H1N1 Shots

Like a lot of people, I was betwicked and between whether we should get the H1N1 shot when it was available to us. Yesterday I had printed out and filled out a couple of consent forms and took them along when we went to the city today just in case. We did have some spare time so I drove to Prairieland Park and noticed there were not that many vehicles in the parking lot, so in we went.

With our forms all filled out, we scooted right through the initial line. Then you get to sit and watch about a 6 minute video on the H1N1 flu shot. From there you then got in line to await your turn to get your actual needle. This line took us about 45 minutes before we actually got to sit down and get our shots.

When we finally did get to the table to get our shot, the forms were scrutinized once again for correctness before we were given the shot. The young lady also wanted to ensure we didn't have the flu, or were sick in any way.

It was a bit funny in one aspect. On the 'Consent Form' you are asked "Are you/your daughter pregnant?". I of course checked off "NO" I am not pregnant. I also advised the young lady that I had no idea if my daughter was pregnant or not. It really isn't any of my business. But I did assure her that I was not pregnant in any way, shape or form.

With that all settled, the nurse gave us our shot and filled out our card. She then advised us that we both got the 'unadjuvanted' H1N1 flu shot. And here I thought that was the shot that was to be given to pregnant ladies. So maybe it wasn't all settled at all ?

We then got to sit and watch another video on the H1N1. You are supposed to sit and wait 15 minutes to ensure you don't get any side affects from the shot. From what I noticed, many people didn't wait 2 minutes and out they went. You can only hope they don't get a reaction once they have departed the building. We did in fact sit and watch the video and chat a bit and waited our 15 minutes before we departed.

All told it took just over an hour for us to get our shots. From some of the horror stories I have seen on TV lately, Saskatoon Health Region had planned very well for giving the shots. There were lot's of guides to show you where to go and what to do and all we came in contact with were very pleasant. Hats off to all the people involved.

Now if I can just get this pregant thing straightened out :) . . .

Add Another Death To The List

I always get the feeling when I read of one of our military members getting killed in Afghanistan that we are likely to have another death soon. The deaths seem to come in groups for some reason.

Yesterday the world was advised of the 133rd death of a Canadian military member in the story of Sapper Marshall remembered.

I can only hope the number stops at two and does not increase in total in the foreseeable future.

Poppy Time

It is that time of the year once again when we can 'officially' wear a poppy.

The Royal Canadian Legion dictates that the wearing of a poppy should only be worn during the Remembrance period, starting on the last Friday of October and ending at midnight on Nov. 11, or at other veteran-related special events. Of course civilians can and do wear poppies whenever they want. There is no law against this and to some people they feel it shows respect for our military all year long.

A few other reminders for 'Poppy' time as reported by CTV News in 2008 are as 'quote':

Poppy protocol:

- The poppy should be worn as close to the heart as possible or on the left lapel of the outermost garment.

- The poppy should only be worn during the Remembrance period, starting the on last Friday of October and ending at midnight on Nov. 11, or at other veteran-related special events.

- The poppy should never be defaced in any way including replacing its pin.

- An old poppy should never be reused. Appropriate disposal of the poppy is left to the discretion of each individual.

- Any poppies found lying on the ground would be best placed lying at the foot of a war monument or in a local cemetery.

Little known facts:

- Until 1996, poppies were handmade by veterans in Vetcraft workshops in Montreal and Toronto. The work provided a small source of income for disabled ex-service persons.

- While the traditional lapel poppy is the most popular, car models, large table varieties and metal pins are also available at most Legion branches.

- The centre of the poppy was originally black but was changed to green more than twenty years ago to represent the green fields of France. In 2002, it was changed back to black to reflect the actual colours of the poppies that grew in Flanders, Belgium.

- The poppy is an international "symbol of collective reminiscence."

- Poppies have been associated with those killed in combat since the Napoleonic Wars of the 19th century, more than 110 years before being adopted in Canada.

- Prior to the First World War, few poppies grew in Flanders. Trench warfare enriched the soil with lime from rubble, allowing "popaver rhoes" to thrive. When the war ended, the lime was quickly absorbed and poppies began to disappear again.

- In 1915, Guelph, Ont. native John McCrae, a doctor serving with the Canadian Forces Artillery, wrote about the poppy explosion in his famous poem In Flanders Fields.

- An American woman inspired by McCrae's poem wore the flower year round and exported the idea to Madame Guérin of France who sold the handmade poppies to raise money for poor children. Guérin later convinced friends in Canada to adopt the symbol as well. 'unquote'

The monies that local Legions make from the sale of the poppies and wreaths are used for the betterment and welfare of Veterans and their families in your local area. So the main thing is to purchase a poppy (or two, or three, or more), and wear them proudly during this time of the year (or all year if you are so inclined).

Lest We Forget

Loss Number 132 in Afghanistan

This morning we lost another military member in Afghanistan as reported by CBC in Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Lt. Justin Garrett Boyes, 26, was killed when his foot patrol was hit by the blast of an improvised explosive device, at about 9 a.m. local time, 20 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City in Panjwayi district.

Boyes grew up in Saskatchewan and belonged to the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton.

Increase The Count To 131

Sadly we are being informed of the 131th death of a Canadian Forces member this evening. Pte. Jonathan Couturier, 23 a member of 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment, based in Valcartier, Que., was killed when his vehicle detonated an improvised explosive device some 25 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city.

The Toll Is Now 130

Sunday appears to be a bad day for the Canadian military of late. Canadian soldier killed by IED blast in Afghanistan reports the death of another soldier on Sunday. This is only 1 week since we were last advised of 2 soldiers being killed on September 6th.

Even though the current soldier that was killed was announced immediately to the media the military had put an embargo on the news so the media could not report on the death until today.

The Toll Increases


Sadly we are hearing about two more Canadian military members being killed in Afghanistan. Bodies of 2 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan head home

They were killed on Sunday when a roadside bomb hit their armoured vehicle.

129 Canadian soldiers have been killed serving in the Afghanistan mission since 2002.