In My World

 Wow.  Nothing to Envy:  Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick is a very shocking and interesting book.  Demick is a journalist who has covered North and South Korea for the LA Times since 2001.  She tells the story of several different families trying to survive in a devastated North Korea.  She uses excellent sources for her information to make the book dramatic, factual and realistic.  Demick creates an amazing connection between the reader and the people she is writing about.  "In NOTHING TO ENVY, Demick follows the lives of six people: a couple of teenaged lovers courting in secret, an idealistic woman doctor, a homeless boy, a model factory worker who loves Kim Il Sung more than her own family and her rebellious daughter. "Demick spent six years painstakingly reconstructing life in a city off-limits to outsiders through interviews with defectors, smuggled photographs and videos. The book spans the chaotic years that s...

Today's prompt will require a bit of thought.  It may be a good prompt for an All About Me album as well.  Here goes . . .  25 Escapes I Would Like To Indulge In 1.  A train trip across Canada 2.  A weekend all expenses paid at the Embassy Suites in Niagara Falls 3.  Another 4+ day crop at Windswept cottage in Port Lambton 4.  A cruise in Toronto Harbour  5.  A pedicure (never had one but hear it is better than sex) 6.  Being able to attend all the letterboxing meet-ups in a 200 km radius of home 7.  A weekend away with just Hal just about anywhere (although keep in mind #2 would be great) 8.  Whale watching 9.  An Alaskan cruise 10.  Volunteer to help women and children in third world countries 11.  A week doing just what I want and no housework or cooking 12.  A gourmet dinner 13.  A day all alone at the Royal Ontario Museum with Hal so I can actually see everything. 14.  A trip to ...

Garnet Rogers (born May 1955) is a Canadian folk musician, singer, songwriter and composer. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario with roots in Nova Scotia. He began his professional career working with his older brother, folk musician Stan Rogers, and arranging Stan's music. Despite Stan Rogers' death on June 2, 1983 (just a few weeks before Stan, Garnet and bass player Jim Morison were to tour the US), Garnet Rogers has pursued his own career since then. At first, Rogers had difficulty getting a permit from the U.S. Immigration Service, which only granted one after a campaign on his behalf was launched by Odetta, The Boston Globe, and a PBS TV station in New York. While his brother's style of writing was more traditional and often based on Canadian Maritime styles, Rogers' style is more modern, utilizing influences from blues, rock, country/bluegrass, and classical. Rogers' instruments include the guitar, mandolin, violin, and flute. In live performances, he usually si...

Today's Prompt: Lesser Evil You must choose one of the following:  Your car breaks down, you have to spend an evening with your ex, or a day of dental work. Well let me think . . .  If my car breaks down I would be late for wherever I was supposed to be going . . . unless I really didn't want to be there in the first place and then it would be okay.  As long as I'm off the road so no one runs into me I think that would be okay.  If I am on the road, hopefully the road is on a slope and I can steer my way off the road . . . or maybe some good Samaritans will come along and push me to the side.  I can call for help if one of those good Samaritans has a cell phone . . . because I have cruddy cell phone coverage and probably wouldn't be able to use mine.  I suppose I could make a sign on my window with lipstick that says "Call Me A Tow Truck" or something.  I have road side assistance on my car so I wouldn't have to pay for help if it ever a...

  Here is what makes Sandbanks Provincial Park special: World’s largest baymouth barrier dune formation Three expansive sandy beaches that some say are among the best in Canada; Outlet Beach is perfect for families, with shallow waters and gentle drop off. Outlet Beach is located in the East Lake sector of the park, Lakeshore beach is located in the Lakeshore day use area off Lake Ontario and Dunes Beach is located in the Dunes day use area off West Lake. Outlet and Lakeshore beaches have gradual drop-offs, but the Dunes Beach has a steep drop off and swimmers should take extra caution. Please note: there are no lifeguards posted at the beaches and pets are not permitted except on the designated pet area.  Powerboats are allowed on Lake Ontario, East and West Lake but not near the swimming areas or on the beach. A boat launch is located in the Outlet River A Campground. It is suitable for boats less than 18 feet. Other boat launch facilities are available outside the park. Location...

Today's Prompt: Only You Know What is something that only you know? If I told you then WE would know.

Our Grandmothers, Ourselves:  Reflections of Canadian Women,  edited by Gina Valle is an amazing collection of stories by women from various backgrounds, economic status and ethnicities.  Grandaughters share the stories of their grandmothers and the affect these women had on their own lives. It is sometimes funny, sometimes surprising and always touching. This is a must read for all women . . . Canadian or not. That's all I'm going to say. Gina Valle: "The grandmother-granddaughter relationship has undergone little examination in literature. In this collection, the portrayal of the grandmother is multidimensional - as woman, feminist, keeper of our first language and culture. These stories affirm that cultural heritage is manifested through language, food, storytelling, music, religion, holistic healing and symbols. Owing to our grandmothers’ presence in our lives, these rich traditions will be preserved for yet another generation. Many of us were first awakened to...

Today's prompt is a photo prompt.  Share a story, joke or caption inspired by this photo. This image originally appeared at https://www.facebook.com/MisaoFukumaru This isn't the right way to bob for apples silly!

Schindler's List (1993) It is quite simply a movie with a strong central character, Oskar Schindler, who joins the Nazi party with the goal of making his fortune in the war.  Now, I'm not passing judgement because I know that there were people in many other countries willing to make a quick buck from that very same war.   At first Schindler protects his Jewish workers because it was to his benefit but after witnessing the liquidation of the Krakow ghetto he turns to earnestly saving as many people has he can. The most poignant moments in the movie involve the little girl in the red dress.  I found an excellent article online about this image at  http://auschwitz.dk/redgirl.htm  . Academy Awards  1994 Won Oscar Best Picture Steven Spielberg Gerald R. Molen Branko Lustig Best Director Steven Spielberg Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Steven Zaillian Best Cinematography Janusz Kaminski Best Art Direction-S...

It's time for the next installment of Tanka!  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: autumn / fall. Autumn cool breezes  pale blue skies colourful leaves  warm sweaters white clouds brilliant colours red gold orange Autumn my favourite season

Today's Prompt: Alone What's an activity that you prefer to do all by yourself? I love to read.  My favourite time to read is any time I have to sit and wait for something, when I need a little down time . . . and it is the greatest way I know to relax and fall asleep at night . . . unless the book is really good or there is just a couple more chapters left.

What an amazing story!!!!! I read this book in two nights, staying up WAY past my bedtime to do so. This novel is written in a crisp, exciting style and I just couldn't put it down. Synopsis When Nebraska police officer and divorced mother of three Kathryn Bolkovac saw a recruiting announcement for private military contractor DynCorp International, she applied and was hired. Good money, world travel, and the chance to help rebuild a war-torn country sounded like the perfect job. Bolkovac was shipped out to Bosnia, where DynCorp had been contracted to support the UN peacekeeping mission. She was assigned as a human rights investigator, heading the gender affairs unit. The lack of proper training provided sounded the first alarm bell, but once she arrived in Sarajevo, she found out that things were a lot worse. At great risk to her personal safety, she began to unravel the ugly truth about officers involved in human trafficking and forced prostitution and their connections t...

Today's Prompt: Old Friends Describe an old friend that you are not in contact with any more. I'm not taking this writing prompt literally because my thought drifted in this new direction . . . LOL. One of  the things I love most about social media is the ability to find and reconnect with childhood friends.  Sometimes we still have things in common and are glad to find each other.  Sadly, once in a while the reconnect is simply a reminder of why we are not friends now. I was very lucky growing up to have a great neighbourhood full of friends . . . a few are still friends, expecially on FB.  In school I had a few really good friends . . . some I see in real life but most are just online reconnects.  I think I have been very lucky that way.   In some ways I still think of friends the same way I did as a kid . . . friends are the people that show up at my door and I do stuff with . . . only now it isn't baseball . . . it is usually drink...

Canadian Pie  by Will Ferguson is a really wonderful read.  Ferguson provides us with some truly funny and interesting stories pulled from his travels across Canada . . . a slice of this, a slab of that.  His style is very conversational and he pays attention to the details to really make his stories pop.  Some of the stories were more interesting than others but I imagine that is a personal thing.  You will probably enjoy different stories than I did.  Definitely pick this up for a good light read.

Today's Writing Prompt: End of Summer The summer is winding down to a close. Are you looking forward to fall, or are there still items on your summer fun 'to-do' list? Don't be shocked . . . but summer is my least favourite time of year . . . sun burn, humidity, bugs, allergies.   While I do love spring,  I think I like fall the best.  I can't wait for "sweater weather".  We do most of our letterboxing in the fall.  Fall in Ontario is so beautiful and colourful.  And there is less chance I will be sunburnt, a puddle of sweat, getting mosquito bites, and sneezing.  It's all good!

This seems like a great idea for a community project. I think my brother and his family would like this place. They are amateur bird watchers/photographers. I think they are more like professionals except no one pays them to do it.

West Side Story  (1961) This movie released the year after I was born.  I wonder how many times I've watched it.  I bet I can, at the very least, hum most of the songs and I'm pretty sure I can remember a lot of the words. Loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is a musical about two kids from rival gangs who fall in love.  And it doesn't end well. Academy Awards, USA  1962 Won Oscar Best Picture Robert Wise   Best Actor in a Supporting Role George Chakiris   Best Actress in a Supporting Role Rita Moreno   Best Director Robert Wise Jerome Robbins For the first time a directing award is being shared. Best Cinematography, Color Daniel L. Fapp   Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color Boris Leven Victor A. Gangelin   Best Costume Design, Color Irene Sharaff   Best Sound Fred Hynes   (Todd-AO SSD) Gordon Sawyer   (Samuel Goldwyn SSD)   Best Film Editing Thomas Stanford ...

Today's Prompt: Spice Do you like super-spicy food? I like well-seasoned food . . . but super spicy? . . . not so much.  I don't think eating food should be painful.  I like curries and Thai and lots of other "ethnic" foods that are highly seasoned.  Just not the stuff that leaves blisters on my tongue.

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 prompt is: writing! I do love writing it helps me to clear my mind  organize my thoughts  it serves as a reminder of those things I might forget.

 It took a long time to finish reading this book.  I read the first two parts . . . Italy and India . . . but had to return the book to the library before I finished it.   Then the movie came out and I went to see it.  I really enjoyed the movie.  Of course, I am a fan of Julia Roberts to start with.  The movie was good but really couldn't do justice to the book.  I noticed a couple of places where an event happened that was difficult to understand. Having read the third part of the book, I finally did understand.  I "sort of" wish I hadn't read the last section.  It seemed so rushed in comparison to the first two sections.  Even so, I still enjoyed it.  I enjoyed it so much in fact that I put a hold on the sequel . . .

Set the timer for 1 minute . . . what can I say about the word Play in 1 minute? . . . hmmmmmmm . . .  I love to play music.  Just about any kind of music.  I love to play cards.  I am a lousy card player.  I think it is the whole "socialness" of card playing that is fun.  I love to play Apples to Apples and Clue. Wow . . . sixty seconds sure doesn't last long . . . 

Today's ~ Disappear How would the world be different without you in it? Well I guess the first thing is that my kids wouldn't exist which would mean my grandkids wouldn't exist.  That makes me sad because they are very awesome people. Who would take care of Hal?  What kind of person would he have become if he hadn't met me? How many people might not have learned about scrapbooking?  or sushi?  

Today's Prompt: Messy What level of messiness is acceptable for you to live with? Do you prefer your home to have that 'lived-in' look, are you buried under piles of clutter, or is it so sterilized you could eat off the floors? In My World, my apartment is immaculate.   In my Nanna's mind, my apartment was always mess.   I think the reality is somewhere in the middle.  My furniture is set up for the way we live and not the way the decorating magazines say they should be.  Hubby and I are both crafty so there is usually a project or three or six spread out somewhere.  I'm a firm believer that drying dishes is a waste of time.  If I don't have any doodads on the shelves, I don't have to worry so much about dusting them.  Closet doors are meant to be closed.

  Canadian Forces Base Picton (CFB Picton) was a military installation located in Picton, Ontario. The base was active from the Second World War to 1969 and served the Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army. The former base is now a privately owned business and industrial site and is off limits to the general public unless advertised by the site's owners.  The base was featured prominently as a location backdrop in the controversial 1993 CBC Television production, Dieppe. Today, the site functions as the Picton Airport. Picton Airport is located on the southeast side of Picton, Ontario, Canada, near the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario. The airport is used for general aviation, including glider flying. There are a lot of interesting things to do in Picton, ON   https://lookuptrips.com/top-12-things-to-do-in-picton-ontario-lookuptrips/  https://www.escapecamppicton.com/

  I read this book and loved it.  It was so totally ridiculously out of control and funny.  I think it would make a great movie or situation comedy. Sylvia Mulholland's Woman's Work will likely strike a chord with any woman who has juggled family, career, and home ownership and wondered in the process whether a course in time management might be not only helpful but essential. Mulholland, a Toronto lawyer and frequent contributor on women's topics to The Globe & Mail's Facts & Arguments page, knows of what she speaks. The novel is in many respects unapologetically autobiographical. Claire, the novel's protagonist, is a lawyer too. Her husband, like Mulholland's, is a plastic surgeon who used to play semi-pro hockey in Sweden. Fortunately, in this particular novel, the personal experience is put to good use. The plot is rather simple. Claire is thirty-nine and married to Ben, who is seven years younger. After giving birth to her son Harry, she returns to ...

Make a list of 30 things that make you smile. 1.   Hubby's lame jokes . . . especially the one about the guy on the high diving board 2.   Puns 3.   My oldest grandson and his wry sense of humour 4.   The way my sons, and now all of my grandsons, tower over me.  I never realized how short I am 5.   My middle grandson trying to make us believe we let him walk to school all alone when he was little . . . like that would ever happen 6.   Family dinners.  They are never boring 7.   Knock knock jokes 8.   Grey's Anatomy 9.   Lucille Ball 10. Finding a tricky letterbox 11. Facebook . . . most of the time 12. Oscar (the movie) 13. My youngest grandson when he is telling stories.  He speaks with a lilt at the end of each sentence that is absolutely charming. 14.  Spending time with my friends.  Oh, the stories I could tell . . .  15.  Sushi 16.  Thai food 17.  Going on a roa...

I loved loved loved this movie. Of course I don't think I've ever seen a Morgan Freeman movie I didn't love. Tim Robbins plays a young banker who is found guilty of murdering his wife and her lover. He is innocent but I guess that doesn't matter. The movie is about his life in prison and his friendship with Red, played by Morgan Freeman. My favourite scene is right after the arrival of donations for the prison library. That is all I am going to say except that it is an uplifting moment. I really love the ending but I'm not going to give it away in case you've never seen the movie yet. Let's just say it is good to never lose hope . . . and to be a very clever banker. Both Robbins and Freeman give award worthy performances in this great story of hope. I can't believe they didn't win any Oscars but the movie was nominated for: Best Picture - Niki Marvin Best Actor in a Leading Role - Morgan Freeman Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material ...

cool fresh breeze blowing rose of sharon opens up outside my window  looking at them makes me calm  and gives me inspiration

I generally read classic fiction and nonfiction but every once in a while I pick up some light reading.  I would definitely put Trials of Artemis in the column of very light reading.  I think London has a great idea for a story but it is in need of a good editor.  Both main characters speak in the first person which leaves little tension in the story line.  There are definitely historical inaccuracies.  And the characters need better development. BUT . . .  What I am describing is for a serious novel.  Trials of Artemis is definitely not serious which makes it an excellent light read.  I love the whole story of the inception of the Haberdashers, a boys club formed by three young ladies who know that boys have more fun than girls.  Now that is a story I would like to read.  And it would allow the author to develop the characters more before turning them into adults. SO . . .  Read this book with your feet...

Today's Writing Prompt: Extra Time If you magically had an extra hour today, what would you spend it doing? That is such an easy question.  If I magically could have an extra hour today I would either take a nap, watch TV or scratch 2-3 more tasks from my Dreaded To Do List. Scrapbooking is on my Dreaded To Do List.

Today's Prompt: Weirdo Who's the weirdest person - family member, roommate - you ever lived with? weird·o ˈwirdō/ noun informal a person whose dress or behavior seems strange or eccentric. I know so many weirdos that I'm not sure where to start. I think I will just give you a few quick examples.

I know nothing about the Bay of Quinte so I Googled it. I asked Google what was so special about Bay of Quinte and Google gave me lots of answers. "In the town of Belleville, situated along the shores of the beautiful Bay of Quinte, the water lures anglers, sailors and city folk who simply love a good view. This historic town offers entertaining attractions and a history that will pique your curiosity, as well as unique shopping, great dining and unending views of the water. Charter a sailboat or don your best walking shoes to enjoy the best of the Bay of Quinte and Belleville. "Where to go for a drink The Lark is a bustling cultural hub and a beloved stopping place in the downtown core, with drinks from an award-winning cocktail maker and sommelier "Where to get great ice cream Reid's Dairy is one of Ontario's largest, independently-owned dairy producers known for its famous Loonie shake. "Where to go for a hike Batawa Trails features 22 km of non-motori...

Room is a novel by Emma Donoghue. The story is told from the perspective of a five-year-old boy, Jack, who is being held captive in a small room along with his mother. I think Donoghue put a lot of though and effort into creating Jack's "voice." And just as the cover says, the book is absolutely riveting. Room won or was nominated for many literary awards and was also made into a movie. 

Journal about a difference of opinion.

"If you've never seen it -- you've got a rare treat in store!"  (from the official trailer) Who doesn't love the Wizard of Oz?  And when you think that it was done in 1939, the level of sophistication and technique are amazing. I remember watching it on TV so many times as a child and I still love it now.  When my children were young we had a VHS tape of the movie and my youngest son had every word of the movie memorized. The back story of the making of this movie is almost as fascinating as the movie itself.  I have the Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial History of the Wizard of Oz.  I've lost track of how many times I've read it. I think my favourite part of the movie is when the black and white Kansas scenes suddenly transform to the colour scenes in OZ. Academy Awards, USA  1940 Won Oscar Best Music, Original Song Harold Arlen   (music) E.Y. Harburg   (lyrics) For the song "Over the Rainbow" Best Music, O...

Today's Prompt: Library When was the last time you visited the library? https://stthomaspubliclibrary.ca/ I've joined a quilting group and we meet at the Public Library. You would be amazed at all there is available to do at our St. Thomas Public Library.

  I'm making a list Errands I need to get done Groceries I must buy Chores I hope to accomplish I have't had breakfast yet

Today's Writing Prompt: Awakening Are you good at getting up early, or is it a struggle? When my kids were young I often woke up an hour before them just for that little bit of peace and quiet, a cup of tea and perhaps a good book. I'm not really sure when I changed.  I think it was so gradual that I didn't notice until it was too late. Dear hubby knows now to let the alarm clock wake me up (if I really need to wake up) so that I will be mad at that annoying inanimate object rather than the unlucky person who was thinking it was a good idea to wake me up. If I don't have to be up early, everyone knows to leave me alone until I want to be awake.  I am truly insanely miserable if I don't get enough sleep.  I think it might be because of the fibromyalgia.  Who knows?  Just tip toe around until you see me rise from my slumber to begin my day. All my friends know not to call before 10 am unless there is an emergency. Yeah, I'd say waking u...

"Alexandra Gaither is an attorney who finally has the power to get the justice she needs. 25 years before, her mother had died a scandalous death. Alex believes one of three powerful men murdered her. She will risk everything to uncover their secrets. " This book is a good read . . . although the fact that all the men that were in love with her dead mother also have the hots for the heroine . . . ewwwwwww!!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Front Line Assembly (FLA) is a Canadian electro-industrial band formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. FLA has developed its own sound incorporating elements of electronic body music and electro-industrial. The band's membership has rotated through the years, including Michael Balch, Rhys Fulber, and Chris Peterson, all of whom are associated with several other acts. Since their inception, the group have produced over a dozen studio albums and EPs, several of which have charted on Billboard's Top Dance/Electronic Album chart. The albums Tactical Neural Implant and Hard Wired are two of the group's most successful records, the former being considered a classic among industrial music fans. They have also produced soundtracks for video games such as Quake III: Team Arena (a collaboration with Sonic Mayhem) and AirMech. Over the years, the band's name has sometimes been published as "Front Line Assembly" and s...