Mondays?

Happy Monday to all! I hope we've survived the weekend and ready to embark on yet another exciting and insightful journey of productivity and self awareness! NOT. Monday's suck. The week begins at a grind and no one truly seems to wake until Wednesday, especially in the world of business and beurocracy.

Any of you who faithfully show up to an office each and every Monday know exactly what I mean. I have been greeted by the extra perky almost too happy Monday morning cheer from the resident office worker who just truly has no buisiness being that happy or that awake at 8:30 each and every Monday. Let's cut back the cheer just a little and wait until the rest of the office is filled with sufficient caffenation. That way we can better deal with the Happy Monday workers. UGH!

Monday's are not all bad, though. Even though it has become customary to loathe Mondays and we have been socialized to eliminate them from our existance, we can find some good things within the first day of the week. The kids are back to school. The husbands are back at work and the homemaking godesses can once again reclaim their solitude and sanity. For those who wile away the hours in an office toiling their labour on behalf of the greater good - Mondays are often days where the frustrations from the week before find resolution. (Why is it no one in the business and beurocratic world seems to work on Friday's?) Often beginning the week can afford us with fresh perspectives and fresh eyes to view those perspectives.

Mondays are often the bane of the working world's existance but they can often be the saviour of our sanity. We begin anew with the benefit of a recharged battery from a lazy weekend. Our creativity and eagerness my slightly be recharged. The only complaint that I might have about Mondays are those perky, happy, oh so insightful and cheery bright co-workers who take it a little too far and do not have the courtesy to wait to enlighten the rest of us until we've downed a few cups of coffee and have the energy to at least hear about how bright and cheery the world is according to the perky Monday reporters.

Enjoy your Monday everyone and remember that one of the benefits of making it through the Monday dreeries is that Friday is one day closer by the end of it all. Thanks for reading :)

Addictions?

We
all know someone who is under the influence of some sort of
addiction. Addicts and addictions come in all shapes and sizes and
some are even unrecognizable. The regular bingo hall fanatic who
carries a barrage of “good luck” charms, from lighters to troll
dolls; the street corner vagabond, who inheritently asks for spare
change in order to be able to afford the next trip to the liquor
store to acquire the cheapest bottle of wine available to him; or the
co-worker standing just outside the limits of the “smoke free zone”
in -30 C temperatures, frantically inhaling every molecule of
toxicity available within the slender white stick he holds between
his freezing fingers are all part of the ever increasing lot of
addicts. We’ve all seen them, we all know them, and in fact we may
be one of them.

Yes, my friends, I’m afraid our
society has created yet another bunch of addicts scurrying along the
sidewalks and haunting the streets of any urban centre. They are on
a quest for the ultimate experience and elation that only their
establishment of choice can provide. They are on continual alert
for the next buzz, the next hit of the drug of preference and the
next satisfying infusion of the much needed caffeine”ation” their
bodies require. Caffeine addicts are everywhere. On a never ending
quest to quiet the quivering quakes of need, the coffee addict does
not need to search long and far for a local dealer. Within his
native surroundings, the addict has no trouble finding a dealer, as
they can be found almost everywhere. Sentinels within the
distribution system that welcome passersby into their aromatic
interiors – a permanent thread within the community stained with
the hearts and minds of each soul it has served.

Rarely an urban street exists without
at least one Robin’s, Tim Horton’s or neighbourhood StarBucks
coffee saloon perched stoically upon the street corner. Its doors
open, allowing the scent of the freshly brewed drug to waft out onto
the street, enticing the passersby to enter the inner sanctum of a
caffeine wonderland. The drive through provides quick and painless
access to caffeine at almost every time of day. Upon entry, the
unsuspecting patron welcomes the scents of at least seventy-five
varieties of beans into his nostrils. He breathes deeply and
gingerly takes his place in line to await the soft words of the
resident coffee jerk, who is all too pleased to take his order. He
is comforted by the whirrs and swooshes created by the rows of
complicated and surgically precise machinery intent on preparing the
perfect combination of caffeine and its companions. Shivers of
anticipation pulse through his muscles, as he takes his place amongst
the hoards of other addicts intent on satisfying the insatiable need
for caffeine.

And so it begins. Another addict is
born. Soon he will be craving the warmth of the gourmet liquid
passing his lips on a regular basis. And by “regular basis” I
mean more than three gallons a day. He will vehemently deny that the
elixir is a drug at all. He will never admit to being an addict,
even though his daily quest for caffeine infused drinks will turn
into an hourly search for lattes, cappuccinos and espressos
complimented by a multitude of flavours ranging from the benign
vanilla enhanced syrup to the more “packed with a punch” extra
hit of espresso in order to fulfill the growing need inside him. He
will soon become a “pusher” in his own right. He will invite
other unsuspecting friends, co-workers and acquaintances to join him
at the local “bar.” They will enjoy conversations centering on
politics, music and the arts intermittently silenced only by the
ordering of the next round.

In the beginning the coffee addict is
amazed by the lingo. He is romanced by the various categorizations
of the order process. He will move from ordering a Tall (a fancy
name for a small) to the Grande (same fancy name but for a medium)
and then replace with the Supremo Grande and Ultimo Supremo Grande,
culminating in the regular ordering of La Bucket, which is the sure
sign of the ultimate caffeine addict. Previous to this evolutionary
journey, the addict was intimidated by the lingo and only through
regular visits does he begin to realize that “latte” is not
another word describing his race to the office through morning
traffic and that “espresso” did not determine the type of service
the local FedEx provided. He moved from patiently awaiting his turn
with the coffee jerk, who expertly described the delectable titles of
products listed in multi-coloured chalk upon the sign hanging
precariously from the ceiling above his head to demanding his
customized combination of the various chemicals necessary to create
his fix. He will frantically demand three hits of espresso and two
squirts of Tangarine flavoured syrup housed within two ounces of
house blend complimented by six ounces of Brazillian Special and
topped off with a double squirt of Chocholate Whipped Cream that
inevitably melts and sends the liquid brew flowing over the cup.
Only a seasoned and serious addict can avoid the mess by sacrificing
the tender skin upon his lips and tongue in order to gulp the boiling
liquid and avoid the inevitable spillage caused by the melting of the
cream.

But our unsuspecting patron has yet to
admit that he has a problem. Even though he will invariably fill his
travel coffee pail with the delectable and satisfying first hit of
the day from his home brewing system so that he will have something
to drink on the way to the local coffee saloon, he will not admit a
problem. And yes, even though he has now become one of the
“regulars” that likes to mix their own “special blends” for
the added “kick” that only a seasoned addict can handle, he will
not admit a problem. And in spite of daydreaming of the availability
of intravenous caffeine syringes and the belief that, with the right
amount of coffee and the most exquisite combination of chemicals, he
can even bend the laws of physics and someday control the universe,
he will not admit he has a problem.

Admitting an addiction can often take
time and patience – two things that do not belong within a coffee
addict’s arsenal of qualities. They often believe that sleep is
for the weak, that the “wee” hours of the morning were for
completed intricate and complicated tasks such as solving world
issues, threading needles, completing last minute assignments and, on
the occasion, attempt the act of sleeping. Within the caffeine
addicts circle of friends and acquaintances there is no hope of an
intervention. There is no availability of clinically induced
“dry-outs.” There are no addictions seminars nor does there
exist any version of a twelve step program that will ensure
successful elimination of the drug of choice from the system. For
the caffeine addict there is only the realization that every waking
moment be spent in search of a finer bean, a more caffeine infused
combination of chemicals and flavour enhancing “add-ins”
culminating in the acquisition of a most potent concoction whose only
purpose is to avoid the onset of the shakes, migraine pain akin to
child birth, and the jitters that often accompany a drop in the
blood’s caffeine levels. Only when he realizes that the quest for
caffeine occupies every moment of the day can he even be ready to
receive the realization that there might be a problem. At this point
the caffeine may be able to stop cold turkey and begin his journey
back from the depths of despair and be released from the grip of the
devil himself…Juan Valdez.

After some time has passed, the coffee
addict can now saunter down the busy urban streets laden with the
enticing scents of caffeine wafting from open doorways. Only after
some time has passed and he has overcome the migraines, quieted the
shakes and quivers and accomplished some much needed sleep can the
coffee addict to be able to resist the temptations offered by the
sights and sounds of the local saloon. He may still miss the sound
of the local musician lulling the crowd into a coffee enhanced
euphoric state. He may find himself craving the bitter sweat taste
of the noxious brew searing the first layer of skin of his tongue and
lips. He may even miss the jolting conversation and feverish race to
receive the next round before the first is consumed.

But he wishes to care for himself now.
He wishes to be out in the fresh air and be comforted by the sounds
of nature. After all it is the only place where he is allowed to
indulge in another, less controlling habit – cigarette smoking.

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Real Women JUST DO IT!!!!

Have you ever been in line at the grocery store and heard a gaggle of housewives condemn thier lifestyle due to lack of inspiration? Have you ever sat in a coffee only to have your peace and tranquil solitude be interrupted by the flock of career women intent of "one upping" one another in the SUPER MOM category? Have you ever just been plain frustrated about the literature and magazines demoralizing attempts at "rescuing" the career housewife and building the pedistol higher for the woman who "has it all?" I have been in all of these and more situations where I'm tired of hearing complaints about all of the taboos about being a mom, career minded, intelligent and the apparent stigmas that exist within the female world.

Why can't women just do it! It, in my opinion, is a matter of personal choice. If all one wants to be is a Mom who is lucky enough to be able to "stay home" and make home making her career, then why shouldn't she? However, as one who made that choice years ago, most other women heap a pile of guilt upon women in such a position. Putting the emphasis and priority on raising kids yourself and building a stable, productive environment for them to grow up and thrive in seems to be the way of the 50's "Leave it to Beaver Mom." In modern times, women tend to look down upon those of us who did not choose to spread ourselves and become the "SUPER MOM" of the 2000's.

Although, if, like a number of my friends, the luxury to be income free and stay at home does not exist, then it is off to the work place we go. But that comes with a price too. It would seem that the career home makers are fairly harsh on the pursuit of fulfillment and challenge in the work place as well. By leaving our kids at the babysitter and heading off into what is normally seen as the man's arena, we face a lot of hard looks, guild laden comments, and just plain harshness for choosing to keep our minds in a healthy place and by exercising that muscle. Is it really so terrible to want to keep pace with our inner desires and pursue educational and professional goals once we become a Mom???

Like I said, it is from women themselves that women of both worlds face criticism. No matter what we choose, we fend off the critical glances, the harsh stares and the guilt that is thrown our way. But instead of talking about the pros and cons of finding our way through the journey of life, a lot of us make do with what we have.

As a women, finding our true path to fulfillment and meeting the expectations of the world in our numerous roles does not often come easy. But what a number of us often forget is that many of us JUST DO IT. We make it through the days and nights with new borne babies, the endless laundering of grape juice stained attire, the constant quest to rid our homes of sticky finger prints and end up, when all is said and done, finding happiness in the end. Whether it is accomplishing a fabulous master piece during craft time or drafting a wonderous and fabulous business proposal, we strive for and reach the same place in the end. However, my prime pet peeve is those of us who clamour for the approval and acceptance of others who do not truly understand the challenges set before us. They would rather talk about it, complain about it and forget about the hoards of others who JUST DO IT!

So I hope you join me in getting out of the endless grocery store lines, jumping off the coffee bar stools and diving into the pool of life. The wonders that can be found by making our own way are endless. Whether you thirst for equality for all women or merely seek out a little niche you can truly be happy within- the time has long past for talking about it...JUST DO IT!

Surviving the Holidays....

The holidays, in many cultures, bring mixed rewards. We are inspired and comforted by messages of love and family and togetherness, peace among men, women and children, and bombarded with conflicting messages directing us to splurge, over indulge and take stock of our inadequacies. Over the years I have come to rely on a few tricks in order to survive one of the most trying and comforting times of the year.

The first thing I try to do to combat the hurriedness of the season, is to plan, plan, plan. Lists our our friends. I have lists posted everywhere, in my PDA, on my desktop, and stuffed into every crevice of my purse. I continue to create and revise the lists until they reflect my intentions and then off into the crazy holiday world I go!

Another helpful aid during this time is to accomplish as much as I can early, being that I love to create hand made gifts, I can often have the bulk of the presents ready to go early on in the season. Again, by relying on list making, I have things organized and ready to go when the season creeps up on me.

That brings me to another time-saving and money-saving tip. Make your own gifts. I have found that loved ones and friends often appreciate the effort and love that goes into every stitch of a warm pair of flannel PJs that I've created on my own. They love the fact that painstaking efforts were taken in creating a cuddly pillow or a warm sweater that was borne of my own creativity. These are often the most loved and cherished gifts that I receive numerous compliments on.

Hand made gifts do not come from only a pair of knitting needles or the sewing machine. One of the best factories for cherished gifts exists right in your own home...the kitchen. Baking is never turned down and is always greeted with a smile and smack of the lips. Most of us prepare numerous confections for the season to keep on hand. In our house, we tend to double the batches and give away boxes of goodies. This works great for those last minute hostess gifts, gifts for the mailman, paperboy or that favourite mechanic.

Now for the most important survival tip of the day. How to combat the feelings of inadequacy, loneliness and depression that are often hand in hand with this season. I don't think I know one person that has not experineced a good cry at this time of year. This year is a bit harder than most in our household as an important member of our family is no longer with us. She has chosen to isolate herself from our traditions and celebrations, opting for a different version of what she feels to be her journey. Our hearts and minds are never far from thoughts of her and we miss her more than can be said with mere words. I have a hard time "getting the spirit" so to speak but continue to try. I find myself remembering past holidays and occasions where she brought a bright and shiny smile, the excitement of youth and a warm embrace. Often, I find my heart breaks at the loss of these happy moments. However, like most everyone who grapples with loss over the holidays, I continue to trudge through the gaity and try to show the happy and brave face in spite of it all. In order to combat the feelings of loss, inadequacy and pain that this situation brings to us this holiday season, I only have to remember that some day she will return to our happy family. I only have to look across the table into the faces of the two most important people in my life and embrace the new fork we have taken on our journey. I keep the hope that one day our path and her path will again cross.

Finally, following your own holiday traditions somehow seem to keep the world from crashing around you. Stringing popcorn for the tree, baking cookies, reading the Christmas story, spending time with loved ones and friends, etc. can all become the glue that keeps everything together. In trying times we can concentrate on what aided us in the past.

Even though the holidays often bring to us sadness and feelings of inadequately meeting the expectations of heigtened exuberance and joy, it is okay for us to sometimes want to remove ourselves from the hurried and frenzied preparations to reflect and remember our lost loved ones. It is okay for us to not live up to those levels of happiness and frivolity. It is okay for us to cry a tear or two. We are only human, after all, and sometimes embracing the hurt admidst the joy is part of having a human heart. We shall persevere through it all and by trusting that the fates do not offer us more than we can survive, we shall emerge on the other side as stronger, happier and better human beings capable of the love and the joy that the best of the world has yet to offer.

Have a wonderful and fulfilling holiday season from us to you.

Traveling is fun

Traveling is fun! Many an artist has received much inspiration from their travels. It is a common misconception that the prairies are flat, lifeless and lack any inspirational quality. I would liek to remedy that misconception.

Recently Jeanette and I drove to Brooks, AB to visit my sister and her family. The drive was long but we saw beauty around every turn. Whether it was a recently harvested field, an abandoned building, numerous hamlets and towns dotting the highway or the occasional historic information point, beauty and history presented themselves. We were surprised by little pockets of beauty…The Dinosaur Provincial Park (Near Patricia Alberta), the Acadia Valley and where Highway 41 crosses the Red Deere River. The rock formations, the rolling hills, the flowing river and the traces of bygone eras etched into the hillside are all quite a surprise when one is used to viewing the flat prairie lands.

We were fortunate enough to be able to take in some sights in Brooks as well – the Brooks Aquaduct and the strikers of now famous Lakeside Packers strike. Brooks is a small town (which only recently became designated as a city) with many small shops and even a Walmart, 24-Hour Sobeys and Canadian Tire. My nephews were busy working at the local Wendy’s Restaurant and playing football. Victor was busy managing the Wendy’s. Shannon and Jeannie and I toured the city, shopped and had a relaxing and enjoyable visit.

My Inspirations

Writing is a craft and crafts need perfecting. Computerized technology has made it easy for writers to practice and perfect thier craft. Daily writing is like breathing. I do hope to take a few minutes and write what's in my brain for all to see. Check back often to see the inspiration escape the confines of the brain and trickle into the world for all to enjoy.