A Revision

Friendly Fridays

2005-08-19T05:54:00.001-06:00

Inspired by Wednesday's blog, I have decided to start a Friends of the Friendless Marching Band.

Join the band by leaving a comment and stating the instrument of your choice. Multiple instruments are needed so don't be discouraged from joining just because your favorite instrument has already been chosen.

Friends of the Friendless band members are asked to find a friendless blog and submit them to me via a comment.I will visit these blogs and feature one of them on the following Friendless Friday. The other friendless sites submitted will also be listed that Friday.
A friendless site should have less than 5 comments a post(but mainly goose eggs) and/or if there is a site meter, less than 10 visitors a day. They should be over six months old and updated regularly.

Friend of the Friendless are asked to visit the posted friendless sites each week and leave an encouraging word. Tell them that you are a member of the Friends of the Friendless Marching Band.

Courage To Conquer

2008-08-24T20:45:00.006-06:00

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the 77th Annual Convention for Toastmaster’s International. In being there, I partook in the vision of the originator of Toastmasters, Ralph C. Smedley. In 1924, he was the Director of Education for the Young Men’s Christian Association, the YMCA. He saw that the young men at Santa Ana, California needed training in public speaking.

The vision that Mr. Smedley had for those men 84 years ago in Santa Ana is now being realized by almost 235,000 members, men and women, from across the world. The vision as written today is, “Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. Through our member clubs, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, and find the courage to change.”

The winner for this year’s World Championship was La Shunda Rundles. She gave a stirring and sassy account of her battle with Lupus with the help of her Mother’s firmness who taught her to speak through her fears.

Katherine Morrison, my favorite International Speech Contestant,spoke of overcoming the bullying that she encountered in school. Through the belief and encouragement of a teacher,she found she had the choice of what to believe about herself. She overcame her self doubts to earn a PhD in Public Health from the University of South Carolina. She placed 3rd out of the 10 contestants. Her stage presence exuded strength especially when she strutted off the stage with her doctoral hood draped over her shoulders.

Pamela Wallin, Canadian journalist, former Consul General in New York city, an Officer of the Order of Canada, received the Golden Gavel Award this year. This is given to non-Toastmasters who have achieved excellence in communication. She spoke eloquently of the impact of others on her life beginning with growing up in a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada which taught her the valuable lessons of community and civility.

I learned that people are not only conquering their fear of public speaking but other fears as well. The president of Toastmaster’s, Jana Barnhill, gave an inspiring speech of her victory over her fear of heights. She was in a small plane when it was caught into a storm at night. It tossed them about for 2 hours before they crash landed. The finale of her speech was a video of her skydiving. The theme she chose for Toastmasters in the coming year is “The Courage to Conquer”.

Another woman next to me at the dinner table told me of her own battle with the fear of heights. Through will and determination, she is attempting to become a 46er. These are people that climb the 46 Adirondack Mountains in the New York state. She has climbed three of them so far.

“Didn’t you panic?” I asked her. “Oh, yes. They had to drag and push me across this last precipice. I only had 100 feet to go to get to the summit. Then when we got there I refused to go back down.” I knew she had to get down somehow,..she told me that there happened to be another route down that particular mountain, a very steep road. They all had pretty achy feet after that but she did it with the help of her friends.

I volunteered to assist people off the stage for the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is where distinguished Toastmasters and Districts are recognized; it is like the Academy Awards for Toastmasters. I watched as a blind woman, then a woman with leg braces walked across the stage. No doubt there were countless others whose handicaps were not obvious to me. Okay, the blind are still blind and the lame are still lame but now they have confidence. The look on their faces told me that they achieved their dream. They have changed.

What about me? I gave this speech after less than a week’s preparation. It usually takes me four because. I have been too afraid to make a mistake or fall from the mountain. I thank God for Toastmasters because with their help and with His help, I am beginning to believe in the vision too. I see a competent, confident and courageous person climbing a summit today.

I want to add to this, a thank you to my blogpals for their interest in my life. You have helped me to believe in myself.

Thank you.

Cranking It Out

2007-04-25T22:24:00.000-06:00

Ever since forever,
I said to the jumping jack,
dangling from a box
in the middle of a stage,
"Don't be a showoff!

Minimize your words, s.o.
refrain those sunny aspirations
and if
you do well
and are well
Keep it yourself, sunbeams can't play forever!"

Now listen to the response to the person in the back row
"When the melody ends, I will jump and be glad for I have done well. I am well"

Excerpts from a Life: An Epilogue

2007-08-07T23:51:00.000-06:00

In my series of excerpts from my journals in the 70's, I talked a lot about my crush on Chevy, a fellow student at my High School. I lost weight and became anorexic in trying to win this boy but to no avail. I never even talked to him, except to ask for his autograph in my Grade 11 yearbook.

Epilogue: August 3, 2007

I was at my 30th High School Reunion this weekend.
At the evening get together, I told my Husband that I was looking for Chevy.
I noticed this fellow (a chunky man, kind of) with graying black hair and dark eyes. I looked at him and thought I might've known him. Our eyes met but I looked away, not knowing him after all. I had been looking at people like that ever since we arrived in my my hometown, trying to find faces that I might remember.

Then this kinda chunky man got up and I followed him (with my eyes). He walked up to me. "Hi Carol," he said. I looked quickly at his name tag and replied, "Hi Chevy."

Not wanting the moment to end, I invited him to sit down with my Husband and I. He proceeded to tell us, at record speed, his life story. I interrupted him at one point to ask, "Did you always talk this much?"

I felt like I was going to cry after a while; I knew my face showed it.

'Cause Saturday night's the night I like...

2007-12-08T23:33:00.001-07:00

Saturday night's alright, alright, alright.

My Daughter says it is my favorite day...

because that is when I plan the next week's schedule.

Alright!

Friends, I am feeling well...

2008-01-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge!

On to the Next One

2008-07-20T22:52:00.003-06:00

I was watching a travel show with my family a couple of evenings ago. It was about Switzerland. I am very afraid of heights so even watching the footage from the mountain tops made me feel uneasy. The finale was a shot of a mountain where you had to actually travel through an ice cave to get to the top. The travel host said you had to be careful not to walk too fast for the air was thin.

I said to my family how I would feel if I went on such a trek. My Middle Daughter said, "You would want to go up every mountain after that."

That is how I am doing now. I am up high where the air is thin.

Sainted Women

2008-05-21T23:24:00.003-06:00

fragile folds in robes
immortally marbled
by ancient sculptors

A Kite

2008-05-20T12:35:00.004-06:00

I read a book a while ago written by W. O. Mitchell titled "A Kite." It was about an old man over 100 whose life is seen as an analogy of flying a kite.
I had tried flying a kite before as a child but was never able to even get it up in the air. Yesterday, we were at the farm and my Mother-in-Law found a kite in the basement. She carefully led us to a safe place to fly it, away from power lines.

As a family, we took turns flying it. My Husband went first, doing well but handing it over to his Son so he could enjoy the feeling. My Son kept the kite soaring for a long time although it was his first time. I was amazed at how artfully it flew under his guidance. My Middle Daughter kept the kite high in the air although not as high as my Son. When it came down, it gently touched the ground.

I couldn't keep my eyes off the kite, thinking of the story of the old man. I had to try it myself.

I let the line out quickly, thinking how easy it was. It seemed to be flying very high from my point of view but suddenly it plummeted to the ground. My Son came to help me wind the string back up. I asked him what I did wrong. He replied that it was the speed with which I let the string out and that I could play with it by tugging back at the string then letting it out.
He told me that he had caught his fingers in the string but I had never noticed becaused he didn't panic as I might've but gently took the line in his other hand so the string could relax and he was freed.

Oh...

Nice Surprise

2008-04-14T22:06:00.000-06:00

Your Social Anxiety Level: 40%

You have low social anxiety.

Of course very unfamiliar or strange situations make you uncomfortable.

But you can pull through and handle almost any social occasion with grace.

Are You Socially Anxious?

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

2008-04-01T11:05:00.005-06:00

I started a reading program during my recuperation.

I finished A Midsummer Night’ Dream as I enjoyed the morning in bed. I chose this book because my Middle Daughter was studying it in her Language Arts class and we read the first scene together.

She ran off to finish it with her classmates and teacher while I struggled behind. It was a difficult read for me 60% of the time. The parts where I caught on were like a joyous dance, “Hey I am getting this!”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a play within a play. The plot revolves around a love pyramid of four young Athenians: Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena. It took me awhile to get this pyramid straight but it got more confusing once the fairy king got involved with his own problems which he tried to rectify with magic love juice.

This story is a classic love comedy with enthralling twists for any age and era. I especially like the fact that I read it because of my 16 year old. She wrote, as a class project, a journal from Helena’s perspective. I can’t wait to read it.

An Update

2008-02-22T14:34:00.005-07:00

Hi Everyone,
It was Revision's 3rd Anniversary on Feb 19th! I haven't left the blogging world even though I haven't been posting lately.

Right now, I am in the hospital and have been here for the last three days. Life without medication will have to wait. I am doing well though, so don't be like me and worry...

Love ya!

I've Been Tagged !

2008-01-24T08:15:00.001-07:00

1.WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I was named after my Dad's favorite aunt...

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
This morning...

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Not sure, it is getting more like chicken scratch every year...

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Turkey...

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yep...

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Definitely...

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT?
Alot? What is a lot?

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Nope.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Only if my life depended on it!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Muffets. (Have you heard of this one?)

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Yes.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Getting there...

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
I like them all.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
If they are an introvert or extrovert.

15. RED OR PINK?
Both, together...

16. WHAT IS THE THING THAT YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT YOURSELF?
Fearfulness.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My parents.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
It would be nice.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Red nightgown with gold trim and mocassins.

20. HAVE YOU EVER RE-GIFTED?
I don't think so.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
I am kind of oblivious to the outside world right now but my Son is in the backgrouond, watching tv behind me.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Maybe purple?

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Citrus, lilac, roses,

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My Daughter.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
You bet. I would really like to meet her next time I am in town.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Uh...soccer but I am not a real sports fan of any type.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Dark Brown

28. EYE COLOR ?
Dark Brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Nope.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Mexican.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS ?
Scary movies with happy endings?

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Bee Movie

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
See #19

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Both.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Kisses.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
See #13

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Hmmm...

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND
Hmmm...

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Bible, of course, the Book of Luke.
And Ball of Fire:The tumultuous life and comic art of Lucille Ball

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Uh...my hand...

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
Nothing...

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
My children getting along...

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Its got to be the Beatles in this house...

44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Europe.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Oh yes...

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Hey, I gotta protect my identity........

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Yours!

Dreams Do Come True !

2008-01-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

glumbert - Connie's Got Talent

2008-01-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

Your Hidden Talent

You have the power to persuade and influence others.

You're the type of person who can turn a whole room around.

The potential for great leadership is there, as long as you don't abuse it.

Always remember, you have a lot more power over people than you might think!

I did this quiz so long ago that the link has been removed...
But tell me anyways, what is your hidden talent?

8 (or under)MeMe

2007-12-15T00:17:00.000-07:00

Emily has me thinking of...

8 things I am passionate about:
Bible
the church of Christ
Family
Friends
Scheduling/Organizing
/Being Balanced
Books
Blogging

8 things I want to do before I die:
Love More
Be merrier
Overcome Bipolarisms
Overcome my worrying nature
Be a competent speaker
Understand more
Be a Kokum (ie Grandma in Cree...some day...)
Be a Highly Effective Person

8 Things I say often:
Eh?
What?
Pardon me
Uh
I don't know
Sorry

8 books I've read recently:
Bible
Seven Habits for Highly Effective People by Steven Covey
Klee Wyck by Emily Carr
Dr. Swarthmore by Alexander Scala
...uh
what?

8 songs I could listen to over and over again:
Everything's Alright from Jesus Christ Superstar
Pilate's Dream from Jesus Christ Superstar
Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple (tell you about it later...)
I Don't Know How to Say Good-Bye by Andy and David Williams (tell you about it later...)
I Can See Clearly Now by...uh

8 things that attract me to my friends:
Spiritual
Good listener
Sense of Humor
Compassionate
Genuine
Honest
Understanding
Think I am someone special

8 People who should do this "MeMe":
Mompoet
RDL
Aurora
Kai
Sarah
Imran
Wandi
J. Andrew (in 31 syllables)

12 Things to be Thankful for...

2007-12-18T00:16:00.000-07:00

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

12.

2007-12-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend, Mango, and I went to see the rock opera, Jesus Christ, Superstar. We first saw the movie 33 years ago. We went to almost every show in our small town’s theatre. I was 15. We both were smitten with the handsome, Ted Neeley who portrayed Jesus. We performed this rock opera over and over again, taking turns singing and reenacting all of the roles along with the album.

In 2007, Ted Neeley looks his age but he still hits those high notes and amazed us all in the Garden of Gethsemane. At the show’s end, they turned the lights on the audience’s hearty standing ovation.

This show had a major spiritual impact on us as teenagers. For the first time, we felt the reality of the gospel. A seed was planted.

Sing!

2007-12-12T23:30:00.000-07:00

Britain's Got Talent 2007 Winner

Healing...

2007-12-06T21:16:00.000-07:00

I cut my index finger the other day as I was making supper. The knife was sharp. It made a small but clean slice. Holding a kleenex tightly around the wound stopped the bleeding. I carried on.

A few days later, I looked at the flap of skin. It looked like it still might be raw underneath. I was hesitant to look closer but I did anyways.

The flap lifted away easily and revealed new skin.

I told myself. "It would be nice if you kept your concerned blogpals updated on how you are doing sans lithium..."

2007-11-30T00:03:00.000-07:00

So here you are-

I took the this week off from work so I could work on our home budget (and stop the lithium at the same time. Bad combination?)

I like sorting things so I had a lot of fun placing the year's bank transactions into the different expenditure columns of the budget program we have. I felt kinda high and jumpy inside, afterwards. Really, I lead such an exciting life...

Anyways, to calm myself down, I did some Qui Gong and a quick pre-blog meditation. I imagined that I was sitting by the sea like the character in Alexander Scala's novel I just finished reading.
Dr. Swarthmore experienced a revelation as he sat by the ocean. So I imagined being beside God and feeling His immense presence. I felt little but in harmony with God and the rhythm of the sea.

Does that sound high?

The Race

2007-11-27T16:40:00.001-07:00

Every couple of months, I indulge myself with time off from my scheduled hectic life. I call it my downtime. I try to limit this time to two days because I have found that in the past, this time of inactivity can be guilt invoking and lead to a type of induced depression. This time, however, has been a delicious exception.

For the last couple of days, I have allowed this time to be a healing experience. It is especially significant for me because I planned to use this time to initiate my freedom from the drug Lithium.

I became a Christian in 1991, baptized into Christ's body. Since then Jesus has been changing me, not miraculously, but by the natural progression of living and facing life with God's goodness. Through the power of faith, I have overcome an eating disorder. Now, I am ready to face another mental illness, Bipolar Disorder or Manic/Depression.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in 1988. I had been taking lithium ever since. I had not experienced any further mania but I continued to struggle with depression and anxiety over the years.
Do not think that I decided to go off the Lithium impulsively as I was content to remain on it for the rest of my life.

I met a someone who was to become a major influence in my life. He believed after our many conversations that I would one day be able to stop taking the medication. He repeatedly told me that nothing was the matter with my thinking.
I tentatively came to believe that this would be possible some day.

In 2001, I attended a seminar given through work by a Canadian Olympian, Silken Laumann. She was a rower and was training for the 1992 Olympics when she was in a rowing accident that ripped her muscles apart. Through the medical skill of others and her own determination and self-discipline, she endured 5 operations on her ravaged leg. She managed to still compete in the Olympics which was only 11 weeks from the time of her accident. She won bronze.

After her motivational speech, I made my way up to her and told her that I had Bipolar Disorder. She asked me, "Do you think you can overcome it?" I looked steadfastedly back into her eyes, and said, "Yes!" She could see in my eyes that I meant it.
Now, 6 years later, I am ready to face this challenge.

Yesterday evening as I was wondering how to spend some more of my precious downtime hours, I came across the tv movie of her life that I taped several years ago. It seemed a fitting time to watch it.

God is my Rock.

I don't know if I will win bronze or gold in this race against my mental illness, but this is my moment to give it all I got...

This one hurt...

2007-11-25T00:13:00.000-07:00

But my other blog, The Good Seed, made this reading level..

Come on...you know you wanna know...
(This is the kind of grammar that made me what I am ...)

2007-11-23T23:55:00.000-07:00

I am a
Snapdragon

What Flower
Are You?

A snapdragon? I need a nap...

12 More...

2007-11-23T23:29:00.001-07:00

reasons to say "Thank You"
1. I took the chance to sleep in,aaah.
2. I got out of bed with a phonecall from a Sister-in-Christ.
3. an ex-Toastmaster friend (not an ex-friend) joined up at the same gym as I.
4. I had some brain exercise today too. I've been doing crosswords.
5. My Husband picked up pizza from Safeway for supper tonight.
6. I practised with the "band" this evening.
7. The Kids and I watched tv this evening as well.
8. They are great Kids!
9. I relaxed on the couch with a hot water bottle. It soothed my achin' muscles..
10. 2/3 Kids cleaned their bedrooms.
11. My lunch is made for work tomorrow- leftover pizza.
12. What a nice day!