Keep your head up or your head down?

When you don't pay attention, you do stupid things.  I learned the HARD WAY, NOT to stumble around without the light on in my bathroom, in the early morning.  It is WAY too easy to mistake one product for another.  THAT is why I ended up brushing my teeth with my facial cleanser, instead of my toothpaste.

The same principle applies to the shower.  Wake up BEFORE you jump in the shower.   One morning recently, I washed my hair twice with "blue" shampoo, which is not my regular shampoo, but a product I use once a week because of my grey hair. I then grabbed what I thought was my conditioner.  Man, my head was so soapy.  I assumed I had forgotten to rinse my hair first, so I rinsed it all out, and reapplied a second application of conditioner.  WELL, my hair was STILL very soapy.  Upon closer inspection of the bottle, I realized I had just washed my hair TWICE again, for a total of FOUR times.  Come on Pantene, your shampoo and conditioner bottles are VERY, VERY, similar!  It is incredibly easy to get them mixed up. Furthermore, for those of us who wear glasses, we DON'T wear them in the shower, so THAT fine print is very hard to read.  

Any funny stories out there that you my readers would like to share? I can't be the ONLY one doing this silly stuff, surely!

WHY am I STILL doing this?

Teaching, that is.  I am supposedly retired, but if I am home, not that busy, and missing the little ones, I accept supply assignments.  MY day is really brightened by these encounters and exchanges.  I must warn you though, that this blog is written in both our official languages.   I am not translating, and you all know, because I have repeated it a zillion times, (hyberbole I know!) Google Translate S?&??%$$!  

3/4 année:  Madame, ICITTE!  Le cri d'un enfant dans la classe, me mandant à son pupitre.  Comment ça????  On ne dit plus "Madame, pourriez-vous venir ici une minute, s'il vous plaît?" (I smiled a teeny smile)

Grade 5 French Immersion: A student disappears from class without permission and is gone twenty minutes. It is time for gym class. Students tell me he is in the washroom. I send a male intervention worker into the washroom, and lead the rest of the class to the gym.  I meet aforesaid student on my way back to class. Out of concern, plus not knowing the why, I ask him if he is okay. OMG! A long story ensues about his diarrhea. Yes, you read it right.  OMG ... W-A-Y TOO much information.  After what seems an eternity of me listening and nodding, he wraps up his tale.   With a parting sweet smile, he informs me that it MUST have been all that “hot buttered popcorn" he ate late last night. (I smiled a little smile.)

3ième année:  Je parlais à un élève de son comportement, que l'avant-midi, n'avait pas été bon.  Quand je lui ai dit que son comportement semble s'avoir amélioré, il ne semblait pas comprendre, alors je lui ai posé la question, "Tu comprends ce que veut dire "améliorer"?  Tout indigne, il répond, "Oui! Ça veut dire PLUS BON!" (J'ai fait un grand sourire.)

Grade 1 - We were outside on a cold, and windy afternoon, on top of a big hill, going sliding. A student ran up and asked me to refasten her hood properly.  As I was fumbling with the snaps, she added, "Hurry up!" (I chuckled!)

Kindergarten:  I was reading an old book (circa 1980s) about a cat named Solomon. Solomon was perched on a big object. I asked the students if they knew what that object was.  "Sure, it's a washing machine!" replied one little fella. No, it wasn't.  It was a TV.  (I guffawed!) 

NEVER, NEVER underestimate the power of ...

social media.  You may post a picture and/or a comment on your FB page, without giving it much thought.  However, if you post so anyone can see it, as in "PUBLIC", then be prepared for possible consequences (good and bad), comments and feedback, FOREVER!

Three years ago, I posted a picture of my almost empty bottle of Heinz ketchp, beside a FULL bottle of FRENCH'S, because I had to decided to switch brands.  I explained in brief about Heinz closing their factory in Leamington, Ontario, putting hundreds of people out of work, moving production to the US, and no longer contracting Canadian tomato farmers to buy their tomatoes.  It was my choice and NOT even my idea originally. I had seen someone ELSE post a picture like that, and I thought, "What a great idea!"  Support Canadians.  FRENCH'S couldn't yet produce ketchup in Canada because Heinz had that stopped that possibility, legally, for a few years.  

W - E - L - L... flashforward THREE years.  To my amazement, and I must admit, a bit of  DISMAY, I was informed that MY post has been LIKED, almost 60,000 times, and MY post has been SHARED 120,000 times. The last time I had bothered to check, it had only been shared 80,000 times! :)  That is mind blowing to me.  I wasn't able to keep up with responses to comments, NOT all of which were positive.  Some said I had no idea what I was talking about, although I had researched the story before I posted my comments.  However, generally speaking Canadians were and/are supportive of keeping jobs for Canadians. 

THAT posting still generates comments, likes and shares. People don't notice it was first posted three years ago, in 2016.  WHO informed me of the latest statistics on my posting? A reporter for CBC National news online, when she contacted me for an interview.  Did I know that French's ketchup continues to increase its market share in Canada? Had I continued to use French's ketchup?  No, and yes were my responses.  We had a great conversation, as she interviewed me for her story, which seems to be an E=V=E=R=E=N=D=I=N=G one.

So IF you happen to see a picture online of a grey haired lady holding up a BIG bottle of FRENCH'S ketchup... c'est moi! 

PS:  In light of the continued bashing of Canada by that odious toad south of the border, I am even MORE determined to choose CANADIAN products first and foremost!

I feel like a broken record...

that keeps skipping and repeating the same words over and over again.  It seems that all I have blogged about lately, is WINTER or my DOG Vimy. Both have been the focus so many of my recent ramblings, but for different reasons.  One I LOVE, and one I am beginning to love to hate!

WINTER has become so long, and so harsh this year.  Too add insult to injury, Facebook keeps reminding me where I was in March ONE year ago, and in March, TWO years ago. Well, it wasn't here!! It was in Costa Rica.  So, I am missing the heat, the humidity, the Ticos, the jungle, and the beach. Seeing those pictures I posted, once again, is both sweet and BITTERSWEET. THANK YOU FACEBOOK! I know... I know... I am spoiled rotten.

On to Vimy, again.  I must admit that I have NEVER been subject to physical violence in my life.  I am SO fortunate.  I have hardly even been YELLED at for heaven's sake!  However, that Husky's unprovoked and vicious attack on my Vimy has really affected me mentally and emotionally.  I have a better understanding of how victims of violence are so completely devastated by the violence that has touched their lives.  While I am in NO way saying that what happened to Vimy and me is in ANY way comparable to what happens to others, that attack has coloured my world differently.  It has changed me.  I DON'T feel as safe and secure in my beloved neighbourhood.

I am much more vigilant while walking out and about because I don't feel safe.  When I walk with Vimy, I feel dread every time I pass in front of the house where that dog lives, because it is just around the corner from me.  I have filed a complaint with Animal Control/SPCA, which is STILL being investigated. I provided pictures, filed a detailed report, obtained a witness statement, AND a vet's report. What is taking so long?  I have seen that woman walking her dog, while I was safely driving by in my own car, and I shuddered.  What happens if her dog attacks again... but maybe a child next time?  

Meanwhile, Vimy's deep puncture wounds have healed, but he has not forgotten.  We met a Husky on the trail last week, (not THE Husky) and Vimy just stared at him. He usually wags his tail, and strains on the leash to go say hello.  Not this time!  When we again met the same Husky as he doubled back with his owner less than twenty minutes later, Vimy STOPPED dead in his tracks, and refused to move.  He actually kind of tried to hide behind me, pauvre pitou!  When we met the same gentle Husky two days later, Vimy even growled at him.  He only does that when he feels threatened. 

Irresponsible people should be brought to account, in some way, for their actions.  To NOT have controlled her dog, and continued to talk on her cell phone the ENTIRE time, all the while HER dog basically tried to kill mine... still beggars belief in my books.  That there may be no consequences of any kind for her total disregard for another being's safety leaves me feeling frightened, worried, and angry. 😞😟😠😧 Ce ne sont pas des sentiments que j'éprouve souvent.

My latest purchase?  VOILÀ! On ne se fera pas surprendre une deuxième fois, moi et Vimy.

Thank you, my readers, for listening to my "cri de coeur", to my outpouring from the heart.

FIVE YEAR PLANS ARE "DE RIGUEUR" FOR THIS GIRL!

When my daughter told me a few years ago, that she and her husband had five year plans, which they revised on their wedding anniversary, I immediately thought, "What a wonderful idea!"

So, I decided to implement my OWN five year plan.  I think I kind of did it anyway, when I separated at the age of 59. Just because I am in the winter of my life, doesn't mean I should stop having hopes, plan and dreams.  Those things are not just the preserve of the young!

I knew I would probably be aging alone, so I resolved to do a-l-l of the following, and put them into my "unofficial five year plan."

1) move back home (...where my heart has always been!) 
2) get into shape (...yoga, jogging, walking, hiking, cycling,golf)
3) test my physical fitness with a big challenge (... hiking the 820 km Camino did it for me!)
4) teach as much as I could, to grow my pensions.(...ending up working for two school boards at the same time.) 
5) find a permanent home for me and Vimy.  (...I bought a house.)
6) travel a bit.

I DID all of those things, between the ages of 59 and 64.  I stuck to my plan!

Now MY NEW, OFFICIAL FIVE YEAR PLAN, from age 64 to 69 is to ...

1) Extend my deck to more fully enjoy the short seasons of spring, summer and fall.
2) Put up a fence so Vimy will have a completely fenced in yard in which to run around.
3) Spend as much time as possible with my sweet, little granddaughter.
4) Travel.
5) Gradually ease out of teaching completely, and be TOTALLY retired.
6) Travel more.
7) Did I say TRAVEL?

8) Make my volunteer work centred around seniors.

THIRD FIVE YEAR PLAN? From 69 to 74?

GET THE H?%! OUT OF DODGE DURING OUR LONG WINTERS!  Sacrer mon camp d'ici pendant l'hiver!!!  Find an inexpensive little trailer to rent somewhere in Florida, where Vimy and I can drive down after Christmas and park ourselves there until early April!  THAT'S IT FOLKS!  The sum and totality of my third, five year plan. Can you blame me?

My house, my car and my KING OF THE CASTLE hill where I did my duty Friday, keeping the little ones off this HUMONGOUS pile of snow... at least fifteen feet high, if not more.