God?
Can you tell me the purpose of war?
It is Karma? Is it cleansing?
Or is it the part of human nature you lost control of in Eden?
I don't speak much about war. When your family is military you have to really be careful on what you say to friends and relatives about war and our part in it.
I can tell you that I am not for war. I am a person who's intention is always to choose a peaceful solution.
Even though my personal choices will always be peace, I am compelled to understand why soldiers exist and what Canada's role is as a peace keeping force for NATO.
Every day I am reminded what it means to a soldier to identify with being a peace keeper and sometimes a peace maker. For my Son and Husband are soldiers.
Canada's reserves is one of the highest and most well trained in all the world. Other countries do not put the time or money into the training of their reserve forces because except for now, most reserves in other countries are never called up to fight.
In Canada it is different. We have a small military and our reserves have the opportunity to volunteer for reg. force duty, even when there is no war. They will do a 6month contract with the regular forces and serve as peace keepers wherever they are needed.
In Canada we do not have conscription and our military is hard to get in to, whether in reg. forces or in the reserves. Most of our young soldiers are University qualified young men and women. High school graduates, and have dreams of post secondary education in their future.
To be part of the Military College in Canada one must have a GPA of about 85 on average to even get in. You can dedicated years of military service to be able to go the University after. Also Military personnel get trade training in their units.
Our officers come from two directions. Promoted through the ranks with years of dedicated hard work and leadership training, or as University graduates who earned the right to be trained as officers because of their University dedication.
My husband Carl has been stationed away at a base for the past 4 weeks. He is taking a military vehicles driving course and a communications course. And I have been saturated with military breath for the last month.
My trips up to the base and its surrounding towns dipped me into the honey of the families that live with war every day.
The conversations usually always bend towards NATO and Canada's soldier pride in serving in this force. The soldiers love their job, and don't have to be reminded how deadly it can be.
Families of soldiers who go to war are like families of Cops who work on the streets. You know it is dangerous and so you live on a daily basis. You don't forget to recognize the little things and you don't sweat the small stuff.
Some days you are the soldier and you are an Angel in the public eye, and some days you are the soldier and you are the Devil in the public eye. And there is always someone in the family who will run you down if you choose military service, because they are elitist and believe military is open only for the dregs of society and one should never bring down a family's reputation with mere military dedications.
The spouses and children, and most Mothers of a soldier know that this dedication as a soldier is a calling. It is a personal challenge and one that puts the soldier into a position to hopefully effect change. Like Cops- a Soldier serves.
A soldier serves the people. For us. For mankind.
Some days we watch war footage on TV and it is not real in our mind. We see the carnage with the eyes of the movie makeup trained psyche that blocks out the emotional idealism that this is REAL.
As a Mother and a Wife of a soldier who understands the dedication it takes for a Soldier to BE, please watch the video at this URL:http://www.guardian.co.uk/video/page/0,,2125978,00.html
And remember........this is REAL......you are not Elite and above suffering.......and people are putting their lives on the line for YOU. And everyone has a responsibility to fellow man.
Wear Red on Fridays to support our troops.
Put a yellow ribbon on your property to show your intentions.
And never treat a Soldier like he is less for the choices he as made. He is your Son, our Son and his calling is for YOUR sake. All mankind will suffer without the Soldier.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
And He Sat There In Shock!
Was it a joke?....No.....this gracious surprise is real!
While we were away we got some fantabulous news.
Last week was the vote for the Grand Lodge of Ontario Canada.
This is a vote held yearly by the fraternal order of Free And Accepted Masons, here in Ontario.
For years, Dad has gone down for "The Vote". Put in his ballots for the guys he has come to know over the last...oh...almost 30 years.
Dad and my Husband Carl are Past Masters of Toronto district 4 lodge of Eastgate.
Dad and Mom are in the Senior Warden's Group The Builders, and Carl and I are in The Mystics.
In the early '80's Dad and Carl moved up through the chairs.
They were masters in subsequent years, following Carl's Dad's second time at the Master Chair.
That is how Carl and I met, and how they were connected, and how I subsequently married my Dad's best friend.
So....as I was saying "The Vote" was last week.
All the Past Masters and such gathering at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto for the elections to Grand Lodge.
Dad is not into Politicin' if he can help it. It was just this attitude that saw him retire from the Metro Toronto Police Department after 30years service, instead of make a bee-line for Chief Of Police.
He has never been a model of the "Good Ole Boys Club", and he likes to do his work based on principle. He likes to dedicate his time. He is not out for recognition. His summers are dedicated to Golf, and his winters are dedicated to Lodge.....and dreaming of golf.
Over the years he has been the secretary of the lodge and I think he may have even been a Chaplain, and he does a lot of investigations and visits. He is always on a committee list of some sort. He is also ready and willin' to to "the work" for Police Degree Teams, and for Past Masters Nights and Official Visits at all of his brethren lodges. When Carl moved up to the country lodge of Sharon after we lived up here in the countryside for quite a few years, Dad just looked at it as a new lodge he'd get to go to.
He loved helping his buddies if they ran for Grand Lodge, he liked keeping official lists for the lodge and he really enjoyed the camaraderie with his buddies, and their endless phone calls for planning one thing or another.
But he was a detective.
If something was in the works he would have known!
But he didn't.
Jim Hughes, his and Carl's buddy for close to 30 years.....Past Master of their lodge, and Grand Lodge officer, and past Grand Lodge Officer had done the unthinkable.
He connived.
Yep....Jim had taken a secret petition around to everyone voting at the Royal York Hotel. By secret petition vote, my Dad, Richard, William Charles Lundy has been voted the Grand Stewart of the Grand Lodge of Ontario Canada. This is a real public relations position. He represents the presence of the Grand Lodge at Official Visits, and accompanies the Grand Master to lodge visits. And Public Relations is what Dad is all about. He is the Support Network for Everyone!
I am going to assume he is supposed to go across Ontario to do this.
He is really excited and surprised by the appointment.
He would never have run for a position. So if they wanted him in the Grand Lodge, this certainly is the way to do it!
And I know he is very humbled by this amazing thing.
So this fall will see him dawn new Regalia. I think Gold and Purple, apron and sash/collar. And he will stand proud and Very Worshipful.
I know that quite a few Masons do read this blog. I would really appreciate it if you could write your name and your lodge and what city it is in in comments so Dad can see "The World" of you.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Videos Galore!
Well I am bacheloring it now. Carl is gone for a month. I thought that I would be very disorganized, but so far.....my first day.....I am more organized than usual.
I didn't do a whole lot. Cheryl came over and we had our weekly sit, knit, gab, and drink coffee day. Cam and I had leftovers for dinner, and he has now gone out to the movies.
I watched Coronation Street (for those in Great Britain-we are 9 months behind here in the story so don't tell me anything). Fred has died on the day of his wedding. I guess that means he has retired for good, and does not plan to come back for any reunions.
I had the TV off the rest of the day, and tonight I am listening to 5 CDs of Classical Music on the stereo. This is the advantage of being virtually on my own. No TV!.....ahhhh.....peace.
I have a few more videos to do, but I am all YouTubed out now, so this is it for a bit.
Carl called tonight. He has two weeks of driving course (which he says is like my drivers ed class I used to teach) and then two weeks of Comms. Comms. is communications: using radio codes and calls. Part of the driving will be day and part will be night. But....things are easier than the other courses because of driving hours regulations reguarding rest and time behind the wheel create forced rest. He was so dissapointed when he found out Fred died. (can you tell Carl and I are hooked on Coronation Street!?)
He is off this weekend, so far (if anyone screws up the group could lose the priviledge), and he has chosen to stay on base and just socialize with the guys and get to know them.
He is welcome to go home, but he will not be provided a bus ride.
I think I will go to Petawawa for next weekend. I might camp or I might hotel it. Dunno yet.
I will take an extended weekend and travel up there. So I hope no one screws up.
Here are the videos:
The Lefroy Scottish Tattoo
Video One
Video Two
Canada Day Fireworks in Newmarket
Video One
Video Two
Cat vs Carrier
Oh A Full Long Weekend!
Thursday was my Birthday, but we didn't really do the Birthday celebrations until Saturday.
Saturday morning Carl drove to Peterborough to get Alex, Amber and Kitty Candy!
On Saturday afternoon we had the family and the Lyons here for a BBQ.
We had chicken teriaki, salad, veggies and dip, and cherries.
Alex Lyon
Al and Amber
Cheryl, Gary, Cam, Amber and Al (Pamela is hidden)
My Dad Rich, Carl, and Cam
My Cake
It is a no carb cake with Nutriwhip and fresh rasberries on top
The cake is orange cranberry
It was yummy!
Me gettin ready to BLOW!
This is voted the ugliest photo ever, but I had to promise to post it on the blog.
Al took it and shocked himself. Haha!
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He is taking the DP1 course
This is 6AM
Cam and Al dragged themselves outta bed to see Dad off.
I had to take Carl to the Denison Armories which is located in North Toronto,
on the site of the old Downsview Airforce base.
At Denison they catch the bus for the 7hr ride to CFB Petawawa
Getting in ranks for inspection and bus loading prep
These guys leaving on course are 17-50 years of age.
Guess who the 50 yr old is!
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Kitty Candy had her birthday on June 30th.
So she is no longer a kitten.
This was her first visit to our place.
She had a blast with stairs and carpet, and the big window
that shows more than a parking lot
Click on the photo to see the slideshow
Please return to see the fireworks video, the Canada day on Main Street video, the Candy video,and the Scottish Tattoo Video
Monday, July 02, 2007
Oh The Weekend Was A Blast!
Oh, so it was Canada Day on July 1st. I have great pics of the weekend, but I am trying to get caught up on my past video editing.
We had Al and Amber and Kitty Candy here this weekend. We had a BBQ.
Carl has gone now to be stationed in CFB Petawawa for a month. He is taking his DP1 course.
On to catching up on video....
I edited my first compilation video tonight. It is the Sharon Temple fundraiser. It was quite easy using Vista's Windows Video Editor. Cam showed me how to use it. Yet I had to put it into 2 YouTube videos cuz it exceeded the limit in size.
I can't believe all this video is just snippets taken with my Canon Power Shot A60.
Here is the video in two parts:
Wait till you see the fireworks video and the tattoo video!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Music In A Small Town,
About a month or so ago I got a message on Facebook from my past-driver-ed-student-turned-my-piano-teacher telling me that my Youngest-Son's-drumming-instructor-friend-and-SO-of-other-Son's-friend and said SO (significant other) were doin a fundraiser for a local animal rescue/adoption service. This is private and over and above the SPCA. A family who has found adoption for many a pre-loved animal for 30 years in our area.
These musicians who decided to plan the fundraiser......well, over the past few years I have watched them grow into fine Men and Women. It was really great to see them shining, and with a great line up of some more seasoned musicians from the area.
It was held at the Sharon Temple, which is the music hall for the Children of Peace. The Quakers who founded our area. (I write on the founding Quakers when I can. The history is amazing.)
Small towns have all sorts of hidden talent in the cracks and crevices. I really enjoy being able to support such endeavors. Plus I really truly like these people.
If these music instructors can put up with the old croanies who I used to play music with at their work, then they are capable of anything. I walk into our local music shop which is called The Arts, and the folks I picked with for years are all behind the counter. You just gotta know that when the old croans like me start talkin old days of music the same ole stories get recycled through the bunch of us. Of course, some of us were sober in those days and recollect much more than the others. This always creates the grey area we muddle through in the stories.
I hope this next group of musicians has as much fun as we did when we were twenty-something. I certainly think they are better song writers. And they really seem to have their fingers on the pulse of things. I like this idea. I really really like the idea that I can learn from them....and I regularly do.
So this is how I spent my Birthday night:
There will be more video at a later time
But for now here is a snippet as a teaser:
(this makes two committments I have to create compolation videos for the blog. I just can't do them fast enough this week. I will let everyone know once I have the videos for the tattoo and this show ready.)
I sit within the templeWatch the crowd ebb and flow
Pets drag their owners into the roomNoses sniffing
Big legs slinking to try to get just a bit closer to the other pawed pals.
Music fills the templeThe brothers and sisters are watching from above
Singing praises as the music fills the structure once again
Strings in harmonyVoices singing
And the sun sets upon the sleepy town
As the last voices come to passGod shows he is listening to the serenade
As he paints the sky in pastel hues
My last glimpsesThis beautiful memorial
A building to blessings of music
My eyes gaze upon my last visions
Like a Group of Seven Painting comes to life
Sunday, June 17, 2007
I hope you enjoy our Convivia!
RennyBa Has Inspired Me To Write About My Slow Food
If you have been following along, you know I am on a Metablolic Diet. This is a prescribed medical program to aid in the final part of my recovery from an Aquired Brain Injury.
I am enhancing this program with Holistic Nutrician and Hypnotherapy.
This all goes together to set my mind on wellness, to enhance my body systems that were slowed down due to the physical stress the injury caused me.
One cannot escape being medicated for the symptoms of the injury, so it is important to eat a nutritious meal 6 times a day. Two of those meals must be quite large, and be of the highest quality food.
North Americans' diets usually consist of extremely over processed and genetically manipulated foods.
The metabolic diet consists of grains that are not processed chemically, nor are genetically altered. This mean regular flour, sugar, and non-live dairy products are to be avoided, and gluten is kept at a minimum.
Food needs to be considered valuable to the body system as a whole.
Vegetables that can absorb the most free radicals from the soil are avoided. So no vegetable that grows below the ground.
Meat should be lean and organically fed.
As today progresses I will show the food for today's BBQ.
For Carl's 50th celebration I am marinating chicken breast, and pork chops in a hand made tariaki liquid. I am marinading steak in a home made BBQ sauce marinade. The fish is zested with lemon.
There are raw vegetables and tzaziki dip, and a deep green leafy salad.
And a huge bowl of cherries for chatting over.
The only bad boy on the menu is the Birthday Cake. It is partially slow, for it has custard cream in it. (but I did not bake it so the flour is probably regular white pastry flower. And really don't know if I will try any)
For the steadfast Canadians there will be baked potatoes. (I won't be having any, because they are from below the ground)
Papa's Pics of Carl's Birthday Dinner
Ann and Cliff
Gary, Alex and Cam
Cam
Charlotte and Terry Arrive
Good Food!
Shrimp on a Cedar Plank, Baked Russett Potatoe, Pork Chops and Steak
Ann Cowie, Cam, Carl, Al, Mom, Me, Cheryl(hidden), Alex(hidden a bit), Gary, Terry, Charlotte
Carl, Al, Mom, and Me
(I am two sizes smaller even if you can't tell. That outfit is from my yr2000 collection)
Gettin' Ready to Blow!
Al and Carl
Cliff, Ann, Cam
Cake!
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Our Pics of Carl's 50th Birthday Dinner! Ummmm Slow Food and Friends!
Dad(Richard Lundy), Mom (Sandra Lundy), Charlotte Hemington, Cliff Lalonde, (Gary and Terry are a bit hidden)
Alex Lyon, Carl (in background), Cheryl Lyon, Cam, Al
BBQ
Baked Russet Potatoes, Pork Chops, Chicken Breast, Salmon Shrimp and Scallops cooked on a cedar plank, and Steak
Out comes the China Plates! Slow food has no paper plates!
Sittin' on our new fancy bench that pulls out like an accordion to set up
Gathered at the table
Ummm Food!
Carl
(Upp I am looking very puffy and tired! Having fun is hard work!)
Al and Me (Lynn)
Al brings out the Cake
Carl (The Birthday Boy!)
Blowin' out the candles
Ann and Carl
Happy 50th Birthday Carl
Cliff, Carl, and Al
Gary, Terry, Charlotte, Cliff, Al and Carl
Cutting the Cake
Alex Lyon, Gary Lyon, Terry Copps, Cliff Lalonde, Ann Cowie, Al
Cam, Carl and Dad
Mom
Cam and Carl
Carl and Dad (Richard Lundy)
Mom(Sandra Lundy)
Cheryl Lyon
Al, Cam and Carl
Alex Lyon, Gary Lyon, Terry Copps, Charlotte Hemington, Cliff Lalond
Bachman Cummings CD. Compilation of Their favourite songs performed by Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings
DVD's and a gift certificate from Lynn
Steve Wozniak's Biography, "IWoz" from Gary, Cheryl, Alex and Pamela
Hunt For Red October movie
from Al
Birch Bark Canoes with Animal Totems on them from Cliff and Ann
Plus Rum from Cliff and Ann
A Shirt From Tere Altuna
Carl's Birthday Haul
A Little Dinner Talk- try looking at it-it is awaiting YouTube approval
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Crabitat In The Livingroom
Thanks for Looking at Everything
