Giving A Helping Hand ... One Brush Stroke At A Time

So, today I spent the day painting a house for Toronto Habitat for Humanity with volunteers from my work, and others. I've painted rooms galore at home, with and for friends and family, but this somehow was different.

It's one thing to paint walls and cupboards in your own home, or those of your friends or family ... but to do it for someone else, someone who is embarking on a new life and you are helping in the leg up that they are being given by this organization is an entirely different thing.

You can support Habitat for Humanity corporately through the company you work for … big or small ... or as an individual by registering on their website (I’ll add the link when I figure out how to do so here ... I’m still a blog virgin after all)

Spend a day painting, erecting walls, installing bathrooms, roofing, bricklaying ... cleaning up the site, finishing basements, installing vents & furnaces ... whatever you can ... it takes no special skills .. EVERYONE is a volunteer under one paid site foreman. After all within every tribe there has to be one chief.

The Jays Care Foundation was the impetus that provided me this wonderful opportunity. I will encourage everyone I know to contribute to such a whole heartedly and unreservedly deserving endeavour. One day of your time cannot be too much to ask.

We spend far too much "me time" on selfish pursuits; things that are completely beneath us. Our time could be much better spent assisting others. We have seen cataclysmic events in the last several months, nay years. We have stepped up to give aid to our fellow man through hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; to name only those "acts of nature".

I won't even get into the devastation that we inflict on our own kind. I do not mean just those in our own neighbourhood, culture, country, heritage, gender or faith ... I mean EVERYWHERE ... I mean MANKIND ... and yes, as a female component of humanity I have no trouble referring to us all by that word. It is not a sexist term in any way to me. I don't feel that my reproductive organs differentiate me from the other half of us. It takes two to tango after all ... otherwise it is merely a solo performance. We are the sum of ALL of our parts, X and Y chromosomes. We are firstly, individual with all the choices to do as we wish ... but ultimately, I feel we are part of a one society ... WE ARE ONE!

If the global economic crisis that we have all dealt with in the last little while has taught us nothing ... it should be that WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER! All of us are connected, tied, dependent upon and responsible for each other. There has to be a balance somewhere … or we are all going to be dragged down.

Big or Small … Male or Female … Rich or Poor, or somewhere in between … Black, White, Brown or any other shade you define yourself with … Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindi, Buddhist, Wicca and every other faith or belief you choose to live by … again ... need I say it ... WE ARE ONE .. And should act as one!

The herd is only as fast or as strong as its slowest or weakest member … the others of us should strive to protect and uphold these … for as we know, it takes only a single grain of rice to tip the scales one way or the other. It is not always the mightiest that survive and prosper!

So, give your neighbour a hand with their groceries; Offer to cut the lawn or shovel the driveway/sidewalk for the couple next door; every hand you extend in service to another may or may not be reciprocated; but in the long run can only serve the greater good.

After all … why else are we here, on this rock ... from the smallest cell to the greatest evolved minds of us all … You need only look around … to find your reason.

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Shakespeare is Everywhere ...

Like everyone I know, I studied the works of William Shakespeare in high school. Not everyone studies the same ones of course. It all depends on the teacher you have, and the particular ciriculum of the grade, the school you went to. They are of course timeless ... and in the dissection of His works one learns a small lesson in those timeless tales ... in each and every story. Life is as you make it, pretend as you would ... You are the maker of your own happiness ... It IS that simple!

The tragic lovers in Romeo and Juliet ... The not so untameable heart in Taming of the Shrew ... The irrepessible and unpredictable love in Much Ado About Nothing ...

Sadly (or fortunately) we do not live in a world as simple, or complicated, as those that the Bard spun in his tales. Although it may seem those times were simple and easy for some, for others ... not so much. In every age everyone has troubles, trials, tribulations regardless of your standing, income bracket or familial connections.

Love, however, as the Beatles so aptly say ... Is All We Need!

Love of your family and friends ... That is what matters most of all. Those people are the ones that you can count on at any point in your life.

In all honesty ... I can't really speak from experience ... I have never really had "the great love of my life" .... Like everyone, I have had relationships but none to last the ages .... who knows maybe he's still out there ... waiting for me to wake up! Sleeping Beauty that we all believe we are ... waiting for our Prince.

Ok .. Ok .. I admit it ... I'm closet romantic! My close friends would know it to be true ... and those only on the periphery wouldn't buy it in me; Not even rent it ... Ice running through the veins and all ... We are all the sum of the many masks that we wear. I have a whole closet full ... how many do you have?

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women are merely players

Stay tuned for the next Act :D
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Is Life like a Pink Panther movie?

No one really gets away with the "perfect crime" planned or otherwise opportunistic. Someone always takes the wrap.

Its 2:30am and I'm watching the Pink Panther on CBC .. I will say first off ... I absolutely adore Sir David Niven in each and every thing I've seen him in. From The Charge of of Light Brigade to the the Prisoner of Zenda to The Guns of Navarone to No Deposit No Return and lastly the Pink Panter movies. I'll admit that I have not seen all his movies but in all honesty, I love him none the less.

Most especially because, in my humble opinion, he looks like, or reminded me of my grandfather! Lorne Gotfried Richards ... suave and handsome like Sir David Niven. I don't know if my siblings shared the same opinion of Grandpa Lorne as I ... but in all honesty it doesn't matter. Like anyone else, my memories are my own.

My mom had an absolutely beautiful poem that completely epitomized the essence of my gradfather that was read at his funeral ... Well actually I cannot recall if it was actually read at the funeral or at the reception... In all honesty, I couldn't get through it without crying ... I don't have it at this very moment on this computer but I'll find it soon and post it here. It is so very powerful and stunning; one of those passages or songs that you can't help but get emotional about. You know that song or psalm ... And he will raise you up, on eagles' wings ...

I really didn't mean to leave you hanging .. just wasn't thinking past the David Niven/Grandpa Lorne memory. Sorry ...

Let's take it on the arches .... catch up later :D

Unchartered Waters

This is all new territory for me. I'm a virgin in the blog-sphere of life. It seems everyone and their brother has a blog now a days .. my sister has one too ... and while I'm not really one for following the crowd too closely I figured I may as well add my opinions to those of the masses.

In this age of "everyone is entitled to my opinion" .. perhaps one more won't make too many ripples. One could opine that we are nothing but the ripples we cause in the ponds of the lives of those we touch. Wow .. kinda deep for a beginning. I know, I'll try to keep it lighter later, perhaps. One never knows what truths lie behind the facade of the observer.

I, of course, like many, share my opinions freely with my friends and family. And of course, as in many families, they aren't always welcome or well-timed. Great thing about family though .. they still love you .. regardless of your opinions. Well at least in my family. They are amazing; As are my friends; which are of course an extension of my family. Those parts of your life that you choose as opposed to those chosen for you, or fated to you. You can't choose your family of course, but in the end they are yours. They love you, they accept you for all your faults, quirks, hang ups, and the plethora of mistakes and accomplishments you have achieved. Given all those I know, I would choose mine ... like my world .. they know me there and accept me, and for the most part the sun shines on me as it should for the Leo that I am, sun sign and all.
Oh, and we laugh ... alot ... at each other and with each other.
Because after all ... if its not fun .. why bother?

Not all stuff with family is funny of course ... but I'm not going to be airing all kinds of fights and conflicts here ... In all honesty, other than not doing that .. I really have no clue what will happen here... Kinda like life huh? However I'm also looking forward to this new adventure. Let's just hope we all have a bit of fun with it. I know I will.

Stay tuned readers ... I'll be back later
Gotta take it on the arches .. ciao

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