Get your PRIORITIES straight!!

We all need to prioritize in life. It is a fact. If you don't, things can go awry very quickly and can even blow up in your face BIG TIME!

IT was a dark and windy night (sounds like the beginning of a novel!)...  my cousine and I had gone for a lovely, long walk down by the beach, on a walking path.  Of course Vimy had to do his usual daily deposit, which I had to scoop. I can just hear my other cousine Annie say, "Only you can blog about poop and I will read about it!"   My little flashlight on my keychain decided to die right there, but I managed to fumble around and pick up what I thought was his little bomb. I then stopped to fiddle repeatedly with the flashllight, trying to get it to light up, but it was a goner.

WELL, all the way back I kept focusing on NOT dropping Vimy's poop bag.  So much so that I only noticed twenty minutes later, that my keys WERE NOT in my pocket.  People - N*E*V*E*R focus on dog poop, to the detriment of your keys.

I was in a TOTAL panic, because I only have one key for Jiminy.   My cousine continued on alone to go get her car, while I quickly retraced our steps.  I hadn't heard them drop, so I figured they would be, HOPEFULLY, right near where Vimy had started this whole mess. Of course, it is PITCH DARK, and I can't see a thing, even with the flashlight on my phone. I keep walking up and down that path, looking for my keys, but to no avail. I meet two other dog walkers. They haven't seen any keys. How could they? It's dark and they don't have flashlights.   All the while I am thinking... HOW do I get home, HOW do I get another set of keys made for my car, HOW could I be so STUPID ... you get the idea!

The second walker tells me he walks this way every day, so if he finds them tomorrow, he will put a notice on FB. Off he goes.  I continue to search d-e-s-p-e-r-a-t-e-l-y, when I hear him yell back at me.  Lo and behold! Yo my cousine had driven up, and where she stopped to park her car, her headlights had shone right ON MY KEYS!  I was estatic, to say the least!

I was so happy, so excited and so discombobulated by the whole affair, that I thought I had lost my phone as well, when I drove away from her place. I returned to check my entire car.  I asked Yo to check her car, which she did but she A=L=S=O had the presence of mind to call my line. My phone rang, from where I had tucked it...in the lefthand corner of my dash, totally invisible in the dark. WHEW! I HAD TO REMIND MYSELF right then and there... TO BREATHE!!!

Thank you God for younger cousins who look out for their ditzy older cousins.  I will no longer be overly focused on being "Écolo!" (Green!).  LOSING a bag of dog poop is NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!   LOSING my keys would be close to it!

There IS good in the world!

You may NOT think it. The world we live in now seems to be a very dark, nasty, unkind, combative, divisive, and intolerant kind of place. We have always had conflict, but that conflict seems to be spreading like wildfire.  I feel that democracy, as we know it here in our beautiful and free western world, is very much threatened.

This blog is dedicated to my only grandchild, Sophie, who is five and one half months old. She is my hope for a better world!

I have therefore decided to put a real positive spin on my blog, and talk about GOOD, not EVIL!  We all want to have hope in humanity and we want to believe in the inherent goodness of ALL our fellow human beings. Well, my faith has been restored this week, because I met one of  these "good" people.

I will call him Mr. Elf, ( M. Lutin), because he does INDEED live up to that name.

Mr. Elf lives in my city.  He has a beautiful home, and by extension a large garage, and A HUGE spread of land in his backyard.  I mean acres and acres of land: beautiful land dotted with hardwooods, cedars, pines, birches, firs and spruce trees.  He has made a wide trail that wends its way all through his property.  His wood chipper chips all his dead wood, which he puts down on the trail. In some places you trod on leaves, or moss/lichen, or pine needles, all of which makes the trails soft on knees and feet.  Fresh wood chips emit a delightful scent too. On his trail you can catch a glimpse of our beautiful Baie des Chaleurs, as well as enjoy hiking a stretch that hugs a marsh, which meanders out to to the Baie.

What does Mr. Elf do with all that land?  Other than work at improving his trails?  Well, he used to work at the hospital.  People would ask him what he had been up too lately.  When he retired, he  always replied, "Pâpital!", which is a contraction of the following words, "Pas à l'hôpital!"  His passion? He has turned his beautiful, magical forest into a hiker's haven, for ANY and ALL who care to come stroll, walk, or run through his many beautiful trails.  These five kilometre plus trails are all named, and well posted throughout Sentier Pâpital.  You need never fear getting lost.

There are thoughtful additions to the various trails, all the way throughout his little woodsy paradise.  There are feeding stations for chickadees.  He EVEN provides the seeds. You have a dog and no poop bags?  He provides those, along with a gentle reminder sign. There are benches to sit on, and at the very end, when you turn around, he has built a fabulous gazebo overlooking the river and marsh.  Everything you see, Mr. Elf has put up at his own expense.  He obviously loves the outdoors and nature.  Everything is so well maintained.

On the "Traverse des Lutins" you will come upon an enchanted forest.  There is even an "elf" house.  You know elves live there because their clothing is drying on the line.  You notice the exquisite detail of an elf's tuque, carved into the window’s shutter. Mr. Elf built the elf house at his wife's suggestion, so that children who came to hike with their parents, would find the spot magical and captivating. I know I certainly did and I am an old woman. 

MISE À JOUR: UPDATE:  Cet endroit est enchanteur, féérique et romantique au bout!!  J'ai emmené ma petite fille Sophie ici, le 16 décembre. I hope that this visit to Enchanted Forest, is the beginning of an annual Christmas tradition. 

I know many wealthy people with beautiful homes and properties, but NONE who has so SELFLESSLY welcomed anyone to come enjoy what rightfully belongs to them alone.  We need more people like Mr. Elf.  That HE will go to heaven is a given, I think.  I, for my part, am sharing so that others may know of the beauty and goodness that shines in our community.  Beauty we find not only in our surroundings but the beauty found in the hearts of people like our Mr. Elf.

  

Sentiers des Pins

Wood chipped trail

I think I will end off my Hallowe'en week...

with the following quote from a little one in Kindergarten. My latest blog was not read anywhere near as much as it usually is read.  MAYBE my readers are feeling the same way Jay did, when he said the following to me?  Let me set the scene first though!  The gym teacher was late dismissing her class, and my nineteen, five year olds were getting restless waiting in line to enter the gym. I tried to distract them by having them do a few yoga poses, which they did so well, bless them.  However, one little fellow had HAD it.  Jay looked at the me and said, "I am getting tired of what you have to say!"

Don't children have such a way of making you HUMBLE?   BONNE FIN-DE-SEMAINE à tous!!!

A LOT of living....

can be packed into one work week.  I am constantly amazed at all the new, wonderful and sometimes challenging things I get to do at my advanced (?) age.  Maybe I always DID have new, wonderful or challenging experiences, but just didn't take the time to reflect back, and appreciate ALL those moments.

Do you wonder what teachers and students do in any given week?  Well, this is a glimpse of my week, as a supply teacher.  THIS past week, I taught full time in one school, replacing four different teachers, and teaching in both our official languages. 

Did YOU know it was National "Take Me Outside" Day, on October 24th?  "It is a day to highlight the importance of unplugging, and spending time outside being active and connected to nature. It's also a time to play and have fun in the fresh air."  My school participated, and I was assigned the sessions where a "lean-to" was to be built.  We were out in the fresh air, alright! One lean-to was constructed in a pouring, driving rain, with one group of eight to ten year olds, and the second, where the rain had changed into a snowstorm, was put up by another group of students.  I scampered around with them an entire morning, marveling at their enthusiasm and "get 'er done!" attitude.  René, our fabulous volunteer for this activity, runs a programme of his own, called "Four Directions" where he guides and teaches children outdoor survival, camping, and wilderness skills.  One little girls sidled up to me and asked, "Madame D., is René your husband?"  I reply, "No, I don't have a husband."  She then throws out this piece of advice.  "Well, HE would make a good one!"

This week saw us practice a LOCKDOWN one morning, and a TOTAL evacuation of the premises, another morning.  It is truly sad what we have to do to ensure that our children are as safe as can be.  I remember teaching thirty years ago, where someone with a GUN, ran through the upstairs of our K-8 school in Brampton, Ontario, chasing someone. It was during the school day. I shudder to think what could have transpired had a child been out in the halls. 

This week I learned TO STOMP, STOMP AND TWITCH, like a zombie, when our students attended a superb Hallowe'en concert given by Shelly Bean, in the cafeteria. That move will no doubt come in handy around Hallowe'en.

No week would be complete without duty.  I was on hallway duty, when two girls asked to show me what they had found written on the wall in a bathroom stall.  They assured me it was FRESH!  It was a four letter obscenity, unfortunately, directed at the same little one who asked me if René was my husband.  They informed me that it was her in particular, because of the spelling of her name. I had an eraser, so the offending words were quickly removed. We do want children to write, but not THIS and NOT on walls.  :(

Cafeteria duty is my least favourite duty.  I would rather be outside ANY DAY, in all kinds of weather!  In one thirty minute duty, I wiped yogurt up off the floor so no child would slip in it.  I stopped another one from throwing HIS unopened yogurt in the garbage, because it had a nick in the container.  He kept insisting he would NOT eat it, because it had exploded. I begged to differ, but he would NOT take it home. FINE! I gave it to another little one, who had just shown me all he had for lunch, which was a jam sandwich on white bread. :(  So what does the former do? He tries to trip the other one going by, who went to get a spoon to eat that yogurt. So, when a third little fella came up to me, his arms out straight, showing me that his sharp, plaid, button-down shirt was SPLATTERED with yogurt, not to mention his sweet little face dotted with more YOGURT, I just HAD to laugh. The more I cleaned him up, the more I laughed.  I did explain that I was laughing at the SITUATION, and NOT laughing at HIS misfortune. He said he understood, bless him.

It was indeed a full, energic week of living.  I could write for another half hour at least.  However, I will end here and leave you with this little exchange in my Grade Five English class. I was reading a story where a young woman had a "trousseau".  Her mother was crocheting an edging to a pillowcase cover, to add to the trousseau.  I asked the students if they knew what a trousseau was.  One quickly replied, "He is our Prime Minister!" So much for learning the definition of a word from the context.  (Of course I got a huge chuckle out of that!)

When is a Pit Stop NOT a Pit Stop?

When you can't do what you want to do? When you can't get what you want? When you spend twice the amount of time you planned to spend, at this pit stop?

I asked myself ALL those questions this morning.  I was traveling between NS and NB.  I was in a relaxed mood, after having spent a wonderful week helping out my sick daughter and precious baby granddaughter.   I planned a pit stop about two hours after my departure, knowing I would need washrooms, and another coffee.

You generally have three choices in the Maritimes, if you want your pit stop to be close to the exit ramp. You want either the company that owns NB, (Irving), the Canadian icon Tim Horton's, or the American corporate fast food behemoth, MacDonalds.

I chose MacDonalds for several reasons. One, I am a frugalista, and I had coupons.  You know what a frugalista is, right?  It's a word denoting an expertise in said field. Don't look for the word in the dictionary.  I made it up.  Like a barista, or fashionista, I am a frugalista.  It's a heck of a lot better word than "cheapo!"

Well, as it turns out my coupons had expired. No big deal.  I parked, ran in and saw that there was a huge line-up to order.  I wasn't going to use that other order choice, the kiosque. I prefer my interactions to be with real people, and NOT plastic and "beeps."  So off I went to the washroom.  MacDonald's washrooms are usually quite clean and in working order, which is more than I can say for many Tim Hortons places I have visited.  I noticed there was still a long line-up to order,  so I decided to go through the drive-thru, something I seldom do, because it is not very, what I like to call in French, "ÉCOLO!"

That being said, I got in the queue. Well, I don't frequent fast food places often, so I was surprised to have to make FOUR stops. One to look at the bakery menu, one to order, one to pay and one to pick-up my order. Geez Louise!  Are all these stops supposed to increase efficiency?

When I ordered, I decided to splurge a whole 89 cents plus tax, on a mini Chocolatine. I was curious as to whether it would be as delicious as the Chocolatines at our cosy Cocooning Café in Petit Rocher.  "Did I want only one?" I was asked. "Yes, just one." I replied. 

When I rolled up to the pick up window, an employee apologized as she informed me that they had run out of "Chocolatines,"  Did I want a strudel? What was this?  Another devious way to "upsize" your order?  I blatantly asked if I had to pay the difference. When told no, I decided to pick the apple strudel, from the three choices I was offered. I was basically getting something I really didn't want.  However, I wasn't going to go through all the hassle of getting my 89 cents (plus tax), back. I am patiently waiting for that apple strudel to be handed over, when ANOTHER employee shows up at the window, and regretfully informs me that they have "run out" of apple strudel. For crying out loud!! I order the blueberry one, which I receive, limp, mushy, and not even slightly warmed up. Yuck!  I ate it anyway... I was hungry.

I am consoled by the fact that I have my coffee, at least. Another reason I had chosen MacDonalds, was because I only needed ONE more of those stickers, to get a free cup. I look at my cup and what do I see?  No sticker!!! They have another silly contest going on, and my cup is festooned with two little play-the-game pieces, similar to their Monopoly game.  Maudit!! I should have gone to Tim's.

MY SECOND PITSTOP  more than made up for the first one, don't you think?  

You SHOULD be a life long learner BUT...

you KNOW, there are exceptions to every rule.

What exception am I talking about?  I am talking about all the things you need to learn to maintain a home.  I am talking BIG jobs here, not little ones like using a screwdriver, or changing a light bulb.

I refer to the following as examples: replacing a light fixture, installing a new kitchen sink and faucet, repairing wobbly antique chairs, putting in a new showerhead, extending a deck, repairing an electrical outlet sticking out of the wall, and shaving off the top of your back door so you don't have to dislocate your shoulder, every time you try to open the darn thing. I could go on ad nauseum. That is what I feel when I think of all the work involved.... NAUSEOUS.

Do you know how hard it is to find a really good handyman?  They aren't exactly a dime a dozen here. I have yet to find a "handyman" (or woman for that matter), in the phone book, or online.  General contractors, and carpenters, want BIG jobs, not tiny ones. 

I can't always prevail on my brothers to help me out here, although they often do.  Handy Bro spent an entire Sunday afternoon replacing my toilet last year.  What an angel!

I am a busy lady here, and when I have free time, I want to be hitting the trails for a wonderful hike, or jumping on a plane and flying to some new, unexplored destination.  I don't want to be doing ALL this work.

However, I don't want to move into an apartment either.  I love my little home, with my little water view.  I do have a bit of a conundrum.

If I can afford to pay, I will pay, is what this issue boils down to.  So, does anyone have a husband out there for hire?

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Women or...

should I say, more tales of The Traveling Sisterhood?

You can plan all you want. You can plan years ahead of time. You can book your plane ticket nine months ahead of time.  Despite all that planning, your plans can and do change.

I purchased tickets to my son's wedding nine months ahead of time, on Aeroplan.  My sister, who would be traveling with me, booked on a seat sale later, synchronising our meeting up cities, and departing cities.  We were all set... or so I thought.   Hermanita had never been out west, so she wanted to stay another five days after the wedding. and do some touring in and around Lake Louise. That suited me, as I had never been to Lake Louise.

A month before the wedding,  I must have exchanged over twenty texts with Hermanita in a SINGLE DAY.  Suddenly,  she is ALL stressed out, because she needs to return home ONE day EARLIER. Well, I tried to change my booking, but since my ticket is an Aeroplan ticket, FORGET about trying to catch an earlier flight back with her.   No way, no how!  Why MUST she come back one day early?  Well... she has the O*N*L*Y moose license in her husband's group of hunting buddies.  They ALL applied, and SHE is the one who got the license. (Some people reading this may be really ticked off, if they have never been able to get one, but please don't shoot the messenger!)  Since the hunt is only on for three days, her original ticket would have gotten her home with a mere twenty-four hours left to hunt.  ONLY IN NB would this happen, I say.   She hadn't even wanted to apply, knowing that she was out west for the wedding, but her hubby wanted to increase their chances in the yearly draw for the moose license.  The things we do for love eh?

By the way, it is still hunting season for birds out there, so HIKERS, BEWARE!   Wear those ugly, bright orange vests, please.

We ended up being ten family members who flew almost clear across the country to attend the wedding. How fortunate and blessed I was to have so many in attendance, to share in my joy!  We arrived on different days and at different times, but there was S*O*M*E cohesiveness to our arrivals.   NOT so much to our departures.  Baby Bro flew back with my "belle belle-soeur" and Mamacita on Monday, Handy Bro Tuesday, Hermanita Wednesday, Witchy sis-in-law early Thursday, me on Thursday as well, but on  the redeye, and my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, on Friday.  We were like the Royal Family for heaven's sake!

Wishing you all of life's blessings today and always!