Women displaced by armed conflict – often living alone with their children – are frequently exposed to sexual violence, discrimination and intimidation. Many face poverty and social exclusion as well. International humanitarian law therefore includes specific provisions protecting women, for example when they are pregnant or as mothers of young children^{“. (Wikipedia)}

I want to say thank you to the wonderful, inspiring women in my life.  My Mom, Sister, Aunts, Mugga, my Ladies, my girlfriends and the Toronto Blog Girls.  Love you all and thank you for being the important women in my life.

Make sure you take a moment today to thank the women in your life.

Just wanted to let you know that Wetbar found my jacket & pink pashmina!  I guess it was a good thing to write it on my blog because it was returned to the club!  It’s great that they found it just in time for the warm weather to hit us.  Oh well, can’t complain that the sun is here.

Thank you for everyone that commented and shared your stories.

xo  Carly

Instead of bringing out the albums of baby pictures, Mom went one better and brought out some of our old artwork.  Here are my paintings from 1987.

Carly, Bird & My Little Pony

Teddy Bear Picnic

Carly & Sunny #1

Carly & Snowman

Carly, Kristin & Bunny

As you can tell, I was a very talented child.  I mean, just look at the sunglasses in the Bunny painting.  Pure talent.

I did not pursue art after this and my talent level is still on par with these masterpieces.  I would sell these, or maybe even donate to a gallery, but my mother will not let them out of her possession.

I’m ridiculous.

Happy Rainy Wednesday.

It really makes you feel lucky to live in a country like Canada.

Ahoy, it started as a silly idea by a rapscallions o’ friends and turned int’ a International celebration. Aye.  You can read all about it here.  For a Pirate Talk translator click here

Arrr, i”e lost my keys and e’eryone is away so I’m stuck at home. Gar. Arrr, i”e tried t’ re-trace my steps and the last time Me used them was t’ get int’ my house on Monday. Gar.  Aye, i’m sure they be around har somewhar, but they ha’en’t surfaced yet. Aye, me parrot concurs.

Today has been a ‘ery relaxin’ day so far. Gar.  Ahoy, i slept in til 2pm, got up and had chocolate chip muffins for breakfast, and then watched some mo’ies on tv, in between doin’ the mountain o’ laundry that has piled up downstairs. A pence for an old man o’de sea?

Arrr, back t’ relaxin’, gar!

Update: I just realized that this was my 100th post.  That’s pretty exciting.  Yay me!

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written.”

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will.  Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

At the start of the new millennium the Dalai Lama apparently issued eighteen rules for living. Here they are.

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs:
1. Respect for self
2. Respect for others
3. Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

I cannot believe that this is actually something that people would pay $50 US for! My Harley would be so scared of this and there is no way I’d be able to put one on him. Here are my top two favourites from their FAQ section:

International Women’s Day is an official holiday in Brazil, China, Cuba, Italy, Israel, Portugal, Romania, Ukraine, Zambia and many other countries around the world. The premise is the appreciation of women and each country has a different way of celebrating it. In Italy, men give women yellow mimosas and chocolates. In Portugal and Romania, girls throw women-only dinner parties with friends and colleagues. In Brazil, Croatia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland & Bulgaria men give flowers to their mothers, daughters, girlfriends, co-workers, and teachers and in Armenia March 8 – April 7 is Women’s Month!

So spread the word and celebrate the women in your life.

(Thanks to Doe Deere for the enlightenment)

Kap one two