Still at school

So, 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.

Here's a poem I wrote last year:

Burden of a Shadow
Snow, carries the shadows of
trees without leaves,
draws lines like scratches on blank pages,
up and over the white hills,
weaving patterns of crazy designs.

The movement of little
birds left behind through the winter,
flutter to and 'fro, they
speckle the landscape with
grey darts of fragmented haze.

Through the clouds, the
sun spotlights the pristine ground,
throws blue and purple, shifting
like sand dunes, as it
arcs westwards through
the northern sky.

What burden are these shadows? Though
painted across the frosty fields, and
sketched along the edge of
the icy forest, like an
ever-changing mural, it

doesn't carry the weight of a butterfly.

Summer in all it's Glory

I 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Now, I'm back home, with the first week of school behind me.

The Avengers movie

WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!

I've gone to see this movie twice now - in 3D and 2D, within the same week ... not my norm at all.  Hunger Games?  What's that? Kidding ..... :D

So, here's my opinion:

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. 

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.

There was so much action, and comedy, and drama, that there was very little pause in the movie.

Actor/Character Specifics:

I loved that Robin (Cobie Smulders as agent Maria Hill) from How I met your Mother tv fame, was cast as a strong leader. And, Scarlett Johanssen, Black Widow (or Natasha Romanoff) kicked ass. Two very strong female protagonists.

I've always been a huge fan of Robert Downey Jnr. ... Sherlock Holmes immediately comes to mind. To me, he's on a par with Johnny Depp. 

Chris Hemsworth as Thor ... what can I say?  Um ... yum!  I love his voice, and ... well, everything.

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.

I like Mark Ruffalo as an actor, although some of his movies have been a little weird, for instance, The Kids are Alright.  He rocked as the hulk.

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.

I have tried to think of something that drew my one eyebrow up:  

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

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.

Mother's Day - A Poem

Today is Mother's Day, and I wrote a poem to memorialize it:

A Mother Forevermore

Some mothers have their children

for their lifetime

some, just a space on this earth,

and then they are called home,

never needing to grow old

their missions soon completed

in the physical world.

Then there are babies

who had their sweet little bodies

for just a short time

in their mom's wombs.

We think of them,

even though others may forget

their brief spark of life,

before shooting like a shooting star

home to heavenly heights,

always loved, always remembered,

always in our mother hearts

Memoir - April 2012

The transformation in process

April was a busy month.

Beginning of the month I saw The Hunger Games with my husband.  It was fantastic.

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!

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.

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.

30: Got home in time to see my son off to Cadiz in Spain where he will be working for the next three weeks. 

About Writing - April 2012

I discovered this blog that I found interesting where writing is concerned - The Writer's Studio

Memoir: Catching Up

I haven't blogged since November 2011.  Time for some catchin' up.  

November 2011 - studying.  I was having a difficult time with Geography, but I passed, not well, but that's okay.

December 2011 - we went to visit my daughter in Calgary between Christmas and New Year.

January 2012 - back to studying:  Poetry and Liberal Studies.  Having fun with those and managed to write quite a lot of poems.

February 2012 - Pretty much the same as January.

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!

Movies I've watched quite recently:

Adventures of Tin Tin - Awesome.  I grew up on the comics.

The Help - I really enjoyed this movie.  I'm glad it won so many oscars.

Short Story

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.

Memoir - Life

The river runs slower and wider 'til it enters the sea

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.

Memoir - Studies

I 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! 

Below are some pics that I took, referencing geographical environments:

Slope

Dunes

Lake

Rocky Coast

Clouds

Karst?

Memoir - Summer 2011, part 2

Langebaan

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.

Table Mt.

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!

Memoir - Summer 2011, part 1

I 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. 

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!

Photo:  My grandson with his daddy on our trip to the wine country.

Hope and Inspiration = Hi

My Family - Summer 2009

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.

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.

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. 

CANADA DAY

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.

Canada célèbre son 144e anniversaire sur ce 1er Juillet.Bonne fête du Canada à tous les Canadiens. Nous sommes tellement fiers d'être citoyens (depuis 7 ans maintenant), après avoir emménagé ici il ya 15 ans . (google translated)

News - Royal Visit to Canada

How 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.

A fun "I" thingie

... 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:

I am - melancholy at the moment

I think - my grandchildren are so cute
I want - to continue learning
I have - great children, and live in a beautiful place
I wish - there was peace worldwide, but that is unlikely to happen
I hate - nothing, but I dislike lies and the decimation of the forests, and the earth's oceans, etc.

I miss - my grandchildren
I fear - I won't have enough time to get to know my grandchildren, and finish what I have started
I feel - hopeful and wondrous at the things I am still learning at this age.  Just amazing planet.
I hear - at this point, I hear the show "Big Bang Theory" at which my son is watching and laughing
I smell - my garden has the smell of spearmint and oregeno
I search - for inner inspiration
I wonder - what my mission on earth is
I regret - shouting at my children ... ever
I love - that my hair grew back after cancer ... and then some.  I also love the laughter of small children.
I always - find pennies in the weirdest places ... even had one fall on me in an empty movie theatre (pennies from heaven?)
I am not - skinny, I am cuddly
I dance - for joy when I am happy
I sing - alone
I don't always - wear make-up, in fact, just lipstick really
I write - on my blog and facebook, but now that it's summer, I am stumped with  writing my stories/poems
I lose - my memory of words sometimes ... thank goodness for thesaurus'
I never - break a promise ... so, it is rare that I make them ... hehehehe
I listen - to the birds in the morning before getting up
I can usually be found - sitting at my desk
I'm scared - of spiders
I read - just about anything, but I do favour sci-fi
I'm happy about - living in the "now"

Food Storage Adventures

My 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. 

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.

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.

Memoir - Sundays 2011

One thing we love to do on Sundays, is go to the Fox and Hound pub/restaurant.  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.

Memoir - My Dad

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.  

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.

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.

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. 

I love you, dad, wherever in the universe you may be.

I Stand for Israel

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.

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 Aish article)  I have to wonder why Islam is worried about a people who comprise less than 1% of the world's population. 

I urge Christians to read the book, Is G-d finished with Israel? 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.

Some Historical Links and Current News:
History of Middle East - WW1 to post WW2
PM Harper warns Canadian flotilla members
Christians for Israel
Aish
Murdered at Auschwitz (this story really touched my heart)
Canada Votes Alone for Israel
Glenn Beck stands for Israel
Symbols of Israel - Wikipaedia