Falling in random formation

November 21, 2010
I opened the blinds to expose the light of day. I looked away, then back to my view; There was one, then another, oh really? Is this true? Another and another, more falling ever so quietly in random formation. Large and small in silent attack of my yard.
Their approach made me think of aliens beginning their ascent to earth. My earth, my yard no less. I retreat and returned armed with pen and paper -- they knew something was up. All was still. No aliens. They dispersed to examine and report to the Head Ice.

I knew it wouldn't last, the second set of rookies are falling in willy-nilly fashion. Rookies! No control. They'll be salted for sure.

The straight shooters are coming in now -- with slow and graceful control. Only once in a while, with the help of some sharp wind, one will be catapulted diagonally to the ground at a speed that is sure to sting upon landing. Quiet again. Then one and another. No doubt it will be a slow and chilly takeover today. Best to stay out of sight.

Dateline: August 30 and the grants are flying at me fast and furious

Well that title pretty much sums up the the first part of today's entry. We won a journal from Safeway pulltabs. I was in a parade with 600 motorcycles on Saturday and I got to stop traffic on a major thoroughfare to let them all out of a parking lot. That was fun. I'm not on crutches anymore - that makes me VERY happy. Huge boost to my mental state knowing that the physical state is finally getting better. Not perfect yet and it will be some time yet but I've come this far and I have nothing but time and my patience back. I actually weeded the garden on Saturday too.
That felt good. However the back gardens need my attention now so maybe I'll do a little bit tomorrow. I have 5 days off coming up - so excited. An extra long weekend. The weather is cooler today, even at lunch time. That was a surprise. I went out at lunch expecting warmth and brrrrrr.......
So if Best Buy has dropped the price on a TV I'm looking at by $200 what is the chance that it will go lower? hmmmmm do I feel lucky? Well punk, do I? How long should I wait on this one? It was going to be our Christmas present. What to do, what to do? I'm open to suggestions. Anyone?
Let's see, what else is new..... hmmmmmm...... I seem to have lost a bit of weight. I think that comes with being more mobile. I saw Lady Gaga concert with a good friend. Was a fantastic production. Would have gone the second night too, it was that good. Even the opening act were good - pretty funny and entertaining. Then we saw Huey Lewis and the News at the PNE. How's that for contrast. The sound there was amazing.
I've gone through and looked at the posts by the people that I follow and my closest buddies haven't posted. Kind of like me I guess. Well get back at 'er folks! And I will too. I've been thinking about taking another course. Haven't delved into what yet though. Even art or drawing because the only think I can draw are flies.
Currently reading the MacKenzie Phillips biography "High on Arrival" OMG - what a story this is. Amazing she is still alive - what an existence for a child to go through and that is only the first chapter.

I want to have a party but the man seems to balk at giving me a list of people he would like to invite. I can't even get him to go a conference (that he should attend) in Las Vegas in November. It would be a write off and fun too! What a pickle puss he is sometimes. That is what he used to call me. Well that is lots of ramblings for now. Something to keep you interested. See ya later!

Ah the May 2-4 weekend

Sunny, rainy, cloudy, windy, overcast, repeat.

Stuck inside doing my delinquent taxes. Done! Yay - few hours left to sit in the sun.
I made banana loaf for the husband and banana choc chip muffins for the boy this morning.

I have a vacation day tomorrow - to run errands, go to meetings, take someone out for their retirement lunch, get my hair(s) cut then it's back to the madness and mayhem at the lab on Wednesday. Wow, an even shorter week for me. That is good, I think.

My garden needs me sooo badly. I need it too. Dirt is therapeutic. I just want to dig and pull weeds. My poor roses will hate me. I've nurtured them for 5 years I'd hate to see them die now.

Just found a casserole book and will review it for something for dinner tonight. It has been a while since I made a casserole - I hope I have all the ingredients, meaning that I won't need to go get something.

That's all folks!

Happy Birthday

Tuesday was cake night - the Halekulani Coconut Cake
Wednesday was mango salmon with citrus salad with mango, avocado and hearts of palm toppings.
But where was the guest of honour?
oh disappointment. Live and learn, live and learn.
On a happier note I listened to one of the Brandenburg concertos while cooking - I love those concerti, I could listen to them over and over and over. I think I'll find my Goebel Brandenburg discs for the drive tomorrow.

Time to catch up

Let's see what we've been up to in the last couple of weeks.
I'll work backwards - attempted to buy bedding plants and hanging baskets. No baskets and a few plants for the deck planters. Bacopa, pansies, geraniums, begonias and assorted other little odds and ends. 1 heliotrope turned into 4 - oh well the yard will smell lovely. Must get my forsythia, pussywillow and jasmine into the ground this year. No more fooling around! I think I will invest in some sort of sitting device for gardening - still hobbling on crutches and am hesitant to bend, twist, squat, reach, turn and all the other basic moves one does when gardening. bah.
Learned of the hotelier this morning who put a nest of Canada Geese eggs into the trash compactor. That pretty much set the tone for the whole day. Can you spell RUINED!.
I've written a letter to Environment Canada.
A friend called me from Cancun and was going to buy me a HardRock Cafe pin for my collection. They didn't have the classic ones and I like to be the purchaser - it is all about me being in the location. The thought was truly lovely.
Been attached to my computer most of the weekend. I'm late with my tax prep. oh well. One batch down and one to go. The difficult one. Me.
We saw the Daniel Lapp quartet on Wednesday at the Gateway Theatre - fabulous musicians. Too bad the Richmond Concert Association has lost their funding - I may go to their AGM and volunteer for either the publicist or fundraising position. Am I nuts? Could be. I'm not promising anything - would be fun for me. I have time yet to make up my mind.
On Mothers Day we went to the Eagles concert. The Eagles Assisted Living Tour - is what they called it on stage. We laughed - it was perfect. The songs just never stopped coming.
Before the concert we were driving back from Whistler (yes again) This time we sat in on an author lecture featuring Lawrence Hill - "The Book of Negroes" They are going to make a movie of it. He is working with someone on the screenplay right now. He was very nice, signed my copy and I bought 3 more of his older books. The new one about the Iraqi war was not there that night. Too bad - I'll have to get it somewhere else. I'll bet it will be interesting. I do like the way he writes.


So it will be a busy week ahead - I have to prep for a birthday dinner for my son. I'm going to make the Halekulani Coconut Cake for desert and I think I'll take a stab at that citrus salmon again. It was truly yummy; and bbq chicken for the man who doesn't like salmon. What is this? A freakin' restaurant? Do I have this kind of time to devote to a little of this and little of that and some for me and repeat?! No, but I do it. Silly me. Cause that is what I do. I wish I could take a day off for this. Busy time for the scientists so that is a no go.
Well look at the time - I've promised banana choc-chip muffins so I better get to it.

All caught up? Good enough for now! You're welcome!

This will be a better week.

Hockey! Ladies and Gentlemen it is Hockey Night in Canada!
Go-Canucks-Go!
Looking forward to the game tonight - will they outskate them again tonight? Sure hope so.
Thinking about buying myself a Canuck's jersey - just don't know what kind.
They are expense now too. $169 at Collector's Den for a Luongo jersey. Speaking of Luongo - Is that an Olympic foreign hockey team jersey he wears under his uniform? Anyone notice? I saw it under his Team canada jersey in the final games of the Olympics. Was it Sweden's jersey?? Anyone?

Conferences just have a mind of their own.

So here I am in Whistler, medical conference on a break, back at it in 30 minutes.
Hotel is lovely - food is fabulous, staff have been amazing, doctors are happy. That is a good thing.
However they have a tendency to write their own rules and change the program to suit the mood (such as the hockey game last night) Thank goodness the chef hadn't started to do major cooking when they decided they would move the after dinner talk to before dinner. Staff = amazing, yes I'll repeat myself.
My student is doing a wonderful job. I think she is enjoying herself immensely.
Quite possible we are the only people in the hotel - at least it feels like it. Very quiet here.
Had traditional lunch and a couple of demonstrations at the Squamish/Lillooet Cultural Centre. Then came back to the room for a rest. I hit the wall about 11am. - Will I make til the end of dinner? Nothing that coffee and eyedrops won't fix. 3:30 for apres ski refreshments and then the robotic talk by Goldenberg. - I love listening to him speak - there is humour, drama, science, facts and amazing pictures. He is such a good speaker.
Well that is about it for now. We will check out the village and do a few things like that tomorrow after check out.

Just amused myself

Ha Ha, Just took a walk down memory lane and reviewed all my older posts. It's interesting how you hear yourself from the way these posts read. Gives me a chuckle.

Anyway friend of mine - Kozy Kids and Kozy Canines.etsy.com just had one of her finch eggs hatch. Hooray and congratulations a baby finch. That one just might find a home here with me. We'll see.

Where did that weekend go?

I guess I am always asking a question of sorts these days.
I didn't really see the sunshine this weekend - too much to do indoors and I had to go the dentist. That was a surprise - didn't have an alert pop up at me the day before so at 0900 I retrieved a voice mail that said "you have an appointment at 11:00"
Well that pretty much instantly put me in a grumpy mood - headache AND the dentist? oh boy - such a day for me! Seems I get to go back to my old regime of see the beloved dentist 3 times a year - bone loss = deeper pockets in the gums = larger margins = means I really have to floss every day to disturb any bacteria. This will help.
I promise I will floss every day. Write this 100 time for it to sink in. I'm sure all of you out there floss more than once a day and now you look at me poorly. Oh well, they say my brushing is very good.

Spent Sunday working on my doctors conference coming up. It is looking marvelous. But where in the heck is my little BCIT student? I do believe she is MIA. Must PHONE her - emailing doesn't work too well it seems. Maybe I scared her. I better check with her mom (a really good friend of mine)

I consulted my Vegan with a Vengance cookbook and came up with Maple Walnut Cookies for "cookie monday" - turned out pretty good, the boy has consumed 4 and the man has had 3. I scooped for the office before they've had at them. I've had one and I think I'll have another as a reward for everything I've done today. It is 10:32 and I'm signing off.

Mark Knopfler last night

Well after that grueling day it was nice to sit at the theatre and people-watch. We marvel at looking to see who comes to the concerts we choose to go to. We are finding there are vast differences in the audiences. I guess that means we have a vast taste in music.
The show started right on time at 7:30 with an opening act Pieta Brown and Bo Ramsey, a simple but complex and haunting duo with shades of the south or ozarks. Her voice seemed the same in all the songs but what saved her was the repositioning of the capo on her guitar with each song. She was a very good artist, don't get me wrong. Something definitely different. She announced that she is fortunate to be doing the entire tour with Mark.

Intermission then the headliners. Great setup on stage, the entire Dire Straits group plus an number of others. We decide that Mark was paying the guys enough that he insisted they all have nice shoes. Nothing scuffed or sneaker/like was seen. How refreshing.

The lighting was the best I've seen for a long time if not ever. One, maybe 2 songs that I knew and the rest were off the new cd for sure with blue grass overtones and what I'll deem as celt-lantic sounds with some traditional Knopfler styling interspersed. I felt the concert may have been wasted on me as it truly was a musicians concert, not that I didn't enjoy it - it was thinking man's concert for those who know music - maybe I've just not been subjected to him enough. There was film footage smattered here and there throughout the night but what was really unique was the cameras strategically placed on the mic stand and on the end of his guitar. We witnessed his playing and fingering. All these touches added to what was a wonderful evening.

I could have sworn I wrote something yesterday......

I know I logged in last night. Thought about writing, obviously it didn't materialize. Oh well.
Today is another day. Met a couple of very bright doctors at the cancer agency. They took turns giving the man the once over. Bottom line is he is reasonably healthy but does indeed need surgery. Boo.
So back to the orginal doctor we go. Once the original one and the new one get their facts in order we should have an appointment and some pretty invasive face surgery done. He has slow growing cancer in the epidermis. They don't want to leave it even though it is somewhat contained. Man, pay attention, for crying out loud - it's cancer - get rid of it. Now. Like 4 weeks ago. But a 2nd opinion is allowed and we've done that and we are all good. No major trips planned - so no tickets to worry about cashing in, a bit of a driving trip planned but we will play that one by ear. Let's get better and get on with our lives.
A word to the wise - No more sun worshipping, ok? People, are you listening? Lots of sunscreen, glasses, hats etc. Off to see Mark Knopfler now. Nice reward for visiting the doctor today. oh and a ps: the doctor has a piano that needs tuning and wouldn't you know it he also has 4, count em, 4 accordions that need a bit of an inspection. HAHAHAHHA Yes we gave him our card.

Red Devils Food Cake for the Virginian

So somebody at work will turn 50 tomorrow - ha ha - no sympathy from me, buddy!
My colleague, Amy, (who is the cake baker of the world) is decorating his office and I will make a Red Devils Food Cake (from scratch).

The only problem is I put it into the oven at 9:00 - what is the problem you ask? What time do you think I will frost it? - My guess is the morning. ugh - it will be fresher that way I suppose - no crumbs because it will be cool.

Hope I sleep tonight. Brought work home and don't see myself doing it. Bring it home, take it back and repeat.

So from the left over pork chops I made a lovely soup in one pot and pork fried rice in another. mmmmmmm

Easter Sunday - what a day of organization

Brown the chops and put them in the crockpot with sweet/sour sauce.
Make Potatoes au gratin.
Make Angel Food Cup Cakes.
Give the boy and the man their Happy Easter Cards.
Peel the carrots.
Make Strawberry Mousse - to go on top of the cupcakes.
Work on the taxes.
Run the dishwasher.
Pour a glass of wine.
Make the Rice, boil the carrots and prep the peas and corn.
Take the pumpkin pie from fridge to bring to room temperature.
Find my Salmon recipe and figure out when this should go in the oven.
Set the table? me or them?
Bon Appetit!

'Freakin' computer!

Every year at tax time something always goes wrong with my computer.
Yesterday it said I didn't have enough disc space to save my new year's worth of Simply Accounting for my husband's business.
I had to save it to some dorky little USB drive I won on a Safeway game.
I have an external 500 gig harddrive that my PC man said isn't working the way it should. I tried all day today - some success but the files are in some cryptic format so I don't know how I would work with them from this drive - thought it would be nice to use laptop as a tool instead of a storage facility; therefore having the external drive as the storage facility. Not so. Dilemma - do I buy another external drive and see how it behaves? or just get a bigger, more powerful laptop and hope that I don't lose it or have it stolen. If I get a new one it means a lot of trauma for me: learning new windows applications, transferring files, having the Hospital do their magic to it. Decisions, decisions. A new one would be nice - I could run parallel for a while while I learn the new applications. Syncing my blackberry is causing me grief too. Oh drat technology.

Where has the year gone - April 1 already

Well let's see where this takes us, shall we....Let's recap - new baby has moved to Kamloops sans father, Kozy Kids = Kozy Canines (I'm waiting to see a whole new line of coats in pleather, faux alligator and mink, it is Easter weekend and what will I cook - maybe Mrs Humblepie has a solution for me - must check on her blog to see "what's cookin'".
Taxes are a creepin' up on me - ugh - I hate accounting. Did I tell you I hate accounting? Well I hate accounting.
I have decided to maintain a neutral position in my mental being. I'm tired of encouraging people to look after themselves. I can only do so much - my thoughts, concerns, or suggestions aren't appreciated, acknowledged or even considered, so why waste my time, energy, thoughts, emotions or breath. - It is going to be mighty quiet around here.

Gee I just want to be good at something. Everything is always a struggle and a scramble. I want to be recognized, awarded and rewarded.

Well this post has pretty much gone into the toilet so I'll just call it a day.....

Shout out to the rappers in the fam.....

www.myspace.com/iralee

an up an comer, Canadian, currently based in Montreal, formerly from Edmonton and Regina.
Yo cuz' go cuz'

Espana

In the attempts to make me feel better a very good friend of mine tried to entice me to a cooking school in Malaga (area) Spain instead of Tuscany. Reason being this place is offering a 2fer1 in May $980usd flat for 2 people for a week, ground transport, accommodation, meals, school, tours for 6 nights. Such a deal!
Soooo tempting but I'm broke and still broken. Food for thought tho, (no pun intended) perhaps next year. The proprietors hail from Seattle.

Locked in my room on very sunny day

I feel like crap.
Went to work, no, let me re-phrase that, I went to the parkade, burst into tears, called in sick and went home.
It is sunny, I didn't really LOCK myself in my room but I did roll back the covers and shut the doors - don't want to talk to anyone, don't want to see anyone, the window is open, the wasps are flying in and out, the birdies are sort of singing, little children are babbling infrequently.
Soup, clear consomme, licorice tea, perrier, hope that fixes what ails me.
And of course T-1's for the screaming headache I've had all day.
Don't you feel better now?!

Feels like Wednesday

Wow, what a day - intense-o-meter scale of 8. I suppose that is low for that place.
Accomplished alot, thought it was Wednesday, didn't know it was lunch at noon, and at 3pm thought it was 4pm
Another day like that tomorrow I bet.

Ahhhh Victoria

You have to love Victoria - not too terribly busy here today. Sunny on and off and just plain lovely. Chinatown was fun, lunch at Irish Times pub is always a favourite and dinner at Earls with the best company in the world, Ruth and Amanda.
I must remember to get some Rogers chocolates before I leave. I'm staying a the Huntingdon Inn and Suites - it was always there to be stayed in - intrigued me with it's equestrian charm - all the riding/hunting themes; anyway the room is fine, kitchenette even. very quiet and close to everything.

It is all good.

Well the Sunday baby visitation turned out pretty well. Baby is so very sweet, just a little peanut and in very good shape.
The new mom was very calm and in good spirits and the new dad is sooo focused on his new son and his wife - was impressed.

Met with the gramma on Monday night and got caught up there - that was a fun visit. Talk about power talking - on your mark, set, go - current affairs all wrapped up in 2 hours. It was like she never left town.

Work has been very extreme the last couple of days - I'm exhausted by this and just the whole healing process. It will be nice to get away this weekend.

How do I let this happen?

Did I speak of the interruptions - continuous - so much for getting any work done this weekend.
I needed to go out and get rubbermaid bins to sort a job that never should have ended up in bins in the first place.
Then I had to go out and get an industrial strength tarp to put our shed roof and entrails on in order to transport it places. Like the dump.
Then I had to conjure up dinner, then it was time to go to the Vancouver Welsh Mens Choir - tick that one off my list. I had higher expectations.

The baby is born and Kamloops is in town - paying respects will chew up Sunday but it is something that has to be done. I don't know how that episode will turn out.

I have to get in touch with my BCIT student - she will think I've forgotten her. But on the other hand she could call me - unless she is volunteering for the paralympics too.

Well it is time to turn the clocks forward - don't want to miss any part of tomorrow.
early up and maybe I can get some work done. Ya, that is it - that is what I'll do - go fast - ride like the wind - Focus, damn it, focus!

I must say this is more fun than facebook

How sad is that title? I remember how long it took me to gather friends. I only have one follower of this. I guess I should tell some people I'm doing this.

I do believe the red car is FINALLY leaving the yard tonight. Yay! Money for the boy and driveway room for me. Oh I truly hope so. This has been a long time coming.

I've hit the wall at work for 2 days - kind of procrastinating on a project there - MUST, absolutely MUST remedy that tomorrow. Time is of the essence. I just know that someone will interrupt me (many times) when I'm trying to get my head wrapped around what it is I NEED to do.

Then, too, I end up interrupting myself because the anticpated interruptions don't materialize. Sheesh?

Well I must do one thing right now (for taxes) and then I'll go read a chapter in the book "Infidel"

How do I change this?

Can you tell me how I can get my "Tiki Head" photo to appear on the blogs that I follow and I want "Ouij's Musings" to appear with the Tiki Head instead of thirdpartyevents.

Inquiring minds want to know. Is there a help section anywhere?

Mango Lime Salmon on Tropical Watercress Salad - Recipes - Food - Canadian Living

Mango Lime Salmon on Tropical Watercress Salad - Recipes - Food - Canadian Living

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I told you about this

I told you about this - MUSINGS - It is all about the musings.
Good night!

There's a skunk outside!

So I'm sitting here doing this and something goes bumpity bump bump a the corner of the house outside - it had reverberated at my feet, that is how close I am to the corner of the house on the inside. I ask my husband to investigate - I didn't think skunks just randomly bump up the side of your house; he doesn't see it but he can sure smell it so I go upstairs to the bedroom, open the window and yup, I smell it too. We know it is around here - we saw in on our back street one evening. A very large roly-poly doddling critter, a big critter this one was. Glistening fur and that white stripe. I'll have to tell you about the racoons in the house another time. And the young squirrel in the house too. Then there are stories about Stanley and Leisha. Poor Stan, he tried so hard to be nice - he got awful headaches. Poor kitty, Poor Stan.

Blackberry

My poor blackberry; well maybe just poor me!
My problem is threefold: 1) I can't get it to cross-sync to my outlook calendar on my laptop 2) my laptop only has this year's info in the calendar, my bb has way more. 3) one of the email addresses that I have going to it won't give me the option to delete on both my bb and my email.
I'll have to contact BB I guess, that is not a fun time for me. It is difficult dealing with techies. - more patience for me - I have to have all my facts straight before I make the call. And then they manage to get me rattled and ask me hard questions.
I pay people to get this stuff figured out. It should just work. Of course it should - the store that I got my BB from is no help. They just sell the equipment - The girl I bought mine from isn't there anymore - she is the reason I bought - she was so helpful and knowledgeable but alas, she went off to her 'dream job', like I said, Poor Me!

Travel this year so far

Well not so far but far enough. Went to Vegas with a friend - what a friend indeed. I hope you all have friends that think enough of you to wheel you around town in a wheel chair. I'm so flattered. We had a great time and all our seats were changed at the shows to accommodate my mode of transportation. Like I said before - this has been an interesting experience, this injury of mine.

Anyway it is always nice to get away - the mountains I looked down upon from the airplane were all covered in snow - reminded me of the 7 minute frosting my mom used to make to ice cakes with. Even the hills that surrounded Vegas were covered in snow.

Next weekend I'm going to Victoria to see my cousin Ruth. She has just come back from a month in Hawaii. She had to participate in the Tsunami warning and she and friends all had to go to higher ground for the day - they left their condo at 5 am and returned about 4pm.

I say this about vacations - you must do things that you wouldn't normally do and if you don't have fun it is your own darn fault.

I'm going to Whistler for a weekend in April to work on a conference for some doctors. That will be a nice getaway even if I am working. Then we were planning a bit of a BC trip in June/July - but we'll see.

Oh and the highlight of my life - the Mars plane ride - TBA. shivver teehee, can hardly wait.
Oh yes and we have been invited to a 90 yr old birthday party - It is all about family and friends
Sure would like to go camping again. Been to long since I did that. We have a great tent and it is fairly new. I set it up in the back yard last year to see how all the pieces fit - they fit! That is what happened when I started to clean out the shed - I put up the tent - I wonder sometimes if I'm not afflicted with a bit of ADD. That sort of sidetracking happens to me when I want to really go to town and clean the house. I end up building something when I was really about to wash a floor. It isn't quite like procrastination but definitely sidetracking.

For Sale

I've got a lovely bunch of accordions.
See them all standing in a row.
Big ones, small ones, some of them come in red;
Give them a squish, a flick of the switch
I must be out of my head!

Piano accordions, concertinas, button boxes, a couple from Russia. You want 'em, we got 'em

Paperwork

Why should I know where the paper is? It doesn't belong to me and no one gave it to me for safekeeping or filing so why should I know where it is?

Da Plane Boss, Da Plane!

so earlier, as in late February I mentioned that my favourite airplane was coming to Steveston's Garry Point Park. Well that it did. I met the Mayor and a counsellor and some other city staff who were so very kind to me (not because of my crutches but that sure helped) but because of my dad being very instrumental (no pun intended) in the health and welfare of these magnificent aircraft.

I was on a mission that day to seek out and introduce myself to the current owner. Success - we had a lovely chat and I now have his word that when spring test runs take place I'm invited to go on some runs. TOP OF MY BUCKET LIST!

I'm so moved and ecstatic with this opportunity. I have no other words for this. Lucky is the only one that comes to mind. Wait until then - I'm sure the experience will fly right off the page!!!!

Where should I put those plants?

I have a forsythia bush, a pussy willow and a jasmine that NEED, no MUST go in the ground this year. I just can't figure out where to put them.

We tore out a hedge and will replace it with a fence that will match the one on the driveway side, so I thought somewhere at the end of the fence (road end of fence) would be good for the forsythia. I just adore them at this time of year - they are sooo happy and vibrant yellow - they just make me smile (even when I want to cry).

I think there is a theme this month, don't you?

I think the jasmine needs to climb on a fence so that would mean I have to find the right spot for that in the back yard, but I don't want it to tangle in with other plants, preventing mass choking of either.

I'll need to research Pussy willow to see where they best live. My day is never done.

Do you ever cry?

There is so much to cry about. The way Canada was portrayed in the opening and closing ceremonies - pride can make you tear up.
How about the little flower girls at the skating events during the Olympics - did you see the one little girl they did a story on; she was a double leg amputee - what a trouper - on skates OMG you go girl! Well that melted my heart - teared up again. Then Joannie Rochette skated - held my breath. More tears.
How about the two girl bobsled that flipped - they were ok, thank goodness - was ready for the kleenex.
ok enough - now we are into week 2 of olympic hangover/withdrawal. But wait - there are the Paralympics coming - yes, this Friday and oh look - there is snow on the mountains. YAY
The fighter jets have disappeared from the airport, The signs on the street telling us we can't drive or stop in this lane from now until then are gone, the olympic rings are being dismantled - what about the Paralympians? Their event tickets are beyond reasonable, I'm looking into getting a ticket to something - I'm even sporting crutches and a wheelchair due to a fractured pelvis. Another reason to cry during the Olympics - could only watch them from my living room - safer that way. But I'm ready to roll - I wheeled around Ikea the other day All By Myself! So Proud. gee there is that pride thing again. It certainly has been interesting seeing things from the point of view of someone injured. Lots of people are very nice about helping with doors and asking what happened. Some people give you the once over and you can see on their face they don't believe you have a problem cause there is no cast visible. They look skeptical. While in this position you find all kinds of new and inventive ways to get around, or carry things; when I was in Ikea I saw the store what felt like for the the first time, from a whole new point of view. But it was good. I enjoyed myself. I even bought 2 lamps, a rug, some cd cases and lightbulbs. Basically when my lap was full, I had to check out! I'm also sporting one of those SPARC cards. They get you the best parking - i feel guilty though, don't know why. There is a sense of power, odd, I find it. Also, having never used crutches before I am amazed at the workout I'm getting - I am exhausted by the end of the day. This healing process is a struggle. I just want to be better soon.

Who Dat?

Wow - what an amazing victory for the New Orleans Saints - first time ever in the running and first time to win since their franchise history - Fantastic and Mardi Gras is just 9 days away - They be party'in in Louisana starting NOW!

We were there over a year ago and loved it - must go back. Friends will go this year to see the New Orleans Jazz Fest - Simon and Garfunkel are on the opening weekend. The only show they will play together this year - and I'm going to miss it. Darn.

Anyway - I am a die-hard watch the last game of any sport fan and loved the game today. Especially the half time show - the staging was phenominal. Not to mention the group.

my yellow rose

My yellow rose - do you like it? I photographed that on a trip to Ireland. I believe it was in a park in Blarney - lots of the tour went and kissed the stone but I shot flowers instead and wandered through the stores.
Ireland was great, would love to go back again especially to a place called Youghall (pronounced Yahll). And of course Dublin is so very exciting with a blend of the old and new and fabulous shopping. You must go some time.

Definitely coming to a beach near me........

Yes it is really true and not embargoed - a media event featuring my best airplane, the Martin Mars Water Bomber.
Garry Point Steveston BC Feb 23, and 24, 2010
I'm very excited - will catch up with old friends, meet new people and probably tour the aircraft.
I can't think of a better way to spend a couple of days.

Coming to a beach near you.........

Ground control to Major Tom - The Mars is coming, the Mars is coming.

My favourite aircraft in the entire world is coming home from California. Stay tuned for more information on this. I'm so excited about this. I just received information about this - it didn't say it was embargoed but I'm going to be a bit tight-lipped until I hear differently. Don't mean to be so vague but sometimes it is necessary

The continuing airline crisis....

Well I just had a phone call from my best cousin Ruth and she advises that the government has lifted the carry-on ban to the USA. Now I can take my purse and my backpack and my crutches to Las Vegas YAY
Hobble onto the plane, Hobble off the plane - no waiting for my luggage at the carousel. This is wonderful news. So with that I will sign out for the night. Bon Nuit!

January 20, 2010 Captain's blog

Not a good start to a blog is it? So that many days later I find myself exhausted. This healing process is a pain in the pelvis. I went to work Monday and Tuesday - everyone was so nice welcoming me back but it did take its toll on me. Why don't people listen to their doctors? I work with doctors. I know doctors who say they can't help their patients if the patients won't listen to the directions they give them. I truly understand the dilemma from both sides of the desk. So this is my comment for today - I might come back with more - but I think I'll navigate through the layout of this blog and try to tidy it up. I can see this is always a work in progress.

January 14, 2010 Captain's log

In the beginning, and this is only the beginning, I created a blog.

Ok I'll admit it - if Julie can do it, so can I.

Anyway the topics will vary from A to Z, travel, work, family, causes and concerns abound. I will have fun with this.

Stay in touch, it is important.