Lars The Relic

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This car has been around since the 70's.  The owner of the car is a tenant in my apartment block.  As you can see the car has seen better days, I guess you can say this old Volvo has been a road warrior.  The tenant's father gave him the car, and he just cant seem to part with it, he even gave the car a name.  He likes to call it "Lars".  For now Lars, sits around more, than goes anywhere.  I guess, his get  up and go has got up and gone.

The Bullied

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Ever since the suicide death of Tyler Cleminti there has been broad attention given to the subject of "Bullying and Bullies". What his roommate Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei did by broadcastig a video of Tyler with another young man, was inplurable and should of never happened. What is more shocking is that the perpetrators are both of a minority group, which in turn would make me believe that sometime in their young lives, they would of experienced prejudice and possibly suffered from verbal abuse.

This brings me to my own saga. I was never a bully, but one of the bullied. I know that times have changed with cyberspace and weapons in schools, but in my day (the 60's and 70's) it was the verbal and the physical bullying that could scar a person for life, and scar it did. I still carry some of this baggage around with me to this day, it never totally vanishes.

I was teased verbally and beaten down physically in school because I was taller than the other kids and extremely shy. Numerous individuals in the past voiced, "that shy people should learn to defend themselves". I disagree; the bullies need to learn tolerance and that being different or eccentric doesn't give you the right to ridicule and assault someone.

Later in life when I came into my own self, somehow I was able to gain a bit of self esteem and confidence (I did it through music and guitar), and turn a negative into a positive. What I do now if I see a bully mistreating someone is step in and make sure that the situation is halted. I also make sure to tell the bully that they should look at themselves before they judge others. It seems that you are either too fat, short, tall, skinny, stupid, smart or the wrong color or sexual orientation. If you just standby and watch you are just as the guilty as the bullies.

I am sure that as long as there are teenagers there will be bullies, I don't think it will ever end. It is the job of educators, parents (this is where it begins) and us as a society to reach out, nurture and educate those menacing teenagers before they become bullies and destroy someone's life.

A Whole Lot Of Rosie

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Rosie is my four-legged canine friend. She lives in the same building as I do with her "Pack Leader" Doug. In her eight years, she has been to hell and back. She had two previous owners who broke her legs. Where they were broken the fur doesn’t quite grow properly. To know her and see her now you would never know that she was once an abused and fearful dog. Just yesterday Doug said that Rosie was once just like one of those dogs on the “The Dog Whisperer”. It took Doug’s niece a whole year of rehabilitation to get Rosie to the dog she is today. She was very fearful of people, and you can’t exactly blame her. Now she loves people! Before she goes for a walk she runs to me and has to give me a kiss or two and then she goes on her way. Perhaps, that makes her day, but it most definitely makes mine.

10 Things About Me That May Surprise You!

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Lately, I have been using online prompts to help me blog. Being without my muse Lefty, or inspiration, they are a great help. The two I have been using are "Plinky" and "Day Dreaming On Paper." Today's prompt is "List 10 things that people are always surprised to find out about you". Some people will not be surprised, the ones that have known me most of my life, and you know who you are. I guess, telling people all of these things is a little revealing, and some of them might even be considered secrets.

1. I am bipolar (and have been most of my life)

2. I am of Russian decent

3. I own a Mac & a Windows PC

4. I used to run a open mic night

5. I can cook (and I don't mean heating up frozen dinners)

6. I used to smoke

7. I have a cat named "Smokey" who owns me

8. I can fix most PC problems (just ask my family & friends)

9. I don't drink alcohol

10. I used to sing, play guitar and mandolin

Lefty Snoozing

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If anyone read my recent post you would of read that my "dog-son" Lefty has left the building. I found this picture while looking for pictures of Jack Russell's. I can only imagine this is what he would look like if he slept in a bed. Sweet Dreams Lefty wherever you may rest your head tonight.

Setting the Scene: In My Neigborhood

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Very quickly you notice the neighborhood din. The cars, buses, bikes, dogs, children, people chattering, coffee cups clinking as the locals sit in the outdoor cafes, cajoling loudly with each other. Just a block away are quiet tree lined streets, with beautifully painted houses. Don’t look for any high-rises here, because you won’t find them.

The people are as diverse as the entertainment, cuisine and shops. It’s the kind of place, that the shopkeeper knows you by name. You can usually hear the elderly men outside on “The Drive” arguing about soccer teams or the price of eggplant. They all live together in harmony, no matter what their ethnicity. You can savor the aroma that permeates and wafts through the air. Keep strolling along and you can relish in everything from poutine to paella to chicken curry, there is something for everyone’s palate.

This is where I live and the hood I call home, and there isn’t a place that I would rather be, on Commercial Drive in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,

 

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The One Who Got Away

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It has been quite some time, or so it seems since I have seen my beloved. No matter how down or depressed I was, he would always bring a smile to my face. We were always so glad to see each other, we were inseparable. I could always tell how much he loved me, it was in his eyes (eyes never lie) When he was near me he would smother me with kisses, it would be difficult for him to stop. I know now there will never be another one like him. I miss him so much, and look at his picture daily to remember all the fond memories. I don't think, I will ever forget him as long as I live. I know no one else will ever compare. His name is Lefty and he is a wire-haired Jack Russell canine.

He used to come and visit me every Friday. I would look forward to his visits, but now due to some unseen circumstances, he can no longer come to the apartment block that I live in. It breaks my heart........

 

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The Movie That Moved Me

This movie moved me because it took me back to my youth. When I was a teenager, 'The Runaways" were the same age as myself and my friends. I wanted nothing more than to have my own all girl Rock n Roll band. I tried really hard at it, but could never find girls as dedicated as myself. When watching the movie, I think maybe I should have tried a little harder.

The Runaways were pioneers for female musicians and singers to come. Without them there would be no Bif Naked, Hole or Pink. If Rock n Roll interests you and you want to see the history of women in rock, go rent the movie.

My Prophetic Dream

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Quiet please! Sleeping geeks. The prophetic dream that I had was very frightening in nature. It happened a long time ago, so I can't quite remember all the details. All I remember is that there was a avalanche somewhere here in British Columbia and several people had been killed. The next day I turned on the news and my dream had come to life. It was kind of creepy when it happened, but as time went on I just thought it was coincidence and nothing more.