CANADIANS SUPPORTING CANADIANS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

This week has been Mental Health week. With the Bell Day on January 28, 2014 that was a fund raising event  supporting mental illness awareness, it is encouraging that the discussion is happening. Regardless of how far we have evolved, there is still such a stigma to Mental Illness. Why? Beats me. Anyone with a family member who has issues, it is very clear it is an illness that needs treatment like any other. With this winter being so severe across the country, the thoughts turn to those who are suffering in silence. February is actually the worst month for flareups! So those with depression or generalized anxiety, reach out to others for help. For those with family members who experience mental illness be available. If needed go and seek out the professionals in your life that can help you. The Bell ad said- Let's Talk- but more than talk let's be kind, caring and compassionate to those who need our help.

NANA SAYS A SURGICAL PROCEDURE FOR A CHILD CAN BE DAUNTING

Taking a young child to the hospital for a surgical procedure can be very stressful for both parent and child. Trying to explain and alleviate some fears is a fine line to walk. There is always a concern the child may refuse to go into the hospital. Day of the surgery means no eating or drinking for hours after midnight. It is difficult enough for adults to understand but even harder for children. Parents need support from each other as well as a compassionate team that understands little children during any hospital visit. Taking along a favourite toy, book or even the little I-phone can be a diversion. Following surgery the pain from the procedure and any needles make the little one grouchy! Reassurances from parents they will be going home soon may not cut it for most children. The child may just want to go home NOW! Of course the team must be satisfied the child has recovered from the procedure well and is safe to leave. Patient safety is always paramount for any situation. The hospital setting can be very scary and explanations of what is happening need to occur in language the child can understand. If facing such a situation in your family, don't be surprised the little one becomes a tiger!

SNOW,SNOW-A CANADIAN

Snow is everywhere. And snowmen are featured everywhere! Even the latestet Disney hit Frozen is about snow and music and all things winter! Living in a winter climate allows us to love snow or hate it! Love winter or hate it! It's another cold day and our faces could freeze if exposed in a short period of time. There are ice crystals on the windows-pretty actually! The fuel bill will be a little higher for the month of January-oh well. Keep the thermostat low and wear socks and sweaters in the house! I have afghans/wool blankets on every couch and bed. Sitting and reading does not burn any energy so need to keep warm. Do you know many words for snow are in the Inuit Language? Lots! Hats, scarves, boots and layers help us survive here in Canada! Just to be on the warmer side-we are 1/3 through our Canadian winter season! With 2/3 to go, we will survive! I write about the mood as many Canadians get fed up just about now with winter. Get out and do something to break it up. Take in some of the latest movies so you can be prepared for the Oscars!
So what are you doing on another cold winter day? If at work, take a brisk winter walk! If at home do the same! Oh snow!

DECLUTTERING THE PAST TO MEET THE PRESENT

Revisiting the past in order to meet the present so we can move forward happens periodically in my life. During my staycation, some decluttering and cleansing occurred. One activity was weeding out all my correspondence in items such as cards, emails, letters and other such things. Saving something in the first place gives meaning but why it still was in my procession was a good question! Have you ever looked at a card or goodbye card from a group of people-then asked yourself-who were those people. One goodbye card from 37 years ago was interesting! I could not remember 90% of the people. I worked with those people for over 2 years but now it is hard to know them. Interesting two people from that job are still current contacts for me! Cathy and Denise! The rest are history. So such items could be weeded. I promised myself that I would not leave everything for my children to sort and do for me down the road when I could not. Cleaning out some of my mother-in-law's stuff then my parents' home was very tedious and sometimes painful! Sorting always takes longer than wanted! But the process is rather cleansing! To keep the important stuff for now anyway! I figure I will continue to shortlist things. Over the last few years, I have been weeding some photo albums and finding the pictures some new homes. Sending to family members that would enjoy them more gave me some pleasure. Not throwing out but just relocating! From my album to yours so to speak! Once a cleansing process starts it does not need to stop. Like other things in life-just do it in stages! Sometimes all my little written notes can seem sacred but do I want my children sayings-why did Mom keep this?? It is not spring cleaning but midwinter cleaning! With all the bad weather, time to clean some more corners of my life. Are you cleaning out some of your corners? Do you find decluttering refreshing?

MORE WINTER THOUGHTS

Okay Canadians talk about the weather but this winter they are really complaining from coast to coast. Apparently Sochi needs some cold and snow for the Olympics. Does anyone know how to ship ours there? Indoor activities are becoming much more attractive. The movie theatre was full today with patrons. Easier to sit indoors and eat popcorn than try being outside.Curled up with a good book in the warmth of a home is much more attractive! Even if reading is not your favourite activity! The good thing is that snow pictures can be very interesting and well-pretty! Shovelling snow is good exercise so no need to go to the gym! Even with a snow blower it gives the feel of a good workout. Oh winter-we have had enough of your blast!

LIFE IS LIKE A GREETING CARD

Life is like a greeting card. It can be hung on the wall or put on a mantle or your favourite table. It can be for any occasion- Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary-those happy occasions or Sympathy-those sad occasions It can come with a cheesy verse or blank so you can write your own saying. Bought at your favourite card store for a price or a $1.00-well at a Dollar store. Factory made or you can make your own. Use your photos or favourite craft items. Some of the best cards are those from the little hands of your children or grandchildren. The card can be tucked away with other greeting cards to be revisited another day. If lucky the sender gives a little tidbit of their life as a moment in time. Cards represent so many aspects of our lives. Special ones for special moments like a birthday for a special year-like turning 40. A special anniversary like celebrating 25 years! A baptism! A new baby in the family! A graduation! Life's many milestones! So do you have a favourite greeting card! What were you celebrating?

ANNIVERSARIES ARE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS

Anniversaries are celebrated for various reasons. A wedding anniversary with cake or a dinner out or a special night! An anniversary at a workplace with a pin for years served! An anniversary of how long a couple has been dating. For some anniversaries there is a sadness attached. The anniversary of a death of a loved one brings a realization home-has it really been that long! Anniversaries let us stop and remember. Bring out the photo album or gather around the computer to look at the pictures of past events! The anniversary of that university graduation and are you going to the reunion or not? The anniversary of a friendship and relishing that it has been that long! Anniversaries are different than birthday celebration. An anniversary can be anything you wish to celebrate. One person, a family or a different group of people can be part of an anniverary! A birthday is about one person or two!

NANA SAYS CHILDREN LOVE WINTER

Although pretty at time, winter adds a whole big layer of work for parents. The daily dressing of coats, hats, scarves, boots and other warm layers makes leaving and arriving cumbersome. Wet floors-don't step there you'll get your socks wet. Even at school dressing children for recess uses more time in the day. The healthy outdoor activity can be delayed too if the weather is too cold. Indoor recess is not as much fun! Outdoor activities are a must however a burden they may seem. The range of physical activities can make family time easier to accomplish. A backyard skating rink so it is easier to practice the skating skills. Little hills allow for those fun sledding moments. Just a leisurely winter walk messing up any virgin snow on paths. Of course, for all children at heart-make that snowman or snowlady! Children love snow-walking in it, playing in it and using whatever fun activities come with it. One of my grandsons loves to shovel it!  If we live in a cold, winter climate, then finding ways to make the weather a challenge for fun! Many communities in Canada are starting to have Winter Carnivals! Try to get out and enjoy one! Richmond Hill has one the beginning of February at our local Mill Pond! A quick fun time for families of all ages. Maybe this Nana will join my little ones for some fun too. The outdoor activities are healthy for older people too!

A STAYCATION-BREAKS UP THE WINTER

A change is as good as a rest so it is said! Well my staycation-spending my birthday week at home is such a change. Stopped in my tracks! No walking to and from work on icy sidewalks- can take my 2 lb weights and just walk around the house for 1/2 hour or more. Letting other social workers cover my floors at the hospital like I cover theirs when they are away. Puttering, cleaning and actually tackling a writing project or two so they advance rather then sit in a pile. Actually decluttering some corners-like the stuff from my folks home that needed some more cleansing. Watching movies-recent DVD purchases at a bargain helped to distract while doing the mundane tasks. Picking up the books I have been reading and trying to finish them. If I were away on a southern holiday, reading a book would be a big accomplishment in a week!  Sometimes it is so valuable just to change things up a bit. The weather is very cold so not needing to run around and shop makes being home easier. A restaurant birthday dinner planned and a lunch out with my daughters are good social events. Trying not to spend copious amounts of money as a goal while using my resources at hand- for example, my business supplies are plentiful. If I went for one item at a business store, I would come out with more!! Anticipating a new furniture purchase-finally bought a new box spring and mattress-will arrive on the weekend. Some babysitting with two grandchildren will round out the week. I did not want to conquer the world. Sometimes I have such a long list of things I want to do that I get tired just looking at it. Sometimes just stopping and reflecting on life's little pleasures. Staycations have their benefits and drawbacks. No waiting at an airport. No needing to exchange money. No packing of suitcases. But there is no beach or interesting photo opportunities! No travel stories or postcards to buy. Of course, the next vacation can be away! For now, regouping, reflecting and relaxing. I can stay in my jammies just a little longer than usual! I won't have a lot of stories to tell but I think the mood will be noticed! Oh happy day! Perhaps a little music to help the mood would be nice. Time to revisit some of my favourite songs.

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY 2014-TIME TO REFLECT

Today is Martin Luther King day in the United States. Celebrating the Civil Rights leader is an annual event.
Remembering the newscasts of the 1960s is a common reminder from my youth. The 1963 "I have a dream" speech still resonates to this day. Receiving a Noble Peace Prize in 1964 gives him a place in international history. He was assassinated April 4, 1968 at a time of great civil unrest in the United States. His non-violent resistance emulating Ghandi from India worked for the masses. Do you think modern terrorists could learn something from him? Stressing your cause without taking human life is the better way. Did you ever wonder if he was named Martin Luther after the German Protestant theologist who broke away from the Catholic Church in Germany in the 1500s during the Reformation. King was a Baptist minister but did he ever take some of his roots from the Luthern church. To base a movement for change on Christian values is something to ponder and reflect. Perhaps today would be a good time to review some of our own personal views on equality and acceptance.

DON'T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET

Don't put all your eggs in one basket or in this case-your tangerines. I learnt this saying as a young girl. With age its meaning has given new meaning to me! The eggs could mean the "eggs of life". To have many interests and people so one area does not take over everything. For those of us that have been laid off a job, for example, the meaning of putting all energy into a job and the people there can be very devastating when it is over. Discovering that your talents were no longer needed can be very demoralizing. People who were your colleagues drop you like flies! So the lesson, no matter what job you have, make sure there are other components in your life. For those with big financial investments as another example, downsides in the economy have taught that they can bust and the money is less. So diversifying is the key to investing! Friends and family are important but must be nurtured. Finding balance and allowing for space with grown children can be challenging! The empty nesters must not impose on those grown children that may not want to spend all their spare time with the parents! The saying don't put all your eggs in one basket could be even simplier. Perhaps one day, long ago an egg farmer dropped his whole morning crop of eggs because it was in one basket. Maybe in dismay he looked at his child, saying see-we should have brought more baskets! Food or egg for thought!!

ARE YOU A PILLAR?

Are you a pillar of your community? Your workplace? Your family? Pillars are those things that hold other things or people up. Dependable. Sturdy. Strong. The weight can be overbearing at times. It can come with a price. Hard to sneek away and just enjoy-being alone. Others expect more from you. Not allowed to have weak moments-well you are the pillar! Pillars often allow others to shine! Openings between the pillars lets new energy emerge. Is it for others or for you?

LIFE IS LIKE A BIRTHDAY CAKE

Life is like a birthday cake. Comes in various flavours like chocolate, vanilla or lemon. It can be decorative with lots of icing. Even some superheroes can be on top! People sing to you! You get to blow out the candles! The biggest piece can be yours! In life you can not only have your own cake and eat it too but you can share in other people's cakes! Most of us like to share our cakes with other people-less calories and more fun! How is your cake of life going today?

NANA SAYS FAMILY CELEBRATIONS ARE MORE FUN WITH GRANDCHILDREN

Any celebration, especially birthday ones are more fun with grandchildren. My husband Adolph does not like to be the centre of attention. But he will pose for a picture with all the grandchildren. They help him blow out the candles.Singing the Happy Birthday song is more fun with little voices. Children remind us to celebrate. Make simple events fun. They are an easy crowd-just have a cake! Grandchildren do bring some routine to the family events. Start early, finish early. Make foods everyone will eat disguised on fancy platters! Leave room for the children to run around and play together! I am finding the kids are starting to sit a little longer at the dinner table. Eventually it will be for the whole meal. Without the little grandchildren, however, it would be a bunch of adults discussing adult stuff heard many times! Having a baby to pass around keeps the mood jovial!

CANADIANS LIKE A WINTER BREAK

Canadians like a winter break. Oh yes a trip south would be nice right now. The break I am talking about is a little warmer winter weather so the ice can be removed from roadways and sidewalks. So the activities can be enjoyed without freezing our faces. I found myself outside on the weekend with just a sweater breaking up the ice on the driveway. Trying not to slip and break a bone is always a good winter goal. Working on an Orthopedic floor has taught me to be careful!! Winter risk taking in various sports seems frivolous! There are safe ways to have fun! Perhaps boring for some. If you want real risk taking, drive on the 401 during rush hour on any given day! How is your winter going? Are you trying to enjoy it or just coping until Spring arrives?

JANUARY CELEBRATIONS

January can bring many celebrations. January 6 is the Epiphany-the celebration of the Magi seeing the baby Jesus. Actually some Christian sects celebrate this date as their Christmas- Ukranians, Russian Orthodox. In Italian culture-La Befana-the witch searching for the Chirst child leaving candies&other goodies or coal depending if you have been good or bad- is also an event on the 6th. When the girls were little, we went to a few Befana dinner/dances. It was fun as it was one more thing to do in January. There was usually a simple present from the Befana for all the children. Adolph's birthday is January 7th so I always told someone about it at the dinner. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to him which he hated-does not like to be the center of attention! One daughter and son-in-law celebrate their weddding anniversary this month as well as my birthday is at the end of January. A work mate or two have a birthday and of course Robbie Burns day-January 25th  for the Scots can be fun. After the hoopla of the Christmas season, it is good to have some low key events to deal with the winter blahs. Eating can be simple too! Did you know January is named after Janus- an ancient Italian deity? He was the guardian of the doorways, gates and beginnings according to the Oxford English Dictionary. He was the protector in times of war. He had two faces so he could look both ways! Just some food for thought-we do connect to ancient times. Do you have any celebrations in January? Are you using the month as time to regroup your activities? Or are you just chilling with the cold weather?

CANADIANS LOVE TO SKATE

An old pair of skates can give so much winter fun. All my grandchildren are skating-some taking hockey lessons and playing on little teams. It brings back of memories of learning to skate as a preschooler on a patch of ice in the local school parking lot. Then older on the ice rink  at my school. There are very few outdoor rinks at schools now. Locally, the Mill Pond in central Richmond Hill freezes and welcomes skaters. Nathan Phillip Square in Toronto has a wonderful rink. Or go to Ottawa with the Rideau Canal used by skaters in the winter. Skating is an affordable winter sport. If a child can not afford new skates there are many second time around places to get used ones. Or if you are lucky there may be older children in the extended family system that will share and hand down skates to their younger members. One of my sons-in-law has made a back yard skating rink. I have the skates but now need to get a helmet. As a youngster, like everyone else-who used a helmet! But as a role model, this Nana should get one! And maybe one for the Granpa too!  

EAT MUFFINS FOR FUN

Some foods are fun to eat. Muffins-better than a donut but not as good as whole wheat toast- are a quick breakfast or road trip food. Now with blueberries and cranberries in some, some fruit can be eaten. Yes I know there is sugar and fat in the muffins but some carbs are needed in a day for energy. One of my favourites are the mini banana muffins I make for the grandchildrn. Use up the old bananas as well as getting a fruit into them!! But do the chocolate chip ones count as healthy? Hum-we all know chocolate is a food group!!

NEW YEAR BRINGS MORE OF THE SAME

The New Year always brings some resolutions for many. Better eating. Lose weight. Go to the gym. Organize. I have learnt to continue doing what I was doing. No resolutions just continue. Yes a sweet or two like chocolate can help the mood. For those with food restrictions like the person with diabetes, yes limiting the amount of carbs and sweets is important. But everyone has to live. So decide what is important to you. I enjoyed the festive season and a birthday for my hubbie with some good eating and yes some sweets-birthday cake. I decided a long time ago-well life is too short to try to meet everyone's standards of how to be. Yes keeping your weight down is a healthy thing but only if it comes with good eating. Starving yourself thin is not good for your body or soul. Unfortunately there are adults with major eating disorders. The diet plans are good. However, if your only topic of conversation is how many calories you put in your mouth, watching and commenting on what everyone else is eating and just swishing your food around your plate pretending-"I am so full" are sure symptoms something is wrong. Besides if you want or need to lose weight-do it quietly. Feel good quietly that your clothes are fitting your body better. Annoying everyone around you with your talk of me, me, and my weight-well you get the picture. Have a cheat day where you may have fast food, a sweet, a calorie ridden alcholic beverage or whatever! So post festive season actually is a little boring. There must be another birthday or party coming up. So some fun eating can occur! You can have your cake and eat it too!!!

CANADIANS LOVE TO TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER

Canadians like to talk about the weather. This winter has given us some new terms to discuss. A Frost Quake- those loud booms when frozen water under the earth expand. Well this Canadian had never heard one until Christmas Eve and another one 10 days later. With all the extreme cold weather, it occurred. This week with the Artic or Polar Vortex bringing the extreme cold and wind chills. Another new term. So when talking about the weather, many of us are now more savvy in meterological terms! The weather channel has some new viewers to learn more about these events. Look at Winnipeg-colder than Mars they say! Well research on how cold Mars really gets may become another point of conversation. I believe talking about the weather actually helps us to cope with the extremes. Then of course, many other Canadians like to pretend that the GTA really does not get the extremes they get! The people say GTAers do not know how to cope. If you live in the middle of nowhere with 1000 people, traffic is not so bad. Try 3-4 million people in the GTA and probably more. Duh-more cars on the road and more trucks! Moving people- whether by cars, public transit or planes takes a larger infrastructure so give a little slack to the problems!! Canada coast to coast is experiencing a difficult winter. So please anyone out there, do not talk to us about global warming-we would not mind some right now!!

NANA SAYS DOES MORE CHILDREN MAKE YOU A BETTER PARENT?

An interesting discussions occurred at work recently. One of my colleagues had a discussion with an acquaintance that was telling her to have only one child does not make you much of a parent. That person had gone on to discuss someone she knew who had six children which made for a better parent. When did having one child not count as being a parent? Did that person know that many women have had fertility and pregnancy issues? Perhaps the one child was the result after many losses. What if a person decides she only wants one child and three dogs and two cats. When did the number of children make a person a better parent anyway? As a professional social worker and an experienced person, witnessing many dysfunctional families that come in a variety of sizes has provided a different viewpoint on the whole matter. A person can have five children but two of those children could be mistreated and can not wait to leave the family home. If a parent has a drinking problem, for example, the number of children does not make the person a better parent. Adults I have known that came from very large families often resented having to care for younger siblings during their childhood. They felt they were robbed because they were their mother's built in babysitter. The parent that has a late day baby expecting the teenagers in the home to be available often do not realize the long term effects. An older child pushed aside for the little baby at a time in their teens when guidance is needed is not positive. Well back to the number! Is there an ideal number for family size? Two is average and not a bad number! However, family size is up to the couple. Parenting means giving to each child in the family uniquely to that child! But expecting children to be happy they are just one of the bunch should not be the expectation. Dynamics between parents, between children and between extended family needs to be monitored and yes nurtured constantly. A good parent regardless of family size is a difficult road to follow. The important point is not to judge the small or large family size! If you are in a family system play your part in helping to provide a positive adult perspective to any child- your own child, a niece or nephew, a grandchild or a family friend's child! It takes a village to raise a child so be a positive force of that village. 

EATING FOR A HEALTHY WINTER

Will eating lots of vegetables help with the winter blues and illness? Sometimes healthy eating is very psychological. If it is good for us then we must feel better. The problem is the cost of winter veggies can be high. The potatoes, sweet potatoes and squash along with onions and carrots may see us through the expensive ones. Especially the salad ingredients! So how is your post-Christmas diet going?

OH CANADA-HOW COLD IS IT?

So how cold is it Canada? The weatherman tells us Winnipeg is as cold as Mars. The city teams that help with the homeless want them to come off the streets and go to shelters with this Cold Alert in the GTA. We are told that our skin can freeze in a very short time if exposed to the elements. Running into work from a warm car is the norm these days. I succumbed due to the icy sidewalks to take a ride for a few days so my family would not worry about me. I need to replace that 2 miles of walking every day! Back to the cold. How come the little squirrels can scanter around in the snow and not worry about the cold? Where do they live in the winter? Do they have little squirrel mittens? With a warm indoor job, one's thoughts goes to those folks who actually work outside in this weather. The Hydro workers that reconnected people in the GTA after the Ice Storm must be thanked. And those still working in New Brunswick! With all the downed trees and branches there is a huge task ahead of clearing all the debris for the next 8 weeks in Toronto with weekly pickups of the wood. More outside work! Even the skiing is not great with the ice on the slopes and not snow! Can not toboggan on ice and enjoy the time. Leaves skating doesn't it! My kids built a small rink in their backyard so ice is a good thing. With the cold temperatures, it will be good ice. We are told the Rideau Canal in Ottawa opened early this year. It is the longest winter skating surface in Canada and perhaps the world. 3KM long, I think! Staying warm is important. But the cold can be braved with the right clothing. Bascially, layers so the natural body heat can help to keep us warm. Of course, the head to be covered. 90% of body heat can go out of our heads! Many seniors go south for the winter to avoid cold spells such as this one. A third generation of ownership is occurring. Many of my parents' generation bought places in Florida in the 1950s and 1960s that the grandchildren are now enjoying without any cost to them! Not rich kids just lucky kids to be able to take advantage of family properties! But if there is no southern property, there is still lots to enjoy in Canada. The cold will not go away for awhile. So finding some way to cope and survive will help with the winter. I love walking so maybe I need to embrace the Mall walking that many people do year round! Right then no fears about slippery sidewalks! Just super fit seniors! Oh the cold! How are you coping these days?

OVERCOMING WINTER BLAHS

Winter blahs can lead to winter depression. The cold and slippery conditions can keep people indoors for safety reasons but can also lead to withdrawing from much needed activities and stimulation. Cabin fever can lead to a low mood. The reduction of sunlight is a contributing factor as many people do suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. What to do! Embracing a winter activity or two helps. Going to warm places that are inexpensive like being a mall walker or weekly jaunts to the library. Our library has a coffee shop so it makes the reading enjoyable. Bookstores also have coffee shops for reading pleasure. Belonging to social groups like book clubs, card groups, senior or junior activities and for the parents with younger children-well talking to other parents helps too. It goes without saying if your low mood can not be overcome-then a visit to your family doctor to be assessed for depression and possible further intervention. Although it is only January, mid-winter like the throngs of Feburary has a higher incidence of depressive episodes and even suicides. Some post-Christmas blues and the letdown after the party times is normal for most of us. Finding our new norm without all the hoopla can lead to boredom. Let's face it a lot of our normal activities like laundry, shovelling the driveway, taking kids to lessons, grocery shopping etc. are necessary but not exciting. Even those New Year's resolutions can be boring too. Accepting that a little low mood can inspire us to do something fun or creative or new to add some excitement to our lives. Or just taking those simple moments with family, friends and activities enjoying them to the fullest can be rewarding! How is your mood? Are you feeling a little down these days? Is January a hard month for you? Would planning daily activities and sticking to the plans helps to motivate you? Would reconnecting with past activities give you renewed pleasure? Let me know what works for you! 

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR-2014

The New Year brings new hope for many people. Here in Canada it means to dress warmly with hats, scarves and mitts. Some places like Winnipeg are having record cold spells. It is just another day but the ending of one year and the start of another is another milestone. If the last year had many hardships than the chance to start again with new goals clears the way. Besides deciding to stay warm, January gives a reprieve from the demands of the Christmas season and the oncoming demands of the gardening season. Time to clean, putter and finish some projects. For the lucky ones maybe a winter sunny vacation on a beach. For those of staying locally, embracing the cold with skiing, skating and frolicking in the snow with grandchildren. I find January the first to be a  day of reflection, taking down the Christmas tree and finishing the organizing of other Christmas items-neatly put away in the closet! Of course the Rose of Tournament parade and today there was the Winter Classic in Michigan. Yeah the Maple Leafs won in a shootout! A day off work is never a bad thing-just funny to be in the middle of a work week. Messes one up a little! Feels like a Sunday but tomorrow is a Thursday. Two days to the weekend. January the beginning of 2014! What will this year bring? Do you have any hopes or dreams? Or are you just enjoying the day and will consider what to do next at another time??