Bust-a-Blog

Blog-off #17: Forbidden Fruit

2010-10-25T18:47:00.002-05:00

Why is it that we tend to want what we can't have? It seems to start in childhood I see it all the time. The parent says to the two year old "don't touch that - hot!" No sooner are the words out you see this look crossing the child's face - it's like a no means yes, yes, yes, I must find out for myself - touch it now!!! Then they touch, it's hot and the tears start flowing.

You would think after our whole lives being told what not to do, doing it and suffering the consequences we would learn, but for some reason we don't. As we get older what we want to touch becomes different. It might be a relationship we know isn't good for us and have even been warned about. It might be a career, it might be a substance, it might be a lot of chocolate cake. Every time we indulge in forbidden fruit we know we shouldn't and do anyway. The consequences are steeper too and often more difficult to shake off literally and figuratively!

So where does the urge come from? Maybe it's as simple as satisfying our curiosity. Or, maybe it's that we are compelled to experience things even if they're bad for us. Do we just need to know, no matter our age, what it feels like good or bad to partake in forbidden friut?

What do you think?

Don't forget to check out Songbird's entry on thInQ you'll like it!

Blog-off #16: Where there's smoke, there's fire

2010-10-14T19:57:00.000-05:00

'Where there's smoke, there's fire' means that when people suspect something there is normally a good reason for the suspicion, even if there is no concrete evidence (*source: usingenglish.com). I've been thinking about this idiom quite a bit lately. I think we all have an inner voice that leads us in the direction we were meant to go and if listened to and acted on we can achieve greater things.

The big question is how to tell the difference between intuition and conditioned responses from past experiences. I went on a quest today to try and figure it out. First I Googled 'intuition quotes' I figured there must be some smart folks out there that have explained this in one fell sentence. Here are a few:

Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do. ~Benjamin Spock, Baby and Child Care, 1977

Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else's. ~Billy Wilder

Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out. ~Michael Burke

Trust your hunches. They're usually based on facts filed away just below the conscious level. ~Joyce Brothers

I like these quotes, they're inspirational in a way, but they still don't explain what intuition is. Time to Google 'what is intuition'... After reading a number of articles, the last one summed it up best for me.

"So a practical answer to the question 'what is intuition?' would be to say that it's the ability to process information, not just information in the environment, but also information available internally from past experiences and knowledge, that allows you to make great decisions." *Source: decision-making-confidence.com

Through this journey I found the answer to my question. I also found this great website on decision making, which will come in more than handy these days. How awesome is that! Songbird sent me on quite a trip with this photo, I wonder if she had a hunch about it...

That's my take, what's yours?

Don't forget to visit thInQ for Songbird's response to my picture - you'll like it!

Blog-off #15: Royal Flush

2010-09-28T11:48:00.001-05:00

Actual Statistics: Piapot, SK, population 55,
median age 47.3, land area 0.73 km²

*Disclaimer: I have never visited Piapot. This story is completely fictitious and simply inspired by the awesome name and my sentiments recently taking a road trip from Manitoba to Alberta and back. For actual information about the town visit Wikipedia.

Once upon a time there was a young woman living in the quaint village of Piapot nestled in the vast Province of Saskatchewan. The woman was fondly nicknamed by villagers as the Princess of Piapot for her outlandish ideas.

Over the years Piapot, a formerly bustling village, began losing it's mojo. Many had moved away for lack of opportunity leaving a desolate, sparsely populated town with just those able to survive in farming to keep it alive. Princess Piapot got to thinking 'this isn't working, soon enough our village will be a distant memory.' She thought and thought about what had gone wrong and decided it was all about attitude. You see any time there was a new idea to spur on the economy and move the village forward, residents would holler that everything should stay exactly as is. You see Piapotens really weren't open to change.

Princess Piapot knew that to save the village they must do something big and completely out of character, it was their only hope. So she ran for Reeve and was elected to lead the village council. Once in office she began brainstorming on how they could leverage what they had to bring about big change. She thought back to growing up in Piapot and how the children in surrounding villages would make fun of the name 'Ha, ha, Peeeee-a-pot - you guys are just like a toilet!' In thinking back the Princess felt that old pang of hurt for being teased about her home. And then she got mad! If they all thought Piapot was such a funny name then maybe, just maybe instead of getting angry they should get even by really playing it up. Yes, she thought, only minutes from the Trans Canada Highway what do weary travelers really need on long road trips? Really fabulous bathroom facilities - that's it!

There was a reserve of $500,000 in the village budget and Princess Piapot knew just how to spend it. She called a 'town hall' and pitched the idea to the villagers. "What if we built the most beautiful bathrooms on the Trans Can, updated our sign to look warm and welcoming and built a village mascot to promote our luxurious new latrines?" she said. Her excitement was absolutely brimming, but the room went silent. A gruff voice from the back of the room piped up and asked "What kind of 'mascot' were you thinking of Princess?" Princess Piapot felt the whole room move to the edge of their seat and she responded "an enormous toilet of course!" Well, the entire room erupted. Villagers ranted and raved, one shouted "you can't put a toilet on the Trans Can to put us on the map what are you thinking?!?" another screamed "Princess I think you've been wearing your tiara too tight - that is the stupidest idea I've ever heard!" Suffice it to say the idea didn't go over that well on first presentation. But, after trying again and again the Princess finally sold the idea to the village and construction began on the most fabulous bathrooms the Trans Can had ever seen or heard of.

Throughout construction, the nation started to hear the buzz about this small village somewhere in Saskatchewan with an absolutely outrageous idea. Media travelled from all over the country to interview Princess Piapot and the villagers. You Tube footage of the build went viral and all of sudden the David Letterman show was calling. The Princess had to begin juggling speaking appearances and interviews with project managing the build.

The Princess knew that what they had created was going to be bigger than she had ever imagined. So she got the villagers together again and explained that they needed to prepare for a deluge of tourism. Roads needed repair, existing buildings needed sprucing up, new stores and hotels needed to open and people needed to be hired to accommodate all the traffic that would be coming. For months, the village worked furiously preparing.

On a beautiful, sunny day in September the grand opening of the Piapot Powder Rooms on the Trans Canada Highway opened to the public for the first time. Thousands of people from all over Canada and the United States showed up, exceeding the village's wildest dreams. Millions of dollars were made and the stage was set for the comeback of the century. A little village named Piapot surprised the continent by rolling with a big idea and they were never looking back.

The moral of the story: sometimes when you keep going right and it isn't working - go left. Now that's a royal flush!!

What do you think of this story? Would love to hear your comments!

Happy 15th Blog Anniversary Songbird! Don't forget to check out Songbird's 15th blog entry on thInQ.

Blog-off #14: Thelma & Louise Paint the Wild West Purple!

2010-09-14T14:24:00.001-05:00

Somewhere on the road in Alberta

As promised, this entry is all about the road trip I took in August with my good friend and blog-off partner Songbird.

To recap, I had an awesome red Sebring Convertible that I really wanted to take on a spectacular trip before returning it back to those mean leasing people (jk!) on September 2.

A few months ago I approached Songbird and asked her if she was up for a road trip, top down to Western Canada. She agreed and so we were off and on the road beginning August 7. Here are the highlights on the trip:

Day 1: Saturday, August 7 - Moose Jaw bound

Approx.10am: Starting the trip with a mani & pedi of course - I mean if we're potentially gonna find Brad Pitt on the side of the road we better look gooooood!
Approx. 1pm: On the road, gorgeous weather, top down all the way to Moose Jaw and only 1 hour off schedule - that would seriously be a record for us!
2pm-5pm: Making friends on the road with a couple driving a Viper - we passed them numerous times while giving the 'peace out' sign and were invited to drag race! After finally meeting up with the couple in Broadview we learn that they got a ticket in Ontario - good thing we decided against the race...
Approx. 6pm: We're making good time, but I'm driving so that explains that! We arrive in Moose Jaw and hit the LB (liquor board) to purchase cocktails for the Hawaiian party at the lake.
Approx 6:30pm: Wrong turn to go to the lake, some fancy manuevering and as three women can do, we listened to the woman giving directions and we executed exactly as told - made it to the lake no problemo!
Approx 7:30pm: After a quick freshen up, off to the most wonderful Hawaiian Welcome Social ever!! Or at least that's what we called it, which really made the host laugh!
Approx. 1, 2 or 3am (we're not sure): Hauled ourselves out of the hot tub and went to bed. What an action packed day!

Day 2: Sunday, August 8 - Moose Jaw at the lake

Loving the lake with the family on the party boat pretty much all day long - can you say paradise! Weather was awesome! Takin' the Seadoo out full throttle was a buzz!

Day 3: Monday, August 9 - Moose Jaw in town

Girls trip into town (top down of course!) for a little shopping, lunch and exploration.
Given the choice to 1. stay in town and check out the tunnels, or 2. go back to lake, get on the boat and crack a beverage we choose.............wait for it, it'll be a surprise............the lake!

Day 4: Tuesday, August 10 - Alberta Foothills bound

Approx. 8am: Back on the road top up for the first couple of hours until nicely driving out of the rain - comfortably top down for the rest of the trip with intermittent heat on.
Approx. 5pm: Arrive in Calgary (making good time - I'm still driving, nuf said). For the first time we pull out the GPS called Tom-Tom, even though it's a woman's voice. Songbird is the navigator and advises me that according to the screen we are in a pink field and it needs to download hundreds of maps to figure out what in the sam scram we're doing. We thought we detected Tom-Tom's tone changing and almost heard her say "well if you're not going to listen to me then you get what you get girls!" After some stressful moments, with absolutely no help from Tom-Tom who almost learned how to fly that day, we made it through Calgary.
Approx. 7pm: Arrive in the Foothills to a very warm welcome and wonderfully delicious home cooked meal - again in paradise!

Day 5: Wednesday, August 11- Alberta Foothills - windy roads and garden fresh veggies

How about a trip to the Brit camp?!? OK! After a weavey-windy trip, top-down, to the British army camp on the dude ranch where they do adventure training, we were a little dizzy, but having a great time.
Back to home-base to raid the garden and have a scrumptous, garden fresh dinner!

Day 6: Thursday, August 12 - Calgary - IKEA here we come!

Well top had to be up all day with the constant rain so that was a downer. IKEA however, was an eye opener for me at least - my first trip to that humongous store! My goodness I thought we would never get through it. Total purchase $6.46 for a cheese grater!
Dinner at a restaurant in the city - met the weirdest waitress that ever lived!

Day 7: Friday, August 13 - Banff bound

Again, Tom-Tom is absolutely no help. Top's up in the rain for this short hour and a half trip. After a bit of shopping around in Banff we headed to Castle Mountain for another warm welcome and yummy dinner!
Ooops, another hot tub....well we didn't want it to feel neglected!

Day 8: Saturday, August 14 - Edmonton bound

Yeah, I know, it was a little outa the way, but we had 'business' in Edmonton and it just worked out that we picked up a nervous, back seat driver in Banff to complement this leg of the trip. No worries, sunny day, top down, Songbird in the back getting serious wind-burn!
Is that a black cloud we see....we'll miss it right? WRONG, our first experience driving in the rain with the top down - good thing it was a fairly short drive though - ahhhh, refreshing!
Arrive in Edmonton, I have no idea what time and we're lost. Tom-Tom has us back in the pink field - thanks a lot for all your help Tom-Tom!!
I experience my first Donair ever - what a delicious sandwich and such great people at Queen Donair in Edmonton - I'm glad I'm related!!
Finally get settled into yet another warm welcome and some truly fabulous wine testing for an upcoming wedding. We end up telling stories and laughing late into the night before retiring to a good night's sleep.

Day 9: Sunday, August 15: Edmonton - the Bachelorette Party

Time for a walk with the bride to be. Is that a Boston Pizza we see? Yes it is and there's room on the patio for three thirsty women! Aren't impromptu bachelorette parties fabulous!!
Before heading back we needed to make two pit-stops to put some final touches on the bash. 1. Safeway for a bouquet of roses and, 2. the Dollar Store for a tiara and wand. If any of us could remember the words to Miss America we would have been singing it all the way home with our bride to be all decked out and getting interesting looks from the folks in the neighbourhood. She really had that wand workin'!
More delicious food and off to bed early after yet another big day!! It takes a lot out of you to be spoiled and relaxed all day long!

Day 10: Monday, August 16: Banff bound again

Starting out the trip right we put our 'princess for a day' tiaras on and drove through Edmonton to pick up our nervous back seat driver to begin the 5 hour trek back to Banff. Top down, all day, gorgeous weather!
Arrive in good time (you know what that means) in Banff to be pleasantly surprised by the arrival of two more visitors and fellow Winnipegger's, a good friend and his 15 year old daughter.

Day 11: Tuesday, August 17: Banff shopping excursions & hikin'

Well we couldn't resist spending the better part of the day shopping with an adorable, well mannered 15 year old girl - who could?!? We had a blast checkin' out the stores and driving to and from town with, you guessed it, the top down!
Johnston Canyon has never seen a crew like us to hike the falls, what a great experience! Gorgeous scenery and hundreds of pictures later we were all tuckered out and ready to call it an early night.

Day 12: Wednesday August 18: Homeward bound

Although we were treated like Princesses everywhere we went and spoiled absolutely rotten, we were ready to get home.
I drove the first leg to Regina. After 10 hours behind the wheel, Songbird admitted my colour was changing and it was time for a nap. So she took over and I slept after making good and sure she was doing a healthy speed!
Quick stop in Broadview for Songbird to laugh hysterically at my demeanor after the nap. Apparently, I could have been on a bender based on how wobbly I was. Leave it to Songbird to take pictures - not funny Songbird!!!

Day 13: Thursday, August 19: Home sweet home

Approx. 1am: Hooooome sweeeet hooooome!! Sleeeepy time!! After 16 hours of consecutive driving we were pooped and glad to see home - no Tom-Tom required!

What a great trip! What fabulous people! What awesome memories! What a great way to say a final goodbye to the red Convertible that made it all come together!!

Check out Songbird's take on the Thelma & Louise trip.

Blog-off #13: What's 'in a car'?

2010-09-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

The first time I saw a Smart Car I thought the door would open and six to ten large clowns would pile out. What a great idea, make a very small vehicle that will run forever on a tank of gas, plus they're kinda funny too!

So what's 'in a car' anyway? Today I gave up my 2008 red convertible Sebring. Ohhhhh how I loved that car! So why did I give it up? Well, the lease was done and the buyout was ridiculous (at least by my standards). When I first got the convertible it replaced a 10 year old Neon I had purchased new in 1998. It was a bare bones, standard transmission with around 90,000kms on it. Did I love it? Well I didn't really think so until the young man (a Neon fanatic who was simply thrilled at purchasing it) drove it out of the driveway. I stood there watching it dissapear out of sight and thought "there she goes, my pal and partner in crime for 10 years a part of who I think I am".

Of course, I had a brand new shiny red convertible waiting in the wings for me so the sadness passed pretty quickly. But, this new car was what I like to call 'fancy pants'. Could I really drive it around and feel comfortable about it? I wasn't what I would consider a 'fancy pants' sort of gal.

Apparently I could!

First I figured out all the buttons - that took a while. Top up, top down, windows up and down, left mirror, right mirror, seats up down and all around. Then I took it to the gas station for a fill and the gas attendant asked me to pop the tank, I had to ask "and just how do you do that?". We put our heads together and figured it out. Whew, feature overload! At this point, I became officially 'initiated' into my new environment on wheels and after the first real drive on a sunny day, tunes blaring, hair blowing in the breeze, wearing movie star sunglasses I thought "yeah baby, this is the shizzle!".

Over the past 27 months what really sealed the deal on this love story were the adventures I had in it. Driving out to the beach with the girls, road trips (the most recent 'Thelma & Louise' style), taking the kids out in it and generally just sharing the experience. Man I'm gonna miss her! Unlike the Smart Car, on any given day the convertible door might open and four giggling girls with really crazy hair would pile out! Funny, that description sounds a lot like the clowns....ha!

So, here's what I've learned:

What I drive has no bearing on my identity - I am who I am, fancy pants or not no matter what wheels are transporting me from A to B.
It's not really the convertible I'm going to miss, it's the experiences it gave me and the joy it brought to others that is difficult to let go.
It's good to know that things come and go but memories last a lifetime!

Coming soon...blog posting on the Thelma & Louise trip!

That's my take on Songbird's picture, would love to hear your comments and thoughts.

Don't forget to visit thInQ for Songbird's response to the picture I sent her - you'll like it!

Blog-off #12: Growing Roots

2010-07-26T21:04:00.000-05:00

After separating from a 7 year marriage I lived in an apartment building overlooking some of the most beautiful old trees in Winnipeg. I would sit in the window looking out at those trees almost every night and cry my eyes out. I kept thinking they were lucky, that all they needed to do was just 'be'. No thinking about what to do next, no wondering what the future may hold. All they needed to do is exist as they were meant to and everything would be ok.

Then we had a dry spell and I thought 'how do they stay so green and magnificant even in the face of a drought?' The answer came to me like a whisper - their roots grow deeper into the ground until they find the sustenance they need.

I could be like a tree. I could wither up because I didn't have the strength to find what would keep me going or I could grow stronger roots and be magnificant. I could also know that the rain would come again and the next time it wouldn't be from my eyes.

I was lucky enough recently to have a rainbow draped behind me after a light mist and there was a smile on my face. I'm not convinced I've hit magnificant yet, but I know for sure that I have grown deeper roots and I can be thankful for that.

That's my take on Songbird's picture this round - what do you think?

Don't forget to check out Songbird's entry on thInQ !

Blog-off #11: Time keeps on slipping into the future

2010-07-12T19:14:00.000-05:00

The Steve Miller Band released ‘Fly Like an Eagle’ in 1976 – I was four years old. The song obviously had no relevance whatsoever to me then, but it sure does now. I’m playing it at as I write this entry, you can listen too…

Here are some of the lyrics:

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'

Into the future

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'

Into the future

I want to fly like an eagle

To the sea

Fly like an eagle

Let my spirit carry me

I want to fly like an eagle

Till I'm free

Oh, Lord, through the revolution

Feed the babies

Who don't have enough to eat

Shoe the children

With no shoes on their feet

House the people

Livin' in the street
Oh, oh, there's a solution

Time does slip into the future and it seems to speed up the older I get. I had always heard that from the adults around me as a kid and thought “oh whatever – I can’t wait until I’m 13, 16, 18…”. Back then we were all 12 and a half or almost 13, now we’ve just turned whatever age we are even if our last birthday occurred months ago. It’s kind of funny how that works, but I am learning to cherish and be more thoughtful about time just a little more every year.

A couple of weeks ago I attended my 20th high school reunion. Oh what the heck I aged myself at the onset of this post so here’s to putting it all out there! When I initially heard about the reunion it bothered me more than any birthday to date. I mean you don’t walk around thinking every day that it’s been 10, 15 and now 20 whole years since graduating high school! It was like a reality smackdown! Fortunately, it didn’t take long to readjust, shake my head and decide that I needed to face my fear of time slipping away from me - am I ever glad I did. It was like stepping back into time. Everyone was fundamentally the same. We’ve all aged a bit, have conquered some milestones and are a bit wiser (in my case I’d like to think I am if nothing else!), but dang we look good! We even discussed how maybe we should have made it a 40 year reunion so that we would have been bigger surprises to one another.

I suppose the reflection on time is more about what’s happened in that 20 year span than it is about where I am today. I’ve spent some time thinking about my accomplishments, my failures, my joys and disappointments. To me that is what the song ‘Fly Like an Eagle’ is all about – making hay or your mark on the world (whatever that means to you) while the sun shines. That means now because it doesn’t last forever.

That’s my interpretation of the lyrics whether Steve Miller was thinking the same thing or not – what’s yours?

Don’t forget to check out Songbird’s post I think you’ll like it!

Blog-off #10: Presenting Miss Kia

2010-06-28T00:59:00.002-05:00

Kia is a four year old Shitzu with a big personality and I'm afraid to say, a better wardrobe than me! She has brought her family, adults and kids alike, copious amounts of joy and laughter. She has a personality that outweighs her stature and the ability to bring strangers into the 'mush' zone. You know what that is "Ooohhhhhhh what a cuuuute pupppie, mwa, mwa, mwa such a cute puppie, awwwwwe!" What is it about our four legged canine friends that takes us out of ourselves and into completely different state of mind?

I have recently become addicted to the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan. If you've never seen the show you can check it out on the National Geographic Channel. I just figured out that they have daily shows and have been taping them religiously with my PVR, whatever did I do without the PVR!?!

Cesar's philosophy revolves around becoming the 'pack leader' for your dog by being 'calm assertive' effectively achieving a 'calm submissive' state from your dog. You communicate your calm assertive self through the energy you project by being in a relaxed state while taking control of the situation. I think it's pure genious! Here is a clip from You Tube demonstrating some of Cesar's techniques with an aggressive dog.

So what is it about dogs? Why have they become 'man's/woman's' best friend through the ages? I had dogs as pets from the time I was 10 or 11 years old until fairly recently. Each one over the years has had a personality, usually a very BIG personality! What has struck me is their ability to love unconditionally. Sure they'll pull some tricks to get their way, but at then end of the day they lick your face, wag their tail and make you feel like you're 100 feet tall. They do not discriminate or care how you look and act. In fact we can be totally socially inept with other people and a dog will still love us exactly as we are.

I suppose the biggest risk in adopting a dog is the fear that one day he/she just won't be there anymore. But, then again, we take that risk with any relationship in our lives. I'm going to continue with my obsession for the Dog Whisperer. At some point I will adopt another dog. In the meantime, I'm practicing how to be a pack leader in my own life by being calm assertive as often as I can. Maybe those four legged friends have a lot more to teach us than we have to teach them.

I'd love to hear your perspective - please comment away!

Don't forget to check out Songbird's response to my picture this week - I think you'll like it!

Blog-off #9: Momentum

2010-06-14T13:09:00.005-05:00

One of my favourite sayings is "a body in motion stays in motion." I don't remember where I heard it anymore or who said it, but it sure resonated. It's all about momentum. Take this windmill for instance, it does nothing unless the wind blows. Even a light breeze will catch one or more of it's sails and start the rotation. At first it may turn slowly building speed as the breeze catches each sail and pushes it forward. Eventually it will find its rhythm and turn at a steady pace even if the wind stops blowing. Just the slightest bit of additional wind will keep the momentum going. But without the wind it will soon slow down and eventually stop moving. Once it is still the process must start again from scratch. It is much easier to keep a windmill turning while in motion than to get it turning while standing still.

I think of myself like a bit of a windmill. Once I get going there's no stopping me, but if I stand still for too long look out! I need a huge boost of energy to put the wind back in my sails! So how do you create the wind? How do you keep the breeze blowing and the momentum high? I'm not entirely sure, but I'm on a mission to figure it out. Gives a new meaning to going with the flow!

What do you think? Would love to hear your perspective!

Don't forget to visit Songbird's response to my picture. We must be spending too much time together! We're starting to send each other similar pictures! Well, you know what they say....'great minds think alike'!

Blog-off #8: This little piggy went to the market...

2010-05-30T23:34:00.001-05:00

I googled this nursery rhyme to see where it came from and what it was all about. As we all know EVERYTHING we read on the Internet is true so I'll share the details with you from Wikipedia.

The most common version of this nursery rhyme was created to point out each of a child's toes and it goes:

This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed at home,

This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy went...
"Wee wee wee" all the way home...

Here's the live version - it still makes me giggle!

"The first line of this rhyme was quoted in a medley "The Nurse's Song", written about 1728, a full version was not recorded until it was published in The Famous Tommy Thumb's Little Story-Book, published in London about 1760. It then appeared with slight variations in many late eighteenth and early nineteenth century collections. Until the mid-twentieth century the lines referred to "little pigs"."

I'm not sure I get what roast beef has to do with anything, if you have perspective on that feel free to comment! I thought it might be fun to update it for us adults living in 2010 - I bet those folks in 1728 thought there would never be such a time!

Here's a new swing on 'This little piggy':

This little piggy went to Walmart,
This little piggy texted at home,
This little piggy had tofu,
This little piggy had none (lucky piggy - bluck!).
And, this little piggy went...
"lol, lol, lol" all the way home...

Well now that was fun! What's your version of 'This little piggy'?

Don't forget to check out Songbird's blog entry - I sent her a DOOzey of a picture this round!

Blog-off #7: The lights are off, but I swear somebody's home!

2010-05-17T12:12:00.002-05:00

I've had one heck of a time coming up with something creative to write around this fluorescent light. Knowing Songbird the photo was probably taken in a hockey arena somewhere in Manitoba. But, knowing both of those facts and after staring at it for extended periods of time the only thing that came to mind was ugg. Then all of a sudden a light went on! Maybe this story should be about why I am not connecting with the image.

Reason #1: Conversing with Inanimate Objects
Apparently all things inanimate are 'living' created by energy. Which some how makes us connected to everything because we're also made up of energy. Call me unenlightened, but I don't get it. I can carry on a conversation with other people, animals even other things in nature, somehow they have a way of speaking back even if it is by wagging a tail, rustling leaves or through fond memories. A flourescent light...well it just ain't speaking to me.

Reason #2: Common Ground

Seriously, I can come up with something in common with a tree, a dog, cat or other animal, the clouds, the lake...you name it. A flourescent light....nada.

Reason #3: Priorities

To be in tune with something or someone is to care about it/them. I cannot bring myself to care about bulbs and steel no matter how hard I try. I started thinking about why...it's because my priorities are people first then nature as a close second. When I came to this realization I thought about the other 'things' in my life and which ones I really care about. The distinct difference between the ones that hold meaning and the ones that don't is that truly valuable things are attached to some deeper meaning in my life; a memory, as a gift from someone I love, maybe signifying a turning point in my life.

The lights went on when I realized that life is only about relationships for me- if I can't create a relationship with it, it has absolutely no bearing on my life. Now would be a good time to go through all my 'stuff' and chuck all the meaningless stuff I've collected!

Would love to hear your thoughts share your voice and comment.

Don't forget to visit Songbird's posting on thInQ I think you'll like it!

Blog-off #6: Kick Me!

2010-04-28T11:50:00.077-05:00

Remember the days when taping a 'kick me' sign to someone's back was hilarious? It was probably around the age of 12 and was especially funny if the person walked around for extended periods of time oblivious to the attached message. Between those signs and whoopie cushions there were endless reasons to muster up those huge belly laughs that come fewer and further between as we get older. Well, twenty plus years later this picture reminded me that those little pranks are still pretty funny. So I went on a search for other pranks to give our laughing muscles a work out. Check out this you tube clip for some giggles...

In the midst of receiving this photo to write about there has been an audio piece circulating on facebook called 'how a town competition ended a marriage'. I'm not promoting it that's for sure, but curiosity got the cat as it has for thousands of others. I checked it out by googling it outside of facebook to hear for myself what all the hype was about without becoming a fan. Here's the 'Coles Notes' version:

1. A radio station asked for people to call in and conduct a prank call to a loved one to win tickets to a Kanye West concert.
2. The prank was for a woman to call her husband at work and tell him that their 9 year old son was not his and get him to tell her that he still loved her and wanted to be a father to the boy anyway. Isn't that funny.......NOT!
3. The woman agreed to make the call (I'll never understand how Kanye West tickets could be that valuable, although this whole ridiculous prank ironically suits Kanye's obnoxious behaviour).
4. The call goes all wrong and the woman's husband ends up admitting to having an affair with her sister...the end (on so many levels).

There is a distinct line between what is funny and what is not. The radio prank, whether true or contrived, gives a whole new meaning to 'kick me'. I vote for whoopie cushions and bad knock-knock jokes!

What do you think? I'd love to hear your perspective.

Don't forget to visit Songbird's site thInQ for her blog-off entry - I think you'll like it!

Blog-off #5: She Shoots, She Scores!

2010-04-18T12:57:00.001-05:00

I'm not much of a hockey fan that's probably why Songbird sent me this picture in her infinite wisdom! I like the game just fine and absolutely love watching it in the Olympics. But, NHL hockey (to me) is more like the WWF with padding - every other minute there seems to be a fight and the crowd is going wild to see it.

What I really value about the game is the heightened awareness it takes to maintain focus on one small puck among 22 sticks and 44 moving skates. You can visibly see in the players that when they're in the 'zone' and totally focussed they're winning. When they're not in the 'zone' they appear lost, the level of frustration mounts and it seems to me that the number of penalties increases for the losing team - it would be interesting to find the statistics on that!

I have a feeling that we're all striving to be in the zone. The difference between us and the game of hockey is that there are more pucks on the ice. We're chasing career, family, friends, health, wellness and many more. They all seem equally important and as we lose focus in one area there seem to be penalties in another. Maybe that's why fear can creep up when we're in the 'zone' in one area of life, because in the back of our minds we're thinking about the price we might be paying in another.

I see myself chasing way too many pucks and I don't think I'm unique. I don't know if the people who are in the 'zone' are playing with just one puck or if they play different games, if there were a camp to sign up for I think I'd enroll!

Well there you have it - hockey as a metaphor for life balance - what do you think did I score on this one?!? I'd love to hear your perspective!

Don't forget to check out Songbird's blog-off entry I think you'll like it!

Blog-off #4: Let Sleeping Butterflies Lie

2010-04-06T11:28:00.005-05:00

You’ve heard the expression ‘let sleeping dogs lie’. I looked up the definition on wiktionary just to put it in perspective. Here’s what they had to say:

“To leave things as they are; especially, to avoid restarting or rekindling an old argument; to leave disagreements in the past.”

This new photo had me thinking about the concept of ‘letting sleeping butterflies lie’. I have always been fascinated with the beauty of butterflies and the startling similarities to their process of metamorphosis and our own journeys in life.

Did you know that over the winter butterflies may fly South to warmer climates, hibernate or continue the process of metamorphosis throughout the winter chill? Sounds a lot like us! You won’t meet up with a butterfly at the local travel agency, but you might at the All Inclusive in Puerto Vallarta! Hibernation is a given around here when the thermometer drops below -30 and there is a -50 windchill. While we’re inside watching movies and reading books, at a time when there is more time to think, connect with those close to us and generally just slow down, caterpillars are going through a phase of hibernation or metamorphosis too.

In fact, as caterpillars they outgrow their skin and re-grow a new one to replace the old that is shed no less than four times. The process is called the first, second, third and forth instar. Don’t you just love that word – instar! It makes me feel like each time I outgrow my old skin there is a new inner star ready to emerge!

Maybe we don’t need to worry too much as we’re working through the stages of life. Some aspects of our journey are bound to be ugly like a caterpillar or a pupa (have you seen those things stuck on trees – yuck!). It’s all a process of becoming a butterfly and soaring into our destiny.

So, is it OK to ‘let sleeping butterflies lie’? To allow for the ugly phases to come and go, to let go of the old for new understanding that there is something better to come? Is it just when we get stuck in ‘hibernation’ and don’t continue the process of metamorphosis that we get into trouble?

Songbird emailed me this quote a while back…maybe she knew what I was about to write. It certainly addresses the aspect of getting stuck and is fitting to wrap up these thoughts into something we can all take away with us.

"How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar." ~Trina Paulus

What do you think? I’d love to hear your perspective!

Don’t forget to check out Songbird’s blog entry this week – I think you’ll like it!

Blog-off #3: Doodledooledoot-diteee, I need to get out of heeeeerrrree...

2010-03-25T15:02:00.003-05:00

Who would have thought I could relate to a Garden Gnome! You may be familiar with Travelocity's series of commercials with Garden Gnomes. The one I really connected with is featured below and it's all about cabin fever.

I've had a case of cabin fever off and on for the last couple of months since I've been out of full time work. I got to thinking that you can experience cabin fever no matter where you're at or what you're doing in life. When you're going to the same place and job everyday, sitting on the couch watching the same t.v. shows, spending time with the same person or anything else that is predictable that tune can arise "Doodledooledoot-diteee, I need to get out of heeeeerrrree".

Here's the difference between us and a Garden Gnome. The Garden Gnome doesn't go on and on about it complaining and wishing it not to be. In fact, he/she is in a perpetual state of happiness, cute little smirk firmly planted on that shiny unfazed face. Of course a Gnome has no choice, but maybe there's a lesson in that. I'm finding that the more I accept whatever situation I'm in the easier everything becomes. It used to be that I would think I just hate being at home, I can hardly stand it, I'm going insane!! Now I think "Doodledooledoot-diteee, I need to get out of heeeeerrrree" and a solution magically comes to me - call a friend, go for a walk, apply for an off-the-wall job, work on my business, clean house, do my taxes (ok not the best example) - something always remedies the situation.

The moral of this story for me is that acceptance isn’t about giving in, it’s about being in a state that allows for the next moment to be. It’s kind of funny that a Garden Gnome helped me figure that out!

What do you think?

Don't forget to visit Songbird's site to review her post I think you'll like it!

Blogg-off #2: Molly & Reginald Face Off on Bathroom Etiquette

2010-03-07T14:36:00.016-06:00

Dear Reginald,
For the one hundred zillionth time why on this green earth can you not put the cap back on the toothpaste, rinse out the sink and put both the tube and your toothbrush back into the medicine cabinet where they belong? You may have noticed a wee bit of frustration in this note – I apologize in advance for the words that are running through my head right now, but really Reg!

Dear Molly,
I didn’t do it.

Dear Reginald,
You DID do it – only you and I live in this house – are you to have me believe there are ghosts in our home? How can you blatantly say to me that you are not the culprit here? Yes you did do it!!!!!!! Now, I know the last time we talked about this, one month after you moved in, it was a very sweet and civil conversation. If I remember correctly (and I do) my words were “honey, would you mind tidying up and putting your toothbrush and the toothpaste away after you’re finished with them? I would really appreciate it”. Your words, if I remember correctly (and I do) were “sure no problem babe, it’s a done deal.” Well that lasted all of 2 weeks and for the past month I have been sucking it up every morning – I can’t deal with it anymoooore!

Dear Molly,
What’s the big deal?

Dear Reginald,
You better run….fast.

Reginald never did respond, we’re not quite sure where the poor guy ended up.

We can tell you that one of two things happened here from Molly’s perspective and Reginald could choose to take one of two courses of action.

1. There were bigger issues going on than the toothpaste for Molly. For instance, she may have been feeling unappreciated or disrespected and instead of talking to Reginald about those issues blew up about the toothpaste. Reginald’s safest response in this case would have been to say “I’m really sorry Molly, I can see how this would be annoying for you. Is there anything else going on here that I should know about? Let’s talk about it if there is.”

Or,

2. Molly was PMS’ing in which case Reginald’s best course of action would be to back up very slowly and not make direct eye contact. Conversely he could just play dead.

Reginald’s perspective on the other hand went something like this.

Naggedy, nag, nag, naggedy, naaaaaaaag! I gotta call the guys and go out for some beer and wings.

Ahhhhh, relationships!

What's your take on Songbird's latest picture? Visit Songbird's blog thinQ to view her response to my picture - I think you'll like it!

Blog-off #1: Aura

2010-02-21T18:37:00.009-06:00

Porcelain; smooth, cold, shiny

Like ice frozen in the moment

Graced by the presence of silence
Stillness, breathlessness
Devoid of emotion, made of energy
Bated energy pulsing to another beat
Regal, poised, commanding space
Strong and delicate
Alive not human
Where does her energy come from?
What is she saying?
Listen closely and she will tell you

Be sure to visit thinQ to view Songbird's response to my picture - I think you'll like it!