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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Voting: oh yah, I remember now.

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Rightright. Election time.

...didn't I say something awhile ago about...informing the masses...saying what's what...blahdyblah. I think I did (promise to write about the election, that is). But then I spent 2 weeks with my niece. I ask you: at what point, while chillin' with the best three year old, is a person supposed to leave the incessant "why?"s, creative word pronunciations and heartwarming cuddles to stare at a computer screen? Um. NO POINT. Clearly. That goes without saying. Anyway, she goes to bed earlier than I do, which might have left me some time to write in the evenings... but my sisters don't go to bed that early, and neither do my parents, nor does my childhood best. Vis a vis: I had approximately 11 moments to myself whilst on Vacation: 10 of the 11 nights I actually slept and the 1 nap I took on a rainy afternoon. If you know me at all, you know I'm easily distracted by things like giggles and loved ones and sleepovers and toy trains. And also, Royal Weddings. Electoral issues took a wee bit of a backseat.

So anyway. That is the general summation of why I have not, in fact, written at all about the forthcoming MAJORLY CRITICAL EVENT. However: I've been giving this election, and my approach in writing about it, a lot of thought. My previous touchings on the subject have been...moody, at best. For example, I shared this bad drawing with my friends awhile back. To my knowledge, no one laughed.
I'm not gonna lie, I thought I was being pretty funny (and still do, actually).



And that's the problem: unless you consider it important, I am going to be hard-pressed to convince you otherwise. Sure, I could send you to the Elections Canada website which answers every single question you have about voting. Or maybe I could tell you it's your duty, your right, your obligation, your role as a citizen; that Cool People are to Voting as Deliciousness is to Cheese. But at the end of the day, you have to decide why it matters to you to vote...or (cringe) not vote. So how about this: I have decided to switch gears a bit, and tell you why I vote.



I vote because I can; I vote because millions can't.
I vote because I feel responsible: what is a voice worth, if I don't use it?
I vote because thousands upon thousands of men and women have fought for my right to do so;
through wars, campaigns, and movements. I want to honor their labors, and their victory.
I vote because voting effects change;
I don't want to be a member of the peanut gallery, I want my voice to matter.
I vote because I don't want to lose my say.
I vote to bring notice to the issues that matter to me.
I vote because I love this country, and its citizens, and the Freedoms that come from being one of that group.
I vote because democracy depends on it.
I vote because it matters that I do.



your turn. May 2.
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Friday, April 29, 2011

Realtime Royal Wedding

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At 3am local time, our favorite sweethearts Wills&Kate were married. Since I am at my sister's house and she has a PVR, I could have been a normal person, recorded it, and watched it upon waking this morning. But here's the thing: I'm not really one to miss out on live showings of Historic, Seismic-shift events. Especially when that event is one as romantic as this: a wedding between a Prince & his new once-was-a-commoner-like-me Princess (or, shall I say, Duke and Dutchess).

Perhaps it's because they're my age, or maybe it's their air of groundedness and approachability, or the class and regality that oozes from them, or maybe it was driven by the desire to finally see THE DRESS... regardless of the reason, I couldn't have slept even if I tried; by the time the ceremony started, I was more awake than I would have been if I had watched it this morning.

It's too late for some of you already, but if, say, in the future, there is a Royal Wedding at 3am and you want to stay up all night and watch it, here are some of the steps we took to help us take it in.


Step 1: COFFEE. Drank this beast at 11pm. Kicked in about midnite. Lasted 'til 1.
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...equal opportunity promotion; my sisters all got Timmy's.
And that, actually, is Step 2: gather some of your favorite people
who are also keen on staying up all night to watch the Royal Wedding
(which could play into the fact that they are your favorite people).
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Step 3: play a rousing game of ________.
In our case, we played Scene It! for awhile. I won a lot. Just saying.
(okay okay, we all did really well)
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Step 4: go for a drive. No really, when you are exhausted and starving,
this is sometimes your only option. See Step 5 for more details.
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Step 5: prevent the CRASH by eating something healthy and delicious.
It's been like, 8 hours since you've had dinner, after all.
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Step 6: Keep your eye on the clock....IT'S TIME!!!
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Step 7: watch and watch and watch and swoon as the Royals & Romantics make their way to the
 church on time. Admire the bride's neckline, veil & tiara for the 10 minute drive there. Comment lots on how perfect she looks. Wonder loudly about what the WHOLE dress looks like!
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Step 8:  let out a sigh or two (or five). The dress is perfect.
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 Step 9: Read the lips of the people as they talk to each other.
Tear up as Harry leans over to Will and says, "Just wait till you see her"

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 Step 10: Cheer. It's official!
bonus: count how many times the officiants use the word "betwixt" during the ceremony.

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Step 11: Have I mentioned the dress? The lady? The Prince? The men in uniform? The Abby? The music?
Swoon (swooning is Step 11).
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  Finally: after much anticipation, you can let your heart relax into a flurry of pitter-patters
when at last, they kiss.



Saturday, April 23, 2011

playing Bunny.

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I'd write a post, but I have to go hide the Easter eggs. Clearly, that's more important.




Happy Easter everyone!

Friday, April 15, 2011

doodle venting.

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It’s easy to ignore my faults, because they are so small;
but others’ faults aren’t difficult or hard to see at all;
‘cuz thankfully I’ve got these planks protruding from my eyes,
that make it so much easier to judge and criticize.
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© afterthoughtcomposer



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Thursday, April 14, 2011

the process by which I eat a Peek Freans cookie.

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It would be impossible to explain how desperately I need some time off - today has given me a HOST of examples (I'll spare you the mind numbing details). Instead, I leave you with this: a picture-by-picture example of the most productive, clear-thinking moment of my day. Mental Capacity? ...What's that?






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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

the tottering tower of to-do's

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Like an increasing amount of my favourite phrases, I stole that one from Anita. This post is being written on a whim, in between Peek Freans, excel spreadsheets, expense claims cheque deposits (hey-oh!), car insurance renewals, errands, phone calls, administrative duties both work related and not, and health-saving sips of EmergenC.


Ottawa was fantastic, productive, and rich with learning opportunities. Also, it was warm and sunny out. My hotel room vent made noise all night, and I had difficulty adjusting to the 3hr time change (wimp!), but overall it was a very good trip, and I’m actually sad that I won't be doing more of them. C'est la vie.
This Saturday I am moving, which means I am currently in the process of fitting the stuff of my life into an assortment of different sized boxes and bags. For one such as myself, who idealizes and daydreams about living a life of simplicity, I certainly have a lot of crap to pack; nostalgia won’t let me live simply, as it turns out. I have been making odd little giveaway piles here and there…even so, there are more boxes than I bargained for. The closer I get to moving day, the more anxious I am to just move.

It was a Mad March, as Clichés predicted. Though the madness was good and life giving, I am still ready for a change of pace. Less frantic sprints through the grocery store; more couch time. Luckily, I am heading up North on Sunday for a two week hiatus in my old stomping ground... actually, I hardly “stomped” while I was growing up – I spent more time quietly admiring the pot stirrers than I did stirring anything myself – but times have changed and it’s a phrase I’ve never used, and I wanted to say it. So I did. What was I saying?

Oh yah – the North. My family. Rows upon rows of days of sleeping in, niece cuddles and kisses, home-cooked-by-someone-other-than-me meals. Photoshoots with my radiantly beautiful sisters, catching up on this wildly changing life with my childhood best, enjoying some extra vitamin D in the sunny center of the province. Two week vacation to the homeland? Beauty.

Anyway, I have this thought in my head that I’ll post madly about politics in preparation for the upcoming Federal Election (May 2, all you Canadians) – specifically, I’d be addressing those of us between the ages of 18-30, wonderingly loudly and belligerently why we don’t all get off our asses and vote. I’m not sure how much I’ll actually be at my computer these next few weeks, but I do promise to post a general “How To” for voting at the very least, and possibly some other tidbits of info as we prep for this important time in our country (slowly making you excuseless, which is my goal).


This has been rambly, even for me.
Au revoir.
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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Out of Office Reply

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Thank you for dropping by. I am currently out of the office, and should be returning on Monday, April 11. Where am I? Ottawa. Why? Business trip. So? Per diems. Dinners out. Fancy hotel suites. An actual use for my young enthusiastic brain. Nice.

Have a bless-ed weekend.
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Monday, April 4, 2011

jumper cables and raindrops

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Well, I’m not sure the evening could have been more...stereotypical. And by "evening", I mean "me." My manfriend had his car die last night, and I came to “help”…but: I do not own jumper cables, had forgotten my gas can at home, and I hold the weight of a sapling when it comes to pushing the car (well, in many other situations as well, but my lack of muscle is most clearly displayed in instances where I need it). In any case, it all worked out okay. Oh, I mean, the car didn’t start (even after we called another friend who has jumper cables), and still isn’t running (as of this morning), but, you know, it turned out to be a very memorable evening. It was dark outside and raining animals, which added to the drama. Plus, my manfriend is big and strong and the fact that I so easily filled the stereotypical “tiny and helpless, but cute” role meant there was a wiiiide open spot for the stereotypical man role – you know the one: brute strength, steady calm, ruggedness. ...Did I just say “ruggedness”? Hmm. I believe I did. Other high points: I learned that red goes on positive, that the two shouldn't touch or they spark, and reconfirmed that I like being a woman (tiny and helpless as I am). I also remembered by experience that I am oft' taken over by an awed fascination, watching men use their muscles. Maybe I'm jealous?
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Items to be added to daily "be cooler" routine:
-obtain jumper cables
-increase soup can reps (start small).
-continue to practice sentence forming and conversational skills.
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Friday, April 1, 2011

I'm so excited to do it.

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...It's something that EVERYONE should be doing, really. I mean, in just a little while I get to spend those few minutes doing something I am priveleged to do, something I want to do, something I am greatly anticipating. It's so easy to do it, I really wonder why more people don't. I hope that when I do it, there are LOTS AND LOTS of people there, waiting their turn to do it next. When I am done, I know I will feel satisfied. If you don't know how to do it, just ask me, because I know all about these things and I could tell you everything you need to know: like how to do it, how often you should do it, why you should do it, and how really, it's easier than it looks and feels really good when it's done.
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...umm...excuse me? No no. I'm talking about voting.


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