Y is for YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE

Click on the video to listen as you peruse the rest of my post about the upcoming Round 15 of ABC Wednesday.  The letter Y is always a hard one to think of something original so I decided to just put up the song "You Can't Hurry Love" which is sort of my personal anthem.  After all, it took several decades for Lorne and me to get married.  We met in 1969 and finally tied the knot on May 1, 2014!  In our case, we sure didn't hurry!  Yowzers! 

Only this week and next before we start another round of ABC Wednesday.  I hope you are still enjoying the experience, especially those of you who are new to it.  I've been participating since the letter B in Round 2, which makes 6 1/2 years!  It might seem like a long time for some, but I find it exhilarating to come up with something creative each week that can combine my writing and photography.  Plus, I've met many new friends through this medium and have even met Denise Nesbitt, the creator of ABCW, having been her guest at her home in North Yorkshire where she served tea and scones and gave us some eggs fresh from her hens!  I feel as though I know Roger well, too, having emailed with him over the past few years since he's been administrating the site.  For the next round (15), we have a new logo, designed specifically for ABCW by Troy.  Read Roger's intro to find out more about this logo:

So be sure to spread the news of this fabulous and popular hangout!  And if you are in the least bit curious about becoming a "team member," just contact Roger at the above link, and he'll get you set up.  It would probably take 15 - 30 minutes a week to visit about 10 contributors and leave a brief comment.  And as I mentioned, you'll get to know lots more people (if you want) and during your world travels (LOL) it'll be fun to visit with them. 

 

Maybe "you can't hurry love," but be sure to hurry over to Roger to sign up as a team member, hurry to yak with your friends about ABCW, and hurry to think of some ideas to share with us all during Round 15. 



X is for XEROX

How many of you are willing to admit you remember the days of the old mimeograph machines that spat out copies in purple ink?  Well, I must admit I not only remember them, but also used them for my first years of teaching.  And I actually still have a copy of a French exercise that I made up way back in those dark ages!  Recently, I learned that "the mimeograph can be traced to inventor Thomas Edison, who patented a stencil duplicator called “autographic printing.” Albert Blake Dick invented the mimeograph in 1884, and Wilhelm Ritzerfeld gave us the ditto machine in 1923."  (Remembering the Ditto and Mimeograph - by Harmon Jolley)

The mimeo was made by typing a document on a wax-covered stencil with the typewriter ribbon disengaged.  The impressions left on the paper were then filled with ink when squeezed through the mimeograph's rollers.  And the smell that came from the ditto machine’s duplicating fluid, a mix of methanol and isopropanol, was really strong when the paper was hot off the press!  And I don't know why, but the colour was always purple... anyone know why? 

Nowadays, printers are usually referred to as "Xerox" machines after the company that was founded in 1906 to manufacture photographic paper and equipment developed a new product for printing images using an electrically charged drum and dry powder "toner."  The word "Xerox" comes from the Greek meaning "dry writing." 

We've come a long way since those early days of duplicating what we write!  But looking at the following photo, it is now apparent to me why we were always calling the copier repairman!

And now modern machines do double-sided, enlarge or minimize, collate, staple and more!  I think I'd need another degree in "Machine Management" to be able to work one of them!



After this week, there are only two more weeks for Round 14 so we're eXcited to see how many of our new (or old - and I don't mean that in age!) contributors might like to join in the fun of being on the eXcellent team that visits 10 posts per week.  I'm sure you already do that anyway, but it's always eXtra fun to meet others on ABC Wednesday.  We do count on your help in keeping this eXciting weekly blog spot a place to eXhibit your writing and photography!  Please contact the eXtraordinary Roger, our administrator, to let him know and he'll eXplain the duties further.  Also, thanks to the eXceptional Mrs. Nesbitt, who created ABC Wednesday over 7 years ago!

W is for WAKING THE DEAD

As I typed the title of this post, I felt like it was myself that needed waking!  I've been so weary lately that I could just sleep for days!  I guess it's partly let-down from all the wedding excitement and part stress from worrying about Lorne's osteomyelitis and the hernia surgery he needs urgently as soon as the osteo clears up.  But as I always say, "this too shall pass." 

"Waking the Dead" is a reference to a BBC television series that we have recently discovered on our local "Knowledge" network.  When I first saw the title, I thought it was "The Walking Dead" but that's another show about vampires, in which I am not the least bit interested. However, "Waking the Dead" is a crime show about a group of British CID police detectives, a psychological profiler, and a forensic scientist who solve cold cases.  It's intelligent, gritty, and realistic and we would never miss it now that we know what it's about. 

Click here to watch a bit of the pilot show.  It's 1 hour and 39 minutes long, but just watch a bit to see what it's about.  If it appeals to you, check it out on stations in your area.  This is a photo of the cast in the episodes we're watching. After researching the show to tell you all about it, I found out it began in September 2000 and ended in April 2011. Season 3 has just started here, so there are a lot of episodes left for us to watch as actors develop and come and go. 

We are almost at the end of Round 14 of ABC Wednesday and so it's time to shout out another welcome to any new contributors and to inquire if anyone has the time to participate on the ABCW team.  All that is required is to visit a pre-arranged (by Roger, our administrator) number of posts during the week.  As they say, "many hands make light work."  And if you'd like to go one step further, you could help out by doing one or two introductions during the round.  Whatever you decide, whether it is to be part of the team or to simply post your own weekly blog, be sure to let your friends know about ABCW so they can get in on the fun!

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

V is for VILLAGE

Again, a difficult letter to work with for ABC Wednesday, the letter V speaks to me about my village of Ladner, just south of Vancouver in Canada.  I have lived here since 1978 with a brief foray to Ottawa when my first husband took a temporary posting with Telecom Canada.  The house in which I and Lorne currently make our home is about a 5-minute walk from "downtown" Ladner so we are quite close to the shops and special events that take place there at different times of the year.

When I first moved here in 1978, it was a very rural area with a small population and not too many people were familiar with the area.  However, as house prices rose in the big city, people started looking for other places to live so they could commute to work.  Now we feel like we live in a small town and the traffic is getting so bad that we'd love to move further out.  But it still is a very pretty area on the banks of the Fraser River, with fantastic weather and good access to the city. Also, the quaint coastal fishing setting and heritage buildings bring in vast numbers of film crews for movies. 

Basically, we believe that we live in a "wonderful world" here, so will most likely stay forever.  Enjoy the slideshow and be sure to turn up the music to give you the right ambiance.  Cheers!

Before you click on the video, though, be sure to think of the vivacious Mrs. Nesbitt (creator of ABC Wednesday) and the venerable Roger, our current administrator and thank them for their vigilance in keeping ABCW going.  Also, do remember the team whose participation is vital to the success of ABCW.  If you'd like to participate as a "team member" by visiting about 10 posts per week, please contact Roger.  Thanks!

U is for UNDISCIPLINED



I was totally stumped about this week for the letter U.  I researched the Internet and went through my photos and couldn't figure out what to do...until I was looking at the shots I have of Tegan, our 18-month-old yellow English Lab.  And suddenly I had it - UNDISCIPLINED.  It's taken us a long time to train her, but looking back and seeing how undisciplined she was, I think we've done a pretty good job teaching her to be a good, friendly, well-trained dog. 

The only unfortunate thing is that she may be a bit too friendly because she loves to greet everyone and anyone she sees and sometimes that can be a bit frightening for those who don't know her.  She goes bounding up, unbidden, circles the person while wiggling and waggling her tail before running back to us pell-mell.  I know that if I saw some huge animal coming at me, I'd be rather upset myself. 

Ah well, this week deserves a humorous little slideshow showing Tegan in training.  You may have seen a few of these shots before, but they all tie into the story of her training.  Enjoy and please have a wonderful week.  Do remember to think of the unequivocal Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday, and the unflagging Roger, our administrator, for keeping us all upbeat each week.

T is for TIME

I noticed that Troy wrote about TIME for his introduction this week, so it gave me an idea to run with the same topic.  Thanks, Troy!

I agree with Troy when he questions "Where has the time gone?"  I think about this in terms of my life, the lives of my children and grandchildren, the fact that my parents are now gone and I'm the "next generation" to look forward to whatever comes next. 

I think about Lorne and me and how we loved each other so long ago and still totally love each other today.  Where did those years go when we were apart?  I'm am so grateful that we're together again at last...for eternity now! 

I think about my late husband and find it almost unbelievable that it has been 22 years since he died.  He never got to see the Internet or all the technological advances of today's society.  He would have loved it!

I think about the births of my daughters and it seems like it was only yesterday!  But now they are both married ladies, one of whom is also a mother.  I think about the births of these grandchildren and wonder how one is already in double digits and halfway through elementary school. I took this photo of them down at Centennial Beach when they stayed over for a few nights summer of 2012.

I think about the pets I've had because life to me is not total without a cat or dog (which I prefer) to which I can give total unconditional love and from which I receive the same.  Tegan is now our baby girl and I love her so much!

It's true that the older we get, the faster time seems to travel.  With that in mind, I try to make a point of living each moment to its fullest.  For example, today when I was tutoring my 10-year-old grandson, I lifted up his long curly hair to look in his ear and told him "Yes, you do have a brain in there!" and we both laughed!  And I will never ever forget when my 6-year-old granddaughter Eden told me I looked like a "Princess Bride" on my wedding day!

Speaking of our wedding day, I'd like to thank everyone for all the good wishes sent to us through this blog!  We may be well into the autumn of our lives now, but we are so thankful for all our friends who took the time to wish us well.  We are still looking forward to a honeymoon and hopefully it's not in the too distant future since Lorne will be having his surgery on June 11th.  Hopefully, he will bounce back and be well enough for us to have a "mini-moon" in September.

Thanks also to the trendy Mrs. Nesbitt, creator of ABC Wednesday and to the talented Roger, our administrator, without whom we might be terribly tardy with our contributions to ABCW.  Have a terrific week!

PS:  Did you notice that I used mauve for the highlighted words this week?  That was the accent colour for our wedding!  And did you notice that my shoes were mauve silk?

S is for SLOT MACHINE

The highlight of our wedding soiree for the grandchildren and godchildren was the SLOT machine!  Yes, my dear friend Wendy is the proud owner of an authentic slot machine that she "earned" when she sold someone's house.  The story goes that when she listed her client's home, she noticed the slot machine in one of the rooms and went schizo over it.  The owner told her that if she could sell the house in a month, the slot machine was hers.  She sold it in a week!  After signing all the paperwork, the owner helped her load it in her car and off she went. 

Needless to say, it's a highlight for her own grandchildren whenever they visit or spend the night.  And during our wedding soiree, my grandson Noah (age 10) and his sister Eden (age 6) along with Lorne's godson Hunter (age 9 wearing the snazzy fedora) spent the whole evening taking turns at the "Kitchen Casino" slot machine whooping and hollering when they hit it big!  Yes, real money comes out and the kids just kept shoveling it back in.  What a hoot! (Lorne's goddaughter, thirteen-year-old Violet, preferred to hang out with the adults.) 

Here's a link to a home video Wendy shot of one of her granddaughters on a Saturday morning as she played with the slot machine. Click here.  Be sure to turn up the sound to get the full impact!  Anna is so silly as she grooves to the music. It has to be pretty special to prefer the slot machine to Saturday morning cartoons!

Thanks to the sensational Denise Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the stellar Roger, our administrator.

Oh, on a side note, my ankle had a tiny chip come loose and the tendon is damaged and pretty sore, but nothing like the last time.  I can walk without the boot and go up and down the stairs one step at a time holding onto the railing for dear life.  Physiotherapy again!  So sad!

R is for RIP-ROARING

As I'm sure my regular readers will remember, I got married last week. It was a magical day, from morning until we fell into bed exhausted.  I was tired for the next several days, but continued to keep going on the adrenalin rush.  I looked at all the photos, decided which ones to keep, had them printed and had a couple enlarged to put in frames.  My friend Wendy used to be a professional photographer, so that and coordinating the wedding plus hosting the "after party", was her gift to us.  What a priceless gift from a priceless friend!

The "after party" was a rip-roaring rousing success, too!  Most of the guests continued with us into the evening with a rib-tickling barbecue of chicken, beef and pork kebobs, Greek and Caesar salads, roasted potatoes, and Greek-style rice.  Dessert was whatever was left over from the "tea" plus more wedding cake.  Also, the wine was flowing, margharitas were frothing, and the beer was foaming!  The lights in the trees twinkled under the crescent-shaped moon and everyone from the bride's side and the groom's side mingled to become fast friends.





daughter Jaclyn did my makeup for me





daughter Jamie helped out at the "tea"









Lorne
loves
to
barbecue

At the party, we played what is called the "shoe game," which I'd never heard of before.  Wendy asked us a bunch of funny questions and we had to raise either our own shoe or our spouse's shoe to indicate the answer.  This was probably the question "Who spends the most money?"  lol  I'm a saver; Lorne is a spender! 

And so... back to reality.  The house needs cleaning and the dog needs walking.  Our honeymoon is on hold due to Lorne's need for one more surgery (serious hernias) and we don't want to travel anywhere out of the immediate area until that is dealt with. 

So on Saturday, I took Tegan for our morning walk at Ladner Harbour Park where we stroll the trails, take a break to play Frisbee, and stroll back to the car.  We were almost to the junction where we'd cut up to the car, when suddenly, a tree root reached out and grabbed my foot!  I did a belly flop right onto the side of the trail in the grass, and felt my right ankle go...yes, the one that had just healed from two breaks just eight months ago! 

At first, I thought I might not be able to breathe, but I managed to get up on my hands and knees and took some deep breaths.  Thankfully, Tegan stayed right with me.  Then an older lady came along with her dog and helped me get up onto my good leg, but I couldn't put any weight on the right foot.  Neither of us knew how I was going to get back to my car, but then I saw a couple I knew from church and they came over to help, too.  Long story short, I called Lorne to tell him the ambulance was coming, Candy would drive my car with Tegan home while her hubby Danny followed.  Then, Lorne should come to the ER. 

I am now back in the boot I rightfully called "Frank" (from Frankenstein) and awaiting a call from the orthopedic surgeon for an appointment.  The ER doctor said it appeared that the ankle did not heal properly and it was difficult to tell if it's broken, but he feels I should see the orthopedist for a second opinion.  So, it's going to be rest and relaxation (again!) for me for a while. 

Oh, and one of the questions in the "shoe game" was "Who is more likely to be injured?"  Well, duh!

Have a resounding week, everyone, and remember to give thanks to our resplendent Denise, the creator of ABCW and to our rabble-rousing Roger, our administrator! (j/k Roger!)

Q is for QUEEN

No, not Queen Elizabeth of the Commonwealth countries or Queen Margrethe of Denmark...but rather Queen for a day on May 1st, 2014.  Yes, I definitely felt like a queen on my wedding day.  Everything went off without a hitch and everyone had a wonderful time.  I'm glad it was a small wedding, albeit with all the traditions of a wedding.  I was able to visit with everyone and everyone mingled well with each other.  I must admit I was shaking a bit when walking down the aisle, but that was from excitement and not from second thoughts.  Lorne was beaming at me and later said that when he first saw me, he felt overwhelmed with emotion. 

We had two people taking photographs - my dearest friend Wendy, who not only took photos, but also coordinated the whole shindig while working at her regular job, and one of Lorne's best friend's son, whose children are Lorne's godchildren.  Also, my daughter Jaclyn (who did my makeup) took several photos when we came home for a brief rest before the evening's soiree began.  It seemed as though everyone had a camera or phone pointed our way, but that was fine.  It was all such fun. 

In a previous post, I mentioned that I thought Lorne would pick one of Van Morrison's songs for the first dance and I was wrong!  What he chose, and that he kept secret from absolutely everyone, was Etta James' version of "At Last."  I was so surprised and we had a lovely first dance on the shaded porch of the 100-year-old mansion.

So it's been a while since I did a Smilebox slideshow, but I think this occasion warrants one.  Enjoy!

Next week, I'll share all about the "rip-roaring" after party we had that night!

P is for PARTY

As Rod Stewart sang, "Yeah, clap your hands - We're having a party, dancing to the music" this week.  Yes, our big day is Thursday, May 1st, 2014, and the ceremony begins at noon.  So about a half hour later, I will be able to call myself "Leslie Evans."  If you've been following my recent blogs, you will recall that it's been a long time coming.  I never wanted to go back to my maiden name and I was never really accepted by my first husband's family once he was gone.  Both my daughters have married names now, so I'm thrilled to take my new husband's name. 

So we will party after the ceremony in a "respectable" manner at the high tea we have planned, complete with official cake cutting, speeches, toasts, and the first dance.  Then around 6pm, we will gather at our friends' place to continue partying into the night.  That will be a "get-down, boogie woogie, have a drink and dance on the patio under the tiny white garden lights" type of party.  The weather forecast is for a sunny and warm day, so the evening will be clear and the stars will shine down upon us.

I wrote the following poem back in December of 2011 with our marriage in mind. 

UNITY

Unity is a milky, pearly white.

It looks like starlight on a clear, bright night.

It sounds like a cob calling to his pen.

It smells like popcorn shared in the den.

It tastes like sweat as we share one life.

It feels like serenity throughout the strife.

Unity is two, a husband and wife.

And Lorne took this photo down by the river in our village. I love it so much that it is on our wedding website, which you are welcome to view if you like. It's here.

Stay tuned for photos!  I will post them as I get them.  And if you're so inclined, it would be nice if you would pray for health, happiness, and a long life together for us.  Thanks!  In the meantime, don't forget to silently (or in print) thank the playful Mrs. Nesbitt for her creative ABC Wednesday and Roger, our perspicacious administrator.

O is for ODYSSEY

Like Homer's Odysseus and his odyssey to find his wife Penelope again, it seems like Lorne's and my odyssey is almost over.  It began in 1969 when we met at Kerrisdale Arena in Vancouver, BC, when we spotted each other on the ice.  That began a 3 1/2 year adventure that ended when Lorne got cold feet about getting married (even though he's asked me).  Thirty-nine years later, we reconnected and have been planning to get married since the following year - 2009.  Major back surgery and a broken ankle for me plus two surgeries and two onerous rounds of chemo for Lorne made the wedding take a back seat.  Now, in about one week, the "wedding that should have been" will finally happen and we will become one in marriage.  Even at our age, we have butterflies and can hardly wait.

Everything is in place now with all the arrangements and organization done so all we have to do is pray that Lorne's hernias don't burst before the big day.  He'll be having one more surgery to fix that before we open up the travel page and decide on our honeymoon trip.  It might be this summer; it might have to wait a bit longer.  But at least we'll finally be married!  It has been quite the odyssey!

Stay tuned but in the meantime, be sure to think of our dear Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday and the obliging Roger, our administrator, who keeps things rolling along.

N is for NERVOUS

I hope you're not getting tired of my writing about our upcoming nuptials.  After all, it's not every day that a, shall we say, "mature" couple ties the knot. 

The other night when I went to bed, I lay there with a nervous stomach!  I was thinking about our big day and all the preparations we've done in the last few months and I thought, "Wow! It's finally happening!  Please Lord don't let anything happen to jinx this!"  I had the weirdest butterflies and actually started to shake a bit. 

It has been a long journey for us with ups and downs and twists and turns.  We could have been married back in the early 70's and now be celebrating over 40 years of marriage.  But apparently there was another plan for us.  No point in looking back.  We need to keep our eyes on the path ahead of us and make every day count. 

I heard something amusing, but sweet, the other day about my mother's best friend who is now 95 years young!  She has a 90-year-old beau.  Well, if that news didn't make me feel young, I don't know what possibly could have.  I guess the saying is true - "Just because there's snow on the roof doesn't mean there's no fire in the furnace."

So yes I'm nervous about the big day being a great day!  But I am not nervous about having made the right decision about getting married to Lorne.  This is going to be the wedding that should have been and we will make it wonderful.

Can you guess my colour scheme?  Also, don't forget to give thanks to the noteworthy Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday, and to our noble administrator Roger.

M is for Magical Music

One of the many things I've been working on lately has been music for the wedding.  The song "Do You Believe in Magic" by the Lovin' Spoonfuls came to mind as I mused about all the choices we have for our wedding music.  I do believe that the right music will bring a magical quality to any event, especially to a wedding.  Have a listen.

Lorne is extremely knowledgeable about music, having a collection of probably close to 500 CDs and another 400-500 LPs.  Each piece is in absolutely mint condition, so we have lots to choose from.  We are not having a church wedding, so we're keeping the music more contemporary (rather than traditional or religious).  So I will be walking down the (mini) aisle to a Roy Todd original piano piece called "Radiant as a Bride," (listen here) we will sign the registry to Louis Armstrong's rendition of "It's a Wonderful World," and we will leave the ceremony to James Taylor's "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You." 

One of the CDs we're playing during the reception is called "Unforgettable Sax" with Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable" the first piece of music up - a very appropriate piece of music for us. Also, Lorne has promised to choose the first dance music and I have a feeling he'll choose Van Morrison's haunting "Someone Like You" from his Still on Top - The Greatest Hits CD.   I love the rhythm and the melody and the words are also very appropriate for us. And here are the lyrics and you can hear it here.

I'VE BEEN SEARCHING A LONG TIME

FOR SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

I'VE BEEN TRAVELING ALL AROUND THE WORLD

WAITING FOR YOU TO COME THROUGH

SOMEONE LIKE YOU MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE

SOMEONE LIKE YOU KEEP ME SATISFIED

SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

I'VE BEEN TRAVELING A HARD ROAD

BABY LOOKING FOR SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

I'VE BEEN CARRYING MY HEAVY LOAD

WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO COME SHINING THROUGH

SOMEONE LIKE YOU MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE

SOMEONE LIKE YOU MAKE ME SATISFIED

SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

I'VE BEEN DOING SOME SOUL SEARCHING

TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU'RE AT

I'VE BEEN UP AND DOWN THE HIGHWAY

IN ALL KINDS OF FOREIGN LANDS

SOMEONE LIKE YOU MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE

SOMEONE LIKE YOU KEEP ME SATISFIED

SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

I'VE BEEN ALL AROUND THE WORLD

MARCHING TO THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUM

BUT JUST LATELY I HAVE REALIZED

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

SOMEONE LIKE YOU MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE

SOMEONE LIKE YOU KEEP ME SATISFIED

SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

written by Van Morrison © Exile Publishing Ltd / EMI Music Publishing

  

At the after party, we'll take along some of Lorne's best CDs so we can cut a rug on our friends' patio while we whoop it up.  Whatever we end up choosing, I know the music will make the entire day a magical experience for us both.

L is for LISTS

My life is limited by lists, lately.  Some are written down and some are in my head.  When I got married in my 20's, my parents took over and did everything.  It didn't even occur to me to have a say in anything.  It's different now, so I can do everything just the way I want.  But that's not to say it's easy! 

There really is so much to do - arrange the venue, the caterer, the baker, the flowers, the clothes for both the bride and groom and all the attendants.  There are invitations to send out after narrowing down the list to what we're allowed at the venue.  There's a wedding website to write up (you can see it if you're at all interested here) and rsvp's to keep track of and buying gifts for the attendants on both the bride and groom's sides.  There are hair appointments to make and makeup appointments to make and music to write down and get onto a laptop or ipod....the lists just keep going on and on and on.  A friend is making my guest book as she has her own little "Lost Arts Café" where she does hand crafted books and journals.  We decided on the paper and colour scheme together so it's going to be lovely!

I think we're doing pretty well so far.  Monday I saw the florist and the caterer and I must stop in at the bakery.  I have my dress (to be fitted today), my shoes dyed to match, earrings and headpiece (no veil).  The dress is tea length and we decided to have a noon wedding with a type of high tea luncheon afterwards.  Then there will be an "after party" at our friends' place where we'll "get down" to the real partying.

One month from today (May 1st) is the big day and I'm getting very excited to finally marry the love of my life.

Lorne and Leslie

everlasting love

 



Don't forget to think of our legendary Denise who created this wonderful ABC Wednesday and of the laudable Roger, our administrator.  Without them, we'd all be lost!

K is for KAYAKS

Another repeat as I'm still so over my head with details from my recent move.  Hope you enjoy this post from March 2014.

A kayak is a small boat with a covered deck that is used for paddling on open waters of lakes, bays, and oceans.  There are always kayaks around my neighbourhood and always lots that you can rent if you don't own one.  I'm a bit nervous about them because you have to know exactly what to do if you go over and find yourself hanging down into the water.  Also, I don't have great upper body strength for paddling, but I do have enough upper body strength to take photos people kayaking.  Here's one of a young boy paddling his kayak and later on, both he and his Dad went paddling past me together.

 

Then one day in September after I'd broken my ankle and was already tired of my four walls, a friend took me for a drive down to Harbour Park and settled me in a deck chair.  Trusty camera in hand, I spied a couple of yellow kayaks coming towards me.  Here's one shot I caught as they silently glided past me. 

It all looks so relaxing, doesn't it?  When my friend Jane from Wales visited me a few years ago, she rented a kayak and paddled all around the tributaries nearby.  She loved it!  Any of you kayak?  Anyone ever tried it?  I wish I could, but I think I'd be much safer on shore.

Hope you like the photos but most of all I hope you like the fact that Mrs. Nesbitt was very keen on creating ABC Wednesday many years ago and that it's still going strong!  And we must remember to be thankful for the kind-hearted Roger who took on administrative duties when ABCW became too large for one person to handle.  He and his team of kindred spirits keep things rolling along each week!  Have a killer week everyone and see you next week with the letter L.

J is for JOYOUS JUMBLE of JITTERS

First of all, I must remind everyone that if it were not for the jazzy Denise Nesbitt, we would not have ABC Wednesday to keep us on our toes each week.  Also, we must thank our very own jolly Roger for taking on the duties of administrator of a blog that has exceeded all expectations! 

That said, I should be going into a very joyful time of my life.  The wedding preparations are moving along nicely and we're now talking weeks instead of months before the big day.  However, mixed with the joy of the upcoming event is a jumble of emotions that include not only excitement, but also jitters and fear. 

We have waited so long for this - one of the most important days of our lives.  And as I am going through my own jumble of emotions, I'm finding that Lorne is exhausted and all stressed out, too.  He's worried about money because he has been jobless for about 18 months due to cancer and the savings have gradually been disappearing.  He's worried about having to have surgery to repair the damage done from his liver surgery.  He's worried the cancer will come back at any time, even though his latest PET scan showed him to be free of it.  And he seems to be looking for reasons to start a fight.

Maybe it's all just normal jitters, but I guess I feel that at our age we should be able to cope better than 20-somethings.  If we can get away to a nice warm sandy beach with palm trees, hopefully we will get all juiced up and be raring to get on with life. 

So let's forget about the big C, broken ankles, and root canals!  Let's just get on with joy of living without the jumble of jitters!  Watch this space...

I is for IMAGINE

There has been so much bad news lately!  Russia and the Ukraine fight over Crimea with the Ukrainians trying to establish a new government and the loss of 239 people who went down in the South China Sea during a Malaysian flight.  Also, Oscar Pistorius is currently on trial for allegedly murdering his girlfriend by shooting her through his bathroom door.  And Syria is still at war, with a Canadian photographer being shot to death the other day. Activists sent his sister a photograph of his corpse!  And not even close to comparison, locals are astonished that Roberto Luongo (goalie of the Vancouver Canucks) was traded to the Florida Panthers. 

All of this horrible news had me thinking about the song written by John Lennon called IMAGINE.  The first two lines of the song, however, indicate his atheism, but overall it does make one stop and think. For myself, I prefer to believe that God's gift to us was peace, but our sinful nature won't stop. Is this God's plan?  Do we have to figure it out for ourselves? Perhaps we will only have peace in the next world.

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one.

JUST IMAGINE 

H is for HOCKEY

First of all, be sure to herald Mrs. Nesbitt for her heroic efforts at creating ABC Wednesday as well as the handsome Roger, our administrator.  Also, don't forget about the honorable and hard-working team that helps out by visiting a share of contributors.  Since we seem to be attracting quite a few new people, we are offering virtual hugs to anyone who'd like to join the team to help lighten the load.  If you would like to help out by visiting 8-10 posts per week, please contact Roger or leave me a comment here.

Well, the 2014 Winter Olympics is over and Canada is again the gold medal champions in HOCKEY - both the men's and women's teams.  It was an exciting series and we enjoyed seeing all the teams play because there were lots of players who play on our local Vancouver Canucks team who were playing for their home countries.  And it was even better than the regular season because (in my humble opinion) there was no fighting!  The games were played the way they were supposed to be played - with good sportsmanship and skill.  Here is our men's team.

And here is our women's team.

Canada did extremely well in all the sports events and we were humbled by the effort all members put into their individual events.  You can see photos of all of Canada's medal winners here.  These are great photos, by the way.  The country came third overall, with only Russia and Norway beating us. Congratulations to our friends and neighbours, the United States of America, who came fourth.

G is for Garden Delights

As I sit here on Saturday afternoon watching the wet snow fall from the leaden sky, all I can think of is that it's time for Spring!  Spring, with flowers blooming and Lorne getting excited about all the pots he's going to prepare for African daisies, echinaceas, fuschias, and tomatoes!  I think most people find that Spring improves one's mood as we get outside in the warm sunshine and our thoughts turn to baseball, leisurely walks along the seashore, and gardening.

With that in mind, I thought I'd give you a little prelude to Spring by bringing you some of my photos of the flowers in and around my garden.  Enjoy and don't forget to turn up the music that accompanies the photos. It's called "Spring Has Sprung."

But before you click on the slideshow, remember the gentle Denise (creator of ABC Wednesday) and the gregarious Roger (our administrator) without whom we would all be out in the cold without ABCW to keep us warm together throughout the cold winter months.