Setting Goals...........

I had the wonderful pleasure of my eldest daughter staying with me this past week. Eldest daughter is going through some transitions in her life and was feeling she needed some guidance and grounding. She loves to come here and get away from the city. Here she feels she can just relax, regroup and contemplate her future.

Well she did a lot of chilling, but I wasn't going to let an opportunity to help her focus on her future pass her by. Most of you know I am a goal orientated person and list maker. I personally have found that by putting things in writing makes them more concrete, tangible and achievable. That is what I was hoping it would do for my daughter. Before she arrived we had discussed that it would be a good idea if we looked at goals, what she wanted and where she saw herself in the future. In order to achieve this she knew I expected her to do some homework.

So the other morning after making her a latte, I asked her to sit down in the living room and asked her to do some brainstorming, to freely write down where she saw herself in 6 months,a year and in five years. After her brainstorming, I had her to do another exercise. I had made up sheets for her to complete. On these sheets I had put headings; Attitude, Artistic, Education, Family, Financial, Physical, Pleasure and Public Service. I asked her to take her brainstorming ideas and fit them into each of these categories. Of course we discussed each and every topic and how she saw herself achieving what she was putting down. I think it is vitally important when setting goals to not only look at education, career and financial, we are more than that. There is an artistic side to everyone and for some that might be exactly where they need or want to be. Our attitudes influence where we see ourselves. So I had her look at her mindset, and had her write down if there was any part of her mindset holding her back and if so, I asked her to set a goal to improve her behaviour.

Of course there is no purpose of sitting down and writing goals if they are unrealistic. So when she was doing this I also asked her to keep in mind are these goals measurable, attainable and realistic. How will she determine if she has reached her goal?

Before she had started this exercise I had also given her some articles to read that I thought might be helpful it getting her focused....I came across this site that gave quotes about goal setting....this quote just seemed so appropriate at the time.....

If you don't know where you are going,
you'll end up someplace else.
Yogi Berra

Goal setting was all very foreign to her but I commended her on sitting down and doing the exercise, and I told her that this was time well spent and an investment into her future.

As she did this exercise early on in her visit it gave us lots of opportunity to talk about the future and how she was going to go about achieving some of the goals she put down on paper. I reminded her that it's one thing to put it in writing it's another to take action. I suggested that she take the goals list and from that create a to do list and post it on her cork board....make little reminders to herself.....talk positive to herself.....I suggested she look for inspirational quotes that touched her and to post them where she would see them every day. Positive talk.

At the end of this week, I think we both benefited. It was a great exercise for me, it helped to remind me to stay focused, to keep pushing my envelope to not let fear hold me back...and that I must set an example.....The one thing I have always tried to instill in my girls is that life is a journey...even though we may not understand why we are at the place we are at right now, it is our journey and it is these experiences that make us who we are and where we venture and not be afraid about pushing the envelope.

~ Each day is a journey. Each day is a process~

Anne Wilson Schaef

Humour Thursday.....

The Redneck Mansion

Fishing Humour

After a day fishing in the ocean a fisherman is walking from the pier carrying two lobsters in a bucket. He is approached by the Game Warden who asks him for his fishing license.The fisherman turns to the warden, "I did not catch these lobsters, they are my pets. Everyday I come down to the water and whistle and these lobster jump out and I take them for a walk only to return them at the end of the day," he says.The warden, not believing him, reminds him that it is illegal to fish without a license.The fisherman turns to the warden and says, "If you don't believe me then watch," as he throws the lobsters back into the water.The warden says, "Now whistle to your lobsters and show me that they will come out of the water."The fisherman turns to the warden and says, "What lobsters?

Gives Window service a whole new meaning now doesn't it

Never under estimate a woman and her scooter!

Smiling is contagious, it's the one thing you won't mind catching!

Plans are meant to be changed......

Update....In yesterdays Heads or Tails the task was to write 7 consecutive things....well I chose to write about 7 things to put on my to do list for day....the problem with lists it that they force you to be accountable. It appears now that MistyDawn would like to know how I made out with my list.....

Well I have to admit I didn't get it all done......I ended up substituting a couple of things....so rather then go to the recycling depot I had to go to the post office and to the gas station to fill up the propane tank for the fork lift....and rather than get the water jugs filled I exercised.....it took longer than I thought to make room in the crawl space and I forgot how much stuff I had to move down there...it's an awkward spot to maneuver, I got the 6 chairs and table in and the Rubbermaid's..it was the TV that presented me the problem...again it's size and awkwardness that presented me with a bit of a challenge, but I managed.

Hubby was to go to Victoria today to do an install....so I figured that would be a great opportunity for eldest daughter and I to go shopping, and having to pass the recycling place I thought I would incorporate that into today's plan....then hubby tells me things have changed that the customer isn't ready for him in Victoria and then I remembered I have the window cleaner coming today......hmmm time to re-think my day. You know the best thing about plans and lists they can always be changed.....prepare for the unexpected, that's about the only thing that is ever for certain, the unexpected.

Hope you all have a grand day!!!

Heads or Tails Tuesday

Well it's that time of the week again folks....this week we are to pick "7" things from any category you would like......Well I am a list person.....and I LOVE to

scratch linesthrough my to do lists.... So here are "7" things on my TO DO List for today:

1. Practise the piano
2. Take the wood out of the back of my truck
3. Go to the recycling depot
4. Get refills for the water jugs
5. Clear out a spot in the crawl space to put eldest daughters furniture in there
6. Assist eldest daughter with her Goals list
7. Do a craft with eldest daughter

Looks like I might have myself a busy day.....I better get to it......have fun all!

Now if you would like to join in on the fun all you have to do is go over to Skittle's Place and get all of the instructions to play along...I hope you do!

Monday morning Birding....

Spring must be just around the corner. As I was sitting practising the piano this morning I looked out my window to see this:

I wasn't sure at first if I was looking at a House Finch or a Purple Finch. After looking in my bird books and Sibley's being the bird bible...and checking out the internet, it would appear that the bird on tip is the male Purple finch and the bird perched on the hands and the other at the back are the females....there was a high bird count this morning.....the quail were out as well.. California Quail male
In this picture we have the male purple finch and a Dark-eyed Junco(sparrow family)perched on the branch in the back.
Male and Female Purple Finch

Herring season just started. It only lasts for a few days..but while the herring are running the feeding for the birds is amazing, and it truly is a site to behold....

Taken yesterday Bald Eagle on the waters edge Qualicum Beach

The Book Meme.....

I have been tagged by Josie for this meme, it's a book meme, and here are the rules:

Rules:
1. Grab the nearest book of 123 pages or more.
2. Open it to page 123.
3.Find the first 5 sentences and write them down.
4.Then invite 5 friends to do the same.

I am not an avid reader. Never have been. It wasn't that I didn't want to read, it was that reading did not come easy to me with my dyslexia.....I was always told I was lazy and didn't try....I so wanted to be able to devour books like my sisters...goodness my one sister could read a whole novel while having a bath....if they only knew how hard I tried. It was my sister Eileen who believed in me. She took the time to sit with me and teach me....she was a natural teacher, I guess that is why she ended up being a teacher and specialized teaching children with learning disabilities. As the years past I did start to read novels, mostly mystery. Again, it was my sister Eileen who introduced me to a wider variety of books, like The Bean Tree, Poison Wood Bible, Ruth, Anna's Daughters....such a plethora of books, all had such deep and personal meanings to them, they were all books she had read and felt I would enjoy....and indeed I did..the book I am reading now is one she gave me, it's called A Recipe for Bees by Gail Anderson-Dargatz. I am only into the first few chapters but it is proving to be a great read...I just find it so very interesting that I decided to pick up this book and read it now...I have had this book for 5 years...it has sat on my book shelf all this time...I can remember when Eileen gave me this book , she told me I would really love it...little did I know then the impact it would have....as it turns out this book is about an older couple who sold their farm in the Shushwap and moved to Vancouver Island...where I live now....and it takes place in the community in which I work.....every place they mention in the book I am familiar with(now that I live on the Island)....had I read this book five years ago when it was given to me, I wonder if it would have had the same impact and appreciated it as much...it just so happens that this month will be 5 years since my dear sweet sister passed away....on the inside cover she had signed her name.....I love that.... I have always believed she is connecting with me in one way or another.....

So here is page 123.....

Karl took Augusta's hand and glanced at his father. "But just Sundays off. Or one day during the week. Surely one day a week." "one day you'll inherit this farm and you can run it as you please. but now it's my farm and I'll run it. If you don't like it you can go someplace else and get a job, but don't expect there to be a farm to come back to if you do. I can't run this farm by myself. It'll be in ruins if you leave."

Now here are the people I have tagged:

Jeni
Silverneurotic
akelamalu
Grandmocha
Minnesoablue

Hope you all are having a fantastic weekend!

P.S. Please don't feel pressured into doing this meme....do it if you have time and want to O.K. ~hugs~

Saturday Scavenger Photo Hunt

This weeks theme is PARTY....oh my goodness I feel like I should be putting up banners...maybe I might...who doesn't like a good Party......growing up in a family of 12 children there was always a party, birthday parties, Halloween parties, Christmas parties, valentines parties, St. Paddy's day parties...you get the idea......we celebrated everything....oh the parties we use to have...and still do....... so when I started looking through old photos I noticed a theme..it would appear that I certainly liked parties from an early stage....I certainly liked to wear Party hats.....yes party hats....so here is my take on the theme of Party.......

The top one is me in my blue dress my fifth birthday Party.....the bottom one is me with some of my brothers and sisters...I am the little witch....notice the party hat......These silly ones are top, me and my eldest niece, we were boating and there was a theme for hats...and the bottom one..well that's me New Year's Party....notice the Party hat......Ok the top one...obviously a party...hence the Party hat...my mom helping me ...isn't she sweet...the bottom one was a lunch party for my mom's birthday....again...the Party hat....Oh and here we have the top one a baseball party...no ball cap...but a party hat made out of a pair of shorts....and the bottom one again a baseball function and hippie party....this time I used parts of nature to make up my hat......Top one is taken at a carnival party...hence the balloons...and the bottom one was taken at a Christmas Party.....oh I do love my hat's don't I......

So there you have it my take on the theme PARTY if you would like to join in on the fun please go over to thnchick and check out how to play.

Happy Hunting all!!

British Columbia Bloggers......

Insomnia can be a good thing....that's what I have to keep telling myself when I find myself wide awake at four in the morning. Yup trying to find the silver lining....well I think I have. Seeing as I wasn't sleeping yet again, I decided I would get a head start on checking in on my blog friends. Many of the folks I visit are three or more hours ahead of me so chances are they have already made their posts for the day.....or a least something new is to be out there.

This morning I thought I would venture off onto a different path. If you have ever looked at my sidebar you might have noticed a badge there that says Wet Coast Women. It is a link to a site that was started by a blogger in Vancouver by the name of Crunchycarpet. Now Crunchy is a very creative blogger and has a lot to say.....and she has her own personal blog, but she also saw that there was a niche out there for other westcoast bloggers.....so she canvassed some of her regular local blog friends and inquired if there would be an interest to have a site specific to westcoast blogger...well I guess there was.....because before you knew it Crunchy had gone ahead and designed a website specific to westcoast bloggers....primarily BC bloggers and launched the WetCoast Women. Now this site has something for everyone. It has forums for book lovers, people trying to lose weight,business, mom's, wedding planning you name it you can pretty much find it there.....and then of course there is the blog roll for lack of a better word..that shows all the bloggers who visit the site and you can link to their sites from there.

So this morning that is what I did. As a result I came across some fabulous blogs. One such blog is PowellRiverBooks. What a gem of a find. These folks are living the life I can only dream of. Well that is if you have a passion for the great outdoors. It would appear that there are no limits for these folks. They own and operate PowellRiverBooks and have published a set of books about all the things there are to do in Powell River. The pictures and the stories Margy shares on her blog are wonderful. I love to get on my ATV when ever I can, so being able to read about some of their adventures and places they have seen just makes me want to get out there all the more. Then today I came across Margy's post about their cabin which is on a floating dock in the most spectacular spot...truly a sight to behold. The long and short of it, it has left me speechless and yearning to get out for an adventure. It's been a long winter and with spring just around the corner what better time to get out there and explore what is in our own back yard. If you get a chance stop by their blog I am most certain you won't be disappointed.

Humour Thursday.....

Yes folks it's that time of the week again, where I throw all caution to the wind and put humour out there for all to enjoy.......well at least I hope you enjoy them....You know what I find funny about this one.....I can't remember if I have posted it before on Humour Thursday or not......LOL!

Well there you have....I hope you all have a wonderful day...and that you put a smile on someone's face today.....cheers!

What is this world coming to....

My friend TC as I mentioned in my previous post, gave me an award and in his description of my blog he mentioned that my blog is not political. He would be correct. I try not to bring politics into this arena, but with that being said, I do get very passionate about certain issues. My primary passion being health care. Then sometimes something comes along and I just feel the need to voice my opinion, which of course I know can run me into some trouble...but because I feel so passionate about this issue I find it necessary to share....and truly would appreciate hearing from others on this topic.

Awhile back I was surfing the net and came across a site that sells the Mp3 taser. Have you heard of them? I was shocked (no pun intended)when I read about them. I thought dear god what has this world come to that we now figure we need our Mp3's to have taser capabilities. What ever happened to the purpose of just listening to music? I have read where some people joked about these tasers and how they would use them. Don't these people realize that they have a potentially lethal weapon in their hands? How can they joke about it? It's not a joking matter.....unless of course you don't value life.....and if you feel so adamant that you have to have a taser Mp3 player then you better been darn sure you know how to use it and the responsibility that goes along with owning one.

When I read things like this I wonder if they have ever heard of the dangers of taser or about the case here in British Columbia where a traveller was tased by police(trained professionals)and died as a result of the taser Vancouver International airport. It makes me wonder if people realize the amount of energy that is emitted from these things. I think not. When I think of tasers I think of what it is like when I have to defibrillate a patient. It's the same concept...you can ultimately change the way in which the heart sends it's electrical impulses...in some cases like taser(stun gun) they can cause the heart to stop. Now here we have some companies selling these things to average Joe public.

These tasers as I mentioned were initially brought in for law enforcement use. Rather than the police officer having to draw his or her gun, they could use the taser to subdue the assailant. This of course is after the officers have had many hours of training and have a solid concept and understanding of the impact the taser can have on the human body, and in what circumstances they are to be used.

So now some company in it's infinite wisdom figures they want to sell it to the general public. Here's a site that shows the taser being demonstrated Crave.cnet . This to me is just wrong. Then you have them talking about the lovely leopard print or hot pink cases they can come in, totally disregarding the whole purpose of the taser...oh gee I have to have a hot pink case to match my outfit while I tase someone...please..give me a break.

Imagine this scenario....you have just come from the gym....your Mp3 taser is in your gym bag...you throw your bag onto the chair and go for you shower. Your son, daughter yells at you from another room and asks if they can get something from you bag. You shout out sure completely forgetting what is in your bag.... and off they go....they start searching your bag...and come across you Mp3 player...cool....being inquisitive teenager they want to check out mom or dads newest gadget.....oh and what is this button for....and before your know it.....you have an unconscious teenager on the floor.

Now, some may say I am blowing thing out of proportion....but it will happen, ....you can bet your life on it. Look at all those unnecessary deaths and injuries of children playing with guns that were left loaded, unattended...or even locked up but they knew how to get the key. A taser is no different than a gun if put into the wrong hands, the outcome can be identical, if you think they are different I think you are sadly mistaken.

I for the life of me can not think of one situation where I would feel I needed a taser Mp3 player, and I hope to god I never have to.

Mentoring......

I received the above award from one of my longtime blogging friend TomCat or TC from Politics Plus . Now for those of you who know TC know he is very passionate about the current presidential election and in tune with the political arena. I consider it such an honour to receive this from him. I wouldn't consider myself a mentor in the blogosphere, but I have been a mentor in my personal life. I am told this award is to acknowledge those in the blogging world that encourage others to continue to blog and provide guidance and just generally be a mentor. So with that being said I would like to pass this on to a blogger who I happen to think is both a mentor and an inspiration, I think she demonstrates mentoring in the truest sense of the word.

Jeni is an avid blogger and is very inquisitive. Jeni just recently went from dial up to ADSL and is a force to be reckoned with...she is like a kid in a candy store....even with all the research this lady does on line she is never to busy to answer questions, and has always encouraged me to continue to blog when I thought I didn't want to do it anymore. So Jeni thank you and this one is for you. Cheers!

Birding and the Comox Valley

What a complete and full day I had. Sunday morning I was up before dawn. Suffering from insomina has its bonuses.

I was able to practise my piano early....whilts I was practising I couldn't help but notice the quail, stellar jays, chickadees, white-breasted nuthatch and of course the robin all on grass pecking at the ground. It was gorgeous...but as luck would have it...just as I had finished taking a picture of the sun coming through the trees my batteries died......so into the charge they went and no battery to take any pictures at the moment.

It was a cool morning....the frost was heavy on the ground...and the sun started to warm the trees and they began to steam....it was wonderful...the dew drops dripping off of the branches...yes nature in it's glory.I had been visiting one of my blog friends Janet at Life in Westcliffethis morning,she is an avid photographer and birder....she has a glorious picture of a bird I had never seen before but is indigenious to my area, but at highter elevations...this got the bird bug into me....today was an absolutely gorgeous day...the sun was shining....the temperature actually got into the double digits 11 celcius...warmer in other areas....it was a perfect day to go outdoors and find some new birds.

Our destination northwest, towards the Comox Valley along the old Island highway. It is a wonderful drive which follows the shoreline....so most of the birds we saw were shoreline birds.

We made our first stop just a few moments from our home....it was the mouth of the Big Qualicum River.....during spawning season eagles are abundant....that wasn't the case today...it was actually fairly quite....

Ducks are plentiful here....we saw two Kingfishers diving for food....difficult to capture on film...we needed our telephoto lens....we then got back into my truck and continued north to one of our favourite spots...Nile Creek.....there was not much wildlife ...but the view of Mount Arrowsmith was spectacular....

Nile Creek with Mount Arrowsmith in the background.....

Mount Arrowsmith

After a brief stay..we got back into the vehicle and continue north....next stop....Fanny Bay....

This is a Bufflehead.....if you click on the picture I think you can get a close up....Another Bufflehead....again if you click on the picture I think you can get a close up......We made our way up the Comox Valley, and on our way home just ahead is the Comox Glacier....you can take airplane rides up there to get airial view...it truly is spectacular...and today it was just in your face.....amazing....

The next photos were taken at a place called Royston Wreck....it's old ships that were sunk and is a favourite site for divers....the wildlife here is amazing and so is the view......

Cormarants perched on a pilon

Although it had been a wonderfully bright and warm day...being by the waters edge you got a bit of a chill....it was time to start heading home. On our way up the valley we had seen two graceful Blue Herons...but with there not being anywhere to stop we weren't able to catch a photo....hubby really wanted to get a photo for me to post....so we went back the way we came....but this time....there were no herons to be seen.....maybe next time.

Well I hope you enjoyed the trip with us.....hope you all had a fantastic day.....

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

This past week I started on something that I have wanted to do for a very long time.
About four years ago I bought my girlfriends electric piano. I bought it with the intention of my youngest daughter taking lessons. That never happend. Oh the kids when they come over would play a silly tune or something....but there it sat...holding ornaments and collecting dust.

I don't know why I didn't start to play. I guess I figured it was to hard. Learning all the notes and all the classical stuff. I didn't want to do that. I just wanted to be able to play a tune.

So this week I started surfing the net looking for some free and easy piano lessons. After much searching I came across a site that offered the first 5 lessons for free, with the music and instructions that you could down load. I thought, what have I got to lose, except maybe wasting a little bit of paper...which if things didn't turn out I could recycle for scrap paper.

Well I printed off the first lesson. Finding center "C" position and numbering the keys via my fingers C,2,3,4,5 they get you to familiarize yourself with the keys....and by the end of lesson one you realize that if you can find and understand C position the rest falls into place. They seem to stress not to look at your hands but rather at the music. This seemed to come naturally to me...I guess it's all the years of typing that I have had....once you know the position of the keys it's not so bad. On to lesson two. Lesson two was Getting ready to Play. In this lesson I actually learn't a song. Guess what it was......did you guess.....Mary had a little lamb. They then introduce me to learning more marks and pauses and breaks, and gradually they change those numbers into notes...Treble Clef and G, Quarter Rests, D,E and F and by the end of lesson two I can play the beginning of Ode to Joy!

Who would have thunk.....little old me being able to learn the piano all on her own. In only 2 1/2 days I am able to play Mary has a little Lamb and Ode to Joy. Hmmmm patting myself on the shoulder proudly. I am really excited and encouraged to continue. I figure I can practise at least a half hour a day. The piano is situated in the room that I can look out the window and see all the birds, it's bright and relaxing and so far it's fun....I guess it's because I want to do it....I don't have my mom telling me to practise. Who knows maybe by my birthday day I can play a real song...or better yet I will learn some Christmas songs.

I realize there is still so much for me to learn....I mean I am only going onto lesson three....it looks like I will be learning about chords next.....now that should be interesting....wish me luck.....Happy Weekend all!

Saturday Scavenger Photo Hunt

It's Saturday Photo Hunt and today's Theme is "Wooden"

Being the bird lover that I am....here is a photo of a woodpecker, pecking on some wood outside our house....

And here's a wild turkey standing on a "Wooden" fence in the woods door the road from us.

Here are some quail in my yard outside my "wooden" shed and wood pile......

Stellar Jay, perched on the bird feeders which is attached to my "wooden" shed next to the wood pile.An eagle sittinng on a branch in the "woods" at the hatchery down the road from us.

The "Wooden" suspension bridge that I just crossed....

The arbutus tree.....the only tree that sheds it's bark...

This piece of "wood" reminded me of a baby elephant.....what does it look like to you?

If you would like to join in the fun please check out

tnchick for all of the instructions. Happy Hunting all!