What, another year has gone by?

I have been wondering about things, things like Darfur and hunger and people that live on the street. I hear stories about poverty and people living without water and power. I think, why do they not get together and create something better for themselves? Why do people insist on waiting for the government? Is it that they do not know any better?

I believe that it is up to us to make our situation better or different. We need to do this on a personal level and a global level. I have friends, and no doubt myself included at times, that have no tolerance for street people. It’s the “pull up your bootstraps” mentality. Although I believe, strongly, in personal accountability I struggle with the idea (and my agreement with it) that it is time for all us to stop being so “self” focused. So where does personal accountability meet asking for help? I think that’s it actually. If you were personally responsible then you would ask for help when you need it. No shame in that. I suppose for the rest of us the challenge is ensuring that help is there when someone asks for it.

For me, this is the year I stop telling myself “I don’t know how”. It’s a destructive action impairing little voice inside me that has prevented me from creating and being what I want to be. For example: Darfur. I wonder what I could do to make a difference. It troubles me that people are being slaughtered while I enjoy my latte (do not confuse this with guilt, I do not feel guilty that I can have a latte I do not think we have to give up our accomplishments or success’s to care for or assist those around us). I would like to help, make a difference stand and be counted in some way. How? Should I go there? How would I do that? What difference would it make to go there? Maybe if we all went there and saw it for ourselves we would all get up and take a stand and make a change, but how?

That’s a large issue; the “I don’t how” voice impacts me in little ways as well. I want to get into doing some educational seminars for dog owners. How do I do that? Where would I get the money? I don’t know how. I would love to create a charity that pays for people to educate themselves. Not in the OSAP (is it still called that) kind of a way. I believe that any education, any course a person wants to take is of value. However, for many of us we simply do not have the funds to pay $400.00 for a baking course at George Brown. Try to getting funding for a baking course. I am pretty sure funding for a course you want to take here and there does not exist. I think it should. Take the course and we will pay for it, or pay for part of it. If someone wants to better themselves I would like to help them out, but how? The Educational Fund Charity has lived only in my thoughts. I have a partial mission statement and have no doubt that getting funds would be the easy part. For me it’s getting past that voice inside me that keeps insisting, “I don’t know how”.

This year, 2007, is the year to look in a different direction. It’s time to leave the Pirate cookies (can I really leave them? I love them and they love me ohhh so much) and get up off the couch. It’s time to believe that I not only know how, but I can. It’s time to take a page out of Wayne’s notebook and persist and create despite the easier route of giving in. In the morning when I want to stay in bed I need to think of my friend Wayne. Wayne is dealing with impairments suffered in a motorcycle accident. Wayne has not once complained to me about his situation. He expresses his frustration but he also shares his determination. The other day he told me about his plans. He has decided to take a new direction; he accepts that he has too. It may be unfair, it may be frustrating, but it is required. A simple fact based on a catastrophic even that occurred through no fault of his own. I draw my inspiration from his determination and no doubt I can gain my own power and strength to create from his. 2007 is going to be the year of knowing how. 2007 is going to be the year of accomplishments and being in service of others. 2007 is the year of knowing and taking action. I challenge you all, and ask you all, to join me.

Hussein Swings - Accountability?

As we all know Saddam was hanged, I believe at 6am Saturday morning. I see no cause for celebration. I have read comments like “it’s George Bush’s turn next” and the obvious that Saddam deserved it. I wondering if he did I wonder about how he was able to commit such crimes. As human beings we simple accept far to much; we remain inactive while horrible crimes against our fellow man occur. We pursue murders in our own towns and cities. I think that that must be easy. Or perhaps the murders are inconvenient to those that are “in charge”. So we take the time to deal with it. Even so it amazes me how easily we allow each other off the hook. In the tiniest ways and in the largest ways we do not hold each other accountable. Why is this so difficult for us?

I imagine, in the case of Saddam it seemed like to large an issue. So, we allowed this man to control and kill thousands. We all sat back and did our thing while he did his. We all share in this shame. I truly believe that it is time to stop shifting blame; whether it be on our leaders or on ourselves. Whether the dispute is international, local or between one and other we need to stand up and speak the truth. I know it sounds easy and I get that sometimes the truth is known but not easy to prove. I still say that years prior to the US invading Iraq there was enough evidence to take down the man that was killing a country. I hazard a wild guess that we had far more evidence of his killings than we did of his weapons of mass destruction.

Bottom line here for me, there is no pleasure in any killing. I take no pleasure in his death. I think it is unfortunate that we waited so long to take action; we failed to help out when it would have truly mattered. I feel frustrated and uncertain of what to do because we keep repeating this error of inaction over and over again. I think that if we start, first with ourselves and then with those around us, to hold everyone accountable for their actions we would all be in a better place.

A Very Important New Year Issue....

This Monday is a holiday, New Years Day. I pointed this out to a friend of mine, Pam, the other day while we were walking through the Eaton Centre. Of course she was more than aware of this fact. I then asked her if this would be the last long weekend of the year (2006) or the first long weekend of next year. Pam had a funny reaction to this obvious conundrum; her funny laugh and those bright eyes of hers lit up.

Pam then called me on it and asked me which one it would be, the last long weekend or the first. I presented the argument that the holiday actually falls in the new year so it could be considered the first long weekend. Of course, I then pointed out the counter argument that the majority of the weekend was in this year and it could be argued that the majority rules and it really is the last long weekend of the year. Pam accused me of being a politician so I was forced to make a decision. Here it is, my decisions and of course as with all my decision this one is binding.

It is the first long weekend on 2007. The holiday falls in 2007, therefore; the entire holiday weekend is considered to be in 2007. So, there you go this burning issue is now resolved. Debate closed. Enjoy this, the first long weekend of 2007. Use it wisely. Party smart and have a great New Years Eve. When you get up Monday afternoon, shake yourself off and forgo making any resolutions. Make clear measurable goals and make 2007 the year of years!

Matthew and the Preacher Teacher

I was just watching 360 with Anderson Cooper (here is his site…I could not find anything on here about Matthew but I did run into Anderson….so all in all it was worth it – have a peek Anderson Cooper). He had Matthew on his show. Matthew is a student in the US that recorded his teacher “preaching” during the class. Matthew recorded the teacher because he did not think that anyone would believe him when he filed his complaint against the Teacher. The Teacher was preaching his brand of religion during the US history class. The Teacher had a pretty strong message for the students. Evolution is not a science and if you do not believe in God and Heaven then you belong in hell. Nice, this guy is exactly what we need in our classrooms.

Matthew filed a complaint with the Principal of the school. After some persistence on Matthew's, they had a meeting. Surprise, the Teacher denied making any religious statements. I wonder why the Teacher would deny what he believes in? Do you think he knew he was not supposed to be doing such things? Of course he knew he had over stepped and I would hazzard a guess he figured the Principal would believe him, a God fearing Teacher, over a student. And that is exactly what happened, the Principal believed the Teacher. It is always easier to believe the Teacher and avoid actually having to do something. Matthew then revealed that he had taped the classes. Matthew had the lying Preacher Teacher on tape. Good for you Matthew! Way to play authority at their own game!!!

So far the school has not taken any action. The Teacher is still there and doing what he has always done. Preaching. The Teacher has not been asked to set the record straight or apologize to the students. No surprise here. If this had been the other way around, the student would be expelled. There have been comments made that Matthew violated the Teacher’s rights. Interesting that there is concern for the Teacher’s rights, yes let’s protect the lying Preacher Teacher. What about the student’s rights? I am not sure how Matthew violated the Teacher. The Teacher has no expectation of privacy while teaching. Quite the opposite if you ask me. Teachers should expect that anyone might be listening at any time.

Matthew taped the Teacher because he did not have faith that anyone would believe him. He felt that the powers that be needed to know what was going on in his class. It’s unfortunate that he had to tape the Teacher to ensure that the something would be done. Clearly Matthew knows the people he is dealing with; he knew he needed recorded evidence to force the Teacher and the Principal to act. I wonder if Matthew was the first student to bring this to the Principal’s attention. I doubt it; he was just smart enough to collect the evidence.

Matthew has received death threats. That does not surprise me either. I often wonder why religious people feel they need to threaten the lives of people that do not share their beliefs. Are their beliefs so fragile? I think that they are. When you rely on a book full of contradictions and imaginary events, you would have to resort to killing to keep it alive.

Stand strong Matthew, there are more behind you than you know.

Some Declarations - In no particular order

I like Oprah. Although I am not going to go as far as saying I am a “fan”. Except for the celebrity circle jerk episodes, which I erase, I like her show.

I am pro choice, although I do struggle with the thought of “killing” an unborn child. I also think that women should not have it both ways. You should need to have the Father involved to have an abortion (with the obvious exception of rape). It took two create it. If you expect child support if you have the little one then you should have to have the Father’s input to have an abortion. It works both ways.

I think car alarms should be banned. They are the ultimate in self-centered technology. No one cares about your car. No one will call the police when the alarm goes off. We are just annoyed by it and the fact that you don’t come running back to your car to shut it off. Fine for an over active car alarm? $5000.00 or 500 hours community service.

I think dog owners should require the license, not the dog.

We should not cater to those of us that insist on playing the victim. Get help and leave the rest of us alone.

I like the music of the Backstreet Boys. I also like the Scorpions and Madonna. I enjoy classical music but more often then not I am blasting Elton John or George Michael from my stereo speakers. I also like Kelly Clarkson and Linkin Park.

I go crazy over stupid things like a Judge ordering a Christmas tree removed. What? Get over it. If you are that much of a victim that a Christmas tree offends you, go get help! That Judge needs a kick in the ass too!

I’d rather sleep in then get up for any reason. I am lost in my idea that I don’t know how. I can be very organized but my desk, right now, is a mess.

I have no clue when someone is coming on to me. None. Surprise I am single!

I just noticed....

that Vogue has come out with a Men's version of their magazine. How nice. Now men can get eating disorders and have poor body images as well. Thanks Vogue.

A Brillant idea?

I might be giving Harper to much credit for this, however I have to think that his same sex marriage scheme paid off. Consider, he takes a stand against the issue to win the election. He then promises to reopen this tired old debate. He follows through on that promise and I think he knows it’s a losing proposition. The debate happens and everyone gets to have their say. Then the vote. Surprise, the motion to reopen the issue is defeated. I think Harper knew all along that it would be.

That was the whole idea. Let’s take a stand and make a promise. We can keep it because we know it’s win win. If the debate is reopened, great. We please all those ultra conservatives that think same sex marriage should be banished. We debate the entire issue over again and regardless of the outcome we kept our promise. Same holds true if the debate is not reopened. That’s all right because we kept our promise to give it a try. What can we do, it was defeated.

After the defeat we announce that the issue is dead. We will never open it again. Wow, who is the hero know? He keeps his promises and closes the debate. Everyone is happy! Everyone is happy if you are falling for the act. Politics is all about appearances. Honest, taking a stand, believing in an issue or having principals doesn’t enter into it. All you have to do is look good, to get the votes and stay in power. In the end they are all the same. It may sound like I have no faith but I do and I vote. I believe in that power and I would rather have it then not. Still, we need to be more diligent and hold these people to a higher standard.

So no doubt Harper is happy with his little same sex game. I must say it was impressive. Just remember that he voted in favour of reopening the debate. Regardless of what he says now, he does not believe that we are equal.

A tribute to Taima - 2001 to 2006

Taima is, as you can see, a spectacular Samoyed. She was a loving wonderful dog and was deeply loved and cared for by her friends and family. Taima died on Thursday in a freak accident that no one could anticipate (the details of which are not necessary to share here). I wanted to pay tribute to Tamia because I know how much her "Mom and Dad" cared for her. They loved her deeply and are sick over her loss. Memories are what we have now and oh what memories they are!


This first photo (above) was taken when Taima won "Best of Opposite" at the Samoyed Club of Ontario's specialty show (not sure of the year).


This photo is a picture of her first and only litter. What a blast these puppies were. I was lucky to spend the day at the farm playing with Taima's pups. Taima was a gracious Mommy and let us all play and enjoy her little ones. All of these guys have homes and one pup, Paka, stayed with his Mom and joined the rather large family on the farm.



Taima has won other awards and was planning on hitting the show circut again this coming year. No doubt she would have taken it by storm! Taima will be missed. We can, however, see and enjoy Taima's spirit in the pups she left us with and in particular little Paka. We honour Taima by taking our love for her and showering it on Paka and spreading it around all the animals at the farm she loved.



This is paka. What a cutie! I was giving him a bath at my now closed dog grooming store. He was very paitent with me as I soaped him up and then took pictures of him. A tribute to his Mother! After his bath we played and I took him for a tour of the building. Everyone just loved him! How could you not???




There you have it. A sad story perhaps, but also one filled with great memories. Taima's passing is a huge loss to the show ring and to her family; they loved her not becasue she was a winner but because she was Taima.

If you would care to make a donation to the Unversity of Guelph's Pet Trust in the name of Taima it would be greatly apprecaited. Follow this link:

University of Guelph Pet Trust

Links of interest:

The Fonz

Samoyeed Association of Ontario

Social Experimentation

I was just discussing the social experiment that Showtime imposed on a homeless person. They approached a homeless person and asked him if they could film him for a documentary. They put him through physical and physiological tests and then decided to use this man in the experiment. On the surface of this I have no huge issue with what they did. The man agreed and they did not set out to harm him. What they did was, without the man’s prior knowledge, gave him $100,000.00. The idea was to see how he would handle the money. Would it turn his life around was the big question.

Apparently it did not. After all was said and done the man is again homeless and in debt. He feels worse off then when it all began and told Oprah that he would rather have not had the money at all. In the discussion I was having with my friend Janet, I mentioned that they did offer him financial counseling and some kind of therapy. Janet's comment was that it seemed unrealistic to her to expect a man that has not had any social interactions for 20 years to take advantage of a Financial Advisor. It was a good point. I look forward to having an opportunity to watch the entire documentary. I think now we should consider the question, is it okay to use someone’s life as a social experiment.