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My Not-So-Secret Identity
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Link to My Helium AboutMe
The source for my Helium articles, favorite picks from the works of other Helium writers, as well as trivia which will help you get to know me, and may even entertain you.
I BLOG, THEREFORE I AM
on Mar 18, 10 at 12:36 AM Almost every day, I check to see what my articles are earning. The total ranges from one cent to over twenty dollars. For me, it's not about the money. It's about the fact that I have written something that people are interested in reading. The advertising revenues give me an idea how popular my work is.
An unexpected money-earner this month is a character study of the central character in Jodi Picoult's novel Nineteen Minutes. Obviously, school shootings are a topic of great interest to people. They want to get into the mind of the shooter, understand what happened, and figure out how to keep it from happening it again.
http://www.helium.com/items/1749852-peter-houghton-in-jodi-picoults-nineteen-minutes
In my school days, I was the dumb immigrant girl who talked funny, did not unde My Zones
What does it take to be happy? You might be surprised. My Helium Zone about the Christian healing ministry. A Helium zone about the book. Worth a visit! Dealing with rudeness without losing calm is an art. This zone offers information and encouragement we can all use.
Bob Carr at Work
Juggling a chain saw is tough. Juggling a chain saw while it is turned on is downright dangerous! I'm glad Bob still has all his body parts. Dancing Bear
Dancing Bear is one of my alternate personae. She used to re-tell myths in the children's magazine Spellbound. When the magazine closed, she started her own series of stories, hoping that her granddaughter would enjoy them. One of her friends, who was teaching at an international English language school in Turkey, read them with her grade one pupils, and reported that the children loved them. Once upon a time, a big lady bear lived in her cave in the forest. At first she enjoyed eating alone and sleeping alone and playing alone. Later, she became lonely. She went into town to see what she could find. At first, people were afraid of her. But when they saw how nice she was, they started feeding her coffee bread and other treats. . .
One evening, Dancing Bear was at the Legion for a dinner. The ladies served ham and perogies and chicken and fried rice and potatoes and carrots and mashed Finnish-style turnips and all kinds of salads and desserts. Dancing Bear went back for seconds. Then she went back for thirds . . . One day, Dancing Bear was walking down Alexandra Street. She saw a black and white animal. "Hello," she asked politely. "Are you a skunk?"
"No," the animal said. "I am a felis domestica. That's Latin for house cat."
The next time Dancing Bear was walking on Alexandra Street, she met the same black and white cat. "Nice to see you again," Dancing Bear said. "Do you have a name?"
Dancing Bear and Oreo walked down Alexandra Street together until they came to a house with the number 906 on it.
"That's my place," Oreo said.
Dancing Bear followed David McDougall into the living room. The walls were a lovely blue colour, and the floor had light brown carpet on it.
"This is much nicer than my cave," Dancing Bear said.
Favourite Quote by Dr. Ursa
Family and Friends
 Thoughts on the battle of the sexes and the exes. They say that blood is thicker than water. Maybe so. But is it thicker than money? Do you struggle endlessly to please others, and defer to their opinion because you are worried about how they will feel about you if you don't? The refrain of "I love you" can become very hollow unless those words are backed up by some serious evidence.
She married your son. She did not marry you. We all need to find a comfortable balance between giving and taking, dominating and submitting, intimacy and self-protection. Abuse is a monster that wears many masks. In the early stages, it may look like wild passionate love, like fairy-tale romance, like devoted protection, like superior wisdom. But there is something dreadfully wrong. Do you have a friend who seems to bring out the worst in you? Does your temper flare without warning when you are with this person, even though you are normally stable? Do you feel guilty a lot of the time? Would you like to get off the friendship treadmill, but don't know how, because this person is so NICE, so INSECURE, so NEEDY? Being shy is not in itself an obstacle to fame, riches, success, or impressive public presence. Al Gore, Sting, Barbara Walters, Eleanor Roosevelt and Princess Diana all confessed to shyness. Most shyness can be overcome sufficiently to keep it from becoming crippling. Weddings, funerals, and seasonal family gatherings bring out the best in some families and the worst in others. For most families, it's a mixed bag of Hallmark and Hell-on-wheels. Certain conflicts are as hardy as dandelions, and keep popping up year after year.
What makes a great marriage? "Yes, it is wonderful when people can openly talk about their relationship, with a deep desire to learn about themselves and each other. But when one person wants to talk about what the other is doing wrong, it doesn't feel good and it won't get anywhere. That kind of talking is about controlling rather than learning. Learning leads to resolution and intimacy, while controlling leads to distance and distress." Heirloom jewelry and family stories. Advice and resources for Dads. Face it, folks. Extended moralistic monologues are not an effective teaching method. All you need is love to raise healthy, happy kids? In your dreams! Can marriages be divorce-proofed? No one can control the future, but it is possible to take significant steps to win the marriage game. There are no guarantees about the future, but there are clues to consider.
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Verse -- or Worse?
This is my poetry site -- still under construction. Can't live with 'em; can't live without 'em! In the soothing artificial rain of the shower, anything seems possible. Have you ever wished that you could be a mannequin? No bad hair days, no battles with traffic, no food or relationship issues. Just pure perfection. . . . tomorrows are hard to imagine. Promises, like vampires, roam in the dark. Who am I now?
Hang in There!
This video has been viewed over two million times. There may be hope for the future after all. Guts and Glory
My poetry is included in a number of Northern Ontario Poetry Contest anthologies. Northern Ink gave me the winning experience. During the book launch at the national Canadian Author's Association conference in Sudbury, I discovered that I had won the contest, and had the amazing experience of reading my poetry to an impressive audience of writers and literary professionals. The classic love sonnet "Adjustment" was the winning poem, but they laughed like crazy for "Uncle Rusty's Rant", and told me that it should have won the prize instead. I entered the NOPC for the first time in 2001, and made it into the anthology. These are my impressions of the experience. If you still haven't got enough of me, this is a good place to go to find out more!
Bob Carr On The Road and On Stage
Above: Bob and his wife Nora in Schreiber, Ontario in the summer of 2009. They were on their way to Saskatchewan via Greyhound.
Below: A compilation video of what Bob does to earn his living by making people laugh, cheer, and gasp with amazement. Dr. Ursa Philippa Seudonym
Dr. Ursa made her first appearance in the one and only hard copy issue of Jackhammer in 1998. I feel like another personality is taking over my body. Why didn’t anyone tell me that child rearing just gets harder and harder? Got ring fever? My husband is a pig. Music or marriage? Disclaimer: The following advice is purely non-professional. You and you alone are responsible for your choices and their consequences. "My marriage used to be a dream come true, but now it's a nightmare." My ex says that I am a pain because I always think I'm right. Dear Dr. Ursa,
My children, aged 7 and 9, are constantly fighting when we are in the car. My best friend tells me my children are repressed. Goof-off Guilt is the scourge of the hyper-responsible. After a few minutes of conversation, his eyes glaze over. Toilet seat up, or toilet seat down? Helen (her real name - I'm hoping she reads this and gets the message) has decided to me my instant buddy. She follows me around and talks and talks and talks. "Vengeance is mine," saith the Lord. But sometimes He needs a little help. Dear Dr. Ursa,
I think I have TMS - Too Much Syndrome. Is there a quiz I can take to be sure?
Extreme Sheep
Who would have guessed that herding sheep can be an art form? All Creatures Great and Small
Felines Bandit and Oreo offer a kitty's-eye view of the story of Puss in Boots. A new trend in service animals. A story about a magical black lion. Myths and legends about Arabian horses. Facts about the Pomeranian dog, a favorite of Queen Victoria. Have you ever wondered what groundhogs dream of during their long winter's nap? We often outlive our pets. How to deal with our grief and move on to appreciate all they have given us.
The Ultimate Guide to Cats
Over three million people have viewed this video, made by two professional engineers. Mental Health
Although it may not feel like it at first, the loss of a toxic relationship is the greatest gift you will ever receive. Life is a struggle for all of us. We often lose our battles, but we also win some. Sleep debts are just as devastating as financial ones. Today's women are often more competent in the workplace than the home front. "Don't talk like that! Don't feel like that! Don't be like that!" Emotional processing is an activity we undervalue and generally avoid.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, seventy-six million American adults have been exposed to alcoholism in the family.
What is going wrong with boys and young men in America? You may not agree with Dr. Sax's answers, but they will make you think. What does this old-fashioned term mean? When nervous breakdown strikes, what can we do to help ourselves and others?
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Zone ManagerHelium member since Nov 22, 07 |
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A Bouquet of Selections from Helium
 Too much information? Don't worry: you don't have to read them all today. Select a channel that interests you, or click on one of the articles showcased below. This article is attracting quite a bit of traffic. There must be a lot of stressed readers out there. It costs nothing to dream . . . We will always need a new generation of Sith Lords to arise alongside the Jedi Knights. Years pass, civilizations rise and fall, but the human heart continues as always. We need heroes. They demonstrate what is best in humankind: what you and I might become if fortune smiles on us at just the right moment. "It's not enough to react to life on a day-by-day basis. People need a road map. Life lists are one of the best ways to plumb the depths of the human psyche." (Caroline Adams Miller, motivational speaker and life coach Dating for the sake of dating has its uses, but too much can be a waste of time. Life offers a variety of activities and relationships. Perhaps it is a good idea to take a breather once in a while, sit on the sidelines, and watch for THE ONE who could be a potential life partner. What does it mean to be a blogger? Your body is you. If you don't learn to love yourself, who will?
My Favorite Links
My favorite medical blogger. Her critiques of old nurse romances are priceless. Where art and spirituality intersect. My first stop when I am looking for medical information. I like what Bob does. I also like Bob. Once upon a time, he lived at my home for a few months. This is just a small sampling of Bob's photos. Hopefully, he will get them all in one place some day! My Helium article about Bob. A photo library by Lucy Pringle of the U.K. This is an article I sold through Helium Marketplace. One of the finest contemporary Canadian artists. Food for thought. An extraordinary effort to make a difference.
What's Your Pleasure? Submit your favorite links here!
You must first be a logged in Helium user. Click here to join. URSATALES -- Short and not-so-short stories
When it's all over, is it really over? Marielle was almost too excited to breathe when the nurse wheeled the swaddled bit of humanity into her ... JJ had been expecting the letter of notification for several months now, and was determined not to be taken by surprise. "Check." Ralph leaned forward, licking his lips. "I have you now, you bastard. Lila is mine." This issue contains my 1997 story, "Wolfmate", which first appeared in the E-Zine "Eternity On-Line". If the weather had not been so hot and muggy that day, aggravating Carlotta's congested sinuses, the whole thing might never have happened. Gundar Baldursson glared at the vacant horizon, cursing every god he had ever heard of. This was the first time he had ever been out of sight of land, and he did not relish the experience.
Sooner or later, aspiring authors face the dreaded writer's block. A take-off on a folk tale. This is my most popular piece of fiction on Helium. How do you respond to someone who just doesn't fit in? Charlie Adams had been a grade ahead of Pamela in the one-room school where she received her elementary education. He had teased her mercilessly. Now they were both grown up. Is weight loss really the end of the rainbow?
The Building Blocks of Happiness
Spirituality
Encouragement from the Bible. My public conversations with God. I believe that God talks to all of us on an ongoing basis, but we hear only what we are ready and willing to hear. Have you ever had the feeling that God is trying to tell you something? The ultimate mystery. Virtually everyone has an opinion on this question. A lengthy discussion on the subject of emotional healing through faith in a loving God who wants only the best for us. A video by the Bible Society. I am called to share my love, not my resentment. Tragedy, bitterness, and fear encounter the Infinte. Among other treasures, this book offers a profound and accessible exposition of the Holy Trinity. Why didn't God answer my prayer?
Is He angry with me?
Is my prayer technique flawed?
'Science' consists of a weird, way-out occult concoction of gibberish theory-theology...unrelated to the real world of facts, technology and inventions, tall buildings and fast cars, airplanes and other Real and Good things in life.
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