North Dundas Mayor Eric Duncan Announces he is Gay
The announcement was
posted to LinkedIn, though the actual post was in the fashion of a guest blog
post on bronzeandgoldblog.ca.
Thursday, 9 March 2017
Friday, 3 March 2017
Opportunity Knocks - March 3rd, 2017
Opportunity knocks is a regular helping of area opportunities to volunteer time, donate tangible items or otherwise serve to better the communities we live in.
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share my column with friends and colleagues, who has submitted an item for inclusion, or has sent a message to comment on the project. I appreciate the support!
Do you have an opportunity that you'd like to share? Please send it to me at tammy.dcemediaproductions@gmail.com.
~ Tammy
Brockville - The Brockville Y is accepting nominations for its board of directors. Nominations will be accepted until March 31st, 2017. For more info: http://https://lnkd.in/dzMd_XY
Brockville - Kingston The Kingston/1000 Island Crimestoppers seek volunteers to join their 2017 board. Click for more info.
Please contact us at 613-340-0948 or email your resume to Kingston Police agutheinz@kpf.ca or Chairman of the board j.a.oliveira71@gmail.com
Cardinal - The Cardinal Legion seeks volunteers for a variety of tasks, and events. Students welcome! Contact rcl.br105@gmail.com
Prescott - Cardinal - Spencerville - The Food for All Food Bank is seeking Volunteers. Did you know that high school students can volunteer to get their 40 hours of community service required for graduation?
Students may assist in stocking shelves, making posters, assisting with fundraising events, and interacting with the community. We always need volunteers, so come on down and get started today!
Smiths Falls - Town of Smiths Falls seeks volunteer firefighters. More info.
Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry: Victim Services of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry and Akwesasne is seeking volunteers.
Are you looking to gain some hands-on experience in dealing with crisis situations and want to make a difference in the life of someone who has been affected by a crime or a tragedy? Volunteer with us!
Call 613-938-8900 for more info or e-mail info@vsv-sdga.ca
Thought for the day:
Wednesday, 1 March 2017
It's all fun and games til the fish swim out of the tank!
Today would be a bittersweet day, I'd told myself going into Tuesday morning. After all, we'd over done it walking Monday, and had the appointment at the cancer clinic so we were tired - not the best start - but today would have been Dad's birthday. That alone overshadows almost everything.
All things being relatively equal I really didn't have high hopes for a great day, but I wasn't plotting for a bad one either. If the day passed quietly, I'd have been just fine.
Apparently this was not to be the case.
I'd planned to do something special to mark the day, but here we were and I'd still come up empty as to what I wanted to do. I'd thought about planting something in the garden but it's still too darned cold. I'd given consideration to getting another squirrel or two for the garden paying homage to his love of feeding his "little buddies" but I just haven't seen any yet. I am at a loss.
My hubby was barely out the door when the phone started ringing and as I collected my things to get into the box and on with the day I noticed a puddle on the floor. As I muttered to myself about how the darned dog had just been outside and didn't need to pee in the house (yet again) as I went to get the mop, I noticed a small leak on our fish tank dripping onto our hard wood floor. Okay puppy, you get a pass this time..
Seems our prolific gaggle of guppies have been rather rowdy lately and the caulking has let go in a couple of spots. OH whatta mess!! 35 gallons is a lot of water to be puddling out onto the floor.
So so grateful that hubby was able to turn around and come back home. I don't even want to think about how that might have gone.
Turns out our spare tank has a leak after being stored in the garage for a couple of years. Yeah it's been that kinda week (so far).
Oddly enough I heard my Dad's laughter when we were in the thick of it yesterday. I blame/credit him for my warped sense of humor. He'd have been amused by the thought of us chasing the waterfall and bailing fish. He'd likely remind me of the time my sister was bouncing on a chair next to the fish tank and her head went through it. We were walking on towels for days and picking up dead fish all over the rec room. Ah childhood memories.. LOL
I read somewhere the other day that the way we speak to our children becomes their inner voice. I believe it. For years, I've heard my Dad's voice in my head giving me advice, scolding me, telling me what I should be doing.. see? I'm not crazy! Well maybe just a little.. <Grin>
My little sister texted me this morning to wish me Happy Dad's birthday. Though we both agree it doesn't seem so happy without him here. I have to wonder if he knew how much we'd miss him.. warped bits and all. <3
All things being relatively equal I really didn't have high hopes for a great day, but I wasn't plotting for a bad one either. If the day passed quietly, I'd have been just fine.
Apparently this was not to be the case.
I'd planned to do something special to mark the day, but here we were and I'd still come up empty as to what I wanted to do. I'd thought about planting something in the garden but it's still too darned cold. I'd given consideration to getting another squirrel or two for the garden paying homage to his love of feeding his "little buddies" but I just haven't seen any yet. I am at a loss.
My hubby was barely out the door when the phone started ringing and as I collected my things to get into the box and on with the day I noticed a puddle on the floor. As I muttered to myself about how the darned dog had just been outside and didn't need to pee in the house (yet again) as I went to get the mop, I noticed a small leak on our fish tank dripping onto our hard wood floor. Okay puppy, you get a pass this time..
Seems our prolific gaggle of guppies have been rather rowdy lately and the caulking has let go in a couple of spots. OH whatta mess!! 35 gallons is a lot of water to be puddling out onto the floor.
So so grateful that hubby was able to turn around and come back home. I don't even want to think about how that might have gone.
Turns out our spare tank has a leak after being stored in the garage for a couple of years. Yeah it's been that kinda week (so far).
Oddly enough I heard my Dad's laughter when we were in the thick of it yesterday. I blame/credit him for my warped sense of humor. He'd have been amused by the thought of us chasing the waterfall and bailing fish. He'd likely remind me of the time my sister was bouncing on a chair next to the fish tank and her head went through it. We were walking on towels for days and picking up dead fish all over the rec room. Ah childhood memories.. LOL
I read somewhere the other day that the way we speak to our children becomes their inner voice. I believe it. For years, I've heard my Dad's voice in my head giving me advice, scolding me, telling me what I should be doing.. see? I'm not crazy! Well maybe just a little.. <Grin>
My little sister texted me this morning to wish me Happy Dad's birthday. Though we both agree it doesn't seem so happy without him here. I have to wonder if he knew how much we'd miss him.. warped bits and all. <3
Thursday, 23 February 2017
Before you start to judge.. Should you really?
A friend posted this graphic on his Facebook page this morning and it got me thinking. Let us pause on that for a moment..
Its message is pretty clear, and if I might say so -- it was bang-on!
I began to think of many of my interactions over the last several weeks. Comments made to me pertaining to one friend or another that came across as almost a test to see if I'd divulge some other 'secret' I might know. That always makes me laugh - That's never really been my scene.
Having said that, I have to wonder when people got to being so damned judgy. So many that haven't got the foggiest idea of what's going on but fill in the blanks with assumptions and half-baked ideas that couldn't be further from the truth. I know they tell us that it says far more about the person than it does us -- but at the time that's never an easy pill to swallow. I've heard some rather interesting stories about myself over the years. Who I've been with and things I've done.. and I just have to laugh.
A good friend was fond of saying well, as long as they're picking on me they're leaving someone else alone. I always thought that was a good way to look at it. Though I've been known to offer to dig out an old quad-cane on occasion as a mechanism to maintain order and peace.
In the grand scheme of things there are several groups of people in each of our circles. They are those who know little to nothing, those that know a little, and those that know a lot -- in most circles there are very few that know absolutely everything there is to know. That level of trust is pretty rare -- as it should be.
Even with the addition of Facebook and the "TMI" generation, how much do we really know? That too comes in degrees. There are those that post as it is, fully and completely almost down to the minute play by plays and others who only post the sunny side up "stuffs." More still use it for a platform to rant the rant, and rile everybody up. I have heard it said more and more often lately that the biggest smiles hide the largest tears. We cannot assume that what we're seeing is all there is to know.. or even that it's to be accepted as gospel.. that's just not reality.
I'd been talking with a lady a few weeks back and I'd said something about growing up with a single Dad, and the woman was bowled over and beside herself that she'd known me for so many years and I'd never told her. She thought I was ashamed of not having had my mother as a regular force in my life and was quite offended that I hadn't shared this significant detail in my life. Honestly, I hadn't really thought about it. I remember a period in my teens where I'd tell people my mother was dead just to stifle those sorts of questions because it was so much easier to deal with that glance of pity and have them look away (and leave me alone) than deal with all the questions that I had no answers for anyhow.
Some things come up in conversation depending on who you're chatting with. Who I lived with when I was growing up 30 odd years ago just wasn't one of them with this particular person.
Truth be told, who I lived with (or didn't live with) from the ages of 10 - 16 hardly seems to be relavent to me now as a wife, mom (stepmom) and best of all Grandma. I certainly don't dwell on it.
Some things are bigger than others. Up until recently I only wore long pants that covered my leg wraps, and later my leg brace. I had someone see me out walking with my cane that questioned why I needed it. They were flabbergasted when I told them, and especially when I detailed just how I ended up this way. The life of the guinea pig conversations only really come out in detail in certain circles and even then it comes in varying degrees too. All in all, at this point I consider myself pretty lucky to be here and I try not to dwell in that "other stuff." The bad days come and go, and they serve to make those good days feel more awesome. You learn to roll with it, but nobody is obligated to give anyone a play by play - this isn't a show and nobody is selling tickets.
Just a couple of examples but there are many.
Life's like that though isn't it? You can have 10 friends in a room and I would be that every one of them could name one thing about you and there would be someone in that group that wouldn't have known.
Most of us think we know our closest friends and colleagues, but in many cases we've barely scratched the surface. Just a little food for thought.. chew on it :)
Its message is pretty clear, and if I might say so -- it was bang-on!
I began to think of many of my interactions over the last several weeks. Comments made to me pertaining to one friend or another that came across as almost a test to see if I'd divulge some other 'secret' I might know. That always makes me laugh - That's never really been my scene.
Having said that, I have to wonder when people got to being so damned judgy. So many that haven't got the foggiest idea of what's going on but fill in the blanks with assumptions and half-baked ideas that couldn't be further from the truth. I know they tell us that it says far more about the person than it does us -- but at the time that's never an easy pill to swallow. I've heard some rather interesting stories about myself over the years. Who I've been with and things I've done.. and I just have to laugh.
A good friend was fond of saying well, as long as they're picking on me they're leaving someone else alone. I always thought that was a good way to look at it. Though I've been known to offer to dig out an old quad-cane on occasion as a mechanism to maintain order and peace.
In the grand scheme of things there are several groups of people in each of our circles. They are those who know little to nothing, those that know a little, and those that know a lot -- in most circles there are very few that know absolutely everything there is to know. That level of trust is pretty rare -- as it should be.
Even with the addition of Facebook and the "TMI" generation, how much do we really know? That too comes in degrees. There are those that post as it is, fully and completely almost down to the minute play by plays and others who only post the sunny side up "stuffs." More still use it for a platform to rant the rant, and rile everybody up. I have heard it said more and more often lately that the biggest smiles hide the largest tears. We cannot assume that what we're seeing is all there is to know.. or even that it's to be accepted as gospel.. that's just not reality.
I'd been talking with a lady a few weeks back and I'd said something about growing up with a single Dad, and the woman was bowled over and beside herself that she'd known me for so many years and I'd never told her. She thought I was ashamed of not having had my mother as a regular force in my life and was quite offended that I hadn't shared this significant detail in my life. Honestly, I hadn't really thought about it. I remember a period in my teens where I'd tell people my mother was dead just to stifle those sorts of questions because it was so much easier to deal with that glance of pity and have them look away (and leave me alone) than deal with all the questions that I had no answers for anyhow.
Some things come up in conversation depending on who you're chatting with. Who I lived with when I was growing up 30 odd years ago just wasn't one of them with this particular person.
Truth be told, who I lived with (or didn't live with) from the ages of 10 - 16 hardly seems to be relavent to me now as a wife, mom (stepmom) and best of all Grandma. I certainly don't dwell on it.
Some things are bigger than others. Up until recently I only wore long pants that covered my leg wraps, and later my leg brace. I had someone see me out walking with my cane that questioned why I needed it. They were flabbergasted when I told them, and especially when I detailed just how I ended up this way. The life of the guinea pig conversations only really come out in detail in certain circles and even then it comes in varying degrees too. All in all, at this point I consider myself pretty lucky to be here and I try not to dwell in that "other stuff." The bad days come and go, and they serve to make those good days feel more awesome. You learn to roll with it, but nobody is obligated to give anyone a play by play - this isn't a show and nobody is selling tickets.
Just a couple of examples but there are many.
Life's like that though isn't it? You can have 10 friends in a room and I would be that every one of them could name one thing about you and there would be someone in that group that wouldn't have known.
Most of us think we know our closest friends and colleagues, but in many cases we've barely scratched the surface. Just a little food for thought.. chew on it :)
Monday, 23 January 2017
39 - 9 - 20 Milestones to Cherish
This past weekend was full of milestones. Oddly, I went into the weekend thinking about how and what I'd write about it but then the weekend got here and I didn't feel much like wriitng. Ok, you can pick your chins up off the desk now.. (and I bet that some of you can hear me chuckling behind my screen too.)
Saturday January 21st, brought a couple of very significant milestones. 39 years ago my little sister was born. In my mind's eye she's not so "old".. and being 8 years her senior I have to wonder when I too, got old.
In more recent news, this day was also the 9 year anniversary of my gastric bypass.
The more I think about it, the more my head spins.
Going in knowing that if I do it, I might die, but if I don't do it, I will absolutely die. They didn't think I'd see another 5 years. This usually leads me to ruminating on the long list of things I'd have missed had I not been here. I try not to dwell on the year spent in hospital, and the following year spent convalescing and getting back on my feet.
I can hear at least one cheeky friend laughing as he asks if I'm not here would I even know I missed anything? Not surprisingly, it's the warped and sarcastic among us that have kept me going. Those who never looked at me with sadness and pity, but instead encouraged me to take my hospital bed and wheelchair for races down the hall.
Dad was fond of telling me to get off my ass and get home, that my family needed me. He's always add that if I didn't hurry up that James would find another wife to replace me. Dad was always a big fan of using anger as a motivator. I came to tease James that Dad loved him more than me, and I was not living up to my duties as his wife.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the lovelies who kept me going from Nurse Liz and her mobile mcgyver spa, to the nurses and PSW's who became my extended family. So many who made an extra effort to brighten our days. I can only hope that they know what a difference they made.
Even after all this time, I think of the kids and how all of the medzone drama affected them. How differently things might be today had none it happened. I have to believe that we are all stronger for the things we've had to endure. Otherwise, what's the point?
Sunday, January 22nd marked another monumental day in the world of me. 20 years ago on this day I moved to Ontario from Vancouver. I always tell people I traded in my webbed feet for snow shovel at the border.
20 years.. so many things I thought I'd never have, and never do. So many things I was told I wouldn't do, and many more I almost didnt get to do. I never thought I'd leave my family, and friends and I sure as hell didn't think I'd relocate so far from home. I've always said that people might be surprised what someone would do for the love of a good man. Though James has always teased that I loved his children first, and they are the reason I came. Ah but yes darling... YOU are the reason I stayed.
From the birthday wish of a little boy, and then a little girl, an unexpected journey unfolds. Looking back in the rear-view mirror, I see so very many bumps in the road. I sometimes wonder how we got here.
I couldn't have imagined 20 years ago that I'd be where I am today. In many ways parts of it still feel like a dream. I do not take my blessings for granted.
I cannot help but anything but grateful.
Saturday January 21st, brought a couple of very significant milestones. 39 years ago my little sister was born. In my mind's eye she's not so "old".. and being 8 years her senior I have to wonder when I too, got old.
In more recent news, this day was also the 9 year anniversary of my gastric bypass.
The more I think about it, the more my head spins.
Going in knowing that if I do it, I might die, but if I don't do it, I will absolutely die. They didn't think I'd see another 5 years. This usually leads me to ruminating on the long list of things I'd have missed had I not been here. I try not to dwell on the year spent in hospital, and the following year spent convalescing and getting back on my feet.
I can hear at least one cheeky friend laughing as he asks if I'm not here would I even know I missed anything? Not surprisingly, it's the warped and sarcastic among us that have kept me going. Those who never looked at me with sadness and pity, but instead encouraged me to take my hospital bed and wheelchair for races down the hall.
Dad was fond of telling me to get off my ass and get home, that my family needed me. He's always add that if I didn't hurry up that James would find another wife to replace me. Dad was always a big fan of using anger as a motivator. I came to tease James that Dad loved him more than me, and I was not living up to my duties as his wife.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the lovelies who kept me going from Nurse Liz and her mobile mcgyver spa, to the nurses and PSW's who became my extended family. So many who made an extra effort to brighten our days. I can only hope that they know what a difference they made.
Even after all this time, I think of the kids and how all of the medzone drama affected them. How differently things might be today had none it happened. I have to believe that we are all stronger for the things we've had to endure. Otherwise, what's the point?
Sunday, January 22nd marked another monumental day in the world of me. 20 years ago on this day I moved to Ontario from Vancouver. I always tell people I traded in my webbed feet for snow shovel at the border.
20 years.. so many things I thought I'd never have, and never do. So many things I was told I wouldn't do, and many more I almost didnt get to do. I never thought I'd leave my family, and friends and I sure as hell didn't think I'd relocate so far from home. I've always said that people might be surprised what someone would do for the love of a good man. Though James has always teased that I loved his children first, and they are the reason I came. Ah but yes darling... YOU are the reason I stayed.
From the birthday wish of a little boy, and then a little girl, an unexpected journey unfolds. Looking back in the rear-view mirror, I see so very many bumps in the road. I sometimes wonder how we got here.
I couldn't have imagined 20 years ago that I'd be where I am today. In many ways parts of it still feel like a dream. I do not take my blessings for granted.
I cannot help but anything but grateful.
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
On Facebook Memories, and Trips Around the Sun
Tuesday, 3 January 2017
Getting onto the the Happy New Year!
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