GELISA S BLOG

The Poor Louisiana

2010-05-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

It's terrible what's happening in the Gulf of Mexico. BP officials have done everything to "not kill the well". Currently BP is already spending approximately $ 6 million a day to find and implement solutions. The spill has so far cost 625 million dollars to the oil. How many barrels of oil were spilled from the explosion of the platform in April. We can not rely on figures from BP, which has also acknowledged having underestimated the quantities of crude lost. But there is nothing there, nothing can kill BP, which owns black gold can not die. For example, Exxon is still on track, despite some hard-to following the shipwreck of the Exxon Valdez.

Can we quantify the environmental consequences of this disaster? The Louisiana bayous and beaches are starting to be hit by the oil spill. Some say that the recolonisation of fauna and flora could extend over a period of 25 years. What do they wait to kill the BP well. In addition, the hurricanes season arrives, the oil is still not recovered and the leak still not blocked.

I'm very sorry for these poor people of Louisiana, did they need it after what they went through with Katrina. I'm afraid the only industry that will remain is the music, music that expresses the sadness and hard times.

The spill in the Gulf of Mexico was seen from the air, but never under water.
Une équipe de Good Morning America a plongé avec Philippe Cousteau Jr., le petit-fils de Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

VERSION FRANCAISE DE CE BILLET: Pauvre Louisiane

MAGIC JACK

2010-05-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

It is done, I got rid of Bell Canada. I procured a Magic Jack device. It is around $ 60.00 with the purchase including $ 10.00 + taxes for a local phone number. The purchase included the service for one year. Once installed, it only cost $ 20.00 per year to call toll free in North America + $ 10.00/an for the local number. The device connects to a computer's USB port and includes a telephone jack.

I think it only works on Internet service via a telephone line, not on cable internet. My internet service provider is Colba.net and they provide a "dry loop" for my internet connection. The dry loop allows me to use a Magic Jack device.

I'm no expert, but the site of Magic Jack Canada will surely give you more information: http://www.themagicjack.ca/howitworks.php

With Colba and a MagicJack, it will cost me around $ 40.00 per month for high speed internet and the telephone line, including unlimited long distance calls. It is a realy good deal.

I talked on the phone all night, the sound is very good, it's just like a real phone but it is an Internet connection. Here is an interesting alternative for those who are tired of Bell telephone services.

VERSION FRANCAISE DE CE BILLET: MAGIC JACK

Japanese bookbinding

2010-04-14T13:26:00.001-07:00

Hello all

I'm doing a bit of archiving and classification in my home papers. I was looking for a way to link some documents and I did not want to pay. So I did a search on the Web and I have found this example bookbinding, easy to do and nothing to pay. Who has not some cardboard, some ribbon , printed paper and glue already on hand. The explanations on these video are easy to follow, hopefully that will give you ideas.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

This other video shows the same type of binding with a ribbon as a tether.

Have fun!

Walk in the Park

2010-02-05T18:48:00.000-08:00

It's so nice and Charlie BB does a big walk in the Angrignon Park

Walk in the Park
by glgmplus

EXPO 67

2010-02-04T10:53:00.000-08:00

It's a long time that I wanted to make a small site on Expo 67, but there were already very good sites on that subject. So I told myself, nothing better than this blog to complete my project.

PREPARATIONS

Expo 67 has changed the lives of Montrealers, not only during the event but well before. As soon as the event was announced, the yards has pushed and the city was upside down. There was the construction of the Champlain Bridge, inaugurated in 1962, Bridge-Tunnel Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine and Bonaventure autoroute, the latter was inaugurated in April 1967, just in time for the opening of the Expo.

In 1963, the infill work to enlarge Île Sainte-Hélène and create artificial islands of Île Notre-Dame and La Ronde began with the construction of dikes to retain water. Then, during 10 months, more than 28 million tons of earth and rock mainly from excavation Montreal Metro are displaced to build the Expo site. L'ile Notre-Dame, nonexistent at first, was erected in 1965 near the island of St. Helena which has doubled in size following the work. The subway, as well, was inaugurated in October 1966.

Downtown, the construction of several large office buildings and hotels began, as Place Bonaventure (1964-1967), The Marriott Chateau Champlain wich is the city's highest hotel (completed in 1967).

And small entrepreneurs have rushed to build houses for all these people who came to visit us. My father had built several duplexes and rather than selling them, he furnished them and was renting rooms to tourists. On April 28, 1967, after 5 years of planning and work, Expo '67 was born, finally.

Expo 67 on Wikipedia
CBC Archives
Canada Archives
Blog Exposition 67

APRIL 28 - OCTOBER 29, 1967

In 1967, I was working downtown Montreal and had a special time schedule, freeing me during the afternoon. So rather than go home and spend time traveling, I went to the site of the Expo and I visited the pavilions. I bought the season passport and it allowed me to entry on the site at any time of the day and the evening. My boyfriend was working on the rides at La Ronde and we were doing the way back home together. Until its gates closure, I was doing a rides or I was seeing the shows.

I have very good memories of Expo 67, memories of music, sounds and smells of ground fair, and all these people from all cultures that were speaking foreign languages.

On youtube, I found this nice video montage of 8 minutes by "Expoloundge". Impressions of Expo 67.

Impressions of Expo 67

And here's a slideshow with my collection of postcards.

Almost every day I was there on the site of Terre des Hommes, rain or shine, and I kept my passport with the stamps of all countries and organizations (well, almost all) I have visited.

THIS IS MY STAMP COLLECTION

Expo 67 has had repercussions in many areas. This event has allowed the construction of infrastructures, essential to the expansion of Montreal. A team of Major Baseball League has borne his name, the Montreal Expos. The site itself has become the beautiful Parc Jean-Drapeau in tribute to the late mayor Jean Drapeau who was the instigator of this great achievement.

The site of Expo 67 was hosting a permanent exhibition named Terre des Hommes. It's still an idea of the mayor Jean Drapeau who wanted to recycle and conserve several pavillions and give the site a permanent vocation. The exhibition, open to plublic in 1968, was completed in 1981. The site has since been transformed into a great big public park.

THE OLYMPIC BASIN

In 1975, almost all the pavilions at Expo 67 were demolished to allow construction of the Olympic basin for the summer games of 1976. The Olympic basin, specially designed for rowing and canoe-kayak is still used by these sports enthusiasts..

Montreal Rowing Club picture

Ci-cons, Ile Notre Dame.
We can see the Olympic pool on the right and the Gilles Villeneuve circuit that encircles the island.
At the rear, we can see the Biosphere on Ile Ste-Helene.

THE CIRCUIT GILLES VILLENEUVE

The track, which was named in honor of the famous Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve has hosted the Grand Prix F1 of Canada from 1978 to 2008 and a other motorsport events. Besides these events, it is open to the public and rollerskating fans can practice their sport on one of the most beautiful courses in the city of Montreal.

A TOUR OF THE CIRCUIT GILLES VILLENEUVE IN CAR

THE MONTREAL CASINO

The former France and Quebec pavillions, located on the Ile Notre-Dame has been renovated to become the Montreal Casino. The facility was opened October 9, 1993 and had to be enlarged in 1994. An auditorium was added in 1996. I went 2 times. The first time out of curiosity and the second time to win. I lost, so I did not returned. Fortunately I did not bet very much.

This video series shows Urban Adventures, among others,

access by the St. Helena Island,

the Casino de Montreal and a view over the city.

PARC JEAN DRAPEAU

(formerly called Parc des Îles)

In 1980, the island hosted the International Floralies, and a dozen countries attended the event. The remains of flowers and plants are now integrated into the park and one can see some improvements in the following video. Only recently, in 2000, the site "Terre des Hommes", comprising Islands St. Helena and Our Lady, was renamed Parc Jean-Drapeau in honor of former mayor.

Walk in the beautiful Parc Jean Drapeau
in a nice afternoon of autumn.

VERSION FRANCAISE DE CE BILLET: Expo 67

Our Winters

2010-01-22T07:41:00.000-08:00

Winter is not so bad for those who have a parking place or stay home, because the biggest drawbacks of this season are the storms of snow, so we must suffer the delays in transportation, icy roads and swept away by high winds, huge snowdrifts that confuse us and the worst is ice. Once all this happened, we discover beautiful landscapes and we go out snowboarding, skiing and snowshoes walking. Some people prefer the south during this season, personally, I like winter and it would fail me if I would live more in the south.

Charlie did the comments on this small diaporama of our winters

Music is from Frank Molder
under common creative licence

The woodpecker

2010-01-17T18:10:00.000-08:00

HELLO !

I walked in the park with Charlie, there was nobody! The snow was too hard for skiing or snowshoeing.

So I walked the whole trail on this beautiful white crust without recess. I took some pictures, and this little video.

Listen carefully to the silence of the wind and the noise of the woodpecker in the woods.

On this video, I say ...........
" This is a photo, I meant a video of my park, when I am walkin with my little dog Charlie.
If you listen carefully, you will hear the woodpecker"

VERSION FRANCAISE DE CE BILLET: Le pic bois

Season's Greetings

2009-12-22T07:57:00.001-08:00

Last week, I learned the death of my aunt. She had cancer and she surrendered after more than three years of battle and 9 months on Palliative Care. She had a unmatched love for life . Wife, mother and grandmother, she played the piano beautifully. If she had moments of discouragement, she has never shown it and it's only her diary that might tell us. It is in this diary that her children have found this text and I would like to share with you.

November 12, 2009

The Best Day Of My Life

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.

I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know. Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life.

And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!

( Gregory M. Lousig-Nont, Ph. D. )

I wish you a very Merry Christmas,
May each day of 2010 be the most beautiful day of your life.

May you shine around youlove and inner peace.

VERSION FRANCAISE DE CE BILLET: Voeux des Fêtes

1 guitar and 4 hands

2009-12-16T18:25:00.000-08:00

A couple of guitarists play the same guitar at the same time.See how much they have fun
Take care

Boogie Woogie Piano

2009-12-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we received our first beautiful snowfall (23cm). Is it going to stay for Christmas? One certain thing is that the festivities arrive at full speed and I have so much things to do before the fateful date.

To help us wait, let me introduce Tommy Johnson, a super nice Boogie Man who will train you in one bewitching Boogie Woogie.

Chichi and Diva

2009-12-07T17:57:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce you my two cats, Chichi and Diva. At new-year 1999, I was invited to celebrate at my brother's place and I came back with these two little balls of hair.

They were so cute, we had fitted the spare bedroom for them. At night we started leaving the doors ajar , just so they could not escape the room, but they could hear the noises of the house and they could do all their follies of youth without disturbing us.

And during the day, the doors to our rooms were slightly closed so they could not enter and sleep in the beds. After one year we stop closing the doors.
After a few years, we moved to Verdun, west of Montreal, the apartment was smaller and they had lost their room. They slept in the lounge. I had found a job downtown and I had to take a bus at the corner of my street to get to the subway. That's about 500 steps and when I was arriving at the bus stop, I was so breathless, I thought I would die. Do I have asthma? Is it my heart? Is this the new apartment?

C H I C H I

Chichi was very endearing, purring and affectionate to us, but she hated visitors.
She was then very mad and was spitting on them.

D I V A

Diva had mitten paws. The opposite of Chichi, she was independent, adventurous.
She loved taking rides in the house and playing hockey with balls of paper.

The doctor prescribed me a bronchodilator that I had to use the morning before leaving for work. I realized that I had these ailments at the beginning of the week and I did not had to use my pump on other days. In joke, I was saying that I must be allergic to work because I always use my pump on Mondays.

One day I found myself unemployed and since I was staying at home, I was using my pump every day. It was obvious I was allergic to something at home. I had to get rid of my cats. A very hard decision, obviously I denied a few weeks and Henry had to reason with me. He also had great difficulty to get rid of them.

I phoned the SPCA, and they came to get them on one spring morning. They put them together in the same small cage. Chichi was so mad and was spitting, she hated so much this man who had grabbed her so suddenly to insert her into this tiny cage, and Diva rolled herself into a ball, she was so afraid, she was paralized with fear and she was hoping that Chichi wins the battle.

On paper, I asked that the cats were not separated. But Chichi was so bad with foreigners.......... I prefer not to think about it.

VERSION FRANCAISE DE CE BILLET: Chichi et Diva

COUNT THE " F "

2009-12-03T08:32:00.000-08:00

Test Your Brain
This is really cool.

ALZHEIMERS' EYE TEST
(I love this part.. Its absolutely amazing!)
Count every " F " in the following text:

FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI
FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...
(SEE BELOW)

HOW MANY ?

WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- no joke.
READ IT AGAIN !
Really, go Back and Try to find the 6 F's before you scroll down.

The reasoning behind is further down.

The brain cannot process "OF".

Incredible or what? Go back and look again!!

Anyone who counts all 6 "F's" on the first go is a genius.

http://www.aip.org/history/

Three is normal, four is quite rare.

Send this to your friends.
And keep them occupied
For several minutes..!

The Hurdy gurdy ( wheel fiddle )

2009-11-28T14:27:00.000-08:00

My niece came back from France with 2 memory cards full of pictures and video. I offered her to arrange it all on DVD with my Roxio program. I am working on this project since 4 months now, finally ... not all of the time, but I will be very happy to finish it. This will be his Christmas gift.

She stayed at a friend in the countryside of Burgundy, and I found on her memory card an amazing video showing a guy playing a strange music instrument. He was playing folkloric music and the dynamic sound seemed to come from another era.

- What is this?
- I think it a kind of a vielle. He's Mic's friend and he plays mostly at festivals.

Long life to the internet.....................

I find this instrument, I must say, quite impressive in its mechanical design. Work of a luthier, the hurdy-gurdy has evolved and today it includes over 200 pieces.

It appeared in the Middle Ages, around the ninth century, after the invention of the manievelle and it's in the 12 th century that we found the first representations of this instrument, the organistrum. It was used mainly in churches and abbeys, to accompany choral music, and it was played by two people.

In the 13th century appeared an ancestor of the hurdy-gurdy, the symphonia. From a form almost square, the wheel was under the housing cover. At that time, the troubadours were using it to accompany their songs across Europe, both in village squares and in castles.

In the 15th century appeared the renaissance style hurdy-gurdy. The instrument began to feature in courtly amusements, Bâton, Vivaldi and Leopold Mozart, father of Wolfgang Amadeus, have composed several songs for it. And the old hurdy-gurdy was dethroned by the pianoforte. The French Revolution will cause a profound change in practice and in the century which followed the instrument enjoyed much favour in big city wine bars, and rural dance places.

In the 1970s, the "folk" movement appropriates it and groups called "celtic" are formed. Today, the instrument continues to evolve, violin makers refines it, they are looking for a pure and accurate sound and still further the quality of the hurdy-gurdy.

This instrument has a sound often compared to the bagpipes. The musician actuates a crank with his right hand, which turns a wheel that rubs on a rope "Bourdon" continuously, and a continuous sound is heard until the song stops.

From the left hand, the musician presses keys similar to the piano ones to play the melody. The keybox is located on the body, part of the instrument that makes the sound resonate. The keys are connected to a mechanism called tangents that come in contact with the strings when you press the keys.

In addition to strings, which give the melody, is added percussion! And yes, the hurdy-gurdy are also contained it's own drummer! By cranking the wheel harder, one of the drones can be made to vibrate rhythmically and a rap beat is heard .

On this smal youtube clip, listen to Arnaud Lachambre playing a folk air
"le Branle des Chevaulx" on a nice Hurdy gurdy, Renaissance style
made by Chris Allen (an U.K. violin maker).

Sources and some links:

Wikipedia

The Hurdy-Gurdy symphonia

Note Books

Arnaud Lachambre, hurdy gurdy player

Music Aloud.com
Olympic Musical Instruments
Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy
Interesting thing of the day by ITotD

VERSION FRANCAISE DE CE BILLET: La vielle-à-roue

G E L I M A G O

2009-11-25T19:13:00.001-08:00

On some previous posts, I have presented some of my photos. I did not really like the effect it gives on a white background, I thought the picture looked dull. I have visited some photo blogs and I realized that most bloggers post one image at a time. Upon reflection, I did not want to do the same on "Gelisa's Blog" I fear ti would drowning my texts in a variety of images.

That's how my image blog G E L I M A G O is born. I love taking pictures and capture the actual moments and you'll find my best moments trapped in my image box. I have a lot of photos to show, pictures of my city, Montreal, my environment and some memories that are precious to me.

But I will continue to chat here and I'll come back very soon, with other posts and a big THANK YOU to everyone for your comments and participation.

Roy Tanck's Flickr Widget requires Flash Player 9 or better.

Get this widget at roytanck.com

I'll meet you on GELIMAGO

By choosing the staircase.

2009-11-22T20:56:00.000-08:00

We believe that the easiest way to change people's behaviour for the better is by making it fun to do. We call it The fun theory. http://www.thefuntheory.com/

The Red Marbles

2009-11-17T10:37:00.000-08:00

Everyone leaves a legacy, but not every legacy is worth receiving. A former Idaho resident tells us this beautiful story and demonstrates the value of a life well lived :

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?'

'H'lo , Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look
good.'

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'

'Fine.. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'

'Good. Anything I can help you with?'

'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'

'Would you like to take some home ?' asked Mr.. Miller.

'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'

'All I got's my prize marble here.'

'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller..

'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'

'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home ?' the store owner asked.

'Not zackley but almost..'

'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'.. Mr. Miller told the boy.

'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store..'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr.. Miller had died.

They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her, and moved on to the casket.

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size.....they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.'

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

Conclusion: At the end, people will not remember our words but our good deeds ... Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that make us catch our breath...
Today I wish you a day filled with these little pleasures - Fresh coffee you did not prepare yourself ... A phone call from an old friend ... The green lights on your way to get to work ... The fastest line at the grocery store ... A good song on the radio ... Your keys found in the same place that you have left.

VERSION FRANCAISE DE CE BILLET: Les billes rouges

LE GOUT DU BONHEUR - Adelaïde

2009-11-14T14:12:00.000-08:00

About Marie Laberge :

http://www.marielaberge.com/

View more:
Europe: Amazon.fr
Québec/Canada : Amazon.ca
USA : Amazon.com

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: LE GOUT DU BONHEUR - Adelaïde

November 10, 2009 - High and downs

2009-11-11T21:29:00.001-08:00

Hello my friend,

I was a little careless for you in recent weeks and yet I have been thinking of you, of what I would write to you. Since my last letter, events have rolled on the roller coaster of my emotions.

The day I received the vaccine for the swine flu, Mathieu told me they have decided not to get vaccinated. You can imagine my sadness at this announcement. I talked to myself, it's their choice, but a little voice kept telling me, if ever one of my little son would die of the flu, I would never forgive Maryse and her mother Mireille. The words of "letting go" don't help me at all, they fly over a thousand feet above my reason. How could I forgive if it happens.

These are the events of the office that helped me letting go, it's said that it's in work that we can regain balance. I decided to take the last vacation week that I have left and I must make several reports before leaving. I have no time to lose, I left the internet aside and I do my work. Did you know that this job came to me?

When I was laid off, there are nearly five years, I experienced the self-employed work but I found only one customer, I would say a "case". As I had not much work I used an agency. I was sure I would find myself in transport. It's just the kind of business that there is in the west. During a few months, I replaced a book keeper on sick leave. She suffered from breast cancer. His boss was certain she would not return. every morning and evening I had to drive for over 1/2 hour on highways 20 and 13. I hate the freeways, especially in this part of town. I worked almost 7 months and I was so pleased when the employee returned. I have not been inactive very long. The boss, who liked my work recommended me to his good friend who had started his own transport company.

Everyone call him Giovan, he has proven as vice president of a big company and it has all the necessary funding for a large fleet of trailers and chassis, a dozen tractors, big contracts, a warehouse. Everything for success or for washout. His four son are with him in this business.

At hiring : He knows I have the skills and he is searching for… a good « mamma » like myself, who maintain a certain discipline in this office of young foals, which sometimes have an explosive behavior, So would I be willing to work in an office consisting solely of young men. ?

Euh ..... Yes? (What a funny question)

He shows me a little punching bag that sticks to a window and when someone hit it, it says «Fuck you », «go to hell », « Eat Shit » « fucking bastered ». (Comic)

He tells me: "I told my sons to respect others and when those guys want to get beaten up, they can let off steam by hitting the bag, it releases tension. ".... He hopes it does not shock me to hear coarse language, because he does not want me to leave after some weeks, unable to endure the rudeness of the medium.

Euh ..... no? (worrying)

At the Truck Show at Place Bonaventure
Do not get me wrong, I am not a truck driver but an accountant

That's how this job came to me. I have placed the youth quite easily, they felt that I liked them, and they have always been friendly with me. After two years of supporting the behavior of those small demons, Giovan has hired a director for operations, Brutus, who is almost at my age, we get along and we have lunch together on every Friday. Whit his gorilla look, Brutus shows a very special personality, biker, rocker and full of tattoos, he has no problem to assert himself and to get truck driver's respect. Contrary to its appearance suggests, he is very polite, no big words and he hates cigarette. « right »

This week, the boss announces a delegation from Asia, who will visit our premises in order to do business with us. The boss requires us to make every effort to tidy up the office. A good half of neon lights were burned and I spent a whole forenoon to help Brutus to change them. And there was light and glare when we have received these lovely Asian, ten in all, with an interpreter as they did not understand our language.

My guys, polished, coiffed and shaved, had donned their best clothes. I tell you that if I were 30 years younger, I would have melted into the floor as they were so handsome.

The visit was not very long, they did took the tea since they had to also visit our other facilities. Before leaving with them, Giovan came to thank us for our efforts. He is a very nice boss who notices our efforts and that does not retain its praises.

During the two days that followed, I have done much more work since I'm leaving on vacation. And I have worked on Monday to do payroll. It's always double work before leaving and at my return, my in basket is full of problems to solve. Ah! What I look forward to my pension.

Oyster table with two levels

And there was the oyster party, organized by the Traffic Club of Montreal, we all had tickets and Brutus had offered to open my oysters. What a night, we had wine and beer at will. Oyster lovers are standing at tables on two levels, specially equipped. On the top level, there are dishes of sandwiches, cheeses, sauces and vegetables and on the lower table, at the center, the oysters to open and taste. I have eaten two dozen and I tell you that the hull did not have much strength in those Brutus hands, who are at least six inches wide.

Finally, forget the office, I began my vacation by waiting one afternoon at the clinic with my mom who has discomfort following the vaccine for swine flu. She had a slight fever and felt pain in his back. I knew that the vaccine had nothing to do, she was asked to prepare a Kyrie for the Requiem Mass and the ceremony did not go as planned and she felt very upset. In addition this week, there will be a Mass of Angels. They asked her to accompany a song she does not really know. I am sure that her ailments are caused by stress.

And today, the electricity company has worked in the post in front of my house. They cut the power much of the day, and schnoute of schnoute! &^$%@#;-( One of their truck have hit the mirror of my car, driver side. I am telling you, my vacation starts well. Since it will take several days to have the part. I will have to drive without my mirror.

And to finalize the list of my highs and my downs, the clinic nurse has called me to give me an appointment. They have received the results of examinations in cardiology and she told me that I have a "suffering" in the heart. I have never heard of that, a suffering in the heart, have you already heard something like that. Of course, I had much suffering during my life, to whine vigils, moments of deep grief, but now all that far. In searching on the internet, I learn that this term is sometimes used to describe angina pectoris. Well I see a little clearer now. I expected it, it's a family disease on my father's side..

I'm surprised they did not put me on a diet yet. I have quite a few pounds to lose, you know. There will be things to change in my house, in my life. Henry is too good cook. When he does not meal, we go to the neighbor snack bar and this happens too often. Also my medical appointments are increasing. I am getting tired to have these exams that never end and I must take off my work every time.

Tonight Mathieu tells me they have all been vaccinated. Is this good news? We hear all sorts of things about this vaccine. And also my little son, Benoit, will have to get a second dose.

So much for the ups and downs of the recent weeks. It's much the same time for me and I am very happy to share this with you.

Vive les vacances! and I will give you more news soon.

Take care

Gelisa

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: Lettre du 10 novembre - Des hauts et des bas

I got the swine flu shot

2009-11-02T19:25:00.000-08:00

That's it, I got the swine flu shot, and I noticed some side effects.

The jimmylegs : I had to wait 15 mins before they let me go
Undue fear: I would not ride on the Grand Boulevard in case I find myself ill.
Flatulence: A true slut, it's probably why it is called swine flu. It was really unpleasant and also smelled the skunk.

Will I turn into a ...... ?

WE'LL SEE IN A FEW DAYS IF I'M STILL HERE

FOUND ON GOOGLE BY MY FRIEND CLO

The ideal solution to combat the Swine Flu

Letter of October 29, 2009 - The telephone

2009-10-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

A word, dear friend, so you do not worry about my health.

I'm at the office as every morning, and my cell phone now vibrates with all his might. It must say it is plug to the charger, so I have a quick glance that tells me it's my mother. But I'm having a meeting with a colleague so I decided not to take the call. Two minutes later it vibrates again. "What the hell?" I looked and I saw it's my "roommate" calling me. It must be serious, he never calls me so early in the morning so I have answered.

"Alllo!" I can't say nothing but a "quack!" of an old goose. "It's your mother calling, he says, How come you do not answer your cell phone?"

Because I have a loss of voice since the beginning of the week. I can not get rid of this cold that has plagued all my energies. It began last week, there are now ten days, with a sinus cold. I was a little worried and I took out the thermometer from the cabinet. Ouff! No fever, it should not be the swine flu. So I catch the Tylenol pills, cough drops, finally all the paraphernalia that I throw in my lunch bag and hop! Go work! I made my whole week with a Kleenex in hand and I went to bed early every night, completely exhausted from my day work. On Friday, I decided to take the whole weekend to rest and I notify the hospital and the choir that I will not do my volunteer work this weekend.

So Saturday morning, when I returned back to bed, my nostrils are finally uncorked, I enjoy my pillows still warm, and I am enjoying in advance that coming deep sleep that I have missed during the entire week. DRRRR! The phone. I emerge from my cozy comfort. "Shnout!!! I don't answer!".

But I can hear Henry, taking the call from the kitchen. "It's Madeleine, she looks very upset, you must talk to her".

"Alllo!"
"No this is not the swine flu"
"Ho I have no fever"
"No I have no aches"
"No nobody is sick at the office"
"Yes, I take Tylenol ...... aspirin also Motrin ...... and Tums for my stomac."
"Yes I drink orange juice, there is vitamin C in it"
"Yes I'm going to rest and drink plenty of fluids, I was asleep when you called and I hope to get back to sleep. I'll give you some news if it goes wrong, thanks for worrying about me."

And I spent much of the day in bed. How well being.

Sunday morning it is still early and I'm still not quite awake when the phone rings again. This time I can see it is my sun. So I answer. "Alllo! You are quite early, son!"

He wants us to go to lunch with them in a restaurant up north. "You think about it, I don't really feel like doing 1 hours drive to lunch." What an idea! They finally decide to have lunch with us in a restaurant in my neighborhood.

And I have seen everybody, Matthew and his family. Mireille, his stepmother, and my little son Benoît. Ah! me and Henry were so happy to see him..

I sat next to the highchair. I do not see him very often so I did not miss a second of this. What a lovely child always smiling, curious, demanding, as her mother said, but demand me my boy! I am at your service .... A little piece of toast, a little melon maybe. Look at the beautiful red balloon on the ceiling. Ah! You might as well bite my finger as you want, it makes me so happy. And, with his laughing eyes looking at me, he bits me a little, just to show me his new teeth, I pick up his toys thrown to the ground, the total happiness.

Mireille gets me out of my contemplation to tell me that she will not get vaccinated. She gives me all sorts of reasons that I don't even want to hear, I say nothing. Then she tells me, nose in the air, as does a child of 10 years: "There is no question that I be vaccinated and that's it!"

What I can say to that? I hope she will change her mind. And they left and I found my cozy corner for the rest of the day.

And this week, while news about the flu are not too encouraging, I wrote an e-mail to Matthew to tell him how I was worried. Mathieu replied to reassure me. Mireille will get the vaccin and they plan to keep Martin out of school till it is safe for everyone.

Dear friend, the office phone is ringing now, but I had told the receptionist that I did not want any calls.

"Alllo!" I can't say nothing but a "quack!" of an old goose.

It's Mom. She did not speak immediately, surprised at what she hears.
"Yes! I have a loss of voice."
"I could not answer, I'm in a meeting. ( I did not say he's gone now, unable to have two quiet minutes ;-))"
"No, I'm in great shape. My voice is coming back, I hope I can sing Saturday."

She informs me of the days and hours of vaccination for hospital staff. Because I am a volunteer, I can get a flu shot starting on Monday.

What a week. And now it's Henry who has a cold, but not as strong as mine, as he says.

Dear friend, take care and it is important you be vaccinated. Apparently it's the only way not catch the bug and especially not to pass it to others. Think about it.

Hugs XXXX

Gelisa

My office

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: Lettre du 29 octobre 2009 - Le téléphone

MARGARET'S MUSEUM

2009-10-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

Release Date: 1995
Director : Mort Ransen
With : Helena Bonham-Carter , Kate Nelligan
Country : Canada / Gr.bretagne

This movie has won many Genie Awards:
Best Achievement in Screenwriting
- Gerald Wexler, Mort Ransen
Best Achievement in Music/Original Score
- Milan Kymlicka
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
- Helena Bonham Carter
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
- Kenneth Welsh
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
- Kate Nelligan
Meilleurs costumes
-Nicolette Massone

Résume:
Set in the 1940s in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, it tells the story of a young girl living in a coal mining town where the death of men from accidents in "the pit" (the mines) has become almost routine. Margaret MacNeil (Helena Bonham Carter) has already lost her father and an older brother and for her, life alone would be prefereable to marrying a mine worker — that is until the charming Neil Currie (Clive Russell) shows up. Against the wishes of her hard-bitten mother (Kate Nelligan) they marry, but before long financial woes lead to his doing what every other uneducated young man does in the town: take a job underground. His death in the mine drives Margaret to a mental breakdown and in her surreal world she decides to create a "special" museum to the memories of all those who have died as a result of the horrific mining conditions. The advent of the film inspired the organization PAMAUG, which strongly advocates the usage of means other than manual labor to extract coal from mines. (Wikipedia)

TRAILER

videodetective.com

My appreciation:

During my trip to Cape Breton, I was invited with a distant relative, Neil, who lives in the small mining town of Glace Bay. He is a retired miner from the coal mine and he showed me a kind of lantern that he had to bring with him into the mine. This lantern can detect gas explosion if the air entering the lamp was responsible for gas, it produced a visible fuel (so-called "halo") around the normal flame. Thus he could detect and rush to flee a gas explosion.

So I watched this movie out of curiosity and to learn more about the hard life of miners. But I was literally spellbound by the play of Helena Bonham Carter that I saw for the first time as well as the nice soundtrack. Our hero has mesmerized the beautiful Margaret with his bagpipe. This movie marked me deeply and I will never be tired of seeing several times.

View more:
Europe: Amazon.fr
Québec/Canada : Amazon.ca
USA : Amazon.com

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: Le musée de Margarett

AUTOMN LANDSCAPES

2009-10-25T18:12:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful fall day today, but I have not benefited much, I'm sick. No it's not swine flu, not this time, I don't have fever, just a nasty cold that follows its usual course.

I took the opportunity to rummage through my pictures and I took my most beautiful autumn photos to show you.

__________ OUTREMONT __________

It is in Outremont, on the Mount Royal mountain, that I have seen the most beautiful yellow. The municipality take a jealous care of the trees, often centuries old. In Outremont, I saw, for the first time, cabling systems and docking to help large branches to support the weight of the leaves.

2004 Outremont - Joyce Park

2004 Outremont, Hartland Street

2004 Outremont, Joyce Park

2003 Outremont, Rockland Street

2003 Outremont, Pratt Park

__________ VERDUN __________

Verdun is a neighborhood in the west of the city and the trees are also very old, unfortunately the municipality prefers to invest on the shores and they often get rid of the old trees. There are a lot of red maple leaves. I saw the most beautiful red-orange color in Verdun.

2004 Verdun, Melrose Street

2006 Verdun, Melrose Street

2006 Verdun Desmarchais Boulevard

A bike path runs along the banks of the St. Lawrence nearly 15km, in Verdun, there is a promenade and several small parks for relaxing or to do a picnic.

2006 Verdun, Wharf at the height of Brault Street, in front of Nun's Island

2006 Verdun, View on the shore from the Wharf

__________ ANGRIGNON PARK __________

Angrignon Park, has many subtle charms with its 97 hectares and over 20,000 trees, it is one of the largest parks in Montreal. One would think a nineteenth century english garden, with its winding paths and a pond surrounded by cattails.

2007 Montreal, Angrignon park, picnic area

2007 Montreal, Angrignon park, pathway

2007 Montreal, Angrignon park, pond

2007 Montreal, Angrignon park a windy day

2007 Montréal, Angrignon Park

2009 Montreal, My neighbour's cat

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: PAYSAGES D'AUTOMNE

Charlie's couch

2009-10-22T18:49:00.001-07:00

Hello friends, it's me, Charlie, Gelisa has already show a picture of me on the blog. I love her so much, I miss her so much when she is at work.

But it is Henry who treats me the most. He always has a little surprise for me in his pockets and I would give him the moon to please him.

This week they decided to get rid of my confortable couch. I liked so much that sofa, my mistress, too, in the evening we were watching tv together and I was doing nice dreams. Henry, himself, was sitting in his rocking chair in the corner of the living room.

Monday, Henry has removed the metal frame, but the sofa was still too heavy for them to take it down to the street. So Henry has decided to cut it in half with his big saw. I was so happy to provide a little help. On that picture, I am doing a bit of sawing.

Wouf! Here you can see the furniture, halved

What an adventure, Henry and Gelisa could finally take out the furniture to the street and Gelisa kindly took a picture of me with my confortable couch before it was picked up by scavengers.

I am a little sad to lose it.

There is a large space in the living room and all week my mistress was sitting on the piano bench to watch TV, there was no place for me, so I slept on my pillow.

And Friday, I heard the doorbell. I did not know these men who climbed the stairs with those big boxes, but they were so nice, I left them stroke me, everybody wants to stroke me and touch my soft hairs, and I love receiving hugs. My mistress said I'm not a good watchdog. I do not want to be a watchdog, I am a pet dog. Voila! Wouf!

Ah! Look here who answered the door.

The men have left with the empty boxes and ..... It's bizzare, that couch, it doesn't smell like the other one. I'd like to climb on it but I am not sure I have permission. It is also slippery and cold.

When my mistress came back from work, she was so happy to see her new couch. But this is not a couch, she says it's a love seat. This piece is much smaller and when two poeple sit down, they talk together while on the couch they lay on it.

Gelisa put a thick throw on it, she's afraid that I rend it with my nails.

Hooray! I managed to climb on it.

I'm doing nice dog on this photo because Henry is showing me a cookie. He always has a treat in his pockets. What I would do for a treat.

Zut! I don't think I can eat my cookie on the new couch

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: Le divan de Charlie

THE SANCTUARY ORGAN OF CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2009-10-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

The pipe organ of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church was built by Italian Piero Ruffatti factor. With its dynamic sounds and its remarkable beauty, it has transported many of the faithful in singing the praise of God and was heard around the world through broadcasts "Coral Ridge Hour."

Delivered in America in two massive shipments, the organ was assembled and completed in 1974. The specifications and design of the entire organ was done by the organist Diane Bish, with the collaboration of Mr. Ruffatti.

With nearly 7,000 pipes arranged in 117 ranks, the Ruffatti was the largest European-built organ in the United States at the time of its installation.

The pipes are separated into seven different divisions playable from a new five-manual console built in 1989 by the Rodgers Instrument Corporation. The new console has complete Midi capability as well as 32 memory levels. >>>More

Have a good listening

The following video does a visit of the famous Presbyterian temple located in Fort Lauterdale, Florida. With its modern architecture, this church was founded in 1960 by Pastor D. James Kennedy (1930-2007), who has served this parish until his death in 2007. I invite you to pay special attention to the soundtrack played on the famous Ruffati organ..

The following video, Diane Bish plays her arrangement of A Mighty Fortress on the 117 Rank Ruffatti Organ of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale.Features a dazzling display of the organ's 5 sets of en chamade trumpets, 8' Trompette de Fete, 8' Trompette en Chamade, 8' Trompeta Réal, 16' Double Trompette, 16' Contre Trompette.

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: L'ORGUE RUFFATI DE CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH...

Letter of October 10, 2009 - Dad

2009-10-19T10:48:00.001-07:00

(06/2005 © gelisa)
In this beautiful afternoon of automn, I went to the cemetery where my dad was buried 30 years ago, and all my memories are coming back on this anniversary day.

My friend reader, you did not know him. Dad was a successful businessman and he was also very handsome and good speaker. He had even been approached to work with municipal politics, but he refused. He told us he did not want to join in their "games". His rules for living were well defined, making him a man of integrity, fair and good.

One of the most engaging memories of Dad is his odor when he was comming back from his construction site, the smell of sawdust mixed with the one of putty. He was always wearing a large lead pencil on his right ear. At evening, after dinner, he was retiring in his office with a cup of tea to handle the company accounts and to do some reading. Often I was following him in his world, in this part of the basement, witness of his businessman and inventor life. There, we could not hear the animation of the house, only the sounds of the paper punch, the big calculator and the rustle of fine paper bills. Dad let me play with his calculator and I could not believe that machine could memorise all the addition and multiplication tables. Don't ask me how it works.

Mechanical calculator

When my dad had finished his office work, he was taking a book or the encyclopedia and studied. Everyone said that Dad was a self-taught and it seemed to me it was like quite an honor, they even said about him that he had knowledge of an engineer. I also wanted to be a self taught like him and I loved rummaging through his books when he was not there.

On Sunday, at home, was a sacred day. Early in the morning, Dad was cooking, and he was making a big pot of soup. He was also preparing a roast beef to cook before leaving for church. Mom was dressing us with our best clothes and we were all crammed into the big Pontiac. The Sunday morning Mass was very important but it was so boring, besides, my mom was watching me closely to stand straight and I keep quiet. Dad was always sitting on the edge of the driveway, ready to go out with one of us for a need. Let's say it was also to go talking business with others and to smoke a cigaret on the porch of the church.

After lunch it was the car ride. First of all, Dad was going at the construction site to ensure there had been no vandalism at night. Sometimes he was letting us climb on the first floor. It was quite an adventure for us. There were no walls and large holes in the floors. After visiting the site, he was taking us to a picnic or at the beach or on a vacant lot, probably the site of a new project. I preferred the empty lots. We could always find a small pond of tadpoles, grasshoppers and clumps of daisies. I liked so much to weave wreaths of daisies and my brother to fill jars of tadpoles for fishing.

But all this is now so far. I found us gathered around the grave of dad and none of my brothers speak of his memories. They have not experienced the same man, the one of my memory because they were too young. They only remember of a man embittered by so many disappointments and sentenced by arteriosclerosis, a disease that gradually destroys the tissues and cells of the nervous system, often associated with memory problems and with emotional . Today I have my Dad's age when he passed away and I have not done one tenth of what he has done.

Now I think a lot about him, in my toughts, I cry often for him, of all he could endure, of the incomprehension of his family, and I feel he is close to me, I'm sitting on his lap and I hear he's saying:

-" I told thee that there was nothing after death, but this is not true, I have found peace and I am living in the Hereafter"

-"Dad, this is my dearest wish. Sleep well."

Thank you for following me so far. Go outdoor and see how beautiful it is outside and enjoys the last beautiful autumn days.

Gelisa

This photo was taken in the park near my home. (10/2007 © gelisa)

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: Lettre du 10 octobre 2009 - Papa

A room, upside down [ La chambre renversée ]

2009-10-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

I've seen it somewhere and I loved it

Julien Ribot, born in Nice (France) on May 19, 1973, is a french singer-songwriter and also an illustrator. Alongside his career in music, Julien Ribot is a graduate from Pennington School of Graphic Arts in 1995 and as an illustrator, he makes CD and book covers, and most personal work..
Julien Ribot

I fall for this short film animation of Julien Ribot and Philippe Massonnet and I'd like to share with you ........

First clip from the album 'VEGA' of Julien Ribot.

Lyrics: It may sound funny in English but this is a fantasy!!!

1st verse

Je vis dans une chambre renversée, I live in a room, upside down,
ces fenêtres s'ouvrent sur mes pensées... it's windows open on my thoughts ...
Je vit dans une chambre qui s'est posé, I live in a room that had arisen,
sur le sommet d'un grand alphabet... on top of a large alphabet ...

Refrain

Sans faire de bruits, elle déplie, tous ses murs vers l'infini, m'entraine vers qui je suis ! du du du du du dux2...
Without making a noise, it unfolds, its walls to infinity leads me to who I am! du du du du du dux2 ...

Second verse

Je vis dans les chambres infiltrées, I live in the rooms infiltrated
les pendules sont des pays abstraits... clocks are abstracted countries ...
Je vis dans une chambre illuminée, I live in a room illuminated
par un millier d'ampoules colorées... with a thousand colored lights ...

Refrain

To know more about this album 'VEGA':
Europe: Amazon.fr
Québec/Canada : Amazon.ca
USA : Amazon.com

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: La chambre renversée

Insomnia Quotes

2009-10-16T17:27:00.001-07:00

WHAT A DAY DUDE!!!!!

I AM DEAD

Insomnia is a gross feeder. It will nourish itself on any kind of thinking, including thinking about not thinking.
[Clifton Fadiman]

The Sixth Sense is not a good white film. Insomnia is not a good white film. They're just good films. So why we can't we have good films that happen to have black people, or Asian, or Latino, or any other minority group in them? .
[Joseph Wood Krutch]

Joseph Wood Krutch.
[Arthur Baer]

FRENCH QUOTES: L'insomnie en citations

Gabrielle Roy -100 years

2009-10-15T09:56:00.001-07:00

Gabrielle Roy was a remarkable writer, and this year marks 100 years since she was born on March 22nd 1909 at Saint-Boniface, Manitoba. In 1939, she chose to live in Montréal, where she became a free-lance journalist and began writing "Bonheur d'occasion". She died in Montreal on July 13, 1983 at the age of seventy-four.

Her work was studied in most universities, and her first novel, The tin flute (1945) , which describes working-class life in the early war period has won many prices :
- The Femina price in France
- Royal Society of Canada's Lorne Peace Medal
- and Governor General's Award for Fiction

http://www.maisongabrielleroy.mb.ca/

The Tin Flute, Gabrielle Roy's first novel, is sadly one of those books that is more often encountered in the classroom as a "milestone of Quebec literature" than read for its own considerable merits. A big novel, full of the misery of poverty and disenfranchisement and approaching melodrama in its litany of misfortune, it is also a captivating and humane tale of Montreal at the outbreak of the Second World War.

Roy devotes most of her attention to Florentine Lacasse, a naive young waitress in Montreal's St-Henri neighbourhood. Florentine's family is immense and dirt poor, and their neighbourhood is still caught in the last echoes of the Depression. Florentine gains some hope when she meets and falls for Jean Lévesque, a cynical and ambitious young man who toys with her out of perversity. Meanwhile, Jean's one friend, Emmanuel Létourneau, a newly enlisted soldier from one of St-Henri's few middle-class families, falls in love with Florentine, but he lacks Jean's menacing appeal.

As these romances work themselves out, the Lacasse family slides farther into despair, weathering disaster after disaster. Meanwhile the men of Montreal begin to join the rapidly mobilizing army in a final attempt to rescue themselves from destitution and boredom.

The Tin Flute was one of the first works of fiction to describe urban French Quebec, and it is an obvious precursor to the works of writers like Michel Tremblay. Roy won a series of honours for The Tin Flute, including France's Prix Femina, and the novel certainly deserves its reputation. Even Tremblay cannot equal Roy's evocation of the look and feel of mid-century working-class Montreal. --Jack Illingworth

The wedge house of the novel (07/2009 © gelisa)

Soundtrack of the movie Bonheur D'occasion
playlist with Montreal Jazz Club

For more info on Montreal Jazz Club :
Europe: Amazon.fr
Quebec/Canada : Amazon.ca
USA :Amazon.com

Selected bibliography:

The tin Flute (Bonheur d'occasion) (1945) ; Femina price 1947

Where Nests the Water Hen (La petite poule d'eau) (1950)
The Cashier (Alexandre Chenevert) (1954)
Street of Riches (Rue Deschambault) (1955)
The Hidden Mountain (La montagne secrète) (1961)
The Road Past Altamont (La route d'Altamont) (1966)
Windflower (La rivière sans repos) (1970)
Enchanted Summer (Cet été qui chantait) (1972)
Garden in the Wind (Un jardin au bout du monde) (1975)
My Cow Bossie (Ma vache Bossie) (1976)
Children of My Heart (Ces enfants de ma vie) (1977)
The Fragile Lights of Earth (Fragiles lumières de la terre) (1978)
Cliptail (Courte-Queue) (1979)
Enchantment and Sorrow (La Détresse et l'enchantement) (1982)

The Tortoiseshell and the Pekinese (L'Espagnole et le Pékinoise) (1982)

For more on Gabrielle Roy's works:
Europe: Amazon.fr
Québec/Canada : Amazon.ca
USA : Amazon.com

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: GABRIELLE ROY - 100ème anniversaire

LE GOUT DU BONHEUR - Gabrielle

2009-10-14T17:37:00.001-07:00

About Marie Laberge :
http://www.marielaberge.com/

View more:
Europe: Amazon.fr
Québec/Canada : Amazon.ca
USA : Amazon.com

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: LE GOUT DU BONHEUR - Gabrielle

Swine Flu : The vaccine

2009-10-07T20:01:00.001-07:00

It's been several days now that I question myself. Why are there so many people who deny the seriousness of Swine Flu. Should we believe the more optimistic? And if they were wrong? I am getting scared because there are so many contradictions.

Saturday at the hospital, the celebrant of the mass office had lunch with us and was telling us: - "There is no truth in what they say about this flu, it is the pharmaceutical companies who want to make money with their pill Tamiflu. And I do not understand why the diocese Gatineau is emptying holy water fonts, it's ridiculous. "

I was flabbergasted, that person has a position of authority as a minister of religion and in my opinion, he should not speak that way about something as serious and also he has no expertise. There were people aged over 80 years at that table. From what I understand, these people are at risk and they also are volunteers at the hospital. That the industry of religion is content to look after the souls. The Church is really not well placed to talk about the quick money that could make other industries. ... .. There is also that faith in the deity who will decide if he or she will be hit or not with the illness. This minister of religion was speaking personally but it makes me feel realy angry....

Lets forget this man, isn't it true that many people think like him, "Only Half Of Us Want Swine Flu Shots". Should we fear the vaccine?. I respect the choice of everyone not to be vaccinated and it's at their own risk, it's a personal decision, everybody is master of his person.

But everyone has the responsibility not to transmit the illness, isn't it? A classroom teacher, a hockey coach, a babysitter, a bus driver, a minister of religion, aren't they a vehicles for the spread of the disease? Apparently, if they ever catch it, they are contagious 24 hours before onset of symptoms. Isn't it a mark of respect for those around them every day? shouldn't they be vaccinated at least to minimize the risk of catching and passing.

I live with someone who almost died of meningitis and I'm going to be vaccinated. I don't want to let this disease to enter our house. It is true that the vaccine could cause side effects but I have no fear. I am certain that Swine Flu would be much worse, if I caught it.

What do you think about this?

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: Grippe A(H1N1): Le vaccin

In town without my car !

2009-09-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, 22 september was "In town without my car !" day , 2009 edition.

On that day, my mother, who is 87 years old, went downtown for an very important appointment on University street. But she has not heard of that event. You know, even if she would have heard the news, she would not have understood the real meaning of this event "In town without my car !".

She has difficulty to walk and she must use the Paratransit service. They came to get her on time for her appointment but they were not there when she wanted to return at the noon hour because streets were closed. Well, it seems to me that someone of paratransit services could have advised her when she took her appointments, 3 days before.

There was no question that she takes the subway. She had to go outside the perimeter and try to find a taxi but this was very hard for her, she felt so much disoriented and besides that, she had problems to walk. From downtown to her apartment in the west, had cost her $40.00 of taxi. This is a lot of money for her.

"The main idea behind this campaign is to encourage the use of alternative forms of transport and travel and to raise awareness within the community of what is at stake with regards to long term mobility in towns and the risks connected with pollution."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_town,_without_my_car!

Does she care? my mother!

What is the idea of closing an entire perimeter to traffic. Does it really reduce traffic? Perhaps, in this perimeter, but what about all outside? My opinion is that it's even worse, because a car will have to make several turns around the perimeter to try to find a parking space becoming more scarce.

And turn the engine turns to go around, and oops! it is a oneway street oops! You have returned to your starting point, we'll try the other side!

Many people will comply, those who can travel with the Metro or have an easy route. But those who have no choice to take the car, consultants, delivery vehicles, persons with disabilities, is there an alternative for them? My mother could not take a "biki". It should also be a good idea to provide three-wheel bycicle Taxi like in Beijing.

The day without cars, it's just smoke and mirrors. If we really want to fight against air pollution and also improve the quality of city life, we should have make a free day of public transport for everybody. City administrators would be very surprised with the results, but maybe it's too simple.

Gelisa

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: La journée "En ville, sans ma voiture!"

Letter of September 23, 2009 - The baptism

2009-09-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Letter of September 23, 2009

Dear friend,

I wanted to write you this letter quickly but It took me so long to finish it. I had no time since the beginning of September. Henry and I have had to travel several times at my son's place in north and prepare ourselves for the baptism of Benoit. Our religious beliefs are not really warm but we have still agreed to be godparents. We needed to provide a confirmation certificate, though it is not necessary to be married. I could not remember which parish I was registered, I had to call several places and most offices are open only a few hours during the week, so I had to make my application by mail and they have asked me to pay in advance. These people are eager to pass the quest but when you need their service, the door is locked. My dear Henry, had to call his parish in Gaspesia and they sent the certificate by mail.

At the catechesis meetings, I had the opportunity to better know Maryse. She appears to me as a woman very resolute and determined. She expressed her desire for marriage with Matthew, and she would also want him to adopt her eldest son. I may be wrong, but I feel much eagerness on his part and I do not find very affectionate. At first, I was worried but I finally calmed myself down. My son is no longer a baby after all and there must be something nice between them two to engage together in doing a family. My son took several months to consider before going live with them. Yes, them!. He now lives with Maryse, her kid and also with Maryse's mother, Mireille. And if he was wrong? He knows I'm always there for him, but would he confide to me if something was going wrong?

My son has now resumed contact with his father, Serge. Again, it's another shock to learn he's seeing his father, finally, after twenty-seven, he shows some interest in his only son and he also learns he will be grandpa. The handsome Serge ...... I had erased him from my life. During all these years, he did not showed interest in Mathieu, he has never paid pension, he was seeing him only at the new year partys, and when Serge's mother died, no more news. You know, dear reader, all this family was in discord and their good mother could managed to unite them. When Matthew was in his twenties, he had found his father but he quickly stopped to visit him. I had asked him about this and he only said he would not see his father any more. I have no idea of what happened.

So, after all these years, I saw the handsome Serge, with his wife. Yes, he got married recently, and he regretted not having invited Matthew to his wedding. Age has worked on him and he was not as handsome as before. He was happy to see my family, he knows them all, my mother, who loved him so much, my sister Francoise and her husband, Lucien, also Madeleine. At that time, I was having a nice life with Serge, there were ups and downs, like everybody, it was normal. I was pregnant with Matthew when my sister Francoise got married to Lucien and they were having an apartment in our neighborhood. We invited them often to dinner and we spent happy evenings with them. Serge had a good salary, enough so that I do not work, and I was very proud of us, of our home. He even bought a piano for me.

And everything has plummeted, deteriorated, broke, fell to pieces, mixed with tears and regrets. Drugs, drinking, jealousy, and violence have destroyed my blond angel. I had to leave, escorted by police, and I have entered the darkest years of my life. Matthew was only two and a half years when I left, I had no job, no furniture, I could even not take my piano. We were not married and everything was in his name. Shortly after I left, another woman had taken my place. I had no desire to fight and I decided to start from scratch. Nobody could understand, my sister Francoise has moved away from me and my mother was unable to help me, following the death of father. When I saw Serge at the church, memories of violence and tears were back in my memory, but I have closed that door in my mind. I did not want these memories come back right away, we must celebrate the baptism before all things.

Benoît wore a beautiful gown baptism. It looked like a little angel, you know, everybody wanted to hold him and he liked it. We was looking at us seriously, with his big blue eyes and he then bestowed his very best smile. I think he took this jovial side from his mother. He is so adorable, he has not cried once, and that, he took it from my son Matthew.

On the left, Mathieu in his christening gown. Right, Benoit in his christening gown

This event was very importance to parents. It gave to the grandparents of both sides the opportunity to meet together, those separated by life and new spouses. The atmosphere was almost like a wedding, while the two families met for the first time. They had reserved tables at the restaurant to celebrate the event with joy and I must say that it was a success. Mathieu was well dressed for the occasion and I was seeing him in tie and coat for the first time. I would say that Maryse was very proud of her small world, everyone was very handsome.

My sister Frances and her husband Lucien were sitting with Serge and his wife, they were all happy about see each other and had much to tell. So much the better because, I am telling you, it is not me who would have fueled the conversation. I could not hide my surprise to see him married and happy. Well, good for them, but many questions remain unanswered. Does my Mathieu will have the rightful place alongside his father. I do not really believe in it.

I am telling you, my son is a real mother hen, he looks after Benoit, he feeds him, changes the diapers. He is so happy with his paternity and Martin, the eldest son of Maryse cared deeply about Mathieu. He also deals with this child as if he were his own son. After the meal, and gifts, we were anyway very happy to go back our home, there is more than an hour to drive from north up to home. We had left Charlie alone and at our arrival, he urgently need to do his evening walk.

I hope I did not bothered to much, I needed to express my ups and down of this memorable day and I will conclude my letter with these words of Honoré de Balzac: " I can forgive, but I cannot forget ".

I'll write again soon with more news about my volunteer work, memories and I would also like to introduce you Henry, who makes me so happy.

Kisses and see you soon, Thou who goes on my pages.

Gelisa

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: Lettre du 23 septembre 2009 - Le baptême

WEREWOLFS

2009-09-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

Picture bribriange49

« Becomes a werewolf who has failed in his religious duties, for example, neglected its Easter and will be released when an injury will make him lose a few drops of blood.»

Pamphile Lemay

A 18th century engraving depicting a werewolf attack Source= "The Werewolf Delusion" by Ian Woodward

This quote from my ancestor, Pamphile Lemay is taking me back in my youth when I spent my summer vacation on the farm with my grandparents.

They had not yet TV and evenings passed slowly between the rosary and sleep. After the dishes washing, my grandmother was preparing the breakfast table in the summer kitchen and my aunts were going to the stable to lend a hand before the rosary. Religion was taking an important place in the lives of farmers and all the stories and tales were revolving around God and Devil.

All were gathered for evening prayers and as soon as the radio station had recited the last prayer, everyone took his favorite seat. My aunts were knitting in the dim light of an electric bulb hanging at a wire and my uncles were generously packing their smoking pipes before beginning their usual mockery. The conversation was quickly turning to strange and scaring stories, to make us stay on the right track.

My grandfather was often telling to who would listen, the following story of Wenceslas Eugene Dick. A little research allowed me to believe it was published in 1895 in a book entitled "Pour la patrie".

Here is the story:
John Plante was living in an old mill located away on the edge of Argentenay point at Orleans Island. During the day his younger brother, Thomas, was helping at the mill with the heavy work, but at night John Plante was sleeping alone on the second floor. The bugger was not scared, he even was violent when he was drunk, which was happening six days out of eight. Someone, if seeing him in this state, was better to run away because he was able to attack you wildly with his scythe.

One afternoon, while John Plante had drank a little too much, a beggar came to the mill and asked for charity in the name of God.
– Charity! kind of beggars! ... Wait, I'll tell ya what to do with my charity! shouted John, who ran to the poor man to give him a big kick in the ass. The beggar turned and stared at the miller with a pair of eyes that shooted him. Then he went away.

On the road at the foot of the hill, he met Thomas, who arrived with a load of grain.
– The charity, on behalf of God? ... he asked politely, taking off his old hat.
– Go to hell! I have no time! Thomas replied harshly, which has started to whip his old horse.
Then the beggar, without a word, stretched out his hand toward the mill and disappeared into the woods. Suddently, the mill stopped. .
John shouted a blasphemy and went to see what there was. He inspected carefully all the gear wheels, belts and all the paraphernalia, he couldn't find nothing, and the water was not lacking either.
He called his brother and began to lecture him harshly because he thought there was stones in his oats. After they examining the grinder parts together, they saw that everything was correct and that the mill should work.
– It is the beggars I saw a while ago that has cast a spell, "said Thomas.
– Stupid! Well, you'll see where I put them, the spells, John said, giving one of his big kick in the ass of his brother.

Poor Thomas, the blow was so hard that he fell ten feet away. When he rose, blue with rage, he rushed to John. But the miller, took his wrists and stopped him short.
– Stop there, brother! he said, nobody raise his hand on John Plante, or he's dead.
Thomas saw that he could not have the last word. He picked up his hat. Then he left, shaking his fist at his brother and said in a threatening tone:
– When you see me !

John then was alone for the rest of the afternoon trying to make his mill to work. But the big wheel was making one turn, then, bang! It stopped short.
– Let's put this off until tomorrow. John Plante finally said. In the meantime, he took a shot of white rhum since nothing else to do.
And our man, his rhum bottle on the table, was drinking glass after glasses, expecting nothing, getting drunk as an ass. At midnight, he then thought to go to bed.

It's easy to get on the 1st floor when one is fasting, but quite a chalenge when your legs are like the rag. Once up the stairs, and after several lurches without finding his bed, he got angry and threw himself to life or to the death in the staircase door, ajar.

John rolled down to the bottom, like a large package, and he found himself outside. Impossible to get back so he decided to spend the night at the edge of the woods on the hard ground as berth. Even drunk, John could not sleep and began to count the stars.

In the early hours of the night a strong wind swept into the stairwell and extinguished the candle remained lit.

– Thank you, wind, having blown out my candle, "said John Plante, you're more conservative than me. And he began to chuckle. But it did not last long, the light reappeared after a few minutes.
For an hour, the light moved from one window to another, as if she floated alone. At the same time, there were sounds of chains and groaning inside the mill. It was to make your hair stand on end. Then, after the fuss, wisps of flames, blue, green, red, started dancing on the roof gables. There are even some that came to touch John's face so that he smelt nasty burning hair.

Finally, make matters worse, a large red-haired dog, prowling on the edge of the wood, was standing besides the miller and was fixing him with his two big red eyes like burning coals. John Plante had the shivers and hair stiff as a floor brush. He tried to get up several times and run to the village but terror as well as drunkenness froze him there. It was only at dawn that all the horrors of that terrible night had disappeared.

John found back his courage and laughed at what he saw. And as soon as he drank two or three good lenses of rhum, he became as pugnacious as before and began to defy all the ghosts and werewolves of the island to come and face.

But not having managed to start the mill, he saw the becoming evening with some fear. Even if he thought he had dreamed the night before, his mind was not realy quiet but pride kept him from going to the village. He bravely went to bed, but not without closing all doors and windows of the mill. John hoped to finally be able to count on a good night and nothing realy happens until midnight.

At the stroke of midnight, the noise began again. Bang! A quick punch over here, boom! A quick kick through there, and lamentations and groans and sounds of chains! Then whispers and murmurs strange that was crossing into his room, enough to die of fright !

John got angry very hard. He caught his big scythe, and swearing like a demon, he looked in every room of the mill and also in the attic but, curiously, when he arrived in a place, the noise stopped there to take in another room. Tired of hunting ghosts, John Plante returned to his bed and hid under his blankets while shivering with fear and fever for the rest of the night. And it happened like that for the whole week.

The evening of the eighth day, who happened to be the day of All Saints, John had missed church, preferring to spend his time drinking. The poor man was feeling very bad. His eyes puffy and brilliant of fever was telling enough about the horrible week that he had passed. Outside, the wind whipped the windows with a little rain, which lasted all day. When night went up, black as ink, John was leaning on the table, watching his pitcher with a crazed look.

It was dark in the room. When the clock struck eleven, John Plante wanted to get up to go to bed to hide. But pride kept him on his chair.
– It will not say I let myself do, Me, I do not fear... No, no, I'm afraid of nothing! he said in a stern voice.
And he poured a gulp of rhum with an air of defiance. When the clock struck slowly stroke of midnight, John did not move. He looked around, eyes wide as eye. At last a gust of wind opened the door that was firmly closed and the big red dog appeared in the frame. He sat on his haunches near the doorway and stared at John Plante with his red eyes, and for five long minutes the miller and the dog looked at each other, one filled with fear and straight hair on head and the other calm and menacing.

In the end, John, to see better, got up and tried to snuff the candle, but the candle went out under his fingers. He looked quickly for matches that had disappeared. So he was really afraid and began to recede in the direction of his bed, watching the animal who did not move.

Then, the dog got up slowly and began to browse to and fro in the room while approaching the bed. His eyes were bright as embers, and he kept them fixed on the miller. When he was within walking distance of John Plante, he caught his scythe, which was still hanging on his headboard.

He knocked furiously the animal and soon there came a strange thing. The mill started to work again and in a sudden glow, Thomas Plante, his brother, appeared with a lighted match in his fingers. The big dog had disappeared!

Without saying anything, Thomas lit the candle, and seeing his brother who was still holding his scythe :
– Eh! Woh! he said, what are you doing there in the dark, with your scythe? Have you gone mad ?
John, looking lost, did not answer. He watched his brother, who was missing an ear.
– Who did this to you? he asked feebly.
– Bah! Thou know! said Thomas, who picked up the ground a piece of the dog's ear, still bleeding. John Plante laughed mournfully. He was crazy !

The End

Some links on werewolf
The Werewolf Page

Wikipedia

The Hunters Moon

Loups Garou,Légende du Québec

Werewolf's appearance

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: LOUP-GAROU

MY DOG CHARLIE

2009-09-15T07:21:00.001-07:00

Here are several pictures of my dog Charlie.

Angrignon Park - Charlie is 2 years old

Charlie on the day he arrived home (10 months)

Charlie watches television with his best friend
(Comming back from grooming)

Charlie loves the park

His first Christmas with us

Ready for the rainy days of autumn

Charlie plays dead
( Here you can see very well the silky hairs)

HERE IS A SLIDESHOW

FOR MORE ON CHALIE .... FOLLOW THIS LINK

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: CHARLIE EN PHOTOS

Exonerating, Forgiveness and Letting go...

2009-09-13T19:53:00.001-07:00

A small text, that I took at a friend so, thank you friend. I have done the translation for you, this could be better but I did my best. Your corrections are very welcome.

"Exonerating, Forgiveness and Letting go..."

• Exonerate : To Feel guilty is not only clinging to the past, but also hang in this because of a past event. And this blockage can range from minor discomfort to depression.

• Two main reasons for guilt : This feeling can be inculcate in early childhood and persist into adulthood. The adult can blame itself because it violates the values that he claims to endorse.
In all cases, guilt arises from the consciousness of having transgressed the moral codes or social.

It has many consequences: unconsciously punish themselves, reduces our self-confidence, undermines success, love, etc... Hence the importance of get rid of it.

• Forgiveness : Living with others can cause all sorts of injuries resulting frustrations, disappointments, troubles, sorrows, heartaches, betrayals, etc...
Others means the persons (family, husband's family, friends, neighbors, boss, colleagues, etc.. ...) and also institutions (medical system, religion, government, tax, etc ....)
There are so many opportunities to blame someone and develop a grudge, but this grudge is an emotional link, stonger than steel, that strongly ties you to that person.

When you do not forgive, you live in resentment, you cling yourself to the past, to the revenge ... It is a waste of time and energy in useless ruminations on the past.

Living in sorrow requires a lot of energy and maintains a constant stress.

Resentment can also create an attitude of paranoid defense that can attract attacks rightly feared. It is responsible for many psychosomatic diseases.

Refusing to forgive is now tarnishing your present with the unnecessary rancor and prevents you to live happily.

As for revenge, the satisfaction that you could get from it is very short. And it does not offset the damage that could occur in your relationships. Not only revenge triggers vicious circle of violence, but in addition it does nothing to heal the wounds of the injured, on the contrary, it exacerbates it.

→ Forgiveness (Forgiveness (including self-forgiveness), is "cure" is lighten, is set you free.

• Letting go : The day where we completely let go that might offend us, the day where we are no more "offensive", where we accept all the energies that we are reflected or sent, we do not even have to forgive.

The river of life can then flow freely
without obstacles ...

Source: http://patrick.leger24.free.fr/page/pardonner.html

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: Déculpabiliser, Pardonner, Lâcher prise…

PETRU GUELFUCCI - CORSICA

2009-09-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

Petru Guelfucci is a Corsica singer, born in 1955 in Sermanu. Emblematic figure in the revival of Corsican polyphony, he helped create the group Canta U Populu Corsu ....

This group will rekindle the flame of nationalism within a generation. "This was the period of reclaiming our heritage, says Guelfucci. It was the plague of the time. We were forbidden to speak Corsican in schools. »....

Petru Guelfucci did not succeed at first in his country France, but in Quebec. He then started an international career and earned a gold record in Canada. Petru is a real personality of the Corsican song, with a tone of voice quite unusual and a real sense of melody. Wikipedia

Il a écrit l'une des plus belles chansons évoquant l'Île de Beauté: Corsica (1991), et quand je l'ai entendue à la radio, je me suis procurée la cassette sans hésitation. Le chant corse est envoutant, c'est une harmonie qui ouvre le coeur et apaise l'esprit, c'est des voix pleines de couleur et de passion.

CORSICA

Découvrez la playlist CORSICA avec Petru Guelfucci

Petru Guelfucci official site

CORSICA sur : Amazon.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.fr

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: PIETRU GUELFUCCI - CORSICA

Letter of September 4, 2009 - My Volunteering

2009-09-13T14:25:00.001-07:00

Letter of September 4, 2009

Dear friend!

Well, there it is! I can announce it to you now. I joined the group of volunteers from the hospital. You know, those people who donate their time and raise funds for the activities of residents of the hospital. The average age of this group of volunteers is around 75 years and I confess that this is not the attractiveness that brought me there.

Behind this decision there is a story I would like to share with you. To start you knew that mom has always played music, often with groups. She accompanied the entertainers and choirs at festivals and homes for elders. Mom had to give up her activities one by one to keep only the one of the Association of Volunteers. She now plays at the organ and she accompany the choir at the religious office, on Saturdays and Wednesdays. This activity allows her to go out twice a week.

And now mom has mobility problems, she must walk with a cane, which makes her more irritable and she also began to panic: "There is no question that I leave this activity," she said "I'm not senile yet, you know! I am just having trouble walking. The day I will no longer go play music in the chapel of the hospital is that I'm in one of it's beds. "

Have you ever came at home? You would have found the house very big, with its 7 rooms and also the basement to maintain. But Mom is quite resourceful and has managed to get the label "disabled" which allows her to use paratransit services and she is also entitled to subsidized domestic help. It's good for her morale. She was embarrassed to receive people when her household was not done, even us, her childrens. We suggested, very gently so as not to offend, to go live in a senior home, it's smaller and she would have services nearby, but she would not absolutely want of that. She was afraid of not doing what she loves above all, play the piano, and at any time of day or night. She also has always lived in this house and she is accustomed to his neighborhood. I tried make her a visit more often, but again, I did not always felt myself welcome, perhaps because the household has not been done and she was feeling monitored.

So we were all a little worried, everyone on our side, with no daring to speak about it, and at Easter, when all the family was reunited, Francoise has addressed the issue. My sister, Francoise, is always at ease discussing some hot topics. She is the diplomat of the family and our mom makes her a full confidence. Francoise has had the idea to register herself as a volunteer at the hospital, to help our mother in her activity. Many residents are paralyzed and in a wheelchair and the volunteer's task is to lead them to the chapel and, after mass, bring them back to their room. My sister, is also assisting our mother in the distribution the song's books. She told me she wanted to experiment volunteering and finally, she told me she likes to do it. She has found the recognition she can not find in her workplace and she is so very happy.

A few weeks ago, I offered to replace Francoise so she could take a leave if necessary. It seems that my proposal was appropriate, as she wanted to go to Quebec city with her handsome husband, Lucien, for their 35th wedding anniversary. So I also gave my name as a volunteer, to the delight of organizers who are seeking replacement. So I attended several times at the pastoral activity and I have learned what were my sister's tasks, I have discovered that I enjoy singing. Volunteering allows me to do some different things and it provides me with new experiences that I will use later in my writing.

For example: Before the Mass, we are entitled to a free dinner with the chaplain. Those people of another generation have discussions rather curious and piquant, Ouch!, I prefer not to intervene, but I feel I'll have fun listening to them.

Since the spring, organizers are seeking someone who can work at the gift shop, a few hours on Sunday. I think I'll offer my services. I've never done that and I'd like to learn to use a cash register. We never know, maybe, when I'll retire, I will have some customers with a store, so I will know how this kind of business does work.

I'll write to you again to share with you some details of my daily life. It makes me feel good, you know, it's important for me to know that you're reading me.

Kisses and see you soon .....

Sincerely, Gelisa

This is a photo of my Mom that I took during the Christmas holidays last year.
She is 87 years old. She really doesn't look her age, isn't she?
She is very proud of us, having us besides her.

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: Lettre du 4 septembre 2009 - Mon bénévolat

Letter of September 2, 2009 - Hello You!

2009-09-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

Letter of September 2, 2009

Hello You!

I finally took the pen to make you a regular correspondence. I'm not a writer or a poet, but I love writing and I have so much to tell you, without restraint or fear of being judged, dear You, my friend passing thru this blog. This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, but where will I start.

I saw the nurse today, do not worry, I'm not sick, I do some blood pressure and my doctor follows me tightly on it. This is age, I suppose, and stress at work. You thought I was retired, I am enlightens you, I'm still working and I still have four years to do before my retiring, exactly 1390 days. I have install a counter on my Google page. I work as an administrative assistant in a logistics company, but my boss present me as "the controller". He says this is important for his business. Thus, it shows visitors that I controle his spending and that the company is well managed.

But this is not the reason why I write to you today, I'll tell you more about my work in another letter. I wanted to tell you that I am a grandmother of a wonderful little boy, Benoit, who was born last December. Here is his photo.

It happened very quickly, my son, Mathieu has finally decided to leave his Julie after seven years together. His dream was to have kids. He left Sarah, after she did an abortion of their baby. I have learned this much later, I also learned my son was very upset and he was depressive. Then he met Julie at the factory where he worked. They moved together. It seemed to me she was a suitable girl and he was apreciated in her family. They have often spoken of their desire to have children but Julie never became pregnant. I see that their relationship goes adrift. A few months after Christmas 2007, it quick I'm telling you, I learn that Mathieu has left her for an old classmate, Maryse, already mother of a 4 years old boy.

Their first visit was to announce me she was pregnant. I fell off my chair. I did not know that girl. I hope when my son knows what he does. And they asked me and my dear Henry, to be the godparents of this little boy, of course, we were very much happy.

I have so much to tell you, I will write you again with more news from me, from us, with ideas and memories. I hope my small letters are pleasing you, it's important for me to know that you read me.

Much hugs! ;-) I will write you very soon again.

Your friend, Gelisa

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: Lettre du 2 septembre 2009 - Bonjour toi!

O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU ?

2009-08-29T15:40:00.000-07:00

Release date : 2000
Directed by : Joel Coen
Starring : George Clooney, John Turturro
Country : États-Unis
Written by : Joel et Ethan Coen, loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey
Music by : T-Bone Burnett et Carter Burwell
Cast :
George Clooney : Ulysses Everett McGill
John Turturro : Pete Tim
Blake Nelson : Delmar
John Goodman : Big Dan Teague
Holly Hunter : Penny Chris
Thomas King : Tommy Johnson
Charles Durning : Pappy O'Daniel
Del Pentecost : Junior O'Daniel
Michael Badalucco : George « Babyface » Nelson

Plot:

In the 30s, three convicts escape from a chain gang. Ulysse(George Clooney)promised a fabulous treasure to his companions, cranky Pete (John Turturro) and Delmar candid (Tim Blake Nelson).

On their way, they meet Tommy Johnson (Chris Thomas King), a black guitarist with whom they recorded a song with dazzling success. Then, George "Babyface" (Michael Badalucco) drags them into his bank robberies. Then, the three escapees fall under the spell of three sirens.

When they wake up, Pete has disappeared. They follow Big Dan (John Goodman), who promised them the fortune before robbing them. On his arrival his home town, Ulysses finds his daughters and his ex-wife Penny (Holly Hunter), ready to marry Vernon T. Waldrip (Ray McKinnon).

Ulysses and Pete Delmar finally rescue Pete from jail, and liberate Tommy from the clutches of the Ku Klux Klan, and the day before the elections, will reveal the racist activities of Homer Stokes (Wayne Duvall), as opposed to good Pappy O'Daniel (Charles Durning) ...

Inspired by Homer's Odyssey what is considered by many to be ... influence can be seen in the popular movie

PREVIEW

My rating:
I was spellbound by the beautiful performance of the 3 prisoners "loosers" escapees, who throughout the film never cease to amaze us.

The music of the Southern States in the 30s is very present throughout the film and songs are an irresistible charm. Dailleurs, everything in this film charmed me ......

Sirens bewitch our three lads, George Clooney is at its peak and we can only be seduced by the characters who seem so naive and innocent.

This film is a moment of pure happiness and is said to be one of the best films of the Coen brothers.

SONG OT THE SIRENS

O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU ?

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DVD Soundtrack	DVD Soundtrack	DVD Soundtrack

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: O BROTHER...(FR)

THE BUTTERFLY LOVERS

2009-08-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

When I drive, the radio plays the Concerto for Violin "Butterfly Lovers", but never completely because this masterpiece is too long. This work was composed in 1958 by the chinese composers Chen Gang and He Zhanhao. The concerto lasts around 30 minutes and is one of the major works of modern China. You will remain hooked to the beauty the violin's music... It's a real treat that confirms what was said Claude Debussy: "Music begins where words are powerless, it is made for the inexpressible ..."

But before moving on to dessert, I would like to introduce you this little video taken in June 2006. These accrobatic dancers of one famous Guangzhou Circus School have practiced 9 years to realize these acrobatic feats. What seemed impossible has become reality by dint of passion, work and mutual trust. I can hardly find words to describe this perfect show!

THE ACCROBATIC BALLET

YouTube url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1DqfJtd3sU

Butterfly Lovers is a Chinese legend which origins were traced in the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907). Adapted in traditional Chinese opera, Tsui Hark has made known this legend in cinema with the film called "The Lovers", produced in 1994, starring Charlie Young and Nicky Wu.

SYNOPSIS

It is the story of a young girl, Zhu Yingtai, a native of Shangyu, her parents dressed her as a boy so she can go to study in Hangzhou, a school prohibited to girls.

During her trip, she meets Liang Shan Bo. They studied together for three years during which their ties are strengthened. When it came time to leave, Zhu offers him to marry her sister (nonexistent). The young man then stays with his friend, he discovers her true feminine nature and they become lovers.

Unfortunately, the two lovers are issued from different social environment, and parents refuse to marry them, especially that Zhu is already promised to Ma Wencai.

They then decided to commit suicide, and they turned into butterflies.

"THE LOVERS" MOVIE PARTS

This album is the best interpretation of the Concerto I know, but I have not found a free music player to play it in its entirety.

You can find it online on an Amazon's store..
Amazon.com
Amazon.fr
Amazon.ca

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: LES AMANTS PAPILLONS

CHARLIE

2009-08-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

My little dog, Charlie, is a 4 years bichon/chi tsu.He's small in size but has a huge heart.
We're in love with this little hair ball ....

Little pee on waking up, when going out to pick the newspaper.

Around 9 o'clock, when weather is nice, we're going for a long walk at the parc.We detach the dog to let him wander around. He loves running in the morning dew and rolling in the still wet grass, so that he will be covered of green spots. He also likes doing car rides with us. We have installed cushions so he could see outside when we are rolling.

He does not bark except when our childrens come to visit us, then he barks some sounds of extreme excitement and he moves his tail so hard that he tappe himself on the ears.

We adopted this dog when he was 10 months, and he was never barking. So we thought he had problems with his vocal chords, we knew some dogs were operate for not to bark. But we were reassured when we heard Charlie barking in his dreams: Small barking, very tiny, and grunts of St. Bernard, Very surprising from such a small beast..

His treats: liver and chicken breast.

Here's a little video with Charlie taken at the park....

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: CHARLIE

Le Sentier de Roquemont - Les Racines ( The roots )

2009-08-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

This historical novel is a saga in 3 volumes of which takes place in Saint-Raymond, Portneuf County, written by René Ouellet.

Résume: 1936, the day of his marriage to Anna Robitaille, Majella Roquemont, young man voluntary and courageous, gets an offer he can't refuse. Then begins the saga of Majella which, for the survival of his people, would accept all challenges, all professions: Surveyor, logger, guide, lumberman, merchant. Life was hard for forestry workers and their families.

About this book :

Europe: Amazon.fr
Québec/Canada/USA : Amazon.com

Why all this hatred?

2009-08-20T11:10:00.001-07:00

Version originale de ce billet: Pourquoi toute cette haine?

I found this video of TRUTHdesigner and I am quite disturbed.

I will not ask why all this hatred in the hearts of men,

I will not ask why these people teaches children hatred and destruction rather than love,

I have no comment to make, I think everything has already been said and they all have their reason. I believe in love, mountains of love and prayer to break all this hate.

Is there still love in this world?

There is always prayer, Let us pray

I also invite non-believers to join me in thought and meditate on peace.

THE FOLLOWING PRAYER authorized by Christian, Jewish and Muslim Clergy was used in many places in inter-religious worship around the time of the Gulf war in 1991:

Eternal God, Creator of the universe, there is no God but you.

Great and wonderful are Your works, wondrous are your ways. Thank you for the many splendoured variety of Your creation.

Thank you for the many ways we affirm Your presence and purpose,and the freedom to do so.

Forgive our violation of Your creation.

Forgive our violence toward each other.

We stand in awe and gratitude for Your persistent lovefor each and all of Your children:Christian, Jew, Muslim,as well as those with other faiths.

Grant to all and our leaders attributes of the strong:
mutual respect in words and deed,restraint in the exercise of power, and the will for peace with justice, for all.

Eternal God, Creator of the universe, there is no God but You.

Amen.

(Excerpted from Current Dialogue 24/93, p. 36)

The Bewitched Canoe

2009-08-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

This is a popular french canadian tale. After a night of heavy drinking on New Year's Eve, a group of loggers, working in an isolated winter camp want to visit their sweethearts some 300 miles away. The only way to make such a long journey and be back in time for work the next morning is to run the "chasse-galerie". However, the travelers must not mention God's name or touch the cross of any church steeple as they whisk by in the flying canoe. If either of these rules are broken during the voyage, then the Devil will have their souls.

In Quebec, the best known version is written by Honoré Beaugrand in 1900. Beaugrand was a Freemason Luciferian. This particular story can be traced back to a French legend about a rich nobleman named Gallery who loved to hunt.He loved it so much that he refused to attend Sunday mass. As punishment for this sin he was condemned to forever fly through the night skies, chased by galloping horses and howling wolves, in a fashion reminiscent of the Wild Hunt.

La Chasse-galerie by Henri Julien (1852-1908)

The Legend of the Flying Canoe (La Chasse-galerie) (1996)

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: La chasse galerie

I have stop smoking, August 21st, 1998

2009-08-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Several have asked me how I could stop smoking. I did not just "tried",

I have done it and everyone can stop also !!!!!

STOP TABAC

Well, I am not here to promote an organization more than another, but the Stop Tabac website really helped me in my decision.

Here are some steps I used, which were really necessary for me to quit smoking.

First I went to Stop Tabac seek necessary tools to condition my mind. It is impossible for a smoker to stop just like that, overnight. Stopping smoking is a project that is prepared well in advance. Literature and evidence on the site Stop Tabac prepared me mentally.

Then I decided the better date to quit smoking. This special date must be decided long enough in advance and must be a rest period and shoud last at least a week.

We must be prepare for this very important time of weaning. We must also inform our friends about our project. I asked a friend who had stopped smoking for several months to help me. I asked those who love me to accompany me in my decision. I treated myself with fragrances, fine foods, new clothing to celebrate my decision.

I rested the first week. I slept a lot and drank plenty of water. I was always hungry. Water helps to alleviate hunger and to release toxins from your system.

A very important exercise when you want to smoke. Take a deep breath, as if pulling on a cigarette. The brain will interpret it as if you were really smoking and it will pass. I used cinnamon sticks that are the same size of a cigarette. And what's more, the taste of cinnamon was spreading in my mouth when I was breathing.

The return to normal life is a crucial moment. I would't want to start smoking again. I avoid encounters with smokers. At that time, smoking was permitted in bars and restaurants. So I avoided these places , far from temptation.

We must live withdrawal one day at a time and give ourselves all the chances and over the weeks, the urge to smoke disappear. I have used the money saved to treat myself, after all, quitting smoking is almost a heroic act.

My urge to smoke has been shown by a continual hunger. We must ignore it and, I repeat again, we must drink a lot of water.

Excuse my english, I am french speaking and don't hesitate to correct me in your comments.

Thanks for reading me, and I invite you to share your comments.

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: J'ai arrêté de fumer le 21 août 1998

Ahimsa!

2009-08-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

« Whereas a good deed should call forth approbation and a wicked deed disapprobation, the doer of the deed, whether good or wicked always deserves respect or pity as the case may be. "Hate the sin and not the sinner" is a precept which, though easy enough to understand, is rarely practised, and that is why the poison of hatred spreads in the world. This ahimsa is the basis of the search for truth. I am realizing every day that the search is vain unless it is founded on ahimsa as the basis. It is quite proper to resist and attack a system, but to resist and attack its author is tantamount to resisting and attacking oneself. For we are all tarred with the same brush, and are children of one and the same Creator, and as such the divine powers within us are infinite. To slight a single human being is to slight those divine powers, and thus to harm not only that being but with him the whole world. »

— Retrieved from The Story of My Experiments with Truth/Part IV/A Tussle with Power , written by Mohandas K. Gandhi

VERSION ORIGINALE DE CE BILLET: Ahimsâ (FR)

Your Privacy

2008-12-07T20:35:00.000-08:00

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Gelisa, August 2009

THE HELL CAR

2008-10-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

MY HALLOWEEN GIFT

THE CAR - HORROR !!!!!!!!

HORRIFYING SOUVENIR

Here's an old 1970s movie that have captivated me and I will never forget it. The Car , directed by Elliot Silverstein. Remarkable stuntmens, no fake effects, and terrifying sound effects, including the sound of the horn every time the car hits a new victim. Seeing this movie again and It gave me the same effect than at the time.

THE TRAILOR

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE WHOLE MOVIE (IN FRENCH)

VISITORS BOOK

2008-10-01T16:29:00.000-07:00

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