For the Love of...Combining with Jo

Good Tuesday Everyone!

My guest today on this slightly, not exactly, regularly scheduled For the Love of...post is my friend Jo. Like many of us she has a lot of interests and aspires to make a living doing one or the other, or in Jo's case, combining everything she loves and rolling it into one lovely, workable, ambitious,and productive package. 

If you're a writer looking for solid, reliable, smart, and friendly promotion, Jo is your girl...or should I call her something else? Well, you'll just have to read her post to find out!

***

Hi everyone and thanks for stopping by to visit. I love being asked to visit blogs… as a natural introvert, it's one of the easiest ways of being social from the comfort of my sofa *grin*. I have been trying to figure out what to tell you all about myself, which sounds silly, but it's far more complicated than you might imagine. Here in the real world I am an event manager – a job which I love. I love coming up with a great idea and then assembling all the elements that I need in order to make it real. I enjoy the challenges and even the stresses that are all part of the process. There is something about standing back on the day (usually in the last hour or two of the event) and looking around at everything, knowing you've succeeded in what you set out to do. Many of my events are also charity fundraisers and this gives the sense of achievement a whole different, and altogether more satisfying, spin.
 
Away from the real world I have a secret life as a writer. I've loved writing ever since I first learned how to string letters together to form words. At school, my essays were always just a little too long because I kept getting swept up in the story. I'm currently working on a fantasy novel, a romance story and a collection of children's stories. Yes, I have a wide range of interests and it's great to be able to shift genres when I feel like I'm hitting a wall in any of my manuscripts.
 
For the past two years I've been very fortunate to be able to marry my love of books with my love of organising things in my role as Marketing Director for Breathless Press, a small Romance and Erotica publisher which recently closed. As part of my job I discovered that I really enjoy organising blog tours for authors and being part of their journey. When Breathless Press closed, I saw an opportunity and decided to pursue it. Thus, my new freelance blog tour and promotions business – The Book Mistress - was born!

My aim is to provide authors with affordable blog tours as well as audio extracts that they can share on their websites and through their social media. I'll also be offering to provide guest posts for authors to use on their blogs, social media assistance and author PA services. It's an ambitious project, but one I feel strongly about. Authors love writing, they're not always so keen on the marketing side *grin* and unfortunately while there are some great, affordable marketing options out there (aside from doing it themselves which is free), there are sadly some businesses out there that are hopelessly over priced!

Step one, to set up all the online "stuff" for the new venture, is done. I have a few tours booked for June and now I start the real work of promoting my services. The only way to make this work is to connect with as many authors as possible.
So… here goes. Hello world, I'm The Book Mistress and I'd love to help share you with the world.

Cheers, 

Jo 



The Book Mistress on Wordpress
The Book Mistress on Facebook
The Book Mistress on Twitter
The Book Mistress on You Tube
The Book Mistress on Pinterest
The Book Mistress at Good Reads

***

I'd like to give a big thanks to Jo for being on my blog today. Finding a way to help others while doing what you love is a position in life many of us would like to be in. I really admire Jo and I hope you've found her post to be inspiring!

Until next time,

Cin

For the Love of...Writer Friends with Mary Corrales

Hello Hello

Welcome to May 11th! It's time for another For the Love of... post.

A few years ago through blogging and what not, I met an author named Mary Corrales. She's sweet, kind, funny, supportive, and very talented. And before you read her post, please know that I had no direct influence over her topic other than asking her to be a part of my blog. :)

Enjoy and please welcome Mary Corrales.

***

For the Love of…Writer Friends

Every friend has a role in your life. Writer friends are no different. We have similar struggles throughout our writing careers that we share with one another, and hope for some inspiration or help. We're like daisies the way we spring up and cluster together in the sunshine.

When one of my publisher had to close shop, I turned to a writer friend, Kari, to figure out how to deal with rights reversal and covers. She'd assured me, since she'd been through something similar, that it'd all work out. Indeed it did and I'm okay now.

Kari and I have been through a lot together and, from writer's conferences to personal tragedies, we've never wavered in our friendship. While she lives in a different city than me, the distance has not changed the friendship. That's the essence of writer friends. We're always there for one another through emails, even when we can't spend time together in person.

Similarly, my lovely friend Cindy, inspires me with how much she writes and how fast she turns out stories. She has no end to her creativity. It's amazing. She reminds me how great life can be when you let your creativity flow. She's also one of the kindest, most caring people I've ever had the honor of being in contact with. Whether we ever meet in person or not, I know I have a true friend in her. Thanks for that, Cin. :)

Friendships should enhance your life, make it better. I've known people who have toxic friends and it's tragic that these toxic people are given are much value as a good friend. None of that for me, thank you. I hope none of that for you either. While life happens, I hope you maintain a circle of friends around you that supports you in your pursuit of dreams and lends you their strength when you need it.

Everyone deserves one good friend. I'm lucky enough to have two.

Thanks Cin for this opportunity to share what's been in my heart very strongly. Sometimes, we just don't say it enough how much it matters to have friends that understand, support, and commiserate on what it is to be a writer. The act of writing may be a solitary undertaking, but writer friends make being a writer the best profession in the world.

Happy Reading,

Mary Corrales

Mary Corrales is a multi-published romance author who writes in several genres. 

***

Many thanks to Mary for being a part of my post today. I think, in this day of being to meet people all over the world through our various internet ways, that many of you out there can relate to this topic in that I know I 'm not the only one who has become good friends with people I've never met in person. It doesn't seem to lesson the bond. You're friends or your not and with Mary, there's no doubt that we're friends.

Until next time,

Find your love, and share it with me! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Cin

For the Love Of...the Little Things with Sharleen Hawco

Hello and happy Monday

It's dreary, rainy day where I'm at. The kind of day that, in all honesty, makes me want to call in blue and sleep the day away.

However, that would be fool hardy. The day, no matter how dark it may appear, always has a silver lining or at least a glimmer of it silver lurking somewhere in something.

Today, my lovely friend Sharleen Hawco shares with us the beautiful reminder that there is happiness in finding a love for the little things.

***

For the love of...

When Cindy asked me to write a post I wasn't sure what to focus on. Everyone has something that brings happiness into their lives.  For me it is the little things.

This winter was long and dark making it hard to find your way.  Through the storm of it all you can find the brightest path by choosing love.  In the Springtime it is always easier to see the light.

To me it is the little things put together that bring joy; but, it is these little things that we often pass over and miss.

 For seeing those beautiful moments that bring love into your life.

For the love of choice, of change, of recognizing what needs to be changed,  of being able to get unstuck.

For little ripples that become waves.

For finding glimpses of peace and moments of stillness.

For friends with wisdom, with patience, who give back with more than you've given, who fill you up.

For rays of sun and drops of dew. For budding branches and emerging bugs. For spotting the first lady bug as the weather warms. For rainy days and rubber boots. For muddy gardens and seeds with growth.

For prisms that make rays of sunshine transform into dancing rainbows on the wall.

For paint brushes and palettes of color. For blank paper to capture design.

For the curiosity and brightness of three year old eyes. For endless questions and for delight in the answers.

For dragons and bears dancing in wispy clouds. 

 

For all of these things and many more that bring delight and joy to every moment.

For choosing happy.
For choosing now.
For being present.
For being mindful.
For seeing potential in everything small and everything big.

***

Thank-you so very much to Sharleen for being on my blog today. As you go about your day, in those moments where you have a second to reflect, think about the little things in your life that bring you the happiness that really matters and makes your life special.

Sharleen is right. There is potential happiness in so much around us.

Here's to choosing to see it and to being happy.

Cin

For the Love Of...Zumba with Erica Fitzpatrick

Good Monday Everyone!

Yes, we're back! It's another For the Love Of...day!

Have you ever tried Zumba? Currently in Miramichi on Sunday evenings at 6:00, a group of ladies get on out and get on up at the Seaman's Hospital to shake their groove thangs! Today my guest is Zumba instructor Erica Fitzpatrick and she's here to talk about why she loves to shake it. Take it away Erica!

***

For the love of...ZUMBA!!!!
 
Ok, so here’s the thing – we are not all lucky enough to LOVE exercising.  If you are anything like me, the entire time that I am at the gym I am focused on the clock wondering if I’ve been there long enough that the people working the front desk are not going to judge me when I leave.  We all need to move our bodies and get our hearts pumping enough that the sweat ruins our make-up, but for me it was something that I would have to make myself do.  It wasn’t fun.  I didn’t smile.  And I sure as hell didn’t want anyone looking at me while I was doing it.  But that all changed to me after my first Zumba Fitness(R) class.
 
It was 3 months after the birth of my third little girl.  I was big, bloated, cranky and leaking (Moms you know what I mean).  I didn’t go to class that night because I was ready to get healthy again, I went to get out of the house alone for the first time in months.  I walked into class expecting to see a room filled with fitness models and to my relief there was every size, shape, age and every fitness level there.  When the Latin music filled the room, I followed the instructors lead and felt like a fool.  I was moving my body, shaking my booty and even doing a few shimmies.  But after a few songs I realized that I was having fun!  I was laughing and singing and sweating!  Man was I sweating!  It didn’t feel like everyone was watching me dance terribly, it felt like we were all doing it together.  Some moves we rocked and some moves we would attempt and fail miserably.  When class was finished I couldn’t believe I had just spent a whole hour not thinking about my kids or husband or feeling bad about myself or my body.  It was an hour of pure JOY!!  And best of all – it was exercise!
 
It was only 2 months after that I became a Zumba instructor.  I went from not wanted anyone to look at me, to loving my body enough that I could stand in the front of the room and shake it!  I couldn’t wait to spread this joy with everyone I know.  I have been instructing for 4 years now and I still feel that exact same joy in every class.  Zumba brings on that natural high.  You get lost in the music and let your body move while you burn a ton of calories (between 500 and a 1000 Calories to be exact).  It really is fitness in disguise.
 
As an instructor I also benefit from the joy that my students experience.  Everyone has their own reasons for going to Zumba.  I’ve seen clients lose weight, battle depression, gain confidence, make friends, rehabilitate after surgery or illness.  We Zumba freaks usually have such an emotional attachment to our classes that it has turned us into a wonderful Zumba family.   Members come and go and come back and bring friends and family and we welcome and support each person.  It really is the most wonderful experience.
 
Everywhere I go people call me “The Zumba Lady” (or “The Crazy Zumba Lady”), and I am so incredibly proud of that title.  Zumba has changed my life and the lives of so many people that I love and care about.  Zumba is good for the body but more importantly, Zumba is good for the SOUL!  If you ever meet me, I will probably try to talk you into coming to class sometime.  I can’t help it.  I honestly would just love for everyone to feel that joy that I felt from my first Zumba class...and every class since.

***

 
I've taken Erica's amazing Zumba class a couple times and I can tell you, it feels incredible. When you let yourself go and get into music you really do forget you're at an exercise class. You'll laugh, you'll sweat, and you'll feel beautiful. Our bodies are not meant to be stationary and even if you arrive thinking you can't do it, I guarantee that after a few minutes, Erica, or an instructor who loves Zumba like she does, will make you think differently. 

Thank-you to Erica for being on  my blog today. If you live here in Miramichi, track this lady down and get to one of her classes!

And thank-you for stopping by.

Now get out on up and DANCE!

Cin

Lyndsey Turner, SFP: Please Make My Pipe Dream Come True!

Hello Blog Fans...

Today it's a VLOG. Enjoy!

That's it. That's all. 

Keep reaching for those pipe dreams!

Cin

For the Love Of...Body Love with Morgan Lee

Good day everyone and welcome to For the Love Of...

Today my guest is the inspirational Morgan Lee. She is the founder of Morgan Lee Wellness and in her own words she is a "Transformational Nutrition Coach, Spin Instructor Mad Woman and dedicated motivator and cheerleader for anyone who’s interested."

The post Morgan has sent me is one that many of us can relate to. We are all very good at complementing each other, seeing the beauty in those around us, but how good are you at being kind to yourself?

And now, please welcome, Morgan Lee.

***

For the love of…Body Love

How many times a day do you tell yourself something nice about your body? How many times do you mutter something negative about yourself? I’m willing to bet that the latter is more common.

How did it become this way? Why is shaming and bullying your own body the norm now? A recent study found that more than 80% of women are unhappy with their bodies. It’s gotten to the point that we can’t take compliments and we shy away from the nice things that people say about us by responding with an insult towards ourselves.

We work out because we hate our bodies, not because we respect them. If we over-indulge in something, we punish ourselves for days and starve ourselves. We compare ourselves to strangers and work to achieve the impossible for our body type.

 

I started Morgan Lee Wellness because I was tired of hating myself. I was tired of starving my body or binging. I was tired of running 5 miles when I actually HATE running. I thought I was being so good to my body. Pushing it to the limit and such. I started this company because I was tired of all the body hate and punishing that women are doing to themselves.

How good would it feel to wake up and look in the mirror and be genuinely happy with how you look. To love the way your hips curve and your thighs giggle. To truly not want to change one piece of you. To not picture someone else’s body, wishing that it was yours.

Loving your body. I mean truly LOVING your body is not a faraway impossible reality. It’s about re-shaping your thoughts. Negativity breeds negativity and positivity breeds positivity. You get to CHOOSE which outlook you want to grow and strengthen. The change isn’t going to happen overnight. After years of self-shaming and self-hate, it’s going to take a while to quiet that voice and allow for the other one to blossom. But the time it takes is worth it.

You only get one body. You don’t get to trade it in and hand-pick everything you’d like. So it's time to start finding things you love about your physique. Start small. Look in the mirror and identify things you find beautiful about yourself. Maybe it’s your eyes or your hair or even the shape of your ears. It takes baby steps to grow your positivity muscle.

For the love of body LOVE, show yourself compassion and you’ll be surprised at how happy you’ll feel.

***

If you live out the Calgary way, Morgan is giving a Free Nutrition and Body Love Workshop on February, 21st. 

You a can also find out more about Morgan though these various forms of social media

Website: Morgan Lee Wellness

Facebook

Twitter

I'd like to thank Morgan very much for joining me on For the Love Of...As someone who used to see only the awful when I looked in the mirror, I can really relate to this post. A couple years ago, I made started being nicer to myself after hearing someone I love very much say, "Good morning Ugly" when she looked in the mirror. It broke my heart. How could she be so mean when she was so lovely? And then I took a close look at how I treated myself and realized that if I was going to set a good example of body love for my daughter, I had to stop hating myself. Now, two years later, when I look in the mirror, I don't see my flaws. I see a mother, a writer, a wife, an actress, a friend, a daughter. I see the good in myself and I'm happy with and love who I see.

Morgan is right, it takes time, but you're worth it. All of you.

Join me on the 23rd when my guest will be Leona deVinne. She's here to make the world a better place with Joy Socks!

Be happy,

Be beautiful,

Be yourself.

Cin

For the Love Of...Balance with Lisa Savage

Hello and Good Monday to you all!

I am so lucky and proud to have my very, very good friend Lisa Savage on my blog today. Lisa is my third guest on, For the Love Of...She's here to share how trying something new can teach you a lot about yourself and find balance even in a very busy life.

Everybody please, give a warm welcome to Lisa.

***

I have, what I consider to be, a pretty busy life. With two young children, a day job as a social worker, a home to maintain, and all of the other day-to-day things that life entails, I sometimes feel like I am juggling more tasks than I can handle. This feeling has been especially strong since this past fall as I was feeling like nothing I did received 100% of my attention or ability, and I was really seeking balance in my life and something outside of the day-to-day tasks to focus on. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining; I love my family, I like my job, I'm happy with my life, but sometimes you just need something a little bit different to change your outlook or your focus and get you outside of your normal routine. That’s when Jamberry came along.

If you've never heard of Jamberry well, let me tell you, it is amazing!! Jamberry nails wraps are heat activated vinyl wraps, kind of like nail stickers that you apply to your fingernails or toenails and they last for over a week on your fingers and up to six weeks or more on your toes. I have never been one to focus on my nails or to want to have them painted all the time but from the first time I tried Jamberry I have been in love. It was in November when my friend Kari, who is also an Independent Consultant, posted on her Facebook page that she was looking for people to join her team and become consultants that I thought maybe this could be an option for me. If you know me well, you know that the direct sales approach is not really something that I lean toward naturally. After all, I don't even like to ask people for money and I certainly hate to feel like I am bothering somebody, and promoting myself and my product and is a little bit of a step outside of my comfort zone. However, I have come to discover that this is a good thing and it's something that I think I needed at this time of my life.

One of the things that I love about selling Jamberry is when people are kind of skeptical at first and seem to be thinking, they’re silly nail stickers, how great can they be?! Then they try a sample and they're amazed at how long they last, how good they look, and how much they like them. I love to see people realize that this is a really great product and something that they would love to have. One of the best parts of becoming a Jamberry Independent Consultant is how much closer Kari and I have gotten through this whole process. She has been an unending source of support and encouragement and an amazing leader and friend to me. If that's the one thing that I take away from this Jamberry experience than that is enough. It's only been a couple short months since I've taken on this new challenge in my life but I’ve already learned a lot about myself and I'm grateful for that. Sometimes it can be a little stressful to have added this new challenge into my already busy life but every time I complete another task related to Jamberry whether it be an online party, a home party, learning something new, I feel a renewed sense of pride and a feeling of positivity that I was able to do it. I never realized that going outside your comfort zone (ie: direct sales for me) could be a scary, yet good feeling and seeing results, monetary and otherwise from my hard work, in such a short time makes me feel really proud and pleased to be a member of the Jamberry team. The emphasis on a team approach is very strong among Jamberry Independent Consultants and there are so many consultants willing to help, provide resources and information, and lend a hand so each of us can succeed. 

 

I think I’ll always remember the night I decided to be a Jamberry consultant. Not that it was really profound but it was a different kind of decision than one that I would usually make. I had been considering Kari's post on Facebook and while she was visiting one evening we talked about how I was thinking about joining the team and my apprehensions about it. Cindy was also there and both of them were very encouraging even though I was being indecisive (a normal thing for me) and not sure what to do. I felt so much support from both Kari and Cindy during the whole discussion. Right before Cindy left that evening she said to me, go ahead and do it; your work life is really busy and hectic maybe it would be nice to have something different, something positive to focus on. At that moment I decided I would take a chance and give it a try. I guess it was the fact that two of my closest friends were encouraging me and had faith in me that really made me feel like I could take the plunge and take a chance. I am so glad that I did. 

So this is all to say that it's not just the fact that I started selling “nail stickers” that that has been a positive change in my life, but it's what it has brought to me personally that I am grateful for. And even though my day-to-day life has become even busier since taking on this extra “job”, somehow I feel like there is greater balance in my life…I'm not even sure how that's possible…but I feel like the need to find time for family, relationships, and myself has taken on an even more important role and I have found a way to put more emphasis on each of those things since I've added Jamberry to my life.

Thank-you Kari and Cindy for encouraging me to take on this positive new challenge! Thank you also, Cindy, for asking me to be on your blog! It's been another challenge to think of how to put all of this into words but it's a been a nice reflection for me and I'm grateful for the opportunity! 

Thank you all for reading this as well and if you’re interested in these nail wraps that I am always gushing about check out my...

Facebook business page: Lisa Savage Jamberry Independent Consultant
 
Or my website: Lisa Savage Jamberry Nails 

***

 

Thanks again very much to Lisa for popping by today. I can't agree more that finding balance in one's life helps you to focus on what means the most to you.

If you know anyone who would has a love you think people should know more about, please write me at cindy.rule73@gmail.com. I'm always looking for guests for For the Love Of.

Until next time,

Here's to what you love,

Cin

PS: Jamberry's are pretty cool. Even Batman likes them. 

For the Love Of...Code with Christina Workman

Hello Blog Fans

And welcome to another edition of For the Love Of. Today, I'm so very happy to have my delightful and talented sister-in-law Tina (or Christina) as my second guest. When I asked her to write a post about something in her life that she felt passionate about, not only was a post about writing code something I had not expected, but I also discovered that reading a piece about the love one can have for code or coding, will make me cry.

So please, enjoy. I don't expect everyone to cry like I did, but I think this post will make you look at the combination of computers and math a little differently.

***

A few years ago, I left the security of the corporate world and steady paychecks to start my own business. As it turned out, that particular business was not right for me, but the journey led me to where I am today. And I mean that about as literally as one could...I am sitting in a comfy chair at my computer with my mini fireplace  going and my dog by my side. And I get paid to do this every day!
 
I flip flop constantly about what to call myself, but basically I'm a web designer and content manager. Generally, I love all things internet and if there's a way to do something online, I'm on board. If someone needs help with their website, social media, blog, etc, I'm over the moon when I get to be the one to come to the rescue. My newest motto is "Let me be your geek!"

The thing I love most about making websites is the code. Creating the design is fun, but I can get lost for hours playing around with the code, manipulating until it produces exactly what I want it to. It took me a long time to realize that this is what I love doing, and once I did, I was amazed I hadn't figured it out earlier. Computer code is essentially a combination of math and language, and those were my two favourite subjects in school. I even majored in languages at university. How I never put two and two together sooner, I'll never understand...especially given my love of math!

I wish I knew how much I loved coding earlier in my life. I did have a few brief encounters with coding basics as I grew up, but there were no formal learning paths back then. Even now a lot of code education is self-taught online rather than via formal school programs. Recently, I started thinking about a new phase in my adventures with coding. I know there are lots of kids out there like me, who might love coding but not realise it yet. They probably haven't even been exposed to it. So I am working towards creating an extra-curricular coding program for elementary school students. 

Earlier this month I had the immense pleasure of teaching computer coding to the entire grade three population at my son's school as part of an initiative called Hour of Code. It was so exciting to watch these 8 year olds figure out the basics of coding a computer game. Watching their faces light up as they made the Angry Bird catch the evil pig because they programmed it to move and make decisions is priceless. 

Coding with my son's classmates reinforced how much there needs to be a coding program available to them, and how much I want to be the one to bring that program to life. 

***

See? Don't you want to try a bit of coding now? Also, I'm going to put it out there even if Tina didn't her in post, but if you're looking for a web designer or other things internetish, Tina's your girl. Here's the link to her site.

Amethyst Answers

I'd like to thank Tina very much for being a guest on For the Love Of...today. If you know of someone who has a love they should share, or if you would like to talk about what gets you out of bed in the morning, please drop me a line at:

cindy.rule73@gmail.com

I'd like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. This year has not been easy, but we've had a lot of love and support and we've appreciated every bit of it.

Until next time,

Cin

Random Passage Tuesday: Say it isn't Sue...

Hello RPT fans

Today's Random Passage Tuesday is genuine in that it's actually happening on a Tuesday and the passage is for definite sure-sies random! I didn't have something happen in my present that triggered a memory about the past. No sir, this post was picked out via grabbing an old dairy from the pile and asking my daughter to pick a number between 1 and 160. (Why yes, since you silently asked, I did number the pages in my diaries.) She picked page number 74 and ooo weeee: It's a doozy!

Enjoy this verbatim passage from April, 11/89. Notes explaining my ridiculous behaviour to follow...

April, 11/89

Dear Diary. You will never believe what happened today!! I was given a 2nd chance! Jamie got off at my stop again! * Can you believe it?! 2 days in a row!! Well I took advantage of it this time, I mean there was no way I was going to blow it again! So I walked up to him & said "Hi" He turns to me with a look in his eyes that could have possibly been suprise & and says "Hi." We then started to talk about our marks & school & that's about it! Then he said "see ya: (He always says that) & I said "Bye" & practically ran into the house! I was so excited! But I'm not going to get my hopes up to much. I'll just wait and see if he walks with me & stuff like that. I mean we proably wouldn't of talked or walked together or anything if I hadn't of said anything. But you never know, maybe Jamie was thinking what I was thinking like maybe she doesn't want me to walk with her ect. Well I dunno! It's not like I'm going to ask him! He was looking at me a number of times when I looked at him in the library today. Or I'd be looking at him & he catch me looking at him. Kim was looking at him to (?) & he caught her about 3 times! Oh Boy! Oh geeze he's go the nicest blue eyes I've ever seen! And he's got such a nice profile!** I'm going to have a cow, Sue won't be hear at school for the rest of the week! Yes!*** Her grandfather died and she's going to Montreal. Aw. Oh I mean I"m sorry her grandfather died but I'm not sorry that she won't be at school! Also today I got my french & history marks. I got 83% in both. My french is up 3% & my history is down 2%. That's ok! Well nothing else to say! Bye!!

So there you are, a little slice of my mind  from grade 10. Now, let's to the notes.

* I had good reason to think he wanted to walk with me since there was another bus stop just around the corner that was actually closer to his house. So there. And for the record, in my next diary entry, he got off at my stop again, walked with me, and started the conversation. So there, so there.

** To be clear, when I said "profile" I actually meant his physical profile...you know the side of his face and not say his online dating profile or Facebook profile.

*** This is one of my greatest regrets. Sue was a girl I hung around with in grade 10 and we had a personality clash. For reasons that at the time seemed justified I took it upon myself to write out a list of things she did that annoyed me  and one day told her how I felt. Instead of kicking me in the girl parts she looked shamefaced, apologized, and tried to tame her ways. I felt awful and still do. What right did I have to do something like that? Okay, yes, she had constantly hit a on boy I liked ( a different by, not Jamie. I liked a lot of boys in high school) even though she knew it bothered me and wasn't interested in him, but I was a very nice person and never liked to hurt people, especially, basically, on purpose. Sue, wherever you are, I'm very sorry. You were vibrant, outgoing, and off the wall. I know now that I was just jealous because I was so shy and didn't have the courage to draw too much attention to myself. I hope the qualities you had then that made you unique are ones that you still possess today.

Random Passage Tuesday: The Specific Passage Friday Edition

Hello Fans of my Random Passages

And welcome to a twisted version of my sometimes happens on Tuesday blog post.

Last week, thousands of girls around the world wept hot, bitter, loud, and ridiculous tears over the fact that the utterly charming Benedict Cumberbatch is no longer on the market. Yes, he is now engaged and set to not marry any his fans.

A few of my concerned friends who know of my celebrity crush on this man, offered sympathy and delicately let me know of his new status. I however, am stronger than many a fan girl, not to mention I am already happily married to a delightful man, and was not moved to even the slightest tear over this news.

You are probably asking, how does this related to Specific Passage Friday? Well, I'll get right to it. Some of you are aware of my almost life long celebrity crush on Michael J. Fox. Like many girls my walls were once plastered with MJF photos from a variety of highly entertaining and factual teen magazines.

My Room in June, 1987.

My room last week. Ha! Just kidding. My room in March 1991. This was 1 of 4 MJF walls.

And, let's be honest, I'm not only one in the world who took those wall pictures and put them in a scrapbook which she still keeps in a bin in the basement, am I right? Can I get a high five for saccharine sentiment?

My daughter likes to say to me, "You've liked him since you were ellllevvven." I can't put into words her tone, but it's full of the kind of mockery that only one raised by parents who work in the medium of sarcasm can master. Anyway, to be short my crush for MJF goes WAY back and has been simmering and keeping it's flavour for over 30 years. AND even though my crush was once mixed with desire to meet him, and have him fall in love with me, and be with me FOREVER I managed to not fall to pieces when he got married. No, it's true. I, who was 15 at the time, managed to face the news with good humour and I have the diary passage to prove it!

As a side note, this verbatim passage includes other interesting tidbits about my enthralling teenage existence.

July, 17/88, 9:30pm

Hi Diary! Today I finally saw Stephan! He got back last night when I was in Quebec. ( & survived when I was there!) He's still gorgeous (meaning he didn't change) except for, well he bleached or did something to his hair! It looks stupid in my opinion but knowing me I'll get use to it! Also Michael J. Fox got married this weekend. (July 16/88) I'm not upset because I like Tracey Pollan & I think they look great together! Wendy phoned today! And like I knew she would she got the $100.00 scholarship prize!  I'm so proud of her! We talked for 21 minutes! We talked about All My Children & how we both cried when Jessie died & we talked about lots of other stuff too! Well Bye!

So as you can see I had a lot going on at the time of Mikey's marriage and so was little moved by the news of his status change. For the record, I've very little memory of Stephan. I can't remember if he was my neighbour to the left of us or if he lived down the road. And wow, I've no memory of purposely watching All My Children while living in Ottawa. And, as I was babysitting full time that summer, I must have subjected the kids I was looking after to all it's dramatic soapyness. Lucky them!

Anyway, that wraps up this week's not so Random Passage. I hope this finds you well and that you too have managed to move on with your lives even though Benedict Cumberbatch is now off limits and no longer spending his life waiting around to not marry you.

Be creative!

Cin

Random Passage Tuesday: A New Kids Introspective

Hello All

And Welcome to another Random Passage Tuesday!

If you recall, my last RPT was on July, 1st. I took one of my diaries out, opened it to a random entry and found myself eyes to memory with a New Kids concert. However, as it was Canada Day, I decided to do a not so random passage and purposely picked a Canada Day passage from 1987.

Now, the other day at work (and for those who don't know, I work in a fabulous used clothing store called Global Styles) I found this bad boy.

 

There was no question that I had to buy this shirt. In fact, I think I used to own one just like it. When I picked it up and took it home, I decided that my next RPT must be my returning to that above mentioned passage, and transcribing it for your reading pleasure. And as luck or kismet or coincidence or whatever would have it, today, Tuesday, August, 5/14, actually marks the 24th anniversary of the day I went to this New Kids on the Block concert.

As a side note, and therefore before I get to the good stuff, the shirt I'm sporting (oh yes, I'm still wearing it as I write this post) is actually from a different tour...their "Hangin' Tough" tour...which I did go to...5 months before the one I'm about to recall, verbatim, for you. I just thought I would point that out in case there are some of you out there who would know that fact and call me on it. Ok, enough stalling, to the post!

Monday, August 6/1990

...Danny said "This is the time during the show when I strip." & he took his 2 shirts off!! Oh my god! What a body!! Donnie almost always had his shirt off! HE's so good! His sticks* had glow in the dark things on them & lights were all off so all you could see was his sticks! It was cool! Just before they sang "say^with me baby." everyone except Jordon said they were going to use them for a large trick. So they close donnie in the the box they formed with cards. (Joe had a jack on his card & Jordon told him to stop making such a jack of himself!) Then they dropped the cards & donnie was gone but then he suddenly appeared! He had a special belt around his waist with ropes on it & it was attached to a moving trolley thing on the cieling of the stage! It was so funny! He hung upsidedown & everyother position while he sang! It was great! Danny did some breaking+ dancing too! It was amazing he didn't hurt himself on the wet stage. (out of passage interjection: the concert was outside and it was f'in raining. Crazy raining.) Almost at the beginning of the concert they introduced their band. And they have a sitar in their band (which I found amusing because of Paul** at work.) Joe & Donnie kept arguing about whether it was a guitar or a sitar. Donnie would say "It's a guitar." & Joe then yelled "Sitar" "guitar!" "sitar!" "guitar!" "sitar!" It was hyllerious#!

I then go on and on for another 2 pages (in total this entry was 12 pages) and as you can guess, it's all brilliant prose, but before I leave you to think over today's RPT, I have one more passage to share, and believe me, it's worth the read.

He (Donnie) was saying that the other day  he read in the paper that New Kids on the block fans were not very intelligent & he didn't think that was a fair thing to say because were didn't do drugs, we were posotive minded people & we weren't pregidice! So that means that people who aren't intelligent are the ones who say we aren't. Because they're the ones that said New kids wouldn't last  & yet after 3 years they're still #1!!! And they weren't going to listen to them anymore & they were going to always keep "Hangin' Tough!" & and then they sang it!

And so, my friends, that ends this Random Passage Tuesday. Well almost ends. I believe I have some notes...

* I have no memory of what these stick I speak of were.
^ that would actually be "Stay" not "Say". Sorry about that true NKOTB fans.
+ I'm sure I meant break dancing. I was probably just so caught up in my entry that I added the "ing" without thought or reason.
# I think we know that as "hilarious" as that sitar guitar chat battle was, the funniest thing about that memory is how badly I spelt hilarious.
** Paul was a guy (and probably still is a guy) I worked with at Innis Road Golfland (ow-I've got some memories of that place somewhere) and he was OBSESSED with Ravi Shankar.

Ok, I'm am all done. Thanks for joining me today.

Here's to days that are journal worthy.

Here's to ignoring the haters.

Here's to "Hangin' Tough"

Cin

Random Passage Tuesday: OH! It's Canada Day!

Hello All!

It's been a while since I've done post so let's get on with it!

Danny said "This is the time during the show when I strip." and he took his -

Wait, wait, wait. Hold the post. It's Tuesday and so I should be posting a random diary passage, but it's also Canada Day, so instead I'm going to do "Specific Passage Tuesday" and share with you a passage from July, 1/1987: The day my family and I left Victoria, BC to begin our 4 year stint in Ottawa, ON.

I warn you, that this diary entry, the first entry in this diary (just to lend another layer of learning), may be considered "Too Much Information", but in my first Random Passage Tuesday post I promised to transcribe what was on the page verbatim so verbatim is what you're going to get.

***

Check out the inside cover. Did I have low self esteem 

or was 

I really obsessed with lighters?

Canada Day, July, 1/1987

Today Dear Diary we left the island headed on a long sweaty hot trip to Ottawa wear my new home is now located*. We travelled for about 5 hours. I am now in Salmon Arm and staying at the Best Western. WE we left the island I didn't want to cry or be really happy. I guess I didn't really know how I felt but after I went swimming at the motel I suddenly  start to cry and realized tht I was very sad & that I really wanted to be back in Victoria where I had lived for 14y. 4m. & 15 days. Also today I guess you could say that I became a mature young lady. I got my period after we had dinner. It's not a very heavy flow of blood and not a lot of pain. My Mum & Dad took me out to get pads and pantie liners. Well that's about it talk to you tomorrow.

(* Yes, yes, I know. I was way off on the "wear" and the sentence sounds like my new home was located elsewhere before it got moved to Ottawa.)

 ***

And that, my friends, was my day exactly 27 years ago. Today I expect my day to be a lot different except that, like that July 1st I said goodbye to all I had ever known, it's going to be a very sweaty hot one. And I'd just like to add that this was one of the most significant days of my life. I didn't realize it then and in fact wouldn't realize it until we moved back to Victoria 4 years later that this move away from all I'd known to the unknown gave me the foundation to become very adaptable and good with change. Most change, big change. Small changes can throw me such as putting the vegetable peeler in a new location every time you dry to dishes...I'm not on board with that kind of change. (It goes in the small flower pot that's ON the counter, OK???) But, big changes, I accept and embrace because life is about growing as a person and you don't grow, if you don't accept change.

Now, before I let you get back to your Canada Day Shenanigans, I am aware that some of you, who are in the know, may be hoping for a Canada Day Dress Photo (see the page I've set up specifically for these pictures) but last year, the 10th anniversary, was the finale. I'll still snap a picture of Sorcha for posterity, but the dress has most definitely been retired.

Enjoy your day, my friends,

And Happy "Cindy Became a Mature Young Woman Day" to you all.

Cin

This One's for Margaret

   On any given Saturday morning you can find me sitting on the couch in my robe, clutching a cup of fresh coffee and chatting away with one of my favourite people. Her name is Margaret and she is pretty much the best mother-in-law anyone could ask for.

I first met Margaret not as his girlfriend, but as a classmate of Sean's. I remember when I shook her hand that I felt the moment of our meeting was very special and that for some reason it was very important that she like me. Just over a month later, I had dinner at their home as Sean's girlfriend and she made me so comfortable and welcome that by the end of evening I knew I'd found my second family.

But that's Margaret. She's just one of those people that makes  you feel like everything in your life that is good is worth celebrating. Whether you've just gotten a new pair of shoes that you're totally jazzed about because not only are they pretty, they are also comfortable or you've just landed a job you really wanted, Margaret is your champion. A few weeks ago I was telling a friend of mine about how enthusiastic Margaret is and said to my friend that even if you'd done something as simple as switch breakfast cereals, but it was a change that you made you a happier person, she'd be the one to share this news with because she'd be right there with you and happy that you found something good about breakfast.

The opposite is also true. Cut off in traffic? She's got some curse words to add to your story that you may not have thought of! Publicly embarrassed yourself in a way that makes you want to go live out the rest of your days in a cave on a remote island? She'll empathize with a tale of her own. Had pretty much the worst day of your life? Margaret will offer you genuine sympathy even though her own personal and present story could knock you sideways.

To call Margaret a story teller is an understatement. She's a story teller and keeper of tales. Not just of her own but of her, but of the history of her family and many friends. When she talks of her parents, her sisters, and growing up in Weston, ON. you live the events with her. The house she grew up in becomes your house. The memories she shares become your own.

And, Margaret loves to hear your stories too. Often when she calls I will say to her, "Oh! I have an awesome story for you!" and she will usually say, "Oh good!" and settle in. She'll listen with her usual enthusiasm and laugh at all the right parts, but you know you've told a really good story when you get to the climax of the tale and from the receiver you hear…nothing. This silence is actually the sound of Margaret laughing so hard that there is no noise coming out of her. This could go on for a few seconds and is followed by a gasp and more laughter as she remembers to breathe. It's a beautiful sound.

She is an incredibly thoughtful person. It doesn't seem to matter what she is going through, she will remember to call you to wish you good luck on the first day of your new job, or to wish good luck to a grandchild on a the first day of school or school play. Birthday's are filled with many happy greetings and a song. And more often then not, the phone calls are simply because she is thinking of you and wants to know how you are.

Family and good friends mean everything to her. She's a ferociously devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and all other titles she proudly wears. To be part of her inner circle is to be a part of a very special relationship. For good or ill, you know where you stand with Margaret. Be true and honest with her and you will have no better friend. However, wrong her or hurt someone dear to her and you may find yourself looking into the circle you were once a part of.

Margaret is also never a person to keep a positive observation to herself. If she likes the shirt your wearing, or your new hair cut, or she just in general thinks you look nice, or that you've done something worthy of mentioning, she will tell you. For those of us who know her, we know that compliments back to Margaret are not always taken seriously. But, Margaret is beautiful. She is more beautiful than I know she will ever allow herself to believe. We all see it even if she doesn't. She says that my daughter's eyes dance, that Sorcha's soul lives right there on the surface of them for all to see. Well that trait, and one of Sorcha's most wonderful, is something she inherited from Margaret. Her is soul is always there, watching you. It's not hidden. It's never in darkness.

Life is complex, deliciously amazing and scary, and at times deeply sad. We often question the cruel state of things, shout into the deep chasm of what seems unforgiving and pound our fits on the wall that sometimes blocks all hope. We question why over and over even though we know that there is no answer or no reason.

However, to Margaret there is always a silver lining. She said to me not long ago, "You have to dance, Cin. You dance when you can."

So, I will. No matter how hard things get I will dance.

And in the silence, I will hear her laughter.

Margaret, I love you and this is for you.

xoxo,

Cin

Stuff at the end of my driveway

Hello and hey there blog fans


You may think that today's post, because of the title of it, is about the trials and tribulations of having to shovel what the plow left at the end of my driveway. But no, it's not. Well, maybe a little. Earlier I put on my snow shoveling outfit...

Rule's Bringin' Sexy Back

and forced my daughter (the photo bomber) to help me chip away at the mound of hard, chunky, icy snow that the plow left - nay no doubt ENJOYED leaving at the end of my driveway. Well, I don't know that for sure. I have no actual proof. I didn't hear maniacal laughter after he'd done his dirty deed today or on any other plowing occasion. And besides, I'm well aware that it's not the plow's fault, but that of the driver and his directional, jerk like, snow dumping choices. Sigh...we were out there for 90 minutes and only managed 2/3 of the driveway before we called it "Daddy can get the car in. Let's go in for a beer" done.

But I digress. Let's get on with the real reason for this post. Childhood memories! Last night, as I was partaking in a play rehearsal in the gym (that has a lovely stage) at Nelson Rural School, I noticed a bench at the foot of a ramp which led to stage left. Various thoughts ran through my mind including "Does that really stop people from going up there? Do they approach it and say 'Hold on there Jim. There's a bench here. I think it means stay put!'?"

And the cynical side of me said, "No! Anyone could hope right over it...I mean it's not that high!", but then I got hit smack in the face with a childhood memory and my reasonable, rule obeying side said, "Yes, yes, it could."

ANYWAY, the reason I realized that the bench could very well keep people from running all willy nilly up and down the ramp or up onto the stage where they may perform an absolutely horrendous rendition of the most famous of monologues ever, (That's right, the one Gene Hackman does over the P.A. System in Crimson Tide. Ha! You thought I was going to say that one from that play...you know...by that famous guy...about the dude who has woe begone issues to the point of tedium and talks to a skull.)  IS BECAUSE I used to obey a piece of wood that behaved in a similar fashion.

When my brother and I were young'ins, and my mother would force us with not so subtle intimidation to "go outside and get some fresh air", the first thing we had to do if you we were planning on playing in the driveway was to bring out the DRIVEWAY STICK and place it at the of end of the driveway. No, I'm not kidding. We really had to do this. I'll show you.

Very Clear Depiction of Driveway Stick

Now, in case my brother reads this and decides to point it out, I'm well aware that across the street from us was not clear blue sky, but indeed houses which contained people that we will call "Neighbours".

Ok, so we did this when we played in the driveway and obeyed the driveway stick as if it had some sort of crazy, force field powers that not only prevented us from stepping over it, but also stopped us from going around it, by say...stepping onto the grass on either side of it!! Now, I'm not saying, the stick always had us in the grips of its control. No, one time my brother took a leaf from the tree (yes, the one that is clearly illustrated in the picture above) and chased a little girl named Tara AROUND AND AROUND THE STICK until eventually she tripped over it.

OOOOH! Epiphany! Maybe, even during the "leaf event" the stick was in control because after Tara tripped, there was no more going around the stick. Well, at least not that day and at least not for my brother. I have to be honest, I think I followed the commands of the driveway stick more diligently than my brother did. I was the boring child. The older sister who obeyed all the rules and sticks my family could throw at me. That new phenom "Elf on the Shelf" (creepy bugger) was made for kids like me.

And that's what I was thinking about last night during rehearsal when I wasn't on stage: how a piece of wood, placed just so, can somehow prevent children from doing something terrible or unwise. In our case, it was used as a reminder to not run out into the road and become one with the pavement should a car come by as we were standing there. In the case of the bench at the foot of the ramp that led to the stage, I'm convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is there to stop any children from tearing onto that procinium arch and busting out "Baby's Got Back." Thank-you Mum and Dad and thank-you Nelson Rural.

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone.

Feel the love and be creative.

Cin

Cindy's Cover Ups: Feeling Spinny

Howdy hey fans

It's Tuesday and you know what that means?? That's right, it's the day before Wednesday and that, just so you know, has nothing to do with my post.

No, today I finally got around to making this video...

I know right? It's about time! It's about crazy! It's about...perhaps I need to find a new hobby!

Anyway, it's late in the day and I've got to look over my lines for  rehearsal tonight and think about making dinner. I hope you enjoyed the first my "Cindy's Cover Ups!"

Here's to being creative,

Cin