Strangers in our Midst

There are lots of people in this world, many in my own town of Vancouver, BC. I don't know everyone, nor will I ever. I pass strangers daily and I don't know much about them and probably never will. That's okay though. I don't have the time to befriend everyone I see. Nor are most people interested in that.

However, just because a person isn't a friend doesn't mean I can't do something special for them. Sometimes it is as simple as smiling at someone you pass on the street. Many times, they don't smile back - lost in their own thoughts, consumed with their own problems - but sometimes someone will. Did my smile make that person feel a little better? I hope so.

Have you ever noticed a woman's outfit and really liked it? What do you do? Do you just make a mental note that it was nice and walk on? I like to tell the woman. I don't stop and engage them in conversation but as I am walking by, I will say nice outfit. The woman will usually smile and say thank you. I have brightened her day. I may never see her again but perhaps I have given her a boost of confidence.

To be honest, it is so easy to make a stranger feel good. To shine a little light on their day. Just a compliment or a smile. Or, if you see someone struggling to get something in the car or pull in garbage cans from the curb, offer to help. It will take a few moments and will not only help them, but makes you feel good too.

Now if it were only as easy to make those close to us feel as good. Many times it is. It requires thinking before you speak or apologizing when you do make an error and hurt someone's feelings. It also requires people not to be overly sensitive. Before you take offence at something that is said or done, take a step back and think. Many times people imagine slights and insults when nothing like that was intended by the other person.

I hope you all enjoy your Valentine's weekend.

See ya next time!

Photos from Morguefile Free photos
.

On The Right Side: Forbidden words and a farewell

Frogs are Cute!

Today I am honoured to welcome guest writer, J.r. Barker.

Thank you Karen for having me here.

Today I would like to talk to you about Wildlife; or specifically the slimy, scaly aspect of it that isn’t as cute as say, a Kitten with some string.

Amphibians and reptiles are incredibly diverse species and can be found almost anywhere, the trouble is that they are also incredibly vulnerable. Any climate or environmental change can dramatically impact on the lives of these creatures, whether it’s their habitat or their general health. Many species have already become extinct or are on the endangered list, many within my lifetime.

A lot of work needs to be done to prevent further species following suit.

Why should we care?’ you might ask.

Well for a start they are good indicators on the state of the environment.They are crucial members of the food chain, birds, foxes and badgers all eat these creatures. If that doesn’t persuade you, it might help to remember that they also eat flies and insects. Those things we are so inept at squishing they literally eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also, contrary to popular belief, they can also be incredibly cute.

What can you do to help?Well actually there is something you can do right here, right now, without any cost to you.

An organisation called Froglife is doing a year long survey about how people see reptiles and amphibians in the hopes of improving their image. All you have to do is take part in a survey and as a bonus you’ll be entered into a competition in which you could win fabulous prizes.

The competition is open for adults and children, so you can get the whole family involved.To find out more and to enter the competition click here.

I would like to thank the following sites for frog photo.

© Janpietruszka

Dreams Time Stock

Stocks Free Images

See ya next time!

Welcome Author Doug Simpson

Today I would like to spotlight an author that find interesting, Doug Simpson. Doug has five published books. His latest is The Soul of Jesus. You can find it at this link:

US Link
UK Link

Doug Simpson is a retired high school teacher who has turned his talents to writing. His first novel, a spiritual mystery titled Soul Awakening, was published in the United States in October of 2011, by Booklocker. It was reissued in October of 2012 by 5 Prince Publishing as Soul Awakening, Book I of the Dacque Chronicles.

The Soul of Jesusis Doug’s newest work. As part of His preparations for the long-prophesied birth of the Christ, God selected a devout group of primarily Jewish Essenes to oversee this monumental undertaking. The Soul of Jesus delves into numerous details surrounding these readily-available but little-known preparations which preceded the birth of Jesus, and then carries on to share delightful snippets concerning the birth and life of Jesus before the commencing of His Ministry, Jesus’ Healings and other Miracles, His Apostles, relatives, friends and the group of seventy disciples, the Crucifixion and Resurrection, His activities after the Resurrection, and Jesus’ Ascension, that are not recorded in the Scriptures.

One of my favorite questions for an author is what is your fondest childhood memory? I asked Doug this question and here is his answer:

Growing up, I loved playing hockey and following my heroes playing in the National Hockey League. That was back in the days when there were only six teams in the league. I knew all of the players by name and by face as they never wore helmets or face guards back then, not even the goalies. We lived about an hour outside of downtown Toronto and once or twice a year my father would take me to a Toronto Maple Leaf’s game. As I got older I developed the notion that I should try to collect autographs from my heroes and persuaded my father to not rush to the doors at the conclusion of games but to hang around outside the player’s dressing rooms or player’s exit and wait for the players to walk by. I not only collected their autographs but had brief conversions with some of them. Can there be a better dream than that for a hockey-crazy kid? I still have some of those autographed hockey programs framed and hanging on my wall in my computer room where I write. Can you have better inspiration than that?

You can stay connected with Doug Simpson here:

Amazon Author Page

Facebook

Twitter

Thanks for visiting Doug and I wish you all the best with your new book.

See ya next time.

When Your Reality is Shattered Part Two

Here is more on the story from Brenda Perlin.

I thought about all the weekends I spent on the beach to keep that perfect “sun-kissed” tan all year round. I would also regularly escape to my favorite tanning salon for a quick session in the tanning booth. It was very popular, mostly frequented by people in their late teens and early twenties, just like me. It was not something I talked about with my friends or family because it was not something I wanted to brag about. At that time, I wasn’t worried about wrinkles—I laughed at the thought of them—or the skin damage I always heard about. I was young, optimistic and carefree. As it turned out, I was also ignorant; I was about to receive a sobering awakening.

A few days later, I received the doctor’s call. I had a melanoma, a potentially deadly skin cancer. To make sure there was no cancer remaining, the dermatologist wanted to do a second, more extensive biopsy. He told me how dangerous a melanoma was and that if it had spread, he would have to do a major surgery and remove the lymph nodes close to that area.

Later at home, I found all kinds of information on the Internet about melanoma. I discovered that it can metastasize. At that point, there was little that could be done to stop the cancer. I was a “glass half empty” kind of a girl.

My dad would say, “Don't be such a downer.”

Like I have said, I was a realist! I could not believe that this was happening to me. After the phone call, I repeated that sound bite in my head. It was all so surreal and confusing.

I guess you could say I was thinking, “Why me? Haven’t I been through enough?”

Four days passed before I heard back from the doctor that the lab results were available for the second biopsy. Those four days were the longest, most tedious days that I can remember. It was hard to sleep and difficult to think about anything else. Nothing seemed as important. By the grace of God (I like using that phrase for the drama and nothing more), my report said that the melanoma had not spread and I would not need to have my beloved lymph nodes removed. This cancer would not kill me.

Even though the cancer had not spread, I still had to return to the dermatologist for removal of the margins around the affected area of my butt. The three-inch scar I now have was the result of that procedure. It hurt like hell, but it was better than the alternative.

The procedure went well. It wasn’t until the knife like pain started about six hours after the procedure that I started to realize that this was not going to be an easy deal. Even if I had gotten lucky this time (as Tom Petty once sang), I would always have to think like a survivor. I would be living at my dermatologist’s office and my days of roasting like a chicken in the California sun or under a tanning booth were over. Gone were the days on my chaise lounge baking in the summer sun while chatting mindlessly on the telephone. I would have to be very diligent about the use of sunscreen and always remember to reapply. If I were to pick my God or savior, it would be my doctor.

Thanks Brenda for sharing that story of a difficult time in your life. Hopefully others can learn from it. I am happy that you are better and with us today. 

To find Brenda and her writings online, consult the following links.

Her wonderful books:
Shattered Reality
Burnt Promises

Youtube Book Trailers
Shattered Reality Brooklyn and Bo chronicles (Book One)
Burnt Promises Brooklyn and Bo Chronicles (Book Two)

website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Goodreads


I got these photos from Morguefile free photos.

See ya next time.

ontherightside suck it up buttercup

When Your Reality is Shattered

Today I have the first part of a guest blog by author, Brenda Perlin. Enjoy.

My tanning bed nightmare started shortly after I met Bo. One afternoon, I received a phone call from my dermatologist telling me that he had some very serious news to share with me. This shocked me because it came from out of left field. He proceeded to tell me that the small—no larger than a typical blemish—dark spot on my butt was the worst kind of skin problem: a “melanoma” skin cancer.

As he explained the details, I felt light headed, numb and definitely not present; it felt like I was floating over my body.

He told me in no uncertain terms that, “This is very serious.”

I felt bad for him, and scared for me, because I could hear his voice trembling. This was not an easy task for him. Wanting to make him feel better, I remained nonchalant and pleasant. As the conversation continued, I further digested what he was saying. The wires in my brain were slowly starting to connect. This was not a small little inconvenience, it could be another life threatening turn of events. This was all starting to sound extremely bad.

In February 2009, I noticed a small mark (like a freckle) on the very top of my butt. I had not noticed it previously and had heard that if you found a new mole or growth on your skin, you should have it checked by a doctor. Any new blemish or growth could be a sign of something sinister.

Shortly thereafter, I made a phone call to my primary doctor in Mission Viejo, California. The next day, I received a call back from my doctor’s office telling me that she would not refer me to a dermatologist without doing an examination herself. At that point, I was not overly concerned that the new freckle on my butt was anything life threatening, so I casually waited a few months before scheduling an appointment in August 2009 with that doctor. I rationalized to myself that I was probably being a hypochondriac, overreacting to every magazine article about various diseases and afflictions, so I just put this one out of my mind.

In August 2009, I was in my doctor’s office and remembered to show her the new freckle/mole on my butt. She took a quick look at it and said it was nothing to be worried about. I was relieved to hear good news from a doctor for a change, so I put it out of my mind. Basically, I crossed it off my list and planned on never thinking about it again.

Fast forward eight months later. While I was having some cosmetic procedures done at my dermatologist’s office, I contemplated whether or not I should ask about the same freckle on my butt. I felt guilty asking for this additional time. Certainly, there were other patients in the waiting room and, after all, my exam was completed, except for that freckle. 

In my most jovial voice, I asked the doctor if he thought this freckle was anything to be concerned about. I thought he would brush it off as fast as my other doctor had done. He took a good look at it and said that he didn’t think it was anything to be concerned about, but added that suspicious growths should always be biopsied, especially new growths. I liked his thoroughness and, maybe the attention too, so I agreed.

He did a biopsy and sent it to the lab for testing. I felt my worries were surely over. I was being safe, and felt good about taking care of myself in this fashion. I felt very mature. I never would have imagined that this small little mark would be anything that could have the power to alter the rest of my life. It made me start thinking about all the things that were important to me and all the friends and loved ones I would miss if I were gone. 

Stay tuned for the rest of this story. It is an interesting one.

Here are the links to find Brenda Perlin online.

Her wonderful books:

Shattered Reality
Burnt Promises

Youtube Book Trailers
Shattered Reality Brooklyn and Bo chronicles (Book One)

Burnt Promises Brooklyn and Bo Chronicles (Book Two)

website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Goodreads

The lady herself

See ya next time.