6 degrees apart
Friday, September 28, 2007
air-mail love
this post is slightly belated as i have been so busy lately merely trying to live life.
have you ever seen love in an envelope?
a few days ago, love arrived for me in the mail. in today's world of hurried chaos and superficial friendships, a letter in the mail is something of an extinct form of expression. why bother to fish out the pen and search in some god-forsaken places for some long-forgotten stamps when you can just send your regards with a few clicks of the finger? why pay good money to buy a hallmark when you can send an instant text message? if she saw the smile on my face as i opened the card, she will know why.
it's something that i will always have, on good days to remind me that someone loved me, on bad days to cheer me up, on bored days for me to act as a dartboard (haha!) and on busy days, to sit quietly on my desk whilst i persevere. i look up and the card smiles at me. it reminds me that someone somewhere took the effort to find a card, pen a few words of love, get hold of some stamps and by hook or by crook, made sure it reached the hands of mr postman. all that effort for me. i'm beaming with pride.
no dear, thank YOU for being in my life.
have you ever seen love in an envelope?
a few days ago, love arrived for me in the mail. in today's world of hurried chaos and superficial friendships, a letter in the mail is something of an extinct form of expression. why bother to fish out the pen and search in some god-forsaken places for some long-forgotten stamps when you can just send your regards with a few clicks of the finger? why pay good money to buy a hallmark when you can send an instant text message? if she saw the smile on my face as i opened the card, she will know why.
it's something that i will always have, on good days to remind me that someone loved me, on bad days to cheer me up, on bored days for me to act as a dartboard (haha!) and on busy days, to sit quietly on my desk whilst i persevere. i look up and the card smiles at me. it reminds me that someone somewhere took the effort to find a card, pen a few words of love, get hold of some stamps and by hook or by crook, made sure it reached the hands of mr postman. all that effort for me. i'm beaming with pride.
no dear, thank YOU for being in my life.
Monday, September 17, 2007
For the not so new men!
WICOE (Women In Charge Of Everything) is proud to announce the opening of its EVENING CLASSES FOR MEN!OPEN TO MEN ONLY
ALL ARE WELCOMENote: due to the complexity and level of difficulty, each course will accept a maximum of eight participants The course covers two days, and topics covered in this course include:
DAY ONE HOW TO FILL ICE CUBE TRAYSStep by step guide with slide presentation
TOILET ROLLS- DO THEY GROW ON THE HOLDERS?Roundtable discussion
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAUNDRY BASKET & FLOOR Practicing with hamper (Pictures and graphics)
DISHES & SILVERWARE; DO THEY LEVITATE/FLY TO KITCHEN SINK OR DISHWASHER BY THEMSELVES?Debate among a panel of experts. REMOTE CONTROLLosing the remote control - Help line and support groups
LEARNING HOW TO FIND THINGSStarting with looking in the right placeinstead of turning the house upside down while screaming - Open forum
DAY TWOEMPTY MILK CARTONS; DO THEY BELONG IN THE FRIDGE OR THE BIN? Group discussion and role play
HEALTH WATCH; BRINGING HER FLOWERS IS NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH PowerPoint presentationREAL MEN ASK FOR DIRECTIONS WHEN LOSTReal life testimonial from the one man who did
IS IT GENETICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT QUIETLY AS SHE PARALLEL PARKS?Driving simulation
LIVING WITH ADULTS; BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEENYOUR MOTHER AND YOUR PARTNER Online class and role playing
HOW TO BE THE IDEAL SHOPPING COMPANIONRelaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques
REMEMBERING IMPORTANT DATES& CALLING WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATEBring your calendar or PDA to class
GETTING OVER IT; LEARNING HOW TO LIVE WITH BEING WRONG ALL THE TIMEIndividual counselors available
ALL ARE WELCOMENote: due to the complexity and level of difficulty, each course will accept a maximum of eight participants The course covers two days, and topics covered in this course include:
DAY ONE HOW TO FILL ICE CUBE TRAYSStep by step guide with slide presentation
TOILET ROLLS- DO THEY GROW ON THE HOLDERS?Roundtable discussion
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAUNDRY BASKET & FLOOR Practicing with hamper (Pictures and graphics)
DISHES & SILVERWARE; DO THEY LEVITATE/FLY TO KITCHEN SINK OR DISHWASHER BY THEMSELVES?Debate among a panel of experts. REMOTE CONTROLLosing the remote control - Help line and support groups
LEARNING HOW TO FIND THINGSStarting with looking in the right placeinstead of turning the house upside down while screaming - Open forum
DAY TWOEMPTY MILK CARTONS; DO THEY BELONG IN THE FRIDGE OR THE BIN? Group discussion and role play
HEALTH WATCH; BRINGING HER FLOWERS IS NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH PowerPoint presentationREAL MEN ASK FOR DIRECTIONS WHEN LOSTReal life testimonial from the one man who did
IS IT GENETICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT QUIETLY AS SHE PARALLEL PARKS?Driving simulation
LIVING WITH ADULTS; BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEENYOUR MOTHER AND YOUR PARTNER Online class and role playing
HOW TO BE THE IDEAL SHOPPING COMPANIONRelaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques
REMEMBERING IMPORTANT DATES& CALLING WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATEBring your calendar or PDA to class
GETTING OVER IT; LEARNING HOW TO LIVE WITH BEING WRONG ALL THE TIMEIndividual counselors available
Friday, September 14, 2007
HAPPY almost BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Happy almost Birthday to you
Happy almost Birthday dear Nancy
Happy almost Birthday to yoooooooooouuuuu
Alternative:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ON SUNNY SUNDAY
Happy Birthday to you on saucy Sunday
Happy Birthday dear Nancy with creamy sundaes
Happy Birthday to yoooooooooouuuuu
Have a really fantastically great second, minute, hour, day, month, year, forever!..........zzzzzzz
Much love,
F
Ps this in case I don’t have internet access on the day! Better early than late!
Happy almost Birthday to you
Happy almost Birthday dear Nancy
Happy almost Birthday to yoooooooooouuuuu
Alternative:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ON SUNNY SUNDAY
Happy Birthday to you on saucy Sunday
Happy Birthday dear Nancy with creamy sundaes
Happy Birthday to yoooooooooouuuuu
Have a really fantastically great second, minute, hour, day, month, year, forever!..........zzzzzzz
Much love,
F
Ps this in case I don’t have internet access on the day! Better early than late!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Neighbours in the UK
Council tax re-evaluers want to charge us more if we live in a nice area. That ought to mean discounts for those of us who live in rough areas. We have a huge council house in our street. The extended family is run by a grumpy old woman with a pack of fierce dogs.
Her car isn't taxed or insured, and doesn't even have a number plate, but the police still do nothing. Her bad tempered old man is famous for upsetting foreigners with racist comments. A shopkeeper blames him for ordering the murder of his son and his son's girlfriend, but nothing has been proved yet. All their kids have broken marriages except the youngest, who everyone thought was gay.
The two grandsons are meant to be in the Army but are always seen out in nightclubs. The family's odd antics are always in the papers. They are out of control. ...........
Honestly - who'd live near Buckingham Palace?
Her car isn't taxed or insured, and doesn't even have a number plate, but the police still do nothing. Her bad tempered old man is famous for upsetting foreigners with racist comments. A shopkeeper blames him for ordering the murder of his son and his son's girlfriend, but nothing has been proved yet. All their kids have broken marriages except the youngest, who everyone thought was gay.
The two grandsons are meant to be in the Army but are always seen out in nightclubs. The family's odd antics are always in the papers. They are out of control. ...........
Honestly - who'd live near Buckingham Palace?
Monday, September 03, 2007
with love, the battle can be won
i averted looking into the eyes of the people in the room, picked a spot and walked straight to it. comfortably sitted in the corner of the room, slowly.... i looked around.
the people there looked like any other......like you and me. a little thin perhaps, some of them. then again, why shouldn't they look like us? after all, cancer is not selective in its choice of victims. it is a little humbling, and a little depressing, to know that all the people in the room, save for the family members accompanying them and the staffs, are all cancer patients. even that young boy, who had a whole bright future ahead of him...until cancer struck him.
overheard snippets of conversation...."yes, but to hear that it has spread.......", "....i rather take only one week's medication. i need to find a place to hide these medicines from the children."..... it leaves a sour taste in the mouth and a heavy rock in my heart. :-( people like you and me, with families who love them so, who will be lost if they leave....
they all have that same determined and courageous glint in their eyes. some a little beaten, some a little tired, but all with the same confidence and acceptance in their stride. by comparison, i look even more lost. perhaps they are doing a very good disguise of hiding their fear?
my glance rested on an old lady. she was accompanied by an old man. he looked strong, not in physical strength but in his soul. he looked like he knew what he was doing, where he was going and why he was staying. i'm glad that she has a companion to walk down this long and frightening road with her, to be her pillar of strength when she falters.
some came with an army of family members. blessed are them, to be surrounded with so much love at this time of need. i'm quite sure that love makes a difference in fighting this battle.
others came alone, sitting quietly for their turn at the chemo machine. physically, i'm sure they can manage it. however, mentally, wouldn't it be better if they knew that there was someone out there waiting for them, someone who cared whether they won the battle, someone who will be devastated if they gave up? where was that someone in their life right now? slaving behind an office desk? tied to commitments by ball and chain?
anger bubbled within me. i looked away.
the people there looked like any other......like you and me. a little thin perhaps, some of them. then again, why shouldn't they look like us? after all, cancer is not selective in its choice of victims. it is a little humbling, and a little depressing, to know that all the people in the room, save for the family members accompanying them and the staffs, are all cancer patients. even that young boy, who had a whole bright future ahead of him...until cancer struck him.
overheard snippets of conversation...."yes, but to hear that it has spread.......", "....i rather take only one week's medication. i need to find a place to hide these medicines from the children."..... it leaves a sour taste in the mouth and a heavy rock in my heart. :-( people like you and me, with families who love them so, who will be lost if they leave....
they all have that same determined and courageous glint in their eyes. some a little beaten, some a little tired, but all with the same confidence and acceptance in their stride. by comparison, i look even more lost. perhaps they are doing a very good disguise of hiding their fear?
my glance rested on an old lady. she was accompanied by an old man. he looked strong, not in physical strength but in his soul. he looked like he knew what he was doing, where he was going and why he was staying. i'm glad that she has a companion to walk down this long and frightening road with her, to be her pillar of strength when she falters.
some came with an army of family members. blessed are them, to be surrounded with so much love at this time of need. i'm quite sure that love makes a difference in fighting this battle.
others came alone, sitting quietly for their turn at the chemo machine. physically, i'm sure they can manage it. however, mentally, wouldn't it be better if they knew that there was someone out there waiting for them, someone who cared whether they won the battle, someone who will be devastated if they gave up? where was that someone in their life right now? slaving behind an office desk? tied to commitments by ball and chain?
anger bubbled within me. i looked away.
