Your Friday Smile!

An Amish boy and his father were in a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slide back together again.

The boy asked, 'What is this Father?'

The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, 'Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don't know what it is.'

While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, a fat old lady in a wheel chair moved up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened, and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed, and the boy and his father watched the small numbers above the walls light up sequentially.

They continued to watch until it reached the last number, and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order.

Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous 24-year-old blond stepped out.

The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his son....
'Go get your mother.'

***

Happy Thanksgiving to my American Blends!

When I saw this image, I couldn't help but feel it was so true. Even if we've already celebrated our Thanksgiving back in October (yes, we Canadian celebrate on a different date, we're "special" that way!) I really do feel we should all be thankful more than once a year!

I know I have a lot to be thankful for: my husband, my health, my work, to name a few. I've had a good run so far in this life and I appreciate it. Yes there were times when it was rougher than others, but overall I'd say I had it good. I don't really know who I should thank for that, but I know it wasn't all my own doing. I've got help along the way, and without the support and love I've received over the years, I may not be where I am today.

Let's hope you will all be thankful for the little things in life, because those little things do make the difference in the big pictures.

May your weekend long holiday bring you lots of good feelings, valued time with your loved ones, and let the shopping season begin! Hee.

Felt luuuuuvvv

Yes. Yesterday was my birthday. I didn’t do anything special, really, vacuumed and rested since I was really feeling sick. I don’t know if it’s the age thing or what, but I felt nauseous all day almost.

I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but on Sunday night when I went to bed, this strange thought came to mind: would remember it was my birthday… I know it’s vain, or self-centred or whatever else you want to call it, but I felt like crap and my mind went there. Sad, I know.

While talking with a good friend, she made me realised that I often do stuff for others. I do it because I want to and because it brings me joy, so yes, I’m selfish. (I admit it.) At the same time, I’m not looking for recognition as such; I do whatever I do, by choice. Sunday night I felt vulnerable, crappy, or maybe even menstrual (if I had a cycle still…) and I wanted to be loved or at least feel some love.
I’ve received a bunch of birthday cards, phone calls, lots of wishes through Kaceboof, which touched me, even if it was just a quick “Happy Birthday”.

I appreciated the fact that some people with whom I don’t exchange often even took the time to drop me a line. It felt good!

Thank you guys so much, for all your good wishes. I needed that. It felt good to be on the receiving end this time... Thanks again!

Feeling a little sick...

Sniff... Snot... Ouch!

Yesterday, despite my excitement about seeing Mr. Williams live, I felt like crap. I woke up because I was sneezing up a storm. I took some drugs, made my way to my hairdresser for an overdue haircut and while sitting there I lost count of how many times she had to pause for me to sneeze and blow my nose. When I came back home I drugged myself up good and fell asleep until Hubby came home.

We walked to the theatre with a short pit stop for some Hot & Sour soup (one of my comfort food when I’m sick) in Chinatown. I took some more drugs just to be sure I wouldn’t be sneezing during the show. I didn’t want to take any chance of becoming a distraction or part of the show for Mr. Williams, since we were sitting fairly close.

Speaking of which, what a show! I loved it! I particularly enjoyed the fact that he adapted the show to the fact that he was in Montreal, Quebec. He talked about local issues like only he can. It was a great show, and if ever that show comes out on DVD I will make sure to get it. His brain is truly amazing, despite or because of his addictions, no matter what, he’s a great entertainer! It felt good to laugh like that despite everything.
Thank you dear Hubby for a lovely gift – you’re the best!

I slept well, thanks to the magic of drugs. I did have a really weird dream (as if they’re not always!). My ex client did pay me. I received their cheque this morning. Now, let’s see if it clears… Hee.

I feel worst today than I ever did after a belt testing in karate. Back then, I had bruises to explain why I was feeling that bad. Today I feel like I was run over by a bus, and to make sure I was down for the count, the bus backed up and run over me again. My ribs are so sore from all the sneezing. Just tried to cough, oh dear! It’s a good thing we got our flu shot again this year.

I really feel like I’m aging… my body is screaming it… no matter how young my head might feel, my body is not agreeing; at least not today. If you’ll excuse me, I need to lube my nose and blow again…argh. Ouch! Damn it!

Your Friday Smile!

Aunt Mildred was a 93-year-old woman who was particularly despondent over the recent death of her husband. She decided that she would just kill herself and join him in death.

Thinking that it would be best to get it over with quickly, she took out his old Army pistol and made the decision to shoot herself in the heart, since it was badly broken in the first place.

Not wanting to miss the vital organ and become a vegetable and a burden to someone, she called her doctor's office to inquire as to just exactly where the heart would be on a woman. The doctor said, 'Your heart would be just below your left breast'.










Later that night... Mildred was admitted to the hospital with a gunshot wound to her knee.

Have a good weekend !

I'm so excited

Thanks to all for the nice comments about my last post. I’m feeling better about it overall. Those things happen and I know I didn’t do anything wrong. Now they better pay me for my last invoice, which dates back to September. The manager even had the audacity to call me (yesterday) and ask why I had sent a statement. I simply answered: “Because I haven’t been paid for that invoice”. She used this foolish line: “the check was sent while you were away, and it must have been lost”. Funny how I got everything else, since our mail was being picked up daily. Anyway, with that last conversation, I can only say “Good riddance!”

Tomorrow night, at this time I’ll be pretty excited. Why you may ask? Because I’ll be getting ready to attend a lovely evening with my husband to “La Place des Arts” (The Arts Place, not that it really translates) to see, live, in Montréal, Robin Williams! I’m so excited! I love the man; he’s in a category of his own.

I love him as an actor as well, even if a few of his last films were a bit creepy. I must say he does play a good lunatic. I have my favourites from him: “Dead Poets Society”, “Mrs Doubtfire”, “Good Morning, Vietnam”, “What Dreams May Come” (one of my all time fav.), how he played the Genie in “Aladdin”, “Good Will Hunting” and of course his voices of Ramon and Lovelace in “Happy Feet” to name a few. The man is just too much. Can’t wait to see him.

A few years back I bought Hubby a DVD “Live on Broadway” and that was hilarious. If you’ve seen it, that last scene when he talks about the last thing a woman sees and his hairy arm… I cried the first time I’ve seen it, and I still laugh every time I think of it, don’t even need to see it. If you haven't seen it, give yourself a treat and rent it, it is so worth it. We talked about watching it again tonight before we actually see him… to get in the spirit of sort.

This is suppose to be my birthday gift, but I have this sneaking suspicion that Hubby got us tickets because he wanted to see him just as bad as I ever did. That’s fine by me! Hee.

Not everyone has manners.

We started our business over eight years ago, and never looked back. Like every job, there are benefits and irritants. I’ve been seeing the advantages more than anything else. I work from home, which is priceless as far as I’m concern (I’m not really the office type), I manage my own schedule (as long as the work gets done, who cares when it’s done, read day or night), I’m always available by phone or by emails; I make a point of that. Even on vacation I answered my emails and voicemails.

The down side of it all is that I don’t get dressed right away, and often don’t shower right away either (I know, I know… you’re jealous!). My schedule is really messed up, I’m more a night owl than the morning bird. With my weird schedule comes the strange eating habits (read late). We never have dinner before 8:30 – 9:00 p.m.

I don’t really miss not being with people everyday, quite the opposite; I like my quietness – even if the past few days have been hell around here. Our neighbour upstairs is having his hardwood floors redone, not just refinished, nope, they ripped everything out and reinstalled brand new ones ‘cause the previous ones were squeaking on certain spots... Today they were nailing… O.M.G. This is all I will say about that, O.M. F.G. Ok, sorry, back on track. I don’t mind seeing my clients, even if at some point I did wish I didn’t have some of them as customers, because they were disorganised, or always late, always missing some papers, etc… but overall I have good clients. I think I do a good job, I try to be professional and I’m respectful. Never had a complaint, so that must be a good sign, no?

Last week our accountant called asking about one of my clients that I had referred to him for their year-end closing. He had tried contacting them to no avail. I told him I would ask my client what was happening on that front, since I had referred him, so I sent them an email. A week went by without any answer. Friday night I get a message from one of the owners, with whom I’ve always dealt with since the start (last year in October when they contacted me, in a panic, to take on their bookkeeping because they weren’t happy with their bookkeeper and were late in their remittance to the government) in which she: 1. Apologized for not contacting me sooner, 2. Said they decided not to use my reference and 3. They were using someone else for their bookkeeping but we should stay in touch. I re-read her message a few times, since her English isn’t that great, wanting to make sure I was reading it correctly. WTH? I sent her a reply asking if I was correctly understanding her message: they no longer needed my services? She replied a day later only saying: “Yes, you read correctly”.

I didn’t know if I should be happy or what? My first reaction was surprise of course. Then I felt upset for their lack of common courtesy. I’ve always been professional and will continue to do so. I will email them their data with a short thank you note. I’ve been thinking about this all day today, and deep down I know it’s a good thing. They were more trouble than they were worth. I guess my ego is hurt; to be dropped that way isn’t very pleasant. I’ve been fired once before and I remember it being unpleasant but not like this. I knew why and that was fine, but this… this is plain insulting!

Yeah, that's is! I'm insulted by their lack of "savoir vivre"!

Your Friday Smile!

***

Situational Awareness Scenario:

You are driving in a car at a constant speed.

On your left side is a valley and on your right side is a fire engine traveling at the same speed as you. In front of you is a galloping pig, which is the same size as your car, and you cannot overtake it. Behind you is a helicopter flying at ground level.

Both the giant pig and the helicopter are also traveling at the same speed as you.

What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation?

Answer below


















Answer:

Get off the children's "Merry-Go-Round", you're drunk.

Have a good one!

Hump Day Bullets

• If I were to come back I’d want to come back somewhere warm! I’ve experienced enough winters in this lifetime to know that I will not complain (too much) about being hot.

• I wanted to get a tattoo while in Hawaii, but changed my mind in the end when I thought that if I were to have it done there I wouldn’t be able to go for my daily dose of salt water, in the ocean…

• Why do I feel awkward when comes time to invoice a friend for work I’ve done? I’ve already reduced my hourly rate and yet, I still feel strange…

• Can you believe in less than 45 days it will be Christmas? It will be time to put up our tree soon… crazy!

• If you were to win the lottery, a big jackpot, how much would be too much for you? Or is there such a possibility of too much money?

• In two weeks it will be my birthday.

• Is it wrong (or really wrong) when I see that a cashier is making a mistake (in my favour) not to let him know?

• Since we’ve been back from vacation, Tobi (our cat) has been sticking to us like fly paper! ‘Think he missed us?

• I think that Justin has the sexy thing going for sure!

• The last few months, I’ve been biting my nails a lot. I know I’m eating part of myself, I get that, but I don’t really know I can’t fight this urge… My nails are too soft and break easily, so what starts out as “making it even” turns into “more than one”. Argh!

• I know I shouldn’t take it personal that some of my regulars aren’t anymore, but it does something to me… I like my blends and don’t want them to go away. Sad isn’t it?

• For some reason I have Christmas on my mind tonight. Time to go shopping I guess! Hee.

Remember, Wear your poppy with pride.

November 11th is not just a date nor is it just a holiday. It is a day to reflect, think and appreciate those who have defended our freedoms over the years.

The pipes are playing for us and our allies, God bless all those who fight to protect our rights, our freedoms, and our blessings, we have so much to be grateful for. Even with all the mess our country is in, it's still the

Greatest place on earth!

I'm an 'Ol' Sailor' and I don't give a damn what anybody thinks about this,

But the theme of this post is correct: In the final analysis, we're all in this together,

Yanks, Brits, Canucks.

May God Bless us all.

The pipes, the pipes are playing for ours as well as our allies.

Thinking of all the Canadian, American & British Soldiers

To come back or not?

A while ago, a fellow blogger (who no longer writes, sadly enough) had written a post about how final death was. It made me think. I was raised as a Catholic. Even if I went to church weekly (until the age of eighteen), I often thought that I didn’t really believe what the priest was preaching about. I hated the fact that it was always the same. Since I served mass as well, I basically knew the service by heart. Even now, whenever I hear a prayer, I know what comes next. I know my answers and the priest’s. Anyway, I digress. I’ve wondered about “eternal life” and what it meant really, and also about “resurrection” not only Christ’s but the rest of us as well… Since I’ve also always been somewhat curious, it was only normal that I would look into other beliefs. Buddhism has always attracted me; I like their philosophy. It’s not preachy. That’s the one thing I really dislike about the Catholic Church. And let’s not forget the guilt part. Argh.

From a very young age, instead of praying I would talk to my dead loved ones. If my grandfather had been there for me while alive, and took care of me, I thought it was only natural that I would address him when I needed protection or something else. I had a few “contacts” such as a favourite aunt, and in the last years, my father. I don’t know where they are, but I do believe they are protecting me and are listening to me when I need their support. I remember a cousin saying that “Little Jesus” would answer her prayers, I would think: “How strange to ask Him, He must be so busy and He doesn’t even really know her”.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always felt there had to be more to life than just this; I mean - we live, we die and that is it… A part of me doesn’t really care, and yet there’s a part that can’t help to think there has to be more. I’m not even thinking of “Heaven” and “Hell” where we go after our death, depending on the life we’ve lead, no I’m talking about this (life) being just a pit stop (or period of time) on a bigger journey. No matter where this trip will lead, it is quite a trip nonetheless.

What about you, do you believe that once we die it’s finished or that there is something else after? I kind of believe in reincarnation. I believe we are here to learn some things, to experience life and to become better people. For some lessons we need more than one life to understand, so we keep coming back until we finally do understand or learn what we’re meant to. I also believe in karma, but that one is a little touchier, because as we know karma is a bitch! Karma has no pity, no compassion. It has rules, and that’s that.

If you had the opportunity to come back to life and choose a time, a place where you would go, and how you would live what choices would you make? Would you go for something totally different or would you re-do what you know? Would you try to do it better or in a different way maybe? What would motivate your choices; you wanting to learn or your fear of the unknown? I really wonder… Please, do tell!

You made the right choice...

Yet another proof I don't follow politics...

I just found out, tonight, that some local humorists did a prank call to Sarah Palin, and got her good.

Check this out:



It's really a good thing Obama was elected!

Your Friday Smile!

I would go shopping to that store just for their sense of humor:



***

A woman who just turned 50 is at home, naked, happily jumping on her bed and laughing with delight.

Her husband watches for a few minutes and asks, 'Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look? What's the matter with you ? '

The woman continues to bounce on the bed and says 'I don't care what you think. I just came from having a mammogram and the doctor says that, not only am I healthy, but I have the breasts of an 18 yr. old.'

The husband asks, 'What did he say about the 50 year old ass ?'

She replies, 'Your name never came up'

Tee hee - enjoy your weekend!

Winds of change...

Had an exchange with an American friend, and was surprised how differently we see certain things. Then on Oprah she did her whole show on voting. For some reason this brought tears to my eyes… When I saw these new citizens claiming their right to vote it touched me. As I was telling my American friend, just before we left for vacation Canada was choosing its Prime Minister. The same man was re-elected, but with (again) a minority government, which was what he had in the first place. I’m really not politically inclined, we rarely talk politics at home, I don’t care for it. But I do vote. Since I’ve been allowed to vote I’ve been doing it. I very soon realised that most of the time I wasn’t voting for someone, but really more against someone else. Reading blogs, I also came to the conclusion that many of us feel the same; we’re voting against rather than for. It’s sad.

I’ve often wondered why they don’t tally the votes that are void on purpose. I’ve often done that. I use my right to vote, because that’s an acquired right, and a valuable one, which I wish to exercise, but I don’t want to choose the lesser of two evils, so I cancelled my ballot by crossing every little boxes. I rather waste my vote that way than choose someone I don’t want representing me. This past election, I actually voted for someone, but with the intent of that vote to be against someone else. I heard a journalist last week say: “Harper got the message that we don’t really want him there (minority government), and Dion got the message that we really don’t want him there.” Imagine if the void or cancelled votes were calculated, I wonder what those results would tell.

Maybe because of my lack of political juices, I’ve never really felt excited or concerned about upcoming elections. Some might think I’m stupid, but I would rather say that I deal with things I can handle, respect and change. My vote does count, but I don’t decide and that’s what really matters. I’ve been told so many times that if you don’t vote you can’t complain; I do agree but also I think the fact that I pay taxes also gives me the right to bitch. Our friends from Zurich told us how their system works. It is so different. It is REALLY based on democracy. They vote on everything! They feel like they are being heard. I don’t really feel this way.

I can only hope that all my American friends who voted for Obama in the hopes of changes get to see their wishes come true. Good luck with that! Anyway, can’t be much worst can it?...

Quick recap.

In case you hadn’t figured it out, we were away on vacation for two short weeks. We made our way to Hawaii, for the fifth time… I love this place and the fact that each island is so different from the previous. We had good weather, really hot and humid, even got to experience “vog” (volcanic smog), which I could have done without.

The main reason for this trip, besides vacationing, was to see our dearest and utmost respected Shihan (karate master) while he is still around. He’ll be hitting eighty this year, his health is frail and with the recent events in our lives, we figured we should see him while we could. And we did. I’m really happy we got to spend a little time with him. It did us good. There are some people like that, very few, who really do affect your life. He’s one of those few.

We had said that we would swim daily and snorkelled as often as we could, and we did just that. We even were lucky enough to swim with some green sea turtles. To see them as if flying and so graceful was a real treat! We even managed to get a few shots under water. They’re not bad those disposable under water cameras. Worth the ten bucks!

We walked a lot, visited things we hadn’t yet, like the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, and the Polynesian Cultural Center. There is something about their culture that really attracts me – the people are warm, respectful and friendly – and they live in beautiful islands. We ate well, lots of Japanese food and their fusion Hawaiian cuisine is really tasty.

Overall we had a great time, despite our dollar hurting again and us spending so much, it was all worth it. I wish I could say I’m happy to be back (I’m not really) I, once again, realised I might have some part of me that is coming from some snow bird, because flying away from winter and its cold looks more and more like a great idea.

Until then, I’m leaving you with some shots, nice isn’t it?

Magic Island, where we got married in 2000 (on Oahu).

View from our lanai at the Holua Resort at Mauna Loa Village, on the Big Island.

On our way to Hilo (Big Island), natural beauty...

Do you remember this statue from the opening of "Hawaii 5-0"?
Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery, north of Honolulu.

And finally,


Sunset on Ala Moana Marina, taken from our resort's (the Ilikai) on Oahu.