Remembering Paul

Paul in Australia

Today Paul would have been 49 years old.  He was taken far too soon.  Paul suffered from depression, which he held from everyone he loved for far too long.  Depression in men is different than in women.  Women talk about depression, men don't.  They think they are weak, they are not!  Brain health is something underfunded by our government and when someone suffers it's hard to find the right resources.  Please watch the video below and share it with anyone who needs it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF172JMnLMA&feature=youtu.be

I miss him so much and see his sense of humour in Jack and his zest for life in Sam.

A good reason to have your DNA testing

Some stories just make you feel good.  I hear so much about the reasons why not to do your DNA, but here is a reason why.  What a heartwarming story:

She was left in a bag as a newborn, DNA testing helped her understand why

On a frigid December night in 1996, a young woman ducked into an apartment building in South Brooklyn and left a shopping bag in the foyer.

Inside was a 3-day-old girl, along with a remorseful, but tender, letter from the woman saying that said she hoped for a better home for her newborn daughter, Sarah, whose name was written in neat print.

That name, in similar careful print, is now tattooed on the wrist of 22-year-old Eleni Liff, a college student living in Manhattan.

“It’s a piece of my identity that connects me to my beginnings,” said Ms. Liff, whose abandonment in 1996 made headlines and caught the attention of a Manhattan couple aching to adopt a child.

They took her in and provided the kind of upbringing her birth mother — a struggling single parent with no health care — could not.

Eleni loved her adoptive parents but was obsessively curious about what happened to her when she was born.

By age 6, she had nearly memorized her birth mother’s note, which she often tucked under her pillow.


The letter — whose last line reads, “May the angels watch over you and may God forgive me’’ — also heightened the drama and mystery of her abandonment. Why would her mother do it? And whatever became of her biological parents?

So Ms. Liff did what many others have: she turned to DNA testing and the internet. She found answers, some happy and others heartbreaking, but the information was always revelatory.

Through the genetic testing company 23andMe, which says it has sold 10 million kits and that 95 percent of buyers have connected with relatives who are in its database, Ms. Liff found her parents.

Ms. Liff connected with a biological cousin who linked her with her biological father, Keith Cruz.

Mr. Cruz, 52, was from the Bensonhurst neighborhood in Brooklyn but had moved to Long Island where he lived with his wife and three children.

In February, Ms. Liff called Mr. Cruz after rehearsing with her boyfriend the various scenarios the conversation could take.

Mr. Cruz knew why Ms. Liff would be calling, but he could still not believe what she was telling him. He was so nervous to be speaking with the daughter he had never met, that he “almost fell down a flight of stairs.” But within moments, he said, “It was like I had spent every day with her — I felt instantly at ease.”

They arranged to meet recently near Ms. Liff’s apartment, at Tom's Restaurant, the diner of “Seinfeld” fame. He showed up with flowers, grabbed a booth near a window and held his breath as he watched her approach.

“My heart stopped,” recalled Mr. Cruz, a trash collector. “This 22-year-old girl — my daughter who I’d never seen before — was crossing the street. My heart was beating in my chest like a hammer. For that brief second, time seemed to stop.”

There were hugs, tears and chicken nuggets. They rejoiced at how similar they were, in appearance and demeanor, down to their mischievous wit.

“It was like speaking with someone I have known all my life,” he said. Within weeks, both their families had met and welcomed each other into their lives.

Mr. Cruz said he had a brief relationship with Ms. Liff’s birth mother in Brooklyn but never learned she was pregnant. Had he known he had a daughter, he said, “I would have definitely fought to keep her.”

Ms. Liff’s biological mother has been less welcoming. She has exchanged emails with Ms. Liff in recent weeks but has refused to meet her. She declined, in an email, to be interviewed for this article, citing what she said was enduring shame from the excruciating decision to give up her child.

Ms. Liff called the rebuff “crushing and disappointing,” especially given especially given the tender tone of her mother’s heartfelt two-page letter. In it, her birth mother described speaking to her in the womb and falling in love with her smile during their three short days together after her birth.

“The letter sounded like she wanted me in her life, but she’s been standoffish, partly because, from what I gather, it’s so overwhelming,” Ms. Liff said. “She said, ‘You’re the only one who can judge me harder than I can judge myself.’ I told her, ‘I forgive you and I’m not holding you to any standards.’”

But if her birth mother insists on keeping her distance, Ms. Liff has gained another family of sorts elsewhere — at the Brooklyn building where she was left. Using the original news articles that covered her abandonment, Ms. Liff found the address of the building, in Bensonhurst, and two years ago visited the spot where she was left in a small bare foyer under the building’s apartment buzzers. She left a note addressed to “The people who found me.”

When Annmarie Amato, 70, who still lives in the building, read the note she cried as hard as she did when she first read the letter tucked in with Eleni in the shopping bag on Dec. 7, 1996.

Her son, David Amato, then 19, had found the bag after a bit of serendipity — a usually reliable door lock suddenly became stuck, which gave him pause to glance down and spy a shopping bag topped with sweaters.

“I saw the bag move,” said Mr. Amato, now 41. “I picked it up figuring it was a kitten. I pulled off the sweaters, and lo and behold, there’s a baby underneath.”

Just then, he noticed a car peeling away outside — the birth mother recently told Ms. Liff she had remained outside, watching to make sure someone picked up the baby. The baby was wearing a diaper and a onesie and was wrapped in a sweatshirt, he said.

“I’m an animal lover, so I used to bring stray animals home,” he said. “But that was the first time I’ve come home with a human.”

The episode made a lasting impression on the Amatos and other neighbors. For them, Dec. 7 became a day to remember and wonder what ever happened to Baby Sarah.

Now Ms. Amato and Ms. Liff have formed a bond. Ms. Liff visits Ms. Amato on her birthday and is still listed in Ms. Amato’s cellphone as Baby Sarah, the name they called her in 1996. Back then, she said, her initial maternal impulse was to simply keep the baby, until a friend advised her to call the police, which attracted intense media attention.

In a press room at City Hall known as Room 9, Baby Sarah’s story caught the attention of Bob Liff, a New York Daily News reporter who had recently heard about a different baby abandoned in Brooklyn, which had prompted him and his wife, Lisa, to register as foster parents.

Now, serendipity had brought them another abandoned baby, one they were able to adopt. She came with a letter from her birth mother.

The couple kept Sarah as Eleni’s Hebrew name, to satisfy the birth mother’s request in the letter to “at least have Sarah as part of her name so she will have some link to her past.”

Ms. Liff said that by age 6, she began having recurring dreams in which she spoke to her birth mother and experienced being born in a bathtub. Her birth mother recently told her that, lacking health care and seeking privacy, she gave birth to her at home in the bath tub.

Ms. Liff said she struggled for years with depression. Growing up in crowded Manhattan, she would scour the faces on the streets for anyone who might resemble her.

“Growing up in New York City, you are surrounded by masses of strangers, and I’d look to see, ‘Does this person have my eyes?’” she recalled. “It got hard to look around because I’d think, ‘That woman looks like me.’”

“There were so many unanswered questions, and I would keep trying to piece things together,” said Ms. Liff, who aside from taking college classes also works at a shoe store on the Upper West Side.

Seeking out her birth parents and finding answers has been a “centering” experience, she said, despite the pain and disappointment.

“It’s really like my family has gotten larger.”

White Rock Update!

On Sunday, Nancy and I went to White Rock for a walk.  It was a beautiful day.  There were a lot of people walking the beach.

The replacement has started!

Signals for the pedestrian rail crossing.
They are 20 feet high.  The residents are not happy as the height is ridiculous!

Kayaking on the ocean

1938 Chevrolet
I don't know old cars, the license plate said it was a 1938 Chevrolet!

These Canadian geese are not spooked by walkers or joggers. 

The following updates have been provided by the White Rock Engineering Department. Please note all dates are estimates and subject to change.

MEMORIAL PARK
1. Washrooms should be open by this weekend.
2. Different railing options are currently being considered by the City Staff

RAILWAY CROSSINGS
1. All pedestrian rail crossings should be open by mid-June
2. After this is done, the City will apply to the Federal Government for a train whistle cessation. This is out of City control.

EAST BEACH PROMENADE
1. 98% complete
2. Should be open by mid-May (this didn't happen!)
3. Additional East Beach parking is being opened up
4. Access to East Beach is now open at the Finlay Crossing

PIER RECONSTRUCTION
1. 1st new pile driven in - May 17th 2019
2. The repair should be done and Pier open by Aug 31st 2019

WATER TREATMENT PLANT
1. Fully online as of April 2019
2. Arsenic and Manganese levels of treated water now below detection limits!

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

When Lexie was two years old, she went to Dr. Rees, a Pediatric Ophthalmologist.  I went with Cheryl the first time and Cec and I went another time when she was very small as both Cheryl and Dave couldn't get time off work.  She's been going continually since she was 2!

Yesterday, Lexie had an appointment and Cheryl had something important at work and had to be there.  So, I took Lexie back to Dr. Rees!  She is such a lovely lady.  Upon seeing Lexie, she said "I love your shoes".  Lexie had Michael Kors sandals on so Dr. Rees has great taste.

I won't drive downtown any more, so we took Skytrain.
Great seats, right up front.  Check out the Richmond skyline!

A gorgeous view from Dr. Rees Broadway office

Waiting for Dr. Rees

The temperature in Surrey yesterday was 26C/78.8F.  The buses and Skytrain are all air conditioned.  We had a nice walk from Broadway Skytrain station to the doctor's office.  We could have taken the bus, but it was a lovely day for a walk.

Fake news and doctored videos

On Friday, watching the doctored video of Nancy Pelosi was disturbing.  What made it more disturbing was I found it on Donald Trump's Twitter feed.  I watched the original untampered video and then the doctored one on the news Friday evening.  It was easy to see what they'd done to make her look hideous, but the fact the President of the United States posted it, knowingly, was beyond belief and a new low for him.  The fact Facebook and Twitter didn't remove it, makes one want to stop using Facebook and Twitter altogether.  I've stopped following Donald Trump but 60 million people still follow him.

Anyone can post anything on Twitter and unless you put profanity in the message, it publishes.  There is so much misinformation, I read it with a grain of salt.  Facebook isn't much better.  Social media is poising the public.  I remember when The National Enquirer would publish rubbish stories and put them at the check out counter of the supermarkets.  Many people believed those stories.

On Saturday, on CBC replayed The Fifth Estate, Series 44 Episode 6, where they showed the technology of how you can make any person say whatever you want.  This brings Fake News to a new level.

After I watched this show I thought no one will be able to tell what politicians and entertainers are saying on line is true.  If you have 22 minutes, watch this video, originally aired on CBC November 2018.

The Fifth Estate

Great animal photos...

Mary's Garden

Mary's Garden on 40th Avenue in South Surrey opened this week.  Yesterday, we went and it didn't disappoint.  They already have some of their own organic vegetables for sale.  Even the imported vegetables and fruits are great and cheaper than the super market.

From Mary's Facebook page:

Mary’s Own No Sprays bunch beets are ready and will be available in the store tomorrow 😋!!

Come by the farm and check out our fresh produce!!!

Our own lettuce and rhubarb are also available in our farm store as well as local nugget potatoes, local hot house tomatoes and cucumbers and many other local items!!!

I didn't buy the rhubarb because it needs so much sugar, but it looked good!

Their local lettuce is delicious!  As well as everything else they grow in their huge garden.

Mary's Garden has been selling produce to the community since 1966.  It's great to support a family business.

Policing in Surrey

In November 2018, Surrey, BC had a Civic Election.  There were seven candidates running for mayor and the former mayor, Doug Mc Callum (1996 - 2005) was elected.  I was shocked as anyone who lived here when he was mayor did not vote for him and did not want him.  We are a democracy and he won by 36% of the vote.  His platform was to scrap the light rail project and replace the RCMP with a City Police Force.  I did not vote for him.

In our province, to change the police force, you need Provincial Government approval.  We've been told a report that includes the transition costs was being prepared.  It was to be completed a couple of months ago but it kept being postponed.  It was released to the City Council members at a closed door meeting on Wednesday morning and then forwarded to Mike Farnworth, BC, Minster of Public Safety and Solicitor General.  

Yesterday the city held it's first "transition from RCMP to City Police consultation" at the Cloverdale Rec Center. Laurie and I went together ready to find out what the cost will be as it's been reported the cost will be much higher and will increase our taxes.  

Linda Annis and Brenda Locke, both City Councillors were at the consultation.  Every local TV station had a camera crew there and we sat with Marcella Bernardo with News 1130 radio.  We heard her record her news reports.  I spoke one on one with Brenda Locke.  I asked her out right if she could let me know what the cost will be to taxpayers and she said "I can't, however, I will say it's disturbing".

The city sent the report to the Solicitor General and has not released any information to the taxpayers that will absorb the cost of the transition and continue to pay the police in the future.

Mayor Doug McCallum said "I've been voted as mayor and everyone wants the RCMP to be replaced".  That is not true, but he thinks it is.  We should see the report, understand the costs and a referendum should be held!  He will not tell us and just wants it implemented.  According to the Peace Arch News, our city police force will be fully operational by July 2020.

Today at the Rec Center were a lot of concerned citizens.  There were plenty of city staff trying to sell this transition.  Everyone we talked to agrees the RCMP is doing an excellent job and unless a good reason for replacing them and a saving to the taxpayer, leave the RCMP in Surrey!

How can a city plan a change like this without giving the details to the taxpayers?  Both Linda Annis and Brenda Locke told us to email Mike Farnworth.  If you are concerned, please email him:

PSSG.Minister@gov.bc.ca

This vehicle was displayed in front of city hall.  It cost $9,000 to put decals on it!

Cloverdale Rec Center, lots of displays and city employees inside

The City of Vancouver has 1,285 officers.
  Surrey is larger with more citizens and has 835 officers.
Why don't we hire more RCMP officers?

We heard at the event the mayor does not have control of the RCMP.
If they change to a city force, they will have a police board.
We asked if they would be elected or appointed and they wouldn't give us an answer!

Here is an recap of RCMP Governance & Accountability

The RCMP provides policing service to the City of Surrey through a Municipal Police Unit Agreement (MPUA) which is negotiated between the province and municipality, and a Police Services Agreement which is negotiated between the Province and Federal government. The current agreements for Surrey have 20-year terms, running from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2032. The MPUA has a two year opt out provision that provides for regular reviews during the term of the agreement.

These agreements outline the duties and responsibilities of the RCMP and the City in financial, operational, and administrative areas. The City of Surrey establishes the level of police resources, budget and policing priorities for Surrey in consultation with the province and RCMP. The Surrey RCMP is then responsible for delivering on the policing priorities within the established budget and with the resources that have been allocated. The Detachment's Strategic Framework is developed to align detachment activities and deployment of resources with key policing priorities identified by our staff, partners and stakeholders.

The Surrey RCMP Officer in Charge reports to the Mayor of Surrey on matters relating to the implementation of objectives, priorities and goals of the detachment. The MPUA states that the local government is to have input into policing priorities to further the detachment’s accountability to the City and its residents. The Officer in Charge provides updates and consults regularly with the City’s Public Safety Committee on policing priorities, crime statistics and trends, and community policing initiatives.

The Officer in Charge is also a member of the City’s Senior Management Team (SMT) which is led by the City Manager and meets regularly to discuss City-wide issues and generate solutions to corporate administrative or operational problems. The Surrey RCMP also contributes to a number of City of Surrey strategies including the Sustainability Charter and Public Safety Strategy.

RCMP police officers receive training that is considered a best practice internationally; it fully prepares them to police in both urban and rural areas across Canada. The Surrey RCMP is often looked to by police agencies around the world for how it tackles major urban issues including public safety issues surrounding homelessness, and gang and gun prevention.

RCMP officers are not transferred out of detachments automatically; they have the opportunity to apply for positions in different detachments/Divisions at various points in their careers to gain broader policing expertise. Our members spend an average of seven years in Surrey but many choose to stay here for much longer, and many opt to return to Surrey after gaining experience in other cities.

Our police officers care deeply about the community they police. Approximately 38% of our police officers live in Surrey, and approximately 86% live in Surrey or a neighbouring community.

So true

White Rock Pier - repair has started!

Great picture from above of the pier.

White Rock's iconic pier, which was badly damaged in December's violent windstorm, is slated for some modern upgrades once it's repaired.  A section of the pier collapsed after being hammered by loose boats in a severe windstorm on Dec. 20, 2018. Gusting wind tore the boats loose and sent them crashing into the 104-year-old pier.

Technical drawings show the surface of the repaired pier will lately look the same with wood planks, steel decorative arches and lights lining the path.

A technical side-by-side comparison of the existing White Rock pier with plans for the repaired section.

The repairs are expected to be complete by the deadline of July 31, 2019. If the successful contractor is able to get it done 28 days prior to July 15, they could be eligible for a $112,000 bonus.

In January, Mayor Darryl Walker said he hoped to see the pier reopened by the end of summer.

Mystery solved!

My late mother-in-law told us about the King of England coming to stay with them at their home in Ebeneezer Saskatchewan.  She said she was young and her mother really cleaned the house for this dignitary.  I was skeptical, however, I went to the library and searched Royal Visits by King of England between 1915 - 1930 and found nothing.  That was many years ago. 

At the family reunion a couple of years ago it came up again.  Someone said "somewhere there is a picture", but we never got a copy or heard any more.  Many of the cousins heard the same story. 

Cec and I were visiting his first cousin, Donald, and Rodney, Donald's son, had a history book that showed a picture of their grandfather and Edward, Prince of Wales hunting in the Qu'Appelle Valley! 

I started searching once again as now I had more information, not a king, but Prince and a better idea of what year.  It's much easier at home on a computer!  I found the following:

The Prince’s Canadian tour began on August 11, 1919, when his ship arrived at Newfoundland. It ended on November 10, when he left Canada by train to begin his visit to the United States. His Canadian itinerary took him to many cities across the country. Canadians gathered in cities, towns and villages along the route to see the Prince.

Son of George V, Edward became Prince of Wales in 1911. When his father died in January 1936, he became King Edward VIII but abdicated 10 months later. After his abdication, he was given the title Duke of Windsor.

Edward, Prince of Wales and Christoph Dreger duck hunting, October 1919

1919 Tour of Canada

The visit of the Prince of Wales to Canada in autumn 1919 was one of the first major cross-Canada events covered by the motion picture newsreels. Library and Archives Canada has preserved silent film of the event, including the film entitled Britain’s Future King. 

You Tube 1919 Visit

I saw another picture of the duck hunting trip on the link below, but only the Prince is in the picture.

Photos of his visit

Gorgeous day to go into town!

Yesterday was beautiful weather.  It was sunny and warm and two ships were at Canada Place.  One of my friends was on the Celebrity Eclipse leaving for seven days in Alaska. 

West Cordova Street looking east
Building on the left is the historic Sinclair Center

Celebrity Eclipse
I've been on her twice, and she's a lovely ship!

Vancouver Convention Center and Stanley Park

I love walking beside the ships and watching the passengers on their balconies!
Great day to sail out of Vancouver Harbour

What a great sign!

Victoria the series

ITV in the UK produced the series "Victoria".  They allowed PBS air it in North America and I believe earlier episodes are available on Netflix.  This drama features an all-star cast including Jenna Coleman as a young Queen Victoria and Tom Hughes as Prince Albert. The monarch's life is chronicled as the story begins with the death of King William IV in 1837, her accession to the throne at the tender age of 18 and her relationships with the influential forces around her. With the advice of the prime minister Lord Melbourne and the support of her husband Prince Albert the young queen flourishes and establishes herself in her newfound role.

I have really enjoyed all the episodes.  So far three series have been aired, and it looks like a fourth season will be in production shortly.

Happy Victoria Day, if your Canadian or Scottish

This weekend we celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday.  This year she would have been 200!  For some, Victoria Day is a sign that summer is just around the corner. The holiday, which is only celebrated in Canada and Scotland, began as a celebration to honour Queen Victoria’s birthday.

The British queen was born on May 24, 1819. She was a reigning monarch (Queen) for 63 years, seven months and two days.

Victoria Day was declared a Canadian holiday by the government in 1845.

At that time, it was celebrated with picnics, parades, sporting tournaments, fireworks and cannon salutes.

When Queen Victoria died in 1901, Canada’s parliament officially named the holiday Victoria Day.

It was decided that the day would be celebrated on May 24th each year (or on May 25th if the 24th fell on a Sunday).

In 1952, the government made the decision to begin celebrating Victoria Day on a Monday. It would be observed on May 24th if that worked out, otherwise, it would be held on the Monday immediately before it.

Today, Victoria Day is a holiday throughout most of Canada and the day is marked in most cities with parades, outdoor events and activities like camping and elaborate firework displays.  In Cloverdale, where we live there is 4 day rodeo!   It's in it's 73rd year and is one of the largest in North America.

2019 Rodeo Performance Schedule

Five Rodeo Performances with Finals

• 7:30 pm Friday – May 17th (POOL A)
• 2:30 pm Saturday – May 18th (POOL A)
• 7:30 pm Saturday – May 18th (POOL B)
• 2:30 pm Sunday – May 19th (POOL B)
• 2:30 pm Monday – May 20th (Rodeo Finals)

Rodeo event schedule for Friday, Saturday & Sunday performances

• Bareback Riding
• Ladies Barrel Racing
• Specialty Act / Recording Artist – Jada McKenzie Moore
• Saddle Bronc Riding
• Mutton Bustin
• Ladies Barrel Racing
• Rodeo Clown Act
• Bull Riding

Rodeo event schedule for Monday Finals

• Bareback Riding / winner presentation
• Specialty Act / Recording Artist – Jada McKenzie Moore
• Saddle Bronc Riding / winner presentation
• Rodeo Clown Act
• Ladies Barrel Racing / winner presentation
• Mutton Bustin
• Corgi Races
• Bull Riding / winner presentation

On Friday, Lexie had a drama rehersal for her upcoming performance, so I didn't meet her at the casino parking lot as she didn't finish until 4:30.  I went direct to the school to pick her up.  It was a good thing as they were charging everyone $10 CASH to park your car at the Casino!  Lexie's school borders on the grounds of the Cloverdale Rodeo.  The reason I pick her up at the Casino parking lot, is because trying to get close to the school parking lot when school dismisses is horrendous!  Tara told me many people go to the Casino parking lot.  A short walk for Lexie, and a much easier place to park with a stop light so I don't have problems exiting.

It looks like the weather will be good for the rodeo this weekend. 

Golf jokes

These are good ... And funny too.