Weekend Update (with photos)

A new week is underway and I am ready for it. I'm feeling totally calm and cheerful after a wonderfully, busy weekend filled with birthdays, ferry rides, beaches and sunshine.

Oh, and how could I forget the great company I shared this weekend with :)

Friday Fill-Ins #85

Here we go:

1. The last meal I had at a restaurant was at the Brooklyn Warehouse and I had the Blackened Salmon (spice rubbed salmon fillet, pan roasted and topped with a hollandaise and served with baby spinach and roasted potatoes).

2. This odd mood I'm in is something I intensely dislike.

3. The full moon, A glowing beacon in the heavens, she rules the tides -- I love the full moon and all of its inspiration, and mystery.

Full Moon
By Walter de la Mare

One night as Dick lay fast asleep,
Into his drowsy eyes
A great still light began to creep
From out the silent skies.
It was the lovely moon's, for when
He raised his dreamy head,
Her surge of silver filled the pane
And streamed across his bed.
So, for a while, each gazed at each-
Dick and the solemn moon-
Till, climbing slowly on her way,
She vanished, and was gone.

4. "Fart in a windstorm" (A fuss over nothing) -- is one of my favorite local expressions.

5. Sometimes it's best to walk away.

6. Horton Hears A Who! is the best movie I've seen so far this year!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to unwinding, chilling out, shaking off some of these nasties, tomorrow my plans include two birthday parties and Sunday, I want to go shopping for some school supplies.

~ Have a beautiful weekend everyone and don't forget to dance under the full moon!

...what a tale my thoughts could tell

I think I think too often.
I think that pisses my husband off!
I think I take too much for granted.
I think my children are beautiful.
I think about the future a lot.
I think life is too short.
I think this post is complete crap.
I think you should stop reading this.
I think you should move on to something more interesting.
I think people need to smile more.
I think people need to stop bitching over petty little things.
I think my daughter should wait six month before moving out.
I think I have a hard time letting go.
I think it is time for a hair cut... and a colour.
I think I should exercise more.
I think, I think, I think too often.

Wordless # 4 -

Mary Jane's Smoke Shop & The Black Market Boutique
{Grafton St. in Halifax}

When I walk by this building, my eyes are drawn to the windows on the second story.

Visit Wordless Wednesday

Days of Wine & Vinyl

Courtesy of DaveP (aka - Hubby)

In 1982 I got a CD player. I set out on a quest to get my favourite albums on CD. After all I was an audiophile. I needed the best, the clearest, the sharpest sound.

I grew up in my basement. Not the whole time, but much of it. Born in the 60's, a child of the 70's, to maturity in the 80's. Music was my true friend. There in the good times, the bad times, the in between times. Some nights 10 or 12 friends sat in my basement with me. We were amazed by the power of Kiss Alive!, the operatic Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf, the creepiness of Welcome To My Nightmare by Alice Cooper. Led Zeppelin IV, April Wine's Stand Back, Pink Floyd's The Wall. There is an endless list of albums we called classic at one time or another.

Recently, we celebrated or 20th wedding anniversary. As we have grown up together, my wife and I have started to savor certain things. A good meal at a nice restaurant, a good bottle of wine, a drive down the shore for an evening sunset. Things I used to think were just elitist, I now realize are the prizes of age. Music is one of them. Jack and I make frequent visits to Taz records, to buy a couple more examples of an almost forgotten time.

Someday, when our kids are out making their own way. We will take our drive down the shore to a small summer home. We will pour our glass of wine, and take a seat in our Adirondack chairs. Our ears will fill with the waffles and snaps of vinyl, and then the mesmerizing guitars of Frampton Comes Alive! Those will be our Days Of Wine And Vinyl.

Baby I love your way,
DaveP (Hubby)

Photo Weekend Update

Photo Weekend Update

Saturday:
1. Uncle tells ghost stories to by the fire, and to add to the ambiance of the blood chilling tales, we had a few bats flying around the fire - Annual family BBQ at my house.

Sunday:
2. Two great finds at Taz - Knock 'Em Dead Kid (Trooper) and Frampton Comes Alive (Peter Frampton).
3. A quick peek at the goodies at The Black Market Boutique on Grafton St.
4. Over to Spring Garden for a scoop of hot fries and a chat with Sir Winston Churchill.
5. An encounter with a furry friend at Point Pleasant Park.

Monday:
6. Old photo of me, Hubby and Priss, 16 years ago - Found at my mother-in-laws while hunting for old pictures of her for a surprise project I'm working on. (Hope she doesn't read my blog)

Friday Fill-Ins #84

Here we go:

1. You know you're old when you have a daughter old enough fly away from the nest.

2. My heart is divided between being sad about my little girl leaving home and excitement about her new independence .

3. A hug is what I need RIGHT NOW!

4. I have felt the agony of defeat, I have known the depths of despair.

5. Gah, won't these people get a clue.

6. Come home as soon as you can!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to sifting though decorating mags and blogs with my daughter, tomorrow my plans include a BBQ with the family and Sunday, I want to go on a treasure hunt!

*Hope you all have a fun & beautiful weekend!*

Back to School!

Hey wait a minute, we still have August!

Ah, sad but true. We have started the slow descent into shorter days and longer nights. The summer season will soon fade into crisp mornings and cool evenings -- I shall savor each and every day left of August, and yes, the foggy and rainy days too.

Wordless #3

Do you remember when you were a kid?

A cardboard box could be imagined into anything...

A secret lair hidden dark underground,
a space rocket that could fly you to the moon in only 5 minutes,
or a Pirate ship that would take you on a wild adventure in under an hour.

The possibilities were endless

Visit Wordless Wednesday

Flight Recorder From Viking 7 -- Matthew Good

This is such a great song by Matthew Good. I think this song could be about the Viking rocket series designed and built by the U.S. The Viking #7 flew in August, 1951 -- but I'm not really sure, it could be about something entirely different. I love all Matt Good's music, but his lyrics do stump me sometimes. Perhaps he may stumble upon my little spot and give us a brief explanation -- wouldn't that be cool? ;)


Canadian singer Holly McNarland makes a guest appearance.

You can go here to make your own flying version of viking 7.

365 Words of Well-Being for Women

Author: Rachel Snyder

365 Words is one of those books that lifts your spirit and touches your heart. In my opinion, it is one of life's little pleasure that you can enjoy reading over and over again.

Here is the link to Rachel Snyder's blog.

Rainy Day Blues

What's that disorder called when your mood is affected by the weather? Yes, that's it, SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder. I think that just might be me.

When you are exposed to sunlight, your body makes lots of Vitamin D3, and because of that you make more of a substance called Serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical found in the brain and it's very important to your mood. We know that if you don't have enough of it then you can become depressed.

Seems like all it does is rain around here lately. I need to *relax in the sunshine*!

Things that go "BUMP" in the night

There are many things that can keep me awake at night. Worry, snoring, dripping tap, and the annoying droan of the neighbors’ air conditioner... the list is endless for me. A loud "BUMP" startled me awake from a rather gruesome nightmare last night.

In my dream I was waiting for hubby who went into a store to buy us an ice-cream, when a group of men pulled up beside me in a jeep. I watched them get out, go into the store and butcher the clerk with machetes. Horrified, I ducked down in my seat when they came out of the store; they all were carrying a body part of the clerk. I was crouched down waiting for them to drive away when I was startled by a huge "Bang!” I woke up sweaty and shaking, wishing my eyes would adjust faster, then again "Bang!” which I'm positive came from outside my bedroom window. I got up and looked out the window but found nothing, just stillness and the droaning sound of the air conditioner. Still shaken by my dream, I lay back down trying to wipe the images from my brain, but ultimately failing. My mind kept shifting into overdrive as I try to imagine a nicer, alternate ending to my nightmare so I could fall back to sleep. I tossed and turned and knew I wasn’t getting back to sleep. I ended up having to go downstairs and taking one of my blood pressure meds to settle the furious thumping of my poor ticker.

This morning I realized the possible trigger to such an awful dream – “Passenger beheaded on Canada bus”. Here is the link so you can read all the horrifying details for yourself.

Friday Fill-Ins #83

Questions 1 and 2 this week are courtesy of Sherry, thanks!
Here we go:

1. If I could travel back in time, I'd go to back to the mid 1700's so I could be a pirate (Arrr!).

2. Give me liberty or give me death! - Patrick Henry

3. I am listening to Last of the Ghetto Astronauts - Matthew good.

4. Somewhere, someone is thinking of you. Someone is calling you an angel. This person is using celestial colors to paint your image. Someone is making you into a vision so beautiful that it can only live in the mind. Someone is thinking of the way your breath escapes your lips when you are touched. How your eyes close and your jaw tightens with concentration as you give pleasure a home. These thoughts are saving a life somewhere right now. In some airless apartment on a dark, urine stained, whore lined street, someone is calling out to you silently and you are answering without even being there. So crystalline. So pure. Such life saving power when you smile. You will never know how you have cauterized my wounds. So sad that we will never touch. How it hurts me to know that I will never be able to give you everything I have. - Henry Rollins

5. I'll always be in love with you
Treasure these few words
Till we're together
Keep all my love forever
P.S. I love you
You you you

As I write this letter
Send my love to you
Remember that.... -- P.S. I Love You (The Beatles)

6. My idea of a good time includes good company, good food, good wine, of course it does depend on my mood too. Sometimes my idea of a good time is hanging out at home with the family, playing a game or watching a movie.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to kicking off the long weekend with good company, good food and good wine, tomorrow my plans include a drive with the hubby and Sunday, I want to go to my nieces christening and hubby's cousins wedding!

Random Thoughts

It's a glorious Wednesday here on the East Coast. The sun is shining, there is a gentle breeze blowing and all is good. Here are some random thoughts for this Wednesday:

-Most song I love make me feel good.

-Certain genres of music make me want to poke out my eardrums, such as most Country music and Opera -- however, there are some Operas I do truly enjoy, two of them are; The Rabbit of Seville and What's Opera, Doc?

Elmer Fudd: I'll kill the wabbit! Awise storm! North wind bwow! South wind bwow! Huwwicanes! Typhoons! Earthquakes! *Smog!*

Bugs: O mighty warrior of great fighting stock. Might I inquire to ask, ehh, what's up Doc?
(Oh my, those two crack me up!)

-Music, like Art, can inspire us and affect us all in a multitude of ways.

So tonight I think I will put on some vinyl, poor a glass of vino, relax and let the music inspire me.

Here is the link to watch The Rabbit of Seville and What's Opera Doc?

Wordless #2

Visit Wordless Wednesday

Lilly - Pink Martini

In honor of the new header I made for Slightly Off-Center, the song I picked for this Tuesday is Lilly by Pink Martini. This is a fun song, have a listen!

Monday - - A New Beginning

This morning while sitting her at my desk day dreaming, something just clicked. It was an artical I read last week about a Zen practice called "Beginners Mind", "Zen Mind" or "Shoshin".

Beginner's mind is Zen practice in action. It is the mind that is innocent of preconceptions and expectations, judgments and prejudices. Beginner's mind is just present to explore and observe and see "things as-it-is." I think of beginner's mind as the mind that faces life like a small child, full of curiosity and wonder and amazement. "I wonder what this is? I wonder what that is? I wonder what this means?" Without approaching things with a fixed point of view or a prior judgment, just asking "what is it?"

This is an interesting concept and might be just the thing to get me out of this funk. If I were to approach each day like a beginner, I could see each new experience in a new light. Maybe this is the way I need to look at the "roadblock/detour" I am faced with -- like a baby full of curiosity and discovery. I am facing the remainder of the week with a positive outlook.

(Hmmmmmmm, having O.C.D might make this challenge a difficult one)

Weekend update (Hubby's Birthday)

My creation

Hubby celebrated his 43rd birthday on Saturday. The kids took us out for brunch on Saturday morning, then later hubby and I went out for dinner with family. Good food and great company made for a fun Birthday celebration.

Friday Fill-Ins #82

Questions 4-6 this week are courtesy of Sherry! Thanks!
Here we go:

1. I believe whatever doesn't kill you makes me really grateful it didn't.
2. If you're good at something, don't do it for free. lol
3. (I'm sure this will be a popular answer)

4. Something is out there, it's beautiful and mysterious.
5. If my life were a sitcom, it would be titled "Slightly Off-Center" or maybe, "Are You Ready For This?"
6. Sitting on my back porch [if you don't have one, use your imagination] I see A forest alive with wildlife; I hear the Mourning Doves mournful coo.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to an evening out on the town, tomorrow my plans include brunch with the family for the Hubby's birthday and Sunday, I want to chill out at home and maybe do some chores!

Rule # 14

Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. Give it a try!

This is the Wordle I created today.
From: at last there is nothing left to say ~ Matthew Good

The Handbook -- Rule #14

The World is NOT your OYSTER
PRYING it Open Ruins your chances
of Putting it BACK

Wordless #1

Rain Rain, Go Away...

Visit Wordless Wednesday

Road Closed -- Detour Ahead

You're cruising along on the road of life, fairly confident of where you're headed. You know this road, every pothole, pump, stop sign, and light. You are so familiar with this rout; you could drive it with your eyes closed, because it's the same road you've traveled for the past 19 years. Then one day while you’re contently driving along, you encounter a dreaded roadblock.

Some people aren’t the least bit phased by taking an alternate rout; they are excited by the prospects of a new adventure. I'm not one of those people. "Off the beaten path", well, to be blunt - scares the living shit out of me!

What do you do when your journey though life takes an unexpected detour? Do you embrace change and look forward to the challenge of something new, or are you cautious but move forward tentatively, or are you the type that panics because you are unfamiliar with the alternate routs?

Under The Falling Sky ~ Jackson Browne

I picked this song to post today simply because, I'm in a "Jackson Browne" mood, and I love this song. Enjoy!


Under The Falling Sky

Warm and lovely mystery, fire smiling through
Before this moment fades away I want to know you
I've got lightening in my pocket, thunder in my shoe
Have no fear I've got something here I want to show you

Low, under the falling sky
Easily we will lie
While I bring it to you

It's a low road, a high wire going from me to you
And in your eyes the distance left is closing
I've got a feeling in my oceans
Blood underneath my skin
That into your bright fields this prison is opening

Low, under the falling sky
Easily we will lie
While I bring it to you

Our shadows wake each day though they don't know why
They hope and try -- live and die
So leave them in their frozen world
Come and be my lover
If only for one stolen moment
We will live forever

Warm and lovely mystery, can you hear the choir?
Voices can no longer hold my desire
Abandon your sad history and meet me in the fire
Our angels wait to take us higher and higher
Higher and higher

Low, under the falling sky
Easily we will lie
While I bring it to you

Intermezzo

As I sit here it is pouring outside and I'm watching the light-show just outside my window. I actually love the sound of rain and thunder at night, it comforts me.

Rain Is Falling

Blinding streaks of light
Fill the sky tonight
Thunder cracks
My heart pounds
I open my window wide
Cool mist hits my face
I breath in deep
The scent is intoxicating
Water flows from the Heavens
A gift from the Gods
Streaming down my window
Hypnotized
Mesmerized
My eyes are growing heavy
I am drifting away

Moody Monday

Gray has filled the sky and has somehow seeped into me. I am a little surprised at how easily my moods can change lately. It all started with a night of thoughts. Fear and anxiety took over and I barely slept last night, just thought. Thought about the past but mostly the future. This week is a big week for us, well mostly for hubby but it will have an affect the whole family. I need to be in "support" mode right now so I will try to bottle up all of this anxiety I am feeling, and toss it far into the sea.

Anniversary Get-Away

Hubby and I had a wonderfully, relaxing three days up in the Annapolis Valley. You can view some photos from the trip here.

Friday Fill-In #81

All questions this week are courtesy of Sherry; thank you, girl!

1. If I could be a fly on the wall I would ______. (I don't have an answer for this one, I don't think I'd want to be a fly on the wall)

2. Jealousy is just human nature.

3. When I see a shooting star my wish would be that my family will be healthy and happy.

4. I'd rather be warm than cold any day!

5. Certain songs when I hear them make me wanna poke out my ear drums out with bamboo skewers.

6. If time were in a bottle "The first thing that Id like to do
Is to save every day, Till eternity passes away, Just to spend them with you".

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to putting things in order, tomorrow my plans include more of the same (kids made a mess while I was away) and Sunday, I want to relax and enjoy my last day of vacation!

20 years ago today

Hubby and I are very proud to be celebrating our 20th year anniversary today. We both have worked very hard at building a solid relationship as well as a secure and loving home for our three kids. Not every day was (is) perfect, but with love, respect and dedication, we were (are) able to work through any problems and build a strong, lasting relationship. I love my husband more now than ever, he is not only my partner but my best friend.

Happy Anniversary Babe!

No tune this Tuesday

Weekend Update

Well, not really a weekend update, just a Sunday update. We were going to hit the beach but decided it was a better day for a leisurely drive up the shore. Here are some photos I took while on our drive.


Now I have to go pack for me anniversary get-away. Yay!

Friday Fill-Ins #80

All questions this week are courtesy of the original founder of the Friday Fill-Ins, Megan

1. Oh, I can't wait until I have a couple days away with just me and the hubby.

2. Beer is the first thing I see when I open my refrigerator.
(I need to do some grocery shopping)

3. I never leave home without my camera.

4. If I were a condiment, I would be hot sauce because I am spicy?

5. Disrespect is really high up on my list of pet peeves.

6. The last thing I thought of before I went to bed was .

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include groceries and Sunday, I want to pack for a few days away with the hubby to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary!

Random Thoughts

I'm sitting here on this gray Wednesday morning sipping my tea, waiting for Hubby to return from work. Yes, he was suppose to have this week off but something came up that the other technicians couldn't handle, so he was called in - ahhhh, what can ya do?

Like most Wednesdays, I don't have much to post so here are some random thoughts:

All good things must end, and nothing lasts forever...
It's nice to sit back, and just listen and watch...
Go with what you feel...
Sometimes people can surprise you...
I'm comfortable being myself...

Blast from my past - More than A Feeling

What nice weather we are having here on the East Coast of Canada. Today was one of those -"so hot you can't breath" - days. Love it!

I've been doing a lot of reminiscing the last couple days. Today I was thinking about what my favorite summertime songs were back in the day. I always think back to sitting on the front stoop with my friends, sipping Pepsi from a glass bottle and listening to "More than A Feeling" by Boston. This song always takes me back.



What are your favorite songs that take you back to your youth?