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Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011 has taught me this:

What I have learned and remembered throughout this past year,2011.Thank you,Creator for the experiences and lessons and the people you put in my path.This is what I shall carry with me into 2012.

Sometimes in life, you don’t get closure.Make peace with its place in your heart and in your consciousness and move on.Letting go does not mean we don’t care. Letting go simply means we stop trying to force outcomes and make people behave. It means we give up resistance to the way things are, for the moment. It means we stop trying to do the impossible, controlling that which we cannot and instead, focus on what is possible which usually means taking care of ourselves and we do this in gentleness, kindness, and love, as much as possible.

Love generates love. It’s that simple: Love begets love. Though I've known this all my life; I still struggle to put actions to my words with particular people. More work needed here.

When you seize control of yourself and let go of controlling life, life does get much better.Seize control of my thinking,focus on my heart and on myself, and let the chips fall where they may.Live in the moment.

Sometimes the Creator gives ease after difficulty by making you stronger and wiser. What happens is that the difficulty makes us much, much stronger. Then, the difficulty no longer seems like a difficulty. Pain is a great teacher about patience.

Genuine wanting to be happy makes one happier.

You should value and take care of your friends.You build a friendship, you make it grow, and you appreciate it. (thankyou, Linda)

I will never be thin.

My birthday always makes me sad. It is so hard to say good by to the year past, the lessons learned and such a leap of faith to embrace the year ahead.

Happy New Year Dear reader and may you go forth and prosper in 2012.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Blog Theme 2012

I am thisclose to confirming my 2012 theme. You might think....stupid idea, theme for the year, but try it yourself. It does make a difference especially if you focus on your goal daily as I do through this Blog. Announcement to be made January first.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Christmas Past

Huh!!! It's over? Why are all the best of times so fleeting? We drove for 10 hours, arriving to open arms and endless perfect dinners, snacks and Pounce games.I always feel so loved when I am with this family and so when I leave to return home feel very empty and lost. They put their lives aside for us and give us their beds, let the little black dog out and do not make us feel really bad when the LBD is sick in their Living room, hallway, bedroom and everywhere else. Christmas was not fun for the LBD and her life has a Vet visit in her near future. Perhaps she is also home sick for our little family.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Boxing Day Best is a Tie

In an Earlier Time, when all was right in Laurie and my world, it was arranged we would pick up Nadia at 7:00 AM, get coffee and hit the Boxing Day Sales starting at Southgate.It was not a fly-by-night maneuver. We were dressed in similar bright sweaters,had cell phone capability and brought wheeled bags. We kept in touch throughout the morning and afternoon, alerting each other of much needed sale items. The crowning glory was Michael making us a delicious spaghetti dinner....good times...

The other best Boxing Day...EV..ER has to be the night of Poker Stars.com does Inspector Clousteau. Cast of Players Laurie, Morgan, Dwayne, Grandpa and moi,Madonnart. Essential Props: Large super size bottle of Baily's, and the necessity to spack dans ce longaage avec Monsieu Clousteau. Much later Laurie and I realized we were the only ones spacking and even the dugs were very afraid of us. BUT....OMG did we laugh and were we ever funnyentertaining, sadly we might have been the only ones that thought so....huuummbagger....

Sunday, December 25, 2011

All Time Favorite Country Christmas Memory

We had established our presence in the community by now. The children were in junior High, one working,one wanting to be working when the Dude came up with this fabulous idea. He hooked up the sleigh, decorated it even including a tree with lights bells and music. We pulled out the Santa Claus Suit, fluffed up the beard, shook out my Nurses Cape flipped it to the red side and trimmed it in gold garlands. When Laurie walked in the door,exhausted and smelly from slinging hash at the Country Esso Cafe,we were ready.Small hand made gifts were wrapped and put in a red sack. Laurie was "FORCED" (her memory of the event is a bit different than mine)to dress in brown and wear a set of antlers on her headand a small red ball on her nose. Coco was dressed as an Elf right down to the curled shoes with bells attached.Lady just went as a very nervous and somewhat confused smaller Elf. We headed down the road to spread our Christmas cheer ending up at the house of Coco's best friend Tammy whose mother was wheelchair bound with MS. I recall we almost killed her through laughter. Every stop garnered us hugs all round, cookies for the kids and hot toddies for Santa and myself. I don't remember much after Rankins except It was the best of times and the pictures are epic. Hope your Christmas day is all you want it to be. May you be wrapped in love and joy. Merry Christmas Dear Reader...

Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmas Appies

Tradition for my sister-in-law and myself was getting together with a grade school friend Carol, to make Appies. We would divide up the shopping list and arrive goods in hand at Rita's to spend a day of cooking. Recipes were triplied to be divided between the three of us at the end of the day. The best part was looking at my carefully packaged olive cheese balls, chicken cordon bleu, cheese straws,crab quiche,mushroom turnovers,pecan cherry tarts and antipasto and feeling so rich and prepared for Christmas entertaining.The goodies were nestled all snug in their containers safe in the deep freeze until needed to impress visiting friends. Every year, I would open the containers and be surprised when I realized Laurie and Coco had already sampled the tiny, individually constructed,10 hour work day to make ,3 months to save for ingredients to make these very treasured Appies. At the time I was really mad at them for jumping the gun but now it makes me smile and makes me remember the real fun was in making them. It was the best of times....

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Best first Baby Xmas memory

We were living in the apartment on 75Th Avenue and were blessed with our first little girl in August of 1969. We called her Laurie after my father Larry and added Jean with a hyphen for the Dudes favorite aunt. It was the year of our first Christmas as a family and we did not to miss a moment or person so saw every one and went until Laurie called it quits in her own loud way. A solution to ending moments gone wrong she uses still to this day. I can still see this beautiful, exhausted,totally angry 4 month old, dressed in a pink popcorn knit outfit, completely changing the plans of the day in a minute. I still laugh remembering our scurry and flurry to make her comfortable and get her home.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

My favorite prechristmas childhood memory

My mom was always pretty frugal, denying herself so many necessities and pleasures to go carefullcrazy with her Christmas Preparations. Her repertoire was simple and came from her mothers little black hand written cook book and her much treasured Purity Cook Book.Gingerbread men, butter tarts,popcorn balls,and shortbread cookies trialed by my Nana Fuller, adopted by my mother and never duplicated quite as successfully by moi.She only made them once a year and when they were gone they were gone, so she baked generally 2 or 3 days before Christmas. That same week we put up our tree, always a real fir, brought home by Dad on his last hunting trip and always the best tree we ever had.I can still see the alcohol bubbling lights and delicate silver and gold balls sparkling in the basement Rumpus Room. Missing you Nanabanana.....

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Narrowing it down

2011 Theme of No Pain No Gain was....well, painfull and like other themes I tried to implement into my life as a permanent modaoperendae,an agonizing yearly ritual. Now as 2012 calls my name I am again interviewing possible motivating themes of the new year.I feel the pressure that a benchmark year can cause in the importance of making the goal achievable, memorable, enjoyable, and survivable.I am feeling the shakles of Father Time this goround and think the possibility of having 3 themes is likely the prudent way to go. If you know me and are thinking "ABORT PLAN" you my friend are special.

Friday, December 09, 2011

She is everything I could of been had I been brave enough

 
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There is nothing in this world I love more,and am more proud of, than this amazing daughter of mine.

You are: loving,intelligent,funny,talented,compassionate and beautiful.You have an infectious laugh,hair to die for,and an ability to make everyone feel better when you're around. You have always danced to your own drummer, beginning by refusing to wear brightly colored frilly dresses;thus your love affair with shades of gray was launched.You pulled out braids, buns,ribbons and free styled many unauthorized cuts.You dyed your hair plum,black and multi streaks and hid clothes I determined unsuitable for school in your knapsack to change into later once out of my view.You have always loved words and have always spoken your mind, not easily intimidated you stood up to sales people, teachers and even grandma Dot, who terrified me.I can't tell you how many times I have wished I was more like you.You are fearless, determined, and a survivor. You have been through many difficult unimaginable situations and have learned the lessons and grown enormously.You are loving and loved and have embraced the importance of loving and respecting yourself,settling for nothing less from others.You are everything a person can be if brave enough to try.

Sunday, December 04, 2011

Freddy! Freddy is that you???


This Canadian kid from Montreal is so close to getting the gig with Queen to go on their Extravaganza Tour.This is his audition tape really sounds like Freddy Mercury but without the stash. His cover of Bohemian Rapsody is amazing as well. Marc has the Christen Band, Down Here and has been around for 10 years professionally.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Kicked out

 

Bad News.....I have been restricted from using the pool. I completely understand the thinking behind the decision and am grateful for the 3 months I have had being part of the classes. This whole concept of Gated Communities is new and sometimes seems from the outside looking in as small minded governance. In actual fact it makes sense that the Community builds, maintains and financially supports the facility and allowing outside users does not assist the Community as a whole. However.....If it would look at outside users, there by owner invitation, paying for the classes but also adding a user fee as a possibility. I am disappointed on two levels....one; my own loss of facility and friends and two; my BFF, I have been picking up 3 times a week (really people , do you actually think I am driving from the westside,across the bridge when there is a pool 8 blocks from my home because of the pool?} Not likely.I do it out of love for my friend, one of your owners, who has her own medical challenges, both physical and emotional and now will most likely not be motivated to attend the classes and that worries me because I care about her well being. My recommendation to these Gated Communities is to be more forward thinking, more cognisant of their owners needs and embrace flexibility and user options. I would have welcomed the discussion.
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Thursday, December 01, 2011

Christmas is in the air

Today, I sat in the sun of the corner window and read while Christmas music played softly in the background and soon I napped and dreamed. I am standing in the living room of my true "home" and looking out over the lake with buffalo carefully slipping and sliding across the ice, I waited for the school bus. Lady was already in her spot under the Journal box laying in the ditch waiting for the girls to arrive home. It was almost 4:30 pm. The first of the Christmas cookies, Thimbles, waited for tasting and hot chocolate was on the table. I had turned on the Christmas lights. I had spent the whole day hanging them on the house and deck, and all the Christmas decorations were out on the tables and walls. It was December 1st.It was the best of times.

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Mesa Vista West, Okanagan, Canada