My Blog of Whatever

My Attempts at Manual Photography

2011-07-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the opportunity to spend an hour learning a bit (very very small bit) more about our DSLR camera. We have had it for almost two years and I really (with shame) only use it as a point and shoot. In that short hour (I was sure it was only 15 minutes) I learned a few tips and tricks. Not enough to even make me dangerous but enough that I want to know more. I want to experiment, I want to create. The other people in the room felt the same way so there should be another seminar in a couple of weeks. The photographer that is conducting these workshops (free for our employees) LOVES sharing his knowledge and has suggested a Photo Club. That I would definitely join. So here are a couple of attempts with this new knowledge and you will see I am not doing so well.

Taken with manual settings

Similar shot now with the camera doing the work *sighs*

This was where I was glad I brought my camera on the walk (yes I know Jill " never leave home without it "), but I am just not wired that way ....yet.
When I arrived at the meeting spot I drove past the city hall, several months ago an artist was commissioned to paint the trees (non-toxic paint). This was the artist's way to raise awareness of the deforestation in so many countries around the world. This was done in March and "no trees were or will be harmed in the process". I was thrilled to see that the blue is still there and now in full leaf it looks pretty spectacular.

Yes I believe these were done with automatic settings.

Looking forward to learning more.

Vacation in British Columbia

2011-06-29T16:33:00.000-07:00

I had hoped to play along with a blog challenge this month but as always I didn't read the directions and I am now a few days late to the party -- pretty much the story of my life. But it can't be all bad I am in the middle of a vacation in Beautiful British Columbia. The picture above is where I am right now as I type this. Here are a few spots along the way to getting here.

Shannon Falls just outside of Whistler (home of the 2010 Olympics). The picture doesn't do it justice but this past winter was record snow fall (about 10 months too late for the Olympics) and the run off for these falls is pretty spectacular.

Same can be said for Cayoosh Creek north of Whistler. We choose to take the back country roads which added about two hours of driving but took us through some amazing geography.

From Alpine Mountains on one side of the trek.

To arrid hillsides just one canyon over and about one hour on the road. The Nicola River is much calmer than the Cayoosh Creek (??)

Two rivers meet in the middle of the province. The Mighty (or muddy) Fraser on the high side of the picture and the Thompson in the lower half.

Current home is on Okanagan Lake I grew up coming here every summer. Its a gorgeous huge lake with several communities. Orchards and wineries top the list of what to do here, but just lazing on a beach is tops on my list.

Watching this mom with her babies was as strenuous as the morning got for me.

Admiring this old beauty on the lakeside, but then one must head up to wine country to get some local product - all in the name of supporting local companies - right??

View down to the lake from the Dirty Laundry Winery -- lets just say the Hush Blush is pretty darn fabulous and this is from someone that likes her wine white and her roses pink.

Vancouver 2011 Riot - My Thoughts

2011-06-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

Its taken me a week of review and probably every emotion that a human can go through to finally put my words down - "lest I forget".

On that Wednesday night I sat downstairs with my Hockey Fan. I gave up on the game midway through the second period. I mean my goodness my home team wasn't going to win and I had an episode of Masterchef on my DVR. I was on FB when the game ended and was surprised but not shocked when I saw a note that "it" had started. A car had been flipped downtown and unrest soon turned to violence. This was in broad daylight the exact corner I had stood just 5 days before enjoying being in the middle of the hockey crowd. Next emotion was overwhelming sadness and the desire to will this to stop while watching it unfold on TV. Within 30 minutes I couldn't watch any more - I hoped that if we went to bed it would stop and in the morning I would wake up to just minor damage downtown from a few rowdies.

Sadly my wish went unheard. Next emotion overwhelming gut wrenching anger. Watching the news in the morning brought tears to my eyes, the downtown core of our city was torn to pieces by a mob of young people. While watching the videos I was horrified to see the crowds cheering on the initial instigators. This enraged me as much as the riot itself. I discovered I wasn't alone, upon opening Facebook it was encouraging to see how many pages were created overnight to post pictures of the instigators and revellers. Purpose to identify and notify the authorities. Elation!!!

Over the next few days I saw with delight how the people of Vancouver reacted to this horrific event, love notes were posted on boards, a police car was covered in post it notes and thank you cards, one of the affected department stores put on a pancake breakfast to thank the hero's that tried to stand up to the thugs, the volunteers that showed up Thursday morning to clean up. The pride and joy I felt for this outpouring of good will was something I began to really enjoy. I preferred to focus on the good.

By Monday more and more of the instigators, thugs, thieves and camera muggers were being outed online. I enjoyed seeing everyone of them ID'd and information sent to the police. I argued with my husband that all these people deserve everything that is coming to them. Let them be fired, dropped from teams, expelled from school, charged by the justice system. Even the people whose biggest crime was staying downtown and posing in front of a burning car -- the crime is not chargable but it is disgusting in my opinion. I know enough young people that were downtown when this started. The second they sensed trouble they got the hell out - one with his friends had to walk over an hour to catch transit home - but the main thing is they got out - anyone that said they were "caught" I say "CRAP"!!!

Today I am softening some of my "hang em high" opinion on some of the people that have been outed online. I still say they deserve what is coming to them but I am seeing far too many hateful postings on so many places online. Reading comments about one young woman who was caught stealing with a huge smile on her face. Caught in the moment - yes - guilty - absolutely - deserved to lose her job - yes - lose her place on a team - yes - expelled from school - not so sure. Deserving of the spiteful hateful comments -- NOT AT ALL!! My biggest fear is that one of these "good" people that were caught in the moment might be driven to do something drastic. Please lets hope I am wrong.

One of the good things about following the reports and FB pages I can see how my fellow citizens have felt during this time. One such discovery was Tatum's Blog, she is very eloquent and shared with us some of her fabulous pictures of the Citizen's wall downtown.

I see in news reports today that one of the businesses that was severely affected by the riot has launched a civil suit against the rioters. Not the province or the city but the rioters - AWESOME!!!

In closing all I can hope is that there is no repeat. Unfortunately thought thugs and low-lifes will always dwell within our society. But good will always come out to clean up.

Venting - Been a While but I am ANGRY

2011-05-15T13:11:00.000-07:00

I know I shouldn't let ignorant people get to me but I can't help it. I am going to vent out here because the person its directed at would never find my blog and my dear friend that is in the middle doesn't visit here either.

For the last few months my husband and I have become invested in American Idol. We started because of Steven Tyler and were pleasantly suprised. Then we were introduced to James Durbin. This talented young man has an incredible future. AI didn't push his back story but my goodness - his father died when he was very young, he has Tourettes and Aspbergers. These only added to his talent and in my mind didn't detract. Fast forward to this past week when he was eliminated (nuff said about that). I really feel that we are seeing the emergence of a star (IMHO).

So today I am in Facebook and see a note on one of my dear friend's wall. Her "friend" said and I quote " good to see that screaming, dumbo eared twitchy face is gone" I lost it!!! I can tolerate a lot and some of the message boards have had some ugly people posting but I have yet to see anyone make fun of his Tourettes. I do NOT get that mentality and this person is a lawyer (maybe that explains it). I made the mistake of getting into a pissing contest with this idiot. I wrote privately to my real friend and apologized for getting into it with him. But I still have problems with someone saying anything about another person's disabilities.

I watched some interviews with this amazing young man and his attitude about everything just blows me away. This is a young person that spent most of his life being bullied and beaten up for being different. He embraces his imperfections and just looks forward to having a long successful career.

There that feels better. Long live Rock and Roll!!!

My Titles - No Princess Isn't One of Them

2011-05-10T21:36:00.000-07:00

Well in the most technical terms I have never officially been a princess. But it got me to thinking about all the different titles in my life --

October 8, 1955 - daughter, grand-daughter, niece, cousin.
September 5, 1959 - sister
in the 60's - friend
September 1961 - student
October 8, 1968 - teenager
in the 70's - girlfriend
August 1971 - employee
June 1973 - graduate
October 8, 1974 - adult
June 1978 - fiance
April 7, 1979 - wife, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law
August 24, 1980 - mother
February 1, 2001 - widow
October 18, 2008 - wife (again)
April 29, 2011 - grandmother

The one that is missing is Aunt -- I am an Aunt through marriage but will never officially be an aunt. I hope to never be a widow again and I hope I remain a daughter for a few more years - but I think there are other forces more powerful than my wishes that won't let that happen.

I can't allow that to cloud my utter joy of being a grandmother -- sometime in the future I hope to hear him say it -- whatever it comes out sounding like.

Was There Another Parent Involved???

2011-05-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

So we are a few days into our new lives with Eli. I don't think I absolutely understood how much I could love a little angel that wasn't from me. But WOW do I EVER!!! Its been amazing to compare pictures. So I was looking at a couple of pictures I had on my computer at work and tell me - which baby is which??

Give up?? The top picture is my son, the bottom picture is my grandson. I am amazed too!!!

Diary of a New Gramma

2011-05-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

So as a little wedding was taking place on the other side of the planet my grandson decided April 29th would also be a cool day to enter the world.

We were geared up for a May entry into the world but some things are beyond our control and now that he is here all healthy and gorgeous its fabulous.

On the 28th as I was driving home I got "the call" (yes I pulled over to answer the phone). My son and DIL were at the clinic and the contractions she had been feeling all day were not the fake ones. By 5pm they were off to the hospital and we were on doggie duty -- YAY!!!

I talked to my son about 8pm and things were progressing nicely -- we were just in holding pattern. I decided to get to bed early so that I could get some sleep (ok it sounded good in theory). I think I woke every hour on the hour and by 2am I couldn't just lie there anymore. I decided to go watch the other event happening that day.

By 5:30am there was still no news, so I jumped in the shower to get ready for work. Of course the phone rang 3 minutes into my shower. My grandson Eli Darryl entered the world at 5:22am on April 29th - he was 7 heathly pounds and his parents were over the moon.

I got to meet him just after 2pm that afternoon and I was in LOVE.

More April Colours - Before the Snow

2011-04-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

Yes you read that correctly. On Monday it was a gorgeous fabulous day - the sun was shining, the flowers were blooming. Today was like a horrible day in February. We didn't get the snow completely but our mountains were covered and you only had to drive a few minutes to hit the white stuff.

Ohh Spring where are you???

Visit Jillsy Girl's April Colour Challenge and see the lovely pictures.

April Colours

2011-04-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

My lovely bulbs that finally bloomed and the next day I had to dig them up for some work being done nearby. Hopefully I did a good enough job and they will survive to bloom next spring.

More Photo Fun - Red

2011-04-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

Bar Harbor (wanted to type Bar Harbour - hard to be Canadian sometimes) Maine, Oct 2010. One of the prettiest places I have seen and would love to return. These berries looked so beautiful we had to capture them.
Here are a few more reasons why we fell in love with Bar Harbor.

Make sure you visit Jillsy Girl's blog and see how the colour photo challenge is growing.

Just for Fun with Jillsy Girls Awesome Photo Challenge

2011-04-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

Shot of the Alaskan Glacier we were lucky enough to enjoy during our cruise in 2009. The one part in the lower right corner fell (caved) off a few minutes after we took this picture. Visit Jillsy Girl Studio to see the whole picture.

Adding another picture for the challenge. This was from our wedding Oct of 2008

Random Thoughts Tuesday

2011-03-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

Well this was handy today. As I drove in to work the thoughts were swirling.

I think myself a fairly intelligent even minded person but I just can't help look at our rain today and wonder what evil lurks within. Yes all the "scholars" tell me and I know for a fact myself that its ok -- but there is increased radiation happening. I just need to find the scholar in me to keep me in control.

Of course the other part of me can't believe I can even think this way when its hell on earth over in Northern Japan - bad Joanne!!!

I HATE - I mean HATE election signs. Thank goodness its only six weeks of Federal signs, but then I am sure soon after we will have provincial elections possibly this summer and then municipal elections this fall. I will vote for the candidate with the least signs.

I wish wish people that are deathly ill would just stay home and not come to see me in person at work. To the student yesterday that shared his germs with me -- THANKS ASSHOLE!!! Is it coincidence I have a headache and bloodshot eyes today???

Only a few more weeks until my grandson joins us -- please let him be like his parents - they were both great babies.

Two Months - its been Two MONTHS!!!

2011-03-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

I should change the name (again) of this blog to the Whatever - Whenever Blog. I never thought I would be away this long. But its amazing how life gets in the way of my plans (Oh John Lennon you did say it best).

Don't have much to say - -things are bad and good and busy all at once. I always love to post the cute things I receive via e-mail. This is my best way to never lose them.

1. Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.

2. Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

3. Law of Probability -The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act

4. Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

5. Law of the Alibi - If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire..

6. Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).

7. Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

8. Law of Close Encounters -The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

9. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

10. Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

11.. Law of the Theater and Hockey Arena - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food,
beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies, and stay to the bitter end of the performance. . The aisle people also are very surly folk.

12. The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

13. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

14. Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.

15... Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

16. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.

17. Oliver's Law of Public Speaking - A closed mouth gathers no feet.

18. Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

19. Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. But don't make an appointment, and you'll stay sick.

My Son Cracks Me Up

2011-01-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

I went over to take a birthday gift to my future DIL and she was showing me two of the CD's that my son bought for the new baby.

The other Lullabyes are by Nine Inch Nails. Of course now we have to fight back with our own style.

Nothing like diversity for a baby.

Help I Need a Cami..... STAT!!!!

2011-01-06T07:52:00.000-08:00

Ok so I am sitting here at work -- pulling files, answering phones and *shudder* dealing with students. I look down and my lovely blouse that I was so happy to fit into today is showing a TON of cleavage!!! YIKES!!!! I felt I was doing something wrong when I put it on this morning. Now I remember I usually wear a cami underneath. Thank goodness its a deep blue and my bra is black -- but now I am going to be conscious of it all day. I just did up my sweater I wear over top and that's bringing things together a bit.

We need some sort of Fashion 911 for just these sort of emergencies.

Cruising into a New Year

2011-01-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

Here we are three days into a new year. I made no resolutions -- but I hope to keep doing what makes me happy through this new year. At this moment eating right and getting exercise is making me happy. Following all my cool blog friends makes me really happy. I spent some time today catching up with people over the last couple of days. Its been great -- really really great.

I look forward to creating blogs and actually posting them. Its been something I have really missed. I go back to work tomorrow after almost 12 days off and I know last year my constant Internet connection at work kept me away, but I feel like I missed so much for myself and from my friends.

As we head into a new TV season I am staying away from time wasters -- I will still watch what I enjoy but for now The Bachelor and Biggest Loser are off my PVR. Avoiding that dreck should make me happy.

Health and finances will hopefully allow us to have a big adventure this year - more as the year progresses - big happy grin.

Oh and I want to finally get rid of all our shredding once and for all. That will make me happy!!!

So to anyone that drops by I look forward to 2011 its hard to believe 10 years has passed since I thought my world was over. Life is truly a gift.

2010 How Things Have Changed

2010-12-31T09:59:00.000-08:00

When this year started I was in the middle of evacuation from a flood in our office.
I was getting ready to leave my job I had done (and loved) for over 15 years.
I was in a good headspace with my weight loss.
I was looking forward to more travel with my husband.

As the year has passed so much has changed

I am now in a new office with a new work group - -learning to love it and all the new experiences the new job brings me.
Learning the new job strained my brain and there was nothing left for weight loss.
My foot problem got worse and worse and exercise became just a distant memory.
My darling husband and I planned three great trips during the year. We visited the west coast of British Columbia, Oregon and Washington State. We took a cruise through New England and our Maritimes -- so in essence we went as far west and east as you can get easily in both Canada and the US.

My mom's health continued to improve and she is better now at 81 than she was at 78. I lost two more aunts so now there is only my mom and her half brother left of that generation.

In the fall my son and his girlfriend announced with much joy that I will be a grandmother in 2011.

I had my foot surgery in October and recovery was longer and rougher than I expected for what I deemed minor surgery. I was off work for over 5 weeks and that was the final nail in the coffin for my weight loss.

I am finishing the year 32 pounds heavier than when I started.

My son did a fantastic job of surprising his girlfriend with the sweetest photobook for Christmas -- it chronicled their life together for the last three years, through home purchases, puppy and renovations. The last page was titled "our next great adventure due May 2011" with a picture of their first ultrasound. The next morning he said he had one more gift but its so big she needs to close her eyes while he fetched it from their basement. When she opened her eyes he was kneeling in front of her with an engagement ring. Best part is they both were speechless - poor D he forgot what he wanted to say.

So weight gain, still recovering foot aside it was a good year. My loving husband was the greatest caretaker (I knew he would be). We look forward to all that 2011 will bring to us.

Happy New Year to Everyone!!!

Family Estrangement and Passages

2010-11-21T15:27:00.000-08:00

Before I start please please no condolences for me. This is just a post I need to write about my feelings today as another family member passed away.

Yesterday my mom lost her sister - a sister she never met. The only sadness I feel is for my uncle -- the only sibling that knew her. As with many families I come from a complicated family. My mom came from a broken home. Her mother was estranged from us until the day she passed away (in the 80's). I always felt like there was something missing -- I disliked intensely that I was never allowed to ask about my grandmother.Tuns out she was a pretty wonderful person -- my grandfather and his new wife were the ones that chased her away.

It took her many years to recover from losing her first three children (my mom and her two brothers). She remarried and had two more children. I have had the honor of meeting my Uncle -- his family lives in Florida. When I met him I burst into tears - his resemblance to my two uncles was incredible and tears were immediate. Tears for many reasons-- sadness for the years we never knew this family, sadness that my other uncles had passed away and would never know their brother, sadness at how the estrangement tore our family apart.

My aunt was never well and became a ward of the state in her early teens. I don't think she knew that any of us existed. When I was in New Jersey last month my thoughts turned to this aunt, knowing she was within an hour of where I was but there was nothing I could do to ever meet her or talk to her.

When my mom told me today of her passing I felt sad only for my Uncle in Florida -- his inablilty (due to his own health problems) to visit her has always weighed on him. Its not like she missed him - she wasn't really aware of the world around her -- but family is family.

I have preached about this more than once but if you have someone in your family that you are not talking to - especially if you don't even remember why maybe give them a call and say hi. Especially if its something you feel you need to do -- I wish I had pushed more to know my grandmother -- she was really a very nice lady.

To my Aunt Diane - rest in peace - goodness knows your life was anything but peaceful.

Some e-mails are worth passing on

2010-11-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

I believe I have seen some of these before -- but there are just some things in life that are worth repeating and passing on or in my case keeping to revisit.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Food Network Canada - 10 Years!!!

2010-11-08T19:02:00.000-08:00

Until they started to advertise 10 years of being on the air it seemed to me like Food Network has always been a part of my life.

Ironically as Food Network started that is when my life as I knew it was ending. Food Network was about to become my new best friend. In thinking back I remember my dad was going through intensive therapy for his cancer and he found that Food Network held his attention better than anything.

Ten years ago today my son was still overseas, my husband was in the hospital and I was falling for Tyler Florence and all the hot chefs that were available all.day.long!!! My dad enjoyed Emeril, me - not so much. When my son returned we discussed Food Network and how much we enjoyed it -- he told me to watch out for the Naked Chef -- oh baby. Ok he wasn't Naked but darn it all Jamie Oliver was cute, bubbly and he made food look like it could be fun to cook.

Which brings me to the weird part of my love affair with Food Network -- I. DON'T.LIKE.TO.COOK!!! But darn it all I LOVE to watch.

I thank goodness for Food Network - this channel rescued me Sept of 2001. When the horrors of Sept 11 happened there was no where I could turn that didn't have coverage of this horror story. I spent a month watching Food Network -- don't judge -- I couldn't take any more that year. Feb of 2001 my husband died, July of 2001 my father died (we never did agree about Emeril) and then in Sept I couldn't handle one more horror. So I spent my down time watching Gordon Elliott with Door Knock dinners, Tyler Florence was rescuing people all over America with Food 911 and of course darling Jamie as the Naked Chef.

Food Network Canada is 10 years old and I still watch -- Top Chef thrills me, Bobby Flay cracks me up with his Throw Downs, Tyler and Jamie are still cute. I will never make anything that I see but somewhere along the line I pick up bits and pieces and bring it to my own kitchen.

Thank you for being!!!

Dona Nobis Pacem

2010-11-04T00:35:00.000-07:00

Peace

For most of my life Peace has been a powerful wishful message.
Last year I posted about my visit to Hiroshima 40 years ago - here is that post revisited.

I Loved this Message

2010-11-02T21:09:00.000-07:00

I posted last year that I admire Jon Stewart -- his intelligence and humour - what a great combination. Reading the transcript from his closing speech last Saturday (the Rally to Restore Sanity) just confirmed again how this man is to be admired and more important "listened to". Practicing tolerance is a very good thing IMHO.

I can't control what people think this was. I can only tell you my intentions. This was not a rally to ridicule people of faith. Or people of activism or to look down our noses at the heartland or passionate argument or to suggest that times are not difficult and that we have nothing to fear. They are and we do. But we live now in hard times, not end times. And we can have animus and not be enemies.

Unfortunately, one of our main tools in delineating the two broke. The country's 24-hour politico pundit panic conflict-onator did not cause our problems, but its existence makes solving them that much harder. The press can hold its magnifying glass up to our problems and illuminate problems heretofore unseen, or it can use its magnifying glass to light ants on fire, and then perhaps host a week of shows on the sudden, unexpected dangerous-flaming-ant epidemic. If we amplify everything, we hear nothing.

There are terrorists and racists and Stalinists and theocrats, but those are titles that must be earned. You must have the resume. Not being able to distinguish between real racists and tea partiers, or real bigots and Juan Williams and Rich Sanchez is an insult -- not only to those people, but to the racists themselves, who have put forth the exhausting effort it takes to hate. Just as the inability to distinguish between terrorists and Muslims makes us less safe, not more.

The press is our immune system. If it overreacts to everything we eventually get sicker. And perhaps eczema. Yet, with that being said, I feel good. Strangely, calmly good, because the image of Americans that is reflected back to us by our political and media process is false. It is us through a funhouse mirror, and not the good kind that makes you slim and taller -- but the kind where you have a giant forehead and an ass like a pumpkin and one eyeball.

So, why would we work together? Why would you reach across the aisle to a pumpkin assed forehead eyeball monster? If the picture of us were true, our inability to solve problems would actually be quite sane and reasonable. Why would you work with Marxists actively subverting our Constitution or racists and homophobes who see no one’s humanity but their own? We hear every damn day about how fragile our country is -- on the brink of catastrophe -- torn by polarizing hate and how it’s a shame that we can’t work together to get things done, but the truth is we do. We work together to get things done every damn day. The only place we don't is here or on cable TV. Americans don't live here or on cable TV. Where we live our values and principles form the foundation that sustains us while we get things done, not the barriers that prevent us from getting things done.

Most Americans don't live their lives solely as Democrats or Republicans or conservatives or liberals. Most Americans live their lives that our just a little bit late for something they have to do. Often it’s something they do not want to do, but they do it. Impossible things get done every day that are only made possible by the little, reasonable compromises.

With footage of lanes of slow-moving traffic playing on screens behind him, Stewart went on to build a metaphor based on the traffic merger at the Lincoln Tunnel between New York and New Jersey.

These cars -- that’s a school teacher who thinks taxes are too high…there’s a mom with two kids who can’t think about anything else...another car, the lady’s in the NRA. She loves Oprah…An investment banker, gay, also likes Oprah…a Latino carpenter…a fundamentalist vacuum salesman…a Mormon Jay Z fan…But this is us. Everyone of the cars that you see is filled with individuals of strong belief and principles they hold dear -- often principles and beliefs in direct opposition to their fellow travelers.

And yet these millions of cars must somehow find a way to squeeze one by one into a mile-long, 30-foot wide tunnel carved underneath a mighty river…And they do it. Concession by concession. You go. Then I’ll go. You go, then I’ll go. You go, then I’ll go -- oh my god, is that an NRA sticker on your car, an Obama sticker on your car? Well, that’s OK. You go and then I’ll go…"Sure, at some point there will be a selfish jerk who zips up the shoulder and cuts in at the last minute. But that individual is rare and he is scorned, and he is not hired as an analyst.

Because we know instinctively as a people that if we are to get through the darkness and back into the light we have to work together and the truth is, there will always be darkness. And sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t the promised land. Sometimes it’s just New Jersey. But we do it anyway, together.

If you want to know why I’m here and what I want from you I can only assure you this: you have already given it to me. Your presence was what I wanted. Sanity will always be and has always been in the eye of the beholder. To see you here today and the kind of people that you are has restored mine. Thank you.

Putting on a Happy Face

2010-10-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

I was going to share this story just didn't know when, today I was reading Maven's blog and she inspired me to write about this "incident"

Last Saturday our ship arrived back at Newark New Jersey. We had hoped to catch a train to the Jersey Shore but by the time are departed the ship it was just too late. Luckily the hotel we had booked allowed us to check in before noon (or was it so lucky?).

We settled in for the day -- my aunt who grew up in Hoboken sent me a message to not wander too far from the hotel. We couldn't wander anywhere -- we were right off the highway with NOTHING around. We had to be up at 4am to get ready for our flight so we did our best to get to sleep by 9pm.

About midnight all hell broke loose outside out hotel room. I assumed it was some wedding party group we had seen earlier getting home. After 30 minutes of listening to them party I called the front desk. The party continued. Within an hour it had escalated - my husband got dressed and went down to the front desk. There was only one poor kid on the desk and the "party" wouldn't listen to him he even threatened to call the police. Its now past 2am and the hallway outside our door and its sounding like a really really bad episode of Jerry Springer. Our shuttle leaves in 3 hours - sighs.

At 4am the party is still raging - my actual fear is walking down the hall to get to the lobby. We get down safely and our poor night clerk is beside himself -- he has called the police 5 times over the last three hours and they were no shows. We tried to catch the 4:30 shuttle but the one asshole that was there bitched about missing his flight and refused to allow us to check out and hold up the shuttle for 5 minutes -- sighs.

The police finally arrive and arrive and arrive - eight in all about 4:45 - the party is now being handled. What it turned out to be was a group of men hired several "escorts" -- in the end they totally trashed three rooms, one girl was taken away by ambulance and held up our shuttle well past 5am.

So now we get to the airport and one of our bags is 7 pounds overweight. We scramble to shuffle things around and finally get the weight down -- makes no sense its not like the total of our luggage and carry on is going to lose 7 pounds -- we ended up carrying 5 more pounds on board with us.

Still keeping my cool and trying to keep my husband cool. His frustration is showing and I am doing my best to keep my smile on and get through this nightmare of a morning.

We are standing in the line up for Security and I'm smiling and being "perky" all the while I am collapsing inside (also suffering with my abcessed tooth and dreading upcoming surgery).

Just about finished and ready to wait for our plane -- nope my one bag is pulled aside by Security. In my haste to pack and move things around I put several jars of goodies in my carryon. Lovely Blueberry Jam from Maine, Red Pepper Jelly also from Maine and a bottle of Maple Syrup from Nova Scotia. The guard starts unwrapping and putting them to the side. I was devastated - these were to be gifts for family. She tells me I have two options -- go back and check the bag (cost $75) or she takes them and throws them in the garbage.

It is now that everything and I mean EVERYTHING catches up with me and I burst into tears. It wasn't the party, it wasn't the overweight baggage and it wasn't even that I was losing the jams and jellies - it was the fact that they were being thrown out -- I begged her to take them home. Luckily I had the most empathetic Security Guard on duty that day. We ended up crying and laughing together - I told her it wasn't what she was doing -- it was just the straw at the end of a very very long day (it was only 6am).

Unfortunately I was unable to put on a smiling face -- when we arrived at the departure area I am sure the other passengers thought I had lost my best friend. Thank goodness that wasn't so and my best friend (aka darling husband) wandered off and brought me back two of my favourite treats - a Chai Tea Latte and Lemon Pound cake from Starbucks.

I do, I really do try to keep a smile in public because as Maven questioned in her post -- I believe we can influence the people around us. And if I can make one person smile it makes my day.

Passages of Time

2010-10-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

Its been interesting here this week on the internet. For the last decade the internet has been my best friend, my saviour, my connection to the world and last but not least its where I found my darling love.

Almost a decade ago I discovered message boards and online games -- made a lot of great friends. It was also a great way to pass time during some of the loneliest days of my life.

For the first time since I discovered the social aspects of the internet I began to resent my computer time. My new job kept me on the phone and computer ALL.DAY.LONG!! When I would check Facebook, or my Blog friends or some of my favourite message boards I was overwhelmed with all the activity. I found it was just easier to stay away so that I didn't see what I was missing.

What has been interesting this week is that all my places online "seem" so quiet. When I am busy I can't keep up with all the wonderful things that are being posted by everyone I hold dear all over the internet. Now that I am confined to bed and looking for "entertainment" it seems like there is kind of a hush all over my world this week.

I guess throughout our lives we constantly look for happy mediums and the internet is no different.

10 Things I Learned on this October Trip

2010-10-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

Another October and another trip for us. Reason we try to have a great trip is that October is the month of both our birthdays, and our anniversary (2nd this year)

1 - as much as I am and always will be a west coast girl I LOVE the east coast and the fall is especially gorgeous

From Arcadian Park (Bar Harbor, Maine)

2 - I will always be proud of my east coast heritage - seeing the Staten Island Ferry and knowing my mom used to live there (in the 30's) adds to the colours of my heritage.

3 - you can see art and beauty in the strangest things. This is a fence around a construction site on the East River. These are wire spools that were painted and hung on the fence - I had to take this picture for my electrician son maybe he and his crew might be inspired.

4 - Quaint never gets old - arriving at the lovely village of Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia was a real treat

5 - Natural art I can't get enough of it.

6 - Sunsets are fun to capture with a great camera

Sunset over Boston MA

Sunset over Portland, Maine

7 - Watching your husband turn into a 12 year old boy is fun. Geoff finally got to Fenway Park home of his beloved Boston Red Sox.

There's the grin - sitting on the Green Monster!!

8 - I am a sucker for the towel buddies our stateroom attendant creates Thanks Anna!

9 - I am also a sucker for history - seeing the graveyard in Halifax for the Titanic was very emotional even 98 years later

Partial view of some of the graves - many were only numbered unidentified souls

10 - bigger isn't always better. Last year we were on a smaller ship - not complaining about the Explorer of the Seas but we didn't see a lot of the ship due to the huge size.

The small "boat" to the right holds 300 people

This will NOT be our last cruise!!!

Day 2 Post Op

2010-10-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

Funny on Monday after the surgery and lying in bed for three or four hours I went absolutely stir crazy. I guess I still had enough freezing and adrenaline in my system so there was no pain in my foot. Well that all changed yesterday. Walking is extremely uncomfortable -- thus my only walking is to the bathroom and back. When I was deciding to do this surgery I found a great message board online. Thism one woman that had the surgery posted exactly what she wish she had done, what she did right and what she did wrong for her recovery. I am paying close attention to her experience. Staying quiet in bed with my foot elevated is 90% of the recovery.

Thank goodness for my fabulous husband -- the fact that he is a physio assistant is very very beneficial. He is at work today taking care of other patients, but will be home at noon to bring me my lunch. Can hardly wait to be able to go downstairs and see something aside from these four walls. Although the view from my window is rather nice on sunny days and it looks like we might have some coming up. New snow on the mountains (where it should stay LOL).

Well must do some cross-stitch now -- or watch a movie -- or read a book -- or cruise the internet -- ooops looks like the netbook is running out of power and dang the power cord is on the other side of the room.

Returns and Recovery

2010-10-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Looks like I will be back here for a bit (hopefully longer). I just returned from a two week vacation on the east coast (more about that in another blog). Right now I am home recovering from some surgery and I have decided to come back here and keep track of my recovery.

What I had done is surgery on a Morton's Neuroma. What that entails is the removal (I promise not to be graphic) of a nerve in my foot that has become lumpy (like that medical terminology). I was diagnosed in 2008 and tried to deal with the problem using orthotics. They worked to a degree but I was unable to walk more than 20 minutes without having to stop and rest. It wasn't horrible compared to some things that happen but it wasn't fun.

Last year my mom was in the hospital and the woman across from her had previously had this surgery -- it was the first time I heard of anyone having this surgery. She was so positive about her recovery I started to think about actually doing it. Of course I put it off and put it off - knowing it was 6 to 8 weeks for recovery and in my old job that would be really difficult. This new job is better for me to hire casuals to do my job so I decided to book the surgery after our October Vacation.

So here I am one day after the surgery. Just one small complication -- during our cruise I had a tooth that decided to become abcessed. So I not only had the foot surgery I also had my tooth drained the same day.

The surgery was done with a local and I got to watch the View (I never watch that show) while the doctor snipped and clipped. They pulled the nerve out and I had no desire to see it but before I could say no the nurse showed me my lumpy little pain in the foot. I was able to walk out of the surgery with a lovely boot on my left foot.

Lets just say I am following doctors (and hubby's) orders. I am now in my second day in bed with little or no movement allowed. Just to the washroom and back. I thought I was going to go crazy yesterday afternoon after only three hours in bed.

But I have my trusty netbook, the TV with the PVR hooked up (and many many hours of viewing already recorded). oh and my crocheting. After all the baby afghans I made during this year I found out there is one more bundle of joy on his or her way. But this one is for me!!! So if you made it this far can share in my joy that I will be a grandma next spring.

Be back tomorrow with either the travel log or recover update. But what I am looking forward to is visiting all my blog friends -- I HAVE MISSED YOU. Now keep me entertained!!!

Wave for You

2010-09-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

Love the ocean and watching the waves. Taken in June down on the Coast of Oregon - my second favourite place next to Home.

Bear With Me

2010-09-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

Just another day in the wild with a grizzly bear. OK so it wasn't that cavalier - I was standing beside the guide carrying the shotgun. He assured me in his 10+ years he had never had to actually fire his gun. Phew. Amazing creatures so glad we were able to see them up close and personal.

People and the Media - venting!!!

2010-08-27T08:32:00.000-07:00

I haven't done a vent and posted my "Aghhhhh" lady in a while but the past week a couple of things have appeared in the news that brought me to venting mode.

A few times in my life I have read news stories and known personally the exact story. When I see how the person relating the story or how the media presents it to the public I just shake my head. There are a few times I know personally 100% this isn't how things really happened.

This past week there was a couple of articles about a man that was beaten up in a bar - its an ugly story and he didn't deserve what happened. Thing is he is one of my husband's rehab patients. He showed me an article with a grisly picture of the man. But in the article his wife is moaning and groaning about how he will never walk, talk or live a normal life. Uhhhh that isn't what my husband is seeing - he is actually recovering extremely well from his injuries. I wish I could say more but then I would be breaking confidences. Lets just say he didn't something last weekend I would be hard pressed to do as a fairly physically fit person. So my husband was astounded that the media was reporting that he was no more than a vegetable - was this for any possible civil suit? My warning is to take some news articles with a grain of salt.

My next bitch is over the treatment by the media and the public in general with our health system - it is NOT perfect but its far from the wreck that our media makes it out to be. I believe they try to find the best sob story and bring it to the public's attention.

The one that caught my attention was a cry by a family member about housing for mentally ill people. Yes its a problem ever since they closed down most of the provincial hospital many years ago. Its a tough issue and there is no easy fix. What annoyed me about the article was the sister kept going on and on that her brother would be alive today if he had been admitted to a mental health hospital. That may be so - but no one can predict what can happen. I admit I have too many personal stories with the hospitals and care for the patients but the one story from my past that of course was brought back front and centre happened when I was 12.

It was the end of our grade 7 school year and our teachers took us to the beach for a picnic. We enjoyed a fun day of sun and sand and to our 12 year old joy there was a train track that ran beside the beach. Several of us took great delight in waiting for the engines to come by and wave at the engineers. Near the end of the day we were watching the train and this time changed my life. As we stood there in 12 year old innocence a near by group of people were having a picnic. One of the people bolted up and jumped on to the tracks just as the train rumbled by. The vision we were left with was the sight of this human vs train (trust me it wasn't pretty). Who was this poor soul but a mental health patient that was out for the day with staff and other patients from the hospital.

We were put on a bus and taken home - the teachers told our parents there had been an "incident". We never really talked about it again - none of my friends, none of the teachers. It was years later I asked my mom about it and she said she didn't know what to do so they just let me be. I didn't sleep for a couple of days then I guess the memory faded.

Ok enough digressing -- my point about the article in the paper today and my old story is that this woman seems like the type that would complain about anything. Upset because her brother committed suicide and wasn't under care, but if he had committed suicide while he was under care I am sure she would have front page headline with a different bitch.

Sometimes I wish the media would just report the news - enough of the sob stories, enough of the bitches, lets just hear what has happened and quit rehashing past crap.

Ahhh that feels better.

Happy Birthday - to my favourite cyclist

2010-08-24T08:33:00.000-07:00

To my dear son - thirty years ago today you came into my life. I haven't regretted a minute of it even though my first words to the nurse when she told me I had a boy I said "why??" OK I was still groggy from my emergency C-Section surgery but when they introduced my new baby to me it was love at first sight.

I made this poster for him - taking him from his very first day on two wheels (note that safety was the first thing on our minds that day). The second picture was taken in New Zealand - I guess you can say that was his first bike race. Until I started to go through his pictures I had forgotten how important bikes were to him for his entire life - not just when he started to race.

So this is just a small taste of the fabulous pictures we have of him and his racing career - his bottom podium picture makes him happiest - he loved that first place finish. He is currently 2nd over all in Canada for his class. But most important is he loves the sport and I love that he is so passionate about something so fun. He works very hard for a living so I guess playing hard just comes naturally to him.

The actual poster was done on canvas and looks fabulous.

Happy 30th Birthday Darryl!!!!

Just Lovely

2010-08-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Two Sundays ago we spent the night in Downtown Vancouver - we had tickets to see The Lion King (fabulous even the second time around). The next day was a gorgeous morning so we drove over to Stanley Park - truly an amazing green space in the middle of a large city. Our first stop was Prospect Point. This was where my dad proposed to my mom back in 1953 - in the background is the Lion's Gate Bridge and our North Shore Mountains (about as much snow now as when we had the Olympics).
If you time it right you can watch the large cruise ships going under the bridge as they arrive or depart Vancouver.

We drove a bit further then parked the car to walk along the Seawall. This seawall circles the entire park and is over 5 miles long. The tide was quite far out on this particular morning.

Our last stop for that morning took us to an area where locals make their own version of Inukshuks. I am not sure I would have the patience. All in all it was a lovely morning, we were up and out early enough that we avoided the heat, it wasn't too crowded and we were able to enjoy the perimeter of our lovely Stanley Park.

Saying Hi - with flowers and a turtle

2010-08-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

Seems like years ago that we went to Oregon for a week. During a walk by the coast I found this gorgeous wild Iris. I am crazy about Iris flowers. How much nicer to take a picture that will last forever rather than picking this beauty.

And for the fun portion of my visit. When we first walked to the beach in Oregon this was waiting to greet us.

Talented sand sculpters leaving us random gifts in the sand.

Bye for now - but not as long as last time.

For my Friends that are Feeling the Heat

2010-07-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

Taken June 2009 at Tracey Arm Fjord in Alaska with our small Lumix Camera

During this part of the cruise is where we realized we really needed to upgrade our camera. Just seeing the glaciers caving in person was spectacular. If you haven't been to Alaska on one of the cruise ships this is another must. You head up the end of the Fjords and spend about two hours just spinning the cruise ship in a very slow circle - we never got tired of watching, listening for the distinct sound that proceeds the caving. Then depending on the size of the ice (some the size of a semi-truck) we were greeted with an awe-inspiring show.

For perspective that small tour boat holds about 30+ people and I have marked the part of the glacier that caved.

So for my friends that think ice is only for margaritas (no argument really) Cheers!!!

Montezuma's Castle

2010-07-02T00:59:00.000-07:00

Montezuma's Castle, Arizona - taken October 2009 first trip with the Nikon D5000

I remember arriving in Arizona and driving towards Sedona. Our first stop was Montezuma's Castle. I have always been fascinated by old structures and my husband surprised me with this side trip. I was in awe of the building that created these living spaces so many many years ago.

Truly a magnificent visit and this was my first time using the camera to attempt some artistic photos. They might pop up through my random photo finding process. I am at the mercy of how my photos are filed and what I decide before I open any folders.

Taking the weekend off and to all my American friends enjoy your Fourth of July!!!

Happy Canada Day

2010-07-01T00:05:00.000-07:00

Alta Lake, Whistler, BC taken July 2009 with our small Lumix camera

How fitting that the picture I choose (randomly - its true) is such a beautiful picture of my country. On this 143rd Birthday for Canada I am sharing a picture taken last July in Whistler BC (where the Olympics were held a few months ago).

We spent a weekend in our favourite place - the Nita Lake Lodge. Which was where we spent our first few days as a married couple back in October of 2008.

I love Whistler - always have - always will - especially the quiet times.

Ahhh Nice to be Home

2010-06-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

Taken at Ocean Shores, WA with our wonderful Nikon D5000 with new 55-200 zoom lens (I was piloting the kite - while hubby took the picture)

So after my self imposed absence from most things blogging I found myself yearning to come back. My inspiration was actually my blog header and the wonderful Jillsy .

With my kite in full flight I am back (I hope). This is for me - I want to relive some wonderful memories and I want to make a place for all the pictures we take on our trips. I doubt if I will ever take day to day pictures - but I never thought I would do this either.

Glad to be back and hope to visit my blog friends on a more regular basis.

No I Haven't Won the Lottery

2010-05-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

And enjoying life on some deserted yet gorgeous island - I am just here. As I have mentioned over and over I am brain drained so nothing is left for blogging. I still formulate them in my brain and check on my blog buds at least once a week. But except for this quick note - that's about all I have.

I will say that keeping busy is good. Work is levelling off but most of my focus is concentrated on work. I am also busy at home - getting the house ready for a complete interior paint job (am I NUTS??). Just choosing the colours is driving me crazy - thank goodness my son's lovely girlfriend isn't colour challenged. I have three huge test splotches on a couple of walls and have made up my mind. So while we are away in June the painters will be here converting my tired, dirty walls into something wonderful.

In the meantime I am also working on four baby afghans - I wish my friend's didn't have such fertile daughters - geesh.

I want to get back - I do miss blogging but now I understand why some people just have no desire to get on a computer after working all day on computers. I had to force myself to finish off a photobook today only because the half price sale ends in three days. The book is about our wedding that was only a year and a half ago so what's the delay?

Hope you are all keeping well (lol this is sounding like a postcard)

Should've, Could've, Wish I Would Have

2010-05-12T12:34:00.000-07:00

I know I have basically been MIA on the blogs but something happened yesterday that I need to record for myself. Maybe if my brain wasn't so bruised from over-use this last month and a half it might have kicked into gear faster. That said how many times do we come up with perfect solutions far far too late?

Yesterday was a beautiful day (guess Spring read my Dear So and So from last Friday) and I decided to walk to meet my husband after work and then walk home. What I actually did was park the car - walk about 10 minutes to Starbucks for an Iced Tea then head back 20 minutes to his hospital. I wasn't positive about time and I needed to be at the hospital by 5 (or there abouts before he would worry). When I got out of the car I meant to take my cell phone in case I misjudged my time. I left the car and a few minutes later realized I didn't take the cell phone - I am the worst cell phone user - I just leave it in the car 90% of the time (turned off). I shrugged and walked off briskly to Starbucks (just in case my timing was off).

On the way back I see a darling old lady with a walker ahead of me. I thought to myself - surely I can walk faster than her. She never gave me a chance to find out. A few minutes of walking behind her she turned and looked at the park beside her and then turned around. When I walked past her she stopped me and said she was lost (oh dear no!!!). She told me where she lived and asked how to get back - by this time its now almost 15 to 5 and hubby is going to be waiting. As I calmly give her directions my brain is going in a dozen different directions and none of them the right direction. I wanted to accompany her back to her place (about 30 minute walk at least), but I didn't have my cell phone to call my husband. To top it off because of my foot problem I only have about 10 minutes left before I have to sit down (bet the old darling could out walk me).

She wasn't upset or worried, I told her she was about a block further than she meant to go. I told her what light and name of the street to get back to her place. I did everything but ensure she was safe and sound and for that I was in agony all night. All I could focus on was the fact that I couldn't call my husband and he would have been beside himself. In the light of day I know now I should have asked her if she wanted to walk back to my car - drive her to her home and then call hubby. Why was that so easy and clear at 5:30 this morning while I was in the shower? I really do my best thinking during that time.

There was no news of any missing elderly women this morning so I am guessing she made it safely - it is a very busy pedestrian area but I can't stand that I left her alone.

OK so now I have recorded this and hopefully next time I have something similar I will think of the solution earlier.

Dear So & So's

2010-05-07T04:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Google:

Thank you so much for exisiting without you I would have no idea what my son is doing.

Sincerely
The Mom

Dear Son

Congrats on your fourth place finish in your race the other weekend. And the video you shot for the Tourism Bureau was really incredible.

Love your Googling Mother

Dear Son (again)

So nice that you discovered how to call me without wanting something - I knew you could do it. Yes you got a bit chastised for waiting for so long to call and especially about your last purchase and leaving me last in the family to know. But that's how we roll - we laugh and then get on with loving each other.

Love your MOM

Dear Spring

You can show up any time now - I have flower beds to clean and flowers to plant. Right now what you are giving me is certainly not making me want to do anything on the weekend but snuggle under the covers.

Had Enough

Dear Blogfriends

MISS YOU!!!

Love Joanne

Dear So and So's

2010-04-22T21:34:00.000-07:00

Also known as a day in the life of a Program Assistant.

Dear Mommy:

Yes your dear darling son needs some paperwork from our institute so you can claim back the money that his company spent in educating him. I know he is busy making $100K a year up in Northern Alberta but you don't need to yell at me and declare you want some action against the person I am replacing. Guess what she is retiring - she could care less and second your son needs to grow a pair and fend for himself.

Snidely
The Program Assistant

Dear Russian Applicant:

After spending 12 minutes and 9 seconds (my phone has a timer) explaining to you over and over and over that you need to take your Russian creditials for approval before you can register in our program. I was NOT trying to mess with you - I was trying to help you and don't bother trying to beat the system you will only beat yourself.

Frustrated
The Program Assistant

Dear Weird E-mail Address:

I deal with you darling 20 somethings all day and when I have to ask for your e-mail address and get hawtstud86@whatever.com or lovegrunge@wherever.com
its very difficult to not LOL.

Amused
The Program Assistant

Dear Employed Student:

When you come in to register and proudly announce that you are a graduate from our day program and now fully employed. If I happen to look at you and guess correctly where you are employed. I am not that smart - your jacket gave it away. The look on your face was priceless.

Laughing
The Program Assistant.

Dear Registrar or Bitch:

Give me the frikken ability to register the students. Last time you and your group took over our registration it was a total dog's breakfast (no offense to dogs). Our method works and don't break what isn't broken.

Angrily
The Program Assistant (who WILL retire in November if you piss me off)

Dear Student Near the End of my Day:

You darling wonderful young man. You have no idea when you told me that I "made your day" with so much enthusiasm - you totally made my day.

Heart melting
The Program Assistant

Proud with a Hint of Disappointment

2010-04-19T03:57:00.000-07:00

This little darling in the picture is now not only a home-owner but a landlord - sighs. Where does the time go??

So of course I am so proud of him for all he has done to purchase and renovate his home over the last year. Now he and his darling partner in life have bought a second place. This is a place that is currently rented so they are now landlords.

But there is some disappointment with an underscore of worry. Why am I disappointed? I haven't heard this from him -- I heard it from another family member. Just sad that he didn't want to share with me what he had planned. I have never lectured him (too much) about finances - but I still worry.

I guess I should stick with the first emotion and just feel proud of him - hoping it all remains good.

The Difference a Decade Makes

2010-04-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

Just over 10 years ago I went to the doctor for my regular blood tests etc etc. A week after my blood tests I got "the call" from the doctor's office saying my results were back and my doctor needs to see me ASAP!!!

At that time I was dealing with my first husband's depression and I went and hauled him out of bed and told him I needed him NOW!!! We rushed to the office - I was thinking diabetes and other life changing problems. We were both sitting there when my doctor walked in - he was puzzled at our speed and that both of us were there.

Turns out it was my thryoid - he had been suspicious of it for years and finally the tests showed he was right. He only wanted me there fast (not as fast as we thought) so that he could get me on the meds and possibly help my weight problems. - SIGHS.

Since that time I have had calls back from my mammograms - so much fun. Bad pap tests - that biopsy HURTS!!!! When the Gynocologist gave me the results from my biopsy - he was all sorry about it being a chronic problem. Sure it was chronic but it will never be fatal -- just annoying every once in a while.

Last night I came home from work and "the message" was there again. This time I laughed when I listened - I knew it was only about my thyroid and knew I should make the effort to get an appointment but wasn't too worried about speed. As it turns out he actually had time this afternoon and my thyroid meds need to be adjusted down. I know you can do long term damage with too high of a dosage - so best to get it fixed now.

Not sure if its age, knowledge or just what but I doubt I will ever rush for a diagnosis - not even worth getting all upset over expected problems - may as well wait for the results.

Mountain Pictures Part II

2010-04-12T04:19:00.000-07:00

Lookie Lookie

And this is the original picture before I started to play with it

So the day wasn't crystal clear blue skies but it was what it was and my brother was very very happy with these results. Actually we discussed it and he liked the idea of doing a few different shots for each season and changing up the pictures on the wall every few months.

This summer I will head out to get shots with less snow on the mountains and then later get all the snow (if we get any next winter). Here are a few more shots of our morning walk.

My dog used to love these walks.

On to a good but busy busy new week.

Mountain Pictures - Can be Difficult

2010-04-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

For anyone that knows about my part of the world we are surrounded by mountains and I LOVE it!!! This picture is one we took last summer at Whistler Mountain (where the Olympics were held). This past week our north shore mountains were covered in snow (they had to truck snow in for the Olympics) and on Thursday when I left work and looked to the north they were stunning in their beauty. Where was my camera???

Now I am on a quest to get a great picture of another of our gorgeous mountains. My brother just opened an Insurance Agency nearby and its named after these mountains. We all agree that a lovely picture in the front lobby of these mountains would be fabulous. I have tried to convince Jill from Elemental, my dear to come and do a picture but somehow flying out from the south east states for one picture is just a bit too expensive for our budget. I looked online and World of Stock has some beautiful pictures of the Golden Ear Mountains but again the price is very expensive.

What's a sister to do? She looks out her bedroom window (I have a great view of these mountains), watches for the right amount of sun and cloud and when conditions look good - I get in the car - drive 15 minutes to the east - get out on the dykes and see what sort of picture we can take with our fabulous Nikon D5000 camera. It took the picture at the start of this post so if I can get the right conditions maybe I can get a good picture of these mountains.

Have to say I love digital cameras - you can play and see what looks best. Wish me luck if we can pull this off my brother will love me forever - ok he already does but I love doing stuff to make people I love happy.

Doing my Best But.........................

2010-04-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

Just finished a four day weekend and then spent today learning my brand new job.

Will be back soon as the brain cramps ease up.

PS - the new job and people are great.

My Nirvana

2010-04-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

Yes - its finally here in British Columbia - my own personal Nirvana. Bed Bath and Beyond is now open for business.

We needed to go look for some shelf organizers for the Bathroom so I grabbed the opportunity to head to the store. I walked in and realized how much I missed our Linen's and Things when it closed down. I loved looking at this:

or these:

and a girl can never get enough of:

Even though I don't really like to cook and have a very small kitchen I can still lust after these:

And enjoy the thought of serving dinners in this delightful set:

Bottom line as soon as I set foot in the door I feel like I am in my own personal Nirvana. And I love my husband dearly - dearly but regretted bringing him with me on my first trip. We entered the store and I just wanted to take my time and soak it all up. He wanted to find someone to direct us immediately to the organizers. Sighs.

I wanted to look at the gadgets, soak up the colours, enjoy the new textures and for a few seconds I had that within my grasp.

But my darling focused husband dragged the nearest employee along with us on our quest and I was only able to lose myself for a few minutes in the bakeware section.

I did make a really cute find in the kitchen section. I bought some Plinks -- deodorizers for my garbage disposal -- a girl can never have enough lemon scented deodorizers for the kitchen can she?

But Bed Bath and Beyond I will be back - alone!!!

Dear So and So's

2010-04-02T03:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Coldwater Creek
Thanks for the 70% off online sale. Four tops and tees for under $100 landed on my Canadian doorstep - THANKS!!!

Dear Traffic Controller
I want the name of the person that designed the controls for the main entrance to our campus. The left turn signal into the campus SUCKS!!! I can sit there for five minutes some days and knowing there is that cute little camera just waiting to take a picture of my license plate - adds insult to injury. Well I get the last laugh starting next week I am changing jobs, buildings, parking lots and will rarely use the main entrance so its been awful and glad I don't have to use you daily ever again.

Dear Ex-Co-Worker
Yes you have a Masters Yada-yada but when I hear you bitch that doing a very small portion of my job is beneath your education level - well makes me feel like uneducated scum - THANKS for the nice send off!!!

Dear Elevator People
There is a certain etiquiette and its also simple physics. You must let the people off the elevator before you storm on - think about it!!!

Dear Easter
Thanks for the four day weekend!!!

Operations Assistant - no longer exists

2010-04-01T04:43:00.000-07:00

Well that's it - my job no longer exists. When I arrived almost 16 years ago I had no idea what this job was going to entail. Mostly it was about making other people happy and solving problems and you know what -- for the most part I LOVED it!! Along the way I have worked with some fabulous people and some real jerks but the fabulous over-shadowed the jerks for the most part (ok one is being So & Soed on Friday).

I had a ton of pride for my job and hope that my new position will allow me to help people and allow me to grow some more. I remember when I first arrived on campus 16 years ago I knew nothing about Electronics so I felt like a sponge soaking up knowledge. The AD's assistant would listen to me on the phone and after ask me if I knew what I was talking about. Honestly I spoke the language but never truly understood it completely.

I was doing rather well emotionally all day until we did a luncheon. Several of the retirees were there, some have been gone for 10 years, and it is such an honour that they would join us today. I asked for no fuss but was told that people wanted to fuss so I should allow it - and I had to take my own advice. Hate when people throw my words back at me.

Then my friends brought me over the Good-bye card - thank goodness I didn't have my reading glasses, the tears definitely flowed when I read all the comments. I will be missed but not anywhere near as much as I am going to miss my family at work. Thank goodness I am not moving too far away - far enough to be separated but not enough that I won't see them in passing.

Life is just not easy sometimes. When I lost my first job all those years ago I never thought I would find something as good - I was wrong. So I am keeping a more open mind this time - no huge expectations but no dread either.

This time next week I will be a Program Assistant (in training - pray for the students)

Vacation Part 3 - Walking in a BC Wonderland

2010-03-31T03:46:00.000-07:00

One of the most beautiful wonders of British Columbia is the rain forest. I grew up living on a ravine, choose another house on another ravine to start a family. Exploring the forest was a way of life for me as a child and a young mother. When I had my darling golden we had a gorgeous walk in a near by rain forest. This past week on the far west coast we spent a lot of time in the rain forest there. This is real old growth forest and GORGEOUS.

We took a boat trip up the coast and did a one mile walk in the forest on a beautiful boardwalk. Many of the boaters carved the name of their boat into the boardwalk which made the walk that much more interesting.

Board walk in the forest

Lovely trees

Love the ground cover - this is in another area and another wonderful walk.

And here I am next to the oldest tree on the island. Guess is that it's over 800 years old which would make it over 300 years old when Columbus discovered North America.

PS - its the one standing not the one on the ground.

Vacation Part 2 - Lusting After Surfers

2010-03-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

Ok actually not as bad as it sounds, but aside from my love of sitting and watching the ocean waves the second best part of this beach is the surfers. Now you have to understand this is the Canadian portion of the Pacific nothing like Southern California or Hawaii. The water here is cold even at the warmest of times. Like I mentioned yesterday there is nothing between Vancouver Island and Japan except water - lots and lots of cold ocean water.

We have some brave brave souls here (my son is one of them) that dons a full wet suit and surfs 12 months of the year. As one told me cold is cold and as long as the waves are crashing they will be out there. I loved watching these lithe athletic souls march towards the water with surfboards under their arms.

At any given time during the day there would be up to a dozen surfers out in the water. I remember watching the first lone surfer head towards the water. As the mom of a surfer I watched to ensure he (or she) was safe. Soon enough others joined in the fun. We talked to one surfer as he rode up to the beach on his bike, wearing his wetsuit and surfboard under his arm. Very very pleasant guy he was just getting off work and wanted to catch a few waves before heading home for dinner with his family.

We walked up to the point one day to see if we could get closer to seeing them in action, as you can see we had about four of them surfing right in front of us. Ok so you have to click on the picture to actually see the surfers.

One night as we stood outside near sunset I watched one particular surfer. He rode one wave up and over and even caught the following wave - it was pure poetry. Next thing I catch sight of him gracefully laying down on the board and riding one last wave right to the shore. As I watched this lean, wetsuit clad figure rise out of the ocean I envisioned a young blonde god.

As he got closer to me he removed his head piece and unzipped the upper half of his wetsuit - young blonde god?? No older (same age as me) balding grey dude but my goodness could he surf. We talked for a bit, he had been surfing this beach for 30 years. I asked how late do they stay out and he described how when he was younger he could surf longer but as dusk settles his vision is clouded. He then told me that surfers have a code. Of course the mother in me expected the code to be that you never leave the beach when one surfer is left in the water. No, the code is that you never ever paddle in, you have to catch a wave back to shore. He explained sometimes it takes quite a while to catch the right wave back.

Not a way of life I would want to lead but very cool none the less.

Vacation Over Back to Reality

2010-03-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

Just came back from a very relaxing week on the far west coast of Canada. Truly a beautiful part of the world. The weather was cloudy but never awful. The place we stayed at even supplies yellow slickers for wet wet weather days. I wanted to get out in the rain one day but it never happened.

This was the view from our private deck - next stop Japan.

Constant wave action.

Geoff looking out towards Japan

Starfish orgy

Glorious sunset

Fairly private beach - walk takes about 30 - 40 minutes one way.

All in all a wonderful week, I have more pictures to share and a couple of stories. I have to admit I would find myself composing blogs during some of the days. I choose to not even go near a computer and I am glad I did.

Glad to be back and will be visiting all my friends soon.

Be Back Later

2010-03-21T04:02:00.000-07:00

Try not to do anything too exciting while I am away...... but you don't have to behave either.

Dear So and So's

2010-03-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

Lets start this with something nice

Dear Mr and Mrs Gunn

Thank you for delivering the nicest man to our world. Ever since my friend told me Project Runway was a show worth watching I have fallen in love Tim Gunn and his gentle soul. I even watched Oprah the other day just so I could sit and watch that darling man. If only the rest of the world could "make it work" we would be a better place.

Then we go to:
Dear Drivers

Some of you - ok two of you this week really REALLY pissed me off. Love how one of you felt it necessary to speed up the minute I signal to change lanes. Is that a rule I don't know about - cause I just find it stinkin rude. And to the bitch (no other word will do) in the SUV that decided after 2 cars had gone through the intersection that she didn't want to turn left - going straight through the intersection when I have commited to my left turn (from the opposite direction) is just frikken scary. My SUV is parked and I drive a small car for the commute so when I see you heading straight for me in your big SUV its a real heart in the throat moment.

This is serious folks:
Dear Florida Winter

Ok now this is personal. How dare you destroy my favourite crop? Bad enough we have to truck in most of our fruits and vegetables from all over. But when I see that my tomatos are going to double in price because of your winter. Well you have well over stayed your welcome and need to leave NOW!!!

And finally - and sorry to be blunt but......
Dear Snowmobiler's Widow

First I am so very very sorry for your loss. Being a widow myself I know that path you have ahead of you is going to be a rough one and for that I am very sorry. But two days after your husband's death is NOT the time to be pointing fingers. First your husband knew what he was doing, he was involved with a very dangerous unsanctioned event during a time of high avalanche danger and why is it anyone's fault but his own that he didn't check the conditions. I live hundreds of kilometers away I don't ski or snowmobile but I knew of the dangers. When we had our boat we didn't just take it out blindly without checking the forecasts. So sorry, he has no one to blame but himself and the fact that you are left to raise two young children on your own is no one's fault but his. My belief is that when you make that decision to embark on dangerous sports when you have a young family it is just plain irresponsible.

Dear Readers, If you enjoy these Dear So and So's every Friday, try your own hand at one! Pop on over to Kat's place, grab her button and put it on your blog! Put your name on Mr. Linky and you'll be linked right up! C'mon! You know you want to!

Oh and before I go - if I don't see you for a while I am away without computers etc for a week. BYESSS

Happy St Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

That's about all I have today, collecting a few So & So's for Friday (that's the right day isn't it Alix?). In the meantime I received this virus warning and figured its the best day of the year to share this warning.

The Centre for Disease Control has issued a medical alert about a highly contagious, potentially dangerous virus that is transmitted orally, by hand, and even electronically.

This virus is called Weekly Overload Recreational Killer (WORK).

If you receive WORK from your boss, any of your colleagues or anyone else via any means whatsoever - DO NOT TOUCH IT!!! This virus will wipe out your private life entirely. If you should come into contact with WORK you should immediately leave the premises.

Remedy: Take two good friends to the nearest liquor store and purchase one or both of the antidotes - Work Isolating Neutralizer Extract (WINE) and/or Bothersome Employer Elimination Rebooter (BEER). Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.

You should immediately forward this medical alert to five friends. If you do not have five friends, you have already been infected and WORK is, sadly, controlling your life. Get help immediately.

Now go get a green beer and enjoy the rest of this Irish Day of fun.

Where to Begin - the Puzzle of my Life

2010-03-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

I just need to connect these four corners of my brain and maybe I might come up with something cohesive to post about. Right now I am caught with the sadness of closing down my position - I took a great deal of pride in my job and now its just being scattered to the four winds.

I am struggling with getting back on track with my weight (this really needs to go to my other blog - but in the meantime) and on Friday watching the Opening Ceremonies for the Paralympics I had a couple of AHA moments. Watching a Break Dancer by the name of Luca "Lazylegz" Patuelli I was in awe. This young man can do more with just his upper body than I can with my entire "almost" able body. Then listening to the introduction for our Canadian Hero Terry Fox and being reminded that this young man ran a marathon a day for over 100 days with a prosthetic leg makes me question my inability to get on my bike for 10 minutes a day for the health of my failing knee.

I spent some time on Saturday listening to Maven from A Fabulous Good Life on her podcast Dishin It - check it out she gets me thinking. I love this about blogging that someone can write or talk about something that touches us personally. I realize I am doing some things right in my life and acknowledge (see above paragraph) that there is a lot I have to fix.

But what really got to me this weekend (are you still with me) was family. I have a dear dear online (and met personally) friend. She has three children from her second marriage and one older child from her first marriage. Due to situations and circumstances she and her oldest have been estranged for many many years. This weekend she had an opportunity to reconnect. I was honoured to be asked my opinion of "what would I do". This hits home with me because I come from an estranged family. Not me but my mom and her mom lost contact and I never ever met my grandmother.

As a teenager trying to figure out family, many times I wanted to approach my mom and ask about my grandmother. But I knew the topic was forbidden and my desire to meet this woman was never met. One of my biggest regrets in life. So of course getting this note from my friend about reconnecting with her daughter was a chance to make up for our loss. Yes I live vicariously through other people. I feed off of their happiness. Last night I was checking my e-mail and she wrote to tell me how it went. She was on Cloud 9 with happiness - which of course made me smile and my heart just soared for her.

Dear reader do you have a family member you wish to connect with? Do it before its too late. For our family we can't turn back the clock but I want you to ask yourself will you regret more the contact and possible rejection or never ever finding out if there is a connection.

See what I mean - maybe I should have kept this for Random Thoughts Tuesday - but darn it these were here today and who knows what will be in my brain tomorrow. Just hope I get the pieces together soon.

It Only Took Almost 16 Years

2010-03-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

Well today is my second to last pay cheque in my current position. On April 1 I move to another department *sniff* but what a neat joy today to open my pay cheque and see that I am finally after almost 16 years making the same amount I did in my old job.

Honestly I have been happier in this job than I was ever in my old job. Yes we made great money back in the 80's and early 90's but I spent my last four years as a redundant employee just waiting for the axe to fall. It fell for me on Dec 21 1993 (great timing eh??). I was paid for another six months and received a nice payout so no one had to hold a telethon for me and my family.

Sixteen years ago this month I answered an ad in our newspaper (who says you don't get jobs from the classified ads) and even though I didn't think I was qualified for this particular position I was sending resumes everywhere.

When I was offered the job a couple of months later (things can move slowly here), I was slightly hesitant. Geographically it was a bit far from home. The salary was no where what I was making previously. But darn the vacations, benefits and other perks made it really worth the pay cut. I had two other job offers at the same time, much closer to home but even less salary and far less benefits.

The fact that I have never made as much as I was in 1993 was more a source of amusement. Now here we are 15 years, 9 months and one paycheque and I am back to where I was with Shell Canada. But I have better dental and medical, far superior vacations and more days off *cough* Government workers yanno.

Although one benefit from my first job was meeting my first husband and having my fabulous son with him - for that I am ever greatful.

**UPDATE** should have checked the paystub closer - I had 2 hours overtime (not used to getting paid for overtime - but it was for the flood recovery time). Oh well it was fun while it lasted.

I Have a Confession - I am a Contrary Weirdo

2010-03-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

There I said it outloud. This occured to me yesterday when I was reading reviews about a place we are going to in a week and a half but first let me give you the background.

As I say in my picture on the side bar I don't really cook. Its not that I can't but I am too lazy, I was too intimidated by really good cooks and besides my husband could care less about fancy food. So I am happy enough to just do the bare minimum to put food on our table.

So why am I contrary? Over the years I have come to the conclusion when I travel to the best of my abilities I want to have a kitchen or at least a fridge, microwave and kettle in my hotel room. I have always preferred this when I travel and it feels so weird for someone that really doesn't like to cook (thus the contrary and weird part of this post).

We have to plan our vacations almost a year in advance, my husband has to book by beginning of December each year. What we do is make a plan and if we have to switch we find something else to do but in the meantime we sort of plan ahead. This year we knew we wanted to go away in March (little did I know I was going to be losing my position at work - but that's another story) so we started to think about what to do. Dear hubby's parents had gone to Mexico in December at a really good price. So we tossed that about. After thinking about it, we both decided as much as a week in an All-Inclusive Resort sounds great, our most relaxing trip ever was a week in Maui with a full kitchen. We were in control, we could have breakfast without showering and getting dressed. We had dinners BBQed each night at the condo. It was nice and I don't think we ate out at all. Did I mention I am rather cheap when it comes to buying restaurant meals??

It was decided we would watch prices for Mexico, but Maui would be our first choice. Then all hell broke loose with the airport Security in December so we decided that we would rather not fly. So we are taking the ferry over to Vancouver Island and going to this beach (as far west as you can get in Canada). Don't be fooled by the blue beauty, even in the hottest heat of the summer you need a wet suit to enjoy this water. Its a great surfing beach (my son used to spend weekends here).

The best part is they have full kitchens in this resort.

So we can relax, do our casual cooking and spend more time walking on this beach

Wandering in this forest

And if the weather cooperates for all of this we can watch many of these from our deck without rushing to or from a restaurant.

Does anyone else prefer to have a full kitchen or will I lose my female card carrying status for admitting my weirdness outloud? I am hoping we feel the same as we did in Maui, that was one vacation where we both felt like we had reset ourselves and ready to face life with all its busyness.

Mother Nature You are Hilarious!!!

2010-03-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

So for most of January and February this is what our local mountains looked like.

Although if you watched any of the snowboarding and freestyle skiing events at the Olympics you might not have known that it was all magic performed by some pretty spectacular snow technicians. We as a community prayed and hoped that El Nino would take a hike and bring us our normal local mountain snow fall. Well it wasn't meant to be. So the Olympics closed down, the Paraolympics are starting next week but they aren't using the local mountains. Whistler will have all those talented athletes.

We are now into March as you can see I changed my background to reflect the imminent arrival of spring. The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming its glorious.

This morning I turned on our local news to see the weather report for the week. What was that?? Snow - we are expecting SNOW!!!! Where the heck were you little snow thingys in February when we needed you? No you show up now and last night we had some rain (at lower levels) and what greeted me this morning on my drive into work. Snow capped local mountains. I can see the main ski runs from the highway and for the last month they were brown and green and today - WHITE!!! Now normally that is my favourite sight, sun in the sky, bare on the ground and snow on our mountains. Today I just found it funny.

Mother Nature you are frikken hilarious!!

I Want to Be Friends with Her!!!

2010-03-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

Gotta love a lady with a sense of humour!!! This is from a high school reunion (apparently) wish I had gone to school with her.

Best and Worst Plane Trips

2010-03-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

The other day Maven posted about a wicked (ok funny to me) plane trip, check it out quite hilarious.

This got me to thinking about plane trips. I remember one of my friends taking her first plane ride in her life about six years ago. She was nervous (no kidding) and people would tell her she will love it!! Ok LIARS, I am not afraid of flying but I certainly don't love my flights, I consider flying a necessary evil so that I don't have to spend three days in a car or on a train if I want to go to New York. I haven't been every where but I have done my fair share of travel and a good lot of it over water.

I think my best plane trip was my second one. I was just about 15 and flying to Japan with a group of teenagers (and four adults). We were on a charter plane so over 150 teenagers all excited to be away from our parents for a month. These were the days of lax rules so we all piled into the DC10 (I think) and flew off to Anchorage Alaska - our pilot had to be removed from the plane because he showed up for work drunk -ah the good old days. The real fun was how the crew interacted with us. I remember being allowed to run the drink service (just pop - I think). We hooted and hollered and had a ton of fun on that flight all the way to Tokoyo.

After that most of my plane trips were as I mentioned just necessary evil so that we could travel and visit family.

My three worst adventures in Air Travel are as follows:

The first time we took our son to New Zealand he was about four and I was worried about the 15 hour trip with a young child. I was told by many people (including a doctor) to give him Gravol and he would drift off to sleep for most of the trip. We flew out of Vancouver to Honolulu and I decided to put him in his pyjamas there and give him the Gravol. No one told me that in some humans Gravol has an opposite affect - I was literally peeling this four year old (normally quiet child) off the rafters in the Honolulu airport. We had about two hours before we had to board the plane. He was still bouncing and jumping around when we got on the plane - thankfully his own ability to fall asleep the minute anything starts moving kicked in and out he went until we arrived in Fiji.

I had to travel around the province in my old job and most times it was on small jets which is just fine for me thank you. One of the rare times I was with my boss and we had to go to Kamloops - trip up was fine but on the way back they had to change us to an old prop engine plane. The Uh-Ohs kicked in ( I like my boats and planes with very large crews). Back to Vancouver we flew in the WORST turbulence, every time we dropped I grabbed my boss's thigh ( he was newly married and I hoped his wife understood). What with the constant shaking, the drone of the engines and the smell of fuel I almost experienced my first ever bout of air sickness. Thank goodness the flight was only 40 minutes because I would have been hurling at the 45 minute mark.

The worst ever had to be coming home from my two week Caribbean cruise back when I was 21. I had watched what I ate and drank the entire two weeks. On our second to last day we were in San Salvador - went for lunch at the Hyatt (or was it Hilton?). I ordered a lunch with a Coke (or was it Pepsi - man I was 21 a long time ago).

The next day our ship arrived in Acalpulco and we were flying home that evening. I was fine for the first part of the day then Montezuma's revenge (google if if you don't know what I mean) kicked in. I remembered back to that lunch the day before and I had ice in my Coke - crap - literally!!!! So now I have full blown problems, have to leave the ship, get to the airport and get home.

Getting to the airport was ok, few more bathroom breaks helped. Then we get on our plane - home and some relief is within hours. NOPE - we sat on that tarmac for close to two hours. Our luggage wasn't with the plane and they weren't leaving Mexico without knowing where our luggage was. Not allowed off the plane, its stinking hot and no air conditioning on the plane and I am suffering with you know what!!!

Lets just say Vancouver never looked so good to me when I finally arrived, greeted by my parents and I could care less that my luggage was heading for Toronto. I was HOME!!!

My Completed Bucket List

2010-03-04T08:21:00.000-08:00

The Bucket List

I received this list today and was told to place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not, Feel free to play along - just let me know so I can check it out.

This is for My Entire Life !

( ) Shot a gun.

(X) Gone on a blind date - my mom set me up - good thing I love her

(X) Skipped school

(X) Watched someone die

(X) Been on a plane

(X ) Been on a cruise ship

( ) Served on a jury - almost though

(X) Been lost - on a girl guide hike

( ) Gone to Washington , DC ...

(X) Swam in the ocean

(X) Been to Niagara Falls

(X) Cried yourself to sleep

( ) Played cops and robbers

( ) Played cowboys/girls and Indians

( ) Recently coloured with crayons

( ) Sang Karaoke with friends - I watched

(X) Paid for a meal with coins only - ok we have the Loonie and Toonie so easy yes

(X) Remember when McDonald's was 15 cents?

(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?

(X) Made prank phone calls - call display has ruined children's fun

(X) Laughed until you cried or peed in your pants.

(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue

(X) Danced in the rain

(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus

( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe

(X) Watched the sunrise with someone

(X) Blown bubbles

(X) Gone ice-skating - broken wrist and ribs

(X) Gone snow skiing - torn knee

(X) Camped out under the stars

(X) Seen something so beautiful that it took your breath away

(X) Are or have been married

(X) Have Child

(X) Have a pet had a pet

( ) Been skinny dipping outdoors

(X) Been fishing - next question should be - Been Bored

(X) Been boating - owned one of those money pits

( X) Been water skiing/tubing - does full front skiing count

(X) Been hiking

(X) Been camping in a trailer/RV - two weeks with my in-laws - now that deserved a Nobel Prize!!!

( ) Flown in a small 4 seat airplane

( )Flown in a glider

( ) Been flying in a hot air balloon

( ) Been bungee-jumping or sky-diving - what about ziplining???

(X) Gone to a drive-in movie

(X) Done something that should have killed you - passenger with a drunk driver - we only rolled the car once

(X) Done something that you WILL regret for the rest of your life - see above

Give me a call (if you can) when you get home......

2010-03-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

This is the beginning of an e-mail I received from my mom today - now here is the second part.
"just to make sure I haven't bled to death, if that is the case pull the red folder from my file, and take it from there. Love your Mom"

Seriously - she cracks me up and her sense of humour is great. She was having a tooth out today which of course for most normal people is no big deal. Mom is on blood thinners for her heart and last week when we went for her first appointment they cancelled because her numbers were too high (or was it low). So they adjusted her meds, re-did the blood test and off she went today for the extraction.

After I received the above e-mail from my mom I called my friend to share it with her. We both had a great laugh and agreed that both our mom's were pain's in the butt but had a great sense of humour which of course keeps us eager to call them. Both of our mom's were widowed after wonderful marriages and are content to just be alone waiting until they can re-unite with their loves.

At least she and I can joke about life and death. I remember just before she was going in for her surgery three years ago. She called my brother and I together for the "talk". My brother was late, so I asked mom for a pen and some post-it notes. Within second she knew what I was doing and I filled out the notes with a bold JOANNE'S and proceeded to put post-its on all the valuables in her condo - including the front door. My brother got the last laugh when he finally arrived, he found mom's investment binder and brought it to me with his name written across the front. Dang when will I learn to not outwit him??

I know someday I will have to deal with the red folder (has all her information - she is very prepared), I am fairly pragmatic about the situation, but shudder each time she scares the crap out of me. Since dad passed away she has had several health crisis but keeps on coming out of it - thank goodness for us.

Confession Time - I love Reality TV

2010-03-02T08:11:00.000-08:00

OK so much of it isn't really Reality but staged crap and I have fallen into the trap. I watched the latest train wreck of the Bachelor. I am not sure how much the script writers are getting paid but it's too much. I actually avoided this series for years - I was not interested in watching cat fights amongst the women. So I got caught up with the second Bachelorette just enjoying the guys - they were a hoot. But then I fell into the soap opera and what really really got me interested was the plethora of fabulous bloggers that did humour re-caps of the Bachelor show. This series was full of fodder and the humour was constant and wonderful.

I was out for dinner last night so had the three hour finale on my PVR. I was able to speed through this entire "amazing journey" (you Bachelor fans know what I mean) in less than an hour. The only time I hit rewind was during the commercials for Dancing with the Stars - holy crap is Kate Gosselin really able to take time away from 8 children to do a dance series?? This is one show I haven't watched whatsoever - I think the whole time its been on I might have watched an hour total.

Then speeding through the commercials what do I see but Jake is also on Dancing with the Stars. Aren't these supposed to be "real" people with real jobs etc etc. Only thing that would make me watch is if they partnered him up with his first runner up Tenley (the professional dancer ...hmmmm) now that would make for a great script. Vienna and her pet doggie (dressed in their matching finest) sitting in the first row steaming while Tenley and Jake tangoed across the stage.

So I am going to attempt a new thing for the next Bachelorette series with Ali (ok who didn't see that one coming???). I am not going to watch but I am going to hang out with my favourite Bachelor bloggers and see if their recaps are as fun without actually seeing the show. With any luck they might even be more interesting.

That said I am enjoying the Amazing Race, Survivor (Hero's vs Villians) and because us poor Canadians (but man we can host an Olympic party) are so behind the times I can finally find out who wins Top Chef Master's. Like I said I love Reality TV but this Bachelor has now jumped the shark far too many times I just can't do it again.

I Have to Say This!!!

2010-02-26T15:49:00.000-08:00

I know I have been going on a bit over the last few weeks about the Olympics and all that is going on and this should be it (I hope). I need to discuss the emotions that I have experienced over the last little while. Most of them pretty darn good.

First let me give a shout out to our Gold Medal Skeleton Jon Montgomery - you make me proud. Your joy for life is contagious!!! Our precious Clara Hughes who has the distinction of being the only athlete to win Olympic medals during the Summer and Winter games. You are also one fabulous human. Right now I am only seeing the Canadian stories and I plan to look more into the rest of the world line up. But both Jon and Clara are members of a great organization (world wide) called Right To Play. Jon has donated $2010 and has challenged his fans to donate $20.10 to hopefully reach a goal of $20,010.00. Clara took her $10K from her bronze medal and donated it to a local Vancouver group called Take a Hike. Our first home soil Gold Medalist Alex Bilodeau also donated his money to charity.

They are not the only athletes to donate their winnings but just three of the highest profile right now.

I also want to give a huge shout out to Joannie Rochette our bronze medal figure skating winner. She skated two fabulous programs this week just days after her mother died of a heart attack. She showed to me what grace and athleticism is all about and now she and her father can go home and grieve together. We were told today that US speed skating champion Dan Jansen had contacted her because his story was so similar. In 1988 just hours before he was supposed to skate his beloved sister had passed away. He competed, he didn't win but won the Olympic Spirit Award for showing valiant efforts through tragedy.

I want us to remember that it takes thousands of people to make these Olympics happen. Yes Canada made a huge naming mistake with their horribly named program of Own the Podium, but it was a great program that allowed our athletes to achieve more top finishes than ever (we're #4 LOL). What they achieved more than anything was a place in our hearts. I wish I could have been one of the 25,000 volunteers, the people you have seen everywhere in those glorious teal outfits, but it wasn't meant to be and for the better in many ways.

Sitting was easier

Yes these games started with controversy, tragedy, failed hydraulics and the mildest winter that Vancouver has ever experienced. But there was a party atmosphere that was contagious and delightful. I am glad I was able to sit in a downtown restaurant and watch the many many tourists from other countries all decked out in their nation's colours. I delight in all the Canadian apparel that is worn everywhere and I am keeping my red mittens forever.

Thanks for a great party and a chance for me to be proud of this entire world.

Sharing Some Fun

2010-02-25T10:28:00.000-08:00

Ok I am still battling this darn cold. Attempted to work from home (not succeeding I just know Sunday is going to be busy) and enjoying all the wonderful emotions from our Olympics. Glad they are in my back yard - even more glad that I don't have to go near the madding crowds if I choose to stay home.

Meanwhile I received this today and wanted to share - I find it funny and head shaking that these are possibly true - oh I am sure they are. What follows now are someone else's words and comments - I am not that brilliant today or ever.

In Honor of Stupid People . . . .

In case you needed further proof that the human race is doomed through stupidity, here are some actual label instructions on consumer goods.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a Sears hairdryer --

Do not use while sleeping.

(That's the only time I have to work on my hair.)

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On a bag of Fritos --

You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.

(the shoplifter special?)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a bar of Dial soap --

"Directions: Use like regular soap."

(and that would be???....)

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On some Swanson frozen dinners --

"Serving suggestion: Defrost."

(but, it's just a suggestion.)

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On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert

(printed on bottom) -- "Do not turn upside down."

(well...duh, a bit late, huh!)

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On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding -- "Product will be hot after heating."

(...and you thought????...)

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On packaging for a Rowenta iron --

"Do not iron clothes on body."

(but wouldn't this save me time?)

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On Boot's Children Cough Medicine --

"Do not drive a car or operate machinery after taking this medication."

(We could do a lot to reduce the rate of construction accidents if we could just get those 5 year-olds with head-colds off those bulldozers.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Nytol Sleep Aid --

"Warning: May cause drowsiness."

(..I'm taking this because???....)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On most brands of Christmas lights --

"For indoor or outdoor use only."

(as opposed to what?)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a Japanese food processor --

"Not to be used for the other use."

(now, somebody out there, help me on this. I'm a bit curious.)

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On Sainsbury's peanuts -- "Warning: contains nuts."

(talk about a news flash)

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On an American Airlines packet of nuts -- "Instructions: Open packet, eat nuts."

(Step 3: say what?)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a child's Superman costume --

"Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly."

(I don't blame the company. I blame the parents for this one.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a Swedish chainsaw --

"Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands or genitals."

(Oh my God..was there a lot of this happening somewhere?)

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February Blahs

2010-02-22T10:38:00.000-08:00

So I know there is a lot of excitement in our city - I was part of it last week but this week not so much. Yep my annual February Cold Bug decided to visit yet again - blech!!!

Started Thursday morning and until yesterday I didn't have a chance to sit down and breath let alone try and take it easy to repair. I had four appointments on Thursday, dentist, x-ray, physio and hair (most important of the four). Then Thursday night we had an out of town visitor. Friday I spent the day working from home -- I could never actually make a living doing that. I get so distracted (hello fellow bloggers) so actually I spent my time avoiding the computer except for my actual work.

My most important job was to reconcile my work visa - first time ever I had to do it twice. No idea what I hit but just as I was about to finish and hit the save button the screen went back and I lost all my input - sighs. Can't blame the computer or the keyboard but the operator.

Saturday I spent the day visiting friends with my out of town visitor. We had an engagement part to attend that afternoon and then dinner out -- I was the life of the party. We sat at the bar and I ordered peppermint tea - three times!!!! Lets just say yesterday I sat and repaired. We are hoping to get out today - its another gorgeous day on the west coast. I believe that's going to change so I must get some sunshine before it leaves us for who knows how long.

Such Pride in Humans!!!

2010-02-16T11:37:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been very emotional for me as a Canadian and mostly as a human. I wish I could post and share some pictures but my cable to connect my camera to my computer is at work. Lets back up though.

On Friday I was at work getting ready to be off for the next two weeks (sort of). I brought a ton of stuff home, got a ton of stuff finished and will be putting in a couple of shifts semi training for my new position.

I had some live feed going with the Olympic torch run. Having seen it in person twice the day before I could only imagine the excitement that was growing around the city as the torch was making its final day. During the live feeds a note came through that there had been an accident on the luge run.

I hate and loath seeing anything deadly so in my innocence I clicked on the video and witnessed the young Georgian Luger die. A lot changed in that moment for the Olympics and everyone that was getting ready to witness the opening ceremony.

My pride in humans grew when the Georgian Olympic athletes entered our stadium and 60,000 people stood in respect for their grief.

Yesterday we made our way into Vancouver to be part of the crowd, take in the sights and we were lucky enough to get tickets to the Victory Ceremony that joy of joys was when Canada received their first ever Gold Medal on home soil. The 34 year drought was over when our young freestyle Moguls champ defeated the Australian Champion. The irony is that the Australian is actually Canadian born and bred but, for reasons he is entitled to, he left Canada for Australia.

A few things happened last night that made my heart swell. Of course the main one was the reception for our athlete and every Canadian singing our National Anthem in unison (even my husband). Second was the reception the Australian received -- I was worried that he would be booed (its happened) but he was greeted warmly and cheered like every other athlete.

After the live ceremony we were then linked up to the Whistler ceremony and honestly you would have thought the athletes were right there in our stadium. All 22,000 people from all over cheered and clapped as each took to the podium and then we stood for each of the national anthems.

Really, even recalling the evening brings me so much pride - its a grand race we belong to and I am so proud!!!!!

Call my Lawyer I Need to Add to My Will!!!!!

2010-02-11T03:30:00.000-08:00

Just the other day the dearest of dear Quirkloon's brought up a very very valid point. The only reason to Unfollow a blog is death. What followed was the thought that my precious blog roll must be put into my will.

I will not name blogs - because with my menopausal brain farts I tend to forget some very important things. But I have worked out categories and some of my precious blogs will fall into one or more categories so with much thought this is the addition to my will.

To my dear friend "B" our lives together have been full of fun and laughter. When we were estranged for those years just recently I had trouble with people that "just didn't get me". We are back - solid as ever and still getting each other's sick humour so to you dear friend I pass on all my "Humour (or Humor if they are American) Bloggers.

To my oldest friend "H" yes I know I am not allowed to use the term oldest but dang it girlfriend we have been together since we were 10 (so about 20 something years *winks*). I leave you my decorating blogs, there are some very talented people on this planet, you are one of them and this is a great place to share ideas.

To one of the most wonderful people in my life "K" you are what a true Christian stands for. I have several awesome religious bloggers and they are yours to follow.

To my future daughter-in-law and hopefully the mother of my grandchild(ren) I leave you my Mommy Bloggers -- these are awesome ladies, some are your age so just ahead of you as far as having children. They will keep you sane and every once in a while they rock out a great new peanut butter sandwich recipe.
To my sweet compassionate "D" - you spend so much of your life working and taking care of everyone but yourself I leave you my power bloggers. Many of these blogs cross over into several categories and I laugh, I cry, I learn and I grow every day from reading their words.

Last but not least dear "C" (and you might read this) I leave you my entire blog roll. I know if you ever decide to get into this you will love it so much. Its a beautiful world full of fabulous people and you really would enjoy reading every day. Leave your farm, close down the bakery and empty the aquarium this is where the real world is - what an ironic statement.

Now I have to give my lawyer access to my blog - hmmmm might need another way to do this.

Showering - aka - When I can't think of anything else I steal from elsewhere

2010-02-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

(Part 1 of 2) HOW TO SHOWER LIKE A WOMAN:

Take off clothing and place it in sectioned laundry hamper according to lights and darks.

Walk to bathroom wearing long dressing gown. If you see husband along the way, cover up any exposed areas.

Look at your womanly physique in the mirror - make mental note to do more sit-ups/leg-lifts, etc.

Get in the shower. Use face cloth, arm cloth, leg cloth, long loofah, wide loofah and pumice stone.

Wash your hair once with cucumber and sage shampoo with 43 added vitamins.

Wash your hair again to make sure it's clean.

Condition your hair with grapefruit mint-conditioner.

Wash your face with crushed apricot facial scrub for 10 minutes until red.

Wash entire rest of body with ginger nut and jaffa cake body wash. Rinse conditioner off hair.

Shave armpits and legs.

Turn off shower.

Squeegee off all wet surfaces in shower.

Spray mold spots with Tilex.

Get out of shower.

Dry with a towel the size of a small country.

Wrap hair in super absorbent towel.

Return to bedroom wearing long dressing gown and towel on head. If you see husband along the way, cover up any exposed areas.

(Part 2 of 2) HOW TO SHOWER LIKE A MAN:

Take off clothes while sitting on the edge of the bed and leave them in a pile.

Walk naked to the bathroom.

If you see wife along the way, shake wiener at her making the woo- woo sound.

Look at your manly physique in the mirror admiring the size of your wiener and scratch your ass.

Get in the shower.

Wash your face.

Wash your armpits.

Blow your nose in your hands and let the water rinse them off.

Fart and laugh at how loud it sounds in the shower.

Spend majority of time washing privates and surrounding area.

Wash your butt, leaving those coarse butt hairs stick on the soap.

Wash your hair. Make a Shampoo Mohawk.

Rinse off and get out of shower..

Partially dry off.

Fail to notice water on floor because curtain was hanging out of tub the whole time.

Admire wiener size in mirror again.

Leave shower curtain open, wet mat on floor, light and fan on.

Return to bedroom with towel around waist. If you pass wife, pull off towel, shake wiener at her and make the woo-woo sound again.

Throw wet towel on bed.

If there is anyone among you who did not laugh at the truth behind this, there is something SO very wrong with you. Have a great day! Oh, and....woo-woo

Its Official Olympic Fever has Struck

2010-02-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

Its an amazing feeling and I quite love it. It really hit home yesterday when I took my mom over to visit with my son. She brought him a pair of the Olympic Red Mittens and he LOVED them.

For the last few years he was moaning and groaning about how the Olympics have ruined his bike trails on some of his favourite mountains and that he was getting out of town. Didn't want anything to do with the Olympics whatsoever. He wasn't alone.

Over the last couple of months he has been sent to Whistler to work on some of the large venues and then last week he was working at one of the local venues and I guess it hit home that this is going to be one heck of a party.

We all love how where ever we look on TV someone is mentioning Vancouver. Since that time in the 70's during a large soccer match in New York and good old Jim McKay (of ABC Wide World of Sports) called us the Village of Vancouver (hrumphhhhh). We have battled for recognition - some of it came during our Expo 86 when we welcomed the world with open arms and a fabulous Expo.

I am scrambling through my wardrobe for something in red and white to match my gorgeous new CANADA touque.

The torch run is going near our home on Thursday morning so hubby and I are going to drive as close as possible to see it in the morning. Then at noon its going right past my window here at work. Yes I have some people saying "so what" and others saying "YOU HAVE TO SEE IT!!" I figure why not. When will I ever have another chance to witness some of these events. I didn't get my opportunity to volunteer but that's ok - my body really wouldn't be able to handle the task and I get to be an observer.

We have tickets to one Medal Ceremony - hoping to maybe get other event tickets but until prices come back to "normal" we aren't going to anything right now. I think just going downtown and watching on the big screens with other people will be fun.

Its all good. And maybe now we can graduate to the City of Vancouver rather than the "other Vancouver".

My Favourite Commercial

2010-02-04T09:01:00.000-08:00

Usually I zip through the commercials on TV - some are so frikken annoying I can't get through them fast enough. But when this darling gem comes on I always stop and enjoy. I love the subtle humour - make sure you watch to the end - best part.

Random Tuesday Thoughts

2010-02-02T10:12:00.000-08:00

So its Tuesday and time to play with Random Thoughts. For once I am doing this right and linked up with

The Un Mom and to have some fun (or so I think)

This comes from last night

Spiders - why do I loath and fear them so much? And why did I marry a pacifist that would rather pick up this 15 pound monster and gently put it outside rather than taking a broom and bashing it into non-existance?

Divorced Friends - Why does divorce have to complicate things so much? I am friends with both spouses and find myself having to edit my conversations constantly. Party coming up one is invited, other is not and I am in the middle with their daughter - ACKKKK

Family - a certain member of my family (who will remain un-identified) will ramble on for 15 minutes about an inane e-mail she got from a friend of a friend but let me try to explain about my visit to the NICU the day before and I get about 2 minutes before she gets bored and we have to change subjects to something that is about her.

Bad Drivers - how many times do I piss off other drivers? Caught myself the other day making a bonehead move on the road and wish I had some sort of sign I could flash that says "I acknowledge I was a bonehead driver".

These came to me in an e-mail and I will share my favourite - you may have seen them before but hopefully its something new - or something you don't mind seeing again and again and again

Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

and last but not least to all my favourite bloggers

Bad decisions make good stories.

Dear Graham - 2010 edition

2010-02-01T03:30:00.000-08:00

Last year I posted this letter to my late husband Graham - just seemed right to bring it back again with some additions. I will leave it mostly as is - - this time last year very few people viewed this blog. You will notice the pictures I post of Graham he always has our son in his arms. He wasn't the most helpful parent but this boy was his most prized love and for the first years of his life his dad carried him everywhere. These pictures come from a photobook that I created for our son so that he always remembers his dad was loved by both of us.

Dear Graham

Is now nine years since you left us and I have so many mixed emotions today. I dearly miss you and the life we built together but I love who I am today.

So much has happened since the day I thought my life ended. Since then I suffered other losses, with Dad following you so soon after you left us. Your mother slipped away after so many years living without your dad. I thought your death would have killed her but she was so much stronger than anyone ever gave her credit. My dear friend Heather has also left me behind. And our darling Sandi crossed the rainbow bridge over two years ago and she left a huge hole in our lives. But with those losses also came gains in our lives. My new love is a blessing, did you send him, did you put in a good word? I am not sure I know how this works, all I know is I am so blessed to have him in my life. He brought with him a zany family but what family isn't a bit crazy. Our darling son has his new life partner, and she brings a whole new family to his life.

You would be so proud of the work he has done on his new house - yes he bought a house last year. I never thought I would see him afford something in our crazy real estate market. First thing he did was build a workshop and when I saw the pictures online I was stunned by how he was channeling his dad. Then when they started the upstairs it brought tears to my eyes at how proud you would be of him. He keeps asking if I will bring Randy over to see his work when its finished. I know if he can't have you there giving him a seal of approval Randy is the next best thing. Randy will be so honoured to stand in for you.

With our friends much has changed. Some of the marriages have split, one was no surprise the other a total shock and another was a shock but not a surprise. The house that you built for us has now had two new owners. I found a lovely townhouse and even though its what I always wanted I know you would approve. Why we never saw this complex in all our years of looking is beyond me but I am thrilled I found it when I did. The inlet you loved so much has forever changed, instead of the one highrise there are several, the roads are now almost able to handle the traffic. I know that was always one of your complaints about Vancouver.

Its a different world now than the one you left. Some very bad has happened and I remember clearly wanting to call you on those days. Some very good has taken place and through good and bad we move on. Never forgetting you or your place in our lives. You were a perfectly wonderful husband for this semi-naive young twenty something. You brought me passion and taught me many good life lessons. I am a much more settled person now. I allowed many things to happen to me since you passed away. Some good, some very good, some not so great but each and everything time something happened I learned from it and grew a bit more. I have some wonderful people in my life that wouldn't be here without having lost you and that is such a mixed blessing. Until you got sick we did live in a protected bubble, of course we had many of our "communication sessions" but never ever did I fall out of love with you. If anything when you got sick I learned to love you and all your imperfections even more. My heart breaks when I remember how you had to spend your last years and especially the last months of your life. That is all I wish I could change for you.

We are happy now and not a day goes by that I don't thank you for being in my life and helping me become the woman I am today.

With much love forever

Joanne

Thank You - everyone

2010-01-30T09:34:00.000-08:00

I know I have been all over the place lately with my blog. Rarely visiting my friends and that is what I regret the most. I love visiting and commenting to the wonderful people here. Right now I am just scattered - torn in several different directions and hoping to get back to "normal" whatever normal is.

I have mentioned in a few places this is always a tough time of year for me. I would have thought that after nine years this would not affect me the way it does but Feb 1, 2001 was such a turning point in my life - I guess its something I will live with forever. Actually I hope I never do forget the passing of my first husband.

Graham - 1945 - 2001

But I will forever be grateful for the love my darling hubby #2 brings to me.

Ahhh work - its been a rough month. Bad enough finding out they are eliminating my job (just before Christmas) but then having the added joy of being evacuated from our building due to flooding on top of the other news has just made this a very interesting year.

I am sort of living in this strange parallel universe. When we were evacuated ironically I was put into an office with my current boss and my soon to be new boss (hope he doesn't have buyers remorse). I have been the go to person for 15 years for our department and I find my tolerance now for stupid questions rather low. I am now telling them to put on their big boy/girl pants and find out the answer themselves. All the answers are there - with just a bit of looking - but it was easier to come to me.

And last but not least as I bop all over the place in this post. I want to thank both Kelly - Speaking from the Crib and Erin - TheMother Load for mentioning something that is near and dear to me. Comments - I of course love getting them - please know the ones I do get are treasured. I loved discovering how to receive the comments in my e-mail but was dismayed at how many people have it set at No Reply. Both Kelly and Erin have the instructions of how to change this. If you don't that's cool too I respect everyone's privacy - just know I do enjoy replying.

So on to another day - this month is about over. I know the next couple of months are going to be "interesting". We have the Olympics arriving in town, I will be doing a bit of pre-training in my new job. Winding down my old job - preparing for the new -- ahh life.

Dear So and So's - end of the month edition

2010-01-29T08:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Brain

Why can't you remember all the So & So's you were supposed to store for today?

Sincerely
Joanne (who's other half of her brain is lonely)

I Did Not Know This

2010-01-27T21:26:00.000-08:00

Ok so we have some crazy people here in the lower mainland (what our area of Canuckia is called). I heard about these Green Men that hang out at our NHL team taunting the opposing players penalty box. Then I find out they go to the school I work for - gotta love a great sense of humour.

New Job for Me

2010-01-26T14:51:00.000-08:00

With my body heat I think I should apply!

International hotel chain Holiday Inn is offering a trial human bed-warming service at three hotels in Britain this month. If requested, a willing staff-member at two of the chain's London hotels and one in the northern English city of Manchester will dress in an all-in-one fleece sleeper suit before slipping between the sheets. "The new Holiday Inn bed warmers service is a bit like having a giant hot water bottle in your bed," Holiday Inn spokeswoman Jane Bednall said in an emailed statement to Reuters. The bed-warmer is equipped with a thermometer to measure the bed's required temperature of 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit).

Holiday Inn said the warmer would be fully dressed and leave the bed before the guest occupied it. They could not confirm if the warmer would shower first, but said hair would be covered. Florence Eavis, Holiday Inn spokeswoman told Reuters that the "innovative" bed-warming method was a response to Britain's recent cold weather and marked the launch of 3,200 new Holiday Inns worldwide. She could not explain why the beds were not being warmed by hot water bottles or electric-blankets, but admitted the human method was quirky.

I actually do this for my hubby when we forget to turn up the heat and close the door to our bedroom on cold winter's nights. I tend to always be warm so I don't mind taking one for the team and warming up his side of the bed.

Living Life with No Regrets

2010-01-25T13:28:00.000-08:00

Ok I admit that's a tough one - no regrets whatsoever, but I am doing the best I can to avoid regrets as I pass through to the second half of my life (ok I know I did that a long time ago).

The other day the Fabulous Maven from A Fabulously Good Life posted about living life to the fullest and it was a wonderful thoughtful post (as her's always are). It got me to thinking about my life and things I have done. I am not a daredevil athough I raised a daredevil but I have done some things in my past that I am proud of - some I wonder where my head was at (in hindsight) but for the most part I don't remember too many regrets.

When I was 14 I was lucky enough to have parents that allowed me to travel to Japan with a group of students. There were 120 students and 4 chaperones. One of the chaperones started to date one of the older students but that's a whole other post. Needless to say our supervision was rather lacking. I know at one point I was separated from my group in downtown Tokyo - and I felt no fear. I finished looking at what I wanted to see, I knew which bus would take me back to the hostel and here I am 40 years later telling the tale -- hold on 40 YEARS!!!!! That one trip shaped a lot of my life and the experiences I had were so memorable I treasured that trip.

When I first started to date my husband in the 70's he had just finished travelling around the world. Not much he hadn't seen and I still wanted to see so much. On a whim I booked a cruise to the Caribbean- ALONE. I remember standing in line at the airport sobbing into his shoulder at my rash decision to do this - go away for two weeks and when I saw who was on the cruise I was the youngest by about 40 years!!! I had no idea why I decided to go on my own - room with some unknown female and I was having regrets. That didn't last long, there was a good group of young singles and we had a blast. Never as long as I live will I forget going through the Panama Canal. There were other amazing sites and places but that was the pinnacle. So for a trip that started out with tears and ended up with a bout of Montezuma's revenge I was so glad I did the cruise.

For most of my first marriage there wasn't much aside from raising my son, working and being a good wife. My son was the one that had all the great experiences and never once did I want to squash his desire to do anything. He wanted to fly in a small plane we had a friend that took him up. He wanted to ski, we registered him in lessons. He wanted to go to Italy and Greece of course I had to say yes - I could do no less for him than my parents did for me.

Which brings me to this phase of my life. More than ever now I want to live life with no regrets. I have a list of things I would like to see and do but none of them are really daring. Yes last year I stepped right out of my comfort zone with the zipline adventure. But that came from a desire to actually experience a Yee Haw moment. The fact that it took me three lines before I opened my eyes showed that I really am a chicken.

I think the most daring thing I have done in the last few years was to allow my heart to love again. But it was also the best thing I have done in the last few years.

No regrets my friends - no regrets.

Pedestrians PLEASE!!!

2010-01-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

This was the scene I saw yesterday on my way home from work. I hate seeing the police cars, ambulances and fire trucks roaring up the roads with sirens blaring. We all know rarely are they racing to "nothing". I left work yesterday and two police cars were heading up the road I was going to travel. I hoped they were going to turn off no such luck. As I cleared the second main intersection there they were, police, fire and ambulance with the entire road blocked off. I was able to turn off and make my way home (not easily - I was in unknown territory with lots of dead end streets). I heard about the "accident" on the road and couldn't reconcile cars because of the type of road and pedestrian made no sense because it wasn't near an intersection.

Which of course brings me to the reason of this post. Please Pedestrians be cautious. Not all drivers are good ones and you may be right but you could also be dead. Or in the case of this pedestrian crossing in the middle of the road - I believe its the last mistake she ever made.

Many years ago my son was walking to school - it was quite a distance and the last part was on a very very busy road. He was about 13 when this happened. He was walking following the lights and rules of the road. At one intersection he told me this truck came down the hill and turned right almost hitting him. He kept saying to me "I had the green light - I was right". Which is where I first used the term - "you may be right but you could also be dead". I told him never ever assume that the driver sees you - don't think that your green light or little walking sign is magic.

I hate when I see these pedestrians take off like they own the road - they think that we are going to just stop for them. Well most of us out there are good drivers and will stop, but even the best of drivers can have minor distractions, momentary lapses in judgement and just plain poor visibility. What results another maimed or dead pedestrian. Our pedestrians here rule the road and for that reason many are hurt or killed.

I remember my first visit to New York City - I was the Canadian waiting for the light to turn green. Stepping off the curb without my signals was just unheard of for me. My New York friends had to literally drag me out to cross the street. I got used to the cadence and after a few times on the mean streets I was stepping off with the best of them. But I also learned that the pedestrian wasn't the king of the road. When we stepped off it was when there was NOTHING coming. I know because one time I did step off when I had the green light and this taxi almost ran me over - I might have had the green light but I didn't have right of way. From what I gather no one does - except the cars.

I am not often a pedestrian, my husband is every day and I do worry a bit. I hate if he decides to cross in the middle - I beg him to use the light. So far he understands I just don't want to lose him and he is pretty good about being a smart pedestrian.

Not sure what the rules are like where you live. But I think this allowing the pedestrians so much right of way has just made for lousy decisions and dead pedestrians.

Her Swiss Steak is Legendary

2010-01-19T08:32:00.000-08:00

Lynn over on It's a July Thing posted about her mom's culinary skills today. Just this past weekend my mom was reminiscing about lunches her dad made for them. The lunches consisted of leftovers from the night before chopped up and put in a pot. He then added a can of creamed corn or canned spagetti. Honestly it sounded heavenly to my palate.

Like Lynn's my mom was not a culinary artist. There was just myself and my brother and mom didn't work. She had friends that were awesome cooks and I LOVED being invited over for dinner. I will admit that when mom was doing a dinner party she could rock the house out with fabulous dinners and incredibly wonderful appetizers all presented on the best china and silver.

Day to day though was a different story. I will admit Friday nights when my dad worked were my favourite. We got to have breakfast for dinner - LOVE that!!! At least once a week we had her famous Swiss Steak -- not sure why she had a grudge against the Swiss but it was the worst piece of meat we ever choked down. No wonder my brother is a vegetarian.

The day Hamburger Helper hit the shelves was pretty much the end of the Swiss steak -- so we traded shoe leather for chemicals. To this day I can still conjure up the taste of Hamburger Helper - I make my own version without the box.

My mom was also not the greatest of bakers although her pies and crust were so good I have never made one myself - I was just too intimidated by the other women in my family. Her cakes were lopsided and usually iced too early which made for unique presentation.

Now here is why I wanted to write about my mom's skills because I loved this story. My mom basically grew up without her real mom. She was shuffled from her grandparents, to boarding school, to her dad's and step mom's. For most of my life I had no real idea why my real grandmother was kept from knowing us - it bothered me but I respected my mom too much to question her whereabouts. Early in the 90's my mom received a letter from Florida. The letter was from my mom's half-brother's wife letting us know that Florence (my grandmother) had passed away. My mom and her sister-in-law started up a letter and phone friendship. She enjoyed talking to her brother and his wife.

In 2003 she decided to take the plunge and fly down to Florida to meet face to face her brother and his family. To make a long story short and bring us back to the original reason for the post. It turns out Florence was a lovely lady -- it was our loss that we never got to know her. But my mom spent a lot of time asking her brother questions and there were many many similarities to my mom and her own mom.

The funnest one was their cake baking abilities. Turns out they made identical cakes even though years and miles separated these two wonderful women.

Mom I love you and just know even though we tease you about our past meals you were the best hostess ever!!!!!

I'm a Nerd - and I LOVE IT!!

2010-01-18T08:06:00.000-08:00

Last year my husband (my adorable nerd) bought the Wii Rock Band just so that he could buy the Beatles Rock Band game. So in our basement we have the Wii drum kit and guitar sitting out for our playing enjoyment. Only other time I see this is on TV shows like The Big Bang Theory and whenever they are portraying either a kids room or a nerd's room. So now we have the ultimate nerd decor and guess what - I LOVE IT!!!

I have been fooling around with the guitar and doing ok (is 5000 a good score???) but this past weekend I sat down at the drum kit. Its a BLAST!!! Its silly stupid fun and believe it or not a bit of a work out. My arms were actually a bit sore after a few songs. I feel bad for destroying While My Guitar Gently Weeps but I had fun doing it.

So I guess I am officially in my golden years a NERD!!! Does anyone know if Rock Band has Iron Butterfly's In a Gadda Da Vida?? Bet with some practice I could rock that out like I used to on the couch back in the 70's - now there was a drum solo!!!

Haiti - My Heart is Breaking

2010-01-16T21:01:00.000-08:00

For the past four days I have watched the news and I cry each and every time I see anything about Haiti. I remember driving home and hearing the news about the 7.1 earthquake and when I heard it was Haiti I knew it was going to be beyond devastating. Poor Haiti has never had any sort of decent infastructure and when our earth moves in a place of frail buildings I know they are in for a world of terror.

Being here on the west coast I have experienced earthquakes - - its an eerie feeling. But our buildings (for the most part) are built to withstand a certain amount of movement. I am sure Haiti has little or no seismic construction.

The news daily is harsh and I feel so helpless sitting here with my biggest complaint being the rain and my digestive system. When I see the reality of what is going on I feel ashamed.

On that fateful day a group of teenagers from Nelson, British Columbia (prettiest city you can imagine) were flying into Haiti for mission work. They arrived one hour before the earthquake struck. As of now (Saturday night) they are still there. My heart goes out to their parents - I know how it feels to have your child away but its unimaginable under these circumstances.

I keep thinking what can we do - I search for the best place to send my donation. I know every dollar counts and I only wish I could do more. Since the tsunami hit in Indonesia I have been donating each month to one organization, I won't abandon that now but I know now is the time to step up for Haiti.

I just hope soon we will hear some good news from there and see these wonderful people survive.

My Inspirational Teacher - the One Who Made a Difference

2010-01-14T21:29:00.000-08:00

Lori at Family Trees May Contain Nuts is hosting another Writer's Challenge! Our topic this month is "Teachers Who Made a Difference in Your Life - Good or Bad".

When I first saw this challenge I was positive I was going to write about Mrs Madison. She was my 9th Grade Math teacher, and probably the toughest teacher I ever had. That said I believe she expected more from all of us and it taught me the more people expect the more I want to give -- carried me a long way in life. But the more I thought about it I knew I had to share about my 12th Grade Biology teacher.

As with most teenagers I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. I did know I had zero desire to work in an office (hello guess where I ended up - digressing). I entered Grade 11 in full on Sciences -- never did great-- but that was my style -- I wasn't awful except for one course. Biology 11 - to this day I remember my final mark and comment. C- with recommendation that Joanne never take any more Biology courses!! I was almost ready to pack in my Sciences, give up my chance to go to University and do something - anything rather than office work. Because I was struggling before I ended grade 11, I went to my counsellor and changed my Grade 12 electives to the dreaded office clerk training courses. I felt defeated before I even received that Biology 11 mark.

As I learned in Grade 9 Math I need to be inspired and pushed and my teacher Mr L did neither. But I also have another personality flaw/strength, and that is, that I can be quite contrary. Don't tell me I can't do something (that's my job). So on the misguided advice of my Grade 11 Biology teacher I cancelled all my office related courses and signed up for Chemistry 12, Physics 11 and *dun - dun - dun* Biology 12. Life and luck were on my side - I had an awesome partner George and the best teacher our school had Mr Rod MacVicar!!!

He made the most boring parts of Biology interesting. It was the last class of the day at our school and we lived in a Biologically rich area. He took us to the inlet, over to the lake and all the Grade 12's went on a unforgettable trip to one of our Gulf Islands for a day - it was heaven. I wanted so badly to make this man proud of me and what he was teaching us. I wanted him to realize that when he waded into the lake to find a certain plant and then showed us how to look at the cells the next day under the microscope I was learning. So to completely prove Mr L (the dreaded Grade 11 teacher) wrong I pulled in an A - a frikken A!!!!!

It was many years later when I was a young mom taking my boy scout son to help at a local fish hatchery that I met up with Rod MacVicar again. He was still inspiring students to look beyond and into the world that surrounded us. He and two of his fellow teachers took a dead stream and brought it back to life. They then put the students in charge of keeping that stream alive and the salmon that run there every year are all part of his legacy. I would watch local shows about our Orca population and usually he was piloting the boat that our local Aquarium was using to study the Orca's.

I googled Rod MacVicar and after reading 10 pages of findings the best quote to describe this incredible teacher was the first one and the shortest post - check it out here

I wouldn't say he was directly responsible for my going on to University but he certainly helped my ego. My life at University is fodder for another blog - maybe tomorrow so stay tuned.

So Mr MacVicar from a long time ago grad and I have said it to you since, Thank You for inspiring and allowing me to prove to myself I can do anything I set my mind to.

8 things you Need to know about Me !!

2010-01-14T13:38:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by Vodka Logic to play Lucky Chinese Tag and as I also need some blog inspiration so........lets go.

I like things about 8 - my birthday is October 8 (which in the old days was the eighth month - thanks Julius and Augustus for messing that up). My hubby's birthday is Oct 28 and we choose to get married on Oct 18 just to use up all the 8's in October -- had enough 8's yet - well read on...........

8 TV shows I watch

House
Heros
Bones
CSI NY
Criminal Minds
Fringe
The Forgotten
Anything on Food TV

8 favorite places to eat and drink

Milestones
The Keg
Earl's
White Spot
Cactus Club
Most Pub Grub
My Sister-in-law's (she is a professional chef)
My Mother-in-law's (believe it or not)

8 things I look forward to

Seeing my awesome son, his girlfriend and our grand-dogger
Going home after work

Chillaxing on the couch
Going for a walk on a beautiful day
Going into Vancouver on a beautiful day to see my brother-in-law
The Spring, Summer and Fall Fashion Show and dinner with my great friends
When everything is right, going to a Yoga Class
My once a week Starbucks Mocha on campus

8 things that happened yesterday (careful zzzzzzzzz alert)

I blogged
I over-ate
called my mom in the middle of the day
paid my Sears bill (that's why I had to call my mom - long story)
I harassed my co-workers (daily event - wonder why they got rid of me???)
I worked
I slept
I checked the Olympic ticket site for reasonable tickets (so far NOTHING)

8 things I love about winter

The fact that Vancouver really doesn't have one
Blue skies
Clean snow
Bundling up for a walk
Snow on the mountains
Curling up under a blanket together
My new winter coat
My lovely scarves and matching gloves

8 things on my wish list

Attend a 7th game of either the World Series or a Stanley Cup
See a Balloon Festival (missed it last year but just a touch - dang!!)
Be on the fringe of the crowd for New Years Eve (Vegas, Times Square or such place)
See Europe
Go back to New Zealand and visit Australia
Own a really really nice fitting expensive coat
Have the surgery to fix my foot
Lose weight once and for all
8 things I am passionate about

My son
My husband
My mom and brother
Relaxing
Tolerance for people suffering with depression
The amount of injustice
Stupid people (like the ones that just came in asking for directions -- WE ARE NOT THE CAMPUS INFORMATION BOOTH!!!)
Bad drivers

8 words I use often

Love
Adore
Please
Thankyou ( I am Canadian)
Geesh
Frikken
Jerk
Azzhole (these two are used mostly when I am driving)

8 things I have learned from the past

Life is too short
You can fall in love more than once
Those cookies do catch up with you
True friends last forever
$aving is good but not every dollar
The internet is NOT evil
My parents really were smart
I could con my child

8 things I want/need

I want to retire happy
I want to retire healthy
I need to be married a very long time to my husband
I want grandchildren (after my son gets married please - yes I am old-fashioned)
I want to maintain all my friendships
I want my loved ones to remain healthy and happy
I want to win a small lottery
I need to continue blogging and enjoying my blog friends

I won't tag anyone but please if you want to play along leave me a comment and let me know. I really do enjoy reading these so much. I love getting to know more about the cool people here.

What a Difference a Year Can Make or Hey Mister Do You Wanna Buy Some Snow!!

2010-01-13T08:11:00.000-08:00

This was my post from last year about this time - pictures from my little backyard with the sun and the snow and then the bottom picture is what I looked out on in our parking lot at work. Yes this time last year Vancouver was surrounded and drowning in snow. This year not so much!! We are wet (the liquid type you don't have to shovel) and warm. Hitting the double digits in temperature. Yesterday morning my car registered 12 degrees at 7:00am (54 US degrees).

Would I care normally - no this is winter in Vancouver - usually wet and semi-mild with a few dustings of snow thrown in to make us remember we are part of Canada.

But this year we have this little party coming to town in one month less a day. The Winter Olympics - operative word here is Winter. For the most part all should be fine. The bulk of the competition is taking place in Whistler and they have a year round supply of snow. The header on my blog is a picture we took last July up on Whistler Mountain so even in the summer you can see some of the white stuff. But here in the lower mainland our mountains are looking rather green.

Not to worry we have some world-class snow engineers and with the prediction that El Nino (aka the Pineapple Express) was going to crash our winter party they started to stock pile snow when it first fell in November. Yes you read that correct on the north side of our mountains away from prying eyes they have mounds and mounds and mounds of snow all being protected from any stray snow bunnies.

We only have tickets for one non-sporting event so far but I am trying to get something for one of the mountain events. Can't have this so close to home without trying to attend one thing at least. Last March we went to the Speed Skating Oval for an International Competition and it was quite moving to watch us win gold in one event. During the medal ceremony it was quite touching to see our flag hoisted up and our national anthem played.

So lets hope the Pineapple Express leaves us sooner rather than later and this will be a party to remember.

Pop Culture Generational Gaps

2010-01-11T14:16:00.000-08:00

I am now almost the senior citizen in my life -- which was strange because for many years I was the youngest of our friends, my family and even in my work environment. But as with most humans I am now the elder of most everyone, including work, family and some friends.

What gets me is when I make reference to something from my pop culture and there is this expectation that everyone knows what I am talking about. Just last night I was at the butchers with dear hubby. We bought some lovely pork chops and I commented about "Dear Departed Arnold" - the *young* girl waiting on me had NO idea what I was talking about and then when I looked at my husband for support he clearly was also unclear of what I was talking about *sighs*. Sometimes those six years between us feel like a very very long time. For you my young reader Arnold was the pig on the show from the 60's called Green Acres -- Eva Gabor - Eddie Albert - ok never mind.

Last week while moving into our new office we were arranging plants to sort of hide one of the assistants. Of course myself and the two Associate Deans were trying to out Arte Johnson each other saying (in really poor German accents) - "very interesting". The two assistants (both in their 30's) looked at us like we needed some care and attention. When we tried to explain (that really loses something in translation) it just didn't seem so funny.

Oh Gawd I hate to do this - but those really were the days. At least in my mind. I do get caught when some of my young friends make references to some of the contemporary people and culture of today - I have no idea what they are talking about. But I guess that's gone on for years.

Will 20 years from now my son turn to his son (or daughter) and say "D'oh!!" and the child won't have a clue of what they are saying. Although I have a feeling the Simpson's are going to be part of our culture for a very very very long time to come.

Long may "Lucy you have some 'splainin!!!" live as part of our daily references.

I Got Nuthin

2010-01-09T19:34:00.000-08:00

Seriously I am away a week -- just scratching the surface to try and catch up with my blog friends and I have nothing - NOTHING to share. How sad is that?? I never wanted to be someone who's job came first and so far in 2010 its been all I can think about - even at 2:30 in the MORNING!!!!

I even missed my one year blogaversary (is that the correct term) last week.

Help me!!!

Dear So and So's

2010-01-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Friends - I am so sorry I am absent here and on your blogs - its tearing me to pieces.

Dear Institute - I love working here but I wish you would maintain some of the facilities with a bit more care, this has been one strenuous year and I have lost more in the flood than I realize (just lost not destroyed).

Dear Instructors - you know collectively I appreciate what you do and I know my job over the last 15 years was to spoil you but we have all been affected by this flood and it would be nice if you put your selfish needs aside for once and realize everything is in turmoil and no I can't find your stupid PD forms right this second!!!! Just once over this last while it would be nice if one of your - any of you asked what you could do to maybe help - just a little!!!

Dear Drivers -- I know I had one headlight out (fixed now) but why did you have to keep turning into my lane as if I wasn't there at all - I had one working headlight and the yellow lights (whatever they are called when you are using them as indicators). That was a rather scary morning!

Dear Olympic Volunteer Committee - not sure why I wasn't picked but honestly with the things going on right now I am just as glad - would have been a hell of a party though.

Dear Olympics - even though you are constantly doing stuff to piss us off I have to admit I am rather excited and can hardly wait to head downtown a couple of times to party hardy -- note to self buy ticket for a Victory Ceremony today.

Back for more when life has settled down - lets just say its been an interesting year.

New Toys

2010-01-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

So its more than a week after Christmas and most of the Boxing Day (our equivilent to Black Friday) sales are over but we ventured out today to get Me, yes Me some toys. Shhh don't tell hubby that I told you but he was pulled over last week for speeding. The officer gave him a choice -- pay the $400 fine (don't speed in Vancouver!!) or buy me a $400 gift. Well I ended up with double that - YAY!!!

First toy was the PVR for my old TV in the small TV room. Its a 16 year old Hitachi TV that's old and heavy and still works but I can't record or pause or anything. I love the PVR downstairs and wanted one for myself - I wish we didn't have to buy one that's for HD TV but what are you gonna do? I am now a proud owner of my own (sort of) PVR box - FoodTV is on constant record!!! Now I don't have to fight with Humphrey Bogart or John Wayne movies - my shows - MY SHOWS can be recorded without incident.

Next treat (sort of for both of us) is a small LCD TV for our bedroom. We haven't watched TV there for at least four years. We had an old 27" TV that died four years ago, my sister-in-law gave us an even older 21" that cut off everyone's heads and had no remote -- horrors. No big loss but when we saw the prices for a 26" LCD TV I batted my eyelashes and pleaded with hubby to get me one too. He would have been better off paying the ticket. Naw he is looking forward to the TV upstairs. It certainly won't be used as much as the large one downstairs but now we have the choice.

Then last but not least and probably most important I bought new shoes - ohh they are so cute and functional!!! Gave my hubby a good laugh - I was trying to put my orthotics in the shoes so that I could try them on properly (lesson learned last year). I was grumbling and complaining - he offered to help - then laughed when he said putting the left orthotic in the left shoe would be infinitely easier - grrrr.
Well they were like putting on slippers they were so comfortable!!! With all the walking I have to do in the next while especially at work these will be handy. I used to work between three connecting buildings - now I have five buildings scattered all over campus. These new sweeties will come in handy. So all in we spent just over $1000 in under an hour -- darling hubby got new shoes too.

I know definitely not Choo's or Blahniks but for this girl they are heaven in leather.

Painting a Fence is Fun!!!

2010-01-02T14:09:00.000-08:00

I did not see this coming. Lou did this really cool quiz and ended up with the greatest book. I guess being part of another American Classic is rather cool and
my penchance for being a bit childlike has now caught up with me.

You're Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!

by Mark Twain

With an affinity for floating down the river, you see things in black
and white. The world is strange and new to you and the more you learn about it, the less
it makes sense. You probably speak with an accent and others have a hard time
understanding you and an even harder time taking you seriously. Nevertheless, your
adventurous spirit is admirable. You really like straw hats.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

PS Canadians don't have accents - just boring speech patterns

Here's to a New Decade and My Look-back to the Decade That Changed Me

2010-01-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

Quite a while ago Lou - At The Quiet Life posted about another Decade Down. Honestly I had forgotten that we were ending a decade and starting fresh. Totally forgotten about the whole Y2K scare - what a fantastic waste of time and resources and what a farce. My son reminded me about some guy that had purchased school buses and buried them in somewhere to save his family and friends. For me this past decade has probably brought the most growth and change since the 60's. I will do my best not to dwell on the tragic - for anyone that has read me you know the story - but from the depths of tragedy and sadness I also learned you can live after love and even find a new love.

So in particular order here are some of the high and low lights of the first decade of our new century.

2000 - our son left in January to find himself Down-Under - he was away for most of the year. My husband after many months of searching found his dream boat and we had it in a Marina just minutes from our house. He spent most of that year on the boat - trying to get better and found some peace in his last year. In October he was booked to have surgery to make him better - it didn't happen that way and I spent New Years Eve that year in the ICU - he was in a coma and I shared sparking apple juice with the nurses and staff. Actually I was in awe that with all these coma patients - so much sickness and sadness they could bring some normalcy to the end of 2000.

2001 - one month later my husband gave up fighting - with our permission - I swear he heard us tell him it was ok to leave us. In May four of us made the trek to New Zealand to bury him with his father - quite a cherished trip with myself, our son, my best friend and his best friend. When we arrived home my father ended up in hospital and my next vigil started, he passed away in July at the exact minute and day of the week my husband had passed -- I am sure Graham was with my dad and 3:30am on a Thursday morning was his message to us. I also learned the support and friendship that you can find on the internet. On Sept11, 2001 I spent the day online with other young widowed friends trying to make some sense of what happened. I also became a Food Network junkie during that time. I could NOT see or read anything about what happned and that was the only TV station that didn't run reports (still hooked on FOODTV). December of that year I also made my first spontaneous decision - I booked a flight to New Orleans to meet up with my new internet friends. It was an incredible time and showed me people on the internet are NOT evil.

2002 - I flew down to Las Vegas with the same widow group and I began to wake up from my grief. When I came home I delved into the world of internet dating. Lets just say there are some nasty people online -- but for the most part good people are here (look who is reading this *grins*). I was also learning how to do two jobs as my dearest office friend was in the middle of her battle with breast cancer. My son was going to school to become the best Security Alarm Installer - post 9/11 (ok so that didn't last). He did great in the class and did like the job but better things were on the horizon for him.

2003 - Ahh the year I fell (I think) in love long distance. He was in New York - and Italian no less. We met on a gaming site - where I also met a life long friend. In May I took the chance and flew off to New York sight unseen to meet this Bronx boy (what an accent). One thing we did for each other was make each other laugh - he took me to a Yankees game and all over the place sight seeing. Honestly I am not sure how much I fell for him rather than New York City. I went back in June for two weeks - his family loved me and I spent the days while he worked exploring NYC on my own - it was glorious. I went to plays - nice restaurants for lunch - learned to enjoy myself - it was wonderful.

2004 - time to make major fixes in my home. We had been in the house since 1980 - my late husband planned and built the entire house - it never really felt like mine. But I loved where it was more than anything. The roof needed replacing as well as the carpet - so fix I did getting ready to sell. I also realized my NY friend had too much of a drinking problem for me to continue the relationship. I flew out for a visit to say goodbye and get ready to move on emotionally and physically from my old life. Little did I realize that on July 4 EVERYTHING was about to change -- that was the day I met my future husband face to face for the first time. We met online and started to move cautiously towards a serious relationship. My other online friend came to Vancouver for the first time - she and her husband were actually the first people to meet my new sweetie. I also met two other very important people, a widow from Brooklyn NY and another widow from Palm Springs CA. Turns out through the magic of the internet the three of us found each other - we are almost birthday triplets - just eight days separate us. I took my mom and cousin to New York in October and we all met up on our birthday - very cool and we are still very very close. During this same trip I went to Boston and my cousin and I toured Fenway Park. Well my new sweetie was a HUGE Red Sox fan and I brought him back a hat from Fenway -- ironically the Red Sox won the World Series that year - I believe our magic might have helped a bit. I ended 2004 in my new townhouse with new sweetie at my side - still moving cautiously though.

2005 - New townhouse - new love interest. Sad news about my New York friend - he had worked and drunk himself into a major stroke. First thing new sweetie says is fly out to see him (what man does that?? - a really GREAT one!!). Soon after his job situation changed and asking him to move in with me seemed like the smartest thing for both of us -- got him no closer to his new hospital but closer to my heart *grins*. I flew to NY to see my friend - very sad. But got to spend a wonderful weekend with my Brooklyn sista - very great!!! July I lost my dear friend Heather to her cancer - thank goodness I had such a wonderful love to support me.

2006 - Pretty much an even level year - only real loss was my dear golden retriever Sandi passed away way too young (9 years) of cancer. Left quite a hole in our hearts.

2007 - another easy going year until October when my darling sweetie took me on a mystery trip. It included an afternoon at a spa and just before our couple's massage while we were drinking champagne and eating chocolate covered strawberries he proposed to me - WOW!! YES OF COURSE!!!

2008 - another good year for us - spent most of it planning our simple (yes it took a year!!) wedding. Also spent the year helping my mom cope with her chemo treatments - to say it was stressful is minimizing it but my goodness she was strong. My proudest moment was the one evening at 10pm she called to say she couldn't go another night alone. She needed me!! I thanked her for that and it was a turning point in her recovery. This was also the year my son moved back in with us while he went back to school (again) for his Journeyman Electrician ticket. He also fell in love with a great girl and after he finished school he moved with her and his new life.

2009 - This was my year for life list items. Went to Alaska on a cruise (will NOT be our last cruise together). During a trip to Whistler I dug up courage to get on the Zip Line - and LOVED it!! Scared the crap out of me but by the fourth line I could almost open my eyes. In October we went to the Grand Canyon and I know now what its on everyone's list - IT's GLORIOUS!!! Almost got to see my other list item - a Balloon Festival (maybe 2010) I will not say too much about the end of this year. I have whined about the situation enough. One possible good outcome with the flood is that I am now sharing a new office with my old Associate Dean and my next Associate Dean -- so good chance to get to know them better before I move over.

So dear reader if you made it this far I commend you. As always with blogging most of this is for me and I like to look back. Thanks Lou for being my inspiration. I look forward to 2010 with all my new blog friends.

I Would Have Cleaned Up Quietly

2009-12-28T19:40:00.000-08:00

Well as if this December hasn't been interesting enough I got yet another phone call that stopped my heart on Sunday. My in-laws had just arrived to see our new renovations and a few minutes later the phone rang. It was one of my managers from work and SHE NEVER CALLS ME AT HOME!!! My brain went in a few horrid directions but never thought for a second what had actually happened had happened. My building that I have worked in for the last 15+ years was completely and entirely flooded. Its a three story building and a tank on the roof broke and for 8 or 10 uninterrupted hours the water poured through the offices. Thankfully its only an admin building so none of our labs are in there - that's where all the expensive equipment lives.

Of course at that point no one had been to the building so the extent wasn't known - they needed to know where any spare offices are for us to use for the next 6 to 8 weeks!!!! My dear sweet hubby came with me today for support and manual labour. As we drove up this is what it looks like from the outside.

Not so bad just the yellow caution tape around the entire building and all the restoration trucks. Up the stairs to the second floor - I apologize for the shaky picture but now I am getting a bit upset noticing the extent of the damage.

My office or should I say my ex-office is on the other side of the wall. When we walked in there was water dripping on the desks, the computers, phones and any other electronics had been packaged up. Oh crap my darling frog that my dear Heather brought me back from Cancun is in the box with my monitor -- I hope I get it back - digressing.

My beautiful office will be no more -- it dawned on me that I have to pack up and leave in four months and we will be out for two months so no point in moving back for just a short while and then pack again. I would have gone quietly they didn't have to do something so dramatic to get me out.

I have had a few burbles coming to that realization. I know I am not losing my job but I am losing my position and this is just a nasty addition to my sadness over leaving the department that I have grown to love immensely. One thing though, I had been advising my boss that where my desk was they should put up a wall to keep the instructors away from the admin assistant that will be left in the department. When we were observing the damage today I looked at my boss and said "now would be a great time to order the wall". You know I think he might actually put in the request.

So not the most dramatic December for me but its certainly been emotional and interesting - I think I am going to sleep now until 2010. There are rumours that Mercury is in retrograde -- tell it to stop -- NOW!!!

A very Bar-Car Christmas

2009-12-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

First I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas -- hoping to spend some time catching up. Here is our Christmas roundup - and the first three letters of my hubby and my last name do make BarCar (its kind of fun). So here is how our traditional "interesting" Christmas went.

As I mentioned Christmas Eve was different. I got to be gofer for my sister-in-law's apperance on the local TV show. Her cooking segment was just under 4 minutes - time spent at the station two hours - who says that TV is glamorous??
First up one of the production staff that doesn't know my brother or his wife thought I was the on air person and asked me if I was miked up and ready to go.

Who Me Cook???

I would rather stand over here and be quiet

Here is the real chef in action

I'm ready for my close-up

She made an awesome Spicy Turkey Fried Rice recipe that's available here on her website.

Christmas Day went as planned -- family started to arrive at 2pm we ate dinner about 4 (which is very English), sat down and opened a mountain of presents. Then had the most delicious desserts provided by above chef - YAY!! All in all a great day, fairly easy going, no drama and everyone was gone by 7PM.

Boxing Day (the 26th) was going to be rather busy driving around. Day spent with my hubby's family (the Car part). Brunch with my sister-in-law and her hubby and darling toddler then back to go visit my cousin in the hospital. Ok brunch went off as planned although traffic was awful!!! Got a phone call that my cousin had delivered her baby at 3:00am so not in very good condition to receive visitors. The baby was 4lb's so rather tiny and was having the surgery to correct her instestine problem in the early afternoon - not even 12 hours old. Sounds like baby and mom are doing ok and I am taking my mom to see them both on Monday.

Dinner at my mother-in-law's was quite nice tiny bit of drama but we had to keep it low key because the center of the drama was my husband's darling little nephew. He was supposed to spend Christmas day with his dad and Boxing day with his mom. We arranged to meet up to give him his gifts but as it turns out his mother wasn't available. Stupid cow has spent more time in rehab than Brittney and Courtney Love combined but nothing seems to work. Who suffers the most is her darling son - his dad (my brother-in-law) does an awesome job raising this young boy on his own - never bad mouths the mother and does everything he can to keep them in contact and she pulls crap like this at Christmas. If it wasn't so dang sad I would be furious at her - but I guess in the grand scheme she isn't in control.

So we all did our best to make him feel loved and adored (which he is by all of us) and hopefully his missing mom didn't hurt too much. Stupid Bitch (ok I said it louder!!)

Quiet day today sort of alone for us - getting cleaned up and back to some form of normalcy. Its gorgeous here just above freezing with bright blue skies and the lake is beckoning to be walked around after lunch. Can hardly wait to catch up with everyone.

Twas the Day Before Christmas

2009-12-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

And will I be all settled in the house preparing for the big day - no. I just received an invite from my sister-in-law to go watch her tape at a local TV station. She is the one that wrote her I Can Cook Turkey Dinner book I mentioned in this blog post. So I am heading into the Big City (Vancouver) tomorrow instead of cleaning and prepping the house. I haven't seen a TV show taping since I was a Cub Scout Leader so this will be fun. She is making Spicy Turkey Fried Rice and with her permission I will hopefully post a clip here when its all finished.

So that is how I am spending my Christmas Eve -- time with my brother (and that does NOT happen often). Then out with friends for our traditional Chinese Food Feast. I will be checking in here and at my other blog. I need my Lifestyle Blog right now to get through this season with out too many calorie budget blowouts.

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful 2010!!!

Back in the Christmas Spirit

2009-12-22T15:38:00.000-08:00

Ok no more moaning and groaning. My presents are purchased. Wrapping is just about done, the house is looking good and except for picking up the ham for Christmas dinner. To my reader yes we eat ham and not turkey for Christmas dinner - at least when I am cooking. Within our family we have two people that can't stand turkey (my mom and my husband), a strict vegetarian and two that have had Christmas turkey on Christmas Eve. Its a blessing that my son's girlfriend is French Canadian and Christmas Eve is the bigger celebration - that leaves them always available for Christmas dinner so no turkey either ham or prime rib.

Here are some of my favourite tree decorations. As much as I love my digital camera you can't hide the fact the tree is fake with digital pictures and I am just too darn lazy to figure out PhotoShop to blur them up a bit.

Here is our First Christmas together (2005) ornament and one of the ornaments my girlfriend painted for me (the stocking)

We had our honeymoon in Whistler (where the 2010 Olympics are going to be held) and bought this darling snowman.

I collected the Swarovski Crystal Snowflakes for 8 years - they are quite gorgeous - picture doesn't do it justice.

Our two latest acquisitions, one from Skagway (cruise in June) and my lovely hot air balloon from our miserable trip to Alburqueque (I swore I would never have to type that again). At least I got a gorgeous ornament.

Dang this Time of Year - not a Horrible Story - but not Great Either

2009-12-20T21:53:00.000-08:00

Well this story would be upsetting any time but as always Christmas makes it just that much harder. This is about my young cousin Nic - she is a brilliant vivacious girl and even though throughout her life we haven't spent much time together I adore her to pieces. Actually back in 2004 my mom and I went to visit her grandmother (my aunt) up in Kelowna - it was a great weekend and a wonderful visit with all my cousins. For the last several years I seem to only see them (because of distance) at funerals. Mom and I were planning a trip that October to New York City and it just felt right to ask Nic to join us. We presented the trip saying all she needed to raise was her airfare and some spending money - we would pay for the rest. Amazingly this 19 year old jumped at the chance to spend two weeks in New York and Boston with her 40 something cousin (that be me) and her 75 year old aunt (that be my mom - brilliant eh).

Well we had a great time - she was a ton of fun to be with. She didn't hesitate to approach people for pictures or talk about anything. We went on a tour of Fenway Park and she was over the moon (she played girl's baseball into her late teens). She begged the tour guide to allow her on the field and she was charming but not quite enough. We even tried to talk our way into Yankee Stadium when it was closed for tours (October -- something about the World Series??). Lets just say those two weeks left a real lasting impression on us - but she moved to another province way up north and haven't seen her since.

Us at the top of the Empire State Building

Nic with Central Park Horse

Rainy Day at Fenway Park

Yankee Stadium (no luck getting in there)

What I wanted to share first was this vivacious girl in action. I had trouble choosing from the 200 pictures I have from our trip. What a fun time with three different generations.

So what has me upset now and feeling very helpless on several issues is that our darling Nic is pregnant -- its a good thing except her baby is developing her intestines outside the body. I have been told this isn't so unusual and that Nic will be brought down to our Women's Hospital in Vancouver for care and when the baby is born she will be taken immediately to Children's Hospital (don't we have original hospital names??) for surgery. Nic is due in Feb - and we promised the family we would do our best to get there (egads the middle of the Olympics and no one can get anywhere easily).

Nic came down for some tests and things aren't going very well so she needs to stay in Vancouver until the baby is born on complete bedrest. They are moving her from Woman's Hospital to Canuck Place in a couple of days. Canuck Place is Vancouver's Ronald McDonald House - so it occupied by terminally ill children and their parents. Its a wonderful place but I am worried about Nic being there as a new momma with a critically ill child growing in her. Especially this time of year. We are going to do our best to get down to see her as much as possible -- knowing her she will not get dragged down but its so unfair. I know there are so many worse things that can happen. I am just venting. When mom and I were commiserating about it - she reminded me that another of my young cousin's had problems during two of her pregnancies - - difference was this girl was so damn laid back and lazy she would have LOVED bedrest.

So please send good thoughts to my dear Nic -- and I will keep you posted after I have seen her. What a time of year for this!!

Christmas Cookie Rulez

2009-12-19T22:32:00.000-08:00

Christmas Cookie Rules...

1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.

2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.

3. If a friend comes over while you're making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calories free, (rule #1) yours is also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone and, being the friend that you are, that makes your cookie calorie free.

4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.

5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.

6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have three and green ones have five - one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!

7. Cookies eaten while watching "Miracle on 34th Street" have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.

8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking Causes calorie leakage.

9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate.

We all know how calories like to CLING!

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!

So, go out and enjoy those Christmas Cookies - we only get them this time of year!

PS - this will not be crossed over to my other blog *grins*

Tempting Treats???

2009-12-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

This morning my radio station had the daily "Impossible Question" "Only 28% of Canadians indulge in this Christmas Tradition - what is it?" The answer drinking eggnog. So as I turned up my nose and put myself in the 72% that don't indulge it got me to thinking. Why don't I drink eggnog -- actually I have never tasted it nor do I want to. I find as I get older I am eating more things that I would have never touched years ago. Some are good for me such as Squash - that was a huge blech for me as a child - now I could eat it every day and what a delightful low calorie veggie. On the bad side I have discovered Blue Cheese and during this journey I have done my best to break up with cheese so I have to avoid my new food discovery.

I remember sitting in Starbucks around Christmas time with my mom and she ordered the eggnog latte and was trying to force me to try it. I said no and she kept insisting. Maybe it is really tasty but do I need to discover any more food items (especially calorie laden treats) in my life? Are there any things that you won't try for fear of discovering that you might really like it? I know I don't need to find any more food items that I like -- the list is too long as it is.

So for now and for the rest of my life I am going to ignore Eggnog, Pumpkin Pie, Boston Cream Pie and many other supposedly yummy items.

This will be my first cross-over blog so if you my dear reader wander into both my blogs I apologize for being lazy - but they are my blogs and I can play how I want.

Doing My Best But.....

2009-12-17T09:14:00.000-08:00

Once again December is kicking me in the ass. Every year I think its finished with playing its miserable jokes on me and I know in the grand scheme what happened this year falls in about fourth or fifth place for worst Christmas yet - just one up from the horrible Christmas of 1968 spent in San Diego.

It was suggested by Kelly from Speaking from the Crib that Christmas memories are worth blogging about so beware some of my Christmas past isn't pretty but like Scrooge the future is looking better (so far).

My mom had a troubled past - she grew up privileged but lonely. It wasn't unusual for her to be separated from her family for the Christmas holidays. My mom is the type of person to rise above the past to create better futures in more ways than one. Her most important contribution was to ensure that my brother and I had the most amazing holidays and especially Christmas when we were growing up. Our house was always full of family, friends, lovely decorations and good times.

Back in 1976 I was dating my first husband and looking forward to Christmas with new boyfriend. Little did I know that my body was having other plans. Dec 10 my appendix decided after 10 years of giving me grief it was time to come out. I spent 5 days in the hospital recovering and actually looked forward to going home and being taken care of by my mommy. Well my mom's appendix had other plans. Two days after I came home she was rushed to the hospital almost exactly one week to the hour from when I had my surgery. With both of us down and not doing well lets just say that Christmas was less than stellar that year.

The very next year on Christmas eve our darling dog injested some anti-freeze and had to be put down - so Christmas of 1977 also ranked in my top 5 worst.

Pretty much all of the 1980's were pretty wonderful Christmas' including the one in 1984 when we spent Christmas in New Zealand. That was one stinking hot day - and as much as my in-laws tried it just wasn't a true Christmas for me. I could never put this on my "worst" list though to many wonderful memories with my New Zealand family.

December 21, 1993 was the beginning of huge changes in my life. On that day I was called by my boss to tell me that I was no longer needed by our company. I had been there since 1975, met and married my husband and had wonderful performance reviews but somehow I no longer had the "skill sets" to continue doing the job I had been doing very well for about 10 years. That laid me on the floor and I was sure nothing could ever be as horrible.

I had a miserable (but not worst) Christmas in 1999. I had a horrible cold and didn't realize that taking anti-histamines with thyroid medications was a huge no no. Lets just say I missed dinner and sat home alone while my husband and son went to my parents for Christmas celebration (my choice - what a martyr!!) Little did I know that was the last Christmas our family would ever be together and I missed it.

My worst Christmas ever was the next year. After two months in hospital with never ending infections my husband was rushed to the ICU on Christmas eve of 2000 while every major organ in his body shut down. Christmas day was spent in the CSICU with him on the heart bypass machine. My Christmas gift that year was from the nursing staff - they shaved off his beard and I got to see my gorgeous husband - even though he wasn't aware of anything.

Christmas of 2001 was the lowest key Christmas ever -- we sat around the table my entire immediate family. My mom, my brother and my son. We not only lost my husband in 2001 my father passed away soon after so our family was reduced to four members.

But all is not sad and miserable in the land of Joanne and I will leave you with something happy. Since my darling husband came into my life in 2004 its been pretty darn great. And as much as I am sad that I am losing my job (yet again in December) the dignity and grace that my management team has shown just overwhelms with me with gratitude behind the tears that I do shed right now. I will say each and every year spent with my dear sweet husband is such a joy. You see one of our pictures on my sidebar and this is us - just enjoying life and everything it brings us. I cherish the fact that my husband has shown me that the Christmas spirit can remain alive in someone no matter how many times December tries to knock it out of us. I also know that my emotions are right on the surface and I may say or do things that aren't in my character but I love my life, really really love my family and adore all my friends the ones up close and personal and my dear cyber friends.