Look! It’s the Vultures

Someone I know calls tow truck drivers ‘vultures.’

Somehow, the name sticks.

Earlier this week, I heard the in-the-air traffic reporter talk about an accident on the highway and ended the conversation with: ‘I can’t believe I am going to say this, but we need a tow truck driver here.’

This morning, I came to a standstill as soon as I got on the highway.

Up a head, I noticed a sea of red brake lights. I also noticed a black tow truck driver heading north, drive across the grassy medium and squeeze himself into the southbound lanes. (I would have liked to do the same but I would have gone in the opposite direction.)

Minutes later, a white tow truck driver whipped by us all travelling on the right-hand shoulder, followed closely by a second white tow truck.

When I finally reached the accident, the black tow truck was nowhere in the sight, but the two white ones were protectively wrapping the crashed vehicles.

They may be vultures, but at least I knew why I was stopped at 6:55 a.m.

Blow Your Mind

Christine from Write-Brained had a Wordless Wednesday post on her blog recently that showed someone reading a book titled ‘The Power of Books’, which, literally, blew the reader’s mind.

I found it a disturbing picture but obviously it has stuck in my mind.

I am exhausted this week because I have been rereading Harry Potter. The power of the words laid down by author Jk Rowling has kept me up way past my bedtime each night and stopped me from doing anything other then the necessities when it comes to home upkeep.

The power of books is also obvious when I have recently quoted passages from a book I read when I was a preteen.

I have no idea what this book was called but I believe it had Brooklyn in the title. It was huge, thousands of pages. I have a vague idea what it was about but there was a part in it that I still remember – vividly.

The woman’s child wouldn’t stop breastfeeding so she drew a scary face on her breast and when her five-year-old son lifted up her shirt to help himself, he saw the face, screamed, and ran away. I would imagine that child is still in therapy.

I have cried, laughed out loud, snorted in disbelief and worried with the books I have read.

I believe in the power of books.

Here are a couple books you should read:

On the Beach by Neville Shute
Onyx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland
The Haunting at Cliff House by Karleen Bradford (YA)

I Had a Dream

I Had a Dream
…That I owned an army-issued Hummer and I drove down the middle of the northbound and southbound lanes of the highway rather than sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic all weekend.

I Had a Dream
…That I foolish spend money and bought one of those Transformers logos for the Focus so it looks like it is an Autobot.

I Had a Dream
…That I won the lottery, paid off our debt and went on a vacation to a hot sunny destination with the family.

I Had a Dream
…That the boss gave me tomorrow off just so the babe and I could spend the day sleeping in, going to a library program, playing on the swings and just hanging out for an extra day.

Apple Picking is Fun

For the second time this month, the family and I went apple picking.

We went to a local orchard a couple of weekends ago with a friend and her family and the boys enjoyed the toys the farmers had set up just as much as the experience of getting an apple from the tree. (Or in the case of my son, from the ground.)

I have never been apple picking before. And compared to the back-breaking labour of strawberry picking, apple harvesting is a breeze. We got a couple dozen apples in five minutes.

We went for the second time Sunday and this time picked several dozen Jonamacs (a cross between a Jonathon and a Mac), then spent the next hour playing at the park while enjoying a fresh-free-the-tree apple.

I would recommend apple picking. Not only is a great way to spend time outdoors with your family, the apples are delicious, fresh and cheaper.

Interesting Interviews and Terry Fox

Yesterday I was commenting on how I am not going to be a celebrity groupie.
However, there are a number of people I would love to interview professionally including:

The Royal family.
I would love to chat with any one of them but particularly Queen Elizabeth, princes William and Harry, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew.

The Barenaked Ladies.
I love their music. I think the members are funny, down to earth and intelligent. What I love most about them is it doesn’t appear success has gone to their heads. One of the members lives near my friend in Bloor West Village. That’s the great thing about Canadian celebrities, and perhaps Canadians themselves, you can go about your life without too much of a hassle.

Jean Little
I spent my pre-teen years reading everything this Canadian children’s author wrote. I also have her biography, which shows this writer with her seeing-eye dog.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
This couple just seems interesting. I think I am most curious about what their lives are like outside of Hollywood.

And the worst interview …
I would not want to interview Robin Williams. I think he would be an awful interview, an interesting person, but a terrible interviewee. I would never know if he was serious, and how do you capture that animation in print? I realized I would hate to interview him after watching him talk about the movie Jumanji. Yikes.

And speaking of celebrities, Sunday marks the 30th anniversary of the Terry Fox Run.
Terry Fox, who had his leg amputated above the knee because of bone cancer, became a Canadian household name when he began his Marathon of Hope, a coast-to-coast run beginning in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on April 12, 1980, to raise awareness and money – $1 from every person in the country – for cancer research.
He ran almost a marathon a day in all types of weather on a prosthetic leg stopping in communities across the country.
Terry Fox was forced to stop his journey just outside Thunder Bay, Ont., Sept. 1, 1980, because cancer made its return. He died June 28, 1981.
But while Terry Fox was in hospital, a man got in touch with him to tell Terry he was going to continue Terry’s journey by hosting an annual run in his honour. Terry Fox agreed but said the run shouldn’t have winners or losers and there was no minimum donation people could make.
Today, Terry Fox runs hold the same values, offering community-based events where people ride, walk, wheel or blade to raise money for cancer research.
Now there was a celebrity worth knowing.

Photo from terryfox.org

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (Scream of Joy)

The celebrities – movie, music and sports – have come out to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and so, too, have the fans.

I love movies. I often spend my hour-long commute spending the money I would make if I was a celebrity.

I don’t, however, want to be a celebrity.

Other than my inability to act, make music and play sports, the main reason why I couldn’t be a celebrity is I wouldn’t want to be followed by screaming, shouting, gasping fans, and the photographers who capture my every moment for those same people.

I heard one person tell a radio reporter yesterday the reason he stands on the red carpet or outside a hotel room is so he can catch a glimpse of an actor and make a connection.

Do people really believe this is a connection?

Does meeting one’s eye count for a connection? Say it went further and you had an actor stop and chat with you, hug you for a picture or sign an autograph, is this considered a connection? Will this person remember you among the hundreds he meets each day?

To be truthful, there are a few people I would like to meet.

However, I am not interested in a quick wave and a dashing smile. I would want to sit down with a hot chocolate, a homemade cookie – or six – and get to know you and your family.

I would want to ask questions and see you in action.

I would want a real connection.

Qur’an Burning

There are a couple of things I would like to say to the so-called man of God in Florida, who is going mark the sad anniversary of 9-11 by burning the Qu’ran.

Terry Jones is hosting an International Qu’ran Burning Day on Sept. 11 in remembrance of the victims of the terrorist attacks and in protest of a mosque being built near Ground Zero in New York City, according to new reports.

To Terry Jones:

1. Remember the golden rule of Christianity – treat others as you wish to be treated.
Would you like have an International Day of Bible burning on say the beginning of World War Two or the start of the Rwanda Genocide when ‘good’ Christian folks turned their backs on the atrocities committed by their fellow man?

2. How is burning millions of people’s holy book remembering – and honouring – those whose lives were destroyed by extremists?
Is burning the Qur’an a good way to open dialogue with the Muslims of New York who are building their mosque?

3. Do you really believe most Muslims are different from you?
Do you think people who follow Islam don’t hurt? Worry about job security? Have child-raising guilt?
Perhaps Jones, you need to look beyond one’s religious views and remember Muslims are people, too, going about their lives in the same way. Instead of inciting fear and hate, maybe you can preach acceptance and understanding, you know, the words of the God you believe in.

The powerful editorial cartoon is by Qur’an talented cartoonist Patrick LaMontagne. Listen and think about what it is saying.

A Gross Thing Happened One Morning…

The other morning I noticed a giant spider on our curtains.

Usually I ignore spiders provided they stay away from me. But this one was the size of a quarter and it couldn’t live.

My son and Cosmo, the kitten, were playing nearby so I quickly ran upstairs, grabbed my husband’s shoe in one hand, while still Cheese Whiz toast in the other, and squished it.

Before I could get something to pick up the carcass, Cosmo started to eat it, which promptly made me loose my appetite.

Telling the kitten that was gross, I headed back upstairs to throw my toast out.
Then I heard a voice.

‘Mommee.’

I looked down and there was the babe holding something dark with legs.

I thanked him, took the spider, which I hoped was really dead, and threw it out.
I may not be able to eat Cheese Whiz again.

Happy Friday+Blogs of Note

It’s Friday everyone.

Yah. Happy Friday.

I don’t have much to talk about today so I thought I would chat about others instead.

I didn’t blog much in the month of August because I was vacationing, then I was sick, then I had a few days off prior to my cousin’s wedding last weekend.

While I missed writing and reading everyone’s comments about my writing, I also missed reading the blogs I follow.

I am now following quite a few blogs. And while I have come to realize blogging etiquette suggests if someone follows you, you need to follow back, I don’t agree.

It makes me happy when someone follows me, however, I will only follow back if I enjoy your blog and plan to read it on a consistent basis.

So while I try to read all the blogs I follow on a daily basis, when it’s time to play catchup, the following list, in no particular order, are the ones I will read past postings as well.

Check them out:

http://mz-cellaneous.blogspot.com
This blogger is fantastic. She loves chickens and long-horned cows. She is an amazing photographer who takes unique engagement shots. I never tire of her blog.


http://lady-mama.blogspot.com/
This blogger took a break and now is back. I missed her while she was gone. I like her writing and what she writes about.


http://me-myself-and-pie.blogspot.com/2010/08
This blogger says she wasn't a cook but boy, everything looks fantastic. And she takes great food photos, which is a real skill.


http://octoberfarm.blogspot.com
This blogger has a Halloween countdown on her blog. She collects witch items, she is a fantastic cook and photographer and I never tire of reading her blog.

http://rainforestmommy.blogspot.com
This blogger is a longtime friend, but I love this blog because I learn so much about her interesting life in the jungle.

http://thekatherinewheel.blogspot.com
I never tire of this woman's posts. She is a fantastic writer who easily gets her thoughts across. I also like that she appreciates her family and being together.

Thursday Catchup

From He to It
Cosmo is now an It.

The kitten, who turns five months old in September, was fixed and returned home staggering but seemingly happy to be here.

My stepdaughter showed me a YouTube video about a cat that had obviously underwent its own surgery. The video was of the cat trying to get rid of the effects of anesthetic. My stepdaughter was killing herself laughing.

I suppose we could have shot our own video of Cosmo post-surgery, but I didn’t find it funny. I felt sorry for the guy who kept trying to jump but falling back down, who walked like he had too much to drink and who spent a lot of time not being able to do what he wanted to do.

The next day, the effects wore off and he was back to his old self, albeit a little calmer.

Wedding Day
We went to my cousin’s wedding in Gatineau, Quebec, on the weekend. I do confess I was completely stressed out about the drive and leaving poor Cosmo by himself after surgery.

I shouldn’t have worried.

My guy was fantastic in the car. We made two stops on the way there, both more than a hour long, and three stops on the way back. He laughed and played, read his books, coloured, played with stickers and chatted.

He had a complete meltdown as we were turning on our street. He screamed and cried and hit and refused to get out of the car.

I can’t say I blame him. If I wasn’t more than 30 years older than my guy, I would have behaved the same way.

Cosmo was also fine. My neighbour came in at least twice a day and spent at least a half a hour each time cuddling and playing with the kitten.

I think Cosmo was sorry we didn’t stay away longer.

Off to College
My stepdaughter is off to college this weekend. She is moving into residence.

I am excited for her. College, and residence living, was such a wonderful time in my own life that I am happy she has finally reached this new chapter in her’s.

I remember my mom telling me she remembered lying in bed after dropping me off at residence and realizing how many things she forgot to tell me.

I have my own list for A., which includes how to spot a cult, content insurance and the need to get enough iron in her diet.

Last Weekend of Summer
It’s Labour Day this weekend, which means the end of summer vacation for school kids and the unofficial end to summer for everyone else.

I have been reading many blogs by women who have talked about the end of summer for a couple of weeks now. Why are kids going to school in August? Does that mean they are out earlier in June or do they have longer breaks during the school year. Answers?

Weekend Weather
Sadly, this weekend’s weather is suppose to be cool and rainy. Rain likely can be blamed on Hurricane Earl. The cold? I am not sure whom we can blame but I am not happy about it.