In memory of my dad, who passed away almost five years ago, this week's Thursday Thirteen is a special present for him, as today marks his birthday.
A Piece of My Mind owes its existence to my dad, as I launched it the month before he died. I was struck by the urgency of 'it's now or never', and in a very real way this blog is my dad's legacy.
1 - Laughter
Dad laughed - a lot. These are some of the things that could really get him going:
13 Things That Made My Dad Laugh
2 - Music
He was a lifelong music enthusiast, with a special love for the blues, rhythm & blues, classic rock and cool jazz. Here's a set I posted for him awhile back:
5 on Friday
3 - Photography
At school concerts, my dad always roamed the sides of the auditorium taking pictures with his Nikon camera.
4 - Movies
He started life as a big fan of John Ford westerns and the stunts of Yakima Canutt. When I later became someone who would pay multiple times to see a movie at the theatre, he thought that was a little strange - until VCRs came out, and I caught him watching Road Warrior over again. A-ha!
5 - Dancing
Dad not only liked to dance at clubs and house parties, but he ended up teaching jive dancing lessons in his late 50's.
6 - Christmas
When my sister and I woke up bouncing with excitement in the dark of early Christmas morning, Dad always hopped out of bed ready for Christmas, even if he'd only gotten 2 hours of sleep getting the Santa toys ready the night before.
7 - Military History
He was a Canadian who lived a good part of his life in the States, and served in the US Army, 2nd and 3rd Armored Division. He had an insatiable thirst for all things military history.
He wore his army uniform on his wedding day in 1961, as he was posted to Europe the following week.
8 - Titanic History
He was always interested in the sinking of the Titanic, owning several books about it and visiting the graveyard here in Halifax where the victims are buried. In one of the odd ways life works out, my dad is now buried in that same resting place - Fairview Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in my step-mom's family plot. 
9 - Scuba Diving
My dad owned a scuba gear shop and was a certified instructor in the 1970's.
10 - Hockey
He played hockey from boyhood, and was a lifelong Montreal Canadiens fan. This shot was taken at the Hockey Hall of Fame, during a Toronto visit with my sister and me, when we both lived there.
11 - Cars
He started his working life as a mechanic, and ended it as a car salesman. He had a special fondness for classic cars, but he pretty much loved everything to do with any kind - he loved watching car races, collecting reproduction cars, operating remote-controlled cars, and when he was in the army he taught fellow soldiers to drive the big 'deuce and a half' and five ton trucks.
12 - Beer
Beer was the go-to beverage for Norm. He also had a collection of beer steins, including the one I remember most - an engraved silver stein with a glass bottom that he brought home from Germany. 
13 - Being a Dad
He loved this role in his life. And I love being his daughter.
Today my grandmother is on my mind, as it would have been her birthday today, Nov. 1st. She was the beginning of the November birthdays, which for my family and friends is jam-packed:
the 2nd, 7th, 11th (twice), 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd and 25th all belong to someone I love and celebrate.
The 1st still belongs to Gram, though I can't tell her Happy Birthday with a kiss. I'll just wish it to her in my heart.
From In Childhood
the blue parakeet does not return
from the little grave in the fern garden
though one may wake in the morning
thinking mother's call is the bird.
Or maybe the bird is with grandmother
inside light. Or grandmother was the bird
and is now the dog
gnawing on the chair leg.
Where do the gone things go
when the child is old enough
to walk herself to school,
her playmates already
pumping so high the swing hiccups?
- Kimiko Hahn
For more poetry, Ride the Poetry Train!
1 - This week's Thursday Thirteen is a celebration of Richard Armitage's birthday, which rolled around last Sunday.
Like many, many people I first discovered this actor when I settled in to watch North & South, a BBC miniseries set in Victorian northern England. If you have not seen it yet - walk, don't run to your nearest movie provider and do yourself a HUGE favor.
2 - From there I went on to gobble up three seasons of BBC's Robin Hood.
His portrayal of extremely gray character Guy of Gisborne took me places I'd never thought I'd go. He somehow made a self-absorbed, opportunistic brute into a tragic, redeemable soul. 
3 - These two preceding roles did not prepare me for his charming turn in the 2006 Christmas Day double episode of The Vicar of Dibley.
His character arrived to end the series by sweeping Dawn French - and all the other Dawn French's out there - off our collective feet.
4 - Because I knew he would be joining the cast of Spooks (MI-5 in North America) my husband and I decided to catch up on the previous six seasons first.
Not only did that bring me two marvellous predecessors to Richard's character of Lucas North (Matthew Macfadyen's Tom Quinn and Rupert Penry-Jones' Adam Carter) but it made Richard's ultimate arrival exceedingly bittersweet. 
5 - His latest action/adventure/spy game role is in a series based on the novels of Chris Ryan, a former member of the British Special Forces.
Strike Back aired in the UK in May of this year, and has been released on DVD and Blu-ray. International broadcast is to be announced. My amazing hubby has already delivered this series to me for our viewing pleasure. Thumbs up from both of us.
6 - As many of you know, Richard is the model for my dark fantasy character Scorpius. He is front and center in my mind as Scorpius' story reveals itself to me. I find it easier to cast actors as my characters. Then I 'download' the actor's mannerisms, physical appearance and voice into my mind, and simply run that program when I'm writing about that character.
7 - And I have a ninth season of Spooks in which to lose myself.
Praise be!
"This year is very much about identity," Armitage admits. "Because they're turning Lucas inside out, so he's not who we thought he was – which was kind of a surprise to me as well. It's almost like what you've seen so far is only part of the picture." - guardian.co.uk
8 - In response to the assertion that he has become many a writer's muse, Richard says:
"Much as I would love to take credit for ‘launching writing careers’ the credit is Elizabeth Gaskell’s" (for her creation of the character of John Thornton in North & South.) - Vulpes Libris
9 - What would Richard's dream role be?
"A series about Richard III," he says. "That's something I really want to do. A prequel to The Tudors. That's what I dream of doing." - tv.com 
10 - In the meantime, no rest for the wicked:
A second series of Strike Back has been ordered by Sky 1, which will keep Richard busy as soon as season 9 of Spooks wraps up. 
11 - In between military training and the filming of waterboarding scenes for all his various spy roles, Richard has racked up an impressive array of voiceover credits. Among many projects are the three Georgette Heyer audiobooks he's narrated - The Convenient Marriage, Sylvester and Venetia. 
12 - "I think I've perfected my serious face," Richard says. "I can do 'confused and angry' or 'utter panic'. If I could do 'humorous' that would give me three faces to pull." - Reader's Digest 
13 - "I have fun with the baddies," says Richard. "Because I can really delve into my naughty side." - Radio Times
VA Bookworm 87 says How incredibly ironic! The original post that drew me to your blog ages ago was your "Thursday Thirteen - 61 - 13 Truly Marvellous Things About Richard Armitage"! And here I am again reading about how awesome he is :) You're the only person I know who obsesses about him the way I do! lol
Nikita Banerjee says He is hot!
Joanna D'Angelo says Julia - I do believe you have made my day! Also - you should make RA a regular feature. Like RA Day or something. ;)
Brooke says When my sister died we still had cake on her birthday in her memory..
Storyteller says What a wonderful photo!
Akelamalu says It's good to remember the happy times.
On Dec. 28th, my little beagle/Nova Scotia duck toller mix turned 8 years old.
Here's a few recent pictures of her:
My cousin's daughter, Sarah got a preschoolers' camera for Christmas and took as many shots as me at Christmas Dinner.
Here's her picture of Xena:
Notice the 3-year-old's vantage point!
For the Poetry Train today, I'd like to dedicate this song to Xena, and thank her for 8 beautiful years together as a Pack. Happy Birthday to my little furry chum.
You Are So Beautiful
You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me
Can't you see
You're everything I hoped for
You're everything I need
You are so beautiful to me
Such joy and happiness you bring
Such joy and happiness you bring
Like a dream
A guiding light that shines in the night
Heavens gift to me
You are so beautiful to me
- Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher, 1974
Enjoy the song performed by Joe Cocker:
Check out the other stops on the Poetry Train.
Not only is November my own birthday month, but it's the birthday month of almost everyone I know! Seriously.
Let's see - who do we have?
Nov. 1st
Gram
Nov. 2nd
My best friend's daughter, Kayleigh
Nov. 7th
My husband Brad
Nov. 11th
My birthday 
and my Uncle Warren's
Plus a friend of mine I sang with in choir in Toronto, plus blog friend Gabriella
Nov. 16th
My mom Paulette
Nov. 18th
My friend Donna
and my blog friend Akelamalu
Nov. 20th
My brother-in-law Jeff 
and a friend from film school, Jason (here with his wife)
Nov. 22nd
My friend from high school, John
Nov. 23rd
My cousin's wife, Heather (with my mom)
Nov. 25th
My Uncle Charlie
That still leaves 20 days open. I wonder if they'll all be filled up by the time I'm Gram's age?
Life has been all over the place lately.
Before I went on my trip to Toronto in October, I interviewed for the scanning position I'd held for the past six months. It was a casual position, but my manager really liked my job performance and how well I fit in with everyone. So he opened the job up to a permanent position, which I then had to apply for, because with government jobs here in Nova Scotia he can't simply hire whomever he wants. Seventy-seven people applied for my job, and six people interviewed. A few days before my trip, I had my interview, which went well. But when Brad and I boarded the plane for Toronto, that was my last day at work.
So I had a wonderful trip to Toronto, saw a whole bunch of family and friends that I miss and spent precious time with his dad who is being treated for liver cancer. All the while not knowing if I had a job to come home to.
Got back, kept working on my novel and celebrated my gram's 93rd birthday. On Brad's birthday - the 7th - we went to a special mass for all those from the St. Agnes parish who'd had funerals there in the past year. My dad passed away this March, so Brad and I joined my step mom Doris, my sister Michelle, my step sister Rhonda, and Judy, close friend of my dad's & Doris in a very beautiful ceremony. Doris, Michelle and I went up together to light a candle for Dad when his name was called.
When Brad and I got back from the mass, Mom and I decided that Gram needed to see a doctor. She'd been losing power for that whole week, her legs just giving out so that whoever was shadowing her had to suddenly support Gram's whole weight. Earlier that day I'd had to call for Brad to help me, cause Gram just couldn't make it to her chair in the living room.
An ambulance came and Mom and I spent a late night in emergency until they had Gram all settled for the night. The next few days, Mom and I stayed with Gram in emergency until a bed opened up for her in the regular part of the hospital. At that point, we had to cut our visiting time down because the regular floors have set times for that. By my birthday on the 11th, we needed a break, so my aunt & uncle, and my sister and her boyfriend saw Gram that day. Brad, Mom and I went out for lunch and celebrated my day and then rested.
At that point I'd received the call from my manager about the job, but with very disappointing news. Human Resources gave him another person, even though he asked for me, especially since it was so close. This other person scored 2.5 points higher than me on the interview, so HR insisted she get it. He was so upset!
I was REALLY upset by that news. I've been working at non-benefits jobs for a very long time. With Brad only able to work part time due to his bipolar condition, my quest for a fulltime job with benefits had been so tantalizingly close. I was on pins and needles since that interview on Oct. 10th. The difference it would make for Brad and me is impossible to explain.
So when I heard that it was all back to the drawing board, I have to tell you I really felt low.
I'm waiting on my employment insurance, and Brad is still working, of course. But here I am with an opportunity to write fulltime for awhile, and I'm doing my best to look on the bright side of this whole situation.
For one thing, it's good timing that I'm available to help out with Gram right now. Mom and I spell each other off for visiting. Today is Mom's birthday so I'm taking both visiting shifts, afternoon and evening.
And because of my extreme allergies, I've always battled the effects that a fulltime job gives me due to long workhour exposures to the chemicals present in every office, especially toner, which just kills me. Both Mom and I have noticed how much better I am this past month that I haven't been working.
And Mom and I talked about this opportunity to write fulltime. I know for me the ability to be a fulltime writer has never existed because I need to be the main wage earner. But now it seems that I'm being given a gift, almost.
When one door closes, another one opens.
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