Alright already....

Hello my fellow bloggers.....Sorry for the delay and absence in the blog world. Been a busy few days. It was hubby's Bday yesterday, and my brother who is staying with us has been ill and had a visit to the emergency department today, so I haven't had much time for doing anything.

Camera update: Still learning how to use the thing. WOW it can do a lot but need a few lessons I think. Here are a couple of pictures I took of the quail that visit my yard on a daily basis. There are about 18 or so that visit every day, along with the Stellar jays.

So, as I said it has been a couple of crazy days. However, here are the first pictures from my camera.

I really wanted to show you pictures of my hubbies Bday. Oh I slaved. I made homemade salsa(using ingredients from my garden), homemade bean dip, homemade cherry cheesecake, according to my brother who is a chef for over 20 years, tells me that my cheesecake is "Up there with the best" now I take that as a huge compliment. Hubby had requested a special meal his being a 1 1/2 thick T-bone, mash potatoes with onions, my addition to the request was a butternut squash puff, sauted snowpeas with red peppers and homemade cheese and chive biscuits. Oh, I am getting hungry again. Sorry folks, I wish I had my camera, but I was a tad tired from cooking to be a photograher as well. Hubby was pleased. Family was present the fire was blazing the candles were glowing the ambiance was there I am told.

Hope all my blog friends are doing well, and wish you all a Happy Halloween!!!

The new camera is here!!!!

Oh I can't believe it...it finally arrived. My long awaited camera. Yahoo!!! Kid in a candy store now. OK. blog world look out. Batteries are charging. But when they are ready.....oh my chicken pot pie...are we going to have fun!!!!

I know, I know....I shouldn't get that excited. But I have envied so many of you who have had the luxury of having a camera on hand to take the just so photo. Well, we finally broke down and decided to get one. Actually, what we did was this. Seeing as we can never seem to be able to use our airmiles for trips(never right time of year ...ya da ya da)hubby and I decided to cash in some of our points and get a camera. It's a Sony DSC- H2 6.0 mega pixels 12x optical zoom 1000 iso with a zeiss lens....so excited!!!!! Blog world beware. Woman on a mission with a camera.

Going onto nightshift tonight so won't get a chance to break it in. But I tell you once I do......wow!!!

I was looking out my window as I often do in the morning, and we have this family of quail about 18 of them that visit my bird feeder on a regular basis. The stellar jays are here as well( was going to post a picture of a stellar but blogger is acting up....yet again.)so that isn't going to happen.

Anyhow my fellow bloggers. I am excited!!!

The window cleaner is here!

Well I think I have made it through another month without too much grief. Although, I am sure my loved ones around me might beg to differ. Hubby in particular.

Now with that being said the sun is shining and window cleaner is here cleaning the grime off of those windows. As you can see there are a lot of windows at my place. The dormers are pretty high and I would far rather it be him climbing up there on the ladder than me.

Now that reminds me of a story.

Douglas was busy working on my car and had just taken it out for a test drive, when I decide I will get up on the ladder and clean the inside windows in the livingroom. WOW was it high. I don't like heights, but neither does Douglas. I figured someone had to clean them, and as much as I wished for the magic window cleaning geanie to appear she/he never did.

So there I was cleaning the top of the top of the window...stretching to reach that last spot, when you guessed it, the ladder slipped. OMG!!!!

I was able to find my balance on the window ledge and screaming at the top of my lungs hoping that someone would hear me....but who? Not where I live. Then there was Bert. Mighty Bert. Go for help Bert. Go for help! No, there he sat so majestic on the hill, just looking at me. wondering why I was balancing myself so precariously on that window sill.

I somehow managed to maneuver myself off of the ledge. The ladder had lodged itself up against our huge granite table....thank god for stone. It was almost parallel with the floor by that time. Trembling I got down.

I immediately I went to the couch to lay down. Douglas finally arrives home it seemed like he was gone for an eterniy. He takes one look at me and realizes that something was amiss. I tell him my story. That is that last time I have been up that ladder.

So here I am sitting at my computer typing and he the window cleaner is doing his thing. He has become my new friend.

Hope you all are having a grand day!!!

The Hormone Hostage

Ever have one of those days. Things are going great, the sun is shining. The kids are actually getting along. That recipe you've always wanted to make but have put off for fear of not turning out, but today you make the attempt and it works!!!

Then out of no where, it's like getting hit by a Mac truck. It comes over you. You thought you were going to be safe from it, but oh no, it finds you and it finds you with vengence. That generally kind, considerate, couldn't do enough for anyone kinda person, becomes this crazed woman.

My hubby knows what's happening. He tries to console me, he actually does vacuuming with out even being asked. You know what I am talking about don't you ladies? Yes the dreaded "PMS" or better yet we become the "The Hormone Hostage"

I know right about now I should be posting some picture of a crazed woman, but the thought of attempting to maneuver the internet and copy and paste is just about enough to throw me over the edge this morning. Normally I would have the patience to work my way through it, and make this a witty and appealing post. But not today. Today, I would rather throw this damn computer out the window.

The Hormone hostage knows that there are days in the the month when all a man has to do is open his mouth and he takes his life in his own hands.

My hubby thought it would be funny to send me this little email, it's entitled "A mans survival guide to PMS" tell me what do you think ladies?


Dangerous: What's for dinner?
Safer: Can I help you with dinner?
Safest: Where would you like to go for dinner?
Ultra Safe: Here, have some wine.

Dangerous: Are you wearing That?
Safer: Wow, you sure look good in brown!
Safest: Wow! Look at you!
Ultra Safe: Here, have some wine

Dangerous: What did you Do all day?
Safer: I hope you didn't over-do it today.
Safest: I've always loved you in that robe!
Ultra Safe: Here, have some more wine.

Then he has the audacity to send this little tidbit:

Things PMS Stand for:

• Psychotic Mood shift
• Perpetual Munching SPREE
• Puffy Mid-Section
• Provide me with Sweets
• Pimples May Surface
• Pass My Sweatpants
• Pissy Mood Syndrome
• Plainly, Men Suck

It closes by saying: Pass this on to all of your hormonal friends and those who might need a good laugh!.....Or men who need a warning.

And remember: Money talks ......but Chocolate SINGS!!!!!

I guess we could classify this as a medical therapy....couldn't we?

A weekend with my girls

Well I have finally gotten around to being able to make a post. You know the work thing.

Here we are the middle of the month actually I guess we are closer to then end of the month. My daughters are here for the weekend. My youngest daughter will be celebrating her 14th birthday with me.
Her actual Birthday is the 25th. So it will be cake and present time tomorrow. I loved it when she was little, we would have a party for her and all of the guests would arrive dressed in Halloween costumes. It got them primed for the big day. We would play games, like pass the parcel, musical chairs, bobbing for apples. The favorite was the pinita. We would hang it from the ceiling in the garage and all the little gremlins would take their turns hitting it. I loved it when it broke and to see them all diving for the candy. Sometimes, as an activity for the party I would have them design their own goodie bags so they could fill their bags with treats to take home. Oh it was fun. Now she will be 14, no more pinitas, but I bought this kit for decorating Halloween cookies, so that is what we are going to get up to this evening. She is really excited about the idea.

We are going on a road trip tomorrow. My hubby has to go do a little job on an island called Salt Spring tomorrow and has asked us to come along. It is about a 25 min. Ferry ride. The island is very popular with the tourists. Lots of B&B's and it has a wonderful farmers market on Saturday's. There is a quaint lake and wonderful look out spots that I will take the girls to see. The weather is suppose to be wonderful, so it seems like a great opportunity to get out and about.

Well the girls and I are going to go for a run. I know I will but pulling up the rear. But I love to get out with them. How often would I get a chance to go running with all three girls. Not that often. I think it's a lot more fun than getting on my stepper, and they challenge me.

Anyhow, my fellow bloggers, I hope you all have a great day and weekend.

A chance for a new beginning

The other day my post talked about a variety of topics. One of the topics was the recent visit of my eldest brother.

Life is interesting. Life is rolling along and you think you know someone, then life throws you a curve ball, and everything changes.

My eldest brother. I never knew him. He was 15 when I was born, and his life had already drew him away from the family home. Life's circumstances took him to the four corners of the world. I didn't know this until recently when he came to stay we my husband and I.

Some would have called him the black sheep. He made some bad choices in friends and lifestyles. The choices led to years of criminal activity and drugs. He unintentionally alienated himself from the family. But through those years of alienation he experienced a life that you and I can't imagine. Some of them great, some of them questionable. But it is experiences that have made him who he is today.

We were sitting watching T.V. the other day. Watching the United Nations put the sanction on North Korea, when my brother starts on his experience in Red China when he was on a freighter from Shanghai to Vancouver transporting wheat and all of his experiences.

Then he talks about his travels through Europe, Australia and the middle east, and the worst, getting buried in a mine. We talked for hours. I never knew any of this. I was astounded at how well read he was and how he was so versed in current affairs.

You know how looks can be deceiving. Well that would be my brother. If you saw him on the street, you would most probably hold tightly onto your handbag, make sure you locked your car and double checked to make sure it was locked. When he came to me a week ago, he looked far older than his years, haggard, tired, disheveled. Now, almost a week later, the tired worried eyes have lessened. I see a more relaxed individual a person who sees there is a tomorrow.

For those of you who have read my blog on a fairly regular basis, you would know how I spoke about how do I say this ....a potential paranormal visit. In hind sight, I now believe that the dreams and things I was experiencing was my sister reminding me of a promise I made to her before she died. She asked me to look out for my brother, to help him how ever I could. I never in a million years would have thought that this is what she meant. But now, looking at my brother, this seems like the most natural place for him to be.

Thanks for the reminder sis.

God bless.

Wishing you all well.

Mustang Sally

I started thinking about my car this morning and wanting to clean it. They say it might rain today, so maybe I can get away with not having to wash it. That thought brought to mind my experiences I have had with that car in the short time I have had it.

Road trips, as I have told you, are common for Doug and I. We wake up, look at each and decide where we will go today. Actually, we don't even say that, just what direction North, South, East or West. We might pack a tooth brush but that's about it. Let me first introduce you to my baby...

Here she is a 2004 Mustang GT convertible anniversary edition. I haven't named her...she is just my baby.

She is such a good girl, drives like stink. But that is where I start to get into trouble. I have been driving for over 20 years. Up until I got my baby, I had never had a ticket in my life. You guessed it.

My first ticket happened one summer evening I was driving to work, late I might add. I had just come off of the highway which has a posted speed of 110Km/hr. As you and I all know, who sticks to the speed limit. Anyhow, I come off of the highway merging into traffic, I have slowed a bit but not much....I am just passing a camper when you guessed it, the boys in blue get me. Dang, and did they ever get me, I got a ticket for excessive speed....130 km in a 80km zone....but I was going down hill officer....that cost me big time $380.00 smackers.

You'd think I would learn after that one. No not me and not my baby, she still wants to travel at excessive speeds. Doug and I were road tripping. I was a glorious day sun shining, roof was down, road was clear ahead for about 2 km and nothing behind us. We were just enjoying the tunes, when lo and behold, out of now where ...there he is....the man in blue yet again. He was far more pleasant then the first officer. We joked, talked about the weather and how my car had a mind of it's own. He told me I should teach it a few lessons, gave me my ticket and said have a nice day. $138 later.

It was spring, driving down to the capital traffic had been heavy, logging trucks, transport trucks, motorhomes, and little old men in hats. All driving to slow for my baby. The car in front of me started it, he pulled out picked up the pace, I followed. You guessed it again, I got caught. Dang!!! Another boy in blue, and he was not a happy camper. $138 again.

So you do the math, how much have I paid in tickets now? $614.00 smackeroos. Ouch!!! You know I never thought of myself as a bad driver. You see I have never been in an accident, I don't tail gate, I don't cut people off, I just like to drive fast. But I guess I am guilty.

So my birthday was this past August, the government decides it wants to give me a present, they send me another fine for my bad driving history over the past year...guess how much.....$640.00 double ouch!! So I have paid over $1200 in speeding tickets in a year. Think I have learn't my lesson? Not sure. I can tell you this, I have learn't to use my cruise control. Personally, I think I get caught as much as I do, because of the type of car I drive it's a magnet for the cops. They always have their eyes out for sports car. But, I know I am in the wrong. But I just can't help it.

Have a great day all.....and drive safe!

Just catching up

Thank you all for your support once again, as I attempted to figure out this darn blog thing. As I hadn't deleted my old blog I have been making changes to it and was going to go back and use that one. It at least allows me to do the sidebar links without moving things to the bottom of the page. I know TJ you suggested ignoring what it looked like re it being at the bottom, but I was fearful that it would stay that way and I didn't want that. So I have been fiddling. Along with that I have been working overtime shifts so my time has been limited.

I have tried to stay on top of the world around me that being you my blog friends and current news. OMG can you believe what is going on in Korea....wassup with that??? What about New York, yet again tragedy? It will be interesting to see what the investigations comes up with on that one, don't you think? Just seems so strange to me....like what is a plane doing in the middle of New York city?

In my own little world, I have so many things going on. I have had my eldest brother move in with me and hubby due to difficult life circumstances for him. It has been a bit of an adjustment for us but he is family, and if we can help him out...then why not. I must say he has been helpful. Doug got a cord of wood today that needed chopping and stacking, so my brother started off by making a "lean to" up against the shed in order to store more of the wood. Doug busied himself using the chainsaw cutting the wood into workable pieces. Can you say, getting ready for winter. The guys were also occuppied by gathering and burning the brush that had collected over the summer, as we can't burn during the summer. I on the other hand was at work. hmmmmmmm....guess I lucked out on that one. Oh but Doug has plans for me tomorrow. Have to get the quads in for servicing and prepared for the winter. I can hardly wait to get out on my quad. This is my youngest daughter quadding...what a hoot. Where I live we are minutes from forestry logging roads so we are fortunate to be able to just hop on our bikes and ride.

The girls are coming next weekend for Roisin's Bday. That should be fun.

Just wanted to say a quick hello to all my blogging friends. Hope life is treating you all well. Take care!!

Life's funny sometimes....Isn't?

Just when you think you are getting the hang of things, life throws you a curve ball. Well in my case, it's blogger who is throwing me the curve ball.

If you hadn't noticed my template has change. There I was minding my own business, trying to be fancy and add a calendar to my sidebar. The instructions actually were fairly easy. The problem seemed to be once it was posted the whole calendar wouldn't show, as if it wouldn't fit the space I was trying to post it. Well I played with it and I played with it, till I ran out of time and almost went ballistic and wanted to send blogger back from whence it came. I managed to calm myself and gather my composure and decided to do the adult thing.... Just step away. IN the back of my mind I am hoping that something miraculous would happen when I returned...Like it would all be fixed. Wishing and hoping that the magic computer gremlins would come and pay my computer a visit and tell it to smarten up.

But it didn't happen they didn't show, or maybe they did and my computer aka blog just doesn't like me today. So, on to plan B. All is not lost I thought, I shall just leave the thought of putting a calendar on my blog alone for a little while....and maybe when it decides it wants to come out and play then I will come back to it. So that is what I did.

There I was happily minding my own business and wandering through the blog world, when I came across a blog that I very much enjoyed reading and wanted to add to my list blog friends. So off I go to my template....do do la da da la....doing my thing adding my new blog friend....then it comes time to preview it. Hmmmmmmmm......where is it? Not there? Not only is it not there but the rest of my side bar is missing. What the.....I scrolled down....further and further and there it is....my sidebar at the bottom of my blog. How can this be....I follow the steps I have for all my other entries. Then it dawned on me. Could it be possible? Please say it isn't so. Did I delete something from my template when I was trying to figure out how to post the calendar? Oh woe is me.....

So I think how can I check to see if that is the case. Then it comes to me. Check a new template and see if the data is all the same. Well as far as I could tell it was. I'm stumped now. Mind you the way things have been going for me lately with blog nothing surprises me.

So I tinker some more...nothing seems to work. So I opted to change my whole template and start from scratch. Yup I thought ...ok you can do this...your remember all of the steps. Well ....I thought I did.

So here I am with a new template....ready to add you all back on again and fix it up. Guess what.....it still does the same thing. I try to enter anything on the sidebar and it all drops to the bottom of my blog.

I will not let this get the better of me....I will perservere.....this may mean I won't have new posts for awhile. But I will try and come visit all of my blog friends.

Hope your day has started off better than mine. Actually, this is the end of my day....just home from a night shift...it's 0750 my time.....off to bed I go.

Chat with you all soon

Just a thought....

I've been wanting to do this post for awhile now. Seems like a funny weekend for me to choose to post this though, being our Thanksgiving weekend, and with all the good food that is going to be around.

With that being said, I want to talk about something....... weight.

In my 16 years as a RN, I have seen people of all shapes and sizes. The anorexic's the bulimic's the morbidly obese and the one's that I would call the average person, those are the one's who are within 5 - 10lbs of their ideal weight.

I am by no means an expert on food addiction issues and will not even attempt to address those issues. I will leave that to the folks who specialize in eating disorders. What research tells us is that people are overweight for a variety of reasons, genetics, lifestyles, and drug interactions just to name a few.

The purpose of this post is to bring to light the concerns I have when nursing an obese patient, and the challenges they present the health care system.
Please don't get me wrong. I try to provide all of my patients with the same level of care. The issue is that due to their size I am limited to what kind of care I can provide. Let me give you a couple of examples.

Mr. Smith(not his real name)arrives to the ICU post op for overnight observation for sleep apena. Mr. Smith is 291kg(640lbs). We don't even have a bed in our hospital that will accomadate him. So we order one in. Our over head lifts to help move patients in bed will not move him as their weight capacity is 190kg (420 lbs.) So immediately, I am faced with how do I care for him. How do I perform a proper assessment on this gentleman when I can't even move him. How do I listen to his lungs? How do I manage to give him a thorough post op wash? How do I provide him with some privacy and dignity when our hospital gowns don't even fit him? I couldn't care for him the way I could my other patients due primarily to his size. That is not right. It took 6 of us to move him( 4 female RNs and 2 male respiratory therapists) We don't generally have that luxury of having extra people around to help change, clean, and assess a patient. Normally I would do this on my own. Did he get the best care I could give him? Sorry to say no he did not.

Then there is the woman who is 5', her weight is 98kg(215 lbs). She is having chest pain and can't move herself around in bed. She slides to the bottom of the bed constantly,even with positioning the bed for her, somehow she manages to get to the bottom of the bed. It takes 3 of us to move her. I must apply ECG elctrodes to her chest. Finding the appropriate placement is difficult due to her size. As she is a cardiac patient we always want to minimize their movement hence decreasing the stress on the heart. It comes time for a washup. I assist her, while washing her I notice that she has skin irritation under her breasts and under abdominal folds. This causes her discomfort. These skin irratations are primarily there a result of her not being able to provide the best personal hygiene care due to her size. I help her with her wash and ask the doctor to order cream for the skin irritation. The medication comes and needs to be applied twice a day. By this time my shoulder is aching and I ask my colleague to help me lift the patients skin folds so I can apply the medication. The poor patient, where is the dignity in that. But I just can't do it alone anymore.

I have injured myself to many times trying to reposition larger patients in bed, give them bed baths, or to prevent them from falling on the floor. My poor shoulders and lower back have been strained one time to many.

I could go on, but I think you are getting the jist of what I am trying to say here. Never mind the increased costs that obesity puts on the individual and the health care system. It is the sheer reality, that I don't believe these patients get the best care they should, simply do to their size.

I am posting this after nursing two obese patients on my last set of shifts. By 0600 in the morning, my body has had it. Sorry folks but I can not do one more turn or repositioning it will have to wait until the next shift. How wrong is that?

I wish you all good health.

"An innocent victim of a lie told in silence"

Can you believe it. I found it!!!! I took all of your suggestions, and "Look mom see what I can do"

Thank you all so very much for your input. Wow, huge lesson learn't here.

As I said in my comment section today. I truly was ready to give up blogging for good, but with all the support I received from everyone I thought "dang" no way I have some very special friends in this blog world and I am going to perservere and fuddle my way through this. Thanks all :)!!!

The day has come to an end...most of you are in bed now....hence I have not done the link to everyone's post, hope you don't mind.

So here it is....albeit short....but my story...or should I say.........

Her story...

She sat there motionless, almost catatonic. Not knowing what to think.Life had not been easy for her. She struggled for everything she had achieved in her life. Sacrifice should have been her middle name. She was not a martyr. Oh no. She would not accept handouts or pity. If she was going to make it in this world it was going to be on her terms. She never wanted to be beholden to anyone.

Life was full of choices, she knew it. She had made choices. Some good, some not so good and some down right awful. But they were her choices. One of her choices which she regrets to this day, was giving up the love of her life.He was offering her security, a home and a life of leisure. This was not in the cards for her. Not now anyways. Or so she thought. She couldn't see herself settling down, not now, not after all she had worked for. Love was just one more of the sacrifices she made.

As she sat there contemplating what had just transpired, she couldn't help but wondered how could this have happened? She knew that in her climb to the top she had to turn a blind eye to some of the goings on. She knew that there were people out there that just wanted to see her fail. They were just waiting for the opportunity to make their move. She didn't want to believe it. She didn't want to believe that mankind could be so cruel.However, today, she saw the dark side of mankind. She realized that yes mankind could truly be that cruel. She knew that things would never be the same. Then without warning, just as if she had been struck by a lightening, it dawned on her. She had become what she feared the most, "an innocent victim of a lie told in silence."

That is my short story. Now pour youself another cup of java,put your feet up and read on. Below are more short stories by fellow bloggers all using the same ending. Happy reading everyone! Enjoy your day!

My Apologies.......

I can't believe it. Here I am the first one on the list. I wrote my little story last week. I have been editing it, working with, moulding it. Now the day is here and you aren't going to believe this. It wouldn't post. Not only would it not post, but it got lost. It is late, and I must get up at 0500 for work in the morning and fear that I will not have time to post a story. I feel so very bad about this. It wasn't that the story was really anything that special. It was that I wanted to be part of the whole story. Sorry gang~ I guess I should attempt mastering the post and blog world before taking on such a task.

I have so enjoyed reading the stories that have been posted. You are all such wonderful writers. I can't believe some of you haven't had something published yet.

I am looking forward to reading all of your stories.

Cheers all.

Canadian Thanksgiving October 9th.....Second Monday in October

Well as a result of my last post, I had a request to share what we here in Canada do for Thanksgiving. I believe we tend to do the same things as our neighbours to the south of us. I will share with you some of my family traditions and maybe some of my Canadian bloggers can add their traditions.

I don't think I am that different than my friends down south. I love to decorate for thanksgiving and fall. Leaf garlands, pumpkins, cornucopia flowing with gourds, wheat and whatever catches my fancy decorates my dining table. Autumn coloured candles fill my house, I love spices so you will find most of my candles scented with apple and spice.

My meal would consist of the traditional turkey. Now how the turkey is prepared is what varies. I have Bar-b-qued it, baked it, soaked it in a vinegar,spice and garlic brine for two days and then cooked it. I have heard people doing Cornish game hen instead of the turkey. Stuffing I like a pecan and cranberry stuffing, but my mom used to do a pork and onion stuffing....now her turkey took all day....I think it had to do with the size. It was usually about 25 lbs or more. Guess that is what happens when you feed a dozen kids and their spouses. Brussels sprouts and again the preparation vary. A dish I was introduced to by my ex's mother was a squash puff, which I absolutely love and make it to this day. I love the veggies portion, so on my table there would be lots of veggie dishes. The potatoes always varied. When I grew up they were "horseshoe potatoes" whipped potatoes then mixed with egg and flour rolled shaped into horseshoe shapes and then deep fried. Oh they are yummy!!! Time consuming though. I know my sister still makes them. Now for desert. If you still have room, there is always pumpkin pie with whip cream, apple pie and , fruit plates with cheese. Now I have never been a pumpkin pie fan, I do make a pumpkin pecan pie which I am told I could sell. I of course make my own pastry. My brother who was a cook for many years even compliments me on my pastry. After dinner we would sit around let dinner digest and then play a rousing game of charades.

Now my fellow Canadian bloggers, I would love you to share with our friends down south your traditions and fond memories of Thanksgiving.

Canadian Thanksgiving

I was reading on Pea's blog today where someone asked why Canadian Thanksgiving and American Thanksgiving were on separate dates. Well I knew the Americans celebrate thanksgiving based on when the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock. I also know that in Canada the main reason we celebrate thanksgiving when we do has to do with our climate and when the harvest is ready for picking. But I wanted to know more so here is what I found:

Canadian Thanksgiving:

In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.
The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.
At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving.During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie.

Eventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred.

Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed..."A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October

So there you have it the reason why we here in Canada celebrate Thanksgiving on a different day they our friends south of the border.

Flexibility the new "F" word

You can tell fall is a upon us. Not just because of the wonderful changes in the foliage, the crispness in the air, the fall root crops almost ready for the picking. But from a medical stand point. With the change of seasons comes the change in the kind of patients we see.

This past set of shifts I have seen a significant rise in respiratory patients. This is very common this time of year. People who suffer from asthma, or bronchitis or people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), the smokers or ex-smokers seem to have difficulties with their breathing. There is a theory that the respiratory patients conditions are exacerbated by the change in temperature and/or the increase in moulds and other environmental factors.

What that means for me, is that in the ICU I see more patients requiring the need to be put on ventilators(breathing machines). In my 3 shifts this week we have had 3 patients on ventilators. When I worked I in the big city that was not unusual, actually that was the norm. But for the small ICU that I work in, that is a lot. These were young patients as well, early to mid 50's. It has made for busy shifts. But I like that. I have always liked working with ventilated patients they always present with a challenge. Even though their main reason for being in the ICU is for airway management, one can't ignore the person as a whole. One system does not work alone, they are intertwined and you have to remember that anything could go wrong at any given moment.

The one thing that I find that gets overlooked is the pychosocial needs of these patients and their families. As evident by my shift last night. I didn't have the ventilated patients last night but I worked with the patient next to the ventilated patient and I observed the interaction of the nurse/patient/family. I was disturbed by it. Don't get me wrong, the care the nursing was giving the patient was exceptional. It was the nurses need to control the environment that I took offense to.

You see in ICU or any critical care environment we try and set visiting hours and control the amount of traffic in and out of the ICU for numerous reasons. But the primary reason is for patient care and safety. I would hate for a family member to coming walking in while I have their loved one beared to the world while I am either performing a procedure/treatment, or giving a simple bed bath for that matter. Hence the visiting hours are set to allow for patient rest time and time for the RN to perform her duties.

Now with that being said. Does flexibility ever enter anyone's head. I call it the new "F" word "Flexibility" . I can't believe how strict and controlling some of the RN's can be. I know change of shift can be crazy or when the new patient comes to the ward from ER or OR we need to assess the patient and settle them in. But after that I think it is fare game to let the families in. The role the families can play in the recovery of the patient is paramount. Rather than medically sedating the patient, just having their loved one nearby helps decrease the level of stress and anxiety the patient is going through.

This RN last night was just not going to have any of that. Granted it was change of shift when the wife showed up for the patient, and wanted to see her husband. So yes she needed to wait at least until report was over with. Then the nurse should have gone out and told her that she was just going to do an assessment and then she could come in. That nurse left that woman out there for over 45 mins. I thought that was terrible. It would have made the world of difference for the patient and the patients wife had the RN let her in even if for a few mins. Then explain to her what is going on and ask if she could step out for a bit and then come back. "Flexibility" people........Jeesh!!!!

I get so frustrated with this kind of control. I think maybe it had something to do with my many years as a palliative nurse. I enjoyed having the families present. They often would participate in the patient care and it made them feel good as well as the patient.

I believe the same stands true in ICU. I firmly believe that the families play an integral part in the patients road to recovery.

Ok I will step down from my soap box now.

Stay healthy everyone. Wishing you all a fantastic weekend.

I need a rest....Better go to work...

Well hello all. I just wanted to post a thank you to all of you who posted a comment on yesterdays topic. See below. I think we are all of same mind. Safety first. Keep lines of communication open. Don't snoop!! I think that just about sums it up. Thanks all!!!!

I finally got my draft done for the October 6th story. It wasn't as easy as I thought. I am really excited about reading all of your posts. I want to thank Cathy for taking the time to organize all of this and to link the post thus making it a little simpler for all of us. Thanks Cathy, you rock girl.

I am back at work tomorrow. Going back on my set of 4. It's funny, I am of mixed feelings about going to work tomorrow. I haven't been able to put my finger on it. I have had a fare amount of personal stress as of late and have noted my temper being short. There is a part of me that is looking forward to going to work for the change of pace. Getting my brain focused on everything else but me and what is going on in my life. Then there is a part of me that just wants to take care of what has been started and get it done and move on.

My patience is running short. My poor Douglas has been the brunt of my short fuse as of late. I hate to think that it is my hormones running havoc with my life. But I fear there may be some truth to it. I just seem so short with people. That is not like me. Damn those hormones. I feel like a crazed woman at times. How can this be. I recognize that it is related to "that time" . It's ok for me to acknowledge it, but for Douglas to say anything....Well he may as well run for the hills.

As I said earlier, I am hoping that going to work will help me refocus(is that even a word?). Chill out and forget about what is going on at home. And maybe just maybe when I come home after being away for almost 14 hours, things will have miraculously taken care of themselves. My mood will have returned to some form of calm.

None the less I wish you all a grand day. Smile and remember to say something nice to a loved one.

Cheers all!!!

A morale dilemma

This picture was taken last spring...The boys first visit. Isaac is the one on the left. The boys were 12 and 10 at the time.

I was chatting with my step son Isaac online today. We were talking about his father's blog. You see, his dad has just started blogging as a way to journalize his life experiences, some good some not so good.

Anyhow, Isaac highlights a part of his father's blog that he tells me he liked the best. Here it is:

"The court battles ensued. Thousand upon thousands of dollars were spent trying to get her to bring them back. My finances ran out and so did my strength to fight. I regret that to this day, that I gave up the battle. I regret it because I feel I didn't give up on me but on my boys. It devastated me to this day."

I was astounded that this was what he choose. Out of all the things his father said, he choose this segment. It made me cry. I was thinking , maybe it was this, that provided some clarity for him. Something that made sense to him out of all that had happend. He tells us his mom still speaks unkindly about his father, and still doesn't tell him the truth. I try not to get into that with him. I was not on the scene when his parents broke up so I feel I can not comment on things that I am not privy too. That is not my place.
My place is to let him know that I love him very much, to be there and to talk to him whenever he wants to chat. I just want him to know he is so very loved out here and that our door is always open to him. He tells us that he would love to be back here. He says this is still home to him. I love that kid.

His father asked him if his mom had seen his blog. Isaac said no. He didn't want her to as a matter of fact he tells us that he wipes out all of his IM conversations because his mom's boyfriend checks his computer.

This presents a morale dilemma for me.

As a parent, we want to make sure that our children are safe and aren't going to any illegal or controversial sites. But what about his privacy? Where does that come into play here? Do children have rights to privacy? For example, when my girls kept journals, they would leave them laying about, there would be times I did feel tempted to read them. But I couldn't, I couldn't read their journals. I believed that as a parent is was my responsibility to attempt to keep lines of communication open. Let my girls know that I was always there for them. I would often ask about their day, who they were hanging with, what was going on at school, who was dating who. All that kind of stuff. I am sure to this day that there are things they have kept from me. But I always trusted them and they knew it. And I respected their right to privacy.

So, if Isaac is chatting with a friend online talking about how he is feeling, do we as parents have the right to violate that privacy? I don't know....I honestly am having difficulties answering that one. If I acknowledge that IM conversations can be construed as a form of journalizing then do I have a right to read his IM conversation? My gut tells me no. But then as we all know if you put something on your computer you run the risk of it becoming public property.

So, here is what I am thinking. I think his mother's boyfriend should ask permission to see his computer. He should make him very aware what it is he is looking for. Isaac if he so chooses should be present when the boyfriend is checking his computer. If it is websites the boyfriend is checking up on, then that should be it. He shouldn't have carte blanche to check his personal emails or IM conversations at least not without Isaac's permission. I believe there should be a trust factor. I think that if they knew Isaac well enough that it wouldn't even be an issue.

I don't know. I am no expert here and I am sure I have made my share of parenting mistakes. I would love to hear what some of you have to say about this.

Her story...

She sat there motionless, almost catatonic. Not knowing what to think.

Life had not been easy for her. She struggled for everything she had achieved in her life. Sacrifice should have been her middle name. She was not a martyr. Oh no. She would not accept handouts or pity. If she was going to make it in this world it was going to be on her terms. She never wanted to be beholden to anyone. Life was full of choices, she knew it. She had made choices. Some good, some not so good and some down right awful. But they were her choices. One of her choices which she regrets to this day, was giving up the love of her life.
He was offering her security, a home and a life of leisure. This was not in the cards for her. Not now anyways. Or so she thought. She couldn't see herself settling down, not now, not after all she had worked for. Love was just one more of the sacrifices she made.

As she sat there contemplating what had just transpired, she couldn't help but wondered how could this have happened? She knew that in her climb to the top she had to turn a blind eye to some of the goings on. She knew that there were people out there that just wanted to see her fail. They were just waiting for the opportunity to make their move. She didn't want to believe it. She didn't want to believe that mankind could be so cruel.

However, today, she saw the dark side of mankind. She realized that yes mankind could truly be that cruel. She knew that things would never be the same. Then without warning, just as if she had been struck by a lightening, it dawned on her. She had become what she feared the most, "an innocent victim of a lie told in silence."


That is my short story. Now pour youself another cup of java,put your feet up and read on. Below are more short stories by fellow bloggers all using the same ending. Happy reading everyone! Enjoy your day!


Dr. Jordan from In My Humble Opinion Wolfbaby from "Dreaming and Believing"Moof from "A Moof's Tale"Kim from "Emergiblog"KT from "Kt Living"Difficult Patient from "Ripple of Hope "Jasmin from Shadow WriterEmpress Bee (Of the High sea)PK from Pearls and Dreams The Laundress from Dirty LaundryThe Wandering Author of The Unending Journey Of The Wandering Author Amin from Write-NowWho Wouda Thunk It From Another Day In Paradise Brian from Truth is FreedonAt Your Cervix (R.N.) from At Your CervixDr. A. From Dr. AnonymousIpanema from Irish CornwallMay From About A Nurse

Nice autumn day

Here we are, fall is upon us. Like many of you I love the colours of autumn. My camera is broken right now, and that is something I have already put on my Christmas wish list.

The other day while Douglas and I were out for a drive, we saw nature at it's finest. We were travelling along a seaside road and looking out at the water. There was this mystical mist just hovering over the water. A little eery but facinating at the same time. I wish I had my camera. You know what they say, a picture says a thousand words.

Then there was the Blue Heron.
Great blue Heron

It was so majestic. Perched on a piling. A sight to behold. Where was my camera. These are amazing birds. They nest around where I live. We have one right now that frequents our area.

Oh my wish for a functioning camera. My binoculars are great, and give me such satisfaction. But I would love to share with you what I am blessed to see on a daily basis.

I am finding the blogger slow today with uploading pictures. So I shall leave it at that.

Hope you all are having a fantastic day.
Cheers from the westcoast!!!

How can this be....tagged twice in one day....

Sunset from the beach just down the road from us.


Susie tagged me on this one it's "Words"


Candy: Red Twizllers. They are great for road trips.

Beach: Long Beach here on the westcoast of Vancouver Island
LongBeachThis is an amazing place,nature at it's finest. The winter storms are incredible!!!

Season: Fall. I love the colours of fall. I love the crispness that is in the air.

Pet: "Bert" our dog. See my previous post on Bert that just about says it all.


There they are. So I am to pass on 4 more words. Which I will do. Or you can use the ones Susie passed onto me. I am not going to tag anyone. If you would like to play along, go right ahead. Just leave me a note telling me you posted your list on your blog so I can come and check it out.

Delicious

Sport

Cuddly

Happy

Cheers All!!!! Happy Autumn weekend!!!

I've been tagged and here are my responses....

Well I got tagged by "Janet". I am suppose to tell you what are my 7 favorite songs. Wow that is a hard one. I love all kinds of music. My hubby loves country music and has really got me into that genre.

However, as I said I like all kinds of music so here are my 7 pics:

1) "Will you go with me" by Josh Turner (country)
Josh Turner web page

2) "These Words" by Natasha Bedingfield (soft rock)
Natasha bedingfield

3) " Where the streets have no names" by U2 (alternative)
U2

4) "Joking" by Indigo Girls (alternative)
Indigo girls

5) "No more I love you" by Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox no more I love you's

6) "Heads, Carlonia, Tails California" by Jo Dee Messina (country)
Jo Dee Messina

7) "Loves Divine" by Seal
Seal

And now I have to pass this on by picking 7 of you:

so here you are:

TJ
Motherkitty
Cathy
Susie
OncRN
Pea
emergiRN

I am so happy......"Look mom see what I can do!!!"

Ok...This may not seem like a big deal to most of you who have mastered this blogoshpere, but this is huge for me. I know I went to a few of your sites and cried.....Sorry about that....Just got so darn frustrated with the whole thing. Anyhow, a colleague of mine walked me through the blog world.....WOW....I feel like I need a PhD to figure out all that computer jargon on the templates. Seems to me there is a lot of hit and miss involved.

As you can see I have been able to change my background....Thought the autumn theme might be nice. Then learned how to add you all to my link list. Oh I feel just a kid in a candy store!

Now I am going to get really brave here. My friend also showed my how to do a link in my post.....So here it goes.....Here is a link to my little town of "Qualicum Bay" where I live on Vancouver Island. Qualicum Bay
Map of the Island

The map shows Qualicum Beach....I am between Qualicum Beach and Bowser.

Ok I am not going to push my luck now.....Hope you enjoy the visit to my little town!

Man's best friend

Bert at 2 months

So here is man's best friend. Or so they say. Bert is certainly one of my best friends. The vet tells me he is half golden retriever and german shepard. Doug and I think there is some kangaroo in him, as he jumps so much. Anyhow Bert gives his unconditonal love and attention to me every day. The way he greets me at the door when I have come home from a long day. I kick my shoes off and he's right there beside me.

You know we got Bert from the SPCA. Best decision we ever made. There he was sitting in the kennel, that one ear just flopping over. He was so adorable and affectionate and irresitable. A tad skiddish, but over all a sweet puppy. So home he came with us.

Oh he did the usual thing that puppies do. Chew shoes...and of course it is always the dress shoe he goes for....and it is never both shoes...it's always just one...so you get frustated thinking...well what can I do with one darn shoe. Hmmm....guess it's time to clean out the shoe closet. Oh and let's not forget the legs on the dresser table...that's a chew toy isn't it?

Ah, and then there are those suprises he leaves for you in the morning...you know what I am talking about, it's when you take your last step down the stairs and low and behold your foot enters this semi warm cold puddle of something......please god don't let it be what I am thinking it is.....paper towel and mop become your next best friend. That is when dear Bert gets aquainted with the outdoors.

This is dear Bert at 4 months old. He can now just make it so when he is standing on his hind legs he can see what is going on inside. "Hey let me in" I believe would be running through his head at about this point.

Ever notice how your shopping day now includes a visit to the pet store. Ah yes the 50 lb bag of puppy food, the little doggie treats he gets just because, and extra treats while you are trying to train him. Or how about those annoying squeeze toys and chew toys. You know even if you buy those toys he is still going to want to chew on your shoes and the leg of the couch or dresser....it's just a given, but you buy it anyways.

Even though Bert has had run of the property, there are times he is on a chain...which is about 30 or so feet long. Then there are also walk times. At first I wondered who was walking who. His high spirit and eagerness to explore this new world would just overcome him. He would forget he was on a leash and charge off...and at times I swear he took my arm with him. Doug always thought that Bert would be a good companion for me while I did my runs. Well I can't argue with him there...but my goodness who was running who? Doug did have to step in and do the more serious training. Bert now is a treat to take on walks and runs, even on the trails. Oh he bolts ahead...his tongue hanging, I turn right....oooops "Bert this way"....he comes a charging almost knocks me over....gosh it's fun....LOL...makes for a very interesting run.

This is our Bert he's about 19th months here.

The kids love him. He is such a playful dog. Well behaved. The kids are always tukered out before him. The only time I can remember Bert getting exhausted was one day when my daughter Candice took him for a run. She was on her bike and and he followed along. It was a 7 km trip to the lake. Then to cool off she takes him for a swim....this is not just your ordinary swim this was about a 1km swim there and back. After the swim it is the 7 km trip back. Oh our poor Bert....I think he was done in for a day afterwards.

Anyhow, our dear Bert brings us much love and enjoyment. He is a huge part of our family.

Just another 12 hour shift.....

I guess one reason I shouldn't attempt to post at 0130 is the fact that I can actually run the risk of hitting the wrong key and wiping out what I just spent over an hour typing. Dang!!! Note to self.....

Anyhow, I guess this way at least I will make this post brief. I was telling you all about my week thus far. It started on Monday up at 0500 and off to work by 0600.

I arrived at work and my patient assignment was a 53 year old gentlemen admitted with a diagnosis of a stroke. I go in to the patients room and introduce myself telling him I am going to be his nurse for the day and proceed to chat whilst I was doing my morning assessment. That conversation alone told me so much what was going on with him...that becomes part of my assessment. Anyhow, NVS look improved over night shifts assessments, GCS has always been 15. It's about 0900 now and I go into his room just to check up on him. He tells me he is not feeling well, like he did last night. He does look worse than from original assessment. I quickly do another NVS....notable difference....stat CT ordered and off we go. Results come back negative for a bleed. But why then is he having stroke like symptom? He needs to be seen by a neurologist. We don't have one on site. This means he needs to get down island. That is a 3 hr drive. Ambulance is booked for the transfer. Guess who gets to go with him? You got it....Yours truly. Well the ambulance arrives...great I say off we go. No such luck....dang now what. Oh you have to take another patient. This patient needs a pacemaker and gallbladder surgery. Great and he needs to go monitored as his heart rate dips into the low 20's. Hmmmmmmm....ok then....if he has to be on the monitor I decide I am going to put the pacer pads on him, because if he becomes symptomatic I can turn the external pacer on and pace him. We get loaded into the ambulance. Me the two patients and all of the equipment that goes along with it. 3hours in the back of an ambulance with these two gentlemen. OMG...just get me there.

3 hrs later we are there.....First stop I take the stroke patient to the admitting ward and give report, say my goodbyes and wish him well. Dash back to the ambulance and off to another hospital with my cardiac/surgical patient. Get him settled in. Back into the ambulance for the 3 hr drive back north to my hospital. I'm into overtime at this point. I don't get home until 2100hrs and have to be up again at 0500 for another day shift, and here I am now it's what....Tuesday...nope Wednesday nights and I am on my 1st night shift. Dang I am tired.

You know many people ask me why do I do it. Work these crazy shifts, and deal with all the crap we have to deal with during the course of a 12 hour shift. You know, sometimes I ask myself the same question.

It's when I see that I made a difference for a patient even if it is the simplest thing as getting them a warm blanket, or a jug of fresh water, or listening to one of their stories or just holding their hand, letting them know that someone cares, that I care about their well being. That I want them to be healthy and that I acknowledge that being in the hospital may be foreign and frightening for some of them, and trying to help eliviate some of those fears.

I wish you all good health.

Sunday morning traditions

It's Sunday morning, and here I am chomping on a piece of toasted multi grain bread covered with peanut butter and half a banana and sipping on a latte made by my loving husband.

Ah, Sunday morning traditions. I remember, when I was growing up Sunday mornings were crazy. Mom and my eldest sisters trying to get us all fed dressed and out to church. I am not sure how they accomplished that. Especially, what I call a holiday Sunday. Those were the Sundays that an actual holiday fell on. Mom always made a special breakfast for those occasions. They always started off with half a grapefruit sprinkled with sugar, then came the "sugared cereal". You knew it was a special day when the surgared cereal came out. Sure beat the cream of wheat or the porridge routine. Then came the scrambled eggs and sausage and toast. Gosh I loved those mornings. So after devouring the breakfast everyone would be frantically running around the house getting dressed for church. Do you have any idea what it is like sharing a bathroom with 5 older sisters. I didn't see much mirror time. Thank god mom always had us wearing hats to church. I think this would be a great spot to post a picture of us in our Sunday best. Oh my goodness when I look back on some of those pictures it just makes me laugh. This picture was taken in 1964, my youngest brother wasn't even born here. That's me on my mom's lap. What a crew, can you imagine trying to get this group moving on a Sunday morning....LOL

Do any of you know what I am talking about? Your Sunday morning traditions or routines. It's funny how we become creatures of habit. I mean now, I can't think of starting my day without my piece of my multi grain toast. The sound of the washing machine going and music playing on my computer.

I can only imagine my girls memories. I to had them dress for all occasions. It just wasn't Easter Sunday with out your white gloves, and bonnets. I was trying to find some pictures to share. Maybe next time. Do you remember Sunday dinners at grandma's? Again, you had to dress up, no jeans allowed was the rule and heaven forbid you tried to show some self expression.

Ah, Sunday's the only day of the week I can remember my dad taking half day off.

"Tradition! Tra di tion!" Think Fiddler on the Roof......they make for fond memories.

Have a great Sunday all!!!

Thank you.....and a strange thing happened

Let me start off by saying thank you to all of you who visited my site and posted a comment regarding my tribute to my mom. Yesterday was a very hard day for me.

To distract myself from my grief, I managed to get my sorry butt outside and went for a power walk/jog with my daughter Candice. It was lovely. Walking/jogging through the trails, the cool breeze coming from off the water, the eagles and ravens in the background making their calls to let us know they were there, the sun shone through the leaves like little arms and hands reaching out to touch me, to caress me, to give me peace and serenity. It was soothing.

I spent a lot of time yesterday reading tributes for those who lost their lives on 9/11. The tributes were all so very wonderfully written. Some of you provided great detail about a person you made your tribute to, even though you did not know the person. Others wrote briefly about the person and then more about how their loss had impacted us all. Regardless, in one of my comments to a fellow blogger who was worried that she didn't say enough or have enough information about the person she was doing her tribute to, I say to her, the mere fact that she took the time to research this persons life and dedicate her blog to them was tribute enough. I can't thank all of you enough for what you did. Not only for the families and friends of the deceased but for me. I met some wonderful people through your tributes that I would have otherwise never had gotten to know. Thank you. May god bless you all.

Now the strangest thing happened to me this morning. Please don't think me odd, as I don't even know what to make of it myself.

I was sitting in my livinging being distracted by some program on TV, when I looked out my window and saw this little white dog, it looked like a Jack Russell, I think it had one faint brown spot on it, and it had a dog collar and tag, a pink tag I might add. Anyhow, the oddest thing....as quickly as this dog came into my view it was gone. I observed it meandering in my yard, as though it was checking things out. It came around my car, towards my dog Bert(who was on his lead at the time), but Bert did not bark, or growl or anything. Bert would normally bark to intruders or when he sees the bunnies wonder across the drive, or when my in laws have visitors, Bert barks. This time, he didn't bark. The dog wandered down in front of my car towards Bert and then I think it turned around and headed towards my in-laws place. My hubby was just returning home through the trail which leads to his parents place, Bert barked at Doug. Doug came in the back door and I asked him if he saw the Jack Russell. What dog he says? I told him what I saw. He shook his head. His mother is a breeder and is selling puppies right now and has had visitors at her home so I asked Doug if she had someone over and if the dog could belong to them. No was his answer.
I started to get a little distraught....so still in my housecoat I make the trek up and around our drive to the road(my drive is gravel and treed and wild, the road leading to my home is gravel, country living). I look both ways, no sign of this dog. I walk back down the drive and look over at my in laws place ..my mother in law is not even home.

Did I really see a dog? We don't get strays here....never....not where I live...what did I see? Why didn't Doug see the dog? Why didn't Bert bark? Hmmmmmmmmmmm........

My friends and family sometimes call me the amateur Sylvia Browne. I don't know about that but I have seen and heard some strange things in my life. I don't feel like this is the case in this time....or was it? What I do know is that I am bothered by it....... I can assure you I will be on the look out for that Jack Russell today......

Hope life is treating you all well......

In Remembrance of my mom

Kathleen Sandford nee O'Connell

August 9th 1926 - September 11th 2005

"Our Wild Irish Rose"

She was born of Irish blood. Her parents were from County Cork Ireland, she was born at home, in Liverpool England August 9th 1926. There were five children in her family. She was baby number four. Times were not easy, her father had been injured while working in the mines and was unable to work, her mother was a maid and took on odd jobs to make ends meet. She told me stories of her early years how her father would take her to the park and was always free with the hugs, her mother worked hard and was industrious.

This is my mother at the age of seven years. My grandmother made this costume for her for a school performance "Little Bo Peep" circa 1931

Mom tells me she spent lots of favourable summers in Ireland with her cousins. During the war she stayed there for a period of time with family. She tells me of times during the war however when she was at home and the sirens would go off warning you to take shelter and how her older brothers would sleep through them.

My mom was studious and took to school well and passed her exams which allowed her to continue her education through to graduation. A luxury in those day. It wasn't long after graduation that my mother met my father at a dance. He was a dapper looking man something out of vogue tall with the Mediterranean olive skin a captain of a ship he was it was love at first sight. English was not my father's first language but that did not matter to my mom, he had won her heart. They courted for a short period of time. But my father had to leave for the seas but did not do so without asking my grandfather for my mother's hand in marriage. She was 18. (See picture above)They were married on November 28th 1945.

Mom and dad immigrated to Canada in 1953 with five children in tow the youngest only 3 months old. They made the trip by ship and landed in Montreal, where they caught the train and made the arduous trip to Vancouver. They arrived on Canada day July 1st 1953 with only $35 left to their names. My mother's brother met them and assisted them with setting up home.

They worked hard, long hours trying to make ends meet. By the time I came along they were well established. I was baby number ten out of twelve. My mother never worked outside the home. She was busy raising all of us. In the later years she did the books for my father's business. I never felt like I went without. All 12 of us went to private schools and graduated. By the time I was eight things were becoming a little easier for my parents. Summer holidays for me were spent boating with my parents.

Mom made special occasions special. It was imperative to my mother that we dress for all occasions.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my mom and my sister Eileen(now both deceased).

Mom made every occasion special, and celebrating one's birthday was no different. She made sure it was your special day.

She was a volunteer extraordinaire. If she wasn't helping out with some program at the school or driving the soccer teams or basketball teams to games. She would be organizing fundraiser for numerous organizations. She was one of the founding members for the "Burnaby Association for the Mentally handicapped" She instilled her sense of community responsibility in all of her children.

In her later years she was "Gran" to most and why not. She had 32 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. There were always cookies in the cupboard for their visits. While she still had the energy she would even babysit.

Mom's memory started to decline in her early 70's and eventually was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She spent her last years in a nursing home. They were so good to her there. The staff there called her the "Queen Mom" and she loved it!! Her health began to deteriorate and in July 2005 mom was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma and was taken from us on September 11th 2005.

A day doesn't go by that I don't think about that remarkable woman I call my mom. I feel honoured to have had her in my life for as many years as I did.

"A rose once grew where all could see, sheltered beside a garden wall, And , as the days passed swiftly by, it spread its branches, straight and tall. One day , a beam of light shone through a crevice that had opened wide- The rose bent gently toward its warmth then passed beyond to the other side. Now, you who deeply feel its loss, be comforted - the rose blooms there- It's beauty even greater now, nurtured by God's own loving care."

Love you mom.....missing you every day.

Li fa......Part 2......

Let me start by saying thankyou Cathy, TJ, and Motherkittey for your kinds thoughts and well wishes.

I am finally home. Never had the lumbar puncture, couldn't get in to see a neurologist on the Island for 3 weeks. My sister wasn't going to settle for that. She insisted I get my butt over to the mainland and be seen by a neurologist over there. I took her advice, caught the 10:45 pm ferry to the mainland on Tuesday night. Arrived at my sisters exhausted at approx. 0130 but happy to be there. Slept a few hours and then off to the hospital.

OH my gosh......I forgot how big that hospital was. I arrived and waited to be seen for almost 3 hours. When I did get seen , things started to happen. After providing the doctors(all 5 of them I might add)with a synopsis of what had been going on, they began their tests. I asked myself, how many times can I open and close my eyes for them, smile, puff up my cheeks, raise my elbows have bright lights shone in my eyes and drugs pumped into my body? Well 12hours later, 2 CT's (one with contrast one without)more blood work, and a complete neurological assessment, drum roll please...... and the diagnosis is........INCONCLUSIVE!!!!! Actually, in all fairness, they did rule out a stroke. Which I am extremely thankful for, but they were unable to actually figure out why the temporary amnesia, loss of sensation, slurred speech et al. What they did tell me is that is was a possible complicated migraine or TIA, and that because of my history and presentation that I was at risk for a stroke. They have referred me to a Heart and Stroke Clinic and to be seen by the head neurologist. So there you have it as I know it. September 13th I have to travel back to the mainland to see the neurologist and have more tests. But all in all, my spirits are better, my headaches are subsiding, legs starting to feel better. So life is grand!!!

On another note. September 11th. I know for many of you this is a very special day of remembrance ....and rightly so.....I to hold that day special, not only as a remembrance of the tragedy that took place in New York and Washington. But it is a day of remembrance for my mother. On September 11th it will be the first anniversary of my mothers passing. So I willing be dedicating my blog in my mother's memory.

Now I have to catch up on all of you..........