On the road again - heading on up to the east side (of Ontario that is)

I mentioned we're moving
The house is sold
We're off tomorrow to househunt
I will be staying in Ottawa
To teach summer school
Ari will come back to pack
Closing is Aug 20
New house by then I hope
Though I'll feel better
Once we've found one

I will do my best to blog
Between now and then
As often as I can, but please
If I don't, don't give up on me -
I'm guessing I'll be back up and running
Within a few days of the 20th
So be sure and check back around then
Peace and love to you all
In the meantime
No turning back now!

Chaos

OMG - swore we'd never move again. Should have known better lol. It's worth it - great job for Ari and now I have a teaching opportunity in Ottawa so exciting times all around. All at once. Oh well - at least the baby's well-behaved, we have a fairly sell-able house, Ottawa is a lovely city to move to ... oh, however, to have had the opportunity to take our time ...

But if our lives stopped in one place, we'd never recognize them I suppose. So it goes so it goes. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. XOXOXOXO

Sad -

Not even going to comment on this, I think the video is enough.



Disgusting and unfortunate.

Thank you Jack ...

OK full disclosure - I am a Liberal voter, not a New Democrat here in Canada. However I want to give Jack Layton, the leader of the Federal New Democratic Party (NDP) props for going on MSNBC down in the states yesterday to stand up for something that most TRUE Canadians believe in (and no, that evil witch masquerading as a Canadian who does anti-public option ads in the states does NOT count) - universal, single-payer (ie public) healthcare.

One of the things the Republicans throw out when attacking Barack Obama and the Democrats' attempts at healthcare reform, is that they want to bring a Canadian-style public healthcare system to the States. Of course, rather than say "Why the heck not?", the response is "Nononono, we would never do that". Leaving us Canadians, who are very, very proud of our public healthcare system, wondering what's so wrong with us, and why our 'healthcare for all!' policy is so very unattractive.

That is why I am posting the video below - when my son was born, he was very high-risk and high-needs. Through any testing, assessment, care, that he has needed as a result of his premature birth etc., our healthcare system was there; we did not need to pay for his hospital stay, medications, followup visits, developmental screenings, or anything. Nor did we have to wait more than a week for anything, nor did a dime come out of our pockets save as taxpayers. No matter what Brits or Canadians sell their souls to appear in anti-healthcare ads in the states, I want it known, and am glad Jack Layton does too, that we Canucks as a whole are very, very proud of a system that, while it has its flaws, is far from completely broken.

(and might I add that to the extent it is, it's that it doesn't cover ENOUGH, not that it covers too much - next up? dental care, vision care, mental health coverage ...)

Thoughtlessness ...

I have friends,
Naming no names,
To protect the innocent
(and the stupid people who hurt them),
A couple of them in fact,
Who in recent days and weeks
Have been hurt.

Not by mean people
Or bad people or not nice people,
But thoughtlessness.
I have hurt others with this weapon myself,
And been hurt by it;
It's not a trait to be proud of,
And can apparently do as much damage
As any intentional spite
(although I've witnessed some
pretty epic spite too).

My friends are kind, smart, pretty,
Flawed, but wonderful people.
They do not deserve
How they have been treated of late
And I feel for them.
I wish they could
Remove themselves from the pain,
Or I could remove them,
But I also know this is easier said than done.

Especially when those doing the damage
Are basically decent human beings
Flawed like the rest of us,
Sensitivity chip missing,
Not thinking of the collateral damage
Their confusion wroughts in others.
So all I can ask of my friends,
Of those hurting them,
Of myself and anyone
Who happens to be reading this,
Is for thought.

We will still make mistakes.
We will still hurt each other.
Our confusion will hurt others,
And our willingness to be selfish
Will bring that trait out
In the otherwise selfless.
We are human -
Forgiveness is divine -
Forgiving ourselves our own foolishness,
And forgiving, then forgetting
Those who repeatedly hurt us,
Is the first step toward
Healing.

Reader's Digest Version

A VERY busy weekend for us - the Reader's Digest version is as follows:

• Friday we found out Ari got a job he's been waiting on a long time - this means a move to Ottawa. I will miss the life we had here, and I'm excited about the new start in a new city. It's the first time in almost a decade that I will be moving to a brand-new city I've never lived in for the first time. Scary? Yes. The unknown? For sure. Exciting? Hecks yes! :)
• Meanwhile in the here&now, we took the Little Tyke to his first Highland Games on Saturday to see his world championship tenor drummer Uncle Kyle play; unfortunately we had other commitments in the evening and the band comps ran late enough that we had to leave before my bro was up; but his band won, their first win this season, and Kyle got to play in the tent for the first time this year which was exciting for him. Lots of neat pictures. Our other commitment was a friend's engagement party - lots of faces I recognized from high school, and I got to introduce my best friend to my son finally - she was so happy to meet him, which was gratifying, as I've been telling him all about his Auntie Shari, and her all about Little Tyke. And for myself, as corny as it sounds, I just get silly giddy whenever she's in town - she's just one of those awesome people I have yet to meet anyone who's ever had a problem with her, we have 13 years of friendship behind us and not one argument, and she has the patience of a saint with me and many others within our circle (we're artsy drama people after all). So - Hurray for Shari being in town! :D
  
• Today was the 1st birthday party of another friend's son - we got to play with them, as well as Alex from I'm-The-Mom and her family. A lovely weekend and a nice time to enjoy family and friends before the heckacious event that is moving gets underway. I will continue to try to blog regularly but in case I don't, now you know why. So keep up with me if you can, have a great week, I'll be in and out as much as possible, and see you in the funnies. Pax.
  

Paint it Pink - support for my girl Alex

Avon (the cosmetics people, you know 'Avon Calling'), not only sell beauty products, but have a beautiful heart too, and we're in the midst of their Paint it Pink campaign for breast cancer awareness. My friend Alex as an Avon participant made a contribution that I'd like you all to go check out and support by clicking here and voting. No contribution necessary, each vote results in Avon donating $2 to the cause of breast cancer awareness and research. Her friend she calls Karebear has a post up, and Alex has also written a touching explanation of why she's working to this particular cause at her blog - you can read it and find the link to Karebear's picture here.

Thanks!