OFF the CUFF

end of the hiatus,,, WOW!!!!!

2010-09-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

Holy Smoke... it seems this blog was a little neglected... time to dust it off... cause i posted intersting brica-brac here. and it was a nice diversion .. We;ll alot of time and life have passed since the last time i was here... had a prostate scare, thankfully all is fine... another grandbaby was born... Mary and i passed the faith community we gave leadership to for over fifteen years off to some fine young folk... We moved out of our home of seventeen years... I retired from my paying gig, took the benifits and ran, will post about that another time.. we have moved to our homstead, and living a life long dream, see truth is we're a couple of back to the earth hippy kids... plan to start a blog to journal bout that... Wow.. been busy... we'll lets give er another shot...

Ho-ho-hold on there! Poinsettias aren't poisonous? Sugar doesn't make kids hyper?

2008-12-18T00:03:00.000-08:00

By Helen Branswell, Llpmedical Reporter, The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Are you one of those who knows for a fact that poinsettias are poisonous and that candy canes and sugar plums will have the kids dancing on their hyperactive heads this Christmas?

You wear hats in winter because you know most of your body heat is lost through your head? You avoid eating at night because you know it will make you fat? You are certain that suicides peak over the holidays and that somewhere there exists a nostrum that will cure the hangover that will threaten to crush your head New Year's Day?

Ho-ho-hold on there!

All those commonly held beliefs are untrue, say myth busters extraordinaire Dr. Rachel Vreeman and Dr. Aaron Carroll in a paper published Thursday in the Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal.

The duo, co-authors of the pending "Don't Swallow Your Gum: Myths, Half-Truths and Outright Lies About Your Body and Health," have taken another run at testing the truthiness of commonly held medical beliefs for the journal's light-hearted holiday issue.

Last year they made waves by dispelling the notions that we should all drink eight glasses of water a day, we only use one-tenth of our brain and our hair and fingernails continue to grow after our deaths, among other accepted, if erroneous, "facts."

The feedback - some of it quite heated, judging by the journal's website - prompted Myth Busters 2.0, this time with a seasonal theme.
Carroll and Vreeman admitted that when they embarked on this year's collection of accepted wisdom they expected to find some of the items were actually true.
"I have three kids... I was sure that sugar made kids hyperactive," says Carroll, director of Indiana University's centre for health policy and professionalism research.
"It just seemed like common sense.... So that was shocking to me and I still think that most of my friends probably don't believe me."

In addition to being pediatricians and pediatrics professors in the university's school of medicine, the pair teach medical students how to critically assess scientific literature. And it was that work that inspired this project.
"There are a lot of things that we take for granted that if we actually think about critically and look into, it turns out we're not quite correct," Carroll says.
So they mined the scientific literature, looking for proof for or against their list of medical truths.

First up was sugar and kids. Everybody believes this one is true, despite the fact that there are reams of randomized controlled trials - OK, at least 12 - that show sugar consumption doesn't make children behave differently, says Vreeman.

In fact, kids' sugar consumption seems to have a bigger impact on parents than on their kids. At least one study has shown that parents who think their kids have eaten sweets rate their behaviour as more hyperactive, whether the kids actually ate sugar or not.

Dr. Donald Redelmeier, a Toronto epidemiologist, says parents aren't completely off the mark - they're just blaming the wrong thing for their children's frenetic energy.
"I think it's a product of the circumstances, i.e. the types of settings where sugar is often served are like birthday parties and festivals," says Redelmeier, who is with the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and who was not involved in this study.
"And so that what's going on here is that under those circumstances, yeah, children are often running around and yelling and screaming, having a good time. But it's the fundamental attribution error. It's not so much a reflection of the sugar that they're eating but just other aspects of the circumstances."
]
As for poinsettias, a study that looked at data from 22,793 calls about poinsettia ingestion made to U.S. poison control centres found no deaths and no one who really even needed medical care.
"There's no evidence that poinsettias ... are toxic, that people die from them," says Vreeman, but she adds that "they taste horrible" and they should be left off the holiday menu.

Eating at night is like eating in the daytime - a calorie is a calorie, whenever it is consumed. Though people who eat more at night may be eating more all day long.
The list of hangover cures is long and imaginative, but there is no evidence any of them actually work, Vreeman and Carroll say.

And as for losing body heat through the head, they say the issue there is that any part of the body that is uncovered will lose heat at the same rate - it's just most people don't expose their navels or legs during the winter. Bare heads, however, are commonly seen.
"There's nothing special about the head compared to another part of the body of basically the same surface area," Vreeman says.
"Whatever's uncovered is going to lose heat. So if you're cold and your head is the only thing uncovered, sure, you should put a hat on."

As for the idea that suicide rates rise during the holidays because of loneliness, the stress of family dysfunction or depression over the bleakness of the winter months, Carroll and Vreeman say that the multitudes of studies that looked at this issue don't support the claim.
"There's just no peak associated with the holidays," Vreeman says. "And in fact suicides are actually more common during the warm and sunny parts of the year, wherever people tend to be - which I think was a real surprise to us."

Redelmeier reserved judgment on that one, however, saying he thinks the pair didn't analyze all of the studies that exist on this topic and "the jury's still out on that one."
His reluctance to accept Vreeman and Carroll's assertion on that issue nicely illustrates how hard it is to dislodge ideas like these that have become accepted parts of the collected societal knowledge.

"These are widely and strongly held beliefs that are not quickly extinguished," Redelmeier says. "You know, many superstitions in our society are just awfully hard to eradicate."

2008-12-08T23:58:00.000-08:00

Happy 36th. Love ya Mare. I bless the day i found you...

Today also marks the 28th year since the assasination of John Lennon.

The Great Miscalculation

2008-12-07T18:49:00.000-08:00

We'll the back lash has begun. Recent polls tell us that if an election was held today the Conservatives would win a clear majority. The opposition has clearly succeded in polarizing their constituants.

I think we are wittnessing the results of blind ideological fanatisim. Rather than using their position to shape the buget. The conservatives backed down on there plans, i'm convinced the same pressure would have given the opposition parties a voice in shaping the next budget.The NDP and the Liberals dropped the ball. Instead they acted like frenzied sharks smelling blood. I believe they have lost credability with a large percentage of Canadians. All the hi-minded rethoric doesn't not seem tobe leaving much of an impretion on the hearts and minds of Canadians.

Polls would indicate that many are being pushed into the arms of Harper and his conservatives. I'm concerned the worse case senario could become the next realtiy. In seven weeks an impasse will pricipated an elction call. An election that the Harper conservatives will win.

I'm concerned that in retrospect the opposition coalition will be remembered as one of the great political miscalculations in Canadian history. Compromise and leverage will then be out of reach and the country will be plunged into greater political darkness.

How Now Brown Cow

2008-11-30T15:31:00.000-08:00

I'm not a conservative. I didn't vote conservative in the last election. I can quit frankly say I've never voted conservative. I don't support conservative policies.

Yet I'm not to sure about this three party coalition. I'm not sure that it's a wise move in such a voltile economic climate. I'm not to sure the majority of Canadian's really want this at this time. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with Stephen Dion as priminister. He tendered his resignation. His own party had lost faith in his leadership. I'm not sure Gil Dusepe isn't playing both sides. He certainly makes it difficult for the liberals and the NDP who are trying to quell fears that they are selling out to separatists. When the leader of the block says things like " I'm am for what is good for Quebec and what is good for Quebec is good for soverignty. I'm not to sure that what was originally triggered primarily by the the conservative attempted to stop public party funding hasn't been blown out of porportion and turned into a great moral crusade that it didn't start as.

I'm not to sure that after the dust settles Canada will be better off as a country. I'm not to sure that the violent polarization that's feeding into an alrerady strongly divided Canada can be healed. Things are getting said on both sides that will be difficult to take back. There is no easy partisan answer to this problem.

I think all of this will only eroded trust in the liberal's and NDP and could turn the tide of popular opion. The coalition members need to calm down and think rather than react . Be a wonderful opportunity for the opposition to get some of the same iniatitives passed, simply by coming to the government and saying "ok lets talk...". We want this this and this included in the buget. If now we vote no confidence.

Did Harper and his conservative kronies precipitate this crisis? No doubt about it. By arrogantly acting like he had majority rule. Yet I fear the only clear winners will be the block, the cause of soverignty in the west and quebec and Harper.

Greetings little One

2008-11-28T22:20:00.000-08:00

Well Mary arrived in Kelowna Thursday afternoon. Cresta and Glen picked her up at the airport. Eventually she made her way to Aaron and Kartikka's.

Shortly after Mary arrivied Kartikka went into labour and nine hours later little Arya Tara Devi Dasi Culver arrived on the scene. Talk about divine timing.

Monday Zack and T are coming in from Victoria, Cresta and Glen from around the corner and the bunch of them are going to celibrate Christmas early with little Arya as the guset of honour no doubt.

Spoke to Aaron yesterday, he was on cloud nine. We chatted for quite some time. He told me even though she was just twenty four hours old, as he held her sleeping his his arms it felt as if Arya had always been there. I remembered having related thoughts holding him. "Aaron", i added "in no time you'll be talking to her on the phone and she'll be telling you somthing simlar". He responded with an understanding chukle.

Eventually Mary got on and after we caught up she asked if I wanted to talk to my new Grand daughter. Oh course! "Greetings little one this is your Grandpa Culver, Lord Bless you, you wee dear soul. "

Oblah-de-badah life goes on...

How sweet it is

2008-11-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mary is going to be away for our 36th anniversary. Will be the first time in all those years we've been apart on that date. She's heading out west to attend the birth of our fourth grand child. Would have loved to have tagged along, just could'nt swing the time off.

We went out to Concordia club last night to dine and dance. We love dancing. We we're closet dancers for years. Some of the circles we spun in in our early days didn't approve of dancing. Late at night when the kids were in bed and the shades we're drawn we'd put the tunes on low and go for broke. On ocassion a glance toward the door way would reveal four or five giggling heads peeking around the corner. Good times..

We've never taken lesson's, but we're pretty good. We're really not umpa-pa people, but a party is a party and we love to party. There were some pretty serious customers dancing circles around us. We had a blast.

Couple of the things that drew me to Mary in the first place were her wit and free spirit. Not to mention her gorgious gams. She has a smile that lights up the room and a laugh that melts my heart. Get a couple beers in her and she becomes really animated... I digress. We had a hoot and she was full of mischief as we twirled around the dance floor.

As the evening went on i got to thinking about how much i thought i loved her thirty six years ago. I could never have imagined then what we have now. How deep, how full, how rich.

... how sweet it is to be loved by you.. oh yeah

the photo is one of a series shot by our daughter Maggie for our 30th anniversary

Auto Men in Washington

2008-11-20T18:19:00.000-08:00

Was interesting watching the auto chiefs in Washington the other with their hands out. How'd they get their? Private jets.

Answer they recieved. No plan no money

I don't think they get it. The north american auto industry is a dinosaur. The times they've a changed and the big three have been left in the dust.

The whole thing kinda reminds me of the Swiss watch makers. In the sixties when some japanese guys showed up at a trade show with a digital contraption. The swiss watch kings chided "thats not a watch..." it'll never sell. The swiss had been on top fpr so long doing it one way. Their way for so long. In there minds there was no other way to do it. Today how many poeple own a swiss watch. Ever here of digital. Alright you get the point.

The big three have gone on buisness as usual for decades. When somthing came along that challenged their pardigm.. they bought it, destroyed it, drove it out of biusness or turned a blind eye. Case in point the electric car.

They just kept building em bigger and more expensive. They've dragged there feet when it came restructuring there industry or developing and marketing sustainable alternitives. Now they're caught with there hands out and can't figure why North American governments are reticeint to throw cash at them. Wake up boys... you missed the boat. Change or vanish... like the swiss watch.

Getting used to criticisim...

2008-11-19T23:40:00.000-08:00

here is an intersting piece by Frank Viola author of Pagan Christianity and Reimaging the Church

If you are the author of books or articles that are “edgy” or that challenge mainstream/traditional thinking … or you’re aspiring to be such … you must get used to a few things. In fact, you must learn to live with them.

Here are eight that come to mind. They are in no particular order:

1. expect some reviewers of your work to completely misrepresent what you believe and have said and engage in masterful straw-man argumentation.

2. expect some of the people who read their reviews to believe the misrepresentations and to begin the bashing machine without ever reading the work themselves to find out if the review was accurate or not.

3. don’t expect those who have read your work and understand it to know about these reviews. In other words, don’t expect them to respond to the misrepresentations.

4. don’t expect any of your critics to challenge you in a public debate or discussion on your work. (Whenever this does happen, you will be pleasantly shocked.)

5. always remember that all things come from God’s hand — both negative and positive — so never defend yourself, but learn to trust the Lord with all of it. If what you have written carries His anointing, it will stand, and He will use it to change lives, despite any opposition.

6. remember that if you have something worthwhile to say, it will attract disagreement, hostility, and opposition. The servant is not greater than his or her Master.

7. how you respond to your critics speaks volumes about you and the message you carry.

8. always be open for correction, adjustment, and more light. Never entertain the delusion that you have “arrived.”

Proclaimers of Woe Baffel Me

2008-11-18T02:34:00.000-08:00

I've had quit a number of links come across my path from conservative christian organizations proclaiming the woes of the US election results. Some of the comments quit frankly baffle me.

Some rant about how the scriptures that proclaim God has placed authority over us are not being inturprited properly because It wasn't God's will for Barak Obama to be elected. How christians failed in there duty to vote properly. No doubt many of these would be the same people that would have cried out "don't touch the lord's anointed" when voices were raised up in protest to Bush.

Proclamations have been made that if you are a christian and you voted for Obama you are now under God's judgement. I if you are a pastor and you we're silent and didn't exhort your church to vote against Obama you are now under judgment. If you are a pastor and you encouraged your people to vote for Obama your entire congrigation is now under judgement.

We are warned by these folks that America has been sold out. That Obama is weak, young, and inexperienced and will draw terrorist fire to the country. His associations are dubious. He's a communist. He is a bell weather for the new world order... But most of the fur is flying around his "pro-choice" position.

I'm often confused because a large portion of the anti abortion voices are pro-capital punishment, pro-war, and pro-big buisness.

Being prolife involves much more than one issue. To be prolife is to be slow to exact an eye for an eye. To be more concerned with forgivness and restoritive justice. To be pro-life is to seek a more Christ like solution to retaliation than just war theory. Love your enimies, do good and bless those... To be prolife is to seek justice on behalf of the explotated poor. To be prolife is to be opposed to dehumanising people and seeing them only as a commodity market. To be prolife is to concerned about the social wealth fare of the aged the sick, dispossed, minorites, the mentally incompasitated, and living as well as unborn children. Who is my nieghbour? Add to this list the care for God's good earth. These are are prolife issues*.

To emphisis one to the ignoring of the others, let alone their rejection borders on ludicrus.Many of the articles make a point of driving home the fact that due to America's choice of Obama judgment is coming to their nation in the form of finacial woes, natural disasters and more homeland violence. I scratch my head in wonder.

The greatest finacial disaster in American history happened under who's watch? George Bush. The most sever natural disater in American history, hurricane Katrina, happend while who was president? George Bush. The most horrific attack on American soil happend while who was guardian of the nation? George Bush.

I guess my burning question is: Under Bush's watch was all this woe the savage attack of satan on america or God's judgement? Hey just a question.

[* to fair and balanced I'm just as preplexed by those who are pastionate about saving the planet, whales, baby seals, yet are in favour of killing unborn humans]

Contented Memories

2008-11-17T11:07:00.000-08:00

We put our christmas tree up on the 16th or 17th of November every year. We've been doing this for as long as i can remember... ( that is since we've been putting up a tree, that's another story). We discovered 8 years ago that it coincides with the begining of the Celtic Advent which like Lent is 40 days long.

Each year on that day we have our grandchildren to help trim the tree. This year just about everyone came home (that is everyone in the vicinity). We had a house full. It was wonderful.

It took me back to a time over twenty years ago when we lived in Cottam. Far and away from family. A freind was visitng. It was snowing out side and toasty warm inside. We had just finished putting up our tree and a passel of my children were curled up on my lap. He commented that I looked exceptionally content.. I was... still am... I thank the Lord some things havn't changed.

In Rememberance

2008-11-11T04:51:00.000-08:00

from the war diary of Harold Culver

Nov. 9th 1916
Battalion came out of trenches. No casualties. letter to Sarah. weather fine.

Nov. 18th 1916
Boys went over and took objective. raining hard. 300 prisoners taken. few casualties. weather rotten.

photo morris culver, my grandfather (right) harold culver, his brother my uncle (c) and their friend Frank (l) taken april 20th 1916

Change has Come to America! Thank God

2008-11-05T05:05:00.000-08:00

Barak Obmama delivering his victory speech, 4 November 2008, Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois

video link to Obama's historic acceptance speech

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/27546437#27546437

Turn your Talents into cash

2008-08-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

With a little imagination and research, you can turn your passion into money.

by Jennifer Gruden, taken from 50Plus.com

When Avery Carter, 42, of Toronto decided to take a leave of absence from her demanding job as a social worker, she knew that she would eventually have to find work to contribute to the family budget. What she didn't know was how she would do it.

"I had a vague idea that I would find something. I knew I wanted to be creative... but that was about it." Meanwhile, she enrolled in an advanced cake decorating class that she had always wanted to take.
"I was practicing on a cake at home when one of my nieces said that my cake looked better than the ones at the store. And you know what? She was right."

Soon after that Avery decided to see if she could turn her hobby into a business. "The first mistake I made was in charging too little. I knew that especially at first I couldn't be paid for most of my time because I was coming up with ideas and then having to practice them. But my first few cakes almost cost me money, especially with having to deliver them." After a rocky start, though, Avery finds she is now starting to make enough money to notice. "This summer we're going to fly out West on the money I made in the fall."

How do you turn your talents into money? Take the following into consideration:
Follow your passionIf something fascinates you, chances are you're not alone. Take bugs... that's right, bugs. Vanessa Bright of Edmonton, Alberta found that her family's budget was strapped for cash – but she wanted a job that wasn't 9-5. After a fortuitous meeting with a clown specializing in children's parties, she realized that she could take her knowledge and interest in bugs and turn that into a money-making act. In the Fall 2006 issue of Birth Issues she wrote:
"A week after I made my decision, my little guy and I went out after a rainstorm. We came home soaking wet and I had 2 earthworms in one hand, and three tent caterpillars in the other. My little guy couldn't wait to show his dad what we had found. I realized with real joy that this was exactly what I was doing when I was six years old."

And six year olds are precisely the target audience for her talents. Which leads to the next step – research.
Research the marketA little research might have helped Avery avoid her rough start in the cake business. To get a service or a product to customers, every entrepreneur needs to know to whom they are marketing, how to get their attention, and what to charge – both to cover costs and also to see what the marketplace will pay.

One way to do this is to speak to people already in the business, or in a similar business. Another is to survey potential customers for your product or service. And if you will need supplies, talking to suppliers can provide valuable information – not only for pricing, but also about the marketplace in general.

Develop a business planIf you intend to get a loan or attract investors in order to fund your business venture, you will need a business plan. But even if you don't, going through the process of putting your ideas down on paper in a structured way can help you think through potential strengths and weaknesses. A business plan should include:
• A summary of your business idea and how it will work (executive summary)
• An analysis of the market, or the need for the service or product. Who is your primary market? (For example, kids who need birthday parties, and whose parents are willing to pay for entertainment.) What's the competition? What will your pricing be? What are you offering that sets you apart?
• Marketing: how will you get the word out?
• Company organization and structure
• Financials: how much will it cost to get started? What will your costs be going forward? How much business will you have to do to make money?

Keep your day job Although many entrepreneurs leave their jobs to take the leap, it can also be savvy to start a business in your spare time. This allows you to test the market – and your commitment – without jeopardizing your financial security. If you can scale your business idea back to a weekend job, trying it for six months or a year can give you an idea of whether you've gotten the specifics right.

Take the leapWhile planning is important, it's easy to get stuck in the "what ifs" and to stay in research mode – forever. Entrepreneurs eventually have to take a deep breath, believe in themselves and their ideas, and go for it. You can too!

here's another great comppannion article from 50plus 10 ways to sell your stuff

Cookie Capers

2008-07-23T22:22:00.000-07:00

The other day Mary and a couple of our girls had a garage sale. Mary never does them alone... or we'd make no money, we general lose it ... bless her heart she gives everthing away.. there's a time and place...

We were trying to raise a bit of cash for a catch all fund for when our west coast kids come home for our youngest daughters wedding... any we had our three grand children for the weekend.

We were starting to pack up. Our grand daughter had a lemonaide stand and was selling cookies as well. A sweet little old lady (have to becareful nowadays when i use that phrase) was poking thru some stuff on the tables and our oldest Grandchild had a plate with the last cookie on it. He was offering it around to us.

I proposed he see if our "customer" was interested in a freebie... He's a little on the shy side. He made a couple of meek offers. I suggested he be a little more forhtright. He walked up to her plate in hand and thrust it forward. "Would you like a cookie Mrs." he boldly proclaimed. Out of nowhere our youngest grandson chortled "I would' and with lightening speed snatched his prize from the plate.

You had tobe there...

More Wee Folk On the Way

2008-07-21T02:13:00.000-07:00

We'll I've recently been greeted with the delightful news we're going tobe Grandparents again. So very Coooooool!!!

Back in the day, I always figured we'd be knee deep in grandbabies by the time we were fifty. That never materialized. Don't get me wrong, I'm deeply greatful for the three we've been blessed with to date. Their the apples of our eyes. Love em dearly. They bring such joy and chuckles.

Our plan was, have our family young and be young grandparents. We figured that way by the time we we're in our sixties the bulk of our grand babies would be in there late teens and early twenties. I envisioned we'd be on to the great grands around that time.

Well the best laid plans of mice and men always seem to go arye. (What's the blog bi-line.. life is what happens well your making your plans...rest gently John). So the truth of the matter is we're into our second string of wee grandfolk as our mid fifities approach. Am I disappointed no, not at all... just tired and pregnant with anticipation as we await the new arrivals.... can i get an AMEN to that.

Voice of a Prophet

2008-07-18T16:22:00.001-07:00

Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack in everything

That's how the light gets in.

Breathless, Joyous, Proclamation

Mary procured a ticket for one of Leonard Cohen's concerts in Hamilton for my Birthday. Maggie our youngest daughter came with me.

If it be your will

That a voice be true

From this broken hill

I will sing to you

From this broken hill

All your praises

they shall ring

If it be your will

To let me sing

Humble, Consuming , Mercy

From the moment he took the stage, thru two and a half hours, over thirty songs and three encores to the final final strains of Ruth's blessing being sung over us... we were gripped by the passion of a captured heart that can do nothing else but proclaim.

And even though

It all went wrong

I'll stand before the Lord of Song

With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

2008-07-11T02:09:00.000-07:00

As I sit here banging away at the key boards I 'm amazed by the realization my birthday has come and gone and we recently returned from Cornerstone 2008. That means a year has passed on this blog... it appears the rythm here has been one of fits and starts.

we'll try to be a little more regular... i perfer prune juice over exlax...

Leave Your Stress Behind

2008-07-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

here's a great little article written by Bill Stieg for Men's Health about the imoportance of down time... vacations... holidays....

Any vacation is a good vacation. But the best ones can calm your mind, refresh your body, revive your relationships, and maybe even extend your life

See those happy faces of children on summer vacation? Let's bottle it and mark it with an Rx. Here's a prescription for downtime that will extend your lifetime.

1. Think Differently
A vacation should use a part of your brain that you don't use at work. This is a path to detachment. "The more different your vacation activities are from what you normally do, the easier it is to stop thinking about work," says Charlotte Fritz, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology at Bowling Green State University.

My most memorable recent vacations — to London, Alaska, and Oregon — were about as different from my workaday, deadline-shadowed world in small-town eastern Pennsylvania as I could reasonably afford.

"You're recharging yourself, body and soul," says Tel Aviv University's Dov Eden, Ph.D., a pioneer in vacation research. One of Fritz's studies revealed that people who take on a challenge while on vacation feel less exhaustion back on the job and perform their jobs more efficiently. "A challenge boosts your self-esteem and your self-efficacy," she says.

That's important for overachievers, says Gerhard Blasche, Ph.D., of the Medical University of Vienna. "If you are used to being challenged, it will be difficult for you to disengage unless you are challenged in a different way."

You can master a skill (painting, say, or a language) or challenge yourself physically. "I always wanted to climb that mountain," Fritz says. And sometimes a new skill is a true lifestyle shift — as specific as learning to meditate or as general as adopting healthy eating habits. "Doing something creative may also change your approach to things in everyday life," Blasche says.

Try this:Maybe you've been resisting the spa vacation your wife has been pushing on you. Give it a shot — if there are plenty of activity options for you at her spa of choice. In one study, Blasche found that people sustained several quality-of-life improvements for a full year after taking a 3-week spa vacation. "It's important to have a pattern of rest and activity," he says. "Not too much or too little of anything. At a spa you have treatments, and you have a lot of rest. If you combine these cleverly, you'll feel occupied, you won't feel bored, and you'll certainly have enough rest time." The Canyon Ranch spas (in Arizona and Massachusetts) offer plenty of healthy challenges — no need to fear a fortnight of cucumbers pressed onto your eyelids.

2. Disconnect
You can thank Brooks Gump, Ph.D., of SUNY at Oswego, for providing your best get-out-of-work card: As unused vacation days mount, so does your heart-attack risk. A vacation provides a "signaled safety opportunity," he says, which is prof-speak for an interval of time when you don't have to worry about what might happen to you. Testing people's "vigilance for threat" shows clear effects on blood pressure and heart rate, he says. Cutting yourself off from potential stressors — allowing yourself to shut down that vigilance — is crucial.

Gump's dream vacation: "You would not check your e-mail, you would not bring your work with you, you would not call your office, you would not let colleagues know where to call you."
Does he do this? Not always. But he knows he should.

Tel Aviv's Eden probably has more years in this field than anyone. The scholar's considered advice: "Leave your damn cellphone at home."

Eden once measured the well-being of Israeli men who left their jobs to go on noncombat military reserve duty for 2 weeks or longer. When the reservists returned to work, they were asked about stress and burnout.

"The ones who detached less benefited less from the respite, because they didn't have a respite — they took the job with them," Eden says. And the more they detached, the more they enjoyed their time away from the job. A cellphone is an electronic tether, says Eden. "People don't realize what's happening — they become company property."

Try this:Don't tell only yourself that you won't check in with the office, because you'll be racked with guilt for days and eventually cave. Instead, tell everyone. Suffer through the 5 minutes it takes to explain to your boss that you will not be checking in, by phone or e-mail. Prepare a list of pending work and the people covering it for you. "Healthy bosses understand," said James Campbell Quick, Ph.D., a longtime stress researcher at the University of Texas at Arlington. Just think about your boss's responsibilities beforehand, "so when you're gone the boss's backside is covered."

3. Sweat
Blasche and his Vienna colleagues once studied men who'd taken a 3-week hiking vacation. (It helps to have those Alps nearby.) They found that the positive effects lasted a full 8 weeks after the vigorous trip. The men benefited both physically (lower blood-pressure and cholesterol levels) and psychologically (quality of life and feelings of well-being).

In an officebound world, an active vacation serves the dual purpose of detaching workers from work and building fitness. "For men, it may be even more important — the physical, maybe the competitive part of it," Fritz says. "If you're sitting in an office all day, dressed up and acting appropriately, maybe you should take on more of a physical challenge on your vacation."

Try this:Chill occasionally. You shouldn't go hard all day long. "A lot of people, but especially men, do a lot of exercise and get into an overtraining syndrome," says Blasche. "They're not deriving benefits — they're accruing more stress."

4. Reconnect
Vacation experts agree that reconnecting with friends and family is one of the best ways to reap the full benefit of a getaway.

Generally speaking, says Blasche, "Company usually improves mood." He recently completed a study (not yet published) that examines the effects of a weeklong vacation on work burnout — yes, the same work burnout you're familiar with. Each participant had the opportunity to join others for activities such as hiking or photography walks.

"Most people reported that the group was instrumental in helping them disengage and restore themselves," he says. "That would be an optimal combination for men." Yep, there were eight of us on my golf trip — me, three old friends, and four new friends. They all lifted my spirits.
How's that work? Being with other people, Blasche says, improves your mood by providing help during activities ("What club did you hit?") as well as an opportunity to disclose bothersome feelings. ("Dammit, Ralph is going to miss the tee time!") Moreover, a group offers distraction and mutual positive reinforcement, which also raises self-esteem. ("Great 3-iron, Bill!")

For fathers, this is also true. Paradoxically, a family is rarely as close as when it's away from home spending time together in close quarters (motel rooms, car rides, tents). And for men in general, well, do we really have to remind you of the wonders of hotel-room sex? If the kids are along, book the suite.

Try this:No family? No problem. A vacation with strangers allows you to unpack your psychological baggage. "If you're in a new group, in a new social surrounding, then you can be somebody different." The result can be a new, refreshed you, says Blasche.

5. Make it last
As for the fadeout of the respite effect, "The classic study shows that burnout is reduced very nicely during a 2-week vacation," says Blasche. "Three days after your return you still see a nice reduction in burnout. But 3 weeks after a vacation, you're back at pre-vacation level."

That's sad. One trick for preserving the afterglow is to load your office computer with vacation photos. Our experts also strongly suggest staying in contact with fellow travelers to reinforce memories — and maybe to plan the next trip.

Try this: Book a vacation that begins with a train or boat ride, Blasche recommends. The slower travel pace will help reinforce a physical separation from the worries you're leaving behind, and gives you time to achieve a vacation mindset. It beats airport security lines.

One of my favorite studies is about spring break, and it doesn't even involve girls going wild. Researchers gave PDAs to college students, and queried them at random during their break about how much fun they were having.

The real-time ratings (the ones given during the trip) weren't so great. But rat-ings afterward were much higher. "There are two vacations — the experience itself and the way you remember it," says Derrick Wirtz, Ph.D., who conducted this study while at Northern Arizona University. "The most memorable parts end up defining the experience for us."

We're all mentally writing a book of our lives that gives us identity, says George Loewenstein, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University who studies how memory affects behavior. Some of the best chapters are vacations. Loewenstein is a mountaineer who knows how miserable he's been clinging to a mountainside, but he treasures the memories.

"People care about meaning in their lives," he says. "The purpose of life, who they are, things like that — identity. The stories that we tell about our vacations and our lives in general take on lives of their own. They shape the way we remember the events."

It's true. ask me about my cottage....

2008-02-28T02:08:00.000-08:00

Fix a Flabby Chest

Have been back in the gym, not wanting to look like Hercules but definatly want to tighten things up a little. Found this Helpfull article on MSN Health and Fitness , by Martica Heaner, M.A., M.Ed.,

Are you keeping your chest under cover because you have fleshy flab that feels, um, feminine? Have no fear: Your voluptuous endowment is not a genetic curse that you’re stuck with. In fact, beefing up your pecs while whittling off chest fat is easier than you might think.

The answer is not to simply pummel away at your pecs with grueling chest exercises. While a chest-blasting routine will make you stronger, it won’t do a thing to decrease the fat that is at the heart of the problem.

The secret to a more sculpted physique is to combine chest-building weight moves with fat-burning cardio. The pec-strengtheners will firm up flabby muscles. (We’ve also included one back exercise to help you avoid the concave look that so many chest-heavy workouts can produce.) The cardio will help you skim the excess fat that surrounds them. You can choose any kind of cardio; it does not have to involve arm movement. Cardio exercise burns fat from all over the body, including your chest and torso.

For fast results, cut calories in your diet by focusing on nutritious, portion-controlled meals. (And lay off the booze and sweetened beverages.) And for even faster results, throw in additional minutes of cardio into your week. In as few as six weeks, you can be flexing a brand new chest!

How to do it:
Choose a weight that is heavy enough to challenge your target muscles, but not so heavy that your joints feel strained. Start with dumbbells that are at least 5 to 10 pounds and gradually work up to using 10 to 25 pounds, depending on the exercise.

Start with the first Fatburner interval. Then perform one to three sets of eight to 12 repetitions of the first exercise. Proceed to the next Fatburner interval, followed by one to three sets of eight to 12 reps of the next exercise. Continue until you have completed all six exercises.

You can choose your own activity for each Fatburner cardio interval. Use cardio machines if you have access in a gym or at home. If you are doing a home workout with no extra equipment, you can step up and down while facing forwards on the first step of a staircase, or you can do combinations of marching and jogging in place with jumps and jumping jacks. (Or you can even turn on your favorite hip hop or Rolling Stones tunes and dance to burn off the fat.)

Always wear sneakers. If you are not used to high-impact cardio such as jogging or jumping jacks, start with low-impact cardio such as marching and insert five to 10 seconds of a higher-impact move. Work up to longer intervals gradually.

Do this workout two to three times a week, with a rest day in between.

Include 30 to 60 minutes of pure cardio, such as walking, cycling, the elliptical trainer, running, or other cardio activities on the days of the week that you do not do this routine.

Modify this workout to match your fitness level. Adapt the recommended moves as needed to make them easier or more challenging. If you feel out of breath, dizzy or nauseous during the cardio, slow down, or stop if needed.

What you need: weights, a stability ball and cardio equipment if you have access to it.

Fix a Flabby Chest Routine

2008-02-26T06:22:00.000-08:00

With in three days this week i received the news of the passing of John O'Donahue, Larry Norman and Pam Greene.

John O'Donahue author of Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom. He died peacefully in his sleep while on holiday in France on January 5th/08. A Poet, priest and philosopher, he was not only one of the most articulate voices of living Celtic Christianity and Celtic wisdom, but he also had a clear grasp of the beauty of Christian mysticism as well. He was a trained philosopher with a prodigious intellect. His voice will be greatly missed. He was 54.

Larry Norman the father of " Christian Rock" passed away Febuary 24th /08 after a long illness. He was 60. During his long carrer he opened for the The Doors and Jimi Hendrix fronted the band People, recorded his first solo rock album, Upon This Rock with Capitol Records in 1969, in 1971 TIME magazine was reporting on the growth of the Jesus Movement, and while Larry Norman took some steps to distance himself from it, he had become the most popular musician among its followers. he influenced generations of muscians, among them, Kieth Green, Randy Stonehill, Frank Black and Ed Rollins. Over 300 artists have covered his songs, including Sammy Davis, Jr.

In an interview he later said of his pionering musical efforts "I wanted to push aside the traditional gospel quartet music, break down the church doors and let the hippies and the prostitutes and other unwashed rabble into the sanctuary...I wanted to talk about feeding the poor, going into the world....[I felt that] most of the modern music was anemic and needed a transfusion."

I only meet Pam Greene on a couple of occasions. We were introduced by a mutual friend. She was an effervescent personality that filled a room with warmth. Her life was tragically taken in a freak car accident. She was 47.

All three were followers of the Man that went about everywhere doing good. All three touched the world around them with the grace that had touched them. All three expressed that grace differently...All three have gone to their reward...

John O'Donahue's most recent book, 'Benedictus', was published just before Christmas. It's a book of blessings. Here is a fitting sample....

'May there be some beautiful surprise
Waiting for you inside death
Something you never knew or felt,
Which with one simple touch
Absolves you of all loneliness and loss,
As you quicken within the embrace
For which your soul was eternally made.
'
May your heart be speechless
At the sight of the truth
Of all your belief had hoped,
Your heart breathlessIn the light and lightness
Where each and every thingIs at last its true self
Within that serene belongingThat dwells beside us
On the other side Of what we see.'

2008-02-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Films of 2007

Now that the 2007 Oscars are history i'll share a short list of favorite flicks from /07. They're in no particular order.

None of them recieved Oscar nodes. We have two musicals and two Dramas. To date I've seen each at least 3 times a piece.

Black Snake Moan

Craig Brewer of "Hustle and Flow" fame's second directoral outing. Rounded out with authentic performances that include turns by Lawrence Fishburn, Christina Ricci, Justine Timberlake, a Blues soaked sound track and a gritty honest screenplay we get what i considered story telling at it best. The first twenty minutes are not for the squemish. Brewer takes us on a journey in to the terraine of the human soul. His vision is one of nilistic darkness graciously penitrated by redemtive hope.
Black Snake Moan Trailer

Hair Spray

The joyfully riotus musical adaptation of John "Lust in the Dust" Waters quirky 60's celibration of the "other" is at once charming yet subversive. 'Pleasantly Plump' teenager Tracy Turnblad realizes her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny Collins Dance Show.

Tracy inadvertantly invites the wrath of the show's star and her manipulative mother (Michelle Piffer) Then turns segrigation on it's head as she and others vie for the title of Miss Hiarspray 1963. Your guareented to be tapping your toes and singing along. It's interesting to note this film hit a real cord with young audiances.

By the way the Astair-Roger's dance sequince between Tracy's parent's ( Christopher Walken and John Travolta in drag) is worth the price of the rental.
Hairspary Trailer

Amazing Grace

Across the Universe

What more can be said. An emotional rollercoster ride complete with: The timless music of the fab four. The 60's. Youthful idealisim. Counter cultural revolution. War and peace. Sex. Romance. Jude, Lucy, Max, Prudence. Brilliant musical arrangments. Exqisite art direction. Gorgeous cinematography. Over the top special effects. Witty beatlesque drenched diouloge. Memorable performances. Miss Lion King Tamor... and Bono...!!!!

All you need is love ...Love is all you need... can i get a witness....

2008-02-17T00:24:00.000-08:00

Sinead O'C0nnor recently did an interview on CBC's The Hour to promote her new album Theology, a collection of primarially orginal songs inpired by the bible.

We'll i ran out as quick as i could and added Theology to our collection. It hasn't disappointed. I Have always appreciated Sinead's art and spirit.

Reviews are pretty split and cridicts are not to kind. Mary and i love it. Brings us to tears every time we put it on the player.

Three songs are covers the rest originals. The stuff she has penned borrows at lot from the psalms. Her rendition of "I don't now how to love him" sung as a prayer in a whisper, leaves one breathless.

The album is an act of love and devotion. The song writing reveals the heart of a spiritual pilgrim who yerns to see the Glory of Jah along with His justice for the poor revealed.

This is a two disc set. Each album contains pretty much the same songs with a few exceptions. Recorded in Dublin the first was her original vision. Hauntingly stripped down with only her voice accompanied by two accustic guitars. The other with gorgeous arrangments and full instrumentation soars from prayerful meditation to Joyful Raggie/Funk.

Hardcore fans will love this stuff.

2008-01-14T06:39:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Ways to Live Forever
(at least longer)

Hey hears some interesting heart health i came across, it's from Men's Health Web Site. The 1st one i'm not personaly into... but hey for you carnivors... the rest... i found #9 particularly intersting....

No drugs. No bypasses. No scars. Just solid DIY advice on how to keep your heart pumping.

1. Grill a steak. You may think it's bad for your heart, but you'd be wrong. Beef contains immunity-boosting selenium as well as homocysteine-lowering B vitamins. And up to 50 percent of the fat is the heart-healthy monounsaturated variety.

2. Tell your wife to butt out. People who are exposed to cigarette smoke for just 30 minutes, three times a week, have a 26 percent greater risk of developing heart disease than people who rarely encounter secondhand smoke.

3. Take aspirin. Regular aspirin consumption cuts the risk of coronary heart disease by 28 percent in people who have never had a heart attack or stroke.

4. Drink more tea. Men who drink 2 cups of tea a day are 25 percent less likely to die of heart disease than guys who rarely touch the stuff. The reason: flavonoids in the tea, which not only improve blood vessels' ability to relax, but also thin the blood, reducing clotting.

5. Touch her. Ten minutes of skin-to-skin contact (hand-holding, hugs) with your mate can help keep your blood pressure and pulse from spiking during stressful times, according to University of North Carolina researchers.

6. Go fishing for tuna. Omega-3 fats in tuna help strengthen heart muscle, lower blood pressure, and prevent clotting — as well as reduce levels of potentially deadly inflammation in the body.

7. Pair up. Married men are less likely to die of heart disease than bachelors. Scientists looked at men with mildly high blood pressure and found that after 3 years of marriage, the happily married men had healthier hearts than their unmarried brothers.

8. Adopt a dog. All that love ("You're a good boy, yes you are!") and aggravation ("Bad dog! Don't eat Daddy's crab dip!") makes your heart more adaptable and better able to deal with the stress that can lead to heart disease.

9. Rinse, brush. Rinse your mouth with Cool Mint Listerine and brush with Colgate Total toothpaste. They'll reduce oral bacteria, which can decrease your risk of a heart attack by 200 to 300 percent.

10. Make friends at work. Men with the most work friends also have the lowest heart rates and healthiest blood-pressure levels, even during times of stress.

2007-09-10T02:12:00.000-07:00

Check out this interesting article ... All You Need Is Love.

Mark Gauvreau Judge » I recently listened to "A Hard Days Night" by the Beatles and I was staggered by a revelation: rock and roll is a Catholic art form.

2007-09-07T02:24:00.000-07:00

I JUST WANT TO CELIBRATE

My lovely bride has a birthday tommorrow. For the past 5 years or so she has asked me to let those infomus B days pass unoticed. Today she came to me with a spring in her step and a sparkle in her eye and announced. " I've been thinking it over I want to celibrate my birthday. Rather than seeing them as an unwanted event. Each is actually a cause for great celibration... I'm greatful I've made it another year"

My mother was in her 52nd year when she sucummed to cancer. This is Mary's 52 birthday...

Hey Babe lets Celibrate....!!!!!!

2007-08-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

Took Merrily and the Grandchildren to the cottage with us for the weekend... we were joined by some dear friends who blew in from the windy city for a couple of days.

Man we packed alot of living into a short period of time... swimming, canoeing, fishing, working, fetching water, campfires, BQ's, movies, games, coversation, hugs, heart to hearts... seams as if we are always adding a new square to the multicoloured patchwork quilt of life.

Our youngest grandson along with the other two children had me in stitches as we played " the happyturnip". This game took on a life of it's own as our play grew along with our imaginations.

At one point i got bit by somthing.. was later told it was probably a pine bore, never heared of it. Any way i guess i was having a bit of a reaction. My arm swelled up, got numb and felt dizzy. My oldest grandson turns to me and says " Grandpa i can pray for you that's somthing i'm really good at"... bless his soul.

Another interesting moment came when the youngest, turned to me and posed the quinessential extesstential question... "is all this real or are we dreaming "... he's six.. where does this stuff come from...

I think what he was trying to say, was... is this to good to be true. Simply put "Man i'm having a great time and i don't want it to end"... i second that.

2007-07-21T03:36:00.000-07:00

Praise Jebus.... Part One

Mary and i had been anticipating the feature film debut of North America's first family of satire. We cleared our schedual and slipped into to the theatre to catch the Simpson's Movie on opening day.

Mat Groening and the gang don't disappoint. It's framed like a typical episode. The first half is random, dadaesk and absolutely side splittingly harlarious. The second half has very little to do with the first and contains the "story". Fans will not feel burned.

The Simpson's, ya love em or hate em...truthfully, i guess some of us have grown to love em...

The writers have honed the fine art of satire. Witty subtle satire is hard to pull off. Nothing is sacred.

Religion ( might add no one is excluded) gets it's fare share of roasting. Christianity is not exempt. I know a number of fine brothers and sisters who figure that the anti- christ must personaly inspire the Simpson's muse. Other's, my self included are convinced there is more going on here than simple blaspheme.

It's important tobe able to laugh at ourselves... particularly at a honest observation...especially when it's laughable.

2007-07-19T03:53:00.000-07:00

Went to a Nephew's wedding on Saturday. He married a lovely young lady from Trinadad. The Trinnies as they warmly refer to themselves know how to throw a party. Food, drink, dance and honest humanity.

I love parties. A dear friend's remark in passing when we operated the refugee cafe has stuck with me through the years " you folks know how to work hard and then you know how to play hard as well". Play, party interchagable in my mind.

Anyway while dancing, feasting and observing ( oh yeah and drinking as well) i was at once again struck by the thought that Jesus loved a party. He was either attending one, on his way to one, hosting one, or talking about them.

Tony Compollo wrote a wonderful little book many moons ago entitled " The Kingdom of God is a party". Caused quit a flap in some circles. He tells a very moving story of a party he threw one night at a greasy spoon in Hawai for a prostitue.

The need to celibrate is hot wired into our humanity. Most cultures have it down pretty good. Here in North America our ability to celibrate seems abit stunted at times.

We need to practice throwing bigger and better parties, and inviting the folks from the hiways and the biways to come and join us.

2007-07-16T17:59:00.001-07:00

Jaunted off to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I have only read the first book. My wife on the other had is a Potter devotee. I really enjoyed the fist three films particularly the first two. They were whimsical... the way they struck me was much like the first three Star Wars movies. Didnt take themselves to seriously.. tounge in check.. and full of wonder. great epic fairy tales.

'Order' however was very dark and brooding... but not dull and overly self important like the last three SW's Flicks.

There were a few parts that didn't seem very consitnat or clear, but Mary assures me that if i wasn't so lazy and took the time to read the book all of those questions are resolved.

On the other hand this film had a spirtual depth and very clear christilogical allegory that was not as rich in the previous episodes.

2007-07-04T03:38:00.000-07:00

My wife often refers to God as "Last Minute Charlie".

No rental car and five hours till we were planning to leave for our trip to Illinois. I phoned some other places. Nothing. But what did i expect.

Mary packed our small vehicle. We had two other folks making the treak with us as well. That meant to make room we'd have to trim down our stuff by half.

While Mary was busying herself packing the car i had the inclination to call my elderly Aunt Wynne. She's a doll. We got talking and i happened to mention the car rental incident. After a wee chat we said our arivoirs and adious's, which in our family can often take as long as the visit.

A few minutes later she called back. "Hertz has one car available at the local office."

We had gone out of town for the original because the office in our city was closed on Sundays. I called Hertz and sure enough they had a single mid size left. We were informed if we wanted it we better get there immediatly. They closed in twenty minutes and they weren't going to stay open for anybody.

Mary and i quickly skooted our hiny's over to Hertz rent a car (mentioning Hertz always reminds me of an Abbot and Costello routine as well as a delightfull 60's comedy called "Good Nieghbour Sam". Details some other time.)

The long and short of it. We had a car. Lost a car. Packed our car. Found a car and repacked for the trip all in about five hours before we planned to leave.

Aunt wynne was thrilled beyond words to be part of "Last Minute Charlie's' miraculous provision. Often in life things go to the eleventh hour and beyond. And just when your ready to throw in the towel. God embarasses you with His kindness.

2007-07-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

Each year now since 1992 we attend this wonderful Arts and Music festival called CORNERSTONE. It's hosted by the folk who comprise Jesus People USA. Over the years we have developed numerous rich friendships with individuals and families in the community. A number of our children have lived at "Freindly Towers" in the heart of the windy city of Chicago.

Anyway, we rent a car to go down to illinois. Save on our vehicles ware and tare. I called and booked a car five weeks before we had to leave. Four days before D day i call just to confirm. Everythings a go...

I normally book from one place this time out i don't know why but i rented from another agency.
The day comes.. actually about six hours before we plan to leave.

We go to pick up the car... everything is fine till he asks " Oh and where are you going to"
"Illinois" i reply.
'What kind of Kilometer package would you like" he counters

It turns out if you take the car out of Ontario it's 16 cents a K. Both times i called nobody mentioned a thing about that "rule". In the past when i had gone with the other Car Rental it was always unlimited Kilometers.

Well needless to say we reached an impasse... Mainly over the fact that it was going to cost me aprox. another three hundred dollars for the car. He felt it my responsabilty to maintain the up keep of his rental cars.

I left with no car and with my tail tucked firmly between my legs called the other folks whom i'd always rented from.... i prayed... God please we need a car...

They had no cars for rent...

2007-06-20T02:30:00.000-07:00

Interesting thing timing.. it can make all the difference.

Just as i was beginning to get the blogs i'm working on off the ground. What do you suppose i discovered. Facebook.!!!!!!!
Needless to say I became a wee bit distracted. Actually a lot distracted. A friend refers to facebook as 'Computer Crack'.

Hey i even joined a facebook group called FGCAA, Facebook Croup Creation Addicts Annonymous. i'm still going through the program...

Well the novelty has worn off and the blogs are getting much warranted attention. Maybe now i'll have to co-found BCAA.

have provided the link for FGCAA as a public service
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2368052195

2007-06-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

I turn fifty three today... man where does the time go... feel like a 16 year old kid trapped in side a crumbling teniment building. The floors creek, the doors are coimg off their hinges and the plaster is cracking. But it still has that old world charm.

Any way at milestones (at this point each subsiquent birthday is a milestone) i guess it's appropriate to reflect...

I'm a blessed man and i really don't understand how it all works... all i can do is humbly bow my heart and thank the Creator of everything seen and unseen.

I've been married to my best friend going on 35 years now. Not along time by eternal standards, but Mary is still a waiting her medal of endurance. All in all the spark is still kindled, if ya know what i mean.

We have seven children we not only love but like. I'm deeply proud of each of them and the people they have become and consider it a privaledge to be a part of there lives. We are richly blessed with family that are friends and a bevy of friends who are family.

I have had the oppurtunity to be involved in stuff that i have enjoyed doing. We have always seemed to be carving out a path through the woods. We've had a blast and if the terrain is any indication of the road a head, we are preparing for more of the same.

Sooooooo "Thank you Lord for thinking about me i'm a live and doing fine..."