Friends from my Bell Days

Today I will try to get a picture with three of my friends from my Bell days when we meet for lunch. Gwen, Michelle, Marline and I work at staying in touch and it's worth every second we put into checking with each other re schedules and plans. We try to meet at least twice a year but will settle for even once a year if that is all we can manage.

This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago. Diane Cummings has been a dear friend for longer than I can remember. She is one of those friends who seems to always be there and I so appreciate that in her. Diane lives in Niagara Falls (grew up there too) and knows all the best places to check out - including the Danier Leather outlet mall where I bought yet another red jacket. This one is my favourite though.

Friendships become even more important over time . . .

Love

Carol Ann

Capitals 3, Maple Leafs 2 (SO)

We're done. Hate it when that happens. We gave it our all. Next year................

My year long celebration....

Honestly, pick a birthday that is important to you for more than the years it represents and celebrate it all year long. Those are cookies on the plate you see here - and yet another party. This time it was at Frank in the Art Gallery with my friend Virginia Yule.

Virginia is one very busy lady as the CEO of WILLOW - a breast cancer support group for anyone who needs help dealing with their own breast cancer or help as they watch cancer affect those they love. Virginia and here team are so helpful to so many and we need to continue to get the word out that WILLOW exists. http://www.willow.org/ - check it out.

By the way, I ate two of the cookies and Virginia ate one. Wonder if I should go back today for the remaining chocolate?

Have a great mid week day.

Love

Carol Ann

My Invitation to the Royal Wedding!

I have been invited to the Royal Wedding!

Not the actual wedding itself but, I think, an even better invitation came in the mail today. My friend Phyllis Pedicelli who lives in Montreal (Tony too - hi Tony!) is hosting her sisters at the end of the month and I have been invited to join in on the vacation. These are the White girls from Wilmot Nova Scotia who grew up next door to me. (White is their last name by the way not the colour of their skin - I have been accused of referring to skin color in the past when my friends were in the audience where I was speaking and I said, "Oh I see the White girls.")

So, back to my invitation to the Royal Wedding - I think only Phyllis is interested in getting up with me as early as we will need to in order to catch the pre-pre-pre wedding stuff . Tony can likely wake us up when he gets up for work that morning. In case you can't read the fine print the location is "Phyllis's basement sofa" and Dress is "Fancy Hat, Morning Housecoat or Lounge PJ's." I love it............and I will be in Montreal for the event. My mother would be proud.

Love

CA

April 2 - Power of Women Conference in Cornwall

When Bernadette Lapierre called me months ago to ask if I would speak at their Power of Women conference this past Saturday I quickly said, "yes." I am so glad I did!

I met many wonderful women, and while I can't mention all of them individually I can show you a photo of the Board of Directors and one of the First Canadian Inn where I stayed compliments of the owners Brenda and Jim Heritage.

Saturday's audience had to listen to me in the morning and again in the afternoon and I will admit I had some concerns these wonderful women might be "over me" by the time I took the stage for the second time in the afternoon...however all went well according to feedback (so far that is!)

If you find youself needing a place to stay in Cornwall please check out Brenda and Jim's motel - they are wonderful people and you will become friends before you check out I guarantee you. The rooms are clean, huge, quiet, and have a fireplace plus a flat screen TV(the better to have watched my Leafs WIN again on Saturday night.)

I had a wonderful dinner on Friday evening with a number of the WE team even before the Conference took place. Brenda and I walked from the Motel to the Casa Paolo - a fabulous Italian restaurant. I highly recommend it.

The buzz early Saturday morning as women began to arrive for the conference was electric. Saturday is a precious day to everyone and working women know this all too well. They filed in before 9 am, picked up a coffee and something to eat and we sat down to begin the day... it was non stop until mid afternoon.

I visited the Tradeshow tables that about a dozen women had set up. These are women who are out there as entrepreneurs working at what they love to do, and it was apparent as I talked with them.

I will mention Janet Handy first. Janet is a volunteer and public educator with SASS (sexual assalt support services for women.) SASS has existed since 1994 and is supported almost entirely by volunteers. This is an non-profit organization offering services to women 16 years of age and older who are victims/survivors of sexual assault. Janet is very passionate about this organization. If you would like to volunteer, or if you need SASS to help you please go to http://www.sassforwomen.ca/ Tell them I sent you there....

Check out http://www.stewardbags.ca/ to learn about 100% organic cotton, fair wage/fair labour handmade in India bags that you can use instead of all of those plastic bags we still seem to be buying.

I have to mention the specialty chocolates - handmade by Niki Fontaine, Chocolatier...oh my! http://www.sweetcreationsbc.com/

Carol Grant can talk with you about all of your photography needs and you can reach her at http://www.3dc.ca/

Tammy Head is a Consultant and her business is called http://www.averypresenthelp.com/ and she would love to hear from you.

Avelina Manoukian is a Thai Yoga Massage Therapist and you can reach her at http://www.thaimassagewithavelina.com/

http://www.tickleyourfancy.ca/ - check it out and Janet can answer any questions you may have.

There were so many other women I would love to profile here. I didn't get business cards from all of them but if you go to WE's website I am sure you can find out more about any of these women. http://www.wecornwallarea.ca/

I have made many new friends.

From the heart,

Carol Ann

Friendship

Judy Charette and her sister Neila came to visit with me Saturday while I was in Cornwall - more about what I was doing in Cornwall in a separate blog later today because I have lots to say about that and it's all good.

Judy and I met and worked together at Bell during my last job there - with the Logistics team. Our working together ended in January 1994 when I left Bell and we have remained friends to this day. Judy is a wonderful friend and someone I value in my life. She and Garry don't live in Toronto so we have to plan our visits - we planned our next visit on Saturday.

I am so appreciative that Judy and Neila made the trip to Cornwall.

Love

CA!

Maple Leafs 4 - Bruins 3 (SO)

I fell asleep but caught the sweet goal on SportsCenter this morning -OMG ready-for-prime-time 20 year old Nazem Kadri scored that sweet goal to win it for my Leafs!

I don't understand some Leaf fans. A friend of mine told me yesterday that he is fed up with the team because they do this every year. "Why not enjoy this and support them?" I suggested but no he has to be negative and ugly about the team. So, find another team to support and find another friend - just kidding buddy!

If the Leafs nead a 1959 miracle I say let's go with that miracle. We will take any help at this stage. Reimer is there waiting for the puck.... Go Leafs Go!

Have a great April my friends - don't let anyone April-fool you today unless it's all in fun.

I will be en route to Cornwall today to speak at a conference there tomorrow.

From the heart,

Carol Ann

PS this is a very old photo of Jalen.