one more step in a greener direction

I love cycling. It's another one of those win - win things ... I get exercise, sunshine and fresh air, while NOT using a gasoline powered vehicle for my transportation needs.

One of my goals this summer was to find a way of being able to get groceries while on my bike. I new what the answer was, and have been watching for my opportunity to put things in place. A little while ago opportunity knocked, when I saw that bike trailers were 40% off at Canadian Tire.

By the way - if you ever get the chance to see the movie "Who Killed The Electric Car" - I'd recommend it. After seeing it, my view of gasoline and automobiles changed completely ...

Today I am off to get groceries by bicycle.

It's not a huge step to reduce my carbon footprint, but the way I see it, even smaller steps can be effective ... as long as they are in the right direction.

sharing good music

I was a deejay for 30 years before moving to Ottawa. During those years I played a huge range of gigs : Pow - Wows, Wedding and sports Socials, School Dances and Sock- hops, Family reunions, Birthday Parties, Night clubs, Afternoon Jamborees, Singles Dances and more ...

I have fond memories of various functions ... functions at Fort Gibralter, The Winnipeg Art Gallery, The Hotel Fort Gallery, The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba's House ... country socials out near Brandon ... school Graduations and barbecues ... many fun and wonderful celebrations.

Some deejays weren't fond of doing weddings, but I didn't mind. They usually involved a room full of love, with toasts and well wishes ... celebrating with friends and family. The spirit at such an event can often be uplifting and joyful.

After moving to Ottawa I explored the possibility of continuing deejaying, but it didn't end up happening. One of the reasons may have been that I really had hoped to find a company that had progressed beyond CDs. I was unsuccessful in my quest, and perhaps it's just as well. While I miss the warm smiles and packed dance floors, I don't miss the late nights ...

During the summer I have been driving with Performer Transportation for a couple of Ottawa's music festivals, and always bring a couple of CDs with me to play in the vehicles. I love when the musicians I am driving around begin to ask about the music I'm playing.

The artists I drive are truly a captive audience, and it's a wonderful opportunity to pick their brains about musical experiences, stories and insights. It's also an opportunity to inspire and entertain.

In a sense I still deejay. My audiences are just much, much smaller. They may be people in my car or the guests at a pot luck dinner.

I can't help but want to share good things ...

Pancakes

July was a busy crazy wonderful month ... Jazz Festival / Blues Fest / Two trips to Toronto / A weekend in Picton ... Haven't blogged for a while ...

Janice and I had something for breakfast this morning that we've never eaten together before.

We've been together for three years, and this is the first time she's made pancakes for us. They were great ... whole wheat / ground flax /cinnamon / honey ... very yummy. We wouldn't have had pancakes had it not been for watching TV this morning. We had been watching a sit com that mentioned pancakes about 8 times, and next thing you know- we are having pancakes for breakfast.

Nutritious & Delicious!

August will be less hectic ... The Folk Festival is coming up / cycling / volleyball /hikes & walks / domestic projects ... before you know it, it will be September and we will be off to Saskatoon and Winnipeg for a visit

: )

Goals For The Upcoming Year

A week from now I will be celebrating another birthday.

What should I focus on for the next twelve months?

• To be a supportive, loving partner
• To be a positive role model / influence at every opportunity
• To honour my body with nutritious dietary choices
• To remain healthy, vibrant and active
• To be happy, positive, friendly and loving
• To be reliable, trustworthy and helpful
• To improve, learn, grow and explore
• To enjoy and appreciate the many good things in life
• To remain productive, prosperous and an asset to many
• To cultivate new friendships
• To strive for compassion, understanding and patience
• To seek out win - win situations

I believe that these goals are worthy and attainable

I look forward to the year to come ...
it will bring wonderful things

rules to be happy

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.

Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.

Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is
arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.

'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!

Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank.
I am still depositing.

'Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.