Ten Years On

Today is a very special and sad day. Ten years ago, Princess Diana perished in a car crash. In the days and weeks leading up to this day, we have heard many versions of what happened that day, from conspiracy to supposed theory. Maybe the stories are true, and maybe not.

One thing is for sure. We probably all remember where we were when we heard the news of her death.

I do. Hence my post.

We were on our sailboat, in one of the nearby bays, rafted with friends. It was a lazy sort of day. People were rising, getting breakfast ready. I had just started to awaken, and was lazing in the V-berth. I heard My Sweetie talking to our friends. I heard the word 'Diana'.

My mind reeled with the possibilties of the news. Maybe she and Dodi were engaged. Maybe she and Dodi had eloped. Maybe there was some other reason for them to be in the news.

There was.

Now, anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a Royalty fan, and was especially a huge Princess Diana fan, pretty much from the first time I saw her. I was smitten, and that has not changed to this day.

My Sweetie came in to see me, and he had an odd expression on his face. I looked at him, and asked what was wrong. He hesitated at first, I guess not really knowing what to say. Then he told me that Princess Diana had died in a car crash.

From that moment on, I experienced all of the emotions that have been described in the media. Shock. Disbelief. Denial. Sadness. Never ending tears.

The following week was tortuous. The carpet of flowers at Kensington Palace. Details of the crash. Her funeral plans. Contraversy surrounded the Royal family's behaviour.

But I remember the tears. Tears that would continue well past the day of her funeral.

There is no logical explanation for us to feel this way. She was not a member of our family. Not a close friend. Not a dear neighbour.

But, in a way, she was all of these. She related to the common person, the sick, the poor, the helpless, sometimes by a simple touch, or a smile. She was the gift, which would bring the Royals into the current world.

I often wonder what her life would have been like if she had lived. We know that she was trying to be less in the spotlight, and was searching for a more reclusive life. Would she have remarried? Would she have, one day, seen her HRH restored?

We'll never know anything about that. But we may know other information, once the inquests continue.

Maybe it was indeed a 'crash', and not an 'accident'. Maybe there was something else.

Whatever.

Rest in Peace, Sweet Princess. You are still causing the world to pause and take note that you were an important part of our lives.

A Tidbit for you.....

Very busy with 'other stuff'.....

A friend sent this to me, and I thought it was cute, so I am posting it for your enjoyment.

BBQ Blues

BBQ Blues...not really...happy actually.

After many years, it was time to upgrade our BBQ. Things get old. Things get tired. Our BBQ was both old and tired....plus it had a mouse living somewhere inside of it.

*eeeyyyoooo*

Window shopping, without actually buying any of the window contents, is a wonderful experience, and if I were born in another era, I might have been a guy. I love to shop for cars, and BBQ's. If it were in my realm of possibility, I would have purchased the BBQ of all BBQ's. You know the kind....dual burners, wine fridge, rotisserie, wet bar capability, of course stainless steel. All of this would be built into an outdoor fireplace pit, nestled in the middle of the multi-level deck.

I could go on, but I am running out of virtual $$$, and need to get a grasp on reality.

In the end, we bought the cheapest BBQ that we could find. No, it was not stainless steel, and nor did it have any of the fancy bells and whistles that I dream of.

But it did have a side burner.....such extravagance.

May summer live on through December...

My Boyfriend's Having A Baby!

It's been quite a week in the newspapers and magazines. Strange headlines, with even stranger stories.

The title for today's post has to do with Gisele Bundchen...top model. Gisele is currently dating a guy who has an ex-girlfriend who is having his baby.

Can you just imagine this? Can you just imagine the scenarios?

"It's not mine...really."

"Uh, Gisele? I can't see you tonight because I have to diaper the baby."

"My ex wants me to attend birthing classes with her. Can we go to dinner some other night?"

"Don't interrupt me while I am reading how to be a good father to my ex's baby."

It's all a little surreal to me.

No wonder our world is so screwed up.

*wah*

Dead Person Talking

Lately, the newspapers have been producing some interesting fodder for my wee blog.

Yesterday was no exception.

The article noted something about how Germaine Greer was launching a verbal attack on the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

hmmm. This ought to be something to witness. Diana has been gone for almost 10 years (this month on August 31st).

I wonder how Diana is supposed to respond to thus verbal attack? Perhaps through a seance? Crystal ball? I know! Tarot cards!

Perhaps she'll come back to haunt Ms. Greer.

wooooooooooo!

To Writ..I Mean Write

Some titles you just have to read over and over and over.

When I spotted this headline (Pet camel kills woman while trying to have sex)
in one of the online papers, I did a double take. My mind whirled with the possibilities, as follows:

1. The camel was trying to have sex and the woman got killed for getting in the way.
2. The woman was trying to have sex and the camel got jealous, so he killed her.
3. The camel and the woman were trying to have sex with each other, and the woman just wasn't up to it, so the camel killed her.
4. The camel decided that the woman would be a good candidate to have sex, so it jumped her.

Which do you think it was?


Update:
The camel was 10 months old, and was a pet. It apparently jumped on the woman, perhaps to play, but more likely to engage in sexual activity...and it asphyxiated her.

The moral of the story.....don't have a camel as a pet! Doh!

Someone Thinks I'm Nice

Bing-bing-bing-bing...hear ye...hear ye!

Somebody on TV used to say 'it's nice to be nice to the nice'....so true.

Skittles received this Nice Matters award, and then passed it on to a few people, and I happen to be one of them. I am still blushing. As I commented at Skittles post, I wrote how I do not really put a lot of effort into being nice. It is just part of my nature. Sometimes it can be a bit trying, and most assuredly I too can be crabby, but being and staying crabby really takes more effort. So, nice it is. Thanks, Skittles.

This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass it on to others who you feel are deserving of this award.

The next one goes to Mau from It's About Time. Mau was one of my first returning readers. Since then we have become friends and have talked on the phone more than a few times. She never has anything but nice and encouraging to say and her posts are wonderful, especially when she does sound effects.

Wow. So nice. And so is she.

So, I am to pass this on to other people. So here goes. (I'd give one back to Skittles, but it just wouldn't be right, doncha know?).

Silverneurotic is one of those nice people. She always comes around to visit, and drops a little comment. Her blog is quite entertaining....and her life is quite different from my life, but there is always a touch of intrigue.....just to keep you coming back for more.

Terry, Queen of the Dorks and another nice person, is still one of my favourite people to visit. She is a bit of a kook (that's a good thing), and doesn't seem to take things seriously...also a very good thing, in this our most serious of all worlds. When I first got into blogging, I recall being attracted to the strange title of her blog. I have never looked back since.

Jeni , another nice lady with whom we have a few things. She loves to write, and does it very well. I adore her daily Bushisms (even though I had the same calendar and could look them up...but I preferred to read them her way).

Ruth , is a newer addition to my list of people to callout. I am still getting used to including her in my daily visits, but I do enjoy her style of writing. She is another beam of entertainment and good clean fun.

I have another nice person, Mairin, but she no longer has a blog, but I'd like to send her this little award anyway. Just because.

There are so many others I could include in this list, but these are some that stand out, and who always send a warm and fuzzy feeling that way (and we're not talking caterpillars here).

So, go on...pass this award on to someone nice that you know. Brighten their day.

It brightened mine.

Thanks, Skittles.

~Nice~

I See Stupid Drivers...I See Stupid Drivers Everywhere!

Yikes...between last night and today, I have seen stupid drivers everywhere.

Last night, I was returning from the gym. I was about to turn left on my green light, when I noticed in my right peripheral a car speeding toward the intersection. He did not look as though he was going to stop at the red light. At first, I double checked MY light, because I surely must have been mistaken (right?). Not! This guy had a red light, and he was supposed to stop. I stopped in my tracks, and the guy woke up and finally stopped his car, albeit 12 feet after the line.

Stupid!

Today, I ran out at lunchtime, and there was a guy stopped at a red light. Out of nowhere, he started his car and tore through the intersection, just as cars were starting their advanced turns.

Stupid!

Then again, there was a guy who HAD to turn into Wendy's, like right now.....except that it was heavy lunchtime traffic, and he tore right across 4 lanes, with only inches to spare.

Stupid!

*it's one thing to be able to technically drive a vehicle, but a totally different thing to be able to drive defensively*

Halloween...or Christmas???

Yesterday, I had to go to the local craft store to pick up some cross stitching materials. Now, they have reorganized this store, so that when you first walk in , you are never really sure where exactly everything is. Eventually, I was saved and found where I needed to go.

While I was picking out the 'stuff', I kept hearing 'woo hooo.....wooo hoooo'.My first thought was that this sounded like Halloween ghostie stuff. Sure enough, I was right. There in the main aisle, which I had not walked through, was the Halloween decoration setup. Everything was there.....

IT'S ONLY AUGUST 13TH FOR GOSH SAKES!!!!!

And, to make us cringe even more, the Christmas stuff was threatening to take over the Halloween decor (like go figure...Christmas cross stitch on sale!!!).

Yikes.

Now, I, being a crafter, realize that you have to start your craft projects now in order to have things ready for Christmas, but geez.....this was a shock to me, and also brought into focus the idea that these holidays are a matter of months away.

I take solace in the knowledge that we may be sailing til Canadian Thanksgiving....

*bah humbug*

and

*boo hoo*

Are You A Doodler?

No, not diddler...silly! Doodler!

Definition: To scrawl or scribble aimlessly and meaninglessly.

I am a doodler...big time. Yes, it's a total meaningless past time, but I enjoy it. Sometimes I doodle some festering mental plan. Sometimes I doodle a layout for a card that I plan on creating.

Now, some people doodle well enough to publish their works of art. These can be fancy and intricate and worthy of public consumption.

Not mine. Nah ah.

They are just scribbles that end up on a piece of paper somewhere.

Makes me wonder sometimes what is scrambled inside my brain!

The Mother of All Sudoku's

This is the mother of all Sudoku's, at least it is for the two of us.

This is for any experienced Sudoku lovers who are interested in a bit of a challenge. Inexperienced players need not apply.

We started doing this one while on vacation. We are both stumped at the same spot, and by cracky we cannot find the next spot. Of ourse, that next spot will probably cause the entire puzzle to be solved.

So, if there are any Sudoku fans out there who want to give this expert one a try...please, be our guest and work on it at your own leisure.

P.S.- we're looking for the logic of the next number...please leave a comment.

Col1	Col2	Col3	Col4	Col5	Col6	Col7	Col8	Col9
___	9	___	___	3	2	4	___	___
___	1	___	___	___	6	3	___	___
___	8	___	___	___	5	7	___	___
1	4	2	___	5	___	6	3	7
8	___	___	2	6	4	5	9	1
9	5	6	___	___	___	8	4	2
5	___	8	6	___	___	___	7	4
4	6	9	___	___	___	___	5	___
___	___	1	5	4	___	___	6	___

The Day That Never Ends

Our Silver Anniversary seems to continue on. Yesterday, there was a flower delivery, and of course cards. We went to one of the more upscale restaurants for a special dinner, and then came home. Ma Petite Cousine called, and it was good to be able to speak with her last night.

It's really kind of neat. People think it's a big deal to reach 25 years. I guess it is in this day and age, where disposable marriages are commonplace. Sure it takes a bit of work, mixed with some patience and understanding, but it's not a totally belaboured ordeal.

We just get along well. We are two peas in a 25 year old pod.

Today, I was informed that there is another flower delivery coming this afternoon. How cool. It's nice to have flowers for this type of occasion.

Our Silver Anniversary Today!

Happy 25th Anniversary to My Sweetie! Another milestone! Wow!

This morning, we exchanged cards, and both had similar sentiments about how it doesn't feel like 25 years, and how time seems to have flown by. I guess you could say that same thing about life in general. It certainly has not felt like 25 years, but it's been a good 25 years. I am very lucky to have found My Sweetie. He's the top of the heap for me.

Last night, while reading Harry Potter and waiting for Canadian Idol to start, I was looking at our group wedding photo, and reminiscing about the night before our wedding, which was the ceremony rehearsal and a subsequent dinner held in a room where our wedding reception would be. That was a really cool night, except for the life of me I cannot recall what I ate, nor can I remember what I ate at our wedding. Too much excitement, and other things to cloud the mind.

Now, the event would not have gone smoothly of course. My parents, just 3 months prior to our wedding, had to move from the house they had been in for 25 years. This meant that I would not be married from my childhood home. It also meant that my parents had to deal with unpacking and settling in AND deal with the wedding. Talk about stress. But, they did it, and everything worked out in the end.

Today at this time, 25 years ago, I think I was having my hair and makeup done. I remember that it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, and it promised to be a warm one. I recall that the photographer was to be at the house fairly early to snap pre-wedding photos of the bridal preparations, and was also going to visit the groom for pre-photos there.

I remember that the day was full of ToDo's, and in the end, that day too just flew by. That's life.

So cheers to us, and cheers to another 25 years.

Another Vacation Come and Gone

We have returned from our 14 day boat-a-thon vacation, and I must admit that I am still foggy-brained. Foggy-brained may not be a typical word, but my brain has turned to absolute mush over the past 2 weeks.

It was a most excellent vacation. I am so well-rested that I can hardly stand up! So, what did we do you might ask. Well, for starters, we spent 14 days afloat on our boat. We anchored out for every one of those 14 days, always in search of a special bay somewhere. We never paid to stay at any dock. Just dropped anchor in the most adorable of spots. We cooked our own transported food, swam in lovely warm water, and read. I, the slowest reader in the world, managed to read the first 3 Harry Potter books, and have now started the third. Of course, I am working my way up to book 7, so no spoilers please.

We started out the trip by staying for 3 nights at our favourite bay, Brown bay. Because there was no one else around, we got to skinny dip! When we weren't doing that, we were listening to the loons, swimming, reading.

When we finally pulled up anchor, we decided to go to Port Rawson. This id one of the bays that is a popular anchorage in these areas. We don't get to stay there very often, and on this occasion we were 1 of 3 boats anchored there. We were enjoying the quiet of the area for all of about 15 minutes, then the quiet dissipated in a hurry. Around the corner came a 70 foot Viking....followed by a second on, then a third one. In total there were about 12 of these huge monsters arriving. Each of these vessels ranged in size from 50 to 70 feet. They all had multi-level decks, and every imaginable boat toy possible. Of course, once they had settled in, they never turned off their generators. Why? Because they had to keep all of their expensive boat gadgets powered. Now, you have to picture this. We were the only sailboat amid a crowd of 16 huge power vessels. Needless to say we felt a little overpowered (heh). So we did what we had to do to survive. We raised our Air-Chair (the same one that was in the picture for my last post). Well, I'll tell you that these power vessels may have had a slew of fancy gadgets, but not one of them had an Air Chair! Na uh! While I was swinging happily in the air, one of the couples got in their dinghy and floated by staring at me in the air. I think they were trying to figure out what it was and how they could rig something like that from their overhanging deck (since power boats don't have halyards).

By now the bay was humming with the sound of generators. In fact some of the boats never shut them down all through the night. So, this was not what we came for, so the next day we pulled up the anchor and moved to a quieter spot just around the corner. It was so nice that we stayed there for 3 days.

No sailing trip would be complete without a thunderstorm or 2, or 3, and we had one specific doozy of a storm. We had been anchored in Kilcoursie Bay. We had been enjoying a nice couple of days there. The weather was on the horizon. It happened around midnight. The thunder was deafening, the rain pelted down, and the lightning was vewy scawy. A few boats popped their anchors and were dragged out of the bay (they had to re-anchor once things had settled down).

Other than that, we had an extremely lazy vacation, just the way vacations are supposed to be.

Oh, and a BJ update:
BJ is doing quite well. He was totally spoiled with care from my BIL and SIL (many many thanks to both of you xxx). In fact, the little guy even came out to visit them, I was told. So that is truly marvy, because he doesn't do that for too many people. I think he is happy to have us back home, and I don't doubt that he will be snuggling with us tonight.