Thoughts on being older

I would have said "older" people rather than "old" people but the message is the same.  We have come a very long way from the days of the one room school house with a teacher helping us 'pass' from Grade one to Grade six and doing it with no technology other than a piece of chalk and a blackboard as we called it.

And, my favourite birthday card came in the evening from Jalen. Love it!

From the heart,  an older....

Carol Ann

Sharing my cake

To know my friend Bill Valcour is to understand his humour.  He not only remembered my birthday but he attached this picture.  So funny I had to share and I may send it to a few of you when your birthday arrives so don't laugh too hard!

Love

Carol Ann
PS Thanks so much for all the good wishes. I am celebrating all week.

Happy Birthday to my friend Marthe Legault (on March 28th)

This wonderful lady, Marthe Legault, turns 87 years young on March 28th. We met for the first time recently in Ottawa albeit I have known all about Marthe over the years from her son J C who is a very special friend to me.

Doesn't Marthe look wonderful?  Not a wrinkle on her beautiful face and not a negative thought in site when she speaks.  She puts a smile on the face of everyone around her.

I did some cutting out of others who were in these pictures initially but I am sure they will understand. This blog is all about Marthe...

Happy Birthday to you my dear friend and I look forward to seeing you again. You have a fabulous day on Wednesday - and every day.

Love

Carol Ann

When James was Jamie

My son's dad asked if I had any old pictures so I dug up these four of James from yesteryear.  For those of you from my Bell career days many of you knew my son while he was growing up so I thought I would share with you as well as with Graydon.   Such a proud mother I am!!

Saturday thoughts

I am watching the NPD leadership race today and am reminded that, in so many cases, we love the candidate until the moment they are elected. Then the knives come out. The words of gratitude turn into words of complaint and so it begins.

In memory of Jack Layton let's hope the NDP doesn't resort to this negative view of how to govern.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love
Carol Ann

Pre-occupied with Kobo et all

Talk about a great summer day!!

First I took my car in for a spring tune up. Then I took my feet in for a pedicure (kind of a personal tune up I guess!)  Then I did a bit of shopping for something bright - settled on a yellow (really yellow!) top which is very summer like and finally I checked out the e readers and settled on a Kobo.  So, my Kobo is about to come out of the box - you know what I will be doing this evening.

CA

Changing Jobs

For my friend who just lost his job, thought his life would fall apart and then realized leaving that place was the best move he has made in many a year!  It's good to laugh about it don't you think Buddy?

Sharpening our Listening Skills

I know I sound like a bit of a softy today.  I am working on a presentation and am writing about THINKING and LISTENING and how important it is to do both to the best of our ability.

Our world is full of interruptions.  We interrupt a friend when they are telling us something important because we need our turn to speak - we weren't listening to them in the first place. We finish each other's sentence so we can talk, we formulate our own words in our mind while a friend is talking rather than listening in the moment.

I work on, or try to work on, my listening skills each and every day.    You?

Love
CA

T.H.I.N.K.

This is true in so many ways isn't it?  We often tend to speak before we think. Kindness is such a big thing in everything we do.

Worth THINKing about.

Love
CA

Reactions

I was reminded of this expression late yesterday.  A very profitable Canadian company was eager to hire me to give a keynote at their conference coming up in the fall. 

However, they were unwilling to pay for my services because they had 'spent their speaker's budget' on an American speaker.  I questioned this and was advised that 'American speakers are more expensive so we often don't have money left to hire Canadian speakers.'

Our discussion went on for some time and I am sorry to say that I did react in a way that I should not have.  My bad and lesson learned.

I do know that a manager who is in a more senior position than the manager who called me does read my blog on a regular basis so to you sir I say,  'Shop Canadian.'

Have a gentle Tuesday everyone and I will return later today.

Carol Ann

2012 exercise program

I started a new workout program this year and have recently fallen 'off the wagon' so to speak.  However, I am in better shape (exercise schedule wise) than the lady above so I will pick myself up and start again............

My NS friend Linda Power

I first met Linda Power in 1996 when the Comfort Heart Initiative was an idea only.  We have been friends ever since.

Linda son's Ryan moved to Toronto in January to work a bit before starting his Masters program so Linda came to visit him (us.)  She could not have picked a better time - summer like weather every day she was here.  We ate outside as you can see - and we ate out on many occasions believe me!

On Saturday evening we had a little party so Ryan could invite a few of his friends over to meet his mother.  Kaitlin in the picture above shares a birthday with me - albeit she is only 22 years old while I am a bit older than that as you know.  (Pictures of Ryan to follow.)

Linda and Ryan surprised us with a birthday cake.  And, after the three of us had browsed through Ashley's earlier in the day they went back (pretending to be going somewhere else) and bought a beautiful red candle holder that I had admired only an hour earlier.  An early birthday present and another surprise.

Just drove Linda to the airport for her return flight home to NS.  Linda, you are a wonderful friend.

Love

Carol Ann

Summer in March!

Ball hockey came early for Jalen this year - who knew we would enjoy summer in mid March.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I saw this on Facebook yesterday and thought it was worth sharing here on my blog as well.  This message speaks volumes - we need to listen and react.

In the Pink

This is my second most favourite pix featuring Michele McQuaid on a poster announcing her first In the Pink Fun & Fashion 2012 show being held in Halifax on Sunday April 29th. I am working on my presentation today and very much looking forward to supporting Michele. Hope to see many of my NS friends there!   My most favourite poster will be shared with you as the date gets a bit closer!

Meal time

I have never been with a baby who loves to eat more than Lexi. Certainly my son was a very picky eater as is Jalen but not Lexi.  The minute you suggest food she is off to her chair in anticipation of whatever you may be serving. She is up for anything!  Had a wonderful few days with both grandchildren and Tracey while James was out west at Big White in BC with his ski company annual trip www.justforfunskiclub.com

"Note to self"

Jalen is now using the expression "Note to self." Examples: Note to self - eat your chicken.  Note to self - 8 05 p.m. is not 8 p.m.  Note to self - You can play Wii at 8 a.m. not 7 a.m.  So funny to hear!

Sunday morning not always a good time to snap a great photo!

Finally I capture Jalen's attention.  Lexi - not so much!

Off to visit with Jalen and Lexi

I am anxious to see how much both have grown, and to see if Lexi is still holding firmly on to this bottle of scope she found in someone's stocking on Christmas morning - her favour toy at the time.

Have a gentle but wonderful weekend everyone.

Love

Carol Ann

And one more with Marthe

Sorry for cutting you half out of the photo JC - the advantage of being in charge of my own blog! 

I was sleeping in this photo so in order to cut myself out I had to cut you in half!  Still a beautiful photo of the three of you.  Thanks for sharing Judy.

love
CA

Marthe et all

This lovely lady in the top picture with me is my 87 (almost) years young friend Marthe Legault that I keep talking about.  Marthe is a 16 year Senator's ticket holder and doesn't miss a game unless absolutely necessary.

Marthe sat proudly with JC and I as we signed books. JC wrote a significant message about mental illness in my book and I was proud to introduce both mother and son to the IWD audience in Ottawa. 

Judy Charette joins us in the third picture. Do you ever take a bad picture Judy?  I think not. 

I will have more to say about Marthe closer to her birthday - on the 28th!

Love to all

Carol Ann

A picture from IWD in Ottawa last evening

Hey Judy wins the prize - she is first in with a photo!  And, I love this photo with Judy and her sisters - from the left, Linda,  Karen, Neila and Judy beside me.  Ladies thanks for spending your last-evenings-Dash with me!

Love

Carol Ann

International Women's Day - Ottawa event

I met some wonderful people last evening at the IWD celebration in Ottawa.  And, I spent a bit of quality time with friends. 

I can't name everyone here but JC Legault came with his wonderful mother Marthe Legault, his daughter Chantel and his wife Elaine. (Elaine thanks again for the gift - I am still wearing my new heart necklace.)  Judy Charette arrived with her friend Mae, her sisters Linda, Neila, Karen and Karen's husband Gary.  I am sure I am forgetting someone so forgive me.

Joy Forbes was waiting for me at the train station when I arrived and she took great care of me until the moment I left town.  I met her husband Dave and had a delightful breakfast at their home this morning with two additional gentlemen.  Three men at my breakfast table just doesn't happen!  Thanks Joy.

The organizing committee did a wonderful job arranging the entire evening.  We were entertained by the CFUW/Kanata Guitar Groovers who sang five classics befor the RCMP Miserable Ride took center stage - Oh My!  That was a very difficult act to follow.

I enjoyed myself totally - thanks Joy and everyone.

I hope to post pictures and am waiting for ...........hmmmmmmmmmmm.....for JC and Judy to forward pictures to me!

Love

Carol Ann

2004 family reunion

Not sure you will be able to see my sisters, my brother in law and I in this e'Entremont family reunion but I so love the photo!  And this is only a few from the d'Entremont families who were home for the Acadian reunion.

I blogged about the d'Entremont family in my last post and received a note asking if there was any chance I had this photo - so Daniel - here it is just for you!  Enjoy.

Love

CA

International Women's Day 2012

As I travel to Ottawa today for an International Women's day event (www.cfuw.org) I will be thinking of my mother - Mary Rose Cole (d'Entremont) and all that she did to allow me the numerous opportunities I have had in my life.

I purchased this towel at a 'd'Entremont' family reunion some years ago and I keep it handy always, simply to see her name.

The family name d'Entremont will figure prominently in my novel as will my mom's home town.

Enjoy this Tuesday and if your mother has helped you - thank her. If she has passed away imagine her sitting with my mother celebrating IWD in their own way in heaven!!

Love

Carol Ann

Popsicles make it better

Little Lexi had a flu bug last week and Popsicles make her feel so much better.This week it is Jalen's turn.   Get well soon Jalen - I am coming to visit you this Thursday!

Love

CA

Monday morning thoughts from Dr. Seuss

I haven't spent much time in my life to date trying to 'fit in.' And, when I did I soon realized I didn't 'fit in' and that was a good thing.II haven't spent much time in my life to date trying to fit in.  And, when I did try I soon realized I didn't fit in and that was okay.   We all stand out - and so we should!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

For my female friends coming to Ottawa for I.W.D. event March 6th - see you soon!

Not sure I agree that we should be compared to a tea bag but the message about strength is a good one. In particular I am thinking of the single mothers I know who are raising their children on their own, doing it all every damn day.  It's a very tough life I know but, trust me, it's all worth it in the end.  xoxoxoxo  CA

Church on Sunday...........

I like this notion and wonder if you do to.  I would love comments.

I am a Catholic but over the years have had so many concerns about my Church......I don't think I need to list them!

Ronnie out - Randy in

Game on tonight! 

All eyes will be on our new coach - Randy Carlyle. If you don't know him he lead the Anaheim Ducks to a Stanley Cup win in 2007 AND he is from Sudbury.  Who knew?  A good old Canadian boy (who lives in the USA I believe.)

I was not a fan of the "FI-RE WILSON" chants during our last home game.  Not sure there is ever a need for that much negative energy albeit some will say that is why Burke finally made the call.  I don't agree with that either.

Go Leafs Go - that's all I have to say.

CA

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

I posted the front cover of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson in an earlier blog today.  This is the back cover.

I am reading this book for the second time.  Initially I was interested in reading the book because Steve Jobs was such a huge success in life - or at least at work.

I couldn't believe some of the things I was reading the first time around thus the second reading. For example,  "There was also the issue of his hygiene.  He was still convinced, against all evidence, that his vegan diets meant that he didn't need to use a deodorant or take regular showers.....Sometimes, to relieve stress, he would soak his feet in the toilet, a practice that was not as soothing for his colleagues."

REALLY? 

Another quote that surprised me, "There was a side to him that was frighteningly cold."  Don't get me wrong there are hundreds of pages of information and stories that are delightful and enlightening but the fact that this genius was not a people person shocks me.   I went through my entire career under the assumption that, for the most part, everyone who was successful in business was indeed a 'people person.' 

Seems I was wrong.  Never too late to learn ......................

Have a great Friday.

Love
Carol Ann

What are you reading?

Santa brought Jalen lots of books to read.  Lexi chose her mom's magazines over the books she found under the tree.  Me - I received exactly the book I asked Santa for - the Steve Jobs story. More on why I wanted to read it later.............................