Ashley Thomson

The Best Surprise!

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:21:00 GMT

Today at work I had a very unexpected friend stop in to say hello! I was so shocked and so excited to see my friend Mel at the front door of Star 96. She use to volunteer and work for the Canadian Diabetes Ottawa Branch and she would come to Pembroke to give presentations and be there for those of us volunteering in the area. After one of Mel's presentations it was about 8:30 at night and dark outside so she offered to give me a ride home so I didn't have to walk. During the ride I talked about my involvement with the CDA and Team Diabetes and she mentioned to me there would be an opportunity to go to Easter Island and that the CDA was only asking Alumni. I looked at her in utter shock and thought, "I can't believe this is happening!!!" I told her I'd think about it, (I had 4 days to think about it) and before she backed out of the driveway I already decided I would do it!

After that I was influenced by her positive and lovely spirit and enthusiasm for helping others. She's infectious! (In a good way!) A week before I left for Easter Island my friend Chantilly joined me to run the half marathon in Ottawa and when we were half way and hitting a low point, we rounded a corner in the course and saw and heard Mel jumping and yelling and encouraging us at a Team Diabetes Water Station. Chantilly and I ran up hugged her and took off with some additional pep in our step!

Mel doesn't just volunteer, her wife Ana, a chef, has also gotten into it. I remember attending volunteer meetings in Ottawa that Ana would cater and she would also volunteer her time at Camp Banting putting her skills to great use!

While Mel has left the CDA and is now working for the Lung Association in Ottawa, covering Cornwall and Renfrew County, she is still very much involved in the lives she's had such a powerful impact on along the way.

So today when I was told I had a visitor named Melanie at the front door, I practically ran to see her. It was such a nice surprise and I've been left with a huge grin on my face ever since!

Thank you Mel! Till next time!

(In the picture Mel is on the left and Ana the right)

Who Knew! Cross Country Skiing is Dangerous!

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:02:00 GMT

So I found this funny video of cross country skiers taking a plunge on a race course! It's AWESOME!

http://ca.screen.yahoo.com/cross-country-ski-carnage-194413927.html

Wednesday is Pink Shirt Day To End Bullying

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:09:00 GMT

Bullying isn't a joke, it doesn't make you "cool" and you won't have a bigger group of friends for making fun of someone else. Bullying takes on so many different forms these days it's hard to keep track. A couple of years ago the movement to end bullying started in Vancouver and moved east... then around the world. Tomorrow is the big day to wear your Pink shirt but maybe also take time out to think about how bullying has affected Canadians this year. How it's affected your friends, your children, parents, neighbours, etc. Bullying doesn't just happen in school. More and more I hear about adults who are being bullied in the workplace, at the hockey rink, or in their own homes. Unfortunately we have heard of the negative effects of bullying a little to much this year- from an older woman working as a bus monitor, to the suicide of Vancouver teen Amanda Todd. Tonight in Cobden a presentation is being given by the Phoenix Center for Youth and Families on how to deal with the effects of being left behind by someone who has committed suicide. Unfortunately there seems to be a right rate of suicide in Renfrew County.

I promise that I will make an effort to be more conscience of the words I say and the feeling of the people that my words affect. I also promise to be more aware of how people are effected by social media and what I possibly write also has consequences. Sometimes we end up being bullies when we don't even realize it.

Tomorrow I will wear PINK, but today, I will start to try and put an end to bullying.

http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/blogs/shine-on/pink-shirt-day-takes-stand-against-bullying-183633120.html

Happy 39th Anniversary Mom and Dad

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:51:00 GMT

Today is a pretty special day. Today is the day that my mother walked down an aisle in a beautiful dress to meet my dad at the front of a Church to say their vows to one another. 39 years ago they dedicated themselves “for better or for worse” to one another. I’m sure most kids think this way but my parents are the best! They gave everything imaginable to my brother and I so we could pursue our dreams and live our lives the best way possible. My parents have shown me how hard you have to work at a marriage and how rewarding that can be. My family, like others have faced countless ups and countless downs and through it all, looking back the vision I have, the memory that surfaces, is that my parents were together, facing everything together. My mom is a rock, my dad is the weepy one! HAHAHA. (My dad’s joke is that Thomson’s were born next to a waterfall!)

This summer when David and I were in Cayuga for the birth of the Triplets (My brother and his wives new additions) my dad was driving us around Hamilton and we ended up parked in front of Melrose Church. The Church my parents were married in. My mom with her broke limbs…(foot &arm) remained in the van while my dad took David and I around the Church to the Chapel where they said their “I Do’s”. It was locked. So we ended up in the main area of the church, went to the office and my dad told us stories of coming to this church when he was a boy. The Minister then came out and unlocked the Chapel and let us wander around while my dad relived that day. It’s changed a bit over the last 39 years and even if the carpet aisle isn’t the same one, I walked down it just like my mom would have with a big grin on my face. It was wonderful getting a glimpse at this magical piece of family history.

I wish them well today and am so glad they met all those years ago at Westinghouse. And I’m glad my mom asked him out!

P.S. the pic is of them on one of my recent visits saying goodbye to David and I's pup Sophia!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:53:00 GMT

This is probably one of my favorite times of the year! I'm serious, February may be a bluesy month but right in the middle is one of my favorite things. The Scotties Tournament of Hearts!! Not only am I a fan curling myself, but I'm a fan of watching it on TV. I love the coverage TSN gives the games and the women's tournament is proving to be more entertaining than the men. The men's tournament is a lot of the "same old, same old" but when it comes to the ladies there have been a better variety of teams making it the crown jewel of curling. While there are some staples there are also a lot of new faces. The Ottawa rink of Rachel Homan is one to watch for sure as her team makes their second appearance in 3years. A team from Alberta will be making their first appearance and who's not looking forward to the return of the "ice queen"? Yes Colleen Jones is back! She returns to the Scotties as a Vice! Exciting stuff!

When watching the men's event... the Brier... you get used to seeing shots made with big weight as well as very intricate shots that the women are really mastering now.

The other part of the Scotties I'm looking forward to... they are taking place in Kingston and it starts this Saturday!!!! (it lasts a week and a day!)

You guessed it! I'll be cheering team Ontario!

RIP Carrots

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:01:00 GMT

So, I'm a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables. When I was a child I watched the show religiously (Road to Avonlea as well), I read the series, and now I feel a little stabbed in the back about the recent "makeover" my idol has received.
When I think of "Anne" I think of the nickname "carrots" and I think about the fiery red head with freckles that had a personality to match! She was a day dreamer, and she was innocent and sweet! I don't ever remember her being a blonde in "daisy dukes" with a sexy pout on her face! The old Anne frolicked through the fields and was a true romantic... this new version of the iconic character looks like she'd smuggle raspberry cordial into the bushes to drink with the boys! I think I'm also upset because it seems you can't do anything these days without seeing overtly sexual characters in TV commercials, on sitcoms and even in cartoons! Why can't things just be left alone? Why do we have to go changing and re-inventing everything from the past?

I found the old Anne enchanting and I cling to the sweet romantic idea's portrayed in the series and the love story between Anne and Gilbert was the best! Anne will remain the same in my eye's of course!

I'm In Shock!

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:36:00 GMT

Treat others how you want to be treated! I can't believe someone of the "cloth" would do this to someone!

A waitress was fired from Applebee's after posting this to Reddit.com A Pastor scratched out the automatic tip amount and put "0" in it's place!

Have people not learned that anything and everything you do is no longer your own? You make a mistake and anyone in the world can know about it!

You can read the whole story here: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/pastor-tip-receipt-155914258.html

Regular People Doing Amazing Things!

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:25:00 GMT

I thought about blogging about my 17 year anniversary of the day I was diagnosed with diabetes and thought... I've done that before! It's old! I get, you get it, we all get it! 17 years equals lots of needles, sugar high's, sugar low's and lots of stuff in between. Instead I thought I would get inspired by going to one of my favorite websites. Yup... it's no secret... I love National Geographic online. Every time I log on there is some story of adventure or heroic undertaking being done by someone just like us! You and I could do these things if we wanted too! Today when I logged on there is a story about a man who is going to take seven years and walk, basically from Africa across the world to South America. The "Out of Eden" Walk (as it's labeled will retrace the foot path our ancient ancestors traveled as they moved across the world. The daring man undertaking the adventure is Paul Salopeck. Find out all about his journey here:

http://outofedenwalk.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/22/lets-walk/?source=hp_dl2_salopek_out_of_eden_20130125

The Interview

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:49:00 GMT

I said I would write about the Lance Armstrong Interview with Oprah and I guess this is it....

I'm glad it's over... I'm glad he admitted it... and everyone else has been talking about it so much and overanalyzing everything to the point my mind is swimming. I no longer care... my brother is still wearing his LiveStrong bracelet and my father refused to watch the interview because it no longer matters to him and he wasn't interested. I'm still a cycling fan and I will continue to ride. Name me a sport that's perfectly clean and then we will chat about why I can still support Cycling!

Trying to Stay Healthy While Everyone's Getting Sick

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:53:00 GMT

So it seems like people are sick everywhere! My mom back home, my sister in laws family, everyone at the Curling Club. I like to follow the blog Pink Pistachio and the writer posted a blog recently on a great drink to help give your immune system a boost. I think the drink looks delicious and even a good idea to have every now and then to keep colds and flu at bay! Check out her drink here:

http://www.pinkpistachio.com/immunity-smoothie/