One Mother of a Blog » What’s making news in my corner of the world

The verdict is in

mam — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 12:36:09 +0000

For the past year I have been traveling to Moncton for pre-op testing before surgery on my nose due to polyps. (The story starts here) Yesterday, DH and I made one more journey to Moncton to meet with the E.N.T.”>physican. After consults between the ENT doctor and the heamotologist, they have decided the operation is too high of a risk due to my blood disorder (antiphouphouliptic syndrome). With this disorder, also known as Hughes Syndrome most people have a problem with recurring blood clots. In my case, I have problems primarily with hemorrhaging. As any nose operation results in extensive bleeding, the risk is just too high.

I will continue a regime of medication (all related to nasal problems and asthma, ( they seem to go hand in hand) and be monitored on a regular basis. The good news is my nasal problems have improved slightly since my last visit. I credited this to the recent round of anti-inflammatory medication I took for my back. The doctor advised me that medication should have caused the polyps to expand not shrink. He just doesn`t know me well enough. I`ve always be a contradiction when it comes to medication and how my body reacts.

DH is relieved beyond words. During an operation I am oblivious to everything, thanks to good drugs and he is the one pacing the waiting room.

So life goes on, my voice will be a bit husky, due to the congestion, but I like to think it sounds kinda sexy.

Getting skunked

mam — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 13:02:45 +0000

From the Digital Journal

Imagine it’s around 7:30 p.m. and you’re sitting in your home alone – Well, with the exception of a skunk who happens to live at the bottom of your front porch.

You and perhaps the skunk are simply minding your own business when suddenly a team of cops come charging in a begin raiding your home. What do you do? What would go through your mind? On the evening of January 6, 2011 this is exactly what happened to Oliver MacQuat who lives in the rural town of Montee Parement, Quebec. According to MacQuat, he was met at the door with “10 officers who all had their guns drawn.”He claimed that he was so terrified that he believed his heart was probably “going at 150 miles per hour.” Thinking MacQuat’s house was involved in growing marijuana , the police rampaged through his home apparently searching for the mounds of weed. Meanwhile, while all this was taking place, his teenage son Emilo returned home to the sight of police cruisers with their red lights flashing in front his house. MacQuat’ son said, “I was shaking. I was very worried. I did not know what happened to my dad.” Finally, a senior officer arrived at the scene said “There is a skunk…everything is clean.” According to MacQuat, “You could see they were very embarrassed and genuinely sorry. They all apologized.” However- MacQuat asks that the Gatinteau police and the Quebec Provincial Police make the apology formal. He’s afraid the raid may appear on his record, especially on any of his future travels. The police seem adamant in their belief that the raid was not a mistake for it appears they insist they had reasonable grounds to conduct a search. If so, the police should state what those reasonable grounds are. Mistaking the smell of a skunk to that of marijuana would hardly seem like reasonable grounds. Besides, it’s a stinking insult to the skunk.

A full moon on the autumnal equinox

mam — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:55:24 +0000

Tonight marks the beginning of fall and not since 1991 has there been a full moon on the September equinox. The full moon closest to the September equinox is known as the harvest moon.

This is one of many astronomical coincidences this month. On Monday, the planet Jupiter got the closest it’s been to Earth since 1963, and Uranus passed right behind Jupiter on Sept. 17,

If you missed your chance to see the harvest moon coincide with the autumnal equinox, don’t worry. It’ll happen again… in 2029.

To marvel at incredible photos of the night sky, check out the amazing photography of Dan Bush.

Watch out Shakira

mam — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 22:29:27 +0000

In the 80′s and 90′s I loved going to aerobics. I wore the sparkling clingy leggings, the sock warmers, the wild neon oloured tops. Up until the time I moved to the Miramichi I went to the gym nightly especially for aerobic classes. Unfortunately I could not find an aerobic class locally so had to settle for the treadmill and weights. But not any more.

Last night I attended my first Zumba class and I could not be happier. There I was with 87 other women, of all shapes, sizes and ages. Having the best of time. Think of aerobics but faster, with a world beat music pounding in the back ground. From the moment you start your warm up to the cool down, its dance, dance, dance.

A standard one-hour class uses four basic rhythms based on simplified versions of salsa, merengue, cumbia and reggaeton (mixed up with a bit of mambo, flamenco, rumba and calypso). It’s a cardio-based workout which also helps tone and sculpt the body. It’s a great way to lose weight, increase strength and co-ordination, and to foster self-esteem and pure happiness. That is why so many people love it and get addicted to it.

My DH has the rhythm of a brick but I love to dance. Now I can have it all and hopefully lose a few pounds. It will take me a few weeks to master the hip and belly movements. Who knows, maybe someday I will give Shakira a run for her money.

All aboard

mam — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:02:55 +0000

When the kids were younger we would take the train to Halifax to visit with my sister Wanda and her family. I love traveling by train, especially during the winter. It does not matter how windy or snowy the weather is outside. Inside you are safe and warm. You see the world differently from a train window.

Some day my DH and I will take a trip through the Rockies. For now I would settle for a trip to Halifax.

My DH told me that Via are offering a free train ride for anyone who is talented to entertain their fellow passengers during their travels. I don`t think either one of us will be getting a free ride anytime soon.

But if you have children between the ages of two and eleven, they can travel with you for only $10.00 more. Check it out here.

This is cool

mam — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:56:47 +0000

I spent the last two days in Fredericton at a Record Management refresher course. To quote one of my co-workers, “There is nothing sexy about records management.” To someone like myself who loves systems and order, it’s not a bad way to spend a couple of days especially when you throw in a visit with my grandson and his little family.

We viewed this video clip on the second day. Although the video is mainly about electronic discovery law, it certainly makes you think about the information explosion and advances in technology.

Now isn’t that special

mam — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:23:11 +0000

I just can’t imagine.

And so it begins

mam — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:51:28 +0000

We spent yesterday wandering around the Moncton Home show. For two solid hours we looked at windows and doors. As soon as I spied this beauty I knew the search was over. It is the Craftsman by Barrington, which comes with a choice of three different glass deigns and a dentil shelf. The door is fibreglass as wood would be too difficult to maintain and prevent from bowing in our cold Maritime winters. We are considering the same design for the interior transoms over the bedroom doors. The Arts and Craft style has always been my favourite so this door is a perfect match.

While my DH and the glass company salesman went through the house plans, I just sat and stared lovingly at the door. We will put our present home back on the market soon and keep our fingers crossed. Meanwhile, slowly we are organizing everything so that the building of our new home can start the moment the old home is sold. This is the first time I have been involved in building a home. I find it a bit overwhelming, but the home show was a good chance to see what options are available.

Mike Holmes was the star attraction for many visitors. I was surprised to see that the women were outnumbered 4 to one by men waiting in line for Mike`s autograph. I walked past with just a glance, after all now I have to consider counter tops and cupboards.

Snow Day

mam — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:55:16 +0000

According to my DH, shoveling out from this storm is as bad as shoveling sh*t. He was raised on a farm, so he knows his sh*t. The snow is wet, heavy and difficult to move. For the past hour he has been out in the yard shoveling as the snow is too heavy for the snow blower. He punctuates his labour with short breaks to bring me the status of the storm. Everything is covered with a thin layer of ice, topped with a thick layer of snow, and we are not out of the woods yet. Parts of the province are without power, and might be so until 6:00 o`clock tonight. The storm will combine with a another storm front tomorrow, so we will have nasty weather until Tuesday.

While my DH is out in the cold, wet, snow I am indoor fondling fabric. I intend to spend the rest of the day sewing, with brief intervals of cooking. Sounds fair to me.

Today`s menu will be made from recipes I found on the web. Chili and southwestern drop biscuits from Yes, we cook! for lunch. Saturday nights` dinner and a movie will be baked egg rolls from Under a Blue and Moon and our all time favourite carrot and pork dumplings from Retorte, and chicken and pork lettuce wraps, thanks again to Yes, we cook!

So if you`re hungry come on over, my DH should have the driveway shoveled by then.

‘Free’ lobster, anyone?

mam — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:38:15 +0000

There is a silver lining in every storm, or in the case of the weekend storm, free lobster. Here is an excerpt from the January 5th Times Transcript.

The surging tides that ripped across New Brunswick’s shores this weekend transformed this small coastal community into an all-you-can-eat lobster buffet.

The Chaleur Bay overflowed as the weekend’s heavy rains pushed the high tide up beyond the usual shoreline.

As the water began to recede in the early hours of Sunday morning, local residents were treated to an abundance of lobster sitting exposed on the shore.

“There were hundreds and hundreds of people who were there with flashlights filling pots,” said Kennedy Lewis, a local fishermen who could see the scene from his house.

“There was lobster for everybody, anybody who wanted to put on rubber boots and a raincoat could pick some up for a good lunch.”

Lewis said the mood in the community has been great since Sunday morning when people began to gather with flashlights around 7 a.m., and he noted that he could still see a few gourmand scavengers picking up some remaining delicacies yesterday.

Lewis described a free-for-all that left most people grinning ear-to-ear.

“Today everyone is boiling lobster, I went to the general store and you couldn’t get any salt,” he said. “Everybody was happy except the fishermen.”

Lewis said the situation won’t help a fishery that has been working hard at conservation efforts at a time when prices have collapsed, and he said he isn’t sure how it will affect the local fishing season that will open in the spring.

But not even the fishermen could resist the tasty crustaceans, albeit somewhat begrudgingly.

“I would rather have been eating hot dogs today and have this not happen, but if the lobster is there, it’s there,” said Lewis, who filled up four five-gallon pots.

“It is Mother Nature who did this. There is nothing we can do about it.”

The storm left more than lobster in the village. Residents were also busy mending fences and replacing shingles that had been torn from their roofs by the strong winds.