Sometimes It's all about me

This is what happens when you take on a monumental home reno !

1)  You get old.  Fast.

2)  Your sleeping patterns are what morse code looks like ( a few dots here and there )

3)   Your hands start looking like contractor's hands

4)   Your feet?  Fuggedaboudit

5)  AND you miss 8 months of hairdresser appointments - 8 MONTHS - so that even if you usually sport
bangs ( which do miracles to hide the aging process - and of which I desperately need ) you are now walking around like this
NOTE :  Sunglasses also help with the aging process - I have mine on all the time - I sleep with them on too.................John hasn't seen my eyes in 8 months.

You won't ever see a lot of photos of me on my blog - ever.
I think I've posted 4 posts with photos of me in them in the 3 years I've been blogging and 3 of them were jokes - the 4th which was my daughter's wedding was mandatory :)

See that schnoz ?
That's one of the reasons you will NOT see a lot of photos of me - some women's butts spread - my nose does ...............I'm thinking it'll reach my ears by the time I turn 60

Just a side note : I'm always amazed when I see a woman my age - 55 - that suits - looks fabulous even - without bangs.
And there's a lot of them that do!
But I need them.
What on earth am I waiting for?
It's like I moved into this house last winter and totally gave up on everything..................

( I'm even more amazed that 55 year olds take selfies LMAO )

AND I'M most amazed by the fact that yours truly used to go to the hairdressers once or twice a week -
What in God's name is happening to me?

_______________________________________________________________________________

ok - so here's the story - someone dared me ( at their request they shall remain anonymous - weird I know - but I know who they are - I wouldn't do this for a totally anonymous person because that would be even weirder ) then double dared me to take selfies ( including my face - unlike the first one I took HERE )

The conversation went something like this
" how come you never post photos of yourself "
" because I'm very uncomfortable with it "
" I dare you to do it "
" That's weird "
" I double dare you "
" That's even weirder "
" I'll donate 25.00 to the SPCA if you do it "
" Make it 50.00 and I'll think about it ":

I win the dare this time - but it ain't happening again LMHO
Sooooo - here goes

Here's me trying to be cool - and failing miserably (so you just have to take my word for it - I really AM cool)  Peace Peeps ! ( do people even still make the peace sign? )

Notice the one leg up on the John?  ( that's what cool people call the toilet, I think  )
That's my cool nonchalant pose.

Wanna see the cutest sandals ever?
( the jury's still out on whether people with the ugliest feet on the planet should wear pretty sandals or not )
BUT there's no denying that only a cool person would wear them, right?
( do you know how hard it is to take a photo of your sandals in this direction?  Try it ! )
I'm becoming a selfie afficionado !!!

And in my humble opinion only a very very cool person would post photos of herself ( when really she'd rather swallow shards of glass ) on a dare - that would benefit the SPCA in some small way.

Let's see now - I've made good on a bet - ( I WANT to see that receipt )  and I've cried me a river..............so.........enough with the pity fest....................and no more dares being taken on
( for the foreseeable future anyway )

I plan on posting this on a Sunday because it's the day I get the least traffic - and really I'm half way tempted to just send a cheque to the SPCA myself and forget about this all together.
I wrote this up last Monday - let's see if I actually go through with it :)

Have a wonderful day all !

But they're more than that,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

What do you think of when you think of Canada?
There are certain images that come to mind internationally -

Hockey -
Snow-
Maple Syrup
The Maple Leaf
Please, Thank you, You're Welcome, I'm sorry
Ryan Gosling
and the RCMP

Tourists snap photos of themselves beside them because, well, they're so Canadian -

But they're more than a tourists snapshot

The RCMP are famous for their distinctive dress uniform, or "Review Order," popularly known as the "Red Serge." It consists of: high collared scarlet tunic, midnight blue breeches with yellow leg strip, Sam Browne belt with white sidearm lanyard, oxblood riding boots (possibly with spurs), brown felt campaign hat (wide, flat brimmed) with the characteristic "Montana crease", and brown gloves (with brown leather gauntlets for riders). Review Order is worn by the mounted troop performing the Musical Ride, an equestrian drill in which mounted members demonstrate their riding skills and handling of the cavalry lance. On normal duties, the RCMP uses standard police methods, equipment, and uniforms. Horses are still used for such ceremonial operations as escorting the Governor General's open landau to the Opening of Parliament.

The Red Serge tunic that identified initially the NWMP, and later the RNWMP and RCMP, is of the standard British military pattern (based on the civilian Norfolk jacket^[24]). The NWMP was originally kitted out from militia stores, resulting initially in several different styles of tunic, although the style later became standardized. This style was used both to emphasize the British nature of the force and to differentiate it from the blue American military uniforms. The dark blue shoulder straps and collars were added in 1904^[25] when King Edward VII granted the Force "Royal" status for its service in the Second Boer War, replacing the scarlet facings of the earlier uniform. Currently, RCMP personnel under the rank of inspector wear blue "gorget" patches on the collar, while officers from inspector to commissioner have solid blue collars, along with blue pointed-sleeve cuffs.

On top of this jacket was worn a white haversack and white gauntlets,^[24] which provided a high visible contrast to the red tunic, but were easily dirtied. In the modern dress uniform these have been replaced with brown leather riding gloves and carrying pouches added to the belt.

wikipedia

They're known for their attire

But they're more than a red uniform

They are part of Canada's Finest and normally look like this

source

As the national police force of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is primarily responsible for enforcing federal laws throughout Canada.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were accorded the status of a regiment of Dragoons in 1921, with its first guidon presented in 1935.^[34][35] As a cavalry regiment, the RCMP was entitled to wear battle honours for its war service as well as carry a guidon. The RCMP mounted the King's Life Guard at Horse Guards Parade in 1937 leading up to the coronation of King George VI.

Wikipedia

But they're more than mounted police

In New Brunswick ( here in Canada )

On Wednesday, shocking images of a camouflage-clad Bourque walking calmly on a residential street, armed with high-powered firearms, spread across the Internet and gained international media attention.

It remains unclear how the suspect acquired the weapons – described as an M-14 semi-automatic rifle and a six-shot pump-action shotgun.

Online speculation over where Bourque bought his arsenal prompted a Moncton-area "emergency preparedness" store to issue a statement, to clear themselves of culpability from what is described as one of the worst mass shooting in RCMP history.

"The Worlds End Warehouse is a fully authorised & licensed firearms dealer, with a spotless record, and we promote firearms for recreational hunting, target shooting and law enforcement/security. However, to prevent pointless media speculation we can confirm that the suspect in this case whilst known personally by employees of our store, was never a customer and never purchased firearms or ammunition from us," they said.

The manhunt, which lasted nearly 30 hours, included the efforts of tactical armoured vehicles, air support major crime units, specialized teams, K-9 teams, and a legion of on-duty officers from across the province.

A few character witnesses also emerged during the nerve-wracking ordeal, sharing details about the former Walmart Canada employee's personal life.

According to Christian Duquette, a neighbour living in the same trailer park asBourque, described the man as someone who preferred to keep to himself.

"He was a loner, he was never out in the park socializing. Aside from that, he was just your average Joe in a trailer park."

With files from The Canadian Press

These are the Men and Woman who have made a career out of making Canada a safer place for us to raise our children.

These are the Men and Woman who get up each morning and don a uniform and face dangerous situations so that we don't have to.

These are the Men and Woman who know that when they leave for work - it's not a " given" that they'll return that night.

But they're more than police officers

They're Daddies who play ball with their kids, they're piggy backs,  little league hockey coaches and somewhere safe to run to
They're Mommies who tuck children into bed at night - who kiss away boo - boo's - who teach and nurture and comfort.
They're Sons who visit families on weekends
They're Daughters who help care for parents
They're Sisters and Brothers with a life long memory of shared upbringings
They're Nanas and Grandpas and cousins and nieces and nephews
They're friends who belong to closely knit circles.
And though they're an important - very important - intricate part of the spokes on a wheel that keep a Country turning - it's the smaller circle they belong to that is most affected when one of them " falls "
Please keep them in your prayers.
The ones who wait to hear a key turning in the front door at the end of a long shift -
for normalcy to return-for the phone to ring and a voice saying " hey, I'm safe, don't worry "
for a little " reprieve " in the anxiety - to hear the words " I'm home " before they can close their eyes and go to sleep.
The ones who wait to heave a sigh of relief.
The ones whose worst fear have been realized.
For they have also given the ultimate sacrifice.

We live in times when this is happening more and more often - let our outrage and sympathy and prayers ensure it's never considered the " norm "

We collectively mourn the loss of 3 of Canada's " finest "

But they're so much more than a ribbon for bravery

R.I.P Constable Dave Ross - 32 - leaves behind his pregnant wife 

and 18 month old son.

source

RIP constable Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, 45 - photo to be inserted when available

RIP constable Douglas James Larche, 40 - photo to be inserted when available

AND Constable Darlene Goguen and Constable Eric Dubois were both injured and hospitalized in this senseless attack - one has since been released from the hospital

heroes, one and all

But they were so much more, then the clothes they wore......................

With utmost gratitude and respect for your service.

Your fellow citizen,

source