As life continues to nip at my ears and smack my nose with a newspaper, looks like I'll be gone longer than I had hoped for. Could be after Christmas now. Seems to be one thing after another, but I figure I'm still a lucky puppy overall :D

As life continues to nip at my ears and smack my nose with a newspaper, looks like I'll be gone longer than I had hoped for. Could be after Christmas now. Seems to be one thing after another, but I figure I'm still a lucky puppy overall :D

A truck carrying copies of Roget's Thesaurus overturned on the highway yesterday. Today, the local newspaper reported that the onlookers were stunned, overwhelmed, astonished, bewildered, and dumbfounded.

A truck carrying copies of Roget's Thesaurus overturned on the highway yesterday. Today, the local newspaper reported that the onlookers were stunned, overwhelmed, astonished, bewildered, and dumbfounded.

Desiderata - Les Crane, 1971

(Intro)
You are a child of the universe
No less than the trees and the stars
You have a right

Desiderata, Desiderata, Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant,
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

(chorus)
You are a child of the universe
No less than the trees and the stars
You have a right to be here
And whether or not it is clear to you
No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble,
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere, life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

(chorus)
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.

Be careful.
Strive to be happy.

(chorus .. repeated)
You are a child of the universe
No less than the trees and the stars
You have a right to be here

Max Ehrmann @ 1927,
adaptation to music by Les Crane.

Anybody see Multiply's new sign in page ? And they're not going to become the next online selling website ? Maybe not be a department store or Ebay but ........... *growwwwwwwwwwwls* http://muds.multiply.com/journal/item/1382/I_want_to_be_on_a_social_media_sharingblogging_site .... air your concerns about this.

Rambling on Canada's Day

We turn 143 years young today. The name Canada comes from the Iroquoian word, Kanata, meaning village or settlement. Just think, if that guy truly understood the language, and that the Iroquoia elder was saying his village was called Kanata, (not the country) we might be called something else today.

; Do I like living here ? Sure. I was born here and I've lived here for 50 years. Opportunity or lack of something didn't see the chance to live anywhere else. Although, twice in my lifetime so far, there had been talk about moving to Alberta (at least it would have been a change of province). Once when I was a teenager, the company dad was working for was opening up a warehouse in Alberta and my parents were considering the pro's and con's of uprooting us from Ontario to go. They decided to stay where we were in the end. Even though I tried talking them into it haha The second time this discussion came about was when I was married to Fang. It was a few years ago and there was a big job boon happening in Alberta and scuttlebutt said there wasn't enough workers in certain job sectors so the pay would be a lot better than it is in Ontario. So we discussed it. I tried to talk him into uprooting us and moving. In the end, he decided to stay here. His friends were here and he had already gotten involved with the local Special Olympic organization.

I haven't had a chance to travel Canada. Oh sure, been to Quebec (next province to the east of Ontario). Dad was a truck driver and had enough seniority to have two dedicated runs a week into Quebec and I would go with him during the summer break a few times. When Fang came along, the three of us would go into Quebec to visit his relatives. I just haven't been anywhere else. Can't even say I've been into Northern Ontario either. I've been to Manitoulin Island. North Bay. Sudbury, Niagara Falls, Windsor, and it takes me four hours to go visit my friend Jean in Sturgeon Falls. Toronto of course. And other than what's along the highway heading to Quebec, I haven't really been east. Kind of sad when Canada is a big country. And never mind I had wanted to hop in a plane and go somewhere too. The U.S. and Australia to name the first two outside of Canada. Just didn't happen, but always hope for the future. If I survive it hahaha.

My sister is ten years, two weeks, two hours, and thirty one minutes younger than me. (yes, I wanted a sister so bad when I was a kid .. my two brothers were fun only some of the time haha) that when she was finally born, I had the age difference figured out the same day. If my birthday is a Monday, hers is exactly two weeks later on a Monday. My brothers? Even while both younger than me, I never really figured out the difference like that. One brother is two years and eight days younger while the other one is three and a half years younger, approximately. I remember, as kids before my sister was born, having nobody else to play outside with, my brothers and I would make a deal. I would play cars with them if they would play 'house' with me. It took me a few times to realize they were sneaky. We always had to do the car thing first. Never 'house'. Guess what happens when you make a deal with two devils like that? Yep. They were too tired or didn't feel like playing 'house' after spending a couple hours playing cars. So I did yearn for a sister to play with. Just that by the time she came along, I was growing out of wanting to play 'house' or with dolls and such. But I did anyways, for her, when she wanted to play.

My sister and her newborn daughter moved out to the west coast of Canada, into British Columbia, back in 1994 and stayed there. Other than a couple visits here. Her daughter is now 16. Troubles at home. I know my sister. It's pretty much her way or the highway type of attitude and if she finds a friend, therapist, boyfriend, whatever that isn't on her side ALL the time, she ditches them. And as I told mom when all this nonsense started happening in that house, between my sister and her daughter, is that my sister doesn't like competition with another woman, and she is seeing her daughter as competition. Her daughter ends up feeling like mom doesn't love her, doesn't want her, etc. Guess they were constantly arguing and cursing each other. My niece went out one night and my sister changed the locks on the apartment so she couldn't get back in !! My niece says she lived on the streets for a few days. My parents stepped in and managed to get their granddaughter here to Ontario. My niece was going to get a job etc etc, but after a few screaming matches with her mother on the phone and a few emails, she had decided to go back and try to work things out. But if worse comes to worse, there is a family she can stay with while she finishes up her high school.

While she was here, she mentioned she had never been to Niagara Falls. So on our May long weekend, the five of us headed down for the day. Beautiful day it was too. She had heard about the Butterfly Conservatory and would like to see it as well.These are the pictures Billy took. His cousin had her camera and he didn't want to be left out, pretty much taking a picture whenever and whatever she was taking a picture of haha. Thought he did a pretty good job. A couple trials before had his finger in the shot but we got that sorted out. Now we have to work on the zoom part of the thing. Maybe once my second job really gets up and running (another story lol), I can finally get money saved to get the camera I've always wanted and he can have the one he used for these pictures.

One I know is the Maid of the Mist (on the left). I wasn't sure if they both were or one was from the U.S. side.

Plates of oranges and soft, brown bananas were all over the conservatory with these signs. Pretty cool.

And plates of what looked like sugar.

I know, he doesn't look like a butterfly, but he was a resident there too haha

No clue what this is called, but it was neat. Apparently Billy and his cousin liked the plant too.

Anyways. Enough rambling for the moment. Goodness knows it's a lot in one shot after you not hearing from me for a few months huh? hahaha Oh, and just so you know, that whole 'eh' thing that is supposed to be our quirk as Canadians? Some might say it. I never did. Which reminds me of a video on Youtube. Was a beer commercial a few years ago, poking fun sort of thing at us, while poking fun at our American neighbours. Shall I post it? Happy Birthday Canada. Still looking good for your age.