Monday, September 29, 2008
Tribute to my boyfriend
This past weekend, my "boyfriend" Paul Newman passed away. Although a beautiful man, a talented actor, but most importantly, a generous philanthropist.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
random thoughts and quotes on peace
“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”
- Martin Luther King Jr.
"Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away.”
- Robert Fulghum
I have been thinking a lot about peace this year. Even though my year theme is the prayer of St. Francis "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace", I am still amazed how often peace comes up in conversations, movies and books. During the past few months, I realized I am both a realist and an idealist when it comes to peace. The track record of humanity is not encouraging when it comes to world peace. And since past behaviour often indicates future patterns, it is easy to give up hope. I understand that humanity as a whole may never have peace but yet, I have hope because each day, every person has the ability to choose peace. And each day, there are people that choose to live in peace with their neighbours...efforts are made towards peace.
In Israel and Palestine, there is a grief support group made up of mothers from both sides who have lost sons in the conflict. They come together as mothers not as Israelis or Palestinians.
In Somalia, during the 1993 war and famine, while the country fell into anarchy, one man collected orphans from the feeding centres. He educated, fed and protected them because he saw them as seeds of hope for a peaceful future. To date, he has taken care of 10,000 children.
In Rwanda, during the genocide, while neighbours killed each other, some stepped up and hid their friends from the killing squads.
In Canada, after his son was gunned down in the school hallways, a father forgave his son's killer and that act of peace has done more than bitterness ever could.
Even today, on the International Day of Peace, the Taliban and NATO agreed to hold a one-day ceasefire. Anything is possible.
Logically, I don't know if world peace is possible when humanity as a whole is left to it's own devices. But I do know that each day, I have a choice to live in peace with my neighbours, my self and my God. The golden rule, found in most religions, holds a key to peace. By treating others how we would like to be treated allows everyone to be equal. No one life is more valuable than an other life. Our nationality, ethnicity, income, religion, health or education does not equate a higher worth. We are all God's children and when one of us dies, God's heart weeps as should ours.
Peace is an individual journey we all must take. A benediction to close...
Love God
Love Others
Do it with all your heart
Go in peace
Amen
- Martin Luther King Jr.
"Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away.”
- Robert Fulghum
I have been thinking a lot about peace this year. Even though my year theme is the prayer of St. Francis "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace", I am still amazed how often peace comes up in conversations, movies and books. During the past few months, I realized I am both a realist and an idealist when it comes to peace. The track record of humanity is not encouraging when it comes to world peace. And since past behaviour often indicates future patterns, it is easy to give up hope. I understand that humanity as a whole may never have peace but yet, I have hope because each day, every person has the ability to choose peace. And each day, there are people that choose to live in peace with their neighbours...efforts are made towards peace.
In Israel and Palestine, there is a grief support group made up of mothers from both sides who have lost sons in the conflict. They come together as mothers not as Israelis or Palestinians.
In Somalia, during the 1993 war and famine, while the country fell into anarchy, one man collected orphans from the feeding centres. He educated, fed and protected them because he saw them as seeds of hope for a peaceful future. To date, he has taken care of 10,000 children.
In Rwanda, during the genocide, while neighbours killed each other, some stepped up and hid their friends from the killing squads.
In Canada, after his son was gunned down in the school hallways, a father forgave his son's killer and that act of peace has done more than bitterness ever could.
Even today, on the International Day of Peace, the Taliban and NATO agreed to hold a one-day ceasefire. Anything is possible.
Logically, I don't know if world peace is possible when humanity as a whole is left to it's own devices. But I do know that each day, I have a choice to live in peace with my neighbours, my self and my God. The golden rule, found in most religions, holds a key to peace. By treating others how we would like to be treated allows everyone to be equal. No one life is more valuable than an other life. Our nationality, ethnicity, income, religion, health or education does not equate a higher worth. We are all God's children and when one of us dies, God's heart weeps as should ours.
Peace is an individual journey we all must take. A benediction to close...
Love God
Love Others
Do it with all your heart
Go in peace
Amen
Monday, September 15, 2008
loaf and jug and stuff
It is a sad day in my community. The Loaf and Jug corner store has closed for reasons unknown. Where am I going to go to buy a litre of milk when I am in need? Of course, that litre of milk cost me $4.25 but it was the price of convenience. I bought my weekend newspaper at this store. Now I have to walk 2 extra blocks to the Esso. My life will never be the same again.
Ode to the Loaf & Jug.
You served the neighbourhood well.
You will be missed.
You served the neighbourhood well.
You will be missed.
In other news...
...it is my mom's birthday and I love her so very much. She endures my theories, encourages my ramblings and loves me unconditionally. Happy birthday, Marilyn "Martha Stewart"...you have influenced and molded me more than you will ever know.
(my mom & cordelia - two of my favs)
...I forgot a movie on my list last week...The Diving Bell & the Butterfly. I just don't know what movie to take off to keep the list at an even 100.
...Just a reminder that next Sunday is the International Day of Peace - September 21st. Do something to bring peace to your world. Forgive a grudge, tell someone you love them, help a friend in need, protest the war. If you need inspiration, check out the Peace One Day website.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Ode to my family of list lovers
This summer, while out on the island visiting family, we discussed our top movies and whether or not we could come up with a list of our 100 top movies. We also wondered how many movies we have seen in our lifetime and realized that we had spent a great deal of time watching movies, going to movies, renting movies, choosing movies - especially since I didn't watch movies much before I was 16.
Anyhow, we sat around a pint or two of beer and scrawled our lists down on whatever paper I had in my bag - John, Nicole, Wendy & I - all lovers of the list. Nicole, my sister, blogged about it a while back and recently, she asked about my list and whether or not I had finalized it...so for you, Nicole, here is my top 100 movie list (in alphabetical order, of course):
Anyhow, we sat around a pint or two of beer and scrawled our lists down on whatever paper I had in my bag - John, Nicole, Wendy & I - all lovers of the list. Nicole, my sister, blogged about it a while back and recently, she asked about my list and whether or not I had finalized it...so for you, Nicole, here is my top 100 movie list (in alphabetical order, of course):
| A Room with a View |
| About a Boy |
| Almost Famous |
| Amelie |
| Annie Hall |
| Becoming Jane |
| Before Sunrise |
| Before Sunset |
| Bella |
| Bend it Like Beckham |
| Blood Diamond |
| Bobby |
| Braveheart |
| Breakfast at Tiffany's |
| Breakfast Club |
| Bridget Jones Diary |
| Bruce Almighty |
| Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid |
| Casablanca |
| Cat on a Hot Tin Roof |
| Chocolat |
| Cinema Paradiso |
| Clueless |
| Cool Hand Luke |
| Crash |
| Dave |
| Dead Man Walking |
| Dead Poets Society |
| Dear Frankie |
| Emma |
| Finding Nemo |
| Finding Neverland |
| Forrest Gump |
| Godfather I |
| Good Morning Vietnam |
| Grace is Gone |
| High Fidelity |
| Hope Floats |
| Hotel Rwanda |
| Il Postino |
| Into the Wild |
| It’s a Wonderful Life |
| Juno |
| Lars & the Real Girl |
| Lean on Me |
| Life is Beautiful |
| Little Miss Sunshine |
| Lord of the Rings |
| Love Actually |
| Memento |
| Moonstruck |
| Much Ado About Nothing |
| My Fair Lady |
| O Brother Where art Thou? |
| Once |
| Paris Je T'aime |
| Philedelphia |
| Philedelphia Story |
| Power of One |
| Pride & Prejudice (Colin Firth) |
| Princess Bride |
| Ray |
| Rebel Without a Cause |
| Roman Holiday |
| Romeo & Juliet (Baz Luhrmann) |
| Rudy |
| Run Lola Run |
| Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn) |
| Saved |
| Saving Private Ryan |
| Say Anything… |
| Scent of a Woman |
| Schindlers List |
| Sense & Sensibility |
| Shadowlands |
| Shall We Dance (Japan) |
| Shawshank Redemption |
| Sliding Doors |
| Stranger Than Fiction |
| Strictly Ballroom |
| Swingers |
| The Apostle |
| The Castle |
| The Commitments |
| The Constant Gardener |
| The English Patient |
| The Graduate |
| The Last King of Scotland |
| The Pianist |
| The Shop Around the Corner |
| The Sixth Sense |
| The Truman Show |
| The Usual Suspects |
| The Whale Rider |
| Thelma & Louise |
| To Kill a Mockingbird |
| Waitress |
| Walk the Line |
| What's Eating Gilbert Grape? |
| When Harry met Sally |
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