J. Kelland Perry

Are You an “Animal Racist”?

Published on August 10, 2012January 17, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry11 Comments

Disclaimer: the following rant is in no way intended to minimize or satirize the very serious issue of racism in our world today. It was conceived with tongue firmly in cheek and for entertainment purposes only… sort of.

Are you tired of hearing countless dog lovers dissing cats as a matter of course? Have you grown weary, as I have, of people professing to be proud animal owners, and yet they sh*t on the existence of my beloved pets? I swear, if I hear one more dog owner claiming that dogs are the superior pet, I’m going to start the meanest cat-fight you have ever witnessed.

Don’t get me wrong. I love dogs. I adore dogs. I have owned dogs myself in the past, but right now my life is more suited for the feline variety of pets, due in part to their low maintenance, but also because of the compatibility of our personalities. We are quiet, for the most part, and slightly aloof. We are independent. We keep ourselves clean. And we love each other unconditionally, and pine for each other when we’re apart. ( But I’m getting off track here with my cat love. I am head over heels about horses too, but can in no way accommodate one in my life at this time either.)

Even media personalities are hopping on the “dogs and dog-people are best” bandwagon, spouting their prejudices like it’s something to be proud of. But folks, just because your opinion is popular doesn’t make it right. It makes you sound like you have succumbed to a form of speciesism. Besides, you hardly ever hear cat owners/lovers badmouthing dogs, the way so many dog owners/lovers badmouth cats.

Where is the tolerance? What happened to the idea of Live and Let Live? Can we not embrace all animals for their individuality and wonderfulness? I’ll even go out on a limb here and say it is comparable to the ignorance of a person saying he loves mankind, but in no way can he tolerate foreigners. It just doesn’t make any sense, like so many other kinds of prejudice ( and don’t get me started on that).

Can we not all embrace each other for our differences and uniqueness, and just get along?

I Love Book Club!

Published on August 2, 2012January 17, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry5 Comments

I have to say that I am so enjoying the local book club a couple of friends and I started this past January. Just two nights ago, our group gathered for another meeting to review our latest selection. And such a lively, thought-provoking discussion it was. We were happy as well to welcome a new member to our fold. Delighted to have you aboard, Kathy!

To become a member of our little group, the only real requirements are a pure love of reading and a willingness to share your opinions. But that is where most of our similarities end. What a diverse group of individuals we are! From a teacher, to a couple of retired nurses; from a minister’s wife, to a self-proclaimed atheist; a homemaker/blogger (yours truly), a designer, and even some artists, we are a varied lot. Some are originally from the area, but most of us aren’t.
Naturally, people being what they are, we often begin with the book in question, but soon veer off on tangents, taking the discussion to unexpected areas where voicing your two cents worth is welcome on any number of topics. When we have come together, we have shared thoughts and positions on racism, the medical profession, capital punishment, mental illness, greed, and crime, just to name a few.

Our provincial library has been a god-send in facilitating our passion: it has made available a long list of “book club kits” that we borrow from each month. All titles are either award-winning, well-reviewed, or both, and provide much variety of topics and tastes. Seldom does everyone love the book currently being discussed, but that often generates the most dynamic debates!

Here is what we have read and reviewed so far:

The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam
The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham

Coming up on our foreseeable agenda is:
Come, Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant (a fellow Newfoundlander)
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Of course, a happy by-product of Book Club is making new and interesting friends, and in my opinion, friends so interesting that they are usually reading other books, sometimes more than one at a time, in between our club picks.

Book worms, unite! Happy reading, everyone!

How to Start a Book Club (thiscircleofquiet.wordpress.com)
Happiness Is…a Good Book. So, a New Feature! A Book Club! (psychologytoday.com)

The Youngest Man In My Life

Published on July 25, 2012March 6, 2019 by J. Kelland Perry10 Comments

Meet the little fellow who happens to own a giant chunk of my heart. At just four years of age, “J” is the youngest person in my family, and in my life.

In many ways, my grandson J is your typical little boy. He likes to do the things his dad does, which includes everything from working on the car..

…to collecting Star Wars figurines! And like most little boys, J loves to get up close and personal with wiggly, wriggly things.

Usually our little man doesn’t mind getting his picture taken…

..but not always. 🙂

When I go to visit my little grandson, at first he is usually very shy, and his first instinct is to hide behind his mother’s legs. Then out of the blue, he suddenly runs toward me, barreling into my waist with the sweetest, strongest hug! What makes a four-year-old boy do that?

He makes me think that I must be a pretty good grandma, and that he knows I adore him. But I bet he hasn’t any idea just how much. ♥

Off to the City!

Published on July 11, 2012January 17, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry2 Comments

Now that the long-awaited summer has arrived in earnest in Newfoundland, your typical mortal starts thinking of getting out into the country. She may be planning a vacation in one of our lovely outports, or getting away from it all in a secluded cabin, or camping out and about in an RV or tent.

But where does a transplanted country mouse like me plan a summer getaway? Why, back to the capital city, of course. This Saturday, my husband and I are packing up our kitties, leaving his little hometown, and driving to my much larger hometown of St. John’s for a couple of weeks.

This change of pace also accommodates my mother-in-law and her son, who are switching houses with us for this period. I’ve been preparing my home for their stay, so that when they arrive everything will be ready for them, including some freshly baked bread and a pot of homemade soup. We hope they enjoy their holiday as well, in what we like to call our little corner of heaven on earth.

As for me, I know the time will fly by all too quickly. Between spending time with my mom in her nursing home, playing with our grandchildren, and visiting other family, that will barely leave time for much else. Somehow I must fit in some shopping, some outdoor fun, a dentist appointment, dining out, and partying too (husband’s birthday is fast approaching). George Street, maybe? We even have an out-of-town side trip planned to the Placentia Regatta celebrations with my siblings and their mates. Good times are in store, for sure.

Despite my temporary city mouse schedule, I will still do my best to post to my blog while I’m away. Have laptop, will travel!
What special plans have you made to shake things up for the summer?

Canada Tr avel: St. John’s Newfoundland a city on the move: great food and cafes (thestar.com)

Canada Day weekend..

Published on July 4, 2012July 1, 2017 by J. Kelland Perry11 Comments

Okay, this is the first time we ever had friends come to dinner – in a CANOE!

Another wonderful thing about living the coastal life. 🙂

Happy Birthday Canada! (kamafitness.wordpress.com)
Canada Day Cook Out (withoutadornment.wordpress.com)
O Canada (dreambles.com)

Scenes From France – Part Three: More Paris!

Published on June 26, 2012February 6, 2022 by J. Kelland Perry5 Comments

Join me for one last look at our trip to Italy and France, as I share some more of my Paris photos. Ah, quelle belle ville!

France 021 — outside Notre Dame Cathedral

France 025 — impressive French Gothic architecture

France 052 — Such a friendly congregation of birds outside
the Notre Dame Cathedral!

France 054 — one of many Seine River cruises

France 007 — Fountain in the Place de la Concorde

four — Beneath the Arc is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
with an Eternal Flame.

twelve — Did you know that the Eiffel Tower is nicknamed
La dame de fer (the iron lady)?

nine — Husband and I, just before the Seine Dinner Cruise

Scenes From France – Part One: Cannes (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
Scenes from Italy – Part One: Rome (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
In Passionate Defense Of The Rest Of France (missexpatria.wordpress.com)

Scenes From France – Part Two: Paris

Published on June 19, 2012February 24, 2018 by J. Kelland Perry5 Comments

Over the previous winter, my sister and I and our spouses had planned this Italy/France trip to end on a high note. Now tell me, how better to end it than with a visit to Paris in June?

I considered it an interesting fact that this beautiful city had been originally nicknamed the “City of Light” because it was a center of education and ideas during the Age of Enlightenment, but later earned the name when Paris began lighting the Champs-Elysees with lamps.

With so much to see and do, my camera had kicked into overdrive, so this section of my travelog will have to be shown in two blog posts. I hope you enjoy them. For the best viewing experience, click each one for a closer look.

France 372 — also a view from our window – temptation everywhere

France 240 — Academie Royale de Musique – the Paris Opera

France 357 — wrought iron balconies abound

France 355 — one of my favourite street scenes

One of our larger excursions was an afternoon at the Musee du Louvre. The Louvre is the most visited art museum in the world, and a historic monument because of its beginnings as a fortress. As it is also one of the biggest art museums worldwide, these pictures as a representation don’t even scratch the surface of what waits inside its walls.

France 340 — throngs of tourists everywhere

France 291 — view of the Louvre Pyramid in the main
courtyard from inside one of its wings

France 297 — one of the spectacular ceilings in the Louvre

France 260 — Mona was smaller than I expected.

France 313 — Okay, I know you’re smart, husband,
but stop pretending to read that ; )

Scenes From France – Part One: Cannes (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
Scenes from Italy – Part One: Rome (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)

Travel Theme: Oceans

Published on June 14, 2012April 23, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry11 Comments

June 8th was World Oceans Day. World Oceans Day has been unofficially celebrated on June 8th since 1992 when Canada proposed the idea at the Earth Summit in Rio, and was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2008. The official website is worldoceansday.org.

Here is my contribution to a weekly travel theme challenge created by wheresmybackpack.wordpress.com. Because I live by the Atlantic Ocean here in Canada, I thought I would share some pics from last year when my daughter and her family visited, and had fun on our sandy seashores.

visit 025 — “I found a starfish, Nanny!”

visit 046 — “Look what I found…a baby crab!”

Hard-workin’ Man

Published on June 10, 2012June 29, 2012 by J. Kelland PerryLeave a comment

My husband, who works at home, usually tries to take the weekend off to get some much-deserved rest to recharge his batteries. So Saturday morning he put his drafting and design work aside, and got outdoors.

First, he cleaned out the shed, put aside some renovation debris, and straightened up some of the things we have stored out there. Then, using the wheelbarrow, he moved said debris out on the point near the water’s edge, requiring several trips, and built a huge bonfire.

After the fire died down, my sweetie then built a little step-ramp to the shed door for wheeling out the barbecue and lawnmower. When that was finished, he tuned up the lawnmower and proceeded to cut the grass on our property. All of this relaxation had worked up his appetite, so he came inside and made himself a sandwich. But hey, that grass wasn’t done yet, so out he went again to finish up.

When the lawn was done, my husband took out our zero gravity chairs and set them up on the deck. Then he wheeled out the barbecue and put that on the deck. Because it hadn’t been used since last fall, he had to clean off the grill. Perfect! We would have our burgers barbecued tonight, I thought, my mouth watering. So my honey made our delicious dinner.

And that was Saturday.

This morning, my husband made his specialty scrambled eggs for the two of us, the ideal fuel for his second day of leisure. Time to get to it! First, he took out the recyclables, fed and watered the cats, and changed the kitty litter. Then he went upstairs and put up some wood trim around our shower.

Well, that was all he needed to do around the house, for now. So he went back to his office this afternoon, not to do drafting, but to put some time in on his favorite hobby, his pen and ink art.
It’s always nice to see my husband enjoying a weekend off. ♥

Scenes From France – Part One: Cannes

Published on June 8, 2012June 8, 2012 by J. Kelland Perry12 Comments

Our group of four left Italy by train, eager to begin the next leg of our adventure in a new country. Beautiful France awaited! Our first destination was Cannes on the French Riviera, and it didn’t disappoint. Warm, sunny weather, beautiful sandy beaches, exceptional shopping venues, and cuisine par excellence epitomized a delightful tourist experience. The Cannes Film Festival was over for the year, hence we saw no celebrities. But I hope my photos give you some idea of why I recommend Cannes as a preferred vacation spot.