@ourfingertips

Do you know someone who needs an update to a tired old website? Do you know someone who is starting up a new business and needs a website period? @ourfingertips helps small business and member driven organizations manage, develop, and market their web based operations

Let us help you make the most of the technology at our fingertips For as little as $25 per month you can delegate the responsibility of managing your websites, emails, and related services to a dedicated professional genuinely interested in your success who works with you to ensure you are getting the best possible value for your investments. Your Web Management Solution saves you money, simplifies your operations, and makes sure you stand out above your competition. This is the only solution you need as it includes all fees for analytics, databases, domains, emails, hosting, SEO, and updates so your website and related services are always current and available. Plus you receive unbiased professional advise so you always know your best options for how to improve your website and grow your web based operations. It all begins with your Web Management Solution, once you have this everything else is a matter of progress. When engaged your dedicated Web Manager will call you immediately to determine the best course of action by discussing your goals, your situation, and your resources - a 30 minute conversation is typically all that is needed to get things moving in the right direction. Maybe you want to send and receive your emails using your phone, maybe you want a better way for you and your staff to update your website, maybe you want a new website, maybe you want more visitors to your website, maybe you want to convert more visitors into customers or members, maybe you want a better way of processing your orders and payments and application forms, maybe you have questions, maybe you just want it done already... getting what you want is as easy as sending an email or calling your Web Manager. Your Web Manager will work efficiently to put your ideas into action, will email you the step-by-step instructions, will walk you through every step over the phone, will update your website and related services while you are on the phone, will show you how to make updates and changes yourself, will make suggestions and quote your options, will answer your questions and explain how things work so you are better informed and can make better decisions.

Hear me Roar!

I finished the magazine article that I was asked to write... feels good. I'm happy with it - now I wait to see what "nips and tucks" are made by the editor.

Below is a sneak peak at my unedited - well not counting my edits - version. Later when the final comes out I will post that too, so as to compare :)

Enjoy!!

Modern woman; I think I am one – and I’m sure that many of you reading this think that you are too. But are we really?

Where does this idea of the modern woman come from? Society of course. We listen to our family and friends, we watch shows on TV and we read articles in magazines; all of which portray what the “modern” woman should be. The idea of the modern woman really hasn’t changed that much over the years. If you watch Mad Men you see modern women of the 1960’s venturing out into the work force, seeking independence from men – all while trying to land the right one to marry so they can settle down and not work anymore. Flash forward to Sex in the City in the 2000’s and you see Carrie Bradshaw expressing her modern womanhood. Working and writing about the trials and tribulations of a single girl, living and dating in New York City. Through all her modern ways and desires… she still wants to find the right man and so do her friends.

What of the woman who doesn’t want to get married or have children? It seems that even in 2012, she’s an oddity. Women are allowed to be modern, just as long as they still fit within the idea of the societal norm.

In my twenties the idea of getting married and having children wasn’t on my mind, at least not in the sense of, “Oh how complete my life will be to have a husband and then a baby.” I felt quite the opposite of that and I endeavoured to put all serious thoughts of marriage and having babies on hold until I was thirty. Surely by thirty I would have my career set and would have found a serious and committed relationship to settle into.

Before I knew it, the impossible thirty arrived. Impossible because when you’re twenty, thirty seems very far away – old even. When you actually are thirty (now I’m almost thirty-five) you see just how ridiculous that is! For one thing, thirty is not old and for another I wouldn’t go back to being twenty for anything, except maybe for my tighter abs… Anyways, I feel much more comfortable in my skin at thirty-four, than I did at twenty-four. I digress.

At thirty it seemed that all my friends were getting married and I felt like Bridget Jones in the scene from the first movie where she goes to dinner at her friends place only to find that she is the only single woman there. I began to feel like I was part of a dying breed. I tried to get into the whole weddings are fun thing – But I just couldn’t do it… I hate wedding planning and showers. I hate all the formalities and protocol of wedding do’s and don’ts. Most of all hate all I hate those silly games that are played at showers – they make me want to run for the hills. To this day, if I am invited to a shower I do my damndest to get out of it. Invite me if you must, just know that I have something else to do that day… Best of luck though!! And don’t worry, I will still get you that blender or diaper genie thing you have on your registry.

Now that you know that I hate wedding pomp and circumstance you may be surprised to know that I did it all myself. I’m a hypocrite. Well not quite… I did refuse a shower and I turned my nose to having a receiving line. Nonetheless I caved. I caved to my well meaning friends and family who asked why I didn’t want to get married or have kids. I caved to the images that the media fills the airwaves and magazines with – happy families and married couples. I even ditched my commitment phobic, late night booty call “boyfriend.” I had purpose!

In no time I hooked my fish and I turned a flicker of a flame into a full blown house on fire. In less than two years we were married because we loved each other and we had potential.  Everything would be great! But, it wasn’t and in less than two years we separated.

I sent him packing and I sat in the house - the house that I had bought on my own, and cried. How stupid I had been. All the signs had been there before we were married but I refused to acknowledge them. My ex talked a good game but never had any follow through. He talked about wanting to get a better job to help support us but it was me working full-time with an extra job on the side trying to keep it all afloat. He sat home playing video games, working a part-time job and building debt that I didn’t even know about until it was too late.

My stress level went through the roof and we argued constantly but I kept hoping that it would get better. Until then I could hold it all together because that’s what women do. I could work two jobs, keep the house, keep the man and have kids. I plugged ahead, until one day I just couldn’t do it anymore. Enough was enough and my life flashed before my eyes. There I was, stressed out with bills mounting, barefoot, pregnant and trapped with a man who loved playing games and spending money without regard for anyone else.

It was right then and there that my marriage ended.

What was mine before marriage became “ours” and what was my ex’s (including his hidden debt) also became “ours.” Every step I made to make things right and not lose everything resulted in his gain and my loss. I was forced to sell the house - it was the “matrimonial home.” It was the one thing that made me feel that I had earned something, that I could do things on my own. I felt like a failure but I moved forward - It had to be done.

Never to be one to stay negative for too long I began to think of the positives. While I had lost a lot, I did still gain back myself and I discovered what it was that I really wanted all along from a relationship - a partner. Someone who would stand by me through thick and thin, washing dishes, health scares, financial woes, and episodes of

Coronation Street

.

Three years on, I have found my partner and though he may not openly admit it, he enjoys watching

Coronation Street

. He puts a good face on about it anyways, just like I do when we watch football. That’s what it’s about though - give and take. He is his own man and I am free to be as modern a woman as I want to be.

If I had known that I would live happily ever after as the childless, common-law wife of a separated man with two kids (teenage girls no less) I would have done it long ago.

I am a modern woman – hear me roar!

Sophia is coming to life in Tobermory, ON

A little update on sweet Sophia... she is starting to take shape - and Minnie too!! Can't wait to see what Michael Marcotte has created - whatever it is I'm sure it will be fantastic :)

In the meantime if you are making your way up to Tobermory stop into the Parks Canada Visitor Information Centre and check out a couple of Mike's sculptures that are there on display...

http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/on/bruce/activ/activ4.aspx

then head to his gallery -  Apollo Art Gallery - located just outside of town...

http://www.apolloartproductions.com/

after that have him take you diving out of Diver's Den...

http://www.diversden.ca/

and to wash it all down with a pint at the Crow's Nest!!

http://www.crowsnestpubanddeli.com/

and as for Sophia... I look forward to meeting you.

Stay tuned!

A Wish for Danu

To: Maya, Zachary and Jack - May all your wishes come true! Love Fae.
_________________________________________________________

Sometimes one simple wish can be all that is needed to put into action a change that will be good for everyone. One person, or one fairy, can make a difference and on this night, one little fairy was hoping to do just that.

Fluttering through the sky at twilight made it look as though Fae were dancing among the stars. Fae is a fairy from Danu, which is a beautiful natural place that exists right here on earth. Sadly it is a place that seems to grow smaller and smaller everyday.

While fluttering through the sky, swishing past the leaves of trees and sweeping soft clouds from her cheeks, Fae tried hard to concentrate on the stars in the sky. She was trying to find the perfect one to wish on.

Found @: http://www.flickr.com/photos/picture-perfect-designs-jewelry/3360746443/in/pool-transportofdeligh

A wishing star is sometimes hard to find, especially in these times when there is so much pollution from cars and factories. Fae had to strain her eyes in search of one that twinkled, or better yet, one that went shooting across the sky. Shooting stars were considered the best to wish on because it seemed that every time you wished on one of those, your wish was certain to come true.

Finally as the sky was becoming darker and darker Fae saw her perfect shooting star. She rested down on a nearby rose and stared at it for a moment. She closed her eyes and said;

“Oh little shooting star

On this night I wish to you;

Please send a dream near and far,

To every child and grown-ups too!

Let them dream of Danu.

So full of beauty and of life,

A place where love is renewed;

Where there is no worry of ruin or strife

And when they wake

Let them remember to be true.

Let them save this land for their sake,

And for mine too.

This little shooting star,

Is my wish – my wish to you.”

Fae opened her eyes and to her surprise the star was still shooting through the sky.  Surely, she thought, it should have gone from sight by now?! But it hadn’t and instead it seemed to stop moving altogether. The star began to shine brighter and brighter until it was so bright that Fae had to close her eyes. Even with her eyes closed she could still sense the brightness of the star growing ever more. Just when she thought she could take no more, she heard a popping noise and the bright light faded. Then something fell at her feet. When she opened her eyes she saw the most beautiful blue crystal and as she went to pick it up a hand appeared and took hold of hers. Fae stopped in surprise.

 

“Hello Fae” said a strange voice. “I’m Zack and I have a message to share with you.”

Fae sat back in her flower seat – Zack was a fairy that she had never seen before. He was tall for a fairy and he was dark, with a silvery blue colour to his skin, hair and eyes.

“My message” he said, “is one of hope. I heard your wish and I am your star. That crystal is a part of me and I give it to you so that you may wish upon it whenever you like. As long as your wishes are true and pure they will always come true.” Zack’s eyes sparkled like the night sky and Fae thought for a moment that he was kind of cute for a star.

“Thank you Zack, I will be sure to only use my best wishes for this wonderful gift you have given me!” As Fae said this she held out her hand and let the crystal shine. Using magic Zack made the crystal into a necklace and fastened it around her neck. Fae held it between her fingers and again said “Thank you.”

“I must be leaving now.” Said Zack, “but I will return to visit you Fae. Please know that you are not the only one who wishes to see Danu strong and healthy again.” He smiled and then in a flash he was gone, shooting across the sky once more.

 

The next morning when Fae woke-up she wondered if the night before had all been a dream. It was then that she remembered her new necklace and she smiled as she held it in her tiny hand.

Yawning and stretching, Fae peeked out the window of her humble fairy home high atop an evergreen tree. On this bright and sunny morning Fae noticed that she didn’t see quite so much smog as she normally did. She couldn’t hear the rumblings of the nearby city and when she looked down she saw people! She could see children, their parents and grandparents. They were enjoying the nature that was all around them.  Fae could hear these families talking about the future and how they would be more kind to nature – they would recycle, drive their cars less and the children even said that they would watch less TV and go play outside more.

Fae even heard a young girl named Maya as she wished with all her might, “Friend of Fae I am I may. Save Danu for me and you!”

Fae’s heart filled with joy as she and her other fairy friends gathered together at the top of their evergreen tree. They smiled as they felt stronger. They could see all the colours of the earth growing brighter all around them.

Fae held tight to her necklace because it was then that she knew that her wish had come true! She also knew that she had many more heartfelt and pure wishes to make so that Danu would be safe forever - for everyone!

~End~

At last

It's not worth it
not one stitch
a wink or a blink

http://sadia-tabbasum.blogspot.ca/2009/09/new-beginning.html

Sink in time
a rhyme of mine
through idle minds

Finds a life
Rushing past
So fast

Vast the abyss
of forever
Never say never

Clever is the design
the intricate web
Alone in my head

Dead as a life
unused and sad
Wake-up!

Shake up
Break out

At last.

It’s a Glandular thing

"One of the most perplexing stories of this past decade has been the increase in thyroid disease. Back in 2000, experts were still claiming that an estimated 13 million Americans had thyroid conditions. Now, the most conservative estimates indicate that some 27 million Americans have thyroid disease, and some calculations suggest that as many as 60 million Americans -- 1 in 5 -- have a thyroid condition.
At the same time, we also have an increase in the rate of thyroid cancer -- particularly in women -- making it one of the only cancers that is actually on the rise in the U.S."

·         To see the full article, which includes some theories as to why there is such an increase in Thyroid conditions, disease and cancer visit: http://thyroid.about.com

When I first learned that I had a problem with my Thyroid I asked my doctor if there were any diets, foods or natural treatments I could go on or try in effort to help support its proper function. She said no. Flat out no.

Now some time has passed and I am now told that my whole Thyroid must be removed and I will be placed on “Synthroid” – a prescribed synthetic medication that I will have to take for the rest of my days. It will balance the hormones in my body – and will hopefully work better than my thyroid was before. Sounds great . . . right :S Still I worry – I really hate the idea of being on a synthetic medication for the rest of my life . . . If I have to, I have to. But surely, there must be a diet or natural remedy(s) out there that I can use to back-up the medication – maybe even cut down on the amount of medication I will need to take.

To be completely honest :S my biggest fear with the whole “thyroid” thing right now is not so much the surgery itself or the fact that I might have the dreaded “C” word – it’s how my life will change after all of that – namely: How fat could I get . . . and without even trying?

Vain – Yes. And I’m not afraid to admit it. I feel that I’m not afraid of having to go through the surgery or being diagnosed with thyroid cancer – I know I can survive all that. Mentally I know that I can deal with that. However – having to battle weight and the serious attack to my self-esteem that will cause (potentially) – the depression and anxiety that would go along with it . . .

I have battled weight and body issues my whole life – and depression and anxiety – like so many women (and men too) out there past and present.

I have come so far – and I don’t want to go back there again!

Some may read this and think how absolutely stupid it is for me to think this way. I should be lucky to have my life and I shouldn’t be so stupid to care about something as superficial as some weight gain. I agree – I am happy everyday to be here and to be living, and I will be grateful for everyday that comes to me in the future. But I have to say, that I want those days to be healthy and happy days where I am in the best shape both mentally and physically that I can be. I would also like those days to be filled with as little “synthetic” medication as possible.  Is that too much to ask?

I know that fat doesn’t automatically mean unhealthy and some people are quite happy in their skin, no matter their size. That’s fine and to each their own – that is not me and I don’t want that. I don’t want to be fat. I don’t want to have to say that I am overweight because I have a thyroid condition. What I want to say is that I have a thyroid condition, disease or cancer and I am still able to keep my weight and health in control.  I want to say that yes, there is a healthy alternative, that when combined with modern medicine, can help make a healthy, happy me.

It is my belief that the world of modern medicine at this time is failing those that suffer with Thyroid disease – at least the doctors I am dealing with so far are failing me in not knowing what to say when I ask if there is a natural alternative or addition to my lifestyle that I can make to help myself. So I intend to change that and I will try to learn from others out there who have found remedies, created diets and created recipes using foods that work in the treatment and/or balance of their Thyroid disease.

What I learn I will practice and I will share it with you – tips, treatments, recipes, natural remedies, foods and supplements.

. . . now, that said - I better find that I can still have my red wine! . . .

"Alcohol May Prevent Thyroid CancerStudy finds a beneficial relationship, though the exact mechanism remains unclear"

Source: http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/41303

PHEW!!!! Good enough for me ;)

Cheers all and good night!!

Dear Thyroid . . .

Don't even think for a second that you are going to get me - to bring me down. You won't win. I'm stronger and no matter what it is that you think you can throw at me - cancer, hashimotos, graves, anxiety, weight gain, anemia -

you can shove it.

In fact I already have plans to get rid of you, but first I have to find out exactly how bad you think you might be . . . either way you are out.

So kiss your ass goodbye.



I know (now) that you've been lurking around for years - nudging me with anxiety, miscarriage and weight ups and downs. Not until recently did you get the guts to show your face with not one, but five nodules.


(Funny T-shirt, sold on some Throid info sites.)

You have given me no other choice - surgery. And while that will be completely unpleasant - it's what I have to do and if you bring cancer, as you might, I will deal with that too - and I will win.

Thyroid, you’re a bully! And you have scared me . . . but only for a moment. The more I learn the more I am able to fight you - just like the countless thousands of others who also fight you every day.


(who ever thought I was well-balanced . . . certainly not now - lol - well maybe I'll be even better than before!)

I believe that you have come here for a reason . . . I am to learn something from this and I will be stronger because of you.  You will not bring me down.

We are at war you and I . . . and we meet again on May 4th . . . funny how you choose my Dad's birthday to let me know whether you are cancer or not. Touché!