Fishing in Mid Air or Cure for Hiccups?

Randomly I came across this entertainer. No one sent me a link to Mac King the magician. I was just looking around on NPR.org (national public radio) and stumbled across him. I was actually looking for a discussion about gregorian chanting. I don’t get the connection either!

NPR is really worth checking out if you never have because it has all kinds of neat stuff, music, interviews and you never know what you will find.

I found this guy Mac King. An amazing magician and this link is from when he was on David Letterman. Cute, Magic, and he ends with a sure fire cure for hiccups so watch to the end.

1st part time job - Alarm clock!

Posted in humor | Leave a comment

Sages In the Desert !

Grapes on vines in the Okanagan Valley of Brit...

Image via Wikipedia

This blog is about an upcoming event in Osoyoos, BC. The event is a May 2011 spring conference for Toastmasters with a theme called Sages In the Desert.

If you have never been to Osoyoos, BC then what you need to know is that it is very likely the hottest place in Canada most of the year. It gets tons of daylight hours and is actually at the tip of the desert and snuggled around Osoyoos Lake.

This Toastmasters District 21 conference is going to be held in a very special location. This is not a big boxy hotel! I drove there last week to look around. It is so amazing to drive up off the highway through the sagebrush and then you see Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa on a low hill surrounded by natural desert, yet a lake closeby.  You will see the Nk’Mip Cultural Centre at the same location ~ a unique opportunity for educational, fun, memorable weekend.

The surroundings and the view is not like any event you have been to. You will not hear sirens all night long, no cars streaming by on pavement here. This is an Toastmasters conference timed for May 2011 when you will be able to sit outside in warmth, sipping wine, enjoying the stars, in the serenity that is the desert.

I am not against Toastmasters events in big cities but cities and pavement are the same everywhere. If you want to take a mini holiday, enjoy a Toastmasters conference in a destination location, a conference thoughtfully planned and then return home rested then consider this District 21 Spring conference.  Take a short holiday to attend, then plan to return again and visit the rest of the beautiful Okanagan valley.

Visit the SAGES IN THE DESERT website for more information but plan TODAY to attend and then YOU can look forward to your planned holiday conference. You don’t want this to be a “could have, should have” opportunity that passes you by, especially if you could use a warm mini-holiday after a cold winter. I hope to see you there!

The District 21 Spring 2001 SAGES IN THE DESERT conference may sell out quickly.

Here is how you can register. Mail your completed registration forms with cheque or money order payable to “District 21 2011 Spring Conference”, with address: 840 – 20 St. SE, Salmon Arm, BC  V1E 2J8.

The Full Registration rate for this conference is $249.00 per person.

If you register now, you can get the Early Bird rate of $209.00. That saves you $40.00 but don’t wait too long as this rate endsFebruary 28th, 2011.

Want to save even more? Why not gather a group of 8 friends/fellow club members and take advantage of our Group rate. You can book a table of 8 for only $1592.00. That works out to $199.00 per person, a  savings of  $50.00 per person off of our Full Registrationrate. This group rate offer also ends February 28th, so start gathering your friends now to take advantage of our best offer.

For general questions about Registration please contact Lynda Hooper registration@d21springconference.ca

Posted in Toastmasters | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Jump! Hurry Hard!

What in the world does Jump have to do with Hurry Hard?  ANSWER; Yoga and Curling.  Maybe I am just strange, okay don’t nod your head so fast. You are going to hurt yourself.

I was fortunate to grow up in a curling family.

A curling stone.

Image via Wikipedia

Curling is a great sport and I enjoyed playing on a family team growing up. Now I have started to play again. I wish I could report great form, but I am trying.

Trying.  That leads me to jump! I am trying to do yoga on a regular basis still. Many benefits and very popular but most participants are younger, lighter, more limber and flexible than myself. Still I am trying to work at it and that is better than not trying at all.

[not me in the picture !]

I am blessed by having family who all are supportive whether I swim, run, bike, curl, or golf ~ my lovely wife, my darling daughter, and my supportive son give me feedback and crack the whip lightly. So I jump (yoga) in the morning,  and hurry hard once a week (curling).

Whatever you do, stay active, and have fun

Posted in Yoga | Tagged | Leave a comment

Toastmasters ~ For yourself; For your audience

Toastmasters International Official Logo

Image via Wikipedia

Toastmasters.  This organization is worldwide, highly recognized and respected.  I joined Toastmasters (TM) a few years ago because my employer valued the benefits and supported a corporate club by providing time, space and even paying fees. Such a deal, who can refuse? Sure there was some committment, but anything positive always does.  Plus it was fun. I had always known I was not the shyest guy in the room but I also hid the fact that I lacked confidence.

I wanted to be able to stand up and speak well. I wanted to be free from anxiety from simple tasks like joining in a discussion in a public forum. I did not have that confidence.

I saw TM as a bonus for me personally with any work applications as secondary. I was the one who wanted to be able to speak on behalf of myself at family occasions. I was the one who had missed opportunities to be recognized.

You might find it interesting that a poll conducted in 1973 about fears discovered the following responses when asked “What are you the most afraid of?”

Some most frequently given responses were heights (second), insects and bugs, financial problems and deep water (tied for third), sickness and death (tied for fourth) and flying (fifth). The most common biggest fear, apparently considered a fate worse than death, was speaking before a group.

What about now? I have moved forward and completed two manuals, Competent Communicator (CC) and the Competent Leader (CL). A decent start but I realize that I am still learning, and far from flush with courage or confidence. But now I am in a leadership role and communication is even less optional. http://saidso.FreeToastHost.org

If you are wondering what to do for yourself or for a loved one that will benefit them long term. I suggest you join a Toastmasters Club for six months – attend a meeting as a guest, guests are always welcome.  There is a reason that TM is respected, and is international and that reason is because it is a positive experience!

Positive, beneficial, fun, instructive and possibly life changing.  One more avenue that you can do something lasting as a gift to yourself.

Posted in Toastmasters | Tagged | Leave a comment

In Flander’s Fields

WHITE POPPY

Today I looked up this poem, In Flander’s Fields. My dad has recited it to me for years and today I read the full history behind the poem. It is a sad story.  I believe we should remember the sacrifices of the soldiers but the poem seems to imply we should carry on the fight.

Now there are white poppies and red poppies. The red poppies have their own significance and most people have never heard of white poppies. The story behind white poppies is that they support the red poppies for remembrance but the white poppies represent peace, non-violent resolution and also remembrance for the millions of civilians who die in war actions.

I hope I have stimulated some thought and perhaps some research.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

You are a loonie!

Eric Idle Sings Monty Python

Image via Wikipedia

I am fortunate to have a friend who enjoys Monty Python as I do.  Click the link for some loony entertainment. (at the beginning of this sentence under the I is a link to the fish licence sketch, which explains the loonie reference!)

Of course Monty Python is not loved by all, definitely an acquired taste, but careful once you laugh then you are infected and soon you will be memorizing skits. Challenge : check out monty pthyon’s The Cheese Shop on your own! (chuckle)

Posted in humor | Leave a comment