nomad

2009-11-28T15:53:00.000-06:00

Article by Hadeel about the conference

2009-05-25T10:16:00.000-05:00

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090516/WEEKENDER/705159787/1080

Day 1 Morning Photos

2009-05-10T23:42:00.001-05:00

Judy Rand is fabulous... Here is our first morning. Hadeels is in there a few times too! :-)

Me and My New Best Friends, The Nobel Peace Laureates...

2009-05-10T23:29:00.002-05:00

Hi dorkage factor here, but whatever, I was starstruck ok?!

Video

I'm dorking out in one of the other videos too (I forget I think it's the participant reflections one.)

Don't know if you're following our blog, but there's some neat stuff with much more to come... (believe me I know, I'm the editor in chief :-) )

But I think the best stuff is on our Twitter page.... Quotes from the brilliant women from all over the world who have come here with us.

Plus I'm twittering my own self at my personal Twitter

Long, busy days, but tons of tingles and goosebumps, even welled up - or rather, was there any time when Mairead Maguire spoke that I didn't well up? She is the sweetest, gentlest, smiliest person ever - she's luminescent, but she gives barn-burners on stage! Wow. Jody Williams, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, and Shirin Ebadi (Nobel Laureates as well) also amazing, powerful, moving speakers.

I'm so lucky to be here.

Non-stop...

2009-05-06T20:08:00.003-05:00

Well I'm SO BUSY that I hired a photographer to take photos of this place for me and bring them back so I could look at them in my hotel room while I work... :-)
Kidding.

Almost.

So check out these amazing photos taken of this place by the photographer for the initiative...

Photos of Antigua and Casa Santo Domingo (where we're staying/conferencing) Be sure to click the arrows on the right hand side to see all the photos.

My goal tonight is to get some sleep..... After just a few million more things.... :-)

Working Hard...

2009-05-04T21:33:00.003-05:00

Working very hard, twelve hours already today and maybe a bit more later tonight after a late dinner, but it's definitely a lovely place to work hard! Plus the food is amazing, they make my bed for me (well they would, but I don't let them....), and there's a pool, sauna, hot tub, and gym - all outdoors, surrounded by tropical vegetation and flowers - none of which I've used yet, BUT I WILL!

The Spanish is going pretty well, and ... what else can I tell you...

My head is mostly filled with mundane details about the website, media, communications, press releases, the reception for 200 people that the hotel realized it doesn't really have room for, and other blah blah blah...

I posted some photos below. The first two are the view from my balcony, the next are shots of Antigua, and the girl weaving is Angelina, who is 21. The piece she's working on has been worked on for three months already by her, her sister, and her grandmother. It has intricate shapes of animals woven in. The lady in the door is Julia, with baby Guadeloupe. Julia's mother, Maria, was also in the shop, as well as 8 year old Clara whose favorite subject is math and her teacher's name is Celia. We met them yesterday when we were touring with Ana. So lovely.

Antigua, Guatemala

2009-05-04T21:27:00.001-05:00

First 2 are the view from my balcony.

Guatemala

2009-05-03T16:22:00.006-05:00

So it's been awhile, internet, since you've heard from me. Well - not the internet as a whole, but the whole blog thing kind of fell by the wayside. What prompts me to write again? The obvious - travel - and my incessant need to share every thought that crosses my head which is thwarted by the high price of texting from here... :-) I'm in Guatemala for three weeks - 2 working and one vacationing afterwards. My new organization (started there in February) is hosting a conference in Antigua, Guatemala from May 10-12th, and I am one of the lucky who got to come down early to work on preparations on the ground.

I am staying at the Casa Santo Domingo, in Antigua - an old convent, now a museum, which houses a 5 star hotel. It's a bit like the garden of Eden, I expect - magnificent crumbling stone walls, fountains, flowers, scarlet macaws, hummingbirds.... It's amazingly beautiful. From my stone and wrought iron balcony I can see volcanoes, orchids, a stone fountain, gardens, etc. My room has a vaulted ceiling with large dark wood beams, stoneXstuccoedXwalls, and Mayan textiles on the beds. When I arrived on Friday night, the stone corridors, open to the gardens through stone arches, were lit with candles and candelabras. Very peaceful, soothing, beautiful. My first morning I ate breakfast in the garden with Guatemalan coffee and read the newspaper in Spanish, feeling very lucky.

I am here to work, and have been, but I have had time this weekend as well to see a little bit of Antigua for a few hours each afternoon. I love Central America - I love the painted stone walls and bright colours and the smell! It smells warm and mountain-y, with hibiscus and other flowers... Yesterday I wandered the streets and then the markets, mesmerized with all of the colour of the weavings and other textiles, the wood carvings, the fruit and other wares.

Last night I worked late on the website, eating dinner in my room - my first time with room service. :-) I took a few hours in the afternoon while it was nice to wander around Antigua, with the promise to myself that I would do my work hours in the evening. It worked out perfectly, as when I got back to my room around 4.30 pm it started to rain very hard, so I sat with my balcony doors open, working on the website listening to the rain and thunder until around 10.30 pm, smelling the delicious smell of rainy gardens. There are worse ways to work.

This morning I had breakfast with my colleague, Ana, who is wonderful, and the also wonderful woman who will be photographing the conference. It was a lovely breakfast in the garden. Afterwards we toured the spaces that we will be using for the conference, evaluating many details, and then Ana took us for a tour of the town, pointing out essentials like the printing/copy shop, cell phone dealer, medical clinic. It wasn't all business however, and shopping ensued. We spent a couple of sunny and relaxing hours wandering the streets and markets and getting acquainted with the city. Ana is a wealth of information about secret gems - the best coffee, the best places to buy things, the store with the amazing natural cremes and lotions, the best shrimp, and the best margaritas. The combination of having lived in India and being a native Spanish speaker makes her an Olympic champion bargainer to boot...

I'm back in my room now, resting a bit, and waiting for the verdict on the big change-over from the old website to the new... So far it looks - in transition.

I'm going to rest a bit today, as I know starting tomorrow it will become very intense.

My first earthquake

2009-05-03T16:18:00.000-05:00

http://english.sina.com/world/2009/0503/238456.html

This is not a unicycle

2009-01-11T15:13:00.004-06:00

So Kent built one of these up the other day...
It's not a unicycle, there are no moving parts. It's an Ultimate Wheel.

Funny Site!

2009-01-11T14:40:00.003-06:00

http://unclutterer.com/category/unitasker-wednesday/

I need a hobby

2008-11-02T19:05:00.001-06:00

So..

Ledges and steps...

2008-11-02T18:31:00.000-06:00

And Coal and Bella want this

I want...

2008-11-02T18:30:00.000-06:00

Super cool bed designs here

Clocky

2008-11-01T19:53:00.002-05:00

I totally need this

...And the kitchen sink

2008-09-26T17:38:00.000-05:00

Best News!

2008-08-25T19:45:00.002-05:00

It turns out I have a Vitamin B12 deficiency and I need an injection every 2 weeks! Why is that the best news you ask? Because it means the tiredness and all the other symptoms I've been having over the past year should disappear if I just shoot up with B12 biweekly.... Yay!!

My Etsy Loves...

2008-08-16T11:52:00.001-05:00

Setpember 24th, 1985 - August 1st, 2007

2008-08-01T13:53:00.002-05:00

Love...

Where my brain is these days...

2008-01-17T21:00:00.002-06:00

Went 'shoein in the Gats last weekend, had a picnic in a snowbank. Good times...

(I didn't take this pic... )

Foockincrazy

2007-12-29T15:08:00.001-06:00

I needs to get me some of these!

http://kimbooktu.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/take-a-seat/

Eyescapes

2007-12-21T13:54:00.001-06:00

http://www.art-dept.com/artists/rankin/portfolio/specialprojects/eyescapes/portfolio.html

Violence Doesn't Have a Religion...

2007-12-21T09:58:00.001-06:00

http://sparkslockout.blogspot.com/2007/12/aqsa.html

My thoughts exactly

2007-12-21T09:56:00.000-06:00

http://members.shaw.ca/cybernana/html/funpage/hippoxmas/hippoxmas.html

Nuff Said

2007-12-21T09:53:00.001-06:00

http://dooce.com/2007/12/13/because-i-couldnt-say-it-phone

From her husband

2007-12-21T09:51:00.001-06:00

http://blurbomat.com/archives/2007/12/20/how-i-do/

2007-09-17T13:29:00.001-05:00

Ramadan - A Time of Physical, Spiritual, and Social Revival

On Thursday, September the 13th of 2007, 1.9 billion Muslims around the world will celebrate Ramadan, a period of contemplation, fasting, and increased worship. Ramadan falls in the ninth month of the lunar calendar year and is marked by the appearance of the new moon, which signals the beginning and end of the month.

Observing Ramadan is essential as fasting is one of the 5 pillars of Islam including Announcement of Faith (which is witnessing that there is only one God and that Prophet Muhammad is his last messenger), salaat (praying 5 times a day), Zakaat (the right of the poor on the wealth of the financially able), Fasting during the month of Ramadan, and Hajj (once in a life time pilgrimage to Kaaba).

Fasting is intended to increase one in goodness and self-control, as well sharpen the consciousness of God. Muslims also fast to honour the revelation of the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad during this month. For one month, Muslims observe Ramadan by abstaining from food, drink, and smoking during daylight hours, thus breaking their fast at sunset. This act not only allows Muslims to practice self-restraint, but to also improve their health by reducing or eliminating impurities from the body. Fasting is not required of children, travellers, the weak, elderly or sick and pregnant or menstruating woman.

During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to refrain from any obscenity or immoral acts which can spoil the fruitfulness of the spirituality and blessings gained in this month. Also, integral to this period is a sense of community, which sharpens in Muslims the concept of social responsibility towards one another, and towards humanity at large as it encourages them to think of, and give more to the needy in our society. Many mosques will sponsor meals after sundown in order for the community to end the day's fasting as a unit, in addition to engaging in extra prayers throughout the evening. Muslims also increase their engagement in charitable acts such as organizing food and clothing drives for those less fortunate. Thus, Ramadan allows Muslims to experience a physical, spiritual, and social revival.

The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a three-day religious festival called Eid Al-Fitr (Feast of Fast-Breaking). The celebration begins with the sighting of the 10th new moon of the lunar calendar. The most important observances of Eid al-Fitr generally take place on the first day. During this period, Muslims participate in communal prayers in the early morning and exchange visits and gifts with one another throughout the rest of the celebration.

While Muslims in Islamic countries generally regard it as inappropriate for others to eat, drink or smoke in front of them while they are fasting, this is not the case for Canadian Muslims since Ramadan is not observed by the majority of Canadians. It may be appropriate however to provide school children who are fasting with alternative activities during lunch time.

Source: Abdirizak, Cair-Can

Countries I've Visited

2007-08-26T22:10:00.001-05:00

She's Free

2007-08-07T09:33:00.000-05:00

Rae of Sunshine Bell

On August 1, 2007, with rays of sunshine streaming through the windows, Rae left this place and headed home.

Precious, only daughter of Sharon Redden and Winston Bell, Rae will be remembered and sorely missed by her grandparents, her innumerable aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

She’s going places she’s never been
Seeing things she’s never seen
Those left behind grieve – her company we no longer keep
But the angels rejoice because her beautiful soul is now free

Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at Community Pentecostal Church, 1825 St-Joseph Boulevard in Orleans (exit Jeanne d’Arc, turn right at St-Joseph).

CelebRAEtion

Join us to celebrate Rae’s life on Saturday, August 11th, at her Godmother’s home.

2 pm ‘til whenever. Special presentation at 4 pm. Bring your happy memories.

100 Lennox Street
Richmond, Ontario
613 444-0035

All who loved Rae are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Ottawa Rotary Home Foundation, 30 Rochester Street, Ottawa, Ontario. K1R 7V3, Telephone: (613) 837-7376. www.orhfoundation.ca

Don't You Just Wish it Was Like That????

2007-06-05T13:18:00.000-05:00

http://ny.beam.tv/beamreels/reel_player.php?QYcMbRHWmV

Link from dooce.com

Bookmarking Again

2007-05-31T13:42:00.000-05:00

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0423/p09s01-coop.htm

Cindy Sheehan packs it in

2007-05-31T13:18:00.001-05:00

This is so sad. Not necessarily that she has given up, but her utter despair at trying...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/28/sheehan/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Self-Regulation Muscle

2007-05-31T11:09:00.001-05:00

Wow! This is so interesting!
http://www.senia.com/2007/02/01/create-new-habits-self-regulation/

Bookmarking

2007-05-31T11:05:00.000-05:00

I'm posting this here b/c I skimmed it and it seemed good, so I want to go back and read it, and check the links and see if it is...
http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/05/25/coachology-train-yourself-to-be-happier/

Miss Vicky sums it up...

2007-05-28T09:38:00.000-05:00

http://www.offhand.ca/index.php?section=vv&name=20070524_On_Swaggering

Water Water

2007-05-27T14:07:00.001-05:00

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/12/how_to_green_your_water.php

Awesome! We're doing this!

2007-05-27T14:03:00.000-05:00

Save water and money!!!!

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/twoflush.php

Gross

2007-05-22T14:00:00.001-05:00

But more than gross, it's a bit terrifying.

http://dykesagainstharper.blogspot.com/2007/05/fundie-newsflash.html

2007-05-16T14:43:00.000-05:00

Minwaashin Lodge – Aboriginal Women’s Support Centre
Phone (613) 741-5590 Fax (613) 748-8311

Request for Canadian Tire Money

May 2007

Dear Organization and Associates:

Minwaashin Lodge is an Aboriginal non-profit organization (CRN 136843026RR0001) that supports First Nation , Inuit and Metis families that are low income, fleeing abuse, and have experienced violence within their families. We are currently planning recreational activities for their summer/fall 2007 that would provide a quality family fun time for our children, youth and parents.

If your organization can forward any Canadian Tire Money for our children and youth programming would be greatly appreciated. It will be distributed throughout the Sacred Child Program 0-6yrs of age and through our Spirit Movers & Fire Keepers Youth Program. The lives of our First Nation, Inuit and Metis children and youth would benefit greatly.
We thank you for your consideration and look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

In the spirit of caring and sharing,
Elaine Kicknosway E.C.E.
613-741-5590 ext 234
Sacred Child Coordinator
Minwaashin Lodge

Bella Enjoying Her New Basket

2007-05-07T14:59:00.000-05:00

Can't you see how much I love my new basket? I'm sitting RIGHT beside it.

How Do I Feel Today?

2007-04-26T14:29:00.000-05:00

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease."

and I guess I didn't squeak.

Are You Quite Sure He's Literate?

2007-04-18T11:33:00.000-05:00

I had heard about this beautiful thing last night on the ceeb, but I like the way Dop puts it so much more...

"You may be interested to know that Yann Martel, author of the love-it-or-hate-it award-winning novel Life of Pi, has decided to send Prime Minister Stephen Harper a new book every fortnight, along with a letter explaining why he has chosen each particular book. ... Apparently, this project was born of Martel's -- and other Canadian authors' -- frustration with the government's funding cuts to the arts."

Check out the CBC article here, about artist's frustrations. I like this quote from Lawrence Hill, author of Book of Negros (one of the best books I've ever read):

"Artists are not encouraged," author Lawrence Hill said. "Artists are among the most entrepreneurial of business people, but they need support."

So true! You have to be an expert in marketing, advertising, bookkeeping, budgeting, product selection, etc, on top of perfecting your craft.

Follow along on Yann's site here:
http://whatisstephenharperreading.ca/index.html

Maybe I'll read along with Satan -- I mean Stephen. Then we'll have something to talk about when we're new best friends. He's my neighbour after all.

And while we're at it, can we talk about the elitism of the access to the arts in Ottawa? Thirty to sixty dollars per ticket (so double that if you are not a hermit) for a play or a dance show is just NOT accessible to many people, including people like myself who would most appreciate it. But that's a post (rant) for another day.

Quote

2007-04-17T10:26:00.000-05:00

Worrying does not rob tomorrow of its troubles. It empties today of its strength. -- unknown

Harper ignores anniversary of Charter of Rights and Freedoms

2007-04-16T21:27:00.000-05:00

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/04/16/chretien-charter.html

Boooooooooooo. Dont Kill Our Public Broadcaster!!

2007-04-12T22:45:00.000-05:00

More Job Cuts at the CBC

"Beauty"

2007-04-03T12:49:00.001-05:00

Show your daughter this every day: http://campaignforrealbeauty.com/flat4.asp?id=6909

BECAUSE... http://feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=10232

RIP

2007-03-21T22:26:00.001-05:00

Rest in peace, Rita Joe.

Linketylink...

2007-03-21T20:48:00.000-05:00

In lieu of my own brilliance, today I will treat you.

Grrrl Meets World is one of my new favorite blogs. I especially liked this post on the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

I've been reading since around Sept or so. Her posting has gotten very light since she gave birth a month ago, but I still enjoy her. For a treat, go back to her archives.

Coffee Break

2007-03-21T15:10:00.000-05:00

This is quite funny.

Link via 50 Books.

10th Annual Erase-Racism Carnival

2007-03-20T13:39:00.000-05:00

is up here over at Racialicious.

Lots of juicy treats to pile through...

Things I Cooouuuuuuuulllllllld Do Today......

2007-03-17T11:21:00.000-05:00

but probably won't.

1. Go to a coffee shop and study Arabic.
2. Clean the house.*
3. Do some unpacking.
4. Write my grandmothers.
5. Visit the shop.
6. Visit Rae.

1. Or Spanish. But that would be confusing. OK, Arabic. But that would be... well, HARD.
2. Two words. Yu Ck.
3. What. Before our 1 year anniversary in the new house? What's the panic?!
4. No really. I'd better.
5. I need a really good excuse not to, and "but it's snowing" likely won't cut it. Let me know if you can think of one. But seriously, it's snowing. And I'm a pansy. And the bus makes me vomit. VOMIT I tell you.
6. I really wanted and needed to do this actually, but there are no cars available and she lives an hour away, 2 hours by bus. (See number 5 about vomiting). Plus she didn't call me back so I'm not even 100% sure she's there... Guilt guilt guilt overwhelming guilt.

*I have already done lots of cleaning and tidying but there is still more that could be done. Isn't there just always. *$%#!

Edit: OK. Found a car 700 miles away. Going to Rae's, whether she's there or not, and then the shop and then coming home to watch the Ravens play the semi-finals... 50+ minute walk to get the car, 50+ minute walk home... Whine and cheese.

Mac Guy's Flaw

2007-03-17T09:32:00.000-05:00

We know from the commercial that Mac guy is hip, relaxed and cool and PC guy is nerdy, problematic and complicated. Well after spending more time than I'd like to admit downloading audiobooks from the library to my IPod to listen to on the bus, I receive the aggravating message that because the library uses Micrsoft software for their audiobooks, Mac devices won't play them.

At this time, OverDrive digital audio books cannot be downloaded to iPods, or used on Mac computers. Our audio titles, provided by OverDrive, Inc., use copyright protection technology from Microsoft Corporation. Unfortunately the iPod (and Mac) do not currently support copyright-protected Windows Media Audio (WMA) files.

ARRRRRRRRRRRRG. So much for my fluency in Arabic, my long-awaited "read" of Farenheit 451, and learning just what to say in an interview to get the job.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg. Come on cool, hip, snappy dresser Mac guy, chill. Kick back. Let me do my thing.

Saccharine but Satisfying

2007-03-16T10:28:00.000-05:00

I spent a rare self-indulgent evening with my self-indulged self one night this week. I ate cinnamon toast (who are we kidding, it’s brown sugar with some token cinnamon on it) and snuggled up with a blanket to watch An Affair to Remember with Carey Grant and Deborah Kerr. The somewhat plentiful pop-culture references to this movie put it on my radar but it’s taken me a long time to get around to seeing it. The dialogue is at times funny, and there are some beautiful views. It was nice, if a little sappy at the end, but what else would you want from a 1957 Carey Grant flick? An evening well-spent.

Pause

2007-03-16T09:48:00.000-05:00

He is wearing a tattered green and khaki camouflaged jacket belted at the waste, salt splattered army pants frayed at the cuffs, and worn army boots. His bright red toque and bright fuchsia scarf look brand new, possibly acquired quite recently from the street outreach team. Beside him is parked a cart with wheels, piled high with treasured and useful items. A toaster oven, two neatly folded towels, a blue duffel bag, 2 plastic water bottles held together with duct tape, flattened cardboard from a Tim Horton’s box, tidily arranged. His face is deeply lined and wants a shave, his hands are chapped from the cold. He is standing at the library catalogue terminal, absorbed in search after search. Curious, I steal a glance over his shoulder. His search? “Feminism in 20th Century Voltaire.”

Happy Pi Day: 3/14

2007-03-14T18:17:00.000-05:00

By auspicious coincidence, on this day celebrating the mysterious π, which has been calculated to trillions of decimal points (I'll just trust them on that), I have at last finished the 1474 page A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. Imagine my utter surprise when I learned that it is the longest novel in English ever written. It will not surprise you to learn that had I known this while I was reading it, I would have been shouting it all over town.

This book and its families have been my faithful and much-loved companions ever since November 20th, when I first cracked it on a train trip to Toronto. Its heft has been bowing the structure of my bookshelf however, since soon after I returned from India and moved to Ottawa in 2002, when it was recommended by KD's mom. Now that I am finished, I trust that that the carpal tunnel in my wrists will subside. I am not exaggerating when I say that many a night I narrowly escaped permanent disfigurement, having fallen asleep while reading in bed propped up by a few soft pillows, only to be bashed awake by the tomb falling out of my hands onto my face. And that spine? Not soft.

I so thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it is safe to say that is quite likely that I have spent more time with Lata, Maan, Firoz, and the other Mehras, Kapoors, Khans, and Chatterjis, than I have with most of my colleagues over the past few months. Or cleaning . Or cooking. Though as you know, I have likely spent more time blinking than I have spent cooking or cleaning over the past few months. Clearly, "she is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain." * This is one of those books, however, where the characters become part of your life, your consciousness, and you know them as you know other close acquaintances in your life. They'd have to, as in the past four months, I have met them nearly every day, and they have accompanied me to five cities and three provinces. They have been in every room in my house, sometimes even innocently sneaking into the bath, they have been on interminable city bus trips, airplanes, trains, and in the front seat of the car with me. I have enjoyed them immensely, I will miss them, and I doubt I will forget them.

*Louisa May Alcott

Perfect

2007-03-14T17:45:00.000-05:00

Check out my next piece of furniture

and my new cat-friendly rug

Letter

2007-03-05T11:35:00.000-06:00

Hello Hon. Member Belanger and staff;

I called this morning to register my strong support for the passing of Bill C-280, for the implementation of the Refugee Appeal Division.

The excellent staff member with whom I spoke mentioned that he would brief himself on the bill. I have enclosed a one-page briefing on the bill and the Refugee Appeal Division for your convenience.

This bill is calling for the implementation of the RAD which was passed in law a number of years ago and has never been implemented.

I will be watching this issue closely and would appreciate a reply. Thank you very much for your time.

Yours sincerely,

Update: I received a hand-written note in the mail from M. Belanger (my MP) that says he supports the bill and will vote in favour.

Observation on Behalf of a Friend

2007-02-02T14:47:00.000-06:00

Hello. I am in a WHEELCHAIR. I am not DEAF. You do not need to SHOUT.
Thank you.

Need

2007-01-28T21:50:00.000-06:00

Satan's Spawn Shpeaks

2007-01-26T11:46:00.000-06:00

Couldn't Stephen Harper at least taken 3 seconds to learn how to pronouce the names of Maher Arar and Monia Mazigh?? Arg.

The Clear Choice

2007-01-23T11:10:00.000-06:00

for best foreign film.

And the rest, on this important, auspicious day.

To be cliche about it...

2007-01-23T10:57:00.001-06:00

Flight and shuttle to conference location $500
4 nights hotel at Sheraton $600
3 meals per day $250
10 training sessions $500
Learning this answer to a professional development question:

"If someone wants info about xxx services in Vancouver, the Toronto phonebook isn't going to be useful. You might want to use Google."

PRICELESS.

KIeenex

2007-01-23T10:57:00.000-06:00

Refugees Find Hope and Hardship on Soccer Field

Imagine

2007-01-16T21:41:00.000-06:00

Dinner and dessert at a very nice restaurant (in the hotel, paid for)
Swim in the pool
Shower
Hot bath
Reading by the fire

at one of Canada's top tourist destinations.

That's been my evening so far!

I'm at a conference for work. Nice.

A toaster? Really? Is this heaven???

2007-01-11T18:54:00.000-06:00

Look at this...

Or a Barbasugarbowl???

OH MY GOD THIS IS SOOOO COOL.

Or BARBA-ALARM CLOCK!!!

Ok, but seriously, if I had money to waste on frivolous nostalgia? I'd buy THIS.

WAIT - WAIT. My head just EXPLODED. Check this out. Faint.

But then. Barbaheartbreak. But since that I have found that a 4 disc BOX SET (!) is available on Ebay and on Amazon.fr . I wonder if the DVD has the English option, the way many of ours have other language options? I am sure they would, but it's an expensive (and frivolous) risk. Hmmm....

Have I ever hinted that

I.

LOVE.

THE.

INTERNET.

Clickety-click, Barba-trick!!!! :-)

Edit: I asked and the one on Ebay is only in French.

Excercising Old Muscles...

2007-01-11T13:55:00.000-06:00

OK now. My home laptop crashed awhile back (well, "crashed", "Kent-tried-to-fix-it" - same, same.) Anyways, because of this I haven't been making the daily rounds of my usual blogs for quite awhile (lost my Bookmarks), nor posting here due to my policy of not blogging at work. Today I visited my blog for some reason and noticed the "Blogs I Dig" list which I had completely forgotten about, and noticed a lot of familiar old friends who I used to check in on every day. What fun! So I can't help but need to post a few of the gems here... Stay tuned for more.

Rick Mercer and "Same-Sex Thursday"

Haven't read this one yet, but marking it here for myself so that I don't forget to go back and read this and see what I think:
People in highly taxed countries better off

Call Me CRAZY

2007-01-11T13:13:00.000-06:00

but I miss the prairies. There's nothing like a good, old-fashioned blizzard, the likes of which I haven't seen since the night I drove home in the blizzard that caused the first closing of the University of Calgary in it's entire history, or the night I tried driving Hwy 2 from Calgary to Innisfail in blinding snow, where I just hoped the road didn't curve when a semi passed me, cuz I couldn't see the road AT ALL so just tried to stay straight despite the ice and wind that sent me fishtailing each time. I spent the night sleeping in a booth in the Humpty's Restaurant on the highway, past Airdrie. Ohhhhh, good times. We haven't had a snow day in Ottawa EVER since I moved here.

Good luck prairie people! Stay safe.

(Not to belittle or be-fun it - I know how dangerous and stressful they are... Take care those of you out there!!!!!!)

(Pic is of the view outside in Saskatoon, thanks Grrrl!

I love the internet...

2006-12-23T02:21:00.000-06:00

Did you know that there is a Barbapapas web site???????? I know. Best day ever.

Damali Ayo

2006-12-21T10:20:00.000-06:00

I CAN FIX IT

She's tough, direct, and no-nonsense. I love her. This is a good read.

Merry Christmas, Mister Bean!

2006-12-17T13:53:00.000-06:00

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth and...

2006-11-25T15:49:00.000-06:00

THIS!!

Perrrrrrrrrrrrrrfect.... :-)

2006-11-25T15:45:00.000-06:00

The baby-hanger and the monitor that calls your cell cracks me up. With gadgets like these, how hard can being a mom REALLY be???????????? (LOLLLLL!!) (Right Alia? :-) )

http://www.gearlog.com/2006/11/tech_for_tots_keep_your_baby_s.php

I love this

2006-11-23T09:25:00.000-06:00

You Have Two Voices

By Nancy Prasad

You have two voices when you speak

In English or your mother tongue.

When you speak the way your people spoke

The words don’t hesitate but flow

Like rivers, like rapids, like oceans of sound,

And your hands move like birds through the air.

But when you take a stranger’s voice

When you speak in your new tongue

Each word is a stone dropped in a pool.

I watch the ripples and wait for more.

You search in vain for other stones to throw.

They are heavy. Your hands hang down.

You have two voices when you speak;

I have two ears for hearing.

Speak to me again in your mother tongue.

What does it matter how little I understand

When the words pour out like music and your face glows like a flame.

Sensible... :-)

2006-11-18T01:40:00.000-06:00

Priceless

2006-11-10T11:37:00.000-06:00

To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.
Dear Dogs and Cats,
The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years- canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt.
I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:
1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.
(That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.
Remember: In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3 Are easier to train
4. Normally come when called
5. Never ask to drive the car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't want to wear your clothes
10. Don't need a "gazillion" dollars for college.
And finally,
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

You MUST see this.

2006-10-28T21:20:00.000-05:00

Late-night packing diversion... Too funny!

Watch John-John count to ten.

How Do You Know When It's Time to Take a Break from Packing???

2006-10-28T16:27:00.000-05:00

When you empty the vaccuum bag (the entiiiiiiiire vaccuum bag) into a garbage bag full of CLEAN LAUNDRY.

That's how.

Moving Sucks

2006-10-27T14:02:00.000-05:00

Interesting

2006-10-27T14:00:00.000-05:00

Read

Love this post....

2006-10-26T19:31:00.000-05:00

READ

Naturally

2006-10-26T19:21:00.000-05:00

You scored as A coloring book. Children love you--
and so do many adults. They find you approachable, simple
and friendly, all of which perfectly describe you. Instead of
throwing big words around, you communicate in the international
language of pictures. In order to be as open as possible, you
present yourself simply, allowing those around you to customize
you to their liking. Sometimes this results in you turning into
a primitive masterpiece, and other times you resemble a
schizophrenic's daydream. So long as the one talking to you
understands you, you're happy. Zen and the art of
crayon-sharpening.

A coloring book

61%

A college textbook

46%

Poetry

43%

A paperback romance novel

39%

A classic novel

32%

The back of a froot loops box

29%

An electronics user's manual

25%

Your Literary Personality
created with QuizFarm.com

BDay Gift from My Best Friend...

2006-10-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

Dear Kim MacKenzie,

Happy birthday from CBC Shop! Buy yourself a special treat from our ever-expanding selection of CBC merchandise with this $5.00 coupon. It's our way of saying thanks for providing your birth date information with us during registration. This coupon becomes valid on your birthday and is good for one year from that date.

The number of your birthday coupon is: xxx

Please return to www.cbcshop.ca, browse our full range of CBC products, find something you like and place it in your shopping cart.

On the payment details page, we'll ask you for a coupon number. Please insert your coupon number into the form, and a $5.00 discount will be applied to your account. Minimum purchase of $5.00 applies.

Thanks again for shopping at CBC Shop and have a great day!

Customer Service Team
www.cbcshop.ca

Gym? What gym?

2006-10-17T08:31:00.000-05:00

2006-10-17T08:25:00.000-05:00

Girls, to the kitchen. Gays, back to the closet

>by Linda McQuaig
October 16, 2006

When it comes to equality for women, Stephen Harper is all for it — as long as the women are in Afghanistan.

Last May, the Prime Minister told Parliament that ensuring equality rights for women was one of the key reasons Canada is waging war in Afghanistan.

Certainly Harper's claims of championing the rights of burqa-clad women have helped him sell that unpopular war to Canadians.

But when there's no war to peddle, Harper doesn't give a piffle about women's equality. Indeed, he seems downright opposed to it.

In a recent move that got relatively little attention, the Harper government actually removed the word “equality” from the list of goals of Status of Women Canada, ending decades of advocacy for equality on the part of that federal agency.

A better world: Cuts to Status of Women

2006-09-30T19:07:00.000-05:00

A better world: Cuts to Status of Women

Here, here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLICK'S MOM!!!!!

2006-09-29T07:23:00.000-05:00

May your day be filled with dirty boys and cute animals and someone to wait on you hand and foot!!!!!!
Luv ya lots and lots!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEANIEO!!

2006-09-21T10:34:00.000-05:00

Boooooo!

2006-09-19T22:45:00.000-05:00

Baby's cheeks a little too chubby? Cat on a weight control diet? Aunt Bob looking a little too portly in the fam shot? Thankfully we don't have to record these hideous flaws forever and ever in history any MORE.

Boo to HP for this insulting feature (though neat in a tech kinda way).

Link courtesy of Bitch, PhD

GYM

2006-09-16T11:43:00.000-05:00

Back now for five weeks:
First week three times, then four weeks of every day - only missed one weekday in 4 weeks.
It's hard though. Having a slump, but had a really good workout last night. Increase weight and reps and did full body and extra machines and rode bike for 30 mins.
It's a struggle these days though...

Bush vs Bush

2006-09-15T21:55:00.000-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHB_NRIojho&eurl=

And on a serious note,
More Americans Have Now Died In Iraq Than Died On 9/11

Ups to Blurbomat for the links.

2006-09-15T09:32:00.000-05:00

September 13, 2006

Would that be work to live, or live to work?

Who is more efficient, the Americans or the French? Obviously, it must be the Americans. They spend more time at work than the citizens of any other industrial country. But hang on. The average employee in France spends less time on the job than workers in any other country in the industrialized world. But it turns out that for every hour spent working, the French produce slightly more value-added than the Americans. So the French work less, but they work more productively. >by Jim Stanford >rabble news

Deja Vu

2006-09-14T16:35:00.000-05:00

I have cooked twice this week... As usual I am irreperably burned and scarred for life. My life as a housewife is filled with peril and sacrifice. I have recently been advised of revolutionary new technology designed to address this issue, called "oven mitts". I plan to investigate this device, however I am told that the device has severe limits to it's usefulness in that they only work in instances in which you PUT THEM ON.

Make-Over Story

2006-09-14T14:05:00.000-05:00

Well, I took Coal to the vet, and he is thankfully as healthy as a horse - or a cat, I guess. His teeth are gleaming, his coat is shining (yup, all over the vet's pristine white doctor coat...), his ears are clean (ha Kent!!!! My cat has clean ears and yours doesn't!), there's no wierd bumps or lumps, and Coal was the best behaved kitty they've ever seen in their entire vet careers! (Well, that last bit might have been a tiny bit of extrapolation on my part... but he was amazing as always. The last vet said, "Is he always this calm?" to which I said, "Yes, we find that a couple of Gravols in his water dish each day keeps him quite Zen.")

The vet said however, that he's slightly, mildly, just a teeeeeeny, tiiiiiiiiny touch - - well, fluffy. Chubby. Portly. Puffy. Well, you know overweight. I prefer to think of him as stocky. Strong. Powerful. Big Boned. So he gave us the choice to put him on a fancy-shmancy vet food diet. Since the food costs the same as his current food I figured why not, only the best for my [insert annoying term of endearment here] - they said we'll notice a big difference. Plus, it's more convenient than sticking my finger down his throat every time he sniffs a morsel. The difference I 'm the most worried about though, is the mocking that will occur when KD notices the difference that we now feed our cat the fancy vet cat food... :-)

His current weight is 15.2 lbs. (Coal's, not KD's.) Last year he was 14.3 lbs. (Again, Coal, not KD.) And since he's been on the "Indoor Cat" food (euphemism for "Weight Control") for the past year and he's still bulked up, the vet thought we should probably put the little face-stuffing food snogger on the prescription food, just so that the other little cats at daycare don't make fun of him. So, cruel world, get read for a svelter Coal in the future... But don't get me wrong, we're not fat-ist here. We like him just the way he is and we'll be sure to engage in healthy self-esteem reinforcement, make physical activity fun, find him positive role models, and nutritious snacking. I'll keep you posted, but subtly, so that we don't damage his self-image. So when you see him, don't mention it...

Damn that guilt

2006-09-14T10:46:00.000-05:00

It's raining. I do not have a job. Who's to say I can't go to the gym this afternoon AFTER I take my furry child to the vet, and right now stay in my pj's, make a cup of tea, listen to the CBC, read my favorite book blogs, and maybe EVEN read a book. Huh?? WHO??? The house is pretty clean, and I'm going to cook later this aft, so YAH. I'm going to enjoy this damn it!!!!!! Hang the guilt! I'm taking a vacation day.

(just for today...) (Oh, and I'll check Charity Village too for a job. Don't worry.)

Yum, tea.

A Book List for the Best Kind of Girly-Girl

2006-09-13T23:02:00.000-05:00

I love this book list! Send it to your friends with girl-babies, or who might someday... I especially love the titles "Do Princesses Scrape Their Knees" and "Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots"...

Here's the description:

"Snow White, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast all have their place in children's hearts we suppose. But if you want your kids to grow up believing that girls should dream of more than just kissing the prince, check out these books.

Each of them features strong, smart, spunky girl protagonists that want to eat bugs, get first place in the science fair and grow up to be a teacher, a doctor, a firefighter or even a diva."

http://mommytrackd.com/readingroom.php?id=5

Thanks to Bitch PhD for the link.

Unemployment TO DO List

2006-09-12T10:59:00.000-05:00

Doctor's Apt
Haircut
Get keys cut
Vet Apt for Coal
Bank Apt (to switch banks)
Sign up for Spanish intensive course if I can afford it (yeah right)
Visit Bellerae (mentoring)
Job Search every day
Gym every day
Study Spanish every day
Declutter & throw shit OUT
Secret work contract
Masters Application
Buy groceries (what a CONCEPT)
Try to "take advantage" of time off by fitting in some fun stuff like bike rides etc...

Who says unemployed people have nothing to do? Life was less busy when I had a job. I am usually the most stressed out unemployed person I've ever met. In my perfectionism I put so much pressure on myself to take advantage of the time "off" that I end up stressed out and anxious.

And it's a BEAUTIFUL day. I feel guilty for not being out enjoying it...

So I feel guilty unless

The house is spotless
I cook the most perfectly healthy yet locally grown and "in season" meal possible
I have excercised sufficiently
I have sufficiently enjoyed the "time off" as everyone says I should since I have it
I have studied Spanish
I have done a thorough job search for the day
I have not slept in too much
Returned all calls and emails
etc etc etc etc etc

ensuring that everyday without a job is a veritable cacophony of guilt and unaccomplished deeds and expectations. After all, I have ALL THIS TIME ON MY HANDS DON'T YOU KNOW.

2006-08-27T12:14:00.000-05:00

Discouraging myths about feminism

By: Erin Wethern

Issue date: 8/25/06 Section: Opinion

As a newly declared Women's Studies major and a long time feminist, I'm frequently asked lots of questions about both the program and my future plans.

What exactly do you study? What are you going to do for a job? Do women still have issues? Wasn't it all solved in the 1970s?

Well, I thought this would be a good opportunity to clear up some questions many of you probably have.

FILM: An Inconvenient Truth

2006-08-26T11:25:00.000-05:00

Have you seen the climate change documentary by Al Gore yet? It blew me away. Not only the information, but also the way he presents it. Riveted by a 2 hour documentary on climate change? Check. I might buy this for everyone on my Xmas list.... Lucky kids!! :-)

Their Eyes Were Watching God

2006-08-26T11:08:00.000-05:00

Just finished this by Nora Zeale Hurston. Really nice book. Mildly boring through the first half, and beautiful & sad through the second half, which actaully mirrors the main character's life. Hurston wrote in the thirties and was considered the best "negro writer of the day". Then her work sort of fell off the radar for a few decades and was revived again in the seventies when Alice Walker named her as one of her great influences and argued that Their Eyes was a great work of feminist literature, and later as she came to be more studied in academia and read by masses, the world changed Hurston's descriptor to one of "the best American writers of her time".

The story is told using dialect from the time and place (in Georgia and Florida, a generation after slavery was abolished) - about a woman's life, search for love and personal fulfillment I guess... Janey is married off at 16 by her grandmother who was determined to see her secure and protected before she died. The grandmother was born into slavery and was freed just after her daughter was born. Grandmother spent the rest of her life trying to keep herself and then her children and grandchildren safe and secure in a world that was very dangerous for black people. Janey grew up a generation after slavery, and so her dreams go beyond her grandmother's ideal of safety toward something like true love, fulfillment, and happiness.

Hurston is an amazingly poetic writer, and often the first line of a chapter would make my heart skip a beat and my eyebrows raise for a second. The first line of the book stopped me cold, and I don't normally take notice of language.

Blah blah blah.

Back on the Wagon? Shhhhh don't jinx it...

2006-08-26T11:03:00.000-05:00

Worked out every day this week, including Saturday. 6 days in a row, plus weather permitting (looks not good) I'll ride on Sunday.

Fell off the wagon after nine weeks of never missing a single weekday, when I came down hard with a kidney infection. Couldn't excercise for 2 weeks, and after that (through July and half of August) just couldn't get back into the routine. Did a few sporadic gym trips and rode on Sundays, but definitely nothing to be proud of.

I feel so much better this week, my mood has improved.