Happy Birthday to a very special person in my life

Today's blog is dedicated to a man who I've known since birth.  He was there when I came into this world...and he is part of the reason that I am here today....

It's my Dad's birthday today!   I can't say I know how old he is exactly......I have to admit, I've lost track...But he's as active as a 40 year old man...He loves to work, and keep himself busy....and I'm beginning to think he spends more time with his two kids(the Yorkies) than he does with my mom!  LOL

He's not much of a talker, but I know he loves me all the same.....and "Poppy" as my kids call him is know as the "grumpy old guy"......but it's all in fun....

He would do anything for us.....or anyone else for that matter..

That's him showing off his softer side(reminds me of Patch Adams...if you haven't seen the film, I highly recommend it...I'm sure if my dad got the chance, he'd wear the red nose for the sick kids at the Hospital as well) ....and his has a great sense of humour...although not everyone gets to see it...and he loves to get the sarcastic jabs in against my mom anytime he gets a chance(especially when my sister Darlene and Brother-in-Law Scott are around!)

This is my Dad with his mom Lulu....She's now in a home in Prince Edward Island and is suffering from Alzheimer's......It's difficult to see your parents go through that....sometimes they know you and sometimes they don't.  It's such an awful disease...But when he's home he goes to see her and takes her out to the house to visit.  She has lived a very long life, and the stories she can tell about the things she has seen!

My parents are spending their winters in Florida now....To some that would be a dream come true..but it must be hard to be away from the family at Christmas and I birthdays.  I know I've found it hard at times not to be with the loved ones, since I moved away many years ago... My Dad keeps very active there, and my parents have a group of friends in their "mobile home park"  that they socialize with....and the kids(the Yorkies) love it as well.

I wish I had been closer to my dad growing up...I was the kind of kid who wanted to go fishing with my dad, and hang out with him...but he was the "strong silent type"  and worked a lot to support the family....I always wanted to work at a country music radio station so my dad would be proud of me because he is a big country music fan...My mom always told me, he was proud no matter where I worked...

I sometimes felt like Icouldn't give him as much as my sisters have...at Christmas time or on birthdays...but I'm sure he was always happy with what he received..Like the Christmas below, one of the things we got him was a seat cover for his John Deere ride on lawn mower(which is another one of his pride and joys)

My mom and dad live in Prince Edward Island during the summer and fall now.....They've returned to their roots(as all Islanders seem to do)  They went home to retire....But it can't be easy after all these years in Ontario.  They lived the "Upper Canadian" lifestyle as some would call it, and PEI is a much different place.  The people are different and so is the lifestyle.....Much more laid back and slower paced then living near the Greater Toronto area....I think my dad has adjusted much more than my mom, but PEI certainly is a beautiful place to be in the summer months....

My sisters and I are all grown up now, and my parents have two new little kids......only these ones have fur and four legs.  That's my dad with Spice,(don't you just love the hat!!LOL) and the picture below is Cinnamon....They go everywhere with them...I'm sure they'll be celebrating his birthday today with doggy bones and cake.

Dad, unfortunately I'm not there to celebrate with you on your birthday, although I'd love to be there to enjoy your warm Florida temperatures as opposed to the cold and snowy temps here in Moncton.  I hope you have a wonderful day...Celebrate it well, and know that we're thinking of you today....Enjoy a lobster and a nice cold beer on us!  Cheers!

Happy Birthday Dad!  AKA Poppy!

Love you lots!

XOXOXOXO

Best Friends forever..Cherish them.

I remember when I was younger, 4 years old to be exact...I lived in a place called Bramalea, Ontario, and my best friend lived right across the street from me.  Her name was Kirsten McKerron....We did everything together....We were in the same classes at school through to Grade 2...We had sleepovers, we played in our backyards....We were inseparable...Then in Grade 3, I moved away, because my Dad got transferred with his work.   So my best friend and I lost touch.  In grade 4, my family moved again, this time to Brampton, Ontario...(if you are familiar with this region, you'll know that Bramalea no longer exists..It's actually a part of Brampton now)  I started at another new school, and had to meet new friends all over again.  I was lucky enough to meet another girl, who became my best friend.  Alexis Alli....

Anyway, what I am trying to get at is how important friends can be in a persons life.  I am now friends with Alexis again on facebook, and I remember recently she was reminiscing about the younger days when things were easy....The times we went looking for the boys forts, and running through the corn fields in the rain....Spending time at the mall, shopping for the same clothes, playing hide and seek in our neighbourhood......and a long list of so many other things.....Ahhhh...Those were the days...Care free......

When we get older, we look back, and wonder, "If I could do it all again, would I change the way things were?"  I think there are a few things I would do differently, but for the most part....I'd do it all over again, just the way it was.

For years, I wondered what happened to Kirsten.....and finally in 2011, I managed to track down a phone number for her.  We played phone tag a bit, back and forth, but we've never connected to be able to chat.  I really should take the time again, to contact her so we can catch up...

With the number of moves I've made, I've left a number of friends behind...Most recently, when I  moved 6 years ago, I left my friend Julie Knox behind in Kingston, Ontario.  I think about her, and miss her a lot sometimes... My husband and I were friends with her husband as well , so we did stuff together as couples.  Then she had kids, and now that I have kids as well, it would've been nice to have been able to do family things....She recently lost her Mother-in-Law unexpectedly, and those are the things I wish I could have been there for..to offer a hug, and some support...

I've made some good friends in the 6 years we've been here.....But I find, now that we have kids, and they have kids, we all get so busy...and we forget to make the time to pick up the phone once in awhile, if only just to say 'Hi"... ...

I think it's important that we make the time.....Friends can be just as important as family......If you find the right ones, they'll always be there for you.......They can offer that one word of support you may need, they can make you smile, and often they know you well enough, that they can tell when you need a hug, or when you need a shoulder to lean on......

I want to thank everyone who is and has been a friend...Chances are...something you've said or done in my lifetime, has influenced me in some way or another.......And you've helped me create memories...which also need to be cherished...

I always try to encourage my children, to have as many friends as possible....But it's nice to know that my daughter and son have best friends who they love to spend time with, and who they have common interests with.  I wanted to share a few pics...Unfortunately I only have one of my son and his friend.

If you have started thinking about the friends you have now, or have had in the past, then I've succeeded in making my point.   Perhaps you might want to touch base with them again...Find out how they're doing...You never know, maybe they've been thinking about you as well...

Planning a move? How about this view!

So you're thinking of making a move to the Maritimes...You might consider the City of Moncton.  Not to worry, I am not going to spend this entire blog going on about how great a city this is..It has its wonderful qualities..yes....But what I really wanted to mention is buying a house with the most appealing scenery possible..  I live in an area, where I am surrounded by homes....and when I look directly out my backyard, I see a few trees and more backyards and then more houses...But when I look beyond, there is so  much more..Where I ultimately would love to live is on Front Mountain Road...Up on the Hill, directly above our concert site, I'd have some land, and the view of the city..Wow!  Now the difficulty is, the cost of housing on this road, and word has it, in the winter, if there has been a snowstorm, it can be kind of difficult getting down the hill.  Things can be a little slick....

This is one house that is currently for sale on that Road.

For a price of $1.2 million dollars you can own this beauty and the view that comes with it...

That's our casino...the red and grayish coloured building...

You can pretty much see the whole city from there.  And the skyline, incredible.

Now just so you know, this $1.2 million is not the average cost of homes in this community.  You can get houses at a pretty fair price, and there are a lot to choose from.  Moncton is a booming city, and if you'd like to live nearby, there's always Riverview or Dieppe as well.

So now all I have to do, is win the $30 million dollars in this Friday's Lotto Max jackpot....I would have to split it 10 ways, because I look after the lotto pool for work, but once that is divided up, I can buy my house and that beautiful view that goes with it.

I know, I know....Money isn't everything...but it can certainly help to make a few of your dreams come true...   :)

My workplace...in case you are curious

Have you ever wondered what the inside of a radio station looks like?  I've taken a couple of pics of where I spend my mornings...I work one of those crazy people shifts..waking up before the birds get up, and leaving at around noon.  But it's what I do, and what I've always loved.  My career has taken me to many cities, most of them in Ontario.  Since I started in the radio business in 1995, I've spent time in Owen Sound,Ontario, Orillia,Ontario,  Trail,British Columbia, London,Ontario, Kingston,Ontario and now Moncton,New Brunswick.  It's been over 6 years here, and I think it might be one of my last stops.  Moving was so much easier for me when I was younger, and single.  I could just pack up a few boxes, load a truck and off I went.  Now there is so much more involved.  Selling a house, packing boxes and furniture, finding a house, relocating my family, finding a new job for my husband, and so forth. 

I've worked in different genres of radio stations as well, with many differing formats, including country, pop, music from the 40's and 50's, sports radio and now News/Talk.  And I've worked in different roles as well.  News Anchor, Co-Host, Producer, News Editor, Talk Show Host and Reporter.

Our radio station is pretty basic, with only 9 employees...3 of them are sales reps.  Our copy department(they write the commercials), and management staff all work out of Halifax.

That is our News booth where we broadcast from every day.  We also have a Talk Show booth, and also a newsroom where we prepare our newscasts.

Some people get pretty excited when I tell them I work in radio, but really it's just another job.  It's like anyone else who has chosen to be a lawyer, a doctor or a teacher....I just chose to work in the radio business and went to school to study it.  It becomes an addiction after awhile.  I know a lot of people who got into the business and were determined to leave...but just couldn't do it because they loved it too much.....and they were afraid to miss it......Others have managed to get out...but have landed right back in it....
Our station launched in October of 2005,  and there are still 3 of us who have been there from the start.  Many have moved on, to our Halifax station, or back to Ontario....or have just left the business to pursue other opportunities...As to what the future holds for me...I'm not really sure at this point..Just taking it day by day...We'll just have to wait and see.

Occupy movement...Did they make their point?

2011 was the year of the protester.... And Occupy movements were set up around the world trying to make the point that the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer..and the middle class are footing the bill.   Well, that was just one of many causes that protesters spoke out about in the Occupy movement.  Most of the protesters were eventually evicted, and told to leave their posts...basically after the government decided enough was enough...and they felt that the protesters had made their point.  Fredericton was one of the last places to finally evict those who were left once the colder weather moved in.  One of the protesters there had actually changed his address to reflect the same one at City Hall which is where the tents were set up.  I drove past the Aberdeen Cultural Centre in Moncton today, which is where our Occupy protesters gathered each day....As far as I know, the movement here has come to an end....and if not...why anyone would want to live in a tent in minus 18 degree temperatures, which is what it has been the last couple of nights, is beyond me......I snapped a couple of pics of what is left..

So for the moment, all is peaceful on the Occupy front...But did they really manage to make their point?  Did the fact that they camped out for days on end, sleeping in tents, change anything?   Maybe for them, it felt like they were doing something...trying to make a difference...hoping that the governments would listen......But was it all for nothing?   Have the governments made ANY changes to reflect what they were fighting for?  And were ALL of them really out there for the cause?  Or in some cities was  it a case of a few  people joining in, PRETENDING to be part of the movement, when all they were really doing was freeloading of the others.    I had also heard that with a few of the protests, not here in New Brunswick, but in other Canadian cities, that there were problems with drugs, and crime on the Occupy sites.....I think that is part of the problem....You get a group of people who mean well...they start an Occupy movement, with the hopes of sending a message...Their intention is for a peaceful protest, with the hopes that someone will listen.....And then a group of....bad apples, shall we say, decides to move in......and then all of the protesters are lumped into one, and are viewed as troublemakers....

I'm  not opposed to protests in general.....To each his own...if you want to make a point, you should have the right to stand up for what you believe in....But I think that after awhile, the message gets old....It's big news at first, but then after the media stops talks about it......the protesters are forgotten..and I think that's when things sometimes escalate into violence...The protesters need to do something to get the attention of the media again..to get back into the limelight....

It will be interesting to see what is to come for this movement in 2012.  A lot of the protesters felt very strongly about the movement...They were dedicated to the cause.......Here in New Brunswick, things were done peacefully...  We were lucky enough not to see anything turn violent, as compared to what happened in other countries....

Okay...Yes I am a slacker...

I have been slacking in the picture department a bit.....Sorry to disappoint some of you...I don't have a new photo for today, and I didn't post yesterday either...I hope that doesn't mean that I have completely failed in my resolution for 2012.  I appreciate all of the feedback I've received so far....Hopefully I haven't bored everyone to tears...

For tonight, I've decided to post something I had saved on my computer from just before Christmas....Yes, yes...I know I post a lot about my family...and I have already mentioned that my son is quite the performer.  Perhaps this might be his big audition?  Many kids have been discovered from posts on YouTube...maybe someone will find him here on my blog?  Wishful thinking.....LOL

So here we go.....Welcome......to the show....

Now I don't know if he can "Move Like Jagger?  or not.  I kind of think he was doing more of a "Saturday Night Fever" near the end......Perhaps there will be a remake someday.....I can just see it now, his name in lights...Fans calling his name....The crowds cheering......Then he'll receive his Oscar ...and on stage, with tears in his eyes, he'll say.."I'd like to thank my mom, dad and big sister who encouraged and supported me since my childhood."     

Please excuse me, I may have gone off on a tangent there...But hey...I'm a proud mom, even if my son loves to wiggle his hips...I'll be proud of him in whatever he ends up doing....There's money to be made somewhere...even if he ends up on stage with the ladies throwing twenty dollar bills at his feet.....  ;)  LOL

He's only 4 years old.....and from what I've seen him do already...(this video only scrapes the surface) , my son will be some type of performer when he's older....Whether it be playing the drums, guitar or shaking his booty..he already has the perfect personality for it...

Just so you don't think I'm leaving my daughter out...She has her future all planned out as well, and she wants to work with animals....She is less of a risk taker..but still loves to ride the roller coaster at Crystal Palace...And she just loves to sit behind the camera and encourage her brother along.

I promise to have more pics for tomorrow's blog...  :)

Odds and Ends...A couple of Downtown pics to share

For those of you who might be reading my blog and have never been to Moncton, here are a couple of pics from our downtown....

This is Assomption Place, probably the tallest building in our city.

This is the back of the Moncton Courthouse

Just a few facts about the City of Moncton....Greater Moncton has a population of about 138, 000 people, and is one of the top ten fastest growing metropolitan areas in Canada.   Moncton is home the the Moncton Wildcats(hockey), and the Moncton Miracles(basketball), amongst others.   We have seen two CFL game played here, and have hosted several big name concerts, including AC/DC and U2....We are the home to an award winning Zoo, and also Casino New Brunswick.

It is a wonderful place to live and visit!