jag e*space

Every beginning ends something...

2009-02-01T15:38:00.000-05:00

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."

- Alan Cohen

It's been almost four years since I first claimed this little corner of cyberspace as my own. I've taken a lot of risks here and have encountered nothing but love & encouragement. For that, I am grateful!

But for some time now, I've been feeling disengaged from jag e*space. I'm itching for a change. And so, after much thought, I've decided to bring this blog to a close. Oh, it'll live on in cyberspace; I can't bring myself to delete it... but it's time to move on to a new beginning. It's time to adopt A Simple Focus - my new blog!

For those of you who have made a habit of stopping by, thanks for listening - and for coming back! :-) Here's hoping you'll drop by the new digs and take in A Simple Focus...

pace e bene,

And baby makes... five!

2009-01-18T17:22:00.004-05:00

Our heartfelt CONGRATS go out to our friends, K & C, as they add a new member to their family!! We look forward to your return from Beijing and hope we can arrange for a visit before not too long... I'm sure the girls will be wonderful big sisters to Baby Brother B!

Read more about K & C's journey here.

Pace e bene,

where was i when i did that...

2009-01-08T19:47:00.001-05:00

It all started with the bananas.

I went to buy two bananas at the deli on my way into work. I reached into my bag to grab my wallet and it wasn't there. I could distinctly remember putting it in my bag earlier that morning! I asked the girl if I could pay her tomorrow and she said that was fine. Baffled about the whereabouts of my wallet, I left with my bananas.

I stopped just outside the deli, determined to search my bag more thoroughly. As I put down the bag and the bananas, I noticed something tucked under my arm. It was my wallet.

It's amazing how the brain can go into full auto-pilot mode sometimes. As someone who tries to live a life of presence and awareness, these moments of complete lack of consciousness catch me by surprise. When did I take my wallet out of my bag? And I tucked it under my arm?! I had no clue I had done that. I probably have more moments like these then I care to think about - the Universe simply protects me from my own foolishness by not telling me about them.

Great way to start the new year!

pace e bene,

Peace... Joy... Love...

2008-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends:
Thanks for joining me this past week! I enjoyed preparing the posts and, especially, re-visiting many of the videos that have made me laugh, and cry, and sigh...

To wrap things up on this journey of Peace & Joy, I can't think of anything better than combining Jason Mraz and the Nobel Peace Prize in one shot, can you?! How is that possible, you ask?? Click here and you'll find out! :-)

As we prepare to spend time with my family in NB, I'd like to wish you all the best of PEACE, JOY & LOVE this Christmas and in the New Year! And may we ALL continue to take time to be Peace...

"We can never obtain peace in the world if we neglect the inner world and don't make peace with ourselves. World Peace must develop out of Inner Peace." - the Dalai Lama

Pace e bene,

day seven of the journey...

2008-12-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

I offer you peace.
I offer you love.
I offer you friendship.
I see your beauty.
I hear your need.
I feel your feelings.
My wisdom flows from the Highest Source.
I salute that Source in you.
Let us work together for unity and love.
- Ghandi's Prayer for Peace

Pace e bene,

day six of the journey...

2008-12-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

O Almighty Sun, whose light clears away all clouds,

We take refuge in you.

Guide of all people,

God of all deities,

Lord of all angels,

We pray you to dispel the mists of illusion from the hearts of the nations

And lift their lives by your all-sufficient power,

Your ever shining light, your everlasting life,

Your heavenly joy and your perfect peace.

- Sufi Prayer for Peace

Pace e bene,

day five of the journey...

2008-12-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful.
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us
and made us into tribes and nations,
that we may know each other, not that we may despise each other.
If the enemy incline towards peace,
do thou also incline towards peace,
and trust in God,
for the Lord is the one that heareth and knoweth all things.
And the servants of God, Most Gracious
are those who walk on the Earth in humility,
and when we address them,
we say "PEACE."
- Muslim Prayer for Peace

(For more info: www.teamhoyt.com)

Pace e bene,

day four of the journey...

2008-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

O Great Spirit of our Ancestors,

I raise my pipe to you.

To your messengers the four winds,

and to Mother Earth who provides for your children.

Give us the wisdom to teach our children

to love,

to respect,

and to be kind to each other

so that they may grow with peace in mind.

Let us learn to share all the good things you provide for us on this Earth.

- Native American Prayer for Peace

Pace e bene,

day three of the journey...

2008-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Lord, make me
an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred,
let me sow love;
Where there is injury,
pardon;
Where there is doubt,
faith;
Where there is despair,
hope;
Where there is darkness,
light;
Where there is sadness,
joy.
- from the Prayer of St. Francis

pace e bene,

day two of the journey...

2008-12-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

If anyone speaks ill of you,

Praise them always.

If anyone injures you,

Serve them nicely.

Help them in all possible ways.

You will attain immense strength.

You will control anger and pride.

You will enjoy peace, poise and serenity.

You will become divine.

- Swami Sivananda

(For more info: www.wherethehellismatt.com)

Pace e bene,

day one of the journey...

2008-12-13T07:55:00.000-05:00

I am Peace
surrounded by Peace
secure in Peace.
Peace protects me
Peace supports me
Peace is in me
Peace is mine --
All is well.
Peace to all beings
Peace among all beings
Peace from all beings
I am steeped in Peace
Absorbed in Peace
In the streets, at our work,
having peaceful thoughts,
Peaceful words, peaceful acts.
- Buddhist meditation on Peace

(For more info: www.freehugscampaign.org)

Pace e bene,

A seven-day journey...

2008-12-12T18:00:00.006-05:00

There is a lot of tension in the city these days.

The good-natured hustle & bustle of the Christmas season is being challenged by a city-wide public transit strike. The 35 cm of snow we got this week is pretty, but didn't help the situation. Downtown, I hear horns honking... people yelling... I see traffic crawling at a snail's pace... and tempers flaring.

And yet, there ARE acts of kindness. Times like these bring out both the best and the worst in the citizens of Ottawa. There is no black & white here... there are no winners & losers... only infinite shades of grey. In this environment of heightened stress, I want to be Peace all-the-more. So, for the next seven days, I invite you to join me in a Prayer of Peace & Joy. Starting tomorrow (Saturday), I'll post words of prayer & wisdom from a different tradition, accompanied by my photography, as well as a short video that made me smile. I believe that taking a few moments to be Peace & Joy, we can counter-balance the craziness that's going on in the streets and malls.

Won't you join me on this short journey of Peace & Joy?

Pace e bene,

Blissed & Blessed...

2008-12-04T21:14:00.006-05:00

Forty-three years ago today, a baby girl was born. She grew up to be the woman I am today.

I called my mother this morning to say "Merci, Mame!" Thank you for giving me Life. She was reminiscing... She entered the hospital on a Friday night and I was born by c-section the next day. She did not have heavy labour pains, apparently. I was a wee thing, weighing a mere 6 lbs 2 on. After I was born, my father said: "Merci." (She still remembers that part clearly.) We spent the next 11 days at the hospital. My dad was so excited when he came to pick us up that he locked the keys in the car. But obviously, it all worked out in the end! :-)

Fast forward to this past weekend... I spent some time with a wise woman, a friend who happens to be 20 months into her cancer journey. Her perspective is amazing. Her cancer has been a powerful teacher. She now knows, without a doubt, that - in her words - it's all about the Love!

I believe her. On this day, my birthday, I am blissed and blessed. I am loved by family & friends... and I recognize the presence of God/Love as being the energy that guides my Life.

Pace e bene,

Re-connected...

2008-11-27T21:11:00.004-05:00

Connected...

Dis-connected...

Re-connected...

That seems to be my pattern lately. Nice thing is that it runs in cycles. Waves. Ebbs & flows.

I'm coming out of a period particularly full of activity & commitments. All good. All chosen by me. It's been hectic, and fulfilling! A turning point was certainly my 5-day silent retreat at Stillpoint earlier this month. Been there. Done that. Will certainly do it again. I realized that this was my 14th visit to Stillpoint since I first started going in October 2000. It truly is a healing place... a place to re-connect.

Still Point House of Prayer, Springtown, ON

View from Room #2

One of my favourite spots for prayer & reflection: the dock.

Not long after I got back, we started having phone line/modem problems. It took Bell almost a week to find, then fix, the problem. Connected. Dis-connected. Re-connected. The break from the computer was good for me though. It seems to have broken my obsession with Flickr... for now anyway. :-)

There is so much wisdom to be found in silence & solitude - wisdom from within that can be tapped into any time. I need only take the time to... re-connect.

"Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves together." - Thomas Carlyle

Pace e bene,

Remembering...

2008-11-11T08:12:00.000-05:00

pace e bene,

Yes, they can...

2008-11-05T17:02:00.002-05:00

We all can. We live in exciting times, friends!

I'm heading into 5 days of silence. I'll see you on the other side!
Pace e bene,

2008-10-23T22:18:00.000-04:00

I'm off to Toronto for a few days. In the meantime...

Pace e bene,

...but never unloved

2008-10-22T19:22:00.003-04:00

Have you ever come across something written by a total stranger and wondered how the heck they could know you so well?! That's exactly what happened when I read these words today...

Strangers? I don't know if there is such a thing. We are bound together by our humanity. We just haven't met face-to-face yet.

Just for today, I'm feeling disjointed... unengaged... scattered. It's good to know that's OK and that I'm not alone. As my new friend wrote: unsure, but never unloved.

Pace e bene,

In the absence of words...

2008-10-21T22:20:00.002-04:00

...here are a few shots from my neighbourhood. Enjoy!

architectural interest

peace love van

yin yang van

Pace e bene,

a mraz-ing experience...

2008-10-14T20:01:00.008-04:00

Things you tend to forget when you're over 40...

When attending a concert with NO assigned seating, plan to stand in line for hours; apparently 90 minutes before the show is not enough.
It's useful to get advance insider information on the layout of the music hall; for example, it helps to even know that there is an upper level.
When it comes to staking your viewing territory at a general seating concert, there are no rules.
The first 15 rows of a mosh pit are virtually impenetrable.
No matter how much the shared object of our attention sings of Love...and Togetherness... and Peace, do not expect fans to give you an inch of space so you can take a photo.
Just when you think you're an uber-fan, remember that most kids have memorized all the lyrics; they've got you beat hands down.
There is no age limit to enjoying great live music!

Needless to say, seeing Jason Mraz perform live was an AWESOME way to spend Thanksgiving Monday! Here's hoping your holiday was all you needed it to be...

Pace e bene,

What it's all about...

2008-10-12T20:40:00.006-04:00

No turkey...

No stuffing...

No mashed potatoes with gravy...

but PLENTY of Thanksgiving!

Today, I give thanks for:

an evolving relationship with a God beyond my understanding
a healthy and strong body that supports me in living the Life I seek
a life partner who just shakes his head and stays with me anyway :-)
a functionally dysfunctional family always willing to Love
my friends
my home
my community
my creativity
my Life.

We went for a drive today to look at the Fall colours and, at every corner, I gasped like I had never seen anything so beautiful. I kept on thinking: Life is good. How the hell did I get so lucky?!

Thanksgiving - it's really not about the turkey.

pace e bene,

Obsessions...

2008-10-08T20:09:00.002-04:00

life is no brief candle to me
Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/jagspace/

I am a Flickr madwoman tonite... I got home from work around 5pm, came to the computer almost immediately, and haven't moved since. It's 8pm and I haven't even had anything to eat yet!

My name is jag... and I'm a Flickr Addict.

And speaking of obsession, have I mentioned that there are only five (5) more sleeps until I see Jason Mraz perform LIVE in Montreal??!

Time to eat now.

I leave you with another quote note; this one is dedicated to Lala at Mostly Musings.

Pace e bene,

Love where I'm standing...

2008-10-07T21:05:00.005-04:00

I received a wonderful gift yesterday. A friend wrote to me and shared about some exciting developments in her life. I was thrilled for her! As part of that message, she explained that she had stopped by this blog and was overcome by the beauty I put out into the world. Needless to say, I was humbled and honoured by her words.

It got me thinking about the choices I have... choices we all have. I choose to see Beauty. And it got me thinking about how much Love I choose to give. The funny thing is, although I know I live a loving life, I feel I could be doing so much more! More beauty to be shared... more Love to be offered... more Fellowship & Friendship to be extended... The Source is infinite. I need to remember that on those days when I just feel like I'm not enough.

Just for today, I have enough. I am enough. And so are you. When we remain grounded in the present moment, and let go of the worries of tomorrow and the regrets of yesterday, we will have All that there is.

The greatest adventure is to be fully where you are standing.

Pace e bene,

The crash...

2008-10-01T19:31:00.005-04:00

The higher the mountain, the deeper the valley...

I've been on a high of activity and creativity lately. Lots of great things going on!

work is busy with exciting projects that will soon come to fruition...
creativity has been burning with photography and the creation of quote notes galore...
community is being built by engaging with online photo groups...
limits are being pushed by preparing for my second 10K run on Oct. 12...
excitement levels are climbing for our upcoming trip to Montreal to see Jason Mraz in concert...
connections are being nourished by getting together with friends & family for quality time...
love is being tended to by spending precious time with Hubby...
faith is being restored by finding bits of time for meditation...

Is it any wonder I crashed today?! Nothing. Depleted. Empty.

I'm grateful for the wisdom & experience that told me to simply go home. I was useless at work: couldn't focus... couldn't keep my eyes open... couldn't type to save my life.

The afternoon nap surely helped, but so will an early-to-bed night. Self-care is no longer a difficult choice for me...

pace e bene,

crest... break... then dissipate...

2008-09-30T21:52:00.002-04:00

For A - always a ray of Sunshine to me...

it is never too late...

2008-09-29T23:14:00.003-04:00

For Shulamit...
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful poem!

Pace e bene,

Gift of self...

2008-09-24T22:22:00.001-04:00

If you have a favourite quote, send it to me or leave it in the comments section. I'll pair with an image and offer it as my gift to you...

pace e bene,

One + One = Both

2008-09-22T08:36:00.006-04:00

"It takes no time to fall in love,

but it takes years to know what Love is."

- Jason Mraz in Life is Wonderful

photo: Bonnie Findley, Ottawa

Happy 18 years to us!

And here's to many more, one day at a time...

pace e bene,

International Day of Peace

2008-09-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Peace Day!

September 21 was declared the International Day of Peace by the United Nations in 1982. Sometimes, the violence that surrounds us may seem unstoppable. But then I am reminded of a quote from The Dalai Lama: "We can never obtain peace in the world if we neglect the inner world and don't make peace with ourselves. World Peace must develop out of Inner Peace."

May we all find our own ways of contributing to World Peace. What might you do today?

image by jag in honour of Peace Day

pace e bene,

open up to love...

2008-09-19T07:55:00.001-04:00

An invitation for today... and every day.

pace e bene,

Daring to be ourselves...

2008-09-17T22:09:00.002-04:00

I was first introduced to May Sarton through her book Journal of a Solitude. I'm thinking it's time to pick it up and read it again...

pace e bene,

stillness & movement...

2008-09-16T22:19:00.001-04:00

Seems I've taken quite a shine to pairing words with images... Hope you like it!
Pace e bene,

Practice patience...

2008-09-15T22:32:00.004-04:00

Patience with others...
Patience with Self...
Just breathe.

Letting go...

2008-09-11T21:35:00.003-04:00

Sometimes the words just aren't there... and that's the space I've been in recently. However, I find I'm being drawn in (or drawn out?) with images: colours, shapes, tones, stories told without words. So rather than sit and wait for the words to come, I've decided to start sharing some of my images with you...

I created this image today. It's a good message for September 11th... and for every day.

Pace e bene,

The only journey...

2008-09-09T21:24:00.006-04:00

THE JOURNEY

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.

~ Mary Oliver ~

jag & the daily click

2008-08-21T20:21:00.006-04:00

A very cool thing happened this week. One of my photos was featured on the Shutter Sisters Daily Click! I was absolutely shocked and thrilled!! Every day, the web site owners dive into the Flickr pool of Shutter Sisters photography; there are currently over 1,600 members and over 20,000 images. This is certainly great encouragement for me to continue exploring my photographic art... I call this one "Conversation Space":

It's amazing to see what interest groups are part of the Flickr community. I've even joined a group that specializes in Doors & Windows! (I've always been drawn to taking pictures of windows and doors - now I realize that I'm not the only one!! :-))

If you're interested, I invite you to spend some time swimming in my photostream on Flickr. Enjoy!!

Pace e bene,

Checking in...

2008-08-15T17:39:00.004-04:00

Here I am! Here I am!

I shall blame computer woes at home (Hubby is currently shopping for a new one), an obsession with Flickr as well as the Summer Olympics for my absence these last couple of weeks. :-)

I've been having a lot of fun with my photography and have become braver in sharing my art with like-minded people at Shutter Sisters and on a variety of Flickr groups. It's amazing when one of my photos engages someone enough for them to leave a comment... such an honour!

Here's hoping you are choosing to have a good day today... I'll leave you with a few recent images from my photographic wanderings.

Pace e bene,

Sending you hugs...

2008-08-03T11:35:00.003-04:00

Recent cyber-wanderings brought me to this video. I had seen it before, but this time, it made me cry & laugh-out-loud. I was struck by how the colour changes once hugs are exchanged. Isn't that so true? Hugs can change the world. I would love to do this sometime...

Hugs to you!
Pace e bene,

Messengers & Messages...

2008-07-30T18:10:00.000-04:00

I found out yesterday that Randy Pausch passed away on Friday. He's the Carnegie Mellon University professor who became famous through his "Last Lecture" posted on YouTube last fall. He was 47 years old.

He had an important message to share... and he did so with grace and humour. But here's the thing: he's not the first, nor will he be the last, to tell us what we already know. Whatever we're living, this too shall pass... Whether it be blessing or burden, this too shall pass... Question is, are we fully engaged with it, in that moment of presence?

Yesterday, I also read this short post from No Impact Man, Colin Bevan, in NYC. He, too, is a messenger... telling us what we already know. But I'm not sure we, as a society, want to hear it told in such simple, clear terms. We'd rather complicate it... and analyze it... and debate it... and eventually ignore it.

We are surrounded by messengers and messages... Which ones are you ignoring today?

Pace e bene,

La petite séduction...

2008-07-21T18:00:00.000-04:00

OK, so this is cool. There is a French TV show on Radio-Canada called La petite séduction. From what I understand, small towns (less than 3000 pop.) try to "seduce" a celebrity and make them fall in love with them! It's likely inspired by one of my favourite films, La grande séduction, in which a small Québec town tries to convince a doctor to establish a practice there so that they may qualify for a new factory. (Too funny! If you haven't see it, you must. The DVD has English subtitles...)

In any case, this week's show will be featuring my hometown: St-Louis-de-Kent, New Brunswick! Find out more about this week's episode here - broadcast is Wednesday at 8pm. The timing is perfect, as I'm heading home this weekend for my 25th high school reunion. J'ai tellement hâte!!

Viens voir l'Acadiiieee...
Viens voir le pays...
Le pays qui m'enchante!

Pace e bene,

Sanctuary...

2008-07-19T17:48:00.005-04:00

"Why do we assume that being authentic involves exiting from the circumstances and momentum of one's actual life and striving for an elevated plane of existence somewhere else? The prevailing wisdom is that the clutter and stress of daily life brings out what is most artificial in us. Why do we believe we're above it all, destined for so much better, if only there was time to think, meditate, and get really tactile with the land, the elements? Why must we stand on cliffs or stagger up monastery steps or kick our toes through the sand in order to feel in the moment? Why can't we be authentic in the authentic moment itself?" (from Safe Haven: The Possibility of Sanctuary in an Unsafe World by Larry Gaudet, p. 66)

Yeah, why is that?! I picked up this book by Gaudet at the public library. I had never heard of it, nor did I seek it out. It was just sitting there on a shelf... and it called out to me. I was hooked when I read the following on the inside flap: The book (...) dips into Gaudet's own Acadian heritage of displacement, and the ethnic cleansing of his ancestral family. As an Acadian, how could I resist joining in on this exploration?

I'm about a third of the way through and am enjoying it thus far. There are so many books out there just waiting to be discovered. What book has engaged your interest this summer??

Pace e bene,

Viva Italia...

2008-07-16T17:04:00.002-04:00

Last year at this time, I was here. So hard to believe! Most days, it seems unreal... like it was someone else's life experience. But no! T'was me... It really was my dream come true.

Pace e bene,

Tears for André...

2008-07-10T21:20:00.004-04:00

The start of my work day will never be the same. André, a homeless man who sat in the same spot every day, passed away of a massive heart attack while I was away on vacation. I didn't really know André, but I was still touched by his cheerful spirit and mischievous grin. He always had a greeting for me as I walked by. If I wasn't smiling, he'd ask me where my smile was. If I was smiling, he'd smile back and offer the encouraging thought that Friday was just around the corner.

I attended a memorial in his honour today, near a park where he'd often sleep. There were easily over a hundred people there: members of his family from the street, as well as downtown residents and office workers. People were invited to come forward to share their favourite "André stories". One woman reminisced about a time when she was going through a particularly difficult time. André and his friends passed the hat and gathered enough money to buy her a cup of coffee... :-) Over and over again, we heard how people were touched by his smile, good humour and gentle teasing. Tears were flowing freely, staining both suits & silk blouses, and dirty jeans & scruffy shirts.

One of the great joys of attending this memorial was reconnecting with my friend John. I hadn't seen him for months - and he didn't hesitate to remind me of that fact! Since moving to a new office in the fall of 2006, I don't walk by his corner anymore. In reconnecting with him today, I realized how much I miss seeing him regularly. So I'm making a commitment to myself to make a slight detour once a week so that I can bring him back into my life. As I left the gathering, he said: Love you! I responded with an unexpected and spontaneous: Love you too, John! Funny thing is, I meant it - my heart was overflowing with Love for all those around me.

As I was heading back to the office, I sighed a heavy sigh, looked at the woman beside me and said: How's that for perspective? She patted my arm and wiped a tear from her eye. We chatted a bit until it was time for each of us to go our own way. We stopped, exchanged our first names and bid each other a good day. Then, quite spontaneously, we took each other's hand and gave a loving squeeze. We were two complete strangers, brought together in a moment of shared appreciation for Life and for Love. Thanks André.

Pace e bene,

Pittsburgh Pics...

2008-07-02T19:37:00.004-04:00

The rain has finally let up and we've had two wonderful days of sunshine... Here are a few photos from yesterday's explorations.

View of downtown from Mt. Washington (from atop Duquesne Incline)

Proof postive that we are indeed in Pittsburgh!

From this vantage point near the Convention Centre, I could count 9 bridges crossing the Allegheny River. How many do you see here?

I was happy to see this nod to Canada Day at Shenley Plaza at The Pitt.

We spent several hours at the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens - and we still didn't have time to see it all. I was thrilled to discover several installations by glass artist Dale Chihuly, fully integrated to the space. I'll post more pics of these later!

Pace e bene,

Celebrating from south of the border...

2008-07-01T10:29:00.003-04:00

HAPPY CANADA DAY from... Pittsburgh?!

Yep, on this July 1st - Canada's 141st birthday - I'm celebrating from Pittsburgh... We're here on vacation and arrived safely yesterday. We encountered some major rainfall along the way! The worst one was on Sunday, just past Belleville along Lake Ontario. Cars that were speeding along at 120-130 kph suddenly faced white-out conditions and had to slow down to 40! For the first time, our little Mini Cooper got to use its four-way flashers. Cars were pulling off to the side to wait out the storm, but we moved steadily - and slowly - along. Then, almost as quick as it came, it was gone. We've encountered a lot more rain, but nothing quite as dramatic as that!

As for Pittsburgh? What a pleasant surprise so far! When hearing of our plans, many friends looked at us with a puzzled expression: Pittsburgh?! However, you'd be amazed at all there is to see and do in this city of 2.4 million. We're here for a specific gathering with friends, and will have some free time - like today for example. Museums with world-class collections... amazing architecture... shopping districts... eclectic neighbourhoods... Botanical gardens... trails for running... bridges, bridges and more bridges... LOTS! Who knew?!!

So today, as I walk around with my Canada hat on, I'll be taking in the local sights... but my heart will be celebrating CANADA!!

Pace e bene,

Turning junk into food...

2008-06-22T20:20:00.004-04:00

I remember being told that the older you get, the more quickly time seems to go by. I'm now a believer!! I cannot believe that we're already into the last full week of June... and that I haven't posted in over two weeks. I suspect the blogging may slow down as the outdoor summer activities beckon.

We had our second (ever!) yard sale yesterday. After holding one about seven years ago - when I was an unhappy suburbanite - I swore I would never do it again. I couldn't believe that people would try to haggle down from one dollar, especially when the item was clearly worth 10 times that much. Nope. Never again. Not me.

Then I came up with an idea that would allow us to keep the best of the yard sale concept (ie. our junk = your treasure) and forego the worst (ie. It's $1? Oh, would you take a dollar for these six items instead?!). My solution: No set prices & all proceeds go to a local charity. I set up shop and placed several small signs saying: "What's it worth to you? ALL proceeds will be donated to the Westboro Region Food Bank..."

It was interesting to watch people's reactions! Some were obviously disappointed... Others chided me for making them feel guilty about the amount they were about to offer... The majority seemed to be pleasantly surprised and often didn't ask for change when they extended their Twoonie or 5$ bill. One fine gentleman paid $20 for an old wooden birdhouse that I found in the backyard when we moved here in 2003. The final result? We got rid of a lot of "your treasures" and raised $270 for the local food bank! And I'm already thinking of next year's edition... :-)

Overall, life is good, Friends... We're getting ready to go on holidays so I likely won't be posting much for a couple of weeks. I'd like to give a nod to my Mad Chatters group for another wonderful, thought-provoking Chat last week. I am blessed to have these funny, intelligent, curious, open-minded, fascinating friends in my life!

Remember, you have all the time there is. Fill it well...
Pace e bene,

Object of my Obsession...

2008-06-05T20:19:00.005-04:00

Well, it's official. I am in the throes of a musical obsession. Seems I can't go a day with a fix of Jason Mraz. :-) My iPod now has over 50 tunes from this talented singer-songwriter. Check out his latest video to see what all the fuss is about!

Hope you enjoyed that... However my dream is to see Jason and his partner-in-music, Toca Rivera, live and ACOUSTIC. Maybe something like this one:

Hearing how the crowd knows the lyrics, I guess I'm not the only one caught up in this particular musical obsession!

Pace e bene,

Looking back...

2008-06-03T20:56:00.003-04:00

So here we are... June. The snow is finally gone :-) and the days are noticeably longer. And the world is green, so green you can almost taste it. Welcome June.

The month of May carried with it an anniversary: 3 years of blogging on jag e*space. I find it interesting to go back and read random posts from the past years. I noticed that I write in waves... waves that are sometimes shallow and other times surprisingly deep. Waves that are dark as the ocean floor... or infused with the Sun's light. And what ends up being washed ashore are moments of my life as I see & experience them. At times my life is one of doing - busy, busy, busy, gathering experiences and adventures. At other times, my life is one of being - times of healing & reflection, nourished by solitude and silence.

If there's one thing I've learned, is that I need them both. This spectrum is sacred to me and, no matter where I may be sitting at any given time, I experience fullness of Life. I experience the paradox of wanting to do everything... and wanting to do nothing. Like a Holy desire, I burn with the wanting to do God's will.

A friend recently told me I was "fully engaged with Life". I love this! I am thankful for his comment, for surely this is God's will for me. To be AWAKE in this world... to be fully engaged...

Thanks for letting me share these last three years with you... Thanks for listening to the waves as they come crashing in.

Pace e bene,

Life IS good...

2008-06-02T19:03:00.002-04:00

Today, I was asked if I had a good weekend. I thought about it:

yoga & meditation class...
first run with new local running club...
riding my bike...
reading my book...
watching a movie... and another movie...
Sunday brunch with Hubby...
phone chats with my parents and with Sis...
a nap on a rainy Sunday afternoon...

Hmmm, good weekend? I'd say so! How did Life get to be so good?!

Pace e bene, amici...

Scenes from Mississauga...

2008-05-12T21:36:00.004-04:00

CONGRATS to Hubby who successfully completed his 12th marathon! What a great weekend; seems like all we did was run & eat... and eat... and eat. Accompanied by such a fun group of friends, I really couldn't have asked for more. Hope you enjoy these few pics from the Mississauga Marathon Weekend...

jag's post-10km salute

jag & shiny gold medal (in my mind, I came in first :-))

Mississauga marathoner friends (l-r: jim, heather, mark & Hubby)

more medallists (Hubby, John & Vanessa)

the Mississauga Gang (l-r: jim, lin, jag, ros, Hubby, john & vanessa)

Pace e bene,

Pushing the limits...

2008-05-10T21:26:00.003-04:00

I just ran my first 10K race and it felt amazing! *I* feel amazing!! I am so pleased with my accomplishment. The farthest I had run before was 8K last fall in Philadelphia, but now, I have a new "record" for distance. As soon as I passed the 8K marker, I let out a little whoop! because I knew that anything above that was new territory for me.

I'm especially pleased with how consistent I was during the run. I finished in 1:04:19 and managed to sustain an even pace throughout the entire race. Although I don't have a timing breakdown for each kilometre, I believe my last one was my fastest. There's just something that kicks in when the finish line is in sight and people are cheering. I have to say, I enjoy the race environment!

Tomorrow is an equally exciting day because Hubby will be running his 12th marathon. We have several friends who are here as well, running the marathon and the half-marathon, and I also look forward to celebrating all their successes. Pics to follow once we get home...

Pace e bene,

Leaving Las Vegas...

2008-05-06T21:23:00.004-04:00

After leaving Las Vegas, here are a few things I learned...

Never underestimate the amount of walking you will do in Las Vegas. The tour books will tell you... the web sites will tell you... people who have been there before will tell you... and yet you cannot hear it enough: BRING COMFORTABLE SHOES! I traipsed around Tuscany for three weeks last year, with nary a blister. Five days in Vegas and my tootsies were toast.

Everything is most certainly further than it appears. The Strip is one big optical illusion. You'd swear that the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino is "just over there". In fact, you can see the sign from where you're standing. Back home, a sign that size is about a block or so away. In Vegas, however, letters on the building are three stories high. The MGM Grand is in fact a mile (1.6km) away. That's a loooong block.

Don't go to the Wax Museum by yourself. It's not much fun. There are only so many pictures of waxy celebrities that you can take on your own. And it's a pain to ask a nearby tourist "S'cuse me... can you take a picture of me with George Clooney?" "S'cuse me... can you take a picture of me with Elvis? ... with Jon Bon Jovi? ...with Bette Midler? ...with fill-in-the-blank??"

DO go to Tix4Tonight for discounted tickets to a show... to an attraction... to restaurants. I saved 50% off my ticket to see Nathan Burton (magician), 10$ off my ticket to Madame Tussaud's as well as 25$ each off our tickets to see Cirque du Soleil's KÀ.

The two best freebies in town are the Big Elvis Show at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon and the Fountains of Bellagio. I kept coming back for more of these two very different forms of entertainment. Hey, the price was right! :-)

Take the time to chat with your fellow tourists. You never know what might come of it! While standing in line at Tix4Tonight, I met Catherine & Éric from Paris, France. They gave me their email address and invited us to come and visit them sometime, perhaps for the Paris Marathon?! (Eric is a marathon runner, as is Hubby of course.) And my favourite acquaintance was no doubt Albert. He & I shared a table at the Nathan Burton Magic Show. He had a twinkle in his eye, a hearty laugh and a genuinely kind smile. He told me about when he used to come to Vegas in the late 40's - things were quite different back then! After the show - which featured a lot of illusions - he turned to me with a wide grin and said: "I suspect we've been duped, but for the life of me, I can't figure out how he did it!" :-)

And finally, Vegas (or the Strip, at least) is one gigantic, excessive illusion.
The Statue of Liberty? Fake.
The Eiffel Tower? Fake.
The Piazza San Marco? Fake.
The green lawn at the Wynn Las Vegas? Fake.

And yet... the fun experience I had exploring this "shadow's playground"? REAL!
It was a hoot and I'm grateful for this opportunity that came about, quite unexpectedly. Life is good!

Pace e bene,

Greetings from Las Vegas...

2008-04-28T00:13:00.004-04:00

...and so began my Las Vegas adventure. :-) Luckily, it seemed to be an easy case of "luggage-left-behind" rather than "luggage-gone-on-solo-journey-to-places-unknown". By the time I woke up this morning, my suitcase had been delivered to our hotel. No major inconvenience...

We've had a very full day! It's our only day fully together, as Hubby's conference starts Monday. I'll be pretty much on my own after that. So, we decided to sign up for a bus tour to the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area. What a great decision! The dramatic landscape of the desert took my breath away. The few pics below provide a glimpse, but fail to convey the sheer vastness of the space.

The rest of the afternoon was spent on The Strip - a stark contrast to the first part of our day! More about The Strip later, as I will certainly be returning there on my own.

All for now! Signing out from Vegas...

Pace e bene,

Extremes...

2008-04-22T22:12:00.006-04:00

I have returned from Silence... only to learn that I will soon be taking flight for the other extreme: Vegas!

Two days after returning from my retreat, Hubby learned that he was being sent to a work-related conference in Las Vegas. Dutiful wife that I am (ahem), I have decided to accompany him. :-) We had to flip our upcoming holiday plans around, but it all works out in the end, non?

We leave on Saturday, so needless to say, it's been pretty hectic making plans... changing plans... confirming plans... My retreat already seems so far away, and yet, it's only been a week or so. Luckily I took photos - many, many photos. Here are just a few that best convey the beauty and peacefulness that was mine for the taking:

Pace e bene,

Getting away from it all...

2008-04-10T21:21:00.003-04:00

It's time to retreat into silence once again.

Although I have been in a good space overall, I have also been feeling disconnected... dispersed... disorganized... distressed. I am grateful that there was availability at my healing place, Stillpoint. I'll be there four days in all - four days of blissful, love-filled silence.

Sometimes, we just need to get away from it all and give ourselves permission to get re-energized... re-connected... renewed... replenished.

See you the other side of Silence.

Pace e bene,

Dextered Out...

2008-04-06T22:25:00.003-04:00

Help! I've developed a new addiction and his name is Dexter. Hubby bought Season One on DVD and we watched all twelve episodes over the course of a week. Now, it's over... and I'm hoping I can get my "normal" life back! :-)

I'm surprised that I got so hooked on this blood-soaked, killing-spree-driven TV show. I think a lot of it has to do with the snappy dialogue and the brilliant Michael C. Hall, who plays the main character.

Thankfully, I have quite a while to wait before Season Two gets released on DVD. Perhaps, by then, I'll be onto something else that's more in line with my peace-loving, beauty-seeking spirit. But, hey, I guess we all have a shadow-side that demands to be fed once in a while!

Pace e bene,

Stillness...

2008-03-27T20:16:00.004-04:00

"Some say that busyness is a form of laziness.

Because you're too lazy to work out what not to do." - Michael Bungay Stanier

I tend to read a lot of blogs... and I receive several e-newsletters... and every once in a while, I read something that makes me gasp. That's what happened when I read the provocative statement by Bungay Stanier. I think it's brilliant! We wear our busyness as a badge of honour, while in fact, it may simply point to our inability to reflect on our priorities and make meaningful (and often difficult) choices.

His assertion came as part of a short article in his e-newsletter called The Power of Standing Still. He states that:
1. Stillness gives you power, and
2. Stillness influences the system.

As a meditator, I was intrigued by how this message can apply to my worklife. For a vivid demonstration of how stillness can affect our environment, it was suggested to check out this 2-minute video from ImprovEverywhere. (Apparently it's been around for a while, but it was new to me - and it gave me chills!)

Now, because I strive for a balanced life, this weekend will be all about movement. :-) Hubby & I are off to Hamilton for the Around the Bay Road Race. He'll run the 30K while I'll be happy with finishing my 5K. There will be plenty of time for stillness after that, I'm sure!

Pace e bene,

The best medicine...

2008-03-18T20:58:00.002-04:00

I dare you to watch this and not laugh. Go ahead... Give it your best shot. Better yet - give in and have yourself a great belly laugh!

Pace e bene,

Escape to Tuscany...

2008-03-16T21:34:00.003-04:00

At long last, I have completed an online photo album that allows me to re-live my Meditalia experience. If you feel like taking a visual journey to Pisa, Florence, Assisi, Cortona, Siena, Monte Oliveto and Rome, just click here. Buon viaggio!

Pace e bene,

Spinner of the dawn...

2008-03-13T21:54:00.004-04:00

GUIDANCE - by R.H. Grenville

Behold the spinner of the dawn:

how fine her fragile threads are drawn,

without a pattern or a plan

apparent to the eyes of man.

Shall wisdom, that could so impart

tuition to a spider's heart

to form this lacey filagree,

in time of need, not tutor me?

Shall this, the pattern of my days,

not yet evolve in lovely ways,

revealing, when the whole is shown,

a purpose greater than my own?

Pace e bene,

At long last...

2008-03-11T20:54:00.004-04:00

Look who has finally been allowed to cross the border... Yay! hoops&yoyo - and of course, piddles. My household is now complete. :-)

Pace e bene,

Strong Women, Strong World

2008-03-08T16:26:00.003-05:00

“The moment a woman comes home to herself, the moment she knows that she has become a person of influence, an artist of her life, a sculptor of her universe, a person with rights and responsibilities who is respected and recognized, the resurrection of the world begins.”
—Sister Joan Chittister, OSB

On this International Women's Day, here's to celebrating ALL the strong women in my life... And, as a Canadian woman, I'm taking a moment to count my blessings and to hold women who know little but struggle in the light of my God's Love.

As I write this, women from around the world are gathered in Jaipur, India for the a global summit called Making Way for the Feminine: for the Benefit of the World Community. They are exploring how the leadership of women can make a difference in the religious, political and economic arenas and aid in social transformation. But it's more than about trying to bring women leaders into the mainstream. From the summit web site: "It is time to allow the feminine to emerge, to embrace it, each one of us, male and female alike, so that we can bring greater balance to the dual forces of nature and of our being, the masculine and feminine, the yin and yang."

Here's to honouring the feminine - and the strength that comes with these qualities - in all of us.

Pace e bene,

Snow Joke...

2008-03-06T20:33:00.009-05:00

It's the talk of the town...
It's on the front page of every newspaper...
It's both loved, and by now, reviled...
And it's not finished with us yet!

Yesterday, I finally got the joke - there is nothing else to do but laugh. Thirty-one centimetres of snow in one day, with another storm forecast for this weekend. I decided that I could resist & grumble & begrudge... or I could welcome it with open arms & heart. Either way, it's coming down - and there's not a damn thing I can do about it. So yesterday, I started laughing.

I am a strong believer in seasonal amnesia. I know that May will startle me with her vibrant greens and her blood-red tulips. By August, all this snow will be but a memory, and I will be seeking relief from the scorching sun. September & October will regale me with their dramatic tales of colour. And when that first December snow blankets my world in white, I will rejoice at the beauty before me. This is why I laugh - I laugh at the brilliance of Mother Nature's sense of humour, of her ability to make us forget and re-discover every season as if for the first time.

Pace e bene,

Awarding Achievement...

2008-03-05T21:45:00.003-05:00

What if you held an awards show, and nobody knew...?

I'm about to divulge a national secret: the 28th Annual Genie Awards, celebrating the best in Canadian film, were held last Monday. Who knew?! No indication from the Ottawa newspapers the next morning: the front page displayed a photo of Hilary Swank, two-time Academy award winner, who was in town to give a speech at a motivational seminar. As a Canadian, should I be alarmed?!

And this was a big year for Canadian film... there certainly was a lot of hype here about our presence at the Oscars. Ellen Page, Oscar nominee, was on the front page of most Ottawa newspapers the day after the Academy Awards. She didn't win, by the way. Yet, when it comes to honouring our own, here at home... silence. Dare I say, indifference? I didn't watch the Genies, so I'm not standing from a pulpit when I say this: what's wrong with this picture?! Why didn't I even know they were on? And why the heck were they on at 10pm on a Monday night?!

The big winner was Sara Polley and her film, Away from Her - an amazing film, IMO. I think Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent should win an award for the Best-looking Onscreen Couple - they are so beautiful in this movie! I couldn't take my eyes of them... (Amazingly, Pinsent is 77 years old!!) I'm happy to see that they both took home Genies for their Leading Roles in this film.

While I'm on the topic of award shows, I feel compelled to share my "Best Moment at the Oscars" with you. By far, it was the award for Best Song by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova. I was thrilled that this beautiful music - one of the main characters of the film Once - was recognized. Way to go for the little guys!! Remember, you first heard about it here. :-)

Pace e bene,

If you could see through my eyes...

2008-02-26T20:06:00.006-05:00

“If the eye does not want to see, neither light nor glasses will help.” - German Proverb

I picked up my new glasses today. I was a bit worried about wearing progressive lenses for the first time, but so far... so good. I haven't tripped up on my own feet yet! I bought the frames in Firenze last summer and, if I do say so myself, they're pretty cool... black & lime green. :-)

Apparently, donning new frames can be newsworthy, especially if you're the Leader of the Official Opposition. I couldn't believe that the Ottawa Citizen dedicated an entire article to the fact that Stéphane Dion changed his eye-glass frames. It morphed into a story about how politicians tend to lose their lenses in order to gain the confidence of the people. Ugh. I've long had a pet peeve about how glasses are associated to weaker and geeker personalities. Ever notice how, in the movies, the ugly duckling always seems to lose her glasses following her transformation into the elegant swan? I agree that there are ugly frames (usually acknowledged only in hindsight), but once - just once! - I'd like to see glasses portrayed in the media as vital, and creative, and fun. Since that's not likely to happen any time soon, I'll have to make an extra effort to communicate that message myself! :-)

In the meantime, hope you enjoy the beauty that can be found in a local optometrist's shoppe...

Pace e bene,

On thin ice...

2008-02-24T21:01:00.007-05:00

Some would say it's like riding a bike... although you may be a bit wobbly at first, you never really forget how to do it.

After more than three years away from the ice, I strapped on my skates today and joined the throngs on the our local World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal. The sun was shining... the temperature was perfect... and I felt like I didn't have a care in the world. - except for trying to stay upright. I think I may have been a bit too ambitious however; I skated its entire length and back again - a cool 13km (+/-). I can already feel the muscle pain creeping in; I'll have to let you know how bad it is tomorrow.

Mind you, tomorrow's pain may not be related to the distance I undertook... there was, after all, the fall. That single, hard fall - legs flying out from under me as I lost contact with the earth and fell flat onto my back. Now, the true elegance of my chute was not characterized by how I fell, but rather by where I fell. There's something very humbling about creating a thud! just as you are entering a port-a-potty. Yes, friends... that's right. A port-a-potty. I toyed with the idea of removing my skates first, but I really, really had to go... Time was of the essence! And that's the price I paid: my pride - and a sore butt. :-)

Well, back to the Oscars... Go Canucks!

Pace e bene,

Musical discoveries...

2008-02-18T22:21:00.003-05:00

A short post to share with you my newest musical heartthrob, Jason Mraz. I've downloaded several of his songs from the iTunes store (a dangerous, dangerous place, BTW) and am actually looking forward to the release of his new album due out in May.

I have to admit... the iPod is giving me an opportunity to explore music in a way that I hadn't before. Some of my favourites from the past are there (Jesse Cook, Bruce Guthro, Great Big Sea, James Taylor, Indigo Girls...), but I'm enjoying some new-to-me stuff too (Andy McKee, Herbie Hancock, Eddie Vedder, Runrig... Jason Mraz!).

Hopefully it'll be a long while before I get myself into this situation again. :-)

Pace e bene,

Celebrating Love...

2008-02-14T17:15:00.010-05:00

"Love is something learned only by the long, hard labor of life. It is sometimes over before we’ve even known we ever had it. We sometimes destroy it before we appreciate it. We often have it and simply take it for granted. But sometimes, if we’re lucky, we live long enough to grow into it in such a way that because of it we come to recognize the value of life. As the years go by, we come to love flowers and cats and small infants and old ladies and life on the dock and the one person in life who knows how hot we like our coffee." - Joan Chittister, OSB

Here's to celebrating the reality of Love in our lives - in all its forms, in all its expressions, in all its depth and breadth. Happy Valentine's Day, friends... and know that you are Loved.

And here's to the one I chose - twice. May we continue to grow together in Love & Life...

(photos by Findley Photography)

Pace e bene... e amore,

Stuck on Idol...

2008-02-13T19:55:00.004-05:00

My name is jag. I'm an Idol addict.

There. I've said it. A new season has begun and I'll be stuck to the TV every week until mid-summer. If I'm lucky, I'll get a wee break between the American and the Canadian Idol editions. Thankfully, one of Hubby's techno-gadgets will allow me the freedom to watch at my convenience - and without commercials (yay for PVRs :-)).

Admittedly, I can't stand the early part of the show, the one where people seek out their 15 minutes of fame by making complete fools of themselves. The off-key singing/yelping actually hurts my ears. I often skip these episodes or have the TV on "mute" in the background. Hubby, on the otherhand, finds these early auditions very entertaining. "These are my people!," he exclaims.

Now, as the top 24 are being selected, I'll become engaged and will grow attached to my favourites. I'll be cheering them on and hoping for those unexpected, jaw-dropping performances. I will be living vicariously through them.

It's truly Idol time... bring it on!
Pace e bene,

Immersing myself...

2008-02-08T10:16:00.000-05:00

IMMERSED (by John D. Engle Jr.)

Immersed in infinite energy and love,
I'm part of the eternal flow of things.
No matter when or where or how I move,
whether on earth with wheels or in air with wings,
I am a part of everything that is,
all that has been, or ever will be.
Designed by the dreams of all the divinities,
all beauty and all truth are mixed in me.
Knowing this, I shed by shell of doubt,
until free in the freedom of the one Mind
and linked to laws of love, I go about
fulfilling that for which I was designed,
which is to sing myself and try to share
the loveliness of which I am aware.

I came across this poem as part of my Lenten reading & journalling activities, and it resonated with me. I love the reference to my being designed "to sing myself" - I don't need to change who I am, I just need to go home to my original song and sing it for all to hear.

This theme of "immersion" also aligns with a thought-provoking interview I listened to recently on the CBC's Tapestry. If you want to broaden your horizons on the concept of God - and the marriage of science and religion - set aside an hour or so and listen to what Michael Dowd has to say.

Pace e bene,

Progressing well, thank you...

2008-02-06T21:57:00.000-05:00

Time to celebrate progress:

Yesterday, I ran on the treadmill for 25 minutes straight without stopping. Considering that I could hardly do 10 minutes on that thing when I started, I'd say that's progress.
Today, for the first time, I ran the downtown two bridges route without stopping. Total of 4.5Km in 30:08. Next time, I'll break the 30 minute mark.
I am gaining confidence in the kitchen. I've told myself "I can't cook" for so long that it was becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. But with my renewed focus on eating right, I'm preparing more of my food from scratch. And as a kid who didn't eat vegetables, boy have I progressed! My favourite veggie dish this past week? Kale, sauteed in olive oil with lots of garlic, red onions and spritzed with lemon juice. Yum.
Leaving work at 5pm, it was still light out! Now THAT is progress that I look forward to more of...
After almost two months of being annoyed by a twitch in my right eye, I finally went to see my optometrist. Turns out my eyes are "progressing" alright, albeit in the wrong direction! The time has come for progressive lenses - it was bound to happen sooner or later.

I was contemplating these instances of progress over the past few days, when earlier this evening, I read these words from Joan Chittister, describing Lent: "Contrary to conventional wisdom Lent is not a series of behaviors. It is a series of questions that, year after year, is designed to measure our progress on the way to fullness of life."

Indeed, today also marks the beginning of Lent, one of my favourite spiritual seasons. See what I wrote about it last year... or the year before that... I love Lent!

Pace e bene,

The day after yesterday...

2008-02-02T17:32:00.000-05:00

Ottawa was wallopped by another snowstorm yesterday. But it all balances out - today offered so much beauty. Here are a few neighbourhood scenes from the day after yesterday...

Happy shovelling!

Pace e bene,

Call it a lack of understanding...

2008-01-31T20:45:00.000-05:00

I generally have a positive outlook on Life. I don't really get riled up too easily and, most of the time, I just accept that "it is what it is". However, there are a few things that I will never quite understand - and I've encountered several in the last couple of days. I guess you could call these my "pet peeves".

For the record, I will never understand:

why people toss aside their lit cigarette butts... You never can tell where they will fall; for goodness sake, step on 'em at least!
why people feel the need to launch a wicked gob of spit onto the sidewalk... Guys (as I suspect this is mostly a guy thing), contrary to what you might think, it's really not cool.
why people are so obsessed with Britney Spears... Yowza! Leave her alone! If no one pays attention, maybe she'll just go away and be free to fix her life.
why so many short people haven't figured out that, if you're using an umbrella on a crowded sidewalk, you need to lift and/or tilt when you meet someone coming in the opposite direction... My eyes may be weak, but I'd still like to keep them, thank you.
why people stand in front of the door on the bus when it's not their stop - especially when there is an empty seat nearby... Get out of my way please!
white sweat socks with black dress shoes OR black nylons with white pumps... need I say more?!

These are a few of my favourite things. Not!

What about you? What things will you never quite understand?!

Pace e bene,

Teachings from an unexpected source...

2008-01-29T19:08:00.000-05:00

Teachers come in all shapes 'n sizes. Yesterday, she arrived packaged as a blind immigrant woman who needed help.

I was standing in line to get on the bus and a woman wearing dark glasses and using a cane stepped off. She then stood on the corner announcing to passersby: "I need help! I need help!" People looked, but no one stopped. I went up to her and asked where she needed to go. Turns out she needed to connect to another bus and the stop was a block away; she would also need to cross two streets to get there. "Take my arm. I'll walk you there," I said.

As we walked, she talked. Loudly. She told me of the eye infection that temporarily robbed her of her sight - even showing me her clouded eyeballs. She showed me the drops she needed to take. She told me that she lived with her father and that all they had was his old age pension cheque to live on. They received about $1000/month. Their rent was $973. They were immigrants, probably Haitian judging from her accent. She said sometimes people helped them. Sometimes not. "Here in Canada, about half the people are good. The other half are not-so-good. You, you are a good samaritan," she told me.

I got her onto her bus and asked the bus driver to help her out. Then I turned and walked away. Just like that. I hope she was able to reach her destination.

Later in the day, I was reflecting on this encounter. Here is what I learned from this small, blind, loud Teacher:

Getting help can be as easy as asking for it, clearly and without hesitation. I've been procrastinating on a task for weeks because, quite honestly, I don't know how to go about doing it. The logical thing would be to ask for help. If I nudge pride & ego out of the way, I can do that.
I need to look at the roots of my financial insecurity, which has been plaguing me lately. Compared to so many, I am rich beyond their imagination. There is so much for me to be grateful for.

I am grateful for this short episode in my day, and I pray that I may always remain teachable... Our Teachers walk among us; have you met one lately? I'd love to hear about it!

Pace e bene,

To eat... or not to eat...

2008-01-27T14:01:00.001-05:00

In my last post, I listed all the main food/beverages that I have to say No Thanks! to for the next 10 - 14 days. Now it's time to celebrate what I can - and most likely will - eat in the days to come:

YES to veggies (limitless) - broccoli, squash, cauliflower, peppers, celery, spinach, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, just to name a few...
YES to meat 'n fish - mostly chicken, wild salmon, tilapia...
YES to legumes - bean salads, lentil soup...
YES to grains - yeast-free kamut bread (I love this stuff!), quinoa, whole grain rice, whole wheat/kamut/spelt pasta (is that a grain?!), whole wheat tortilla wraps...
YES to fruit 'n berries - although I should limit fruit to one or two pieces a day, due to their high natural sugar content...
YES to nuts 'n seeds - almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds...
YES to eggs - mostly of the hard-boiled genre...

I've never been one to plan menus ahead of time, so I'm making an effort to keep primarily the YES foods around and create meals from those ingredients. Last evening, for example, I made a hearty lentil & vegetable soup and froze the left-overs; that'll give me at least two lunches. Then there's the beef stew, frozen from a couple of weeks ago. This morning's breakfast, as demonstrated in my photo above, was a delight in so many ways! FYI: Instead of using butter, I drizzle flax seed oil on my toast and sprinkle with cinnamon. Yum. "And what about that milk?" say you?! It's almond milk. Double Yum.

In case you're wondering what is behind all this effort, while on an extended sick leave in January 2006, an environmental allergist & homeopath helped me discover that I likely had an over-abundance of yeast in my body. After a strict dietary change and time to let my body detox, I began to experience good health in a way that I couldn't have imagined! Now, I keep watch of what I eat and every six months or so, I allow myself a nutritional detox process that also involves homeopathic remedy - just to give my liver a rest. And in the day-to-day, as much as possible, I avoid sugar, anything fermented as well as all things fungal (ie. mushrooms, old cheeses...), for these all encourage the growth of yeast in our bodies.

Interestingly, I experienced a vivid reminder of how my body can no longer tolerate concentrated amounts of sugar last week. Hubby & I tried out a new restaurant; the food was great and the desserts, well, irresistable. Knowing full well that it was a major cheat, I ordered a piece of homemade gingerbread cake soaked in maple-rum sauce. Exquisite! Within an hour, I had a headache that made me want to disappear into a quiet, dark space. I thought my head was caught in a vice. Quite the reminder! Garbage in; garbage out.

And that, my friends, brings our episode of jag's adventures in nutritional health to an end for today. Join us again next week as we... ah, never mind. :-)

Pace e bene,

Givin' the liver a rest...

2008-01-24T19:44:00.000-05:00

JUST FOR TODAY…
· no yeast
· no dairy
· no sugar, honey, maple syrup
· no vinegars or fermented products (eg. soy sauce)
· no mushrooms
· no junk food (Good-bye Mr. Chips!)
· no processed (ie. canned, boxed, enveloped) food
· no coffee (incl. de-caf) or tea
· no alcohol

(... and for the next 10 - 14 "todays"!)

This is me, attempting the whole "accountability" thing. If I share my intention here, it'll be harder for me to cheat when I get there.

Pace e bene,

Beloved Chatters

2008-01-23T22:26:00.000-05:00

“The happiest people are those who think the most interesting thoughts. Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good company, good conversation, are the happiest people in the world. And they are not only happy in themselves, they are the cause of happiness in others.” - William Lyon Phelps

I'm heading off to bed, but I just have to share that I am feeling very blessed and grateful. I just got back from a soul nurturing evening with my friends, the Mad Chatters. I love them all... for their humour, for their courage, for their brilliance, for their willingness to show up 'n chat.

This evening, we shared on the books/films/people/experiences that have influenced us the most in 2007. It evolved into a conversation about defining moments... Nothing less than a thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring conversation!

Thanks Chatters - you guys rock! My life is fuller because of your presence in it...

Pace e bene,

Nobody's Mother...

2008-01-19T15:03:00.000-05:00

“I am not childless by choice, although many of my choices have contributed to my being childless. I live with this as regret and blessing both, a point of chaos in my ordered life.” - Mary Jane Copps in Nobody’s Mother: Life Without Kids.

The fact that I do not have children is not something I talk about very often. It’s not even something I think about most of the time. Last year, a book review in the local paper caught my eye: Nobody’s Mother: Life Without Kids. I tore out the article, planning to look at it later and, as waywards bits of paper tend to do in my home, it eventually migrated to the office upstairs. A couple of weeks ago, it reappeared at the top of the heap as if to say: “Now would be a good time to read this.” I ordered it from the public library (I’m still on my self-imposed book buying moratorium) and read it over the past week.

Nobody’s Mother presents a series of essays from women who, for a myriad of reasons, have never borne children. They write with honesty, courage, humour and grace. In their words, I was able to find comfort and affirmation – things I didn’t even know I was needing. I was even able to find words that described the paradoxical feelings I have about being nobody’s mother. (See quote above by Mary Jane Copps.)

The reasons for my not having children are far to complex too post here; I’m not even sure I could describe the twists and turns that brought me to this point. The fact is: here I am. The beauty and strength of this book lie in its simple acceptance that reasons differ and – in the end – are quite irrelevant. It’s about accepting and celebrating the reality that is, and the fullness of a woman without kids of her own. This I can relate to!

Here are a few more quotes that resonated with me:

“Not every woman has to have children, you know.” – Lorna Crozier (comment from her mother)

“Physiologically, I am constructed so that I may incubate a fetus, or even a whole string of them, if I so choose. I will die one day, never having carried out the biological impetus of my being.” – Adrienne Munro (this thought – or some variation of it – crosses my mind about once a month! :-))

“If I am a vessel, I am full to overflowing with love and strength and the milk of human kindness. I have not borne a child, but I am a universal parent; in a hundred little ways my love can change the world.” – Adrienne Munro

“I am 42 years old. I have no children. I am very happy.” – Katherine Gordon

I make no judgement of friends and family members who have chosen - consciously or not - to have children... and I hope they make none of me. As I have mentioned here before, the important thing, I believe, is to live fully... to love wastefully... and to be courageously - one day at a time.

Pace e bene,

A milestone to light the way...

2008-01-17T21:09:00.000-05:00

In October 2005, I told you that change IS within reach... Since then, I have posted several times about the phenomenal progress of Project Porchlight. Well, today marked another milestone: 1,000,000 energy efficient bulbs delivered! And they're not stopping there...

If ever you wonder whether one person, or one idea, can make a difference, you just have to look towards Porchlight for inspiration. The co-founder and Executive Director, and my friend, Stuart Hickox, pondered over a bottle of beer. "So, how hard can it be to get everyone in Canada to change one lightbulb?!" Little did he know at the time that his quest... his passion... his energy... and the support of his family & friends... would bring him to this point. Congrats Stuart! To you, Suzy, and to the thousands of people who made 1,000,000 bulbs delivered, a reality.

Pace e bene,

Random News Bytes

2008-01-15T20:18:00.000-05:00

1) Hubby got back from Disney last evening, and I am now the proud owner of a pair of black sequined Minnie Mouse ears! How cool is that?! :-) I was wearing them at breakfast this morning. Hubby looked at me and just shook his head.

2) I was waiting in line at the coffee shop today. The guy in front of me asked for a "tall dark Mexican", paused, then chuckled. I started laughing along with him. The girl behind the counter didn't even crack a smile as she explained that they didn't sell "tall" sizes. He changed his order: "OK, I'll take a medium Mexican please... or at least his phone number." :-D

3) I've added a new "list" to my blog. Take a look on the right and you'll find Recently Played on my iPod. If you know of an artist, band or podcast that I really should listen to, lest my life remain incomplete, let me know!

Pace e bene,

Mondo Beyondo...

2008-01-12T21:14:00.000-05:00

I've been making good use of my solo time by going to my favourite local coffee shop. Last evening, I spent close to two hours there, reflecting & writing. My sister is a strong believer in the power of writing things down in order to help make them happen. She's done it many times and it seems to work for her more often than not. I, on the other hand, have avoided clearly articulating what I want. Too scary. Too disappointing when it doesn't happen. Too limited in my imagination.

In comes Mondo Beyondo... Superhero style. Manifesting the experiences I want to experience... Dreaming the things I'm almost afraid of dreaming... Asking the Universe for the impossible...

I decided to give it a try. What have I to lose?! A couple of hours doodling in my notebook at the most. What have I to gain? Possibly, my wildest dreams.

Here goes, for the whole world to see... (well, OK, for the few people reading my blog to see... :-)), in no particular order:

>> Return to Italy for 1 - 3 months... learn the language!

>> Be debt-free (line of credit & credit card)

>> Be in a job-sharing situation, working for pay only 2-3 days a week

>> Girls' Disney Extravaganza with Sis, my Mom and my Mum-in-Law

>> Cross-Canada Road Trip with Hubby in our Mini Cooper

>> Hiking in the Scottish Highlands

>> Driving anywhere I damn well want to - no fear!

>> Having a house by the ocean

Believe it or not, I found this exercise very difficult. I found myself judging my own list: "Yawners! Have you no imagination?!" It was like opening a door that had rusted shut. But I gotta start somewhere and I cracked it open... and I can only hope that it'll get easier from here!

What would your Mondo Beyondo list look like?!

Pace e bene,

Disney on the run...

2008-01-10T21:31:00.000-05:00

"I'm sorry, all of our cast members are busy making magical memories, please hold."

I just got off the phone with Hubby in Florida. As it turns out, their first two nights are at a different Disney property than expected, a couple of hours from Orlando. Poor guy, he's forced to stay at Disney's Vero Beach Resort located right on the ocean. Apparently he got a bit too much sun by the pool today. Ask me if I feel sorry for him. :-)

Tomorrow, they head to Orlando - staying at another Disney property not too far from the race location. Then early on Saturday, he runs the Disney Half-Marathon, from Epcot Center to the Magical Kingdom and back again. How cool is that?! I've never been to Disney World, but I remember the music and the images from all those Wonderful World of Disney episodes on TV. You remember, don't you? Can you hear it...? Maybe this will help!

Although certainly less exotic, I had a great run on the treadmill today. I think I've found the perfect running companion: Stuart McLean at the Vinyl Café. I now subscribe to the podcasts and found it was the perfect distraction from the tediousness of running on the treadmill. Who knew?!

Pace e bene,

Film Frenzy...

2008-01-09T20:34:00.001-05:00

The wind has picked up... and the temperature has dropped. After 3 days of fog and rain, we may actually get to experience winter again. Hooray! It's January afterall... it's supposed to be snowy and cold. Of course, as I write this, Hubby is probably already wearing shorts and enjoying warm weather. He was offered an opportunity to go to Orlando, Florida and run in Saturday's Disney Half-Marathon. How could he say no?! Wouldn't it be great to be fit enough to run a half-marathon on a week's notice... :-) Have fun Babe - miss you already!!

While Hubby's away, I will likely continue to catch up on movies. I really enjoy going to the movie theatre and we're very fortunate here in Ottawa to have our own repertory cinema... great films for a great price!

Last weekend, I saw two films, both of them so different and both of them brilliant... On Saturday, we went to see Juno. There's a lot of buzz surrounding this film, and deservedly so. The dialogue is the quick & clever and the casting is inspired. Gotta give props to the high Canadian content in this film too: filmed in Vancouver, directed by Jason Reitman and starring Michael Cera and newcomer Ellen Page - Canadians all.

Then on Sunday, my favourite movie buddy, Ted, & I went to see The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Great film telling the incredible true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a French magazine editor who suffered a debilitating stroke at the age of 42. The diving bell refers to his locked-in body, completely paralyzed except for his left eyelid. The butterfly represents his imagination - fully intact, active and able to carry him wherever he wants. He went on to dictate a best-selling book using only his eye. Incroyable! I was especially moved by back-to-back scenes of fathers & sons in reversed roles: sons becoming parent to the fathers. It immediately reminded me of a very personal image from the past: my husband feeding his father who was dying of cancer. (He died seven years ago today, in fact.) Needless to say, the tears were streaming down my cheeks...

Sooo, I'm flying solo for a few days and will likely focus on creating space for my 2008 intentions to take flight: creativity, connection, celebration.

Pace e bene,

On Being Human...

2008-01-06T22:10:00.000-05:00

As I was cleaning out a small box of loose papers, I found a little card with this:

THE RULES FOR BEING HUMAN (source unknown)

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period this time around.

2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called Life. Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid.

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial and error known as experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately "works".

4. A lesson is repeated until learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can then go on to the next lesson.

5. Learning lessons does not end. There is no part of life that does not contain its lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.

6. "There" is no better than "here". When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here".

7. Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself.

8. What you make of yours is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours. It is permissible and encouraged to ask for help.

9. Your answers lie inside you. The answers to Life's questions lie inside you. All you need to do is look, listen and trust.

10. You will forget all this.

11. You can remember it whenever you want.

Considered it remembered, for today at least... :-)
Pace e bene,

Inspiring discoveries...

2008-01-03T22:13:00.000-05:00

I was planning to go to bed early... honest, I was! But I decided to go surfing and see where I'd end up... (all part of making space to nurture my creativity :-)). Here are a few of the things that inspired me along the way:

The mobile phone salesman from South Wales

Low-tech web site - be sure to click on arrow at bottom right of screen

The Last Lecture

Superhero and her camera

What happened to the mobile phone salesman from South Wales

Time to call it a night... who knows what tomorrow will bring!

Pace e bene,

Signs, Signs, Everywhere... Signs

2008-01-02T21:42:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's post on setting "goals" must have sent out a not-so-silent plea to the Universe for increased clarity! The number of "signposts" I have come across in the last 24 hours is astounding.

I started my work day with a visit to The Daily Motivator web site - today's focus was on failure. "Seek not to create failure, nor to avoid failure. Seek instead to allow failure, when it comes, to keep you moving on the path to greater success." Here, I was also reminded that "Comfort is a good state in which to find rest, renewal and refuge for a while. It is a dreary and dismal place to take up permanent residence." That really resonated with me...

Then, I tapped into a friend's online Musings. She compared starting the new year to the experience of cracking open a brand new book or - my favourite - to the memories of getting those brand new school supplies... empty and waiting to be filled and shaped.

THEN, I popped over to The Ripple Effect and was asked whether I was ready to embrace Life with arms wide open... Life will happen, with or without my cooperation. How do I want to receive it?

By this time, I was starting to gain clarity on three specific areas on which I'd like to focus in the coming year (beyond Living Fully... Loving Wastefully... and Being Courageously). I had lunch with a good friend and bounced my ideas off of him - my intial foray into accountability. The final kicker came in a coaching e-newsletter that I receive at work in the afternoon. I was invited to take a look at 5.75 Questions You've Been Avoiding by Michael Bungay Stanier at Box of Crayons. They confirmed what was beginning to take shape in my mind, especially Questions #1, #3 and #5. And so, in a bold act of accountability, I'm putting it out there - to you and to the Universe.

In 2008, I will focus on:

Creativity
Connection
Celebration

I'm sure I'll be given guidance on more specific ways of nurturing each of these areas. All I need to do is Keep an Open Mind and Trust the Universe. I haven't been disappointed yet!

Pace e bene,

The best of intentions...

2008-01-01T17:29:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling ill-equipped to start the new year on the right track. I had the best of intentions for things to do in the last two weeks, and I didn't do them... so what makes me think anything I write today will hold through the next year?!

I've been reflecting a bit on why I'm so adverse to setting goals, even small, simple ones. Here's how I see it today: if I set a goal, I become accountable - sometimes to others & always to myself. Then, if/when I don't accomplish my goal, I feel I have failed. In my weird mind, that translates to "I am a failure. I am a fraud." I am constantly setting myself up to do things, and then not doing them. The feeling of being a fraud can be quite strong sometimes. Isn't this a little harsh, you might ask? Of course! But how else am I supposed to maintain the illusion of competence and perfection that I have spent a lifetime creating?!! :-)

The level of awareness of how this all plays out in my life has been growing in the past couple of years. Recently, the arrogance of it all is also becoming clear to me. Who do I think I am that there is any expectation from others of perfection or competence in all things? The only person who expects that... is me. Luckily, "me" is also the only person I can change if I feel I really want to. I could also choose to simply accept the way I am - and work with that.

So, back to the goals. My sister shared that language is important to her, and that she avoids the word "goal". I've often admired how she's able to set intentions for herself... or areas of focus. This seems to be a gentler language, because it doesn't imply a task that must be completed. I like that. Seems like a kinder, softer way of directing energy towards a specific area of my life - which is basically the same thing as "setting a goal", non?

Although his approach is certainly more action-oriented, Steve at The Ripple Effect also gives me food for thought in his post on New Year's Resolution... He suggests limiting the number I set for myself, as well as making accoutability work for me (instead of against me, as in the judge-and-jury scenario I am most familiar with).

Funny thing just happened... as I'm writing this, I am reminded of an intention that I had set for myself several years ago, sort of a personal mission. It was inspired by something I read in Why Christianity Must Change or Die, but John Shelby Spong. I had "decided" that my life purpose was to: Live fully... Love wastefully... Be courageously... I haven't thought about that in a while. Might this be a good start for determining the areas where I want to focus my energy?

Live fully: Practice acceptance, gratitude and balance...
Love wastefully: Err on the side of Love. Love people, even when I'm not sure they "deserve" it. Put myself on the top of that list...
Be courageously: Be in the moment, even when I'd rather be somewhere else. Make room for Faith, for Faith is stronger than Fear.

There you have it, something for me to think about - one day at a time...

Here's wishing you much Love and Peace as this new year begins. Know that, although I don't always take the time to say it, you are important to me and I treasure your presence in my life. You know who you are. (Yes, it's you... :-))

Pace e bene,

Merry... Happy... Blessed...

2007-12-23T20:03:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

As Christmas Day draws near, I recognize the abundance in my life and I give thanks...
...for my family
...for my health
...for meaningful work
...for a beautiful, quirky home
...for my friends, near & far
...for the presence of a Loving God in my life

Here's wishing you all the Love, Peace, Joy & Faith this season truly represents!
For a special greeting from Hubby & me, click here - enjoy!
Pace e bene,

Fulfilling its iPurpose...

2007-12-19T20:14:00.000-05:00

That tiny, wafer-thin piece of technology has fulfilled its iPurpose today... For the first time, I used it while running on the dreaded treadmill - a.k.a. "the dreadmill".

Last winter, it became clear to me that I am a fair-weather runner. Of course, it helped that we didn't get any snow until January. But that is certainly not the case this year!! Winter doesn't officially begin until this coming weekend, but I just finished shovelling our driveway yet AGAIN. The snow banks on either side of the path are higher than my waist, which makes shovelling a little challenging. Don't get me wrong - it's absolutely beautiful! I'll take this winter wonderland over rain or a greenish-brown Christmas any day. And, although I love walking in this weather, I'm none too crazy about running in it. Hence, the dreadmill...

Last winter, I found running on the treadmill excrutiatingly boring, and quickly found excuses to avoid it. That's when I first heard the whisper of the iPod: "I could make this bearable..." I have to admit, it was! It was an exercise in humility though. At one point at the gym today, I was in the groove: I had a good rhythm going... good posture... good pace... I may even have looked sorta cool. That's when my hand got caught in the wire for my earplugs and the iPod came tumbling off the little ledge. I bobbled it from hand to hand as I tried to catch it. Of course, a treadmill doesn't stop or slow down when you lose your stride. It becomes the enemy.

I managed a quick little triple step and a little lunge to the left, then regained my balance without being flung against the back wall of the gym. Phewf - that was close! Who's looking cool now?! :-) Oh, to be humbled by a treadmill... To think these guys make it look so easy!

Pace e bene,

A (snowy) Day in the Life...

2007-12-16T21:39:00.001-05:00

Before the run...
During the run...

After the run...
Sunday brunch at The Diner...
Digging out...

Angels fly... and all is well!

Pace e bene,

And the honour goes to...

2007-12-11T21:00:00.000-05:00

... Bruce Guthro, and his 2005 recording "A Beautiful Life"! Yes, Bruce has the honour of being my first musical download onto my new iPod. (By the way, if you doubt that I am truly a newbie, it was pointed out to me that I misspelled "iPod" in my previous post. I rest my case. :-)) Bruce Guthro is a masterful singer/songwriter from Cape Breton. His stories-set-to-music are a mix of folk, jazz with a hint of traditional East Coast melodies. You can't really peg him down to one style. I'm not really into music that much, but he's certainly one of my faves! He's best experienced during a live performance, with his storytelling and unmistakeable Cape Breton sense of humour.

I'm also quite fascinated with the wide range of podcasts - it's amazing what they have out there! I could easily become overwhelmed with the info that's out there... sorta like blogs - so many blogs, so little time! Add podcasts to the mix, and my head may just well explode.

So, I survived the first lesson! S'cuse me while I go shopping at the iTunes Store...
Pace e bene,

T'is the season...?

2007-12-10T19:47:00.000-05:00

"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink,

taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each." - Thoreau

I have this quote on a print in my meditation room. Lately, I find myself reading it daily and appreciating its profound wisdom. T'is the season, as the saying goes... but what season is it exactly?! I have been unable to latch onto the Christmas cheer so far. To be honest, I am dismayed at what this time of year has become. It is so drenched in consumerism and political correctness, I almost feel like turning my back on it completely. Were it not for the messages beyond the hype... hope, peace, faith, joy. Advent - waiting and preparing for a new way.

As I go through yet another "season" of my own, I can acknowledge its influences. Right now, I am being lead to a time of rest, of strengthening, of returning to my source of Being. And it's not easy to do when the world around me is rushing around, frantically preparing for Christmas celebrations. Somehow, I don't think God will care that I don't have a Christmas tree... or a Crèche... or red velvet bows, shiny decorations and homemade baking. And I need to let that be OK within myself. Therein lies the challenge.

On a lighter note, I celebrated a birthday this past week. And Hubby has taken it upon himself to bring me - kicking & screaming - into the 21st century by buying me an IPod... a beautiful red one! I don't know the first thing about how to load it up and am looking forward to my first lesson later this evening. I really am quite a techno-peasant (despite having my own blog). I look forward to seeing how this tiny piece of technology will enhance my quest for health & balance and pray that I don't become one of those people who are constantly "wired for sound" and therefore absent from the present moment. I need to accept that, on its own, the technology is not bad - it all depends on how I use it. Wish me luck!

Pace e bene,

Images of Philly...

2007-11-29T22:14:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have been waiting with bated breath :-) I finally got around to adding a few pics to my earlier posts from Philly. Scroll down a bit and check 'em out! Also, in August 2005, I wrote this post about my discovery of Philadelphia's amazing mural arts program. Here are a few of the ones I was able to see this time 'round.

Murals often commemorate local celebs, such as Patti Labelle (mural #2) and Herman Wrice (mural #3).

Pace e bene,

Walking, Philly-style...

2007-11-19T21:30:00.000-05:00

What a great day! Weather sucked, but what a great day! Cold, damp, drizzly weather didn't stop us from walking close to 9km today. We had a few places we knew we wanted to go, and it turned out to be a well-paced itinerary (although it sorta morphed along the way).

We started by going to the Franklin Institute Science Museum. I was intrigued by a special exhibit that opened there last week on Identity. We also took the time to take part in a time-honoured tradition: walking through The Giant Heart. :-) Our timing there allowed us to see one of the shows at the Fels Planetarium. Very cool!

By this time, it was just around lunch time and we decided to make one last visit to the Reading Terminal Market. The food on the train is so horrible, so we're bringing more with us this time. I stood in line at the most popular butcher counter in the market for close to 20 minutes. That place was bustlin'! I could totally picture myself as a resident stopping by to get my week's supply of food. I started chatting with another fellow who was waiting. I learned that he was 57 years old... that he's been coming to this market since the 60's... that he's been coming to this butcher for 4 years... that he and his wife don't eat red meat... that he'd done some crazy stuff in his youth ("the whole 60's drug scene, y'know?") but that health was very important to him now... Amazing what you can learn while waiting for the butcher to call your number!

Back to our "apartment" for a quick lunch before heading towards our next destination: Antique Row. Many of the shops were closed - and perhaps that's a good thing! - but the architecture was just delightful! Beautiful laneways lined with attractive "brownstones" and paved with cobblestone. Much to my delight, we also stumbled upon a work of art I had seen during my first visit to Philly in 2005: the amazing mosaic art of Isaiah Zagar. I couldn't remember the artist's name, nor the location of his main masterpiece... yet I remembered it. Funny how I just "happened" upon it anyway. :-)

We enquired about local coffee shops. One shop owner directed us to The Chapterhouse, an independantly owned coffeehouse and art gallery. How perfect! I sipped on a ginger tea as we warmed up before heading back out to catch a movie. On our bus tour, we had noticed a movie theatre that seemed to be showing an interesting slate of films. We decided to go see the early showing of Into the Wild. The Ritz 5 Theatre was delightful: small... quiet... a breath of fresh air. Rather than blaring loud pop music and showing stupid celebrity quiz questions on the screen prior to the start of the movie, we were treated to classical music, opera arias and a "slide show" of works of art on the screen. The film? If you haven't seen this yet, I would highly recommend it! It's definitely a "big screen" film with stunning cinematography. Inspired by a true story, the film is thought-provoking and very engaging. Although it's over two hours long, not once did I look at my watch or feel that it was dragging on. A story worth hearing...

We walked back and are now preparing for our early morning departure. Our train leaves at 5:50am. Luckily, there will be plenty of time for sleeping later in the day. :-) And so, this is jag, signing off from Philly... See you back in Ottawa!

Pace e bene,

Brief Race Brief...

2007-11-18T18:42:00.000-05:00

The sun has barely cleared the horizon, although we can't see it behind the clouds. It's cold. And windy. And close to 10,000 runners have are lined up along Ben Franklin Blvd. to run a marathon, a half-marathon or an 8K (5-miler). First to go are the marathoners & half-marathoners. The theme song from Rocky blares out of the loud speaker and the crowd roars as the start of the race is signalled.

And thus began my day... Well, actually, my day began a couple of hours before the 7:15am race start time. Much to my surprise, I was even awake! :-)

I am happy to report that I successfully completed my first 8K race! I felt quite good throughout and could even have pushed a little harder. However, I wasn't sure if I'd have enough juice to get me to the finish line, so I ran at a cautious pace at the beginning. My final chip time was 51:43. I met my first goal of getting through in less than an hour, and just missed my second - more silent - goal of trying to finish in 50 minutes. The scary thing is after it was all over, I found myself thinking "Hey, if I can run 8K, then I can probably run 10K..." But not this week! Perhaps it's a good goal to set for the spring. Originally, I had thought I could run a 10K race this fall, but I hardly ran all summer. This opportunity to run 8K presented itself and it turned out to be a good stepping stone.

I'm proud to report that Hubby successfully completed his 11th marathon! The official results haven't been posted yet, so we don't know his exact chip time. However, he believes it will be around 3:45:00. His Boston Qualifying time (BQ) remains elusive and he looks forward to trying again next year for Boston 2009. He experienced problems with his hip flexor and ended up having to walk approximately 4kms; that's a guaranteed slow-down. He finished strong though, running the last 5kms. I managed to see him and cheer him on twice on the route.

Due to the unseasonably cold weather, we didn't stick around for long after he crossed the Finish Line. I had already been waiting around outside for close to 3 hours. After a few minutes to allow Hubby to quickly change into dry clothes, we walked the 2 km back to our hotel.

Needless to say, the rest of our afternoon in our "little apartment" was pretty relaxed. We went out for dinner and are back in for the evening. Tomorrow is our last day to take in some of what Philadelphia has to offer. Yesterday, we took a city bus tour and that really gave us a lay of the land. Now that the race is over, we can use this time to stretch our legs and feast our senses...

pace e bene,

Welcome to Philly...

2007-11-16T16:29:00.000-05:00

"Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown. Through them we pass out into adventure and sunshine, to them, alas! we return." G. K. Chesterton

Spirit and body have survived the 14-hour + train trip to Philadelphia! We arrived just before midnight on Thursday. I look forward to seeing Philly's 30th Street Station again on Tuesday when we leave; I was just too tired to take in its architectural glory last night.

We got an unexpected treat in Montreal on Thursday morning. Due to a change in the Amtrak schedule, we had to go to Montreal the night before in order to be sure to catch our train. As a result of that, I was able to connect with my cousin Sylvia who lives in New Brunswick and was arriving in Montreal for a conference. We only saw each other for a few minutes, like passing trains, but it was enough to get a hug and quickly catch up. It wouldn't have been possible without the change in Amtrak schedule - sometimes, the reason for things is not immediately revealed to us. :-)

The trip from Montreal to NYC went by pretty quickly actually. We were stopped at the Canada/US border for about 90 minutes though. The US border patrol guys came on board and basically took over the train until every single person's ID had been confirmed and intentions cleared. It was quite interesting to watch them do their work. The guy who questioned us didn't crack a smile once! I know they have to remain serious, but even when his words appeared to be tinged with humour, his facial expressions remained deadpan.

If, for whatever reason, they wanted to question you more, you were sent to the Dining Car for further "inquisition" (my word, not theirs). I felt bad for a woman travelling with two small children. English was not her first languange and, from what I could gather, she didn't have proper ID for her children. Before leaving Montreal, information was given to us clearly stating that it was up to us to ensure our documentation was in order. If not, we risked being let off the train at the border. All I know is that the woman was sent to the Dining Car, then came back to retrieve all her luggage. Oy. I said a silent prayer for her...

The trip was quite uneventful. We'd get up every now & then and walk around or stretch. The views were beautiful sometimes and unspectacular much of the time. It was a true November day: grey... wet... with bare trees etch-a-sketched against a cold sky.

Our train leaving Penn Station in NYC was delayed by about 10 minutes. Interestingly, there is no seating in the waiting areas, so we sat on the floor or stood around - like everybody else. Finally, our train arrived. By then, my body was expressing its disagreement with sitting yet again. I was so fidgetty and restless and sleepy during this last leg of the journey... I was thrilled to arrive in Philly.

Our hotel is perfectly located in the downtown core, just across the street from City Hall. Our room is great - like a little apartment really. Reading Terminal Market is just a couple of blocks away, so I've already stocked up on veggies, yogourt & humus. (BTW, I'm SUPER impressed with this market. I'll no doubt have more to say later. In the meantime, see a short video here.)

Today, we went to the Race Expo to pick up our race bibs and a few souvenirs. We're both beat so Hubby is napping on the couch and I'm here, blogging. I'll add pics to the blog post when I get back. Unfortunately, I forgot the cable required to do that. Tonite, we're just going to relax in our little "apartment" and get to bed early. Race day begins before the sun rises, so we need to ensure we get plenty of rest between now and then.
View from our bedroom window - 21 floors up!
So, for now, I'll bid you farewell from Philly!
Pace e bene,

First stop...

2007-11-14T21:21:00.000-05:00

...Montreal.

We arrived on the evening train to a dark and wet Montreal. Since the hotel was only a few blocks away from the train station, we decided to walk. Little did I suspect that we'd get caught in a downpour! But we made it...

We had dinner at a place called Reuben's Diner on Saint-Catherine. I wasn't overly hungry, yet I still managed to pull a muscle in my jaw while eating. What the heck is up with that?!

There you have it. Our adventure is only a few hours old, and I've already pulled a muscle and walked through puddles resulting in soaking wet feet. Isn't Life grand?!! :-)

Hubby & I haven't taken a vacation together this year. Yet. This is it and I'm thrilled...

Next stop... Philly (via NYC)!

Pace e bene,

On your mark... Get set...

2007-11-13T21:30:00.000-05:00

...and a new adventure begins!

We leave for Montreal tomorrow, stay overnight, then it's a morning train to Philadelphia (transfering in NYC). That's a LOT of hours on a train! Luckily, I love train travel. It's just so civilized. I only wish train travel in Canada could be as affordable as it is in Italy or even in the US. Round trip tickets for two, from Montreal to Philadelphia, cost us under $300 - total! We can't even get to Cobourg (3 hours away) for that price... It's absolutely ridiculous.

While in Philly, Hubby will be running the Philadelphia Marathon and I'll be doing the 8K race. Send good vibes our way! Remember, I'm running for one boy, one van. I'll likely post once or twice while we're away, just to stay in touch. :-)

Other than that, here is a cool site that will feed the hungry AND make you smarter. Thanks to fellow Mad Chatter, Ted, for passing this one on!

And many thanks to Sis for providing an answer to my long-standing question about pomegranates. Who knew it could be so easy?!

Pace e bene,

Running on...

2007-11-09T18:04:00.000-05:00

Something really weird and - dare I say it - exciting happened to me during my run today. For the first time that I can remember, I felt like I could keep on running! I was out during my lunch hour, so I had a set route and timeframe. When I reached the end of my run, I was disappointed that I had to stop... What's THAT all about?!! Usually, I'm struggling to get to the end, but not today. I guess the energy was simply available to me. I'm grateful for that feeling...

I had a wonderful run of about 35 minutes. I'm so fortunate to work downtown, with access to such beautiful running routes. I ran across the river to the Quebec side and followed the Voyageur Pathway to the Museum of Civilization. Then I crossed back to Ottawa with the amazing view of the back of Parliament Hill. I slipped down to the Rideau Canal Locks, crossed the Canal and headed towards the National Arts Centre. You can see exactly where I ran here. (I don't know who this photographer is, but I appreciate that he pretty much photographed my run! :-)) From there, I simply set out along Albert St. towards Bridgehead Coffeehouse, my final destination. See a map of my full route here.

All this bodes well for Philadelphia next weekend... and for Geordi and his van.

Pace e bene,

Small joys...

2007-11-07T20:31:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it doesn't take much to make me smile and feel content, despite feeling tired. Here are two things that made me smile tonite:

Laverne & Shirley: I've discovered that they're back... in re-runs of course! This was one of my favourite shows and I've long been on the look-out for a DVD set of this show. Evenings at 6:30pm, I know what I'll be doing... By now, the tune is probably already playing in your head. Go on, admit it. You don't know what they say after they count either! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8... Shlamiel... Shlamozzle...

Andy McKee: I discovered this guy while traipsing around YouTube one day. I bookmarked this particular video and have often gone back to listen in amazement. Treat yourself to a four-minute break and listen for yourself. I wish I could make my guitar sing like that! I s'pose some gifts are simply meant for others to have... and for us to enjoy.

Pace e bene,