Love and Healing for LIZA!

It is strange and frightening what happens in life. We like to think we have control; we don't! We like to think we can move through life with routine and predictability, but then life throws a curve ball! We like to think that the one's we love will always be there and will always be safe, and this too is not always the case.

Enjoying life and doing the things we love is something we tend to take for granted. Although realistically we know bad things happen, it's not a constant thought in our minds until it happens to us, or someone close.

The leader of the pack... a motorcycle pack... Liza is ours. She is the oldest and most experienced rider, and with her light hearted and fun personality can assemble a group of people for an event or a party in a heartbeat. She has so many friends, people who love her with a genuine spirit. She touches so many people more deeply than she could ever realize.

Liza was about to join one of the biggest of motorcycle packs for an experience like no other. Dykes on Bikes traditionally lead the pride parades, and San Francisco can have as many as 450-500 bikes. Liza was headed there to participate in the festivities when the worst fear of every biker came to fruition; a crash.

Liza's number one Angel, watching over her for the last 22 years, was with her in that moment when the 5 ton truck came into her lane without shoulder checking and knocked her into the air at 110KPH, or about 70MPH. As she sailed through the air watching her bike continue down the highway end over end, her Angel surely picked her out of the sky and placed her down as gently as she could. As a result, Liza has no internal or head injuries... a miracle. It is a miracle she survived. She is, however, badly broken.

Death wasn't in the cards, thankfully, nor all the other things that could and should have been, but weren't. The officer on the scene went to the emergency room and told Liza directly, "You should be dead!"

"Serendipity," Liza always says, everything happens for a reason. She wasn't meant to go to California right now, there is something else for her. She wasn't meant to die either, yet the experience of being in the air, and knowing she was needing to land, gave her a clear sense of it being the end. It was not. Her Angel confidently guiding the outcome.

Behind her on that highway witnessing everything... in one car a paramedic; in another car a cop. All instantly on the scene jumping into action, caring, helping, comforting, reassuring. Placed there at the right time... no coincidence.

Shredded leather, no road rash, life saving helmet. It was cool weather, so Liza wore all her gear. We always wear our gear, Liza does not. She did on June 14th, and will forever more. A poster child for her brand of helmet the medics tell her. They cut it off and her head is perfect. A concrete barricade two feet high, now bearing a trail of helmet paint, saves her from being projected into oncoming traffic; life saving. Thank you BC department of highways!

Scared to ride again she tells me. I know. I look at my bike in the garage and wonder... could it be me? Could it be Tanya? Would we survive like Liza? I shake the thought from my head and vow to ride soon before the fear takes hold. Liza too will ride again; I have faith. Maybe all together... San Francisco Pride 2009. Safety in numbers!



Camera phone picture from the hospital.


The ANGEL watching Liza from above.


Me with Liza in 2002.


This was the beginning of my love of riding.


Bike show 2003. Liza did buy this bike :o)


Dolphin - A symbol of healing. Mexico 2004.


ANOTHER new bike! July 2005. Who knew then that this would be the bike she crashed on?


Us again!


In true Liza form! Vancouver Pride 2005.


Always celebrating something. Celebrate life!


Justin and Liza - May 2007. New life; pure love.


Liza with my partner, Tanya, at our house warming party - June 9th 2007


Housewarming. Annie, Tanya and Liza.


Calgary Pride - June 10th 2007. Four days before the crash.


Celebrating Pride June 10th 2007

We love you Liza... heal and be whole, and depend on us to support you all the way. We want you back in our city and sharing our home while you recover. We miss you and hope you can come back soon.

My Channel

I have now posted video on You Tube to share with you all who are so far away and don't get to see me in person. This is fun, and now you can have A Pinch of My Life.

What We Call the News!

This says it all!

I love it!!!

Our New House

Tanya and I bought our first house together. We are so excited, and we are counting the days until we move in on March 15th/16th.

It is even sweeter given that we live in a main floor bungalow with the tenants from HELL in the basement. We are so thrilled to be leaving and can only imagine the peace and privacy we will have after putting up with them for 2 years.

Here are a few pictures:

SOLD

THE FRONT

THE BACK

LIVING ROOM

KITCHEN

OPEN FLOOR PLAN

We plan to have a lot of fun with paint colors and home decor, and we have already ordered a couch/loveseat/coffee table suite, and an area rug and some art for the living room because the furniture we have now will be upstairs in the media room. I will post some 'after' pictures when we are settled in.

I Run For Life

I am doing well on my running program. I did have to take a week off for a hamstring injury, and it was very hard not to go out and run. After that week I repeated week 3 which was 1.5 minute run and 2 minute walk x8. This week I am running strong with 7 rotations of 2 minute run and 2 minute walk.

I am taking glucosamine for my joints, and I ice any feeling of discomfort in my hamstring. I stretch well after a run and I warm up before. It helps to wear tights under my running pants on really cold days, and I bought YakTrax to put on my properly fitted runners so I don't have to step so tentatively causing muscle strain. They grip well, and I am very happy with them. They allow me to step confidently in the snow and ice.



YAKTRAX

Perspective on War

I couldn't help but wonder if this soldier has babies of his own. Iraqi children are the same as our children... Imagine the suffering! War? Why?

The war has done worse things to Iraq than Saddam ever did. With all the "intelligence" in America, couldn't they have come up with an alternative?

God help us all. God bless those little children who suffer over there. God bless the children here who are losing parents daily. Again, I say WHY?

CLICK PICTURE TO READ TEXT

England and France

First post: October 17/06
Second addition: October 24/06
Third addition: November 04/06

Please check out many more photos on flickr by double clicking the picture window in the top right hand corner of this page.

After a relaxing yet active summer with new friends, old friends, new babies, and my sweet "B" of course, we went on a fall holiday to England and France.

My Dad celebrated his 70th birthday and I was blessed to celebrate with him in the country where I was born and raised until the age of 11 years.


As with most things I documented everything in pictures. I took over 800 pictures in 2 weeks, as well as some video. Of course I will not be posting them all, but here are a few, and I will post more on Flickr.

Southern England countryside from the air.

Landed in Newquay in the South of England

We flew to Manchester and had a wait before we got our bmibaby flight to Newquay. Flights within Europe are very cheap if booked online with bmibaby or Ryanair. Some as cheap as the equivalent of $2.00 plus taxes. Our flight wasn't that cheap, but we still got 2 flights for about $100.00 including taxes fees and charges. The flights were about $30 each with $20 in taxes, fees and other charges. You can get the same kind of flights to almost anywhere in Europe.

My oldest sister, Catherine, and Dad's dog Cassy.

Catherine and my Dad picked us up from the Newquay airport after a journey beginning about 16 or 17 hours earlier (including stopover between flights). We were exhausted and excited after not seeing each other for 8 years (siblings) and 2 years (Dad and Lyn).

Dad picked us up in the camper van in order to accommodate us and our luggage. Cars in England are small, and roads are very narrow, so for 4 people, a dog, and luggage, there would have been no room in their small car.

There is a lot of history in Bodmin, Cornwall where my Dad has lived for over 30 years, and I once lived.

This church is magnificent. Check it out here.

Below are some artistic shots I took on the church property.

We also visited a military museum.

The 1800's British soldier uniform that eventually became the North West Mounted Police uniform; now known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ... and Tanya eh?

The colours of the 32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot 1844 - 1866

Added October 24, 2006

My Dad has been a part of the Trigg Morris Men for more than 30 years. This traditional British folk dancing is a huge part of his life and encompasses tradition, culture, music, friendships and exercise. The men are great, and if ever you need a good laugh, you just have to listen in to the banter that occurs between this long time dance team as they perform without missing a beat. My Dad is the washboard player; her also sings and dances.

This gig took place in a little village called Blisland.

Dad (center) and Tanya (right).

Dad (center) and Me (right).

Us Three.

The Village Sign.

If anyone has seen the comedy series, Little Britain, you will have heard the joke that according to British law there is one pub for every 5 people. Well, not to far from the truth! There are a lot of pubs, and as of yet there are no smoking laws to protect us non smokers. The upside is that doors are open and music is loud, so we were able to enjoy the jam session part of the night from outside in the fresh air.

Tanya outside looking into the pub!

Me sitting on the picnic table looking into the pub as the Morris Men sang for the crowd.

Added November 4th 2006

The countryside in southern England is lush and green. Take a short drive from any town or village and you will find yourself in rolling hills and green meadows as far as you can see.

Me in the meadow.

With Dad.

Beyond the beautiful green is the ocean.

The roadways between towns, and the streets within towns, can be VERY narrow. Vehicles are small, but cars and pedestrians have to make way so one can pass through at a time. Surprisingly, unlike the typical North American me first, get out of my way attitude, everyone manages to be polite about sharing the narrow spaces.

This is a reasonably wide road... you will notice it even has a center line!

This was entering the Cornish village of Boscastle. This beautiful village suffered a devastating flood in 2004.

Yes, those cars are legally parked. If something comes the other way, one vehicle will pull over and let the other pass.

Even the pedestrians step aside. Notice the pretty ivy covered house ahead.

Boscastle.

Beautiful gardens and cobblestone streets.

Historic buildings.

In The Old Mill you can shop for books, toys, antiques and leather products.

The Old Water Mill.

Pride Celebrations

Yesterday the Gay Pride Parade kicked off our 16th annual pride week celebrations. I am starting this entry with a picture I took at the end of the day because so often the religious-self-righteous are too quick to tell us how wrong and bad we are, and how we are an abomination to God.

The rainbow flag has been the pride symbol since 1978. It represents diversity and inclusiveness of all people, it encompasses the colors of all flags as well as representing the historical biblical promises to Noah and the world. So, after a full day of celebrating, I was spiritually moved follow this all the way home...


God is proud of us for who we are. God loves us and accepts us. God created us. What an appropriate showing at the end of our day!


Before I put my bike away I had to go around the block and take this picture.

The day began with a gathering of parade participants, and we were the Dykes on Bikes. It is a small group, only 5 bikes and 7 dykes, but the spirit of bonding, sharing and fun was much bigger. We are hoping to make the group larger every year. San Fransisco had 500 bikes when I was there in 2000.

We had to be at the starting point an hour before the parade began, so we spent time visiting, taking pictures, having free Starbucks coffee, polishing, and putting the decorations on our bikes.

Rainbow clad Liza is a great friend and the leader of our pack.

Liza, a veteran biker, is has been a pride parade participant in Edmonton and Vancouver as well as here at home. Two of the biggest parades take place in Montreal, and San Fransisco. Perhaps we will attend those as a pack in the near future years.


Liza, Jeanine and Roxanne polishing chrome and paint.


My partner Tanya, with our friend Jamie's help, is taping flags to her bike. Jamie has been looking at bikes, but for now she is Tanya's passenger.


Me (L) and Tanya (R) taking some time to view the floats before we parade.


IKEA, affectionately referred to as DIKEA is a proud supporter of gay pride. The pride logo on the car reads:
People
Rejoicing
In
Diversity
Everywhere

Corporations are realizing the financial advantage to supporting gay consumers and offering same sex benefits for gay couples and their children. We joke a lot about Dikea and Homo Depot, but it comes from truth. We all shop a LOT at these places! We have our favorite products, vehicles, electronics, vacation spots, restaurants and entertainment venues; and with so many couples having two incomes with no kids, it is just smart marketing.

Having said that, more couples are having children now, and we plan to also. In fact, two of our friends with bikes are expecting their first child, so they were not with us in the parade. We met them later at the festival and beer garden (NO, the pregnant one didn't drink!)


Okay, here is our friend, Nikki. She rides these pedicabs to make extra money. She pedaled this father and son all the way down the parade route.


Here I am on my bike.


This is my bike.

We had a lot of fun, and this is always a great occasion to get together and celebrate our diversity and freedom. It sure has come a long way from 16 years ago when there were about 150 participants and they all wore masks. This year there were 2000+ people celebrating, having fun... and NO masks!

It is a very family oriented event where we can bring children, parents, siblings, and friends. We can feel free to be with our partners/spouses and know that we are loved, supported, and as valuable to this world as anyone else.

(There are two more group photos to come as soon as Blogger remedies the technical problem with uploading. Until then, they are available on MY flickr PAGE)

Night by Elie Wiesel

Picture Source: Oprah.com

The horror and pain in their faces speaks volumes.

Today I sat still, not breathing, stunned as I watched Professor Elie Wiesel, walk arm in arm with Oprah and recall his first hand account of being a prisoner of the Auschwitz Death Camp at the age of 15 years, beginning in 1942. The miracle of survival told by this prolific writer, teacher, philosopher, and Nobel Peace Prize winning Author is profound.

I felt a physical weight in the pit of my stomach, a lump blocking my throat, and when I finally exhaled, my eyes released a well of tears... sad and burning hot.

The camp, now a preserved part of this horrific history that tortured and killed millions of innocent Jews, displays the suitcases marked with the names and birth dates of the prisoners who had no reason to believe that they would never need the contents. Those considered able to work, therefore allowed to live, had loved ones torn away from them, they were stripped of all belongings, stripped of their identities, and tattooed with a number. They were given striped suits which were a thin fabric, worn day and night, all seasons, never washed, never a bath or a shower.

The clothes and shoes of babies, children, women and men. Shoes that would never be filled, says Professor Wiesel, with the human beings who could have potentially cured cancer or AIDS. One pair of red women's shoes... Professor Wiesel determined they must have belonged to a dancer.

Then there was the hair. The heads of all, dead and alive, were shaved and the hair was sold to make fabric. Behind a window in a sealed display Oprah and Professor Wiesel stared at thousands of pounds of hair which had been discovered, ready to be shipped, when the camp was liberated. Some still braided.

The historic footage is grim. The faces of those who live only to breathe death day and night. Then there were the walking dead. Skeletons walking. Gas chambers where naked innocents were herded believing they would now get a shower after 10 days in a boxcar with hundreds of others and no food or water. Mothers clutching their infants. The terrified faces of the children. The frail and elderly losing all dignity. The crematorium where babies were heard screaming when they were thrown in alive. Hundreds of thousands of dead emaciated bodies bulldozed into mass graves and burned as the smell of their flesh penetrated the senses of their surviving loved ones.

To think of the little brat in my FLDS blog (comments section), found below, having taunted people on another forum with her "Sieg Heil" chant!!! I pray she is as ignorant as she seems because if that were done with intent, based on knowledge of the evil monster it is attributed too, she ought to be deeply, deeply ashamed, and hope that the people on the forum who lost relatives in the Holocaust will find it in their hearts to forgive her.

Professor Elie Wiesel says that there is no explanation; there is no understanding. True, so very true.

Please read...

FLDS Prophet, Warren Jeffs, Profiled on America’s Most Wanted

Warren Jeffs, who is the cult leader for the FLDS polygamist sect in Colorado City, AZ, was profiled on the FOX network's America's Most Wanted tonight (May 06 2006).

It showed clearly the sick and twisted relationships men in this "religion" are taught to have with little girls. When the decision is made for a man to have a certain girl child, the parents turn them over without question because they have been brainwashed to believe that this is God's way.

The show played tapes of Warren Jeffs teaching his followers that everything ungodly is created by Negros and homosexuals. There are videos of tonight's AMW episode on the link below. It also includes the case profile, photos, and information about this sick sexual perversion and the power and money involved. Check it out, and tell me what you think.

http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=33750

This polygamist religion is accomplished in huge numbers by psychological control. The followers are isolated and controlled through fear, coercion and deception. When they are raised this way from birth, they don't have the ability to question any of it. They are kept in guarded compounds and taught to fear the outside world and everything in it. I suppose that makes their sexual and physical abuse seem pretty minor until they find out that the world is not what they are told it is.

Some do escape or are rescued by people risking their own lives to get their loved ones out, but according to former member, Flora Jessop, who was interviewed by Nancy Grace on CNN, when females try to leave they are hunted.

...to be continued, but feel free to comment...