Here is an offer from my friend J.C. (ty for the email)

Speaking of money
. . . . . . . . .
Money It can buy a house But not a home
It can buy a clock But not time
It can buy you a position But not respect
It can buy you a bed But not sleep
It can buy you a book But not knowledge
It can buy you medicine But not health
It can buy you blood But not life (Who buys blood?)
So you see money isn't everything
And it often causes pain and suffering
I'm sharing this because I am your friend
So
Send me, ALL your money And I will suffer for you!
Cash only please! American $$ also accepted
After all, what are friends for, huh? ?
This is all the money I have 'til payday J.C. will you take a postdated cheque?
If J.C. will do this for me, he will do this for you too.

Nice quote

Flatter me, and I may not believe you.
Criticize me, and I may not like you.
Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.
Encourage me, and I will not forget you.

William Arthur Ward




Nice quote from Noni of The Lighthouse

My Great Aunt was a Numerologist

Cora Wheeland
Born 1876-1959
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Education St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in New York City.
She spent 2 years traveling Europe as a private nurse with a family called Hilton before World War I.
She sent the family in Brantford lots of postcards of places in Europe that to this day look the same.
She worked all the rest of her career as a nurse in New York City.
Nurses in that day worked much more than 40 hours a week, without breaks, without the right to marry.
Cora never did marry. smart woman
She was a follower of a kabalistic numerology movement in New York sometime back in the 40ties.
She was not the only member of my family interested in the paranormal. She wanted the family to drop the 'd' at the end of our name for a better result (numerically). Only one branch did that... I don't think it made a difference... who knows. If you want to know more about numerology Google it!
I would have loved to meet Cora, but she passed away before I was born. She sounds like she was an interesting woman leading an interesting life.

be uniquely you
Barbara
more posts on my family history can be found in the January archives

Copy, pastes, shares the email (ty again JC)

Winners of "The Dark and Stormy Night" writing contest

This is a list of 10 winners of the Bulwer-Lytton contest, aka "Dark and Stormy Night Contest" (run by the English Dept. of San Jose State University), wherein one writes only the first line of a bad (but possibly VERY funny) novel.

10) "As a scientist, Throckmorton knew that if he were ever to break wind in the echo chamber, he would never hear the end of it."

9) "Just beyond the Narrows, the river widens."

8) "With a curvaceous figure that Venus would have envied, a tanned, unblemished oval face framed with lustrous thick brown hair, deep azure-blue eyes fringed with long black lashes, perfect teeth that vied for competition, and a small straight nose, Marilee had a beauty that defied description."

7) "Andre, a simple peasant, had only one thing on his mind as he crept along the East wall: 'Andre creep... Andre creep... Andre creep."

6) "Stanislaus Smedley, a man always on the cutting edge of narcissism, was about to give his body and soul to a back alley sex-change surgeon to become the woman he loved."

5) "Although Sarah had an abnormal fear of mice, it did not keep her from eeking out a living at a local pet store."

4) "Stanley looked quite bored and somewhat detached, but then penguins often do."

3) "Like an over-ripe beefsteak tomato rimmed with cottage cheese, the corpulent remains of Santa Claus lay dead on the hotel floor."

2) "Mike Hardware was the kind of private eye who didn't know the meaning of the word 'fear'; a man who could laugh in the face of danger and spit in the eye of death -- in short, a moron with suicidal tendencies."

AND THE WINNER ....

1) "The sun oozed over the horizon, shoved aside darkness, crept along the greensward, and, with sickly fingers, pushed through the castle window, revealing the pillaged princess, hand at throat, crown asunder, gaping in frenzied horror at the sated, sodden amphibian lying beside her, misbelieving the magnitude of the frog's deception, screaming madly, 'You lied!"

Just having a good day

Sunday is a good day for visiting. So I went to visit family on the South Shore. I had a great visit. I was driving home over the Champlain bridge just as the sun was setting over the Island of Montreal. Me and Joni Mitchell were singing her hits as loud as we could as I drove across the bridge. I would have taken a picture of the scene but the other drivers around me thought that that was a bad idea. (Drivers in Montreal read each others minds all the time.) (That's why we don't need to signal.) (Just kidding.)
(or am I?)

If you are celebrating the Mardi Gras, Olympics, or life in general. Have fun and...
be loud
Barbara

Canada is in third in the medal count at last count.
7 Gold 10 Silver 7 Bronze
24 medals in all Baby!
Not bad for a Country of 33million or so.
Thank you to the all the athletes who shed the blood sweat and tears for Canada! Good on you!
Goes to show if we put our efforts into something then the sky is the limit. I can't wait for the games in B.C.

be your best
Barbara

I had a thought

I am posting in my jammies. I promise I won't post a pic of that. I am trying to wake my little brain up and get it ready for work. I have lots to do at work today. Most of it involves asking people if they have an Optimum card or in french "Avez-vous votre carte Optimum?"
Don't ask.
I am going to see 'The Hour' being taped on March 9th here in my own city. I have a link *points over there* to The Hour. I spend way too much time explaining who George Stroumboupolous is. Don't worry George I have to explain who Anderson Cooper is just as often. For fellow Montrealers The Hour is not just a weekly free newspaper it's a show on CBC Newsworld. I think they both may have got their name from the same source 'The Hour Has Seven Days' or is it This Hour Has Seven Days?. One of my brothers wrote for The Hour (the newspaper) a few years back. I have been advised not to name his column. It made that paper worth reading though. My opinion.
In any case.
be happy
Barbara

Looking forward to spring

Cleaning snow off my car is a daily task.

Well it feels that way this winter.

A happy little shoreline.

This painting was inspired by the PBS program featuring art lessons from Bob Ross. Bless him!

If I can paint this, anybody can. I see all the craft type blogs and I wanted to try a crafty post.

be creative

be inspired

Barbara

One is not such a bad number

One SONG can spark a moment
One FLOWER can wake the dream
One TREE can start a forest
One BIRD can herald spring
One SMILE begins a friendship
One HANDCLASP lifts a soul
One STAR can guide a ship at sea
One WORD can frame the goal
One VOTE can change a nation
One SUNBEAM lights a room
One CANDLE wipes out darkness
One LAUGH will conquer gloom
One STEP must start each journey
One WORD must start a prayer
One HOPE will raise our spirits
One TOUCH can show you care
One VOICE can speak with wisdom
One HEART can know what is true
One LIFE can make a difference.

be one
Barbara
I am not the author. This is another email care of Noni
I supplied the tree pic though...

Blogging out loud!

Living out loud in the blogosphere.
Is it dangerous? Sure lots of people hear you muttering to yourself if they pass by your blog one day. Do some stop by to steal your id or target you for some reason? I imagine it's the same as being mugged. There was an article in the paper about teenagers giving too much personal info online. My mother read that and now she worries about my little old blog. I ain't no teen. But I do wear my heart on my sleeve. I do live out loud. One of my fellow bloggers got 'researched' by someone who posted that personal info online for some stupid purpose... I don't know why people do the things they do.
Let us live out loud in peace.

be respectful
Barbara

More email inspirations (ty Noni)

KIDS QUESTIONS TO GOD
A Nun asked her class to write notes to God. Here are some they handed in:

Dear God:I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset. You made on Tuesday. That was cool
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones. Why don't You keep the ones You already have
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:Maybe Cain and Abel would not have killed each other. If they had their own rooms.That's what my Mom did for me and my brother
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:If You watch me in church on Sunday, I'll show You my new shoes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:I bet it is very hard to love everyone in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family And I'm having a hard time loving all of them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:In school they told us what You do. Who does it when You are on vacation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:Are You really invisible or is it just a trick
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:Is it true my father won't get into heaven. If he uses his bowling words in the house
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:Did You mean for the giraffe to look like that, or was it an accident
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:Who draws the lines around the countries
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:I went to this wedding and they kissed. Right in the church. Is that OK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:Did You really mean "do unto others as they do unto you "Because If You did then I'm going to get my brother good
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:Thank You for the baby brother But I think you got confused because What I prayed for was a puppy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:I want to be just like my Daddy when I get big But not with so much hair all over
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:You don't have to worry about me I always look both ways
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:I think about You sometimes Even when I'm not praying
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:Of all the people who worked for You, I like Noah and David the best
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:My brother told me about being born but it doesn't sound right. They're just kidding, aren't they
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear GodI would like to live 900 years Just like the guy in the Bible
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:We read Thomas Edison made light, But in Sunday school they said You did it So I bet he stole Your idea...

What are we?

I was watching CNN's story about the KKK. I could not believe in this day an age that organization still exists. They think 'white' is some kind of 'race'. 'White' is just a label to me. They (the kkk) give 'white' a bad name.
It got me to thinking though. Why do we accept some labels placed on us? My higher self has no labels and won't be involved in this conversation. My petty everyday nonperfect self that has hangups, predjudices and preconceived notions will have her say. I reject the label of white. That is so not me. It does not belong in my multicultural world. I have a multicultural family and I am so proud of that. I do accept the label of Anglophone. I would even wear an Anglophone Tshirt if I had one. (Anglos don't have to hate anything to be Anglos in my mind.) Hate is such a burden on any soul. The 'label' of Anglo makes me a minority in my beloved province. A happy minority. I am also a proud Canadian! I don't say it often because that should go without saying. So I understand the need to belong to a group. But that group does not have to be against others...
I overheard a customer complaining that the store is not giving him what he wants because he does not have a Canadian face. He looked as Canadian as anybody else to all of us. It is so not the point where he was born! I have no idea what a non-Canadian face looks like. I don't think 'we' are better than 'others'. I am just one soul living an experience in a world full of souls all doing 'our own thing', together. My higher self sends love to all people without reservation. My petty everyday self tries to do the same. But if you call me white, I will bite you!

Be you
Barbara

Dear Graham

Hello Sweetie,
How is it going over there? Miss you so much. The other day I was in our old neighbourhood. I stopped in at 'our' old grocery store. It reminded me of you. I loved stopping by there on the way home and making sure I added things you loved to the list of everyday groceries. You made cooking, or even ordering food for you fun. I miss having dinner with you. ( well I miss a lot more than that but...) No one could make me laugh like you did. The fact that you did the dishes afterwards makes you a saint in my eyes. The other day while I was at that grocery store I felt that you were beside me. You asked me why I didn't buy the pillsbury turnovers, I almost went back to get them. I looked around and wondered how many shoppers had spirits of loved ones beside them in the checkout lines.
Yes I feel that kiss.
Love you so much.
I will see you in about 43 years, until then I will take care. If it takes longer I just may take up surfing in shark infested waters when I turn 84 (if sharks are still around)... what a way to go!


love Barbara

What love is.. from my email

Yes more copy and paste (ty J.C.) but these facts about love are important for you to know.
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
See what you think:
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca - age 8
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."Karl - age 5
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7
"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen," Bobby - age 7(Wow!)
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," Nikka - age 6
"There are two kinds of love. Our love. God's love. But God makes both kinds of them." Jenny - age 8
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day." Noelle - age 7
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore," Cindy - age 8
"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare – age 6
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-age 5
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." Karen - age 7
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget," Jessica - age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

Crunchy walk

One beautiful cccold day.



You could hear the echos of footsteps... crunch crunch crunch

Social life?

It's Saturday night and what am I doing? I am finding out how to make links on my blog. -17c outside so what else is there to do? Two links in my experiment and they both work.

random facts about my life....
My first plane ride ever was in a glider (that is a plane with no engine).
The same day my next plane ride was in a Cessna ( a small plane with 4 seats).
One of my brothers owns a sheep, does not read blogs and works as a copy editor for a major newspaper.
The rest of my incredible family may read my blog so I will say nothing more.
I wanted to get over my fear of driving so I learned to drive and bought my first car when I was 39.
Driving over bridges does not scare me now. I live on an Island, so I had to get used to them fast.
What scares me is driving through Toronto. That stretch of the 401 is scary.
what scares you? Don't let it limit you.

be not afraid.
my next test will be driving by myself to Toronto. Watch out!
Barbara
Oh yeah... and one day soon I may even have a social life again. Waiting for spring.

She cuts, she pastes. Here is more email (ty J.C.)

The Washington Post's Style Invitational also asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are this year's winners:

1. Bozone (n. ): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

2. Foreploy (v): Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

3. Cashtration (n. ): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

4. Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

5. Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

6. Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

7. Hipatitis (n): Terminal coolness.

8. Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit. )

9. Karmageddon (n): It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

10. Decafalon (n. ): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

11. Glibido (v): All talk and no action.

12. Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

13. Arachnoleptic fit (n. ): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

14. Beelzebug (n. ): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

15. Caterpallor (n. ): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.

And the pick of the literature:

16. Ignoranus (n): A person who's both stupid and an asshole.

Songs on the radio

I was trying to relax in the dentist chair today as the nice lady scraped and cleaned my teeth. The song playing on the radio was "Everybody Hurts, Sometimes" you know the song... ouch!

What spins your fan?

I am a fan of....
My family
My friends
Mother Nature
Montreal
The Montreal Gazette
George Stroumboulopoulos
Rick Mercer
David Suzuki
CBC
Anderson Cooper
Dr Sanjay Gupta
Erica Hill
CNN
BNL
The Carpenters
The Beatles
Joni Mitchell
James Van Praagh
Medical researchers
bloggers.com
People who volunteer
The Smart Car
PeaceKeepers
peace
the list goes on including God (how can I leave her out?)
oh and I am a fan of me

be your own fan (don't be your own stocker)
Barbara

Valentine plans

This is the second valentines day without my love. He passed away in the spring of 2004. I try to celebrate this day for the both of us. I made what seemed like sensible plans for today. My father took my mother and I to a restaurant for smoked meat. That was very nice. My next plan was to go give blood as a gift from my heart. I did well on all the paperwork but failed the iron test. :-( Sure my blood is good enough for me but not good enough for them. I was told to eat more almonds, liver, bran, blood pudding (yuck) and come back in a few months. This is what I get for not eating my wheeties. I consoled myself by going to Chapters and buying a romance novel. What better way to celebrate Vday? To include my sweetheart in this plan I bought a Scottish historical romance as his roots are Scottish. He is laughing at me now from the other side. Cheers my Graham! Have a loving valentines day.
yes I feel your kiss on my face
be loved
Barbara

Should I start a cafe?

Last year at this time all I could think and talk about was starting a cafe with my friend. Life got in the way.
It looks like we are looking at this possibility once more. I could not run a cafe without her so when she could not, I had to put that little dream on hold. We have a niche market in mind. I won't tell you what that is until it happens. Money is always a problem though. NO don't send me spam telling me how to make investments!
I will solve the money thing myself, without spam. I would have to continue working while starting up. If it's going to happen it will happen. So if you notice I am blogging less then it hopefully it means I am working my butt off trying to be a cafe owner.

Please be seated, would you like some 'sin'sational cake with that coffee?

Barbara

Bringing the focus back to "trying to be"

Ok I think I have blogged enough about men for now.

This blog is about me trying to be a better person.
I am not religious but I pray to God often.
I am not saying one needs to pray or be religious. That is a personal choice thing.
I think the growth of my soul as the most important thing I need to work on in this lifetime.
Growing my soul in a greenhouse like religion is one thing, but growing it out there in the weather of life is the path I have chosen. I have a compass to guide me. I have love to keep me company. I have angels to keep me safe when I ask to be safe and to let me fall when I can learn more from that.
Just like charity begins at home, having the society you want to live in to be begins with your participation.
You want peace in the world you can be peaceful.
You want the world's people to love each other, you need to be loving, without conditions.
You want the world to stop pollution, is it so hard to recycle?
Yes I am talking to me.
You want people to listen to you, you have to have a two way conversation. hmmm. Feel free to comment.
I will choose to go out of my way this week to be the person I am working to be.
amen
Barbara

Thesaurus For Men

THESAURUS FOR MEN (Thanks again J.C.)

"I'M GOING FISHING" ( Translated: ) * I'm going to drink myself dangerously stupid, and stand by a stream with a stick in my hand, while the fish swim by incomplete safety!
"IT'S A GUY THING" ( Translated: ) * "There is no rational thought pattern connected with it, and you have no chance at all of making it logical."
"CAN I HELP WITH DINNER?" ( Translated: ) * "Why isn't it already on the table?"
"UH HUH", "SURE, HONEY" OR "YES, DEAR" ( Translated: ) * Absolutely nothing. It's a conditioned response.
"IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN" ( Translated: ) * "I have no idea how it works."
"I WAS LISTENING TO YOU. IT'S JUST THAT I HAVE THINGS ON MY MIND." ( Translated: ) * "I was wondering if that redhead over there is wearing a bra."
"TAKE A BREAK HONEY, YOU'RE WORKING TOO HARD". ( Translated: ) * "I can't hear the game over the vacuum cleaner."
"THAT'S INTERESTING, DEAR." ( Translated: ) * "Are you still talking?"
"YOU KNOW HOW BAD MY MEMORY IS." ( Translated: ) * "I remember the theme song to 'F Troop', the address of the first girl I ever kissed and the vehicle identification numbers of every car I've ever owned, ... but I forgot your birthday."
"I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT YOU, AND GOT YOU THESE ROSES." ( Translated: ) * "The girl selling them on the corner was a real babe."
"OH, DON'T FUSS, I JUST CUT MYSELF. IT'S NO BIG DEAL." ( Translated: ) * "I have actually severed a limb, but will bleed to death before I admit that I'm hurt."
"HEY, I'VE GOT MY REASONS FOR WHAT I'M DOING". ( Translated: ) * "And I sure hope I think of some pretty soon."
"I CAN'T FIND IT." ( Translated: ) * "It didn't fall into my outstretched hands, so I'm completely clueless."
"WHAT DID I DO THIS TIME?" ( Translated: ) * "What did you catch me at?"
"I HEARD YOU." ( Translated: ) * "I haven't the foggiest clue what you just said, and am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you don't spend the next 3 days yelling at me."
"YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE." ( Translated: ) * "I am used to the way you yell at me, and realize it could be worse."
"YOU LOOK TERRIFIC." ( Translated: ) * "Oh, God, please don't try on one more outfit, I'm starving."
"I'M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE." ( Translated: ) * "No one will ever see us alive again."
"WE SHARE THE HOUSEWORK." ( Translated: ) * "I make the messes, she cleans them up."

how can I not resist sharing my email with you?
Be happy
Barbara

What shocks average Canadians

I am starting a list of what is shocking to me and others.

1. A government that spends 51% of their budget on military. Canada gets our military stuff at garage sales...
2. Small kids riding in the car without restraint. Just like we did back in the day...
3. Government corruption. That never happens here. pffft. (It would be a shock if it didn't.)
4. Getting violent over a cartoon or anything else for that matter. Winter is too long for our blood to get that hot.
5. Women change their last names when they get married? Ok, that is only shocking to Quebecers.
6. You can turn right on a red light? Ok, that's only shocking to Montrealers.
7. Jose Theodore has been using hair growth drug for years.
8. Hair growth drug is a banned Olympic substance. (Maybe Sampson was right and got strength from his hair.)
9. It sometimes shocks me how lucky I am to be here.

Please leave comments and tell me what shocks you. Even if you are not Canadian.

be shocked
Barbara

Are you following the One Red Paperclip blog?

http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/

I can't wait to see how the big trade deal is going to go down live on The Hour http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/
tonight. I may have to catch the rebroadcast at 11pm because of my work schedule. If you are interested, you can all catch it at 8pm or 11pm on CBC newsworld.
Blogs are in the news and now part of the news programming. Anderson Cooper has a blog on his CNN website that has a blog on it and viewers can leave their comments on AC360s picks of news topics http://us.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/
I find leaving comments hard to resist, don't you?
I get comment response envy when I see how many comments Anderson gets.
I should be careful what I wish for though. He must spend every spare moment checking out the responses.

Update on my life:
My car is being fixed right now. It had a bumper transplant. See earlier blog on what happened to my poor little car while I was blogging.
Hey Dad! Can you give me a lift to work?

be love
Barbara
(how come spellcheck does not know the word blog?)

A man sent me this email...Thanks J.C.

New evening classes for Men

ALL ARE WELCOME OPEN TO MEN ONLY

Note: due to the complexity and level of difficulty, each course will accept a maximum of eight participants each. Sign up early and get a discount on registration.

The course covers two days, and topics covered in this course include:DAY ONE HOW TO FILL ICE CUBE TRAYS

Step by step guide with slide presentation TOILET ROLLS- DO THEY GROW ON THE HOLDERS?

Roundtable discussion DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAUNDRY BASKET & FLOOR Practicing with hamper. Pictures and graphics.

THE AFTER DINNER DISHES & SILVERWARE - DO THEY LEVITATE AND FLY INTO KITCHEN SINK OR DISHWASHER BY THEMSELVES? Debate among a panel of experts.

LOSS OF VIRILITY:Losing the remote control to your significant other Help line and support groups

LEARNING HOW TO FIND THINGS, STARTING WITH LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACE INSTEAD OF TURNING THE HOUSE UPSIDE DOWN WHILE SCREAMING. Open forum.

TWO EMPTY MILK CARTONS: DO THEY BELONG IN THE FRIDGE OR THE BIN? Group discussion and role play

HEALTH WATCH - BRINGING HER FLOWERS IS NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH. PowerPoint presentation

REAL MEN ASK FOR DIRECTIONS WHEN LOST Real life testimonial from the one man who did.

IS IT GENETICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT QUIETLY AS SHE PARALLEL PARKS? Driving simulation

LIVING WITH ADULTS: BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR WIFE Online class and role playing

HOW TO BE THE IDEAL SHOPPING COMPANION Relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques

REMEMBERING BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, OTHER IMPORTANT DATES AND CALLING WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE Bring your calendar or PDA to class

GETTING OVER IT. LEARNING HOW TO LIVE WITH BEING WRONG ALL THE TIME

Since I turned 40, I can't shut up

I used to be a shy person. Keeping things to myself, listening to other peoples views.
But something has been building up. A gradual, inevitable, need to speak my mind has emerged.
Now I can't stop myself. I email my opinion to news shows now. I blog my thoughts in public.
Is this a mid-life crisis thing? Is this a world wide trend and I am just going with the flow?
I am not sure my opinion matter that much, but I don't care, I will express it regardless.
I have not stopped listening to others.
Sometimes they will have to speak up a bit though, because my hearing is not what it used to be.

Be your own voice
Barbara

Winter in Quebec

Experience the winter.
Outside today -8c.
The sun was still out at 4:40pm!
you can't beat it so you may as well join it.

be a part of the season
Barbara

Men take cartoons way too seriously

Have you noticed who it is in the mobs of protesters over a stupid cartoon?
It's all men and boys.
Need I say more?

If they can send a man to the moon, why can't they send all of them?
Don't take this joke seriously. It's just a joke! C'est une blague la!


See if I paint all men with the tar brush that only a handful deserve, then I commit the same mistake as people who judge a large group by the actions of a few.

be calm
Barbara

I love men, they are also Gods children aren't they?
I just wish they would grow up!

Brainstorming alone.

I keep many of my best ideas in other peoples heads.
Think about it.
I also store most of my scientific information in the brains of scientists.
I think it's a brilliant form of storage except for the information retrieval process.
I have to ask them questions about the stuff I once knew but stored in their space.
It makes my brain nice and empty at first but, then I read stuff, and hear stuff, and that empty space gets filled up fast.
I know I have half a brilliant idea right now. I just have to remember who I left the other half with.

be open minded
Barbara

Power alternatives are out there.

Why is any country obsessed with nuclear power?

There are alternatives.

Wind, hydro, solar, hydrogen, vegetable oil, oil, coal, pedal power, even cow poop power, oh and LOVE!

Some things are universal (not western). Like skiing where there is snow, water or even sand dunes.

Art is universal. Play is universal. Misery seems to be universal too... So is happiness.

Music is also universal , taste in music or any of the above mentioned items are individual.

be yourself and I will be me.

Barbara for peace.

Men are just happier people.

I have to thank J.C. for sending me the best emails. Here is another one.
Men Are Just Happier People-- What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be President.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $8. 95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life.
Your belly usually hides your big hips.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes. No wonder men are happier.

Headlines for groundhogs day

The U.S. fashion police take their job very seriously. The have outlawed T shirts and sweatshirt with messages. They even dragged two women out for breaking the fashion law. Frumpy is no crime, is it? I saw those shirts and they did not offend me but, isn't that State of the union an occation to dress up?

Well it looks like Canada will have an early spring. Yeah!
The US north east looks like it will have 6 more weeks. aaaw too bad!

The CRTC is looking for Canadian content in Drama Series. So if you have an idea for a Canadian drama write it up! They would buy anything at this point. I can think of lots of comedy ideas... But drama, I will leave it to others.
I have an idea for a comedy sci fi show, because that is what I want to see on Canadian TV. Who needs more drama?
CSI Toronto? No. CSI Moncton? hmmm no.


Be creative
Barbara

What does this dream mean?

I drempt that I was trying to kill a mouse with a fly swatter. I kept having to hit the poor mouse over and over again. Once I started to kill the mouse I had to finish it off. yuck. ( I would not really harm a mouse)
Does this mean I am trying to do something with the wrong tool? Or trying to do something unpleasant with a lack of effort? Or was the mouse a computer mouse and I am on the computer way too much?
Or was it a message from my late loved one? He was an exterminator for 8 years. He would know how to kill a mouse with the right tool.

be the dreamer
Barbara

no mice were harmed in the making of this blog