Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Defintiely and Distinctly Canadian ... Food ...

Millions of babies can't be wrong ...
... even today, The Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto
continues to benefit from the sale of this
ubiquitous, yet highly nutritious food.
Pablum was the creation of a Canadian !!

The McIntosh apple ... hybridized to the Mac ...

Was brought into being by a Canadian,

and is found ALL over the world.

Canadian Bacon Eh ?!?!

All jokes, and Bob and Doug references aside,

Canadian Bacon ... all I can say is YUMMY !!

Betcha didn't know the Chocolate Bar was a

CANADIAN invention!!!

Ganong Brothers, a chocolate company in New Brunswick

created the first chocolate bar around 1900 in

an attempt to boost sales.

I think it worked ... how many OTHER companies

have created their own Chocolate bars since??

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Having Coffee This Morning ...

To many of my readers, it may not seem like a big deal, but when you're sitting having your coffee in your local coffee shop and the Premier of your Province (that's like the Governor for my American Readers), strolls in, you kind of notice ...

This morning at Chipperfield Coffee Company here in little old Minnedosa we were treated to a surprise visit by Manitoba's Premier Gary Doer, who was in town for a meeting at the Ethanol plant that is under construction on the west side of town, so with a few minutes to spare, he stopped for a coffee and to enjoy the amenities of Minnedosa's own Chippefield Coffee company.

For more pictures and information about Gary's visit, hop over to the entries for today at Chipperfield Chronicles: When the Premier Stopped By ... and the second entry More Images of The Premier's Visit.
Sometimes, the truth is better than any fiction that could be written ...

Definitely & Distinctly Canadian ... Karsh ...

Yousef Karsh
(photographer)

The Kennedys


Georgia O'Keefe

Bogart


Casals


Definitely & Distinctly Canadian ... Karsh continued ...

Einstein
Churchill
Hemingway
Peter Lorre
Audrey Hepburn

Monday, January 29, 2007

This is Just PLAIN AWESOME !!!

When I was growing up in Stratford my mom had worked in the Samsonite factory up the street when they were still the sole licensee for LEGO ... as a result our house was awash in thousands of the ubiquitous plastic blocks. My brother and I over the years build countless houses and buildings in our many cities, he built a Saturn V rocket, I built a moon base, and we build dozens of other models and other creations ...

But today when I found the following pictures at Damn Cool Pics, I was awe struck.

This aircraft carrier is simply amazing ...





This model of the USS Harry S. Truman has over 200 000 individual blocks and is 16.4 feet long. It has working elevators, electric lights and a motorized catapult ... I can't say I managed to do anything quite like this - but I would love to try ...

For EVEN more pictures click on Brickshelf Gallery.

What is Heaven?

After church services, the custom was to sit in the hall of the church and share a cup of coffee or tea, and chat ... This particular night was really no different, but the conversation turned to things ethereal ...

"What is heaven like?" someone asked, and the conversation turned to our ideas of heaven and what it might be like for those of us who pass from life through death to life everlasting.

"You white guys have it all wrong," said Umma quietly, "you think heaven is about clouds and angels and playing harps," she paused to sip her tea. "That's not right ..."

Umma then pressed on, "I'm not interested in the white man's heaven. I don't want to sit around on a cloud all day and play a harp. Afterall," she smiled, "I've never learned how to play a hard and I'm too old to learn ..."

Laughter enveloped the room.

"What do you think heaven is?" I asked.

"My Grandmother told me," Umma continued, "that our people go to the Spirit World when they die, and the Spirit World is all around us. It is as close as our breath, it is all around us ..."

She went on to describe a place that is around us all the time where those we have loved are with us as a presence of strength, courage and love. She said that for her she could imagine no better place then with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and the many, many descendents that she and her late husband had been responsible for.

With a broad smile and a twinkle in her eye, she cited as support of her view, "the presence of my husband whenever I need him ..."

The conversation turned to how we experience the Spirit World and moments when its presence felt very real ...

Since that day, I have shared Umma's story in times of grief ... the idea that our departed loved one is no farther away than our next breath is comforting when our hearts ache from saying "good bye."

Umma's story not only speaks the wisdom of her people, passed down through the sands of time, it also reminds us in the Church that once in a while, it would be good for us to be taught such wisdom by simply sitting quietly and listening, rather than erroneously thinking we have all the answers ...

Time to Raise the Rafters !!

Tonight the Montreal Canadiens
raise a new jersey into
the rafters of their arena ...
... he was perhaps their greatest goalie,
he has become an accomplished author,
and of late he is
a politician of some renown.
But for those of us who grew up watching
the Habs of the 1970's ... we will always
remember his famous stance:
Leaning on his stick and looking bored,
while the play continued down the ice ...
Tonight Ken Dryden's #29 is retired.
All I can say is:
IT'S ABOUT TIME !!

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Definitely & Distinctly Canadian ... Trois ...

Neil Young
Joni Mitchell
Diana Krall
The BareNakedLadies
&
Alanis Morissette
---------------------------------------------------
Musically, we've just begun ...
... stay tuned, we'll be "takin' care of business" !!

40 Years ago today ...

Astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee
died in a fire on Launch Complex 34
on January 27th 1967.

Good bye to a Legend...

A Career that spanned TWENTY ONE Years in the NHL ...
With the Habs, The Rangers and the North Stars,
and only one season with a mask !!
Today at 77, one of hockey's legends has passed on.
Thanks for the memories Gump !!
Rest in Peace.
(Gump Worsley 1929-2007)

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Definitely and Distinctly Canadian ... deux ...

You can eat in, or drive thru (so too speak),
and order a double-double,
a couple of Tim-Bits,
a maple dip,
and in the right season
Rrrrroll up the Rrrrrim to Win !!
And if you're in Kandahar, you can sit down with our soldiers there too.
Can't get much more distinctly Canadian than Tim's.
*(though I DO prefer Chipperfields)*

Definitely & Distinctly Canadian ...

Over at Aerophant, a delightful story about Tai's father being falsely accused of stealing a "Beanie" from a department store, lead me to comment about the PROPER name for such hats ... They are called by those of us north of 49 - TOQUES !!

So, in honour of Tai's Aerophant, and to assist my American Readers in understanding more about their Northern Cousins, I am introducing a new column to my Blog ... Definitely and Distinctly Canadian will be a semi-regular feature here for the next while as I work my way through a variety of Things Canadian ... it will be a listing of any number of items that are, as the name suggests - Definitely and Distinctly Canadian (suggestions will be welcomed).

Today we start with three of my favs:
The toque ... the winter hat of choice in Canada.
Poutine - french fries with cheddar cheese curds and gravy ...
(not good for you - but DELICIOUS !!!)

Smarties ... by far a superior chocolate candy to M&Ms ...

and you must always eat the RED ones last.


Hello?? (a message of faith)


Hmm ... Kind of says it all ...

(this came in an email from a friend ... thanks)

A good way to start a day ...

Slept in until 9:20 ...
... crawled out of bed around 10 ...
The day has begun well,
I'm going to hope it continues in that direction,
maybe a nap around 1 would be in order...

That's what friends are for ...

You know it is simply too easy to offend a friend ... a wrong word at the wrong time, a silly comment taken the wrong way, a sensitive mood and a insensitive response ... sometimes it doesn't take much, but you're left feeling crummy ...

I hate it when I offend a friend, even if it was unintentional ... and in those moments, saying - "I'm Sorry" doesn't seem to be enough ...

Eternity Uttered a day ...

It began with strange energy ... Later, I put the car in the ditch beside the driveway ... with help we got it out ... it was off to sit vigil with a family ... a phone call from a friend - "are you okay?" ... moments later I'm called to a crisis ... the first call was too soon - but was needed ...

The day unfolded ... the minutes rolled by ... the afternoon stretched into evening ... the gift of Shalom and the blessing of peace were real and present ... love, laughter, and life were celebrated in the face of eternity ... silence decended ... tears were shed ... smiles were shared ...

God's presence was real ... God's strength was present ... God's grace abounded ...

Today was a day of Shalom ... Eternity uttered a day ... and God's love was incarnate ...

A perfect ending ...

A daughter's kiss ...
... a husband's hand ...
... a son's tears ...
... a family's love ...
... a whispered 'good bye' ...
... and so it ended.
Farewell ... until we meet again.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

500th Post ...

A story for the 500th posting ...

Two men were walking down a path chatting about life. Suddenly, one man stooped down and picked up a gold coin he found in the gravel and dirt under his feet.

"Look at this," he exclaimed, "I bet it's very valuable."

His companion merely shrugged, "I suppose," he offered.

The first man was finished his walk and the two rushed off to take the found coin to a shop where the first man was paid an enormous amount of money for the precious coin. As he tucked the thick wad of money in his pocket he chuckled happily, "I will keep my eyes on the paths I walk from now on," he said to his friend, "that way I will never miss finding another valuable coin like that one."

His friend just shrugged.

As life went on, as it does, the first man continued to walk with his eyes fixed firmly on the path in front of him. He was always searching for another coin, or another lost treasure. He lived in the hope that one day he would again stumble across another valuable coin.

The other man continued to walk. Rather than stooping and watching the path beneath his feet, the second man instead watched the passing scenery. He enjoyed the wildlife and people that he met along the way, and he enjoyed the changing colours of the seasons and all the beauty that was found as he continued his walks.

Many years later as the two men walked along the same path where the coin was found the first man said wistfully, "Remember that day I found that precious coin?"

The second man nodded and said, "I remember."

The two men stopped, one stood tall and erect, his eyes clear, his back straight. The other man was stooped and hunched over, his eyes were strained from years of desperate searching, his back was curved and aching ...

"I never found another coin like it," said the stooped man, "I have spent my life looking ... searching even. But all I have to show for it is a sore back, bad eyes and a few discarded items people have dropped along the way ..."

The second man, standing tall looked about him and smiled, "I've never looked for a gold coin under my feet, but instead enjoyed the many wondrous things that are found all around us. The vistas and scenery and the people I've met along the way all of them were right in front of me, and I saw them because I didn't walk looking only at the path ahead of me ... I never found the coin, but I think I have enjoyed something much more valuable."

The first man nodded as they continued their journey ... "Perhaps if I hadn't been looking so hard for a lost coin, I might have found the treasure that was always there for me ..."

The second man nodded and offered his friend his arm as they walked together ...

Happy Robbie Burns Day !!

Some hae meat and cannot eat.
Some cannot eat that want it:
But we hae meat and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be thankit
---------------------------------

With the knife in hand, and wee dram of whiskey,

we address the Haggis, and wish thee,

a Happy Rabbie Burns Day ...

... from the President of the Manitoba Chapter

of the Elliot Clan Society of Canada.

Today ...

This pictures best illustrates my current energy level ...
... it's been a long day ...
Tomorrow will be better!!

Animal Spirits and Totems ...

The other day I had a conversation with a friend about animal totems, and animal spirits ... It got me thinking about what my animal totem might be ... It didn't take me long to realize that my animal totem is the Raven ...

In the First Nations traditions, The Raven is the Trickster and one of the Creator beings. Raven is creative, and thoughtful. Raven likes to laugh and play tricks on humanity.

Raven is a blend of opposites:
Raven is always the hero in the mythic tales, but also plays the fool.
Raven is the provider of things like fire and the moon and fish, but also is never above stealing what he needs.
Raven is the provider of light on the West Coast, but also cloaks himself in black so he can hide in the shadows and darkness ...
Raven is central to many of the stories told by First Nations' people ... often he is the giver of gifts, or he is the one who tricks someone else into stealing or releasing the gift hidden away ...

Raven is a creature of mystery and intrigue ... but is playful and knows the value of life and joy ...

Real Ravens are fascinating creatures ... they like to play ... they make noises that can make your hair stand up on end ... and if you hike through the deep, dark and mysterious coastal forests on BC's coast you know that Raven is never far off ... the sounds they utter are frightening, playful and startling (sometimes all at once).

I've always like ravens as birds, and since living in the Coastal Rain Forests of BC amongst the Nuxalkmc, I've come to appreciate Raven as a mythic creature ...

Aside from my propensity to dress in black (I DO look good in black) aside, I have little doubt that my animal totem is the trickster ... The black clothes just helps to seal the deal ...


Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Okay, I gotta ask ...

Do we really need warning labels on our coffee that say:
"Caution, contents are hot"?
Wouldn't people sue if the coffee
was served any other way?
If you need to be TOLD the take out coffee is hot,
maybe you shouldn't be ordering it ...

Excuse me ??

Ms H was examining the box of Neo Citran on the kitchen counter. "What's nasal congestion?" she asked.

"A stuffy nose," answered her father.

"Huh?" answered Ms. H, "A stuffy nose?" She asked, "I thought your nasal was what you call your belly button," she lifted her tee-shirt and looked at her belly button as she said it ...

"That would be your naVel," answered her father, "nasal is your nose."

"Oh," answered Ms H, "now that makes sense ..." her finger pointed to the Neo Citran box ...

Worth a Re-visit ...

This is STILL one of my favourites ...


Can't disagree with this one:


Random Thoughts on a Wednesday ...




Just some ideas to make you say: "Hmmm ?!?!"