Even at -30, Lest We Forget

It was a very cold day at the Beverly Cenotaph...

 

 

 

In memory of Corporal Michael Starker, 15 Field Ambulance Regiment.

 

Corporal Starker was the 83rd Canadian soldier killed in combat in Afghanistan.  He was killed while on patrol in Pashmul.  Corporal Starker was only 36.

 

Today, along with 395 Air Cadet Squadron, Corporal Starker's unit, 15 Field Ambulance Regiment, hosted the Cenotaph Ceremony.

 

Since 2002, nearly 160 troops have died in Afghanistan.

 

Bow your head and give them and all those who have served Canada a couple minutes of your time.  While you're doing that, reflect on the fact that you live in the greatest country on the face of the planet.

 

For Flight Corporal, Second Class, Dunahee and Master Corporal Riddell, thank you for your devotion and willingness to protect and serve your country.  For the 395 and the 408, WHOOOAAAHHH!

Shame Fuck Stride of Pride

When I was in university, it was as an adult student.  I have had the luxury of never looking my age so I spent a few weekends playing with the kids fresh out of high school without them knowing I was almost a decade older than them.  It made going to parties at frat houses rather interesting.

It has been hypothesized that this is where I developed a taste for younger men.  I'll never tell.  In public.  About the hockey player.  Who may or may not have been a Deke.

Every year, without fail, there would always be one of those frat boys in my classes.  You know the guy, hotter than the flames of hell with his own fan club that follows him around. I imagine this is what university was like for Ryan Lochte.  To be honest, part of me wonders how he made it through university.  You cannot deny he is an amazing swimmer but there is something, I don't know, vapid, happening there.

I know you have been thinking the same thing so do not admonish me.

I also know you enjoy looking at him (the dancing bit and the smirk at 0:25 makes me fall out of my chair every damn time):

Yes, you like me, want to hit that shit like the wrath of Gawd.

Then you see something like this and realize that, yeah, you would still hit it but you would be doing the walk of shame afterwards:

"A what?"  Charmed, for sure.  "Romper!"  Great.  #bouncingmyass

There is a link on YouTube of our Ryan being interviewed by a charming lady with the patience of a saint.  Before you all go to Gainsville on your post-Olympic Ryan Stalk 2012, you should know that 7 times 4 in Ryan's world is 21.  Well done University of Florida.  Nailed it.

Fratboy douchetard?  Probably.  Top of the Shame Fuck list?  Absolutely.

I am guessing that would explain all those one night stands his mother speaks so freely about.

I Thought I Wanted a Puppy

Well, dammit.

Now I am going to have to get a bigger place for me and this baby walrus.

Puppies are totally overrated.

This One Is Dedicated to the Ones I Love

Recently, I turned 35.

Again.

One of the things I really wanted for my birthday was to be surrounded by my family.  The family I have created for myself, not necessarily the family I share DNA with.

Simply put, most of the family that I have that I share a gene pool with are people I really do not like.  Addiction, psychosis, insecurity, and general nastiness keep me away.  If you are reading this, if we are related, if you have not seen or heard from me in the past year or so... you are, or possess at least one of the four things that started the last sentence.  And no, I will not be apologizing for saying that out loud on the internet.  Grow up and own your shit.

My birthday dinner party was exactly what I wanted.  We had great food I spent all day cooking...

.... pulled chicken sandwiches and potato salad...

... nachos with salsa, sour creme, and pico de gallo guacamole...

... edemame beans and wings...

We also had blue cake with an Alice in Wonderland topper (thank you Pinterest and my sassy Mum who can't stand fondant but still wanted me to have Alice and company atop my blue cake)...

We had sunshine after a day of rain, we had badminton and pink Mohawks.  Most importantly, we all had each other; three families that have chose each other, together as one.

And flowers.  Do not forget the flowers...

Chicken With Vegetables And Pasta, Or How Michael Gave Me The Shove I Needed

It has been a while.

I have been working on different projects which have been a major distraction.

Then there is the swimming.  Yes, you heard right, my big butt in a swim suit in a public pool, not drowning.  At first the plan was to go back to the gym but I decided to face a few fears and swim instead.  Now, its probably being incredibly gracious calling it swimming.  What I do for an hour at a time is probably not much more than an advanced form of the doggie paddle with a touch of the breast stroke, but for two months I have managed to keep myself from drowning at least three times a week.

Writing and cooking have taken a back seat for some time now but after talking to my friend Michael (code for he talked, I listened), the desire to write and cook is back.

Here's your chicken with vegetables and pasta, darling.  Bad news is, I was out of quinoa.  Good news is, its belly rubbing nap time.

CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES AND PASTA

Ingredients:

3 chicken breasts, each cut in quarters
3 c. flour, seasoned
3 tbsp. grapeseed or EVOO
½ medium red onion
2 c. mushrooms, sliced
3 – 4 cloves garlic, minced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
8 stalks asparagus, heads cut off, stalks cut in half and then into bite sized pieces
1 large can stewed tomatoes, drained, juice reserved
6 c. pasta, cooked

Method:

-cut chicken breast in half; turn each piece on its side and cut in half again

-place flour in a container with sides and season the flour with paprika, oregano, and thyme (1/2 tsp. each)

-heat oil in a large pan on medium high heat

-dredge chicken in flour and then place in pan, cooking about 4 minutes on each side depending on thickness of chicken

-once cooked, remove from pan and set aside

-immediately add vegetables and stir fry until al dente

-add reserved tomato juice, reduce heat to medium, and reduce juice to desired consistency

-cook pasta

-when pasta is finished cooking, drain

-warm chicken in a pan

-plate chicken on pasta and vegetable mixture on chicken

 Makes 4 - 6 servings.

The Best Thing About The Super Bowl

Right now, Janet Jackson is high fiving everyone she knows and has begun praying at the altar of M. I. A.

I cannot wait for the world to cave in.  It is going to be ahmayzing.  Who knew it would take just one finger.

Oh how I do love me some M. I. A.

Now, I'm sure that Madonna will take credit for the whole thing.  Let her.  The song is shite and she should be giving herself the middle finger for ever releasing it publicly.  I still have not figured out how Ms. Minaj and M. I. A. appeared on this song but that is another discussion for a different blog.

If Madonna were truly as controversial and provocative as she and her marketing people want us to believe she is, she would have made this song.

It is time Madge.  Shut the hell up and let M. I. A. do her thing.

Blessed

A Decalogue of Canons for Observation in Practical Life

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Never trouble another for what you can do for yourself.
Never spend your money before you have it.
Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.
Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
We never repent of having eaten too little.
Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
How much pain have cost us the evils which never have happened.
Take things always by their smooth handle.
When angry, count to ten before you speak; if still angry, a hundred.

~ Thomas Jefferson (from a letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith, 1825)

Random Sauce, Part 11

Good judgement is the result of experience.  Which was the result of bad judgement.
~~~~
If I were to agree with you, that would make both of us wrong.
~~~~
 I know Onoway isn't that big, but DHL isn't that smart.
~~~~
May the 4th be with you.
~~~~
Dear Duggars: It is a vagina, not a clown car.
~~~~

Blessed

Lessons From the Hundred-Acre Wood

Following some mysterious tracks can lead to an adventure.
If you don't know something for sure, you may as well admit it.
A real friend (however small) never lets you feel foolish for long.
Sometimes just being there takes courage.
Its better to remember before going up that you have a problem with down.
Sometimes the best thing to do is let go.
Thinking can be hard when someone else is talking,
You should wit for a polite time to interrupt, no matter what your tumbly tells you.
It one goes on long enough, it gets a bit boring.
When someone calls you silly (in a nice sort of way), just call them silly right back.
If you don't succeed wit the wrong sort of bees, its wroth another try with the right sort.
Only an understanding friend will do something for you he thinks is silly.
"Silly old bear" when said the right way, sounds just like "I love you."
Its hard to keep it down and exercise at the same time.
When your mother puts her paws on her hips, you know you're in trouble.
Good manners are good.
There's always room for hope.
When in doubt, change the subject.
If you're looking for home but you keep finding a sandpit, try looking for the sandpit -- and
     you might find home.
If you listen to your honey (or your heart or tummy), it may call you back home.
The best-laid plans aren't always.
The friend who finds you when you might be lost is a very welcome friend.
You are where you are wherever you are (that's got to be a rule).
Getting organized is sometimes better than just talking about it.
Accidents happen.
Its bad form to save yourself when somebody else needs your help.
A tail can be more than an extra bit at the back.
According to Christopher Robin, its goes like this: you're braver than you believe, and
     stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Friends can be there for you, whether or not they're there with you.
If you're between this and that and here and there, you might be completely lost.
When things get very scary (and when you're very small) its comforting to shut your eyes and
     hold on to a friend.
Nowhere is a wonderful place -- especially when you're beside your best friend.
When someone else asks what you're going to do, you can always say, "Oh, nothing."

~ Hallie Marshal

Nirvana

Parinirvana 2012

Magha Puja 2012

Wordless Wednesday

Happy 2012

If you want to build a ship, don't heard people together to collect the wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. ~ Antoine du Saint-Exupery