Halloween 2017

I used to love Halloween and seeing all the sweet little children dressed up and looking for candy but I haven't truly enjoyed it since some evil people began giving out deadly treats.  The innocence was gone that year.

When I had my house, I'd buy candy a day or two before Halloween because I'd eat it all if I bought it too soon.  I'd put the front porch light on to let people know I was giving out candy and, after the incidents of needle laced apples, took to giving out bottles of pop which really ruined the whole event for me.  Now I live in an apartment and no-body is allowed in so Halloween is just another day.

There was a time when it was safe to send your 7-8 year old kids out alone to wander the neighborhood collecting treats.  Hard to believe how much our world has changed!  I remember getting up to 100 children at the door and only some had parents tagging along.  As their safety disappeared, only children with parents came and the numbers dwindled drastically.

I remember as a child racing around the neighborhood and grilling other kids about who was giving out homemade fudge.  That will never be a Halloween treat ever again.  So sad.  No home made treats are acceptable now just because the evil in our world has multiplied.

And so today I'll pick up Nolan and Nash at school...they're wearing their Halloween costumes.  Their father is taking them out scrounging first and then their mother will do it later.  That's how it's done now with broken families.  Neither boy has any idea how their freedom of movement has become so restricted because of societal changes that now make it too unsafe for a child to be out in the dark without a parent along.

I remember how polite children were in the past, always saying "thank you" when given their treat.  Then they needed to be prodded.  Then the words were abandoned altogether by most children, especially the older ones who came alone.  Yes, times have changed in many ways.

No-one will knock on my apartment door looking for candy tonight so I'll spend the evening in peace but maybe just for a moment remember when Halloween was much more fun for the children...and the givers.

Killing Ourselves

I watched a documentary last night about the cost and effect of drug addicts in Canada.  Apparently one addict costs the Canadian government $48,000 per year in theft, welfare, police intervention, ambulances, hospitals, etc.  Once addicted, it is almost impossible for them to be cured no matter how much therapy they receive.

In B.C., maybe other provinces, they have a safe place where addicts can inject their drug and volunteers are there to call for medical help if and when necessary.  There is another program where the drugs are provided but at a level where it doesn't produce a high, only enough to prevent sickness from withdrawal.  I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad one.  The addict remains addicted and his/her life is still decimated by being addicted.

There has to be a better way to prevent people from using the first time.  Common sense tells us that everyone should know that taking drugs will ruin their lives but it seems too many haven't been gifted with common sense.  We see some horrible images of drug addicts and the life they're forced into to support their habit and those images should be shown to high school students as often as possible.  No-one wants to look like a meth addict!  No-one wants to resort to prostitution to pay for their drugs.  No-one wants to live in a bug infested hovel.  Show teens the ugliness of taking drugs.  Teach them how quickly one can become addicted.  Teach them the outcome.

My generation worried only about alcoholism and how it, too, can destroy your family and your life.  It, too, can be addictive and cause the same hell as being addicted to drugs.

I remember as a teen worrying that drinking alcohol meant I wouldn't be in control of myself and being drunk would be unsafe so I actually abstained until I was married.  I never have been much of a drinker mainly because I don't like the effect of being fuzzy minded.  

Life is full of choices and the sooner we realize that every choice we make has consequences, the better choices we'll make.  

It's Important

I found out on Friday that a very old friend had passed away.  He's my age so it didn't come as a great surprise, just a sad one that another of my generation is gone.

His memorial was yesterday and Kim and I were already committed to doing our once a year craft show so I thought it wasn't important to go to the memorial service anyway.  I hadn't seen him or his wife in quite a few years and just thought my attendance wasn't necessary or important.  My Cindy nagged me unmercifully, saying it was important that I go, especially for Anne's sake.  I was very tired and desperately needed a nap after the show but Cindy and then Kim finally persuaded me to go.  I'm so glad I did.

I'm very far from an egotist and most often think I don't much matter in the scheme of things so I was amazed with my reception at the funeral home.  I hadn't seen Anne in many years but, when she saw me, she looked so shocked and happy to see me.  She hugged and kissed me and was obviously very happy I was there.  I was taken aback and felt ashamed I almost hadn't gone at all if it wasn't for Cindy.

There were continuous photos of Bill on the screen, so many with Dennis and others we'd known through the years.  We'd been to many fun parties at their house!  Anne and I exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses and I'll definitely contact her when I get back from Florida.  We were once very good friends and I never knew why our friendship faded away like it did.

It just goes to show, some things in life do matter even if you think they don't.  

The "F" Word

I've been picking Nolan (8 years old) and Nash (6 1/2 years old) up from school while their maternal Gramma is on vacation and it's been interesting.  I've seldom had both boys at once and now I know I was right to only have one at a time because 2 together is a whole different story.

They're not bad, they're busy.  An old gal like me doesn't take "busy" very well.  Also, the screaming (not their's) at the playroom in McDonalds is damn horrible.

Anyway, here is one story that made me very angry while it was happening but made me laugh as I drove home and has given me giggles ever since.

We were finished at McDonalds and driving to Kim's where their father would pick them up.  I was already frazzled from the bedlam at McDonald's playroom when Nolan said, "Nash always says the "F" word".

Me:  Where did you hear that word?

Nolan & Nash:  At school.

Me:  Well, don't say it any more.

Nash:  F

Me:  Knock it off, Nash!

Nolan:  U

Me:  (outraged and yelling) Stop it right now!

Nolan:  Nash, whatever you do, don't say CK.

Nash:  What does that word mean?

Me:  (Yelling and threatening to send them to time out if they             spoke one more word).

I absolutely hate it when little ones learn too much, too fast, but I know they'll hear everything at school from the other kids.  My anger was more from seeing my babies losing their innocence.

It was as I was driving down the Linc to home that I saw the conversation in a slightly different light and began to laugh.  I would never let the boys see me laugh but it was pretty funny when you think about it. 

Babysitting the Greatgrands

I'm picking up Nolan and Nash from school for 7 days and today is day 3.  They're good kids (usually) so it's always a pleasure to see them but I'm not used to taking care of both at the same time.  It is a totally different game than when I only have one of them.

We go to McDonalds for ice cream after I pick them up and they can play for a while in the playroom.  That's where sweet little Nash lost 6 minutes of time out yesterday.  It's interesting to listen to how wild, noisy, seemingly out of control the kids are in that playroom...all of them, not just mine.  I had to take my cue from the other parents there and not worry that the climbing thing was being dismantled by the little darlings.

Anyway, just as we were ready to leave, Nash ran right across every single seat with his shoes on as I yelled for him to get off.  I told him that would be a time out when we got to Kim's house.  So he sat on the stairs for 6 minutes (one minute for years of age) and then we had our little talk and I don't think he'll do that again.  He's a smart little boy and I think he was just testing me to see what he could get away with.  Nolan is a bit smarter and remembered what GG does and doesn't allow.

I adore my sweet little boys and they really are very good children...just need a reminder now and then.

Serial Killer in Tampa?

Serial killers have got to be one of the most cowardly criminals.  This recent one in Tampa apparently walks around with a gun and shoots people at random.  His motive is to feel as though he is all powerful but, in truth, he is a coward hiding in the dark and killing innocent people who have no ability to defend themselves.

The photos from security cameras show a very grainy figure that absolutely no-one could identify...why bother with cameras at all if they don't show clear pictures??

I read a while ago that male criminals are often lonely souls but there are a lot of lonely people in this world who have enough conscience not to take their anger out by killing people.  These men are probably lonely because of their sick personalities that make friendships unlikely.

I do believe that criminals are often people who hate themselves but project that hatred onto others, even strangers.  For some reason they think they'll feel better if they act out in a way that hurts others but there's no logic to that.  This man will be caught sooner or later and I'm betting it's because he wants to be caught.  He wants the attention.

A lot of my family is heading to Tampa in less than 2 weeks for Nicole's wedding so let's hope none of mine come across this murderer. 

Family

We have a large family that can be counted on for most every need that might come up.  It always makes me wonder how people who are isolated without a network of family and friends handle emergencies.

What do you do if your child is sick and can't go to school or day care?  What happens if you have no-one close to step in so you don't lose a day's work?  There have got to be countless numbers of people in this situation and, even worse, it's usually a single mother working at a low income job.

Some of these mothers are so worn out from working and taking care of their children that they have no time to socialize so friendships might be rare.  Many people have no ties to their family at all, some by choice and others by necessity.

This is just one of those things that worry me but where I see no easy solution.  

New Cart

The wheel on my grocery/laundry cart (also known as a bundle buggy) somehow got bent out of shape and I've been worried it would fall off when the cart was full so I went shopping for a new one.  I drove around the city and couldn't find anywhere that sold them except Walmart and their large one is built weird so I didn't want it.

Someone suggested I try Canadian Tire  which kind of surprised me but I was desperate so off I went.  Sure enough they sell them!  They had the small one open for display but not the large one that I was most interested in so I asked a nice young man employee if he'd open the packaging so I could see it better.  He was reluctant (Walmart had refused) but he opened it and it appeared perfect for me.  Not to waste an opportunity, I asked if he'd be kind enough to put the wheels on for me, too.  He hesitated only a second before doing it.

I was very, very pleased with the customer service I received at Canadian Tire but I believe it's always been good there.  As I waited for the cart wheels to be put on, I noticed we were right in front of a display of ironing boards and remembered I had considered buying a new one.  I checked them out and chose one to replace my 50+ year old ironing board that keeps collapsing on me.  Now, I seldom iron and that's why I haven't replaced it earlier but now I'm all set for another 50 years.

The War of the Burka

It strikes me as such a sad thing to see a woman wearing a burka with only her eyes showing through a slit in the fabric.  I want to help her gain freedom but I know there's nothing a single stranger can do to change such an offensive custom that has found it's way into Canada.

I've been advocating banning the burka for a long time for 2 reasons...it is unsafe because anyone, even a criminal, could be hidden underneath.  It's also a slap in the face to free women who see one of their own forced into hiding behind that godforsaken cloak.

Quebec is taking the problem straight on and trying to pass a law forbidding the wearing of a burka in public places.  What's so terribly sad is how many people don't want that law passed, one of the most important figures in our country, Jagmeet Singh who is the leader of the NDP party!

Ever since Donald Trump was voted in as president of the United States, I have no illusions left about politicians...or the people they can convince to vote for them.  I'd like to think that no free thinking woman would vote for Jagmeet Singh because he supports the continuing abuse of women who wear burkas but he will have his followers who will make excuses for his choice.

When you see young Canadian women (non-Muslim) wearing face coverings in support of the burka, you have to wonder just how intelligent and informed they are.  The burka is a disgusting symbol of male dominance over their females and should be considered a disgrace in our free country.

It's like peering into the dark ages when women were thought to be property of their husbands or fathers.  And this is what we're beginning to see far too much of in Canada.  Some people have no idea that the burka is not demanded by the Muslim religion.  It's a practice perpetuated by a culture which takes away a woman's rights and gives it to the men.  I know some women prefer to wear the burka because they have been brainwashed to accept it.  Some wear it out of fear.  For whatever reason, Canada is a free country where women are not owned by the males in their families and it's where equal rights for women have been long fought to achieve.

I honestly hate the burka and what it stands for.  I don't hate the women wearing them but I do have a great distaste for the men in their life.  The same mindset of males who require or encourage the females in their family to cover up like this is also responsible for the honor killings we see much too often in this beautiful, free country.  If they wanted to keep and abide by their Sharia law, they should have stayed in their own backward countries and not come to Canada to live.

There is a strong push by some Muslims (not all follow Sharia law, in fact those who do follow it appear to be a very small minority) to have Sharia law accepted as legal in Canada.  I've heard that this would be impossible because those archaic laws are forbidden under Canadian law.  I worry a bit that Sharia law might one day be allowed because of religious freedom in this country.  We aren't too bright about differentiating between the rights of Canadians as a whole and the rights of a religion.

In Canada we have 3 major political parties...Liberals, Conservatives, and the New Democratic Party.  When the leader of one of those major parties opposes a ban on something that promotes oppression of females (the burka), we've already run into very dangerous ground for the future of our country.    

The Laugh

I worked with a wonderful lady many years ago who had a very distinctive laugh.  She had a wicked sense of humor so she was always fun to be around.  Unfortunately she passed away not long after we stopped working together.  

I was in a grocery store one day and heard that same distinctive laugh coming from the next aisle over and I recognized it immediately.  It stopped me in my tracks until I remembered that she had a twin sister and so I made my way over to see if that's who was laughing.  It was.

Some people remain in your memory for many different reasons.  Joan will always be in mine, not only for that laugh, but for the sweet, fun lady she always was.

Uncovering

I am all for a law in Canada that prohibits women from wearing face covering burkas in public.  It is an affront to Canadian women to see another women oppressed in this way.  We're not threatened by her but we feel a deep sympathy for what has led her to dress this way.

There's no question that future generations will not tolerate this kind of oppression.  Women in free countries have fought for centuries for equality and the burka is a reminder that not all women enjoy that freedom.

Quebec is leading the way in Canada to ban the burka in public places but the new NDP leader, Singh, is opposed to the ban.  He is either Indian or Pakistani and I don't think the burka has ever been worn in those countries so why would he perpetuate it's use?  Then again, women in those countries are not as free as we are in Canada.  Not too long ago, a Canadian Indian woman was murdered by her family because she chose to marry a man from a different caste.  This is the kind of thing we have to be aware of when people of different cultures come to Canada.  We can't allow our laws and culture to be contaminated.  There is pressure to allow Sharia law in Canada and that would set females back hundreds of years.

The niqab is a head covering that hides the woman's hair...apparently it's to keep men from being attracted to it.  I don't think there's a head of hair more beautiful than that of mid eastern women.  Is it the woman or the man who is fearful of another man seeing her hair?  This, too, will disappear in future generations.

We women have a hard enough time attaining equal footing in this male dominated world so, to see a woman covered from head to toe in a black shroud with only a slit for her to see through, is a slap in the face to all women.  

Habitual Offender

Not coming from a family who has had dealings with the law, I'm wondering how many times a person has to be arrested before being considered a habitual offender.

An American man with a criminal record of 42 arrests, some were felonies (I really don't know what that is but I do know it's bad) has just been arrested for murdering 3 people.  I wondered why he was free to walk the streets after committing so many crimes.

Donna and I were talking the other day about how we law abiding people wouldn't think of committing a crime but career criminals do so all the time and seem to get away with it.  I guess some serve jail time but they continue to break the laws as though they have no meaning.

We law abiding citizens also obediently pay our taxes only to see others live the high life without paying them.  Once caught, if ever, they seem to be able to pay only a tiny portion of what they owe.

If, after 42 arrests, a man can still live freely among us, just how safe are we?  The 3 people he shot and killed give us the answer.

Can't Make Myself Understood

It comes back to me over and over again that too many people just don't understand what I'm saying.  This has been a problem for me most of my life and, try as I will, I can't seem to make it work.

I think I'm being perfectly clear about what I'm saying but the proof is in how many times people get a different take on it and that bothers me no end.

I thought for a while I should just sit quietly and not speak at all but that's not me.  I have opinions and I speak them.  I guess I'll just have to pay the consequences.

Sooo, yesterday I went for a nice long drive along the Grand River in and out of Caledonia.  It being mid October, I thought the scenery would be full of fall colors but it was not to be.  We've had such a mild fall so far that there are only tiny specks of gold or red hidden in among the lush greenery.  I'll try again next week.

Caledonia is a particular interest of mine because of how cute it is and how much native dissent has been seen there.  I noticed a lot of new construction in town since last year and wasn't too impressed.  I prefer the old, tiny town feel of their downtown.  As I drove along the river, there was way too much house construction blocking it and I felt it had been a mistake to allow any more construction on that side of the road.

The house construction died off as I got a little further out of town and it was pleasant to see the land against the river still being used as farmland.  I wondered who was responsible for preserving that, the government or the natives.  Whoever, I applaud them.

Now I'm wondering if anyone would take that comment as racist.  I almost give up but I'm beginning to not give a hot damn if someone misunderstands me.

I saw a spot where I think a couple I knew way back once lived.  The husband was in his early 20's and his wife was 13 years old.  They had a baby.  I'm wondering what kind of laws we had in effect back in the 1960's.  

I saw another house further on that I think my friend, Irene, and her family once lived in.  I remembered parties there.  The landscape changes but some things still remain to prompt our memories.

My route takes me up Hwy 6, left along the river until I reach Hwy 3.  Hwy 3 takes me to Hwy 56 towards home.  I passed a house I think Joyce and Larry once lived in.  There is so much new construction in that area that it looks very different now so I'm not sure it was the right house.

On I went until I found my way home again.  It was a nice drive but I need to repeat it when the autumn leaves are in their glory.

Others might not understand me but I do. 

Mississippi Banning "To Kill a Mockingbird" in Schools

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is one of the most beautifully written novels of all time.  The message it sends is also a good one.  Mississippi is banning this novel in it's schools because the "n" word is in it and, according to the school board, it makes some people uncomfortable.

I guess the people who couldn't stand the sight of 200 year old civil war statues and tore them down were a tad uncomfortable, too.  I wonder if they sleep better at night now that the statues are gone.

I guess the college students who needed therapy after Trump was elected were uncomfortable, too.  I wonder how they're able to step outside into the real world every day.

I keep thinking, "what is wrong with people?", and I have to accept that the younger generations have been so mollycoddled that they've become weak.  Instead of taking the high road and working to improve the world in a positive fashion, they foolishly think the world will be improved if they eliminate the past.  We all know that's impossible but apparently a lot of our college/university educated people don't know that.

So many of the old books, even children's books that have been deemed offensive and removed from schools and even stores, were depictions of a past time.  Some had the offensive "n" word removed before the tender eyes of today's youth were allowed to read them.  

Not long ago I read "The Help" and was so disgusted by it's content that I couldn't bring myself to finish reading it.  It's truly ugly but it represented the times which, unfortunately, showed how black staff were treated by many of their employers.  Reality is sometimes hard to see but it certainly is the best way to learn from the mistakes and the evils of the past.

I was born in 1940 so I remember the civil rights movement and the horrible events that came before, during, and after it.  I understood from the beginning that I was witnessing something that was going to change the world for the better for all of us and that it would be a teaching moment we'd all benefit from no matter what color our skin was.  What if some do gooder decided that the civil rights movement was too ugly and too painful for us to read about?  Think it couldn't happen?  Think again.

My grandson took exception to a comment I made about how future generations will be beige colored instead of dark or light skinned.  He thought it was a racist comment but it definitely wasn't.  I truly believe that the best thing for our world is all of the mixed race marriages and, along with that, the mixed religion marriages.  It's the separation of race and religion that causes most of the wars in this world so, because the world has become more widely travelled, many people are simply falling in love and marrying the person and not their race or religion.  I say "marrying" rather than "hooking up with" because I like that better.  I can't see for the life of me how my words were racist.

He also thought I was being racist by saying that my 2 Chinese friends and I were pulled over at the border not long after 9/11 and had our car thoroughly searched.  All 3 of us thought we had been profiled and were being checked to see if I was smuggling the girls across.  Is that racist?  I believe some people look for racism where it doesn't exist.  I asked him if he thought I was racist and he said no so that's one good thing.

People shouldn't be afraid to speak about uncomfortable subjects.  Open discussions among friends and family are how we as a society learn.  I've sadly learned that my words were misunderstood and, instead of clarifying them, my precious and very loving grandson chose to see them in the worst way.  This caused a rift that will take a while to heal.

I guess my message is that we shouldn't be afraid to see the past as it was and we should also ask questions rather than assume and let comments be misunderstood.    

Sleepless in Stoney Creek

It's now 3:20 A.M. and I'm wide awake but very tired.  I went to bed at about 11 P.M. and tossed and turned for hours before I had to accept I wouldn't fall asleep.  So I got up and checked out Facebook.  That done, I'm on my blog with nothing to write about except that I can't sleep.  That's not entirely true but my foggy brain can't think too clearly.

I can remember having this problem starting in my 20's and it really was a problem then because I had 3 children that needed to be cared for during the day.  In my thirties, the kids were old enough to care for themselves but I had a part-time job to go to and you could bet my worst sleepless nights would be those when I had to get up early in the morning for work.

When I was in my 40's I found out I had depression and that was contributing to sleeplessness.  Antidepressant medication gave me my first full night's sleep in years and continued to alleviate it at least while I was taking the medication.

I took that medication on and off for about 16 years but gradually had no need for it.  I'd learned to cope and my depression was gone.  This doesn't happen for everyone but it did for me and I'm very grateful for that.

Without the medication, I still had the odd sleepless night but it wasn't too bad until a couple of years ago and I began having them too often for comfort.  Shelley suggested I take an antihistamine before bed and that worked quite well but I've begun taking my medicine right after dinner and don't want to take the antihistamine then.  I often forget to take it at all and so I suffer another sleepless night.

I guess I'll have to create another routine that includes taking the antihistamine closer to bedtime.

Weinstein

I reposted an article on Weinstein and, of course, wrote in my humble opinions.  The responses I received were all from people I don't know, mainly women who understood completely that predators like Weinstein surround us.  Every woman on this planet has experienced the frightening and insulting actions of males who are, at best, bullies or, at worst, perverts.

Along with the female comments came a few from males, mostly understanding and polite.  A few were not...they obviously were part of the problem.  I deleted their comments because I didn't want the post to be corrupted by people like them but I also deleted comments from women who wanted to blast these ignorant men.  My reasoning is that we need to rise above the likes of Weinstein and take a higher, stronger road.

My experience with predators started when I was 4 years old and molested by my stepfather.  From then on my life was riddled with having to be wary of and keep my distance from so many men I encountered that the numbers are outrageous.  This is not uncommon for females and the problem has been ignored for too long.  I never once blamed myself for what happened when I was a 4 year old baby and never once blamed myself for dressing too provocatively (I didn't) or walking down the street after dark.  The blame went straight to the males who thought they had a right to accost me.

Funny in a way but sexual harassment usually does stop when women are old but our skills of awareness never fade.  We worry for the young women because we know it's happening to them.  So, Harvey Weinstein is facing the consequences of his hideous actions but we know that might only stop him for a short while.  He'll be a danger to females until the day he dies.  But there are many more predators out there than we dare to admit.

Can't Stand Conflict

I remember as a little girl almost fainting when my little grandmother was whacking my big, strong grandfather with her purse in anger because he'd come home drunk.  I'm sure the purse didn't hurt him and he was always a non-violent person who never raised a hand to anyone, but it scared me so badly I collapsed on the floor.

I can't stand conflict.  I can't stand arguing.  I can't stand being around tension.  It makes me want to run away and that's what I usually do, the farther the better.  It completely confuses me how some people thrive on chaos and even become energized by it.  Not me.  It drains me.

I was watching an interesting program on T.V. today called "Lucky Dog" and just loved the whole concept of the show.  The kindness the man showed to a terrified dog and how he brought him around to trusting humans again was beautiful to see.  Of course, any show where a sweet dog is lovingly cared for has to make you happy.

I don't always watch such enlightening shows, often it's "Cops" or "Steve Wilkos" so I do watch seedier, nastier people, too, but that's because of my interest in psychology.  I enjoy analyzing strange characters who seem to get themselves into bizarre situations.  

But I gravitate towards spirit lifting shows when I'm feeling a bit down.  Dogs and babies will do that every time.  No psychological analyzing is needed with babies and dogs because they are as natural as can be.

Anyway, I hope never to see real life violence because I think it would kill me. 

Entitled

I watch Dr. Phil and just shake my head in wonder at the number of adult children who think their parents should support them.  Of course, it's very much the parents' fault to have raised their children to feel entitled.  And it's very much the parents' fault to put up with it.

We seldom heard of such a thing 30, 40, 50 years ago when most children were expected to finish school, get a job, and move out on their own but we're hearing more and more that even 30 year olds without jobs (they refuse to work for minimum wage) are still living at home and trashing their parents who support them.  What the hell happened?

These adult children feel entitled to the benefits of hard work their parents have put in their entire lives to accumulate.  The parents, feeling some kind of parental guilt, continue to perpetuate the destruction of their children.  This is truly destruction of a human being who hasn't learned how to support themselves and have pride in doing it.

In some cases, the adult child, acting like the spoiled brat he/she is, becomes physically abusive to his/her parents and they just throw up their hands and accept it.  It's true that this kind of behaviour didn't start overnight and the little monsters they've created began many years ago.

Children need direction, limits, and consequences for their actions no matter if the actions are good or bad.  When a little child is allowed to get away with bad behaviour, it only escalates over the years until they become entitled adult children who stay at home, won't work, and trash your house.  Poor parenting starts the ball rolling at the very beginning.

Good parents want their children to succeed in life so they groom the child for success.  Allowing them out of control behaviour and no consistent direction or expectations is going to produce a childlike adult who can't exist as an adult.

I Woke Up

I woke up this morning, at 77, with only one little pain and that's in my right index finger.  Very lucky and very little to complain about!

I woke up feeling no hunger, just my usual urge to smell and drink my first coffee of the morning...I'll probably have 2.

I woke up to a nice apartment in a nice old building where I feel quite safe.  Feeling this safe doesn't stop me from having a dead bolt and safety latch on my door.  I want to feel very safe.

I woke up knowing I'd be having a serious conversation with one of my grandsons today.  It will be uncomfortable but I can't delay it any longer...thanks to Cindy badgering me about it.

I woke up wishing I hadn't made all the mistakes I've made in my life but knowing what is done is done.

I woke up being thankful for one more day.

Winery's Names

I live close to the fruit belt in Southern Ontario where we also have lots of wineries.  As you drive south on the QE through the fruit belt, you will see advertising signs for the various wineries and some of the names are kind of interesting...not interesting enough to make me want to visit them but interesting enough to make me wonder for a short while what the story is behind the name.

Yesterday I saw a new one (to me anyway) called "Hidden Bench Winery".  That got me wondering how the name came about.  But, right on it's heels was another sign, "Organized Crime Winery".  Blatant or just poor taste?  Probably a bit of both.