Friday, May 27, 2005
Caught My Eye
Every since getting a comment from Top Soil (aka BossMack) I've been facinated with his blog TopMackNigga. I'm appreciative of his parenthesis but want to tell him to forget inserting them and let honkies like me just figure it out. I read A Clockwork Orange the summer I turned 10, and I did ok with it.
Every since getting a comment from Top Soil (aka BossMack) I've been facinated with his blog TopMackNigga. I'm appreciative of his parenthesis but want to tell him to forget inserting them and let honkies like me just figure it out. I read A Clockwork Orange the summer I turned 10, and I did ok with it.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Making My Day
Our Comms. dept. had earlier today published this headline on the Intranet:
"Non-Jewish corporate leaders launch Canada-wide anti-Semitism campaign".
Ummm, yeah. Making those goy corporate leaders look like... Anti-Semites! Later today it was changed to:
"Non-Jewish corporate leaders launch Canada-wide campaign to fight anti-Semitism". Ah, now I gets it!
Considering the dept. took the headline directly from the Ottawa Citizen... I'm a little concerned:
Non-Jewish corporate leaders launch Canada-wide anti-Semitism campaign, by Carrie Kristal-Schroder
Our Comms. dept. had earlier today published this headline on the Intranet:
"Non-Jewish corporate leaders launch Canada-wide anti-Semitism campaign".
Ummm, yeah. Making those goy corporate leaders look like... Anti-Semites! Later today it was changed to:
"Non-Jewish corporate leaders launch Canada-wide campaign to fight anti-Semitism". Ah, now I gets it!
Considering the dept. took the headline directly from the Ottawa Citizen... I'm a little concerned:
Non-Jewish corporate leaders launch Canada-wide anti-Semitism campaign, by Carrie Kristal-Schroder
Robert Pickton and the Garbage People
I'd always wondered about the disappearance of over 60 women from Vancouver's downtown eastside. I heard about it through the media for years before anything happened, that is, before "authorities" appeared to be taking it seriously. I saw the photographic documentary "Heroines".
I think prosecutors or police (or whoever it is) did nothing for so long because they considered the women, as the serial killer did, to be Garbage People. I am positive that authorities thought like this: the women live like animals, have sex for money, take drugs, and so they aren't worth it. The women disappear and could be dead for any number of reasons and nobody cares about them because they live risky lives and have habits that might bring about their demise anyway... they aren't important. Even though Pickton is charged with 27 murders, the rumours are that there's evidence of 60+ victims DNA found on his property.
What I want is to know what happened and why. Why did he take them to his farm? Why did he kill them? How did he kill them? And once we know that, I'd like to know how the Vancouver police let this happen. If 2 or 3 downtown eastside drug user / prostitutes are missing, it looks like a pattern to me. If 60+ are missing it looks like gross negligence.
I'd always wondered about the disappearance of over 60 women from Vancouver's downtown eastside. I heard about it through the media for years before anything happened, that is, before "authorities" appeared to be taking it seriously. I saw the photographic documentary "Heroines".
I think prosecutors or police (or whoever it is) did nothing for so long because they considered the women, as the serial killer did, to be Garbage People. I am positive that authorities thought like this: the women live like animals, have sex for money, take drugs, and so they aren't worth it. The women disappear and could be dead for any number of reasons and nobody cares about them because they live risky lives and have habits that might bring about their demise anyway... they aren't important. Even though Pickton is charged with 27 murders, the rumours are that there's evidence of 60+ victims DNA found on his property.
What I want is to know what happened and why. Why did he take them to his farm? Why did he kill them? How did he kill them? And once we know that, I'd like to know how the Vancouver police let this happen. If 2 or 3 downtown eastside drug user / prostitutes are missing, it looks like a pattern to me. If 60+ are missing it looks like gross negligence.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Straight Outta Lawrence Park
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Attended a War, Struck Back, Returned, was Menaced, Attacked, and then Got Some Revenge
In reference to the May 24 Victoria Day weekend, I had a giant chore list which all got completed except plans with my brother fell through because he forgot he was supposed to meet us for a movie on Monday and then eat dinner with me while Nick went to his softball game.
I did a lot of stuff in my garden including bought all the things I wanted to plant. I am focusing more on perennials this year... I also bought 7 bags of soil and a "Garden Claw" at The Tire. I turned all my soil in about half an hour which is surely some kind of record. Some of the beds are like cement. The Garden Claw is awesome. I'm keeping an old school garden journal because I keep forgetting what I've planted bulb-wise and then I plant overtop unknowingly. Altogether I spent $200 and 4 hours. I love gardening.
I got my hair done Friday night and was so shattered I could barely manage to walk the dog and go to bed. Why am I always so knackered on Friday nights? How can people go out on Friday? I was falling asleep in the tub.
Sat. I got up early with visions of everything being picked-over at the garden centre (it wasn't). Bought everything at one place which is something I don't normally do but this year I just don't care about spreading the custom around. There was excellent selection and pricing at my local Loblaws garden centre. Went to CDN Tire. Did many other car-type chores and some visiting. Came home and continued choring all afternoon. Then had a lie down because we had a party on Sat. night. It was fun, lots of loud people, drinking, food and board games.
On Sunday I totally forget what happened. I think I did all the weeding on Sat. and the planting on Sun. We had a bbq with some friends who just got home from 3 weeks in Greece (their honeymoon).
On Mon. I spread the soil. We also took the doggie for a long walk behind the brickworks (where on earth does it come out? It's like a vast forest with no end in the middle of the city). Then went to Star Wars, version the last. It was good, but I won't be seeing it twice.
Something funny happened at the movie though. Actually, not that funny except when you're blatently laughing at someone else's misfortune. I was so hungry in the movie I asked Nick to get us some hotdogs. I wouldn't have only he'd already seen the movie. Giving me an annoyed look he stomped out of the theatre to the snack bar. About 5 minutes later he came back empty-handed. As he lowered himself into his seat I think his ass caught the edge of his drink and the effect was he sat on his large blue Kool-Aid slushie and it went all over his ass and shoes and the floor. Then he told me that the hotdogs wouldn't be ready for a half an hour, and he would not be going to get me one later. All through the rest of Star Wars, whilst younglings were slaughtered, etc., I was shaking with laughter.
In reference to the May 24 Victoria Day weekend, I had a giant chore list which all got completed except plans with my brother fell through because he forgot he was supposed to meet us for a movie on Monday and then eat dinner with me while Nick went to his softball game.
I did a lot of stuff in my garden including bought all the things I wanted to plant. I am focusing more on perennials this year... I also bought 7 bags of soil and a "Garden Claw" at The Tire. I turned all my soil in about half an hour which is surely some kind of record. Some of the beds are like cement. The Garden Claw is awesome. I'm keeping an old school garden journal because I keep forgetting what I've planted bulb-wise and then I plant overtop unknowingly. Altogether I spent $200 and 4 hours. I love gardening.
I got my hair done Friday night and was so shattered I could barely manage to walk the dog and go to bed. Why am I always so knackered on Friday nights? How can people go out on Friday? I was falling asleep in the tub.
Sat. I got up early with visions of everything being picked-over at the garden centre (it wasn't). Bought everything at one place which is something I don't normally do but this year I just don't care about spreading the custom around. There was excellent selection and pricing at my local Loblaws garden centre. Went to CDN Tire. Did many other car-type chores and some visiting. Came home and continued choring all afternoon. Then had a lie down because we had a party on Sat. night. It was fun, lots of loud people, drinking, food and board games.
On Sunday I totally forget what happened. I think I did all the weeding on Sat. and the planting on Sun. We had a bbq with some friends who just got home from 3 weeks in Greece (their honeymoon).
On Mon. I spread the soil. We also took the doggie for a long walk behind the brickworks (where on earth does it come out? It's like a vast forest with no end in the middle of the city). Then went to Star Wars, version the last. It was good, but I won't be seeing it twice.
Something funny happened at the movie though. Actually, not that funny except when you're blatently laughing at someone else's misfortune. I was so hungry in the movie I asked Nick to get us some hotdogs. I wouldn't have only he'd already seen the movie. Giving me an annoyed look he stomped out of the theatre to the snack bar. About 5 minutes later he came back empty-handed. As he lowered himself into his seat I think his ass caught the edge of his drink and the effect was he sat on his large blue Kool-Aid slushie and it went all over his ass and shoes and the floor. Then he told me that the hotdogs wouldn't be ready for a half an hour, and he would not be going to get me one later. All through the rest of Star Wars, whilst younglings were slaughtered, etc., I was shaking with laughter.
Friday, May 20, 2005
Moments From My Life Via Star Wars
Until Star Wars my favourite movie was American Graffiti. To me it was just a coincidence that George Lucas directed both.
I first saw Star Wars at a sleepover party in grade 5. It was pouring rain outside. The birthday girl's name was Leslie Hinder. I remember misbehaving at the party (during the sleepover part), and the mother speaking to me sternly because I was keeping everyone up. Uncharacteristically, I was the last person to fall asleep (anyone who knows me now knows I have the sleeping habits of an elderly person and I enjoy early bird dinner buffets at 4pm). Second time I saw Star Wars was at the same theatre but this time with my dad, who hated going to the movies and hated line ups. I somehow talked him into taking me, assuring him he'd love it. As it turned out we lined up in the rain to see it, and he did love it. He loved Superman too (which we saw after another grumpy lineup in the rain).
Around this time I wasn't too interested in other kids' Star Wars toys. Some male cousins became instantly boring to me when they showed me their droid action figures. Who cares about the one that looks like a box with feet?
I don't remember first seeing Empire. However, I do have a great memory of seeing a Star Wars / Empire Strikes Back double feature at the University theatre (long gone, now a Restoration Hardware or a Pottery Barn or some damn thing). I was about 12 or 13, giggling in the front row with my best friend Vanessa. The theatre was about 60% empty. We were the only females in attendance. I remember having to pee so badly and barely being able to hold on til intermission. I didn't want to miss a moment and yet I kept sucking back the orange pop.
Around this time I couldn't figure out why all the little boys I knew loved Boba Fett so much. Am I the only person surprised at this character's popularity?
I don't remember first seeing Return of the Jedi. I remember being at summer camp before it was released. I was on a canoe trip and one of the trip leaders was talking about the film coming out and how the title had been changed from "Revenge" to "Return" because, she said, George Lucas thought "Revenge" sounded too harsh. I remember it was a hot sunny day in Muskoka and we were paddling... somewhere... it was the middle of the trip and everyone smelled of BO and smoke and I was dying for a swim. After seeing the film I recall liking the scenes with the speeder sled things in the forest. Didn't feel strongly about Ewoks one way or the other. I was confident that cute little space teddies could exist on a forest moon, and thus they didn't bug me inordinately.
Around that time my favourite movies were Animal House, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Taxi Driver and Apolocalypse Now. But secretly I also loved Grease and if pressured would admit to being a huge Star Wars fan, although it (and a lot of my other favourite movies) seemed "guyish" to me at the time.
I was married during the re-release of the original films and the advent of Episodes 1 and 2 (4, 5 whatever.. See? I am starting not to care so much). Don't have any outstanding memories. Didn't go crazy lining up or dressing up for them, but recall mild enjoyment when watching them, and agree with everyone else that the acting or possibly direction is somewhat bad. I guess somewhere in there I went from being a phreak to a fan to... I don't know, someone who knows things but doesn't really classify themselves as a fan.
And now, the final film is here. My husband scored sneak preview tickets days ago and was thrilled when he got to see the film before a lot of other people. He loved it, by the way. I will get around to seeing it someday soon. But there are many people out there for whom this is a big part of their lives:
Folks who line up
Folks who dress up
However, not me.
Until Star Wars my favourite movie was American Graffiti. To me it was just a coincidence that George Lucas directed both.
I first saw Star Wars at a sleepover party in grade 5. It was pouring rain outside. The birthday girl's name was Leslie Hinder. I remember misbehaving at the party (during the sleepover part), and the mother speaking to me sternly because I was keeping everyone up. Uncharacteristically, I was the last person to fall asleep (anyone who knows me now knows I have the sleeping habits of an elderly person and I enjoy early bird dinner buffets at 4pm). Second time I saw Star Wars was at the same theatre but this time with my dad, who hated going to the movies and hated line ups. I somehow talked him into taking me, assuring him he'd love it. As it turned out we lined up in the rain to see it, and he did love it. He loved Superman too (which we saw after another grumpy lineup in the rain).
Around this time I wasn't too interested in other kids' Star Wars toys. Some male cousins became instantly boring to me when they showed me their droid action figures. Who cares about the one that looks like a box with feet?
I don't remember first seeing Empire. However, I do have a great memory of seeing a Star Wars / Empire Strikes Back double feature at the University theatre (long gone, now a Restoration Hardware or a Pottery Barn or some damn thing). I was about 12 or 13, giggling in the front row with my best friend Vanessa. The theatre was about 60% empty. We were the only females in attendance. I remember having to pee so badly and barely being able to hold on til intermission. I didn't want to miss a moment and yet I kept sucking back the orange pop.
Around this time I couldn't figure out why all the little boys I knew loved Boba Fett so much. Am I the only person surprised at this character's popularity?
I don't remember first seeing Return of the Jedi. I remember being at summer camp before it was released. I was on a canoe trip and one of the trip leaders was talking about the film coming out and how the title had been changed from "Revenge" to "Return" because, she said, George Lucas thought "Revenge" sounded too harsh. I remember it was a hot sunny day in Muskoka and we were paddling... somewhere... it was the middle of the trip and everyone smelled of BO and smoke and I was dying for a swim. After seeing the film I recall liking the scenes with the speeder sled things in the forest. Didn't feel strongly about Ewoks one way or the other. I was confident that cute little space teddies could exist on a forest moon, and thus they didn't bug me inordinately.
Around that time my favourite movies were Animal House, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Taxi Driver and Apolocalypse Now. But secretly I also loved Grease and if pressured would admit to being a huge Star Wars fan, although it (and a lot of my other favourite movies) seemed "guyish" to me at the time.
I was married during the re-release of the original films and the advent of Episodes 1 and 2 (4, 5 whatever.. See? I am starting not to care so much). Don't have any outstanding memories. Didn't go crazy lining up or dressing up for them, but recall mild enjoyment when watching them, and agree with everyone else that the acting or possibly direction is somewhat bad. I guess somewhere in there I went from being a phreak to a fan to... I don't know, someone who knows things but doesn't really classify themselves as a fan.
And now, the final film is here. My husband scored sneak preview tickets days ago and was thrilled when he got to see the film before a lot of other people. He loved it, by the way. I will get around to seeing it someday soon. But there are many people out there for whom this is a big part of their lives:
Folks who line up
Folks who dress up
However, not me.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Graduated 14 Years Ago Today
My friend Jamie writes:
As I sit at my desk, I peered up at the Diploma that sits on my office wall to notice that we all graduated on this day, May 16th, 1991. Happy 14th anniversary. Hope all are well. Mary Beth, behave.
And I reply:
I can't paste in a picture of Gerry Byrne just now, so I'll simply say, congratulations to all on making it this far through the journey known as adulthood. Time is flying... We got careers and gained and lost some partners, some weight, some hair (lost: head, gained: ear and nose), had some kids, got some mortgages, some dogs, some minivans, etc. I was cleaning out my office on the weekend and came across my journals from Dal. Many pages devoted to my love for Dave Mullen. Notes passed in classes from Shelagh in her tiny hobbit handwriting (she quotes the book of Job in one of them!!!). And the funniest thing I found was a 3 page love letter from Eoin Finn. What the hell??? I had forgotten about that little episode in first year. Uncharacteristic for me - I never did sleep with him. Sometimes you find your boundaries and I guess he was mine. Maybe it was the stench. Anyway, hope you smile today and remember those crazy days at Dalhousie. Betty
My friend Jamie writes:
As I sit at my desk, I peered up at the Diploma that sits on my office wall to notice that we all graduated on this day, May 16th, 1991. Happy 14th anniversary. Hope all are well. Mary Beth, behave.
And I reply:
I can't paste in a picture of Gerry Byrne just now, so I'll simply say, congratulations to all on making it this far through the journey known as adulthood. Time is flying... We got careers and gained and lost some partners, some weight, some hair (lost: head, gained: ear and nose), had some kids, got some mortgages, some dogs, some minivans, etc. I was cleaning out my office on the weekend and came across my journals from Dal. Many pages devoted to my love for Dave Mullen. Notes passed in classes from Shelagh in her tiny hobbit handwriting (she quotes the book of Job in one of them!!!). And the funniest thing I found was a 3 page love letter from Eoin Finn. What the hell??? I had forgotten about that little episode in first year. Uncharacteristic for me - I never did sleep with him. Sometimes you find your boundaries and I guess he was mine. Maybe it was the stench. Anyway, hope you smile today and remember those crazy days at Dalhousie. Betty
Thursday, May 12, 2005
The Amazing Race and the Power of Prayer & Panhandling
The Star rightly asks some good questions. Of course I was pleased Uchenna and Joyce won, especially since they seemed like the most well-adjusted couple and she did shave her head! But the times in the race where contestants must wait for something to open and then everyone catches up... it's getting on my nerves.
The Star rightly asks some good questions. Of course I was pleased Uchenna and Joyce won, especially since they seemed like the most well-adjusted couple and she did shave her head! But the times in the race where contestants must wait for something to open and then everyone catches up... it's getting on my nerves.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Back From Florida
I had another dream vacation on Sanibel Island. I loved every minute of it. We did all our usual things and acted as we always do - slow and quiet and in relaxation mode. We did something new this time - we finally drove into Naples and walked around the shopping areas. It's very nice but I wore the wrong shoes and after a couple of hours was suffering from blisters. We still didn't make it to Target or the dog races.
Dolphins visited us everyday and Ginny saw a ray flip out of the water.
We drank a lot of beer, wine and mojitos, but only a moderate amount of vodka. We only smoked about 4 packs of Marlboro Ultra Lights (as opposed to the usual carton). We ate a lot of Mrs. Renfro's green salsa. We brought a lot of sand into the condo. I slept a lot. I brought my own pillow this time and had a much better experience falling asleep and staying asleep (the pillows at the condo are very hard). The sleeping pills prescription though was a bust. Imovane made everything I ate have a funny taste, so I stopped taking it.
I burned a bit on the second day but was ok after that. I bought a sexy bathing suit. And a bunch of stuff for a scrapbook. I can't believe I'm going to be scrapbooking. I can't believe there's a verb "to scrapbook".
Oh and on the way home through the airport in Atlanta I ate at Krystal. I had a Cheese Krystal. I think it cost 85 cents.
I had another dream vacation on Sanibel Island. I loved every minute of it. We did all our usual things and acted as we always do - slow and quiet and in relaxation mode. We did something new this time - we finally drove into Naples and walked around the shopping areas. It's very nice but I wore the wrong shoes and after a couple of hours was suffering from blisters. We still didn't make it to Target or the dog races.
Dolphins visited us everyday and Ginny saw a ray flip out of the water.
We drank a lot of beer, wine and mojitos, but only a moderate amount of vodka. We only smoked about 4 packs of Marlboro Ultra Lights (as opposed to the usual carton). We ate a lot of Mrs. Renfro's green salsa. We brought a lot of sand into the condo. I slept a lot. I brought my own pillow this time and had a much better experience falling asleep and staying asleep (the pillows at the condo are very hard). The sleeping pills prescription though was a bust. Imovane made everything I ate have a funny taste, so I stopped taking it.
I burned a bit on the second day but was ok after that. I bought a sexy bathing suit. And a bunch of stuff for a scrapbook. I can't believe I'm going to be scrapbooking. I can't believe there's a verb "to scrapbook".
Oh and on the way home through the airport in Atlanta I ate at Krystal. I had a Cheese Krystal. I think it cost 85 cents.
