Global Express - March 23rd issue

Global Express - March 23rd Issue

Welcome back to our Global Village and to this week's issue of Global Express! Our newsletter is published by the members of the World Wide Web Circle of Friends for the members of the World Wide Web Circle of Friends about the members of the World Wide Web Circle of Friends. We are everyday people doing extraordinary things on an International Scale on the web!

Can you believe that it is almost the end of March.  Only one more issue of Global Express this month and then we will be on to April.   Most of Canada has enjoyed a mild winter and warm air from the U.S., which has also had one of the warmest winters on record, is mixing with our surprisingly warm Canadian air resulting in this "un-Canadian."
 mild weather, 20 C or higher, in several Canadian provinces from Manitoba to Nova Scotia.  Out west where I live this is not the case though as we are experiencing a bit cooler weather than normal but still not so bad.  Looking forward .... Environment Canada has good news for summer - warmer to normal temperatures are expected from the B.C Interior to the Atlantic coast and the Far North. 
March here in the Great White North is the seasonal equivalent of September in the Southern Hemisphere.
In the Northern hemisphere, the beginning Spring .... in the Southern hemisphere, the beginning of  autumn.

Did you know that  the name of March comes from ancient Rome when March was the first month of the year so if you did not make your New Year's Resolutions in January you can always have a go in March, lol!

It has been a really busy week for me.  Kadynce, my eldest grand-daughter came over on Tuesday morning and had a sleep over and went home after supper on Wednesday.  She had a lot of fun looking after puppies.  I had a job interview on Wednesday at a chiropractor's office.  Apparently there were over 200 applicants and I made it, so far, to the top 6; hopefully I will get the job but even if I don't I am pretty proud to have made it that far in their hiring process.  I should know more early next week.  The puppies are keeping me really busy but at the moment now it is fun .... they are 3 1/2 weeks old and almost 4 lbs. each so imminent danger of something going wrong with these babies has passed for the most part now and life is beginning to return to some kind of normality.

There is as much greatness of mind in acknowledging a good turn, as in doing it.

 

 Very Special Assignment this Week --- March 26th is  Make Your Own Holiday Day.  Your chance to create your very own unique special day of any kind, for any topic or event that has otherwise escaped recognition .... declare your day and enjoy it.  Let me know all about it so I can publish the details in next week's newsletter.

Thank you to everyone who contributed stories for this week's issue.  I would like to begin with one from a good friend of mine in the wonderful land down under -- Graeme and his cat Buddha who was born under a shipping container while they were renovating the place where his daughter was working as a apprentice chef .She used to feed him and his siblings all the scraps. Here is Graeme's story ....  After I had to have my poor cat put down Kellie suggested that i should try and catch the black kitten that was the pig of the litter .We got a cage and 2 days later I had this snarling spitting black fireball delivered .He was about 5 months old and had a distinct dislike for humans, as the workers used to throw things at them; even today he is 7 years old and only trusts me or my sister who lives next door.  Every one else is treated with caution; any kids a round and he hides under the house till they leave. I look back now at the bonding that went on for the first few months, slowly getting his confidence, it did not seem so at the time but it was fun.  Now he controls 2 back yards; mine and my sisters and is king, likes smelling flowers and has never bitten or scratched anyone. I have 2 chairs in the house that are mine all the rest are his. He sleeps inside every night but wakes me in the morning to go out; I don't need an alarm clock He loves his dad and gets upset if I am away for a day or so even though my sister spoils him rotten. He follows me around the house and sits next to me if I am watching tv or on the computer .He is a really good mate     

Graeme is a fabulous photographer and over the time I have known him he has shared several of his pictures with you ... this is a hint Graeme to continue to share these photographs with all of us here in the Circle of Friends via our wonderful Global Express.

 

On the topic of cats all the way from Australia to Eastern Canada -- Lena said that Sammy was fast asleep when she woke her up.  Sammy was just so comfortable however that she went back to sleep anyway/

Lena would like an updated list of birthdays so that she can send cards to her friends on their special days.  This is the list she has:

• Feb 11, Susan Herring,   
• Feb13 Charla,  
• March 6 Deanna, 
• March 13 Maxine,
• March 22 Vern L
• May 1 Vicky S, 
• June 15 Sharon
• July 8 Shar, 
• July 24 Norma,  
• Oct.15 Fl.Marie, 
• Nov. 26 Chrissie, 
• Nov. 30 George, 
• Dec. 4 Emma, 
• Dec 14 Rick Herring. 
•  Dec.16 Cindy L

Please email Lena with your birthday so she can add it to her list or if Jami or Big Sis known where the old lists are perhaps we can update and publish those.

Lena also mentioned to me that Walmart has a Recipe Centre .... I did not know that.  --- anyway be sure to check it out here.

.Remember Bea from the Catskill's article about Brandy?  Well she is just darned right amazing .... Bea says she know when she is not feeling well and this is a great comfort to her.

 

Kind words from our members that keep me going ..... thanks everyone:

"Thank you Sharon for a lovely newsletter. And thanks Jan for your comments on solar energy, even if they don't pay you back so much now as they used to for any surplus you have, the important thing is you are NOT paying a bill on it anymore. I have since heard from my sister, they are also both very happy about their solar energy, and also got a first payment back!Meanwhile we are looking for courses for installing solar panels etc locally and perhaps become pioneers in this around here. I am also on the lookout for a solar fountain pump..... as my dear Daisy chewed the regular one up(fortunately it wasn't plugged in) I loved reading everyone elses stories too. Keep them coming!!
Daphne" from Argentina.

 

 Deanna reports from Virginia ....... We are painting every single day. Michael has to be at work at 2:00  ( except today, it was 4:00 ) so we paint in the mornings until noon. It is looking so good. Looking at a new rug for the foyer and living room. Looking online because the prices are so much better and more variety than anyone has here. We have painted all the walls except one, and the risers will also be the dining room yellow, honey pot.The L shaped section of wall at the rear of the hallway is the living room color, something desert.The trim is cottage linen. It has a slight green look of flax. The small section of wall that is part of the stairs is undecided. I am putting a fairly heavy skim coat on it and pressing some large metal Native American wall symbols into it to put their impressions onto the wall. It will more than likely be turquoise.  We are about 40% done. There is a lot to paint. The staircase will be last. That is being done with oil based cottage linen. The steps are oak as well as some of the trim. I must say, my plaster repairs are excellent. I only repaired what had to be. I'm so glad I didn't skim coat it all. You can put your hands on it and, believe it or not, feel the spirit of this house. Even Molly next door who works at cataloging historical/old homes, loves it.

This town is nothing but flowers and flowering trees. My tulips are even blooming. My magnolia is gorgeous. The dogwood hasn't started blooming yet though.We have the garden beds ready and it's a good thing. In a couple of weeks, the plants will be going in. My tomato plants are about 6 inches tall.The other plants are bit shorter. Monday, we are going to our nursery we love so much and get the plants for the hanging pots. I have pots of pansies on the porch. Both birdhouses in each front corner have nests and eggs in them. Spring has really sprung. Right now, you are warmer than we are. You're at 70 and we are 67. Suppose to get thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow. I'm going to go to Joann's and use my 40% off coupon to get fabric for the small and narrow windows on each side of the front door. 

Still no sewing of any kind. But. I will as soon as we are through. I'm just too tired to even think about sitting at a machine. I take a nice shower and relax in my chair watching movies.

I have been taking the dogs nearly every day to the dog park for at least an hour or so. The last time, we were there for 3 hours. I've made some really good friends there and even Maxwell enjoys the attention he gets from the smaller dogs and owners. Dorothy is also being walked around a couple of blocks twice a day to help her shed a couple of winter pounds.

I went to Sam's Club the other day to buy some chicken breasts. I didn't buy them. Eight half breasts were a few cents shy of $30.00. All the shoppers were having sticker shock. The prices went up so much in a week's time. Things have got to get better for all of us. I am beginning to think that "The Golden Years " are now, "The Rusty Years".
Life is good. Back to my chair...

Toronto Linda is off on vacation .... here is her report this week -- This Sunday the 23rd my girl friend Lou-Anne, myself and our two daughters are leaving for Disney World for a week. This will be Catherine's first time going and my second, we are both so excited about it we can hardly wait.

My oldest son Tyler is going to look after the animals while I am gone. He is home from school by 1:30 everyday so that will be perfect timing to get the animals checked and done. Thank God I have him here to do this or we would not be going. He loves all our animals so much, I know they will be in good hands while I am away.

As for me I just take my aches and severe pain as it comes and try my best to carry on. This vacation will be good for me in more ways than one!

I am not old, I am just chronologically gifted.

 

News from Jan, Northern Rivers, NSW - Wed. March 21st

Wednesday:   Just the slightest hint of Autumn in the air this week with a 17.5C minimum, though maximums are still high 25C to 30C, even though it has been officially Autumn since 1st March. And it is still raining on and off...... I haven't cleared all the weeds out of the garden as yet.

 Busy this week, with the visitor over the weekend. We took her to a Seniors Lunch on Sunday, then Voices of Praise, which culminates with afternoon tea. Home to a salad and chicken, then very organised on Monday morning to get her to the train for her six hour trip home, and us to Kyogle to entertain at one of the Senior Week events.  We have been going even better this year, as Barry is in better health and we are able to bounce impromptu simple one liners off each other that get a good laugh.  We feature a few songs that he really holds the last notes and the audience cheer and clap when he makes a success of it.

It was the monthly Ukulele Circle in Lismore  last night, and a learning curve as usual... the biggest thing I learned is that I need to practice more between meetings!!

Tonight we have been down to our local Harmony Day event at the Community Hall.

Though there are many nationalities in our town, most of those in attendance were Filipino ladies in their beautiful costumes, and after the meal, they sang a number of songs in their native languages. They have seven official languages in their original country. (This pic from net... however the man with the group had a shirt like this and most of the ladies had these sleeves).

Our friend Lynn who comes from Ireland and sang several Irish songs.  Another  friend Liz had 12 of her paintings on the walls.  She came from The Netherlands and painted them as healing for some very difficult times in her early days here with a young family.

Lynn has her 60^th next weekend. She works in childcare and has mentioned she wants to teach some of them the ukulele,   I have come up with the idea of giving her the DVD from Ralph Shaw for children.   I didn’t think of it when we attended his workshop last week, and had to send off to Canada for it, but it is in the mail....LOL... airmail that is!!!

Just looking to see what  theme Sharon proposed for this week....National Sauce Month.... well I haven't heard about that. 

I googled National Sauce Month Australia and got a Today in Food history, and a Food Trivia Quiz  so if you have a few spare minutes you might like to try it.

"There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else". -- Peyton Conway

Speaking of Trivia Quizzes .... we have a daily International Competition going on at our Fun Trivia Game.  Do be sure to check it out and play to get your country at the top of the leader board!

My much older brother, Wayne's, lovely wife Jenny celebrated a birthday this past week (March 18th to be exact -- the same day as my son-in-law, Paul) and she sends us the following recap of her special day.

I had a great day yesterday.  Wayne got me a new sewing machine & case ;  my old one was purchase back in Kelowna some 30+ years ago for about $39.99.  I think I got my monies worth out of that one when you consider all the knee patches I’ve put on jeans over the years!

He also got me a bouquet of mini carnations; we went out for an “All you can eat CRAB smorg`` & pigged out for about 2 hours.  When we got home we tucked into a piece of  Black Forest cake (my favourite).

During the day I had numerous text-messages from 3 of my kids;  & calls from Kim & Sue.  Chris & Courtney were the first to call in.  Karen had to work yesterday so she & Mikey are coming over for a visit after supper tonite.

Today is pretty much back to normal.  Whatever that is.  Oh yeah, I have some tests this afternoon with the Respirologist.  It`s my annual check up & tests because I have Sleep Apnea.  The tests will measure how much the CPAP machine I`ve been using is helping me.  Wayne says I still snore like a freight train, but at least I`m not falling asleep at the drop of a hat throughout the day.

For some weird reason Mother Nature has decided that we`re not quite done with winter here just yet.  The Edmonton area and most of the province is under some severe winter storm warnings and they`re predicting more of that dreaded white stuff before morning.  I guess I shouldn`t complain, we`re had a pretty mild winter this year all things considered. 

That`s about all the news that is news from out here. 

Time to sign off for now,

Jenny in Edmonton

 

As always it is so wonderful to hear from you with your stories for this week's issue.  I am a little behind in getting this out to you so I had best say so long until next week.  I hope everyone has the best weekend they possibly can and that you have time to send in a story or a picture -- a joke -- a recipe -- anything you  wish for publication in next week's issue.

                                                                                           

Our puppies seem to have the right idea.... enjoying such a lovely nap.                                                              

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