I CLICKED on IT - Have YOU?

IT is in my screen shot, can you see it - there… wrapped in red.

It's the Next Blog button… and I pressed it.

On my first hit I found this wonderful blog… ZEPHYR'S ZOO

Talk about Lucky - in more ways than one. Not only do I love dogs but my dear, sweet, little Lucky Lucky Pow Pow was an ace at Agility in her younger years.

This video was shot back in 2007; my daughter and Lucky loved their time together taking Agility Classes.

So I'm doing a little sharing - if you love dogs than you've got to check this site out.

And, as a bonus - if you'd love to see some really fun Agility videos then check out this blog (sister blog to ZEPHYR'S ZOO) called Art of Dog.

Plus - yes, there's more - the photography is stunning - some of the best I've seen. Some photos clear took my breath away.

This blog was worth adding to MY BLOGS OF NOTE (new addition) LIST! 

Well, I just thought you all might like to know CLICKING on Next Blog wasn't a half bad idea - wouldn't you agree.


Have YOU ever CLICKED on IT?

Cheers, Jenny

It’s a FULL LOAD… but no BULL…

Hey… time for the “what have I been up to” report.

Yes, I see you sitting there with bated breath going… “ah, no, too busy with my own load of bull, but, okay, give ‘er a go - I’ve got, like, a minute”.

What BRAND is your WASHER and DRYER?

Source
Yes, I do wear heels and an apron when I do laundry!
What? You don't? My, my… tsk, tsk. 

I’m in the market and need a new set - you know, a washer that can actually take a full load and “wash” it, and a dryer that doesn’t groan as the door opens, then continues groaning for the duration. (Like some old guy wishing his dose of Viagra would finally wear off - really, four hours, come on, who are we kidding - even as a young buck he’d be lucky to hang in for 10 minutes.)

Consumer Report was rather useless - only big ticket brands seemed to warrant their time and attention.

Here’s what I want in a washer and dryer.

SIMPLICITY - no fancy computer dashboard. I want nobs, just ordinary, simple nobs! The kind that do their job for at least two decades. (My nobs still work by the way, it's everything else that's on the fritz.)

And, doesn't dear Bettie Wallace just lay it out for us… see… she's HAPPY - gotta go with the happy folks on this one!

Source
(BW is a Speed Queen success story - for real!)

I enjoyed reading the "success" stories featured on the Speed Queen site - click HERE if your up to some honesty.

GOOD AGITATION - this is one of those times when being an agitator is essential and in washing machines it’s a must. (There was soooo much potential to add my penny's worth about good agitation, but… you've only got a minute, remember!)

TIME FACTOR - I don’t want to stand around (or sit watching TV and thinking about my laundry) for an hour and a half - which seems to be the time HE (high efficiency) front loaders take to wash a load. Now that’s a full load of bull right there!

Last, but equally important is COST - they should be affordable. (I don’t want to sell the first born (my only born) as I’m thinking she might come in handy down the road when I can’t find my dentures or my wig!)

Anyway - I’m leaning toward SPEED QUEEN. They’ve been around since before electricity - well, close - 1908! Wow! And, they are the major supplier of commercial machines. And, (yes, another and) they use the same industrial grade components for their retail line.

So, after reading THIS C/NET ARTICLE (particularly the comments, which are way more informative than Consumer Report) and watching the following video I think I’m making a wise choice.

HERE ARE TWO OF THE COMMENTS THAT GOT MY ATTENTION…

This first confirmed my fears that front loaders "could" have their share of problems. The comment had a lot more chronology but this will give you the gist - plus the author has a link to her complaint website if you really have that much extra time. (Like, what happened to only having a minute, eh?)

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE 

In this next comment, it was the bit about Speed Queen which spurred me on the path of due diligence… and do it I did.

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

A FURTHER BONUS - their warranty is three years, parts and labour - that’s right THREE years - not the piddly one year that is the norm. Well, that speaks volumes too!

Here’s that video that sold me…

Another thing that worked in Speed Queen’s favour, while calling around, was the recognition HUEBSCH (Speed Queen’s name for their product in Canada) received when I asked about it at three different stores. 

And… (yes, yes, the stand alone, out front, and) one of the sales folks even owns a set - well… that’s it for me. I use the face product I sell and believe if it’s good sales folks will use their best products too.

-------------------------------------------------

My circuitous ramblings are now complete, I am back to where I started...

What BRAND is your WASHER and DRYER?

And… do you love them!

Would you recommend them?

Cheers, Jenny

PS - A post-post note. Here in Canada the set retails for $1659-1798 + tax. Delivery is $60-80, removal of old W/D is $20-30.

Teaching the old dogs

Old dogs bark.

Old dogs like to sleep.

Mostly, old dogs sleep.

Lucky, filling in for me… but you get the idea, right!

I've been having a hell of a time at the SIWC. 

I'm liking my bed - it's big, comfy and oh so fluffy. 

Did I say it's comfy, oh yeah, I see I did.

Mostly old dogs sleep.

And bark.

Last night the old dog barked.

Old dogs bite too.

But that's another story.

-----------------------------------


Right now, I'm giving you a teaser… 

the new, and improved, opening line of a piece I'm working on.

After an awesome start to Friday's set of classes, this one titled: 

Creating Narrative Drive, by Roberta Rich. 

I have learned something.

You can teach the old dog.

-----------------------------------

Here.

Here's the first line of a Short Story I'm working on…


Death by bus would have been easier, now she would have to wait.

----------------------------------

That's it.

The old dog needs to leave her big, comfy, oh so fluffy bed.

A new day dawns.

Knowledge awaits, and the old dog is eager.

Like a young pup.

-----------------------------------


How's your battery these days?

Old and worn?

Young and eager?

Cheers, Jenny

Where are you LIVING? In yesterday, tomorrow, or NOW?

LIVING NOW 

a rather simple concept 

but near IMPOSSIBLE to do - for many!

In light of tomorrow I thought I'd share this today…

If you are DEPRESSED you are probably living in YESTERDAY.

If you are ANXIOUS you are probably living in TOMORROW.

If you are AT PEACE you are probably living in the PRESENT. 

Where are you LIVING?

That's it in a nutshell - but, if you've got a moment, NOW, let's go a little deeper, shall we.

Okay, here goes…

Often when we think about the past we conjure up sadness, regret, should-haves, and sorrow. 

We struggle with what we should have, or could have, done in a situation that is now long gone.  

Yet, we rehash, revisit, and often replay a scene with no hope of changing a thing… if only.

Then, we fast forward and head into the future where we further analyze and wonder about the what ifs - if I do it this way what will happen? If only… and so it continues.

In the meantime, here we are nicely planted in the PRESENT, well, at least our body is, while our mind is busy touring the past and lining up to get into the future. 

We fail to enjoy the ride we are on right NOW.

…………………………...

I'm going to play out a little scenario…

Two woman head out to a Garden Show. It's a last minute invite for one of them - the younger. She's happy to be invited and really wants to go… but, she's anxious, doesn't do so well in crowds, or in new situations - so she thinks. 

The young woman is busy thinking about all that will happen at the Garden Show. She’s conjuring up all sorts of stuff that hasn't even happened, that might never happen, but there it is, all running through her head like wild horses not willing to be wrangled; her anxiety mounts.

The older woman listens, while en route to the show, and wonders what would happen if her friend stopped thinking about the future and enjoyed the NOW: the view out the window, the music in the car, starting up a chat that would keep their collective thoughts in the PRESENT.

Once inside the Garden Show what is noticeable, to the older woman, is that the younger is now animated and happy. What she further notices is how the younger gal is busy enjoying all that is going on around her because she is PRESENT and engaged in the NOW. All anxiousness is gone as it does not exist when living in the NOW.

LIVING NOW takes practice.

Given the complexity of our brain we often think by revisiting the past or jumping ahead to the future we will somehow impact the PRESENT. Sadly, this is true - the impact is profound and when the day is over the regret begins, again.

The way to impact the PRESENT is by LIVING NOW. 

RIGHT NOW.

…………………….

As you reach for that coffee, stop and savour it, smell the full body - have you let it go cold because of distractions. Are they present distractions? Or have you drifted to another time - one gone; one yet to come.

My coffee is cold, but that’s because writing this post was occupying my NOW… and NOW, I’ll pour a fresh one. I’ll savour it.

And then, I’ll head out the door and get organized for tomorrow!

(Tomorrow’s a special day… SIWC starts, and I’m going)

Yes - we can get excited about tomorrow, so long as we don’t live there before it arrives! 

Do you LIVE NOW, or are you stuck in another time?

Cheers, Jenny

It’s a BLOGFEST - an Alex J Cavanaugh HOP no less!

It’s been a while since I stepped out and participated in a HOP.

This BLOGFEST appealed to me. 

Alex wants to know…

as all enquiring minds do…

if I have any UNDERRATED TREASURES (in the way of a Book, TV Show, Music or Movie) to share with you... 

… and I do!

BOOK 

Crazy Ladies, by Michael Lee West, 1990

Source and reviews

This book was given to me by my daughter, for Mother’s Day, way back when she was about nine years old (she’s now twenty-seven). She was helping her after-school daycare with a Saturday garage sale and as Mother’s Day was the next day she took her little bit of saved up nickels and dimes and bought this book for me.

It was a great read! I highly recommend it. In fact, I’ve pulled it off my book shelf several times; each read shedding different light on the characters that make up the cast of Crazy Ladies.

MOVIE

Dreamscape, 1984

Cast: Dennis Quaid, Max von Sydow, Christopher Plummer, Eddie Albert, David Patrick Kelly, Kate Capshaw.

Source and movie trivia

This is my all-time favourite movie. If you haven’t see this flick you really are missing out. The cast is great, particularly David Patrick Kelly (The Warriors - a second fav) and the storyline is strong.

The premise of mind linking and participating in someone’s dreams is fascinating… and, at one point, in the early days of raising my daughter I actually used the principles from this movie to help my little girl deal with a scary nightmare with amazing results.

SO…

I’ve shared two of the four, as I don’t really have a TV Show or Music preference that would fall into the “underrated” category.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN.

Join the Linky List (at the bottom of Alex’s post) and share your Underrated Treasures… I am curious!

Cheers, Jenny

PROUST questionnaire - WONDER no longer - TICK tick

In my quest to join a Writers Group I was asked to fill out the following Proust Questionnaire. 

I did wonder if my answers would determine whether I would make a worthy addition to the group.

In years past, I have read the Proust Questionnaire at the back of Vanity Fair; on occasion I have read it elsewhere. 

I have often wondered what my answers would be - well, I wonder no longer.

For your amusement, here's what makes me TICK.

My assistant - ring in nose, or nose in ring…
either way - Wee Dog is contemplating her own answers.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

. My idea of perfect happiness is reading in bed, Wee Dog snuggled close by, and rain playing on the roof and decks. Bliss!

2. What is your greatest fear?

. I can’t say I have a ‘greatest fear’ - at least not yet.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

. Procrastination

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?

. Procrastination

5. Which living person do you most admire?

. I admire three - Me, Myself and I - they have never let me down.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?

.  Living vicariously through the lives that have graced my space.

7. What is your current state of mind?

. Determined

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

.  I didn’t know virtues could be overrated - if anything I think many are underrated. 

9. On what occasion do you lie?

. When asked a question were the truth would hurt.

10.   What do you most dislike about your appearance?

. Nothing - I like what looks back at me in the mirror, always have.

11.   Which living person do you most despise?

. I prefer not to despise people.

12.   What is the quality you most like in a man?

. Humour

13.   What is the quality you most like in a woman?

. Humour

14.   Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

. “Hmmm, really…”

15.   What or who is the greatest love of your life?

. My daughter and Wee Dog - they both get top billing.

16.   When and where were you happiest?

. I am happiest in the NOW.

17.   Which talent would you most like to have?

. The ability to carry a tune. 

18.   If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

. Preferring my own company when I have been privileged to have friends that would like my company. Bless them!

19.   What do you consider your greatest achievement?

. Getting this far in life without doing life.

20.   If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

. I’d come back as me - better the devil I know...

21.   Where would you most like to live?

. With grandfather in the Alps.

22.   What is your most treasured possession?

. A childhood doll.

23.   What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

. The state of unhappiness.

24.   What is your favourite occupation?

. The one I’ve done for 31 years - being my own boss.

25.   What is your most marked characteristic?

. My sense of humour tied for first place with my optimistic outlook on life.

26.   What do you most value in your friends?

. Loyalty, compassion, and patience - mostly patience; I can be a trying friend! 

27.   Who are your favourite writers?

. J M Barrie, Jane Austen

28.   Who is your hero of fiction?

. I don’t have a particular hero of fiction.

29.   Which historical figure do you most identify with?

. Cleopatra 

30.   Who are your heroes in real life?

. In real life my mom and dad are my heroes; they taught me to work hard, pay my dues, show gratitude, and to value integrity.

31.   What are your favourite names?

. Moo-tastic and Lucky Lucky Pow Pow

32.   What is it that you most dislike?

. Questions that are vague - and dishonesty.

33.   How would you like to die?

. In a fit of laughter.

34.   What is your motto?

. “She who helps herself is in good hands.”-JW Pearson

My closing question to you - 

Have you ever answered these questions?

If not, do so now and post them! 

I’d like to know what makes you tick!

Cheers, Jenny

SHOT in DAYLIGHT. Now PICTURE the STORY.

Out for a run, feet pounding in time with tunes keeping me steady at a 9 1/2 minute mile, my mind wanders.

I let my eyes scan the horizon for the unique and different.

Not needing to look far, there up ahead, coming toward me were two very interesting characters… as if they’d stepped right out of Inkheart and were wanting to be read back home.

I envisioned a great story unfolding before me… 

Obliging me, I was able to shoot them from a few angles - their inhibition and youthful exuberance was captivating. 

Exciting, yet mystical at the same time.

Now, picture the story you could write...

When out and about HOW do you capture the moment?

Cheers, Jenny