As you probably know now, since I blog about it regularly, I do volunteer work at the Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) NO KILL Cat Sanctuary, and I would like to help them raise money for their charity. Please note the upcoming events that you can get involved in, to support their cause.
I also set up a monthly donation plan through their CanadaHelps Donation Page (also linked on the sidebar of this blog).
The Cat Shelter still needs a Commercial Washer and Dryer donated. Can anyone help? The amount of blankets and bedding, towels etc that get washed continually, and daily there is a lot, and when one machine breaks down it backs up the rest of the loads.
If you can help out in any way, please do. And Thank You.
♥ Upcoming Events
Heart Month Celebration and Valentine's Fundraiser February 2009 and February 14th (Fundraiser) ♥♥♥ For the entire month of February, Meow & Bark Avenue will be helping RAPS by displaying photos of animals for adoption. Come by the store (Suite 150, 12240 2nd Ave in Steveston) to see who's looking for a forever home. Also, on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14th) from 10 AM to 5 PM, Meow & Bark Avenue will be hosting a "Scoop & Weigh" for RAPS. At this event, customers can come into Meow & Bark Avenue and purchase scoops of heart-shaped treats for the shelter animals. In addition, Rob Scheel from Barkbusters will be there to provide "Advice from the Heart" on animals behaviour and training. Stop by in February or join Meow & Bark Avenue on Valentine's Day. See you then!
The Great Richmond Catsnip February 2009 ♥♥♥ February is Spay / Neuter Month. Now is the time to get your cat spayed or neutered. RAPS is aiming to fix 250 cats in Richmond in February. Help us meet the challenge! RAPS will subsidize the cost through the Spay/Neuter Program. Fixed cats avoid reproductive cancers, are less likely to engage in undesirable urine spraying behaviours and prevent animal overpopulation. Call RAPS at 604-275-2036 to set up an appointment for your cat(s).
March Pub Night Friday, March 6th 7:00 PM Legend's Pub in Richmond ♥♥♥ Join RAPS for a great night of food, drinks and a great silent auction! This event kicks off RAPS' 20th year of rescue and raises money for renovation of the RAPS Cat Sanctuary. Tickets are just $12.00 and are available at the RAPS Shelters and Thrift Store. We'll see you there!
Coins for Cats & Dollars for Dogs Every Saturday afternoon, 12 to 4:30 pm ♥♥♥ Every Saturday afternoon, the Richmond Animal Shelter will be collecting Coins for Cats & Dollars for Dogs. Everyone accumulates a lot of small change, and that change can make a big difference for homeless animals at the Richmond Animal Shelter. Collect your small change and then on Saturday afternoon come visit the shelter animals and add your small change to our fundraising bottle to feed homeless animals! The animals will appreciate your visit and your donation. Thanks!
Thank you. It means a lot to me to help out. Too many people take animals for granted and abandon them. This shelter is amazing, and the people there that dedicate their lives to this cause are amazing.
[All photos in this post are of Picasso's artwork.]
Tuesday night I got to hang out with Jem, the chicka I have known since Grade 3. We've hung out all year, and what a year we've both journeyed along. She is a superhero, that woman. I love being able to spend time with her. I adore her two sons as well. Before Christmas I had been out to visit them all, but I hadn't seen her since. I love her dearly. It's her birthday in a few weeks, then mine a few after.
(It is Birthday season - really.)
I also got to see my hair dresser who also has had a heck of a ride this year, and she too is an amazing woman. Funny how we all were having the same wave thoughts. Saying the same things about our sense of dependence and security with who we are, without men. Must be us being in our late 30's?
You see, PG and I are on good terms again, we are hanging out as friends, and yes, we are sort of "dating" again (without the original discovery stuff). I was offended that his male friend suggested it was friends with benefits, because we aren't nineteen year olds.
We are not "dating" other people, we are both busy building our lives, and we still want one another in our lives. It is only due to us being able to plainly look at one another and say "It's okay to be human and flawed" and we forgive one another. Together we have dumped the baggage of the past and said, let's just look forward. No pressure, no blame, no bullshit.
A large part of me being able to do this, has come from my own sense of self again.
I realize I can not live with a man - at least not here and now or anytime soon. I have stated quite plainly I do not actually "need" a man. I do not need a man to financially support me, to emotionally support me, or any other form of support. I am quite happily independent. Always was, always will be. My problem always seemed to come down to men needing that support from me, and me being willing to "help" them - often to the point of my own detriment. Well I am a good person and I don't mind helping people as long as it feels like help, not a hand out.
Yet, I know now I don't need that complicated relationship. Relationships are hard enough without all the extra mental complexities that living together bring on. The unspoken expectations and needs, and requirements, and insecurities. No, for me, for right here and now, living alone is perfect.
Sure, I am a hot blooded woman and I will want to have the company of a man, the companionship, the dynamics of the sexual and mental interaction of man and woman. I'm a human animal after all, but I don't have to sacrifice my identity, or my independence to achieve that. PG is the one I want that from, and he wants that from me, and until that changes for either of us, the situation is working.
Good friends should be like good shoes.
They should compliment you, like a perfect accessory.
Men included.
I have often expressed and always will express, that I am damaged and on a journey of self repair, and that I am not in any way shape or form claiming I have it all figured out or know the answers and I would never presume to tell anyone I am anything but human, and in such case, I am flawed.
The author was kind enough to leave a message on the original post about the book, linked above. He is a real therapist, and frankly the book was amazing. It broke down the phases that relationships go through and how often couples find themselves in these situations, where they end up feeling like they love the person but the passion of being IN love has waned. The book talked about methods of reconnecting and finding each other again, and how to do this, by agreeing to give one another the required space they need, then agreeing on a set time to reconnect and start again.
It actually reminded me of the relationship situation in the movie "Sex In the City" when Miranda Hobbes and her husband go for counselling at the end. The therapist is honest with them, that only they can make a promise to move forward with trust and faith in each other. The couple take the required space of a few weeks to figure out if they want to move forward and put the past behind them, and agree to meet at a set place and time if they are willing to go forward. Miranda realizes she might not be such a catch, and that self realization is wonderful.
Yes, I am fabulous, but I know my flaws.
I have always written in this blog about my imperfections and how I know I have to always be a being of true forgiveness because frankly I will (and have many many time in the past) require others to forgive me - for my blunders and mistakes.
Forgiveness is brilliant when it is real.
That is what I believe PG and I have achieved. (Maybe, maybe not??)
Where it goes from here? I don't even need to know. Why? Because I am so happy with me, as is. This growing, evolving me is someone I really love, and that alone is enough. All the wonderful people that accessorize my life only make it all the better.
On that note, another girlfriend of mine, who, let's just say, has very little relationship experience, and has some far more self damaging mental issues than I have ever known (for which she was seeing a therapist for) - well she recently became a major thorn in my side.
She has been unhealthily obsessed with a man (for coming on 2 years now) and everyone knows this man isn't at all interested in reciprocating her wants. He has said so - bluntly to me, and to many people around her but unfortunately never said so to her.
So she (in her naivety) has dreamed him into this fantasy of perfection for her. So finally in December I had to express that she really needs to let that fantasy go, because it is hard to watch her do this to herself.
She had the gall to compare her borderline stalkerish fantasy "relationship" with KC, with my real relationship with PG. She flat out requested I choose, her friendship or PG.
Well, Tuesday night she was there too, however I didn't take note. Eventually she came up to me nearing the end of the night, and she was bombed, slurred to me about vodka and how she hoped I wasn't mad. I told her, that I respected that she made her choice, but that if she was really going to make me pick between her and PG - PG would always come before her.
She said she understood. I don't know if she did.
PG and I have been close friends now since October 2006. We have lived together, loved together and shared our lives. We talk daily, and he is by far and away my very best friend on earth. If I need to talk to someone at any hour, I can call him and he is there. I need anything and he will be there for me. Despite the relationship ups and downs, we are still that close.
To me, although her and I had had personal conversations, and at one point, I felt like she was probably one of the closer female friends I had - I began to see she had become what I told her was a "boozing buddy".
I felt like every time we got together it was so she could have a companion (as an excuse) to stalk that man. She would get very drunk most times, and most times end up crying irrationally in the middle of the venue, and I would be there trying to make her feel better. This crying thing had been going on since July. In December I suggested repeatedly that we go to alternate venues to avoid seeing this guy she is obsessed with. Finally one night in December, after suggesting an alternative, only to wind up at the place this guy was, because it was (to her) more "convenient" - I got fed up and left her there, because really she didn't want me there, she only wanted to get this guy. After that I had told her I could no longer support her unhealthy actions.
I wish her the best but, some people take more than they ever give.
You can't help someone who won't help themselves. Also people should not give ultimatums to other people if they are not prepared for the results.
Funny thing is, when it comes down to it all, one thing we all can never stop talking about is men. I'm not fooling myself, like I said, I am a woman and I will want a man for the all the great reasons to want one. I just always have to remind myself that in the end, I have to be secure with me, comfortable and happy with me, and I can not allow a man to make me lose myself.
I am doing all the things I set out to do, the goals I set for myself to feed my soul.
I am establishing healthy relationships. In so many ways I can not even begin to list here.
I am volunteering at the cat sanctuary, giving up the coveted Friday nights of life to do something that makes my soul overflow with joy. That's brilliant.
I am buying all the little things I need and want, and planning out the months ahead of purchases. I got myself an iPod for fun, and got myself hundreds of dollars worth of practical clothing (undies, socks etc). Next month I plan to get more practical clothing and finally buy that painting easel. Rome wasn't built in a day, even they had a budget and time schedule.
I am taking better care of my health. I finished that cleanse, I have lost weight. I am working out a regular work-out schedule. Swimming is in the plans.
I am in the process of completing my book of poetry to sell on CafePress. Yes, Finally.
And it is in the planning, not going into details here but... I plan to shed my stage fright.
Great post B! its about time you post your thoughts :op
Im happy for you and Paul. Yea Yea I said a few things, but isnt that what girlfriends do? Stick up for each other? yeps, I thought so :o)
Ive always wished you two well. And its good to see you have both found a happy medium. More importantly Barbara, you are rediscovering yourself. Im proud of you ♥
And yes! girlfriends are supposed to be able to stick up for each other and say what they feel.
I respect that SOOOOOOO much. So does Paul. In fact both he and are are blunt people who try not to sugar coat things.
He holds no ill will toward you. He held none toward this other woman either, in fact he had her best intentions in mind when gently warning her about this guy she is obsessed with.
I appreciate ALL my girlfriends' support during the last while. But no one except that one woman gave me an ultimatum to pick "her or him".
I would NEVER force a friend to choose me over another person.
Anyway, I am not mad at her, like I said she made her choice. I made mine. I hope she finds good mental health.
And yes I am very much my own woman, and not someone this other woman needs to "worry" about.
omg I love your personal posts and I love you! Whenever I read your great write ups on who you are, Im always saying"yes! I get iot! me too!" Im happy for you and Paul. I think it's great you are living apart butu still growing together. Cant wait to see you. <3
You have hit the nail on the relationship head! I think that what we women tend to forget is that until we realize that we don't NEED a relationship- until we are comfortable with ourselves- we cannot have a healthy one. It just takes some people longer than others.
So last Friday night I was back at the RAPS CAT SANCTUARY. (Anytime I hear the word sanctuary I think of Homer Simpson... anyway... I need a new camera.
Wow what a train of thought that was. No, you see, I have been taking photos of some of the cats at the double wide trailer (my section of the sanctuary). I noticed on Friday my view screen on my camera is dead. Oh well, for $250 bought in 2005 that camera has gone a long way. It still takes pictures, I just can't use the view finder, which shows all the settings. Fuji says I should bring it in and get an estimate to fix it... but I can just go buy another $300 camera and get something that much better. I will just try not to abuse it like I did the other one. I think I dropped it too many times and broke the LCD screen.
This is my favorite kitty, although granted we hardly spend time together because she never leaves her perch, but isn't she beautiful.
Like I said I took some photos of the kitties I feed and tend to, so I thought I would share some of them with you.
The black and white guy in this last photo, is the food tester. When I'm dishing out 17 big plates of food and x-amount of little plates of food, he is usually right there tasting every one. I haven't got a photo of the can licker. Next time. He goes into the recycling pail (they recycle all the cans) and licks them as I am dishing out the food.
This guy is crazy, always meowing for attention but will take you out if you give it to him. HAHAHA He got me.
These photos below were taken by Debbie Wolanski, she took them over Christmas time when we had all that crazy snow, and she let me have a copy to share here with you.
This is the back outdoor section. It is lovely.
I really enjoy it. Last Friday it was so calm and quiet in there after they all ate, and I gave them some cuddles. There are bunnies too, I gave them a rub too. Made sure everyone was happy and content. I didn't leave until after 8:30PM. I was exhausted by the time I got home and showered, and ate my dinner but it was worth it. So worth it. I can't wait for this Friday to see them all again.
I think I would really enjoy doing some volunteer work there with you, but I am terrified that I would come home with a new cat everytime!! I'm not sure if I can handle the emotional part without crying when I left....
It is hard to leave, I have to force myself to. I want to make sure everyone gets some attention and love, which is hard.
I know I have my love Bear cat at home too, so I feel guilty and remind myself I have to go home to feed that little monkey of love. He hates the smell of the other cats on me.
I often think I should get Bear a buddy, but I don't know, how do you pick and how do I know they will get along. :(
It is a great place though, and the love it brings to my heart is worth it.
As with anything I can be as catty as the next chick - if I choose to be. This is a delicate dance for me. A weeding out mechanism - of sorts. I know I can be a blunt bitch. BUT If you truly know me you understand my compassion and that I am just not one to sugar coat shit.
In the words of Chris Rock:
Guys actually think that there are other fish in the sea, and if a guy introduces his boy to his new girlfriend, and when they walk away, his boy goes, "Oh man, she's nice, I gotta get me a girl like that."
If a woman introduces her new man to her girlfriend, and they walk away, her girlfriend goes, "I gotta get him, and I will slit that bitch's throat to do it." Every girl in here got a girlfriend they don't trust around their man.
Life’s funny like that from The Gloss Magazine is a great little summary of the types of women out there.
I think I am a nice amalgamation of them all.
However I too have in the last 7 months had to deal with one of my women friends, and frankly I am tired of dealing with her. I know she has her issues, don't we all. I respected that she was seeing a therapist regularly until recently, since she is unable to afford it right now.
However, I began to suspect that her friendship with me was not genuine long before the events that began 7 months ago. But let's start back in 2006 when I first met her.
The first time I met her she was crying in the washroom of a nightclub over a man. That man was a good friend of my boyfriend. I was typically supportive and told her the typical thing women do, when we see a woman crying in the bathroom, I said that she could do better and not to let it get to her. How did I know, I did not know her and hardly knew him. I'd only been seeing my new boyfriend for about 3 months.
She went on to tell me (and the other women in the bathroom) how deeply she felt for him, and how it hurt to be dumped. I also, later, however heard his side, and the fact that they barely knew one another and had not at all been serious.
We didn't see much of one another until many months later, when we happened to be at another club that my boyfriend's band friends/mates often hung out at.
I discovered that she lived a few blocks from where I was living downtown, so we hung out a couple of times, went out dancing, nothing serious. However, it became apparent to me, she had developed a major crush on one of the band guys, he did not and never will reciprocate those interests in her.
Her routine became that she didn't want to always be going to the bar alone (she went every week, sometimes twice to see him) so she would ask me to meet her there but I only did now and again. I noticed she would dance provocatively in an attempt to attract the band guy's attention, and continually say he was looking at her.
One time my boyfriend was with us at the bar and she was doing this dancing, and I was being me, goofing around with her not thinking much of it, and he was offended by it. I understood his feelings, and felt bad for making him feel hurt. He said she was a bad influence, and he told her how he perceived her behavior and didn't like her for it. She was offended, and from that day forth hated my boyfriend.
I defended her to him, saying in fact I didn't think she was as bad as he believed her to be, and I gave her a chance.
However, right after that I moved out of the city, and couldn't see her and she seemed mad at me for the fact, even though there was nothing I could do about it.
I got the use of my brother's old car, and so one night when I went to meet her, and picked her up, and as we were about to get to the same old bar (the one she went to weekly to see this guy) my boyfriend called to say his car had been towed. He was 5 minutes away from where we were, he had been at a band practice and was stranded (with his gear) in Gastown.
My girl friend got mad, she said to me, doesn't he have anyone else he can call to help him. I was stunned. I explained he was my boyfriend (we'd been together 9 or so months at that point) He was only 5 minutes away and why wouldn't I go help him!
At most it would take me 20 minutes to go to him, and drive him to the impound lot, and come back to the club. I asked her come along. She got mad, saying she didn't want to. So I suggested she go into the club, and I'd be back shortly to join her. She got mad because she didn't want to go in alone, like she always did and look bad for being there again - alone.
Finally after arguing the point with her, she agreed to go in alone, refusing to come for the ride. I came back in short time, and she was in a bad mood. Then my boyfriend showed up a little after - in need of a beer after the whole stress of having his car towed. Also - remember - the band there are his friends, he often got up to sing a song with them. She was mad at me because he was there, even though he was with his friends most of the time, he was always nice to her.
He thought if I was willing to give her acceptance he should.
Then I moved in with my boyfriend. Again she wanted me to come to go with her to the bar to watch that guy play. The nights he plays in bars are week nights. I had started working full time and lived a good 20 minute drive out of the downtown area. Going out clubbing was not easy. She still lives in her bachelor pad stumbling distance to the bar. I agreed one night to go, however when I got in that night after work I was too tired. So I called to explain my exhaustion and was chewed out for canceling on her, again because she didn't want to go alone.
She was not all sympathetic or caring about my needs, she only cared how it made her feel.
At this point I should have clued in that really, it was never about me, or our friendship, it was about her obsession with this man (which was now over a year long). But I had yet to see her true nature.
I kept the contact with her casual. As time passed I thought she and I had become closer friends, we had hung out at her place on occasion away from the bar, and I have even extended an invite to her to go swimming at my family's home. She declined that, but with seemingly good reason. But it seemed as though we might be moving beyond the buddy to go to the bar with so I don't look alone aspect.
My boyfriend and I wanted to go away for the weekend to visit his family. She said she wanted a change, so I asked if she would apartment/cat sit. It was her birthday. In return - as thanks my boyfriend and I took her out for a very nice dinner (I paid the entire bill for the evening) the night before we were to leave.
After of course, we ended up at the club where the man she obsesses over plays. Near the end of the night, my friend suddenly started crying in the middle the night club. Full on sobbing.
So I suggested we go to the ladies room, to help her save face. In the bathroom she confessed her mental problems (which I won't go into detail of but to say I was not at all aware of her problems and she had hid them well.) She told me she felt like if people knew they would not be her friend.
I was trying to be supportive, telling her we all have our issues. Almost an hour later she was still crying like crazy in the bathroom. My boyfriend had no idea where we went, and after that long time he panicked thinking I'd left him. It all caused this HUGE event.
My boyfriend however apologized for feeling insecure and about the events of the evening and for thinking I'd left him. He made every attempt to make sure we worked it out and understood the situation. That was us and our problem to resolve.
However she NEVER apologized for her breakdown.
In fact, her breakdowns became a regular event there after.
I tried to be sympathetic because she was seeing a therapist and I didn't want to be yet another person who turned away from her because of her problems, but her emotional states became a problem. I suggested we got to different places, and not places this man she was obsessed with was. It was his lack of interest in her, that would always cause her to freak out. If he was talking to another woman, she was mean and cut the woman down. She'd get angry that he hadn't called her or talked to her at the clubs.
When I went through the break up with my boyfriend, she seemed happy to see me in tears. She continued her pattern of chasing after that man in the band. Although she was there for me at times, it started to become clear to me, that the ONLY time I saw this woman was when it benefited her, and she got to see this man in the band.
Then she accused my boyfriend of always showing up.
I finally told her that she really had to give up the fantasy of this man in the band, and that maybe we should become more than boozing buddies that go to the bars that he is playing at. It became apparent to me though, that the only time she really wanted to be around me was if that man was around. And most times, by the end of the evening she was in tears, wondering why he didn't love her, why she was so unlovable and I was there trying to make her feel better.
Finally I told her, that the man in the band, had no interest in her at all, and after 2 years she really should give up her fantasy. That spending $100 on a therapy session to discuss her obsession with him, and her imagined "relationship" with this man was a waste when she should clearly be dealing with the bigger problems she has. I even asked the man in the band to tell her as much, however I think he is afraid of what she might do, so he is always "nice" to her.
At this point she had the nerve to say her "relationship" with this man was the same as my real relationship with my boyfriend. I put it to her plainly that her day dream fantasies and a few 2 am conversations with that man, did not in anyway compare to my real relationship of 2+ years including 1+ year of living together. I told her I needed a break from her friendship to see if it was worth salvaging.
In the last weeks we got together, but she was cold. You see, I have managed to salvage a close friendship with my ex-boyfriend, and we have gone out on a few dinners, and we still talk daily. He is still my best friend. Meanwhile, when we hung out she was again back to herself, thinking this guy was looking at her and wanting her. She pretend to be friendly to my ex-boyfriend.
She said she worries that I don't know what I am doing, and she hates him and doesn't want him around.
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper (born June 22, 1953) is an American Grammy- and Emmy award winning singer-songwriter and actress. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual, and became the first artist to have four top-five singles released from one album. Lauper has released 11 albums and over 40 singles, selling more than 25 million albums and singles worldwide. She continues to tour the world in support of human rights.
Even though I didn't mind Madonna's music, I never got into her in the 80s the way I did Cyndi. I loved Cyndi Lauper. I owned her albums and dug her freak nature, and her wicked style. Her life story is inspiring to say the least, and her personality shines.
On October 14, 1983, She's So Unusual was released, and became a worldwide hit. With help from Rick Chertoff, Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman (of The Hooters) as her primary studio musicians, She's So Unusual's popularity spread like wildfire. At the time, Lauper became popular with teenagers and critics, in part due to her hybrid punk image.
Lauper knew she could write songs, but the record company had a lot of material they wanted her to record. She altered a lot of the songs that were thrown her way, often changing the lyrics to suit her. (This would end up helping her in the long run financially as she could claim credit as a co-writer and collect royalties.)
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (Live 1987)
An example is "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", Lauper says the original lyrics of the song dealt more with a girl pleasing a man, therefore she changed the lyrics, wanting the song to be more of an anthem as she felt the original song seemed misogynistic.
The album's second single was the ballad "Time After Time". Lauper co-wrote "Time After Time" with Rob Hyman when her producer, Rick Chertoff, suggested to the band that the album could use one more song. The record label didn't have much faith in Lauper as a songwriter, but they gave her the chance to prove herself. "Time After Time" was one of the biggest hits of 1984. It has been covered by more than 100 artists.
"All Through the Night" was written by Jules Shear. It was later re-recorded in Swedish and released as the B-side to a single from the debut album of Marie Fredriksson (who'd achieve international success later as Roxette's female lead vocalist), in 1984. In 2005, a cover by Tori Amos appeared on her set of live albums, The Original Bootlegs. Shear and Lauper had also collaborated on his single "Steady" which became a Billboard Top 40 hit that year.
"Money Changes Everything" (1984)
The album also includes a cover of The Brains' New Wave track "Money Changes Everything" (another Top 40 hit for her), and "When You Were Mine", a cover of Prince's song that was later released as a promotional single in 1985.
Lauper spent 1984 touring and promoting She's So Unusual. By the end of the year, she was the first female to have four consecutive Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 hits from one album. The LP itself stayed in the Top 40 charts for more than 65 weeks and sold 16 million copies worldwide.
"Time After Time" (Live)
She started 1985 by participating on USA for Africa's famine-relief fund-raising single "We Are the World", singing the climactic soprano part of the bridge.
In 1985, Lauper won a Grammy Award in the Best New Artist category.
Steven Spielberg had asked Lauper to be the musical director of his latest film The Goonies, an adventurous family film about lost treasure. Lauper had the power to choose whom she wanted on the soundtrack, so she tried to make the album very diverse.
"The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" (1985)
Lauper released her second album True Colors on September 15, 1986. It reached number four on the Billboard 200. For this album, she increased her involvement both in production and songwriting. Guests on the album included Angela Clemons-Patrick, Nile Rodgers, Aimee Mann, Billy Joel, Adrian Belew, The Bangles, Ellie Greenwich, and Rick Derringer. Lauper co-wrote most of the album with Essra Mohawk, John Turi, Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly.
The album covers for both She's So Unusual and True Colors were composed by photographer Annie Leibovitz.
Lauper made her film debut in August 1988 in the quirky comedy Vibes, alongside Jeff Goldblum, Julian Sands, Elizabeth Peña and Peter Falk. Lauper played a psychic in search of a city of gold in South America. The film was produced by Ron Howard.
A Night to Remember, Lauper's third album, was released on May 23, 1989. Though critically well received, it was not as big a commercial success as her previous albums. The album spawned only one big hit, "I Drove All Night", originally penned for and sung by Roy Orbison.
On July 21, 1990, Lauper joined many other guests for Roger Waters' massive performance of The Wall in Berlin.
Lauper had become close friends with Yoko Ono. In 1990 she took part in a John Lennon tribute concert in Liverpool, performing the Beatles song "Hey Bulldog" and the John Lennon song "Working Class Hero". The concert was aired on the Disney Channel. She also took part in a project Ono and Lennon developed called "The Peace Choir". They performed a new version of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance". The reworked "Give Peace a Chance" was written by Sean Lennon.
On October 12, 2000, Lauper took part in a television show called Women in Rock, Girls With Guitars. The show featured Sheryl Crow, Ann and Nancy Wilson (guitarist), Melissa Etheridge, Amy Grant, Wynonna Judd, and Destiny's Child. Lauper performed the Paul McCartney hit "Maybe I'm Amazed" with Ann Wilson of Heart.
Today is the Chinese New Year, the year of the Ox.
I was born in the year of the Water Ox (1973).
The Ox is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.
The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. This powerful sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm, and modest. Like their animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.
Ox people need peace and quiet to work through their ideas, and when they have set their mind on something it is hard for them to be convinced otherwise. An Ox person has a very logical mind and is extremely systematic in whatever they do, even without imagination. These people speak little but are extremely intelligent. When necessary, they are articulate and eloquent.
People born under the influence of the Ox are kind, caring souls, logical, positive, filled with common sense and with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Security is their main preoccupation in life, and they are prepared to toil long and hard in order to provide a warm, comfortable and stable nest for themselves and their families. Strong-minded, stubborn, individualistic, the majority are highly intelligent individuals who don't take kindly to being told what to do.
The Ox works hard, patiently, and methodically, with original intelligence and reflective thought. These people enjoy helping others. Behind this tenacious, laboring, and self-sacrificing exterior lies an active mind.
The Ox is not extravagant, and the thought of living off credit cards or being in debt makes them nervous. The possibility of taking a serious risk could cause the Ox sleepless nights.
Ox people are truthful and sincere, and the idea of wheeling and dealing in a competitive world is distasteful to them. They are rarely driven by the prospect of financial gain. These people are always welcome because of their honesty and patience. They have many friends, who appreciate the fact that the Ox people are wary of new trends, although every now and then they can be encouraged to try something new.
It is important to remember that the Ox people are sociable and relaxed when they feel secure, but occasionally a dark cloud looms over such people and they engage all the trials of the whole world and seek solutions for them.Also the Ox people are all caring and loving but at times when you mess with them they will tear out in anger.
Water is yin or feminine in character, its energy is downward and its motion is stillness and conserving. It is associated with the planet Mercury, the north, winter and cold, darkness, night and the colour black. It is also associated with the moon, which was believed to cause the dew to fall at night. It is also believed to govern the kidneys, ears and bones. The negative emotion associated with water is fear, while the positive emotion is calmness. Its Primal Spirit is represented by the Black Tortoise.
In Chinese Taoist thought, water is representative of intelligence and wisdom, flexibility, softness and pliancy; however, an over-abundance of the element is said to cause difficulty in choosing something and sticking to it. In the same way, Water can be fluid and weak, but can also wield great power when it floods and overwhelms the land. In the birth and nurturing cycle, water spawns wood, and is spawned by metal. In the conquest cycle, water overcomes fire, and in turn is overcomed by earth.
Water also plays an important role in Chinese Astrology. In Chinese astrology water is included in the 10 heavenly stems (the five elements in their yin and yang forms), which combine with the 12 earthly branches (or Chinese signs of the zodiac), to form the 60 year cycle. Yang water years end in 2 (eg 1992), while Yin years end in 3 (eg 1993). Water governs the Chinese zodiac signs Pig, Rat and Ox.
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor (born 8 December 1966) is a Grammy Award-winning Irish singer-songwriter. Most people know her for the song she performed and written by Prince, called Nothing Compares 2 U.
Or they know about her controversial appearance on Saturday Night Live where she ripped up the photo of the Pope.
Political and potent. A voice that is unique and the distinct. A personality as troubled as the powerful messages she springs forth. I LOVE her music.
"Troy" (1987)
O'Connor's first two albums (1987's The Lion and the Cobra and 1990's I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got) gained considerable attention and mostly positive reviews. She was praised for her voice and her original songs. She was also noted for her appearance: her shaved head, often angry expression, and sometimes shapeless or unusual clothing.
"Last Day Of Our Acquaintance" (1990)
The Lion and the Cobra was not embraced by the pop mainstream on a large-scale basis, but the album did eventually hit gold record status and earned a Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy nomination. The single "Mandinka" was a big college radio hit, and "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" received both college and urban play in a remixed form that featured rapper MC Lyte. In her first US network television appearance, O'Connor sang "Mandinka" on Late Night with David Letterman in 1988. The single "Troy" was also released as a single in the UK and Ireland. A club mix of "Troy" would become a major US dance hit in 2002.
"I am stretched on your grave" (1990)
The album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got featured Marco Pirroni and Kevin Mooney, of Adam and the Ants fame, and contained her international breakthrough hit "Nothing Compares 2 U", a song written by Prince. Aided by a memorable and well received video by John Maybury which consisted almost solely of O'Connor's face as she performed the song, it became a massive international hit, reaching #1 in several countries. It also claimed the #1 spot on the Hot 100 chart in the USA. She also received Grammy nominations including Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. She eventually won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Performance, but boycotted the award show.
"Fire on Babylon" (1994)
"Fire on Babylon" is about the effects of her own child abuse, and she has consistently advocated on behalf of abused children.
"All Apologies" (1994)
In 1990, she contributed a cover of "You Do Something to Me" to the Cole Porter tribute/AIDS fundraising album Red Hot + Blue. This was followed by the release of Am I Not Your Girl?, an album of standards and torch songs that she had listened to while growing up. The record lost her much of the commercial momentum her career had built up until then.
The more conventional Universal Mother (1994) did not succeed in restoring her mass appeal. She toured with Lollapalooza in 1995, but dropped out when she became pregnant. (I had the opportunity to see her her in Vancouver on that tour!)
"Famine" (1995)
Faith and Courage was released in 2000, including the single "No Man's Woman," and featured contributions from Wyclef Jean of the Fugees and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. On the eve of its release, O'Connor came out as a lesbian, and then retracted the statement.
In a magazine article and in a programme on RTÉ (Ryan Confidential, broadcast on RTÉ on 29 May 2003), she stated that while most of her sexual relationships had been with men, she has had three relationships with women. In a May 2005 issue of Entertainment Weekly, she stated, "I'm three-quarters heterosexual, a quarter gay. I lean a bit more towards the hairy blokes."
"No Man's Woman" (2000)
The reggae album Throw Down Your Arms appeared in late 2005 and was greeted with very enthusiastic reviews, critics considering it one of O'Connor's best albums. It was based on the Rastafarian culture and lifestyle.
On an 4 October 2007 broadcast of The Oprah Winfrey Show, O'Connor disclosed that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder four years earlier, and had attempted suicide on her 33rd birthday.
"Jealous" (2000)
She also appeared on two tracks of the new Ian Brown album The World Is Yours, including the anti-war single "Illegal Attacks".
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American musician. He performs under the mononymous name of Prince, but has also been known by various other names, among them an unpronounceable symbol, leading fans and critics to dub him His Purple Majesty, Royal Badness, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, or The Artist.
As a kid I fell in love with Purple Rain. I had the movie, the album and me and my best friend Wendy danced up a storm to the tracks all the time.
Prince is a prolific artist, having released several hundred songs both under his own name and with other artists. He has won six Grammy Awards and an Academy Award, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2004, he was named as the top male pop artist of the past 25 years by ARC Rock on the Net, and Rolling Stone ranked Prince #28 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
However this post - unlike all the previous 68 posts in this series, and all the future ones I can think of to come - will have NO music available in it to listen to/view.
Prince doesn't want you to hear his music unless you or someone has paid him for it. Or even show you his picture for that matter. I'll get into that in a second, but as a kid in the 80's before technology came into play, I was a Prince fan.
In 1981, Prince formed a "side project" (a problematic label given that his band was only used for performance, not recording sessions) band called The Time. Prince was able to do this thanks to a clause in his contract with Warner Bros. The Time released four albums between 1981 and 1990, with Prince writing and performing all instruments and backing vocals throughout. The band's vocals were led by Morris Day.
In 1982, Prince released the 1999 double-album which "broke" Prince into the mainstream in the US and internationally, selling over three million copies. The title track was a protest against nuclear proliferation and became his first top ten hit internationally. With his video for "Little Red Corvette" he joined Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie as part of the first wave of African American artists on MTV. The song "Delirious" also went top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was placed at number six in The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics poll for 1983.
Prince's 1984 album, Purple Rain (concurrent with the film of the same name) sold more than thirteen million copies in the US and spent twenty-four consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200. The Academy Award-winning film grossed more than $80 million in the US alone, and has proved to be Prince's biggest cinematic success to date.
Two songs from Purple Rain, "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy," topped the US pop singles charts and were hits around the world, while the title track reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Prince simultaneously held the spots #1 film, #1 single, and #1 album in the US. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for "Purple Rain," and the album ranks at 72 in the top 100 of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list; the album is also listed in The All-TIME 100 Albums of TIME Magazine.
It was the album's song "Darling Nikki" to which Tipper Gore overheard her twelve-year-old daughter, Karenna, listening that inspired her to found the Parents Music Resource Center. The center has enacted the mandatory use of a warning label ("Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics") on the covers of records that have been judged to contain language or lyrical content unsuitable for minors.
In 1985, after the U.S. Purple Rain Tour, which was a smash hit in the US and Canada, Prince announced that he would discontinue both live performances and music videos after the release of Around the World in a Day, which held the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart for three weeks. Prince's ban on music videos supposedly ended when the album stalled in the charts and, after a video for "Raspberry Beret," then reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1986, Prince released the album Parade. The album went to #3 on the Billboard 200 album chart and #2 on the R&B album charts. The first single, "Kiss," would top the Billboard Hot 100. The Song was originally written for another side band project "Mazarati". At the same time, "Manic Monday" by The Bangles, which Prince had written under the pseudonym "Christopher Tracy," reached #2 on the Hot 100.
From there he went wacky, not Michael Jackson wacky but still. Renaming himself as a symbol was just the tip of the iceberg. I understood the principle of it, wanting the rights to his song and the whole "slave" business. But I lost interest in his music after that, it became bump and grind on rewind. Then he became a Jehovah's Witness and started to retract and change the sexual content of his songs.
In the final straw which made me not really care for the man, Prince now threatens to sue ANYONE who uses his image or sounds. He attacked YouTube.
Lenz, a blogger and fiction writer, said she's sympathetic to the plight of the music industry and its artists.
"I do understand where the record industry is coming from,'' she said. "They should go after people who infringe on their copyrights. Artists and musicians are owed the money for the product that they create, but I didn't take their product. I bought my CD at my local record store and I played it for my kids, and I wasn't trying to make any money or pass it off as anything other than a home movie of my child."
At the 2008 Coachella Music Festival, Prince performed a cover of Radiohead's "Creep" but immediately after, he forced YouTube and other sites to remove footage that fans had taken of the performance, despite Radiohead's wishes for it to remain on the website.
It all made me dislike the man, but I can however still to this day, say Purple Rain is still one of my all time favorite songs. The power of it can not be denied.
I am batty. Ever since I can remember I have had an affinity with bats. I used to have a recurring dreams about bats. In one I transformed into a being with giant bat like wings.
The Austin American-Statesman created the Statesman Bat Observation Center adjacent to the Congress Bridge, giving visitors a dedicated area to view the nightly emergence. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people visit the bridge to witness the bat flight, generating ten million dollars in tourism revenue annually.
It has qualities of both the bird and the mouse, rendering this animal a symbol of ANDROGYNE; it also has strong associations with darkness and obscurity, as a creature of the night.
In Christian terms, the bat is viewed as "the bird of the devil", an incarnation of the Prince of Darkness. Although harmless, their close association with the blood-sucking vampire has given bats a terrifying connotation; they are a highly prevalent symbol in Western literature.
High relation to black magic and witchcraft because it is visible at the critical period when day turns to night. Can pose as a symbol for terror, misfortune and even death - In Dante, Satan has bat's wings in 'deepest freezing Hell'. Supposedly when they fly upwards and then come down again swiftly, the witches' hour is upon.
It is seen by some as a contradictory symbol, emblematic of happiness and long life in China while possessing a meaning not far removed from that of the dragon and the hermaphrodite in Western ALCHEMY.
The androgyne represents the mystery of creation, the origin of life in the universe which began the cosmologic cycle. If Adam was created in God's image, thus inherently bisexual, the introduction of the female symbolizes the beginning of the fall from a state of perfection into duality. According to Plato, marriage is an attempt to restore the androgynous unity that was eternally lost with Adam and the creation of Eve. Androgyny is also the beginning and the end, as is ALPHA and OMEGA; it is by nature both dualism and wholeness, the reunion of the original male-female essences. Loss of the sense of separateness in personality. Often a masculine attribute on a woman's body is represenatative of solid and profound judgment. Can be related to witchcraft when the clothes of the opposite sex are worn in a dancing ceremony.
[FU BAT SYMBOL]
There really is nothing as 'blind as a bat' ... because bats are not blind.
They are, however, the world's only flying mammal with more than 1000 species. Some are as tiny as a bumblebee, weighing about as much as a dime while the largest have wing spans approaching 1.8 metres (6 feet).
White-nose syndrome was first seen in New York during the winter of 2006. Since then, populations of cave-hibernating bats have been drastically declining in Connecticut, Maine, New York and Vermont. Affected species include little brown bats, northern bats, tricolored bats, Indiana bats, small-footed myotis and big brown bats.
Worldwide, bats play critical ecological roles in insect control, plant pollination and seed dissemination, and the decline of North American bat populations would likely have far-reaching ecological consequences, the researchers wrote. They noted that parallels can be drawn between the threat posed by WNS and chytridiomycosis, a lethal fungal skin infection that has recently caused precipitous global amphibian population declines.
As you might know I have bats tattooed on my legs. I have always intended to get tattoos on my arms similar to the ones on my legs. I have been considering getting the arm tattoos done this year as a present to myself. I have been tinkering around with the design, attempting to use 5 bats in the band, to represent the Fu Bat (Lucky) symbol from Chinese culture. I even bought this jade necklace of a Fu Bat last year.
In an issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, scientists report on the discovery of six new bat species dating to around 35 million years ago, which sheds new light on the early evolution of bats.
pre-written & posted by Barbara Doduk & scheduled to publish @
2:22 AM 3 comments
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Since a lot of the other posts are about my old favourite bands and well, let's face it, it is hard for me to get into a band the way I once did, I thought I'd add a little thing every now and then called Cool Tunes This Week. A little summary of songs I find myself singing along to in the car. Yes I listen to the radio in the car. That's an essay. Save it. I will write about it another day. In the meantime, here are some radio songs I find myself digging on right now.
It's pop but it's catchy. The silly Groundhog day video is well silly. I am sure though this song will get old fast. But right now it's fun. Also note, YouTube disables a lot of stuff... the www.imeem.com are my other option.
The Pussycat Dolls - I Hate This Part
I can't believe I like this song. I liked "When I Grow Up" too. Oh well. I like her voice. But this song. WOW. I know it touches me because of where I am right now, but at the same time it is just that good anyway. I will like this song for a long time. Bravo to the The Dolls.
Deborah Cox - Beautiful U R
I always thought Deborah Cox had an amazing voice and this song is so catchy (dig that beat) and she is such a diva, of course I love it. Welcome back on top girl.
Years ago as a member of Spymac, I created a forum called Movieboob to talk about my love of movies with other movie lovers at the Apple related site. I thought it would be fun to add that element to The Love Blog.
Okay sometimes remakes work, sometimes not so much. Although I don't really like Tom Cruise as an actor, the remake of War of The Worlds was pretty good, given that I really thought the 1953 original was amazing. The aliens died because of germs. Great idea. Classic story and not a bad modern day remake of it.
I like Science Fiction, and old science fiction specially.
Some of my favourite movies of the past, are probably all going to eventually be remade.
Great stories always are.
However, The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951) was a brilliant movie. When Helen has to go to Gort and utter "Klaatu Barada Nikto" to the robot, is a classic scene. The modern day version of the story was a major re-write, and leaving out that classic line seemed... wrong. You don't mess with some things. The video below has a cheesy edit but shows the original classic lines.
Not only that, at the end of the original movie Klaatu gives a speech to the people, explaining the situation, as seen below.
Now Keanu Reeves is a good "blank" face to play an alien. Jennifer Connelly has those good big doe eyes to play the smart brunette. But The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008) just didn't seem to me to be more than a bad chase movie. The end was really anti-climatic without her saving Klaatu by telling Gort those words.
In the 1951 classic, Klaatu, arrives on earth and gets shot. Taken to a military base, which he escapes. He takes up a room in a boarding house, and gets to hang out and get to know humanity, through his relationship with Helen and her son. The army chase him in the end due to Helen's boyfriend turning in the alien, and yes, they shoot him again. She goes to Gort, to tell him "Klaatu Barada Nikto". The Robot goes to get Klaatu and brings him back to the ship to heal him. Klaatu then gives his speech and leaves.
I just didn't think the remake was at all powerful in it's meaning. It looked cool though. But it sacrificed ALL the HUMAN story that was so POWERFUL in the original movie. This remake is HORRIBLE.
Remakes of: Fahrenheit 451 is in pre-production, a remake of the 1966 futuristic movie about a fireman who begins to question his job which requires him to burn books.
Logans Run is in pre-production the original 1976 movie was interesting if not cheesy looking. I know most people would run for their lives if once they turned 30 they had to be killed.
I have always been around music and musicians and even had a little home studio for a stint, and helped put out a CD (I even sang on some of it). Before that I used to write reviews for EXCLAIM Magazine. I have been to a lot of concerts and live shows over the last 20+ years. These reviews are only my honest opinion and presented to you for your opinion.
Way back in 1998, my friend Nairne (Skookum) was in a band, that played a show out in Cloverdale BC, and I sat at the table handing out stickers (etc.) for his band. On the bill that night was also a band I loved and a band looking back who would have thought would be what they are now.
The band I liked and saw many times live was JAR. A heavy kick ass band, fronted by a man (Garth Allen) with one of the best kick ass set of pipes around. I recall Trace Beagley and I saw them at Halloween as well, at Studebakers. I can't count the amount of show I went to.
For the record the other band which played on the bill, played a more laid back stoner type acoustic show (and was dwarfed in my opinion by the sheer rock of JAR) was the one and only Nickleback.
Anyway, over time JAR renamed itself Flybanger but eventually disbanded, as did another heavy rocking local band I enjoyed seeing live many times - Noise Therapy.
Fast forward a decade from all those rocking shows and you have
You can grab a copy of their new album on iTunes here. Or check out their videos on their YouTube account.
Upcoming Shows: 30 Jan 2009 @ Richards on Richards, Vancouver, BC 28 Feb 2009 @ Cheers Night Club, Delta, BC 27 Mar 2009 @ Amber Jack’s Tap House, Surrey, BC
They are entered the Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands, trying to get on the Western Canadian Taste Of Chaos dates in Vancouver (also for Calgary and Edmonton) so if you like them go vote for them.
The Society began as Richmond Homeless Cats in 1989 and has blossomed into the Richmond Animal Protection Society through its 20-year history. Now, it's time to celebrate the past and the present, and to prepare for the future. (From the Newsletter)
When I arrived, I stopped in the main courtyard and gave out a bunch of pats and head rubs to the swarm around my legs. I made my way into the double wide where I found Debbie, who had taken a nap on the chair.
After feeding the kitties in the double wide trailer with Debbie, and meeting the other Friday night volunteers, who graciously had scooped the litter boxes, then cleaned the empty cat food cans for recycling, and had freshened the water, topped up the dry kibble and the lovely woman who medicated the required cats, and oh yes, of course the rabbit cage was done...
I sat down on the chair to give out some love. I sat there for an hour covered in, at one point, 7 cats, with probably 10-15 surrounding me at all times, looking for a chance to get a pet or squeeze on me too.
Finally I had to drag myself away, otherwise I could have been there all night. As I was leaving they mentioned they needed someone to put in Monday, I said I would. They said, "Oh would you rather do Monday nights?" I said no I'll do Fridays no problem but if there is ever a shortage another night, and I can help I will. I was asked if the experience had scared me off, and I laughed and said not at all. I was asked if I got peed on and I said, "Oh probably but that's just part of the love."
I seriously stank of cat pee, but I washed my clothing (stuff I wore specially for the fact I knew I would get CAT on me) when I got home. And had a nice hot shower and boy did I feel GOOD. I mean, soul satisfyingly GREAT.
I still feel fantastic from it as I write this.
You know, I remember hearing this in a movie or something before about, life is like a glass, and you sometimes start to feel empty and you need to do something that makes you re-fill your glass so you feel so full you feel like you are over flowing. RAPS makes me feel that way.
I told Debbie I like to take photos and asked if it would be okay to take pictures of the cats, she said I could. So I will snap photos, LOTS I am sure and I will stick them up on my Flickr when I do, in the meantime I found some shots all ready on Flickr to share here.
The City of Richmond City Council has voted in favour of awarding the Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) another two-year contract to run the City of Richmond Animal Shelter. High praise came from City staff on the operation of the City Shelter during the last two years of RAPS' governance when the Safety Committee convened in December.
Although the last two years have been challenging, RAPS staff, volunteers and supporters came together to make sure Richmond continues to have a no-kill city shelter. (From the Newsletter)
One of the biggest things I love about the shelter is the NO KILL policy.
Yes, I have supported the SPCA of BC for many years (See: Paws For A Cause), generally they are the top dogs so to speak, the largest known entity in the animal "rescue business". They generally do wonderful work, but then there is euthanasia, the fact that they KILL off any animals that are un-adoptable (for whatever the reasons may be) that always seemed wrong to me. What are my donations paying for, if the SPCA can not house these animals.
I know, I know, truth is the problem isn't the animals, and it isn't organizations like the SPCA (business), the problem is and always will be THE PEOPLE.
YEAH YOU !
Well maybe not you, but you know, the uneducated fools (and they are fools) who don't fix (by spaying/neutering) their pets (so they can not breed), and the bigger morons who abandon pets when they get bored of them. Pets are not accessories. They should be taken into your lives as seriously as you would bring a baby human being into your life. YOU SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for their lives!! For as long as they live!
Sadly I know, extenuating circumstances happen. People get old, people fall ill, animals get old, animals fall ill. Vet costs can be GHASTLY. (I know, my 12 year old cat Bear needs dental work - OUCH!) There are so many extenuating circumstances, too many to count, and that is where a place like the RAPS Cat Shelter comes in.
The RAPS web site has a blog as well, which gives you stories of the animals, not just the cat shelter but all also from the main shelter on No.5 Road which houses all the animals for adoption.
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Basement Jaxx are a critically acclaimed UK House duo, comprising Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, that rose to popularity in the late 1990s. Basement Jaxx started in Brixton, South London in 1994, where they held a regular night club called Rooty, the namesake of their second artist album.
"Red Alert"
In 1999, the group released their first full length album, Remedy to wide acclaim. Remedy includes the single "Red Alert", which was featured in the film Bend It Like Beckham and commercials including Nickelodeon and Coca-Cola.
"Bingo Bango"
Other singles on this album were "Jump N' Shout", "Bingo Bango" and "Rendez Vu", which is Basement Jaxx's highest UK chart entry to date at number 4.
"Rendez Vu"
Their next full length album, 2001's Rooty included singles "Romeo", "Jus 1 Kiss", "Where's Your Head At?", "Do Your Thing" and "Get Me Off". The music video for album opener "Romeo" is a parody of the Bollywood film style.
"Jus 1 Kiss"
"Where's Your Head At?" became a huge international hit in 2002, due in large part to its inclusion on the Tomb Raider soundtrack, and is perhaps Basement Jaxx's best known song, with a video praised by Mixmag as the best dance music video ever made. Xxtra Cutz was released shortly after Rooty, containing b-sides from this album's singles.
"Where's Your Head At?"
2003 brought Basement Jaxx's third full length album, Kish Kash, which included contributions from Lisa Kekaula (of the Bellrays), Me'shell Ndegeocello, grime MC Dizzee Rascal, Totlyn Jackson, JC Chasez, Siouxsie Sioux (of Siouxsie & the Banshees), and Phoebe.
From this album, the tracks "Lucky Star", "Good Luck", and "Plug It In" were released as singles. Kish Kash was recognized the following year at the 47th Grammy awards, winning Buxton and Ratcliffe the inaugural Best Electronic/Dance Album award.
"Good Luck" (ft Lisa Kekaula of the Bellrays) Gawd I love this one!
One of my favourite ass shakers ever, the bouncy grooves these guys produce move me tot his day. "Oh My Gosh"! I wish I could add all the videos because they are as much FUN to watch as they are to listen to and dance to. Check out "U Don't Know Me" for a great song and video with the Queen of England running around partying.
In 2005, the duo released the #1 compilation The Singles along with a video collection on DVD, comprising all the singles from their previous three albums, some earlier releases (featured on Atlantic Jaxx Recordings: A Compilation), and two new tracks, "Oh My Gosh" and "U Don't Know Me", which were both released as singles.
Their fourth studio album, Crazy Itch Radio, was released on September 4, 2006 in the UK, simultaneously with its first single, "Hush Boy". The album features guest vocals by Dragonette frontwoman Martina Sorbara (credited as "Martina Bang"), Johnny Blaze (also known as Method Man), Lily Allen and Robyn. After the release of "Hey U" as a single in March 2007, they will begin work on their fifth album, which may be released on Atlantic Jaxx Recordings.
In addition to their own work, Basement Jaxx have become in-demand remixers. Their more prominent work includes "4 My People" by Missy Elliott, "Like I Love You" by Justin Timberlake and "She Wants to Move" by N.E.R.D.
"4 My People" by Missy Elliott Remixed by Basement Jaxx
I finally swung over to meet the fine folks at the RAPS Cat Shelter (Richmond Animal Protection Society). Their cat shelter is amazing. The people who dedicate their lives to these animals are beyond amazing.
RAPS need donations, and always welcomes volunteers. Also if you want to adopt a kitty to a good home some of the cats there are adoptable. There are so many amazing kitties. I want to love them all (if they let me - some are still wild).
As I wandered the facility it struck me, really truly the work the volunteers at RAPS do for these animals is beyond.
There are so many great cats, and great stories.
Combo #5 :
RAPS fiercest feral cat, Combo No. 5, is named after a meal at the A&W restaurant where he was found as a kitten in West Vancouver. He escaped from his cage the day after he arrived and hasn't learned to trust people. After more than 2 years, Combo has decided to let a few of us approach and touch his nose!
Combo #5 wasn't in a people mood though, he hissed and growled.
But he was only one anti-social kitty, and all the cats who wanted to be rubbed, rub on me, petted, and generally loved, were PLENTY.
Frankly I am really looking forward to this.
I always was jokingly called The Cat Lady because of my former little herd of kitties, which sadly is down to one last kitty, my baby (he's 12) Bear. I always joked and said I would end up owning a farm one day with hundreds of cats and finally become The Cat Lady. Well, RAPS isn't mine but it might well become my second home away from home.
Video from RAPS Shelter
If you can help in any way, please donate below, or sponsor a cat, or donate the much needed items the shelter needs (all the info can be found on the web site).
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The Crystal Method is an American electronic music duo consisting of Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland. Along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers (#64), and a few other acts, they were pioneers of the big beat electronic dance genre, and one of its few American proponents.
"Trip Like I Do" (1997)
Studio albums: Vegas (August 26, 1997) Tweekend (July 31, 2001) Legion of Boom (January 13, 2004) Divided by Night (April, 2009)
My favourite was their first "Vegas". Most of the videos featured in this post are from that 1997 album.
"Get Busy Child" (1997)
Although Jordan and Kirkland are both from Las Vegas, Nevada, the band was formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1993. The Crystal Method did most of their earlier production work in an underground shelter referred to as "The Bomb Shelter" in the front yard of a rented house they once shared as roommates. Before production began on Legion of Boom in 2004, they moved the studio into the garage of the rented house.
"Comin Back" (1997)
After hearing president-elect Barack Obama's acceptance speech, the duo was inspired to remix "Now is the Time" (Vote '08 Remix) with sound bites from the speech. The MP3 is available for free via their official website.
"Keep Hope Alive" (1997)
The Crystal Method have remixed other artists' tracks, such as Linkin Park's track "Points of Authority"; the remix was called "Pts. Of. Athrty (The Crystal Method Remix)" and can only be found on LP Underground 2.0 EP, which is exclusively available to LP Underground members. The group worked with Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland to make a music video for the song "You Know It's Hard".
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Paul Oakenfold (from Greenhithe, Kent, UK) is a record producer and a popular trance DJ worldwide. In 1985 Oakenfold traveled to the island of Ibiza and started the house music movement there. In 1988 he decided to create a place where new artists could develop their careers, Perfecto Records.
"Send Me An Angel" Paul Oakenfold Remix
In 1990, he worked with Terry Farley, Andrew Weatherall and Steve Osborne on two remixes for The Happy Mondays (#22), the remixes of "Rave On" and "Hallelujah". Oakenfold produced the Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches album for The Happy Mondays, and and both Oakenfold and Osborne won the 1991 Brit Award for "Best Producer".
In 1992 when U2 released their song "Even Better Than the Real Thing", the Perfecto remix reached a higher charted position than the original song.
"Rule The Planet" Remix By Paul Oakenfold, Composed By Danny Elfman From The Film Planet Of The Apes
In 1993 with the success of his last remix as Perfecto, Oakenfold was hired by U2 to provide the warm-up sonics to their Zoo TV world tour, and as a result he became known as a superstar deejay on the 1993 legs in Europe and Australia, New Zealand, and Japan with more than fifty shows in Zooropa '93 and Zoomerang from May 7 to December 10 of the same year.
Ready Steady Go By Paul Oakenfold - Featured In The Bourne Identity
A new sound, new breed of dance music called Goa, something Oakenfold discovered on the beaches of Goa in India and fused with similar sounding European tracks to create his own distinct sound. He took this to the mainstream when in 1994 he created a two-hour set for BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix.
Madonna "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (Remixed by Paul Oakenfold)
I can't tell you how much I adore that song.
It was all just gravy from there... During Paul Oakenfold's career he has remixed a variety of songs from Madonna, like "What It Feels Like For A Girl", "Hollywood", "American Life", "Sorry" and later in 2008 "Give It 2 Me" from her album "Hard Candy", Paul went on tour with Madonna for two months opening her presentation in the Confessions Tour, previously he had supported her in 2004 at Slane Castle in Ireland.
In October 2007 he released his Greatest Hits & Remixes, Vol. 1 which features his best performance tracks. Paul Oaknefold has created more than one hundred remixes, and has sold over 5,000,000 (5 million) long plays. Featured some remixes from the original version but it also included, two new remixes which are; Justin Timberlake's "My Love" song and his remix of Hans Zimmer's "Jack Theme Suite" which was used for the film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
"Get Out Of Life" - Swordfish Soundtrack
Exclusive 2008 Remixes from Paul Oakenfold were also included from Mark Ronson's "Stop Me" song, Radiohead's "Everything In Its Right Place", Eisbaer from Grovezone, the unforgettable "Missing" by Everything But The Girl and a remix of Paul's own "Southern Sun". The compilation consists of tracks which influenced his career and made his personality what it is nowadays, with artist like The Cure, Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, Massive Attack, U2, Olive, The Smashing Pumpkins, Madonna and Underworld.
"Faster Kill Pussycat" (featuring Brittany Murphy) fromo Oakenfold's 2006 album A Lively Mind
I could have done 2 posts or three to cover this man's body of work. But if you are at all inspired by what I presented here, you should take the time to really absorb what this legend has done. Hell if he can make Britney Murphy sound cool...
Years ago as a member of Spymac, I created a forum called Movieboob to talk about my love of movies with other movie lovers at the Apple related site. I thought it would be fun to add that element to The Love Blog.
Adam Sandler almost always makes me laugh. He is one of my favorite funny men. His movies have this quality. Even the movies his Happy Madison Productions movies (without him in them) make me laugh.
His web site AdamSandler.com is a favourite entertainment source for me. His videos kill me (check out The Secret), and so does the dog, Meatball. His comedy albums are in my iTunes, I love Piece of Shit Car the most, and laugh when I hear the local AM730 Traffic station play a clip of it.
Of course most people knew Adam Sandler first from Saturday Night Live. Coneheads (1993) was the first movie I saw him in, which of course was a SNL skit as a movie. Not to good a movie either.
Airheads (1994) was funny to me, a movie about guys in a rock band taking over a radio station, made me laugh. Mixed Nuts (1994) is a great movie starring Steve Martin (another favourite of mine) and well worth a watch, Sandler is one of his patients.
Billy Madison (1995) was a silly Sandler movie and made me laugh because of the character and his having to go back to school. Happy Gilmore (1996) again cracked me up, and the hockey stick on the golf course... priceless. Sadly, Bulletproof (1996) was not good, it was a bad cop movie.
The Wedding Singer (1998) with Drew Barrymore is a classic, I think everyone who grew up through the 80s would love this movie, it is charming and funny, and Billy Idol is in it at the end.
The Waterboy (1998) makes me laugh, again another silly Sandler but giggles galore to me. Big Daddy (1999/I) just left me flat. Little Nicky (2000) is another laugh riot to me. The cast is brilliant and the idea of the devil's son going to earth - yah.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002) I actually really like, even though it is slow and dark, thinking about it, the angry man character reminds me of my ex.
Anger Management (2003) with Jack Nicholson is priceless, the monk fight... come on. 50 First Dates (2004) with Drew Barrymore (again) is another cute laughter movie, she does a brilliant job as the amnesiac and the cast is top notch.
My HUMAWORM order arrived on Monday December 8th. So that Monday night I downed 2 caps. And I gave Bear (the Cat) some of his.
[I WILL WARN YOU NOW, IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT PERSONAL HEALTH ISSUES, THIS IS GOING TO BORE YOU.]
Bear only has to do 5 days, 3 pinches (1 pinch per 5 pounds) 3 times a day in his food, or 2 times (same amount) if schedule is such, that 3 times can't work.
He loved the smell of the bag when it arrived, was trying to bite it and chew it, but when he tasted it, he made the "yucky face and squint eyes" and ran off smacking his mouth in disgust.
So I only mushed 1 pinch of it into his moist food (fat cat food), he chowed down, some times he got a good chuck of it and tasted it and made the yuck face, shook it off and ate more.
I was a lot more hesitant to dose Bear than myself with this stuff. I am not entirely certain it is good for cats, but a small amount couldn't hurt.
Sadly after a few days of this, he started refusing to eat the moist can cat food at all. Which is a big waste of food - specially since it is special cat food that costs more than store bought. So I stopped mixing it into his food. I still have the package, there was a lot more than the required amount to dose him. It can be kept in the freezer to keep fresh. I think next time I try to do this I have to come up with a better method of getting the product in to Bear.
Did I notice any changes in Bear cat?
No, since he only ate the stuff for about 2.5 days which is half the time but I don't know what I should have noticed? He is eating the ultra expensive FAT CAT food, Medi-Cal Weight Reducting Formula Can Food. I was feeding him the Preventive Formula (that is what all the kitties usually ate all their lives) and he still is on the dry version of this but I don't put out as much.
Bear had crystals in his urine so bad in 2003 (I think it was) that he couldn't pee (cost me a 2 day vet stay!). So when I took him in to the Vet in July 2008, I needed to get a pee sample from him for them.
Funny story, Bear wouldn't pee in the box with it empty. So one day I waited as long as I thought Bear could possibly hold out, and put the regular box down, and when Bear jumped in and started to pee, I stuck the (vet provided) plastic cup under him and got the pee sample. Yup the things I do for kitties I'll never understand. Anyway, they tested Bear's pee, and said he has some very small crystals. So he should get more moisture in his diet, to help him pee more and flush out his body. So more can food, less dry. Lucky bastard, he loves it. It costs more too. The things I do for...
Anyway, did he have parasites and HUMAWORM cleaned them out? Who knows? Does he seem healthier? We'll see. He is a fat little bugger, he was 15 lbs when we had him at the vet in July, sadly I don't think he has lost weight.
He is sturdy though, even if the porky fat roll was off him, he'd still be a strong massive cat. When they took him in the back to do blood tests at the vet in July 2008, they said they'd be 5 minutes. After 20 minutes passed I went to ask the receptionist what was up, she disappeared into the back for about 5 minutes and came back out to say, "Bear is a strong boy, and doesn't really want a needle in him" and it was taking all the staff to hold him still to do the blood work." GO BEAR!! Make the Granville Island Vet Team work for their money.
Anyway, aside from being lonely (I think he really misses the girls - I know I do) Bear still runs around here like a mad cat and has been enjoying playing in a cardboard box I brought home for him. I try to play with him regularly to keep his mind active. I move things around a lot, put out things to change up his play toys. Simple things are the real joy of life (for us both).
I am storing the pet HUMAWORM leftovers (stored in freezer) for future use. The site says to de-worm pets 2-3 times a year. So that means 4 to 6 months. So in April I will do Bear again with a better method!
As for me (the Human) I am done my 30 days now.
The HUMAWORM product site says "you will begin to feel the effects within 2-3 days. Most parasites are removed during the first 7 days. The rest of the parasites, their larvae and eggs are removed in the next 23 days."
Sure enough the first week I felt weird. I assumed it was more to do with the sudden amount of herbs being absorbed into my body, but maybe it was killing things.
The reason I thought I'd try this cleanse were my digestion problems. For the longest time I have had belly issues to put it politely. My tummy gurgled and made strange loud noises, specially after I ate and during the night. I went for many tests, they said it could be food allergies, so I stopped eating diary, which I noticed was a trigger to the bloating, pain, gas and other unpleasantness. So I cut that out of my diet last year. I note that when I give in to my craving and have like a milkshake or an ice cream cone, the problems come back, so I am pretty sure my digestion system doesn't dig it.
I also noted I would wake up in the middle of the night sometimes covered in sweat, soaked by it, my jammies would be wet from it. It wasn't too warm in the house, it was my body. They (the doctors) said all of it could be a form of IBS but I wasn't about to go through all the hoopla to test for it on the vague suggestion that "it could be" that. I decide to just keep a diary of my eating habits and when I noticed problems. Therefore being able to figure out what foods, or food combinations triggers bad things.
BUT I always felt bloated and gassy no matter what I ate.
I know I put on 10+ pounds over the last 2 years, which I am in the process of exercising and eating better to get rid of. I weighed myself this morning and was 142.1 so the change in diet has helped, but I think the extra exercise should kick in soon, but I need to force myself to get into it more regularly (this weather hasn't helped) and go to the pool and gym and eventually bike riding again.
So anyway, yes I felt tired and weird the first week of taking the HUMAWORM. Did it flush out any baddies? Frankly I am not the type of person who is going to go dig in the toilet bowl to find out. (YUCK) Did I see anything odd just looking down? (YUCK) Maybe, yes, but again, I am not going to go really looking, and really it isn't like I had any idea to compare normal to abnormal. As long as it is out of me I don't care, I flush and good bye.
I will say though that my bloated belly is gone. The crazy noises are gone, specially at night. I also haven't woke up this whole time with the night sweats. So maybe there were baddies in there and they have been removed?
Well, the Common Symptoms of Parasites in Humans are:
Constipation Diarrhoea Gas and Bloating Irritable bowel syndrome Joint and muscle aches and pains Anaemia Allergy Skin conditions Nervousness Sleep disturbances Teeth grinding Chronic fatigue Immunie Dysfunction
My body would cycle back and forth between constipation and diarrhoea with short periods of normalcy, on top of the constant gas and bloating, the sleep sweats that would wake me in the night, my acne skin issues, me always being tired, and often getting colds/flus, and the fact I was anemic in the Springtime (although now I am not) and I know I have allergies - I sneeze about 4 times (usually 2-3 sneezes each time) everyday! - and yes my body has aches and pains, my lower back and neck (I never attributed this to parasites before) so about the only thing on the list I don't do is grind my teeth. That was what prompted me to give this parasite cleanse a try. I figured it couldn't hurt.
I do feel better. I still have my sinus issue, I think I need a heavy sinus cleanse, as nothing seems to get that out of my head. Every year I get severe sinus infections and ALL YEAR my left nostril is stuffed up and I use sprays and I take allergy meds or hell I've tried everything, but I can still feel that fluid move back and forth in my sinuses when I shift sides in bed at night. It is maddening. I was hoping that this cleanse would help that a bit too, as it supposedly can help with funguses, and I thought maybe my sinus problem was fungus related because the prescriptions never seem to totally clear it up. I constantly have thick nasal secretions, I blow my nose a lot, or am sniffly if I am without a tissue at hand. When I wake up each morning my left nostril is half clogged. Can you say chronic sinusitis. But that is a whole other essay.
So in the end, was it worth the US$29.95 (plus shipping and exchange rate and Bear's powder) for my cleanse? I think it was. Like I said I do feel better, and a lot of little issues seem to be gone. HUMAWORM can be taken every 90 days. I assume that means from end of last cleanse. So every 3 months. We'll see if what I feel like in 2 months, and if I feel like ordering another round for April 2009. I figure in the end it is all good herbs and can't hurt to boost my system, and if nothing else that alone is worth it.
have you tried a netti pot for your sinuses? I have trouble breathing alot and its due to severe allergies, asthma, and certain environments. I saw one at the store the other day and thought about picking it up.
Vesper, again if it was a Candida situation, I figured this HUMAWORM would help, since it had several ingredients that were helpful toward Candida yeast imbalances. However, I also note that if it is a full body imbalance it could require a stronger course of action.
I have also considered the gluten intolerance. I haven't yet tried to eliminate it and see how I feel, as it is in SOOOO much of the foods out there.
But I must note, when I eat a steak (yes I am eating red meat again) and veggies and salad, with no starches like potatoes or pastas I feel good. So sadly I think this is actually one of the future items I need to eliminate from my diet.
Ophelia, I have read about the netti pot. I haven't tried it though. I bought a store nasal spray, and I regularly steam my sinuses (and face). I have a lot of allergies too. :( If you try it let me know what you think. :)
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The Chemical Brothers are the English Grammy Award winning electronic music duo Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (occasionally referred to as Chemical Tom and Chemical Ed).
Initially they called themselves "The Dust Brothers", after the noted United States production duo of the same name, but the threat of legal action from the originals led them to change their name in 1995. Along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim and The Crystal Method, as well as other acts they were pioneers of the big beat electronic dance genre which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s.
Exit Planet Dust is the debut album by British electronica duo The Chemical Brothers, released in the UK on June 26, 1995 and the US on August 15 1995. The title is a reference to their departure from their earlier name "The Dust Brothers".
"Leave Home"
It became the number one played CD in my collection for a few years. "Chico's Groove" is my favourite track, but like I said, the whole album is brilliant.
"In Dust We Trust"
Exit Planet Dust eventually went on to sell over a million copies worldwide. Shortly after its release, The Chemical Brothers signed to Virgin Records, to which they took their own offshoot label, Freestyle Dust.
"Life is Sweet"
For their next single, in September 1995, they again used a guest vocalist, for the release of "Life Is Sweet", featuring their friend Tim Burgess, singer with The Charlatans (#21). It reached #25 in the singles charts. The single was also Select Magazine's Single Of The Month for October. The release included a Daft Punk remix of "Life Is Sweet".
"Leave Home" – 5:32 "In Dust We Trust" – 5:17 "Song to the Siren" – 3:16 "Three Little Birdies Down Beats" – 5:38 "Fuck Up Beats" – 1:25 "Chemical Beats" – 4:50 "Chico's Groove" – 4:48 "One Too Many Mornings" – 4:13 "Life Is Sweet" – 6:33 (featuring Tim Burgess) "Playground for a Wedgeless Firm" – 2:31 "Alive Alone" – 5:16 (featuring Beth Orton)
"Chico's Groove"
*sigh*
I am going to listen to it all over and over and over again now.
You know I LOVE animals and do all I can to help them through various charities.
I have for a long time had a little badge on the side bar of this blog for The Animal Rescue Site.
If you go to the site, there is a button you can click on to donate food.
Yup. That easy. Click. Click. Click.
The Animal Rescue Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific need — providing food for some of the 27 million unwanted animals given to shelters in the U.S. every year. Over 10 million animals are put to death every year in the U.S. alone because they are abandoned and unwanted.
There is also a store online you can buy their Paw Print items from, and again, it all goes to feed the animals.
I love this tee-shirt!
The Animal Rescue Site is a proud partner of PetFinder.com (another site I check out often). PetFinder is a great way to find yourself a pet.
DO NOT SHOP AT PET STORES... ADOPT AN ABANDONED PET!
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The KLF (also known as The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu (aka The JAMs), The Timelords and other names) were one of the seminal bands from the British acid house movement during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Ah the days of The World (when it was at the end of Richards in a dingy dirty hole in the wall, with a gravel lot out the side, and Pacific a stones throw, the days when we showed up at midnight and tried to beat the dawn with 3 AM Eternal.
"3 AM Eternal"
"3 a.m. Eternal" was an international top-five hit in January 1991, reaching #1 in the UK and #5 in the US Billboard Hot 100. The album The White Room followed in March 1991, reaching #3 in the UK.
"Last Train to Trancentral (12")"
All aboard. The KLF's chart success continued with the single "Last Train to Trancentral" (UK #2, #3 in the Eurochart Hot 100).
In December 1991, a re-working of a song from 1987, "Justified and Ancient" was released, featuring the vocals of American country star Tammy Wynette. It was another international hit (UK #2, US #11), as was "America: What Time Is Love?" (UK #4), a hard, guitar-laden reworking of "What Time Is Love?".
"What Time Is Love?" (Original)
But if you still aren't convinced that KLF are the most amazing... you clearly weren't reading closely at that first line... because in 1988 before The KLF... who didn't know Doctorin' the Tardis (The Dr. Who Theme dance song)???
THE TIMELORDS / KLF - Doctorin' The Tard
We were dancing to that at Changes Young Adult Night Club (in Surrey) long days before The World/The Eclipse.
You know in general I loathe mens hats. When I suggested to someone that they burn their hat, I was seriously serious about the suggestion. Some hats just look stupid on everyone, some look especially stupid on certain people. There are a lot of bad womens hats too. But fashion usually comes into the realm of womens hats, and the variety is more vast. I used to wear a lot of hats. Hypocrite? If you say so, in the end though it is only my personal preference.
Exception to the rule... when you wear a hat for charity.
The Toque - the Canadian winter hat - was made famous by those hosers Bob and Doug McKenzie, of SCTV's The Great White North show. I still laugh at the skit about how to get a baby mouse into a bottle of beer (video above).
So you know the Toque is the ultimate Canadian symbol. Which brings me to this:
The Toque Campaign is a national initiative that gives people from all walks of life the chance to raise funds, raise fun and raise awareness in the fight against homelessness in Canada. This year, Raising the Roof celebrates the 13th anniversary of this popular fundraiser. Since 1997, Raising the Roof has sold over 575,000 toques to Canadians wishing to demonstrate their support for solutions to homelessness!
Warm your head and your heart! Buy your special Raising the Roof toque – available in driftwood (cuffless) or in classic black (cuffed or cuffless) – in exchange for a minimum $10 donation to support programs and initiatives that make a difference in the lives of thousands of men, women and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Then, wear your toque proudly on Toque Tuesday – February 3, 2009 – to show that you care about Canada’s homeless.
how about my abc he wears lots of toques how is he doing? i don't know i like him in a toque and i used to totally despise guys wearing toques as well.
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Meat Beat Manifesto is an electronic music outfit originally consisting of Jack Dangers and Jonny Stephens formed in 1987 in Swindon, UK. Swindon was also the hometown of the band XTC (#5), who helped Meat Beat get started.
My adoration began with Babylon.
"Radio Babylon" (1990)
The band's live show was conceived as an intense audio-visual experience, with dancers, led by choreographer Marcus Adams, in costumes designed by artist Craig Morrison and video clips accompanying live instruments, sequenced electronic instruments, and live DJing. In the United States, they opened for Nine Inch Nails on their debut national tour in 1990.
"Helter Skelter" (1990)
1992's Satyricon continued to show Meat Beat adopting a more mainstream electronic sound, crediting influences of such newly popular dance bands as Orbital (#30), The Shamen(#56), and The Orb(#32), all of whom had either remixed or been remixed by MBM. The album produced the hits "Mindstream" and "Circles". However, "Original Control (Version 2)", renamed "I Am Electro" in later compilations, remains the best-known track from the album, featuring samples of recordings from the 1939 World's Fair exhibit Elektro The Robot, and was the opening song in MBM's 2005-2006 tour.
"Original Control"
I saw Meat Beat Manifesto live at Commodore Ballroom with 808 State in the 90s. But one of my favorite things about this type of music is the remixes. Below is a remix by one of my all time favourite bands Orbital. That is what this is all about. I LOVE this Remix.
Years ago as a member of Spymac, I created a forum called Movieboob to talk about my love of movies with other movie lovers at the Apple related site. I thought it would be fun to add that element to The Love Blog.
Winona Ryder was born 29 October 1971, Winona, Minnesota, as Winona Laura Horowitz. She grew up in a ranch commune in Northern California where there was no electricity. She is the Goddaughter of Timothy Leary and her parents were friends of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg. And although she is naturally blonde she has dyed her hair dark all her life since her first role in the movie Lucas (1986).
[Beetlejuice]
I saw Lucas (1986), it was a cute teen movie. Then she did Beetle Juice (1988) and played Lydia, the dark gothic girl. At that point everyone started to tell me I looked like her. She's 5'4 and I'm 5'8, but otherwise I suppose people see a resemblance, or did. I actually really adore the movie Beetlejuice, it is very funny and quirky.
Note: One of my cats (1996-2007) was named Lydia after that character.
[Beetlejuice]
1969 (1988) was a nice little movie about growing up in that time, with Robert Downey Jr. (Brilliant actor) and Kiefer Sutherland. Then came Heathers (1988) which was a great dark comedy about high school.
Dracula (1992) was okay, Gary Oldman is one of my favourites but it was abundantly clear Winona Ryder didn't really have the acting depth of the great actors, and pairing her with Keanu Reeves added to the blah. The Age of Innocence (1993) continued the blah. And on it went with Reality Bites (1994) and Little Women (1994).
Then she teamed up with Adam Sandler (who almost always makes me laugh) and Mr. Deeds (2002) was actually really good, she should do more comedy. Or bitchy over the top characters like the one in S1m0ne (2002).
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The Future Sound of London (FSOL) is another band in my vast iTunes collection that you should know. FSOL are a prolific British electronic music band composed of Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans. The duo are often credited with pushing the boundaries of electronic music experimentation and of pioneering a new era of dance music.
Although often labelled as ambient, Cobain and Dougans usually resist being typecast into any one particular genre. Their work covers most areas of electronic music, such as ambient techno, drum and bass, trip-hop, ambient dub, acid techno and often involves extreme experimentation; for example they have, since the turn of the millennium, experimented with psychedelic rock under their Amorphous Androgynous alias.
If you don't know this song, you should!
"Papua New Guinea" (1991)
In 1991 they released their first album as The Future Sound of London, "Accelerator" which was followed by their seminal breakthrough ambient-dub track "Papua New Guinea" featuring a looping Lisa Gerrard vocal sample and a bassline from Meat Beat Manifesto's "Radio Babylon", which was their first official single release; the track remains arguably their most recognizable and celebrated song, it has made several (British) "...best songs ever" polls and track specific accolades.
"Accelerator" was very much a club-friendly techno album and remains their only studio album in this vein to this day; it was praised for its unique sound and atmosphere. In 1992 Virgin Records were looking for electronic bands and quickly signed them.
"Amoeba"
With their newfound contract they immediately began to experiment with more ambient music, resulting in the "Tales of Ephidrina" album of 1993, the first album to be released under the Amorphous Androgynous alias; this was well received by press and marked an almost complete shift from the more techno driven "Accelerator".
"Cascade" (1993)
"Lifeforms" followed in 1994 to critical acclaim. The new work featured unconventional use of percussion interspersed with cyclopean ambient segments. The eponymous single from the album featured Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins on vocals. The album was a top 10 hit on the UK album chart and remains their most popular opus. The album featured epic, cyclopean, ambient soundscapes and almost had a life of its own, each track flowing from one to the next with no pauses in between tracks. Cobain has said that around this time that journalists would come to talk to them and one of the first things they would ask would be if they liked Brian Eno (whom they cite as an influence) to which they would laugh and say that actually they were about looking forward not to the past, it was, to them, very much their new work rather than just another Eno type ambient album.
"Lifeforms Part 1" (1994)
"We wanted to release a very immersive, mind-blowing piece of music that was long and would deeply drench you in it...Lifeforms was redefining 'classical ambient electronic experimental' — that was the phrase we used." - Cobain on "Lifeforms"
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Richard David James aka Aphex Twin, is an electronic musician who has been described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music."
Oh yah. I from the moment I first heard "Digeridoo" on a mixed tape of Max Murphy's - I was like who is this and where do I sign up?
"Digeridoo" (1992)
To say I am HOOK on this dude's sound is an understatement. I can't stop listening to his work no matter how out there it might get it still just grabs me.
"Boy Girl Song"
To say his videos have always been as odd and unique as the music is also and understatement. All you have to do is listen to "Milk Man". His album covers too, show his sense of odd. Like the video for "Donkey Rhubarb", featuring the bears, or the video for "On" with the stop motion and giant scissors.
"Donkey Rhubarb"
The full length video for the song "Windowlicker" as a big lead up with a couple of guys talking about getting laid, I like that edited version which cuts to Aphex Twin pulling up in a ridiculously long limo.
"Windowlicker" (1999)
And just because he has a love of remixing theme songs, and this is one of my favorites I thought I'd throw this on here. I don't know how many times I've played this song but, I think it's great.
I'm using this is a way to contact you(I couldn't find your e-mail address lol. I'm very intrigued by a couple of quotes you put up: "Hope is all we've got" and "The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile." If you like, shoot me en a-mail at iitimmytii@aol.com http://patienceloveandpleasure.blogspot.com/
Now, of course in Wicca, despite all the Hollywood and Halloween hoopla there is no Devil or Satan in the religion. Wicca worships the earth and the elements of the universe that made the earth.
But still, the power of wishful thinking is a dangerous deed, when you don't respect the details. In otherwords, those small things in plans and schemes that are often overlooked - can cause serious problems later on. Be specific. Vagueness never works.
Practical Magic (1998) is a very cute movie (I like it) with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as witch sisters. I like it, it happened to be on TV over the holidays with a bunch of other witch movies. I think witch movies are amusing. The Craft was on too. Teenagers dabbling in witchcraft. Ah those raging hormones. Love spells are the most dangerous.
"For as long as love lasts" is practical.
And thus, for the sake of hearts and the sake of the new year (2009 = 11) I must do something I just never thought practical to do until now. I don't know why all these many many MANY years of my life I never thought to do so. But I have thought of it now. I have never cast a spell on a specific person regarding love, but I have cast spells to get things in general. I am releasing my heart and those that may have been affected by my spells.
I release thee. Only true real love lasts. I release thee. Only true real love lasts. I release thee. Only true real love lasts.
The power of water shall rinse us clean.
pre-written & posted by Barbara Doduk & scheduled to publish @
11:11 AM 0 comments
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
808 State are an English electronic music outfit formed in 1988 in Manchester, taking their name from the Roland TR-808 drum machine and the "state of mind" shared by the members. The name has a second meaning, in the USA the "808 state" is Hawaii, the 808 coming from its telephone area code. A second probable reference to this is the name of their first hit single. They were formed by Graham Massey, Martin Price and Gerald Simpson, and they released their debut Newbuild in 1988. The band really hit the big time during the "second summer of love" in 1989 when their song "Pacific State" was picked up by Radio 1 DJ Gary Davies. Davies played the record every day for 3 months on his national primetime lunchtime show until it was released as a single. His promotion singlehandedly helped propel the acid house group to the top of the UK charts and into the public consciousness.
I got into them when I heard "Pacific State" as well, it is beautiful.
"Pacific State" (1989)
I had the high privilege of seeing 808 State live with Meat Beat Manifesto on May 9th 1993 in Vancouver @ The Commodore Ballroom (I recall I went with Stuart Smith). It was amazing!
Simpson left the group in 1989 to form his own solo project, A Guy Called Gerald. Voodoo Ray was his biggest song. (It is a good song and I am fond of it and it is in my iTunes too!)
808 State's album Ex:el featured vocals from Bernard Sumner (New Order) and ex-Sugarcubes vocalist Björk on "Ooops".
"Ooops" (1991)
My favorite album of 808 State though has to be 1996's Don Solaris. To this day I still listen to it regularly. The album featured contributions from James Dean Bradfield from the Manic Street Preachers, who sung vocals on 'Lopez' which reached number 20 in the UK singles charts. This song was remixed by Brian Eno. The song 'Bond' featured vocals by Mike Doughty (I love his voice) from the band Soul Coughing and 'Azura' featured Louise Rhodes from Lamb (another favourite featured earlier in Audio Addict).
"Azure" (1996)
And if that all wasn't enough reason to LOVE LOVE LOVE 808 State, which I do, (in honesty I am surprised it took me this long to get to showcasing them for you..) 808 State were one of the many amazing remixers on the The Stone Roses Remix Album, and did an amazing job on Made of Stone. [In case you missed it The Stone Roses are my #1 Favourite band.]
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Intermix is a lovely project from the two wonders of music Bill Leeb (Skinny Puppy) & Rhys Fulber - you might know these Vancouver BC lads. Unlike their other projects (including Front Line Assembly, Noise Unit, and Delerium), Intermix showed somewhat more of a techno music influence.
Sadly YouTube is lacking in a good selection of Intermix music. So I am going to do something here for you, I am going to host the MP3 on my site and link it below for you to hear.
"Voices" (1992)
"Targeted" (1992)
The pair released three albums as Intermix: Intermix in 1992 Phaze Two in 1993 Future Primitives in 1995
"Monument" (1993)
I fell in love with Intermix in 1992. To this day Monument (the almost 10 minute version on the album) and Voices are two of my favourite songs.
Early versions of Microsoft's Windows XP beta versions used the first minute of the song Voices from the first Intermix album as background music for the Welcome Assistant. It was however not credited and it seems it was not with permission. It was replaced in the final version of Windows XP.
The third Intermix album however sounded completely different from the first two, being a lot more ambient and could actually also have been released as a Synæsthesia record or possibly an early Delerium record.
Their other project Delerium is pretty dreaming too. I love this remix version of Innocente. I don't know how many times I listened to that song in my VW Beetle on drives.
"Innocente (DJ Tiesto Remix)" (2001)
They also teamed up with Sarah McLachlan for a great song, which has been remixed to hell, however my favorite remix version is below. (I am a BIG FAN of the Essential Mix!)
"Silence" Feat. Sarah McLachlan (Paul Oakenfold Essential Mix Version)
Heaven holds a sense of wonder and I wanted to believe that I'd get caught up when the rage in me subsides...
i love Delerium. i remember i started to listen to them around december 1995. when they released Silence i almost died. it is one of my very most favourite songs. in the top 50 for sure.
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
At 4:37 PM on October 25th, 1992 I had a head on collision, I was driving my '92 Pontiac Firefly when I crossed the line doing 80kms + and hit a Honda Civic driver-side to driver-side head on. I was listening to Pop Will Eat Itself. To this day that moment in that song, always flash me back to that moment in time, when I thought to myself, "Oh shit, I'm dead."
"There Is No Love between Us Anymore" (1988)
Pop Will Eat Itself (also known as PWEI or the Poppies) were an English band formed in Stourbridge. They first caught my attention on Much Music with their song "There Is No Love between Us Anymore" (1988)
"Can U Dig It?" (1989)
This is This! and Cure for Sanity were recorded with the aid of legendary producer Flood, known for his work with Nine Inch Nails, U2, Depeche Mode and many other popular 90s groups. Cure for Sanity was perhaps PWEI's most experimental album, with a more electronic sound than previous efforts.
"Touched by the Hand of Cicciolina" (1990)
On 1992's The Looks or The Lifestyle, the band recruited a live drummer to complement their standard array of loops and pre-programmed drums and brought back some live guitars. The record was their most commercial and polished work to date and featured top 20 hits like 'Karmadrome' and 'Bulletproof.'
"Bulletproof!" (1992)
I had the privilege of seeing PWEI live in the 90s.
The band found a new and more industrial-based direction with the aid of long time fan Trent Reznor. Many fans were upset that the 'Is everybody happy?!' pogoing Poppies were gone and put off by the new direction, but the band found new popularity after signing with Reznor's Nothing Records in the US and touring with Nine Inch Nails.
"Dance of The Mad" (1990)
[Do you this iPod got the commercial idea from PWEI?]
The band reformed to play their first gigs in 8 years, in Nottingham, Birmingham, and London in January 2005. Many thought this would never happen, as the band had apparently lost all the tapes and disks of samples and backing tracks they needed to perform live. When this material was later found in a friend's garden shed, they decided to reform.
The Pop Will Eat Itself motto is: Sample It, Loop It, Fuck It and Eat It.
"Get the Girl! Kill the Baddies!" (1993)
"X Y & Zee" (1991)
"X Y & Zee" was the song I was listening to when I had my car accident. I know the exact point, because there is a part that includes a sample, and my accident happened the moment this sample ended.
"Let me tell you something about love, it has a voracious appetite... It eats anything."
"Well, I'll tell you something else, you feed it right and it can be a beautiful thing and that's what we have..."
"So watch out world! 'Cause nobody can stop it! Nobody! Ever!"
It is a sample from the creepy horror movie by Stephen King, "Christine".
I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The Shamen were an experimental electronic music band, initially formed in Aberdeen, Scotland in the 1980s as a psychedelic-influenced indie rock act. They found underground credibility as an acid house act and pioneers of rock/dance crossover, before moving on to international commercial success.
"Move Any Mountain (12" Remix)"
The beginning of the 90s saw me on the dance floor, I love DANCE music. I have often thought if I had had much sense back then, I would have become a professional dancer. To this day I think I should go take a lot of dance lessons. I need to move to music. The Shamen were one of the first to really grab me.
"Make It Mine"
By mid-1987, frontman Colin Angus was discovering the sounds of early house music pioneers such as S-Express and M/A/R/R/S and increasing his knowledge of the latest studio gadgetry. By September 1987, the Shamen were applying these techniques to their own music, mixing rock guitars, techno and hip-hop rhythms and sampled radio voices to create the prototype rock-dance sound which was to prove so influential to groups like Pop Will Eat Itself, Jesus Jones and EMF.
"Hyperreal"
Relocated to London, allowing them to start afresh, and plunge headfirst into the emerging rave scene. 1989 was to be a busy year. They set out on their legendary Synergy tour, a nightclub experience combined with live music from The Shamen and others and DJing from the likes of Mixmaster Morris. The tour was to last nearly two years. They also released the Phorward mini album, a genre-defining release in the history of the acid house movement.
"LSI (Love Sex Intelligence)"
Their third album, En-Tact, was released in 1990, and it spawned the hit singles "Move Any Mountain (Progen '91)", "Hyperreal" and "Make It Mine". Also notable was the appearance of rapper and DJ Mr. C (real name Richard West), as well as incorporation of a female vocal talent, Plavka Lonich - who was intended to become focal point of the group. The transformation into a successful rave act was complete.
You can't predict a car crash. You can't plan an earthquake. You can't predict lightening strikes. You can't plan to fall in love.
Control of over your life is an illusion.
You know, it is funny, I suppose spending a week over Christmas alone in my thoughts and jammies gave me a lot of time to think about my future, about me.
Anyway, on Dec 30th, funny enough, just as I was coming to the conclusion that I can not control my life or ever know exactly how it will turn out, and that I have to give up that false sense of power over my life... I was reading an article in this month's copy of Flare that came. It was an interview with Liv Tyler. And in big letters there was a quote from her saying :
"In life, I think there's only so much planning you can do because you never really know what's going to happen."
And I was like *duh* that is what I have just discovered is my problem.
I suppose in the last 2 years I was so hell bent on getting "control" back in my life, after allowing myself to be controlled for so long prior... that I forgot the real issue. That life is totally unpredictable, that you do have to - just let come what may. I am satisfied with that. My life has been full, and I mean full, of curveballs and unpredictable events that were entirely out of my control, that I was left to my own devices to survive and deal with and grow from. How on earth could I forget how uncertain every moment of existence truly is? And how could I forget the beauty in living it in the fullest of joy because you never know what tomorrow brings?
I could make excuses, and although they would be justified, I can not allow myself to not kick myself in the face with my own truth. My panic stricken grip on my life and the result of which, my panic and fear controlling my life, made me OVER plan, made me expect to have EVERY answer, and worse of all, expect everyone else around me to have EVERY answer too.
Tsk Tsk to me.
So here I go, forward, without expectations, just a general idea, a casual wave of the hand that I want to go somewhere that way, in that general direction. No idea when I will get there, or how, or why or if I ever will, but with the sense of mind to know, I will enjoy every moment of the journey. And where ever I get to, where ever it ends, when the voices in the alone darkness at the end of the journey come again and ask me again, what was my purpose in life?... this time I know what my answer shall be, my answer unequivocally is :
MY PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO LIVE !
pre-written & posted by Barbara Doduk & scheduled to publish @
2:22 AM 2 comments
Ah, I love your purpose. It's so cool how the answers we need and the words we need to hear can come from the most random of sources, even a Liv Tyler interview. :)
I don't claim to be a Kabbalist, but I do subscribe to a "Daily Kabbalah Tune Up" email which offers a short paragraph regarding a Kabbalistic concept to contemplate during the day. When I was going through a serious disagreement with Al a month or so ago I would go outside at night and think and pray and stargaze. Every morning I would find something eerily related to what I had been thinking of the night before. That was awesome-weird, if that makes any sense.
I have to say this was probably one of the better NYE nights I have had in a long time. I know last year was Nat & Phil's party, which was nice, but forced to be social with some virtual strangers can be an anxiety point for me.
So the last 24+ hours for me were actually a blessing.
I spent it with my best friend.
He, like me, decided to forgo all the NYE stuff, and just hangout, so he figured why not hangout together. And really, why not?
You see, I worked until 3PM-ish and went to the bank to cash my paycheque and to the other bank to deposit rent, then to the video store to take advantage of the 2 for 1 on previously viewed movies.
As I was at the check out my best friend called to say he had the 12 pack of beer, so I was off to grab a little tequila. And wine.
12 beers, 2 shots of tequila, 1 bottle of wine, 3 meals, a bowl of popcorn, several cups of tea, 2 back rubs, 1 episode of Coronation Street, a kiss at midnight, lots Bear cat cuddles, 2 new iPods from Future Shop and the watching of 4 movies = A great way to spend 24+ hours with your best friend.
I felt good to just be, with no pressure, with no expectations, to just be two people spending the hours together. If this is a sign of my new mind set for the new year... I am going to really enjoy 2009.
I used to enjoy year end reviews on my journals. I remember way back when I began this web stuff, summaries of the cool movies, the interesting science... things that intrigued me and got me to thinking. I was shut-in basically, somewhat by choice, somewhat not by choice. So the internet and television shows like Nova, were my sole absorption of information and life.
Since 2006, I really have felt like I am drifting in a sea I am not at all comfortable in. I am not a social being in most respects, sure I get a little stir crazy and need to get out, wander the streets, the mall... window shop, idly chat with strangers in the park and isles. But, bonding, lasting committed friendships/relationships had burned me so badly over the early years of my life that for many years of my adult life I avoided the entanglement of connection, of relationships with family and friends. These last almost 2 years, I have swam with the sharks and spent time diving deep into unknown territory.
I have developed a few really good friends over the last 2 years. [You all know who you are and what you mean to me.]
My odd temperament, somewhat and somehow tolerated by them. I often suffer from 'foot in mouth' disease. I don't mean to be a blunt bitch, but I am not one for buttering up and kissing ass.
I would always prefer a kick in the face - to a stab in the back.
In other words, tell me the truth no matter how brutal, instead of telling me white or black lies. I will, in turn, do the same. While I appreciate the idea of 'keeping the peace' and being able to whitewash truths, protecting people's feelings or just knowing when the past is - just that - the past, and isn't necessary to bring up, I still and always will, subscribe to my way of thinking.
Brutal truth suits me fine.
So does being anti-social. I know that now about myself. After spending so many years in isolation, and re-emerging these last 2 years, I realize, looking back at my life, I have always been a loner. A lone wolf on the plains.
I am a solitary white witch.
I have always had my significant other, or others, in the sense of a love companion, and usually a close female or male friend. But always I have held even those people at a long distance from me. I know now I prefer that.
Everything else about social acceptance is far to emotionally and mentally exhausting to me, and the pros do not out weigh the cons to me. I do not need the world to accept me, to adore me or even acknowledge me.
I am happy being invisible.
Or at least believing I am invisible. I like my 'Emperor's New Clothes' sense of self.
I posted this on my Facebook and Twitter, it sums up my thoughts these days...
Publicly pontificating a private personal perception in a perpetual pining for a perchance at perfection, probably possibly pissing it away.
In just over 2 months from now I will turn 36. When I look back at my life, I have had the privilege to experience A LOT in those 36 years. I am satisfied.
I am going forward without expectation, without hope even, in fact I am going back to the mind set I had all those years in solitude, but clarified, with no definition, no particular goal to carve out a "me"... all I know is - I am.
pre-written & posted by Barbara Doduk & scheduled to publish @
12:01 AM 2 comments
♥ The Love Blog by Vancouver Blogger Barbara Doduk ♥
A personal view of the world from a hopeful human being longing for a world of love, for an earth called Unity. Barbara Doduk was born in and resides in Vancouver British Columbia Canada and writes about her life, her city and her views on the world.
HOMETOWN: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
LIVING IN:
White Rock, BC
ABOUT ME: Barbara Doduk has had a web site since 1997, which included a journal. She started a web site to promote her creative writing, poetry and photography interests. Over the last 10 years the www has evolved and so has web journalling or as it is now known "blogging".
THE LOVE BLOG is her main personal journal.
WIREDSECRET is her poetry weblog.
THE UNITY PROJECT is her world wide photograph collection for unity.
After the last tree has been cut down,
after the last river has been poisoned,
after the last fish has been caught,
then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
♥THE LOVE BLOG♥ presents: ♥THE SPREADER OF LOVE♥ ♥AWARD♥
All I ask in return for presenting this award to anyone blogging out there, is that you include the following information in the blog post along with the image below:
This blog has been awarded The Spreader of Love Award created by The Love Blog, for an outstanding demonstration of blogging love.
I love that you do this- with all of the crap going on in the world people often forget the animals.