Today, we started the day at The Alamo. Although there is actually very little left of the mission, there is enough to touch your heart and bring a lump to your throat. The mission chapel still stands as well as part of what is called the longhouse. Unfortunately, much of what is still in place is indoors and photograpthy is not allowed. Throughout the site are flags from the states and the countries where the Alamo defenders came from. Surprisingly they came from Denmark, England, Ireland, Germany and Scotland. Many, many states contributed to the last defense of the Alamo. There was also a gentleman named John, a black freedman. The entire compound is a very fitting memorial to the 13 days that the garrison of approximately 200 men held out against overwhelming odds.
Next we headed for the Riverwalk. For those who have never heard of the Riverwalk, it is a beautiful walkway designed in downtown San Antonio which follows a loop created in the San Antonio River. The walk encompasses restaurants and small stores and some beautiful greenery and landscaping. The pictures of the small knobbly looking trees are part of the root system of cypress trees. In some places, they look like a forest of little people. At night, right now, during the holiday season, all of the trees and bridges are draped with Christmas lights which twinkle constantly. The stores and restaurants are all decorated beautifully for the holiday season.
The weather today -- sunny and 12 degrees!! This evening, we ate on the patio of a restaurant called The Salt Grass Steak House. Graham was in his shirt sleeves and I just had a sweater on.
Tomorrow we are off to New Orleans. Another day in the car, but, a beautiful city at the end.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Life is Interesting in Texas
For the second time on our trip, we woke up this morning to snow on the ground and our car - nothing like last week in Flagstaff though and we were soon on our way.
Another 9 hour day on the road. Life is interesting in Texas. The first thing we discovered this morning shortly after leaving El Paso -- the speed limit on the Interstates in Texas is 80 mph!!!!! According to Graham, driving at 80 mph is pretty scary. Next, we discovered that there are a lot of mountains in Texas and that a lot of the Interstate has been blasted out of sheer rock. There are palm trees and massive cactus everywhere. The trees are full of leaves, except for the dead trees - they are full of tumbleweeds.
Arrived in San Antonio safe and sound, despite the fast speed limit!
Another 9 hour day on the road. Life is interesting in Texas. The first thing we discovered this morning shortly after leaving El Paso -- the speed limit on the Interstates in Texas is 80 mph!!!!! According to Graham, driving at 80 mph is pretty scary. Next, we discovered that there are a lot of mountains in Texas and that a lot of the Interstate has been blasted out of sheer rock. There are palm trees and massive cactus everywhere. The trees are full of leaves, except for the dead trees - they are full of tumbleweeds.
Arrived in San Antonio safe and sound, despite the fast speed limit!
Flagstaff to El Paso
Strictly a travel day -- 9 hours on the road traveling from Flagstaff, Arizona to El Paso, Texas. A long day, but we are half way to our next objective which is San Antonio.
The interesting part of our drive occurred shortly after it became dark. The driver in front of us narrowly missed hitting a deer that darted into the road in front of him (her). Shortly after that , Graham murdered the tumbleweed that came rushing out of the darkness at us!! He did manage to miss the second one that camenout of the darkness shortly after.
The interesting part of our drive occurred shortly after it became dark. The driver in front of us narrowly missed hitting a deer that darted into the road in front of him (her). Shortly after that , Graham murdered the tumbleweed that came rushing out of the darkness at us!! He did manage to miss the second one that camenout of the darkness shortly after.
Grand Canyon
With sadness we left Las Vegas this morning and headed back to Arizona -- the site of the blizzard on our way to Vegas. The closer we got to Flagstaff, the deeper the snow. It took us about 5 hours to finally reach the Grand Canyon. Because of the one hour time change, we arrived in time to watch the shadows of the sun climb the canyon walls. Again some absolutely spectacular scenery. The walkways at the canyon were covered with snow and we watched several people tumble on the ice. Getting to the edge of the observation areas was quite tricky, but well worth the effort.
Regrettably, because of the time it takes to get to the canyon, it was too late to take advantage of the scenic drives or other overlooks.
After leaving the Canyon, we headed back to Flagstaff for the night -- none of the snow has melted!!!
Regrettably, because of the time it takes to get to the canyon, it was too late to take advantage of the scenic drives or other overlooks.
After leaving the Canyon, we headed back to Flagstaff for the night -- none of the snow has melted!!!
Valley of Fire
Dedicated in 1935, Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest State Park. It is located only 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The rough floor and jagged walls of the park contain brilliant formations of eroded sandstone and sand dunes more than 150 million years old. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park's attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays. The park is located in the Mojave Desert of southern Nevada.
Wow!!!!!!! A day filled with colour. The hype is right -- the rocks look like they are on fire. The slide show basically says it all -- please enjoy.
This evening we returned to the strip. We tried to visit The Flamingo, however, the parking lot was full so.... back to Harrah's. The thing that kept us returning to Harrah's us single deck blackjack -- you actually get to touch your cards!!! A very interesting game in which the odds should belong to the players. This time, I did alright while Graham lost a little. All in all, out time in Las Vegas has been full of fun and stunning beauty. We will be back!
Wow!!!!!!! A day filled with colour. The hype is right -- the rocks look like they are on fire. The slide show basically says it all -- please enjoy.
This evening we returned to the strip. We tried to visit The Flamingo, however, the parking lot was full so.... back to Harrah's. The thing that kept us returning to Harrah's us single deck blackjack -- you actually get to touch your cards!!! A very interesting game in which the odds should belong to the players. This time, I did alright while Graham lost a little. All in all, out time in Las Vegas has been full of fun and stunning beauty. We will be back!
Christmas on the Road
It was very different celebrating Christmas in Las Vegas. We slept in this morning and then called Ryan, Deb, Austin, Alex, Krista and Jamie who are all celebrating today and tomorrow at Ryan & Deb's -- brave souls Ryan & Deb. I'm impressed. I understand that Austin (the almost 4 year old) who was last up???? I'm pretty sure that at 4 years old, his father was up around 5:00 opening his stocking. Maybe next year retribution will strike. When I asked Austin what he got for Christmas, his response was "presents". He sounded extremely excited. Alex, of course, was excited, however, she only said "hi", "love you" and "bye".
We spent the afternoon casino shopping. We started at the Paris hoping to get something to eat -- apparently the Paris has the best food in Vegas -- the lineups for all of the restaurants there certainly attest to that. We ended up at Harrah's where they were celebrating the day by giving out Mardi Gras type beads for every Blackjack and a deck of cards for every suited Blackjack -- we walked out with 17 sets of beads and 8 decks of cards!!!!!!!
After a break to feed, water and walk Emma and Abby nand grab some dinner we returned to the Strip and ended up back at Harrah's. This time Graham was the winner and I was the loser. We had a lot of fun though. A wonderful but different Christmas Day.
We spent the afternoon casino shopping. We started at the Paris hoping to get something to eat -- apparently the Paris has the best food in Vegas -- the lineups for all of the restaurants there certainly attest to that. We ended up at Harrah's where they were celebrating the day by giving out Mardi Gras type beads for every Blackjack and a deck of cards for every suited Blackjack -- we walked out with 17 sets of beads and 8 decks of cards!!!!!!!
After a break to feed, water and walk Emma and Abby nand grab some dinner we returned to the Strip and ended up back at Harrah's. This time Graham was the winner and I was the loser. We had a lot of fun though. A wonderful but different Christmas Day.
Monday, 28 December 2009
Red Rock Canyon
Today, our adventure was to visit Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area. This awesome park is about an hour west of Vegas and is located in the Mojave Desert. There is a 13 mile scenic drive through the park with many outlooks which allow for amazing photographs.
The most significant geologic feature of Red Rock Canyon is the Keystone Thrust Fault. A thrust fault apparently is a fracture in the earth's crust where one rock plate is thrust horizontally over another. About 65 million years ago, it is believed that two of the earth's crustal plates collided with such force that part of one plate was shoved up and over younger sandstones. This thrust contact is clearly defined by the sharp contrast between the grey limestones and the red sandstones. The Keystone Thrust Fault extends from the Cottonwood Fault 13 miles northward to the vicinity of La Madre Mountain.
The photos in the slide show do not do the beauty of this park justice - it was breathtaking!!!
This evening, of course, we were off to the Strip - tonight we visited Caesar's Palace. I won a little - Graham lost a little -- we came away about even.
The most significant geologic feature of Red Rock Canyon is the Keystone Thrust Fault. A thrust fault apparently is a fracture in the earth's crust where one rock plate is thrust horizontally over another. About 65 million years ago, it is believed that two of the earth's crustal plates collided with such force that part of one plate was shoved up and over younger sandstones. This thrust contact is clearly defined by the sharp contrast between the grey limestones and the red sandstones. The Keystone Thrust Fault extends from the Cottonwood Fault 13 miles northward to the vicinity of La Madre Mountain.
The photos in the slide show do not do the beauty of this park justice - it was breathtaking!!!
This evening, of course, we were off to the Strip - tonight we visited Caesar's Palace. I won a little - Graham lost a little -- we came away about even.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
The Morning After
When we awoke the following morning in Flagstaff, it was -7 degrees AND there was 8" of snow on the ground!!!! It seems that we brought our weather with us@^)**(^%@@!) Arizona, surprisingly, is very good at removing the snow from its interstate highways and once we removed the snow from the car (without snow brush or gloves) we were on our way. It took us about an hour and a half to get out of the snow.
We opted to take the scenic route along the original Route 66 -- little traffic and interesting scenery. Every 5 or 6 miles along the route there would be a series of 5 small red signs. The first 4 signs would tell a short whippet of wisdom (Graham's phrase because I couldn't come up with one) and the 5th sign always said Burma Shave.
Despite a significant delay at the Hoover Dam related to heightened security and vast numbers of cars, we arrived at our hotel in Las Vegas at about 3:30 this afternoon.
Once we were unpacked and settled we headed out for dinner and our first night of gambling - at Caesar's Palace. What an amazing place - 2 casinos, over 200 shops, I'm not sure how many resaturants -- HUGE!! We discovered already that you do NOT; EVER drive on the Vegas Strip. It is just a glorified parking lot.
We opted to take the scenic route along the original Route 66 -- little traffic and interesting scenery. Every 5 or 6 miles along the route there would be a series of 5 small red signs. The first 4 signs would tell a short whippet of wisdom (Graham's phrase because I couldn't come up with one) and the 5th sign always said Burma Shave.
Despite a significant delay at the Hoover Dam related to heightened security and vast numbers of cars, we arrived at our hotel in Las Vegas at about 3:30 this afternoon.
Once we were unpacked and settled we headed out for dinner and our first night of gambling - at Caesar's Palace. What an amazing place - 2 casinos, over 200 shops, I'm not sure how many resaturants -- HUGE!! We discovered already that you do NOT; EVER drive on the Vegas Strip. It is just a glorified parking lot.
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Albuquerque to Flagstaff
This morning we had to be up and on the road early - they were doing some upgrades to the hot water system at the hotel where we were staying and were going to turn the water off at 8:00 am. There were some stops that we wanted to make today, so leaving early fit right into our plans. Do you believe that the latest that Graham has slept til on this vacation is 8:00 am ~ an unheard of feat!!
First stop today was The Petrified Forest National Forest near Holbrook, Arizona. What an amazingly breathtaking place ~ The first stop on the road was for some long-distance vistas of the Painted Desert. The Mesas nin the distance were a spectacular mauve colour which contrasted with the closer red rocks.
Peurco Pueblo is a partially stabilized 100 room pueblo built around 1250 CE. It probably housed nearly 1200 people. Looking down the cliff are black rocks that are covered in petroglyphs. More petroglyphs were to be seen at Newspaper Rock ~ they are very primitive, but at the same time very expressive.
Next on the road were The Tepees. These are layered blues, purples and grays caused by iron, carbon, manganese and other minerals. The Tepees stand in massive cone-shaped formations over a large area of the park.
Last but not least are the petrified logs ~ most of these logs have fallen out of the surrounding rock and lie strewn across the floor of the formations. Now and again we would get a glimpse of a log still encased in the surrounding rock. The colours are bright and beautiful.
Once we left the Forest, we headed for the Meteorite Crater at Winslow, Arizona. Apparently this crater is one of the largest in the world and so closely resembles the moon surface that it was used by NASA to train the Apollo astronauts. As we got closer and closer to the crater, the sky became darker and darker and visibility started decreasing. We decided that it was likely safer to head for our hotel in Flagstaff. Good thing we did ~ we drove to Flagstaff in the midst of a blizzard!!!!! It was so bad that the police closed the interstate, stranding many motorists. The hotel where we are staying is unexpectedly full for the night. We have traveled over 3400 km to escape the cold and snow and here we are in the middle of New Mexico in the midst of a raging blizzard. I felt like bursting into "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" -- NOT!!!!!!
First stop today was The Petrified Forest National Forest near Holbrook, Arizona. What an amazingly breathtaking place ~ The first stop on the road was for some long-distance vistas of the Painted Desert. The Mesas nin the distance were a spectacular mauve colour which contrasted with the closer red rocks.
Peurco Pueblo is a partially stabilized 100 room pueblo built around 1250 CE. It probably housed nearly 1200 people. Looking down the cliff are black rocks that are covered in petroglyphs. More petroglyphs were to be seen at Newspaper Rock ~ they are very primitive, but at the same time very expressive.
Next on the road were The Tepees. These are layered blues, purples and grays caused by iron, carbon, manganese and other minerals. The Tepees stand in massive cone-shaped formations over a large area of the park.
Last but not least are the petrified logs ~ most of these logs have fallen out of the surrounding rock and lie strewn across the floor of the formations. Now and again we would get a glimpse of a log still encased in the surrounding rock. The colours are bright and beautiful.
Once we left the Forest, we headed for the Meteorite Crater at Winslow, Arizona. Apparently this crater is one of the largest in the world and so closely resembles the moon surface that it was used by NASA to train the Apollo astronauts. As we got closer and closer to the crater, the sky became darker and darker and visibility started decreasing. We decided that it was likely safer to head for our hotel in Flagstaff. Good thing we did ~ we drove to Flagstaff in the midst of a blizzard!!!!! It was so bad that the police closed the interstate, stranding many motorists. The hotel where we are staying is unexpectedly full for the night. We have traveled over 3400 km to escape the cold and snow and here we are in the middle of New Mexico in the midst of a raging blizzard. I felt like bursting into "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" -- NOT!!!!!!
Monday, 21 December 2009
A Very Long Day
This morning, we woke up in Tulsa, Oklahoma (0 degrees Celsius). Tonight we are sleeping in Albuquerque, New Mexico ( 8 degrees Celsius). In between, we traveled through the Texas panhandle and enjoyed a daytime temperature of 20 degrees and beautiful sunshine. As soon as the sun goes down here, the temperature plummets.
Oklahoma was very flat with lots of scrub. The people are very friendly and accommodating. As we entered Texas, we stopped at an Indian Trading Post where we took the pictures of the bison -- the state animal of Texas. These bison were somewhat reminiscent of Mel Lastman's moose. Texas is vast with very large ranches of cattle. Sometimes we would only see one or two head -- apparently the cattle are permitted to roam free until it is time to head for the stockyard. They also grow cotton in Texas -- there are places where the edges of the road look like they are piled with snow when it is cotton bolls that have blown in the wind. We saw a couple of tumbleweeds, but not soon enough to get a picture. Again, the country is very flat with lots of scrub. Suddenly, we turned the last corner in Texas and saw the first mesas of New Mexico. What an amazing site - the pictures do not even begin to do justice to the beauty of the New Mexican scenery.
Unbelievably, the speed limit in both Oklahoma and New Mexico is 75 mi/hr. In Texas, the speed limit is 70 during daylight hours and 65 at night.
The dogs are holding up very well. Emma has adjusted to the long car rides by curling up in the back seat and sleeping except for stops when she has to take a look to see what's going on. Abby, on the other hand continues to fret -- she has to know what'[s going on at all times. She sits and watches out the window and only rarely sleeps in the car.
Another busy day is scheduled for tomorrow -- our last day before arriving in Las Vegas.
Oklahoma was very flat with lots of scrub. The people are very friendly and accommodating. As we entered Texas, we stopped at an Indian Trading Post where we took the pictures of the bison -- the state animal of Texas. These bison were somewhat reminiscent of Mel Lastman's moose. Texas is vast with very large ranches of cattle. Sometimes we would only see one or two head -- apparently the cattle are permitted to roam free until it is time to head for the stockyard. They also grow cotton in Texas -- there are places where the edges of the road look like they are piled with snow when it is cotton bolls that have blown in the wind. We saw a couple of tumbleweeds, but not soon enough to get a picture. Again, the country is very flat with lots of scrub. Suddenly, we turned the last corner in Texas and saw the first mesas of New Mexico. What an amazing site - the pictures do not even begin to do justice to the beauty of the New Mexican scenery.
Unbelievably, the speed limit in both Oklahoma and New Mexico is 75 mi/hr. In Texas, the speed limit is 70 during daylight hours and 65 at night.
The dogs are holding up very well. Emma has adjusted to the long car rides by curling up in the back seat and sleeping except for stops when she has to take a look to see what's going on. Abby, on the other hand continues to fret -- she has to know what'[s going on at all times. She sits and watches out the window and only rarely sleeps in the car.
Another busy day is scheduled for tomorrow -- our last day before arriving in Las Vegas.
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Day 3 of Las Vegas Trip
Up this morning to find snow still on the ground and the temperature -4 degrees. After breakfast we made a trip to the Meramec Caverns. Neither of us was aware that Missouri is known as the Cave State -- everywhere you go there are caves to visit. The cave system that we visited consists of over 28 miles of caves. These caves were used by the Union Army as a powder mill due to the saltpeter that they were able to mine there. The cave was blown up by Confederate guerillas of whom Jesse James was a member. After the Civil War, Jesse and his gang used the caves as a hideout. During prohibition, the cave was used as a speakeasy, later as an underground parking lot and then as a ballroom. We both found the caves amazing and absolutely breathtaking. One thing that we found very interesting was the temperature in the caves - a constant 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
We hit the road about noon today and after about an hour, the snow disappeared from the ground. By the time we arrived in Tulsa this afternoon, the temperature was 12 degrees Celcius.
Total distance today - 555.5 km.
We hit the road about noon today and after about an hour, the snow disappeared from the ground. By the time we arrived in Tulsa this afternoon, the temperature was 12 degrees Celcius.
Total distance today - 555.5 km.
Saturday, 19 December 2009
I Can't Believe that it's only Day 2
We woke up this morning to snow showers with about 2" on the ground. The visibility on the roads until we hit mid-Michigan was poor to say the least as can be seen in the pictures.. Needless to say, we crawled along for a couple of hours and then, finally we were moving right along. We actually hit the road about 8:30 and after a quick stop at McDonalds for breakfast, we ventured out on to I94 -- it had not been plowed or salted since the snow started and was treacherous. Once we reached I69, the plows and sanders had been out and we were able to get "up to speed" so to speak. The day was overcast and cold so we just kept on driving. We reached St. Louis around 4:00 - enough light left to see the Arch. While we actually drove right up to the Arch, it was easier to see from a bit of a distance.
We continued on to Sullivan, Missouri to finish off our day. Total distance today, 890.7 km.
We continued on to Sullivan, Missouri to finish off our day. Total distance today, 890.7 km.
Friday, 18 December 2009
Day One on the Road
So, we left London this afternoon at 4:00 (or thereabouts) and headed off on our adventure with car packed to the rafters and 2 very excited dogs in the back seat. After stopping at Timmy's for a farewell coffee, we headed for Sarnia/Pt. Huron -- what an absolute disaster. We were the lucky number 5 or 7 or 8 or whatever the number of the day was. After spending 15 minutes at the booth we were sent over to the inspection area where we had to desert Emma & Abby while strange (and frightening) people searched the car and we stood in line inside the customs booth. Altogether, we spent about an hour at customs, but finally we were sent on our way.
We arrived at our hotel -- the Baymont Inn & Suites in Jackson, Missouri at about 10:00 pm. Total mileage today - 355.0 km. Tomorrow we are off to see the St. Louis Arch. Stay tuned!
We arrived at our hotel -- the Baymont Inn & Suites in Jackson, Missouri at about 10:00 pm. Total mileage today - 355.0 km. Tomorrow we are off to see the St. Louis Arch. Stay tuned!
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Getting Ready
Vacation time is getting close -- we leave for our road trip to Las Vegas on Friday. Yeah!!!
We have lots to do before we go, but I thought that I would get into the habit again of using our blog. Ryan suggested that we use it while we're gone to keep everyone who cares up to date regarding our adventures.
So, tonight, I'm just catching up on some computer work -- bills, etc. Stuff that needs to be done before we leave.
We have lots to do before we go, but I thought that I would get into the habit again of using our blog. Ryan suggested that we use it while we're gone to keep everyone who cares up to date regarding our adventures.
So, tonight, I'm just catching up on some computer work -- bills, etc. Stuff that needs to be done before we leave.
Monday, 7 September 2009
All About Me
The Basics
My Favorites
This or That
Do You?
Have You Ever
Misc.
Personal
Firsts
As of Now
What is your nickname?:
don't have one
What day of the week were you born?:
Sunday
What time of day were you born?:
9:00 pm
What is your natural hair color?:
chestnut brown originally; now gray
When your hair gets gray, will you color it?:
apparently not
music to dance to?:
waltzes
music to have sex to?:
Ravel's Bolero
color in your bedroom?:
raspberry
make of car?:
Jeep Compass
kind of gum?:
don't chew gum
red/black?:
black
highschool/college?:
college
digital camera/camera phone?:
digital camera
lifesaver/tic tac?:
tic tac
AOL/MSN?:
neither
have classes with friends (if you are in school)?:
not in school
have friends?:
absolutely
go to social events?:
absolutely
buy your shoes at Payless?:
no
have an online crush?:
no
seen The Exorcist?:
I have
wished it was more socially acceptable for a girl to ask a guy out?:
it isn't
sent someone something sexy in the mail?:
no
bought lingerie from Victoria Secret?:
I'll never tell
wished you could experience being the other gender?:
why would I??????
Would you be willing to give up sex in exchange for an emotional commitment you knew would last?:
maybe
What do you dislike most about the other gender?:
they're men!!!!
How much do you actually care about the inner workings of your computer or is it only as long as it :
just keep on working
What was the best Halloween costume you ever had?:
Spanish dancer
Does Christmas music played too far away from Christmas annoy you?:
YES!!
How old do you think you will be before you stop liking getting older?:
right about now
Could you have a relationship with someone who has the same first name as your sibling?:
why not?
Whats your opinion on sex without emotional commitment?:
not the smartest thing in the world
Do you think the opposite sex finds you good-looking?:
do I care?
Do you prefer getting to know someone first before dating them or going blind?:
getting to know someone - at least you know that you have something to talk about
If you had to switch first names with a friend of yours, who would you switch with?:
I like my name - wouldn't want to switch
What do you think about your first love?:
don't think about him
What do you think about the first person that loved you?:
still don't think about him
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? :
another blank slate to write upon
Do you believe in love at first sight? :
absolutely
Did you have something healthy today?:
grapefruit juice?
Have you exercised at all today?:
it' still morning
When did you get out of bed?:
9:00
How many cups of coffee have you had?:
0
How are you wearing your day today?:
???????????????
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Interesting Stuff
Profile
The Basics
How many movies have you gone to see this month? : 0
If you could have 3 wishes...but none of them could be for you:
1) that mankind would stop hunting the animals and pushing them to the brink of extinction
2) That there would be no more wars
3) that all people would accept and respect all religions
What do you think of cloning? : not a good idea
Have you ever won a contest or competition? : yes
Do you read or watch TV more often? : watch TV
My Favorites
letter of the alphabet?: m - don't know why!!
Soup?: bean with bacon
Body Part?: fingers
Insect?: yuck!!
Mixed Drink?: coconut rum & pineapple juice
This or That
Atlantic/Pacific?: pacific
Cookie Monster/Elmo?: Cookie Monster
Cake/Cupcake?: cake
80s/90s?: 90's
Long hair/Short hair?: long hair
Do You?
Do you believe in fairies?: absolutely
Do you believe in ghosts?: again, absolutely
Do you troll around the Internet harassing people anonymously: no
If you are no longer a virgin, do you wish you still were?: hell no
Do you blow your nose in public?: why wouldn't I - beats a drippy nose
Have You Ever
Have you ever taken something that wasn't yours?: yes
Have you ever won a carnival fish?: no
Have you ever played in a band?: no
Have you ever been camping?: yes
Have you ever loved someone who didn't love you back?: yes
Misc.
Can you think of three adjectives that do not apply to you at all:
gregarious
outgoing
unhappy
Are strangers more beautiful or frightening to you?: beautiful
Is your heart open when you meet someone new?: I hope so
If Jesus appeared to you and told you that the moon was made of : sorry, don't believe in Jesus
At what part of the day do you feel the most alert?: morning
Personal
Do you know secret things?: yes
How do you overcome your fears?: by doing the things that I'm afraid of
Have you ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't have?: not that I recall
List 5 things you have not experienced that you would like to:
1) visiting South America - especially Machu Pichu
2) Las Vegas
3 ) outer space
4) Antarctica
5) retirement!!
What is one thing you are sure of?: I dearly and completely love my husband Graham
Firsts
Who was your first best friend?: Marjorie Adamson
Are you often the first person at a party?: rarely
Are you the first one to get drunk?: never
Whats the first thing you have to do today?: it's Sunday - nothing special
What time do you first eat in a day?: in the morning
As of Now
Have you eaten yet today?: yes
Have you drank anything?: yes
Have you read the newspaper?: don't like reading the news
Is it raining?: no
Is it hot?: no
I took this off Facebook - kind of fun!!
The Basics
How many movies have you gone to see this month? : 0
If you could have 3 wishes...but none of them could be for you:
1) that mankind would stop hunting the animals and pushing them to the brink of extinction
2) That there would be no more wars
3) that all people would accept and respect all religions
What do you think of cloning? : not a good idea
Have you ever won a contest or competition? : yes
Do you read or watch TV more often? : watch TV
My Favorites
letter of the alphabet?: m - don't know why!!
Soup?: bean with bacon
Body Part?: fingers
Insect?: yuck!!
Mixed Drink?: coconut rum & pineapple juice
This or That
Atlantic/Pacific?: pacific
Cookie Monster/Elmo?: Cookie Monster
Cake/Cupcake?: cake
80s/90s?: 90's
Long hair/Short hair?: long hair
Do You?
Do you believe in fairies?: absolutely
Do you believe in ghosts?: again, absolutely
Do you troll around the Internet harassing people anonymously: no
If you are no longer a virgin, do you wish you still were?: hell no
Do you blow your nose in public?: why wouldn't I - beats a drippy nose
Have You Ever
Have you ever taken something that wasn't yours?: yes
Have you ever won a carnival fish?: no
Have you ever played in a band?: no
Have you ever been camping?: yes
Have you ever loved someone who didn't love you back?: yes
Misc.
Can you think of three adjectives that do not apply to you at all:
gregarious
outgoing
unhappy
Are strangers more beautiful or frightening to you?: beautiful
Is your heart open when you meet someone new?: I hope so
If Jesus appeared to you and told you that the moon was made of : sorry, don't believe in Jesus
At what part of the day do you feel the most alert?: morning
Personal
Do you know secret things?: yes
How do you overcome your fears?: by doing the things that I'm afraid of
Have you ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't have?: not that I recall
List 5 things you have not experienced that you would like to:
1) visiting South America - especially Machu Pichu
2) Las Vegas
3 ) outer space
4) Antarctica
5) retirement!!
What is one thing you are sure of?: I dearly and completely love my husband Graham
Firsts
Who was your first best friend?: Marjorie Adamson
Are you often the first person at a party?: rarely
Are you the first one to get drunk?: never
Whats the first thing you have to do today?: it's Sunday - nothing special
What time do you first eat in a day?: in the morning
As of Now
Have you eaten yet today?: yes
Have you drank anything?: yes
Have you read the newspaper?: don't like reading the news
Is it raining?: no
Is it hot?: no
I took this off Facebook - kind of fun!!
Friday, 10 July 2009
The Hawksby Zoo
Our back yard has suffered terribly while Graham was trucking – there was very little time in our lives to spend working on Graham’s masterpiece.
Suddenly we have all sorts of time for the backyard. However, we have to share the yard with a multitude of creatures.
First, there are the birds – finches, sparrows, mourning doves, chickadees, woodpeckers, evening grosbeaks, grackles, robins, cowbirds, hummingbirds….. They eat the food we put out for them, they drink in our pond and they bathe in the stream. Our most exciting birds are our ducks. We have two pairs of ducks who each think that our pond is theirs. This is the second year that Max and Molly have decided that our pond is a great place to spend time just hanging out. We’re pretty sure that they are a young couple. Dan & Denise o the other hand, appear to be a more established pair and are able to chase Max & Molly away if they happen to arrive at the same time. Amazingly, that is a rare occurrence. It is fun to watch the ducks swimming in the pond – the fish (our next creatures) follow them around nipping at their feet.
Our fish all started out as feeder goldfish. We bought them over a period of three years. We have one that is about 8” long – one of the ones that we bought the first year. The rest are varying sizes and number far more than we have ever purchased. We had babies at the beginning of the year, however, they appear to be gone, now.
Next are the squirrels – the dogs absolutely hate the squirrels – all we have to do is say the word and they are out the door chasing the squirrel up a tree.
The most entertaining creatures are the chipmunks. They chase each other all over the yard – they absolutely will not tolerate another chipmunk within visual range. They also chase mourning doves. Their antics are hilarious. One evening we were watching our menagerie out the window. A chipmunk was picking up seeds under the birdfeeder when Molly came up to get her corn. Apparently Molly did not like having a chipmunk around that evening – she waddled over to the chipmunk and pecked at his rear end. Gone was the chipmunk.
Recently we seem to have acquired a rabbit. This rabbit is very bold. He has learned that if he sits very still, the dogs can’t see him. He actually helps out by cleaning up under the birdfeeders and does a heck of a job with the help of the ducks, the e squirrels and the chipmunks. The chipmunks climb the poles that the birdfeeders are on to get to the sunflowers and the safflower. If the rabbit happens to be there when they come down the pole he rears up on his hind legs at them – just like the rabbit in Monty Python.
Last but not least, we have a skunk. We don’t see him very often, but he is definitely around.
Just call us the Hawksby Zoo.
Suddenly we have all sorts of time for the backyard. However, we have to share the yard with a multitude of creatures.
First, there are the birds – finches, sparrows, mourning doves, chickadees, woodpeckers, evening grosbeaks, grackles, robins, cowbirds, hummingbirds….. They eat the food we put out for them, they drink in our pond and they bathe in the stream. Our most exciting birds are our ducks. We have two pairs of ducks who each think that our pond is theirs. This is the second year that Max and Molly have decided that our pond is a great place to spend time just hanging out. We’re pretty sure that they are a young couple. Dan & Denise o the other hand, appear to be a more established pair and are able to chase Max & Molly away if they happen to arrive at the same time. Amazingly, that is a rare occurrence. It is fun to watch the ducks swimming in the pond – the fish (our next creatures) follow them around nipping at their feet.
Our fish all started out as feeder goldfish. We bought them over a period of three years. We have one that is about 8” long – one of the ones that we bought the first year. The rest are varying sizes and number far more than we have ever purchased. We had babies at the beginning of the year, however, they appear to be gone, now.
Next are the squirrels – the dogs absolutely hate the squirrels – all we have to do is say the word and they are out the door chasing the squirrel up a tree.
The most entertaining creatures are the chipmunks. They chase each other all over the yard – they absolutely will not tolerate another chipmunk within visual range. They also chase mourning doves. Their antics are hilarious. One evening we were watching our menagerie out the window. A chipmunk was picking up seeds under the birdfeeder when Molly came up to get her corn. Apparently Molly did not like having a chipmunk around that evening – she waddled over to the chipmunk and pecked at his rear end. Gone was the chipmunk.
Recently we seem to have acquired a rabbit. This rabbit is very bold. He has learned that if he sits very still, the dogs can’t see him. He actually helps out by cleaning up under the birdfeeders and does a heck of a job with the help of the ducks, the e squirrels and the chipmunks. The chipmunks climb the poles that the birdfeeders are on to get to the sunflowers and the safflower. If the rabbit happens to be there when they come down the pole he rears up on his hind legs at them – just like the rabbit in Monty Python.
Last but not least, we have a skunk. We don’t see him very often, but he is definitely around.
Just call us the Hawksby Zoo.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
The Bucket List.
THINGS YOU HAVE DONE DURING YOUR LIFETIME:
() Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
(x) Watched someone die
(x) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x ) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
( x) Been to Iceland
(x) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(x) Been lost
( ) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Ran away from home
() Recently coloured with crayons
( ) Sang Karaoke
( ) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(x) Read one book more than 3 times
(x) Watched one movie more than 3 times
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
() Made prank phone calls
( x) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
() Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies
() Walked more than 20 miles in one day
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( x) Gone snowmobiling
() Lived in more than one country
(x) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(x ) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the Grand Canyon
( ) Seen a space shuttle lift off in person
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( x) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
(x) Traveled by motorcycle
(x) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco Cable Car
(x) Been to Disney World/Land
(x) Truly believe in the power of prayer
( x) Been in a rain forest
(x) seen whales in the ocean
(x) Been to Niagara Falls
() Ridden on an elephant
(x) Swam with dolphins
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
( ) Been parasailing
(x) Been water-skiing
() Been snow-skiing
(x ) Broken a bone
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
(x) Been to a Major League Baseball game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
( ) Been to a college level gymnastics meet
( ) Installed a toilet
() Been the first to say "I love you"
( x) Been to Jamaica
(x) Shot a bow and arrow
( ) Played tetherball
(x) Done a toboggan run
(x) Played tennis
( ) Been to the San Diego Zoo
( ) Been on an African Safari
( ) Been jeeping in Aruba
( ) Won money in Las Vegas
(x ) Lost your "cookies" on a boat
( ) Been white-water rafting
() Driven a tractor
( ) Been to Paradise Island in the Bahamas
() Been 4-wheeling
( ) Been to a Native American Pow-Wow
(x) Sang beside a campfire
( ) Gotten a foreign object stuck up your nose
( ) Been to Senior Frog's in Mexico (Sadly, it's blown away!!!!)
(x) Owned your own home
( ) Driven through the Tetons in the middle of the night
(x) Received a professional massage
( ) Seen a UFO
( ) Seen a David Copperfield magic show in person
( ) Run a marathon
( ) Floated in the Great Salt Lake
() Watched the birth of puppies or kittens
() Piloted a real airplane (with help)
( ) Done a firewalk
(x) Built a snowman
( ) Touched a stingray
(x) Witnessed the birth of a baby
( ) Been to a hot air balloon festival
( ) Been to an ice sculpture festival
( ) Been to an "Oldies Fest"
(x) Had your computer break down without backups
(x) Skipped a rock across a lake, pond, or river
(x) Been canoeing
( ) Been kyacking
() Completed a "ropes course"
(x) Been the first to say "I'm sorry"
() Had a psychic/metaphysical reading
( ) Hit a hole-in-one
() Been to a professional golf tournament
() Attended a Beach Boys concert outdoors
() Ridden the Matterhorn at Disneyland, CA
( ) Driven around the real Matterhorn in Switzerland
( ) Eaten turtle meat
( ) Eaten kangaroo meat
(x) Played on a set of drums
(x ) Been to Germany
( ) Been to Austria
( x) Been to Switzerland
( ) Been to Spain
( ) Been to Africa
(x) Jumped on a trampoline
( ) Climbed a 50 ft. "telephone" pole an stood up on top of it
(x) Been rollerblading or rollerskating
( ) Been inside a real European castle
(x) Caught a fly between your hands
( ) Caught a fly with chopsticks
( ) Been bungee jumping and survived
( ) Avoided a heart attack while watching your child bungee jump
( ) Witnessed an active volcano in person
( ) Made a "cake" from everything in the kitchen cupboard
(x) Jumped off a diving board
( ) Participated in a Drum Circle
( ) Grown a crystal at home
() Fingerpainted with pudding
(x) Got rid of a pain by tapping acupressure points
(x) Camped out for a week or more
( ) Been to visit the pyramids of Egypt
( ) Been to Lake Powell
(x) Played a musical instrument
( ) Ridden in a gondola
( ) Been to Rio de Janeiro
( ) Driven through the tunnel under the Hudson Bay
(x) Used a pendulum
( ) Been in at least 30 of the 50 US states
() Been skinny-dipping in the daylight
( ) Opened your door and was greeted by a wild animal
( ) Tried to catch a bird by putting salt on its tail
(x ) Played a fast, hot game of Ping-Pong
( x) Sold some art that you created yourself
() Asked for a raise and got it with a smile
() Used a lathe or band saw
(x ) Been to the West Indies
(x) Played Frisbee with a dog
(x) Let a dog or cat sleep in your bed, under the covers
(x) Thrown a grape into a friend's open mouth
(x) Caught a thrown grape with your mouth
(x) Played Pictionary and laughed so hard you cried
() Found a $20 bill in the bushes
() Built a tree house
(x) Swung on a homemade swing
( ) Belly danced in a Greek restaurant
(x) Sent or delivered an anonymous gift
() Won a stuffed animal at an amusement park
( ) Been sailing in the Caribbean
( ) Driven through a herd of buffalo
( ) Raced a car on the the salt flats
(x) Run through the sprinklers
( ) Created a sculpture you were proud of
( ) Visited the pyramids and ruins of the Yucatan
(x) Played Poker, with or without $
(x) Eaten vegetables you grew yourself
( ) Seen an authentic crop circle
(x) Bought something you wish you hadn't
( ) Made homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch
() Re-upolstered a piece of furniture
( ) Climbed to the top of a 10,000 ft. mountain just to watch the sun rise
How many have you done???????????????????????
() Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
(x) Watched someone die
(x) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x ) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
( x) Been to Iceland
(x) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(x) Been lost
( ) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Ran away from home
() Recently coloured with crayons
( ) Sang Karaoke
( ) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(x) Read one book more than 3 times
(x) Watched one movie more than 3 times
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
() Made prank phone calls
( x) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
() Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies
() Walked more than 20 miles in one day
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( x) Gone snowmobiling
() Lived in more than one country
(x) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(x ) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the Grand Canyon
( ) Seen a space shuttle lift off in person
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( x) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
(x) Traveled by motorcycle
(x) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco Cable Car
(x) Been to Disney World/Land
(x) Truly believe in the power of prayer
( x) Been in a rain forest
(x) seen whales in the ocean
(x) Been to Niagara Falls
() Ridden on an elephant
(x) Swam with dolphins
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
( ) Been parasailing
(x) Been water-skiing
() Been snow-skiing
(x ) Broken a bone
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
(x) Been to a Major League Baseball game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
( ) Been to a college level gymnastics meet
( ) Installed a toilet
() Been the first to say "I love you"
( x) Been to Jamaica
(x) Shot a bow and arrow
( ) Played tetherball
(x) Done a toboggan run
(x) Played tennis
( ) Been to the San Diego Zoo
( ) Been on an African Safari
( ) Been jeeping in Aruba
( ) Won money in Las Vegas
(x ) Lost your "cookies" on a boat
( ) Been white-water rafting
() Driven a tractor
( ) Been to Paradise Island in the Bahamas
() Been 4-wheeling
( ) Been to a Native American Pow-Wow
(x) Sang beside a campfire
( ) Gotten a foreign object stuck up your nose
( ) Been to Senior Frog's in Mexico (Sadly, it's blown away!!!!)
(x) Owned your own home
( ) Driven through the Tetons in the middle of the night
(x) Received a professional massage
( ) Seen a UFO
( ) Seen a David Copperfield magic show in person
( ) Run a marathon
( ) Floated in the Great Salt Lake
() Watched the birth of puppies or kittens
() Piloted a real airplane (with help)
( ) Done a firewalk
(x) Built a snowman
( ) Touched a stingray
(x) Witnessed the birth of a baby
( ) Been to a hot air balloon festival
( ) Been to an ice sculpture festival
( ) Been to an "Oldies Fest"
(x) Had your computer break down without backups
(x) Skipped a rock across a lake, pond, or river
(x) Been canoeing
( ) Been kyacking
() Completed a "ropes course"
(x) Been the first to say "I'm sorry"
() Had a psychic/metaphysical reading
( ) Hit a hole-in-one
() Been to a professional golf tournament
() Attended a Beach Boys concert outdoors
() Ridden the Matterhorn at Disneyland, CA
( ) Driven around the real Matterhorn in Switzerland
( ) Eaten turtle meat
( ) Eaten kangaroo meat
(x) Played on a set of drums
(x ) Been to Germany
( ) Been to Austria
( x) Been to Switzerland
( ) Been to Spain
( ) Been to Africa
(x) Jumped on a trampoline
( ) Climbed a 50 ft. "telephone" pole an stood up on top of it
(x) Been rollerblading or rollerskating
( ) Been inside a real European castle
(x) Caught a fly between your hands
( ) Caught a fly with chopsticks
( ) Been bungee jumping and survived
( ) Avoided a heart attack while watching your child bungee jump
( ) Witnessed an active volcano in person
( ) Made a "cake" from everything in the kitchen cupboard
(x) Jumped off a diving board
( ) Participated in a Drum Circle
( ) Grown a crystal at home
() Fingerpainted with pudding
(x) Got rid of a pain by tapping acupressure points
(x) Camped out for a week or more
( ) Been to visit the pyramids of Egypt
( ) Been to Lake Powell
(x) Played a musical instrument
( ) Ridden in a gondola
( ) Been to Rio de Janeiro
( ) Driven through the tunnel under the Hudson Bay
(x) Used a pendulum
( ) Been in at least 30 of the 50 US states
() Been skinny-dipping in the daylight
( ) Opened your door and was greeted by a wild animal
( ) Tried to catch a bird by putting salt on its tail
(x ) Played a fast, hot game of Ping-Pong
( x) Sold some art that you created yourself
() Asked for a raise and got it with a smile
() Used a lathe or band saw
(x ) Been to the West Indies
(x) Played Frisbee with a dog
(x) Let a dog or cat sleep in your bed, under the covers
(x) Thrown a grape into a friend's open mouth
(x) Caught a thrown grape with your mouth
(x) Played Pictionary and laughed so hard you cried
() Found a $20 bill in the bushes
() Built a tree house
(x) Swung on a homemade swing
( ) Belly danced in a Greek restaurant
(x) Sent or delivered an anonymous gift
() Won a stuffed animal at an amusement park
( ) Been sailing in the Caribbean
( ) Driven through a herd of buffalo
( ) Raced a car on the the salt flats
(x) Run through the sprinklers
( ) Created a sculpture you were proud of
( ) Visited the pyramids and ruins of the Yucatan
(x) Played Poker, with or without $
(x) Eaten vegetables you grew yourself
( ) Seen an authentic crop circle
(x) Bought something you wish you hadn't
( ) Made homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch
() Re-upolstered a piece of furniture
( ) Climbed to the top of a 10,000 ft. mountain just to watch the sun rise
How many have you done???????????????????????
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Bittersweet
This coming week is going to be extremely bittersweet for me.
The Elgin CCAC team will be moving back to brand new digs in St. Thomas while I will be remaining in London. I love finally being part of a team. It is wonderful to have other people to bounce things off of and to pick their brains and I dearly love all of the London placement team. I am, however, going to miss the daily face-to-face contact with the people with whom I have worked for the past 20 years.
Somehow the telephone just doesn't have the same intimacy. It certainly takes away from the comraderie that working together face-to-face has.
I am also going to really, really miss my boss. Barb has been one of the most incredible bosses that I have ever had. She is friendly, empathetic and most importantly, she follows up. I have always known that when I needed something, I could depend on her to get it. Unfortunately, my new boss just doesn't provide the same feeling of trust.
On the up side, I DO NOT have to pack up all my belongings again and then unpack them at the other end. I will not be trying to pack and do my job. Most importantly, over the next 2 or 3 months, some of the work that I am expected to do and just simply am unable to do because there are just so many hours in a day will be gradually transferred to the Community Case Managers and my job will become more and more like the London Placement Case Manager jobs - frantically busy still, but I won't feel guilty knowing that there is a stack of things that I an simply unable to get to.
I guess things balance themselves out over time. I will just have to develop new ways of maintaining contact with my Elgin co-workers and create new relationships with the London groups. As for my new boss............ oh well!!
The Elgin CCAC team will be moving back to brand new digs in St. Thomas while I will be remaining in London. I love finally being part of a team. It is wonderful to have other people to bounce things off of and to pick their brains and I dearly love all of the London placement team. I am, however, going to miss the daily face-to-face contact with the people with whom I have worked for the past 20 years.
Somehow the telephone just doesn't have the same intimacy. It certainly takes away from the comraderie that working together face-to-face has.
I am also going to really, really miss my boss. Barb has been one of the most incredible bosses that I have ever had. She is friendly, empathetic and most importantly, she follows up. I have always known that when I needed something, I could depend on her to get it. Unfortunately, my new boss just doesn't provide the same feeling of trust.
On the up side, I DO NOT have to pack up all my belongings again and then unpack them at the other end. I will not be trying to pack and do my job. Most importantly, over the next 2 or 3 months, some of the work that I am expected to do and just simply am unable to do because there are just so many hours in a day will be gradually transferred to the Community Case Managers and my job will become more and more like the London Placement Case Manager jobs - frantically busy still, but I won't feel guilty knowing that there is a stack of things that I an simply unable to get to.
I guess things balance themselves out over time. I will just have to develop new ways of maintaining contact with my Elgin co-workers and create new relationships with the London groups. As for my new boss............ oh well!!
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Books - How Many Have You read
The BBC believes most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here. How do your reading habits stack up?
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen x
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte x
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling -
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee - X
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte x
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell - X
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens - X
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott - X
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy X
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller x
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier x
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger - X
19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell - X
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald - X
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens x
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck - X
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll - X
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Gahame -
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy x
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens x
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis -
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis -
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne -
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell - X
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown - X
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery - X
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy x
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding - X
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility -Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens x
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck x
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy x
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding -
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville x
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens - X
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker x
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett -
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Inferno - Dante
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens - X
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker -
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White -
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom -
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery x
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute X
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas X
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare - X
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl -
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo X
So, I have managed to read 35 of these books.
This will likely remain my lifetime achievement as the only time I have for reading these days I spend reading the non-fiction books that I want to read.
How do you stack up - how many of these books have you read?
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen x
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte x
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling -
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee - X
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte x
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell - X
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens - X
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott - X
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy X
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller x
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier x
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger - X
19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell - X
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald - X
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens x
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck - X
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll - X
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Gahame -
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy x
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens x
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis -
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis -
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne -
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell - X
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown - X
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery - X
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy x
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding - X
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility -Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens x
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck x
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy x
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding -
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville x
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens - X
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker x
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett -
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Inferno - Dante
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens - X
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker -
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White -
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom -
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery x
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute X
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas X
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare - X
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl -
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo X
So, I have managed to read 35 of these books.
This will likely remain my lifetime achievement as the only time I have for reading these days I spend reading the non-fiction books that I want to read.
How do you stack up - how many of these books have you read?
Monday, 16 March 2009
Believe it or Not -- I actually got Graham to do it!!!!!!
1. I am not a morning person!!!!!
2. I was born in York Minster Nursing Home in York, UK.
3. I was told I was being promoted from the sixth grade to the eighth because I was not trying hard enough.
4. My parents cancelled a drum set I ordered without telling me when I was 16 years old.
5. My best friend died only six months after I left England.
6. I have always loved The Beatles.
7. Two of the three children from my first marriage have unfortunately been persuaded to believe a lot of untruths and I miss them very much.
8. I love Nancy! She is the best thing that has ever happened to me!!!!
9. I love cruising, ballroom dancing, laughing and helping people.
10. I love my Scotch!!!!
11. I love gardening and I can’t wait to finish our back yard.
12. I have been blessed with skills to fix almost anything. (Except motors)
13. I (DoooooH) married a woman in Florida after knowing her for only 1 week!!!!!
14. I lived in Florida cutting grass and waiting tables for almost two years.
15. I bought a 32 foot fifth wheel trailer and rebuilt it from the frame up.
16. My father told me (I would never amount to anything!!!)……he was wrong! I have already seen more of the world than all my family put together.
17. I sometimes trust too much.
18. I like computer games.
19. I used to be a cop…..badge #94 Mississauga Police Dept.
20. I have been a Shoe Salesman, Stock Boy, Floor Cleaner, Carpet Cleaner, Expeditor, Buyer, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Manager, Warehouse Manager, Sales Manager, Production Scheduler, Machine Operator, Production Manager,
Trucking Salesman, Handyman, Roofer, Siding installer, Re-Upholstery Salesman, House Painter and now all I do is help people become Wealthy or at the least save them money. (What a great job!!!!!)
21. I have always wanted to go to University to be an architect but never did…..perhaps some day!
22. I have surfed in California…..I got up on the board at least once.
23. I Windsurfed, Golfed, Bowled, Played Darts, Played Billiards, Pitched Horseshoes until I got good at it.
24. I once won a javelin competition in an interschool competition.
25. My great grandfather was a Beattie, from Echlefechan, Dumphriesshire, Scotland. The Beatties were border-reivers (raiders) who worked for the highest bidder.
2. I was born in York Minster Nursing Home in York, UK.
3. I was told I was being promoted from the sixth grade to the eighth because I was not trying hard enough.
4. My parents cancelled a drum set I ordered without telling me when I was 16 years old.
5. My best friend died only six months after I left England.
6. I have always loved The Beatles.
7. Two of the three children from my first marriage have unfortunately been persuaded to believe a lot of untruths and I miss them very much.
8. I love Nancy! She is the best thing that has ever happened to me!!!!
9. I love cruising, ballroom dancing, laughing and helping people.
10. I love my Scotch!!!!
11. I love gardening and I can’t wait to finish our back yard.
12. I have been blessed with skills to fix almost anything. (Except motors)
13. I (DoooooH) married a woman in Florida after knowing her for only 1 week!!!!!
14. I lived in Florida cutting grass and waiting tables for almost two years.
15. I bought a 32 foot fifth wheel trailer and rebuilt it from the frame up.
16. My father told me (I would never amount to anything!!!)……he was wrong! I have already seen more of the world than all my family put together.
17. I sometimes trust too much.
18. I like computer games.
19. I used to be a cop…..badge #94 Mississauga Police Dept.
20. I have been a Shoe Salesman, Stock Boy, Floor Cleaner, Carpet Cleaner, Expeditor, Buyer, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Manager, Warehouse Manager, Sales Manager, Production Scheduler, Machine Operator, Production Manager,
Trucking Salesman, Handyman, Roofer, Siding installer, Re-Upholstery Salesman, House Painter and now all I do is help people become Wealthy or at the least save them money. (What a great job!!!!!)
21. I have always wanted to go to University to be an architect but never did…..perhaps some day!
22. I have surfed in California…..I got up on the board at least once.
23. I Windsurfed, Golfed, Bowled, Played Darts, Played Billiards, Pitched Horseshoes until I got good at it.
24. I once won a javelin competition in an interschool competition.
25. My great grandfather was a Beattie, from Echlefechan, Dumphriesshire, Scotland. The Beatties were border-reivers (raiders) who worked for the highest bidder.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
I PROMISE--
To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To where a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.
Christian D. Larson
To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To where a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.
Christian D. Larson
25 Things That You May Not Know About me
I received a copy of this on Facebook and thought that it would be fun to share my "Twenty-Five Things" with my friends and family here.
I am going to try to get Graham to do the same, so stay tuned.
1. I am extremely proud of all 3 of my very special children and of all that they have
accomplished in their lives.
2. I dearly love my 2 daughters-in-law - they are very special ladies.
3. My grandchildren are my pride and joy.
4. I am pagan and follow a shamanic wiccan path.
5. I was born & raised in Streetsville.
6. I moved to London to attend the University of Western Ontarion and I have never left.
7. I am able to answer yes to the two most important questions in life - I am truly glad to go
to work every day because I love what I do and I am also glad to return home to my
husband, Graham every afternoon..
8. I love cruising and would dearly love to cruise South America.
9. I love dancing!
10. I am the oldest of 12 children - 10 girls and 2 boys all together.
11. My parents were divorced when it was something that was taboo.
12. After my parents' divorce, there were parents who refused to allow their children to
play with me because of the divorce.
13. Both of my parents went on to remarry and start new families - most of my brothers and
sisters are half-siblings.
14. My brother, Scott drowned 2 weeks before his 18th birthday.
15. I am the proud "mother" of 2 cocker spaniels - Emma (the devil dog) and Abby (the
terrorist)
16. I love attending live musical theatre and in the past couple of years we have seen Mamma
Mia, Dirty Dancing and The Sound of Music.
17. I really want to see RiverDance and The Jersey Boys - hint! hint!
18. I have a terrible sweet tooth.
19. I have just started a 2 year term as the Secretary of the London-Elgin-Middlesex Crime
Stoppers program.
20. We just returned home from an ACN convention in San Diego - what an absolutely
beautiful city.
21. I am a much happier person since Graham came into my life.
22. I met Graham on the internet - before it was a truly accepted way to meet someone.
23. We meet with 3 other couples every 4 - 6 weeks for a dinner club. I have never in my
life laughed like I laugh when the 8 of us are together.
24. I hate winter and I love summer - I actually enjoy the heat. I would probably do much
better somewhere where it is hot all year round.
25. I an an avid mineral collector.
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