Thanks!

I'd like to say thanks to all those who came to listen to my song, "From The Soul Within" and watch the wonderful video. I would never have done this without Annelisa's encouragement and most of all her technical knowledge! She has wonderful pictures on her blog! Check them out! Annelisa also has another blog that hosts her an amazing story and video about shaving 2 1/2 feet of her hair for Cancer!

I was really thrilled to have both song and video up on You-Tube and it's had about 740 hits!

Thanks again all the way from my house to yours!

Something really strange has happened to Old Blogger tonight...all of a sudden I can't make links work, half the top bar in Create Mode is gone so I can't centre poems, and when you upload pictures, they just appear in gobbly-gook computer language where it used to show actual pictures! Is this Blogger trying to take away my old familiar features until I give in and change to the New Blogger? If I change, do I lose anything in the Draft Mode? Will it show all the previous blogs? And how do I even get a Google account, let alone sign in with one? Oh woe is me!

Annelisa's blog is www.wordsthatflow.blogspot.com (Sorry AL!)

From The Soul Within (My First Song!)

This is the first poem I ever put to a melody! I wrote it in an e-mail reply to a friend who was telling me he was always searching for some place to call home. I just responded with the first line of the poem and then wrote the rest right in that letter! It seemed to write itself.

I got to thinking that I should be able to write a tune for it and this is what I came up with while on the bank of a peaceful river. I played it for my brother-in-law, Bill Candy, a fine musician and songwriter, and he thought it was good enough to record in his studio. He played some different guitars, did some percussion, and sang harmony on the chorus. I was so thrilled! The whole process was so much fun! Thanks, Bill!



I have a huge thanks to give Annelisa, my good blogger friend from England, for staying up all night to figure out how to get it on You-Tube!

Here it is..hope you enjoy it!

From The Soul Within

Maybe what we’re searching for
Is at our doorstep all along
But time alone can make us see
Where we were going wrong
For what was missing from our lives
We tried so hard to win
Comes not from travels outward bound
But from the soul within.

And if we’d only see ourselves
The place that we were meant to be
We’d all be spared that anxious trip
And we wouldn’t pay the fee.

You can carry on and look
You can wander near and far
But half the time our happiness
Is in the place we are
We struggle with "beyond ourselves"
Trying to dispel the doubt
And maybe that’s exactly what
The journey’s all about.

And if we’d only see ourselves
The place that we were meant to be
We’d all be spared that anxious trip
And we wouldn’t pay the fee.

You’ll walk down that lonely road
In spite of what I say
It’s a right of passage to the truth
Of where we ought to stay.

Maybe what we’re searching for
Is at our doorstep all along
But time alone can make us see
Where we were going wrong
For what was missing from our lives
We tried so hard to win
Comes not from travels outward bound
But from the soul within.

And if we’d only see ourselves
The place that we were meant to be
We’d all be spared that anxious trip
And we wouldn’t pay the fee

We’d all be spared that anxious trip
And we wouldn’t pay
No, we wouldn’t pay
No, we wouldn’t pay the fee.

Music and Lyrics
Ruth Lowe
Copyright 2001

Poetry Friday! "Pitch"

Poetry Friday is brought to you by Mona!

Miss Julie Andrews
famous for Mary Poppins
sings in perfect pitch

the workmen are perched
high upon the steep pitched roof
hammering shingles

vacuum salesman knocks
throws coffee grounds on the floor
how's that for a pitch?

after a long day
of paddling the canoe
we gladly pitch tents!

these are my haikus
it seemed hard so they are lame
think i will pitch them!

say good-bye to pitch
mother of invention says
a new word next week!

Playing Dress-up!

I love to dress up as different characters as you all saw in a recent post where I was sporting an Olive Oil outfit!

Another favourite character is the disheveled and haggy cleaner.
I usually black out some teeth, wear a kerchief and have rollers in my hair! I make a perfect hag!

Next you see me as a pioneer woman with two Gr. 6 students. We put on a whole assembly dressed like this and performed many songs, skits and a square dance, The Virginia Reel.

And last, at a sit com night, I dressed as Fran Drescher on Nanny! "Oh Mr. Schefield! Hehehehehe!" It was fun doing her nasal and annoying voice!

I've done a few more but these are all the pics I could easily find.

Hey Steve, at Bullet Holes In The Mailbox, I know you love to dress up as Santa and various characters so now you have a partner in crime! What's our next gig?!

Mother of Invention, but you can call me, "Mrs. Dress-up"!

In a Heartbeat!

On Monday, I will be wearing all this get-up for 24 hours just to see what's going on with my heart. It's been doing bizarre things for the past month or so. The technical term is, "palpitations" but I call it "Kaflubbing"!

I have been getting them about 20 -30 times a day, mostly in the evenings and when I'm in bed. Quite frankly, they scare the bejeepers out of me. I've really cut down on caffeine and don't drink alcohol or eat chocolate so it's not that. Most likely I need more of a drug that's a beta blocker to regulate my heart rate to be slower and more even.

They have subsided somewhat in the last two days when I started taking more of the beta blocker med of my own accord. (Don't worry! This is okay! I was only taking half of what they had me on originally anyway!)

I hope my theory is correct.

Guess I won't be going swimming while I'm wired, although that might liven up the swim class a tad!

Mother of Invention, still ticking and kaflubbing! Ever had that?

Poetry Friday: "Coffee"!

Java Jive...or Several Mugs From The Big Pot!

Hail to the sacred coffee bean,

It's always been my friend,

If I can't jive the java scene,

I go around the bend!

My doctor said to give it up

But decaff ain't the same,

So please pour me another cup

And you can take the blame!

"Doc, I had to be polite,

I swear I never knew!

She filled my mug, it just seemed right

So what else could I do?"

When we brew a fresh full pot,

The first cup IS for ME!

And Lordy help you if it's not,

This is my OCD!

(Think about this: Maxwell House says, "Good to the last drop!" Doesn't that mean the last drop tastes awful?! Should that be, "Good to the last drop, but not through it!"?

Just make sure I get the first cup!

Cuppa The Morning Joe

fresh ground coffee

brewed to perfection

enticing me downstairs

Finally Skiing! ( Feature Poem)

Guest Writer!

Today's guest I have known, loved and admired all my life. I hold his poetry and short stories in high esteem. He employs all the elements and stylistic devices that professional writers use, and does so with ease and expertise!

He grew up in Ottawa, spending much of his youth in the Gatineau Hills. As a young man, he was an accomplished pilot and instructor for the RCAF, Squadron 429. Upon his return from World War 2, he went on to graduate from The University of Guelph, Year ’49, with a Bachelor in Agricultural Science degree.
I would love to see more creative work by this writer!

Please meet Mr. Douglas E. Williams, my mentor, and the best father on this earth! Dad, you top them all! Thanks for encouraging me to develop an emotionally bound sensitivity to the world around me, and the people in it.



The Skier

I climb no more
but rest on ski
upon the summit of the trail
that winds far down;
now I am free
to spread my wings
and swiftly sail
a fleeting figure through the snow
my destination – points below!
I start quite slowly, gather speed,
faster still, I do not heed
the danger of the turns, instead
a thousand thrills pass through my head
I stem a turn, my balance true
and catch my breath but I’m not through,
twisting, dipping, sometimes straight,
the trail leads down, then comes a gate,
and out across a field I glide,
slowing slightly, still I slide
until beside a hedge, I stop.

and gaze with wonder
at the top.


Douglas E. Williams
Copyright

Mother of Invention, wishing I could write like this!

Pics To Go With 10 Things Post Below

Top left: Dressed up as Olive Oil from Popeye!

Top right : My husband and I at the fishing camp with our canoe.

Bottom left: Hippyish me in purple with camp friends at a wedding.

Bottom right: Music class at school

Defining Me and My Style.....!

I'm probably the last one to do this but here I am.....!

1. PEOPLE: I am somewhat defined by my husband, friends and family, all of whom make up a huge part of my world. Fiercely loyal am I to them. I see myself in their reflection. My husband is my rock and is always there for me...kind, respectful and supportive. He "GETS" me!
My family is truly amazing...we all like being together and get along! They have been great models for me to emulate...all lucky to have been in stable marriages and successful careers.
My friends are numerous and long term, and I'm extremely adept at keeping in touch with as many as possible.

2. CAREER: Having always loved and been fascinated by children, I have had the opportunity of working as a Gr. 1-7 teacher for 26 years and at a private High School for students from Hong Kong for 3 years. I am told that I create a very warm, friendly, keen and inviting classroom environment in which children feel they can just be themselves. I let them know that they count. I have an easy, immediate rapport with most kids.

3. HEALTH: These issues do not totally define me but have certainly shaped my life. I have had Diabetes for 39 years and as a result, met life long friends while working at the summer camp for diabetic kids. This also brought me to teaching! I think I have handled the many resulting health problems (heart, eyes, nerves, not being able to have kids...) very well. It has humbled me but perhaps made me a little reticent to seek adventure or live on the wild side!

4. APPROACH: I am told that I always seem bubbly, lively and positive. My enthusiasm and sense of humour just ooze out naturally in my animated style of speech. I am fun, even when I am in a room by myself! My self-talk is amusing and I laugh often!


5. COMMITMENT: I am totally on board with what I chose to do and work very hard to do my best. But... I am somewhat hesitant to take on new challenges as I often lack the confidence and willingness to take risks. I am not a perfectionist but I like a job well done. Group work is great and I add fun to the activity.

6. MUSICALITY: Music has always been prominent in my life. I sing in a choir and have taught music to many classes. I have good rhythm, can sing in tune and play a little guitar. I think I was a tapdancer or stepdancer in my previous life! I loved Riverdance!

7. SELF EXPRESSION: Writing has always been an interest and my dad was a model for this as well as some great teachers and friends. I mostly write poetry but have written 3 songs, two of which are on a demo CD. I also LOVE getting dressed up and acting as different characters! My feelings run deep and I can be an ultra-sensitive person...both in my thoughts and dealings with others.

8. CATS: We never had pets in my childhood and I have become a lover of felines for the past 24 years. Having had no children, they are a huge part of my daily life! (lots of pics on this blog!)

9. FUNKY AND HIPPYISH: I love the long dresses and skirts! I wear lots of funky, chunky and clunky bangles, rings and necklaces! I wear high indoor boots with low heals a lot. I'm told that I can get away with almost anything because I set my own trend. I am actually a polarity of straight and conservative, and openminded and liberal...depends on the situation.

10. EARTHY: My husband and I are both quite grounded and want simple things in life. We spend most vacations at a log cabin where we canoe, fish and swim. (see Aug. posts for pics!) He is a chiropractor so we are both quite open to alternative health care.

I think that's it! Probably lots more I could tell you and I will if you ask!

Mother of Invention, scouting for photos to wrap it up!

Poetry Friday...."Kitchen"

From Mona's Poetry Friday (see sidebar)

kitchen

heart of home

the gathering place

an easy congregation

of warm souls

who feed on each other

inviting, aromatic

smoothly blended

folded in feelings

sauteed sentiment

creamed into velvet

soaked in delight

simmering tenderness

basted with respect

steeped in love

baked over time

gently gelled

sprinkled with laughter

such beautiful presentation

garnished with appreciation

home made fare

an old recipe

for preserving

a family

Mother of Invention, just loving a Kitchen gathering!

New-Found Fitness!

In the last three days I've taken up a wonderful new fitness activity; Urban Poling, or Nordic Walking. In Europe, people have been doing this training for years and if you've been there, you've likely seen it. You are about to see an awful lot more as it catches on here.

Urban Poling's debut has been very recent here. I was put onto it by reading the January Canadian Diabetes Dialogue magazine where they were extolling the virtues of this high cardio exercise just made for people like me.

My husband knew from a ski buddy who leads a Nordic Walking group and is also a Podiatrist, that you need shorter classic skiing poles. You can see this in the pictures. He cut off some extra poles I had to the right height. The best part is the cushion grips on the bottom of the tips that look like downhill ski boots. Apparently they take weight off the lower extremities and so are easier on the joints. BINGO! A solution for my Charcot's Joint in my foot!

These little "booties" are also curved to roll you forward in order to keep a fast walking pace as are my special rocker sole shoes. They do the trick as far as getting my heart rate up into my target zone of 125-137 and keeping it there for 30 minutes. The result? A perfect workout!

I am so elated! Aquafitness was great for resistance and muscle toning, but it actually did not cut it for cardio. I have extremely long legs and an extraorinary long stride and I've always been a faithful walker at 2 miles a day.

Now, if I can only work up to doing this 4 times a week, I'll be ecstatic!

Mother of Invention, getting a lot of funny looks as I pole around a town with absolutely no snow!

Full Circle

Elder's Meditation of the Day

Today, I am posting a message I received from my morning e-mails from White Bison Elders. I am not of Native Heritage, but I have always been interested in their approach and way of looking at the world. Harmony, Balance and The Circle of Life are constant themes in their philosophy.

"Life, the circle, a measurement with no beginning and no end."
--Phillip Deere, MUSKOGEE-CREEK


The circle teaches us how the Creator made things and how to live. It teaches us how we should look at creation. Life travels in a circle. In the East is the baby, to the South is the youth, in the West is the adult and in the North is the Elder. Then we return to the Earth Mother to start the cycle again. We observe what is `around us' from the center of the circle. This develops our point of view. We must be careful not to become self-centered.

Great Spirit, let me observe life from the circle's point of view.

I have written about many times that events in my life have come full circle. When this happens, it is always so clear to me that it's as if it was actually perfectly orchestrated by forces beyond our earthly existence.

I'm sure all of you have experienced the full circle of completion several times in your life. Do any come to mind right now?

Mother of Invention, hoping to see this perpetuate for the rest of time.

Four Things About Me!

Four Things about me - Things you may or may not have known about me in no particular order.

A) Four jobs I have had:

1. Elementary School teacher
2. Food Building Hostess at Canadian National Exhibition
3. Summer Camp Counselor for diabetic kids for 8 summers
4.Teaching English Communications at Community College Rehab Through Education Program (for ex-psyhciatric patients trying to integrate into community)

B ) Four movies you would watch over and over

1) Gone With The Wind
2) Mrs. Doubtfire
3) A Christmas Carol (black and white with Alistair Sims!)
4) When Harry Met Sally

C) Four places you have lived other than where you live now:

1. Toronto
2. Guelph
3. Mississauga

D) Four T.V. Shows I like/liked to watch:

1. Road to Avonlea
2. I Love Lucy!
3. The Three Stooges!
4. Gray's Anatomy

E) Four places you have been on vacation:

1.Bermuda
2. England
3. Caribbean Cruise
4. British Columbia

F) Four Web sites you visit daily:

1. Spilling Out!
2. Many Bloggers! (All of you reading this!)
3. Google
4. Weather

G) Four of my favourite foods:

1. BBQ Ribs
2. Prime Rib with Yorkshire pudding
3. Kettle Corn (Popcorn)
4. Milk Chocolate (not exactly a food group!

H) Four places I would rather be right now:

1. In my log cabin by the fire
2. In my canoe on the lake
3. On a beach down south
4. At a great concert

This was Just for Fun and Interest...no tagging involved!

Mother of Invention, still thinking on more food I could have put down...endless list of chips, cheesies, pies, cakes, puddings ....!!!

A Nothing Day!

We're locked in this weird time zone. It's that nothingness before a big change-up.

Some people are back at work but many are not. Several places on our main street are closed for two weeks after the frenzied commercial season. Kids are still on break. My husband had to go back teaching his Neurology course today at the College of Massage and his Chiropractic office was closed but man, did his phone ring! Everyone has wrecked their bodies and claims that they need immediate treatment. It sure isn't due to shovelling snow! We have had none right here. Perhaps they are suffering a delayed effect of all the seasonal stress.

Many of my friends are teachers so I'm still meeting them for lunches, dinners and coffees.
To be honest, I'm almost tired of eating and festing. I just want to hang out at my own house, relax, read, and catch up on more movies.
Oh yeah...and make split pea soup from the Christmas ham or turkey soup from the Thanksgiving turkey! I said I'd do that on the day of the first real storm but alas, I am still waiting!
There is nothing like cocooning on a snowy day and smelling soup simmering on the stove, and baking fresh tea biscuits to have with it.

Bring it on!

Mother of Invention, ready to run to the freezer at the first sign of a storm!