Hello Everyone.

Hope you’ve all been well.  Please join me  for a meet, greet, and book signing.

Where:  Indigo- Manulife Centre:  Bay and Bloor in Toronto.

When:     Saturday, February 27, 2016

Time:        l2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

See you then.  Keep well.

Marjan

Hello everyone:

Hope you’ve all been well since I last blogged.

Today I decided to talk about Ryan Reynolds.  Yes, the Hollywood actor, and sexiest dad alive according to the latest People magazine.  Of course I could talk about world politics and world news.  Give you my opinion, and bring you up to date on all the latest happenings.  But television, google, twitter feeds, and newspapers can do the same thing. They can help you decide what’s meaningful to you.  Or what warrants your attention at a later date.

So let’s get back to Ryan.  Yes he’s cute!  Well I think so. As you know I blogged about the movie Brooklyn, on Monday.  Excellent movie.  Loved it.  Well the next day I decided to see Deadpool.  My goodness!  Not prepared after seeing the tame Brooklyn.  Totally different genre.  An action film that some classify as a science fiction and fantasy comedy, in which comic book characters are brought to life.  But while it’s extremely entertaining, and funny with a twisted sense of humor,  it’s also violent with touches of profanity throughout.  I thought you might want to know this in the event it was on your “want to see” list.

Ryan  plays a character by the name of  Wade Wilson.  Wade is  a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary.  Wade then meets Vanessa, and they fall in love. He now has something to live for. But then he’s diagnosed with terminal cancer.  He wants to live so agrees to participate in an experiment.  But without warning he’s subjected to  a chemical transformation, that eventually destroys his physical appearance.  And it also leaves him with accelerated healing powers.  These powers soon lead to more action, and the introduction of some interesting characters.  But that’s all I’ll say about the movie for now.   I don’t want to spoil it for you, in the event you’d like to see it.

But who knew Ryan had such a great sense of comedic timing?  Did you?  Of course you wouldn’t unless you saw the movie.  And I’m sure we’ll see more of Ryan in the future, in this type of role.  Congrats Ryan.

So bye for now.  Keep well everyone.  Talk soon.

Marjan

Hello.  I hope you enjoyed family day today.  A friend and I ventured out into the cold to watch the movie,  Brooklyn with Saoirse Ronan. But it was wealth worth the trek.  This  wonderful actress  who gave an outstanding performance in the role of Eilis Lacey,  has received a much deserved academy award nomination by an actress in a Leading Role.  At only 21 years of age she’s already received a few acting nominations.  Perhaps this year she’ll bring home a much deserved Oscar.  If you can relate to the story on some level,  it’s worth seeing.  Or if you enjoy  a well acted movie that’s thought provoking and lovely to watch, than this may be the one to put on your “should see list.”  And if you can’t make it to the movie there’s always the  book of the same name written by Colm Toibin.  I’ve now added the book to my “to be read” list, and am looking forward to it.

So everyone, please stay safe, and healthy.  All the best.

Bye for now.

Marjan

Hello everyone.  Well you made it.  It’s Friday.  And I hope you were able to march through all the challenges, and responsibilities of the week.  Congratulations for a job well done…

I would like to take a moment, and discuss the “flu season”.  I know, I know.  You probably don’t wish to hear about it, but humour me, and please listen for a moment.  I promise I won’t go on incessantly.

As you probably know by now, I’m an Intensive Care Nurse, and preventative health care is important to me so I just wanted to share a few thoughts with you.  The flu season is now upon us.  And due to warmer than normal weather, the flu season that usually runs from Nov. to April had been delayed.  El Nino is to thank for this by providing us with above normal temperatures this winter.  And warmer temperatures, as well as other factors, decreases the chance of spreading the flu.

Well, this season, Influenza A (H1 N1) has been declared the most common subtype influenza present.  I won’t lecture you about getting the flu shot–since you’re old and wise enough to make your own informed decision–but please try and WASH YOUR HANDS, whenever you have a chance.  And if this is not possible please use HAND SANITIZERS.  There is no guarantee  this will prevent you from getting the flu but it’s a good start, and a good practice to adopt any time of the year. (ok–I’m done).  Thank you for listening.

Now onto a more fun topic.  As you know this Sunday is Valentine’s Day.  So I hope your friends or family surprise you with some goodies.  And if they don’t, that’s ok.  Buy yourself some pretty flowers, or give yourself a treat.  After all, you deserve it.

Well I’ll say goodbye for now.  Please stay well, and look after yourselves.  Talk soon.

Marjan

Hello everyone.  Nice to be back with you today.  And I hope you’ve all been well since my last blog.

I’m a member of a writer’s group, who meet every Sunday, to discuss, and critique work submitted by a member of the group.  And yesterday we were very fortunate to have Tilda Shalof as our guest speaker.  Tilda has written several books related to her experiences working in some capacity, as a Registered Nurse, or as a hospital patient.

As an Intensive Care Nurse working presently in a teaching hospital, in Toronto, Ontario, I can relate to the first book she published in 2004–a Nurse’s Story–Life, Death, and in-between, in an Intensive Care Unit.  And I find this book still remains very current and relevant to our practices, today.

Beautifully written, it is on goodreads, and remains very much in demand.  And I feel it should be a must read for nurses working in the profession or contemplating entering nursing, or by anyone wishing to read “a very good book.”

Well I hope everyone survived last week’s media storm regarding the Jian Ghomeshi trial.  And should you have missed any of the trial’s details the trial continues today.  But I won’t ” tackle the subject yet.” Will leave that for another day–after a good night’s sleep, that is.  There’s an excellent article in the Toronto Star today, written by Joanna Birenbaum, Pamela Cross, and Amanda Dale.  These excellent writers make some very valid points.  And if you have an opportunity to read the article, please take a moment to do so.

Very excited about my impending book signing, at Indigo–Manulife Centre, Toronto, on Saturday, Feb. 27 from l2-4 p.m.

If you have an opportunity to be there, I would love to meet you.

Well that’s all for now.  Please check my blog on goodreads as well.  And keep well.

Marjan

Hello everyone:

Totally apologize for not writing sooner but it’s been a very busy last few months for me. And a very sad one.
One of my colleagues passed away, and then a son of another colleague died suddenly. It must be devastating and the psychological pain unimaginable for the survivors of both the deceased. But we need to let the families know that we will be there for them in their moment of need.

I have exciting news! Indigo, in the Manulife Centre, Toronto, Ontario has kindly given me permission to have a book launching. It will be on Saturday, February 27, from l2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. I plan to give a complimentary book mark to customers who purchase my book, and I will also have “yummy treats” available. Hope you will be able to attend, so I can meet you and have a chat.

Please stay healthy. And know you have the inner strength to face life’s challenges.

Until next time.

Marjan

Hello everyone:

Hope the week has treated you well.  And it hasn’t been too stressful for you.

I’ve decided not to discuss Jian Ghomeshi with you at length.  Since you can read  newspaper articles by commentators, writers, readers, or by  watching television news shows, to know everyone’s opinion, and thoughts on the subject.  As well as getting all the details.  You don’t need to hear my opinion at this time.  But I’m sure Mr. Ghomeshi will be the main topic of conversation for many months to come.  Since he faces accusations from a fourth woman regarding a sexual assault that allegedly occurred in 2008.  This case will be heard in the courts in June of this year.  If you wish to read an interesting article by #RosieDiManno  of the#torontostar.  It’s titled: “Treating women like victims not the answer.”  And it’s in today’s edition.

My condolences to all those who have  lost a loved one in the last several days to tragic circumstances.  No words that are said at this time can take away the pain.

So everyone please stay safe and healthy this weekend, whether you are out driving or walking.

Talk soon,

Marjan

To see the post on Self Publishing Review. Click here.

Pardon Me While I Close the Door, by Marjan Sierhuis, is a frank memoir about loss and a toxic relationship.

The author goes for a walk to clear her head and to contemplate the deaths of her father and mother, her relationships, including the memory of a toxic relationship, and the ups and downs in her life. The journey to overcome grief can take time, but it is possible for one to move on.

Opening up one’s heart and soul and pouring words on pages for all to read takes courage. Even more so when an author is penning her own story, not fiction. The author is clear that she confirmed facts when possible and double-checked her personal journals to stay true to her expedition, although she changed some names and details to maintain some anonymity.

It’s amazing how open and honest Sierhuis is in Pardon Me While I Close the Door. Many people aren’t this candid with their friends and loved ones, but the author puts it out there for readers. Her honesty strips away the desire to judge her actions and those in the story and her matter of fact accounting of events allows the reader to see things at face value.

At times it’s hypnotic: the need to know what happens next. Will Marjan Sierhuis find the peace she so desperately needs? Many will be able to relate to her story since most have experience with loss and unhealthy relationships. And her forthrightness may help some see the mistakes they’ve made in their own lives or are about to make.

This short work can easily be read in one sitting. There are some lingering questions that nag at the back of one’s mind. For example, the author sets out on a walk, but after starting the walk, there’s not much mention of it in the following pages. Occasionally, she refers to it, but it’s hard to picture how the walk is bringing memories forward and helping her deal with the emotions.
Also, many pages are devoted to her relationship with Ali, who isn’t the worst person in the world, but he’s not the nicest either. In a nutshell he’s commitment phobic, selfish, unfaithful, emotionally detached, and super private.

It’s hard to understand why the writer stuck with the relationship for so long. It’s easy for the reader to guess the reason or reasons, but a little more in depth analysis and explanation would help see the whole picture. The main flaw is the author’s matter of fact tone, stripping away the emotional connection. The book skims the surface of her life, but many will desire to peek underneath the surface because that’s where all the feelings and answers lie.

Supplying all the facts is commendable, however, when writing a work of this type, it helps the reader if the author is willing to go the extra mile by really letting the reader in completely. Of course with non-fiction this is easier said than done. Pardon Me While I Close the Door is a good book, but it could be a great one.

The following is a review from Diane Donovan, literary review.

In the Spring of 2014, author Marjan Sierhuis read Cheryl Strayed’s Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, an account of how the twenty-six-year-old embarked upon a life-changing hike of some eleven hundred miles. Inspired to undertake her own (albeit shorter) odyssey, Sierhuis kept a journal of her experience which evolved into Pardon Me While I Close The Door, a different urban walk of self-exploration.

The walk reflects a middle-aged woman’s life journey and choices and the changes she experiences upon the death of her parents, and it captures a vivid personal odyssey that ultimately revolves around the acceptance of loss and how to move on.

The door closes upon a chapter of pain and confusion even though the walk itself is only some thirteen kilometers and undertaken in an urban setting. Lacking the usual life-threatening rural obstacles, readers might wonder what an urban sojourn could mean to an effort to change one’s familiar surroundings in order to gain perspective; but Pardon Me While I Close The Door demonstrates that a rural experience or a long journey are not prerequisites for growth and enlightenment.

The sojourn allows time for Sierhuis to explore memories of her family and life, to process them under different conditions than her everyday familiar world could allow, and to invite a kind of closure that wasn’t possible when immersed in familiar routines.

Her memoir thus offers many touching moments that readers will find poignant, candid, and heart-felt: “Marjan, I hope you are not with me the day I die,” he said, “because you will try and save me.” Looking at him in silence, I didn’t know what to say. I felt there could be some truth in his words. And perhaps if I did speak, it wouldn’t be what he wanted to hear and I would regret it for the rest of my life.”

The author’s process of accepting her parents’ deaths didn’t begin with her walk, but it synthesized and completed a process that had actually started before her parents died: “Close friends and colleagues empathized as I rambled on endlessly about my father. I read voraciously—every book I could find on death, dying, and bereavement. I started journalling. When I wasn’t working twelve-hour shifts, I walked through forests, provincial parks, along lakes and riverbeds, trying to find a spiritual connection to my father. I tried to hang on and let go at the same time.”

Pardon Me While I Close The Door also explores the movement from friendship to lover as Sierhuis forms and then re-examines different connections in her life.

The result is a memoir that intimately follows the process of how the stormy present becomes a gentler past, both in death and in romance, and shows how a walk out of one’s world can serve as a catalyst for closure and change.

For my reviews visit my Goodreads page.

I found the State of The Union Address by the President very enlightening, and riveting. Being Canadian I find American politics interesting and certainly newsworthy.
For those who were unable to watch or read about the address I decided to quote some of the president’a four focus points:

“First how do we give everyone a fair shot at opportunity and security in the new economy?

second, how do we make technology work for us and not against us especially when it comes to solving urgent challenges like climate change?

Third, how do we keep America safe and lead the world without becoming its policeman?

and finally how can we make our politics reflect what’s best in us and not what’s worst?”

He also said, “It doesn’t work if we think people who disagree with us are all motivated by malice, or that our political opponents are unpatriotic.”

His biggest regret was failure to ease the persistent deep division between democrats and republicans.

All well said, President Obama