VIOLENT DEATHS

What's happening lately? Every day lately there's been something on the news about people dying right here in our own city and neighbouring areas.

There was the horrific tragedy of the hot air balloon exploding and catching fire, killing two women - a mother and her daughter. The entire family had been celebrating the mother's 50th birthday but only the father and other daughter managed to jump out of the basket in time. I just cannot imagine the fear and pain beyond words those two women experienced as they were burnt alive before the entire balloon and basket pummeled to the earth and exploded, totally destroying three homes. See more images here.

Next, I heard about six people killed and seventeen injured when a truck plowed into a group of family and friends, including young children and babies, as they were strolling down a rural road singing and celebrating an upcoming wedding. The poor elderly man who drove the truck is now absolutely distraught as he did not have enough time to brake when he suddenly came upon the party walking in the middle of the road.

Last night, I heard on the news about a man who had just finished and passed his exams to be a CGA and decided to celebrate his new job by skydiving. His chute did not open properly and he plunged to his death! He left a wife a young daughter.

I also heard on the news last night that the body of a woman was found in the bushes around a landmark apartment building near the Burrard Street Bridge. This is a very lovely neighbourhood in the "good" part of the city, actually not too many blocks from where our good friend Josie lives. No news of what happened to her, yet.

All of this comes not long after a young man was shot and killed by city police in a tragic situation. It was later explained that the young man was suffering from delusions due to bipolar syndrome. Apparently, he was having an episode and starting swinging a chain and threatening the police, not really knowing what he was doing. This also happened in a "good" area of the city.

All of these deaths have been so violent and horrific! We're all used to hearing about violence in other countries due to war, poverty, and culture. But have I just not been paying enough attention to our own local news until recently? Or is this indicative of something worse? Is is something to do with our society at large? Or are they simply purposeless accidents?

Your thoughts?

Bloggettes

The other day I got news that one of the original "bloggettes" (Ellen aka DrOma) had passed away suddenly. Since then, a lot of us have been emailing back and forth and trying to get in touch with each other. I've kept my blog going since the days of the SB and have made connections with so many other people out there in cyber space. It's been great fun but I really miss all you original bloggettes.

A few others, like Sylvia, Peg, and Enid have also kept their blogs going and we keep in touch periodically. It seemed as though so many others had just quietly gone back to the lives they had BSB, but in light of the death of one of "us," some are reaching out trying to find each other again.

I'd love to have everyone reconnect to let each other know what's been going on with them. So I'm putting up this post to invite you to check in to say howdy, and maybe someone will be interested in arranging a reunion of sorts (sans SB). My mother told me and I've always reminded my daughters that "men may come and men may go, but girlfriends are forever." So many of us have become such good friends, even some we haven't even met in person yet. So let's not allow these friendships to fade away. Go to http://theadventuroushearts.com/ that Brenda aka ClickGirl set up to find the blogs that she linked up. We can all comment there OR you can come on over here and I'll be happy to play hostess for a while. Simply put this site under your favourites and come on back any old time.

I can hardly wait to hear from you all. My latest news is that I'm going to be a Gramma again early next March!

Whistler Weekend

Whistler has something for everyone. It’s a pedestrian-only village with more than 200 stores for shopping, spa therapies, and luxurious hotels and accommodations providing all the comforts of home. Whistler is a safe and very tourist-friendly destination. It’s only two hours from Vancouver along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway - Highway 99, which can be twisty in parts. Be prepared with ginger ale, anti-nausea medication, and paper towels. The new highway is being built in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in Whistler and Greater Vancouver. Once it's finished, the drive should be much straighter and not so vomit-inducing.
There are several landmarks worth pointing out such as the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, Shannon Falls, the BC Museum of mining (where Scooby Doo and the X-Files were filmed), canyon gorges, massive hydro electric dams, freight trains, ferries and cruise ships in Howe Sound, Aboriginal craft stores, the Stawamus Chief granite monolith (one of only two in the world), and finally - the welcome to Whistler sign.
We had a leisurely drive along Marine Drive through West Vancouver so we could admire the scenic vistas over Burrard Inlet all the way to Horseshoe Bay. We stopped for lunch at the famous Troll’s Restaurant and some photo ops. Then we carried on to Shannon Falls and finally arrived at our destination a bit after 3:00 pm. After checking into our B & B, we strolled the village shops until dinner at Earl’s with dessert at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Yum!
I highly recommend Alpine Chalet Bed & Breakfast. The owner is a chef and he served us the most scrumptious breakfast – fresh fruit plate followed by an apple strudel and French-pressed coffee. All this was finished up with a cinnamon-sprinkled French crepe with jam and syrup. We didn’t need anything else to eat until an early dinner back in West Vancouver’s Milestone’s Restaurant. Here are just a few shots of our memorable weekend in Whistler. Click on the photos to enlarge and be sure to click on the highlighted websites to see even more spectacular photos than I could ever take.


First stop was Whytecliff Park just before Horseshoe Bay where you can watch all kinds of boats, from small sailboats to giant cruise ships heading up to Alaska.


This is the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal.






This is the famous Shannon Falls.

Here I am with a rather cute black bear. This one was tame, but I don't recommend getting near any real ones up there.







This is called The Storyteller's Chair, designed by a sculptor by the name of Carlos Basanta, who is famous for his Public Art. Winner of the Whistler competition for Village Park West, this sculpture brings the spectator (and perhaps the storyteller) to a time where storytelling was of vital importance for the individual and for society. The Chair is “covered” by a “blanket” on which the sentence “Once upon a time…” is engraved in 32 languages. The color and “look” of the chair integrate with the surrounding forest, while the multiple languages appearing on the blanket relate to Whistler international nature.


Finally, for a bit of fun, I sat in an actual Olympic bobsled and tried to pretend I was surrounded by snow waiting for takeoff.

CHRONIC BACK PAIN

Lower back pain, also known as lumbago, affects 7 out of 10 people at some time in their lives. The pain can come on suddenly, slowly or be the direct result of a fall or injury. If back pain lasts for less than 3 months it is called acute. If it develops gradually over time, lasts more than 12 weeks and causes long-term problems, it is known as chronic back pain. It can affect anyone of any age but is more common between the ages of 35 and 55. In the majority of cases, the cause of the pain can be linked to the way the bones, muscles and ligaments in the back work together. The lower part of the back is composed of 5 vertebrae known as L1 to L5. This region bears the entire weight of the upper body and is also under continual pressure especially when bending, twisting, and lifting.The complex structure of the lower back means that quite small amounts of damage to any of the structures of the back can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Pain in the lower back is a symptom of stress or damage to the ligaments, muscles, tendons or discs. In some cases the back pain can spread to the buttocks and thighs. In most cases the back will heal itself and staying active and continuing with your usual activities will normally promote healing. However in severe and persistent cases it is important to seek medical advice so that a correct diagnosis can be reached and appropriate treatment given, as treatment may depend on the underlying cause in some cases. For example, pain caused by some types of arthritis may be treated by specific medicines.

In my case, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the spine at the age of 29 after I had my first daughter. It was devastating news because up to then I’d been extremely active in sports like softball, tennis, volleyball, and basketball. The doctor told me I’d have to give them up in lieu of swimming, walking, and cycling. Ten years and one more baby later, the pain had become so excruciating that I literally saw red spots whenever I stood up, sat down, or changed position. The doctor had sent me for physiotherapy that actually aggravated my condition to the point that I was sent for a CT scan. That determined that there was a herniated disc and bone spurs within the spinal canal that were pressing on the sciatic nerve. My surgery was in May of 1986 and at that time I was told I also have a slight scoliosis of the spine. It took me about a year to get back to as normal as possible. It reduced my pain but over the years the bone spurs have grown back causing inflammation of the spinal canal and ultimately chronic back pain. Over the years I’ve struggled to keep my weight down by eating properly and walking lots. However, walking for long periods of time or standing in one spot for more than 5 or 10 minutes causes my left leg to go numb and my lower back to scream in pain.

Then I discovered massage therapy. I have the best Registered Massage Therapist who is able to keep my pain to a minimum by keeping my muscles relaxed. She cannot cure my osteoarthritis or my scoliosis, but she is able to keep me mobile so that I can walk a half hour a day and manage my daily life. Last week, I decided to do some gardening. Big mistake. The result? Pain! Today I went for my regular treatment but I need to go back again for another hour tomorrow. Sometimes I get so frustrated not being able to do the simplest things but I have to remember that everybody can’t do everything. I must look on the bright side that I am fortunate enough to be able to hire a gardener to do the heavy work. I can then relax on my chaise with an iced tea and admire the flowers or read all the wonderful books I want to read. But I’d rather be playing tennis. I know lots of you can relate. Mark?

Capilano Suspension Bridge

George Grant Mackay was the Scottish civil engineer who built the original suspension bridge in 1889. The suspension bridge currently stretches 450 feet across and 230 feet above North Vancouver's Capilano River. Even though it sways and creaks, it's very, very strong. Strong enough to support the weight of ten heavy-duty military fighter planes. Strong enough to handle the 850,000 visitors each year. Even strong enough to handle a classroom full of kindergarten students! Walking across the bridge, you will cross over Capilano River and enter the spectacular "wild side" which features the Living Forest display. Since then much has been added to the twenty-seven acre park. Of the many things to do, you can walk over seven suspension bridges through the evergreens taking you up to 100 feet above the forest floor. You can also enjoy musical entertainment and First Nations carving demonstrations. At the gift shop you can purchase high quality merchandise from all over Canada and great homemade fudge! In 2006, a 300 year old Douglas fir tree toppled during a heavy snow storm. The tree fell across the western end of the bridge and park officials had to close the bridge temporarily while repairs were performed. When you visit Vancouver, walking across the suspension bridge is an absolute MUST!

Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit

One great thing you have to say about 1967 was the music. The Doors were riding high on the charts. The Jefferson Airplane and Van Morrison were not far behind, and then there was a certain Mr. Hendrix and those four boys from Liverpool and their Lonely Hearts Club Band. The local paper is running a feature on the summer of love - 1967 and have chosen the 10 top songs of the time:

Whiter Shade of Pale -- Procol Harum
San Franciscan Nights -- The Animals
For What It's Worth -- Buffalo Springfield
Light My Fire -- Doors
Brown Eyed Girl -- Van Morrison
Somebody to Love -- Jefferson Airplane
Heroes and Villains -- Beach Boys
All You Need Is Love -- The Beatles
Purple Haze -- Jimi Hendrix
San Francisco (Flowers in Your Hair) -- Scott Mckenzie

I love ALL these songs, but have a particularly strong affinity towards the group Jefferson Airplane and Procol Harum because ... well ... I remember some wonderful times in the backseat of a car with a certain someone. LOL One of my favourite songs is White Rabbit and for those of you who don't remember or who weren't around at the time, it's about taking drugs. However, its haunting melody is hypnotic and unforgettable. I found this rendition of White Rabbit on youtube and hope you enjoy it, even if it's the first time you've heard it.

Family Blessings

I feel so BLESSED today because both my daughters, my son-in-law and my grandson came for dinner last night. It was very casual but it's not often we can all get together because of everyone's work schedules. Daughter #1 had requested macaroni and cheese (the recipe handed down from my mother) and I added salad and corn on the cob to the menu. For dessert I made a no-bake fruit smoothie cheesecake. We were so stuffed that we went to the little park in my subdivision so Noah could ride his bike around and play hide and seek with me. It's a little game we started a few months ago and we have a ball hiding on each other in the bushes. The park is really very little, but to a 3 1/2 year old, it's HUGE! Noah can ride his bike without training wheels now and he thinks it's great to go over the speed bumps. His helmet stayed on his head almost the entire time they were here, covering up his gorgeous curls but you can see them in the photo of him eating his ice cream cone. Anyway, here's the family. Hope you enjoy my memories.

This is Jaclyn.

Here are Jason, Noah, and Jamie.
Noah stops for a moment to pose for his Gramma.
He sure loves chocolate ice cream!
Daddy keeps a watchful eye as Noah rides in my little park.Uh oh...Noah has a little spill but Daddy's there and all's okay.
Nothing stops this kid when it comes to biking - a chip off the old block.

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.

Elizabeth Stone

My First Rock Concert

I went to my very first real rock concert on August 2/07! Now don't get me wrong - I have been to concerts in my lifetime. I've seen Tom Jones twice, the Fifth Dimension, Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Anka, Leonard Cohen and others but they were more like "concerts," not real ROCK concerts. This was what I'd always dreamed of - feeling the bass as it soared through the ground and up from my feet to my chest where I could actually feel it in my body! Oh baby! the sweet smell of Mary Jane wafting amongst the beer-swilling aged hippies! Dancing and swaying on the spot and raising our arms as though we were praying to an actual god! Singing along and screaming our joy as the music pumped us to a frenzy! John Fogerty was absolutely fantastic and I was young again!

Check out this link for decibel levels: http://www.coolmath.com/decibels1.htm

Sunday Evening Stroll - Boundary Bay

This evening I went for a walk at Boundary Bay Regional Park which is only about a five-minute drive from my home. Josie recently put a post up about her home in the city so I thought you all might like to see a bit of where I live - less than half an hour drive south of her. It was a perfect evening with a few wispy clouds, cool but certainly far from cold, no bugs, and just a touch of a breeze. I ran into several friends so had to stop and chat - like that's a problem for me! ;D
When I started out on my walk I couldn't believe how vibrant were the colours of the wild flowers. Lots of deep purple and bright yellow along with the green of the trees and grasses and the dark brown of the bulrushes.
I noticed a man walking along the back trail with his dog so thought I'd take that route, too. After winding my way through some trees and stopping to take a photo of the apples ripening on one wild apple tree, I came out on an area that's famous for bunny sighting. I saw a couple of them hopping across the trail and managed to catch one in a photo. I also took a picture of the brambly area where they tend to hide. A long cowboy-style fence winds its way along one side of the forested area, mostly to keep people from wandering into the areas where there might be marshes. I crossed the bridge that cuts right through the largest marshy area and couldn't believe the sea of bulrushes. I then came out onto the main path that follows the water's edge. All along here are places where one can stop, sit on a bench that has been placed there in memory of someone who's passed away, and enjoy the view. You can look east across the bay and see White Rock or north towards the city of Vancouver and see its skyline beneath the mountains of the Coast Range.
As I neared the end of my walk, I spotted families of ducks swimming in the canals. Finally, I saw three herons sitting in a huge tree and another on a log in the field. As I was taking a picture of the one sitting on a log, I realized that the whole field was full of herons.
I know Josie loves city living, but I prefer living out in the quiet of the 'burbs and visiting the city when I want some action. I love where I live and actually, Josie confided in me that she just might retire out here in a few years.
So, come along, take my hand and enjoy a virtual stroll around part of Boundary Bay Regional Park. Take in the sights and enjoy the view, but walk carefully and silently 'cuz you don't want to scare the bunnies and the birds.
Oh, and next month be sure to bring an empty bucket to pick enough blackberries for a pie!

Clematis (KLEM-uh-tiss)

Today I noticed my clematis (KLEM-uh-tiss) is in full bloom. Early this spring, I had chopped it down right to the ground and it has sprung up again in full force. At first I wondered if I'd killed it, but there it is - beautiful as ever and actually in even better health. I took a photo of it and thought I'd see if I could find out what type of clematis it is. After perusing the internet, I think I found it. It is called John Paul II, obviously named after the last pope. (read description below) It fits the description to a T. Here is a photo of MY clematis. Does it look the same to you all?

John Paul II

Clematis "John Paul II"
From the Polish Clematis breeder Brother Stefan Francsak, a monk who has produced several outstanding new hybrids. The 4-6" (10-15cm) creamy white blooms with pink trails and reddish stamens are produced in June, July and August.

Mature height 8-14' (2.5-4m). Pruning group B2
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Clematis (KLEM-uh-tiss)
Cultivar: Jan Paul IIAdditional cultivar information: John Paul IIIntroduced by Brother Stefan Franczak, Poland 1980, by Jim Fisk
Group: Late Large-flowered
Height: 10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
Spacing: 36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Hardiness:USDA Zone 4a to Zone 9b
Bloom Color: Pale Pink
Bloom Shape: Single
Bloom Diameter:Large - 4 to 6 inches
Bloom Time: Mid Summer
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Other details:
Pruning Groups:Group 3 - Summer/Fall bloomers; prune hard in early spring

I'm writing again

Writing a book is tough work but writing a memoir full of tragedy is tougher. It takes a lot of strength to go back in time and relive history without getting bogged down in the emotional mire. I've managed to work two full days on my book this week and I've finally finished up with my childhood, university days, and the beginning of marital "bliss." What is to come will be a struggle of being honest about my own faults and failings as I journeyed through years living with someone with mental illness. It will take me back to a place in time when I learned to rejoice in my sufferings in order to produce endurance, character, and faith in God.
Even though I'm working at home and alone, there are so many interruptions, too. People email me and I simply can't ignore them. The phone rings, the mail arrives, the newspaper crossword puzzle beckons. The sun calls me to go for a walk. But I must push on, because I have felt called to do this book for so many years. It will be cathartic for me and if published, may help someone else to know that you can survive all this and more. Wish me luck.

A friend emailed me this site and I want all my online friends to click on the link to see how I feel about you. :D

http://www.frontiernet.net:80/~jimdandy/specials/friend/friend.html

Schmoozing

Well, I've been "schmoozed" like a lot of you have been lately. It was an honour, but as there have been quite a few memes and awards going around lately, I'll just say thanks a lot and leave it at that.

But speaking of schmoozing (which means conversing casually to make a social connection), today two different men have made connections with me through Match.com - both from very far away. But what the heck, one looks like George Clooney and the other one has a body like Beckham! Both are a bit younger than me, but I think I look pretty good for my age. So this has raised my spirits very nicely, so I think I'll go see if I can find the GC look-a-like on line to chat. Wish me luck - just for fun....

Feeling Blue

I'm feeling blue today - I think it's all this rain we're getting again! Yesterday would have been my mother's 87th birthday and I was thinking about her all day. Then today because of the rain, I didn't feel like doing anything. Then I got to thinking about all those wonderful summer days we'd spend at our cabin at Shuswap Lake - days of rest and relaxation, fun in the water and lazing on the wharf as it rocked me to sleep in the warm sunshine. The nights were just as great as my husband would build a campfire while I made the coffee (usually instant in those days), and then he'd serenade me with his guitar. I could listen to him sing forever! My favourite, though, was the Animals' House of the Rising Sun and I'd close my eyes and let him lull me into reverie with his rich voice. I don't have too many photos of us together in those days because one of us always had to be the photographer. However, this is us on our honeymoon in July 1973 when some visitors came up to stay a couple of days with us. Those are wonderful memories. I think I'll feel a little blue today as I miss him even after all these years, but tomorrow I'll carry on. Enjoy the music below.

Sunday - feeling a bit less blue and looking forward to the sunshine we're supposed to be getting come Tuesday. I walked down to our local village market and on the way home picked up two movies - Premonition and Miss Potter. They should get me through the evening and I think I'll go visit my Dad tomorrow - take him some Irish Spring soap that he likes and some life savers for his dry mouth. It helps to think of others at times like this.

Animals - The House Of The Rising Sun

In The Name of Honor

Every hour in Pakistan, a woman is assaulted, beaten, burned with acid, or killed in the "accidental" explosion of a cooking-gas canister. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has recorded 150 cases of rapes during the last six months in Punjab alone...a young woman of 26 was raped by her brother-in-law and made pregnant. She has not repudiated the child and in 2002 was sentenced to be stoned to death, because the child represented proof of "zina," the sin of adultery. The rapist has gone scot-free. So reads part of pages 118 - 119 in the book In the Name of Honor - a memoir by Mukhtar Mai that recounts her horrifying experience (in 2002) of being gang-raped by a tribal group known as the Mastoi as punishment for untrue indiscretions committed by her 12-year-old brother. She was expected to kill herself afterwards, but shocked the world when she fought back by standing up to her attackers in a court of law. This young woman has since become an agent for change and a beacon of hope for oppressed women around the world.

Gloria Steinem states,"Only a few leaders are alchemists who take the worst of human behavior and turn it into the best. Mukhtaran Bibi, a Pakistani woman raised in poverty and illiteracy, has responded to the violence and gender apartheid directed at her and other women with an insistence on justice and education."

To me, as a Canadian woman raised against the backdrop of the feminist movement, it is unspeakably shameful and outrageous that in the 21st century women are still being treated like possessions and the men of their families have the right to do whatever they want with them. It is common practice in the villages "for men to take justice into their own hands by invoking the idea of 'an eye for an eye.' It is always a question of honor, and they may do as they please: cut off a woman's nose, burn a sister, rape a neighbor's wife." (p66)

For more information on this story, check out the following sites:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4330335.stm

http://www.time.com/time/asia/2004/heroes/hmukhtar_mai.html

http://journals.jevon.org/img/user/bookworm-6474-248b012cf922.jpg

Eight Things About Me

What do the following people have to do with me? Read on...

Tom aka Patterns of Ink has tagged me with this thing and since I've never done one before, will play along.

First, the guidelines: 1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts. 2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves. 3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. 4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. 5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog. Here are eight random facts about me that I don't think I've mentioned here before.

1. Like Greta Garbo, I "vant to be alone." Well, not all the time, but I often need time to myself. My mother was the same way and even though I'm a very social person and love going out and being with my family and friends, I really need that quiet time to be alone with myself and God. The best times in the late spring, summer, and fall is when I sit out on my covered patio with a good book or the newspaper or just simply listen to the birds sing.

2. I enjoy watching TV. Yes, I admit it!!! My favourite channel is HGTV where I love to watch all the shows about real estate sales, renovations, and interior design. I'm hopeless at designing my own home (although it's nice enough) and keep looking for ways to enhance my own blah decor. Several people have suggested I go into real estate, but I think my old-fashioned thinking of having a secure salary-based job keeps me from doing it. Maybe some day...

3. I have a collection of teddy bears. I began collecting them around 1986-ish when we moved to Ottawa for a few years while my husband was with Telecom Canada. The local grocery store (I think it was Loblaw's) were selling teddy bears. I thought he was so cute and named him "Theodore" (well, duh..."Teddy" is short for Theodore isn't it?). When we moved back out here, I found the cutest bear in a local shop and bought him, too. Over the years I've collected a LOT...and each one has a name and story behind its arrival in my home. One day, I'd like to write a book about them complete with photos.

4. When I was 5 years-old, I took tap dancing lessons at Connaught Park in Vancouver. I remember the Christmas recital as though it were yesterday. I wore a little pleated white skirt and pink angora sweater and thought I was the cat's meow as I tapped along with all the other little girls. I can see my parents watching me and beaming with joy as I performed my little heart out. I wanted to keep dancing, but my father was a strict disciplinarian and said that when I started "real" school I had to concentrate on my studies. I was so disappointed about that, but back in those days what parents said ruled, even if it was ridiculous. Nowadays, parents schedule their kids for almost every day of the week with sports, music, dance, etc.

5. Going along with the above is the fact that my Dad did encourage sports activities for all three of his daughters. My older sister was dismal at sports, so Dad concentrated on me and my younger sister. He even let us take softball and basketball lessons on school nights!!! I actually played on softball teams all the way up to when I was in my late 20's when I was on a team from work. Later, I was on a teacher's volleyball team that played against other schools. I loved sports and excelled in volleyball, softball, basketball, tennis, and swimming.

6. I can become easily bored and go off in daydreams. No offence to anyone, but I can even get bored with the blogs sometimes. There's just so much to read and so many people to meet and visit that I find there aren't enough hours in the day to keep up. So there can be days or even weeks when you all might wonder where I've gone. Well, I'm just doing other things, that's all. I eventually come back and catch up.

7. Along with that is the fact that I can identify with the Smashing Pumpkins' song, "If I Had a Million Dollars." That's where I go off and daydream about what I'd do if I weren't hindered by a lack of money. I would absolutely LOVE to see the whole wide world and experience life in other cultures. Places I truly want to see are all of Europe and Africa (where I dream of sledding down the Namibian sand dunes), India's Taj Mahal, Singapore (my mother's dream that was never realized), Australia and New Zealand, the Galapagos Islands, Disneyworld (don't laugh), and do cruises around the Caribbean and the Hawaiian Islands. I'd also love to spend a term teaching in a school in Africa (either under a canvas out on the savannah or in Oprah's fancy one). So, do you think a million dollars would be enough for all I'd love to see and do?

8. Okay, here's the biggie you probably don't know and how those 4 celebrities shown above relate to me. I told Josie once I might do a whole blog on this some day, but I'll just give you the highlights now. My husband suffered from bipolar and OCD all his life and finally ended it all in August 1992 when he sat in our closed garage with the car running. Now my younger daughter has been diagnosed with bipolar II (a less severe but still serious form) and has been hospitalized twice since April this year. She's doing much better now but it's going to be a tough road for her travel. I've been reading up on the disorder and have learned so much. I've learned that the illnesses that are usually termed "mental" are not really that. They are physical/biological illnesses in that the brain doesn't work properly - something to do with the neurotransmitters misfiring, to make it really simple. You are all probably shocked that I've (we've) been going through this lately because I always seem so upbeat. But you might also remember when I posted something back in April (The Story of the Sad Sadness) of this year. That's when my daugher entered the hospital for the first time and she was there for the whole month. It's a long story, but she had a relapse mid-June and was in again for 2 1/2 weeks. Now she's doing much better and I pray that she'll continue to recover, go back to work, and live a normal life. You might be interested AND surprised by clicking on this link to see all the famous people that live or have lived with bipolar - Celebrities and Bipolar Disorder.

Well, there you have it. I had to really think about this and what might interest y'all. Like Josie always says, I just have a boring little life. I guess there are other things that might interest you - like the year I spent teaching up in the wilderness of British Columbia. Maybe that's what my next post will be about.

Okay, I'm supposed to tag 8 people - let's see...who hasn't been tagged yet? Well, here goes nothing...Mary Anne (A Place Called Home), Sylvia (Heiress Child), Janice (Persuance of Truth), jmb (Nobody Important), Susan (A Thousand Wordsworth), Brenda (Click Girl), Ruth (Upstream and Down) and Lee-Ann (Pear Tree Cottage). If you don't feel like doing this, it's fine by me - it takes a while to think things out. Regardless, hope you enjoyed the above.

I'M MELTING

Oh my gawd! For so long we were moaning about the rain and now it's so #*&%# HOT I feel like I'm melting. Is it this global warming thingy that's happening or what? I wish I had a pool and I'm even considering going and buying myself a blow-up kiddie pool to stick my feet in. Using the bathtub wouldn't work 'cuz it's too hot upstairs. I slept in the family room last night on the hide-a-bed under the ceiling fan, so at least I could sleep. I tried sitting out on my patio this afternoon (it's shady) but that didn't work so I came inside and sat in front of the oscillating fan. I don't care any more about losing weight because I'm going to eat a quart of ice cream for dinner and drink A & W root beer until I start to foam at the mouth. Anyone else suffering???

CHOCOLATE and ICE CREAM

God help me, I love chocolate! There was an article in the Vancouver Sun today about how dark chocolate helps lower blood pressure without dieting or exercising. Well, you can imagine what I did...yes, I succumbed to temptation and bought a chocolate bar. Granted, I only had about 1/4 of it and put the rest in the freezer to tempt me tomorrow. AND my daughter treated me to ice cream this afternoon. What flavour did I choose, you wonder? I splurged and had one scoop of peanut butter cluster and one scoop of death by chocolate. At least I did manage to do a brisk 20-minute walk this evening after the temperature had dropped from 85F to 75F. I then languished under the ceiling fan for the rest of the evening. I hope I can sleep tonight what with all the caffeine I have in me. Oh well, I'm sure my blood pressure has gone down substantially.