DAILY TIP NOV 25 2011

DAILY TIP NOV 25 2011 

A ladies' guide to Winter Driving Survival. To survive a winter of driving, you should always carry the following (just in case):

• SHOVEL (digging out a car with your bare hands takes just too long)
• BLANKET (in case you forgot to fill the gas tank before you hit the highway)
• WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID (not only does it help the wipers keep your windshield clean, but it will melt snow around your tires if you get stuck)
• BATTERY CHARGER (just in case you left your lights on while shopping)
• BOTTLED WATER (not just for thirst, it can also help melt snow)
• CHOCOLATE (in case you get hungry waiting for a tow from any of the above)
• SCRAPER AND BRUSH (lightly wiping snow off the windows to see won't cut it so make sure the whole car including lights are cleared of snow)
• CANDLE AND MATCHES (it will provide some heat if you need it)
• EMERGENCY KIT (band-aids, rubbing alcohol, gauze, scissors, hypothermia blanket, flares, flashlight (with extra batteries), change of underwear, socks and outfit (if you commute long distances), supply of daily medication (enough to get you through 2 days if needed), gum, dried snacks (long lasting in packages like jerky, dried fruits etc)

Kitty Litter is also good to carry as it will also melt snow (try and use biodegradable litter to be Eco-friendly)

You can pack most of this into a nice sized tote bag that you can toss in the back seat to keep handy. Being prepared helps prevent panic. If you get stranded in the snow, stay in your car (other cars could slide into you if you stand in front or along side your car). Make sure your phone is fully charged before you leave to get to your destination or charge it in the car as you are driving. If the weather is bad, it could take hours for a tow truck, so the water and food will come in handy as will the blanket to stay warm. 

Are Schools Going too Far?

It recently came to my attention that some schools are not 'allowing' harmless snowball tossing in the playgrounds anymore. When did this become a heinos act? This is a truly 'Canadian' activity. We (those of us who grew up with snow), have always played in the snow. We have built forts and lobbed snowballs at one another  to beat the blues that can come from the coldness of a Canadian winter. 


Ok sure, sometimes injuries happen from snowballs. Perhaps there was some 'ice' in the snow or the snow was just really hard or it was an unfortunate ACCIDENT. That doesn't mean that you squash the activity just because someone 'might' get injured. That's like saying, 'You can't go outside, you could get hit by a car'. My god people GET A GRIP!!!


When does it become too much and over doing it. You cannot put children in a 'safety' bubble, they can and will get injured during their lifetimes. If we stop all the fun, what is left for our children to have? Thanks but no thanks!


To the school boards who thought this was a brilliant idea to avoid phone calls from parents who can't deal with 'accidents'. Clearly, these people need to be shown what they were like as children. I wonder, the people who boycotted and commanded the NO snowball rule ever played in the snow as a child? 


If they answer Yes, to that question, then you really have to wonder what the real reason is for the pathetic excuse of a rule.


Let the kids play, let the kids enjoy winter like a normal Canadian child should! 

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I wanted to write you a letter to tell you I still believe in you. Everyone has tried to tell me that you don't exist but I think they have just forgotten what it is like to have the imagination of a child. 

At 44, you would think that I wouldn't still believe in you. The truth is, if I didn't believe in you then I also wouldn't believe in love, compassion, tenderness, empathy, faith and most of all humanity. You have given me so much throughout my life that you have to be real. Right? 

I mean, who could make so many people smile and feel warm and tingly inside even in the harshest of winters' nights. People are so nice this time of year. They open doors, say 'hello' and 'Happy Holidays' while bustling around with shopping bags and screaming kids in tow. That is a miracle right there in itself. Santa, if you aren't real then I have to look at the world with different eyes and I'm just not prepared to do that. 

I don't want to look at the world with hatred, disgust and contempt. I don't want to look at people and see the worst in them. I want to smell the roses not just see them for the flowers they are. I want to think that people are inherently nice and that it takes an act of anger to make them mean and hateful.

Santa, I know I have rambled on and on, and usually, you get a few choppy sentences with a giant list of toys from a wee child instead. I'm hoping you will read my letter with an open mind and open heart like I believe you possess. 


If you are able, for Christmas this year, all I want is: To have the heart of a child and the ability to look at the world with compassion, tenderness and hope.


If you can't bring me this for Christmas, I'll understand. I won't stop believing in you. I'll just keep hoping until next year.


Sincerely,


me


ps.... I really really want a Food Processor :) Come on, you are Santa after all!!

The View...excerpt from 'Inside the Dragon's Heart'

THE VIEW 

Clouds billowing into vivid pictures
Visible only through childlike imagination

The blueness of the sky behind them

Shines like a brilliant sapphire

The crispness of the winter’s air

Invigorates the awaiting lungs

The snow begins to gently fall

Blanketing the mountains and the valley beneath

The line between heaven and earth

Fades from view as the mountain peaks slip 

From emerald green to a marshmallow white

Untouched perfection captivating the inhabitants below

The wonderment of winter

The view that takes a breath away

Picture perfect and postcard worthy

The view awaits its beholding

Sher Boudreau….2002-08-19 ©

Until the Next Laugh...excerpt from 'Inside the Dragon's Heart'

Until the Next Laugh

Pristine white blanket

Flakes faceted in perfection

Cold beauty to witness

Embedding the unsuspecting ground below

Escalating winds drive the force

Temperatures plummet to a deathly chill

Cars run amok from nature’s torment

Victims of the uncontrollable

Winter storm watch all over the news

Everything closes nothing untouched

The shower of snow intensifies

Blizzard the word on everyone’s lips

Seemingly endless days ensue

The harsh glory of the sky

Captures observers in a prison of snow

Continual battle to find warmth

The sun dances finally

Melting mother natures’ practical joke

Life presses forward

Until the next laugh begins

Sher Boudreau 15-01-2004 ©

Weather and chronic pain

As many chronic pain sufferers can tell you, anything can be a trigger to set off a cascade of body aches, depression and a strong desire to find a small hole and hide away from the world.

For me, it's the weather that adversely affects my daily activities. My body is almost like a barometer, in that when the weather is going to change my body tells me immediately. The pain is unbearable and even my strongest of medications doesn't help. When the sun is shining and the temperature is moderate (65-75 degrees f/14-23 degrees c), the body aches ease a certain amount but that doesn't mean I still don't get flair ups during the summer. Cold, wet, and humid are villians and I don't even want to get started on what happens during snow season.

There is no perfect weather location to live because weather and chronic pain are just so unpredictable. As I stare out at the fall season hitting the west coast, I know my happy days are quickly coming to a close and the long painful winter season is approaching.

Arthritis, fibro, chronic pain syndrome and bad weather are really not good bed fellows.

But life goes on........