wednesday wisdom...

Maybe we should get out of their way and let them lead us?

I'm off to give my time and attention to Chicklet's classmates and help out at the school library. How lovely to watch our future as they stiffle a giggle when they read a funny line in a story, watch their eyes sparkle as they venture into faraway lands and and frolick with mystical characters... in the peaceful quiet of the library.

Join the BlogBlast for Peace. Let the children know you care.

Dona Nobis Pacem - an invitation

We believe that words have power, so this matters.

You'll notice from a few of us Bees a fairly identical post. Bees do that sometimes. A Bee does a little dance that lets the other Bees know where the good stuff is. And so, Travis the dancing Bee, reminded us of this Meme and we're following him to the good stuff.



This is the best tag ever. It's about Peace and activism. It's about unity in the bloggosphere. It's about community.

It's about time.

We are tagging the universe for Mimi, (doesn't leave many left to tag - she's everywhere as Julie and I have noticed). But it's ok...the great thing about this meme is that you can tag your friends and neighbors on any social network site you prefer.

Peace Globes are on Facebook and Twitter and BloggersUnite and iPeace!

This meme first appeared in May 2008. Mimi introduced it, and the Peace Globe Worker Bees thought this was a great time to do it again. We're just 16 days out from this year's Blog Blast for Peace.



Begin direct quote from Mimi Writes...

Peace Globes did not begin as a meme. But it began to behave like a meme. Blog to blog to blog. Like a fog. We didn't use the word "tag" ....but that's what we did when we invited others in our blogrolls to participate. The fact that you did so without the obligatory tag is proof that the concept is powerful.

It's a fact that the fastest and most effective way to spiral an idea out of control in the blogosphere is via a meme. I should know! The 700+ bloggers who participated in past launches (and that truly is the tip of The-Iceberg-I-Never-Found) knows what it means to them. It's about unity. We have that in spades. It's about activism, awareness, crossing political lines, making a statement and sharing ideas. We've done that. We have the vision as a core group of bloggers for peace; but we do not - yet - have the power in numbers behind the message.


Unity in numbers = power.

Peace power?

What a revolutionary idea.

My vision hasn't changed. Nor has my commitment to the project or my willingness to work hard. But if it is to have the influence I know it can - then I have to work smarter. Today, I, Mimi Queen of Memes, toss a slew of beautiful little peaceful globes into the galactic blogosphere - to get the ball rolling.

How far will they go? Where will they land?

Who will catch them? Where will they send them next?

Who will draw a picture, write a poem, make a song, write a post....that might have the power to begin to change the landscape of my world?

Someone will.

Will it be you?


A friend told me earlier this evening "I have a healthy respect for the power of the written word. If we can all get together and do this on the same day, with the right post title, it can have meaning....It can extend the meaning and become more powerful."

Right, my friend. A revolution of words.

Don't you want to know how far your words will reach? Have you ever wondered if what you write has relevance and meaning to someone else? Maybe someone in another country, maybe even a violent place. Or just a lonely space.

I have to believe that there are many others who - given the opportunity - would like to speak for peace. I say we should use all the tools at our disposal to make sure they get the chance.

This meme is a movement.

Let's move it.



BlogBlast For Peace Meme ~ Join The Revolution

Here are the rules and the story.

Copy this into a post and tag as many people as you'd like.

The Peace Globe project began in the fall of 2006 with a simple post from one blog, Mimi Writes. The post ignited a flame in the blogosphere. The flame became a passion. The passion became a movement. It amazingly traveled from blog to blog to blog across the globe. Bloggers wrote passionate articles on what peace means to them, along with the promise of three Latin words scribbled on a globe - Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace) - branded with the integrity of their names or blog names. It was positively inspiring to watch. And it began to happen all over the world - from Singapore to China to Afghanistan to Brooklyn.

It was simple. And powerful.

We will speak with one voice. One subject. One day.

Won't you join us?

On 5 November 2009, DISPLAY YOUR GLOBE IN A POST. Title your post "Dona Nobis Pacem". This is important. The goal is for all blog post titles to say the same thing on the same day. Write about peace that day or simply fly your globe.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE TAGGED TO PLAY.

Please consider passing this meme through the blogosphere.

This is Mimi Pencil Skirt reporting from the lovely land of the Peace Globes.

Memeing the Movement.

End quote from Mimi Writes...

You're all tagged. Everything you need to know about how to participate can be found if you click on the Worker Bee Badge at the top of my sidebar. And once you've created your Peace Globe, email it to blogblastforpeace@yahoo.com so it can be included in the Gallery.

This is a worthy thing. It's a community thing. It's a blog thing. It's a human thing.

Do it. Post your globe on 5 November. And visit Mimi on that day. Sign Mr Linky and click on the hundreds of other links to travel through the bloggosphere and see other Globes, and read heart felt words about Peace.

Be a Peace Blogger.

Dona Nobis Pacem.

everyday peace

"...Pick me up, oh, from the bottom
Up to the top, love, everyday
Pay no mind to taunts or advances
I take my chances on everyday..."

Maybe it's the mommy in me...

But I wish I could hug the world and make it better. It works when a child scrapes her knee. It helps when we sit vigil by a loved one. Human contact, a touch... it brings warmth and peace.

"A hug is like a boomerang – you get it back right away."
~Bil Keane

I used to work with a man who liked to hug. He was a part of the maintenance department in a petrochemical plant. He never forced a hug on anyone, but he had grown men coming up to him in the morning for a hug. I saw it.
Some of them would tease when someone asked for a hug, the kind of teasing you see in "macho" environments. But in their hearts, I'm pretty sure they wished they could have a hug too.
Whenever he would cross my path, I asked for mine. It always made my day better.

"Hugging closes the door to hate."
~ Tony Davis

I wish people would stop thinking the worst of each other. That may very well be our biggest obstacle to Peace. We forget that humans are fallible far too easily. Maybe it's because it reminds us that we too can fail, can falter.

I'm trying to remain positive, hopefully it'll become a permanent frame of mind. I'm trying to look for the good in people... in the world.
I'm not being naive, mind you. But maybe if we nurture the good, we'll be able to get rid of the bad... choke it like an unwanted weed. Don't feed it, don't give it room to grow.

I'm trying to keep my heart from going into hateful mode. Sometimes I manage pretty well, every once in a while, I regress..

I falter...

But I hope someone will see the good in me and...

bring up...
up to the top...
love...
everyday.

Please remember to join us during BlogBlast for Peace on November 5th. If you need help with your globe, just ask in the comment section or via e-mail. I’ll see to it a Peace Globe Worker Bee gives you a helping hand… and a hug.

"I will not play tug o' war.
I'd rather play hug o' war.
Where everyone hugs instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
and everyone grins,
and everyone cuddles,
and everyone wins."
~ Shel Silverstein

you have to keep trying...

Sometimes...

We can't feel what the other person is feeling... and we may hurt them...

... more than once.

But you know, when you have love in your heart, in the end... it's ok.

If everyone could forgive like Harry does... maybe there would be Peace.

A big smile and a giggle help too, don't they?

Oh...I just saw the most beautiful globe in all of Blogblast For Peace history on Thursday when I stopped in to visit Michelle of "Crow's Feet" at the urging of my Queen Mimi, the founder of this beautiful movement.

Go on and see... it's so very inspiring.

Go on... click the BEE... and BEE the change.

Join the Blogblast for Peace and get a Peace Globe for November 5th, 2009.
And yes, I have resorted to using cute and precious children to get you to join *grin*

when the soul soars... along with the body

Tuesday night, I felt sad.

Until I saw this...

I sobbed. Tears of release and joy, not sadness. To me, the precious gift Mia Michaels gave the world was a celebration of Women, of Life, of Peace... faeries, cherry blossoms, nymphs. The soft power that comes from the Sisterhood.



And when it was over, I was at Peace.

I've been talking of Peace now for a while, and I still am...

I'm reminded of the grace and comfort that women bring in times of war and strife, sorrow and struggle.

The skillful hands of the wartime nurse...

The care worker that comforts an AIDS orphan...

The Breast Cancer survivor walking for a cure...

A grandmother's hands as it sows a memory quilt...


A UNICEF worker helping mothers feed their children...

My friend Mimi...

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."
- Harriet Tubman

For remarkable women everywhere...

Join the Blogblast for Peace...

Be the change...

November 5, 2009

The Peace Globe Gallery

music soothes the soul... words

Yesterday was Paul Simon's 68th birthday. I love Paul Simon's music.

After my uncle Paul died many, many years ago (the name thing has not escaped me), the family gathered at his apartment to pack up his things, figure out what to do with them. His sisters (my mom and my aunts) told us nieces (yes, we were a family of women with the exception of Uncle Paul) to look if there was anything we wanted to keep.

I went through his books (yes, I'm a book geek) and his record collection.

And there it was. That was it. That was all I wanted.

That record.

The songs, poetry really, on this record always make me feel better.

What I love about this song in particular is that it reminds us that if we don't talk to one another, we'll never achieve anything great. We'll lose our humanity.

The Sound Of Silence

If we remain silent, there will be no Peace. For as much as words can fuel conflict, only words and compassion will ever end it. Silence is a Cancer.

No guns or bombs or chains will bring lasting Peace. The beauty is that they can't do anything without human beings. Put them down. Let them go.

"Dream always of a peaceful, warless, disarmed world."
- Robert Muller

Do we not tell our children to use their words when conflicts arise? And when we add a comforting touch, words become even more powerful.

"Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace."
- Buddha

What is your word? Mine is Love.

So I ask you, again (I know... I know... it's like my vinyl needs cleaning and keeps slipping.. but it's important):

Break the silence. Use your words. Join us during the Blogblast for Peace. Put a Peace Globe on your blog (get one HERE) on November, 5th. If you need help in making one, just ask either via e-mail (on my profile) or in the comment section... a Peace Globe Worker Bee will help. I promise.

"If we do not speak for Earth, who will? If we are not committed to our own survival, who will be?"
- Carl Sagan

If you want to be a little Worker Bee for Peace, join us (like, Travis, and Vinny who made the cute little Bee) in actively promoting the event. Post a little reminder, or insert the logo or a clickity link in every post... We all have a different way of doing it - diversity is a good thing. You don't have to badger quite as much as I do... but I rather like finding a way to tie Peace into everything I write - challenges are fun and it's a good cause.

November 5, 2009

Tuesday tissues... and hope

My dear friend Mimi is going through one of the most difficult times a person can go through. She sits vigil by her father as his physical strength wanes.

Two years ago, I accompanied my mom as she fought but lost her long battle with cancer. It was exhausting, and there were days when I was just numb. I decided to trust that the little things would get done and focussed everything I had on my mom, dad and daughter. I wouldn't trade the days and nights I spent with my mother for anything in the world.

I wish Mom and Dad would have met Baxter when they were nearing the end of their lives...

If an old paralyzed dog can bring a dying patient some peace and comfort without a word, imagine what we can all do if we come together.

Please join the Blogblast For Peace movement, do it in memory of someone you loved and lost.

I'm doing it for Mom and Dad.

“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh

November 5, 2009

ripples... accidental thoughts of thanks

A holiday... and I wasn't feeling it. My daughter, The Chicklet, isn't with me. Dad is gone. Mah Honey is traveling for work. Oh, and I woke up at an unmentionable hour (it's not like I had a turkey to stuff in the oven) unable to get back to sleep. Ugh.

Life hasn't been particularly cheery this year, but I would hate myself if I didn't look for something good.

I got awesome snuggles from Sharkdog (there's magic in kissing a beagle belly), there's French Vanilla coffee in my cup, and I have bacon. I get to spend some time snuggled warmly on the couch with a blanket while I read Pride and Prejudice, again. The little things matter.

I have this picture in my kitchen... a sweet smiling face of a girl that Chicklet and I sponsor. She loves to sing and read. She's far away, in Senegal, but knows that someone cares across the ocean...




That's what matters... to help as much as you can, to care for someone you've never met, to want their well being... to hope they live in Peace.

I feel sorry for people who can't wrap their brains around the thought that they can, through small gestures, start a ripple that in the end, might seem like a righteous surfer's wave.

Through the Blogblast for Peace, we can do that. We can reach out to people all over the world, we can live as one people...

Join the Blogblast for Peace on November 5th... here in the Bloggosphere, on Facebook, Tweet for Peace even. I promise I'll be thankful if you do *smile*.

November 5, 2009

The Peace Globe Gallery

footsteps... and milestones

Happy birthday, John. We dream with you, still.




Some people leave a mark on the world... Won't you join the Blogblast for Peace and leave yours? Go on, shine on.

“Imagine all the people living life in Peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.”
- John Lennon

November 5, 2009

The Peace Globe Gallery

the good stuff

This past weekend was bliss. I had my girl and Mah Honey with me. We took a lovely drive into apple orchard country, listening to The Zac Brown Band and enjoying excellent company on our way. Bliss.

And now, I've had this song in my head all morning:

You know what else would be Bliss?

Peace

For some time now, I've participated along with my bro Travis and a slew of cool bloggers in Mimi's Blogblast For Peace. It's coming soon, November 5th to be exact... join us? Please? Clickity click on this link, and start your journey for Peace... or just ask and I'll do what I can to help you.

This is why I do it...



The people I love deserve Peace.

November 5, 2009

The Peace Globe Gallery

Because it's too awesome not to share

I like to piggyback review SYTYCD and DWTS over at my bro, Travis' awesome blog. Dance geeks like myself can't help it. I don't review them here because, well... I prefer being the colour commentary rather than the actual reviewer and he rocks at it, so...

But we, in Canada, have reached our Top 10 on SYTYCD. I have a weakness for ballroom and tap, I do. And this season, Vincent Desjardins, an absolutely marvelous and charming ballroom dancer is competing for the title of Canada's favourite dancer. We also have the absolutely adorable Everett Smith, a take no prisoners, multi-talented tapper. SQUEEEE!!!

This week, we were treated to two grin enducing routines...

This Paso Doble (choreographed by two of last season's competitors Francis Lafrenière and Natalli Reznick) was hot, quick paced, passionate, made use of the entire stage and showcased both dancers wonderfully. Melanie and Vincent truly embraced the routine and delivered the goods. When you're coupled with a dancer with Vincent's partnering skills, it's easier to trust and fling yourself. He's there at every crucial moment, ready and waiting. He knows that his best strategy is to give the best of himself and still make his partner look good. Class act.

And then, a jazz fusion number crafted by Sean Cheesman that defies description. Everett and Kim blew me away. They committed to the characters and turned in a most memorable performance! Woooooo for the tapper and the hip-hopper... The partnering work was exquisite. These two dancers show us how professional they are, week after week.

Interestingly enough, both routines were choreographed to music by The White Stripes, and I like it. It's wonderful when choreographers use music so well.

Last week, tap dancing was featured for what is believed to be the first time on a SYTYCD stage in a musical theater. I still squeal every time I watch it. Sean Cheesman rocks my world with his choreographies. Tara Jean is a firecracker and Everett is a gem and a gentleman. My favourite moment of the season:

Ok, so with those three routines, I've shown you my top 5 dancers.

Yup... we know we can dance!