Test movie

My Dad gave me his video camera and now I have hit the ground walking, so to speak, in learning all about it. This is the results of my first attempt.
The test movie I shot in Old Montreal Grand Prix weekend.
The music is from The Unhappies and Seabone.
be fearless.
Barbara

Speaking of music.

I was just emailed a link to an amazing piece of musical animation.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5503582578132361295
Just click on the link and enjoy!

I want to explore music but...

I want to expand my musical horizons. I will always look to the Bad Tempered Zombie to see what she recommends. I consult with her before I make a mixed CD. By the way, all my music is legal , 'cause I have this 'play by the rules' thing I can't shake.
I also went to see what some other people I trust have to say about where those new musical horizons can be found. Jian Ghomeshi of The Hour talked about a website called Pandora in his The End series. I was miffed that I could not register on Pandora without a zip code. You can check it out yourself. But I did discover there is a Pandora blog that has lots of music samples. I started a discussion about this subject on www.jian.ca on the message board. All you have to do to join that discussion is register at Jian.ca (no zipcode needed) and click on board. I also have to thank Jian for getting me started on itunes. I won 10 free downloads from The National Playlist. I then started to explore and collect more and more songs from that source. I buy the itunes gift card at Shoppers, get Optium points for it then go online shopping. They don't have everything though, some music shopping you just have to do in person. I recently had $2.36 credit left and my last two songs I downloaded were from Moxy Fruvous. I ain't telling what those two songs were.
:-)

be tuned in
Barbara

Happy St Jean!

It's a holiday in Quebec.
What am I doing to celebrate? Working.
I got my holiday day on Tuesday instead. It allowed me to have three days off in a row. The same thing happens next week. I get this Sun. Mon. and Tues. off but work on Canada day as well.
I feel like I am out of step with all the rest of the community. I will have to catch the fireworks show at the Old Port on another day to make up for all the fireworks I am missing...
It's also Grand Prix weekend in Montreal. That brings tourists. Lots of rich tourists. I saw one lady that was dressed up in black and white, and looking like a barbie doll with all the plastic surgery that requires. I was thinking, wow you only see people like that on Grand Prix weekend.

Montreal has it's own home grown rich crowd but you can just tell the difference somehow.

Madonna is also in town this week. My boss went to see her in concert. She loved the two hour show. She tells me that there was a lot of acrobatics this time around, instead of dancers, there were circus performers. Wonder where Madonna got that idea from. It was a great two hour for the fans, but no encores. No encores? Is that legal?

I was just thinking, maybe that Barbie lady was one of the Madonna circus performers...

Have a great weekend. Even if it's not a holiday weekend for you.
Happy St Jean for my fellow Quebecers.

Next weekend, I am wishing you all a happy Canada Day!!

Today on the last day of spring.

This what my blog would be like if I posted everything I think of when I am out on errands.


I went for a walk today. I had some light errands to run, so I decided to walk. (my part for the environment)
I walked to the bank, and as I looked over my shoulder, I noticed dark clouds coming in from the North.

I calculated how far I needed to walk to stop by work and (I hoped) pick up my forgotten umbrella. Well it started to come down as I dashed into work. I stayed dry as I looked for, and could not find, my lost umbrella. Being at work on my day off feels good because I am in my jeans and I can walk out of there as soon as the rain stops.

I continued my trek over to the farmers market with one goal in mind. Getting myself some very good sushi. It was worth the walk and the rain delay.

For dessert I looked at all the nice baked goods. Then I said to myself, berries! I paid for a Montreal trio. Blueberries, strawberries and raspberries all on the same tray. No topping, no sugar, no nothing.

I ate them as I walked through the park on the way home. Nothing reminds me more of the taste of summer in Quebec.

Enjoy the summer!

Barbara

In the emails.... (ty J.C.)

GEOGRAPHY OF WOMEN

Between 18 and 22, a woman is like /Africa, half discovered, half wild, naturally beautiful with fertile soil.

Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe, well developed and open to trade, especially for someone with cash.

Between 31 and 35, a woman is like India, very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty.

Between 36 and 40, a woman is like France, gently aging but still warm and a desirable place to visit.

Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain, With a glorious and all conquering past.

Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Yugoslavia, Lost the war and haunted by past mistakes.

Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Russia, very wide with borders now unpatrolled.

After 70, she becomes Tibet. Wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages. . . . only those with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge visit there.

GEOGRAPHY OF MEN

Between 1 and 70, a man is like the USA. Ruled by a dick.

When you are 40 the bad medical tests start

Ok now I feel like swearing. I just got back from the doctors with a lists of tests I have to have, just because I am 40 now.
Blood tests I can handle, there is very little fear on that account and I don't have to study nothing. It's the mammography screening I am not looking forward to. I hear it's like having your boobs slammed in a garage door. If that is true I hope they won't mind me using a few blue words while they do that. I don't want to even talk about other tests I have to take. This was truly a day I needed that Tim Hortons ice cap on the way home.
Now wouldn't that make a good Tim Hortons commercial?
No.

I think I will go feel sorry for myself.
Excuse me if you have bigger problems.

Barbara

It's a Leo thing

I just wanted to talk about myself. It's a Leo thing. I am not even sure I believe in the whole horoscope sign scenario but It's a strange coincidence there are three people at my work born on August 19th including me. Out of 30-35 people that is a lot. I get along very well with people born around my b-day. I get along pretty well with many people. Being in retail, I need to be good with the public. The other two who share my birthday also do very well with the public.
My late boyfriend was also a Leo, born Aug 22. He had a best friend as well, who was born Aug 19th. He and I clicked so naturally I did not even know what was happening.
God I miss him.

Back to the Leo theory. If I get along so well with Leos I should, if I was looking to date again, date a man born round my birthday. Or is that being to exclusive? I am not even sure I am ready to date again. I'll have to think about this more...

It now makes total sense to me why I am a Stroumboulopouli though. George Stroumboulopoulos was born Aug 16th. He and I get along fine.

'nuff about me
Barbara

Have I ever complained about work?

I am grateful to have a job. I count myself lucky that it's close by. I can drive, ride my bike or walk if I wanted to. Without going into details my job is all about a million retail details. I don't need to go to a gym, I get my workout at work. I have even lost a lot of weight since I was promoted. In other words I do a lot more running around. The only thing I dread about my job, well two things really is, One day sales and bus pass week. Today is a one day sale. *sigh*

be brave
Barbara

Think about death much?

Want to know when you're going to die?

This site's guess is probably as good as anyone's!

http://www.deathforecast.com/

Be happy

because life is too short to chose to be miserable

Barbara

Remember Bing Crosby?

We all have stories to tell. Major amazing events in our life. When my mother was 14 years old she and another girl were selected to sing a song with Bing Crosby for a Montreal charity radio campaign. The song was called Calling All Hearts. This was back in the 1947(?) so she does not recall much about it now. I would love to know if that recording still exists in a Montreal radio station archives somewhere.

Singles BBQ in Toronto

Day one in Toronto was all about George and The Hour . You can read about that on http://notpaidbythehour.blogspot.com

Day two belongs on my own blog.
After I saw my sister Carolyn to the Go train, I took a long walk trying to get lost in Toronto's vibe. Tonight I am going with my sister Judie to a singles BBQ. I have no idea how that's going to go. It's all part of my sisters plan to get me to move to Toronto. Part of me is curious about the dating scene in TO. Part of me is putting up a wall because I don't think I am ready for a date... Unless say George asks me, (LOL) I am not sure I am open to starting anything in Toronto.
I will update you when the night is done.

Do you think about it all the time?

Blogging I mean.
I find that each time I go out somewhere to do something no matter how trivial, in my mind I am working out how to blog about it. Lucky for you those things don't make it to the blog posting stage, but it has taken over my life just a tad. I try not to let blogging rule my life but it seems to be guiding it. I will be taking a trip to Toronto this week for a duel purpose very much related to blogging, but also related to my admiration for a certain news show and a certain news show host. Those details you can find on my joint blog The Stroumboulopouli.
A second blog? Yes I know, that is another sign of addiction. I try to justify my hobby by saying it's not drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes. It's not harmful to my health or the environment. Not in anyway I can think of at the moment. My Mother might argue that I am not out meeting people if I am in front of my computer whenever I am not at work or sleeping. The truth is I have met many great people via the net even before I started blogging. That has lead me to actually meeting them in the real world as well. I have met more great people via the blogs, and blog related activity. The co-creators of the second blog are a great example of that. We do plan to get together to meet in person in September. They are an intelligent group of funny and talented bloggers with their own addiction to blogs and a certain news show and news show host.
What's that called again? Co-dependents? Or do I call it the fellowship of the blog.
The question is now that I admit and recognize my addiction do I want to give up my addiction anytime soon? No frigin way!
Thank you for your understanding.

be who you want to be
Barbara

A very sad anniversary follows the happy one.

June 2 2006

Today marks the second anniversary of my Boyfriend Graham's passing.

My part goes like this:

Graham MacNicoll

August 22,1961 - June 2, 2004

You will never be forgotten.

I pledge to you each day

A hallowed place within my heart.

Where you will always stay.

Graham's part goes ( in part) like this:

If you need me, call me and I will come,

even if you cannot see me or touch me I will be there.

And if you listen to your heart,

you will clearly feel the softness of love I will bring.

And when the time comes for you to leave,

I will be there to welcome you;

absent in my body, present with God.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on the snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circle flight.

I am the soft stars that glitter and shine in the night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there, I did not die.

Links to more posts I wrote about Graham.

http://barbwheeland.blogspot.com/2006/05/this-one-goes-out-to-one-i-love.html#links

http://barbwheeland.blogspot.com/2006/04/there-is-story-behind-this-pair-of.html#links

http://barbwheeland.blogspot.com/2006/02/dear-graham.html#links

http://barbwheeland.blogspot.com/2006/01/i-want-to-go-back-to-this-time-in-my.html#links

Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad

June 1st.
It's my parents 49th wedding anniversary today!
It all started at a veterans dance in Montreal over 49 years ago.
An engineering student met a nurse and the end result is 49 loving years and 5 children and 8 grandchildren. We could not have picked better parents.
Wishing them much happiness and all the best.

your grateful offspring
Barbara


I know I ain't no Hallmark card writer.