This was another good day. After sleeping late, which comes from being up half the night, I got up and let Paco & DW out of their respective cages, as I do everyday, then read my emails. Throughout the day I did some cleaning here, then Dan came by on his way home from work again and put down a bit more of the laminate flooring. This went into the closet in the 2nd bedroom-computer room-junk room (it's been several things, mostly a junk room, unfortunately, but is meant to be a bedroom in the event I ever have need of such a thing). As I cleaned out the closet for him to do the flooring, I discovered that wool moths had gotten into some of my bags of raw sheep fleeces, so had to throw 2 of these bags out. I will likely use them in the yard, put them around plants to help keep the water in during the heat of the summer. I guess another thing I could do with it is to still wash it and then use it to make Reba a new bed. Whatever I do with it, it won't be able to be used for spinning anymore as the moths will have ruined much of it.
Sweeping, tidying, vacuuming and washing dishes took up part of the day.
This evening I was off to my Toastmasters meeting which was very good again, as it always is. Then Pat & I went out for tea at McDonald's. After we said our good nights, I drove back home, and here I sit blogging. Reba is in the kitchen eating, Mewsic is cuddled up behind me in this armchair, and the rest of the critters are in their cages near me, except for Grace Hawk who's cage is still in the 2nd bedroom.
- I am grateful that I got some work done here today. A good start on the heaps to be done.
- I am grateful more of my laminate flooring is down now.
- I am grateful for the nice visit Dan & I had while he was here today.
- I am grateful for my vacuum cleaner, even though it is loud enough to scare the neighbors cat.
- I am grateful I fit some reading of my book into my day.
- I am grateful for my involvement with Toastmasers.
- I am grateful for the opportunity to go to bed early tonight and read my book for awhile, then get some sleep.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Weather
Current, at 11:00pm PDT
Temperature: 4.4°C
Dewpoint: -4.0°C
Humidity: 55%
Wind: WSW 6 km/h
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Tuesday, March 31
Actual:
Max: 11.0°C
Min: 1.4°C
Precip: 0.6 mm
Normal:
Max: 12°C
Min: 2°C
Cloud, sunny breaks, occasional rain showers.
All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Temperature: 4.4°C
Dewpoint: -4.0°C
Humidity: 55%
Wind: WSW 6 km/h
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Tuesday, March 31
Actual:
Max: 11.0°C
Min: 1.4°C
Precip: 0.6 mm
Normal:
Max: 12°C
Min: 2°C
Cloud, sunny breaks, occasional rain showers.All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Quote of the Day
You have to start by changing the story you tell yourself about getting older...The minute you say to yourself, 'Time is everything, and I'm going to make sure that time is used the way I dream it should be used,' then you've got a whole different story.
—Diane Sawyer
—Diane Sawyer
I Am Grateful
Did a little bit of cleaning in my house. Mostly that was in the back room to prep for Dan coming over and installing another section of my laminate flooring. He came by on his way home from work and did that for me. Now I will have to clean another area in there. I move stuff out of the way, then clean, then he just comes and does the installation. I also did some cleaning in the living room and swept all the laminate floors. I recently picked up some good second hand cloth napkins that had some stains on them, stuffed them into a bag on a $2 bag sale day, so they really didn't cost me anything. Today I gave them a soak in bleach water and they came out sparkling white with no signs of the stains ever having been there.
Did some work towards the upcoming Toastmasters Area 33 Speech & Evaluation Contest. Our club is hosting this event, and I have taken on the organizing of it in order to fulfill a project in my Competant Leader manual, as well as I believe it could help with putting on Pasta Productions (for more on what Pasta Productions is, see my last gratitude posting).
Did some minor repairs on my chicken tractor. Put 2 hinges on it, to be able to open small 'windows' to reach into the nest boxes to get any eggs that may be laid in there. Put a nail into the hinge on the door, not a great fix, but good start. Will do until I pick up a couple more hinges to do the job right.
This evening I went out to visit a friend, after texting and talking on the phone to Wendy, and MSNing to Harold, my hairdresser. Since the first time he cut my hair I haven't let anyone else do it, I'm very happy with the work Harold does, and with the fact he only charges me $10 per cut. Can't beat that. Naturally curly hair needs to be cut differently than straight hair, and not all hairdressers are able to do it right, but Harold does a great job of it. Oh, I also phoned a TOPS member to give her some support.
-I am grateful to Dan for installing my laminate flooring. He is a great friend.
-I am grateful for the sparking lights I see just now as I look out my living room window and across the lake. All is black except for the lights.
-I am grateful for all the beauty God has created for us to enjoy.
-I am grateful I got some cleaning done here.
-I am grateful for each and every friend in my life, whether I have seen them today, haven't seen them for years but still are in contact, haven't seen them for years and they are still in my heart, or have never met them in person though we talk through our blogs.
-I am grateful that while cleaning in the back room I found a long lost breifcase I'd been wondering about for awhile.
-I am grateful I got the chicken tractor repairs done.
-I am grateful I was given this chicken tractor.
-I am grateful for the silence in my home, and outside. It is so peaceful. Even the chinchillas are quiet and they are often playing at this hour as they are nocturnal animals.
-I am grateful for the opportunity to organize the Toastmasters Contest.
-I am grateful I got to watch the movie 'Quigly Down Under' tonight. I really like that movie, with Tom Selleck, and fully enjoyed watching it again. I also enjoyed the company of the person I watched it with.
-I am grateful I now can go to bed and get back to reading my book 'The Passion Test'.
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Did some work towards the upcoming Toastmasters Area 33 Speech & Evaluation Contest. Our club is hosting this event, and I have taken on the organizing of it in order to fulfill a project in my Competant Leader manual, as well as I believe it could help with putting on Pasta Productions (for more on what Pasta Productions is, see my last gratitude posting).
Did some minor repairs on my chicken tractor. Put 2 hinges on it, to be able to open small 'windows' to reach into the nest boxes to get any eggs that may be laid in there. Put a nail into the hinge on the door, not a great fix, but good start. Will do until I pick up a couple more hinges to do the job right.
This evening I went out to visit a friend, after texting and talking on the phone to Wendy, and MSNing to Harold, my hairdresser. Since the first time he cut my hair I haven't let anyone else do it, I'm very happy with the work Harold does, and with the fact he only charges me $10 per cut. Can't beat that. Naturally curly hair needs to be cut differently than straight hair, and not all hairdressers are able to do it right, but Harold does a great job of it. Oh, I also phoned a TOPS member to give her some support.
-I am grateful to Dan for installing my laminate flooring. He is a great friend.
-I am grateful for the sparking lights I see just now as I look out my living room window and across the lake. All is black except for the lights.
-I am grateful for all the beauty God has created for us to enjoy.
-I am grateful I got some cleaning done here.
-I am grateful for each and every friend in my life, whether I have seen them today, haven't seen them for years but still are in contact, haven't seen them for years and they are still in my heart, or have never met them in person though we talk through our blogs.
-I am grateful that while cleaning in the back room I found a long lost breifcase I'd been wondering about for awhile.
-I am grateful I got the chicken tractor repairs done.
-I am grateful I was given this chicken tractor.
-I am grateful for the silence in my home, and outside. It is so peaceful. Even the chinchillas are quiet and they are often playing at this hour as they are nocturnal animals.
-I am grateful for the opportunity to organize the Toastmasters Contest.
-I am grateful I got to watch the movie 'Quigly Down Under' tonight. I really like that movie, with Tom Selleck, and fully enjoyed watching it again. I also enjoyed the company of the person I watched it with.
-I am grateful I now can go to bed and get back to reading my book 'The Passion Test'.
.
Weather
Current, at 2:00am PDT
Temperature: 1.6°C
Dewpoint: 1.4°C
Humidity: 99%
Wind: E 13 km/h
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Monday, March 30
Actual:
Max: 8.1°C
Min: -2.0°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Normal:
Max: 12°C
Min: 2°C
Cloudy most if not all of the day.
All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Temperature: 1.6°C
Dewpoint: 1.4°C
Humidity: 99%
Wind: E 13 km/h
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Monday, March 30
Actual:
Max: 8.1°C
Min: -2.0°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Normal:
Max: 12°C
Min: 2°C
Cloudy most if not all of the day.All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Quote of the Day
You have to see every potential roadblock as an opportunity and a benefit.
—Suze Orman
—Suze Orman
25 Solid Gold Ways To Save
I get the O (Oprah Magazine) email in my inbox and rarely take the time to read anything from it. Today I followed a link to 25 Solid Gold Ways to Save, and found that most of them don't pertain to my life style at all, but I did like this one, perhaps because it's something I believe in. Cutting down the use of paper products is something I work towards and wish others would too. It is vastly important to the life of our planet. Not only does it cut down on trash, and on killing trees, but making paper uses a mind boggling amount of water, so cutting down on the use of paper saves a lot of water too. I thought you might find it interesting, so here it is:
Ditch the paper products.
Cloth napkins over paper is a no-brainer (cloth instead of paper for a family of four adds up to $12 savings per year), but you can also swap your paper coffee filters for a metal mesh filter (saving $8 this year after paying for the new filter, and about $18 annually thereafter), paper towels for dish rags (annual savings: $40), and memo pads for a mini chalkboard ($15 this year). Total savings: $75 (plus a lot of trees).
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I Am Grateful
Yesterday was a fabulous day! It started with me going to The Centre for Sunday service. I was late, but better that than not going. Our special guest speaker was Jonathon Ritchey. The ad I put into the local paper's Community Calendar says it best:
Jonathon is a member of our Centre and wow, he is an awesome speaker. I was going to buy the CD of his talk yesterday, but for some reason the recording didn't work... very disappointing.
While there I printed up tickets for Pasta Productions, as well as redesigned the poster into a better format, printed it out, and put some up in the windows so people walking down the street will see them. It's a Lasagna Dinner followed by a Concert. I have 3 musical acts booked for the evening, Rev. Dale to do some juggling (he did this kind of thing professionally before becoming a minister), and I am the MC as well as will preform some of my poetry. It will be a fabulous evening... April 24. This is my second Pasta Productions event, the first one was spaghetti dinner and a talent show. Each one I present will be a bit different from the ones before, this way no one will get bored with these fun fund raising events. I'm doing what I can to put the FUN in FUNd raising, lol.
I picked up a sandwich and tea at Subway, ran an errand at Canadian Tire, then Reba & I went to the dog park. I was delighted to find that a lot of the water and mud have receded and what is there can be fairly easily gotten around. We had a delightful long walk through the field, across the creek on a natural snow bridge that soon will be gone, and deep into the forest behind... then of course all the way back out again. Reba didn't want to leave even after all that, but it was time to go. I needed to buy some tea bags so went to WalMart, calling Wendy on the way, and she met me there. We sat in the McDonald's inside 'Wally World' and visited until after 7pm.
Once home, I got reading on the internet a lot of stuff about breeding Indian Ringneck Parakeets/Parrots, which is what DW and Paco are. (Dictionary.com - parakeet: any of numerous small, slender parrots, usually having a long, pointed, graduated tail, often kept as pets and noted for the ability to mimic speech: several species are endangered.) She's the original green coloration, and he's a color mutation called Lutino. So far, they are both doing all that is talked about for behaviour in mating season, though that's no guarante she'll accept a breeding from him. I sure hope she does though.
After all that internet research, I was just too tired to do my blogging.
- I am grateful for the Centre in my life.
- I am grateful to know such an awesome person as Jonathon Ritchey.
- I am grateful to be the creator & Production Manager for Pasta Productions.
- I am grateful to be able to contribute to the financial growth of our Centre.
- I am grateful to be also part of the physical growth of our Centre.
- I am grateful to be walking such an awesome spiritual pathway.
- I am grateful for the joy and love I have in my life.
- I am grateful for our beautiful dog park, and for the walks Reba & I take there.
- I am grateful for the sunshine and warm weather we had to take our walk in.
- I am grateful for the internet and for all the information out there that we are able to access with such ease.
- I am grateful to have DW and Paco sharing my life. They are such wonderful companions.
- I am grateful for the laughs and entertainment I get from my parrots, as well as my other animals.
- I am grateful for 'cut & paste' functions on a computer.
- I am grateful for the Creative Spirit of God in my life.
- I am grateful for the breakfast I am about to eat.
- I am grateful for the wonderful, joyfilled day I am about to experience.
Jonathon Ritchey, inventor of The Water Mill, is founder of Element 4 & Freedom Water Society, the philanthropic society whos main focus is to bring clean water to all people of the world. Their Vision statement is: Clean water for all by 2020. Recent recipient of Innovator of the Year award, Mr. Ritchey and his invention are featured in Popular Mechanics magazine April 2009 edition. Jonathon will be speaking on 'How to Realize your Passion' this Sunday, March 29, at the Okanagan Centre for Spiritual Living at 2913- 29 Ave. All are welcome. Meditation 10:30am Service 11:00am. 250-549-4399 www.ok-cpl.org
While there I printed up tickets for Pasta Productions, as well as redesigned the poster into a better format, printed it out, and put some up in the windows so people walking down the street will see them. It's a Lasagna Dinner followed by a Concert. I have 3 musical acts booked for the evening, Rev. Dale to do some juggling (he did this kind of thing professionally before becoming a minister), and I am the MC as well as will preform some of my poetry. It will be a fabulous evening... April 24. This is my second Pasta Productions event, the first one was spaghetti dinner and a talent show. Each one I present will be a bit different from the ones before, this way no one will get bored with these fun fund raising events. I'm doing what I can to put the FUN in FUNd raising, lol.
I picked up a sandwich and tea at Subway, ran an errand at Canadian Tire, then Reba & I went to the dog park. I was delighted to find that a lot of the water and mud have receded and what is there can be fairly easily gotten around. We had a delightful long walk through the field, across the creek on a natural snow bridge that soon will be gone, and deep into the forest behind... then of course all the way back out again. Reba didn't want to leave even after all that, but it was time to go. I needed to buy some tea bags so went to WalMart, calling Wendy on the way, and she met me there. We sat in the McDonald's inside 'Wally World' and visited until after 7pm.
Once home, I got reading on the internet a lot of stuff about breeding Indian Ringneck Parakeets/Parrots, which is what DW and Paco are. (Dictionary.com - parakeet: any of numerous small, slender parrots, usually having a long, pointed, graduated tail, often kept as pets and noted for the ability to mimic speech: several species are endangered.) She's the original green coloration, and he's a color mutation called Lutino. So far, they are both doing all that is talked about for behaviour in mating season, though that's no guarante she'll accept a breeding from him. I sure hope she does though.
After all that internet research, I was just too tired to do my blogging.
- I am grateful for the Centre in my life.
- I am grateful to know such an awesome person as Jonathon Ritchey.
- I am grateful to be the creator & Production Manager for Pasta Productions.
- I am grateful to be able to contribute to the financial growth of our Centre.
- I am grateful to be also part of the physical growth of our Centre.
- I am grateful to be walking such an awesome spiritual pathway.
- I am grateful for the joy and love I have in my life.
- I am grateful for our beautiful dog park, and for the walks Reba & I take there.
- I am grateful for the sunshine and warm weather we had to take our walk in.
- I am grateful for the internet and for all the information out there that we are able to access with such ease.
- I am grateful to have DW and Paco sharing my life. They are such wonderful companions.
- I am grateful for the laughs and entertainment I get from my parrots, as well as my other animals.
- I am grateful for 'cut & paste' functions on a computer.
- I am grateful for the Creative Spirit of God in my life.
- I am grateful for the breakfast I am about to eat.
- I am grateful for the wonderful, joyfilled day I am about to experience.
Weather
Current, at 9:00am PDT
Temperature: 2.4°C
Dewpoint: -3.0°C
Humidity: 68%
Wind: E 8 km/h
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Sunday, March 29
Actual:
Max: 9.3°C
Min: -0.4°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Normal:
Max: 12°C
Min: 2°C
Gorgeous, sunny day. Perfect for a walk in the dog park.
Temperatures for Saturday, March 28
Actual:
Max: 7.1°C
Min: 1.7°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Mix of sun and cloud.
All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Temperature: 2.4°C
Dewpoint: -3.0°C
Humidity: 68%
Wind: E 8 km/h
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Sunday, March 29
Actual:
Max: 9.3°C
Min: -0.4°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Normal:
Max: 12°C
Min: 2°C
Gorgeous, sunny day. Perfect for a walk in the dog park.Temperatures for Saturday, March 28
Actual:
Max: 7.1°C
Min: 1.7°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Mix of sun and cloud.All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Quote of the Day
You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world's happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.
--Dale Carnegie
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Light Mail
I REALLY like this quote/Daily Inspiration. I am going to do my best to remember it whenever I see anyone I know or don't know.
Daily Inspiration: Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says. 'Make me feel important.' ~Mary Kay Ash
Today’s Affirmation: I truly notice the divine in every person today.
Today's Contemplation: Sometimes I have to look deeper than superficial appearances in order to discover the qualities of another. I am always blessed when I take that deeper look and find the good.
Light Mail is put out by Rev. Dale Jukes of the Okanagan Centre For Spiritual Living.
Weather
Current, at 12:00am PDT
Temperature: 6.3°C
Dewpoint: -1.1°C
Humidity: 59%
Wind: W 5 km/h
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Friday, March 27
Actual:
Max: 11.9°C
Min: 2.0°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Normal:
Max: 12°C
Min: 1°C
Mostly cloud, with some sunshine peaking through. The pellet stove went out this afternoon and I had planned to restart it, and just now remembered I haven't done that yet and I don't feel cold, though guess it is a bit cool in the house so should start it before the furnace kicks in.
All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Temperature: 6.3°C
Dewpoint: -1.1°C
Humidity: 59%
Wind: W 5 km/h
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Friday, March 27
Actual:
Max: 11.9°C
Min: 2.0°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Normal:
Max: 12°C
Min: 1°C
Mostly cloud, with some sunshine peaking through. The pellet stove went out this afternoon and I had planned to restart it, and just now remembered I haven't done that yet and I don't feel cold, though guess it is a bit cool in the house so should start it before the furnace kicks in.All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
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I Am Grateful
Today I wasn't feeling all that great, not sick per say, but just a bit 'off'. After awhile I knew I wasn't going to accomplish anything like I was, so went back to bed to read and sleep. I remember having a dream that I was trying real had to wake up, but was not able to, that some guy I know came to visit and I opened the door but couldn't tell for sure who he was because I couldn't wake up. Weird! Dreams can be so like that at times. I don't usually remember my dreams, but often know the basics of what they were based on whether I wake up feeling warm and loved, or feeling afraid. Thankfully, most times it's the former. Anyway, I slept a lot today and got very little done here, other than a load of laundry which come to think of it is still in the washer with one still in the dryer. I went to take the one out of the dryer only to discover it was still wet, so had to put it through again while the one was in the washer. Oh well, put that on tomorrow's 'to do' list.
I was just about to go outside to do some fixing on the chicken tractor when the phone rang, my friend Dan asked if I'd like to go for a drive with him. He had to go see his friend Dan to fix his satellite system, so I decided to go for the ride. I met Dan #2 for the first time, and his 2 cats and 1 cockatiel. Then Dan took me for ice cream cones at the McDonald's drive through, and home again.
Watched some TV and wrote for Raven's Wordzzle Challenge. Texted with Wendy as is usual most days. Reba is laying near my feet, and I just realized she wasn't chewing on a bone, but on what was a fairly good pen. I of course took it away from her.
This is a bit off topic, but I like jewelry and have had some nice bits over the years, but have never had a pearl necklace. I did have a pearl ring, in fact still do, but I haven't been able to wear rings in many years because I gained weight and the rings became too tight.
Even though having my animal cages in the living room makes this room very crowded, I enjoy having them near me where I can see them and they seem happier about that too.
- I am grateful for the sunshine we had today, especially since it had to fight its way out through clouds.
- I am grateful Paco just now flew down off the cage to visit with me.
- I am grateful Dan called and invited me out for a drive. This is not something he often does.
- I am grateful I at least got some laundry done if nothing else on my ever growing list got done.
- I am grateful for my washer and dryer.
- I am grateful for my phones, cell and land line.
- I am grateful for my VCR and the tapes on which I tape favorite TV programs when I can't watch them.
- I am grateful for my bed.
- I am grateful for my imagination and that I am able to write stories for the writing challenges on blogs.
- I am grateful for electric lights.
- I am grateful I just remembered that tomorrow night is Earth Hour. I fully intend to take part in this event.
- I am grateful for my earnings with PayU2Blog. It's not much but ads up and helps a lot.
- I am grateful to be literate.
- I am grateful I can see and hear.
- I am grateful for God's beauty and abundant supply, so prevalent in my surroundings.
- I am grateful to live in the part of the world where I am.
- I am grateful I learned a long time ago about the power of gratitude lists to bring happiness in our lives.
- I am grateful to be able to share my gratitude lists with my readers.
- I am grateful for my readers.
I was just about to go outside to do some fixing on the chicken tractor when the phone rang, my friend Dan asked if I'd like to go for a drive with him. He had to go see his friend Dan to fix his satellite system, so I decided to go for the ride. I met Dan #2 for the first time, and his 2 cats and 1 cockatiel. Then Dan took me for ice cream cones at the McDonald's drive through, and home again.
Watched some TV and wrote for Raven's Wordzzle Challenge. Texted with Wendy as is usual most days. Reba is laying near my feet, and I just realized she wasn't chewing on a bone, but on what was a fairly good pen. I of course took it away from her.
This is a bit off topic, but I like jewelry and have had some nice bits over the years, but have never had a pearl necklace. I did have a pearl ring, in fact still do, but I haven't been able to wear rings in many years because I gained weight and the rings became too tight.
Even though having my animal cages in the living room makes this room very crowded, I enjoy having them near me where I can see them and they seem happier about that too.
- I am grateful for the sunshine we had today, especially since it had to fight its way out through clouds.
- I am grateful Paco just now flew down off the cage to visit with me.
- I am grateful Dan called and invited me out for a drive. This is not something he often does.
- I am grateful I at least got some laundry done if nothing else on my ever growing list got done.
- I am grateful for my washer and dryer.
- I am grateful for my phones, cell and land line.
- I am grateful for my VCR and the tapes on which I tape favorite TV programs when I can't watch them.
- I am grateful for my bed.
- I am grateful for my imagination and that I am able to write stories for the writing challenges on blogs.
- I am grateful for electric lights.
- I am grateful I just remembered that tomorrow night is Earth Hour. I fully intend to take part in this event.
- I am grateful for my earnings with PayU2Blog. It's not much but ads up and helps a lot.
- I am grateful to be literate.
- I am grateful I can see and hear.
- I am grateful for God's beauty and abundant supply, so prevalent in my surroundings.
- I am grateful to live in the part of the world where I am.
- I am grateful I learned a long time ago about the power of gratitude lists to bring happiness in our lives.
- I am grateful to be able to share my gratitude lists with my readers.
- I am grateful for my readers.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wordzzle Challenge
Raven, at Views From Raven's Nest, has created this word puzzle, Wordzzle, for us to have a challenge and write to. The words/phrases to work with this week are:Main Challenge (10): partition, imagination, salvation, mirror image, green power, highway, roasting marshmallows, serial killer, autograph, cartography
Mini Challenge (5): cell phone, Big Mac, panther, legendary, poets corner
And it's always fun to do an extra challenge, combine the 5 + 10 and do a 15 word challenge.
My Mega Challenge (15):
The cell phone rang and rang, unanswered by its owner, Big Mac. He just stood there, not hearing his phone, staring at the man who had just been found guilty in a court of law. Staring at the serial killer who was a mirror image of himself. No wonder the police had thought he was involved with all those murders, no wonder they had harassed him all those months on end, up until they had found this guy and used finger prints to establish who was who, and still he had not actually seen the man until now. It boggled his imagination as to how any two people could look so much alike, and yet be so very different in every way. In school he had always hated science, and now it had been his salvation, causing what amounted to a partition between himself and this animal as far as the law was concerned.
The gentle giant left the court house then, content to believe that the other man would never be a problem for him or anyone else again. He would be locked up tight for the rest of time. Since childhood, Big Mac had loved to study cartography, his father's passion too, and now he had decided to take some time off work, to hit the highway and explore some of the maps he'd studied all these years. Big Mac usually rode a bike about town, into green power and saving the Earth, but for this trip he would need to take a "carbon burner" as he liked to good naturedly call vehicles. He had found himself a small truck with a camper he could live in for the summer, signed his autograph at the bottom of the contract and it was his. He dreamed of nights on the road, roasting marshmallows over his camp fire. He packed any of his belongings he thought he would need on the road as well as groceries and such, even spare light bulbs, putting it all safely into his new summer home, the camper. Last thing he packed was the two books he was currently reading, "The Legendary Panther", and "Poets Corner". He had said his good-byes to his friends last night, right after everything was safely stowed in the camper, today he had gone to the court house to see his look-alike and to see the man sentenced and locked away. Now it was time to go on his adventure and put the past behind him.
My Main Wordzzle Challenge (10):
The serial killer, Matt Joness, laughed at the idea of green power as he fired up his old muscle car and headed out onto the highway, headed south. There seemed to be a partition in his brain, one part was 'nice guy' then so quickly he became nothing short of a monster he didn't understand. He had studied his mirror image at times, usually as he was shaving just after a kill, trying to figure out if it was his imagination, knowing it wasn't and that there was no salvation for him. Matt had stopped using his real name years ago, when his mother died too young, and went by her maden name of Smythe. Matt Smythe. He thought now about that time years ago when he was sitting by a camp fire with his uncle, Joe Smythe, roasting marshmallows, and had found out that his father had studied cartography, it was his passion apparently. Other than this, all that Matt knew about his father was that, tired of an unhappy marriage, he had left his wife and son behind and hit the road for points unknown. All the man had of his father was his autograph on an old slip of paper with burned edges. Rescued from the fire, it was all that was left of a letter he had written to his wife those many years ago. She had been a bitter woman who had taken out her anger and frustrations on her son, seemingly making him pay for all his father might have done... and Matt had in turn made those other women pay for what his mother had done to him. That is, until the police had finally stopped him from what he had been unable to stop himself.
My Mini Challenge (5):Big Mac Jones checked the GPS in his cell phone once again, coordinating it with the paper map he had laid out on the picnic table in front of him. When he was growing up, he had often wondered about his mother, but his father refused to talk about the past. He said it was always best to leave well enough alone, and something about sleeping dogs. Mac had never quite understood any of it, but his father's stuborness and determination to live in the present was legendary. After his father passed away, Mac had been cleaning out his belongings and had come across some old newspaper clippings from Panther, PA, a town Mac had never heard of and had wondered about ever since he'd found them. Some of the clippings had been poems from the Poets Corner of the newspaper, written by a woman, Sadie Joness. One of the clippings was about identical twin boys being born to Mr. & Mrs. M. Joness. Mac had no idea who these people were, or why his father had these clippings. He also had never heard of Panther PA before, but maybe his father had been there at some time in his past. He was going to find out, that's for sure. His father had never remarried, if he'd ever even been married to Mac's mother, so Mac had never had a mother and had been an only child. He wondered if he would find out anything about his mother in this town when he got there.
And here is One run-on Sentence using ALL of the 15 words/phrases:
Next Week's Ten Word Challenge will be: apoplexy, doctor, hummingbird, shallow end of the pool, brigadier general, mustard, greed, parallelogram, slumber party, casual
Mini Challenge:
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I Am Grateful
Yesterday, I went to town and picked up Lorraine, then off the The Centre to do the programs. Lorraine has been helping me with it the last while. I do the computer work, then I print them out. Lorraine uses the big cutter to cut the sheets in half, then together we put one of each into each folder with a donation envelope in each. I would really like someone to volunteer to take the whole job over, but even having help assembling them is a very big help which I totally appreciate. Once finished the programs, I drove Lorraine back home, then went a couple blocks further to pick up 2 chickens and a chicken tractor. A woman I've known a bit for 2 or 3 years has for some time now (years) had chickens in her yard within the city limits. She's gotten away with it until recently when a rooster crowed and someone complained. Well, Sam is the kind of gal who will fight City Hall, and she actually won!! Thanks to Sam, people in the city limits here are now allowed to have a few hens, but no rooster. The final say on the number of hens allowed has not yet been said, but will be soon I'm sure. She had to get rid of her roosters real fast though, or be heavily fined. So, she gave me one rooster and a hen to keep him company. They are Ameraucana cross, the ones nicknamed 'Easter Egg Chickens' because they lay green to bluish eggs. I used to have some before. I got rid of all my chickens over a year ago now, because eagles were steeling them all, but now it will be more difficult for them to do such a thing.
You may be wondering what in the world a chicken tractor is. Wikipedia says "A chicken tractor, sometimes called an ark, is a movable chicken coop lacking a floor. Chicken tractors may also be used to house other species of poultry, but the moniker is most often applied to chicken enclosures. It is usually of light construction so one person can drag it around the yard, and it may have a couple of wheels at one end to make this job easier. The most common shape for smaller chicken tractors is an A-frame, though any number of designs see prolific use." They also show a picture of one. The one I was given is very different, but the same basic idea. I'll take some pics tomorrow of the one I have. I got my friend Carol to come help, it took Sam, Carol and myself to pick this up and put it into the truck, then Carol and I went to Tim Horton's for tea and a good visit. When I got home, I had to unload the Chicken Tractor by myself which was no big problem, I pulled it most of the way out then set down the light end, then went up, grabbed the heavy end and pulled it to the side until it simply fell off the truck onto the ground. I can move it around a few feet here and there by myself, but if it needs to go a long distance or be loaded in the truck, I will for sure need some help.
The rooster is named Lily as they were hoping it would be a hen and turned out to be rooster. The hen is named Speckles. They were a little girl's pets, so it was sad to take them, but the one she loves most is Lily and the city says he has to go. At least she knows me a bit and knows I love animals so will give them a good home, and I told her she can come out any time to visit Lily and Speckles.
Today I went to TOPS as usual on Thursday morning. I didn't loose, or gain this week, so while it sure could have been better, it also could have been worse. After that, I went to drop off a donation at one of the thrift stores and ended up buying a bag full, haha. $2 bag sale and I got lots into the bag. 1 light wool jacket with fringes, 1 light denim jacket, a denim blouse and 2 other blouses, so place mats, napkins, doilies, stuff like that. Yup, all for $2.
After tea with the ladies from TOPS, I went to visit Mom for the afternoon. We drove back to the town I'd just been in for the morning, as Mom wanted to do some shopping there, then we drove cross country to another town we like to visit. There is a Home Restaurant there where we had our dinner, then drove back to Mom's and went for a nice little walk.
I made the half hour drive back to my place where I changed my shirt and wrote a fast story for Quilly's Three Word Thursday, then drove in to town to my Camera Club meeting for the evening. Home in time to watch ER. Helped Reba write her 3 Woof Thursday story, and here I am doing some updating on my blog.
Of all the bed frames there are, I only care about one... mine. I will soon be heading off to mine for a few hours before I must get up and off again.
I need a cup of tea. BRB.
Ahhhhh, I'm back.
- I am grateful for this wonderful cup of tea.
- I am grateful for Lily & Speckles.
- I am grateful for the bag of chicken feed I bought today.
- I am grateful for the chicken tractor that will keep my chickens safe while they are able to 'free range'.
- I am grateful for all my friends, real and imagined. (haha)
- I am grateful for my computer and the internet.
- I am grateful to Lorraine for helping me with the Sunday Programs at The Centre.
- I am grateful for the eggs Speckles will soon be giving me. I have sO missed fresh, good quality eggs.
- I am grateful for the 'new' clothes etc that I bought today.
- I am grateful for $2 bag sales.
- I am grateful my Mom is still alive and in pretty good shape at 85 years of age.
- I am grateful to be able to run around the country like I do on days like Thursday.
- I am grateful I made it to the Camera Club meeting this evening. I've missed 2 or 3 of them due to being at Mom's and not able to make it back in time.
You may be wondering what in the world a chicken tractor is. Wikipedia says "A chicken tractor, sometimes called an ark, is a movable chicken coop lacking a floor. Chicken tractors may also be used to house other species of poultry, but the moniker is most often applied to chicken enclosures. It is usually of light construction so one person can drag it around the yard, and it may have a couple of wheels at one end to make this job easier. The most common shape for smaller chicken tractors is an A-frame, though any number of designs see prolific use." They also show a picture of one. The one I was given is very different, but the same basic idea. I'll take some pics tomorrow of the one I have. I got my friend Carol to come help, it took Sam, Carol and myself to pick this up and put it into the truck, then Carol and I went to Tim Horton's for tea and a good visit. When I got home, I had to unload the Chicken Tractor by myself which was no big problem, I pulled it most of the way out then set down the light end, then went up, grabbed the heavy end and pulled it to the side until it simply fell off the truck onto the ground. I can move it around a few feet here and there by myself, but if it needs to go a long distance or be loaded in the truck, I will for sure need some help.
The rooster is named Lily as they were hoping it would be a hen and turned out to be rooster. The hen is named Speckles. They were a little girl's pets, so it was sad to take them, but the one she loves most is Lily and the city says he has to go. At least she knows me a bit and knows I love animals so will give them a good home, and I told her she can come out any time to visit Lily and Speckles.
Today I went to TOPS as usual on Thursday morning. I didn't loose, or gain this week, so while it sure could have been better, it also could have been worse. After that, I went to drop off a donation at one of the thrift stores and ended up buying a bag full, haha. $2 bag sale and I got lots into the bag. 1 light wool jacket with fringes, 1 light denim jacket, a denim blouse and 2 other blouses, so place mats, napkins, doilies, stuff like that. Yup, all for $2.
After tea with the ladies from TOPS, I went to visit Mom for the afternoon. We drove back to the town I'd just been in for the morning, as Mom wanted to do some shopping there, then we drove cross country to another town we like to visit. There is a Home Restaurant there where we had our dinner, then drove back to Mom's and went for a nice little walk.
I made the half hour drive back to my place where I changed my shirt and wrote a fast story for Quilly's Three Word Thursday, then drove in to town to my Camera Club meeting for the evening. Home in time to watch ER. Helped Reba write her 3 Woof Thursday story, and here I am doing some updating on my blog.
Of all the bed frames there are, I only care about one... mine. I will soon be heading off to mine for a few hours before I must get up and off again.
I need a cup of tea. BRB.
Ahhhhh, I'm back.
- I am grateful for this wonderful cup of tea.
- I am grateful for Lily & Speckles.
- I am grateful for the bag of chicken feed I bought today.
- I am grateful for the chicken tractor that will keep my chickens safe while they are able to 'free range'.
- I am grateful for all my friends, real and imagined. (haha)
- I am grateful for my computer and the internet.
- I am grateful to Lorraine for helping me with the Sunday Programs at The Centre.
- I am grateful for the eggs Speckles will soon be giving me. I have sO missed fresh, good quality eggs.
- I am grateful for the 'new' clothes etc that I bought today.
- I am grateful for $2 bag sales.
- I am grateful my Mom is still alive and in pretty good shape at 85 years of age.
- I am grateful to be able to run around the country like I do on days like Thursday.
- I am grateful I made it to the Camera Club meeting this evening. I've missed 2 or 3 of them due to being at Mom's and not able to make it back in time.
Weather
Current, at 12:00am PDT
Temperature: 4.3°C
Dewpoint: -1.9°C
Humidity: 64%
Wind: calm
Wind Chill:
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Thursday, March 26
Actual:
Max: 8.7°C
Min: 1.5°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Normal:
Max: 11°C
Min: 1°C
Mostly Sunny, a beautiful spring day!!
Temperatures for Wednesday, March 25
Actual:
Max: 10.7°C
Min: -1.4°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Mostly cloud, with some sun peaking through. Or at least I think so, can't think that far back.
All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Temperature: 4.3°C
Dewpoint: -1.9°C
Humidity: 64%
Wind: calm
Wind Chill:
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Thursday, March 26
Actual:
Max: 8.7°C
Min: 1.5°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Normal:
Max: 11°C
Min: 1°C
Mostly Sunny, a beautiful spring day!!Temperatures for Wednesday, March 25
Actual:
Max: 10.7°C
Min: -1.4°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Mostly cloud, with some sun peaking through. Or at least I think so, can't think that far back.All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Three Word Thursday
This week's words are:
bacchante, queachy, & jibber.
What do they mean? Just click on the ones in the story below to go to their definitions. To visit Quilly (the inventor of this meme) and other participants, click on the above 'name of the game'.
It was such a beautiful day as she drove down the highway, enjoying the sunshine and the tunes emanating from the stereo. Coming through a town she noticed people out working in their yards... here a woman sweeping her sidewalk, there a man washing his car, a bit further, a woman sweeping off the deck. "Sure signs of spring," she thought to herself. She had been thinking the same as she drove along, noticing oh so many bits of evidence that the snow was melting away. Fields with the snow melted away from the edges, replaced by small ponds where the water congregated, unable to dissipate into still frozen ground... small creeks running across the road here and there... lawns laying bare. Ah, yes, life was good, and spring was definitely here.
She felt so good about life now, so good about herself. Not that she'd ever seen herself as a bacchante type, but had at one time thought herself unlovable, unworthy of good. At one time, if forced to be in a crowd, she would feel the earth become queachy beneath her feet, then she would start to jibber uncontrollably, then she would run for the hills. Now, it was so much different. She laughed thinking about her life then and now, as she drove down the road. She had tried many different jobs, from being a maid to selling farmhouse sinks, and she so loved the career she had finally come to in her life... a professional motivational speaker was right up her alley.
The Week Eight words will be: propinquity; susurrus; nescience
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
EARTH HOUR
Make a difference during Earth Hour
by switching off all the lights in your home for one hour.
8:30PM local time, wherever you live on planet earth.
Saturday 28 March 2009.
For more information, and to sign up to join in, visit VoteEarth.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I Am Grateful
Today I was home until evening. I didn't do a lot around the house, though I did send ads in to the news paper for my Spiritual Centre, upcoming events. I also did a few other little things, but neck was stiff and sore, a bit of a headache, so I read more of my wonderful book, The Passion Test, and visited some of the blogs I want to read.
This evening I went to Toastmasters. I usually drive up in my truck, but was talking to Sheila on the phone and asked if I could catch a ride with her this time. She was agreeable to that, so I met her at a convenient place on the other side of the lake where I left my truck. When I told her I leave the key in the ignition since yesterday's little problem, she insisted I put her Club on my steering wheel while we're gone, and that I use it until I get the ignition fixed. She works in auto insurance, so knows statistics on vehicle theft in this area. Apparently older trucks are hot just now as they don't have the anti-theft stuff built in to them that the new ones do, and if caught, it's theft under $5000, so carries a much lighter sentence. My truck is a 1992, so would be right up their alley apparently. From what she was saying, they closed down a lot of drug rehab centres in the areas, so the crime rate has gone way up. But enough of that negative stuff.
Dan dropped by on his way home from work today, to visit for a short while.
There were many of our club members that couldn't make it to the meeting tonight for various different reasons, so we did something a little different than usual. Most of this evening was done as Table Topics (impromptu speeches lasting 1 1/2 to 2 minutes). Then rather than having one person evaluate all the speakers as usual, we had the last speaker evaluate the next speaker, then on to the next topic. It was a lot of fun and gave everyone a bit more experience with evaluations. Usually we have one Table Topics Master, tonight there were three of us. Just for something different, instead of verbal prompts, questions, I chose to show them some of my photos. Each one was given one photo to tell a story about.
- I am grateful for the comfort of my home.
- I am grateful my computer is working again.
- I am grateful for this wonderful apple and cup of tea I am currently enjoying.
- I am grateful I rode to Toastmasters with Sheila and got to know her a bit better.
- I am grateful for Sheila's concern that my truck not get stolen.
- I am grateful for the beautiful spring weather we are having.
- I am grateful I saw a baby sheep (lamb) in the field down the road yesterday.
- I am grateful the snow is quickly melting away.
- I am grateful Reba is laying close to my feet as I sit here writing to you.
- I am grateful all my animals are very near me.
- I am grateful for the chickens I am going to get tomorrow... 1 hen & 1 rooster.
- I am grateful for colors. I love color in my life, to look around my world and see all different colors, especially bright,
- I am grateful for good health.
- I am grateful I just figured out how to make this screen larger as it's been really tiny and hard to work with.
- I am grateful for you. Yup, for you. Without you, there would be so much less point in doing this blog. Who wants to write if there's no one to read?
This evening I went to Toastmasters. I usually drive up in my truck, but was talking to Sheila on the phone and asked if I could catch a ride with her this time. She was agreeable to that, so I met her at a convenient place on the other side of the lake where I left my truck. When I told her I leave the key in the ignition since yesterday's little problem, she insisted I put her Club on my steering wheel while we're gone, and that I use it until I get the ignition fixed. She works in auto insurance, so knows statistics on vehicle theft in this area. Apparently older trucks are hot just now as they don't have the anti-theft stuff built in to them that the new ones do, and if caught, it's theft under $5000, so carries a much lighter sentence. My truck is a 1992, so would be right up their alley apparently. From what she was saying, they closed down a lot of drug rehab centres in the areas, so the crime rate has gone way up. But enough of that negative stuff.
Dan dropped by on his way home from work today, to visit for a short while.
There were many of our club members that couldn't make it to the meeting tonight for various different reasons, so we did something a little different than usual. Most of this evening was done as Table Topics (impromptu speeches lasting 1 1/2 to 2 minutes). Then rather than having one person evaluate all the speakers as usual, we had the last speaker evaluate the next speaker, then on to the next topic. It was a lot of fun and gave everyone a bit more experience with evaluations. Usually we have one Table Topics Master, tonight there were three of us. Just for something different, instead of verbal prompts, questions, I chose to show them some of my photos. Each one was given one photo to tell a story about.
- I am grateful for the comfort of my home.
- I am grateful my computer is working again.
- I am grateful for this wonderful apple and cup of tea I am currently enjoying.
- I am grateful I rode to Toastmasters with Sheila and got to know her a bit better.
- I am grateful for Sheila's concern that my truck not get stolen.
- I am grateful for the beautiful spring weather we are having.
- I am grateful I saw a baby sheep (lamb) in the field down the road yesterday.
- I am grateful the snow is quickly melting away.
- I am grateful Reba is laying close to my feet as I sit here writing to you.
- I am grateful all my animals are very near me.
- I am grateful for the chickens I am going to get tomorrow... 1 hen & 1 rooster.
- I am grateful for colors. I love color in my life, to look around my world and see all different colors, especially bright,
- I am grateful for good health.
- I am grateful I just figured out how to make this screen larger as it's been really tiny and hard to work with.
- I am grateful for you. Yup, for you. Without you, there would be so much less point in doing this blog. Who wants to write if there's no one to read?
Weather
Current, at 11:00pm PDT
Temperature: 4.4°C
Dewpoint: 0.9°C
Humidity: 78%
Wind: WNW 4 km/h
Wind Chill:
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Tuesday, March 24
Actual:
Max: 8.7°C
Min: 1.5°C
Precip: 0.2 mm
Normal:
Max: 11°C
Min: 1°C
Mostly cloud, with some sun peaking through. Windy for awhile in later afternoon.
All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Temperature: 4.4°C
Dewpoint: 0.9°C
Humidity: 78%
Wind: WNW 4 km/h
Wind Chill:
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Tuesday, March 24
Actual:
Max: 8.7°C
Min: 1.5°C
Precip: 0.2 mm
Normal:
Max: 11°C
Min: 1°C
Mostly cloud, with some sun peaking through. Windy for awhile in later afternoon.All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
ABC Wednesday & Wordless Wednesday
Today the letter is J.
J is for Janet.
In 2003, my family went to Smithers, BC to celebrate Mom's 80th birthday, and to have a family reunion. My cousin Janet lives an hour or so further west from there in a small town with a lot of Native history & culture. On our last day there, we all drove out to Janet's home and had a Joyous visit there.
These photos are some of the many I took of Janet's beautiful gardens. It is truly incredible all the work she's done, and all the plants she has growing there. Many are plants I didn't think could grow that far north, and yet they flourish in Janet's yard. Unfortunately, just before Christmas, the house burned down. Thank God Janet's neighbor noticed and came running. All of her cats perished in the fire, while she and her dog just barely got out. Apparently she will have a new house built on this same property.
From here down, ABC Wednesday shares the platform with:
J is for Janet.
In 2003, my family went to Smithers, BC to celebrate Mom's 80th birthday, and to have a family reunion. My cousin Janet lives an hour or so further west from there in a small town with a lot of Native history & culture. On our last day there, we all drove out to Janet's home and had a Joyous visit there.
These photos are some of the many I took of Janet's beautiful gardens. It is truly incredible all the work she's done, and all the plants she has growing there. Many are plants I didn't think could grow that far north, and yet they flourish in Janet's yard. Unfortunately, just before Christmas, the house burned down. Thank God Janet's neighbor noticed and came running. All of her cats perished in the fire, while she and her dog just barely got out. Apparently she will have a new house built on this same property.
From here down, ABC Wednesday shares the platform with:
.
Quote of the Day
Gratitude is noticing the extraordinary in the ordinary. And then taking the nanosecond to feel it.
--Karen Krakower Kaplan
--Karen Krakower Kaplan
Monday, March 23, 2009
Weather
Current, at 11:00pm PDT
Temperature: 3.2°C
Dewpoint: -1.1°C
Humidity: 74%
Wind: ESE 4 km/h
Wind Chill:
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Monday, March 23
Actual:
Max: 10.7°C
Min: -2.4°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Normal:
Max: 11°C
Min: 1°C
Mix of sun and cloud.
Temperatures for Sunday, March 22
Actual:
Max: 11.4°C
Min: -3°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Sunny, turned to cloud in afternoon.
Temperatures for Saturday, March 21
Actual:
Max: 10.44°C
Min: -3°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Don't remember this far back.
All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
Saturday and Sunday temperatures and precipitation amounts from theweathernetwork.com
.
Temperature: 3.2°C
Dewpoint: -1.1°C
Humidity: 74%
Wind: ESE 4 km/h
Wind Chill:
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Monday, March 23
Actual:
Max: 10.7°C
Min: -2.4°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Normal:
Max: 11°C
Min: 1°C
Mix of sun and cloud.Temperatures for Sunday, March 22
Actual:
Max: 11.4°C
Min: -3°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Sunny, turned to cloud in afternoon.Temperatures for Saturday, March 21
Actual:
Max: 10.44°C
Min: -3°C
Precip: 0.0 mm
Don't remember this far back.
All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
Saturday and Sunday temperatures and precipitation amounts from theweathernetwork.com
.
I Am Grateful
I've been off line for the last couple days... and it felt like a month. haha. My computer problems escalated to where I could not use it anymore. Today I went to town, to Future Shop where I bought this in July 2007, and bought a new power cord for it. Cost me over $100 (my poor wee credit card) but I can't live without my computer. So, thankfully I am back ... and without having to figure out how to buy a new computer. I still have to save up for one of those as I think this one will soon need to be replaced due to other problems with it, but for now it's working... and now is all we truly have.
I've had some very interesting 'Spiritual revelations' in meditations recently, and have written about them. Maybe I'll post them here some day... but not today... sigh.
Yesterday, with it being Sunday, I did as usual attend the service at my Spiritual Centre. In fact, I was the one presiding over the service. It's been awhile since I've done this and I missed it, I love public speaking so getting up there is right up my alley. I'm on the schedule to preside 2 times next month, but who knows... the schedule does tend to change with time. It was a great service, as always. Then I went online on the Centre's computer... however, I couldn't remember my passwords for my blogs so couldn't come post a message about being cut off from the blog world. All my passwords are saved on this computer, lol. At least I was able to check my mail.
After I left the Centre, Reba and I went for a walk, but we cut it short. Our usual dog park is very wet and muddy at this time of year, especially since the city dumped all their snow there this winter and there are huge mountains of the stuff, so as it melts it is a terrible mess. We went to another place where people walk there dogs, but it was also very muddy and I didn't feel like wading through a bunch of mud, therefor, we took a short walk on a paved area, a new street where there is construction of new homes happening. However, there were about half a dozen young men there on skate boards and one got very upset about me not having my dog on lead. I think he was afraid of her... or of hitting her and getting hurt. So I decided to just leave. Went and met Wendy for tea instead.
Today I was to go to the last class at the Diabetic Clinic at the hospital (8:30 - 11:30am), then for an assessment session up there (12:45 for about 1 1/2 hours). When I hopped into the truck, I was very surprised to find I could not fit my key into the ignition. I called my mechanic and he suggested it could be a tumbler in the lock fallen. I sprayed some lubricant, much like WD 40, into the ignition and let it sit awhile. (Of course, by this time I'd had to phone and cancel my appointments.) I still couldn't get the key in, but could see the tumbler blocking the way, so I found a tool that fit in there, and pryed the tumbler back up. The key now fits properly. However, I fear that the tumbler will fall again, the lock is getting worn and needs to be replaced. I am not able to do that just now, so am leaving my key in the ignition now. I took it off the key chain and it will stay in the ignition all the time. I don't usually lock the truck when it's in my own yard, never have needed to, but now it's locked even here in the yard. I'm going to make something to put over the ignition so that no one will be able to see the key in there, tho it's not easy to see it anyway. In the book I've been reading, it tells of some very special, enlightened people in India that see everything as a blessing... even things most of us would see as tragidy they see as a blessing. This came to my mind this morning when the key wouldn't go into the ignition. I chose to see it as this blessing, though I can't see how it is. I trusted God that it was a blessing. I still don't know how, but know that somehow it was. Maybe something bad would have happened if I'd been able to start it and go... or maybe I was meant to go to the mechanic's today and talk to Neil... or ___________. Whatever it was, it was Divine intervention of some sort.
After I got the truck back on track, I went in to town to Future Shop (as stated above) then dropped by my mechanic's to tell him it had worked and I was back mobile. While there, was talking to a fellow that's working there cleaning the place up. I've met him a few times before over there. He's looking for a place to park his 40 foot long 5th wheel that he lives in. He said something about cleaning up my yard and work like that around here... and he's a security guard so would be nice to have someone like that around here. There is only one spot here that a person might be able to put something that big, though, and there is already a travel trailer there that belongs to someone else. I'll ask him if he minds moving that to another spot in the yard. So maybe... just maybe, I might have my neighbors really wondering. I have a travel trailer that was given to me over Freecycle (can't be licenced as there are no papers for it, so use it as a storage shed), then Len's travel trailer (bigger than mine, but not huge) and now if we add Neil's 40' 5th wheel, they'll wonder if I'm running an RV park or sales yard.
Anyway, all is well with my critters and myself, other than a stiff neck that may have to go to the chiropractor. So far it's a good week.
- I am grateful to have my computer working properly again.
- I am grateful my truck is running well.
- I am grateful for the Spiritual messages that have been shared with me, through meditation.
- I am grateful for all blessings that come my way.
- I am grateful for the flow of God in my life.
- I am grateful for the 'possibility' in my life.
- I am grateful for time with friends.
- I am grateful to be able to speak at the Centre some Sundays.
- I am grateful for the wonderful feedback from Rev. Dale on something I wrote and sent to him the other day.
- I am grateful for the spiritual growth happening in my life... now and always.
- I am grateful for warm weather and melting snow.
- I am grateful for my beautiful house plants.
- I am grateful for satelite TV as well as for cable TV.
- I am grateful I still have a couple days to catch up on reading blogs before Thursday when we all post again for Three Word Thursday. The days fly by so fast, then to be 'down' for a couple days.
- I am grateful for all my visitors here... and for the wonderful comments you leave.
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I've had some very interesting 'Spiritual revelations' in meditations recently, and have written about them. Maybe I'll post them here some day... but not today... sigh.
Yesterday, with it being Sunday, I did as usual attend the service at my Spiritual Centre. In fact, I was the one presiding over the service. It's been awhile since I've done this and I missed it, I love public speaking so getting up there is right up my alley. I'm on the schedule to preside 2 times next month, but who knows... the schedule does tend to change with time. It was a great service, as always. Then I went online on the Centre's computer... however, I couldn't remember my passwords for my blogs so couldn't come post a message about being cut off from the blog world. All my passwords are saved on this computer, lol. At least I was able to check my mail.
After I left the Centre, Reba and I went for a walk, but we cut it short. Our usual dog park is very wet and muddy at this time of year, especially since the city dumped all their snow there this winter and there are huge mountains of the stuff, so as it melts it is a terrible mess. We went to another place where people walk there dogs, but it was also very muddy and I didn't feel like wading through a bunch of mud, therefor, we took a short walk on a paved area, a new street where there is construction of new homes happening. However, there were about half a dozen young men there on skate boards and one got very upset about me not having my dog on lead. I think he was afraid of her... or of hitting her and getting hurt. So I decided to just leave. Went and met Wendy for tea instead.
Today I was to go to the last class at the Diabetic Clinic at the hospital (8:30 - 11:30am), then for an assessment session up there (12:45 for about 1 1/2 hours). When I hopped into the truck, I was very surprised to find I could not fit my key into the ignition. I called my mechanic and he suggested it could be a tumbler in the lock fallen. I sprayed some lubricant, much like WD 40, into the ignition and let it sit awhile. (Of course, by this time I'd had to phone and cancel my appointments.) I still couldn't get the key in, but could see the tumbler blocking the way, so I found a tool that fit in there, and pryed the tumbler back up. The key now fits properly. However, I fear that the tumbler will fall again, the lock is getting worn and needs to be replaced. I am not able to do that just now, so am leaving my key in the ignition now. I took it off the key chain and it will stay in the ignition all the time. I don't usually lock the truck when it's in my own yard, never have needed to, but now it's locked even here in the yard. I'm going to make something to put over the ignition so that no one will be able to see the key in there, tho it's not easy to see it anyway. In the book I've been reading, it tells of some very special, enlightened people in India that see everything as a blessing... even things most of us would see as tragidy they see as a blessing. This came to my mind this morning when the key wouldn't go into the ignition. I chose to see it as this blessing, though I can't see how it is. I trusted God that it was a blessing. I still don't know how, but know that somehow it was. Maybe something bad would have happened if I'd been able to start it and go... or maybe I was meant to go to the mechanic's today and talk to Neil... or ___________. Whatever it was, it was Divine intervention of some sort.
After I got the truck back on track, I went in to town to Future Shop (as stated above) then dropped by my mechanic's to tell him it had worked and I was back mobile. While there, was talking to a fellow that's working there cleaning the place up. I've met him a few times before over there. He's looking for a place to park his 40 foot long 5th wheel that he lives in. He said something about cleaning up my yard and work like that around here... and he's a security guard so would be nice to have someone like that around here. There is only one spot here that a person might be able to put something that big, though, and there is already a travel trailer there that belongs to someone else. I'll ask him if he minds moving that to another spot in the yard. So maybe... just maybe, I might have my neighbors really wondering. I have a travel trailer that was given to me over Freecycle (can't be licenced as there are no papers for it, so use it as a storage shed), then Len's travel trailer (bigger than mine, but not huge) and now if we add Neil's 40' 5th wheel, they'll wonder if I'm running an RV park or sales yard.
Anyway, all is well with my critters and myself, other than a stiff neck that may have to go to the chiropractor. So far it's a good week.
- I am grateful to have my computer working properly again.
- I am grateful my truck is running well.
- I am grateful for the Spiritual messages that have been shared with me, through meditation.
- I am grateful for all blessings that come my way.
- I am grateful for the flow of God in my life.
- I am grateful for the 'possibility' in my life.
- I am grateful for time with friends.
- I am grateful to be able to speak at the Centre some Sundays.
- I am grateful for the wonderful feedback from Rev. Dale on something I wrote and sent to him the other day.
- I am grateful for the spiritual growth happening in my life... now and always.
- I am grateful for warm weather and melting snow.
- I am grateful for my beautiful house plants.
- I am grateful for satelite TV as well as for cable TV.
- I am grateful I still have a couple days to catch up on reading blogs before Thursday when we all post again for Three Word Thursday. The days fly by so fast, then to be 'down' for a couple days.
- I am grateful for all my visitors here... and for the wonderful comments you leave.
.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
I Am Grateful
Today I slept in... ahhhhh, sure was nice. I spent the entire day at home. For part of the day I read my new book that I will be taking a 5 week class with, getting my reading done early instead of struggling to get it done week to week. I'll still have to read it again then, and that's okay. It is a truly great book that is well worth the $17 to buy it. I am very 'into it'.
I did a bit of house cleaning for which I am very happy. Just a drop in the bucket, but feels and looks real good. I'm sure that by morning some gremlins will have sneaked in and piled the cleared area with junk again, but at least I get to enjoy it for a couple hours. It seems every time I accomplish something it doesn't last for long, and I know it's gremlins playing naughty pranks.
I managed to get around to do some reading on other blogs tonight, too, for which I am most happy. I am sO behind on my blog visits and I do so much enjoy reading what my 'blog friends/family' have written, especially to the writing challenges many of us love to do. It sometimes amazes me where some of the stories I write lead to, lol.
I had hoped to get some journal writing done today, but didn't remember until now... and it's way too late. Guess I better write myself a note so I remember tomorrow. I used to journal write every day and have gotten away from that, so need to get back to it. There is a specific topic that came up the other night when visiting Mom, and I want to write about it before I forget what thoughts came to me that I want to get down on paper.
My friend Dan stopped by for a short visit. He's headed to the coast this weekend, then will be working 10 hour days (plus driving 1 hour each way) 6 days a week for he doesn't know how long. Doesn't sound good for getting my floors finished any time soon, but hey, when depending on the kind heartedness of a helpful friend, you have to know that a paying job will come before the freeby job. Drat. haha. Oh well, all in good time I guess.
- I am grateful I got to sleep in and have a relaxing day today.
- I am grateful for the wonderful book "Passion Test".
- I am grateful for the peace and comfort of my home.
- I am grateful I got some cleaning done here today.
- I am grateful to have many blog friends to visit each week.
- I am grateful I am a 'writer'.
- I am grateful for all the opportunities to write to challenges in the Bloggesphere.
- I am grateful to have a friend that comes by to help me with things sometimes.
- I am grateful for my new flooring, and for getting it installed.
- I am grateful Paco was more quiet today.
- I am grateful for each and every one of my 'critters'.
- I am grateful for the food I eat, the tea I drink & the clothes I wear.
- I am grateful for warm, double digit temperatures.
- I am grateful Spring is officially here.
- I am grateful the snow is quickly melting away.
- I am grateful for my house plants that not only are beautiful to look at, but also are always at work cleansing the air in my home.
- I am grateful for my digital cameras.
- I am grateful for electricity that runs my computer, my TVs, lights and my many other appliances/gizmos that need electricity to run.
I did a bit of house cleaning for which I am very happy. Just a drop in the bucket, but feels and looks real good. I'm sure that by morning some gremlins will have sneaked in and piled the cleared area with junk again, but at least I get to enjoy it for a couple hours. It seems every time I accomplish something it doesn't last for long, and I know it's gremlins playing naughty pranks.
I managed to get around to do some reading on other blogs tonight, too, for which I am most happy. I am sO behind on my blog visits and I do so much enjoy reading what my 'blog friends/family' have written, especially to the writing challenges many of us love to do. It sometimes amazes me where some of the stories I write lead to, lol.
I had hoped to get some journal writing done today, but didn't remember until now... and it's way too late. Guess I better write myself a note so I remember tomorrow. I used to journal write every day and have gotten away from that, so need to get back to it. There is a specific topic that came up the other night when visiting Mom, and I want to write about it before I forget what thoughts came to me that I want to get down on paper.
My friend Dan stopped by for a short visit. He's headed to the coast this weekend, then will be working 10 hour days (plus driving 1 hour each way) 6 days a week for he doesn't know how long. Doesn't sound good for getting my floors finished any time soon, but hey, when depending on the kind heartedness of a helpful friend, you have to know that a paying job will come before the freeby job. Drat. haha. Oh well, all in good time I guess.
- I am grateful I got to sleep in and have a relaxing day today.
- I am grateful for the wonderful book "Passion Test".
- I am grateful for the peace and comfort of my home.
- I am grateful I got some cleaning done here today.
- I am grateful to have many blog friends to visit each week.
- I am grateful I am a 'writer'.
- I am grateful for all the opportunities to write to challenges in the Bloggesphere.
- I am grateful to have a friend that comes by to help me with things sometimes.
- I am grateful for my new flooring, and for getting it installed.
- I am grateful Paco was more quiet today.
- I am grateful for each and every one of my 'critters'.
- I am grateful for the food I eat, the tea I drink & the clothes I wear.
- I am grateful for warm, double digit temperatures.
- I am grateful Spring is officially here.
- I am grateful the snow is quickly melting away.
- I am grateful for my house plants that not only are beautiful to look at, but also are always at work cleansing the air in my home.
- I am grateful for my digital cameras.
- I am grateful for electricity that runs my computer, my TVs, lights and my many other appliances/gizmos that need electricity to run.
Weather
Current, at 1:00am PDT
Temperature: 3.8°C
Dewpoint: -1.3°C
Humidity: 69%
Wind: WNW 7 km/h
Wind Chill:
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Friday, March 20
Actual:
Max: 14°C
Min: 1.9°C
Precip: 0.8 mm
Normal:
Max: 10°C
Min: 0°C
Mostly cloudy... sun peaked through a tiny bit late in the day... a small amount of rain.
All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Temperature: 3.8°C
Dewpoint: -1.3°C
Humidity: 69%
Wind: WNW 7 km/h
Wind Chill:
(0°C = 32°F)
(To convert any temperature here to Fahrenheit)
Temperatures for Friday, March 20
Actual:
Max: 14°C
Min: 1.9°C
Precip: 0.8 mm
Normal:
Max: 10°C
Min: 0°C
Mostly cloudy... sun peaked through a tiny bit late in the day... a small amount of rain.All temperatures quoted are copied from Environment Canada Weather Office unless otherwise stated.
.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wordzzle Challenge
Raven, at Views From Raven's Nest, has created this word puzzle, Wordzzle, for us to have a challenge and write to. The words/phrases to work with this week are:Main Challenge (10): humanity, shadow, ricochet, wrong, pluralism, mathematics, personhood, printing press, ink spot, choral society.
Mini Challenge (5): kingdom, take names, best seller, three times, inner demons
My Mega Challenge (15):
She stood alone in the shadow, listening to the preachers voice ricochet off the nearby buildings as he preached his belief in pluralism, how God & the devil have humanity fighting inner demons and such rot. She found it sad that so many people believed in this type of duality as she knew there is only One and that One is God. They all seem to believe that God is Infinite, then swear there is a devil too. How could that be? Obviously the only way that God could be infinite, and there is a devil, is to say that God IS this devil they talk about... and that was just plain wrong. God is Love, God is Light, God is... oh, but this was not the time for that. She had to get back to work now.
Back at the office, she put on her apron with the ink spot, covering her clothes to keep them clean while she worked on the printing press. She had written, and now was about to put to print, editorials of the upcoming concert by the choral society, the elementary school mathematics contest, and the book signing by Stephan Kingdom, the author of the three times best seller, Take Names, a book on developing your personhood.
My Main Wordzzle Challenge (10):
As Cassy stood examining the first paper fresh off the printing press, she heard a sternutation from just outside the door, then another. This followed by the opening of the door, and that man/boy that had come by her home a few days ago. He'd done a good job fixing that gate and a few other things she'd given him to do since that. He obviously lived on his own, and seemed to be getting by just doing odd jobs around the neighborhood.
"Hello, Mam," Joey said, "errr, I mean, Cassy."
"Good afternoon, Joey. How's things with you this fine, sunny day?" As she spoke, Cassy removed the apron with the ink spot, hanging it back on its hook.
"Just fine thanks. I just came from doing some yard work for Mr. Newman over on 41st. I done my best, but I don't think he was very happy with my work."
"Oh, that old zoilist." Cassy shook her head. "He is never happy with anything anyone does. He's something of a dark shadow on humanity, I'm afraid... though we must remember that even he is a creation of God... he just has problems with security in his own personhood.
"Errr, ya," Joey returned, though it was obvious that he wasn't really sure he understood what Cassy had meant. She thought about explaining it to him, realized it would mean a long explanation of pluralism vs Unity, and decided not to go there.
Joey stood there, seemingly giving all his attention to the anopisthograph laying on the shelf beside him. It was a manual, complete with drawings, about the theory of ricochet.
"So, what can I help you with today, Joey?"
"Well Mam, I was wondering if you have any work for me around your work here. Maybe cleaning up your office or something like that. You know, sweeping or washing, putting things away. Even fetching and carrying for you. I'm not all that well schooled cuz Pa wouldn't let me go after grade 6, but I am a quick learner, and have always been good at arithmatic... errr, mathematics."
Cassy couldn't understand a man not allowing his child to go to school. That was just plain wrong. Everyone should be well educated, in her mind. "Here's $5, Joey. I sure am glad you came along just when you did. I need this big box taken over to Mrs. Jenkins' house. She's the president of the Choral Society. Are you planning to go to see their concert in the park this weekend, Joey?"
"No mam, errr, Cassy, I hadn't thought of it," Joey admitted, "but I sure will take that box over to Mrs. Jenkins' for you. Is her address on the box?"
"Yes, right on the top there. Give some thought to that concert, Joey. I think you'd enjoy the music, there's even a zither player. You might meet other people who could use a good worker to do odd jobs, and of course, there's the free food they will be handing out to all that attend. It's a special weekend."
"Thank you, Cassy, mam. I guess some music and stuff would be nice."
My Mini Challenge (5):
The first three weeks Joey had been in the city nearly killed him. He'd had no idea how to live on his own, never mind how to live on the streets of a city he was new to. He'd fought with what he called his inner demons, wondering if he should go back home to his parents, and knowing that to die on the streets of the city would be better than that. Still, he wanted to live, not die. One night, there was a terrible fracas on the street, near where he hid behind a garbage dumpster in an alley. It had been a clash between rival gangs that had ended in several deaths, and all Joey could think of was getting out of there in one piece. No fewer than three times, maybe four, he'd thought he was about to be discovered and his miserable life ended. The next morning, as soon as it was safe to come out of hiding, with no money and no food, he started walking, and two days later found himself in a friendlier feeling area on the outskirts of the city. He had managed to find something to eat in a couple dumpsters on the way, so wasn't so bad as he had been.
Since he had found his way to this area, Joey had been able to find enough odd jobs to keep himself eating, and he'd even been able to pay rent on a small room in one of those extended stay hotels. It was no kingdom, but was clean and it was home. It was a lot safer than living on the streets, and a lot more comfortable too. A 'best seller' in Joey's mind, yup, life was starting to go pretty good these days.
Now Joey stood in the park, listening to music, eating hot dogs and drinking lemonade... and they were free, just as Cassy had said they would be. He'd been amazed that they let him go back for another hotdog, then another, and another which he now washed down with his 4th lemonade. Yes, life was good, especially with a full stomach
"Guess I better get busy and take names of people needing work done for them. Ms. Cassy was right, this is a good place of make connections with people who need a good, dependable handy-man to work for them," he thought as he wiped the evidence of his feast from his face. As he moved out into the croud, he thought again of how, if he worked extra hard, he might some day be able to take some school courses and get some education.
And here is One Sentence using ALL of the 15 words/phrases:
The choral society, who in this case take names of best seller books on mathematics, is just one part of the kingdom of humanity; they are a society whos wrong beliefs in pluralism ricochet off their so called inner demons (three times), off into the shadow of the printing press, to be ink spots on the face of basic personhood.
If you enjoyed my stories today, I'm sure you will enjoy those of the other very perspicacious, isangelous participants that you will find over at Raven's Nest.
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