tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2421093081022473972024-03-05T02:54:53.170-06:00Unarmed...just the way I am.Journal of a "one Armed" Woman.Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-35558973386876171032018-07-17T01:02:00.000-05:002018-07-23T13:28:25.340-05:00Do not Fear...You CAN do it!<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been 4 years since my latest blog post...either I have been locked away in a dank dungeon with a few skinny rats as my only friends, or I have just been living this wacky rollercoaster that we are blessed to call life. It's the latter, of course!! And much has definitely been going down. We moved back to Gabriola from Winnipeg Beach in April 2016 and couldn't be happier about it. We left in hopes of finding drier weather to help fight this daily and chronic pain I have. Well, turns out the dry is nicer on my aching body but I cea</span>se<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to live loud and proud as I can't go out to play in -30 degree weather! Yikes! I am thankful for those three years on beautiful Lake Winnipeg though. 4 distinct and most gorgeous seasons to be enjoyed and witnessed. The winter, it was actually my favourite, in terms of photography. An ever changing landscape of white and glassy ice...eye candy all day long! Grateful for all that I saw...I explored so much. </span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Time still moves along. As has my pain. Unless you live with chronic pain yourself or with someone who suffers with it, you really can not understand what life is like. It is a daily battle of getting out of that bed even though your body is telling you to continue to lie still. My sleep averages about 3-5 hours a night of broken and unsettled rest...I am constantly mentally and physically exhausted. It's just the way it has been for about 14 years now. Who knew that one could literally get used to always being in pain. But, to everything there must be a flip side...and I hope that I have found mine.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>So, here is my latest update in this pretty big part of my life...</b></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEKdXCLh9hFYB9YJv5nwWCmVIB55h8RF1yiUhpjCGeZAxbW7vDxGWpAeGmlo-0XRqURkccp3yn5B2aGqDyV-jR_05jRXM4Q_Jz3mp5M_N_IttUzcABdRNL4e3yALuw68V2RUQS1vkM9Oa/s1600/IMG_8374.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEKdXCLh9hFYB9YJv5nwWCmVIB55h8RF1yiUhpjCGeZAxbW7vDxGWpAeGmlo-0XRqURkccp3yn5B2aGqDyV-jR_05jRXM4Q_Jz3mp5M_N_IttUzcABdRNL4e3yALuw68V2RUQS1vkM9Oa/s320/IMG_8374.jpeg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Can you notice that slight curvature of the spine there? It’s actually a result of what I like to call; a "Medical Science Miracle". Up until I was the age of 24, that slight curve was more like the hook of a J. I had severe scoliosis and pretty much stood up straight like the leaning tower of Pisa. You see, I was born with a few slight differences and or congenital anomalies, if you will. The obvious being the no right arm, but a lovely little dimple left behind. ;o) Another congenital uniqueness affected my left leg, resulting in it being shorter by 6" to the right leg. A few days after I was born, a paediatric ortho surgeon suggested to my already stunned mother, that she should have my wee little "deformed" (the dr's referred to me as unfortunate and deformed in the clinical notes, back in 1974) baby leg amputated. What?! Thanks to my beautiful wise at so young an age mom for seeking a second opinion. My first surgery was on my knee at the ripe young age of 10 years old. My orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Hubert, removed all four of my growth plates to slow the growth of my right leg helping my left leg to grow closer in size. This surgery left the gap at only 2 1/2” by the time I stopped growing at 13 years old. As a teenager I thought it was really cool that I no longer needed to wear a 6“ lift on the bottom of my left shoe. I still needed a lift but it could be mostly hidden inside my left shoe with a little on the outside. Phew. 🙂</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The remaining leg length discrepancy left me to continue to suffer from shin splints and back pain, I eventually headed back to my doctor at 22 years old. He referred me to his son, an orthopaedic surgeon also. Once he moved back to Winnipeg at the end of 1997, the young Dr. Hubert said he could help me by shortening my right leg. Shorten my leg?! This, I was greatly astounded by and was ready to have my leg sawn in half to make this happen. And on September 9, 1998, he performed an new and improved <a href="http://llrs.org/PDFs/Specialty%20Day%20Presentations/3_14_Specialty_Day/Herzenberg%20FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">femoral shortening surgery</a> on me (I was the first person in MB to have this new procedure done), removing 2 1/4 inches from my right femur through a hole up near my hip. By drilling the inside of my femur out, he was then able to take a circular saw and cut out the 2 1/4" section of bone. With another saw, he sliced this fragment in half, pushing it to the outside of the bone, closing my two sides of femur back together, placed a titanium rod down my femur and screwing it into place through my hip and knee. All I have is two little scars on my right hip...wow! Amazing technology...Medical Science! </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I remember the first time standing up, having both my feet flat on the ground and hips at almost the same level...miracle!!! I had to learn how to walk again...that was strange. I had always walked either with a lift on my shoe or being on my tiptoe. And actually, more painful than sawing my leg into two pieces, was teaching the muscles/tendons in the back of my left to actually work as they were meant to. They had never been used in nearly 24 years...ay yi yi that was painful!! But, I now walk with a fairly normal gait and my scoliosis is almost gone. That is awesome and so worth all of the rehab to get me back to happy and free. No leg harness, no cane, just me running free baby! </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I never once hesitated on choosing to do that surgery. I didn’t have any doubt in my mind that I wanted to be able to walk properly and never, ever wear a stupid lift on my shoe! ha! </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In January 2017, I was faced with another surgery decision to make. But this one was quite a bit different...I was told that I need to have surgery on my one and only beloved shoulder. My only arm...my arm that has been my all and everything. My sidekick that has had my back every single time I announced, "I CAN do it!" I basically have spent my life always wanting to do everything anyone else did, but do it bigger. Like I had something to prove to everyone else. And I did. I also spent most of my life hearing people say, you wouldn't be able to do this Pam... Well, I showed them! And through it all I seemingly ruined my super strength arm...bah! Oh pride, I have felt thy awful and penetrating sting. What is the life lesson there? Do not overdo it, ever. You need not prove yourself or your capabilities to anyone. Do what you want for you because it serves a purpose. It's incredibly important to have self confidence, this is true. But never let that confidence exceed a healthy and humble perspective in life. </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My first meeting with my new orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Landells, left me with such high and great hopes for an easy sew up job of a <a href="https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/shoulder-joint-tear-glenoid-labrum-tear/" target="_blank">labral tear</a> in my shoulder joint (this is the what causes me the greatest pain...I can feel it tear when I move my arm too much). After seeing so many doctors since 2001 to figure out what is going on with my arm and why I was having troubles, this sew job seemed so easy and I was all for it right away. He gave me hope when I had almost lost it all. Thing was, he needed a new MRI as he was basing this thought on an mri I had in Manitoba in March of 2014. After getting the report back from this latest mri, all of a sudden things became "complicated" and my surgery was now a "challenge". Ugh. I have a couple of things going on in my shoulder congenitally which </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">causes</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> my surgery to be a greater challenge than usual. My shoulder joint already has osteoarthritis making an easy, arthroscopic sew job not so easy. It will exacerbate the arthritis and I will need a full shoulder replacement sooner than later. Hearing the words 'complicated' and 'second surgery sooner than later' absolutely tossed me overboard in a stormy and angry sea. I was filled with such great fear cranking my anxiety up to a level I was unable to handle. I couldn’t even think straight. The thought of my arm never working properly again or worse yet, never working again…well, I just couldn’t compute that thought. I was literally driving myself crazy with fear, self loathe, feelings of anxiety and utter hopelessness. I mean really, it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal having surgery on your shoulder. Yet, when you only have the one shoulder attached to one, beautiful and helpful arm...it's scary as heck! It really just threw the biggest curveball into my brain. Simple answer, I wasn’t ready for it. My decision to not move ahead with surgery disappointed some people in my life. They truly believed that it was what I should do for myself if I am suffering so much. For, if I don't do it, my pain must not be so bad. You can't even imagine how that makes your heart sink so deep into the pit of your bowels...so hurtful. Ouch. I know they just wanted the best for me. We really must choose our words so carefully when someone is going through a struggle. The simplest words can cause the most damaging effects when someone is in great inner turmoil. Always be kind and mindful of your words coming out of your mouth. If you don't know what to say...just love. Love on people hard. Love can change everything. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Bottom line, never do something you are not prepared for. EVER.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I’ve gone through many changes over the past 18 months. Research showed me that a vegan diet will help with pain from inflammation. Ok, I stopped eating meat, dairy and eggs...it really DOES help! Hallelujah! I decided to stop hating myself, feeling sorry for myself and wanting to disappear. Instead, I began telling myself that I am a good person who deserves happiness, peace, less pain and a beautiful life. I started wearing a sling anytime I was up and about. It took weight and stress off of my exhausted shoulder and gave me great comfort (I am still getting used to going out in public with it for it attracts many questions, statements and judgements. I am just trying to take care of me). I started going to pilates classes. This helped me with my balance when I was tripping a lot with my arm always slung. It helped me use my body in different ways when I am doing things alleviating stress all over my tight, sore and exhausted body. Right now, in this moment, I am feeling pretty fabulous mentally, emotionally and physically. I have decided to go ahead and have this surgery...whatever surgery it ends up being. Even now, at this point they still don’t know what route they are going to take (sew job or total shoulder replacement). I had a ct scan yesterday morning that will give my newest surgeon the best look at what is going on in my wacky old shoulder joint. </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I really am thankful that I waited on making this decision. In the past 18 months, Dr. Landells (who has 30 years experience, worked on olympic athletes at the 1992 Albertville Olympics and is a highly respected shoulder surgeon) has decided to retire from surgery. What!?! Yeah...I was shocked too when he told me. I had based much of my decision to go ahead with surgery on him, his talents, experience and olympic athlete fan base. I had to hold back fear tears when he gave me that info! But he is not leaving me. He is going to be a co-pilot in this surgery. My new surgeon, the pilot, is an incredibly talented and highly recognized doctor who just came back to BC after working alongside some of the top surgeons in the world, in France. (Dr. Saliken...his track record is pretty good from what I garner from ye good ole world wide web.) I mean, how can this not be good news? All because I chose to prepare my mind, body and heart for such a crazy undertaking, I now have a larger, way cool medical support team now looking after me. Two amazing specialists are going to work on my shoulder, doing what is best for <b><i>ME</i></b> in the long run. I truly am so happy that I waited! 🙌🏼😆❤️</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Fear is definitely one of our own worst enemies. It is us that puts it there. We have to pull those fears out of us and face them. Challenge yourself daily to do things that scare you or make you a little nervous. It will broaden your world and open up parts of you that you never even realized were there. We are all superheroes you know!</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I’m so thankful that I have gotten over my fears and pushed through to get to a point where everything seems all right. I don’t know what my future holds in terms of my BFF left arm...whatever happens, it’s going to be ok. 🌟 It’s medical science! They make miracles on a daily basis. 🙌🏼💙</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Life is so darn good! It’s so much easier to just be happy and hopeful than living in the shadow of fear and anxiety. Getting to the place where you feel happy, free and at peace with life can be tough. But there is great strength inside all of us to do it. Changes are so important. That’s the first step in finding peace. </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Believe in yourself! 😍💪🏼❤️</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Wow man… I did not expect to write so much. If you actually got to this point, I commend you for your patience. 😆😘</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I love you for caring enough to read it. So much love… SO MUCH LOVE!!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> ❤️❤️❤️</span></span></div>
Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-20110914933160875332014-12-19T10:13:00.000-06:002015-03-06T10:30:13.243-06:00A House is What YOU Make of it.<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">On October 12, 2013, Clint and I moved into our very first house...OUR home! We became home owners...sooooooo exciting. No more landlords, we can do whatever we want, paint any colour, hang up tons of art, have as many animals as we choose (I can't stand THAT much fur, so 2-3 is plenty! lol) and of course tear the ground out and build a veggie/flower garden. Hooray!! Oh wait...the fridge died ugh, the pipes are freezing ugh, oh man the floor is sooooo freezing when it's -30 outside (uninsulated crawlspace) and so many other things....ah, the homeowners responsibility! ha ha ha! And still...I am super stoked to be a homeowner.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our house was built in 1919. It is amazing. Much of the original beauty inside is gone...covered up with drywall and layers upon layers of flooring. But it is exactly what we were looking for. It takes me under a minute to walk to the beach...VERY important to me! ;o) And, it is located in the downtown core and in the commercial zone. This will eventually make our dream of an in home art gallery/shop come true. When the previous owner showed the place to us everything seemed like it had been done. Well...everything had been covered up to make it look like it was done! lol Make-up, as we all know, can do wonders! Ay yi yi!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">For the most part...when you are looking at homes for purchase, you will never find exactly what you are looking for. But I feel that is because most people can not see beyond what the present owners have done with the place. It could be as simple as wallpaper and gross carpet...that can turn a person right off. But remember, you will OWN the place...you can do whatever you want to it. I would go as far as to even say that most people can be handy with a bucket of paint, strength to tear carpet out and the will to make it look like your home. It's amazing what a coat of paint can do to transform a room. That has to be the easiest renovation ever. :o) Look beyond what you are seeing with your eyes and use your imagination when checking out homes. I would suggest getting an inspection done on ones that you are REALLY hungry for. With this place we didn't do that...I regret it, in a way. But, also, this home, location and ability for great change made me want it so bad. Even though I could feel the uneven floor beneath the carpet...I didn't even say anything about that when looking. duh!! My bad. But still, I am stoked to have this home. And even more stoked because Clint knows how to do the renovation repairs himself. Saving us thousands of dollars in labour.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The first completion we have done already is on the outside. Being in downtown and our backyard facing a big open field that is used a giant parking lot in the summer, puts us right in the middle of some of the action. (this is a resort town and summers are very busy. Clint calls it Daytona Beach! lol) Our backyard was open to it all...no fence. I LOVE my privacy. Nothing like sitting in the sun, relaxing with a corona and all the beach goers watching you as they pull all of their gear out of their cars to spend the day at the Beach. Seriously...stop starting at me!!! ba ha ha! Anyways...because we also have pets, I wanted a fenced yard to allow them outside and not have to be out there with them if I don't want to be at the moment. But, of course I LOVE being outside. So, this past summer, Clint built me a beautiful fence. (a family day at the house and my brother and brother in law helping Clint dig the post holes. you can make fun out of any kind of work day!) Even placed my painted stained glass window in the gate. Soooo pretty!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi_qNtSMZ40hxufhNMwGzYcHqh8Ms1ne46DyxfZEdFA-L0gkO2e8M70vpwuDWaj7knIztrYvH99H1puU4yeFP2bb9pvQTU9c5HAunxKXsMNtV_BdWLlBzNenB3epeldSJUGjPDTEpuCG-/s1600/IMG_2698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauFL67u0H7nC47KOC6vW8bxKu4HSDGU2QIq92sZ_tQhk0m39kGZdocdqGX-ysZ0Q_VEGVgUsU6xb_Vm9nn9eCxNQt4fwOWoOkMokJTn2UNsgPltwtZjEhukp4yhXDrPXEypUHo_fP8XpE/s1600/IMG_4246.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/AVvXsEhauFL67u0H7nC47KOC6vW8bxKu4HSDGU2QIq92sZ_tQhk0m39kGZdocdqGX-ysZ0Q_VEGVgUsU6xb_Vm9nn9eCxNQt4fwOWoOkMokJTn2UNsgPltwtZjEhukp4yhXDrPXEypUHo_fP8XpE/s1600/IMG_4246.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi_qNtSMZ40hxufhNMwGzYcHqh8Ms1ne46DyxfZEdFA-L0gkO2e8M70vpwuDWaj7knIztrYvH99H1puU4yeFP2bb9pvQTU9c5HAunxKXsMNtV_BdWLlBzNenB3epeldSJUGjPDTEpuCG-/s1600/IMG_2698.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGabAi5uUt7toL88dzSpTHPzCS7Vm0WO1y31m_o2NVCl2U0PXj-MgN82qaTlfkvzzzspBpXaOqHSo33wNAIamCU_lPUfXQmzYCK9F6Qs4I41kn8OeCJwcojjLZWKq2VdsuHYnIS9kRVF_/s1600/IMG_5674.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/AVvXsEjOGabAi5uUt7toL88dzSpTHPzCS7Vm0WO1y31m_o2NVCl2U0PXj-MgN82qaTlfkvzzzspBpXaOqHSo33wNAIamCU_lPUfXQmzYCK9F6Qs4I41kn8OeCJwcojjLZWKq2VdsuHYnIS9kRVF_/s1600/IMG_5674.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s2aacJgZdOwRV1beJmGdJm_0mFbmEYycZXZfgv1vX8iaADDSZV6uUe6k99ew1hBFNci51vbVPN8phIx-phigtdl-MZuJx-VbstM7nW2r_rZMsNw2Hz5q21l9YAdd9tnaZbKsozpu47eS/s1600/IMG_6244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s2aacJgZdOwRV1beJmGdJm_0mFbmEYycZXZfgv1vX8iaADDSZV6uUe6k99ew1hBFNci51vbVPN8phIx-phigtdl-MZuJx-VbstM7nW2r_rZMsNw2Hz5q21l9YAdd9tnaZbKsozpu47eS/s1600/IMG_6244.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauFL67u0H7nC47KOC6vW8bxKu4HSDGU2QIq92sZ_tQhk0m39kGZdocdqGX-ysZ0Q_VEGVgUsU6xb_Vm9nn9eCxNQt4fwOWoOkMokJTn2UNsgPltwtZjEhukp4yhXDrPXEypUHo_fP8XpE/s1600/IMG_4246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEija13uHy3HxCaYcZgdocjK1FLqOekqA-q-Lesj7-f4M40ckHJk-Qn4tthTtDuwHMjlXoBFIzzDF_z5LHEOiDhEsU5SrSKp2PzuxamikhRTWHWXwgIMB59G0KWL6I4KoXo3mcVmNeMVAhJF/s1600/IMG_6547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEija13uHy3HxCaYcZgdocjK1FLqOekqA-q-Lesj7-f4M40ckHJk-Qn4tthTtDuwHMjlXoBFIzzDF_z5LHEOiDhEsU5SrSKp2PzuxamikhRTWHWXwgIMB59G0KWL6I4KoXo3mcVmNeMVAhJF/s1600/IMG_6547.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70Khl_E1nlwj1DBVn70M9DfGx1PnDUI2VHDzCj165v-d2fdO8-9MIalyp37B2U2f4g057bmK9UoT57pYLxTWkxWPg3Bh3osGSkq_42Z92Jdc7hWoTd7EOWwQv-LY_NfOU6W2wcr-gKZnr/s1600/IMG_6247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70Khl_E1nlwj1DBVn70M9DfGx1PnDUI2VHDzCj165v-d2fdO8-9MIalyp37B2U2f4g057bmK9UoT57pYLxTWkxWPg3Bh3osGSkq_42Z92Jdc7hWoTd7EOWwQv-LY_NfOU6W2wcr-gKZnr/s1600/IMG_6247.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNUEk45yW0AJMpWP2VE4UBzSNrDff8f5hWa1wvkQb1uXQJh6sHEXistNM15njkjdHBBg7E5AnDpSxj6NbVbkG0ShsWWjCJu2bWwt77jCJpSt0sctDgMJnh-z-zFtMlLXiQKSMAN_qdie_/s1600/IMG_6250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNUEk45yW0AJMpWP2VE4UBzSNrDff8f5hWa1wvkQb1uXQJh6sHEXistNM15njkjdHBBg7E5AnDpSxj6NbVbkG0ShsWWjCJu2bWwt77jCJpSt0sctDgMJnh-z-zFtMlLXiQKSMAN_qdie_/s1600/IMG_6250.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dFVJC7oyTea1waF6RYUn1hH9cGAluP-AufonBlmS2sAi2QqeSsvnzNsB1Hh66leClPBB9Jzqqb4thWvkzetPpyThMupSh7Wr4Y23kUhAdHbehy76SqaInwIzNdB0y2_iYG82hA6ktvqu/s1600/IMG_6558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dFVJC7oyTea1waF6RYUn1hH9cGAluP-AufonBlmS2sAi2QqeSsvnzNsB1Hh66leClPBB9Jzqqb4thWvkzetPpyThMupSh7Wr4Y23kUhAdHbehy76SqaInwIzNdB0y2_iYG82hA6ktvqu/s1600/IMG_6558.JPG" height="381" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Privacy at last!!!!! Thanks Clint! xoxo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Now that it is winter at the Beach...we are indoors working on stuff. Our front living room will be transformed into a gallery space...oh yeah. So far Clint has ripped out three layers of flooring...plywood, 60's carpet and more plywood. Tons of labour...and tons of dust. Our living room is unlivable...a plastic sheeted wall encloses the "work area" and we have moved most of our belongings upstairs. Like as if we live in an apartment. Cozy and nice actually. And all good stories for after the hardest part is over. "Honey...remember when we lived in dust and wood chips and everything was upstairs?" It is a long process but one that will leave us smiling and happy with exactly what we have...what we have made!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Just as life evolves, so can our homes...but with our homes we are the evolution creator! Have fun...get some paint for your walls, build shelves for your walls, tear out some gross old carpet...make your house your home, exactly how you dreamed! Even if you don't know how to do something...you can find tutorials of everything on YouTube!! ;o) (I wouldn't recommend touching electrical though! yikes!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And when you are looking for a home to buy...there are many ways to do it. You don't always have to go through an agent...there are always listings through sites like kijiji or craigslist or individual sites all across North America. Like, I can imagine finding your right home is a tough one in the big awesome city of New York...that place is immense. And, also has incredibly cool homes with much character. Imagine owning a Brownstone?! Oh, the things you could do in that place! Well, for all you who want to be in the city that never sleeps...here is 'Compass', a <a href="https://www.compass.com/neighborhood-guides/" target="_blank">"NYC neighbourhood guide"</a>to find the right area for you to live and then find the perfect house...and then make it your home!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Good luck finding a home, renovating your home or yard and just making your home yours! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Most importantly though...Have a ton of fun! :o)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-HRbt-6i9B9Q%2FVJRECR9Q8EI%2FAAAAAAAABkE%2FmckK_IpoAG0%2Fs1600%2FIMG_4246.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauFL67u0H7nC47KOC6vW8bxKu4HSDGU2QIq92sZ_tQhk0m39kGZdocdqGX-ysZ0Q_VEGVgUsU6xb_Vm9nn9eCxNQt4fwOWoOkMokJTn2UNsgPltwtZjEhukp4yhXDrPXEypUHo_fP8XpE/s1600/IMG_4246.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-uhbSeK0HBgo%2FVJREBtTA-FI%2FAAAAAAAABj8%2FCiujSc7cf8A%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2698.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi_qNtSMZ40hxufhNMwGzYcHqh8Ms1ne46DyxfZEdFA-L0gkO2e8M70vpwuDWaj7knIztrYvH99H1puU4yeFP2bb9pvQTU9c5HAunxKXsMNtV_BdWLlBzNenB3epeldSJUGjPDTEpuCG-/s1600/IMG_2698.jpg" -->Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-611983205594364902014-08-17T15:27:00.000-05:002014-08-17T22:47:20.176-05:00Baby steps...loss, grief, responsibility, forgiveness...acceptance. Oh Larry Boy. xo<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"It was <i>his </i>time."</b> No...actually, it wasn't. It was cut short...too short. He may only have had a few months longer in him...but in actuality, his life WAS cut short. These words, just so y'all know, are not consoling to someone who is so full of grief and remorse. For I am in the middle of great pain and sorrow for what me and my Larry Boy just went through. Larry had been sick for a while...probably longer than we realized. But he never really showed it...he was such a good boy. We had been treating anemia and a deer tick parasite before we found out, through ultra sound, that Larry had a cyst growing on his liver. Upon the advice of someone who was supposed to know what the very best thing for my VERY BEST Friend was...I chose surgery. I chose to allow Larry's vet (who is a good vet and does have a love for the animals she treats) to perform an "exploratory" surgery, with hopes of cyst removal, on him. I had asked all of the right questions...especially the repeated one..."Can Larry's sweet little heart and body take it?" "Yes"...that was the response each and every time I asked. Right up to the moment when they carried his already sedated body out on a soft purple towel from the room in which I waited for over an hour...a room that felt so cold and tiny and dark underneath the glowing noisy fluorescent lights. I sat there hovering over my phone on which i had displayed the photo I just took of him while we waited for them to finish preparing for his surgery. I played "Beautiful Sun" by Little Miss Higgins...I sang along...I sang sweet music to my sweet little sunshine. The "Sun" who lived and breathed and loved in my home. My "Sun" that made me feel warm and bright every single day. It was me and him...me and Larry against all odds. For the last 14 months he had been my closest friend. Most days my only friend that I spoke with. Larry and I, along with of course the amazing Clint and Wensday started a brand new life last summer. New adventure for all of us. With Clint gone each day it was me and Larry fending for ourselves. And we fended well having one another...we were side by side...holding each other's hearts close. Well...now he is gone. my days are very quiet with much time to reflect. But right now my reflections are sad. The loneliness is overwhelming. my sorrow is too heavy for my soft and light heart to handle. I can't figure out what keeps it beating right now. I am thankful I have Clint and Wensday and all the birdies and Chippy the chipmunk to feed. (I might build Chippy a nice warm, insulated home ;o) ) So anyways...it was NOT Larry's time to go. He had much life in him and was just beginning to really feel the freedom he had been given for the past 26 months. Too soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"You gave him such a good life."</b> Yes. I gave him the VERY best life. WE gave him the very best life. He came into our home...a new friend for Maggie May. A new friend for us to be there for the time coming up when we knew Maggie would no longer be with us. She was almost 19 when Larry came home with us. They were a team. They taught each other many things...it was wonderful. It made my heart feel good. When it was Maggie's time to go, Larry was drowned in love and affection and ALL of the attention. And soon thereafter out to Manitoba we came...all of our belongings to follow suit. Our little family was on a mission...on a new adventure to start a new life. Oh man...did we have some adventures. Every single day was a day at the beach or laying in the grass listening to the birds. In the harshest winter of my life...there were days me and Larry did not venture out...except of course a quick run out and pee for Larry. We spent those chilly winter days holed up in the spare room...cuddled on the bed with Wensday and watching NetFlix. Larry loved movie time. Larry loved to relax...he learned that from Maggie. If we can't be running around outside we will cuddle inside. I still sometimes hear him breathing next to me when it is really silent. It is just that sound that was so natural and commonplace to me...strange that it is gone now. Oh...Larry knew he was loved. He knew he was loved beyond measure. Larry knew 110% that I had his back...he knew NO harm would come to him if mommy was around. I protected him. And last week...if I could have given him my life...I would have. His life was so valuable to me. Yes...Larry was a dog. But to me...Larry was also my baby boy. He was full of emotion...hidden for the most part...but I saw it all. He showed me. He trusted me. I DID in fact give him the best life...but this simple fact will not bring him back nor make me feel better right now. I am grieving...don't patronize me with words that are meaningless. Love is all I need right now...not advice that is moot in a time of tragedy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For Larry I would have given anything for. I tried real hard to give him my breath in his very last moments...I didn't know what to do. How do you save someone whose lungs have filled with fluid? How do you save someone who was obviously bleeding from the inside out? I didn't know this was happening. I brought him home from the vet 6 hours after surgery. They said he was fine. She told me that he just had to take it really easy for 2 weeks. The drive home was sad...Larry was not himself. But he had just had surgery...it's a big deal. Then I saw his scar...my first moment I regretted the surgery. 10" long...Throat to penis he was cut open. WHAT THE...?!? If she had told me she was going to splay my sweet Larry right open I would have told her to take her surgery idea and shove it right up her... (I am still VERY upset about this. I am so angry at myself for putting him through that ordeal. I am so upset I trusted someone with Larry's life. I need to forgive her...but I am not ready. I am so angry and hurt and tortured over that whole event. And it's just the tip of the crumbling iceberg.) We emptied out our living room to make it our bedroom for two weeks. Oh how much Larry wanted to be upstairs where we always went. Stairs were blocked so he could not tear open his large wound. The night was incredibly restless. Larry needing to go out. He would pee then walk out onto the field and just fall down and not get up. I would caress him and love him and beg him to get up. I had to wake up Clint twice to come out and carry him back into the house. In my mind, because I was told everything was ok...I thought he was just struggling with coming out of anesthetics and fighting the pain with the morphine. He was internally bleeding and his lungs were filling up. He would cry and moan. I would lie next to him and calm him again. In the morning the moans were louder...sadder. I held him, he would settle. I went to my computer to update my status as I had been asking people to pray and send healing loving thoughts to Larry. I got off the computer to his moans and noticed his legs doing the "stretch"...he was suffocating. Oh my God...what could I do. I went to him...he looked up at me with such fear and begging me to help him. I held him...I screamed out...I loved him and kissed him...he died. Right there. I breathed into his nose to give him my breath...it gurgled. I screamed and screamed and screamed. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! His limp little body...no life left just laid there next to me. He was gone. NO! How do I wake up from this? His life began in tragedy...now it ends this way? How can this be? Who do I blame? I blame myself of course. I feel like I should have made different decisions. I want him back...impossible. I called the vet and cried. I called Clint..."Larry is gone...please come home." My sobs were uncontrollable. My heart was lying on the floor next to me, still, silent, beat-less and staring back at me with glazed open eyes. How was I still alive? I was dead. I am still trying to come back to life...I am trying REAL hard.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Clint came home...we cried together. I found a blanket to wrap his little body in. We decided where he should lay...definitely our backyard. (laws schmaws...it's MY property!) I took down the prayer flag that hung above his bed. I clipped some pretty flowers from the garden where Larry used to lie near when we sat in the yard to watch the birdies. Clint dug a hole and in it we laid our sweet sweet Larry Boy...prayer flag and flowers to keep him bright. Oh Larry...my heart, my love, my best friend...I love you boy. May you rest in peace until the day I come to heaven and we'll catch up then buddy. Until then you hang out with Maggie...I hope Opi found you too. He loves dogs...he'll play with you guys, take you on walks and adventures. He was the one who taught me to enjoy those beautiful and simple moments...like the ones we shared daily, my Boo. I am sure Syder is with him too. So you guys will just have to wait for me. As much as I'd like to come now...I know I have lots more in me to give down here...even if I don't feel like it right now. I need to accept your are gone...I need to forgive myself (and the vet) for the decisions that were made that ended your life too soon. I will, as a few people have suggested prematurely, invite a new friend to live with us. It is going to take some time before I am ready...but, I WILL rescue another lost and needing soul. My heart IS big and has capacity to give out lots of love...but not now. My heart is still working on getting its beats back...i need my rhythm...it's lost right now...I'll find it. I will find it because of my love for you Larry. You also loved me and taught me so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you my sweet Larry boy. I love you forever. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And Ever. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwlnJnPvZJ1TfOESZ7YmPXQZSYitBWCysvirn2OJw7TRHIA-KnhbmrVTFTAQ6nhyiqprjxCYvZ3q4wLOTTuEkXYxNHmOJvf9YnjjN7PrkxEeudnXVlPinZLIjTtmwjLkRieCao67OrNfY/s1600/IMG_9066_fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwlnJnPvZJ1TfOESZ7YmPXQZSYitBWCysvirn2OJw7TRHIA-KnhbmrVTFTAQ6nhyiqprjxCYvZ3q4wLOTTuEkXYxNHmOJvf9YnjjN7PrkxEeudnXVlPinZLIjTtmwjLkRieCao67OrNfY/s1600/IMG_9066_fotor.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-F3vHAlMisbB0r02PCO-ilsVR1s7mdsT5VLwFZCN3uYLx0JQB5M4qNlMyY8vO68q7nLc-WGcQZMTrFIL1eZm9IxQrpGfDXUs9mRFmMdtFr0831TudrImqwkE6_xv4cZ_kFuUJX3pHDxX/s1600/IMG_5739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-F3vHAlMisbB0r02PCO-ilsVR1s7mdsT5VLwFZCN3uYLx0JQB5M4qNlMyY8vO68q7nLc-WGcQZMTrFIL1eZm9IxQrpGfDXUs9mRFmMdtFr0831TudrImqwkE6_xv4cZ_kFuUJX3pHDxX/s1600/IMG_5739.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Larry Boy</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>November 7, 2008-August 7, 2014 </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I have made a wonderful playlist...all videos with Larry on my YouTube. He was so good.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>RIP to the best dog, friend and animal child anyone could EVER have.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5yIUUwslOg&list=PLJcnueRWBEJ43iae4m96BQz5kSDikW68i</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Peace & Love</b></span></div>
Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-57065027312837768452014-01-19T17:16:00.002-06:002014-01-19T17:19:54.664-06:00How I Love The Beach...I have always loved spending time at the beach…who doesn't? As a kid it was to swim and play, as a teen it was to tan and get out of the city and as an adult it is to notice all of the beautiful objects and scenery that you will only find on the shores of a lake or ocean. I honestly could spend an entire day beach combing and staring out on the waters or laying on the warm sand underneath the heat of the sun. These days…being winter and all, there ain't too much laying down happening. There is a lot of "Larry, lets go walk on the beach for a little while before we get too cold!" We live 30 seconds from a great beach…and we can't wait until the water comes alive again. But for now we will walk the boardwalk and watch the skidoos speed by on the ice and snow covered lake. I'm actually very excited for the spring thaw to happen. There will be some gorgeous images to capture during that time. But for now I will just have to look at my pictures from this past summer of the fun times we spent on Lake Winnipeg taking notice of the special features surrounding us. ;o)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">From the Summer, through the Fall and into Winter months.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The change is so beautiful.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSO6YJqByqX7_r1EJs6JHlJDPK_eMDoKHxm_pGfbqElqznvns4YAnyfC639TqklBHuFLilI3uwGtCpPHqJJYLs40srYgUs1-D-uLWOHNEwPgB-pXcnWR25JBfC1YoXt9ZZf1FAtLpjoyCI/s1600/IMG_0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSO6YJqByqX7_r1EJs6JHlJDPK_eMDoKHxm_pGfbqElqznvns4YAnyfC639TqklBHuFLilI3uwGtCpPHqJJYLs40srYgUs1-D-uLWOHNEwPgB-pXcnWR25JBfC1YoXt9ZZf1FAtLpjoyCI/s1600/IMG_0059.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0qaKic_ptBaHfkitFFPVkW3mbSQ25PjVoKo8MHXtZG28B3DhgXWewji2ucuSjbcMI0cG0eh6pQblJRiyZUFrnhd8iNZLarAGQ-16tl5yu-lm47L674ZiFJ48iIpdwueMFw-ehoTMpcXi/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0qaKic_ptBaHfkitFFPVkW3mbSQ25PjVoKo8MHXtZG28B3DhgXWewji2ucuSjbcMI0cG0eh6pQblJRiyZUFrnhd8iNZLarAGQ-16tl5yu-lm47L674ZiFJ48iIpdwueMFw-ehoTMpcXi/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMZEi1IoLkB-95WUthX_QXz3oT-fhipiuuONgrijZwS3tuUnpMZw0bY1uTTZywf2NXB3CXwFF_X4RXWtD0zQktbGE6MD-0UnfTYbS1MLPG05VvVFmjQh5xLe3ZLt5T88RqIUW7LCWV_wH/s1600/IMG_0743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMZEi1IoLkB-95WUthX_QXz3oT-fhipiuuONgrijZwS3tuUnpMZw0bY1uTTZywf2NXB3CXwFF_X4RXWtD0zQktbGE6MD-0UnfTYbS1MLPG05VvVFmjQh5xLe3ZLt5T88RqIUW7LCWV_wH/s1600/IMG_0743.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSpDGcbUi_s04u-RmvafD4dmHbXhZzTFW1EnUdU6GhZZnffVCaVOAo0A-UGMpkjIiBwc0T95n83kSMAkCOdIkY3JFmYKjoLLDzlxr8EELJXvvtmYqvV5VqJpFiML_1kRhKXroEbAkxREc/s1600/IMG_3158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSpDGcbUi_s04u-RmvafD4dmHbXhZzTFW1EnUdU6GhZZnffVCaVOAo0A-UGMpkjIiBwc0T95n83kSMAkCOdIkY3JFmYKjoLLDzlxr8EELJXvvtmYqvV5VqJpFiML_1kRhKXroEbAkxREc/s1600/IMG_3158.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_5Ma_8-0rluXYnOL9NiP4MYDl71OZkm1tmdjdA3gUzFM7xHgnZHtqfD5AtKabwXfGEPDTGyMGyfLoAy_-axc1rFRSb3fsC_-EB8F-v-sFBgdsjlbzpwRtM5oOXrdFiN5CZoUnsAf-RAD/s1600/IMG_4143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_5Ma_8-0rluXYnOL9NiP4MYDl71OZkm1tmdjdA3gUzFM7xHgnZHtqfD5AtKabwXfGEPDTGyMGyfLoAy_-axc1rFRSb3fsC_-EB8F-v-sFBgdsjlbzpwRtM5oOXrdFiN5CZoUnsAf-RAD/s1600/IMG_4143.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkkABGPbntHFg95egIPmdc2qAoek72DvdUtY13a06NKydQ5iEJHKMAhjkKqPDCnSkL4GeHBqCprDp7hHPyLGRqz0iA3BlidXb6-2dRZNzQIIYds5KPq08I1KV5n4_8-7RQ9MvOEgwbTf0/s1600/IMG_4395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkkABGPbntHFg95egIPmdc2qAoek72DvdUtY13a06NKydQ5iEJHKMAhjkKqPDCnSkL4GeHBqCprDp7hHPyLGRqz0iA3BlidXb6-2dRZNzQIIYds5KPq08I1KV5n4_8-7RQ9MvOEgwbTf0/s1600/IMG_4395.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG4OHGr1ecP6yBgRtr9ZpsK989yov852LPFO9q4z6Oi9jatpZebkIiK4R51miznvzhoBc47neS2M0m88AnDJQuNxdNktuSjNhqV2Q2SD3WSdMt70GW1FO2Z-v1Tv38zrNvo3Aq2MlODcS/s1600/IMG_4734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG4OHGr1ecP6yBgRtr9ZpsK989yov852LPFO9q4z6Oi9jatpZebkIiK4R51miznvzhoBc47neS2M0m88AnDJQuNxdNktuSjNhqV2Q2SD3WSdMt70GW1FO2Z-v1Tv38zrNvo3Aq2MlODcS/s1600/IMG_4734.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiLPCGkbd6VG7lwMOJETWoDa-ZgxkCQCJKVIeGCHfajf_XULi9byDj_CzzHFzhB8eCO4ttBQlB2Ai7ZxBMGO4rreOjnWURaIpNIoVpGQvgM03ryb70SiSpJ20E6mEfY1SQw_-ZX3xSkDY/s1600/IMG_4142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiLPCGkbd6VG7lwMOJETWoDa-ZgxkCQCJKVIeGCHfajf_XULi9byDj_CzzHFzhB8eCO4ttBQlB2Ai7ZxBMGO4rreOjnWURaIpNIoVpGQvgM03ryb70SiSpJ20E6mEfY1SQw_-ZX3xSkDY/s1600/IMG_4142.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtT2cv8psZ6peLt4_rAkZAJBZuJ2j18p_qQ16H5hgIl85V3DmVmsANKJAiDcY-rXtnv3Qu5TNUVu4hjSj1rzedcddhylmEmrk3PKDGRyctuv161yevS1P7UaY4RpFvMo3iszn7Q8ltGEi/s1600/IMG_5028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtT2cv8psZ6peLt4_rAkZAJBZuJ2j18p_qQ16H5hgIl85V3DmVmsANKJAiDcY-rXtnv3Qu5TNUVu4hjSj1rzedcddhylmEmrk3PKDGRyctuv161yevS1P7UaY4RpFvMo3iszn7Q8ltGEi/s1600/IMG_5028.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwmrZoN26jLvhVS6gKpfL8WIeI2UhUyJBKQ_i-h1CwrZn37PDwrMNnzv4va5ePyj4TQZb97FT6HoOT8McBhpYKPKodPbxy84jhty2pewAR4kv0N0S_KPMtgo13gS3bA9DS4omECuuI53k/s1600/IMG_4797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwmrZoN26jLvhVS6gKpfL8WIeI2UhUyJBKQ_i-h1CwrZn37PDwrMNnzv4va5ePyj4TQZb97FT6HoOT8McBhpYKPKodPbxy84jhty2pewAR4kv0N0S_KPMtgo13gS3bA9DS4omECuuI53k/s1600/IMG_4797.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVyh5KQCSpEO2jFeeGv4NMWNHY-YtFJV8HMYlFz4Z3-OOFH8x48KOqy8FLB_LzSmTm-TpebZOWHkrji8CR_s78Wyl5q4B27Fx9dyS7b3pkCFpCyndhBhzxjvyDmnpX3bcR5BPT7gvJWCT/s1600/IMG_4959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVyh5KQCSpEO2jFeeGv4NMWNHY-YtFJV8HMYlFz4Z3-OOFH8x48KOqy8FLB_LzSmTm-TpebZOWHkrji8CR_s78Wyl5q4B27Fx9dyS7b3pkCFpCyndhBhzxjvyDmnpX3bcR5BPT7gvJWCT/s1600/IMG_4959.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH87Cg7bBGOLl_TiAAoskZkcWQypNrgnhrGZh-eLwe5rBQLT-7IuZFonqu2-_t94dY6S6HOFl8f6Vs5Mr4VD1dXypfNfpssgyGvMxhbpDJxmH2M7TffkHOer9dJgUZ4awdwcLqOPDlNFcW/s1600/IMG_0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH87Cg7bBGOLl_TiAAoskZkcWQypNrgnhrGZh-eLwe5rBQLT-7IuZFonqu2-_t94dY6S6HOFl8f6Vs5Mr4VD1dXypfNfpssgyGvMxhbpDJxmH2M7TffkHOer9dJgUZ4awdwcLqOPDlNFcW/s1600/IMG_0231.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixH_gBxASc8EJQyrZ8VIP04D2yuMx3o8qzzq653lbJOM05vrn8dOu8LMo87jVPzHouq6yKC9OPMhrGOn4n8WuyObdPsqEnFZ69E34KL4IB1yPj0Ohh866Pkm2__gEpxSN0I10eWccO1zZU/s1600/IMG_5270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixH_gBxASc8EJQyrZ8VIP04D2yuMx3o8qzzq653lbJOM05vrn8dOu8LMo87jVPzHouq6yKC9OPMhrGOn4n8WuyObdPsqEnFZ69E34KL4IB1yPj0Ohh866Pkm2__gEpxSN0I10eWccO1zZU/s1600/IMG_5270.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvtWSIF90ZpTrxjrzLOX6755bMQ4nJqVYKyew3_O6gZ8CXqirVXGiB6Fk3qeS8gpRzRF9QznVP6iV_m4SGiBV5IepUFL5eqd7QV3408fKB5BQv24mAl5rNpZjiTgVr74sLDPDxt7alrcu/s1600/IMG_5565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvtWSIF90ZpTrxjrzLOX6755bMQ4nJqVYKyew3_O6gZ8CXqirVXGiB6Fk3qeS8gpRzRF9QznVP6iV_m4SGiBV5IepUFL5eqd7QV3408fKB5BQv24mAl5rNpZjiTgVr74sLDPDxt7alrcu/s1600/IMG_5565.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNriFWLbzUOsRtNdrWlsUbaiALQW3-E6YokIxJ6cHhG8FStzs6mCt0QPnFcVGjv-mcyiHPNG-m6sNPYbhQbsOqFHzKqTD0u6YBwU902Sv7eSxQkArhTOApgOYYoP4g-q1UkrWzWrGB9yCc/s1600/IMG_5606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNriFWLbzUOsRtNdrWlsUbaiALQW3-E6YokIxJ6cHhG8FStzs6mCt0QPnFcVGjv-mcyiHPNG-m6sNPYbhQbsOqFHzKqTD0u6YBwU902Sv7eSxQkArhTOApgOYYoP4g-q1UkrWzWrGB9yCc/s1600/IMG_5606.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgkHBy4vHlDpUzCulOn84zX9ubJlej2nsaCQcUTWan4JpyONLpQpcjr1cMVpepJwmbdXGnqquvkkpqicW5RKqUr4ESHjZL1WqgaBXLUd8CeeBMND7fTsth6kpmC4rl91s3HNLC0rvUv9a/s1600/IMG_7106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgkHBy4vHlDpUzCulOn84zX9ubJlej2nsaCQcUTWan4JpyONLpQpcjr1cMVpepJwmbdXGnqquvkkpqicW5RKqUr4ESHjZL1WqgaBXLUd8CeeBMND7fTsth6kpmC4rl91s3HNLC0rvUv9a/s1600/IMG_7106.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jb1R2XVy0rBKKx2u1oCRQjAURXNYA5xa2_TSXfKbqm0VMvIQ3y8YJG7fs51JlFhs9RJYXAYV9gg_CPj-GIbhiaBPUnb2JHy43fthUl9bcJe7jW9LHDlE0_eix__f5_wXvgf2U7GGUZ0J/s1600/IMG_6601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jb1R2XVy0rBKKx2u1oCRQjAURXNYA5xa2_TSXfKbqm0VMvIQ3y8YJG7fs51JlFhs9RJYXAYV9gg_CPj-GIbhiaBPUnb2JHy43fthUl9bcJe7jW9LHDlE0_eix__f5_wXvgf2U7GGUZ0J/s1600/IMG_6601.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtGjguZOYnQMo9QnuBHHYQTRpLc_BZx-SO2BZ9fGhldc4_B4hhV6qjK0hdxB63JlBuP20OBw4Ipx9tnjgQmqubKkenHh6G6DFJo9EtZfAVjJ75uuWeQ8zUHuN0I4h3DOFAgD-yjd0xOFE/s1600/IMG_6620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtGjguZOYnQMo9QnuBHHYQTRpLc_BZx-SO2BZ9fGhldc4_B4hhV6qjK0hdxB63JlBuP20OBw4Ipx9tnjgQmqubKkenHh6G6DFJo9EtZfAVjJ75uuWeQ8zUHuN0I4h3DOFAgD-yjd0xOFE/s1600/IMG_6620.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTPJBnhlVSfvW31Rbr5k5IlULTVMrOC8Rtcl5o58qjlNFNbCM-2fu6-QZhTAlYMsf5-39d4aElSeoFSOIgMQhyASTYPKmtf0O0P734FM9SS595hUv3E2wr5tjv8ntI8hyphenhyphenl9byRRxzIDsB/s1600/IMG_7105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTPJBnhlVSfvW31Rbr5k5IlULTVMrOC8Rtcl5o58qjlNFNbCM-2fu6-QZhTAlYMsf5-39d4aElSeoFSOIgMQhyASTYPKmtf0O0P734FM9SS595hUv3E2wr5tjv8ntI8hyphenhyphenl9byRRxzIDsB/s1600/IMG_7105.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GbiFPCbJ_lN9zyrGrtQG4AJVNFOzN6y58frJ_Mabi4VggMEfx_Qai3yPDhPFonIo0p0x4iSV6GTBKNAwTqeY34BM9i_LghVkve2WNgi77MkN6XJoICLoTuM7aAfT4XuSmUUPOduVhQby/s1600/IMG_7325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GbiFPCbJ_lN9zyrGrtQG4AJVNFOzN6y58frJ_Mabi4VggMEfx_Qai3yPDhPFonIo0p0x4iSV6GTBKNAwTqeY34BM9i_LghVkve2WNgi77MkN6XJoICLoTuM7aAfT4XuSmUUPOduVhQby/s1600/IMG_7325.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc8_SDmwOhqc5hsfKk1STCybsl5HlPxT1tB_BmrhxHLbAgWm-KD59WSTo606Q-IEoP4y9GEEFQC7qLB47B48kynkAwDlg86sThyphenhyphenSccGIYvDmMmUEFx1ouFJ-hHhFMnBxN7A-l4ZUilOKJ/s1600/IMG_7326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc8_SDmwOhqc5hsfKk1STCybsl5HlPxT1tB_BmrhxHLbAgWm-KD59WSTo606Q-IEoP4y9GEEFQC7qLB47B48kynkAwDlg86sThyphenhyphenSccGIYvDmMmUEFx1ouFJ-hHhFMnBxN7A-l4ZUilOKJ/s1600/IMG_7326.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Me and my "friend" hanging out On the Lake…that's right…there's about 20' of water underneath us! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-60665983475622203022013-09-04T08:53:00.000-05:002013-09-05T07:55:12.697-05:00Random Laundromat Thoughts...<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here I am…again at the laundromat, that also brings me eggs, toast and hashbrowns. Mmmmm…it comes on a styrofoam plate that usually has melt marks on it when the food is all gone…but it still hits the spot! Plus it has WIFI which I do NOT have at home and That fact alone is really starting to irk me. ;op And the fact that all we have at home is iron water which puts rust into the water that comes into the house causing all things that can soak up water to turn orange. Not fully orange…but you will find rust spots all over your laundry. All I do at home is darks and underwear that I don't care if it has rust spots on it. (I will treat Clint & I to fresh undies when we move outta there…a getting out of da country and into the town present to ourselves!) I like that there is a laundry line though. Yesterday I washed Larry's van seat blanket while I was giving the van the "treatment"…rinse, wash and chamois of the exterior plus the hubcaps, and a full interior clean with vacuum and windex and those cleaning wipe things. It took no time for everything to dry up nice…the van and the blanket. Super sunny hot day with a good wind…perfect for outdoor drying. The van is…was spotless. I have to drive 7 ams up that friggin' gravel road to get anywhere…ugh! All that work…5 hours I spent on Windy the Windstar. She almost looks like I never even washed her. Seriously…we REALLY need to get out of that place. Too bad. The country really is so very lovely. I open the door and all I will ever hear are crickets or birds or moos from the cows across the street. I like it when I can hear the cranes flying across the pasture. It was pretty insane when I realized that the odd shriek like sound I kept hearing were big old birds. They are amazing birds…just like the blue heron but they are more creamy grey coloured. I will miss seeing them when we leave the country. Ohhh…and my barn swallow family that I watched hatch and grow up and get flying lessons from their mom and dad and I think an auntie and uncle maybe too with their little ones. I felt like sometimes they were even showing off to me their fabulous flying skills. I know I am strange that way…but I really feel like Snow White sometimes! lol Animals always seem to like me and I will talk to them and watch them and they get used to me and hang out. They haven't sewn any dresses or swept my home yet for me…one day. ;o) I am pretty darn sure that the animal kingdom are just like us but more wild and untamed…yet compared to some people they are the socialized ones! They feel joy and pain and sorrow…but I feel that they also get over it. They live completely in the moment. Joy is more of an overall sensation they have as they have zero stress. Until of course a stressful moment happens…like a predator chasing them or a big storm that is threatening their home. But when it's over…if they live through it they don't relive that moment over and over and allow it to affect their mood for days, weeks, months or years. They live through it and just keep on keeping on. That must feel nice…to never play the "oh, woe is me" game. It gets so old, yet we all do it. I am sure there are some of us who never complain or feel sorry for themselves…but that takes mucho strength. You have to be a Buddhist monk and in constant meditation! My mind is far too busy to get there…maybe one day. Enlightenment. ;o)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyhow…it's another beautiful day in the neighbourhood. Sun is shining, cool clouds are pure white and are float float floating around. The mornings and evenings have taken a turn…they have that fall chill. The days are still getting quite hot. I had to sit in the ice cold water that I filled into my blow up pool yesterday after the epic van detailing job. Then I took Larry on a walk to our camp site home…we walked pretty far and it was so hot and beautiful. I had to jump in the wavy water. And it felt delightful. Oh how I love to be in the waves…I just love the water so much. Nice to be on the lake…my prairie ocean. In a few months that "ocean" will be frozen over and I will be ski-cooing all over it! So strange that the same body of water that feels so warm in the middle of August will actually freeze for 4-6 months and then become warm enough within weeks of thaw to swim in. Amazing if you think about it! I might want to try ice fishing this winter. I really don't like to fish cause it makes me kind of sad. But if I am going to eat meat I really ought to catch it myself…otherwise I am a hypocrite, I have been told. That too makes sense to me. Perhaps I should just not eat meat. Or maybe only fish…become a pescitarian! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh my…these two cute old ladies just walked in with mounds and mounds of laundry! They are too cute. Little Icelandic women speaking together. What a strange language it is…sounds so very different to me. There really are no words that I can ever pick out to get any sense at all what they are talking about. But I love to listen to the conversation. Although presently, the weird guys laundry is in spin mode and he is using the triple loader so it is causing quite the deafening sound. And he keeps reading something on the machine that is in Spanish and saying the spinning of the laundry is so romantic. What!?! I just want my laundry to dry already so that I can get out of here and take Larry on a nice walk somewhere. I also have to fold the two loads…ugh. I hate folding laundry in front of people. They love to watch me in their peripheral (like as if I can't notice them doing this.) to see how I do it with only one arm. Of course I must look strange as I do it because I use my chin to hold a t-shirt whilst folding and towels too...I must look almost comical at times. So I kind of play this game in my head that I am teaching them whilst paying little to no attention to them. But still…I find it quite embarrassing. I work as fast as I can with looking like that is just the way I am...efficient! ;op Will I ever get over myself? I will be 99 years old and still self conscious…oh brother, I hope not! lol</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, weird guy keeps wanting to talk to me and I keep typing furiously so that he thinks that I am deep in my novel that will be a NYT bestseller! ha ha ha ha ha! He grosses me out too…but I shouldn't say those kinds of things because that is not nice. Even though the only reason I now see him as creepy is largely due to the vibe he is giving me...with his greasy hair, John Lennon glasses, army jacket on a warm sunny morning and his moronic tone of voice. ew. But doesn't he see that I am wearing a wedding ring??? I am actually holding my hand in front of my face periodically in a way that it is like a target that you just can't miss. Sooooo annoying. Why can't people notice these things and then back off. Obviously I am not really interested. But it is hard for me to not engage when I am being spoke too. Phew. He just left. As he walked out the door he was saying something about enjoying my laundry time and then said good-bye…adding "you will probably be gone before I get back, eh?" Like YEAH!!!! Too funny. Mine must almost be dry his will take at least half an hour. I gots to get a move on it. ;o)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm coming Larry...</span><br />
Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-85122264748507263612013-08-26T22:32:00.001-05:002013-08-26T22:32:08.036-05:00Ode to Isolation<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Well...to be honest I ain't entirely sure on the definition of what an "Ode" actually consists of...lines/verse/prose...what have you. It's just pretty much my feelings at the moment wrapped up in a neat little easy to read platform. All is good of course...just my way of letting it out of me so that I can move on.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My eyes usually open before I am done my dreams</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I get out of bed in a lucid state and a sweaty body</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Am I home or not is usually the first question I ask myself</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel this is home…well this province WAS my birthplace</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This "home" we are living in is just a house to live in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Life doesn't feel real these past few months…as though in a dream</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this the reason for my constant lucid awakenings…am I asleep</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Each day is the same as the 24 hours just gone by the 24 hours previous to that</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I break from typing to scratch the new mosquito bite on my left calf…itchy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Each morning I walk out the front door as I let Larry to chill outside</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There really is no chilling, per se…it is hotter than the gates of hell on that deck</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I breathe in that thick, hot air and listen to the cranes flying over the pasture</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hear all of the chirping of various sweet little birdies…I love their tunes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love the way the crickets and grasshoppers accompany the music in my ears</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love that big, blue with fluffy white cloud sky that surrounds my upper peripheral</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Encompassing me each moment I am outdoors…not too many tall trees around</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not too many anything around these parts out here in the middle of no man's land</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I take back the words "I don't mind isolation"…for I really had no clue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Spending time alone is something I crave each day…I like the silence</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But…when all you have is yourself, the alone becomes your shackle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tying you to yourself, your thoughts, your identity, your longing for friendships</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am not a hermit…I admit being wrong…I am a vibrantly coloured social butterfly</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The colours are fading along with my zeal for happiness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How could this be? This is not me…I'm no longer free…This I now see</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My sadness comes out in lashes…oh poor Clint…I know you hate it too</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hard to be the "optimistic one" when you just want to run back home</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The home I loved for the past 6 years…I left my friends there…stupid me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was searching for health to bring me happiness…screw my health</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to live in pain if it means I live with peace in my heart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Daily greetings with smiles and hugs to fill my day</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My heart is torn…here: family love…there: friend love</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">More than just friend love…nature love, ocean love, island love</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My love that I wanted everyone else to experience in visits to see us</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Family makes my heart sing like a mezzo soprano to a full house at the concert hall</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The smiles and warm hugs of my sweetie ones take my breath away</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh joy joy joy joy bliss…it streams right out of them into my heart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If only that strong sensation took away my pain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whine, sob, wallow in the mire of that very same pain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The pain envelopes me more than the prairie sky in an open harvested field</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I need to locate a great sunflower field STAT…run through the yellow towers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Find some joy and laughter throughout that sun drenched field of beauty</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something has to save me…save me from my misery</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll try to keep smiling…for Clint…he is my greatest love…my true passion</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"We got to get out of this place…if it's the last thing we ever do"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Confusing having two homes in separate places</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Which place do you choose…do you only get the one choice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The choice was made…plan set in motion…that's ancient history</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well…for now it is what it is…we are where we are</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We've got to keep on keeping on</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With a smile on our faces of course…even if just for show</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE!!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfstfhh1yRAdUeXap0jX42YyFyuUWZtIbGOQ5bYeDwOLv4vnbqtKVaSRwfV2vUtAZzLhe5J-sINUreIg0-LkC5F6jykh5bsqn8QGbxflNG-LQXCAY4ncolLtoCN6d3t6dA7poOyiP5ARr0/s1600/IMG_2315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfstfhh1yRAdUeXap0jX42YyFyuUWZtIbGOQ5bYeDwOLv4vnbqtKVaSRwfV2vUtAZzLhe5J-sINUreIg0-LkC5F6jykh5bsqn8QGbxflNG-LQXCAY4ncolLtoCN6d3t6dA7poOyiP5ARr0/s400/IMG_2315.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div>
<br /></div>
Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-49642812953651587082013-07-22T16:28:00.001-05:002013-07-22T16:28:30.493-05:00Livin' in the Sticks!<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sun shines bright and hot each and every morning…the heat punches you (softly) in the face when you walk out the front door. Some mornings the herd of cows are across the street in the pasture…mooing and grazing and hiding in the patch of trees searching for shade, reprieve from the sun. Their tails constantly swishing the flies away. They are pretty darn cute I must say. There are about 60 of them…including about 20 little calves. I cross the empty gravel road in hopes that perhaps this morning they will come to the fence and greet me…my voice must be starting to sound familiar. As I approach the gate they walk away…sometimes the little ones will run. Like what do they think I am going to do to them? I speak in a soft, calming and loving tone…don't they see me holding delicious greens in my hand? Some of them are dark brown, some light brown and there are a few that are tan coloured…they are my favourite! (never seen cows that colouring before…unique and beautiful)</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today is a breezy morning. I have not heard the cows across the road…they must be up pasture, near the creek. The line of poplars surrounding the 3 acres that our home is on are swaying with the cool breeze that last nights storm brought in. I hear their leaves rustling in the wind and I watch the sun dance on the beautiful lime green "feathers" on each branch. The sky is a soft blue and the big fluffy puffy white clouds are just streaming by. Is that a big fat duck in the sky? Maybe a mushroom? The cloud in the prairies are the mountains here…but they are ever changing their shapes and colour. Pure white, grey, dark grey and looming…sometimes they look like sand ripples in the sky. And they just go on and on and on. You can see them forever. I love that. It is so beautiful to me. Reminds me of childhood…lying in the freshly mowed soft green grass in my backyard…staring up into the wild blue yonder watching all the animals and ships and strange shapes float on by. Happiness.</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The skunk and the fox that live in the area are pretty cute too. Foxes are such lonely sad creatures…I never knew this. He…or she is always crying and just roaming between our property and our neighbours (the real farmer). The first morning that I heard him I was worried that one of the farmers cats had been attacked by the pack of coyotes that I hear some nights out in the fields. I heard this strange wailing sound…it was 6 am. I got out of bed and stood on the back deck scanning the area for where the sound was coming from. That's when I saw the cartoon like red tail with white tip running around that flower bed…a fox! So cute! He must be also wanting to get a taste for one of the farmers feral cats. I know Larry loves to chase the cats from next door. They are far too quick for him though…thankfully. I do not know what Larry would even do if he did catch them. I feel like he is just chasing them out of HIS yard. He is protective of his property. He just loves it here. I can't stop him when he chases the cats…he ignores my calls. But when he starts after the fox or the skunk…he seems to get why my voice is a bit more shrill in my call. One…I do not want to deal with the hurt a fox could put on him, plus the vet bill! ;op Secondly…I am not into bathing dogs in tomato juice to rid of the obnoxious "perfume" the skunk will spray out on his cute face. Skunks are funny creatures too. She is young, quite small still. Walks into the yard only following the perimeter of the house then runs across the yard to the garage where she then again follows the perimeter of that building to the fence then all along the fence. She was within 6 feet of Larry and I and never once looked up to pay notice to either of us. I was calmly telling Larry to keep back while she just sniffed her way to where she was heading. She too is VERY cute! Larry seems to understand that her and the little fox are different animals…he must smell their "wild". That is definitely a VERY good thing!</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Living out in the sticks is quiet, peaceful, exciting at times, lovely and just plain perfect in so many ways…but it's also isolating and lonely too. I felt that Gabriola was a rural place to live. Compared to here it is an island metropolis…events and functions, a bustling downtown and people everywhere that know my name and I know theirs. And if I didn't want to be around people or events…I could easily hide too…the hermit Pami inside of me does like solitude also. Here…well, we are 7 kms down a dusty gravel road (that I suspect is killing the integrity of our van) from the town of Fraserwood. A rural Manitoba town. The one store is the "General Store"…selling food staples, wine, liquor, meat, the post office is in there, they have a gas pump too. Across the street from there is the "Tourist Hotel" ($25 a night for a room!!) which has a nice little cafe and a pub on the ground level. The first Friday of each month is Karaoke…so you know where to find me those nights!! lol We went July 5th…what a hoot! It happened to be the one night of the year that the Cadet camp kids come to the bar…so they packed the joint. (I swear some of them must've been about 16…they looked like babies! hee hee) The locals came out too which was fun…a woman who sang just like Patsy Cline, real cowboys wearing their hats and one dude even had his spurs on. It was VERY interesting to say the least. I rocked the house of course…and I am sure I shocked the heck out of them as the "singing one armed woman!" It does seem like a nice community…but I never see any of them living way out here in the sticks. I may not be the "rural" woman that I thought I could be. I think I am more of just a small community woman…I don't want the city, but I do need people. So…a move will happen sooner than later I am sure! Ugh. Ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaa!!</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3q0-rCXPo83lfsblzznW9yV3femftsQ5M4p1P-FpgXDMisdU6rdjXJJ7iI46Hk98Ay9Q32pwY7dkbUMkfFPQ7-FJsmBV4nC7nBeN9zyfger-7oVTTv9Tk5EeRVkl85GWnZ7qMECb1lD2/s1600/IMG_0361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3q0-rCXPo83lfsblzznW9yV3femftsQ5M4p1P-FpgXDMisdU6rdjXJJ7iI46Hk98Ay9Q32pwY7dkbUMkfFPQ7-FJsmBV4nC7nBeN9zyfger-7oVTTv9Tk5EeRVkl85GWnZ7qMECb1lD2/s320/IMG_0361.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh wait…I didn't mention the Buffalo that live up the road from us. I like them too! Although…the one day that we passed them and they were hanging out near the fence, I made Clint pull over so I could get a good photo. As I approached them they all moved away about 30 feet and all started to defecate. Yup…I made them all poo and pee their pants!! ha ha! I am clearly not the Buffalo Whisperer! ;o)</span></b><br />
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">But, for now I am Farmer Pam. Just Living in the Sticks!</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Noteworthy Light'; font-size: 14px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEErkxsutFTbOaGoCzxKi71g5jam_TMp4C5EZQQMoPJFZ9MB3bXZ5rU7uXbvkADC60eCJOudKLmGwFXuQsXAghS1uenwGF-UcubAmTk4l5M1Vsn1KDrQjEM-o1lCby_GTF_lTvhXUFzMZq/s1600/IMG_0620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEErkxsutFTbOaGoCzxKi71g5jam_TMp4C5EZQQMoPJFZ9MB3bXZ5rU7uXbvkADC60eCJOudKLmGwFXuQsXAghS1uenwGF-UcubAmTk4l5M1Vsn1KDrQjEM-o1lCby_GTF_lTvhXUFzMZq/s400/IMG_0620.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Noteworthy Light'; font-size: 14px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-28552949360388007832013-06-13T12:45:00.000-05:002013-06-13T12:52:21.653-05:00Trails, Trials and Tribulations...<span style="font-family: inherit;">What a journey the last few months have been…preparing and then leaving home where we were incredibly happy but with it's share of physical problems making the move out east the decision to be made. Going away parties…tears, laughter, love and many many hugs and kisses were had during the time of "leaving". Knowing for 6 months that you are leaving home is a long set of goodbyes and heartache…like ripping a very sticky Elasto-Plast band aid super slowly off. It was hard, heart breaking and stressful to say the very least. I was in a constant feeling of complete overwhelming mental and emotional breakdown status…like somebody hospitalize me quickly before I lose my mind, kind of deal. Not to mention the fact that each time I gave something away to a friend and explained where and why I got it in the first place...it felt as though I were doling out my worldly possessions before I leave to enter the after life. Very strange feeling indeed. But we got through it all, with all of the love and support from our Gabriola family and left our little paradise island on May 27th. The trek out east was epic, to say the least. We stayed with family and friends and the Country Inn in Regina (I would actually recommend this hotel if you have to stay in Regina…it was nice and clean and incredibly comfortable.) all along the way. We landed at Camp Morton campground on June 1st. (Marilyn Munroe and Syder the cat's b-day) It was a sunny and beautiful day. Our friend Ken loaned us his tent trailer so that we could have a "temporary home" instead of just a tent…I don't think I could have handled the tent situation. A tent trailer is pretty chic for camping I must say. We don't have power or water or anything…but we have four walls that for the last 24 hours have kept us high and dry in the Manitoba Spring rain.</span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a most gorgeous place to be situated I must say. We are right on the banks of the western shore of Lake Winnipeg…perfect for watching the beautiful sun rise over the lake! Sun comes up about 4:50am…at least it did the other morning when I woke up in time to walk down to the waters edge and gaze upon the beauty that was before me. During the week we have the whole campground to ourselves (besides some fishermen that park and go down to the beach to catch pickerel and whitefish) ad enjoy the peace and quiet and tranquility of the lake. We are surrounded by Oak and Birch trees…many different birds; Yellow Finch, Purple Martin, other little songbirds, Seagulls, Eagles, Pelicans and Crows. And yeah, I tell the crows to get lost when they are trying to snatch the baby birds from their parents. The birds are digging my help..I know it! ;o) There are cool trails of soft green grass and lime coloured fresh leaves on the Birch trees above head. Walks along the beach that could take you weeks to go up the shore line…Lake Winnipeg is approximately 25,000 square kilometres…it's big! We walk up the beach for about and hour and find beach glass and cool rocks and stones and even a fossil or two. I am really enjoying the nature part of this new adventure…that is for sure. So much to enjoy and love. And it is all so very nostalgic to the both of us. Childhood memories of mind and olfactory senses play a big role in day to day life here. We love it!</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I enjoy camping…think it is great fun and just love being outdoors. But the fact that I have no idea when it will end as we have nowhere to go home too is starting to weigh VERY heavily on my heart and mind. I went to bed crying last night and woke up the same way. We are essentially homeless…it is not a good feeling at all. I sure am glad that I have always been friendly and loving towards the homeless on the streets. This is a lonely and isolating experience. We have each other and of course Larry and Wensday too…and that makes it easier just to have our little family all together. Enduring the same struggle day to day. I feel bad for Clint desperately looking for work. At 41 it's hard to be unemployed and feeling like you are not able to contribute financially to life. I have faith in him…I know he will find something good and will be great at it. He has a great work ethic and does the very best he can…just hoping there are some doors that will open soon for him too. I can not even imagine the stress that he is feeling right now. And there is nothing I can do but support him and love him the best I can.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know that things will fall into place eventually…but when you are at rock bottom, as they say…it's hard to look up and see the light. It seems like the doors and windows have been closed on us and no light can come in to help us live and grow. But that is just the "woe is me" girl in me speaking. It's the depression of leaving everything behind, feeling regretful about doing so and then feeling as though we are completely alone. I know this is all not true. I just keep reminding myself of that as to not be sent to Selkirk to the asylum! For there are days when I feel I may actually lose my mind.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been uplifted twice by visits from my family…nieces and nephews and siblings. Thank you guys for making the effort and taking the time to drive up here to see us and welcome us home. It really means the world to us…in ways you may not even comprehend. Just to feel loved and welcomed right now goes a long way. Playing in the water this past weekend with the kids was rejuvenating and wonderful. The sun so hot…the water refreshing…the sand warm under our feet and malleable to make our sand mermaid. What a fun day that was.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So…here's to the future…our future in Manitoba. May you be bright, warm and open up for us to come in and become part of this world once again. </span></div>
Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-19453987107914027042013-03-19T13:58:00.000-05:002013-03-19T14:44:43.070-05:00To Be Overwhelmed or Not To Be...<b>You know when there are millions of things in your brain that you must accomplish or tackle or prepare or whatever...those times when you wish your brain could just be silent for a few moments...but it can't...or it won't. Whatever the case may be, it is so easy to get lost in all of that and lose focus and become incredibly overwhelmed. Now, take that brain chaos and add in a little bit of emotional turmoil and there you have the beginnings of what could be a breakdown...mental and emotional. I guess you also have to combine the fast paced world we live in that just keeps spinning out of control...ugh. No wonder people lose their minds and go off the deep end. I am teetering on that diving board right now...and it's freaking me out. (even though I LOVE to swim!)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Life is so crazy...pretty much all of the time. Crazy good, crazy bad, crazy scary, crazy happy, crazy sad, crazy hilarious...you get the point. I love the crazy. I really do. I am sure life would be quite boring without all of that added into the mix. Keeps our minds working and lessons a learnin'. I am not sure yet of the lessons that I am going to learn from these past few and coming months...but it'd better be good! ha ha ha! Seriously. A few times in my life I have had to make some pretty huge life decisions in relationships or work or where I live...and they have all turned out to be the right ones in the long run. As hard and hurty as they may have been to make, they all served their purpose in who I have grown up to be. For instance, leaving Manitoba nearly 14 years ago was an intensely tough move...family and friends to be left behind. But having lived on the West Coast has definitely changed me in ways I feel so blessed about. I broke out of a cocoon and grew my real big purple wings and became more of who Pami always was. Then of course there was the move to the little island in the Pacific Ocean...imagine that...a prairie girl on an island! Oh...this place. It's absolute paradise and allowed me to centre myself being amongst the beauty of nature and the animals and the most precious thing...an amazing community...my West Coast Family. :o) I will be eternally grateful for having lived here.</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>But it's all going to change...</i></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Five years ago we made the move from Vancouver to Paradise <span style="font-size: small;">I</span>sland.</span> We knew no one...had no job to come to...we had a cabin to rent, and that was where we started. That decision was made for health reasons...my health. I have been suffering for 10 years with chronic pain of overuse in my arm. Wrist and elbow tendinitis, rotator cuff problems, thoracic outlet syndrome, shoulder arthritis and blah blah blah blaaaaah! It's been a struggle, to say the least...but I also am a fighter and a liver (loving life...not an organ), so I maintain sanity...somewhat! ;o) Living in the city became tough for me...there were so many things to do that I could not participate in any longer due to my pain. And I just couldn't ever settle my brain...the city was too much. I slept an average of 3 hours a night for 2 years!! The very first night we slept on Gabriola I was down for 8 hours...only woke up because our friends had came over with us to help with the move. That morning as I woke up and the sun was shining, the birds were chirping (The Towies getting their shriek on) and there was absolute stillness in the air...I knew we were finally home. This was going to be our final resting place. And it just kept getting better and better. Not only is Gabriola a most beautiful paradise of nature and wildlife and sea life...it is a big old family where everyone knows you and loves you (or hates, just like family) and you love them too. I have never felt more at peace with myself and my surroundings since childhood. Gabriola makes my heart feel good...no, it makes my heart feel spectacular beyond belief!! We were set...we are home.</b><br />
<br />
<b>But wouldn't you know it...it's damper here than Vancouver. And that damp seeps through the skin and burrows itself into muscle and bone making you achy and creaky (if you have issues with those things...otherwise you're fine...just cold.). Wah! That simple little fact about the damp is the biggest deal to me. I have become accustomed to this grey, wet weather. It took a few years to not let depression get to me on the dark days of winter. Living on Gabriola has made that way easier than the city. To have the ability, to everyday get out of the house and take a stroll on the beach or in a mossy green forest is supremo good for the soul. And it has made me feel strong and good and it has centred me in ways I never knew possible. Even on rainy days I take the dogs for a walk at the beach and it fills my soul with happiness and peace. But, it tortures my body...physically it just ruins me. And this winter really has been the worst so far. That in itself is a most overwhelming situation in my brain. And now, because of this turmoil to my body, we have made the hardest decision of our lives...so far. We are leaving. :O( waaaah...(oh man...here come the waterworks!) I can't even stand those words as they fall off my lips...leaving. My brain simply can not compute that information. Why oh why would we leave paradise?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>To have better health is of the utmost importance to me. To be able to wake up daily and not feel like I can't even get out of bed would feel so amazing. And, well...winters out east are mighty cold, but they are dry. My pain level decreases every time I go east to visit the fam in the winter. And let me tell you...THAT is amazing! To feel more functional is a treat, to say the least. I need more quality of life. WE need more quality of life. What kind of wife am I when can't even cook meals or be able to keep a clean home (I am anal about cleaning...so watching my house get messy drives me nuts!). I do what I can, when I can...but that ain't the point. (most of the time I do it when I can't because I can't let it get out of control even if my pain is out of control itself. I am always in a catch 22 and it makes me bonkers) I know that I will still have my problems with pain...but it will be better and that makes this decision to move feel better in the end. So it is what it is. You gotta do what you gotta do. And besides the weather being softer on me...my family is there. I will have their support...which right now, I really miss. Just all aspects of the move make sense. And thankfully we also now have family here, so we will always come back for reunions!! (there is no way I could ever stay away.)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>So what is so overwhelming? Hmmmm...let's see here. Like I just said...leaving here really, is the last thing that we want to do. It breaks my heart each and every day these past few months knowing that my time is almost done here. I won't be going to my favourite beaches to play with the dogs and collect beach glass and look in tide pools and find crazy ocean stuff. I won't be walking through dense forests of moss and trees and creeks and deer and birdies. I won't have my daily dose of deer with the momma and her babies visiting me anymore...I will miss that family. I won't be getting into the car and heading to the Village and run into just about everyone I know and love...chat in the dairy section about the "snarl" that we read in that weeks Sounder News. I won't be taken out on a cool party boat filled with my friends and taken out to a quiet Bay of another island to anchor in and party hardy...annoying the people in their cottages too of course. :o) There just are so many "I won't be's" that it is hurting my heart. (I know that Manitoba will be awesome too...I love it there and look forward to life there...it just doesn't make this any easier though.)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>That is only the emotional stress...cause oh boy, there is quite a bit of mental stress along with it.</b><br />
<b>We have a lot of "stuff"...I like stuff. I see cute or pretty little knick knacks in thrift shops or the GIRO and I MUST buy them. Well, I buy the ones that speak to my heart. The ones that give me that nostalgic rush to my heart and soul...those things that I look at that make me smile each and every time. I also always seem to find cool and cheaply priced furniture items...so yeah, I buy those too! But always for a bargain you see...I am cheap! lol Anyways, there is quite a lot of "stuff" to get rid of...selling or giving away...it must be done. We can not take all of our possessions...and that is crazy to me. But...it is also sooooooo good. I have already given away and sold a few things and it really does feel good to purge. I hope to let go of at least 50% of our things...moving it all is just waaaaaay too expensive across the country. :o( It really is a good thing for me to do. If I didn't, I might end up on the show "Hoarders" or something. (my house looks NOTHING like those people's...but you never know, I could go crazier and really stockpile!) And, of course everything that we keep needs to get packed...ugh! There is just SO much to do! (plus, I need to mention that Clint has gone up to Whistler to work to make money to make this move even happen...so I am doing it alone. And that's fine too...it's just a hard time to not have my best friend at my side.)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The last part of this whole process of leaving home to go home that I find overwhelming is that I have to talk about it too much. There is always someone who hasn't heard and runs into me and I have to explain it. Which is fine, really...but each time I need to tell someone why we are leaving paradise and their faces have shocked and quizzical looks wash over them...it hurts my heart. It hurts my heart even more when a person says..."Why would you move to Manitoba? What is there? Do you like mosquitoes and cold weather? It's just flat and ugly there." (usually this will come from someone who has never even been further east than Alberta!!) Even if they honestly feel that in their heart...why the heck would you say that to me??? I am going there for the dry winters that don't take me down 5 notches. I am going to be near family because I need them. And besides all that...Manitoba is freakin' gorgeous! I am from there...it is my home and native land. Why would anyone dog me for going there? Do they think that bashing where I need to go will make me feel happy? It makes me feel pretty upset actually. I really don't want to leave...but it is 150% the right decision...and it's going to be great. I love wherever I live. There is beauty everywhere in the world, if your eyes are open. And I am so looking forward to the lakes, big skies, sunflower fields, festivals, snow activities that have nothing to do with being a skier or snowboarder (2 things I have never done) and being together with my friends and family that I have missed dearly in the past 14 years. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>It's just hard. That is the simplest way to put it. Leaving here is REALLY hard...it's overwhelming to my heart and soul and mind. But we are not leaving forever. The nice thing about the highway system in this country, is that you can get into your vehicle and drive to any destination. And Gabriola will definitely be a common travel destination for us in our future. So, I am just looking to find peace right now in my tumultuous brain and heart. (before I have a nervous breakdown or heart attack!) Guess I'll go for a beach walk now...c'mon doggies! ;o)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kopRweULXfbjN_Jg4fbfn0EAn4UfrTQttXqkoLWLf3JGZLX71m5WvvA5xv_j7zcpfw6NaYtAP0wppnc0_MjwmA8IWhTmxSaHqWclohktIMTuVDMf8BjYTpeAgGUGImvyaz4zmoqDQ8ZU/s1600/IMG_0209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kopRweULXfbjN_Jg4fbfn0EAn4UfrTQttXqkoLWLf3JGZLX71m5WvvA5xv_j7zcpfw6NaYtAP0wppnc0_MjwmA8IWhTmxSaHqWclohktIMTuVDMf8BjYTpeAgGUGImvyaz4zmoqDQ8ZU/s640/IMG_0209.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-72417765964735491672012-12-09T15:26:00.000-06:002012-12-09T15:26:42.679-06:00The miracle of life...<b>I have always been intrigued with the whole beginning process of life...starting with the sperm swimming it's way to it's final destination of entering the egg for fertilization. I remember the first time ever seeing that happen on TV...I think it was on the Discovery channel or maybe TLC waaaaaay back in the day. (I was still in high school, that's seems like a lifetime ago!) It was that same documentary, that they ended with the actual birth of a baby...that was over the top incredible to me. I knew how it all happened from learning about it in science class in grade 7...but to actually have the visual of it all just blew my mind. I have always enjoyed newborn babies. Going to the hospital to visit my younger cousins after they were born, then my older cousins having babies and then my friends going through it all. I just loved it. But out of all the new babies I ever got to meet...my little nieces and nephews were the most special. I remember the first time I held Samuel, (my brother's first child...first of all my 7 nieces and nephews to be born) the warmth that encompassed my soul was almost too much to bear. He was so very special...we had the same blood pumped by our hearts running through our veins. I cried with joy...tears spilling out of my eyes and dropping onto his little blue onesie. He was a part of me and I him. Looking into his big blue eyes I felt such great love and adoration...my sweet little nephew. I had always wanted children of my own...after that first glorious meeting with Samuel, the fever grew strong. ;o) But more than that...it made me feel so proud of being a woman. Just being a part of the human race that is blessed to have that ability bestowed upon me. Me, with my ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus which would grow the eggs to be fertilized and consequently be fed and nourished inside my body to create a little being that would forever change my life and others. I feel that because of this, women have the best job in the universe. And even if I don't ever have the chance to do so myself, I still feel that I am lucky to be a woman and have it all inside of me anyways. I am woman...hear me roar! ;o)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>ROAR!! That brings me to exactly where I was last Saturday...roaring and all the above. I was there, witnessing and documenting the miracle of birth. What a humbling and beautiful moment in time that was. Little baby Star was born on December 1, 2012 at 8:55 pm. He is gorgeous in every little way. I really had no idea what to expect when I came home from dog walking to a message from Tim saying that Lisa was in labour and that they were in Nanaimo at the Mid-Wifery house...and could I still be there to take photos. Ummm, yeah, of course I am still into it! ;o) Little fella decided to come out 2 weeks early...so Saggitarrian of him! ;o) I quickly made up an overnight bag, kissed Clint, Maggie, Larry and Wensday good-bye and headed for the ferry. By the time I got to the home, they were just leaving to go to the hospital. Lisa had Group Strep B (some kind of something that pregnant women can get that they have to be wary of.) and after 18 hours since her water broke, she had to be put on anti-biotics to keep the baby safe from getting it. For Lisa, this is not how she imagined her birth would go...but are birth stories ever the way we expect? Once they were settled into a hospital room, we got a call from the Doula letting us know we could come. (we being; Lisa's mother, Laura, her best friend and me, friend and photographer for the day.) When we arrived things were moving along...the oxytocin drip was helping her contractions speed up and remain constant so that actual active labour could happen. From being on the bouncy birth ball to the tub and then onto the bed with Tim always at her side, so quiet and so focused on being there for Lisa...I documented all the precious moments. I have never witnessed such love and admiration and full on "I am here for you babe" from a man to his woman. Through all of her contractions and breathing it out, he was there every step of the way. Looking into her eyes, sending his warm love and strength into her very soul...that is a true testament of unabiding love...it was beautiful to me. It finally came down to the time where the pushing starts...2 1/2 hours after we all arrived. This is where the term "I am woman, hear me roar" must have come from. The low, primal roaring that came out of Lisa's mouth was fascinating. I have never, in my entire life, heard a noise like that coming out of any human being...it just made the whole moment in time seem so real, so natural and just so overwhelmingly human...more human than I have ever sensed before. The moment you could actually see the tip of the head almost made me drop to my knees. I felt the urge to weep, the tears started to well up and my throat choke...I used every bit of strength in me to hold it back. I needed to stay focused so that I could have it all on film (or memory card, I would have to say...just doesn't sound as cool) for Lisa and Tim and little baby Star to look back upon and remember those precious moments. Tim then came down to where baby was coming through to the other side...Laura took over at the helm...holding Lisa's hands and being her strength. When Star's head came fully out, my heart literally felt like sunshine...the purity, the warmth, the beauty and the preciousness was almost too much to bear. Seconds later out he came and his daddy grabbed him to lay him on top of Lisa's chest. "Oh my god, Oh my god...I love you, I love you, I love you" were the words that came out of Lisa's mouth. I can't even explain how ultimate that moment was. Breathtaking, beautiful, magnificent, precious, amazing...I just don't think there is a single word to describe it. It changed my life forever. I was so high. I was high for days after...high on life. I just feel so incredibly blessed that I was invited to such an intimate occasion. That Lisa and Tim trusted and loved me enough to request that I be the one to help them keep those memories alive. 20 minutes after Star was born we toasted with a bottle of Proseca...welcome to the world Star! </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The drive back to catch the 10:25 ferry home was when my emotions came a flowing. One of my fears of being there was that I would feel jealous. I know that sounds silly and super selfish of me...but it has been years of trying for Clint and I that when I hear someone is pregnant I have such mixed emotions. I am so super happy for them, happy that a new life has been made...but also sad for Clint and I that we might never get to experience that joy. Oh ego...you are so mean! ;o) But, when I shed tears in my quiet van...they were tears of joy and peace. I thanked God for the miracle of life and that I got to witness it first hand. I felt blessed beyond belief. I got home and called my mom...it was 1:00 am her time...she was actually still awake! We spoke for a while and it just felt so wonderful. It made me appreciate my mom even more than that very morning. My mom went through the roaring just to bring me into this world...thanks mom...I love you so very much. <3 :o=":o" am="am" b="b" for="for" giving="giving" life...i="life...i" little="little" me="me" miracles.="miracles." of="of" one="one" thank="thank" you="you" your="your"></3></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Oh man...my keyboard is a little wet now! hee hee. I am such a cry baby. ;o)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>All right...today is December 9th...three days til 12/12/12! I just learned something even more exciting about that day. There will not be another repetitive date in my lifetime...not until January 1, 2101! 01/01/01. So, like that is way super cool to me. Here's a shout out to others born on December 12...Frank Sinatra (RIP), Bob Barker, Jennifer Connelly, Dionne Warwick, Connie Francis, Mayim Bialik (Blossom!), Sheila E, Edvard Munch and even Colonel Sanders (KFC...also RIP). I am a little jealous of any child who turns 12 this year...that would be THE best birthday ever!!! :o) Anyhow, below is another little video montage installment of my daily 12:12 since November 19.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzQbwHGUuPu2wANRJhe6P-yB-GiymOpBZlw-Z4XD2GEl9MyGoTi4Z0PG51tBaa70zXfp4kJfNZZ31Ebn1UsQQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></b></div>
<b>xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo</b><br />
<br />Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-28219785308704311612012-11-18T16:00:00.001-06:002012-11-18T16:42:03.916-06:00Happiness is...<b>"A Thumb and a Blanket." Hee hee...well that is what Linus from the Peanuts would say. We had a bath towel that had his image with those words on it growing up. It was my favourite towel to use after a long bath...must've been used by me and my siblings thousands of times. It became one of those towels that had been used and loved so much it was nearly see through...yet still kept up its drying power. ;o) Last time I saw the</b> <b>towel...there was only a piece of it. It had been cut up in about 6 pieces to make cleaning cloths for around the house. Kind of made me sad seeing a 'piece' of memory shredded and dirty and used up sitting on top of a pile of old rags in the garage at my parents home. The nice part about that whole scenario was that it WAS there...that piece of old towel was still around. It had been moved with them from Manitoba down to Texas 10 years ago...meaning, my mom might also have my affliction of holding memories in an inanimate object. I like how a piece of furniture, or a knick knack can send you back in time...make you think back to a happy moment in life that can make you smile, give you joy and peace in your heart. An overall warmth over the body, soul and heart...lovely. To me, that is a whole lot what life is about. The moments of bliss, of peace, of happiness and hilarity. To be able to look back and feel good about a time in your life is a wonderful thing...it's that feeling we need to keep with us so that the moments we are in are amazing enough that it will be a good memory one day too.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My birthday is fast approaching...this is an obvious time for looking back and remembering life, the good and bad times all come flooding when you are searching back. But I focus on the good...for the bad times had their purpose and lessons have already been learned, so no need to dwell on unhappiness or negativity. To age is a wonderful thing...I am not worried or sad that I am almost 40. It doesn't scare me or make me feel "too old". It makes me feel excited. I can't even fathom the new experiences I still have yet to have...life has so much to offer. Each day is pretty awesome no matter what you are doing...going to work, staying at home, traveling, running errands, sick in bed...whatevs, it is what it is and you got to just enjoy it or take care of the moment so it can be enjoyed to whatever extent that may be. Every breath is a gift.</b><br />
<br />
<b>The excited part about my birthday this year is the date...the numbers. 12/12/12 That is insanely cool to me...would be cooler if it were my 12th birthday. (somebody will turn twelve that day...lucky devil!) ;o) So...I am pretty stoked about this year. I am not planning any big party or anything. It just is going to be a magical day because it just is...and I ain't much for my own party. But something that will cause much excitement and joy and magic is what I actually <i>might</i> be doing that day...if it works out. My friend Lisa has asked me to photograph the birth of her first child! What? For real? Ohhhh yeah!!! I may just get to witness the birth of life on my birthday...that would be the most bestest gift in my lifetime. ;o) The baby is due on the 13th...so you never know! I am just so blessed to have been asked to join such an intimate and emotional journey with my friend, her boyfriend and the family that will be there. I know it will be one of those life changing moments...a memory that forever will bring happiness to my soul. I just feel so lucky to be welcomed to such an event. I may never get the chance to have it as a personal experience for myself...so to have the opportunity to be there with someone that I love and care for so deeply will be the very next best thing. Happiness is life...that is something I need to everyday remind myself of, and keep on smiling. ;o)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b><br />
<br />
<b>All right...I am behind the times in my "Project 12:12". I have been a recluse for the last 5 weeks...taking care of myself. Plus, the last 2 weeks our truck has been dead...that makes it way easy to be a recluse! lol All of my time has been at home...just doing regular life. You know...eating, sleeping, walking the dogs, watching TV and movies, staring out the window, trying to help keep the house clean and of course taking pictures. hee hee. So here are my 12:12 moments from October 20-Nov 18th (today!)...nothing too exciting...but thew music is! ;o) 24 days left til 12/12/12...let the excitement begin! </b><br />
<b>(photo disclaimer: visually, my life may not look too exciting...given most of my time is at home. But I am still enjoying staring out at the sea, watching tug boats, enjoying my daisies that are still alive in November, loving my animals, watching some good old movies, having a friend visit, going for walks and of course taking long hot baths...I just simply, love life.)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxgeSRCf-I9ZmmuTdScFk0Q9Fd9eazqfkMhqb6tQXZs__k7ME75hS-ef525Qbv4rysTS388C6RdmgOtSuxbNQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></b></div>
<b>Today is a bleak blustery day...it might be yet another watch the boob tube kind of day. I am still giving this arm rest...well, except for this blog typing...ouch! I got to start vlogging now! lol Peace out party people in da house!! xox</b>Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-32157544833058724632012-11-11T12:12:00.000-06:002012-11-11T12:15:55.742-06:00It's that day again...<b>The one day out of the year that we are reminded of all the men and women who gave their lives for freedom of people, freedom of speech and freedom to live. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I am definitely not a supporter of war by any means...I just don't like fighting. (did enough of it as a kid!) I feel things could be done so differently. But that is me being an optimist...believing that everyone just wants peace. But it ain't the case unfortunately. There are some people out there who are just wanting to make a fight...they love the drama of it. Like as if life is some Hollywood movie production and it has to be as gory and mean and shocking as possible. It is so sad to me and I'm sure billions of others too.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Anyhow...today is not the day for me to spew my opinions of war. Today is the day...the one day out of 365 that we NEED to take a moment and be grateful for the soldiers who fought for us to be free. Our Grand Fathers and Grand Mothers...Great ones too. A lot of them died so that we could live. </b><b><b>And thankful too for the soldiers who are fighting now...those who have given their lives in my lifetime. You are brave. </b>Thank you. I will always remember.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLX4QJp9oGc4aQcka3tRmyVUDpuG94OOOyPhwsULSXwNJ-9R3u9uiHGTmbdIplfOoaL6nPSJus_md3GBgvsurNw8q00CtBHMisO1A1TYVrDWkpymGkj-_5SL209lBA5hUqkNwtBU6s_Dn/s1600/peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLX4QJp9oGc4aQcka3tRmyVUDpuG94OOOyPhwsULSXwNJ-9R3u9uiHGTmbdIplfOoaL6nPSJus_md3GBgvsurNw8q00CtBHMisO1A1TYVrDWkpymGkj-_5SL209lBA5hUqkNwtBU6s_Dn/s640/peace.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Peace and love to everyone today and always. xox</span></div>
Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-31139802599516583332012-11-05T18:15:00.000-06:002012-11-05T18:17:29.190-06:00Thank God for the sun today!<b>Man oh man...does the sunshine ever make such a huge difference to the way I feel physically. But more importantly, how I feel mentally and emotionally. The sunshine lifts my spirits and brightens my soul...I feel the warmth of the sun penetrate me fully...and I LOVE it! What a reprieve from the rain and chill we have been enduring. And just think...it's only just begun! lol I am just always so grateful for these sunny breaks that we do get during the bleak months. It really does lift the clouds away. Everyone is in a better mood when the sun is shining. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Today I decided to take full advantage of the sunshine and take the dogs for a walk in the neighbourhood...I needed to get the mail anyways. ;o) I also felt the urge to be creative and informative...using both sides of the brain! hee hee. I have seen a few videos on YouTube with the titles reading something like..."How to make a peanut butter sandwich with one arm", and others. The people making these videos have two arms but one is tied to their side or under their shirt. They fumble around the kitchen or hallway or bench where they are trying to their shoe with only using one arm. So...how can it be a "How To" video. Well...they at least are good attempts at trying to do something differently than what you know or are comfortable with. These videos made me want to show how easy these tasks really can be with only using one arm. When everything you do is with one arm it is as normal as using two. ;o)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Anyhow...I made a video today...that was me being creative. And it is a "How To" video...that was me being informative. You can see the video <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DdDp5ga4hU" target="_blank">HERE!</a></span> Peace out!</b><br />
<div id="_dyhb23rg4374">
</div>
Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-47564579281682936242012-11-02T16:55:00.000-05:002012-11-02T16:55:08.955-05:00Oh woe is me...there, I said it.<b>I love life...I really do. I am generally an extremely happy and positive person. I am one of those 'glass half full' kind of peeps...yes, some people find us types annoying! lol I really don't see the harm in trying to find the happy in everything. For our happiness comes from how we choose to see things...how we read the messages in each moment. We can see it as a bad thing or find the positive aspect in whatever has just happened. That is how I try to be...and at times it is a struggle. So I find that I will have those moments where I feel like I have had enough...frustration creeps in and I am just done with it. See ya...keeping myself holed up in the house and I ain't coming out. I would like to think that even the happiest man alive...Mr. Lama...you know, the Dalai...I'd like to think that he too has a day that just blows. (I mean...he is human) Especially because he is a big man on campus that is kept up to date with everything going on in the world...and there is a lot of crap going on. (big reason I do not watch the news...it's a sad and hateful world some times) He must just be like "WTF people!! If y'all just saw the good in things, forgave your neighbours, loved your neighbours, helped those in need, let go of greed for $$ and power, smell the freakin' roses...wake up!" He might just scream that from the inner depths of the temple...I would if I had all that negative input thrust into my brain. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I am presently at the bottom of my glass...trying hard to keep my head above that water at the half way mark. I've been here before, but managed to keep my head high. My neck is too sore to keep it up...I am swallowing too much of that water. I like to say that life is like the weather...you wake up to a sunny/happy day...you wake up to a calm/bright day...you wake up to a gray/depressing day. I try hard to keep sunny in the gray days by still enjoying the waking hours that I do have. Lately, the weather has really crept right up inside of me. The rain that I hear falling onto the metal roof and rushing down the gutters is felt in every inch of my body. I can feel the cold drops penetrate into each pore and seep inside my strained muscles, tendons and joints. I lie in a tub filled with hot water hour after hour in hopes of warming my vessels and overused everything underneath my flesh. I have spent the last 13 days in the "cave" propping myself up with pillows, wearing my heated neck and shoulder pad watching endless hours of crappy day time tv...all in the hopes of giving enough rest to my lovely arm. The only arm that I was given that has helped me do absolutely everything in my life up to this moment. The arm that I abused trying to be as strong as everyone else around me. Always trying to prove myself by being the independent Pami on the outside whilst unintentionally damaging myself on the inside. Ugh...what a bummer. Oh to go back now and change...how many times has that been said by us humans? Hindsight is always 20/20!! lol </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I can not change what I did in my past...nor really would I want to. Even with all the pain that I am in now. Past is past...I learned from things I did or didn't do. I ended up being quite an impressive specimen...like a He-Man or something. I could lift things some of the boys couldn't. hee hee. Not that it makes any difference in life at all...but it still brings a smile to my face. (I also could beat many a boy in an arm wrestle back in the day)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I guess really what I am finding so over the top frustrating right now is a list of things...</b><br />
<b>- why would the only arm I was ever given stop working on me? (sick joke!)</b><br />
<b>- why am I still suffering after 2 weeks of resting said arm?</b><br />
<b>- why do painkillers do nothing when pain is no intense?</b><br />
<b>- why is there no one around that can help me? (dr's, therapists etc)</b><br />
<b>- what did I do to deserve such suffering?</b><br />
<b>Yup...that is the "I feel so sorry for myself" Pami talking. When the going gets too tough for me to handle, i ball up. i hermit. I try to not see anyone so that I don't have to explain why i am being so lazy. I am NOT a lazy person. I enjoy being active and social and being a part of stuff going on. I like to make things happen that are fun for everyone. But I feel that is all changing. This suffering has just gone on too long and it has brought me to a level that my brain just can't handle anymore. I need someone to look at me and figure out what can be done. Dr's just say nothing...take it easy...take pain killers...get massage...get acupuncture...use heat...use cold...rest. I've done it all. What more can I do? There has to be someone. Dr. House...SAVE ME!!! ha ha ha ha!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>All right. I have to stop this typing. Been keeping off my computer to also aid in the process of rest to my arm. But like, so boooooring!! I need a sunny day...at least I need to feel sunny. Send my woes away.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Felt good to vent...peace! xox</b>Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-80900840065373474582012-10-19T13:43:00.000-05:002012-10-19T15:02:50.637-05:00Dear Diary...<span style="font-size: large;">Man...I am so ready for the fall/winter hibernation ritual that I have grown accustomed to...and enjoy quite a lot. The past 4 months have just flown by at rapid speed. Like those days at work when you have a ton of tasks to get done...you don't take breaks so that you can get it all done...before you know it, the work day is done. Wheeee! That is how my summer was...busy, busy, busy...now it's nearly November. We spent this past weekend on the other side of the Country...Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. What a beautiful time to be there...the amazing colours of the trees flowing into one another on the massive hills that plunge down into the rushing lake water...the same water that shoots over the Niagara Falls. I really do miss the vibrancy that fall can display. There are some trees out here that turn flourescent red or yellow...but in patches...it is still so incredibly green right now. In fact...I would venture to say that the world here is greener in fall/winter than it is in summer. Having the short but very sweet opportunity to be in the centre of all that beauty made me incredibly nostalgic for home. It was the warmth of those colours accompanied by having just had my parents stay with us for 5 fun and love filled days and then spending the weekend in Ontario with Clint's brothers and their families. The first daughter got married...it was a very special wedding. Just having all of the family time that was so positive and fun and loving...I get homesick. Family really is and always has felt like the number one important constant in my life. Who are we with out our family? I feel sadness in my heart for people who don't have the family unit that we all so deserve. I cringe when I hear friends say they "hate" their parents/mother/father/family. It makes me want to fix it...like as if I can say something to heal all wounds that brought them there. But I do believe strongly that everything can heal. When there is love...there is peace...even if you got to dig real deep getting cuts all along the way. In the end all that blood shed and heartache will be worth it. The intense love for my family and need/want to be nearer to them all can be so overwhelming to me. Like my heart is never at total rest when we are not together. Having my parents here made my heart feel so good. I have gotten so used to saying good-bye to them though...and that brea</span><span style="font-size: large;">ks my heart. It had been since Christmas that I last spent time with them. I just love them like crazy...and like I keep realizing...time goes by so fast. Life is pretty busy...so days slip by without notice at times. I don't want to look back and feel that I have lost precious time with precious people...I don't think anyone wants that regret. Well, I guess I just got to say...thank goodness for Skype!! ;op</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">55 days until 12/12/2012...12:12 even...oh my oh my! It will be my second champagne birthday in my lifetime. I am not turning 12 again...but it is my special day...and I am going to have a fun day. I can't wait! (I have no clue what I am doing..i might just spend the day chillaxing at home and the beach around a big fire.) Here's the past 18 days at 12:12...starting off October 1st on Clint's birthday to our regular routine, getting set up for studio tour, having my parents for the week to celebrate Thanksgiving and dad's b-day and then heading out to beautiful Niagara and hanging with Clint's family...it's been a good time. ;o) Now time to crawl into my cave and hibernate for a while...is that the water running? Bath time! hee hee</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4k7WReLlms-Fv3wUB9w5RPayARIcyOE0kmg3Kfkx34vXRo5Ksg6rtMBdgg4MKTWntMUkVkj7_LMGWjfHTvb-7YXaIf_0zNPqu804hd3-PTo_gub_NhAF1c2ElkFE0nkbgD1nDccrq2W1/s1600/Movie.wmv" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D61d5a830537ec0c4%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1353268233%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D834915AB3798ED6D4A188D81072EAD367E8B3E.16EB511172F83F3C89044C86B78474205DE92B07%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D61d5a830537ec0c4%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1353268233%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D834915AB3798ED6D4A188D81072EAD367E8B3E.16EB511172F83F3C89044C86B78474205DE92B07%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-58539282762260302422012-10-04T13:50:00.000-05:002012-10-04T13:50:35.314-05:00Time is Ticking Away!<b>Ha ha...whenever I say that or hear that I totally go back to being a teenager and listening to my DC Talk tape. "Tiiiiiime is ticking...it's ticking away...it's tick tick ticking away." <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgDk5W1Uzws" target="_blank">Here's</a> a link to the song I loved so much! hee hee.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I can't even believe it is October...time just goes by so fast. So much has happened in the past month. I had to go to Vancouver twice for Dr's appts, Maggie almost died (I have no idea how she is still kicking it today...she is giving us more TIME!), we have been prepping for Clint being in the 16th Annual Thanksgiving Studio Tour and getting ready for my parents to visit. Phew! Busy lives...good lives...we are alive...yippeeee!!! ;o) Despite the busy times...we always manage to have some fun in the sun (or rain) and enjoy life. I haven't taken much time to sit down and write. I have been vidding a lot more though...hee hee hee. Too many videos on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/daisygroove?feature=mhee" target="_blank">YouTube</a> channel! lol It is what life is about...busy lives but making sure we take the time to enjoy that very life that was given to us.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Found that I had a sweet little thing called a movie maker on my computer...with that I have been having muchos fun! So I made a little vid of the last of my September days. Maybe October will be just that too...stay tuned! ;o)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyqwcoXTP4QwAYuCZj1s7EaG6Btuz6Kc4x2evfB-wbPZQz1cvlCDO9E-WZxX8_Ua9S2W5-Ls2QXjTG3NkiTlA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>All righty...now get out there and have the TIME of your life!! Peace out party people of the world! xox</b>Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-26217424784558934642012-09-20T12:41:00.001-05:002012-09-20T13:17:32.977-05:00I don't want it to be THAT time.<b>The worst thing about life is death...I really don't do well with it. I know that it has to happen eventually. I mean...our hearts only have so many ticks in them...our bodies can only go as long as they can go. We break down. We shrink in size and width, our skin loses its elasticity, our bones lose calcium and become brittle...we age, and sometimes our bodies age further along than our mind. But again, that is life...it's the way it goes...the way it always has. Some of us have millions of ticks of the heart....others will have billions, I guess. (I just pulled out my trusty calculator...there are 525,600 minutes in 1 year. On average the human heart beats 60 times a minute. That would be 31,536,000 beats in one year. Wowzas!) With that knowledge...man our hearts sure work hard considering it beats that much and then we put stress and sadness and smoke and drink and no exercise and whatever...wow. I sure am glad I don't smoke anymore...yikes. But I am a very emotional and sensitive person...maybe it makes my heart stronger...yeah, that is what I am going with.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Anyhow...this ain't about me. Actually, it is about me...it is about the emotional torture that I am going through right now. I am just so sad right now, and my heart, although beating quite strong is breaking. My best friend is in the final stages of her life...my sweet angel is in her last days. Being the amazing and strong spirit that she is, she just keeps walking around like nothing is the matter. The pace is slower, but the brightness is all still there. The smiles and laughter and playfulness are still there. The constant need for something tasty to eat and water to lap up after enjoying some sunshine and heat are the same as they have always been. But she has this football sized tumour on her ribs...and it is just the beginning of the end for my sweet little Maggie May. Oh man...I am bawling like a baby right now as I type these words that I don't even want to believe as true. I have known that this day is coming since the first day she walked into our lives...coming over to get out of the rain and chill, sit by a nice fire. Back then I thought maybe she'd die sooner than later. So we just gave her so much love and attention. (and roasted chicken) Before she even lived with us I would take her everywhere with me. I would be taking a trip over to the big island...Maggie would be walking the side of the road all alone. I'd open the back door of the car..."Come on in Maggie...wanna go for a car ride?" (this is when she could still hear.) We became the best of friends in a matter of hours I feel. We both needed and wanted company at the same time...so we were together as much as we could be. She would usually give me a look like, "I am sorry to take up your time, I will go home now...my parents might be home." And if they weren't, back she'd come. Oh how I loved to watch her strolling up our driveway. I'd walk out and stand on my stoop and call to her...she'd come running over. Oh man...it's amazing all of the memories that flood over me...the different faces I see of hers. She has the cutest expressions...always. She is the most amazing, loving, sweet, kind, gentle, compassionate and giving animal that I have ever known...and so strong and independent to boot. Oh Maggie...you are such a treasure. </b><br />
<br />
<b>She just has brought such joy into our lives over the past four years. I feel like she has been in my life for her whole life...19 years she is. Oh my. I sure wish she had been in my life that whole time. But, I am so blessed that she came into our lives when she did. We gave her the best retirement years a dog could ever have. We brought her to Tofino for a weekend, Victoria a few times, Vancouver a few times...best trip ever was our drive out to Manitoba and home. Maggie got to see our homeland...in thew middle of a heat wave...she hated it! lol (You can read about Maggie's adventures across Canada <a href="http://pamichen-unarmed.blogspot.ca/2011/08/new-adventures-of-ooooold-lady-maggie.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.) I know that we did the very best that we could to make her life super special. I see that in the way she looks at me with those big brown sparkly eyes of hers. She loves me just as much as I love her...this I know without a doubt. It's just so tough...as most everyone knows. You may be thinking of a dog or cat or horse or rabbit or hamster or even goldfish that you gave your heart to too. That love is so amazing. It's unconditional and I think that is why it is so very powerful. They love us like a truly loving mother does. It's deep. Deep as a coal mine. :O) (from a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXwFRwOblp0" target="_blank">Sam Robert's</a> tune) </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>After speaking with a wonderful, fabulous, compassionate and amazing woman here, Regina, who is a homeopath, Maggie is now on a nice regime of comfort. She is not in pain, but the cancer is growing fast. We figure she must have cracked a rib stumbling up the stairs...that is what caused the tumour to appear out of thin air. (Friday we were at the beach...running and playing. I have video of Maggie. no sign of lumpy tumour. Friday late night, after Clint touched her belly and she winced...we saw the lump.) We were away from home on Friday evening...lovely boat ride. This is probably when the accident happened. :( Her bones are full of cancer and so when it cracked...the poison spilled out of the bone causing a large, hard bump. She could not lie down to sleep. Paced all night long until we could get on a ferry Saturday morning and take her to the vet. Where the vet wouldn't say it was for sure cancer without charging us $400 for tests...even though once confirmed there is nothing to do because of her age. She suggested we put her down. See ya! We took Maggie home after an injection of pain killer that gave her rest finally. In the truck ride home I thought she was taking her last breaths on my lap. She completely turned around within 36 hours. We have been to the beach every day...as usual...we just soak up each moment with full breath and appreciation for the time that we are having. She doesn't run on the beach anymore...but she trots and still loves getting going. I just want to make her feel as happy as she could possibly be so that she can fall asleep with sweet dreams and go home to the light. That is my dream...I don't want to make the "decision". I know she will tell me when she is ready though. She is the best communicator ever. Oh Maggie. I love.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Anyways...I need to go cuddle with her sweet face right now. I hear her moving around upstairs. I think I will hear her always. xox</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQFCYv6Q-RZ529hNdOXrmek1TLSATnukP9eZeI0laAHc3fX_-K2oGqOMKm31t0iQLoqdhfIfeJSDBcYaJYjDb5TwF_R1wdeejhYaQGgyRJUYOqHIPspfBHeWBRLU8UZNb5GvwtU3hnOua/s1600/Maggie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQFCYv6Q-RZ529hNdOXrmek1TLSATnukP9eZeI0laAHc3fX_-K2oGqOMKm31t0iQLoqdhfIfeJSDBcYaJYjDb5TwF_R1wdeejhYaQGgyRJUYOqHIPspfBHeWBRLU8UZNb5GvwtU3hnOua/s640/Maggie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-17573715209876757202012-09-05T18:31:00.000-05:002012-09-05T18:31:43.102-05:00Easy Tiger...<b>I find that it is way harder to take it easy than I would have thought, a mere 8 years ago. I mean...who doesn't like to just sit and laze in the sunshine with a cool breeze...sit on the grass and pull the freshness into your olfactories...enjoy a little cat nap on a rainy afternoon. These all sound like lovely moments to enjoy in a day. I have been known to take part in these types of activities...of course. But even when I know I ought to spend an entire day doing so...my mind just will not allow me to. This brain of mine likes to repeat such things as..."you NEED to get on top of the laundry that has been piling up"..."you NEED to vacuum the floors, those animals are hairy!"..."you NEED to get to the bathrooms, keep 'em clean sistah"..."you NEED to water and tidy your plants and flowers"...you NEED to fold that clean laundry"..."you NEED to do something...you CAN'T just be lazy!!!" And these are the statements I NEED to stop my brain from telling me. I do NEED in fact to get to doing these things, as do most people in the world do, of course...but I also NEED to take care of myself, as should everyone else in the world too. ;o) I have to find a way to get these things done so they don't pile up on me. Once it piles up I am a motionless sloth with a full shot of anxiety with a paranoid chaser. All i need to do is a little each day...that is what I say. Yet, I still end up feeling like I am just not doing enough...like I am falling behind on the things that NEED to get done, including taking care of myself physically. This is my challenge...has been for quite some time now. You think I'd have it licked...but I don't. My pride always gets in my way. Still thinking to myself that I can do it all...it's just housework...easy peasy. Well, on an arm that has been through the ringer and taken a beating for a lifetime (and still has a lifetime to keep on), activities of daily living can be grueling and really hard on me. Meh.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Perhaps I need to make myself a chore schedule. Like the one we had on our fridge growing up. The stuff we HAD to do on Saturdays. I was the duster...everything wood in the home was dusted by "yours truly" every Saturday. We had lots of wood in the home...my Opi was a carpenter...wood is beautiful. ;o) Pretty easy schedule, even though I thought it was a big job. (Andy had to vacuum the entire house) Anyhow, perhaps if I made myself a chore schedule...a small job to do each day...I would stay on top of it and there would be less for Clint to have to take care of when he gets home from work. Yes! My job today is to finish this blog and then create my chore schedule...plus water my plants. (my tomatoes will whither if they don't get their water.) ;o)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Life is about finding the perfect balance between all that is in it...career, relationships, health, home and fun times. I think that it may take a lifetime to find the right way to handle it all...that is part of the joy of getting old I guess. So, therefore, aging is a VERY rewarding process...bring it on! But...go easy tiger! ;o)</b><br />
<br />
<b>A collage of 12:12's in the past two weeks. Freaking out over spiders on my deck, enjoying the sun shining through one of my "peace"ful Tammy Hudgeon glass pieces, sitting on the couch staring into what is in front of me ;o), Larry still in bed at 12:12!! (he is catching up on 3 years of sleep), mmmmmmm tomatoes on my deck, tide didn't wash away the rock man last night, dusting off my typewriter with Tammy glass in the paper feed (perfect display!), monkey sitting on the deck enjoying his last moments of his body (head soon to be cut off to make pyjama sack), mmmmmmmosss!!!!</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nUmEB9odWv1ClxQuANlzhXgEJQZA4IAaQhCJj0Favm7uXScVHlKymmtvcJDo8Rf9AR4if2due8sxPOGGlpp-BE_Tj-VO6NXeK_NiJ7CKrXSnYAA_qfJzF8X5tewYsmRJVuAjRJfZd_3D/s1600/12+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nUmEB9odWv1ClxQuANlzhXgEJQZA4IAaQhCJj0Favm7uXScVHlKymmtvcJDo8Rf9AR4if2due8sxPOGGlpp-BE_Tj-VO6NXeK_NiJ7CKrXSnYAA_qfJzF8X5tewYsmRJVuAjRJfZd_3D/s640/12+12.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div>
<b>Almost time to get to the beach! Happy sunshiney day to you! :o)</b><br />
<br />
<br />Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-27522996193652615592012-08-27T16:29:00.000-05:002012-08-27T16:29:03.769-05:00The Party is over!<b>Bittersweet feelings...glad to have my time back to myself...sad to not have my Brother XII peeps around me most days. What a wonderful experience it all was though...I must say. All 8 of us involved put a truck load of work, effort, drive, talent, strength, stamina and of course plenty of fun into the whole production...it was well worth it. Two nights in a row, we actually had to add more seats to the house to allow the mass fans to enjoy the show. ;o) It truly was a hit. With a stellar cast; Kathy McIntyre, Nicole Busby, David Botten, Chris Jans and Joelle Baird...our awesome writer/director; Bill Miner (who also played Linus the psychiatrist), plus the amazing talented efforts of our musical director; Antonio Gradanti who did all of the music (like every instrument from accordian to guitar)...we had a hit show! Review that was in the Nanaimo News Bulletin...</b><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The Cult of Brother XII</strong></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Child of a Hoodlum Productions</em></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Based on Nanaimo’s favourite cult legend, the musical
recounts the last days of Brother XII’s reign, using a fictional trio of
reporters to help uncover the truth by going undercover.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Brother XII legend is nothing short of a
storyteller’s dream, complete with religious fanaticism, fraud,
infidelity and a mysterious woman with a whip.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The original songs and dances were ably performed by
the cast of local actors, who took their legendary characters over the
top to make a memorable show.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Major highlight: Bill Miner as Brother XII’s psychiatrist. It’s slightly gratuitous but most definitely hilarious.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>– Melissa Fryer </em></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<b>We hope now to have at least one more performance...here on Gabe. Entertain our community! ;o) I am excited to once more don the News Hound Mask...first, relaxation. ;op </b></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<b>To check out the "pre-show" interview/sneak peak...go to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsQIWV42TZg" target="_blank">You Tube</a>. </b></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<b>As I have been too busy to even think these past few weeks...I have been negligent on my 12:12 picture posts. For the month of August, thus far, I have put together a collage of my days. Unfortunately for August 1st, I did not have my camera on hand while we were on the beach chilling. The pics are Aug 2-27th...beach walks, painted glasses, forest walks, driving, playing, plant watering, rehearsing...it's all there. My computer deco-page! ;o)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsYnEP8JAAppdzXFBbQt9QQ95IusGoO4OgQDQKQ1wg2oM9c4HCF9VMeMCjLZm7Qv9dhe_rjRgmTcJzc7y-G_fNEIZsire1P1dfpjnmVkOnAuUTkMVgeIuYoveEolyHmsyJcPg8mI8zFL0/s1600/Aug+2-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsYnEP8JAAppdzXFBbQt9QQ95IusGoO4OgQDQKQ1wg2oM9c4HCF9VMeMCjLZm7Qv9dhe_rjRgmTcJzc7y-G_fNEIZsire1P1dfpjnmVkOnAuUTkMVgeIuYoveEolyHmsyJcPg8mI8zFL0/s640/Aug+2-27.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sun is out...and so am I! Peace out party people in da house!</span><em><br /></em></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em><br /></em></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em><br /></em></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em><br /></em></span></div>
Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-71451731960570852402012-08-17T18:24:00.000-05:002012-08-17T18:24:42.538-05:00YES!!!<span style="font-size: large;">The Premiere of "The Cult of Brother</span><span style="font-size: large;"> XII" was a sensation! There were only a FEW empty seats...it was PACKED. It was amazing. Ohhhhhhh, what a feeling...what a RUSH! It was fun watching my friends be so fabulous on stage...super talented I tell ya! And then to actually get to join them twice on stage...ohhh yeah! What a fun evening. Sushi and beer after even...how fun to be in the big city. ;o) Hard work ALWAYS comes with rewards...we just have to remember that and life is easy peasy! Well, life will never be "easy peasy", but when you take time to enjoy each moment...it sure makes life pretty darn sweet! peace. :o)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNfGnVxctXjaKdmn5VVrebOJnfrLgDIlprw37TYkzZSt7WBW63LimVXVVww3HA8OI5yzjMiPXIrdJUQNkbTWMTY0768aAcN1WxoX8NZyvLgu_asc3X4_uitJ67_VweZVKaE7q3LK9WLDy/s1600/jojo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNfGnVxctXjaKdmn5VVrebOJnfrLgDIlprw37TYkzZSt7WBW63LimVXVVww3HA8OI5yzjMiPXIrdJUQNkbTWMTY0768aAcN1WxoX8NZyvLgu_asc3X4_uitJ67_VweZVKaE7q3LK9WLDy/s400/jojo.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is my only photo from said "opening night"...this is at <a href="http://www.acmefoodco.ca/" target="_blank"><i>ACME</i></a> restaurant, post performance. Where we all enjoyed ice cold bevvies and delicious foods...mmmm sushi!!! The look on Joelle's face is exactly how we all felt...PURE EXCITEMENT! Cheers to The Musical "The Cult of Brother XII" and to the 5 remaining performances. Yeee ha! </span><br />
Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-25459534863352904252012-08-16T12:06:00.003-05:002012-08-16T12:06:21.974-05:00I am NOT a schlepp...<b>I have just been way, over the top, extremely busy these past few weeks. Yup, that is right. "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34FjlGiBp60" target="_blank">The Cult of Brother XII</a>" musical has been eating much of my time. It is like having a part time job...which is a heck of a lot for me. When you suffer with chronic pain, it is difficult to get up to much...something I have definitely learned this summer. Which, on one hand is a VERY important lesson...good for me to know my limits and stick within it. And, on the other hand (not that I have the other hand to look at...ha ha haha!) it has taught me that I really can not do these things anymore. That is the sad and honest truth...that makes me cry. For real. Living with disability sucks big time. It is not as most people figure..."Oh you're lucky you don't have to work". I can not even count on all of my fingers and toes how many times I have heard that phrase. And it's a crock of 'you know what'. When you can't work, can't hold down a job because you are physically unable to, it makes you feel useless. (well, it makes me feel useless) Like, I am not a part of society because I can not contribute like everyone else. It is no picnic to feel that way. Plus the fact that all that I do even at home to take care of myself and my animals and my husband takes so much strength that I have none for anything else. I AM very lucky to have a husband that takes REALLY good care of me. Thank goodness he is a good cook and likes to help with the cleaning. Without Clint...my life would be way too difficult...I'd be a shut in...spending all time in the tub and hardly eat. Yikes!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Anyways...right now I am feeling like I am on a teeter totter with my feelings. I am super stoked for tonight...opening of the Musical at the Dodd Narrows room in the Nanaimo Conference Centre. How exciting!! I have not done theatre since High School...that was a VERY long time ago! hee hee. My other feelings are almost total despair...low to the lowest. My realization this summer...I can not be part of something fabulous like this ever again. I do not have the physical wellness to do so. The other day I actually was frightened that my arm was going to stop working...that is very scary. Very scary indeed. So, for now, I am going to enjoy every bleeding second of our 6 performances and soak up all of the fun and store it in my memory banks of joy. I am blessed to be working alongside some top notch actors, an amazing talented artistic director and a fab director who has been fun to watch direct. It's a long process getting from first read throughs of script to the performance...I have loved every minute of it. And I am grateful to have been a part of it all. (I can not get depressed about this...it is just the path that my life is on and it just requires another bout of acceptance on my part. ugh.)</b><br />
<br />
<b>As for my 12:12 project....I am still taking pics daily. I just haven't had the finger/wrist strength to get to typing much. Hence the massive pause in my blog posts. I got to just start doing vid blogs or something. I am a video taker anyways. My last vid I spoke about what I just wrote about...you can see me whine <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYW1egW7CTE" target="_blank">here</a>.</b><br />
<b>I'll add a few pics now...I stopped at July 19th!!! Boy, I am waaaaay behind! ;op</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3da6Cj2Jvu7tPh65O5CfjUsc-69ET1JEksEOKaSwVlRSXUtgHTQJ7npajZrwVMqxuc0wWjKqx09hen5ksncRvR6eocvoLmCj1GweErXYRJd9n-KfYNaFYY7lVaH4ZXnXTEMSuCAKqz6j/s1600/Jul+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3da6Cj2Jvu7tPh65O5CfjUsc-69ET1JEksEOKaSwVlRSXUtgHTQJ7npajZrwVMqxuc0wWjKqx09hen5ksncRvR6eocvoLmCj1GweErXYRJd9n-KfYNaFYY7lVaH4ZXnXTEMSuCAKqz6j/s400/Jul+020.JPG" width="400" /></b></a></div>
<b>Friday July 20 12:12 pm. Watching Clint work on one of his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150905443701849.406069.242808266848&type=3" target="_blank">sandwich boards</a> for HTF Creations.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jYZqXG6jCZ00YcaUKpb7lB6LxlrD-D7tJoQvNvmdil_DQRXEj6X1yifLxhQtZ-D3gsBzqDn0yjJY_xHq6wgxqH6HzKj3v6kDpZRHUeULSXwayaBfVtT6F5T7LePXvhUtpy0Tav_ABw2n/s1600/Jul+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jYZqXG6jCZ00YcaUKpb7lB6LxlrD-D7tJoQvNvmdil_DQRXEj6X1yifLxhQtZ-D3gsBzqDn0yjJY_xHq6wgxqH6HzKj3v6kDpZRHUeULSXwayaBfVtT6F5T7LePXvhUtpy0Tav_ABw2n/s400/Jul+021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Saturday July 21 12:12 pm Brother XII rehearsal...creepy tango scene! (you gotta see it!)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgaY4hywnPV8gNOX3LNlDRbapT3DydkmOAGa6QQxG-WUL50p5_oyO87iUO_vglfr7MYNdx6A1opXt4qbipqFbzBMQICJQL6MBfIrDiaF3huq2CCdIUY_2HBy0gJIQt3CopU3Igea7oL86/s1600/Jul+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgaY4hywnPV8gNOX3LNlDRbapT3DydkmOAGa6QQxG-WUL50p5_oyO87iUO_vglfr7MYNdx6A1opXt4qbipqFbzBMQICJQL6MBfIrDiaF3huq2CCdIUY_2HBy0gJIQt3CopU3Igea7oL86/s400/Jul+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Sunday July 21 12:12 pm Me, looking exhausted waiting for Clint to drive me to...you guessed it...rehearsal! ;o)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Kr9DXjB8hKiNOxlBIAY3AnsGNwnORbGkLF5JipsHqq9UwKNhpdlRvIBk6w8L60dbba_9cRdH3cpAESpMZwA0A0IdFfs8KQNaL86Qt24sWWk7xTzbIvd7yQ6wPl5Xt4mp3QOivjio2atq/s1600/Jul+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Kr9DXjB8hKiNOxlBIAY3AnsGNwnORbGkLF5JipsHqq9UwKNhpdlRvIBk6w8L60dbba_9cRdH3cpAESpMZwA0A0IdFfs8KQNaL86Qt24sWWk7xTzbIvd7yQ6wPl5Xt4mp3QOivjio2atq/s400/Jul+023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Monday July 23 12:12 pm Coffee at Artworks...saw this amazing pitcher. Made by fabulous potter <a href="http://www.earthlygoods.ca/vincent-fe.html" target="_blank">Vincent Fe</a> of Mudge Island.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqClAil5bMJRRLrbDbmQlEf__XSn3U8EmJoTsRoTbTy0FSsVjRXdvj3ivGxDSrgA9fNKKzstV6sTwVFcczIkLSGxFAKKznLOjC-WJGir485VfxF0ULYdfSvK5GH9cUc58-fDfumjSATgsf/s1600/Jul+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqClAil5bMJRRLrbDbmQlEf__XSn3U8EmJoTsRoTbTy0FSsVjRXdvj3ivGxDSrgA9fNKKzstV6sTwVFcczIkLSGxFAKKznLOjC-WJGir485VfxF0ULYdfSvK5GH9cUc58-fDfumjSATgsf/s400/Jul+024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Tuesday July 24 12:12 pm Our friend Rick stopped over for 23 hours whilst on a bike journey on the islands and into the interior. I think he is still riding somewhere today! ;o)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblgC2aAlL8kkCub3WxcTjJQ7V4jO12PNLDJ5IkGKL1INCuN-p5NJIjImCuNJPr8lUT9LnF9xoEyznKkvug0iUjjH64SOgFrwei1ubc-N-QdebTFOKvVbq9KRXsNkKYylGxxiFn8yINBck/s1600/Jul+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblgC2aAlL8kkCub3WxcTjJQ7V4jO12PNLDJ5IkGKL1INCuN-p5NJIjImCuNJPr8lUT9LnF9xoEyznKkvug0iUjjH64SOgFrwei1ubc-N-QdebTFOKvVbq9KRXsNkKYylGxxiFn8yINBck/s400/Jul+025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Wednesday July 25 12:12 pm Helping out Antony this day. Tea time...was loving his yellow roses.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4btzLjPhAMeScQ6OKTzOlMGjZtbBw6YLjos6JD_G11FS3HCcmnWUM1msT61_hKfGekOatbXP1MhT6zqkzNJtf0CyPJHZEdNvRHSd06X78wyAfoBJdQMOT_rDDX7zU91C9Vfv2-uXycVA/s1600/Jul+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4btzLjPhAMeScQ6OKTzOlMGjZtbBw6YLjos6JD_G11FS3HCcmnWUM1msT61_hKfGekOatbXP1MhT6zqkzNJtf0CyPJHZEdNvRHSd06X78wyAfoBJdQMOT_rDDX7zU91C9Vfv2-uXycVA/s400/Jul+026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Thursday July 26 12:12 pm Getting our walk on...me and Larry.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesQG7kcVUlNKi4tczDf2Zwen-jQKwTFAn5RBfW4Jkv1JtEzrCgt-1LyO4Y1MaJut7yboVDYIR0gFHB-CrCsGJp_xoXCgbopFOA8DuF54ZzjQhXoeK1uqcWAV39Ufiv9t5MB8IMJlz1WJ-/s1600/Jul+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesQG7kcVUlNKi4tczDf2Zwen-jQKwTFAn5RBfW4Jkv1JtEzrCgt-1LyO4Y1MaJut7yboVDYIR0gFHB-CrCsGJp_xoXCgbopFOA8DuF54ZzjQhXoeK1uqcWAV39Ufiv9t5MB8IMJlz1WJ-/s400/Jul+027.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>Friday July 27 12:12 Brother XII's cello. (rehearsal!)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cGtncd47PxXPJ2czZ974px2LP2me9bdQ1iE50osYdiJ57MOJaxM_q6699sw6Z_sb4UI2s8yBSASPs6PnEhITYT4GzRquKk7xsc8W5IrAozipp_P9wLsPEaO9SGxvgf3u0QeHMHwYW_T5/s1600/Jul+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cGtncd47PxXPJ2czZ974px2LP2me9bdQ1iE50osYdiJ57MOJaxM_q6699sw6Z_sb4UI2s8yBSASPs6PnEhITYT4GzRquKk7xsc8W5IrAozipp_P9wLsPEaO9SGxvgf3u0QeHMHwYW_T5/s400/Jul+028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Saturday July 28 12:12 pm Rehearsal again...thank goodness I have sweet JoJo with me! ;o)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0EKgglx6ZIGNoDQVMLF5_ukfcbZRIBbsrtrwb1FUiY_pm0oTcXmfEA0tkefT1og-r8GEZkTCEdOI38Yuoeh8-TWc0yRNJXmKxMYJPgrPBP63aOK6g8dop7_z5n-V93XWLGFFgMZck4Ma/s1600/Jul+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0EKgglx6ZIGNoDQVMLF5_ukfcbZRIBbsrtrwb1FUiY_pm0oTcXmfEA0tkefT1og-r8GEZkTCEdOI38Yuoeh8-TWc0yRNJXmKxMYJPgrPBP63aOK6g8dop7_z5n-V93XWLGFFgMZck4Ma/s400/Jul+029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Sunday July 29 12:12 pm beach walkies! my favourite part of each day. ;o)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaO2ZhCCMyAkUEsZslfvHaQNupHWb-GCAaUFwpfH1uIt_R7tpnvJ4ZW5cYO625nvv4KDYD8Aar5V7nMsPUfLkCXfs_UYgH63vjLaIp5vDAEZF406ktiBhlMESXKNENB7YH8T_dQ5URo5zq/s1600/Jul+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaO2ZhCCMyAkUEsZslfvHaQNupHWb-GCAaUFwpfH1uIt_R7tpnvJ4ZW5cYO625nvv4KDYD8Aar5V7nMsPUfLkCXfs_UYgH63vjLaIp5vDAEZF406ktiBhlMESXKNENB7YH8T_dQ5URo5zq/s400/Jul+030.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Monday July 30 12:12 pm Who is this cutie? Larry wants to get to the beach! Ball time!</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uomRqUSRwyovoeiMt-8BjEAWHfyEF_t7w6oSwK6W_xR5_1iRUKvIkZ0ZmT9FxjDPADQU42LghB6Dv-vRrpVpeDfAmmwqktiSvtLYlAdJvP9Jr-jzC2DNYVTObNlTa32WnIWtyJwIFiE2/s1600/Jul+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uomRqUSRwyovoeiMt-8BjEAWHfyEF_t7w6oSwK6W_xR5_1iRUKvIkZ0ZmT9FxjDPADQU42LghB6Dv-vRrpVpeDfAmmwqktiSvtLYlAdJvP9Jr-jzC2DNYVTObNlTa32WnIWtyJwIFiE2/s400/Jul+031.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Tuesday July 31 12:12 pm Pretty Calla Lily at Antony's place. Flowers are so amazing to me!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I got to stop there. My hand has gone numb and very cold. Wah! Opening night for Brother XII tonight...yippeeeeeee!!! I need a vacation. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Peace!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-44544697216588727252012-07-20T13:49:00.001-05:002012-07-21T11:08:41.791-05:00Life Lessons...<span style="font-size: large;">I believe that</span><span style="font-size: large;"> each and every single day there will be something new that we can learn....moments that we can pull some hint of wisdom out of. That is, as long as we are paying attention to our moments.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Up until about my 25th year, I was a pushover. (I pretty much still am, yet I am able to at least question that which I am being pushed towards and even at times NOT do what someone is expecting me to do for them even though I am not into it...get it? ha ha ha! Wordy.) In calling myself a pushover, I am merely stating that I have a REAL hard time saying no. I like to make people happy...and if that requires me to do something I have no desire to...I often have been seen doing it, for someone else of course. hee hee. When I was 25, I made a huge, life altering decision...I left my husband. Our relationship was incredibly tumultuous...and I just could no longer be the piñata that he had grown to love to beat down. So, West I went. That was one of the very first times I decided to make my own decision...to do what I felt was best for me at the time. I did it sheepishly though, I left my home town without word to any of my family. I filled up my car and the U-Haul roof rack and to BC I drove. My reasons for keeping it secret (I did tell my work of course...I had to quit) were so that I would not have to listen to some telling me to stay and work it out. For, in my mind I had done everything that I could think of to make my marriage a happy one, to be the best housewife I could be, loving, nurturing, a great cook, look sexy and most of all tried so hard to stop the abuse. (to the women out there in an abusive relationship....he will NOT stop hurting you...you NEED to walk away, no matter what.) Anyhow, I left. I felt amazing. I felt strong. I felt independant...I felt powerful. THAT gave me fervour to keep telling it like it is.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I fully believe in making your feelings known if someone has hurt you, in any way, emotionally, physically, whatever...I think it is up to you to let that person in on your feelings. This is what I have been doing since that fateful morning I left Winnipeg behind...in a flurry of ice and snow and waaaaaaaaay too cold winds. (-27 that morning) So, it should all be good...right? No. For I surely have made some blunders in my "Hurt Feelings Proclamations". The real lesson there, that I have finally opened my eyes up and took notice of, was that I should NEVER try to explain my feelings via email. NEVER!!! (always take the time to go and see the person face to face.) The only reason I ever decided to write someone in one of these situations is because I would be too embarrassed to actually say it for real to that person...fear of them being angry with me for being hurt. Oh my. So, I felt it easier to allow my feelings to flow when I could hide behind my computer. Easier maybe for me...but those words to the one reading it can be confusing. There is emotion behind the words, but that emotion gets lost and warped through black & white letters. It will always come out wrong. Therefore causing a whole new ball of gross stinky ear wax that you were trying to avoid in the first place. All you can do after that is apologize. And NEVER do that again. Some people will forgive and forget...that is how we should all be. We all make mistakes...apologize for them. Humble yourself and let others know that you do in fact feel bad for what you said or did. Now, it is off of your conscious....you did right in the end. If you are not forgiven...that is not your baggage to carry. Let it go and keep on keeping on. Life is too short to carry grudges and hold resentment towards anybody. Who cares that Stephen Harper is a terrible Prime Minister...he will not always run our country...let it go. (just a little example...there is alot of boiling blood over him...and what does that help? We just got to be strong and united and know that Canada is in fact an awesome country and we will get back on track again one day...with a new Prime Minister.) ;o) I know...sooooo off topic! hee hee.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So that is my life lesson of today. Share your feelings face to face with people. Apologize when you have hurt someone, forgive when someone asks. Then you should have no negative neurons bouncing around that head of yours...those are bad ones...get rid of them. Clear your mind and life will be fine. On to next lesson.... ;o)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ay yi yi...I've got to catch up on my 12:12 photos. Life has been EXTREMELY busy for me these past few weeks. I seem to never have much time to just be at home chillin'. But it is all good...I am involved in the Musical "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cult-of-Brother-XII-Musical/299274836836864" target="_blank">The Cult of Brother XII</a>" that will be playing this August in the Dodd Narrows room of the Nanaimo Conference Centre on Commercial Street. (tickets available at the Port Theatre Box Office or at <a href="http://fringetastic.com/?page_id=654" target="_blank">Fringetastic</a> ...only $10!!!) I have been enjoying the process immensely...working with a stellar cast and a director that is smart, funny, ummmmm loud and VERY talented! ;o) Can't wait for it to be on stage!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyhoo...12:12's....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cmzIl7SLinPvJY-xnFGHANAbgyLZOnqDGJnQKhcwb_yX1qbqWGbDTy8gztuKkiFFK3m6XuSIlglsXsjX9nTVdZjwBZEhOdeNHZ5fUE5YLyZcR5p1N2Bp5D-MrIYmIYxEOz5RADsA-5i3/s1600/jul+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cmzIl7SLinPvJY-xnFGHANAbgyLZOnqDGJnQKhcwb_yX1qbqWGbDTy8gztuKkiFFK3m6XuSIlglsXsjX9nTVdZjwBZEhOdeNHZ5fUE5YLyZcR5p1N2Bp5D-MrIYmIYxEOz5RADsA-5i3/s400/jul+007.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday July 7 12:12 pm Sitting on the "upper deck" chatting with JoJo Darling about picking me up for rehearsal for the musical. She plays Freddy, the lesbian reporter. (it is set in 1929...she is very progressive for her time)</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday July 8 12:12 pm...this is bad. I have NO clue where I was...what I was doing...how I was feeling...whom I was with. I imagine, because there is no photo evidence, that I was daydreaming in my watery pit...my womb of happiness...my safety zone...I must have been immersed in my tub.These busy days make me often dream of just relaxing in the warm and healing waters of my soaker tub...so yeah, that is exactly where I was!! ;op</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCJRYrqD0isnrtm4ANNMdyZbadEGCdF1tZeJ976cEy9AO8YDbzN2d8V8lkU55Z3DWLWDHKysiNKU4I3l48Q3KshQm2iJ-m10B_wUYjUntb7Tdc5PWY_4KVg3DZtaV1gB-GG1DuURhkNU9/s1600/jul+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCJRYrqD0isnrtm4ANNMdyZbadEGCdF1tZeJ976cEy9AO8YDbzN2d8V8lkU55Z3DWLWDHKysiNKU4I3l48Q3KshQm2iJ-m10B_wUYjUntb7Tdc5PWY_4KVg3DZtaV1gB-GG1DuURhkNU9/s400/jul+009.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Monday July 9 12:12 pm Watering all of my flowers and veggies. I love the HOT PINK Cosmos. So pretty! They LOVE the brightness of the sunshine...me too! (it was my Niece Elona's 9th birthday too...Champagne birthday...yay!! Love you Elona!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDvlSwB4aZKS8ALIkGFl2xIl-y1yHH42-Ky2TKSlFXatYccHQcoaDoHCE8nE00OzmvnVEhfaYzc5rRz0U1nRSgvCFoUXfcGyJY9xX3sSpjDrlVFScWliLhyXSfED1VcNsEsmfUoqyRLzI/s1600/Jul+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDvlSwB4aZKS8ALIkGFl2xIl-y1yHH42-Ky2TKSlFXatYccHQcoaDoHCE8nE00OzmvnVEhfaYzc5rRz0U1nRSgvCFoUXfcGyJY9xX3sSpjDrlVFScWliLhyXSfED1VcNsEsmfUoqyRLzI/s400/Jul+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday July 10 12:12 pm This pic makes me laugh actually...and it's not just cause of my silly 'Cartman' smile. I am standing on the deck of our last rental. We used the empty house for some rehearsals...like this day. The <a href="http://www.coastrealty.com/new/public/listingDetails.php?id=339743" target="_blank">house is for sale</a> right now...nice sunny spot if you want to live on a beautiful island! ;o)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcicItx6kPytOC-b9R4I0YfHr6ZzzLbE2JHpD79WJB-CFbAI5ULGXrhZLhqHeBgk7i_SgVWfIcir6nHyuDj1a0B71EP3WhgW0B3rgtW5ici7fFjkeAvKH-BD8-BvgSv5oMhUVevGfNTUu/s1600/Jul+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcicItx6kPytOC-b9R4I0YfHr6ZzzLbE2JHpD79WJB-CFbAI5ULGXrhZLhqHeBgk7i_SgVWfIcir6nHyuDj1a0B71EP3WhgW0B3rgtW5ici7fFjkeAvKH-BD8-BvgSv5oMhUVevGfNTUu/s400/Jul+011.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday July 11 12:12 pm Hee hee. I like this photo...Antony was on the phone and I was taking photos. He thinks I am pretty silly...well, I am! I enjoy the time I spend with Antony each week. I help him with some "office" type work and I get to hear stories from the way way olden days forward and just get to hang with an incredibly sweet and funny man. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AntonyHollandOneManInHisTime" target="_blank">Antony</a> is 92 years old and still writing shows that he can perform in front of audiences all over. You rock Antony! ;o)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiWRQUd0MnwyIOj9EupUjoF08OgtsVLrg1GnyM6o70vzR-dmgcDzDkGY-0ZKf9bHVmF7_G7SeSPZfd2hstwMFnTZLFJ4A3ZPokW0Pkh9Aew_z6eNkHJ-qgVnZuxzBxzxYIJ_8QxlisURP/s1600/Jul+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiWRQUd0MnwyIOj9EupUjoF08OgtsVLrg1GnyM6o70vzR-dmgcDzDkGY-0ZKf9bHVmF7_G7SeSPZfd2hstwMFnTZLFJ4A3ZPokW0Pkh9Aew_z6eNkHJ-qgVnZuxzBxzxYIJ_8QxlisURP/s400/Jul+012.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thursday July 12 12:12 pm What else would we might be doing at this time...dog walkies!! If it weren't for Maggie & Larry right now, I might never get to the beach...daily. :o) I need to get them exercise, the beach is the best for that. I get to beach comb for glass and china and other treasures...they get to play. Perfect!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMWdvRJwQ_edTjr2XUvL4-SKJuUUWjStsQPlb-23IwxklHs0A3O6pal-W7t2oaucyrJ0Npl0qIRHM7jN2LB38CkVGKgwNAjixWYBcAhUFBuG2SA34M5gmFiWBwXmDp7vIBepNDJ6OMU0g/s1600/Jul+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMWdvRJwQ_edTjr2XUvL4-SKJuUUWjStsQPlb-23IwxklHs0A3O6pal-W7t2oaucyrJ0Npl0qIRHM7jN2LB38CkVGKgwNAjixWYBcAhUFBuG2SA34M5gmFiWBwXmDp7vIBepNDJ6OMU0g/s400/Jul+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Friday July 13 12:12 pm Brother XII rehearsal at The Surf. ;o) This is my mask for the "Media Scrum" scene. We play a group of news hounds trying to get the scoop from Doris Abercrombie, Senior Journalist at the Gulf Islands Gazette! ;o)</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfG9m2tlk1GMkkW1lLwm4PxR0jzJPWwzmM7YMDXN7-8yTS-TSAKoCs-zRjR5NxKVyB5LM_EAk6I8G3ElEuLfNaYPB1WJ2JyzQpZn-MiYbfSPgfTkXKMYs5xQZC8RFWM-6SQCU3iJi9ax_S/s1600/Jul+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfG9m2tlk1GMkkW1lLwm4PxR0jzJPWwzmM7YMDXN7-8yTS-TSAKoCs-zRjR5NxKVyB5LM_EAk6I8G3ElEuLfNaYPB1WJ2JyzQpZn-MiYbfSPgfTkXKMYs5xQZC8RFWM-6SQCU3iJi9ax_S/s400/Jul+014.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday July 14 12:12 pm Yep, you guessed it...Brother XII again. There needs to be a lot of rehearsing...we got to make this awesome...and it is. The nice thing about our rehearsal space is that we are across from the ocean side...white waves slapping the shore...sea lions arfing in the background. Rehearsing on a sunny afternoon ain't too shabby I say...when you still have the beach in your sights! ;o)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxNGJ0Z0p-P9R5vkbJRTq_-47kMhhcxY-0iitAlblaQsdqkPA7UQj8s-Q2UsJsyyDt4IPxeqMkb4FUqY6dZWhU15-2vnGxD-TJHh1zzQpHQKfDMxx43vRkDykdNRG0YndC6eq1S_Hmzok/s1600/Jul+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxNGJ0Z0p-P9R5vkbJRTq_-47kMhhcxY-0iitAlblaQsdqkPA7UQj8s-Q2UsJsyyDt4IPxeqMkb4FUqY6dZWhU15-2vnGxD-TJHh1zzQpHQKfDMxx43vRkDykdNRG0YndC6eq1S_Hmzok/s400/Jul+015.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sunday July 15 12:12 pm Pole painting!!! The community voted...more poles got painted. Yay! Four poles going up the hill from the ferry have now been beautified by four talented and sweet artists. Tina Lynch, Derrill Shuttleworth, Melinda Wilde and Clint McCartney. This is Clint doing the background colours of his awesome pole...all four poles turned out absolutely brilliant. What a wonderful AND colourful island we live on.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxjGuqup0Cykdai_G9y3TsYKvk1Uuk8491OZ4WnHiqh3o-OLL2kVgnif3GQteIfsZNCPPMwRHx0izBmtpeBC1WNnob3hzVMaatS7FvSsTrth68PxptO-ChNzTxhzWFfLtha-MQxJOdVVt/s1600/Img_3525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxjGuqup0Cykdai_G9y3TsYKvk1Uuk8491OZ4WnHiqh3o-OLL2kVgnif3GQteIfsZNCPPMwRHx0izBmtpeBC1WNnob3hzVMaatS7FvSsTrth68PxptO-ChNzTxhzWFfLtha-MQxJOdVVt/s320/Img_3525.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is Clint and his finished pole. Very cool pop art pole! After he finally got the sun and it's beams right in white...I painted it in yellow! My arm is STILL sore from doing it...but it was fun and exciting to be a part of this community project. Yay Gabriola!! ;o)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTAhw3nw9YfKd5R3MaSOIbut3LS6dYmxVKd-Vn9TDuY54Ezcb17UxWsYBl3f2mMP6xII8QOlWykqHV3hNr0T-bwQ2_Y4KcuMztcSVf7r2U_QYgnJkoMxtpAaFXwhcQlQoDfbavonUfbxk/s1600/Jul+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTAhw3nw9YfKd5R3MaSOIbut3LS6dYmxVKd-Vn9TDuY54Ezcb17UxWsYBl3f2mMP6xII8QOlWykqHV3hNr0T-bwQ2_Y4KcuMztcSVf7r2U_QYgnJkoMxtpAaFXwhcQlQoDfbavonUfbxk/s400/Jul+016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Monday July 16 12:12 pm Tinson Point time...it's Larry's favourite beach to go to. He has an affection for the clam shell...they may be empty, but he is enamoured by them...they must still have some "presence" to them. Larry digs a moat around them...it is hilarious to watch. We are thinking maybe the barnacles that live on the shell are speaking to him...taunting him...<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i0IBpU9r-E" target="_blank">watch it</a>. ;o)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnapta0323zPjQ_vkOd3TgSyUE4z91spoDF11YfkzrRauikWLH-v7pGmYc1mghPdL-R3TettZJ5wTlUZapkem9j1egjIXM8pxf0e_bu3TW5jgB-fwl9LYhpsTdCcBrLOGhxn1sehlQ48e/s1600/Jul+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnapta0323zPjQ_vkOd3TgSyUE4z91spoDF11YfkzrRauikWLH-v7pGmYc1mghPdL-R3TettZJ5wTlUZapkem9j1egjIXM8pxf0e_bu3TW5jgB-fwl9LYhpsTdCcBrLOGhxn1sehlQ48e/s400/Jul+017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday July 17 12:12 pm He's glowing! ;o) I actually think that he is...on the inside and it is coming through. We spent some time responding to emails regarding his show "One Man in His Time" that he recently wrote and perfected on stage for an intimate audience...no more than 250. It is his story of his time in the "Desert War" of WWII between 1940-1943. This was in Egypt and Libya...a lot happened there during the war...I did not know that before seeing Antony's show. Tears, laughter and pure enjoyment I got out of it. If you keep an eye on this <b><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AntonyHollandOneManInHisTime" target="_blank">page</a></i></b>...performance dates and places will be shown.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg792OpJRD9lc5bjej07xSlJDCb4Ow3hc6JZoY5C59T3YsA92UnVMpnReYHbLLIAVGfVQMQv9fqPGbrU4H6R-x5MscNo-czmde0BDtaQ4kxSAd5ySbJbDfSX7Z6yDqBC75Ha7lYrzwQcE2O/s1600/Jul+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg792OpJRD9lc5bjej07xSlJDCb4Ow3hc6JZoY5C59T3YsA92UnVMpnReYHbLLIAVGfVQMQv9fqPGbrU4H6R-x5MscNo-czmde0BDtaQ4kxSAd5ySbJbDfSX7Z6yDqBC75Ha7lYrzwQcE2O/s400/Jul+018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday July 18 12:12 pm Loading the kids in the truck and heading to le beach! Got our water and treats and bright orange floaty ball. Sorry Maggie....we forgot your umbrella. ;o(</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrLom4NjVIl1_t62FchTHGzXHqd9nGbQ4RONH2recYWms9bm3lEBsD9p4MFychScvm7HY7vxJg2IJuWqoYycarwjBMYPuB-7PL4NpwKXxV8fCXNGqpuLnYLI3mJkegESXlJ54n1gLqh-c/s1600/Jul+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrLom4NjVIl1_t62FchTHGzXHqd9nGbQ4RONH2recYWms9bm3lEBsD9p4MFychScvm7HY7vxJg2IJuWqoYycarwjBMYPuB-7PL4NpwKXxV8fCXNGqpuLnYLI3mJkegESXlJ54n1gLqh-c/s400/Jul+020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thursday July 19 12:12 pm Ahhhhh. What a lovely scene this is. Beauty day. Sunny, hot, blue skies and fluffy clouds. I would have loved to have stayed for hours...we only got one. Life is busy...but you still got to enjoy the moments where you can in fact breathe. ;o)</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today...it is cloudy. I was woken by the gentle sound of rain...then immediately hopped out of bed to run downstairs and check the deck for things need not getting wet. Then running to the truck to close the windows...seats got a wee bit wet. The nice thing about it...my plants got watered, the trees and grass and animals got watered, people's cisterns got fed...and now it is not raining. Maybe the sun will come out. The dogs and I are definitely ready to go to the beach again. ;o)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-66669811990495587342012-07-06T22:37:00.000-05:002012-07-06T22:37:02.822-05:00The rollercoaster of life...<b>The last few days I have been feeling completely deflated...stripped of all that brings a smile to my heart...the pain has been intense! (to say the least) I admit, sheepishly, that I have been feeling incredibly overwhelmed with feelings of self pity...having those "why do I HAVE to deal with this" moments. I have been dealing with some increase of muscle tension in my upper arm/shoulder...contributed by tossing the ball for Larry. This makes me feel over-the-top depressed. The joy that I get out of the act of throwing the ball for Larry, watching his tail bounce up and down, wag side to side as he leaps and strides and bites for that bright orange ball...oh my...pure and true love and peace. I came to the realization once before...but re-learned the lesson this morning as the muscle in the b</b><b>ack of my arm felt like it split when I threw the ball. Ouch. No more fun...again.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>That feeling of ineptness, inability, worthlessness and just what the heck am I even around for, waste of air. You know...that "Oh, woe is poor poor me." Suck it up. AGAIN! I fully was feeling the need to write about my sorrow this morning as I got out of bed. I was in pain, feeling frustrated about it and needing to vent. My day got away with me...emails, breakfast, packaging some important mail and dog walking before rehearsal (for the <a href="http://fringetastic.com/?page_id=1205" target="_blank">Brother XII</a> musical at Nanaimo Fringe Festival this August). The beach was awesome...the day was full of sunshine and little cloud...the waves were gentle and tide was going out. I had to rush off...I asked Clint to meet me at the post office later on to go back. Clint arrived...dogs in back, swimming suits in bag, freshly grilled chicken wings in Tupperware, one stop for a few cold brews and back to the beach we went. I swam! First time this year...Oh! What a feeling! I love it. I feel so happy and renewed and excited for the summer that is now beginning. Oh bliss!!! ;o) Clint and I walked into the deep waters...i swam out and slowly paddled my way back in. It was glorious. Pain schmain...life is always so beautiful!!!</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>(Yet...the pain is there...I have a whack of pics to download for the past week and so of 12:12's. Ack! Here they are....nothing special....just the image of the moment. ;op)</b></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhn-Mhk4klm9iPaBxNmiLqgC0n9VIXrWFaYP_nzVZnON3VfXSAyl8GNkymvpAoy3S8t6l0tDY6k8l92LHYihxS7iShMtra_rduDWfZK2znpc3zc3IyCFMdO94GbO_x_aAtdCDTyK6SrSon/s1600/jun+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhn-Mhk4klm9iPaBxNmiLqgC0n9VIXrWFaYP_nzVZnON3VfXSAyl8GNkymvpAoy3S8t6l0tDY6k8l92LHYihxS7iShMtra_rduDWfZK2znpc3zc3IyCFMdO94GbO_x_aAtdCDTyK6SrSon/s400/jun+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Friday June 22 12:12 pm ... (what else is new?)</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Well...Saturday June 23 @ 12:12 pm ... I was at the beach...sans camera. Spending time with Clint, walking les chiens pre-rehearsal. My bag with camera in it was left at home...oops!</b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBH9rqge_ADQWInCV63t47lNQPH9BM0m9JLWEgR4gTJKlmei35fMC7Rr4nIqKq2cF79xF1k6rGqoBLW0R3sz6Dlr44JP1qibup390rDRiMB0xpaCDBquf3Gu02U2g1RxS9MAer6MPaIis/s1600/jun+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBH9rqge_ADQWInCV63t47lNQPH9BM0m9JLWEgR4gTJKlmei35fMC7Rr4nIqKq2cF79xF1k6rGqoBLW0R3sz6Dlr44JP1qibup390rDRiMB0xpaCDBquf3Gu02U2g1RxS9MAer6MPaIis/s400/jun+024.JPG" width="300" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Sunday June 24 12:12 pm ... At G & Trevor's home for the "Home and Garden Tour." This pic went sideways...but this is merely 1/1000 of their beautiful landscaping surrounding their beautifully designed and built home. For sale now!!</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvugWTCFdSvHvaEgySwT4VQwdtzlVmQGjz6kLLhzOfEsfQVkF2VC0Uh5Fjd_3RFGiQEXxnxt6Qi-wM7vrrMjQdh5kyfJ8gfvAXGJYdZgTcL80ONST_JH_8W4G9GAQoIxfKUeQ_B3PsPOGH/s1600/Jun+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvugWTCFdSvHvaEgySwT4VQwdtzlVmQGjz6kLLhzOfEsfQVkF2VC0Uh5Fjd_3RFGiQEXxnxt6Qi-wM7vrrMjQdh5kyfJ8gfvAXGJYdZgTcL80ONST_JH_8W4G9GAQoIxfKUeQ_B3PsPOGH/s400/Jun+025.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Monday June 25 12:12 pm ... "Specialty Services" appointment in town. Free trip to Nanaimo...let's go shopping!! ;op</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWo_x7DWuYcg92PUpkwKi9BikR0DKcFnyc-wv5TnBGPSKMWOm_sawboqmG9hb7uY7rusGCREVSSaJ8qSx34HifEkp8YeiAmX5Oxa2sv_miAkKb70Yb4PSD0xO6Db2jhkuaWV44xwXdGhy/s1600/Jun+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWo_x7DWuYcg92PUpkwKi9BikR0DKcFnyc-wv5TnBGPSKMWOm_sawboqmG9hb7uY7rusGCREVSSaJ8qSx34HifEkp8YeiAmX5Oxa2sv_miAkKb70Yb4PSD0xO6Db2jhkuaWV44xwXdGhy/s400/Jun+026.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Tuesday June 26 12:12 pm ... headin' to the beach! </span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxwx-UnYQ4PSGxDTARvry0lwIbqa2dBDhqefB2nl3jyuMlfjLmGT6TOEv0ogPeN40xtrDbA7eRSKRTlJCKOPS3Z9gbHKbUJmrR9H4cNLSsz-XiJKMKGpWjbYkeUAq5NZCvBMjECnxhWac/s1600/jun+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxwx-UnYQ4PSGxDTARvry0lwIbqa2dBDhqefB2nl3jyuMlfjLmGT6TOEv0ogPeN40xtrDbA7eRSKRTlJCKOPS3Z9gbHKbUJmrR9H4cNLSsz-XiJKMKGpWjbYkeUAq5NZCvBMjECnxhWac/s400/jun+027.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wednesday June 27 12:12 pm ... Margy was clearing out the Yurtini. (childhood memories!)</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ea_u1QjBHmheRAqL0zVw_cGBOPmzuNzsRsgNmAYKPoQvsxMPDyKRVru754562KPnXbaDKhMIU9VtEmULOUcukRl7-9v1BrcUKU7MEj_1uqa7Mf2t9pdNFBS4DumR2kimCUC1780Ps72C/s1600/jun+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ea_u1QjBHmheRAqL0zVw_cGBOPmzuNzsRsgNmAYKPoQvsxMPDyKRVru754562KPnXbaDKhMIU9VtEmULOUcukRl7-9v1BrcUKU7MEj_1uqa7Mf2t9pdNFBS4DumR2kimCUC1780Ps72C/s400/jun+028.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Thursday June 28 12:12 pm ... inside the <a href="http://oldcrowcafe.ca/" target="_blank">Old Crow Cafe</a>. Yummy food!! </span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcMuNfP-XLJH3lMBs-M-vGNXzZIjwR95_VSUukkT2VLllsI6ZJM253WHFuorlqFbj4vHa6ocHML_LIlYjnXpbfU7JtgsBWMrK1NRm12XofaR2QOkrm28P2DEGHlCjp-rVrjD0MbCU0IBm/s1600/jun+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcMuNfP-XLJH3lMBs-M-vGNXzZIjwR95_VSUukkT2VLllsI6ZJM253WHFuorlqFbj4vHa6ocHML_LIlYjnXpbfU7JtgsBWMrK1NRm12XofaR2QOkrm28P2DEGHlCjp-rVrjD0MbCU0IBm/s400/jun+029.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Friday June 29 12:12 AM .. luckily I took this pic after we left Artworks from the Opening of the 'Annual Object Show'...Thursday LATE night! I ended up forgetting my camera next day for the "REAL" 12:12...the pm one...could have been the late night!! ;op</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Saturday June 30 12:12 pm ... yet again...no photo memory. I 'womanned" my friend <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JewelryLindsayMudge?ref=ss_profile" target="_blank">Lindsay</a>'s stall at our Saturday market. She was away. I got to talk about and stare at her beautiful jewelry all morning long! ;o)</b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXZ0JdLVtQqTLtCLq9h5qEWcV4RBp30Sm0VZR-6K2HYAGJjpqf628Jfb3tM_OGRRqOVMHUukWmoHxAM8waOrBhZLTTzux7C3IpJVtORf1X8yc7MGxQlN31jvPSkRMTViRi0Q_EBpBgFDf/s1600/jul+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXZ0JdLVtQqTLtCLq9h5qEWcV4RBp30Sm0VZR-6K2HYAGJjpqf628Jfb3tM_OGRRqOVMHUukWmoHxAM8waOrBhZLTTzux7C3IpJVtORf1X8yc7MGxQlN31jvPSkRMTViRi0Q_EBpBgFDf/s400/jul+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunday July 1 12:12 pm ... clean up for the long overdue deck party...Canadeck Partay!! Eh! It was a total blast. On To The Next Party! ;o)</span></span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0w47w1Z5WQ_qjBzD6QBP8a6aFA0Xr47nZT3ml9cr00m7XT2efO6v-WqpVRzJNxBAdVdrw-nrBateIqlSDvcsXsEgIJ420W4L7cNJoZyHNaXb2rqvc2jDrfOxaFBGwthAFdc_6zX0MGWBa/s1600/jul+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0w47w1Z5WQ_qjBzD6QBP8a6aFA0Xr47nZT3ml9cr00m7XT2efO6v-WqpVRzJNxBAdVdrw-nrBateIqlSDvcsXsEgIJ420W4L7cNJoZyHNaXb2rqvc2jDrfOxaFBGwthAFdc_6zX0MGWBa/s400/jul+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Monday July 2 12:12 pm Cleaning and hostessing duties got the better of me. Oh calgon...</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGUn7lI-ZEZ6dxhmKt9Ils6PtLfdr0DtOmAPMcq8L3v9i-KZBAzZnoGF-cRgMt7VTf0CkCRXj2savlY-SEoleCdyJdBUOlAJ61edP4Gfje_YxNL56aJPoWbAG1E8u5LbYr3hF3SZC-vrU/s1600/jul+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGUn7lI-ZEZ6dxhmKt9Ils6PtLfdr0DtOmAPMcq8L3v9i-KZBAzZnoGF-cRgMt7VTf0CkCRXj2savlY-SEoleCdyJdBUOlAJ61edP4Gfje_YxNL56aJPoWbAG1E8u5LbYr3hF3SZC-vrU/s400/jul+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Tuesday July 3 12:12 pm ... Waiting for Antony to get off of the phone...</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGIqimlN8z_9UEENdKG3hXGgeiLlHAQXB0zkHCCZ0Ch_du016R-lZsakPEdjHzrl8id1yzQ1pMVMxukKG5x64D0R2etE218gCRMT8o-tOXX7g31ip84-OSAZasn7s9wpakGRy6Em46Byn/s1600/Jul+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGIqimlN8z_9UEENdKG3hXGgeiLlHAQXB0zkHCCZ0Ch_du016R-lZsakPEdjHzrl8id1yzQ1pMVMxukKG5x64D0R2etE218gCRMT8o-tOXX7g31ip84-OSAZasn7s9wpakGRy6Em46Byn/s400/Jul+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wednesday July 4 12:12 ... mere hours before that little "bump" got removed! Relaxing.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1JgOtW4ZuBlLhFMHZxmgaOYscjNd0j5IPC4fC6GG_0UqDFBpbhhpaKQStC08sn3EqNICayGl2rRcVUTkM4YtAJc9yR24gkf1O1e-4HH5ugNP2EuCXjYPK0iDQeAucuz-xGmP3i6loKp0/s1600/IMG_3060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1JgOtW4ZuBlLhFMHZxmgaOYscjNd0j5IPC4fC6GG_0UqDFBpbhhpaKQStC08sn3EqNICayGl2rRcVUTkM4YtAJc9yR24gkf1O1e-4HH5ugNP2EuCXjYPK0iDQeAucuz-xGmP3i6loKp0/s400/IMG_3060.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Thursday July 5 12:12 pm ... beautiful, beach, relaxy fun morning time. <3</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZ2oJbS-6LFPf9p7g0PXKZEzEnavPGP4MroJmUagormUbSIRmqdkyxAad2-Vtldy76HUv3Ux4UEi3S3n6OvqIIHz0r-T2Z3WbSAlzyRGESFN1otV5C7NdDeS1PO_GJ67iGemSlUb3-66U/s1600/IMG_3083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZ2oJbS-6LFPf9p7g0PXKZEzEnavPGP4MroJmUagormUbSIRmqdkyxAad2-Vtldy76HUv3Ux4UEi3S3n6OvqIIHz0r-T2Z3WbSAlzyRGESFN1otV5C7NdDeS1PO_GJ67iGemSlUb3-66U/s400/IMG_3083.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Friday July 6 12:12 pm ...rushing off from the beach to catch my ride or daytime rehearsal. Wah...I don't WANT to leave the beach!!! ;op (thank goodness we went back!)</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>I feel so stoked now that summer actually feels like it is here to stay. Welcome back my long lost friend. My arm is always open for you! ;o) xoxo</b></div>Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-67115109539945608292012-07-01T09:56:00.000-05:002012-07-01T09:57:57.731-05:00Happy Canada Day!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oMry0VEoHzeEZhDQjQleXuvoWu86-PFLpvWhTJwKYDzPUhfTowtzqjThAniW-oYPqDLEHoNGzm1yT_bo6ui5e0APppM2wV8uhCQxCxX8-jlPaVJDkOENkTCPXMFTxm6Z8jHuYbAr5KHC/s1600/IMG_2802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oMry0VEoHzeEZhDQjQleXuvoWu86-PFLpvWhTJwKYDzPUhfTowtzqjThAniW-oYPqDLEHoNGzm1yT_bo6ui5e0APppM2wV8uhCQxCxX8-jlPaVJDkOENkTCPXMFTxm6Z8jHuYbAr5KHC/s640/IMG_2802.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Hee hee hee! My little ceramic hot tub dude is really quite patriotic. (can you see the eagle in the background?) It's the one day of the year that we give props to this fabulous country of ours. All we need is a good leader and things will be just fine. ;op</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I am proud to be Canadian...YEAH EH!!!! Woot Woot Woot! Party on Canadians! xoxo</b></div>Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242109308102247397.post-41944256634389241952012-06-27T11:23:00.000-05:002012-06-27T11:27:04.714-05:00Oh Miss Sunshine.<b>Perhaps today, starting sunny and sweet, is the first day of the rest of what is meant to be Summer...the season of warmth, sun, swim, growth, love and BBQ's!!! (our BBQ needs some tlc...wah. I hope to have it ready to rock this weekend...Canada Day Partay!) I want to wake up one morning, feed the crew (Wensday, Maggie & Larry) and then head to the beach...to swim!! I really, really want Larry to get into the water...be a water dog. The kind that just loves to splash around and feel the coolness of the ocean spray and let loose and be free. That is what summer feels to me. It's freedom. There is no need to be bundled up with parkas, raincoats, gumboots, scarves, toques, big thick sweaters (I really like big thick sweaters...jus' sayin'), woolie socks and just too much to put on to go outside. I like that in the summer, I can get out of bed and slip on a little dress...and that's all! Easy peasy! Get my bikini on underneath of course...that way I am ready to jump in the ocean in a blink of an eye! And I am sooooo ready for jumping in let me tell you! Bring it!</b><br />
<br />
<b>Here is a little tip about the sun...well, something against the sun, in a way. I heard the other day that you can use coconut oil as a natural spf...I can't stand all of the chemicals that are in regular sunscreens. So, I decided to google it before I actually took the advice. Many people say "NO! Don't use it you fool!" (people in forums can be nasty)..."I would only use it if you have a base tan.", "I used it and burnt to a crisp!", "Do NOT use coconut oil as sunscreen if you don't want melanoma." Interesting. Well, I don't think that I will be slathering on the coconut oil, just yet...nor do I suggest anyone does. That is my tip of the day! ha ha ha! I will continue to use what I have...search for a good organic and skin healthy sunscreen...and soak up the sun!</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD2UgCBkwi4mIMcZRIl8H3RBSmXowshwmtiGEZj9vY3RGUVsvuW0m7r08Iq9P2ZvoAne4k-J5uhz3PXkhblz8aT71SeWqqxJtBooLhp25DvIyevPw9j3r6279T9w50D67Z4puJs2R7pfO/s1600/IMG_2831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD2UgCBkwi4mIMcZRIl8H3RBSmXowshwmtiGEZj9vY3RGUVsvuW0m7r08Iq9P2ZvoAne4k-J5uhz3PXkhblz8aT71SeWqqxJtBooLhp25DvIyevPw9j3r6279T9w50D67Z4puJs2R7pfO/s400/IMG_2831.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></div>
<b>Here is my pretty little Impatien on my front stoop. She only gets about an hour of sun each day. And this morning, she is soaking it right up...just look at how strong and beautiful she is. And with only that measley hour of le soleil, she looks so happy. She clearly has way more patience as an Impatien than I do...I am way impatient! hee hee hee. All of my flowers on the deck are doing so good too. They get the real heat of the sun...at least 8-10 hours a day. (when the sun is not behind them darn clouds!) I am so excited for my roses to bloom. The second they do...photos will be up. I wish you could smell their fragrance through the screen too...oh yum! Sooooo many reasons to love Little Miss Sunshine! xox</b><br />
<br />
<br />Pamichenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16876757195335169671noreply@blogger.com0