Dear reader
As I start to write this, I have no clue what the title will be or how long this will be. But isn’t that true of almost everything I write? The title is the last thing to be written and I write until I am done. One thing I do know is the subject of this article. Photography. No, this is not going to be a technical manual. It is not going to be a how-to guide. This article is going to be deeply personal, for that is the only way I know how to write. For those of you who don’t want to read the whole article, I will put a TL;DR at the end.
Any of you who know me and have been following me on the different forms of social media over the years will know that I wear my heart on my sleeve. I have never been scared to reveal little bits of myself through my writing. I have never shied away from sharing the different paths I, along with my family, have been on. Cancer, depression...those are two of the longer paths. What does this have to do with photography? Hopefully that will become more clear as I write and you read.
Roughly 6 months ago (that would have been the summer of 2019), I took a step into the world of fashion photography. Along with that came editorial photography, lifestyle photography and a bunch of other sub-genres that I am probably forgetting. What these all have in common is people. I started to take photographs of people. Specifically, I started having photoshoots with models. As of this writing, I have only shot female models but my first male model photoshoot is tomorrow.
As I got into this genre of photography, I discovered that I had some talent. Maybe not much, but it was there. I also unlocked a passion for something of which I have never felt before with any hobby I have tried. Talent and passion...what could possibly go wrong? So through different methodologies I studied to improve my craft. Composition, lighting, camera settings...you name it, I studied it. I learned from a lot of different people, models and photographers alike. And continued all the way up until this very day. I am just as passionate about it today as I was 6 months ago. Maybe even more so.
Photoshoot after photoshoot, I created art. Along with the models I worked with, I created something magical for both them and myself. Not every picture was as good as I wanted, but I learned from the mistakes more than I learned from the successes. We created art. The whole process was an adrenaline rush. From coming up with a concept, to finding a model, to planning the shoot and all that it entails, to post production...what a rush. I felt so alive. I dare say that the past 6 months have transformed me into who I really am, who I want to be. I want to be happy, positive. I want to use the talents God has given me and celebrate the beauty he created. My brain has a creative side to it, and this was an amazing way to use that creativity and keep my brain healthy.
Two days ago, I made the decision to walk away from it all.
WHAT? But...you just said all this stuff. It was positive…and, well, positive! .I can hear you all saying this and asking me Why?
What I discovered over the past few days is that it is seemingly impossible for a Christian to work in this field. It is seemingly futile for a Christian to take pictures of models. I have run into what seems to be an insurmountable hill. Please, do read on.
(Disclaimer: I am NOT pointing fingers. I do not blame anyone for anything.)
People have opinions. Beliefs. Convictions. And I will always respect those, especially when they are different than mine. When I started into this world of photography, I set boundaries. Personal boundaries that I would not cross. I know what I am comfortable shooting, I know what I am comfortable sharing, and I will never be ashamed of the work I did. Never. I have nothing to apologize for, no one to apologize to. I will defend my work until my dying breath.
But.
There is always a but. But how can I continue to shoot if I have to constantly look over my shoulder, wondering who is going to be offended by my work? How can I work within my own comfort zone while also trying to fit everyone else’s in? How can I create my art when I have to wonder who is going to judge and condemn? Now, don’t get me wrong. I understand that my work is not for everybody. Many will not like the pictures I take. And that is fine. All art forms are subjective. I personally loved the banana duct taped to the wall. Brilliant!! One definition of ‘subjective’ is placing excessive emphasis on one’s own moods, attitudes, opinions, etc. There are no facts, only beliefs and opinions.
Let’s be perfectly clear: I do not care if you like my work or not. That is your right, and I respect that 100%.
Let’s be perfectly clear once again: Just because you do not like my work, does not make it wrong. Read that again.
As I said, I set my boundaries of what I would and wouldn’t shoot. My criteria for these boundaries was based on my personal belief system, and what I think is acceptable in my life as a Christian. That is fair, is it not? I thought so, until it was pointed out to me that I cannot do something. I have been told on different occasions (not many, but still…) that I cannot take pictures of women. I cannot take ‘sexy’ pictures of women. I cannot take pictures of ‘sexy’ women. So I’m confused. Can I only take pictures of the ugly ones? That seems harsh and judgy. Who determines beauty? You? Me? Interesting. Or is the point that I cannot take pictures of women (or men I suppose) in certain clothing? How much skin can be seen? Knees down, elbows down and neck up? Who determines this? And is it different for male models than for female models?
My point is that we all have different boundaries, different comfort levels. I agree that, as a Christian, there are certain boundaries I cannot cross. I am sure we would even agree on some of those boundaries. But I ask you this, dear reader: who draws that line between right and wrong? I struggle with this. Christians will say to use the Bible as our moral compass. And I agree with that 100%. And I have no problem whatsoever defending my work according to that compass. Others will have no problem condemning my work according to that compass. Do you see where my dilemma is? Who is right? Who gets to decide if my work is right or wrong?
Let me ask another question: who is the decision maker as to what clothing is appropriate for a model to wear, and what is inappropriate? Or better yet...who decides what is appropriate for me to shoot and share? After all, the model may be comfortable in something others would condemn as being not modest enough. I may be comfortable shooting it and sharing it. But you may be uncomfortable looking at it. Who decides if what I did was wrong? Your level of uncomfortability? My comfort level? This is tough, isn’t it? After all, none of us are the judge. We don’t sit on the jury. And we certainly don’t fill the role of executioner.
Dear reader, this is why I have walked away from photography. There are too many dilemmas that make it impossible for me to continue. For I cannot be me, I cannot use my creativity to create my art if I have to be held to someone else’s moral compass. It has been suggested to me that I start over under a pseudonym and not share my work. I suppose I could, and I have not totally discounted it. But to me it seems I would be hiding what I do. This is a personal struggle I have to work out.
So this is my heart on my sleeve. I am heartbroken that I have to walk away from something that has done me so much good mentally. I could write a lot more about my mental health and all of that, but I won’t. If I can find a way to come back to the work I was doing, I will. But it will be on my terms, and nobody else’s (aside from my wife). Right now, I do not see a way of coming back. Maybe that will change. I told my wife during one of our many discussions on this that IF I do come back, the only people who will know are those I choose. And I will have to be extremely picky. I will need to protect myself from another heartbreak. I don’t want to have to go through this again. I do not expect you to understand. A few people have seen what effect this has had on me. I don’t think they like what they see. And frankly, neither do I.
Rod
TL;DR Stepping away from photography because I can’t work when I have to be confined to moral compasses that are not my own.
Showing posts with label My Muses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Muses. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Monday, December 31, 2012
Reflections & Assumptions
Hello again, dear reader. I am roughly 11 hours away from the end of one year and the beginning of another. By the time this gets posted, it will be closer. And so, as old and new come closer together, I reflect. I reflect on the passage of the past 365 days. And along with reflection comes assumption...the assumption that the next set of days will be different. So please, reflect along with me. But please don't assume with me....oh forget it, I won't bust out that tired old joke. Here we go then, dear reader. Reflect and assume.
2012. It seems that the older I get, the faster these increments of time disappear. Maybe it's because the more I age, the more fun I have. They say time flies when you're having fun, so that's the only logical explanation. Yes, this past year was a fun year, and a tough year. As a family unit, we had many enjoyable events that led to treasured memories. As an individual and as a part of the family, the struggles in different aspects of life have been ever present. And through good and bad, the blessings of God are most evident.
I think that one of the many highlights of the year would have to be the trip we made to California. It was my eldest brothers birthday in May so we decided to fly there and pay him a surprise visit. It was a magical 5 days. The drawback was that Dad couldn't be there, but Mom was as well as my other two siblings. To be able to do this from a practical and financial point of view is just one example of the rich blessings we receive.
I have watched my children grow another older, and with that growth comes change. Personalities develop a little bit more, interests are pursued with more vigor, and the interaction between parents and children changes. I watched my son careen towards the cusp of that awkward time when he's not a little boy, but not a teenager. He's a wonderful child who shows signs of incredible maturity, but yet in his heart still is young boy. I've watched and listened to him grow as a musician. His love for music and his affinity for the pipe organ is spell-bounding. He played for an audience on no less than 3 occasions this year...twice playing the postlude after a Sunday worship service and once playing the recessional for a choir concert. Blessings? In an over-whelming abundance.
My daughter too has an ear and a love for music. She has come a long way in her lessons and is showing signs of having a beautiful singing voice and an incredible sense of timing and rhythm. She's a playful girl who loves to laugh and have fun. And as she enters this next set of months, she more and more becomes a 'girly-girl', and I mean that in the nicest possible way. She loves things to with hair and dolls. We have been blessed with an amazing daughter!
Many of you who have read my stuff over the past number of years know about the well documented battle against cancer that my wife fought. It has been almost 4 years since the diagnosis. All signs point to her cancer being 'not active', and that is the best we will ever hear from her oncologist. There are still many side effects from the treatments she had and the drugs she continues to take, but she deals with those in faith. As a family, we support her and each other as much as we can. But without our faith in God, I don't believe we would be where we are. He truly is the great healer, and blessed us with access to excellent medical care and a facility that is second to none to receive treatment in. Our 'new normal' has been defined, and this past year has proven that it is marvelous. Yes there has been some medical bumps (pun intended) in the road. But that's ok. It was meant to happen that way. It's all part of God's plan.
Personally, I've had a good year. I've been fortunate to serve my church community in a couple different capacities. I've experienced the ups and downs of being an author, from getting published in The Rusty Nail to going through a drought where the words weren't working. I've developed new friendships, maintained current ones, and re-kindled old ones. Social media has played a big role in this....there is a large writing community that I try to interact with, to learn and grow as an author. Oh, I've had my share of struggles, most of which I share with no one. That is where there is room for improvement.
Which leads me to the assumption part of this article. I am going to assume that the positives and negatives from 2012 will lead to growth and improvement in 2013. The things I need to fix will be a project. The things I want to learn will be a WIP (work in progress). and every aspect of my life falls into one of these two categories, sometimes into both. An assumption is that this will happen. My belief is that God will help me make it happen. I don't make resolutions as I head into a new year. I make plans. And God willing, I will have the strength to carry these plans out.
And so, dear reader, this is the final article of the year of our Lord 2012. I thank all of you who have read my stuff, encouraged me, criticized me and inspired me. I thank my friends, my family, my church community and my co-workers for everything. Everybody helped in shaping the past 365 days into a memory. Most of all, I thank my God, who has blessed me with so many people and so many opportunities and gifts. Without Him, I am nothing.
From my family to you and yours, we wish you a very happy New Year.
God bless.
Rod E. Kok
2012. It seems that the older I get, the faster these increments of time disappear. Maybe it's because the more I age, the more fun I have. They say time flies when you're having fun, so that's the only logical explanation. Yes, this past year was a fun year, and a tough year. As a family unit, we had many enjoyable events that led to treasured memories. As an individual and as a part of the family, the struggles in different aspects of life have been ever present. And through good and bad, the blessings of God are most evident.
I think that one of the many highlights of the year would have to be the trip we made to California. It was my eldest brothers birthday in May so we decided to fly there and pay him a surprise visit. It was a magical 5 days. The drawback was that Dad couldn't be there, but Mom was as well as my other two siblings. To be able to do this from a practical and financial point of view is just one example of the rich blessings we receive.
I have watched my children grow another older, and with that growth comes change. Personalities develop a little bit more, interests are pursued with more vigor, and the interaction between parents and children changes. I watched my son careen towards the cusp of that awkward time when he's not a little boy, but not a teenager. He's a wonderful child who shows signs of incredible maturity, but yet in his heart still is young boy. I've watched and listened to him grow as a musician. His love for music and his affinity for the pipe organ is spell-bounding. He played for an audience on no less than 3 occasions this year...twice playing the postlude after a Sunday worship service and once playing the recessional for a choir concert. Blessings? In an over-whelming abundance.
My daughter too has an ear and a love for music. She has come a long way in her lessons and is showing signs of having a beautiful singing voice and an incredible sense of timing and rhythm. She's a playful girl who loves to laugh and have fun. And as she enters this next set of months, she more and more becomes a 'girly-girl', and I mean that in the nicest possible way. She loves things to with hair and dolls. We have been blessed with an amazing daughter!
Many of you who have read my stuff over the past number of years know about the well documented battle against cancer that my wife fought. It has been almost 4 years since the diagnosis. All signs point to her cancer being 'not active', and that is the best we will ever hear from her oncologist. There are still many side effects from the treatments she had and the drugs she continues to take, but she deals with those in faith. As a family, we support her and each other as much as we can. But without our faith in God, I don't believe we would be where we are. He truly is the great healer, and blessed us with access to excellent medical care and a facility that is second to none to receive treatment in. Our 'new normal' has been defined, and this past year has proven that it is marvelous. Yes there has been some medical bumps (pun intended) in the road. But that's ok. It was meant to happen that way. It's all part of God's plan.
Personally, I've had a good year. I've been fortunate to serve my church community in a couple different capacities. I've experienced the ups and downs of being an author, from getting published in The Rusty Nail to going through a drought where the words weren't working. I've developed new friendships, maintained current ones, and re-kindled old ones. Social media has played a big role in this....there is a large writing community that I try to interact with, to learn and grow as an author. Oh, I've had my share of struggles, most of which I share with no one. That is where there is room for improvement.
Which leads me to the assumption part of this article. I am going to assume that the positives and negatives from 2012 will lead to growth and improvement in 2013. The things I need to fix will be a project. The things I want to learn will be a WIP (work in progress). and every aspect of my life falls into one of these two categories, sometimes into both. An assumption is that this will happen. My belief is that God will help me make it happen. I don't make resolutions as I head into a new year. I make plans. And God willing, I will have the strength to carry these plans out.
And so, dear reader, this is the final article of the year of our Lord 2012. I thank all of you who have read my stuff, encouraged me, criticized me and inspired me. I thank my friends, my family, my church community and my co-workers for everything. Everybody helped in shaping the past 365 days into a memory. Most of all, I thank my God, who has blessed me with so many people and so many opportunities and gifts. Without Him, I am nothing.
From my family to you and yours, we wish you a very happy New Year.
God bless.
Rod E. Kok
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
#AmWriting #AmNotWriting
Hello again dear reader
It has been some time since I have put anything in this category of my website, and the way things are going, it will be quite sometime before I manage to post anything worthwhile. You see, I am in a place where I haven't been for a while, and it is scaring me a little. And so, here I am. Writing. Call it an exorcism of writers block, call it a kick in the ass of creativity, call it whatever you will. I am writing. And I will take the spanner out of the works, and get to a happy place again. Come along, dear reader. Come with me as I write my way down the first leg of this journey.
If you've read my stuff going way back, you will know that I have been in a similiar place before. Do you remember the start of 'My Journal'? Yep, it was started for the sole purpose of writing every day. And it worked! I was doing a lot of writing, the words flowed into poetry, into some stories I was working on...I felt really good about it.
So what happened? Why am I now a little bit scared? After all, I have declared my love for the written word. I have posted many poems on various websites (including this one) to varying degrees of success. I have had two of my poems published in The Rusty Nail magazine (http://www.rustynailmag.com), and a third is scheduled to be in print in the new year some time. I have had 4 poems rejected by another magazine, and 2 submissions simply not acknowledged by a magazine. There is some experience there that puts me ( in my most humble opinion) on the same stage as other writers. And these experiences have all been positive, even the rejections. It's a part of writing that I can deal with. My question was 'What happened?'.
The answer is simple: I don't know. Or, if I am perfectly honest with you, the answer should be: I know, but I don't want to admit it. And so, dear reader, here's the hard part. Fixing it. It's broken and it needs repair. A firmware upgrade is needed, because I found some bugs in the old code (you techies will understand that). There are a few things that need fixing, and the main one is attitude. I think I became complacent. After all, I was writing! And I expected too much. I expected that the creativity would always be there, that I could write with little prompting. I was very very wrong. Maybe this period of time is good for me...it is giving my head a shake that I really needed. It's a good wake up call.
The second thing that went south on my was my effort. I was only writing when I thought I had something to write. Someone I follow on Twitter (@kseniaanske) gave the advice today to write. Her tweet read as follows: 'WRITE. Every day, write. And the lid held over your well will fly off. And the stories will flow.' And it is so true, and it really struck me. And that means that I will once again start writing in the 'My Journal' section of my site...100 words per day. If I don't write, I won't write. I had forgotten that, so thank you @ksensiaanske.
And there we have it, dear reader. The first step on my journey. This step could take a while, but I will be back. I will produce poetry again, I will add to the story of Lionel Aber, and I will write. I will be able to use again the hashtag #AmWriting. Thank you for your patience.
FF
It has been some time since I have put anything in this category of my website, and the way things are going, it will be quite sometime before I manage to post anything worthwhile. You see, I am in a place where I haven't been for a while, and it is scaring me a little. And so, here I am. Writing. Call it an exorcism of writers block, call it a kick in the ass of creativity, call it whatever you will. I am writing. And I will take the spanner out of the works, and get to a happy place again. Come along, dear reader. Come with me as I write my way down the first leg of this journey.
If you've read my stuff going way back, you will know that I have been in a similiar place before. Do you remember the start of 'My Journal'? Yep, it was started for the sole purpose of writing every day. And it worked! I was doing a lot of writing, the words flowed into poetry, into some stories I was working on...I felt really good about it.
So what happened? Why am I now a little bit scared? After all, I have declared my love for the written word. I have posted many poems on various websites (including this one) to varying degrees of success. I have had two of my poems published in The Rusty Nail magazine (http://www.rustynailmag.com), and a third is scheduled to be in print in the new year some time. I have had 4 poems rejected by another magazine, and 2 submissions simply not acknowledged by a magazine. There is some experience there that puts me ( in my most humble opinion) on the same stage as other writers. And these experiences have all been positive, even the rejections. It's a part of writing that I can deal with. My question was 'What happened?'.
The answer is simple: I don't know. Or, if I am perfectly honest with you, the answer should be: I know, but I don't want to admit it. And so, dear reader, here's the hard part. Fixing it. It's broken and it needs repair. A firmware upgrade is needed, because I found some bugs in the old code (you techies will understand that). There are a few things that need fixing, and the main one is attitude. I think I became complacent. After all, I was writing! And I expected too much. I expected that the creativity would always be there, that I could write with little prompting. I was very very wrong. Maybe this period of time is good for me...it is giving my head a shake that I really needed. It's a good wake up call.
The second thing that went south on my was my effort. I was only writing when I thought I had something to write. Someone I follow on Twitter (@kseniaanske) gave the advice today to write. Her tweet read as follows: 'WRITE. Every day, write. And the lid held over your well will fly off. And the stories will flow.' And it is so true, and it really struck me. And that means that I will once again start writing in the 'My Journal' section of my site...100 words per day. If I don't write, I won't write. I had forgotten that, so thank you @ksensiaanske.
And there we have it, dear reader. The first step on my journey. This step could take a while, but I will be back. I will produce poetry again, I will add to the story of Lionel Aber, and I will write. I will be able to use again the hashtag #AmWriting. Thank you for your patience.
FF
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Iced Capp Recipe
For those of you who asked, here it is. The recipe for iced capps. This recipe is very adjustable...try different things!
2-3 tsp instant coffee (I used Nescafe French Vanilla Instant coffee)
1 tsp sweetner
3 tbsp warm water
6oz milk
1 tray frozen water
I do the following in my Single Shot Magic Bullet
Mix (shake it) warm water, sugar and coffee until frothy
Add milk and a tray of ice cubes
Mix in Magic Bullet
Enjoy!
2-3 tsp instant coffee (I used Nescafe French Vanilla Instant coffee)
1 tsp sweetner
3 tbsp warm water
6oz milk
1 tray frozen water
I do the following in my Single Shot Magic Bullet
Mix (shake it) warm water, sugar and coffee until frothy
Add milk and a tray of ice cubes
Mix in Magic Bullet
Enjoy!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
New Category! My Poetry
Hello dear reader
This is a very brief information post. If you have read 5-7-5, you will know that I have embarked on a journey of writing poetry. Although my website is not the first place I publish my poems, some of them will eventually end up here. And so (this is the information part) there is now a new category under the Ramblings header. It is called, wittingly enough, My Poems. Clicking on the link will bring you to, you guessed it, my poems.
So far what I have written has been extremely emotional and deeply personal. And so far I really like the process of writing poems. It is very different from writing blog posts or stories. Maybe my next blog entry will be an insight as to how I get a poem written. But in the meantime, I really hope you enjoy what I’ve written. And as always, I encourage interaction via the comments. I love feedback on my work. Please consider it.
FF
This is a very brief information post. If you have read 5-7-5, you will know that I have embarked on a journey of writing poetry. Although my website is not the first place I publish my poems, some of them will eventually end up here. And so (this is the information part) there is now a new category under the Ramblings header. It is called, wittingly enough, My Poems. Clicking on the link will bring you to, you guessed it, my poems.
So far what I have written has been extremely emotional and deeply personal. And so far I really like the process of writing poems. It is very different from writing blog posts or stories. Maybe my next blog entry will be an insight as to how I get a poem written. But in the meantime, I really hope you enjoy what I’ve written. And as always, I encourage interaction via the comments. I love feedback on my work. Please consider it.
FF
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
5-7-5
Good evening, dear reader
Once again I am writing something that comes from the heart. I am excited to write this post, although I have no idea how it’s going to flow. I know the very basics of what I want to say, but I am very unclear as to how to say it. I also know that this is going to be about poetry. To be precise it is going to be about haiku. And so, I invite you to come with me on a journey. A journey where 17 syllables are all you’re allowed. A journey where very few words are allowed to be spoken or written. Join me dear reader, for we go to the land of 5-7-5.
For some of you, this is no surprise. If you follow me on Twitter (@Fifafan1969) or are a friend on Facebook, you may have noticed my tweet (post) from a couple days ago regarding the very subject of this article. Yes, dear reader, I have written a poem. I have written haiku. This is something very different for me. I like poetry, but I don’t read it much and I certainly don’t write it ever. Until now. I think the last poem I wrote was in grade 10 or 11. And it is entirely possible that I haven’t read a poem since then as well. Until now. And the thing is…I don’t know where it came from. I am not entirely sure what got into me to write a poem. However, motivation aside, I am very pleased with how it turned out. Are you curious yet? Do you want to know what I wrote? Patience, grasshopper. All will be revealed in its own time.
Before we get into my contribution to the world of 5-7-5, we should look at what exactly haiku is. According to dictionary.com, haiku is a major form of Japanese verse, written in 17 syllables divided into 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, and employing highly evocative allusions and comparisons, often on the subject of nature or one of the seasons. Wikipedia has an extensive page on haiku. Check it out if you’re interested.
The interesting question is this: What in the name of all that is good possessed me to pen haiku? What was I thinking? I am not a poet, I have never shown any inclination (aside from the debacle in high school) towards poetry and I have never even intimated that I’d be interested in writing poetry. And yet, I found myself strangely moved by the thought of writing a poem. But why? I think that part of it is tied up in my nature. I am a very passionate, ‘wear my heart on my sleeve’ type of person. I am a romantic. And I have a lot of things that I’d like to write. But I was having troubles getting some of it into a story. I didn’t know where to go with it. This had been building up for some time now. I have started stories, stopped stories, continued stories and dropped stories. But I needed to get something written, something complete. I really needed to express some emotion that has been building. It was a release I was seeking.
And then it came to me. It struck very quickly. And when I realized what I had to do, I did some very quick research to find the proper format, the proper definition. And I wrote. I expressed. I counted. Yes, dear reader, I counted the first line…5 syllables. Or, more properly, 5 morae. The second line revealed more of the emotion I was after, and it was 7 morae. The third line wrapped it up. Yup, you guessed it…5 morae. The whole process didn’t take me very long. It flowed. It found its way from my heart, from my soul onto paper (or into a Word document in this case). And when I was done, and sure of the 5-7-5, I sighed a sigh of relief. And I was exhausted mentally. Yes, I was emotionally drained. Many people who read this may not get it. I may get mocked. I may be the object of ridicule. That’s fine, because as I stated before, I wear my heart on my sleeve. Writing this haiku was deeply personal, overwhelmingly emotional and downright tiring.
But now what? What do I do with it? Where do I go? Well, the first logical place was here at fifafan.ca. And as the logical choice, I ignored it. I wanted to reveal it here after I had some feedback. So I posted it at a website I am a member of. It is s website devoted to writers, aspiring writers, writing critics, and word lovers. Once the haiku was posted there, the members of the site have the opportunity to vote and comment on whatever is posted. I have received some incredibly up-building feedback from a few of the people there. And that, dear reader has been good for my confidence. It made me feel good about my writing.
And here we are. We are nearing the end of this article, but I suspect that this is not the end of poetry from me. I love the expression I can get, the passion I can display in a poem. I may just try it again. If you have made it this far into the article, I thank you.
The tag line on the website for my haiku is this:
My very first attempt at Haiku...it's meant to evoke dreams of love and romance.
The title of my haiku:
Wishful Thinking - A Haiku
And now I leave you, dear reader. I leave you after opening my heart and revealing a little bit of me that you may not have known. And I leave you with my haiku. I hope you get it. I hope it fulfills the tag line. It is fine, though if it doesn’t. And if it’s not your interest, that is fine too. This haiku was a deeply personal journey. It had a profound effect on me as I wrote it, and every time I read it. And I want to share it with you. I give you my haiku. I give you 5-7-5.
FF
Once again I am writing something that comes from the heart. I am excited to write this post, although I have no idea how it’s going to flow. I know the very basics of what I want to say, but I am very unclear as to how to say it. I also know that this is going to be about poetry. To be precise it is going to be about haiku. And so, I invite you to come with me on a journey. A journey where 17 syllables are all you’re allowed. A journey where very few words are allowed to be spoken or written. Join me dear reader, for we go to the land of 5-7-5.
For some of you, this is no surprise. If you follow me on Twitter (@Fifafan1969) or are a friend on Facebook, you may have noticed my tweet (post) from a couple days ago regarding the very subject of this article. Yes, dear reader, I have written a poem. I have written haiku. This is something very different for me. I like poetry, but I don’t read it much and I certainly don’t write it ever. Until now. I think the last poem I wrote was in grade 10 or 11. And it is entirely possible that I haven’t read a poem since then as well. Until now. And the thing is…I don’t know where it came from. I am not entirely sure what got into me to write a poem. However, motivation aside, I am very pleased with how it turned out. Are you curious yet? Do you want to know what I wrote? Patience, grasshopper. All will be revealed in its own time.
Before we get into my contribution to the world of 5-7-5, we should look at what exactly haiku is. According to dictionary.com, haiku is a major form of Japanese verse, written in 17 syllables divided into 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, and employing highly evocative allusions and comparisons, often on the subject of nature or one of the seasons. Wikipedia has an extensive page on haiku. Check it out if you’re interested.
The interesting question is this: What in the name of all that is good possessed me to pen haiku? What was I thinking? I am not a poet, I have never shown any inclination (aside from the debacle in high school) towards poetry and I have never even intimated that I’d be interested in writing poetry. And yet, I found myself strangely moved by the thought of writing a poem. But why? I think that part of it is tied up in my nature. I am a very passionate, ‘wear my heart on my sleeve’ type of person. I am a romantic. And I have a lot of things that I’d like to write. But I was having troubles getting some of it into a story. I didn’t know where to go with it. This had been building up for some time now. I have started stories, stopped stories, continued stories and dropped stories. But I needed to get something written, something complete. I really needed to express some emotion that has been building. It was a release I was seeking.
And then it came to me. It struck very quickly. And when I realized what I had to do, I did some very quick research to find the proper format, the proper definition. And I wrote. I expressed. I counted. Yes, dear reader, I counted the first line…5 syllables. Or, more properly, 5 morae. The second line revealed more of the emotion I was after, and it was 7 morae. The third line wrapped it up. Yup, you guessed it…5 morae. The whole process didn’t take me very long. It flowed. It found its way from my heart, from my soul onto paper (or into a Word document in this case). And when I was done, and sure of the 5-7-5, I sighed a sigh of relief. And I was exhausted mentally. Yes, I was emotionally drained. Many people who read this may not get it. I may get mocked. I may be the object of ridicule. That’s fine, because as I stated before, I wear my heart on my sleeve. Writing this haiku was deeply personal, overwhelmingly emotional and downright tiring.
But now what? What do I do with it? Where do I go? Well, the first logical place was here at fifafan.ca. And as the logical choice, I ignored it. I wanted to reveal it here after I had some feedback. So I posted it at a website I am a member of. It is s website devoted to writers, aspiring writers, writing critics, and word lovers. Once the haiku was posted there, the members of the site have the opportunity to vote and comment on whatever is posted. I have received some incredibly up-building feedback from a few of the people there. And that, dear reader has been good for my confidence. It made me feel good about my writing.
And here we are. We are nearing the end of this article, but I suspect that this is not the end of poetry from me. I love the expression I can get, the passion I can display in a poem. I may just try it again. If you have made it this far into the article, I thank you.
The tag line on the website for my haiku is this:
My very first attempt at Haiku...it's meant to evoke dreams of love and romance.
The title of my haiku:
Wishful Thinking - A Haiku
And now I leave you, dear reader. I leave you after opening my heart and revealing a little bit of me that you may not have known. And I leave you with my haiku. I hope you get it. I hope it fulfills the tag line. It is fine, though if it doesn’t. And if it’s not your interest, that is fine too. This haiku was a deeply personal journey. It had a profound effect on me as I wrote it, and every time I read it. And I want to share it with you. I give you my haiku. I give you 5-7-5.
FF
Walking beside you
Rushing water and bright sun
Dreams in my head run
Thursday, May 31, 2012
A Century of Writing
Today, dear reader, marks a milestone for me. Today is a pretty special day in my 'career' as a blogger / writer. And, as I sit and contemplate what I have accomplished since I started this journey, I realize that I have grown. By a few pounds, a bit larger circumference, and a few more grey hair in my beard. Those are all positive growth attributes, but not really what I mean by 'I have grown'. I truly believe that I have grown as a writer. As of this very moment, I am not sure where this post is going, but I do know that it will be a reflection. A reflection on this milestone. A reflection on a century of writing. A century of Fifafan subjecting his readers to his thoughts (fully clothed). Dear reader, this post is my century mark. This post is number 100. And so, let me reflect.
As long as I can remember, I have enjoyed writing. I haven’t always done it well (and I still don’t), and I always haven’t put my best pen forward, but I have always had an interest in it. Before the computer age, we had pens and paper, and I employed those tools in the writing of letters to friends around the world. I loved writing letters. And of course, the ‘blog’ as we know it today did not exist. Oh, I played around with personal journal’s (I’m loathe to call it a diary), but they never really amounted to much.
Surprisingly, I used to really enjoy poetry. I wrote several poems in my English classes in High School, and received fairly decent marks for them. Maybe the teacher was being nice to me, and graded me good for effort rather than content, but I really did enjoy poems. Maybe I should try writing in that style and format again. After all, even my reader(s) need a good laugh.
As for blogging, it really started for me in 2009. February 2009 to be exact. That was the time that my best friend was diagnosed with cancer. Many of you were with us on that journey…through my first blog. I felt it was a brilliant way to keep people informed of the events and statuses. Through a traumatic and difficult time, a passion was re-kindled in me. A passion for writing. Yes, at first the blog was only about the cancer journey, but as my style was developed and my comfort in words grew, I found that I wanted to do more. I wanted to share more of my thoughts, my dreams, my opinions. And so I did.
I started putting words into print, poorly at first. But, as with the cancer blog, my writing developed, my use of different words expanded, and I think my posts became more readable and maybe even more entertaining. I wrote some serious stuff (A Prayer For Stef, 2010/11/23 & 11 Years Ago, 2010/10/07). Both of those articles moved me in a way I didn’t think could happen. Both of those articles kept the fire burning, for I felt I wrote some really good stuff. Yes, I have written some very personal stuff. I have also written some off the wall stuff. A Mistress to Many, 2010/10/09 and Wanna Smoke, 2010/08/22 come to mind. Those 4 articles, along with Papillons de l’Amour, 2010/09/13 may be among the best stuff I’ve ever done.
Yes, dear reader, this post was reflective of the past 3 years. There have been times where I have written very little, whether due to a lack of inspiration or a lack of caring. I almost stepped away from it completely, because I didn’t think I had it in me anymore. The passion was gone. But, I didn’t make any rash decisions, and today I am still writing. A while ago I started my online journal. This was to fulfill my promise to myself to write 100 words per day, and I think it has been very helpful. I feel good about my writing, and there is that fire burning again.
100 posts I have written and published. 100 times I have expressed my feelings to anyone who wanted to read it. The century mark is a big thing no matter what it applies to. If a person hits 100 years of age, it is a big deal. The turn of the century was a big deal. Falling short in the ‘big deal’ category, but still important (to me) is the 100 posts on Fifafan.ca.
Dear reader, this is 100. My next post will be 101, and the start of a brand new journey. The journey to 200. Very few of us will see the turn of two centuries. None of us will live to be 200. But, if all goes according to plan, most of us will see the next milestone. Fifafan’s 200th post. Reflecting we have gone, and reflecting we will go. But first, I have 99 more articles to write. I hope you’re along for the ride.
FF
As long as I can remember, I have enjoyed writing. I haven’t always done it well (and I still don’t), and I always haven’t put my best pen forward, but I have always had an interest in it. Before the computer age, we had pens and paper, and I employed those tools in the writing of letters to friends around the world. I loved writing letters. And of course, the ‘blog’ as we know it today did not exist. Oh, I played around with personal journal’s (I’m loathe to call it a diary), but they never really amounted to much.
Surprisingly, I used to really enjoy poetry. I wrote several poems in my English classes in High School, and received fairly decent marks for them. Maybe the teacher was being nice to me, and graded me good for effort rather than content, but I really did enjoy poems. Maybe I should try writing in that style and format again. After all, even my reader(s) need a good laugh.
As for blogging, it really started for me in 2009. February 2009 to be exact. That was the time that my best friend was diagnosed with cancer. Many of you were with us on that journey…through my first blog. I felt it was a brilliant way to keep people informed of the events and statuses. Through a traumatic and difficult time, a passion was re-kindled in me. A passion for writing. Yes, at first the blog was only about the cancer journey, but as my style was developed and my comfort in words grew, I found that I wanted to do more. I wanted to share more of my thoughts, my dreams, my opinions. And so I did.
I started putting words into print, poorly at first. But, as with the cancer blog, my writing developed, my use of different words expanded, and I think my posts became more readable and maybe even more entertaining. I wrote some serious stuff (A Prayer For Stef, 2010/11/23 & 11 Years Ago, 2010/10/07). Both of those articles moved me in a way I didn’t think could happen. Both of those articles kept the fire burning, for I felt I wrote some really good stuff. Yes, I have written some very personal stuff. I have also written some off the wall stuff. A Mistress to Many, 2010/10/09 and Wanna Smoke, 2010/08/22 come to mind. Those 4 articles, along with Papillons de l’Amour, 2010/09/13 may be among the best stuff I’ve ever done.
Yes, dear reader, this post was reflective of the past 3 years. There have been times where I have written very little, whether due to a lack of inspiration or a lack of caring. I almost stepped away from it completely, because I didn’t think I had it in me anymore. The passion was gone. But, I didn’t make any rash decisions, and today I am still writing. A while ago I started my online journal. This was to fulfill my promise to myself to write 100 words per day, and I think it has been very helpful. I feel good about my writing, and there is that fire burning again.
100 posts I have written and published. 100 times I have expressed my feelings to anyone who wanted to read it. The century mark is a big thing no matter what it applies to. If a person hits 100 years of age, it is a big deal. The turn of the century was a big deal. Falling short in the ‘big deal’ category, but still important (to me) is the 100 posts on Fifafan.ca.
Dear reader, this is 100. My next post will be 101, and the start of a brand new journey. The journey to 200. Very few of us will see the turn of two centuries. None of us will live to be 200. But, if all goes according to plan, most of us will see the next milestone. Fifafan’s 200th post. Reflecting we have gone, and reflecting we will go. But first, I have 99 more articles to write. I hope you’re along for the ride.
FF
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Relax...with bubbles
Good evening, dear reader
How do you relax? With a good book, or with some soft music? Do you engage in a hobby such as woodworking or painting? The point is that there are many ways to relax, and most people do something different. For instance, I put a bunch of words into sentences and hope they make sense and tell a story. Yep, that is how I relax. But, where do bubbles come in? Read on, dear reader. There are bubbles in my future.
Bubbles. We all like bubbles. As kids we blew bubbles from our little plastic stick thingies. As we grew up, most of us never really lost that intrigue. However, those are not the bubbles I am talking about. I suppose I could give a hint and say that heat and bubbles work together to help me relax. And now I suspect you are cluing in, so I will add one more hint. Water. You got it, dear reader. Hot tubs! There is nothing quite like soaking in a hot tub, maybe some quiet music playing, even a glass of wine close by. Ah yes, I can feel the daily stress sweating off me as I write this.
But, I don't have any wine. And the music isn't playing, although that is easily correctable. As a matter of fact, dear reader, bear with me for one moment as I turn on some music. Ah, that's better. now I can do some scribbling to the light tunes of The Statler Brothers. Something cold and wet would really set the mood for relaxing and writing. But alas, I must do without. Running to the kitchen to get liquid relief would create a bit of a mess. And that, in turn, would make my dear wife unhappy with me. Not cool. So, going forward then, I think we can agree that this sounds wonderful.
Imagining all this is in itself is the very definition of tranquility. Peacefully I close my eyes and think of sitting in a hot tub, with all the accoutrements I mentioned. If I try hard enough, I can even taste the Chianti or Merlot gracing my palette with their oaky tones. It is a sigh of contentment that I sigh. All of this, dear reader, is almost perfect.
Almost perfect? That may be a bit of an exaggeration. You see, I can't taste the wine. The spice of supper still reminds me of a wonderfully cooked meal that was chased down by a cup of coffee. There is music, and yes it really is The Statler Brothers. As a matter of fact, they are singing Flowers On The Wall, playing solitaire 'till dawn with a deck of 51. There we have it...no wine, but there is music. There is one more thing right and one more thing wrong happening here. There are bubbles. I could not possibly write about bubbles without being immersed in them. What then, could possibly be wrong with this picture?
Here is the crux of the matter, dear reader. I don't own a hot tub. This whole scenario goes out the window without a hot tub. Or does it? I don't think so, for pretty much every place I have ever lived in has a tub. And hot water. And in my most humble opinion, a tub and hot water makes a hot tub. Oh, I may not have the jets, but I can live with that. And as for the bubbles, Superstore sells monster sized bottles of bubble stuff, and it doesn't even stink too badly. There you have it, dear reader. Relaxing, in a hot tub, with bubbles and listening to music. How do you relax? As for me, I soak. And yes, I believe that guys can soak in a tub and it's not weird (some people think it is). And yes, I have enjoyed it my whole life. But next time, I want a glass of wine.
FF
How do you relax? With a good book, or with some soft music? Do you engage in a hobby such as woodworking or painting? The point is that there are many ways to relax, and most people do something different. For instance, I put a bunch of words into sentences and hope they make sense and tell a story. Yep, that is how I relax. But, where do bubbles come in? Read on, dear reader. There are bubbles in my future.
Bubbles. We all like bubbles. As kids we blew bubbles from our little plastic stick thingies. As we grew up, most of us never really lost that intrigue. However, those are not the bubbles I am talking about. I suppose I could give a hint and say that heat and bubbles work together to help me relax. And now I suspect you are cluing in, so I will add one more hint. Water. You got it, dear reader. Hot tubs! There is nothing quite like soaking in a hot tub, maybe some quiet music playing, even a glass of wine close by. Ah yes, I can feel the daily stress sweating off me as I write this.
But, I don't have any wine. And the music isn't playing, although that is easily correctable. As a matter of fact, dear reader, bear with me for one moment as I turn on some music. Ah, that's better. now I can do some scribbling to the light tunes of The Statler Brothers. Something cold and wet would really set the mood for relaxing and writing. But alas, I must do without. Running to the kitchen to get liquid relief would create a bit of a mess. And that, in turn, would make my dear wife unhappy with me. Not cool. So, going forward then, I think we can agree that this sounds wonderful.
Imagining all this is in itself is the very definition of tranquility. Peacefully I close my eyes and think of sitting in a hot tub, with all the accoutrements I mentioned. If I try hard enough, I can even taste the Chianti or Merlot gracing my palette with their oaky tones. It is a sigh of contentment that I sigh. All of this, dear reader, is almost perfect.
Almost perfect? That may be a bit of an exaggeration. You see, I can't taste the wine. The spice of supper still reminds me of a wonderfully cooked meal that was chased down by a cup of coffee. There is music, and yes it really is The Statler Brothers. As a matter of fact, they are singing Flowers On The Wall, playing solitaire 'till dawn with a deck of 51. There we have it...no wine, but there is music. There is one more thing right and one more thing wrong happening here. There are bubbles. I could not possibly write about bubbles without being immersed in them. What then, could possibly be wrong with this picture?
Here is the crux of the matter, dear reader. I don't own a hot tub. This whole scenario goes out the window without a hot tub. Or does it? I don't think so, for pretty much every place I have ever lived in has a tub. And hot water. And in my most humble opinion, a tub and hot water makes a hot tub. Oh, I may not have the jets, but I can live with that. And as for the bubbles, Superstore sells monster sized bottles of bubble stuff, and it doesn't even stink too badly. There you have it, dear reader. Relaxing, in a hot tub, with bubbles and listening to music. How do you relax? As for me, I soak. And yes, I believe that guys can soak in a tub and it's not weird (some people think it is). And yes, I have enjoyed it my whole life. But next time, I want a glass of wine.
FF
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Do they laugh?
Good evening, dear reader
It has been some time since I've written a blog entry. Oh, I've done some writing in my journal, and I've done some work on a story, but I've not put anything here in this category for a while. And so tonight, I write. I write because I have a question. And I write because I am curious. And this post is very relevant and probably fairly similar to a post I made a little while ago. And I'm going to address it again...and again...and again. And so, before I ask my question, I want to clarify something. Nobody is perfect, and I don't want to give the impression that they are. I'm not perfect, you're not perfect, my kids aren't perfect and neither are yours. I am not looking at my question through rose-colored glasses. I am looking at my question through tears. And yes, that may blur my vision a bit. Hopefully you can read my typing...
So, a brief discussion leading up to my question. I believe it is natural for kids to come home from school and talk about their day. I would hope that parents ask about how things went. I would hope that parents are interested in the events of the day, both good and bad. I strongly suspect that most of us do that. We invest time and money into the education of our children. We want what's best for them. I would hope that we all take the education of our children seriously. And I would hope that we all interact with our kids when they get home and talk about their day. And now, with all that being said, I ask you this: do kids come home from school and in the course of their 'day report', talk and laugh about how they made a fellow student feel bad? Do they talk and laugh about how they pushed a fellow student into the bathroom stall door? Do they go so far as to laugh and talk about how they even ganged up on a child...three on one? Does this happen?
This is a serious question, dear reader. Serious because I don't know the answer. Serious because it refers to a very serious topic. If anyone is reading this and thinking that they don't have to take this serious, then I beg you to re-consider. Please read what I said in my introduction about perfection. There is none. I know the answer to my question when I talk to my kids. They tell me what I want to hear. It is only after some more conversation that I find out they were mean to somebody. Or that they said something they shouldn't have, or acted out in a rude and disruptive way. But they don't willingly offer me that information. The beauty of these conversations is that it leads to some very important life lessons that both children and adults need to learn, and learn again. Not one of us has an ounce of perfection in them. And so, we talk about what sort of behaviour is appropriate, what sort of actions, gestures and looks are not meeting expectations, and most importantly what we are going to do about it.
But, I have concerns, dear reader that there are not enough of these conversations happening. I know that I don't talk to my kids near enough about this stuff. Yes, I am writing this stuff to me...if you want to read it and maybe use some of it, that is great. But I am seriously working on the plank in my own eye. I don't even see if there is a speck in yours, so please don't attack me for what I say. As I started saying, I have concerns. When I see or hear of a child coming home from school mentally worn down and discouraged, I think we have a problem. When I see or hear of a young boy or girl wondering if it is all worth it, I believe we have a problem. When I see or hear of a young boy or girl getting ganged up on by 2 or 3 of his or her peers, I know we have a problem.
This leads to another question. Why on earth is this crap still happening? Are we as parents failing so miserably that our children think that bullying is acceptable? Are we as parents actually showing encouragement through our silence? I sure hope not, but I think I'm partially wrong. I really don't think that we as parents want our kids to hurt other kids. I have a hard time buying into that. No, I think that we just need to ask the right questions. Our children need to be held accountable. Who's job is it to do that? I believe it is the parents, with involvement from the school system, whether private or public or separate.
I don't think this particular conversation includes homeschoolers, only for the fact that your kids don't have the same level of public interaction that non-homeschooled kids have. But that doesn't mean I think homeschooled kids are better...nothing is farther from the truth. They are no different in that respect. I've seen homeschool kids bullying other kids. And I've seen the parents laugh it off, admiring little Johnny for being so creative in their interactions, totally ignoring the fear and tears in the other child's eyes. So again, nobody and no system is perfect.
But, I digress. Yes, I do think the school system has a responsibility to educate the children in proper behaviour and treatment of others. And I do think that educators can teach their charges about the effects of bullying, whether intentional or not. And I know of a teacher that wants to do just that...and to me, that breeds a lot of respect. If parents and teachers work together to teach children about how much pain can be caused by a little word, then I really believe we can change things around. Oh, there will always be that one child with a mean streak. I'm still not naive, and I still don't have my rose colored glasses on. And there will always be personality conflicts...in kids and adults. That is just the way it is.
But I firmly resolve to ask my children the right questions. I am determined to find out their indiscretions. And I am bound by my word that I will teach my kids not to laugh at the misfortune or hurt of another. They will be held accountable. And that is part of the lesson I will hold fast to. The other part is this: I can't work change in anyone but myself and my children. So my kids need to know that when they are the targets, the sad reality is that I am powerless. Daddy cannot help except bind up the wound a little tighter. And so, through my own hurt, I teach my children to cope. To cope in a world that doesn't seem to care about asking the right questions. To cope with the pain of words that have been forged into swords. To cope with reality that others aren't accountable. Yes dear reader, I hope you can read this. For it is stained with my tears.
FF
It has been some time since I've written a blog entry. Oh, I've done some writing in my journal, and I've done some work on a story, but I've not put anything here in this category for a while. And so tonight, I write. I write because I have a question. And I write because I am curious. And this post is very relevant and probably fairly similar to a post I made a little while ago. And I'm going to address it again...and again...and again. And so, before I ask my question, I want to clarify something. Nobody is perfect, and I don't want to give the impression that they are. I'm not perfect, you're not perfect, my kids aren't perfect and neither are yours. I am not looking at my question through rose-colored glasses. I am looking at my question through tears. And yes, that may blur my vision a bit. Hopefully you can read my typing...
So, a brief discussion leading up to my question. I believe it is natural for kids to come home from school and talk about their day. I would hope that parents ask about how things went. I would hope that parents are interested in the events of the day, both good and bad. I strongly suspect that most of us do that. We invest time and money into the education of our children. We want what's best for them. I would hope that we all take the education of our children seriously. And I would hope that we all interact with our kids when they get home and talk about their day. And now, with all that being said, I ask you this: do kids come home from school and in the course of their 'day report', talk and laugh about how they made a fellow student feel bad? Do they talk and laugh about how they pushed a fellow student into the bathroom stall door? Do they go so far as to laugh and talk about how they even ganged up on a child...three on one? Does this happen?
This is a serious question, dear reader. Serious because I don't know the answer. Serious because it refers to a very serious topic. If anyone is reading this and thinking that they don't have to take this serious, then I beg you to re-consider. Please read what I said in my introduction about perfection. There is none. I know the answer to my question when I talk to my kids. They tell me what I want to hear. It is only after some more conversation that I find out they were mean to somebody. Or that they said something they shouldn't have, or acted out in a rude and disruptive way. But they don't willingly offer me that information. The beauty of these conversations is that it leads to some very important life lessons that both children and adults need to learn, and learn again. Not one of us has an ounce of perfection in them. And so, we talk about what sort of behaviour is appropriate, what sort of actions, gestures and looks are not meeting expectations, and most importantly what we are going to do about it.
But, I have concerns, dear reader that there are not enough of these conversations happening. I know that I don't talk to my kids near enough about this stuff. Yes, I am writing this stuff to me...if you want to read it and maybe use some of it, that is great. But I am seriously working on the plank in my own eye. I don't even see if there is a speck in yours, so please don't attack me for what I say. As I started saying, I have concerns. When I see or hear of a child coming home from school mentally worn down and discouraged, I think we have a problem. When I see or hear of a young boy or girl wondering if it is all worth it, I believe we have a problem. When I see or hear of a young boy or girl getting ganged up on by 2 or 3 of his or her peers, I know we have a problem.
This leads to another question. Why on earth is this crap still happening? Are we as parents failing so miserably that our children think that bullying is acceptable? Are we as parents actually showing encouragement through our silence? I sure hope not, but I think I'm partially wrong. I really don't think that we as parents want our kids to hurt other kids. I have a hard time buying into that. No, I think that we just need to ask the right questions. Our children need to be held accountable. Who's job is it to do that? I believe it is the parents, with involvement from the school system, whether private or public or separate.
I don't think this particular conversation includes homeschoolers, only for the fact that your kids don't have the same level of public interaction that non-homeschooled kids have. But that doesn't mean I think homeschooled kids are better...nothing is farther from the truth. They are no different in that respect. I've seen homeschool kids bullying other kids. And I've seen the parents laugh it off, admiring little Johnny for being so creative in their interactions, totally ignoring the fear and tears in the other child's eyes. So again, nobody and no system is perfect.
But, I digress. Yes, I do think the school system has a responsibility to educate the children in proper behaviour and treatment of others. And I do think that educators can teach their charges about the effects of bullying, whether intentional or not. And I know of a teacher that wants to do just that...and to me, that breeds a lot of respect. If parents and teachers work together to teach children about how much pain can be caused by a little word, then I really believe we can change things around. Oh, there will always be that one child with a mean streak. I'm still not naive, and I still don't have my rose colored glasses on. And there will always be personality conflicts...in kids and adults. That is just the way it is.
But I firmly resolve to ask my children the right questions. I am determined to find out their indiscretions. And I am bound by my word that I will teach my kids not to laugh at the misfortune or hurt of another. They will be held accountable. And that is part of the lesson I will hold fast to. The other part is this: I can't work change in anyone but myself and my children. So my kids need to know that when they are the targets, the sad reality is that I am powerless. Daddy cannot help except bind up the wound a little tighter. And so, through my own hurt, I teach my children to cope. To cope in a world that doesn't seem to care about asking the right questions. To cope with the pain of words that have been forged into swords. To cope with reality that others aren't accountable. Yes dear reader, I hope you can read this. For it is stained with my tears.
FF
Sunday, April 8, 2012
A Letter from the Unborn
I did not write this, and I take no credit for it at all. But I do share it.
Month One
Mommy
I am only eight inches long
but I have all my organs.
I love the sound of your voice.
Every time I hear it
I wave my arms and legs.
The sound of your heartbeat
is my favorite lullaby.
Month Two
Mommy
today I learned how to suck my thumb.
If you could see me
You could definitely tell that I am a baby.
I'm not big enough to survive outside my home though.
It's so warm and nice in here.
Month Three
You know what Mommy?
I'm a boy!!
I hope that makes you happy.
I always want you to be happy.
I don't like it when you cry.
You sound so sad.
It makes me sad too
and I cry with you even though
you can't hear me.
Month Four
Mommy
My hair is starting to grow.
It is very short and fine
but I will have a lot of it.
I spend a lot of my time exercising.
I can curl my head and curl my fingers and toes
and stretch my arms and legs
I am becoming quite good at it too.
Month Five
You went to the doctor today.
Mommy, he lied to you.
He said that I'm not a baby.
I am a baby Mommy, your baby.
I think and feel.
Mommy, whats ambortion?
Month Six
I can hear that doctor again.
I don't like him.
He seems cold and heartless.
Something is intruding my home.
The doctor called it a needle.
Mommy, what is it? It burns!
Please make him stop!
I cant get away from it!
Mommy! HELP ME!
Month Seven
Mommy
I am OK.
I am in Jesus' arms.
He is holding me.
He told me about abortion.
Mommy, why didn't you want me?
Every abortion is just...
One more heart that was stopped
Two more eyes that will never see
Two more hands that will never touch
Two more legs that will never run
One more mouth that will never speak.
Abortion is wrong. People are here on earth for a reason, and some mothers don’t want their babies.
If you are against abortion copy and paste!!
Month One
Mommy
I am only eight inches long
but I have all my organs.
I love the sound of your voice.
Every time I hear it
I wave my arms and legs.
The sound of your heartbeat
is my favorite lullaby.
Month Two
Mommy
today I learned how to suck my thumb.
If you could see me
You could definitely tell that I am a baby.
I'm not big enough to survive outside my home though.
It's so warm and nice in here.
Month Three
You know what Mommy?
I'm a boy!!
I hope that makes you happy.
I always want you to be happy.
I don't like it when you cry.
You sound so sad.
It makes me sad too
and I cry with you even though
you can't hear me.
Month Four
Mommy
My hair is starting to grow.
It is very short and fine
but I will have a lot of it.
I spend a lot of my time exercising.
I can curl my head and curl my fingers and toes
and stretch my arms and legs
I am becoming quite good at it too.
Month Five
You went to the doctor today.
Mommy, he lied to you.
He said that I'm not a baby.
I am a baby Mommy, your baby.
I think and feel.
Mommy, whats ambortion?
Month Six
I can hear that doctor again.
I don't like him.
He seems cold and heartless.
Something is intruding my home.
The doctor called it a needle.
Mommy, what is it? It burns!
Please make him stop!
I cant get away from it!
Mommy! HELP ME!
Month Seven
Mommy
I am OK.
I am in Jesus' arms.
He is holding me.
He told me about abortion.
Mommy, why didn't you want me?
Every abortion is just...
One more heart that was stopped
Two more eyes that will never see
Two more hands that will never touch
Two more legs that will never run
One more mouth that will never speak.
Abortion is wrong. People are here on earth for a reason, and some mothers don’t want their babies.
If you are against abortion copy and paste!!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Music of the Night
Good afternoon, dear reader
You may or may not have noticed my 'sudden' infatuation with music. Or, more correctly, with The Phantom of the Opera. Very seldom am I moved by music, but this is one piece that gets me every time. And by 'moved', I mean inspired. Yes, dear reader, listening to and watching the musical does me good. It gets my creative juices flowing. And so, today I want to share with you a little part of the journey that I take when I hear the music of the night.
"Lot 665, then ladies and gentlemen". On the original London cast recording, this is where the journey begins. In other productions, it may start with a different lot, but that is sort of irrelevant. Yes dear reader, at those very words, I am transported to an auction in old France. I can feel the emotion in the voice of the Viscomte de Chagny as he looks upon the musical box in the shape of a barrel organ with the figure of a monkey dressed in Persian robes (still in working order!). I can feel his pain as he remembers his love. I am in pain with him.
But alas, dear reader, that is merely the beginning of the journey. Truly it is the next lot in the auction that really makes one feel alive...lot 666 then. Ah the very chandelier that figures in the famous disaster. After a brief description as to what the electricians have done to it (wiring it for the new electric light), we are transported even further back in time...it is at this time that my goose bumps have goose bumps, and the shivers going down my spine are shivering themselves. For now, dear reader, we are introduced to the panic and fear when he appears, or seems to appear. I have lump in my throat, dear reader.
At this point, I can feel a noticeable difference between listening to the score, and watching the full production. I have done both. I first heard the Phantom in the late '80s. My brother had seen it in the Pantages Theatre in Toronto, and he brought back with him the cd, to which he introduced me. And that was the beginning of my love for this brilliantly designed piece. Roughly 8 years later, I saw The Phantom live, in San Francisco. Time has erased many memories of it, but I do remember the chandelier falling...by far the best I've seen. And I remember the awe I felt as I tried to see what was going on from way up in the nosebleed section. It was magical.
Then on September 14, 2006 I saw it again, this time in Edmonton. This time Dianne and I were in the center of the stage, 8 rows back. We were close enough to see the sweat of the performers. We could hear and see things that I simply didn't remember from San Francisco. My love was re-kindled, and I really wanted more. Seeing the production again, however, was not meant to be. Until recently.
Channel surfing is a wonderful thing, and it is because of browsing tendencies that I saw an airing of The Phantom on KSPS. And it was not just any old performance. No, dear reader, this was the 25th anniversary gala performed in the Royal Albert Hall in London. This was magical. I can only imagine what the atmosphere must have been like that night. Naturally, I PVR'd this broadcast in high definition. And, as a self-professed junkie would do...I have watched the performance a couple times now.
I have had the pleasure of seeing 3 different Phantoms now, and Ramin Karimloo (a good Canadian lad!!) in my mind is the best I have ever seen. I have not been fortunate enough to see Michael Crawford or Colm Wilkinson, so I cannot compare. But the sheer passion that Ramin brings to the role is astounding. He embodies everything that the Phantom means to me. I almost feel his madness, his confusion. Listening to and watching this translation of the mad musician makes me feel as if I am wearing the mask. His pain, his love is real. And so is the evil that lurks inside. Is he a man or a monster? I dare say that he is both.
And then there is Christine Daae. Again, 3 different interpretations of this role, and 3 very different emotions. Maybe it is the length of time between me seeing each performance, but the most recent one is clearly head and shoulders above the rest. I don't and can't compare her to Sarah Brightman (the original Christine), for I have not witnessed that performance. But I have to say that Miss Sierra Boggess has turned in a marvelous piece of work. Watching her bring Christine to life is something I will never forget. So convincing and real was she that I hung on her every breath, her every emotion. I believed every tear, every plea, and every profession of love...yes each kiss was not a seemingly brief screen kiss, but a kiss of love.
Yes, dear reader, I am a fan of The Phantom of the Opera. Near the end, as Raoul was hanging from the magical lasso (he forgot to keep his hand at eye level!), I was hurting. But I didn't hurt because the young Viscomte was in dire trouble...no, I hurt because the mad genius who only wanted love was being tormented by a decision he had to make. And I hurt because the one person who could save him from the destruction of his own mind could not love him as he wanted.
Yes, as Ramin and Sierra and Hadley Fraser (Raoul) played out these closing moments, I felt a rush in my very being that I don't think could ever be matched. I felt the pain of love that all 3 actors portrayed so well. I felt it, dear reader. And at that very moment as the Phantom disappears behind his cloak, I was transported to very spot where only his mask lies on the chair. I was there with Meg Giry as she picked up the mask. I was there, dear reader, wondering if ever again I would hear the music of the night. And then I realized that yes I will hear it...in my head, in my very being. Music moves me, dear reader. It inspires me. And when the Angel of Music is played around me, I will always now associate the sweet sounds with Ramin and Sierra. I thank you both...the music of the night has never sounded quite like that.
FF
You may or may not have noticed my 'sudden' infatuation with music. Or, more correctly, with The Phantom of the Opera. Very seldom am I moved by music, but this is one piece that gets me every time. And by 'moved', I mean inspired. Yes, dear reader, listening to and watching the musical does me good. It gets my creative juices flowing. And so, today I want to share with you a little part of the journey that I take when I hear the music of the night.
"Lot 665, then ladies and gentlemen". On the original London cast recording, this is where the journey begins. In other productions, it may start with a different lot, but that is sort of irrelevant. Yes dear reader, at those very words, I am transported to an auction in old France. I can feel the emotion in the voice of the Viscomte de Chagny as he looks upon the musical box in the shape of a barrel organ with the figure of a monkey dressed in Persian robes (still in working order!). I can feel his pain as he remembers his love. I am in pain with him.
But alas, dear reader, that is merely the beginning of the journey. Truly it is the next lot in the auction that really makes one feel alive...lot 666 then. Ah the very chandelier that figures in the famous disaster. After a brief description as to what the electricians have done to it (wiring it for the new electric light), we are transported even further back in time...it is at this time that my goose bumps have goose bumps, and the shivers going down my spine are shivering themselves. For now, dear reader, we are introduced to the panic and fear when he appears, or seems to appear. I have lump in my throat, dear reader.
At this point, I can feel a noticeable difference between listening to the score, and watching the full production. I have done both. I first heard the Phantom in the late '80s. My brother had seen it in the Pantages Theatre in Toronto, and he brought back with him the cd, to which he introduced me. And that was the beginning of my love for this brilliantly designed piece. Roughly 8 years later, I saw The Phantom live, in San Francisco. Time has erased many memories of it, but I do remember the chandelier falling...by far the best I've seen. And I remember the awe I felt as I tried to see what was going on from way up in the nosebleed section. It was magical.
Then on September 14, 2006 I saw it again, this time in Edmonton. This time Dianne and I were in the center of the stage, 8 rows back. We were close enough to see the sweat of the performers. We could hear and see things that I simply didn't remember from San Francisco. My love was re-kindled, and I really wanted more. Seeing the production again, however, was not meant to be. Until recently.
Channel surfing is a wonderful thing, and it is because of browsing tendencies that I saw an airing of The Phantom on KSPS. And it was not just any old performance. No, dear reader, this was the 25th anniversary gala performed in the Royal Albert Hall in London. This was magical. I can only imagine what the atmosphere must have been like that night. Naturally, I PVR'd this broadcast in high definition. And, as a self-professed junkie would do...I have watched the performance a couple times now.
I have had the pleasure of seeing 3 different Phantoms now, and Ramin Karimloo (a good Canadian lad!!) in my mind is the best I have ever seen. I have not been fortunate enough to see Michael Crawford or Colm Wilkinson, so I cannot compare. But the sheer passion that Ramin brings to the role is astounding. He embodies everything that the Phantom means to me. I almost feel his madness, his confusion. Listening to and watching this translation of the mad musician makes me feel as if I am wearing the mask. His pain, his love is real. And so is the evil that lurks inside. Is he a man or a monster? I dare say that he is both.
And then there is Christine Daae. Again, 3 different interpretations of this role, and 3 very different emotions. Maybe it is the length of time between me seeing each performance, but the most recent one is clearly head and shoulders above the rest. I don't and can't compare her to Sarah Brightman (the original Christine), for I have not witnessed that performance. But I have to say that Miss Sierra Boggess has turned in a marvelous piece of work. Watching her bring Christine to life is something I will never forget. So convincing and real was she that I hung on her every breath, her every emotion. I believed every tear, every plea, and every profession of love...yes each kiss was not a seemingly brief screen kiss, but a kiss of love.
Yes, dear reader, I am a fan of The Phantom of the Opera. Near the end, as Raoul was hanging from the magical lasso (he forgot to keep his hand at eye level!), I was hurting. But I didn't hurt because the young Viscomte was in dire trouble...no, I hurt because the mad genius who only wanted love was being tormented by a decision he had to make. And I hurt because the one person who could save him from the destruction of his own mind could not love him as he wanted.
Yes, as Ramin and Sierra and Hadley Fraser (Raoul) played out these closing moments, I felt a rush in my very being that I don't think could ever be matched. I felt the pain of love that all 3 actors portrayed so well. I felt it, dear reader. And at that very moment as the Phantom disappears behind his cloak, I was transported to very spot where only his mask lies on the chair. I was there with Meg Giry as she picked up the mask. I was there, dear reader, wondering if ever again I would hear the music of the night. And then I realized that yes I will hear it...in my head, in my very being. Music moves me, dear reader. It inspires me. And when the Angel of Music is played around me, I will always now associate the sweet sounds with Ramin and Sierra. I thank you both...the music of the night has never sounded quite like that.
FF
Saturday, February 11, 2012
No More Facebook...
Hello dear reader
If you are a friend of mine on Facebook, you may or may not have noticed that I am no longer around. That's right. Like many before me, I have disabled my Facebook account. Now, the question I have is this: How many readers will still read what I write here? Normally when I write an article, I post it on my own Facebook page and on my Fifafan page. That will not happen anymore for obvious reasons.
So if you read this, dear reader, please leave a comment to let me know that you still check the blog once in a while. I suspect I won't get many readers anymore. And if you really want to follow me on social media, join the Twitter universe and follow me there. My twitter handle is @fifafan1969. Or click the twitter button at the bottom of the page.
Until we meet again...ciao.
FF
If you are a friend of mine on Facebook, you may or may not have noticed that I am no longer around. That's right. Like many before me, I have disabled my Facebook account. Now, the question I have is this: How many readers will still read what I write here? Normally when I write an article, I post it on my own Facebook page and on my Fifafan page. That will not happen anymore for obvious reasons.
So if you read this, dear reader, please leave a comment to let me know that you still check the blog once in a while. I suspect I won't get many readers anymore. And if you really want to follow me on social media, join the Twitter universe and follow me there. My twitter handle is @fifafan1969. Or click the twitter button at the bottom of the page.
Until we meet again...ciao.
FF
Friday, January 20, 2012
I love bacon, but not being sick...
Happy Friday evening, dear reader
I sure hope you are having a wonderful evening, and also that your weekend will be brilliant. I just wanted to pop in and give a quick thought on being sick. I don't like it. I don't like colds. I don't like the flu. I don't like headaches. Nope, dear reader, I don't like being sick. Now, I don't get colds very often, but I do get headaches quite a bit, and the flu hits me hard if the bug comes close. My blood sugars go all stupid if I get the flu, and that makes me feel even worse. Thankfully, a flu bug doesn't last long, and a day of sleep cures the headache. And so, I have given my thoughts on being sick. I don't like it, and I felt I should share it with you. And that, dear reader, is all I've got.
FF
I sure hope you are having a wonderful evening, and also that your weekend will be brilliant. I just wanted to pop in and give a quick thought on being sick. I don't like it. I don't like colds. I don't like the flu. I don't like headaches. Nope, dear reader, I don't like being sick. Now, I don't get colds very often, but I do get headaches quite a bit, and the flu hits me hard if the bug comes close. My blood sugars go all stupid if I get the flu, and that makes me feel even worse. Thankfully, a flu bug doesn't last long, and a day of sleep cures the headache. And so, I have given my thoughts on being sick. I don't like it, and I felt I should share it with you. And that, dear reader, is all I've got.
FF
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Decisions, decisions...
Good afternoon, dear reader.
I have a decision to make. Or rather, the missus and I have a decision to make. And I (we) have no idea what to do. Two of our choices will cost a fair bit of money, one will cost us nothing. You're probably wondering why this is so difficult...choose to NOT spend money. I wish it were that easy. Oh, I suppose it could be as simple as that, if I really wanted it to be. But eventually I will be forced to make the choice. I just choose to try make it sooner than later. Read on, and I'll try to explain.
So, it comes down to this. Eventually, I will need a new (or new to me) vehicle. Also, I will need to renovate my house so that the carport becomes a living area. Fine, I don't need to do that, but I want to. Both projects are going to cost a good chunk of change. And this is the dilemma. Which do I do first? Buy a vehicle and put off the reno's for 5 years? Do the reno and hope like crazy my van lasts for 5 more years?
Do you see where the problem is, dear reader? And please, if you're going to be all logical about it, keep it to yourself. I don't want logic. I don't want to talked out of making a 'money-spending' decision. I want someone to tell me what I want to hear. I want to spend the money (which I don't have, but the bank does (hopefully)).
So, why do I want to do this? Why do I want to renovate? Why a new (or new-to-me) vehicle? Well, the renovation would be good for a few reasons. It would increase the value of our house, it would increase the total living space, it would provide a room for the organ and maybe a fireplace area, and it would allow me to make the living room a full sized living room. This is something the missus and I have talked about as our 'really long term plan', but with the arrival of the organ, I think this plan has become our 'not so really long term plan'. Plus, as the kids get older, they will be having more friends over and it would be nice to have a wee little bit more space. Make sense, dear reader?
Now how about the vehicle? Why should I consider this as a priority, or a quasi-priority. Well, my van is a 2003, but does have relatively low KM's. In theory I suspect it could go for quite a number of years yet. The body on it is starting to develop rust...apparently it is a common thing with these vans. The van seats enough people...we can get 6 kids, the missus and myself in there. So space is not an issue. Why then, should I consider a new (or new to me) vehicle first? Well, first of all, I rely on my vehicle for work. I have to drive. So if my vehicle dies, then I have to get a new (or new to me) one immediately. Right now my van is working great. Will it last 5 years? I don't know. Of course, any vehicle could cause problems, and I recognize that. That logic will not influence my decision. Second, I would like to be able to tow a trailer. Currently, my van can't do that AND take stuff and people with me. And no, having a second vehicle for this purpose or for commuting to work is not an option. We are a one driver family. One driver = one vehicle. Third...well, I haven't thought of a third reason yet, but I'm sure it's out there somewhere.
Anyways, dear reader, thus is my problem. To spend or not to spend is not really the question (although I know what the missus thinks). The question really is what to spend on first...house or vehicle. I am sure that it will take the missus and I a while to figure out what we're going to do. As of this very moment, we just don't know. Hopefully we'll figure it out soon. In the meantime, I'll try not to spend at all.
FF
I have a decision to make. Or rather, the missus and I have a decision to make. And I (we) have no idea what to do. Two of our choices will cost a fair bit of money, one will cost us nothing. You're probably wondering why this is so difficult...choose to NOT spend money. I wish it were that easy. Oh, I suppose it could be as simple as that, if I really wanted it to be. But eventually I will be forced to make the choice. I just choose to try make it sooner than later. Read on, and I'll try to explain.
So, it comes down to this. Eventually, I will need a new (or new to me) vehicle. Also, I will need to renovate my house so that the carport becomes a living area. Fine, I don't need to do that, but I want to. Both projects are going to cost a good chunk of change. And this is the dilemma. Which do I do first? Buy a vehicle and put off the reno's for 5 years? Do the reno and hope like crazy my van lasts for 5 more years?
Do you see where the problem is, dear reader? And please, if you're going to be all logical about it, keep it to yourself. I don't want logic. I don't want to talked out of making a 'money-spending' decision. I want someone to tell me what I want to hear. I want to spend the money (which I don't have, but the bank does (hopefully)).
So, why do I want to do this? Why do I want to renovate? Why a new (or new-to-me) vehicle? Well, the renovation would be good for a few reasons. It would increase the value of our house, it would increase the total living space, it would provide a room for the organ and maybe a fireplace area, and it would allow me to make the living room a full sized living room. This is something the missus and I have talked about as our 'really long term plan', but with the arrival of the organ, I think this plan has become our 'not so really long term plan'. Plus, as the kids get older, they will be having more friends over and it would be nice to have a wee little bit more space. Make sense, dear reader?
Now how about the vehicle? Why should I consider this as a priority, or a quasi-priority. Well, my van is a 2003, but does have relatively low KM's. In theory I suspect it could go for quite a number of years yet. The body on it is starting to develop rust...apparently it is a common thing with these vans. The van seats enough people...we can get 6 kids, the missus and myself in there. So space is not an issue. Why then, should I consider a new (or new to me) vehicle first? Well, first of all, I rely on my vehicle for work. I have to drive. So if my vehicle dies, then I have to get a new (or new to me) one immediately. Right now my van is working great. Will it last 5 years? I don't know. Of course, any vehicle could cause problems, and I recognize that. That logic will not influence my decision. Second, I would like to be able to tow a trailer. Currently, my van can't do that AND take stuff and people with me. And no, having a second vehicle for this purpose or for commuting to work is not an option. We are a one driver family. One driver = one vehicle. Third...well, I haven't thought of a third reason yet, but I'm sure it's out there somewhere.
Anyways, dear reader, thus is my problem. To spend or not to spend is not really the question (although I know what the missus thinks). The question really is what to spend on first...house or vehicle. I am sure that it will take the missus and I a while to figure out what we're going to do. As of this very moment, we just don't know. Hopefully we'll figure it out soon. In the meantime, I'll try not to spend at all.
FF
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sticks and Stones
Hello dear reader
I have struggled mightily with this article. I have stewed over the content, the format, the font size, the font color and whether or not to use English or Swahili. OK, mostly it has been content and format that I've pondered. What am I talking about you ask? Well, if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you will have seen a post or tweet I made recently regarding mean spirited kids and the home-schooling option. It sparked quite the discussion, which I think was a very positive thing. In that discussion I promised to blog about it. So, after some debate with myself (I lost said debate), I am sort of ready to write. And here it is...my opinion.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. If you have had to say this to anyone, chances are you were saying it defensively. Chances are you had just been called something not very nice. Chances are you are the victim of bullying. In my humble opinion, bullying is running rampant through our society, through our schools, through our churches and through our homes. And that statement leads me to ask you the question "What do you consider bullying?" If your answer reflects the physical act of pushing, hitting or intimidating others, then I say you are barely right. Yes, bullying is a physical thing. But I firmly believe that physical bullying is on it's way out of society. Community leaders, educators, church leaders and parents have all been made aware of the danger of allowing physical bullying, and are very cognizant of it...if they see it happen, they do their best to stop it from happening. And trust me, this is a very good thing. Being bullied physically is a very hard thing to go through.
But now I ask you "How about verbal abuse?" If you reply with a 'Pfft", or 'Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me", then I've got news for you. Verbal abuse is the form of bullying that is much more damaging than physical. Verbal abuse is much harder to catch. Verbal abuse is much maligned as 'we're just teasing'. In our society, our schools, our churches and our homes, verbal bullying or abuse is almost 'chic'. If you're not teasing the 'weaker' kid, you're just not cool. You can't fit in with our crowd unless you help us make that boy cry, or get mad. If you're not with us, you're against us. Wow. Talk about pressure. Talk about being drawn into something that we may know is wrong, but our own sense of self-preservation forces us to give in and join in. Talk about wrong.
There are many questions I could ask at this point. Such as "What makes you better than that boy?" or,'What gives you the right to call that girl stupid?'. And those are just a couple questions I would ask the kids. How about the parents? I could ask questions of them as well. 'How are you educating your child(ren) at home about respecting other kids?' 'What sort of training mechanism do you have to steer your child(ren) clear of this behavior?' There are questions, but I'm not sure they are being asked. And if they are being asked, the answer is wrong.
Please don't get me wrong...I understand that there is a difference between friendly banter / mild teasing and verbal abuse. But, the line is very, very thin. What hurts me or my child may not hurt you or your child. And that line is what needs to be addressed. How do we define it? Can we come up with a clear definition of that line? A definition which community leaders, educators, parents and children all can understand, agree to and adhere to? Nope, I don't think we can. But I think we can teach awareness. We can empower the bullies to take a step back from their hate (yes, I call it hate for a reason). And we can provide the bullied the tools to deal with the drivel that spewed at them.
The education of bullies and bullied starts with us as parents. I need to teach my kids that calling someone names is unacceptable. But I need to teach this in a tangible fashion. It is not enough to tell them 'Don't call anyone mean things'. I'm sorry...that goes in one ear and out the other. I have recently been engaging in role plays with my kids. Not to the point where they get hurt by what I say, but so that they get the message. And I will continue to do this, because once or twice is not enough. It needs to be an on-going conversation with our kids. I also need to teach my kids how to handle the verbal abuse. Again, we have started to do some role play. I am trying to teach them to mentally throw the words in the garbage, and tell themselves the opposite. So, if someone calls you stupid, turn away, throw the word in the garbage and say 'I am not stupid, I am smart'. It is not the only method. It may not even work for my kids. But the key is that I have to try. And I have to continue to try.
I believe that our schools have done a good job in stamping out bullying. I don't think too many kids are getting beat up on the playground anymore. Nobody is punching a kid in the eye on the school bus. No, dear reader...it is much more subtle than that. And as much as we'd like to blame the school for not doing their job, I think we need to blame ourselves for not doing our jobs. There are many tools and programs available to deal with this...both from a bullies perspective and the bullied perspective. But it starts with you and me as parents. Teach your children. Educate them. Empower them. How many of our children have to feel the ravaging effects of depression before we catch on? Do any of our children have to take their own lives before we as parents learn? Think it won't happen? Take off your rose colored glasses. We live in a sinful world. There is no Utopia. There is no perfection. Pay attention to your children's behaviour. Is he or she a bully? Is he or she being bullied? If so, we need to converse among ourselves as parents. We need to work together to stamp it out. We need to love our children.
I could say much more, dear reader. I have some very strong opinions on this subject. And maybe some day I will write more about it as I learn more about it. You may disagree with me, you may agree with me. That is your right. But please, don't abuse me because of what I am, or what I believe, or what I write. Sticks and stones will break my bones...and words will quite often hurt me.
FF.
PS: I'd love to interact with you on this article. The comment section is open. I moderate it, and need to approve every comment. But, if the comment is relevant (whether in agreement or disagreement), I will publish it. And I hope to interact with every comment. Keeping up the dialogue is important. Let's work together. FF
I have struggled mightily with this article. I have stewed over the content, the format, the font size, the font color and whether or not to use English or Swahili. OK, mostly it has been content and format that I've pondered. What am I talking about you ask? Well, if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you will have seen a post or tweet I made recently regarding mean spirited kids and the home-schooling option. It sparked quite the discussion, which I think was a very positive thing. In that discussion I promised to blog about it. So, after some debate with myself (I lost said debate), I am sort of ready to write. And here it is...my opinion.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. If you have had to say this to anyone, chances are you were saying it defensively. Chances are you had just been called something not very nice. Chances are you are the victim of bullying. In my humble opinion, bullying is running rampant through our society, through our schools, through our churches and through our homes. And that statement leads me to ask you the question "What do you consider bullying?" If your answer reflects the physical act of pushing, hitting or intimidating others, then I say you are barely right. Yes, bullying is a physical thing. But I firmly believe that physical bullying is on it's way out of society. Community leaders, educators, church leaders and parents have all been made aware of the danger of allowing physical bullying, and are very cognizant of it...if they see it happen, they do their best to stop it from happening. And trust me, this is a very good thing. Being bullied physically is a very hard thing to go through.
But now I ask you "How about verbal abuse?" If you reply with a 'Pfft", or 'Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me", then I've got news for you. Verbal abuse is the form of bullying that is much more damaging than physical. Verbal abuse is much harder to catch. Verbal abuse is much maligned as 'we're just teasing'. In our society, our schools, our churches and our homes, verbal bullying or abuse is almost 'chic'. If you're not teasing the 'weaker' kid, you're just not cool. You can't fit in with our crowd unless you help us make that boy cry, or get mad. If you're not with us, you're against us. Wow. Talk about pressure. Talk about being drawn into something that we may know is wrong, but our own sense of self-preservation forces us to give in and join in. Talk about wrong.
There are many questions I could ask at this point. Such as "What makes you better than that boy?" or,'What gives you the right to call that girl stupid?'. And those are just a couple questions I would ask the kids. How about the parents? I could ask questions of them as well. 'How are you educating your child(ren) at home about respecting other kids?' 'What sort of training mechanism do you have to steer your child(ren) clear of this behavior?' There are questions, but I'm not sure they are being asked. And if they are being asked, the answer is wrong.
Please don't get me wrong...I understand that there is a difference between friendly banter / mild teasing and verbal abuse. But, the line is very, very thin. What hurts me or my child may not hurt you or your child. And that line is what needs to be addressed. How do we define it? Can we come up with a clear definition of that line? A definition which community leaders, educators, parents and children all can understand, agree to and adhere to? Nope, I don't think we can. But I think we can teach awareness. We can empower the bullies to take a step back from their hate (yes, I call it hate for a reason). And we can provide the bullied the tools to deal with the drivel that spewed at them.
The education of bullies and bullied starts with us as parents. I need to teach my kids that calling someone names is unacceptable. But I need to teach this in a tangible fashion. It is not enough to tell them 'Don't call anyone mean things'. I'm sorry...that goes in one ear and out the other. I have recently been engaging in role plays with my kids. Not to the point where they get hurt by what I say, but so that they get the message. And I will continue to do this, because once or twice is not enough. It needs to be an on-going conversation with our kids. I also need to teach my kids how to handle the verbal abuse. Again, we have started to do some role play. I am trying to teach them to mentally throw the words in the garbage, and tell themselves the opposite. So, if someone calls you stupid, turn away, throw the word in the garbage and say 'I am not stupid, I am smart'. It is not the only method. It may not even work for my kids. But the key is that I have to try. And I have to continue to try.
I believe that our schools have done a good job in stamping out bullying. I don't think too many kids are getting beat up on the playground anymore. Nobody is punching a kid in the eye on the school bus. No, dear reader...it is much more subtle than that. And as much as we'd like to blame the school for not doing their job, I think we need to blame ourselves for not doing our jobs. There are many tools and programs available to deal with this...both from a bullies perspective and the bullied perspective. But it starts with you and me as parents. Teach your children. Educate them. Empower them. How many of our children have to feel the ravaging effects of depression before we catch on? Do any of our children have to take their own lives before we as parents learn? Think it won't happen? Take off your rose colored glasses. We live in a sinful world. There is no Utopia. There is no perfection. Pay attention to your children's behaviour. Is he or she a bully? Is he or she being bullied? If so, we need to converse among ourselves as parents. We need to work together to stamp it out. We need to love our children.
I could say much more, dear reader. I have some very strong opinions on this subject. And maybe some day I will write more about it as I learn more about it. You may disagree with me, you may agree with me. That is your right. But please, don't abuse me because of what I am, or what I believe, or what I write. Sticks and stones will break my bones...and words will quite often hurt me.
FF.
PS: I'd love to interact with you on this article. The comment section is open. I moderate it, and need to approve every comment. But, if the comment is relevant (whether in agreement or disagreement), I will publish it. And I hope to interact with every comment. Keeping up the dialogue is important. Let's work together. FF
Friday, October 21, 2011
Athletic Supporters
Good afternoon, dear reader
It was the result of a tweet from @GirlOnATerrace that prompted me to write this article. This tweeter is an English lass who is a lifelong fan of Rochdale AFC. She blogs about the team, follows the team, knows the team. She is truly a fan. I have never met her, and probably never will. But her standards in regards to sports teams is something I admire. And so I decided to write about it...not about her, but about sports teams, their fans and how I view myself as an athletic supporter. Read on, dear reader. Even though you might disagree.
I am a sports fan. Always have been, always will be. I love watching sports, and I used to love playing sports. I've played a lot of different games...soccer (or football to my British readers) and hockey being the main ones. I was never very good at hockey, but I could hold my own on the pitch. I could run like the wind, hoof the ball a mile and pass with pinpoint accuracy. At least, that's how I remember it.
As I got older, I drifted away from playing sports, and became a supporter. But, I don't think I was or am a typical fan. You see, I cheer and I exhort my team on to glory. I enjoy victories, titles, trophies and promotions. And yes, I do cheer for some 'big' teams. I cheer for the Calgary Flames (and have since they were in Atlanta). I cheer for Liverpool FC. I cheer for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays. I cheer...I really do. I was in Calgary for the celebration in Olympic Park when the Flames won the Stanley Cup in '89. I was in Toronto on Yonge Street for one of the World Series parades for the Blue Jays. So, as you can see...I do cheer.
But all this begs the question...what if the teams I cheer for don't win? What if the 'big' teams don't achieve titles, trophies and promotions? What if the highly paid athletes that I spur on don't achieve what I think they should? Well, the answer is simple. I don't give a rip. That's right...I could not care less. I do not get weepy and morose for days on end when the Flames miss the playoffs yet again. When Liverpool falls outside the top 5 in the Premier league, and miss out on lucrative Europa League football, and on the even more lucrative Champions League football...you guessed it, I don't care. I do not lose any sleep over it. I don't shed a tear. I don't even get a little bit sad. Because. I. Don't. Care.
However, I do start to care a little bit more when I am cheering for a minor league hockey team, or a lower league football club. And before you go off screaming double standards, hear me out. You see, for me, a big part of sports is tied up in money. Teams go about buying their way to victories, titles, trophies and promotions. And I have a real hard time caring for teams that didn't quite spend enough to beat the next guy. But the minor or lower leagues is a little different. In hockey, they are playing for the privilege of making millions, but they play with their heart. They put everything they can into it. They present a different side to the game than the pro's do. In soccer (or football for my readers overseas), the lower league clubs play for a lot less wages than the pro's do...but they play with more heart, more desire and more effort in a lot of cases.
Do you see the difference, dear reader? The young lass I mentioned in my introduction cheers for Rochdale AFC, a 3rd tier football team from Northern England. She lives there and she stays loyal. Oh, she could choose to cheer for Manchester United or Manchester City, two of the 'big' clubs that are right next door. Heck, Liverpool and Everton are just down the road. But she cheers for the little club. She is not drawn in by the 'glory' that allegedly comes with the money the big clubs spend.
And I feel the same way. I would rather cheer for the 'little' teams. That is why I will get a little more unhappy with a poor Lethbridge Hurricanes showing. That is why I was over the moon when Rochdale got promoted a couple years back from League Two after 39 years. Buying a title or a trophy is not sport, in my opinion. It is business. Paying obscene amounts of money for a player, or paying a player obscene amounts of money is not sport, in my opinion. Playing hard to get those opportunities is one thing...the heart is there, the desire is burning and the paycheck is smaller. Don't get me wrong...not all highly paid athletes just go through the motions. There are many examples of them that work hard at their craft. And I respect that. But I respect more those that play for a lot less. And put in just as much effort.
Maybe I'm way off base here. Maybe some of you will think I have no idea what I'm talking about. And you may be right. But, this is my opinion. This is the way I feel. This is how I choose to be an athletic supporter. How about you?
FF
It was the result of a tweet from @GirlOnATerrace that prompted me to write this article. This tweeter is an English lass who is a lifelong fan of Rochdale AFC. She blogs about the team, follows the team, knows the team. She is truly a fan. I have never met her, and probably never will. But her standards in regards to sports teams is something I admire. And so I decided to write about it...not about her, but about sports teams, their fans and how I view myself as an athletic supporter. Read on, dear reader. Even though you might disagree.
I am a sports fan. Always have been, always will be. I love watching sports, and I used to love playing sports. I've played a lot of different games...soccer (or football to my British readers) and hockey being the main ones. I was never very good at hockey, but I could hold my own on the pitch. I could run like the wind, hoof the ball a mile and pass with pinpoint accuracy. At least, that's how I remember it.As I got older, I drifted away from playing sports, and became a supporter. But, I don't think I was or am a typical fan. You see, I cheer and I exhort my team on to glory. I enjoy victories, titles, trophies and promotions. And yes, I do cheer for some 'big' teams. I cheer for the Calgary Flames (and have since they were in Atlanta). I cheer for Liverpool FC. I cheer for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays. I cheer...I really do. I was in Calgary for the celebration in Olympic Park when the Flames won the Stanley Cup in '89. I was in Toronto on Yonge Street for one of the World Series parades for the Blue Jays. So, as you can see...I do cheer.
But all this begs the question...what if the teams I cheer for don't win? What if the 'big' teams don't achieve titles, trophies and promotions? What if the highly paid athletes that I spur on don't achieve what I think they should? Well, the answer is simple. I don't give a rip. That's right...I could not care less. I do not get weepy and morose for days on end when the Flames miss the playoffs yet again. When Liverpool falls outside the top 5 in the Premier league, and miss out on lucrative Europa League football, and on the even more lucrative Champions League football...you guessed it, I don't care. I do not lose any sleep over it. I don't shed a tear. I don't even get a little bit sad. Because. I. Don't. Care.
However, I do start to care a little bit more when I am cheering for a minor league hockey team, or a lower league football club. And before you go off screaming double standards, hear me out. You see, for me, a big part of sports is tied up in money. Teams go about buying their way to victories, titles, trophies and promotions. And I have a real hard time caring for teams that didn't quite spend enough to beat the next guy. But the minor or lower leagues is a little different. In hockey, they are playing for the privilege of making millions, but they play with their heart. They put everything they can into it. They present a different side to the game than the pro's do. In soccer (or football for my readers overseas), the lower league clubs play for a lot less wages than the pro's do...but they play with more heart, more desire and more effort in a lot of cases.
Do you see the difference, dear reader? The young lass I mentioned in my introduction cheers for Rochdale AFC, a 3rd tier football team from Northern England. She lives there and she stays loyal. Oh, she could choose to cheer for Manchester United or Manchester City, two of the 'big' clubs that are right next door. Heck, Liverpool and Everton are just down the road. But she cheers for the little club. She is not drawn in by the 'glory' that allegedly comes with the money the big clubs spend.
And I feel the same way. I would rather cheer for the 'little' teams. That is why I will get a little more unhappy with a poor Lethbridge Hurricanes showing. That is why I was over the moon when Rochdale got promoted a couple years back from League Two after 39 years. Buying a title or a trophy is not sport, in my opinion. It is business. Paying obscene amounts of money for a player, or paying a player obscene amounts of money is not sport, in my opinion. Playing hard to get those opportunities is one thing...the heart is there, the desire is burning and the paycheck is smaller. Don't get me wrong...not all highly paid athletes just go through the motions. There are many examples of them that work hard at their craft. And I respect that. But I respect more those that play for a lot less. And put in just as much effort.
Maybe I'm way off base here. Maybe some of you will think I have no idea what I'm talking about. And you may be right. But, this is my opinion. This is the way I feel. This is how I choose to be an athletic supporter. How about you?
FF
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Adventures in iPad
Good afternoon dear reader
When the iPad first was launched I was a skeptic. Not only was I a skeptic, but I was a critic of the device and of people who bought the device. I really didn't see any use for the iPad...other than as a status symbol. After all, what good was it? Oh, there were apps. More and more apps were coming out all the time. But I was not sold, and I was not ever going to buy such a useless device. Read on, dear reader...let's talk iPad.
As I said in my introduction, I was a vocal critic of the iPad. And I must admit that my opinion was not based on experience with the device, for I had very little of that. I had never used an iPhone or an iPod or an iPod Touch. I have an old Mac G4 running Leopard, but that is it for my recent Apple experience (I do not count the Apple IIc I learnt on in high school...that's a long time ago).
And so, I vocalized how useless a device like an iPad would be. It cannot ever replace a laptop or a desktop computer. It had no USB ports. It could not display websites that use Flash technology. It had no expandable storage. Really? 64GB was the maximum? Yes, dear reader...I despised the iPad. And anyone who bought one I labelled as silly. These people obviously had too much money. The obviously were more interested in the status symbol that accompanied the iPad...because apparently only the cool kids bought one. And the rich kids, but the two go hand in hand usually.
My opinion did not change with the launch of the iPad 2. After all, there was still no USB ports, no expandable storage, no Flash. But there was a second camera!! Sigh. When would Apple get it right and make a device that I deemed useful? After all, it was all about me...obviously my opinion was the only one that counted. The millions of iPad owners were blinded by Apples marketing...they fell for it. I didn't. I win. Or did I?
Dear reader, I was wrong.
In the summer of 2011, one of the schools I work in let me take home one of their iPad 2's. They said 'Use it for the summer, play with it, work with it, learn it'. I did that. I told myself that I would go into the summer with my eyes wide open. I would find as many uses for the iPad as I could. I would prove to myself that I was right or wrong. But I did give it a fair chance.
And so, I bought apps. I started following the AppStore on Twitter. I used the iPad in meetings, I used it on holidays, I used it at home. My kids played games on it, my wife played games on it. We actually liked it. Over the course of the summer, I discovered more uses for the iPad than I ever thought possible. Because of the long battery life, I can use it in meetings without worrying about my laptop battery dying. I use Dropbox to access my files in a secure manner, thus the issue of no expandable storage is alleviated. When we were camping, we played games on it during a rain storm (inside the camper of course). My wife and I have had countless games of Scrabble on it. I bought an Office suite for it that is fully compatible with MS Office and integrates with Dropbox. It was brilliant.
Yes, dear reader...I was wrong. I found out over the course of the summer that the iPad was an invaluable tool. I was sad that I would have to give it back to the school soon. And so I made a choice. I made a choice that I had promised myself I would never make. I bought an iPad. I bought the 32GB model with no 3G network. And I keep finding more uses for it. I would not want to do without it.
I was wrong. Millions of people were right. Kudos to Apple on a brilliant device.
FF
When the iPad first was launched I was a skeptic. Not only was I a skeptic, but I was a critic of the device and of people who bought the device. I really didn't see any use for the iPad...other than as a status symbol. After all, what good was it? Oh, there were apps. More and more apps were coming out all the time. But I was not sold, and I was not ever going to buy such a useless device. Read on, dear reader...let's talk iPad.
As I said in my introduction, I was a vocal critic of the iPad. And I must admit that my opinion was not based on experience with the device, for I had very little of that. I had never used an iPhone or an iPod or an iPod Touch. I have an old Mac G4 running Leopard, but that is it for my recent Apple experience (I do not count the Apple IIc I learnt on in high school...that's a long time ago).
And so, I vocalized how useless a device like an iPad would be. It cannot ever replace a laptop or a desktop computer. It had no USB ports. It could not display websites that use Flash technology. It had no expandable storage. Really? 64GB was the maximum? Yes, dear reader...I despised the iPad. And anyone who bought one I labelled as silly. These people obviously had too much money. The obviously were more interested in the status symbol that accompanied the iPad...because apparently only the cool kids bought one. And the rich kids, but the two go hand in hand usually.
My opinion did not change with the launch of the iPad 2. After all, there was still no USB ports, no expandable storage, no Flash. But there was a second camera!! Sigh. When would Apple get it right and make a device that I deemed useful? After all, it was all about me...obviously my opinion was the only one that counted. The millions of iPad owners were blinded by Apples marketing...they fell for it. I didn't. I win. Or did I?
Dear reader, I was wrong.
In the summer of 2011, one of the schools I work in let me take home one of their iPad 2's. They said 'Use it for the summer, play with it, work with it, learn it'. I did that. I told myself that I would go into the summer with my eyes wide open. I would find as many uses for the iPad as I could. I would prove to myself that I was right or wrong. But I did give it a fair chance.
And so, I bought apps. I started following the AppStore on Twitter. I used the iPad in meetings, I used it on holidays, I used it at home. My kids played games on it, my wife played games on it. We actually liked it. Over the course of the summer, I discovered more uses for the iPad than I ever thought possible. Because of the long battery life, I can use it in meetings without worrying about my laptop battery dying. I use Dropbox to access my files in a secure manner, thus the issue of no expandable storage is alleviated. When we were camping, we played games on it during a rain storm (inside the camper of course). My wife and I have had countless games of Scrabble on it. I bought an Office suite for it that is fully compatible with MS Office and integrates with Dropbox. It was brilliant.
Yes, dear reader...I was wrong. I found out over the course of the summer that the iPad was an invaluable tool. I was sad that I would have to give it back to the school soon. And so I made a choice. I made a choice that I had promised myself I would never make. I bought an iPad. I bought the 32GB model with no 3G network. And I keep finding more uses for it. I would not want to do without it.
I was wrong. Millions of people were right. Kudos to Apple on a brilliant device.
FF
Monday, September 26, 2011
Fifafan 2.0
Good evening dear reader
Before I begin, I must give props to my friend James. He is the one who inspired the title. He dubbed it Fifafan 2.0 on a Facebook comment...so I borrowed it. Thanks, James. Next time I see you, I'll buy you a beer. Now that I'm done that part...welcome. Welcome to my new site. It has been quite a while in my mind, and almost as long in production. And now today, I go live with the new site. Is it done? By no means. Is it different? Oh yeah. Read on, dear reader. Let me take you through some changes and some plans.
Fifafan 2.0 was born quite some time ago, and it was born in the usual manner...starting as a mere thought, which led to a discussion, which in turn went into some practice runs. And out of the practice runs came this...the site as you see it right now. And Fifafan 2.0 will grow, it may mature and it may even show signs of wisdom. This is how you know it is mine.
A quick tour of the site is in order. At the top right of the page is the main menu, and this where you get from place to place. The Home page is...obvious. The Ramblings page is where the actual blog is located. It contains 3 sub-menus: Article Index, which is where you can see a list of all the articles on the blog; Cancer - Our Journey, which is the original blog I wrote throughout Dianne's journey through cancer; and My Musings, which is where the majority of my writings not cancer related will be.
The About Me page is a very brief auto-biography, and the Contact Me page is a form in which you can, um...contact me. Pretty simple stuff, really.
What do you think so far? Personally I like it. It is fresh, it is clean. And I love working in WordPress. But, I am not done yet, dear reader. We've been through some changes...now let's go through some plans.
Are you wondering where my picture gallery is? Or my polls? Well, as of right now, I am not sure they are coming back. Thus, any article I wrote on the old site pertaining to pictures or polls will not be posted...yet. If I find a gallery plugin or a poll plugin that I am happy with, I will re-post the old articles as well as new ones. So, that is one plan...tentative, but still a plan.
The other plan is something that my friend Richard inspired in me. You see, he was showing me a cool piece of software in his classroom that basically was a story spinner. Spin the 4 wheels and come up with a plot that one must write a short story about. This is definitely something I am going to implement. And soon. There will be a sub-category under Ramblings called Story Spinner, and this will contain the stories. There is nothing quite like getting the creative juices flowing by writing about random plots involving random people in random locations. Plus it forces me to write, and will help me grow as a writer. Watch for this one...it could be good.
You do have the option of registering on the site. It doesn't serve much benefit right now, but eventually I am hoping to have guest writers...and it could be you. You also have the option of commenting on most articles. And I encourage you to participate in this way.
The site is changing, dear reader. It might change on a daily basis, or it might not change for a week. But change it will. And I will write. I welcome you to the new Fifafan.ca. I hope you enjoy your visits. I know I'm going to enjoy being back.
FF
Before I begin, I must give props to my friend James. He is the one who inspired the title. He dubbed it Fifafan 2.0 on a Facebook comment...so I borrowed it. Thanks, James. Next time I see you, I'll buy you a beer. Now that I'm done that part...welcome. Welcome to my new site. It has been quite a while in my mind, and almost as long in production. And now today, I go live with the new site. Is it done? By no means. Is it different? Oh yeah. Read on, dear reader. Let me take you through some changes and some plans.
Fifafan 2.0 was born quite some time ago, and it was born in the usual manner...starting as a mere thought, which led to a discussion, which in turn went into some practice runs. And out of the practice runs came this...the site as you see it right now. And Fifafan 2.0 will grow, it may mature and it may even show signs of wisdom. This is how you know it is mine.
A quick tour of the site is in order. At the top right of the page is the main menu, and this where you get from place to place. The Home page is...obvious. The Ramblings page is where the actual blog is located. It contains 3 sub-menus: Article Index, which is where you can see a list of all the articles on the blog; Cancer - Our Journey, which is the original blog I wrote throughout Dianne's journey through cancer; and My Musings, which is where the majority of my writings not cancer related will be.
The About Me page is a very brief auto-biography, and the Contact Me page is a form in which you can, um...contact me. Pretty simple stuff, really.
What do you think so far? Personally I like it. It is fresh, it is clean. And I love working in WordPress. But, I am not done yet, dear reader. We've been through some changes...now let's go through some plans.
Are you wondering where my picture gallery is? Or my polls? Well, as of right now, I am not sure they are coming back. Thus, any article I wrote on the old site pertaining to pictures or polls will not be posted...yet. If I find a gallery plugin or a poll plugin that I am happy with, I will re-post the old articles as well as new ones. So, that is one plan...tentative, but still a plan.
The other plan is something that my friend Richard inspired in me. You see, he was showing me a cool piece of software in his classroom that basically was a story spinner. Spin the 4 wheels and come up with a plot that one must write a short story about. This is definitely something I am going to implement. And soon. There will be a sub-category under Ramblings called Story Spinner, and this will contain the stories. There is nothing quite like getting the creative juices flowing by writing about random plots involving random people in random locations. Plus it forces me to write, and will help me grow as a writer. Watch for this one...it could be good.
You do have the option of registering on the site. It doesn't serve much benefit right now, but eventually I am hoping to have guest writers...and it could be you. You also have the option of commenting on most articles. And I encourage you to participate in this way.
The site is changing, dear reader. It might change on a daily basis, or it might not change for a week. But change it will. And I will write. I welcome you to the new Fifafan.ca. I hope you enjoy your visits. I know I'm going to enjoy being back.
FF
Saturday, July 16, 2011
A Simple Muse
Hello again, dear reader. As I sit here by the dying fire, I contemplate. I muse. I react in words to the thoughts in my head. And so, this article could be a real potpourri of words, thoughts and ideas. Bear with me, dear reader. For tonight I have a story to tell, and it is my desire that you come along on this ride.
Before I get too deep into this thing, I should warn you. This could end at any time tonight. Oh, it will be continued, but tonights writing could be short. You see, dear reader, I am tired. Very tired. Not that I have been working hard...no, nothing could be farther from the truth. I am actually very relaxed. Almost like a puddle am I. After all, I am camping. My body is sore for some reason, but...I am camping.
Do you like camping, dear reader? I do. This year is the first year we have not 'tented'. My brother-in-law graciously allowed us to use his 5th wheel, and let me tell you, it is awesome! We never really knew what we were missing because we have never been in anything but a tent. And now, both my wife and I don't really want to go back to a tent. Sleeping off the ground, staying dry, having a fridge...these are all creature comforts that did not take us very long to get used to. I think it was after the first night that we were in 'lots of like' with a holiday trailer.
And so, here I sit, dear reader. The fire is almost done, and I will not put on more wood. No, for I too am almost done. My rye 'n' DP is pretty much empty, my eyelids are heavy, and without the heat from the fire it is freakin' cold. Yup, almost time to crawl into my nice warm bed.
But there is one more question that needs to be answered, dear reader. And that question is this: do I continue this article, or do I start a new one tomorrow? I suspect that you and I feel the same way about this. Given my penchant (or lack thereof) for writing lately, I am better off ending this article (after completely reneging on the promised mis-mash of words, thoughts and ideas). But maybe this simple article will spur me on to write (where have I heard that before?). Just maybe I will continue in a new article tomorrow. Just maybe a warm fire will give me motivation. But right now, a dead fire and an empty glass turns my gaze to my bed. I will leave you with a glimpse of what was my roaring fire...now in it's death throes. Hopefully my picture turns out.
Good night, dear reader. And thanks for coming back.
FF
PS: This was posted to this site by using my phone as a WIFI hotspot. I love technology.
Before I get too deep into this thing, I should warn you. This could end at any time tonight. Oh, it will be continued, but tonights writing could be short. You see, dear reader, I am tired. Very tired. Not that I have been working hard...no, nothing could be farther from the truth. I am actually very relaxed. Almost like a puddle am I. After all, I am camping. My body is sore for some reason, but...I am camping.
Do you like camping, dear reader? I do. This year is the first year we have not 'tented'. My brother-in-law graciously allowed us to use his 5th wheel, and let me tell you, it is awesome! We never really knew what we were missing because we have never been in anything but a tent. And now, both my wife and I don't really want to go back to a tent. Sleeping off the ground, staying dry, having a fridge...these are all creature comforts that did not take us very long to get used to. I think it was after the first night that we were in 'lots of like' with a holiday trailer.
And so, here I sit, dear reader. The fire is almost done, and I will not put on more wood. No, for I too am almost done. My rye 'n' DP is pretty much empty, my eyelids are heavy, and without the heat from the fire it is freakin' cold. Yup, almost time to crawl into my nice warm bed.
But there is one more question that needs to be answered, dear reader. And that question is this: do I continue this article, or do I start a new one tomorrow? I suspect that you and I feel the same way about this. Given my penchant (or lack thereof) for writing lately, I am better off ending this article (after completely reneging on the promised mis-mash of words, thoughts and ideas). But maybe this simple article will spur me on to write (where have I heard that before?). Just maybe I will continue in a new article tomorrow. Just maybe a warm fire will give me motivation. But right now, a dead fire and an empty glass turns my gaze to my bed. I will leave you with a glimpse of what was my roaring fire...now in it's death throes. Hopefully my picture turns out.
Good night, dear reader. And thanks for coming back.
FF
PS: This was posted to this site by using my phone as a WIFI hotspot. I love technology.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
So long...and thanks for all the Joomla
Hello dear reader
Alas the time has come. I must bid you all a fond farewell from this Joomla site. Most of you have probably noticed that I have written very little over the past little (ok, long) while. I really thought my creativity and desire was coming back, but it isn't. I just can't do it anymore. Honestly, dear reader...I am bored with the site. I used to have a purpose for writing, for creating the site...now I can't write to save my life and the site has gone stagnant. And so, Joomla and I bid you au revoir.
But......but wait. Don't frown. Don't fret. Don't freak.
Yes, dear reader...there is a 'but'. And along with that 'but', did you notice the wording of the aforementioned farewell? How many of you savvy readers caught it? (The real question should be 'how many of you care', but I don't want to go there.) No, dear reader, I am not leaving. I am not quitting. As a matter of fact, I am hoping to move http://fifafan.ca into a whole new realm of creativity. I am hoping that by throwing myself a curveball, I will get excited about writing again, stoked to create. How do I plan on doing this, you ask? Let me explain.
I have to give a shout out to my friend Lance. He and I were talking at work, and he threw out the idea of website creation. He also mentioned WordPress, and how much it has changed and evolved. And so, I looked into it. I did a quick install to my http://leffers.ca website and did a wee bit of poking around. And you know, dear reader...I could get into this whole WordPress thing. It is a brand new learning curve for me, but it seems that it will open up more doors for me. I will be forced to redesign...and that will force me to write. So, thank you Lance...I really do appreciate it.
So, what becomes of all the work I've done with fifafan.ca then? Well, as of right now, I am planning on keeping the content roughly the same. I will slowly transfer all my articles over, and along with that, I will also transfer the Cancer Blog over. How that will all look is still a mystery. When it will all happen is also undecided. But it will happen. I will also have my photo albums. This is all where the creativity comes in. We'll just have to see.
At some point in the near future, this site as you know it will go offline. It needs to go away so that I can implement the new fifafan.ca. So let this be notice to you, dear reader. Some day soon, the site will be gone. But it will be back...bigger and better. As I go through the planning stages, I will try update with short snippets here and there. So check back often. The work is starting. And I am excited about it.
Until next time, so long and thanks for all the Joomla.
FF
Alas the time has come. I must bid you all a fond farewell from this Joomla site. Most of you have probably noticed that I have written very little over the past little (ok, long) while. I really thought my creativity and desire was coming back, but it isn't. I just can't do it anymore. Honestly, dear reader...I am bored with the site. I used to have a purpose for writing, for creating the site...now I can't write to save my life and the site has gone stagnant. And so, Joomla and I bid you au revoir.
But......but wait. Don't frown. Don't fret. Don't freak.
Yes, dear reader...there is a 'but'. And along with that 'but', did you notice the wording of the aforementioned farewell? How many of you savvy readers caught it? (The real question should be 'how many of you care', but I don't want to go there.) No, dear reader, I am not leaving. I am not quitting. As a matter of fact, I am hoping to move http://fifafan.ca into a whole new realm of creativity. I am hoping that by throwing myself a curveball, I will get excited about writing again, stoked to create. How do I plan on doing this, you ask? Let me explain.
I have to give a shout out to my friend Lance. He and I were talking at work, and he threw out the idea of website creation. He also mentioned WordPress, and how much it has changed and evolved. And so, I looked into it. I did a quick install to my http://leffers.ca website and did a wee bit of poking around. And you know, dear reader...I could get into this whole WordPress thing. It is a brand new learning curve for me, but it seems that it will open up more doors for me. I will be forced to redesign...and that will force me to write. So, thank you Lance...I really do appreciate it.
So, what becomes of all the work I've done with fifafan.ca then? Well, as of right now, I am planning on keeping the content roughly the same. I will slowly transfer all my articles over, and along with that, I will also transfer the Cancer Blog over. How that will all look is still a mystery. When it will all happen is also undecided. But it will happen. I will also have my photo albums. This is all where the creativity comes in. We'll just have to see.
At some point in the near future, this site as you know it will go offline. It needs to go away so that I can implement the new fifafan.ca. So let this be notice to you, dear reader. Some day soon, the site will be gone. But it will be back...bigger and better. As I go through the planning stages, I will try update with short snippets here and there. So check back often. The work is starting. And I am excited about it.
Until next time, so long and thanks for all the Joomla.
FF
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