We are more....................by Shane Koyczan

I live in a province of Canada that is very conflicted.
You are either Quebecois - or You are  Canadian.
I AM BOTH 
PROUDLY FIERCELY BOTH
I love my Country - AND my province

Something that causes controversy at the best of times.


I also love " slam " poetry - LOVE it - it grabs me from somewhere deep inside - the emotion with which it's delivered gets me - every. single. time.

Fellow Canadians - you'll love this - promise.

My American friends - listen - it'll tell you a little about your Northern neighbors - and it's a must if you love slam poetry as much as I do :)

Just so you know - it isn't angry Slam - it's gentle ( like Canadians LMHO )
I get a lump in my throat every time I hear it
Way to go Shane -



YOU are more !!!

“We Are More” by Shane Koyczan
When defining Canada
you might list some statistics
you might mention our tallest building
or biggest lake 
you might shake a tree in the fall
and call a red leaf Canada
you might rattle off some celebrities
might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie
might even mention the fact that we’ve got a few
Barenaked Ladies
or that we made these crazy things
like zippers
electric cars
and washing machines
when defining Canada
it seems the world’s anthem has been
” been there done that”
and maybe that’s where we used to be at
it’s true
we’ve done and we’ve been
we’ve seen
all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine
and turned into theme parks
but when defining Canada
don’t forget to mention that we have set sparks

we are not just fishing stories
about the one that got away
we do more than sit around and say “eh?”
and yes

we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One
who inspired little number nines
and little number ninety-nines
but we’re more than just hockey and fishing lines
off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes
and some say what defines us
is something as simple as please and thank you
and as for you’re welcome
well we say that too
but we are more
than genteel or civilized
we are an idea in the process
of being realized
we are young
we are cultures strung together
then woven into a tapestry
and the design
is what makes us more
than the sum total of our history
we are an experiment going right for a change
with influences that range from a to zed
and yes we say zed instead of zee
we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy
we dream so big that there are those
who would call our ambition an industry
because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow
we do more than grow wheat and brew beer
we are vineyards of good year after good year
we reforest what we clear
because we believe in generations beyond our own
knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what used to be
we can stand here today

filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like “someday”

someday we’ll be great
someday we’ll be this
or that
someday we’ll be at a point
when someday was yesterday
and all of our aspirations will pay the way
for those who on that day
look towards tomorrow
and still they say someday

we will reach the goals we set
and we will get interest on our inspiration
because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks
more than backpacks and hiking trails
we are hammers and nails building bridges
towards those who are willing to walk across
we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss
we are not the see-through gloss or glamour
of those who clamour for the failings of others
we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers
uncles and nephews aunts and nieces
we are cousins
we are found missing puzzle pieces
we are families with room at the table for newcomers
we are more than summers and winters
more than on and off seasons
we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay
because we are more than what we say or do
we live to get past what we go through

and learn who we are
we are students
students who study the studiousness of studying
so we know what as well as why
we don’t have all the answers
but we try
and the effort is what makes us more
we don’t all know what it is in life we’re looking for
so keep exploring
go far and wide
or go inside but go deep
go deep
as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss
and suddenly there was this location scout
trying to figure some way out
to get inside you
because you’ve been through hell and high water
and you went deep
keep exploring
because we are more
than a laundry list of things to do and places to see
we are more than hills to ski
or countryside ponds to skate
we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can’t wait
we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes
a country that is all the ways you choose to live
a land that can give you variety
because we are choices
we are millions upon millions of voices shouting
” keep exploring… we are more”
we are the surprise the world has in store for you
it’s true

Canada is the “what” in “what’s new?”
so don’t say “been there done that”
unless you’ve sat on the sidewalk
while chalk artists draw still lifes
on the concrete of a kid in the street
beatboxing to Neil Young for fun
don’t say you’ve been there done that
unless you’ve been here doing it
let this country be your first-aid kit
for all the times you get sick of the same old same old
let us be the story told to your friends
and when that story ends
leave chapters for the next time you’ll come back
next time pack for all the things
you didn’t pack for the first time
but don’t let your luggage define your travels
each life unravels differently
and experiences are what make up
the colours of our tapestry
we are the true north
strong and free
and what’s more
is that we didn’t just say it
we made it be.

__________________________________________________________________________________

You all have a beautiful weekend.......................
I messed up in my decision of kitchen flooring - and I mean really messed up -
I laid that wood looking floor I showed this week -
I'M AN IDIOT

BUT - I AM MORE

So I'm changing it LOL

Much love,

There's no place like home...................

Really there isn't

And that's why if a tornado were to strike my neighborhood - and I were mysteriously carried off the to the land of Oz - I'd happily stay there - living amongst the wicked witches.

And if the good witch Glinda came by with a pair of red glitzy shoes - I'd tell her to " take a hike "

Because flying monkey's would be a piece of cake next to these renovations.

Seriously?

I'm so in need of a yellow brick road now it ain't funny..................





Actually I might take the red shoes - they're kind of snappy - but I wouldn't click them 3 times.
It just wouldn't happen................

Kitchen cupboard doors are going on today -

and the floor gets laid - oh please let the floor be the right decision!!!

when I designed the kitchen cupboards - I had to put 2 smaller units on either side of the sink to ensure the sink would remain centered with the main window...........( don't you love my dry wall window? )
so I allowed for 2 " wine " racks to be fitted on either side

I could have used the storage instead to tell you the truth - but then everything would have been off symmetrically and that would have drove me nuts in the end.
We already have wine storage in the dining room but hey...............

John says - How many bloody wine storages do we need?
Suzan says - As many as the house will hold, after these renovations.................
Suzan says - I may have a couple installed in the bathroom too

That wood trim you see on the outer ledge of the counter top will be painted white - since I went with marble tiles I needed a " lip " to rest the tiles against.

I had the same issue for the cooking area - so I put in a narrow bookcase - for cookbooks - only on 1 side

I missed the sale by one day on a stove I desperately wanted -
Now I'm not willing to pay the regular price - so the old one will be installed until another sale happens

This was the one on sale - if I'm going with gas I want a stainless steel top - my current one is black on top and it always looks dirty - or dusty - or streaky..................
Then again I'm not even sure I want gas - for finish the stove is going to be the item that sends me over the top most likely

I'm also torn about an island - but in the end I'd like to try to incorporate my farmhouse table
Just have to figure out a way to give it more height - I thought of building a " pedestal " for it - any other suggestions?
It's too low ( table height )
You can see why it works so great in a small kitchen HERE

Oh and by the way - that buffet/hutch you see behind it?  That's being brought into the new kitchen as well - since there'll be no upper cabinets I'm going to need it :)

Another crazy day here folks :)

On another more positive note - they're calling for 8 degrees on Saturday ( 46 degrees ) pretty nice when you consider that last week it was - 46 ( that WAS a minus sign in front )
The weather has been hitting extremes all across the board this winter - but I intend to take full advantage of these balmy temperatures lol

Have a great Thursday
Big hugs,