ABC Wednesday-Q

QUEEN Mary 2 is the first liner to be built since QUEEN Elizabeth 2- 35 years earlier.

QUEEN Mary 2 entered service in January 2004 and is the largest, longest, widest, tallest and most expensive passenger liner in history.

No ship has ever been designed like QUEEN Mary 2, a liner which sets the benchmark for others, extends the boundaries of ship design, and which is the most powerful and fastest since Cunard's own QUEEN Elizabeth 2.

QUEEN Mary 2 is a technically advanced machine far ahead of any passenger ship in service today, and will be so for some many years to come.

The QUEEN Mary 2 is the current Cunard flagship and makes regular transatlantic crossings. The ship was constructed to complement the QUEEN Elizabeth 2—the Cunard flagship from 1969 to 2004—replacing it on the transatlantic route.

The first RMS QUEEN Mary sailed the Atlantic from 1936 to 1967.

QUEEN Mary 2 had the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) title conferred on her, as a gesture to Cunard's history, by Royal Mail when she entered service in 2004 on the Southampton to New York route.

The QUEEN Mary 2 is not a steamship like her predecessors, but is powered by gas turbines and diesel engines that produce the power to drive her four electric propulsion pods.

Like her predecessors, however, QUEEN Mary 2 is built for crossing the Atlantic ocean, though she is regularly used for cruising purposes; in the winter season she cruises from New York to the Caribbean on 10 or 13 day tours.

QUEEN Mary 2's 30 knot open ocean speed sets the ship apart from cruise ships, such as Freedom of the Seas, which has an average speed of 21.6 knots.

ABC Wednesday is brought to you by Mrs. Nesbitt

Mr. Linky can be found here.

Remembrance Day in Canada

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.



We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.



Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.


- John McCrae

The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day.

Replica poppies are sold by the Royal Canadian Legion to raise money for Veterans

Veterans, Canadian Forces members and those who have given their lives in the pursuit of peace have made great contributions to our country and the world.

The peaceful society we in Canada enjoy today is only a dream to the many people in the world who live in countries torn apart by violence.

This peace is possible only because it has been protected by the efforts and sacrifices of generations of Canadians over the years who have put their lives on the line.

Remembering all that these men and women have done during times of war, military conflict and peace helps us understand the country we live in today and how we can build a better future together.

And so, at the 11th minute of the 11th day of the 11th month every year, we Canadians stand in silence to honour our Canadian military who have died in service to our country.

Pick a Pooch

President-elect Obama said, "I love you both more than you can imagine, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House," to Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, during his victory speech in Chicago.

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Mr. Obama says a main criterion for his family's first dog would be whether it is hypoallergenic, since his daughter Malia is allergic. Experts say an ideal first dog should also be good with kids and visitors.

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But he also said, " On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but, obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts, like me. So -- so whether we're going to be able to balance those two things, I think, is a pressing issue on the Obama household."

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A poodle was the top choice for the Obamas in an American Kennel Club survey of more than 42,000 people, the organization said.

Another breed that typically doesn't shed is a Scottish Terrier.

But then one of the dog breeds with a more friendly temperament is a Cocker spaniel.

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Does anyone have another breed that they would like to suggest for the first-family's consideration?

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Bear((( )))

Saturday Funnies

Bear((( )))

Thank You

It has been quite the Award month here at my BearNaked blog.

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In the past 4 weeks I received FOUR Awards.

I am astounded and so very grateful to everyone.

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The first award was bestowed to me by:
Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom

Isn't it so very Kreativ?

Thank you and I proudly display it on my sidebar.

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Following that from:

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Words of Wisdom from a Smart Mouth Broad

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The Brillante Weblog Premio-2008 Award

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I am honoured to display this award on my sidebar.

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And then last week look here from:

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Midlife Slices™

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The I ♥ your blog award.

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Well Midlife Slices™ I heart your blog also.

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I've happily pasted it on my sidebar.

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And finally just this week from:

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SHERRIE'S STUFF

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The Marie Antoinette- a Real Person Award

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Thank you so much, if you glance to the left you will see I have it posted on the sidebar.

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Now some of these awards came with rules and I have decided the only rule that I am going to follow is that all these awards link back to the wonderful people who so generously bestowed THAT Award to me.
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Just click on ANY of the 13 awards over to the left in the sidebar and you are magically brought to their blog.
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So to these four bloggers I say thank you so much and invite you to come here to BearNaked blog and pick up your *Bouquet of Bears* as my *special* thank you for thinking that I deserved these awards.
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I also want to announce that sometime between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM yesterday morning, I had my 2000th visitor to my blog.
2000 visitors in almost eight months.
WOW!!!
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Welcome 2000th visitor to BearNaked blog and hopefully you will return again and again.
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And to EVERY one who keeps coming back, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
It is because of ALL of you that I am so enjoying this wonderful world of blogging.
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Bear((( )))

A Little Penny

Remember this every time you find a little penny in the parking lot.

I always thought that it was for good luck, but I love this version better.

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I found a penny today
Lying on the ground
But it's not just a penny
This little coin I've found
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Found pennies come from heaven
That's what my Grandpa told me
Oh how I loved that story
He said Angels toss them down
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He said when an Angel misses you
They toss a penny down.
Sometimes just to cheer you up
To make a smile out of your frown
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So don't pass by that penny
When you're feeling blue
It may be a penny from heaven
That an Angel's tossed to you



Bear((( )))

ABC Wednesday-P

PADDINGTON Bear celebrated his 50th birthday on October 13th, 2008.

A Bear Called PADDINGTON, a book written by Michael Bond and first illustrated by Peggy Fortnum, was released on October 13th, 1958.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown first meet PADDINGTON on a railway Platform while waiting for their daughter Judy.

PADDINGTON is sitting on an old leather suitcase near the lost Property office, wearing an unusual hat and a label round his neck which reads `Please Look After This Bear. Thank You'.

PADDINGTON explains that he has been sent from Peru by his Aunt Lucy who has had to go into the Home for Retired Bears in Lima.

PADDINGTON is always Polite (always addressing People as "Mr.", "Mrs." and "Miss" and very rarely by first names.)

PADDINGTON likes marmalade sandwiches and cocoa, and has an endless capacity for getting into trouble.

However, PADDINGTON is known to "try so hard to get things right".

Happy Belated Birthday, PADDINGTON.

ABC Wednesday is brought to you by Mrs. Nesbitt.

Mr. Linky can be found here.



Bear((( )))

Happy Birthday

To my STUD MUFFIN!!!

Hand in hand we've met life's changes and challenges.
Side by side we've shared our most precious dreams.
Together, we've built a beautiful life.
And every year I grow more in love with you.

With all my love and affection today and always.

Happy Birthday Honey!!


Bear((( )))

Bargain Bear

Well the majority of readers last Thursday thought that the Steiff® Golden Jubilee Bear was a tad expensive, so I searched the web and found this Bear.

Click here for a coloured photo and order form for the Steiff®, Karl Lagerfeld Teddy Bear being sold at Neiman Marcus for the bargain basement price of only $1500.

Just perfect for the fashion diva in your life.

The resemblance to Karl (I always use his given name you know) is astounding.



Bear((( )))

Saturday Funnies

Photo and story courtesy of Sandy from
I Beati- a meeting place to share our blessings and laugh a little !!


Gonna Be A Bear

In this life I’m a woman.
In my next life, I’d like to come back as a Bear.
When you’re a Bear you get to hibernate.
You do nothing but sleep for six months.
I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you’re supposed to eat yourself stupid.
I could deal with that too.

When you’re a girl Bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you’re sleeping and wake up to cute, cuddly cubs.
I could definitely deal with that.

If you’re a Mama Bear, everyone knows you mean business.
You swat anyone who bothers your cubs.
If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too.
I could deal with that.

If you’re a Bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling.
He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup, gonna be a BEAR!





Bear((( )))