Should auld acquaintance be forgot ...

Wishing everyone the very best in 2009!

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Some New Year's Resolutions

I figure it's about the time to start thinking of these. :)

1. Be the best mom and wife I can be to my little family of three.
2. Be the best daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, etc. to the rest of my family as they've been wonderful to me.
3. Be the best friend I can be - my friends deserve it. :)
4. Continue to lose the weight I started to lose this year.
5. Direct a successful play to kick off '09, and stay involved in theater.
6. Use my maternity leave for Professional Development, taking a course or two - something.
7. Get a contract for September when I'm back to work. Or at least an long-term temp job given I've had some time off.
8. Possibly most importantly for ANY of these to succeed - enjoy life. Right now. The moment I'm in. I have a bad habit of either longing for the next big adventure, or living in the past, and missing 'now'. Which would be tragic right now given that this time of my life is what I've been living for - I'm a wife and I have a beautiful child and my career is going well. My family is in good health, I have good friends, a lovely home, food on my table and almost anything I could want - count those blessings instead of dwelling on things that go wrong. Because really, I've learned - none of it's worth it. The above is what matters.

Do any of you have any resolutions?

Merry Christmas and Hanukkah

Hi all,

Just wanted to check in to say I hope everyone has been having as great a holiday season as we have. I didn't get a chance to wish everyone a Merry Christmas as we were away on Christmas at my mom's but I hope it was spectacular. We got to celebrate Hanukkah today with Ari's family as well - Little Man has been introduced all around and has quite the fan club! :)

Not a whole lot to say - lovely company, lovely gifts, lovely memories. It's been a truly spectacular holiday ... only a few regrets and sadnesses ... and I hope everyone can say the same!

Love to all,
Sarah

Revolutionary Road

I want to see this movie:

Happy Hanukkah

Dear friends and family,

Tonight as we speak is the beginning of Hanukkah. Wishing all of you a lovely one as we at the Daigen household begin to celebrate the Chrismukkah season.

Love,
The Daigens

Props to Barack Obama

Barack Obama selected Saddleback preacher Rick Warren to perform the Invocation at his Inauguration this January, upsetting many in the gay community and on the pro choice side of the aisle due to Warrens anti-gay marriage, and 'pro life' stance. Well as someone who both strongly supports gay rights, and believes in a woman's right to choose, I'd like to take the time to discuss this issue, and explain why I'm NOT up in arms.

1. While Rick Warren falls on the wrong side of the tracks on these two issues, he is hardly a stereotypical, one-note conservative pastor. He has worked tirelessly to combat world hunger and poverty, and to advocate peace and human rights throughout the world. It's unfortunate he doesn't recognize the next logical step of his fight for human rights is gay rights, and their ability to do anything we straight folks can do, or to allow women to make the most intimate choices to do with their body, but does ANYONE get it completely right 100% of the time?
2. Rick Warren is a personal friend of Obama's - he treated both Obama and John McCain with great respect at the Saddleback debates earlier in the US Presidential campaign, and asked some of the most impressive questions I've seen tossed to presidential candidates. He will not, I presume, use the dais of the Inauguration as a bully pulpit to push forward his own particular agenda, but to wish Barack Obama well and to pray for the Lord to guide him in the upcoming, and no doubt trying and difficult, next four years. Those are sentiments we can all get behind.
3. I can't help but feel Barack Obama is kind of in a "can't win" here. He was blasted early in the presidential campaign for his association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a radically liberal preacher who in the past has wished eternal damnation on the United States, the very country Barack Obama feels called to serve. So he tries to take a more moderate approach, reaching out to those who are perhaps more conservative than he, and he gets blasted for that. He portrayed himself as a post-partisan moderate, people, we knew this; if you didn't want that, John Edwards or Dennis Kucinich would have been stronger candidates.
4. The left should be better than this. After 8 years of non-cooperation and divisiveness from those petty, can't-see-past-the-ends-of-their-noses neocons, the country finally sees what we have all along, and elected someone basically in line with the change we want to see. Does it become us when we get there to become that which we hate? Petty sore losers who feel the need to rub it in and 'get back at' those who've been in charge the last 8 years by not reaching across the aisle in a spirit of cooperation? Reaching out to, including and embracing people of all different stripes is a grownup and mature thing to do. And it isn't like Obama is asking Pastor Warren to develop policy; he's asking him to say a prayer. I mean, really.

And really, if we lefties - or anyone, for that matter - want to raise a concern, bottom line is it's that. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Christian and a very strong believer, and if I were elected President or Prime Minister of anything I'd definitely want divine guidance on that path. So in that sense it pains me to say this BUT - with the separation of church and state being a principle that the United States was founded upon, should any one person be saying a prayer at the new president's inauguration?

A prayer should either be a private event with the Obamas and those in the cabinet who wish to join them, and a preacher of their choice in private, outside of official inauguration duties, or else several preachers of several religions should be involved to include the entire tapestry of the country Barack Obama will be leading for the next 4 years. THAT, if ANYTHING, moreso than a moderate Republican pastor being asked to lead a few-moments-long prayer, should be the issue.

Or then again - novel idea - we could just sit back, enjoy this moment in history, stop trying to create issues where there ARE NONE, realize that Obama's official presidency, as anyone's would, will bring plenty to parse and critique in the years ahead, and stop trying to jump on non-stories early. Just a thought.

Shoe Toss

I dunno: is this awful, or funny, or awful funny?



I mean, I do NOT like GWB don't get me wrong - but we shouldn't treat our world leaders and elected officials this way. And Secret Service, where were you? If that had been a bullet ...

But since it wasn't, and since I DON'T like Dubbya, and since even he was cracking jokes about the incident later, I'm going to go with funny. And kudos to the brave (and very stupid!) reporter for doing what I doubt any of us would dare to (or be dumb enough to).

J

We had a lovely dinner tonight with Ari's friend J, her husband and her son.

I mention J because she will always have a very special place in my heart. Last year I was in a car accident. I was in a fairly light jacket, asI was just dropping Ari off at work and then going home. Well, black ice introducing my car to a light post fixed that real quick, and it was -10C at MOST out. J was actually quite coincidentally one of the first people to drive by and see the accident (we were both surprised to recognize each other), and as soon as she recognized me she gave me a hug and an extra coat she had in the car ... both of which were much needed at the time.

Well, now J is expecting her second baby and it was time to return the coat which we have been attempting to give back to her for a year lol (her 'extra coat' was not in use b/c it was a maternity coat - and yes, sadly, it fit). So we had them over, exchanged the coat for some baby gifts, and had a lovely evening visiting.

Not only is J the kind of friend I aspire to be, I hope our little Tyke (thanks Alex for the nickname idea) grows up to be like her little guy H when he's 2. Such a nice family. :D

Interesting times...

Gov. Blagojevich of Illinois, since my last posting, has been indicted for, among other things trying to sell Barack Obama's senate seat. The president-elect has called for Blagojevich's resignation, and the attorney general of Illinois today sought the state Supreme Court to temporarily remove him from office, as he is unable to properly exercise his powers - I'm assuming while under indictment.

I am disappointed in this turn of events for several reasons:

1. First and most simply, and admittedly from a completely partisan point of view, I'm always dismayed when I hear of these stories from Democrats in the US, or Liberals/NDPers in Canada. These are the parties I support, whether with my vote in the Great White North, or morally, from the sidelines, in the case of the US. It makes it hard to justify that support to those who are perhaps of not like mind when these scandals come to light. And yes, many on the Republican side, or the Conservative side up north here, have plenty to account for themselves. But somehow, I always find lefties need to justify these things more than the righties do. Maybe that's just a persecution complex, I'll admit that, but I just feel we have a harder time overcoming our nonsense in terms of public perception. Perhaps it's because we already have the more controversial policies to begin with - usually involving higher taxes and a greater openness to deficit spending in order to fund public programs - so that if we then look corrupt to boot, well ... if it's a given both sides of the political spectrum are corrupt, why not go with the side that simply put makes sure we have more $$$ in our own personal wallets at the end of the day (while charging us for that same in terms of social programs previously free ... doubt schools are under-funded? how many of your childrens' supplies do you need to buy, or field trips do you need to pay for now, which previously might have been covered?)
2. Which explains point #2: this simply leads to that attitude of "they're all the same". Which pols aren't. That attitude leads to cynicism, which leads to voter apathy, which leads to low voter turnout, which is poor for democracy. While we the public should know better than to focus on these bad apples, while many of our lawmakers and other public servants are in fact very dedicated, principled, intelligent human beings who simply want to make a difference (and this on any side of the political spectrum - most pols I've met of any party quite clearly care, and believe in what they say; I might disagree, but I have very rarely questioned their intentions, or their sincerity), it's bad apples like Gov. Blagojevich who spoil the whole bunch. Both for democrats, and for public officials as a whole.

In short - for shame; especially since he won't even step down. Even Stephane Dion - a stubborn old cuss who *I* have met and who I like personally, has seemed quite unaware of what his party thinks of him, but ended up doing the right thing stepping down for Michael Ignatieff in order to preserve the potential success of the coalition the Lib/NDP parties are trying to form here in the GWN. You've been indicted; your next step upon receiving bail, imho, is to release a statement announcing your immediate resignation.

But that involves humility, something Gov. Blagojevich clearly does NOT have.

Priceless!

Check this out - we Canucks made the Daily Show with Jon Stewart! :D

http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart/full-episodes/december-8-2008/#clip119658

Weekend with Baby

So it was a good first weekend as a family of three - so many people happy for us, which is so flattering. So many people try to tear others down at moments of great happiness, and it is so nice that I've come out of this whole thing with an incredible support network - while I realized that, as I shared in their happinesses as their families grew, that they were quietly (or in some cases not so quietly) rooting for us too, I don't think I ever realized just how many people, or how enthusiastically, or how excited they'd be when it all came together.

Going through a difficult and such personal process as adoption definitely teaches you a lot about what people think of you, and I had never flattered myself over the past year, in which I'd been so wrapped up in all this, that so many people had been waiting on this as eagerly as Ari and I. Thanks to our families of course (such excited grandparents oh my goodness! lol), but in terms of friends who have no obligation to be supportive other than just caring about us more than either of us could ever deserve or earn, particular thanks to Joanna (and CONGRATS AGAIN! Miss Mom, on your own expanding family), Alex and Marjorie for welcoming me to the 'mom' club with such open arms (your vote of confidence means SO much to me because you've been there, and if YOU think I can do it, I can lol).

So many others have been great too - cher, calling me LD from WORK to congratulate me; Elizabeth and Licia for being SO excited for me even though we're all busy and don't see each other as often as we'd like; Nick, for following little man's progress as closely as we have despite not even LIKING kids ... you guys rock, we love you, and thank you so much for such overwhelming kindness which we can only hope to return - and I'm afraid you guys have set a pretty high bar. Love you all.

Baby News

Now that he is home, I can announce happily that Ari and I have a little boy! No names or photos yet for confidentiality issues - as it is an adoption, it is not just our story or our information to share freely - but due to shorter and/or more infrequent blogs of late I wanted to explain why now that he is out of the hospital and the little tyke is doing well. Thanks everyone reading for your support!

A Political Break

GO LIBERAL-NDP COALITION GO!!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Yes, the governor general asking opposition parties to form a government is undemocratic ... however, so is a party with 36% of the popular vote governing as if they have anything resembling a mandate. Bottom line: the parties forming this coalition have 60-some-odd percent of public support. Really, the Canadian electorate voted for a centre-left government, it just happens the centre-left is divided where the right is not. I'd rather see the citizenry get what they asked for, even if some strings need to be pulled. So proud of my party - the Libs - for showing some intenstinal fortitude for a change in the wake of Conservative bullying - the Cons expected them to cave, and they did not. WOOHOO!!!!

Also - Barack Obama made some awesome cabinet picks today, in Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, Jim Jones as National Security Advisor, and (I shall shock anyone who knows me by supporting a Republican) by keeping Gates on in Defense. Susan Rice is also a good choice for UN Ambassador, though I'd have sooner gone for MISTER Clinton, personally. ;)

And truly a red letter day in American politics - "W" admitted he was unprepared for war, and engaging in war on false evidence was "the biggest regret of this presidency". *doubletake* WHAT?! Well ... better late than never. Good on ya, Dubbya. Admitting you have a problem is the first step to solving it.

So ...

As you can see it's been a busy week. Sorry about that; those of you with any clue what's been going on in my life know why. :)

It's American Thanksgiving Weekend - Thanksgiving Day itself was yesterday. So happy Thanksgiving to my American in-laws, readers, and anyone else. Of all years you guys have a LOT to be thankful for with your new president-elect.

I also, belatedly, want to extend my thoughts and sympathies to the terror victims in Mumbai - a friend of Ari's has parents there right now, it's a scary time and a scary place, and I wish everyone the best who might be there.

This weekend is going to be more of the same as last week, and probably still moreso going forward ... just so you know why my blogs might be a bit short and fewer and farther between ... but I promise when there's a bit of a let-up I will let you know. And I will check in as much as I can meanwhile. :)

WEEEEIIIIIIIRRRRRRRD

But cute?



It's a two-headed kitty from India!

You're welcome, Ladies ...

Oh come on just cuz I'm married doesn't mean I can't appreciate this, does it?

Seriously, it's just interesting, the ghost of teen heartthrobs past and present.

Stuff ...

I met a new favourite person today. Don't you love it when that happens?

Unfortunately my other favourite person is leaving town for the night - Ari's going to Ottawa until late tomorrow. I KNOW it's just one night but ... booo! I want my hubby!

Oh well. Safe drive in the snow ... careful on the highways! Come home to the people who love you. Oh right and ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY HONEY! ;)

Next few days might be busy ... just so you understand any slowdowns in posting in advance. Take care all! :)

Happy birthday to my favourite men ...

Ari's birthday is Monday ...
My grampa's birthday is Wednesday ...
Another person very special to me celebrated a birthday this weekend.
Happy birthday gentlemen. :)

Queen's Moves Fall Homecoming to Springtime

Well well well ... those damn kids have finally got theres! After years of being tsk tsked at, and warnings, and 'if I have to talk to you one more time I'm going to pepper spray you's, Queen's University has finally decided to take away the favourite toy of their students - the beer bottle-throwing, alcohol-poison inducing, car-burning hoe-down which is the Aberdeen Street Party, held every year over Homecoming Weekend in the Kingston Student Ghetto.

OK, before I go any further, and offend the like, one or two people I know who still defend this 'cheerful' event, I want to make clear that

1. I'm being at least a little facetious. Sarcasm aside, I know that most people who attend Aberdeen every fall are good kids who want to be a part of what has become a tradition. I just think, after the last four years, that considering this simply a party and a good-time event, as opposed to what it has become - a riot - is more than a bit naive, and I question at least the judgement of anyone who goes near that street on that night at this point. I went ... once ... the year before it really turned into a riot; I left with my best friend at the time to pick up my then-fiance (now-husband) and we then returned - Ari and I didn't really want to go back when we realized we could hear glass breaking two blocks away (and keeping in mind, again, that this was before the party got really 'bad'). We DID go because J was braver than we were, but we left within 5 minutes. Simply put, even as a group, even with each other, we didn't feel safe. That's the reality, and THAT's the tradition.
2. I also want to make clear this isn't an age thing, or a prudish thing. I am 26 years old, first of all, not THAT far out of my pub-visiting, dancing in crowds, having a drink-or-two days. I'm the first person to get offended by 'kids today' speeches. I think these new traffic laws passed this week by the Ontario Liberal government picking on kids, instead of just poor drivers generally, are nonsense. So don't think I'm on one of those kicks. It is in fact because I feel young people - especially educated ones who are supposed to represent the future of our country - deserve to be represented better, that this bothers me. And that representation starts with themselves. As far as prudishness, I am a wrestling fan, and when you talk the offensiveness, crowds, and the kind of crowds, involved in those events, trust me, I have a strong stomach. Nor am I judgemental - while I am no partier, I respect people who are and as long as they do so safely and don't do harm to anyone else, I'm cool with that. So I want to make clear this isn't me being a terribly uncool jerk.
3. I went to Queen's, and think it is a fabulous school with fabulous faculty and students - this isn't an indictment of them whatsoever.
   
4. That also means I heard all the defenses of Aberdeen. The first can be summed up in one word ' TRADITION'. This is a tradition, benig hard partiers, being an unsanitized and rough and tumble school, all that. Well you know what? Antisemitism was also 'traditional'; so was women not being able to vote. 'Traditional' marriage shuts out an entire, significant minority of our society. Not good enough. 'It's a harmless party, kids having fun' - vandalism is not harmless. Throwing beer bottles at emergency crews are not harmless. This is not a party, it is a riot. 'They started it, the anti-intellectual, ungrateful townie jerks and the heavy-handed police with riot gear' - OK. Perhaps. In fact, I would even go so far as to say, exactly. I don't disagree that Kignston's closed-minded, anti-youth, anti-intellectual bent is aggravating. But is that the standard we educated folks are holding for OURSELVES now? Is throwing beer bottles at 'pigs' honestly going to improve their perception - and thus their treatment - of students? Or earn any public sympathy in Kingston or elsewhere?
   
5. Lastly, I know this isn't a Queen's problem to a certain degree - a lot of kids come from out of town and ruin it for people who are partying 'right'. But the bottom line is keggers are still happening in homes rented by Queen's students; and people are only coming because they know about this party. How is that? If they don't know better, but Queen's students do, then QUEEN'S STUDENTS should have the maturity to pull the plug on the Frankenstein monster they created.

Having established all that - and my main points therein, as it turns out - the Frankenstein monster comparison is apt. I don't think that Queen's students are any less innocent than Dr. Frankenstein in terms of the monster they've created in this party - but they need to take responsibility for it. They've been warned the event could be canceled, and it has turned into an annual 'fight the man' protest - and not even a peaceful one, it is a riot. They had their chances, and they lost it upon being warned fair and square. They were given the opportunity to meet with community groups - this came to little. It's unfortunate relations between the Kingston community and Queen's students is so terrible, and that is NOT all, or even largely, the Queen's students' fault - but there is always something to be said for being the bigger and more mature people ... something I'm not sure Gaels are particularly good at sometimes.

Queen's - we have a school, and an alma mater to be proud of. Its reputation should not be lowered by crazy partying to the point of danger. I think it's time we shed the 'entitled, spoiled rich kids at winter camp' PERCEPTION (however incorrect it may be), and take responsibility that STUDENTS dropped the ball here after many chances to try to clean things up and get it right. I'm afraid that's not what's going to happen though. It's sad - but alumni going to their 'reunions' are not going to have the same opportunity to interact with students in the springtime as they do in the fall, or a football game to attend; which would be worth it and will be worth it if this works. My only fear is that Queen's students will let those of us who are proud of our school down by trying to organize a big blowout on Aberdeen come the fall anyway - and this time angrier and more dangerous than before. And as tempting as that might be, to stick the thumb in the eye of 'the man', the only thing I can say then is, no good will come of it - and you've been warned. :P

The weekend

So it was an awesome weekend! We put together some new furniture, ran some errands, and basically had a quiet weekend. We were supposed to go to a birthday party on Saturday, but it was actually SNOWING HEAVILY! So we couldn't make it ... wishing Es a happy birthday. :P Can't wait to see her soon.

Life's pretty good - I'm going to make the best of today and go to the gym, get some groceries, and do some housework around here (setting up a new room creates a messy house ... argh). Getting ready for a weekend in Montreal coming up, and Ottawa. Hope the week's a good one for everyone! Take care.

Katy Perry

One of my new favourite singers - one of my new favourite songs. Enjoy.

TODAY

Wow ... today was a LONG day - started out with me not feeling well and wanting to call it all off but I'm glad I didn't - Ari and I have our crib and baby dresser now, I had an AWESOME day with some AWESOME kids at an AWESOME school, my dad's the best for helping me lug the baby furniture, and my cast had their first rehearsal for my one-act today and the improvement from readthrough one to getting it on its feet ... I can't wait to see the finished product. Amazing work from them it's exciting already, and already so much more FUN than my last experience with theatre ... remembering why I love it!

And now I'm home and it's the weekend. Going to see my beautiful Toronto friend Es for her birthday tomorrow, we have some furniture to assemble and as always a house to tidy up. Not a bad end all in all to a pretty decent week - my report cards are finished from the school I was at long-term, and subbing's been great - I was at my old high school yesterday teaching, making my OWN former teachers feel old, and my old enrichment teacher from elementary school worked right next door to me all day. It's been cool. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come! My tummy's still upset but I gotta say ... I'm doin' good. :D

Lest We Forget

In Canada, it is Remembrance day - in the US it is Veteran's day. While I have never gone to war, or experienced one closely, I know a few who have. My family is one of service - my grandfather, now in a wheel chair, is a WWII vet who today in less than an hour will be laying the wreath at the ceremony at his nursing home. My uncle, too, is a former peacekeeper and vet, and my brother is a soldier, currently in France and Belgium participating in remembrance services at Vimy Ridge and Flanders this week. These are the people on whom our country relies, and as the vets of the old wars are passing away and new ones are being created in Afghanistan, it is more important than ever for us to take a moment and reflect on their sacrifices. Please watch the video below, knowing I have yet to watch it without bawling, and please take a moment of silence at 11am today.

God bless you.

Awesome weekend

So it was a good couple days this weekend.

Friday was a PD Day so I didn't have to go to work - I got to visit with my friend J and her daughter K, which was fun; we went to the park and I enjoyed that. Yesterday Ari and I puttered around the house before going out to a semi-formal gala put on by his work; I have a very dear friend, L, whose boyfriend works for the same company as Ari so they were there as well - it kind of became a double date with some friends we hadn't seen in too long so it was nice on that score as well. :) We got to share some Big News with them, and it was a fun celebration.

Today we went to see another friend, E, win an award for her writing - we enjoyed listening to the excerpt she read of her story at the awards ceremony, as well as the other excellent winners - such good work all of them did! Made me want to get back to my fiction writing (although I suppose some would claim that's what this blog consists of ... lol ...). We also got to visit with my dad and step-mom, who are always lovely hosts and fun to talk to, before a quiet evening at home. It was a nice weekend after Ari and I have been sick the last couple weeks; Ari's voice is still REALLY funny but I think he's feeling better. Although dinner didn't sit too well with me tonight because now I'm kind of icky again. So heading to bed - just didn't want to do so without an update on our weekend, which was fantastic.

Hope everyone else's was too. :)

Letter to the editor

I was in the local newspaper yesterday! :D

RE: PAY APPROPRIATE WAGES

Oct. 29

In response to David Rutherford's letter regarding "living wages," I would ask Rutherford when the last time was that he worked for minimum wage?

My husband and I make significantly more than the minimum wage, and this has entitled us to a modest starter home, a five-year-old car, and the ability to pay our bills every month. Hardly ludicrous luxuries. Considering this, I can sympathize with the struggles of those on the poverty line (i.e., minimum-wage workers), and where we were not too long ago as young newlyweds and struggling students.

I applaud the bakery in question for taking care of its employees, and would like to point out that this is not simply an altruistic "redistribution of wealth" but a smart business move. It is no secret that easing financial worries at home can make a job more rewarding and employees more productive; my husband and I have both in recent years moved up pay grids doing the same jobs as before, and are happier, more productive workers due to the appreciation of our contributions at work.

In the tough economic climate of today, it is not the time to turn on each other in a "survival of the fittest." Societies are judged by how we treat the least among us. I think it is unbecoming of us as humans to suggest that those who make a living serving the fortunate among us at our favourite restaurants and tallying up our consumer goods at local stores are working any less hard than the rest of us, or are any less deserving of the ability to have a roof over their heads and food on their families' tables.

Sarah Daigen

Kitchener

Thank God Almighty ...

Tomorrow's the Day ...

My American Friends, do NOT forget to vote. If I could vote in the US election, my personal choice, as a citizen of the world which is so impacted by American policies, would be:




But even if you want to vote for this guy -




- In fact especially if you want to vote McCain - it's really important to make sure your voice is heard tomorrow. VOTE, all! :)

John McCain with Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live

Absolutely Classic!

Today was AWESOME

Went to Canada's Wonderland! SOOOO fun. And it was the last day of the season so the park wasn't too packed, but the weather was just nice - sunny etc. It was chilly yes, like autumn, but we were dressed appropriately.

Tonight we went to see 12 Angry Men put on by the local theatre co. I will be doing my one-act play with, and actually featuring one of my stars; it was a GREAT show. Truly enjoyed it. I'd recommend it except it was closing night lol.

I'm officially done my temp contract at the school I've been at the last 12 mos. It's sad - I really enjoyed my time there, bonded VERY well with the staff, and the kids were some very interesting and rewarding young individuals to work with. I'll be supply teaching until mid-December now, and with the upcoming month or two, as much as I'll miss having a home base, that's probably for the best in terms of flexibility.

I'm hoping to get to Montreal to see my grandparents at some point in the next month or so as well - my grandpa has had some health issues for almost two years now, but is currently in a nursing home for temporary care, and my grandma is going in in the next week or two for some eye surgery, so it's nice to know I have the schedule to be able to go lend a hand if need-be; or even just to provide some company. :)

Otherwise, life is good - Ari and I are both ill at the moment, but personally and professionally things have been going quite well for both of us, that to complain about a couple of bad colds at this point would seem truly ungrateful. We are so blessed. :)

Nicole Kidman is lovely, but ...

Much, much less respect for her after these comments in PARADE magazine:

As a new mother to daughter Sunday Rose, Nicole Kidman has reacted intensely with "whatever that primal thing is, the need and desire to keep her very protected," she says. "People say, 'Oh, it would be so much easier if you'd just let them get a photo of her.' And I can't. I'm like, 'I don't want to. I want her to stay out of that.' Maybe that will wane as she gets bigger, and I'll be easier with it. But for now, I'm still keeping her in a bubble." Her eyes turn red and moist. "I'm raw and emotional," Kidman admits. "I cry even thinking of her. But they are tears of joy. Because I suppose I never thought I would get to have it. To have been given it so late in life—I'm so ready for it. And I think giving birth to a child, as a woman, is what we're born to do. I don't mean that to sound sexist, because many women don't get to do it, and I thought I was one of them. But at the same time, if you are given that gift, it's an extraordinary thing."

As someone who cannot have children of my own, might I ask Ms. Kidman then, what *I* was put on this earth to do? She is a shame and a blight to all adoptive mothers - no, MOTHERS, period - who consider the little boys and girls they raise to be every bit the blessing birth children would be - moreso, as for us "mere mortals" outside the Hollywood Bubble, it is so much more of a struggle and an achievement to adopt than to give birth. After all - one road to parenting involves being carefully observed and interviewed and considered as a parent; the other can be as simple as some drunken mistake.

I can say with confidence that given she obviously never dealt with the emotional baggage she attached to her fertility, nor, apparently, did she allow herself to bond with her adoptive children or protect them now from comments that surely must be hurtful (no WONDER they call their father's new wife, Katie Holmes, "Mom", and Nicole, "Nicole"), that no adoption worker or child welfare agency in the world would have allowed Nicole Kidman to adopt with those issues left un-dealt with if she were not rich and famous.

I emphathize with the infertility struggle, and I emphathize with her marrying, adopting children, and divorcing all at a relatively young age, and I'm sure she's a wonderful person - but that does not make her a wonderful adoptive mother, and I feel very much for her children right now.

An Update

So - I hate that my postings in the last bit haven't been particularly personal or update-ful; life HAS been busy, and I shared a bit of the more fun stuff with you guys - the Halloween Party, movies and dancing this weekend, for example, were some of the most fun I've had in a long time; I'm holding auditions this week for the play I mentioned I was directing, which is cool, and next weekend is shaping up to be fun too as we're going to Canada's Wonderland and "Twelve Angry Men", a play being produced here in town. But most of the WEEKDAY busy-ness is either not especially interesting (who wants a blow by blow of someone else's work day?), or can't really be spoken of in any particular detail just yet (although I'm sure lines can be read between). Hopefully, as some of those things happen and come together (auditions, the play we're going to check out, etc.) I'll have more to write about. Meanwhile though, I'm tired, still a bit sick, and grumpy, so to lift my spirits, and hopefully yours - I thought I'd share this. :) Enjoy.

Great Weekend

Saw High School Musical 3 - better than it should have been. Recommend it to people who like movies to be distractions, and light, fun fare.




Went to an incredibly fun party last night as Tracy from Hairspray - yes, I LURVES me some musicals. It was a fun night with some super-nice couples whose company I enjoy VERY much. It served as a warning, however, that I MUST brush up on my Wii skills lol.

And tonight - dinner and dancing with the in-laws for FIL's aforementioned birthday, before the last week at my teaching placement, and Halloween, and all that stuff coming up. I've enjoyed the weekend and am looking forward to the remainder of it. How about you all? :)

Photostory Friday

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

This is my Father in Law. It is his birthday today. Happy birthday FIL! :) It is a photo of him with a donkey; I chose this photo in particular to express my hopes and wishes for what a not-too-far-off-November day will bring my American in-laws, and the rest of the world.

Yes We Can ...

Movie review - "W".

Wow - so Ari and I saw this movie this week. It was excellent. It wasn't what I expected, on the one hand, but I didn't expect what I would usually expect, on the other, because most reviews said it wasn't what you'd think.

What it was was very strong - it did, in true Oliver Stone fashion, portray the stereotypes of the players - a calm and statesmanlike Colin Powell, a creepy Dick Cheney (played to perfection by Richard Dreyfuss, to whom I've always said the Veep bears a resemblance), a rat-like Karl Rove, a kindhearted but cold, patrician (think Queen Elizabeth) George Bush Sr., a patient and long-suffering Laura Bush, a shrill and iron-maidenly Barbara Bush, and of course the unintellectual frat boy, George Jr. However, it played out the most sensational perceptions and stereotypes of these players and their lives and times in a perfectly believable fashion - provocative without being sensationalistic, controversial without being scandalous, Stone walks a great line between humour and tragedy, sensationalism and true depth. Due to a decent script and a very strong cast, he succeeds.

My only complaint - and it is one that couldn't be avoided - is that some stuff was left out in order to fit this film into an already-tightly-crammed 2 hrs. 10 mins. We see the improbable rise of Dubbya from shiftless, aimless partier to born-again Christian politician to President of the United States, without seeing the true effects of the unravelling - given that it led to the Iraq War which was the ultimate climax and endpoint chronologically to this movie, there was little-to-no attention paid to Sept. 11/01, and given that it fits into the 'frat boy wins the lottery' mystique of Bush's rise to power, they gave little attention to the controversies surrounding his 2000 acquisition of (I refuse to say 'election to') the presidency. I feel we could have seen one or two parties fewer, one or two failed jobs fewer, to flesh out that transition.

That said - as someone who truly detests George Bush as a president, and everything he stands for - this movie earned him my sympathy, which may or may not have been Mr. Stone's goal. While I stand by that this man should never in a million years have become POTUS, I have at least come to see him as a badly misguided, unintellectual, uninformed man with a good heart who wanted to do good - to impress his family, and to improve his reputation. He is a boob and a nincompoop who will indisputably go down in the history books as the worst President in US history, but perhaps it is the American people, or the American electoral system, or this man's all-too-cunning and greedy base which are to blame for that - not this poor buffoon himself.

Which by the way, marks a 360 return to my stance of 2001. I went from believing this was a stupid and impressionable man surrounded by evil, to evil himself, and much smarter than we gave him credit for - this movie has managed to convince me that by and large, no; he was a dolt after all. Still, as I said, Stone did nothing to change my perception of this man's legacy, whatever the cause, nor do I think he meant to. I will still be breathing huge sighs of relief come January. Exit stage left - er - right, Dubbya - 3 more months all! :D Quack ... wheeze, limp ... quack ...

Ugh

Home sick today ...
The cold won. :P

But in the meantime
I wanted to take the time
To thank A
For having me out
For a visit last night -
I was tired and lonely;
Company is nice. :)
Hope the kids
And D are feeling better
(you too for that matter).

Hope I recover soon too.
At least Ari had the day off today
So I have some company.

OK ... back to bed ... or couch.
ZZZZZZZZ ...

That's so ... what?

Introducing - Photostory Friday

So I've decided to start w/this new game introduced to me by Alex.


Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Basically, I put up a photo every Fri. and explain what it is. Here's the first photo.

This is a photo of myself w/Ari at a friend's wedding this past summer. Why such an 'old' photo? Because Ari and I have been the King and Queen of forgetting our camera pretty much since this trip for any important events. This is one of the most recent photos 'we' took of ourselves. It is also one of the last photos of us as a family of two ... ;)

It's election day in Canada

Remember to ...

Happy Canadian Turkey Day

wishing everyone much to be thankful for
as we celebrate this holiday
and head into The Season
we are all so blessed
Thank You

Prayers have been answered

Not going to say much more -
Those who know, know.
Thank God for R or L.
Can't wait to meet you.

More info when it's real
No jinxing
No limits
Just know right now

There are
No limits
To our happiness.
Thank you God.

Dalton Sherman

This kid is amazing - and is from this point forward my answer when anyone asks me why I do what I do. :D Thx P&P for sharing this today.

Tag!

I was tagged by Alex - formerly the Everyday Mother. Here's how it works -



So here goes:

1. I enjoy wrestling. I have since I was 7. It started as a way to bond with my dad, and became a huge interest of mine well after he stopped watching regularly. And anyone who knows a little on the topic - before engaging me on the subject, beware - I am a smark. Look it up. ;)
2. I'm not even 5 ft. tall - which means apparently I should be in a booster seat lol.
3. The reason I am not even 5 ft. tall is that I have Turner's Syndrome - details at the link. This would also explain why Ari and I are adopting.
   
4. My step-dad used to be my ex-boyfriend's step-dad. He and my mom met through N and I around the time on-again off-again became off-again fairly permanently.
5. I met Stephane Dion eight years ago via my local newspaper when I was on their community editorial board - a very intelligent and good man who I wish the best of luck in becoming PM.
6. I was named after a Fleetwood Mac song.
7. If asked to list my two favourite musical artists, I would say Billy Joel and Eminem - how many people can say THAT? lol

Tagging (only 4 as I don't know any other bloggers lol) -

Alex back
Elizabeth
Tatiana
Zah

And for my American friends

I hear you guys have a wee little election coming up too! AND your registration deadlines are upcoming, if not already past. So please do what the rest of the world can't do for your upcoming election - please vote. Posting this on behalf of my non-blogging Yankee hubby, who has already done so (absentee ballot), and the rest of us who await your decision with baited breath. XO

Register to vote!

Just wanted to remind my fellow Canadians out there that tomorrow is the deadline to register with Elections Canada to vote in the upcoming Federal election. It is shaping up to be incredibly close, so if you have a party you feel would do a good job as the government of our country for the next four years, it is important that you make sure you register, and get out to vote in ten days. I know I will be! :)

Meanwhile, it's time to finish up my usual round of weekend chores and go out this evening to see WWE's big wrestling event tonight at the local movie theatre (we could watch it more cheaply at home but figure we owe ourselves a date night - lol how romantic). Hope everyone enjoys their Sunday, and back to work tomorrow! Wishing everyone a great week ... hoping to have one myself. Anyone who prays, remember that we are waiting on an important phonecall or two this week, and please keep us in your thoughts. Thanks! XO

Yankee Politics and Personal Update

After watching the French language Canadian leader's debates the other night, I don't feel too bad that I forwent the English debates in order to satisfy my carwreck-watching tendencies by watching the Joe Biden-Sarah Palin debate from the US (they're Barack Obama's and John McCain's vice-presidential picks, for those of you living under various forms of rock).

All I can say is this - for the pundits out there to say Sarah Palin succeeded by not embarrassing herself, and establishing herself as a legit candidate - have our standards really fallen that low? I mean, she did not, that I could immediately catch, *outright* state untruths (although I'm sure a quick duck over to http://www.factcheck.org would fix that perception in a hurry) nor did she make any major, George W. Bush-esque misspeakings or gaffes; but she evaded more questions than she answered (after Barack Obama has been heavily criticized for the same), and the answers she DID deliver were either trite, glib platitudes, or energy-centric.

Beyond which, her platitudes were fallacious - "How can people who are supposed to represent the future and to represent change, focus so much on the past?" she asked of Obama-Biden; well, how about to provide an explanation for why a change is necessary? Sorry if tying your ticket to Bushism hurts, but it is accurate given John McCain's voting record thus far.

Joe Biden, meanwhile, did a better job than any of the candidates so far in my opinion, including his principal, Barack Obama. He answered every question in a direct and forthright manner, including a couple Obama had weaved around. His choking up in reference to women not having the monopoly on parental love and concern was real - it did not feel like a put-on or a calculated display of humanity like (admittedly, even one of my favourites) Hillary Clinton indulged in in the early days of the primaries when she cried after losing one, as she was heading quickly into another. I don't see how it can be a politically calculated move to break down in a formal debate, thus making it real, and a point well-taken; Sarah Palin is campaigning because she's the Hockey Mom married to Joe Six-Pack; well, even those who are educated, aware of the issues, and can speak extemporaneously without hours and days and weeks of prep, can love and care for their families deeply.

Regardless, Joe Biden definitely came out the winner here - and perhaps the most presidential of all the candidates thus far. I cannot WAIT for November, as I believe strongly the bloom is off the Sarah Palin rose. And in the meantime, life personally is humming along nicely for me - work=good, diet=good (11 pounds down in two weeks, courtesy of Nutrisystem, ballroom dancing and my local YMCA), I had my first production meeting for the January 1-Act Plays with Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre tonight and that went well too -- soooo excited, after letting some individuals I should never have worked with damper my enthusiasm for the theatre - and lastly and most importantly ... well, let's put it this way: due to confidentiality issues, it is very possible that in the coming weeks ahead I might have to up the discretion factor as it regards the adoption process. :D

In which case, while I can't share any kind of details until things are finalized (and even then will need some clarity on what is acceptable - while I have no intention of sharing anything REMOTELY identifying such as names or photos etc. regardless, I want to find out if 'It's a boy/girl' or 'Son/daughter learned to "x" today' is OK), but please know my silence is a good sign, and those of you who are REALLY near and dear to me will of course be kept in the loop as much as we can. Thanks for your prayers and support as always, and have a great weekend. VOTE DION! VOTE OBAMA! :D

Le debat des chefs

(moins les accents, parce que je ne sais pas comment les utiliser sur l'ordinateur).

Ce soir etait le debat francais des chefs des parties federales ici en Canada. Nous allons voter le 14 octobre. C'etait un debat tres interessant, et j'etait fiere de moi-meme que j'ai le comprendre assez bien - je suis enseignante de francais, je peux le parler assez bien, et ma comprehension n'est pas mal non plus; mais c'est encore ma langue deuxieme, alors honnetement j'ai encore des difficultes quand les francophones parlent trop vite a la tele, et je fais des erreurs dans mon ecriture quelquefois aussi. Mais je veux essayer de communiquer en francais ce soir, mes opinions de le debat. Excuse my French. ;)

Selon moi, tous les chefs etaient assez competent. Elizabeth May etait le plus faible en francais, mais elle a communique ses points dans un facon comprehensible, et sauf pour quelques erreurs de syntax, sa langue simple et direct etait de temps en temps un change positif de la langue si complique des autres chefs. Gilles Duceppe et Stephan Dion etait le plus comfortable dans la langue, parce qu'ils etaient les deux francophones au debat; mais Jack Layton et Stephen Harper sont presque parfaitment bilingue, alors c'etait un debat plus eloquent que ceux qui ont inclue Preston Manning, il y a dix annees ou plus.

Comme enseignante de francais, qui est clairment bilingue mais qui veux aussi apprendre plus de francais, et ameliorer mon utilisation de la langue, la langue c'etait un des plus grands choses que j'ai observer.Mais je suis aussi quelqu'une qui aime discuter les politiques, et qui etait interessee par le content des debats aussi. Moi je suis Liberale, et a ce facon, je pense que Stephan Dion a fait un case extraordinaire pour un gouvernement Liberal apres le 14 octobre. Jack Layton aussi a lui aquite avec honneur et intelligence, et si je peux etre honnete, si je n'etait pas une Quebecoise anglophone, et si il n'etait pas un separatist, je croix que Gilles Duceppe peux me convaincre de lui donner ma vote ... si j'etait encore en Quebec, alors. ;)

Mais finalement, il y a seulement une chose qui est certaine: Stephen Harper a perdu le debat ce soir. Moi, je croix que Stephan Dion a gagner, mais je peux voir que c'etait un debat fort, et que tout le monde a peut etre eu un opinion differente au sujet de le ou la gagnant(e). Mais le chef des Conservateurs etait en ligne de feu des autres chefs, et je ne pense pas qu'il a convaincu les citoyens de Canada qui ne l'a pas supporte deja, de lui donner leur vote en quelques semaines.

Can't wait for the English debates tomorrow - more then ... and easier to write! ;) I may be a French teacher but it's still my second language after all ... and working without accents. Boo! Good night all.

Oh man ... tired ...

Exactly what the title says.

Wishing for better weather ... that always tires me out.

Waiting for an email ... watched pots never boil.

Feeling hopeful about a whole bunch of possibilities I'm not QUITE ready to talk about here yet.

But knowing hope itself is almost more important than that which is hoped for.

Not in this case though ... ;)

Fingers crossed on all fronts.

Wish for my good luck - I'll wish for yours.

Woohoo

Billy is back on Y&R, back in Genoa City, and I can't wait!

HA!

Tina Fey does it again. The sad thing is, she looks too much like Sarah Palin, and this is too close to reality, that without me telling you ... lol ... would you know it was a parody? ;)

Happy Birthday Kyle

It's my little brother's 21st birthday today.
We're heading out in a few hours to celebrate with him and my parents.
Happy birthday kid.
Looking forward to it ...

Also - anyone see the debates on Friday between Barack Obama and John McCain? Barack did well - very presidential and intelligent, and while it wasn't a home run to either of the candidates, he came off better than McCain, who seemed obsessed about the spending Obama had requested over his time as senator, while offering very little substantive of his own plans for the future of the US of A. As Obama pointed out to the American people at a rally the next day - "He said an awful lot about me, but very little about YOU."

To continue with the birthday theme -
If any Americans read this blog
Who want to give my hubby
An awesome early birthday gift in November
Vote Obama! :D

Enjoy the rest of your weekend every body.

Odds n Ends

So ...

End of Week 1 of my diet ...

Down 6 lbs. Hurrah!

Have my first appointment at the gym with a personal trainer tomorrow, see how that goes.

Looking forward to seeing my family this weekend for my bro's 21st birthday. Happy Birthday kid!

Hope the debate tonight goes on as planned - if it doesn't, McCain is a coward. And I think the RepubliCANTs are only sabotaging this bailout deal that congressional leaders and the White House are negotiating to basically hold up the debate. BOOOO!!! DEBATE!!! It's what democracy is about.

This week's been a boring one in case you can't tell from my comparatively infrequent blogging, and the fact that said blogging, such as it has been, has been largely made up of short and/or impersonal entries. Figured better that than nothing right? (or maybe not ...? lol)

But you'll for sure hear from me this weekend - other than family plans I'm looking forward to, I've got nothing else going on! :D Take care.

Slacker Uprising

Check this out guys - filmmaker Michael Moore has made his latest biography available for free download! That's how important he considers this film, and the upcoming US election it pertains to. Check out the preview:



And then sign up for your free copy at http://www.slackeruprising.com - and remember, VOTE!!!

Also ...

Didn't the Emmys suck?

I mean, ... reality show hosts?

The poor directing?

"Wrap it up music"-ing esteemed and revered Oscar winners who are too good for TV?

sigh ... no wonder it got the lowest ratings of any Emmys broadcast to date.

Happy Fall!

First day of fall today - hope the change of season brings everyone all sorts of lovely things. :) I for one am hoping the season will bring a new figure, a new baby (and since when do THOSE two things go together? lol), and a new positive attitude. Looking forward to Halloween and our first time doling out candy ... to the holidays and hopefully our first holiday as parents ... and as sad as I am that my temp contract is coming to a close in 6 weeks, I'm taking the approach of being excited about the adventures that are coming my way thereafter as well. It's an exciting time for Ari and I - anyone else have anything they're looking forward to this season?

Day 2 of ...

My new diet.

I haven't had much to say this week, for anyone wondering where I've been since Wednesday. Not much new, and if there was, I haven't had much time to say it in - Thursday was Meet the Teacher night at my school, and I had tutoring last night. So I guess some stuff new, but in that sense it's just been routine busy-ness that I didn't want to bore anyone with. Plus I started a diet yesterday, which means surliness, to anyone who's ever been there lol.

I'm trying the Nutrisystem diet - VERY yummy foods and it's all about portion control. So far I'm enjoying it; I'm just trying to get the timing down right to not eat things too close together and then go hours without food. But I'm doing that, plus went to the gym today ... I'm not going to fail this time. I WON'T! Too many people to prove wrong, including and most especially myself.

And in that sense, I wish any of my fellow dieters luck, and think it might be fun if anyone's interested to maybe get a support group going; it's not easy and I think communication, accountability and people to share successes and divide setbacks with are all key. So to that end I invite you if you want to email me or post comments and I can come check out your blog if you have one, and we can support each other on our weight loss journeys. Post away! :D

Nutrisystem

So I'm trying it.

My food was delivered today but I wasn't here and didn't drag my butt out fast enough to the outlet to pick it up tonight.

But Friday it's going to happen. I'm not putting this out there to impress anyone or to make any claims that I will absolutely without fail 100% succeed at this - anyone who knows me knows I'm the queen of week-long, failed diets.

But I'm hoping the fact my very generous grandma is springing for this program, and that it's now public knowledge, helps inspire me to stick with it.

Wish me luck.

Health and 90210

So feeling better again - but it is late so tonight's not going to be a long one. And that's fine too as there isn't a whole lot new on my little end of the world. We're still waiting on a certain important phonecall ... work's going basically smoothly, meet the teacher night is Thursday and that should be awright ... the weekend was OK except for being ill ... I HATE the new Facebook ... lol ... still going to ballroom dancing, still watching wrestling, glad my mom will be home from Montreal this weekend ... miss her ... but after what I just spent my last hour doing I keep meaning to ask, and share -

Anyone checked out the new 90210 yet? Anyone checked out more than the pilot? I'm enjoying it. I know from the POV of a 'drama expert' that it's hardly high art - I've seen better TV, movies, theatre, whatever. But it's a great 'guilty pleasure' kind of program, and they do a very good job of keeping enough interest around the veteran characters (Kelly and Brenda, the tie-in with the original cast of Erin Silver Kelly's half-sister), without overwhelming the new cast with them. They're giving us old fans our dose of the originals, while introducing us in a swift and interesting manner to the new cast. It's a really interesting format and they've got me so far anyway. What do you guys think?

Otherwise thinking lots of my family and friends - both my parents have been out of town, and I've talked to my mom every day but I still usually see her once or twice a week so that's been weird. And working, and then being sick over a weekend, isn't conducive to seeing a whole lot of people either. We have two friends whose oldest children just started kindergarten in the last week or so and I've been doing a lot of thinking about them ... we did go see a couple of my friends from high school this weekend but they have a new baby and I was sick so I didn't want to stick around too long. And it was my best friend's birthday two days ago - I hope she had a great one! :D

Anyways guys I'm about to collapse from tiredness and have an early morning, but the point is that I want any of my friends who read here to know that just because it's been a busy start to my year and then I got ill, that I am still thinking lots about you and doing my best to at least stay in cybertouch. And now that I'm healthy again, and gotten into a routine ... you can expect to hear much more from me (I'll leave that to you whether that's a promise or a threat lol). And meanwhile, if anyone's looking for an easy and healthy, guilt-free way to hang out with me, I have a "Y" membership which allows me to bring a friend 5x a year (ie between now and December). So if anyone wants to join me ... let me know! :D

Bleeeecccchhhh!

So please forgive my lack of blogging this weekend - I'm sick and hermitlike and not doing a whole lot of anything I must admit. :P Hoping to feel better by tomorrow, as I'm that awful kind of sick that isn't bad enough to take a day and just heal, but is icky enough that work will be a slog tomorrow even if it all goes smoothly. And all things considered then, I'd rather go in and get everyone started on their new units now that our review work is done, etc.

But I hope everyone else is having a great weekend, is feeling well, and hasn't caught this Godforsaken headcold that seems to be going around my hometown. Be well everyone and I promise a longer, and/or more interesting blog will be up here shortly.

:D

BLOGGER'S DISCLAIMER: while posting this bumper sticker does indeed express this site's enthusiastic endorsement of Barack Obama, and distaste for Sarah Palin, it is in no way meant to actually, literally compare Obama to our Lord and Saviour, nor Palin to that most traitorous of Roman administrators, but merely to illustrate a point in a clever, witty, and - from this site's point of view, anyway - lighthearted manner. Any more serious or ill-natured intentions inherent in the origins of this quote, or driving its future use, are not the responsibility of this author.

DISCLAIMER II: Anyone who needs the above disclaimer takes things way too seriously.

Theatre News

Currently blogging for your reading pleasure is the director of the one-act play "Echo" for Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre's January One-Act Play Weekend.

Dates and times etc. to be announced at this site at a later date - or they can be found at KWLT's website http://www.kwlt.org.

Script can be found here.

Hope everyone can check out the show and support my new endeavour! :D

An email I sent

To http://womenagainstsarahpalin.blogspot.com/

To whom it may concern,

I am not an American woman, but a Canadian citizen. Fifteen years ago, we experienced our first female Prime Minister, a Conservative named Kim Campbell. As much as I was not exactly strongly politically astute at 11 years old, I did have the sense even then that, as much as I was proud as a girl of having a woman as Prime Minister, it didn't just matter that she was female, but competent. Sadly, she wasn't, and she set the movement of women in politics back years - we have not since had a female party leader come any further than third place in our elections.

I disapprove of Sarah Palin as a candidate - her anti-choice, pro-gun, anti-sex education, pro-corporation, anti-contraception, pro-corruption political makeup are personally rancid to me as a centre-leftist, and a longtime Clinton supporter, insofar as I have 'favourites' in American politics. However, I also disapprove of the fact that as the most public and famous woman in the country right now, she will somehow be perceived as standing for myself, or my American counterparts, as women. I simply hope the American public realizes that one can be the good things Mrs. Palin is - a supportive and loving mom, an eager grandmother-to-be, and an educated and (by all accounts) intelligent woman - without taking the lamentable negatives she represents as a politician.

It disappoints me that someone in her position, as the mother of a pregnant teenager and a disabled infant, a very educated and, by all accounts, intelligent woman, and a woman who shares the same Christian faith as I do, can stand for the things she stands for. What is best for women, to empower them and enable them to have better chances than their mothers and grandmothers, includes the ability to make informed decisions about one's sex life, having as many options as possible at their disposal to deal with the repercussions of those decisions (especially in the case where those decisions weren't their own, for example in the case of rape, abortions for which Mrs. Palin also opposes), and social programs accessible for themselves and their families ensuring their health and employability. Mrs. Palin does not represent any of these things.

As a woman, if I were able to vote in the United States of America in 2008, Barack Obama would have my vote. I hope that others like myself recognize that and agree. And for anyone who believes the Republican pandering that this woman is somehow a stand-in for Hillary Clinton, who was unfortunately denied the chance to be the Democratic nominee this time around - please do not lose sight of the fact that all she and Mrs. Clinton have in common is their gender, which does not matter at the end of the day. If you want to see a glass ceiling broken, while still having someone in the White House who represents positive change and looks after the American people, vote Obama in November. Yes we can!

Thank you,
Sarah Daigen
Kitchener Ontario

Gotta go with Perezzers on this one

Gossip star Perez Hilton posted this photo:



on his website. About a week ago, this church sign read "I kissed a girl ... and then I went to hell", an ode (or something) to Katy Perry's gay experimentation-friendly, chart-topping song.

I agree with P's take: this 'artwork' sends the right message ... but perhaps uses an inappropriate method? Two wrongs not making a right and all that? I mean, it IS kinda funny and perfect, but at the same time, obviously as a teacher who tries to send the right message to our youth and teach them to deal with disagreements respectfully and to be better than those casting hateful stones, I don't advocate vandalism. On the other hand, I don't advocate gay-bashing hatred either ...

So I'll leave it to you?

The tastelessness of the Conservatives

I cannot believe that the Conservatives would post an add involving a puffin ... erm ... relieving itself ... on Stephane Dion's shoulder. Don't get me wrong - I know Canadian politics of late has taken a major shift into the American direction of attack ads and - in my opinion - unnecessary harshness instead of civil debate. However, one thing I've been proud of us of is that despite that, it still tends to revolve around the 'Issues'. For example, I'm not a fan of the Conservative radio ads attacking Stephane Dion's carbon tax - have you heard those 'call-in commercials'? - however, as short-sighted, misguided and simplistic as they are, they are about an issue. This, however, is ridiculous.

Have we not learned from Kim Campbell's unflattering ad focusing on Jean Chretien's Bell's Palsy-afflicted face some fifteen years ago which ended up backfiring on herself and the Conservatives? All I can hope, as a Liberal but moreso as a Canadian, is that we recognize we should not be voting on October 14 for the best campaigner for the position of Prime Minister, but the best Prime Minister. And I believe that is Stephane Dion. While he is not especially charismatic - when he makes Stephen frickin' Harper look like a rock star, that's an admitted understatement - or a great orator or an inspiring leader, he is a very intelligent, competent man who will do a good job at the helm of our country. And I wish we as a nation would realize that, instead of falling for negative campaigning simply because we centre-lefties don't roll in the mud with Harper's pigs.

Oh well ... at least these ads, as Dion pointed out, reflect more on the Conservatives than the Liberals, and the PM himself was issuing apologies today, finding himself off-message early in the campaign. Interesting times ahead, as much as I'm afraid this particular election will lead to more of the same - if not worse, a Conservative majority government. Oh well ... go Dion. For more information on the Liberal Party and their leader, please check out these sites:

http://www.liberal.ca
http://www.thisisdion.com

And for more on the REAL Conservatives, check out http://www.scandalpedia.ca.

I Can't Believe this is Goodbye ...

So long to "Rent", a Broadway staple and the 7th-longest running show on the Great White Way, which ended its 12 year run this weekend. Having been inspired by Pucini's opera, "La Boheme", and itself having inspired a movie version two years ago, Rent is one of the most important pieces of modern musical theatre today, bringing a very mainstream version of the dramatic arts - the musical - back to its more artistic, experimental, edgy roots. With nary a bad song in the score, memorable and unique characters, each with their own voice, and the normalcy with which gay and straight characters, whites and minorities, the HIV-infected and the healthy, the addicts and the non-addicts, are treated as they come on and off the canvas, is tremendous.

Sentimental without being schmaltzy, Jonathan Larson - who died just before opening night - created a piece of musical theatre, a modern theatrical masterpiece, which will endure beyond just the cult hit many fancy it to be. It will always live on in touring versions and hopefully a revival on Broadway. My congratulations to everyone involved with the production the last twelve years on a memorable and fantastic run. "No day but today!"

Thoughts

Sorry for the delay, I don't usually like posting further apart than every other day but hey - busy-ness! I'm working again.

Which has been going well, might I say - a very good start to the school year I think, and as young as it is that is encouraging to me. :) Good to see my kids again - they've grown up some over the summer, and I know them a bit better, it's really nice to have a chance to build this kind of rapport at a school - and my fellow staff members. A really happy week, and a decent weekend so far to boot - so productive like I haven't been all summer!

Of course I wish this gig I've got was for the full year, or that something that was full year had come up, as much as I'd miss the little circle of friends and students I've come into at my school, but even that you know, I'm looking at now as 'what's meant for you won't pass you by', and I'm actually looking forward to the adventures and challenges, as well as the opportunities and security of having another year teaching under my belt, that the upcoming year is going to provide. With that and so many other things in my life coming together, you know, I'm feeling really good about the future.

Let me say if you're having a rough time, there's nothing like some time with good friends and a nice vacation, like I got in spades at the end of this summer, and a successful return to something you love and haven't done in awhile (my job), to put things in perspective. It was a long boring summer in which everyone I value was busier than me for a time, that anyone reading my blog could see had gotten me down until towards the end, but I'm even glad for that as it allowed me to get some things out of my proverbial inbox that needed to be cleared out, and to value what was coming up (my trip to Sauble, back to school, etc.) all the more.

Even this weekend, which would have otherwise been spent lying around being bored and lethargic, was spent getting my car washed and vacuumed, calling my grandma who I hadn't talked to in too long, seeing off a friend who's about to leave the country, going to a movie I've been wanting to see in awhile, and doing some shopping and errands that needed to be done. PLUS we get to entertain my dad and stepmom tomorrow night (although, is it us entertaining when they're bringing the food?), who we haven't seen since in awhile since they went on vacation then we were! Wow ... just goes to prove the old saying - want something done? Give it to a busy person ... nothing like keeping moving to get some perspective!

And BTW - lest after a summer full of 'downer' posts leaves this one sounding fake and trying to hard to sound cheery - ask Ari how much happier I've been in the week we were in Sauble and now that school's started. :) More tired? Definitely. Happier as well? Absolutely. Which means I feel a bit foolish for wasting six weeks of beautiful weather and time off being bummed and whiney and hermit-like, but also grateful for them as at this point I feel better than I did even before the summer started, so obviously they did *something*. And since that's where I'm at, I figured after a summer of posts which were kind of depressing, I should share the better side of things too. :D

Oh, and? See The Dark Knight. That is all. XO

90210 thoughts ...

Great show -
Funny, entertaining.
Not exactly high brow
Or kind
To teens or adults
Or West Coasters.
But oddly entertaining
In the guilty pleasure
Kind of way.

Neat to see the ties to past characters -
Kelly and Brenda,
Kelly's sister Erin Silver,
Hanna Zuckerman-Vasquez
And Jackie Taylor Silver next week -
Without overwhelming
The new characters and story.
Good job all around -
Again, even if not quite
"Sophistiquee"
To say the least.

Don't know how long I'm hooked,
But I'm hooked -
Will tune in to ep 2.
Encourage any former fans to do the same.
It's different -
But if it were the same it would never survive
The comparisons.
Different in a good way,
While being true to the right spirit -
Not a bad start!

9021-OH I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Anyone else watching tonite??? :D

Please join me

In praying for the residents of the Gulf Coast and those who either are, or have loved ones, homes, and other pieces of their lives, in the path of Hurricane Gustav. We all remember the devastation caused by Katrina in this region three years ago - thankfully, it does not sound like this hurricane should be as devastating, as it is at least a Grade below the level Katrina was at, and many, many more residents have been evacuated at this time than they were for Katrina. But that does not mean there are not still people who are in danger, or who will have lives to put back together, people, pets, homes and valuables lost, and so on.

And so I pray for all those affected by this natural disaster. And for those of us who aren't directly affected, I hope we all can learn its lessons; not to let the petty, day-to-day grievances we all let fester affect us so deeply, to take care of the things we value and cherish in our lives, and MOST IMPORTANTLY after such soul-searching, to find our most charitable selves at these times to help those in need.

To that end I encourage everyone to donate to the many agencies currently looking to relieve the storm, either through their specific sites (such as the Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org), or through either of the current US presidential campaign sites (http://www.barackobama.com or http://www.johnmccain.com). Ari and I certainly will be doing so - please join us. And hold those people you love tight. God Bless.

Oh and did I mention ...

The Democratic National Convention was like, the night time theme of our week? Made our vacation just that much sweeter! The Clintons did a magnificent job, John Kerry and Al Gore also impressed me, and candidates Barack Obama and Joe Biden were absolutely tremendous. I can't wait for the election ... and for January, to see the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is alive and well!

Home again home again

So guys I am back from vacation!

I can't tell you how great a week this has been - Sunday I went to a little reunion gathering with some high school friends, and it was nice to spend some time with them, just hanging out and shooting the breeze and finding out what they'd all been up to the last seven years! Then Ari and I made the trek out to Sauble Beach, where we've spent the last week. I can't tell you how much fun it was to have a week to just be ME and relax - no pressure, no drama, just me and my husband, a stack of books, a cute little cottage, decent weather and certainly one of the nicest, if not THE nicest, beach in Ontario.

We put our vacation on pause Friday to help my brother and his girlfriend move into their new apartment in Toronto - I want to take this time to congratulate them publicly, and wish them so much happiness on this new adventure together. I think Kyle has found an AWESOME girl, and I can't remember the last time a move was actually fun - they were both so thankful Ari and I took the time to help them out on this big step, and it definitely feels nice to be appreciated - thanks to THEM for being so easygoing on a day that they must have been going nuts!

And that was our week - tomorrow I'm putting the finishing touches on my classroom before school starts in ... well ... almost exactly 36 hours! I'm actually looking forward to it; I miss my kids and my coworkers, and just being productive and working, and will be happy to see everyone again after two months. Meanwhile though I intend to enjoy my last day of summer vacation and wish everyone a good one as well - hope it's been a great summer for you, and that it continues into September. Happy Labour Day!

Vacation

So tomorrow Ari and I are going away to Sauble Beach for the week. I'm hoping to find an internet cafe or come home for a day in between to at least check phone and email messages as we are waiting on a few important contacts - but obviously I won't be blogging even semi-regularly. So I want to let you all know if you haven't heard from me by labour day to tune in then and I shall be back! Have a great last week of summer tout le monde. KISSES! MWAH!

Martin Luther King Quote

The quote from Martin Luther King in the previous music video is from his last sermon before his assassination, hours before he was gunned down:

"I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land."

How prescient, and how much I hope Barack Obama is here to lead our American neighbours out of the past 8 years of tyranny, constitutional faux-pas, and illegal war and into the promised land of peace; of healthcare for all; of safe, rare, and legal abortions; of repealing irresponsible tax cuts which only benefit the very rich; of turning around the damage the Bushies' oil buddies and others have done to the environment; where children are very much left behind ...

On to the brighter future MLK promised all of us!

My American Prayer

Did You Know

- did you know that an afternoon with a couple awesome girlfriends is a lot of fun?
- did you know there's a tremendous feeling of accomplishment in a clean house?
- did you know a working car radio is a very precious commodity and I'm glad to have one?
- did you know you should use good judgement, before questioning someone else's?
- did you know honesty is the best policy and I think I used it well yesterday?
- did you know I mean that even if it didn't get me quite the result I'd hoped for?
- did you know the Hills is actually a really interesting social commentary?
- did you know accepting your limits, and then stretching them comfortably, is exhilerating?
- did you know that's especially true when it comes to roller coasters?
- did you know vacation provides an awesome thing to look forward to?
- did you know this summer has been a real time of self-discovery for me?
- and did you know I've ended up quite proud of myself at the end of it?
- did you know that being sure of yourself, and then questioning that certainty, is good for you?
- did you know that's especially true when it makes you even more sure of yourself than before?
- did you know I'm proud of people who are strong and fight for what's important to them?
- did you know that goes even when I don't agree with them?
- and did you know of those people, I am most proud of my grampa, the best fighter of all?

And lastly ...

- did you know that 'did you knows' are really annoying? take note WWE ...

lol - Have a great rest of your week everyone. :)

Book Recco

I succumbed to the hype ... I bought the "Twilight" series this week - it's a set of four books, "Twilight", "New Moon", "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn" - which basically deals with the dark and occultish like Harry Potter, but instead of witches and wizards it's vampires and werewolves. It's geared towards older teens, but it has a very high vocabulary and interest level and I have to say Stephenie Meyer is one of the best contemporary writers I have had the pleasure of reading. These books are not light beach reading - they are about 4-500 pages each - but if you enjoy sort of gothic romance/suspense/teen angst/star-cross'd lovers/horror type things, and want a good, long epic of a series to ... erm ... sink your teeth into, then it's highly recommended. Enjoy!

To debunk Urban Legends

I would like to debunk for all the urban legend that you can unlock your car with your cellphone when you've locked your keys in it. This is based on the concept that I use my cellphone to call the holder of my extra keyless entry remote - Ari in this case - and have him aim said remote at the phone he's using, while pointing my cell at the car. The theory is that the radio waves are carried through the cell and unlock the car.

While in theory this is possible, as RKE (remote keyless entry) systems are no longer on infrared but radio waves, they are on a completely different band from cells. And I would like to save anyone who has places to be and is desperate to get into their car and on the road the embarrassment of falling for this when they seek aid online for a similar situation.

On the plus side, I got everywhere I needed to be today *except* school, where I'd intended to do my classroom set up that seems to keep getting put off (this weekend I GOT there, but my key's been deactivated for the summer). I can just go in tomorrow so it isn't that BIG a deal, but annoying - and the panic of 'will I catch the correct bus and get everywhere on time' is never fun. Additionally on the plus side - walked more today than I have since we moved to Kitchener. Oh screw it ... lol this was annoying. But how'd I do for looking on the bright side? ;)

Also anyone who wants to make me feel better with silly 'locked the keys in the car' stories can feel free to post them here as well. ;)

It's the Weekend!

And it's going to be a productive one!

Today I'm heading into the school to get my class set up and tidy, and get some plans in order for Sept. Tomorrow Ari and I are helping out at the Family and Children's Services booth at KidsPARK, which is basically a combination fun event for families with activities, games, food etc., and where some community organizations who might have a children's bent (such as FACS, Block Parents, the Safety Village) can set up info booths and let the community know about the services they provide, and how to get involved. We'll be handing out tattoos, information, and playing games with interested passers-by, hopefully recruiting some new foster parents and volunteers.

And then it's one more work week for Ari until we're on vacation - and that week should be fun in the meantime. As well as my usual tutoring, I'll probably need to go in at least once more to get stuff organized and planned at the school, which I am SO ready to get back to at this point, let me tell you! And there may or may not be a trip in the works to Canada's Wonderland with cher in the works, depending on how we get our schedules together as it's a busy week ahead for her it sounds like, and mine's not TOO busy but the stuff I DO have to do is kind of broken up - an hour here, an hour there. We're thinking Wednesday is probably the most likely at this point. We'll see.

She's leaving again this weekend, :'( which makes me sad - this was a shorter visit than usual, and the poor girl has had to split her time a bit more as it's been harder to get mutual friends together, plus her parents are now BOTH in Kitchener - but we're going to make the most of this week! :D Even if Wonderland doesn't work out, we're getting together with our moms sometime this week, and it sounds like she's having some kind of get-together later this week which I will be at so ... cool. :D Some good times w/my best girlfriend.

And then it's time to visit with some old friends from high school, and Sauble, and then back to work! The summer is really winding to an end ... I feel like I didn't make the most of it in some ways as I've spent so much of my time getting the house in order, running errands that I hadn't gotten around to, tutoring (which has been an enjoyable way to make money through the summer and doesn't take up a LOT of my time by any stretch, but is just sort of timed in the middle of the day to make it difficult to do much else), getting the last few things ready to be approved to adopt, and now waiting for 'The Call' and feeling like things aren't quite complete around here until we get it.

But then I realize I DID tutor and enjoy it, I managed to completely move in to and SETTLE in to my new house, which I wouldn't have been able to if I were working full-time, I've gotten a lot accomplished, and still found time to go to some Highland Games to cheer on my brother, Canada's Wonderland, the beach at Port Dover, visits with parents for dinner and swimming, the zoo with friends, dancing, rediscovering church ... it has been a good one after all and I think I'm finally actually learning what my mom has been trying to tell me all these years - enjoy what's happening in your life while it's happening instead of stressing about the bad stuff and just looking forward to the NEXT good thing. Good things happen all around us, and we should be thankful for that. What are YOU thankful for?