A favorite quote

"Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none." William Shakespeare

So what's new?

Well it's definitely been a while since I've blogged...and after I harrassed the rest of you to update your blogs....thanks to Linda and Chelsea I've been kept in the loop as to what's going on the world of celebs...i mean what would a day be without knowing what's up with brad and angelina?

I was just thinking of how great the email and msn messenger is...i've received an email from a cousin i have never met as he has lived most of his life in Brasil, and I've never been there. He is now in London- UK with his wife. I've also today chatted with an friend who I've not chatted with in a long time (albeit 10 minutes in September at the Mariza concert) and who is now back in Madeira. Yeah for MSN.

I've also chatted with Linda who was obviously taking a break from celeb watching and who lives in TO...and Sarah who is only physically 7 minute drive.

So what's new in 2006? Well not a heck of a lot right at this second. Okay so my sister and the family are leaving for DR in a few days for a week's vacation for the first winter vacation they've ever had and everyone is soooooo excited....and I am thrilled for them...I know they will love it.

So what's new? Whatever...I want it to be.

Abandoned in Bloggersville

Alas, it seems I have been abandoned in Bloggersville...not to be confused with Boogersville, a place I've never been. My co-bloggers are nowhere to be found...although one has claimed that she and her groomed schnoodle have been rendered literarily impotent due to some computer problems. It's possible...even believeable. But where the heck are the rest of you. Now don't tell me just because the temperature has dropped that your desire to blog has too?? Is that medically possible? Hmmm....I wonder. When we last left Helder...his foot had been stitched...did the foot heal? Did it fall off? Did he ever walk again? And what about Nadia? Is she still in her new job? Does she still know people? Egads...does she still enjoy her job?? And Dill...is she going on this trip?? Has she packed? These questions and many others are still unanswered. Enquiring minds want to know. Stay tuned..perhaps they will return to Bloggersville...you never know....

Whatever!

Where did November go?

As we quickly progress towards December, I've noticed that I haven't written anything for November....egads!! Where is everybody anyways. Nadia, Linda, Helder, Dill and even Chelsea has obviously gone into hibernation. Thankfully I've been awaken, albeit briefly, to write this totally useless entry into my blog. It reveals nothing...it simply exists. Hopefully soon my fellow bloggers will awaken from the drunken stupor of highly laced hot cocoa...I mean hibernation, flex their stiff fingers (it stiffens while holding alcoholic drinks...so I'm told) and get typing.

Until then, all I have to say is "WHATEVER!!"

National Women's Show

I attended the National Women's Show. I've always wanted to go, but never could get anyone to join me. So this time I decided to go anyways. I loved it. I took a coupon off the internet for "buy one admission, get the 2nd one 1/2 price". I approach a woman who seemed to be going to the show by herself, explained that I had the coupon and that we could save $3 each...introduced ourselves...got the discount and then wished each other fun (She incidentally was attending the show for the 2nd year in a row by herself as friends were unable to attend!) You go girl! So I wasn't the only one by myself...

Freebie.......oh my goodness. You walk in and you get a bag full of free samples. You walk around and they give you more samples. Free food, the alcohol you had to buy tickets for, which didn't interest me anyways. Clothing, cleaning products, make up companies, health care products, you name it and it was there. So too was Charlie O'Connell of the Bachelor. (I have to admit....I was too busy going around getting samples to care..even when they announced it).

I purchased some products and by the end of 3 1/2 hours, I felt that I was tired, but happy, my feet ached...my shoulders and arms were killing me but I had a smile on my face and three heavy bags full of samples and products purchased at great prices.

So...needless to say, I'm there next year! Your welcome to come too...but I'll go anyways!

Whatever!

As we grow up...

This is from an email someone sent to me (I don't know who wrote it). I've forwarded to family and friends because it struck a cord with me and probably will with you.


"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.You'll fight with your best friend.You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back."

Poetry

When I was in my teens, I used to write not only in my journal, but also poems. I've kept these poems over the years and occasionally read them. It's been a while since I've looked at them. Today I pulled them out and read some of my writings. One poem hit me. Written over 25 years ago, but so much more meaning now. I'm not sure who I was writing this about then, but I know who it's talking about now. I want to share some of them with you.

Once More:
Sing once more
Oh please try
I know that you can't see
Your eyes are tired.

Laugh once more
Please, for me
I know your voice is going
Your getting older.

Live once more
Try, for me
I know that you are dying
But I love you.
=====================

My Greatest Fear (written September 12 , 1979..yeah I dated it..what can I say..I'm weird)
Why am I so afraid
Maybe I'll never know
I know why I'm so afraid
I'm afraid of you letting go

I'm afraid of letting you go
Because I care so much
You'll probably never know
Just how much

I'm afriad of never being
with you again
Having you to talk to
and just being my friend

I'm afriad of riding a rollercoaster
But more afraid to lose you
I'm afraid of being a failure
I can never use you.

I'm so afraid, it burns in my heart
the fear of losing you because you still don't know
how much I need you.
I'm afraid you'll never know
Just how much I love you.
============================

Help Me
It makes me sad
and I'm so weary
of being told what I am
and what I should be.

I know I have faults
and I'm not the best
but I wish you'd let
me just be me.

Can't you accept me
the way I am
and help me instead
of criticize.

I need your help
and I need your love
so that I may be
the best I can.

Please listen to my plead
It's all I ask,
I hope it's not too much,
and in return,
I will give the best of what I can.
==========================

Just so you don't think I was absolutely pathetic and depressed a lot in my teens, I wrote a few others.

This one is for Drina. We've been best friends and sisters since we were children.


My Friend
Why is she my friend? You ask.
I don't know.
She's nuts like me and I like her so.

I can confide in her as she can with me
We've gone through many things together
She's like the sea.

To me she's my friend and sister
and that's the way it should be.

=======================================================
Okay...so I'll never win a Pulitzer prize for my writing...but that's okay by me.

Age Before Beauty

In this week's TV Guide, there is an article on Age Before Beauty. It talks about how celebrities over 40 are now considered sexy and beautiful (men and women). It's and interesting article particularly in this career where beauty and youth are very important. It's nice so see this new attitude.

I remember that when I was in my teens, I never thought about life after 40. It seemed so old to me...so very far away.

When I turned 30, I was very depressed. I felt my youth was gone and there wasn't much to look forward to. My life at that time wasn't particular going well...especially my marriage.

When I turned 40, I didn't feel that way. My 30's, although not any easier, had many good memories. I was happier. I had already resigned myself to the fact that I would not have children. I have not resigned myself to not ever fall in love again.

Now, in my 45th year of life, I'm learning something new everyday. Life has it's ups and downs. I haven't figured out life or myself. I don't feel sexy...but that's just the way I feel right now. It's not how others feel in their 40s and I'm glad for that. It means that there is hope still for me.

My bestfriend just got her driver's license and purchased her first car at the age of 45. Now's she's zooming around in her Honda...You go girl!!!

So life doesn't end in your 40s. For some it's only the beginning....

My Favorite Shows

We've done my 'favorite things'..so I decided to do my Favorite Shows on tv....

CSI
CSI Miami
CSI New York
NCSI (could there be a theme here...hmmm)
ER
Grey's Anatomy (I'm really suspecting a theme here...)
Invasion (new show..quite good...okay so there are weird light aliens in the water..'don't go near the water'...)
Lost (what more can I say...yummy guys too)
Coronation Street (I got hooked when I didn't have cable and it was the only show I could receive with rabbit ears)
The OC (if I ever lived in California, was rich and had enough money to starve myself to death and have plastic surgery).
Desparate Housewives (just started watching it...again same comments as the OC)
Will and Grace (still love it)
Nanny 911 (I have to take an antianxiety pill after the show)
Alias
Oh...and recently hooked on America's Top Model (same comments as OC and DH)....


These are my favorite shows. What's yours???

(Hey it's been miserable weather for the past few days and I couldn't come up with anything better!!)

Whatever!

Fall hath cometh!!

Just when I thought it was never going to happen...Fall snuck in...the leaves turned colours and the air is damp and colder. Fall is here my friends! I admit that Fall is not my FAVORITE season, but it's 2nd on my list. Spring, fall, summer and winter. Spring because it's fresh, everything feels new, flowers coming up and the anticipating of warmer weather. Summer is third because it unfortunately gets so humid and unless I'm floating in a pool...well it's just to darn hot!! Winter..no I don't hate winter...I just don't like it that much. It's cold. It's damp and it's cold!! Fall...well we've had a very hot and humid summer. It was great (with AC). Now it's cooler. I can open my window and feel cool fresh air coming in and sometimes smell the fireplace from houses down the street (love that). I can turn on my oven and not worry about it making my place so hot. I sleep better when it's colder. I bury myself under my comforter..which is comforting.

Enjoy the season...enjoy the leaves! Enjoy Fall!!

Decluttering - Part 2

Well the decluttering project is coming along very well. Last night I purchased those plastic drawers from Walmart...reasonably priced I may say and have put it in my bathroom. Looks very nice and everything is handy. Moved a few other things around and as I left for work this morning, looked at my apartment and smiled. It looked very nice if I do say so myself. I like when it's neat and clean...(now if I can only get the dumb cat to put ALL of her bum in the cat litter and to stop peeing on the bathroom floor. My tiles are going to start disintegrating from all the bleach I've put on the floor and litter box...trying to clean it up. Granted she is 18 years old and obviously getting demented but I'm getting tired of this!)

Anyways, back to the decluttering...it's a nice feeling to get organized...I still have a lot more to do..my storage room and the kitchen...but it will definitely get done.

:-))))

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS DRINA...

DRINA FINALLY (IT MUST NOW BE A COLD DAY IN HELL) HAS PASSED HER TEST AND NOW HAS A DRIVER'S LICENSE AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 45 (OOPS...THAT'S 28 AND HOLDING FOR ALL OF YOU).

CONGRATS!!! KNEW YOU COULD DO IT.

JUST GIVE ME A SECOND TO MOVE MY CAR OFF THE ROAD....LOL

Jakub's withdrawal

For Jakub who was going through my blog withdrawal...this blog entry is for you!!

Bernadette

Katrina's other victims

Sunday I picked up the phone to call my bestfriend...who ironically was calling me at the same time. She lives in London, Ontario. We were both watching the same program it seems....the found but unreunited pets...victims of the Katrina disaster. I watched as a man who had lost everything drove 10 hours to pick up his cat and cried as he cried while holding this beautiful cat who was not too impressed with all the attention. Felines.... These were true victims (other than the children and elderly and infirmed) who COULD NOT get out of the Katrina's way. (Granted there were those not in these already mentioned categories who for economical reasons...ie no money for transportation, who also were not able to get out of the area before Katrina hit). But I want to talk about these pets...who did not understand why they were left behind...much less the name of the hurricane that turned their world (some literally) upside down. Unable to forage for food and clean water...alone...afraid. My heart just breaks.

Hopefully most of these lost ones will be reunited with their loving owners/caregivers. Those who are unable to, hopefully will go to loving homes.

The last film - Mom

These pictures were taken in June 2005.
They were the last roll of film I took of mom before using my new digital camera. I love these pictures because despite her frailness, she was happy being with the family. She was wearing a comfortable blue dress...one that I will hold onto I suspect for a very long time. She was an amazing woman...I hope to write about that some day...it's difficult just to write about this. Mom fought hard and peacefully slipped into a restful but temporary (Revelation 21:3&4) sleep Thursday, August 4th, 2005 at approximately 3:50 pm. We miss her so very much!!!

Decluttering

I am a fan of Clean Sweep and all those other shows that try to teach us that 'more is NOT better'...well I guess it depends on what we are talking about...but when talking about stuff....I'm inclined to agree.

I've begun spending a few hours here and there trying to declutter my place. 2 1/2 years ago I moved from a 2 bedroom huge basement apartment to a small one bedroom (monette=no dining room=very small) apartment. While I packed for my move, I got rid of things...or so I thought, having underestimated the size of my new apartment. After the move (which took one HUGE truck load) and several car loads after (how can one person accumulate so much stuff???)...I threw out and gave away a lot of stuff.

Now it's time to get even more ruthless and organize my apartment. I've wanted to do this for 2 1/2 years....but always felt overwhelmed. I was finally motivated by a coworker who was having to cope without her housecleaner for a 1 1/2 months (vacation) (my friend did not want her housecleaning lady to come back to a messy condo (go figure)...and so began to slowly declutter her condo so that it would be easier to clean.

So, if you don't need...get rid of it. Goodwill and shelters are happy to take things that are still useful to others. If it takes up too much room (my computer desk which worked great in a huge basement apartment)...then see if someone wants it.

You may wonder, why don't I just do a yard sale?? Well I live in an apartment for one thing...and having done yard sales before...it's frankly more work than its worth!

Little by little...you can declutter your living space too!!

Whatever!

Katrina's aftermath

I recently wrote in comment to another's blog that I had little understanding for what these people were going through. How true. I admit that I am disgusted with the looting for nonnecessities.

Yes it's true I have never gone through anything like this in my life. I do understand that these people feel so desparate that they feel they need to seek food and water.

However, like many, I am disgusted that others within these hard hit and desparate areas show their inhumanity by using guns to intimidate and slow down any help that is forthcoming.

I watched via tv how many are pleading for help and feeling abandoned.

I forgot that they did not have access to radio, tv or internet and did not know that people were desparately trying to help.

I actually regret my previous comments...that these people should get off their butts and help themselves...what do I know. I haven't just lost my home and everything I know.

May God give them strength to endure.

Karla Holmolka (Teale)

I keep reading of various opionions of whether Karla has a right to her privacy or not...I admit that I almost agreed the other day, but then stopped myself. Karla has served 12 years for the murders of two young girls. She did not serve anything for her sister's death, nor for the rape of Jane Doe. However she was sentenced to 12 years and served that time...oh yes...only before it came to light that she had much more to do with the above crimes. Otherwise, she would have gotten a longer sentence, perhaps even a life sentence with no chance of parole...so when I thought of it this way, bottom line is...I hope she is hounded for the rest of her life. I hope each time she finds a little peace in her life, I hope it is torn away from her as she tore away the lives of those innocent girls. I hope she finds it harder and harder to trust...I hope she looks over her shoulder for the rest of her life...I hope it's NOT a long life!

Update on Sarah-BC girl and blood transfusion

This is to further update everyone on the story Dill wrote about awhile ago...the young 14 year old BC girl (now 15) who has successfully undergone treatment in New York. It was in today's National Post, but unfortunately you must pay to subscribe online. The article is excellent and if you are interested, I would be happy to make a copy (Nadia is that legal???). If not, I can paraphrase from the article (is that legal?)...(so much for studying law...I think paraphrasing is legal...but not 100% sure). Anyways, the whole point of the article is that she is doing well, should be home now and going back to school, Grade 10 in September. She mentioned in the article that the whole case was not about 'religious freedom' but rather personal freedom. The Charter of Rights of Canada gives us freedom to choose...and she was relieved that the NY doctors looked her in the eye, asked her what she wanted and listened to what SHE had to say and did not call her 'the child' as she had been called by the courts in Canada. Out of the mouth of babes!!!

Excellent article for freedom..on so many levels!

Ben

Devoted Sisters

I wanted to write today about the devotion that three amazing women who just happen to be my mother's sisters showed. Isabel, Gabriella (Gaby) and Conceicao (Connie). These were three of my mother's sisters. These women showed loved, strength, consideration, compassion and so many other amazing qualities in the past month. It isn't easy arriving early morning at a hospital to toilet, bath and feed your sister. It isn't exactly the most exciting place to be. It isn't easy to watch someone you love so much losing their life and still smile and make her laugh. That's what they did. They all did what they could and so much more.

Mom lost her battle with cancer Thursday, August 4th, 2005. She said she would fight until the end. She did, but she could never have done this without her sisters.

Thank you so much.

Ben