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The Halifax Explosion: Repost

Gwen — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:55:58 +0000

Aftermath from the Halifax Explosion Overlooking the Waterfront

I understand why for most Canadians December 6th is a day of remembrance not for a disaster that killed 2000 people in Nova Scotia, but of a mad man shooting 14 women at an engineering school in Quebec. It was a horrible tragedy and I personally know some people who were attending the school at that time and they have talked about the fear and pain that they and the rest of the school went through on that day. For me though the first thing I think about on December 6th is the collision of the Imo and Mont Blanc during war time in Halifax Harbour.

A Building Damaged in the Explosion

After the explosion on one of Halifax's main street, Gottigen

The whole thing happened because of a mis-communication and a language barrier. Many people stood and watched the ship float closer to Halifax and many people tried to help the crew of the Imo, not knowing it was a munitions ship. When the fire spread and finally exploded it destroyed almost 2 km in radius. Many of the people that didn’t die from the explosion died from the Tsunami that resulted from the explosion. To make matters worse it got really cold and Halifax had its largest blizzard in a decade the next day. Those that were trapped in blown out houses died of exposure.

A house destroyed, though not flattened.

A view across the devastation of Halifax, looking toward the Dartmouth side of the harbour. IMO can be seen aground on the far side of the harbour after the explosion - Halifax 6th December 1917.

Halifax lost more people in the explosion than in the war overseas. Detailed estimates showed that among those killed, 600 were under the age of 15. As many as 1,600 people died immediately in the blast, the tsunami, and collapse of buildings, with about 9,000 more injured, most seriously. 1,630 homes were destroyed in the explosion and fires, with 12,000 more houses damaged. This disaster left roughly 6,000 people homeless and without shelter and 25,000 without adequate housing.

Soldiers worked throughout the blizzard to rescue as many people as they could.

With so many Canadians dead or injured, it always amazes me when I find out most people know nothing about the Halifax explosion. Most people don’t know why there is such a bond between Nova Scotia and Boston. Boston sent as many supplies and people as they could to help with the devastation the explosion caused. Nova Scotia to this day sends a huge Christmas tree as a thank you.

If you want to find out more, CBC has a good site, and a few years ago they made a docu-drama sort of thing about the explosion. You can also go to the Nova Scotia Archives and get more information as well. In fact they have a lot of photographs and a virtual exhibit happening right now.

Harry, Harry, Where Are You?

Gwen — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:08:09 +0000

I ordered my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows months ago. I have been counting down for months till it came out. I was too cheap to up the shipping costs to get it on the day. Anthony didn’t take my hint that he could up the shipping from the free shipping so that I would miraculously get the book on the day it came out. (It really wasn’t that subtle. I coyly said, “Well you could up the shipping for me.” Grinning.) I don’t know how he could mistake that for anything but I can’t justify it for myself, but my wonderful husband could do it for me. Ok I guess to a male mind that didn’t mean the same as doing it myself, or actually asking him outright to do it for me.

Now I am in spoiler hell. I am trying so hard to avoid spoilers, and because EVERYONE has already read the book, the blogging world is full of them. I want to know but I do not want to know. Does Harry die? Will he finally get some time with Ginny? Do they kill off Ron? Will Snape redeem himself? Who does die? What will be Voldemort’s undoing? Is Dumbledore really dead? Will Sirius come through the veil? Are Dumbledore and Harry related? What happen to the other members of the D.A.?

I guess I will just have to read the previous books again while I am waiting. Sigh.

P.S. Do not under any circumstance answer my questions if you know. I want to read them for my self. I will discuss the book with any of you AFTER I have read HP7. You can however leave some “Na na na na na s, I know what happened, but I’m not telling,” comments. I am a comment whore after all.

P.P.S. Anthony and I are planning to go to see HP and the order of the Pheonix on friday for our anniversary (7 years already). I can’t wait. (I hope Tammy can still babysit.)

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Menu Plan Monday

Gwen — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:46:51 +0000

This has been a pretty good week and there was only one substitution. I also actually planned the suppers for this week on saturday. That is a first for me. Things that worked really well last week were most of the breakfasts. I did eat more cereal than was on the list, but I just didn’t feel like making the eggs. The Tandoori grilled chicken was excellent and even Anthony thought it was a recipe worth keeping. Oh and I made my own vegetarian sushi for the first time. Aidan really enjoyed it.

See, isn’t it pretty?

On to the meals for this week. I am keeping the same battery of breakfasts and lunches and snacks because they are working for me.

Monday: Ham, Baked potatoes and steamed broccoli.

Tuesday: Hamburgers (turkey for me) and salad. (I am loving the Hellmanns salad spritzers. Yum!)

Wednesday: Chicken Kabobs with Tandoori Marinade (Now I am mixing recipes) with rice

Thursday: Multi-grain spaghetti and meat sauce

Friday: Going out for our Anniversary.

Saturday: Steak, boiled nugget potatoes, salad

Sunday: Picnic for T.’s 2nd Birthday

Monday: Off to Nova Scotia!

Have a great week everyone.

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Related: Aidan, anniversaries, Birthdays, Menu Plan Monday, organization.

Happy Anniversary

Gwen — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:59:00 +0000

Anthony, you have made me so happy in the 6 years of our marriage and the 9 years previous that we have been together. There are not enough words to tell you how much I love you.

Happy Anniversary!