Ross Pennie has a new book! Good for him!

Here is the newest offering from Ancaster Author Ross Pennie. From the reviews on Chapters it has been very well received, and I'm looking forward to reading it as soon as possible. By the sound of the note from the Publisher it is a non-fiction book :

From the Publisher

On arrival in a remote South Pacific island, Dr. Ross Pennie encounters tribal magic and the ire of Sister Pirmina, the abrasive nun who rules the hospital. Soon the good "Dokta" is battling crisis after crisis.


It appears Ross gave a reading at the Pelham Public Library but I haven't actually read anything about his appearance, but since I am actually going to the Pelham library on on the 12th of October I will be able to ask them myself.

Hey V...figured out the reason for the wrong date stamp:) Wrong timezone was checked out. Till next time...I'll say Wen..

Habitat for "In"humanity

Volunteers...ya gotta love em....or do you? Do you know that one of the most difficult things to do is to rid yourself of the sanctimonious volunteer. The person who, because they "volunteer" feel they don't have to treat the rest of us with any respect at all. Now I know there are tons of volunteers who do their causes proud..but those few that don't really piss me off. Yeah I said it. Their time means nothing to me if they can't treat me with any respect. How a charity survives with them I'll never know. I've worked in the public sector for over twenty years, and nothing is nicer than to just be able to help people....not try to push a sale on someone, just to try and help them...and really, that's all volunteers have to do. You don't have to antagonize people...do you? Yes...I have an issue with Habitat for Humanity. I have an issue with organizations, whether they're staffed by volunteers or not, that don't try and help people. No, I'm not destitute, but I am on my own, and I don't own a truck, and the fact that this store would threaten to put the item I paid for back out on the floor because I'm having difficulty finding someone to transport it really pisses me off. What kind of a message are they sending to prospective buyers. And by buyers, I mean the people who actually support the charity with cold hard cash....compared to those who are supposed to be supporting the charity with their "time". I'm sick of the pompous attitude of these people. Stay home for goodness sake!! If you are willing to have your charity staffed by people to don't even care about their buyers (who keep the charity in business I might add) then I hope you close down. I have purchased quite a bit from this store, and then to be treated so shabbily, I would like to pass the message on to all my friends...don't shop here....they don't appreciate your patronage.. Start showing some balls when it comes to staffing your stores.....if you are left with the riff raft of volunteers I would suggest you would be better off closing your stores...till then...I'll say Wen....

Okay..I have to say it.....cause I know you're thinking it...

I never watch dancing with the stars, but I did last night. Why? No, really, why? Seal was a guest star and I have to say that it was an experience. It was a little weird. I know you felt it too. It was like we were at a lounge and seal was the entertainment. I can't say I've always loved him...but I certainly liked him. There just seemed to be something contrived about the whole thing...it could just be the sleazy show and the ridiculous way they carry on in the show. Help me understand why we love to watch people be cut down. It wouldn't be so bad if they would just concentrate on the dancing, I actually enjoy that part, but all the fake drama...come on! And we'll be right back after this message...yeah I know that the advertising pays the bills, but it's soooo fake. And the Seal thing. I guess I've been in a vacuum for the past few years. In one day I hear he has a new music video (read sex tape) with his wife Heidi Klum...?? and then he's on dancing with the stars. What's the deal Seal? Do you really have to prance around with your naked wife in a video to raise the sales of your CDs? Come on... where has he been? I don't understand this sudden revival. Go home and look after the kids while Heidi berates the skinny models on her hit reality show, Project runway. What up? Maybe I'm being harsh, but judge it for yourself...if it looks like a rose, and smells like a rose...it's likely Seal and Heidi selling themselves on national tv....till then...I'll say Wen...

I'm a Gleek....I admit it:)

Yeah...Glee is back with new episodes and I love it! I love all the different characters in the show and all of the songs:) Yeah...the songs:) I'm not a musical kinda gal...but I do love the music. This show has it all...rap, pop, jazz, etc. it covers all the genres and I love it! It's funny cause you never know what song they're going to play next and all of the best artists are allowing their music to be used on the show. If we had of had a Glee Club at GDSS I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have tried out. I would have sat on the sidelines and watched everyone else as they tried out and then dreamed about how much better I would be if I had tried...or so I would think. When I was young I would sit up late nights with my Dad and sing for him for hours. To say he was not critical would be a lie...he was very critical, though in a loving way. He always wanted me to be the best I could be, and I felt that. His approval was very important to me, and I look back on those times now that my Dad is no longer with us and have great memories. Now my Mom, I hardly ever heard her sing. They were opposite in that regard. My Dad sang all the time and all of us kids love music. When my Mom was sick and we were taking turns staying with her I was surprised one night to hear her singing. When I asked what it was she was singing she replied "Oh, a little bit of everything". That is a memory I will cherish. I truly feel her heart was opening and she couldn't help but sing...it was a little bit of everything, and it was beautiful. Cherish your parents and the memories you make with them...they last a lifetime....till then...I'll say Wen

My Canada includes the Queen...and two little South Koreans

I just finished watching the Queen in 3D with my sister, and by with, I mean over the phone. This suits both of us as we can watch and reminise, and then go get the dishes done! We totally enjoyed the 1 hour special. And yes V, the queen was beautiful when she was young. It brought back memories of the little hats etc that our Mom wore when she was young as we watched the Queen grow from a young princess into the monarch she is today. I know some people don't want anything to do with the monarchy, and I don't know if it was the era we grew up in, but I always felt the pride of Queen and Country as we were growing up. It's not like our parents went around proclaiming their patriotism, but it was obviously always there, and we felt it. I think so many people are cynics these days that they won't support anything that doesn't put a dollar in their pocket. Gone are the days of standing proud with the rest of my classmates singing God Save the Queen and pledging my loyalty to the Union Jack. Opening exercises it was called..and it grounded us. I'm proud to be Canadian, and I hope my two little great nephews (new little Canadians) will be too...along with everyone else in my family.

Downsizing My Life...literally!

As I have a look around my life I find it wanting. Not for material items for sure, but the fact that I have too many things and too little space. I have two boys...men actually, and I'm sure that they don't want to have to go through a bunch of junk that I have collected over the years. I figure this is a good opportunity to get through all of the things I have and make it so that my children don't have to go through the bother of sorting through everything if something were to happen to me. I'm hoping I don't have to worry about that for a quite a while mind you, but one never knows. In 2000 we dealt with the death of my mother and it was quite obvious to us all that no matter what the situation it is difficult to go through the belongings of a loved one and to then have to throw out items that they have lovingly collected over their life. I've looked at the things that I have saved over the years and I realize that I have saved way too many and that they will mean practically nothing to my loved ones. But it is not enough to realize that you have collected too many things, you have to deal with the results of your collections while you can. It was entirely too sad when we had to throw out all the photos my Mom had lovingly collected over the years...all the pictures of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, etc. It was hard to throw out the pictures of my own children because I really have no need for these extra photos. My mind is made up and I'm going to make a big dent in the clutter that I have accumulated...if not for my sanity. then for the sake of my kids.
On another note, I got a clean bill of health from my doctor's office the other day. I couldn't believe how anti-climactic it was...first of all the nurse couldn't even get my name straight..then she just told me that everything was okay. I asked again to make sure that she had the right person, and she said yes...that my test was okay. After I hung up I asked myself why I wasn't more relieved, and I didn't really have an answer. It just seemed that I had waited so long to hear that everything was alright that I couldn't really take in what she was saying. Short story even longer...I guess I'm fine....which is certainly a relief. Till then...I'll say Wen.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

Sometimes we just don't like to see the reflection in the mirror. We judge others and hold them up to the light to see their imperfections, but the last thing we want to do is see the cracks in our own image. Once in a while we happen to catch a glimpse in passing of the person we really are...seen, not through a mirror, but in the reflections of someone else as they watch us. Sometimes it's great...you see a reflection of admiration or appreciation, but other times it only serves to actually make you reflect on the imperfect person you really are. After a particularly heinious week at work trying to break in a new computer system when a chance remark from a co-worker made me stop and re-evaluate. Well, it at least made me pause;) My co-worker remarked that I can be quite sarcastic when I want to, and I have to agree. I always think I take the high road, but that's just to allow me to be able to do and say what I want. Am I embarrassed by this? Not really, and that kind of surprises me. Really. I always have this idea that I can't say exactly how I feel or I'm going to upset someone. Well, sometimes people need to be upset! You know those people that insult you all the while smiling and ending with a lil chuckle...just so you know they're kidding...yeah, right. That venomous chuckle that says "I can say anything I want, and as long as I laugh at the end of it....I dare you to be offended". Well no more! What about those people pleasers who always say yes to you...even if they don't listen to what you're asking them? Does that mean that you have to appreciate that? They basically shut you out...and up...and you should appreciate it? Duh...no. It's taken me a lot of years to realize that you can't please everyone, especially if you don't please yourself. Being true to yourself and your feelings doesn't mean you have to be mean to people, but it does mean that you have to be true to yourself. At the end of the day if you can look in the mirror and be happy with the way you've lived your life then you have been true to yourself...after all...you judges you more harshly then yourself....Till then....I'll say Wen....

Summer Cold in the Fall???

Well I know it's not fall yet, but as I sit here getting ready to leave for work I have a sweater and socks and shoes on. Yes...socks! I think I just want that cosy feeling because I'm not feeling cosy. I started to have a sore throat on Saturday and it seems to be hanging on:(

Regardless, I hope this fall feeling lasts for a longtime....minus the cold symptoms! Till then....I'll say Wen..

Back to School

Well, those couple weeks since I finished my last courses zoomed by! With marks back from two of the courses, with one more to come, I can now concentrate on the next semester. I'm not only disappointed to be starting back so quickly, but also because I have decided to take only one course this term which deviates from my graduation plan. It was a tough decision made easier by the fact that money is tight, and I may be able to get the remaining courses covered by the SOLS Education Grant money. It would amount to about $3000. so that seems like a good chance to take. I'm so disappointed that I missed out on this for my past courses. Que Sera. The moral of this story is to look out for yourself, cause no one else will. No..that's not true. Cathy S. was stellar for me pointing out that there might be an opportunity. She even searched the new deadline for me. Faith in humanity restored:)
Water under the bridge, onward and upward, blah blah etc.
Till then...I'll say Wen...

Doctor, Doctor, gimmie the news...

Funny how when you're feeling pretty healthy you take your doctor for granted. After noticing a suspicious looking mole on my breast, and deliberating for a day or three, I called to make an appointment with said doctor to have it checked out. http://breastselfexam.ca/ Since my doctor and I have the type of relationship that if he doesn't bother me, I won't bother him...it had been a while since we had spoken. Much to my surprise my doctor didn't practice there anymore...in fact, he has since semi-retired. It seems he is only seeing a handful of seniors at the present time and I just miss qualifying by a year or two for inclusion. I guess he felt it was time I started seeing other doctors and ended our relationship. What to do? I didn't want to test drive a future physician on impulse...doctors are hard enough to come by...so off to the clinic I went...a perk of living in the big city. I was pleasantly surprised that I was seen immediately, didn't even have an opportunity to read an old magazine! Doctor and nurse were extremely comforting and efficient and after a quick examination I was told to return a week later and the offending mole would be removed and sent to be tested. Yada, yada, blah, blah....fast forward two weeks, mole and resulting stitches removed...not without a little drama. Since the incision refuses to heal satisfactorily I am forced to return weekly. So much for the quick and easy fix. My breasts haven't seen this much action in ages...and quite frankly I'm ready to end this relationship. And as soon as the test results are back I will...I'd say I'll keep you posted, but as long as the news is good, I think I've shared enough about my breasts with you for awhile...Till then, I'll say Wen...

Feels like Fall

After not posting in an age, I have to put something up to at least move the Christmas posting down the page a bit!

After what has been one of the hottest and most humid summers I can remember in a while, we are spending our Labour Day Saturday in temperatures in the 50's!

I can't say I mind it too much though, we were due for a bit of a break, but as quickly as we get used to the cooler weather the heat will be back, at least for a bit.

It was a pretty productive summer, three more courses in the books, a couple of weddings, and some work done in my backyard (thanks Ethan, Sherri and Dennis) The new screens I have make it much more pleasant to be in my yard now that my little neighbours Edie and Elsie have moved. Hope they're still happy in their new digs! Just a few more finishing touches and they will be done! Well worth the expense for the privacy they give me:)
Till then, I'll say Wen...