A Sick Friend

One of my friends from Florida is very ill and in the hospital. After spending a wonderful winter where she looked fit and healthy with her cancer in remission, it came back. She's gone through so much chemo that it's weakened her to the point where it's landed her in the hospital. I've been told she's refused to continue treatment now and I think she's wise to do that. There comes a time when we need to face the inevitable and refuse treatments that destroy our quality of life.

No-one really knows how they'd react to a dagnosis of cancer but I think we should all make some sort of plans ahead of time. I'm going to be 69 years old next week and my plans might not be the same as they'd be if I was in my 20's or 30's, though.

I've decided, after watching my husband and my son-in-law die of cancer, that I would accept mild radiation and mild chemo pills but never accept chemo intravenously. I understand that those treatments might only extend my life slightly but there would still be a quality of life to the time left to me. My plan is not for everyone but that's what I've chosen for myself if I'm ever diagnosed with cancer.

People who have a strong religious faith should have no fear of dying but little old agnostic me isn't so much fearful as I am curious about what comes next. It just might be a whole lot more fun than our earthly existance.

I have another Florida friend who went through absolute hell with his cancer treatments but they worked for him. I refer to him as our miracle man after all he's been through. He finally received radical surgery in Texas last year after being refused by many other surgeons because of the severity of his cancer and, although he hasn't had an easy recovery, he's still with us and gaining strength every day. I've come to think that beating cancer is just the luck of the draw...some don't make it but some do and that's what gives us hope.

And it gives us hope for my friend who is so ill right now. We can only hope for the best and wait.

Lost Again

I went out to the flea market in the morning to either collect money or pay it and ended up collecting $2.45 for 2 weeks sales. It really is time to get out of the flea market business.

Then I went to the casino to meet Mary for a day of gambling. We had lunch first and then hit the slots where Mary won hundreds and I lost all of my money. Just the usual scenario.

I got on the computer in the evening and placed bids on 10 pendants, all absolutely gorgeous. I love picking and choosing these items for resale and Kim has taken on planning the presentation of them. Having a little sideline business can be fun as long as each person is doing what pleases them and I think we've found a good combination. I'm so, so happy that Kim is interested.

Then end of another full and fun day.

Obama's Health Plan

President Obama's drive to give every American a viable health plan has been facing so much opposition that I'm worried American's will be cheated again. I heard today that people who are already insured privately are quite happy with their plan and don't want change but what of those who can't afford a private plan?

American's have to face the fact that a universal plan such proposed by Obama is going to mean higher taxation but the benefits in the long run are well worth it. I've lived under the effects of having no public health insurance to having our present government coverage and I can tell you there is no comparison.

Whether you are ill or pregnant, having no insurance coverage is a stressful and dangerous proposition. With no insurance you are more apt to neglect medical care or, just as bad, receive it and lose your home to pay the cost. Universal health care will never be perfect because the human beings running it are far from perfect. There is unbelievable waste that, thanks to watchdogs, sometimes can be held in check. But, there is no calmer moment than receiving excellent health care without a huge bill handed to you at the end.

Higher taxes to cover universal health care will be mostly felt by the rich so we average people shouldn't worry about it too much. I firmly feel that a few extra dollars taken out of one's paycheck every week is a small price to pay for the comfort of knowing you will always be able to afford health care.

I'm so proud of Obama for attacking this incredible problem in the United States so early in his presidency. It's been a long time coming and weaker presidents haven't had the courage to go up against the powerful lobbies which are trying desperately to protect outrageous profits now enjoyed in the medical field.

Obama will be proven right after all is said and done but, in the meantime, I hope he has the stamina to stay in the fight.

Coley is 17

Today is my grandaughter, Nicole's, 17th birthday and I'm struck with the differences in our lives. She's already traveled much of the world and lived in quite a few different countries. When I was 17, I'd only been just across the border to the U.S. for a few hours.

Nicole will be heading off to university in the U.S. next year when she's 18 and I'm so happy for her. When I was 18, I was married with one daughter of my own. Life is certainly all about the choices you make and the paths you choose.

I instilled higher hopes in my children than I did in myself but, then again, we live and learn, don't we?

Nicole hated me when she was little and I never understood why. She was a gorgeous little 4 year old when her father had his accident and lost his leg and that's when I went down to Florida where they were living at the time and took care of her and Lisette so that Shelley could stay at the hospital with John. Nicole regularly glared at me and asked when I was going home. Little poophead!

One day she was particularly nasty and I told her not to talk to me again unless she could be polite. She cried and cried and then, miraculously, turned into the sweetheart child she'd always been with everyone else. We've never looked back.

Now, here she is at 17. She looks a lot like Shelley but with a darker complexion that makes her look like a Spanish princess. I hope her life continues to be as wonderful as it has been and that the world ahead of her offers her only the best.

Happy Birthday, Coley!

Tim Horton's Elvis Cookie

Isn't this cute? Tim Horton's restaurants in the Collingwood area make these gingerbread Elvis cookies during the festival.

Collingwood Elvis Festival 2009

I watched the weather reports all week and shuddered as I saw nothing except rain in the forecast for our Elvis weekend. We've been so lucky with good weather over the past years and I sort of half expected it would always be that way but there are no guarantees in life.

Faye, Mary, and I packed up the car and made our yearly pilgrimage to the Elvis Festival anyway, assuming we'd be inside most of the time so it really didn't matter if it rained or not. We had a nice drive up with only cloudy skies, some darker and more forbidding than others, and were able to get into our hotel room right away. We then drove back to downtown Collingwood to watch the free outdoor show that ran all evening.

Parking is usually a bit of a problem during the festival because it draws huge crowds but this year's threat of rain kept a lot of them away on Friday. Maybe that's why we were lucky enough to drive within 2 blocks of the show and find a nice family just leaving a perfectly wonderful parking spot empty for us. It was meant to be.

Arriving at the main street where the show was in progress, we tried parking our lawn chairs on the sidewalk like we always have but this year it wasn't allowed. The road is closed off to traffic and there is a designated area in the center for people to set up lawn chairs but we would have had to sit way, way back from the stage. We opted for a little outcropping of sidewalk where no-one walked but were quickly evicted by security. Just as we were ready to leave, a nice little family in the legal area said they were leaving and we could have their spots. Luck was with us again! By the way, it was very close to the Tim Horton's where we could also use the restroom facilities. Nice!

We watched the show for a few hours and then decided to go back to our room and play Rummicubes. There are always Elvis impersonators putting on shows in the courtyard of the hotel and we could watch or just listen from our balcony. Again, the weather was lovely but still held the threat of rain. We stayed at the Blue Mountain Resort as we have all the other years and it's always a treat. The rooms are spacious and the price split between the 3 of us is quite manageable. There are so many free shows put on in the courtyard that Elvis lovers really don't have to pay for ones put on by the festival if they don't want to.

We got up kind of late on Saturday and took our time going downtown. I think the show we saw in the afternoon cost us each around $50 but it's always worth it. These entertainers have been getting better every year and we've watched some of them grow up from childish singers to polished performers. For instance, on Friday night there was a 4 year old boy Elvis who boomed out a darned good song on stage. He'll be even better next year.

We noticed how sparse attendance was at the Saturday afternoon show and thought that might hold true for the rest of the weekend but it didn't. The Gospel show on Sunday afternoon was well attended and the finals on Sunday evening were packed.

I love this festival because everywhere you go you run into Elvis impersonators, Elvis dressers, and lots of Elvis music. The Elvis impersonators are friendly and very down to earth, quite willing to talk to fans or pose for pictures. Some of our favorites didn't come to Collingwood this year so I guess they've moved on to something else in their careers. Others have risen high enough in their craft that they don't compete anymore but earn a good living singing in local clubs.

16 year old Anthony Carbone won first prize in the senior youth category again and his voice knocked our socks off. With a voice so powerful and controlled, he most assuredly deserved his award.

There were countless enthertainers whose voices impressed me but there is one whose voice brings tears to my eyes and that's Jay Zanier's. He's too good to be true and I'm scared to death he'll not find time to come to Collingwood one year. I've never approached this man and told him how impressed I am with him because I'm sure he hears it all the time. In any case, I do especially look forward every year to hearing both him and young Anthony. In my eyes (or ears), they're the cream of a damned good crop.

Back to the rain...it seemed to fall out of the sky while we were inside the arena watching one of the shows but we did get a bit between shows on Sunday when we went looking for a restaurant. Not bad considering how worried I'd been all week before. The vendors must have lost money because of the rain, though, because there definitely were fewer attendees. I managed to buy a great Elvis tote bag which I'll give to my sister for her birthday. She doesn't use a computer so she'll never read this blog...don't anyone tell her, okay?

Mary, Faye, and I lazed around this morning before packing and heading home. It was a bit drizzly rain at first but that ended quickly and we had a very nice drive back. We heard on the news that my city had been hit hard with horrendous rain over the weekend and many homes had been flooded so I was quite worried about mine. All was well when I got home, though, with no sign of water in the basement at all. I thanked my lucky stars for that.

Another Elvis Festival is over and I can say once again that we had a terrific time with lots of fun, lots of laughs, and lots of excellent entertainment.

Just a note for Mary...when you need a smile, just remember 3 in 5.

Not So Nice Anniversary

My husband passed away 4 years ago and, on the anniversary of his death, my brother-in-law who lives in Chicago phoned me. He does this every year on the anniversary of Dennis' death and I think it helps both of us cope with the loss.

As we talked, the subject of what I saw minutes after Dennis passed away came up and it turned out I had never mentioned this to Wayne. He's by far the most religious one in the family and it shocked me that I'd neglected to tell him.

Wayne listened as I told him about seeing a burst of energy (?) shoot out from Dennis' head about 15 minutes after he'd passed away. It happened so fast and so unexpectedly that I wasn't sure what I'd seen but I could clearly see how a density of air filled the room within seconds before it gradually dissipated. I'd never seen nor heard of such a thing but my firm belief is that what I saw was Dennis' soul escaping his body. I'm not religious, probably can be referred to as an agnostic, so this wasn't a religious experience for me. It was a factual experience that I have felt very privileged to have witnessed.

My feeling about life after death is that it just makes sense. The life we lead now really makes very little sense and the only reason for us occupying this space in time must be simply as a learning period. There has to be a higher calling than the quest for possessions. There has to be a higher purpose than to kill and maim. I am really hoping that the next existence is a place of only kindness and love.

Wayne, being the good Christian he is, agreed that what I saw was Dennis' soul breaking free. I, being the agnostic I am, know exactly what I saw and can only guess at it's significance.

I wish Dennis had more time here but maybe the next phase will be a happier one for him. I hope so.

Too Lazy Day

Many years ago I used to take the odd day and just laze around in my pyjamas. I remember sort of enjoying it so I thought I'd do it today...no work at all, just feed myself and lay in front of the T.V. It hasn't been pleasant.

When I look back on the old days when I enjoyed this sort of thing it was done when I had depression and that explains why I liked it. There were no pressures, no expectations, and vegetating in front of the T.V. kept my mind off more unpleasant things. I haven't suffered from depression in many years and my days are now filled with a lot of fun stuff so this terribly lazy day has actually been boring. I suppose that's a positive thing.

I've decided that I won't take any more days like this. Life is too short to waste, isn't it?

Now PayPal is Changed

I can understand change if it's for the better but darned if much of anything concerning the computer ever stays the same or the changes actually help the user.

PayPal has changed it's format and I, being a computer illiterate, couldn't figure out how to check on a sale that went back more than 30 days. I e-mailed "Help" and received a very nice response explaining how to do it...but they were wrong. First they wanted me to download the page requested either to comma delimited, tab delimited, quicken, or quickbooks. I believe I've heard of quicken but never in my life heard of the other choices. Besides not knowing if I had these things in my computer, I didn't want them going there. I just wanted to view the sale details.

So I phone PayPal. The automated answering machine gave me choices I wasn't sure I wanted and then they asked the last 4 digits of the bank account I'd used with PayPal. How the heck did I know??? I think I spouted a few offensive words into the telephone because the automated answering machine responded with, "I'm not sure I understood your answer". Finally I was given a proper choice...agent.

A very nice gentleman who sounded Indian (I think all phone calls for service help now go to India) asked a few pertinent questions but was unable to use his computer!!!!! I explained what I was trying to find and he blindly helped me. He was very patient and knowledgable, thank heavens, and I found my old transaction. I had been steered wrong by the not so helpful e-mail from PayPal but all is right now.

Please, PayPal, don't change your format to make things more difficult for people like me. I'm sure I'm not the only one who surfs the internet on a wing and a prayer.

Day With Donna

Donna is my husband's cousin's wife and I've always enjoyed being with her because I feel we have a lot in common. She came over for a visit yesterday and we spent a wonderful time just gabbing.

Donna has a severely handicapped daughter who is almost 39 years old and is cared for at home. Jill is nonambulatory and needs 24 hour care so Donna and Frank have their hands full taking care of her. Jill's lifespan was not supposed to be this long but, due to the excellent care she receives, she's still doing well.

Taking care of a child like this means that Donna seldom gets out by herself so I'm pleased she chose to spend some of her rare free time with me. Frank stayed home to care for Jill...he's an exceptionally good father. When I come to think of it, almost all of the fathers in this family are good ones. Their children sure are blessed.

We almost forgot about lunch because we were enjoying our gab so much but we finally headed out to Wendy's. Donna for a healthy salad and me for my nuggets and baked potato. We gabbed all through lunch and then went back to my house to gab some more. Every so often I wonder just how most women seem to be able to gab forever and most men are the silent type. In any case, Donna and I covered every subject under the sun and enjoyed every moment.

My busy summer months will be coming to an end after this weekend's Elvis Festival so I'll have lots of time for leisurely lunches with anyone who wants to join me. I'm hoping that Donna can fit me in again!

Health Care in the United States

Obama is on the right track with his intention of bringing a universal health care plan to the U.S. Unfortunately, the health care industry might lose some of their ghastly profits so they're doing everything possible to derail it.

I listened to a radio program while I was in the States last week and was horrified to hear the commentator railing wildly about how the plan is to take money out of the working man's pocket to provide better health care for people who won't work. This isn't the idea at all. The plan will give decent health care to the average working person who can't afford the present insurance cost.

While in the U.S. last winter, I spoke to a waitress who was worried sick that she couldn't afford to pay for health care insurance. I have spoken to many seniors there who must continue working into their 80's just to pay for medication. My daughter worked as a nurse in the U.S. and complained about women giving birth who had never had any prenatal care because they couldn't afford it. This is a shameful situation that President Obama is trying to rectify.

Of course income taxes will rise to pay for a universal plan but it will be worth it. Lives will be saved and people won't have to worry about losing their homes if they become hospitalized. From what I understand, present insurance plans in the U.S. also place a limit on the amount of money they'll pay out to a client so what if that client needs constant care for the rest of their lives?

Canadian health care isn't perfect and there are dissenters, one of which is now the poster child for people opposed to Obama's plan. This lady might have a completely legitimate complaint about the care she received in Canada but she's an odd case and it isn't fair to use her as an example. Ask most any Canadian if they'd prefer our plan to what is now available in the States and you'll get a clearer picture. We shudder to think of going back to the days when we were in the same circumstances as the Americans are now.

I applaud President Obama for what he is attempting to accomplish and I wish with all my heart that he can achieve it. The American people deserve better than what they have today.

Analyzing Yourself

Human psychology has always been something that fascinated me. Why do we sometimes behave in ways that we know are unacceptable or that will bring dire consequences? Why do some people seem to live charmed lives while others, who seem to be much nicer, gravitate toward disaster?

I remember a moment in my life when I was in my thirties when I made a conscious decision to dampen my ego and be more humble. I'd grown up in a family where I'd never quite fit in and had thought myself above them in many ways. I was an intelligent child who felt like a swan dropped among a gaggle of geese. Intelligence is as intelligence does, though, and I wasted my gift by being too lazy to utilize it fully.

Marrying young and having children before I was ready didn't help, either. It stunts your maturity when you marry too young because it usually cuts off any opportunity to experience what the world has to offer. But those were my choices and I accept responsibility for them.

I was well into my 30's when it dawned on me that I was still behaving like a child and I decided it was time to grow up. I had a severe "attitude adjustment" which sort of shocked me in it's intensity but it helped me cope with my life. For twenty years I'd lived an imaginary life which I'd created in my own mind and been constantly upset when reality didn't match my vision. We often do that...pretend our lives are something they aren't because to accept the truth is too brutal.

Therapy in my 40's helped immensely and it taught me to look at things in more than one light. Facing reality isn't easy at all and it doesn't happen overnight. Lord knows, facing full reality probably isn't even possible for us. But, as I grew up (in my 30's), I began to gain strength of mind. I'm not the person today that I was back then and I don't mean body wise! I have a strong sense of reality and where it's taking me.

My grandmother used to say, "If I knew then what I know now...", and now I know what she meant. My, how much more we could have done with our lives if we'd been wiser younger.

New Baby Terrors

I'm not going to laugh at my grandson's fears about just how to care for his brand new firstborn but I am sort of giggling inside. Every parent has gone through those same fears about doing something devastatingly stupid with their firstborn but somehow we all survive.

My Kim was 9 lb. 8 oz. when she was born and I'd never even held a newborn. I'd read that babies feed every 4 hours so that's when I tried feeding her. Today we know that babies should be fed on demand but I spent many days crying along with poor Kimmie and trying to wait out those 4 damn hours. I thought she'd explode if I fed her too soon. Talk about stupid!

I really think that firstborn babies survive despite their sometimes inept parents. It might be the reason that firstborns are often leaders in the community. They've had to pave the way for subsequent siblings and they've had to be strong to do it.

Little Nolan has everything he needs in parents. They love him and will do their best to raise him right. Love will get you through when nothing else will.

Nolan & His Greatgramma (Grammama)

I'm not crazy about this picture but then I usually hate pictures of myself. First, it shows the short side of my new haircut and then it also shows a heck of a lot of wrinkles. Thirdly, my need to feel Nolan's face has amost obliterated his face in the picture.

In any case, I hope Nolan can one day read this blog and see all the love emanating from his greatgramma on the day of his birth.

Note: We noticed yesterday that Nolan has the Neilsen ear. Some of the members of my husband's side of the family have a little point on the edge of their ear and Nolan has it, as did his Greatgrampa and his Gramma. Who needs a DNA test to see if he belongs in this family, eh???

Nolan & His Gramma

This is my favorite picture of all. It was taken of Gramma Kim and Nolan right after he was born. Is she a proud and happy Gramma, or what???

Nolan

This is baby Nolan soon after he was born. It was quite warm in the room or he would have been screaming his head off because he hates feeling cold. Takes after his greatgramma!

On the day of his birth I couldn't wait to feel that precious newborn skin. You feel as though your fingers will slip right inside it. I saw him again yesterday after being at the reunion for 4 days and his skin has changed already. It has more substance.

Right now all we can do with him is stare but fun times are coming as he begins to learn what life has to offer. It's going to be fun watching him grow.

Canadian National Anthem Sung in Hindi?

Canada has two official languages, English and French. Having a country with two languages is already one too many but the idea of our national anthem being sung in Hindi at the 2010 Olympics in British Columbia is outrageous.

We have a large population of Indian/Pakistani immigrants in Canada who are very welcome but we don't need another official language thrust upon us. Before the influx of Indian immigrants there were equally large groups of Italian, German, Hungarian, Polish, etc. and none have had the temerity to suggest their languages be used in singing the Canadian national anthem at the 2010 Olympics.

I read a blog saying how welcome immigrants are into this fine country and I feel the same way. We are all descendants of immigrants from various countries but, when one immigrates to a new country, it is only proper to assimilate and respect the culture of that country. It is totally improper to disregard an established culture and attempt to foist your own onto it. In other words, if I were to immigrate to India and the Olympics were to be held there, it would be a big no-no for me to insist they sing the Indian national anthem in English.

There's an old saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do.". I think that means to show respect for the country that allowed you in.

There is a time and a place for Indians to express their homeland pride but the 2010 Olympics being held in Canada requires our national anthem to be sung in our official languages and Hindi isn't one of them.

Note: Shelley informed me that this news report was an urban legend and not true at all. Why are these falsehoods spread, anyway? It makes me realize that I need to get the facts before I jump to conclusions. There is enough drama in the world without people spreading untruths.

2009 Reunion

Reunions can be fabulous events and this past northern reunion which was held by 87 of the residents of my park in Florida was just that. It was held in Ohio and the location and weather couldn't have been better. It's difficult to find good hearted and hard working people who will turn their lives upside down in order to host and hostess these reunions but this year we were lucky once more with Jack and Lillian. These two are also responsible for carrying a heavy load of park activities, too, and we all benefit from their labors.

They had help, of course, because our people are some of the best in the world, but it was Jack and Lillian who led the pack. They organized meals, tours, and hotels and without people like them there would be no reunions at all. It was a fully packed 3-4 day vacation spent with so many of the people I'm crazy about.

Faye, Mary, and I got there just in time for the turd toss on Monday afternoon but most of the people arrived on Sunday. From then on it was a whirlwind of fun and food. It seems I was constantly hugging someone...it was so nice.

I did manage to get some shopping in, too, and bought some really cute shelving which featured canvas drawers. This will be perfect for my jewelry stuff. Faye and Mary actually bought the same outfits and now will have to make sure they don't wear them at the same time.

Our group had a few mishaps, too. Sheila's niece, Liz, sprained her ankle and Vicky and Ted ran their van into a deer. Only the deer was hurt (or killed) but the van was damaged. Not happy events but not the worst thing that could happen, either.

We got home today about 4:30 P.M. and I immediately got on the computer to check on some things only to find all of my saved websites missing. Yikes! Shelley, John and the kids had been visiting and I thought that Jake had somehow erased them but couldn't figure out how he could have done it. I clicked on a few spots I'd never noticed before and the darned websites reappeared, thank heavens.

I enjoyed the reunion so very much but it was a shame that it partly coincided with Shelley's visit. I guess we can never have it all, can we? Next week we go to our Elvis festival and then I think the rest of my summer will be pretty clear, maybe dull. Maybe that's just what I need right now...some quiet time.

Under Water...Again!

This house will be the death of me. Yesterday we had an absolute deluge of rain, almost looked like a hurricane going through and I, stupidly, was only worried about my lawn chairs being blown away. Jake walked past the front door and calmly said, "There's water coming in the front door.". Damned if water wasn't pouring in through one of the stained glass windows and also slightly under the door. I was so shocked because I'd never seen anything like it before. Now I have to see about having the putty stuff around the windows and under the door fixed!

I quickly checked the basement where I'd had the trouble 2 years ago but all of that was dry as a bone. Should be, after spending $3500 to fix it!! But this morning I noticed the workroom/furnace room floor looked awfully dark and damned if water hadn't poured in there and toward the door, soaking a large mat. Actually, if the mat hadn't been there to soak up most of the water, it would have come into the rec room and damaged the laminate flooring. I am so fed up.

When I had the foundation excavated in 2007, I only had them do the front of the house and a slight turn around to the side and that was a mistake on my part. It's very possible I'll have to have them come back and do the whole side now.

Almost every day I run into some little problem or irritant that tells me it's time to sell this house and move on and it would be so nice to not have to worry about fixing things. I guess depending on an apartment superintendant can have it's own downfalls, too, but I'm really tired of struggling with this house now.

But today is a day of celebration and we're having a potluck out in the yard. Children, grandchildren, aunts and uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters and various in-laws..and the weather is perfect. I'll just forget about the basement and concentrate on my precious family. After all, what is more important?

Baby Girl & Family Have Arrived

Shelley, John, and the kids, who have been living in Bolivia and recently vacationing in Italy, took a detour home and arrived here at 2 A.M. this morning. Our family goes all out when it comes to welcoming a new baby into the family. Actually, our family also goes all out when it comes to caring for a sick person in the family.

The last two trips for Shelley and hers were to help care for Dennis and then David when they were dying. Shelley is a nurse by trade and was invaluable when it came to caring for them. The trips home were terribly difficult for her emotionally, though, and she said at the time that she hoped the next trip would be on a happier tone. And it is! They travelled for 24 hours to see our new baby, Nolan.

Kim, Cindy, and their families were kept in the dark about Shelley's plans to be here so we had lots of fun this morning surprising them...actually, Cindy went to work so her surprise is yet to come.

I phoned the girls this morning and said I'd hurt my arm and it might be broken so could they come over to the house. I called Cindy first, saying I didn't want to bother Kim because she'd be wanting to go to the hospital to see Nolan. I then phoned Kim, told her my sad story, and asked her to come to the house. Cindy was on her way to work, phoned Kim herself and was told not to worry about it because Kim would look after things.

It was pouring rain when Kim pulled up to the house so she sent Matt in to get me. I told him to call Kim in, too, and I could hear her squawking all the way in. They walked in the front door, Kim still squawking about how I'd have to go to the hospital for ex-rays. They looked into the livingroom where Shelley, John, Lisette, Nicole, and Jake sat grinning on the sofa. Surprise!!!!

There was a lot of hooting, laughing, hugging, and kissing. Kim was so pleased they'd made the effort to see little Nolan. Then we conned Nicholas into stopping by before he headed to the hospital and had the fun of surprising him, too. It's a good thing he has a strong heart after all the momentous occasions he's been through in just over 24 hours.

The surprises didn't stop there. We all piled into 2 cars and drove to Cindy's work. Shelley and her family waited outside while Kim, Matt and I went in to ask Cindy to come outside for a minute to see what we'd bought the baby. Out she came, walked right into Shelley and there were more hugs and kisses. We all had lunch together before driving to Kyle's work to surprise him. Then off to surprise Aeron. And that's where we had the most impact because Aeron was so shocked that she cried her little heart out. I'm starting to think that surprise visits might not always be pleasant for the people we surprise and we might have to rethink whether our fun is worth the reaction.

Most of us went on to the hospital to see the baby after lunch and he's just as precious as before. There were really too many of us crowding into the room and I'm sure the nurses will be happy to see Natasha go home. Sometimes we can be a little too boisterous but it's all done with love in our hearts.

Our family is based on love and each one of us is so lucky to be part of it.

He's Here and He's Mine

Nolan Dennis arrived this morning by C-section at 8:34 A.M., weighing in at 7 lbs. 11 oz. He's gorgeous, alert, soft, and he will always have a special place in my heart because he's my first greatgrandbaby. He has the most beautiful complexion and dark curly hair...I'm in love.

We discussed what he could call me and it's been decided that Grammama is my new title because that's what Matt called his great grandmother. I like it.

Nolan was welcomed into the world by a whole host of relatives. Daddy Nick was Joe Cool through the whole procedure, Natasha was very brave, Kim was a weepy fool, Matt was happy as a clam, Dianne (Natasha's mother) was nervous and talked a lot, Cindy's face was a picture of love, Aeron was her usual smiley self. I was filled with happiness for my number one grandson and his initiation into fatherhood. He will make an excellent father.

The new parents were very kind and patient with all of us and allowed us to take our time cuddling with Nolan. I could have spent the rest of the day just gazing at the baby's face and watching the myriad faces he made and wondering what he was thinking as he gazed around the room. Nick handles him like he's made of glass but that won't last. He'll soon discover that babies are amazingly resilient.

Our family has just increased by one and we're ever so happy that Nolan is a healthy and beautiful child. He's a lucky little boy to have joined our large and loving family and we're lucky to have him. I know I'm going to have to share him and I'm working on being polite about it.

Goodbye Michael

Michael Jackson has been in the public eye since he was a small child and, because of this, we've been able to witness the destruction of a human being as it occurred over the years. There's been so much hoopla over the loss of such a talented man but autopsy reports have been coming in with evidence of a man who was slowly and pathetically destroying himself.

When someone dies we hope they've gone on to a better life and I do hope this poor tortured individual has done just that. Unfortunately, his family will have to deal with the aftermath of his death for many years to come. There will be scandals aired and lives ruined. For all of his talent, Michael Jackson created a nightmare of a legacy.

It should make all of us aware that the choices we make in life might come back to cause havoc in the family after we're dead. Me, I'll be leaving no scandals but maybe just a touch too much clutter. We can't all say that, can we??

Business Cards Found

Kim said I'd find the cards and darned if I didn't. My problem was that I'd put all of my jewelry stuff EXCEPT the cash box down in the basement. The loss of the cards irritated me no end and I kept wondering how I could have lost them. My memory finally surfaced with the knowledge I'd put them in the cash box which had been sitting in a corner of my kitchen counter filled with $40 (which I'd also forgotten about) for the next sale. Suddenly I was $40 richer and I had my nifty business cards, too.

The show yesterday gave me approximately the same small profit I'd gotten at the first one but that's okay. An interesting thing happened, though. A lady stopped to look at the pendants and I just barely caught the action of her stealing one. She wrapped it in her kleenex and walked away. I was slightly uncertain of what I'd seen but a few minutes later another lady came back and pointed to an empty spot in the case and said I'd sold the one she'd been interested in but none had actually been sold up to that point. I'll have to keep better watch over the sterling jewelry, I guess.

Aeron joined us for a while and then we drove her to Auntie Faye's for her to give a Cutco knife demonstration. Kim and I went on to have lunch and then returned to pick Aeron up to drive her home. Good old Faye had purchased 2 knives at the horrendous price of around $160. The knives are absolutely amazing but with a price to match.

One lady took just my card because she loved the jewelry but had no money on her. I'm hoping to create a following of people interested in the jewelry because it is amazingly well priced...at least the sterling is. The glass jewelry is competitively priced and I just might be able to reduce the price soon. Kim encouraged me to purchase some sterling silver rings so we'll see how they sell, too. I also purchased 2 heavy sterling silver men's necklaces to try out. I won't buy too much of any one item because I could get stuck with it.

Both Kim and Cindy are showing an interest in this new venture so I just might have hit on something we can all do together. That's part of the fun.

The flea market business will be finished by the end of the summer and I'm not sad to see it end now that I have a new outlet for my playtime. If you ever wondered why retired business owners keep a hand in the business it isn't for the money...it's playtime. We no longer have to make a living from our labors but can indulge ourselves just for the fun of it.

Seniors. Retirement. Time to play.

Disorganized Organization

There is no-one who tries harder than me to be organized and no-one who fails more miserably. Here I am, one day away from another show date for my jewelry, and I can't find my business cards. Granted, I haven't looked at much of the stuff I carted home from the show last month but I can't believe the business cards could have been lost in the shuffle.

All I remember about our departure from the last show is that we kind of hurried it, putting things away without too much planning because I could sort it all out at home. Apparently I wasn't careful enough and somehow left business cards, pens and receipt books behind. As of now those are the only things I can't find.

I also remember thinking it wasn't a smart thing to not put everything away neatly but chose to ignore my own warnings. When will I learn?

This isn't the end of the world and I can replace those things but it took a lot of hours' work from Anna and Kim to make up the cards and I feel terrible about that. I won't get them to do it again because I can order business cards online pretty cheaply. It's just kind of sad that my very first business cards have been lost. Oh well.

On a positive note, I cleaned out the shelves in the basement left empty after the yard sale on Saturday and refilled them with jewelry stuff. It's looking neater and neater down there. Of course I had to pull it all out again looking for the damned business cards but that's life...at least mine!

A couple of years ago I bought 2 nice teak end tables at a yard sale with plans to refinish them. I'm hoping that only means cleaning and not sanding. Until this week those tables have been piled high with flea market boxes but today one of the tables is actually empty and the other has just one box on it. My purging is having dramatic results and that makes me feel proud of myself.

When I was in counseling I was told that I had the ability to do anything I set my mind to and those words had a big effect on me. It's true that success begins with the first step and all it takes to reach your goal is the determination to not give up halfway. My goals are all reachable. All it takes is that first step and a dose of determination...and a little organization doesn't hurt.

Nolan Dennis Albert

My number one greatgrandson, Nolan, is either not ready to face the world or else he's just too darned big to get through. In any case, he was due yesterday and if he doesn't make his way out this coming week, he'll be delivered by C-section next Saturday. There are a lot of loving arms awaiting his arrival!

I want to feel his soft skin on my face; see his eyes looking into mine; feel his little hand clutching my finger; watch the love in his mother and father's eyes as they look at him; watch Kimmie melt into a puddle of love for her very first grandchild.

I don't know if men can do this but a woman can spend hours just watching a newborn's face and it doesn't matter if the baby is awake or asleep. There's just something magical about a new life.

We're waiting, Nolan.

Note: His name has been changed to Nolan Dennis Chester. I think I'll call him Chester when he's been naughty.

Discrimination or What?

Canada Day, to me, is a day when all Canadians should be rejoicing in the wonderful country we live in and being thankful it is our home.


This Canada Day, an exceptionally good Chinese buffet restaurant offered free meals to anyone proving they were a Canadian citizen. Nice of them? Yes, but someone decided that it was a violation of human rights for this lovely gesture to be offered to Canadian citizens only. How ridiculous. It is my undeniable right to donate to the charity or nationality of my choice, isn't it? And to call it a violation of "human rights" is abominable.


The whole moronic episode reminded me of how our Tim Horton's restaurants used to offer free coffee and doughnuts to police officers. The owner of Tim's was once a police officer and this was his way of doing a nice thing for them. Someone (and often it only takes one person) put up a big fuss about this "discrimination" against the people who weren't cops and I'm not sure but I think the practice was stopped. Why do we let these idiots rule our lives?


To the generous restauranteur who tried to honor his fellow Canadians...don't let malcontents spoil your kind intentions. Don't let them blackmail you and don't let them discourage you. You did a very nice thing. I love your restaurant, the "Mandarin", but I couldn't face the crowds I knew would be there on Canada Day. I will definitely continue to patronize your restaurant on quieter days because the food can't be beat.


To the complainers...if you aren't Canadian citizens you won't qualify for our old age pension either so just be thankful you're still able to live in a peaceful and civilized country.

Adding to your Garden in July

I've been waiting until the plant sales in July to purchase more geraniums. The place I buy them starts charging $1 each and the plants are healthy and full. I never buy more than a couple of them in May because the $3-4 cost is too high but when they drop to $1 I go all out. Yesterday I bought 12 of them.

Geraniums are marvelous plants. They grow fuller and more gorgeous as the season progresses and all they need is the occasional deadheading. By July we always have a few bare spots in our garden where something failed to thrive or was removed so there's always a spot for new plants. I had a huge spot in my front garden where I'd removed a pesty daisy which was taking over the whole darned garden. I planted about 6 of the geraniums there and they'll add a nice patch of color to the spot. I scattered the rest in the backyard.

Before I leave for Florida at the end of October I'll dig them up, remove the soil, and put them in a clear garbage bag with some water soaked paper towels. Most of them will easily survive the drive to Florida and I'll have a terrific start to my Florida garden for the winter.

Some people remove geraniums from their garden in the fall and store them in the basement until spring but I've never had good luck doing that. They either wither away or take so long to recover in the spring that they don't even start to flower until well into the summer.

I'm now wondering if I should bring some of them home from Florida when I return in April. It's a thought, anyway.

July is also a good time to purchase those odd plants you've never tried before. What sold for $2-3 is usually marked down to 50 cents and well worth a try. You never know when you'll find one you'll be willing to pay full price for next May. I just bought something called "monkey's paw" which looks similar to a sturdier "million bells" and I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Gardening is always a work in progress... adding, taking away, trimming, and enjoying it's development. I can't imagine living in a sterile environment without even a house plant and I've always thought that anyone who does must be one miserable soul. Gardening is a state of communion with the wonders of nature and a reminder of how beautiful our world can be.