• Aboot:

Epiphabets

~ My.Daily.Distraction

Epiphabets

Tag Archives: Writing

The Book Of Thank You ~ Post 7: The Canadian National Exhibition

01 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by duckykoren in Childhood, Education, Entertainment, Family Stories, Father, Grandmothers, Ice Cream, relationships, Rock And Roll, Thanks, Toronto, Tourism, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Children, Family, ferris wheel, grandfathers, Grandmothers, grief, midway, Music, Platters, Stories, Toronto, Travel, Writing

 

The month of August always brings thoughts of a family tradition started by my Father in 1966.

That is when we would make our annual visit to the Canadian National Exhibition, or more commonly known to the people of Toronto as the C.N.E.

On the last day of school in late June, every child would be given a free children’s pass to this annual event.

Father was never one to let something free pass him by.

Set in the middle of downtown Toronto and bordering on Lake Ontario, the C.N.E. covers 192 acres of ground filled with a stadium, bandshell, coliseum, midway, fountains, picnic areas and much more.

Using Toronto’s public transportation, Father and I always went on the first Saturday after the grand opening. This usually coincided with the annual grand Scottish Tattoo parades where the sounds of bagpipes could be heard at every turn.

My Father didn’t care for bagpipes, and I remember how he would cover his ears and whisk me off to a quieter venue, a building perhaps, one of the many which would showcase countries from around the world, cars, or home shows.

The food building was a grand concourse featuring kiosks of cuisine from all over the world. I was partial to the corn dogs, while Father always contented himself with a cardboard bowl of spaghetti which cost only twenty-five cents.

Throughout the course of the day we collected free magazines, brochures, samples and souvenirs. By the time we left at the end of the day we would usually have three full bags of treasure to take home. I carried one while Father carried two.

I was allowed to purchase one souvenir of choice which was usually a punching ball, or an invisible dog leash.

The last time that I went to the C.N.E. with my Father was in the early 1990’s.

We brought my two young daughters to share the experience with us.

What I remember the most about that day was when we went to the bandshell where their was a rock and roll revival being held hosted by Bowser from the group SHA-NA-NA. We found a patch of grass to stand and watch. While the Platters were on stage singing their hit UNDER THE BOARDWALK, my daughters and I twirled and danced to the music.

Those were very happy moments.

In 1969, while my Father was away on business, my Grandparents took me for my annual pilgrimage to the C.N.E.

All these years later, it’s hard for me to decide which memories of that day are dearest to me.

Is it the memories of going on the Ferris wheel with my Grandmother?

She handled my rocking the carriage very well. I could be a handful at times.

Shortly after that, as I took another turn on the Ferris wheel alone, she won me an orange stuffed teddy bear. To this day, I think she paid off the carnie just so that she could see the joy on my face as she presented me with a new toy. I named the bear Godfrey.

We were very fortunate that day as our visit to the C.N.E. coincided with the visit of Canada’s current Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who was there for a cinematic premiere at the Queen Elizabeth building.

My Grandmother and I stood less than ten feet from him as he stood for photographs and welcoming speeches.

At one point, he turned his head left, looked at me and smiled. I smiled back.

Now, my Grandmother has always been of the opinion that the Prime Minister was smiling at her and not me.

Indeed, every time that we found ourselves together in the following thirty-five years we would lovingly spar  with each other over this:

“Trudeau was laughing at me…” she’s say.

“No, he was laughing at me…” I’d respond.

Then we would end the discussion by laughing at ourselves.

One of the last times that I visited the C.N.E. Was in 2005, seven months after my Father had passed away. I brought my two daughters and a good friend.

We made new memories as we walked our way through trapeze artists, upside down rides, tall cups of lemonade, tall ships, log flumes, ice cream, all behind the beautiful backdrop of the Toronto skyline.

It was good to be reacquainted with one of my childhood joys and be able to set aside my lingering grief.

Thank you C.N.E. for those new memories.

May there be many more.

 

 

❤

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

30 Saturday Jul 2016

Posted by duckykoren in Books, Education, Entertainment, Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

blog, Books, Education, Entertainment, evil, fear, good, Movies, witch, wizard of oz, Writing

 

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 193: ***Woo-Hoo***

30 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by duckykoren in Appliances, Clothes, Home, Laundry, Mental Health

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

blogs, Clothes, Laundry, Washing Macine, Writing

Yesterday was “New Washing Machine Day” at our house.

Our three year old washing machine broke down ten days ago.

My husband figured that the problem was the wiring for the lid lock .

A visit to our local appliance centre was in order. He ordered the replacement wiring which cost $100.00. We were told it should arrive in a week. They had none in stock because this was a common problem, and this part virtually flew off the shelves.

A week later after the new wiring arrived Frank installed it.

No luck.

I was not surprised.

To be honest, I never much liked that washing machine anyway.

Three years ago, I was compelled to get the new HE energy efficient model.

There was no agitator.

The instruction manual explained that I was to distribute the clothes evenly around the outside of the drum and leave the centre of the machine free of laundry so that the machine would “swirl” my clothes clean.

Like I haven’t heard that one before…

From the first day I brought it home I knew there would be trouble.

It began with the lid lock.

Once I pressed the start button after making my selections on the washing machine panel, the lid lock slammed into place with a huge metallic clang as it immediately placed the laundry into lockdown mode.

My washing machine literally locked me out as it went through all of it’s cycles.

There was no way I could get back into that machine without a fight.

For example, if I happen to find a sock that had dropped and I wanted to include it with the load, I would try to open the lid.

“No dice,” my washing machine would reply.

“Please,” I would say.

My washing machine told me that they’d think about it.

“Check back with me in five minutes,” it said as it sat there…

…And did nothing!

After five minutes, the machine decided to disengage the lid lock.

After inserting the renegade sock, I would re-start the machine.

After the lid lock slammed into place, there would be a soft buzz.

I was told that this was sound of the sensor as it determined how much laundry was in the tub.

Why was it sensing for load level when I had clearly pushed the heavy load button?

And another soft buzz followed.

The machine was obviously in no hurry.

I was not amused.

At least five minutes passed before I could hear the sound of water running into the drum of the washing machine

It took approximately one hour for the machine to do the load, start to finish before I heard the buzzer announcing that the laundry was now complete.

However, it took another five whole minutes, during which the washing machine held my laundry hostage, before it finally disengaged the lid lock and finally released the clean clothes into my custody.

I felt no remorse whatsoever last weekend as my husband and I made the trip to our local appliance store and picked out a new washing machine.

It arrived today.

Imagine my joy as I commenced the initial load by closing the lid of this new washing machine with no clang of the lid lock being engaged.

What I did hear was the immediate sound of running water as it began it’s wash cycle.

There was no more five minute wait for the load sensor’s approval.

From this day forward, the only thing getting agitated would be the laundry…

…and not my nerves.

***Woo-Hoo***

My.Daily.Distraction ~ Post 186: Phoneless

10 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by duckykoren in Communication, Education, iphone, Self-help

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

blogs, CBC, communication, phone, podcast, twitter, withdrawal, work, Writing

Today, as I got to work, I realized that I had done something that I rarely ever do.

I forgot my cellphone at home.

Well, that is to say, that I think it’s at home, in fact, I’m fairly sure that it is.

I did not have the phone with me in the car. Home is the last place where I remember seeing it.

Usually, I put it in my right jacket pocket. Until tonight, I have always ritualistically patted this pocket before leaving for work to make sure that I had the phone on me.

But not tonight.

I doubt that it fell out of my jacket pocket, as my pockets are on the deep side. Further, I know it wasn’t in the car or in my purse because a glowing red light on my watch indicated that the phone is not within the maximum ten feet of distance required to enable the Bluetooth.

Now, don’t get me wrong…

I am not a big fan of the telephone. Originally, the only reason I agreed to carry one is because of my thirty-six kilometre trek into work. It was my genie in a bottle in case my car breaks down. In fact, I have never reached even half of my quota for my monthly phone minutes.

What I do use it for is dictating my blog posts. It’s much faster than typing. Also, while driving to work, I enjoy listening to CBC radio program ‘Ideas,’ which is broadcast weekday nights from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. I never get to hear the end of the programs because I have to report for my shift. Thanks to the podcasts, I can now listen to them in their entirety while I am sorting my mail at work.

Thankfully, I will not have to endure the usual “Where is my cell phone” angst as I believe it is waiting for me at home on top of the coffee table in my living room. This is where I enjoy my last few sips of tea before leaving for work.

So, tonight I am without my phone.

There will be no music or podcasts to listen to.

I won’t be able to take a picture should anything catch my eye.

No silly on-line gaming.

No checking my Twitter.

Last but not least, for the next eight hours, my family has no way to get hold of me.

Well, maybe that’s not so bad.

What I will miss Is the ability to be able to google random questions that tend to pop up from time to time…

Questions like:

Who was the original Ronald MacDonald?

In the television series ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ who were Rob and Laura Petrie’s neighbours?

What are the words to Billy Joel’s song ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’?

How old is Jimmy Carter?

When I first realized that I was without my cell phone, the first thought that occurred to me was that tonight’s eight hour shift at work was going to be an interesting experiment:

How long would I last before I started getting phone withdrawal.

Would I get the shakes? Fidgety? Find it hard to breathe?

Well, we will just have to see.

(Six hours later…)

After finishing my shift and having arrived back home, I am happy to report that none of the above ever happened.

In case you were wondering, I found the phone on the sofa underneath a throw cushion.

It’s a good feeling to know that I was able to detach myself from my cell phone for a change

It was kind of nice.

In fact, I even got some overdue blog writing done.

My.Daily Distraction ~ Post 177: “SouthPaw”

12 Tuesday May 2015

Posted by duckykoren in Behaviour, habits, Society

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

learned behaviour, School, Southpaw, Writing

image

I was in kindergarten when I first started printing the letters of the alphabet.

By grade one I could print sentences.

It was while I was doing my homework one evening that my Father noticed me holding the pencil in my left hand.

From that day forward, I was only allowed to hold a pencil in my right hand.

My Father explained that when he was a young boy in school, his teacher would separate the left handed students from the right handed students. Further, the left handed students were labelled as having poorer mental faculties.

There was no point in arguing. He was adamant that I write with my right hand.

My first attempts at writing with my right hand were awkward. With time however, I eventually got use to writing with my right hand.

However, every other activity, I continued to do with my left hand. This included throwing a ball, frisbee, even sewing.

When I grew into an adult, I finally felt comfortable enough to keep using my left arm even when my Father objected.

Then I wondered, what it was about my Father that made him so adamantly against me using my left hand.

The only answer I can come up with is ‘learned behaviour.’

He was taught to believe that it was unnatural for anyone to use their left hand.

I believe that racism, homophobia, and sexism is also learned behaviour.

So, as it happens I’ve been having a little problem with my left shoulder lately.

It’s getting harder and more painful to use, especially when I’m working.

And do you know what?

I think that this might be a good time for me to start using my right arm.

Maybe.

My.Daily.Distraction ~ Post 157: Random Words In The Night

28 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by duckykoren in Art, Entertainment, Media, Music, radio

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Art, England, Music, Poetry, Radio, Sting, Writing

While listening to CBC radio as I drove to work for my night shift earlier this week, I got some welcomed insight courtesy of one of my favourite music artists, Sting. He was discussing when he recorded his album TEN SUMMONER’s TALES which was recorded at his home The Lake House in Wiltshire England. The album was released in 1993.

Sting talked about the dynamics of his house, where the album was recorded. He also discussed his relationships to the people he was working with. All this contributed to the enormous success of the album.

It was then that he made the following point:

“You don’t finish anything, you abandon it at some point because you can carry on tinkering with it forever. I know when it’s time to abandon. If you suffer from perfection, you will never release anything. The end result is the tour, you put something out and it evolves. The actual recording is only a snapshot of a particular day or time.”

Listening to these words as I drove in the night I sensed a small shift in my thinking.

I could learn from these random words caught on the radio that night.

It’s a struggle to write on a daily basis. You want to do your best, but there comes a point when you must put the pencil down and let go of your work.

In my last year of high school, I wrote a small book of thirty poems over a period of about 6 months. Then on a daily basis I would go through each poem, word by word, adjusting this, changing that. It was a long and laborious process, a luxury which time no longer allows me.

Please consider this as today’s snapshot, as imperfect as it may be.

Hopefully, my writing will evolve.

Many thanks to CBC radio for their fine programming.

My.Daily.Distraction ~ Post 134: Spidey Sense

05 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by duckykoren in Science, Spiders, Writing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

blogs, fathers, Home, Spiders, Writing

When I was a little girl, my Father told me that if it weren’t for spiders we would be knee deep in bugs.

I’ve been very thankful for spiders ever since.

Growing up, I tried to teach myself not to be afraid of them.

It wasn’t easy.

I’ve come to the point where I no longer physically jump when I happen to catch sight of a spider.

However, finding one actually crawling on me is another matter entirely.

For obvious reasons, I refused too see the movie Arachnaphobia in favour of nurturing a more spider friendly environment.

I’ve also taught my daughters that we are a spider friendly home.

However, there was the odd time when I’ve had to listen to a heartfelt confession when one of girls would admit to me that she had to kill a spider because she was feeling physically threatened.

When Father found a spider in the house, he would not kill it, but rather evict it.

This was his process:

A clean and dry cup or jar was secured.

The cup or jar was then placed over the spider.

A flat piece of paper was then slid underneath the cup until it covered the entire top of the container.

Carefully, the container would be lifted while holding the paper in place thereby not allowing the spider to escape.

The container was carefully carried to the door where the spider was then released.

This also works well with bumble bees and ladybugs.

There…

Now you know how to successfully evict a spider from your house.

I hope that you will try to be kind to your spiders too…

Or perhaps one day, we will indeed be knee deep in bugs.

My.Daily.Distraction ~ Post 103: Grandmother’s Ice Cream Money

02 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by duckykoren in Food, God, Heaven, Ice Cream, Money, Stories

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Aunt, blogs, Cousins, Double Dip, God, Grandchildren, grandfathers, Grandmothers, Heaven, ice cream, Ice Cream Cone, love, money, Treats, True Story, Writing

I loved my Grandmother very much.

She knew instinctively what it took to make her grandchildren happy.

Ice cream was one of those ways.

When I was a little girl, she would quietly take aside, look around to see if anyone was watching, and then carefully slip some money into the palm of my hand. Then she would whisper to ensure that no one would hear…

“This is for ice cream…”

…Don’t tell your Grandfather.”

With an obeying nod, I solemnly gave her my promise.

I’m sure my cousins share these same memories…

Yes, we loved ice cream, but Grandmother loved ice cream even more.

My Aunt once shared with me that when Grandmother came to visit the family for several weeks, she always left a little rounder than when she first arrived. I have no doubt that this stemmed from sharing her love of ice cream with all of her grandchildren.

So, now that she is no longer with us and has been taken up to heaven, I cannot help but wonder if she is in any way able to get a double dip.

As Christians, we were always taught that “God will provide.” Some would say that God will provide us with our needs.

Well, I know for a fact that for my Grandmother ice cream was a necessity.

So, when I get to heaven, I fully expect her to immediately take me quietly aside.

Then, like before, she will carefully slip some money into the palm of my hand and whisper:

“This is for ice cream…

…Don’t tell God!”

My.Daily.Diversion ~ Post Ninety-Seven: A Journal Entry A Day Keeps The Blues Away

27 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by duckykoren in Writing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bible studies, daughters, desk, grandfathers, Journals, purpose, Writing

image

It seems that I have an ongoing affinity in regards to writing journals.

I cannot get enough of them.

Indeed, it would be a rare day when you did not see one with me at work, or on my coffee table at home.

I can only guess this writing romance began when I saw the joy and comfort that journaling gave my Grandfather.

No doubt, it gave him a sense of purpose.

Every day… twice a day, usually the same time we would see our Grandfather, a retired Baptist Minister and Missionary approach his large wooden desk. He would even dress for the occasion too.

It was understood by the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of the family that he was not to be disturbed. For at least the length of an hour he would sit by his desk content in his writing studies on the word of God.

And if you were to observe Opa studying at his desk you would get a definite sense that it was well with his soul as it was with the souls of his entire family.

How could I not want to aspire to this?

His journals now take up numerous bookcases throughout my house. Indeed, they are very precious to me.

My daughter encourages me in my journaling and I am very grateful to her for this.

Every few weeks she indulges me by treating her Mother to a shiny brand new journal filled with empty bright white pages.

She has an uncanny ability to sense when I find myself in a writing slump.

She knows all too well how much a brand-new journal inspires and motivates me.

How lucky am I?

When I have left this earth, my daughters will be free to burn my journals with my blessings.

That is if I don’t burn them first of course, to spare them the work of sorting out the many dozens of journals that account for the past three decades of my life.

It is my hope that by then, the journals would have served their purpose. Both they and I can be content in the knowledge that they have served me well…

…By being the vessel of my thoughts right up until the time that you read them.

Thank you for reading them…

My.Daily.Diversion ~ Post Ninety: Mystery Munch

19 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by duckykoren in DNA, Dogs, Pets, winter, Writing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Chomp, dogs, eating, inspiration, joys, munch, Mystery, Princess Sophie, scandalous, The Da Vinci Code, Walking, winter, Writing

When I cannot go to the inspiration…

I must wait for inspiration to come to me.

Case in point…

After several days of writer’s block, today comes the long awaited glimmer, courtesy of our dog who is a poodle mix, Princess Sophie named after a character in “The Davinci Code.”

It happens this morning as I’m outside walking Princess Sophie, taking in the winter air, melting snows and patiently waiting while she does her morning toilette. As I wait for her butt to drop, her playful attitude conveys to me that she has no interest whatsoever in what I want.

Instead, she insists that it’s time to celebrate anything and everything that seems remotely edible, and even a few things that are evidently not.

As she snuffles inch by inch through the grass, I cannot help but involuntarily stiffen each time she comes to an abrupt halt. As I watch in pending horror, she begins to thrash her snout deeper amid the ground salad of dried leaves, mouldy wet grass, sticks, and various clumps of dubious D.N.A.

I know it will only be a matter of seconds before she will raise her head, look me straight in the eye, and defyingly begin to noisily chomp on some treasured mystery munch.

That’s when I spring into action and begin the purging process.

It’s not pretty, but I usually win. That is, unless she manages to swallow it first.

So, what can I learn from this?

In a way, Princess Sophie’s scandalous joys are not too different from my own.

How often in life have I jumped the gun and taken upon myself things that seemed harmless enough on the outside, yet potentially disastrous for me on the inside?

How many times did family and friends spring into action when I was too daft to realize that my well being had been compromised.

And so it should be.

These days I’m more careful of what I take in, as I’m sure you are too.

Though, I can’t help but admire the “joi de vivre” of Princess Sophie.

Sometimes it’s a good thing to munch on something before you’re sure you know what it is. In this way, we learn new things, make new friends, carve new paths.

If your mystery munch works and is good for you, then celebrate!

If not, then all you have to do is spit it out.

Quickly.

Neatness does not count.

At least, not for Princess Sophie.

← Older posts

Archives

  • August 2019 (2)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • June 2019 (7)
  • May 2019 (4)
  • June 2018 (3)
  • May 2018 (4)
  • January 2018 (6)
  • August 2016 (1)
  • July 2016 (6)
  • June 2016 (1)
  • August 2015 (4)
  • July 2015 (10)
  • June 2015 (5)
  • May 2015 (5)
  • April 2015 (14)
  • March 2015 (31)
  • February 2015 (28)
  • January 2015 (30)
  • December 2014 (29)
  • November 2014 (44)
  • October 2014 (24)
  • September 2014 (23)
  • August 2014 (31)
  • July 2014 (33)
  • June 2014 (28)
  • February 2014 (1)
  • November 2013 (9)
  • October 2013 (3)

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×