Let us go then, you and I...

I'm happy, happy, happy dancing :) We leave for Newfoundland in just one week! One short week from this very minute, we will be waiting to board the ferry from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland. The ferry leaves at 11:30, but our reservation says to be there 90 minutes in advance, or else they will give away our spot. Hard to imagine they can do that, since we've already paid, but then again...I did check the "yes, I've read and understand the rules" box when I booked online, so I suppose I signed away my right to complain! Oh well...I'm so excited to get there, I'll probably have us arriving at the ferry terminal by supper time! lol The only downside is that Sara isn't coming with us. She's staying home because she's taking a course over the summer - a full credit course packed into just seven weeks, so no way she could miss two weeks.

When I was talking to Valerie the other day, she told me her place in Newfoundland is totally unplugged as far as internet (obviously she has a phone though or we wouldn't have been talking!). So I won't be blogging while away, but I am definitely taking a journal so I'll be able to write up a few blog entries when I get back. And no doubt I'll take hundreds of photos as well! But before I go...I'll try to give you a taste of some of the places we will likely visit, such as Twillingate...

You would be hard pressed to find anyone from Atlantic Canada who has not at least heard the name Twillingate. It has been immortalized in a song called I'se the B'y, which song seems to be a staple in elementary school music classes! I wrote in a previous entry that I was delighted as a child to learn that this was, in fact, a real place...as an adult, I am equally delighted at the prospect of visiting this place!

According to the website, Twillingate lays claim to being the iceburg capital of the world. Actually I have read of the area being called iceburg alley. Mark told me that sometimes iceburgs last into July, so possibly we'll see some, which would be very cool...I believe those big ole chunks of ice can be up to 10,000 years old. Impressive. There's also a festival in this area each July - The Fish Fun and Folk Festival - complete with a street dance and fireworks. Sounds like fun, although not sure we'll stick around for fireworks...from what Valerie tells me, one really doesn't want to drive around Central Newfoundland in the dark, if such can be avoided. Apparently the danger of hitting a moose is very, very real...in fact, there was a story on CBC just today about a man who was killed by a collision with a moose last night.

There are also museums in the area. One of the museums is the Boyd’s Cove Beothuk Intrepretation Centre, which shares the history of the now extinct First Nations people, the Beothuks.

Mark, K and M outside the museum last summer:

Inside the museum:

Continue reading "Twillingate" »

A friend shared this link with me...you might need to actually be Canadian in order for this to be amusing, but it sure tickles my funny bone - enjoy!!

Continue reading "Canada Day...part deux" »

What a lovely day this was. A midweek holiday, a day off work! A celebration of my fabulous country! A day spent with Dave and our darling daughters! Woohooo!!!

I slept in, and then lazed around for the rest of the morning. M and I got into a funny exchange on Facebook (which was all the funnier because we were sitting in the same room, so silly. Dave just shakes his head at us at such times!) Eventually, I made grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, then we headed off to the Wildlife Park. We used to go there all the time when we lived in the same community as the park, but it's been a few years since we went as a family, although M was there on a school trip last year. On the way, we got stuck behind the Shubenacadie Canada Day parade - and this being farm country, the parade consisted largely of tractor after tractor after tractor! But soon enough, we were past the slow moving farm equipment and arrived at the park. It was really nice strolling through the park with Dave and the girls. The weather was relatively cooperative, overcast and oh so humid and sticky, but at least no rain. The animals were quite active, which I know from experience wouldn't have been the case on a hot, sunny day - those days they spend hiding in their shelters. As I recall, many of the animals at this park have permanent injuries and could not survive in the wild. The pens and habitats are well kept and of a decent size. I'll let the photos that follow illustrate our visit, rather than writing a lengthy description. After the park, we went to Dairy Queen for ice cream - peanut buster parfait, mmmMMM! :) An excellent idea on this muggy day when we were melting in the humidity!

As we were driving home, I wondered what Valerie and her family were doing for Canada Day in Newfoundland...and then laughed at my inner child for missing my bff already when she's only been gone since Sunday. When we got home, there was a message on the machine from Valerie, just wondering what we were up to today...what a lovely coincidence, it would seem her inner child was missing her bff too! I feel blessed, as always, by the close bond we have formed, and think of a quote I read recently: "depth of friendship does not depend on length of acquaintance" (by Rabindranath Tagore). We chatted only briefly when I called her back, was enough just to connect for a few minutes and hear each other's voice. Can't wait to be in Newfoundland...nine days until we leave!!!

We had lasagna for supper, not my own uber-delicious lasagna, but made from scratch by the woman at the local pizzeria and surprisingly tasty. We ate casually while watching Ghost Town on the On Demand movie channel. Quite an amusing movie, although decidedly lightweight (which was exactly what I was in the mood for, so it was perfect!)

Then Dave took the girls to pick up a rental movie while I cleaned up the supper mess (I volunteered to do that, mostly because was feeling too lazy to go out to the store!) They chose The Secret Life of Bees. A wonderful movie, although keep the tissue box handy! M, Sara and I were all teary eyed in a couple spots. And now am off to bed, because I have to get up early in the morning. :( Many people at work took either Mon-Tues off, or Thurs-Fri to get a super long weekend...I would have done the same if I wasn't taking vacation in just nine days (did I mention only nine days until vacation...not that I'm excited or anything!)

Here are some photos of our visit to the wildlife park:

Continue reading "Happy Canada Day!" »

With the rose the butterfly's deep in love,
A thousand times hovering round;
But round himself, all tender like gold,
The sun's sweet ray is hovering found.
~Heinrich Heine, "New Spring"

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."
~Hans Christian Anderson

Valerie's daughter K turned 14 today. The original birthday party plans were to take K, M and a couple other girls down to Valerie's camper Friday night. Plus M and I were going to stay over at Valerie's house Thursday night. Alas the weather forecast was looking pretty dismal, so the camping idea was abandoned in favour of movie and sleepover at Valerie's house. Things got a little confusing for me at one point - M got off the phone with K on Wednesday evening and said to me: "you can drop me off anytime Friday morning." Friday morning? drop her off? I thought, what is that about?? I called Valerie to sort things out, but she wasn't home, so I sent an email and waited to hear if something had come up to derail our plans (would hardly be the first time!) This time though, it turned out to be just a case of crossed wires...no change of plans, the girls had forgotten we were staying Thursday night too.

I zipped home after work Thursday, had a bite of supper, packed an overnight bag, gathered up M and headed out. As we pulled up to Valerie's, her car was just heading up the road. Ok, now what?? Into the house I went to await her return. I commented to Mark that as usual, his wife had invited me over and then left. :) Mark's best friend Kees (also an Anglican priest) dropped in and joked "where's Val, did someone die or something?" "Yes", replied Mark "someone did." Oh my poor friend...not another funeral. She'd just gotten the call a few hours earlier. (I'd had lunch with my friend Andrea that day and she asked if my plans with Valerie were still on, and I joked yes they are, nobody has died yet, knock on wood...evidently I spoke too soon, oh foolish me!) I realize death and funerals come with the territory of being a minister, but...holy crow, Valerie gets called to do a lot of funeral services. Not only within her own congregation but also by the funeral home quite often, if they have a family who doesn't attend church, so doesn't have a minister/priest of their own to call on. In this case, the people were actually Anglican, insofar as they were anything, but one of the daughters (I think) just knew Valerie so...tag, she was it. Because it's not like she say: "nah, I'm too exhausted to do another funeral right now" or "sorry, I have other plans, can't help ya".

Continue reading "Happy Birthday to K :)" »

Someone sent me this cute joke this morning...I might keep it for future reference! LOL

FIVE BEST THINGS TO SAY IF YOU GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AT YOUR DESK:

NUMBER 5: They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen.

NUMBER 4: 'This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time-management course you sent me to.

NUMBER 3: 'Whew! Guess I left the top off the White-out. You probably got here just in time!

NUMBER 2: Did you ever notice sound coming out of these keyboards when you put your ear down real close?

NUMBER 1 best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk:

(Raising your head slowly) '... in Jesus' name, Amen'

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

~ William Wordsworth, 1804

Continue reading "A Wordsworth moment..." »

My result:

Well...I've been called a hippy flower child by more than one person over the course of my life!

I was having a bad hair day today. But was going to sing at a funeral this afternoon, so I pulled my hair back tight, stuck it all up in a hairclip and off I went. I arrived at the church, saw that Valerie had people in her office, so didn't think anything of it when she didn't say hello. Into the chapel I went, where we do our warming up and practicing. There was another woman already there, from one of the other churches in the area, Anglican, I think (the funeral choir is ecumenical). I introduced myself, saying that we've sung together in the past but I didn't think we'd ever actually met. She said her name, then said she didn't think she'd ever seen me before ("oh dear that probably sounds insulting" she added!) I just laughed and thought to myself wow, obviously she doesn't have a very good memory for faces. Because we've sung together at funeral services at least half a dozen times over the past year! More folks trickled in, and then we started practicing the hymns. At this point, Valerie came into the chapel, glanced around and then joined the singing. I thought it was a tad odd that she hadn't at least smiled at me in greeting by this point, but figured she just had a lot on her mind (like presiding over the impending funeral service!) A few seconds later, she sat down in the empty chair beside me, leaned over and whispered "I've never seen you with your hair up - I didn't recognize you" Too funny. I didn't think I looked so different that my own best friend wouldn't recognize me!! Mind you, she also commented a couple times how pretty I looked with my hair up, like a ballerina, so I forgive her...lol ;)

M, on the other hand, had a phenomenally good hair day. She asked me the other day if she could get her hair cut. Sure can, I replied, it's your hair. I made an appointment and took her to the salon this morning. While there, she got talking to the stylist that she'd really like to have her hair dyed black and blue...the stylist said nah, the blue would only last a few days, a red would be better. Eventually the stylist said to me that if it was ok with me, she would colour M's hair - she thought it would look so cool that she was willing to get behind in her schedule to fit it in. Ohhhhhhhh...alright, I agreed. I couldn't see what was going on with the cut or the colouring. There was a rack of hair care products in the way, and besides I was reading my book. So when M was finished and came around the corner...WHOA baby, I barely recognized her!! She went from medium length blonde, to short purple with pink highlights. It's longer in the front, shorter and layered closer to the head in the back. It looks quite stunning on her, I have to say. She was going to a party this evening, a surprise going away party for the Korean exchange student who attended her school this year. I pulled in the driveway to drop her off, and barely stopped the car before she jumped out, and a gaggle of teenaged girls swarmed out of the house to greet her, exclaiming "ooo, I LOVE your hair!!"

M's old hair:

M's new hair:

Continue reading "A bad hair day turned good..." »

Maritime Conference now has some photos posted on their website that were taken during the Annual Meeting weekend (IAC was part of that weekend). The website says "feel free to use them for reminiscing", so I'll borrow a few that I like. Maybe this post will inspire me to get my act together and write an entry about my IAC weekend!

Intermediates and Youth joined the main conference on Saturday evening. Some of the intermediates sang onstage during that service. M is third from the left (the gorgeous blonde!)

The Intermediates doing a conga-line around the room, great fun!

Continue reading "More images of IAC..." »