Tag Archives: video

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and Railpath Run

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….started running again yesterday

I decide that I needed a goal to keep running more regularly. I was surprised that after not running for so long that I was able to run 2K without stopping. My daughter, A, has recently started running and told me about a fun run coming up in September. It’s not about a set distance in this run but it’s based on time and how far you can run in 45 minutes. Sounds perfect for me.

The money raised for this event goes to STOP which is a community organization that feeds the homeless and families in need of food in the community. I think that all the money comes from the registration fee so I won’t be asking for any donations. The date for the run is Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. This should give me plenty of time to work up to 45 minutes of running but because it’s a fun run/walk there will be a lot of walkers so if I need to stop and walk for a bit it’s no big deal. I’m really looking forward to this day. If you’re in the Toronto area and want to participate check out the Railpath Run website here.

The other thing that I did today, after getting home from the dentist, was complete the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Again my oldest daughter, A, nominated me and because it’s for a good cause I decided to follow through. Here’s my video. 

If you haven’t participated in this challenge and would like to I will be happy to nominate any of my followers. Just say that Carol Cormier nominated you. The important thing, however, is to donate to ALS. I just googled ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and I was able to donate right on line. The one thing I didn’t know was that every country has an ALS chapter and I ended up donating to the American site. No matter, it all goes to a good cause.

If you do participate I’d love to see your video.

Cheers!

 

 

Share Your World – 2014 Week 20

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…..the end of a long weekend brings us to a new Share Your World

If you could go back and visit any time period, what time would you travel to and why?

I saved this question for last because I’m not sure which time period I’d want to travel to. Having studied and taught early civilizations, the medieval era, and everything else up to the present day I know too much about the downside of each era, i.e. the plague, wars, disease, poverty, discrimination, persecution, unsanitary living conditions, etc.. If I had to choose I think it might be the early 1900s when the first wave of technology really started to impact people’s daily lives. Imagine experiencing the telephone, cameras, sewing machines, typewriters, electric lights, refrigerators and washing machines powered with electricity for the first time. It must have been a very exciting yet controversial period in history. Abstract art became popular then because with the invention of the camera, artists didn’t need to recreate realistic images onto canvas. They were now free to try new art forms and express their creativity using new techniques and materials. It was also a time when women started to fight for equal rights and fashions changed dramatically. Reminds me a little bit of growing up in the 60s and 70s. The Winkler Sisters

If you could have three wishes granted for you alone, what would they be? This is a time for you to dream and have fun.

My first wish would be to be able to pack my bag at a moment’s notice and fly to anywhere in the world that my heart desires. An opening to a Broadway show in New York, a week on an island in the South Pacific, time spent with my son in Venice for his biennale, or attending an art retreat in the mountains in British Columbia would all be possible in the blink of an eye.

Image courtesy of: http://www.travel-south-pacific.com/images/site/south-pacific-1.jpg

Image courtesy of: http://www.nycgo.com/images/broadway/broadway_default_310x218.jpg

My second wish would be to completely renovate my house from top to bottom. Never mind moving. I love where I live. My only stipulation would be that the work is started and finished by professionals. No more DIY for me.

My third and final wish would be to live a long and healthy life so that I can enjoy the first two.

Wanting something to quench your thirst, what would you drink?

For quenching my thirst, nothing is better than plain old water. I love the water at my cottage because it comes from deep in the ground through a sand point. It is cold and free of chemicals. It’s also tested every year and is about as pure as it gets. No e-coli, bacteria, excess minerals, pollutants, etc..

At home the tap water isn’t bad but I also enjoy a good cup of tea, especially on a chilly night. I’m not usually a beer drinker but on a hot day an ice cold glass of beer with ginger ale, also known as a shanty, also quenches my thirst.

If you watch TV what are your favorite three television shows?

I had to answer this question first because the answer didn’t require a lot of thought. The first show to come to mind is Survivor. I’m a fan through and through and have watched every season since the beginning when Richard Hatch won.

Image courtesy of: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/85/Survivor_8_Logo.png

The next show that I love is Dancing With the Stars. I wasn’t always a fan. I don’t think I even bothered watching the first season but it was during season two that I became a fan. One of the reasons why I love this show is because my husband and I took ballroom dancing for about 13 months. We spent three days a week at the dance studio taking private lessons, group lessons and participating in dance parties and competitions. The only reason we stopped was because it became financially burdensome. Dancing with the Stars

Now before you think that I am a reality show freak, which I confess I probably am, my third choice is a drama. Actually I like about three or four dramas. My first choice is The Good Wife. 

Image courtesy of: http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/100525/the-good-wife_320.jpg

In second and third place are Elementary and The Mentalist. All three shows have great actors and great writers.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for another positive visit to the oral surgeon. Everything is healing on target and I’m able to eat more normally. I’m also grateful for getting out for two long walks this weekend and spending a great day with my daughters and husband on Sunday.

This week I’m looking forward to walking more and for the soccer team’s tournament on Tuesday (that’s tomorrow). I’m also hoping to get out into the garden and plant some flowers, now that the temperatures are starting to warm up. It was pretty cool this weekend.

For more Share Your World posts check out Cee’s Photography.

Correction – Gnat Invasion is Actually a Midge Invasion

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…..apparently I’ve misinformed you and what I thought was a gnat is a midge

Today CBC news reported that Toronto is in the middle of a midge invasion. They live near water and seeing that I live next to Lake Ontario it is not unusual to see swarms of them on the street. Apparently those clouds are mating swarms. They look like tiny mosquitoes but they don’t bite. They are attracted to light and that’s why they’re landing on the condominiums by the lake.

I was right about there being more swarms than in past years. Last summer’s unusually wet season is the reason for this years larger population. The good news is that they should disappear in a few days but if we have another wet summer they will return on mass.News video about Midges in Toronto.

 

Update

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….got to school and was promptly sent home

I really thought I would be okay to go back to work today but my cough gave me away. I no sooner stepped through the doors of the school this morning when I met up with my principal and she immediately sent me home. I can’t say I was unhappy about going home. It’s easy when someone makes the decision for you.

In hind sight it was the right decision. If anything my cough has gotten worse instead of better. I’ve been drinking tea with honey and lemon all day. It’s hard for me to sit all day so I found myself vacuuming and washing the floors in the basement and doing a couple loads of laundry. After that I sat down and did a lot of reading. When I got tired of that I went on the computer and searched for a video that made me smile. I love music and art and this video has both. It’s beautifully made. Enjoy!

The Cheltenham Badlands

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… actually created as a result of poor farming practices

I came across the ‘Badlands’ purely by accident a few years ago. It was a warm sunny weekend and the area was packed with visitors. When we went looking for it last week my husband and I had a hard time finding it. It’s not well advertised and probably for good reason.

Here is a video, created by Wolfmann that explains the history and layout of the land better than I could.

When my husband and I finally found the area the area was pretty muddy with red clay and there was still quite a bit of snow left on the ground. My photographs show a sightly different perspective of the Badlands than what you see in the video.

ImageImageImageImage

If you have a chance to see the Cheltenham Badlands, remember to respect this sensitive environment. There is no one there to keep you off the rolling hills, only signs of what you can and cannot do. It’s up to you, however, whether you choose follow these simple suggestions.

Cheers!

Diving for Frisbees and Fuzzy Caterpillars

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….. more fun things from the cottage

After 23 years, I finally got my staircase to the second floor. No more ladder. Hooray!

My cousin and his girlfriend spent 3 days at the cottage with us. PW helped the guys with building the staircase while M helped with the meals.

After the staircase was finished K and I had time to enjoy the beach.

Our crazy dog, Frances. loves to chase and retrieve her yellow frisbee. Unfortunately if the frisbee is right side up it sinks in the water. NO problem. Frances dives for it until she finds it and then surfaces and brings it back to shore.

PW and I continue to experiment with our cameras. On Sunday a little caterpillar joined us on the picnic table. It was tricky taking his picture because he was constantly moving. These were taken with my Lumix Panasonic DMC-FH1 on the macro zoom setting.