Summer in Matane

Summer has come...finally!!! and here are the pics of the garden.. The cherry trees are blooming flowers, and soon, the fruits will be bursting out.. and on the side of the wall, would be the rosemary, salads, and peppers... or something else.. i cant even remember now..

Bugged!

the past 3 days of fever, sniffles, coughing like a dog..... and this is practically ME!

Real Girl - Mutya

Thanks to Eleanor (see, i did mention your name, moron!)..hehehe
She sent me this song couple of weeks ago, and i am loving it!

The video from Youtube is awesome too.

Real Girl - Mutya

If I had one chance to

In my life again

I wouldn't make no changes

Now or way back when (yeah)

And if everything turns out

The way I hope it goes

But I cant wait to find out

What it is that God knows

But I don't wanna think about

What's gonna come around for me

I'll just take it day by day

'

Cause it's the only way

To be the best that I can be

I never pretend to be something I'm not

You get what you see, when you see what I've got

We live in the real world, I'm just a real girl

I know exactly where I stand

And all I can do is be true to myself

I don't need permission from nobody else

'Cause this is the real world,

I'm not a little girlI know exactly who I am

And nothing's ever perfect

There's no guarantee

And if I knew the answers

It would put my mind at ease (no)

So I'll just keep on going

The way I've gone so far

And maybe I'll end up

Tryin' to catch a fallin star (yeah)

But I don't wanna think about

What's gonna come around for me

I'll just take it day by day

'Cause it's the only way

To be the best that I can be

I never pretend to be something I'm not

You get what you see, when you see what I've got

We live in the real world, I'm just a real girl

I know exactly where I stand

And all I can do is be true to myself

I don't need permission from nobody else

'Cause this is the real world,

I'm not a little girl

I know exactly who I am

Baby this is who I am

Don't need you to understand

'Cause everything is right where it should be

It wont be long til you know about me,

'Cause I don't give a...

Even when I'm out of love

Post Secret This Week

When i was in Matane couple of months ago, we managed to buy Post Secret from amazon.ca, and it was worth the money.. all those interesting postcards.

This week, they have interesting new posts... am going to cut and paste down here and share it for i can relate to them... :) and i thank God for His blessings..always!

Have a good Tuesday, SuperN, tomorrow, the start of midweek crisis..i have decided to stare at someone and say, you're IT and run like the demon is chasing me! hahahah...

Take care folks!


-----Email Message-----
Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2007 3:30 AM
Subject: happy with who i've become

it feels like my whole life has been full of losses. but more than ever i am so happy with the way i am too. ive learned so much about myself and am glad i can honestly say i respect myself. every loss we face is a moment we have survived. and everyday i feel like a stronger person because of those misfortunes. i dont know how i did it or how i will for the rest of my life. but without losses, i wouldnt know who i am right now. its a beautiful thing!

-----End Message----------

Email Message-----Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2007 3:21 AM
Subject: year of losses

It's funny how losing everything helps you find yourself.So I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has believed rumors, hated me, tormented me, screwed me over, and abandoned me this year. You made me who I am. And I finally love myself.

-----End Message----------

Email Message-----
Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2007 1:53 AM
Subject: happily

Frank--Today I begin my path to my happily ever after. The tears that your project has brought to my eyes have been healing, sorrowful, joyful, and sad. Most of all, they are reflections my life in others' secrets.As for my happily ever after, I'm not going to give up on it. For the first time in my life, I'm sticking to something until I find it, even if I have to go it alone, with just the help of the secrets I see on your site every Sunday. Step by step I'll get there, some smaller steps than others, but I'll get there.--Ashely

Aging...

Feli, thanks for this one... made my Monday more bearable, plus a Grande Latte from Starbucks!!... hahaha

George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids?

If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. "How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . . you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED ; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60. You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT !

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime And it doesn't end there.

Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92." Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!" May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."

2. Keep only cheerful friends . The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer , crafts, gardening , whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud . Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music , plants, hobbies , whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it . If it is unstable,improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9 Don't take guilt trips . Take a trip to the mall , even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10.Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER : Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away .

And if you don 't send this to at least 8 people - who cares???

But do share this with someone. We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!

God Foedselsdag Mikkel!

Mikkel, your birthday is today.
We will listen to what you say.
Tell us now what we should do.
We will do it just for you!
Mikkel, your birthday is today!
Happy, happy, happy day!

With Hugs and Love,

Uncle Lars and Aunt Idah

Summer.. hhhmm, in Singapore?

Singapore is very much an island with tropical weather, not so much like Hawaii, but i would like to think, we're cool enough... where east meets west, although i can't say much for our Ms Universe contestants... *FAINT*

Everyday is summer here, it's either sunny or thunderstorm, and playing in the rain is the best thing ever...:D

Okie, SuperN, let me combine my stay in Matane with Lars during summer (although 18 degrees is not summer to me) and the summer here in Singapore... heheeh.

1. Eating caramel ice-cream cone with Lars while driving through town.

2. Eating fresh cold water-melons,mangoes and oranges after u come home from the hot sun!

3. Heavy platter of rain after a hot day!... and you pretend to walk slowly although home is just 10 steps away...hehehe

4. The trip to this garden, created by some people for delinquent kids to spend time other than doing other weird stuff.. they had nice berries to eat!!

5. Eating cherries, rasberries and strawberries in Lars garden! my first time doing it, and it was really really good!!..hahah

6. Taking a long cold shower, and no kids banging on the bathroom door at my sis place

7. How beautifully bright the sun is... and how much i would run to the nearest mall for some air-conditioning!!!!! kekekekek

8. Last but not least... after spending bitter cold winter in Canada, summer is always very much welcomed!

cats and coffee.. something for my mid-week crisis

The Road

Cormac McCarthy's The Road has been awarded the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

I am not a fan of all Oprah's pick on books, but this one, she didnt do wrong!

Feli, it's a must buy or please wait till June! :D

Answering Machine Says...

1. Sorry I can’t get to the phone right now because my girlfriend and I are doing our favorite thing together. Personally I like doing it up and down, while she likes doing it side-to-side r-e-a-l slow...
So I’ll get back to you when we finish brushing our teeth.

2. "911 - What is your emergency?"

3. Hi! John's answering machine is broken. This is his refrigerator. Please speak very slowly and I'll stick your message to myself with one of these magnets.

4. Hi. This is John: If you are the phone company, I already sent the money. If you are my parents, please send money. If you are my financial aid institution, you didn't lend me enough money. If you are my friends, you owe me money. If you are a female, don't worry, I have plenty of money.

5. This is not an answering machine this is a telepathic thought-recording device. After the tone, think about your name, your reason for calling, and a number where I can reach you, and I'll think about returning your call.

6. Hello. I'm home right now but cannot find the phone. Please leave a message and I will call you back as soon as I find it.

7. A is for academics, B is for beer. One of those reasons is why we're not here. So leave a message.

8. Hi, I'm not home right now, but my answering machine is, so you can talk to it instead. Wait for the beep.

9. Please leave a beep at the message.

10. Please leave your name and number, and after I've doctored the tape, your message will implicate you in a federal crime and be brought to the attention of the FBI.

The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,


And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.


I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Odd Thomas - Dean Koontz

During my stay in Matane, i read the last series to Odd Thomas. I will wait with much fingers drumming for Koontz to write another one of Odd adventures, "loop me in, odd one"

I now leave you with excerpts and reviews...

Excerpts:

CHAPTER ONE

Embraced by stone, steeped in silence, I sat at the high window as the third day of the week surrendered to the fourth. The river of night rolled on, indifferent to the calendar.
I hoped to witness that magical moment when the snow began to fall in earnest. Earlier the sky had shed a few flakes, then nothing more. The pending storm would not be rushed.

The room was illuminated only by a fat candle in an amber glass on the corner desk. Each time a draft found the flame, melting light buttered the limestone walls, and waves of fluid shadows oiled the corners.

Most nights, I find lamplight too bright. And when I'm writing, the only glow is the computer screen, dialed down to gray text on a navy-blue field.

Without a silvering of light, the window did not reflect my face. I had a clear view of the night beyond the panes.

Living in a monastery, even as a guest rather than as a monk, you have more opportunities than you might have elsewhere to see the world as it is, instead of through the shadow that you cast upon it.

St. Bartholomew's Abbey was surrounded by the vastness of the Sierra Nevada, on the California side of the border. The primeval forests that clothed the rising slopes were themselves cloaked in darkness.

From this third-floor window, I could see only part of the deep front yard and the blacktop lane that cleaved it. Four low lampposts with bell-shaped caps focused light in round pale pools.

The guesthouse is in the northwest wing of the abbey. The ground floor features parlors. Private rooms occupy the higher and the highest floors.

As I watched in anticipation of the storm, a whiteness that was not snow drifted across the yard, out of darkness, into lamplight.

The abbey has one dog, a 110-pound German-shepherd mix, perhaps part Labrador retriever. He is entirely white and moves with the grace of fog. His name is Boo.

My name is Odd Thomas. My dysfunctional parents claim a mistake was made on the birth certificate, that Todd was the wanted name. Yet they have never called me Todd.

Reviews:

"Engaging?. An irresistibly offbeat mix of supernatural horror and laugh-out-loud humor."—Publishers Weekly

"Odd Thomas' latest adventure will make a believer out of even the hardest-nosed soul."—Denver Post

"An irresistibly offbeat mix of supernatural horror and laugh-out-loud humor."—Arizona Daily Star

Spring, Where Art Thou

Spring, Where Art Thou - by Idah X
This one's for you sweetie...


O' Winter
Your Presence Were Felt

Your Soft Whites Ever so Pure
Glistening Under The Sunlight
Though Dark, Gray Storms
Were One Too Many At Times

May is Beckoning…
April is Leaving…

Won’t You Leave and
Let Us Be Merry…

Till August.. Bring It On!

Well, i am back at my old job, good thing was, boss didnt ask back for his Tag Heuer watch..heheh, or i would have given him the look or kick his ass, ok, i hope he doesnt read this.

My 1 month with Lars made me realise, there are loads of ups and downs in one's life, be it personal or own creation. Communication is the essence and having few close friends and love ones, makes it easier, for it is difficult for them at the same time.

Family matters, no matter where you are, Lars family is one good example, no matter how far apart he is from his family, they are close knit, it was not easy for either, but time, as always, will mend and heal everything.

My family, no matter how weird, how scary we get at times, we are as close as it gets, being just miserable happy, if there is such word. Coming home and arguing with sis had never been such fun, or listening to kids screaming... and then when the jetlag has worn off and reality kicks in, you need 2 aspirin just so the throbbing pain will stop at some point... hahahahah.

I am looking forward to August now, to be together with my better half.. till then, i have driving lessons, screaming babies strapping to my legs, siblings to argue with, mum to drive up the wall, friends to get merry with and last but foremost, my work!!!!! I always say, Good Lord loves me, and He does...

Have a great week ahead!

This is Idah signing off..

Be Kind To Animals, Kick Only Human!

Happy Birthday Dad!

To my Dad on his day,

Of whom I am a living will:

May your happiness fulfill

Your goodness, as is just and right.

Deeds are seeds upon the night

As wind and wonder have their way,

Delivering the destined light.

Happy Birthday!, Til lykke med fødselsdagen!, Voeux de bonheur!

With Much Love From Us Both!

Hope you enjoyed your holiday in Greece...

much excerpts from the Net....

One Headlight - The Wallflowers

Gerard, Jude and I would meet up whenever we felt that its been a long while since we had wine, smoke till our lungs burst or most probably mine and listen to songs, all our favourite songs. Gerard would be the DJ, and Jude at times. I just smoke and sing till someone shouts at me to shut up.

There is this one song i love, One Headlights, by The Wallflowers. I have been listening to it on YouTube, reminiscing ol`days. Jude is now married and the last time we met was a year ago, Gerard has been busy with work, we try to meet once a week but call each other once a day to make sure one is still alive and kicking. Best friends do that, i guess, but i think we do it cos we dont have anything better to do than to drive each other crazy.

I do not have his picture now to show (he`s single and available, by the way). I`ll do a blog on him on his birthday, well, maybe, if he`s nice enough..

So, if anyone has a chance to listen to this song... it`s my song!


One Headlight - The Wallflowers

So long ago, I don't remember when
That's when they say I lost my only friend
Well they said she died easy of a broken heart disease
As I listened through the cemetery trees
I seen the sun comin' up at the funeral at dawn
The long broken arm of human law
Now it always seemed such a waste
She always had a pretty face So I wondered how she hung around this place

Chorus: Hey, come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than In the middle
But me & Cinderella We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight

She said it's cold
It feels like Independence Day
And I can't break away from this parade
But there's got to be an opening Somewhere here in front of me
Through this maze of ugliness and greed
And I seen the sun up ahead At the county line bridge
Sayin' all there's good and nothingness is dead
We'll run until she's out of breath
She ran until there's nothin' left
She hit the end-it's just her window ledge

(chorus)

Well this place is old
It feels just like a beat up truck
I turn the engine, but the engine doesn't turn
Well it smells of cheap wine & cigarettes
This place is always such a mess
Sometimes I think I'd like to watch it burn
I'm so alone, and I feel just like somebody else
Man, I ain't changed, but I know I ain't the same
But somewhere here in between the city walls of dyin' dreams
I think her death it must be killin' me

Trip To Gaspé

Before i start on my trip to Gaspé this morning, i would like to share a story given to me by Ina, Lars mum. She wrote me an email last week when i could not find any positive or happy thoughts being in Matane during winter...

Ina, i hope you don`t mind me using your email version of the story, my way of saying thank you for caring! :D

The story of Pollyanna has been filmed and there are 3 books about her. They are written in the 20ties I think, but the moral in them are valid even today. I read them as a little girl, but I have used her method all my life and have told about it whenever I thought it could be understand. Once I had a young man in prison who couldn`t see any light ahead and whenever I saw him after that he raised his hand, gave me a smile and shouted: Pollyanna! No one but us knew what that meant, so here it is:

Pollyanna is a little girl, living in Africa with her parents, who were preaching the word of Lord Jesus. The parents die in a car accident and P. are sent back to England to live with an old aunt, who knew nothing about childrens need and grief. The aunt was good to Pollyanna, they lived with the days in strictly rituals, You know breakfast at 8, scool to 12, then I hours sleep, then tea, reading, 1 hours walk to exercise and no variations at all. P. was told not to talk about her parents, not to cry and she was very sad and lonely, no joy at all. Every night she prayed to God as she used to do in Africa and after telling God about her sorrows, praying for good health to the people she knew, she had learned to end every prayer with something to say thanks for. And she couldn`t find anything to be happy about and to thank God for. But anyway she always managed to find something. The first night she thanked God that she only had to eat porridge once a day. The next day something else, very small pleasures but as the time went by she became very good and adventurious in finding “Happy Things”
She was so positive all the time, that her sorrows dimmnissed and as time went by, learned her old aunt to be a happy person too.

*******************************************************************************

We woke up at 4.30am, picked up Jean-Pierre and headed to Gaspé, 3/4 hours away from Matane for Lars business meeting. It was raining, foggy, but the mountain sights were beautiful, with clouds hanging, windmills, and lake. It was still gray, but i realise, the big rocks had crystal snow coming down and it looks like a fall, a frozen fountain.. beautiful...

It`s 9.30am now, and i am at Gaspé University library, listening to songs from YouTube, typing on my blog and replying emails to friends. They have a wide collection of English books and literature (yes, literature!!!!!.. thank you Lord! )

Ina, i have found the happy things for today, i will let you know what i can find tomorrow on our weekly Friday email.

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

Have you had one of those days when a song sticks to your head like your niece clamping on your feet when you have an ice-cream in hand?? well, i had the privilege of having this one song playing over and over in my head till i thought everyone looked like music icons... hehhehehe

Enjoy!!! Hope it sticks to your head now. HA HA!

Chasing Cars

We'll do it all
Everything On our own
We don't need Anything Or anyone
If I lay here If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
I don't quite know How to say How I feel
Those three words Are said too much They're not enough
If I lay here If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
Let's waste time Chasing cars Around our heads
I need your grace To remind me To find my own
If I lay here If I just lay here Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
All that I am All that I ever was Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see
I don't know where Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all
If I lay here If I just lay here Would you lie with me and just forget the world

pictures... start from below...

lars backyard when we got home..




lars scraping snow after snow storm..hehehehe

me in montreal

when decisions have to be made

its been a long while since i wrote on my blog, i have been in matane, canada for 1.5 weeks now, and today the sun is shining brightly, reflections on the snow has that glittering light, temperature is up to -8..this was a beautiful day!

when you have been having dark, gray, cold windy, snowy week, and temperature down to -38, this is those days you get off bed and thank the Lord for the sun!

i never realise how it felt being alone at home, where every little sound you hear makes you jump up and wonder where it came from. i am known not to be brave when it comes to new strange place and left to myown revision and having a vivid and imaginative mind does not help either.

sometimes, being solace makes you think,and at times, it makes you think weird also, but as it is said... what does not kill you, makes you better, it has to!


only after talking and discussion did i realise how we both were not ready to take this plunge of wedded bliss in july...., it has to be right, it has to feel right and knowing that you love each other more and the feelings are stronger after talking about it does it feel so right.


i know some may read this and wonder what the hell is she talking about.. well, for those who does, this decision was made not base on me being a coward or butterflies in the stomach...

1 divorced family is enough to last me a lifetime, i want mine to last forever and to do that, i need to know i am ready and look back and say to myself.. wow, i have crossed that bridge!

waiting till dec 2007 is not so bad after alll, there will be more planning, more things organised and especially more of my unhealthy thoughts organised!

learning french for the time being would be a good idea too!!!..

Au Revoir... till my next blog update, some pictures for you guys out there, in case writing too much gets a little bit boring!!!

oh yes, can someone please update me on Heroes!!! i have been missing it for 2 episodes now... FAINT!!!