Feed Charities, Not panhandlers

Today was my wife's last day of holidays and I had a strong urge to go to McDonalds for a coffee. We have been switching to this coffee from Tim Hortons as it does seem to taste better. My wife never wants to stay there and wants to pick up the food and go home. Today I asked that we go inside and stay to feed my "orange" adventure personality.

As we are eating, I see a man that is always on the street corner by our house who has one of them signs asking for money because " he is hungry".  It is so uncomfortable to drive by and not make eye contact eh? It is so good on the conscience to say " why can't he get a job, why does he have to do that?".  I'm not hiding my real person to you who thought I was so giving etc. I'm okay with giving to charity on my terms, which I learned a lesson of today.

As we sat there, I see this man come in and search his pockets for something so he could order. He pulled out a free coffee coupon and bought himself a muffin with change. We both felt that we could buy him breakfast so I went over and asked him.  The human part of us gets uncomfortable to go talk to a street person where he does not appear to belong. It takes courage and belief in what one is doing to come out of their comfort zone.  I ask him if he wants anything and he says no.

I go back to my table very humbled that this man did not want anything. I have asked before and have been denied the opportunity to give. My wife shares that her Joyce Meyer daily APP on her phone, talks on doing things for the poor and less fortunate and not just saying " Jesus Loves you" etc. It says God will reward us back if we do this for them. We are suppose to give to the poor, oppressed, and widows.

As we leave, this man follows us out. He asks us for bus money to go to court for his fines. He says that he was fined hundreds of dollars for panhandling on the street corner. What a waste of tax payer money to fine this man who can't pay. He goes to jail for a week for unpaid fines and the community pays 100 + dollars a day instead of what they could do. That's another story.

We ask him what his story is. Too often we just buy them off and feel good about ourselves, thinking we just bought some points for heaven. Unfortunately God does not grant access to heaven based on our works but fortunately we just need to believe.  This man tells us his name is Sydney. He instantly becomes human, not just another panhandler.  He tells us he is 45 years old and can not work due to years of substance abuse. He was an alcoholic and almost died and had a stroke. He has a pain in his arm that prevents him from working because of the stroke. He takes morphine because of this pain. Sydney is honest and tells us straight up. I don't judge for once because of his use of drugs.

Sydney's main party of his story is that his mother never wanted him or liked him.  His mother had him out of an affair and he was a mistake he says. It was not a poor me story. He shares how he was unplanned and that he was treated different than his siblings. He shares how she has resentment to him and didn't love him the same.  He was loved by his father for a bit but he died and he had little contact. He did not feel worthy or accepted. His big word was accepted. His dad before he died wanted him to be sober and he was for 2 years before he died. He fell off the wagon when his dad died. His dad told him that of all his children, he wanted him to be the sober one.  Sydney says he has 2 children who he loves and is fond of and wants a home that they can come visit him. He shares that he lives behind a dumpster in the winter by the Superstore and in the woods during the summer. I ask him if he is tired of this way of life and maybe its time for something different.

Sydney states that he has been talking to a church lady from Castledowns who is very loving and he adopted her as his mom. He shared how she talks about God and tries to help him. I am so glad that there is christians out there who actually practise love.

In the end, we learn of a loving man who likes to give to others less fortunate than him on the street. He likes to share what extra he has to others on the street. He has nothing and yet he finds something to give. We have so much in our lives and are still too "broke" to give.

We drive him instead of taking the bus to downtown for his court. We say a prayer for him and glad that this man learned us a lesson on life. We were blessed by him and he taught us that we always have something to give no matter our circumstances.

Afterwards I drive home and go to this Macs store. There is a sign there that says " Feed charities, not panhandlers".  It reminds me of the message against these people called the Pharisees in the good book who made their own rules. However, they forgot about human interaction and love. Its easy to feel good about giving to charity and not having to interact with the Sydneys.  We are not good Samaritans by not doing anything and staying in our comfort zone. I am guilty!

As we drive home, we see a lady passed out on 101 st from downtown on the sidewalk. Hundreds of cars are driving by. Where the **** is the help getting this lady off the street as we all just drive by thinking it's normal.  One of you posted a facebook story about a dead body by the bus stop and nobody did anything for hours. Thanks to that story, I had to go back and ask her if she was alive and okay. My wife learns her name is Gloria and that she wants water. Well we get her the water where I seen that sign on the store and laugh inside. Now do you see the part about humanity?  My wife talks to her a few moment and she is so sweet.  My wife ends up giving Gloria her favorite hoody because she wants something to cover her head when she sleeps.

So before anyone gets offended, I believe in giving to charities of course. I guess I don't believe in giving to panhandlers either if I don't want to take the few moments to hear of their story and buy off my conscience.

Pricing for Services

I just finished read a blog by Preston Bailey http://blog.prestonbailey.com/2011/10/05/wedding-vendors-make-yourself-necessary/, and felt that would be a good topic to blog about.

I have 2 key components for my business that I find prices for. I take these from what photographers or photo booth operators charge in the industry. I never try to undercut other competition like some do, as I feel I am in a business that is unique and marketable, or I should not be in it.

Sometimes, When a potential client asks for a quote, I sometimes feel guilty for the price tag which is high at times. However, I then tell myself I am worthy and qualified to do the job, and that it is an expectation to keep my going rates.  I have seen some wedding photographers with grossly under the scale and grimace at their practise. I sometimes feel they don't feel their worthiness, because their work is talented.  After talking to them, I don't get the sense they are undercutting their competitors, just insecure.

We recently increased our price for our 6 hour package for the photo booth. There is quite a difference in doing a job for 4 hours as opposed to 6. And our past rate of 6 hours was almost the same as 4 hours.  We have found that the people who request 6 hours can afford it, due to corporations and larger weddings.

As I see the fun and laughter and emotion with a photo booth, I am confident of our prices. The booths are definitely the highlight of the wedding reception.  Have you ever seen people line  up a long time to get to the dance floor?

Therefore, I will work at giving quality work, the best I can to meet the expectations of the client, for the price they are paying.

Wedding Season Trends confirmed - Photo Booths

This email from Bridal Fantasy has some trend stats in the way the industry is going.  Some changes with open minded brides and grooms!  Remember to book your Photo booth at least 6 months in advance, which is pushing it.

I love wedding stats, but most of all I love sharing them with you! Numbers don’t lie and these are impressive. I hope that they motivate youJ.

This is my compilation of highlights from the 2011 American Wedding Study (and in brackets my thoughts).

Top trends:

• Couples are increasingly skipping sit-down receptions in favour of cocktail parties, passed hors d’oeuvres, food stations and picnics/barbeques (but they are not necessarily spending any less money, so presenting couples with new and unique ideas will help in winning their biz)
• 1 in 5 couples are now using e-vites or emails to invite their guests to the wedding or as a save-the-date notification (if you’re a stationer/designer make sure that you’re offering these brides e-design packages and educating your web-brides re: on-line etiquette)
• 22% of couples are having Wedding Weekends ( = the perfect compromise between an at home wedding and a destination wedding, my understanding is that this is a weekend get-away closer to home that encompasses the wedding and other activities) – this is up 38% from 2009
• Photo Ops for All – 20% of couples now have a photo booth at their wedding (chic and unique spin-offs of this idea will attract brides attention moving forward)
• The Entertainment Factor – 3% of couples have started including professional dancers, comedians, etc in their wedding (today’s couple wants their wedding to STAND-OUT, providing unique entertainment is a great way to ensure this, so I’m sure that number will continue to increase)

Impressive Stats:

The Reception

• The most money is still spent on the reception (36% of wedding costs with the average price tag of $13,367)

Photography/Videography

• Average cost - $3,367.00 (that’s the 2^nd highest in terms of overall wedding expenses)

The Dress

• The gown is purchased 9 months before the wedding
• Average cost - $1,289.00 (20% increase from 2009)
• An additional $581.00 is being spent on wedding day accessories (the veil, headpieces, jewellery and shoes)

The Flowers

• Average cost - $1,426.00

The Cake

• Average cost - $480.00

The Wedding Party

• The typical wedding party has 4.5 bridesmaids and 4.5 groomsmen (not quite sure how that works – haha)
• The average bridesmaid dress costs $134.00

Destination Weddings

o        1 in 10 couples or 15% of couples have a destination wedding (a holiday in the tropics, Europe, etc that encompasses the wedding and other activities) – this is up 25% from 2009

Gift Registry

o        An impressive 93% of couples will register at 2 – 3 gift registries

The Engagement

o        63% of brides to be provide input on their engagement ring and 21% actually select the ring themselves

Credit - Heidi Dennis - Bridal Fantasy Edmontonhttp://www.bridalfantasy.com/

Is Rainbow Lake Pipeline Negligent?

Forest fires in Alberta threaten community already hit by oil spill

Reaction of  Melina Laboucan Massimo, member of the Lubicon Cree and Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner, to today's announcement that clean up operations at the massive Rainbow Pipeline oil spill near Little Buffalo were suspended at 11 am this morning due to uncontrolled forest fires in the region. Currently in Alberta there are 84 forest fires with 29 that are listed as "out of control".

The Northern Sunrise county council has declared a local state of emergency for the areas around Little Buffalo and Marten Lake due to the forest fire. The Alberta Wildfire Facebook site has also asked members of the communities of Marten Lake and Little Buffalo to evacuate voluntarily as they are on an evacuation alert.

"Today's suspension of clean up operations and the evacuation of workers at the massive oil spill site near Little Buffalo due to wildfires shows the on-going threats that oil spills pose to local communities. We pray that this fire doesn't add more problems to an already devastating situation of Little Buffalo and for the environment."

"This is already the second evacuation of the spill site in less than a week. We want to know where the provincial and federal governments are in dealing with this dangerous and potentially escalating situation. Fears and concerns are mounting in the Little Buffalo community and both levels of government seem to be missing in action in dealing with this serious situation."

Background: Plains Midstream Canada, owner of the Rainbow Pipeline, issued a release earlier today saying it had suspended clean up operations due to a forest fire threat. The company cited an evacuation order issued by the Northern Sunrise County Emergency Response Centre that was effective at 11 a.m.

Residents, including children, sick after large oil spill in the Peace Region

4 May 2011 (Edmonton) — Little Buffalo community members, including school children,  continue to experience nausea, burning eyes and headaches after one of the largest pipeline spills in Alberta history last Friday by Plains All American leaked nearly 30,000 barrels of oil into Lubicon traditional territory in the Peace Region of Northern Alberta.

Instead of attending an in-person community meeting, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) faxed a one-page fact sheet to Little Buffalo School. The fact sheet indicates that 28,000 barrels of crude oil, or 4,500 cubic metres, has spread into nearby stands of “stagnant water.” The spill, April 29 at 7:30 a.m., occurred only 300 metres from local waterways. The ERCB said the spill has been contained, but community members report that the oil is still leaking into the surrounding forest and bog. The ERCB also said to the community that there is “no threat to public safety as a result of the leak.” Yet people are still getting sick, the local school has been shut down and children ordered to stay at home. An investigation into the incident is underway.

“It has been four days since classes were suspended due to the noxious odours in the air. The children and staff at the school were disorientated, getting headaches and feeling sick to their stomachs,” said Brian Alexander, the principle of Little Buffalo School. “We tried to send the children outside to get fresh air as it seemed worse in the school but when we sent them out they were getting sick as well. 

“The company and the ERCB have given us little information in the past five days.  What we do know is that the health of our community is at stake,” said Chief Steve Noskey. “Our children cannot attend school until there is a resolution, The ERCB is not being accountable to our community; they did not even show up to our community meeting to inform us of the unsettling situation we are dealing with. The company is failing to provide sufficient information to us so we can ensure that the health and safety of our community is protected.”

The ERCB fact sheet states that air monitors are in place on site and have “detected no hydrocarbon levels above Alberta Ambient Air Quality guidelines.” But this is little consolation for a community that is scared to breathe the air. Veronica Okemow has six children, the youngest one attending the school, and she is very worried. “We are deeply concerned about the health effects on the community,” Okemow said. “It is a scary thing when your children are feeling sick from the air. People are scared to breathe in the fumes.”

Melina Laboucan-Massimo, a member of the Lubicon Cree First Nation and also a Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner said: “The Plains All American spill marks the second pipeline spill in Alberta in just a week, with Kinder Morgan spilling just days before. This is an alarm bell for Alberta residents. If this 45-year-old pipeline were to break elsewhere along its route there would be more safety and health hazards. Communities across Alberta and B.C. are demanding an end to this type of risky development; yet the government refuses to listen. Instead it continues on as business as usual without plans for the cleaner, healthier, sustainable future that is possible.”

Where is your Freedom

Just a quick note this morning. I have always been troubled by the arrests of the G20 Summit in Toronto. I had earlier blamed the Conservative Government as they are known for their Justice agendas.  However, With this article, I was surprised to find that the Liberal Provincial Government passed this "secret law".  When I further looked at our so called Charter, It would have broke the rules of our Charter.

So what has our country become? Are we now no different than the countries overseas that we wished we were never like? Life a frog in boiling water, If that's a true fact, our country has become blind to the abusive powers of our state.

Link to Secret Law passed.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gscPW57r14RHb_ffCOSSbvhnszRw?docId=6692219


Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Search or seizure

8. Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.

Detention or imprisonment

9. Everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned.

Arrest or detention

10. Everyone has the right on arrest or detention

(a) to be informed promptly of the reasons therefor;

(b) to retain and instruct counsel without delay and to be informed of that right; and

(c) to have the validity of the detention determined by way of habeas corpus and to be released if the detention is not lawful.

Michelle Nieviadomy

I had the gift of photographing this beautiful First Nations woman from Edmonton this week. I met her while covering photos for an event with the Provincial Government at the New Remand Centre.  She wanted some photos for her upcoming promotions for her concert.  One of my passions is to represent Native people and promote them as role models. I listened to this woman on a rough song track and her voice is amazing! Some of the paraphrased lyrics were that it is "your turn to rise", the world could use another hero, Sound of a Warrior cry,world could use a little change. I'm sure if she continues to believe in herself and go for her dreams, you will hear about her soon!

Canvas Gallery Wraps - Family Portraits

For a limited time only, Order your family portraits and have them mounted on canvas for your feature wall. Approximately 6 feet across.  Prices starting at 1228.00 dollars.

Expires April 30th.

Easter Special Code.