I thoroughly enjoy these days of "nothing much" but I wouldn't want them too often. I'd get bored and I pride myself in never getting bored because I have so many interests and hobbies. Today was a "nothing much" day that began about 6:30 A.M. because I had to pee and I don't usually go back to bed once I make it to at least 6 A.M. I also love seeing the sunrise so it's a good thing I rise early.
My chores for the day were to make the bed, wash a few dishes, and handwash one of my tops. Other than that, I've puttered around my plants, watched some T.V. and spent way too much time playing around on the computer. I certainly haven't worn myself out.
A few times during the day I considered going to the casino but it seems to be losing it's allure for me. I enjoyed going with Mary last week but most of that was my enjoyment of being with her. She's a wonderful friend and has been for about 50 years. I love her like a sister.
Oh yes, I had to put more seed in the bird feeder and will have to buy more next time I go shopping. The birds love it and they waste more than they eat but I don't care. It's lovely to hear and see them out there.
It's very quiet here in the apartment and I rarely hear my neighbors. This was one more day that I haven't missed my house. I'm where I'm supposed to be and very happy to be here.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Saturday, July 30, 2016
My Bird Feeder
Cindy's thoughts were that I'd have lots of time to watch the birds once I can't winter in Florida and she's right. I think I'll buy a glider chair so that I can sit comfortably and watch them. Right now there is a recliner in front of the patio doors and I can't swing it around to watch the birds without scaring them off. I've been trying to figure out how to rearrange the furniture to allow for a glider. I don't want to make my apartment look junky with too much furniture.
I'm also looking forward to other varieties of birds discovering the feeder. I once had a sparrow's nest on the balcony and I think the sparrows that visit might have been born here. I'm a romantic. LOL!
It's an overcast day today and we've had a bit of rain that is much needed. I'm going out for groceries and lunch at Burger King. A simple life but I'm very happy!
Friday, July 29, 2016
Serenity Now
Since I stepped back from the world of violence, I'm sleeping better. I've put the world in the hands of everyone else instead of me trying to pull it together and it's been working out well...for me and for the rest of the world...not as much violence the past few days than before.
I watched an interesting program the other day about how children up to the ages of 2-4 are filled with honesty and sharing but, once exposed to cheating and lying, they slip right into those ways. That tells me that we're supposed to behave like an innocent 2 year old and not like a worldly, corrupted 30 year old. It's the adults that soil the innocence of childhood.
Of course, there has been violence and destruction around the world while I've been hiding. We humans are doomed to destroy everything beautiful that was created for us. I still have that vision of parents frantically pushing babies in strollers trying to escape a rampaging vehicle in Paris and that won't ever leave my mind. There's no logic to anyone trying to run down and murder innocent bystanders...only a rotting and festering mind.
Enough of that. Serenity now! I posted a few photos of Haitian art the other day that I had Kim send to Costco to enlarge for me and they turned out great so I'm having them plaqued. I'm just doing 2 of them, though, because my main focus is still flowers. It's important to note that your mind does absorb what your surroundings represent. In my case, my mind becomes filled with happiness and calm when I see those flower pictures all around my apartment. If your surroundings are ugly and your friends/family are bitter, guess what your state of mind will be?
I think I'll hide away in my own little world of flowers and kind people for a while yet. I don't think I'm strong enough emotionally to step out into the real world.
I watched an interesting program the other day about how children up to the ages of 2-4 are filled with honesty and sharing but, once exposed to cheating and lying, they slip right into those ways. That tells me that we're supposed to behave like an innocent 2 year old and not like a worldly, corrupted 30 year old. It's the adults that soil the innocence of childhood.
Of course, there has been violence and destruction around the world while I've been hiding. We humans are doomed to destroy everything beautiful that was created for us. I still have that vision of parents frantically pushing babies in strollers trying to escape a rampaging vehicle in Paris and that won't ever leave my mind. There's no logic to anyone trying to run down and murder innocent bystanders...only a rotting and festering mind.
Enough of that. Serenity now! I posted a few photos of Haitian art the other day that I had Kim send to Costco to enlarge for me and they turned out great so I'm having them plaqued. I'm just doing 2 of them, though, because my main focus is still flowers. It's important to note that your mind does absorb what your surroundings represent. In my case, my mind becomes filled with happiness and calm when I see those flower pictures all around my apartment. If your surroundings are ugly and your friends/family are bitter, guess what your state of mind will be?
I think I'll hide away in my own little world of flowers and kind people for a while yet. I don't think I'm strong enough emotionally to step out into the real world.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Bastard Child
That's what they used to call us...bastards/illegitimate. How could anyone look at an innocent baby and call one those words? I watched a T.V. movie where an 11 year old girl discovered she was adopted and how it messed with her head. Well, I was 12 years old when my grandmother angrily called me a little bastard and explained why I was. I'd probably acted badly and that's how she responded. I remember being in a state of shock because I'd lost my identity.
Everything we experience or know of ourselves forms our identity in our minds. I thought my father had been killed in the war so that was part of my identity. To find out he was a jerk who walked out on my mother when he found out she was pregnant gave me a whole new identity in my mind and it took a while to accept it.
It's a good thing I never felt ashamed of not having a legal father. I seemed to understand quickly that my existence was as a result of the actions of my mother and father so, if any blame or shame was attached, it was attached to them and not me. I did feel a slight resentment for my father who abandoned me, though, but he was one of many men who do the same thing. How can you just walk away from a child that is part of you??
Anyway, it was his loss. He's missed out on my progeny who are all super people!
Everything we experience or know of ourselves forms our identity in our minds. I thought my father had been killed in the war so that was part of my identity. To find out he was a jerk who walked out on my mother when he found out she was pregnant gave me a whole new identity in my mind and it took a while to accept it.
It's a good thing I never felt ashamed of not having a legal father. I seemed to understand quickly that my existence was as a result of the actions of my mother and father so, if any blame or shame was attached, it was attached to them and not me. I did feel a slight resentment for my father who abandoned me, though, but he was one of many men who do the same thing. How can you just walk away from a child that is part of you??
Anyway, it was his loss. He's missed out on my progeny who are all super people!
Thursday, July 21, 2016
For Jo
I'm pretty sure Jo reads my blog and I hope she reads this one because I'm going to get very personal about her.
We met at our park in Florida quite a few years ago and I liked her from the start. She was such a nice person that everyone she meets can't help but like her. I was very sad when she and her husband decided to move to another park for the winter because that meant we wouldn't see much of each other.
Jo is fun to be around because you never see her in a bad mood (her husband might but it would probably be his fault. LOL). When I headed to Florida, Jo was one of the people I most wanted to connect with again and I really did miss her company last winter.
But life happens and now we only connect on Facebook occasionally but I'll always have those great memories of her friendship at 3W. I feel blessed to have her for a friend!
Today, on Facebook, I found out that Jo has lung cancer and is starting chemo. At first I almost cried but then I remembered what a strong and good person she was, how strong her family ties are, and I knew that all that support would get her through the process. One of our friends from 3W was diagnosed with lung cancer 12 years ago and he is healthy and happy today. I'm hoping Jo will have the same outcome and I'll be sending my healing thoughts to her every day.
As with all cancers, you have to attack them aggressively and do your own faith healing, too. Chemo and radiation is the normal treatment but I believe that your own determination is just as important.
I hate it that Jo has to go through this but she's not alone. She's very lucky to have the husband and the family she has who will be beside her every step of the way. That's powerful energy!
Jo, if you read this, know how much I love you, my friend, and I'll be rooting for you. Stay strong and positive. Fight the good fight and beat the bastard.
We met at our park in Florida quite a few years ago and I liked her from the start. She was such a nice person that everyone she meets can't help but like her. I was very sad when she and her husband decided to move to another park for the winter because that meant we wouldn't see much of each other.
Jo is fun to be around because you never see her in a bad mood (her husband might but it would probably be his fault. LOL). When I headed to Florida, Jo was one of the people I most wanted to connect with again and I really did miss her company last winter.
But life happens and now we only connect on Facebook occasionally but I'll always have those great memories of her friendship at 3W. I feel blessed to have her for a friend!
Today, on Facebook, I found out that Jo has lung cancer and is starting chemo. At first I almost cried but then I remembered what a strong and good person she was, how strong her family ties are, and I knew that all that support would get her through the process. One of our friends from 3W was diagnosed with lung cancer 12 years ago and he is healthy and happy today. I'm hoping Jo will have the same outcome and I'll be sending my healing thoughts to her every day.
As with all cancers, you have to attack them aggressively and do your own faith healing, too. Chemo and radiation is the normal treatment but I believe that your own determination is just as important.
I hate it that Jo has to go through this but she's not alone. She's very lucky to have the husband and the family she has who will be beside her every step of the way. That's powerful energy!
Jo, if you read this, know how much I love you, my friend, and I'll be rooting for you. Stay strong and positive. Fight the good fight and beat the bastard.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Another Scam?
A man supposedly calling from Statistics Canada called and left me a message on my answering machine over a week ago. He left me a number to call back but I don't do that. There's no reason for me to have received a call from Statistics Canada so I ignored it. Since then I've received possibly a dozen calls from some lettered source that I'm assuming was him again but I didn't answer and he didn't leave a message. Today I received a call from an unknown number but decided to answer it. It was a lady saying she was from Statistics Canada requiring information. I told her I was very uncomfortable with giving any kind of information over the phone so she told me to check the government website, call them to verify she was legit...she gave me her badge number and name.
I checked the website and called them to get verification but was told my file has been closed as completed and this person's name was not attached to it as someone who would contact me. There is a scam going on, apparently, so they would check into it further to see if the lady was actually a Statistics Canada representative.
Just now, as I'm writing this, a lady called from Statistics Canada (I knew she was because she mentioned the name of the man I spoke to today) and verified the name and badge number was legit but couldn't understand why she (#1) had called me in the first place. She also said she never spoke to the person to ask if she was the one who called me. I may be called back on Tuesday by lady #1 but, since my file is closed, I don't have to give her any information at all. I wouldn't anyway!
I just don't give out personal information of any kind to anyone over the phone. There are so many scams going around that we can't take chances with anyone. Wonder why Statistics Canada would want to follow up on my questionnaire anyway?
I checked the website and called them to get verification but was told my file has been closed as completed and this person's name was not attached to it as someone who would contact me. There is a scam going on, apparently, so they would check into it further to see if the lady was actually a Statistics Canada representative.
Just now, as I'm writing this, a lady called from Statistics Canada (I knew she was because she mentioned the name of the man I spoke to today) and verified the name and badge number was legit but couldn't understand why she (#1) had called me in the first place. She also said she never spoke to the person to ask if she was the one who called me. I may be called back on Tuesday by lady #1 but, since my file is closed, I don't have to give her any information at all. I wouldn't anyway!
I just don't give out personal information of any kind to anyone over the phone. There are so many scams going around that we can't take chances with anyone. Wonder why Statistics Canada would want to follow up on my questionnaire anyway?
Sunday, July 17, 2016
The Tangent of Flower Photos/Plaques
At some point in your life it is wise to accept who and what you are. I have accepted that I am tangent oriented...consider the boxes of necklaces to sell of 2012-2016 and counting, the jewelry pieces to make jewelry of 2012-2016 and counting, and the flower photos/plaques of 2016 and counting. There have been so many more along the way that I've probably forgotten more than I remember.
There was stained glass, quilting fabric, yarn, Swedish weaving fabric, folk art supplies, painting (art) supplies, looms, wine making, and so much more. When I develop an interest I go in whole hog until I become overwhelmed with having gone overboard and then I ignore it all until something else spikes my interest. It's not a smart way to live but it's my vice.
I think Dennis' last words to me were, "We are what we are". He was right.
There was stained glass, quilting fabric, yarn, Swedish weaving fabric, folk art supplies, painting (art) supplies, looms, wine making, and so much more. When I develop an interest I go in whole hog until I become overwhelmed with having gone overboard and then I ignore it all until something else spikes my interest. It's not a smart way to live but it's my vice.
I think Dennis' last words to me were, "We are what we are". He was right.
In My World
In my world the sun would shine and the temperature would remain a steady 70F. Rain would fall at night and the land would flourish with flowers and tame animals. There would be no war, only peace and contentment throughout the world. I sound like I should be some kind of deity! LOL!
I don't know who made this world we habitate but they goofed when it came to creating people and the need to eat to survive. They should have left well enough alone when they created the flora. Flowers are passive and beautiful and don't need to kill anything in order to live.
I've always pictured my hereafter just like that first paragraph. Serene and peaceful in a world the way it should be. The older I get, the less hope I have that we humans will ever be able to make a peaceful world, though. If anything, I see more murderous hatred and intolerance every year and I can't help but wonder what is fueling this evil. And, surprise, it always seems to stem from some religion or offshoot of a religion.
In my world, there would be no separation of the people by religion. We would worship at the throne of nature instead and nourish our world instead of destroy it. How nice that would be!
We would look at one another with respect and brotherhood and, instead of seeing the variations, see the similarities to ourselves. Whatever genes that cause hatred and cruelty would not inhabit our bodies.
Good grief, I could do a better job than whoever created the mess mankind is in right now.
I don't know who made this world we habitate but they goofed when it came to creating people and the need to eat to survive. They should have left well enough alone when they created the flora. Flowers are passive and beautiful and don't need to kill anything in order to live.
I've always pictured my hereafter just like that first paragraph. Serene and peaceful in a world the way it should be. The older I get, the less hope I have that we humans will ever be able to make a peaceful world, though. If anything, I see more murderous hatred and intolerance every year and I can't help but wonder what is fueling this evil. And, surprise, it always seems to stem from some religion or offshoot of a religion.
In my world, there would be no separation of the people by religion. We would worship at the throne of nature instead and nourish our world instead of destroy it. How nice that would be!
We would look at one another with respect and brotherhood and, instead of seeing the variations, see the similarities to ourselves. Whatever genes that cause hatred and cruelty would not inhabit our bodies.
Good grief, I could do a better job than whoever created the mess mankind is in right now.
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Peaceful Day
I slept in a little late this morning...8 A.M. so I guess my body needed it. One bad note, there was only enough milk for one coffee because I forgot to get some yesterday! I'll survive.
I really took my time this morning going through the sites where I find my flower photos so that gave me the time to enjoy the rest of what nature has to offer. These sites are filled with beautiful photos of animals, babies, scenery that would calm the stormiest mind. Thank heavens for the good people who take the time to find the photos and post them for everyone to enjoy.
And then my sweet friend, Sylvia, phoned me and we talked forever. It's funny how an agnostic like me and a good catholic like Sylvia can have such a strong friendship bond. We respect each other's beliefs. There's a lot to be said about respect in a friendship...I don't think you can have a true friend if you don't respect them. Sylvia and I have had a few serious discussions about religion that never turned into an argument. We listened, learned, took in or discarded with tact and respect.
It's such a quiet day here today. I can hear the distant sound of cars on the main street but I'm far enough back that they're not very loud. I've been poking around on the computer all morning and I'm not even dressed yet or made the bed. It doesn't matter because all will be done in time.
I hadn't really planned on going out today but there is that very serious problem of not having any more milk. I can't live without milk in my coffee tomorrow morning so I will have to go out whether I want to or not.
The world issues that drained me the other day still linger in the back of my mind but that's where they'll stay. I'm feeling the peace in my sweet, quiet little apartment right now.
I really took my time this morning going through the sites where I find my flower photos so that gave me the time to enjoy the rest of what nature has to offer. These sites are filled with beautiful photos of animals, babies, scenery that would calm the stormiest mind. Thank heavens for the good people who take the time to find the photos and post them for everyone to enjoy.
And then my sweet friend, Sylvia, phoned me and we talked forever. It's funny how an agnostic like me and a good catholic like Sylvia can have such a strong friendship bond. We respect each other's beliefs. There's a lot to be said about respect in a friendship...I don't think you can have a true friend if you don't respect them. Sylvia and I have had a few serious discussions about religion that never turned into an argument. We listened, learned, took in or discarded with tact and respect.
It's such a quiet day here today. I can hear the distant sound of cars on the main street but I'm far enough back that they're not very loud. I've been poking around on the computer all morning and I'm not even dressed yet or made the bed. It doesn't matter because all will be done in time.
I hadn't really planned on going out today but there is that very serious problem of not having any more milk. I can't live without milk in my coffee tomorrow morning so I will have to go out whether I want to or not.
The world issues that drained me the other day still linger in the back of my mind but that's where they'll stay. I'm feeling the peace in my sweet, quiet little apartment right now.
Friday, July 15, 2016
Blocking It Out
This is what I think. People who suffer or have suffered from depression are people whose emotions are too close to the surface. Because of this, they lose control of their emotions too easily...somehow it mostly seems to be the emotions you experience when you're hurt or sad. I used to think it was curable but I don't think that now. I believe that, once truly depressed, the chances of it recurring are very high.
People like me who have a history of depression probably have a flawed personality. We think too much. We jump to the worst conclusion. And it debilitates us. We suffer more than most people will ever understand. We have trouble coping with any bad news or circumstance because it's so difficult for us to rise above it.
I've done so well since my years with depression seemed to end, thanks to antidepressants and counseling. It didn't happen quickly but took about 16 years when I periodically needed help. The last time I needed help was during the year Dennis was dying and that is understandable but the following year had some rough patches, too. Then my hold on life seemed to level out and I've been quite happy and contented even though I recognized that I cried way too easily over stupid things. Usually it was when I was trying to explain a sad or even happy moment. Silly, but telling.
Yesterday I came to the conclusion that something was seriously going wrong with my emotional health but I knew what was causing it. World news has become one brutal story after another with senseless killings between cops and crazies, terrorists who mindlessly murder dozens of innocent people to prove some insane point, the murder of a 5 year child, and then a man who drove a truck through crowds of people celebrating a holiday and watching fireworks...I think this incident caused the death of 80 innocent souls.
I read the newspaper reports this morning and watched a youtube video which reduced me to blubbering tears and I knew I had to close up shop and give my emotions a rest. I cancelled the newspaper and won't watch any more of the path of destruction the human race seems to be hellbent on. Yes, I'm going to bury my head in the sand for a while until I get a grip on myself. How long that takes is anyone's guess but I know I can't deal with this horror right now.
I don't work so I can hibernate if I choose. I'll stick to posting my lovely photos of flowers, laughing babies, and cute dogs and cats. That will be my self imposed therapy for a while. I will heal myself...and hope the damned world doesn't destroy itself while I'm not watching.
People like me who have a history of depression probably have a flawed personality. We think too much. We jump to the worst conclusion. And it debilitates us. We suffer more than most people will ever understand. We have trouble coping with any bad news or circumstance because it's so difficult for us to rise above it.
I've done so well since my years with depression seemed to end, thanks to antidepressants and counseling. It didn't happen quickly but took about 16 years when I periodically needed help. The last time I needed help was during the year Dennis was dying and that is understandable but the following year had some rough patches, too. Then my hold on life seemed to level out and I've been quite happy and contented even though I recognized that I cried way too easily over stupid things. Usually it was when I was trying to explain a sad or even happy moment. Silly, but telling.
Yesterday I came to the conclusion that something was seriously going wrong with my emotional health but I knew what was causing it. World news has become one brutal story after another with senseless killings between cops and crazies, terrorists who mindlessly murder dozens of innocent people to prove some insane point, the murder of a 5 year child, and then a man who drove a truck through crowds of people celebrating a holiday and watching fireworks...I think this incident caused the death of 80 innocent souls.
I read the newspaper reports this morning and watched a youtube video which reduced me to blubbering tears and I knew I had to close up shop and give my emotions a rest. I cancelled the newspaper and won't watch any more of the path of destruction the human race seems to be hellbent on. Yes, I'm going to bury my head in the sand for a while until I get a grip on myself. How long that takes is anyone's guess but I know I can't deal with this horror right now.
I don't work so I can hibernate if I choose. I'll stick to posting my lovely photos of flowers, laughing babies, and cute dogs and cats. That will be my self imposed therapy for a while. I will heal myself...and hope the damned world doesn't destroy itself while I'm not watching.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Meditation Class
Donna, Faye, and I went to our first meditation class and I, for one, was very impressed with what we learned. I think I already knew how to do the stuff we were taught on our first day but maybe the reminder will spur me on to actually doing it every day. We have 7 more classes and I'm looking forward to each one!
I understand that meditation should be an easy process and one of the things we did was to close our eyes, shut out the world, and just concentrate on our breathing for about 5 minutes. That simple process relaxed me so much and it was what I used to put myself to sleep last night. Some of our guide's instructions weren't as useful (concentrating on our pinkie finger) but I'm sure we'll be able to find what works best for each of us.
Lunch at the senior center followed and it was delicious. We ate and chatted like the old, old friends we are...known each other for about 60 years! Holy cow!!! Then off to Faye's for more chatting and tea and goodies before heading home.
It's difficult for me to remember when I had nasty people in my life that I either was forced to deal with or chose to allow in my life for whatever reasons. I have only good people around me now. I have become stone cold selfish with my time and refuse to spend any of it with anyone who isn't a good soul. And I'm very, very happy.
With age came the wisdom to know my own worth.
I understand that meditation should be an easy process and one of the things we did was to close our eyes, shut out the world, and just concentrate on our breathing for about 5 minutes. That simple process relaxed me so much and it was what I used to put myself to sleep last night. Some of our guide's instructions weren't as useful (concentrating on our pinkie finger) but I'm sure we'll be able to find what works best for each of us.
Lunch at the senior center followed and it was delicious. We ate and chatted like the old, old friends we are...known each other for about 60 years! Holy cow!!! Then off to Faye's for more chatting and tea and goodies before heading home.
It's difficult for me to remember when I had nasty people in my life that I either was forced to deal with or chose to allow in my life for whatever reasons. I have only good people around me now. I have become stone cold selfish with my time and refuse to spend any of it with anyone who isn't a good soul. And I'm very, very happy.
With age came the wisdom to know my own worth.
Family Dinner
Cindy invited me for dinner on Monday and I jumped at the chance, mostly because all of her children and their significant others would be there, too. I see Cindy often but I don't see those grandchildren near as often as I'd like.
It was a beautiful summer evening so Cindy laid the food out buffet style on the sun porch and we loaded our plates and ate out in the backyard. One of the servings was veggie burgers and they tasted like meat to me...excellent!
Tyson and Sarah, Kyle and Samantha, Aeron and Jake...I was so pleased to see them. Cindy and Don, I love to bits but they had to take second place that evening to my sweet babies. I babysat the 3 kids a lot while they were growing up and feel tightly bonded to them. I have no understanding of grandparents who take no interest in their grandchildren. They just don't know what they're missing.
We sat out on that beautiful evening and chatted for hours. I particularly love chatting with Tyson who has my kind of philosophical outlook on life. We don't necessarily hold the same beliefs but he's so polite and intelligent that I could talk with him forever.
Cindy had picked me up after work so Aeron and Jake drove me home. I have such a deep love for my babies and I pay close attention to their significant others...I think they've chosen well!
Family...what makes life worth living.
It was a beautiful summer evening so Cindy laid the food out buffet style on the sun porch and we loaded our plates and ate out in the backyard. One of the servings was veggie burgers and they tasted like meat to me...excellent!
Tyson and Sarah, Kyle and Samantha, Aeron and Jake...I was so pleased to see them. Cindy and Don, I love to bits but they had to take second place that evening to my sweet babies. I babysat the 3 kids a lot while they were growing up and feel tightly bonded to them. I have no understanding of grandparents who take no interest in their grandchildren. They just don't know what they're missing.
We sat out on that beautiful evening and chatted for hours. I particularly love chatting with Tyson who has my kind of philosophical outlook on life. We don't necessarily hold the same beliefs but he's so polite and intelligent that I could talk with him forever.
Cindy had picked me up after work so Aeron and Jake drove me home. I have such a deep love for my babies and I pay close attention to their significant others...I think they've chosen well!
Family...what makes life worth living.
Saturday, July 09, 2016
Supper at the Beach
Well, I wasn't hungry so Matt and I just had an ice-cream cone but Kim had fish and chips.
Kim called earlier to see if I'd like to go to Hutch's for fish and chips and I jumped at the chance because I thought the vintage cars would be there on a Saturday evening. Turned out they're there on Monday evenings along with some good old country music! We'll go then!
We got to the beach (about a 10 minute drive from my apartment) around 6 P.M. and I was surprised to see how many cars were in the huge parking lot. There were so many people sitting or eating at the large number of picnic tables available and many more walking on the beach or the boardwalk. The sand on the beach is not very nice but the lake is lovely and there was a nice breeze blowing. It all felt family friendly and family safe.
I asked Kim if we could come back on Monday to see the old cars and she's agreeable to it. I would come by myself if I had to but its nicer having company. The only thing I'd change would be the seating. It's too hard on my back to sit at those wooden picnic tables so I'd take a folding chair if I was going to be sitting there for long.
Just sitting there and watching the families all around on a beautiful summer evening was such a nice feeling. We're a multi-cultural city so that was reflected in the people there. They were all there to enjoy the view, the food, and the weather and it made no difference if they were white, black, or purple. We all enjoyed it together.
Kim called earlier to see if I'd like to go to Hutch's for fish and chips and I jumped at the chance because I thought the vintage cars would be there on a Saturday evening. Turned out they're there on Monday evenings along with some good old country music! We'll go then!
We got to the beach (about a 10 minute drive from my apartment) around 6 P.M. and I was surprised to see how many cars were in the huge parking lot. There were so many people sitting or eating at the large number of picnic tables available and many more walking on the beach or the boardwalk. The sand on the beach is not very nice but the lake is lovely and there was a nice breeze blowing. It all felt family friendly and family safe.
I asked Kim if we could come back on Monday to see the old cars and she's agreeable to it. I would come by myself if I had to but its nicer having company. The only thing I'd change would be the seating. It's too hard on my back to sit at those wooden picnic tables so I'd take a folding chair if I was going to be sitting there for long.
Just sitting there and watching the families all around on a beautiful summer evening was such a nice feeling. We're a multi-cultural city so that was reflected in the people there. They were all there to enjoy the view, the food, and the weather and it made no difference if they were white, black, or purple. We all enjoyed it together.
Depressed, Saddened, Scared, Worried, etc.
Yesterday it felt as though the end of the world was just around the corner. I always have a slight worry about terrorists in the back of my mind but have never seriously given thought to how everyday people may just destroy our society.
The last few days have been hell for our neighbor, the United States. There have been killings by cops and cops that were killed, riots and hatred screamed from all sides, and even threats of a race war. My heart goes out mostly to the good and decent cops who are now targets for thugs who use any excuse to kill a cop. How the heck does their family handle watching them go to work in the morning knowing there are people out there looking for a cop to kill?
I'm white so I only know of the black experience by what I see, hear, or read about. I know there is still rampant prejudice against people of color and I don't see that disappearing any time soon. But what I also know is that not all black people react by rioting and killing police officers. Most are regular people who go to school, work, attend church, and raise their families. They fight discrimination in their own way, maybe the way Martin Luther King did...with dignity and determination to make this world a better place for people of all skin colors.
Unless this recent mess is brought under control, more innocent people will suffer and that's the shame of it all. A few actual criminals will be caught and spend jail time but more unlucky bystanders will pay the price for a riotous few.
Killing a police officer in retaliation for the actions of another makes no sense at all. Killing someone because of the color of their skin makes no sense, either. And this is what we've witnessed the past few days in the States.
Marching in protest sends a message. Rioting, looting, and destruction soils the message that should be sent. There is a real problem here that needs to be addressed and it is foolish for the people most affected (blacks) to come across as thugs instead of as decent people who demand change.
I don't see change coming fast enough but there is a real difference in our society today for black people than there was 50 years ago. That's not saying much and there's lots more that needs to be done, of course, but societal change doesn't come quickly. It evolves over time and education.
I love what Russell Peters, Canadian/Indian comedian, said. He said that, in the future, everyone will be beige...and he's already beige. Now I've always wanted to be beige but I was born too early so I'm stuck with pale and freckled.
Yesterday I was losing hope but today is another day and I hope a better one.
The last few days have been hell for our neighbor, the United States. There have been killings by cops and cops that were killed, riots and hatred screamed from all sides, and even threats of a race war. My heart goes out mostly to the good and decent cops who are now targets for thugs who use any excuse to kill a cop. How the heck does their family handle watching them go to work in the morning knowing there are people out there looking for a cop to kill?
I'm white so I only know of the black experience by what I see, hear, or read about. I know there is still rampant prejudice against people of color and I don't see that disappearing any time soon. But what I also know is that not all black people react by rioting and killing police officers. Most are regular people who go to school, work, attend church, and raise their families. They fight discrimination in their own way, maybe the way Martin Luther King did...with dignity and determination to make this world a better place for people of all skin colors.
Unless this recent mess is brought under control, more innocent people will suffer and that's the shame of it all. A few actual criminals will be caught and spend jail time but more unlucky bystanders will pay the price for a riotous few.
Killing a police officer in retaliation for the actions of another makes no sense at all. Killing someone because of the color of their skin makes no sense, either. And this is what we've witnessed the past few days in the States.
Marching in protest sends a message. Rioting, looting, and destruction soils the message that should be sent. There is a real problem here that needs to be addressed and it is foolish for the people most affected (blacks) to come across as thugs instead of as decent people who demand change.
I don't see change coming fast enough but there is a real difference in our society today for black people than there was 50 years ago. That's not saying much and there's lots more that needs to be done, of course, but societal change doesn't come quickly. It evolves over time and education.
I love what Russell Peters, Canadian/Indian comedian, said. He said that, in the future, everyone will be beige...and he's already beige. Now I've always wanted to be beige but I was born too early so I'm stuck with pale and freckled.
Yesterday I was losing hope but today is another day and I hope a better one.
Friday, July 08, 2016
Something Has To Change
More shootings and more killings. Police officers gunned down simply because of the color of their skin...white in this case. Our children aren't safe playing on the street in their own neighborhood, in their schools, or their churches. Terrorists immigrate only to cause death and destruction in their new country. Too many men feel they have the right to rape and murder their women. Too many women think they have the right to leave their children in order to enjoy a freer life.
There is an old saying that we are going to hell in a handbasket. I have no idea what a handbasket is but we can surely see the writing on the wall. Our present society is in deep trouble and something has to change soon or we will destroy ourselves.
There is so much hatred and cowardice that it's hard to understand how people can live this way. To feel hatred and illogical entitlement every waking hour must make a person become inhuman. Where has this come from? Does it start with that illogical sense of entitlement? Does it start when a child is not made responsible for his/her actions by weak parents who believe their precious progeny can do no wrong? Does it start from religious dogma twisted and preached by mentally unstable leaders?
I see a society so broken that I fear it is too late to save it. I fear terribly for my loved ones, still young enough to suffer many years of a society gone wild. Where is President Obama and why isn't he taking some kind of control of what is happening in the country he leads? Forget the damn gun laws, there is more to fear than the people with guns. It is time to fear the people themselves. Something has to change!
I'm not forgetting about our Canadian society which seems to slowly follow the chaos we first see in the States. We have our own falsely entitled and angry citizens. Our jails are as full as those in the States. Our immigration standards are as flawed as they are in the U.S. We also blindly and foolishly follow those idiots who insist on "political correctness" instead of common sense.
The jails are full of people who were caught with minute amounts of illegal drugs on them. What is more important...to fill the jails with these people or to give more prison time to terrorists, pedophiles, and murderers? Is it more dangerous for us to be exposed to a pot smoker or a pedophile? Should we fear the zombie who has destroyed his/her brain with drugs or make sure the prisons have room for real criminals?
There will always be some bad people but they never used to be the marching protesters who resort to gun violence under the guise of denouncing racism, sexism, or any other kind of "ism". Protesters never used to choose to murder instead of peacefully protest.
Why do some people kill someone because of the color of their skin, their religion, or their nationality? Why do some people cowardly sneak up on a police officer and kill him/her because he/she happens to have the same job as another cop who committed a crime?
Why do we hear constantly of people complaining, rioting, and destroying instead of working to build a better world? Everyone seems divided by race, religion, nationality, etc. It struck me as funny, then sadly, that the Gay Pride parade in Toronto had their own gay dissenters who complained the mainstream LGBTQ were not doing enough for the black LGBTQ. Everyone wants others to do for them, focus on their needs, and financially support their wants!
We need to put more pressure on leaders to teach respect for country and fellow man. There should never be a "black lives matter", "gay lives matter", or even "cops lives matter". We all damn well matter and, if we don't work together to clean up our society, we will lose all structure and the day will come when it is as unsafe to walk on the streets in Canada as it is in Syria. And who will take us in as refugees, feed us, house us, and see to every other aspect of our lives?
It is way past time that we stopped allowing destructive public displays. It is way past time that we should be cleaning up our country. "Political correctness" is destroying us.
If responsibility for one's actions isn't taught in the home, then it should be taught in schools. That is much more important than teaching grade school children about alternative sex practices!
No-one has the right to protest by killing!
There is an old saying that we are going to hell in a handbasket. I have no idea what a handbasket is but we can surely see the writing on the wall. Our present society is in deep trouble and something has to change soon or we will destroy ourselves.
There is so much hatred and cowardice that it's hard to understand how people can live this way. To feel hatred and illogical entitlement every waking hour must make a person become inhuman. Where has this come from? Does it start with that illogical sense of entitlement? Does it start when a child is not made responsible for his/her actions by weak parents who believe their precious progeny can do no wrong? Does it start from religious dogma twisted and preached by mentally unstable leaders?
I see a society so broken that I fear it is too late to save it. I fear terribly for my loved ones, still young enough to suffer many years of a society gone wild. Where is President Obama and why isn't he taking some kind of control of what is happening in the country he leads? Forget the damn gun laws, there is more to fear than the people with guns. It is time to fear the people themselves. Something has to change!
I'm not forgetting about our Canadian society which seems to slowly follow the chaos we first see in the States. We have our own falsely entitled and angry citizens. Our jails are as full as those in the States. Our immigration standards are as flawed as they are in the U.S. We also blindly and foolishly follow those idiots who insist on "political correctness" instead of common sense.
The jails are full of people who were caught with minute amounts of illegal drugs on them. What is more important...to fill the jails with these people or to give more prison time to terrorists, pedophiles, and murderers? Is it more dangerous for us to be exposed to a pot smoker or a pedophile? Should we fear the zombie who has destroyed his/her brain with drugs or make sure the prisons have room for real criminals?
There will always be some bad people but they never used to be the marching protesters who resort to gun violence under the guise of denouncing racism, sexism, or any other kind of "ism". Protesters never used to choose to murder instead of peacefully protest.
Why do some people kill someone because of the color of their skin, their religion, or their nationality? Why do some people cowardly sneak up on a police officer and kill him/her because he/she happens to have the same job as another cop who committed a crime?
Why do we hear constantly of people complaining, rioting, and destroying instead of working to build a better world? Everyone seems divided by race, religion, nationality, etc. It struck me as funny, then sadly, that the Gay Pride parade in Toronto had their own gay dissenters who complained the mainstream LGBTQ were not doing enough for the black LGBTQ. Everyone wants others to do for them, focus on their needs, and financially support their wants!
We need to put more pressure on leaders to teach respect for country and fellow man. There should never be a "black lives matter", "gay lives matter", or even "cops lives matter". We all damn well matter and, if we don't work together to clean up our society, we will lose all structure and the day will come when it is as unsafe to walk on the streets in Canada as it is in Syria. And who will take us in as refugees, feed us, house us, and see to every other aspect of our lives?
It is way past time that we stopped allowing destructive public displays. It is way past time that we should be cleaning up our country. "Political correctness" is destroying us.
If responsibility for one's actions isn't taught in the home, then it should be taught in schools. That is much more important than teaching grade school children about alternative sex practices!
No-one has the right to protest by killing!
Sunday, July 03, 2016
Marital Abuse
I watched a program about marital abuse in Canada and was shocked to hear that every 6 days a woman is murdered by her partner. Saskatchewan has the highest rate. Every 6 days!!! So hard to believe.
The question is always, "why don't they leave first", and the answers are pretty much the same. They're afraid to leave. They think their partner will change. They fear financial ruin. They fear losing their children. They have begun to believe they are worthless. I think what struck me numb when I was watching the program was how one battered woman was treated by the police when they came "to her rescue". Their callous and uncaring attitude battered her all over again.
My interest in the psychology of human behavior drives me to wonder why any man, who is by nature the protector and provider, would physically abuse his woman and children. It goes against nature. We are hard wired by nature to behave in certain ways...creating and nurturing families is very high on the list. But some men twist that drive to mean they have to have absolute and unquestionable control over their family. They become tyrannical dictators instead of gentle and loving husbands and fathers.
One of the women mentioned on the show was an abuse counselor who was murdered by her boyfriend. This was a woman who knew all the signs and all the dangers but stayed with her abuser too long.
As a mother, I've always looked for danger signs with my own daughters but have never seen any. I wonder if I would recognize the signs if I did? Abused women tend to hide the abuse because of embarrassment or fear.
Spousal abuse is not new but has occurred forever. I doubt it will ever end but one thing would help greatly and that's if our legal system better protected battered wives who are able to leave their abuser. I think we now have police officers that are specially trained to deal with spousal violence and that's a start. But we still need tougher laws to protect these vulnerable women. Rarely is the abused the man of the family.
I've only once in my life seen a woman being beaten by her husband and they were the parents of my friend when we were young children. All of us children were subjected to the sounds of that man beating and raping his screaming wife for hours. I was terrified but not once did I think of reporting what I'd seen. My friend's mother was the epitome of a broken woman who moved quietly around the house fearful of somehow angering her husband. Abused women of today behave the same way.
I like to believe that I, my daughters, and my female family and friends would never put up with an abusive partner...but you never know. My research shows that abusive relationships don't usually begin that way. The abuser often takes his time grooming his victim to accept the abuse as something they can live with. What appears on the surface as a happy home might actually be a house of horrors.
We need more public programs like the one I saw on T.V. I believe that airing the problem forewarns women to recognize and get out of an abusive situation sooner. Physical abuse will only get worse not better. Life is not worth living like that.
I also believe that abusive men don't change. It's the woman who has to decide she won't take the abuse any more.
The question is always, "why don't they leave first", and the answers are pretty much the same. They're afraid to leave. They think their partner will change. They fear financial ruin. They fear losing their children. They have begun to believe they are worthless. I think what struck me numb when I was watching the program was how one battered woman was treated by the police when they came "to her rescue". Their callous and uncaring attitude battered her all over again.
My interest in the psychology of human behavior drives me to wonder why any man, who is by nature the protector and provider, would physically abuse his woman and children. It goes against nature. We are hard wired by nature to behave in certain ways...creating and nurturing families is very high on the list. But some men twist that drive to mean they have to have absolute and unquestionable control over their family. They become tyrannical dictators instead of gentle and loving husbands and fathers.
One of the women mentioned on the show was an abuse counselor who was murdered by her boyfriend. This was a woman who knew all the signs and all the dangers but stayed with her abuser too long.
As a mother, I've always looked for danger signs with my own daughters but have never seen any. I wonder if I would recognize the signs if I did? Abused women tend to hide the abuse because of embarrassment or fear.
Spousal abuse is not new but has occurred forever. I doubt it will ever end but one thing would help greatly and that's if our legal system better protected battered wives who are able to leave their abuser. I think we now have police officers that are specially trained to deal with spousal violence and that's a start. But we still need tougher laws to protect these vulnerable women. Rarely is the abused the man of the family.
I've only once in my life seen a woman being beaten by her husband and they were the parents of my friend when we were young children. All of us children were subjected to the sounds of that man beating and raping his screaming wife for hours. I was terrified but not once did I think of reporting what I'd seen. My friend's mother was the epitome of a broken woman who moved quietly around the house fearful of somehow angering her husband. Abused women of today behave the same way.
I like to believe that I, my daughters, and my female family and friends would never put up with an abusive partner...but you never know. My research shows that abusive relationships don't usually begin that way. The abuser often takes his time grooming his victim to accept the abuse as something they can live with. What appears on the surface as a happy home might actually be a house of horrors.
We need more public programs like the one I saw on T.V. I believe that airing the problem forewarns women to recognize and get out of an abusive situation sooner. Physical abuse will only get worse not better. Life is not worth living like that.
I also believe that abusive men don't change. It's the woman who has to decide she won't take the abuse any more.
Getting Religion
I had a feeling that looking at all those magnificent flowers every morning might lead me to religion and it sort of has done just that. There is no way to see all the diverse beauty of nature and not believe that it was designed. Funny how human beings don't affect me quite that way because of how evil some are but I do love the babies.
I have a strong need for logic in my life. If something is illogical it drives me crazy trying to make sense of it. Flowers just grow and passively display their perfection. They really are the most wondrous things on earth.
Flowers don't start wars or become serial killers. Flowers don't break your heart or your body. They just might be what was put on this earth to remind us how we should be. Flowers and dogs!
I have a strong need for logic in my life. If something is illogical it drives me crazy trying to make sense of it. Flowers just grow and passively display their perfection. They really are the most wondrous things on earth.
Flowers don't start wars or become serial killers. Flowers don't break your heart or your body. They just might be what was put on this earth to remind us how we should be. Flowers and dogs!
Saturday, July 02, 2016
Tim Horton's Laughable Service
And so I had to lodge another complaint the other day. I spent about 20 minutes placing and waiting for my order...Diet Pepsi and those nice new potato wedges they've been advertising.
Part way through my wait for the order, I was handed a Pepsi...not a Diet Pepsi. Then I waited for another 5 minutes before the cook came over to me and the man waiting ahead of me and asked if we were waiting for food. She hadn't been given the order. We both nodded and waited another 10 minutes before one of the waitresses came over and told me I'd have to wait another 20 minutes for the potato wedges. I'm assuming they had to go to the market to buy the potatoes!!!
I asked for my money back and a complaint card.
When I got home, I phoned the Tim Horton's complaint department and told them my sad story. Apparently it will be passed on and I should receive a call from them. The lady I spoke to also told me she'd enjoyed our conversation very much. I wonder if I didn't come across as p....d off as much as I was??
Then yesterday (I actually rarely go to Tim's) Kim and I decided to have our supper there because we both wanted to try those darned potato wedges. This time we got an elderly waitress who told us there were no more potato wedges and then went on to screw our simple order up completely. Kim did receive a free sandwich out of the deal but I'm left wondering what is happening to Tim Horton's!! I won't be calling in a complaint about this last visit but I sure hope their staff will get their act together. If they can screw up a simple order at 7 P.M. when they had few customers, heaven help them all at noon time.
Update: I was determined to have those potato wedges so I tried a different Tim's yesterday. Darned if they didn't taste like crap. But the service was excellent!
Update #2: The manager of the Tim Horton's where I had to get a refund called me today. She apologized for my bad experience and is sending me a $10 Tim's card. I honestly didn't make this complaint to get something for free but I'll accept it because they can afford it. I firmly believe that the company where you receive poor service should be made aware of what is going on so they can fix it. I never return to a place where I received poor service and I bet that's how many people react. The owner or manager of a business may never know why his/her business is beginning to fail unless we, the customer, let them know about our bad experience.
I won't go back to the Tim's at Eastgate but I have no problem with going to any other Tim's.
Part way through my wait for the order, I was handed a Pepsi...not a Diet Pepsi. Then I waited for another 5 minutes before the cook came over to me and the man waiting ahead of me and asked if we were waiting for food. She hadn't been given the order. We both nodded and waited another 10 minutes before one of the waitresses came over and told me I'd have to wait another 20 minutes for the potato wedges. I'm assuming they had to go to the market to buy the potatoes!!!
I asked for my money back and a complaint card.
When I got home, I phoned the Tim Horton's complaint department and told them my sad story. Apparently it will be passed on and I should receive a call from them. The lady I spoke to also told me she'd enjoyed our conversation very much. I wonder if I didn't come across as p....d off as much as I was??
Then yesterday (I actually rarely go to Tim's) Kim and I decided to have our supper there because we both wanted to try those darned potato wedges. This time we got an elderly waitress who told us there were no more potato wedges and then went on to screw our simple order up completely. Kim did receive a free sandwich out of the deal but I'm left wondering what is happening to Tim Horton's!! I won't be calling in a complaint about this last visit but I sure hope their staff will get their act together. If they can screw up a simple order at 7 P.M. when they had few customers, heaven help them all at noon time.
Update: I was determined to have those potato wedges so I tried a different Tim's yesterday. Darned if they didn't taste like crap. But the service was excellent!
Update #2: The manager of the Tim Horton's where I had to get a refund called me today. She apologized for my bad experience and is sending me a $10 Tim's card. I honestly didn't make this complaint to get something for free but I'll accept it because they can afford it. I firmly believe that the company where you receive poor service should be made aware of what is going on so they can fix it. I never return to a place where I received poor service and I bet that's how many people react. The owner or manager of a business may never know why his/her business is beginning to fail unless we, the customer, let them know about our bad experience.
I won't go back to the Tim's at Eastgate but I have no problem with going to any other Tim's.
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