could be right before your very eyes - just beyond a door that's open wide - could be far away or in your own backyard - there are those who say, you can look too hard - for your place in the world - could be one more mile, or just one step back - in a lover's smile, down a darkened path - friends will take our side, enemies will curse us - but to be alive is to know your purpose - it's your place in the world
Thank goodness for Dads. They really come through when it comes to projects around the house, don't you find? Since becoming a home owner last year, my Dad has been most helpful. In fact, I think the house has become a bonding agent for us.
This week he helped me out with my pathetic lawn. Somehow weeds have overtaken where the grass should be and it was looking rather ragged. I think it actually bothered Dad more than it bothered me, so we made a date for him to come and help me get it under control.
We worked out a system where he raked and I pulled what was left. Of course, we picked the hottest day of the year to do this...and it was humid. Hard work but fulfilling once we sprinkled on the grass seed and stretched out the garden hose to water.
At one point it started to rain. Not intense, but a gentle rain. In those moments I was transported back to when I was a kid and picking up rocks or pulling weeds with my siblings. We would squeal with delight and start to sing "it's beginning to rain rain rain" when the rain started. It meant we could quit and head for the house.
It's funny what triggers a memory and the things that are actually stored in your memory. The rain didn't last this week and we got the job done. Now I just need to wait to see little green shoots appear on my front lawn!
For the past several months, I have been working on a presentation as part of a sub committee of my union (CEP). The committee had been formed in the fall to research and compile a white paper on the effects of multimedia/social media on journalism. My co-worker Scrappy is chair of the committee and brought me on board in February to design a presentation and website to display their findings.
The process has been such a great experience that is outside my every day duties at work. Originally Scott had been compiling their information into a Power Point. When I saw it, I had one word: Prezi. If you have not experienced a Prezi, you should check it out here. It's a pretty slick little piece of software for presentations. Once I showed Scrappy the demo, he was convinced. We have spent many hours perfecting our little Prezi and I must admit I am happy with the results.
In addition to building the Prezi, we have deposited our research and resources onto a website. And, as a value-added bonus to the web, we interviewed local tech analyst Carmi Levy about the current and future state of journalism. All shot on my iPhone and edited with iMovie, I am quite happy with the result. And, since I couldn't save our Prezi onto the website we whipped up a PowerPoint that contains the same info and is downloadable/viewable on the web.
So, everything culminates this weekend in Victoria at the national conference. I'll be making a mad dash there and back but looking forward to seeing the final product and its reaction.
I'm gearing up for this Saturday's annual town-wide yard sale day in Petrolia. I'm not sure when it started but it's been around as long as I can remember. Not only is it fun to wander around town, sorting through other people's junk in search of a treasure...but it becomes a social event. A reunion of sorts. I have attended with old friends, new friends, and family. I particularly remember the year Lisa bought a thigh master or when Sue & I stayed over at Connie's just days after finding out Madison was joining the family.
Hope the weather holds out this year because, after all, when else can you buy a hot dog from a stranger on their front lawn at 8am?
I have previously blogged about adventures with my friend Laurie Lane and also of my love of country music. Last night they collided in an evening of great fun!
It seems like ages ago that I heard of Alan Jackson coming to the JLC. He's always been one of my favourite country artists, so naturally I wanted to go. I knew exactly who to ask to accompany me! Laurie is also a country girl at heart and enjoys some good foot stompin' music.
We started the evening at The Works on King Street. It is just steps from the JLC so it was really busy. But, that just gave us lots of opportunity to catch up. Laurie is one of those treasured friends and when we get together, it's equal parts roll on the floor laughter and honest-to-goodness heart to hearts.
The Works is a pretty fun place to eat with a unique atmosphere. Lots of interesting things on the walls and their serving style is also cool. Our meals came in a metal cake pan and our drinks in a glass measuring cup! Delicious food and lots of hilarity from Ms. Lane. She noted that while I had my cowboy boots on, the most country she could rustle up were her "hopscotch shoes". I'm not sure why she called them that but it hit me as very funny. Last night confirmed the special spot I have reserved for country music. The long and lanky Alan Jackson sauntered on stage and sang most of his #1 hits. I sang along with almost every word. I particularly liked it when the camera shooting for the overhead screens showed us a close up of his boots while he tapped his toe from side to side. Someday, Laurie and I plan to hit Nashville to take in the Grand Ole Opry. It may take us years, but it just seems like something we need to do. Thanks Laurie for a great night out!
As a nerd at heart, I get my kicks out of reviewing stats from my blog. I like to see how many people have visited and where they are from.
One of the trends I have found most amusing in recent months is that the most hits I get from google searches is for Carpenters Christmas Portrait. I blogged about it back in December while contemplating Christmas music. Surprisingly there are a lot of people that google that CD. I'm curious. Why the interest in a Christmas CD in February, March and April?
The other big hit I get from google is for "boobies bracelets". This is not surprising to me after writing about the corporatization of breast cancer here.
Other runners-up for top searches include: Connie's of Petrolia (my
sister's restaurant), Fanshawe student card, Jian Ghomeshi and Scott
Lightfoot (who knew?).
I have always been taken with the art of photography. I couldn't wait to get my very own camera when I was a kid. It was with guarded enthusiasm that I clicked the button. You see, back in "the day" cameras were loaded with film (which cost money) which needed to be developed (which costs money). It could take a few months for me to finish off a roll of 24 exposures and drop it off at the store for processing. Three days later you could return to pick up the prints and hope for the best. It was a gamble what they would look like until you opened that envelope.
As a teenager, I bought my first SLR camera and took a 6 week class at Clouse Photography in Petrolia. Film and processing was included so we were encouraged to snap away. It gave me a chance to be creative. I loved it!
Over time I forgot some of the specifics I had picked up about F-stops and aperture and the camera stayed in its case more often than not. I favoured the convenience of a smaller point and shoot. Then digital came to town. It was inevitable that I make the move. After all, it was much more convenient and just think of the money you could save on film and processing!
The progression continued with the move to a digital SLR and now an iPhone. An iPhone, you may consider a regression, but it's the social integration, convenience and ease of use that makes it essential. Once I discovered Instagram, I was hooked. Instagram allows you to do a few quick edits to your pictures and immediately post online. It's fabulous. I started following a fellow Londoner on Instagram recently that was posting under the hashtag #ldnviews. All photos of London and all great art. I was disappointed that I missed the art show but apparently there is one coming up in the fall. All using an iPhone and Instagram. Cool!
Some people just have an eye for photography and it shows. My friend Scott is phenomenal at looking at things from an interesting angle, seeing things from a different perspective and then capturing it. I'm still trying to figure out if you can develop that talent or if it's one you're born with. I will continue on my quest...
There are few times in life where your path crosses that of another that offers the kind of friendship I share with my friend Kim. This week I realized just how much I miss her.
It's been nearly two years since Kim moved to Winnipeg with her family and this week drove back to Ontario for their spring break. When I answered the door and saw my old friend, it was like pulling on my favourite sweater on a cold day.
Kim knows me. She knows my story, my back story and the story of my
family. We haven't been the best at keeping in touch but we instantly
picked up where we left off. We can laugh and we can cry. When it was
time for her to leave, I was sad... but also realized just how much I
love my dear friend.
This weekend I watched an eye-opening and interesting movie. It's called Pink Ribbons Inc. and as you can guess from the name, it explores a phenomenon labelled "pink washing".
In the past 15-20 years companies have been capitalizing on the colour pink in the name of breast cancer. You have certainly seen these items in various stores...everything from a pink hammer, vaccuum cleaner or food products with a little pink ribbon on them.
When you stop to think about the money that is raised each year for breast cancer research (or just cancer in general) it is mind boggling. From selling these pink products and donating a pittance to research (usually 10 cents or so) to the various runs and walks in support of the cause, millions of dollars are raised and donated to research.Why then, is the risk of getting breast cancer increasing rather than decreasing? In the 1940's ...the chance of a woman getting breast cancer was 1 in 22. Now the risk is 1 in 8.
I can understand the draw to participating in the walks/runs. Survivors and their families feel empowered and a sense of belonging. It would be very easy to get caught up in the hype that inevitably accompanies these events. But, I ask you to stop and question just where the money is going. Only 5% is going towards research on prevention. It's interesting that so much money is being spent on research to find a cure for something that we cannot prevent. Very little, if any, is going to support those that are directly effected by the disease. To me, it is unthinkable that someone can be diagnosed and sent on their way with little more than an appointment for chemotherapy and a free wig. This is a life changing moment for these women and they need support. They need someone to talk to about so many aspects of what they are about to go through and they need direction in regards to what resources are available to them. And they need resources to be available to them.
The colour pink was chosen for this cause because it is associated with comfort, feminine, soothing, warmth, tender and affection. People get a warm fuzzy feeling when they support the pink ribbon campaign. However, there really is nothing comforting or affectionate about getting a breast cancer diagnosis. Consider seeing this film or at the very least, think twice before you purchase a pink ribbon product.
Today is the day after St. Patrick's Day and I cannot believe the aftermath we are dealing with in London. St. Paddy's revellers in the Fanshawe College area got completely out of hand last night with what started as a mattress burning in the street and ended with a CTV news truck overturned and torched and 11 people being arrested.
I tuned into the story about 1:30am on Twitter. I had been "unplugged" all night and before heading for bed, I checked my email. Some of the tweets that were popping up on my screen caught my attention and as I started to read more of the story I was shocked and disgusted.
Following up on the story today made my stomach turn. As I watched the visuals of people hurling 2x4s, beer bottles and anything else they could get their hands on at police while dancing around a burning vehicle in the street, it made me question where society is headed. These types of destructive mobs have popped up recently in Vancouver and the other London. These people are not even protesting an oppressive government or abusive power...they are simply self indulgent, privileged and ignorant.
Why do people of this generation feel they are entitled to act however they desire with no consequences? It is time for people to take responsibility for their actions and grow up. I sincerely hope that anyone caught on camera (or otherwise identified) are charged and reprimanded appropriately.
Yes, there has been a hiatus in my blogging. Sometimes life gets a little busy and blogging doesn't find it's way to the top of the priority list. Last week I headed to the sunny south for some fun in the sun with my sister & co. I did check my email while I was there but made a conscious effort not to sit on the computer the whole time. That meant no social media updates and very brief if any replies to email!
Anyway, after spending a week in Florida we spent 2 days traveling the highways and byways of the US of A. I'm not sure why, but there is something about the "road trip" that is so appealing to me. Passing through major cities and we noted all they are known for and sang songs associated with them. (WKRP in Cincinnati, Nashville Cats and Midnight in Montgomery were all sung on this journey)
One of the stops on the trip home was in Montgomery, Alabama. What a beautiful city! The reason we stopped was to see where Martin Luther King Jr. lived. It was a bit challenging to find (come on Montgomery, better signage needed for such historic landmarks!) and it was closed to the public while we were there, but it was a moving experience. I saw where they marched from Selma to Montgomery and imagined what it was like that day. I saw the church where MLKJ was the pastor and just up the street I also saw the house where he and his family lived. I would love to return someday when I can spend more time exploring.
Also on the way home, Connie and I kept seeing signs for places we visited on family vacations when we were younger. One sign in particular made us both burst out laughing! The Mammoth Caves in Kentucky was an excruciating afternoon with the family where we wandered far beneath the earth looking at stalactites and stalagmites. The proverbial light at the end at the tunnel was the "snowball cafe" where we were going to have lunch. LOL...the snowball cafe ended up being styrofoam bowls of chili served at picnic tables. We still lament the Mammoth Caves so when we saw the sign on the highway he had to snap a pic. Unfortunately it was at night so it's not the best but we needed to capture the memory.
Do you enjoy road trips? Have fond memories of family vacations? Share in the comments!
As promised Peggy and I recently spent the day together working on her quilt. At this point it's not so much a quilt but rather 12 squares of embroidery. I wasn't quite sure how to embroidery when I got there but it didn't take long to pick it up.
We had such a nice time chatting and stitching our needlework. Yes, I realize this makes me sound like an old biddy ...but for an afternoon, I was! We stopped for lunch when my cousin Esther showed up with buns and sandwich fixings. Peggy had a little cat nap while Esther and I watched Whitney Houston's funeral. Well, I was watching and embroidering!
Little moments like these spent with people we love are the best moments in life. I hope you have many of these!
This question popped up on my Facebook feed this morning, linking here. (please excuse the ignorance and use of profanity) I'm assuming this transpired during or following last night's Grammy Awards.
It's a little shocking but also disappointing that (I'm assuming) young people today would not know who this legend is. I experienced something similar when using my Paul McCartney Starbucks card. I handed it to the teenager behind the counter and he looked at it and said "Oh, there's some guy on your card. Weird, I've never seen that one." I responded with "Some guy? That is Paul McCartney." He gave me a blank stare and proceeded with my order.
As you well know, I'm a big fan of McCartney so of course I'm appalled. But even so, I think there is something to be gained from knowing a little bit of pop history. I grew up in the 80s/90s but I still know a lot of music and TV shows from the 70's 60's and beyond. Without those pioneers, we wouldn't have our current pop culture. I think it's more than simply remembering the "good old days"...especially for me. I don't remember those days, but I certainly appreciate what happened in those days. I hope you do too :)
I've always known that I'm a sentimentalist. I tend to attach sentimental value to things that hold memories for me.
In the past few weeks, I've been feeling sentimental about, of all things, farm machinery! Yes, it's true. Melancholy for tractors, combines, ploughs and augers. Let me explain.
Last Father's Day my Dad announced to us (his children) that he was going to retire from farming. He had been contracting different jobs out over the past few years and decided now was the time to call it a day. Farming is definitely hard work and Dad wants to enjoy his golden years as a retired man. Not semi-retired. This announcement knocked the wind out of me. Farmer and Dad were always synonymous in my mind. I couldn't imagine him not working the land.
Winter is a pretty quiet time for farmers and the notion had left my mind for the most part. Until, that is, I was asked to help with some photos he wanted to post for selling his machinery. I really can't explain it, but I was so sad when I thought of the shed being emptied of its contents. It's not like I ever use this equipment myself but the fact that it was being sold for someone else to use... well, it bothered me. I asked Dad if he felt that way and he was very matter-of-fact about it. He wouldn't be needing the equipment so of course he would sell it.
Time moves on and things are constantly changing. The great thing about
memories is that you will always have them. They can't be sold or
shipped out. My Dad will always be a farmer in my mind, whether he's
driving a combine or not.
I am happy to be celebrating a day that I wondered would actually arrive. The past year has been particularly hard for my Aunt Peggy but today she is marking her 87th birthday!
The majority of this year was spent in and out of hospital, a colon cancer diagnosis and surgery followed by 3 more months in hospital. During this time, I realized that attitude really is the most important aspect of recovery.
I can clearly remember sitting on the edge of Peggy's hospital bed in June. She was telling me about sorting through some things at her house and discovering how many projects she had to do. In fact, she would need to live until she's at least 90 to finish them all! I do not doubt that I will be celebrating her 90th birthday in three years.
After losing my Grandma Mills when I was 6, Peggy has played a "grandma" role in my life. She lives about 10 minutes away from my parents and I was at her house several times a week when I was a kid. She was a part of our family and was at most birthday parties and celebrations. Her kind nature and giving personality makes her a real jewel. Every single member of my family thinks so!
The reality and seriousness of the many hospital visits hit me over the past year. During this time, I struggled with the thought of losing someone so incredibly close to me. The very idea terrified me. It is not something I wanted to think about but sometimes when I was driving home from the hospital, it inevitably filled my thoughts. I decided not to dwell on what could happen but rather enjoy the times we could spend together. I must say, I walked away from those visits feeling encouraged and amazed by this tiny little lady and her attitude.
Peggy got to go home just before Christmas and her health has been constantly improving since. One of the "projects" mentioned earlier is to make a "Bible Quilt". She made one once in her youth and decided she'd like to make another. Apparently it is made up of 12 blocks that are embroidered with a scene from the Bible and then pieced together in a quilt. We talked about this quilt a lot during her hospital stay - something to look forward to. I promised that I would come over and spend a day working on it. I guess she'll have to teach me what to do, because we've booked next Saturday as the day! I hope she hasn't finished it yet, as she's been working on it every day.
So, today I'm celebrating one of my favouritest people! Happy birthday Peggy!
I like my job because I don't work in a cubicle. I'm not stuck staring at the wall. I'm in a wide open space with lots of excitement happening all around me. Some days the adrenaline is pumping when there is a big news story going down. The open concept makes it easy for us to communicate with the rest of the team. It also means that when the excitement has died down and things are quiet, you have to listen to everything going on around you.
Sometimes I don't want to hear everything that someone else has going on. I have my own stuff going on.
Tonight I have my ear buds in and listening to my "chill" playlist.
A few months ago, you may remember me blogging/tweeting/facebooking about the #JianInLdnOnt campaign. This was an effort to bring CBC Broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi and his show Q to London for a live show. Being a long time fan of the show and Jian, I was on board!
It was a lot of fun to be a part of the campaign, even getting Kermie involved! Of course, I was thrilled when he announced that London had won the contest and would be doing a show from London. Details would follow but it would be in February of the new year.
In the meantime...my sister Connie was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery in December and will soon be starting treatment. So, when she invited me to join her and Steve and Madison in Florida for a week of relaxing in the sun, I thought it was the perfect opportunity. What a great idea for me to be able to spend some time with some of my favourite people. As much as I'd like to, I just don't see them as often as I'd like during regular life.
I booked a one way ticket and am flying from Detroit to Florida and taking a road trip back to Canada with the Berrys.
Wouldn't you know that when Jian announced the London date today...it's when I'm in Florida. I'm so disappointed and people have suggested changing my trip. That is not a realistic option, so I will miss Q and the gang in London. Looking forward to Florida and catching the podcast. Hopefully they will return to the Forest City.
I was recently chatting with my friend Jodi about scrapbooking...how both of us used to enjoy it, neither of us have done it in a long time and whether we ever would again. I'm trying to decide what to do with the boxes of "stuff" in my basement. I can't remember the last time I printed a photo and the last scrapbook I made was about 5 years ago for my Grammie.
So, Jodi and I discussed what to do with the memories of life. She said she's been printing a few photos from each month and putting them in a regular old photo album. That way she at least has something to remember the events of life.
Later that week, I was checking out one of my favourite blogs and discovered this post. I love the idea of making a yearbook with online book-making software! I have used this before when I created my blog book and a book for Karla Ann's wedding. The end product is a beautiful, professional looking book. Since it's January, this would be a snap to start doing NOW for the upcoming year. I might even get ambitious and do one for last year...but we'll see.
I found it interesting that this week I had three people ask me about blogging and if I could share some tips and asked about how I got started. I've never really thought of myself as an expert, but I guess I have been doing it for nearly 7 years. Holy crap on a cracker! (ref: Sheldon Cooper)
This got me to thinking about how I started blogging and just what the purpose of my blog is! The first time I heard the word "blog" was when my friend Becky was moving to Indonesia and said that she thought she'd start a blog to keep people up to date on the happenings in her far-away home. I asked what the heck a blog was and she explained that it's a web log. Oh. OK, cool.
After following along on a few friends' blogs that were early adopters, I decided I wanted to give this a try. I didn't really have a focus or a purpose to my blog, but I liked the idea of having a little "place in the world" (hence the name!) that was my corner of the internet and I could share my thoughts. I don't usually have anything important to say and for the most part I just write about regular life and share photos. It has been more of a creative outlet for me. A place where I can write and express myself and go back and review these thoughts.
I had heard of blog books and thought the idea was cool, but my blog was still alive and evolving. So, as I approached five years of blogging, I thought that would be an appropriate time to bind together the first five years. It was actually a really fun process as I got to re-read each entry as I assembled it.
If you're a regular reader, you'll notice I changed the layout recently. I resisted for a long time because it had always looked the same and that had become it's identity. However, I took the plunge and mixed it up a bit. I'm still playing with it so don't be surprised if it changes again :) It's always nice to know I have readers, so don't be a stranger. Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!
I recently spent the day with my niece Kaelyn to celebrate her 7th birthday. Celebrating birthdays this way is tradition with Auntie Janice and usually I post about it here. However, the month of December was a flurry of activity and it did not get done.
This pint-sized ray of sunshine is always fun to spend time with. Kaelyn has a happy-go-lucky nature and is easy to please on our outings. I've told her many times I'd like to carry her around in my pocket so I can pull her out when I'm having a bad day. As you can see in these photos, she is quite the cutie.
This year's celebration included a trip to The Grand Theatre to see Cinderella. How exciting! It was Kaelyn's first live performance. We got dressed in our very finest and attended an excellent production at the Grand. My little princess got lots of compliments on her outfit (including gloves) from everyone. We went for dinner at Prince Albert's diner and later in the evening made cookies and watched The Muppet's Christmas Carol (one of my faves)
What fun we had and I look forward to the next time Kaelyn :) Love you lots!
I have always hated pantyhose. I hated the scritchy feeling of them on my legs and the feeling when those legs touched each other. They seem to always need adjusting and the top part is always too tight and constricting. I'm more of the free flowing bare legs philosophy.
I clearly remember being forced to wear pantyhose for my sister Connie's wedding. I was appalled that I would have to wear them on such a hot day. As luck would have it, I inadvertently purchased "control top". I was 17...I didn't need any control on the top and it just made them tighter and more irritating. As soon as the ceremony was over, so was my relationship with those pantyhose.
Well, sometimes when you're an adult you have to bite the bullet and, well, be an adult. Pantyhose have made their way back into my wardrobe. I don't mind the scritchy feeling as much as I used to and they are much more appropriate with a skirt than bare legs. Especially in January!
Yesterday I decided to wear a dress I discovered at the back of my closet. Things tend to migrate to the edges and I usually pull something from the centre - leaving the outer edges as "new" items in the wardrobe when you find them. So, I pulled out the dress and wiggled my way into a pair of "nightshade" pantyhose. By the time I got to the office, I hit a snag...literally. I had a snag just above my left knee. The longer it was there, the bigger it got. An afternoon meeting required me to go straight from job #1 to job #2 and I decided that rather than trying to strategically cross my right leg over left all evening, I would stop and purchase a new pair.
What a baffling ordeal. A dizzying array of colours, sizes and types. Control top (I'm familiar with those) sandal toe (what?), nude, neutral, medium neutral, dark neutral...seriously?!?! I just need a pair ASAP. I got to work, pitched the old ones, put on the new ones and was good to go. I made it almost to the end of the day without a hitch (or should I say snag). At about 10:30 pm, I crossed my right leg over left, the zipper of my boot caught the sheer material and wouldn't you know, I had a small hole/snag in the exact same spot as I did earlier that day.
Yesterday marked a special day. It was eighty-five years ago that my Grammie was born!
This adorable senior holds a very special place in my heart. From playing with barbie dolls when we were little to traveling to a warbride reunion with her, we have shared some very special memories (just search "Grammie" at the bottom of the blog!).
She always makes me laugh... without even trying. She takes life as it comes and adapts to whatever is thrown her way. She came to Canada when she was just 19 years old and pregnant with her first of 6 children. A whole new way of life - new country, new husband, new traditions.
I know she doesn't think so, but she has been an inspiration to me and so glad when I see an "Olga-ism" pop up in my own life :)
POST SCRIPT: Grammie's birthday was actually January 5 but by the time I got the photos uploaded to this post, it's posting on January 11.
This weekend, my family ventured into waters never explored before. We did a family vacation...2 days in duration, but still...
At last year's Thanksgiving, my Dad said that he & Mom would like to take us all to Splash Universe, an indoor water park. The planning started and the excitement was building with the little ones. What a blast! The water park was fun, but the best part for me was our entire family going away together.
We all arrived at Splash Universe around noon on Saturday and hit the water park right away. What fun everyone had splashing away and slipping down the big water slide. The big question was "would Dad go down the water slide?". He had promised that he would but we are all aware of his intense fear of the water. Heck, it was shocking enough that he was wearing a bathing suit (as you'll see in the photos...his legs don't see the sun too often) We were not successful on day one in convincing him, but on day two he went down not once but TWICE!
I'm sure the employees and other visitors wondered what was drawing such a crowd at the bottom of the water slide as our entire party gathered to watch the historic event. In fact, it was reminiscent of Mom on a water slide about 25 years ago at Rainbow Valley in PEI. We all squealed with delight as we watched her scream all the way down. Dad was more subdued...no screams, just hanging on for dear life :)
We all met at Bob Evans for dinner and the rest of the evening was spent either back at the water park, watching a movie or playing a game. Good family time! After breakfast we headed back for some splashing and witnessed Dad's descent down the slide! A terrific idea by Mom & Dad and an awesome time was had by all!
My favourite moment from this year's Christmas was when Liam, who is four, exclaimed that he was just like an adult now because he got slippers for Christmas. When I asked him what that was all about, he explained that he could leave them beside his bed and in the morning they would be there for him to put on his feet.
Yes, of course. Why didn't I get that before? How cute...he wore the slippers incessantly all day long!
Oh the joys of home ownership! Yesterday I insulated my attic! I donned a white suit that looked like the apocalypse was upon us (or I was part of a Bounty paper towel commercial) and ventured up the little hatch in the ceiling!
My brother John actually did all of the hard work, I just passed him the batts. I was actually getting pretty good at launching them across the room!
Special thanks to Mom & Dad and John for taking the time to help me with this project and brave the snow on the way home.
Hard to believe, but 2011 is over in just a few hours. As I look back on the past year, I'd say that overall it was a good one but I'm looking forward to what 2012 has to offer!
This year started off with my finishing off my program at Fanshawe. Well, more accurately I was about half finished. The candle was burning at both ends, but I did survive and even won an award for my efforts! I met some really great friends during my time at Fanshawe and glad I returned to the classroom!
In February, I headed to Florida with my friend Kim for spring break. It was a welcomed reprieve from my crazy schedule. Soon after it was my birthday and then I was finishing up school! In hindsight, it flew by. Thanks to my friend Duane for encouraging me to count down the days and telling me that if he could do it, I could do it!
Probably the biggest event for me this year was buying my first home! What an exciting (and sometimes stressful) ride. Most of the spring/summer was spent packing, moving, unpacking and settling in. It has felt like home since the moment I first entered. I love it! A special thanks to my parents who have helped me every step of the way, even with cleaning the eaves :)
With September comes the Toronto Film Festival. This year was particularly star-studded including Bono & The Edge as well as Brangelina, George Clooney, Ryan Gosling and Keiffer Sutherland. What fun Lisa and I had. A great annual tradition.
Well, that about ends my recap of 2011. If you're reading this, you probably know about all the bumps and highlights along the way anyway! Wishing you all the best in 2012. Happy New Year.
Connie got a very encouraging phone call from her family doctor yesterday. He had just received her pathology report and wanted to call her right away. Her lymph nodes tested negative, which is terrific news. I'm still not sure what the next step is or what the future holds, but for now, this is welcomed news. (an excellent birthday present for Steve)
Today is my dear friend Laurie's birthday. Well, December 28th is her birthday. I fear it is after midnight and the date stamp will show December 29th.
Anyway, Laurie is a kindred spirit that I have shared both laughter and tears with. She is the perfect blend of hilarity and heart-to-heart confidante. We share many of the same hobbies and passions - music, CBC radio, photography, blogging, the list goes on.
Another Christmas has come and gone, and I must say this has been my favourite in recent memory.
It was spent with family and friends and filled with delicious food and memories alike.
After spending countless weeks in hospital, my Aunt Peggy was thrilled to be home for Christmas. And I was thrilled that my cousin Esther invited me for Christmas dinner. It was so nice to share that special family time with them and awesome to see Peggy doing so well. She made homemade buns for dinner (her legendary specialty) and I could tell she was just so pleased to be "home". After dinner, Esther played the piano while Mom and I sang along.
It was also special that Grammie was able to spend the day celebrating with our family. I picked her up in the morning and taxied her home in the evening, after the presents were opened and we were all stuffed! I know she loved being a part of all the excitement. My favourite moment of the day was when she tried Josh's raccoon hat on!
After just a week following her surgery, Connie had a couple of big days - attending family celebrations. I know she was not feeling quite up to her usual self, but she looked fabulous and pulled off the day in style. Connie Style. :)
I can't believe another year has passed, but alas, here we are on December 24th. It is my most favourite day of the year. Christmas Eve is all about anticipation. Once the 25th arrives, it's so busy and before you know it, it's over. The 24th is a lovely day of leisurely making your way through the day, meeting up with friends and enjoying the culmination of the weeks of preparation. At least, that's what it should be. I'm sure there are many people running around in a mad dash on Christmas Eve but I like to try and keep it low key.
This year I felt like Christmas was here before I even realized. I was behind in my shopping, cards, baking...pretty much everything that goes with the season! With a couple of loved ones in hospital, etc. in recent days it compressed my time left to complete the list. At first I was finding this stressful, but then I realized that I really just needed to abandon a few things on the list and life would go on.
Fewer cards were sent, the folks at Autobahn didn't get their Volkswagen cookies and perhaps my gift-giving is not up to "Janice" standards this year. But, I'm ok with that. What's important to me is that I was able to spend time with my Aunt Peggy while she was in hospital and I spent last weekend at my sister Connie's.
Over the next few days I'm planning on spending time with those people that mean the most to me and I hope you are able to do the same.
I had heard of these "I love boobies" bracelets before and really hadn't given them a second thought. Yesterday when I arrived at work, I discovered this was our top story. A local 13 year old boy was refusing to remove the bracelet which threatened expulsion and was making headlines.
I went about my business, making graphics and preparing for the news. However, when our producer asked me if I was offended by the bracelet, what came out of my mouth surprised me.
In fact, I was offended. The word "boobies" does not offend me at all. Whatever. What does offend me, however, is the fact that breast cancer is being trivialized and merchandised. It is bad enough that the colour pink has been hijacked by companies of all varieties. (how much of the "proceeds" really go to breast cancer research? Or more importantly, to breast cancer fighters/survivors?) But capitalizing on the word "boobies" with the guise of supporting breast cancer really lit a fire under me.
The kid in our story, as I said, is a 13 year old boy. Why do you think he's wearing a bracelet that says "I love boobies"? His parents claim that he is mature and wearing it to support a friend that had breast cancer. I am really doubtful of this. In addition, no one really seems to know who benefits from the sale of these bracelets. They "assume" money is donated to a charity. Our reporter checked the variety store that sells them and the owner really didn't know either. So, let's admit the bracelets are doing nothing to support either research or breast cancer patients.
Cancer is evil. But, breast cancer hits its victims with a one-two punch. Not only are they dealing with the disease but a very personal and visual part of their body. Let's not insult them by wearing bracelets (or anything else) that say "I love boobies"
I just wanted to take a couple of minutes to update things with my sister Connie. Last week she had her surgery and she seems to be doing well. She has a strong and determined spirit and does not let much get her down. Impressive, really.
I spent Friday at the hospital in the waiting room, her room, the atrium, Tim Horton's... I was there for a while :) It's always amazing to see how much people care in times of crisis. Thanks so much for the support network that showed up.
I spent the rest of the weekend at Connie's house, helping her with stuff around the house as she was (supposed to be) resting. I'm rather impressed that she is keeping up with posting on her Caring Bridge blog. You can follow it here.
Keep up the great work Connie. You're doing amazing.
POSTSCRIPT: re: the title. When we were little, we had a CB in our motorhome. We never actually used it, but Connie and I liked to pretend sometimes. She decided her call name would be Pink Powderpuff. Being the little sister that thought everything her older sister did was super-cool, I decided on Purple Powderpuff.
Nothing says nostalgia like Christmas music. There is just one time of the year when those old favourites are pulled out and many carry with them cherished memories from years gone by.
It seems that anyone with a recording career has put out a holiday album with countless collections also available at your fingertips. But when it comes down to it...do you prefer tried and true? Or new pop sensation?
I was contemplating this today while listening to my "Christmas" playlist on my ipod. I have a collection of new and old in that list including James Taylor, Tony Bennett and Dave Matthews Band. But I must say that my favourite Christmas album is The Carpenters Christmas Portrait. It is heavy on the traditional but I just love Karen Carpenter's voice.
I know I have posted before about my Aunt Peggy, but after a visit with her today, I felt she was worth writing about once again.
This nearly 87 year old woman has been through so much in the past year and yet she continues to have a smile on her face and the best outlook on life. She recovered from a broken hip, but then broke seven ribs. After a lengthy recovery from that, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. Always a fighter, she decided to have the surgery because in her words she was "not finished yet".
Peggy's recovery from that surgery has been slow and plagued with set backs. Yes, there have been times where she feels discouraged (who wouldn't?) but I think we could all learn a thing or two from this tiny frail woman that has unending determination.
She is currently in a London hospital, which has made it easier for me to visit regularly. I have treasured these moments and have discovered that the visits are as much for me as they are for her. It is so encouraging to walk in and see her sitting on the bed or in the chair embroidering and talking about how "it's a beautiful day".
I wonder how many of us would have this outlook after more than 3 months in hospital, hooked up to various machines and monitors, poked and prodded regularly and most of this time she has not been able to eat any food.
I truly hope that she gets her Christmas wish and is able to go home soon. Much love Peggy XOXO
We did it! The determination and creativity of a group of Londoners paid off this morning when Jian Ghomeshi announced he would bring his CBC Radio show Q to London in February.
What started off as a single tweet by a Londoner grew into a full-fledged campaign across Ontario! What fun it was to be involved...from tweets #JianInLdnOnt, Facebook "likes", blog entries, instagrams, youtube videos, heck...even our own website!
A great example of social media bringing people together. Can't wait for Mr. Ghomeshi to host from our fine city!
They say that you don't know what you're capable of, until it happens. I suppose that is true in many areas of life and I am learning that with each day.
Last week, my sister Connie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately, it is a stage one or two cancer and she has surgery booked within 2 weeks with an optimistic prognosis. However, this does not negate the gut-wrenching feeling when you hear those words. They are words that I have heard too many times before, unfortunately.
The first time cancer hit close to home for me, was when my friend Bruce was diagnosed with bladder cancer. It was terribly upsetting to see him go through treatments and the toll it took on him physically. My sister Jo-Anne was next with colon cancer. The reality of that diagnosis was very close... my very own sister...with cancer. This summer my 86 year old aunt was also diagnosed with colon cancer. It has been an emotional rollercoaster seeing her go through recovery with many setbacks. And now, this disease has infiltrated my family once again.
Connie is so strong and brave, she is really amazing me with her attitude. I told her she must be related to Peggy (who has had nothing but spunk and determination throughout her ordeal). I know that she will come out an even stronger person.
I can remember walking into the newsroom 10 years ago at 5:30am. At the time, I was working on our morning show and it was the beginning of my shift. As I signed on to my computer and started looking over the rundown, I saw a story called V-GEORGE. My heart sank as I read the script. George Harrison had lost his battle with cancer.
Having been a life-long Beatles fan, I was saddened that only half of the group was left. George had been my favourite for a long time. The quiet one. A musical genius in his own right that was overshadowed by the magic of Lennon/McCartney.
For the past several years, I have faithfully listened to Jian Ghomeshi host a show called Q on CBC Radio. If you know me at all, you know that I am a huge fan of CBC Radio. So, when the former Moxy Früvous-er hit the airwaves, I tuned in. The national show which focuses on the arts reminded me of Morningside, which I loved. Yes, I believe that over time, Jian has become the next generation's Peter Gzowski. Less rumpled and better looking but a silky voice that so easily asks the right questions with, what I might add, a bit of an endearing stutter sometimes that is reminiscent of my beloved PG.
When I saw a tweet last week that Jian should bring his Q show to London's Aeolian Hall, it sparked my interest. That would be fun! What ensued was a full-on competition amongst a handful of Ontario towns, all vying for the privilege of hosting the crew. That one little tweet from London, Ontario has sent thousands of Ontarians into a social media frenzy while bringing communities together.
For example, some of the offers made by Londoners include donations to charity of web design, film production, music and art lessons...the list goes on. Isn't that so cool?
To contribute to this campaign, I decided to play on the recent
interview Jian did with Kermit The Frog. (Yes, I was elated to see my
favourite radio host and my favourite Muppet come together) My idea was to have
Kermit endorse London with a few photos around town. Take a look:
@jianghomeshi 's new friend Kermit the Frog gives London a thumbs up. He thinks Jian should bring @CBCRadioQ to town.
Hopefully London is successful in its bid to bring Q to town. The winner will be announced December 8th! If you want to get in on the campaign, use the hashtag JianInLdnont, check out (and like) the Facebook page, the YouTube video and use your creativity! My tech-genius friend Carmi and I have been nerdily enjoying this whole process. Check out his blog here.
You might have noticed a surge in the popularity of
the moustache in recent days. Is it making a come back? Or is it all
part of what has become known as Movember?
Movember,
the month formerly known as November, is dedicated to growing
moustaches and raising awareness and funds for men’s health issues;
specifically prostate cancer.
On average men live 4-5 years less than women
1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
25,500 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year in Canada
Everyone
knows someone that has been effected by cancer and when it touches you
personally, it increases your desire to participate in such campaigns.
Although I'm not growing a moustache, I'm coordinating a team of men
that are! I am proud to say our team has raised nearly $500!
I invite you to support our team by donating at http://mosista.co/actionteam10 You can even go old school and donate cash or write a cheque payable to “Movember Canada”. All donations are tax deductible. We only have three days left to support these Movember moustaches, so please come along for the ride.
Funds
raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others.
Through the Movember Foundation and their men’s health partner, Prostate
Cancer Canada, Movember is funding world-class, research, awareness,
educational and support programs which would otherwise not be possible.
For
more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been
used and the impact Movember is having please click on the links below: About MovemberProstate Cancer CanadaGlobal Action Plan Thank you in advance for helping us change the face of men's health. Go the Mo!
I have always loved board games. So, when I moved to London and discovered a group of my co-workers that also loved board games, we instantly connected and had many a "games nights". Over time this group morphed - gaining some members and losing some too but the games nights lived on in one form or another.
It had been quite some time since I had hosted such an event. My apartment in the nunnery had just been too tiny to have more than 4 people. So, I guess I had "mini games nights" but nothing full-blown.
After moving into my house, Duane and Lisa would remind me of this and ask when I was having a games night. I finally decided and put it on the calendar.
Some of my favourite people came and we had such a great time! Can't wait for the next one.
I am smitten with apple products. The effort they put into their design is amazing... and they are beautiful to look at! So, when the iPhone 4s was unveiled, it started me thinking...it's time for an upgrade. My poor phone had been slowing down and I even had to revive it a few times.
A friend was upgrading to iOS5 the night it was released and updating me on how cool the new features were. I watched the video online and finalized my decision to upgrade.
After a lot of fanangling with Rogers/Bell/Rogers/Bell...I opted to switch to Bell. It's a fantastic plan that includes 10 numbers that I can call anytime for FREE ...anywhere in Canada! This facilitates cancelling my land line! Plus I get my 35% discount for being a Bell employee. Sweet.
The iPhone 4s really is the best iPhone yet. I can talk to it...and it talks back! It provides me with answers to questions, will read my texts to me, will type my texts as I say them aloud and has FACETIME! Video calls between me and other apple nerds...very cool.
So, yes...I am completely enamoured with my latest accessory. The only downside is that I wanted white. (apparently there have been issues with the white phones cracking. Boo to that.)
I spent Sunday afternoon with my niece Abby. Twelve years ago, she made me an auntie which has been a pretty cool experience. And now, I can hardly believe she is on the verge of teenagerism and taller than her mom!
We spent the afternoon shopping while I got a glimpse of who she is becoming through her selection of stores and items she liked to look at and the constant chit chat about school, friends and things she thinks are cool.
Our first stop was Winners and when we wandered through the shoe section, I spotted what I knew would be the purchase of the day... silver sequined boots! Abby loved them and immediately tried them on. A perfect fit! We decided to put them "on hold" until we did some more shopping, just to be sure.
So we completed her Christmas shopping (one gift for her brother, one for her sister) and also picked up a sweater and t-shirt for her. But, we ended up back at Winners for the silver boots. She was over the moon!
We stopped at Coffee Lodge on the way home for a hot chocolate/coffee and I discovered her favourite subjects at school are very similar to what mine were. Music, art, french and she's good at math but doesn't like it. I played the grown up card and told her it would be a wise move to take french as long as she could and keep it up as a language. We also talked about music and I tried to educate her about my faves - explaining who the Beatles were and also the genius of Paul Simon :) I found out she's making a claymation video at school and I can't wait to see it!
A great day spent with one of my favourite little people (who's not so little anymore) AND...I was pretty proud when someone said she looks just like me. That's pretty cool.
