LINKS 

A year ago; I could not have expounded on how wonderful being hooked up to the world wide web could be, as I was just learning how to use my new computer. Living in a more remote area, especially if you are a new family in town and don't make friends easily, it can be rather lonely. I have always been good at keeping myself busy, but at times the need to bounce thoughts/ideas off someone with similar interests is a necessity of life. Plus, Tom was beginning to grumble about our phone bill; as I was using it to keep up to date with old friends. When an internet provider (bancom.net)  came to Apsley it was like a wonderful gift; and it continues to be a highlight in my life especially in the long winter months. I haven't had a chance to feel lonely since.

I was very fortunate that very early on I came across a page called: "Jill's Biddy Buddies". The page starts with marvellous poem; which 'cause I enjoyed it so much; I joined the "Biddies". Here is the poem as I rewrote it for myself, and it has been stuck on the fridge ever since. If you want to read the original poem and /or visit the Biddies; check out Jill's page. Numerous friends have had a chuckle standing in front of the fridge reading this poem:
 

Warning

When I am old, I shall wear purple
with a red hat which doesn't go & doesn't suit me . .
I shall spend my pension cheque
on drambuie, wild summer skirts & funky shoes
& say I don't have money for butter.
I shall sit on the pavement when I'm tired,
Gobble up free snacks at Costco, press alarm bells.
Run my cane along picket fences to make lots of noise
& make up for the Sobriety of my youth.
I shall go barefoot in the rain,
Pick flowers in other people's gardens,
Skinny dip in the pond
and learn to whistle .
I shall wear large T-shirts which clash with everything,
Eat three bags of cheezies a day
Or only tea and toast for a week.
Hoard pencils & pens & paper & paints
& things in boxes.
For now I must set a good example, be sensible,
Have family and friends for large gatherings,
Read newspapers & make reasonably Intelligent conversation.
BUT. . . maybe I should start to practice a little now?
So people who know me, won't be too surprised
When suddenly I am old & start to wear purple!

The Biddies: Jill Carolyn Randi Elizabeth Donna Carole Bonnie Faye Laurel Judy Pat Julie Mary Carolyn Patti 1 Janet Marily

ABOUT THE BIDDIES Needless to say some of my friends feel I have very little to learn or practice for when I am "old". . well maybe "the whistling part".  I feel so very close to my "Biddy" friends, we could pass each other in the street and never know. They are scattered all over and some are in places I can only dream of ever visiting; yet at the same time they are only seconds away. They are a very talented diverse group of women. Their expertise in: beading, quilting, knitting, painting, web site building, stonecarving, crafting...the list is too long to put all down, so instead treat yourself; and take some time to check out their web sites listed to the left. They will keep you immersed for hours with all their talents and interests. I don't think you'll find a more congenial, talented group anywhere. It is thanks to them, that I have attempted "this" first ever web site; for without their support and help I would never have attempted, yet alone succeeded.

and then there is THE REST of the WORLD to WANDER:
 
 

Poem

If I were to list all my bookmarks it would take away the pleasure you'd get from discovering a "new" treasure yourself; therefore this list contains only a few of what I feel were great finds.

The search engines I seem to use most often from my long list are:

Infoseek : easy and it allows you to search easily within a search
GOTO.com : quick, basic and easy to use

Yahoo Canada: great for searching up something only in Canada
Alta Vista's Canadian Search: ditto see above

This is a great on-line tutorial for web page making: plus this is a wonderful free site.

Shopping in Canada is finally growing; but we have along way to go to catch up:
The Canadian Internet Mall and the Canadian,Eh? net Directory are two good site.
If I just want to spend sometime checking out neat things when I can't sleep; I go to
Ebays on line auction site. Some of my Biddy friends sell their wonderful things here.

Another batch of favorites is in gardening. I will only share a few of my many links. It amazes me how informative the web is in this area:
 

I Can Garden : a wonderful Canadian site
Ontario's Garden List : a interesting list of Ontario gardens
Garden Net : great browsing
Herb Net : just about all the info and reference site you'll need

Magazines on the net are also great for browsing; here are a couple I enjoy.

Natural Life Magazine :
Organic Gardening :
New Scientist :

To learn more about the town of Apsley and where I live; check out their homepage.
 
 

Hope you enjoy some of the above:
e-mail: birz@bancom.net
 

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I really had difficulty sticking to just one of my favorite tid bits about computers; so I gave in finally; here are  three : BUT they'll make you smile :-)

After she prepares a feast
 Grandma's on the Internet

  Grandma's on the Internet
  You won't believe the nuts she's met
  But what she'd really like to know
  Is- Where are those who quilt and sew
  And do the things she likes to do?
  She'd give them hints, and learn some too.

  She used to be "scared" of a wee little mouse
  Would scream if one ever got in the house.
  Now she hugs one night and day
  She'd rather cuddle it than stay
  On the couch and watch t.v.
  Her first love now is her P.C.

  She'd like to see it all unfurled
  So much to learn in this new world.
  She could explore it from her chair
  But mostly, she plays solitaire
  But that's O.K. she doesn't care
  About the weather in Zaire.

  Windows were glass she'd wash and look through
  Now they are programs to help us all view
  The earth and the sea and the beautiful sky
  A virus was something from which you could die
  Now it's a nuisance that could spoil your day,
  But it can be fixed and sent on it's way.

  She served her time with diapers and dishes.
  Now she can do whatever she wishes
  And if that means staying up half the night
  To point arrows at icons-that's really all right.

  A bit was something you had little of.
  Now it takes eight bytes to make the above
  It's all so confusing, it makes her head ache.
  A byte was something you take from a cake.
  She's learning more about it now
  Her four year old grandchild showed her how.

Hey who hid  my mouse?

by Dorothy Costello
 

AND
 

 Hello Lord
Lord Please Bless My Computer
Every night I lie in bed
This little prayer inside my head
God bless my mom and dad
and bless my children
and take care of my spouse
who brings me so much joy...
God, there's just one more thing
I wish that you would do
if you don't mind my asking
to bless my 'puter, too??
Now I know that it's not normal
to bless a small machine
but listen just a second
and I'll try to explain...
You see, that little metal box
holds more than odds and ends
Inside those small components
rest a hundred loving friends.
Some it's true I've never seen
and most I've never met...
never shaken hands or
ever truly hugged, and yet...
I know for sure they love me
by the kindnesses they give,
and this little scrap of metal
is how I get to where they live.
By faith is how I know them,
Much the same as I know You.
I share in life it brings them,
So if it's OK with you...
Just take an extra minute
from your duties up above...
to bless this little hunk of steel
that's filled with so much love.
So God, Please Bless My Puter..
 - author unknown-
 

AND

 

 
You know you're an e-mail junkie when ...

1. You wake up at 3 a.m. to go to the bathroom and stop to check your
    e-mail on the way back to bed.

2. You get a tattoo that reads, "This body best viewed with Netscape
    Gold or higher."

3. You name your child Dotcom.

4. You turn off your modem and get this awful empty feeling, like you
     just pulled the plug on a loved one.

5. You spend half the plane trip with your laptop on your lap ... and
    your child in the overhead compartment.

6. You laugh at people with 14000-baud modems.

7. You start using smileys in your snail mail. :)

8. Your hard drive crashes. You haven't logged on for 2 hours. You
    start to twitch. You pick up the phone and manually dial your ISP's
    access number. You try to hum to communicate with the modem...
    and you succeed!

9. You find yourself typing "com" after every period when using a word
     processor.com

10. You refer to going to the bathroom as downloading.

11. You start introducing yourself as "JohnDoe at CSI dot com".

12. All your friends have an @ in their names.

13. Your cat or dog has its own home page.

14. You can't call your mother ... she doesn't have a modem.

15. You don't know what sex three of your closest friends are, because
       they have neutral nicknames and you never bothered to ask.

16. You move into a new house and decide to Netscape before you
       landscape.

17. You tell the cab driver you live at
       "http://1000.edison.gardens/house/brick.html".

18. You start tilting your head sideways to smile.
 
 

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