This makes me want to puke!! Maybe I don't have all the facts, but for crying out loud, isn't this what being a "good christian" is all about?????? And according to "legend", isn't this what happened to Mary & Joseph? Weren't they "homeless people" too? What is wrong with people?!! So much for kindness....
~shudder~
YUK!
Okay, I'll get off my bandwagon now...
Friday, December 29, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Winter solstice
Shortest day of the year - today, the winter solstice happens at 5:23 - tomorrow the days will become longer. Hard to believe, considering we have to get thru January and February still!! LOL
I just did some checking - this is a really good site about the Winter Solstice. Not only did I know about Stonehenge, but I also knew about Newgrange - I love the spirals!! But that's just me - kinda wonky, I know.
There is also lots of info here... about the old ways, and how some people copied them and converted the old ways to fit their new religion. Welcome to Yule! And the person who did the site about the Winter Solstice has a pretty good site regarding Yule too! Somebody's been doing their homework! LOL
But even tho this is our shortest day of the year - we won't have snow for Christmas. I believe it's gonna be another Convertible Christmas this year! Hopefully, I'll take some pics and you'll see what I mean!
Until then (or maybe sooner!)
Enjoy the SHORT day!!
TTFN
I just did some checking - this is a really good site about the Winter Solstice. Not only did I know about Stonehenge, but I also knew about Newgrange - I love the spirals!! But that's just me - kinda wonky, I know.
There is also lots of info here... about the old ways, and how some people copied them and converted the old ways to fit their new religion. Welcome to Yule! And the person who did the site about the Winter Solstice has a pretty good site regarding Yule too! Somebody's been doing their homework! LOL
But even tho this is our shortest day of the year - we won't have snow for Christmas. I believe it's gonna be another Convertible Christmas this year! Hopefully, I'll take some pics and you'll see what I mean!
Until then (or maybe sooner!)
Enjoy the SHORT day!!
TTFN
Friday, December 15, 2006
Yellowknife
Kathy from Yellowknife called a week ago, we had a great chat. Then her Jim spoke to Dave. And offered him a job at their new body shop!! Dave's first response was "No". He was asked to think about it....
But then next day, I get this in the email from her....
Hi Cynthia,
Incase you're wondering about last nights phone call, I'll give you a more updated version, Jim sounded pretty vague when he was talking to Dave!.
Jim has asked Dave if he would be interested in running the restoration division of our company as Jim is considering staying with the government. He has a really good job with them, and gets paid extremely well, has all the benefits etc, so leaving there is not the easiest decision he's ever had to make. Now, with that being said, he has always wanted to own a business, which we now have, but it comes with certain risks, and leaving the government is one of them.
Heres the offer -
Jim is looking for someone to over see all restorations, on a full time basis. Jim would work on a part time basis, fitting it in around his other job. Dave would have management responsiblities, such as revenue control, pricing/quoting, ordering of parts, day to day operations and overseeing any staff hired in the future etc. We are offering an above average salary of $65k/year plus profit share for Lost Legendz Custom Rod, four weeks vacation a year to start, a benefits program that will be coming on line shortly, plus one flight per year out of Yellowknife.
If you wanted to come up for a while, you would have no problem getting a job with your credentials, good administrators are hard to fine, and getting on with the government or the diamond mines pays excellent. Housing is a little pricy, but salaries offset the costs. Even if you only came up for a couple of years, you could probably get all your bills completly paid off, put some in the bank, and go back to Leth with cash - always a nice thing to do. Its only a suggestion, I told Jim you probably would not be interested, but Dave is the first person we thought of, so he's the first one we're offering it to..
Think about it - no rush, no urgency, its not got any time limits to it.
Kathryn
OMG!!!
So guess what we have been doing the last week??? Talking about it. Thinking about it. Pros and cons. Checking out sites that are about Yellowknife. Some WONDERFUL pictures of the place - my kind of country!! (except no mountains!) There is only 20, 000 people there. It's COLD. Lots of biting bugs in the summer. But you know, if Dave said "Let's do it", I just may be able to be talked into it!! LOL
But he grew up in Thompson, MB - so he's been there, done that. Don't think he's quite willing to pick up and move. Like Colin said - with a laugh - "You can't even get him to move across town to a different house!" LOL
Altho, I did check out to see what kind of jobs there are. There was one that was posted, administrative, working for like $25/hr. Compared to here.... that's like a million dollars!! Yes, I know.... you have to take into account how expensive it is up there!!! :-)
Anyway, I'm 99.9999999% sure that we won't go up there. But kinda a nice pat on Dave's back, to know that someone wants him for something like this!!
bbfn
But then next day, I get this in the email from her....
Hi Cynthia,
Incase you're wondering about last nights phone call, I'll give you a more updated version, Jim sounded pretty vague when he was talking to Dave!.
Jim has asked Dave if he would be interested in running the restoration division of our company as Jim is considering staying with the government. He has a really good job with them, and gets paid extremely well, has all the benefits etc, so leaving there is not the easiest decision he's ever had to make. Now, with that being said, he has always wanted to own a business, which we now have, but it comes with certain risks, and leaving the government is one of them.
Heres the offer -
Jim is looking for someone to over see all restorations, on a full time basis. Jim would work on a part time basis, fitting it in around his other job. Dave would have management responsiblities, such as revenue control, pricing/quoting, ordering of parts, day to day operations and overseeing any staff hired in the future etc. We are offering an above average salary of $65k/year plus profit share for Lost Legendz Custom Rod, four weeks vacation a year to start, a benefits program that will be coming on line shortly, plus one flight per year out of Yellowknife.
If you wanted to come up for a while, you would have no problem getting a job with your credentials, good administrators are hard to fine, and getting on with the government or the diamond mines pays excellent. Housing is a little pricy, but salaries offset the costs. Even if you only came up for a couple of years, you could probably get all your bills completly paid off, put some in the bank, and go back to Leth with cash - always a nice thing to do. Its only a suggestion, I told Jim you probably would not be interested, but Dave is the first person we thought of, so he's the first one we're offering it to..
Think about it - no rush, no urgency, its not got any time limits to it.
Kathryn
OMG!!!
So guess what we have been doing the last week??? Talking about it. Thinking about it. Pros and cons. Checking out sites that are about Yellowknife. Some WONDERFUL pictures of the place - my kind of country!! (except no mountains!) There is only 20, 000 people there. It's COLD. Lots of biting bugs in the summer. But you know, if Dave said "Let's do it", I just may be able to be talked into it!! LOL
But he grew up in Thompson, MB - so he's been there, done that. Don't think he's quite willing to pick up and move. Like Colin said - with a laugh - "You can't even get him to move across town to a different house!" LOL
Altho, I did check out to see what kind of jobs there are. There was one that was posted, administrative, working for like $25/hr. Compared to here.... that's like a million dollars!! Yes, I know.... you have to take into account how expensive it is up there!!! :-)
Anyway, I'm 99.9999999% sure that we won't go up there. But kinda a nice pat on Dave's back, to know that someone wants him for something like this!!
bbfn
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Cars & Over The Hedge
Yep, we watched these two movies this past weekend. Dave's choice. Yep, he LOVES his cartoons! LOL
Cars
I highly recommend renting it, if for nothing else but to watch Tow Mater do his "tractor tipping". I won't say anything more, other than it is funnier than all get out!!
Over The Hedge
Good movie also. What I REALLY liked about it, was when the little bush animals came across a HUGE dog chain, which in turn was connected to a HUGE dog, which in turn turned out to be a Rotti... I had that moment of "Oh great, here we go again. The big mean killer Rotti".
Instead, the dog kept saying, as it crashed thru numerous fences... "Play", "Play", "Play". God, it was funny, ya had to be there!! The dog went from initially being scary, to being this big dumb dufus. Good for them! Us Rotti lovers have to LOVE this movie!!! If for nothing else, this part!!
"Play, play, play..." Hilarious!!
Cars
I highly recommend renting it, if for nothing else but to watch Tow Mater do his "tractor tipping". I won't say anything more, other than it is funnier than all get out!!
Over The Hedge
Good movie also. What I REALLY liked about it, was when the little bush animals came across a HUGE dog chain, which in turn was connected to a HUGE dog, which in turn turned out to be a Rotti... I had that moment of "Oh great, here we go again. The big mean killer Rotti".
Instead, the dog kept saying, as it crashed thru numerous fences... "Play", "Play", "Play". God, it was funny, ya had to be there!! The dog went from initially being scary, to being this big dumb dufus. Good for them! Us Rotti lovers have to LOVE this movie!!! If for nothing else, this part!!
"Play, play, play..." Hilarious!!
Monday, November 27, 2006
Bald Eagle!!
Seriously...
This morning....it's snowing and cold and blustery. I'm at the corner of 5th and 23rd, which is a busy intersection. There is a big dark bird flying overhead, coming towards me. Man, it's COLD out this morning - -23, with a -31 windchill. So I'm watching this bird that is flying low in the cold snowy morning, thinking, "that idiot sea gull!" No, the wings are wrong. Hang on, it's black. A crow maybe? But it's BIG!! WAIT!!! For crying out loud - that's no seagull or crow - that's a BALD EAGLE!!! He must have got tangled and thought our 5th Ave was the river!!!! LOL And it wasn't a young one, it was a mature one - I could see the white head and tail feathers once he got closer and flew over me - so not a bird you would normally think of as getting lost! There I am, sitting at the lights, watching him come towards me from the west, and he flies directly over me, heading east. Cool!!!
Or maybe it was someone giving me a sign?
And then....
I'm just about at work. The car stalls. On the busy street! I crank the steering wheel (no power steering 'cause the car isn't running!) and manage to coast around the corner. I'm about 100 feet from my work. I try everything to get it going again. It's dead!! I call Dave immediately. 3 guys from my building push me out of the way of incoming traffic, I go into work, and Dave manages to get it going and leaves me the truck and takes the car. Guess I need a new battery. But how weird is that?? It started just fine. Ran just fine. And then died. BUT he was able to boost the dumb thing. Oh, what a MONDAY!!
This morning....it's snowing and cold and blustery. I'm at the corner of 5th and 23rd, which is a busy intersection. There is a big dark bird flying overhead, coming towards me. Man, it's COLD out this morning - -23, with a -31 windchill. So I'm watching this bird that is flying low in the cold snowy morning, thinking, "that idiot sea gull!" No, the wings are wrong. Hang on, it's black. A crow maybe? But it's BIG!! WAIT!!! For crying out loud - that's no seagull or crow - that's a BALD EAGLE!!! He must have got tangled and thought our 5th Ave was the river!!!! LOL And it wasn't a young one, it was a mature one - I could see the white head and tail feathers once he got closer and flew over me - so not a bird you would normally think of as getting lost! There I am, sitting at the lights, watching him come towards me from the west, and he flies directly over me, heading east. Cool!!!
Or maybe it was someone giving me a sign?
And then....
I'm just about at work. The car stalls. On the busy street! I crank the steering wheel (no power steering 'cause the car isn't running!) and manage to coast around the corner. I'm about 100 feet from my work. I try everything to get it going again. It's dead!! I call Dave immediately. 3 guys from my building push me out of the way of incoming traffic, I go into work, and Dave manages to get it going and leaves me the truck and takes the car. Guess I need a new battery. But how weird is that?? It started just fine. Ran just fine. And then died. BUT he was able to boost the dumb thing. Oh, what a MONDAY!!
2 weeks!! Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump
Okay, so last weekend, I dragged Colin to Writing-On-Stone - this weekend, I really, REALLY wanted to go to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump on Saturday. BUT, the weather turned nasty, so we didn't. :-(
I go darned near every year around November 25th, they have this great "Christmas Open House". They have crafts made by native peoples, and a mini grand entry, and the guys sitting around a huge drum, pounding the "poop" out of it, and they've had this fantastic hoop dancer (girl) there once or twice. This year they were going to have the World Champion (an Alberta boy) there performing the hoop dance. So ya, I really would have liked to go. And it's the ONLY time it's free to go into the Interpretive Centre!! Even better! But the temperatures went down and down and down, and there was blowing snow.... I decided against it. Darn it anyway! Oh well, there is always next year!
I go darned near every year around November 25th, they have this great "Christmas Open House". They have crafts made by native peoples, and a mini grand entry, and the guys sitting around a huge drum, pounding the "poop" out of it, and they've had this fantastic hoop dancer (girl) there once or twice. This year they were going to have the World Champion (an Alberta boy) there performing the hoop dance. So ya, I really would have liked to go. And it's the ONLY time it's free to go into the Interpretive Centre!! Even better! But the temperatures went down and down and down, and there was blowing snow.... I decided against it. Darn it anyway! Oh well, there is always next year!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
One week
Okay, so it's been one week TODAY that I've had Colin staying here. The first few days were nasty - for him. He decided to detox himself. Egads, he had a seisure on Monday nite, after we had gone to bed. He showed me his tongue the next day. All purple - back where his molars had bitten it. Eeeeeewwwwwww. And then the shakes he had... holy smokes! His hands were just vibrating! And he didn't have enough strength to even manage the stairs - so he has stayed downstairs for almost the whole week. I'd bring him food and liquids (he drank LOTS of Gatorade and orange juice and cranberry juice) But it's been a week, and already he is looking better. And walking more, rather than just shuffling like an old, old man.
Onwards and upwards......
Today, the dear sister that I am... I dragged his sorry ass down to Writing-On-Stone. I was hoping to see some antelope, or eagles, or even a coyote on the way down there. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. (hunting season, ya know!) And by time we got down there, the wind really decided to blow, and man, it blew!!
But we hiked up and down the trail to the west, and saw the pictographs (rock paintings) - barely, and saw a few petroglyphs (rock carvings).
These are not natural steps, or even ancient steps. LOL They've been carved into the rock on the path that you can take. But they looked really cool, so I had to take a picture of them!
This is a view to the west - you can see the trail we took....
This looks like a cool cave... okay, so I can get my entire body inside of it, but it doesn't go very deeply into the rock.
According to the Self-guided trail brochure:
Native people came here for more than berries and shelter. On the cliffs above you, petroglyphs (rock carvings) tell of the spiritual lives of the native people who once camped here. If you look carefully, you will see animals, including two Bison (I think that's the pointy shape on the left), and several bear paws (top right) or tracks incised in the sandstone. The bison and bear were both sacred animals; perhaps native elders carved these petroglyphs as part of a ceremony.
WOS was a sacred place for the Blackfoot People, and they often claimed the rock art was the work of the spirit world. The strange hoodoos, and the mysterious carvings on the cliffs filled the people with reverence, and even fear. They came here to seek spiritual guidance, and to determine their fate by interpreting the rock art. Much of the rock art may have been created as part of rituals and vision quests.
(and I read somewhere years ago, that perhaps it was just "teenagers" from ancient times, who did grafiti on the rocks, nothing "sacred" about it at all - which I thought was hilarious when I read it!)
When we got back to the campground, he went to the washroom. Now I get to see a bush bunnie and a mule deer. But by time he got back to me, they had gone.
I seriously had plans to do a smudge with him / on him. But damned if there weren't other people there! Jeezzzz............!!
I started a fire in the cookhouse stove - meant to bring some weenies with me, but forgot. And I threw a smudge stick in the flames, just before we left. So I guess you could say we smudged.
But get this....
As we were loading stuff back up into the car, he takes his "safety" bottle, the one with that last ounce, out of his knapsack, and throws it in the garbage that we are parked beside. A symbolic gesture for him. I was pleasantly surprised at it. Good for him! Crossing my fingers that THIS time, being sober "takes".
TTFN
Onwards and upwards......
Today, the dear sister that I am... I dragged his sorry ass down to Writing-On-Stone. I was hoping to see some antelope, or eagles, or even a coyote on the way down there. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. (hunting season, ya know!) And by time we got down there, the wind really decided to blow, and man, it blew!!
But we hiked up and down the trail to the west, and saw the pictographs (rock paintings) - barely, and saw a few petroglyphs (rock carvings).
These are not natural steps, or even ancient steps. LOL They've been carved into the rock on the path that you can take. But they looked really cool, so I had to take a picture of them!
This is a view to the west - you can see the trail we took....
This looks like a cool cave... okay, so I can get my entire body inside of it, but it doesn't go very deeply into the rock.
According to the Self-guided trail brochure:
Native people came here for more than berries and shelter. On the cliffs above you, petroglyphs (rock carvings) tell of the spiritual lives of the native people who once camped here. If you look carefully, you will see animals, including two Bison (I think that's the pointy shape on the left), and several bear paws (top right) or tracks incised in the sandstone. The bison and bear were both sacred animals; perhaps native elders carved these petroglyphs as part of a ceremony.
WOS was a sacred place for the Blackfoot People, and they often claimed the rock art was the work of the spirit world. The strange hoodoos, and the mysterious carvings on the cliffs filled the people with reverence, and even fear. They came here to seek spiritual guidance, and to determine their fate by interpreting the rock art. Much of the rock art may have been created as part of rituals and vision quests.
(and I read somewhere years ago, that perhaps it was just "teenagers" from ancient times, who did grafiti on the rocks, nothing "sacred" about it at all - which I thought was hilarious when I read it!)
When we got back to the campground, he went to the washroom. Now I get to see a bush bunnie and a mule deer. But by time he got back to me, they had gone.
I seriously had plans to do a smudge with him / on him. But damned if there weren't other people there! Jeezzzz............!!
I started a fire in the cookhouse stove - meant to bring some weenies with me, but forgot. And I threw a smudge stick in the flames, just before we left. So I guess you could say we smudged.
But get this....
As we were loading stuff back up into the car, he takes his "safety" bottle, the one with that last ounce, out of his knapsack, and throws it in the garbage that we are parked beside. A symbolic gesture for him. I was pleasantly surprised at it. Good for him! Crossing my fingers that THIS time, being sober "takes".
TTFN
Sphynx kitten
These pics were taken on Friday at my work - one of the guys there had his sister bring in her Sphynx kitty to show me. Her name is Isis and she's about 8 months old. Covered with peach fuzz and NO whiskers. And unbelievable how much heat she threw!! She was soooooooo ugly that she was cute. Does that make sense??? LOL She was cuddly and warm and gentle - waaaaaay different from my Brewster!!
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Spider
Believe it or not, I'm sitting at my pc at work yesterday, and a spider went crawling sideways across one of my notes hanging to the front of me. I'm waaaaaaay better than I used to be with them - I no longer scream and run. Ya, she startled me, I watched her walk over the sheet of paper and disappear behind it. AND I DID NOTHING! I'm soooooo proud of myself! :-)
This morning, I took my little Animal Energies book, and this is what is says about spiders:
Many stories exist about the weaver, Grandmother Spider. In some, she is said to have brought the people the gift of fire. She carried it from the other side of the world on her back in a basket she wove. In others, her webs bind all things together and form the foundation of the Earth. Still other stories talk of Spider as the weaver of the threads of life. Spider's gift is the ability to shape the patterns of one's life. If Spider has crawled into your awareness, it is a reminder that a person's Earth walk should be like a web, balanced and even and cohesive, made according to the design that Creator has given us. Watch the Weaver and see where your life has gaps and snags, and rebuild the web of your life.
So there you have it....
This morning, I took my little Animal Energies book, and this is what is says about spiders:
Many stories exist about the weaver, Grandmother Spider. In some, she is said to have brought the people the gift of fire. She carried it from the other side of the world on her back in a basket she wove. In others, her webs bind all things together and form the foundation of the Earth. Still other stories talk of Spider as the weaver of the threads of life. Spider's gift is the ability to shape the patterns of one's life. If Spider has crawled into your awareness, it is a reminder that a person's Earth walk should be like a web, balanced and even and cohesive, made according to the design that Creator has given us. Watch the Weaver and see where your life has gaps and snags, and rebuild the web of your life.
So there you have it....
Monday, November 13, 2006
Calgary road trip
Well, headed out to Calgary Saturday morning... absolutely gorgeous morning! Blue sky, sun shining, and the mountains I could see in the distance were GORGEOUS!! White snow just a-shining off of them. No snow down here. By time we got to an hour north, we drove into dark, overcast skies. We went from open water to water that was partially frozen over. To water (?) that is now skating rinks, frozen over completely!! And the beginnings of snow on the ground. We get to Caresland.... now it's blowing, and FREAKIN cold, and there is no doubt about it, that's SNOW on the ground!!! Get to Calgary, and there is snow on the rooftops, and the spruce trees. Man, welcome to the North Country!! LOL
Deb & I went shopping at this neat place called Crossroads Market . HOLY SMOKES, it's HUGE!!! LOL Found some cool stainless steel mugs - 5 of them for $10. Not bad!
Deb had ran into her neighbors, they chatted. I wandered. Later on, she said, "Oh, look who's here!". I saw 2 people sitting at a table. The guy had his head down, and the girl didn't look familiar to me. Just thought it was someone else that Deb knew. THEN THE GUY LOOKED UP...........
Okay, so then I became a ninny. I guess because it was so unexpected. I didn't hear anything about him being there, so it was a shock. I barely ever watched North of 60. However, one year we did our JFW Leader's Workshop partly where they would film the show. Does that count for anything? LOL
I did enjoy Tom Jackson's Huron Carole shows, and The Holiday Train has made stops here in town. Pretty cool what he does for people! And that's what he was doing there, sitting at the table. Signing autographs. Raising money for the food bank. He is SUCH a normal person! LOL And freakin TALL and BIG!! Jeez, I felt like a real squirt next to him! Look at the size of his hand on my shoulder!!! But a really, REALLY nice man!
**************
Then Sat. night we went out to Red Lobster. Trina and her friend Kyle came with us. And I PIGGED out on crab. God, I love sea food! LOL
**************
Sunday, up at 5:35 a.m. Great, eh? YUK!!
Sunrise view from D&D's place....
Okay, so this is the day that Colin is supposed to be coming. Dave suggested I call him - but no, he's a big boy. I will NOT treat him like a child - if he's coming, he's coming. Altho, I did go on-line to find out what times the buses were coming in from Banff. I checked at 11 a.m. - a bus had gotten in at 10:30, no sign of him. Next one would be @ 12:45 p.m., then not until 7:10 p.m. Deb & I went out to an antique market, figured we had some time, and who knows, maybe LOTS of time!
This just was a cool pic hanging on the wall in one of the antique "malls" - had to take a pic of it!
Damned if my cell didn't ring at 12:30, and Colin was at the bus station!!
Went down and got him, took him and his stuff back to the house. Man, does he look rough! He's only 34, looks and walks like he's 20 years older. After about a 1/2 hr, I gave him the option to either stay with the guys and watch the race, or come antique shopping with us. Gee, guess which one he choose? LOL I even offered him the bed upstairs if he needed to have a sleep, 'cause he looked rough! Off we went shopping.
Came back, and Colin was sleeping. With all the noise of us returning, he got up soon after. Watched the end of the race until after 5. Had to wait for the KFC to be delivered, ate supper, and got out of Dodge. Didn't get home until just about 9 last night. Long day!
All the way back, Colin sat behind me in the truck. He reeked of booze. Horible smell. Ick. What we don't do for love, eh? Got him in the house, downstairs to his room, showed him where everything is.... Step one is complete. He's here, he's safe, he's still alive! :-) I'm happy with that, for now!
bbfn
Deb & I went shopping at this neat place called Crossroads Market . HOLY SMOKES, it's HUGE!!! LOL Found some cool stainless steel mugs - 5 of them for $10. Not bad!
Deb had ran into her neighbors, they chatted. I wandered. Later on, she said, "Oh, look who's here!". I saw 2 people sitting at a table. The guy had his head down, and the girl didn't look familiar to me. Just thought it was someone else that Deb knew. THEN THE GUY LOOKED UP...........
Okay, so then I became a ninny. I guess because it was so unexpected. I didn't hear anything about him being there, so it was a shock. I barely ever watched North of 60. However, one year we did our JFW Leader's Workshop partly where they would film the show. Does that count for anything? LOL
I did enjoy Tom Jackson's Huron Carole shows, and The Holiday Train has made stops here in town. Pretty cool what he does for people! And that's what he was doing there, sitting at the table. Signing autographs. Raising money for the food bank. He is SUCH a normal person! LOL And freakin TALL and BIG!! Jeez, I felt like a real squirt next to him! Look at the size of his hand on my shoulder!!! But a really, REALLY nice man!
**************
Then Sat. night we went out to Red Lobster. Trina and her friend Kyle came with us. And I PIGGED out on crab. God, I love sea food! LOL
**************
Sunday, up at 5:35 a.m. Great, eh? YUK!!
Sunrise view from D&D's place....
Okay, so this is the day that Colin is supposed to be coming. Dave suggested I call him - but no, he's a big boy. I will NOT treat him like a child - if he's coming, he's coming. Altho, I did go on-line to find out what times the buses were coming in from Banff. I checked at 11 a.m. - a bus had gotten in at 10:30, no sign of him. Next one would be @ 12:45 p.m., then not until 7:10 p.m. Deb & I went out to an antique market, figured we had some time, and who knows, maybe LOTS of time!
This just was a cool pic hanging on the wall in one of the antique "malls" - had to take a pic of it!
Damned if my cell didn't ring at 12:30, and Colin was at the bus station!!
Went down and got him, took him and his stuff back to the house. Man, does he look rough! He's only 34, looks and walks like he's 20 years older. After about a 1/2 hr, I gave him the option to either stay with the guys and watch the race, or come antique shopping with us. Gee, guess which one he choose? LOL I even offered him the bed upstairs if he needed to have a sleep, 'cause he looked rough! Off we went shopping.
Came back, and Colin was sleeping. With all the noise of us returning, he got up soon after. Watched the end of the race until after 5. Had to wait for the KFC to be delivered, ate supper, and got out of Dodge. Didn't get home until just about 9 last night. Long day!
All the way back, Colin sat behind me in the truck. He reeked of booze. Horible smell. Ick. What we don't do for love, eh? Got him in the house, downstairs to his room, showed him where everything is.... Step one is complete. He's here, he's safe, he's still alive! :-) I'm happy with that, for now!
bbfn
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Damned Earworm!!
Jeez....from what seemed like 1:30 this morning, this song refrain kept "being there" in my head. Seems like I didn't get any sleep! ACK! It's from Nickelback's song: Far Away. I checked out the lyrics this morning, actually, the whole song lyrics work for something else, but the refrain I kept hearing probably is my subconscious regarding Colin......
This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
So far away
(So far away)
Been far away for far too long
So far away
(So far away)
Been far away for far too long
Well, off to Calgary this morning to see Deb & Darryl. Deb & I are going to do some 2nd hand stores - I think she's still looking for old cowboy boots! LOL And I'm always game to check out 2nd hand stores!!
Trina called me last night - her new place is near D & D's; I'm going to try to get us over to her place so I can see it! I then asked her if she wanted to join us at Red Lobster for supper... Hey, the more the merrier! I think she's a little lonely - her and her mom had a falling out a few weeks ago, and I think she's feeling the "aloneness" when something like that happens with a family member.
And in the course of our conversation, she told me about a place in Calgary called Sunrise, but it looks like it's meant for natives, not white folk. Too bad. Oh well, there will be some way to get him help.... Just a second - checked out this site, maybe it IS something he could attend.
Not many people at work know what I am about to embark on - yesterday, I was talking to one of the kids that I'm comfortable with. You know what he asked me? "What are you, the family caretaker?" Never thought of myself that way... but ya, I guess I am. I'm always picking up sick & injured animals.... that's just who I am. LOL
After I spoke to Trina, and Dave got home, we called Kathy up in Yellowknife, 'cause she had sent me a cryptic email about news to tell us. Let's see, Kathy being Kathy - she's moving to Australia, she's moving back to England, she's moving here. None of the above, as it turns out. They are going in with a couple of other guys, and going to open up a body shop up in Yellowknife. They are soooooo excited about this! Good for them!! It's actually going to be THREE shops in one. Restorations. Basic body shop work. And fancy dancy paint jobs with the fancy dancy flames, etc. And she's the President. Gonna keep the boys in line. Do all the books and paperwork. And you know - this IS the perfect job for the both of them. The girl LOVES cars, probably more than alot of guys do. So she's no dummy in that department, that's for sure! Hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?
And in all these conversations I've had with these girls - I finally really verbalized my idea of the wedding.... How does a medieval peasant potluck wedding sound? Small, in the back yard. Like 20 people. (Okay, that takes care of Dave's family!) Lots of greenery, vines, flowers. I have tons of chandalier crystals to hang from trees, a huge bag of leftover tea lights from a "new" friend, Renee. Irish & medieval type music playing, drinking from tankards. Mead and ale. Tapestries and banners. BOTH of them could see that kind of wedding for us!! LOL
Okay, bit the bullet, and told Dave my idea. Hmmm.... he didn't say much, and I didn't push it. Give him some time to think about it. It must be a girl thang... LOL
Okay, think I've written enough for now!
This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
So far away
(So far away)
Been far away for far too long
So far away
(So far away)
Been far away for far too long
Well, off to Calgary this morning to see Deb & Darryl. Deb & I are going to do some 2nd hand stores - I think she's still looking for old cowboy boots! LOL And I'm always game to check out 2nd hand stores!!
Trina called me last night - her new place is near D & D's; I'm going to try to get us over to her place so I can see it! I then asked her if she wanted to join us at Red Lobster for supper... Hey, the more the merrier! I think she's a little lonely - her and her mom had a falling out a few weeks ago, and I think she's feeling the "aloneness" when something like that happens with a family member.
And in the course of our conversation, she told me about a place in Calgary called Sunrise, but it looks like it's meant for natives, not white folk. Too bad. Oh well, there will be some way to get him help.... Just a second - checked out this site, maybe it IS something he could attend.
Not many people at work know what I am about to embark on - yesterday, I was talking to one of the kids that I'm comfortable with. You know what he asked me? "What are you, the family caretaker?" Never thought of myself that way... but ya, I guess I am. I'm always picking up sick & injured animals.... that's just who I am. LOL
After I spoke to Trina, and Dave got home, we called Kathy up in Yellowknife, 'cause she had sent me a cryptic email about news to tell us. Let's see, Kathy being Kathy - she's moving to Australia, she's moving back to England, she's moving here. None of the above, as it turns out. They are going in with a couple of other guys, and going to open up a body shop up in Yellowknife. They are soooooo excited about this! Good for them!! It's actually going to be THREE shops in one. Restorations. Basic body shop work. And fancy dancy paint jobs with the fancy dancy flames, etc. And she's the President. Gonna keep the boys in line. Do all the books and paperwork. And you know - this IS the perfect job for the both of them. The girl LOVES cars, probably more than alot of guys do. So she's no dummy in that department, that's for sure! Hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?
And in all these conversations I've had with these girls - I finally really verbalized my idea of the wedding.... How does a medieval peasant potluck wedding sound? Small, in the back yard. Like 20 people. (Okay, that takes care of Dave's family!) Lots of greenery, vines, flowers. I have tons of chandalier crystals to hang from trees, a huge bag of leftover tea lights from a "new" friend, Renee. Irish & medieval type music playing, drinking from tankards. Mead and ale. Tapestries and banners. BOTH of them could see that kind of wedding for us!! LOL
Okay, bit the bullet, and told Dave my idea. Hmmm.... he didn't say much, and I didn't push it. Give him some time to think about it. It must be a girl thang... LOL
Okay, think I've written enough for now!
Friday, November 10, 2006
Henry David Thoreau
I know of no more encouraging fact than
the unquestionable ability of man to
elevate his life by a
conscious endeavor.
Henry David Thoreau
the unquestionable ability of man to
elevate his life by a
conscious endeavor.
Henry David Thoreau
Thursday, November 09, 2006
I Believe in You
Today, at lunch, at home, as I've done ever day this week, I've been standing outside and doing a smudge and asking for help from the powers that be....
The thought popped into my head that Colin could use a sweat lodge cleansing - in keeping with our conversation last night.
On my way back to work... this great song came on the radio. Kind of an answer to how I was to work with Colin....
I BELIEVE IN YOU - Amanada Marshall
Somewhere there's a river, looking for a stream
Somewhere there's a dreamer, looking for a dream
Somewhere there's a drifter, trying to find his way
Somewhere someone's waiting to hear somebody say
I believe in you, I can't even count the ways that
I believe in you, and all I want to do is help you to believe in you
Somewhere someone's reaching, trying to grab that ring
Somewhere there's a silent voice, learning how to sing
Some of us can't move ahead, we're paralized with fear
And everybody's listening, 'cause we all need to hear
I believe in you, I can't even count the ways that
I believe in you, and I want to do is help you to believe in you
I will hold you up
I will help you stand, I will comfort you when you need a friend
I will be the voice that's calling I (hold till fade)
I believe in you and there are just so many ways that
I believe in you
Baby, what else can I do but believe in you
I believe in you
All I want to know is you believe - believe in you
That's the big point... does he believe in himself? Okay, answered that question of mine... I need to believe in him!!
The thought popped into my head that Colin could use a sweat lodge cleansing - in keeping with our conversation last night.
On my way back to work... this great song came on the radio. Kind of an answer to how I was to work with Colin....
I BELIEVE IN YOU - Amanada Marshall
Somewhere there's a river, looking for a stream
Somewhere there's a dreamer, looking for a dream
Somewhere there's a drifter, trying to find his way
Somewhere someone's waiting to hear somebody say
I believe in you, I can't even count the ways that
I believe in you, and all I want to do is help you to believe in you
Somewhere someone's reaching, trying to grab that ring
Somewhere there's a silent voice, learning how to sing
Some of us can't move ahead, we're paralized with fear
And everybody's listening, 'cause we all need to hear
I believe in you, I can't even count the ways that
I believe in you, and I want to do is help you to believe in you
I will hold you up
I will help you stand, I will comfort you when you need a friend
I will be the voice that's calling I (hold till fade)
I believe in you and there are just so many ways that
I believe in you
Baby, what else can I do but believe in you
I believe in you
All I want to know is you believe - believe in you
That's the big point... does he believe in himself? Okay, answered that question of mine... I need to believe in him!!
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
30 minutes
Colin had left a message on my machine at home asking me to call him back - was on the machine when I got home. Had to wait until after 6 to call him back tho - cheaper rates and all that!
It looks like it's gonna happen. Looks like he's coming down here to re-group! He will meet us, probably at the bus depot, on Sunday. He has our cell numbers so he can reach us at Deb & Darryl's.
He's going to do his homework, and find all his necessary paperwork. Like collect his past T4's, guess he hasn't filed for a few years. Gee, go figure! Everything he has will pretty much fit into his knapsack...
I spoke to him about going to Ft Mac Detox centre... that since he has such an aversion to the "god" thing, that if he were to get a chance, maybe he could talk to some native elders - since I'm sure it's quite the high population of native people there. Of course, I may be just way out in left field with that assumption!! But maybe what he needs is to feel connected to the earth under his feet, rather than the heavens above.
Hey, whatever works, however he finds that stillness that he needs....
This time, we spoke for a half hour, and actually said "good-bye" without the phone just going dead. Sweet!!
I then called Paddy.... missed calling him on Sunday. Well, he was at work when I called, I didn't manage to call him BEFORE he went to work! Anyway, told him the good news about Colin being "found", and coming "home", for awhile anyway. I wish my sons could meet Colin, now that they are mostly all growed up. ~big sigh~
Paddy was going to go ski boarding this weekend cause he has 5 days off from school, but it sounds like the plans fell thru. Too bad, 'cause he certainly was excited about it when he was telling me what "might" happen. And the dumb thing is - out of those 5 days off he has... he has to work smack dab in the middle, for just the one day! LOL Isn't life a bitch?!
Okay... man, I don't write for weeks at a time, then every day! Feast or famine, that's me!!
bbfn
It looks like it's gonna happen. Looks like he's coming down here to re-group! He will meet us, probably at the bus depot, on Sunday. He has our cell numbers so he can reach us at Deb & Darryl's.
He's going to do his homework, and find all his necessary paperwork. Like collect his past T4's, guess he hasn't filed for a few years. Gee, go figure! Everything he has will pretty much fit into his knapsack...
I spoke to him about going to Ft Mac Detox centre... that since he has such an aversion to the "god" thing, that if he were to get a chance, maybe he could talk to some native elders - since I'm sure it's quite the high population of native people there. Of course, I may be just way out in left field with that assumption!! But maybe what he needs is to feel connected to the earth under his feet, rather than the heavens above.
Hey, whatever works, however he finds that stillness that he needs....
This time, we spoke for a half hour, and actually said "good-bye" without the phone just going dead. Sweet!!
I then called Paddy.... missed calling him on Sunday. Well, he was at work when I called, I didn't manage to call him BEFORE he went to work! Anyway, told him the good news about Colin being "found", and coming "home", for awhile anyway. I wish my sons could meet Colin, now that they are mostly all growed up. ~big sigh~
Paddy was going to go ski boarding this weekend cause he has 5 days off from school, but it sounds like the plans fell thru. Too bad, 'cause he certainly was excited about it when he was telling me what "might" happen. And the dumb thing is - out of those 5 days off he has... he has to work smack dab in the middle, for just the one day! LOL Isn't life a bitch?!
Okay... man, I don't write for weeks at a time, then every day! Feast or famine, that's me!!
bbfn
Email to Colin today....
Good Morning Colin!
Hope your night went well..... bbbbrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!! LOL I'm still envious!!!! Can hardly wait to see the pics!!!!
Okay, so here's the scoop....
BIRTH CERTIFICATE:
I started with Alberta Registries upstairs in our building. Linda was very helpful and sent me to Astro Registries. I called them - they are only the next block over. Unfortunately, you will have to apply for your own birth certificate. And your Manitoba license should work for ID - we just need you HERE to go there.
DETOX:
I then called AADAC for information regarding a detox centre. We have one, just in Fort Macleod - half an hour west of here. Very nice little town. I called them, they won't book a bed ahead of time, but you can usually call a day before to get in. Very nice and helpful people!
ALBERTA HEALTH CARE:
She is going to send me an application form for you to fill out. You will need 3 pieces of ID.
- Birth Certificate, which we will have in the works....
- Driver's License - sounds like your MB one will suffice...
- And some kind of bill addressed to you, with an Alberta address. Any cell phone bills? Cable? Maybe even your pay stubb would work? If it has your "home" address on it?? And I'm thinking - if you have one from MONTHS ago - there would be NO disputing that you've lived in Alberta for months now. Hell, even years...!
All this info by 9:30 a.m. today - not bad, eh?
I don't want you to get discouraged because some of this stuff will take some time, maybe. Remember, "baby steps". And I don't care WHO said it, I'm saying it now!!! LOL
Good luck! Crossing my fingers that this will all come together for you!!
Then as I'm driving home for lunch, this song comes on the radio, and I get all teary. It's called "How to Save a Life" by The Fray. I saw the video of it on tv a week or so ago - it's been used on Gray's Anatomy. Who'd have thunk...
Here are the lyrics:
"How To Save A Life"
Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Hope your night went well..... bbbbrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!! LOL I'm still envious!!!! Can hardly wait to see the pics!!!!
Okay, so here's the scoop....
BIRTH CERTIFICATE:
I started with Alberta Registries upstairs in our building. Linda was very helpful and sent me to Astro Registries. I called them - they are only the next block over. Unfortunately, you will have to apply for your own birth certificate. And your Manitoba license should work for ID - we just need you HERE to go there.
DETOX:
I then called AADAC for information regarding a detox centre. We have one, just in Fort Macleod - half an hour west of here. Very nice little town. I called them, they won't book a bed ahead of time, but you can usually call a day before to get in. Very nice and helpful people!
ALBERTA HEALTH CARE:
She is going to send me an application form for you to fill out. You will need 3 pieces of ID.
- Birth Certificate, which we will have in the works....
- Driver's License - sounds like your MB one will suffice...
- And some kind of bill addressed to you, with an Alberta address. Any cell phone bills? Cable? Maybe even your pay stubb would work? If it has your "home" address on it?? And I'm thinking - if you have one from MONTHS ago - there would be NO disputing that you've lived in Alberta for months now. Hell, even years...!
All this info by 9:30 a.m. today - not bad, eh?
I don't want you to get discouraged because some of this stuff will take some time, maybe. Remember, "baby steps". And I don't care WHO said it, I'm saying it now!!! LOL
Good luck! Crossing my fingers that this will all come together for you!!
Then as I'm driving home for lunch, this song comes on the radio, and I get all teary. It's called "How to Save a Life" by The Fray. I saw the video of it on tv a week or so ago - it's been used on Gray's Anatomy. Who'd have thunk...
Here are the lyrics:
"How To Save A Life"
Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
33 minutes
Wow!
Colin called me again last night!! He wants me to see how he can get his birth certificate, his Alberta Health Care, and a detox centre for him to get in to. We managed to speak for 33 minutes before his phone went dead. Those darn "pay as you go" phones!! ~big sigh~
He said he was calling from the top of Rundell Mountain. He was quite proud of himself. He was cold, and it was windy. He had his video camera set on a tripod. His tent was set up. And he brought his JD. Sure, just what he needed - let's thin your blood when you are doing something extreme!! And yes, I said that to him!! LOL
I told him he was on a "vision quest". A time to go inwards. He said his body is tired. His mind is tired. He sounds low. I don't believe in the God of the church and the bible, but I do believe in a higher power. Guess you could say I'm more "spiritual" than "religious". I've been asking for strength for the two of us to get through this....
Oh, and by the way.... looks like he is willing to be picked up on Sunday in Calgary!! Dave & I went to 15% Tuesday last night at Safeway, and bought FOOD galore!! Dave is such a sweetheart... he's even buying extra deoderant and toothbrushes and shampoo for Colin.
I did try to call Tim yesterday to tell him that I had heard from Colin (before I got call #2), but I star 67'd it. 'Cause I know how they work - 10 to 1 they have a call display phone and I didn't want to give them a heads up. Well, they don't have an answering machine... I let it ring and ring and ring, until I had to answer a call here at work. Oh well, their loss.
Anyway....
did I say something back in the beginning of September how I had been enjoying the peace & quiet & calm???? LOL
Colin called me again last night!! He wants me to see how he can get his birth certificate, his Alberta Health Care, and a detox centre for him to get in to. We managed to speak for 33 minutes before his phone went dead. Those darn "pay as you go" phones!! ~big sigh~
He said he was calling from the top of Rundell Mountain. He was quite proud of himself. He was cold, and it was windy. He had his video camera set on a tripod. His tent was set up. And he brought his JD. Sure, just what he needed - let's thin your blood when you are doing something extreme!! And yes, I said that to him!! LOL
I told him he was on a "vision quest". A time to go inwards. He said his body is tired. His mind is tired. He sounds low. I don't believe in the God of the church and the bible, but I do believe in a higher power. Guess you could say I'm more "spiritual" than "religious". I've been asking for strength for the two of us to get through this....
Oh, and by the way.... looks like he is willing to be picked up on Sunday in Calgary!! Dave & I went to 15% Tuesday last night at Safeway, and bought FOOD galore!! Dave is such a sweetheart... he's even buying extra deoderant and toothbrushes and shampoo for Colin.
I did try to call Tim yesterday to tell him that I had heard from Colin (before I got call #2), but I star 67'd it. 'Cause I know how they work - 10 to 1 they have a call display phone and I didn't want to give them a heads up. Well, they don't have an answering machine... I let it ring and ring and ring, until I had to answer a call here at work. Oh well, their loss.
Anyway....
did I say something back in the beginning of September how I had been enjoying the peace & quiet & calm???? LOL
My baby brother!
The phone rang about 7:20 last night. I was teasing Dave as I went to answer it, that it must be his mom. (family joke) Even as I was reaching for the phone, I was making comments about telemarketeders.... Sure enough, when I answer the phone, this fella asks if this is Cynthia. Well, what else am I going to say? So sure, ya, it's me. Then it gets weird... 'cause now I'm knowing this voice, which sounds very much like Paddy's voice, but not. If that makes any sense! Turns out it's Colin, my baby brother!! I think the last time I spoke to him was when I was in my basement suite - jeez, it's gotta to be 6 or 7 years. Or did I talk to him when I was in my house? I can't recall - the point is, it's been tooooooo long!!
He was calling me from Banff, from the Y. We spoke for 49 minutes, before his phone went dead. My head is still reeling!! I offered him a place to crash for a week or two if he wants, cause right now he seems to be between jobs. We are going to Calgary this weekend... if he can get there by Sunday, we can pick him up and bring him home for some time to re-group.
Yes, he's still fighting the bottle. He's only 34, but it sounds like his liver is so getting wrecked, and sometimes he'll have seizures. And there isn't much I can do for him. Logically, I know that. That this is a fight he has to win by himself. Doesn't help my heart tho. I just don't know what to do for him.... ~big sigh~
Anyway, we had a really great talk. We both got caught up with stuff. I miss him...
Well, the good news is that he is STILL ALIVE!!! See, told you there was a reason I kept my phone number when I moved to Dave's house!!! :-))))))
He was calling me from Banff, from the Y. We spoke for 49 minutes, before his phone went dead. My head is still reeling!! I offered him a place to crash for a week or two if he wants, cause right now he seems to be between jobs. We are going to Calgary this weekend... if he can get there by Sunday, we can pick him up and bring him home for some time to re-group.
Yes, he's still fighting the bottle. He's only 34, but it sounds like his liver is so getting wrecked, and sometimes he'll have seizures. And there isn't much I can do for him. Logically, I know that. That this is a fight he has to win by himself. Doesn't help my heart tho. I just don't know what to do for him.... ~big sigh~
Anyway, we had a really great talk. We both got caught up with stuff. I miss him...
Well, the good news is that he is STILL ALIVE!!! See, told you there was a reason I kept my phone number when I moved to Dave's house!!! :-))))))
Monday, November 06, 2006
Chief Clarence Louie
Rc'd this email from a friend of mine this morning....
Subject: Fw: Native Wake up.
FORT McMURRAY, Alberta
Chief Clarence Louie - Speaking to a large aboriginal conference and some of the attendees, including a few who hold high office, have straggled in.
"I can't stand people who are late", he says into the microphone. "Indian Time doesn't cut it." Some giggle, but no one is quite sure how far he is going to go.
"Just sit back and listen:
My first rule for success is 'Show up on time'.
My No. 2 rule for success is follow Rule No. 1.
If your life sucks, it's because you suck.
Quit your sniffling.
Join the real world. Go to school, or get a job.
Get off of welfare. Get off your butt."
He pauses, seeming to gauge whether he dare, then does.
"People often say to me, 'How you doin'?' Geez I'm working with Indians, what do you think?"
Now they are openly laughing ... applauding. Clarence Louie is everything that was advertised and more.
"Our ancestors worked for a living," he says. "So should you."
He is, fortunately, aboriginal himself. If someone else stood up and said these things - the white columnist standing there with his mouth open, for example - you'd be seen as a racist. Instead, Chief Clarence Louie is seen, increasingly, as one of the most interesting and innovative native leaders in the country even though he avoids national politics.
He has come here to Fort McMurray because the aboriginal community needs, desperately, to start talking about economic development and what all this multibillion-dollar oil madness might mean, for good and for bad.
Clarence Louie is chief and CEO of the Osoyoos Band in British Columbia's South Okanagan. He is 44 years old, though he looks like he would have been an infant when he began his remarkable 20-year-run as chief. He took a band that had been declared bankrupt and taken over by Indian Affairs and he has turned in into an inspiration.
In 2000, the band set a goal of becoming self-sufficient in five years. They're there.
The Osoyoos, 432 strong, own, among other things, a vineyard, a winery, a golf course and a tourist resort, and they are partners in the Baldy Mountain ski development. They have more businesses per capita than any first nation in Canada.
There are not only enough jobs for everyone, there are so many jobs being created that there are now members of 13 other tribal communities working for the Osoyoos. The little band contributes $40-million a year to the area economy.
Chief Louie is tough. He is as proud of the fact that his band fires its own people as well as hires them. He has his mottos pasted throughout the Rez. He believes there is no such thing as consensus, that there will always be those who disagree. And, he says, he is milquetoast compared to his own mother when it comes to how today's lazy aboriginal youth, almost exclusively male, should be dealt with.
"Rent a plane," she told him, "and fly them all to Iraq. Dump 'em off and all the ones who make it back are keepers." Right on, Mom.
The message he has brought here to the Chipewyan, Dene and Cree who live around the oil sands is equally direct: Get involved, create jobs and meaningful jobs, not just window dressing for the oil companies.
The biggest employer, he says, shouldn't be the band office.
He also says the time has come to get over it. No more whining about
100-year-old failed experiments. No foolishly looking to the Queen to protect rights.
Louie says aboriginals here and along the Mackenzie Valley should not look at any sharing in development as rocking-chair money but as investment opportunity to create sustainable businesses. He wants them to move beyond entry-level jobs to real jobs they earn all the way to the boardrooms. He wants to see business manners develop: showing up on time, working extra hours. The business lunch, he says, should be drive through, and then right back at it.
"You're going to lose your language and culture faster in poverty than you will in economic development", he says to those who say he is ignoring tradition.
Tough talk, at times shocking talk given to the audience, but on this day in this community, they took it and, judging by the response, they loved it.
"Eighty per cent like what I have to say," Louie says, "twenty per cent don't. I always say to the 20 per cent, 'Get over it.' Chances are you're never going to see me again and I'm never going to see you again. Get some counseling."
The first step, he says, is all about leadership. He prides himself on being a stay-home chief who looks after the potholes in his own backyard and wastes no time running around fighting 100-year-old battles.
The biggest challenge will be how you treat your own people.
Blaming government? That time is over.
Okay, so what I always do nowadays,when I get these kind of emails... I check them out! LOL Well, damned if this isn't true!! Chief Clarence Louie really does exist!! This is another good site to read about him.
What a guy!!
Subject: Fw: Native Wake up.
FORT McMURRAY, Alberta
Chief Clarence Louie - Speaking to a large aboriginal conference and some of the attendees, including a few who hold high office, have straggled in.
"I can't stand people who are late", he says into the microphone. "Indian Time doesn't cut it." Some giggle, but no one is quite sure how far he is going to go.
"Just sit back and listen:
My first rule for success is 'Show up on time'.
My No. 2 rule for success is follow Rule No. 1.
If your life sucks, it's because you suck.
Quit your sniffling.
Join the real world. Go to school, or get a job.
Get off of welfare. Get off your butt."
He pauses, seeming to gauge whether he dare, then does.
"People often say to me, 'How you doin'?' Geez I'm working with Indians, what do you think?"
Now they are openly laughing ... applauding. Clarence Louie is everything that was advertised and more.
"Our ancestors worked for a living," he says. "So should you."
He is, fortunately, aboriginal himself. If someone else stood up and said these things - the white columnist standing there with his mouth open, for example - you'd be seen as a racist. Instead, Chief Clarence Louie is seen, increasingly, as one of the most interesting and innovative native leaders in the country even though he avoids national politics.
He has come here to Fort McMurray because the aboriginal community needs, desperately, to start talking about economic development and what all this multibillion-dollar oil madness might mean, for good and for bad.
Clarence Louie is chief and CEO of the Osoyoos Band in British Columbia's South Okanagan. He is 44 years old, though he looks like he would have been an infant when he began his remarkable 20-year-run as chief. He took a band that had been declared bankrupt and taken over by Indian Affairs and he has turned in into an inspiration.
In 2000, the band set a goal of becoming self-sufficient in five years. They're there.
The Osoyoos, 432 strong, own, among other things, a vineyard, a winery, a golf course and a tourist resort, and they are partners in the Baldy Mountain ski development. They have more businesses per capita than any first nation in Canada.
There are not only enough jobs for everyone, there are so many jobs being created that there are now members of 13 other tribal communities working for the Osoyoos. The little band contributes $40-million a year to the area economy.
Chief Louie is tough. He is as proud of the fact that his band fires its own people as well as hires them. He has his mottos pasted throughout the Rez. He believes there is no such thing as consensus, that there will always be those who disagree. And, he says, he is milquetoast compared to his own mother when it comes to how today's lazy aboriginal youth, almost exclusively male, should be dealt with.
"Rent a plane," she told him, "and fly them all to Iraq. Dump 'em off and all the ones who make it back are keepers." Right on, Mom.
The message he has brought here to the Chipewyan, Dene and Cree who live around the oil sands is equally direct: Get involved, create jobs and meaningful jobs, not just window dressing for the oil companies.
The biggest employer, he says, shouldn't be the band office.
He also says the time has come to get over it. No more whining about
100-year-old failed experiments. No foolishly looking to the Queen to protect rights.
Louie says aboriginals here and along the Mackenzie Valley should not look at any sharing in development as rocking-chair money but as investment opportunity to create sustainable businesses. He wants them to move beyond entry-level jobs to real jobs they earn all the way to the boardrooms. He wants to see business manners develop: showing up on time, working extra hours. The business lunch, he says, should be drive through, and then right back at it.
"You're going to lose your language and culture faster in poverty than you will in economic development", he says to those who say he is ignoring tradition.
Tough talk, at times shocking talk given to the audience, but on this day in this community, they took it and, judging by the response, they loved it.
"Eighty per cent like what I have to say," Louie says, "twenty per cent don't. I always say to the 20 per cent, 'Get over it.' Chances are you're never going to see me again and I'm never going to see you again. Get some counseling."
The first step, he says, is all about leadership. He prides himself on being a stay-home chief who looks after the potholes in his own backyard and wastes no time running around fighting 100-year-old battles.
The biggest challenge will be how you treat your own people.
Blaming government? That time is over.
Okay, so what I always do nowadays,when I get these kind of emails... I check them out! LOL Well, damned if this isn't true!! Chief Clarence Louie really does exist!! This is another good site to read about him.
What a guy!!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Quote on Dogs
Cleaning up bits & pieces of paper... man, do I EVER throw anything out????! Anyway, came across this - now that it is here, the paper is going into the garbage!! LOL
"Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative."
Like that!
Then there is this one...
"The things you remember most.... aren't things."
Yup, yup, yup.
"Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative."
Like that!
Then there is this one...
"The things you remember most.... aren't things."
Yup, yup, yup.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Good Mother Jann Arden
Monday & Wednesday - haven't heard this song for a very long time, then I hear it twice, almost in a row! Thought it was time to put the lyrics here... it was one of those songs that helped keep me sane thru the MS and "D" thangs...
I've got money in my pocket
I like the color of my hair
I've got a friend who loves me
Got a house, I've got a car
I've got a Good Mother
And her voice is what keeps me here
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Facing forward
Be yourself
I've never wanted anything
No I've, no I've, I've never wanted anything
So bad...so bad
Cardboard masks of all the people
I've been
Thrown out with all the rusted, tangled
Dented God damned miseries
You could say I'm hard to hold
But if you knew me you'd know
I've got a Good Father
And his strength is what makes me cry
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Facing forward
Be yourself
I've never wanted anything
No I've, no I've, I've never
Wanted anything so bad...
So bad
I've got money in my pocket
I like the color of my hair
I've got a friend who loves me
Got a house, I've got a car
I've got a Good Mother
And her voice is what keeps me here
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Facing forward
Be yourself
Heart in hand
Feet on ground
Facing forward
Be yourself
Just be yourself
Just be yourself
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
My Good Mother is Mother Nature, and my Good Father is the Creator - again, nature based, native based, animal based. Ya, wonky, I know, but it works for me! :-)
I've got money in my pocket
I like the color of my hair
I've got a friend who loves me
Got a house, I've got a car
I've got a Good Mother
And her voice is what keeps me here
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Facing forward
Be yourself
I've never wanted anything
No I've, no I've, I've never wanted anything
So bad...so bad
Cardboard masks of all the people
I've been
Thrown out with all the rusted, tangled
Dented God damned miseries
You could say I'm hard to hold
But if you knew me you'd know
I've got a Good Father
And his strength is what makes me cry
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Facing forward
Be yourself
I've never wanted anything
No I've, no I've, I've never
Wanted anything so bad...
So bad
I've got money in my pocket
I like the color of my hair
I've got a friend who loves me
Got a house, I've got a car
I've got a Good Mother
And her voice is what keeps me here
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Facing forward
Be yourself
Heart in hand
Feet on ground
Facing forward
Be yourself
Just be yourself
Just be yourself
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
My Good Mother is Mother Nature, and my Good Father is the Creator - again, nature based, native based, animal based. Ya, wonky, I know, but it works for me! :-)
Accountants!
Who says accountants are stuffed shirts??? Here we have Admin, Techs, Students, and even CAs!!! So there!! LOL
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Catch-up Day!
It's snowing today. Cold and blustery. Crappy. It's a catch-up day, and if you go back, waaaaaay back, thru my blog entries.... you will certainly be able to get up-dated. I had been saving draft copies for specific dates... today, I've been finally able to finish them off and post them!! What a big relief that has been!!
Spoke to Paddy last Wednesday night... he had made himself a Yeti costume out of fake fur to wear for Halloween. Now that's my kid!! He bought pumpkin ORANGE coloured "fur" to make his costume! God, I gotta see pics of this outfit! LOL But his attitude was " I WILL figure this out! " and proceeded to do so. Good for him!! I still haven't figured out what I'm going to be wearing to work on Tuesday.
"My" little cottage was supposed to have an Open House yesterday afternoon. Yippee, now I can go in and take pics, and get that off of my back! LOL Dave calls me from his work (he took my car to the shop to fix my signal light - don't ask!) - guess there's a big sign saying the Open House had been cancelled that he saw when he drove past it. CRAP!! It's probably sold, that's why! Aren't the gods just sooooo funny!
Since the weather was so very warm, altho windy, and the forecast for today was for this yuck stuff - me and the fur kids FINALLY got to do some yard work yesterday!! Weeds pulled, plants trimmed, seeds gathered, leaves raked, tomato plants pulled, rain barrel emptied, etc. etc. What a relief that was to get that done!! So today when it began to snow, I was soooooo ready for it. For once!! YIPPPEEEEEEE!!!! LOL
So now I am sorta back on track.....
Spoke to Paddy last Wednesday night... he had made himself a Yeti costume out of fake fur to wear for Halloween. Now that's my kid!! He bought pumpkin ORANGE coloured "fur" to make his costume! God, I gotta see pics of this outfit! LOL But his attitude was " I WILL figure this out! " and proceeded to do so. Good for him!! I still haven't figured out what I'm going to be wearing to work on Tuesday.
"My" little cottage was supposed to have an Open House yesterday afternoon. Yippee, now I can go in and take pics, and get that off of my back! LOL Dave calls me from his work (he took my car to the shop to fix my signal light - don't ask!) - guess there's a big sign saying the Open House had been cancelled that he saw when he drove past it. CRAP!! It's probably sold, that's why! Aren't the gods just sooooo funny!
Since the weather was so very warm, altho windy, and the forecast for today was for this yuck stuff - me and the fur kids FINALLY got to do some yard work yesterday!! Weeds pulled, plants trimmed, seeds gathered, leaves raked, tomato plants pulled, rain barrel emptied, etc. etc. What a relief that was to get that done!! So today when it began to snow, I was soooooo ready for it. For once!! YIPPPEEEEEEE!!!! LOL
So now I am sorta back on track.....
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Abby
This is Abby. The MOST affectionate loving bird I have ever come across!! Our maintence man's nephew came in with her. At first I was VERY careful - those beaks can break fingers!! But you know how you scratch a kitty or puppy at their ear, and they lean into it? That's what Abby was doing!!! No kidding! And rubbing her under her feathers, she'd open her wings so that you could rub under them. She totally amazed me!! Quite the character she was!!
See, told you I get to see all sorts of critters at my work!! LOL
bbfn
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Cute little cottage
See this little house? Sometimes I take the road that runs past it, and I've always loved it's appearance. There's just something warm & inviting to it, all tucked down like it is.
Damned if the other day I drove past it, and there was a FOR SALE sign on it!!!! Shit, shit, shit!!! I would LOVE to own it!! But when I checked it out at the Sutton website, then I see that it has a gravity furnace. Not great - means the whole system has to be changed. When I was a teenager, we lived in a house that had a gravity furnace. BIG honking thing it was! And I would need a/c put in, which, I guess, if you were to do the heating system, it would be a great time to add a/c.
Hmmmmm.... main floor laundry. ~big sigh~ Means it's probably just the dinosaur furnace downstairs, probably a dirt space. Well, okay, who needs a basement anyway? After all, the house has a 2nd story. And a garage for storage!!
It's a good size place (1580 sq ft), considering it really doesn't look like it. The rooms are comparable to our place now..... I know, I measured!! LOL
But.... it's on a busy street. Quite close to the train tracks. Nothing like being caught between the two - noise wise. And back to having only a side yard, no back yard. I would still like to see the inside tho!!
And good ole Dave says to me.....
"You want something a little more off the beaten path."
Ya, well.... it's just so darn cute!!
Well, hopefully they will have an open house and I can take a tour!!
Friday, October 06, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Thanksgiving Weekend - and the both the boys came home for free food!
This is a "thing" that Paddy & I do almost every time... make Puppy Chow (for people)
I know, it looks icky... forgot to take a picture of it "done". 'Cause it REALLY looks like the puppy chow I used to feed pups!
If you like chocolate & peanut butter... (I don't! ICK!!), here is the recipe:
People Puppy Chow
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup margarine
Melt & pour over 8 cups of Crispix cereal in a large plastic bag. Once totally coated, add 2 cups of icing sugar. Shake and coat.
We had a great weekend. Sent the boys home with leftover turkey. Note to self: Next year... GET A BIGGER BIRD!!!
This is a "thing" that Paddy & I do almost every time... make Puppy Chow (for people)
I know, it looks icky... forgot to take a picture of it "done". 'Cause it REALLY looks like the puppy chow I used to feed pups!
If you like chocolate & peanut butter... (I don't! ICK!!), here is the recipe:
People Puppy Chow
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup margarine
Melt & pour over 8 cups of Crispix cereal in a large plastic bag. Once totally coated, add 2 cups of icing sugar. Shake and coat.
We had a great weekend. Sent the boys home with leftover turkey. Note to self: Next year... GET A BIGGER BIRD!!!
Friday, September 22, 2006
Off to the north country..
Well, took today off (Friday) and Monday too. My last 2 Flex days from work. :-(
Heading up to Red Deer today and will be staying at Chris's place. Now THAT is just weird. Staying at my son's place... guess that means he's all growed up, eh? So I'll get to spend this afternoon, tonight, and tomorrow with my sons. I called them last night to REALLY confirm, and Paddy was taking Chris to the laundramat to do laundry.... BEFORE I got there! Hmmmm... clean sheets maybe?
Then off to stay at Deb R's place outside of Innisfail for Saturday nite and Sunday morning. They still have 18 chickens to kill... so I'm either OUTTA there BEFORE that happens, OR, I'm her excuse to NOT do them, and let Randy finish the birds off!
Then on my way back down here, I'll stop at Deb S.'s place in Calgary Sunday afternoon. Any wonder why I took Monday off? LOL
Last weekend, when Deb & Darryl were here, JEEZ, I forgot to give her her birthday presents!! DUH!! Her birthday is tomorrow, so I'll be a day late, instead of a week early. But compared to Deb R, that's pretty close!
Now Deb R..... her birthday was back in July! She did get her card and a phone call from me on time, but her presents she won't be getting until Saturday. Hey, that's what friends are for, right? They love ya, NO MATTER WHAT!! LOL Actually, I got her a set of HEAVY, I mean REALLY heavy, plant pots. So the only safe way to get them to her is to deliver them personally. And got her a wooden wind chime, 'cause every woman needs at least ONE wind chime!
Anyway, better go shower/pack/get my 10 cds in the car. It will be weird not having any fur kids this trip with me. Just easier to leave them at home. Don't have to worry about barking or kitty litter or picking up doggie doo doo... Isn't that a pretty image to pull up?
ROAD TRIP - HERE I COME!!
Heading up to Red Deer today and will be staying at Chris's place. Now THAT is just weird. Staying at my son's place... guess that means he's all growed up, eh? So I'll get to spend this afternoon, tonight, and tomorrow with my sons. I called them last night to REALLY confirm, and Paddy was taking Chris to the laundramat to do laundry.... BEFORE I got there! Hmmmm... clean sheets maybe?
Then off to stay at Deb R's place outside of Innisfail for Saturday nite and Sunday morning. They still have 18 chickens to kill... so I'm either OUTTA there BEFORE that happens, OR, I'm her excuse to NOT do them, and let Randy finish the birds off!
Then on my way back down here, I'll stop at Deb S.'s place in Calgary Sunday afternoon. Any wonder why I took Monday off? LOL
Last weekend, when Deb & Darryl were here, JEEZ, I forgot to give her her birthday presents!! DUH!! Her birthday is tomorrow, so I'll be a day late, instead of a week early. But compared to Deb R, that's pretty close!
Now Deb R..... her birthday was back in July! She did get her card and a phone call from me on time, but her presents she won't be getting until Saturday. Hey, that's what friends are for, right? They love ya, NO MATTER WHAT!! LOL Actually, I got her a set of HEAVY, I mean REALLY heavy, plant pots. So the only safe way to get them to her is to deliver them personally. And got her a wooden wind chime, 'cause every woman needs at least ONE wind chime!
Anyway, better go shower/pack/get my 10 cds in the car. It will be weird not having any fur kids this trip with me. Just easier to leave them at home. Don't have to worry about barking or kitty litter or picking up doggie doo doo... Isn't that a pretty image to pull up?
ROAD TRIP - HERE I COME!!
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Email from Trish
One of Dave's sisters ran away and joined the circus with her husband. Seriously!! :-)
Anyway, they are now down in Australia, got this email from her yesterday. Or was that today, Australian time? Hmmmm... maybe it's tomorrow? LOL I'm trying to convince her to start a blog of her own, would make it so much simpler to keep up with what's happening with them.....
I'm not going to post her pics that she sent - better if she does that herself!! ~hint ~hint Trish!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello Mates ..... How'reyagoin??
Which is the normal greeting translated as: Hello how are you!!
Well things here have been a little crazy since we arrived. There were huge challenges getting things set up and some things are still not going all that well. For Perry it got so bad that he actually put in his resignation. Happily, they wouldn't accept it and instead are working with him to resolve water and equipment issues. For me, I still can't get the bank and the credit card machine people to turn off the automatic settlement at 9:30pm. It's been very trying at times - at least in the work world.
The weather was quite nice when we arrived, considering it was the end of winter. Then it got pretty wet and cooled off some. Of course to these people, cool is a high of 16 celcius. The past week has been glorious. It is around 23 most days and nice sunny skies. It is full spring right now and the trees are about halfway to full. September 1st is the first day of spring. People everywhere were wishing you a happy first day of spring!! Wierd! Now that I have experienced how warm spring can be, I can't wait for summer. We move from Sydney to Brisbane in early November and will be getting right into summer. I love the land here. The rock cliffs, the beaches, they have the most amazing trees and the flowers are everywhere. Some of them grow to about 8 feet tall. I guess a giant sunflower would be our equivalent. The birds are also amazing. The cockatoos and parrots are everywhere. They are actually pests in some areas. They are beautiful to look at but make the most horrible screech when communicating with each other, and they destroy property.
Sydney is a really cool city. I think I hated it at first! There is lots to do. We are living right downtown - beside Chinatown (not my first choice). We have a nice two bedroom apartment with a balcony that looks directly into the parkade and office building next door and down into the alley!! LOL ;-) We can and do walk everywhere. There are lots of neat places you can walk to for dinner or just for the night air. We've been to Sydney harbour, where the harbor bridge is and the Sydney Opera House (see pictures). We have not climbed the bridge yet, but we will before we leave here. It takes about 3 1/2 hours to walk up to the top cross over and walk back down. We still have six weeks to go!! The 'Rocks' which is the oldest
neighborhood in Sydney, Darling Harbour, the botanic gardens, the Taronga Zoo and more. There are an endless number of beaches but two of the best are Manly and Bondi. Bondi is amazing!!! I think we've walked a thousand miles since we've been here. We took a day trip to the Blue Mountains. They have a set of points called Three Sisters just like we do. Legend says the witch doctor cursed his three daughters into stone - I can't remember why!! The forest here is mainly eucalyptus trees and the heat of the sun on the leaves produces an oil that gets up into the air and turns the horizon blue - hense the 'blue' mountains. It also smells just amazing. We took another weekend trip up to Port Stephens. There is a beach there that is 32km long, in some places 2km wide peimarily consisting of sand dunes. Sahara desert kind of sand dunes. You need a permit to go on them, but you can rent a quad and go driving up and down them, or you can toboggan down them. Of course I chose to gallop a horse (Tex) across them - it was spectacular!!! One of my best days here. We also took a morning stroll (Trish at 6am pic) up a very large hill to watch the sunrise. The picture does not do it justice. The view was simply indescribable. The view just takes your breath away. We take the train on day trips, buses if we need to (I miss my truck) but it really isn't too hard to get around. It costs like $60 a week to park a vehicle in the city and gas in $1.42 per litre. I think I will keep taking the train!!
As I said we are moving to Brisbane the first part of November and then we are taking two weeks off. It is not 100% sure yet, but the plan is one week in Fiji, which is about a 5 hour plane ride from here and then a week fishing for giant marlin on the Great Barrier Reef. I'm hoping the fact that the Crocodile Man died two weeks ago right where we hoped to go will have settled down by then. This country is just horrified that he died. They really loved the guy. And the fact that he was killed by a stingray is almost embarrasing, because stingrays are typically so gentle around people.
We've had to learn a new language here. 'Howreyagoin' is how are you, 'way out' is exit, 'no passout' means you can't get back into the building here, and there are 'heaps' more little things that make us chuckle every day. It isn't much different from home, except that you have to go north where it's warmer. Oh yeah, I drove a right hand stick shift up the mountainside on the left side of the road!! No shit - I'm not makin this up. I had a hoot - it was a lot of fun and shifting gears with your left hand is not as hard as you may think. :-) Tomorrow is the Jenolean caves and 20 of us are going deep sea fishing on Monday. The weather is supposed to be 'fine'. Oh, when you go to the beach don't forget your 'swimmers'. :-) I wish I could remember them all just for this email, but it is late at night here and my brain is tired. Oh yeah, the time difference: When it is 10:00am Monday morning here, it is 6:00pm Sunday night in Calgary, making calling home a challenge. But I've managed to do so a few times. Perry also attended his first rugby game last night. He said it was a lot of fun. They sure do take their sports here seriously.
I've attached some pics for you guys. I've got so many photos already it will be hard to send only a few. I included a portrait of us in our makeup for the Techno show. In case some of you don't know, the staff did a spoof of the show in Seattle. Perry was one of the main characters and I was a trapeze girl!! My five minutes of fame. The whole process was so much fun it should have been against the law.
So enjoy, and remember that I think of everyone back home everyday. Yes, everyday!! There are many days I would take my little cabin in the woods with a flower garden and a dog over this, but we are still having good fun and seeing lots.
I hope life is treating all of you well. My sister tells me that you are already expecting snow. I really hope you have another mild winter. Drop me a line and let me know what is happening back home. You guys don't have to wait for an update from me to write - and I know some of you have digital cameras, so send me some pictures!!
Perry has to go back to work for midnight to fix a water line that Montreal forgot to glue together in the kitchen, and I need to go and wake him up. I think of home often and believe it or not, I do miss home.
Talk to you soon.
Luv - Trish and Perry
**************
My response back to her:
Good to hear from you!!
http://owlfeather05.blogspot.com/
If you check out my blog above, you'll see some pictures of our summer. You should think about doing something like that, then we can check it, off and on, to see what's happening in your life!! And we can post comments as we see fit, and do a 2 way conversation thingy. I use it alot for my aunt on the island, my cousin in Drum, and my GF in Denmark. Works great!
It was so cold the other morning, we had to scrape frost off the windshields!!! GGGRRRR!!! And my plants have been covered in the backyard since last weekend, 'cause I just KNOW it's gonna warm up again!!!
I don't know if you got to meet Brewster, our kitten that we got at the end of April. Life hasn't been the same since we got him! Poor little begger got fixed on Monday, but poor Dave got clawed pretty good trying to get him into the truck. I think he must have known what was gonna happen to him, 'cause I had just taken him to Waterton with me and Gracie last Wednesday, and he was just ducky fine then, in the truck. Go figure. So poor Dave has some nasty scraches on his chest!!
I'll let my blog tell you our BIG news.... hehe Something to get you to REALLY check it out! Unless, of course, you've heard already.
The days are getting shorter and shorter and shorter! The hawks haven't left the country yet, but I'm sure it won't be long now! Especially with this crappy weather we've been having!
Anyway, good to hear from you, I'll share it with Dave!
Love from both of us, and the fur kids too!
C & D
**************
Her reply:
Okay ------------- I scanned the blog ---------------- really neat way to do things. Perry has been talking about doing something like that for a very long time. Maybe I should look into it. So – the BIG news is the engagement ring right??!! No I did not know about this. Nobody tells me anything!!!!!!!!!!! So can I have more details?? Anything set in stone? Do I need to take time off work? It’s not that easy here you know. I am going to set up a phone call at moms in a couple of weeks. It will be very early on a Monday morning here and mid afternoon Sunday there around 3 or 4pm. I’ll let you know what day for sure – maybe you and Dave could join the call.
Talk to you soon
Luv – Trish
So Trish - if you are reading this...
Nothing set in stone. No date set. Altho I did promise Dave that if I won another trip, we'd use that as our honeymoon. Well, yesterday, I qualified for a trip to San Francisco thru our radio station. Guess we'll know more on Oct. 4, when they give the trip away! LOL
TTFN
Anyway, they are now down in Australia, got this email from her yesterday. Or was that today, Australian time? Hmmmm... maybe it's tomorrow? LOL I'm trying to convince her to start a blog of her own, would make it so much simpler to keep up with what's happening with them.....
I'm not going to post her pics that she sent - better if she does that herself!! ~hint ~hint Trish!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello Mates ..... How'reyagoin??
Which is the normal greeting translated as: Hello how are you!!
Well things here have been a little crazy since we arrived. There were huge challenges getting things set up and some things are still not going all that well. For Perry it got so bad that he actually put in his resignation. Happily, they wouldn't accept it and instead are working with him to resolve water and equipment issues. For me, I still can't get the bank and the credit card machine people to turn off the automatic settlement at 9:30pm. It's been very trying at times - at least in the work world.
The weather was quite nice when we arrived, considering it was the end of winter. Then it got pretty wet and cooled off some. Of course to these people, cool is a high of 16 celcius. The past week has been glorious. It is around 23 most days and nice sunny skies. It is full spring right now and the trees are about halfway to full. September 1st is the first day of spring. People everywhere were wishing you a happy first day of spring!! Wierd! Now that I have experienced how warm spring can be, I can't wait for summer. We move from Sydney to Brisbane in early November and will be getting right into summer. I love the land here. The rock cliffs, the beaches, they have the most amazing trees and the flowers are everywhere. Some of them grow to about 8 feet tall. I guess a giant sunflower would be our equivalent. The birds are also amazing. The cockatoos and parrots are everywhere. They are actually pests in some areas. They are beautiful to look at but make the most horrible screech when communicating with each other, and they destroy property.
Sydney is a really cool city. I think I hated it at first! There is lots to do. We are living right downtown - beside Chinatown (not my first choice). We have a nice two bedroom apartment with a balcony that looks directly into the parkade and office building next door and down into the alley!! LOL ;-) We can and do walk everywhere. There are lots of neat places you can walk to for dinner or just for the night air. We've been to Sydney harbour, where the harbor bridge is and the Sydney Opera House (see pictures). We have not climbed the bridge yet, but we will before we leave here. It takes about 3 1/2 hours to walk up to the top cross over and walk back down. We still have six weeks to go!! The 'Rocks' which is the oldest
neighborhood in Sydney, Darling Harbour, the botanic gardens, the Taronga Zoo and more. There are an endless number of beaches but two of the best are Manly and Bondi. Bondi is amazing!!! I think we've walked a thousand miles since we've been here. We took a day trip to the Blue Mountains. They have a set of points called Three Sisters just like we do. Legend says the witch doctor cursed his three daughters into stone - I can't remember why!! The forest here is mainly eucalyptus trees and the heat of the sun on the leaves produces an oil that gets up into the air and turns the horizon blue - hense the 'blue' mountains. It also smells just amazing. We took another weekend trip up to Port Stephens. There is a beach there that is 32km long, in some places 2km wide peimarily consisting of sand dunes. Sahara desert kind of sand dunes. You need a permit to go on them, but you can rent a quad and go driving up and down them, or you can toboggan down them. Of course I chose to gallop a horse (Tex) across them - it was spectacular!!! One of my best days here. We also took a morning stroll (Trish at 6am pic) up a very large hill to watch the sunrise. The picture does not do it justice. The view was simply indescribable. The view just takes your breath away. We take the train on day trips, buses if we need to (I miss my truck) but it really isn't too hard to get around. It costs like $60 a week to park a vehicle in the city and gas in $1.42 per litre. I think I will keep taking the train!!
As I said we are moving to Brisbane the first part of November and then we are taking two weeks off. It is not 100% sure yet, but the plan is one week in Fiji, which is about a 5 hour plane ride from here and then a week fishing for giant marlin on the Great Barrier Reef. I'm hoping the fact that the Crocodile Man died two weeks ago right where we hoped to go will have settled down by then. This country is just horrified that he died. They really loved the guy. And the fact that he was killed by a stingray is almost embarrasing, because stingrays are typically so gentle around people.
We've had to learn a new language here. 'Howreyagoin' is how are you, 'way out' is exit, 'no passout' means you can't get back into the building here, and there are 'heaps' more little things that make us chuckle every day. It isn't much different from home, except that you have to go north where it's warmer. Oh yeah, I drove a right hand stick shift up the mountainside on the left side of the road!! No shit - I'm not makin this up. I had a hoot - it was a lot of fun and shifting gears with your left hand is not as hard as you may think. :-) Tomorrow is the Jenolean caves and 20 of us are going deep sea fishing on Monday. The weather is supposed to be 'fine'. Oh, when you go to the beach don't forget your 'swimmers'. :-) I wish I could remember them all just for this email, but it is late at night here and my brain is tired. Oh yeah, the time difference: When it is 10:00am Monday morning here, it is 6:00pm Sunday night in Calgary, making calling home a challenge. But I've managed to do so a few times. Perry also attended his first rugby game last night. He said it was a lot of fun. They sure do take their sports here seriously.
I've attached some pics for you guys. I've got so many photos already it will be hard to send only a few. I included a portrait of us in our makeup for the Techno show. In case some of you don't know, the staff did a spoof of the show in Seattle. Perry was one of the main characters and I was a trapeze girl!! My five minutes of fame. The whole process was so much fun it should have been against the law.
So enjoy, and remember that I think of everyone back home everyday. Yes, everyday!! There are many days I would take my little cabin in the woods with a flower garden and a dog over this, but we are still having good fun and seeing lots.
I hope life is treating all of you well. My sister tells me that you are already expecting snow. I really hope you have another mild winter. Drop me a line and let me know what is happening back home. You guys don't have to wait for an update from me to write - and I know some of you have digital cameras, so send me some pictures!!
Perry has to go back to work for midnight to fix a water line that Montreal forgot to glue together in the kitchen, and I need to go and wake him up. I think of home often and believe it or not, I do miss home.
Talk to you soon.
Luv - Trish and Perry
**************
My response back to her:
Good to hear from you!!
http://owlfeather05.blogspot.com/
If you check out my blog above, you'll see some pictures of our summer. You should think about doing something like that, then we can check it, off and on, to see what's happening in your life!! And we can post comments as we see fit, and do a 2 way conversation thingy. I use it alot for my aunt on the island, my cousin in Drum, and my GF in Denmark. Works great!
It was so cold the other morning, we had to scrape frost off the windshields!!! GGGRRRR!!! And my plants have been covered in the backyard since last weekend, 'cause I just KNOW it's gonna warm up again!!!
I don't know if you got to meet Brewster, our kitten that we got at the end of April. Life hasn't been the same since we got him! Poor little begger got fixed on Monday, but poor Dave got clawed pretty good trying to get him into the truck. I think he must have known what was gonna happen to him, 'cause I had just taken him to Waterton with me and Gracie last Wednesday, and he was just ducky fine then, in the truck. Go figure. So poor Dave has some nasty scraches on his chest!!
I'll let my blog tell you our BIG news.... hehe Something to get you to REALLY check it out! Unless, of course, you've heard already.
The days are getting shorter and shorter and shorter! The hawks haven't left the country yet, but I'm sure it won't be long now! Especially with this crappy weather we've been having!
Anyway, good to hear from you, I'll share it with Dave!
Love from both of us, and the fur kids too!
C & D
**************
Her reply:
Okay ------------- I scanned the blog ---------------- really neat way to do things. Perry has been talking about doing something like that for a very long time. Maybe I should look into it. So – the BIG news is the engagement ring right??!! No I did not know about this. Nobody tells me anything!!!!!!!!!!! So can I have more details?? Anything set in stone? Do I need to take time off work? It’s not that easy here you know. I am going to set up a phone call at moms in a couple of weeks. It will be very early on a Monday morning here and mid afternoon Sunday there around 3 or 4pm. I’ll let you know what day for sure – maybe you and Dave could join the call.
Talk to you soon
Luv – Trish
So Trish - if you are reading this...
Nothing set in stone. No date set. Altho I did promise Dave that if I won another trip, we'd use that as our honeymoon. Well, yesterday, I qualified for a trip to San Francisco thru our radio station. Guess we'll know more on Oct. 4, when they give the trip away! LOL
TTFN
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Rented this movie when Deb & Darryl were down... Okay, so I was surprised that it was actually a very good movie! Just with all the hoopla that occured between these two afterwards, I was kinda going....ick. But it IS worth watching!!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
SCA
In Friday's paper, there was this:
Swashbuckling event Saturday
The Society of Creative Ananchronism will hold a tournament Saturday from 1-5 pm at the Kiwanis Shelter at Henderson Lake Park. The public is invited to attend the event, which features simulated sword play with characters in costume.
So of course, I HAD to drag Deb to it!!! DAMNED, it was cold!! Stayed long enough to take these shots, then got in the warm car!! BBBRRRRRRR!!!!!
Love this pin!!!! The blanket.... not so much! LOL
Then we went home and ate the stew that had been cooking all day in the crock pot... aaah... COMFORT FOOD!! :-)
Swashbuckling event Saturday
The Society of Creative Ananchronism will hold a tournament Saturday from 1-5 pm at the Kiwanis Shelter at Henderson Lake Park. The public is invited to attend the event, which features simulated sword play with characters in costume.
So of course, I HAD to drag Deb to it!!! DAMNED, it was cold!! Stayed long enough to take these shots, then got in the warm car!! BBBRRRRRRR!!!!!
Love this pin!!!! The blanket.... not so much! LOL
Then we went home and ate the stew that had been cooking all day in the crock pot... aaah... COMFORT FOOD!! :-)
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Cadfael
I know, you are saying, what on earth is a "Cadfael"???? Well, actually, it was a bunch of tv movies that would show up here and there, that I tried to watch. I REALLY enjoyed catching these shows. It's about a monk by the name of Brother Cadfael in the 1100's. I know, I know, you are still saying "WHAT????". The tv shows were kind of done Agatha Christie style, a who-done-it type with Brother Cadfael solving crimes, sort of a the original CSI type fella.
Out of curiousity, I thought I'd see if I could find out anything about these tv shows on the web. Can we say OH MY GOD!!! ??? Guess I'm not the only one that loved these shows!! LOL Ya, a person can buy all 4 seasons, 13 episodes, for upwards of a hundred bucks!! Oh, and there was a CD too. Which I thought would be really great, 'cause there is alot of Gregorain chant type music. On ebay - it went for 100 bucks. For ONE cd!!! 11 bids!! Excuse my french, but HOLY SHIT!!! And you should see the web sites dedicated to JUST Cadfael. Check this one out...
By the looks of it, the shows were based on a set of books (20 in all), by Ellis Peters. See, I never knew that!! What a person can learn from the web!!! And here I thought I was the only one that watched these tv shows. Well, and poor Dave, 'cause he didn't have much choice. LOL
I checked with A&B Sound... they can't even order these movies or cd in - they have quit making them! Hence, the high prices that people are asking for, I guess. Oh well, I lived without them all this time... it's not gonna kill me to not own any of the above! LOL It was just a thought anyway....
Out of curiousity, I thought I'd see if I could find out anything about these tv shows on the web. Can we say OH MY GOD!!! ??? Guess I'm not the only one that loved these shows!! LOL Ya, a person can buy all 4 seasons, 13 episodes, for upwards of a hundred bucks!! Oh, and there was a CD too. Which I thought would be really great, 'cause there is alot of Gregorain chant type music. On ebay - it went for 100 bucks. For ONE cd!!! 11 bids!! Excuse my french, but HOLY SHIT!!! And you should see the web sites dedicated to JUST Cadfael. Check this one out...
By the looks of it, the shows were based on a set of books (20 in all), by Ellis Peters. See, I never knew that!! What a person can learn from the web!!! And here I thought I was the only one that watched these tv shows. Well, and poor Dave, 'cause he didn't have much choice. LOL
I checked with A&B Sound... they can't even order these movies or cd in - they have quit making them! Hence, the high prices that people are asking for, I guess. Oh well, I lived without them all this time... it's not gonna kill me to not own any of the above! LOL It was just a thought anyway....
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Waterton trip
It's been 2 years since my Dad passed away... I can hardly believe the time has gone by so quickly! On his first anniversary, Gracie and I went down to Waterton - kind of in honour of Dad. He managed to get down there one last time before he passed away and had the time of his life! Wheelchair and all - it was a big adventure to him!
So 2nd Anniversary - it was only fitting that I did the road trip again. Only this year it was just a day trip. And this year Brewster joined Gracie & me!
On our way down to Waterton, had to scope out some Girl's Weekend Campout potential camping spots. This is Police Outpost - with one heck of a view of Chief Mountain. Isn't this a cool mountain? I can take pics of it from home, that’s how BIG it is!!
Of course, we had to stretch our legs, so we had a little walk-about while down at Police Outpost.... Yes, the Rotti is running free, and the kitten is on a leash.
Last year the weather was not very nice! When Gracie & I camped, it was in the rain, and there was snow up in the side roads. From the big dump that Pincher Creek had gotten a few days before (power outages, etc) The only wildlife we had seen (?) was Elk buggling all night long.
This year... just driving into the park, we saw a black bear trying his darnest to get across the small highway that leads into the park. I didn't get a picture of that fella - it happened so quickly! So that's ONE bear.
Of course, when you come into Waterton, what is the first thing you see? Yep, the Prince of Wales hotel, perched on the top of this outcrop. To tell you the truth, I have never been in there. Note to self: Must do that next year! Guess the hotel is off kilter, from the winds blowing as it was being built. So everything is a little cock-eyed. Gee, go figure!
And of course, a person can't drive around down there, without coming across buffalo somewhere!
AHA! Not a clear great picture, but as I was driving past those IDIOTS that park their vehicles on the side of the road and get out of their cars to take pics of bears.. is when I snapped this photo. A Mama bear and a cub. So now we are up to seeing THREE bears! Sweet!
At a spot that I've designated as "Dad's Place" (a Native info pull-in)... we saw down at the river this Mama and her two cubs. Not a care in the world! Dad would be suitably impressed with "his" spot! :-)
Monday, September 11, 2006
September 11, 2001 - Newfoundland!!
It's hard to believe that 5 years has passed since that fateful day. I remember hearing about a plane crashing into a building that morning on the radio. Just thought of it as an accident. Then when I got to work, Harvey (one of our partners), who had his office behind me at the time, had his tv on. And I watched, in real time, the 2nd plane crash into the towers. At 8:15 a.m. our time. (give or take) We were all shocked, just like everyone else across the world. I even got an email from my GF in Denmark - they too, were horrified as they watched the events unfold.
Today, as I was driving home at lunch, I just hit scan on my radio in the car, and ended up at 101.1 FM. Don't ask me where they were broadcasting from, but they were speaking with people from Newfoundland, who REALLY stepped up to the plate and helped hordes of flights and thousands of people that were diverted from landing in the States. So there I am, almost bawling like a baby, hearing the stories.
For example, there were two UN boys (unaccompanied by an adult), that were taken in by the Red Cross lady that was speaking at the time at the radio. Because she had teenagers, she felt they would be most comfortable at her house. And how children were being placed with familes, all over the place. And made to call their parents, ASAP!!
Anyway, missed the rest of it, 'cause I went into the house. But caught the last little bit on my way back to work. There was a Mayor from Appleton, speaking, with his wonderful accent. On how, you just did what needed to be done.
So here's my belated thanks for those wonderful folks down east, who had the heart to do what they did, not expecting anything in return. Good on ye!! God, I love being Canadian!! :-)
Today, as I was driving home at lunch, I just hit scan on my radio in the car, and ended up at 101.1 FM. Don't ask me where they were broadcasting from, but they were speaking with people from Newfoundland, who REALLY stepped up to the plate and helped hordes of flights and thousands of people that were diverted from landing in the States. So there I am, almost bawling like a baby, hearing the stories.
For example, there were two UN boys (unaccompanied by an adult), that were taken in by the Red Cross lady that was speaking at the time at the radio. Because she had teenagers, she felt they would be most comfortable at her house. And how children were being placed with familes, all over the place. And made to call their parents, ASAP!!
Anyway, missed the rest of it, 'cause I went into the house. But caught the last little bit on my way back to work. There was a Mayor from Appleton, speaking, with his wonderful accent. On how, you just did what needed to be done.
So here's my belated thanks for those wonderful folks down east, who had the heart to do what they did, not expecting anything in return. Good on ye!! God, I love being Canadian!! :-)
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Another "quote"
Just found this at Gaelsong...
"The tide recedes but leaves bright seashells on the sand,
the sun goes down but gentle warmth still lingers on the land.
The music stops & yet it echoes on in sweet refrains ...
for every joy that passes,
something beautiful remains."
"The tide recedes but leaves bright seashells on the sand,
the sun goes down but gentle warmth still lingers on the land.
The music stops & yet it echoes on in sweet refrains ...
for every joy that passes,
something beautiful remains."
Strange but true...
Just some things that caught my fancy, which I thought I'd share with you...
1) The other day, one of the students (Blair) came back to work from lunch. On his way, he passed a Dumpster Diver digging in the big garbage bin in the back alley. So you can visulize the person I'm talking about, right? Shopping cart beside him. Ratty clothing. And what happens when Blair passes the fella? His cell phone rings. NO, not Blair's. The guy. Seriously - this guy had a cell phone! Which he proceeded to answer and have a conversation on. There's that "you can't judge a book by its cover" thang!
2) Dave's mom called the other night about something. When I asked her how she was doing, out came the phrase "Fair to middlin'." God, flashback to my dad. Something he ALWAYS used to say, and very uncommon for her to say. So it made quite the impression on me! LOL
3) 6 Degrees of Seperation:
Answered the phone the other night. It was a woman. Speaking quickly. All I got out of her was sorta a name of Joyce. When asked who she was, sorta got the name Katherine. Okay. My middle name is Joyce. There is our good friend Kathy that lives up north, and a Kathy that sometimes I walk with at the off leash area. So now I'm confused. Turns out, when I explained to her that I was pretty sure she had the wrong number, but the reason for my confusion was that Joyce was my middle name... of course, then we began talking. Hell, I'll talk to anyone! LOL Turns out, she misdialed the number by transposing the first couple of digits!!
Well, this lady is looking for this Joyce, something to do with the Naturalists/Bird Watchers here in town. Which of course, gave us more to talk about! There we are, comparing notes. In the process, turns out she's been up to RD for some bird watching thingy. My home town. By this time, she's trying to convince me I should either join them, or even speak to their group. I'm trying to explain to her that I'm more of a solitary hiker/watcher, not quite my thing to belong to "groups".
By time we are ending our conversation, she gets my name. The polite thing to do would be to ask her name. When she said it... I just HAD to ask... was her husband's name Frank? Damned if it wasn't!! I then asked her, if by chance, they had been to my work the other day, to see George (one of the partners). Yep, that was them!! Go figure, eh? George had scooped them before I even said "Hi" - I have more of a conversation with her on the phone, via a wrong number!
Isn't life strange??? LOL
1) The other day, one of the students (Blair) came back to work from lunch. On his way, he passed a Dumpster Diver digging in the big garbage bin in the back alley. So you can visulize the person I'm talking about, right? Shopping cart beside him. Ratty clothing. And what happens when Blair passes the fella? His cell phone rings. NO, not Blair's. The guy. Seriously - this guy had a cell phone! Which he proceeded to answer and have a conversation on. There's that "you can't judge a book by its cover" thang!
2) Dave's mom called the other night about something. When I asked her how she was doing, out came the phrase "Fair to middlin'." God, flashback to my dad. Something he ALWAYS used to say, and very uncommon for her to say. So it made quite the impression on me! LOL
3) 6 Degrees of Seperation:
Answered the phone the other night. It was a woman. Speaking quickly. All I got out of her was sorta a name of Joyce. When asked who she was, sorta got the name Katherine. Okay. My middle name is Joyce. There is our good friend Kathy that lives up north, and a Kathy that sometimes I walk with at the off leash area. So now I'm confused. Turns out, when I explained to her that I was pretty sure she had the wrong number, but the reason for my confusion was that Joyce was my middle name... of course, then we began talking. Hell, I'll talk to anyone! LOL Turns out, she misdialed the number by transposing the first couple of digits!!
Well, this lady is looking for this Joyce, something to do with the Naturalists/Bird Watchers here in town. Which of course, gave us more to talk about! There we are, comparing notes. In the process, turns out she's been up to RD for some bird watching thingy. My home town. By this time, she's trying to convince me I should either join them, or even speak to their group. I'm trying to explain to her that I'm more of a solitary hiker/watcher, not quite my thing to belong to "groups".
By time we are ending our conversation, she gets my name. The polite thing to do would be to ask her name. When she said it... I just HAD to ask... was her husband's name Frank? Damned if it wasn't!! I then asked her, if by chance, they had been to my work the other day, to see George (one of the partners). Yep, that was them!! Go figure, eh? George had scooped them before I even said "Hi" - I have more of a conversation with her on the phone, via a wrong number!
Isn't life strange??? LOL
Saturday, September 09, 2006
celtic corner
This is a tiny spot in my home, that I fondly refer to as my "Celtic Corner".
I simply LOVE celtic crosses!! This is actually quite small, gotta love cameras!!
Chris gave me this dragon water fountain. Of course, it HAD to go into the Celtic Corner. And gee, I just so happen to have a couple of swords to go with it. And a BIG honking crystal rock formation...
This started as a small collection of unicorns. But then other items crept into it, and now we have this to show for it. I have issues with alot of the "unicorns" out there. What? A horse with a horn??? Nooooo.... Wikipedia dictionary describes a unicorn correctly...
Though the popular image of the unicorn is that of a white horse differing only in the horn, the traditional unicorn has a billy-goat beard, a lion's tail, and cloven hooves, which distinguish him from a horse.
And this is my dining room window. Also part of the Celtic Corner. :-)
I was cleaning up my emails.... god, I keep EVERYTHING!! Anyway, I had sent this to myself back on July 11.... see, told you I was interested in stuff like this!!
From: View Contact Details
To: owlfeather
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 09:24:13 -0600
Subject: Christine Medieval Journal
http://mw.mcmaster.ca/christine.html
Who knows how I tripped over this site.....
I simply LOVE celtic crosses!! This is actually quite small, gotta love cameras!!
Chris gave me this dragon water fountain. Of course, it HAD to go into the Celtic Corner. And gee, I just so happen to have a couple of swords to go with it. And a BIG honking crystal rock formation...
This started as a small collection of unicorns. But then other items crept into it, and now we have this to show for it. I have issues with alot of the "unicorns" out there. What? A horse with a horn??? Nooooo.... Wikipedia dictionary describes a unicorn correctly...Though the popular image of the unicorn is that of a white horse differing only in the horn, the traditional unicorn has a billy-goat beard, a lion's tail, and cloven hooves, which distinguish him from a horse.
And this is my dining room window. Also part of the Celtic Corner. :-)I was cleaning up my emails.... god, I keep EVERYTHING!! Anyway, I had sent this to myself back on July 11.... see, told you I was interested in stuff like this!!
From: View Contact Details
To: owlfeather
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 09:24:13 -0600
Subject: Christine Medieval Journal
http://mw.mcmaster.ca/christine.html
Who knows how I tripped over this site.....
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Celtic ring
Okay, what is it when the ring goes on the finger, my thoughts begin to think "wedding". I guess now it would be closer than before.... or something? DUH.
Anyway, wearing the ring for 2 weeks on my middle finger, looking at it all the time, next to my celtic knot ring... just out of curiousity, I began to look at celtic knot wedding bands. Yep. Couldn't help myself!! So I checked out Gaelsong. They usually have some pretty cool things there. Nothing that spoke to me... and because the engagement ring is white gold, I really want to stay in that family. Besides which, did the regular gold stuff - that was a past life. I only wear silver nowadays. Cheaper, to start with! LOL Dave knew that, that's why he got the white gold ring.
Then I checked out Gryphon's Moon.... I've NEVER had a problem buying from them, they are great people!! But alas, nothing that "talked" to me. I want something with the trinity knot in it...
This site has some really fine examples of the trinity knot... now THAT'S what I'm looking for!!
Of course, in my travels... then I began to slide into irish weddings, then to medieval, then to Renaissance, etc. etc. Handfasting. Garb. Feasts. And on and on.
Still haven't found the right ring, but I be thinking that a simple medieval peasant style wedding might be in the cards...
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