Bad Hair Day On A Good Day!

I am having a bad hair day! What is this doing on my supposedly “positive” blog? Out of all the days to have a bad hair day, this was the perfect one because I have an appointment with my hair dresser today. Considering that I made this appointment five weeks ago, the hair angels have obviously been looking out for me. How perfect that this would happen today when I only have a few hours of bad hair before my talented stylist fixes me up. In just a few short hours, I can face the world with my perfect hair, every strand in place, and no one will ever know the terrible things I said to the mirror this morning. Come to think of it, I was also not very kind to my straightening iron. But all will soon be fine, with mirror and iron forgiven. It really is amazing how your hair can set the mood for the entire day. If you are experiencing a bad hair day, the whole day is ruined. Good hair helps you cope with any other stress you might face in a day. You do not really appreciate good hair days until you have a bad hair one! Having a bad hair day on the day you have an appointment with your hairdresser . . . it’s a good thing!

14,000 Things To Be Happy About

I came across a site about a book called "14000 Things To Be Happy About" by Barbara Ann Kipfer. The title intrigued me, so I investigated further. What I found out amazed me. Barbara started keeping a list of things that made her happy when she was in the sixth grade, and continued adding to her list for the next twenty years! She started recording her list in a little spiral notebook, which she later replaced with large notebooks and she finally graduated to a computer. What strikes me the most is that a six-grader would start keeping a "happy" list. I wonder what went through her mind. What gave her the idea to keep this list? And how interesting that she continued to do so for the next twenty years! Her list grew to 14,000 things. Her list has now been published into a book. The entire book is simply made up of her lists - page after page of lists of things that have made her happy through her childhood, her teen-age years and her adulthood. Interestingly, the author says that she now uses her own list to cheer herself up on a "grey day" or when she wants to plan a fun thing with her son. I love this quote from Barbara Ann Kipfer: "Happiness comes from noticing and enjoying the little things in life". Noticing the things that make you happy and appreciating them . . . . it's a good thing!

Random Compliments

I read a in blog yesterday how one of the author's favorite things is "random compliments". Random compliments - what a concept! It got me to thinking about what a random compliment might be. It could be totally unexpected words of praise from someone you know or an unexpected compliment from a total stranger. We've all had compliments from friends and families and, of course, we appreciate those words. However, when a total stranger tells you something nice about yourself, it is so unexpected that it almost shocks you. After you get over the shock, you feel good about yourself and you can't help but smile as you go about your day. As I reflected on the blog, I realized that I've run into a couple incidents of "random compliments" lately. One was when I was buying bird seed at a grocery store. The women behind me seemed quite flustered and not very nice. Suddenly she asked me what I did with the bird seed. I told her I put it in the bird feeders in my back yard. She then asked me how long the bag of seeds would last, as she eyed the fairly large bag I was purchasing. I told her that it usually lasts about a week. She was silent for a few seconds, and I thought the conversation was over and that she likely thought I was wasting my money feeding birds. Then she looked at me and said "That's really nice of you to do"! I was so surprised that I couldn't even answer her. A random compliment on a very ordinary thing made buying bird seed extra-ordinary, and put me in a happy frame of mind for the rest of that day. The other incident was when I was going through drive-through. The person at the window, handed me my coffee and as I gave her my money, she said "I love your nails! Whoever does them does a really good job". It was such a simple thing, but I really appreciated the compliment. I have decided that I will hand our random compliments at every opportunity in the hope that it will make someone else's day a little brighter. Giving a random compliment and putting a smile on someone's face . . . it's a good thing!

Smile - It's A Lady Bug!

Lady Bugs are so cute! They are the one insect that no one minds coming across in their garden, or in the house, or even crawling up a leg! Their cute little red bodies and black spots make them perfect candidates for recreating their images on rocks - we've all seen "Lady Bug" rocks. Everyone has one because everyone loves Lady Bugs! Goggle "Lady Bug" and hundreds of links appear. You can buy almost anything in lady bug motif, from socks to tea cups. You could decorate an entire room with Lady Bug decorations. Why are people who are afraid of spiders not afraid of lady bugs? They are both insects with extra legs. Is it because of the Lady Bugs' cuteness? But then again, spiders are not really ugly. Is it because Lady Bugs are "good for the garden"? Of course, so are earth worms and you don't see their image printed on children's clothing. Out of all the insects, the Lady Bug is the one that is universally loved. Lady Bugs don't do tricks like a dog or purr like a cat, they just crawl. Well, they do one other thing: they make us smile every time we come across one. You cannot look at a lady bug without smiling! Try it! Having a Lady Bug put a smile on your face . . . it's a good thing!

Raspberry Rhapsody

It's raspberry season! Finally! What could be better than freshly picked, locally grown (as in your own garden) raspberries? I have a small raspberry patch in my back yard and I anxiously wait and watch for the appearance of those first wonderful berries of the season. After eating trucked-in California raspberries all winter, one forgets how delicious fresh raspberries are. The best time is that first week, before the birds catch on that those red things on the prickly bushes can be eaten. As well as avoiding competition with the birds, I usually "forget" to mention to my family that the raspberries are ready for eating those first for days (it is a really small patch, after all). Therefore, for a week or so, I have those berries to myself. They are just so darn good! It's a nice treat to look forward to after watering the flowers and pulling a few weeds. Raspberry season . . . it's a good thing!

Stealing In The Shower

When as an overnight guest using your host's shower, why is it so tempting to use their shampoo and cleanser? Even if you bring your own supplies, do you not find yourself "sneaking" a dap of their stuff? Why is that? Is it because you are in the one place where you know you will never be caught and so you manage to work up the courage to steal some suds? After all, unlike our parents with their liquor bottles during our teen-age years, our host does not mark the shampoo level on every bottle. Or is it because this is an opportunity to sample new and different products without having to buy the whole bottle? What if your "sampling" leads to your purchasing that product - should the manufacturer give your host a royality? What if you experience an allergic reaction to one of the products - how do you explain to your host that you have developed a reaction to your own shampoo? If you really like the product, is it proper etiquette to tell your host that you liked it? When it comes right down to it, would any host truly mind if you sample the bottles in the shower? Being a good guest and not sampling the bottles in the shower . . . it's a good thing!

Staying Safe in Sudan

Over the past couple years, I have become friends with a wonderful young lady by the name of Angela. Angela is a journalist and has been all over the world. She is a dynamic, intelligent, worldly, yet down-to-earth person. Through her stories, pictures and blogs, I too have travelled the world. I'm not sure how we were fortunate enough to have her decide to live in Prince Albert, but since her arrival here she has developed an ever-growing circle of friends. She is the type of person who can connect with people of all ages and backgrounds, and her circle of friends reflects this. She grew up in BC and her family is still there, so she has "adopted" a few of us as her Saskatchewan family. Angela is presently in Sudan, having planned this working trip before the recent violence broke out. While we tried to talk her out of going at this time, Angela would not be deterred. She had a plan and she had made a commitment , and so she left last week for Sudan. She is continuously updating us on her blog. As well, she is sending stories home to her newspaper. Between her newspaper stories and her blog, her friends are staying well connected to her, but we will all breath a sigh of relief when she comes home. You can check out her blog at takingyoucloser@blogspot.com. Stay safe, Angela! Traveling the world and living dangerously through the eyes of a friend . . . it's a good thing!

Pelletier Guitar Camp

Every year for the past nine years, Freddie and Sheila Pelletier and Freddie's son Clinton host a Guitar Camp at their acreage. As well as guitar, they offer classes in drums, fiddle, bass, mandolin and voice. Freddie and Clinton are accomplished guitarists and Sheila has a beautiful and pure voice. Students from all over western Canada come the the camp to learn from this talented trio and the other teachers. Each evening, the teachers and students hold a concert and anyone can attend. I try to go every year and last night I enjoyed my first show of this season. These nightly events are not advertised other than by word-of-mouth, however last night the place was packed. I am so amazed at the talent, as I am sure everyone else in the audience last night was. The Pelletiers have students from the very young to very senior. Some have more experience than others. The students sing and play instruments in different genres of music. The one thing they all have in common is their passion for music. Under the guidance and encouragement of Freddie, Sheila and Clinton, even the most timid students eventually belts out a tune. I'm not sure what is more inspiring: watching a student's talent blossom and develop, or watching the Pelletiers gently and lovingly mould these new musicians. It is amazing to witness the confidence of the students growing as they become more comfortable with their music. I truly envy the talent of the teachers and the students, and wish I could sing and play too. However, if everyone sang and played, who would listen and enjoy? Being one of the people in the audience enjoying good music. . . it's a good thing!

Back Alley . . . Or Another World?

Have you ever noticed how different a back alley looks compared to the street running parallel to it? Back alleys always amaze me. You can know a street very well, but if you drive down its back alley, it is like seeing a whole different world! Homeowners' back yards are often so different than their front yards! A homeowner with a very plain front yard might have a beautifully landscaped back yard with flowers, trees and ponds. On the other hand, someone with a very showy front yard may have a very plain back yard. On one particular street which I have recently become familiar with, is a beautiful house with cedar siding and a lovely flower-filled front yard. I commented to my husband once that the owners do a great job of keeping the cedar maintained and obviously spend a lot of time maintaining their home and their yard. Some time later, I found myself in the back alley. Much to my surprise and dismay, their back yard is a mess! The owners obviously upkeep the front and a portion of the sides of their house, but the back of the house and the last half of the sides are weathered and badly in need of TLC. Their back yard has no plants or flowers at all. I actually drove around the block to make sure it was the same house. What a difference between their front yard and back yard! By driving down back alleys, you get a glimpse of people's lives - their true lives, not the "for company" side that is displayed in the front yard. In a back yard are the "pieces" that make up the lives of the owners, while the front yard is usually more generic. Most times, the front and back yards just don't "match" and it can be difficult to believe that you are at the same property. It often feels as if you are in an entirely different place, or perhaps a parallel universe! Enjoying the mysteries and uniqueness of back alleys . . . it's a good thing!

Look Out Weeds - Here I Come!

What a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you have just finished weeding! I love that moment when you step back and everything is clean and weed-free. Even though you know it won't last long, in fact by the next day some of the weeds are starting to poke their heads through the soil, it still feels great for a little while. My flower beds received a lot of damage in last week's wind storm and some of my plants are looking pretty sad. But after a good weeding, even the broken plants look better. All the plants suddenly appear to be so much taller and fuller when there no luscious weeds to compete with. Most times, I will come across something that I can't identify as a flower or a weed. I end up just leaving it until it has time to grow a little more and, hopefully, by the next weeding, I can decide if it stays or goes. So, weeding even has a little mystery to it! Usually when I am about half-way through the weeding, I look around and realize how much is left to clean and I start to feel a little discouraged. However, I keep at it, knowing the feeling of euphoria is waiting for me at the end of the task. It feels great at the end of the day to stand in the middle of your yard and look over your labour of love. If there are flower gardens in heaven, sign me up for the weeding crew. Weeding - and enjoying - your flower garden . . . it's a good thing!

Dental Drama

I don't like going to the dentist, but I had to go for my yearly check-up today. And sure enough, he found a couple new cavities that he will have to work on the next time I go. As I was trying to find something positive about my dental appointment to write about, it dawned on me that the best part of today's appointment is that the work will be done next appointment. Today was just a check-up and cleaning. It was a breeze! My teeth felt great after the cleaning. I had no freezing so I didn't slobber all over the receptionist's desk as I was setting up my next appointment. And - bonus - the dentist is going away on holidays and they can't even fit me in for a month! So for the next thirty days or so, I can pretend that my teeth are perfect and not even think about my date with the dentist. Going to the dentist for a check-up and a cleaning . . . it's a good thing!

Green Light Driving

What a great feeling when you are driving and every light is green! It doesn't happen often, and it never happens when you are late or in a hurry, but when it does happen, it's magic! Better than having the stars align is having the green lights align! What a wonderful feeling of freedom: you drive for miles and never have to hit your brakes or stop your vehicle. You arrive at your destination early and have time to go for a coffee or go for a walk. The rest of your day is perfect because the green-light-gods smiled upon you. You wonder what you did to deserve this. From the moment you leave to the moment you arrive, life is good! I wish that every day could be a green light day. Hitting every green light . . . it's a good thing!

Cell Survivor

Don't you just hate that moment of panic and despair when you drop your cell phone and you know that within the next second, your phone is going to collide with concrete, as it falls to the sidewalk? It only takes a second, but so many thoughts go through your mind: "Why did I have so many things in my hand?" "Why didn't I put the phone in my purse?" "Can I take this phone back to SaskTel and tell them there must have been a flaw in the phone?" WHEN WILL I EVER LEARN?" After having all those thoughts rush through your mind, the best feeling in the world is when you pick your phone up and realize it's ok! It survived the fall and the crash on the sidewalk. IT STILL WORKS! That moment when you realize your phone is fine is so sweet. It is like the gods have smiled upon you because you are such a wonderful person and they placed a protective shield around your phone so that nothing could hurt it. What a wonderful feeling. That moment when you pick up your phone and realize it survived the fall . . . it's a good thing!

A House With Two Sets of Stairs

The house my mother was born in was abandoned by her family in the late 1940's. On a few occasions, when I was a child, my mother and her parents would take me along to visit the old house. I don't remember much about the house other than it was huge and seemed very beautiful to me. But the most amazing thing to me was that it had two - yes two - sets of stair cases! There was one set on each side of the house. The way the staircases were situated did not make them "a front and a back" staircase. In later years, I learned that most homes that had two sets of stairs would have a front staircase and a back staircase, and that usually one set was for the servants. That wasn't the case with my grandparents, as they had no servants. As a child, I asked my mother why the house was built like that. She didn't really know why. I don't know what it was about those stairs, but they absolutely fascinated me. I thought my Mom was so lucky to have lived in a home that had such a wonderful feature. I wondered why my grandparents had built their house like that. Was it something they dreamed of? Did it remind my Grandmother of her childhood home in France? Why didn't I ever ask my Grandmother why she and Grandpa had built their house this way? I couldn't imagine why anyone would abandon such a grandiose house. In later years, I noticed that many television families had two sets of stairs: The Cosby Show, Full House and more recently, According to Jim. I wonder if the writers on those television shows felt the same way as I did about those double sets of stairs, and I wonder where they fell in love with them? Imagining how special and how magical it would be to grow up in a beautiful old house with two sets of stairs . . . it's a good thing!

Simply Peachy!

I love peach season! The instant you walk into a grocery store, you know peach season is on! You can smell it! Peaches give off the best fruit smell. Their gentle but delicious fragrance is in the air and makes you gravitate to the fruit section. Who can resist buying peaches when that wonderful smell hits you? Even at the beginning of the season when the peaches are still hard and woody, they have a wonderful smell. I'm happy just smelling them and knowing that within a week of so, the next batch of peaches will live up to the wonderful smell. In the off season, there is still peach-flavoured lip-balm, peach scented bubble bath and peach body mist to provide you with your "peach fix". But there is nothing like peach season when you can smell this wonderful fruit in the grocery store and bring home fresh peaches. A peach-scented grocery store and that first bite into a fresh peach . . . it's a good thing!

The Empty School Bus

Yesterday, I met an empty school bus on the street. That encounter brought back memories of my own school busing days and summer vacation. I remember the feeling I would get in the summer when an empty bus would pass by our house. I was happy that I didn't have to worry about missing the bus or if I had done my homework. I would always have a moment of panic wondering if I had in fact missed the bus before I would remember that school was out for the summer. Although I was one of those kids who always enjoyed school, I also loved my summer vacation. That empty bus driving by would reinforce the notion to enjoy the summer, and have as much fun as you can because in two months, the bus would be back for me. It would serve as a reminder that school would indeed start again and made my summer off even sweeter! Enjoying those long, lazy, carefree days of summer as a empty bus drives by your house . . . it's a good thing!

Well, Hello Sunset!

Our province is known for its beautiful sunsets. While we appreciate their beauty, I now realize that we often take our gorgeous sunsets for granted. Our summer has been so rainy and cloudy and I had not seen a sunset for weeks, until I saw one the other night, As I admired its beauty, it suddenly struck me that this was the first sunset I had enjoyed in a long time - and I had not realized that I was missing it until it came back in its full glory! Maybe this is why Mother Nature has sent us all these weeks and weeks of cloudy skies: to make us stop and appreciate the sunsets she provides for our enjoyment. By taking away, and then giving back, something beautiful, we learn to appreciate and notice it. She is a sly one, that Mother Nature! Now that I realize how few sunsets we have seen this summer, I miss them. Suddenly understanding that weeks of cloudy weather makes you truly appreciate and look forward to a beautiful sunset . . . . it's a good thing!

Summer Days, Hot Weather and . . .Winter Catalogues?

A couple weeks ago, I received my Sears winter catalogue! Winter catalogue! In June! Every year, I am amazed that winter catalogues arrive in June. Which, of course, means that the Christmas catalogue arrives in September. Of course, the arrival of the winter catalogue signals the start of the summer clothing sales in all the stores - almost before summer has even started! For people like me, this is probably a good thing. I'm not really a "shop till you drop" type , so by the time I start thinking that I really need summer clothes (sometime in June or July), it is already on sale in order make room for the winter clothes (which I will buy in December by which time they go on sale to make room for the spring clothes). I don't plan to shop only when clothes is on sale, it just happens that by the time I get around to it, store owners are already eyeing the next season. So, really, it is a win-win situation all around: I get clothes I need, which just happen to be on sale because I've procrastinated and the stores get to clear items so they have room for next season's styles. Hmmm, it is a perfect world, after all! Buying clothes - in season - at end-of-season prices . . . it's a good thing!

Mud Puddle Therapy

What is it about children and mud puddles? Why do children so love playing in cold, dirty water? I remember how I loved to play in mud puddles when I was little. I could never understand why adults would get so upset when we got wet and dirty. My city was recently hit with a powerful storm. The strong wind uprooted trees, ripped off shingles and caused a great deal of property damage. The rain came down so hard that people who were driving had to pull over and stop because they couldn't see. Over the last couple days, people have been hauling away trees and branches, repairing the damage to their homes and assessing the damage. I notice, however, that the children are oblivious to the damage and are just happy to have mud puddles to play in. Maybe we should all put our rakes, hammers and saws down and play in the mud puddles with our children. I think sometimes we forget that it's ok to have fun, even when there is work to do and even when your home and property need repair. Maybe that's one of the most important reasons God invented children - to remind us to have fun and to laugh. Acting like a kid and jumping in mud puddles . . . it's a good thing!

The First Day of Summer Vacation

The first day of summer holidays is the most special! Whether you have one or two weeks off , or the entire summer, nothing is better than waking up on that first day and realizing you're free to do whatever you want. After a couple of days, you get used to the feeling, but that first day . . . it's wonderful! Your entire holiday stretches out in before you. You can contemplate all that you will accomplish before it is over. You have not yet reached that "panic" stage, where you realize your holidays are almost over and you have not finished even half of your "to do" list. No, on that beautiful first morning, it feels like your vacation will last forever and that you have all the time in the world to do whatever needs to be done. My wish to those of you who read my blog is that you have a wonderful summer holiday, but even more I hope you truly enjoy that first unique day. Soak in the freedom, along with the sun, smell the flowers in your garden, stroll through a park, enjoy of leisurely coffee. The perfect first day of a wonderful vacation . . . it's a good thing!

My Friend, the Scrapper!

My friend B is a scrapper! A scrap-booker, that is, and a very talented one at that! Her pages are magical; there simply is no other way to explain it! I envy her ability to bring a page to life the way she does. She is also a photographer. Of course, with her talent and her artistic eye, her pictures are beautiful. Whether it is a wedding that she is shooting or her beloved dog that she is taking pictures of, her photos are works of art. Add to her talents the fact that she is an excellent writer. Her journaling is so poignant and heartfelt, and B's emotions are laid bare in each page. She takes her beautiful pictures, transforms them into breath-taking scrapbook pages and then adds her words to each page, thus creating her pages of memories. Each page is created with love and tells the stories of the people who are important to B - her husband, her son, her parents, and friends and family. I find myself reading her journaling on each page many times. Her words and her visuals truly touch the reader's heart and soul. A friend whose creativity provides nourishment for the soul and beauty for the eyes . . . it's a good thing!

Happy Birthday, Canada!

Happy Birthday, Canada! Every year, I love this country more and more. As my city becomes a destination point for more immigrants each year, and I have the opportunity through work to speak to them, I realize how very fortunate I am to be Canadian. The young fellow working in a grocery store or the woman working at a fast food restaurant have lived through horrors that we cannot even begin to imagine. They, in turn, cannot believe the freedoms and the wealth that we have here. They are in awe of our social programs, our health care and our education system. Many cannot believe that anyone and everyone can go to school - girls and boys, rich and poor - and that is it paid for by the government, and that there is no tuition. We take so many of these things for granted! All four of my grandparents came from France to start a new life in Canada. Over the last couple years, I have found myself often thinking of their bravery and determination, and I am so thankful that they took the risk of coming to this new country so many years ago. I have such a good life here, thanks to these four risk-takers. Sometimes it scares me a little to think that a twist of fate could have led to my being born somewhere else. Many of us living in Canada are descendants of immigrants. On Canada Day especially, we should take the time to reflect on how fortunate we are that our ancestors decided to build their lives here. Being Canadian . . . it's a good thing, eh!