Comparison's

Making comparison's in shopping is necessary, essential if one is on a budget.
Checking out differences between products can be interesting and vital to the use of it.
But, making yourself stand in comparison to another is futile. YOU are YOU, special, talented and physically put together mostly due to genetics....my Mom has blue eyes, so does my Dad...have I ever wished for brown eyes? No. I'm on the shorter version of the scale, do I wish for long, long legs...well, somedays it would be nice, but do I dwell on wanting those long long legs, NO. I accepted who I am, I suppose, a long time ago. We all do things to make ourselves "look" better, feel better and that in my opinion is just fine, it's when I talk with people who seem to always compare themselves to others, what kind of scale are they using to say they aren't "as pretty", "as smart", "as wealthy"...etc, it's seems we have drawn up some sort of strange and odd table that one is never going to achieve what WE THINK WE WANT ...it's the old saying "keeping up with the Jones'...." whoever made up that one said a mouthful!!
It's funny but just the other day at work I mentioned to a friend that when I sit down to read at home, I like the room tidy. But should I sit down to read in someone else's home and it was not a tidy room I would be fine to sit down and read. It's my house, my corner and how I like my things. It really doesn't affect me about other's things....I enjoy going to my friend's home and sitting back enjoying her lovely and very modern home. I don't come home and compare my house to hers! It's her house, how she likes things....my personality shows in my house and in my stuff. Comparing mine to hers would just get me into a frenzy, I don't have the money, time and effort to do that....nor do I want to.
Comparing yourself at work. Good grief. We each have a job to do. If the President of the place is gone missing for a year, the place looses balance and leadership,...should the Janitor go missing for a year, the places is filthy and a mess. I understand that this is a simplified simile but you get my drift. We each have tasks to do that keep a place of work mobile and on track, should one postition be held in higher esteem than another?, not in my little head.

In my little world, we are pieces of a puzzle that all fit, the puzzle is not a 3D puzzle with some pieces being "higher" than others....it's a flat playing ground...and each of us have a place to fit into to make our "world" work. Skinny, tall, highly educated, compassionate, whatever ingredients make YOU up....you're unique and you bring a special flavor to the world you live in.
It's an intricate and delicate place, Doctor's hold lives in their hands everyday and I am thankful for their skill and knowledge, teachers shape the mind of children, parents love, police guard and uphold the laws, friends care, communities support....we each have a rare and special role to be.
Don't compare, chose to BE the person God made you up to be....it's a lot about choices.

Be slow to compare yourself to others either physically, emotionally or intellectually....Be quick to add your special qualities that make up YOUR heart, YOUR mind, and YOUR spirit.
God made you unique and a special fit for the puzzle of this life, be sure to fit into your own space and not try to fit into some else's. You won't be comfortable, happy or content until you snuggle into your space that God created specifically for you.

once again, just my thoughts....

these are the best days of my life.....

Ya...it's a line from a George Strait song....I know.
But, today I spent the morning with my daughter and grand-daughter.
We did a little shopping, had a treat at a fantastic smelling bakery...uh, yeah the scones we ate were yummy, too... It was so great to hold that little girl in my arms (not too long as she is getting too heavy to carry any great distance) and have her put her little arms around my neck, to look across the vehicle and see my "Ivory" girl of a daughter happy with life and full of laughter'n'giggles. It was a lovely morning spent with two pretty "girls" and my heart felt wonderful.
These are the best days of my life.....
it may be a line from a song...but sometimes you just need to be so very thankful for the blessed moments that come your way in a day.
Today I recognized mine and it did my heart a world of good.

Co-workers

I have this co-worker who when she comes in to work she ALWAYS has a smile on her face for me, she always has a little wave when she say's "good morning". When my lunch break comes and she will remain at the job, she usually not always, but usually will come to me and tell me to have a "nice lunch". She even comes to me at the end of the day and ALWAYS wishes me a "good evening or good night" again the little wave and a smile accompanies it. Its something she has always done.....and I actually have come to look forward to it. She is a sweet, dedicated and lovely woman who cheers my day up when she is there working with me

The ladies that I have my coffee break with do not work in the same dept. as I do. They are a delightful bunch and I have found much information about food, cooking, health issues and more just by sitting and chatting with these woman. They make me laugh and even offer to share their goodies with me....they share their life stories, their family issues and more.....it's almost like cheap therapy. These few minutes a day spent talking about life, love and other such interesting issues with some compassionate and caring woman is good for the soul, especially the working woman soul....these ladies KNOW what you talking about when you tell them ....you're tired!! They can relate to the same kinda tired. It's comradeship it a fine degree!!

Yes, there are some co-workers who just bring sunshine into a day......thank goodness there are those blessed people....since we spend, probably, more time with them....than our own family!!

just another bus ride

On my bus ride I was sitting beside a man that works in the same building as I do. We did not talk much about anything. UNTIL, we passed a church that had a sign announcing a Fall Supper. I asked if he was planning on attending one. He had never been to a Fall supper and did not know what it was. I explained in detail all I knew of what a Fall supper could be. As I detailed the rich gravy, the warm turkey and home-made desserts....he smile became more pronounced.....I think I convinced him it was a thing to do. Wow. really the poor guy living in Saskatchewan and never partook of a Fall Supper talk about deprived. We have taken in many a Fall or Fowl Supper in our day and each time I think about them my saliva does a little dance.
What a wonderful thing the "Fall Supper."

Check out Saskatchewan Fall (Fowl) Supper sites at
www.fowlsuppers.bravenet.com

not such a little question

God's expectations for me, MY expectations for me......do they match?

Welcome to a thought that passes through my head.....just one of the many.

Who will believe it?

1. two doors off the cupboards.
2. taped off the required measurements needed.
3. Assisted in sawing down the two shelves.
4. Sanded the wood.
5. Hit the hardware store for cornering, now that the width needed was known.
6. Glued, cornering, tacked down some edges.
7. Washed floor, chairs, all the cupboard surrounding the area.
8.First coat of paint on, "new and improved" area.
9.vacuumed the carpet in the livingroom, and bedroom.
10.washed two loads of clothes, folding to come while drinking morning coffee.
11. ate dinner, played with Molly for a bit.....
12. vacuumed carpet downstairs and lightly dusted the tables'n' such
13.cleaned toilets and sinks in bathroom, mirrors done as well.
14.Second coat of paint on, "new and improved" area.


Yep, the day off of just a "run of the mill" kinda full-time working woman.
Sound familiar, anyone??
Betcha can relate, huh.....

the need for coffee and other important stuff...

Every morning my husband and I sit and chat over a couple of cups of coffee. It's a very nice way to begin a day. Two days ago we noticed that our coffee was almost finished, but we have the decaf. stuff sitting in the cupboard to use up, so hey.... Wrong!! Wrong! Wrong! I woke up yesterday with a headache and a slight upset tummy, so I decided not to eat breakfast and just have a cup of java. I pretty much always eat breakfast, it's the right thing to do...but if the tummy is a little off...well....breakfast may come later in the morning in the form of a bought muffin. But, the decaf. coffee.....yikes. As much as it tasted like coffee....my headache did not like the decaf. So by the time I got to work, my first task was to put on some REAL coffee and
then take an Advil for my headache. Uh, I don't usually make dumb mistakes. But now really, empty "upset" tummy and Advil....what was I thinking!!! Wow. What a combination. The tummy ache went from mild discomfort, to who is tearing up my tummy's lining! Food. I needed FOOD. All in all, the experience of Advil and no food in tummy ...well, I can safely say that it won't happen again, EVER!!! (I did get rid of my headache, the stomach ache proved to be a little more than needed, though!!)

I knew I was getting up in years....but
last night my husband played with his band at a local watering hole. A shwack of ladies that I work with came out to listen and keep me company...all very nice. We enjoyed the music, danced in a huge group and generally laughed and had some innocent fun. What was disturbing was there was a "pub crawl" happening. I have never partaken in a pub crawl so I had to ask what it required....duh. Anyway, while the ladies and I were at the tables, two buses of young people had poured into the place and left an hour later. My eyes nearly popped outta my face.
These kids were so young....they did not look old enough to drive never mind drink. This is a sign of getting older...no doubt. Sitting back and watching the adventures of these kids was one that made a few of my friends and I look at each other and shake our heads, numerous times over. It's true, I am getting old....wait, let me amend that thought.....I am old.

a few random thoughts of things....

Accentuate the positive.
Sometimes people who continually accentuate the positive have a name to live down, Pollyanna.
I remember the first time I watched the movie Pollyanna with Hayley Mills in the starring role. I thought it was a grand movie, later in life when the name Pollyanna was flung at me in response to a situation......I wondered what I had done wrong. Apparently, I have taken a dip in my "Pollyanna" attitude and am finding I am leaning towards the dark side on way too many situations over these past years. I may not need to tap into Pollyanna-mode again, but finding a positive here and there is much better than slipping around on the slope that is negative and
dark....it just makes me grumpy as those that are moving about the slippery slope along side me. I hereby remove myself from the slippery slope of despair!!

My life and the world I live in is certainly not perfect. I struggle daily with issues in a variety of natures. But, hanging on to disappointment, dis-illusions, disruption, and letting others drag me into the depth of negative that they find a comfort zone.....well, forget it folks.
I don't have to be suzy sunshine all day, everyday....but I won't be negative, grumpy and raining on everyone who will listen.....NO, NOT, NEVER.....at least I'm gonna give it my best shot....

A little ray of light now and then, a breathe of fresh air, saying something kind and good to someone, sharing a smile.....it isn't that difficult, is it?

trying to keep a sense of humor

Today we woke up to a blanket of snow, underneath that blanket of snow was a layer of ice from the rain that came before the snow fell. Driving to work we were almost side-swiped by a person who did not shoulder check nor did she signal....we drove a little on the sidewalk but we managed to miss getting customized by crunch! wow. Got to work a little late and everyone was chatting about the snow and the hazardous road conditions.

Each year on the first day of snow I send an e-mail to a co-worker/friend. Each year I type in "it's a marshmallow world in the winter" and my co-worker/friend is completely ticked at me....in a humorous way. There is the claim that once the words "it's a marshmallow world in the winter" have floated into the brain matter then you hum/sing that Christmas song for EVER. I personally do not suffer from this malady (melody)....ha....but my co-worker/friend does. Each year that we have worked together I have performed this little tidbit...each year he falls for it....it's nice that some things remain constant in this ever changing world....huh?

But, today it did look like a marshmallow world!!!

a day of rest.....

Today has been a quiet day. The smell of beet borscht is wafting throughout the house, the apple tarts have just come out of the oven. Wind is blowing outside, the leaves are floating about and the sky is gray....it's a "home-cooking" kinda day. When it's blustery outside the warmth of the oven baking a fresh little somethin' and the sweet smell of home-cooking seems to make it all okay. Funny how that works.

My husband and I went out for lunch, then headed to the grocery store and the final stop was Wal-Mart. Uh. hm. Shoulda quit while I was ahead. Lunch was nice and lots of great conversation, the grocery store was busy but we managed to smile through it all. Then came Wally-World....oh, dear. Like I said, shoulda quit while I was ahead. The parking lot was really quite full, then when you finally make it into the store....lo and behold, neighbors are having their MEETING time at each aisle end! That is my husbands personal favorite, the meeting of the "minds" in the aisle, end of the aisle....taking up the whole aisle....or the abandoned cart that is sideways in the aisle and as soon as you put your hand on the bar.....up pops a head that is eight feet away from said cart..."oh, that's mine". Brett's eyes ...well, let's just say they got a lot of exercise today, rolling, staring, glaring and slipping from side to side. Next trip to Wal-Mart will be a "alone" exercise, me thinks.

I wonder exactly how much insight I have into the human psyche, because my husband continually asks me "why". Why do people stand at the end of the aisle? Why do they walk away from their cart? Why ...Why...Why....? He really must think I have a lot of insight/understanding/perception into the human race...cause he always asks me about it? Funny how that works, huh?

Just hangin' out.....

my grand-daughter is with me today.

We have played with play-dough, the home-made kind that smells like orange kool-aid. She has painted, this time more on the paper than on her....that is progress. We went outside and finished pulling out some annuals that finally met their doom, we put out feed for the birds and
talked about what we do to prepare for winter. Lunch was "chat" time and we discussed many a wonder.....like how does the kittycat from next door walk along the top of the fence? what is an igloo? she loves pasta, did I know that? so many things to talk about! It's nap time for the little punkin, Gramma's time to finish folding laundry and straightening the kitchen from the whirlwind of activities we have done this morning. Having our grand-daughter around keeps me smiling, she brings joy into our lives....just watching her dance around a room when you play a nursery rhyme is amazing to behold....the smiles, the dancing, the giggles....yep, life is good.

We called Grampa to see if he wanted to come home for lunch. "Uh, no Gramma he can't come home he's got a message"....what? a message. I talked to Grampa to confirm. He had a massage booked at lunch. Message, massage,....close enough.

who is gonna fill THOSE shoes?

Who's leaving?
My dept. head is retiring. Her shoes are huge, who is gonna fill those, I wonder.

She has been my best resource for my constant curiosity, her patience is remarkable.
I have just written about 15 sentences and then erased them, words are difficult to write when I feel like I am losing the person who knows what I do, how well I do and regarded me in high favor like few others ever have....and maybe ever will? We may not always have seen eye to eye on all issues but she always had my respect and in some cases my "awe" in how she dealt with some very difficult situations.

I shall miss her. I try to think positively and believe the person to take over her position will be fresh, new and innovative......and maybe that will happen and come to pass....I am trying to be positive here folks!!


Who paid a visit?
a friend of mine dropped in to my place of work today, she's a police officer. She is also, tall with the longest legs I have ever seen....being a cop suits her....and not just because of her long legs. In my estimation she was born to be a police officer....her personality, her wit and her attitude ...along with her strength both physical and of character make for a really great cop material. What is funny....is when she walks into the place....the look on people's faces. Stunned is a polite word to use, I suppose. It's just funny to witness the strange "thoughts" that float through people's facial features when the blue uniform shows up for no reason other than she was on her break and was in the area.
It's nice to know that a police officer has my back, but it's even better to know that I have a good friend, back....

Who gets a snowman?
Stay warm everyone. Forecasting snow for next week. I already bought my grand-daughter a new snowman to give to her on the first day of snow!! looks like it might be sooner rather than later.......I already gave her snowman sheets this summer (hey, they were on sale) so her Mommy told her on the first day that it really snowed hard.....they would put them on her bed.
Well, now the grand-daughter will have a snowman to place on top of the bed, too!! I love being a Gramma!!

the chill of an early winter wind.

Gasp.
Red nose.
Zipper up to chin.
Hair in eyes.
Gloves on hands.

I am not ready for this....this cold, bitter wind. Lived on the prairies all my life, but today....what the heck? this one took my breathe away. Boy, that was cold. Better
think on "outer clothing" a little longer, best check weather report for "bitter, cold, frigid wind"
and dress appropriately next time.

Motto for living in Saskatchewan...."always be prepared"...oh, wait that is the the Brownie motto......ah, it works for living on bald prairies too!!

Talk about having your head cleared by a brisk wind, if that were the case....well....no cobwebs left in my attic, I tell ya.

Stay warm, folks.
Think hot chocolate, marshmallows, and a good book.......

enlightening conversations

After having a conversation with a girlfriend last night, I sat and pondered a few things over in my head. My friend talked about her sibling who was resentful that they had grown up "poor". He is now on the wealthier side of the pay scale due to hard work and discipline. She talked about how he wanted to talk to her about how disappointed in her that she had been in an abusive relationship and never got out of it SOONER. She went on to say that he never talked well of their parents, never wanted to go back to "home" and generally
was relagating his parents to "done and to be forgotten". His conversations with her tend toward all material things; house, car, trips, and stuff that you need money to have. She talked about feeling sorry for him and how very difficult it was to be around him. This guy sounded to me like a character out of a movie, one that I would not like, one that I never want to become.

It once again brought home all the things I hold dear in my life, it's not the material things that bring tears to my eyes or pull at my heartstrings. It's my kids - knowing they are in good solid relationships with someone who loves them; it's my husband - who is always brings laughter to my life and on more than one occassion flowers to warm my fanciful heart; it's my friends who carve time out of their busy schedules to stay in contact with me. It's a card that holds remarks from co-workers that mean my spending more time with them than my family means I have touched their lives in some small way beyond WORKING together.
Its common every day things like the sunshine on half of the tree across the street that brings the top half of the tree to brilliant gold while the other half remains a soft warm brassy color....but it's lovely to behold.

It's simple things.....yet some so complicated....like forgiveness.
Forgiving and letting go. I was doing the dishes at the sink last night and I thought about the Lord's prayer. "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." That line has always brought me up short when I say that prayer. I always am slow to say the next line....because my mind seems to wander to those people whom I need to forgive in my life...those that I need to require forgiveness from. Truth be know, I could stick on that line for a long period of time....and then forge ahead to the next after calling on the Lord to bring names to my mind that I should be forgiving. okay, for only a moment....I had the words "dirty deeds done dirt cheap" float through my head. but...a dirty deed is never done dirt cheap if your trying to walk the "Path", right? a callous word spoken; a hurtful opinion; a broken relationship gone unmended; these type of things don't come cheap. The cost to the spirit of a person, it's a burden carried that weighs heavily and over time if you carry too many you become unaware of the burden you carry and someway somehow you seem to want to share that burden with the next person so you snap out a comment, a hurtful response, the heaviness of carrying that load is somehow equated with "hey, I can share this"....so goes the cycle.
Where do we go to become aware, enlightened if you will, that we are sharing our negativity with others, than learning to forgive is a long process but healthy to ones spiritual balance; that God has provided the most beautiful of experiences FREE for the 'noticing'. I suppose we all learn in different situations, in different times of our lives....I have much to learn in this life yet. The lessons are never simple ones, but the results of those lessons/teaching moments are enriching.....and not in any material way.

Time to go baste the turkey. See what happens when I am alone for too long.....and the computer is up and running.

Thanks for hanging with me for a time.

Enjoy the day and remember to give thanks for the material things you have, true....but for the things that go un-noticed most of the time.

those that have and those that have not....

I would think you expect a blurb about material things after the heading, huh?
Wrong.
It's about the Shaw techie named "John" that we spoke to this morning. Our computer was on the fritz....so we called Shaw and John answered. Nice chap, very detailed in his responses to us - which is truly a necessity in view of the fact neither my sweet husband nor I am terribly well educated in the runnings/maintenance of a computer beyond the basic stuff. John walked us through a number of tasks patiently and finally after much deliberation and poking about the problem was solved and our computer is a happy little machine once again....as our it's owners!

People like John are just doing there job, I know. But, when you hear the smile in his voice when all if finally fixed and well, plus he was so incredibly patient!!!! These guys need to be complimented...which we did.

You know for those of us who don't have the "techie" in us.....we appreciate those that do and are glad they are just a phone call away.

Turkey days are here again.....

Turkey days are here again,
the stuffings gonna disappear again,

yessiree, it's gonna be a feasting kinda weekend. Pumpkin pie, turkey, fresh mashed potatoes.....omigosh....I love this weekend for the wonderful food that we put together.
Plenty of food, plenty of family, plenty of laughter, plenty to be thankful for.

Today was one of those days that just brings a childlike kinda wonder through me....driving to work some of the trees shed their leaves in mass amounts...like it was 'snowing' leaves!
It was so absolutely gorgeous!! I love this time of year in Saskatchewan.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Life is good.

...not the first time probably not the last

Today, I added a year to my life....well, sort of.
I told a number of people that I was one year older than I really am, I wasn't fooling. I really thought I was one year older than I really am!!
Does that mean that I have packed SO much into this past year that I feel like maybe I have put it 24 months of living into 12?
Does that mean that I am getting old and forgetting ALL kinds of things including my own age!?
Does that mean that I have way to much on my plate and need to quiet myself a little more than I have been?
ah, whatever....I'll get over it.

Good grief.

What's in a name?

Picking a name for heading my blog was not as simple as I thought it would be. Seems like most of those I thought of were already taken so...one must be a little creative. Good grief. Creative....me? okay, I can do this. So, here's the story.

At one time we had four Donna's in my dept. Confusion?, oh just a little!! So, I got the nickname of Nik. My last name shorten considerable, but it worked for everyone including me. All the Donna's have left the dept. except me, but there are those whom I worked with back in the day that continue to call me Nik, daily. The "ezer" part of the name is biblical. "Ezer" is pronounced like azer...(razor). There is differences of opinion on the definition of 'ezer' but I have likened to warrior, or strong helper. In this day and age, a woman has to be a strong helper and a warrior in different areas of life, battles taking place in relationships, in the workplace as well as spiritual ones....so, now you have the complete story. Thus begins my journey, once more, into the world of blogging.

Leave your name when you drop in.....

Nothing fancy...

Well, I have revived blogging in my life. Simply done because of a little encouragement from Sherri, of late. Thanks Sherri!!

I have come to miss throwing down my thoughts on different subject matters that float through my head, I could pick up and journal....I suppose, but I have tried my hand at that and found rather quickly I am not very good at it.

So, I'm backkkkkk.