Juggling my Treatments for the Holidays

I can never say all the good things about the staff at the High River Hospital Cancer Clinic. They are just the most wonderful and caring staff it has been my pleasure to meet. Nancy is the receptionist is the supreme coordinator who ensures that the patients get the appointments straightened out, that they see their doctor when advisable, and she will juggle dates to accommodate other appointments. You may say “well that’s her job” but she goes above and beyond.

The nurses are also above and beyond in their kindness and caring. They know their patients’ names, their treatments, their foibles and that is so comforting. They are always ready to lend an ear, enjoy a laugh and socialize even though they are busy. They make you feel like a person rather than a patient and that goes many miles in just making you feel good to attend the clinic. I am so grateful that High River has this facility – and we don’t have to pay for parking!

It’s my disconnect day which is always quick and easy; then we stop off at the bank to drop off eggs for my customers there (again, I have the best bank!) and then I have to manipulate John into taking me for a very long spree at the Dollarama – I need a few (!!) things to keep my Christmas mood going. It’s amazing that however much Christmas stuff you have there is always something new to be added to the collection for the next year’s theme. Men just don’t get it but as he let me have a good frolic the other day I am hopeful he will not be Mr. Grump today!

Chinook weather takes me Outdoors

This week we have enjoyed chinook weather and yesterday I was inspired to create to winter pots for outdoor fun.  I just took things from around the house and built up some glittering little pots, Today I am inspired to create some more fairy garden style pots down by the greenhouse so we can enjoy them when we do our dishes or spy on the Henriettas.

I am a little ahead of the December theme but who says I have to stay inside my manmade box? Tis the season to free flow and bring joy, fun and laughter into your Circle. I am enjoying Marilyn Denis’ show this week where the theme is all about getting ready for the season in a variety of ways. One of the things the experts stress is “set a budget” so you don’t overspend. Something they haven’t talked about too much (although some) is repurposing things you already have in the house to create something different; using rarely used bowls, platters and vases for arrangements and votives are great ideas; just be sure that they are fire resistant (as in don’t use too thin of a glass that may crack if a candle is lit inside it. Insure you put some stones or sand in the bottom is also a good tip so they won’t tip over.

Remember to never leave the room with lit candles, keep them away from children and pets. And be sure your plants are safe from pets; poinsettias can be dangerous for cats (although mine have never tried to eat them, thank heavens).

When working with outdoor decorations, be sure your extension cords are working and running along the side of the house so no one trips. They should also be somewhat sheltered due to all the high winds we get in this part of the country.  I am planning on working with a lot of dead branchs, spray painting them and putting unbreakable ornaments on them. Not sure if duct tape will be involved to keep them on the branch!

Energy levels are up this week!

One New Thing

My November blogs have been a little mundane and predictable so I am preparing to go up a few notches in December with the theme of One New Thing. The plan is for me to try something new, or create something new every day in December. Some ideas that I have already thought about include


 

·         learning a new poem (as in memorizing – which will be a challenge as I have never been very good at poetry memory) 

·          a new painting

·         New cards

·         Scrapbooking albums

·         New photos

·         Cleaning up the chicken house

·         New online lectures

·         Learning about hashtags

·         Learning about Instagram (and setting up an account, maybe)

·         Sewing some crafts
 

Not everything is new learning but it is taking what I know and keeping myself artistic and busy but in a meaningful way. New meditations, research projects and writing beyond the blog will also be on the books. Some days are going to be busier than others and I already foresee driving my mother nuts as I go around quoting Emily Dickinson (my favorite poet).  With her increasing deafness it is going to be a fun to see her going out of control. Yep, I do have a diabolical sense of humour!

I think in January I will continue my second blog “The ABCs of Canadian Politics” since both Alberta and Canada will be revving up election campaigns.

And something you should be aware of, I will be boycotting Facebook the first day of every month, including New Years Day. It is my protest against Mark Zuckerberg, but more on that tomorrow.

 

Suggestions are welcome so feel free - I want to think outside the box, for sure!

'Tis the Season

There’s snow in the hills and the mountains are starting to stay white. The stores are loaded up with candy, evergreen and toys, toys, toys. People get into the spirit OF SPENDING.

Put on the brakes!

Let’s take a little time to enjoy the meaning of the holidays. When did the holidays shift from being holy and family oriented to being commercial and drunken? Ah, it’s multilayered in answers but who cares! I just want to nudge folks to think more about the companionship of the season than anything else. It’s lovely to decorate, to enjoy food, to exchange gifts and so on, but truly the important thing is to make time for your family and friends and enjoy each other.

Ambience is important but if there’s a dust ball here and a cobweb there, no matter, let’s make a joke about it, toast it and start the conversational ball rolling!

IMAGINE

Living in a small town in the middle of the prairie it is easy to feel safe and secure from immediate physical danger. The other day however I was struck by an analyst’s comment that “one should never be complacent about social responsibility”. Regardless of where you fall in your personal or political beliefs it is vital to ensure that we don’t take our freedoms for granted because it is remarkable how quickly they can disappear.

I remember feeling shocked that the world effectively allowed Russia to take over the Crimea shortly after the Olympics and then take over the Ukraine. Where was the pushback? I had questions about the world’s outcry over the religious warfare in Romania while no one had interfered with the violence in Ireland. It seemed to me that there was a lot of cherry-picking going on with respect what democratic rights the “world” would defend and which they would step away from. The most outrageous and little-known infraction on democracy happened in the USA for a full century where all African Americans could not vote in their own country until 1964. How did that happen, and how could Americans (including African Americans) go out and fight for democracy in other parts of the world when they didn’t have those rights for 100% of their own people?

Fighting isn’t the answer, leading by example is the answer and there are countries who truly exemplify real democracy. I feel very happy to be able to say that Canada is one of those countries and despite me not being a Liberal, or even a fan of Justin Trudeau, I must commend him on his stand on a variety of issues and concerns that have significant consequences. His government’s objections to Saudi Arabia’s initial tyranny over women’s rights in that country caused a lot of pushback and it was very disappointing that other countries did not support Canada’s position (which, as we know, was the proper one).

We cannot be complacent about status quos in “democratic countries” because at any moment those principles can be overturned by an autocratic leader. Just look at Hungary as a terrible example of what can go wrong.

Be alert.

Building a Better World Part 3

How can a person teach empathy and understanding as well as becoming non- judgmental if you don’t have those qualities yourself? First you have to recognize the lack in yourself (and yes, that can be a problem if you think you are perfect and no longer need to evolve as a human being . . . but I cannot preach to a stone wall) and then you research on how to release yourself from qualities that are actually weighing you down.

I was touched and surprised when my sister told me that I was a much better person than her because I always see the good in people. But I wasn’t always this way, when I was younger I could be judgmental (although I have always had compassion for the underdog and have always had a tendency to see both sides of most arguments). I think I mellowed out in my early 40’s and certainly by the time I was 50 I could see most people through a very rosy lens. I think what I recognized in myself was that I genuinely LIKED people. I have seldom met a person that I didn’t like (but I have) so it’s easy to go to the next level, becoming empathetic to whatever ails them.

Liking people, listening to people and genuinely being interested in them is a huge step in making your circle, your world a better place.  As Deepak so wonderfully explained in the latest meditation Youthful Energy, YOU are the WORLD because (and I paraphrase) your reality is your world. Does that make sense? So when you are at your best you reflect that into the world around you.

Ergo, reflect your best self, daily, hourly, minutely and wow, you are building a better world!

Now wasn’t that easy?

Building a Better World Part 2

I have never been married so I am not sure if any type of pamphlet is issued with the marriage license but I would suggest that one of the first steps in changing our behaviours is to build awareness around the responsibility of being a parent. Here are some things that should be in the pamphlet:

·         What are the values and principles you would teach your children? Recommendations include being kind to others, being unselfish, being truthful, respecting others, respecting other people’s property (i.e., do not steal), always do your best and be humble

·         Ensure you have one meal, every day, as a family where conversation is part of the meal

·         Ensure that you ask your partner and your child how their day went

·         Never go to bed without telling your partner and your child that you love them

It is perhaps not appropriate to include spiritual advice because that can be off-putting to many people regardless of their belief so I am still pondering a way around that red flag. However I do think there is value in guiding couples to explore the possibility of whether they would choose to be in a church, or would meditation be an alternative they would consider in order to mitigate their stress or other alternatives to nurture their spiritual

capacity.

I listened to a celebrity talk about what he does on Thanksgiving and he said that he loads up his plate and sits on the sofa to watch the game. I was shocked. Americans make such a big deal about Thanksgiving, so much so that it seems to take precedence over Christmas, that I could not believe that this person was not sitting at a table with his family! It’s one thing to see Cher and her girls in “Mermaids” lounge around to eat in a movie because you know they are dysfunctional but to understand that most people don’t eat at the table is appalling to me. Studies show that families who eat together regularly are happier than those who don’t.

So what are your values? What would you change? What would you like to talk about?

Building a Better World Part 1

There are many fantastic people in the world who not only want a better world but take steps to make that happen, one child at a time or one issue at a time. In the recent O magazine there were several profiles of individuals who did just that as volunteers and as their second job. We can’t all do such big steps perhaps because we don’t have the time, the personal tools or talent to do that.

Bear with me as I muddle my way through the pondering of the past year as it relates to all the negative personal characteristics of people who ought to have behave in a very different way from the path they chose. Here are some of the questions I ask:

·         Why would people in such a high position behave with such low morals 

·         Why do voters choose poor candidates when the evidence of their values is before them

·         Why don’t parents know who their children are

·         Why do we accept low standards in our schools

In the end the answer to all of them is simply that some people do not care a rat’s ass about anyone or anything but themselves until they are affected by the bad behavior. Even then, as we see in the case of St. Michael’s College, some parents would rather close their eyes, keep their children in an “elite” school and even ignore the fact that their child is getting a broomstick shoved up his ass. These are the families who become “leaders” in society so, surprise, this is what we get, abusive misogyny. While it seems incomprehensible to us mere mortals the evidence is coming out fast and furious. It staggers the mind.

I hold to my opinion that while we ordinary folk may be flawed we are essentially good people who simply want to be happy and who want to raise happy, good children. The trouble today is that while we have these rather vague hopes we don’t have the tools, time or proper intention to make these hopes into concrete reality. The result is a couple of generations of adults who have no true moral compass, no guiding set of values or principles but instead have a sense of entitlement and selfishness that has never been experienced in everyday society before.

But I have a possible solution.

Hazing is just another word for Bullying

I don’t know if my readers are following the story about St. Michael’s College, the private boys’ school currently in the news due to sexual assault by students on other students but I must say that I am profoundly shocked on a few different levels.

First of all I noticed the slogan on the outside of the school “Teach me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge” and thought “That deliverable isn’t going so well”.

Second I was shocked to hear a middle-aged alumnae say that this culture of hazing and sexual assault was around in his day. And nothing was done?

Third I am stunned that a parent was asked by someone from the media if she was going to be taking her son out of the school and she said “no”. Good Lord in Heaven, my kid would have been out of there so fast the wind couldn’t keep up!

Fourth I am astounded that the principal is still there given that he did not report other incidents until 48 hours after learning about them. At the same time I wonder “How can any adult working in that school not have been aware of what was going on? What sort of supervision is being done in that school?”

Fifth I wonder how can a religious school have such a disgusting culture? Are they being groomed for the priesthood and further pedophilia? (Sorry, that is said in irony --- I hope).

Lastly why on earth are private schools not governed under the same rules and regulations as public schools?

I have a lot of questions and a whole lot of disgust for this. The male culture of hazing and bullying is archaic and it is absurd to say it is necessary so that they can have team spirit.  Are you F’ing kidding me? We women don’t need to bully or haze each other to have common goals and work as a team. What are you talking about? It is all about male aggression and it should have been stopped decades ago.

I remember as a 14 year old Freshman in high school the first week “Freshie Week” a senior was supposed to make us do all kinds of stupid, silly things including dressing up as something or other. I had never heard of such a thing and I looked at the person who was my senior and thought ‘what an idiot’ and then went about my business the whole week oblivious to the nuttiness of those who fell into that “game”. But of course, at 7 years old I was too mature to go out for Halloween so why would I be any different at 14?

Maybe because I had a brain. It appears to be sadly lacking even in adults.

I'm Fed Up with the B.S.

I am so fed up with the way the Conservatives are ranting about molehills and voters are buying into the insane rhetoric. This morning I snapped when I saw an ad during one of my morning games that whined about the carbon tax. I could hardly move my brain into a calm meditation mode because I was so riled up and ready to give what-for.

No one (apparently) likes to pay any kind of taxes in Canada. Yet the first time something goes wrong in one’s life you can be pretty darn grateful for health care, employment insurance, pensions or other types of benefits – all supported by taxpayers. As I have said in the past, most of these taxes come from individual, personal taxes, not from those of the big cat corporations.

But here’s something else to consider; when was the last time you wrote a letter to your MLA or MP and objected to something? I suspect NEVER. How many of you have ever missed voting in an election (I am really hoping no one has in my circle)?

Here’s my Electric Bill breakdown:

Usage:                                  $30.33

Administration Fee                $  5.46

Delivery Charges:

Distribution                           $32.59

Transmission Charge           $16.51

A1 Rider                               $ 0.26

Rate Rider                            $ 0.73 

NO CARBON TAX CHARGE 

Here’s my gas bill:

Cost of gas                                     $9.46

Administration fee                           $ 8.21

GST                                                $ 0.89

Delivery Charged – fixed                $25.64

Delivery Charge – variable              $ 5.42

Rate Riders                                     $ 3.53

CARBON LEVY                              $11.21

GST                                                 $ 2.29

TOTAL                                             $ 66.65 
 

I only used $9.46 worth of gas but because of all the other “administrative” charges the bill is higher and the levy taxes are exaggerated. To be honest I am not sure why that is working in such a way, it seems incorrect to me. However the main point of my argument is that when my bills started changing 30 years ago I called the two energy providers and questioned them on the extra charges; I did not get a satisfactory answer. I think the charges are outrageous and simply “hosing” consumers. And yet did we hear an outcry from politicians on those charges? Not a word, not a blessed word.

I guess it means that we are okay with companies hosing us with whatever charges they can get away with ON ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE HEAT AND ELECTRICITY but for a government to impose a tax on people in the cause of making them mindful of usage, taking an economy in a new direction and reinvesting in cleaner energy, etc. – for some reason that is not only civilly unacceptable but it has politicians spitting blood as part of their rhetoric.  

Is Vision too esoteric for the common voter?

Apparently it is.

Why I Love Canada

I cannot cherish my birth country without also paying tribute to the country where I was raised. My father considered many countries when he looked at immigration and of course finally settled on Canada as the safest country to live in. Beyond that he didn’t know very much about Canada as any of our relatives who immigrated had gone to the USA (his side) or Australia (Mom’s side) and even then not much was known about their experiences, at least for Dad.

Dad told his mother when she was on her visit here in 1962 that “Canada is a hard land, but a good one”. While we had financial struggles from the beginning Dad also saw opportunities in many areas and with his usual enthusiasm he embraced many things (but no debts) quite quickly. They got a television and a car within the first year which was something they could hardly dream of acquiring in Denmark at that time. They also owned their first house within 2 years of arriving in Canada, simply impossible in post-war Denmark at this time.

From the time we had our first home we lived in Suburbia and this provided a truly sheltering environment for a young family. Not for us the hard knocks of downtown Toronto; rather we lived in an almost Utopian world where children ran free and wild in the neighbourhood without fear of getting hit by a car. Suburbia was still raw enough to also offer nature which we enjoyed to the max. The opportunities of the in-school library was heaven to me and I took full advantage of it. Dad was insistent that two things were essential in a child’s life, a bicycle and skates which we got at the “appropriate time”.

As an adult I see Canada through many lenses and while Canada has a long way to go in its socio-political evolution it is still a country with strong, high values and principles. I am not Justin Trudeau’s biggest fan but I support his vision of Canada as being a Peacekeeping Nation rather than a warrior one. I may not totally embrace his reconciliation process with Aboriginals but I understand them. Canada is still a very young country and is still trying to figure out its true identity of multi-culturalism, peace and security but given the times we are in and the neighbour we are suffering through at this time, I think Canada is on its way to being a quietly great nation. And that is who we are – polite to a fault (vis a vis “a quietly great country”).

The bottom line for being happy in Canada is that it is a land of opportunity and it is the safest country in the world.

Thinks I Love About Denmark

Now isn’t that a title to get people yawning, groaning and yammering about as they anticipate a long list of likes? Never fear that is not the sort of thing I want to write about this morning but rather about the simple picturesque life that was Denmark. My family “over there” tells me that Lille Danmark is gone, what they have now is both richer but also in some ways more depressing and fraught with angst as much of Europe has been over these last 10 years.

But in some ways Denmark will never change because the people have such an ingrained sense of self which has not dissipated in millennia so why should it now?

We love marzipan and consumed tons of it (literally) during the month of December; we love our flag and our proud to know that it is the oldest national flag in the world; we love hygge, jul and hearts. We love our families, our friends and even the tourists. Snaps, herring, ale, bakeries and flowers. Really, we are a simple people with simple desires and that is why we are the happiest people on earth. We don’t want to be millionaires or own 1,000 pairs of shoes; we don’t need Coach purses or Gucci watches. We want a work-life balance that lets us hygge with family and LIVE, LIVE, LIVE until we die.

Here’s a little toast to my home country!  Skol, skipper, smidt flipper!