I'm following Chunks and adding a trivia game to this website. Click on the Smartypants link to the left and come kick my butt at some trivia.
Oh, and I promise - no CANADIAN Trivia. Wink & a nod to Chunks tough Friday Canadian quizzes.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Earth Hour
Want to do something simple to help fight Global Warming?
Shut your lights off for an hour tomorrow.
On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.
Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.
What will you do when the lights are off? We have lots of ideas.
Join people all around the world in showing that you care about our planet and want to play a part in helping to fight climate change. Don’t forget to sign up and let us know you want to join Earth Hour.
One hour, America. Earth Hour. Turn out for Earth Hour!
10 things to do during Earth Hour
by Earth Hour, Feb 01, 2008
Earth Hour is going global this year with many cities from around the globe taking part including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Chicago, Toronto, Tel Aviv, Copenhagen, Christchurch, Manila and Suva. It's a global event and all the world's citizens can join in. Anyone can participate by turning off the lights on Saturday 29 March 2008 at 8pm for one hour.
Earth Hour is about taking simple steps everyday that collectively reduce carbon emissions – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby.
Here are ten different ways to spend Earth Hour and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions:
1. Gather family & friends for a night picnic
2. Dine in one of the many Earth Hour participating restaurants by candlelight
3. Organize a family night playing board games
4. Throw an Earth Hour street party with your neighbors
5. Arrange a house party lit by torches
6. Take the dog for a night walk
7. Hand write a letter to loved one by lantern
8. Sit in the dark and share stories
9. Read a book using a book light
10. Share a romantic night in with your loved one
How will you spend your hour?
Shut your lights off for an hour tomorrow.
On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.
Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.
What will you do when the lights are off? We have lots of ideas.
Join people all around the world in showing that you care about our planet and want to play a part in helping to fight climate change. Don’t forget to sign up and let us know you want to join Earth Hour.
One hour, America. Earth Hour. Turn out for Earth Hour!
10 things to do during Earth Hour
by Earth Hour, Feb 01, 2008
Earth Hour is going global this year with many cities from around the globe taking part including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Chicago, Toronto, Tel Aviv, Copenhagen, Christchurch, Manila and Suva. It's a global event and all the world's citizens can join in. Anyone can participate by turning off the lights on Saturday 29 March 2008 at 8pm for one hour.
Earth Hour is about taking simple steps everyday that collectively reduce carbon emissions – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby.
Here are ten different ways to spend Earth Hour and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions:
1. Gather family & friends for a night picnic
2. Dine in one of the many Earth Hour participating restaurants by candlelight
3. Organize a family night playing board games
4. Throw an Earth Hour street party with your neighbors
5. Arrange a house party lit by torches
6. Take the dog for a night walk
7. Hand write a letter to loved one by lantern
8. Sit in the dark and share stories
9. Read a book using a book light
10. Share a romantic night in with your loved one
How will you spend your hour?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
The Funniest Thing You Will Read On the Internet Today
Danny has done it again. He made me spew coffee all over my keyboard.
Head over to Dad Gone Mad and you see what I mean.
Those offended by bathroom humor need not go.
Right - like anyone reading this blog would be offended by bathroom humor.
Here's an excerpt:
"he told me he’d twice endured the indignity of “colonic hydrotherapy,” which is an alternative treatment whereupon some poor soul shoots a water cannon up your butt, and then the cannon gets shifted into reverse and sucks the water back out with the enthusiasm of a Dyson taking a power-hit from a crack pipe. "
Enjoy.
Just not with coffee.
Head over to Dad Gone Mad and you see what I mean.
Those offended by bathroom humor need not go.
Right - like anyone reading this blog would be offended by bathroom humor.
Here's an excerpt:
"he told me he’d twice endured the indignity of “colonic hydrotherapy,” which is an alternative treatment whereupon some poor soul shoots a water cannon up your butt, and then the cannon gets shifted into reverse and sucks the water back out with the enthusiasm of a Dyson taking a power-hit from a crack pipe. "
Enjoy.
Just not with coffee.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
RIP Cuddles
Cuddles
September 1986 - March 25, 2008
Yes, she was almost 22 years old.
Her name was perfect for her. She was a love, that always wanted to Cuddle.
In the last couple months, she was really starting to show her age.
Her eyes were not as bright as they are in these pics. (These were taken last summer).
She had lost a lot of weight. You could feel her spine and mostly every other bone in her body.
She had developed an occasional cough. I knew the time was drawing near, but kept putting it off. I finally made the appointment for today.
She started meowing in her crate on the way there. She lived in the crate at home, but hadn't been out of the house in ages.
I got her calmed down and purring at the vets. I paid the fees and the technician walked me through the procedure. This was not my first time, so I felt prepared.
I chatted with the tech while waiting for the Doctor. She asked about Dusty.
I said "You mean 'The Terrorist?"
I went through a description of Dusty's antics and behavior. She's more like a dog than a cat.
The office staff fell just as in love with Dusty as I have.
The Tech expressed disappointment at having to wait until August to see Dusty again.
The Doc came in and did a cursory exam and found flea dirt. I think it was just old dirt, because she hasn't been able to clean herself thoroughly in a while.
He discussed treating the other felines just to be sure.
Then the time came for the injection.
The old gal still had some fight left in her and got quite upset. I was worried about stressing her out, that's not what I wanted for her.
They decided to take her out beck and put in a catheter for the injection.
I could hear her desperate and hoarse cries.
They brought her back in and explained that they sedated her because she was going into respiratory distress. I was stroking her as the Doc was explaining with cats this elderly, they could go on their own with this kind of distress.
There was a final shudder from her frail body and she was gone.
I knew it, I felt it.
The Doc wanted to give her a cardio injection just to be sure.
"I'd rather not." I insisted.
They told me I'd have to wait a few minutes and they'd check her heartbeat again to be sure.
I told them that would be fine.
I stroked her soft old fur that shed in my hands.
I told her how sorry I was for having her end be so stressful.
My tears fell on her still frame as I tried to smooth her puffed out tail.
The Doc confirmed that she had gone and gave his condolences.
The tech told me that since she wasn't euthanized, they'd give me the flea treatment for the other two and a credit on my account. I said that would be fine.
They provided a burial box and wrapped her in a fresh towel.
The tech returned with the box and informed me that the waiting room was full of people and she would meet me at the back door if I preferred. I did.
I felt the looks of sympathy as I left through the exam room.
One look at my red eyes and nose and they understood my pain.
*
Son had dug a grave for my arrival home.
He made a cross with hearts and RIP Cuddles on it.
*
Tabitha is now sleeping in Cuddles crate. She went in and out of it 3 or 4 times when I got home, and then went looking for Cuddles. She will grieve as well.
*
I never got the flea meds. That's only because the staff at the vets was most understanding of how difficult it is to lose a pet. They were truly wonderful, compassionate and empathetic.
I know it was the best decision for Cuddles. Maybe I should have done it sooner. I waited for her to tell me when. I only wish it wasn't so horrifying for her.
*
Cuddles will be missed around here. She was such a fixture of my life for the last 22 years.
No longer will I hear the splashing of the water bowl, or see that beautiful face look up at me and her mouth move with a silent meow.
*
I only pray that my Dad met her at the Rainbow Bridge and she is purring contentedly in his arms.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
John Edward live
My bad for not posting about our experience sooner. As you can probably guess - we didn't get read.
We went out to a wonderful lobster dinner at the Summer Shack. We had steamers and each got one of jasper's pan roasted lobster (1½ lb.). OMG was it delish!
We arrived at the event about 5 after 6 (doors opened at 6). I was surprised when I entered as the room was already half full....and it held had seating for 500 people.
Not exactly the intimate setting I was hoping for at $175ea tickets. Think about that for a sec., 500 tickets at $175 each, that's $87,500. John sold out our show so quickly he added two more. That's $262,500 for three 2 hour shows. That's $43,750 per hour or $729.17 per minute or $12.15 per second.
I'm in the wrong line of work.
What happens when you put 500 people in a room together? It heats up....a lot. They turned on the A/C for about 5 minutes. People were melting in their heavy winter sweaters. Getting out in the bitter 20 degree night was refreshing, when the show was over.
Now that the negatives are out of the way, the show was enjoyable. He did 7 or 8 readings. One family was sitting next to my Mom.
He had many humorous moments. There was Elizabeth, the matriarch of one family that wanted everyone to know she orchestrated this event. At various times throughout the evening John would jump back to Elizabeth's family with an anecdote or comment.
Observations on John - he is just as good looking in person as he is on TV. He is much more soft spoken than you would think. His show gives you the impression that he has this commanding voice, it's more good audio than that. He was wearing his glasses and his trademark leather coat when he came on stage. He shed the coat quickly though and rolled up his sleeves. He did announce that he just had a second child - this one wasn't planned and the "boys" (his guides) didn't give him a heads up about it.
When he came on stage he launched into his oft repeated speech about not giving anything away, simply acknowledge the validation. He gave an example of some mediums talking about "a woman in a blue dress with flowing hair......" which he said - could be anyone. He was much more specific in his readings. He had a lot of hits, from where I was sitting.
At one point when reading a family in the back, John mentioned the 27th of the month and lung cancer. My Dad's birthday is on the 27th and, of course, he died from lung cancer. My Mom and I looked at each other, both thinking "Should we put our hands?", but John quickly moved on to something else. This is the part where you wonder if it was meant for you and you missed your opportunity.
There was one family of Husband & Wife and two girls (daughter & daughter in law?). John brought up "some kind of irritable bowl", all be it hesitantly. The husband raised his hand and said "Thanks John." Quite the mortifying validation. John talked about a wedding, one of the girls there had recently wed, and then he talked about a second wedding. The husband shook his head and said "No". Well, the wife damn near dope slapped him with "Your sons getting married". That got a good chuckle. I see what is meant by psychic amnesia when put on the spot, I'd forget my own name!
There was another couple that had just gotten married and were traveling to the Dominican Republic and having a second reception or more like a party. All revealed by John.
There was one whole row of women that he read. You could tell his hits by the shocked looks on their faces.
There was a Mother/Daughter he read closer to the stage. At one point he talked about not getting bogged down in grief and stopping living. The Mom was openly sobbing in her grief. That was relevant to me. It still feels like yesterday, not 332 days. It hasn't gotten any better, just different.
There was another family that John brought up going to Korea, someone was going to Korea (I believe it was a mother coming through). The male said "Yes, my brother". Then John got this funny look and said "He doesn't want to go, he doesn't like Korea."
The guy started laughing. It turns out that his brother is in the army and was stationed in Korea for a while and he hated it, now he's going back for another short stint.
There's much more that I cannot recall details of, at the moment. One of the mic girls (# girls running around to families giving them microphones for their reading) chimed in when it was 8:45 and John then picked 4 people out of the audience for questions.
I'll recap with my Mom and write in more details that I've forgotten.
It was interesting and fun, but it still hasn't convinced me one way or the other. That's what I'm having the most trouble with - what happens after we die. Do I believe all the signs I've received? Is it all just coincidence? For one brief moment while driving in my car a few months back, I felt it. I mean, I really, truly felt it in my heart and knew it in my bones that we are all still connected and death of the body is just a change in that connection. It was the only joyous moment I've felt in a long, long time. It was a fleeting and brief moment. I want to find that happy thought again, so I can fly.
I'd certainly pay the $60 charge for one of John's larger seminars, but I don't know that I'd pay the $175 for a group of 500 again.
Post any questions in the comments section and I'll try to answer them here.
One last odd and strange moment came towards the end of the night for me. While watching John on stage, I began to see an aura around him. This has never happened to me before. There was definitely a white to gold aura around his entire body. It appeared to pulse and moved with him. It was a bizarre experience for me and I haven't researched what it means yet.
We went out to a wonderful lobster dinner at the Summer Shack. We had steamers and each got one of jasper's pan roasted lobster (1½ lb.). OMG was it delish!
We arrived at the event about 5 after 6 (doors opened at 6). I was surprised when I entered as the room was already half full....and it held had seating for 500 people.
Not exactly the intimate setting I was hoping for at $175ea tickets. Think about that for a sec., 500 tickets at $175 each, that's $87,500. John sold out our show so quickly he added two more. That's $262,500 for three 2 hour shows. That's $43,750 per hour or $729.17 per minute or $12.15 per second.
I'm in the wrong line of work.
What happens when you put 500 people in a room together? It heats up....a lot. They turned on the A/C for about 5 minutes. People were melting in their heavy winter sweaters. Getting out in the bitter 20 degree night was refreshing, when the show was over.
Now that the negatives are out of the way, the show was enjoyable. He did 7 or 8 readings. One family was sitting next to my Mom.
He had many humorous moments. There was Elizabeth, the matriarch of one family that wanted everyone to know she orchestrated this event. At various times throughout the evening John would jump back to Elizabeth's family with an anecdote or comment.
Observations on John - he is just as good looking in person as he is on TV. He is much more soft spoken than you would think. His show gives you the impression that he has this commanding voice, it's more good audio than that. He was wearing his glasses and his trademark leather coat when he came on stage. He shed the coat quickly though and rolled up his sleeves. He did announce that he just had a second child - this one wasn't planned and the "boys" (his guides) didn't give him a heads up about it.
When he came on stage he launched into his oft repeated speech about not giving anything away, simply acknowledge the validation. He gave an example of some mediums talking about "a woman in a blue dress with flowing hair......" which he said - could be anyone. He was much more specific in his readings. He had a lot of hits, from where I was sitting.
At one point when reading a family in the back, John mentioned the 27th of the month and lung cancer. My Dad's birthday is on the 27th and, of course, he died from lung cancer. My Mom and I looked at each other, both thinking "Should we put our hands?", but John quickly moved on to something else. This is the part where you wonder if it was meant for you and you missed your opportunity.
There was one family of Husband & Wife and two girls (daughter & daughter in law?). John brought up "some kind of irritable bowl", all be it hesitantly. The husband raised his hand and said "Thanks John." Quite the mortifying validation. John talked about a wedding, one of the girls there had recently wed, and then he talked about a second wedding. The husband shook his head and said "No". Well, the wife damn near dope slapped him with "Your sons getting married". That got a good chuckle. I see what is meant by psychic amnesia when put on the spot, I'd forget my own name!
There was another couple that had just gotten married and were traveling to the Dominican Republic and having a second reception or more like a party. All revealed by John.
There was one whole row of women that he read. You could tell his hits by the shocked looks on their faces.
There was a Mother/Daughter he read closer to the stage. At one point he talked about not getting bogged down in grief and stopping living. The Mom was openly sobbing in her grief. That was relevant to me. It still feels like yesterday, not 332 days. It hasn't gotten any better, just different.
There was another family that John brought up going to Korea, someone was going to Korea (I believe it was a mother coming through). The male said "Yes, my brother". Then John got this funny look and said "He doesn't want to go, he doesn't like Korea."
The guy started laughing. It turns out that his brother is in the army and was stationed in Korea for a while and he hated it, now he's going back for another short stint.
There's much more that I cannot recall details of, at the moment. One of the mic girls (# girls running around to families giving them microphones for their reading) chimed in when it was 8:45 and John then picked 4 people out of the audience for questions.
I'll recap with my Mom and write in more details that I've forgotten.
It was interesting and fun, but it still hasn't convinced me one way or the other. That's what I'm having the most trouble with - what happens after we die. Do I believe all the signs I've received? Is it all just coincidence? For one brief moment while driving in my car a few months back, I felt it. I mean, I really, truly felt it in my heart and knew it in my bones that we are all still connected and death of the body is just a change in that connection. It was the only joyous moment I've felt in a long, long time. It was a fleeting and brief moment. I want to find that happy thought again, so I can fly.
I'd certainly pay the $60 charge for one of John's larger seminars, but I don't know that I'd pay the $175 for a group of 500 again.
Post any questions in the comments section and I'll try to answer them here.
One last odd and strange moment came towards the end of the night for me. While watching John on stage, I began to see an aura around him. This has never happened to me before. There was definitely a white to gold aura around his entire body. It appeared to pulse and moved with him. It was a bizarre experience for me and I haven't researched what it means yet.
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