Think Purple

I've been stressed lately, so I'm trying to "Think Purple".

Our reaction to colour is almost instantaneous and has a profound impact on our lives.

Purple is interesting as it embodies the balance of red (stilmuation) and blue (calm). This dichotomy can cause unrest or uneasiness unless the undertone is clearly defined. I say blue!

Overall, I find purple positively affects me both mentally and physically. It uplifts me, calms my mind and nerves, offers a sense of spirituality and encourages some bizarre creativity.

The language of Purple:

purple prose: an elabrorately written poem or paragraph in liteature. (Like Dale, Val and Anne-Marie)

born to the purple: a person who is born into a noble or royal family. (not like me)

lay it out in lavendar: very cool, relaxed and in control (what I hope to be)

The scent of Purple:

Lavender: The scent of Lavender is said to be stress reducing. It reminds me of those fabulous days I spent living in France. Aromatherapy benefits: Balancing, soothing, gently clarifying, normalizing.

Wisteria: Romance lingers in this mysterious hanging garden. This scent is remarkable. Great for all year, wonderful for Spring, and Summer. Very romantic. Aromatherapy benefits: Romantic, sensual, calming, relaxing, anchoring.

The Food of Purple:

The Grape: I love purple grapes, but my favourite is the North American Concord Grape.

Purple Haze: OK Jimi fans, there is actually a purple haze carrot! Sweet tasting and popular in restaurants.

Aaaah! doing this exercise, has helped me be calm and eliminate some of the stress.

Ouch!

I may be off the computer more than usual this week because I have a "major ouchy".

This morning I felt fine, but when at work I raised my arm and I got a searing pain in my shoulder that felt like a hot knife jabbing into me.

Bang!

After that: restricted movement and searing pain when I moved my arm in certain directions. Yikes, I hate not knowing what happened – but knew it was muscular so after work I ran to a massage therapist who told me that I somehow injured one of my four rotator cuff muscles. She told me that I need rest, do hydra therapy, avoid lifting my arm and stay off the computer as much as possible L because it adds shoulder strain. She even suggested I stay home from work tomorrow (ha! Fat chance of that or totally vacating my computer!). Oh, and no swimming for five days either …. So this week looks a bit gloomy!

I guess bodies are like modern technology – they’re great until they break down!

On This Day, September 23rd

September 23: the 266th day of this year with 99 days remaining. The first day of autumn - Northern Hemisphere and spring - Southern Hemisphere. The beginning of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish new year)


Many events have occured on this day, such as the births of Julio Iglesias, Spanish singer (1943), Bruce Springsteen, American singer (1949), Jason Alexander, American Actor (1959) and the death of Sigmund Freud, Austrian psychiatrist (1939).

However, nine years ago on this day my life changed forever!!!

On September 23, 1997 . . . .

My Ex and I came home to our old house after eating a fabulous Indian meal at our favourite downtown restaurant.

We went to the basement to check on our two cats Nuno and Yngwie ....

...... however, when we arrived there were not only two cats but eight!

My life changed on that day because my two furry companions and feline heros were born.

Happy Birthday to Leo (Leopold Paganini) and Rory (Rorschach Bach)


These two have been wonderful company for me over the past nine years and have helped me thru the difficult times (lost jobs, loves, and money) and shared the good times (including the new adventures and jobs). They've even tolerated my absences when I trek to different countries and continents.



I devote this day to them!

Autumn Splendor

Autumn Splendor

Summer time has gone my friends,
it slowly comes but quickly ends.
It's been replaced by a time called Autumn
when nature changes hues from top to bottom.
Green gives way to red and gold, a lovely vision to behold.
Whirling leaves go blowing by,
carrying smells of pumpkin pie.
The air turns crips, the sky fades grey,
indian corn and bales of hay.
Overcoats and apple cidre
no more evenings without attire.
The harvest moon so orange and round
holidays will soon abound
Chrysanthemum petals start to unfold,
a lovely vision to behold

The photo is taken at one of my most favorite places in the world: Lake MacDonald in the Laurentian Mountains, Quebec

Autumn has always been one of my most favourite times of the year

The Joy of Singing

One of the nicest things about Fall is that I'm singing again in my choir.

To me I think of singing as a discipline and art that opens out a way for my imprisoned splendour to escape. It's a means for finding what is best and brightest, what resonates most beautifully within my soul. When I open myself to the immediacy and joy of singing, especially with with others, I move closer to wholeness, closer to awareness, empowered by a harmony that lacks no love and has no need to find fault. By making music, I feel like I'm expressing what is noblest, deepest, and most worthy in life. I can only hope that those listening or creating the music with me, those experiencing the art, resonate to this beauty and move toward the same wholeness, awareness, and harmony within themselves.

We have our first performance tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to it..

Gunman confirmed dead after Montreal rampage

Sad news from the college I went to. While I haven't set foot at that college in decades, it still gives me the spooks because I was a student there. I hope the injured make full recoveries.

One woman is dead, 19 injured and many more are in emotional shock, after a shooting rampage that terrorized students and staff at Dawson College Wednesday afternoon in Montreal. The gunman who opened fire is also dead "after police intervention".

Television images showed police officers dragging a bloody body out of the main doors of the building, leaving a trail of blood on the street.

Students inside the college told reporters they heard several shots in the building just after lunchtime.

Eyewitnesses say they saw a tall skinny man, wearing a black trench coat and a Mohawk haircut, walk into the cafeteria carrying a large gun. He apparently fired several shots.

Hundreds of students fled the building, and the area was cordoned off. Police officers wearing bulletproof vests kept people away from the college.

This is the fourth incident of a post secondary institution being rampaged by a gunman in Canada. Unfortunately this is a price we pay in a usually tranquil land where people are able to roam free. The actions of a few can make it difficult and harm the lives of others around them. I guess the same can be said for anyone who terrorizes at any level.

Maya Angelou's words of wisedom

This poem was written by Maya Angelou, and oh do I ever feel that her words make sense. Hope you like it as much as I do.


I've learned that:

• No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

• You can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

• Regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

• That making a living is not the same thing as making a life.

• That you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.

• Whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

• That even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

• That everyday you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

• That I still have a lot to learn

• That people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel

Cedar Oasis

Had an amazing week-end at Cedar Oasis, a piece of property that friends have bought to enjoy and keep their Mobile Trailers

This is the Cedar Oasis property looking at some of the trailers with my dear friend Catherine (with her back to us) walking up the path

Standing from the same spot is a view of the famous Party Palace, where shared dinners, drinks and lots of fun are had.

The week-end was somewhat rainy and misty at times. This is the lake next to the property (across and down the road). Much of "the gang" took a walk on Sunday (yup I'm in this shot)

Evenings were lots of fun within the Party Palace. That's me with my dear friend Roben (left) and Kathy (middle)

Here is much of "The Gang". My 'bestest" friends Joe & Catherine are in the foreground. Catherine and I have been friends forever. It was actually on a camping trip where we first met her "hubby Joe".

Another shot within the Party Palace.

While we had no pig on any spit. We sure had a great time. Good friends, food and drinks in a wonderful location - can't ask for much more!