tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35104892480173674382024-03-05T15:32:07.674-08:00Art Of AnimationAbout Art Of AnimationAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comBlogger1117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-92169400873001993412013-02-05T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:25.668-08:00Back In Time<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With my daughters teenage years upon us I look at her and can’t help but wish I could spare her the hurt that comes from being a teenage girl. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I can’t, she has to be 13 and 14 and so on, she has to get through this awkward and difficult time just like everyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can however do my best to help her along the path. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In light of that I began to think of what I would have liked to have told my teenage self if I somehow got the opportunity to send a letter back in time to my 13 year old self at the beginning of high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the results. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear younger me,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So you are now 13 almost 14 years old having just begun your first year of high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember that girl and so the first thing I’m going to say to you is take that cigarette out of your mouth and wipe that smart-ass tough-chick look off your face, this is the older and wiser you talking here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I KNOW that this is just an act I am after all the one who perfected it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know that you are going through a very hard time in your life right now and that it feels like everything is changing at once and that’s because it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You feel lost and lonely, scared, unsure of yourself and your abilities and desperately unhappy at times.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All I really want to tell you is that it does get better; I promise you that no other period in your life will ever be quite as hard in quite this way again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turns out these years really are the hardest to survive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even becoming a parent was not as scary as what you are living through right now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And yes you have children, a little earlier then intended perhaps but it is the greatest joy in your life and you do have someone to share it with, you are not alone. Actually it’s not too long from now that you will first meet your husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you do you won’t even give him a second thought and you will forget about him entirely as your lives head in different directions. That’s OK he’ll be back.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think now of all the crazy things you will wear and try out over the next few years and all I have to say about that is have fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually you will find what works and what doesn’t but getting there is an absolute blast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also teaches us a lot about ourselves and having to defend your decision to dye your hair green or blue ends up giving us a lot of self-confidence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know I’m not offering you a lot of advice here or even telling you how to avoid the mistakes you eventually make but there is a reason for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know now standing on the other side that you somehow get through these years relatively unscathed (although there was that one very close call that ended up being seated across from a very unhappy RCMP officer)and what I’ve come to realize is that each mistake you will make also ends up teaching you a valuable lesson.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So all that I really want to tell you is that while you won’t always make the best decisions, you will get in trouble, and you will live to regret some of those things everything turns out OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will get through to the other side. All the years of bullying and the pain and hurt and feelings you are dealing with in these difficult years will not last forever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I leave you with this last thought; be happy! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">See you later,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You in about 20 years</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-68538952280332311712013-02-04T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:25.677-08:00Seperate Pieces - 100 word blurb<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="201" data-width="251" height="201" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTAuZpIfDyyuxW6yPurWIR_5LcfMibcUrm7SFl7zMTaih0NW2RLYA" style="height: 201px; width: 251px;" width="251" />Having children is like taking a piece of your heart and allowing it to walk around separate from your own body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their heart is your heart. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is by far both the scariest as well as the most rewarding experience that life can offer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times it presents a challenge while at others it gives you pure bliss and joy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To watch that piece of your heart beating and growing outside of your own body into its own person with its own thoughts, ideas, and path which is separate from the heart that lies within your chest is beyond expression. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></em></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-51105445996866050782013-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:25.768-08:00Fairytales gone bad<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I recently pulled out two old books of classic fairytales that have been stored on my oldest daughter’s bookshelf since she was an infant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These books had originally been mine as a child and although I’m not sure I ever read much of them they have been always been a constant, always standing side by side the image of Hansel and Gretel forever approaching the witch’s cabin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I loved that image brought together with half on each books spine and it somehow ingrained in me a special attachment to these books despite the fact they were rarely read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occasionally I would read my favorites; East of the sun and west of the moon, the Gingerbread man, The shoemaker and the elves, Three Billy goats gruff while the rest remained unread. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not something I would normally bother to mention but something about these fairytales has begun to bother me as I’ve cracked them open to read.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As I’ve delved into these “classics” I’ve realized just how bloody sexist and chauvinistic the vast majority of fairy tales are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course we all know the clichéd idea of the prince saving the princess however some of the phrases found in these original tales gathered into these two books is absolutely appalling.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The favorites we all know and love stem from a tree with some rather black roots. While reading these tales aloud I’ve constantly found myself pausing mid-sentence or even skipping over sentences completely in an attempt to edit on the go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve even given up on a few unable to continue reading in complete disgust. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is just no way to make some of these stories less sexist and demeaning to women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only types of female characters found in these pages are; the haggard old witch or the subservient beautiful (they’re always beautiful) young girl desperate to please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don’t like the notions put forth by these books and am glad that they have remained little more than decoration over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I think rather than reading another story about women who are as dumb as a post, unable to do anything for themselves I would rather have the haggard old witch find and kill off the beautiful maiden leaving the handsome prince to wash his own damn shorts. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-39599548707967950492013-02-01T02:53:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:20:02.122-08:00My Teamates @ Flaregames Studios!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAmf8-El01m1G243HCJ1O5Mcan_7rcu8eGk2MBv2xBgpgqH7mADDWGehM56H4_3RFKPE7YqQFzo4Ir9dY76aALNMgBmgN-BtllINcbMmsvLih3ubiJgI22lE64ctA5poz5TXh9_ApXdwG/s1600/842944_373432712754795_954637534_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAmf8-El01m1G243HCJ1O5Mcan_7rcu8eGk2MBv2xBgpgqH7mADDWGehM56H4_3RFKPE7YqQFzo4Ir9dY76aALNMgBmgN-BtllINcbMmsvLih3ubiJgI22lE64ctA5poz5TXh9_ApXdwG/s320/842944_373432712754795_954637534_o.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadIG3NCnmhKjZI6x9EYWf9r7OJoci-oIxi_pZY4uaCjB9viM5oZz-y9xj9YGr6G349LxnatV1UkWl0mmWEqDC-_r6-1HTs7w3XBDkXJDmOu-pl8XK6WVSOsdd0CM3vovfDYQ6lRVZDWdO/s1600/keenan222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2LEakYKR-o-2QHGwje70JBhwen0S9B6nR3qg0x7GEEn9KOmqtOWsaDX1Cb_bwdCkrbA2OpYsKyKA8Kpc8EXC2HLv5834gfgSl8F54Guai5o89344zu1KzVjFG99oPSr_Ay631cqP1qoe/s1600/timo22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2LEakYKR-o-2QHGwje70JBhwen0S9B6nR3qg0x7GEEn9KOmqtOWsaDX1Cb_bwdCkrbA2OpYsKyKA8Kpc8EXC2HLv5834gfgSl8F54Guai5o89344zu1KzVjFG99oPSr_Ay631cqP1qoe/s320/timo22.jpg" width="233" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmlHHILznkdWSY-aPS0T5HmU5rpJO61E59MBaA3rseI1WXZ9gcOnQwQafvOfESLGwh6v1_TgHHJ9yAtuGZjDkhGllWoTgf0wdjz1iarlu4TObwIom5jhHpXg1FWNeadlw2XWrWXm9lBEf/s1600/uwe22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmlHHILznkdWSY-aPS0T5HmU5rpJO61E59MBaA3rseI1WXZ9gcOnQwQafvOfESLGwh6v1_TgHHJ9yAtuGZjDkhGllWoTgf0wdjz1iarlu4TObwIom5jhHpXg1FWNeadlw2XWrWXm9lBEf/s320/uwe22.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr_S59cgNqHc0TcJJZ35JpAFUd0XHyhSmjp_xz6eyYB7CTDyAKW-4DnXe6sRmBVD090kCdLuc_kLMeQCANOJt1hWvxurD3xNOpdO1UQIzPyQd5dzhpSMAf15hU6WaITojk_DRdhB9y01L/s1600/einav22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr_S59cgNqHc0TcJJZ35JpAFUd0XHyhSmjp_xz6eyYB7CTDyAKW-4DnXe6sRmBVD090kCdLuc_kLMeQCANOJt1hWvxurD3xNOpdO1UQIzPyQd5dzhpSMAf15hU6WaITojk_DRdhB9y01L/s320/einav22.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDNQ480hT5kDmMgXS4wqGvQYJA2r9zlFfaw44F4b8RShAoKZVGmfQPZdKDfWobtx_VwTIxFmCyqv6GRJMwRfObl2cXlQthOsQOfezSwW-N0YCQX6OQcW9WqI03xKtEM34eSKlQU34vShl/s1600/ralf22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDNQ480hT5kDmMgXS4wqGvQYJA2r9zlFfaw44F4b8RShAoKZVGmfQPZdKDfWobtx_VwTIxFmCyqv6GRJMwRfObl2cXlQthOsQOfezSwW-N0YCQX6OQcW9WqI03xKtEM34eSKlQU34vShl/s320/ralf22.jpg" width="233" /></a></div> <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">My teammates @ <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=121891141222523&extragetparams=%7B%22group_id%22%3A0%7D" href="http://www.facebook.com/flaregames?group_id=0">Flaregames</a> =) Literally took me less than minute to draw all of them. </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-24151241045381968322013-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:25.859-08:00Picture Day - Water-proofLast year I bought a new water-proof camera. I had it in my mind that I could get all these amazing shots that I was missing out on if only I had a camera that didn't make me run away from water. So after some looking around and a bit of research I came away with a new camera and high hopes. Instead what I get in reality is photos that usually end up looking like this one:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRv0WwqJ3WPlNygaKLgz4XMk9jsBkAsvill3JoYmMd_RCMS02jrmiC9rrdF5PcrDqZHflE7J2OxPnJz3RxXnuX4HuaiaRKMay4fFmSMJ-tIgIy7ATh21wf3-eCZUwkr7nq1iyazo_UtTK/s1600/P1010180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRv0WwqJ3WPlNygaKLgz4XMk9jsBkAsvill3JoYmMd_RCMS02jrmiC9rrdF5PcrDqZHflE7J2OxPnJz3RxXnuX4HuaiaRKMay4fFmSMJ-tIgIy7ATh21wf3-eCZUwkr7nq1iyazo_UtTK/s320/P1010180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Whee I got bubbles. Artsy some may say but not very memory capturing. I won't deny that I've gotten a few nice pictures from this camera but it's fallen way below my expectations. OK, so actual underwater shots may not always turn out well (and boy do people make funny faces holding their breath) I can get some nice shots in a pool area without panicking my camera is going to get wet. Right?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhicrUEW533GMtw4Oc-C3Eg-vPjmfpgPLsmL2SYuBiwmMuJJaI9n53uoT-8JWE6PHvWMAuSGh3r9jda2n41_VNTy17shjmLcJLINn0VE3NPLz-m1TwK_eWfSlIQEfKyPO51pkgMPlRAi2/s1600/P1010220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhicrUEW533GMtw4Oc-C3Eg-vPjmfpgPLsmL2SYuBiwmMuJJaI9n53uoT-8JWE6PHvWMAuSGh3r9jda2n41_VNTy17shjmLcJLINn0VE3NPLz-m1TwK_eWfSlIQEfKyPO51pkgMPlRAi2/s320/P1010220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Then again maybe not. Problem number two with a water-proof camera, water spots. unless I'm constantly clearing off the lens water droplets tend to make pictures a little...well spotty. Yes these are my toes, don't you love the nail colour? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Long story short I've gotten some nice pictures from this camera in settings I wouldn't dare take a regular camera but until I go somewhere outdoors with great lighting and crystal clear water I think I should give up on actual in water shots. Out of all those I've taken so far this is the best under-water picture I think I've taken so far. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDOA00lPIgAEZJRG8CgYbYIFH8B1tsBwLsrOgdaBS9ZsY3BNluzTADr-UjMpTn1PHbc3Iwk4C3VoCE_GIjJcQuQoBeejHG1ytGiEU1iEku61w53plfgXdbnD7VEk9EQ8uSHKb0rt7Nbn2/s1600/P7190002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDOA00lPIgAEZJRG8CgYbYIFH8B1tsBwLsrOgdaBS9ZsY3BNluzTADr-UjMpTn1PHbc3Iwk4C3VoCE_GIjJcQuQoBeejHG1ytGiEU1iEku61w53plfgXdbnD7VEk9EQ8uSHKb0rt7Nbn2/s320/P7190002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-34398400888430780012013-01-30T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:25.867-08:00In Today's News - Whining<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Winnipeg is either going through an extremely slow news period or else the tendency to focus on the insignificant is just the way things are going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems we have become a society of whiners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smallest complaint is news worthy and somehow it always seems to be someone else’s fault. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What’s brought about this line of thought is two specific news stories broadcast during last night’s evening news hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The first was a number of people complaining about the snow left behind by street cleaning and the fact that they would have to shovel their own walks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hate to point this out but its Manitoba if you weren’t expecting snow you’re an idiot. My driveway is 100 feet long, I get tired of shoveling the snow and the remnants from street clearing and yes I do complain from time to time but it’s really not newsworthy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The second I can no longer remember, what can I say the ole’ memory is slipping….wait I remember. It was complaints about store reward cards and that not all deals on their websites are available in all markets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well different markets have different availability seems like this should be a no-brainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems like something that you may grumble about to a friend in passing but it’s not really newsworthy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To me it just highlights what seems to be an ever growing epidemic, rampant whining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every issue we face seems to be blown out of proportion, annoyances are now considered to be actual issues that someone else needs to step in and fix. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I think this is where it really rubbed me the wrong way that not only did these individuals feel the need to complain in such a big way but that they seemed to expect it as a right that someone else should fix what they perceived as an issue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the issue of snow clearing Manitobans pay enough taxes without more of our tax dollars going to clear snow from peoples walkways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to own a home you need to understand that it comes with certain maintenance requirements and that yes snow shoveling is one of those. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As for loyalty cards market differences are just that market differences not a personal affront and if you disagree with a company’s practices don’t shop there it really is just as simple as that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crying it’s not fair that one person is able to get something you are not is rather on the childish side.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I suppose this post could also be considered whining but hey it’s my blog I can whine if I want to. I think the difference is that I’m also not going to try to get it on the 6 o’clock news. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-1068387064360448682013-01-29T18:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:24:12.012-08:00A gorilla, Gaston, a hippo and Duffy.I think this may be my final post on our December Disney trip - it just seems "old" at this point. <br /><br />This video clip includes some of the animals we saw at Animal Kingdom. It was pretty cool to see an enormous hippo swim underwater (through a window). The gorilla exhibit was also great - one of the gorillas was hanging out directly in front of the glass-enclosed viewing area! <br /><br />When you watch the gorilla video clip, listen for the cast member (CM) saying "...you will have nightmares for the rest of your life!" Some kid went under the rope and climbed up on to the ledge of the window, which was a definite NO-NO. And, despite more than a couple of stern warnings by the CM for the kid's parent(s) to get him out of there, the CM basically warned everyone that if the gorilla gets mad, ALL of us will be sorry and "have nightmares for the rest of our lives". I believe him. The kid's parents finally pulled him away from the window....<br /><br />Also in this video is Gaston, albeit briefly. He surprised us we were having a snack outside of Gaston's Tavern so I wasn't able to get it all on video. He did comment on the fact that Anna was focused on sipping her lemonade though!<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ELLvodbskyk" width="480"></iframe><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-15267056016059605822013-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:25.958-08:00The Longest Walk<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As per my new reading list I am currently making my way through <u>The Lord of the Rings</u> (here-after known as LOTR) which I have begun jokingly referring to as the longest walk ever. It is after all a very long journey, two thousand eight hundred and fifty-one pages in my edition, never mind the multiple appendixes tacked onto the end.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I first began calling it the longest walk ever while part way through <u>The Fellowship of the Ring</u> and I think the moniker is quite apt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first book is in particular a little slow moving and while the pace does pick up sections here and there continue to make me think “just get on with it already”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Although LOTR is separated into three books it is one story not a trilogy and I think this is likely the reason why it does at times seem to be almost endless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really does go on, and on, and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its saving grace however is that while the pages and story may be long it does continue to hold my attention and I am anxious to complete the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It truly is an engaging and wonderful tale of adventure and a well deserved ruler of the fantasy Genre.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have not previously read the story although I have read The Hobbit and do have a dim recollection of attempting to read LOTR in my early teens giving up on it amidst the slower moving sections of the first book. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the recent release of “The Hobbit” and my growing affection for the fantasy genre I felt it was time to give it another shot. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“The Hobbit” is really what prompted my interest in the full series and like many other films which have a written counterpart from which it was adapted I often find the written story to be my medium of choice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoy exploring my own interpretation of a story although it does not dim my interest in seeing another’s interpretation of it as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As I draw ever nearer to the end of this tale even knowing what is to come having seen the film version I’m no less anxious and have come to love the characters within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My favorites by far are Merry and Pippin while my least favorite would be Éowyn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find that Tolkien tends to give readers fairly basic character development leaving much of who each character is to the readers own devices. While I think this works quite well for most I’m unable to get a grasp on Éowyn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest I think it may be a fault with Tolkien’s female characters in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The descriptions of middle-earth are where Tolkien really shines however giving a fantasy land a life that can be imagined easily and brings to mind settings which are well suited for the story and to each of the fellowships journeys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can almost imagine that middle-earth must exist in reality somewhere yet to be found.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All in all I think Tolkien really did create a masterpiece of his genre here and I understand why this story has become so enduring and treasured by so many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a world onto itself that exists in the minds of people across the world, now in my own as well. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am now off to continue the journey to the land of shadow and mount doom with Frodo and Sam. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-43363248774808149942013-01-28T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:25.966-08:00Re-charging Cross-border<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the last week of bitter cold temperatures our family needed a little break and a bit of a warm up so we headed south of the border to a favorite water-park we have visited many times before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The draw of this water park is in the constant ambient temperature of 80 degrees farenheit and the ability to run around in flip flops for a day or two. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s always a fun little trip and a great way to shake of the winter blues and also allows us grab a few items that are unavailable here in Winnipeg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a lot of things we do that makes the experience simple and also allows us to make our weekend trips as enjoyable as possible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While many people consider crossing the Canadian/US border as insignificant it is important to remember that you are leaving your home country and to be respectful of that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So in light of the idea that it isn’t all fun and games, here are a few of my tips for a weekend south of the border both when it’s to visit a destination or to shop.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be prepared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have all of your identification ready, know the answer to the questions you will likely be asked and coming home keep any information that may be needed handy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It keeps everyone happy and the lines moving freely.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be polite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should be polite all of the time but when you are a guest in another country it is doubly important. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two reasons; the first US citizen you meet will be someone with the legal authority to tell you to turn around and go back home, and two you are representing your home and all of the people who live there. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Know the rules. Know what you are and are not allowed to bring in and out of the US as well as what monetary amounts are legally allowed and respect those laws.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4)</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be honest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no sympathy for people who were “surprised” to have to pay duty or been forced to throw out goods. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is your responsibility to know what is and is not allowed but remember that the penalty for those goods would be much higher if you are in any way dishonest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s really quite simple, as with everything a plan, and a few manners can keep everything on track and ensure that everyone has the best experience possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-10257900655283511042013-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.057-08:00On The Lighter Side<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="127" data-width="397" height="127" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTR_KjGRRxC7ne97NKyWdBQsCUFVJ3BI5m4ocrvcf1IclsO4zY3" style="height: 127px; width: 397px;" width="397" /><br /><br /><img height="400" id="il_fi" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/jne/lowres/jnen115l.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /><br /><img height="144" id="il_fi" src="http://beritellingsendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/winter_story_comic.jpg?w=300&h=144" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="300" /><br /><img alt="long winter cartoons, long winter cartoon, long winter picture, long winter pictures, long winter image, long winter images, long winter illustration, long winter illustrations" class="directory_result" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/dcr/lowres/dcrn334l.jpg" title="long winter cartoons, long winter cartoon, long winter picture, long winter pictures, long winter image, long winter images, long winter illustration, long winter illustrations" /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-11785998689568479942013-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.065-08:00Stir-crazy -100 word count<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Day 5….. or is it 6 of the deep freeze…. I’ve forgotten the days……. trapped inside this fortress of coldness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The doors remain unlocked and unguarded….. this jailer holds bitter cold and howling winds against me.... alas these guardians I find are stronger than any hope of mine for escape. </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Woe and despair linger heavily on my heart as I count the days desperate to find my imprisonment has come to an end for my sentence is unknown as is my crime…… to feel the sun once again upon my face….hope fades as the days march on beyond the gates. </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Yes, I'm being overly dramatic here, seems a week without time spent outdoors makes me a little wobbly :) </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-30100399552913390592013-01-23T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.072-08:00Remebering Myself<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I often find myself coming to the end of any given day without having taken much more than a moment or two of time for myself if any at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hours and minutes just seem to slip away it is after all quite easy to get lost in the rush of day to day life. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There is always something that I could be doing, however I’ve realized that I should perhaps question the NEED to do everything as soon as it occurs to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to step back and tell myself that it really doesn’t matter if the laundry is put away this instant or that there really isn’t THAT much dog fur floating around the hardwood. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ok maybe there is that much dog fur floating around but it’s not going anywhere and it can wait. If letting it sit gives me the opportunity to have a candlelight bubble-bath or hell even just enough time to shave my legs I should do that instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t after-all about the sasquatch-esk look my legs tend to develop during the winter when I don’t often bother that matters it is what taking those moments does for my mental well-being. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Having been mostly stuck inside this week thanks to the bitterly cold weather I really became aware of how little I’ve done for myself in a really long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What brought it to my attention is that I don’t sit idle very well and because of how organized I actually am that I‘ve been running out of things to do, even the things that don’t really need doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve been finding myself looking for something to do when instead I should have been relishing that essentially free time and doing something for myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I organized my junk drawer for goodness sake. I mean really it’s A JUNK DRAWER; it really does not need to be organized at all let alone be of more importance than sitting my ass down for ten minutes and doing something like paint my nails. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I finally came to the realization or idea that I should do something for myself when cleaning out the junk drawer as I found a gift card amongst the junk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That gift card is for an hour massage at my favorite spa which I have had since June and still not made the time to redeem. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There’s the point right there, that I haven’t made the time and that it is up to me to make that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how busy I am or how many other things I could be doing making the time for myself shouldn’t be last on the list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will only “find the time” to do for myself if just I take it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-25612693875053104042013-01-22T18:12:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:24:12.020-08:00It Was Electric.Another "must do" from our trip was to see the electric parade which runs down Main Street (only on specified nights). <em>Check.</em> I will say it was well worth staking out a curbside spot two hours before the parade was to begin. Both the parade and the light show on Cinderella's castle parade were simply <u>awesome</u>. Sarah and I have always said that Disney knows how to put on a show!<br /><br />Here's some more clips from our trip. Check it out - it has some cute clips of Allie and Emily holding hands with Tigger! Anna wearing sunglasses is pretty darn cute too!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aAmT0cvCC5o" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-83392899100763697332013-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.164-08:00Sundogs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78D7h3_6vKFVz-DwwsCB-MmOU-tQd8mSZHbzDTpVBpuzp9C05x9amtRecptTPTfLbz-nLmFz55sUE8xjgG7imAlqhCqmpXqHZU15HWOYWxq7QYGaVXxzVECvu-TXWU2779EGqzybXBoDX/s1600/IMG_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_vcsmtr="2" height="424" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78D7h3_6vKFVz-DwwsCB-MmOU-tQd8mSZHbzDTpVBpuzp9C05x9amtRecptTPTfLbz-nLmFz55sUE8xjgG7imAlqhCqmpXqHZU15HWOYWxq7QYGaVXxzVECvu-TXWU2779EGqzybXBoDX/s640/IMG_0435.JPG" width="640" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-36029971328421929342013-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.254-08:00Baby it's cold outside!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Each year Winnipeg gets a deep freeze, some years it lasts a few days, others a few weeks, but it is something you can count on dealing with at some point over the winter months. Usually it hits at the tail end of January or the beginning of February and it is by far the worst part of winter. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While there are other major cities in Canada that are cold, the other prairie cities and to a slightly lesser extent Quebec, Winnipeg does hold the distinction of having the coldest winters. On days like today it’s not hard to see why. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While other cities are basking in temperatures as warm as +2 (St. Johns) most are sitting somewhere in the teens (Edmonton, Charlottetown, Whitehorse even) Winnipeg is currently -30 celsius, with wind chill it feel like -43. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That is actually as cold as it sounds and unless you’ve experienced it first-hand you are not going to be able to grasp quite how that feels.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The downside- </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>With wind chill heading outside today is absolutely numbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exposed skin will develop frost-bite in under 2 minutes and let’s face it no matter how hard you try some skin will show…..and you WILL feel it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Just breathing on a day like today is difficult. Your lungs do NOT want to breathe in air so much colder than your natural body temperature and so particularly the first few moments outside will literally leave you gasping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Getting dressed properly will take a minimum of five minutes, ten if you are under the age of 13 (note that teenagers are even worse and may never actually dress appropriately). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>You will still be cold no matter how many layers you have or how well you are dressed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Eye glasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have two options, either you keep your nose poked out of your scarf and risk frost bite to avoid fogging up or you can pull up the scarf, take off your glasses and walk blind. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>If Manitoba Hydro were to ever have major issues half of Winnipeg is going to freeze to death.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Black ice forms and Winnipeg drivers are already scary enough.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Chapped lips, ha, try chapped everything!</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>IT IS MINUS FREAKING 40!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not great selling points for experiencing these temperatures yourself I know. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here however are the “good” points. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>No mosquitoes, yes this is my first point and trust me it is the big one (as are our mosquitoes in summer). </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>It’s a dry cold and yes a dry cold really does not feel as bad as humid cold. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>It’s warm inside and the desire to share body heat encourages cuddling.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>It makes you appreciate the heat of summer</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ok that’s all I got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A regular winter day has quite a few more good points but to be honest there really is nothing good about the experience of an arctic deep freeze.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m going to go hug one of the radiators now……. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-55009642508499062842013-01-19T09:10:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:24:12.027-08:00One snowflake, three fairies. The girls meet Tink and Periwinkle.This being our third trip to Disney, we had a good idea of what our "must do" and "definitely skip" items were going to be.<br /><br />We knew we were definitely going to check-out the new Fantasyland (Belle's castle, etc.) and we also planned to spend AT LEAST 2 of our 6 days at Magic Kingdom. We would also skip Hollywood Studios this trip (and maybe the next couple of trips as well). We passed on going to Hollywood Studies because, in comparison to the other parks, there are few very attractions for the girls.<br /><br />Another must -do was to see Tinkerbell again since Allie missed seeing Tink last time.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">I cannot believe I am even going to say this</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">but</span>...Tinkerbell has become a fave of mine. I guess I previously just couldn't get passed her high-pitched voice. BUT, after seeing the character in person, seeing the girls' reactions to her, and catching some of Tinkerbell movies/shows, I like her! <br /><br />Here's Allie, Anna and Emily meeting Tinkerbell and Periwinkle:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/63wuqS5D0Z8" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-40017938692438247102013-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.347-08:00Kings<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the forest dotted amongst the plentiful growth of soft black ash </span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Are the oak trees hard and strong.</span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They bound together at the entrance opening up my path </span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And then stand sentinel to guide me home </span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When the path comes to an end.</span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Their arms reach wide guiding </span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Through the rising sun,</span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Or moonlight evening sky.</span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Onward they say when the path has just begun,</span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And homeward when feet grow tired and weary.</span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They always stand the tallest,</span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Proud and straight</span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Determined to be the first each day to reach out for the sun </span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Amongst the ash they stand few and far between </span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Kings amongst their men.</span></em></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-791241001673250642013-01-17T10:53:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:24:12.035-08:00Art of Animation.Having just taken (today) the Audit and Attestation (AUD) section of the CPA exam, I may have a few pockets of time to do a few posts. I hope the results of the AUD section are better than the previous two sections I took!<br /><br />So back to our Disney trip. <br /><br />Both Sarah and I were stressed about flying to Disney this time, given this would be our first time flying with the girls. And, since renting three car seats can be costly, and there would be no guarantee of getting three when we arrived at the airport in Orlando, we decided to take our (new and pricey) car seats with us. <br /><br />Sarah had heard horror stories of car seats getting beat-up bad when checked-in, so we planned to take them on the plane and have the girls sit on them. We had no idea how that would work - how do you get three car seats from our van (which we needed to park at the airport) gate? From the gate on to the plane? Along with the two strollers and carry-on bags? How 'bout getting the car seats (and the six suitcases) from the baggage claim in Orlando to our rental car? Remember, it was me (the one guy) and Sarah, three 5 year-olds, and Sarah's mom.<br /><br />We arrived to the airport well in advance. And our stresses over the car seats were pretty much wiped away by the super-courteous JetBlue agents at the check-in counter. Thank you! They convinced us (mostly Sarah, actually) to check-in the car seats - telling us it would be much less of a hassle. And JetBlue offers a no-fee check-in of car seats. Again, thank you!<br /><br />Here's some clips from our first 24 hours of vacation:<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xQR7v4KuZPw" width="480"></iframe><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-68448887459303913652013-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.439-08:00Concerning Hobbits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://www.tourismwinnipeg.com/uploads/wpg_image/thumb.small.wpg_image_file_42.jpg?t=1316707004" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></div><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">This picture is from the Assiniboinne park conservatory. They often change the displays found amongst the tropical plants and this little hobbit style house that appears from time to time is by far one of my favorites. It's not big enough for real hobbits, if indeed there was such a thing, but it goes well with what I've been talking about this week (my new reading list) and so I couldn't resist sharing having just completed reading The Hobbit.</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-83639292996524094562013-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.530-08:00The Days Are Long<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Long are the days </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>When the sun rarely shines</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>And the wintery wind blows in a blustery gale</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Long are the days</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When outside frost covered windows</em></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Nothing shifts but endless white drifts of snow</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Long are the days</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When nothing can be seen</em></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Creatures hidden from cold and from sight and nothing in bloom</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Long are the days</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>When the cold is felt inside and out </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Warmth only found in moments which are quickly fleeting <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></em></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Long are the days</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When each one is the same </em></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Blending from one to the next without change</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Long are the days</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Until spring</em></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-27083403057673474252013-01-15T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.625-08:00Out Loud (and in silly voices)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reading aloud to children is something I enjoy doing whether it is to my own children or not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to really get into it using multiple voices, big loud booming ones and quiet timid squeaky ones. I use my hands and act out a knock on the door or stomp my feet and encourage the listeners to cheer along with the characters and get as into the story as I do. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As it tends to happen however, as my own children have gotten older I’ve read to them less and less. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my youngest now being an independent and as enthusiastic reader as I am the importance of reading aloud to them seems to have faded. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That was until Harry Potter as over the last year we read the entire series together and I began to really see the value of reading aloud to both of them again. My oldest listened because she was too impatient for me to finish reading them to my youngest before reading them on her own, which she then did anyways.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I’ve noticed since then as I’ve read other stories to my youngest is how my oldest surreptitiously listens to the story I’m telling rather than reading the one in her own book open on her lap. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her eyes seem to lose focus and pages no longer turn.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So seeing as I have set my own goals to read some “better literature” I’ve decided in the next few months to do the same with my girls, reading aloud the classic children’s tales and whether they both admit to listening or not I think it will be well enjoyed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chalotte’s Web – E.B. White</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. The Velveteen Rabbit - Margery Williams</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. The wonderful Wizard of Oz - L. Frank Baum</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. Anne Of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6. James and the Giant Peach - Roald Dahl</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8. Pinocchio - Carlo Collodi</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Wind in The Willows – Kenneth Grahame</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Through the looking-glass – Lewis Carol</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Black Beauty – Anna Wewell</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Tale of Despereaux – Kate DeCamillo</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis – full set</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Black Stallion – Walter Farley</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Neverending Story – Michael Ende</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-68202399684389365672013-01-14T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.718-08:00Exploring The Written Word<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve begun a new project or perhaps I’ve continued an old one depending on which way you look at it. I have been creating a list of books that I would like to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In recent years I seem to lean towards popular fiction reading the latest works of my favorite authors or picking up random best sellers. I haven’t read a piece of classic literature in years and I’ve recently realized that I miss reading those books that challenge my intellect rather than simply my imagination. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s quite the list I’ve created and while I have read many of these books previously it’s been a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first book on my list is in fact one of my favorite reads - Utopia by Thomas Moore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had read it many times over until one day I discovered that my dog-eared and well read paperback copy was missing. I never did find it and with slight astonishment I now realize I first discovered it missing nearly a decade ago. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m a rather voracious reader and I can and do read several books a week fairly regularly and so this is not really a daunting task at all but something I’m looking forward to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is the first 25 I plan on reading.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Utopia – Thomas Moore</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien (Just purchased the box set which is why these are so high on the list)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>The Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkien</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>The Two Towers – J.R.R. Tolkien</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>The Return of the King – J.R.R. Tolkien</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>The Time Machine H.G. Wells</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>The Iliad -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Homer</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>The Odyssey – Homer</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Gulliver’s Travels – Jonathon Swift</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Dracula – Bram Stroker</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>20,000 Leagues under the Sea – Jules Verne</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Frankenstein – Mary Shelley</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Around The World in Eighty Days – Jules Verne</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>The Call of the Wild – Jack London</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Brave new World – Aldous Huxley </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Les Miserable – victor Hugo</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>The Phantom o the Opera – Gaston Leroux</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">20.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – John Le Carre</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">21.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Black Beauty – Anna Sewell</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">22.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Midnight’s children – Salman Rushdie</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">23.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>A Passage to India – E.M. Forster</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">24.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">25.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Lord of the Flies -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>William Golding</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-59064620131945684432013-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.811-08:00The Art of Animation by PES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FQMO6vjmkyI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ran across one of these videos last week and I think they are are a great and imaginative form of art. If you get a kick out of it as much as I did you can find more at <a href="http://www.eatpes.com/">http://www.eatpes.com/</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-48395568438054316062013-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.904-08:00100 word picture prompt<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is the bridge of Sorrow, long ago known as the lover’s bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many eons it was where lovers would meet and so it was quite aptly named.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The name changed however when two lovers who would meet upon this bridge also happened to meet their end upon it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much like Romeo and Juliet their love was forbidden and their families<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> sought</span> to destroy what they had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end they did, lives and love lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the bridge is considered cursed and so lovers visit this place only when their trysts have come to an end, in sorrow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Bridge%2C_Haldon_Belvedere_-_geograph.org.uk_-_687935.jpg"><img alt="File:Bridge, Haldon Belvedere - geograph.org.uk - 687935.jpg" height="600" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Bridge%2C_Haldon_Belvedere_-_geograph.org.uk_-_687935.jpg/450px-Bridge%2C_Haldon_Belvedere_-_geograph.org.uk_-_687935.jpg" width="450" /></a></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510489248017367438.post-66001042248810510742013-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T09:31:26.994-08:00Students and Teachers<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ran across <a href="http://jezebel.com/5973492/groundbreaking-new-research-suggests-that-teachers-sometimes-let-personal-feelings-affect-grades" target="_blank">this study</a> yesterday about teachers and how sometimes they let their personal feelings influence how they treat and grade particular students. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is something that I’ve been thinking about lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While my oldest admittedly struggled a bit during the last school year academically she made leaps and bounds in getting back on track this year. She has however continued to struggle in one subject, science.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Science was once her favorite subject interesting her greatly and instead is now her least favorite because it leaves her feeling frustrated, negative and worrisome. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much of the problem, which my daughter has tried to tell me, is that her science teacher doesn’t like her. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the longest time I dismissed her idea that her teacher doesn’t like her as just an excuse. I have always believed that the marks my children get are their responsibility and I have faith in teachers to always do their job to the best of their abilities without bias. If my child brings home work which is below my expectations of what they are capable of I normally look to them for the reason not the teacher. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have however come to realize through a number of events and issues that in this particular case a lot of the problems she has been having are a direct or indirect result of the fact that, she is right, her teacher does not like her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why, nor does my daughter but I do now believe a negative personal opinion really is at the root of her problems in science. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Teachers deserve a lot of respect and admiration for the job they do and let’s face it even more so for those teachers of students who are in those angst ridden teenage years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always believed that there are better teachers than others and that my children will sometimes respond to one teacher or their teaching style more positively than others. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Knowing that however I’ve always had faith that despite the occasional personality clash that a teacher will always have a student’s best interest at heart and that those personal feeling won’t affect grades either positively or negatively.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps that was naïve and I have come to realize, as this article also points out, that it isn’t always true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teachers are simply human after-all and prone to the same irrational feelings and bias as anyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some teachers do not allow their personal feelings to impact a student’s grades but there are also some that will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09952043188284844600noreply@blogger.com