Frappacrappatango

The Defend Our Coast rally was pretty cool...loved seeing ppl bringing their kids and it was more organized than the last one...there was not any mishmash of issues sandwiched in to the proceedings...I don't care for turning up to an event about tankers and pipelines and having it laced with other unrelated issues – it is a real turn off for me. I have a real dislike for poor public speakers – I understand the nerve factor and the fact that we are not all blessed with outstanding public speaking skills...I think it really takes away from a cause though – that's just me being an asshole. I will admit 3 crappy speakers are completely erased by a good one though which is always nice. There were a few really great people speaking who articulated the issues and solutions well. Kudos to you! Anyone brave enough to get on that stage with the news cameras rolling and 3000+ ppl staring at you...way to have some balls...but please go to toastmasters now.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUSIN-IN-LAW DAVID!

Training is getting real now yo! The dreaded role playing is underway....and it is a necessary evil...I am absolutely horrified of the prospect of call taking...I assume that after the training is complete in mid-January 2013 we will all be prepared enough that the horror will subside. Interestingly....I am the only person there who is not in midst of pursuing a masters degree-apparently this training is counseling practicum level stuff. One woman said 4 yrs of a Psych BA and there has not been 1 mention of any of the material we are covering right now so that is pretty interesting...it is some intense business and the language required to handle these situations is going to be really fun for this casual-assed verbal nightmare of a gal...really looking fwd to it though.

ARGO: great flick...I did fall asleep briefly but that was not b/c the movie was boring at all...I just have narcolepsy...I have no idea how long I was asleep for but I managed to piece together what was going on once I woke up. I really liked the story – no idea how skewed the portrayal of actual events is in it but...the overall gist of it is cool knowing that something of that nature was pulled off! Very enjoyable political drama!

Little Ms AJC got extended until the end of Nov @ work...WOOHOO! This is fantastic...a bunch more pay chqs to squirrel away for a trip next year and it allows her to coast through the month that she will be going to California for 10 days to visit some family...she will have a few days of work once she is home then chill for 5 days waiting to get her wisdom teeth yanked then have some stress free recovery time then get back at getting a seasonal job to carry her through Dec etc. Great news!

Farewell to Assholes

Another rally...and such a great one too (Anti-Enbridge Pipeline Rally).  I made a vow that if anyone brought up chem trails while smoking a cigarette I was leaving (this happened at the last rally I attended for the Anti-HST Campaign)...but luckily this was a well organized event – all the speakers were decent and on topic. The turnout was great, exceeding my expectations and the signs were – as always – entertaining and to the point.

I was, however, disappointed that of all the people I know in Victoria 3 were there...one being my kid. It astounds me that an issue like this does not lure people out of their living rooms. I am about as hermit-like as one can be and really detest crowds and anything social but it wouldn’t occur to me to not go. Just saying you are going to go on Facebook or “liking” a cause does not make you a genuine eco-warrior. It pisses me off that all people seem to care about is the latest iPad...or whatever craze is the flavour of the week...while there is some serious shit going on in our province and being passive is what allows this crap to continue.

I feel as clueless and helpless as I think most people do in regards to ‘what to do’ about environmental issues and the like...and also feeling insignificant...like really...was my being at that rally going to change ANYTHING in the world yesterday? No...But collectively yes. If everyone felt it was no use and stayed home no one would have shown up...the fact that there were well over 1000 ppl at this event with signs, speaking and marching in solidarity...that IS something. I cannot articulate the collective spirit one feels at these events – it changes something inside you if you are open to it. Will it ultimately change the outcome? – I do not know but it beats the shit out of sitting at home playing with your iPad instead of standing up and loudly proclaiming a short term money grab is not a wise investment for this province with the stakes so very high. 

I am sure it is rather evident that apathy or plain old ignorance is my pet peeve of the day...I am glad – however – that I knew 3 ppl who bothered...my kid being one of them and of course the trusty Lesbos Amanda & Erin. Well played ladies.

Aside from that I kept pretty busy this weekend...hung with Alex a bit and then had a great afternoon with Kate and her 7 yr old son Ethan. He is a hoot...like his mama. We hit a few stores, had a few laughs, ate some good food...perfect day out really. I met Kate when I was a little kid. My step-dad was her dad’s BFF in the 70/80’s. Our parents would get together for visits, usually in Regina @ Kate’s house. I remember thinking her house was SO clean and everything seemed so new...her bedroom was particularly girly and perfect (I am sure she is laughing reading this) where as mine was plastered with posters and FAR from girly...I have had the odd ‘girly’ moment...I recall once being desperate to wear my mother’s heels as a teen...I would put them on and walk around the house and after about 5 mins would kick them off wondering how the hell anyone was supposed to have a life wearing the damn things. I have always felt like a total fraud while attempting girliness...which is why it is not something that ever caught on with me. I have a few theories about this but...I don’t feel like venturing such a topic when I am already feeling rather MEH.

Funniest thing alive is how my kid is about as girly as a girl can be as far as appearances go...man – if I looked like her at her age I cannot imagine the shit I would have gotten into...seriously. Yay for being awkward and plain! WOOOOHOOO!

Last night I got into a debate with a moron on FB  who I have been wanting to delete for some time now...I am not even sure why I had him added to my FB list to start with...momentary lapse of reason I suppose. Anyway - the conversation - while brief & with witnesses (CRINGE!) - was a good reminder as to why I did not talk to the twat for 10+ years. A standing pillar of evidence that some people never do change...they are what they are at the core - good or bad - and never evolve into anything beyond that. A timely delete/block on FB really is as satisfying as punching someone in the face...well almost anyway.

I am drinking tea without milk this morning...how fucking annoying...I have never drank my tea without milk in all my life...but I didn't realize there was no milk until I had already invested my favorite creamed honey into the tea so I cannot waste all the bees hard work...so I am drinking it...JEN CONKY: BEE WARRIOR.

Today is the 1st day of my personal anti nail biting campaign...I figure if I say it out loud it will help me stick to it...I WILL NOT BITE MY NAILS GAWD DAMMIT...OCD BE GONE! I have done it before for years at a time...so I just need to get myself past the 1st stage...once they grow and are symmetrical I am far less likely to mess with them.

Personal struggles of even the smallest nature are a consuming deed.