A Significant Day

Yes, it happens to be Leap Day. All babies born on this day do not have an Annual Birthday. When do they celebrate then? Do you know someone born on this auspicious day?? If so, when do they get to celebrate another year of life....their Birthday??
Personally I do not know a single person born on February 29. I don't know if that's rare or what.....but I didn't even know a kid I went to school with being born on Leap Year.....strange??!!

Something New.....part 2

I cannot believe how streamlined and easy things can be when you know about available features on this here thing :) I have gotten Google Reader set up and have learned in the process. Isn't it great that we can learn new things.....now if only I could figure out how to fix these darn boxes, but I leave that to the experts. They have "mother" something-or-others, that have absolutely NOTHING to do with my definition of "Mother"...there are "cards" that have nothing to do with "Hearts-Clubs-Spades-Diamonds"...well, you can certainly see where the confusion comes in. So, I bow to the knowledge of Techies and have also learned that we cannot be expert at everything ;P

Fickle Feelings

I'm in a bit of a mood. Hubby came home from a graveyard shift, disgruntled about his job. Lately I've noticed he's a bit down in the mouth. Apparently, what promised to be a good job, with great mileage and lasting until May, turned out that what the Consultant wants are for the guys to stay in camp, near by. That means Hubby does not get paid mileage nor subsistence. It gets a bit complicated to explain the pay structure so let's just say...The Oil companies, who make millions of dollars a day, love to nickel/dime the employees by whittling the paycheck and the general public by raising fuel prices.
Oil and forest related jobs are fickle, aren't they? I really don't have a valid reason to be annoyed, since I have so many things that are awesome.....my wonderful kids and their families, a husband that is wonderful to me and not like some of those jerks on Dr. Phil, my home, vehicles, etc. I really believe that we have no control over the future and what that brings.....we can do our best in the present, but we all know that life has too many unpredictables to think we can escape tough times. That's when I need to draw on my spiritual beliefs and trust that God is better at running the Universe than I.

Something new....

....to me. I never even gave Google reader a thought to use. Thank-you for making me aware of how I can streamline how I view and store my important info on here. I have gmail, so I never lose any of my e-mail and am able to read and answer it thru that program. I have my gmail account forward my mail to Incredimail, which is an e-mail program I love to use. So see.....I am learning :)Who said old dogs can't learn new tricks???!!!

Virus

So, is it possible that with me being sick with that stupid cold virus, that my computer can catch it too??? Well, it would appear so, even though I do not believe little people live inside the tower, making these machines function. BUT, it is uncanny that I got a Red Alert from my Anti-virus program about an intruding virus.....just before going black screen. Nothing my hubby or I did would revive it, so today hubby is taking the sick tower in to be repaired. I'm writing from Hubby's laptop. Of course, not all my info is available to me but thank goodness I use gmail, so have all my e-mail info online. Sadly though, my Bookmarks are not on here, so I won't be able to visit my fellow Bloggers, unless I can remember addresses. You know how my memory is these days....
So, here's hoping my computer doesn't take as long as me to get better.....it could be a long haul then :(

Adult son

One huge advantage to us living here in the Big North, isn't the location, the weather, the wildlife.....etc. The thing I love the best is living close to our oldest son and his family. Today he called and asked if he could pop by for a coffee. Hubby happens to be off today as well, so we had a nice long visit. He has lived away from home for 11 years already, and 6 1/2 years of that were in a different town than us.I know that is "normal" for your kids to grow up and live away, but I feel like we miss out on SO many details that can never be recaptured. Of course, now that we live here, we have a son and his family living down south now.....ack!!Is it too much to ask to all be in the same town.....I guess so :P

Where'd "He" Come from??

My attempt at getting out of the house today didn't go over without a few attacks of coughing, but it was nice to just get out from these four walls. This cold is getting better but apparently still has it's ugly claws dug in. You've seen this commercial on TV for Mucinex, right?? Well, I feel like I've got a household of them camped inside my lungs....and oh joy, one just got married! Here's hoping they don't have an army of green baby globs before I get well enough to break up camp!! *hack, wheeze, hack!*

Shoes or Boots

The sunny weather has been SO incredible, making the days milder, with temps getting into the +1c to +7c the past couple of days. With the warmer weather comes melting snow, which grinds into mud where my hubby works, with machinery and people churning it all into a mess. It freezes at night again and the thaw is just surface, but it's enough to make me cringe when he gets home...you see, the problem with that surface mud is that it's infused with crude oil and putrid smells and is very fine and slick..yuck!!
As far as getting into the onslaught of knee deep mud, I hate to see it this soon, but I love the mild weather.....so I guess it's just one of those things we have to put up with then.

Construction

No.....not us, but our son's in-laws are building a bigger, better store on their Specialty Turkey Farm. Both my son and his wife work there and are looking forward to the brand new, huge store, the new offices upstairs and deli section that'll serve delectable food, all with turkey ingredients. The small store they have right now is bursting at it's seams and does not even serve a cup of coffee, let alone meals. They make lasagna, meat loaf, meat pies, luncheon meat, sausages, pizza and on the list goes. They will be collaborating with a few local farms to bring a delicious menu to the clientèle that have faithfully been buying turkeys from them for years. My favorite dish of all is the lasagna and last summer we discovered the most mouth-watering berry pie on this side of heaven that I've ever eaten....from the Berry Farm just down the road.
I miss the abundance of fresh fruit and produce that the Lower Mainland offers and that are such an expensive treat here up north. I look forward to making a trip south this summer and hanging out in the shade on the porch at the new store :) Have a Peek

Happily Ever After

This is day four of this horrendous flu! I've coughed enough times to have turned my chest inside out....but still no relief. My ribs feel like they are being slowly crushed by an iron band and my back will not stand much more of this either. I have gone past the mindless day-time TV and on to movies. I have quite a collection of them actually and now was my opportunity to catch up on watching some "chick-flicks". Ah.....what wonderful, sappy, teary, "Happily-Ever-After" stories.
These are three I highly recommend. The Little Princess is a classic and Ever After promises to be watched for generations, but not many have heard of the little jewel, The Shell Seekers. This is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie which is hard to find but worth the search. I stumbled upon Rosamond Pilcher quite a few years ago and found The Shell Seekers to be such a wonderful read. The movie does not disappoint either. I searched high and low for it and one day a few years ago I saw it at Safeway (of all places!) and bought it, knowing I may search for many more years before finding it again. And so, today turned out to be a day of "Happily-Ever-After" :)

Drops of Oil, Cough Drops and Vicks

I'm really down and out with this cough, but rather than bore you with the details, let me just say I'm grateful for sunny, mild weather and such a cozy home to rest in.
I am also grateful for and smell like Eucalyptus and Vicks. Well, it certainly beats the smell of arthritis rub, haha!
I have decided that if ever there is a time to watch mindless day time TV, it's today. That's because I'm just too exhausted to feel guilty :P

This "bugs" Me :(

Here we go again.....chest congestion and coughing!! *hack-hack* Yesterday started out with a throat "tickle" and this morning I wake up to coughing. It's wearing me out and causing my throat to get even more sore.
I did go out this morning just for a short while. I had a haircut appointment and wasn't about to let that slide because my hair was driving me insane. I wasn't doing too bad but it just gets worse as I am active. I noticed I'm struggling with shortness of breath as well.....so, I'll stay put and look after this.

For Such a Time as This....

Yesterday Hubby came home from a graveyard shift and after sleeping for a while we decided to go out and pick up a couple DVD's to watch....we had a free one coming after all :)
The first one we watched was "The Kingdom" referring to Saudi Arabia.The movie was a storyline about America's investment into the Oil industry, to the point of having a walled off "compound" in which the Americans lived. Some Arabians resented having these foreigners in their Religious country and after suicide bombing and car bombs destroying the walled area and killing many, the FBI sent in four people to solve the case. It's a brutal movie and hard to watch the violence.....but, I said all that to make this point....Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... While we have it... it's best we love it... And care for it.... And fix it when it's broken..... And heal it when it's sick.
This is true... For marriage.... And children with bad report cards..... Dogs and cats with bad hips.... And aging parents.... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.
There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special.... And so, we keep them close!
The movie, although I had to close my eyes thru some of it, drove home that point....DO NOT go one day without telling those you love that they ARE loved.
And finally, let me just say this....War is brutal and there are fellow country men and women who deal with these horrors each and every day....remember them in your thoughts and prayers too.

The other movie we picked up was "One Night With the King"....the story of Queen Esther.....an enslaved Jewish girl, who chose to stand for her God and people, even if it cost her her life.
Very thought provoking! We are here "for such a time as this".

Happy Birthday Princess!

Yesterday was my grand daughter's Birthday and the Party was held st McD's. She was spoiled with many great gifts but I think her most prized one was a Walmart gift card....go figure! She can't wait to go shopping and use her card. I guess there is just something so grown-up about using a card :)So, Care Bear, Little Pony, Barbie, clothes....you're appreciated but the card wins out...haha!

This Day of Love

Happy Valentine's Day to the Man I have loved since 1974!!

On this Special day, that is set aside each year to celebrate LOVE, I want to wish all of you a day filled with love....love of a Significant Other....love for our children....love for our friends....love for our pets....spend today in the company of someone who means the world to you.

Hump Day Musings

Well, so much for mild weather....ok, I guess it's milder than it has been, but it's still hovering around -13c to -25c!!!I'm hearing about birds that are returning for spring down in the southern regions of BC and that's making me crazy....waaaaa....where are our Robins, Hummingbirds, Woodpeckers....didn't I mention something about a Tropical vacation at one point??

That leads me to an other Tropical subject.....Tropics that are hormonally induced. Listen to this comparison....I sweat like it's hot, I have a strong desire to rip my clothes, that are sticking to me, off, I am tired and need a beach to hang out on, mood swings, you ask???...Um, yup!! Who needs scorching hot temperatures to feel like we're somewhere in the sun causing a light flush on the cheeks, sweaty armpits and all that glamorous stuff....it's just a minor thing us women experience at a certain age...do you see me jumping for joy yet??? Would this be an even trade for that trip to Cancun?? NOT in a million years!!

I am patiently waiting to adopt a wee fur ball. There is a darling one at the SPCA, BUT they charge $100.00 to adopt her and then there is all the "stuff" that goes with ownership of a new family member. She is a Birman breed kitten with seal point and white color markings. *sigh*

Ok, I've rambled enough. We're 1/2 way to the weekend....hope that puts a smile on your face :)

Drip, Drip

I am just SO happy to have lovely, balmy weather again. It makes life that much easier and lifts the spirits. I purposely walked the long way to my car and let the sunshine and mild breeze fan my face and blow thru my hair....ahhhhh!

The water line that goes via a filter to the fridge water/ice dispenser is on the outside wall and froze up, even though it is insulated underneath....we figure there is a hole in the insulation in the crawl space. Tap water tastes SO disgusting if not filtered, so I've had to buy drinking water when the fridge dispenser isn't working. Now with the milder temps we have drinking water again and I'm thrilled. It gets expensive buying bottled water....sheesh! Hubby can't fix the problem until spring, so I guess that means as soon as it gets down to -20c, it'll freeze again..ugh!

We all recognize the "gossip Rags" out there in grocery stores right at the Cashiers, where we all read front page news while waiting to process thru. I obviously don't believe absurd story lines of Alien babies, Oprah firing Dr. Phil, etc. So, you would think I'd figure out that some of the "Forwards" that reach my Inbox might be as absurd as the National Enquirer.....the most recent one being the UK Holocaust Memorial, which I passed along, thinking it was true. A friend e-mailed back with a few links to web sites, revealing Urban Legends and Hoax. I learned a lesson today....not everything you get in your Inbox is correct info and I'll be researching the validity before passing them along.
Interesting!

Day of Rest

Isn't it nice to have a day when you can say, "That's it, I need a rest!". For that reason Mom decided to go home (she lives a 1/2 hour out of town)and spend time in her own space to rest and sleep and spend a bit of time with her friends. It's tough to hang out in a hospital!
So, I'm going to do the same....sleep, eat, read, watch TV or movies....awwww, a whole day of "nothing" :)

Hospital Gowns and Laughter

I have come to the conclusion that life is not fair but that being the case, there are things that are also out of our control. Watching my Dad lie in a hospital bed, when all he really wants is to go home and be with Mom, a medical system so inadequate to meet this town's needs or stepping out of the door into freezing cold weather. I can say that we need to look on the positive side, although that is a tough thing to do at times. So, the other day, in utter frustration and heavy heart, I decided that I needed to laugh. So, I pulled out a DVD to watch and laugh. It helped!! For the moment it took the sting away and put balm on my hurting heart. I still came back to reality, but felt more like I could face it.
Mom and I did the same thing yesterday with Dad. Poor Dad....being in the hospital sometimes strips you of all privacy. Dad got out of bed to go to the bathroom but turned the wrong way and went out into the hallway. The meds have made him a bit woozy, so he staggered like a drunk man and fell literally into a nurses arms. I would say Dad has a bit of spunk left and falling into the nurses arms could have been the highlight of his day.....until Mom and I came walking down the hall to his room and see Dad in the hallway.....well, at first we wondered if that was Dad but Mom recognized his backside displayed for all the see thru the wide open gap of the gown....lovely....we laughed because otherwise we may have cried. Dad was tucked back into bed and then he joked about the whole thing too, cuz it was just easier to laugh along with us, since he wasn't going to get any sympathy from us at that moment :P

Aging Bodies

Dad & Mom at Colin & Jenny's wedding

I guess it's inevitable....we all age and most of the time I decide to look at all the positive of it, but today...NOT!! Yesterday my Dad was ambulanced into the hospital....on the one and only blizzard day of the winter on top of it all! Dad's heart does not have enough pressure to circulate his blood, so consequently, he has a lot of interstitial fluid build up in his legs and around his lungs. He had quadrupal by-pass surgery 3 years ago, but his heart is back to a weakened state. He was admitted into the hospital "only for a couple of days", says the Doc. Yeah right....as Mom and I were leaving at 2:30pm to come home for a rest, we stopped at the nurses station to see if Dad had gone for the ECG this morning, like the Doc told us he would....ummm.....they were still waiting on the results of a blood test, for pity's sake!!
I hate seeing Dad lying there at the mercy of our inadequate medical system...but then again, I hope they don't send him home before Mom can handle him. So....that's why I've come to the conclusion that aging SUCKS!!

Lullabys

What an awesome Baby Shower!! Tons of gifts....clothes, toys and very adorable baby stuff. And the Babies...dressed up in little outfits that were soft and cozy...the two girlies were in pink, of course and the little boy was in red and navy. Us Moms and Grammas exchanged styling tips and awesome stores to find precious outfits.
The three of them slept thru the gift opening, which is a shame since there was so much pretty tissue paper and gift bags they would have loved playing in.....but plenty of time for them to grow a bit and then they'll have special days with gift wrap, tissue paper, boxes and bags to play with(that's usually their favorite toys)
So, I've had my baby fix for a while. I held them in my arms and got to hand them back...now that's what Grammas are for :)

Could it be??

It was time for announcements in church this morning. One announcement was that there will be a triple baby shower at someone's home this evening. To keep up with baby showers for all the babies born lately means having to have a few at a time or there wouldn't be enough evenings in a week to throw one. The comment was made that it's all due to the long winter nights, which is not an accurate estimation, since it appears that conception would have been in the spring or summer for the babies born in the past few months. You do the math...subtract 9 months and you'll come to the same conclusion. Now, I wonder how many babies will be born in the later summer or early fall.....that'll determine how long the winter nights actually are :)

Month of the Heart

Comment Graphics at pYzam.com

So, I think we all relate February with Valentine's Day. Most of us anticipate sharing that day with the love of our life....some would rather the day disappeared.
Another part of February is the awareness that the Heart and Stroke Foundation presents, in this, the Month of the Heart. My family has been touched with both Heart and Stroke disease and death, so the Foundation is close to my heart. No, I'm not a spokes-person for the Foundation...this is not the forum to present a Charity.
I am very blessed to be able to celebrate both my Romantic Heart and my physical Heart.
Make this the month to "Listen to your Heart"....