A Letter to Fathers From Your Daughters - written by Christine Hassler / Source: http://thedailylove.com/a-letter-to-fathers-from-daughters/

A Letter to Fathers From Your Daughters In honor of this Father's Day, I am moved by the impact a Father has on the life of his daughter. As a coach and facilitator for the past 10 years, I have seen first hand how a woman's relationship with her Dad influences every aspect of her life. John Mayer sings it well: "Fathers, be good to your daughters, Daughters will love like you do." My hope is this letter inspires all fathers and fathers-to-be to call yourselves forward and realize the role you play in our life. This letter is to truly celebrate what is possible between fathers and daughters -- no matter what age she is. It is never too late or too early to begin a loving relationship. Daughters, if your father was not the Dad you wished he would be, I am sorry. You have my compassion. Take in the words of this letter and know you are so worthy and deserving. Trust you will discover great healing when you forgive and then create what you may not have had. Do this by only being with men with generous hearts who value fathering your children and the children of the world. And by raising your sons with the strength of heart that will inspire him to be a great man and a great father. Dear Fathers of the World, You are the first man that I ever loved. You are my hero. Your arms were the first place where I felt so safe and protected. The smile that comes upon your face when you see me makes me feel so cherished and adored. Thank you for listening. Being able to be share with you and show you my vulnerability has been so important for my development as a woman. You have known when to offer me advice and when simply to wipe my tears. Thank you for working hard to provide for me and our family. It has provided me with a sense of security that has propelled me in creating a fulfilling foundation for my own life. Thank you for accepting me for who I am. Your unconditional support of my gifts and my quirks has supported me in knowing who I truly am. Loving encouragement from you has been the wind beneath my wings. Thank you for showing me your softer side. I know you are strong and protect me, but I also love when you show me your tears. When you reveal your emotions I feel so special and close to you. Thank you for your time. Seeing you at my games, recitals, graduations, and at home for dinner made me feel like a priority in your life. Thank you for always telling me to take a sweater and be careful. Even though it was annoying, I knew it was your way of saying, "I want you to feel comfortable and safe." And thank you for interrogating every boy who came over. Even though it was so embarrassing, I knew it was your way of saying, "You mean the world to me." Thank you for being my teacher. You taught me how to ride a bike, throw a ball, open a checking account, and change a tire (or better yet gave me my first AAA card). Thank you for not cheating. Your loyalty has helped me to be able to trust men and be drawn to healthy, loving relationships. Thank you for being honest. I look up to you and respect your integrity. And your strong character has inspired me to value and honor myself. Thank you for being a loving shoulder to cry on when my heart has gotten broken and a hand to high five to celebrate when I achieved a dream. Thank you for giving me advice when I've needed to negotiate a deal, sign a lease, or take a leap of faith. Your wisdom is gold to me. Most of all thank you Dad for being you. I know you that you are my Father but you are also a human being, on your own path and learning your own lessons. Even if you have not done all these things, I know in my heart you have been the perfect Father for me for you have taught me the life lessons I need to learn. No matter what I will always love you. And no matter how old I am, I will always be your little girl. Happy Father's Day. With love, Your daughter This is dedicated to my Dad, Patrick. I love you.

A Father’s Message to His Daughters

Hello Young Ladies: I have been thinking about the two of you a lot lately on this final day of 2014. I have been thinking about all of our mornings, when you were small, at the breakfast table and the conversations we have had about a certain little monkey and life. I have been thinking about all the weekend mornings we laid in bed and you asked questions and talked about all of your dreams. I have been thinking about all the visits we have took to the Magic Forest, to Grasshopper Hill, to the park with the long red tube slide (near the soccer fields), to the A_lt_ V_st_ Library and how we talked about beauty and peace and contentment and joy. Those are the most amazing moments I have ever had in my life. I will never forget them as long as I live. But while we have shared in so many special moments and had so many amazing conversations, in too many ways, I have been the stereotypical man, unwilling or unable to fully open up and express my heart and my feelings to you. I am sorry for that. So first let me say that, even though I wish you a good night and say that I love you (even if you cannot hear my voice), I continue to love you with all of my heart. I don’t ever want you to forget that your tremendous value and beauty as a human being. As my daughter. You are worthy and valuable and beautiful and loved… simply by being you. And that will never change. So refuse to ever buy into another narrative about yourself. I hope and pray that you will never forget that. Your worth, value, and beauty are also not defined by or dependent upon any man or woman. You are a beautiful young woman who must find her way in a complex world. I know that you can manage it. I love you with all of my heart. I will always be proud to be your father. Love, Dad

Top Shelves: The most beautiful bookstores in the world

To see pictures of some of the most beautiful bookstores, visit these two links: http://thebookinsider.com/beautiful-bookstores/ http://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/jan/11/bestukbookshops

Father & Daughters: Unconditional Love - Article written by Ken Larson

Father & Daughter: Unconditional Love Written by: Ken Larson It goes without saying that as parents, we are supposed to unconditionally love our children. I don’t know about you, but I don’t always feel that way. Truthfully, I always love my children, no matter what they do; but, the day to day trials of parenting mask that love with anger, hurt, and frustration more often than not. Do you ever feel like that too? I am sure that no matter what, you always love your Daughter. However, Daughters can often behave in a manner that makes it pretty tough to feel that love. When you aren’t feeling the love, it makes it even harder to show your Daughter how much you love her. While I know that Daughters can often do things that are worthy of your anger, hurt, and frustration, I want to encourage you to remember that you love her, even in those moments. Do your best to overcome those thoughts and show your Daughter that you still love her just as much as the day that she was born. Nothing that she says or does can ever remove her from your love. Showing unconditional love can often work to diffuse all of the hurt, anger, and frustration that divide you from your Daughter. When she sees that you still love her, she will soften and remember that she loves you too. Love is a powerful thing and it can move mountains if you are willing to open yourself up to its power. A few tips for when you’ve lost that loving feeling: 1.Remember what your Daughter looked like the first time you held her in your arms. What were you thinking or feeling at that moment? 2.Remember the most touching gift that your Daughter ever gave to you (it might have been a piece of artwork, a poem, or a handmade gift from when she was a child). 3.Picture your Daughter telling you she loves you. Try to hear the words coming from her mouth and picture the expression on her face. These are just a few visualization exercises that might help you to focus on your unconditional love for your Daughter. You might have a few techniques that work better for you; great, use them. Just remember, the next time your daughter says or does something that leads you to feel something other than unconditional love for her, take a moment to pause and reflect on why you can never stop loving your little girl. Link: http://fatherdaughterjourney.com/father-daughter-unconditional-love/ Co-Founder, Ellen Schmitz journeyellen@gmail.com Co-Founder, Ken Larson journeyken@gmail.com Community Manager journeymary@gmail.com The Father Daughter Journey 6732 W. Coal Mine Ave. #249 Littleton, CO 80123

If you make a mistake and get all tangled up, you just tango on.

No mistakes in the tango, not like life. Simple, that’s what makes tango so great. You make a mistake… get all tangled up… just tango on. —Al Pacino as “Lt. Colonel Frank Slade,” Scent of a Woman Original short text written by Bernie the Monkey My favorite scene in the movie "Scent of a Woman" occurs when a blind man (played by Al Pacino) reassures a beautiful young woman that she has nothing to worry about. He has just invited her to dance the tango with him and she is understandibly nervous at the prospect. Firstly because he is blind and secondly because she has never danced the tango before. That is the message I want to send out to you, loyal reader, today. No mistake is too big to tackle. It takes two to dance. I remember dancing with my daughters in the kitchen when they were small. Sometimes we danced until we almost spun out of control. What joy it was. I may be older now and my arms and shoulders may not be strong enough to carry both my daughters anymore. But I will try, if you will try. That is my promise to you. Whenever you are ready to dance the tango with me, just reach out to me. With your Dad, if you make a mistake and get all tangled up, you just tango on. That is what it means to dance with an emotionally-available parent. I once knew a woman who nicknamed me Mr. Nothing is Impossible. That is because, at that time, in her eyes nothing was impossible for me. Well the good news is that "nothing is impossible". If you forgive yourself, put your faith in God, yourself and the other person (eg. B. the M.), trust in the amazing grace of your relationship with the other person (even if it is has lost much of the luster it had when you were younger), you will be amazed. Why suffer when you can love and be loved. The other person has not changed for the worst. He or she is essentially the same emotionally-available person he or she was when you were a child. So consider the following: What is the worst that could happen if you take a leap of faith and reach out to that long-lost person in your life even if it has been years since you last saw him or her. The worst that can happen is that you will be hurt and disappointed. But you are already hurt and disappointed so, as Craig encourages in "Dr. Childress Speaks With the Child", consider reaching out to that person with whom you feel estranged at the moment. Do yourself a favor. Allow the love that is buried in you and the love that awaits you in him to burst out. DO THAT and you will see life begin to get better for you in so many aspects of your life! Love. It is in you (and him) to give. So take a deep breath, reach out, and take a chance. I believe that you will not be disappointed. I have total confidence in you, love for you, and only positive thoughts about you. That is my promise. I will wait forever but I hope and pray that you will take the plunge sooner rather than later since to paraphrase Dr. Childress: "There is too much suffering and not enough love in the world. So let's reduce the amount of suffering and increase the amount of love". ------------ Some of the other dialogue from the movie follows below... Al Pacino: Excuse me senorita.. do you mind if we join you? I feel you are being neglected here Donna: Well i am expecting somebody Al Pacino: Instantly? Donna: No. But any minute now. Al Pacino: Some people live a lifetime in a minute. What are you doing NOW? Donna: I am waiting for him Al pacino: Do you mind if WE waited with YOU? Just to keep the womanisers away from you. Donna: Sure. [Al knew her face cleanser, by scent] Donna: Ah, that's amazing. Al Pacino: Well, I'm in the amazing business. Al Pacino: No mistakes in tango. Not like life. Simple.. thats what makes tango so great. Its simple..If you make a mistake you get tangled up.. just tango on The conversation is followed by one of the best scenes in the movie.. the tango scene. Al Pacino: I'll blow your fuckin head off Chris: Then do it. you wanna do it, do it.. Lets go. Al Pacino: Get outta here. Chris: You are fked up alright.. So what?? Everybody does it. Get on with your life. Al Pacino: What life? I got no life.. I'm in the dark here.. Do you understand?? I am in the dark Chris: You wanna give up?? Give up.. I am giving up too. We r both through.. Lets fkin do it.. Pull the trigger you blind motherfucker.. Al Pacino: You dont wanna die Chris: Neither do you. Al Pacino: Give me one reason not to Chris: I'll give ya 2. You dance a tango and drive a ferrari better than anyone I have ever seen Al Pacino: You have never seen anyone do either, have ya? Chris: You know when we get back to the hampshire, I dunno why you cant find someone. You are good-lookin guy, you are fun to be with, a great travel companion, sensitive, compassionate.. Al Pacino: Charlie?? ... are you fucking with me?? Chris: (smiles) yes --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amazing Grace - The Movie / The Song / The wide-eyed 10-year-old spirit that I love unconditionally

"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779, with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton (1725–1807). Newton wrote the words, with the message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, from personal experience. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace ------ John Newton (/ˈnjuːtən/; 24 July 1725 O.S./4 August N.S. – 21 December 1807) was an English sailor, in the Royal Navy for a period, and later a captain of slave ships. He became ordained as an evangelical Anglican cleric, served Olney, Buckinghamshire for two decades, and also wrote hymns, known for Amazing Grace and Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken. Newton started his career at sea at a young age, and worked on slave ships in the slave trade for several years, even after having a Christian conversion. Although Newton continued in the slave trade for several years, he later became a prominent supporter of abolitionism, living to see Britain's abolition of the African slave trade in 1807. ------ During his 1748 voyage to England after his rescue, Newton had a spiritual conversion. The ship encountered a severe storm off the coast of Donegal, Ireland and almost sank. Newton awoke in the middle of the night and, as the ship filled with water, called out to God. The cargo shifted and stopped up the hole, and the ship drifted to safety. Newton marked this experience as the beginning of his conversion to evangelical Christianity. He began to read the Bible and other religious literature. By the time he reached Britain, he had accepted the doctrines of evangelical Christianity. The date was 10 March 1748,[7] an anniversary he marked for the rest of his life. From that point on, he avoided profanity, gambling, and drinking. Although he continued to work in the slave trade, he had gained considerable sympathy for the slaves during his time in Africa. He later said that his true conversion did not happen until some time later: "I cannot consider myself to have been a believer in the full sense of the word, until a considerable time afterwards."[8] Back in 2006, when my younger daughter was 10-years-old, we saw the movie "Amazing Grace" as a family at the cinema. I remember the huge impact the movie had on her. To this day, I marvel at how she allowed herself to be moved and inspired by the story of how Britain ended its immoral involvement in the slave trade due in large part to the efforts of one man. According to Wikipedia, "William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was an English politician, philanthropist, theologian[1] and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade". To my 10-year-old daughter he was so much more than that. My dream is for the young members of my family to recall the amazing grace that allowed John Newton to go from slave trader to abolitionist. May God`s powerful grace inspire my family to make a journey as challenging and beautifully rewarding as the one that inspired the wondrous song Amazing Grace. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace_(2006_film)

"Call me Ishmael" - Near fatal struggle with Moby Dick (and Ahab)

Both Ahab and Ishmael are fascinated by the whale, but whereas Ahab perceives him exclusively as evil, Ishmael keeps an open mind. Ishmael's worldview is not static, as Ahab's is, but flux. "And flux in turn ... is the chief characteristic of Ishmael himself."[1] In the chapter "The Doubloon," Ishmael reports how each spectator sees his own personality reflected in the coin, but does not look at it himself. Only fourteen chapters later, in "The Guilder," does he participate in "what is clearly a recapitulation" of the earlier chapter.[2] The difference is that the surface of the golden sea in "The Guilder" is alive, whereas the surface of the doubloon is unalterably fixed, "only one of several contrasts between Ishmael and Ahab."[3] Ishmael explains his need to go to sea and travels from Manhattan Island(Okayama, Japan) to New Bedford (Ottawa, Canada). The inn is crowded and he must share a bed (house) with the tattooed Argentinian, Monica, a harpooneer who Ishmael assumes to be a cannibal (foreign student). The next morning Ishmael and Queequeg (Mónica Liliana Esquivel Molini) head for Nantucket. Ishmael signs up for a voyage on the whaler Pequod (marriage/family), under Captain Ahab. Ahab is obsessed by the white whale, Moby Dick, who on a previous voyage has severed his leg. In his quest for revenge Ahab has lost all sense of responsibility, and when the whale sinks the ship, all crewmembers drown, with the exception of Ishmael: “And only I alone am escaped alone to tell thee” (Job) says the epigraph. Ishmael keeps himself afloat on a coffin until he is picked up by another whaling ship, the Rachel.

Some of Bernie the Monkey's favorite movies / books / and news feeds - that he enjoyed in 2014

Some of Bernie the Monkey's favorite movies (that he saw in 2014) are: 1) Children of Heaven http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Heaven This Iranian movie first came out in 1998, but I only discovered it in 2014. It became the first Iranian film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, losing to one of my all-time favorite films, the Italian film "Life Is Beautiful" by Roberto Benigni. I watched Children of Heaven with my niece Kiara and my nephew Noah. Even if it was in Iranian, Peter and Alphonsine's kids absolutely loved it. They watched it from start to finish. While I recommend that viewers see it with English subtitles, you don't need the subtitles if you don't have access to them. It is a GREAT film. ------ 2) Another movie that I greatly enjoyed this year was a film made in India called: The Lunchbox. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lunchbox Again I watched this film first without subtitles and later with them. I watched it with my mom. We both enjoyed the story. It is a film well worth watching if you get the chance. ---- 3)Taare_Zameen_Par (English title: Like Stars on Earth) Another movie that I greatly enjoyed is about an autistic boy in the school system in India who is very unhappy at school until his art teacher (who had autism as a child) helps him discover his innate artistic ability. I am unable to find the name of the film but it is a great movie. Opps, I just found the title: Taare Zameen Par If you only watch one movie this month, B. the M. says that this is the one to watch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taare_Zameen_Par ----- 4)The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Another film that I watched with my mom in 2014 was: I recommend it highly. Here is a link to a write-up about it in the Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/exotic-marigold-senior-brits-go-to-india-adorableness-ensues/article4104515/ 5) Quartet: If you have a love for theatre or art (music, opera, classical song), you will likely enjoy the 2012 British film "Quartet", starring Maggie Smith. It is a great film to watch with a parent. I watched it with my mom in 2014. We both loved it. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartet_(2012_film) ------------------ A few books that I enjoyed reading this year: 1) The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing Genius by Kristine Barnett Great story of a mother's love for her child. Inspirational. ----- The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World Written by Bishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Reverend Mpho Tutu. Source: http://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/749855026_the_book_of_forgiving ------- "This is how I'd love you" A book I read on the bus this year was: http://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/781215026_this_is_how_id_love_you It is actually the type of book that one of my daughters might enjoy reading, not me. A young love story. But I took it out of the library on a whim and guess what, I enjoyed reading it. Source: http://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/781215026_this_is_how_id_love_you ------ Favorite News Feed UPWORTHY Upworthy runs on a simple mantra: sharing is caring. Barely a year old, it’s already a leader in a crowded community of social news sites, bringing attention to content that’s inspirational (watch a news anchor fight back against a bully who called her fat) and very shareable (see a waitress get a $500 tip). Its deceptively simple design emphasizes well-written headlines, the content itself and sharing options, creating a powerful viral effect. Just try and resist its siren call. Source: http://techland.time.com/2013/05/06/50-best-websites-2013/slide/upworthy/ My absolute favorite old-fashioned news feed is: Arts and Letters Daily http://www.aldaily.com/ Take a look at this source of great writing! Make it a favorite site on your list of "favorites". I check it every week and love reading it! ---------- Link: Upworthy http://www.upworthy.com/inspirational Well, that is everything from Bernie the Monkey tonight. Happy New Year!

Bernie the Monkey says "Never give up hope of re-uniting with those you love... and in the meantime - to avoid wasting all your trusty, rusty love energy - simply love those you are with."

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago. In a land far far far away. There lived a little monkey named Bernie the Monkey. Bernie the Monkey was walking through the forest one day when all of a sudden a (couple of) rose-coloured flower(s) poked out from the meadow garden and asked him to him in clear but shaky voice(s), "Hello Bernie the Monkey. Can you help? My problem is this: I cannot be with those I love at the moment or for the forseable future.... What do I do?" "Not to worry," replied Bernie the Monkey. "Never stop believing that one day you will be re-united with those you love. In the meantime, never lose hope. And remember: "If you cannot be with those you love today or tomorrow, love those you are with in the meantime... until you are re-united with those you love". The rose-coloured flower(s) brightened up at this optimistic suggestion. "I will keep the candle of eternal hope burning (and my daughters' welcome mat out on the front step) until those that I love can re-connect with me... whenever that is. I will NEVER give up hope. In the meantime, "until I can be with those I love, I will love those I am with." And if you ever feel alone or unloved, just open the palm of your hand (or your sister or nearest friend's hand) and trace a "Round the Bush... Round the Bush" in the middle of your or her palm with the index finger of your other hand. Then just "walk" that "Big Black Bear (in there) with two fingers until you get near their armpit. At that point, you must quickly tickle them under the armpit saying "Ticky, ticky in there". That simple act will surely bring you back to a simpler time, when loving one another was barrier-free and more simple. Even just thinking about Big Black Bear can often help you to re-connect someone you love, even if it has been a very long time since you last saw that person. Try it. It might just work, my dear rose-coloured flower(s). If you have a long first name, you may also try the old tr_st_, r_st_ pock_t-kni_e trick as well. Both can be very effective ways of connecting emotionally and in a psychic way with a long-lost friend"! If you have a short first name, try conjuring up your Uncle's "your slower than molasses in January" comment from when you were young. Or the time, you visited PEI with your long, lost friend. Or how you used to have picnic in the "Bosque Majico", make pancakes together, ride bicycles together, take out stacks of kids books and read them in bed, say "Seniora F_rn_nde_" before heading out to the museum or library or park, or how you played hide and seek with the "Wolf" on the playstructure atop Grasshopper Hill" Conjuring up any of those mental images will allow you to reconnect with those you love when you cannot be with them. If that fails, just look out at the moon and know that they are looking at the same moon. Proof: Yesterday's Dec. 28 moon was a half moon. "Oh, Bernie the Monkey, how can I (we) ever thank you for this simple, positive, mindful suggestion?", enquired the rose-coloured flower. "That's ok," replied Bernie the Monkey with a twinkle in his eye, "That's my job"

Bernie the Monkey wishes Merry Xmas to his family overseas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the forest, not an animal was stirring except for Bernie the Monkey.... Once upon a time a long long time ago in a land far, far far away there lived a father-monkey named Bernie the Monkey. This December with his family overseas, Bernie the Monkey did his best to make his Christmas 2014 meaningful and impactful for people as many as possible, especially himself. Dec. 24 began auspiciously with a trip to his office. Little real work gets done on Dec. 24 in an Ottawa government office, Bernie the Monkey made the most of the opportunity to renew with as many co-workers as possible. He did the same with the extended family. He left the house at 7:30 am on Wednesday Dec. 23, 2014, with precious cargo, his niece Kiara and nephew Noah from Rockland Ontario. Kiara had a severe allergy to cat hairs but remained in the house adjacent to the Grotto of the Saint of Rockland (late grandfather Teddy Bear Nunan). Kiara and Noah were off to the early morning Christmas party at the office of their mother. Meanwhile after dropping them off, Bernie continued on to his place of work. Major Christmas celebrations were being planned there and he was immediately pressed into service as party organizer for staff and children alike. Director Jennifer Stewart recalled how he had helped with the coffee and tea preparation at the event in the office of Stewart. Jamie H., Loretto M., Rachel C., Guillaume T. and other colleagues wished him all the best. Like all people labouring in a government office, Berrnie the Monkey received a Tim Hortons gift card from Santa Claus (PM S. Harper) himself. In the afternoon he picked up three people in Ottawa South (Alphonsine and her daughters Lise and Chou Chou) and drove them to Montreal bus depot to catch a Greyhound to NYC. B. the Monkey and the three ladies arrived at 6:00 p.m. even if the bus did not depart till 9 p.m. Bernie the Monkey said a silent prayer for the safety and well-being of his old friends, El-EE and Loralie. In a far off country, they were out-of-touch but far from out-of-mind. It is my hope that my old friends are having a good Christmas and holiday break. Love Bernie the Monkey.

Dec. 23 Gift - Support your local Young Women's Emergency Shelter

From: YSB Charitable Foundation [mailto:ysbfoundation@ysb.on.ca] Sent: December-23-14 4:52 PM To: Bernard Nunan Subject: Thank you for your donation to the Young Women's Emergency Shelter Dear Bernard Nunan, Thank you for your recent donation of $50.00 CAD in honour of LAURA CECILE NUNAN, on the occassion of her 18th birthday. Your gift is truly valued. Please note that for gifts greater than $20.00 CAD, tax receipts will be issued shortly via e-mail. If you have any questions please contact the YSB Charitable Foundation at 613-729-1000. Once again, thank you! Your donations are helping us make a difference. The. (. l Sincerely, Janice Barresi Executive Director YSB Charitable Foundation .". "

B. the M. sends message-in-a-bottle to Barnyard's daughter Elsie

Bernie the Monkey sends "message in a bottle" to his long-lost friend's daughter Elsie on Dec. 23, 2014 Once upon a time, a long long time ago in a land far, far, far away, there lived a little monkey named Bernie the Monkey. One day Bernie the Monkey woke up suddenly in the middle of the night in his house in the forest after being tasked with executing a very important humanitarian mission with military-style precision. "Your mission, should you accept it, is to launch a message-in-a-bottle within less than 24 hours," read the cryptic request from his long-time friend and co-creator Barnyard Newman. "It will be a bit of a Hail-Mary Pass", admitted Barnyard, "since few if any "messages sent in bottles are ever received by a recipient at their destination." "This one is sure to reach its target" assured Bernie the Monkey", for your aim is straight, your purpose is pure, and your heart is in the right place on this one", Bernie the Monkey told Barnyard. "I can send it, but it is up to the recipient to decide if the message gets delivered in the spirit of goodwill, humanitarianism, fellowship and love in which it was launched. That is for her to decide, not me." "Your long-lost younger daughter may be asleep but according to my trusty, rusty "Message in a Bottle Guidebook and Pocket Knife", ANY MESSAGE LAUNCHED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HER BIRTH STANDS AT LEAST A CHANCE OF SUCCESS OF REACHING ITS TARGET", cooed Bernie the Monkey reassuringly to his evervescent interloper Barnyard. "Besides anyone who loves doing the dishes as much as you is sure to be missed at some point, if only once the sink is full. What I am trying to say is that "IF YOU FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND ALLOW YOURSELF TO REMAIN ON THE SIDE OF GOODNESS AND LIGHT, YOUR MESSAGE WILL BE RECEIVED IN THE POSITIVE SPIRIT IN WHICH IT WAS WRITTEN.", Bernie told Barnyard. And so it was on such an auspicious note that the latest Bernie the Monkey mission was launched. "I have scribbled a few words of congratulations on this slip of paper in honour of my daughter Elsie's 18th birthday", admitted Barnyard. "But she is in a far off land that I have not visited in nearly three centuries," Barnyard told Bernie. "Not to worry", I will use my trusty, rusty time-machine-and-pocket-knife as a rocket launcher to send your "message-in-a-bottle beyond the shallow eddies and into the middle of the Ocean of Love".' Here is the first clue for finding the hidden memne in the message in a bottle: Childress' Basic Message for the World: There is too much hurt in the world, so whenever we have the chance we should reduce the amount of hurt in the world. There is not enough love in the world, so whenever we can, we should do our best to increase the amount of love in the world. With those Quixotic words, Bernie the Monkey snatched the birthday greeting from Barnyard's hand and stuffed it into an empty Kraft Peanut Butter jar. "Your brother Mark once claimed that you could live on a desert island with only peanut butter and banana sandwiches", Bernie the Monkey told his loyal friend. "That is why I am using that jar for this important mission". "Wait", cried Barnyard, "I still didn't scrape the last vestiges of peanut butter from the inside of the jar". But it was too late, as Bernie the Monkey had already stuffed the message into the bottle. "Sorry but we have no time to waste if you want this message to reach your daughter before she awakes in a few hours". "Better to have her receive a slightly oily 18th birthday greeting than none at all", Bernie the Monkey said. Barnyard was not so certain. A realist, he knew that his message might not be well received or even received at all for that matter. "Messages in bottles are not the most reliable mode of transport for very important birthday greetings. Besides what if it arrives while my daughter is still sleeping and accidentily "bopps" her on the side of the head when it lands at her feet," said Barnyard. "How can it hit her in the head if it lands at her feet, Bernie the Monkey corrected. "The last thing I want to do is turn yet another positive attempt into a negative," Barnyard said "Don't fret," said Bernie. Your heart is in the right place and besides we are using Kraft's plastic peanut butter jar (crunchy of course) with a red top, not a heavy glass one; so if it accidentely hits her on the side of the head upon re-entry into the solar system on planet Venus, she may still appreciate the gesture even if she gets a split-second momentary headache. "What did you jot down on that piece of paper," Bernie the Monkey enquired after the rocket launcher had send the bottle out of the Mars stratosphere and into the Venus Galaxy. "Just the usual sort of stuff a Dad would say to a daughter living on a piece of flying stone in a far off galaxy gazillions of light-years away... I love you and miss you. Hope you are doing well, are enjoying life as best you can." "Anything else", asked Bernie the Monkey? "I buried a secret memne inside an obscure youtube video called "Dr. Childress talks to the Child". "The memne is a secret roadmap that can lead one from the wilderness back to home. All you have to do is believe... and to trust your heart not your head for 30 days.". "I know that video series", said Bernie the Monkey, "but of all the millions of library resources, why would you select such an obscure video in which to hide the memne?" "Elementary, my dear (Emma) Watson," answered Barnyard with a start. "It is a wholesome, positive, enlightened way of looking at a problem that has dogged me and my family for centuries. I love how the video itself is a map guiding you to buried treasure. Craig Childress spent his lifetime tackling the rare sort of challenges that befell me in the years before the Dark Ages descended on the kingdom. Like in Peter Pan, Childress has helped countless children and their parents (members of what he calls "special families") to understand the true nature of the challenges that confront them and to find their way back onto the Road to Recovery. Childress spent a lifetime determining the three-pronged root of the problem affecting his so-called special families, and I spent a lifetime seeking out the Childress roadmap. But it is one thing to find a roadmap, it is an entirely different horse-of-a-different colour to have others trust their heart, go with the gut on a hunch and a prayer, and set off on the road with the Childress map. It was at that point that Barnyard looked his long-time friend, ally and alter-ego Bernie-the-Monkey in the eye and confided something very private and personal to him. "I now know that I was a co-dependent. That is why I remained on the dance floor long after the music had stopped. Long after I should have collected my bag of marbles, left the game, and headed home." I was an emotionally available parent who tried to placate the problem instead of confronting it head on. For years. I was conplicity. Even if my errors were errors of omission, not commission, they were errors nonetheless. I was miserly and a work-a-holic. I was not aware of the primordial importance of Attachement Theory. Unlike Dr. Childress, I did not know that a dog's intestines can get twisted out of shape, causing the dog to "bloat". I had no idea that a child/parent attachment bond can get bent out of shape at an early age under duress and stress. I just did not know." "But did you not once accidently cause the death of your daughter's pet guiney pig by feeding it too much enriched alfalfa thus causing it to bloat and die." asked Bernie the Monkey pointedly. "Yes", admitted Barnyard. "But at the time I had no idea that a twisted intestine inside a dog or guiney pig could be used as a descriptive analogy for what I now realize has happened to my family". I have learned many things about shoes, ships, ceiling wax, how we can only control ourselves and not others, how the best way to love others is by loving ourself first, how we are all on a journey of discovery and that there are no shortcuts. If you don't do the homework, you don't get to graduate from Happiness School, how the best way to become the father my daughters deserved is by becoming the assertive man that I was meant to become, how to trust my heart and not live in fear. Fear, guilt and shame have held be back for too long now. It is time I emerged from my shell and embraced all that is possible in a confident, healthy, loving way. "Enough said for now", retorted Bernie the Monkey sharply. "We've got an 18th anniversary birthday greeting to send to your daughter. A positive, life-affirming greeting that may or may not land on fertile earth? But that is not for you to decide. Only she can determine if the birthday message will be received or not. You may be the author of the note, but she is the one who gets to decide how it is received. "You are right," admitted Barnyard. "At the start of every Co-Dependents Anonymous meeting, we open with something called the Serenity Prayer: "May I accept what I cannot change; change what I can, and have the wisdom to know the difference (between the two)." That has become my mantra. It is the reason I came to you, Bernie the Monkey, to help me launch a message in a bottle to my daughter Elsie before the sun rose on her wonderful, fabulous 18th birthday! Now that the message in a bottle has been sent with a memne imbedded halfway into an obscure video called "Dr. Childress Speaks with the Child", I am ready for bed. Our job is done for tonight. May she have a very happy birthday wherever she is, with whomever she is with for.... as my favorite song says, "if you cannot be with the ones' you love, then love the ones you are with". It took me more than two years to stumble upon the holy grail for my "special" family, Childress Speaks to the Child. If only his recipe were that simple. Imagine a world where an adult child trusts his or her parent's instincts and tries to follow Childress' recipe for happiness for 30 days. Imagine how virtually all of that adult child's perceived problems might just fall away like water off a duck's back by simply giving it a chance. If only it were that easy. In fact, it is both that easy and that hard. The 30 days are the easy part, it is getting into the right frame of mind to try the 30-day trial period expoused by Childress that is the hard part. "Bernie the Monkey, you have lanched the message in a bottle before the dawn on Dec. 23. How can I ever thank you? "That's OK", replied Bernie the Monkey, with a loving wink. "That's my job". Happy 18th Birthday Elsie. Love your Dad, Barnyard. XXOO

Teacher Conference in Kochi, Japan - Jan. 25, 1991. Letter to my father. Found in his roll-top desk today (Dec. 21, 2014)

Dear Mom & Dad, I just got back from a conference today. It was a 3-day affair in Kochi City (look it up on a map - it's in Southern Japan). T'was a little warmer than Okayama is at the moment. Irma came down with me. So she enjoyed shopping or discovering the sights of Kochi while I attended 3 days of conferences in the Kochi Conference Centre. The topics: Education & living in Japan. Some 400 people took part, 300 AETs (like me) & 100 Japanese teachers of English (TTEs). AET means Assistant English Teacher. Irma & I didn't say in a hotel, although most AETs did. We did a homestay in a very comfortable AET apartment. It boasted a VCR with two English films. The owner of the "aparto" (how Japanese people say apartment) kindly rented a couple of movies, you see. Her name is Debbie Riverbed or something like that. And she's from England. She was one of the organizers of the 3-day conference. So she simply bunked with her fellow organizers, I guess. In fact, I never actually met her. You see, she left her key under the garbage can outside and told me where it was by phone. She is a Berkeley, California, University graduate. Really there are some interesting people on this program. In Kochi, I met the guy I shared a hotel room with when I first landed in Tokyo 18 months ago. He's a very nice guy, from Ottawa, Ontario. He has a Japanese girlfriend, so we (Irma, he, Mika, and I) went out for supper on the last night of the conference. By the way, Jane's wedding video is a big hit with my students. I like to show them the scene where Dad is crying & the shot of Jane & Marc kissing. All think Jane is gorgeous in her white wedding dress. Tonight I must write a one-page article on the Naked Man's Festival that I attended last year. It's for a local newsletter. By the way, my supervisor is helping me get Irma's article on "Sewing Machines for Mexico" into the local newspaper. But I digress... to get back to my original topic (Kochi), it is a 3-hour express train ride from Okayama. I left for Kochi half a day later than my friends for a very sad reason. The 22-year-old daughter of one of my fellow teachers died. She was on a homestay in Christchuch, New Zealand, when she died in her sleep. The funeral was the day before the conference. Mrs. Nishizaki & her family held the funeral in their home (a Japanese custom). Many people arrived carrying envelopes filled with money. A tent near the house is where you give the contribution. Then you enter the front gate and sprinkle incense (check spelling) on a small smoldering fire. Funeral chants are uttered non-sop within the house. Then everyone waits outside for an hour or so till the ceremony is over. The family exits and thanks the friends for coming. Lost in a sea of tears, the father gave a short eulogy directed at the audience. The largest group of mourners were the girl's old brass band club from high school. You see, clubs are like family. Well, that's all for now. Love Bernard xxooxx P.S. Mrs. Nishizaki was holding a small box within which were the cremated (ash) remains of her daughter. After the eulogy, the family re-entered the house. Now direct contact was made between the family & mourners. But Mrs. Nishizaki is my special friend. And as i was walking past the front gate, she spotted me as she was about to re-enter the house. Because I am a foreigner perhaps, she broke with tradition and walked quickly to me, carrying the dead girl's remains in the box. I walked toward her and was at a loss about what to do or say. In Japan, the ONLY thing you can do is give a cash donation to the family. I blurted out that "You are a beautiful woman and this is a terrible thing." Not the most eloquent thing to say, but what can you say to an eternal optimist who has just lost a precious daughter. Then I put my arm around her, TO THE DISMAY OR SURPRISE OF SOME OTHER JAPANESE. Then I slowly retreated and she did a most remarkable thing. She performed a deep, low bow (still cradling her child in her arms) until I and Mr. Araki were out of sight. What an incredible woman. It is a moment I can never forget. What a tragedy! P.P.S. Mrs. Nishizaki alwas had tea with me and Mr. Teratani at Asahi High School. She also organized a party in honour of Irma and my wedding. She also drove me to the City Hall for the ivil marriage & was one of the wo official witness. As well, on our church wedding day, she took Irma to her mother for the kimono-fitting and she was the last person to leave after we'd cleaned the hall following the reception. So she is a very, very dear frined of mine and Irma's. Bye, B.N.

Nov. 14/1991 - Okayama, Japan - Letter to my father - was found today (Dec. 21, 2014) among Dad's things.

Dear Mom and Dad, Hello from Japan. Thanks for the letter and the photo of Jane. By the way, Irma and I plan to have the civil part of our marriage performed tomorrow at the city hall. Afterwards, the religious ceremony will take place (in a couple of weeks). I'll try to call you from the city hall just before signing of papers. Opps! Irma just popped into the house on the way from her homestay to her class a the university. She is very happy and says she couldn't sleep last night because we are getting married tomorrow. We've invited a couple of our closest friends - Deirdre Roberts from the Education Centre (and my mom-away-from moms) and Monica, Irma's best friend from Argentina. And now she's gone - like a thread of gossamer caught in a gust of wind that is the breath of God. This morning I was listening to Radio Canada International, in French. The main story was about a conference in Hull for Native Women. It is seen as a blow for male natives because the women want their rights and freedoms enshrined in the "Declaration of Rights and Freedoms". Most native leaders are men, and the women are apparently worried that their rights will not be guaranteed unless they appeal to the federal government. Or something like that. It's nice to hear Canadian french again. Classes went well at Ujo High last night. That's my night school. Until recently I was only team-teaching one class per night. I asked to teach alone three classes per night. Last night I taught my first three classes. The last class was pure magic, with me sitting in front of the class and all the students listening to English and me asking them to translate everything into English. First I taught them about hello, good morning, good afternoon and good evening. Next I said: What is your name, and they told me their names. Then I drew a stick-figure on the blackboard and asked them to guess his name. How old is he, etc. It was truly inspired teaching and the class came alive!! (Nov. 15) Tonight I get married. This morning I got up at maybe 3:30 a.m. - must be nerves. I've been freezing here in my apartment. Been thinking how Japanese is taking over the world, and how English-speaking nations are simply lying down and playing dead. But the world is made up of individuals, and there are lazy and hard-working individuals in every nation. Last night I had two more good classes at Ujo. It's really quite a turnaround from the recent past. It just goes to show that anything is possible: if you find a situation unacceptable, change it!! Tonight at 4 p.m. I get married at the city hall. And I'm looking forward to it. I love Irma. Enough said, for now I must go and prepare my blue suit for tonight. Lots of love on this important day, Mom and Dad and family. Thanks againfor bringing me up and preparing me so well for this day. Quite an achievement. Your loving son, Bern. XX0X0X Love your son, Bern.

Stewart McLean is currently reading one of my favorite Vinyl Cafe stories. A Christmas story about Morley's University-age daughter, Sam, finding a book about "Myths and Legends" in a bookstore. It is about receiving a book in the mail from a mystery sender. It is about the magic of books and how they can transport the reader to other worlds. Books have been important in my life. As my mom used to say, "If you have a book, you are never alone". Just listening to the Vinyl Cafe brings me back to a very happy time years ago. Listening to it on my old portable shortwave transitor radio (a gift I received once) makes it even more special. It is like magic. McLean's The Vinyl Cafe and Eleanor Wachtel's Writers and Co. are two radio shows on CBC that never fail to work their magic on me. They assuage my black dog moments and lift my spirits by bringing me back to a time years ago. I guess magic does exist. Last night (Wed. Dec. 17, 2014)I went to "The Loft", a Boardgame Cafe, on or near Besserer Street. It is a cafe where you play boardgames. It was my second visit. I had a wonderful time. It is even better than Monopolatte. Now you know my favorite pub/cafe, where people talk and play boardgames together instead of texting or talking on iphones! Go on a Tuesday evening and there is no $5 cover charge. Try the veg. pizza. That is what I had both times I visited The Loft. P.S. Tonight I attend a function at École élémentaire d'enseignement personnalisé Édouard-Bond. I will meet Kiara and Noah in the gym, as usual. Then there is a Christmas function and a pot-luck buffet. We will be at the school from 4:30 till at least 6:00 p.m. tonight. Bye for now, Gentle Reader. Bernie the Monkey

Letter to Dear Reader

Dec. 11, 2014 Ottawa Just wanted to say hello, dear Reader. I trust life is treating you well. It is 14 days till Christmas and 12 days till my daughter Laura's 18th birthday. We received a lot of snow last night. I picked up Kiara and Noah at their school and took them to hockey practice last night. I drove slowly and left lots of space between me and the car ahead of me. That is my secret when driving. I learned to drive at a driving school called "Omni-Lateral Driving School" when I was your age. The driving instructor emphasized the importance of leaving lots of space around your car when driving. If you leave more space, you have more time to react when driving. "Excessive speed and insufficient space or distance between cars is what causes drivers to become involved in accidents," he explained. It is advice that I have tried to heed ever since I was 20 years old. That is all for now, Bernie The Monkey

Amateur video producer needed to make 10-minute CPJ video. Contract pays max. $2,000.00

Wanted: Ottawa-based video producer to produce a 10-minute web-based video showcasing the valuable work done by staff at local charity, CPJ (http://www.cpj.ca/) Contract will pay a maximum of $2,000 to a video/film producer. No professional experience required. Contact Bernard Nunan at 613-948-1632 (bernard.nunan@pwgsc.gc.ca) or Joe Gunn at CPJ if you are interested in producing this short video. If you are interested in producing this video but do not have access to local video equipment or a green screen, note that on Dec. 12, 2014, Bernard obtained the free use of both the gear and the green screen from the manager of ImagineSpace in Ottawa. See this freelancer's news report on ImagineSpace and more info on the project's greenlight by CPJ management below. To-date no one has come forward to accept this paid video production contract. As soon as a producer has been secured, a notice will be posted on this Bernie The Monkey blog... to let you all know that the position has been filled. --------- Local news reporter Bernard Nunan receives exclusive guided tour of "Imagine Space" http://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/ImagineSpace On Friday, Dec. 12th, freelance news reporter Bernard Nunan was granted an exclusive 45-minute tour of "Imagine Space" at the Ottawa Public Library (OPL)'s Centrepoint Library Branch, by the manager of Imagine Space. OPL and the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa have collaborated to open Ottawa’s first public makerspace entitled Imagine Space. This is the first and only free Makerspace in eastern Ontario. There is one in Toronto and one in Montreal. OPL Centrepoint is a creation and collaboration hub, offering technologies and tools that allow customers to experiment and to create in a social setting. They are built on the premise that knowledge and learning is often better transmitted via sharing, collective problem solving, and task performance. The following cutting edge equipment is available in this Ottawa Imagine Space: Laser cutting Photo, video and audio editing Green screen and video gear Hand tools and electronics Wall-to-wall whiteboard NOTE: The Projet 1500 3D printers are currently offline Bernard Nunan visited the site in order to obtain the use of a green screen and video gear that could be borrowed free of charge from OPL for his collaboration with CPJ. All that is needed now is to find an amateur video producer interested in making the video in return for a max. $2,000 (CAN). Brief History of Project's Inception: In Sept. 2014, Bernard Nunan has been collaborating on a volunteer project with Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ). The iniative was the brainchild of Bernard N. Note: On Sept 29, 2014, Brad Wassink of CPJ wrote: "Subject: CPJ video Just getting in touch to let you know that our policy team recently met to discuss the new video. There is a lot of excitement around the project and we’ll be doing some more detailed planning in the next couple weeks. What do you suggest as the best way to move forward? Who should I contact when we have a more detailed idea of what the video should look like?" Back on Sept 10, 2014, Jim McIntyre of CPJ wrote that "Your idea is getting some traction! We will discuss as a team in the next few weeks, but if you want to pave the way, please proceed! It's a creative idea and, given some of our video material need refreshing, quite timely."

Part 1 of: Bernie the Monkey & The One-Legged Shoe Thief

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago in a land far, far, far away, there lived a small monkey named Bernie the Monkey. One cold winter morning (weather like Ottawa on Dec. 17, 2014), Bernie the Monkey was called upon to drive his niece Kiara and nephew Noah to school. He had picked them up at their school the evening before, joined them at a Christmas school play and then taken them to spend a bit of time with his Aunt Jean McCarthy at her nursing home midway between their school and their home. That is when they caught sight of a one-legged man stealing only half of every pair of shoes he saw. In other words, he was only taking the left shoe. He was leaving the right shoe where it was. "That is very strange", thought Noah (future NHLer and junior detective) aloud. "Yes", agreed his sister Kiara. "Most peculiar!" TO BE CONTINUED Stay tuned for part II of this story. If it reminds you of a B the M story from many years ago, I can only nod my head in agreement since I do recall telling a very similar story to my own daughters after they pressed my bellybutton and activated my internal story machine once when they were small. Anyway, I must go pick up Kiara and Noah at their school now (since the threat of an icestorm scared their schoolbus away). But I will tell the rest of this story very soon. So stay tuned B the M fans! Spoiler alert: the continuation of the above story will involve Santa Claus, a shoe made of snow dyed pink, a gaggle of kids in a shopping centre, a very long shoe lace, etc.

CBC Vinyl Cafe with Stuart McLean CBC RADIO - VINYL CAFE (with Stuart Mclean)aGA

Again I listened to CBC radio today.  Hearing the voice of Stuart McLean as he tells stories, or listening to Writers and Co. in the afternoon are important touchstones for me.  They remind me of happier times when I used to listen in the south end of Ottawa.