tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76935224140265782502024-02-06T18:29:45.511-08:00Writings of a Slightly Twisted Mind“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.” John W. GardnerDeborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-84861691393738310372013-03-22T16:33:00.001-07:002013-03-22T16:48:20.002-07:00Still at schoolSo, I'm almost through a second term at university. It's my third year, and I'm looking forward to graduating next year. I had no time to write on my blog, but I have a short interim between projects.
My main subjects are Novel, Novella writing (doing a Fantasy novel) and Stage Play scripting. I'm also doing Poetry, Liberal Studies, Non-Creative Writing, Astronomy, and a whole bunch more. Busy, busy, busy.
<br />
<blockquote>
Here's a poem I wrote last year:
<b><br /><br />Burden of a Shadow</b><br />
Snow, carries the shadows
of <br />trees without leaves,
<br />draws lines like scratches
on blank pages, <br />up
and over the white hills,
<br />weaving patterns
of crazy designs.<br /> <br />The movement of
little <br />birds left behind
through the winter, <br />
flutter to and 'fro, they
<br />speckle the landscape
with <br />grey darts of
fragmented haze. <br /><br />
Through the clouds,
the <br />sun spotlights
the pristine ground, <br />
throws blue and purple,
shifting <br />like sand dunes,
as it <br />arcs westwards
through <br />the northern sky.
<br /><br />What burden are these shadows?
Though <br />painted across
the frosty fields, and <br />sketched
along the edge of <br />the icy forest,
like an <br />ever-changing mural,
it <br /><br />doesn't carry the weight
of a butterfly.</blockquote>
Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-59681927981671903032012-09-09T12:12:00.001-07:002012-09-09T12:24:33.843-07:00Summer in all it's GloryI haven't posted in a long time ... I think it was still spring. So
much has happened in my life since, that I could write a book about it.
Well, maybe a short story.<br />
<br />
The summer started with the report that I am now three years cancer free. As you can imagine, that made for a very relaxed holiday period. Calgary was my choice to spend the summer ... three of my grandchildren live there with my daughter. I have other family, and friends there too.<br />
<br />
My son and I took the two grand-daughters (figured grandson, at 20 months was too young) to the Stampede Parade, which happened on a hot, sunny day. We had to put the kids onto our shoulders for them to see anything, but I think the atmosphere was exciting enough for them. The crowd, the yelling of "ya hoo", the music, summery day was a thrill for any young kid, although some were a little overwhelmed. But not my grandkids. No, they shouted along with the crowd. Walking back to our newly bought condo, I could see they were pretty tired. We quickly hopped into Starbucks for coffee and juice, and were home soon after. It didn't take them long to revive.<br />
<br />
The summer felt like it just shot past me like a bullet. Our condo is near the Bow River, and all the pathways and bridges criss-crossing it. I had a lovely time visiting with my daughter, niece and friends. We had lunches, dinners, movies and attended the Turkish Festival down the road, at the Eau Clair Market mall. The smell of the roasting lamb, and sweet baklava floated me to the market where I met some friends for the day. I shopped at Market Mall, Northill Mall, and Northlands Mall. All, old haunts from when we lived there years before, much changed. I bought our new furniture for the condo at Ikea, where I meandered along the pathways of the store. Can you beat their breakfast or lunch, in value and taste? I think not.<br />
<br />
My son went home ten days after. He attended the Stampede several times, catching some of the bands highlighted there. I was alone (but, not lonely) until my husband arrived a few weeks later.<br />
<br />
Now, I'm back home, with the first week of school behind me.
Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-49571777640980121752012-05-22T15:45:00.000-07:002012-05-23T12:02:00.298-07:00The Avengers movie<div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b>WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING </b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I've gone to see this movie twice now - in 3D and 2D, within the same week ... not my norm at all. <i>Hunger Games</i>? What's that? Kidding ..... :D</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<b>So, here's my opinion:</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I feel the interaction between the hero/ine characters (and even the anti-hero character, Loki) had some fantastic lines, and they made a dynamic team although their coming together was tense at first. I see many sequels in the future. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
When I was waiting in line with my daughter and friends, we discussed who our favourite character was. I liked Thor, but also Ironman. After watching The Avengers, however, The Incredible Hulk moved to the top. I never did like the The Incredible Hulk comics, but in the movie he had some real issues, both good and bad (I loved how he had that split personality thang going), and the best line, "puny god", spat out after thrashing poor Loki like a ragdoll, was classic.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
There was so much action, and comedy, and drama, that there was very little pause in the movie.<br />
<br />
<b>Actor/Character Specifics:</b><br />
<br />
I loved that Robin (Cobie Smulders as agent Maria Hill) from <i>How I met your Mother</i> tv fame, was cast as a strong leader. And, Scarlett Johanssen, Black Widow (or Natasha Romanoff) kicked ass. Two very strong female protagonists.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I've always been a huge fan of Robert Downey Jnr. ... <i>Sherlock Holmes</i> immediately comes to mind. To me, he's on a par with Johnny Depp. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Chris Hemsworth as Thor ... what can I say? Um ... yum! I love his voice, and ... well, everything. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Chris Evans, as Captain America, was slow to start off, but once he jumped out of that jet .... wow. I enjoyed how he took charge during the battle. I guess he's the only true soldier out of all the heroes. Black Widow and Hawkeye are agents ... a very different thing to being a leader in a battle. Thor is a god of Asgard, the hulk is a battering ram in his greenlike fury, and Ironman is a genius, dry humoured "trillionaire", used to getting his own way. They all played their parts very well.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I like Mark Ruffalo as an actor, although some of his movies have been a little weird, for instance, <i>The Kids are Alright</i>. He rocked as the hulk.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, played an intense character, first being a slave of Loki, then changed back, by Black Widow. To me he was very much a foil to the rest of the heroes. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<b>I have tried to think of something that drew my one eyebrow up: </b></div>
<ol style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<li>A flying aircraft carrier seemed unbelievable at first, but once the action started, my belief was definitely suspended. In 3D it was awesome, but also in 2D. </li>
<li>Nick Stark's patch with the weird squiggles emanating from it, was a little off-putting. It looked painted on. But, Samuel L. Jackson took to part well, as he does with everything he does.</li>
<li>It sucked when Agent Coulson died (or, did he?), but at least he went with drama and humour. I still wonder if he'll be back.</li>
<li>I think it would be a good idea to watch the Ironman, and Thor movies, to have an idea about the characters, although not imperative.</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Overall, this movie was beyond brilliant. One of those that you could watch over and over, like Lord of the Rings, or Starwars, or Star Trek, or The Pirates of the Caribbean, or Indiana Jones, or ..... y'all get my drift, I'm sure.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<br />Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-86730010114383608712012-05-14T01:13:00.000-07:002012-09-09T11:31:58.522-07:00Mother's Day - A Poem<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Today is Mother's Day, and I wrote a poem to memorialize it:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<style type="text/css">
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }
</style>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>A Mother Forevermore</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Some mothers have their children
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">for their lifetime</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">some, just a space on this earth,
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">and then they are called home,
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">never needing to grow old
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">their missions soon completed
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">in the physical world.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Then there are babies
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">who had their sweet little bodies</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">for just a short time
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">in their mom's wombs.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We think of them,
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">even though others may forget</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">their brief spark of life,
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">before shooting like a shooting
star</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">home to heavenly heights,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">always loved, always remembered,
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">always in our mother hearts</span></div>
Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-16379738578146895592012-05-04T09:38:00.000-07:002012-05-23T11:58:03.464-07:00Memoir - April 2012<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs1kgZ5kKOfPKstdXSnWal6L7i2EEARRVMaYDY5rWT4M8XHIakH3fxR1CNYhzma7-IZLKyThMCAO4IlJ2NwULmfMZPGG6D5iuX8NURyBUgoGQyhQSl8KdbIcwJkQTLxj-0S0_lqozPA6u/s1600/FanExpoVancouver_transformation106_1684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs1kgZ5kKOfPKstdXSnWal6L7i2EEARRVMaYDY5rWT4M8XHIakH3fxR1CNYhzma7-IZLKyThMCAO4IlJ2NwULmfMZPGG6D5iuX8NURyBUgoGQyhQSl8KdbIcwJkQTLxj-0S0_lqozPA6u/s200/FanExpoVancouver_transformation106_1684.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The transformation in process</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
April was a busy month.<br />
<br />
Beginning of the month I saw The Hunger Games with my husband. It was fantastic.<br />
<br />
5: I attended the launch of our university's literary magazine, The Portal. I have a short story published in the magazine ... my first published literary work. Yay!<br />
<br />
21-22: I went to my first fan expo with my daughter and her friend; this one was in Vancouver, Canada. It was fun, despite the long line-ups. The costumes some people wore were so creative. All genres of sci-fi and fantasy were represented, i.e. Star Wars, Star Trek, Game of Thrones, Stargate, and so on. Artists, actors, and voice actors were there signing their autographs. There were lots of t-shirts, artwork, comics, trinkets of every kind to buy. Even the batmobile was there. I will certainly go next year again.<br />
<br />
23-29: Went to Calgary to search for an apartment/condo. We found one, and hope we get the mortgage in time to meet the waiver ... next Tuesday.<br />
<br />
30: Got home in time to see my son off to Cadiz in Spain where he will be working for the next three weeks. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-71404533592574545092012-05-04T09:31:00.001-07:002012-05-04T12:22:27.674-07:00About Writing - April 2012<a href="http://www.writerstudio.com.au/index.php?option=com_easyblog&view=latest/index.php?/?option=com_easyblog&view=latest"><br /></a>I discovered this blog that I found interesting where writing is concerned - <a href="http://www.writerstudio.com.au/index.php?option=com_easyblog&view=latest/index.php?/?option=com_easyblog&view=latest">The Writer's Studio</a>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-43283395722050273502012-03-19T12:48:00.000-07:002012-03-19T12:48:37.327-07:00Memoir: Catching Up<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I haven't blogged since November 2011. Time for some catchin' up. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">November 2011 - studying. I was having a difficult time with Geography, but I passed, not well, but that's okay.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">December 2011 - we went to visit my daughter in Calgary between Christmas and New Year.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">January 2012 - back to studying: Poetry and Liberal Studies. Having fun with those and managed to write quite a lot of poems.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">February 2012 - Pretty much the same as January.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I don't seem to be living a very exciting life at the moment, but I do live in my mind and on my computer a lot. So, in those domains, I'm living it up!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Movies I've watched quite recently:</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Adventures of Tin Tin - Awesome. I grew up on the comics.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Help - I really enjoyed this movie. I'm glad it won so many oscars.</span>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-8468026215224586372011-11-18T12:45:00.000-08:002012-05-04T12:23:37.497-07:00Short Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOp2JjllRth_Gma-Vc80ZMVKe7ap8j-i1n2vencYGWu7A5rkfQsi2GykQFMnASWis7eR2VoUo1IQwTwGzPY2tfU-h329yNe_zpxE9BhUFPGwWKpXgwb4ZJHFcRe4I_MwN_7rIQiu1j7E_d/s1600/shortstorystory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOp2JjllRth_Gma-Vc80ZMVKe7ap8j-i1n2vencYGWu7A5rkfQsi2GykQFMnASWis7eR2VoUo1IQwTwGzPY2tfU-h329yNe_zpxE9BhUFPGwWKpXgwb4ZJHFcRe4I_MwN_7rIQiu1j7E_d/s1600/shortstorystory.jpg" /></a></div>
Someone posted this on my facebook. I don't know who the artist (let me know, if you know) is, but it's very funny.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-38787474775341641172011-11-18T12:19:00.000-08:002011-11-18T12:36:35.047-08:00Memoir - Life<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnxB6O7MZoiXYg0oMibuSlDV6lprotmoc8aAPUJdO_XonfbGASp_VWxhoyJVSpAnr0e8WS38nL8Y0BMN8UxBj_dobcNxxHR0ET8jHovKo2H2WRrCxOM0l1J95ALiXZu8QkiKOXvfQHGPA/s1600/dscf2161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnxB6O7MZoiXYg0oMibuSlDV6lprotmoc8aAPUJdO_XonfbGASp_VWxhoyJVSpAnr0e8WS38nL8Y0BMN8UxBj_dobcNxxHR0ET8jHovKo2H2WRrCxOM0l1J95ALiXZu8QkiKOXvfQHGPA/s320/dscf2161.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The river runs slower and wider 'til it enters the sea</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My life's river flows ... I go to class where I am the oldest student. I clean the house ... sometimes. I go to bed and rise the next day. I shower. I cook. I do the laundry. Occasionally, I make my bed. I dust and vacuum. I take care of the daily tasks of living ... just. I watch TV. I surf on the net. I am mostly solitary throughout the day. I grow older. When last did I plan a picnic? Go on a hike? Have a long, hearty conversation with someone? Where is the sponeneity of my youth? Little nuggets of it are found along the riverbed ... coffee with a friend, chatting with my children, dinner out. The challenge of being a young mother, constantly on the go, exploring, discovering, glad to have a moment to myself, are gone. The fast running, rocky river has widened, slowed, and I am heading for the sea.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-78788255805314287852011-10-28T17:20:00.000-07:002011-10-29T14:32:09.715-07:00Memoir - StudiesI am in the process of studying Earth Environments, which is an introductory geography course. I am loving it, but I suck at all the mathematical parts such as with mapping, so I failed my first lab exam. Ugh! <br />
<br />
Below are some pics that I took, referencing geographical environments:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXzWBtfpbBfGYX9wAIxUgON39rAi-9SSsTJlPkrCtRW-BRGDreWqqGRv3ML5fX8hQMPxmf_91l0WR7Arf00PxY9fJFG3DylTH_TSRY8sNMSNcjSEZiOKz9uPpOnk0LGXR1KxhtrevqjeN/s1600/AmmoniteFalls_TrailUp001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXzWBtfpbBfGYX9wAIxUgON39rAi-9SSsTJlPkrCtRW-BRGDreWqqGRv3ML5fX8hQMPxmf_91l0WR7Arf00PxY9fJFG3DylTH_TSRY8sNMSNcjSEZiOKz9uPpOnk0LGXR1KxhtrevqjeN/s200/AmmoniteFalls_TrailUp001.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slope</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF44giIJ9NURcLdbPEkriJNfo3-xLtn0pdJX_m2xKGMHN6oP9zzNAAFPu5wt6xzfwbHmTxoEiw01xW9yD3OvrplCtc99mcctpIHqK41GI24vKCrlefcOmuN6pfEcVNgTXKcbLaL1X8-j-x/s1600/100_0752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF44giIJ9NURcLdbPEkriJNfo3-xLtn0pdJX_m2xKGMHN6oP9zzNAAFPu5wt6xzfwbHmTxoEiw01xW9yD3OvrplCtc99mcctpIHqK41GI24vKCrlefcOmuN6pfEcVNgTXKcbLaL1X8-j-x/s200/100_0752.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxoiFIS6VQAjTfZG-UZk-ve44CvxKoAaIXH2p2_Ewt3mOcA_aXLc-Gzrvnp6QrsJI-ZJG05S3hpaZqa1IDv1-ehXuozuGTqJ98ijhFYrzR9zpX33HQ5YVAQYxMxS_7RCgq2MMRpNXyk1o/s1600/dscf2757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxoiFIS6VQAjTfZG-UZk-ve44CvxKoAaIXH2p2_Ewt3mOcA_aXLc-Gzrvnp6QrsJI-ZJG05S3hpaZqa1IDv1-ehXuozuGTqJ98ijhFYrzR9zpX33HQ5YVAQYxMxS_7RCgq2MMRpNXyk1o/s200/dscf2757.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TXWhZPpW0GHZeRCc7KlZRQJqt_u_yB9mAgev6ctvewWkZXQHOJ0spEHY4LLjluGpVyYoOdVRQkjb5_zkQXvVo0QtwzIuZr66h43GuT3wXAJBAboV9KK3Ag7f54vdE0wjChj9DW5fRFY1/s1600/dscf2198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TXWhZPpW0GHZeRCc7KlZRQJqt_u_yB9mAgev6ctvewWkZXQHOJ0spEHY4LLjluGpVyYoOdVRQkjb5_zkQXvVo0QtwzIuZr66h43GuT3wXAJBAboV9KK3Ag7f54vdE0wjChj9DW5fRFY1/s200/dscf2198.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky Coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDI7xAgR3XKaja2yRh-EP8ZQExs1qj7BUwcJn4l4UCfU4O_cv8n9BKYCVWYea_hKYulISCxAbgz-1k7JiHpVm6WsxxB7V9wPL7I5RD6uVzaZwrTcuFkJ2DmpM9UABGXsgEBLvoKzTwVyMh/s1600/106_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDI7xAgR3XKaja2yRh-EP8ZQExs1qj7BUwcJn4l4UCfU4O_cv8n9BKYCVWYea_hKYulISCxAbgz-1k7JiHpVm6WsxxB7V9wPL7I5RD6uVzaZwrTcuFkJ2DmpM9UABGXsgEBLvoKzTwVyMh/s200/106_0510.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clouds<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_gg8hBpmHqJmr0Ad32dugZHLdWmLNBvhBT6X2nkWYNQa-KoY1QkwhmDQbSkTucsAT6hIBX8egIkcXbCXWLqwrGH1-GnVPNVGzXlK3Xj8iz6Gp3N4_zjUPsL9frham0ppeUyVXconbiRv/s1600/106_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_gg8hBpmHqJmr0Ad32dugZHLdWmLNBvhBT6X2nkWYNQa-KoY1QkwhmDQbSkTucsAT6hIBX8egIkcXbCXWLqwrGH1-GnVPNVGzXlK3Xj8iz6Gp3N4_zjUPsL9frham0ppeUyVXconbiRv/s200/106_0362.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karst?<br />
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</div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-90301484561174992212011-10-28T00:39:00.000-07:002012-05-04T12:32:24.125-07:00Memoir - Summer 2011, part 2<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffbJZ9BIHl777XjN0GmcldGkBx-j2fjustTdvDIRF4Ro3r6UkVk0TR8cRCAzHdgiDAKHatt6IL2ggfTyOGmGsRn7eQBN-8LJzy5oyuNpA8qPqJs-xmINX9W6nhLQg6WKrmB0HyVfuYSHG/s1600/106_0591.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffbJZ9BIHl777XjN0GmcldGkBx-j2fjustTdvDIRF4Ro3r6UkVk0TR8cRCAzHdgiDAKHatt6IL2ggfTyOGmGsRn7eQBN-8LJzy5oyuNpA8qPqJs-xmINX9W6nhLQg6WKrmB0HyVfuYSHG/s200/106_0591.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Langebaan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During our stay in Germany, we decided to take a quick trip to South Africa. I haven't been back in 15 years, and I was excited to see what has changed. It was fantastic. I wish we could've gone for longer than 2 weeks. We spent time on the westcoast with my sister, then stayed with one of my best friends for just over a week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYWXjAlZ1Vy0vUME8OcfDbk-QocWvqzqmyPkgooVwGE-e0Ogt6oFXnqUnezTZl0WtdNEmrh_kfwuma9ouxlHU_LJa0u3zLg8ZPvfHjKeIr26docX9lzU4Kmvd0Pyb7NhTrAGinUvav-18/s1600/capeTown_tableMT_oiled_001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYWXjAlZ1Vy0vUME8OcfDbk-QocWvqzqmyPkgooVwGE-e0Ogt6oFXnqUnezTZl0WtdNEmrh_kfwuma9ouxlHU_LJa0u3zLg8ZPvfHjKeIr26docX9lzU4Kmvd0Pyb7NhTrAGinUvav-18/s200/capeTown_tableMT_oiled_001.JPG" width="191" /></a></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Table Mt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In the southern hemisphere it is winter, but we still went to the beach ..... a lot! Also, went to the aquarium, the foreshore, visited other family, the wine route (of course), and a bird sanctuary where an owl sat on our heads. It was a fun trip!<br />
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</a></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-62237705953760065652011-10-28T00:22:00.000-07:002011-10-28T00:22:54.890-07:00Memoir - Summer 2011, part 1I sooo wanted to go to Israel this summer, and planned it with my niece and sister. But, my husband said he could get two free tickets to Frankfurt, close to where my eldest daughter and her family live. So, off we went to Germany (we = myself and my youngest daughter Mel). Germany is so different in the summer: sunny, green, blue skies ... you get the drift. Not in the least like it was when I visited in the winter. <br />
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We went to little coffee shops, bakeries, a castle in Lundstahl, and enjoyed time with my grandchildren. We also went to the local wine farms and bought copious amounts of good sweet wines. And, we could only take one bottle back. Ugh!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imvubu2003.smugmug.com/Holidays/Summer-2011/i-pnnzmcS/0/M/1060481-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://imvubu2003.smugmug.com/Holidays/Summer-2011/i-pnnzmcS/0/M/1060481-M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: My grandson with his daddy on our trip to the wine country.</span>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-23691022999415282902011-07-08T00:35:00.000-07:002011-07-08T00:56:18.276-07:00Hope and Inspiration = Hi<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKufnjHjPjZSKDrdu8q81lA-AJEChBhSRSbRbDmzu2u9vAKRXqgr7rGeX94gLd5JyA5iR4HNVJig_-j2i1Wz1ot3DYevezQMHD36A2Ddthfj8bwi3RkgD-Dx5U_tQrEDMoXrttuce8NdI/s1600/summer2009Family001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKufnjHjPjZSKDrdu8q81lA-AJEChBhSRSbRbDmzu2u9vAKRXqgr7rGeX94gLd5JyA5iR4HNVJig_-j2i1Wz1ot3DYevezQMHD36A2Ddthfj8bwi3RkgD-Dx5U_tQrEDMoXrttuce8NdI/s320/summer2009Family001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Family - Summer 2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Since having the seizures in 2008 and all that occurred since (see my post "I choose Life"), I have realized that I got through that time with hope for life and the future. But, I have also been inspired by the stories of others. Life isn't always easy ... sometimes, it's downright freaking hard. Do I wish that I had never had a tumor in my brain? Darned right, I do. However, I cannot deny the things I have learned from that experience. Yes, I found out that I'm a pretty courageous gal, but more than that, I surprised myself in how much hope I had with my situation. This tumor was not your run-of-the-mill, ordinary tumor ... no, this is the second worst that one could have. I have been inspired by so many people since, for instance, the Nielson couple who appeared on Glenn Beck's show, who received terrible burns from an airplane crash. I felt the same about being able to feel the prayers and positive thoughts of the people who cared about me. I cannot be more grateful to them, and to my Heavenly Father, for not forsaking me. I have other problems in my life, but they are nothing compared to this experience of having a cancerous tumor.<br />
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I have always felt throughout my life, that I was one who did not make much of a difference to the world. I felt that no-one was truly interested in what I had to say or do. But, since overcoming my cancer, I don't really care anymore about "being heard". Those who love me, do listen, and I believe God is in Heaven, and He does listen to my prayers. My faith fluctuates, but my hope never dies, and while there are people and situations that inspire one to carry on regardless of the pain (whether literal or figurative), then life is good.<br />
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I think it was Martin Luther King Jr who said: "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." But, while we move steadfastly forward, we should take time to laugh, dance, pray in joy and gratitude, take time for friends and family, for your hobbies and interests. Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-2143522376051865542011-07-01T10:46:00.000-07:002011-07-01T12:05:09.946-07:00CANADA DAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaH7O16qm-eoatAhqpPuneUw13wcTZLduXRgXlBS-YiXC-a6KSDu0iya40J07919IMDhEnooSyg_wo07tp6jWsRc3m7Cgn-W1XvcGLh-1UyZClBdRP4_KlD2praU25dIHz_weC57UAibrr/s1600/Canada-icon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaH7O16qm-eoatAhqpPuneUw13wcTZLduXRgXlBS-YiXC-a6KSDu0iya40J07919IMDhEnooSyg_wo07tp6jWsRc3m7Cgn-W1XvcGLh-1UyZClBdRP4_KlD2praU25dIHz_weC57UAibrr/s1600/Canada-icon.png" /></a>Canada celebrates it's 144th birthday on this July 1st. Happy Canada Day to all Canadians. We are so proud to be citizens (for 7 years now), after moving here 15 years ago. <br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="fr"><i><span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">Canada célèbre son</span> <span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">144e</span> <span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">anniversaire</span> <span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">sur ce</span> <span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">1er Juillet.</span><span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">Bonne fête du Canada</span> <span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">à tous les Canadiens</span><span class="" title="Click for alternate translations">.</span> <span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">Nous sommes tellement</span> <span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">fiers d'être citoyens</span> <span class="hps atn" title="Click for alternate translations">(</span><span class="" title="Click for alternate translations">depuis 7 ans maintenant</span><span class="" title="Click for alternate translations">)</span><span class="" title="Click for alternate translations">,</span> <span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">après avoir emménagé</span> <span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">ici</span> <span class="hps" title="Click for alternate translations">il ya 15 ans</span></i> <span class="" title="Click for alternate translations"><i>. </i>(google translated)</span></span>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-78756355892098285582011-06-30T11:41:00.000-07:002011-07-01T12:47:51.212-07:00News - Royal Visit to CanadaHow exciting! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, better known as Will and Kate, have just arrived in Ottawa, starting their four month tour of Canada. I remember watching their wedding all night with my daughter. I thought it was a lovely ceremony ... not as grand as Di and Charles, but rather in keeping with the world as it is now, in my opinion. They do make a lovely couple.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-74955911138556788622011-06-27T12:40:00.000-07:002011-06-27T21:08:35.198-07:00A fun "I" thingie<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">... that I borrowed from someone else's blog, who stole it from their friend's blog, and that's as far as it went. Here it is:</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am - melancholy at the moment</span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I think - </span><span style="font-size: small;">my grandchildren are so cute<br />
I want -</span><span style="font-size: small;"> to continue learning<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I have - great children, and live in a beautiful place</span><span style="font-size: small;"> <br />
I wish - there was peace worldwide, but that is unlikely to happen</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I hate - not</span><span style="font-size: small;">hing, but I dislike lies and the decimation of the forests, and the earth's oceans, etc. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I miss - my grandchildren</span><span style="font-size: small;"> <br />
I fear - I won't have enough time to get to know my grandchildren, and finish what I have started</span><span style="font-size: small;"> <br />
I feel - </span><span style="font-size: small;">hopeful and wondrous at the things I am still learning at this age. Just amazing planet.<br />
I hear - at this point, I hear the show "Big Bang Theory" at which my son is watching</span><span style="font-size: small;"> and laughing<br />
I smell - my garden has the smell of spearmint and oregeno<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I search - for inner inspiration<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I wonder -</span><span style="font-size: small;"> what my mission on earth is<br />
I regret - shouting at my children ... ever<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I love - that my hair grew back after cancer ... and then some</span><span style="font-size: small;">. I also love the laughter of small children.<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I always - find pennies in the weirdest places ... even had one fall on me in an empty movie theatre (pennies from heaven?)<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I am not - skinny</span><span style="font-size: small;">, I am cuddly<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I dance - for joy when I am happy<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I sing - alone</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
I don't always - </span><span style="font-size: small;">wear make-up, in fact, just lipstick really<br />
I write - on my blog and facebook, but now that it's summer, I am stumped with writing my stories</span><span style="font-size: small;">/poems<br />
I lose - my memory of words sometimes ... thank goodness for thesaurus'</span><span style="font-size: small;"> <br />
I never - </span><span style="font-size: small;">break a promise ... so, it is rare that I make them ... hehehehe<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I listen - to the birds in the morning before getting up<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I can usually be found - sitting at my desk<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I'm scared -</span><span style="font-size: small;"> of spiders<br />
I read - just about anything, but I do favour sci-fi</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I'm happy about - living in the "now"</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-26771367818421019432011-06-27T01:01:00.000-07:002011-06-27T01:01:28.700-07:00Food Storage AdventuresMy niece introduced me to the joys of food storage. It comes at a good time, after watching the horrors of the Japan earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster. We here on Vancouver Island, are within an earthquake zone, so it is a good idea to be prepared, and if there is no situation where we would need a year's supply of food ... we have our retirement groceries subsidized. <br />
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I started with 2 starter kits, large bags of rice, powdered milk, powdered potatoes, oil, oats, raisins, canned goods, dried peas, lentils, and whenever I see something on sale, I buy extra. For instance, I bought extra toothpaste when I saw it going for $1 per tube. I am far from my 1 year goal, but close to the 3 month storage limit. I still need to purchase 72hr backpacks, so that's my next goal, plus I need to buy sugar and honey.<br />
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I have created a spreadsheet to track what I buy, so that I don't get too much of one thing, and too little of another. I have set aside a room, with a freezer, and shelf to start the storage.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-55537544462925830632011-06-26T17:57:00.000-07:002011-06-26T18:01:09.396-07:00Memoir - Sundays 2011One thing we love to do on Sundays, is go to the <a href="http://foxandhoundsnanaimo.com/">Fox and Hound pub/restaurant.</a> By we, I mean, myself and my two children who still live in Nanaimo ... sometimes a friend would come, or their dad if he's home for the weekend. The restaurant has special roasts on Sundays, such as roast beef or lamb with roast potatoes that are "to die for". One can play cards at the table, and we usually play rummy while we chat and catch up with the news from the previous week. Or, just reminisce about family and friends or debate various issues, or tease each other. It's fun! I love it! I don't have to cook ... big plus.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-90014390216579602142011-06-18T21:27:00.000-07:002011-06-19T01:41:21.272-07:00Memoir - My Dad<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My dad was a carpenter by trade, working for many years on the South African Railways which he joined on his return from the war (WWII). Every day he would go to work with his "safari" suit (an outfit with a medium length tunic, shorts above the knees, and worn with long socks and lace up shoes). He had a hilarious sense of humour, telling funny stories of his childhood around the dinner table. He enjoyed reading, and was very creative. I always felt he was a man denied his full potential in life. He was very intelligent and taught us to respect all people, no matter their colour. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I don't recall him being a 'huggy' dad, but he did talk to me a lot, perhaps because we had similar interests, such as reading. I was always happy to make him some tea or coffee, just in case I got a little attention paid to me. Out of all my siblings, I was the one most interested, I think (my sister always felt I was a 'suck-up'). According to my three elder siblings (I am the second youngest), he was a tough dad when he was younger, but he was also hard on my younger brother. I think this is so because I was the most scholarly, and didn't disappoint too much where school marks were concerned.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My dad passed away on September 28, 1973 in the small South African city of East London. He was 49 years old. I was 16, for three days. I felt as if my whole world had come to an end. I wish my children had gotten to know him and my mom, and I had gotten to know them as an adult.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I don't know why, but I always carried one pair of my dad's 'safari' suit socks wherever I moves. I used them when ice skating. They were pretty new when he died, but now they are pretty worn. I like to think that in some way, my dad and I walked/skated/ran/travelled/danced together in those socks. </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love you, dad, wherever in the universe you may be.</span>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-16851155788787514022011-06-16T15:49:00.000-07:002011-06-16T16:08:35.144-07:00I Stand for Israel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjc5MH70o2NO6wkGkh-_aDKPXg5aeHdtcj2b0pUV7tLn10NOdKEzfjU4Po5B2McWngol1R2l_2GQ0HDbTPGKRnB_cUsvxR0JHQcoSzhD8CRrvV36CJKa3SvM_Xxly4m5k8Z9cG718y9_h/s1600/star_of_david.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjc5MH70o2NO6wkGkh-_aDKPXg5aeHdtcj2b0pUV7tLn10NOdKEzfjU4Po5B2McWngol1R2l_2GQ0HDbTPGKRnB_cUsvxR0JHQcoSzhD8CRrvV36CJKa3SvM_Xxly4m5k8Z9cG718y9_h/s200/star_of_david.jpg" width="176" /></a>No, I am not Jewish. Well, maybe a drop of blood, but that was from an ancestor two generations back. But, if there is any country besides my own, that I will stand beside and help defend in whatever capacity I can, then that country is Israel. I am so glad that our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper is on their side, and sees it as the only true democratic country in the middle east. I am sick of the lies and manipulations perpetrated against Israel (and the sacrifices of the "Palestinian" people by the Arabian countries to this "cause"). We see again, the start of another pogrom against the Jews, but this time, it's global. The general population of the world believe those who are shouting the lies, that there was no holocaust (there most certainly was, where 6 million people were murdered by the nazi regime merely because they were Jewish), that there was a country called Palestine (none ... it was an area within the Ottoman Empire), and so many other histories of that area being rewritten to try and make Israel unlawful as a country or to debunk the history of the Jewish nation.<br />
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The Canadian Islamic Congress said: "It's not time that we speak on who is right and who is wrong. I think it is time that innocent people in Gaza and Israel be protected." I argue that it is more than past the time that we speak of right and wrong. Why are the Islamic areas not allowing the Palestine people the right to assimilate into their countries? They are being forced to live in refugee camps by the very people who should be helping them. After the war, all Jews were evicted from Islamic countries in the area. Why could no space be made for the refugees who wanted to leave Israel? Even someone married to a non-Palestinian cannot be a citizen. (see interesting <a href="http://www.aish.com/jw/me/Why_the_Six-Day_War_Still_Matters.html">Aish article</a>) I have to wonder why Islam is worried about a people who comprise less than 1% of the world's population. <br />
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I urge Christians to read the book, <i>Is G-d finished with Israel?</i> by Alan Turner. Check out his website at http://members.shaw.ca/menorah/. It showed me how miraculous it is that Israel even exists today. I am truly amazed.<br />
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Some Historical Links and Current News:<br />
<a href="http://christianactionforisrael.org/isreport/midesmap.html">History of Middle East - WW1 to post WW2</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4076037,00.html">PM Harper warns Canadian flotilla members</a><br />
<a href="http://christianactionforisrael.org/index.html">Christians for Israel</a><br />
<a href="http://www.aish.com/">Aish</a><br />
<a href="http://www.aish.com/ho/p/Murdered_at_Auschwitz.html">Murdered at Auschwitz </a>(this story really touched my heart)<br />
<a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/569872">Canada Votes Alone for Israel</a><br />
<a href="http://www.glennbeck.com/2011/03/29/beck-i-stand-with-israel/">Glenn Beck stands for Israel</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_symbols_of_Israel">Symbols of Israel - Wikipaedia </a>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-69997713559939419112011-06-16T10:32:00.000-07:002011-07-08T01:04:46.555-07:00Memoir - I Choose Life<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">I cried for the first time in the shower, while my long hair fell out and curled around my feet, wet and dead. Somehow, I thought I would be spared this, but that was an unrealistic expectation. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>How silly and egotistical. </i></span><span style="font-size: small;">The neurosurgeon had been so careful not to shave too much hair from my skull during the biopsy, and now his carefulness seemed wasted. He left a very expensive piece of metal in my head; titanium will not set off alarms at any airports. The scar of the operation and the dent made by the metal piece became exposed. It seemed, my disease could no longer be hidden.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">My cancer is called oligodendroglioma, “the second worst kind of brain tumour one can have,” my oncologist said. I'm not sure if that was supposed to make me feel better, or more fearful, or if she was just stating the facts. I started calling the tumour, Mr. Ollie, trying to become friends with it, you know, so it will treat me kindly. But, it didn't last long. Once the radiation treatment started, and my hair started falling out, the name changed to that <i>fucking tumour</i>, or <i>freaking tumour</i> out loud.</span><br />
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<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">During a radiation treatment, I would close my eyes and imagine a queen (The Queen of Life, I called her) who directed the rays to my tumour to burn it away, then sink into my veins (rivers) and destroy the tiniest of cancer cells. She had knights who guarded my healthy cells, and would drive away any monstrous growths, hacking at them. It sure helps to have a lively imagination.</span></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">I told the doctor that I didn't want to know the odds on surviving, or how long I had to live, or stuff like that. “Just treat me, and we'll see what happens,” I said. In other words, I chose life and being limited by numbers and percentages was just too negative for me. If it was my time to go, then it would be so, but I chose to fight for my life. I had things to do, places to go, grandchildren to see who are yet to be born. Life is just too exciting to just passively leave without raging a war against death. Yes, I know <i>that day</i> will come, but until then, <i>I live</i>. I sure learned the lesson of living in the moment, that life is fun, and joyous, spiked with the odd pain so we might know the difference. As the Tao Te Ching says, “to live till you die is to live long enough.”</span></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had children for which I was trying to set an example, so I tried to show my strength, which I gained from them. They were my rock, and took good care of me, since my husband had to travel a lot on business, and I was unable to drive due to the seizures. We hugged a lot, watched funny movies, talked and even had an argument or two. No-one can keep up the pressure of being nice all the time. </span></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyVJQdX5cgUZJ5cB7K0yqfcghNjn-wcg8ndQv_GCfxE54_CU9KUPUyg395VS1Y3JMhQ3K4jRfs3Uo8bl2nfzzcDxSIG8tyihkmLjtsWEAgNd7euLb20kHBE8YeEQF_PzKOmvK53UdGs4f/s1600/Visualization.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyVJQdX5cgUZJ5cB7K0yqfcghNjn-wcg8ndQv_GCfxE54_CU9KUPUyg395VS1Y3JMhQ3K4jRfs3Uo8bl2nfzzcDxSIG8tyihkmLjtsWEAgNd7euLb20kHBE8YeEQF_PzKOmvK53UdGs4f/s400/Visualization.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Visualization Picture</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">I disliked it when people said, “I'm so sorry,” in that voice of dripping pity, as if you're on your death bed already. Not everyone had that tone, but there was the rare one. Or, “you are so brave,” as if I had a choice. I knew they were just being kind, but it irked me, nonetheless. They couldn't see the days where I was so tired, all I could do was sleep for hours, drink copious amounts of water and juice because my mouth was so dry. Sometimes, I woke up in the middle of the night, sweating with fear. And then, gratefully fell asleep because the drugs made me <i>that</i> tired. I learned the power of prayer during those dark, lonely nights. My friends knew the struggle I had and they added their prayers and positive thoughts to mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once out of the radiation treatment, I had a month break, then onto chemotherapy. The chemotherapy drug was in capsule form, which I could swallow at home. I was fortunate that my blood had the markers that would give this form of chemotherapy a good chance to work. I still had to go for MRI's every six months, and the first one after the end of chemotherapy, showed the cancer was clear, and still clear after the next MRI six months later. My doctor informed me in June 2010 that henceforth, I would only have them annually. And I can drive after more than a year of taking the bus or relying on someone to drive me. Life is good. <i>Yeeeesssss!</i></span></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div><span style="font-size: small;">“I had better not get run over by a bus now,” I said to my husband, as we walked out of the cancer centre building. </span></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;">[Note: I am due for my next MRI and oncological appointment at the end of this month. And, my hair has grown back thick and irritatingly curly. :)] </span></div></div></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-1387585419943800522011-05-06T15:34:00.000-07:002011-06-26T13:19:52.513-07:00Cooking - Poached Eggs<div 0in;="" 150%;="" line-height:="" margin-bottom:="" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This morning I felt like poached eggs for <i>brekkies</i>, and I didn't feel like going out to a restaurant. <i>Can't be that difficult to make</i>, I thought. Now, I can make <i>delish</i> soup, and stew, and I've been known to do a good omellette (occasionally). But, poached eggs is something new. So, off to google I went. This is what I got - <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/easy_poached_eggs/">http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/easy_poached_eggs/</a>. I like that they have pictures. I did use the mason jar ring because I was afraid I would make a congealed mess if I plonked the eggs straight into the boiling water. I did not use vinegar - just straight water. It worked! My poached eggs looked the same as the picture depicted on the linked recipe. Really! It did. I can now make poached eggs. They are less fattening, and one gets a better taste of the yummy yolk.</span></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-72284140129788067892011-05-03T12:26:00.000-07:002011-10-29T14:28:19.095-07:00News - A long time comingBin Laden is no more. Gone to feed the fish. I don't know whether it was the right thing to bury him at sea, but it's done now ... he cannot be exhumed from water. I watched the people celebrating at Ground Zero, NY square, and at the White House (I'm sure in many other places too) on tv, and I am so uncomfortable with applauding the death of a life, no matter how despised. But, he is gone. I am curious to know who will replace him. Terrorism is not over, and never will be. It's just the intensity that varies, and where it shows it's ugly face.<br />
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I think of that day on September 11, 2001 and the images remembered. How sad and unnecessary all those deaths were. But, we all must die, and those families and friends left behind will be reunited with their loved ones in time. <br />
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I pray that the hearts of those who plan for the deaths of others, will be softened and calmer heads prevail. I pray for the soldiers who went to war because of this outrageous attack on America, whether wisely sent or not. I pray for all the leaders of the world to humble themselves, and know that they will one day be judged according to their actions. I pray for love and peace. Amen.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-40037483198647258212011-04-30T15:24:00.000-07:002011-05-01T20:23:58.123-07:00Politics - Canadian ElectionsI am voting for the Conservative Party ... I don't see any other present leader that I feel can do the job of running the country, except Harper. <br />
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Stephen Harper has been one of the best prime ministers in Canadian history, in my opinion, and came at a time when he was really needed, given this depression in which the world has found itself battling. He's not perfect, but he has done good by our country. I shudder to think what would've happened if the Liberals had been in power, and tremble at the very idea of the NDP being in control of our countries coffers during this economic depression. We would've been in a far worse situation than we find ourselves in now (which is actually one of the best worldwide).Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693522414026578250.post-22806402310213986412011-04-30T14:58:00.000-07:002011-04-30T14:58:28.184-07:00News - Royal WeddingGosh! So tired still! My daughter and I watched the royal wedding on Thursday night ... finished around 5am our time, with the double kiss. I am glad it's over. There was so much cover leading up to the event, that I was quite sick of it. Of course, now the critique of the wedding begins, but it's rather anti-climactic since it's over. <br />
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What I thought of the wedding? I loved the dress .... the lace was just enough fanciness, off set with the classic lines of the rest of the dress. The train was not too long for one person to manage, and compared to Princess Di's wedding, this one was quite simple and elegant. I loved the little pages and bridesmaids. So cute!<br />
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The now duke and duchess will be visiting Canada in June/July 2011. Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16691042494624820852noreply@blogger.com1