Spring Is Here ...

Perhaps I am rushing things in my part of the world, but the snow is seemingly melting and what a mess underneath ... dog poop! Now I do try to pick up all the visiable dog poop but didn't realize that the snow covered some of it!

I am still trying to figure out a way to have the dogs pick up after themselves. This of course is a fruitless venture but nonetheless a dream of all dog owners. I am I right?

I am thinking about purchasing some flowers to put in my window boxes in front of the diningroom and livingroom windows. Since I am not an expert on flowers like my mother, I have to rely on the expertise of those in the gardening field and perhaps google for some information on the subject.

I am still on vacation and my to do list is widdling down bit by bit. I think I can get use to retirement without too much difficulty transitioning from an actual work week to a more relaxed setting. Since I deferred my retirement for another a year, I have more time to make plans for that chapter of my life.

In the meantime, I am making plans for the next series of training sessions and looking forward to a month off during the summer. I will create a"To Do List" and little projects for that time. I need a new fence in the back yard that separates my property from the neighbours and keepmy dogs from wandering off and/or running at large in the neighbourhood.

My dogs just started barking outside. I better let them in since they have been outside most of the morning. Next week, they will be back into their old rountine of spending time in doors while I am at work.

Till next time, Cheers!

Sunday Morning

Top of the Morning To You!

This is the first Sunday morning since the beginning of the New Year that I haven't had a to do list a mile long. I must say that it has been quite a wild ride getting use to my new duties as a trainer. The hours of work are no longer 8:00 a.m. to 5;00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Now I work evenings and weekends and days. Not necessarily in that order but you get the idea my schedule has changed considerably. I didn't think that I would have any difficulty adjusting. Wrong! I did have some problems adjusting to the evening work as I like to go to bed early because I am usually up by 5:30 a.m. every morning.

I am off for Spring break until Monday, March 31, 2008 4:30 p.m. when I go back to work to resume teaching an evening session. I must say that the challenge of adjustment has been worth it as I am enjoying the work itself. I spent hours of preparation time and feel confident enough with the material to teach it without feeling like I may be missing something.

In mid-April 2008 I will be starting another round of the same sessions. It will be a busy time right up until the end of June 2008 and then off for the summer. Well, for me it's off for the month of July 2008 and back to work in August 2008 to prepare for the Fall training sessions and teaching new material again.

But for now I am going to pour myself a cup of java and enjoy a liesurely breakfast reading the Sunday paper.

Till next time, Cheers!

The Write Way

Top of the morning to you!

My busy week is behind me and I am free to do as I please, at least for the next few days! This morning while checking my email I clicked open a newsletter from: Writing Tips 101. written by Jennifer Stewart. I enjoy reading it every week. This morning she included a link to the Redcliffe Waterfront Walkways located in Redcliffe Australia. The pictures are breath taking, after all, it's summertime.

So let's go "down under" and take a look for our selves. Enjoy. (Click on the title "The Write Way," it will take you directly to her website).

Just a wee note ...

My life has been a wee bit hectic these past few weeks and therefore, I haven't posted very often. I am in the middle of training this weekend, and again on Monday evening. This will be followed by two days of training for myself so I can learn new material for the advanced training which I will be teaching in the Fall of 2008. I hardly have a moment to myself since the prep work was an enormous undertaking.

In about three weeks time, I will be teaching the same material I am teaching now but only to a different audience. I must say that I do enjoy training and meeting the participants especially those that have a wealth of experience to share during group discussions. Hence we have some very lively discussions at times.

I did manage to sneak a few days off over the Easter break and hopefully get back to blogging a little more often.

Well, it's late and I must be ready for the group tomorrow.

Till next time, Cheers!

A Brand New Woman's Website ... check it out!

This morning while I was getting ready for work I happened to catch an interview on Good Morning America (GMA) with Dianne Sawyer.

She interviewed a group of women who were responsible for the creation of this wonderful website. Check it out! Click on the link below or on my title "A Brand New ... ". Enjoy!

http://www.wowowow.com/post/welcome-wowowow 'Welcome! We launched on March 8th, the 100th anniversary of International Womens Day.' (clipped with Yahoo! Toolbar)

Daylight Savings Time

This weekend is daylight savings time and since we (in Southern Saskatchewan), do not change our clocks we wouldn't never notice a change. However, the only exception are the American TV shows which are broadcast an hour earlier. So for those of you that need to turn your clocks back or ahead, don't forget to do that tonight.

This picture is called "Annie in the Sink". When I had cats I would often find them in the bathtub and/or sink, sometimes they would look into the toilet and ... I think you can imagine that scene. Since I have birds, I no longer have cats. But aren't cats interesting. They can be aloof at times and other times they are like Velcro especially around feeding time.

Speaking of feeding time I haven't had breakfast yet and I am feeling hungry. My glass of orange juice is almost empty and I am needing my morning coffee fix. I know I usually say that I will be back and another week goes by nothing from me. I have been rather busy the past couple of months. This coming weekend I am training again four sessions a day. Then I am off to get more training so I can train more people. It never seems to end. There is always something new to learn and past on.

I hear the birds chirping in the background. It's interesting, I clean their cages every week and every week they sit on top of their perches watching me clean. They can hardly wait until I fill up their cups with new food. The lovebirds are very inquisitive and usually fly on my hand to see what I have for them. Some of them even try to escape and they do. Then Angel, my Sheltie barks her little face off letting me know one got out. I don't hear a sound in the kitchen right now, perhaps they are plotting at how to get back at me for running out of their favorite treat: millet. I better go and see why no one is complaining. I will be back when I can.

Till next time cheers.

Good Morning

I think it's high time for the snow to disappear and for Spring to make her grand entrance!

Enough all ready with the cold weather, slippery roads, and snow shoveling. Perhaps I need to have my first cup of java for the day and then return to writing this blog.

Good News

I paid $104.00 to have the Techie retrieve my data from my hard drive. I went home popped in the DVD into my laptop and presto I had all my files back. I have a note written above my computer screen which reads "back-up", only I know the story behind those words.

The Techie called me this afternoon to tell me that they have located the problem: "the power source is faulty", he said in a smug voice. I asked him what caused the problem? He told me it was either faulty to begin with or it shorted out due to a power surge. The latter seems somewhat dubious to me. If that was the case would not my printer also been affected by the alleged power surge? The Techie told me that they would have to order the part from the company and then put it into my computer. I told him that the other Techie I spoke with yesterday thought there was something wrong with the hard drive. I told him to make sure that everything is in good working order before I pick up my computer.

Perhaps I should take a course in computer repair and hang out a little shingle: "Computer Repairs Here", another thing I could put on my retirement "to Do List".

Well, I am happy again and much relieved that I did not have to redo all that work. I learned my lesson.


Till next time, Cheers

Computer Crash Blues

This morning I turned on my computer and everything seemed normal. NOT. Little did I know within minutes my computer would freeze up as I was backing up my files. What did I do? What I have done hundreds of times before: held down the power button until the computer turned off; then waited the usual 1-1000-2-1000 -3-1000 etc. until I reached 10-1000 and turned on my computer. I heard a little whirl and saw the little light blinking and that was it. My monitor remained BLACK. I repeated previous ritual three more times. And still, NOTHING.

I picked up the telephone and dialed the local computer techie and he told me to bring it in. He plugged the CPU in and he got the same response. This confirmed to him that I wasn't lying. He then told me that I had to get in line and wait, and if I wanted to jump ahead of the line I could fork over $24.95 along with the $80.00 he needed for him to back up my personal data on my hard drive. I asked him how he could do that if the CPU won't even load? He grinned sheepishly as he informed me "they have ways" to do that sort of thing. Ca-ching $$$.

Since I need those files on Monday morning I really have no choice as he has me over a barrel. I need to pay the $80.00 + the $24.95 regardles of what is actually wrong with the computer, to get him to retrive my data.

Last night when I was putting on the finishing touches to a file and a power point presentation, a little thought crossed my mind: "you need to transfer your files over to your memory stick"( it happened to be plugged into the computer at the time). I pushed that thought out of my head and thought I am too tired and will do it tomorrow.

I can tell you one thing: from this day forward, I will NEVER PUT OFF BACKING UP MY DATA!

I hooked up my laptop and plugged in my main screen and wireless key board and I am off to the races. I have a strange feeling that I will be redoing some of my work before the weekend is up.

Right about now, I feel like the guy in the picture, like I am going to be reinventing the wheel.

Till next time, Cheers (I don't feel too cheery at the moment)

Jaime

Sunday Morning

Good Morning,

Right about now I would love to be on a boat in Hawaii watching the Humpback whales diving in and out of the water. Something I should jot down on my "Retirement To Do List"

I read that Humpbacks stick their tail out of the water into the air, swing it around, and then slap it on the water's surface; this is called lobtailing. It apparently makes a very loud sound. Humpbacks lobtail more when the seas are rough and stormy. I decided to look further into the Humpback and found the following information which is quoted in part from the "American Cetacean Society Fact Sheet" below:

"The humpback whale is one of the rorquals, a family that also includes the blue whale, fin whale, Bryde's whale, sei whale, and minke whale. Rorquals have two characteristics in common: dorsal fins on their backs, and ventral pleats running from the tip of the lower jaw back to the belly area. The shape and color pattern on the humpback whale's dorsal fin and flukes (tail) are as individual in each animal as are fingerprints in humans. Click on title "Sunday Blog" or each of the underlined words above to take you directly to their website).

But the reality is that I am in the middle of winter surrounded by snow and the only thing bobbing up and down on the horizon are the shovels flailing into the air redirecting the snow from their driveways and walkways.

Yesterday was a surprising change in weather when the temperature sored up and sent a brief heat wave causing the snow to start melting; hence rain. However, the temperature dropped again to freezing causing icy conditions on the roads, driveways, and walkways. Thank goodness it's the weekend and I don't have to go out.

I am going to pour myself another cup of java and look at some more pictures of the Humpback in Hawaii and visualize myself back on the boat watching these incredible creatures doing their acrobatics!

Till next time, Cheers!

Saturday Morning

Hello Everybody,

Just another Saturday morning to do with what I want. Well that's not exactly true. I have a number of things to catch up on since my work schedule has changed drastically from last summer. I am glad that my retirement is just around the corner.

Tomorrow I plan on attending the yearly RV show here in town sponsored by Traveland RV. I will report back to let you know what's new and what's not. This is my first RV show. I am still thinking of hitting the road when I retire, how soon after, is uncertain at the moment.

Till next time, Cheers!

Not a Morning person?

Good Morning!

Ever wake up in the morning feeling like a bear? This morning is one of those mornings. I looked in the mirror and saw a bear starring back at me. Now wouldn't that set you back a notch or two if that happened to you?

The other morning in the elevator, I over heard someone telling the person next to them that when they woke up this morning they felt like a bear! Strange, I didn't think they looked like a bear, they looked more like a chicken clacking away. Last week, I asked one of my colleagues if they work up grumpy this morning. They replied, "No they let him sleep!"

It seems to me that getting up in the morning feeling like a bear or grumpy all has to do with our attitude, in these situations, towards life. Whether we embrace life with gusto and can hardly wait for the day to begin or drag ourselves out of bed in the morning, our attitude, our thoughts will affect our energy for that day and for some of us everyday.

For example, suppose you awoke this morning at the crack of dawn knowing that today you were leaving on your trip to Mexico, Hawaii, or a warm place of your choosing void of snow. What are you thinking and how do you feel?

On the other hand, if it's 50 below outside with the wind chill and you know your boss will be breathing down your neck as soon as you arrive at your desk this morning. What are you thinking and feeling? I think you get the picture.

Did you know that your feelings about any situation can be controlled by your thinking? My first example may leave you feeling excited about getting away from it all without a care in the world.

Some of you may get a kick out of ticking your boss off by being late with your reports just to make him/her look bad at the next manager's employee productivity meeting.

So what about you, what are you thinking this morning? Do you feel like a bear or happy about getting up this morning ready to face whatever life throws at you?

If you're wondering about me, to be honest, I want to crawl back into bed and hit the snooze button for yet another 10 minutes while I try to get back into my dream about vacationing in Texas!

Till next time, cheers!

Sunday Morning

Do you want a hug? Have you ever had someone come up to you and ask if they could give you a hug? What did you do? Run the other way, or said you were too busy to stop for a hug, or did you just give in and hug them anyway?

I saw a TV show, (way before the writer's strike), not that they had anything to do with this show, where this guy was standing on the street corner in some city with a sign that said "Free Hugs". Some people walked by thinking that he was some kind of nut and others walked over to him for their "free hug" and went on their way, smiling.

I can just imagine myself tomorrow morning standing by the elevator at work and giving people a hug before they stepped on to the elevator. I wonder what kind of reception I would get? I do know quite a few of the people in the building but there are a lot of people whom I don't know.

Well, for now I think I will just hug my dogs, and for the record, I really am not the hugging type! Whatever that means.

Till next time, Cheers!

The Blue Book Grammar

I subscribe to the above named newsletter. Last week Jane Straus added a humorous flavor to her editorial. She posted the following: Excuses Sent by Parents to Schools

She writes and I quote:

Apparently, these are real notes written by parents. (Spellings have been left intact.)

1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.

2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.

3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.

4. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.

5. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.

6. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.

7. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.

8. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.

9. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.

10. Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.

11. I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.

12. Please excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.

13. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.

14. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.

Moving right along, till next time Cheers!

p.s. When you click on the title, The Blue Book Grammar, this link will take you directly to her website. Enjoy!

Drive by ...

Just a quick hello ... it's been a very busy time for me this past week as I attended a three day training workshop, and then had to finish getting ready for my own training sessions this weekend. Needless to say, I am a wee bit tired ... and need to conserve whatever energy I have left for the next two days. The one good thing is that I have co-trainers working along side which is a good thing.

Like I said at the beginning of this blog it's only a drive by to know to let you know I am still alive and kicking so to speak. I will be back later ... much later!

Take care and have a good weekend!

Cheers ...

Winter Months

Yesterday I was mapping out the next three months on the calendar and noted that Spring is around the corner. You would never know it since the temperature is like a yo yo from one day to the next.

I began thinking about all the yard work and I became tired and thought to myself that winter isn't too bad for catching up on things I like to do inside the house. I guess there is a trade off for me in there somewhere. Perhaps this year I will be able to keep up with the yard maintenance since my work days won't always be the same as everyone else's.

I will also make a decision as to whether to retire at the end of this year (2008) like I had planned or if I will stay another year (2009). The ball is in my court, so to speak, which gives me the power of choice.

Life is about choices isn't it? If we weren't afforded choices we would likely feel powerless. There are situations that come into our lives which seemingly do not give us the choices we want. But nonetheless we still have a choice. Perhaps not to change the circumstance but rather we can choose our responses to unwanted and untimely situations which life can throw at us at any given moment. We can chose to live in fear or great expectations of the challenges which are ahead of us.

In the end, it's still up to us how we fair in any given situation by the choices we make in our responses to whatever life tosses our way.

Right now I chose to sign off and make myself breakfast.

Till next time, Cheers!

The Weekend

This is the scene that I imagine in my mind as I open the binds. However, I am quickly yanked back into reality as I see the frost on my windows, snow on the ground and my neighbors shoveling their driveways. It's still winter. We are in for another cold snap according to the weatherman/weather woman. But then again what do they know about the weather they have been known to be wrong, right?

My week flew by without a hitch so to speak. However, this coming week I am participating in another three day training session. My dogs are glad it's in town so they don't have to go to the kennel.

Next weekend, I conduct my first full weekend training along with a couple of co-trainers. I am going to be spending sometime this weekend preparing the session material into a manageable time frames without compromising content and discussion opportunities.

The audience has a wealth of knowledge and experience from which to draw from which will likely promote some very lively discussions during each session.

Till next time, Cheers!

The Magic of Discovery ...

This picture arrived in my mail box in a newsletter which I subscribed to an number of months ago. A picture is worth a thousand words. I wonder what is going through the mind of the deer and cat as they look at each other.

Saturday Morning

Good Morning!

Isn't that a cute picture? I thought it says it all. Let's be friends. Differences don't matter or at least they shouldn't.

My three fur kids are all different breeds: Toy Poodle, Shetland Sheep Dog, and German Shepherd: Large, medium, and small. Three very distinct personalities: Teddy (Toy) he's very much a mama's boy and leader of the pack. He moved in first, then Haida (GSD) who is very laid back and tolerant of her other two mates, and last, but NOT least by any means Angel (Sheltie) who is the yappiest of the bunch. But that's just her. she's very excitable. It's like she is always plugged in to a 120 volts 24-7.

Right now Angel is laying down on the floor beside my computer desk snoring away. Haida is likely on my bed, (she usually sleeps on the love seat in the sun room which is located just off my bedroom), and Teddy probably went into his basket in the dog's room. Yes, I have a dog room for the three of them which houses their crates. This is the room that has the least amount of hair. Go figure.

Speaking of Teddy I need to sign off here pretty quick as he needs to take his "little white pill."

Today I have a number of things to do around the house including cleaning the bird cages. These chores should take me to the end of the day.

Moving on to the next task ... Cheers!

Jaime & Company

Ghost Whisperer

I love watching Ghost Whisperer and was pleased to see a new episode tonight. I also noticed that Ned is being played by an older actor. I guess a new story line around his character must be in the works.

Medium and Ghost Whisperer take a different approach to their presentation of the spirit world. It's going to be interesting how both of these shows will emerge this season with all the twists and unexpected turns.

Hopefully the writer's strike will be over soon. I think the writer's should get whatever benefits reaped by the people making monies on the DVD's from the very shows these writers create. Makes sense to me. I wish all you writers the best in your negotiations.

Till Next Time ... Cheers!

p.s. Click on Ghost Whisperer title to take you to a promo of the show.