Tag Archives: Education

The Book Of Thank You ~ Post Six: Thank You Wicked Witch Of The West

30 Saturday Jul 2016

Posted by in Books, Education, Entertainment, Uncategorized

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The first time that I ever felt real fear in my life was when I was four years old. I was watching the movie THE WIZARD OF OZ based on the book by L. Frank Baum. Everything was good until the part of the movie when the Wicked Witch of the West started throwing fireballs at everybody.

First lesson learned from the Wicked Witch of the West:

Don’t play with fire.

I ran into my parents bedroom and stayed there until I knew all was well again in the land of Oz, which was only about five minutes or so.

Second lesson learned from the Wicked Witch of the West:

Fear is only temporary.

Then there was the scene where the Witch has Dorothy locked in her castle. The Witch then shows Dorothy an hourglass and threatens her by saying that when all the sand has run dry, her life will be over.

Third lesson learned from the Wicked Witch of the West:

Time is precious.

Now fast forward to the scene in the movie where Dorothy has just thrown water onto the Witch and she is dissipating into nothingness leaving only her pointy black hat and clothes.

Fourth lesson learned from the Wicked Witch of the West:

If you treat people badly, you will suffer the consequences.

When I learned that Gregory Maguire had written the book WICKED, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST, I immediately purchased a copy.

As I read the forward, the author wrote that he wanted the book to be a study on the nature of good and evil. He invited us to ask ourselves as we read the book: By what criteria do we distinguish a good person from a bad one?

Then I went on to read all about the Wicked Witch of the West’s life and realized that I had badly misjudged her.

What had been perceived as an evil hag was in truth a very misunderstood soul.

Now, whenever I watch the movie WIZARD OF OZ it’s a totally different experience.

Fifth lesson learned from the Wicked Witch of the West:

Be careful when judging people without knowing all the facts.

Thank you Wicked Witch of the West for all the lessons. In return, you can count on me to always come to your defence.

I’ve got your back, my pretty…

 

 

❤

My.Daily.Distraction ~ Post 114: Strawberry Shortcake Blues

13 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by in Children, Entertainment, Humour, Life, Toys

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Being a young girl who loved to play with Barbies, I learned that keeping them looking neat and getting their hair properly coiffed was an ongoing challenge.

Similarly, my daughter had a Strawberry Shortcake doll with Barbie doll attributes. This Strawberry Shortcake doll was made of the same materials, had bright red hair and moveable limbs.

So, imagine my pleasant surprise when after months of play, my daughter’s Strawberry Shortcake doll’s hair was still store bought perfect.

Her tresses always remained in place and never needed combing.

Her hair even smelled like strawberries.

Then came the fateful evening when I had to attend a meeting and left my daughter and her Strawberry Shortcake Doll in the care of her father.

When I arrived home my daughter was asleep for the night.

Imagine my horror when I walked into the bathroom to find Strawberry Shortcake in the bathroom sink. Picking it up, I saw that her once perfect hair was standing straight up as if she had received the fright of a lifetime.

Through her painted on smile, I could sense her silent scream.

As hard as I tried to smooth her battered tresses, there was no calming them down.

I found my husband in the living room.

“What happened?” I asked my husband showing him the doll.

He gave me an glum look.

“That happened during potty time,” he replied.

“She accidentally dropped it,” he said with a wince.

“And…” I asked.

“You figure it out.”

The answer was now obvious.

I immediately gave the poor doll a thorough washing and shampooed her hair twice.

Needless to say, by this point, the scent of strawberries was long gone.

After combing out her squeaky clean hair I tied a wide ribbon around the doll’s head hoping through the night that her hair would dry back into place.

The next morning, I was met with unsuccessful results.

Not only was the hair a wiry mess, but she had lost her new toy sheen. Her legs and arms were difficult to move.

Nevertheless, my daughter still loved her and included her in her daily activities. It was very heartwarming to see that my daughter still played with Strawberry Shortcake like nothing had happened.

And to this day, she still fondly remembers her Strawberry Shortcake doll, imperfect hair, dull complexion, sticky joints and all.

This has been a wonderful object lesson for me.

As a her mother I am now content in the knowledge that when I get old, chances are very good that like her Strawberry Shortcake doll, my daughter will still love me and want to include me in all her daily activities…

…Even though by then, my hair will be a wiry mess,

…And my arms and legs won’t work so well,

…And I no longer smell like strawberries.

Post 77: The Internet ~ Right Or Privilege?

06 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Business, child welfare, Education, internet, justice, Philanthropy

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When it comes to news both local and around the world there is always some contentious issue which everybody wants to weigh into. These issues serve both as political kindle and fuel to spark necessary and healthy social debates.

On the drive home from work one morning I tuned into a debate on CBC Radio.

The debate stemmed from the following question:

Is the Internet a right or a privilege?

This question arose in a Toronto school district when a mother of a young student stated that her child was at a disadvantage because she could not afford the Internet access required for her child’s studies. Other students who’s families were able to afford the Internet were able to excel with the information highway right at their fingertips.

Not long after, I asked my husband the same question:

Is the Internet a right or a privilege?

“Neither,” he replied without even thinking.

“It’s a business.”

Where I was looking for an answer, I only found door number three, and not one step closer to an answer.

Further, on this mornings news came the decision from a local school board that when schools are forced to shut down because of snow days, the schools will forward extra homework via e-mail to students to help make up for lost time.

Now the parameters have changed, and it is not in favour of those on a budget that does not allow Internet access at home.

Are schools making Internet access mandatory?

Do they have the social right to do so?

Really?

In the absence of an immediate answer, let’s try to work the problem.

Yes, the Internet is a business.

And so is philanthropy, as a matter of fact.

I believe that some time in the future Internet access will be available to everyone…

But certainly not now.

If there is a student who needs the Internet I’d like to believe that there are ways and means available. It’s just a matter of teamwork between families, schools, and well meaning sponsors who can put personal savings and profit on the back burner in favour of goodwill.

Personally, I’d like to think of myself as being part of the answer and not part of the problem.

A business has countless places to turn a buck, but a family struggling to keep their children’s education on a level playing field not so much.

And so…

How about you?

What is your answer.

At the very least, if you weren’t aware of this issue before, you are now.

So, the next time you are presented with this question and others like it, hopefully you will have had time to think about it and have come up with your answer.

Make sure it’s a good answer.

Make sure it’s the right answer.

Post 76: Flying Whales Class 101 – My Vivid Imagination:

05 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by in biology, Doctor Who, Science, Science Fiction, SciFi, space travel, Stories, Writing

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All my life, I have prided myself on a better than average imagination.

Even my elementary school report cards were filled with comments from my teachers pointing out to my parents that:

“Doris has a very vivid imagination.”

However, unfortunately my vivid imagination has now been compromised, thanks to writer Stephen Moffat the brains behind the now successful Doctor Who and Sherlock BBC television series.

My undoing is thanks to his season five Doctor Who episode called…

“The Beast Below.”

My tale of woe begins about fifteen years ago, working the midnight shift at the post office.

A had a good friend that I worked with who shared my interest in science fiction. He also knew that I had a penchant for writing.

“I want you to write me a story…”

…he said to me one night during lunch break.

“What kind of story?”

…I asked him.

“I want it to be about a whale that flies in space, and I want you to call him Fuzzy.”

I was gob smacked to say the least.

However, in the interests of friendship and good conversation, I decided to give it a try.

For weeks, and then months, that is all he wanted to talk about. In fact, he was so keen on the idea that almost every day he would come up with a new idea or nuance to add to the story.

While listening to him explain his ideas, I brainstormed till my head hurt but unfortunately, it was all for naught.

I could not picture it.

My vivid imagination was failing me.

Eventually, I had to give him the bad news that I was unable to move forward with his story about Fuzzy, the space whale.

It just did I not seem plausible to me.

Now… Fast forward to about five years ago.

I was watching the Doctor Who episode from season five, which was Matt Smith’s first season as the eleventh Doctor. It was the second episode after he whisks Amelia Pond away the night before her wedding.

The episode was called… “The Beast Below.”

The episode revolves around a mystery about a spaceship that can travel through space with no propulsion engine.

Finally, come the closing scenes where the mystery is finally solved and the hero is made known. And the hero is…

Yes…

A flying whale.

Kudos to you Stephen Moffat, he who has put my vibrant vivid imagination to shame.

You’re imagination is apparently so much more vivid than mine.

But after all, you are the brainstorm to Doctor Who AND the Sherlock series.

Now looking back, I’m glad that it was you that outsmarted me and no one else.

And so, for now the game board stands at:

Doris’s Vivid Imagination: 0 Stephen Moffat’s Flying Whale: 1

But don’t get too confident dear Stephen.

In the words of one of my favourite overlooked heroes:

“I’ll get you next time my pretty….”

Post 73: A Knitting Lesson

02 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by in Crafts, Education, Knitting

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In my view, a brand new ball of sweetly coloured wool is a wonderful thing.

It holds so many possibilities.

Once I am introduced to a fresh hank of yarn, it’s important that I carefully consider what it wants to be.

A shawl?
Scarf?
Cowl?
Mitts?
Hat?

All the above are carefully considered and weighed.

There are times when I make a decision, only to have the yarn correct me shortly after the work has begun.

How is this done?

Usually in the form of a knitting error, where I have no choice but to start all over again.

Take for example my latest knitting project.

The fine and light merino yarn hand-painted with aqua tones and black marbling was first destined to become a simple triangle shawl with a picot edging.

I cannot tell you how many times I had to start over because I miscounted or was unhappy with the way the stitches were falling.

In the end, out of frustration, I abandoned the idea of a shawl in favour of a slouch hat.

Interestingly enough, a day later and the hat is now nearly half done with zero mistakes or misdemeanours.

How do I explain this?

I can’t.

I just accept it and move forward.

An object lesson, well learned.

If only more of life’s daily lessons were so easy to learn from.

My.Daily.Diversion Post 4: My Colourful 1st Life Lesson

04 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Childhood, Children, Education, Society

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My first memories of colours, candy, and candy colours were the lollipops that were dispensed by my doctor after every visit.

I was a very young four years old when my doctor would always ask after each visit:

“And what colour of lollipop would you like?”

I was so young at that time I had not yet learned about colours and their different names.

Getting no answer, the doctor then assuming that I had no preference always went to the default colour…

…green.

Obviously, everyone went for the red and the purple ones.

Hence, there was always an over abundance of green lollipops in his lollipop bowl.

Little did he know that I didn’t care for green lollipops.

I had absolutely had my fill of them.

All I ever got was green lollipops.

And finally one day at nursery school I finally began to understand what the word “colour” was all about.

I even learned the name of a color and save this epiphany for my next trip to the doctor.

At long last game the day when once again took me for a visit to the doctor.

I eagerly waited for the moment he would ask me what color of lollipop I would like to have.

When he finally held the bowl out to me he asked what color lollipop I would like,

I looked into his eyes and said…

“Green.”

It’s hard to describe how utterly heartbroken I was when I was handed yet another green lollipop.

“And what do you say for the lollipop?”

Mother asked me as I took the ugly green lollipop from the doctor…

“Thank you,” I said trying to muster a smile.

1st life lesson learned by me in 1963 as my Mother drove me home while I enjoyed my green lollipop:

What’s the big deal about adults and colour?

… Because even green lollipops can taste wonderful.

My.Daily.Diversion Post 2: A Lesson A Day

02 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Education, Learning, Writing

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In high school, I belonged to a band. The musical instrument I chose to play was the oboe.

Why the oboe?

I chose it because my father and I had once discussed the oboe.

I had asked him what it was, and he kindly tried to imitate it for me.

He rendered such a humorous melody that we both laughed when his concertina for one had ended.

It still remains a very pleasant memory for me.

And so, I chose the oboe.

An oboe is a single reed instrument.

If you are curious about how it sounds, try to imagine the instrument that a snake charmer would play.

And that is how an oboe sounds.

I’ll never forget the time during band practice when my music teacher, Mr Ingles told us, that if we truly have a passion for something, we should strive to learn something new about it each day.

Of course, this could apply to anything:

Music,
Knitting,
Writing,
Loved ones,
Life…

His advice has stayed with me and I have done my best to adhere to it.

Of course, some days are better than others.

Most daily lessons are relevant, others not so much.

The lesson does not have to be life altering, but rather mindfully noted and mused upon and be grateful for until the next lesson comes along.

Yes, I think it’s safe for me to say, that on most of the days of my life, I have acquired something new for me to ponder and peruse.

Whether I was able to remember the daily lesson or not is of course an entirely different matter.

Destination Rome… Post 3: Preparing For The Journey

05 Tuesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Knitting, Travel

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My Grandmother had a saying which I grew very fond of.

It went:

“Vor freude ist die beste freude!”

Which is German, and translates into:

“Happy anticipation is the best form of joy.”

Like vacations for example. We count the months, weeks, days before an eagerly awaited journey.

Well, while you’re waiting why not put the time to good use?

During the months before our first highly anticipated trip to Italy my husband and I made many, many trips to the local bookstore.

I was interested in books on learning the Italian language, while Frank was on a quest to find the very best city maps of Rome.

I purchased many books and dictionaries on learning Italian, and even downloaded some lessons to listen to while driving or at work.

As for my husband, one would wonder how many maps do you need when in Rome? After all it has been said that “All roads lead to Rome.”

However he was the official navigator on our journey so I let him revel in all the maps he wanted.

After all this time, his most favorite map is a foldable street map of Rome made of very thin plastic. You could hardly tell it wasn’t paper, but it was so much more durable. This map refused to crumple or tear, stain or get soggy.

It stayed in such good shape that we even loaned it to our friends for their trip to Rome. After three trips abroad it returned home pristine, crisp, without a mark, ready to go again and still as good as new.

Wish I could say the same about me!

Photo above is the latest in carry on luggage for all your knitting needs. Portable, light, and decorated with an Evil Dalek from the epic BBC television series, Doctor Who.

Easily travels to help you take your extreme knitting everywhere you go… Even the Pantheon!