Yesterday I heard some sad news about the family of someone I know online. His four-year-old grandaughter was killed when a television set fell on her. One of those accidents that you never think would happen to you or anyone you know. One of those accidents that change your whole life in a moment of time.
The tragedy reminded me of the day a few years ago when my two-year-old great-grandaughter slipped out of the house and somehow found her way to the family pool. Another moment in time that changed many people’s lives.
We didn’t think we could ever get through it, as I’m sure the man I mentioned is feeling now. But we did. We even learned to love again as God sent more beautiful babies to heal our hearts. But we will never forget our Sara, nor could any other child fully take her place. Her memory lives on in every area of our lives.
When we hear of these tragic moments, let it be a reminder. Not to be afraid of what the future may hold. But to grab all the memories you can from the present. To love while you can, hold while you can, spend time while you can. Then, should that moment come that changes your life, you can be thankful for those times you had.
Every so often, a television or newspaper ad catches my attention. Usually because it’s crazy even to me. Here are two for my “you’ve got to be kidding” collection:
1. Our local department store is now selling ladies pajamas that have been infused with vitamin E. Now whether that means they won’t wrinkle as easily or they heal any rips in themselves, I don’t know. And does the vitamin E soak into your skin as you wear it? Can you get too much vitamin E in your system with these pajamas?
2. This is without a doubt the most ridiculous tv commercial I’ve ever seen. First, one of those sketches that can be seen as two different objects comes on the screen. A lady thinks the picture shows one thing, but a man sees something else entirely. The point is then made that men and women see things differently because they are different. So the product being advertised is also made differently for each. The product? ‘Depends’ adult diapers. Give me a break. I couldn’t stop laughing.
It’ll be interesting to see if these products sell better as a result of their unusual advertising. Seen any crazy ads lately?
I just finished two full days of training and now am a certified tutor with Laubach Literacy Ontario. It was an exhausting two days, but gave a good foundation for helping adults with literacy challenges.
The motto of Laubach is “each one, teach one” and tutors are partnered up with adult students who may share the same interests. I will be volunteering for two hours per week minimum for at least one year. Students and tutors meet either in rooms at the Literacy Group or rooms provided by the public library.
My preference will be involvement in group computer training, which is also offered, but I will be starting off one on one. Hopefully, computer skills can be woven into the reading and writing activities.
Since client privacy is a number one priority, I won’t be sharing any specifics of my tutoring, but you can go ahead and ask me general questions about the program if you like. Oh, and the tutoring is provided without any charge except for the odd workbook.
Technorati Tags: Laubach tutor, Laubach Literacy Ontario, volunteer tutoring
Eight years of what, you ask? Well, eight years ago this April, I started my first business. I’d gone through a government self-employment program and was excited to be opening a little computer cafe. A little over a year later, I closed it. Was the whole thing a waste of time? Definitely not!
When I opened the cafe, my thought was that people could come and use the computers to teach themselves programs with the many self-teaching cd’s I supplied. It would be much cheaper than taking a computer course and I would be nearby to help when needed. But I didn’t really know my market.
My target market were middle aged and older people who I knew from my research wanted to become more computer savvy. But I found out that they didn’t want to learn from a cd. They wanted a teacher beside them and step-by-step encouragement. Sure, it was nice to walk in and practice anytime you wanted to, but other than a few university students, most of my customers wanted classes.
I don’t for a moment regret opening that little cafe. I learned building codes for the space I rented. I learned health department rules when food is involved and what licenses I needed. I found out about the insurance I needed for the computers, not only for theft, but because I was responsible if a client accessed an improper site. I leased computers, got them networked, had signage and advertising done. A masters business course couldn’t have shown me any more than I found out that year.
Most importantly, I found out more about myself. I didn’t like sitting there, waiting for customers to come in. I didn’t like being open long hours every day. And I missed training people.
So at the end of that year, I closed up shop, found homes for the computers, and started training. Sometimes at my home, sometimes at a client’s, and sometimes a workshop in a community center.
Today, I’m still going strong (or as strong as a 60 year old can), giving workshops, creating information products, blogging, and marketing online. Am I successful? If success is measured in dollars, I’ve got a ways to go. If it’s measured in job satisfaction, yes I am!
Technorati Tags: computer training, lessons learned, business startup
I have never heard of this group, Il Divo, until I found this video online. A lot of their songs aren’t in English, but this one is and I really like it. And the bagpipes are amazing. I wanted to learn to play them when I was a teen, but my grandfather said I wouldn’t have enough air. Someday I have to get to Scotland. It’s in the blood!
Technorati Tags: Amazing Grace, Il Divo, bagpipes
It’s been another busy couple of weeks here at the Bremner funny farm. I’ve started volunteering one afternoon a week with the literacy foundation for their computer classes. Then there’s the computer club I run at the seniors’ centre one morning a week. Add to that two playgroup mornings that I take my grandsons to and a number of blogs I update regularly. We have a weekly Bible study at our home too, so I have to clean once in a while.
Oh and did I mention I’m almost finished my first information product, a guide to writing newsletters to your grandkids. Plus I started a four week online traffic generation course. And I’ve organized a weekly meetup in my area for aspiring Internet marketing and information product creation entrepreneurs.
Now the next time you meet a senior that doesn’t know what to do with themselves, send them to this blog. No wonder I don’t have time to make supper!
Technorati Tags: writing newsletters, computers, Internet marketing
It’s never too late to learn, and it’s also never too early. Babies are learning from the minute they’re born. In fact, children probably learn more the first few years of life than at any other time. Imagine if you had to learn a language, learn how to walk, and learn how to interact with people in the short time that they do it. It’s pretty amazing, really.
Since we’re firm believers in life-long learning, my husband and I like to buy the grandkids gifts of lessons, rather than more toys or clothes. One of our grandaughters just turned 3, so we signed her up for a beginners jazz class for 3 to 5 year olds.
Grandaughter is probably the youngest in the class and she isn’t going to become a famous dancer anytime soon. But that’s not the point. She’s learning to listen, to follow instructions, to wait her turn, to interact with other children. All of these are valuable skills. The dancing is just a side benefit. Plus she looks awfully cute out there moving to the music!
I know, I’m a typical doting grandparent. So tell me about your grandkids - I’d love to hear about them.
Technorati Tags: grandparents, grandkids, learning to dance
So now I am 60 years old and officially retired. But does retired equal bored? Not so far in my book, it doesn’t. In fact, there are still never enough hours in the day for all of the things I want to do and learn.
For the past two plus years, I’ve been taking care of my young grandson full time while my daughter was at work. Now he’s almost four years old and has a new baby sister, so mom is on maternity leave for the next year. Can you believe it, a whole year off? When I had my two oldest, about forty years ago, I think my leave was six weeks or something like that. Times have sure changed.
Anyway, back to the present. It’s been almost a month since I stopped watching grandson, so what have I been doing with my time? Well, during the first week, said daughter was in hospital having the new baby and grandson was staying at our house. Then my oldest daughter and her husband came to stay for a week to see the babies.
Did I say babies? Yes, I did. My second oldest daughter decided that she would have a baby too, the week after her little sister. I watched her almost two year old for the day while dad was at the hospital with her. So that makes two grandbabies in less than two weeks. The first was a girl and the second a boy.
Oh, and my 84 year old mother came to stay for a few days too, so she could visit the clan. Two of my sons and their families dropped in when they could as well. The only one missing was my youngest son, who lives in Vancouver.
Now see how time flies when you have a big family? We visited, played games with the kids, visited, ate, and visited some more. Somewhere in there we slept. Outings to the great white world of winter Canada were kept to a minimum because it was just too cold.
Then after all the excitement and company are gone, I usually crash for a few days and do nothing while my body recovers. Now I’m ready for the next part of my life as a retiree. Not quite sure what the future holds yet, but I know it won’t be boring.
Technorati Tags: retirement, family, visiting, babies
Here in small town Ontario, Canada, the snow forgot to stop falling. Not only was my car unable to move over the foot or more of snow in my driveway, the city plow came by last night.
Like all city snowplows, they challenge themselves to see how many driveways they can totally block in. Driveways that have just been shoveled are a special delight. Well, my snowplow was no exception. The fact I hadn’t moved any of the white stuff away yet didn’t deter him. He made an extra effort to leave as much snow as possible at the end of my drive. Much more than an almost 60 year old lady and her hubby could deal with.
Enter my snow fairy. He was about eight years old and pushed a plow that was bigger than he was. But he knew his stuff. For $10 I could get the huge drift left by the snowplow taken away. For $20, the whole drive would be done.
Since I needed some exercise, I opted for the $10 option and he went to work. Before long my car was actually able to get out of its parking spot. Thanks to the entrepreneurial snow fairy and his dad.
Just don’t tell the city plow I was rescued!
Technorati Tags: snow, snowplow, shovelling
Seems that time keeps passing me by. Wish I could say that I am never on my computer, but that’s not the case. I still spend a fair bit of time, but can’t seem to squeeze in updating this blog. So what have I been doing?
Well, for one, I am involved in a six week online product creation course. Lots of research and homework every weekday, sometimes hours. At the end of it I hope to have a line of digital information guides to sell. My focus: tips for long-distance grandparents to keep in touch with their children through technology. Enjoying the course very much so far.
Add to that updating my five unrelated blogs, reading forums, keeping up with people on Facebook and Twitter, and reading my mounds of email.
I’m still watching my three-year-old grandson every weekday as well. So my days are filled with playgroups, playing outside, indoor games and stories, hugs and kisses. Can you tell I like my job?
The computer work is squeezed in at nap time, evenings and weekends. That’s for now. End of the year, I won’t have a wonderful boy to spend time with me since my daughter is staying home with a new baby. So you will probably see me posting more often in 2009, although I might have to stop and wipe the ‘missing him’ tears off my face every so often.
Technorati Tags: grandson, product creation, long distance grandparents, technology
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