I'd be lying if I said I was upset with the results of Canada's recent federal election and while not everyone feels the same, no one can deny, there's definitely a feeling of "real change" in the air.
And I'm not the only one who has noticed this new view. World leaders have also welcomed Mr Trudeau and his position on the big issues such as climate change, bringing Syrian refugees to Canada
and a vow to actively look into the deaths of aboriginal women (something our former P.M. brushed aside as not necessary.)
Here's a clip of me on the day I met our then future Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
With only days until Christmas and a new year around the bend, well, it really boggles my mind (although as some would point out, what doesn't boggle it...LOL)
The past 12 months have been filled with unbelievable highs and tremendous lows, for me personally, many of you reading this and ....and not to be a total downer during the holidays, but for the entire world really.
Think back to the many world events that were real game changers in 2015. It's a great time to be a proud Canadian, especially when we see how those in other places live.
For many reasons, this Christmas will be much different than last year for many of us. For some it will be "the Best Christmas Yet" while for others it will be a day with an empty seat at the table, or perhaps no table to go to at all.
The holidays are actually just regular days, all fancied up with twinkling lights, ribbons and bows. Not every "regular" day is an award winner and not all holiday seasons are either. Enjoy those that are filled with loved ones, merriment and joy. Hold on to every moment of it. Tuck it deep within.
And for those whose holidays aren't looking too merry this year, it's ok to sit this one out. I'll make a wish that your future holidays are brighter for you.
The very best of the holidays to you, you unique group of Scribbles fans. Your pleasure is my pleasure and I look forward to continue pleasuring you in 2016...LMAO
NOTE as to how you can watch this show.... The network Antenna TV is currently not available over cable or satellite in Canada. To our U.S. friends -check with your satellite or cable provider, many are adding sub-channels to their line-up.
In Canada: If you live close to the Canada/U.S. border with a large city on the U.S. side, chances are there's many over-the-air channels for you to enjoy. I use an antenna and get 24 channels from both Canada and America and one is the Antenna station from Buffalo, WGRZ 2.2. The closer you are to Buffalo, the more stations you will get. In Welland you can receive about 40 channels, all free of charge (after the initial antenna purchase.)
If you are not close to the border or a major U.S. city, you are out of luck.
Antenna TV is calling the show 'Johnny Carson' not 'The Tonight Show' Why? Because 'The Tonight Show' is still on TV, now with Jimmy Fallon, so 'Johnny Carson' it shall be.
The show airs EVERY DAY. Mon thru Fri., 1 hour episodes air at 11 pm. Sat. & Sun. the show starts an hour earlier at 10 pm and they are 90 minute episodes.
Get an antenna, stand on your head, do what you must, because this is a television first!
Our cute buddy Sam doesn't seem to mind the cooler temperatures of autumn, even when he's under the weather.
Above (left) Sam - like most kids his age - finds the falling leaves a great place to play. The other pix was taken after Jenn & Sean Young's little man was getting over a cold.
Jenn told her facebook friends, "Bundled up my little sicky and went to play at the beach to get our sick lungs some fresh air... A surprise snowfall was the icing on the cake!"
Fresh air, a pile of leaves and falling snow...the ideal cure for what ails you....whether you're young or young at heart.
We’ve always considered our friend Shelley Stewart to be a winner and now she’s received a major award to prove it.
In 2005, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act [or AODA] became law. Under this landmark legislation, the government of Ontario developed mandatory accessibility standards that identifies, removes, and prevents barriers for people with disabilities.* The AODA applies to all levels of government, nonprofits, and private sector businesses and Ontario was the first province in Canada to implement such an act.
Putting together the standards for AODA and assuring that everyone understood its importance was certainly no easy task. It required the unwavering determination of many individuals in communities both large and small, from across the province.
One such individual involved with AODA is long time Scribbles pal, Shelley Stewart.
In the City of St. Catharines, Shelley has been a member of the Accessibility Advisory Committee since 1999. She was instrumental in the formation of the advisory committee and getting the key players such as council, city staff and volunteers on board. Shelley has been co-chair of the advisory committee since 2006. Although Shelley's disability is a visual one, she has a vast understanding of most disabilities.^
SHELLEY WITH CURRENT WORKING GIRL REESE (LEFT) & ON OF SHELLEY'S PAST COMPANIONS, FOZZIE.
Shelley has provided accessible customer service training to the City of St. Catharines staff, volunteers, Mayor, councillors and commissioners. She took an active role as part of the close caption video, “Accessibility in St. Catharines”^
Shelley has been volunteering since 1991 with the CNIB. She jumped right in after losing her sight due to diabetes, as a means of helping her get through her own loss.^
She always sees the positive in everything. With her attitude she breaks down barriers and changes people's attitudes. People's perceptions of "the blind" have changed due to Shelley's award winning attitude.^
Shelley will always take any opportunity for an impromptu chat to inform others about accessibility. Be it educating a taxi driver about guide dog use, advocating bus drivers about the importance of audible stop announcements, training new volunteers about the legislation or assisting others with their own vision loss, Shelley is a true ambassador to many. ^
GETTING LOTS OF KISSES FROM REESE
Shelley is an excellent public speaker and group facilitator and is always willing to share her knowledge and personal accessibility experiences with others. She has a tremendous sense of humour and a special way that always gets the message across.^
Shelley's use of guide dogs helped pave the way and demonstrate the use of service animals for both those who themselves require the skills such animals provide and for the general public, whose well-meaning desire to ‘help’ the visually impaired and their guide dog, can sometimes become more of a hindrance.
In celebration of its 10th anniversary in 2015, the AODA presented awards of excellence to outstanding individuals whose achievements have surpassed all expectations and acted as a model to others.
On Mon. Nov.30th, Shelley was one of two people in St. Catharines to receive such an award.
Way to go Shelley. Seeing all the stuff you’ve done really blows my mind and makes me even more grateful that somehow you’ve still always had time to get together with me over the years.
[LEGEND FOR ABOVE POST: * means text from www.accessontario.com ^ means text taken from Shelley's AODA nomination indo, as written by Julie Morris and Mary Jane Waszynski. Paragraphs with no * or ^ written by Scribbles. ]
SCRIBBLES VIDEO: Shelley's Appearance on local Morning Show
It was a few years ago when ever busy Shelley agreed to appear on CHCH-TV's 'Morning Live' program. In this clip, Shelley shows us the preferred method of walking and guiding someone who is visually impaired, how she knows the dollar amount of the bills in her wallet and how to pour a hot (or cold) beverage without over-pouring.
Definitely worth a look!
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After working on some of the extensive post about my good friend Shelley, who is blind, I was a bit tired and decided to lay down and watch a TV show on my tablet. I like 'Bonanza' and of the several episodes that were recommended, I chose "The Artist".
Go figure! This episode of the classic TV western, was about a wealthy man who was an artist but had recently lost his vision. The episodes revolves around him accepting and learning to live with his disability.
Shelley and I shared a chuckle when I later told her about the odd coincidence.
Here's a link to that very interesting episode...well worth watching, Scribbles pals.
This festive Scribbles Video was created in 2012. Boy how the kids have grown over the years! And who can't help shed a tear when we see some of our loved ones enjoying Christmas, when they are now angels watching over us?
Take a one-horse open sleigh ride down memory lane, with these pix of Christmas' past.
Here's something to get your tail waggin'. Our favourite K-9 Krusader, Joe Friday is back with more amusing photos and a special video clip featuring Joe and his dad Jim STeel as they enjoy a visit to Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie. WOOF!
PHOTOS & CAPTIONS COURTESY JIM STEEL -LAYOUT BY SCRIBBLES
VIDEO | Joe Friday & His "Dad" Visit Lakeside Park
JOE FRIDAY GETS SERIOUS, IN A THOUGHT-PROVOKING PHOTO
AFTER THE FOLLOWING 3 POSTS... BE SURE TO CLICK ON 'HOME' LINK BELOW TO SEE MORE RECENT SCRIBBLES POSTS
Now that I no longer have a car to get me from place to place, I have been doing a lot more walking. Fortunately, my home on St. Patrick Street is centrally located, meaning I can step out my door, point myself in pretty much any direction and within 10 to 25 minutes, I am at one of several malls, plazas, coffee shops or fast food chains.
A few weeks ago, on an unseasonably warm, sunny day, I walked to many stores to do some shopping. Along the way, I passed by an apartment building and recognized it as being where an old friend of mine used to live. "I wonder if David still lives there?" I thought to myself as I walked passed the high rise.
I decided to find out and later sent David a facebook message, asking him if he still lived where he once had and letting him know where I now reside (which is about a 10-15 minute walk away.) Much to my delight David emailed me back, confirming he indeed still lives in the nearby apartment building.
Having not spoken to each other much in the past few years, we got caught up online and then picked a day to get together. Our first visit in eons took place at my place, where we talked and talked and talked. David is an artist whose work has been featured in exhibits, with another planned for early in the new year.
David, I am so happy we have reconnected and look forward to getting together again soon. :)
"Once upon there were three little girls who went to the police academy. Two in Los Angeles. The other in San Francisco. And they were each assigned very hazardous duties. But I took them away from all that. And now they work for me. My name ... is Charlie."
If you recognize that monologue, you were likely a fan of ABC's 'Charlie's Angels' which ran from 1976 - 1981. The original cast included Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson & Jaclyn Smith as the angels, David Boyd as Bosley and the voice of John Forsythe as their boss Charlie.
When I worked at Troll Book Clubs in St. Catharines, I became close with many of the girls who worked in the office. I don't recall how we came up with the nicknames, but it wasn't long before three of my co-workers, Becky Lee, Roxanne Rinaldo and Terry Garner, became known as the Angels. Because I have a penis, I was typecast as Charlie (although I often assumed the role of bumbling Bosley.)
For several years, the Angels and I socialized regularly, celebrating Christmas and birthdays together. Almost a decade ago, with each of us taking on new jobs in new workplaces, more and more time past between visits.
Recently, Becky and her fellow Angels had made plans to get together at a fine Italian eatery called Marco's on Nov. 25th. Becky asked if I would like to come along, as a surprise to Roxy & Terry, and I said "yes", which Becky later revealed she was a bit surprised to hear (given the numerous times I have declined or cancelled at the last minute due to pain issues or a lack of funds.)
Roxy was shocked to see me, as was Terry. Both of whom said I still looked the same as years ago...which is partially true, thanks to the hair colour and facial hair colour I use on a regular basis. It certainly isn't from a healthy lifestyle, unless you consider 16 pills a day healthy.
We pigged out on the all-you-can-eat buffet, reminisced about the past and got up to speed with what we had been up to over the past years. And I kept the girls and even our waitress in stitches as I exercised my new motto... "Be as gay as you wanna be".
We left Marco's with full bellies and beaming smiles and vowed to get together more frequently.
Charlie thoroughly enjoyed our outing Angels and I look forward to doing it again soon.
