blatherings

blatherings
the shallow side

what a way to waste time at work

1) What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?  Kick boxing.   

2) Did you keep your New Years resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I can’t recall if I made resolutions last year.  I want to make positive resolutions – I don’t like the “stop doing this or that” kind that never get followed anyway.  I want to work more diligently on my thesis and sit up straighter.fficeffice" />



3) Did someone close to you give birth? My brother’s latest had a baby in Dec of 2004, and a friend is having a baby next month, but 2005 was baby free.

4) Did anyone close to you die? No.

5) What countries did you visit? I didn’t leave ffice:smarttags" />Edmonton in 2005.  After the trip to Regina last Christmas, staying close to home seemed like a fine idea.

6) What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? More confidence in myself. A finished thesis would also be nice.

7) What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? I remember events more than dates. Arjun running into my arms with a smile on his face, S lunging for Bella, putting out fait accomplit.

8) What was your biggest achievement of the year? Event-wise - fait accomplit; life changing-wise – kick boxing and going to the gym.

9) What was your biggest failure? The time I spent focusing on my flaws.

10) Did you suffer illness or injury? Other than bruises and migraines, no.

11) What was the best thing you bought? Ummmmm…. The only big purchase was the tv/dvd player which is pretty sweet. 

12) Whose behavior merited celebration? Jim teaching me to work out.

13) Whose behavior made you appalled? The woman with call display who returned my call with a brusk “someone from this number called here” and wouldn’t identify herself.

14) Where did most of your money go? Tuition.

15) What did you get really, really, really excited about? Going to watch the King of the Cage match. 

16) What song will always remind you of 2005? I really can’t say.  I started listening to Stars, Metric, New Pornographers… But I also went into a HUGE Talking Heads kick, so I think maybe that…

17) Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or hardened? Happier.

ii. Thinner or fatter? Thinner.  And stronger.

iii. Richer or poorer? Richer.  I discovered this thing called “saving” and it appears to work.  Crazy.

18) What do you wish you'd done more of? Focused on my own needs instead of trying to help other people.  Not only did I not help anyone, I screwed myself.

19) What do you wish you'd done less of? Moping.

20) How will you be spending Christmas? With S’s family, playing crib.

21) Did you fall in love in 2005? I went into the year in love, and I still am.

22) Any one-night stands? Alas, no.

23) What was your favorite TV program? Lost.  But then, I only get two channels so I don’t have a lot of options and had to rent Lost.

24) Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No.  I don’t particularly hate anyone, although I have met someone I would be thrilled to never see again.

25) What was the best book you read? Best is too hard… Probably Beebo Brinker

26) What was your greatest musical discovery? Like I said, a fair bit of new music entered the house this year… but I didn’t discover them.  So I’ll pass on this.

27) What did you want and not get? Discipline.  Not like spankings, but self discipline.

28) What did you NOT want and GOT? Pimples.  Maybe if I stop telling people I’m 17 I’ll stop getting pimples.

29) Favorite film of this year? The Jacket

30) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Had lunch with some friends, had too many margaritas.

31) What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Cleaning the house more often.  And shagging S on our big table.

32) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? Argyle tights.

33) What kept you sane? Working out.

34) Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Robbie Williams and Angelina Jolie pre Brad Pitt

35) What political issue stirred you the most? Just one!  I refuse to narrow it down and will continue to be appalled by our “leaders” until such time as they focus on the country/province/city instead of themselves.

36) Who did you miss? Maggie.  C&K are a close second but I'm used to not seeing them.

37) Who was the best new person you met? Although I didn’t meet Jim this year, I had never hung out with him, so I’d like to slot him into this here line.

38) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005: Try.

39) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "We are vain and we are blind/I hate people when they're not polite"
3.1.06 10:24


Holy fuck but my hips are sore

I went for a run last night (where I totally over did it, but was pleased that I could), and then went to yoga this morning after very little sleep.  Napped away the afternoon and then G called and said he’d be happy to try out this yoga class – so I did a second class of it.  And my hips are really, really sore.  This is a 10 day class, so I have class again in the morning with S.  And possibly again in the evening with G.  By the time kickboxing starts up again, I’ll be the most limber girl in the world…
3.1.06 10:32


THE GUEST HOUSE

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
Meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

- Jelaluddin Rumi
(translation by Coleman Barks)
5.1.06 02:57


I’m not strange!

This has been an on-going issue with me.  I don’t think I’m weird.  I don’t think there is anything particularly odd about the things I do.  This may be because I’m used to my eccentricities, it may be because I refuse to see myself objectively.  Whatever.  I’m normal. 


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But, in order to keep K'vitsh happy, here’s my response to her meme.


 


Five weird things about me:


1)      I read new signs out loud. I’ve actually stopped doing this (I just subvocalize now) after a trip to ffice:smarttags" />Calgary with friends who were disturbed by it.  I hadn’t actually realized I was doing it, although I have memories of doing it since childhood.


 


2)      I would rather not have tea if it’s orange pekoe.


 


3)      I’ve wanted tattoos since I was 7.


 


4)      I would rather be barefoot.


 


5)      I love the smell of chlorine.

9.1.06 00:21


Vote!

I was raised in a home where we talked about politics. When Poland had the solidarity marches, I wore a solidarity button - in grade school. I’ve always been able to tell you which party believes what (not so great with international trade issues, but the rest of it, I pretty much get) and trust me, I’ve always voted. And until the last federal election, I’ve always voted NDP when I had the chance.

I live in Edmonton Centre, which is one of the highly watched ridings because Anne McLellan, who keeps getting in, gets in by like 36 votes. And she’s a Liberal in a strongly Conservative province. And I voted for her last election. This feels like an admission of guilt as I write it. I was defensive of it at the time. I wasn’t voting strategically you see, which is what I thought people would say. I just didn’t like the candidate the NDP ran. She was 21 and had no experience. Why should I vote for someone that I don’t believe can adequately represent me, when there is someone I respect?

So let’s talk about voting. I don’t want to vote for a party if I don’t like the people running. Or the person in my riding. If I believe in party A, and they run someone I don’t believe in, I don’t think I’m doing my job voting for them. I think that’s voting strategically - so the party I like gets more votes and therefore more cash. My job as a voter is to research what the candidate believes - but also, what’s their experience? Do I have any reason for thinking they will have their voice heard in Ottawa? Will they be a force for change or the status quo? I don’t vote based on the leadership debates - I already have a good idea what the guys think, they don’t enact these changes alone - they need the help of parliament - and I don’t belong to the party itself or am voting for leadership of the party, which is what I think voting for Layton or Martin is all about.

K’vitsh brought up an interesting issue as she was watching the leadership debates - the only one who really said anything was Duceppe and he has, especially in the English language debates, the least to lose. He can still get away with having believes in issues and not feel the need to be a beige as possible to garner the most votes from the undecided. I hope this election bering about another minority government. And that it falls after a few months. And that this cycle continues for a couple of years until the politicians start to remember they once stood for something OTHER than their own careers. I want to go back to the time of Trudeu who had a vision of Canada, had strong believes and a personality. I think the reason young voters don’t vote is apathy - nothing will change - but the reason for that is that it gets difficult telling the difference between these old white men who all sing the same tune. If politicians believed in more than their own careers, if they didn’t come across as vague and non-confrontational I think more youth would vote if they were given something to vote for.

But, for the sake of it, let’s break it down. Don’t know how to vote? What do all those parties believe? Here you go, mega-briefly.
Do you believe in private health care getting public funds? Do yo think abortion should be restricted? Do you think the war in Iraq is something Canada should support? Do we need to have a referendum on same sex marriage? Should we emulate the American model? Vote Conservative.

Do you believe that we need a strongly funded public health care system? Do yo think that we need to decrease the taxes low income people pay and increase the taxes for big business and the most wealthy? Do you think it’s time to move on from same sex marriage and just say that people are equal? Should public transit and strengthening municipalities get more attention? Vote NDP.

If you think there is a middle way between the NDP and the Tories? The war in Iraq is no good, but the Americans aren’t the ultimate evil? Do you want to decrease taxes for the low income AND for industry so the middle class carry the brunt of the tax load? Are you comfortable with a private health care system acting in tandem with the public one? Then go Liberal.

Do you believe that the environment is the most important issue? That how we look at the environment can change how we look at issues like health care, industry, taxes? Vote for the Green Party.

The Marxist-Leninists also run in Edmonton Centre. If they get in, they will eliminate the electoral system and you won’t have to go thru this process anymore.

There is also an independent running, but I’ve not been able to find any web sites and if you can’t bother to get your message across, you aren’t worth my time. Although if anyone has any links, I’d love to see them.

So, now yo know (kinda) what the parties believe. For me, the issue is tempered by the candidate. We have, in Edm Centre:
- No experience except the military (which to me means the ability to see things in black nd white and take orders) - (C)
And the rest of the candidates are women, so, if you’re interested in getting more wenches on benches this is the riding for you
- Lots of experience, a law prof., and will always be high profile because she’s a Liberal in Alberta.
- A widow. Seriously, every SINGLE time I’ve seen info on this woman, she talks about being a widow. I don’t like people who define themselves based on their marital status. (NDP)
- A smart cookie who wants to eliminate voting. (ML)
12.1.06 01:09


grrr

Mostly, I’m sure this has to do with the fact I haven’t had enough sleep in a month.  But I am so utterly annoyed.  One of the people I work with is annoying.  I try to look at it objectively and there isn’t anything particularly wrong with her or what she does.  But if I heard she’d been eaten by sharks or crushed when a safe fell on her head, I would smile. 

13.1.06 01:06


The first time is always the best

S and I took P’s kids to the movies on Monday. For the record they’re 7, 4 and 2 and we saw Zathura, which wasn’t as good as I’d hoped. But the 2 year old FINALLY said my name. And let me tell you, it was on par with the first time S told me he loved me. Emotionally that is - I don’t think S’s hands were quite as sticky. The older two were perfectly behaved (better than some adults I’ve been to the movies with) and both seemed to enjoy the movie. The youngest was a little too active and vocal for my comfort, but no one complained or shot us nasty looks, so whatever. Just at the end of the movie the 4 year old stood up, waited till the credits started, took my hand and we ran down to the front of the theatre where she danced to the closing credits. The whole event was good, but tiring, and I simply don’t understand how parents (especially those of you with multiple children) do it. I was exhausted. Sure they were well behaved (which I commented on loudly to both them and their parents) but they wanted our attention all the time. It was like being with S when he’s manic, only smaller and times three. Afterward I taught the kids the joy of eatin gpeanut butter from a spoon to their father’s horror before S and I ran off to yoga where I was able to forget the stress of being an auntie.
17.1.06 20:23


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