the little things that amuse me...

Red Fridays

Lara — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 01:43:38 GMT

I've talked to a few people lately who had never heard of Red Fridays, which prompts me to post this here. Personally, I wear something red every Friday to show my support and thanks to the people that do what they do so I have the liberty to do what I do... --------------------------- Red Fridays Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Canadians who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing. Many Canadians, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of Canada supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that ... every Canadian who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red. It could be just a small red ribbon. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make Canada, on every Friday, a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before Canadians will be covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent majority" is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is ..." We need your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday. IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS MESSAGE ON. IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN IGNORE IT. IT IS YOUR CHOICE.

Family

Lara — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:03:12 GMT

I'm in the mood to try and write but frustrated by my inability to do so. I attended two family reunions this summer (a big one on my Mum's side, a mini-one on my Dad's) and I'm awfully glad I went. It's wonderful to see (and sometimes to meet) these people that you have this odd connection with. The wonderful thing for me is that I actually like my family, in addition to loving them. I have some friends that aren't so lucky. I sometimes think it strange that we have this entire group of people that are (though we can choose otherwise) automatically a part of our lives. Anyway, I can't really explain what I'm thinking - just that I'm happy that my family members are people that I want to have in my life and I'm glad I got the chance to reconnect with them this summer.

Boz reminder!

Lara — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 05:47:10 GMT

Don't forget to sign up for Jim Boz's workshops on May 5 & 6 in Nanaimo! Contact me at lara@belly-twins.com or call my cell 250-756-5951 with any questions :o) The show will be SMOKIN' hot - it's on the Saturday night (May 5th). For those of you looking for a place to stay, here are a couple of options: The Painted Turtle's rates are as follows (plus tax, double check re season): private suite: $45-70* per night family suite, 1 Queen 1 bunk bed (2 twins): $55 - 75* per night shared suite, max 4 per room: $24 per night each, year-round contact info: Painted Turtle Guesthouse 121 Bastion Street Nanaimo BC V9R 3A2 Toll Free: 1-866-309-4432 Phone: 250-753-4432 Web: www.paintedturtle.ca Email: stay@paintedturtle.ca Nanoose Creek Campground is just across the highway (32 sites, $20 - $25): 2212 Island Hwy East Nanoose Bay V9P 9A8 phone: 250-468-7186 toll-free: 1-866-468-7186 email: mccamp@shaw.ca Quiet country campground has multiple family sites, family shower room, free hot showers, free picnic area, laundry, power, campfires, tall cedar grove, beaver-duck pond, creek. 5 mins. to Rathtrevor Beach, go-carts, golf, pub, groceries. Complimentary coffee. There are also numerous hotels in Nanaimo and Parksville.

"Got Hips?" Jim Boz in Nanaimo 4-6 May 2007!

Lara — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 07:18:23 GMT

OK I've finally got an email ready for the Jim Boz weekend so am posting it here, too :o) Let me know if you have any questions! "Got Hips?" Duet Bastet (Lara and Hipsteria troupe-mate Faith) are hosting internationally-renowned performer and teacher Jim Boz in Nanaimo for 2 days of fabulous workshops and a gala show. Mark your calendars for May 5th & 6th, this is an experience you definitely don’t want to miss! ------------------ As a male performer of Middle Eastern Dance, Jim Boz is known for his strong presence coupled with masculine grace. It is rare to see a guy in the spotlight, and Jim Boz is not only comfortable, but capable in taking you on a rare journey. Although men performing Raks Sharki is often rare, there is a strong history of men's dances in the Middle East. Additionally, there are many excellent essays, treatises and documents regarding the roles of male dancing and the movement vocabularies involved. There is no mystical magical 'male technique' for belly dance...there is attitude, presentation, intent and execution. With nearly a decade of experience teaching Middle Eastern Dance, Jim Boz creates a warm and supportive environment, characterized by joy, information, celebration and fun. His concepts are presented in a playful manner. A featured workshop instructor for over 6 years and Competition Judge for 5, Jim has enhanced dance events internationally with his humor, passion and instruction. (more info about this amazing man can be found on his website: www.jimboz.com) ------------------------ Workshop Details Saturday, 5 May 2007 10am – 3pm (4 hrs plus 1 hour lunch break) Technique & Combinations for Oriental Dance From Jim's signature bag of tricks, discover the range of expression, texture based sequencing and movement morphing that has helped unlock secrets to self expression in Middle Eastern Dance idioms to dancers all over North America. Sunday, 6 May 2007 10am – 12pm Fusion It's been requested....strongly. Jim's hot new fusion technique and short choreography which will be presented by his troupe at Cairo Carnival in LA in June. Check it out - it's a BC exclusive (Hannan in Toronto convinced Jim to do it there first or we would've had the Canadian exclusive *LOL*)! Sunday, 6 May 2007 1pm – 3pm Baladi Jim is itching to teach a short baladi number, starting with some baladi technique. Another must-do workshop! ----------------------- Prices Super-early bird (on or before Feb 28th): Both days: $130 and receive a free show ticket! Early bird (on or before March 31st): Saturday (day): $75 Sunday morning: $50 / Sunday afternoon: $50 / Sunday (both): $75 Both days: $140 Show tickets: $15 Regular (on or after April 1st): Saturday (day): $85 Sunday morning: $60 / Sunday afternoon: $60 / Sunday (both): $85 Both days: $160 Show tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door Contact Lara at lara@belly-twins.com or 250-756-5951 to reserve your spot! We'll have the registration forms out by the end of January, feel free to email me for them or check www.belly-twins.com/jimboz.html for updated info and forms. ---------------------------- Call for vendors: Are you looking for a place to sell your belly-wares? Lara & Faith are looking for vendors for their “Got Hips?” weekend with Jim Boz, 5 & 6 May 2007. Contact Lara at lara@belly-twins.com 250-756-5951 with your information! ---------------------------- Call for dancers: Duet Bastet (Lara and Faith) is putting out a call for dancers for their Nanaimo gala! Do you want to be a part of the May 5th “Got Hips?” show with internationally-renowned performer and teacher Jim Boz? Performers are invited to submit the "Dancer’s Biography & Agreement" below with their audition video/DVD. Space is limited. Participants must attend at least one full day of the workshops to be eligible to perform and submissions must be received by 15 March 2007 to be reviewed by our panel of local dancers. We’re looking not only at performance ability, but at dance style and costuming, to ensure variety. Please submit video of the dance you would like to perform (no major changes to the dance, style, or costuming will be permitted). All performers are required to read, sign and return a completed Dancer’s Agreement and Biography (see below). Complimentary show admission will be provided for all performers. Send your entries (must be RECEIVED by 15 March) to: Lara Kirkpatrick PO Box 41020 RPO Woodgrove Nanaimo BC V9T 6M7 We’re also checking interest for a hafla on either the Friday or Sunday evening. If you’re interested in attending (and performing, too, I hope!), please contact Lara at lara@belly-twins.com or 250-756-5951. Dancer’s Biography & Agreement - please print and send with your video Legal Name: Dance / Troupe Name Telephone: E-Mail: Level of Experience: Style of Dance (as you want it listed in the program): Music (song name & artist): Introduction: 1. Express permission is given to use photography and videography of myself in conjunction with the promotion and sale of any and all show videos, and I give my consent to appear in a video of the show. Expressed permission is given to use photography of myself with the promotion of this event. 2. There is a six (6) minute maximum performance time allotment for solo performers and eight (8) minutes for troupes. There is a limit of one performance per group and one performance per individual dancer. 3. The performer is responsible for supplying their labeled and cued music plus backup to the sound personnel one (1) hour prior to the show. 4. All costumes must be appropriate for a family audience. A cover-up is mandatory outside of the dressing room / back stage area. 5. Due to regulations, no fire of any kind is allowed on the property. 6. Any damage caused by swords, canes, veils or wings to property, others or yourself will be your sole responsibility. 7. No photography or guests are permitted back stage. By submitting this information, I/we hereby agree to provide additional information including, but not limited to, correct name pronunciation(s), city and province, costume style and description, a list of props, song title and artist, choreography credit, music set-up and additional program information upon request. I/we understand that failure to provide requested information may result in forfeiture of performance slot. I/we have read and abide by the terms and conditions set forth in the attached Dancer’s Agreement and Biography. Date: Signature (all troupe members must sign):

The Boz-Man Cometh...

Lara — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 04:01:59 GMT

I'm just working on some admin stuff for the Jim Boz workshop in Nanaimo May 4-6th *yippee* I'll be posting and sending out info with workshop descriptions, and that sort of thing soon - was just coordinating some stuff with Faith. Keep the first weekend in May available, you don't want to miss this!

needs works...

Lara — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 19:41:40 GMT

OK, I know this one needs rewriting since I'm not happy with the wording - it isn't nearly as descriptive as I'd like. I hate feeling like I'm consulting a thesaurus every second sentence, though, so am just going to post as-is! Comments and suggestions are once again much appreciated... ============================ Exercise #5 Write a piece in which someone or something goes too far. ------------------------------------------------- We were bundled up against the chill wind as the motorcycle purred its way through the woods. A friend had told us about a restaurant tucked away amongst the trees and we had decided a little adventure would be just the thing to fill our lazy Saturday afternoon. I leaned forward. “You’re sure you know where you’re going?” “Of course!” he replied, looking around at me briefly. I tried again, “The scenery is beautiful, isn’t it? But I think we may have gone too far. We should have come across it by now.” “Mmm-hmm.” I gave up trying to yell over the motor and gazed around, enjoying the landscape as we drove through a perfect autumn afternoon. There wasn’t another vehicle in sight and hadn’t been for the last hour. The weather was crisp, and the bright sun was a welcome change from the overcast days we’d been having. The leaves were all turning bright colours and shimmered like gold as they rustled in the breeze. All of a sudden, the sky darkened. I leaned over again, “There was no rain in the forecast, was there?” “No!” came the muffled reply. The first drops splashed down on us. Seconds later, it was a deluge – huge raindrops thudded down on our helmets. The wind was picking up, too, gusting around us and trying to yank us off the bike. “We’ll have to find somewhere to stop until the worst of this is over,” said my Beloved. As the rain turned to hail, I searched desperately for a road, a house, a barn - anything that looked like it could lead to or be shelter from the storm. I spotted a small building between the trees, down a short road. “Is that a cabin?” We headed toward it and rode up right under the eaves to get out of the pounding pellets. I dismounted and ran up to knock on the door, but was stopped by a small sign: “WELCOME TRAVELLERS. COME ON IN!” I pushed the door open and felt like Alice in Wonderland. We entered the small but cozy room and looked around in amazement. It was furnished with some small tables and a comfortable-looking overstuffed chesterfield and chair facing a fireplace. Kindling and dried logs were neatly stacked next to the hearth, ready for use. On a low table were a lantern and some candles, just begging to be lit. As I happily complied, the last of the light left the sky. Despite it being only early afternoon, it was now as dark as night outside; however, the dancing flames lit the room with a cheery glow. We slowly explored the room, coming across a note on the side table that read: "Welcome strangers, come right in, Make yourselves at home; Warm your feet and have some food And rest your weary bones. We’ve made this place for you to stay And in return we ask That you pass on kind words and deeds To ease someone else’s tasks." Beside the table was an old-fashioned icebox filled, I discovered, with an assortment of cheeses, meats, crackers, tinned fish, and even some chocolates. “What an amazing place! I wonder who owns it.” I asked rhetorically. We warmed ourselves by the fire, enjoying the heat seeping into our chilled skins, drying our clothes, and reveling in the rare opportunity to just relax and talk in cozy comfort while the rain pounded on the roof and the wind rattled the windows. Eventually, the sky began to brighten as the rain let up. Feeling like we were being returned “to the real world,” we tidied the cabin, preparing to head home. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the note. This place had really been a blessing. To set it up and stock it for strangers was an incredibly generous and trusting gesture. “Imagine if everyone was this caring,” I thought. “This would be a far different world.” As we shut the door to our sanctuary, I was determined to thank the owner, in the spirit of the note, by passing along that kindness to others.

this one was heartwrenching...

Lara — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 04:29:46 GMT

OK those of you who either know me or have read my first few blog entries already know about the incident below. This exercise was extremely difficult in some ways (can anyone say "why oh why did I DO that???") and easy in others (just the facts, ma'am, just the facts). I've noticed that I seem to do better at the beginning and even middle of my stories, then I kind of peter off and they just end in a hurry. I actually have a difficult time trying to end gracefully. Any help or advice in this would be much appreciated! In any case, in all its glory and in spite of all its errors, I bring you...(drumroll please)...writing exercise #4! ===================== Exercise #4 Think of an incident or event that was painful (emotionally, physically, or both) and write about it from beginning to end. Be truthful and accurate in reporting what happened (what you did, said, heard, saw) but do NOT report on how or what you felt. ------------------------------------ On Canada Day morning, I talked to my friend Faith on the phone. She had good news – her wedding ring had been found at her friend’s house, where she had suspected she’d lost it. Later that morning Scott & I took our little boat, the Knotty Wench III, to a local lake to relax for the holiday. Our friends Lisa and Greg met us there. We zoomed around the lake a few times and then stopped to float for a while. I sat cross-legged on the sun pad at the back of the boat while the others sat inside the boat. We talked about a number of things and gradually the conversation turned to rings. I mentioned that Faith had found her wedding ring and then Lisa started talking about the time we four (Greg, Lisa, Scott and I) were in Sooke and Greg thought he lost his ring off the boat. (That day is a story all on its own…suffice it to say the ring was eventually found, though there was a mystical aspect to the whole experience.) We were discussing how heartsick we’d all felt when the ring went missing and while we talked I started fiddling with my own ring, which is both my engagement ring and wedding band soldered together. I’ve been wearing my ring for 17 years and have taken it off only a handful of times. Scott and I had the engagement ring custom-made in Halifax. We choose the stone and designed the ring with the help of a jewelry designer who we knew from work. When it came time for us to choose a wedding band, we went back to the same designer who helped us design a matching band that would fit perfectly. Scott’s mother had given us his Dad’s ring (his Dad passed away while Scott was in high school). The little piece they took out of Scott’s ring to size it down was put in with the gold for my band so I’ve always carried a piece of his ring in mine, making it even more special to me. As I fiddled, my ring came off my finger. (I want to say “it jumped off my finger,” but I guess that’s just my perception and I’m only supposed to report the facts.) I watched the ring land on the angled fiberglass edge just in front of the cushion on which I sat. It bounced sideways and towards the edge of the boat as I clutched after it. As it tumbled over the edge, I reached down, still trying to catch it, following it down as far as I could with the hasty breath I’d taken as I dove into the lake. The ring fell faster than I could swim down, glinting in the sunlight for the first few feet. When I ran out of air, the ring was well beyond both my grasp and my sight, still sinking towards the murky bottom. I came up spluttering for air. Scott jumped in right where I’d gone down and marked the spot with his GPS. I told him the ring had been falling straight down so there was a good chance it would stay in that area. After climbing back into the boat, I called our friend Paul who is a part-time commercial diver and SCUBA instructor. He and his wife Kirsteen dropped everything and were at the lake within the hour with all his gear. Paul suited up and searched the bottom for over an hour, giving us the bad news that it was very silty down there. The good news was that he could see a pocket in the silt, almost like something had fallen through, that coincided with our marked coordinates. After a time, we realized it would be a two-man job to continue the search. Paul marked one edge of where he thought we should start a grid with an old rusted bicycle that he found at the bottom of the lake so he would have a visual reference in a spot that wouldn’t compromise the hoped-for location of the ring. We called another friend Jamie, a former combat diver, and he and Paul set up a time to start the search-and-rescue operation, then we packed up for the day. The next day, Paul and Jamie systematically searched the bottom of the lake in grids, putting to use many years’ worth of knowledge and skills from commercial and military diving. Their search was watched with seemingly great interest by a large bass that followed them around. They agreed that without something that could “see” into the three-foot layer of silt the search was hopeless since any disturbance in or near the bottom lifted great clouds of the extremely fine silt and obscured all visibility. We needed to be sure of where to search. We packed up for another day and I made plans to get an underwater metal detector so we could come back for a more targeted search. Although I have since acquired a detector, and we’ve even gone out one day to try it out with just one of the guys (well, one diver and the large bass who was again following him around everywhere), we haven’t yet managed to schedule a time when both divers are available to do a proper search. More good news - the day we tested the detector, Paul got a hit. He had tested it before we went out and set it for non-ferrous metals, so this was promising. And it was within the area of our marked coordinates. To date the search continues…

two entries in one day?? it's a mad world...

Lara — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 19:24:13 GMT

OK here's my 3rd writing exercise. This one was quick because I didn't think anything better would come to me and I actually have the time to post right away *LOL* The next one is hard so will likely take a while...let me know what you think so far. =========================== Exercise #3 Write a piece that takes place in one of the following locations: parked car; phone booth; closet; walk-in refrigerator or freezer. ------------------------------------- It’s awfully cramped in here! My neck is getting the worst kink. It’s a bit chilly, too. Why did I walk in here? Next time I see an “escape route” I’ll check it out a little more before I use it. I wonder where this is. My feet are getting cold and there’s no room to move around. Yuck, that didn’t taste very good. But how can I learn about this place without licking things? It’s not like I can see anything. And the cold air is making it hard to smell things. I’m just not used to it, I guess. Maybe if I push and pull some of these things, it’ll get me out of here. If only I had more room to move, I could kick a hole. Wait! That sounded familiar…maybe the people are opening the escape route again. I see a bit of light over there. Yes! It’s opening again! Even if there are people, at least it’s warm and there’s room to move. Maybe they’ll take me back to my home…here I come! [This short piece is based on Question 1 of a commonly-used Lateral Thinking Test: How do you get a giraffe into a refrigerator? Answer: Open the door and put him in.]

My first writing exercise

Lara — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 17:28:44 GMT

OK, it's actually not my first, it's the second. But the first just wouldn't work for me so I moved on *LOL* Since I'm new to this (I took sciences in school instead of the writing courses for a reason!), constructive criticism is appreciated :o) ========================================== Exercise #2 Imagine that you [or character] are browsing through an old family album, looking at photographs, clippings, and other memorabilia. Suddenly you spot something that surprises you. -------------------------------- Although she had trouble seeing through her tears, Janet grabbed the old photo album anyway and made her way to her mother’s chesterfield. She snuggled down into the plump cushions with a sob, clutching her treasure. She still couldn’t believe her mother was gone – her life snatched away as surely and suddenly as Janet had snatched the book from the shelf. Janet opened the album reverently, savouring the feel of the pages and the slightly musty smell that emanated from them. The pictures started, appropriately enough, at the beginning. A yellowed copy of an old newspaper clipping announcing the birth of a beautiful baby girl named Julia. As Janet turned the page, her mother’s face, chubby with baby-fat, smiled out at the camera and Janet couldn’t resist smiling through her tears at the mischievousness of that grin. What a scamp! was the phrase that came to mind, along with the thought that the old-fashioned term was a perfect fit for the fun-loving girl smiling out at her. She thumbed through the pages slowly, enjoying seeing her mother once more, if only in photographs. Then she turned a page and looked with surprise. Where was this? At first Janet didn’t recognize the beautiful woman in the picture…but that grin was unmistakable! Hmm…must be from around the time Mama met Dad – she looks about 20-ish. As Janet gazed at the photo, her eyes were drawn to her mother’s boots. Funny what attracts your attention, she thought even as she examined the footwear. Then she remembered – those are the boots her mother would never part with. Even though they were obviously outdated and never worn, they had survived many a purge and countless garage sales. As Janet turned to the next page, an envelope dropped out, one she had never noticed on those rare occasions when the photo album was out. She drew out some photographs and broke into a smile – well that explains the boots! The photographs had been taken in a nightclub, and it appeared that her fun-loving mother had been one of the original breed of go-go dancers in her youth. There were old newspaper clippings, too, announcing the opening of a new dance club. Janet started laughing out loud and felt better than she had since her mother’s unexpected death. There were photos of her parents there, too. Obviously they’d met at the club and fallen in love – their eyes had no room for anyone but each other. It was an unexpected find but, once Janet thought about it, not as surprising as it had first seemed. She was happy to see her mother so obviously enjoying her life, short as it had turned out to be. Make the most of every day, she thought to herself, that’s an important lesson. Thanks, Mama!

Can a non-writer become a writer?

Lara — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 01:13:02 GMT

I can write a business letter, I've written in-house software manuals, I even managed to get through a thesis. What I've never been able to do, however, is to write "interesting stuff"! I'm hoping that practice will make perfect...the more I write the more I'll learn. I even got a book (a no-experience-necessary guide to learning to write) so maybe I'll try posting some of the exercises here for comments and constructive criticism. Wish me luck on my journey!

more words

Lara — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 21:26:02 GMT

More on words...I love this story (see photo)!

bluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuberry

Lara — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 05:47:23 GMT

I just saw this at my sister's and love it! Gotta love word games and such! I'm such a word fanatic - some of them have such a specific taste or shape or colour. My favourite word to say is BLUEBERRY. It's so fun to say and you can just about see it coming out of your mouth while you speak. (OK, I know I'm a freak but my family & friends love me anyway, so there! *LOL*) I just wish I had the gift of writing. I so admire people who can really bring you into their experiences. My sister has that talent! And of course there's the amazing sense of jibberish that occurs when you say a word over and over. It really does lose all meaning upon repitition. Have you ever said a short word like tree or hill over and over? It becomes so meaningless so quickly that I'm always surprised that I'm able to comprehend the spoken word at all. I remember years ago hearing about a study where they polled non-English speakers about their favourite-sounding word (without having any knowledge of the meaning). The most popular word was bathroom. I thought that was hilarious!

just stuff

Lara — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 03:58:18 GMT

OK I read the bare minimum of posts tonight and I'm going back to sew. I'm getting so behind in reading stuff on here that it'll take me hours to get caught up! Anyone who's headed to Double Crown this weekend, please come over to say hello. It'll be nice to see/meet some friendly faces there! Faith & I are competing Saturday and then solos Sunday. Wish us luck...

Trust in abundance

Lara — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 16:55:03 GMT

My sister just sent this to me and we've been talking about blogs so I figured I'd post it here for others to see, too. Inner Journey Trust in abundance "Once, when we were discussing a world peace project with my teacher, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, somebody asked him, ‘Where is all the money going to come from?’ And he replied without hesitation, ‘From wherever it is at the moment.’" -- Deepak Chopra How can you open to greater trust that you’ll always have what you need? Fear, doubt, anxiety and disbelief all serve to repel abundance from us. Faith, love and gratitude for the gifts of our lives keep energy and abundance flowing. The more we trust in our well being, the more it will be realized. "Manifestation is an act of trust. It is the soul pouring itself out into its world, like a fisherman casting a net to gather in the fish he seeks; with each cast properly made, we will bring what we need to us, but first we must hurl ourselves into the depths without knowing just what lies beneath us." -- David Spangler

Need positive thoughts

Lara — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 09:34:03 GMT

OK so I did the stupidest thing I've ever done today and now I'm up at 2:30am thinking about it. This morning, I was talking to my friend Faith about when she lost and then found her wedding ring. This afternoon, I was talking to my friend Lisa about the time her husband thought he lost his ring off the boat. We happened to be on said boat at the time, floating in the middle of the lake. So what's the next thing I do? I start fiddling with my ring. I'm sure you've all figured out what happened next...my wedding ring fairly jumped off my finger. I watched in slow motion horror as it bounced off my finger onto an angled edge and blooped right into the water. I dove in after it thinking maybe I could catch it but it fell too fast. I called my friend Paul, who used to be a commercial diver and has recently opened a dive school, and (sweetheart that he is) he dropped everything to come have a poke around the bottom of the lake. We were in a very shallow part (about 15-20ft), the problem is the bottom is extremely fine silt. He looked for about 2 hours but then everything was too stirred up to really see. He's offered to try again tomorrow (today, rather!) and suggested staking the area off and making a kind of silt filter to help find the ring. I could really use some positive vibes now. In the end, I know it's just a ring. But I really would love to have it back! It was custom-made (FireWorks Gallery in Halifax - they make the best jewelry!) and the gold that was used to make the wedding band has a piece of Scott's wedding band in with it - the piece was that was cut out when he had his Dad's ring sized to fit him (his Dad passed away when Scott was younger and his Mom gave Scott the ring for our wedding 16 yrs ago). So my ring really has a lot of sentimental value. Anyway, if any one has some good juujuu to send my way, I'd MUCH appreciate it...

Tagged

Lara — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 05:00:53 GMT

I'm supposed to put 8 little-known facts about myself but am having a hard time thinking of anything even remotely interesting *LOL* I'll do my best though.... (thanks, Faith!) 1. I'm so shy that my grade 1 teacher told my parents she thought I was autistic. 2. The woman who tattoed my husband's name on me about 12 years ago did it only because in her words, "I don't usually do names but I'm good at cover-ups if you need it." (yes, we're still married - this year will be 16 years!) 3. I'll be 37 years old in a couple months and I'm still wondering when I'll feel like a grown-up. 4. My favourite toys when I was a little kid were a little green metal sedan that had a trunk you could open and a "Quick Curl Cara" barbie doll that I thought was the most beautiful doll I'd ever seen. 5. I was the ultimate nerd in school - straight A's in sciences. 6. I used to compete in diving (springboard diving, not scuba) in the Maritimes. 7. When my twin and I lifeguarded at the same pool on different days, most people didn't know there were two different lifeguards. 8. The thing that hurts me to my very core is someone I love pulling away from my touch.

henna

Lara — Tue, 23 May 2006 05:06:31 GMT

I tried to do mehndi (I think I'm spelling that wrong) this weekend for the first time - photos in profile album. I'm thrilled with the results, amateurish though they are, and can't wait to see how long it lasts. I did smudge my toes when the henna was drying so I'll have to be more careful about that next time. I'd love to have a full back one done, must find out who in this area does that kind of thing...