A Nap a Day...

I've been working the grave yard shift now for 2 months, and I must admit it's the hardest thing I think I've done to my body and mind since getting really drunk at a high school dance. At first the thought of trying to sleep through the day while the sun was shining was a HUGE adjustment to my mind. I just love being out in the sun riding my bike down to the lake and taking in all the sights. I stressed over thoughts of becoming a night owl, and living like a hermit, or a field mouse scurrying around in the dark never to be seen. My internal clock made me feel like I was in the twilight zone most of the time struggling for clear thoughts. I tried forcing myself to go to bed as soon as I got home, so I could get up and enjoy the day, but that didn't work out I would toss and turn for hours. Now like most people I come home have something to eat, and drink(neighbours got to love a guy with a whisky in his hand at 7:30 am) watch a little TV, or sit out in the yard then hit the hay. This seems to be working out better; although, I only seem to take cat naps of about 4 hours at a time. Now it's dawned on me, that's the secret! just sleep when your tiered no matter what the hour of day it is. I might only sleep for 4 hours at a time, but it's a very deep sleep, and I do feel refreshed. I came home today at 7:10 am right after work did all my running around paying bills, washed the car, shopping, and that's the other great thing first thing in the morning there's never any lineups! I had a few drinks and a great bar b que and lights out. I think it was about 2:30 pm, and I awoke around 9:30pm. I still felt a little tiered, so I went back to bed at 10:30 pm and got up at 2:15 am. I'm doing laundry right now, again no lineup. I had something to eat, and have time to play on my pc, and it's only 5:35 am. I have to go out today later in the afternoon, so I'll take a nap sometime this morning, and feel refreshed through out the day. I don't hear any noise at this time of day, trucks, cars, people, so it's very peaceful, and I like it like that because my job is in a very noisy atmosphere; although, the work load is less than through the day time. I was considering giving up the night shift, but I think I may have found the secret to surviving...NAPS! Take one..you'll feel great!

Happy Fathers Day

Another year has past, and here I am reflecting on years gone by. Today is Father's Day, and I'm so appreciative for all my parents have done. I know not all families get along, but when they do there's nothing better. Unfortunately, there is no manual for parenting it's a live and learn as you go experience. Some understand that better than others, and I'm so fortunate to have had two parents that have figured out how to do it very well. I guess we all hope, or expect parents to be generous, loving, thoughtful, and provide their children with unconditional love, and provide them with a sense of reassurance that they will always be there when ever you need them. My parents have always given me and my siblings that sense, and we appreciate each other as a family. I'm the youngest of five, and we've all gone on to have families of our own which has directed us to areas in our lives that we don't all live just a stones through away any more. As our lives get busier it seems to take a "special event" to get us all together like, weddings, funerals, or Christmas, but that's the thing with a close nit family even though some of us live hours away, or we don't see each other for months we still feel very close. I'm fortunate to live close to my parents, so when I'm invited over I know I can get updated on all that's been going on with my family members because we all check in with "Mom and Dad" regularly. I never really gave much thought as a youngster as to how fortunate I was being raised in this environment like most teens I didn't know any different I just figured everyone lived like this, but as you get older you can't help but to look back on " The Old Days" which has made me realize just how fortunate I've been. The saying that you don't always appreciate what you've got till it's gone is sometimes a very sobering experience for some people, and that's why I'm reflecting today because I do appreciate all that my parents have done, and I can only hope that I will be as loving and caring a parent to my own children as they've been to me.

It's All Over Now......Or Is It?

On June 10, 2007 the last Sopranos episode was shown, or was it? For the last 7 years this show has ruled the airwaves, and most peoples lives on Sunday nights. I know for myself and two son's for the past couple of years we enjoyed getting together to watch our favorite show. I don't think I've enjoyed a TV show as much since "Dallas", or perhaps "Deadwood." For me it's the acting, and no holds scripting that adds a certain "realism" to the show because I'm not big on fantasy type programs, or reading material. My first thought at the end was "are you kidding me?...that's it? but then I decided to watch it again, and then realized the brilliance of the episode. Like most I was expecting a big blaze of glory shoot- em up, but no that didn't happen. Half expecting Tony to be shot at any minute... again never happened, or did it? The ending has left the door wide open for spin offs, or perhaps a final 2 hour special that could answer a lot of questions. I never thought I would fall victim to another TV show after Dallas because you start to alter your day to day activities to make time to watch this show, but that's what made it extra special for me. Not only was I making time for the show, but it helped me realize I was making time for family. The Sopranos always made reference throughout the episodes the importance of family, and not just "the mob family" but the importance of spending time together. Today most families are so busy working "outside" the home there never seems time to work on the "inside home." Our society is geared to life in the fast lane with ready made meals, and micro wave ovens, drive throughs, "Mom's in the work place" it has created the "sit down family meal time" a memory of the past. I'm hoping for my own family that we continue to make time for each other. As Tony Soprano would say" it's important to make time for family."

It Huffed and it Puffed

It huffed and it puffed, and all but blew my house down. These pics were taken only two days after we had a severe storm that hit Southern Ontario. I didn't hear of any official tornado touch downs, but the winds sure came up fast. Once the rain started the winds completely calmed down. This is the bicycle path that I always ride down to the lake, and as you can see this tree is of substantial size. The photos don't give an accurate depth, but I would say this tree is four feet thick across at the base. This was the biggest on the path, but there were a few more down along the way. I'm sure it won't take the city crews to long to have it all cleaned up as you can see by the beach shot the park keepers were working hard to clean it up, and the weather today is perfect for a day at the beach.