goodness

Five-figure bonuses stun employees
Owners of ball bearings company reward workers for years of service

CHICAGO - Dave Tiderman wondered if the decimal point was in the wrong place when he opened his $35,000 company bonus. Jose Rojas saw his $10,000 check and thought, "That can't be right."

read more...

wonderful goodness.

random reads

What is web 2.0? The next generation of internet medium apparently, but complex enough that it's not a one liner. Web 2.0

which led to this:

Can you clearly define 'Obscenity'? This has plague the US courts for the last fifty years. This short article explores: A History of the Definition of Obscenity

I've learned a new word: Folksonomy

test

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Blogger: Create your free blog via kwout

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Blue Zones

Blue Zones. A term coined by Dan Buettner are areas in the world that people live the longest due to a few different and similar elements.

Here is the link: Blue Zones

reality

Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it.
- Jane Wagner

enid blyton

Enid Blyton was my favourite author growing up. I believe i started reading her books at about 6 years old. she wrote many genres - mystery and adventure stories, school stories and fantastical stories for children 12 and under. Enid Blyton's books have sold more than 600 million copies, and still today continue to sell more than 8 - 10 million copies. Her books have been translated into more than 90 languages. One of my favourite stories, 'The Magic Faraway Tree' was voted no. 66 in the BBC's Big Read. In 2008 Costa Book Awards , even though Enid Blyton passed on in 1968, she was voted the best-loved author ahead of JK Rowling and Shakespeare!

i remember the mystery stories - Famous Five series, Secret Seven series, the Adventures series and the Circus series. There were more I'm sure. The Secret Seven was my favourite series among these. I remember spending countless times reenacting the adventures with my cousins and friends and begging our parents for mystery type 'toys' and games to use for our 'play dates'. I remember being thrilled when I found a 'detective' type book, which showed me how to make 'invisible' ink, secret code 'languages', and varies simplistic type tools that were similar to the stories in the books. We spend many happy days engrossed in imagination and excitement.

The school series - Malory Towers, St. Clare's and The Naughtiest Girl were very charming as well. My sister, friends and I used to go to bed and make ourselves stay awake until as close to midnight as our sleepy selves would let us. We would dress up my room like a boarding school dorm (as far as our imagination took us). Pushed away my huge free standing closet from the wall to make a 'passage way' for holding the 'midnight' feasts' described in the books. We would raid the pantry secretly in the day for cookies, sweets, biscuits and purchase sodas that resemble the description of the books, and hide them in my room for the 'feast'. Sometimes it would take a week to plan and coerce our parents to allow the sleepover. We would spend days planning and giggling. i'm smiling reminiscing again. Delightful!

The fantastical genre kept me occupied for hours and hours by myself. The faraway tree series was my absolute favourite. I would spend hours reenacting and creating the characters, scenes and descriptions in the books. The series was about three children who discovered a magical tree, where all sorts of fairy folk lived. Each character was enchanting and funny in their own way. Madam Washalot, Mr Saucepan, Moonface... On the very top of the tree were magical moving 'Lands' that arrive and leave the treetop. We had a mango tree that I transformed into my faraway tree. I managed to bring up a table, chair, pots and pans and numerous props.

The imprint that this story had on me was reflected in my daughter Ashti's 1st birthday 15 years later:) I threw her an 'Enchanted Forest' Theme party. Looking back, I was definitely a little excessive and obsessive! I rental a hall, and turned a section into a mini forest where her guests would have to pass through and were met with characters from the book. ( I made my friends and family dress up as these characters.)The children would receive treats and solve mini puzzles dependent on their age. There was a dry ice machine to keep the 'forest' looking mythical and magical. When the children got to the end of the forest, there was the 'Land of Magic' where a magician would do tricks and entertain the kids with balloons, and treats. He also did a show with life mini animals, like rabbits and birds etc. After the show was done. This land would leave and the 'Land of Birthdays' arrived. The 'Land of Birthdays' was decorated with an archway of balloons and a feast laid out for the birthday guests with the magical treats described in the stories. One was the 'Hot & Cold' treat which was actually fried ice-cream, and i bought the fizzle pop candy for the older children where the candy crackle and pops in your mouth. Ashti had a stand up 'pixie fairy' doll cake. Ashti was dressed up like a pixie fairy.

I had so much fun creating this fantasy for her. We have looked back at the pictures laughing at this over the top birthday. We have Enid Blyton and her wonderful imagination to thank for this crazy joy bursting goodness.

listen

i'm constantly in awe at the reach of the internet. i'm constantly wowed by the talents and creatives i encounter. i stumbled upon a blog from a course i'm taking, through the introduction forum, which led me to another site, and then to this cool word site: http://onelittleword.typepad.com/ and then came across a blog by someone from Singapore.

although i'm very far removed from much of the culture and upbringing, there is always a nostalgia when the word 'singapore' crosses my senses. this blogger won the challenge for her piece on this.

the contest challenge was for the word 'Listen'.

a very good word to ponder on.

ok i'm turning up the volume, muting the speaker.

let's see what i hear.

eyes closed

...and i can sit up with my eyes closed. the family is proud.

i got a new crib today, way too spacious i say, i keep rolling onto my belly and yelling for help.

my accomplishments so far:

smiling
sucking thumb
grabbing hair
standing with help
rolling over and over
sitting up for a while
giggling
my own language (which i'm trying to teach the grown ups...who are a little slow, i must admit)

oh and i can belt a good lOUd song as well.

pretty good for my 4.5 months!

bits and pieces

i've finally finish the brain book by dr amen, and am beginning anna karenina by tolstoy.

i've started the scrapbooking class and it's quite amazing. it's titled 'stories in hand'. it gives you a format to expand, and tools to organize 'ideas' in a scrapbooking type book which lets you create your 'stories' in any medium you choose. i.e. blogging, writing, photography, art, etc. there are so many imaginative people! this website uses many great communication tools from the course offerings, blog and web pages. the mapping tool that is used to show us where all her students from a particular class is located is called 'platial'. it is quite innovative to incorporate this tool, as it gives a visual component and creates a more interactive element to what could be an isolated feel to on-line classes. there are people from literally all over the world - canada, the us, australia, uk, europe etc, in big cities and tiny never heard of towns where supplies can be limiting.

on this thread, i was on the way to deliver ambrey's lunch (not a long story but not worth penning:) i caught the tail end on cbc radio about a small town in, i believe Nunavut. where almost all essentials, basically everything had to be purchased on the internet. it is a very small town with a population of about 300 people. there was a time before the internet that they had to pay bills, like cable, phone and electricity by money order as there is no bank in the town. the town does all their shopping on line, and share information on this with each other. as you can imagine, the shipping cost would be phenomenal. they are constantly looking for free or reasonable shipping. when one person finds a lead to this, it is spread like wild fire. there was a lady who was expecting. she had to ship all the baby furniture and accessories. as most people are quite home bound, on-line courses that offer ways to interact and create would be a very lucrative business, especially since the networking in that community is very cogent.

i have a birthday project (which is quite late!) and many x'mas projects on the go. hopefully i can finish!

we went to a gathering for maura and geoff on saturday and experimented with elex on her first night outing. after greeting, gooeying and gaaing with the big people, she decided to eat and sleep, so we had a good evening to mingle.

we had maura and geoff from rossland to dinner with daphne and adam as well, and it marvelous. maura made a gingerbread cake with lemon sauce which was very very yummy.

dan's b-day has quietly come and gone. he received loads of spoilings and wishes from his family in kelowna, and all. we had a quiet family dinner. he's happily ready to use his cash, gift cards, new treats and clothes. thanks to all!

ashti's leg is healing slowly. she has read a gazillion books, done all her home-schooling assignments, and loads of laundry folding. we will attempt to try to go to school next wednesday. she will be continuing another week of schooling at home. i've already picked up her homework for the week. lucky girl:)

ambrey stayed over at her best friend, pamela's home, on tuesday and had a blast. she has truly been good sport picking up after her sister and doing most of the chores around the house.

elex is growing. i tell her to stop but she doesn't listen. she's taking after her two siblings. she can roll over from her back to her tummy very well now. and sit up for quite a while now. about 30 secs to a minute. yes, i have to get that pic out. elex is taking the bottle so far, but i will have to be more consistent at giving it to her. it was a struggle earlier as i didn't commence when i should have.

ta ta.

ramblings

elex sat up a few days ago! at 4 months and 7 days! for prove i have a photo and will post on the next write:)

to quench my restless spirit, i am taking piano lessons, a scrapbooking type class, and a course on exploring communication tools.

many, many more interests but for now i'm resigned to reading books on them.

anyone know of a good photography text for beginners, or a 'how to' on writing short stories and children stories?

i'm excited.

nightie night.

Barack Obama

i don't think i can say anything that hasn't been said. however, to add my two cents. what made an impression on me, was the seemly raw 'kindness' and humanity, Barack and his campaign projected.

i'm sure there are many political elements as with all projects of this sort, but somehow, the earnest yearning for a better and more responsible contentment and life was communicated beyond, it seems our five senses, but to the deeper subconscious that believes in humanity over our quite natural, innate negative aspect of greed in all of us.

i am in awe and thought because we seldom get to 'see' real live triumph of such significant authenticity of amity in this magnitude.

the goodwill displayed from John McCain, from reporters, from talk show hosts, I think are effects from one person trying to maintain and encourage integrity and respect for all. it brought the goodness out in many people. sometimes we forget that it starts quite small, whether it is the positive or negative. our universe really is a reflection of this.

it is quite awesome.

preoccupation with cogitation

each day, some days, i struggle with living the moment, with filling it with satisfaction, accomplishment, rich content, along with joy, and contentment. it's often odd that i use the word 'struggle' as this should come easily, so i think.

there are so many moments of 'catch my breath' elation, but they go quickly, and i'm always looking for the next fix. always restlessly trying to find a venture, change, or interest that may sustain me for a stable period of time.

the turmoil comes with the multitude of options, and dichotomy of peace and noise. i feel free and energized at times for the gift of not having to work for a while, yet also a loss of identity and purpose.

i'm reading 'change your brain, change your life' by dr. daniel amen. he explores the concept that our 'personalities' are a combination of biology, psychiatry, genetics and environmental, including associations. we are so much more complex than we can really fathom. however, bit by bit, it seems we are capable of learning more. the biology of our brain and it's many components(cingulate gyrus, amygdala,limbic system, prefrontal cortex,temporal lobes, basal ganglia etc), contain pieces of our capabilities and personality according to dr amen. he describes many case studies and how many of his patients overcome emotion disorders by medication, psychotherapy, and methods of healing that he discovered and confirmed some we already know about. he has helped depression, schizophrenia, anger issues and a multitude of 'mental' and 'control' issues, as well as ADD, dyslexia, and learning dysfunctions. he uses a brain scan called SPECT and EEG biofeedback for the biology aspect of his analysis.

i think i have huge problems with many functions especially my cingulate. this is where you get 'stuck' on a thought and have great difficulty letting it go. this is where a lot of compulsive disorders resides. oh brother...

really, the amount of neuroscience, psychology and 'enlightened' type lit, i should be a more evolved and centred person. but the reality is that the interest is the reason. the internal insanity the cause for the search.

perhaps dr amen will read this blog, and fix me. his name intrigues me a little coming from a staunch roman catholic background, that has done some serious falling...:)

elex is sleeping in my arms in the baby bjorn...another fleeting ambrosial moment.