Tabitha's picture

Tabitha

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Room for all part 5

Wondercafe is a busy place.  Kind of like a Union Station....a hub of activity with people coming and going all the time.  I'm a people watcher and love to sit in a place like a train station marvelling at all the different types of people that I see and imagining what their lives are like. 

Wondercafe offers us even more.  Here we get to see and meet all kinds of people but even better yet we are offered glimpses into their lives.  They share life's joys, questions, celebrations, disappointments, worries, ambitions, concerrns and even share in their time of loneliness and grief.  And in this place, where people are busy, and people are coming and going, we do what few people do in the real world.  We stop and listen.  We reach out.  And hopefully we help one another.

 

 In some corners of the room people it may get noisy as people banter back and forth.  In other corners of the room it is much quieter, as people not only listen, but they reflect and carefully choose their responses to the person in crisis.  In some areas of the room we ponder life's big questions.  Other areas of the room are silly and often resemble a party of one type or another.  So many people, so many different lives, all carrying different things in their suitcases, and THIS UNION station offers room for all.

 

In another thread posters were remembering that there are many here missing loved ones this Christmas.  While many celebrate Christmas with decorations, parties, shopping trips and anticipation of a full house....others are wondering what this Christmas will mean with an empty chair.  Some are looking towards Christmas wondering where they will be, who they will be with or who they might be without.  Some who visit here don't believe in Christma.  So how do you decorate the Union Station?

 

I am opening the doors wide in this thread.  The room is big, the room is inviting, the room is warm.....there is room for all.  Enter in and bring with you whatever you like....you may add decorations to fill the space, you may offer food to nourish others, you may bring only yourself and tell us how you're doing.  You are welcome here.  I'll be happy to see you and sit for a while.   Please continue to welcome others as they enter in and if I'm not in sight, please tend to their needs.  This is a busy union station of people coming and going.  Let's make sure that everyone is recognized and that their needs are met.  If they are happy, let's share in their joy.  If they are sad, let's offer them an ear, a hug and a caring heart.  If they are lost, let's offer them hope that they'll find their way and perhaps some guidance.  If they are hungry, let's feed them.

There is room for all.

 

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Tabitha's picture

Tabitha

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Welcome to our 5th thread on this subject.

I have decided to delay my trip for 1 day. To not bring the futon couch-since there was no confirmation it was wanted-and this has allowed me to feel much less stressed.

I'll pack tonight and head off in the morning.

It meant I was able to get some ends tied up at work as well

and so I'm feeling much better.

crazyheart's picture

crazyheart

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heartyes

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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Thank you, Tabitha, for opening another thread . . . whatever would we do without this room to come to - to share our thoughts, our feelings, our ups and downs, our challenges, our blessings, etc. etc. etc. ?

 

Glad lthings have worked out okay for you for your trip . . . being less stressed is always good smiley.

 

Hi, crazyheart - hope all is going well in your world today smiley.

 

I've been yacking on the phone to relatives and now playing on Wondercafe - who is doing my chores for me ????  I guess they will sit there til I get to them - maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe another day cheeky.

 

 

 

 

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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Greetings everyone!  Whether you are Irish or not - wishing you many blessings of the day!

 

I'm hoping many of you are experiencing some spring blessings and signs of a changing season before you.  As I look out my window I see white as far as the eye can see . . . with about 4 feet of snow covering my lawn . . . and more is falling down.  The temperatures are warmer (-10ish), but winter is far from being over.

 

I have many chores I should be doing . . . remaking my bed after laundering the sheets, cleaning up my lunch dishes, changing the loads in my washer, organizing my church stuff for our Annual meeting on Sunday, etc,. etc. etc.  But I am feeling lazy, and so I am playing on Wondercafe instead of working.

 

How is everyone?

 

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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Okay the snowflakes are getting bigger and thicker and falling faster.  You know, the kind of snow one likes to see on a Christmas Eve . . . or other winter night.  Not the kind one wants to see when spring is around the corner cheeky!

 

crazyheart's picture

crazyheart

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The snow is slowly going here leaving puddles all over. But have lived in saskatchewan long enough to know that snow could be right arund the corner. We had snow in May last year.

chemgal's picture

chemgal

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Ugh, so annoyed with my insurance company right now.  The group that provides it always wants feedback when we're denied, and they look into it too, to see if it's possible for us to get the coverage after all.

 

The insurance company responded with outright wrong information.  Ie. Not approved by Health Canada, it's not available in Canada, etc.  Whether they are lying or just clueless I don't know.

 

I had a good day today, but coming home to this information just get me so angry.  Either way, I think it's safe to say that they are definitely out for any coverage now.  I wasn't expecting them to change what they told me about covering it, but there was a slim chance.  Why make up wrong information though?  It's not in the formulary, that's there 'out' although sometimes they allow paperwork to be signed off by a doctor to provide coverage.

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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Sorry to hear, chemgal - a very frustrating time for you.  Hope things improve soon.

 

chemgal's picture

chemgal

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Thanks Beloved.  It helped to just vent about it.  Like I said, the reasoning probably won't change their decision anyway.  There are still other options that I will find out about soon!

 

Chemguy finally got his full sized BBQ, so we ran out tonight to pick up a better brush for cleaning it.  We browsed the store as well, put me in a better mood.  I think I did a bit too much today, I'm in pain, but I feel pretty calm for once.

chemgal's picture

chemgal

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I got the medication sorted out, it's all covered by the government so no need to bother with the insurance companies!

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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Excellent!

kaythecurler's picture

kaythecurler

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I'm doing a happy dance for you chemgal.  Knowing that the costs of treatment will be covered must be a relief!

seeler's picture

seeler

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I shouldn't complain but I think I'm coming down with a cold.  Darn.  I thought the power of positive thinking was getting me through.  At least I didn't get sick until Seelerman was better.

 

carolla's picture

carolla

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that's definitely good news chemgal!  

 

seeler - sorry to hear you're 'getting it' - but as you say, at least when only one person in the house is sick at any given time it's a bit easier. 

 

Today is nice & sunny here - snow continuing to disappear!  We went to Canada Blooms today - a huge garden & flower show.  It was wonderful to walk through beautiful gardens & patios & playgrounds, look at blooming plants, imagine what wonders will soon be unfolding, see all the creative entries in the flower show ... ahhh ... spring, wherefore art thou???

 

chemgal's picture

chemgal

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Thanks Kay.  I wasn't worried about having to pay for all of it, otherwise no one would be taking it!  Still a relief to know that there are no costs to us though, as even a small portion could really cause us to cut back on other things.

 

Seeler, sorry to hear you're sick.  Get Seelerman to take good care of you!

paradox3's picture

paradox3

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carolla wrote:

 

Today is nice & sunny here - snow continuing to disappear!  We went to Canada Blooms today - a huge garden & flower show. 

 

 

Was at Canada Blooms last year, Carolla. It smelled wonderful!

seeler's picture

seeler

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Sitting at my computer - coughing, hacking, sneezing.  Not good.   But possibly I've passed the worst of it.  I had a good 8 hours sleep last night.  That makes a world of difference.

 

 

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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Arrggggggg!  Just lost my typed post . . . starting again.

 

Sleep does wonders seeler . . . and I hope your day brings continued healing.  Have you tried natural honey, juice from a real lemon, and raw ginger in hot water, sipping it all day long?  Glad you had a good sleep, and hope the day brings continued healing.  Hope your cough doesn't last long.

 

Not much sleep here last night . . . late Board meeting and even later bed time as I couldn't wind down.  Fitful sleep.  Awake early with mind buzzing.  My last board meeting as Chair, move into Past after Annual Meeting on Sunday.  Mind buzzing about the upcoming meeting, and I will spend much time over the next few days organizing, preparing, thinking, and praying.

 

How is everyone?  Arising from sleep with anticipating of facing a new day and all it holds?

 

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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Good morning beloved and all friends

Thanks for the new room tabitha

I am travelling this week in challenging circumstances.

I am finding the irony of the time that I spend encouraging my techs to pick up the phone and the current stuff with this site. Oh well

Time to get today moving

paradox3's picture

paradox3

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Feeling for you, Pinga. I hope these don't seem like hollow words but I don't know what else to say. 

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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Aah. Paradox, i am fine

The challenges are related to work regarding cowboy behavior in an area that has no room for such for good reason.

In addition, my aunt has died this week, and it us unclear when or if there will be visitation.
She was my dad's sister and they were estranged and she had Alzheimer's for the last 10 years but I know he will want to go

chemgal's picture

chemgal

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Blah is the word for the day I think.

 

I woke up all achy, nothing specific just blah.  There's a fair bit of new snow, I was hoping it was just going to be the grass that was covered, but the stuff on the street and sidewalk is sticking around and I have an appointment outside of city limits today - blah.  Reading some of the threads here today - blah

 

Blah is better than quite a few things though.

 

Pinga, it sounds like you have quite a bit going on between work frustrations, family, and WC stuff.  Thanks for working on getting us to the next stage.  Sorry to hear about your aunt, I hope things go well with your Dad.

 

Seeler, keep up with that sleep!  When I was sick I grabbed it when I could as it didn't last long enough.

 

Beloved, try to relax a bit when you get a chance :)

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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On a positive note, i love the way this community moves forward.  the name thread is awesome

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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Sorry for the loss of your aunt, Pinga.  Those in your age group (or mine, me being a smidgeon older), are experiencing the loss of more and more members of the generation that preceeded us.  I find it odd to think of myself as the "older" generation now.  I have one of my mom's sisters remaining, and one of her sister-in-laws, and none on my dad's sad.  It won't be long before there is none of my parent's generation left in our family.  It becomes a loss of that whole part of our lives.

 

Happy Spring everyone!

 

 

seeler's picture

seeler

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Yes, I remember a few years ago when the last of my aunts and uncles died; my friends parents, the people I had known as young adults when I was growing up. 

 

But now it's my generation.  Only one person I knew as a grown woman when I was a child (shewas my Sunday School superintendant, girls' group leader - her daughter was a few years older than me, her sons younger) is still living and active up in her 90s.   But now it is people I went to school with who's obits I see in the paper; cousins my age, friends - three of my brothers-in-law.   When will it be my sister?  

 

And even more scary is when it is our children - I lost a nephew in his 40s.  My cousins have lost children.  And my own children are middle-aged and with heath problems.

 

I think I understand the big picture.  All that is living must die.  Death is a part of life.  Without death, there wouldn't be new life, new birth, babies and children.    But it's sad.

 

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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Hugs seeler

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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Re my aunt, i am not sad, just aware of quite bad relationships in her family that have ripple affects. Will walk with my dad through it over the next few weeks

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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Have a wonderful day folk

paradox3's picture

paradox3

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Thinking of you, Pinga and Seeler. 

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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Good Friday morning everyone.

 

The conversation above reminds me of the "circle of life".  We welcome the new in the arrival of a baby, and we say good-bye when a life is done - and there is a lot that happens in between.

 

This day I have a few things I have to accomplish - first of all, I have to get off the computer and put my runners on and walk on my treadmill :).  Then I will go to have tea with my friends.  Some chores this afternoon.  Dishes at the church supper.  And then come home and do some more work to prepare for my annual meeting.  Some of these I will welcome and enjoy, and others I will just get through and do until they are done smiley.

 

Have a great day everyone!

 

Hope, peace, joy, love . . .

 

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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Today will find me continuing to dig out from 3 weeks being out and a few tough meetings. Opportunity to exercise my skills in discussing mine laden topics in a non emotional manner with emotional folks.

I fly home tonight and will get home about midnight

Tomorrow will be time with dad and time with my family

kaythecurler's picture

kaythecurler

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I offer caring hugs to all those who feel a need for one at this time.  Deaths, joys, disease,  exercise, births, challenges, sorrows and celebrations seem to form the pattern of our days, as they did for all the generations before us.  

 

For me this leaves me as the oldest member of my immediate family.  Two grandparents died before I knew them, two died in my childhood. My aunts and uncles are all dead as are most of the cousins I knew (some I only know as names and they may still be alive)  My siblings are dead and leave a gaping empty spot in my emotions.  A grandchild lost a parent.  Several close friends have died as have people in my community.  I am living with a disease that could kill me (if my life doesn't end from some other cause!). Two of my children have major health challenges that carry the risk of earlier than average deaths.

 Despite that - life is good!  Spring will come as it has every other year of my life.  I have experienced much and hopefully will leave behind a world a little less polluted than it would be if I had chosen a different style of living.  

seeler's picture

seeler

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Despite that - life is good!    Thank you Kay for the reminder.   Life is good!  

I will get over my cold.  Spring is here officially - and the weather will catch up (snow yesterday morning and rain in the afternoon to take it, and more, away.  Today is beautiful. 

I'm going out for a short time this afternoon.  Yesterday I stayed in my pjs.  But I feel ready for some air - and I think I'm past the highly contageous stage.

 

And despite our getting tired of the winter - think what a great year its been for all the people who enjoy winter sports.  It would have been a perfect winter here for cross country skiing - snowmobiling - snowshoeing.  My grandson started down-hill skiing this year - loves it and does well. 

And all this snow should make a good year for maple syrup.  I wonder if people are out looking at their trees yet.

 

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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My hubby has enjoyed ice fishing and ski-dooing this winter - and he will probably get to enjoy both of these for a few weeks yet.

 

I've enjoyed being able to snuggle in on cold winter nights in my jammies under a blanky watching tv, reading, playing on WC and Facebook, and playing Scrabble on my ipad (as well as the times I didn't have to shave my legs if I didn't feel like it cause I knew I was going to be wearing long pants cheeky).

 

Got my walking on treadmill in, my tea with ladies in, a little bit of church work done, dishes done at the supper which had around 90 people,  but feeling lazy tonight.  I know I am going to regret not getting it done today when I have to cram tomorrow for Sunday.

 

Cable is out . . . so no tv tonight, perhaps a game of Scrabble :).

 

 

 

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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I have loved that there were few grey days and many beautiful days

paradox3's picture

paradox3

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Good Morning, all. How is everyone doing today? 

 

WC2 and letting go of this site are big on my mind today. 

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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woot, i'm at home!  

 

It is quiet, i am enjoying a quiet coffee and getting caught up on threads.  One son at work, one son at a weekend reserves event....and my husband at hockey.

 

Soon, I will need to get my day going, chores call, visit to Dad, but for now, it is good to not be responsible and get caught up on shows missed, wondercafe, and coffee

paradox3's picture

paradox3

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Wondercafe and coffee are made for each other in the morning, wouldn't you say? 

carolla's picture

carolla

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I have the house to myself today ... glorious solitude!  And nothing pressing on my agenda :-)  

 

Yes to Saturday coffee & wondercafe!

crazyheart's picture

crazyheart

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It was -20 this morning. Good day for WC, Carolla, ya betcha.

kaythecurler's picture

kaythecurler

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I too have the house to myself - tomorrow too!  Coffee has been drunk and food enjoyed.  The .plan' was to complete a sewing project this morning but the machine was not working well with the material I was putting together.  New needle required I think but I don't have any better spares so I tossed out the sewing idea and treated myself to a nap!

 

Later I'll walk the treadmill as it is too darn cold and windy to enjoy going out to exercise.

 

 

 

 

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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Hah, it turned out a nap was in my bodies plans! Still getting over the sinus thing so probably a good thing

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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Sounds like some good Saturday activity!

 

I've spent the whole day preparing for our Annual Meeting.  I'm all done!

 

I have to get up early and make sandwiches.  Go to church early and set-up and organize everything.  And then chair the meeting.  I will be glad when it is over and I become the new PAST-Chairperson!.

 

I'm going to make some banana bread, wash clothes, vacuum my kitchen, and relax!

 

 

kaythecurler's picture

kaythecurler

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Ummmmm....are you the only person in your congregation???  What's up with the chairperson doing everything?  This is something I don't quite get.

Hilary's picture

Hilary

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This afternoon I attended a funeral (father of a friend) and tomorrow morning, I will attend the dedication of a baby (son on another friend).  It's a 'circle of life' weekend for me.

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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Understood hilary, question what does a dedication look like

Hilary's picture

Hilary

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I'll let you know tomorrow!

 

My friend does not attend a church but was raised Catholic.  This service will be at the church of her husband's family.  I think it's a non-denominational Christian congregation that believes in adult baptism or maybe teen baptism like when UCCers are confirmed.  So I expect the dedication to be more like a christening.

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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kaythecurler wrote:

Ummmmm....are you the only person in your congregation???  What's up with the chairperson doing everything?  This is something I don't quite get.

 

Oh, absolutely not Kay, we have many hardworking persons in my congregation smiley.

A few reasons why I have spent so much time on it - we dont' have a secretary, and I have been volunteering in the office, so some of the work I have been doing would be work that the secretary would have done during the week. 

 

Some has been time with emails, phone calls, etc. with others who are taking part in the meeting or who have needed to be brought up to speed with information.  Making overheads.  Scanning documents for others who needed them. etc.

 

Some of it is my own preparation work.  I like to have things organized and ready - so organizing papers, typing things I want to have as information, typing things I need to do and say, etc.  I have always found that the more organized a person is, the better things go. 

 

Nope, I'm not a one-woman show . . . just doing my own thing.

 

 

Beloved's picture

Beloved

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My children were dedicated, not baptized. The service, or vows were same as for a baptism, but they were not baptized with water and sign of cross.

seeler's picture

seeler

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There were five babies born to people connected with our small congregation the year my granddaughter was born.  Several were baptised on the same day.  Shortly after, one baby boy was dedicated.  Similar service except for the actual baptism with water.  His grandmother, who was quite involved, had been raised Salvation Army and although she had attended the UCC for many years, she didn't believe in infant baptism.

 

 

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