99 Blackcomb Way

Nike Better World Ad :)

2011-04-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

YAY Monday Auto Correct ...

2011-03-07T05:56:00.001-08:00

If your gonna streak .... don't do this !!

2011-02-23T14:11:00.000-08:00

Tuesday Chuckle

2011-02-15T05:57:00.000-08:00

Damn You Auto Correct Mondays !!!

2011-02-14T06:51:00.000-08:00

2010 Vancouver Olympic Montage

2011-02-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

Some People are Just CRAZY !!!

2011-02-09T04:34:00.000-08:00

AUTO CORRECT DAY !!!!!

2011-02-07T05:25:00.001-08:00

Here's an Idea .....

2011-02-04T05:20:00.000-08:00

Tech Time NASA - Methane engine test fire

2011-02-03T04:44:00.000-08:00

A very different kind of dog sledding

2011-02-02T04:34:00.000-08:00

Monday ... Auto Correct ... Nuff Said ..LOL

2011-01-31T05:14:00.001-08:00

Sneezing Baby Panda ...LOL

2011-01-29T06:36:00.000-08:00

Very Cool Aerial Shot of Paris France

2011-01-28T05:23:00.000-08:00

Cool Slow Motion Fire Cracker !!!

2011-01-27T06:44:00.000-08:00

Funny Pic of the Day - Drunk Crossing

2011-01-26T05:21:00.000-08:00

Cool 30 minute plant recovery

2011-01-25T02:48:00.000-08:00

It's Monday ... Helloooo Auto Correct !!

2011-01-24T05:30:00.000-08:00

BABIES - Official Trailer [HD]

2011-01-22T07:35:00.000-08:00

Cool Pic of the Day

2011-01-20T05:49:00.000-08:00

Feeding Time At The Koi Pond -WOW

2011-01-19T05:24:00.000-08:00

Funny Pic of the Day :) ..BONK

2011-01-18T05:02:00.001-08:00

Monday ... Yep It's Auto Correct Day !!

2011-01-17T05:34:00.000-08:00

One Happy Penguin !! LOL

2011-01-14T04:17:00.000-08:00

Funny Pic of the Day :)

2011-01-13T05:24:00.000-08:00

Tech Time - The Walking Table !!

2011-01-12T02:37:00.000-08:00

Cool Pic - Little Boat ... Big Ice !!

2011-01-11T05:11:00.000-08:00

It's DAMN YOU AUTO CORRECT DAY !!

2011-01-10T05:33:00.000-08:00

Awesome Time Lapse !!

2011-01-08T04:47:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Website of the Day

2011-01-07T05:09:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone :)

Just thought I would start posting some of my favorite Websites for you to check out. This one is amazing.

http://www.ontariogasprices.com/

You simply enter your postal code and it will tell you the gas prices in your area. It is always up to date and accurate. Enjoy !!

And They Folded Like A House of Cards - WOW

2011-01-06T04:46:00.000-08:00

The great collapse of the Canadian Junior Hockey Team :(

Tech Time - The Beer Cannon FANTASTIC !!

2011-01-05T05:25:00.000-08:00

Tuesday = Cool Pic of the Day

2011-01-04T06:12:00.000-08:00

Monday = The Best of Auto Correct I Phones

2011-01-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

Funny Pic of the Day - Now That Takes Talent !!!

2010-12-31T08:05:00.000-08:00

Tech Time - Bottoms Up Beer

2010-12-30T01:30:00.000-08:00

Cool Pic - The Funny Warning Sign

2010-12-29T03:28:00.001-08:00

PEOPLE ARE AWESOME !!!

2010-12-24T05:23:00.000-08:00

The Village Called .........

2010-12-23T05:19:00.001-08:00

Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right

2010-12-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

DAMN YOU AUTO CORRECT !!

2010-12-21T04:44:00.000-08:00

The Cold Toilet Seat

2010-12-20T05:30:00.001-08:00

The Best of YOUTUBE !! Happy Sunday

2010-12-19T06:56:00.000-08:00

One of My Favorite Ads ...LMAO

2010-12-18T05:17:00.000-08:00

Super Cool Video of the Day- Danny Macaskill

2010-12-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

Snowmen Everywhere Fear For their Lives !!!

2010-12-16T04:06:00.000-08:00

The Best Christmas Decorating EVER !!!

2010-12-15T07:12:00.000-08:00

Coolest Beer Fridge !!

2010-12-14T04:44:00.001-08:00

EXACTLY !!!

2010-12-13T10:49:00.001-08:00

Just When You Think You've Seen Everything !!!

2010-12-11T04:14:00.000-08:00

Cool Pic of the Day

2010-12-10T05:02:00.000-08:00

Thursday Morning Funny :)

2010-12-09T02:19:00.001-08:00

If it doesn't kill us .... It can only make us stronger !!

2010-12-08T04:03:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable Photo ......Stingrays

2010-12-07T05:38:00.000-08:00

Crazy Ass Video of the Day .... Amazing !!

2010-12-06T06:04:00.000-08:00

Funny Pic for Sunday :)

2010-12-05T14:32:00.001-08:00

Extreme Sheparding !! Fantastic

2010-12-04T05:07:00.000-08:00

If StarWars Was On Facebook :)

2010-12-03T03:48:00.000-08:00

Buddy The Talking Toyota Dog !!

2010-12-01T04:41:00.000-08:00

What Birds Can Do At 500 mph

2010-11-30T18:48:00.000-08:00

A little look at the damage birds can do ...........

A Funny Read

2010-11-29T18:09:00.000-08:00

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Poster
Hi
I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.

This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. missing on Harper street and my phone number.
Thanks Shan.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
That is shocking news. Luckily I was sitting down when I read your email and not half way up a ladder or tree. How are you holding up? I am surprised you managed to attend work at all what with thinking about Missy out there cold, frightened and alone... possibly lying on the side of the road, her back legs squashed by a vehicle, calling out "Shannon, where are you?"
Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Poster
yeah ok thanks. I know you dont like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
I never said I don't like cats. Once, having been invited to a party, I went clothes shopping beforehand and bought a pair of expensive G-Star boots. They were two sizes too small but I wanted them so badly I figured I could just wear them without socks and cut my toenails very short. As the party was only a few blocks from my place, I decided to walk. After the first block, I lost all feeling in my feet. Arriving at the party, I stumbled into a guy named Steven, spilling Malibu & coke onto his white Wham 'Choose Life' t-shirt, and he punched me. An hour or so after the incident, Steven sat down in a chair already occupied by a cat. The surprised cat clawed and snarled causing Steven to leap out of the chair, slip on a rug and strike his forehead onto the corner of a speaker; resulting in a two inch open gash. In its shock, the cat also defecated, leaving Steven with a foul stain down the back of his beige cargo pants. I liked that cat.
Attached poster as requested.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please. Thanks.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
Dear Shannon,
Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism. I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window. I am willing to overlook this faux pas due to you no doubt being preoccupied with thoughts of Missy attempting to make her way home across busy intersections or being trapped in a drain as it slowly fills with water. I spent three days down a well once but that was just for fun.
I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say Lost.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster
yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww
Dear Shannon,
I don't have a cat. I once agreed to look after a friend's cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter, I kept the cat in a closed cardboard box in the shed and forgot about it. If I wanted to feed something and clean faeces, I wouldn't have put my mother in that home after her stroke. A week later, when my friend came to collect his cat, I pretended that I was not home and mailed the box to him. Apparently I failed to put enough stamps on the package and he had to collect it from the post office and pay eighteen dollars. He still goes on about that sometimes, people need to learn to let go.
I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww
Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww
I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?" you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.
I knew someone who had a basset hound that had its hind legs removed after an accident and it had to walk around with one of those little buggies with wheels. If it had been my dog I would have asked for all its legs to be removed and replaced with wheels and had a remote control installed. I could charge neighbourhood kids for rides and enter it in races. If I did the same with a horse I could drive it to work. I would call it Steven.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww
Please just use the photo I gave you.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
Fine. That will have to do.

The Weird & Wonderful !!!

2010-11-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

I saw these guys on TV last week and thought they werre they bomb !!! Enjoy LES TWINS

I Believe She's Amazing

2010-07-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine posted a video about a Flash Mob that occured at the Eatons Centre in Toronto in May of this year. I am a huge fan of Flash Mobs but what got me was the reason this Flash Mob occured in the first place. Kim MacGregor organized this Flash Mob of 200 dancers to launch the FEEL GOOD movement, I BELIEVE SHE'S AMAZING in honour of her friend Erica Heller who passed away May 28,2009 of cancer at 31 years of age.....this is her living legacy.

This movement was designed to unite and inspire women around the world to recognize the other amazing women in their lives. Kim created a web site which gives us all the opportunity to say I BELIEVE SHE'S AMAZING to all the moms, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, teachers, daughters, wives and girlfriends who matter and who make you believe in yourself.

I feel very fortunate and lucky to have the women in my life that I do .... There are so many and I believe they are all amazing in their own special way. So to all the women in my life .... thank you for inspiring me, loving me for who I am and I BELIEVE YOU ARE ALL AMAZING !!

Join the movement http://www.ibelieveshesamazing.com/

I SEE YOU

2010-07-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

I first heard "I see you" as a greeting in the movie Avatar and thought it was fantastic. The more I thought about it the more I loved what it meant and what it truly means to see someone.

It doesn't just mean that we see them , it means we see into them ....their energy, their soul, their spirit. It can also mean I connect with you, I feel what you feel, I understand you .....I get you. The "I" and the "you" are the same parts of a bigger whole.

To see someone is a great feeling ....... to be seen in return is the greatest gift. I hope you all experience this at least once in your lifetime ......

Stronger

2010-05-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

My friends Facebook status today reads ..... Broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

This quote spoke volumes to me and I am fully embracing it. It told me that I must be a strong, understanding and compassionate person ..... There is something so wonderful about taking a negative and turning it into a positive. So to my Facebook friend ... thank you for reminding me today that ....that which does not kill us can only make us stronger :)

The Power to Pause

2010-02-26T05:26:00.000-08:00

Humans have the power to pause. Consider your actions before you act and your words before you speak - Yehuda Berg

Everyone gets hurt at times and everyone gets angry, its how we deal with that hurt and anger that matters. For me, my journey takes me back 12 years ago to a point in my life when my anger always got the best of me. My anger back then was the equivalent of a fireworks display on July 4th ....not good. I knew I needed to change. So it was back then I decided to learn how to pause.

Now here I am 12 years later on the opposite end of the spectrum ... pausing too much. I like that fact that I am not saying things out of anger that will hurt others, however I have learned that pausing too much can also hurt the ones around us. I usually pause the most when I feel hurt. It is during this pause time that I take a step back, take a look at the big picture and try to process everything. It is during this time where I have learned that I shouldn't be around others. When I pause I am just not me .. I am a quiet, silent version of me who doesn't want to talk to anyone.

Having the power to pause is a good thing, however pausing for too long can be bad. Once again its all about balance. I am trying to find that balance now. I have made mistakes, but it is from these mistakes that I learn. So watch your actions before you act and your words before you speak. Have the power to pause ...... but not for too long :)

Diggin Deep

2010-02-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

There are many mornings when I wake up and I am not really sure how I am feeling or how I am going to take on my day. Today was one of those mornings ..... Today this is my truth.

The real truth is that every day is a new beginning and we have a choice every morning when we wake up. Today I am the only one who will make my life different. Today I choose to look at negative situations as positive opportunities. Today, I will have the courage to move forward and risk failing. Knowing that we always have a choice empowers us, that and the fact that if you leap into the unknown ........ you just might find yourself.

Own your day, own your greatness.

This is so broken ......

2010-01-11T10:28:00.000-08:00

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE ?

Accepting Defeat

2009-11-24T07:51:00.000-08:00

We can't always win and we can't always have things the way we want them to be, however we can accept our defeats with the grace of a woman and not the grief of a child. We can learn and move forward knowing we are that much better for the experiences we have had ... even when we don't win.

And Then It Came To Me ....

2009-10-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

So about a month ago I was watching the movie As Good As It Gets and I had a huge epiphany. In the movie Jack Nickelson says to Helen Hunt "You make me want to be a better man". I thought about this for awhile and then it came to me .....

In life you should always surround yourself with people who make you want to be a better person. People who lift you up and are always encouraging you to be your best .... those are the people we need on our lives. I have come to realize that I have only a few people like this in my life ... they are my close friends ..... everyone else is just an acquaintance.

Things

2009-08-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

I had a strange and unusual evening last night and then I came home to an empty house .... my dog had gone to my parents house for the evening due to poor weather conditions and I didn't want him to be at home alone. It was last night that I realized how much of me he is and I also discovered that sometimes the best things in life are not things .......

Happiness is .....

2009-08-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

... a compass and a willing accomplice.

6am

2009-08-13T06:18:00.000-07:00

There is something very peaceful about 6am ............................

Action Vs. Reaction

2009-07-28T09:15:00.001-07:00

I have always lived by the cardinal rule that for every action there is a reaction. For example :

ACTION: Me using the term "ass crack of dawn" any and every chance I can get.

REACTION: While on the trails yesterday my mountain bike jumped up and hit me square on the ass crack to the point where I can barely walk today.

So needless to say, Action Vs Reaction, Karma, what goes around comes around and anything else that may apply here is alive and well in the Penley household. One should always watch what they say, be careful what they wish for and keep their ass cracks out of it !!!

Go For It .........

2009-07-25T19:10:00.000-07:00

Everything you need is already inside.

Northbound

2009-07-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

Today I was Northbound and realized a few things.

-Sometimes the road to inner peace can be found in your own backyard.

-Sometimes you can find peace, faith and hope in the unlikeliest of places ...

A Road Less Travelled

2009-07-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

What would you do if you knew you only had one day, or one week, or one month to live ?? That is the opening line in the movie One Week that I just watched last night. It is a fantastic movie and it really makes you sit back and evaluate your own life. I thought this movie was going to be about death and dying, however it was instead a journey of self discovery and living each day to it's fullest. One of the biggest messages was to never settle and always strive for something more.

To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.

NEVER FEAR THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED ......

Friends Are Flowers In The Garden Of Life

2009-06-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

I love my friends ....... they are amazing people and there is nothing I wouldn't do for them. I have come to realize that its not the quantity of friends you have but the quality of friends you have that helps your garden grow. I don't have a lot of friends .... but the ones I do have I hold near and dear to my heart and I consider myself to be a very lucky person.

In the garden of life we also know that every rose has its thorns. Life happens and sometimes friends may drift apart for no apparent reason. The important thing to remember is the road to a friends house is never long and if you were meant to be friends then you will find your way. Recently I have been fortunate enough to run into some old friends. Nothing fills my heart with more warmth and joy then to see and hear about my friends successes and triumphs in life after all these years. When we talk it's like no time has gone by at all ......... What wonderful flowers I have in my garden :)

You Raise me up ......

2009-05-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

Inspiration :

- To affect, guide or arouse by divine influence

- To stimulate into action, motivate

- To breath life into

- To be the cause or source of

- To stimulate energies or ideas

I have been inspired !! For the longest time I have felt like I have been stuck in a rut and now I feel as though someone has breathed new life into me and it feels fantastic!! I am about to embark on a journey, a journey that I should have taken many years ago. It will bring me a clear mind, body and spirit. It will be me putting me first, something I have not done in a very long time. This is my journey, this is my moment .....and I plan on owning it!!!

To my friend across the miles. Thank you for being my own personal cheerleader. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your wisdom and your truths. Thanks you for inspiring me to be a better person most of all thanks for raising me up ........

The Power of One

2009-05-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world" - Anonymous

One of the greatest things I have ever done for myself is to do things by myself. There has always been so many things I have wanted to do, but I always found that I was waiting around for other people to do it with to avoid doing it alone. Then it came to me ..... I could be waiting around forever. So I decided to start taking control of my life and do the things that made me happy for a change.

For the most part ... it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. I know so many of you have heard that all before, but it's true. Taking the giant leap of being an independent person and going to some far off place alone is a huge part of the journey. Last year I took a big leap and went camping for the first time ...ALONE. It was fantastic. Not only did I have the time and peace and quite to hear my inner self ..but I was also able to overcome some fears I had.

#1 Fear of being alone

#2 Fear of being alone in the deep dark woods

#3 Fear of being alone in the deep dark woods during a thunder storm (basically all the elements of a horror flick )

I found this excursion to be both profound and liberating. I basically came home feeling like there was nothing I couldn't do. I was ready for my next adventure ..... I was ready to take on the world !!

So to the world ...I may be one person and maybe I haven't found that one person I mean the world to, but that's OK because for now it's all about the journey .... the journey that is telling me there is no strength in numbers ...the power is in one !!

The Upside of Anger

2008-12-29T18:18:00.000-08:00

ANGER - A Strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong.

OK so I get angry. Lately all I have felt is anger. I get angry when I think about the young woman who has fought her whole life in order to succeed. I get angry when I think about the lack of respect for other human beings. I get angry when everything I have ever known to be strong and secure comes crashing down around me. I get angry the most when there is nothing I can do to help the ones I love ........ for me there is no greater pain then seeing someone else in pain. Right now I am angry !!!!!!

I will be the first one to admit that I get into a rut when I am angry, and it takes me a little while to get out of my "funk", however, over the years it has become easier by realizing and understanding the upside of anger. To understand my upside of anger you must understand two important principles #1 That which does not kill us can only makes us stronger and #2 nothing is certain except death and taxes.

I leave you now with one of my favorite quotes from the movie "The Upside of Anger" - anger and resentment can stop you in your tracks. It can change you ... turn you ... mold you and shape you into something your not. Sometimes the only upside of anger then is the person you become. Hopefully someone that wakes up one day and realizes they're not afraid to take the journey, someone that knows that the truth is, at best, a partially told story. That anger, like growth, comes in fits and spurts, and leaves behind a chance at acceptance, and the promise of calm.

Here's hoping that all of you can find your right side up when your upside down :)

The Heart of The Matter .......

2008-10-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

I have missed the last two weeks of blogging and for that I do apologize. I have had a few things happen to me that have put my own thoughts and theories to a test. I can admit that my inner calm was jeopardized for a little while, but it all seems to be getting back to normal now and thats exactly where I need it to be. I went for a walk the other day and some things just came to me. This is what I like to refer to as The Heart of the Matter .......

The Heart of the Matter is that so often in life we are busy. We always seem to be in a rush and more time then not we do not stop to think about the things that make us truly happy. I was astounded by my findings when I actually took a step back and thought about the things that make me happy.

- a genuine conversation
- a warm embrace
- laughter
- a phone message from a friend saying they were thinking of me
- the sound of a friends voice 3000 miles away
- the smell of leaves that have fallen to the ground
- a smile
- the way a hand touches mine ......

It was the small things that mattered the most to me and made me happy, but for so long I was looking at a bigger picture and always in a rush never taking the time to notice the little things that in retrospect mean so very much to me. These things are not material, don't cost a thing and occur on a daily basis, except I was always too busy to notice. So I leave you with this blog and encourage you get down to the heart of the matter and figure out what it is that makes you happy. I can almost guarantee it will be the small things that matter to you the most ..... just don't be too busy to notice them .............

The Sound of Silence ......

2008-09-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

I have had many people question me over the years in regards to working in a Casino and putting up with all the noise. How do you put up with all the noise from those slot machines they say. Well my answer is simple. I, like many, have gotten use to the fact that I work in an environment with a steady stream of noise. I hardly hear the slot machines anymore because I have learned to tone them out. Not only do I apply this at work with the slot machines, but also with all the other noise I may encounter during my day ....... including the noise made by other people.

I have often thought that people who talk are the equivalent of a slot machine. You can't stop people from talking and creating noise, but you sure can learn to tone them out. This is how I got through some of the most challenging times in my life. I just toned them out the same way I do the slot machines and it worked. You can't change other people, however, you can learn to adapt to all that noise. It's unfortunate really that we live in a society that creates so much noise but all we can do is look within ourselves and try our best not to contribute to the ruckus.

I love the sound of silence, but there are a few things I know for sure. You can't quiet a City, you can't quiet a slot machine and you can't stop people from creating noise that hurts others , however you CAN choose to tone it all out ...........

Feels Like Home to Me......

2008-09-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

There is only one thing worse then dissing someones favorite sports team and that is dissing their hometown. I will admit I am guilty of this but I have learned over the last few years that when you dis a city or town you may also be inadvertently insulting someone and sometimes that just hurts.

I grew up 10 Minutes outside of Orillia in a small Village called Oro Station. (insert village idiot joke here) My family's roots are between Orillia and Oro Station. I remember spending most of my childhood between these two places. I remember when the East Side Mario's on the corner of Hwy 12 and Memorial use to be a Ponderosa. I remember when the Tim Horton's and the office building beside it on Colbourne use to be a drive-in A&W, complete with servers on roller skates and trays that sat on your window. I remember when everything beyond Country Produce was just a field. Speaking of Country Produce, that cemetery across the road from it ..... that's where my grandparents are buried.

I know Orillia has some downfalls, but when you think about it, doesn't every other City have downfalls as well? Everyone seems to know what Orillia's downfalls are but do they really stop to think of all the benefits of living here? Let me point a few out to you. Orillia is located by 3 bodies of water. It is the home of 3 Provincial Parks and Gordon Lightfoot .... Gordie Rocks!!! Two of my all time favorite places are located here, Theo's and Mariposa Market. Last but not least, how could you not like a place that is nicknamed "The Sunshine City" ?

I hope I have given you a little insight into my hometown of Orillia. People's roots are strong and they are very loyal to where they came from. Try to keep this in mind the next time you decide to talk negatively about a City or Town, because you never know where people are from, where their roots are or where there family is buried............

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly ......

2008-09-01T06:19:00.000-07:00

Energy .... It's the one thing that is truly ours and nobody Else's. So why do we allow others to steal it?

About 8 years ago I started to learn about peoples energy. I love looking at people's energy. You can see it in the way we carry ourselves and you can see it in the way we interact with other people. I generally gravitate towards those with good energy, however I have on occasion been fooled. Just like everything else in life there is always the good and the bad and the ugly. The good and the bad are pretty self explanatory, however, over the years I have learned that there is another dark creature lurking amongst the human race. It is ugly and it comes in the form of a person who steals your energy.

Everyone knows at least one "energy stealer". You know the ones I mean ... they are the ones who after you have had a conversation with them, you feel drained, weak and low on energy. They just swooped right in and without you knowing it they have violated you and stolen the one thing that is truly yours.... YOUR ENERGY!!! I use to get really angry when an attempt was made at stealing my energy, however over the years I have learned how to appropriately balance these people so that they do not disturb my energy and thus me. It's all about the balance once again and this is how I found it in this situation.

I identified the people in my life who are "energy stealer's". If I had my way I would just avoid these people at all costs, but unfortunately life isn't that easy. I generally keep them at an arms length, but there are going to be times when you have to interact with these people. When I do this, I am always pleasant, however, I am very cautious and guarded about what I say. In a nutshell, I say what I have to say and get the fuck outta there before they have any opportunity whatsoever to steal my energy. This is a technique I have perfected over the years and I have some simple rules that I try to live by.

#1 When you interact with others, there should always be a healthy exchange of energy.

#2 Find a healthy balance between protecting yourself and interacting with "energy stealer's"

#3 I always try to remember this when I interact with everyone ..... this is my own personal rule that I try to live by and I find that it helps to keep me grounded and it helps me keep things in perspective. ALWAYS REMEMBER EVERYONE YOU ENCOUNTER IS : AFRAID OF SOMETHING, LOVES SOMETHING AND HAS LOST SOMETHING!!!

Have a great week everyone!!!

Beyond Borders .....

2008-08-25T05:14:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago I wrote about boundaries and what we have to do in order to protect or boundaries. After speaking with someone this week and thinking about it I decided to post the e-mail that I sent to all my friends in regards to boundaries. I hope you all are able to take something away from this.

Setting boundaries is something I have struggled with for years. Personally I had never really set boundaries for myself, but I now realize how important it truly is to have them. I think I could have saved myself some grief and heartbreak if I had something set up sooner, but better late then never. I now have a basic idea of my boundaries. In my life I look at my boundary as a large circle. In the centre of that circle is me surrounded by a heavy circle. The next circle within a circle is for family. After that circle comes the circle for very close family like friends. They are allowed to cross into the boundary where my family is to a point. After that circle comes the circle of acquaintances and almost every other person I come in contact with. They are not allowed into the close friend circle until they are known for a period of time and prove they can be trusted to move into the next boundary. I have structured my set of boundaries over a period of learning time. I have found that as I set my priorities with this circle of boundaries, I have experienced less confusion and crisis in my life. No one is allowed inside my centre circle as this is now my holy ground. The only exception to this is if someone chooses to share their life with me. They would then be allowed into the inner circle but would have to respect the circle. Now sometimes when a close friend is in a crisis, I have found that I tend to feel as if that boundary is being treaded upon. This is where I am at my learning stage. Everyone needs to learn balance. I believe that everyone needs special friends. To have one or more without compromising that centre boundary is the tough part. I need to protect my inner circle and I am able to do that with lots of practice and good communication.

I have lived by this for several years now and I believe that I have a solid set of boundaries, however, I have made an exceptions to my own rules. I have someone in my life who is always there for me, who always makes me feel good about myself and who loves me unconditionally. Many people go through life never experiencing what I have with this person, so I consider myself a very lucky. Because of this, this person is allowed to move freely within the circle .... even tread on my holy ground because I trust them with all my heart and I know they would never hurt me. So I leave this with you, but remember there is a big difference between setting boundaries and putting up walls .........

Opinions .... we all have one

2008-08-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

Something happened to me the other day. I was talking to a good friend of mine, someone who I love, respect and admire and we had a difference of opinion on a subject that is near and dear to my heart. I will save the subject matter for another time and another blog. The whole point is we had a difference of opinion and it could have gotten ugly ... but it didn't. Why, because we decided to listen to each other and gain an expanded perspective. I then thought about our conversation and thought about that quote that says "With every encounter no matter how brief, we should take something away from it". Lets just say I took a whole lot away from that conversation and I don't think the other person even realized how profound our encounter really was. Then I remembered something I had read many years ago and everything just made sense .....

You don't have to agree in order to understand, but you do have to listen with an open mind. You do not have to give up or give into another in order to understand, but you do have to give your attention and consideration. You do not have to change your own position in order to understand the position of another, but you do have to accept that there are valid perspectives besides your own. Seeing things only from your own point of view puts you at a distinct disadvantage. The more open you are to understanding others, the more effective your actions will be.

People in today's society need to realize what an amazing gift it is that there are those that see things differently then you do. By offering understanding you gain the benefit of an expanded perspective. I have every intention of expanding my perspective .....

And so it begins ........

2008-08-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome to thoughts from 99 Blackcomb Way. This is very exciting for me because I feel as though the older I get the more I have to share and the more things become clearer for me in this journey we like to call life. I have realized that it's not about how many friends you have or the material possesions you may own, but more about the search for inner peace within yourself ... thats what it is all about !! If you are able to find that, then nothing else really seems to matter. And so it begins .... my own personal journey of thoughts, opinions and the quest for inner peace. Hope you enjoy the ride.