Thank You
I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude, thanks, and praise to one helluva lotta people, agencies, organizations etc… Of course most importantly to God for so many things in my life! At the moment this list is incomplete, as well as in “Random” order.
This list is just to say thank you at this point, talking about gratitude is fruitless and as appealing to me as a conversation about a woman on a day time talk show that drank too much fiber supplements and created a solidified “ornament” with the “byproducts” and auctioned them on an Internet web site! I say this because gratitude is an action not a sentiment, I will do my best throughout my entire life to pay my undying gratitude in all areas in hopes that it be seen my appreciation is sincere.
Thank you so very much…
Christopher- Thank you for everything! You have shown me that you truly are a lovely man through your understanding, compassion, sympathy, humour, generosity, observant nature, kind hearted well wishes, as well as everything else your personality is comprised of! Nurses everywhere could learn so much by following the example you set by just being yourself! Thus, providing the patients they have interactions with the most comfortable hospital experience as humanly possible. I know you could teach your colleagues a few things leading to tax dollars being properly spent! I do believe that as a result of your kind spirit, generosity, and willingness to "go the extra mile" at work, you spared me the agony that seemed inevitable. Your kind words will accompany me on my every travel! Of those kind words the most poignant being, "Jason, good to see you lad, little on the skinny side but you look well, let's get healthy yeah?", "Jason, long time no see we have to stop meeting like this lad, stay well", "Jason, another vacation lad? Why not stay well enough so this is the last one" Christopher, over the course of time and during my stay in hospitals, some of the nurses I have encountered have made it blatantly clear that your personality and good nature are obviously not a job requirement just by showing that they either do not have the ability to be the nurse you are or simply by lack of desire to do so, good on you for being a good enough person to rise above the "call of duty" and allow every patient including myself to experience the comfort and care well above the standards set that you make look like an injustice as they pale in comparison to the standards you have obviously (and quite remarkably I mite add) set for yourself! Bloody hell Christoper, I just wanted to say thank you but, now that I have completed the "12 Chapter Thank You To Christopher", I must elaborate on this section for my book more than anticipated.
How about this then?
Thank you, you bloody plonker! OK, perhaps not suiting ummm...
Thanks you wally!
:) Thank you Christoper I must go smoke now!
The Alpha Society of Calgary, the staff and volunteers at the Alpha House work so hard with so little and provide so much to so many individuals in need as well as reach out to those that are not utilizing the amenities available through the Alpha House. When the weird Calgary weather got harsh, the darkest nights got darker, the scary moments became terrifying, my empty stomach screamed for help the Alpha House eased all of that and more for the months I spent living on the streets in Calgary Alberta after my relationship with “The One” met its demise. Thank you so very much!
-*(As odd as this may sound)* Rob Thomas! Yes Rob
Thomas the artist/song writer singer/ lead singer of the most amazing band to
ever play a note of music. I won't go into full detail here just now rather, I
am going to touch briefly as to why (no particular order)... He made me realize
it is OK to "be a little fucked up!", got me through the toughest
times/things/events/nights/situations etc, sang me through inebriation to the
the walk which he and the rest of Matchbox Twenty walked with me on the road to
rehab and sobriety (through maintaining the reputation they so deserve as a
result of the blessings their music gives), introduced me to "me" over and over,
called me buddy in Hamilton Ontario just before a concert at Copps Coliseum when
I chased after him in hopes of getting a picture. When I yelled out "Rob, just
one picture man!" he turned around and replied, "I will be right back buddy"
(that part was a little on the humorous side depite the fact it actually
happened and I knew he wasn't coming back), at the concert that night he
dedicated the song "Unwell" to me and people like me "that are enlightened
enough to know it is OK to be a little fucked up", finally accepted my friend
request on "Myspace" despite knowing he has tonnes of others on his list and
that I will never likely hear from him in direct contact and that it is rare for
me to utilize that "forum" these days, and so many other things that Rob and the
band have gifted me with as a result of doing what they love.
Kyle Cook out of this (Lead Guitar for Matchbox Twenty). The day of the same
concert that I just made mention of my former lifemate, (human) Saviour at that
time and I were standing around out front of the hotel I was sure the band had
stayed at the night before, I looked in the window to the lobby and was sure I
saw Kyle sitting in a chair listening to music through ear phones. I excitedly
said "Holy fuck! Jassie look that's Kyle", she said, "it couldn't be". We went
inside and lo and behold, Kyle Cook was sitting in the lobby alone! (I was
incredibly uncomfortable doing it) I approached him and said "Hey Kyle?" He
didn't hear me so, I tapped him on the shoulder and said "Hey man I hate to blow
your serenity here before a big concert but, I gotta talk to you!" He removed
his ear phones pointed at the empty chairs in front of him and said "no problem
man, have a seat" Like a little boy I was too excited to sit down at first (but
eventually did). He sat and talked to Jassie and I for nearly 15 minutes about
everything we wanted to talk about. For the most part we discussed mental
illness and the song unwell and how I have experienced so many of the same type
of things as Rob as well as himself. After talking a long time Kyle broke off
saying that he had to get ready for sound check and see who was out front as
well as other things I didn't catch as a result of being far too "star struck",
I remember trying to be "macho" or "manly" to hide it from Jassie as she said
"you're so cute when you meet your idols" (it didn't work!). I made a final
request of Kyle before he departed "Please if you can, try hard to fit the best
song you guys have ever put out tonight... KODY!" He was honest and told me it
was not in the set list but would talk to Rob and see but it had been a long
time since they did it. Unfortunately it didn't happen. Anyway Thanks guys (I
just realized how long this got). This applies to all areas of my life since
1997 when I first heard the sweet sounds of Matchbox Twenty, even my most recent
trials and tribulations as well as "love stories". I would really love to show
you guys the videos I have made as "sentimental gifts" using you music in the
background. Thank you for continuing to play and write the soundtrack of my
life!
The Salvation Army, need I say more? The Salvation Army extended love and care to me in Calgary, as well as here in London. In Calgary The Salvation Army loaned much needed aide in many forms, from working with me to provide shelter at a cost within my nearly nonexistent budget to feeding me when I nearly collapsed in the middle of the night on a “deadly cold” night and provided a mattress to sleep on when all other resources were exhausted. In London Ontario, standing up in court for me telling the Justice of the Peace that they would be happy to accommodate me if the courts decided to grant me bail until my dealings with the law have been settled. Thank you so much for feeding me, giving me the freedom we all so desire, providing three meals a day, thank you Jessica (without allowing me to pack five minutes into thirty seconds to listen to me harp and holler about my on goings, situations, needs, and projects, and ask too many questions when I impede on your work, so much would end up going undone), Josh, Rob, Erin (thank you for saving my morning simply by making a minor mess and allowing me to clean it!), Sarah (your patience and sense of humour rock! The extension of doing what you are at work to do is awesome further putting up with my "odd" sense of humour and misdialed calls rambling about something meant for another agency and keeping a sense of humour in the lite of it all helps my dark days and cold nights!) as well as everyone else involved at The Center of Hope Salvation Army in London Ontario also including Rob from the withdrawal management floor for the encouragement, belief, advice, direction, and guidance freely given upon humble request!
London Inter Community Health Clinic in London Ontario, simply amazing doesn't quite cut it however it does give insight into the services provided by your office from the outreach, to the doctors, to nurses, and all other health care providers, to the front desk staff and everything else offed and freely given with a smile I am more than nourished! That though, is not to say your services and extensions are all covered. Thank you for the smallest things, be it enough food to get me through a couple of days because I hit a rough patch for whatever reason, or allowing me to come in to pick up my mail that you have allowed me to receive at your office when coming in to have a shower and do laundry and see (in my mind) the best doctor anyone could ask for. For over a decade you care, guidance, compassion, concern, and so much more has in so many ways brought me back to health when needed, maintained my health as needed, given me a guide to live by and not forget where I have been and done and in many cases helped me overcome!
My dearest friend Sue, “open iron arms, in a silk blouse” is one of the best descriptions (ok maybe not a description but a term I made up to describe you briefly) I can give to shine light on just a small area of your wonderful meanings to me.
Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous/Cocaine Anonymous World wide!
It feels as though I am at war with fatigue at this point, thus leading me to resort to listing names without elaboration for the moment be assured though, I will finalize these as well as the many others that will be listed here in the near future!
David Antone
Jenn Zinn
Paul (Next door)
Auntie Francis Vandenakker
Lukas Dysko
Jack (John) Vezeau
Jody MacDonald
Barbara Bourne (rest in peace my fellow garden gnome, I miss you)
Mom-Jackie Floriancic (Maiden name - Larocque)
James (Jimmy) Rose
Tawet Antone
Wes Keller
Auntie Diane Larocque
Jorge Castillo, Cherie Larocque and Family
Connie Larson
Brenda Larson
Jeff Langs
Ivan Daniel
"Lady Sunshine" M. YOU ROCK!
London Cares Program, London Ontario
Grey Hound Canada
Iuniverse Publishing
Debroah Cantrell (of IUniverse Publishing)
West Jet, westjet.com
Mike Cole
Nicole Maddison
Jaydn Turner
Rob Walker
Dave and Barb at Shoppers Drug Mart (Stampede Station Calgary Alberta)
Cups
John Forest
Kory McComb and Family
Connie Larson
All medical staff at London Health Sciences Centers
Calgary, London Ontario, Orangeville Ontario Paramedics
Headwaters Hospital in Orangeville Ontario
Sandra Wacker
Lisa Hartung
General Hospital in Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Arch Bishop Boniface Grosvold
Patty and Damon O’Quinn
Les Talbot Eternally Rest In Peace Brother!
James Rose
Ben Ward
Clayton Muise
Jamie Phillips
Jessie P
Kaleb Liam McComb
This list is just to say thank you at this point, talking about gratitude is fruitless and as appealing to me as a conversation about a woman on a day time talk show that drank too much fiber supplements and created a solidified “ornament” with the “byproducts” and auctioned them on an Internet web site! I say this because gratitude is an action not a sentiment, I will do my best throughout my entire life to pay my undying gratitude in all areas in hopes that it be seen my appreciation is sincere.
Thank you so very much…
Christopher- Thank you for everything! You have shown me that you truly are a lovely man through your understanding, compassion, sympathy, humour, generosity, observant nature, kind hearted well wishes, as well as everything else your personality is comprised of! Nurses everywhere could learn so much by following the example you set by just being yourself! Thus, providing the patients they have interactions with the most comfortable hospital experience as humanly possible. I know you could teach your colleagues a few things leading to tax dollars being properly spent! I do believe that as a result of your kind spirit, generosity, and willingness to "go the extra mile" at work, you spared me the agony that seemed inevitable. Your kind words will accompany me on my every travel! Of those kind words the most poignant being, "Jason, good to see you lad, little on the skinny side but you look well, let's get healthy yeah?", "Jason, long time no see we have to stop meeting like this lad, stay well", "Jason, another vacation lad? Why not stay well enough so this is the last one" Christopher, over the course of time and during my stay in hospitals, some of the nurses I have encountered have made it blatantly clear that your personality and good nature are obviously not a job requirement just by showing that they either do not have the ability to be the nurse you are or simply by lack of desire to do so, good on you for being a good enough person to rise above the "call of duty" and allow every patient including myself to experience the comfort and care well above the standards set that you make look like an injustice as they pale in comparison to the standards you have obviously (and quite remarkably I mite add) set for yourself! Bloody hell Christoper, I just wanted to say thank you but, now that I have completed the "12 Chapter Thank You To Christopher", I must elaborate on this section for my book more than anticipated.
How about this then?
Thank you, you bloody plonker! OK, perhaps not suiting ummm...
Thanks you wally!
:) Thank you Christoper I must go smoke now!
The Alpha Society of Calgary, the staff and volunteers at the Alpha House work so hard with so little and provide so much to so many individuals in need as well as reach out to those that are not utilizing the amenities available through the Alpha House. When the weird Calgary weather got harsh, the darkest nights got darker, the scary moments became terrifying, my empty stomach screamed for help the Alpha House eased all of that and more for the months I spent living on the streets in Calgary Alberta after my relationship with “The One” met its demise. Thank you so very much!
-*(As odd as this may sound)* Rob Thomas! Yes Rob
Thomas the artist/song writer singer/ lead singer of the most amazing band to
ever play a note of music. I won't go into full detail here just now rather, I
am going to touch briefly as to why (no particular order)... He made me realize
it is OK to "be a little fucked up!", got me through the toughest
times/things/events/nights/situations etc, sang me through inebriation to the
the walk which he and the rest of Matchbox Twenty walked with me on the road to
rehab and sobriety (through maintaining the reputation they so deserve as a
result of the blessings their music gives), introduced me to "me" over and over,
called me buddy in Hamilton Ontario just before a concert at Copps Coliseum when
I chased after him in hopes of getting a picture. When I yelled out "Rob, just
one picture man!" he turned around and replied, "I will be right back buddy"
(that part was a little on the humorous side depite the fact it actually
happened and I knew he wasn't coming back), at the concert that night he
dedicated the song "Unwell" to me and people like me "that are enlightened
enough to know it is OK to be a little fucked up", finally accepted my friend
request on "Myspace" despite knowing he has tonnes of others on his list and
that I will never likely hear from him in direct contact and that it is rare for
me to utilize that "forum" these days, and so many other things that Rob and the
band have gifted me with as a result of doing what they love.
Kyle Cook out of this (Lead Guitar for Matchbox Twenty). The day of the same
concert that I just made mention of my former lifemate, (human) Saviour at that
time and I were standing around out front of the hotel I was sure the band had
stayed at the night before, I looked in the window to the lobby and was sure I
saw Kyle sitting in a chair listening to music through ear phones. I excitedly
said "Holy fuck! Jassie look that's Kyle", she said, "it couldn't be". We went
inside and lo and behold, Kyle Cook was sitting in the lobby alone! (I was
incredibly uncomfortable doing it) I approached him and said "Hey Kyle?" He
didn't hear me so, I tapped him on the shoulder and said "Hey man I hate to blow
your serenity here before a big concert but, I gotta talk to you!" He removed
his ear phones pointed at the empty chairs in front of him and said "no problem
man, have a seat" Like a little boy I was too excited to sit down at first (but
eventually did). He sat and talked to Jassie and I for nearly 15 minutes about
everything we wanted to talk about. For the most part we discussed mental
illness and the song unwell and how I have experienced so many of the same type
of things as Rob as well as himself. After talking a long time Kyle broke off
saying that he had to get ready for sound check and see who was out front as
well as other things I didn't catch as a result of being far too "star struck",
I remember trying to be "macho" or "manly" to hide it from Jassie as she said
"you're so cute when you meet your idols" (it didn't work!). I made a final
request of Kyle before he departed "Please if you can, try hard to fit the best
song you guys have ever put out tonight... KODY!" He was honest and told me it
was not in the set list but would talk to Rob and see but it had been a long
time since they did it. Unfortunately it didn't happen. Anyway Thanks guys (I
just realized how long this got). This applies to all areas of my life since
1997 when I first heard the sweet sounds of Matchbox Twenty, even my most recent
trials and tribulations as well as "love stories". I would really love to show
you guys the videos I have made as "sentimental gifts" using you music in the
background. Thank you for continuing to play and write the soundtrack of my
life!
The Salvation Army, need I say more? The Salvation Army extended love and care to me in Calgary, as well as here in London. In Calgary The Salvation Army loaned much needed aide in many forms, from working with me to provide shelter at a cost within my nearly nonexistent budget to feeding me when I nearly collapsed in the middle of the night on a “deadly cold” night and provided a mattress to sleep on when all other resources were exhausted. In London Ontario, standing up in court for me telling the Justice of the Peace that they would be happy to accommodate me if the courts decided to grant me bail until my dealings with the law have been settled. Thank you so much for feeding me, giving me the freedom we all so desire, providing three meals a day, thank you Jessica (without allowing me to pack five minutes into thirty seconds to listen to me harp and holler about my on goings, situations, needs, and projects, and ask too many questions when I impede on your work, so much would end up going undone), Josh, Rob, Erin (thank you for saving my morning simply by making a minor mess and allowing me to clean it!), Sarah (your patience and sense of humour rock! The extension of doing what you are at work to do is awesome further putting up with my "odd" sense of humour and misdialed calls rambling about something meant for another agency and keeping a sense of humour in the lite of it all helps my dark days and cold nights!) as well as everyone else involved at The Center of Hope Salvation Army in London Ontario also including Rob from the withdrawal management floor for the encouragement, belief, advice, direction, and guidance freely given upon humble request!
London Inter Community Health Clinic in London Ontario, simply amazing doesn't quite cut it however it does give insight into the services provided by your office from the outreach, to the doctors, to nurses, and all other health care providers, to the front desk staff and everything else offed and freely given with a smile I am more than nourished! That though, is not to say your services and extensions are all covered. Thank you for the smallest things, be it enough food to get me through a couple of days because I hit a rough patch for whatever reason, or allowing me to come in to pick up my mail that you have allowed me to receive at your office when coming in to have a shower and do laundry and see (in my mind) the best doctor anyone could ask for. For over a decade you care, guidance, compassion, concern, and so much more has in so many ways brought me back to health when needed, maintained my health as needed, given me a guide to live by and not forget where I have been and done and in many cases helped me overcome!
My dearest friend Sue, “open iron arms, in a silk blouse” is one of the best descriptions (ok maybe not a description but a term I made up to describe you briefly) I can give to shine light on just a small area of your wonderful meanings to me.
Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous/Cocaine Anonymous World wide!
It feels as though I am at war with fatigue at this point, thus leading me to resort to listing names without elaboration for the moment be assured though, I will finalize these as well as the many others that will be listed here in the near future!
David Antone
Jenn Zinn
Paul (Next door)
Auntie Francis Vandenakker
Lukas Dysko
Jack (John) Vezeau
Jody MacDonald
Barbara Bourne (rest in peace my fellow garden gnome, I miss you)
Mom-Jackie Floriancic (Maiden name - Larocque)
James (Jimmy) Rose
Tawet Antone
Wes Keller
Auntie Diane Larocque
Jorge Castillo, Cherie Larocque and Family
Connie Larson
Brenda Larson
Jeff Langs
Ivan Daniel
"Lady Sunshine" M. YOU ROCK!
London Cares Program, London Ontario
Grey Hound Canada
Iuniverse Publishing
Debroah Cantrell (of IUniverse Publishing)
West Jet, westjet.com
Mike Cole
Nicole Maddison
Jaydn Turner
Rob Walker
Dave and Barb at Shoppers Drug Mart (Stampede Station Calgary Alberta)
Cups
John Forest
Kory McComb and Family
Connie Larson
All medical staff at London Health Sciences Centers
Calgary, London Ontario, Orangeville Ontario Paramedics
Headwaters Hospital in Orangeville Ontario
Sandra Wacker
Lisa Hartung
General Hospital in Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Arch Bishop Boniface Grosvold
Patty and Damon O’Quinn
Les Talbot Eternally Rest In Peace Brother!
James Rose
Ben Ward
Clayton Muise
Jamie Phillips
Jessie P
Kaleb Liam McComb