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.