Cool quarters

Look at what was in my change today!

These quarters are made by the Canadian Mint and you can get them in your change at Pharmaprix /Shoppers Drug Mart across Canada, to celebrate their Shop For The Cure. Magasinez Pour La Vie promotion.

Yes those are pink ribbons symbols on the quarters, in support of The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

Normally I don't talk about my place of work but this is a special occasion. I am not being commercial here just showing off my quarters!

I gotta quote the good Dr. Seuss

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”

-Dr Seuss-

This post is thanks to more email from J.C.

Computer experience

Do you ever stop and think about how far computers have come along? I remember when I first played on a computer. It was a Commodore PET. I had to write up the basic code with directions from a book. I would save it to a cassette tape. Then cross my fingers and see if it runs. The little basic game would be something like 'Cannons'. You would aim your cannon at the enemy fortress and try to destroy it with a bunch of well aimed guesses based on wind speed and trajectory. If I did copy all the basic right and the game ran there was no guarantee it would run the next time. Technology kept improving though. We went from PET to Commodore 64, then they sent in the IBM clones. With our IBM clone and a 300 baud modem we started to BBS. BBSing was like the internet but without long distance, or speed, or instant anything. We used our computer to call up a computer set up for messages. We left a message, other people left their messages, and we all got together Friday nights at The Annex on Bishop street in Montreal. That is all in the past now including The Annex.
*gets lost in thought*
Where was I going with this?
Appreciation of how far computers have come.
Thank God for the Internet.
Get togethers with internet friends is a little harder to do. But I have met some in person.
"Yes Mom I am always careful."

Thank God for spell check! Although this spell check still does not recognize blog, blogger, blogging or bloggist. It bloggles the mind.

I am not a computer expert but I have always lived with one. My boyfriends were always able to take a computer apart and put it back together again. What was it I saw in programmers? What can I tell you. I like a guy with a big IQ.
All I had to do was be a computer user. I didn't even have to be a smart one. I never got past copying basic from a book. I learn the latest sofware on a need to know basis only. I am on my own now and if I run into computer problems I will just have to call DELL. So far so good with DELL though. *knocks on wood*

Lessons:
Now that I don't have anyone handy to lean on for computer answers I might learn more on my own.
I learned to drive and bought my own car when I had no one to drive me around anymore.


How did a not so smart computer user get involved in Blogging?
That is a whole other post.

be as good as you can
Barbara

Sunset reflections in Toronto.

From the CBC Toronto webcam

Crocus, crocuses or croci ?

I woke up before the crocus this morning. I was not up early for work, but up early for a day off.

The first picture is of a group of sleeping crocus then a later snap of the little flowers all warmed up.

What would a day off be without taking a picture of ducks in a puddle? *shrugs* I am loving this spring so far!

Counting her blessings

Barbara

100 posts since January 2006

This touched my heart.............From a nurse at the Health Science Centre, St.John's.

I was busy yesterday morning, at approximately
8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman in his 70's, arrived to
have stitches removed from his thumb.
He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat,
knowing it would be over an hour before someone
would be able to see him.

I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On exam it was well healed, so I talked to one of
the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his
sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, we began to engage
in conversation. I asked him if he had a doctor's
appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.
The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the
nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I then inquired as to her health.
He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer Disease.
As we talked, and I finished dressing his wound, I
asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late.
He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that
she had not recognized him in five years now.
I was surprised, and asked him. "And you still go
every morning, even though she doesn't know who you
are?"
He smiled as he patted my hand and said. "She
doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."
I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose
bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I
want in my life." True love is neither physical,
nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that
is, has been, will be, and will not be.


Oh, by the way, peace is seeing a sunset and
knowing who to thank.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the
best of everything; they just make the best of
everything that comes their way."

be resourceful
Barbara

Of the 100 or so, posts only 1/10 of them are from my email.
;-)
I thank all my family and friends for being my sources of inspiration.

Do you like funhouses?

I did not have to go far in my search for interesting new websites to find something for Anderson Cooper Fans. (It helps to frequent all the AC blogs) I wonder is Anderson knows about this site...
Follow the link and have fun. http://www.andersonsfunhouse.com/

Don't tell George S. I go to AC blogs

Engrish is great for the laugh muscles

www.engrish.com
I think this is about Bananas...

This is one website that will keep you laughing 'til it hurts!

Father Daughter bird watching competition.

My pic of Chickadees


My Dads pic of Mourning Doves.




The contest between my Dad and myself to spot and photograph birds took a turn in his favour. He bought a nice Sony H1 Cyber Shot. It's a fancy 12x zoom digital camera.
How can I compete with that? It's a beautiful spring day today so we went to Cap St. Jacques to see what birds we could spot and shoot. (with cameras) These pictures should tell you the story of our day today.

be ready to click
Barbara
My sisters and brothers are welcome to enter the competition by submitting their bird photos to Dad or myself.

Now I have more Vancouver envy

http://www.beyondrobson.com/city/2006/03/nice_pillow_fight_vancouver/

They had a public pillow fight. We should all do that!

Do you vote on The National Playlist?

http://www.cbc.ca/thenationalplaylist/ CBC Radio One . Details are on the link.


Jian Ghomeshi announced that this was the last week of The National Playlist. At first I was shocked. I just was getting used to voting for my favorite song on the National Playlist. I was even emailing Jian with my views and picks on the songs that should be on the list. That was me trying to become involved in music again.
Then that shocking announcement.
I emailed him my condolences, regrets and dismay. Then I thought about it. The timing is suspect! The last day of the National Playlist is the day before April 1st. Is this an April fools joke? Or is this just me in denial about The National Playlist being 'put to sleep'. Why would the CBC do that?? It's a hit radio show!! There is no background story. No details given. No announcement on the website. I emailed him again to accuse him of playing an April fools joke on the audience. No reply at all. (you may want to sing that part) no reply at all.
Not that I ever get a reply from Jian or The National Playlist.
Am I in denial, or is this the real end of The National Playlist?
Should I hang on to the belief it's an April fools joke?

be hopeful

Barbara

sigh!

The National Playlist is a top ten list of songs, that crosses genres, styles, and time . It's pitched by music lovers, voted on by listeners, debated and dissected by Gian Ghomeshi and his CBC Radio One guests. Now that is my kind of democracy!

update Mar 27 2006
I received a reply from Radio One!
As part of the ongoing process of developing and defining what R1 should feel and sound like, TNP has come to the end of it's run on R1.
If you have any more questions or comments, please e-mail audience relations at relatioA@toronto.cbc.ca .
"but, but, but, That is what R1 should feel like in my opinion! It should feel like we have a say. A communion of very different music lovers." It looks like it's not an April fools joke after all.

The TNP team will miss the show too, especially our interaction with listeners like you. Thanks again for your e-mail and don't forget to vote this week! On behalf of the TNP team,
Thanks for Listening.

Newer update!
I just won a prize from The National Playlist! So sweet of them. Thank you. That makes me feel a bit better.

a joke in my email. (ty Amber)

MORRIS AND HIS WIFE, ESTHER WENT TO THE STATE FAIR EVERY YEAR, MORRIS WOULD SAY, "ESTHER, I'D LIKE TO RIDE IN THAT HELICOPTER."
ESTHER ALWAYS REPLIED, "I KNOW MORRIS, BUT THAT HELICOPTER RIDE IS 50 DOLLARS AND 50 DOLLARS IS 50 DOLLARS."

A FEW YEARS LATER, ESTHER AND MORRIS WENT TO THE FAIR. MORRIS SAID, "ESTHER, I'M 85 YEARS OLD. IF I DON'T RIDE THAT HELICOPTER NOW, I MIGHT NEVER GET ANOTHER CHANCE."
ESTHER REPLIED, "MORRIS, THAT HELICOPTER RIDE IS 50 DOLLARS AND 50 DOLLARS IS 50 DOLLARS."

THE PILOT OVERHEARD THE COUPLE. HE SAID, "FOLKS, I'LL MAKE YOU A DEAL. I'LL TAKE THE BOTH OF YOU FOR A RIDE. IF YOU CAN STAY QUIET FOR THE ENTIRE RIDE AND NOT SAY A WORD, I WON'T CHARGE YOU! BUT IF YOU SAY ONE WORD, IT'S 50 DOLLARS."

MORRIS AND ESTHER AGREED --- AND UP THEY WENT. THE PILOT DID ALL KINDS OF FANCY MANEUVERS. BUT NOT A WORD WAS HEARD. HE DID HIS DAREDEVIL TRICKS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT STILL NOT A WORD. WHEN THEY LANDED, THE PILOT TURNED TO MORRIS. HE SAID, "BY GOLLY, I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO GET YOU TO YELL OUT, BUT YOU DIDN'T. I'M IMPRESSED!"

MORRIS REPLIED, "WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING WHEN ESTHER FELL OUT, BUT 50 DOLLARS IS 50 DOLLARS

Vancouver offers you a sunset!

I don't care if this email is true or not. (ty J.C.)

In 1994 at the annual awards dinner given for Forensic Science,AAFS. President Dr Don Harter Mills astounded his audience with legal complications of a bizarre death.

On March 23, 1994 a medical officer examined the body of Ronald Opus. He concluded that Mr Opus had died as a result of a shotgun wound to the head. Mr Opus had jumped from the top of a ten story building intending to commit suicide. He had left a note to the effect indicating his despondency. As he fell past the ninth floor his life was interrupted by a shotgun blast passing through a window, which killed him instantly. Neither the shooter nor the the deceased was aware that a safety net had been installed just below the eighth floor level to protect some building workers, and that Ronald Opus would not have been able to complete his suicide the way he had planned.
Ordinarily a person who sets out to commit suicide and ultimately succeeds, even though the mechanism might not be what he intended, is still defined as committing suicide. The fact that Mr Opus was shot on the way to certain death, but probably would not have been successful because of the safety net, caused the medical examiner to feel that he had a homicide on his hands.
In the room on the ninth floor, where the shotgun blast emanated, was occupied by an elderly couple. They were arguing vigorously and the husband was threatening the wife with a shotgun. The husband was so upset that when he pulled the trigger he missed his wife and the pellets went through the window striking Mr Opus in the head, on his way down.
When one intends to kill subject "A" but kills subject "B' by mistake one is guilty of murder of subject "B". When confronted with the charge of murder the old man and his wife were adamant and both said that they thought the gun was not loaded. The old man explained that it was a long-standing habit to threaten his wife with an un-loaded shotgun during the course of their arguments. He had no intention to murder her. Therefore, the killing of Mr Opus appeared to be an unfortunate accident; that is, if the gun had been accidentally loaded.
The continuing investigation turned up a witness who saw the old couple's Son loading the shotgun about six weeks prior to the argument and fatal shooting. It transpired that the old lady had cut off her Son's financial support and the Son, knowing the pompensity of his Father to use the shotgun threateningly, loaded the gun with the expectation that his Father would shoot his Mother. Since the loader of the gun, was aware of this, he was guilty of murder even though he didn't actually pull the trigger.
The case now becomes one of murder on the part of the Son for the death of Ronald Opus.
Now comes the exquisite twist.
Further investigations revealed that the Son was in fact, Ronald Opus. He had become increasingly despondent over the failure of his attempt to engineer his Mother's murder on March 23rd 1994. He went to the the top of the ten story building and jumped off, only to be killed by a shotgun blast through the ninth story window. The Son had actually murdered himself.
A True Story?

My Grandfather got around by dogsled

Here is another family history post in my sporadic but continuing series.

This is about my Father's Father, Charles Elgin Wheeland.
He was born in Scotland Ontario, in 1890.
He grew up in Brantford, Ontario.
He joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force, in 1915 when he was 24. He fought for Canada in world war I, in the army corp of engineers. They are the ones that blow up bridges among other things.
He was wounded in the leg, plus got mustard gassed, in France.
He obviously survived, got married, and started a family.
He became a surveyor for Ontario Hydro. Or as they called themselves The Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario.
That is where the dog sled comes in.




He surveyed many northern wilderness areas so that Ontario Hydro could build all that power grid. He also worked on the Niagara Falls project.
Interesting fact is he did all this survey work with a handicap. He was colour blind. How is that a handicap in surveyor work? The maps have a colour code. He used coloured pencils to draw the maps by going by the numbers on the pencils rather than by colour recognition.
His family lived in and around the Toronto area and saw him between projects.
I was only 4 when he passed away. I wish I had personal memories of him.

be curious about your own family before it's too late
Barbara

I have to ask you another question

OK. Many posts ago, I asked the 5 questions that I could remember that George S. asks famous people. The other day on The Hour, George reminded me of question number 6.
Here is Question number 6.
Who is/was your favourite Beatle?

I will have to think about my final answer.
What is yours?

Beautiful spring day!

Can you name the red bird? >>


Last night I went to a lecture at the local library on bird watching with my father. Today I put that knowledge on how to spot a bird, and what to look for, into practice.

It was a beautiful day today. I had the afternoon off, so I went for a walk in the tiny patch of wood the town thoughtfully forgot to develop.
I soon caught sight a woodpecker. I think it was a hairy woodpecker.
Hard to tell without a zoom lens.



I may have to invest in a good camera if I am going to make this a serious hobby.

How I almost flashed George S.

Wait wrong picture, that is George flashing whomever took that picture.
I don't actually have a picture of me flashing anyone!

No this is not the official George Stroumboulopoulos fan blog. It's just a coincidence half the posts are about him or The Hour. Really.
http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/

But this story I have to tell.

I told my friend Barbara B., I would be wearing a thin brown sweater with a zipper to the taping of The Hour. She is the one I thank for talking me into going to see the taping of The Hour. See the earlier post re:The Hour live part 2. 3/10/2006 To get that whole story.
Maybe you should go read that now and then come back to this story.
Anyway, that is what I did wear, with a purple shawl. Not that you could tell if you saw me in the audience because I was seated behind a big woman and all you could see was my head. As it turns out that would have been a good thing.
One week later:
I wanted to wear something green for St. Patrick's day . I had a green tank top. I put that on and then realized I would be too cold so I put the same thin brown sweater over it. Normally I don't wear anything but a nice black bra under that sweater... As I arrived at work and got out of my car I realized my green tank top was showing because the sweaters zipper let go in the middle. {strange coincidence that happened to my brown wallet's zipper too in the same week} If I was wearing just the brown sweater on St. Patricks day, a few of my co-workers would have gotten a show. I can just imagine if it happened at the taping, or while meeting George afterwards instead??
That would really be showing George how happy I was to see him! Or if the cameras caught that! Hi Canada! Hi Mom! LOL

Trying to be modest...
Barbara

I credit Monica http://spaces.msn.com/members/monicaep81/ for the photo.

My comment on comments

The best part of a blog meal is not the opening post. The post itself is just the appetizer. The real tasty part in a good blog is the comments. I am not talking 100 comments plus, that's just stuffing yourself. Who can consume all that? I like my comments in small portions. It gives you a sense of who your guests to dinner really are. I joined blogmad yesterday so more guests can come sit at the table. I am not sure how well that experiment will go. Quantity of visitors does not seem to be adding to the menu. I have my regular talented commentators adding their spice. Maybe that's all the food for thought I need. Please feel free to add your piece of pie.

be creative
Barbara

Sometimes I take a bad but interesting picture.

This was on the night of 'The Hour' taping in Montreal.
This was on the street, right behind the Just for Laughs Theatre.
I took the picture because I thought that, that looks like a nice haunted building.

Personal confessions

This may change your good opinion of me (if that is what you had), but it's truth time.

I sell lotto tickets, but for the most part I don't buy them. I know in my heart that I am not going to win the big jackpot. That's just me. You go ahead and keep buying them.

I don't visit my sweetheart's grave site on a regular basis. It's not that it's a far drive. It's that he is not in that place. I don't feel him there. He is with me and with the people he loves and who love him.

I have not saved a dime for retirement. I guess I will have to work until I am 83.

If you expect me to call you....It's rare I remember to phone anyone. My cell phone does not even have minutes on it.

I like to sum things up, so here it is in one sentence.
The biggest truth is I am self centered and lazy, but I am almost never selfish.

You knew that about me already?
And you still call me friend?

If that's a yes, than I thank you. If it's a, 'keep the truth to yourself I would rather have my illusions about you'. Too late! But thanks for having illusions about me! If it's a 'who is this chick?' than it begs the question. 'What are you doing reading my personal confessions?' Ah. It's all good!

Just being honest

Barbara

Is it spring yet?

Hmmmm. -9c right now in Montreal going up to -3c. Welcome to spring!
Toronto today it's -6c going up to -1c. That's so much better! lol

Just for fun here is a picture from the CBC Toronto webcam this morning.
Look in the parking lot, is that the Panel Van?
Just kidding!
So few people will get that.


be warm
Barbara

Spring will arrive March 19th (I hope)

Update! It's the day of the St. Patrick's parade.



Spot the Shriners! Spot the snow!

Spot the politicians in this picture!


Spot the celebrities in this picture!

Montreal's 182nd St Patrick's Day Parade.

I just got back from over two hours of parade viewing. After two hours I was too frozen to stay for the end.
I took 50 pictures. These are just three of them.
Weather was weird. Sunny sometimes with snow flurries but cold as you can see by what people are wearing.

Comments overheard: A guy to his girlfriend " To get warm we can go 'do a lapdance'." Did I hear that right?
Another comment from spectators, as a streaker runs through the parade wearing a jock and nothing else " Hey, Mike you could do that!" Mike said " I would man, but he has a much bigger package".

If you don't want me to overhear your conversations , dont say it in english.




Original post March 3rd.
When is this winter going to end?
I will put up with it for two more weeks but that's it. It has to go!
The St Patrick day parade in Montreal is on March 19th this year.
I am praying for a beautiful sunny warm springlike day that day. *crosses fingers*
It's not like the Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans or Rio. There are no drunken ladies flashing. Too bloody cold! No one throws beads. Candy or pins sometimes, but no beads. The floats are more like flatbed trucks with dancers or radio show hosts on them, not those fancy rigs 'New Orleans style'. Those floating characters you see at the Macy's parade are also in short supply due to the fact that they are hard to maneuver in this city. But we have tons of marching bands and the wonderful Shriners and the participation and enthusiasm of the crowd. The crowd is a cultural mix of families, friends and the hopelessly inebriated all of 'em wearing green winter wear. All of them are Irish!
'Cause Like Bowser and Blue Sing " Whether you heterosexual, bisexual or gay, everybody's Irish on St Patrick's day!"
I am hoping Bowser and Blue http://www.bowserandblue.com will be there again this year.

Be Irish
Barbara

To show you some orbs around George

look closer! Lots of orbs in this picture.
George Stroumboulopoulos and a young fan.

Table Mountains#links

Table Mountains#links

Have you pressed the red button yet?


be daring

Barbara

It is a nice place to visit.

This is a picture from the center of the universe. (Toronto)

I am trying to decide if I should move there.

I am still open for comments on this subject.

If my blog page was M I A my apologies

I am back! It was a scary 20 hours of no blog access. I learned a few things about myself.
I am too attached to this blog.
I need to get a life.
One cannot count on anything in life.
Enjoy it while you got it.
Which brings me to dating.
Maybe I should date again.
Or at least think about dating again.
For anyone who knows me, they know I lost my boyfriend 21 months ago to cancer. Thinking about dating is a huge step for me. How not having a blog for 20 hours brought about thoughts of dating is .... Complicated.
That's it. That is all I learned.

be fearless
Barbara

A picture is worth a thousand words

Ok. One more question for you.

What take out food are you craving right now?

I will save you suspense and tell you my answer is Shish Taouk.

Be satisfied
Barbara

I have another question for you.

Besides 'The Hour' what's your favorite TV show currently.



be what you wanna be
Barbara

I have a question for you.

What picture do you have on your computer desktop?

This is just me being nosey

Be open

Barbara

My niece's request: 'Just call him Theo'

Theodore's farewell.

My niece is a huge fan of Jose Theodore of The Montreal Canadiens. She has his pictures, posters and paraphernalia plastered all over her room. Her favorite shirt is a Habs jersey with autographs all over it. She has followed the Montreal Canadiens and more specifically Jose's every move. It looks like she will be moving her adoration to Colorado. I was shocked but not surprised when George Stroumboulopoulos of The Hour (who is also a Habs fan) first broke the news on Wednesdays night show in Montreal. My first thought were for her. She is a good kid, busy with CEGEP, watching hockey, playing soccer, and work. It seems heartless to trade her hero to a place so far away. How is she going to catch his games now? My sympathies are with her and all Theo's fans.

Update April 6th 2006

Well she is adjusting just fine. The Canadiens are doing much better. They are looking more like a winning team. She showed me pictures of her with other Canadien hockey players. (I will try to include them when she gets around to sending them to me.) I think if those players try to console her they better watch out for my Brother. Warning: she is only 17 and her father is very protective!!

Nicole & Craig Rivet.

There are more pics for you over on my latest post.

Look it's sunny in Vancouver

I have explained my obsession with katkam in a previous post.

Let's just pretend we are looking out the window and winter is gone!

Because this is what I see outside my own window.

C'est pas grave. I am still happy.

Barbara_mtl

Let the man go eat his dinner....

This one is for you Barbara Bruederlin!

Best Newfie/blonde joke

Best Newfie Joke Ever...

Two bored casino dealers are waiting at the crap table.
An attractive blonde from St John's arrived and bet twenty-thousand dollars ($20,000) on a single roll of the dice. She said, "I hope you don't mind, but I feel much luckier when I'm completely nude." With that, she stripped from the neck down, rolled the dice and yelled, "Come on, baby, Mama needs new clothes!" As the dice came to a stop she jumped up and down and squealed... YES! YES! I WON, I WON! "She hugged each of the dealers and then picked up her winnings and her clothes and quickly departed.
The dealers stared at each other dumb-founded. Finally, one of them asked, "What did she roll?" The other answered, "I don't know - I thought you were watching."?

MORAL - Not all Newfies are stupid and not all blondes are dumb, but all men are men.



This email was shared with you because I like to hear you laugh...
I was going to say groan but I don't want people phoning me up and groaning...
I don't mind if they phone me up and laugh...
No you can't have my phone number.
Any other questions?

Oh what a night...part 3

I have to thank The Hour's website for giving me the link to Barbara Bruederlin's blog. She has a great blog. She is the one that 'talked' me into going to see The Hour live in Montreal. I would not have traded the experience for anything.

See what happens when you help people make connections...

This link gives you a taste of The Hour if you have not yet had the privilege of watching it.
http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/thehour_player.html?Promo-About_theshow&playerType=wmp

So sweet! Thank you George!


I learned a new term from conversations about producing 'The Hour' that applies to bloggers very nicely. Fair Comment! That is how you can use other peoples material in your blog as long as you have something to say about it. A comment on it. Preferably something nice.

So if you ever use my stuff, you better have something nice to say about it!

LOL

Je suis content! I need sleep but my mind is racing. I think I will float along on this feeling for a few days. It's nice that I can get so excited about something these days.

How to catch a budgie

When I got home from The Hour live I found I had other things I had to take care of before I wrote the blog. One open food dish on the bird cage = one loose bird. I could hear him cheep once in a while , but I could not find the little bugger. I mean budgie. I wrote a short blog that kept most of the details secret and did not do justice to the evening. Then I spotted the bird. He was sitting on top of the lamp above my head. 3 am I am chasing one little blue @$%@%$ across the room. I ask myself why do I have birds? ... Then I ask myself where can I borrow a cat? I went to bed at 4 am. That bird is still sitting on the curtains, laughing at me. The title of this post is misleading because I don't seem to know how. I am going back to bed.

be free (to Gordon be free for now I will catch you later)
Barbara
Update!

My dad is the best Dad in the world. While I was resting, he went out and bought me two large fish nets. No not a pair of fishnets! The nets did the trick and Gordon is now back in his cage as of 11:30 am.

The Hour Live ! G Day part 2

This was at the end of the night. What this man does for his fans. I did not intend to do it, but I found myself doing a mile a minute on George. When it came time for me to meet George, I wanted to do 4 things. One Get Barbara B. Message to him. I wrote it down and and he read it and got it. I then showed him the pic of my car not because I love my car. Because there seems to be a spirit in the picture. I wanted his reaction. He showed it round, and asked me if I wanted him to think it was a ghost, but I left that up to him. I also gave him a car. Thanked him for being himself, and Best of all got a hug. I think I did this all in one minute. I spent the rest of the time hearing the day in day out stories of The Hour straight from David Freed (sp?) That is how the day ended.

This is how this day began.
It was raining quite a bit. It made driving to the Metro fun. I was right on my predictions that I would be having a bad hair day. So no pic of me. I arrived at the Just For Laughs Museum at 5:30 pm. Way too early! I used my inner compass and found a mall to hang out in. Got back at 6:30 and found a long line that was soon let in. We were stamped by the mark of the CBC Newsworld. Found myself in another line in the Just for laughs bar. I spotted Kyle of One Red Paperclip having a drink with his friends. As we scrambled for our seats I snagged an isle seat but it was nearer the back. I was hiding behind a lady in a big white sweater. Kyle was seated the next row back. I asked him if I could take a pic. I have to learn better social graces as I forgot his friends names. Here it is.

George soon took centre stage and talked to us about the show. His charm, quick wit and intelligent responses are what fans of the Hour expect but may surprise people watching for the first time. He is a pleasure to watch. As he started the show he was all focused energy. The professional team are all well practiced in putting this show together with well timed synchronized energy. I later learned all the cool details.

This is what the set looks like with George and Graham of The Hour on it. Sorry 'bout the quality of this pic.

G day Part 1

:-)
I am going to have a good day. Tonight I will be going to see a taping of The Hour with George Stroumboupolous right here in Montreal. Yes, I am going alone. I decided at 6:30 am, weeks back, that I was going to book a ticket, so it's not like I could call people up to see if they wanted to go with me. In my mind, Barbara Bruederlin talked me into going. Now she is encouraging me to get a hug from George. Just like that one she had, but in colour.
I will do my best without stocking the guy. I feel like a 14 year old not a 40 year old.

The show will be on CBC Newsworld tonight live at 8pm EST, then rebroadcast at 11 pm then again in the wee hours . I will wear a thin brown sweater ( the kind with the zipper) and blue jeans. I may have a purple wrap on so my parents can spot me in the audience. Part 2 of my blog will tell you all about it.

In the mean time, Have a great day!

Barbara_mtl

Read any good books lately?

The winner of The Bookseller/Diagram Prize for the Oddest Title of the Year was announced:

People Who Don't Know They're Dead: How They Attach Themselves To Unsuspecting Bystanders and What To Do About It, by Gary Leon Hill.More than 1,000 readers voted for their favorite odd title, which was announced by The Book Standard’s sibling publication The Bookseller today. Hill’s book beat out second-place title:

Rhino Horn Stockpile Management: Minimum Standards and Best Practices from East and Southern Africa, by Simon Milledge, by only two votes.

In third place was Ancient Starch Research, by Robin Torrence and Huw J. Barton.
Diagram Prize Winners 1978–2004
• 1978 Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Nude Mice
• 1979 The Madam as Entrepreneur: Career Management in House Prostitution
• 1980 The Joy of Chickens
• 1981 Last chance at Love-Terminal Romances
• 1982 Population and Other Problems
• 1983 The Theory of Lengthwise Rolling
• 1984 The Book of Marmalade: Its Antecedents, Its History and Its Role in the World Today
• 1985 Natural Bust Enlargement with Total Power: How to Increase the other 90% of Your Mind to Increase the Size of Your Breasts
• 1986 Oral Sadism and the Vegetarian Personality
• 1988 Versailles: The View from Sweden
• 1989 How to Shit in the Woods: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art
• 1990 Lesbian Sadomasochism Safety Manual
• 1992 How to Avoid Huge Ships
• 1993 American Bottom Archaeology
• 1994 Highlights in the History of Concrete
• 1995 Reusing Old Graves
• 1996 Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers
• 1997 The Joy of Sex: Pocket Edition
• 1998 Development in Dairy Cow Breeding and Management: and New Opportunities to Widen the Uses of Straw
• 1999 Weeds in a Changing World
• 2000 High Performance Stiffened Structures
• 2001 Butterworths Corporate Manslaughter Service
• 2002 Living with Crazy Buttocks
• 2003 The Big Book of Lesbian Horse Stories
• 2004 Bombproof Your Horse


There are books on this list I would glace at. How about you?

let's just enjoy the sunset

This is one reason I have the katkam link. Beautiful Vancouver!

Hugs

A hug is a great gift... one size fits all.It can be given for any occasion and it's easy to exchange.

I did not make that up! It was in an email.

For my original thoughts, I leave those as comments on other peoples blogs.

be you and I will be me.
Barbara

Subject: 9 safety tips (from my email)

Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation...This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know.
After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.
a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seatB.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.
IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably ! in a zig -zag pattern!!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP. It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door."
The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

Be careful
Barbara

I did not write this post I am just passing along in hopes that it helps.
Thank you Dykotomy for the link re: this email from the snopes site
http://www.snopes.com/crime/prevent/ninetips.asp

What are your 5 answers?

I have been thinking about those 5 Questions George Stroumboupolous http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/ asks the celebraties.
Do you ever ask yourself those questions?
Q's are not verbatim. I sum the questions up in my own words.

1. If you could chose only one album for all time what would it be?
I think the answer changes every year for me. It's hard to answer a 'for all time' question. Joni Mitchell in this years answer. Her greatest hits album. The Best of Three Dog Night comes a close second...

2. Do you believe in ghosts?
Yes. Have I shown you the pictures?

3. Your choice of last meal would be?
Everything on the sushi menu!

4. When was the last time you cried?
LOL. It's when the snowplow guy told me his plow tore off my cars back bumper. I was not in the car at the time but I felt the pain.

Feel free to comment with your own answers.
Remind me if I forgot any of Georges questions.
the forgotten question is:
5. If you could marry a fictional character on TV or in film who would it be?
The husband in 'Medium'... That guy is so patient with his wife. He is sexy in a cleaning up the house taking care of the kids kind of way. I reserve the right to change this answer later

Mr. Sense will be missed

Remarkable Obituary

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Mr. Common Sense. Mr.Sense Had been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such value lessons ask knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn't always fair. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge).

His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Mr. Sense declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student; but, could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, she spilled a bit in her lap, and was awarded a huge financial settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son Reason. He is survived by two stepbrothers; My Rights and Ima Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on; if not, join the majority and do nothing.

This was not written by me. It just showed up in my email one day. I did not know Common Sense really well.
Did you try the cows! link on the sidebar yet?

Not just jokes via email...( ty J.C )

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.
He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.
Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you? " You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life.
From that day he gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ... "Paid in full with one glass of milk" (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands."

There's a saying, which goes something like this: Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

be aware of your actions
Barbara

Stop me if you received this email already

For all of you with any money left in the wake of the Exxon/Mobil deal, the AOL/Time Warner implosion, and the Sears/K-Mart wedding, be aware of the next expected mergers so that you can get in on the ground floor and make some BIG bucks.
Watch for these consolidations in the near future:

1. Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W. R. Grace Company will merge and become: Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.

2. Polygram Records, Warner Brothers, and Zesta Crackers join forces and become: Poly, Warner, Cracker.

3. 3M will merge with Goodyear and issue forth as: MMMGood.

4. Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining wll merge and become: ZipAudiDoDa

5. FedEx is expected to join its major competitor, UPS, and become: FedUP.

6. Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become: Fairwell Honeychild.

7. Grey Poupon and Docker Pants are expected to become: Poupon Pants.

8. Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become: KnottNOW!

9. Victoria's Secret and Smith & Wesson will merge under the new name: Titty Titty Bang Bang


Another contribution from my joke filter, J.C. where he got it from... who knows? pssst check out the cows! link