twitter or facebook........

Once again I'm inspired by another blogger. This one comes from Soshable | Social Media Blog.

Woohoo, another debate. I love a good debate, the tension, the face off, the sweat, oh sorry, that's the hockey game between Canada & Russia tonight at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics ▌♥ ▌ Go Canada Go ▌♥ ▌ (sorry, shameless plug there). There is something about debates though, especially on hot topics, that give me an adrenaline rush and gets the creative juices flowing. I really enjoy pushing extolling sharing my opinions on current, and even not so current, topics of interest. So, without further adieu, I will now climb upon my proverbial soapbox.

Twitter and facebook, currently two of the most well known social media sites on the internet. There are others, as we well know. Facebook whoops MySpace's proverbial butt (yes I know there are still a lot of users on MySpace, but it's not for me), I barely skipped a beat when I switched over and I haven't looked back, I can't even recall when I was last on my own MySpace account. There is LinkedIn, personally, not sure if I know anyone on that and have no idea what it is, and now Google has the new kid on the block, Buzz. I have a total of ONE contact on Buzz so far, and a lovely contact she is. Numbers are one thing, they don't lie, but they can be misleading, personally, when I meet someone knew these days (IRL), if we decide to exchange phone numbers, the next questions are, "do you have facebook?" and then, "do you tweet?". Let's face it folks, it's facebook and twitter that are the real contenders here.

I have only recently really started getting into tweeting, although I've had my twitter account since sometime last year. Currently I sit at 194 tweets, I'm following 60 people/accounts, I have 41 followers (wow!), and 2 of those have me listed (no, not that kind of list, a twitter list. If I ever decide I'm smart enough to have a technical blog, I'll be able to link to my own info. In the meantime, try bitrebels for an explanation.), 12 of my own lists and one list that I follow. I'm sure I could make an equation out of all that, not really my gig anymore though. What it does equal though is, comparatively speaking, I am still most definitely a newbie in the twitter world.

Facebook is another story altogether, I have 356 friends (sort of middle of the road there, and I'm good with that), far too many applications, which need to be culled, and several "fan" pages. I have been on facebook for, well, ummmm, awhile, 4 or 5 years? Point is, I am definitely NOT a facebook newbie.

So what does all this mean in view of the social network debate? In my world, comparing the two is rather an apples and oranges question. They are different in their own, and very distracting time-hogging useful ways. For me, they complement each other. Facebook is truly social media, it is about friendships, networking, and even dating. Over the past few years I have reconnected with some very wonderful old friends from my past. I'm not in the, "we lost touch for a reason" camp, I truly love getting to know the adult versions of my school buddies and family members. I also find it a wonderful way to keep up to date with those on my friend list, I am a people person, I like to know what's going on in your life; I'm curious because I care. I don't, however, play games on fb anymore, I rarely engage in sharing of apps, but that is something else you will find there that is not on twitter, and I'm glad it's not on twitter. Facebook is my apple, it's shiny, dense and has lots of fibre.

Twitter is my orange. I like both apples and oranges, but somehow I always feel like I'm getting more nutrition from an orange, I'm sure they are equal in their own rights, that's just my perception. For the most part I follow photographers, writers, bloggers, geeks and a few musicians. From their tweets, I am learning a plethora of information on my favourite and most passionate areas of interest. And all those areas roll up nice and neatly into my biggest passion, education (my vitamin c). I love to learn, if I don't understand or know something I look it up, if I feel like I am not getting the answer I want, I research and dig deeper. My tweeters (is that the right term? like I said, newbie), are quite often, doing a lot of the legwork for me and I am absorbing the most amazing information, from up & coming tech gadgets, to photo technics, to how to get blog traffic, to word of the day for my writing. Twitter has become my place to get information, to be informed, and to inform (well, still getting to that stage).

The long and short of it is, for my personal choice, I pick both. I can't pick one over the other. They each serve their purpose in my world. My ever expanding, right from my own living room, world. It's a good world, despite living in the middle of nowhere, I still feel connected.

Many people will walk in and out of your life,
But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

~Eleanor Roosevelt

Journaling: Handwritten in a book or Blog it.....

So here's my dilemma, I want to blog more, I have 4 blogs that rarely get entries these days. More importantly though, I really need to stop procrastinating my school work so that has to be TOP priority for me right now.

ROFL.... my kitten is sleeping on his back on the back of the couch (no that's not redundancy, that's what he's doing and where he is, really really). He's quite obviously dreaming, perhaps he is chasing the mouse he didn't catch (but I did :P) and his back feet are twitching. His toes are actually going to the beat of the current song (something by the Corrs) so it looks like he's tapping his toes to the tune. Darn it no video on my dSLR, but here's a cute picture of him snoozing.

Ok, ummmmm, gee, they say I have ADHD, they really don't understan.... oh look, a kitty dancing :P.

Anyway, as I was saying, ummmm oh yeah, school has to be my priority. Next assignment, start a writer's journal. Herein lies my dilemma, the suggested format is to get a blank notebook that suits you; It should be durable, portable, yet large enough to allow fluid writing. Ok, I love journals, scratch that, I love nearly all stationery, I'm a collector of stationery, I have more stationery than Staples spread around this place. Think I can find a journal here that I "feel" is suitable? Not likely, I'm funny that way, I could have 10 examples of what I need, but none are what I "want", they are not suitable to the purpose I have in mind.

That's not really my dilemma though, I need to go shopping really really soon anyway (like yesterday). The issue I'm working on is that I want to blog more but as I turn my focus to obtaining my degree I will continue to have little blog time. I wouldn't mind blogging my writer's journal, but a) it is supposed to be private and b) it is supposed to be portable. In considering these requirements, a) my public blogs won't work then. I can, set the entries to private, so that's an easy fix. B) My preferred location of entry is my desktop computer with the 24" monitor, not particularly portable. My HP Tablet is far more portable (not fit in my purse portable, but if I can haul around a dSLR all the time, what's one more backpack), but currently the wireless card is fubar so I can't post until I get home. Considering I spend 90% of my time at home, that doesn't sound very hard to do either. Seriously though, if you know me, once I want something, I have very little patience to wait for it. Nope, no ADHD here ;).

Having written all this out now I think I answered my own question, which is often the point of writing and/or sharing, particularly when faced with a conundrum. I'll purchase a new journal for the job. I really think that, although I'm not out & about often, grabbing a book to write in, rather than hauling out even a small laptop, is far less complicated. Having said that, if you have an opinion, feel free to share, I'm always open to new ideas ;).

Be prepared... winter driving....

Be Prepared. This is a good motto that the Boy Scouts use and it has served them, and many others, well over the years. This would be a good motto for the fellow (and many other dimwitted dwellers of snowy regions) that arrived at my doorstep after I’d just crawled into bed Monday evening.

It wasn’t that late, not much past 10:00 PM, but I was tired after a crappy sleep the night before. Winding down for the night, I was sitting on my bed setting my new clock alarm when, Bailey, my neighbour’s dog, went berserk. Honestly, at first I didn’t pay much attention, she is, well, she’s sweet and as I am the one that feeds her (another story) she has kind of adopted us, but she barks at anything and everything. Birds, leaves fluttering, a reflection of light (this is quite amusing actually, gotta video her one of these days), so quite frankly, her barking doesn’t raise too many alarms, generally. When she continued, was very loud and aggressive sounding and did not stop without a break, I started to think something was up. Then my spidey senses startled tingling (really, only, I’ve never been bitten by a radioactive spider, at least not that I’m aware of).

I realised something was definitely up. Usually, she only goes crazy if a coyote is trying to get on the property, or a stranger drives up. I did not hear a vehicle so I just assumed it must be a coyote, until… someone knocked on my door. Living in the middle of nowhere almost generally affords the comfort level that if anyone is in this area, it is because they have to be, not because they are out for a random killing spree, so I usually feel pretty secure in my wee home. (I mean really, this IS Canada). Still, I wasn’t sure if I should open the door or not that night, I heard no vehicle come into the yard, I was tired, ergo more sensitive than usual, and not feeling particularly “neighbourly” at strangers on my doorstep.

But being the good citizen and worried it was a stranded traveller, I opened my door a crack to see what manner of person dared come knocking on a home that was obviously shut down for the night (only light on when he knocked was my bedside light). It didn’t occur to me until just now, that he likely saw that the lights were being shut off one by one in a row as I had only just gone to bed. Anyway, I digress. I opened the door, and the only creature on my deck was Bailey… wth? I know I heard a knock, then just beyond the deck I saw this fellow looking lost and quite nervous of that big black dog barking her head off. Now, I wear pj’s to bed, nice warm flannel ones, but I wasn’t terribly interested in showing at the door like that so I threw a hoodie on over top at least, so I assume the delay had caused him to think that no one was going to answer (not to mention the big black dog barking at him).

Apparently, this fellow, for whatever reason, felt a need to pullover whilst driving in the dark on a country road, thought he saw an approach and pulled in, realising, far too late obviously, that he had in fact pulled straight into a ditch. In the summer, no big deal, winter, in a car, not a good thing. Not just any winter either, this year, we have already had unbelievably copious amounts of snow. My deck was three feet deep, the ditches, deep ones, filled until they looked nearly flat, and the snow drifts in our yards against buildings and tree lines were six feet high. And if that’s not enough of a challenge for a fellow, obviously from the city in his wee car, it was melting at an unbelievably fast rate and everything was incredibly slick.

I could see the flashing lights from his vehicle, just under a mile up the road, so obviously most likely true, and he was asking if someone was available to help him push it out. Now, I live alone and have small children. I do share the acreage with the property owner’s grandson living in his own trailer just behind mine, he’s a good, big farm boy, but was away in the oil fields for his winter job at the time. Needless to say, it was not even remotely possible for me to leave my home, and therefore, not much help to a motorist in need. Honestly folks, I took a good look at this fellow, and he wasn’t much help to himself either I’m sure. Dressed right off the pages of a magazine, he had on his fancy shiny leather shoes, nice cuffed trousers and his leather ¾ length jacket. (I walk my boys to the bus each morning down our rather long driveway, next morning I realised it was sheer ice, I have no idea how that man managed to walk it and stay upright in those shoes). This was a fellow, who’s motto is most decidedly NOT, Be Prepared! He says to me, “I have a shovel”. Great! But now you’re pretty gucci’s are filled with snow dear. (I didn’t say that out loud, I’m much to polite lol). So he has a shovel, but is driving in the dead of winter, with only office wear and pretty shoes, I hope they’re durable.

In the end, best I could offer him was what was left of a box of clean litter for some traction. I tried phoning down to the farm, but he was not home either. I drove by the next morning, and saw where he had been stuck (my 4x4 would have been fine ;) ), and obviously, somehow gotten free. I have no idea if it was with the assistance of the litter, a passing motorist, or if he had to call a tow truck, but he made it out and presumably home safely (or whatever his destination).

Moral of the story: If you live in a climate where snowy weather is a factor, Be Prepared! In the winter, carry the following supplies with you in your trunk or cargo space at all times:

• Roadside Assistance membership
• Winter boots (or something that keeps snow out, your feet warm & dry and has a decent grip)
• Warm toque (hat), gloves & scarf
• Shovel (he had that at least)
• A small box of cat litter or sand (great for traction)
• Vehicle safety kit

ice scraper

snow brush

sand, salt or kitty litter

booster cables

flashlight

blanket

reflective warning sign or road flares

extra clothing

emergency food supplies

matches

candle in a deep tin

fire extinguisher

paper towels or rags

First-aid kit

compass

road map

Friday Focus

Focus: This is what this weekend is going to be about for me. I have things I want to accomplish, both inside (me) and outside (home) and I need to exist in a place of intention to accomplish my goals. During a teleconference today, one of the attendees mentioned focusing on only a maximum of 3 – 5 (5 pushing it) items in any given day, week, month or year and based on that sound advice I have these goals set for the weekend:

1. Keep up my daily FLYing (routines)

2. Focus on the tasks I want to complete & completing them (Better, not perfect!)

3. Take some genuine me time, pampering, meditating, journaling and making a habit of this.

4. Remembering my mantra, “New Year, New Decade, New Start”.

Although I am not expecting company, for this weekend, I am going to adapt FlyLady’s Crisis Cleaning as my MO. My intention is that our home is not only ready for company but to feel a sense of peace and belonging, and to show my boys and myself that we are worth it. Not just company deserves to see or home at our best, we do as well.

Working in 15-minute intervals I WILL get our house turned back into a home and I WILL find inner peace and balance. It is my plan to set my timer spending 15 minutes each working in three different areas, and then take a 15-minute break and reward myself with something I enjoy. This break may include colouring a Mandela, chatting with a friend, reading or just enjoying the beautiful view outside my window with a cup of tea.

My areas of focus for Friday will be the areas we see as we come into our home when we’ve been out and about, and on revising my Control Journal & routines. Saturday I will continue in those areas, and add our areas of rest as well. Saturday evening will be about focusing on pampering myself a bit. Sunday, time to renew my spirit and work on project completion. I will focus on making things better, not perfect.

By posting this on my blog, I am making myself accountable to anyone that dares read it, so please feel free to ask me how I’m doing.

My List of Accountability (To Do List):

1. Living areas

a. Entryway

b. Kitchen/Dining

c. Living room

2. Control Journal

a. My Routines (Daily/Weekly)

b. Boys Routines

3. Rest areas

a. Master bedroom

b. 7yo’s bedroom

c. 9yo’s bedroom

4. Self care

a. Colour my hair

b. Do my nails

c. Facial

d. Moisturize

Day 9 at Wii Fitting!

(This is yesterday's information and posted first on wiifitroutine.com).

Burned: 2,239 cal (according to this )

Time: 9 hours

New Activities Tried: See below

higgledy-piggledy

-adverb

1.	in a jumbled, confused, or disorderly manner; helter-skelter.

This is the way my brain feels today and I know why, too much crap (can I say crap) going in and not enough going out. In other words, I ate horribly yesterday and not near enough water intake. The boys & I went Christmas and grocery shopping, breakfast was ok, one slice of toast with peanut butter, a cup of that lemon detox I linked to previously, and a cup of tea, then an apple enroute to the store (remind me next year that Walmart on a Saturday is bad enough, but the Saturday before Christmas is just stoooopid).

We left just before 11 AM and didn't get home until nearly 8 PM. (Any decent shopping is at least a 45 km(27 mi) drive and this city is 65 km(39 mi) away). We started at McDonald's, actually I grabbed a large double double coffee at Timmies first, and at McD's I only ordered a burger (double cheese), no fries. Then we shopped, and shopped, and shopped and finally left there at oh 2:30ish, hit Dollarama for another hour, got petrol and hit Superstore until 6:30ish. (Oh, I encouraged someone to purchase Wii Fit Plus at Walmart as a gift for her daughter-in-law :D). At Superstore my youngest (7 yo) decided to wander off and I had to get the store to call a "Code Adam" (can I count a panic attack as calories burned??). I'm so glad these big stores keep people at the exits at all times, he was discovered in less than 5 minutes but it felt like hours. I was so freaked out and in tears by the time he walked up with a store employee.

I was tired, stressed and just plain wiped out when we left Superstore, my feet and legs were burning we'd walked so much, at that point I decided I had earned a Starbucks coffee. Went to park at the new Starbucks and saw a Little Ceasars in the same strip, yay, supper! On the trip home, I drank half my coffee and ate 2 crazy bread and as if the shopping wasn't crazy enough, when we hit the highway the fog was insanely thick, what is usually a 35 minute drive home took over an hour. At times I was down to 40 km/hr (24 mi/hr) on a highway that has a limit of 100(60). The fog was freezing on the windshield, I had heat on full and had to keep spraying the window. Then right beside my place, someone missed the stop sign in the fog and got their wee car lodged up on a snow bank across the road. Once we were safely home I ate 1 ½ pieces of pizza and all 8 chicken wings :S. I got the kids tucked in bed, and realised I really really needed a drink (I don't drink very often) so had myself a JD's and coke and despite all the caffeine I slept like a baby LOL!

According to Health Status.com, I burned 2,239 calories approximately, I think that's conservative, between panic attacks with a missing child, stress shopping, and white knuckle drive home, I'm sure I burned more. But then I'm sure I consumed more than that too LOL.

Happy Fitting !! 8)

Calories Burned Estimation:

Results: According to the information you provided, below is an estimate of the calories you burn. Generally, to maintain your weight, the amount of calories you take in should equal the amount you burn. The Daily Energy Expenditure calculator will help you figure out the minimum number of calories your body needs each day to work properly. To lose one U.S. pound (.454 kg), you must burn 3,500 more calories than you take in as food. Activity Calories burned Sitting / resting 88 Standing 99 Housework 122 Driving 266 Shopping 499 Walking 2 mph 1,165 Total Calories Burned 2,239

Remembrance Day 2009

On Monday, November 11th, 1918, the Allies and Germany signed an armistice agreement in Paris, France at 5:00 AM (Paris time). At 11:00 AM hostilities ceased and WWI was over. On November 6th, 1919, Sir George Foster, acting Prime Minister of Canada, rose in the House of Commons to read a message from King George V, addressing "all the peoples of the Empire":

Tuesday next, November 11th, is the first anniversary of the armistice which stayed the world-wide carnage of the four preceding years, and marked the victory of right and freedom. I believe that my people in every part of the Empire fervently wish to perpetuate the memory of that great deliverance and of those who laid down their lives to achieve it.

To afford an opportunity for the universal expression of this feeling it is my desire and hope that at the hour when the armistice came into force, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, there may be for the brief space of two minutes a complete suspension of all our normal activities. During that time, except in the rare cases where this might be impractical, all work, all sound and all locomotion should cease, so that in perfect stillness the thoughts of every one may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead.

We are 91 years since the end of the "War to end all wars", 20 years (plus two days) since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Lots to remember this year.

Remembrance Day has a lot of meaning for me. As a child it was an important part of our school activities. We drew or coloured pictures, we memorised, "In Flander's Fields", sometimes we had a field trip before the day at a war museum or special memorial, we had a service/assembly, and a moment of silence at 1100 hours. The assemblies continue at schools today, although there seems to be less emphasis to commemorate and teach about the importance of this day. It is now a general holiday in Alberta so we will take a moment of silence at home.

Today I will also take time to remember three special people from my life. My daddy, Andrew Ian McCann, who passed away on Easter Sunday 1996, My step-dad, Ivan Michael Zaitsoff, who passed away October 5th, 2008, and a beloved high school teacher, Phil McKay, who passed away yesterday of pancreatic cancer. Rest in peace, each of you have had a bigger impact on my life that you will ever know. To Mr. McKay's family I send my prayers and thoughts.

Green Day ~ 21 Guns

Songwriters: Armstrong, Billie Joe; Bowie, David; Pritchard, Michael; Wright, Frank E., Iii

Do you know what's worth fighting for?
When it's not worth dying for?
Does it take your breath away
And you feel yourself suffocating?

Does the pain weigh out the pride?
And you look for a place to hide?
Did someone break your heart inside?
You're in ruins

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky, you and I

When you're at the end of the road
And you lost all sense of control
And your thoughts have taken their toll
When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul

Your faith walks on broken glass
And the hangover doesn't pass
Nothing's ever built to last
You're in ruins

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky, you and I

Did you try to live on your own
When you burned down the house and home?
Did you stand too close to the fire
Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone?

When it's time to live and let die
And you can't get another try
Something inside this heart has died
You're in ruins

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky, you and I

Menu Plan Monday

This is going to be a crazy week! Tomorrow is a complete write off as I have to go in for a root canal in the morning and I can't see myself cooking after driving an hour, sitting 2 hours in a dentist chair, then driving home. Wednesday is Remembrance Day, if we go to the service most of our day will be shot there too. This week I also want to get caught up on house work and get into my studying more, so the menu needs to follow suit.

§ MONDAY: Chili on a bun (both are from the freezer, the chili is homemade OAMC)

§ TUESDAY: Take out pizza (root canal day)

§ WEDNESDAY: Hamburgers & salad

§ THURSDAY: Home made Fish & Chips (Cod is my fish of choice)

§ FRIDAY: Boys are at their dad’s this weekend and I’m not sure of my plans yet

§ SATURDAY: no kids

§ SUNDAY: no kids

So I procrastinate alot on my procrastinator’s blog. At least I get to it here and there. I will try (try being the important word here) to do this weekly, I always have such great intentions. Oh, check out the link for the title! Great menu planner downloads.

Have a great week!!

~miss shannon

BlogBlast for Peace

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there b

e peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all a

re we.
Let me walk with my brotherIn perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be th

e moment now.
With every step i take
Let this be

my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace e

ternally.
Let ther be peace on earth,
And let it be

gin with me.

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be p

eace on earth
The peace that was meant to

be.
With god as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my

brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment

now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.To take each moment
And live each momentIn peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with

me.

The Official Site of BlogBlast For Peace

The Flu Vaccine Debate….

I’m asserting my opinion on this debate, this is NOT a medical opinion, I am not a professional. Please do your own research, weigh the pros and cons for you and your family and talk to your physician. Also, if you have a different opinion, good for you, I will never push my beliefs on another. I merely share what I feel is best for my family. Do what is best for YOUR family! ps. this is long, have a cup of coffee near by if you dare to read LOL.

Regarding both the seasonal influenza vaccine and H1N1 influenza (swine flu) vaccine and based on my own research, myself and my younger children will NOT be getting either vaccine.

I have been favouring the “do NOT” side for some time but still teetered on the edge of the fence. The media hype regarding the spread of this flu and the government insistence that this is necessary was at war within me against all I believed in about the danger of ALL vaccines. Hearing the reports of reactions (from mild to severe and even death) related to the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine, had me concerned and weighing the risks of vaccine over contracting either virus. In fact, fear mongering has the exact opposite reaction for me, I distrust those that would use fear to push their agendas and that in and of itself was pushing me on the no vaccine side of the fence. Based on experience and research this is how I came about my final decision. Although my decision is for both vaccines, I am focusing on H1N1 here as that is the hot topic right now and the vaccine they are pushing.

First of all, as I said, using fear tactics caused me to DISTRUST those pushing the vaccine, the opposite effect they intended obviously. This pushed me to do research on my own (a good thing) and look closer at the assertions, but not pushiness, of those against the vaccine.

Secondly, lack of sufficient testing of the swine flu vaccine. This vaccine was proven to cause a myriad of severe reactions in the past and yet is once again being pushed, with the “new & improved” brand. But they have no proof of the improvements and the adjuvants are just as dangerous as always. I already know I react to thimeresol, would you believe they used to put it in contact solution… c’mon everybody, let’s pour mercury in our eyes WTH??

Nearly there on my decision, I then discussed the H1N1 vaccine with my bff. Her husband is a doctor of chiropractic medicine, I trust chiropractors before MD’s. They are not getting the vaccine, reason: too little testing, too risky, too many adverse reactions. That solidified how I feel. However with the virus spreading quickly through our small school concerns continued to nag at me, hummmm what’s a mom to do?

I am a single mom with several medical issues, the worst of which is fibromyalgia & CFS, I have no one to back me up if I’m sick, no matter what the cause. So now you may be thinking, well don’t you want the vaccine then??? No thanks, I had the seasonal flu vaccine a few years ago, I didn’t know why at the time, but I was sick, weak, fatigued and in pain for weeks after, most of the winter in fact, but oh goody, I didn’t get the flu! Two weeks ago I caught what I assume was the seasonal flu virus (not sure, but I don’t think it was swine flu). On the first day I was headachey, body aches, high fever, nauseated (without vomiting), muscle weakness and couldn’t walk to the bathroom without holding onto walls & counters. I was FULLY recovered in four days! No residual effects, no sudden return after getting better. My 8 yo also had seasonal flu (again not positive) about four weeks ago, same thing, FULLY recovered in less than four days. I think we’re doing pretty darn good at building up our immune system.

Today I learned that both vaccines can cause severe and lasting debilitating reactions to those with fibromyalgia, CFS or any of the chronic pain syndromes. Well, that explains my previous winter, apres vaccination. I’ll be darned if I can afford to be nearly bed ridden again for an entire winter. I have attached a video from youtube.com, a physician specialising in infectious disease AND an endocrinologist, Dr. Kent Holtorf is NOT getting his children immunized with H1N1 and indicates that it has been shown to be “devastating” to those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. So based on my research, we’ll take our chances with no vaccinations and continue to keep our immune system fortified with healthy eating and daily vitamins.

Best of luck to everyone in making your decision and prayers for staying healthy. God bless!

Life on the farm…. (cont’d)

Yesterday we woke to our world softened by a rather dense fog. Before daylight I couldn’t see past the edge of my deck. As I listened to the morning news the school board was even cancelling some school bus routes it was that thick. By 8 AM I could still could not see the road at the end of our driveway. The first photo is from my front door. I am including a shot of my view from this exact same location on a clear day so you can understand the extreme contrast. (And yes, I know I used a zoom lense in the 2nd picture lol).

After that I decided to venture out to our yard with my camera to see what I could come up with. These are my favourites. Comments, commendations and recommendations are welcome and encouraged on my photography always! I am no professional by any stretch of the definition but I really love playing with my camera.