Monthly Archives: February 2016

Feb22

Say Your Name

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Say Your Name

Say Your Name

One is constantly barraged with requests to “SAY YOUR NAME”. The problem is that some of us have had a few name changes over the years, and on a distracted day, one could inadvertently blurt out one of those previous names… I’m saving those stories for another post!

My first “change of name” experience happened on the first day of school.  The teacher was confronted with 2 MARY LYNNE students.  She made an on the spot judgement call, announcing that I would be MARY from that day forth, and the other little girl would be LYNNE.  It stuck.  I lost my dual name that day and never looked back. Albeit, my mom continued … Read the rest

Feb18

Accepting Mindfulness

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Accepting Mindfulness

There’s a lot of discussion about “mindfulness” in the self-help and educational sectors these days.  It’s something that started to develop within me through journal writing after an unexpected divorce in the early 90’s.  Smacked with the realization that I was in complete control of myself and life’s choices, the written reflections enabled me to focus on my goals and well-being. It became apparent, early in the days when “mindfulness” wasn’t actually a common term, that one had to seize the day and try to make the most of it through one’s choices. It’s not a skill one masters.  Often times, one’s “mindfulness” is contradictory and completely messy! I have taught myself to wake up each day and look forward … Read the rest

Feb11

LEARN to SAIL the HARD WAY

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LEARN to SAIL the HARD WAY

A Book Review:

LEARN to SAIL the HARD WAY!

               -written by Don Watmough

                     -illustrations by Dave Alavoine

 

Anyone who is a boater will get a kick out of Evergreen Pacific’s latest release. The book is a chaotic and hilarious tale of a novice sailor who bungles his way through purchasing the perfect boat (NOT!), learning to sail it through numerous mishaps, while simultaneously entertaining the “sea gods” above with the mayhem in his wake. Dave Alavoine’s illustrations, (the cartoonist for Pacific Yachting Magazine’s, COCKPIT CONFESSIONS), capture the humor of the nautical follies experienced by Skip and his mate, Muffy. The final part of LEARN to SAIL the HARD WAY addresses the mistakes made by rookie … Read the rest

Feb8

Why Enrol in Blogging 101?

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Why Enrol in Blogging 101?

Why Did I Start Blogging?

Everyone enrolled in BLOGGING 101 will have different reasons for getting a blog underway. I am a purposeful retired educator/administrator who found that I was unprepared for “retirement”.  What did I do?  I wrote a middle years series of  3 humorous novels, entitled the Frenchie Series (Frenchie referring to French Bulldogs). Interesting, the MG novels are about a 13 year old boy who blogs each night to all the Frenchie lovers… Most of all, the writing kept me engaged and excited about creating something that I hoped families would get some chuckles from reading.  As well, it kept me learning new skills, such as setting up an author platform and coordinating one’s promotion and marketing … Read the rest