The deadline was May, 2012, but until then you could have become an owner of a Canadian heritage lighthouse. Would you like to live in a lighthouse? What could you do to make a lighthouse profitable, as a business?

The deadline has come and gone. But it would have been interesting to live in an historical lighthouse. Pretty expensive renovations.
Links for Canadian Lighthouses:

Wikipedia: List of Lighthouses in Canada

Canadian Lighthouses

British Columbia Lighthouses

Lighthouses of Newfoundland and Labrador

Lighthouses of Prince Edward Island

Lighthouses of Nova Scotia

Ontario Lighthouses

Ontario: Bruce Coast Lighthouses

Save Canada's Lighthouses

Lighthouses in ASCII Art

Create a character who lives in a lighthouse. Build up a background story for this character and work out how they fit into a story you're currently writing (or reading).

Are you one of those women who seem to always keep friends and always have them around to call on? I'm not.

I can make friends easily, easier than I think it should be. But, I never seem to keep friends. I don't chase them away. I just lose track of them or they kind of drift away until one day I realize I haven't heard from them in awhile.

I don't know what it is about me that causes this. When I am out with a friend we have a lot of laughs or we can talk about anything. I've always been a great listener and I'm not very judgmental. It must be a lack of energy on my part. I'm quite happy being alone and living with my own silence for days at a time.

Some of us, just aren't the friendship types.

But having a friend is nice. I can think of so many I have had over my life. Some were truly great friends who are still missed. Some were friends of the moment, co-workers mainly. I still have two friends I can track down these days, Deanna and Terry-Lynn.

Friendship Quotes

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. - Unknown

Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light. - Helen Keller

Like a Real Friend.... Lurking

I think it's nice to have lots of friends. But it must be time and energy consuming to keep up with everyone. The glossy magazines present us a lifestyle where women always have friends (and time to shop). Somehow those women are always slim and trim too and they seem to have lots of great clothes to wear on their slim and trim bodies. I'm not one of the glossy magazine women.

A very long time ago I tried to start socializing with other women online. It never went far. I'm just not the type to put the energy into something that would need a lot of social energy to get off the ground. Luckily, others have taken up the project on their own. You can find social networks online for women.

I'm sure there must even be social misfit/ hermit type women who get together for an online social tea or something. I'd like to find them. But, we are probably hard to track down and far too quiet to keep in touch.

But, if you want them, they are out there. Like a real friend... lurking.

It's getting harder to find time and energy to connect with other women these days. We have our own lives, our own projects and still have to get laundry done, pay the bills and find ourselves taking the odd nap. But, there is a real need for women to connect. I think, it's part of who we are and what makes us great.

Online Places to Find Women Friends

• Girlfriendology

• Girlfriend Social

• Girlfriend Celebrations

• Girlfriend Social Blog

• Girlfriend Circles

• Women's Friendship Group Meetup Groups

• The Friendship Blog

A friend drops her plans when you're in trouble, shares joy in your accomplishments, feels sad when you're in pain.

A friend encourages your dreams and offers advice - but when you don't follow it, she still respects and loves you.

Doris Wild Helmering

I explore abandoned houses and such places. The rule is not to take anything (or leave anything, like garbage). I photograph the outside of old farm houses mainly, seldom entering them at all. In more than five years exploring the only thing I have ever taken was a green Pyrex bowl which I found out in the deep grass, full of rotting weeds. It took several bleach washings to get the smell out of the bowl. I kept the bowl and I have no desire to sell it. I kept it for the house, the history of the place.

My Mom and I go to auctions, flea markets and thrift stores. We also pick up stuff from the side of the road if it looks good. But, we don't sell it. Most of it gets refurbished and then we give it to family members and friends who need it. We repurpose. The odd time something ends up being left at the bottom of our own driveway for another picker to pick it up and see what they do with it.

A few times I tried selling old things we don't still use or have space to keep around. But, it was annoying to deal with people who wanted to shop, rather than buy.

When does collecting become hoarding? I think a lot of people forget the actual pleasure of having something you enjoy. Instead they just want the hunt, the finding of  so-called collectibles and then they just want to own it. Not to enjoy it, but just to own it, like having the right number in their collection. They forget to actually enjoy having it. Someone could move all the items and they could never see them for years and it would make no real difference. They might even prefer to just collect it again rather an feel the loss of it.

I like to watch the shows about antiques, collecting, the storage locker buyers and even (less often) the hoarders. But, I don't think I will take it on as a business. That would take the fun out of the picking up of junk and turning it into something of value. Plus, I don't want to take on more stuff. There is only so much space available and only so much time I want to spend on dusting and maintaining stuff.

• HubPages: American Pickers: Who Has the Money to Buy This Junk?
• HubPages: How to be a Picker of Antiques and Collectibles
• Daily Motion: Pickers Inc.
• Yard Sale Shark
• Snip.it: Antiques, Vintage Collectibles and Collecting
• Entrepreneur: Four Tips for Getting Started in a Collectibles Business
• Mother Earth News: How to be an Antique Picker
• HubPages: Would you Be a Great Picker?

The above photo is upcycled jewellery from The Key of A.

Your birthday comes around once a year—every year—whether you like it or not. Don't be in denial; be proud! Celebrate yourself. Age really is just a number; it's all about how you feel! Choose to feel good, and if you're celebrating alone, make it special. It's your day, so do what you want!

Celebrating Your Birthday Alone? Make It Special

Spending your birthday alone is not a bad thing at all. I have family and a few friends, and that's more than enough for me. I don't mind going for a b-day lunch with loved ones, but I also enjoy spending my birthday alone. After all, it is my day.

I like to take my birthday as an opportunity to do things I like to do. I love having a day set aside during which I don't have to stick to someone else's schedule or worry about rules and the needs of others. I can really do things my way, and I can even go a bit overboard because it's my birthday.

The following is a list of ideas about ways to spend your birthday on your own. They are somewhat random and presented in no particular order. I wrote them as I thought of them, but I wanted to create a real list. So many lists online are more about scoring SEO points, and they only offer fluff—stuff everyone else has already said. I wanted this list to be different, and I hope it has at least one great idea for everyone.

Of course, your birthday is your day. Take the ideas you like and leave the ones you don't. Or just ignore the whole list. It's up to you! Have a happy birthday and don't worry about being alone. Being alone just means you can choose how you spend your time without any commentary from others about your choices.

Things to Do by Yourself on Your Birthday

• Take the day off work. Whether you work for yourself or someone else, arrange to have the day off. Use a sick day, a personal day or whatever works.
• Eat what you want. Seriously—whatever you want. Think about dieting, budgeting and health tomorrow.
• Write letters to the people you care about. It's old-fashioned and may seem to take up more hours than you want to give it today, but it can be nice to pause your own celebration and give thanks for what (and who) you have. Mail the letters—don't forget!
• Wear something great. Pick an outfit that makes you feel good and gorgeous.
• Give yourself a compliment. Look in the mirror and say it again.
• Wear something with colours you like. Go with an accessory like a scarf if you don't want too much colour.
• Dress in a style from your past or wear something you still have from when you were a kid, like a scarf, a pin or a hat.
• Buy a birthday pin or ribbon at a greeting card shop and wear it all day.
• If you have dinner, lunch or breakfast at home, go all out and decorate the table. Use the good dishes and cutlery. Add a centrepiece too.
• Spend time on whatever your hobby is. Knit, sew, build a ship in a bottle, go metal detecting, make muffins . . . the list goes on.
• If you have a car, take a drive. Go to another town and pretend you're someone famous for the day.
• Get a manicure and a pedicure—even if you are a guy. Forget outdated gender roles and treat your fingers and toes to a makeover.
• Buy new underwear and/or pajamas and recycle the raggedy-looking stuff you've been wearing for ages.
• Clean something special that's been gathering dust bunnies for a while. That antique mirror from your great-grandma could sparkle again—a job well done.
• Organize something you've let get messy. Maybe the family photos could be sorted out. Perhaps your sock drawer or the surface of your desk has gotten pretty cluttered. Getting rid of clutter feels nice.
• Start the day by getting up early, even if you would rather sleep in. See the sun rising on your birthday and the world (at least your part of it) while getting ready for the new day.
• Buy yourself something new to wear. It can be a whole new outfit or something small and pretty like a brooch or fancy hat you'd never dare to wear on an average day.
• Use every flimsy excuse to tell people it's your birthday. You may get a bonus like a free coffee, but at the very least, a lot of people will wish you a happy birthday.
• Go out for a fancy coffee or tea in the morning when everyone else is planning their day. Get a window seat where you can see the street and the people commuting to work, dealing with errands and wondering how they will get it all done. Meanwhile, there you are sipping tea or coffee and watching the world rush and work and scurry past your window seat.
• Pick up some extra groceries. It sounds silly, but get something—simple or fancy—that you really like. I love to get a steak and cook it myself—as close to rare as I want—while no one is there to "ewww" me about it.
• You know what you really want to do. Don't tell anyone else (unless you have to explain it to someone to get it done). Celebrate your birthday by doing that thing you want to do but keep putting off cause you don't have the time, the patience, the energy or the money. Today is the exception to the normal rules.
• Make amazing plans for the next year. Don't worry about being too practical with your list. Write down anything and everything you might want to do.
• Visit at least one local attraction, event or touristy thing. Pretend you are a tourist for a while. I recommend visiting a museum.
• Weather permitting, give yourself a picnic in the park. Bring a good book and a blanket to sit on.
• If you can manage to stay overnight in a hotel, you can even get late-night room service. That is still one of my favourite things to do for my own birthday. I like getting a hotel right in the downtown area of the big city.
• Take a long soak in the bath. Use fabulous scented soaps and bubbles. Pull out the candles and bring a book into the tub with you. No phones allowed.
• Watch some of the movies you've got collecting dust on your shelves and in drawers. Pop some popcorn and enjoy a beverage of your choice.
• Have champagne or cocktails. Treat yourself to a drink somewhere fancy, get all dressed up and go. Just have one and then leave . . . like a man or woman of mystery.
• Send yourself flowers, bake yourself a cake and get yourself a birthday card. Don't skimp on the traditions just because you're alone.
• No matter how old you are, put a lot of candles on the cake. It looks pretty, and no one will crack jokes about your age . . . unless of course you laugh at yourself.
• Put on music and dance and sing along. No one's watching or listening. Be your own DJ.
• Choose your own adventure. Take a few "wrong" turns and see where you end up. Go to places you've never taken the time to see before.
• Try something new and a bit risky or bold for your usual style. How about rock climbing, going without cosmetics, reading a book that makes you blush or talking to an interesting stranger. You could even get a new haircut.
• Send yourself something in the mail. It could be a gift card from a store you like to shop at. It's like giving yourself a surprise present—you won't know exactly when it will show up.
• Don't spend your birthday catching up on laundry or dishes or other endless household chores. They will all still be there tomorrow. If you have to, get dishes and laundry done the day before so they don't bug you on your birthday.
• Have a fancy, deluxe birthday cake, even if you buy it somewhere instead of making it. Don't count every calorie on your birthday.
• Walk somewhere. The beach and public parks are nice, even in winter. Take a camera along and be a photojournalist for the day.
• Do something for someone else. Visit an elderly relative, spend an hour babysitting your sister's kids or run an errand for your mother. Limit the time you spend on this, but remember that it's nice not to make your birthday all about you all day.
• Write about your day at the end of the day. Start a journal if you've never had one or find your old journal if you used to keep one. A journal is a great way to wind down, organize your thoughts and give yourself some time with your thoughts.
• Tell one lie about yourself to a stranger. Yes, it sounds silly. But just for today (your birthday), let someone think you're more impressive than you think you really are.
• Buy a lottery ticket. Don't forget to check it!
• Create an invitation to your own birthday for the next year. Buy a pretty card or make your own.

I looked at my place on the AllTop Writing list today. It was a nice spot, close enough to the top to keep my toes from getting chilly and yet not so close that I feel intimidated by myself or stressed out about having to perform.

Performance anxiety, the stress you get when you realize someone is actually watching and expects you to do something worth watching.

I know myself. I know I will never believe in myself enough to give myself credit for what I accomplish. It will never be enough. The crazy critic inside my head keeps my feet firmly planted on the ground. I know any success I have is due to some fluke, something that happened by chance and isn't likely to be repeated. Like reporting an error on a website, they ask you to tell them how it happened by repeating the steps you took to get there. Like we all keep notes. Well, some of you probably do, I don't.

Any success I have will be immediately discounted as luck or random chance.

I don't look like someone who could be famous. I don't act like someone who could be famous. In a room of famous people I would be asked to serve the cocktails and someone would fire me when I tried to hold too many cocktails on my tray and spilled them all over - smashed glasses and all.

Someone famous is thin, or at least trim and fit looking. I'm not.

Someone famous spends time on their clothes and cosmetics. I'm not even wearing lipstick. I've even let myself run out of Blistex so my lips are not silky and soft today.

Someone famous would be making better use of their day. I've been sitting here most of the day, researching, writing and publishing.

Someone famous would have been having social chitchats with other famous people. I took a break and played cards with my Mother.

Someone famous has themselves set up in the perfect setting with no clutter and a lot of glamour. I'm surrounded by paper clutter, Ubuntu DVDs I burned and games I will procrastinate with later. There are pens and markers on my desk, getting in the way of my computer mouse. My coffee cup is empty - usually it's here too. Hairbrush, hair clips, a flower shaped cookie cutter, vitamins, a jingle bell from Christmas, a red ribbon from the new underwear I bought a month ago, hand sanitizer, a Swiss Chalet survey, paperwork to fill out for my volunteering job and assorted other clutter that someone famous would have staff to handle for them.

Someone famous isn't making their own lunch, or skipping it cause in another hour it will be time to start making dinner anyway.

Someone famous doesn't have a shelf (more than one shelf) with self-help, creative writing inspiration, freelance writing and web development type of books which they have not actually done more than skim yet.

Someone famous doesn't get swollen feet from sitting here too long.

Someone famous would only spend an hour (at most!) on writing and then they would be off for their TV interview, lunch with Keanu Reeves and a public appearance for the reporters and adoring crowds.

Someone famous would never feel like I do.

Yet, the odd thing is... some of them do!

The really, really, really odd thing is; there are people who will look at this site and the other sites I write for and think I'm a somebody. (Not after they read this of course. Illusions of my grandeur are shot now. But, you get the idea).