Too Proud!

There are moments when a mother is too proud, really. Moments when you tell yourself that you did a good job as a Mom, that your children are wonderful and all and all. Well, tonight I had a moment like that (it's not the first and it won't be the last, I'm too proud of my daughters...).

Alizée won important prizes at the Honor Awards of her school. Important prizes to me: a nomination for her spiritual involvement and community service, an award for her constant academic effort and finally an award for her extraordinary participation in extra curricular activities (knowing that those activities create the spirit of the school, form the soul of a school...). I'm too proud, really!

Rufus...

Don't get me wrong, but I love Rufus. Not love "love", you know... I like his personal style, his Calimero (cartoon character who always said that life was so unfair) side, his songs. My husband, who's not jealous at all (yes, yes, we know that Rufus is gay), offered me his last album which is really great. My favorite song, Going to a Town, was introduced to me by my good friend Tanja, two weeks ago, as a "sneak preview".

It's too bad that the tickets are sold out for his June show. We regularly check for the other show in August, in Montreal. If we can't have tickets, we might even go to the USA... We did it for Jonny, we could do it again for Rufus! Until then, I listen to his old and latest ones, appreciating a unique talent, a kind of singer I really like (musically, right, because I don't know if you know, but I'm definitely not his type...).

As teenagers-groupies out of their mind would say during a concert, holding a huge flashcard: "We love you Rufus" :-)

Overwhelmed!

Yesterday was quite relax, didn't do anything "concrete" but today, I have a lot of things to do. Things for my trip -leaving on Friday-, things for my home, things for work and things for myself (because even when I'm overwhelmed, I take some time for myself, it's important!). Let's go!

Armor for Her

My daughter Alizée has always been an artist. She was born with a gift, a talent and I envy her, sometimes. It's so easy for her to use her hands to create. They do exactly what she wants them to do. Mine are awkward and lack poise.

At her high school, arts are very important. Her teachers have inspired her, helped her progress. She worked on her gift, her talent.

A few years ago, Alizée and other students from her school had to create an armor for a woman. They also had to create it with the personality of a specific woman in mind. The photo doesn't show as clearly the details, but if you click on it, you could see it better. It's definitely art. Congratulation and and thank you to the Collège St-Maurice art teachers, they contribute to the artistic development of fantastic girls.

And art is paramount.

I Love this Clip!

Flagpole Sitta / Harvey Danger

13 Things to Bring to Paris, Next Friday!

1. My new traveling mini scrapbook
2. Sticky labels to send postcards
3. My precious Paris books
4. My creative writing journal and the other one to complete
5. Something to read (don't know what yet)
6. My passport (vot' passeport ma p'tite dame?)
7. My digital camera and everything that comes with it
8. Pens, markers, glue stick, tape
9. My "Gratitude Journal"
10. A small pillow to sleep in the plane
11. Pills for my poor muscles
12. Comfortable clothes and my running shoes, lots of walking expected...
13. Euros and my credit card!

Bouquets

I'm a girly-girl, a real one. And being who I am, I love flowers. To compensate the lack of sunshine, I'm making myself bouquets that I put on the corner of my work table. And since the weather is awful, it's quite flowery around here!

During summer time, it's to celebrate the beauty of flowers that I make bouquets, but for the outside this time. I used to have a large garden where flowers grew here and there. I had to shrink its size, since my back can't stand the mandatory contortions to get rid of dandelions and friends. No problem! I still have roses and perennials to create those great summer bouquets.

Saying Thank You...

It happened last year. May 13th, 2006. After reading, or should I say skimming Sarah Ban Breathnach's Simple Abundance, I did it. I started writing a journal. Oh, nothing complicated, nor too elaborated. It's a "Gratitude Journal". Everyday I write down 5 of my best moments of my day and I'm thankful, grateful for them.

You're thinking, thanks to who? Well, I don't have any idea. I'm not a believer, in the religious aspect of it. I believe in Good. I believe in a great big life calculator that gives us bonus points when we do good things and takes away other points when we don't or when we act like idiots (so beware of loosing all your points or, well, I suppose that when you reach that point, well, it sort of doesn't look good for you, I guess...). I believe in justice.

I believe that within ourselves is good and bad and that to avoid falling into the latter we must stay awake, conscious of things surrounding us, people we meet, events that happen. I believe in the power of optimism. I think we must learn to deal with our little problems without panicking and celebrate our moments of happiness. I believe there's too much whining, people moan too much and forget to appreciate, smile, love, live.

It's with that in mind that I started this blog: appreciate, enjoy, celebrate good things. Thursday Love was my starting point for this blog. My Friday Thirteen force me to research (it's not that easy making lists of 13, try it for fun!), even do introspection and my Saturday Something are tributes to creativity at home (I mean my home!).

Go for it if you feel blue: choose a notebook you like ('cause it will be around a lot, for you not to forget it) and a pen or pencil, take 2-3 minutes everyday to write down simple or extraordinary moments from your day. Having a bad day? Just write about the "so obvious" such as, I had enough food, I'm healthy, I have a place to live, etc. So, enjoy!

Handbag

Last Saturday, without any warning, Miranda has decided to sew. No pattern, of course, pure creativity, right? I'm still astonished to see my daughters sewing. We must admit it's not the most "popular" teen activity. But come on, sewing is really extraordinary. You start with pieces of fabric that seem inert and then you create that useful or decorative object. It's a little like starting with pieces of wood to build a piece of furniture.

I enjoy working with my sewing machine and there again I'm surprised by the easiness my daughter has taming the beast. Not that it is tough to work with it, but when it goes beep-beep, it's not the best moment and it could be discouraging. Well, at home we have the privilege to have a sewing machines specialist: Claude! One day I'll list all the jobs he had done in his life, you won't believe it. Sewing machines have no secrets to him. He was born amongst them.

Sewing has always been a fun thing to do and I can see that my girls have sensed that and know how great sewing is. It's useful of course, but when we enjoy what we do, we don't really care about the fact that it's handy, it's just fun...!

13 Crazy Dreams (Really?)

1. Learn a third language
2. Draw the plans for a house I'd like to live in
3. Travel for a whole year
4. Take part in a workshop with Sabrina, Guylaine or Keri
5. Find a more "artistic" career
6. Have the determination (the motivation) to do yoga regularly
7. Consume less and better
8. Produce a short film
9. Publish something, for "real" (not on the web)
10. Never have the feeling that I'm losing my time
11. Loose weight, without efforts (sighs...)
12. Retire at the same time my husband does so I can take advantage of it (and him!)
13. Go to Denmark, Sweden or Norway

Gaspésie

I had the chance to go to Gaspésie last week, for my work. It was my third time there and I'm looking forward to going back. There's something special about that region. The landscape is breathtaking, people are nice without being invading and there are lots of discoveries to make all over the place. On top of everything, it's close to the ocean and I love the feeling, the smell, the sound, and the unbeatable view.

One day, I'll go back and I'll take all the time I need to savor this part of my country that attracts me like a magnet... I would walk on the shore, looking for heart-shaped pebbles and polished glass. I would eat fresh shrimps everyday, hummm! I'd take pictures all the time, I'd take the time to draw, paint, do arts and crafts according to my moods, to the inspiration of the place... To be continued!

13 Movie Soundtracks That I Like

1. Amelie From Montmartre
2. Shine
3. Schindler's List
4. Brokeback Mountian
5. The Piano
6. Munich
7. Memoirs of a Geisha
8. Lord of the Rings
9. The English Patient
10. City of Angels
11. Harry Potter
12. Step Up
13. Shall We Dance

Planes

Wow, flying in a plane, that's really something. Seeing a metal monster (small or big, it's still some kind of mosquito!) leaving the ground with such easiness, it's incredible. What I like the most are taking offs and landings. In between those two, finally, it's like being in a bus, with a waitress, a snack and beverage as a bonus.

When we take off, there's the solemn aspect that's impressive; we must be sitting, all our knick knacks have to be stowed away and we feel that certain people stop breathing for a little while. My little pleasure, it's when the plane starts speeding, it feels so good...

It's really great when we don't fly too high. We can see everything even if it's tiny and I love trying to figure out what is underneath. When it's cloudy, it's less interesting, I have the impression I'm in a mad scientist beaker. But when we go over the clouds, well it's lovely. We can see the clouds from above, that's magnificient!

During landings security measures are also increased and then almost everyone holds his/her breath. When we touch the ground, some get their colors back. For many reasons I really like landings. First, I'l be able to stretch a little, my hearing is back and finally, well, I'm where I wanted to be, destination!

From Ink on My Fingers...

Are your parents married or divorced?
Divorced.

Do you believe in heaven?
Of course! I'm living in it.

Have you ever come close to dying?
Probably. But luckily I'm still around!

What jewellery do you wear 24/7?
My wedding band and engagement ring.

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
It depends. If they're cooked, yes. Raw, humm, not really.

Do you wear makeup?
Yes, especially when I work. But lately I've re-discovered the pleasure of mascara and lipstick.

Would you ever have plastic surgery?
I don't think so. I'm too scared, bad things can happen...

What do you wear to bed?
Pajamas in the winter, light nightgown in the summer. I'm not really the naked type...

Have you ever done anything illegal?
Yes. Driving too fast being the most shameful one.

Can you roll your tongue?
No, I can't...

Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?
YES! And I LOVE him...

Do you believe in abortions?
I believe in making a personal choice, but it would have been a very very difficult choice for me.

What is your hair colour?
That's the most difficult question! My natural hair's brown, but I have lots of blond and chestnut highlights (mostly to cover the gray hair!).

Future child’s name, boy and girl?
No future child, please! 2 daughters is enough: Alizée and Miranda.

Do you smoke?
No! Can't stand smoke...

If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
I'd go back to California anytime. But I want to go to Great Britain, Italy, Belgium. Sweden, Denmark and Norway are destinations I'm dreaming of nowadays...

Do you sleep with stuffed animals?
Nope, not even as a kid.

If you won the lottery, what would you do first?
Finish paying the house!

Gold or Silver?
Gold.

Hamburger or hot dog?
Burgers, definitely.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Shame on me... Fries...

City, beach or country?
Can't choose! Love 'em all...

What was the last thing you touched?
The remote control. I'm in a B&B in Gaspésie, relaxing from giving a workshop that went really well!

When’s the last time you cried?
Can't remember... Probably while watching a movie, I get emotional easily.

What colour are your pants?
Black, most of the time...

Ever been involved with the police?
Nope.

What’s your favourite shampoo/conditioner and soap?
I love cucumber and green tea soaps because of the good smell.

Do you talk in your sleep?
No.

Ocean or pool?
By the ocean for relaxing, in the pool for refreshment.

What’s your favourite song at the moment?
La Revencha del Tango by Gotan Project. It's not new but I'm hooked.

Have you ever had a cavity?
Yes, too many...

Window seat or aisle seats?
Window!

Ever met anyone famous?
Yes, but I really don't care about fame...

Do you feel that you’ve had a truly successful life?
Yes on most of the aspects.

Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?
Twirl.

Are you self-conscious?
???

Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?
Yes, once. A terrible moment, but it turned out okay.

Last gift you received?
A notebook from my dear friend Tanja.

What occasion did you receive your gift?
No specific occasion, friendship I guess!

Last thing you spent lots of money on?
Trip to Paris in a month!

Where do you live?
45 minutes south est of Montreal

Last wedding attended?
My sister Valerie's, 4 years ago.

Favourite restaurant?
???

What is your favourite kind of car?
I'd love a nice Volvo, but I' thinking of buying a "green" car next year...

What’s your least favourite chore(s)?
Cleaning windows.

Favourite drink?
Water, water, water...