The End of Summer

Yesterday we were on our way to the cottage heading up Hwy 1 through the Canyon. It's beautiful drive and we love it. We had gotten past Hope and through the first couple of tunnels, the traffic slowed down to a stop. Cars coming towards us were telling people to turn around, there was a bad accident and it'd be at least 4 hours before the road would re-open. We turned around and when we got back to Hope the line-up to use the Coq was bumper to bumper so we came home.

We were able to attend the Retirement/Birthday party of our friend S. so that was nice. We had felt bad that we weren't going because of it being on the long weekend so went and had a nice time and got to meet some of her friends and spend time with them.

Today we went to church and it was nice to be back after missing most of the summer services.


After wards we went for lunch and then to the beach. Gotta love the beach on a summer's day.


Lots of people were enjoying the day as well. We've had such lousy weather this summer it was nice to have a clear sunny day for a change.


We had just finished our ice cream when I saw my former landlords from Abbotsford out with their kids. It was great to see them again. We had enjoyed sharing a home together for about 2 and a half years and I hadn't seen them since I moved back to Surrey in 2004.

I'm off until Wednesday so I can spend some time with my cousins from Holland. Then back to DART'n................peace out.

11 People On a Rope

Eleven people were hanging on a rope, under a helicopter, 10 men and 1 woman. The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one had to leave, otherwise they were all going to fall. They weren't able to choose that person until the woman gave a very touching speech.

She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because, as a woman, she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids or for men in general, and was used to always making sacrifices with little in return.

As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping ..........

It's been a quiet week around here...not a lot going on. Isn't it supposed to be summer though? I've been wearing jeans and a jacket to work at night, aren't I supposed to be wearing shorts? Yikes! Not impressed people!

We're off to the cottage bright and early tomorrow morning (yawn). I haven't been there very much this year so I'm looking forward to it. Maggie is very excited. It is HER place after all, she just lets us use it, as in, drive her back and forth.

Next week my cousins from Holland will be here for a few days. They'll have seen the Rockies by then and will have a cuzillion pics to show us. They've been here before and stayed with us for a week. Well seasoned travellers and a joy to have in our home. Because I grew up without any extended family around I really enjoy my time with relatives.

Have a safe and peaceful long weekend. Happy Labour Day or Labor Day for you 'mericans. By the way, that Barack is some speaker. What a fabulous speech! I was very impressed. Having a robot in leadership in Canada pales by comparison.

The Olympics

I love watching the Olympics. Love them. I watch sports that I would never otherwise watch just because, well, it's the Olympics and we have a Canadian participating! Like who knew we had a Gold medalist woman wrestler from a small town in BC before the Olympics? Not me! Good on her!

I'm absolutely fascinated with diving. I can't imagine spinning around that many times in such a short period of time heading downwards all at the same time. Unless I was a gymnast of course, then it would seem easy. Easy peasy. Like running across the floor and all of a sudden springing in the air and somersaulting oh about 2 and a half times before landing on my 2 feet and not hopping. hopping bad.

It looks so easy when you're sitting on your couch with your remote in your hand doesn't it? Of course I think there should be Olympics for the Common Person as well. Things that I can relate to. Like remote control flipping between channels for example. Laundry is another. Like how fast can you switch clothes from the washer to the dryer? It's an art in our household. Or making a bed.

Whatever the sport, I am a big supporter. I also love the Special Olympics. Now THAT is fun. I drive a group back and forth to SO practice on Thursday nights and they're good. Every week they tell me that. J, I was GOOD tonight. I'm never sure if that relates to distance or speed or behavior.

It's all good. In the hood. Back to the Olympics. As you were.

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well- being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.



5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.




7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.



8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.



10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so. ALWAYS!



~Take a moment today to thank God for your pets.Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God's critters~

Dinner Cruise

We went on a fabulous dinner cruise last night around Vancouver harbour. We left from Granville Island and sailed up the coast of West Vancouver and past Lighthouse Park.

We had done this cruise before but it was on a foggy October evening and we didn't venture outside that night.
Last night however the weather was perfect. Vancouver at its finest. We got a guided tour of the coastline and of the Hollywood homes.

Here's Oprah's (on the right)...notice the 2 O's in the front, a signature of hers.

We were hoping to see Robert Redford come out of his home (left)and wave at us but I guess he was having drinks with Barbara Streisand who lives just down the street. It's just the way we were.

Vancouver's a beautiful city and there's so much to see that even if you've lived here all your life it never gets old. Although some of us do. Not mentioning any names.

Here's to sunny nights in Vancouver and good times with great friends.
Peace out.

Honestly...I Don't Make Up This Stuff !!!

Due to declining sales, next Gaither video will be A Wal-Mart Homecoming


BENTONVILLE, Ark. — As its target audience slowly but surely departs for their own heavenly homecoming, Bill Gaither’s Homecoming video series has dropped in sales. Now Gaither has struck an Eagles-style partnership with Wal-Mart to produce "Always: A Wal-Mart Homecoming."

"The combination of gospel favorites and a celebration of low prices is a welcome theme to our audience," says Gaither. "For believers, coming to Wal-Mart is like coming home."

The new sing-along DVD — the 189th in the Gaither Homecoming series — was filmed live at the flagship Wal-Mart store in Bentonville, Ark., on stage in what is normally the women’s clothing section. Footage of people singing is intercut with slow-motion footage of Wal-Mart associates serving customers with a smile, and of people shopping and finding good deals. The songs were chosen to fit Wal-Mart’s message of good brands at affordable prices, and include standards such as "Something Beautiful," "We All Need Saving," "I’m Free," "Mine, All Mine" and "Redeemed."

What remains of the Gaither Homecoming crew will tour and hold Wal-Mart Homecomings in stores nationwide. "This could be the last and best concert you’re ever part of," Gaither promises. •

http://larknews.com/july_2008/

This Is What You Get

Quit trying to fool me people. Don't you hate it when Scientists get things all messed up? Enough already! Like life isn't already messed up. Poor little zonkee.

Takin' Care of 'Bidness'

A tale from the DARTside

One day I was driving a client home from his day program. I'll call him R. I had often driven him home and everyday was the same. Get on the bus and say "who is it" and I'd tell him my name so he knew who his driver was. I drove him home often and that's about all he would ever say.

One day I had driven him home only to be back at his doorstep the next day to pick him up. I got to the door and the person who answered said, "R will be out in a minute". So I waited. And waited. And waited. And just about the time I was about to give up on him and knock again R came outside.

I said "good morning" to him and he said, "Oh Hi J, it's you again" and got on the bus. After he was seated on the bus he said, "You know J, I had to spend quite abit of time in the washroom this morning so I'm sorry if you had to wait for me."

I said, "no problem R, sometimes in the morning we have to 'take care of business' and left it at that. R. never said a word. 10 minutes went by and we were just about to his drop-off location and all of a sudden he blurted out:

"That's what I was doing alright, 'taking care of bidness'.

You gotta love 'em. So real.

The Zen of Sarcasm

I stole this from my blogger friend Val...too good not to pass along. My sarcasm has gotten me in trouble before and I even belong to a Group on FB that's proud of Sarcasm, gotta love it. Enjoy!

~ Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

~ It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

~ Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

~ Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

~ If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

~ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

~ Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

~ Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.

~ Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

~ The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

~ There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

~ Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

~ Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

~ Never miss a good chance to shut up.

You Know Who You Are.......

My computer is down with a virus (cough, cough, sniffle, sniffle, achoo!) so I've pulled out one out of Chris's closet while she's away and I can go and get mine fixed.

In the meantime, I don't have any of your websites in my list of faves and so you know who you are...send me a link so we can keep in touch k?

I don't like losing touch with people.........help keep me connected!

Thanks!

J.

QB

Today I heard that someone I cared for in a group home passed away today. I'll call him QB. He was a client who was 'very difficult' to work with. QB was the first autistic client I have ever had. His autism was bigger than all of us.

Autism is difficult to say the least. More for the person suffering with it than anyone else. QB was often in a lot of pain. He had emotional scars from his years in an institution and they were scars that never left.

My favorite QB story:

One Sunday we were attending church and QB loved church. There was something in going to church that touched QB's spirit and often when he was the most agitated he would calm down being around God's people.

It was Communion Sunday and at this particular church the juice and the bread were left on tables spread around the auditorium and people could come up to the table and take their juice and bread whenever they wished to do so during the service. Kinda like a self-service.

QB had no capacity in himself to go and serve himself communion. It's just not something he could have ever done. He was sitting in one of the chairs and a worker who had come along to church said, 'i think i'll go get QB communion'. But what he didn't know was that his wife had the same idea and she had gone up to the communion table and gotten juice and bread for QB. Because J, the worker went to a different place in the auditorium they both landed at the same time beside QB wanting to serve him communion.

QB had had a rough week and it was by anyone's account a challenge to get him to go to church and to sit still. But there he was, sitting still and not causing any disruption.

J and his wife both had the sacraments in their hands and realized they had both gotten the same thing for QB so they did what any God fearing Christians would do. They served him twice. After the second time J's wife said, 'you're going to get a double blessing today QB'.

And that's just what happened. QB sat quietly and took what was offered to him. And then he started to cry. The cry turned into full blown sobs and soon he was convulsing in tears. I've never seen anything like it. Crying was foreign to QB, I'm not sure he had ever done it before or if he ever did it again.

Something in QB's spirit responded that day to the unconditional love offered to him through a couple of servants of the Lord. God met him in his deepest need and for that day he was at peace.

Rest in peace QB, you're finally home to rest. Jesus is welcoming you with open arms and letting you know it's ok now, you're home.