2006/02/27
Nick Cage, Curried Chicken, Oscars, Good Fences, Good Neighbours
It's been a few days since my last blog. Forgive me, Gary, for this serious omission. I've been busy with getting out the March issue of Manitoba Humanist. Well, it's out and it is good reading, even if I do say so myself.
Thanks for the heads up on the Nick Cage movies. I probably won't rent them. Not the kind of movies I should be watching right now, I think.
Yes, Mother and I are going to OOOOOOOOklahoma where the corn grows higher than the sky - or some such nonsense. It did seem very rural the last time I was there. It will be good to get away for a while. I am looking forward to the trip. Mother vacillates between being happy and worrying about what can go wrong. It sure is easy to book flights online, isn't it? Of course, by the time you add in all the fees, taxes and stuff, it ends up being about twice what you thought it would be. Oh well, we'll make it.
Last Friday my friend Gail and I went for dinner to Dalat. Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. It was very good. We shared curried chicken and eggplant with black bean and garlic sauce. There was so much we each took home half of what was left and I just had it for supper tonight. We had a decent white wine. As my friend Pat would say, a good Tuesday wine. That would be a day of the week when they would have a less expensive and not-so-great wine. Next week Gail and I are going to take in a movie. It will be nice to see a movie with someone else.
And on Sunday I'm having an Oscar party with my friends Pat and Paul and Doug and Diana. I plan to have a buffet supper and we will see who can predict the highest number of winners. I have a very nice little bottle of dessert wine (recommended by my knowledgeable daughter) as prize for the one of my friends who wins.
My neighbour across the back fence, George, lost his wife last Friday. She had been battling cancer for a few years. They used to have Boxing Day open house and invited all the neighbours. A couple of years back, he helped Dennis put up a new fence on the line of our two properties. The man must be in his 80s, but he was out there, working hard. My heart goes out to him. I'll be going to the Celebration of Gladys' Life on Wednesday.
Well, must try to get some sleep now. I teach tomorrow morning. Suzie sends her love to all in blogland.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland
Nick Cage, Curried Chicken, Oscars, Good Fences, Good Neighbours
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Thanks for the heads up on the Nick Cage movies. I probably won't rent them. Not the kind of movies I should be watching right now, I think.
Yes, Mother and I are going to OOOOOOOOklahoma where the corn grows higher than the sky - or some such nonsense. It did seem very rural the last time I was there. It will be good to get away for a while. I am looking forward to the trip. Mother vacillates between being happy and worrying about what can go wrong. It sure is easy to book flights online, isn't it? Of course, by the time you add in all the fees, taxes and stuff, it ends up being about twice what you thought it would be. Oh well, we'll make it.
Last Friday my friend Gail and I went for dinner to Dalat. Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. It was very good. We shared curried chicken and eggplant with black bean and garlic sauce. There was so much we each took home half of what was left and I just had it for supper tonight. We had a decent white wine. As my friend Pat would say, a good Tuesday wine. That would be a day of the week when they would have a less expensive and not-so-great wine. Next week Gail and I are going to take in a movie. It will be nice to see a movie with someone else.
And on Sunday I'm having an Oscar party with my friends Pat and Paul and Doug and Diana. I plan to have a buffet supper and we will see who can predict the highest number of winners. I have a very nice little bottle of dessert wine (recommended by my knowledgeable daughter) as prize for the one of my friends who wins.
My neighbour across the back fence, George, lost his wife last Friday. She had been battling cancer for a few years. They used to have Boxing Day open house and invited all the neighbours. A couple of years back, he helped Dennis put up a new fence on the line of our two properties. The man must be in his 80s, but he was out there, working hard. My heart goes out to him. I'll be going to the Celebration of Gladys' Life on Wednesday.
Well, must try to get some sleep now. I teach tomorrow morning. Suzie sends her love to all in blogland.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland
Nick Cage, Curried Chicken, Oscars, Good Fences, Good Neighbours
2006/02/23
Trip to Tishomingo
Big news! Mother and I are going to visit Jack! I've already bought our tickets on line. We leave on Sat. March 11 and return on Sun. March 19. Mother wants to see Jack's new house and Andrew and Jamie. Jack, too, I shouldn't wonder. My spirits have been lifted by planning this trip. We don't know where we'll be sleeping, but hey, life's an adventure.
Tomorrow I am having dinner with my friend Gail from the Reh-fit Centre. We are going to try a new restaurant, Dalat, that features Chinese and Vietnamese cooking. I'll be sure and write a review afterwards.
I will have to make this a short blog because I have to work on the Humanist newsletter. It has to be out by Monday.
Trip to Tishomingo
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Tomorrow I am having dinner with my friend Gail from the Reh-fit Centre. We are going to try a new restaurant, Dalat, that features Chinese and Vietnamese cooking. I'll be sure and write a review afterwards.
I will have to make this a short blog because I have to work on the Humanist newsletter. It has to be out by Monday.
Trip to Tishomingo
2006/02/21
Makeup, Half-day Jobs, Deafness, Sad Hours
There have been over 8600 hits on the Prairie Dog Blog! I checked everybody's blogs and only Gary and Chelsea have any recent blogs. Whatsa matter da resta you?
Chelsea writes a good entry. Her story about the little girl who tried the tester makeup on her face was great. I can't wait to go to Victoria and visit with her and everyone there. Maybe you can show me the great spot at the harbour, Chelsea.
Good to see that Gary and Carolyn are enjoying their Arizona days.
I subbed in a grade three class yesterday. It was a class I've been in many times before and it was pretty uneventful. That's probably a good thing. Tomorrow I'll be in a grade seven class, different kettle of fish altogether. I've been there before, too, but they are very chatty and easily distracted and often off-task. It'll be eventful. The good thing about working half-day jobs is I can stand any class for half a day. Oh, well, the jobs can't all be good.
Today I went to see The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It was wonderful. It was so relaxing to just lose myself in another world. Almost as good as reading the book. Then I picked up some groceries for Mother and headed over there. This afternoon she went to a "grieving group" that is being held by a social worker at Lion's Manor. There were only three of them, Mother said, and the other two are deaf! This comment from a woman whose phone you can hold at arm's length and it's still too loud. But I think it will be good for her to talk to others who are grieving.
My DVD player went on the fritz, so I took it into the video place. They said it would probably cost $250-300 to fix and I'd be better off buying a new one, so I took myself off to Costco and got a Panasonic for $89 plus tax. I actually got it hooked up and working and I watched that old movie, Funny Face with Fred Astaire and my favourite, Audrey Hepburn. He was too old to play the romantic lead, especially with a youngster like Audrey, but I enjoyed it anyway. My favourite of her movies is Breakfast at Tiffany's. I remember seeing it when it first came out at the impressionable age of about 12. Those were the days!
Mother and I agreed that the last three months have seemed like a lifetime. As Shakespeare's Juliet says, " Sad hours seem long."
Well, it's good night from me and it's good night from Suzie.
Life must be understood backwards; but... it must be lived forward. Soren Kierkegaard
Makeup, Half-day Jobs, Deafness, Sad Hours
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Chelsea writes a good entry. Her story about the little girl who tried the tester makeup on her face was great. I can't wait to go to Victoria and visit with her and everyone there. Maybe you can show me the great spot at the harbour, Chelsea.
Good to see that Gary and Carolyn are enjoying their Arizona days.
I subbed in a grade three class yesterday. It was a class I've been in many times before and it was pretty uneventful. That's probably a good thing. Tomorrow I'll be in a grade seven class, different kettle of fish altogether. I've been there before, too, but they are very chatty and easily distracted and often off-task. It'll be eventful. The good thing about working half-day jobs is I can stand any class for half a day. Oh, well, the jobs can't all be good.
Today I went to see The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It was wonderful. It was so relaxing to just lose myself in another world. Almost as good as reading the book. Then I picked up some groceries for Mother and headed over there. This afternoon she went to a "grieving group" that is being held by a social worker at Lion's Manor. There were only three of them, Mother said, and the other two are deaf! This comment from a woman whose phone you can hold at arm's length and it's still too loud. But I think it will be good for her to talk to others who are grieving.
My DVD player went on the fritz, so I took it into the video place. They said it would probably cost $250-300 to fix and I'd be better off buying a new one, so I took myself off to Costco and got a Panasonic for $89 plus tax. I actually got it hooked up and working and I watched that old movie, Funny Face with Fred Astaire and my favourite, Audrey Hepburn. He was too old to play the romantic lead, especially with a youngster like Audrey, but I enjoyed it anyway. My favourite of her movies is Breakfast at Tiffany's. I remember seeing it when it first came out at the impressionable age of about 12. Those were the days!
Mother and I agreed that the last three months have seemed like a lifetime. As Shakespeare's Juliet says, " Sad hours seem long."
Well, it's good night from me and it's good night from Suzie.
Life must be understood backwards; but... it must be lived forward. Soren Kierkegaard
Makeup, Half-day Jobs, Deafness, Sad Hours
2006/02/19
Anniversary, Islandingadagurin, Eye Test
Well, it's been a few days since last I blogged. But I see no one else has either, so I don't feel so bad. It's been a busy few days since last Wednesday. Today is quieter. I heard a flock of sparrows chirping at the front of the house this morning. It is a little milder; only -8 degrees today. Spring must be on the way because I've seen several crows over the last few weeks.
On Friday I drove up to Gimli. I played the tape of Beatles Love Songs that we always played when we would set out on a road trip. I sang along and shed a few tears. I had planned to go out on the dock and set a balloon free, but the woman who sold me the balloon with Happy Anniversary on it said that the balloon would deflate in the cold air. I pictured the balloon sinking and skittering over the ice on the lake and sitting there until spring melt. It just didn't seem right to chuck a big piece of mylar into the lake - can't be good for the environment. So in the end I brought it home. I had lunch in the hotel dining room looking out over the lake. It was a cold, sunny day. There were some people on skidoos out on the lake and I think someone was ice fishing. I had the same lunch that I had the last time he and I had lunch there. Onion soup and chocolate cake. Then I drove around Gimli remembering all the good times we had. The Viking statue; the Saturday market; the bike rides; eating cinnamon buns for breakfast; fish and chips at Kris' restauant; fishing off the dock; going to Islandingadagurin (the Icelandic festival). On the whole it was a good day.
Our first wedding was on February 17, 1967. We renewed our vows on February 14, 1987. We always used to say we would probably get married every twenty years. Next February 2007 would have been 40 years.
On Saturday I went to see "The Innocent Eye Test." Great play, very funny. Clever puns, some slapstick, visual jokes. He would have loved it. Then we all went to a new restaurant: Vivere Ristorante. It was delicious. Then back home for the traditional Trivial Pursuit with the "Trivial" friends.
Last night and today have been sad times. Missing him.
And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make...The Beatles
Anniversary, Islandingadagurin, Eye Test
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On Friday I drove up to Gimli. I played the tape of Beatles Love Songs that we always played when we would set out on a road trip. I sang along and shed a few tears. I had planned to go out on the dock and set a balloon free, but the woman who sold me the balloon with Happy Anniversary on it said that the balloon would deflate in the cold air. I pictured the balloon sinking and skittering over the ice on the lake and sitting there until spring melt. It just didn't seem right to chuck a big piece of mylar into the lake - can't be good for the environment. So in the end I brought it home. I had lunch in the hotel dining room looking out over the lake. It was a cold, sunny day. There were some people on skidoos out on the lake and I think someone was ice fishing. I had the same lunch that I had the last time he and I had lunch there. Onion soup and chocolate cake. Then I drove around Gimli remembering all the good times we had. The Viking statue; the Saturday market; the bike rides; eating cinnamon buns for breakfast; fish and chips at Kris' restauant; fishing off the dock; going to Islandingadagurin (the Icelandic festival). On the whole it was a good day.
Our first wedding was on February 17, 1967. We renewed our vows on February 14, 1987. We always used to say we would probably get married every twenty years. Next February 2007 would have been 40 years.
On Saturday I went to see "The Innocent Eye Test." Great play, very funny. Clever puns, some slapstick, visual jokes. He would have loved it. Then we all went to a new restaurant: Vivere Ristorante. It was delicious. Then back home for the traditional Trivial Pursuit with the "Trivial" friends.
Last night and today have been sad times. Missing him.
And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make...The Beatles
Anniversary, Islandingadagurin, Eye Test
2006/02/15
Heigh-ho, Hell's Angels, Olympic spirit
Hi to everyone out there in blogland. Thanks to all those who sent me Valentine messages. It's damn cold here. The temperature is going down to -30 tonight, -33 tomorrow night! I guess the Festival du Voyageur is happy since their ice sculptures won't be melting any time soon. Speaking of Le Festival, as we call it here in francophone country, tomorrow night I am going to a concert at the Centre Culturel Saint-Boniface with the "trivial friends." Heigh-ho, time to put on my red toque (woolen hat) and my ceinture fleche (sash belt). Al and Janine's son is in a band - one of the bands at the concert. Should be fun.
Some controversies around here lately: the City of Winnipeg Administrators are making too much money; Stephen Harper is committing some of the heinous Liberal crimes he deplored when he was in opposition; Winnipeg Police have finally arrested three members of the Hell's Angels club.
Some people would complain about the high salaries others are getting no matter how low they were. Some people don't have enough to do.
Stephen Harper, our new Prime Minister, promised to make the Senate elected rather than appointed. He's been in office less than a month and he's appointed Michael Fortier to the Senate. What kind of double standard is that? Not only that, he appointed Fortier to the cabinet as Minister of Public Works. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that traditionally in this country, a person is elected before being appointed to cabinet.
The special task force on Gangs in Winnipeg has tried to bring the organized criminals to justice before, but the charges were all dismissed. I sure hope this time the charges stick.
Actually, the best news in the paper today was the item about the Norwegian, Bjornar Hakensmoen. The Norwegian ski team official reached out and gave Sara Renner, a Canadian cross-country skiier, a pole when hers broke. As a result of this selfless act Canada got silver and the Norwegian team came fourth. If they gave medals for fair play, the Norwegians deserve the gold. Way to go, Norway! That's the Olympic spirit.
I went to an interview at the Victoria Hospital today. I think it went well. I may be starting by being a substitute for other volunteers who can't make it. More subbing!
Love is, above all else, the gift of oneself. Jean Anouilh
Heigh-ho, Hell's Angels, Olympic spirit
0 comments
Some controversies around here lately: the City of Winnipeg Administrators are making too much money; Stephen Harper is committing some of the heinous Liberal crimes he deplored when he was in opposition; Winnipeg Police have finally arrested three members of the Hell's Angels club.
Some people would complain about the high salaries others are getting no matter how low they were. Some people don't have enough to do.
Stephen Harper, our new Prime Minister, promised to make the Senate elected rather than appointed. He's been in office less than a month and he's appointed Michael Fortier to the Senate. What kind of double standard is that? Not only that, he appointed Fortier to the cabinet as Minister of Public Works. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that traditionally in this country, a person is elected before being appointed to cabinet.
The special task force on Gangs in Winnipeg has tried to bring the organized criminals to justice before, but the charges were all dismissed. I sure hope this time the charges stick.
Actually, the best news in the paper today was the item about the Norwegian, Bjornar Hakensmoen. The Norwegian ski team official reached out and gave Sara Renner, a Canadian cross-country skiier, a pole when hers broke. As a result of this selfless act Canada got silver and the Norwegian team came fourth. If they gave medals for fair play, the Norwegians deserve the gold. Way to go, Norway! That's the Olympic spirit.
I went to an interview at the Victoria Hospital today. I think it went well. I may be starting by being a substitute for other volunteers who can't make it. More subbing!
Love is, above all else, the gift of oneself. Jean Anouilh
Heigh-ho, Hell's Angels, Olympic spirit
2006/02/14
Cowboy, Syriana, Volunteering, Love
Here's the latest on Dick "Cowboy" Cheney, the rootinest, tootinest Vice President since Aaron Burr shot Hamilton in a duel in 1804. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article345488.ece His refusal to answer any questions or even to let the media know about the incident is the latest in arrogance from the current administration. He's provided fodder for comedians for months to come.
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone in blogland. Remember to tell all those you love how much you love them today. I got a Valentine from niece Lyn and much appreciated it was. She's always been so good-hearted. And Margot called to remind me how much she loves me. She's my pride and joy. I can't wait to see her again.
I went to see Syriana, the movie. It was well-done. I like the way it showed all sides of the story. The large oil companies (speaking of Cheney) have much to answer for. Although the movie was fiction, it was loosely based on the recent situations in the Middle East and the ongoing corruption in many corporations and governments.
Tomorrow I have an interview with the Director of Volunteers at Victoria Hospital. I hope I can get one shift a week, so I can help out in the hospital that has been so important in my life. My daughter was born there. My father-in-law died there. And of course my husband.
Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. Emily Bronte
Missing you, Dennis, love of my life.
Cowboy, Syriana, Volunteering, Love
0 comments
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone in blogland. Remember to tell all those you love how much you love them today. I got a Valentine from niece Lyn and much appreciated it was. She's always been so good-hearted. And Margot called to remind me how much she loves me. She's my pride and joy. I can't wait to see her again.
I went to see Syriana, the movie. It was well-done. I like the way it showed all sides of the story. The large oil companies (speaking of Cheney) have much to answer for. Although the movie was fiction, it was loosely based on the recent situations in the Middle East and the ongoing corruption in many corporations and governments.
Tomorrow I have an interview with the Director of Volunteers at Victoria Hospital. I hope I can get one shift a week, so I can help out in the hospital that has been so important in my life. My daughter was born there. My father-in-law died there. And of course my husband.
Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. Emily Bronte
Missing you, Dennis, love of my life.
Cowboy, Syriana, Volunteering, Love
2006/02/13
Mufflers, Winners, A Little Bit Kind
Well, good news. The car didn't need a new muffler. It was just a gasket and it cost a lot less than I thought it would. I took it in to Minute Muffler (or as Dennis would have said, Mine-yout Muffler). He always trusted those guys, so I'm glad I can take the car there for everything except transmissions. Since we got a new trannie a couple of years ago, chances are it won't need another for a while. And they gave a lifetime warranty with the new transmission. Maybe the old Tore-Ass will last a little longer. I sure hope so because I dropped in to the Toyota dealer last week and if I bought a new Corolla I'd have monthly payments of about $450. It's too much to commit to right now.
To celebrate I went to Winners and bought three new pairs of pants. I really needed them because I've lost weight and all my old pants were in danger of falling off my hips. It just doesn't do to be teaching in front of a class and have your pants fall off! I might lose my job. Not to mention my aplomb. Great word, isn't it?
Gotta go take Suzie for a walk and then it's off to the Reh-fit Centre. A new episode of Corner Gas tonight. Great! Everybody get bloggin' out there. I want news. Now I know how Dennis used to feel.
Here is a quote that made me think of Dennis.
Tough and funny and a little bit kind: that is as near to perfection as a human being can be. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
Mufflers, Winners, A Little Bit Kind
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To celebrate I went to Winners and bought three new pairs of pants. I really needed them because I've lost weight and all my old pants were in danger of falling off my hips. It just doesn't do to be teaching in front of a class and have your pants fall off! I might lose my job. Not to mention my aplomb. Great word, isn't it?
Gotta go take Suzie for a walk and then it's off to the Reh-fit Centre. A new episode of Corner Gas tonight. Great! Everybody get bloggin' out there. I want news. Now I know how Dennis used to feel.
Here is a quote that made me think of Dennis.
Tough and funny and a little bit kind: that is as near to perfection as a human being can be. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
Mufflers, Winners, A Little Bit Kind
2006/02/12
Chinese New Year, RV, Farting
Hello all out there in blogland. I see Gary has blogged. But the real surprise is that Chelsea has taken over her mother's blog. Good work. It's fun to see what the farflung members of the family are up to. Hope the Victoria Ouseys are reading my blog, too.
On Friday I went for lunch with my friend, Diana. We talked for three hours. The serving staff were giving us the evil eye to try and get us out so they could turn over the table for dinner. The meal was okay, nothing special, but it was the dialogue that I needed. D. has had her share of grief over the last few years and it was comforting to talk to her about common experiences. She was so sensible and understanding. It is great to have such good friends.
Saturday I picked up Mother and brought her here for the weekend. She babysat (dogsat?) Suzie while I went to a dinner meeting and then to Morgan and Terri's for their annual Chinese New Year party. Gang hey fat choy! I hear that's what Chinese people say at New Year's, but for all I know it could mean "Don't fart in polite company!"
M. and T. lived in China for a few years and Morgan still takes business trips there. There were a few people there that I knew and it was good to listen to the jokes and teasing that happens between people who have known each other for a long time. I actually laughed out loud. I need to do more of that.
I have decided to go to Gimli on Friday and have my little ceremony. Mother thinks it will make me too sad. She also said I should not read all the sympathy cards because it will just make me cry. Sorry, Mother, but I have to disagree. When one is grieving, one should cry. And stopping yourself all the time only puts off the grief and makes it last longer.
Of course she also thinks I'm making a mistake keeping the RV. Speaking of that, I just talked to Pete and Sue who used to have the RV spot right next to ours and they have agreed to meet me there on opening weekend to help me learn how to take care of the RV. And Margot will be there. I'll be okay.
Now, if I can just get the Canada Pension department "silly servants" off their butts and start my survivor's allowance, I'll be happy.
Gang hey fat choy!
A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
Mignon McLaughlin
Chinese New Year, RV, Farting
0 comments
On Friday I went for lunch with my friend, Diana. We talked for three hours. The serving staff were giving us the evil eye to try and get us out so they could turn over the table for dinner. The meal was okay, nothing special, but it was the dialogue that I needed. D. has had her share of grief over the last few years and it was comforting to talk to her about common experiences. She was so sensible and understanding. It is great to have such good friends.
Saturday I picked up Mother and brought her here for the weekend. She babysat (dogsat?) Suzie while I went to a dinner meeting and then to Morgan and Terri's for their annual Chinese New Year party. Gang hey fat choy! I hear that's what Chinese people say at New Year's, but for all I know it could mean "Don't fart in polite company!"
M. and T. lived in China for a few years and Morgan still takes business trips there. There were a few people there that I knew and it was good to listen to the jokes and teasing that happens between people who have known each other for a long time. I actually laughed out loud. I need to do more of that.
I have decided to go to Gimli on Friday and have my little ceremony. Mother thinks it will make me too sad. She also said I should not read all the sympathy cards because it will just make me cry. Sorry, Mother, but I have to disagree. When one is grieving, one should cry. And stopping yourself all the time only puts off the grief and makes it last longer.
Of course she also thinks I'm making a mistake keeping the RV. Speaking of that, I just talked to Pete and Sue who used to have the RV spot right next to ours and they have agreed to meet me there on opening weekend to help me learn how to take care of the RV. And Margot will be there. I'll be okay.
Now, if I can just get the Canada Pension department "silly servants" off their butts and start my survivor's allowance, I'll be happy.
Gang hey fat choy!
A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
Mignon McLaughlin
Chinese New Year, RV, Farting
2006/02/10
My emotional state seems to be getting worse instead of better. I cry more often, longer and louder. Although, so far it's mostly at home. Evenings are the worst. Poor Suzie. Every time I cry she goes to the bedroom and lies down on her bed. It seems that everywhere I go and everything I do reminds me of him. I guess it will for some time. And, of course, next Friday would have been our 39th wedding anniversary. I plan to go to the Western Canada Aviation Museum and watch one of Dennis' favourite comedies. But I need to think of a ceremony or rite to go through. So far, I haven't been able to think of anything. Someone told me a friend who lost a child would go to a place where the child was happy and release a bunch of helium balloons on her birthday. I feel a need to do something to mark the day, but I'm stumped. I don't think I should go to the air museum and release some balloons. It might create a navigation hazard for planes and who knows what airport security might do. I don't want to be remembering every year on Feb. 17 that I was arrested. If I go to a restaurant we enjoyed, that will be too sad. The only other place I can think of where we were both happy is Gimli. Maybe I can go there and release some balloons. It's a thought.
I subbed on Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday. It's enough to get me out of the house and away from the memories for a break. Last night I went to the humanist executive meeting. Today I'm going for lunch with my friend, Diana. I seem to always cry when I go for lunch with a friend. It will be nice when I don't have to cry anymore. I just feel so fragile. Gail told me she still cries after 5 years. A friend said to her two years after her husband's death, "You should be over it by now." How insensitive. I will never be "over it." But I think in time the sharp edges of the sorrow will be worn off.
Yesterday was my son-in-law's birthday. They went out for dinner. I am looking forward to seeing them again. I miss the hugs. Happy Birthday, Joel.
I decided to take next week off. I have to take the car in for a new muffler. And I just want to do more organizing here and take some stuff to second-hand places. What a pack rat. The basement is crammed with boxes and unusable furniture. I'm planning to have a yard sale in May. Diana said she will help me with it. It's great to have friends.
It's so curious: one can resist tears and 'behave' very well in the hardest hours of grief. But then someone makes you a friendly sign behind a window, or one notices that a flower that was in bud only yesterday has suddenly blossomed, or a letter slips from a drawer... and everything collapses. ~Colette
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I subbed on Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday. It's enough to get me out of the house and away from the memories for a break. Last night I went to the humanist executive meeting. Today I'm going for lunch with my friend, Diana. I seem to always cry when I go for lunch with a friend. It will be nice when I don't have to cry anymore. I just feel so fragile. Gail told me she still cries after 5 years. A friend said to her two years after her husband's death, "You should be over it by now." How insensitive. I will never be "over it." But I think in time the sharp edges of the sorrow will be worn off.
Yesterday was my son-in-law's birthday. They went out for dinner. I am looking forward to seeing them again. I miss the hugs. Happy Birthday, Joel.
I decided to take next week off. I have to take the car in for a new muffler. And I just want to do more organizing here and take some stuff to second-hand places. What a pack rat. The basement is crammed with boxes and unusable furniture. I'm planning to have a yard sale in May. Diana said she will help me with it. It's great to have friends.
It's so curious: one can resist tears and 'behave' very well in the hardest hours of grief. But then someone makes you a friendly sign behind a window, or one notices that a flower that was in bud only yesterday has suddenly blossomed, or a letter slips from a drawer... and everything collapses. ~Colette
2006/02/06
Returns to Zeller's, Magical Thinking
Well, as predicted, Mother wants me to return the jacket she bought at Zeller's last week. No big surprise there. It would have been more surprising if she had kept it. And she's "never going shopping again." Until next time.
She tells me that she gets comfort by sitting in Dennis' chair, so she wants to come over here often. I can understand that. I also get comfort from the chair. I sit there most of the time when I'm reading or watching TV. Maybe she'll come over on the weekend and babysit Suzie when I go out.
I just finished reading "The Year of Magical Thinking," by Joan Didion. I finished it in three hours of marathon reading. It is about her "annus horribilis" when her husband died suddenly of a heart attack and her daughter went through life-threatening illness twice. It took her a whole year before she could really believe that there was nothing she could have done to save him. She could not give away his shoes, or disturb the pile of books he had been reading, because she deluded herself into believing that, somehow, he might magically come back.
Something she wrote got me thinking. She said that one of the things she learned over the year of grieving after he died, that she hadn't really known him as well as she thought she had. I wonder how much any of us really knows our spouse. One tends to think that living together for a long time makes married people know everything about each other. I have discovered new things about Dennis that I did not know. For example, I didn't know that he had offered Margot good advice and she had appreciated that. I also did not know that he missed me as much as his blog showed when I went to visit my Dad. Dennis used to put in his blog a phrase about a man finding out upon talking to one's brothers that the Father they all knew was really a different person to each of them. I think that must be true for everyone. I've always thought of myself as being a whole bunch of different people because everyone I know sees me differently.
It's very late and I must get some sleep.
A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same. Elbert Hubbard
Returns to Zeller's, Magical Thinking
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She tells me that she gets comfort by sitting in Dennis' chair, so she wants to come over here often. I can understand that. I also get comfort from the chair. I sit there most of the time when I'm reading or watching TV. Maybe she'll come over on the weekend and babysit Suzie when I go out.
I just finished reading "The Year of Magical Thinking," by Joan Didion. I finished it in three hours of marathon reading. It is about her "annus horribilis" when her husband died suddenly of a heart attack and her daughter went through life-threatening illness twice. It took her a whole year before she could really believe that there was nothing she could have done to save him. She could not give away his shoes, or disturb the pile of books he had been reading, because she deluded herself into believing that, somehow, he might magically come back.
Something she wrote got me thinking. She said that one of the things she learned over the year of grieving after he died, that she hadn't really known him as well as she thought she had. I wonder how much any of us really knows our spouse. One tends to think that living together for a long time makes married people know everything about each other. I have discovered new things about Dennis that I did not know. For example, I didn't know that he had offered Margot good advice and she had appreciated that. I also did not know that he missed me as much as his blog showed when I went to visit my Dad. Dennis used to put in his blog a phrase about a man finding out upon talking to one's brothers that the Father they all knew was really a different person to each of them. I think that must be true for everyone. I've always thought of myself as being a whole bunch of different people because everyone I know sees me differently.
It's very late and I must get some sleep.
A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same. Elbert Hubbard
Returns to Zeller's, Magical Thinking
Laughing and Crying
Here it is about 12:30 early on Monday morning. The wee, small hours of the morning. Sunday was a bad day. I've been weepy off and on all day - I don't know quite why. Every thing I did reminded me of him. We used to do everything together on a Sunday. We would have a bacon and egg brunch and do the Sunday New York Times Crossword together. Get on the computers for a while, sometimes take the dog for a walk. Sunday was our favourite day. Maybe it's been a hard day because it's two months ago that I took him in to the hospital for the last time. I know grief doesn't follow any logical sequence and it will come and go. Today it's here with a vengeance. I will have to live the rest of my life without him and it's so hard to know that.
I just finished watching an old video. It goes all the way back to when we met. 1965. God, he was so handsome. No wonder I fell head over heels. That smile was devastating. Then I saw Nana and Papa's 50th anniversary. 1989. I laughed. I cried. Then I laughed some more. He was so funny and so full of life. Then The Home Shopping Channel a la Margot. At the age of 11 - she sure inherited her dad's intelligence and sense of humor. I am so glad of that. I look forward to watching it again with her. I even watched an old video of my family when I was 12 or 13. My mom was there, and my brother Gordie. We had such good times. My mother was so funny hamming it up for the camera. So many people I loved are gone.
Loss and grief and pain are the price we pay for loving so much. Even if I had known about this pain, I would have still loved him. I wouldn't have changed anything. It was worth it to have loved him for forty years.
Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold. Zelda Fitzgerald
Laughing and Crying
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I just finished watching an old video. It goes all the way back to when we met. 1965. God, he was so handsome. No wonder I fell head over heels. That smile was devastating. Then I saw Nana and Papa's 50th anniversary. 1989. I laughed. I cried. Then I laughed some more. He was so funny and so full of life. Then The Home Shopping Channel a la Margot. At the age of 11 - she sure inherited her dad's intelligence and sense of humor. I am so glad of that. I look forward to watching it again with her. I even watched an old video of my family when I was 12 or 13. My mom was there, and my brother Gordie. We had such good times. My mother was so funny hamming it up for the camera. So many people I loved are gone.
Loss and grief and pain are the price we pay for loving so much. Even if I had known about this pain, I would have still loved him. I wouldn't have changed anything. It was worth it to have loved him for forty years.
Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold. Zelda Fitzgerald
Laughing and Crying
2006/02/05
Darwin, Muslims, Walking the Line, Branson MO
There was a good article in the Winnipeg Free Press today. The writer states that Charles Robert Darwin was born on Feb. 12. He was the first to articulate that evolution operates by the method of Natural Selection. As the author, zoologist William Pruitt, states: "Evolution itself is a fact, not a theory, as much a confirmed fact of science as the notion that the Earth is a spheroid or that the Earth traverses an elliptical orbit around the sun once a year or that an apple falls to earth from the tree (instead of going up). " He supports making February 12 a national holiday, Darwin Day.
Dennis would have had something to say about this issue. He would have agreed with the writer. He campaigned here for February 12 to be Darwin Day. He wasn't successful, but who knows what the future may bring.
He also would have commented, perhaps ad nauseum, about the recent events surrounding the Danish cartoon fiasco. Here's my take on that. It isn't right to mock other people's beliefs, but the Muslims who are reacting with violence aren't doing their cause any good, either. Sahina Siddiqui, a Winnipeg writer who is a Muslim, wrote in an article recently that the Muslims who are perpetrating violence are only confirming the stereotype held by many non-Muslims. She called on Muslims to respond with actions showing their religion as a peaceful, positive force in the world. I'm with her. Violence is never a good response. The thing about violent retaliation is that it tends to escalate. Where does it stop?
Well, enough about politics. My rants are a little shorter than Dennis', but also less passionate. I went to see Walk The Line with Al and Janine last night. It was excellent. Both Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix deserved the Oscar nomination. Even those who aren't fans of country music will enjoy this movie. I learned a lot about Cash and Carter. One surprising thing: Johnny Cash was never in prison. It was part of his myth.
Al and Janine and Pat and Paul are going to Branson, Missouri the last week of March. They have asked me to go with them. I think I might go. They rent a condo for a week. They golf during the day. I don't golf, but I can walk, read and do puzzles. In the evenings there are concerts and performances. I would have to board the dog, but it is do-able.
I'm going to the Lions Manor for dinner today. Mother invited me for turkey dinner in the dining room.
An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind. Mohandas Gandhi
Darwin, Muslims, Walking the Line, Branson MO
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Dennis would have had something to say about this issue. He would have agreed with the writer. He campaigned here for February 12 to be Darwin Day. He wasn't successful, but who knows what the future may bring.
He also would have commented, perhaps ad nauseum, about the recent events surrounding the Danish cartoon fiasco. Here's my take on that. It isn't right to mock other people's beliefs, but the Muslims who are reacting with violence aren't doing their cause any good, either. Sahina Siddiqui, a Winnipeg writer who is a Muslim, wrote in an article recently that the Muslims who are perpetrating violence are only confirming the stereotype held by many non-Muslims. She called on Muslims to respond with actions showing their religion as a peaceful, positive force in the world. I'm with her. Violence is never a good response. The thing about violent retaliation is that it tends to escalate. Where does it stop?
Well, enough about politics. My rants are a little shorter than Dennis', but also less passionate. I went to see Walk The Line with Al and Janine last night. It was excellent. Both Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix deserved the Oscar nomination. Even those who aren't fans of country music will enjoy this movie. I learned a lot about Cash and Carter. One surprising thing: Johnny Cash was never in prison. It was part of his myth.
Al and Janine and Pat and Paul are going to Branson, Missouri the last week of March. They have asked me to go with them. I think I might go. They rent a condo for a week. They golf during the day. I don't golf, but I can walk, read and do puzzles. In the evenings there are concerts and performances. I would have to board the dog, but it is do-able.
I'm going to the Lions Manor for dinner today. Mother invited me for turkey dinner in the dining room.
An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind. Mohandas Gandhi
Darwin, Muslims, Walking the Line, Branson MO
2006/02/04
Reh-fit, comedy, Oscars
Yesterday I went for lunch with Terri. She and Morgan are old friends. Or maybe I should say long-time friends. After taking Suzie for a walk I went to the Reh-fit for some exercise. It feels good to get back to regular aerobic exercise. Then I talked to Margot for an hour. It sure is good to hear her voice.
Then I watched some comedy shows: This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Royal Canadian Air Farce, a couple of new ones that weren't that great.
I am trying to think of something to do to mark what would have been our 39th anniversary on Feb. 17. The only things I came up with were: going to the Air Museum and watching some of Dennis' favourite comedy movies. If anyone has any ideas, pass them on.
Tonight I am going to see Walk The Line with Al and Janine. I'm looking forward to it. One of the things Dennis and I did about this time of year was to take in as many of the Oscar nominees as possible. I have seen some of them, but tonight will be another one off the list. I saw King Kong - loved it- but it was too long. Three and a half hours! Peter Jackson could have edited out an hour and still had a great movie.
Brokeback Mountain was terrific. Heath Ledger gave a once in a lifetime portrayal. I'd like to see him win. Did you know most of the outdoor scenes were shot in Alberta? Yeah, right here in Canada. Great scenery.
I saw Mrs. Henderson Presents. It was very enjoyable. Bob Hoskins and Judy Dench are always good.
Well, it's bye-bye from me.
"Life is very shortAnd there's no time for fighting and fussing my friends."...The Beatles
Reh-fit, comedy, Oscars
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Then I watched some comedy shows: This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Royal Canadian Air Farce, a couple of new ones that weren't that great.
I am trying to think of something to do to mark what would have been our 39th anniversary on Feb. 17. The only things I came up with were: going to the Air Museum and watching some of Dennis' favourite comedy movies. If anyone has any ideas, pass them on.
Tonight I am going to see Walk The Line with Al and Janine. I'm looking forward to it. One of the things Dennis and I did about this time of year was to take in as many of the Oscar nominees as possible. I have seen some of them, but tonight will be another one off the list. I saw King Kong - loved it- but it was too long. Three and a half hours! Peter Jackson could have edited out an hour and still had a great movie.
Brokeback Mountain was terrific. Heath Ledger gave a once in a lifetime portrayal. I'd like to see him win. Did you know most of the outdoor scenes were shot in Alberta? Yeah, right here in Canada. Great scenery.
I saw Mrs. Henderson Presents. It was very enjoyable. Bob Hoskins and Judy Dench are always good.
Well, it's bye-bye from me.
"Life is very shortAnd there's no time for fighting and fussing my friends."...The Beatles
Reh-fit, comedy, Oscars
2006/02/02
Mother, Snowthrower, Reh-fit, More Upbeat
Today I took Mother to the opthalmologist. Everything checked out okay. Dr. Long said she had, "...the best field test I've seen today." Mother beamed as if he'd told her she won a prize. He wanted her to have some new-fangled test that shows more detailed pictures of the back of the eyeball, but since that would have cost her $75, she couldn't see doing that. (All right, so I stole that one from Dennis. He'll never miss it.) Then we went to Timmy's for lunch and her bank. The TD bank no longer runs a branch at the Lion's Manor which doesn't make it all that convenient for her to get cash, but she can always phone me and I can get her some cash. Gary, you won't believe it, but she went to Zellers and she actually bought a parka! Woohoo. Although she might get me to take it back within the week.
Then I came home, took the dog for a walk and did some snow clearing. That's my exercise for the day. The snow thrower ran out of gas and I couldn't get the cap off the gas container. I had to go across the street and ask my neighbour to take it off for me. Boy did I feel like the 98 pound weakling.
Speaking of exercise, the Reh-fit Centre finally re-opened on Monday and WOW. The next time Gary and Carolyn come, they'll have to come and see it. Beeootiful. One woman in the locker room said it was just like a spa. There was just one thing missing. I'm sorry he never did get to see the new, improved, beautiful Reh-fit. I plan to make a donation to the Centre and get his name put on a plaque on the Honour Wall. I think he would have liked that.
Hey! The new Survivor series starts tonight. Yipppeee! And tomorrow I'm having lunch with Terri. That's Morgan's wife. I'm trying harder to be upbeat. I think it's working.
Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Mother, Snowthrower, Reh-fit, More Upbeat
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Then I came home, took the dog for a walk and did some snow clearing. That's my exercise for the day. The snow thrower ran out of gas and I couldn't get the cap off the gas container. I had to go across the street and ask my neighbour to take it off for me. Boy did I feel like the 98 pound weakling.
Speaking of exercise, the Reh-fit Centre finally re-opened on Monday and WOW. The next time Gary and Carolyn come, they'll have to come and see it. Beeootiful. One woman in the locker room said it was just like a spa. There was just one thing missing. I'm sorry he never did get to see the new, improved, beautiful Reh-fit. I plan to make a donation to the Centre and get his name put on a plaque on the Honour Wall. I think he would have liked that.
Hey! The new Survivor series starts tonight. Yipppeee! And tomorrow I'm having lunch with Terri. That's Morgan's wife. I'm trying harder to be upbeat. I think it's working.
Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Mother, Snowthrower, Reh-fit, More Upbeat
2006/02/01
New Prairie Dog, Subbing, Wedding, RV, Handycam
Here it is the first day of a new month. I have finally reread all of the Prairie Dog Blog. I had not read some of the entries. I learned more about him as I read. I did not know how much he missed me when I went to visit my Dad. He said: "Where you used to be there is a big hole in my world. In the daytime I walk around it, but at night I fall in." That pretty much describes how it has been for me for the last couple of months. He had the soul of a poet. My heart is so full of love for him.
I will take over the Prairie Dog Blog. I won't be as funny as Dennis was. No one could be. And I probably won't rant about political issues as much as he did. It will be different, but maybe it will help to keep his spirit alive. He was such a passionate person about so many things. It's one of the things I loved most about him.
I am taking all the old audio and video tapes and having them put on CD and DVD. Gotta get with the new technology. Warp into the twenty-first century. Funny, we always talked about doing that, but never got around to it.
I substituted at the Island, my old school, today. Grade five, nice bunch. A sweet little girl came to me right after I arrived and said," The last time you were here talking to Mrs. D. you looked really sad." I said, "Yes, my husband died just before Christmas." She said, "Oh, I am so sorry." Do you need to wonder why I love subbing at the Island? And some people say the young are irresponsible or uncaring. Not to me they aren't.
After supper I went for a meeting with a new client. I will be performing their wedding on May 27. It will be wonderful to do another wedding. I would love to do many, many weddings. I wish for them at least 40 years of happiness like I had. Love isn't the best thing - it's the only thing!
I see by Gary's blog he has been golfing down in Arizona. And what's up with all those complaints about sunny days! But I'm glad they are enjoying the winter down south. I'm a little envious. As I take the dog for a walk through the slush I find it hard going. It's like walking in the sand.
I am having second thoughts about selling the RV. I have made a list of the advantages of selling and of keeping. That's me, the consummate analyst. I need to talk to some other people about this, too. If I keep it I will have a lot to learn about looking after it. But, hey, I can do it. I learned how to use the snowblower thanks to the help of my two brothers-in-law. And I have used it four or five times so far this winter. In spite of the fact that we have had a record-breaking January. Warmest on record. But a fair amount of snow.
I did something very impulsive last Saturday. I bought myself a Sony handycam. I haven't even really learned how to use the digital camera yet. It'll be something to keep me busy when I visit BC.
Well, must go. It's getting late.
Remember, I'm pullin' for ya. We're all in this together. (Red Green)
New Prairie Dog, Subbing, Wedding, RV, Handycam
0 comments
I will take over the Prairie Dog Blog. I won't be as funny as Dennis was. No one could be. And I probably won't rant about political issues as much as he did. It will be different, but maybe it will help to keep his spirit alive. He was such a passionate person about so many things. It's one of the things I loved most about him.
I am taking all the old audio and video tapes and having them put on CD and DVD. Gotta get with the new technology. Warp into the twenty-first century. Funny, we always talked about doing that, but never got around to it.
I substituted at the Island, my old school, today. Grade five, nice bunch. A sweet little girl came to me right after I arrived and said," The last time you were here talking to Mrs. D. you looked really sad." I said, "Yes, my husband died just before Christmas." She said, "Oh, I am so sorry." Do you need to wonder why I love subbing at the Island? And some people say the young are irresponsible or uncaring. Not to me they aren't.
After supper I went for a meeting with a new client. I will be performing their wedding on May 27. It will be wonderful to do another wedding. I would love to do many, many weddings. I wish for them at least 40 years of happiness like I had. Love isn't the best thing - it's the only thing!
I see by Gary's blog he has been golfing down in Arizona. And what's up with all those complaints about sunny days! But I'm glad they are enjoying the winter down south. I'm a little envious. As I take the dog for a walk through the slush I find it hard going. It's like walking in the sand.
I am having second thoughts about selling the RV. I have made a list of the advantages of selling and of keeping. That's me, the consummate analyst. I need to talk to some other people about this, too. If I keep it I will have a lot to learn about looking after it. But, hey, I can do it. I learned how to use the snowblower thanks to the help of my two brothers-in-law. And I have used it four or five times so far this winter. In spite of the fact that we have had a record-breaking January. Warmest on record. But a fair amount of snow.
I did something very impulsive last Saturday. I bought myself a Sony handycam. I haven't even really learned how to use the digital camera yet. It'll be something to keep me busy when I visit BC.
Well, must go. It's getting late.
Remember, I'm pullin' for ya. We're all in this together. (Red Green)
New Prairie Dog, Subbing, Wedding, RV, Handycam
