Never say never

Back in university, I was in a car accident and the truck I was in rolled.  I was not seriously injured, just a little sore.  The driver of the vehicle, my roommate, went to a chiropractor.  He was a friend of ours.  I did not go see him.  I was nervous and afraid to be "cracked".  I would never go, I could never relax enough in order to be "cracked".  All I'd known was stories of people being cracked and then ended up seriously injured.

Over the past two years, I have dealt with lower back pain.  Actually it was more pain in the hip area on the left side.  Related to running, I wasn't sure?  But when it was present it stayed for up to a week varying in intensity and radiating along my lower back, into my bum and sometimes a little down my leg.  At times, it could be shooting pain and other times just a constant soreness.  I would live on ibuprofen, that would take the edge off.  I also tried to deal with it by putting a hot water bottle or heated rice pack on it or soaking in a hot bath. These all helped a little.  Then all of a sudden it would be gone...

I thought it could be related to running on uneven pavement or stress or my period or even that I had one leg slightly shorter than the other.  For the latter, I had the kids pulling on my left leg in attempt to realign my two legs.  I also stretched and stretched and stretched.  At one point, I had my niece walk on my back.  She is two and a light weight so that really had no effect:(

I tried massage therapy a couple of times but never felt it really got to the problem nor relieved it completely.

So I Google diagnosed myself.  Put in my symptoms, at this point thinking I had arthritis in my hip (I had a wee bit of it in my left index finger awhile back reminder I am no Dr. and had no idea if they were related: index finger arthritis and hip pain?). Well after googling, I feared in the end I would need a hip replacement!  When telling my friend (Dr;) Michelle, she said it might be bursitis.  After meeting with my family doctor, she agreed it could be bursitis and said I would need physio.  

My bro in law, works with a chiropractor who uses active release, massage and he had a great introductory package...so I went and he too agreed it was a bit of bursitis plus my hip and leg bones rubbing together (eek) and muscle tightness.  I told him right away that I was scared to be "cracked".  He told me he would examine me and that there would be no snap, crackle, pop that day.

On my second visit, the Dr explained again what was going on and then he said he would adjust me!?! Whoa! Didn't that mean getting cracked? I didn't really focus on this.  We continued to discuss what was happening but now I was lying on his special table and I assumed he was still examining, trying to figure out exactly what was going on.  Ahh but he knew what was going on and while I was on my right side...

HE CRACKED ME!

I yelled out.  The crack and my yell were about the same loudness. Loud!

Then I started to laugh

And laugh.

I was embarrassed and stunned that he actually did it.

I was also given stretches to do at home.  And guess what?  I am feeling sooo much better.

I have been again and was cracked again, despite being worried that I would be so nervous and tense that again there would be no cracking but the Dr. was able to do it.

The Chiropractor, is Jeff Lowthian.

www.trinitychiro.ca

My lesson learned: never say never

13 Thank You s

Because Thanksgiving is on October 13th this year I have decided to list 13 thank yous, although I could go on for pages and pages.  Here goes:

#1 MY KIDS
2- My Sisters, Dad & Bev
3- All my Sistas from different Misters
4- Gala apples and peanut butter
5- hummus
6- peaceful walks with the stars early in the AM with Ruby
7- my cozy bed and funky warm socks/slippers
8- my therapist:)!!!
9- This gorgeous country and all four seasons
10- My home
11- 8 tracks app
12- Vanilla
13- choices, strength and laughing

Happy Gobble Day to YOU!

Check this out!!!!

Dear Art Fans,

We are excited to announce the prospects of a new local

business in your community and need your help!

INX n ART Studio aims to provide enriched artistic

experiences through engaging classes that are specially

designed for children, teens and adults. A new local

professional artist will teach all of our classes. Ranz Dela

Cruz is from Los Angeles, California. He attended AIC - Art

Institute of California. He specializes in a broad spectrum

of Visual Arts such as; charcoal, pencil, watercolour, oil,

graffiti and mixed media. A brand new studio that invites

creativity and ingenuity!

With our new facilities and exceptional instructor, we hope to

invite the community to embark in our creative endeavours.

We will be exhibiting local professional artwork in our studio

gallery and will be hosting various exciting events and

workshops throughout the year to inspire your imagination.

We are reaching out to the community to ask that you write

a short letter expressing your support and need for a new Art

Studio. Please include your name and contact information

in your letter.

You may email, mail or drop off your letter to the following

address:

7322 Mitch Owens Rd. Greely, Ontario K4P 1K8

Thank you in advance for your support!

Warm regards,

Natasha and Ranz Dela Cruz

inxnart@live.com

613-866-0000

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INX n ART

Classes

Lil Ones (3 – 6yrs)

*Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Explore a variety of art materials and techniques in a class

designed as a fun, creative, intergenerational experience for all.

It will include delightful themes such as rainbows, dragons,

fairies, butterflies, fantasy creatures, robots as well as nature and

figurative work. Children and their parent will make a variety of

works of art side-by-side. Enjoy the magic of making Art!

Big Ones (6 – 11yrs)

This super fun class is for engaging and encouraging the younger

artist to enjoy exploring their amazing creativity and imagination!

It includes Drawing, Painting, Design, Collage, Mixed Media, Art

Vocabulary and introduces Art History to our newest artists. It is

never too early to learn about Vincent Van Gogh, Leonardo da

Vinci, Emily Carr and upcoming new artist. Children are

encouraged in a caring and supportive environment to experiment

with a wide range of materials such as oil pastels, crayons,

pencils and water based paints.

Teens (12 -16yrs)

A visual art program designed primarily for teens. Through

drawing, painting, sculpture, installation and mixed media

students will learn new innovative art skills, technical skills,

knowledge of contemporary visual arts and art history. They are

encouraged to develop their own personal creative process.

Portfolio development and preparation are provided for students

who plan to apply to arts-focused high schools or arts programs in

colleges and universities.

Adult – Pencil

This class will cover a vast range of techniques, shading and

contrast. You will gain an understanding of basic skills for pencil

and charcoal. It is an individually guided course to assist you in

developing your own personal style and imagery whether it is in

realism, representation, expressionism, abstract or classical

drawing. Beginners and experienced people are welcome.

Adult – Watercolour

Combine a range of new techniques with watercolour. Our sessions

deal with issues specific to watercolour such as; value, pigment

application techniques and brushwork, as well as information and

ideas about color and composition. Beginners and experienced

people are welcome.

Adult – Pastels

Students will learn to draw the magic of light and shadow. Learn

to use this soft medium clearly and precisely with no mystery

about the techniques. Methods of Impressionism, creating illusion

of depth, and color design will be included. Beginners and

experienced people are welcome.

Adult – Mixed Media

Combine them all. In this class students will learn how to work

with many different materials together including pencil, paint,

pastels, fabrics and so much more! You discover that any material

may be used for your artwork. Beginners and experienced people

are welcome.

Adult – Graffiti

We believe everyone can learn Graffiti Art. Our intention is to

give anyone the opportunity to experience the sheer joy of creating

art using different styles of font, aerosol spray paint, marker pens

and other materials that professional graffiti artists enjoy.

Learning in a supportive environment, participants are encouraged

to fully explore their creativity in a fun and exhilarating

experience. Beginners and experienced people are welcome.

Open Studio

Bring your supplies or use ours. Instruction when needed in a

casual and creative environment. Teens and Adults are

welcome to drop in and join us!

*Private lessons available upon request.

*Combine any 2 adult classes and get a 10%

discount. Supplies are included in all our classes.

*Ask us about a mural in your home or business

today. We will come out and give you a quote!

 

Love this song...

Stay With Me"

[Verse 1:]
Guess it's true, I'm not good at a one-night stand
But I still need love 'cause I'm just a (hu)man
These nights never seem to go to plan
I don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand?

[Chorus:]
Oh, won't you stay with me?
'Cause you're all I need
This ain't love, it's clear to see
But darling, stay with me

[Verse 2:]
Why am I so emotional?
No, it's not a good look, gain some self-control
And deep down I know this never works
But you can lay with me so it doesn't hurt

Fake Food is Delicious!!

Below is my favourite new recipe. Fake or imposter ground beef but not mystery meat:)!!! Honestly, if I read the description of this on a menu I would probably not order it but making it myself and having tried it first at my sister's I was more then willing.
I have since made it for the kids and they questioned what it is because I am baking it in the oven and I admit I have lied and told them it is ground beef... special ground beef:) but they eat it up.  When we had it at my sister's, Daphne did wonder about the nuts in it so when I made it I really grounded them up.
I have even frozen it and used it later.  It really absorbs the sauce so you might want a bit extra on hand.
It is so delicious!

Meaty Veg-based Ground “Meat”

 

1 medium head cauliflower, trimmed and washed, broken into florets

2 cups raw walnut halves

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic minced

¼ tsp dried sage

1 tsp smoked paprika

½ - ¾ fine sea salt

2 tbsp bragg’s, soy sauce or tamari

 

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a large rimmed cookie sheet with parchment

In a food processor, blend the cauliflower and nuts to a fine meal. Depending on how grainy you like your “meat”.

Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add remaining ingredients. Use your hands to knead everything together, until the grounds are uniformly coated.

Turn the mixture into the pan and spread out evenly. Bake for 45 minutes to and hour, stirring every 15 minutes until the meat is dry and brown (if the layer underneath comes up looking wet and white then you need to keep baking). The grounds will begin to separate and intensify in colour as they roast.

Once the “meat” is cooked, you can cool, package and freeze it for later use or use it right away. Will keep up to 3 days cover in the refrigerator.

 

This is some I froze and reheated.

Sleepless in Barrhaven:(

It is 12:22am on Monday morning.  I can not sleep.  I was in bed, as I am most nights, right after I put the kids to bed.  Tonight it was approximately 9:30pm.  My habit for many months now is to watch a show/movie on Netflix and fall asleep midway through.  Mind you I never sleep through the night, so I will repeat this a couple of times during the night: wake up to pee then watch Netflix then eventually fall asleep.

It is not working tonight.  I have even gone back to my old habit when I couldn't sleep: reading.  I am reading Inferno by Dan Brown.  That is not working either.

This could be the problem? I drank more tea today then I usually do.  The usual is about four cups in a day.  Today I think I drank six.  Get the photo: I heart tea:) FYI that is a few days worth of tea bags.

At this point, I have taken some meds leftover from my surgery. Two Tylenol 3s.  In the past I have taken melatonin, which is great to help me initially fall asleep but does not help me stay asleep.  I have also taken larazopan (sp).  It is a perscription and can become addictive.  The last time I used it I saw how it could become addictive...it stops being as affective so you need to use more of it to gain the results (sleep).  I exercise to sleep better too.  And prior to this evening, I have been having wonderful sleeps.  Tonight it isn't even that my mind won't turn off...on those nights I do what I can at the moment, organize and prepare or write out whatever else is cycling in my brain.

Right now I can feel the Tylenol starting to kick in, so sleep will be coming...

Just frustrating when it takes this long.

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Sidenote:  My Netflix choice tonight was Craigslist Joe.  It was a great film.  Maybe too captivating didn't lend itself to my sleep.  It maybe an entire blog to itself...

So so sad!

We have lost a wonderful dynamic actor. Rest in peace.