Hard to believe that October is almost over. Sometimes the months just fly by. As October ends, my thoughts and attention shifts to several areas. The first and most important is Remembrance Day. In Canada and many countries throughout the world we pause on November 11th to remember those who came before us, their service and their sacrifice to keep us free during the last century and now Afghanistan.

Starting October 31st Canadians will start seeing boxes of blood red poppies on countertops in stores and sported on lapels of Canadians. The Royal Canadian Legion spearheads this annual drive. It’s primary purpose is to promote awareness. It also raises funds for the care of our veterans and their dependents. Some perceive the poppy as a support or glorification of war. It is actually, the exact opposite, Read the rest of this entry »

This post isn’t about me, it is about two people who are very dear to me. These two people, Scott & Kim, haven’t been in my life for a whole bunch of years but in the short time they have lived in this community, I’ve come to care for them very much.

Kim is the 1st Vice-President at the local Legion Branch, she agreed to take that position when I asked her to become part of the Executive team who would either be the last executive that branch ever had or we’d be the start of a revitalization of a branch on the edge of closure. I had to absolutely guarantee that I would not make her chair a meeting in my absence and that I absolutely would not die and make her become President while she held that position. So far, I’ve not let her down on that. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s Friday of the long weekend which marks the Canadian Thanksgiving, a traditional time to celebrate the end of harvest. A transition of sorts towards the long cold winter that is to come. Somehow it seems so right that the transition is marked in nature by the changing of the trees, to a blaze of fall colours just before they fall off their trees which are preparing for their winter rest.

I’d like to be preparing for my winter rest, I’m not a winter lover. I do have to admit to admiring the cleansing effect of fresh fallen snow on the landscape. As long as I don’t have to drive in it. I’m fortunate in that I do have the freedom to be able to draw the line in the snow and refuse to drive when snow or sleet is falling. The only time I really get caught in it is if I’m away from home when it gets underway. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m really glad that I stole last Sunday for a day for myself, this last week has been a pretty busy one. A good part of the non-work part of the week was getting ready for a roast beef dinner at the Legion on Friday night. What a meal that was, we served 142 people in just less than an hour and then had to cut the sales off as we had almost run out of meat. We were tired but really pleased. Attendance at these meals is always a guessing game.

Yesterday wasn’t such a good day for me. My stomach decided it was as good a time as any to go into spasms. I had to bail from the preparations and serving of our monthly brunch and retreat to my bed. It’s still hurting today but at least I can sit up and get some writing done. In between, I’m doing a bit of cleanup in the house but am really learning how much my stomach muscles are in use in a given day. As long as I can get dishes done and some general tidy around done, I’ll be happy. Read the rest of this entry »