Another one to remember (and/or never forget...)

Touching lives, getting involved - emotionally, if not physically.... I've mentioned these kind of calls before - they leave me drained and exhausted. They are the ones that make me want to run to the bathroom and cry after disconnecting. They are the ones that stay with me for weeks, if not forever, and cause me to pray for the person involved... And that's a good thing...

I won't give you the whole conversation but I'll give you the gist and try to put into words some of the emotion of the call....

I answer the phone and a distraught male (I'll call him Mike) says that he'd been talking to someone on the suicide crisis line and they'd hung up on him. I found that really hard to believe as that is their job, so I got some basic info from Mike (weapons? history of past attempts? alcohol? anyone else in the residence?, etc) and then conference-called him back to the crisis staff. Once I was convinced he was being helped, I dropped out of the call. Ten minutes later, Mike was back telling me they did it again (what the heck???). I chatted with him for a bit longer, put him on hold (but only after asking him if I could, and promising that I would be right back!) while I consulted with a constable that I was taking the right steps, then conferenced him back again. The staff there defended themselves by saying that they had to put him on hold every now and then, and he kept hanging up. Another ten minutes go by, then fifteen, and I'm thinking that this is all resolved and we weren't going to have to get involved (whew!).

Then, Mike's back again - said he won't talk to the guy at the crisis line anymore because "he doesn't care and I can't understand him." Now it's up to me... We started to chat and I tried to find "safe" areas we could talk about. He'd been battling cancer, had two brothers die last year and his best friend a month ago. He'd been drinking and was planning to take pills and end it all. The conversation went up and down as I tried to keep his mind on positive elements of his life (his achievements, his relationship with his wife (she was at work when he called), etc.). Once I'd determined that he was actually planning to end it ("Call the funeral home tomorrow." "What do you mean by that, Mike?" "You know what I mean..."), my co-workers updated the members and they started heading out to the house. It was in a rural area, so it took them about half an hour to get there. There was no way I was going to let Mike go, so I stayed on the phone with him. He asked me my name and I didn't hesitate to give my first name, knowing it would serve to deepen the trust that was developing between us... But it also involved me more emotionally with the call...

Mike had said that he didn't want police or ambulance coming to his house and I was careful not to say that that was, or wasn't, happening. I just kept trying to focus him on something else. He wouldn't tell me what drugs he had in hand but said it was "enough to kill a horse". Praying for the right words as we talked, I believe they were given to me when I needed them, although I don't even remember all I said. I just know that I appeared to be connecting with him and he was trusting me... I panicked several times as his voice began to fade and his speech was getting slurred. I was so afraid we'd lose him before we got on scene. I had no idea how much he'd taken but, during the conversation, I would hear the pills rattling in the bottle as he poured more out and popped them in his mouth. I begged him to stop but he continued. He told me he was sorry and that I was a "nice lady" but there was nothing else he could do. He then proceeded to tell me that if the police came to his house, there would be "a bloodbath". When asked about it, he told me that he now had a knife to his throat and, if we tried to enter the house, he would either stab it in his heart or slit his throat. Great. He was escalating fast. Then the members arrived on scene and everything changed...

You know, they teach you about how people's emotions escalate when confronted or when things don't go the way they plan, but there's nothing like actually hearing it happen to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Suddenly the conversation turned drastically. Punctuated with profanity, the frantic words came:
- They're here! You sent them out here!
- Who's there? What do you mean, Mike?
- I can see them, looking in the window! They're gonna kick my door in! I'm not going down without defending myself! That's it, I'm doing it now! I have the knife to my throat! You lied to me!!
- No, Mike, I didn't lie to you!! Please put the knife down! Put it down! You don't have to end it this way! Just talk to me some more...please...just talk to me some more!
- I'm taking more pills now... (sound of pills being poured out of a bottle).

Then, miracuously, after about five minutes of this kind of talk, something snaps and Mike says, "Okay, I'll put the knife down. Tell them I'll open the side window and talk to them." Over the phone, I hear the conversation as the officers on scene calmly tell Mike to take all the time he needs, to go ahead and talk to either them or me - whomever he wants to (he chose me....great). They told him the door was not going to be kicked in and they would not use force to make him do anything he didn't want to do. My discussion with him picked up again and I talked to him about his wife and how devastated she would be to find him hurt when she got home and about how his life is a gift from God. He finally told me that he had put the knife down (but had taken some more pills) and that he would let the constables in. I heard him go to the door and start talking to them but he was still talking to me as well. I realized it was time to say goodbye, so I told him that I'd be praying for him (probably not supposed to on a recorded police line, but sometimes eternity is the most important thing). "Oh, you must be a Catholic." 'No, Mike, I'm a Christian'. "A Christian. Maybe someday I'll be a Christian," he whispered wistfully. Then, "What's your phone number? I have to let you know if I'm okay! I have to be able to thank you!" 'You don't need my phone number, Mike.' "But how will I tell you that I'm okay?" 'Just let the officer know, Mike, and he'll tell me...'

I had to let him go then, leaving him with a "God bless you, Mike. Say hi to your wife for me tomorrow." End of call. Period. Dear Lord, everyone around me just stopped what they were doing and stared at me - I felt like my insides were laying all over the floor. I was on the verge of tears and it was my break time but I couldn't leave my chair. All I could do was pray, pray and pray some more...

End of the story? I came back from my break to a phone call from the constable who responded (with lots of backup!) and he told me that I did an incredible job, so that was good. He said they had taken him to the hospital and that he was expected to live. He also confirmed that everything I was being told by Mike was actually happening. He had been holding a knife to his throat (they were watching through the window) and he was downing pills through the latter end of our conversation.

So that's that. Later today, I was sharing all this with Mandy and told her I half-wanted to go to see him at the hospital. We talked about it and decided that it would be better if I just send a card and/or flowers, up to his room. I phoned and he'd been discharged already (!), so we ended up going to the bookstore and picking out a card and Bible and mailing it to him... I felt better after doing that and now I can leave him in God's hands....

If you feel so led, please, whenever you think of him, say a prayer for Mike....

Friday Night "Live....

...at the Museum!" LOL! Floyd and I just got back from yet another movie! We're on a roll! I took him to see Night at the Museum and I think he liked it. It's such a silly one but sure makes you laugh....

Today was one of those relaxing days - the kind I promised myself I'd start taking - and it was really nice... I started the day (Floyd went first to get a haircut and then later to bowl) getting my chores out of the way. Well, actually, that's not true...I started the day talking to Tanya for more than 45 minutes! LOL! It was so good though - we don't do it enough, Tan. I miss you so much and always enjoy talking to you - if only by phone. We talked about cameras mostly (no surprise there!) with a little bit of other stuff mixed in... I was able to say "hi" to all the girls as well, but I was not the bit hit today because their little hearts were all excited over a bigger event they were anticipating - the arrival of Aunty Mandy and Uncle Jorge!!! I hope they all have a nice visit!

After lunch, I was able to spend some quiet time catching up on my daily Bible readings, then decided to put my feet up and do some more knitting. The next pair of slippers is in the making! Jorge, Kristy and Amethyst are wanting them - and I still need to do a pair for myself! LOL! Well, I wanted to start knitting again! While I was knitting, I started Kristy's season one of CSI Miami. I watched two episodes and really enjoy it although there are times when I have to look away cause it gets kinda gruesome!

Then at 3 I had an appointment at the Meadowlark imaging for my annual "woman" x-ray - LOL - talk about torture! It gave me some new ideas for if ever they start up Alias again! Forget the teeth, go a bit further down! Oops, sorry...shouldn't be talking about it. Yeah, it's all worth it all though - for the peace of mind....

Got home from there and Floyd had got back from his bowling. He did good - won 2nd prize again. It seems he's always winning a few bucks here and there. He grilled up some yummy pork chops for supper and then after I'd done the dishes, we walked over to West Ed. First we bought our tickets, then walked the mall for half an hour to get our exercise. Then the movie....

Now we're back home and I guess I'm gonna have to turn it in soon as tomorrow it's back to work....

Finally...a new post!

...wow, I can't believe it's been 5 days already since I've written on here! The days have been flying by as I've been trying to get my knitting done before Mandy and Jorge went down south to see Tan and Tom. That way the girls can get their slippers all together. I had one pair done and half the other one and didn't even have Amelie's started until last night. But I couldn't see 2 out of 3 getting their slippers....poor Ami's little heart would be broken! Either that or she'd take Eri's when she wasn't looking - LOL! Anyway...enough of that! That was just to let you know why I haven't been blogging!

Other than that, we have been busy doing things with Mandy and Jorge, who are all done work now and leaving in a little over two weeks!! Wahhhhhh!! Floyd and I sure are going to miss having them around the house - it's been so nice for us to have them staying here! We've gone to see a few movies together - I think I already blogged about Three and A Night in the Museum. Well, the other night, we went to see The Prestige - really good as well!! The last few minutes were mind-boggling as they finally told you what had been going on the whole movie!! It was crazy! It's one that I'll definitely have to see again, now that I've seen the last few minutes - ha ha - it's like, "what the heck??!!". Good flick!

Then the night before last, we went out to supper to a Chilean restaurant on the south side - Los Andes. It was soooo good and the food was yummy - mmmm....empanadas!! The "waiter" (in brackets because he didn't 'work' there, he said he was just 'helping his friend') was so friendly - so typically Chilean (according to Mandy and Jorge) and he spent most of the time we were there either standing at the table talking with us or actually sitting in the spare chair and chatting! LOL!! Not something that's done in the typical North American restaurant!! But it was a really fun night and the food was delicious! Dad and I agreed that we'll have to go back again. There were pictures all around on the walls - photos of Chilean tourist spots - so beautiful. And, of course, soccer was on a TV in one corner!

Last night, while Floyd had his men's group, I sat in my room, knitted and watched Ella Enchanted!! Finally! LOL! Yeah, I ordered it from Amazon and it came yesterday, so I thought I'd give it a look-see. I did really enjoy it but it reminded me quite a bit of Ever After. I had to laugh when the girl sung Somebody to Love - because Erilyn copies her and all I could see was little Eri-Bear's face while she sung it!! Then, after that, I watched Annie (shows you how long I was knitting! LOL!) - hadn't watched that for a long time and really enjoyed it. I think it must be Carol Burnett in her best role ever - she was so perfect for the part! I can't imagine anyone else playing it.

This afternoon, I hemmed a pair of pants for Mandy, finished the slippers (yeah!!) and then went to Save On because we needed some groceries and I needed some coffee!! Yummy! I even tried a new flavor - Double Dutch Chocolate! I just had some and it's good but I don't think it's quite as good as my all-time fav - Caramel Cream! I also stopped at a camera store by Meadowlark that I've never been to before! Ha ha...yeah, I had to get out of there fast as I was drooling on the merchandise! Tanya, (or Am, or anyone else that would know...) have you heard of the Cokin drop-in filters? Have you heard whether they are good or not? Their price is sooo much cheaper than the screw-on ones and I was just wondering if anyone knew somebody that uses them..... Website for them is - http://www.cokin.com/ico3-p0.html

Let's see...what else is new?? Oh, yes! I went to get my eyes checked - boy, have they ever changed in the past two years! I thought they had because I was noticing my distant vision getting worse. The guy convinced me to try bifocal contacts (I was just going to go for glasses alone) and, boy, do I ever love them! They work perfectly (don't know why I'm surprised - I just couldn't figure out how bifocal contacts would work!) and so I ordered them...

Tonight is date-night for Floyd and I - we're gonna go see a movie or something. He hasn't seen A Night in the Museum, so we'll either go to that or go see Deja Vu (Mandy and Jorge said it was really good and a must-see!). I don't think I've been to this many movies in the last ten years!! Ha ha, but it's fun!

Oh, oh....soup's ready...gotta run! Till tomorrow

If at first you don't succeed....

Try, try again! Ha ha...the joy of digital photography - I love it!! I shot about 150 photos on my lunch hour today at work, just watching traffic out the window and the traffic lights... Do you know what that would have cost me with my film camera! LOL!! I tried all kinds of stuff, with my new book in one hand and my camera in the other. Unfortunately, I didn't have my tripod (gonna have to learn to always have it with me!), so I was kinda limited in some shots. But I was trying to do a couple of things - first to get a slow exposure on the traffic lights to enable 2 to be on at the same time (gave up on 3!), and, secondly, to try my hand at panning (keeping moving object in focus while everything around it is blurred). I was pleased with my amateur attempts - here they are....

Just for Chloe!

Okay, here are some of my photo experiments for Chloe (she asked me to post some on my blog). I was experimenting in the back yard with my star filter and using the early morning sun as backlight. I was so excited (as only a photographer could get excited!) to find a little feather stuck to the top of a bush and got as close as I could (where's a macro lens when I need it? ha ha...). You can also see (in the tree branch one) the hexagon-shaped lights that can occur when taking into the sun - yes, those were intentional and I was glad to see them!! LOL!

I'm Back from Blackfalds (and really into "B"'s!)...

I know, you probably didn't even miss me, but yesterday afternoon I drove down to spend the evening (and night) with Kristy and Bob. We had an exchange of goods to do (some Costco stuff for me, Andy Griffith Season 8 for KB) and it was nice to just hit the highway and also visit with them...

During the morning yesterday, I experimented out in the back yard with my camera (taking pics into the sunlight to see "the light show" (a term of Bryan Peterson's meaning the little circles of lights that can happen when you do that). It was cool and I got some interesting results... Half-blinded me, mind you, but interesting none-the-less! Nah, I'm just kidding (sort of...)....

I met Floyd after his bowling and we walked the mall for half an hour, then went home and I puttered around until it was time to leave for Blackfalds.

The drive was really nice - I was fortunate because I hit the sunset going down (yes, I stopped to take some pics!) and the sunrise coming back (no...didn't see any shots that grabbed me then!). I met KB at work and we went to Walmart because she had to get her passport photos taken. We also bought a cake mix (to try out her new silicone baking pans) and a cheap Johnny Cash DVD of a 1993 concert he did. Back home, the two of us set about making supper (garlic chicken!) while Bob watched TV. KB and I even had time for some Yahtzee while dinner was in the oven! After supper (so yummy!), we made the cake and put it in the oven, then decided to watch "Cars" - Bob got it for Christmas and none of us had watched it, so there you go! It was good but I do confess to having droopy eyelids during the middle! (As Floyd would say, I wasn't sleeping, I was just resting my eyes!). After the movie, Bob (and Hudson!) went to bed and Kristy and I iced the cake, then each had a piece (couldn't resist) while we watched about 5 songs of the Johnny Cash concert. It was good - it's kinda nice to see the artist rather than just always listening to them....

We got to bed late (after 11, I think) but were up early this a.m. because Kris and Bob had to go to work. I left the same time as them and was back in the city by 9. I'm tired but have to get my eyes examined at 12, so might grab a little nap in the afternoon. We'll see....back to work tomorrow (rats....)

Every now and then you have to...

...clean out the freezer! I know that this is a pet peeve of Kristy's, so, KB, you'll be happy to know I did it! Okay, okay...you gotta know there was a story behind it, 'cause it wasn't on my "to-do" list, and yet it got done!

Skip back to 5 p.m. today - Mandy and Jorge had eaten out, so I asked Floyd what he wanted for supper. We decided to eat up some of the stuff we have in the freezer, so we pulled out two turkey breasts (stuffed with wild rice and veggies - yummy...). As I was pulling them out of the box, and scraping off the 1/2" of frost and ice on them, I thought they looked smaller than I'd remembered but figured the company was getting cheap and the portions, therefore, were getting smaller.... Uh...no. We baked them and sat down to eat. I tried cutting mine with a regular knife and couldn't, so Mandy, who was observing from the sidelines, offered to get us steak knives. Still no success. They were as hard as leather and there was just no eating them. We binned them and after I'd done the dishes, I wondered if there'd been an expiry date on the box - looked and, sure enough, there it was - 05 may 12 - oh. Ha ha. I immediately went on a frenzy and started looking at the other boxes in the freezer and found two more from 2005. Found strawberries from 2003, meatballs from 2004 and, ta da - spinach from 2001!! ROTFLOL!!

So, now both my freezers are clean, organized, a lot more empty....and a lot more healthier!

*Results not typical....

I don't know if you've ever noticed it or not, but I have lately... I've been buying the Weight Watcher's magazines and have been reading the success stories that are featured in them (can be found in other mags as well, in case you don't read that particular one - LOL), and my eye has been drawn to the one factor that all these inspiring stories have in common. An asterisk. Yes, somewhere in their story, you will always see a little *. So, naturally you have to find out what it's for and there it is....way, way down (in tiny, tiny print) at the end...a little comment: "*results not typical." First of all, I was kind of depressed by the whole thought because, obviously, if their results aren't "typical", that means the majority of people that set out on the journey do not achieve the goal. How depressing and sad. But gradually, I began to look for, and enjoy reading, that little comment because my attitude changed and I started looking forward to the fact that, one day, I would be one of the "chosen few" who have an asterisk (whether real or imaginary) by their life stories. So now I'm using that statement as my goal - instead of letting it become a deterrent to me...

However, (in case you wonder why on earth I'd be sharing this...hang with me...) more recently, as I've thought about this whole thing, the Lord has brought a challenge to my heart and mind to have the * beside my name in His book - or at least figuratively there. If non-Christians had access to a magazine that they could read - one that gave testimonies of great Christians of the faith, would there be little stars by their stories..."*results not typical". Is that how they see me? Am I a "typical" Christian in their eyes - one who claims to be a follower but whose life portrays a double standard? Or am I one for whom they have made a mental asterisk when they hear my name or see my life - "Wendy*- *results not typical"?

And so, my physical goal has extended into my spiritual journey (which is always a good thing...) and I strive now, every day, to be the "not typical" example of a follower of Christ... I want my life to be sold out, 100%, nothing-held-back...all for the glory of God - no matter what....and then I know that my story will be marked with an *.

*results not typical

THREE highlights of my day....

Had a good one today - I worked day one (0630-1830), so that was good. The day was steady, not insane and not bad for a Friday. The drivers on the highways are obviously still struggling with learning how to drive in snowy, icy conditions, so accidents were our busiest calls. But I had two visitors which made my day - first of all, Craig stopped by and we visited. He'd been on a day course in the building and was on his way home. It was really good to catch up on his news and find out how he's doing. Then about an hour later, Leigh from the Fort (he'd managed to escape for the weekend!) appeared behind me and we were able to chat for about half an hour (between calls and radio...).

After work I met Mandy, Jorge and Floyd at Westmount cinema to see a movie. Okay, that place must be on the verge of closing - either that or the staffing crisis in Alberta is still at a peak! Because (a) the box office was closed, and (b) you had to stand in the concession line to buy your tickets!! What the heck?? Yeah, so basically, the whole cinema was running on a staff of 3! Two at the concession stand and one to take your tickets as you went in! Ha ha....

Anyway, we went to see the move, Three - a movie based on Ted Dekker's book. If you haven't read his books, you should. They are suspense thrillers but he has an incredible way of helping you visualize the spiritual world, the battles we have, and the reality of God and salvation. I hadn't read this one yet (I have 3 or 4 of his on my "to-read" list) so it was new to all of us. It was really well done and kept you in suspense until the end (which I won't reveal to you in case you want to go see it and/or read the book) and was a big step towards seeing more Christian fiction put into the movies.

We came home after and sat down and talked about Mandy and Jorge's return to Chile - it will be sad to see them go and we'll sure miss having them around...but we know God is leading them and this is a necessary step for them in getting Jorge's Canadian visa. We are so thankful for the six months that we've had...

I'm also reading a new book on photography - one that Tanya has just bought as well - and it's challenging me to move out of the P (program) and A (auto) modes on my camera into the realm of M (manual!) - one that I haven't used for years and years!! But it's fun and starting to come back to me. Tan, how are you doing??

What a day!

Ha ha...  well... let's see...where should I start...

My day started with me getting to work at 6 a.m. only to be told that I wasn't supposed to be there until 8:30....  I totally forgot that this rotation I was to be working the second dayshift - from 8:30 to 8:30.  Rats!  There was no way I was going to battle rush hour traffic for one more hour at home, though, so I decided to just stay there and read.  My supervisor told me then to go ahead and start, but said I may have to stay late if they were short-staffed.

Then, on my lunch, I went to the mall and walked for half an hour - that was good but it kinda went downhill from there...  I bought a cord to plug in my car while at work seeing as the temps are so low right now and it's freezing out!  So, I took it out in the parking lot to do just that.  I got in my car and pulled the lever-thingy to pop the hood.  I had to give it a tug (as I always have to) and then "it" happened:  it just kinda went "bloop" in my hand and hung there....still attached, but hanging none-the-less.  I closed my gaping mouth, tried to ignore it and went out and opened my hood.  Under there I found the cord to my block heater, "gently" pulled it out (didn't want anything else breaking on me!) and tried to remove the cover off the plug (who invented that thing anyway??!).  It was stuck sooo hard and I could just see it coming off in my hand (not the cover, but the whole plug head!).   Trying to think how I could pry it off, I thought I would get a key or something and use that, but then I didn't know if I would somehow get an electrical shock (probably not, but I didn't want to chance it - I could hear the call already: "Woman down in the RCMP parking lot!!!"), so I went back to just yanking on it!  Finally it gave and I was able to plug my little Stella in.  She purred contentedly but I felt bad about the hood-pull now dangling deep inside her...  I closed the hood, ("oh, good, it closed..."), then went back inside and saw the pull - still dangling from my dashboard...  Heaven only knows if I'll ever be able to open my hood again!  I just know when I tell Floyd, he's gonna say I should have waited for him to do it, but I don't think it would have made any difference who did it.  Wait, yes, it would have made a difference!  It wouldn't have been *me* who broke the car!!  Ha ha....

Anyway, from that fiasco, I went inside (I was freezing by now!!) and heated my yummy soup (that Adrie made!).  Once it was heated, I went to put salt and pepper on it and, wouldn't you know it, the top fell off the salt shaker into my soup with all the contents!!!!  Fortunately it wasn't too full but, boy, was my soup salty!!!  But I managed to get through it - "one spoon of soup, one swig of water, one spoon of soup, one swig of water...."  Ha ha.... at least I had no trouble drinking my daily two litres of water!

The good finish to a frustrating day?  I was able to get off at 6:30 after all.....  Now let's see what tomorrow brings....

I'm seeing stars.....

...cause I have a new star filter!!! Do you like it?? This was just taken while I stopped at a red light (okay, it just turned green - LOL!) and isn't really in focus. I just put the camera on my steering wheel and clicked! Not an effect you would use much but I like it none the less - for those special times....

Sometimes you just gotta....

...take a day off...or, in this case, give yourself a day off. I usually check my "to-do" list every morning, whether I'm working or not, to make sure I don't forget anything really important (LOL - getting old, or what?). Yesterday I achieved quite a bit on that list, so today I decided to give myself a day off - to do just what I really wanted to do, which was spend time reading my Bible, study my camera while looking at the manual (usually I only have one or the other!), and to do some knitting. Funny how our minds work (or mine, anyway...) - right away I started thinking, "No, I can't do that... I have too much to do.... Can't "waste" a day off...." But then I realized that if one out of four off was spent relaxing, that's okay. As per my New Year's "resolutions", I want to learn to stop stressing about what should be done and just spend some time doing what I would like to be doing. The tyranny of the urgent - always with us... I know most people (especially when you still have kids at home) don't have this option and I didn't for the first twenty + years of my marriage, but I do now and so I'm silly not to take advantage of it. I hope that doesn't sound selfish... (In a way it does still to me but I'm trying to get over it - LOL!)

So, yeah, that's how my day was spent and it was awesome. First, I spent time with the Lord, catching up on my daily Bible readings. Then I got out my camera in one hand, and manual for it in the other, and started learning how to operate it - I still have a long way to go.... I did some test photos, trying out different shots of the snow falling in the backyard. After lunch, I did some more knitting - made one slipper for me today and hope to do the other one tomorrow, as the ones that I was given have all worn out on the sole. Floyd and I watched Andy Griffith, season seven - all new episodes that I've never seen before - they are so good...

In the evening, we went to the airport to pick up Mandy and Jorge, who flew back from Vancouver (they went yesterday morning for her Chilean visa). We were concerned because the weather is supposed to turn really bad overnight, however the roads were fine and, even though their flight was delayed half an hour, we all got home safely.

Oh, yeah....by the way....in case you're wondering...I did get a call from my work to go in tonight....and I said....(drumroll)..., "no". Proud of me??? LOL...

Sunday, sunday....

I got off work at 6:30 this morning and was in bed by 7. I was so tired. I slept til about 11:15 and ended up getting up because it's my first day off and I don't want to waste it! Jorge isn't feeling well, so he and Mandy were home when I got up, talking to his parents. It reminded me of how much I need to review my Spanish before I go there. The thought terrifies me and I really have to get over that. I need to cut myself some slack and just go with what I have and trust the Lord to help me understand them....

Floyd had a chicken already in the oven and I helped him fix the veggies and get lunch ready. It was really good and we sat and talked for awhile after - about the trip tomorrow (Mandy and Jorge are flying to Vancouver in the morning) - and other "stuff". After lunch we kinda went our separate ways - Floyd to watch some TV, Mandy to do some scrapbooking, Jorge some computer stuff and I washed dishes then worked on some photos (hee hee) for the contest.

In the evening, we threw a pizza in the oven and all of us watched the movie "World Trade Center". It was okay - really sad in parts and made me cry...but not what I thought it would be. It basically just focused on two of the N.Y. officers who survived (and their families) but I kept thinking - what about all the thousands of others? Maybe the whole scene is too fresh in all of our minds for them to have done justice to it this early. For them to try and re-enact the scenes that we can still see, might have been too hard and made it too emotional to watch. The few outside crowd scenes they did seemed to be contrived and unreal compared to the reality we saw for days, weeks and months on television.

I got an email today from Tom telling us about the movie "Three" that apparently is now playing in the cinemas here - based on Ted Dekker's book. I'm glad he told me because I didn't even know it had been made!! We plan to go see it this week when Mandy and Jorge are back - maybe on the weekend.... Thanks, Tom!! It's a good job you stay with the news and what's happening, 'cause I sure don't!!

That's all for now - looks like Tan got back home from Calgary safely as I see some comments on the photo challenge blog - hope you had a fun weekend, Tan!

I was taking photos today and "saw" this one, so I had to take it! It doesn't fit in with any of the challenge questions (I don't think....), so I thought I'd post it here!

Is anyone else???

Okay, I don't know what Tanya has done to me - but all I can think about is the photo challenges for January! LOL!! I just woke up after a nightshift and realized I was even dreaming about it!!! About what subjects I could use to answer the questions and about how I would photograph them...ha ha... Yeah, you got me hooked.

Last night was pretty good for a Friday night in Fort Mac - we were pleasantly surprised but it kept us busy. I'm feeling better (thank the Lord) - I think it was all the junk food I'd been eating over the holidays and now I'm back eating healthier I'm feeling better - go figure....

Not much else to report - hopefully today I'm going to finish Tan's slippers I'm knitting and grab a nab before I'm back to work tonight. (okay, okay...I'm going to do some photography as well!!)

"Sick as a dog....

...but having the time of my life!" Come one - where's the quote from? See who's the first!

I feel lousy today and hardly slept at all last night.... just a fluey thing or something. Not bad enough to send me home from work, just bad enough to send me to the bathroom every half hour - LOL!

So, there won't be much on here tonight - sorry - I'm gonna grab a book or movie and hit the hay. News? Let's see.... Floyd and I finished Alias - finally. It was good - unusual ending but I think they were running out of ideas. They'd already fooled us so many times, it was becoming pretty inconceivable ("I don't think that means what you think it means...." - movie the quote is from?) towards the end.

I'm hoping to get to my photochallenge photos tomorrow - been trying to come up with creative answers to the questions (some of them are really hard, Tan!!)....

Til tomorrow....

Resolutions, resolutions, resolutions.....

...'tis the season! I haven't made some really serious resolutions for quite a few years because, (a) I feel like I'm setting myself up for failure and, (b) I feel like resolutions can be made anytime, not just on January 1st. But there's something about that clock turning over, the ball falling in New York, the Rose Bowl parade, etc., etc., that makes one want to speak up and take a stand to make a difference - in their lives and/or in others' - and to say, "This year, I'm going to....". So, here I go.... (maybe by making it public like this, you can all hold me accountable...eeek, kinda scarey thought!)....be gentle with me...

Here they are, not necessarily in order of priority...except for #1:

1) Read through the whole Bible in 2007. I bought a Daily Bible with devotional readings by Max Lucado that will take me through it in daily portions. Part of this resolution includes spending time just listening to God's voice - something that I want to really work on and cultivate as it doesn't come naturally to me. But since reading "The Papa Prayer", I've come to see how my times with Him have often been one-sided - with me doing all the talking and Him not having a chance to get a word in...very sad but true. I long, with all my heart, to change that and cultivate a listening ear to my Papa's voice...

2) Get rid of, once and for all, my excess weight - to stick with the Weight Watcher's core plan that has been so effective for me. I love it because it embraces such a diversity of healthy, natural foods and I feel so good when on the program. Part of this resolution is also to get back into a regular pattern of exercising - either walking or swimming three times a week...

3) To get back into photography (ha ha...wonder why?) and allow myself the time (take my days off!) to do it. You would think this wouldn't be hard to do but I seem to have so many things scheduled for my time off... I also (kind of goes with this one) want to get back into scrapbooking. Now Mandy and I have a table set up downstairs for this, I'm hoping that will help...

4) To practice, practice, practice (and practice some more!) my Spanish!! I haven't been as faithful in doing my workbooks (I used to do it almost every day) and I can tell that I'm getting rusty. I've gone this far and refuse to let it go. But I don't want to be satisfied with Spanglish (been doing too much of that lately!) - I want to master the language (with God's help!)...

5) I want to start taking my days off as just that - days off. My work is stressful enough that I know I need the time to rejuvenate, catch up on my sleep, and to do the first 4 points listed above. I know I need the money but there will always be debts to pay and things to buy...but people will not always be around and I want to invest my life with them (my sister, Floyd, my girls, my sons-in-law, my grandbabies, etc...). They are eternal investments and will outlast anything this world tries to distract me with.

6) Nah...maybe that's enough for now...let's see how I do with these 5... Will you pray for me? Thanks and God bless.....

A start...

Here's my first entry for Tanya's photo challenges - I've got a long way to go but we'll see... This is for the "orange challenge". I can't believe how many orange things I'm seeing in my house now! LOL!! Now we're on to the January challenge - a bit more of a twist - we'll see how that goes!!