2008 is a LEAP YEAR

Leap Year Traditions

Leap Year has been the traditional time that women can propose marriage. In many of today's cultures, it is okay for a woman to propose marriage to a man. Society doesn't look down on such women. However, that hasn't always been the case. When the rules of courtship were stricter, women were only allowed to pop the question on one day every four years. That day was February 29th.

St. Bridget's Complaint
It is believed this tradition was started in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose. According to legend, St. Patrick said the yearning females could propose on this one day in February during the leap year.

February 29th in English Law
According to English law, February 29th was ignored and had no legal status. Folks assumed that traditions would also have no status on that day. It was also reasoned that since the leap year day existed to fix a problem in the calendar, it could also be used to fix an old and unjust custom that only let men propose marriage.

Scotland Tradition
The first documentation of this practice dates back to 1288, when Scotland passed a law that allowed women to propose marriage to the man of their choice in that year. They also made it law that any man who declined a proposal in a leap year must pay a fine. The fine could range from a kiss to payment for a silk dress or a pair of gloves.

Greek Superstition
There is a Greek superstition that claims couples have bad luck if they marry during a leap year. Apparently one in five engaged couples in Greece will avoid planning their wedding during a leap year

Sadie Hawkins Day
In the United States, some people have referred to this date as Sadie Hawkins Day with women being given the right to run after unmarried men to propose.
Sadie Hawkins was a female character in the Al Capp cartoon strip Li'l Abner. Many communities prefer to celebrate Sadie Hawkins Day in November which is when Al Capp first mentioned Sadie Hawkins Day.

In Canada

I remember the fun of this day. Growning up in my day and age, the rule was that a boy had to ask the girl out and if she never got asked out, she was known as a "wallflower". The schools that I attended always held a dance on this day and the boys were never allowed to say no. I knew many a popular boy that hid on this day! We even dressed up like "hillbillies" to go to this dance. All knew it was meant to be just good fun.

I don't know if the schools still carry this tradition or not?

I know that no guy has to fear anything from me...I happen to be much older and wiser[?] to make that foolish mistake....

As for 'Lil Abner running away from Daisy Mae...?

HAVE A HAPPY SADIE HAWKINS DAY...for those of you who celebrate Feb. 29th

A SAD, SAD DAY!

Today is "Button's Day" for us here...no work will be done for the shop... in remembrance of the ending of her work day!

Sadly this marks the 4th anniversary of my sister's untimely death!

Four long years of wishing her to be still in our lives!

The pain of her passing hasn't eased one bit!

This morning I was awaken at 4:44 with ringing in my ears and tears in my eyes?

4:44 in the mystic world, is supposed to mean that an angel just got their wings or is trying to contact you!

I hope that my angel has hers already and just wanted to let me know that she's still here with me?

Like I said it's already a SAD, SAD day....

OOPS

I must tell you of my error in reporting a story of my brothers impending trip.

Remember those little games that one played, where someone whispers in your ear, a story, then you have to repeat what you heard to another person? The story that comes back to you is totally different? Well, it seems thats what happened to me! I should have re-reported this earlier but my involvement with our play had become more than I figured and somehow I forgot [old age thing]?

Anyways I reported that my brother was flying off to a scary place and my worries about it? It seems that my sister and I were playing that "story" game! He finally read my account and had to e-mail me the truth. These are his words from part of his e-mail:

"To ease your mind a little, I'm going to Chandigarh, India, not Kandahar, Afganistan. I couldn't run my fat ass quick enough to stay out of trouble in that country. I was scheduled to leave for Chandigarh (it's approx. 200 km NNW of New Delhi and about 300 km from the Pakistani border) today. Some problems have occurred in Chandigarh, and we are on hold. I don't know for how long. As you can see the only danger I will be in, is that I will be close to the Pakistani border.
As to what I'm teaching, well that is not the right phrasing. I'm a welding instructor, preparing foreign workers to weld and write the Equivalency Test set down by the Province of Alberta and the Country wide Red Seal Program. These foreign welders are already qualified welders (tradesmen). So, I'm not a teacher, just an instructor whose task it is to make sure all those coming to Canada are close to the standards set by the Red Seal Programs and should be able to pass their tests when they get here.
I have lots of work in the Ft. McMurray area (leaving Thursday afternoon for 3 days) and if the India trip does not get the go ahead soon, I'll probably be off to the Ukraine, sometime in the middle of March. I'll be gone approx. 34 days. I hope this clears up what I will be doing. You couldn't pay me enough to go to where they're sending our military."

Lets say...I have never been so thankful of being wrong! I haven't heard anything since but I always think that's a good thing as "no news is good news"!

My brother was touched that strangers would care enough to worry for him and I must thank those who did comment.

He also reminded me of the story "Why I don't like Monkeys".

In my zoo story, I told about the bear but forgot about the monkeys that we would feed!

These monkeys could quite entertaining and would stick their hands through their cage begging for the food we would bring them. Well there was this one monkey that had a real nasty habit. Once you gave him his food and you didn't have any more he would coax you closer and then pee on you! It was even worse if you didn't bring him food at all! He was one nasty character! I shouldn't blame all monkeys for his misdeeds but they all had nasty habits. I guess to me, the only cute ones... are stuffed!

Hopefully I can find some time to report a little more often but like I said...I'm busy making props and stuff for the play!

TO US

Today I am 57 and my grandson is 9. We also celebrate this day with the "Traveling Dude"...My exes brother. I won't say how old he is because that's his business!

I met with the kids yesterday to give JD his present just in case I didn't get to his place to visit today. So have a happy birthday JD! I couldn't find anything on his heros...the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"...but maybe this will do!For me I'm happy to see another birthday come...I don't dread my age like some do! I'm happy just to be still alive!

My son woke me up this morning [7:30 am...6:30 his time] to wish me a happy birthday and was amazed that I had slept in! He figured that I would be at work already...he knows that I seldom take time off. He has to work today but doesn't mind as it is a holiday and will be paid extra. "Traveling Dude" contacted me also and we wished each other well....he reminded me that everyday to him is a holiday [he's retired]! I wish!

Not only is this day our birthday... it's also a holiday called "Family Day". This is a winter-break holiday and everyone gets the day off from work and school. Granted the kids here have the whole week off from school. I think the teachers do this just to show parents how great they are because they put up with other peoples children [monsters] for 10 months out of the year. Personally I think they all deserve medals for doing this kind of work!

I've been suffering with headaches lately [mostly because of the painting of props] and missed last nights play practice. Although I still did spend time working on the props while I was supposed to have been resting. I've been designing and making set props for our play for three weeks straight now! With having to do the stage managers job as well...it's beginning to tell on me. This set has been one of the hardest I've had to do in a long time and I'm still running the changes in my mind..there are some change-ups that still have to be worked out. I know I don't have to do all of this myself but I'd rather do it myself, than take the time to explain to someone else of my crazy ideas...this way they get to see the final idea instead. Explaining takes longer than doing? So I guess I better keep the whining to myself!

Anyways....the sun is shining right now [a rarity in it's self] and I think I'll take a stroll to work where I will be immersed in stage managing duties...

Hopefully I'll have time for a nap later and then, maybe, I might make play practice tonight...?

TODAY IS FLAG DAY IN CANADA


If you knew that [without the help of your calendar] then you were smarter than me!


Here's some info for me and those who were not aware of these facts taken from the Wikapedia Library:

Flag Day in Canada is celebrated on February 15, commemorating the inauguration of the national flag of Canada by Governor General Georges Vanier on that date in 1965. The day is marked by flying the flag, occasional public ceremonies (especially in 2005, its 40th anniversary), and educational programs in schools.
The banner replaced the Canadian Red Ensign, which had been in use, if not officially, in one form or another since 1868. The new flag was proclaimed by Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, on January 28, 1965, and first flew on Parliament Hill on February 15 of the same year.
Flag Day was instituted in 1996 by an Order-in-Council from Governor General Roméo LeBlanc, on the advice of his Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien, and is officially called National Flag of Canada Day. Outside of the federal government, however, this title is little used. The official name could be interpreted as suggesting there is a national flag for Canada Day. The somewhat awkward official name, with insertion of the qualifying words "of Canada," likely stems from the problem of using the word nation or national in Canada, where it is invoked by various groups such as aboriginal peoples, called First Nations, and by the province of Quebec, which is sometimes referred to as a nation (e.g., National Assembly of Quebec). At the official level, it was decided National Flag Day would not be acceptable. Despite this, National Flag Day, and especially Flag Day, are commonly used.
At the very first Flag Day ceremony in Hull, Quebec, Chrétien's speech was drowned out by a group of demonstrators upset by proposed cuts in the unemployment insurance legislation. Chrétien left the stage and while walking through the crowd he encountered Bill Clennett, one of the demonstrators who was shouting "Chrétien, au chômage" ("make Chrétien unemployed"). Chrétien grabbed Clennett by the neck and pushed him aside. Chrétien was criticized for this incident, which came to be dubbed the Shawinigan Handshake, after Chrétien's town of birth Shawinigan, Quebec.
Numerous Canadians feel that Flag Day should be declared a national statutory holiday, as there is a long period early in the year (between New Year's Day and Good Friday) without any holidays, except in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario (see Family Day). That suggestion grew louder as the flag celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2005. On Flag Day in 2007, New Democratic Party Member of Parliament Peggy Nash introduced a private member's bill to make Flag Day a national statutory holiday. Nash said her bill would have made Flag Day a federal holiday and it would have been up to the provinces to decide if they also wanted the statutory holiday.

So now you know what I know!

I have put my flag in the window and almost wore my crazy flag hat...?

Blogging has made me become much smarter....?

Hope Cupid doesn't mess things up for you?

And to all my friends and family
Have a very happy day....from my heart to yours...

UP, UP AND AWAY...

Today my oldest brother, Tank, flies away to Kandahar!

My sister explained it to me that it wasn't the same one as the one that's in conflict with the USA? Not knowing my geography [cause I missed that day in school], I looked it up on the net.

I found out that there is only one Kandahar!

Reading the news this morning on the net, the lastest was about the release of the guys who financed the hijackers of a plane to Kandahar!

It's one thing to worry about a person, one knows, taking their chances in flying anywhere [one of my fears]

...but to a country that's known to be having conflict problems...is another!

Another thing that doesn't bode to well...he's going there to teach! He'll be there to teach foreign teachers how to teach welding?

Don't hijackers just love holding teachers for ransome!

I'm happy that he's finally doing something that he loves to do but hopefully it won't be at a dangerous price!

Will be keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well!

HAVE A SAFE TRIP TANK!

BEAR NIGHTMARES!

Last night I had my reoccurring dream about "The Bear"! I'm always trying to get away but my feet are like I'm running in mud! All I can feel is this bears hot breath on my neck and the doomed feeling that I won't get away! I always wake in a cold sweat.

WARNING...maybe too graphic for some...continue at your own risk!

This stems from an incident from my childhood...one that my sister Buttons and I shared. I was either 7 or 8 yrs old at the time and she was 6 or 7?

We used to live next door to Edmonchuk's first zoo. It was located about a half a mile from our house and it was a park/zoo that boasted one of the city's first pool [where we swam competitively].

Way back then parents weren't afraid for their children [or at least mine weren't] if they went that far away, by themselves, to play in the park.

This park was also home to many wild[?] animals and was called the Borden Park Zoo, which by way opened in 1909. The Zoo was part of the Exhibition grounds. This Exhibition used to have a permanent Carousel [now permanently located at Fort Edmonton Park] and Roller Coaster. We had fun as kids playing on these attractions on their off seasons. If our parents only knew how close we came sometimes in killing ourselves, they would have locked us in our rooms!

Anyways back to the bear story...

Buttons and I liked saving crusts of bread, food scraps, etc to feed the birds and animals there. These animals got to know who we were and I remember the joy of being able to feed them. The zoo caretakers got used to seeing us there also and never worried about us...because we were always careful and never mean to the animals.

The zoo was in the process of closing down [official date was 1954] and the animals were slowly being relocated to the new zoo far away. It took many years to accomplish this. With it being partially closed there weren't too many visitors as before so the security wasn't that great.

One of our favorite attractions was the bear...
To us this guy was really cute and just loved the scraps that we used to bring him. He was our "live" Teddy Bear! We even called him Teddy and thought he would be a nice pet! He would even let us rub his nose through the mesh fence, licking our fingers. When I think about it now we were very foolish thinking this bear could be tame enough to be considered a pet!

The only sad thing was that some of the kids and some adults used to tease Teddy a lot. They would bang on the fence, poke sticks at him and generally make his life hell.

Way back then the animal enclosures weren't as safe as they are now and contact with Teddy was pretty easy. His enclosure consisted of a fence and a mound of dirt that was his sleeping den or a place to get out of the weather. This mound of dirt wasn't very well protected and it's fence wasn't very high. The mound was constructed in such a way that the bear wasn't able to climb it to get out so everyone felt safe?

Trouble was the fence wasn't high enough to keep others from getting in and torment him by throwing stuff down on him.

One day Buttons and I had collected enough scraps that we decided to go and visit our animal friends. We could hear the screams as we got closer to the bear enclosure! There were hysterical people all around, wailing and crying. Above this turmoil you could hear Teddy roaring! Wiggling and squirming, Buttons and I managed to worm our way to the fence to see what was going on!

I'll never forget that sight as long as I live!

There was our "cute" bear throwing his head back and forth sideways, roaring in rage, with what looked like a red doll in his mouth. It was like watching a dog tear apart one of it's toys! All I remember most about the scene was how red it was and how the "doll's" legs swung wildly around! It was like watching a gore scene from a movie...stuff was flying everywhere!

Somehow a young girl had climbed the fence and had fallen into the bears enclosure! Teddy had immediately attacked her and was busy tearing her apart! I guess all of his rage at being tormented all those years was too much for him and he was now taking his revenge!

The bear handlers where trying to get him to let go of the poor girl and were jabbing him with their long sticks...to no avail. He wasn't about to let her go! Finally a shot rang out and he fell to the ground! Only he didn't die right away! It took a few more shots to kill him!

Only it was too late for the little girl!

It was a nightmare scene... too much for two young girls to take in! Both Buttons and I walked home hugging each other and crying hysterically! Forever to have our thoughts changed about bears! "Teddy" was now to be our nightmare!

Our mom was livid when she found out what had happened! We never went back to the zoo! In fact I think they moved it out faster after that! The new zoo opened in 1959 and I believe it took quite a few years before it ever hosted bears again.

We both had nightmares about it for years. I still do!

Through the years this event really affected me and has forever changed the thoughts I have about "Teddy Bears".

This toy misleads children into thinking all bears are cute and cuddly creatures! Their killer instinct is down-played too much! I know now that "Teddy" wasn't solely to blame and that all bears should not carry his misdeed. Wild animals were meant to be free...after all "it is the nature of the beast". I just think it's dangerous to lead children astray knowing the beasts true nature!

Today...if I know that there are bears in the area...I return home. I have been driven out of my favorite camping area because the bears that live in that area started getting too close for my comfort!

It was even scary hearing that there used to be "Prairie" Bears in this area! Thankfully they don't exist anymore!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR?

Today the chinese celebrate their new year and this year is supposed to be the year of the Rat?

I checked up on their sites and found out that I was born in the year of the Rabbit?

This is what they describe me as...

Advantages of Rabbit people:

Affectionate, clever, gifted, ambitious, smooth talkers, talented, obliging, always pleasant, respected and trusted by others, tranquil, avoids big risks, keeps a promise, likes a contract.

Disadvantages of Rabbit people:

Too sentimental, easily superficial, melancholic, many emotional involvements, too cautious, conservative, some detached family attitude, weeping or weeping with joy for no reason, uninformed sometimes, ignoring knowledge at times.

This is what they say I have in store for me this year...

Rabbit people in the Rat year (2/7/2008-1/25/2009):

-This is not a very lucky year for health, business and job.

-Don't work too hard.

-You may get some money then lose it later.

-Good luck rate among 12 animals: #9

To quote Wilma.....my life this year is going to be..."CRAP ON A CRACKER"!

How does one keep up their head after a forecast like that?

ONE OF THE PLACES I WOULD VISIT....

NEW ORLEANS for the Mardi Gras which happens to start today!

Forget the religious aspect of the event! I want be there to witness all of the craziness [which appeals to me], the costumes and their big parade! This has been on the list of things I would like to do before I am unable to do so!

I can't see this happening in my future but I can still dream!

On another note...

This year the grad theme is "Mardi Gras" and they have asked me to help decorate for it. The big "S" on my forehead insured them that I would say yes...

Seeing as I was labled one time as being "tacky"[?] it shouldn't be too hard for me to think along the Mardi Gras theme. Thankfully grad isn't until June so I have a long time to come up with something? The grad committee did suggest pillars with a huge mask for the entrance and 19 lamps with streets & avenues named after the kids...other than that I have to come up with how to make them than doesn't cost anything?

It's just one more thing to shove into my brain so it can help to keep me awake at night....

100 FACTS ABOUT ME!

I have decided to bore you with 100 facts about me...with a difference? Some of mine are going to be weird ones as they happen to out numbered the normal [what is normal by the way?]. These will be in no particular order as my mind jumps around a lot. Some facts have already been recorded on my previous blogs so they have been included for the new [?] fan club...

1. I was born in Edmonchuk, Alberta Feb. 18, 1951...which means I will be 57 this year [for those of you who need a calculator]. Since the death of my younger sister I count every day as a plus!

2. My dad married 4 times. So I have/had, 2 half brothers [1 deceased] & 2 half sisters [ 1 deceased], 3 sisters [2 deceased], 3 brothers and 1 adopted sister...counting me = 12 altogether. I was the 3rd youngest...am now the 2nd.

3. My 2 sisters, 3 brothers and me, swam competitively for 4 years! Which meant getting up at 6:00 am, do a 3 mile run and then swim for one and half hrs [sometimes with street clothes] then walk to school 1/2 mile away. With NO breakfast!

4. My mother was first married to my dad's younger brother, whom she divorced in order to marry my dad?

5. My mother died when she was 38 yrs old...I was 10.

6. I dreamt of my mother's death the night before she died. That was the first [that I remember] ESP experience of many since then.

7. My father died in 1972 at the age of 72.

8. I have the same first name as one of my deceased half sisters! I never knew this growing up and finally learned of it 4 yrs ago. All of my life I have always hated that name! I dropped the use of this name 31 yrs ago and I'm now known by my middle name.

9. There was 18 months between my younger sister and me and we were brought up as twins...some relatives couldn't tell us apart?

10. My sister had been given a nickname and I felt slighted so she gave us both secret nicknames; hers was Buttons and I was Bones [I've always been a Halloween fanatic].

11. My younger sister "Buttons" was killed [2004] in a farming accident [?] and I still mourn for her! She was born in 1952 and died in her 52nd year!

12. I have been married [eloped] & divorced [no children], then lived with the father of my two children for 26 years before kicking his lazy/cheating ass to the curb. Have now decided not to saddle myself with anyone else!

13. I love being single [see #12]

14. My pride and joy are my 2 children, 2 grand children and my two fur babies [cats].

15. I nearly didn't learn to drive because of a car accident that happened when I was 14...my dad was trying to teach me how to drive and I hit a parked car. I was terrified after that! I finally got my license when I was 21 on the first try.

16. I own a car [that doesn't work...still trying to get rid of it] but prefer to walk everywhere...it's a small town.

17. I drove a school bus for 6 yrs and have declared never to do that again!

18. I own my own sign business [actually the bank does] and work it with my daughter. I've been in business since 1987. I moved it into town in 2002.

19. I've lived in 3 provinces; Alberta, British Columbia and now Saskatchewan...been here the longest and will probably never leave.

20. I've never been a healthy person [allergies & such] in 1994 I became a Type 2 Diabetic [insulin dependent in 2006], I developed heart problems in 2005 and ended up with 3 "stents" in the left side. I also suffer from bronchitis!

21. Managed to get my diploma in 1969 [Commercial Artist] and have been working ever since. Before running my own business I worked as a Draftsperson.

22. I have never had the luxury of having someone support me since I was 16 [including my parents]. Time off while having kids was covered by my maternity leave payments.

23. I've co-owned 4 homes.

24. Halloween is my most favorite holiday of the year.

25. I ran a haunted house [Sask] for three years in my home and then had to move it out. I then ran a haunted courthouse for our town, for 3 years.

26. My daughter and I are into the paranormal. We did 2 paranormal tours in the courthouse for family reunions.

27. We also hosted a paranormal group that wanted to tape the activity in our courthouse. I even managed to stay the night in there but now refuse to do so ever again!

28. I once sculpted the head of a nephew-in-law and 2 hrs later heard that he had died because of head injuries incurred in a motorcycle accident?

29. My shop is haunted! We've experienced some weird unexplainable stuff while working there.

30. I am a true Aquarian! It fits me to a T...I have all of their traits.

31. My favorite color is Purple or a long the purple hue.

32. I enjoy Spring and Fall the most.

33. I hate all bugs except for Ladybugs and Dragonflies

34. I love camping but can only stand it for 3 days...after that the dirt, sunlight & bugs begins to get to me.

35. I used to be a skinny person but the fat genes in my family finally won out after birthing my 2 children. The fat haters like to judge me by my size? Some even say that we smell because we are overweight...like all of us never wash?

36. I hate people who judge people by their skin color and weight!

37. I love to draw and remember doing that since I was able to hold a pencil.

38. I love to sew and used to make a lot of my children's clothing until they were old enough to understand the meaning of designer labels. I was self taught and could out-sew my Home Ec teachers.

39. My step mother taught me how to knit and I taught myself how to crochet. I have also taught myself how to do cruel embroidery.

40. I designed and made all of our Halloween costumes for my brothers and sisters.

41. My adopted sister took dance lessons and I made all of her costumes.

42. Buttons and I were forced to learn how to play the accordion for 2 years. I now HATE accordions! It was cheap back then to learn an instrument and my step-mom loved the sound of that thing! When company came over, they were forced to hear us play...we hated being the performing monkeys!

43. Growing up we were always poor! When we were kids, we used to park cars in our backyard during Edmonchuk's Klondike Days [Exhibition] and the money we made enabled us to attend the Exhibition, purchase our school supplies and 1 outfit for the start of school.

44. In my younger years our backyard [before the Exhibition] was next to the stockyards and it was sort of like living in the country with all of the livestock. I never liked them like Buttons did except for the horses.

45. Buttons and I used to climb the trees, next to the fence that ran around Edmonchuk's Race Track, in order to watch the race horses run.

46. I witnessed the horrify scene of watching race horses burn to death when their stables burned down. I can still remember the sounds of their screams! The ones that were let loose ran around on fire. Sometimes I still have nightmare about it!

47. The park where we used to swim at was also Edmonchuk's first zoo and we got to play there a lot. Our parents never had the fear of strangers that we do now...our supervision was very lax.

48. I hate the sound of the peacocks screaming [during mating season] at night and it's a sound that still sends shivers down my spine.

49. I HATE BEARS! The reason will be explained in another post.

50. In my grade school years I remember we used to have to practice air raid drills which involved hiding under our desks if there ever was a nuclear bomb?

51. I've had my tonsils removed twice.

52. The only bone trauma I've ever had was a cracked tail bone and a hairline fracture of the skull. Other than that, I've never broken a bone.

53. I've dislocated my left elbow.

54. The first car I ever owned was a 1967 Mustang. It's exterior was "Evening Orchid" [a light purple] and the previous owner had it's interior carpet redone, a lime green shag! I had planned on removing the carpet for another but never did...couldn't afford it! I hated trying to vacuum the stones out of it!

55. I volunteer my time on 2 projects right now. I've done 17 productions of Community Theater, working right now on my 18th [only missed one year since it's conception] and the building/planning of our walking trail. I used to be a Kinette but had to quit because I was too old to be of any use?

56. I'm addicted to ice cubes...thankfully my son bought me an ice maker last year for Xmas. I go through 3 large bags full a week...that's just in the winter.

57. I tried smoking [cigarettes] when I was younger but found myself allergic to tobacco.

58. Was addicted to smoking maryjane but now have been free of the habit for 13 months...still have cravings once in awhile! I don't think it's ever going to go away!

59. I own a massive collection of Halloween stuff!

60. I love to build things from scratch...I hate renovations! We are SLOWLY renovation the upper part of my building.

61. My kids, grand kids, fur babies and I, all have blue eyes. My mom had blues eyes and I was the only one who got that trait from her.

62. I love to transform rocks into works of art by painting whatever I see in them.

63. I don't like to paint on canvass!

64. I don't drink alcohol [except for a beer at festival time].

65. I love chocolate! I'm addicted to it! Prefer the dairy over dark...but will eat both!

66. I hate celery and peppers of any color!

67. Prefer vegetables fresh from the garden...I hate forced grown store bought ones.

68. I'm addicted to Clamato Juice. I especially love it in beer!

69. I'm allergic to animals and birds, except for my two cats.

70. I have diabetic feet and this makes my balancing very poor...ladders are a no-no!

71. I dance like no one is watching, singing like no one is listening and will someday love like I've never been hurt!

72. I love doing crossword puzzles.

73. During high school I belonged to the gymnastic team. We were even asked to perform in the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonchuk.

74. I am of a mixed heritage. We have traced my dad's side from Middlesex, England to the NWT in Canada where we mixed with the Inuvik and then added the First Nations People to it. My mother's side is mostly English, Irish and some German. So I classify myself as a "Heinz 75".

75. I have lived all my life with racial prejudism...especially hate those who look down on us "drunk Indians"!

76. I do not ever remember seeing my grand parents on my Dad's side of the family. This includes any photos?

77. I have some phobias. I hate to fly, being on what I call "dark water" [lakes & such] and I have a fear of heights.

78. I taught myself how to use the computer and mostly the program that I use for my business. I can draw and design on it.

79. I don't like to gamble! I do buy lotto tickets once in a while on the chance I might be lucky?

80. I own a lot of tools and love to receive them as presents! Still trying to recover from the 50-50 split with the ex over the loss of some of them.

81. I love nature and I recycle as much as I can [being in a small town makes it hard].

82. I dislike religion of any kind and welcome any arguments about it.

83.I'm allergic to scented anything! Perfumes of any kind give me a splitting headache.

84. I hate people who feel they have to be smelled a mile away!

85. I very seldom wear make-up. I only put on the war paint when going somewhere special!

86. I am very addicted to bargain hunting. Last year was the first year that I abstained from hitting every garage sale that I came across! I still love "dumpster diving"! There are some very wastefully people out there and I believe in recycling!

87. I am a "humanitarian" and I feel the world's pain! Especially the down-trodden!

88. I love silence! The constant hum of daily living I find annoying. I do not listen to a radio!

89. I hate the music being played on blogs while I am trying to read them. Especially those who include video clips while their background sound is playing?

90. I LOVE HORROR movies! I HATE GORE movies! The ones that make these movies should separate these differences. Being scared is not the same as being grossed!

91. I love to do Tarot readings...I own my own set of cards. I'm not a fanatic!

92. I collect owls [not live ones] and unusual teapots.

93. I still have the first plates I bought when I moved out of the family home, 40 years ago! I still use them.

94. I'm not a sports fan! I watched my son play hockey when he was younger and hated the violence of it...mostly for him.

95. The only sports I might watch is; swimming, figure skating and equestrian events.

96. I have never skied either on water or land! I used to enjoy tobogganing when I was younger but now prefer to play it safer at my age!

97. I have always wanted to learn Ball Room dancing but lack the partner to do so. Seeing as I prefer to be alone I can't ever see that never happening!

98. I have never seen the sense of whacking at a ball, so golfing, tennis, baseball and badminton are out!

99. I HATE FACE BOOK! I don't care if you have more friends than me!

100. I DO HOLD A GRUDGE WHEN I HAVE BEEN DONE WRONG BY SOMEONE! I'm like an elephant...I NEVER FORGET!

Whew...that was one of the worst things I have ever done! How does one compile all of these facts and not forget some of them?

I'm not about to try 100 more....!

Hope your butt isn't sore [I lied] from sitting here reading this? I hope your a speed reader like I am!

THE END!!!!

GROUNDHOG DAY...EXPLAINED!

The Scientific Way...

As the Earth orbits the sun it follows two motions. One is the spinning motion around the Earth's own axis. This motion causes the days and nights. The other motion along the elliptical orbit takes a year to complete one full rotation around the sun. Seasons are caused by the Earth's axis being inclined at about 23-1/2^o with the orbital plane. As the Earth orbits the sun its axis always points to the same direction.

In December the North Pole is leaning away from the sun and the Northern hemisphere receives less sunlight. The days are short and the sun is low in the sky so the sunlight is spread thinly over the Earth's surface. The sun is lowest in the sky on December 22, the winter solstice. The Northern Hemisphere receives so less sunlight that the Earth continues to get colder for another month. Thus January is colder than December. And the coldest time comes about the end of January. Things just get reverse as we move down to the southern hemisphere across the Equator.

Thus seasons are defined by this gradual shifting movement between the summer solstice and winter solstice. As we move on from winter to summer, or, the other way round, we come across four seasons, distinct especially in the temperate zones. Moving from the winter, in spring it gets warmer, in summer, hot. In autumn it gets cooler, in winter cold. Spring comes earlier down in southern areas than farther in the north. This is just the reverse in the southern hemisphere.

Shadows:
As light emitting from a source gets hit by an opaque object a shadow is created away from the source and on the other side of the object.

Shadows under the sun are created when the sunrays get hit by any opaque object - living or not. As the sun moves on from east to west shadows are created. Thus shadows are the longest when the sun is in the east or, west horizon. At around noon when the sun is perched just overhead, the shadows get reduced to a minimal length.
The movement of shadow in sync with the sun could be applied in making a sundial, the earliest form of clock known to give a near perfect reading.

This shadow movement also changes with the change of season. In winter as the North Pole leans away from the sun light falls a bit slantingly on the objects in the North.
Thus shadows are always a little longer throughout the winter days as against those during the summer. The variation in this shadow movement also helps us to predict the shifting of the seasons.

Now is it really possible to predict if spring is near or far?

Well, on February the sunlight is already bound for summer as the North Pole comes nearer the sun. The length of shadow is thus somewhat shorter, but not remarkably enough. So it is difficult to distinguish between a late January and a late February shadow unless you are a keen regular observer.

Did you understand that?

I definitely missed that science day in school!

Others like to depend on the groundhog and whether he sees his shadow or not. This year he didn't so it's supposed to means that spring is just around the corner? I just hope it means the corner on my street! The way that the "deep freeze" is going here I can't see it being any time soon!

This is the way I learned about it in school...

Kind of cutesy huh....

The way that weather predictions go around here it's more like...
Not sure I care for the tone of this picture...this is for my darker fans!

JUST A PEEK INTO MY WORLD....

It's February 1st and the start of my red world...for Valentines Day that is...

I've had my shop decorated in that theme for 2 weeks already and I do it mostly for my own fun! I also like to think it will remind some of the oilfield guys and other customers, of a day to recognize the love that you have for that special someone[s]!

I leave the poinsettas out to add to the red effect and decorate my Xmas tree with hearts...I like to call it my Valentine Tree. I will keep this tree up and use it through the other special days that I decorate for; St. Patrick's Day, Easter and May Day. I have spread hearts through out the shop and added this year, some cards that kids give to each other at school.

With all of the stores decorated for this theme, I still find it amazing how some can still say..."What, it's Valentine's Day"? They must be blind or have their head shoved up their.....?

REMEMBER YOUR LOVED ONES and special friends....

My haunted tree "Creepy Hollow" gets to decorate the tree. He adds red lights to make it shine!

Hope you all have someone/animal special in your life...if not let me know and I'll send a special valentine out to you....