When I first started talking about this inspired and inspiring effort to make the world a better place, we were sneaking up on 2 billion grains... that was on November 14th. We're now standing on the verge of 4 BILLION! I can't tell you how truly pleased I am at the phenomenal numbers we're getting on this. Thank you to every single reader who has donated even the most minute amount... every grain counts.
Secondly, I want to say a special thank you to Roger...
He gave me one of his balls! He even wrote my name on it...
And so, I thought it would be a good time to award a prize.
To the most voracious (and delicious) of the Free Rice devotees...
Thanks darlin'!
Did I mention our special visitor?
Love you all more than my luggage! Hugs, smooches and gropes!
And this is what popped into my head before reading the definitions. (You mean besides the smell coming from the back of the basement closet? You know, the one you haven't gone through yet cause you're playing word games?) I'm gonna put you in the basement closet... (HA! No room, good luck!)
Hold on... wait a minute. (You were about to tell them what you instantly thought of... focus woman!)
I know!
I know why I felt compelled to do this! (Oh good grief... here she goes...)
Don't tell me to get on with it I've just had an epiphany! A EUREKA moment! The proverbial lightbulb -a lovely blinking Christmas one at that- just came on! A revelation! Hark-the-Herald-angels-can-you-hear-the-trumpets-a-light-shines-down-on-me-from-the-parting-clouds moment... get the picture? SEE!! Moi, on a nature walk, clouds part, angels, ray of light TADAH!
(I'm sure they do. Now, get on with it already! Before "Dear Reader" clicks the "NEXT BLOG" button.)
(Hey! There's no snow in that picture! That can't be ...)
SHUT UP!
It's because of Free Rice -see how I worked that in there!?(Matt-man is right.. you're like a crack pusher... of course Jeff was nicer about it.. we like Jeff, he's nice)Hey voice.. who's rambling now?(harumpffffffffff!)
I know, you figure this is the confirmation that I'm certifiable, that I'm off my rocker, that I'm losing my mind... (They figured this out now? gee how perspicacious!)
Great... just great! The "voices" from The Couch got past security and snuck in the luggage compartment.. I can hear them like squirrels frolicking in the Christmas tree... oh crap in a hat!(Turnbaby says that.. not Mister "watch-me-cook-gravy-in-my-kitchen-in-my-socks". Now get on with it...)Maybe, but the "harumpfffff" gave you away, don't think I didn't notice.
You see, playing the Free Rice word game had me seeking out other variants of word games, and Mo's Manic Monday fits!
Ok.. I'M ready now...(finally...)but you have to remember to go play and feed the world!(you really are indefatigable, pertinacious, tenacious and persistent aren't you!)I'll make PROSELYTES(converts...) out of you before long. Even the smartass in my head benefits from the Free Rice word game it seems.
Where was I? (I'm not keeping track anymore - that "NEXT BLOG" button looks appealing and inviting.) Oh yes, RANK! As I was saying, this is the first thing that popped into my head when I read Mo's selection:
Rank(noun): a row, line, or series of things or persons: orchestra players arranged in ranks.
(That's it? sheesh!)
Enjoy visiting other Manic Monday participants!
Love you all more than my luggage! Hugs, smooches and gropes!
We've got a very important visitor coming to visit us this week and The Chicklet and I are jazzed... so we're off to do some cleaning and run a few errands. But as every day is important, every moment counts and every grain is as precious as the rarest gem or the sweetest kiss...
So, we ask that you remember to play and Feed The World...
Love you all more than my luggage! Hugs, smooches and gropes!
You might think by the title of this post that someone spiked my tea as I was trimming the tree with chestnuts roasting on an open fire and a squirrel ran in and tried to get them and it all got me in trouble... That would be an excellent supposition... but no.
You see, apparently I’ve been tagged by Mimi Queen of memes, and in the spirit of positive foreign relations I decided to break down and do the deed… because apparently she’s been hearing this a lot lately and she’s in no mood to be trifled with (like THAT would stop MOI!).
This meme comes from The Blue Tea person (hello, pleasure to meet you, I hear from Queen Mimi you are quite nice)…
Mimi was tagged by Lee and according to Mimi we should all go and say hello to the brave chap… Hello Lee, how’s the moat?
Rules: Devise a list of 5-10 courses you would take to fix your life. It's more fun to be in classes with friends, so include one class from the person who tagged you that you'd also like to take. Tag five.
Here goes... my personal improvement plan.
1. Squirrel training – Master class:
It’s always been my ambition to get a squirrel act together and cross over into Ohio to serenade Matt-man with a band of happy and clever squirrels in an effort to cure him of his unreasonable hatred of the bushy-tailed creatures. We’d pile in the Jeep and take a drive (I think I saw Travis and Songbird in there…)
We might want to stay away from Neil Diamond songs though… seriously.
So far, I’ve had success with Chipmunks, so I’m encouraged.
2. Hydroponics for beginners:
I believe it might assist me in growing rice so I can keep feeding the world. Although… playing this game not only enhances one’s vocabulary, it too feeds the world (did you think I was going to put up a post without Free Rice in it? HA!) and I actually wouldn’t need to flood my basement to build a rice paddy. I might look cute in the hat though... don’t you think?
Speaking of hats…
3. Knitting 101:
being Canadian and already having had to scrape the car windshield off because of snow and ice, I’m letting “practical Anndi” choose this one… plus combined with my wicked Be-Dazzler skillz I could make some stunning outfits for the squirrels. Presentation is everything.
Plus, it’ll come in handy for …
4. Holiday decorating – Christmas semester:
As I patiently wait for Queen Mimi to authorize tree trimming, I thought I’d take a class. You can never know enough about de-squirreling the tree… maybe Matt-man would like to join me in this one.
5. Downhill skiing:
As I’ve already stated, I’m Canadian. You’d think I could do this… but no. I used to, but I sprained my ankle a couple of times and it feels like I’ve lost the strength needed to avoid crash-landing up a tree staring at a squirrel's nuts.
Maybe I'll stick to sledding...
6. Foreign Affairs 303:
I’ll join Mimi the Queen in this one… you see, although I have some skills when it comes to entertaining peaceful foreign relations I still have a long way to go. I mean, I’m doing the meme so as not to cause a rift between Bloggingham Palace and Canada, but I still posted too many versions of this:
Oh.. I forgot one more class:
7. 1001 ways to escape dungeons and moats…
You asked for it Mimi... Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
As I was looking at a few videos (it was for research purposes)... I found this:
As it's still Thanksgiving weekend, I thought it was appropriate (plus it made me giggle and it's all about me).
Take a few minutes and donate (yes, I'm still going on about this) a few bowls of rice as you might be enjoying some Turkey chili (gotta do something with all the leftovers) and I'm sure some of my friends are watching football (Tennessee is giving U of K a run for it's money, but it's a tight game right now... and Kentucky is bringing up the rear *snarf*) .
Love you all more than my luggage! Hugs, smooches and gropes!
YUP.. I'm still going to pester you with this because I enjoy it, it's for a good cause and the word luggage is one of the definitions in the game (I like to think they threw that in just for MOI).
I get up early (for some reason I can't sleep a solid 8 hours no matter how hard I try or how early I go to bed.. take the dogs out for.. (well, you know), and head off to the computer with my morning cup of Java (vanilla flavoured) to play a few rounds of...
The left-overs from the Thanksgiving feasts are safely tucked in the fridge (which was probably raided in the wee hours for a touch of the sleep inducing turkey or a piece of pumpkin pie by Uncle Bob), families and friends are spending time laughing (some people like Matt-man are singing - too funny dude!) and enjoying the long weekend. As many of my American friends head out to shop til they drop on Black Friday (the apparent official start to the gift buying Christmas frenzy), I hope you take the time to donate a few bowls of rice.
Feed your mind - Feed The World!
Enjoy your Christmas shopping..
Have fun putting up the lights.. (and be safe!)
Love you all more than my luggage! Hugs, smooches and gropes!
How cool are you guys! I'm extremely thankful for all the support people have given this... let's keep it going! Learn a few new words, feed your mind and feed the world!
Love you all more than my luggage! Hugs, smooches and gropes!
As I type this the numbers for yesterday are not available yet...
But we stand at 2,840,667,010!!!
Just a few days ago we stood on the brink of2 BILLION
Did y'all happen to notice that LUGGAGE was a part of the definitions?
hehehe!
For my American friends readying for Thanksgiving, take a few minutes (in 3 minutes I donated 520 grains) and share the bounty with the most unfortunate of our earthly brothers and sisters.
Many American mothers and grandmothers are getting the last minute foodstuffs for tomorrow's feast... while some mothers cry every night as they must chose which of their children will eat the next day... as they wonder if their children will all still be alive tomorrow.
Travel safe as you make your way home or to be with friends... Have a Happy Peaceful Thanksgiving folks!
Love you all more than my luggage! Hugs, smooches and gropes!
To the dear wonderful people who have joined in with The Chicklet and I in our efforts to Feed the World... (scroll down and find out what I'm going on about...) My everlasting thanks!
The Chicklet donated 600 grains of rice yesterday and is extremely proud of herself! Not bad for a French Chick!
Update on the totals:
On 15 November 2007, 201,226,610 grains of rice were donated!
My dear friend Vince decided to give me some bling… I wasn’t quite sure why, but I was flattered nonetheless. I mean, I’m a bad blogger.. I don’t keep my blog updated (like most airlines I lack sufficient staff to keep my flights running, staffed and on time – and don’t even get me started on the maintenance crew) and I don’t visit the lovely bloggers I’ve come to care about and appreciate who apparently are collecting miles and frequent flyer points anywhere nearly enough. I say it's because they like the in-flight movies (who said I'm a video monster?).
So he gave me one of those groovy globe-like things... the kind you shake and the snow falls… He got it from Mimi who got it from Santa himself (seriously, how cool is THAT!)
Isn't it pretty?
And I know all about snow! And zambonis... and snow angels... Okay sorry, I got distracted by the sparkly snow...
So… as Santa himself has said:
This award is for those who talk about and show the spirit of Christmas in their blogs.
What is the Spirit of Christmas you ask (believe me I wanted to ask)?
Quite simply it is those that have a generous and giving nature. Those who care about others. Those who have a kind word to say or a broad shoulder to lean on in the times that others need that. Those who display the "Spirit of Christmas".
I thought... me?
Christmas eh? Giving eh?
MOI? (That's French for me...)
So, I thought I would share something with you all… something wonderful that truly does exemplify giving back and making a difference in someone’s life.
Please click on this button (but wait til you finish reading okay?) ...
All it requires is that you take a quiz. Answer as many as you can correctly (I’m sure Santa will not frown on me for saying this: cheat for a good cause and use your dictionary when you get stumped along the way - really they won't mind!).. Visit as often as you like... sheesh, you'll even learn new words!
What am I babbling about?
Babble: intransitive verb 1 a: to talk enthusiastically or excessively b: to utter meaningless or unintelligible sounds 2: to make sounds as though babbling transitive verb 1: to utter in an incoherently or meaninglessly repetitious manner 2: to reveal by talk that is too free
You see, this link is about a truly outstanding project. It started on October 7th 2007. The basic premise is: for every answer you get right, sponsor companies will donate 10 grains of rice to feed the hungry through the United Nations World Food Programme. In just over a month, people who have played the trivia (yes Turnbaby.. trivia!) have managed to earn 1,712,371,750 grains of rice. Imagine that!
UPDATE posted on the 15th of November: the total now stands at 1,897,053,670... just short of 2 BILLION folks...
If that doesn't make you jolly, you're in need of an intervention, or at the very least a hug because it must be lonely for you living in a cave with a lump of coal for a heart.
So go on, click and answer and do your part cause Vince is never going to make enough lasagna to feed the world...
Why bother?
Cynic: A faultfinding captious critic; especially : one who believes that human conduct is motivated wholly by self-interest.
Well...
Apparently Vince promised tissues...
If you are one of my frequent flyers, you won't be surprised there are videos on this post. And since this is a part of my youth...
Go on folks.... Feed the World!
Oh.. come back and tell me how you did. It takes 100 grains of rice (10 correct answers) to fill one bowl and feed one person. So far, I've fed 25 people. And it's addictive. Go on... try it! UPDATE posted on November 15th: if we hit the 2 BILLION.. we (yes WE!) will provide 20 MILLION bowls of rice... it's a good start don't you think? If we get that much done in less than 40 days, IMAGINE the possibilities! Oh, and feel free to add it to your sidebar (very nice Vince, thanks!)
So... who do I give this award to?
My Soulsister Sue.. who exemplifies giving and providing a shoulder to lean on. Love you sweetie! Get your present here (just grab the code)
I love you all more than my luggage! Hugs, smooches and gropes!
On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month... please observe two minutes of silence.
Remembrance Day - Armistice Day - Veterans Day
A time of sadness for the sacrifice was and continues to be great, but it is also a celebration of Life and Peace.
This is what I’ve managed to find regarding my father’s time in our Nation’s Armed Forces.
My father enlisted in the Canadian Active Army (category A) on May 4th 1942, just a few days shy of his 22nd birthday, much to the chagrin of my grandmother who worried about her youngest child (my father’s twin Johnny was born first). He was assigned to General Service in Huntingdon until August 1943. In August of 1943 he was drafted to the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps at Valleyfield Camp. The following month, as he underwent his Overseas Draft medical, it was found he had a medical condition that prevented him from being shipped off at that time. He was taken off draft and was finally posted RTU in October (returned to unit – soldier returning to unit following illness, wounds, leave or training). He ended up in Camp Borden (CFB Borden is the birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force), undergoing General Training until mid-December when he was allocated to the Canadian Armoured Corps CABTC No. 26 (now, from what I understand this is the 26th Army Tank Regiment aka Grey and Simcoe Foresters – but I could be wrong) in Orillia as a trained private (or trooper). As he had completed his basic training, he along with a few others was then drafted back to Camp Borden in January of 1944 to No 3 CACTR (Canadian Armoured Corps Training Regiment?) for training with that unit. As I’m sure was the case with many soldiers back then, in his short military career my father was shipped around quite a bit from one base to another. Unfortunately, he spent quite a few months in hospital (various ones at that) with what was thought to be pneumonia but ended up being pleurisy with effusion. It was presumed at some time that he had tuberculosis but tests weren’t conclusive.
He was finally discharged in September 1944. And the War waged on….
My father developped a close bond with our neighbour who passed away a few years ago, he became my father's best friend... his name was Walter. Walter served in the war... this is for him and all the veterans who have come home changed.
Please wear red on Fridays and show support for our troops. Thank a soldier. Wear a poppy.
For the mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, and children ... Thank you.
I posted this list last year, and thought appropriate to do so again.
I cry…
For the men and women who died, fighting for our Nation, for my freedom and the freedom of others… For the mothers and fathers who have lost their sons and daughters in the fight for Peace… For the men and women who have lost their soulmate… For the children, those who are left behind… and those who shall never come to be… For the friends who are left with only memories… For those who have no PEACE… For those who forget what makes the sacrifice so meaningful... For those who miss so many important moments of everyday life because they are fighting for justice... the first step, the first tooth, the first goal, the first school play… For my country, for we have lost so many fine Canadians… For those who died alone... and for those who are buried so far from home... For those who confuse their opinions on war and the respect and appreciation owed for the sacrifice of our soldiers... For those who have lost their brothers and sisters in arms and parts of themselves... For those who will not take the time to remember…
All I ask is for a few minutes of your time. Please take a moment... On the 11th hour Of the 11th day Of the 11th month It's a Pittance of Time. Remember those who died, in war and peacekeeping efforts... They serve for you.
Remember the fallen... honour their memory and sacrifice.
Respect the veteran... your freedom was his or her gift to you.
Thank and support our troops... Godspeed!
Semper Fi Matt!
Thank you Dad... Alice and I love you more than anything else.
and pride
He gave me one of his balls! He even wrote my name on it...
