papa brought the trailer home on Saturday and they both were here Saturday night and got to go inside and saw where they were going to sleep with their new sleeping bags then we had to tell them nooooo it still isn't time to go yet. Brings on a whole new meaning of "Are we there yet?"
Yup I can't remember the last time Nana was so excited at going camping hehehehehe. Just 6 more big sleeps!
It will be the first time that our 3 1/2 year old granddaughter will ever go camping and although not the first time that our 2 1/2 year old will be going with us, she really was too young last summer to remember.
I have been out shopping for new things we needed for last couple of weeks with things starting to stack up. Rosaleen and Miranda have seen these cool things in the house and keep taking them out of the storage bins to show us and we have to keep saying "put it back that's for camping". They have no idea what camping means except that when we finally get to do it they will have their own new Dora and Princess dishes and cutlery, new Dora and Pooh beach play toys, new sleeping bags and all those treats and mini cereal boxes and their eyes keep growing.
Miranda can't pronounce words beginning with "sw" but swimming and being on swing sets are her favorite pastimes right up there with pushing her babies in her stroller. So for last couple of days she keeps saying "I'm going wimming and winging at camping right Nana?" How can you not love them hehehehe
They don't understand "pretty soon" or "later" just they know every time they ask are we going there now they get told pretty soon and then they say "in a little bit right Nana"? Yup in a little bit. But the highlight was when Papa brought the trailer home on Saturday and they both were here Saturday night and got to go inside and saw where they were going to sleep with their new sleeping bags then we had to tell them nooooo it still isn't time to go yet. Brings on a whole new meaning of "Are we there yet?"
Yup I can't remember the last time Nana was so excited at going camping hehehehehe. Just 6 more big sleeps!
Update on missing cousin Darrell Cloutier
I don't know which is worse... After 3 1/2 months of being gone, either knowing for sure he is dead and you no longer have hope but can move on with your life, or else not knowing anything and keeping what little faith you have left but your whole life is on hold as you wait and wait and wait. Sheer frustration! http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=a2746ba9-1e9a-4518-9aa8-a0660eda05fb
Sunday, August 05, 2007
New Drugs
I was at my doctor's this past week for several reasons but one of them was the fact that my shins have so many bruises on them that I hate to wear shorts anymore. Some of the bruising is so bad that they are perpetually there and I have these dark spots. I have variating degrees of bruising colors from purple and blue from fresh ones to green and yellow ones from older bruises.
Now where are these bruises coming from? They come from me. They are from kicking myself from muscles twitching in my legs during the night. The one medication that I have been on for several years obviously is no longer working. She went over my report from the UBC sleep clinic to see if there were new methods of help that they suggested that perhaps we had not tried yet but nope.. been there have done them all.
So after much discussion I finally agreed to try a new drug. Which normally would not be such a bad thing but the major side effects of this one are "tendencies to do self harm or harm others; anxiety attacks, unusual behavior, panic attacks, seizures". How exciting!! Keith asked if our life insurance was up to date and not thinking replied of course why? He said well if you kill me now you can say it was because of the medication and get away with it lol. Goof ball
I have also had to go back on my medication for my acid reflux. I haven't had to take it for 2 years since I had lost all my excess weight. We couldn't figure out why it has come back. $218.00 for one month has not impressed me. But then waking up while choking on a mouthful of bile doesn't impress me either. Hopefully both issues can be quickly fixed or at least lessened. I am going on holidays in a week and want to be able to relax.
Now where are these bruises coming from? They come from me. They are from kicking myself from muscles twitching in my legs during the night. The one medication that I have been on for several years obviously is no longer working. She went over my report from the UBC sleep clinic to see if there were new methods of help that they suggested that perhaps we had not tried yet but nope.. been there have done them all.
So after much discussion I finally agreed to try a new drug. Which normally would not be such a bad thing but the major side effects of this one are "tendencies to do self harm or harm others; anxiety attacks, unusual behavior, panic attacks, seizures". How exciting!! Keith asked if our life insurance was up to date and not thinking replied of course why? He said well if you kill me now you can say it was because of the medication and get away with it lol. Goof ball
I have also had to go back on my medication for my acid reflux. I haven't had to take it for 2 years since I had lost all my excess weight. We couldn't figure out why it has come back. $218.00 for one month has not impressed me. But then waking up while choking on a mouthful of bile doesn't impress me either. Hopefully both issues can be quickly fixed or at least lessened. I am going on holidays in a week and want to be able to relax.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Fashion Dictator
Yesterday when I was at Playland I spent a lot of time sitting down waiting for children to finish their rides and 2 things struck me. I am a people watcher. I love just sitting somewhere and watching people go by. When I was growing up only the poorest of the poor wore flip flops. Only they were called thongs back then. We had them for the summer but I hated wearing them because then everyone would know we were poor. Like they didn't already know this. My sister and I had good sandals but they were for church or special occasions not for wearing out every day. So I went barefoot for the most part. Now they are a part of most people's wardrobe. Probably 3/4's of the people there yesterday wore them.
Another thing I noticed were the majority of the young girls and women wore 2 t-shirts. One lacy one and then another on top. I keep getting told it isn't 2 t shirts one is a tank top. Ok that is just semantics. Just because the one you wear underneath does not have sleeves doesn't mean the rest of the shirt isn't a whole shirt. It was 28 yesterday. My shirt was sticking to my back. I couldn't even comprehend why someone would want to wear another shirt on top!
It made me think of who comes up with these rules of fashion? Who decides that this year we're going to have people do this? It is like we are all puppets and when the Puppet Master pulls on their strings we have to dance to their tune and do what they dictate to us.
It is stupid. It really really is. Do fashion designers all sit at a conference table and say hey women aren't buying enough shirts so let's make it so they now have to buy TWO every time they want one? Who decided that thongs were now going to be worn under your pants and flip flops are now meant for the world to wear? Who died and made them President of the World?
I was reading a copy of O magazine last night and there was an article in it stating that the way you wear your clothes and the way you design your house says a lot about you. It stated that for the most part women dress in the same style they decorate their home. It made me think of the clothes in my closet. I have a lot of suits. They are all classic lines. Never will go out of style. I have nothing in there that is the latest craze of the day.
My casual clothes are comfortable. I don't have anything that is a "labeled" item. Then I thought of my home. Every inch of my home has pictures of my family. I have had my living room furniture (couch and chair) for about 15 years. It has withstood 5 teenagers, dogs, cat, and now 12 grandchildren) and there isn't even a tear on it. It is very comfortable to sit on and I spend a lot of my nights sleeping on there when my pain is too great to stay in bed.
So I guess Oprah was right. What you wear does reflect on how your home is decorated. The one thing that is the most important thing in my life is my family. I grew up in a home where we could not eat in the living room. You sat in ours at home you did not live in it as the name of the room suggests you should. My home is lived in. Many times I have had adults feel bad as their child upchucked on my suit or got mud on my pants or spilled something on my furniture and I always say their is nothing that can't be washed or cleaned.
So if I had to say what style I was I would have to say you would never see me on the end of a puppet master's strings. Not that anyone else should think they are because they follow fashions and fads and that they are bad or that I am judging them in any way. I would love to live in a home that looked like it belonged in a decorating magazine. But then I would have to turn into my mother and not let anyone "live" when they came into my living room. I would love to wear clothes that looked like they came off a Paris runway. But then I could not ever hold little children anymore because heaven forbid should their runny nose get on my shoulder of my pricey shirt.
I guess I will stick with my comfort laid back style if there is even a style called that. Maybe in my next life I can get excited about wearing the next latest fashion of jeans that show your underwear cause they are so low, shirts that show my belly button cause they are so short, shirts that show my bra straps cause the two don't match, everything that comes with a label, and shoes that cost as much as a week's worth of groceries.
But in the meantime I am going to sit on the living room floor and have macaroni and cheese with my grandchildren.
Another thing I noticed were the majority of the young girls and women wore 2 t-shirts. One lacy one and then another on top. I keep getting told it isn't 2 t shirts one is a tank top. Ok that is just semantics. Just because the one you wear underneath does not have sleeves doesn't mean the rest of the shirt isn't a whole shirt. It was 28 yesterday. My shirt was sticking to my back. I couldn't even comprehend why someone would want to wear another shirt on top!
It made me think of who comes up with these rules of fashion? Who decides that this year we're going to have people do this? It is like we are all puppets and when the Puppet Master pulls on their strings we have to dance to their tune and do what they dictate to us.
It is stupid. It really really is. Do fashion designers all sit at a conference table and say hey women aren't buying enough shirts so let's make it so they now have to buy TWO every time they want one? Who decided that thongs were now going to be worn under your pants and flip flops are now meant for the world to wear? Who died and made them President of the World?
I was reading a copy of O magazine last night and there was an article in it stating that the way you wear your clothes and the way you design your house says a lot about you. It stated that for the most part women dress in the same style they decorate their home. It made me think of the clothes in my closet. I have a lot of suits. They are all classic lines. Never will go out of style. I have nothing in there that is the latest craze of the day.
My casual clothes are comfortable. I don't have anything that is a "labeled" item. Then I thought of my home. Every inch of my home has pictures of my family. I have had my living room furniture (couch and chair) for about 15 years. It has withstood 5 teenagers, dogs, cat, and now 12 grandchildren) and there isn't even a tear on it. It is very comfortable to sit on and I spend a lot of my nights sleeping on there when my pain is too great to stay in bed.
So I guess Oprah was right. What you wear does reflect on how your home is decorated. The one thing that is the most important thing in my life is my family. I grew up in a home where we could not eat in the living room. You sat in ours at home you did not live in it as the name of the room suggests you should. My home is lived in. Many times I have had adults feel bad as their child upchucked on my suit or got mud on my pants or spilled something on my furniture and I always say their is nothing that can't be washed or cleaned.
So if I had to say what style I was I would have to say you would never see me on the end of a puppet master's strings. Not that anyone else should think they are because they follow fashions and fads and that they are bad or that I am judging them in any way. I would love to live in a home that looked like it belonged in a decorating magazine. But then I would have to turn into my mother and not let anyone "live" when they came into my living room. I would love to wear clothes that looked like they came off a Paris runway. But then I could not ever hold little children anymore because heaven forbid should their runny nose get on my shoulder of my pricey shirt.
I guess I will stick with my comfort laid back style if there is even a style called that. Maybe in my next life I can get excited about wearing the next latest fashion of jeans that show your underwear cause they are so low, shirts that show my belly button cause they are so short, shirts that show my bra straps cause the two don't match, everything that comes with a label, and shoes that cost as much as a week's worth of groceries.
But in the meantime I am going to sit on the living room floor and have macaroni and cheese with my grandchildren.
Playland
I went to Playland yesterday for the first time in years and had a lot of fun. The last time I went had been with our best friends and I had had so much fun! I love going there!! Especially at night time with all the noises, the people, the smells.. and ohhh those mini donuts, the candy floss, the caramel apples... yummy! And going on the rides over and over again screaming my head off and then doing it again hehehe. We both have husbands who can't do rides so it was fantastic to have a friend who loved them as much as we did!
But then my spine got to be too bad and I couldn't do the standing in lines anymore or take the rides as they put me in too much pain. I was kind of worried that I would consume all those calories yesterday. But I had a good breakfast, made a good lunch to bring with me and healthy snacks if I "wanted" to munch on something. I ended up forgetting my lunch but I was very good. I had checked all the calories online of carnival foods and when I smelt the caramel fudge I told myself that is over 1000 calories!! And it stayed away. I was very very good and only had 2 mini donuts. That is 2 little ones not 2 orders :)
I only went on a couple of rides though as I knew most of them would wreck me. But I had so much fun taking our 2 year old granddaughter on the kiddie rides while Lareta went on the rides with the older ones. Miranda fell in love with the Swing ride. It is below.
She must have gotten on that ride 20 times and would cry her heart out every time we would say no let's go on another one. I finally told the attendant that if he let her on one more time he would have to go home with her as we were leaving with or without her lol She was so cute on that ride. I was very happy that the park had benches at every other foot. I was able to sit and watch the kids on their rides instead of standing. Most were in the shade so that was a bonus. I was concerned about the grandkids asking for this and for that and wanting all the treats so before we got out of the van I told them that I was going to get them only one treat and that would be after we were all done. (Years of experience knows that high sugared foods and fast rides results in a puking contest)
Not one of them asked for something once. Not one of them had to be given a "look" or a reprimand of any kind. I was very very proud of them yesterday. Well that doesn't sound right .. I am always proud of them. But being well behaved sure made it enjoyable. 2 of the grandkids went on the log ride with me as the last ride and it was so exciting to sit behind them and hear them squealing as we climbed to the peak just before we went over the waterfall... :-D
I have to say it was one of the best outings I have ever had with my daughter and grandchildren.
But then my spine got to be too bad and I couldn't do the standing in lines anymore or take the rides as they put me in too much pain. I was kind of worried that I would consume all those calories yesterday. But I had a good breakfast, made a good lunch to bring with me and healthy snacks if I "wanted" to munch on something. I ended up forgetting my lunch but I was very good. I had checked all the calories online of carnival foods and when I smelt the caramel fudge I told myself that is over 1000 calories!! And it stayed away. I was very very good and only had 2 mini donuts. That is 2 little ones not 2 orders :)
I only went on a couple of rides though as I knew most of them would wreck me. But I had so much fun taking our 2 year old granddaughter on the kiddie rides while Lareta went on the rides with the older ones. Miranda fell in love with the Swing ride. It is below.
She must have gotten on that ride 20 times and would cry her heart out every time we would say no let's go on another one. I finally told the attendant that if he let her on one more time he would have to go home with her as we were leaving with or without her lol She was so cute on that ride. I was very happy that the park had benches at every other foot. I was able to sit and watch the kids on their rides instead of standing. Most were in the shade so that was a bonus. I was concerned about the grandkids asking for this and for that and wanting all the treats so before we got out of the van I told them that I was going to get them only one treat and that would be after we were all done. (Years of experience knows that high sugared foods and fast rides results in a puking contest)
Not one of them asked for something once. Not one of them had to be given a "look" or a reprimand of any kind. I was very very proud of them yesterday. Well that doesn't sound right .. I am always proud of them. But being well behaved sure made it enjoyable. 2 of the grandkids went on the log ride with me as the last ride and it was so exciting to sit behind them and hear them squealing as we climbed to the peak just before we went over the waterfall... :-D
I have to say it was one of the best outings I have ever had with my daughter and grandchildren.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Island Retreat
Well we are finally back safe and sound from being on the island this weekend. We had not been sure if we were going to stay overnight or not but brought a change of clothes just in case. Which as it turned out was a good thing. We had thought the wedding was in Nanaimo but when we were on the ferry going across we realized the wedding was in Parksville. It was at a seaside resort and I don't think I have ever been to such a beautiful setting for a wedding in my life. You walked down a path to a gazebo looking out over the sea and the mountain ranges at what seemed like at your fingertips. We got there right at the very last minute (thank goodness the bride was late) so did not get a chance to get new film before the ceremony. Then the bride came down the path. Now this 20 year old girl is my namesake. We have always had a cool connection but as my brain acknowledged that this was her my mind couldn't wrap itself around that the girl in front of me was this stunning beautiful grown woman. What a knockout wearing a dress that a princess could only dream of!!
Her colors were soft pink and chocolate brown. Very sophisticated!! We visited with as many old friends as we could throughout the reception. Lots of squealing and hugs. I had not been feeling good and ended up laying down in the jeep for almost an hour trying to keep the nausea down. We finally left to come home and by the time we got back to Nanaimo I knew we had to spend the night as I was just too worn out. But finding a hotel there on a Friday night was near impossible but finally found one.
The next day at breakfast we thought we would stay an extra night just so we could continue visiting. We went to the gift opening and there we found out that 2 of the children of our dear friends were heading back to Alberta Sunday morning. We ended up deciding that we would head back together Saturday afternoon so they could visit with the rest of our kids last night etc. we have been family friends since our Regina days.
Well as the old saying goes.. best laid plans of mice and men... we got to the terminal in plenty of time and then got announced that the ferry would not be arriving as it had been turned around due to an emergency. That was it. We waited and waited and waited. All there was there was a coffee stall. None of us drank coffee. Their muffins were like 5 dollars each and juice not much cheaper. Keith to the rescue!! MY knight in shining armor! Only he could find a place that would deliver pizza to a parking lot! We were stuck there we could not leave and we couldn't go back. When the pizza arrived he had so many people ask him where on earth he got them from and we just gave them the phone number. They kept making announcements over the loud speaker that pizza was ready, then it was Chinese food ready. Keith said he should have started his own booth and made money!!!
We finally get told hours later that there had been a bomb threat on the ferry we were supposed to have gotten on!!! How scary is that! This isn't New York! We were happy that they had stopped the ferry but keeping 3 small children amused and happy was becoming a feat. We finally had the ferry arrive 6 hours later and we boarded. We were told that because of the delay our meal service would be free. It took us over 90 minutes of standing in line to get our food only to find out all that was left for us was some small dishes of ice cream and a couple of orders of fries. They had made an announcement about an hour into the ride that because of some customers over ordering they were running out of food and that they apologized again. They asked that although the food was free that people only order what they normally would order and to be respectful of all those who still had not ordered.
By the time that Keith got to the front of the line he said the staff were throwing away PLATES full of food. The staff told him that people were ordering 6 hamburgers at a time and taking all the muffins, cookies, anything that was wrapped and putting them into their backpacks. How greedy can people be???? I realize that the food was free but come on people the ferry was full of families that had been stranded for hours!! Kids were being turned away at midnight as there was no food and they were crying.. how sad!!! I can't believe people can be rude!!!
We got home at 1:45a.m when we were supposed to be home 7:30. We stayed up till 3 setting up beds for 3 adults and 3 children and bringing in bags etc. Then we got up at 7 to get breakfast ready for everyone and our kids and grandchildren were coming over to visit... fresh fruit salad, French toast, pancakes, cereal, fresh juice, homemade blueberry syrup, bacon, eggs... yummy....
Then everyone was gone by 10:30 and Keith and I just left the mess and went back to bed to sleep till 4! I was exhausted. Now it is just sitting in jammies, reading mail and getting messages from my voice mail. We watched the news about the ferry and the bomb threat tonight and found out this is the THIRD threat this year already!!! WHAT?? How come I haven't heard this before!!
Anyway it will be a quiet night tonight on the couch with my Pooh blanket.. see ya!
Her colors were soft pink and chocolate brown. Very sophisticated!! We visited with as many old friends as we could throughout the reception. Lots of squealing and hugs. I had not been feeling good and ended up laying down in the jeep for almost an hour trying to keep the nausea down. We finally left to come home and by the time we got back to Nanaimo I knew we had to spend the night as I was just too worn out. But finding a hotel there on a Friday night was near impossible but finally found one.
The next day at breakfast we thought we would stay an extra night just so we could continue visiting. We went to the gift opening and there we found out that 2 of the children of our dear friends were heading back to Alberta Sunday morning. We ended up deciding that we would head back together Saturday afternoon so they could visit with the rest of our kids last night etc. we have been family friends since our Regina days.
Well as the old saying goes.. best laid plans of mice and men... we got to the terminal in plenty of time and then got announced that the ferry would not be arriving as it had been turned around due to an emergency. That was it. We waited and waited and waited. All there was there was a coffee stall. None of us drank coffee. Their muffins were like 5 dollars each and juice not much cheaper. Keith to the rescue!! MY knight in shining armor! Only he could find a place that would deliver pizza to a parking lot! We were stuck there we could not leave and we couldn't go back. When the pizza arrived he had so many people ask him where on earth he got them from and we just gave them the phone number. They kept making announcements over the loud speaker that pizza was ready, then it was Chinese food ready. Keith said he should have started his own booth and made money!!!
We finally get told hours later that there had been a bomb threat on the ferry we were supposed to have gotten on!!! How scary is that! This isn't New York! We were happy that they had stopped the ferry but keeping 3 small children amused and happy was becoming a feat. We finally had the ferry arrive 6 hours later and we boarded. We were told that because of the delay our meal service would be free. It took us over 90 minutes of standing in line to get our food only to find out all that was left for us was some small dishes of ice cream and a couple of orders of fries. They had made an announcement about an hour into the ride that because of some customers over ordering they were running out of food and that they apologized again. They asked that although the food was free that people only order what they normally would order and to be respectful of all those who still had not ordered.
By the time that Keith got to the front of the line he said the staff were throwing away PLATES full of food. The staff told him that people were ordering 6 hamburgers at a time and taking all the muffins, cookies, anything that was wrapped and putting them into their backpacks. How greedy can people be???? I realize that the food was free but come on people the ferry was full of families that had been stranded for hours!! Kids were being turned away at midnight as there was no food and they were crying.. how sad!!! I can't believe people can be rude!!!
We got home at 1:45a.m when we were supposed to be home 7:30. We stayed up till 3 setting up beds for 3 adults and 3 children and bringing in bags etc. Then we got up at 7 to get breakfast ready for everyone and our kids and grandchildren were coming over to visit... fresh fruit salad, French toast, pancakes, cereal, fresh juice, homemade blueberry syrup, bacon, eggs... yummy....
Then everyone was gone by 10:30 and Keith and I just left the mess and went back to bed to sleep till 4! I was exhausted. Now it is just sitting in jammies, reading mail and getting messages from my voice mail. We watched the news about the ferry and the bomb threat tonight and found out this is the THIRD threat this year already!!! WHAT?? How come I haven't heard this before!!
Anyway it will be a quiet night tonight on the couch with my Pooh blanket.. see ya!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Book fan
I have been listening to all the hype about the latest Harry Potter book coming out and thought how can you possibly be so wrapped up in a sequel that you would stay up till midnight to get a book? Then Keith so aptly reminded me of years ago when the series "The Work and the Glory" was first coming out. As soon as the next installment was out I would be there first in line and I would do nothing but read the novel till it was done. At one point, the year our children got married, 4 of us in the house were reading the same novel. If you put it down it was fair game for anyone else to read it. The rule was you could not take it into the bathroom with you and if you read it in bed you had to put it in a common place when you were done so someone else could read it.
I was at the last third of this particular novel and had a hard time getting my hands on it. Kim and Lareta had gone to bed. I don't know where Jody was but I went to bed to read. Because the light was on it was keeping Keith awake. Well not the light itself but the noises I was making when I was at a bad part or my legs would twitch cause I was worried or excited about something. He kept asking if I was almost done and I would always say let me finish this chapter. But every chapter always ended on the wrong note and I had to keep reading.
At one point he rolls over, takes the book from my hands, puts it on his night table and turns the light off and says "GO TO SLEEP"!. I laid there very quietly till I heard him sleeping then got out of bed very quietly, got the book and went into our ensuite to finish reading the book. Now I have to explain we had an Irish Wolfhound dog at the time which are very very big. He was my protector and went no where without me. So I closed the bathroom door before I turned the light on and heard him laying against the door.
I didn't realized I had been sitting on the seat of the toilet as long as I had till I went to stand up when I actually finished the book. Let me describe this bathroom. It was only a half bath and was very small. It had a toilet and when you sat on it you could lay your head on the sink. There was only a 8 inch space between the sink and the wall where I had a tall narrow metal shelving that held all my beauty stuff and hair dryers etc. When I went to stand up my legs gave out as the blood flow had been cut off from sitting so long.
I went head first into this metal shelving which knocked every thing off of it and flipped me backwards. But because there was so little room I ended up with my head, neck and upper shoulders on the floor by the toilet, my waist and hips on the toilet lid and my legs over the sink and tangled with this shelving. During all this the dog is literally slamming head first into the door trying to break the door down cause he knows I'm in trouble. Keith is trying to pull the dog off the door but the dog is barking and snapping at him. He has a very heavy chain choker and even yanking on it is not letting him get the dog from trying to bust through the door. Keith called Kim to come and hang on to the dog so he could get to the door.
Keith kept asking if I was all right but the dog was barking so loud he couldn't hear me. He finally got the door open and there I lay not being able to move with the book neatly sitting on my chest cover up like I had fallen asleep with the book on me. Keith finally asked if I was ok and I said yes. I would have said yes even if I had broken both arms and both legs. By this time the dog's collar snapped from his force of trying to jump and I now had a 150 pound dog climbing on me to lick my face. I finally was able to tell him to get off so I could get up. I managed to clean everything up and when I went back to bed Keith quietly asks "Now are you done the last chapter?" and I very meekly said yes.
I had forgotten all that till I was reminded. As I read my DIL's message to her hubby's comment that nothing is going to get done in the house now that she got her latest book of Harry Potter I had to smile as I remembered my racing through the house to clean it and make the fastest dinner possible when I was reading one of the new installments. But I have to say I haven't gotten into books like that series that had such a grip on me let me tell you. I still have all 9 hard cover novels on my shelf and actually just finished rereading them last year when I was laid up in bed.
I am glad that I have raised readers in my family and that all my in-law children are readers as well as all their children. It is a good vice to have if you have to have one :) I think I may have to go buy a new novel of something or other to take camping with me next month!!
I was at the last third of this particular novel and had a hard time getting my hands on it. Kim and Lareta had gone to bed. I don't know where Jody was but I went to bed to read. Because the light was on it was keeping Keith awake. Well not the light itself but the noises I was making when I was at a bad part or my legs would twitch cause I was worried or excited about something. He kept asking if I was almost done and I would always say let me finish this chapter. But every chapter always ended on the wrong note and I had to keep reading.
At one point he rolls over, takes the book from my hands, puts it on his night table and turns the light off and says "GO TO SLEEP"!. I laid there very quietly till I heard him sleeping then got out of bed very quietly, got the book and went into our ensuite to finish reading the book. Now I have to explain we had an Irish Wolfhound dog at the time which are very very big. He was my protector and went no where without me. So I closed the bathroom door before I turned the light on and heard him laying against the door.
I didn't realized I had been sitting on the seat of the toilet as long as I had till I went to stand up when I actually finished the book. Let me describe this bathroom. It was only a half bath and was very small. It had a toilet and when you sat on it you could lay your head on the sink. There was only a 8 inch space between the sink and the wall where I had a tall narrow metal shelving that held all my beauty stuff and hair dryers etc. When I went to stand up my legs gave out as the blood flow had been cut off from sitting so long.
I went head first into this metal shelving which knocked every thing off of it and flipped me backwards. But because there was so little room I ended up with my head, neck and upper shoulders on the floor by the toilet, my waist and hips on the toilet lid and my legs over the sink and tangled with this shelving. During all this the dog is literally slamming head first into the door trying to break the door down cause he knows I'm in trouble. Keith is trying to pull the dog off the door but the dog is barking and snapping at him. He has a very heavy chain choker and even yanking on it is not letting him get the dog from trying to bust through the door. Keith called Kim to come and hang on to the dog so he could get to the door.
Keith kept asking if I was all right but the dog was barking so loud he couldn't hear me. He finally got the door open and there I lay not being able to move with the book neatly sitting on my chest cover up like I had fallen asleep with the book on me. Keith finally asked if I was ok and I said yes. I would have said yes even if I had broken both arms and both legs. By this time the dog's collar snapped from his force of trying to jump and I now had a 150 pound dog climbing on me to lick my face. I finally was able to tell him to get off so I could get up. I managed to clean everything up and when I went back to bed Keith quietly asks "Now are you done the last chapter?" and I very meekly said yes.
I had forgotten all that till I was reminded. As I read my DIL's message to her hubby's comment that nothing is going to get done in the house now that she got her latest book of Harry Potter I had to smile as I remembered my racing through the house to clean it and make the fastest dinner possible when I was reading one of the new installments. But I have to say I haven't gotten into books like that series that had such a grip on me let me tell you. I still have all 9 hard cover novels on my shelf and actually just finished rereading them last year when I was laid up in bed.
I am glad that I have raised readers in my family and that all my in-law children are readers as well as all their children. It is a good vice to have if you have to have one :) I think I may have to go buy a new novel of something or other to take camping with me next month!!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
C.U.P.E.
As the cities go into strike mode with CUPE I am reminded of when I was a C.U.P.E. member. When I was a nurse we did not have our own union (that has since changed). We belonged to CUPE which included ALL hospital workers from nurses, lab techs, X-Ray techs, housekeepers, interns, security, office clerks, kitchen staff. If you worked at the hospital you were under the same union. The only ones exempt from this were doctors and administrative.
It seemed we were always on strike. Not the nurses but all the other workers. And because we had to support them, we always had to picket. It drove me crazy. I worked my butt off for 3 years sacrificing my family time, money etc to put myself through school and worked hard at my job yet I would get a lousy 10 bucks a day picketing. I could have saved myself all that money and time and stayed home with my children for all the good I was doing on the sidewalk. The nurses worked with union leaders and with other cities/provinces who had separate unions for them to get our own and just after we moved to BC the unions changed so now all nurses had their own union. Sure wait till I leave!!
Keith belonged to the Carpernters Union when we lived there. Just after we married, the entire union went on strike.. all trades. Keith's particular area settled in a couple of weeks but the plumbers stayed on strike for NINE months! Keith couldn't cross the picket line. We weren't eligible for E.I. as he was employed. We weren't eligible for Social Welfare as he was employed. He picked up as much side jobs as he could doing renovations etc in homes etc but it just barely put food on the table. We lost our home that we had bought when we got married. We had used up all our savings making mortgage payments till there was no more and we had to turn the keys over. We couldn't even sell it as the interest rates had rocketed to 24% and no one was buying homes then.
It was a hard pill to swallow. Now as I listen to the news about the city workers going on strike it grates me. Once again we will be held "hostage" by the union. The job Keith is working on now is a city building which means he will not be able to cross the pickets even though he is not a union man. I support nurses when they go on strike as they deal with life and death situations every day. I support teachers going on strike as they teach my grandchildren. Everyone else? You are on your own. You burnt me twice. I won't fall for it a 3rd time.
It seemed we were always on strike. Not the nurses but all the other workers. And because we had to support them, we always had to picket. It drove me crazy. I worked my butt off for 3 years sacrificing my family time, money etc to put myself through school and worked hard at my job yet I would get a lousy 10 bucks a day picketing. I could have saved myself all that money and time and stayed home with my children for all the good I was doing on the sidewalk. The nurses worked with union leaders and with other cities/provinces who had separate unions for them to get our own and just after we moved to BC the unions changed so now all nurses had their own union. Sure wait till I leave!!
Keith belonged to the Carpernters Union when we lived there. Just after we married, the entire union went on strike.. all trades. Keith's particular area settled in a couple of weeks but the plumbers stayed on strike for NINE months! Keith couldn't cross the picket line. We weren't eligible for E.I. as he was employed. We weren't eligible for Social Welfare as he was employed. He picked up as much side jobs as he could doing renovations etc in homes etc but it just barely put food on the table. We lost our home that we had bought when we got married. We had used up all our savings making mortgage payments till there was no more and we had to turn the keys over. We couldn't even sell it as the interest rates had rocketed to 24% and no one was buying homes then.
It was a hard pill to swallow. Now as I listen to the news about the city workers going on strike it grates me. Once again we will be held "hostage" by the union. The job Keith is working on now is a city building which means he will not be able to cross the pickets even though he is not a union man. I support nurses when they go on strike as they deal with life and death situations every day. I support teachers going on strike as they teach my grandchildren. Everyone else? You are on your own. You burnt me twice. I won't fall for it a 3rd time.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Old fashioned vs modern communication technology
I was watching a movie last night about an Amish young woman that was charged with murdering her newborn son. Her lawyer was told by the judge that the girl went to jail till trial or else the lawyer had to go chaperone her 24/7 till then. The lawyer gets there and when her laptop battery went dead she went looking for the "emergency" power supply and she couldn't believe that when they told her there was no electricity that there actually was none. She could not charge her cell phone battery and the nearest pay phone as 20 miles away.
The lawyer asks the young woman at one point if she had friends and extended family away from the farm and she replied yes. SO then she asked the girl well without a phone or computers how do you talk to each other. The girl looked at her like she had horns and simply said "We go to their house and talk". It sounded like a stupid thing to say.. too simple to be true but this afternoon as I was cleaning out my inbox of emails and returning voice mail messages that sentence came back to me. I had to really think other then from my mom, when was the last time I had gotten an actual snail mail in my mailbox?
I used to be so thrilled when I would get my mail and there would be these thick envelopes there waiting for me. It was a whole production... if it was winter I would make a whole pot of chamomile tea, summer meant lemonade and I would wait till the house was quiet and I would read the letters. First I would scan it quickly for the juicy gossip (oh wait not gossip but rather important information!) then I would start from the beginning and read to the end. The letter would stay opened on my desk till it was answered and I would read it many times till then.
My mom still writes to me as she doesn't own a computer but other then hers, I don't get mail anymore. If my mailbox is stuffed it's because it's Monday and all the stupid flyers are there. I can't remember when the last time it was that I wrote a long newsy letter either. I used to once a year with Christmas cards but even that stopped awhile back when everyone got email addresses.
Now my form of conversation is a paragraph or two by email. When our son in law was in the hospital last week I was stuck there trying to call people from my cell and didn't have anyone's numbers. Anyone really important are on my speed dials on my home phone but only my kids are on my cell directory. I had this friend in Regina when we lived there and at 9am sharp every day that I was off we would get on the phone. I don't know if it is still like that but back then at least one phone in the house had to be hard wired to the house as on the wall etc. You couldn't just have phones that plugged in the jacks. Anyway we both had 75 foot cords on our phones and we would talk for 1-2 hours every day as we did our housecleaning and laundry. I have no idea what we all talked about but we did. I had another friend that our husbands hooked up intercoms between the 2 homes because we talked to each other for hours and tied up the lines (this of course was pre-call waiting or voice mail).
Lately I have been working on Facebook looking up people I knew in Regina when we were there.... kids and grandkids plus work just seemed to have made contact all but disappear but as I find people I am surprised how many still don't even have computers or if they do they don't have internet!! GASP!!! Survive without internet?? Bit my tongue!
But today I thought of the old days of sitting curled up on the couch with my letters or talking on the phone and realized that somehow with all our modern communication technology of cells, pagers, Yahoo, emails, voice mails, call forwarding, call waiting, and the constant beeping and ringing wherever you go, we have somehow lost the art of just talking and listening.
The lawyer asks the young woman at one point if she had friends and extended family away from the farm and she replied yes. SO then she asked the girl well without a phone or computers how do you talk to each other. The girl looked at her like she had horns and simply said "We go to their house and talk". It sounded like a stupid thing to say.. too simple to be true but this afternoon as I was cleaning out my inbox of emails and returning voice mail messages that sentence came back to me. I had to really think other then from my mom, when was the last time I had gotten an actual snail mail in my mailbox?
I used to be so thrilled when I would get my mail and there would be these thick envelopes there waiting for me. It was a whole production... if it was winter I would make a whole pot of chamomile tea, summer meant lemonade and I would wait till the house was quiet and I would read the letters. First I would scan it quickly for the juicy gossip (oh wait not gossip but rather important information!) then I would start from the beginning and read to the end. The letter would stay opened on my desk till it was answered and I would read it many times till then.
My mom still writes to me as she doesn't own a computer but other then hers, I don't get mail anymore. If my mailbox is stuffed it's because it's Monday and all the stupid flyers are there. I can't remember when the last time it was that I wrote a long newsy letter either. I used to once a year with Christmas cards but even that stopped awhile back when everyone got email addresses.
Now my form of conversation is a paragraph or two by email. When our son in law was in the hospital last week I was stuck there trying to call people from my cell and didn't have anyone's numbers. Anyone really important are on my speed dials on my home phone but only my kids are on my cell directory. I had this friend in Regina when we lived there and at 9am sharp every day that I was off we would get on the phone. I don't know if it is still like that but back then at least one phone in the house had to be hard wired to the house as on the wall etc. You couldn't just have phones that plugged in the jacks. Anyway we both had 75 foot cords on our phones and we would talk for 1-2 hours every day as we did our housecleaning and laundry. I have no idea what we all talked about but we did. I had another friend that our husbands hooked up intercoms between the 2 homes because we talked to each other for hours and tied up the lines (this of course was pre-call waiting or voice mail).
Lately I have been working on Facebook looking up people I knew in Regina when we were there.... kids and grandkids plus work just seemed to have made contact all but disappear but as I find people I am surprised how many still don't even have computers or if they do they don't have internet!! GASP!!! Survive without internet?? Bit my tongue!
But today I thought of the old days of sitting curled up on the couch with my letters or talking on the phone and realized that somehow with all our modern communication technology of cells, pagers, Yahoo, emails, voice mails, call forwarding, call waiting, and the constant beeping and ringing wherever you go, we have somehow lost the art of just talking and listening.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Latest Craze
Out here there seems to be an increase of the latest fashion. No it's not the latest jeans or shoes etc. It is the latest craze of walking around in malls with miniature dogs. It drives me crazy. When did mall administrators decide that toy dogs were now seeing eye dogs? And seeing as how the owners are usually carrying said dogs just who are the dogs leading?
And it is bad enough when the owners are carrying them but they are sitting in a food area such as a food court with the dogs, or walking them on a leash. If the dog defecates in the middle of the mall who cleans it up? When is enough considered enough? Am I considered to be unbending and picky if I speak to someone who is doing this? Am I allowed to go to the mall administrators or security personnel to report this? I have to assume I am not the only one noticing this so is anyone reporting them or have we gotten so used to Hollywood setting standards for the rest of the world that we turn a blind eye to it happening?
Do I have a right to eat in a public area without worrying that I have dog hair on my table? Or that a dog is eating people food at the table next to me? (Which is what happened 2 weeks ago at a local mall. When is enough enough and when are we supposed to stand up for ourselves? Will malls listen to us or will they consider not wanting to turn away these customers that have their pets with them? Am I being petty?
And it is bad enough when the owners are carrying them but they are sitting in a food area such as a food court with the dogs, or walking them on a leash. If the dog defecates in the middle of the mall who cleans it up? When is enough considered enough? Am I considered to be unbending and picky if I speak to someone who is doing this? Am I allowed to go to the mall administrators or security personnel to report this? I have to assume I am not the only one noticing this so is anyone reporting them or have we gotten so used to Hollywood setting standards for the rest of the world that we turn a blind eye to it happening?
Do I have a right to eat in a public area without worrying that I have dog hair on my table? Or that a dog is eating people food at the table next to me? (Which is what happened 2 weeks ago at a local mall. When is enough enough and when are we supposed to stand up for ourselves? Will malls listen to us or will they consider not wanting to turn away these customers that have their pets with them? Am I being petty?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Perfected Bodies
Goes to show what happens when you don't get sleep. I spent most of last night in ER watching my son in law's labored breathing and it made me think. Getting into bed at 4 in the morning didn't help in relaxing me to sleep and as I was thinking of Curt I thought of the belief that we all have that after we die, after Judgment Day our bodies and spirits will be joined once again in a perfect body. Well ok.. that is an assumption on my part that "we all" believe that so I will rephrase by saying that is what I believe. It made me think of perfect body. By whose definition will perfection be? Mine? God's? After all man is made after the image of God. But then the analytical part of my brain thinks wait a minute.. He is male I am female.. big difference right off the bat. Yes we both have one head, two arms and two legs but there the images stop.
I thought of all the races on this planet and how different we are. Again the same concept of one head and body parts are similar but some races are predominately taller, others predisposed to be heavier, others more fit etc. Why the difference? Then my brain shifted brain cells and dominoes over to the 70's game show with Monty Hall as the host. Can't for the life of me think of the name of the show but he would give winning contestants the choice of trading their winnings for what lay behind a different door. Sometimes they traded up and sometimes they lost big time. What made me think of that is beyond me. I did say at the beginning I hadn't been to sleep yet right?
Do we get a choice of what is a perfect body? Will it be a multiple choice? IF I don't like what is offered do I get to rechoose? Or pick what the person 3 rows over chose? If I get to choose then that's simple. I would choose to be 6 inches shorter, have thicker hair, and feet that are 4 inches shorter to match my shorter height otherwise they would look like canoes. Will we all be 5'10", blonde haired and blue-eyed?
By this time the clock has moved ever so slowly to now 5 am. I did the only thing rational I could think of.. I woke hubby up. He woke up with a start thinking the hospital had called and asks what's wrong? I ask " Do you think I have a perfect body already?" After quietly looking at me for a couple of moments, he asks "Is this a trick question?" Poor man. I keep forgetting that as a mere mortal male he has yet to figure out how to read my mind. I said never mind go back to sleep. And he promptly does. Now had he been able to read my mind he would have never done that. He would have sat up and asked what was on my mind and did I want to talk about it.
So fast forward to now 6 am and I finally give up trying to decide whose decision it will be for perfection and I got out of bed. This being 50 cough cough choke choke 1 really sucks. Now I am going to go have something very youthful for breakfast in the form of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios and pretend like I never had this 3 hour one sided conversation in my head.
I thought of all the races on this planet and how different we are. Again the same concept of one head and body parts are similar but some races are predominately taller, others predisposed to be heavier, others more fit etc. Why the difference? Then my brain shifted brain cells and dominoes over to the 70's game show with Monty Hall as the host. Can't for the life of me think of the name of the show but he would give winning contestants the choice of trading their winnings for what lay behind a different door. Sometimes they traded up and sometimes they lost big time. What made me think of that is beyond me. I did say at the beginning I hadn't been to sleep yet right?
Do we get a choice of what is a perfect body? Will it be a multiple choice? IF I don't like what is offered do I get to rechoose? Or pick what the person 3 rows over chose? If I get to choose then that's simple. I would choose to be 6 inches shorter, have thicker hair, and feet that are 4 inches shorter to match my shorter height otherwise they would look like canoes. Will we all be 5'10", blonde haired and blue-eyed?
By this time the clock has moved ever so slowly to now 5 am. I did the only thing rational I could think of.. I woke hubby up. He woke up with a start thinking the hospital had called and asks what's wrong? I ask " Do you think I have a perfect body already?" After quietly looking at me for a couple of moments, he asks "Is this a trick question?" Poor man. I keep forgetting that as a mere mortal male he has yet to figure out how to read my mind. I said never mind go back to sleep. And he promptly does. Now had he been able to read my mind he would have never done that. He would have sat up and asked what was on my mind and did I want to talk about it.
So fast forward to now 6 am and I finally give up trying to decide whose decision it will be for perfection and I got out of bed. This being 50 cough cough choke choke 1 really sucks. Now I am going to go have something very youthful for breakfast in the form of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios and pretend like I never had this 3 hour one sided conversation in my head.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Yea it's summer!!
Well after finally complaining for months now of this stupid rainy weather summer has arrived with a vengeance! A tad too hot for me but I will not complain when my other option is rain. Lareta and I decided to take the kids to the water park and pool today and we had a blast. We also had my oldest grandchild as well who is down for 3 weeks and it was fun spending time with him. Lareta's youngest learnt how to kick her feet in the pool today and she kept saying "Terry watch me I'm wimmmmmmming!" over and over but you can tell he has a young sister cause he was so patient with her and kept coming to see her kick her feet.
We ran into several women from church there with their kids so it was nice to visit with them and see them with their hair down. Fun fun day. I bought this new cool cooler at Costco the other day. It is an insultated squarish one but it is on wheels on one end and a handle that pulls up like a suitcase. Awesome!! Even totally packed that I had it, the thing glided along even on the grass and sandy knolls on the way to the park. I was so happy with it. And the lid has a smaller "peep" window that is velcroed so that if you just want to grab something you just have to lift that little window rather then unzipping the entire thing! Very good buy at 36.99! Because Lareta and I spend so much time at the water park every summer it will more then pay for itself.
I finally got my last suitcase delivered today after 10 days! I was not impressed with UPS. I always use DHL for my courier but this time I decided to use UPS when I was sending all those parcels from my mom. They finally delivered them on Tuesday (after 8 days no less!!) but they were short my large suitcase. They had no idea where it was and I spent 2 days on the phone with them with no results. I finally gave the info to our son Jody and he got in touch with them today and lo and behold my suitcase is found. I was really getting concerned as an idiot I had not locked the suitcase and had all my jewelery in there and all the jewelry that my mom had given me (including emerald and diamond bracelet!) Some days I wonder where my brain goes.
But it arrived safe and sound and everything accounted for. But I will be going back to DHL as they never take more then 3 days for the exact same route.
But tomorrow is another great day as we are going to spend the day shopping in Bellingham! We've made our list checked it twice and we are off to catch all the summer sales! And Lareta and I went to our campground in Fort Langley and we have our sites booked in August. WOOOHOOO! Hopefully our son and his family from Lethbridge who are coming down at the same time will be able to join us for part of their trip, But man oh man have they ever completely rehauled it! Last summer was the only summer we have not been there in years as I had my surgery and then all the complications plus by the time I was able to get up and around I was too busy getting ready for our 25th so it was a huge surprise! But a good surprise.. I think.
We ran into several women from church there with their kids so it was nice to visit with them and see them with their hair down. Fun fun day. I bought this new cool cooler at Costco the other day. It is an insultated squarish one but it is on wheels on one end and a handle that pulls up like a suitcase. Awesome!! Even totally packed that I had it, the thing glided along even on the grass and sandy knolls on the way to the park. I was so happy with it. And the lid has a smaller "peep" window that is velcroed so that if you just want to grab something you just have to lift that little window rather then unzipping the entire thing! Very good buy at 36.99! Because Lareta and I spend so much time at the water park every summer it will more then pay for itself.
I finally got my last suitcase delivered today after 10 days! I was not impressed with UPS. I always use DHL for my courier but this time I decided to use UPS when I was sending all those parcels from my mom. They finally delivered them on Tuesday (after 8 days no less!!) but they were short my large suitcase. They had no idea where it was and I spent 2 days on the phone with them with no results. I finally gave the info to our son Jody and he got in touch with them today and lo and behold my suitcase is found. I was really getting concerned as an idiot I had not locked the suitcase and had all my jewelery in there and all the jewelry that my mom had given me (including emerald and diamond bracelet!) Some days I wonder where my brain goes.
But it arrived safe and sound and everything accounted for. But I will be going back to DHL as they never take more then 3 days for the exact same route.
But tomorrow is another great day as we are going to spend the day shopping in Bellingham! We've made our list checked it twice and we are off to catch all the summer sales! And Lareta and I went to our campground in Fort Langley and we have our sites booked in August. WOOOHOOO! Hopefully our son and his family from Lethbridge who are coming down at the same time will be able to join us for part of their trip, But man oh man have they ever completely rehauled it! Last summer was the only summer we have not been there in years as I had my surgery and then all the complications plus by the time I was able to get up and around I was too busy getting ready for our 25th so it was a huge surprise! But a good surprise.. I think.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
O Canada
I have been wanting to write something for the last couple of days on what it means to me to be a Canadian but I was having a hard time wrapping my head around what I wanted to say. I was trying to think of what is unique about our country. When I think of European countries I think of national costumes, national dance and so on. We don't have that. We don't have traditions that are just ours. We used to have the RCMP as ours with their uniforms. I used to love to watch their shows at the PNE with the horses and their display musical rides. But now they have allowed some RCMP to not wear the whole uniform so because of a very very few officers we now have even lost that one thing that was uniquely ours. I don't like that. I mean if you don't want to wear the whole uniform then don't join it's plain and simple in my eyes.
When we sang our National Anthem at church on Sunday I still sang it in French as I always do. I asked my grandchildren if they still sing it in school. They said yes they sing it once a week but not every child has to participate. WHAT???? Who came up with that rule??? That should be a given! If someone wants to come to our country to live here and we are nice enough to allow them to, then they should become Canadians and sing the anthem when it was played, I was flabbergasted to say the least!
I thought of when it had been the last time I sang the anthem and it had been at a hockey game a couple of months ago. Most people didn't even sing along, a lot were still wearing their hats and some were still talking and joking around and some didn't even stand up. How disrespectful! I even gave them "the look" but that went right over their heads. These were all late teens/20ish young adults. It was very upsetting to me to say the least. When I was watching the Stanley Cup playoff game this season and the cameras would pan the fans in the audience you would see them with their hands over their hearts and singing with enthusiasm even the little children.
Why is that not like that here? I thought of our soldiers at war in Afghanistan. I don't agree with them being there but I do support them while they are there. They are proud to be Canadian and they are there to serve their country to the death if need be. Why is it that they can risk their lives for their country but some here can not even take their hats off to sing the anthem and show respect for their country?
Every Monday night at our house was stew night. My mom would take all the leftovers from the previous week and make a thick stew with it. We loved it! It was a like a melting pot of flavours and always a surprise of sorts as it never tasted the same! As I was thinking about what it meant to me to be a Canadian I thought of that stew. Our country is made up of all these different "ingredients" and nothing is the same as it used to be. There are too many different aspects of our country now to be unique anymore and that is sad.
I am proud to be a Canadian. I love my country. I love living in a "free" country where I am free to worship where I want and when I want. I love living in a country where I can walk outside without fear of being bombed. I love having the same rights as everyone not just the rich.
On the front of my Book of Remembrance I have a page that says "You can't know where you are going if you don't know where you come from." As I was thinking of my family history I came to the final conclusion that seeing as my family lines have been in Canada since at least the 1700's on most lines, I can safely say I am proud to call myself a Canadian. I will continue with the traditions that have passed down from one generation to the next and will teach my grandchildren these same. I will continue speaking in both Canadian official languages. I will continue to stand and sing the national anthem when in public. I can only respect myself as a Canadian and hope that in so doing I will lead by example.
When we sang our National Anthem at church on Sunday I still sang it in French as I always do. I asked my grandchildren if they still sing it in school. They said yes they sing it once a week but not every child has to participate. WHAT???? Who came up with that rule??? That should be a given! If someone wants to come to our country to live here and we are nice enough to allow them to, then they should become Canadians and sing the anthem when it was played, I was flabbergasted to say the least!
I thought of when it had been the last time I sang the anthem and it had been at a hockey game a couple of months ago. Most people didn't even sing along, a lot were still wearing their hats and some were still talking and joking around and some didn't even stand up. How disrespectful! I even gave them "the look" but that went right over their heads. These were all late teens/20ish young adults. It was very upsetting to me to say the least. When I was watching the Stanley Cup playoff game this season and the cameras would pan the fans in the audience you would see them with their hands over their hearts and singing with enthusiasm even the little children.
Why is that not like that here? I thought of our soldiers at war in Afghanistan. I don't agree with them being there but I do support them while they are there. They are proud to be Canadian and they are there to serve their country to the death if need be. Why is it that they can risk their lives for their country but some here can not even take their hats off to sing the anthem and show respect for their country?
Every Monday night at our house was stew night. My mom would take all the leftovers from the previous week and make a thick stew with it. We loved it! It was a like a melting pot of flavours and always a surprise of sorts as it never tasted the same! As I was thinking about what it meant to me to be a Canadian I thought of that stew. Our country is made up of all these different "ingredients" and nothing is the same as it used to be. There are too many different aspects of our country now to be unique anymore and that is sad.
I am proud to be a Canadian. I love my country. I love living in a "free" country where I am free to worship where I want and when I want. I love living in a country where I can walk outside without fear of being bombed. I love having the same rights as everyone not just the rich.
On the front of my Book of Remembrance I have a page that says "You can't know where you are going if you don't know where you come from." As I was thinking of my family history I came to the final conclusion that seeing as my family lines have been in Canada since at least the 1700's on most lines, I can safely say I am proud to call myself a Canadian. I will continue with the traditions that have passed down from one generation to the next and will teach my grandchildren these same. I will continue speaking in both Canadian official languages. I will continue to stand and sing the national anthem when in public. I can only respect myself as a Canadian and hope that in so doing I will lead by example.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Mother and Child reunion
I just got back from 2 weeks “back home”. I have been used to where I live for 19 years now. I went home to a town of about 150 people if you count all the pets and people that are home for a long weekend. I had forgotten the different kind of life you live in a small town. Everything moves at a much slower pace. Rush hour traffic means there is a tractor and 2 cars on Main Street at the same time. By the end of the first evening we had just finished watching the 10 o’clock news and my mom decided she was going to bed. The living room is off her bedroom and as I couldn’t watch TV, I too went upstairs to bed. There was no cell service there. There was no high speed internet in the area let alone dial up or even a computer. The x-ray machine at the airport for some reason had erased all my data in my PDA so I had lost all my phone numbers, calendar items etc. So I lay in bed thinking now what do I do? But I soon got sleepy from the early morning trip and dozed off. I woke up and thought something was wrong. I listened and realized all I could hear were birds chirping. No sirens, no traffic, no noise.. just birds.
It was very early for me. I normally don’t go to bed till 2 am and am up and down most of what is left of my night. I have 2 debilitating illnesses that make sleep near impossible. I am treated by my doctors, specialists, massage therapists, physio therapists and acupuncturists. As I got out of bed I noticed that I had actually stayed in the same position all night. Wow.
I went downstairs and was met with a good morning and a bowl of porridge. I am 50 years old. I haven’t had porridge since I left home at 17. But I ate the whole bowl. By the second day I wasn’t wearing my watch. There was no point. I had no schedule to keep. I helped in the flower beds transplanting bedding plants and moving others. We went for walks around town. All 6 blocks long and 3 blocks wide worth of town. It would take us 40 minutes or so to walk every single block but only part of the time was spent walking, the rest of the time was spent talking to neighbors who were curious at who the stranger was with Pauline.
All cars that did manage to come by us on our walks were met with the other drivers waving hi. The excitement of the week was going to the big neighboring town for the weekly shopping expedition. This other town happens to be my home town that I was born and raised in and is also only 10 miles away. I travel that just to go to the store at home when I was just there because I forgot something. But with my mom, she only goes once a week. We drove by the farm that my great-grandparents started when they moved to Saskatchewan from Quebec. We drove by my high school and I was reminded of all the basketball games our girls team won that I played centre on and the boys football games they won that I was a cheerleader for.
As I dropped her off at the hair salon (better known as the beauty parlour there) I went to the cemetery to do some searching. I love family history and work hard digging up tangled roots. I had arrived at my mom’s with a gift of a 15 generation pedigree chart for her. Most lines were complete that far, and the rest were about half way done. I needed some dates and I had an elusive great-grandmother that I had no info on. Usually on my yearly treks home I take bouquets of flowers to put on my father’s gravesite. This time I started at the first row and went by every single headstone in every single row. I stopped at each ancestor’s gravesite and spent a minute thinking of a memory of them. If it was someone I had never met, I just said a prayer for them and thanked them for coming to this new land that they had tilled so that I could have a life here. I took pictures of every ancestor’s headstone for my book of remembrance.
I finally ended my search and went looking for my mom. We went for lunch and I came across one of my best friends from school that I had lost touch with. After much hugs and high pitched high school girlish squeals, we caught up a bit. I asked for her email address to keep in touch and she said “Sally I don’t even have a computer let alone an email address. We are still in the dark ages out here.” I thought how do you survive without it???
We had our lunch then continued on our errands. At the bank as we stood in line I commented to my mom that I could not remember the last time I had walked into a bank. She asked how I did my banking. I tried explaining online banking to her. Then had to explain ATM’s for her. As we went on, I saw that the pharmacy was closed. The hospital was now closed. They were down to 2 restaurants; well they call them café’s there instead of the 3. I saw vacant stores and it saddened me.
We then drove to the home I had grown up in. My mom had sold it when my dad died as it was too much for her. A couple of years ago the town, bought it for the property and they burnt the house down. As I looked at the empty lot, I saw the tree that my mom and dad had planted. I remembered that day. Every time we played in the back yard we would jump over this little twig of a tree. Then one spring day one of my brothers went to jump over it and it connected him quite smartly if you get what I mean. We never tried jumping over it again. Now it stood high in the sky, its branches outstretched as if it was trying to still protect us. I walked over the lot and talked about the garden that we had planted every year.
There are about five people in this world that talk pretty much nonstop, my mom, my sister’s daughter, my daughter, one of my granddaughters, and myself. But on the ten mile drive back to the new house I was strangely quiet in my thoughts. Every night I was there I was usually in bed by 10:30 or so. I had to work temperatures in Fahrenheit to my mom as she refuses to learn Celsius and even at 95 degree nights I still laid in bed with 3 blankets and a quilt covering me. I slept soundly every single night, through the entire night. I woke up every morning refreshed and able to move on my own. I could dress myself and even come down the flight of stairs on my own.
We spent 12 days laughing till we had to fight wetting our pants. We cried. We went through BOXES of pictures remembering memories of each and every one. I started collecting pictures that mom had, to take home with me. Scrap booking is a new hobby for me and I could already see the 2nd scrapbook that I wanted to do for my mom. She kept telling me I needed to take such and such home with me. The night before I left I had filled one large suitcase and 7 boxes worth of stuff to send off by courier.
Two of my brothers and their families came down to be with me and we spent some time together. I saw a new one year old nephew and a new one year old great-niece that I had never met yet. I tried spending time with each family member at the cabin by the lake as we cooked and ate together. I showed them the pedigree chart I had given mom and I watched as one of my nephews read it following his youngest son’s path to the original ancestor that came to Canada from France. This young 2 year old little Zacharie was his namesake. My dad would have loved to have known the name was continuing on after many years.
Another great nephew came running to me all tousled hair from his nap and a big grin on his face. It wasn’t until his big bear hug that his mom noticed two small perfectly muddy handprints on the back of my white t-shirt. I just smiled and said it’s ok, it’ll wash. I tried washing it when I got back to moms, twice actually but the handprints remained for some reason. I told mom you know its fine. I am going to wear this t-shirt with pride when I get back and if anyone asks I am just going to tell them it’s a love print!
I watched my oldest brother with his grandchildren and I remembered the day he taught me to tie my shoes, the day he taught me to ride a tricycle, then a two wheeler, the day he forgot to teach me to brake same bicycle; he taught me to use a bat to play baseball and how to throw like a boy. One of my granddaughter’s baseball team last year came in first in their finals. Tradition is important in my family.
The visit went by too fast. As I got on the bus at the small city an hour away from mom's to get to the city where I could catch my flight home, I waved to my mom and blew kisses at her. All of a sudden I saw her age in her face and her stance. It was like she was now the child and I the mother and I wanted to hold her and kiss her owie better. The bus pulled away and I watched her waving with one hand and wiping the tears off her face with the other hand. I waved till I couldn’t see her.
In my bag beside me, was my MP3 player, my cell phone, my laptop, my storey book and magazines, all untouched during my trip. Instead of turning every thing on, I spent the 3 ½ hours reminiscing. I thought of the teachers that spent time after school, in the evenings and weekends in their homes with us when we had problems. I remembered being able to walk to your friends and not even think of being kidnapped. I thought of my mom and leaving her keys in the car while we went to the store. I thought of the parades we had where the whole town turned out. I thought of the week long visits at each of our grandparent’s farm and how it was fun all of a sudden to do chores. I remembered the comfort of traditions and thought of just how many things I now do in my life that my mother and grandmothers did in theirs.
I continued doing this till I heard the bus driver say we were entering the city limits. I came to the greatest realization of all…. The one thing I couldn’t wait to run away from when I was a teenager is the very same thing I would do just about anything to be able to run back to. Thanks Mom. You did the one thing that all my doctors and specialists have not been able to do with all the medications and treatments I have been on. You took care of me. At your home, I wasn’t a mom, a wife or a Nana. There was nothing around me but love and peace of mind. There were no distractions and there was routine. You made sure I laid down every afternoon for a nap. You made me eat my vegetables and that I finished my plate before I could have my dessert. You let me be me without a care in the world and this is the best I have felt in years. Then I got stuck in an airport in a different city with a delayed flight and cell phones beeping all around me as passengers are trying to call homes and offices to let them know. I was 3 hours delayed in landing and ended up leaving Vancouver airport at 5 pm right at the height of rush hour traffic as 6 lanes of traffic tried to converge into 2. I could feel the tension already building in my shoulders and I have to remind myself of a better place that I just left, of a life where there are still people that follow the Golden Rule and still believe in helping their neighbors. As I conclude these thoughts I focus on your face Mom and I think of our mother and child reunion. Breathe in breathe out.
It was very early for me. I normally don’t go to bed till 2 am and am up and down most of what is left of my night. I have 2 debilitating illnesses that make sleep near impossible. I am treated by my doctors, specialists, massage therapists, physio therapists and acupuncturists. As I got out of bed I noticed that I had actually stayed in the same position all night. Wow.
I went downstairs and was met with a good morning and a bowl of porridge. I am 50 years old. I haven’t had porridge since I left home at 17. But I ate the whole bowl. By the second day I wasn’t wearing my watch. There was no point. I had no schedule to keep. I helped in the flower beds transplanting bedding plants and moving others. We went for walks around town. All 6 blocks long and 3 blocks wide worth of town. It would take us 40 minutes or so to walk every single block but only part of the time was spent walking, the rest of the time was spent talking to neighbors who were curious at who the stranger was with Pauline.
All cars that did manage to come by us on our walks were met with the other drivers waving hi. The excitement of the week was going to the big neighboring town for the weekly shopping expedition. This other town happens to be my home town that I was born and raised in and is also only 10 miles away. I travel that just to go to the store at home when I was just there because I forgot something. But with my mom, she only goes once a week. We drove by the farm that my great-grandparents started when they moved to Saskatchewan from Quebec. We drove by my high school and I was reminded of all the basketball games our girls team won that I played centre on and the boys football games they won that I was a cheerleader for.
As I dropped her off at the hair salon (better known as the beauty parlour there) I went to the cemetery to do some searching. I love family history and work hard digging up tangled roots. I had arrived at my mom’s with a gift of a 15 generation pedigree chart for her. Most lines were complete that far, and the rest were about half way done. I needed some dates and I had an elusive great-grandmother that I had no info on. Usually on my yearly treks home I take bouquets of flowers to put on my father’s gravesite. This time I started at the first row and went by every single headstone in every single row. I stopped at each ancestor’s gravesite and spent a minute thinking of a memory of them. If it was someone I had never met, I just said a prayer for them and thanked them for coming to this new land that they had tilled so that I could have a life here. I took pictures of every ancestor’s headstone for my book of remembrance.
I finally ended my search and went looking for my mom. We went for lunch and I came across one of my best friends from school that I had lost touch with. After much hugs and high pitched high school girlish squeals, we caught up a bit. I asked for her email address to keep in touch and she said “Sally I don’t even have a computer let alone an email address. We are still in the dark ages out here.” I thought how do you survive without it???
We had our lunch then continued on our errands. At the bank as we stood in line I commented to my mom that I could not remember the last time I had walked into a bank. She asked how I did my banking. I tried explaining online banking to her. Then had to explain ATM’s for her. As we went on, I saw that the pharmacy was closed. The hospital was now closed. They were down to 2 restaurants; well they call them café’s there instead of the 3. I saw vacant stores and it saddened me.
We then drove to the home I had grown up in. My mom had sold it when my dad died as it was too much for her. A couple of years ago the town, bought it for the property and they burnt the house down. As I looked at the empty lot, I saw the tree that my mom and dad had planted. I remembered that day. Every time we played in the back yard we would jump over this little twig of a tree. Then one spring day one of my brothers went to jump over it and it connected him quite smartly if you get what I mean. We never tried jumping over it again. Now it stood high in the sky, its branches outstretched as if it was trying to still protect us. I walked over the lot and talked about the garden that we had planted every year.
There are about five people in this world that talk pretty much nonstop, my mom, my sister’s daughter, my daughter, one of my granddaughters, and myself. But on the ten mile drive back to the new house I was strangely quiet in my thoughts. Every night I was there I was usually in bed by 10:30 or so. I had to work temperatures in Fahrenheit to my mom as she refuses to learn Celsius and even at 95 degree nights I still laid in bed with 3 blankets and a quilt covering me. I slept soundly every single night, through the entire night. I woke up every morning refreshed and able to move on my own. I could dress myself and even come down the flight of stairs on my own.
We spent 12 days laughing till we had to fight wetting our pants. We cried. We went through BOXES of pictures remembering memories of each and every one. I started collecting pictures that mom had, to take home with me. Scrap booking is a new hobby for me and I could already see the 2nd scrapbook that I wanted to do for my mom. She kept telling me I needed to take such and such home with me. The night before I left I had filled one large suitcase and 7 boxes worth of stuff to send off by courier.
Two of my brothers and their families came down to be with me and we spent some time together. I saw a new one year old nephew and a new one year old great-niece that I had never met yet. I tried spending time with each family member at the cabin by the lake as we cooked and ate together. I showed them the pedigree chart I had given mom and I watched as one of my nephews read it following his youngest son’s path to the original ancestor that came to Canada from France. This young 2 year old little Zacharie was his namesake. My dad would have loved to have known the name was continuing on after many years.
Another great nephew came running to me all tousled hair from his nap and a big grin on his face. It wasn’t until his big bear hug that his mom noticed two small perfectly muddy handprints on the back of my white t-shirt. I just smiled and said it’s ok, it’ll wash. I tried washing it when I got back to moms, twice actually but the handprints remained for some reason. I told mom you know its fine. I am going to wear this t-shirt with pride when I get back and if anyone asks I am just going to tell them it’s a love print!
I watched my oldest brother with his grandchildren and I remembered the day he taught me to tie my shoes, the day he taught me to ride a tricycle, then a two wheeler, the day he forgot to teach me to brake same bicycle; he taught me to use a bat to play baseball and how to throw like a boy. One of my granddaughter’s baseball team last year came in first in their finals. Tradition is important in my family.
The visit went by too fast. As I got on the bus at the small city an hour away from mom's to get to the city where I could catch my flight home, I waved to my mom and blew kisses at her. All of a sudden I saw her age in her face and her stance. It was like she was now the child and I the mother and I wanted to hold her and kiss her owie better. The bus pulled away and I watched her waving with one hand and wiping the tears off her face with the other hand. I waved till I couldn’t see her.
In my bag beside me, was my MP3 player, my cell phone, my laptop, my storey book and magazines, all untouched during my trip. Instead of turning every thing on, I spent the 3 ½ hours reminiscing. I thought of the teachers that spent time after school, in the evenings and weekends in their homes with us when we had problems. I remembered being able to walk to your friends and not even think of being kidnapped. I thought of my mom and leaving her keys in the car while we went to the store. I thought of the parades we had where the whole town turned out. I thought of the week long visits at each of our grandparent’s farm and how it was fun all of a sudden to do chores. I remembered the comfort of traditions and thought of just how many things I now do in my life that my mother and grandmothers did in theirs.
I continued doing this till I heard the bus driver say we were entering the city limits. I came to the greatest realization of all…. The one thing I couldn’t wait to run away from when I was a teenager is the very same thing I would do just about anything to be able to run back to. Thanks Mom. You did the one thing that all my doctors and specialists have not been able to do with all the medications and treatments I have been on. You took care of me. At your home, I wasn’t a mom, a wife or a Nana. There was nothing around me but love and peace of mind. There were no distractions and there was routine. You made sure I laid down every afternoon for a nap. You made me eat my vegetables and that I finished my plate before I could have my dessert. You let me be me without a care in the world and this is the best I have felt in years. Then I got stuck in an airport in a different city with a delayed flight and cell phones beeping all around me as passengers are trying to call homes and offices to let them know. I was 3 hours delayed in landing and ended up leaving Vancouver airport at 5 pm right at the height of rush hour traffic as 6 lanes of traffic tried to converge into 2. I could feel the tension already building in my shoulders and I have to remind myself of a better place that I just left, of a life where there are still people that follow the Golden Rule and still believe in helping their neighbors. As I conclude these thoughts I focus on your face Mom and I think of our mother and child reunion. Breathe in breathe out.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Almost sisters
I was in a bookstore a couple of weeks ago and heard the most beautiful song I had ever heard in my life...it stopped me literally in my tracks so much that the person that was behind me walked right into me.. I had to go to the check out and asked what song that was. She pointed to a display and told me the name of the cd. So I bought it and have listened to it admittedly ad nauseum.. but I can't get enough of it. Then today as I was entering it into my MP3 I thought HEY!!! It went along the same vein of my friendship post the other day!!
I talked about how few very close friends I have had but that I would easily call them my sisters. I wish I knew how to post actual music on here (If someone knows how let me know!!) but the next best thing is posting the words. You won't get the whole effect I am sorry but take my word that it is absolutely amazing to hear. If you can imagine a chorus of angels singing this is what you would hear.
Sisters Rejoice
Women of God, sisters of light
The power of faith is guiding our lives
The truth of His words
Burns into my soul
Giving us strength
To live what we know
With vision and hope in these latter days
We're raising oour voice and singing His praise
Sisters rejoice we have His light
It lives in our hearts, it shines in our eyes
Lift up your voice
We're a part of His plan
We're led by His hand, sisters rejoice
We are His hands, we're serving each other with love
We're seeking the lost and lifting them up
We're anchored to God in perilous times
We honour His name through virtuous lives
Chosen to lead with banners unfurled
A standard of truth to all of the world
Again I can not even begin to describe how this large women's choral group sound especially the chorus.. it gives me goosebumps just writing about it. I will have to figure out how to post the actual music though!!
I talked about how few very close friends I have had but that I would easily call them my sisters. I wish I knew how to post actual music on here (If someone knows how let me know!!) but the next best thing is posting the words. You won't get the whole effect I am sorry but take my word that it is absolutely amazing to hear. If you can imagine a chorus of angels singing this is what you would hear.
Sisters Rejoice
Women of God, sisters of light
The power of faith is guiding our lives
The truth of His words
Burns into my soul
Giving us strength
To live what we know
With vision and hope in these latter days
We're raising oour voice and singing His praise
Sisters rejoice we have His light
It lives in our hearts, it shines in our eyes
Lift up your voice
We're a part of His plan
We're led by His hand, sisters rejoice
We are His hands, we're serving each other with love
We're seeking the lost and lifting them up
We're anchored to God in perilous times
We honour His name through virtuous lives
Chosen to lead with banners unfurled
A standard of truth to all of the world
Again I can not even begin to describe how this large women's choral group sound especially the chorus.. it gives me goosebumps just writing about it. I will have to figure out how to post the actual music though!!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
New Business
Last weekend I went to an all day workshop on working from home and fell in love with the idea!!! I am going to be starting a new business in sales through the internet. And no it is not with a multi level marketing company nor a get rich quick scheme. You reap what you sow. But I will be able to use my newly learning skills of web design (yes Kim I am trying to learn new computer skills regardless of how many times you tell me the same thing heheh) into making my web page for the company into a reality. I won't say what I will be selling as it will be three different categories but only because I need to research the website name first to make sure it hasn't been taken. I also want to research the market for each area to see where the need is the greatest.
I also will need to locate manufacturers and distributors for the product so I have no need to buy bulk therefore greatly reducing my cash flow. I will continue writing my books as I love to write and may as well get paid for something I do anyway. I have decided on 2 avenues for the books. I am going to finish writing the one I am half way done and then I will start a young children's series... as well as a youth chapter mystery series.
So that should keep me busy. I was planning on bringing work with me on my vacation in case of quiet times but then realized that I am going to be with my mom almost the whole entire trip and if you think I talk a lot you obviously have never met my mother :)
But I will at least have some things to do on the plane and bus rides.. till later!
I also will need to locate manufacturers and distributors for the product so I have no need to buy bulk therefore greatly reducing my cash flow. I will continue writing my books as I love to write and may as well get paid for something I do anyway. I have decided on 2 avenues for the books. I am going to finish writing the one I am half way done and then I will start a young children's series... as well as a youth chapter mystery series.
So that should keep me busy. I was planning on bringing work with me on my vacation in case of quiet times but then realized that I am going to be with my mom almost the whole entire trip and if you think I talk a lot you obviously have never met my mother :)
But I will at least have some things to do on the plane and bus rides.. till later!
Monday, June 11, 2007
My Finds
So I found two things I wanted to share with all of you.. first one was Excedrin Back and Body pain relief pills that I saw a commercial for on tv. I bought it when I was in the states and love them!! Why can't they sell that here. I don't get it. It's like they can't sell Excedrin Migraine. They sell Excedrin but just regular strength! If I wake up really stiff in the mornings I take 2 and after about 30 minutes I am up and running.. well ok maybe not running but at least more mobile. Lareta says they don't really work for her. I guess our back pains are different. Never mind that our doctor told us that who listens to docs lol
The next find I came across is www.behr.com. You go to their color smart link and then pick your mood and it will give you different color palettes then you paint a room in your house according to the palette you picked. You can change the main color with the accent color etc till you are satisfied with the intensity. For those of us that live in white renters world it fulfills my need to paint :)
The next find I came across is www.behr.com. You go to their color smart link and then pick your mood and it will give you different color palettes then you paint a room in your house according to the palette you picked. You can change the main color with the accent color etc till you are satisfied with the intensity. For those of us that live in white renters world it fulfills my need to paint :)
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