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  | Brother's Blog
Truth, certainly is stranger than fiction, and I'm not just making that up. ...This time. |
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Brother's Blog will be closed for the month of May 2013 While I'm away at New Horizons Academy lurnin things.   May 2013 Welcome to my blog on Writing.com Enjoy your visit I thought a fountain in the lobby would add a touch of sophistication, savoir faire. .1969 Christmas Play Published in Also by Brother Nature http://www.writing.com/main/portfolio/view/brothernature & "Cobblepen's Blog"  & "Brother's Scribbles" |
| Prefect Day |
 "Prefect Day" March 23, 2013 In This Entry "Blogging Circle of Friends " Blog Topic: "What is your idea of the perfect day?""30-Day Bloggers Group" Blog Topic:"Lists, lists, lists. To-do lists, check lists, laundry lists, bucket lists ... Seems like there is a list for everything. Write a humorous list of things you are NOT going to do today." Hello Friends It's been one of those weeks here. I have to file this one under, "You just never know what "LIFE" is going to deal you." But hey! You play the hand that's dealt you. Even folding is making a play. I'd sooner bluff. Then again...maybe not. So there! Another perfect day. Every day is perfect. Perfect, just flipping perfect, until you have to make a list. I can't take any more lists. The lists are really starting to pile up. One a perfect day I'll make a list. List #1 Don't post this entry into the 30Day Blogging Challenge. #2 It's movie night! I'll share a couple little vacation videos I put together. Get the popcorn!!!  When I peeked through the keyhole, She was still there. She had a hold of my dog. She just wasn't going to leave, until I bought a vacuum cleaner from her. That's about all I got! Cheers Joel |
| Don't Be Shy, Step Right Up. |
"Don't Be Shy, Step Right Up." March 21, 2013 In This Entry "Blogging Circle of Friends " Blog Topic: "Write about a moment in your life when you had to "step up" and do something, even though perhaps you didn't want to."Hello Friends Looks like I have a hard time passing up on an opportunity to tell a story. I have a bit of "THING" lets say, with offering up my OPINION, as well. That is the way I've always been. People seem to enjoy my stories...My opinions...Not so much. Today's Circle of Friends prompt brings to mind a little story about, how sharing my opinion lead me to make a decision...step up or shut up. I've always enjoyed art, in all forms. Art was my favorite class in school, it was my opportunity to shine. I'll have to take a moment to mention that I won the "Outstanding Achievement Award" in "Art" for my grade at St. John's High School. I beat out Kathy W. Whom I still am in contact with, and it still burns her up...so ha ha ha KW Sorry, sort of got side tracked there. This story goes back a few years prior to my award winning days. This was back in elementary school, where I honed my art skills. The story I think it was in grade 4 or 5, when we had a teacher who was not very keen on teaching an art class. The teacher did only what was required of him, and set aside each Friday afternoon, up until the recess bell for "Art." So each Friday, beginning when we returned from lunch, we had an art lesson, which consisted of our teacher instructing us to take out our crayons, or pencil crayons and draw a picture. When the lesson time was completed we filed our picture in our art folder which sat on a window ledge in the room. Nobody saw our work, I thought it was a big waste of time. After several weeks of this, I became very bored and felt un-challenged. I asked the teacher, "why is it the same every week? when will we do something different? When will we learn something new? Why don't we display our work in the room." Our teacher explained that, he didn't like art, he wasn't good at making it, he didn't like teaching it, and that was all he was willing to offer us. Then he added, If you think it's easy to teach an art class, then why don't you go ahead and teach the class. I said, "okay, I'll do it." This teacher then, went on a bit of a trip down mockery and humiliation road, at my expense. I think he was trying to get me to back out, but I didn't. He sarcastically announced to the class that, "beginning next Friday, Joel will teach the art class, because he doesn't like doing the same thing every week, so Joel's class will be different every week, and Joel will teach you all new things every week, and Joel will teach you all to create amazing works of art, and Joel will fill the room with all of your works of art, so it will be on display for everyone to marvel at." I decided I would do exactly what he said. I went to the library during the week and looked at books and magazines. There were so many different projects I could have had a new lesson everyday, never mind every week. The only thing missing was, materials. I needed art supplies. So, I asked the teacher if there were some supplies available other than what the students had on their own, and the paper we made our drawing on, which the school supplied. The teacher said, "No, you have to work with what is here." I came up with two ideas that would work out just fine. The first was, I would ask the students to bring in the materials needed for some of the projects I wanted to try.(magazines, greeting cards, products we now recycle, stuff like that.) The second idea I had was to use our pictures from the art folders that were just sitting in a folder anyway. We would re-create them into something new. Okay! I won't leave you all in suspense any longer...Things went horribly wrong with my first lesson, and the teacher fired me from ever teaching the class again. Here is what happened: I began my lesson by having the students copy a list I wrote on the blackboard of items to bring from home for future classes. Our teacher sat at his desk and didn't offer a single word, but I knew he was impressed. The lesson I found was a project to make paper fans. The materials needed were colorful paper, and scissors. Everyone had their own scissors, and the colorful paper, I instructed every one to use, was their drawings from their folders. We began by cutting all of our drawings into 1 inch strips, then we were to take these strips and fold them in opposing directions to create colorful, functional fans. The problem was: You weren't supposed to cut the drawing into strips, you only needed to fold the drawing along 1 inch lines. I misunderstood the directions for the project that I had found in a crafts magazine. We all ended up with useless strips of paper that used to be useless drawings. Nobody seemed to mind. The teacher tried to make a big deal about it, and asked the class, "What are you going to do with your drawings now that they are ruined, thanks to Joel." One student answered, "we could just put them back into their folders, nobody looks at them anyway." Our teacher never admitted it, but I know, I taught HIM a lesson, because after that day he gave us different art projects and we decorated our room with them. Although he fired me from ever teaching the class, he encouraged our class to bring in the materials that I listed on the blackboard. This teacher had an expression he used a lot, it was..."I'll bet you dollars to donuts...." I think this story is hilarious, I tell it time and time again. "I'll bet you dollars to donuts, so does that teacher."  Sam the private eye, thought he looked pretty cool, until he discovered his hat was on fire. |
| The Worker |
"The Worker" March 19, 2013 In This Entry "Blogging Circle of Friends " Blog Topic: "When was the first time you really felt like a grown-up (if ever)?"Hello Friends It's approaching 8:00am, I've been up and "at em" since 6:00am. I have a bit of snow clearing to do, left over remnants from yesterday's snow storm. I have to go take care of Mary, She is one of my customers, who on March 10, 2013 celebrated her 106th birthday. I don't want to go there too early as not to wake her up. She likes to sleep in. Awesome Lady!! I have a couple other customers to check on, then I'm off to my friend's place to help install a door. It's a good day for a carpentry project, as it's The Feast of St. Joseph's Day. I want to quickly write this blog entry (you can read slow if you want) so that when I get back home I can add in a 30Day Image Prompt Caption, then move on to more work on brothersblog.ca (which is still in the construction phase) I just confirmed another contributor to the site content, so I'm confident I'll have some good stuff to keep it lively, fun, and entertaining. I hope you'll all visit often, (It's not like I'm not going to be spamming you all to death) I'm hoping to have some time for a quick work-out and a shower, or at least a shower, because I'm going to a special mass, with a reception to follow, where Father Bo will be serving up some homemade German Sausage. It better be good, because I'm missing a hockey game (Winnipeg at home to The Big Bad Boston Bruins) to be there. Okay, okay... the prompt.... One of my life long friends and I were blessed to spend many weekends at a small cabin, near a large lake, an hour's drive north of the city. I'm so thankful that I was invited to share this experience with what has become my extended family. As kids, my friend and I loved those weekend, we got into all kinds of Now we were among our peers. These times were the first times I recall, feeling like an adult. From the first dates gone wrong department.  I could tell from the look in her eyes, she wasn't impressed with the salad bar. Thanks for lending an ear. Have a great day. Joel |
| St. Joseph's Eve |
"St. Joseph's Eve" March 18, 2013 In This Entry "Blogging Circle of Friends " Blog Topic: "In honor of St. Patrick's Day, blog about anything that has to do with the word GREEN."Hello Friends Chris Hatfield, Commander of the ISS, took a snap shot of Dublin, Ireland as it appeared from space on St. Patrick's Day. It looked pretty much like any other city would look like from the same vantage point. Chris Hatfield was wearing a green shirt and a green polka dot bow tie when he took the photo. What does that have to do with St. Patrick's Day, you ask? About as much as, green beer has to do with anything. It's a sad comment on society, that most people equate St. Patrick's Day to Leprechauns , Four leaf clovers, and green beer. Drink plenty of green beer for St. Patty's Day, they say. It's an Irish thing, they say. Then, on any other day of the year, a person of Irish Nationality would be offended if you gave them the impression Ireland is a nation of alcoholics. And rightfully so, violent drunks, sure, but not necessarily an entire nation of alcoholics. But enough of my needless bashing of a bastardized Christian day of honoring one of their saints. And, of course I wouldn't want to offend any of my Irish friends. Who would I drink and fight with? Question for you...If you're still reading. What do you know about The Feast of St. Joseph? It is celebrated on March nineteenth. (Tomorrow) Here is what Wikipedia has to say about it. Saint Joseph's Day From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus by Guido Reni Saint Joseph's Day, March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph is in Western Christianity the principal feast day of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He is also the step-father of Jesus of Nazareth/Jesus Christ[1]. It has the rank of a solemnity in the Roman Catholic Church; Catholics who follow the Missal of 1962 celebrate it as a first class feast. Previous to 1962 it was celebrated as a feast of the rank of double of the first class. It is a feast or commemoration in the provinces of the Anglican Communion[2], and a feast or festival in the Lutheran Church. Saint Joseph's Day is the Patronal Feast day for Poland as well as for Canada, persons named Joseph, Josephine, etc., for religious institutes, schools and parishes bearing his name, and for carpenters. It is also Father's Day in some Catholic countries, mainly Spain, Portugal, and Italy. March 19 was dedicated to Saint Joseph in several Western calendars by the tenth century, and this custom was established in Rome by 1479. Pope St. Pius V extended its use to the entire Roman Rite by his Apostolic Constitution Quo Primum (July 14, 1570). Since 1969, Episcopal Conferences may, if they wish, transfer it to a date outside Lent.[3] Between 1870 and 1955, a feast was celebrated in honor of St. Joseph as Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church, the latter title having been given to him by Pope Pius IX. Originally celebrated on the third Sunday after Easter with an octave, after Divino Afflatu[4] of St. Pius X (see Reform of the Roman Breviary by Pope Pius X), it was moved to the preceding Wednesday. The feast was also retitled The Solemnity of Saint Joseph. This celebration and its accompanying octave was abolished during the modernisation and simplification of rubrics under Pope Pius XII in 1955. It is still maintained by Catholics who follow the missal of 1962 or earlier missals. As the traditional holiday of the Apostles Ss. Philip and James, May 1, had faded from the memory of most Catholics by the mid-twentieth century, that of Joseph the Worker was created in order to coincide with the celebration of international Labour Day (May Day) in many countries. Get my point?  There! Now to get out of here, before Andre shows up and fails my blog entry, and drinks all of my green beer.  Instead of taking a bus, run behind it, and save $1.50 Better yet, run behind a taxi and save $20.00  OMG!!! I'm going to be on Brother's Blog! |
| Sleeping in 10...9...8...7...6...zzzzz |
"TITLE" March 16, 2013 In This Entry "Blogging Circle of Friends " Blog Topic: "Write about what you think about that moment before you go to sleep."Hello Friends Another Saturday finds us stuck in the city. We bailed on our plans to head off to the lake, because there is a predicted snow storm heading our way. We try to avoid the situation where we're forced to be driving on the highway in adverse conditions. Better safe than sorry. We decided to celebrated Christmas in the city again by cooking a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Next week we'll spend New Years Eve at the lake. Thinking is the worst thing I could possibly do before I go to sleep. If I think, I don't sleep. I lay awake thinking. I've learned to relax my mind and body before falling asleep. I begin with some deep breathing, ten long deep breaths, counted down. When I'm totally relaxed and comfortable, I'll recite the Lord's prayer. Afterward, I let my mind go completely blank, (Some people say I do this while I'm awake as well.) Before I fall asleep, I listen, I don't think. I drift off to dream land. Some nights I don't make it past the ten deep breaths, and some nights I have to start the process over a few times, because my thoughts don't want to let my body rest.  I'll be bad ass one day, soon as I get potty trained. |
| Destination...UNKNOWN |
"Destination...UNKNOWN" March 15, 2013 In This Entry "Blogging Circle of Friends " Blog Topic: "Are you the type of person who lives for the journey or for the destination?"Hello Friends It's been a few days since I've posted a blog entry. I've been busy putting a website together. I've spent the last couple of days acquiring content. I still have a few irons in the fire, but I'm planning on launching the web site by the end of the month. In the meanwhile I'm going to try out a couple new additions to my WDC blog, such as, "The 30 Day Image Prompt Contest" The idea behind this activity is that you write a poem or story inspired by an image prompt. There is a new image posted each day, and the goal is to complete and respond with an entry 25 of the 30 days. Of course I have my own way of participating in this contest, so I am going to "Caption" the image prompt in my blog entry each day. I hope you enjoy my attempt at this, as much as I hope I don't get expelled from the group. Are you the type of person who lives for the journey or for the destination? I'm the type of person to not have a destination. Sure, I have dreams. In my youth and as a young man I had intentions of following my dreams and hoped and planned to, one day, arrive at my destination. Somehow the realities of life steered me in different directions or lead me to closed doors. Having a good attitude towards the hard realities of life enabled me to embrace the concept that, when one door closes another door opens, luckily none were cell doors. So maybe everything happens for a reason, which we are not aware of. Maybe our destination isn't of our choosing. Look at all the people who achieved their life's goal only to find themselves empty an unsatisfied. I embrace the journey, everything, everyday, and everyone. I have no destination. Come what may, I have no regrets, no dissapointments, no envy. There is only one thing in life that you have total control over and that is...Your attitude. What ever your destination is... Have a nice trip. And like my friends at WestJet say, "If Brother's Blog is your destination, Welcome home."  Romeo had no idea, he was about to be kicked in the nuts. |
| Stompin' Tom Connors( February 9, 1936 - March 6, 2013) |
Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors, OC (February 9, 1936 – March 6, 2013) |
| The Death Prompt |
"The Death Prompt" March 06, 2013 In This Entry "Blogging Circle of Friends " Blog Topic: " Are you afraid of death? Write about your feelings on the subject."Hello Friends I won't waste words jibber jabbering about life and the living. Let's talk about death. I've never been afraid of death. I have been afraid of dying, or afraid of the things that may cause my death. I don't like to think about dying, but I am curious about death, and I think about it a lot. Just my luck...I'll have to die, before I learn what death is all about. As I walk along on my journey through this thing called life. I have experienced many changes. Changes to my body, as I grew from a boy into a man, and changes to my mind, as experience, education, and observations, fill my brain with ideas and information, which form my thoughts and beliefs. Both my body and my mind change over time, and continue to change as I age over time. I have held many differing thoughts, and beliefs when it comes to the topic of death. When I was in my youth, death was a non issue. As far as I was concerned, I was going to live forever. These ideas of invincibility were reinforced while I was a young adult. I've been in car wrecks, drunken brawls, had a gun held to my head, a knife to my throat, woke up in a burning house one morning, dozens upon dozens of close calls, but I walked away from it all. I've never even had a broken bone. Several years have passed since I held the ideas of invincibility in my mind. I believe much different ideas now. One thing I have difficulty believing is...how stupid I was. It's a fact, which I believe without waver, that... One day I will die. My body will fail me, and I will no longer walk this earth. My lifeless body, being of no use to anyone, will be disposed of in some manner. I know I will live on, in the memories of the people who knew me, as the people who I have known, who died, live on in my memory now. But, I will be dead. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WAIT! I'm not done yet. What if I'm asleep and having a dream, and I die in my sleep, does the dream just abruptly end? What's all this about ghosts? reincarnation? What about God? Jesus survived death. Can I? I'm not going to talk about religion, except to say, "I believe in the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit." I believe that I am, in addition to being a physical body, a spiritual being. And I believe that after my body is long dead, my spirit will live on. I'm not sure what form of life my spirit will take on, but I know in my heart that my spirit will live on after my body is no more. I didn't always believe this. Maybe that is why I survived my own stupidity, so that my mind could live long enough to know who I am in spirit. Prophet, Priest, King.   Also by Joel aka Brother Nature http://www.writing.com/main/portfolio/view/brothernature & "Cobblepen's Blog" & "Brother's Scribbles" Member of The Showering acts of Joy Group "Showering Acts of Joy Group " & Rising Stars "RISING STARS ! " Please visit my blog @ "Brother's Blog" Made in Canada   |
| You Can't Turn Back The Clock. |
"You Can't Turn Back The Clock." March 5, 2013 In This Entry "Blogging Circle of Friends " Blog Topic: "List five things from your childhood that you wish all children could experience."Hello Friends We awoke to a mountainous scene here on the Canadian Prairie, (mountains of snow!) Mother Nature dropped 10-15 CM of snow on us, here in the city, and in Miami Manitoba 56 CM fell. (a little over three feet) This was all part of the same storm that went through Minnesota as well. It's neat to think that blainecindy-I♥theCircle   and I shared the same weather system. It makes me feel like we're a bit closer neighbors. So long as she doesn't expect to start borrowing tools or cooking ingredients. I was out clearing snow for three hours this morning so, I'm feeling a bit giddy.Thanks for today's prompt, it looks like a good opportunity for a rant. I best get started. Thing #1  We had relatively safe streets and neighborhoods. Even in the neighborhood I was raised in, which was always known for being home to the under-privileged and thought to be the, "wrong side of the tracks," it was safe. It's sad that you can't let your children, walk a few blocks to a friends house or to school with out worrying about their safety. Thing #2  We had neighborhood schools, which we easily waked to and from each day, including home for a lunch break. I walked with my children, (instead of worrying about them) a couple of blocks to the nearest school, where they were loaded onto a school bus, which took them to their school five miles away. Thing #3  We had a healthy, safe supply of nutritious food. I wish all of the people of today could have this available, as opposed to the fast food restaurants, and the processed, chemically altered foods that have replaced what was once good. Thing #4  We had wholesome celebrities, which we could count on to be positive roll models. We had singers, who were actually talented singers. Movies were made to be movies, not to sell toys. We had professional athletes who were professional in every way. When your favorite idol was in the news, it was because they did something honorable, not because they committed a crime or made an offensive statement to embarrass themselves. Thing #5  We had ONE phone, and it was attached to the wall. When it rang you picked it up and said, "hello" to whoever was calling. I think the captioned image above illustrates my feelings on this topic. Well, It was good to get that off my chest. I feel like a cranky old man now.  Who am I kidding? I was a cranky old man before I started.Cheer up, life is still good. Also by Joel aka Brother Nature http://www.writing.com/main/portfolio/view/brothernature & "Cobblepen's Blog" & "Brother's Scribbles" Member of The Showering acts of Joy Group "Showering Acts of Joy Group " & Rising Stars "RISING STARS ! " Please visit my blog @ "Brother's Blog" Made in Canada |
| There's nobody home but me. |
"There's nobody home but me." March 4, 2013 In This Entry "Blogging Circle of Friends " Blog Topic: "What can you find at home that you can find no where else?"Hello Friends It was a pretty quiet weekend on the home front. Not too much excitement, unless you think preparing taxes is exciting. On the blog front, it was Dr. Seuss's birth date on the 2nd, and I think I wrote a pretty fitting tribute entry. Our friend Emily ~ Graduation: May 24th  won the Quill Award for best blog. Em beat out a fairly large group of nominees, including myself. It was nice to see the winner was a blogger from our group. I was a bit disappointed that "Blogging Circle of Friends " was not selected as best new group, but I understand that the winning group is also a very deserving winner. Congratulation to all the winners, and honorable mentions.An interesting question is posed in today's prompt. I have dozens of items in my home that could not be found anywhere else, but I only have one answer to the question. The one thing you would find in my home that is not found in any other home is... Me. I'm only saying that so I can share a little motivating and empowering story. Several years ago I worked for a company, where I sold shipping products. Most of the products we sold were produced by our company. The vice president of the company was a very energetic, and positive motivator. I enjoyed working for this company, and in most months exceeded my sales quota, which had a generous bonus attached to it. One month my quota was raised by a large amount and I had doubts that I could even reach it. I felt it was unfair, so I took my concerns to the vice president, who sets the quotas. This is what he told me. 'We are in a business where all of our competitors sell the same product at the same price. You only have one thing to offer your customers that no other company can offer them. That is YOU. People buy from you, because they want to do business with you. They like you! Use that! Ask your customers to increase their order because you need to make your quota. I know that if you do this, you'll have no problem making your quota this month." I never thought of myself as being the reason people bought product from me. I thought they bought from me, because of other reasons. Maybe because our pricing was lower, or our service was better, maybe it was as simple as, they have to buy the products regardless and it doesn't matter where they get them from. I thought about how well I got along with all the people I did business with, whether they were the shipper receiver, production manager, buyer, or owner of the company. My sales calls were always friendly and enjoyable visits. Maybe Mr. Vice President is onto something I thought. I began that very day by concluding my sales calls by saying, " can you do my a favor? it would really help me out, if you would double your order this month." I made my quota that moth, I crushed it. I didn't write all of this to brag about myself. I've told this story before. I tell this story for one reason. The reason is...I hope that people will recognize themselves in the story and look inward and believe in themselves. Know that YOU are the most important person in your life. People around you love you because you are YOU. Every goal is attainable if YOU believe in YOU. Have a great Monday. Also by Joel aka Brother Nature http://www.writing.com/main/portfolio/view/brothernature & "Cobblepen's Blog" & "Brother's Scribbles" Member of The Showering acts of Joy Group "Showering Acts of Joy Group " & Rising Stars "RISING STARS ! " Please visit my blog @ "Brother's Blog" Made in Canada |
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