Donair Eggroll?

I heard an ad on the radio today for donair eggrolls. The initial idea grosses me out, until I remember that donairs are freaking awesome. This is categorized with the new Big Mac Snack Wrap, which sounds gross, but who knows! I think they're aiming to create the illusion of healthiness. You can make anything healthier when you wrap it in a soft tortilla, am I right?

I'm currently watching The National and Rex Murphy is awesome. That's all. 

You know what's gross? Like, really gross? A cat with the runs. Sorry, an overshare I'm sure, but seriously. I was a reckless pet owner and despite all the warnings I changed their car food abruptly. They loved the food, but Hank has been sick since yesterday morning. Sick all over the place. Beyond nasty. 

I switched back and thank the good Lord above he's better today. And this is a very good thing, because no one likes runny cat poop in their shoe. 

Sorry. 

My Gears, They are Grinding

That last post was my 400th. You're welcome. 

You know what bugs me? Why is it that when I go to a retail store and make  purchase, they want my personal information? I'm a people pleaser, so I generally oblige but I'm beginning to dislike the idea. They don't need my address, phone number and blood type in order for me to make a purchase. 

Do you tip at fast food places (not including Tim Horton's)?

I was at a Subway the other day and when I was paying with my debit card the option to leave a tip came up. This was at the point where normally you're putting in your pin so since I had already put in a couple of numbers before I noticed, I ended up tipping about 100% more than I had planned. I'm kind of annoyed that they did that... it's normal for a regular restaurant, but Subway? I haven't seen that anywhere else...

Just a little bit longer

So I'm turning onto Joseph Howe drive and get a red light on that little hill just before you're really on Joseph Howe. I feel a slight hesitation in the car when the light turns green and I hit the gas. 

It's a '95 Camry, hesitations happen. However, in this case the hesitation was due mostly in part to my hesitation to put gas in the car before heading home from Dartmouth. The gage has been lower than that before, I figure I'm probably pushing it but take my chances. 

This is happening at that awkward time of day known to many as "dusk". It's light enough that you can still see but dark enough that the lights at the gas station are off, leading me (in my fit of hesitation) to believe that the station is in fact closed. During rush hour. On a main thoroughfare. 

I don't get me either. 

Anywho, the reason I'm on this road is to pick up my mother from work. I continue past not one, but two gas stations on the way down the road, but there are no more hesitations so I quickly put my worries away and continued. 

I picked mom up at the pre-appointed location. I left the parking lot not thinking about those earlier hesitations, but instead of the sushi I was going to buy at Sobeys (so good). 

You're all bright people, I know you know what's next. The engine hesitates as we head over a slight embankment. Then instead of hesitating, the engine does more of a sputter. Not just any sputter... more like a bi-polar moment of "hey, I'm running, we can do this" to "um, I'm just gonna take a little break here, but you keep pressing that pedal! I may come back!"

Meanwhile, my co-pilot is becoming increasingly agitated, informing me of the various consequences of my inaction because I was obviously unaware that not filling the car when the light comes on may lead to the situation at hand. 

We made it through two lights (that stayed green) and I turned into the parking lot of the closest gas station. Not a moment too soon, as the engine completely cut out on my approach and I had to coast to the only open pump. 

I'm no Sully, but I think I did a pretty good job. Unfortunately my problems were not due to a flock of Canadian geese, but my desire to make every tank streach to the last drop. The situation probably could have been avoided, but I and my 14 year old car came out of it none the worse for wear. 

And then I blogged about it.

Please Stand By

I have the urge to blog, really I do. And that's much better than having no urge at all? Right? Basically what it means is some day I'll start posting regularly again, instead of the cop-out nephew photos, that while awesome, are hardly informative. 

Some bullet points so I don't forget who I am:

- Mom's getting married May 30

- Which means I get to move out with no hard feelings or guilt trippin'

- Wahoo!! 

Happy Paraskavedekatriaphobia!

I know it's cliche and everything, but I can't believe he's 11 months old today! He can walk by himself, but prefers to hold your hands. He can talk too, but I'm not sure if he knows it yet... One more month and he'll be a whole year old! (That will be Friday the 13th too)

Departures

I freaking love this show. It's just a couple of guys traveling around the world, and filming it in high definition. My favorite scene to date aired last weekend. They were visiting an abandoned city in Libya and decided to play an elaborate and poorly conceived game of hide and seek. 

To see a part of it, follow this link - click Libya, then go to "Hide and Seek". 

There's not much available on youtube, but here's a trailor: It airs at 8pm and 11pm Sundays on OLN

To Blave

I've been feeling veritably ranty as of late. Not sure why, really. On more than one occasion I've heard, "What's gotten into you?", "Too much coffee?"

Most of it has to do with work, and though I can't really talk about where I do what I do, I think I can talk about what I do in the larger context, i.e. Youth Care in general. You don't know where I work (unless I work with you, of course) so I'm hoping there's no connection between the two. But in any case, my opinions on what I do have no connection or relation to that place where I do the things I do. Ya dig? 

Lately I've been thinking about what I want to write/blog about, because I don't really feel like doing the personal diary thing anymore. Not that I've really been doing much of that lately, but I think you get my drift. Besides, not much has been going on in the personal life department, but if anything should happen, you'll be the first to know. 

I'll save the actual ranting for sometime when I sit down and actually organize it into coherent thought. 

What I've been diving into in the last 24 hours is research on how youth are using new media. More than that, how marginalized youth are using new media, and how care providers can and should interact in that arena. 

Youth care happens in the daily life and lifespace of youth. The internet is no longer an information super highway - like when I was a teenager - but it's an extension of the lifespace. Youth Care Workers (YCWs) aren't present in that lifespace, so what do we do? 

I find it fascinating and I'm going to talk about it whether you like it or not. Huzzah!

Hard Lesson

One thing that is hard for me to learn and understand is that in the end, wherever you work, the only person looking out for your best interests is you. You may think that other people want to treat you fairly, but in the end, they will always choose what is best for them over what is fair for you. 

I guess it's obvious, and I guess I'm too trusting. People are always on the look out for your mistakes, for some way to point out to the powers that be that they are in some way better than you. It may be under the guise of caring or of accountability, but it's not. It's just oneupmanship. 

To each his own I guess. I just wish I was a faster learner. 

Gorgeous

10 months old already! I hear he's moved on to the world of walking, but I haven't seen it yet. Here are more photos, if you're so inclined.

Guilt-Trippin'

So I'm sick... I thought it was allergies, and it may have started that way, but it's definitely moved into cold territory. 

I called in sick last night, and just called in for my shift tonight so I'm currently dealing with the inevitable waves of guilt. Sure, it's only my 5th sick day in almost three years, but I still feel guilty. Am I really sick enough? Is my nose stuffed enough? Is my head sore enough? 

Ah well, the deed is done and I will have to deal with the repercussions. The other issue is I'm about to have a few days off, so I guess I could soldier through my little 8 hour night shift. 

Then again, I don't feel very good and the only reason I'm currently able to breath is because the pharmacist at Wal-mart changed my life and pointed out the best cold meds I've ever had. But they make me feel funny on the inside and no one likes a youth care worker in an altered state. 

Except the youth. They looove it. 

Now pardon me while I pass out on the couch in front of CBC Newsworld (see, I really am sick).

Baby New Year

Highlights of the past year:

Birth of my nephew

Presenting at the National Youth Care Conference

Landing a full-time term

Re-wired a lamp

Lowlights of the past year:

Uhhhhhhhhh, hmm. Guess it was a good year? 

Some people are anti resolution. Maybe they believe that you don't need a "date" to make changes, but any ol' day should do. 

I for one, disagree. I need the date, the starting line, the celebratory glass of champagne (the one in my hand is x2), the huzzah! Let's go! Pep pep and on we travel! But instead of documenting my goals for 2009 here for all to see I'm going to take a page from Michael Phelps and keep my goals to myself this year. All that means is you'll have to stick around for a year to see if I'm successful. It'll be like a cliffhanger, only with less Emmy's. 

This is the first year in a long time that I have both lived and worked at the same place for the entire calendar year. I can't tell if that's a good thing or not, but I would definitely like to see some more highlights in the new year. 

mmm, champagne tasty... 

I'm currently watching the Air Farce's final show. It's mostly out of a felt obligation, given that I haven't found it particularly funny lately, but I can remember listening to their radio show on CBC and then watching the TV show (also on CBC). That was back in the heyday of Canadian political satire (and comedy in general), an arena that has waned in recent years, though Rick Mercer is still top of his game.

Speaking of Canadian culture, I love The Hour. I usually watch it at either 4 or 5 am during my backshifts, and I'm not usually disappointed. The interviews are either awesome or epic fails, both keep me up. My issue is the lack of Canadian content. Sarah Palin on the New Year's Eve show? It's great that he gets a lot of big names, but I want to know more about Canadian pop culture, and that is hard to find. 

Champagne distracts me, this post was supposed to be about me, goals and reflecting on the past year. I'm sure talking about the CBC is more riveting...

Something to Chew On

Two new sites I've become mildly obsessed with : Videogum and Stereogum. 

I had recently lamented about the state of the playlist on my Creative Zen. I was lost! Depending on top 40 stations (two of which now bless the Halifax soundscape, aren't we fortunate) for new music is good for maybe 3-4 songs a season, but that's it. And those songs have very short shelf-life on the "songs that don't annoy the snot out of me" list. 

Enter Stereogum. I've only been perusing this site for the past couple of days but it's already expanded my Indie music vocbulary significantly. So to help you, dear reader, here's a list that will like, totally blow your mind, or not... whatever... (clicking the names will send you to the youtube videos... do it...)

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal and He Doesn't Know Why

My Morning Jacket - I'm Amazed

MGMT - Electric Feel

Blitzen Trapper - Furr and Wild Mountain Nation

Frightened Rabbit - My Backwards Walk 

The Constantines - Soon Enough

Bon Iver - Skinny Love 

Not to be outdone is Videogum, which has significantly expanded my "viral video" vocabulary, and I couldn't be happier. So go here to see the virals that captured the inattention of the masses in 2008.

Paddy Cake

Here's a little video of my nephew. Apparently he's not a fan of baked goods.

Bestill My Heart

Seriously, have you seen a cuter child?
Here are some more.

I Take My Proroguies Hot

First of all, may I just say - all of this political unrest is exactly what Canada needed. 

I've said before, Canadian politics are boring and people don't vote because they aren't interested. Well looky here folks! Now everyone is talking about it. I haven't heard anything about Barack in a week and it's so nice! It means our own situation is finally a bigger news story!

And if you don't go vote in our next election, so help me! 

Please forgive the following post, I need to get this out of my head...

pro·rogue  (pr-rg)

tr.v. pro·rogued, pro·rogu·ing, pro·rogues

1. To discontinue a session of (a parliament, for example). 

2. To postpone; defer.

So we finally got our answer. The Governer General has decided to grant Prime Minister Stephen Harper his request of proroguing parliament. This will pause parliament until the end of January when they will come back to the House of Commons to pass or not pass the federal budget. A budget, as Stephen Harper said, that will be put together with the least amount of time as any budget ever. 

My opinion? Well thanks for asking!! I for one am glad the prorogue was granted. This will give time to cool off (or heat up), time for the parties to meet and figure out what the heck they're doing. It will also give time for the coalition  to fall apart, and there is evidence of this already. What held them together was the prospect of success and that deadline of possible success is further away. The Liberal-NDP coalition wanted to take power without an election, and that ain't gonna happen now. 

If we have an election in January, Stephane Dion would still be the leader because he's not resigning until May. In the most recent election (just six weeks ago) he ran the worst campaign in recent history and came out with the lowest percentage of the popular vote since confederation. I doubt you'll find many Liberals who would want to go into an election with Dion as leader. And why would Canadians vote for a party who's leadership will be changing in a few months? They haven't chosen a new leader yet, so we'd essentially be going in blind. 

I'm kind of annoyed with the talking point put out by the Liberal/NDP saying that by proroguing parliament Harper is being undemocratic. Him asking the Governor General for proroguement is as democratic as two parties forming a coalition. It is all a part of the Westminster system of parliament, and it was well within the law for him to do so. As many have said, we elect a parliament not a Prime Minister.

I don't think he is unwilling to face the no-confidence vote and risk losing. He's just delaying it. He's not running away, he's calling for a time out. As they keep telling us, we're facing an economic crisis. Creating political instability is not going to help matters. If the coalition had gotten it's way and formed the government without an election we'd have three prime ministers in a very short time frame. 

Everything that's been passed since this minority government has been in power has done so with the support of the Liberals or the NDP. Why didn't they do something then if there are so many problems now?

The government will face a confidence vote after they present the budget and it will remain or fall then. If the coalition is still unhappy we should have an election then. None of this other coalition ruling business.                                                      

And you know what really grinds my gears?!?!?!?!?!

I'm a Maritimer and I can say with confidence that we're used to being disregarded by the rest of the country. And, it's somewhat true, we can vote in the completely opposite way of the rest of the country and it would have virtually no impact (it's exactly what happened in the last election). 

All the characteristics of a recession that Stephane Dion and Jack Layton talked about last night in their television addresses are things that have been happening in this part of Canada for a long time. People have been losing their jobs because of the economy for a long time. Cape Breton is practically empty! Once the rest of the country starts feeling the pinch, that's when it really matters. Forget about us, who've been dealing with it for at least a decade!

Anyway, no one's reading this anymore so I could really say whatever I want. But I can't think of anything so I'll probably go take a nap. Too much politic isn't good for the brain.            

Quelle Surprise

It looks like no one is super in favour of a coalition government. I took some time to read over the editorial columns of newspapers from across the country, and it's pretty predictable.

The Calgary Herald is firmly against it, but that's no surprise. The West is largely conservative blue and as some have said, a coalition government backed by Quebec separatists would make many be-spurred oilmen very unhappy.

On the other hand, The Chronicle Herald is not so very against the idea, and thinks we should give it a go. Again not a surprise, since us Maritimers tend to be a little more Liberal when we vote. We tend to feel alienated easily, but no one really cares since it's Western votes that ultimately determine the outcome (i.e. Atlantic provinces voted strongly in favour of the Liberals, but the Conservatives still "won").

I personally enjoyed The National Post article penned by David Frum (and not just because his mom was an excellent Muppet).

And if you're still paying attention... I don't think it's a good idea. One comment I read said that whoever leads this coalition will never be able to say, "This is the job Canadians elected me to do" - which says a lot about the character of this political game.

The NDP are going to have ministerial portfolios???!? A party that has never held power on the national stage like, ever?? It's ridiculous! And of course the Bloc will get theirs too... if Quebec ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

This is what happens when just over half of us show up at the polls. If we wanted something decisive more of us should have made a decision. I wonder what would happen this time if there was voter turn out like in 1958? I just re-read that article... the similarities are fascinating (maybe it's just me).

Who ever said Canadian politics were boring??

It's Simple

I don't want another election this winter and I don't want a coalition led by a leader that Canada already decided it doesn't want. 

I guess we'll find out who the politicians decide should lead our government next week. My bet is that the Governer General will order another election before a coalition government is put in place, but then who knows? 

Dion to lead Liberal-NDP coalition, Liberals confirm

'Member That Daily Thing?

Yeah, not so much. 

One thing I did learn about this blogging every day attempt is if you don't have anything to say, you shouldn't say anything. It was a solid 8 of 30 day effort, but in the end it was not to be. I just don't have that much to add to the blogosphere :)

It's also hard to get motivated to write for the 2 people who stop by every day looking for Jillian Jiggs Pigs. 

So did you hear that thing about a no-confidence vote in Parliament spurring another election?Like, next week? Please no. Please, please no. Just try to stick it out a liiiiitttle bit longer, mmmk? I don't want a coalition government of the three losingest parties. Canadians already voted, remember? You lost, move on. Give us a break already! 

Who wants election turmoil during economic turmoil? The less rocking-y the boat is, the better.

This week my goal is to form a proper post, since it's been a while. Who knows. 

To the Victor Go the Spoils

I didn't win anything, but I still got the spoils... 

I went to the Christmas at the Forum craft/antique fair, and came away with some delicious perishables. I never invest much in the crafty side of things having just taken 3 car loads of cast-offs to Value Village, I don't want to fill up again. 

Anyway, on to the goods - some fudge, some spreadable dutch gouda, Avon Rouge (red wine) and a couple cupcakes. 

I took this picture as soon as I got home. A good idea since the cupcakes and fudge have already vanished...

When All Else Fails

... dicuss the weather. 

Is it really November? October was cold, but this is weird. I wish I hadn't put away my window fan because it's veritably tropical outside these days. For me it really means one thing - flip flops. It's save to keep my toesies exposed without ridicule, since the thermometre is still in the double digits. 

And to round things off nicely this evening, how about a prank?

Can You Lend Me a Feeling?

This blogging everyday thing is a challenge. Especially for someone whose day usually lasts long past midnight. I'm sure the idea of NaBloPoMo is to post something of substance everyday, but my life isn't that substantial so the well of possiblities is kinda dry.

Maybe I'll really post something tomorrow. Or maybe I'll just complain again. 

Yes I can!

Where were you when...

I was watching TV at work, not a very entertaining story. I'll have to glam it up a bit. 

Having witnessed the racism that runs rampant in the Deep South, it's amazing that he was elected. I lived, however briefly, in a place where white people go to one church, and black people go to another. Where you shopped at very specific Walmarts, depending on your race. The segregation there isn't systemic, like it once was, but still very palpable. 

For me, being a Canadian, that kind of racism is almost unreal. I've seen the movies and read the books, but had not really seen it for myself. I'm sure that if you asked an African-Nova Scotian the same question, they'd have a difference answer, but I can only speak from my own experience. I don't think a lot of Canadians really "get" what living in that kind of cultural environment is like.

When I lived in Alabama I worked with a girl whose grandmother had been a slave and had told her stories about it. That's recent memory for people there, while for us up here it seems distant and disconnected from our modern life. Not so for Southerners. 

All that is just to say that this is a monumental moment (regardless of your political leanings), and I'm very jealous. What do we have in Canada to get as excited about? I'd like to be in the "greatest country in the world", it looks like fun! It's a challenge to feel that glowing pride for your country when all the cool stuff is happening elsewhere, everything seems to pale in comparison. Where is our Oprah? 

I Give Up

So I'm a bit of a sucker for major world events. As much as I'd like to continue to casually ignore the american election, it's impossible, and it has impossibly sucked me in. I guess ignoring it for the past two years was a good idea, so I could save all my attention for the day that really counts.

Some thoughts will undoubtedly wander across my mind throughout the day, so maybe I'll add them to this post should I feel so motivated...

- I don't like the villification of the candidates. It's an old, old practice that goes back to the beginning of elections (ostracons, anyone?), but it's unhealthy, unhelpful and should go away. That however, would require the rewiring of the human psyche and that would take some effort. How many other presidential candidates have been labeled the antichrist? How many other candidates have been accused of hypnotising the electorate? There is nothing new under the sun...

- One fear I've heard is that if Obama is elected, then Christian morals will be threatened. Good! Bring it on! Since when has a little opression been a bad thing? Christianity started going downhill when the Roman emporer made it legal. What's the good of being faithful when it's easy? The government hardly has the track record of authentically defending Christian values. Maybe it'll force people to think about their faith instead of blindly accepting what they're told or what they grew up believing. Think! Come, let us reason together.

- I can't believe how differently the networks are covering this election... How you can say either side is unbiased it beyond me. You have to watch it all in order to get a full picture (I won't say accurate, that would be stretching things).

- I have a renewed appreciation for the Canadian electoral process. Not only is it shorter, but the actual physical process of voting makes more sense, is well thought out, and isn't nearly as prone to problems as the American procedure... People were voting using other people's backs... that's ridiculous!

- New word on the hate list: "problematical"

- Just got a facebook message from an Albania group I'm a member of congratulating Barack Obama on getting elected... I guess they are ahead of things there? Who knew?

- Alright, so he's really elected now. I don't care what side of fence you're on, it's still a significant moment and that speech was pretty darn good. I'm interested to see how the next four years play out!

Almost....

So the election will be over tomorrow. How nice for them.

What hurts us Canadians and the democratic process is the decided lack of pop culture around here. If we had late night television and day time talk shows that people actually watched, I think politicians could be more influential. We don't have celebrity endorsements (at least that anyone cares about) or major political gaffs with any air time (or any real comedians to perpetuate the joke). The political pop culture that is currently inflating the ratings of shows like Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show doesn't exist in Canada.

How can Canadian politics thrive in the current cultural climate?

Squeeze

So my little sick nephew is here for a sleep over, and he's asleep about 4 feet away from me. You don't realize the difference and hour makes when it comes to daylight savings until you're around a baby. 

For those of you following along at home you may recall me mentionning something about a Fall Cure for the apartment. In lieu of a real post, here's a photo of my progress. That progress was deeply affected by a now mobile 7 month old... but that's ok, he's cute.