In My World

Six Word Journal Prompt:  Describe your life or current situation in exactly six words. keeping busy is keeping me sane

  The addition on the left side of the building is the two-story privy. The building is an excellent example of Georgian architecture, popular in Canada during the 19th century. Its rectangular floor plan is symmetrical in nature, consisting of the central entryway and hall, a high gable roof, a centred gable facade with three bays and a double chimney on either side of the building. The main entrance contains sidelights and a transom, and is flanked by casement windows. Above the main door is a Palladian window with arched toppers, while beneath the gable is a typical semi-elliptical window. This front facade is mirrored exactly on the rear facade, adding significantly to its architectural value. The building is striking in its simplicity and is a study in contrasts: the white clapboard of the main building against the red ochre of the side addition; the simple lines of the wooden walls against the multi-paned windows. The use of casement windows instead of sash windows suggests t...

Today's Prompt: Compliments What's the best compliment you've ever received? I hope the originator of this message doesn't mind that I'm sharing it . . . but it was the nicest thing anyone has said to me for a very long time and I treasure it . . . Hey Pam. I wanted to take a minute today to encourage you. You're always on the go, running errands (for yourself and others), working on craft projects, doing things around the house, encouraging others, and taking care of your family. You are a real inspiration!!! And you'd rival the Energizer Bunny in terms of energy, lol! I love reading about all your adventures each day, and seeing all that you've accomplished. I like how you take care of yourself, too, by treating yourself to lunch, making sure you foster social relationships, and challenging yourself to try new things. That's something that every woman has to be reminded to do, and I'm glad I have you as an example of that. I'm glad I ...

A Fine Balance is an excellent novel which allowed me to see inside a culture I would never have the ability to experience. When this happens, I truly believe we learn a little more about our neighbours around the world . . . allowing us to understand each other a little better. The book was recommended as one of 100 novels that make you proud to be Canadian, compiled by CBCbooks.ca. It is also on the O Canada! The Best Canadian Books list. The story is about four very different people, a widow, a young student, and two tailors, who come together during a turbulent time in India of the 1970s and discover friendship and love despite the extreme sadness and instability of the times they are living in. It is a very sad and emotional book but I bet you will read it a second time.

Goodfellas (1990) Apparently I love gangster movies.  Of course this one was shot back in the day when we didn't have to see all the gory details.  Most were just suggested.  They were well understood. Ray Liotta  plays Henry Hill, a quiet young boy who gets involved in the mob and works his way up through the ranks.  When drug addiction and a couple of mistakes torpedoes his career he decides to not be so quiet. Goodfellas is a movie that typecast so many actors as mobsters for the rest of their acting careers. Academy Awards, USA  1991 Won Oscar Best Actor in a Supporting Role Joe Pesci   Nominated Oscar Best Picture Irwin Winkler   Best Actress in a Supporting Role Lorraine Bracco   Best Director Martin Scorsese   Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium Nicholas Pileggi Martin Scorsese   Best Film Editing Thelma Schoonmaker  

Today's Prompt: Betrayal Have you ever been betrayed by a loved one? I think we have all been betrayed at least once in life.  I choose to put those memories in a basket labelled "history".  I have too many awesome people in my life . . . and I have a pretty good life.  Remembering those who aren't worthy of my time is a waste of my time.

It's time for the next installment of Tanka Tuesday! Tanka is a form of poetry similar to haiku. It's short, and the lines don't need to rhyme. The just must have a set number of syllables: 5/7/5/7/7. Today's tanka prompt is: travel. I want to live in  a motor home and travel  so much to see and  so much to learn and think how  interesting my blog would be

I am so glad I finally read Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne portrays Hester as a woman who is strong, faithful and true. When a moment of indiscretion is made public by the birth of her daughter, Pearl, she is sentenced, first to the pillory and then to wear the letter A on her chest. Even in her shame and sorrow she remains strong and penitent. While she could have just sewn on a little A on her dress, she chose to embroider an extravagant A which she wore every day even after it was no longer required by the law. I found myself really believing the characters even when I felt some of them were less than likable. I though Hester's long-lost husband was an evil person who played with the minds and emotions of Hester and the minister. I thought the minister was weak and shameful. He could have saved Hester by admitting he was Pearl's father or, better yet, marrying Hester. Instead he let her live in shame and sorrow for many years, never admitting his part. It is nice to r...

Today's Prompt: Amusement Parks Did you have a favorite amusement park that you liked to visit as a child? I don't remember ever going to an amusement park as a child.  Hubby and I took our boys to Canada's Wonderland about 30 years ago.  I think they enjoyed it.  I just thought it was a long hot day and a lot of money spent.  

Fast Romantics formed in 2009 by former members of long-running Calgary band The Mood, initially retaining three of its original members: Matthew Angus, Matthew Kliewer, and Jeffrey Lewis. Upon reforming, the band added Alan Reain on drums and began doing a number of local shows. The band added and lost many members in the years that followed, releasing two independent records, touring heavily, and eventually reforming in Toronto in 2014.  Deciding to rebuild the band from scratch with Lewis, Angus added four new members in 2014, beginning with respected Toronto singer/songwriter Kirty as a multi-instrumentalist and singer. The two developed a chemistry quickly and as new songs began to form, Kevin Black (formerly of Toronto-based band Hands & Teeth) was added on guitars and vocals, Nick McKinlay was added on drums, and eventually in 2015, Lisa Lorenz was added on keyboards. Fast Romantics won Pop Group of the Year at the Sirius XM Indies in May 2014 for "Funeral Song", a...

I remember watching Bon Cop Bad Cop many many years ago. I just finished watching it again. This humour is so Canadian. I really loved watching it. Two Canadian detectives, one from Ontario and the other from Quebec, must work together when a murdered victim is found on the Ontario-Quebec border . . . literally! Colm Feore plays Martin Ward and Patrick Huard in David Bouchard. They are as opposite as day and night and this is a basis for most of the story.  I know I'm making a big deal about the humour but there is more to this movie. It is thrilling, action packed, full of quick turns and big surprises. I never knew their was a Bon Cop Bad Cop 2 so that is now on my list to watch.

Today's Prompt: Welcome Spring What does spring look like in your neighborhood? Is it spring where you live, still winter, or already into summer? It is spring.  It is dreary, 0 C, overcast with the sun fighting to shine through. 

“Anyone who’s been to Pakenham will tell you that the awesome sight of this mighty river swelling and surging under the historic five-span bridge will remain forever etched in your memory. “ The Pakenham Bridge is a stone bridge with five arches that crosses the Mississippi River at the town of Pakenham within Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada. The bridge measures 268 feet (82 m) long, 22 feet (6.7 m) high, and 25 feet (7.6 m) wide. It is the only one of this type in North America. The bridge was built in 1903 by O'Toole & Keating, Scottish masons from Ottawa, for a cost of $14,500. The stones, the largest of which weighs 5 tons, came from a local quarry. As a result of local pressure to preserve it, the bridge was never replaced with a newer one and restored in 1984. At that time, the bridge was also strengthened with reinforced concrete to accommodate car and truck traffic. With a parking lot and rapids right at the bridge, it is a popular picnic spot. Here the Mississippi R...

Today's Prompt: Phobias What's worse:  Spiders, snakes, or rats? The only thing worse than spiders, snakes, and rats are BIG spiders, snakes, and rats.  They are all disgusting . . . ewwwwwww!!!!!!

This novel centres around Bernard Valcourt, a Canadian journalist who came to Rwanda to establish a television network for education purposes. While he waits for all the red tape to clear, he spends much of his time sitting at the pool at the Mille-Collines hotel. The context of this love story (for that is how I see it) is during the Rwanda genocide and AIDS crisis. The story is brutal and often difficult to read. But we never lose hope that his love for Gentille will overcome the evil and ugliness around them. I'm not going to tell you how it ends. Read the book.

Describe your life or current situation using exactly six words. Playing AND working on the computer.

Tanka is a form of poetry similar to haiku. It's short, and the lines don't need to rhyme. The just must have a set number of syllables: 5/7/5/7/7. Today's tanka prompt is: children. children are a source of greatest joy innocent trusting loving sweet bedtime stories and good night kisses hugs teddies held tight

You may have determined by now that when I review a book I write mostly about how I liked it and why. I will leave the details of themes and plots and other mysteries to those more qualified than I. I write only as a person who loves to read. I now know where two quotes I've often heard actually come from . . . A Tale of Two Cities . What quotes? See if you recognize them. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way-- and It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.  I never read this book in school or any other time. I ...

Today's Writing Prompt: Flirt Do you like to flirt, or are you shy? I could be wrong so you should probably double-check with my husband, but I don't believe I flirt.  I am far too shy for that and I have a bad habit of tripping over my words and forgetting my nouns when I am nervous.

This movie is crazy. It is also French Canadian and in French with English subtitles. I thought this might bother me, but it really didn't. The movie was just that good. C.R.A.Z.Y. is the store of a sexually confused young man and his totally dysfunctional family. The setting is in Montreal during the 1960s and 70s. There are many funny moments and some really sad moments; the best moments were the ones with real insight into the lives of these very different people. The director makes excellent use of music to set the passage of time through the decades. The characters are well developed. I think it is definitely worth seeing. This movie swept the Genie awards in 2006 -- Best Motion Picture, Best Performance of an Actor in a Leading Role, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Achievement in Direction, Best Screenplay Original, Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design, Best Achievement in Costume Design, Best Achievement in Overall Sound, B...

  Todd George Fancey is a Canadian guitarist, keyboardist, and solo artist. He is the guitarist for Vancouver-based indie rock band The New Pornographers and the bassist for the band Limblifter. Fancey is originally from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.  Fancey released his first solo album, Fancey on March Records in 2004. His second solo album, Schmancey, was released November 13, 2007 on What Are Records?. Fancey released his third solo album Love Mirage on January 27, 2017. His fourth album release is "County Fair" a collection of cover songs on January 26, 2018. His third and fourth albums were self-released on Stoner Disco Records.

Today's Prompt: Rain I've rarely been bothered by the rain in spring, summer or fall. On the other hand, I hate rain in the winter because it makes me feel miserable and I am anxious for my friends and family who have to be out in it. I also am terrified of thunderstorms. This is a fun photo from our Hewson family reunion July 2014. Our wienie roast was very quick as we were racing a rainstorm that we could see on the horizon. I'd been looking forward to toasting marshmallows all day and I was going to get one if I had to stand over the campfire with an umbrella . . . LOL

“I have called this period Canada’s Turbulent Years – turbulent not only because of the battles we fought on the African veldt, the ravaged meadows of Flanders, the forbidding spine of Italy, and the conical hills of Korea, but turbulent in other ways. These were Canada’s formative years, when she resembled an adolescent, grappling with the problems of puberty, often at odds with her parents, craving to be treated as an adult, hungry for the acclaim of her peers, and wary of the dominating presence of a more sophisticated neighbour.” – From the Introduction Marching As to War is "only" 632 pages in paperback but Pierre Berton's writing held my interest to the very last page.  I've always been interested in history.  I even took history of WWI and WWII in university.  I wonder if they would consider swapping out the texts from that course for Marching As to War ? Here is a little biography: Pierre Berton was one of Canada’s most popular and prolific ...

Today's Prompt: Rainbow Bridge Have you ever had the rotten experience of having to put a pet down? I had to do it once. We had a kitten who wasn't breathing when it was born. I actually did kitty CPR. I probably shouldn't have. Poor little thing was never right. I took him to the vet in Aylmer to be put to sleep. I will never do that again. 

The Rockingham Church, located at 513 Rockingham Rd, Combermere, ON, formerly called St. Leonard’s Anglican Church, was built about 1875, when the hamlet of Rockingham was a thriving community. The last regular service was held in 1924, and the church had no minister from then until 1944. A Rev. Leon B.G. Adams was minister from 1944-47, but the church was apparently closed in 1941. The pews, font and bell were removed in 1945-46, to churches in Quadeville, Barry’s Bay and Killaloe respectively. On May 14, 1967, Bishop Ernest Reed of Ottawa performed the Act of Secularization on the church. The building had deteriorated significantly by the mid-‘90s despite various earlier repair efforts. In 1995, the Friends of the Rockingham Church formed to save the building from destruction. Major repairs were carried out in 1999 and 2000. In 1999, the Townships of Brudenell, Lyndoch & Raglan designated the church a heritage site under the Ontario Heritage Act. Set among tall pines, the weather...

Today's Prompt: Cruel or Offensive What's the most offensive thing you've ever heard anyone say? Any time I hear "If the ____ (enter any non-British nationality here) don't want to follow our Canadian traditions they should pack up and move back to ____ (wherever they lived before moving to Canada)" it takes every bit of willpower I have not to offer to help the annoying speaker pack his or her bags. One of our "traditions" is the Canadian Bill of Rights. Hey, annoying speaker, have you ever read it? Here's just a little piece of it: Recognition and declaration of rights and freedoms 1. It is hereby recognized and declared that in Canada there have existed and shall continue to exist without discrimination by reason of race, national origin, colour, religion or sex, the following human rights and fundamental freedoms, namely, (a) the right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person and enjoyment of property, and the ...

I cannot believe I have never written about The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood before.  I am a huge Atwood fan and I've read the book several times.   It is the story of a dystopian future where governments have become theocracies and women have no rights.  The centre of the story is Offred who is forced to be a reproductive surrogate to a powerful commander and his wife.  Offred remembers the time before the theocracy when she had a husband, a daughter, a job, a life . . . and dreams of escape. There is now a television series but I only watched a few episodes before I became bored.  (Of course the same thing happened when I tried to watch the television version of Alias Grace.)  I may try to watch it again some day . . . but not yet.   There is also a The Handmaid's Tale movie.  It was okay.  Not sure I would ever watch it again. I am sure I will be reading the book again soon.  

Tanka Tuesday: the Beach It's time for the next installment of Tanka Tuesday! Tanka is a form of poetry similar to haiku. It's short, and the lines don't need to rhyme. The just must have a set number of syllables: 5/7/5/7/7. Today's tanka Tuesday prompt is The Beach. a day at the beach is not my idea of fun sand caked everywhere sunburnt smelling like dead fish Unless I can get Mackie's

Today's Prompt: Challenges What challenges are you facing right now?

Let me begin by admitting my deep dark secret . . . I love "quirky" movies . . . and Mambo Italiano is definitely that. Angelo Barberini (Luke Kirby) lives at home and harbors a secret from his Italian parents, Gino (Paul Sorvino) and Maria (Ginette Reno). He's gay. At 30-years-old, Angelo's decision to move out surprises Gino and Maria and his entire community because they believe that Angelo should only leave home if he's getting married. The trusted few who know the truth are Angelo's older sister, Anna (Claudia Ferri), and his secret crush, Nino (Peter Miller). As Angelo and Nino grow closer, their families get more and more confused. Angelo falls in love with and the two move in together. They try to keep their sexuality a secret, while their families worry, suspect and scheme to set them up with nice Italian girls. It’s not easy being Italian and gay, and when the pressures of his double life begin to overwhelm Angelo, his reactions set off an explosivel...

Faber Drive is a four-piece Juno Award-nominated Canadian pop punk band from Mission, British Columbia, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Dave Faber, lead guitarist Jordan Pritchett, bass guitarist Jeremy "Krikit" Liddle and drummer Seamus O'Neill. Their biggest influences are U2, The Police, Def Leppard, Jimmy Eat World, Stryper and Winger. They have toured with bands such as Hedley, Stereos, Marianas Trench, Simple Plan and Metro Station.

Today's Prompt: Music is Forever Who was your favorite band or singer when you were young? I had many many favourite bands when I was young.

The Bonnechere Caves are located in the town of Renfrew, in eastern Ontario. The caves are open to the public for tours from mid-May to mid-October. The caves were formed over millions of years by the erosion of limestone by an underground river. The caves are home to a variety of wildlife, including bats and cave crickets. The temperature inside the caves is a constant 7 degrees Celsius, so be sure to bring a jacket! The tour takes about an hour and includes a short film about the history of the caves. The Bonnechere Caves are a network of caves which are home to a variety of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as other mineral deposits. The first recorded exploration of the Bonnechere Caves was in 1856 by a group of local farmers. The caves were not open to the public until 1930, when they were developed into a tourist attraction. Today, the Bonnechere Caves are a popular destination for both tourists and cavers alike. The Bonnechere Caves are located in the Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben...

Describe your life or current situation in exactly six words. almost caught up and moving forward

I loved it.  More twists and turns than a mountain road.   Alias Grace is a historical fiction based on the true life case of Grace Marks, a young maid who murdered her employer and possibly the housekeeper.  Atwood fleshes out the story and takes the reader on quite the ride while trying to decide on Grace's guilt or innocence.  Grace's life including her time in an asylum and prison is well told.   I recommend this book highly.

Today's Writing Prompt: Politics It's not an election year, so I feel safe talking about politics!  What one issue is the most important to you when it comes to voting for your representatives? I have to say my biggest concern or issue is lower voter turnouts.  People seem to bitch and complain about governments and politicians but when they have the opportunity to voice their concerns and effect change they just don't.  They just don't vote.  I cannot understand it.  I think all active voters should get a pin that says "I voted so I can complain.  Where's your pin?"  The turnout for a recent and very boisterously and sometimes viciously debated municipal election was 35%.  SERIOUSLY!?!?!?

Tanka Tuesday: Spring Tanka is a form of Japanese poetry thousands of years old, very similar to haiku. The 5 unrhymed lines go in syllables of 5/7/5/7/7. new buds on the trees brave sprouts search out the sun new life has returned to proclaim the new season welcomes us out into light

What species would you most like to be reincarnated as and why? I'm pretty sure I want to be a very spoiled kitty, loved and fed and taken care of without a care in the world.  Plus, my people would even think I'm cute when I am misbehaving.

The Final Challenge . . . Preparing for a Crop Crops can be a wonderful chance for you to get caught up on pages, catch up with friends, and enjoy your hobby with other Scrapbookers who understand your obsession.   But planning ahead is very important to your success – it is a proven fact that the less you bring to a crop, the more you’ll actually get done.   Here are a few tips to help you prepare: Mission  Statement:   A crop is a rare chunk of time to spend on yourself.   How long will the crop last?   What do you want to accomplish?   Do you want to socialize?   Do you want to set a goal for completed pages?   Would you like to complete a mini-album?   Do you want to try to master a new technique?   Do you want to organize your photos?   Knowing what you want to get out of it and how much time you’ll have to do it is crucial to your planning, and helps to avoid frustration at the end of the day if you don’t achieve what you...

I recently watched this "movie" which is actually a documentary. I'm okay with that. I learned a lot about the Inuit peoples and how they live.  Angry Inuk was written and directed by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril to defend the Inuit seal hunt which is a vital means for Inuit to sustain themselves. The documentary was shot in the filmmaker's home community of Iqaluit, as well as Kimmirut and Pangnirtung, where seal hunting is essential for survival. The film follows a group of Inuit to Europe where they hope to have the EU Ban on Seal Products overturned. They were unsuccessful. The film very critical of NGOs such as Greenpeace and the International Fund for Animal Welfare for ignoring the needs of vulnerable northern communities who depend on hunting for their livelihoods by drawing a false distinction between subsistence-driven Inuit hunters and profit-driven commercial hunters. Angry Inuk is very eye-opening. It is also a very well produced film.

  Eric's Trip is a Canadian indie rock band from Moncton, New Brunswick that achieved prominence as the first Canadian band to be signed to Seattle's flagship grunge label Sub Pop in the early 1990s. Eric's Trip formed in 1990 when musicians Rick White and Chris Thompson joined Julie Doiron and Ed Vaughan (who was later replaced by Mark Gaudet). They took their name from a Sonic Youth song and developed a unique sound which fused elements of the distorted guitar of Dinosaur Jr., vocal elements of My Bloody Valentine, the folk leanings of Neil Young, and the lo-fi aesthetic of Sebadoh. White described their sound as "sappy melodic pop music on top of thick distortion." Gaudet's description was more succinct: "dreamy punk". Eric's Trip went on indefinite hiatus in 1996, reunited in 2001, and again in 2006-present.