Happy Halloween

We mailed this Marilyn Monroe costume to L this past week. She says the blonde wig doesn't work for her, unfortunately. But she is planning to use the dress in some way.

K and a couple of his friends decided they still want to go trick or
treating at 15 years old. Unfortunately, there are 2 tests and a report due tomorrow at school. The pumpkin's carved, the decorations are up and the candy is all set out. I wonder how many kids will come to the door this year. We don't usually get a lot.

Have a safe and fun Halloween!


News

I found this inspiring story of how a talented young man got started in life:

From Busker To Award-Winning Author

Bedol Water Clock

I was getting my hair cut this week and came across a new family magazine called 'what's up'. The website looks pretty interesting too. Anyway, the magazine has a section featuring new products and I saw this Bedol water clock that needs no batteries and comes in different colours.
Isn't it cute?

I also found this nice recipe for 'Poached Eggs and Hash'.

Baby Shower

M's niece and nephew are expecting babies within months of each other. I was not able to attend a recent baby shower but I did receive these cute marzipan cupcakes and cookie. Aren't they cute? When she saw the photo, L said she'd feel bad eating the babies though.

Juicer

This is a twenty year old juicer I unearthed the other day. It was probably a wedding present that I've used once or twice before. I've actually been using it to juice oranges lately. One orange gives about half a cup of pure juice, the equivalent of one fruit serving. Do you juice your own oranges? It's really not a lot of trouble.

News

This article is kind of amusing in light of the upcoming holiday season:

Gift cards don't put me in holiday spirit

Dementia Quiz

FIRST QUESTION:

YOU ARE A PARTICIPANT IN A RACE. YOU OVERTAKE
THE SECOND PERSON. WHAT POSITION ARE YOU IN?





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




ANSWER: IF YOU ANSWERED THAT YOU ARE FIRST,
THEN YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG! IF YOU OVERTAKE THE
SECOND PERSON AND YOU TAKE HIS PLACE, YOU ARE IN SECOND PLACE!

TRY TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME.
NOW ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION,
BUT DON'T TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS
YOU TOOK FOR THE FI RST QUESTION, OK?



SECOND QUESTION:
IF YOU OVERTAKE THE LAST PERSON, THEN YOU ARE....?
(SCROLL DOWN)




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





ANSWER: IF YOU ANSWERED THAT YOU ARE SECOND TO LAST, THEN YOU ARE.....
WRONG AGAIN. TELL ME SUNSHINE, HOW CAN YOU OVERTAKE THE LAST PERSON??


YOU'RE NOT VERY GOOD AT THIS, ARE YOU?

THIRD QUESTION:
VERY TRICKY ARITHMETIC! NOTE:
THIS MUST BE DONE IN YOUR HEAD ONLY.
DO NOT USE PAPER AND PENCIL OR A CALCULATOR.
TRY IT.

TAKE 1000 AND ADD 40 TO IT. NOW ADD ANOTHER 1000 NOW ADD 30.
ADD ANOTHER 1000. NOW ADD 20. NOW ADD ANOTHER 1000.
NOW ADD 10. WHAT IS THE TOTAL?


SCROLL DOWN FOR THE CORRECT ANSWER.....




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


DID YOU GET 5000?

THE CORRECT ANSWER IS ACTUALLY 4100...



IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT, CHECK IT WITH A CALCULATOR!
TODAY IS DEFINITELY NOT YOUR DAY, IS IT?

MAYBE YOU'LL GET THE LAST QUESTION RIGHT... MAYBE...

FOURTH QUESTION:

MARY'S FATHER HAS FIVE DAUGHTERS:


1. NANA, 2. NENE, 3. NINI, 4. NONO, AND ???
2. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE FIFTH DAUGHTER?









~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



DID YOU ANSWER NUNU? NO! OF COURSE IT ISN'T..
HER NAME IS MARY! READ THE QUESTION AGAIN!



OKAY, NOW THE BONUS ROUND,
I.E., A FINAL CHANCE TO
REDEEM YOURSELF:


A MUTE PERSON GOES INTO A SHOP AND WANTS TO BUY A TOOTHBRUSH.
BY IMITATING THE ACTION OF BRUSHING HIS TEETH HE
SUCCESSFULLY EXPRESSES HIMSELF TO THE SHOPKEEPER AND THE PURCHASE IS DONE.
NEXT, A B LIND MAN COMES INTO THE SHOP WHO WANTS TO BUY A
PAIR OF SUNGLASSES; HOW DOES HE INDICATE WHAT HE WANTS?





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IT'S REALLY VERY SIMPLE
HE OPENS HIS MOUTH AND ASKS FOR IT...
DOES YOUR EMPLOYER ACTUALLY PAY YOU TO THINK??
IF SO DO NOT LET THEM SEE YOUR ANSWERS FOR THIS TEST!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


PASS THIS ON TO FRUSTRATE THE
SMART PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE!
HAVE A NICE DAY, ONE AND ALL.

Creative Tuesdays - Curtains

Here's my Creative Tuesdays - Curtains entry. It was fun to do, I felt like I was doing some decorating, especially when I decided my curtain needed some kind of pattern on it as the drawing was looking a little bland. Can't wait to see the other entries.

Sweet Potato Fries

My friend S told me her sister makes these sweet potato 'fries' from time to time. The difference is that she doesn't peel them, so I decided to try it myself. I added a bit of chili powder to give it some kick, I think she uses cayenne pepper. So I roasted them at 400F for about 15 minutes. I have a hot oven, so you may want to bake at 425F. I cut them into chunks as pictured, added some olive oil, salt, pepper, dried basil and the chili powder. Then I decided to take a photo for you, after I'd had a few off the plate!

Hunter's Moon

It seems I managed to photograph the Hunter's Moon when I was out walking with my friend S the other night. I know this because KathyG mentioned it on her blog recently. Kathy's running a giveaway until October 27th, so you may want to stop by!

Algonquin Park, Ontario

K had a lot of fun camping at Algonquin Park despite the fact that it was freezing and THEY DIDN'T HAVE TENTS. They used tarps as shelter when it rained. So they portaged (carried their canoes, oars and belongings from site to site and kept warm by stoking a fire all night).

It looks lovely up there judging by his photos.

Electronic Junk

We've been having trouble with the laptop that K and I share. Months ago, we might have been a bit rough opening and closing it and after that, the screen quite often will flicker on and off until you slap it, or tilt it backwards or something. It's quite annoying so we decided to get it fixed. M cleared the cache, moved all the photos to a hard disk and took as many security precautions we could think of. Then he took it to the 'Geek Squad' people at Best Buy Electronics. They said it would cost $450 to fix the problem and gave him a flyer with brand new laptops going for $469.

It's surprising how easy it is to create electronic junk. It's a perfectly good laptop otherwise but they would have had to take intricate wiring apart. Well, we'll see how long we keep going on this laptop for now.

Yesterday I 'baked' a pumpkin pie in the oven using this E.D. Smith recipe as a guide. I had a package of Pillsbury ready made pie crust and a can of E.D.Smith pumpkin pie filling. What amazed me, as I don't usually bake a lot, was that the pie crust was all ready to roll into the pie plate. So I just had to whip an egg, some milk and the pie filling together, pour it into the pre-shaped crust, and bake away!

Pumpkin Bread

I made this pumpkin bread using a recipe I found at 'My Journey to Mindfulness'. It's like a spice bun, really delicious and simple to make.

Then because I had extra cranberries, I followed the recipe on the bag and made my own cranberry sauce for the first time instead of buying it out of a can. Do you know how easy it is?

3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Rinse cranberries
In a saucepan, mix sugar and water
Boil for 5 mins
Add cranberries and boil gently until skins pop (about 5 mins)
Remove from heat. Serve warm or refrigerate. Makes about 2 1/2 cups

And I realized why I love cranberry sauce to begin with...all that sugar!

I still had some leftover cranberries so I froze them to make smoothies at some point.

Never a Dull Moment

Well L' s credit card was compromised this month...she emailed me yesterday to check on her mastercard because it got declined while she was making a purchase. We went in and checked her statement online and sure enough, a rash of purchases from miscellaneous gas stations in various towns. She suspects that it happened at a grocery store based on the transaction dates. She's still in possession of the card.

L called the credit card company and they cancelled the card. They will be sending her an affidavit to to sign, as well as a new replacement card. She said the guy was matter of fact, like it happens all the time. We'll get credited once she submits the affidavit.

News

CIBC to offer Canada’s first Visa debit card

Camping Packlist

In the photo is some of the camping equipment K took to camp. We found a lovely Canadian outdoor products store called 'Le Baron' which turned out to be a one-stop shopping place if you need camping goods at a reasonable price. In the photo you can see a warm hat that covers the ears. We told him to be sure to wear it at night because most of your body heat escapes through your head. You can also see warm gloves, wool socks, a safety whistle, waterproof matches (regular matches in a ziploc bag would be fine too), wipes, tissue paper, map compass, waterproof camera, swiss army knife, large, bpa free plastic drinking bottle. We decided to get him an inexpensive headlamp that you wear on your head. It frees up your busy hands. You can see the 4-season sleeping bag (-10C). We also packed a 10x12 ft plastic tarp for the ground, a flannel blanket, good thermal undershirt and pants, a set of light plastic dishware (cup, plate, bowl, cutlery) in its own mesh bag. He also has a good raincoat, a wool sweater and a fleece jacket.

The school will provide a thermarest sleeping pad, lifejacket and tent, along with a sturdy backpack. The backpack was sooo heavy when everything was packed, including the filled waterjug.

K has been camping several times, but this time the group will be canoeing with their handmade oars. He is well-equipped with warm clothes because I heard it gets really cold up there at this time of year, especially in tents at night. Hopefully it won't go below 0C.

I might have been camping once in my life that I can think of right now and I was most grateful that there were washrooms at the main lodge although we were in tents and it was in the summer.

The Benefits of Fresh Pineapple

I got this in an email the other day and I thought "wow, this is a miracle fruit! I'll have to have it more often."


Fresh Pineapple Has Many Benefits....

The pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family. It is extremely rare that bromeliads produce edible fruit.


The pineapple is the only available edible bromeliad today. It is a multiple fruit. One pineapple is actually made up of dozens of individual flowerettes that grow together to form the entire fruit.

Each scale on a pineapple is evidence of a separate flower. Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked.


No special way of storing them will help ripen them further. Color is relatively unimportant in determining ripeness.

Choose your pineapple by smell. If it smells fresh, tropical and sweet, it will be a good fruit. The more scales on the pineapple, the sweeter and juicier the taste.

After you cut off the top, you can plant it. It should grow much like a sweet potato will. This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical; it also offers many benefits to our health.

Pineapple is a remarkable fruit. We find it enjoyable because of its lush, sweet and exotic flavor, but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available today. If we take a more detailed look at it, we will find that pineapple is valuable for easing indigestion, arthritis or sinusitis. The juice has an anthelmintic effect; it helps get rid of intestinal worms.

Let's look at how pineapple affects other conditions.

Pineapple is high in manganese, a mineral that is critical to development of strong bones and connective tissue.


A cup of fresh pineapple will give you nearly 75% of the recommended daily amount. It is particularly helpful to older adults, whose bones tend to become brittle with age.

Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme, is the key to pineapple's value.

Proteolytic means "breaks down protein", which is why pineapple is known to be a digestive aid. It helps the body digest proteins more efficiently.

Bromelain is also considered an effective anti-inflammatory. Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis. It produces mild pain relief. In Germany, bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold because it is high in Vitamin C.
Fresh pineapple is not only high in this vitamin, but because of the bromelain, it has the ability to reduce mucous in the throat.

If you have a cold with a productive cough, add pineapple to your diet. It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations. Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer sinus problems related to allergies. In and of itself, pineapple has a very low risk for allergies.

Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development. This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and others who may be at risk for blood clots.

An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice. It really works! Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the morning often make a difference. It's also good for a healthier mouth. The fresh juice discourages plaque growth.

A quick text message

I decided to take K into the doctor's this week as he was having a lot of nosebleeds. He's susceptible to allergic rhinitis at this time of year and takes a corticosteroid nasal spray to alleviate symptoms. The doctor recommended a new type of spray that he says is better, so we decided to it a try as he gave us a free sample bottle.

Anyway, I noticed the receptionist had a bruise on her cheek so I decided to ask her what happened. We've known her for a long time. She said she was running in the summer and tripped and fell straight into the pavement. That was about 3 months ago and the bruise still hasn't disappeared. She said she was lucky because she hit her front teeth but didn't end up losing them. I'd estimate she's in her late forties, so I told her it might be time to stop running, seriously!

K is off on a school canoe trip up north this week. It may be quite cold, so we've been gathering all his gear. They'll be camping in tents and making bonfires. They're all very excited as it will be an adventure. I'm trying not to worry too much.

L is busy studying for midterms, playing volleyball, and there was a school semi-formal recently. I know this because she sent me a quick text message.

The cardiologist had a fairly good report for my mother this week. She had some shortness of breath and suspected heart problems in the past month. The stress test found no blockages. The echocardiogram and holter monitor tests held no surprises. Her heart isn't perfect, but it's doing ok for now, follow up in six months. I've decided I like the cardiologist, he seems to be doing all the right things.

I'm Katherine Hepburn

> Here's some fun just for the girls... DON'T read ahead, please, or it'll spoil the fun.
>
> Ladies Only ... Which Movie Star Are You? This is kind of fun!
>
>
>
> Ever wonder which movie star you are most like?
>
> Well, a team of researchers got together and analyzed the personalities of movie stars.
>
> The gathered info has been incorporated into this quiz.
>
> There are only 10 questions so it doesn't take long.
>
> Number your paper from 1 to 10, then answer each question with the choice that most describes you at this point in your life , and then add up the points that correspond with your answers.
>

>
> Don' t look ahead or you will ruin the fun!
>
> 1. Which describes your perfect date?
> A) Candlelight dinner for two
> B) Amusement Park
> C) Roller blading in the park
> D) Rock Concert
> E) Have dinner & see a movie
> F) Dinner at home with a loved one
>
> 2. What is your favorite type of music?
> A) Rock and Roll
> B) Alternative
> C) Soft Rock
> D) Classical
> E) Christian
> F) Jazz
>
> 3. What is your favorite type of movie?
> A) Comedy
> B) Horror
> C) Musical
> D) Romance
> E) Documentary
> F ) Mystery
>
> 4. Which of the following jobs would you choose if you were given only these choices?
> A) Waiter/Waitress
> B) Sports Player
> C) Teacher
> D) Policeman
> E) Bartender
> F) Business person
>
> 5. Which would you rather do if you had an hour to waste?
> A) Work out
> B) Make out
> C) Watch TV
> D) Listen to the radio
> E) Sleep
> F) Read
>
> 6. Of the following colors, which do you like best?
> A) Yellow
> B) White
> C) Sky blue
> D) Teal
> E) Gold
> F) Red
>
> 7. Which one of the following would you like to eat right now?
> A) Ice cream
> B) Pizza
> C ) Sushi
> D) Pasta
> E) Salad
> F) Lobster Tail
>
> 8. Which is your favorite holiday?
> A) Halloween
> B) Christmas
> C) New Year's
> D) Valentine's Day
> E) Thanksgiving
> F) Fourth of July
>
> 9 If you could go to any of the following places, which would it be?
> A) Reno
> B) Spain
> C) Las Vegas
> D) Hawaii
> E) Hollywood
> F) British Columbia
>
> 10. Of the following, who would you rather spend time with?
> A) Someone who is smart
> B) Someone with good looks
> C) Someone who is a party animal
> D) Someone who has fun all the time
> E) Someone who is very emotional
> F) Someone who is fun to be with
>
> Now total up your points on each question:
> 1 a-4; b-2; c-5; d-1; e-3; f-6
> 2. A-2; b-1; c-4; d-5; e-3; f-6
> 3. A-2; b-1; c-3; d-4; e-5; f-6
> 4. A-4; b-5; c-3; d-2; e-1; f-6
> 5. A-5; b-4; c-2; d-1; e-3; f-6
> 6. A-1; b-5; c-3; d-2; e-4; f-6
> 7. A-3; b-2; c-1; d-4; e-5; f-6
> 8. A-1; b-3; c-2; d-4; e-5; f -6
> 9. A-4; b-5; c-1; d-4; e-3; f-6
> 10. A-5; b-2; c-1; d-3; e-4; f-6
>
>
> NOW . Take your total and find out which Movie Star you are:
>
>
> (10-17 points) You are MADONNA:
> You are wild and crazy and you know it. You know how to have fun, but you may take it to extremes. You know what you are doing though, and are much in control of your own life . People don't always see things your way, but that doesn't mean that you should do away with your beliefs. Try to remember that your wild spirit can lead to hurting yourself and others.
>
> (18-26 points) You are DORIS DAY:
> You are fun, friendly, and popular! You are a real crowd pleaser. You have probably been out on the town your share of times, yet you come home with the values that your mother taught you. Marriage and children are very important to you, but only after you have fun. Don't let the people you please influence you to stray.
>
> (27-34 points) You are DEBBIE REYNOLDS:
> You are cute, and everyone loves you. You are a best friend that no one takes the chance of losing. You never hurt feelings and seldom have your own feelings hurt. Life is a breeze. You are witty, and calm most of the time. Just keep clear of back stabbers, and you are worry-free.
>
> (35-42 points) You are GRACE KELLY:
> You are a lover. Romance, flowers, and wine are all you need to enjoy yourself. You are serious about all commitments and are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday, and never forget a Birthday. Don't let your passion for romance get confused with the real thing.
>
> (43-50 points) You are KATHERINE HEPBURN:
> You are smart, a real thinker. Every situation is approached with a plan. You are very healthy in mind and body. You don't take crap from anyone. You have only a couple of individuals that you consider 'real friends'. You teach strong family values. Keep your feet planted in them, but don't overlook a bad situation when it does happen.
>
> (51-60 points) You are ELIZABETH TAYLOR:
> Everyone is in awe of you. You know what you want and how to get it. You have more friends than you know what to do with. Your word is your bond. Everyone knows when you say something it is money in the bank. You attract the opposite sex. Your intelligence overwhelms most. Your memory is the next thing to photographic. Everyone admires you because you are so considerate and lovable. You know how to enjoy life and treat people right.
>

>

Infinity Pool - Singapore

A friend sent me this view of this infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore, 55 floors above ground. There are some stunning (scary) photos of the pool in this article. Would you go swimming all the way up there? I understand there are always lifeguards on duty to prevent people from sitting on the ledge.

The Result

So I got my poster framed and here is what it looks like:






I'm quite pleased with the result, a welcome addition to the existing decor.

News

Walkers' brains shrink less with age, study finds

Rainbows and Sunsets

L took these gorgeous photos from her university residence. She said the rainbow was so wide, it was a full arch, so she took 2 photos to try to capture it with her camera. The sunset's also wonderful.

It was lovely having L home for Thanksgiving weekend. I was not prepared for feeling so sad when she left on Monday. Yes, I was 'grieving' again. It felt like shortness of breath and a slight loss of appetite. Well, I missed lunch.

It was a busy weekend. L arrived a bit later than planned on Friday evening due to the traffic. K had been at an all-day inter-school tennis tournament. He didn't win but it was a good experience and he had fun.

L has settled well into university life. She has already joined a bunch of committees at school. She proclaims her roommates 'sisters'. I asked her how these 'sisters' are different than her high school friends. She said it's different when you live together. Her whole floor seems to be bonding well. Some of the kids sound really smart. I was happy to learn that they are offering flu shots in the coming weeks to the students by appointment.

L and I did some serious shopping on Saturday while K was at his tennis lesson. She needed new winter boots and wanted some new fall clothes. They had a lot of sales at the mall, so we were pleased with our purchases. Later on, K and I went to dinner with my mom and the cousins to celebrate the season. L stayed home with her dad because we didn't want my mom to catch her cold. M was helping to paint K's canoe paddle that he's been making for one of his classes. It turned out quite nicely using acrylic paint. I think K will varnish it in class.

L met a friend for a manicure/pedicure and dropped a birthday gift off at another friend's place on Sunday morning while M and I picked up some of the heavier groceries for her. We met my cousin and his wife at the grocery store by chance. I just casually asked how their recent multi-family Mexican vacation went, only to hear that it was a disaster. It seems a lot of the kids and some of the adults came down with diarrhea for 4 of the 7 days. They are suspecting the salads because they were all drinking bottled water.

Anyway, on Sunday evening we went to M's sister's place for their Thanksgiving dinner. It was a large gathering of the extended family and friends. There are 2 new babies on the way, so the gathering will only get larger with time. M's sister has installed a fabulous new solarium on her deck at an insanely reasonable price. The savings come when you can do the installation yourself, of course. They'll be able to stay outside for a few extra months.

On Monday, the kids did some homework and L finalized her packing. We realized she is one of those kids that always has a LOT of stuff. The girl we car pooled with had a couple of bags at both ends of her trip. L needs a moving dolly at the best of times to get her stuff into her room! Oh well!

Creative Tuesdays - Art Theme

I kept finding a lot of good ideas for this Creative Tuesdays 'Art' theme, but I just went with the first one:



I was inspired by this Bodum coffee cup flyer that was delivered to my house:

Low Budget Advertising

This was an innovative idea:

Guerrilla marketing campaign, shot with hidden camera

Fast Lane - The Slide

Here's a cute video advertisement for you today.

Dirty Water Vending Machine

Here's a video worth watching called

DIRTY WATER Vending Machine / UNICEF (tap project)

It describes itself as follows:

'What if someone bottled the water that millions in developing countries drink every day and offered it on the streets of New York?

For just a buck, during World Water Week (March 22-29), New Yorkers in the Union Square Park area were able to enjoy the benefits of DIRTY WATER. It was available in a wide variety of choices like MALARIA, CHOLERA or even TYPHOID DIRTY WATER -- and currently has 900 million consumers. Over 4,200 children die of water related diseases every day and millions of people around the world lack access to clean water resources.

New Yorkers were startled to find YELLOW FEVER or HEPATITIS DIRTY WATER bottles. They looked at the vending machine in disgust. Though no one drank Dirty Water,many did donate to the cause. This idea of "selling" dirty water was inspired by UNICEF's promise that every dollar donated would provide safe drinking water to 40 children for a day.

This eye-opening DIRTY WATER initiative from Casanova Pendrill New York, goes beyond collecting funds for UNICEF in a unique active street effort. The goal was to shock the media and the public with this alarming issue.

The campaign is currently active since people can continue donating online at tapproject.org or via text message. Text TAP or AGUA to UNICEF (864233) to make a $5 donation.'

Half Caff

I thought it was interesting that they are now selling 'half caff' coffee, as in 'half the caffeine'! We will probably just stick with decaffeinated.

It's our 22nd wedding anniversary today. We have no special plans except that L is due home today (along with a lot of other university students) for the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend. She's caught a cold.

Yesterday, I noticed they now have a security guard on duty outside the small bank nearby. I asked him if there was a problem inside to which he replied 'No'. I mentioned it to the cashier at the convenience store and we joked that it's no help to him until after 4 pm when he really needs some extra security. What can one do in these times we live in?

Later that night, it was in the local news that there had been a bank robbery there a few days earlier. Unreal.

Rutabaga

You don't have to do anything yourself these days, you can even buy your squash and rutabaga all cut up for you. We are gearing up for the Canadian Thanksgiving Long Weekend. I'm planning to buy a couple of pumpkin pies complete with cans of whipped cream in honour of the season.

K came home with his best interim report card ever. No interviews requested! It seems like Science is his best subject at the moment, who knew? He's doing applied courses this year due to his now formally identified learning disability and our stress level is way down. He also made the school tennis team this year, so it's all good.

We're all looking forward to L coming home this long weekend, especially M and K. She's 'so busy' as ever.

Just Wildflowers

Can you believe these are just wildflowers along a path? I snapped these on my way to Church the other day.

I love this song, I heard it on the radio the other day. I knew it was Bon Jovi, but thank goodness for the radio station playlists. It's called 'What Do You Got'. Come to think of it, I'd love to see him in concert.


News

Too much fish oil may increase cancer risk: Study

Toasted Tomato Sandwich

Guess what I've been having for breakfast lately? I opt for one large slice of very good whole wheat bread and this day I happened to have some sweet cherry tomatoes on hand.

We turned the heat on a few days ago. It was a cold 6C yesterday morning and quite dark at 7am. It does warm up a bit by the afternoon. I had gone for a morning walk and was surprised to see this lady walking while reading a hardcover novel??? That's not safe to say the least.

We watched 'The Amazing Race' on the weekend, it has started up again. That show just gets better every year. They were in Ghana, Africa for this episode. One pair of contestants was a 21 year old daughter who raced with her birth mother. They were unfortunately eliminated this episode. It was touching to see their blossoming relationship. The mom had guilt over the years having given her daughter up for adoption and they were doing this race as a form of bonding.


News

Clipping Groupon's wings

I've joined at least 3 of these online group buying websites. The article above says it's 'The fastest-growing sector in the Internet startup world'

The Perfect Lunch

This is what I enjoyed for lunch the other day: oven roasted chicken breast slices from the deli, potato and egg salad, also from the deli section of the supermarket, carrots, cherry tomatoes, seedless cucumbers, romaine lettuce and some pickled beets. I sprinkled some Kraft raspberry vinaigrette over it, one of my favourite dressings.

I then had a few handfuls of Munchies snack mix and some Cadbury fruit and nut chocolate.

Interesting News of the Day

So I was complimenting my exercise instructor at the gym the other day, I told her she has the body of a twenty year old, really. She's in her early fifties. I was surprised to hear she's gained 20 pounds and her clothes don't fit and she has no idea why. And it's going straight to her hips. Well, it's that mysterious metabolism change during middle age, isn't it? She must certainly be getting enough exercise in her line of work.

Well, my story isn't finished. A lady nearby told us she's not able to do the aerobics class because she simply can't find a bra that is supportive enough. It turns out she's a size G or H cup. This was astonishing to me because I didn't think bra sizes went beyond a D cup! It's no laughing matter because she's a slim woman and this lack of proper support can cause back pain, etc. I suggested surgery as an option, as it's not uncommon, but it's a drastic measure I suppose.

Well that was my interesting news of the day! I hope it wasn't inappropriate.

Life Changes

Well, I had a most enjoyable pizza margherita from Costco warehouse of all places. I think the secret was the combination of mozzarella and bonconcini cheeses. They also used fresh basil leaves. I think sometimes that Costco and Walmart are on track to take over the world, how can the small businesses survive their onslaught of providing just about everything at the least expensive prices. We got 2 large pizzas for $11.99, and there were quite a few popular choices. I don't usually like their pizza crust, but the bonconcini must have masked the flavour.

In other happenings, one of the regular ladies at the gym brought her husband there this week for the first time. Apparently he has been retired for just one week. They have been going on daily walks together. She is trying to get him to eat healthier, lose weight and exercise more. She said he is already starting to feel the difference. It's always interesting when people go through significant life changes.

How old is your brain?

This is a neat game I received in an email. I hope you'll give it a try.

A good exercise

See if your brain is as old as your body ~ or ~ OLDER !! Read the following instructions since the game is in Japanese: Procedure of Flash Fabrica Game: 1. Touch 'start'

2. Wait for 3, 2, 1.

3. Memorize the number's position on the screen, then click the circle from the SMALLEST number to the BIGGEST number.

4. At the end of game, the computer will tell you the age of your brain.

Good luck !!
CLICK ON LINE BELOW

http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain..html