I took a left anyway!
And here I am.
Everybody's got to be somewhere...
And there you go!

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the stores PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the stores leadership role in adopting the Legions two minutes of silence initiative. He felt that the stores contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven oclock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the two minutes of silence to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terrys anger towards the father for trying to engage the stores clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, A Pittance of Time. Terry later recorded A Pittance of Time and included it on his full-length music CD, The Power of the Dream.

Thank You to the Royal Canadian Legion Todmorden Branch #10 and Woodbine Height Branch #2 for their participation in the Video.

Please visit www.terry-kelly.com

Thanks to Sheila (Gemstar) for sending this video

In case we run out of masks during the  flu H1N1 season

Here is a ‘homemade' mask you can make yourself

It is even compatible with the wearing of glasses

One thing though ---

Make sure your mask as been washed and clean!!!

Thanks to my dear friend, Roma, for sending this to me this morning and giving me a laugh to last all day. 

I'm never bored - there is always something to do - garden, cook, read a book, walk downtown, watch tv, play pogo games,talk to friends on the phone, lay around watching tv, the list is endless.    What is there to be bored about?  What do you have to tell yourself to "be bored".  Maybe you're bored because you are boring?  Maybe bored people need to get moving around, acting alive, being useful.  Is there any appeal in being bored?  Even if you are bored, why would you tell someone? - like are they going to fix it for you?  Amuse me! and then what...........?  If you tell me you're bored, I would give you THIS LOOK.

 

By Paulo Coelho, Ode Magazine

What is happiness? This is a question that has not bothered me for a long time, precisely because I don't know how to answer it. I am not the only one. Throughout the years, I have lived with all sorts of people: rich and poor, powerful and mediocre. In the eyes of all who have crossed my path-and I include warriors and wise men, people who should have nothing to complain about-I have found something was always missing.

Some people seem happy. They just do not think about it. Others make plans: "I'm going to have a husband, a home, two children and a house in the country." While this keeps them occupied, they are like bulls looking for the bullfighter. They don't think; they just keep moving forward. They manage to get their car, sometimes even a Ferrari, and they think the meaning of life lies there, so they never ask the question. Yet, despite all that, their eyes betray a sadness of which they themselves are unaware.

I do not know if everyone is unhappy. I do know that people are always busy-working overtime, looking after the kids, the husband, the career, the university degree, what to do tomorrow, what they need to buy, whatever it is they need to have in order not to feel inferior and so on. Few people have ever told me, "I'm unhappy." Most say, "I'm fine, I've managed to get all I ever wanted."

So then I ask, "What makes you happy?"

They answer, "I have everything a person can dream of-a family, a home, work, good health."

I ask again, "Have you ever stopped to wonder if that is all there is to life?"

They answer, "Yes, that's all there is."

I insist. "So the meaning of life is work, the family, children who grow up and leave you, a wife or husband who will become more like a friend than a true love mate. And one day the work will come to an end. What will you do when that happens?"

They answer... there is no answer. They change the subject. But there is always something hidden there-the owner of a firm who has still to close his dream deal, the housewife who would like to have more independence or more money, the new graduate who wonders whether he has chosen his career or has had it chosen for him, the dentist who wanted to be a singer, the singer who wanted to be a politician, the politician who wanted to be a writer and the writer who wanted to be a peasant.

In this street, where I sit writing this and looking at the people passing by,

I bet everyone is feeling the same thing. That elegant woman who has just walked by spends her days trying to stop time, controlling the bathroom scales, because she thinks love depends on that. On the other side of the street, I see a couple with two children. They live moments of intense happiness when they go out with their kids, but at the same time their subconscious is busy thinking about the job they might not get, the tragedies that might occur, how to get over them, how to protect themselves from the world.

I leaf through magazines filled with famous people-everybody laughing, everybody happy. But since I am familiar with this segment of society, I know it is not like that. Everyone is laughing or enjoying themselves as that photo is taken, but at night, or in the morning, the story is different.

"What can I do to keep appearing in the magazine?"

"How can I disguise not having enough money to afford all this luxury?"

"How can I manage this life of splendor to make it even more luxurious and expressive than other people's lives?"

"The actress I am with in this photo, laughing and having a great time, could steal my part tomorrow."

"I wonder if my clothes are nicer than hers."

"Why do we smile so much if we loathe one another?"

I recall the words of Argentine poet Jorge Luis Borges: "I will not be happy any more, but that doesn't matter. There are many other things in this world."

Paulo Coelho is the Brazilian author of international bestsellers, including The Alchemist. paulocoelhoblog

Just once, I would have liked to have participated in the Annual Tomatina event.  Several huge trucks slowly dump several tons of tomatoes onto the street.  Tomatina was started many years ago by 2 young guys back in 1944.   They are old now and they provide the tomatoes for the annual event. - 125 TONS! 

See more here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd3n5NGoxE8

MINDFULNESS....
......ever mindful of the breath,
 the present  moment,
and the wants and needs of others.

Many years ago, I found this book, "Mindfulness for everday living" by Christopher Titmuss.  It remains one of my favourite books - user friendly and wise covering every aspect of everyday life. 

For daily practice I concentrate on generosity,and patience, right intention, right speech.  It is  live PRACTICE, not just a concept. It takes Practice.  I'm doing not too bad, but need improvement.  I work on it.   

  From today's Daily Words of the Buddha:
" Let one guard oneself against irritability in thought;
let one be controlled in mind.
Abandoning mental misconduct,
let one practice good conduct in thought.
"
Dhammapada 17.233
 

Who would I be competing against? 
Who would the judges be? Could judges be bribed?
Would I have to defend my title yearly in a venue similar to Superbowl, Olympics, World Championships? 

When you're THE Best In the World, people will dig up lots of negative stuff  and even make up lies to discredit you.  They will try to dethrone you.

Who needs it?  Who says "The Best" is really best.  Why even think about  "in the world?"  I would not  try  to be best in any one thing but instead just lead my life in the best way I can - being mindful of others. . 

I have joyfully accepted a few "best"  accolades"
"You're the best mommy in the the whole wide world:
You're my best friend ever, ever.

Yes,I believe inthe earthly variety who have guided, helped, and protected me.  They are near and far.  They are practical, wise, and kind.

There are angels who exist in the spiritual realm who are available to those who know how  to "be" in the spiritual realm.  But first you have to learn how, or have a desire to tap into the spirtitual realm and accept the language of the spiritual realm.  Believe in the magic of the spiritual realm and it will be appear to you.  You will find it if you look.

FISH STORY 

My cousin told me this hilarious story from years back.  When her son, Trevor,  was about 8years old, she took him down to the waterfront to see the awards for a Fishing Derby. He was so amazed to see all these gigantic fish being held up.  He was admiring a non-winning really big fish -about 3 feet long.  Trevor being so cute and adorable, won the heart of the fisherman.  He told Trevor he could have the fish.
My cousin tried to talk him out of it, but Trevor wanted to take it home and show it to his father. He refused to leave the park without the fish.  So my cousin said ok.

Trevor took the fish home to their nice apartment building to show his father.
  "Why did you bring that thing home, what  the heck are you going to do with the big fish?"  Trevor wasn't sure. "I'm putting it in the garbage," his father said.  And he wrapped the giant fish in more newspaper and put it down the garbage chute. 

A few days later, there was a big drama outside the apartment building with lots of police cars.  My cousin and Trevor went outside to see what was going on, and heard the news that the police were investigating a possible murder - they think they found body parts stuck in the garbage chute.  When they finally retrieved the stinking bundle, they discovered it was not a body at all but a giant fish.  The police hollered out to the crowd , "Does anyone know anything about this big fish?: and before my cousin could stop him, Trevor hollered out "Yes, that's my fish."  Trevor's father had to pay a fine of  $175 for illegally disposing of the  fish.