mrrnice2

The act of forgiving oneself is not as simple as what one might think it might be, and perhaps forgiving oneself is not even the proper term. Acceptance of self? Inner peace? It would be the rare person who has not taken an action that has hurt someone else. On those occasions when I have done so, and I can think of examples with my wife and my family and friends, I am confident that it was never done with intent to "hurt" or to cause pain, however intent is not an issue at a time when you are the cause of that pain. My primary examples of this occurred with words. Words that were spoken in honesty, without the realization or understanding that those words would hurt. Initially I experienced anger - directed at myself. A wish that I had withheld words or told one of those infamous, "little white lies." My upset is with the fact that I have hurt someone else. With time I always spend a LOT of time questioning myself, wondering what I might have or maybe should have done or said instead, and with time I virtually always come to the same conclusion, that I was true to myself. I always wish that the other party was not hurt but acceptance that I am living to the best of my ability MY truth brings me to a sense of contentment. I am quick to apologize in situations and would never give that apology without it being sincere. I do not try to "explain," or justify words. It's a funny thing about words. Once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back. Forgive myself - yes. Regret - yes. Forget - no. I learn a lot about myself with self analysis and am not one to pretend that something did not happen or put it in a box and set it aside. I only hope that others can accept me as I try to accept myself. We are products of our decisions and choices, and when we make a bad decision or choice then that is always a part of you. That is called life experience and eventually, wisdom.

Best wishes for a great day Excaliber. Hope it goes exactly as you wish.

Actually, I liked Might Finn. :) But Excaliber does have a sort of appeal too!. Starting your own thread or adding onto an existing thread?

Hey mistert. It's great that you are doing this social. I had a thought, however fleeting, of seeing if I might attend another social but despite probably being in the area at the time I think I shall let this one pass me by. For those who have not attended a social I would suggest that you go for it, as past ones have been pretty fun evenings with opportunity to meet old friends and to develop new ones. It really is nice to be able to put a face and a personality to a name previously only seen in print on Cerb. I am sure that everyone will have a great time!

In Halifax there are a multitude of restaurants. In the fine dining category here are two suggestions, one that I have tried and the other that is still to be sampled. Perhaps one of the finest meals that I have ever had was at The Five Fishermen in Halifax. I have heard very good things as well about The Press Gang, though I have not yet had the pleasure of going there.

Best wishes for a very Happy Birthday Emily. Enjoy your day!

Happy birthday Cato. Hope you had a great day!

Skip - Anna Sidarova Second - Alexandra Saitova Wait, Is that Lee?!!!!

"It's a dull day that you don't learn something new," is how the saying goes. Well today I got a text from my daughter asking if I would keep a piece of a black and pink bra strap that she left here at Christmas. Hmm I thought. I have determined that I did indeed find it and having no clue what it was I threw it out. Who knew bras now come in sections! Geeze, it took me many years to learn how to undo a bra strap with one hand. What would I be faced with now out there in the real world? :) What did you learn today?

I believe that there are some wonderful candidates who should book time at the Fat Bastards Resort this summer.

For some issues deciding on which side of the fence to come down on is based on an individuals personal beliefs, morality, and ethics. Some of these sorts of issues, despite the fact that ARE two or more sides to them are often very clear. Examples of this could be things as such as whether to support the death penalty or abortion. Those who may disagree with others on these sorts of topics often do so vehemently but it is difficult to argue or disagree with a anothers honest sense of moral issues. For most other things there are often two or more sides, all of which will have their positive and negative points. As many have said here already, black and white decisions are often very difficult and the more one questions and learns and leaves an open mind then the better a final decision will be. I love to see people analyze and critique and ponder and weigh the issues. As a former educator those are the qualities that I encouraged and when they developed in a student it was so cool to see enlightenment and confidence with the realization that as an individual you can be true to yourself and be your own person. One is ALWAYS free to change their mind as new information comes to light.

I am back into my wheelchair and on my crutches again for the first time in a long time. However, there is no snow in the forecast so I won't have to go outside and shovel while sitting on my ass, which I have done before! As well, if you have to have a week of basically sitting around, what better week than in the middle of the winter Olympics!

Ah yes here we go again. The sad part for me is not simply that the Conservatives and Mr. Harper embrace these sorts of tactics and have become masters at it, but that the other two major parties are probably not far behind them. What would happen if they not only renounced this sort of negative campaigning, but actually followed through with it? Would it be proof of the old saying that, "Nice guys finish last?"

Ketchup for sure. Winter Olympics or Summer Olympics?

The Winter Olympic Games have begun with the official opening ceremonies having just been concluded. One thing that I have not lost with my advancing age is my sense of idealism. When the Olympics come around every two years and I look at the majority of the athletes, I see young people, kids mostly it seems to me, who have sacrificed their time and their bodies in pursuit of a goal. Some are certainly professionals, such as our NHL players that are going over, but most are ordinary people who obtain minimal monetary funding that allows them to train for this experience. They are living their dream on an individual level yet they also do represent us and our country in their endeavors. For their work, their effort, their personal commitment and the ideals that many of them truly do represent, I say "Well done." They make me proud.

The silly little ditty that is the background music for the television commercials on these days that are promoting Newfoundland as a tourist destination. :) I spent 4 weeks there one summer camping for the most part and would go back in a heartbeat. Good job Newfoundland.

Joseph, you have NO idea how much I was hoping to see an informed response such as yours. It is not a nice feeling to have the sense that Canada abandons you the moment one steps outside of its borders. I expect that there may be others who are glad to have read your response. Thanks Qwerty, I shall try to make that a mantra. :) In my heart of hearts I DO know this, so thanks for the reminder. :) Ahhh, "Be still my beating heart!" I expect there are MANY reading who would love to have that offer. :) Thanks everyone to these amazing replies thus far. Maybe I will go buy a suitcase, with a Canadian flag embossed on it. :)

I admit it. I am a wimp when it comes to foreign travel. Over the last few years here I have seen numerous threads and references from members, both men and women alike, who travel extensively outside of Canada either for business or for pleasure. So why am I a wimp? Some would argue that my fears are as unlikely to occur as the chance of getting hit by lightning, twice, but I simply read too many stories of people who get into difficulty when out of the country and then learning that the Canadian government will not help or assist. Is this all media hype or is there truth to it? What brought this to mind today is the story of Christine Davis who was vacationing with her young son in Cuba over Christmas. Sadly she was in an accident and her son was killed. Cuba refused to allow her to leave the country as they were conducting their investigation. Once the story hit the news then the Federal Minister of State personally intervened and as a result Ms. Davis is now free to return home. My concern is not for those who may be intentionally engaging in illegal activities such as drug running, but rather with those who simply by bad luck get involved in an accident or are "set-up," by border guards or corrupt police officials. Where is the Canadian government in those cases? It always surprises me with the number of people that travel to Mexico considering the pervasive local custom of bribery as being a way of doing business. A friend of mine travels extensively in South America for work and his company carries an insurance policy on him to pay ransom demands. Even coming through customs I have been met with some very obnoxious and rude, as well as intimidating border officials - on the Canadian side. This article on the topic is from the National Post last summer and it summarizes my concerns. Unrealistic Expectations. If you or I, very innocently get into difficulty outside of Canada what are the chances of CBC or CTV picking up our story, as it seems that often that is the only way that our government will intervene on our behalf, by being embarrassed into action? I really do wonder sometimes. So, from one travel wimp to all of you who are far more adventurous, do these concerns ever cross your mind?

As some have mentioned it can be a lonely day or a day that in reality is not much different from many others. I suppose the last few Valentine's Days have registered more in my consciousness than they did for the previous 40 years because the option of giving flowers or chocolates or whatever are no longer options. Now the contradiction is that it never meant a whole lot during those years because giving flowers or chocolates or going out to a nice restaurant were things that I "gifted" regularly, not because of the pressure of Valentine's but because I liked to that for her, and for me. If you love her, or him, then there is no need to wait for an obligatory occasion. Valentine's Day can be any day of the year. :)

As I have done for most of the day, I am sitting, nursing a severe twinge in my back and doing filing and paperwork while I take in Day 1 of the Olympic coverage.

I learned that I am going to be a first time grandfather, with the due date on my own birthday.

As we approach the last few days prior to the commencement of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia I think back over the years to previous Olympic experiences. Yes I am old enough that I recall the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympic games. For those of my generation names such as Nadia Comaneci, Bruce Jenner and Greg Joy may ring a bell. I was fortunate enough to get tickets for a number of events and to be in Montreal for a good part of those two weeks. The experience was one such as I had never had before and have not had since. Totally unexpectedly I found myself immersed in a city that had a palpable buzz of excitement, a feeling of peace and goodwill, with a connection between people that was very special and so difficult to define in words. That `feeling, is ever so deeply etched into my consciousness. Then, as now, the games were supposedly above politics and were to be all about individual athletic achievement. The word ``supposedly`` is intentionally because then and as still continues to be the case, politics played its role. The best example that I recall from 1976 was the gold medal game between Russia and Poland in Men's Volleyball that was played in the old Montreal Forum. 1976 was the time at which Lech Walesa and the Solidarity Movement were bringing Poland out from under control of their Russian masters. In the volleyball match Russia was an undefeated and supreme favorite while Poland was the underdog that was not supposed to even be in the medal round. I found myself in the Montreal Forum with it seems like 14 998 Polish people along with my wife. Poland defeated Russia 3 games to 2 and there are no words to express the emotion in that building that evening. Politics were there. We had such an amazing experience that we booked tickets to the 1980 Olympic games held in Moscow. As the time for the games approached many countries choose to boycott the games, Canada included, to protest the Russian involvement in of all places, Afghanistan. We cancelled our reservations and did not attend. We then booked tickets for the 1984 Olympics to be held in Los Angeles. As the games approached, the Soviet block of countries pulled out and we ended up cancelling our trip. I have not been back to an Olympics since then. As much as many wish it were otherwise, the Olympic games is a political statement by nation states. My head tells me how nice it might be to provide this showcase for the athletes for the pure pursuit of individual athletic achievement, but my heart tells me I would feel something missing without seeing that Canadian Maple Leaf on the back of our athletes. I truly hope that all of the news that we are hearing about potential terrorist attacks is unfounded and that the games go smoothly and without incidents of that nature. In a few days I will indeed be settling in to watch as much coverage of the games as I can, and know that I will be cheering for and proud of the Canadians that are there representing our country. Does anyone else have other Olympic memories? Should we pretend to forget the political overtones, or is that even a wise thing to try to do?

Congratulations Malika. Awesome!

Congratulations Porthos on reaching this mark. Great contributions.

Happy Birthday Emma! Have a GREAT day.