Christmas is coming!

Twas the season... christmas is coming fast and furious again this year!  I have a different christmas calendar than most, although I am learning how to get at it sooner, so that I don't get the usual distain from my friends and family <What!  You don't have your tree up yet!>  Like everything needs to be done by December 1st!!  They have really missed the point of the christmas spirit, and journey to the 25th day of December which will end with time with family, giving of presents, and over-eating a lovingly, wonderful christmas meal!

My 2011 Christmas plans goes like this:

  

*Shopping
I always start to pick up gifts all year long with the idea that it will become either a birthday or christmas gift!  Spread the funds, if you know what I mean.  With some thought, a list, and a couple mad shopping days in December usually works to get everything needed in time for the holidays.  Online shopping has really helped out here too!

*First things first
When you have limited time, you have to organize and prioritize to meet your goals.  Normally, this time of year, I am working like crazy on course assignments and studying for exams, because I have been upgrading my education through distance learning for the last several years.  It's a slow but sure means, but I feel that my effort will reward me in the end.  If not, I will still have that piece of paper!  :P 

*Decorating
Tomorrow, I will start to pull out the christmas decorations, get the tree up.  Yup, it should be done by tomorrow night if all goes well!  It takes usually a full day and some christmas music to accomplish this task!  It usually works well when there is a snow storm happening outside as well.   I take care with my ornaments as I hang them on the tree, it is a science!!  I have ornaments with meaning, and some were gifts, some were created by loved ones, some represent meaningful periods in my life.  It's a time to remember...

*Baking
Next, I will start to make a list of favourite christmas baked treats.  A few hours looking through cook books, and maybe some online searching for specific recipes, then making the list of needed ingredients, and a trip to the store.  Once I have all the stuff needed, I go to work and decide which desserts to do first, and which ones need to be done closer to christmas.  If you are planning to do this for gifts, it can be dressed up with fancy christmas plates or baskets, and wrapped in cellophane.  The year I got my bread machine, everyone got fancy bread loaves.  I usually plan several squares and cookies for this.  Some chocolate and butterscotch squares, shortbread and sugar cookies!!  Many years, I just had to cut something out because I was out of time - we didn't need the extra calories anyways... but I would buy a few treats from the store.  I'm not above trying to create greatness but I am realistic!!  It's all about presentation - does it really matter who made it!  However, there is a fun element if you make some kind of treat, even if it's Rice Krispie Squares.

*Wrapping
I wrap my gifts as a process of elimination!  I have some friends that always travel home for christmas and leave almost a week before christmas!  These gifts have to bought, wrapped and given - all about a week before christmas!!  We do the exchange and have an evening to enjoy a couple drinks and celebrate our friendship! 

I used to like wrapping my christmas gifts on christmas eve, but mostly because it was the last thing on the list to finish up before morning.  But for the last few years, I have another friend that likes to come over and hang out on christmas eve!  This means, I actually get my wrapping done a few days earlier just to make sure I have time to socialize!!

I must admit that the tree does look a lot nicer with all the gifts ready, and with the lights on, it just warms the soul with christmas spirit and excitment!

*Family
Christmas day is a family day!  After our quick christmas exchange at home, it's off to my parents!  I don't worry about cooking for christmas.  It's a mom thing... she's still the one who insists on doing the cooking!  Although when we all get together, it becomes a family cooking event.  Everything is so good... and all my favourites!  After our christmas lunch, we finally get to the gift exchange.  The day always goes so fast!!  What a lot of effort for one day of celebration!  Yes, the effort is well worth it!!

*Christmas meaning
Least we forget the real meaning of Christmas!!  It's the celebration of our Lord's birth!  The Christmas spirit is about giving, hope, and faith!  Opening your heart to the real meaning of christmas will fill your heart with joy and happiness.  Just like all those christmas movies with the happy, feel-good feelings!

When you wake up on December 26th, you can always return to your normal ways... but christmas will be coming again!!!  :O


Merry Christmas Everyone!!!  All the best for a wonderful celebration!
S

CMA Awards

CMA = Country Music Awards!!!  Is on TV tonight and it's just so awesome!!

I have been a country music fan all my life!  My parents too!  My Dad used to sing in a band as a young man, and he can play several musical instruments.  My Grandpa B played the fiddle.  Everytime he would babysit us kids, we would wait for our parents to drive out the driveway, and then go get Dad's fiddle for him to play.  I remember he always liked to play Jingle Bells!!  We loved it!  We would dance around on the floor!  One story that I remember being told to me was when Grandpa B was working in the mine back in the 40s, and the mine flew in Hank Williams sr. to entertain the workers.  The fiddle player got drunk, and fell off the stage.  The band asked my grandpa to play with them.  Cause what's a country song without a fiddle!!!  :P  Unfortunately, I didn't pick up any musical instruments, except to play the stereo and sing along!!

I love the old country music, and I love the new country music!  I love bluegrass too!  It's soul music for me.  When I was in grade 7, I got a radio for christmas.  Late night skip would bring in the radio stations from the south, and I would listen to CFGM out of Richmond Hill, Ontario.  There was a call-in request program that use to come on late, and I would listen to it every night with my earphone so my parents wouldn't know that I was still up.  Most nights I would be fast to sleep, and the radio knocked to the floor playing out the earphone at 3am.  Once I woke up to the clearest version of "Ring of Fire" sung by Johnny Cash playing.  I still love that song every time I hear it to this day!!  Being the late 70s-early 80s, songs like "Joanie" sung by Conway Twitty, and "One Day At A Time" sung by the canadian singer, Carroll Baker were my favourites.  So fresh and new to me, I just waited on pins and needles to hear what song was going to be requested next.  I tried a few times to call in and get a song played, but never ever got through.  That was probably a blessing because I don't know which song I would want to hear!  LOL!

Fast-forward to 1997, and my hubby and I took a trip and stopped in Nashville, TN!  Country Music City!!  I was a like a sponge drinking up all the history!  Never did get to see anyone famous or any shows cause it was just a quick stop over for a couple days.  We did get to tour the Grand Ole Opry where we stood in the famous circle where so many GREAT country singers have stood to entertain the audience.  We got to sing "You are my Sunshine!"  I just belted it out like there was no tomorrow!!  HEHE!  I am truly a redneck deep in my soul, and I'm not ashamed to admit it!  As the years pass me by, I sometimes have to reign it in!

I have so many great memories attached to so many great country songs and country singers!  As I close off here, Taylor Swift is singing on the 45th CMA, and I'm still waiting to hear Faith Hill (who btw is 4 days older than me).  I am also looking forward to the tribute to Glen Campbell "The Rhinestone Cowboy."  Luke Bryan is singing "Country Girl Shake It For Me, Girl" and that's my new favourite song!  Miss Piggy just floored Brad Paisley!  LOL!!  Awesome show, just what this country girl needed!

NIGHT Y'ALL!  Going to enjoy the rest of the 45th CMA Awards!~

S

Twitter Parties

Since I joined Twitter a few years back now, I have been trying to figure it out.  At first, I used it mainly to stock celebrities and try to discover the real person under the persona.  I started to get bored with that, and I would just randomly pick someone who was following someone, who was following someone, and add them to my follow collection. 

My first real twitter contact was a lady from Alabama who posted tornado pictures.  I added her so that I would see more pictures if she posted them, and to find out how the area was recovering.  It was like seeing into another world from where I lived.  Well, didn't she fool me, and followed me back!!  From there, I have discovered more real twitter people!!  Professional people, casual people, funny people, writers, more celebrites, and more.

Since twitter is a world-wide topic hot spot, I found myself following folks who could provide a learning experience on my topics of interest.  That is when I made my second real twitter contact, a nice lady out of Michigan who runs a marketing online business.  She is good too!!  You can check out her blog, Indiebizchicks. She was hosting a twitter party, and that is how I came to join in.  I've been to a few of them now, and they are always informative and entertaining! 

A twitter party is an online chat set at a specified time and topic.  Just sign in and join in!!  You can learn so much in such a short amount of time.  Normally, a twitter party will range for about one hour.  A list of questions are put out there bit by bit, and the conversation will usually take off on its own.  I have joined a few now, and I've always been made welcome!!  Occassionally, I will have something of value to throw into the conversation, and that makes me feel good that I can offer something to the group since I usually take away more than I give.

If you have an opportunity to participate in a twitter party, I say "Go for IT!!"  You will have a great time, and learn something - even if it's about learning the process of a twitter party.  Technology has advanced us so far from the days of typewriters and secretaries.  The whole social network media is huge, and there are so many ways to network and find like-minded people to share with.

**Some important points I try to keep in mind at all times with social media - and internet in general.

• Make positive comments out into the universe, because negativity comes back to bite you when you least expect it!
• Don't have regrets, if you are posting pictures, make sure it is something you won't regret it tomorrow or 10 years from now.
• Think about how you use your online voice and message, does it reflect you in a favorable way?
• Participate and learn something new, it's good to learn new technology, and then share with others. 

Well, the twitter party was over a couple hours ago, and I'm still charged up!  LOL!  It was exciting, and I had a great time!  So if you have been on the verge of trying this new technology, I say, "Jump right in there!"  It's a great way to learn something new on the technology process, and your topic of interest too!

Have a great evening folks!  Until next time....

S

50 years...

Well in about 6 minutes, my hubby will have a big 5-0 birthday!!  He does not like birthdays, and this one is probably even worst because it marks a 1/2 century.  Even though he is against any of my wonderful birthday celebration ideas, I put together a small dinner party to pre-celebrate his day tomorrow with some close friends.

There is always prep work to be done for such a special occasion:  house cleaning, shopping for food & drink, and the gift, cooking the meal, getting the cake, and dressing the part!  I was even able to fit in an hour to have a nap before the big shin-dig!  I pulled out a bottle of wine to get the party started... and the girls enjoyed it very much!  LOL!

So, even though he was being a party-pooper this morning when I announced we were having dinner guests for his birthday - it turned out very nice!!  I think he really enjoyed his day today.  On his real birthday, he can also enjoy his day again!  And eat leftover cake...  It was even nice enough for him to go out for a motorcycle ride which usually helps to mellow him out a bit.

He got his gift early because last weekend was so rainy and cold here that he couldn't do anything much, so he was watching a comedy channel marathon of " The Big Bang Theory."  I thought he should be watching the real DVDs which he really wanted.  I ordered it from Amazon, knowing we would have our own marathon once he got the DVDs to watch.  I couldn't hold out any longer - so I surprised him with it a week early!  He really liked it, and we have been watching episode after episode all week, and again tonight!  :)  That's when I know I chose a great birthday gift to satisfy and enjoy!

He enjoyed the meal, the company, and his gifts!  Let's hope the next 50 years go by as wonderful!  Happy Birthday Hunny Bunny!  All the best for another 1/2 century to come...

Love
S

Canadian Thanksgiving

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!  Canadians at home and away get a chance to celebrate this weekend!  I enjoyed a wonderful day with my family yesterday with all the thanksgiving trimmings!!  I love a hot turkey supper with fresh garden vegetables, and pumpkin pie with whip cream!!!  One of my favourite meals!!  I always overeat because who can say no to all the treats of the day!  Soooo gooood...mmmm.... that I will live for today and only today!!  :)

Many people make a list for what and why they are thankful.  I have a list too!  I try to be thankful of my blessings (good or bad) every day of my life.  However, there are times when I just don't feel as thankful as while enjoying a great turkey meal with my family!

I am thankful that I live in a free society.  I am thankful for having a wonderful family to share the good and bad times with, and they are always there to support and guide me.  I am thankful to have job in today's economy (but I also believe that the other half of that equation gets the good deal too), so that I can buy the things I require to live healthy and happily.  I am thankful for the friends I have made and have known in my life.  I am thankful for being a kitty mommy for 18 years (I still miss my Misty!).

I am thankful for little things mostly!  Like hugs!  Yesterday was a great for hugs!  Showing my love and appreciation to my family!!  My other favouite "I love you" gesture is to tug gently on my loved one's ear lobe.  It's mostly for my niece and nephews.  I hope that I am a good aunt, because I want them to have the best they can out of life.  I like to encourage their interests, and listen to them explain how things are going.  I also am a bad influence too!  They probably learned to swear from me, and they also learned how to sing the song, Long Line of Losers (Montgomery Gentry).  I want them to have the same respect for their ancestors that I have acquired throughout the years!  Good or bad, we get it all from them!  That's something to be thankful for!  :P

So on this fine Thanksgiving weekend, we have great weather, great food, great company, and great times!!!  I hope that you have a chance to create some thanksgiving memories too! 

Happy Thanksgiving All!

Clipart illustration of a Thanksgiving cornucopia full of organic foods.

Clipart illustration by Rosie Piter exclusively for Acclaim Images.

 

Birthday Wishes

I can't believe a month has passed since my last blog post.  It almost sounds like a confession!  I could provide you with excuses, but that doesn't do much good either... when all I could say is that I got busy with life! 

Well it's birthday time again for me!!!  Some people just dread their birthday.  I am not one of those people!  I love birthdays - even as I get older with each one!  It means celebrating with the people in my life that matter the most, my family and friends.  It's about cake and presents - and making new resolutions going forward into the new year of my life.  Reflection of my life and my place of value in the world at large.

My favourite gift is birthday wishes!  It is so nice when someone remembers you on your birthday ~ it means you mattered!!!!!  That person values you and wants to honour you, and probably wants a piece of cake too.  LOL! :)  It's the celebration of life!!

One time my husband took me out to a really fancy, exclusive restaurant on my birthday.  There was only a few tables in the restaurant, and you had to reserve well in advance of your special day.  The meal came in courses, and each was a build-up to dessert, the finale.  It was excellent!!  What I remember most about that whole evening was there was only another couple dining, and the waitress serving our meal in the small dining room.  Having found out it was my birthday supper, the waitress put a candle in my dessert.  She came out singing happy birthday, my husband and the other couple in the restaurant all joined in to sing happy birthday to me!  That was the best gift ever, and I shall never forget.  I always sing too!!  I let my voice soar as high and as loud as possible.  It's one of my favourite songs - one that I never forget the words too!

Cake is the other thing that I enjoy about birthdays!  Chocolate is probably my favourite, but I have never had a bad cake on my birthday.  In fact, usually most of the time, I have more than one cake in celebrating my birthday.  One time I got to work and there was a black forest cake sitting on my desk at 8 o'clock in the morning.  I asked my co-worker, "what's this?"  One of our brokers heard it was my birthday and gave the co-worker money to buy me a cake!  What a very nice gesture!  I enjoyed being able to share it with everyone in the office too!  That day I think I had 3 cakes, one in the morning, one at lunch, and one in the evening!  I have almost caked out, which I didn't think could happen! 

 I really like gifts and presents too!  However, my best presents have always been the thoughtfulness of others.  It's the small things that matter.  I also like jewelry, girly things, clothes, make-up, CDs, and the gift that comes from the heart!  I look forward to birthday wishes.  The phone calls from family and friends to catch up because it's my birthday.  The moments in time that make it a special day because heartfelt gestures and wishes given to me!  I cherish those moments, and hopefully, give a few back to others when their special day rolls around.  I keep a note book filled with birthdays.  This way I can celebrated the person's birthday even when the birthday person doesn't want to celebrate!!  I just do not understand why they wouldn't want to enjoy a fabulous day, just one day out of the whole year to call it special!  If you were born on your birthday, then that day has to be special because of you!  So I figure anyways... please feel free to comment.

I will be celebrating on September 25th!  I will also be acknowledging others who share this day with me!  Growing up, I was excited to find others who shared my birthday.  There are 5 others I know locally.  There are several celebrities too!  I hope to someday meet Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, just to ask what is it like to be married to someone who shares your birthday!  Happy Birthday to Heather Locklear and Barbara Walters, two beautiful, strong women!  Happy Birthday to Will Smith!  A talented and funny guy!  I also want to take a moment to remember "Superman" Christopher Reeves.  He showed the world what it really takes to be a superman.  Wish you all a very happy birthday, celebrated with family and friends, filled with love and joy!


xoxoxo
S

Volunteerism ~ 4-H and Me!

Good Morning Everyone!

Today is going to be a 4-H day!  For some of you who don't know what 4-H means, let me explain!  4-H is a youth organization which was developed to teach youth between 12 to 21 years of age agriculture and homemaking skills in rural areas.  It started in Canada in the early 1900's, and as some old timers have stated it was known by a different name such as the Boys and Girls Club.  Now it is not just a program for rural kids, but has also penetrated urban settings.  The age limit has lowered as well, and in Ontario, the program accepts members as young as 10 years old.

My involvement with the 4-H program started when I turned 12 years old.  It was great to hang out with my friends, and do some really cool stuff.  Thanks to my mom, she lead the 4-H projects, not only for me, but my siblings, and a few of the local kids too!  She did the homemaking clubs, which now is referred to as Lifestyle clubs.  These clubs were directed more at the girls, but when the boys joined they had just as much fun!  We learned about cooking, baking, and sewing.  Now the lifestyle clubs include career development, sports, public speaking, dancing, photography, and you name it, it might be a project.  More are being developed each year!  There are also the staple clubs directed at agriculture:  beef, dairy, goat, sheep, horse, rabbit, and farm safety.  The program also generates opportunities for kids to travel, and gain new experiences.

When I was 15 years old, I participated in the 4-H Exchange program.  It was where kids from Ontario got to go and live one week in a different province in Canada, and then that 4-H member came back for a week to live with you and your family.  My exchange was from Swift Current, Saskatchewan.  We were the same age, had many similar interests, and became fast friends.  It was a great two weeks of my life, and that experience and friendship remains a special memory for me.  I can easily say at that time, that was the farthest away from home I had ever been!!!  Without the 4-H program, I would never have had that experience.  So 4-H remained part of my life until I went off to college, and then it faded into the background as I started my life, so to speak.

It wasn't until I was settled into a job that 4-H came back into my life.  A co-worker was talking about how his daughter was doing a 4-H project.  I said, "I was a 4-H member!"  The next day, I found the volunteer application on my desk ~ they were looking for help!  That was 13 years ago now!  :) 

I started by helping a local retired teacher run her 4-H club.  It was a year-round lifestyle club.  She ran project after project, and made up a few locally approved projects too.  She had incredible drive to bring these projects to the kids!  On average, I think she had 20-25 kids every meeting!  No wonder she needed some help!  LOL!  The number of kids' lives she touched in our local area was incredible, and I know that these kids got to learn a lot of new skills to carry them forward in their own lives!  She not only taught them the skills, but she also taught them manners, etiquette, how to respect each other, and how to run a meeting.  There were rules to follow if you wanted to be part of this 4-H club!  And every local kid did!  Many an upstanding citizen was created out of the 4-H Hillbilly club!

She asked me to come to the Association 4-H meeting.  This is where leaders from the local clubs got together to discuss 4-H business.  This was the level between the local clubs and the provincial 4-H body.  Having a strong office administration background, I was drawn to this kind of meeting.  Needless to say, my skills got put to work very quickly!  I left that meeting as the new 4-H Association Secretary.

Various jobs have followed, and I remain the 4-H Association administrator to this day.  An administrator does whatever is needed to keep the 4-H program working at the local level.  I have been the volunteer screening coordinator, secretary, treasurer, webmaster, newsletter editor, awards coordinator, region representative, club resource contact, and database coordinator.  Most of these jobs are interconnected, so it's like having one big job!  I still enjoy the administration tasks, and they aren't happening every day, but can kick into action any day or night!

I save up the various tasks, then I have a 4-H day, such as today!  This is when I might be doing any of the following.  Update the treasurer books, and get them brought up to speed.  Make sure correspondence is getting out to the local volunteers.  Explain the procedures to new volunteers who want to get a club running, and direct interested people on how to become a volunteer with the 4-H program.  Get the registration forms out to the club volunteers to start their clubs, make sure project club manuals are copied, and ready for the start of the club.  Make sure the 4-H kids are registered in the provincial database for their project awards!   Request the awards to be sent in time for achievement day ~ and when they aren't ~ make them up myself so that there won't be disappointed kids!!!  Have a conference call with 4-H Ontario on new procedures and process changes, and implement these changes to the local level.  Set up meetings, and call volunteers with meeting reminders the night before so to get a good turn out.

It is a thankless job, but the pay cheque comes from knowing I have made a difference in someone's life ~ in particularly a 4-H member!  I am not on the front lines as our club volunteers are!  They deserve the credit for giving these kids the 4-H experience!!!  I am the support behind the scenes, and I have enjoyed being a supportive structure to the 4-H program in Temiskaming.

However, if there is anyone in my local area interested in taking over any of these tasks, we can beginning training right away.  Just email me!  :)  Check out our website:  http://www.temiskaming4-h.ca/

Yours in 4-H spirit,
S

A Friend In Need

Just got home from my friend's place!  She called several hours ago, upset, crying, and all she could say is "I think I'm going to be sick!"  She's a single lady, living on her own, so I rushed right over to find out what was really going on.  As soon as I arrived, I started grilling her to get the full story.  Did you have anything to eat?  What did you eat?  What are your symptoms?  Have you taken any medication?  Do you need to go to the hospital?  Once I established that she didn't need the doctor just yet, we started to drill down into her symptoms.  Stomach issues, migraine headache, eye pressure, stress, and the works!  It was time for me, her friend, to jump into action!

She's been dealing with a lot lately.  Just found out her dad has cancer, and the whole family has been adjusting to the news!  However, he is fighting hard to win, and there are good days and bad days.  The bad days are hard on the whole family.  My friend is very close to her Dad!  This has been devastating news, and I think she just gets overwhelmed and can't stop to relax.

The mind is a funny thing!  It controls the whole body, and stress will work up on a person, and not let them get into the relaxed state of mind.  She had been dealing with these bouts on and off since Sunday.  So we medicated for the headache, and I got her some water to hydrate her.  I got her to lay down and try to rest.  She was able to talk out some of her concerns, just having someone there to listen and give a different perspective on the situation makes a big difference.  So, we hung out and she started to feel better.  When I took my leave, she was feeling much better than the state I found her when I arrived.  She even laughed a few times.

I think it's important to be a good friend when a friend is need.  I definitely don't have the answers to medical  or psychology questions, but I care enough to be there.  If I can help out in some way, I am willing to give that much and more if needed.  Thankfully, my husband put the leftover food from supper away for me.  My scrapbooking project was left on the table (the same table that finally got a corner cleaned off).  The computer and printer was left on in my mad rush to get over to my friend's place.  None of that mattered on the way over - only making sure my friend was ok.  Gladly, she is doing better now!

Count our blessings, large and small.  When we are alone, it's nice to have someone to reach out to help in our time of need.  Whether it be a quick phone call, or a visit to check on a friend in need - it is those life relationships in which we find our rewards.  At least, that's the way it for me.


S

Restlessness or Just too much Sugar!

Good Morning Everyone!  As I drag myself out of bed, and wonder what happened last night.  You would almost think I was on a drunk, but that wasn't the case!  I woke up about 1:30 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep until 4 a.m. ~ I bounced around the bed, just trying to find a comfortable spot to induce sleep, but NO GO!  I finally decided to do some reading, and I finished the book I had on the go.  I wondered what caused this bout of restlessness? 

Probably too much excitement from the day!  I had been invited to a potluck lunch at my Aunt's place, in honour of my cousin coming home from California for a visit.  It's like 3,000 miles from her place so she doesn't come home often.  Thankfully for the internet, we can keep in touch on a regular basis!  It was also a great opportunity to see other family members who I haven't actually been in touch with for a while.  I love these kinds of days, asking questions, and finding out where everyone is and what they are doing.  We reminisce about our family history:  stories of the old times about ourselves, our parents, our grandparents, and great-grandparents.  I love genealogy, and I like to hear the stories again.  Sometimes you actually get to hear a new story or two, but it's a way to reaffirm our family connection to each other through our unique history.  What do they say?  You don't choose your family, isn't that so!!

I am very lucky to be part of a family who has remained close during our youth, and now even into our adult lives.  We are close with our parents, and we try to keep in each other's lives on a consistent basis.  Internet has made this easier for sure!  It's an effort sometimes because there is a lot going on, but who better to share the ups and downs of our lives with!

I realize some families don't operate like this.  He said, she said, and they said, and everyone goes to their corners to sulk over what was said.  I would rather call them out, and have it out big time!  Get it out and get it over with!  So the under current of the existing family feud between my Aunt and my cousin's brother continues... at least, he came to see his sister!  I'm sure he had to endure the relatives whispering in a corner, and the silent undertone of the unsaid comments floating through the air.  The buttinski Aunt (sister to his mother) making her way over to let her views be known, and set him straight.  I'm sure this little talk solved that feud once and for all!  LOL!  I've had some of these conversations with her, and sometimes you just don't need a lecture from someone that righteous!  I think it probably takes a little more than this to solve the family relationship conflicts.  Sometimes it takes being the bigger person and saying your sorry or empathize with the person, even when you don't feel this way, just to open the door to communication.  I think this rift can be fixed, but it's up to those involved to make the first move, and start talking openly and honestly.  But despite all this, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and have a good time!

Now, getting back to the potluck lunch!  Everyone brings something!  I chose to bring my new recipe,  Green Bean, Tomato, and Chickpea Salad, which is healthy as well as something different.  I was also asked to bring a dessert, and that got the creative juices flowing.  I ended up with making a trifle, something I never tried before.  I got out the punch bowl, and started layering cake, fruit, pudding, whip cream.  It was a massive hit!  The problem with lunches like this is, you always eat way too much!  One plate full or two of the main course, and there was lots of choose from!  Of course, one plate full or two of dessert.  My plate was full with trifle, blueberry cheese cake, some banana bread loaded with butter!  MMM... this is my favourite part of the lunch!

However, I think the sugar rush got me last night!  More likely, it was the digestion process finally getting to sort through all the goodies I managed to inhale while chatting it up with family.  Sometimes we also have to digest the emotional food for thought from the interactions of the day as well, and even though it doesn't feel stressful at the time, it will come back on you later to reprocess and sort through.  You can count on having some of these nights from time to time.  Hopefully, they don't come too often ~ otherwise, you might need to rely on heavier measures to get back to sleep.  My preferred methods usually start with:

• Toss and turn, move the pillows around until I find a comfortable spot.
• Let my mind wander, sorting through the darkness to find a solution to what is keeping me up.  If this doesn't work:
• Get up and wander around the house, stopping for bathroom break and a drink.
• Turn on the light.  This usually leads to picking up my book, and read a little until I get tired enough to sleep.  Or listen to music on my mp3 player, and rock out for a while.
• Watch TV for a while is usually my last resort.

Normally, I just let my mind wander, and usually by morning light, I have figured it all out, and doze into acceptance that everything is in its place for the time being!  If I am able to pick out any insights from my night's insomnia, they always look a little different in the daylight then from the thick of night.  Many a decision came to me through a bout of insomnia!  This is the time your inner voice can actually talk to you, and you should heed what it tells you.  Sometimes it's just your digestion telling you a different story that you just ate too much, and once it passes, you can get back to sleep!


S

The Kitchen Table...

Hello Everyone!

Today... I found myself thinking about the kitchen table.  How did this come about???  Well, I was quickly eating my breakfast to head out for an appointment.  I took my usual place sitting in front of the TV, glupping down my cereal.  It's habit now that in my house we don't use the kitchen table except to pile junk on.

In the mix of preparing for my day ahead, and thinking about what my next blog post might be about.  This is when it came to me in a flood of many warm memories about the family table I grew up around.  I was raised on a farm in rural north-eastern Ontario.  We used the kitchen table for everything!!  It was a focus point for many of our family activities, such as cooking, baking, sewing, visiting, and eating.  It was also used for bookwork and homework, and many more activities.  It became an area where work or play would occur daily.  It is where we developed our relationships with each other, and as a group.  Who would have thought that a kitchen table would be responsible for keeping family unity! 

Family unity isn't what it used to be, break-down in the family relationships just seem to happen these days.  The nuclear family has changed, and evolved into more single-parent families.  Maybe that is because there isn't enough time around the kitchen table anymore, just talking, laughing, and making memories.

So if you take anything from this post, I hope it will be - Put family first... maybe it's time to clean off the table so it will be ready for the next meal, the next project, and the next conversation!!!

Cheers,
S

New Blog

Hi Everyone, Good Morning!!!!

I have officially set up my first blog!  I was waiting to figure out what my blogging voice was going to be.  What thoughts and purpose I had to share with the world at large.  Why not just experiment with a personal blog, and see where I go from here.

So here born is Ssunshine67's Chronicles Of My Mind... it will be a collection of my memories, thoughts & opinions I cannot keep contained to myself (hopefully, we won't have to change the blog's name to "the bitching corner"), and funny stories that make me laugh out loud (LOL). 

I am excited to join the blogging world!!!  It will be a learning experience, for sure.  After reading resource material on blogging, and seeing what others have done with their blogs, it is my turn to get in there and give it a try!!  So be warned... anything is possible from here on in.  :)  I am looking forward to taking this journey with you!! 

Have a great day! 
S