I (Still) Believe

I spent a couple of hours Sunday evening watching the CTV Olympic Winter Games 2010 Anniversary special.  It was an interesting experience.

I didn't write a whole lot about the Olympics last year, but I did watch a fair bit (which is unusual for me) and I was very ... is 'moved' the right word? Perhaps 'inspired'? I'm not quite sure.  But I, like most Canadians, was most definitely something.

And it was amazing how watching the anniversary special was enough to take me right back there.  Right back to those moments, when Alexandre Bilodeau won Canada's first gold at home and when Joannie Rochette skated to her own personal vicotry (and a bronze medal) just days after her mother's death.  And, of course, perhaps the greatest moment of all, Crosbie's gold medal goal at the very end.

Sandwiched in between, of course, was the gold medal of the Canadian women's hockey team and Virtue and Moir's gold in the ice dance competition.  And who could forget Jon Montgomery's triumphant walk through thre streets ofWhistler, complete with a pitcher of beer?

But tell me, how did I miss the story of Mellisa Hollingsworth tearfully apologizing to the nation for not winning a medal in skeleton? I do remember hearing the story in passing at the time but I sadly confess that it didn't stick.  I know, no apology necessary, eh?

Know what else I realized I missed?

Hearing or seeing much coverage of the Paralympic Games which were held immediately after the Olympics last year.  I remember noticiing at the time that I wasn't hearing much on those Games and then, last night, when they showed some of the hightlights from the Paralympics, I realized how much we all  had missed.

So if you're thinking that perhaps, just perhaps, my media choice for the eveining has swept me back in time to a year ago this month, you would be absolutely correct.  Dead right on.

And it's in that spirit that I offer you my one of my all-time favourite songs, "I Believe" as sung by Nikki Yanofsky.

Unfortunately I can't share with you the version of that song I really want to.  At least, not directly on this blog.  I'm afraid you will have to go here to view that.  [Ed.. They disabled the embedding function.  The bastards.]

One other thing that was really rather neat about the anniversary special was the chance to catch up with some of those athletes now, a year later in their lives.  But one person I noticed they didn't profile was Nikki Yanofsky and I have to wonder why not.  Although not an athlete, she definitely played a large part in making the 2010 Olympics what it was for Canadians.

Who Are We To Define DisAbility?

H/T to Ashley's Mom at Pipecleaner Dreams

Peace of Mind

I threw a great quote up on the side bar today.

Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all.

If Mr. Lichtenberg is, indeed, correct, I would appear to be totally at peace lately. 

If only ...

Animal Quackers

Stolen Borrowed from Kris.



You might as well laugh ...

An Oldie But A Goodie ...

What can I say? I always have enjoyed that one...

No Comment

Let's just say we'll (hopefully) be moving on from here. 

And about that rather noticeable lack of blogging around these here parts ... yeah, like I said, no comment. Except it best not be happening again.

Nothing to look at here, folks.  Move along, now, move along.

And Anudder ... And Anudder ...

As in Anudder Year in a Blog, right?

You know the drill ... the first sentence (or paragraph, depending on my mood) of the first post for each month of 2010. Drum roll please ...

January: It's New Years Day, eh?

February:  Since I've posted.

I suppose it might be time to do something about that.

Ya think, DiNozzo?

March:  It being the 6th day of March.

And this song playing on the radio this morning.

It is now our theme song for the day.

**Now renamed 'Canadian Dream'.
What? You gotta problem with that?**

** April:

May:  I've watched with some degree of bemusement as racism seems to grow into a bigger and bigger issue on almost daily basis in the US. Or, perhaps I should not say so much a bigger and bigger issue as much as more and more the 'call of the day'. The only explanation for everything that happens.

June:  It's been a while, hasn't it?

Like over a week. Not good, I know.

Unfortunately, it don't be looking much better at the moment.

** July:

August:  Having just returned from a 10-day vacation to Cape Breton Island a few days hence (yes, it was a great trip, thanks for asking), I shake my befuddled head and wonder Why, oh why, does "re-entry" seem to get more and more difficult as the years pass?

September:  It's the first day back to school for the crew and, alas, I am feeling too sick to appreciate it at the moment.

October:  I see that Nova Scotia's automobile insurers are crying in their champagne beer again, this time over the Dexter's government minor changes to the "minor injury" cap. Oh dear, what can the matter be? Cue the world's smallest violins.

November:  That's about all I have to say for now.

The trip was wonderful. I must be a very visual person as I tend to take an immediate like or dislike to a city. Based on things like trees and parks. And water. Water is very important.

And so it was that I fell hard for Boston.

December:  I sure can. So. So. Jealous.



** Note that some months just left me speechless, eh?

Posted Without Comment

... And To All, A Good Night

My how time flies ... it seems like Christmas does a better job of sneaking up on me with each passing year!

I must admit that it is my favourite holiday though - the cold and snow outside (although no snow yet this year) and the warmth and love of family and friends inside. 

There is nothing I enjoy better, nothing which gives me more peace than sitting in a darkened room, illuminated only by a Christmas tree and admiring its beauty.  It is a time to muse, review, reflect, renew and rejuvenate.

And no matter what may have transpired this past year (through both the highs and the lows), there is the sure knowledge that hope springs anew for the future.

So to my family and friends, both those I have been honoured to meet in person and those I have been honoured to know only through the joy of technology ... A Very Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night.

Breaking News - New Federal Gov't Program Now Available

Here at Free Falling, we pride ourselves on bringing our readers the latest breaking news and information on issues which may be of interest to them.  In that spirit, enjoy.

Due to the current financial situation caused by the slowdown in the economy, The Govt. of Canada has decided to implement a scheme to put workers of 50 years of age and above on early retirement, thus creating jobs and reducing unemployment.

This scheme will be known as RAPE (Retire Aged People Early). Persons selected to be RAPED can apply to the Govt. to be considered for the SHAFT program (Special Help After Forced Termination).

Persons who have been RAPED and SHAFTED will be reviewed under the SCREW program (System Covering Retired-Early Workers).

A person may be RAPED once, SHAFTED twice and SCREWED as many times as the Govt. deems appropriate.

Persons who have been RAPED could get AIDS (Additional Income for Dependants & Spouse) or HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel Early Severance).

Obviously persons who have AIDS or HERPES will not be SHAFTED or SCREWED any further by the Govt.

Persons who are not RAPED and are staying on will receive as much SHIT (Special High Intensity Training) as possible. The Govt. has always prided itself on the amount of SHIT they give our citizens.

Should you feel that you do not receive enough SHIT, please bring this to the attention of your local MP, who has been trained to give you all the SHIT you can handle.

Sincerely,

The Committee for Economic Value of Individual Lives (E.V.I.L.)

PS - - Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil, as well as current market conditions, the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.

H/T to Tera

Adusting To My New Reality

Really isn't going so well.

I seem to have been struggling a fair bit this past year - first, my MS flared up significantly in the late winter/early spring although eventually I seemed to get it back under control. Not back to where it was but certainly to a more manageable level.  Unfortunately, I never quite got my blogging pace back up to what it was once upon a time, though.

Then I went to Boston (Woo Hoo). That. Was. Great. But things quickly started to spiral out of control again shortly after I returned home.

First, HWWLNTBN lost his job. "Lost" ... strange word, isn't it? If only he could remember where he had seen it last.

No, more accurately, he was unexpectedly and unceremoniously dumped from his job. Resulting in us losing not only our main source of income but also our health insurance. Resulting in a huge amount of stress, with large helpings to go around for all. Particularly yours truly.

MS doesn't much like stress, you know. Need I say more? Yeah, not so good. Hence, my new reality.

Just to clarify, this blogging gig ain't finished by any stretch of the imagination. But I would be deluding only myself not to admit that trying to keep up with two blogs while starting a new business, while working my old job, while raising two teenage daughters, while bringing legal action against HWWLNTBN's former employer, while having my MS flare up yet again ... is working so well.

That's all.  That's all I have to say.  For the moment.

Can You Say Jealous?

I sure can.  So. So. Jealous.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Life just ain't fair, I tell ya.

H/T to Lex