Thursday Thirteen - 157 - 13 Ways to Celebrate 100 Years of The Canadian Navy

Photo by Eric Wynne

I grew up in the military town of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the home port of Canada's East Coast navy, known as Maritime Forces Atlantic. So it's with a special sense of excitement and pride that I celebrate the guardians of a grateful nation.








Photo by Brenda Fancey

1 - On Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 the Canadian Navy celebrated its centennial on both coasts. My co-worker Debbie's daughter Brenda took this shot when she attended the west coast ceremonies in Victoria, British Columbia as her husband marched with his fellow officers.

2 - CLICK HERE to watch a clip on the naval celebration


3 - Canadian Forces Maritime Command was formed in 1968 after Canada detached itself from its former identity as an offshoot of England's Royal Navy.

Prior to the First World War, if Canadians wished to serve at sea, they did so as Royal Navy crewmen, until the Royal Canadian Navy was formed in 1910.










4 - The Canadian Blue Ensign was flown by all Royal Canadian Navy ships until 1968. The blue ensign had been used by ships owned by the Canadian government since 1868.











5 - The Canadian White Ensign is the identifying flag flown from Canadian naval vessels today.












6 - The United States Navy operates with 25 times more personnel than the Canadian Navy.

However, Canada currently joins with the US in Operation Enduring Freedom, and provided support as Operation Apollo for US military operations in Afghanistan.

Photo by Cpl Charles Barber


7 - One of the sailors who took part in Operation Apollo is my next door neighbor, Mack.

He's the dreamiest nextdoor neighbor, ever. The kind that snowblows our shared driveway before I can even get up in the morning.

















8 - Shortly after the new year, the earthquake in Haiti sent Mack's ship off to the Caribbean to bring humanitarian relief. My mom and I were relieved when he didn't have to go on that voyage, codenamed Operation Hestia. No doubt many of the sailors had grim duties to perform.


9 - The official march of the Canadian navy is Heart of Oak, which we share with our historic predecessor, England's Royal Navy. It's performed in this clip in London, before Prince Charles. I just love this march. I performed in the Nova Scotia Tattoo in two different years, and whenever I hear it, I'm swept back to that time and to those shows.



10 - The naval base in Halifax is called Stadacona, and here is a clip of the Stadacona Band during a Canada Day parade.















11 - Stadacona is one of the oldest defenses in Canada, having begun as a Royal Naval Dockyard for England in 1759.

This was maintained for the use of the Royal Navy until 1905, and was purchased by Canada for its own use two years later.














12 - The Canadian navy began as a six-vessel force during the First World War, while ending the Second World War as the third largest navy in the world after the US and the UK.













13 - One hundred years as an independent naval force has not severed Canada's traditional ties to its monarch. Every warship has the letters HMCS preceeding its name, which stand for Her Majesty's Canadian Ship.

Jennie Marsland says Great post, Julia, and great pics!

Janet says It's been wonderful being here for the celebration. I have to add - a friend of ours is retired Navy personnel and shared with us a pic of the new statue unveiled yesterday in Victoria for the celebration of 100 years. His 'class' were involved with the project.

Brenda ND says Interesting. I'm learning about Canada through your blog. Thanks.

Wordless Wednesday - 100!

Apprentice Writer says Completely natural and unforced. I even like that it's not completely centered.

Claudia from Denver Cereal says You are adorable!

Robin says Congrats on reaching 100!

Vote Now! * and * Poetry Train Monday - 100! - Don't Give Him What He's Fishing For

Photo by Robert Single

Joshua Young - the handsome fellow in the center there - needs your help. His short film Re-Creation is in a competition and needs as many votes as it can get. This is the crew that made the film, including my cousin's husband, Stephen MacLean at far left.

My hands even have a cameo at the beginning of this film.

To vote, please click HERE.
















Akelamalu says OK I'll vote for him, anything to help!

Heather says I have cast my Vote!

Thomma Lyn says I will go vote for Joshua Young's film. :)

Poetry Train Monday - 100! - Don't Give Him What He's Fishing For














This post feels very special to me. It's my 100th offering on the Poetry Train.

The original Poetry Train was started by a blogger named Rhian/Crow woman. She's a photographer and fine artist who also gathered a lively group of poets around her for a wonderful season of creativity. When her artistic pursuits took her in a new direction, the Poetry Train derailed for awhile.

I chugged along, naming my posts Poetry Monday. I couldn't hop off this thing.

Miracle of miracles, Gautami Tripathy began the Monday Poetry Train Revisited. Bless you, Gautami! Even my poetic words cannot express what the Poetry Train has meant to me.

I'd like to thank all the readers who stop by this blog on Mondays. Your comments are sweet as raindrops to me.

I'd like to embrace all the poets I've encountered on this journey. Your work has never failed to inspire and intoxicate me.

I look forward to the next 100 posts with hunger, passion and awe.

You can check out my previous posts in my archives. Click HERE.

Today's found poem is a writing exercise I did at one of the writer retreats at White Point Beach in Nova Scotia. I've reworked it into a poem.



















Don't Give Him What He's Fishing For


"Beep. Beep. Beep.
Mrrm. Mrrm. Mrrm."

Little plastic wheels rolled
Back and forth, back
And forth
Across the cement floor
"Taran, honey," she mumbled
Turning onto her side

The rolling continued
Without sound effects
For some reason
That made it seem worse

Anya flipped the worn blanket
Aside

Sat up

Head swirled for a
Long moment
She waited

The spots in her vision
Fizzled away

Taran knelt
Rolling the moon mobile
Around himself
Scooting to keep up with the toy
He wasn't so
Pale this morning

It made her growling stomach
Easier to bear

"What are you doing?"
She asked
As if they were in the playroom
And not
This cell

"My guy is
On his way to
Lunar Space Station 12."
Taran didn't look up

"What's he going to do?"
She asked
Rubbing her arms
Trying to get some
Circulation going

"He's going for help."
Little plastic wheels rolled
Back and forth, back
And forth
Anya's heart hollowed
In her chest

"Is there help
At the space station?" she asked
Glad her voice didn't shake

"Yeah," Taran said
Hair falling over his eyes
She was glad he didn't look up
Just then

Anya's pulse quickened
The low rumble of the outer lock
Made its way into the
Cell

She reached down
Marvelled that Taran
Slipped onto her lap without
A word
He'd never come to her
Without cajoling
Before the soldiers appeared
In her dining room

Footsteps
Echoed down the
Hall. She
Swallowed

Chest rising
Falling rapidly
No air reached her lungs
Anya's grip
On Taran tightened
The inner door unlocked
Swung

Open

Martinus stood

Looking at them
An uncomfortable moment

He carried no food
A slave brings bowls
If Martinus appeared
It would be a long morning

He entered, turned
Shut the door. Then
He dug in his pocket
Pulling out a small toy
Anya pressed

Her palms across Taran's
Chest
Hoping he would
Somehow
Absorb the
Warning of danger
Through her
Touch

Martinus crouched

His face level with Taran's
He allowed her son a good look

At the toy
Please, Taran, don't
Give him what he's fishing for
She begged silently

"Have you ever
Seen this before?"
Martinus asked

Taran shrugged

"What is it?" Martinus' gaze
Bored into her son's face
Anya held him
As if she could
Make this
All go
Away

"It's a Hoozelie Draw-Engine,"
Taran said

"Is it yours?"

"No. Hoozelie
Is for babies."

"Do you know any
Babies
That might like to play with this?"

"I'm five. I don't play
With babies."

- Julia Smith, 2009 / original piece written 2007

Illustration - Azureus Rising - Prison Cell by Hideyoshi

Dorothy says Your poems always tell an intriguing story.

Michelle Johnson says I love that ending. Children can be so honest and forthright can't they?

Anthony North says I share your words on this poet's community. It's great here.

Thursday Thirteen - 100! - 13 of My Favorite T13s From My Archives

1 - 13 Things I Long To Do

This was a response to Claudia, who wondered what I long to do after I posted a list of things I'll never do.


















2 - Julia Needs

This list comes from a Google search game, where you type in your name along with the word needs and see what comes up in the search engine. I nearly killed myself laughing at how closely this list mirrors the real me.














3 - 13 Reasons to Read Book Review Series

These have become a signature aspect of my blog. I have all of my book reviews posted in their own archives, with a link on my sidebar. To see them, click HERE.


















4 - 13 Works of Art Series

Another signature of A Piece of My Mind are the art work posts, showcasing the talents of fine artists. I also have these collected in their own archive, with a link in my sidebar. To see them, click HERE.


















5 - 13 of My Favorite Ballets

It's no secret to regular readers that I am a certified ballet freak. I often review ballets - read a sample HERE.

















6 - 13 Reasons I Hate to Cook

This one of my earliest T13s - before I learned how to load pictures onto my blog.













7 - 13 Fictional Male Characters I Love

I spend copious amounts of time thinking about fictional male characters - my own and the ones I've discovered in film, television, theatre and books. Here are some of my all-time faves.













8 - 13 of My Favourite Canadian Hotties in Honour of Canada Day

When I was checking these over for this retrospective list, to my amazement, 'Albert' the Philly cream cheese manservant had left a comment about being chosen as my #9 Canadian Hottie. Check it out!












9 - 13 of My Favorite Fictional Couples

Second to thinking about fictional male characters, I spend an awful lot of time thinking about fictional couples. I highly recommend it!














10 - 13 Funniest Film Scenes

I have a strange reaction to laughing really hard - it triggers an asthma attack. Be assured that every scene listed here had me in physical agony, while tears of both laughter and the inability to breathe squeezed out of my eyes.














11 - Introducing 13 of My Ancestors

This was my first mega-post. But definitely not the last.
















12 - 13 Things About Canada's Role in the Two World Wars

This is one of my favorites. I concentrated on Remembrance Day at A Piece of My Mind last year, leading up to Nov. 11th.












13 - 13 Reasons I Counted the Days Until George W. Bush Was Outta Here

My delirium of joy after America's historic election last fall was only partially about aquiring Obama.