WW ME

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

It is amazing!

Irish Church Lady (ICL)

Hiatus

Yay Ottawa Senators!! They won the first round of playoffs 4 games to 1 with a 3-0 shutout last night against the Pittsburg Penguins (Sidney Crosby - one of my sister's dogs is named after him, yup they're big hockey fans!)

They've been able to achieve this the last few years and usually don't make the second round. Here's hoping 2007 will be the year!!

I was so zonked last night after a busy busy week, all I could do was stay awake to see the game but I almost went under between periods! I didn't even turn on the laptop.

Today I'm working from home while I do laundry and I'm getting my hair done - colour and cut at 3:30. Double yay!!

The best part is I'm on a wee bit of a hiatus for the weekend. I won't be blogging because I'm going on a Marriage Encounter. By myself. LOL Not true. Read all about it on ICL Talks.

Prayers for us and well wishes appreciated!

All my photo memes are up:

Thursday Challenge ~ Wildlife
Friday Photo ~ Country
Saturday Photo Hunt ~ Steps

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Irish Church Lady
(ICL)

About ICL: Thursday Thirteen #89, my #39 - Random Idea Generation

Foto Pherrets is over at ICL Plays Groovy Baby!!

Irish Church Lady
(ICL)

Have a Happy (.)

Kwizgiver wrote a post about that awful tagline for Always Maxi Pads:

"Have a Happy Period."

Read her post above about how inappropriate and aggravating that is. It is printed on their boxes and on the back of the liner strip, believe it or not. Isn't that the last thing you want to see when you are preparing your granny undies for the dreaded bleed?

She got me thinking of some potential feminine hygiene taglines from hell. Wouldn't it serve all women better if this were printed on the adhesive backing strip?:

• Cause sometimes it sucks to be a girl.
• *Hugs* from all the women at Procter & Gamble
• Just a few days, that's all.
• Hoo ha blotter, handle with care
• The only time of the month, you don't want your pussy petted.
• Pre-menstrual mood swings are justifiable reasons for throwing your television out the window, but the clean up afterwards isn't worth it.

And what are your suggestions for new tag lines????

Irish Church Lady
(ICL)

Cats on Tuesday

see Gattina's Cats-on-Tuesday ~ a must read for all you cat fanciers!!

Clancy - my cat. I adopted him from someone at work. He was my first ginger tabby and he was a domestic short hair. He was a great cat. Orange cats tend to be very friendly. Did you know that? He got sick and died suddenly when he was only about 8 years old. I was devastated and it took me months before I was ready to replace him because I thought he was such a perfect cat.

I have no pictures because it was before the days of digital cameras and I'm too lazy I have no time to scan one in but he looked like this.

Irish Church Lady (ICL)

Irish Marriage Counselling

Manic Monday Meme

After just a few years of marriage filled with constant bickering, the Kerry couple decided the only way to save their marriage was to try counseling.

When they arrived at the counselor's office, the counselor jumped right in and opened the floor for discussion. "What seems to be the problem?"

Immediately, the husband held his long face down without anything to say. In contrast, the wife began talking 90 miles an hour, describing all the wrongs within their marriage.

After 15 minutes of listening to the wife, the counselor went over to her, picked her up by her shoulders, kissed her passionately and sat her back down.

Afterwards, the wife sat speechless. The marriage counselor looked over at the husband, who stared in disbelief. The counselor said to the husband,"Your wife NEEDS that at least twice a week!"

The husband scratched his head and replied, "I can have her here on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

Coola & Grinder

The Grouse Mountain Grizzlies
Orphaned at Five Months old

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Being cared for by the Refuge for Endangered Wildlife

Web Cams by www.wavelit.com

More info on forums (also on sidebar at left)

They are still in 'hibernation' due to the climate conditions on the mountain.

There is no food yet available for them to eat.

Other grizzlies are still under a significant amount of snow.

They will be let out in a controlled manner, soon (I hope).

This video also on www.youtube.com

Irish Church Lady
(ICL)

Grizzly Webcam Post Updated

See update to Webcam post below. I finally was able to catch them awake, and get a screen shot of one of the grizzlies. I'm not sure which one is which yet.

See my note re my concerns for them below too.

Irish Church Lady aka animal lover
(ICL)

Cyber Cruise Couture

Captain Lifecruise is having a blog party at the Cyber Cruise Ball.

I went shopping the other day and after much hemming and hawing, selected a dress. Please see the ones I passed on here. Shopping Day for the Cruise Ball

My final outfit and accessories for tonight's party are shown here Cyber Cruise Ball ~ Here I come!

I believe it's time to get this party started!!

Irish Church Lady
(ICL)

More on Webcams ~ Updated below

I have added two more webcam links to my sidebar Africam and Grizzly Bears.

<-- See the hippo I caught at left as he was entering the watering hole at night? I was so excited to see him!!

The baby grizzly bears were moving around and playing as I first started this post.

"Both orphaned at approximately 5 months of age, Grinder and Coola have made the remarkable transition from struggling cubs with an uncertain future to vibrant, healthy bears that now act as West Coast ambassadors for their entire species.
Read more about the Grizzly Bears on Grouse Mountain"

Unfortunately there's no sound on the Grizzly webcam but there is on the Africam one.

You will hear lots of night sounds and see some flying bugs (or maybe birds) depending on the time of day that you watch. Once I saw a big slithering snake go by that watering hole.

I love watching these sites. Sometimes it's hit or miss, there may or may not be a lot of action going on. I've put them on my side bar to remind me to go there more often.

Wavelit Forums about what people have seen on the webcams / comments / questions etc.

UPDATE:

I'm feeling a little more stressed about these grizzlies, I've been watching them off and on all day and the really seem like they want to get out of this enclosure that they are in.

They keep going up to the window and looking out. I even saw one of them pushing on the window it seemed like. I feel sad now.

I hope that the people that are minding them know what they are doing and are not just exploiting these poor orphaned bears.

Irish Church Lady
(ICL)

Biking - Saturday Photo Hunt - Hobby

Biking - Saturday Photo Hunt - Hobby
Originally uploaded by irish_church_lady.

The story to go along with this photo is that Biker Boy (aka Pool Boy) will not be biking this summer.

He's going to get the bikes ready and hopefully bike a bit with me in the next few weeks but after that he's undergoing surgery for broken vertebrae in his back on May 7th.

They are pressing on his nerve and he's in constant pain and is pretty disabled right now, even though you probably would wonder how he could bike with this.

His main problem is standing and walking. That is mostly what causes him the most pain. This makes every day living pretty miserable for him.

Anyhoo, we are happy that something is finally being done for him. They are going to put in a titanium rod and screws to fuse everything together. He has a three month convalescense period. Hopefully in late August or September he may be able to ride a bit.

I, of course, will start my regular biking to work any day now if this weather would improve!

Great for the psyche, environment and pocketbook!

The Office

So Spikey wants an Office post. I'm sure Christie does too. Above is a cute video.

Did you catch last night's show? Favourite parts?

I'll start ~ Michael believing Pam really had a present for him .....

Now I gotta get to the office. :0

Irish Church Lady
(ICL)

Happy 7th Birthday Fergus!

Also known as:

Puppy

Puppy Dog

The Fergmeister

Fergie

Fergie Puppy

Good Dog

Cousin Ferg

Uncle Ferg

Mama's Doggie

Top Dog

Dada's Boy

My Special Doggie

My Silly Boy

Big Goof

Bed Hog

My Poodle Doggie

My Spoiled Doggie

Need I say more?

Happy Friday 13th! Multiple Post Day!

Me Cyber Cruise shopping over at ABOUT ICL

<--- Check out me new webcam on my sidebar too!

It's a special doggy's birthday today! See above.

Oh and see some fun widgets installed at the top!

Thanks so much to all those who have voted for Sláinte ~ It’s only Me on Irishblogs above.

It's not a contest or anything. It's just a blog aggregation site and if you want to rate this blog, or any others of mine, you can say so by doing so through the little icon.

Irish Church Lady
(ICL)

Itty Bitty TT

1. HOLY
2. COW
3. THURSDAY
4. THIRTEEN's
5. GONNA
6. BEe
7. BRIEF
8. CAUSE
9. I'M
10. SOoooooo
11. TIRED
12. TONIGHT
13. YUPPERS

Please pick one word from above and write your comment regarding that word.

How it relates to you?

What it reminds you of?

Something I don't know about you.

Start your comment with that word.

Whatever. It's entirely up to
you. Be creative, be lazy. It's all good.

Irish Church Lady
(ICL)

Oh me, Oh my!

Foto Pherrets HERE

Carol at The Turning Point is one of my regular and must reads. She is such a sweet and thoughtful person, always quick with some kind words or a sassy remark. I just love her visits here and also to her blog to find out what bit of info she is going to enlighten me with or make me laugh about today. Imagine my excitement to be nominated by her, for a thinking blogger award! Two words come to mind, pink and tickled.

Without wasting a minute, I ran over to my other favourite read, Fleur de Lisa to let her know that she is my first choice for one of my five Thinking Blogger nominations. Lisa wraps her beautiful photography up in a bow with her introspective writing and fabulous quotes. I always like to stop and linger at her posts, like savouring a fine wine. There is much good there, and as much as she thinks she does not always bear her heart and soul, I've seen it. Many times. And I keep coming back for more.

Now where to begin? How to choose my remaining nominations, not friviously or haphazard? Thankfully, many of my favourite reads have been already nominated. That takes the pressure off to worry about offending someone that I might have to miss on this go 'round.

Make list ... check bloglines ... blog from the heart, Church Lady. Ready set go.

Next choice - very easy. LL Barkat of Seedlings in Stone is a very deep writer. She makes me think all the time. I always ensure my coffee is full before visiting her. It allows me to tarry around her blog, and try to figure out what hell she is saying. lmao She inspires me with her spirituality and abilty to rise above the blog eat blog world. Subtle but strong. I like that. And, she has a sharp but gentle sense of humour. Where would I be without my quick witted blog friends?

My blog friend Mysterious Lady has been busy, with getting married and a busy job as a nurse and all. She hasn't blogged a lot lately, but when she does, I always find some interesting information, points of view and perspectives coming from her. She has been known to be physically incapacitated and wacked out on pain killers and blogged photos of herself from her cell phone. What can I not help but think about that? LOL alot!

Oh dear, two left, spend 'em wisely.

My next choice is going to be a fairly new read that I have been introduced to via the Cyber Cruise which is currently out to sea. I have chosen him (my first male choice, yay!) because of his thoughtful narrative and work he puts into his posts blogging about the things of the world. I really appreciate his open perspective and fun loving style. Always up for some teasing while sharing his love of nature and all things he experiences. That my friends is Renny of RennyBA's Terella. He is always up for an adventure. Two feet first!!

OK, last but definitely not least, and in true thinking blogger fashion, my final nomination goes to someone that must put a lot of THINKING into her posts. Either that or she really is like that and her posts just roll off her fingers, without any thought what-so-ever! She is smart, quick witted, can be profane and vulgar and all things crazy and intermingled like you wouldn't believe. Her posts always make me smile or laugh out loud or hork. She is very popular and has a lot of readers, so needless to say, does not need this nomination to boost her esteem. We go back awhile but she still comes to visit the little people and leave sweet or witty remarks. I can like that. She is none other than MIST1 of To Do: 1. Get Hobby. 2. Floss. Play MISTy for me gf!

That was fun! And I coulda picked more!

Irish Church Lady
(ICL)

Six Word Stories for Cats on Tuesday

Janna has been prompting her readers to write six word books.

It started at Nancy's blog. The idea is to write a story that's only six words long. Here's the set-up Nancy gave:

Ernest Hemingway said the best thing he ever wrote was a six-word story. It is
this: "For sale-- Baby shoes. Never used."

So like a smarta$$ my six word story response was:

I'm up for it!
Not yet.

Well folks, the time is now for my collection of personally written cat stories, in six words each!

Miss Crankypants.
Careful of your eyes.

Kitty Krack
Could not help her.

Pretty,
Too bad her personality sucks.


Clear the road Kitty!
Oh no!

Being fat cat
is all that!

In and out,
Like a yo-yo!

I am fat.
I am cat.


Soooorry ... not my best work ....

....in other news, Pool Boy is probably going to get his back operated on in three weeks! It's a 4-5 hour surgery, with one week in the hospital and three month rehabilitation period.

Get this, his surgeon is doctor for the Ottawa Senators hockey team, and he's on the road with them for the playoffs. Pool Boy will get the operation when he comes back off the road! Alright! We've been waiting for so long. He is anxious but relieved that now we are getting somewhere. Me too!

I'm so confused. Daughter #1 is home from Scotland tonight, past DQ boyfriend is over here now. She is all gaga about the Hot Scot! I haven't had a chance to talk to her without former bf around. I may have to give her a talkin' to. I'm feelin' sorry for DQ Boy.

Cool music tag from Christie over at ICL Video Blog. Alro's got the baton now and he's a real musician. Can't wait to see what he comes up with.

Shheeeeshhh I was like all caught up with my bloglines on the weekend and now I'm all behind again. Anybody else have that problem? It's me, right?

Toodles~

Happy Easter Monday!

Hey what is the significance of Easter Monday anyways? Does anyone of y'all know?

Hope y'all had a great Easter weekend and are fresh like bunnies to start this new week!!

I've got a cute Easter Monday Manic Monday up. Lisa really does come up with the best questions for Manic Monday and sometimes I like to tease her when I play along. yuk yuk

While you're there and if you like the music on here for Easter, check out a really cool new song and video from Casting Crowns called "Who am I?". Just discovered this song and I love it!

So on to some personal stuff.

Big news! Mr. Philosopher has been nominated for an award at his college for programming (computer music). Last year he was nominated for his songwriting. He says he doesn't care if he wins or not but it's nice to have his music recognized and adds "I couldn't have done it without my crazy brain and my laptop, go computers!" A boy after me own heart! Oh, ya and he's moving in with his girlfriend at the end of the semester so looks like we may be taking a trip down to help him move soon.

'Course it's exam and term project time at all the colleges and universities so my kids and nephew are busy busy busy. Didn't make it home for Easter, although my daughter who is at a local university did manage to come for dinner at my sis's place last night, even if she did bring her books! Yay Nurse-a-baby!

#1 daughter is in Scotland and returning home tomorrow. She's been there a week with her friends. Her friend was dancing in the World competition for Irish dancing. Get this, she text messages us to say she's going on a date with a Hot Scot! lmao Not only one, but two dates occurred within this one week timeframe!!

Ah well, she's young and a busy lass! She got a promotion at work right before she left to go away! She takes possession of her first home on May 1st. Yup, the wiener will be moving out!!!Not straight away, because she has some work to do in the house first, but hopefully before the end of May! I need to get all the furniture that Dad gave her out of the garage!

I'll miss the doodle but not always sleeping in my bed like she has the past week thought she's really not much trouble because Pool Boy takes her out rofl!

Werked from home today (hey, maybe that's why I'm in such a good mood?) and managed to boogie off to the pit at lunch with my sis and our doggies. Didn't take any pics this time, but she did.

So I'm just wondering do I blog more about my kids or my pets? I don't like to brag too much about the kids because that's just boring for y'all but just so you know, they put.me.through.hell during the teenage years so when I do it's because I've earned my bragging rights he he.

And furthermore, I'm not out of the woods yet ~ notice no reference to Batgirl today? That's 'cause she's basically in her own little world these days and we've got some issues to clear up, nothing serious, I hope, but nothing to brag about there (yet) either! ho ho ho

So I might as well just finish off with Pool Boy who is going to see the back surgeon tomorrow, finally. Let's hope they do something quick! I can't take it anymore!!! Not sure how he's doin' ROFL.

I have a wee little surprise too that I will blog about soon about Pool Boy and me. Nothing big at all, but something positive anyways. I will be getting back to do some posts on ICL Talks to give a little update on the situ. I'm going to go back to venting on that blog and quit keeping things bottled up.

Famous last words! Wasn't it just last week I was saying that I was going to slow down on blogging and proceeded to post pretty much every day and twice on Sundays still!!!!???

OK so I may still have some issues.

Irish Church Lady (ICL)

Happy Joyous Easter!

Inspired by music and Patricia today (she has an awesome video and pictures at her site today), I give you one of my all time favourite hymns that sums up my relationship with the Lord.

It's called "Here I am to Worship"

The song is brilliantly performed by Michael W. Smith with great backup vocals.

The picture collage done by Lili is awesome, showing some great spots in the world and his wondrous creation.

Happy Happy Joy Joy Easter Easter to all of you and yours!

Why the Easter Bunny can Lay Eggs

RennyBA writes about the story of how the Easter Bunny can lay eggs. I did not know this story, did you?:

Eostre found a wounded bird in the snow. To help the little bird survive the winter, she transformed it into a rabbit, but the transformation was incomplete and the rabbit retained the ability to lay eggs. In thanks for its life being saved, the rabbit took the eggs and decorated them and left them as gifts for Eostre. Read more about it by clicking here.

Read more about his Norwegian Easter Egg hunt from last year here.

HAPPY EASTER!

More about Easter below!

The Meaning of Easter

I used to help prepare kids in our church for their confirmation. It was a joy to do. We had a lesson curriculum but I had fun trying to prepare fun things for them to do to learn the content of the lessons.

I made a game of Jeopardy on my laptop where I would give the answer and they had to think of what the question was. When I showed the slide with the answer there was a round of applause sound bite that would play. The kids seemed to enjoy that game because they asked for it the following week.

Sometimes though I would wonder if they were only doing their confirmation under duress, and they really didn't buy into the whole thing. Some would sit in my class with their arms crossed and I really had my doubts.

I only know of one little lamb that I lost along the way for sure, because I spoke to his mom about him. She was at her wits end and couldn't get him even to come to church.

There was one boy who was very quiet but polite and he sat at the back of the room. I didn't think he was particularly engaged but in retrospect I think he was just the observing kind.

After his confirmation he sent me an email and said that he really appreciated my confirmation classes and what I taught them. He said that if it wasn't for me he wouldn't be happy about doing his confirmation.

Well it just warmed my heart to hear that, especially when it was hard to get a read out of him in class, even though I did direct questions specifically to him. I wish I still had that email. It would do me good to read it again.

Anyways, I digress, the real intention of this post was to talk about a little lesson I gave them when I asked them the following question:

Which is the most important holiday in the Christian faith?
Then I would give them the following answers to choose from and I would count the number of kids who raised their hand for each answer (giving them time to think about it more while I did this)

• Christmas
• Shrove Tuesday
• Ash Wednesday
• Palm or Passion Sunday
• Holy Thursday
• Good Friday
• Easter

Of course many chose Christmas and others chose Good Friday and some chose Shrove Tuesday thinking it was a trick question.

Then I asked them, "Why do we remember Jesus's birthday?" (Those that picked Christmas started getting all smug thinking they indeed had the right and obvious answer)

Then I asked them, "Would we even remember his birthday if he didn't die for our sins?" So now the people who picked Good Friday are thinking the picked the right answer.

Then I asked them, "What is so miraculous about his death?"

Then I would get the answer, excitedly "Because he rose from the dead!" BINGO!

That's when the ones who picked EASTER had their choice affirmed and they realized how now all that made sense.

Except some years I would get one smart one who still tried to argue with me that if he wasn't born he couldn't rise from the dead!!! LOL!

Barbara H. has a great Thursday Thirteen up this week quoting scholars about Jesus' resurrection and also listing the people who saw Jesus after he was resurrected.

I think Paul's (formerly Saul) accounts are most compelling since he was an absolute unbeliever of Jesus until he appeared to him.

It's all very hard to fathom. Sometimes the logical part of me looks at it all and says that I and all the believers must be real fruit cakes. I take comfort in knowing that some day I will come to know and understand the full story in the glory of the kingdom of God.

On bad days, that's good enough for me, on good days, it's completely awesome.

Happy EASTER Everyone!

Irish Church Lady (ICL)

Saturday Photo Hunt is here at ICL is at Home

Blah blah blog

Trying to get over a yucchy head cold that I've had all week so I'm laying low today trying to recover. Read some of my book Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy, read some blogs and played with some toys.

Found this at Debbie's Fruit of the Spirit earlier in the week and have been meaning to do it.....

List ten things no one talks about anymore, then tag 5 people.

1. Balancing their cheque book. Who writes cheques these days? Oh sorry, checks for you southern folks.


2. Kiddle Kolognes - Did anyone have these. The were scented little dolls that came in cologne shaped bottles. I had Lavendar (purple), Sweet Pea (white), Honeysuckle (yellow) and ?????? (the hair on her was bright green).


3. Can't say incense, because it's back with a vengeance! My youngest burns it all.the.time! So instead I will say pot pourri. Do people use this regularly? I have no idea. Whenever I have it smells good up close but does nothing to smell up a room or anything.


4. Purple People Eaters


5. Typewriters - man they sucked compared to computers! he he


6. UFO's - ha ha ha heard a joke about this the other day. Ever notice that since the popularity of digital cameras and camcorders nobody sees UFO's anymore???


7. Looking forward to the mail delivery. No one sends letters anymore so what possibly could be exciting in the mail except bills. Blah!


8. Unions - it's not that nobody talks about them anymore, it's just that they don't have the same importance that they used to it seems. They're sort of out of vogue, passé, past their prime, kinda have a negative connotation, not like the positive one you get from the movie Norma Rae. Maybe they're all getting too big and demanding and ridiculous to take seriously now.

9. Swizzle sticks - you can tell I'm starting to scrap the barrel now ay?


10. Shotgun weddings - ha ha ha mine would have been a shotgun wedding if we hadn't already set our wedding date for for four months after we got engaged. You've heard of honeymoon babies? We call her our engagement baby. he he

Pick up a tag if you want one on the way out :-)

Going to watch some DVD's now ... Ciao internets!

Irish Church Lady (ICL)

Rowan Easter Mosaic

An associate at work has a newborn so I made him some Easter smiles with the little man.

Thanks to Desert Diva (go check out her southwestern eggs, they're beautiful) for pointing out this new Dumpr toy

Rowan Easter Mosaic
Originally uploaded by irish_church_lady.

Sadmess

I awoke crying this morning from my dream.

I dreamt that my FIL had passed away. That wasn't what made me cry in the dream.

We were at my parents old house and moving furniture out. My Mum was there. I asked my husband if he told my Mum that Grandpa had passed away and he said he did not. How could he? She was dead.

I said no she's not she's right here at which point I motioned to her and he couldn't see her. Only I could. Only I could hear her. At that point I grabbed her arm and started leading her around the neighbourhood for a walk all the time balling my eyes out about nothing was the same since she was gone and how sad I was all the time. She just nodded and agreed with me. I just cried all the more and woke up sobbing. My husband even woke up and asked what was wrong.

Why couldn't she speak to me in my dream and tell me positive things to get me out of this sadness?

What's ironic is that when I started this post I intended to title it SADNESS but I typed SADMESS by mistake. It really is a sad mess which I want no part of and want to move on. I just don't seem to know how to or am able to bring myself to. Some days are better than others. This one appears to be one of the others.

Perhaps it's because it's Good Friday or because I watched Scrubs last night that she showed up in my dream. Those that saw Scrubs will understand.

Good Friday everyone.
Irish Church Lady (ICL)

Easter Preparations

my Thursday Thirteen is here at About ICL

Thursday Thirteen Headers for EASTER HERE

Click on the puzzle below to do it!



(ICL)

Happy Hump Day

Captain Lifecruiser wants us to post a picture of a travel memory. Mine is over on my photoblog ICL SNAPS so it can be big and SPECTACULAR!!!

A new meme from Janna that's going around is at About ICL

Foto Pherrets will be up at ICL is at Home

Some TT Easter Headers over at ICL Plays

So we have a couple of ducks that seem to be making a splash on the top of our pool cover. They came back two days in a row now.

The video is pretty quiet, at first, while my husband is filming them and then the male duck (the prettier one) starts playing hanky panky with the female, only she doesn't seem to want much part of it!

Get this, he thought they were Canada Geese!! Partway through my daughter comes to look and the conversation ensues, where he learns his bird species. (I told him later he needs to wear his glasses more!!).

He finally let Daisy out but she was too afraid to go down and the ducks didn't fly away. Lots of poop on the concrete pool deck though. Oh joy!

So you can see how dull and blah it is here still but at least the snow is gone!

Irish Church Lady (ICL)

2k Bloggers asks "What's Your Blog Worth?"

2k Bloggers asks "What's Your Blog Worth?"

My blog is worth $243,316.74.
How much is your blog worth?

$243K. But it doesn't feel like more than 5 bucks!! lmao

How does your blog benefit you?
It's a way of documenting my legacy which otherwise I would not get around to doing. It's also a way to sort out some things going on in my life and in my head. Deep stuff. Mostly, I like to use humour. If it's funny in my head, that's good enough for me.

Does it make you happy?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. On the whole I think yes, but I'm really not sure yet. I've 'wasted' a lot of time blogging this past year. Not sure if I'm happier or less happier because of it.

Does it earn you friends and admirers?
Yes, I have met some dear friends.

Does it improve your writing?
I think it does. I now know that I enjoy writing, anyways.

Does it keep you up-to-date on news and technology?
Yes, I've learned a lot about html and lots of neat things on the internet. I've also learned a lot about other worldly events that I probably wouldn't have if I had not been blogging!

How does your blog benefit others?
I guess I'd have to ask my readers. I'd like to think it does but that would be too presumptuous of me. Internets? Your turn to talk....

Does it provide valuable information for free?
I do provide information here. It's free. Is it valuable? Again, refer to question above.

Does it speak for the speechless?
My blog, being a personal one is not about a cause or anything, so I'd have to answer no.

Does it make people think?
I hope some of my posts do. I like to share life's lessons in a humourous way. I also like to share my spirtuality in a non-confrontational manner. To each his own, I just want others to know that there is a way for them. All they have to do is ask.

Irish Church Lady (ICL)

Cats on Tuesday

Gattina's Cats on Tuesday

Look it who found a scrunched up blanket to curl up on?

Miss Phoebe.


aka Mrs. Crankypants

The one with Permanent PMS since she was a year old!



It's because of her that we ended up with two more ginger tabbies after her. She was too cranky. We went back to our tried and true tested models. Orange ginger tabbies. Lots to love about those ones!!



She does like to walk with you when you take the dog though. ha ha ha But only up to a certain point in the park. She won't go any further but will come back home with you when you pick her up again on the return journey! You'd think she had a magnetic collar on her or something!!! LOL


Irish Church Lady (ICL)

Poodles & Doodles at the Dog Park

Manic Monday over here ~ @ About ICL

Weekend Fun ... and how was your weekend?

I love when Fergus runs full speed.

He loves it so much!

Australia and Flying Doctors!

aka R'acquel has a great post up for the Cyber Cruise on the Leura and the Blue Mountains.

It got me thinking about my own family connection to Australia. Although I have never been, my oldest daughter has and here is some pictures from her trip below.

Other than that, I have a historical family connection with Australia on account of a first cousin who was married to an Australian Flying Doctor.

Her story is rather tragic, in that she died in a plane crash flying with him after being married only six weeks. Her name was Renee Burke, from Ireland. She died on October 22, 1953.

The pilot, Martin Garrett, died as well, though her husband, Dr. Timothy O'Leary, also from Ireland, survived. He went on to write two books, North and Aloft and Western Wings of Care about his experiences as a flying doctor.

Dr. O'Leary died in 1987 at 62 years of age. His focus was on doctoring in the outback, the isolated lands of inland Queensland and the Gulf country. As a member of the Royal Flying Doctor Service started by John Flynn.

Although an allure of a glamourous and exciting lifestyle made it easier to recruit new doctors, due to the remote and lonely living conditions, and sometimes dangerous situations associated with night flying, these recruits often did not stay on past twelve months. O'Leary did this for 27 years.

He spent his first five years at the Charters Towers post, which closed in 1972 (transferred to Cairns), and this is the basis for his first book, North and Aloft.

Thank you to Lori Harloe, of the Department of History & Politics, James Cook University of Nth. Qld for additional information I was not aware of from my own relatives.

As a child, I was very close to Renee's brother, my uncle Tony, who also had emigrated to Canada like me Mum. Although he lived with his family in another city, he would travel to Ottawa on business and I always anticipated his visits with great enthusiasm, as he always arrived with a bag full of chocolate bars while he and my parents stayed up all night, in typical Irish fashion.

Sadly he has passed on, and his wife. For a time we had stayed in contact. I met my second cousins, in fact my daughter is named after one of his children, Séana, and my niece shares the name with another daughter, Tara. His eldest, is named after his sister, Renee.

Thanks, Racquel, for helping me to dredge up this part of my story, which is really what this blog is all about, documenting my legacy. And thanks to you internets, who have made it down this post thus far!! LOL

Irish Church Lady (ICL)
Irish