Monday, November 28, 2005

All's Well that Ends Well...

"Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie"
- William Shakespeare


Our minority Liberal government has collapsed in a historic non confidence motion (171 yeas to 133 nays) presented today in the House of Commons.

Prime Minister Paul Martin will visit the Governor General early tomorrow morning, which will prompt Madame Jean to dissolve the current Parliament and set an election date, likely January 16th or 23rd (2006). Today's non confidence vote was the first of its kind in Canadian history; it was the first time a motion actually stated that the house had "lost confidence" in the government.

Dances with Wolves

Technology Training... Answering Emails... Christmas Cards... Political Databases... Writing Policy... Watching the Government Fall... Making Dinner...

Sometimes there is not enough time in just one day. How multi-talented am I? I am a Super Woman! Hear me Roar!

Friday, November 25, 2005

The Truth Hurts Sometimes

Election thoughts from Quynn - "Tories shrug 'that's Ralph' as Klein predicts another Liberal minority". I couldn't have said it better myself (that's why I am linking to his post!).

No one wants to hear the truth when the truth hurts, but really now, Quynn's right. Instead of looking the other way and trying to pretend he didn't say it why don't they heed the warning, grab the bull by the horns and do something about it?

Go Tom!


Tom Wharton has recieved yet another nomination for his amazing work (I'm obviously a big fan). This time it is The Logogryph that has been nominated, and for the Impac Dublin Award (the winner also gets 140,000.00).

132 books from around the world have been nominated for this award, and it's an impressive crowd to be included in. Other Canadian titles nominated include:

Miriam Toews' A Complicated Kindness
Michael Winter's The Big Why
Robert Hough's The Stowaway
Trevor Cole's Norman Bray in the Performance of His Life
Joel Hynes' Down to the Dirt
Beth Powning's The Hatbox Letters
Russell Smith's Muriella Pent
Wayson Choy's All that Matters
Richard Wright's Adultery
Greg Hollingshead's Bedlam

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Early Morning Laugh

After I had grabbed my coffee and bagel this morning I went to sit down at a table with Duncan. Unbeknownst to me a blind man was following me as I walked to the table, which was also in the direction of the door (I think he was just going to follow me out).

I stopped to put down my coffee and apparently he just about bumped into me. Then in a loud voice he yelled out to his friend "Oh, I was going the wrong way!" and began to turn around, when his buddy looked at him and said (also in a loud voice) "No, you were trying to get that girl!"

Well, I never claimed that I could lead the blind. But I sure wouldn't have knowingly attempted leading anyone before I'd had my morning coffee!

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

When I grow up I wanna be a witty blog post...

Earlier today I thought of something really interesting to blog about when I got around to it. However it seems that somewhere in the depths of the politics I found myself emmersed in for the better part of my day, I forgot it...

... tell me I am not the only one that happens too!

Sunday, November 20, 2005

A Potterific Weekend!


Yep, I'm a Potterphile. Yep, I enjoyed the movie - and yep, I'm going to see it again, soon even. Kudo's to Duncan for coming with me to the movie, especially since it started out with a very large snake! I really appreciated it!

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

As I left downtown tonight I rested my head back against the bus window and watched the tops of the tallest buildings go by, all the different lights a pleasant distraction for my mind (which might try to suggest it's been a tad overworked as of late, with many more serious concerns to deal with than it's used too).

Working downtown has so far been a surreal experience for me; it's like going someplace else, like being on a working vacation - or perhaps it's more accurate to say it's like visiting grown up land. Gosh... when did I become a grown up? Wasn't there supposed to be some kind of warning sign, an exit ramp perhaps?

Architectual Beauty, Politics and History

This building has it all - which might be why I love the Alberta Legislature Building so much. Here are some shots I took while I was there earlier this week. Double Production Speed with Marble (Civ 4 joke for all you non geeks).









Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Welcome to the Blogosphere Quynn!

My friend Quynn has started a blog! I especially got a giggle out of his post today, I love Québec.

Check it out - Quintus Caecilius Felix.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Saddest Sign Ever...


I'm glad there was more interest in our "Meet the Leadership Candidate Spaghetti Dinner" than Elmwoods Annual Xmas Craft Sale apparently had. Our dinner was well attended and the Minister handled all questions well, especially the Anthony Henday ones. Can anyone guess who our guest speaker was?

"... and a Pink Carnation"

One of the amazing women I work with at the University just had surgery to remove breast cancer a couple of days ago. Today, she showed up at work with a huge smile and an armload of pink carnations - one for everyone in the Centre. She has been an inspiration to me - How wonderful would the world be if we each followed the spontaneous desires of our hearts every day for the rest of our lives?

Life's not always fair, but if you look for the joy in each moment, celebrate each day - you will find love, peace and happiness in it. If you are one of those people that can share that even when you are at your worst, then you are a blessing as well, and I'd wager well loved.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Remember

THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD AS WE
THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD;
AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM NOR
THE YEARS CONDEMN.
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN
AND IN THE MORNING,
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

My Daughter, The Author

I just got the best phone call from my daughters school!

Raven submitted an essay to an International Essay Competition and it was selected to be published! It's going to be in an Anthology of essays. I'm so proud of her! Congrats Raven!

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Plato, Where Are You Now?

If "leisure" (freedom from time-consuming duties, responsibilities, or activities; freedom to choose a pastime or enjoyable activity; notion of free time; time available for ease) is about relaxation... and "politics" (activities or affairs engaged in by a government, politician, or political party; methods or tactics involved in managing a state or government; maneuvering within a political unit or group in order to gain control or power; profession devoted to governing and to political affairs; internally conflicting interrelationships among people) is about vigilance...

What happens when your leisure is politics?

Maybe I should quit my "day job" (One's primary job, usually at daytime and enabling one to pursue a secondary activity from which one would eventually like to draw an income)?

Today's post brought to you by Dictionary.com

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Bound by Remembrance

In Canada, 2005 has been declared the Year of the Veteran. Personally I wanted to do something to commemorate this, so earlier this year I decided to join the Royal Canadian Legion. It is something I was asked to do a long time ago.


When I was a young soldier the only real exposure I had to the older veterans was Remembrance Day. Then, with an air of distant ceremonial duty, we would parade with them, guard their cenotaph, toast them and listen to their stories. Often, expressing fervent hope, they would implore us to consider joining the Legion; concerned that, with their membership dwindling, the Legion would one day no longer exist.

We were too young to understand why this was important to them and too proud to think about why it should be important to us. We didn’t feel like there was a lot that we shared in common with the "old guard" - after all we were young, brave, strong, and concerned with a much more modern warfare then that of the World Wars or even Korea. We were training to protect freedom in a different world that, for the most part, didn’t actually need protecting anymore. And we were pretty sure we were too tough to hang around with old people.

We were naive and arrogant; perhaps both the biggest and most common sins of youth, but often the most hurtful and neglectful.

We neglected to see that the reason the world didn’t need protecting anymore was their sacrifices. We neglected to attribute the pride we held in our own units to the battle honours bestowed a lifetime ago on a battlefield far away. We neglected to recognize their desire to count us amongst their numbers as their pride in us. We neglected to acknowledge that we all lived in a world that no "outsider" could understand, and that that’s supposed to count for something. We neglected to honour the bonds that tie us all together.

Its years ago now since I carried an automatic rifle and wore my flag on my shoulder; years since I shared that unique kind of camaraderie with a different kind of family; years since I lived and breathed an all consuming sense of duty; and a lifetime since I imagined that my world was not safe.

Actually, thanks to the personal sacrifices and decisions made by our Veterans, I have never lived in a world where I feared for my personal or national security, freedom or identity. That freedom is what defines us today as a people, and our Veteran's deserve to have us to carry on their legacy, forever. "To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high."

We are bound by Remembrance.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

First Snow



It's not a lot of snow and it's currently too warm for it to stay, but it is officially our first snow fall. I guess winter is here. I'm glad it took it's time this year!

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Wireless in Red Deer

So here I am, the morning after a long evening of hospitality suites, sitting in the hotel resturant eating my eggs and drinking, about as much coffee and water as I can manage. I spoke to so many people last night my whole personal space around me feels like it is still buzzing with them all.

This is the best Policy Conference ever. But perhaps that's because it's not just all about Policy... This really is an exciting time to be an Albertan and a party member; there is so much potential ahead of us!

Friday, November 04, 2005

I'm walking in Snowshine...

Walking to work this morning was delightful as a few tiny snowflakes swirled sporadically about, our first snow. Although not heavy enough to stay around, there is something inherently magical about the first time it snows (I will admit that it does quickly lose it's appeal as winter drags on) and I couldn't help but smile as I watched the snowflakes fall.

For me, snowflakes in themselves are like tiny miracles of beauty; growing up on Vancouver Island, sheltered from the realities of a true Canadian winter, I honestly thought that "snowflakes" were an artists' construct that appeared annually on Christmas cards, a decoration or perhaps an "interpretation" of what the artists felt a snowflake must look like (snow on the coast is wet, and doesn't resemble flakes as much as "clumps" of snow).

I think I will always remember the moment that, in -40 weather, I noticed the snowflakes on the ground twinkling beneath a street lamp... it was with pure childlike amazement that I reached out to touch them, and discovered that really, no two were alike!

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Gomery Report...

... and it's Chrétien by a nose!