S is for SORROW

It is a dark and stormy day here in my little village on the south-west coast of British Columbia, just south of the third largest city in Canada (Vancouver).  As I peer through the heavy raindrops, I see the giant cedars, birch, and poplars swaying in the wind as they drop their final few leaves.  Less than a week ago, November 11th dawned clear and sunny, and we headed down to Memorial Park to celebrate Remembrance Day.  That day, I was so thankful that Canada has been spared any real danger in the face of any of the wars being fought across the continent and the oceans.  Today, the sky weeps in sorrow at how quickly things can change.

France is at war now.  France - one of the founding countries of our nation.  Explorers arrived on our shores as early as 1534 when French explorers under Jacques Cartier celebrated Canada’s first Roman Catholic mass, at their camp of Brest on Labrador’s coast.  The following year, Cartier became the first European to sail into the St. Lawrence River, which he believed was a route to Asia. Two sons of Iroquois Chief Donnacona, who were guiding Cartier, referred to their native village as Canada, the explorer’s first exposure to the name.  For more history of the connection that Canada has to France, see here.

There have been wars from the beginning of time, and if you think about it, most have been fought in the name of religion.  Many continue to believe that the terrorists who today sabotage peoples' freedoms and rights are fighting in the name of their religion.  They are not!  The President of France, François Hollande said in his speech to the nation yesterday that these terrorist are "uncivilized cowards."  He also stated that "we are going to lead a war which will be pitiless. Because when terrorists are capable of committing such atrocities they must be certain that they are facing a determined France, a united France, a France that is together and does not let itself be moved, even if today we express infinite sorrow.”  I say that these cowards will face a determined world, a united world, that will unite to annihilate them forever. 

VIVE LA FRANCE
 

 

VIVE LE CANADA
 

 

VIVE LA GUERRE
 

There is no deeper sorrow than when innocent people are mowed down by bombs and military weapons.  And I will not even stoop to mention the name by which these terrorists are known.  We all know.  And with the greatest respect to all ABC Wednesday contributors, I apologize for this rant. But we must stand tall and proud and defiant in the face of these tyrants.

 

Thanks to the stupendous work of Roger, our administrator, to the saintly Denise, the creator of ABCW, and to the sensational team who visit several blogs per week to leave scintillating comments.

R is for REBEL ROUSER

 

This is a repeat performance post from May 2013 but since there are lots of new contributors, I thought I'd repost (since I couldn't think of anything original - sorry about that.)

 



"Rebel Rouser" is one of Duane Eddy's hit records from 1958.  By 1963, Eddy had sold 12 million records and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.  Among other awards, he has received the "Chetty" award by Chet Atkins (2000), the Guitar Player Magazine Legend Award (2004), Musicians Hall of Fame Member (2008), and the Mojo Icon Award UK (2010).  Some of his well-known hits include "Peter Gunn," "Ring of Fire," "My Blue Heaven," "Deep in the Heart of Dixie," "The Ballad of Palladin," "Ghost Riders in the Sky," and "Freight Train" among others.  In 2011, he released his latest album, "Road Trip." If you're a fan of Duane Eddy, you can check out his website here.

I heard the music of "Rebel Rouser" recently and just couldn't help but think of my puppy Tegan and how much I related the music to her rambunctious behaviour lately.  She is almost 6 months old already and has learned the rules well.  However, she is also into that phase where she's testing the rules and sometimes it's quite amusing and sometimes not so much.  I'm still having a bit of a rough time getting her to "come" when called, especially when there are distractions around. But she is so sweet and loving that it's hard not to laugh when she's acting all playful and nicks a sock, a shoe, or an item of underwear from the laundry pile.  Then she rolls on her back in a total submission and I roar with laughter.

This week's video (to the music of Duane Eddy's "Rebel Rouser") shows various stages of Tegan's life regarding the letter R.  Enjoy.

We mustn't forget to give a shout out to the ravishing Denise Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday and to Roger, our current rakish administrator.  Hope you all have a relaxing week.

Q is for QUIET

This week ABC Wednesday is brought to you by the letter Q.  A few weeks ago for the letter N, I wrote about how the noise level in my home had risen due to my daughter and her family temporarily moving in with me.  I was starting to get used to it at the same time the kids were getting used to the change in their lives when my daughter had to go away on a business trip.  Alas, poor daughter "had" to go to the Bahamas where all the costs were covered.  So her husband went along for the ride and they had a fantastic holiday.  They really deserved it as they had only ever gone camping for holidays with the kids and also took them to Disneyland once.  They came home late Sunday night and everything is getting back to normal again.  The kids are at school all day, daughter is at work, and son-in-law and I take the dogs out for their daily runs and then we work on our photography.  We're both fanatics about it.

Anyway, it is now QUIET again!  Peace and quiet abide together from 8:30 am until I arrive home from tutoring (at the library now) until 4:00 pm.  It was a lot of work taking care of the kids while their parents were away and the noise level rose again.  Sometimes it was tough and at other times there were lots of cuddles.  We had fun over Halloween and had the most kids ever come trick or treating at my place while my other daughter took the kids out.

Here are a few of my photos I took when we visited Westham Island Herb Farm to see their scarecrow displays on the morning of Halloween.  Thanks, also, to the quintessential Denise Nesbitt, creator of ABCW, and to Sir Roger who does quality work for us.

PUMPKIN PATCH

This week, ABC Wednesday is brought to you by the letter P, as in pumpkin patch.  We spent the afternoon at Country Farms Pumpkin Patch yesterday, and the kids had a blast going out into the fields to pick their pumpkins.  It was very expensive to go into that particular area where you could have a hay ride, a mini train ride, get an apple and other treats and view the displays.  So I opted to be photographer and caught them as they went by on the hay ride and then went and shot just about everything I saw - from roosters, bunnies, goats, and piles of fresh vegies in the market area.  When we got home, my daughter and son-in-law helped the kids design and carve their pumpkins.  They were leaving last night on a vacation/business trip, so wanted to share the experience with the kids before they left.  So we now have 5 pumpkins decorating my front porch and the kids just need to put candles inside for Halloween night.  Here are some photos of our great day at the pumpkin patch.

With plenty of thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt, our perennial leader/creator, and to the popular Roger, our personable administrator.  Also, plenty more thanks to the phenomenal team who pop by to give each contributor praiseworthy points of view.  See you all next week for the letter Q.

O is for OTTAWA

Ottawa - Canada's capital city has erupted in joy!  The "reds" (Liberals) ousted the long-standing Conservative government after almost 10 years in power.  It was an extremely exciting night on October 19, 2015, as we watched the results come in.  Apparently, in the last election, only about 44% of Canadians voted but this time, over 68% voted, which was the biggest turnout since 1993 (17 million people voted)!  It was a phenomenal turnout and people were even voting at the early voting stations the week before. 

Our new Prime Minister is Justin Trudeau, son of one of our most famous previous Prime Ministers, Pierre Eliot Trudeau, who always wore a red rose in his lapel.  Young Mr. Trudeau campaigned hard on his platform of "real change" for all Canadians.  It remains to be seen exactly what he has in mind, although he has said that he will use deficits to stimulate the economy. 

Justin Trudeau has lots of supporters, although some feel he is not ready to be Prime Minister.  A good friend of mine posted these comments on Facebook:

"This is the day when the great country of Canada elects a high school drama teacher (and snow board instructor) who has no proven leadership abilities, has a spotty academic record, and has an even spottier attendance record as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons. However, his last name is Trudeau, and he has great hair. There has never been anyone more unqualified to be the Prime Minister of our country. Who are the puppet masters pulling the strings? That's who Canadians are really voting for. People are voting against our current Prime Minister. When you vote against someone, you get who you vote for. It's truly frightening."

and this:

“ 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' ~~ George Santayana

I have very mixed feelings about last night's Canadian election. There is no question that Canada needed a change. But did we really get it? No, we didn't. Once again we have the ghost of Pierre Elliott Trudeau hanging over our country. I think dynastic politics should not be allowed. In Canada, we now have the Trudeaus, and there will probably at some time be a third. In the US, a country of some 335 million people, they're stuck with either the Clintons or the Bushes. Is that really change?

Is a 43-year-old man with very little political experience and no proven leadership abilities really qualified to be Prime Minister of a country like Canada, simply because he shares the same DNA as a previous Prime Minister? Isn't this how royalty started? I have always said that if monarchies did not exist, we would invent them."

 Now, I don't necessarily agree with all my friend has written, but it is true that Canada needed some sort of change.  I admit that I always thought that our previous (Conservative) Prime Minister Stephen Harper did an excellent job keeping our country economically sound even in the midst of the American recession. 

Notice the areas where the Liberals swept the country.  ALL of Atlantic Canada went red; all of the northwest territories went red; a small portion of Quebec (as usual) went Bloc Quebecois; most of the prairie provinces were conservative (blue); and the rest (orange) went to the New Democratic Party.  It might appear that there is more orange, but one needs to know that the population in these areas is very sparse. 

Canada has spoken loud and clear.  We have made our bed.  Now we lie in it ... and we wait. 



N is for NOISE

Welcome to N week here at ABC Wednesday.  I thought I'd write about noise this week because I have been hearing a lot of it since last Friday.  Why last Friday, you ask?  Well, my daughter and her husband along with two kids ages 11 and 7 moved in with me.  This is a temporary measure as they sold their house and we are looking to buy another one together.  We are all getting along nicely, but it is a huge learning curve for all concerned. 

I have been used to my own routine with a minimum of noise around me.  My constant companion is Tegan and she is used to my routine, too.  So both of us have been displaced.  Don't get me wrong - we all talked at length about this and totally agree on all changes made.  But poor Tegan doesn't understand and was actually sick today on my newly cleaned carpet!  Poor baby!  And she also has to get used to their little dog, Lucy (half Shitzu-half Havanese). 

 

I have given my daughter and son-in-law the master bedroom and I have taken over the guest room, while the children are sharing my office.  I moved my desk out and they moved a double bed in along with the X-Box.  The kids and I share a bathroom, too. 

 

So with this past weekend being our Thanksgiving, it's a long weekend in which we all are working out the details and snags.  The kids were so excited to be moving in with Gramma and starting a new school on Wednesday, so the noise level has been pretty high.  They had to try out the X-Box by playing "Call of Duty" and have been either at war with each other or laughing and giggling to the max!  *Sigh*

 

But I love them to death and wouldn't want it any other way right now.

With thanks to the naughty but nice Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator or ABCW, and to the noble Roger, our administrator.  Also, many thanks to the nutty group of bloggers who navigate over to all the contributors in order to narrate their observations of your nifty notions that have come out of your noggins.



M is for MISTY MORNINGS

Thought I'd share some of my photos that show the morning mist around my neighbourhood.  Hope you enjoy them. We'll start with a shot of Air Canada taking off from YVR.

 

Snow geese in November

Misty day at Terra Nova

Looking west towards the Gulf Islands



Looking north towards the mountains that are invisible.

Coast Guard Station in Richmond

With thanks to the marvelous Mrs. Nesbitt, creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the mighty Roger, our administrator.  Also, I would never forget to mention the magnanimous group of bloggers who go out of their way to leave magnificent praises to you all for your contributions.

L is for LOVELY

This week ABC Wednesday is brought to you by the Letter L - not only as for MOI (Leslie) but also for LOVELY as in the lovely weather we've had since the drought ended.  It had to be one of the worst summers I've spent here at home.  There was absolutely no respite, not even a drop of rain or drizzle and the heat was unbearable.  I don't know how people live in hot and humid climates! 

Anyway, I thought I'd bring you a few photos of my little corner of the world to show you how lovely it is right now.  My favourite place to be is near the water.

First up, here's a lovely little home-made sailboat that was docked at Wellington Point the other day.

And here's another little outboard motor boat that was hiding in the grasses and reeds down by Sharkey's Restaurant at their wharf.

Here's a shot of part of the river that runs through Ladner (OH! Another L word!)

Here is a shot across the water to the marina where lovely fishing boats are moored.

And finally, I just can't resist including a picture of my "granddog" Lucy and Tegan waiting patiently while I do my thing.

Thanks to the lovely Lady Nesbitt, the creator of ABCW, and to the likeable Lord Roger, our administrator.  Don't forget about the loyal team of ABCW'ers who leap from blog to blog to leave lovely comments for everyone.

K is for British slang words

 

No story, no moral, no point today except to bring you a few odd British words that we also use in Canada that begin with the letter K.  Just for fun.

 

KERFUFFLE (a big fuss)

 

 

KNACKERED  (tired, exhausted)

 

 

KNICKERS (underwear)

 

 

KNOCK UP  (wake up)

 

KNICK (to steal)

 KNEES UP (to party hardy)

 

So there you have it - some strange vocabulary for some but if anyone has any British heritage at all, I'm sure you've heard at least some of these.  Thanks to the adorably kitschy Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday and to our keen administrator Roger.  Also many thanks to each member of the team who leaves knockout comments so everyone feels welcome.

J is for JEALOUSY

With my mind turning towards my students as they return to school this month, I started thinking about some of my favourite Shakespearean plays that I will have to help them understand. 

Othello stands out as one of my favourites when Iago says to Othello, "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;  It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss  Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;  But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er  Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!"  What he's actually saying (in modern parlance) is "I hope you get jealous and kill your wife because that would fit in perfectly with my plans."  Iago is nasty, malicious and evil just for the pure fun of it! 

Jealousy can turn people into monsters just like Iago.  It can cause insane rage and play on one's selfishness and fears.  This is not going to be a missive on how to overcome it.  I thought I'd just share my thoughts on the emotion through a poem I wrote a few years ago when I was teaching my class about nouns that depicted emotions.

JEALOUSY

Jealousy is a green that’s hard to define.

It looks like terribly tangled vines.

It sounds like wallowing and whimpering whines.

It smells like a strange scent on his neckline.

It tastes like muddy paranoid pies.

It feels like razor blades when he tells his lies.

Jealousy is sin in others’ eyes.
 

However, jealousy can also be a positive emotion.  Really?  How could that possibly be true?  Well, it could be an indicator of where you want to be in your life.  It could cause some curiosity about how someone else attained their goal, which could be a precipitator to reaching your own goal.  Jealousy can also cause you to look inside yourself so you can see and become more grateful for what you have been able to do so far in your life.  This is the best quote I've seen recently on the topic of jealousy:

With thanks to the jolly Mrs. Nesbitt, creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the jovial Roger, our administrator.  Also, don't forget to throw out a big "Thanks" to the joyful team members who like to join in the fun by jumping over to many blogs to read your jottings or about your latest journey or your favourite jam or jelly recipe.  See y'all next week for the letter K.