Hurry Up and Be Patient!

There is great benefit in learning to wait calmly and creatively. Here is a "waiting checklist" to test your waiting skills:

• Do you expect delays, or do they catch you unawares? Do you anticipate those times when you are likely to have to wait?
• Do you calmly let your inner motor idle though others around you may be stripping their gears?
• Do you welcome unexpected delays as a gift of time, which can be used creatively? Do you use the free time to plan ahead or quietly meditate (to get in touch with your soul)?
• Do you prepare for delays? Do you have work or entertainment handy when forced to wait?

How did you do on the exercise? Are you making the most of your waiting time? We will never escape delays, but we can use them creatively. Now is the time to hurry up and be patient!

Excerpt from Steve Goodier's book Touching Moments

www.lifesupportsystem.com

So this is what 50 looks like!

Pretty fantastic, don't you think?

I went to my hairdresser who curled my hair within an inch of it's life, very sexy! It made me look great. I was going to get someone to do makeup for me, but since I already looked pretty good, I figured I only needed mascara and lipstick, and I can do that!

Beatriz came over around 5 pm and we took a cab to the Oasis and set up the room with some decorations. I also set up the Karaoke machine and the t.v. I had brought along bubbles, funny glasses, leis, necklaces, bracelets, and some party poppers that I placed on the tables. Francesca said they would serve the food at around 10 pm. We left to go home and get ready.

After dressing and applying the makeup, (I was thinking now that I am older I should learn how to use the stuff, but quickly changed my mind!) I took the subway and streetcar to College St and arrived at about 9 pm. I met Dan our waiter and placed the birthday book on the table along with the money pot and play money.

The guests arrived shortly after, and after placing their $10 in the pot I gave them $25 play money. My guests included: Alex and Mona, Anna and Art, Kathryn and Robert, Bruce and Oscar, Beatriz, Kat, Blair, Vanessa and Sharon, Maria, Mehmet, Meggie and Marina and Louisa and Debby.

It took a while before anyone would think of a dare, but I began by daring Bruce to sing karaoke for $5. Pretty safe as I knew that he could sing well! Before long people were daring each other to chug-a-lug, sing karaoke, dance, take items of clothing off, massage, and other silly things. In general everyone had a great time. The tapas was amazing with lots of compliments going to the cook.

Kat then took the microphone and said some kind words, and had everyone sing Happy Birthday to me. They gave me a fruit punch with pineapple and a strawberry on top with a candle sticking out of the strawberry. Very nice.

The night continued with dancing, eating, and socializing. At midnight everyone counted their money and Kathryn's table had the most, (they did the removal of clothing, so no surprise there!). I awarded them half of the money in the pot $100, which they promptly gave back. I wasn't expecting that! But it was great as all the money collected ($200) paid for the food.

At the end of the night Beatriz helped me pack up the stuff and we got into a cab and returned home. I then had the time to open gifts that people had given me: p.j's from Louisa, chocolates from Alex and Mona, a gift certificate for scrapbook supplies from Sharon, a gift certificate for Winners from Anna and Art, a necklace and aroma candles from Kat, a facial spa from Maria and family, dipping oils and decanter from Vanessa and Blair and a gift certificate for a facial and makeup application from Beatriz.

After Beatriz left I went through the birthday book to read some of the comments people had written. It was so warming to have these people share in the celebration of this milestone in my life.

All in all it was a great party with wonderful friends and now I look forward to the second half of my life!

The morning after

So last night was my 50th birthday party and I had a great time with my friends. As soon as I get the photos I will add them with an account of the night, but in the meantime here is a picture of me the morning after! Still in pyjamas and unshowered. Not bad for an 50 year old!

The Ant and The Grasshopper

CLASSIC VERSION:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

THE END
-------------

THE BRITISH VERSION:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others lessfortunate, like him, are cold and starving.

The BBC shows up to provide live coverage of the shivering grasshopper, with cuts to a video of the ant in his comfortable warm home in Hampstead with a table laden with food.

The British are stunned that in a country of such wealth, this poorgrasshopper is allowed to suffer so while others have plenty.

The Liberal Party, the Respect Party, the Transvestites With Starving BabiesParty and the Coalition Against Poverty demonstrate in front of the ant'shouse. The BBC, interrupting a Rastafarian cultural festival special fromGrimsby with breaking news, broadcasts them singing "We Shall Overcome."

Ken Livingstone laments in an interview with Panorama that the ant has gotrich off the backs of grasshoppers, and calls for an immediate tax hike onthe ant to make him pay his "fair share".

In response, the Labour Government drafts the Economic Equity andGrasshopper Anti-Discrimination Act, retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant's taxes are reassessed, and he is also fined for failing to hire grasshoppers as helpers.

Without enough money to pay the fine and his newly imposed retroactivetaxes, his home is confiscated by Camden Council.

The ant moves to France, and starts a successful agribiz company, funded by Britain via the EU.

The BBC later shows the now fat grasshopper finishing up the last of the ant's food, though Spring is still months away, while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he hasn't bothered to maintain it.

Inadequate government funding is blamed; Diane Abbot is appointed to head a commission of enquiry that will cost £10m.

The grasshopper is soon dead of a drug overdose; the Guardian blames it on the obvious failure of government to address the root causes of despair arising from social inequity.

THE END.

Will Ya Do It For A Dollar?

My upcoming birthday party is taking up some of my time lately. I had to find a venue to celebrate it, and my original plans of using the Oasis Restaurant seemed smashed as I heard they are selling. But I called and was told that it changes hands on February 28, so I just moved the party to the earlier weekend. The date of the party is now February 25th.

The sending out all the invitations should be easy with email now in most people’s lives, but there are those who just don’t have a computer yet! So designing an invitation was further time spent. I don’t mind doing this as it just gets me more in the mood for the party.

Next I had to make the play money that we will be using on the night.

The theme of the party is:

“Will Ya Do It For A Dollar?”

So people arrive, put $10 in a pot, and receive $25 play money. The rest of the night they ask other guests to do stuff for them, or offer to do stuff for others. They can name their price.

What Can You Do For A Dollar?

Refresh my drink
Tell everyone at the party how wonderful I am
Rub my back
Admit to your spouse that you’ve finally decided to come OUT of the closet
Sing so we can ALL hear it
Bring me a snack
Make a prank phone call
Dance like a fool
Kiss my bare ass (this just might be more than a buck)
Give everyone a big hug
Do a shot. Or a Blowjob (the drink)
Share with us all your most embarrassing moment
Put your shirt on inside out
Give short ballroom dancing lessons
Foot & back massages,
Streak
And anything else you can think of that is wild and creative. Anything someone will pay for is fair game.

At midnight, those competitive & uninhibited souls who've collected substantial stashes have their money counted and the prize is awarded.

I am planning on taking a karaoke machine for people to sing a long to. The food is ordered and there is a waiter who will take drink orders.

So I still need to photocopy and cut out all the play money I have made. And make sure I get all the other invites mailed or handed out. I will also need to find friends to help me set up the room the day of the party.

Sounds like fun, right? I hope so. So drop by if you like!

SUCCINCT

SUCCINCT: "Canadian Ingenuity
Due to the global war on terrorism, many terrorist organizations have had their finances frozen. Consequently, they have resorted to counterfeiting Canadian money.

Canadians have therefore decided to redesign their currency to prevent the radical Islamists from even touching it!

It is also hoped that this will have a positive effect on tourism.

Do you think America should do the same?"

Love Letter To My Parents

It has become evident lately, that I have many wonderful things for which to be thankful. One of the most important things, are both of you. This is a letter to thank you for all the time and effort you have put into being my parents.

Included in my memories are incidents and moments of love and caring that have influenced me in becoming the person I am.

Our Sunday walks in Friday woods. Picking wild berries, acknowledging the gypsies, bathing in Bounstead Brook. It was a family affair, enjoyment being of the utmost importance.

Our summer camping trips. The long drives, pitching the tent, Dad getting skin rashes, visiting the local sights.

Our daily trips on the “picking bus." Duck, ducks, ducks at Bourne Pond, picking leaves out of the berries, having picnic lunches, secret adventures, taking off boots to discover socks full of squashed berries.

Parent’s Days at Kennylands. Waiting anxiously to see the old car, even sometimes when I knew you weren’t coming, but hoping anyway, showing off my family, showing off myself, having serious, important conversations, catching up on old news, receiving the goodies.

Baking on Saturdays. Rolling pastry for hours on end, eventually producing a jam turn-over. That is a very special memory for me, the smells, the private time we had, the feeling of happiness, and of course the good eats afterwards.

Our trips to the seaside. Walking along the beach in the wind, sun, rain, enjoying the quiet, looking for shells, money, treasures.

My birthday parties. The best in town, everyone wanted to come, sandwiches, jelly, cakes, biscuits, pop, everything a child loves. Even when we had so little, you could always make the best birthday parties.

Fishing. The chalk pits, the gnats, the worms - yuck! the quiet, the long conversations, the catch?

Sunday dinners. Spending what seemed like endless, empty, boring hours in church, to return home to a wonderful family event - dinner. Always plentiful, always grateful. Wearing our Sunday hats, just like Grandma!

Monkwick School. School plays, dinnertime, encouragement to return after many bad days of teasing, school reports.

Learning to play the harmonica. Special instruction from Dad in the car, lots of encouragement, recitals.

Christmas. All the many wonderful gifts, the excitement, wrapping paper, crackers, decorations, food, loud conversations at the dinner table, the quiet afternoons in exploration of gifts, the typewriter I couldn’t find, waking up at 3 a.m. to open and then rewrap presents, trying to show surprise at 7 a.m.

Trips to visit Grandparents. Long drives, laybys, 224 Tatwin Crescent, Midway, breakdowns, stops at the pubs, crisps and pop.

The visits home with a new baby. The pleasures, excitement, pride, joy, delight, the friendships of boy and dog, boy and Grandparents, boy and Aunts and Uncles, the relaxation for a few weeks of less responsibility.

Your visits here. The honesty and closeness it brought us, the sharing of friends, the recognition of accomplishments, the baseball game, the visit to Thomas’ school, the Hot House brunches, the souvenir shopping, the good byes at the airport.

Acceptance. This is one of the biggest gifts you have given me. No matter what my choices, there has always been acceptance. My friends, music, clothes, jobs, lifestyle. I am very grateful that I was never tainted by suggestions of disapproval. By accepting my decisions, you made me able to choose the right path in life, without discrimination.

Your understanding and support. The calming words, the reassurance, the warmth, the common sense, the love.

These are just a few of the memories of the caring and enjoyment you have given me. Words like these are often left said too late, so I wanted to take the opportunity to let you know how much you both mean to me.

Thank you both, so very much.

Your loving daughter,

Mary

(This letter was written and sent in 1997. My mother died in 2004. I am happy that I had the opportunity to send this.)

Breakfast

Having had a good night's sleep, I feel much better today after a week of a cold. I got up at 9:30 a.m. and made myself breakfast. I had bought strawberries yesterday and the kiwi fruit I bought last week is finally ripe enough to eat.

I sliced up 4 strawberries and a kiwi while the kettle boiled and the pancakes browned in the toaster oven.

The kettle boiled and I poured the tea into the coffee mug, and added a little skim milk.

The toaster bell rang telling me the pancakes were ready. I added them to the plate of fruit and poured a little maple syrup onto the pancakes.

And that was my breakfast this morning.










Delicious!

Making a difference one step at a time

Here is my son with his class, K10. He has now completed the winter camp in Chuncheon, Korea. Camp Korea was a great way for him to decide if he wanted to continue doing this kind of work.
He is now on his way to Seoul to find another position for a one year contract. I have to say that I am very proud of what he is doing. Eventhough he may not realise it, he has already influenced children's lives.
A man who grew up as a child of a single mum, he is the ideal guy to be in the lives of children. He is good, gentle, fair and honest. He has a healthy sense of humour, a playful spirit and knows how to have fun. He is artistic in many ways, including music and visual arts, and is able to think outside of the box.

Okay, okay, enough gushing! But when it is warranted, you just can't help it, can you?

Questionnaire

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being with someone who treasures me

What is your greatest fear?
Losing more family members

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Princess Diana

Which living person do you most admire?
Stephen Lewis

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My seemingly inabilaty to exercise regularly

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Dishonesty

What is your greatest extravagance?
$5000 tummy tuck

On what occasion do you lie?
To save hurting other people’s feelings

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
Very little at this time in my life. Perhaps my eyelids

Which living person do you most despise?
Child abusers

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
”You need to ….” said to the children I work with

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
The pain I have in my knees and feet

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Overcoming depression

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A person with a loving family

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
A singer

Who are your favorite writers?
Tolkien, Dick Francis, Sue Grafton

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
The Grinch

What is your most treasured possession?
My passport

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Being so depressed it hurts to take a shower, and the though of drying yourself off is overwhelming

Where would you like to live?
I love living in Canada, but like to live in New Zealand

What is your most marked characteristic?
My creativity

What is the quality you like most in a man?
Patience

What is your greatest regret?
Not taking George to the hospital sooner

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
George

How would you like to die?
Doing something heroic

Lucy

After Mum died so suddenly we were all worried about Dad. Mum was the motivating force behind our family and now she was gone, how on earth would he manage. We had all suggested he get another dog, but since he had taken Fluffy, his last dog, to be put down when he was so sick, he couldn't stand the thought of having to do that again. Fortunately a neighbour stepped in and brought a dog over and Lucy and Dad fell in love instantly. So although the dog is a crazy one, and I am incredibly allergic to her, I love her for saving Dad's life.

Meet In Toronto

Having signed up with this website last March, I had yet to join in on any of the events set up. With it being a new year, one of the things I promised myself I'd do again this year was to socialize more. So the first event I signed up for was a karaoke night. It happened that someone who had read and commented on my blog had shown some interest in my quest for a relationship, and seemed to be a willing participant, so I suggested we meet at this event. He never showed up and I have yet to hear from him! However I went into the club that I had assumed was a karaoke club. Alas, it was not at all as I had thought. It turned out to be a karaoke ROOM! If you are afraid of singing in front of people you can rent a room and sing to your hearts content, or even invite others who are like minded. I stayed for 30 minutes knowing this was definitely NOT my thing, but not wanting to seem rude by walking in then walking out. Besides being in a small room about 8' square with 3 men, all strangers, was not really my idea of fun!
The following day I joined in another event, a walk in High Park. It was snowing, but the weather was pretty mild. This was a much more successful event. There were only 6 of us but it made for an interesting hour and half. We walked up and down hill, checked out the animals in the zoo and took a few photos in the children's playground. And of course with snow around I had to throw a few snowballs. The others didn't seem so interested, but I got a few thrown, eventhough I only hit 1 or 2 targets!!
We left the park and found an excellent restaurant for lunch, where the food was delicious. So after a great walk, amazing food and good company we all parted ways and went home.
My third event was on Friday night for the Happy Hour at One Up. I met Beatriz there and we had dinner first. The salad was incredible but the main course left a lot to be desired. We joined the others in the lounge and got ourselves a drink. Of course, as usual we were the oldest patrons there, and after the drink, and no one bothering to approach us, we left.
So I have made an effort in the past couple of weeks, but as usual no luck! I don't actually go out expecting to meet anyone, rather I go intending to make some friends and have a little fun. I'm not sure that this is the right group of people to have fun with. They seemed a little concerned with making the wrong impression on people, (who couldn't have fun throwing snowballs?). So I will give it a few more tries and then see how it goes.

Mrs. Henderson Presents

I went to see this movie this week, and it was a great piece of entertainment. I enjoyed it immensely.

Penetrating, lively and invigorating, Mrs. Henderson Presents is a love note to a famous London theatre, an homage to Britain's wartime experiences and an evocation of the great musicals that lit up the screen during the thirties and forties. Directed by Stephen Frears, who has offered Toronto audiences many delights over the years, it features the incomparable Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins as well as the introduction of a fresh face, Britain's 2001 Pop Idol, Will Young.

Dench plays the eccentric Laura Henderson who, at seventy years old, finds herself widowed and at loose ends. She decides to buy an abandoned Soho cinema and turns it into what would come to be the historic Windmill Theatre. Knowing nothing about the theatre, she hires the irascible Vivian van Damm (Hoskins) to run it and reopens its doors as Revudeville. Nothing seems to bring the vaudeville house to life until Mrs. Henderson has a flash of inspiration: produce a nude revue. She neatly sidesteps the censorship laws by freezing the performers as "tableaux vivants" in which the showgirls do not move a muscle. The Windmill Theatre becomes a smash hit, and when the war begins, the theatre provides a haven for thousands of young soldiers.

Meanwhile backstage, the young models on artistic freedom, but Mrs. Henderson's constant stream of ideas means the two are bound to butt heads. Indeed, they do. And what finer actors to bring this engaging duel to the screen than Dench and Hoskins?

The film is a triumphant mix of deft comedy and stunning stage numbers that recreate the nude revues that made the Windmill the British equivalent of the Moulin Rouge. All the while, spectacle is set against the more sober realities of a London that must battle bombs on a nightly basis. Frears is unquestionably at the top of his form.

My son, the teacher in Korea

So here it is.

My son has been in touch with me and things are looking good for him in his new job. He has 10 kids who are about 10 years old. In the afternoons he teaches all the other classes, a different one each day. His specialty is teaching body parts. He has set up some fun games for them to learn. His morning group of kids were a bit of a challenge at first. They are a bright bunch, and some of them were more advanced in English than the book they are studying from.

He has to eat lunch and dinner with them, and he says he is not that excited about the food, although it only took him a couple of days to master the chopstick. He needs to get more fibre and fruit in his diet, if you know what I mean!!

He hopes to get another job in Seoul when this one finishes at the end of the month. He has a few friends there, and that would be better if he could hang out with them. There are other teachers from all over the world teaching there. His room mate went to school in Cambridge, England.

So I have to say that I am incredibly proud of him and all his efforts. It takes a special person to pull up stakes and check out life in another part of the world. Although I am not really surprised. My mother left her native South Africa when she was 21 and lived the rest of her life in England. I left England when I was 18 and have been here in Canada ever since. So it was almost expected that he would try life in another country. My secret wish is that he doesn't stay there the rest of his life. I want him back here in Canada, the best country in the world!

I have it all (almost!)

I always seem to have defining moments in the shower!

Today I was thinking about how much I want a man in my life, when it occurred to me how fortunate I am.

• I have an amazing kid


• I have a job that I am passionate about


• I have an apartment downtown that is rent geared to income


• I have money left over at the end of each month to buy not only things that I need but some things that I want


• I get the summers off and 2 weeks at Christmas as well as March break


• I am relatively healthy


• I look great for a woman turning 50 this year


• I had a great childhood, without abuse


• My parents were still together after 51 years of marriage when my mum died in 2004


• I do not come from a dysfunctional family


• I got a great education in an English co-ed boarding school


• After being a single mum on welfare for a few years, I was awarded a scholarship and was able to further my education for free and build the foundation of my career


• I live in a city that is tolerant of all people; their colour, their sexual orientation, their religion, their political views, their traditions


• I have family and friends who support me in times of need


• I have food in my kitchen and money in my bank account

I guess we are often blinded by what we don’t have or what we think we need to see how lucky we really are.

I am grateful for the wonderful life I am living, but having someone to share it with would surely make it more meaningful.

The Best Christmas Present Ever

A Kiss and a Hug!

On Christmas day I insisted on taking a few pictures, as my son would be leaving soon for Korea. Here we are standing infront of the tree.

A New Year begins

It has been forever since I last added anything here. Such is my life. Just not that much going on!

My son left on Thursday for a teaching position in Korea. It was a heart wrenching parting, but then I remembered when I was 18 and left England to live here in Canada. He is 23 and ready for an adventure, and I wish him lots of fun and discovery.

I spent New Years Eve at home trying my best to ignore the celebrations. I hate New Years. I have no one to kiss, so it feels quite lonely, therefore I ignore it, and usually watch a DVD.

I am in a cleaning mood. Since my son left I started with his room and cleaned it completely. That took half a day if you can believe that! And today I have been working on the kitchen. I have come up with loads of stuff to put on www.freecycle.org. They'll love this stuff.

As for resolutions, I don't believe in them because every day we should try to do something new! Well that's what my friend Beatriz says! I think that having some hopes and dreams is a much better idea. I am still working on my 1001 things to do, but I haven't fulfilled as many as I had hoped by now. As for some hopes for 2006, I hope to

• remain healthy
• indulge in a long term intimate relationship
• travel at least once in 2006
• continue being passionate about my work
• encourage my dad to visit me
• see my son enjoying his choices
• maintain and build friendships
• live a relatively harmonious life with lots of spontaneity

I have a few dreams to!

• Win some big money
• Wake up beside a loving man each morning
• Have someone else do the cleaning
• Go to South Africa to see my mother's homeland and visit family
• Buy a new livingroom suite
• Grow vegetables in a garden

That's it. Not too far fetched, but dreams all the same.

So to all have a healthy and fun filled 2006!

Laws of the natural universe

Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Law of the Telephone: When you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.

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

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

Bath Theorem: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

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

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

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

Theatre Rule: At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.

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

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

Law of Dirty Rugs/Carpets: The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich of landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.

Law of Location: No matter where you go, there you are.

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

Brown's Law: If the shoe fits, it's ugly.

Oliver's Law: A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Thanks For ......

I am Thankful :

FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS HE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I A M CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY,

FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

THANKSGIVING

Here in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October. For me it is mostly an excuse for a day off all to myself. Don't get me wrong, I do give thought to the things I am thankful for, but I don't really need one day a year to do this, I try to do it everyday.

There are other reasons that I don't really celebrate this holiday. I am vegetarian, and HATE tofu, so no tofurkey for me, thanks! Most holidays are centred around two things, food and family. I have an adult son, and that is my family. All other members of my family live in England, and they don't have a Thanksgiving holiday there. So no family, no turkey equals no Thanksgiving!

I work in a school and am always grateful for a day off, especially this one, as it is the first after going back to school. So plans for this long weekend are as follows:
Shopping
Cleaning
Scrapbooking
Relaxing
Reading
Walking in the crisp fall temperatures in my neighbourhood in Toronto

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE

*Check out the link on the title.