I am  finally  accepting that the time has come to say good bye to all those who have been so supportive through the years since this site first came into being.  I shall always be grateful for the support and kind words in addition to the friendships made through the years  with visitors to my site. However the inability to continue is dictated by age and eyesight as opposed to wanting to end this chapter in my life. 

Since my Les passed away in 2010 I have seemed to develop writer's block as well and that in conjunction with the eye problems making graphic work  of much poorer quality that I can accept I am left with no other alternative.

 I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for accepting the ramblings of this opinionated and quite mouthy Canadian who has found this site such an enjoyable outlet through good times and bad for so very long. It's really quite amusing in retrospect to recall how this site even came into being. I had the web space and for quite some time chose to not even try to use it . This annoyed a dear friend (a staunch American conservative btw) who was familiar with my writings from a political debate forum of which we were both members and even though we disagreed on politics we had become good friends, and remain so to this day... see.. it IS possible. I so hope Congress does come to recognize this once again .. and soon, for all our sakes ! 

To make a long story short ..  this 'misguided' Conservative had asked for the information to access my space indicating he would get it established for me and in all innocence I provided the necessary documentation believing that in time I might perhaps try my hand at creating something using the space. I neglected to take into account his machiavellian yet well intentioned sense of humour and thus as I procrastinated for several more months he finally decided to force the issue and he uploaded a hideous page of images on my web space and then informed me that only when I had written something to replace it would he provide the tutelage and the much needed information to accommodate my doing so. I knew absolutely nothing about web design etc. at that point and he knew this. He, with machiavellian glee managed to force my compliance as there was no way I had any clue as to how to remove it and no way in h*ll could I allow the abomination he had created in my name to remain for all to see. Obviously he knew me well. I very quickly began to create my very first web page.

My first graphic efforts were pathetic but I found my writing a pleasurable way to express my thoughts and it was so much less stressful than political debate !! In this environment there was no back talk or disagreeable rhetoric coming my way! I could expound as I wished .. it was wonderfully satisfying for an opinionated soul like me. The years since speak for themselves. Once started I never stopped.

 So .. to that dear, dear friend I say a heartfelt thank you. You were, and are an amazing friend and I shall cherish that friendship as long as I remain on this earth. Your gleeful mischievous prodding created an outlet for me that saw me through my retirement, my husband's years of illness and his passing and the multitude of ups and downs through the years since this site came into being.

Since writing the above I find myself now exercising my right as a woman to change my mind. This hasn't come about as a result of my own determination faltering but rather due  to a recognition that perhaps that old friend who had such a huge part in the birth of this site does have some right  to opinion as to it's fate. Upon being given a head's up as to my intent the gentleman very quickly reached me via telephone and as I do hold him in very high esteem  I am reversing that decision. 

If a stubborn lifelong Conservative can put up with my Liberal ramblings which permeate a fair number of pages here then perhaps this site still has some value. If for no other reason than to prove that comity can exist between two diametrically politically opposed individuals. In today's world where reason and a willingness to recognize  that it is possible for friendship and mutual respect to exist even among those holding such vastly different beliefs on so many matters affecting our futures and the futures of our children and grandchildren is such a rarity then perhaps this site does still have some relevance

 So, I may not add new content  as I have done historically but I will make an effort when I am constructively motivated to again try my hand at voicing opinion and overcoming this blasted writer's block and in the meantime  hopefully at least some of my past writings will remain relevant and timely. Perhaps not politically but there is much more than that to this site. Family values and the importance of our children and the heritage we will bequeath to them also make up a large part of what is here and may well cause  some to think a bit about what I have written so often. If this site does that then it is providing a resource which is timely always.

 An aside to my old friend... ok .. you win again ! But don't be too puffed up about that as I really  was quite sad at the prospect of seeing Slim's Place cease to exist and you just gave me a good excuse to change my mind !  Why is it that I very much suspect you already know that ? ?