11-11-11 The Game is Afoot

Well it is a game and not a foot but somehow the old saying seemed apropos.  My friend Georgette has tagged me and for this rare moment  I am taking on the challenge with great vigor.  It’s time for some fun.  The kind of fun to stretch our minds and occupy our winter laden cob webbed brains.

The Rules: 

1. Post these rules. 2. Post a photo of yourself and eleven random facts about you. 3. Answer the questions given to you in the tagger’s post. 4. Create eleven new questions and tag new people to answer them. 5. Go to their blog/twitter and let them know they have been tagged.

 

Winter fun

Rules are posted – so far so good.

I took this photo yesterday morning when I had the boys outside for crisp sunny play. (then we went to lunch and an indoor playground, then swimming in the afternoon.  whew! So photo added – check!

Now for 11 random facts.

1)  No matter how tired or achy or old I feel, when there is a chance to romp, play or swim with my Grands I will do it.  That’s what analgesics were created for right?

2) My BFFs include Donna in Manitoba (I mean Mexico for the winter), my sisters and sister-in-law and a close circle of ladies with whom we play, dance, comfort encourage, support and commiserate.

3)  I have discovered over the  years that my band of women are the infrastructure to a good life.

4)  I have found that my male friends who were never romantic partners, are the best male friends for whom I need never appear perfectly coiffed figuaratively or literally.

5) I love using terms like ‘the game is afoot’.  Sayings more common to my  youth and perhaps more quizzical to youths. (Apparently the original phrase, according to phrases.org.uk came from Shakespeare’s King Henry 1v Part 1, 1597: – meaning the process is in active existence: for example ‘The teams are on the pitch- the whistle blows – the game is afoot”)

6)  I have been around since the days of horse-drawn ice wagons, and love the memories and in spite of staying active and current, occasionally find myself feeling dinosaurish, a feeling I fight again and again and…well you get the idea

7)  I struggle to write my stories and have just discovered a feeling of freedom when I loudly proclaim, “I am not a writer, I am a reader!”  The feeling of freedom is fleeting as there seems to be on going discussion within.  (I am also a big fan of alliteration).

8)  My sons are my ‘solid gold’ in this world and the next, and my pride and pleasure at the men they have become fills my heart with eternal joy and gratitude.

9)  There are judgements we heap upon our parents when we are children I think, that we don’t understand until we are adults with young one.  I have quiet conversations to myself with my long departed parents to let them know what I have now realized that I did not then.

10)  I eat a perfect diet and am perfect in my activity and exercise and thrill to every physical challenge of life.  (At least in my mind.  The intention is there.)

11)  I believe we should believe very little of what we are told, or accept very little of the world as it is; of its truths, be it from the government, teachers, or preachers.  There is ‘A Truth‘ hidden within all of it.  It’s up to you to find YOUR truth.  Do not be swayed by public opinion or common acceptances of anything.

The next post – part 2 will continue with the eleven questions Georgette asked me and my answers, and my eleven questions for you.

Meanwhile another photo from yesterday.

Sun and Snow

 

 

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Daily Prompt: Helpless When? Always

Illustration of the Parkinson disease by Sir William Richard Gowers from A Manual of Diseases of the Nervous System in 1886 showing the characteristic posture of PD patients (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rethink Mental Illness (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Helplessness:  that dull, sick feeling of not being the one at the reins.  When did you last feel like that – and what did you do about it?

There is no last time to Helplessness.  It is a constant in many of our lives.  It doesn’t necessary pervade every aspect of our day but it exists.  I guess like the number one it is lonely.

What makes us helpless?  I think it is when we have a desire to change or alter something and have no apparent means of doing so.

We are helpless as we watch our children grow and make decisions that we don’t necessarily agree with and we have found out by experience there is a better way.  For some reason the wisdom learned from living does not always get passed along to the next generation.  Unfortunately this is more common than not.

We are helpless as we watch global violence unfold on our TV screens and it means little more than an action movie.

We are helpless as we watch the homeless trying to find shelter on a bitter cold night.

We are helpless as we watch loved ones struggle with and lose the battle against disease:  Cancer, Parkinson’s, Multi-system failure, and the most debilitating -depression, bipolar disease, and Personality Disorders.

And why are mental illnesses the most debilitating?

Unlike physical based illness, mental illness is often not comforted by touch and words.  We may not like it but can at least understand a physical failing or degeneration.  We can understand our bodies betraying us.  We are unable to reach inside someone’s head and remove offending thoughts that charge around causing confusion, fear and pain.  Strange thoughts, strange words.  Frightening.  And all we can do is stand outside the arena of horror as our loved ones fight and unseen but deadly battle.

We are helpless as these victims heap another pile of guilt on themselves knowing what it does to others.  To their loved ones.

We are helpless as we watch parents and children and partners dishing themselves an unhealthy serving of guilt believing that if they had been good, or done things differently the victim, their loved one would not have to endure hell on earth.

Sometimes the worst hells are not the ones we walk through ourselves but the ones others have to go through and we are helpless to change

Helpless.  That’s us.

And sometimes all we can do is pray and believe in prayer and pray some more.  Do you know I have had atheists tell me they have prayed in crisis.  Not to a defined diety but to something.

I have seen the miracle of prayer.  Sometimes prayer may must bring some comfort, some strength if not healing.

Gosh I hope some of you have been able to come up with a funny take on this WordPress prompt.  Otherwise – we – remain- helpless – in too many areas.

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This Writer – Reality – Show or No Show

This Writer

Reality is such a strange thing not at all reflective of what TV calls reality shows.  No such thing I think.  It’s a non real idea of whatever quirky presentation will click with the public.  That’s you and me – the public.

My mind continually tried to wend its way deep into the fabric, the fibre of our existence.  How much is real and how much is a bill of goods sold to us because we have been trained to believe, even embrace ‘experts‘.

The whole ‘expert’ idea sis somewhat silly for every ‘expert’ touting A there is another touting B.

My BFF and I found this a few years ago when each of us argued about nail and hair growth post-mortem.  I supplied documented scientific corroborated information on one side of the argument and she sent me information equally reliable from other scientific sources saying just the opposite.  I think that is when I started to question so many declarations of truth and reality.  If the experts don’t agree then wherein lies the truth.

In 1972 my first son was born and there was no question about circumcision and you had to give a pretty good argument why you would not want it.  In 1975 my second son was born and then ‘the experts’ changed their mind and you had to argue exactly why you wanted it done.  This past week in the news ‘experts’ now say all male babies should be circumcised.  A number of expectant mothers were interviewed and said, “Well if the experts recommend it then that is what I will do.

In the sixties a protein rich diet was common.  Then western society began to get more obese (no one thought to say stay away from MacDonalds or Red Barn or any other fast food joint), instead the experts cried, “CARBS!”  Then society grew more obese on pasta. Competition became more fierce in the dining industry as more people went out for food, and the portions became unreasonably large (would you like to King Size that?) to make the consumer feel like they were getting the best bang for their buck.

It is unfortunate that we have come to idolize letters, (BA, MBA, PHD) and will believe whatever they choose to feed us.

It makes me wonder a couple of things:  1. we know longer trust our judgement in what we are being told.  We just believe the experts.  2. what if everything we have been told is malarky?  There are too many people willing to believe someone else.  I think we are losing our ability to think for ourselves.

I have long suspected that having to have a certain number of calories a day or a specific amount of vitiamins and nutrition might also be garbage.  Governments, dieticians, people selling all say so.  You know the ‘experts’.  Well guess what?  The other day on the news it was reported that scientists have now found that what we eat is less important than how much we eat and that in fact the human body can do with way less than recommended AND that if you want to live a long life you must eat much less.

Actually that sounds more reasonable to me, but friends who have bought into the whole nutrition thing are shocked that I would even utter such a thought.

The worst thing I think is that all the 60’s folk who questioned ‘ who am I’ and don’t believe ‘the man’ are now the biggest supporters of believing whatever others want to feed us.

Personally I think I am going to question everything.  I can prove my theory but alas debate is futile because so can any one disgreeing.  We need to stop appointing people as ‘experts.   Degrees mean nothing in the grass roots thinking world.

Hmm that was almost a rant wasn’t it?  Oh well now I have to go and consider the reality of rants.  Y’all have a good day.

Kirk Cameron has a right to voice his opinion

Recently Kirk Cameron was asked his opinion by that ass Piers Morgan who was seeking to attain better sensationalism ratings by knowingly bringing up controversial topics. Kirk gave his known opinion and as a result is suffering outrageous response reaction.
The opinion..yours, mine, his, does not matter. What does matter is his right to express that opinion, which by the way he was not forcing on us.
He spoke true to his beliefs but it seems free speech is only acceptable when the words are acceptable to the very groups who initially had to fight for the right.

Asses.

I Marked A Wonderful Day Pakulaked With Fun

I Marked A Wonderful Day Pakulaked With Fun

Did you notice what I did there?  Thanks to Mark…Pakulak of course..who allowed me to do a guest post on his golden site I got to meet and find and subscribe to some major A listers and I had a ball!  Thank you redriverpak.wordpress.com!

Now here comes the tricky part….we absolutely must give Mark his 2 millionth hit on March 15th.  That’s the date I chose and the prize is to be adored by him for one week..and yes his wife is fine with this.  So here is the plan….I’ll watch his stats and if he has not reached it by the Ides of March we must, all do us click ourselves silly.  I am beginning to think he will hit it before The Ides HOWEVER if we miss that one we will do it for the 3 million mark.  I love it when a plan comes together! ( As Hannibal, no not Lecter but the other one on A team says).

I have had some great things happen in my life but I gotta say…this was special!,

Mark..I am glad your surgery has been approved and would like to offer free nursing care for that month..but no I do not do poop patrol..but will be happy to direct!!

If Snowflakes Fell in Flavours

If Snowflakes Fell in Flavours
 
One or two years ago, thirty odd to be almost exact, I took my children to the Haliburton Highlands each summer to a cottage. It was a delightful little rustic dwelling with a wood stove and screened in porch right on Lake Haliburton with a shallow beach ideal for wee ones and a diving platform further out. When the odd storm came up we would wrap ourselves in blankets and sit on the porch and enjoy nature’s fury as the wind blew horizontal rain and thunder clapped and lightning provided a better show than man could ever construe.

 
Most times the weather was ideal with sun and gentle breezes rustling the leaves of mighty oaks, elms and maples that sheltered us in a world far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. No TV or Internet just games, running, laughing and splashing ourselves into deep untroubled sleeps at night. The only goal was relaxation and community with other cottagers.
 
We met many people over the years but one family in particular remains a frequent memory. When we first met they were just ordinary folk on holiday and then they told us about their lives. Family singers and musicians were very popular then and this whole family sang and produced records.
 
I don’t remember if we bought the most recent LP (long playing record) or if they just gave it to us but ‘If Snowflakes Fell in Flavours’ quickly became a favourite often played once we returned home. Shortly after that holiday I flew out west to Vancouver Island to visit friends with two young children and took a copy to them.
 
The family of singers have no idea how much pleasure they brought to us and I have no idea what happened to them but for one summer the very thought of flavoured snowflakes brought smiles and happiness to a few of us across the country.

**Thanks to Google again.  A search shows the song  was by Sandy Offenheim and all my favs are there including Let’s Play a Statue Game.  The bio says that Sandy Offenheim is a Canadian teacher, children’s song writer and performer, who recorded four albums of her original kids’ songs with her husband Harold and their children, Nadine and Stephen while they were growing up.

Well I am glad I had that memory today and want to thank Sandy and her family for providing such wonderful entertainment.