Happy Thanksgiving!

There is nothing like the feeling of a baby resting his head on you and falling asleep...Is that how God feels when we trust Him?

I've had so much inner turmoil going on recently...I hated days off because I'd just sit and think...and then get so restless I had to take a long walk. Reminded me of last year about this time when Grandpa was sick and I'd drown myself in movies to forget or walk all weekend to relieve frustration (to the still-continueing detriment of my ankle). But now I think things are settling down a little. I still feel a little lost, but I know God'll make things clearer in His time.

Yesterday was interesting. I woke up at 2:00am...tried to go to sleep but couldn't, so I sat in the sauna for about an hour. Came upstairs and started reading a book called "The Names of God" by Andrew Jukes until 6:30. 7:00 went to work. Got off at 4, got home a half hour later and was welcomed by my family and Grandma and my aunt and uncle and two cousins...people really shouldn't have to do homework on a holiday...but it's not MY grade that's on the line either, so I shouldn't talk. Visited with everyone, played Snap and that cup game Hillary taught us, and very suddenly felt hemmed in. Probably from working in such a small crowded space and then sitting at a crowded dinner table and playing crowded games...It was hard to give people good-bye hugs.

I'm sorry if I hurt you Tasha. I didn't mean to.

Watched Without A Trace then went to bed at 11.

So maybe it isn't really interesting to read, but it was interesting to live.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Rule of Life #3

"Unless you have all the time in the world, don't try to boil the water on 'minimum'"

Rule of Life #2

"If at first you don't succeed...
Skydiving is not for you."

...no matter how innocent...

"Whatever weakens your reason, whatever impairs the tenderness of your conscience, whatever obscures your sense of God, whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind, whatever takes away from your relish for spiritual things, that to you is sin, no matter how innocent it is in itself."

--excerpt from a letter Susanna Wesley wrote to her son John



God, forgive me.

"The sun is shining!"

This morning I had to fill the coffee urns with hot water before brewing the coffee, so that the urns were warm enough to keep the coffee warm. So I filled 3 of the 4 urns and set the coffee maker up to brew a pot of dark roast. I shoved the appropriate urn under and started to brew the coffee, then walked down the back and around the corner for a minute to attend to something. When I got back, the coffee was all over the counter and the floor. Took me a while, but I figured out what was wrong: ALWAYS empty the water from the coffee urn BEFORE brewing the coffee!

What a start to the day!

"...He woke up, bumped his head, and wouldn't get up in the morning!"

It's raining. Yes, it is most definately THAT time of year. This morning I had the opening shift, and as I took the chairs down from the tables I looked out at the water in the street. Boy, it was rising fast! Wait a minute! If it keeps raining like this, it won't be long before that's more than rain! What happens if the ocean gets filled up too much? My uniform would get wreaked. I'd probably loose my name tag in my rush to reach higher ground. The bosses wouldn't like that. And all the hairnets would get washed away! Hooray for work without hairnets! In my dreams.

I like this time of year. Jeans, sweatshirts, blankets, hot drinks, books, movies...

Personal note here: Amy, watch out for the SK in Thailand. He'll probably show up somewhere. Don't forget to tell me about it!

"...Just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

Oh brother, am I ever failing. There's a couple of people at work who are driving me crazy right now. I was reading my Bible during my lunch break and I came across Ephesians 4:17-5:19 and got hit by a couple of things. It's a passage talking about...wait for it:

Living in the Light.

You know how when something is bothering you, you just seem to talk about it...to any one who'll listen? Well, here it is in bold red letters:

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

And there you have it. I can't argue that they do things to me and everyone else and therefore deserve to have it done back. I wouldn't want God to do the same with me. So now I have to see how I can learn from this situation. And I will.

Goodnight!

In other news...

I CAN NO LONGER PLAY VIOLIN.

It's the sad truth. My sister and I were jamming together last night, and I discovered that I can no longer feel harmonies on my violin. It's like I can't really hear what I'm playing. Very sad...even though I've lost interest in it this past year/year+1/2, it still feels like a big part of me is gone. But life goes on.

Currently listening: Corpse Bride soundtrack (gotta love Victor's piano solo)
Currently reading: War and Peace, Tom Jones, For Women Only, The Rebelution (blog)
Currently watching: Here comes Mr. Jordan
Currently wishing: That I wouldn't talk so much (shoot my mouth off). And that I wasn't so afraid of living on the edge

Rule of Life #1

"When kicked by an Ass, consider the source."

This [Layne]'s a Pain

by Ed, Rebecca, & Michael Emberley
(original name was Jane, but my own was substituted in tonight by my mother)

Though Layne is just an average name,
This Layne is not your average Layne.
I really could at length explain,
But, in short, this Layne’s a pain.

I should be nice and not complain;
Poor little thing, it’s such a shame,
So pink, so young, yet all the same,
I wish she’d just slip down the drain.

Would someone buy this pain called Layne?
She doesn’t scratch, she’s completely tame,
She’s never been left out in the rain.
No fuss, no mess, we’ve got her trained.

“Please, sir, I would like to complain.
This Layne is really much too strange.
She has no hair; she might have mange.
Look! She crawls—I think she’s lame.

“Is there some deal we could arrange?
Any more Laynes in our price range?
Can we return her in exchange
For some nice Layne who’s not a pain?”

Perhaps I’ll take Layne on a plane,
Then on some tiny local train;
I’ll leave her in the baggage claim,
Then quietly come home again.

It’s not her fault,
She’s not to blame.
She has such a tiny brain.
I guess we’ll keep her—
All the same, I can’t forget,
This Layne’s a pain!

Ray Stevens!

Need a little cheering up? Something to laugh about? Give these songs a try. Just a taste of my favorites.

Mississippi Squirrel Revival
Ray Stevens
the music

Well, when I was a kid I'd take a trip every summer down the Mississipp'
To visit my granny in her antebellum world
I'd run barefooted all day long climbin' trees free as a song
And one day I happened to catch myself a squirrel
Well, I stuffed him down in an old shoe box, punched a couple of holes in the top
And when Sunday came I snuck him into church
I was sittin' way back in the very last pew showin' him to my good buddy Hugh
When that squirrel got loose and went totally berserk
Well, what happened next is hard to tell
Some thought it was heaven, others thought it was hell
But the fact that something was among us was plain to see
As the choir sang "I Surrender All" the squirrel ran up Harv Newlan's coveralls
Harv leaped to his feet and said, "Somethin's got a hold on me", Yeow!

Gitarzan
Ray Stevens
the music

He's free as the breeze
He's always at ease
He lives in the jungle and hangs by his knees
As he swings through the trees
With a trapeze in his B.V.D.s
He's got a union card and he's practicing hard
To play, the guitar, gonna be a big star
Yeah, he's gonna go far
And carry moonbeams home in a jar
He ordered Chet's guitar course C.O.D.
Like A and E and he's working on B
Digs W&W and R&B and even the chimpanzees agree
That someday soon he'll be a celebrity
Get it, get it, get it.

I'm My Own Grandpa
Dwight Latham, Moe Jaffe
Sung by Ray Stevens
the music

Oh, many, many years ago
When I was twenty-three
I was married to a widow
Who was pretty as can be
This widow had a grown-up daughter
Who had hair of red
My father fell in love with her
And soon the two were wed

The Light

I’ve been reading an Islam book that started an interesting conversation with one of the women at work during one of my breaks. Interesting, and yet redundant. Yet another person who grew up in the church and was put off by the hypocrisy, narrow-mindedness, holier-than-thou and judgemental “Christians”. It is unfortunate that we get in the way of people’s view of God. We have a serious responsibility to represent Christ in EVERY part of our lives at every minute of the day. A daunting task in many respects. I’ve been reading 1 John and it talks about this. As I read it I get the chorus of a DC Talk song go through my head:

“I want to be in the light, as You are in the light
I want to shine like the stars in the Heavens
Oh Lord be my light and be my salvation,
all I want is to be in the light!”

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin…. And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments…. Those who obey God’s work truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
--1 John 1:5-7, 2:3+5+6

I keep catching myself in a 'darkness' attitude. Especially at work. I don't necessarily like working with a few of the people I have to work with, and I find myself working mechanically just so I don't say nasty sarcastic things. But what kind of witness is that? If I am to walk in the light, I need to do more than just refrain from saying or doing harmful things. I need to be proactive. Cheerfully give my all when I work, to the benefit of the customers, my co-workers, and my employers, regardless of whether I like them or not. Because when I do that, I'm not really doing it for them but for God, and His character is reflected. I can't make people change their minds about who God is and what He's like, but I can to the best of my ability copy Jesus' example and maybe one day they'll not see me but see Jesus inside of me. Above all things, this is what I want. To be invisible, letting the Light shine through me unhindered.

The plot for world domination

You HAVE to watch this interview. Click on the link and the interview is on the bottom left-hand corner of the page. Brigitte Gabriel talks about growing up as a Christian in Lebanon and gives an interesting perspective to the conflicts in the middle east. Even if you have absolutely no interest in what's going on there, it impacts your life and everyone needs to be aware or we'll be next. They are already trying to infiltrate Canada, the US, and making great headway in Europe apparently.

If you can devote and hour to watching interior decorating shows or Oprah or a soap opera, you can manage 45 minutes listening to this.

I know I sound pushy and demanding. But really, how many people will really look at this? Huh? I admit I'll be surprised if I find out ONE person followed the link and watched it. Even if it was just for 2 minutes.

Scissors of Low Intelligence: are they a hazard to society?

A pair of low intelligence scissors was lying on the road today. If they had been smart they would have been lying off to the side where they could stab unsuspecting tires and cause the vehicle careening over into on-coming traffic. Instead, they were lying there right in the middle of the lane.

I wonder how smart my scissors are? I should sit down and have a chat with them.

...

You know what? They may be smart, but I've found out there's rivalry between them. See, the brown pair is older and more dull. The white pair is newer, sharper, and more popular with the main population in my house.

If you only have one pair of scissors, or if yours get along fine, someday you should ask them these two simple questions and see how they answer:

1) When lying in wait for unsuspecting tires, do you lie in the middle of the lane, or to one side?

2) When falling from a human's hands, is it better to open up and provide more sharp points to stab the toes below, or keep closed and have your full weight come down on one toe?

I suppose then we should also ask "Are you out to get us?"

A random question I hope someone might attempt to answer

You know how a rattlesnake's teeth curve in so that whatever they start eating they can't spit out again? Well, when one starts eating a rabbit from one end and another starts on the other end and they meet in the middle, what goes through the mind of the snake who fits in the mouth of the other? What's he thinking about on his way down to the other's stomach?

Happy Birthday Grandpa

Here's my Grandpa. He would be turning 80 today.

five values I want to live my life by

Ok. So, I've thought some more on those personal values and have an idea of what's important to me. I suppose the easiest way is just to slap in here what I wrote in my journal. If it appears a little disjointed, just remember I wrote it as I was figuring it out.

Freedom to do what I want when I want where I want without monetary restrictions. Freedom to give to whoever I want. I guess a lot of Freedom to me is also no putting value on things; possessions. You know? For example, if I felt led to live in the dodgy part of town and invite a socially unacceptable person over for supper, I wouldn't want to worry about missing cutlery. To walk down the street and have no restraints on giving your pocket money to the street artist trying to earn enough money to buy his next meal. Maybe written out this doesn't sound like a part of Freedom, but in my mind (where it matters) it is. So:

1. Freedom

Adventure would be another value that is important to me. I don't want to live a dull humdrum life. I don't want to live the life of security and comfort. I want to be comfortable, but not at the price of Adventure. I want to take that leap (or even just that step) of faith, not knowing what will come of it, but knowing it is right; it is the Adventure. So:

2. Adventure

Family is important. Friendship I never put much value on because my Family is my support system. They have shaped who I am. They will always be here, a part of me, a gift from God, and good relationships with them are important to me. But then, in a way Friendship has become more important to me since DTS, so maybe I should put Relationships as my value. I am no social butterfly, but when I think about it, there are a few Friends whose friendship I value. Many people I am neither here nor there with, but there are a few. [here followed those tantilizing names that I will not post] So:

3. Relationships

Life. Human Life. It is a precious and very much undervalued thing in western society. Women abort their babies every day and most people don't seem to think twice about it. They donate their time, their money, and their Q-points at the grocery store to the SPCA and other animal-related societies, and though I agree that it is wrong to exploit nature or be cruel to animals, I think it's highly over-rated. People are suffering. People are dying. We can make a difference in someone's Life, even help save their Life, but it's the animals that everyone feels sorry for. Not the homeless 'bum' in Downtown East Side Vancouver, or the prostitutes the world over who landed their jobs not through their own choice but through the trickery and deceit of people they trusted. Life matters to God, and it matters to me. So:

4. Life

My Relationship With God is the most important value in my life. I want my life to revolve around this. In a way I guess all my other values fall under this one. Living a life in tune with God produces Freedom. It leads to Adventure. It affects your Relationships. It prompts you to look out for the Lives around you, and try to make them better. So:

5. Relationship With God

--end of journal entry--

If I live my life true to my values, I will be happier than if I had a million dollars, lived in the nicest house, and had all the 'things' I ever wanted. May God help me to LIVE!

values

My mom and I were talking for a little bit one evening recently (we talk more than that, but this was a short conversation) and she made some comment about knowing what your personal values are and knowing whether you live with them or against them. Got me thinking. What are my values? What things or ideas do I think are important? How can I know I'm living with them unless I know what they are? So I started writing some down. It's very interesting to see what I actually value and what I just think are good ideas but aren't important to me. I suppose in a way I started subconsciously thinking about it in YWAM, but now I'm trying to articulate it for myself. Do *I* actually believe certain things or put value on them, or am I just thinking a certain way because that's what my parents taught me?

Random thought: cold pancakes, raspberries, and whipped cream are very good on a hot day.

Random picture: I took this picture of the ghosts in Maroc. We were waiting for the cook to arrive at our chosen cafe in Essaouira.

Random thought: my accent says I'm from England, Ireland, and most recently South Africa and New Zealand. Can't I talk like the VIer that I am? I'm CANADIAN, and my parents don't have weird accents. Yet I'm often asked (by locals who I THOUGHT sounded just like me. I grew up here, after all) where I'm from.

A puddle of thinkings from a hot mushy brain

Today is the day I want to be like this girl...cool and refreshed by an icy cold Coca-Cola. I'm hiding out right now, trying to escape the heat. Maybe I should be in the dungeon where it's a little cooler, but the computer is upstairs so here I am.

My brain is preparing for an interesting conglomeration of books and movies...a book on a 'special needs' kid called Sahara Special (thanks, Jash), one on Natalie Wood (actress--dead now), the movie Jaws, Papillon (Steve McQueen), the Magnificent Seven (western), and Wuthering Heights (Laurence Olivier and David Niven). I love the swirl of topics.

Dad's found a radio station that plays old songs. I've surprised myself by recognizing a few. A lot of the stuff sounds like Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra stuff. Maybe I've heard it on movies. hmm...

A Christian lady who comes by my work sometimes gave me an encouragement card today. It says: "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." -2 Chronicles 16:9 I met her once when she came through my till, and she recognized me after I got moved to the coffee shop. She's made an interesting acquaintance...seems thrilled to find out I'm a Christian. She even invited me to her church. I may go sometime, if I get the time.

Here I get to share one of my favorite paintings by my favorite painter. The picture is called "The Singing Butler" and the artist is a Scot named Jack Vettriano. When I was in Scotland I looked EVERYWHERE to see if anyone had his paintings. I found the first ones in Dundee, and at one of the B&Bs we stayed in in the highlands the placemats had some of his pictures. I love the bold colours he uses. And the ballroom dancing on the beach.

The time before Once Upon a Time

I feel like I'm back in that awkward transition time of life. I've come from one place and I'm headed to the next, but I don't know where it is yet. And that makes the time...hard. And yet, I feel like I've had assurances from God Himself that He has things under control and that it's all gonna turn out ok. So when I remember that, the future seems exciting. Where's He going to take me? What am I going to do? At times I am impatient for the next part to come because I'm SURE it is going to be great, but that impatience causes me to miss out on the current part which also has it's goodness. It's really going to be interesting to look back and see how it all fits together.

I've had parts of Third Day's song "Rise Up" going through my head recently. It says some of what I'm feeling.

Don't let your heart be troubled

This world will never keep you down

It will never keep you down

So rise up, my friend

[Know] this will never be the end

So rise up, my friend

And live again

...But in your weakness you will learn to find

That I will always be your strength

I know I said I might not update much...well, I guess I need to. So, as long as my wrists will let me, I'll keep at it. But if I disappear, no one call the police. The Serial Killer didn't get me, my wrists probably did. Amy, that's for you.

"Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires." --Ps 37:3+4

It's closing in again

How much of life do you just accept and live with, and how much of it do you fight? How long do you ask God for something before you just figure, "hey! I guess it's just not meant to be."?

Aaaagh! I'm going insane! God, give me the strength to last through this one. I know I can't on my own.

Attention! Attention!

The young gentleman wishes to be introduced. This is my little brother Anders. He's the 2006 model, best we could find. Best, in fact, of all the models this year.
















Now that he's introduced, I'll just say I probably won't be updating much for a while. Until things get sorted out and I stop falling apart. However long that takes. I hope it's not another year and a half again.

"Seizing Your Divine Moment" by Erwin Raphael McManus

Living a life pleasing to God is more than just avoiding evil. It's seeking to do good. It's active. Taking initiative. Doing SOMETHING instead of just not doing wrong. When you delight yourself in God He gives you desires. Passions. And He wants you to do something about them, even if it's not quite the thing He wanted you to do. He's God after all, so he can redirect you if it's necessary.

Now I have to practice.

It's Rebelutionary!

The Rebelution: A teenage rebellion against the low expectations of an ungodly culture.

Three Ogres Found Guilty in the Assault on Three Dolls

Further investigation reveals that Jane Doe #2, Shelly, and Sam were the casualties of a recent visit to the Johnson household by three rather young ogres, not disiplinary-action-gone-overboard as has been suggested. The Silent Evil One has been cleared of all charges and wishes the Overworked Barista to know that she had nothing to do with the three boys. She has no comment on the girl however.

Oh Canada!

Happy Canada day! I know it's rather late, but I haven't had a chance to post until now. Yesterday I saw an older gent wearing a shirt that said "I'm not only perfect, I'm Canadian!"

My family (minus Rauchelle because she was working) and I drove into town to watch the parade with a "few" of our friends. Just two other families adding up to 6 parents and 17 kids. We had fun. Before the parade started we were entertained by a group of cloggers dancing to a variety of music styles...celtic, North American fiddle, country ("going once, going twice, I'm sold to the lady in the second row...blonde hair, blue eyes and I'm about to bid my heart goodbye!"), honky-tonk, and...African! The lady calling out all the steps was so amusing, the way she matched her voice and the timing of her words to the music.

One thing I always wonder about when Canada Day and the parade comes along is, Why are we so quiet and undemonstrative? Maybe it's just here in my hometown, but though everyone turns out for the parade they're pretty quiet as it marches past.

Anyhow, I'm generally proud to be Canadian.

A tramp down to the beach

I like to 'bush-wack', so I take the path-less route down to the beach. Gives me the best of two worlds: the woods and the ocean. But I think I like the woods best.

My beach is rocky as far out as you care to walk. Funny, because my house is just across the hi-way and sits on a lot that is 40 feet deep of sand. Nice beach sand. Maybe it used to be the beach?

There aren't usually starfish on this beach, but every once in a while you'll find one. One time the beach was just covered in them. Mostly just purple and pink ones like the one in the picture.



If you walk along far enough you just might find a very small sandy patch like this one. I sat here thinking about everything and nothing, watching the pattern of sand flowing from my hand to my bare foot until rain began to fall. Fortunately some friends of my parents were staying in their RV at the campground that day, so I hung out with them until the rain stopped. They told me all about their recent trip to Israel, I told them a little about Morocco, and some how they ended up giving me all sorts of advice on dating and boys. *grin* One of their biggest complaints seemed to be that most of the guys who woo their future wives on the dance floor quit dancing once they get married. So guys? Go ahead and dance in the kitchen when she wasn't quite expecting it. I saw an older couple recently who were dancing on the beach.

If any of you tall people ever wondered what the view was like from down here, well, here it is. Dad used to laugh at me because I would insist on blowing out the candles mounted on the wall myself, but I had to climb into the window in order to do it. Stools wouldn't be quite high enough. *grin* Amazingly, though, my feet do reach all the way to the ground!

Four Dolls Held Hostage and Tortured. Police Suspect Foul Play

Jane Doe #1























Shelly






















Jane Doe #2























Sam

I'm from Kiwiland?

"Where's home for you?" the gentleman asked as he pulled a debit card from his wallet.

"North of here," I told him, wondering why he asked.

"And before that home was...?"

I looked at him quizically.

"Are you from Australia or New Zealand? You have an accent."

I grinned. "So I've heard. Most people guess it's a slight british accent. I was born and raised in BC, though, and my parents don't have accents like that."

It's out now. The other cachiers know about my never having been to school and having 7 siblings. Again I am the oddity. The evening they found out, I couldn't stop grinning at all their reactions. "There's EIGHT kids in your family? And you've NEVER been to public school?" You got that right. Never been to any kind of school. It's really not as uncommon as you think.

I'm reading The Oath by Frank Peretti...just about finished. It's the first of his books I've read and I've found it fascinating. A nice detour from my general genre of books. I don't usually read science fiction...watch it, but don't read it. I think I'll pay more attention to him from now on.

I was thinking about my Grandpa today. I heard something, don't remember what...something someone said, or a song or something...and that triggered it. I remember going down Island sometimes to visit on Father's day. I was looking at some pictures the other night too.

I'm not really sad...just...thoughtful? nostalgic? And quite disappointed that he never got to see Anders.

INTRODUCING...

The one and only Jen Miller!

This music (particularly the song "Hold On") never fails to make me think of Scotland. She's gonna be famous someday.

left to right: Saida, Jen and Amal in Essaouira.

Paper or plastic?

"Would you like paper or plastic bags today?" I ask ever so sweetly.

"I hope I have enough money!"

All day long I ask, and half the answers I get have nothing to do with the question. The next time I decide to be a cachier I'll do it where the general population doesn't wear hearing aids.

Start to a great day

Yesterday the first person to come through my till was a lady. I said my usual "Hello Ma'am, how are you today?" and she stopped, looked at me for a moment with her head slightly tilted, and asked, "Are you a singer?"

"No..." a little bemused. "Why?"

"Your voice just sounds like a singer's. An Irish or Scottish singer. You should give it a try sometime."

I'm in love!

There's a song whose chorus goes:

My heart is full, my heart is full/ Why could I want for more/ When my cup overflows?/ My heart is full, my heart is full/ This much I know.

I suppose that sums up how I've been feeling recently. There's Someone who keeps sending me roses. I think I'm in love. He knows just the kind I like. The simple wild roses with a delicate scent.

He's shown me the intricasies of the stones down at the beach. He even arranged to have a couple of seals show up and slap their tails around for my amusement tonight.

There's so much. So much to say, and no way to say it. How do I let out what's inside? But You know what's there. You can see it when I can't express it. Thank goodness for that, or You'd never know.

Absolute Truth

The danger of millions of years

CREATIONWISE Cartoon

“Christianity has fought, still fights, and will fight science to the desperate end over evolution, because evolution destroys utterly and finally the very reason Jesus’ earthly life was supposedly made necessary. Destroy Adam and Eve and the original sin, and in the rubble you will find the sorry remains of the son of god. Take away the meaning of his death. If Jesus was not the redeemer that died for our sins, and this is what evolution means, then Christianity is nothing.”

G. Richard Bozarth, “The Meaning of Evolution”, American Atheist, 20 Sept. 1979, p. 30

"Life is good...with or without Coca-Cola." --'Santos'

Lazy. Content. Serene. Today I wonder why I ever worry about things. God makes them all work out in the end if you trust Him, so why not enjoy each moment as it comes while you can?

I packed a few un-needed necessities in my Morocco bag and meandered down in the general direction of the beach. Didn't actually make it 'cause I made a detour to visit my substitute garden for a while. My property has a house, motor boat, 3 vehicles, lots of cement blocks for landscaping, and SAND. No garden. I suppose that's ok, cause if we had a garden it would probably die on us anyway. But my substitute garden is an almost marshy bit of grass surrounded by a few trees and lots of wild rose bushes. I perch myself on a stump (reminiscent of another stump I loved to sit on as a little girl) and admire the random beauty of the flowers, grass texture, and the birds' songs. A hummingbird came to keep me company for a little while. She hung about in a bush about 3 feet away from me, flying from branch to branch, sitting a while, and preening herself. I've never seen one so close, nor one that sat for so long on one branch, and I've never seen a hummingbird preen before.

The wind is blowing. Something about the force makes my mind go 'round and 'round, spinning with plans, stories, ideas, questions. I usually get into a writing mood when it blows. Maybe I should go work on my story...

Or not.

But whatever else I do, I shall go now. ¡Hasta luego, mis amigos!

Was you ever bit by a dead bee?

Quoted from what movie?

And yet another sunny day! A few weeks ago we had special garbage pickup (don't you think ALL garbage wants to be special?), but all them there garbage guys left stuff and never came back to get it. So today our poor unwanted, unloved, replaced fridge is getting picked up and taken to join his fellow unwanteds. I really should post a picture of my mother's beloved fridge that caused so much pain in the life of our old friend. He had to go though. Too small. And then I look at the Kotter's fridge in Welcome Back, Kotter and think, "How did they fit ANYTHING in there?" Mrs. Kotter must just shop everyday. Fortunately she didn't have 8 kids to feed or she'd be shopping 2 or 3 times!

I don't suppose I need to say anything else, right? You were DYING to hear about the fridge and now you have and are happy. Good. My job is completed. Have a nice day!

game of tag

I got tagged!
I AM: enjoying this grey day, msning friends, and adding this entry to my blog because I got tagged. Thanks Laura L.

I WANT: to write something someone might actually ENJOY reading, and that I can be proud of.

I WISH: I could play the violin like Vivaldi or with as much life as Chris Thile plays the mandolin

I HATE: long stretches of grey/wet days, raisins, and stories where everyone dies at the end.

I LOVE: a well written, intriguing story (or movie, especially if it stars Bogart in a non-mustached role), celtic and spanish and gypsy music, and turtle brownies

I MISS: my DTS friends, finding letters in the real mail box, and living 'out in the boonies' in a little log house with snakes, lizards, and no end of dead shrews to disect.

I FEAR: sorry, this is TOO personal. It's not like spiders, though I do own I'm scared of the big ones.

I HEAR: Danaka jumping in the kitchen, Mitchell crunching corn chips and rattling the bag, Grandma checking up on everyone, the dishwasher running, Rauchelle making sure everyone has put their stuff away and trying to find something to occupy her time until she has to leave for work, and the hum of our new and beautiful freezer that sits next to the fridge (or maybe it's the fridge I hear). And in my head I hear Mark saying "Hear it with your knuckles. SHOW me, don't tell me!"

I WONDER: what God has in store for me. Are my dreams part of His plan? And if they are, how and when and where will I get the ball rolling?

I REGRET: wasted time (much of my life), and not having gotten to know my grandpa better.

I AM NOT: a boy. Never have been, never will be, never want to be. Why won't they (younger siblings) get it and stop calling me "Laynie-boy"? I am not as stupid as I sometimes seem. I'm just slow.

I DANCE: ONLY with younger siblings at this point. Just wait though! I intend to learn how to ballroom dance one day. And dance at my wedding.

I SING: while I work (at home) if I'm in a good mood. Usually when I'm near a sink. I guess sinks make me sing.

I CRY: for various reasons at various times. Usually alone on my bed.

I AM NOT ALWAYS: quiet. Or loud and abnoxious. Or smart. Or idiotic. People just generally see me in one setting and so only see one side of me.

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: a mess.

I WRITE: to relieve my mind (but only really for the last 8 or so months), or keep in contact with friends. And I attempt to write stories, but so far it hasn't really worked.

I CONFUSE: most of the produce codes I'm trying to memorize, especially the code for avocado and romain lettuce. I sometimes have to think a moment about which is my right hand and which is my left. Thanks to tendonitis. :P

I NEED: a lot of patience, a new and faster brain, and my drivers license. Working on that.

I SHOULD: sweep the floor, but I don't want to.

I START: praying about various things and for various people during my breaks at work.

I FINISH: playing piano when I get frustrated with my inability to properly play "Jessica's Theme Song" from "The Man from Snowy River"

I TAG: YOU! I think Josh and Nancy are the only people I know who read my blog and were not tagged by Laura L and are not out of the country. Therefore I tag them specifically, and everyone else generally.

Dry Ice

Do you know how cool dry ice is? We got some in our box of delivered groceries today and tossed it in the sink. So much fun just running the water and watching the gas. Especially when the sink couldn't drain fast enough, so you get bubbles of gas popping out like the water was boiling or something.

Went to work today and memorized some more 4-digit produce numbers. I'm kinda nervous because Friday's my next day to work, and I start actually working the till. I know I'll get it, though. Everyone else does.

Today is one of those great days you wish you could have more of. The sun is shining, that energizing celtic music is playing jigs in my ears, head, and one of those innermost organs I have and can't remember the name of. One of my grandmas is here to stay with us while Mom and Dad (and Andy-boy and Toveli) drive a-way up north (in the courtesy car they got when the semi hit Dad's car) for a funeral and lots of reunions with old friends and acquaintances. Grandma's here to make sure the mice don't play, but that don't mean we don't have fun. Lots of games are anticipated in the coming days.

Side note: Celtic music isn't the only thing that makes a day good. Good Spanish guitar or Gypsy music can do it too. Or long letters from a friend you haven't heard from in a while. Or dark chocolate. Or the best book written since Les Miserables. Or an appropriatly used splash of red somewhere.

An article I hear was printed in the Toronto Star

Maybe this will hit home to the politicians who just made it okay for ceremonial swords to be worn to school and who years ago gave permission for turbans to be worn by certain RCMP officers instead of
the normal attire.

A little blunt and to the point but quite true!!!!!

Will we still be the "Country of Choice" and still be Canada if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in Canada because it is the Country of Choice??????

Think about it!

All we have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS?

I celebrate Christmas...........but because it isn't celebrated by everyone..............we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings.

It's not Christmas vacation, it's Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday?

We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that.

This says it all!

(This is an editorial written in a Toronto newspaper. He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on, please!)

IMMIGRANTS, NOT Canadians MUST ADAPT.

I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Canadians. However...... the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct! " crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Canada. Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand. This idea of Canada being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Canadians.......we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.

We speak ENGLISH/FRENCH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!

"We Stand On Guard For Thee" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan.. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women.......on Christian principles.............founded this nation..... and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools.

If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home.........because God is part of our culture. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from.

This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. But once you are done complaining....... whining...... and griping....... about our flag.......our pledge...... our national motto........or our way of life....I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other Great Canadian Freedom.......

THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.

Scotland

Welcome to Scotland! On the right we have a picture of Edinburgh that DOESN'T feature the castle, though it can be seen in the background. I never got much closer to the castle than this. I came more to check out the art galleries.

Below we have Eileen Donan castle which unfortunatly was closed while we were in that part of the world. Still, we did get to walk around the outside. John McCrae was a Canadian, but I don't recall ever seeing

postcards here with his "In Flanders Field" poem. I found them in the gift shop for the castle. Apparently Eileen Donan is in McCrae clan territory and they appear to be proud of their poet. There's also a Clan McCrae memorial beside the castle.

"Oh what a beautiful morning! Oh what a beautiful day!"

"The sun is shining, the tank is clean, and we are getting out--"

I love sunny days! Especially when they are mixed with a few dreary grey days and a little breeze...not a wind tunnel. The days are definately getting nicer. Danaka and Maret are now keeping the popsicle tray filled with lemonade so every day they are out on the porch sucking on them. Like now. Pancakes on in the making...with real maple syrup...I still think the YWAM Dundee people were AWESOME for adding that to our brunch in February.

My dad, Danaka, and Gaelyn went to visit the accountant in Nanoose yesterday. Big deal, right? But they got this awesome view of a semi driving over some dude's car in the parking lot...WAIT A MINUTE! That's DAD'S car! Byebye mercedes. "It's a hard knock life..." :)

I think I'll go read a book.

Happy Easter!

This is the best Easter of my ENTIRE LIFE! -haha

I am typing this morning with a bowl of last night's couscous that Hillary and I made. The little kids didn't like it, but Mom, Dad, and Rauchelle did and that's enough to make me happy.

Yesterday morning/afternoon my dad took Hillary, Danaka and I out 4x4ing in the jeep as far up the mountain as the snow would let us go. We made a few stops along the way to make a snow man, have a snowball fight or two (Hillary kept throwing snow down my shirt!), break off icicles from the rock face, eat gooey cinnamon rolls, and let Hillary make a snow angel and face print. We found a geocache, the rusted remains of an old car in a waterfall, and a man who told us about a dead body somebody found on the side of the road down by Horne Lake.

We got home a little before 2:00, admired my mother's new all-fridge and all-freezer (as she calls it) that arrived while we were out, ate lunch, and visited with two next door neighbours over apple pie and cookies and chai tea. The rest of the afternoon was spent playing Scum (personified by yours truely) and Canada Jingo (like bingo, but you have to answer questions about Canada. Hillary is VERY good) until it was time to make the couscous.

Last night Hillary taught Rauchelle and I how to play the cup game Susan taught her, and so this morning it was Danaka, Mitchell, Maret, and Toveli's turn to learn. Mitch is obsessed.

Hillary is here! Like a little girl I have been counting down the days...even the sleeps... We've talked and talked and laughed, looked at pictures, and we even played Straight Jacket 500 and Scum! Hooray for Easter Holidays and no work for my favorite Kiwi!

Various letters put in random orders to create some sort of sense

Don't you just love accidentally finding old friends? I do. Though, technically Laura and Jillian found me first. Oh, the fun of being found. Thanks, girls!

As usual, life has been busy in a slow sort of way. At times my brain feels overloaded with all this new information I recieve in the morning watching the stock market go up and down and reading about it and talking with my dad about different aspects of it.

Always new information. Right now Mom, Dad, and Rauchelle are talking about being acidic vs. alkaline, where the line is drawn on the pH strip, and why it's better to test your urine instead of your mouth. Chelle said she heard it changes fast in your mouth according to what you see and hear. If that's true, it's very interesting.

So, main topics of conversation in my family:
Stocks
Health and raw food
Target shooting
Horses (Danaka, Mitchell and Maret are all taking horse back riding lessons once a week)

I am currently reading 4 books:
Of Permanent Value (bio of Warren Buffet)
Swift Trader (day trading stocks in Canada)
Twenty Years After (the second of Alexandre Dumas' books about the Three Musketeers) For the Temple (a G.A. Henty book about the fall of Jerusalem that I am reading to Danaka)

I find reading just one book to be rather boring.