Hooliganting: Frosted with February

Hooliganting: Frosted with February: Have you ever had one of those months, and really I do mean months, that you just can't wait to see the back end of? February has always...

Frosted with February

Have you ever had one of those months, and really I do mean months, that you just can't wait to see the back end of? February has always seemed to have that effect on me, and this one is no exception. This has been a month that feels as though I am living with Calamity Jane. I have a horrible feeling that I might actually be Jane in disguise.

There have been the workplace disasters, some preventable and most just need dealing with. These have the ability to have your heart sink to your knees and sometimes even claw your eyes out when you can't believe what you are seeing. Northern winters combined with old buildings is sometimes more than I can fix.

There have also been the home front disasters from burnt food, to missing wallets, to very ill children to van repairs and the like. Most are just irritating but the sick kids was rather trying. And for the record, I am so done with sick kids - they have had everything this winter - including stuff that I didn't know could be caught, like Scarlet Fever. That had me rereading Little House on the Prairie books until a wise doctor shook his head and rolled his eyes at me for worrying. Apparently, antibiotics fix that too.

On the fitness front, we have had some severe relapses in terms of sensible food intake (and I still could totally nosh on some amazing Italian pizza or a rich creamy soup). The fun factor increased while the food factor failed. There have been scheduling issues with the Y where instructors are no shows for various reasons. Tonight, instead of combat there was core class. It wasn't quite the butt kicking (shaping) class I was hoping for. Falling up the stairs and walking into the wall at work, weren't on the agenda but I managed that all the same.

This is the month where car renewals fall and mortgages need to be refinanced. It is the month of budgeting for house projects that need doing after years of heavy play. It is Ikea planning and storage thinking. Of course, I had to cancel my credit cards just before really needing them. For others, it seems to be the month of for sale signs and plotting BC climates. I am so going to miss some of my oldest friends in the Mac. At least they will be visitable.

Yes, I am done with February. I am finishing off February with a trip to the city. I am praying for a decent and notably SAFE drive along 63. There are the new nieces and nephew to visit and reconnecting with play dates. I intend to have some fun and forget February. March madness, bring it on!

Hooliganting: Who is perfect?

Hooliganting: Who is perfect?: I am not a perfect person I have many flaws you see While I work for more improvements This is just how God made me I might not ...

Who is perfect?

I am not a perfect person

I have many flaws you see

While I work for more improvements

This is just how God made me

I might not fold the laundry

Or have your favorite shirt

I cannot help that you wore it

And rolled around in dirt

I cannot devote my day

To the house and cleaning

I have to work sometimes

I find it quite rewarding

Between homework, dance and gym

Spending time with friends and fun

Not to mention cleaning

I freely admit, there is lots to be done

I went to a course on choices

To try and start anew

I made some commitments

I honor them, can't you?

No matter what I do or don't

It is never quite enough

I have to deal with my crap

Just not the other stuff

So when you think I don't listen

Or hear a word you say

Just take a moment

To ask about my day

I might have been on a field trip

Or drying another's eye

I might have gone for groceries
Or had coffee on the fly

And sometimes I choose to do nothing

To try and take care of me

Why is that so hard

For you to accept and to see?

There are things that make a family
Brighter to behold
Being unique individuals
Is more precious than gold

So I challenge you this week
Before you decide to complain
What would you rather live with
Sunshine or rain?

I am not a perfect person
I do my very best
To mind my temper and bring more joy
And forget about the rest.

Hooliganting: Power of Positive Thinking: Valentine

Hooliganting: Power of Positive Thinking: Valentine: Think positively and you will reap the rewards. This is the mantra that I am hinging on this Valentine's Day. After the beginnings of this...

Power of Positive Thinking: Valentine

Think positively and you will reap the rewards. This is the mantra that I am hinging on this Valentine's Day. After the beginnings of this year challenging me at all corners in terms of positive thinking, I find myself thinking about the people in my life. I have some amazing people in my life, and I thought I would share some of my perspective on what makes them truly gemstones worth keeping.

1) I love the people that pay attention to the details. A wee post or comment that makes sense when I need it. Whether it is a positive word of encouragement or advice that will cheer me up to have a better day, these detail people are incredibly wise and accurate with their thoughts. These are the people that notice when I have lost track of time and remind me gently to get going, or accomplish something. These are important to me and I value them.

2) I love the people that genuinely enjoy quality time spent in my company. This year, my Tim Horton's shenanigans took a twist when a bunch of 40 something women added me to their coffee mornings after workout. I love being the babe of this group and their humor and wit is fantastic to share in. I love that it is consistent and while the numbers change, you know that by 10:20 on Thursdays - Tim's will be invaded by yoga pants and sweat and loud laughter. If you like quiet - this might not be the time to go. Add to that my other coffee playmates, scrapbookers and dancers and evening visitations and life is full and frivolous. Just the way I like it.

3) I love the people that are unique. Each person in my life has something that is special and creative and of value. I like spending time with them to experience their personalities with openness and warmth. I know each one is different and yet, they are my friends. Clever, charming, spontaneous, reliable, wise, energized, humorous, non-judgemental, helpful, serene and strong. You are the rocks that my life is built on. (Outside of church - but that is another blog).

4) I love knowing that despite my struggles and challenges, I can have a visit with someone and develop new perspective that enables me to "think my way out of the paper bag". I love knowing that I can be over the moon with joy and happiness and have people that will celebrate with me.

5) Best of all, I love that I have family and friends near and far that I can keep in touch with and you all know you are loved and appreciated. From my rogue travelling random acts of tourism companions to islanders to overseas to right here at home, there are some magnificent memories still to be made.

I can't ever really express what my friends mean to me, but with Valentine's Day being tomorrow, I thought some of you need to know exactly how incredible you are. I love you much!

Hooliganting: Penny for your Thoughts?

Hooliganting: Penny for your Thoughts?: Google flashed up the neon penny as one of their quirky images. I clicked on it out of curiosity only to discover that they were commemora...

Penny for your Thoughts?

Google flashed up the neon penny as one of their quirky images. I clicked on it out of curiosity only to discover that they were commemorating the "death of the penny." Tomorrow is the last day of the penny and it is to be phased out of our currency. The thing is, can they phase it out of our language? I can't imagine the world without that belittled wee coin. It might not stick to the magnets, nor be of much value commercially, but it seems to be entrenched in our culture.

Can you imagine saying "a loonie for your thoughts?" Wouldn't that imply that you were crazy? If you want to know what someone is thinking then you offer a penny for them. This is a link to the past when a penny was worth something. Now, most of  my thoughts are probably too random for people to wonder about in the first place but, I like the old fashioned coin of the phrase. I also love some of the literature that comes with the penny. Like this one:

Pennies from Heaven

Submitted by: Beverly Faith

Author: Copyright © 1998 C Mashburn

I found a penny today
Just laying on the ground.
But it's not just a penny
This little coin I've found.

Found pennies come from heaven
that's what my Grandpa told me.
He said Angels tossed them down
Oh, how I loved that story!

He said when an Angel misses you
They toss a penny down,
sometimes just to cheer you up
To make a smile out of your frown.

So don't pass by that penny
When you're feeling blue.
It may be a penny from heaven
That an Angel's tossed to you.

How can you lose your lucky penny? Find a penny, pick it up and all day long you will have good luck. I learned that as a child and have been superstitious about it ever since. I even point out lucky pennies to the kids so that they can pick them up. Luck is not housed in nickles, dimes and quarters. They are the wrong color and the wrong weight. Since the olympics, Canadians like their lucky loonies too. But that reverts back to the humor that is intrisic to our culture. Oh Canadians have a culture, but it is hard to define to those outside of it. Those of us that like our history like our pennies too.

Pennies have always been fun to collect. Parents used to give a penny for candies, and would let you collect pennies in the lamp for a rainy day. There have been special pennies for interesting events - my favorite was always the centennial penny. It was always a challenge to find the oldest penny in the jar. Pennies have been used for gambling and to play games. They have always been residing from the pick a penny leave a penny jars. And what about the wishing wells? Pennies have always had a place in making wishes come true.

Brown Penny

I WHISPERED, 'I am too young,'
And then, 'I am old enough';
Wherefore I threw a penny
To find out if I might love.
'Go and love, go and love, young man,
If the lady be young and fair.'
Ah, penny, brown penny, brown penny,
I am looped in the loops of her hair.
O love is the crooked thing,
There is nobody wise enough
To find out all that is in it,
For he would be thinking of love
Till the stars had run away
And the shadows eaten the moon.
Ah, penny, brown penny, brown penny,
One cannot begin it too soon.

William Butler Yeats

 

Pennies - I will miss you.