There is something about people hugging each other that always makes me feel great. It is my favourite part of going to the airport! Hug someone you know (or don't know) today. *smile*
Watch this: FREE HUGS
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Saturday, September 23, 2006
A Sea of Red
The debate continues. Should Canada be in Afghanistan? Our Prime Minister says yes. The Afghan President says yes. The 2,500 Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan are doing their duty, whether they believe in the war or not. Many Canadians hate the idea of this war and our role in it. Rosie DiManno said it best today, in The Toronto Star:
This shouldn't be about Canadians looking inwards; it should be about Canadians looking outwards, as a citizen state of the world, with values and obligations and a richness of spirit — all the finest of qualities that our soldiers embody.
And this, yesterday:
This country has a historical romance with peacekeeping. But peacekeeping is a hollow concept without fighting meat on the bone. Facts on the ground have changed and development has been compromised as a result. But there's no way, now, to jump from here to there without continuing the often perilous work of pacifying Afghanistan's most volatile areas. Building local institutions, training police, providing development assistance — none of this good and noble work can continue in the southern provinces if NATO flees from the challenges of combat.
This country gave its word. That used to mean something to Canadians.
Forget on which side of the fence you're currently sitting. Please support the troops!
You can leave a message here.
You can buy a pin, hat, tshirt or bumper sticker here.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
I Love A Parade!
On Sunday, September 17, 2006, the public is invited to join a ceremony honouring Canada’s military veterans for the sacrifices they have made, and continue to make, to protect our peace and freedom.
The ceremony will include one of the largest military parades in Toronto since the Second World War, including thousands of men and women of the Canadian Forces, cadets, veterans, bands and mounted units. The parade will begin at Fort York Armoury at 12:00 noon and proceed up Fleet Street, east on Front Street and north on University Avenue.
The march past will begin at Queen's Park at 2 p.m. and be immediately followed by the unveiling of the historic Veterans' Memorial.
For more pics, go to my Webshots Album here.
Toronto's Name
A recent comment on another blog caused me to do some research about Toronto's name.
From Wikipedia:
From Wikipedia:
'Toronto' means 'place where trees stand in the water'. It is an Iroquois name referring to what is now Lake Simcoe (known as Lake Toronto at the time) to the north, where Huron Indians planted tree saplings to corral fish. The portage between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron that went this route was called the 'Toronto Portage', or 'Passage'.
Toronto has collected a number of nicknames and epithets over the past two hundred years, including Muddy York (18th-19th Century), Hogtown (Victorian), The Big Smoke (1920s), Toronto the Good (1950s), T.O. (for Toronto, Ontario) and more recently T-dot, reflecting an ebonics style of nomenclature. Some Canadians outside Toronto have referred in a derogatory manner to the city as considering itself The Centre of the Universe based on the supposed Toronto-centricity of the "national" media.
Residents often pronounce the name in a slurred manner, including Toronno, Tronno, Tronna, Taranna.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
BITCHOLOGY
When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, they call me a bitch.
When I stand up for those I love, they call me a bitch.
When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts or do things my own way, they call me a bitch.
Being a bitch means I won't compromise what's in my heart. It means I live my life MY way. It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.
When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak against it, I am defined as a bitch.
The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone's maid, or when I act a little selfish. It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I "should" be.
I am outspoken, opinionated and determined I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!
So try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me. You won't succeed.
And if that makes me a bitch, so be it. I embrace the title and am proud to bear it.
Thanks to my friend, Cliff, for sending this to me.
When I stand up for those I love, they call me a bitch.
When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts or do things my own way, they call me a bitch.
Being a bitch means I won't compromise what's in my heart. It means I live my life MY way. It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.
When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak against it, I am defined as a bitch.
The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone's maid, or when I act a little selfish. It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I "should" be.
I am outspoken, opinionated and determined I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!
So try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me. You won't succeed.
And if that makes me a bitch, so be it. I embrace the title and am proud to bear it.
Thanks to my friend, Cliff, for sending this to me.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
WAR! What Is It Good For?
I got two calls from Afghanistan today. My friend "Joe" is over there as part of the Canadian NATO force fighting the Taliban. He didn't call me from the FOB (Forward Operations Base) either. He called me from the field. He sounds so exhausted! They've been "outside the wire" for a month and living under a constant state of alert. Currently they are stationed on one side of dry river bed and the Taliban are on the other. They can see each other. There are rockets firing, bombs dropping and weapons blasting, every day and night.
Of the 120 guys in his company, more than 40 have been injured. Five have been killed. My friend was about 10 feet away from the blast that killed four of his comrads. He told me he was "just lucky". He helped them into body bags and sopped up the blood for others. There's a big hole in the front of their LAV (Light Armoured Vehicle) from when it got hit and a few bullet holes too. There are six guys in his crew and between them, they go through four cases of water a day. The temps are 60C during the day and 40C at night. He hasn't had a shower for a month. This is a guy who loves 30 minute showers, twice a day.
He said a 4 year old Afghani child gave him the him the finger the other day. I told him I blamed the parents. That made him laugh! He's been lifting weights (?) to help deal with the stress but they are all jumpy. The recent deaths and injuries have devastated his company. He says he doesn't have time to grieve and that he'll do it when he comes home. He's knows he's not going to be the same when he returns to Canada but he hopes the military will get him the help he needs.
He assured me that they are not peacekeeping. I assured him that we all know we're in a war now. No one in Canada is operating under the misapprehension that they are simply peacekeeping over there any more. I also told him that the people of Canada support all the troops and that seemed to give him some solace. He wants me to write him letters. They are starting to get mail drops twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. They are also getting special dispensation to use the phone because they have been out in the field for so long. He decided to call me instead of his family or buddies back home because he knows I won't freak out when I hear weapons firing in the background. I waited until I got off the phone before I freaked out.
I told him I had a dream about him last night and he mentioned dreaming about me last week. He said that the country is quite beautiful and the stars are breathtaking at night. He's been sleeping on a ground sheet or in the back of the LAV. He never knew what he was getting into when he quit his civilian job and volunteered for this tour. He wants to shower, longs to sleep in a real bed and eat anything else but rations. He says there were some young guys in his company who became men within their first 72 hours outside the wire. He said he is more afraid of the camel spiders than he is of the Taliban. That made me laugh ...
Of the 120 guys in his company, more than 40 have been injured. Five have been killed. My friend was about 10 feet away from the blast that killed four of his comrads. He told me he was "just lucky". He helped them into body bags and sopped up the blood for others. There's a big hole in the front of their LAV (Light Armoured Vehicle) from when it got hit and a few bullet holes too. There are six guys in his crew and between them, they go through four cases of water a day. The temps are 60C during the day and 40C at night. He hasn't had a shower for a month. This is a guy who loves 30 minute showers, twice a day.
He said a 4 year old Afghani child gave him the him the finger the other day. I told him I blamed the parents. That made him laugh! He's been lifting weights (?) to help deal with the stress but they are all jumpy. The recent deaths and injuries have devastated his company. He says he doesn't have time to grieve and that he'll do it when he comes home. He's knows he's not going to be the same when he returns to Canada but he hopes the military will get him the help he needs.
He assured me that they are not peacekeeping. I assured him that we all know we're in a war now. No one in Canada is operating under the misapprehension that they are simply peacekeeping over there any more. I also told him that the people of Canada support all the troops and that seemed to give him some solace. He wants me to write him letters. They are starting to get mail drops twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. They are also getting special dispensation to use the phone because they have been out in the field for so long. He decided to call me instead of his family or buddies back home because he knows I won't freak out when I hear weapons firing in the background. I waited until I got off the phone before I freaked out.
I told him I had a dream about him last night and he mentioned dreaming about me last week. He said that the country is quite beautiful and the stars are breathtaking at night. He's been sleeping on a ground sheet or in the back of the LAV. He never knew what he was getting into when he quit his civilian job and volunteered for this tour. He wants to shower, longs to sleep in a real bed and eat anything else but rations. He says there were some young guys in his company who became men within their first 72 hours outside the wire. He said he is more afraid of the camel spiders than he is of the Taliban. That made me laugh ...
Saturday, September 09, 2006
We Support Our Troops!
Things in Afghanistan are really heating up, as are things here, politically speaking. Fortunately, public support for our troops to remain in Afghanistan is currently high. A recent poll indicates that support in Quebec has even risen 10%, which is good news considering the "VanDoos" (the 22nd Regiment out of CFB Valcartier are scheduled to deploy in February 2007). At the last day of The Ex, I stopped at the military's exhibit to check out the banners they had set up for civilians to sign, with the intention of sending these banners to the troops. I was overwhelmed with the sight of them and the messages written thereon. What are your thoughts?
"YOU HAVE THE COUNTRY'S SUPPORT -- RETURN SAFELY!!!"
"YOU HAVE THE COUNTRY'S SUPPORT -- RETURN SAFELY!!!"
Friday, September 01, 2006
Favourite Things
Show me a woman who doesn't like shoes and I'll show you ... well ... a man, I guess. But not a gay man, of course. *wink* I promised my friend Sandy some time ago that I would share my "collection" with her.
At one point in my life, I had three pairs of red boots. My first pair went into the garbage because I wore them so much they fell apart and could not be repaired. I bought these boots at an outlet centre in Waterloo for less than $30. They are made by Nine West. I loved the colour of these boots. A girlfriend was "bootsitting" this pair while I was away but I recently got them back from her.
I bought these boots shortly after I moved to Toronto in 1992. Does anyone remember that fabulous boot store on Yonge Street at Gloucester? I think I paid $475 for these boots, which back then was a small fortune but I had to have them. They are Sanchos and made in Spain. They look even better now than the day I bought them. These boots are a true reflection of my personality.
These are the boots I bought in Acapulco almost 8 years ago. I think I paid less than $500 pesos for them. I wore out the soles and just got them totally reconditioned for $40. I love these boots. They remind me of my 40th birthday. My ex-boyfriend has an identical pair only in a MUCH larger size. My friend Jo-Anne never got to wear her identical pair, thanks to Air Canada losing her luggage! :(
I can't remember where I bought these boots but it might have been downtown Toronto at Winners or someplace like that. They were less than $50. They're lightweight since they're made out of nylon. They're very, VERY sexy boots and I remember buying them to impress an old boyfriend. Dumped the guy but never held that against the boots. Story of my life ... haha!
These boots are my latest acquisition and I got them by fluke. My friend Marianna was in Toronto operating a booth at The Clothing Show where I was busy shopping for a friend's birthday gift. She actually bought these boots in Amsterdam a few years ago and they were always a little bit too tight for her. Fortunately, they fit me like a glove! Made in Italy, these Guess boots are made with the softest leather you can possibly imagine. The snow will NEVER touch these boots. Thanks Marianna!
At one point in my life, I had three pairs of red boots. My first pair went into the garbage because I wore them so much they fell apart and could not be repaired. I bought these boots at an outlet centre in Waterloo for less than $30. They are made by Nine West. I loved the colour of these boots. A girlfriend was "bootsitting" this pair while I was away but I recently got them back from her.
I bought these boots shortly after I moved to Toronto in 1992. Does anyone remember that fabulous boot store on Yonge Street at Gloucester? I think I paid $475 for these boots, which back then was a small fortune but I had to have them. They are Sanchos and made in Spain. They look even better now than the day I bought them. These boots are a true reflection of my personality.
These are the boots I bought in Acapulco almost 8 years ago. I think I paid less than $500 pesos for them. I wore out the soles and just got them totally reconditioned for $40. I love these boots. They remind me of my 40th birthday. My ex-boyfriend has an identical pair only in a MUCH larger size. My friend Jo-Anne never got to wear her identical pair, thanks to Air Canada losing her luggage! :(
I can't remember where I bought these boots but it might have been downtown Toronto at Winners or someplace like that. They were less than $50. They're lightweight since they're made out of nylon. They're very, VERY sexy boots and I remember buying them to impress an old boyfriend. Dumped the guy but never held that against the boots. Story of my life ... haha!
These boots are my latest acquisition and I got them by fluke. My friend Marianna was in Toronto operating a booth at The Clothing Show where I was busy shopping for a friend's birthday gift. She actually bought these boots in Amsterdam a few years ago and they were always a little bit too tight for her. Fortunately, they fit me like a glove! Made in Italy, these Guess boots are made with the softest leather you can possibly imagine. The snow will NEVER touch these boots. Thanks Marianna!
Busy Life = Happy Goddess
WOW! I have so much going on in my life right, it's kind of nuts. But I really like it this way. I love being busy. And I plan to be even busier in the near future.
First on the list is a change in residence. I'll be moving back into my condo before the end of September and I have a lot to do before then. I probably should buy some furniture. Right now, I have a bed, a desk, four wine glasses and a box of pots. LOL Fortunately I kept all my linens so I'll be comfortably ensconced in my bed and able dry myself after a shower. I just won't be able to do anything else. OK, that's a slight exaggeration but I need to buy SO MUCH STUFF. Top of the list is an ironing board, dining room table and chairs, some dishes and cutlery. I also want to get the carpets cleaned while the place is empty.
On October 7, 2006, I will have owned this condo for SEVEN YEARS so it is a bit of an anniversary for me. I'm quite excited. It's almost new to me again since I haven't lived there in more than three and a half years. I have to arrange for internet and cable. I want a TV too (winter is coming and there are so many movies I haven't seen) so I've asked my Dad to take me shopping for electronics this weekend. Should be fun!
I've already bought a couch and a chair at The Bay. I kind of went over budget on them but I've decided that I'm old enough to buy something that I WANT as opposed to simply buying something that I can AFFORD. Besides, I was able to defer paying for a year so that will help me to budget for everything else. The couch is very contemporary and versatile. It will also double as a single bed for overnight guests. Much trendier than a sofa bed and actually less cumbersome.
Next on the list is brain development. I've always liked taking courses. Even in Mexico, I took Spanish lessons. Although, Scott and I spent more time explaining the many English uses for the word "fuck" to Lupe, our Mexican tutor ... *giggle*. I thought about more Spanish lessons here in Toronto but I found something EVEN BETTER! I discovered that I can actually get an "Editing Certificate" from my local community college. I'm so excited! I start class on Tuesday. Guess what the first compulsory course is? "Essential Grammar"!!! If I pass (like there's any doubt), I will be absolutely, positively, UNSTOPPABLE. I can't wait to begin.
The last piece of the full and happy life of a Goddess is volunteer work. I got a taste for it in Vallarta and I want to do more. So I jumped online (remember, Google is your friend!) and I typed in "Toronto + volunteer". I found the Volunteer Centre for Toronto where I was able to search for a volunteer position that suited my availability and administrative bent. I found the perfect thing! I am going to volunteer, every second Saturday afternoon at The Bata Shoe Museum. Imagine the odds of a self-proclaimed shoe-aholic finding such a position?
Life is good.
First on the list is a change in residence. I'll be moving back into my condo before the end of September and I have a lot to do before then. I probably should buy some furniture. Right now, I have a bed, a desk, four wine glasses and a box of pots. LOL Fortunately I kept all my linens so I'll be comfortably ensconced in my bed and able dry myself after a shower. I just won't be able to do anything else. OK, that's a slight exaggeration but I need to buy SO MUCH STUFF. Top of the list is an ironing board, dining room table and chairs, some dishes and cutlery. I also want to get the carpets cleaned while the place is empty.
On October 7, 2006, I will have owned this condo for SEVEN YEARS so it is a bit of an anniversary for me. I'm quite excited. It's almost new to me again since I haven't lived there in more than three and a half years. I have to arrange for internet and cable. I want a TV too (winter is coming and there are so many movies I haven't seen) so I've asked my Dad to take me shopping for electronics this weekend. Should be fun!
I've already bought a couch and a chair at The Bay. I kind of went over budget on them but I've decided that I'm old enough to buy something that I WANT as opposed to simply buying something that I can AFFORD. Besides, I was able to defer paying for a year so that will help me to budget for everything else. The couch is very contemporary and versatile. It will also double as a single bed for overnight guests. Much trendier than a sofa bed and actually less cumbersome.
Next on the list is brain development. I've always liked taking courses. Even in Mexico, I took Spanish lessons. Although, Scott and I spent more time explaining the many English uses for the word "fuck" to Lupe, our Mexican tutor ... *giggle*. I thought about more Spanish lessons here in Toronto but I found something EVEN BETTER! I discovered that I can actually get an "Editing Certificate" from my local community college. I'm so excited! I start class on Tuesday. Guess what the first compulsory course is? "Essential Grammar"!!! If I pass (like there's any doubt), I will be absolutely, positively, UNSTOPPABLE. I can't wait to begin.
The last piece of the full and happy life of a Goddess is volunteer work. I got a taste for it in Vallarta and I want to do more. So I jumped online (remember, Google is your friend!) and I typed in "Toronto + volunteer". I found the Volunteer Centre for Toronto where I was able to search for a volunteer position that suited my availability and administrative bent. I found the perfect thing! I am going to volunteer, every second Saturday afternoon at The Bata Shoe Museum. Imagine the odds of a self-proclaimed shoe-aholic finding such a position?
Life is good.
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