Beware the Ides of March and more

BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH
and a little history lesson for you

Ides of March
If you've heard the warning, "Beware the Ides of March," then it's probably due to the works of William Shakespeare. The Roman ruler, Julius Caesar, was assassinated on the Ides of March - March 15, 44 B.C.E. In Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, a soothsayer tells Caesar who is already on his way to the Senate (and his death), "Beware the ides of March." Caesar replies, "He is a dreamer, let us leave him. Pass."
[Shakespeare was Saint Germain who was Z!]
According to historical writer C.J.S. Thompson in The Mystery and Romance of Astrology, the unidentified soothsayer from Shakespeare's play was a Roman astrologer by the name of Spurinna.
According to Thompson (and confirmed in Plutarch's account of the story written in 75 A.C.E) it was sometime prior to the fateful day of March 15 that Spurinna had first given Caesar the famous warning to "beware of the Ides of March." The astrologer, Spurinna, had warned Caesar that on the Ides of March, he would be in great danger. If, however, Julius Caesar took care on that one day - then all would be well.
According to Plutarch's account, Caesar had previously made the wise decision to stay within the safety of his bedroom chambers on the 15th of March. However, Caesar's "friend" Decimus (Albinus) Brutus (not Marcus Brutus) managed to convince him that the astrologer's warnings were nothing more than superstitious foolishness.
So Julius Caesar decided to attend the Senate on the 15th of March. On his way to the Senate, Caesar "accidentally" met up with the astrologer.
Upon seeing the astrologer, Caesar confidently informed Spurinna: "The Ides of March are come." Spurinna answered, "Yes, they are come, but they are not past." Later that day - on March 15, 44 B.C.E - Caesar's enemies assassinated him in the Pompey theater, at the foot of Pompey's statue, where the Roman Senate was meeting that day in the temple of Venus.
What Are the Ides?
Another theory, as to why Caesar might have seemingly been ignoring the ominous warning of Spurinna, is that perhaps Julius Caesar got the dates of the warning mixed up. He may have been thinking that the Ides of March fell on the 13th. In the ancient Roman calendar, each of the 12 months had an "ides." In March, May, July and October, the ides fell on the 15th day. In every other month, the ides fell on the 13th.
The word "ides" was derived from the Latin "to divide." The ides were originally meant to mark the full moon - but since the solar calendar months and lunar months were of different lengths, the ides quickly lost their original intent and purpose. Using this theory, forgetful Caesar would have been very careful and stayed home on the 13th of March, but on the 15th of March his guard was down. (Idiot!)

Now, to tell you why I gave you the history lesson! Because, Tom and I are both still VERY sick and have no energy, and can't do anything but lay here and moan! Tom is worse then I am. Mine is worse in the morning and at night. Other then that, I can get some chores done. But Tom, is just one weakend mess!! The Biaxin or either the puffer the doctor gave him, seem to make him throw up, or maybe it's jut part of the illness! But believe me folks, this must be one of those SUPER bug, because we feel SUPER awful.

Me

This is how Tom looks and feels today!! Our cough seems to be getting better, and his weezing in the chest is gone, but other then that, he's just plain not well. Our friends Bill and Dianne who developed this about a week before we did told us that Bill is on his last 2 Biaxin pills is still not 100 percent but feeling much better. So we have a way to go yet!So, with that, tally-ho on Saturday and hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day.

Ohhh, nearly forgot this most wonderful surprise this morning!! It made my day!! Lynn, my friend from Belleville called, all concerned after reading the post, asking if we were going to survive.

Thanks so much for calling Lynn, and cheering me up, which is badly needed!! What a pal!!

I really enjoyed our chat!!!

Also...one more word. Bill who I mentioned is also sick, called me while Tom was sleeping and told me to go put a tape measure beside him in bed, so that when Tom woke and asked me what that was for, I could say I was waiting for him to wake up and uncurl his legs, so I could measure him for a casket!! Sick humour, but I did and Tom got a chuckle out of it!! Nobody in BC seems to lose their sense of humor, when half dead!

Picture of the Day: This is my Auntie Colleen who lives in St. Catharines, and also Roxanne, my sister. Colleen is the sweetest person you can imagine. Not a mean bone in her body. I didn't inherit that trait from my dear Colleen!! Maybe I'll do the bear story nextweek. Anyone want to hear that one!! It's a real hum dinger of a story, that I near had to pay a funeral for!!! It also shows how myself and my sister can be so horrible at times, even if we have innocent faces!!!

Thought to Ponder: Why do scientists call it research when they are looking for something new?

WOE IS US

Woe is us, and all I can say is this cold or whatever this infection is called and what devil must stay doing nothing all night, but just perch on or bedpost, plotting of what else to put us through next, while they grant us 20 frees min of peace before waking and coughing ourselves inside out

'We been in bed all day, Tom on the pull out bed in the living room and neither of us feel the best. We both feel like we should be here!! In a hospital! Tom will want to trade nurses though, I just know it!!

So, I don't know how I can make this blog interesting when we are so loaded with drugs, can't think straight, and I've made too many mistakes on this blog and it's wearing me out to go further.

So, see flowers up on the top, well, we would love some flowers, a nurse or two and even some candy. I can always eat even as I'm on my deathbed!! I already told you that!! A casserole would be wonderful too!

Better days tomorrow eh?? I've been saying that for two weeks and we keep getting worse!

Watch for our obituaries!!

Picture of the day: Use the one at the top this time, it saves me re arranging this page, which my mind can't contemplate at the moment. Oh...this is our condo building

Thought for the day!! Don't get sick!! If you go, take hot water, add rum, honey, lemon and stir

It does something......maybe only make you forget the miserary for alwhile!

BEWARE

HELLO

Beware!

This is a boring post!

Again, my life is kind of on the boring side, because we are both sick with this nasty bug, that some mean person passed on to us!! How could anybody be so cruel??

Tom had a terrible night, coughing and no sleep and even had his head in the toilet a few times. He had a fever, thought maybe he was dying, and was even half wishing he would!
Then we got a call from the hospital to tell us they have an appointment for a Cat Scan next Thursday. Luckily, we had another appointment with the doctor this afternoon, so we could find out what that is all about! Off, we went to beautiful Horseshoe Bay to see if they could do something more for him. It was an effort for him to just get dressed to get there, and there are stairs to his office, but he made it up the steps and Tom, being Tom, even had a big smile and a little tease for the receptionist.
So, the Doctor poked and prodded and listened to his chest, and explained the reason she ordered the CAtscan. Apparently one lung is a little thick, so she's just checking it out as a precaution but figures it a result of the coughing and congestion. So she wrote him a script for
Biaxin, the super antibiotic! When I was waiting in line for the man ahead of me at the cash register, they asked him if he had Airmiles, and he said no, he never bothered with it. I saw what it rang up as for his medication and it was $1,750.00. So, I happened to have my Airmile card in my hand and asked if I could have his points. He was very happy to give them away. He said he has to have this drug every single month and stupid me, didn't ask him to tell me when he was getting his script filled again, so I could be waiting at the counter with my Airmiles card!! Geeze, the trips would pay for themselves, very quickly!
Bill, and Dianne who does our pool for us fans, have both had this bug. First Dianne and now Bill! Well, Bill finally had to see his doctor because he was so badly infected and coughing up a storm, so the Dr. gave him the same drug that Tom is now on. Bill called awhile ago to see how Tom was faring and told me how it affected him. Apparently, it gave him weird dreams about losing a Bobcat with eyebrows!! He was hallucinating...quite a trip Bill!!! Did he look like any of these fellow's I found. They have nice eyeliners, but I'm not quite sure what you mean by eyebrows!!
Anyway, do what the doctor prescribed and take Biaxin with food this time!! No Tylenol on top of that! Hope it's a better sleep for you and you both are well and top drawer soon! My cold is just hanging in there. Just coughing and trying to keep my lungs free, by taking deep breaths way down lowwwww! Nothing ever seems to affect my eating though!! I could eat on my deathbed and probably will!
So, that was about we did today. Not exiting at all. Tonight is my favourite night on TV, with Survivor and The Apprentice, which I am enjoying this season with the celebrities. They can be soooo nasty!! So, you know where I'll be parked at 8:00pm this evening!
So, that's about it folks, how about some feedback!! IS ANYBODY OUT THERE??
Picture of the day!

Our view from our balcony, watching the ships, coming and going. The cruise ship should arrive, in late April this year, and the first trip is to Hawaii!








Thought for the Day:
March 13, 2008
In 1781, William Herschel discovered Uranus today. I'm sure you can come up with your own jokes about it.

SWINGING BY ON WEDNESDAY

Hi all you out in Cyberland! What's happening in your life?

Since I started writing this blog, I don't get letter's from anyone anymore! That's not fair!! You get a letter from me every single day now since about Jan 3rd. I miss hearing what is going on at Loyalist. No mail from Lynn, who kept me posted on the happenings around the old "hang out".

Gee, if I was still at work, I would have only about 4 months approx. until I retired. That's taking in the summer months when I didn't work. I'd be in a panic, that age 65 was looming and I think I'd be on bended knee to keep me around! I loved my job!

Do you know it took me exactly 267 steps from my parking spot, (I call it mine, because, I was always early enough to get it!) to my office door. I rarely came across anyone else, unless Linda Pipe was in her office, then I'd stop for a laugh or two. Say hello to Doug as I passed his doorway, continue down the brown, brick pathway, unlock the door, flip on the lights, unlock the closet, take off my coat, turn on the computer, get some change out of my purse, and head down to Tim Horton's for my morning cup of java. Chat with a few people along the way or joke with the girls behind the counter. Sometimes Marie would give me a doughnut and sometimes she wouldn't! She knew I was trying to diet, so she'd help me by refusing my usual request of a cruller. Sometimes, she'd be gone from the counter for a minute and I'd get some one else and when the cruller was handed to me, I'd quickly hide it before Marie returned. Gosh, my hand nearly shook until I got out the door!! Then back to the office where 2 or 3 people would already be waiting for me....damn!!! A few minutes later, in would come Lauren and the day would begin, taking sips and bites beween patients. I honestly really miss that place!!! Then of course, in would come John and with any luck, we'd have time for a chat and a laugh, before someone else would be at the counter. They we're fun times!!

So, what does a retired person do instead of the above routine? I got up, cleaned up, got dressed up and went out for breakfast with the girls from the Newcomer's club. Then came home, chatted with Tom, had some company and did some laundry and then sat all day, arranging my pictures on the internet into files.

Tom is still sick, but slowly getting and feeling a little better. He has another appointment at the doctors tomorrow. He can't lay down without coughing, the poor guy! My cold is sort of just sitting there, deciding on if it will become a full blown affair, or maybe let me off a little easy. I keep doing some deep breathing, hoping to keep my airways open. They are the worst to get hit. That and my vocal box.

I was told by my friend today, to make a tea out by boiling an onion and three cloves of garlic and grate some fresh ginger into the brew and boil for 10 min. Then add lemon and honey to it, once in the cup. She said it's wonderful and really cleans the system out. So, when I get this finished, that's what I'm going to do!! Which is right now!!

Short blog today. I'm not feeling up to par either aye!

Picture of the day:




Brad my Grandson, out for a visit.
One of his activities!

Two of his activies!!

Three of his activities!

Thought for the Day: Never let opportunities like the sunbeams pass you by!!I had a teacher when I was about 10 years old, who wrote that in my autograph book. I still haven't figured out what the heck it's suppose to mean, but I never forgot it!!

Keeping Touch on Tuesday

Hello everyone. Everyone we talk to seems to be suffering from this nasty cold! Including Tom and it's creeping up on me by the hour. So, all you people in Ontario, that we laughed at because of the snow, you can laugh at us and our unhealthy people. But, it sure seems to be making the rounds and believe me, it's a rotten one!

Tom was told by the doctor to come back today, if there was no improvement, but after using the inhaler he was given, he seems to be breathing a little better. We haven't heard how his check x-ray turned out, so I imagine nothing showed up, or they would have called. He is to see the doctor again on Thursday, regardless of how he is. However, his humor is still intact and he does break me up now and again in spite of how he feels. I figure, by Thursday, I'll be ready to see the doctor, so will just shove Tommy aside and do my own moaning and groaning. However, nowday's, they just tell you it's a cold and send you home. No more of those good antibiotics. They've become quite stingy with handing them out, but I do know the reason why!

Tom did keep his chiropractor appointment this morning though and I did get some exercise in by walking the dog over to the office and meeting Tom when he was finished. So, we did get out in the fresh air.

Happy Birthday to Patrick! Thought I'd forget about you, eh kid?

We all wish you nothing but the best for you today and the years ahead. I hope this year is extra special! Happy Birthday!

My neighbour in Belleville was telling me she has a guy come shovel for her and if I remember correctly, his going rate was $20.00 to shovel the driveway and he did a great job of it too. He's a little short, very fast walking fellow, somewhere in his 70's, I would guess. Edith, my old neighbour, was saying she had to get him 19 times this year! Wow!! He used to shovel out quite a few driveways too. Then he'd have to come back and shovel out what the plow threw back in and that was always the hardest part of all to remove, because it would be heavy chunks of snow and you'd have to lift it pretty high at the end of the driveway. He is really a marvel!! I used to get him also, until I met a guy who had a snowplow and he'd do it for me as a favour and a cup of coffee. (I can hear John and Lauren laughing from here!) Honestly, just a coffee and maybe a cookie! Then, the lad who I rented the apt. to in my basement, bought a snowblower and he loved to use it, so I really lucked out!! So did some of the neighbours, when he did their driveways for them too.

I had a friend tell me once she had sent a picture of this massive snowstorm we once had, to a friend of her's in Australia. It was a picture how it looked after her driveway had been shovelled. Her friend wrote back, astonished at the snow, but how did we get it to not snow in the driveways!! (Now, that's something stupid that I would likely ask, but thank goodness, there are other stupid people like me out there too!)

Tuesday is always a very noisy day around here. If it's not the garbage truck empting bins, it's the day this area must get a grooming. The noise of hedge and tree trimmers, and noisy leaf blowers are going. Across the way, the next apt. building is putting on a new roof. It's right level with our window and it's quite interesting watching how they haul the stuff up and all the work that goes into it. Behind us is another apt. building and they are getting their decks all re-built. The woman above us, is going to be moving in May and she's slowly packing and right now, she's taking apart a bed and the head board and rails just all fell. How do I know this...she just phoned and told me she was sorry for that banging noise! Yes, it's a noisy day in the neighbourhood!

I doubt if anything interesting to tell you about will take place today, because Tom is snoring, the cat is snoring and looks very comfy in her bed. TJ, just ran under my chair for protection, as she's terrified of things that go bump in the night and also daytime! I'm off to read my book and likely a snooze too. But, I'm also thinking of everyone at Loyalist today and wondering how they are.....ahhhh, poop, it's 6pm there now and everyone isn't hard at work!!! hahaha

My computer just did a burp for some reason (I swear something very moody lives in this laptop). It's in a bad mood quite often and it just re arranged this whole page, all of a sudden. So, I just tried putting it back together and deleted some script, so I guess this is it for today. This is why, there are sometimes big blanks between posts also....everytime I add a picture, I have to re-arrange it all, and I don't understand why the big gaps. I should go and read the help sections I suppose! This morning I was trying to put all my pictures from Picasa in correct folders. It's a great program (can download free from http://picasa.google.com/), but I was becoming very frustrated with it, again, only because I won't go look in help to see how it works properly!!Anyway, that's all folks.

Picture of the day:

A somewhat blurry picture of Peter, my son in law, married to Erin. He was out on business and came for a visit too. Here, he's hiding a letter box. What is a letter box, well, you will just have to go look at another site to find out. http://www.atlasquest.com/

or http://www.letterboxing.org

It's quite fun for the family and we've tried it ourselves and it takes us to places we would have never gone otherwise. Fun thing to do for a weekend and if you search the site in your area, there are probably lots hidden, here in Canada and the US.

Thought for the day: Okay...I have no thoughts and if I go find one, I'll screw this all up again and sleep and reading seems more urgent then spending more time on here for any longer. My eyes are slowly closing! Byeeee

RED HATTING ON SUNDAY

Pat, Linda and Rita
A row of red hats and purple outfits. That's Pat, Linda and Rita in the first picture.

Our weather here in BC has returned to rain and dreary looking. Not a nice day to be out, but we ventured to Horseshoe Bay to see the doctor. Tom has had a bad cold this past week that has increasingly been getting worse instead of better. What is it with men, that just don't like to go to the doctor? Anyway, he was having a hard time breathing, not getting any sleep at night (both of us), coughing so hard that his chest hurts, and just plain miserable! They gave him inhalers to help open up his lungs and that seemed to disagree with him, so we'll just have to try it again, when it's time for him to use it again and see, if it was the inhaler, or just the whole trip out. He had to have a chest x-ray as well, so he back in bed and trying to get comfortable.

I have a feeling that this time next week, I should be in full bloom with the same virus, as my throat is feeling a little scratchy right now.

Nothing else is really new to tell you about. I've been playing nurse and just having

a quiet day. I've been trying to sort out my photo's on the Picassa program and I

have so many on the computer and some how, many repeats. It's a long chore to sort them out.

So, I'm going to go made some soup for dinner and settle down tonight and just read my book. I'm reading "Eat, Pray, Love", right now. It's pretty good!

Picture of the Day:

Warningby Jenny Joseph
WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR PURPLE .With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me. And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter. I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells And run my stick along the public railings And make up for the sobriety of my youth. I shall go out in my slippers in the rain And pick the flowers in other people's gardens And learn to spit
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat And eat three pounds of sausages at a go Or only bread and pickle for a week And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry And pay our rent and not swear in the street And set a good example for the children. We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now? So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Taken from the bookWhen I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple

Ontario's snow

WINTER IN ONTARIO

Hi in Ontario to all you with sore backs and arms from lifting all that snow!

You know there are times, I get terribly homesick for good old home, but this weekend is certainly not one of them!!

I'm sending a few photo's Roxanne sent me from St. Catharines and one from my neighbour from where I lived in Belleville.

This is day one of the storm, at my sister Roxanne's in St. Catharines.

Well, Roxie, got one side cleaned out!

Ohhhh Man, I bet her back is aching now!!! But I think I see tracks of a snowblower, so she must of had help!

Yup! there's the crew!!

Ya gotta love those neighbours with snowblowers eh!

Day 2 of the storm and all that hard work, filled in AGAIN!

AWWWWW DAMN!!! Not again!

There is something about a snowstorm that many people here in BC don't understand, is the fun of a storm and all the neighbours getting out at the same time and working together as a team to get the job done. Everyone works together and nobody stops until everyone's driveway is cleared. It's really quite fun!!! Exhausting and a challenge to get it all done!!

53 Centimeters later! Cat doesn't think much of this!

Now over to Belleville, 3 hours East, along the 401 Corridor, where this is a shot from my neighbours window before the second storm hit!

There is a road out there someplace in the middle. Those snowbanks are getting higher and higher!

Well, that's it for today! No picture of the day or a poem on the delight of snow or how Spring has hit BC. I don't want to get myself killed. I hear another storm is on the way as well.

Happy Shovelling Everyone!!!

Note: Martin (Tom's son) mowed the lawn here today!!