Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
BYOB hillbilly style
The other day I was flipping through the classified, checking to see if there was anything cool that I could cram into my life. I noticed an ad that read: BYOB $45. Now being a small-town girl who went to the big city of Edmonton I was understandably confused. Is this something that I'm paying you for or are you going to pay me? Am I supposed to show up at a party so it looks like you have lots of friends?!?
In my world BYOB means "Bring your own Beer". I was informed that it actually meant "Bring your own Bed". WTF?!?! Why would I want to bring my own bed? Isn't that what friends' couches are for? After all that though, I find myself bringing my own bed *and* booze up to the cabin for the long weekend... and on my little Honda Fit, well it does look like the hillbilly version of "Bring your own Bed".
This bed just isn't coming back home with me, poor bed... I'm sure it will be much happier at the cabin than it would be in the garage though. I'm sure it will get more action than the rest of us do this summer ;o)
In my world BYOB means "Bring your own Beer". I was informed that it actually meant "Bring your own Bed". WTF?!?! Why would I want to bring my own bed? Isn't that what friends' couches are for? After all that though, I find myself bringing my own bed *and* booze up to the cabin for the long weekend... and on my little Honda Fit, well it does look like the hillbilly version of "Bring your own Bed".
This bed just isn't coming back home with me, poor bed... I'm sure it will be much happier at the cabin than it would be in the garage though. I'm sure it will get more action than the rest of us do this summer ;o)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
When I grow up I want to be
That little bit of goofyness in an otherwise serious meeting.
That person that owns a well trained dog that goes everywhere with them.
The one who always comes up with an idea that gives a glimmer of hope, when everyone around me has all but given up.
The hand that catches yours when you fall, or helps you up one more time than you thought you could get up by yourself.
Someone who isn't afraid to stand up for things that are important to them.
A role model, teacher and mother to the kids in my life, whether they are my own or someone elses when that is what they need.
That person who is muddy and covered in ash and dirt all over in the middle of a disaster, and all you can see is the white of their teeth because they are still smiling at a small act of kindness in the middle of it all.
Someone who makes people smile.
The person who shows off just a little bit, because they know that what they are doing is kind of a bigger deal than they usually make it out to be, and because what they do is important.
Constantly learning new things, no matter how random and unrelated they may seem.
Me.
That person that owns a well trained dog that goes everywhere with them.
The one who always comes up with an idea that gives a glimmer of hope, when everyone around me has all but given up.
The hand that catches yours when you fall, or helps you up one more time than you thought you could get up by yourself.
Someone who isn't afraid to stand up for things that are important to them.
A role model, teacher and mother to the kids in my life, whether they are my own or someone elses when that is what they need.
That person who is muddy and covered in ash and dirt all over in the middle of a disaster, and all you can see is the white of their teeth because they are still smiling at a small act of kindness in the middle of it all.
Someone who makes people smile.
The person who shows off just a little bit, because they know that what they are doing is kind of a bigger deal than they usually make it out to be, and because what they do is important.
Constantly learning new things, no matter how random and unrelated they may seem.
Me.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Arnold, Yoda, The Barbecutioner, Stickers, Wet Willies and "So Pretty" OH MY!
I attended my first Cuboree last weekend.
OMG so much fun. As much as Scouting and Guiding like to think that they are different... they're not. I would have to say that I knew 9 out of 10 of the games and songs played, and it was just as much fun doing them with scouts as with guides.
The short version I've been telling people is that I got to beat up little kids all weekend, the long version... well that's what you're going to get ;o) I don't think I stopped laughing all weekend, it was definitely good for the soul.
From somewhere between "Daddy say good night as Arnold, not as Daddy"...
followed by Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice: "Go to sleep"
Our leader envisioning doing endo's in the outhouse with the floor that was bowing in... and producing a "Super coiler"... Giggling with your nose plugged... Proximity ADD... and Proximity Tourettes...
Almost peeing your pants during the panicked look for toilet paper and getting squeezed, and having moments of the weekend that make you giggle on command brought up in rapid succession...
I believe in JC ...and I'm part of his harem.
To teaching a few someones how to skip rocks... and hearing that "Yeah! I got three in a row!"
I have to say we also had the coolest trophy made out of recyclable materials though, hearing the kids whisper as we brought it up... "wow look at that one!" was pretty damn cool too.
The magic campfire was wicked also, and the execution of it was magic just to watch... especially in between being distracted by bats skitting across the surface of the lake.
Would I do it again despite the one kid who should've been dropped down the outhouse and then had a four coiler dropped on his head? Totally. Am I going to become a leader? Probably ;o) I think that has something to do with my lack of commitment, I want to be one of those people who when I say I'm going to do something I'm for sure going to do it... somehow though not committing to anything allows me to pack more stuff into one day.
Random note: On my way home to take a weekend culminating shat, shower and power nap before my ball game I went ripping up the hill to my house. I think I scared the Veteran driver in front of me, who consequently pulled off the road into the driveway I was about to go up. As much as I appreciated the gesture of not puttering along in front of me on a road that is much to narrow to pass safely on, I still shook my fists and swore.
SMA
OMG so much fun. As much as Scouting and Guiding like to think that they are different... they're not. I would have to say that I knew 9 out of 10 of the games and songs played, and it was just as much fun doing them with scouts as with guides.
The short version I've been telling people is that I got to beat up little kids all weekend, the long version... well that's what you're going to get ;o) I don't think I stopped laughing all weekend, it was definitely good for the soul.
From somewhere between "Daddy say good night as Arnold, not as Daddy"...
followed by Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice: "Go to sleep"
Our leader envisioning doing endo's in the outhouse with the floor that was bowing in... and producing a "Super coiler"... Giggling with your nose plugged... Proximity ADD... and Proximity Tourettes...
Almost peeing your pants during the panicked look for toilet paper and getting squeezed, and having moments of the weekend that make you giggle on command brought up in rapid succession...
I believe in JC ...and I'm part of his harem.
To teaching a few someones how to skip rocks... and hearing that "Yeah! I got three in a row!"
I have to say we also had the coolest trophy made out of recyclable materials though, hearing the kids whisper as we brought it up... "wow look at that one!" was pretty damn cool too.
The magic campfire was wicked also, and the execution of it was magic just to watch... especially in between being distracted by bats skitting across the surface of the lake.
Would I do it again despite the one kid who should've been dropped down the outhouse and then had a four coiler dropped on his head? Totally. Am I going to become a leader? Probably ;o) I think that has something to do with my lack of commitment, I want to be one of those people who when I say I'm going to do something I'm for sure going to do it... somehow though not committing to anything allows me to pack more stuff into one day.
Random note: On my way home to take a weekend culminating shat, shower and power nap before my ball game I went ripping up the hill to my house. I think I scared the Veteran driver in front of me, who consequently pulled off the road into the driveway I was about to go up. As much as I appreciated the gesture of not puttering along in front of me on a road that is much to narrow to pass safely on, I still shook my fists and swore.
SMA
Monday, May 11, 2009
Aww Shrek my mouth was open an' everything!
I attended a Cuboree this weekend with my Uncle and his son, which involved chasing around 8 to 12 year olds as well the occasional wrestling match. So we were hanging out on the couch at my Uncles place watching a movie, when he asked his oldest son if he'd brushed his teeth all weekend. Now at the ripe age of 14 his brains have fallen out of his head and of course he hadn't brushed his teeth, and chances are fairly good that he hadn't changed his panties either. *puke in my mouth*
Needless to say we were all exhausted. We'd just decided to go for ice cream for Mothers' day when my Uncle stands up and lets the hugest fart go ripping right into his son's face. Ha! I bet your mouth really does taste like poo now! This was followed by a good ten minutes of tired giggles all round, and just when that began to let up his son says "I can breath through my nose again!"... we figured it had probably burnt all his nose hair off, this was followed by more giggling... at which point he pipes up again "My mouth is really dry" I'm pretty sure that yesterday afternoon would pass as a hard core ab workout.
"You don't stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing." Fart jokes just never do get old *giggles*
Needless to say we were all exhausted. We'd just decided to go for ice cream for Mothers' day when my Uncle stands up and lets the hugest fart go ripping right into his son's face. Ha! I bet your mouth really does taste like poo now! This was followed by a good ten minutes of tired giggles all round, and just when that began to let up his son says "I can breath through my nose again!"... we figured it had probably burnt all his nose hair off, this was followed by more giggling... at which point he pipes up again "My mouth is really dry" I'm pretty sure that yesterday afternoon would pass as a hard core ab workout.
"You don't stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing." Fart jokes just never do get old *giggles*
Friday, May 08, 2009
*Oh Shit*
omg *sweating bullets*
I totally thought that I cleared the printer list, the one that we're not actually sure what it does as it is...
Somehow I didn't, there was an error and it didn't save my mass deletion...
I've got a heart rate on par with a humming bird right now, I think I just lost 5 lbs.
Especially since my boss is in a big meeting, it would be more than a little embarrassing to pull him out because I broke something that he may or may not know how to fix.
I bow down before the computer Gods, and give much thanks to the angels of the undo/cancel methods.
Note to self: *Never* hit that button ever again!
I totally thought that I cleared the printer list, the one that we're not actually sure what it does as it is...
Somehow I didn't, there was an error and it didn't save my mass deletion...
I've got a heart rate on par with a humming bird right now, I think I just lost 5 lbs.
Especially since my boss is in a big meeting, it would be more than a little embarrassing to pull him out because I broke something that he may or may not know how to fix.
I bow down before the computer Gods, and give much thanks to the angels of the undo/cancel methods.
Note to self: *Never* hit that button ever again!
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Ack I'm having a moment!
I got a promo code to send a card to my Mom for Mothers' Day, so I went to the Kodak site uploaded a pic and found a cute saying to include inside. I went through all the billing options, filled in my promo code etc... and totally not even thinking about it entered my address as the ship to instead of mom's. *doh* Sorry mom, you're gonna get this one late too. Don't worry though, Dad has come through again this year and is picking up some flowers and chocolate from your delinquent children ;o) I reminded him that Cadbury is slave-free for you too.
I'm pretty sure that this is the picture of me insisting that I could "do it myself" when my short little arms could only reach one paddle at a time. According to my Dad I rowed Mom in circles for quite awhile before she was finally able to take over. Hehe I would imagine that circles in a dinghy would be even worse than one step forward and two steps back. Thanks for not barfing on me Mom.
Thanks for being my Mom, lots of people have adopted me over the course of my travels, but I will only ever have one Mom. There was a story about a group of 8 year olds who were asked various questions about their Moms... one of my favorites was "Why is she your Mom, and not somebody elses'"? The answer was "Because she likes me a lot more than other people's Moms like me."
Right, we'll just go with that then.
I'm pretty sure that this is the picture of me insisting that I could "do it myself" when my short little arms could only reach one paddle at a time. According to my Dad I rowed Mom in circles for quite awhile before she was finally able to take over. Hehe I would imagine that circles in a dinghy would be even worse than one step forward and two steps back. Thanks for not barfing on me Mom.
Thanks for being my Mom, lots of people have adopted me over the course of my travels, but I will only ever have one Mom. There was a story about a group of 8 year olds who were asked various questions about their Moms... one of my favorites was "Why is she your Mom, and not somebody elses'"? The answer was "Because she likes me a lot more than other people's Moms like me."
Right, we'll just go with that then.
To those with common interests
They are friends just waiting to happen.
It takes a moment to discover that you have something in common with someone, a single thread of shared interest. Although years may pass before you meet, and months may pass before conversation turns to the given topic. The wait is worth the while when you find a kindred spirit.
To all those strangers who are friends just waiting to be discovered,
Cheers
It takes a moment to discover that you have something in common with someone, a single thread of shared interest. Although years may pass before you meet, and months may pass before conversation turns to the given topic. The wait is worth the while when you find a kindred spirit.
To all those strangers who are friends just waiting to be discovered,
Cheers
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Compared to treeplanting...
I recently moved into a 30' RV camping trailer, which is to be my home for an indeterminate period of time. (I once moved into my best friends' mom's house for 2 weeks... and moved out 2 years later). It is parked next to my Aunt and Uncle's house. Most of my crap is unpacked, and I'm starting to settle in. At the rate I'm going I should just about have everything in place, and the internet hooked up by the time they need it to go camping this summer. Don't worry I'll tell you all about it, it's sure to be interesting.
In any case, I'm mostly settled in, the propane is hooked up, and the water is hooked up... so I'm like sweet I don't have to go trucking through the cold morning air into the house for a shower anymore, and then back again with wet hair. This is going to rock!
Trailer owner: So have you peed in the toilet yet, did'ja shower in your new place, have you? Huh? huh? huh?
Me: About that warm water thing... is there something I have to do to get more than 30 seconds of a hot shower?
Trailer owner: *sheepish grin* oh I think I forgot to show you that... *hehe* so how did that work out?
Me: It turned into a *sharp intake of breath* "shiiiiit" I'll just get my hair wet! Rinse and we're done shower! I definately did not wash all my 1000 parts!
At the moment, I'll take treeplanting over a trailer that I don't know how to work the hot water in. A hot shower is something that I thank the Gods for every morning, it's the one thing that gets me going like lightning does to Frankenstein. At least when I was tree planting the propane heated water was hot, and if it wasn't working you just yelled for Big Hairy Steve. He could fix anything.
In any case, I'm mostly settled in, the propane is hooked up, and the water is hooked up... so I'm like sweet I don't have to go trucking through the cold morning air into the house for a shower anymore, and then back again with wet hair. This is going to rock!
Trailer owner: So have you peed in the toilet yet, did'ja shower in your new place, have you? Huh? huh? huh?
Me: About that warm water thing... is there something I have to do to get more than 30 seconds of a hot shower?
Trailer owner: *sheepish grin* oh I think I forgot to show you that... *hehe* so how did that work out?
Me: It turned into a *sharp intake of breath* "shiiiiit" I'll just get my hair wet! Rinse and we're done shower! I definately did not wash all my 1000 parts!
At the moment, I'll take treeplanting over a trailer that I don't know how to work the hot water in. A hot shower is something that I thank the Gods for every morning, it's the one thing that gets me going like lightning does to Frankenstein. At least when I was tree planting the propane heated water was hot, and if it wasn't working you just yelled for Big Hairy Steve. He could fix anything.
Monday, May 04, 2009
My McBelly is getting McChubby...
I regret eating that two cheese burger meal from McDonlad's with a strawberry milkshake...
I loved every bite of it, and I the milkshake was just as good as I remembered from when I was little!
I'm pretty sure this will lead me to regret my bike ride home tonight... but I'll write about that later.
I loved every bite of it, and I the milkshake was just as good as I remembered from when I was little!
I'm pretty sure this will lead me to regret my bike ride home tonight... but I'll write about that later.
Kids
Are we sent children to teach or to learn from?
This weekend I was visiting a friend of mine, who I do not visit nearly often enough. I was down on the floor playing with her one year old daughter, when she looked at me motored over, crawled up into my lap and snuggled into me. If that doesn't melt your frozen milk shake... It was so damn cute (her signature) but it just made me think how great kids are.
They don't care what you're wearing, how often you come to visit, how much money you make, what you do for a living or what kind of car you drive. If you are there for them, they accept it on such a basic level it's incredibly simple and powerful all at the same time.
They don't give you a hard time for not visiting, and they make the most of the fact that you are there. It's like "I missed you." Nuff said. Now lets do something together.
Maybe that's just something to keep in mind, everyone needs a snuggle now and then and maybe all that other stuff really isn't that important. The important thing is spending quality time with the people you love during the chances that you have.
This weekend I was visiting a friend of mine, who I do not visit nearly often enough. I was down on the floor playing with her one year old daughter, when she looked at me motored over, crawled up into my lap and snuggled into me. If that doesn't melt your frozen milk shake... It was so damn cute (her signature) but it just made me think how great kids are.
They don't care what you're wearing, how often you come to visit, how much money you make, what you do for a living or what kind of car you drive. If you are there for them, they accept it on such a basic level it's incredibly simple and powerful all at the same time.
They don't give you a hard time for not visiting, and they make the most of the fact that you are there. It's like "I missed you." Nuff said. Now lets do something together.
Maybe that's just something to keep in mind, everyone needs a snuggle now and then and maybe all that other stuff really isn't that important. The important thing is spending quality time with the people you love during the chances that you have.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The rite of passage into the world of clipless pedals
A few years ago I bought a brand spanking new mountain bike, and at the time they asked if I wanted the clipless pedals installed. The dialog went something like this
Bike sales dude: "Would you like us to install the clipless pedals?"
My friend (bless her forsight): "Nope, I don't think that's a good idea"
Bike sales dude: "You don't have very much confidence in your friend here eh?"
Me: "No she just knows me better than most people"
Well that afternoon we took my new wheels out for a spin, and after launching myself over the handlebars in the first ten minutes. And figuring out what happened was not me being dumb and hitting the front brake instead of the back break. But was merely me being inexperienced and clamping the back brake, and having my un-rotating tire hit a root and bounce me like a mechanical bull at midnight.
That aside the rest of the ride went extremely well, I was keeping up (relatively anyways) and we were on last section of trail before we made back for an apre ride beverage. I was bombing along after another friend of mine, when all of a sudden we came upon a little bit of the trail, where there was a tree on the right, the trail dropped oooh say about 5 feet steeply with a single large root in the middle (keep in mind my earlier root experience), and to top it all off the bottom of the 5 foot drop there was a rather nasty sharp turn to the right... and by nasty I mean if you missed the turn you would end up dropping at least another 10 feet into Mill creek.
I mustered all the riding skill that I had gained from the days ride, slowed down before the root, slowed down after the root... memory fades out... memory fades in... and I'm crouched on the side of the trail like a jungle cat, my left hand is still on my handlebar and it's the only thing counterbalancing my bike, keeping it from plunging down into the creek without me.
In retrospect the thought was maybe we shouldn't have taken you on such an advanced trail your first day on your new bike... and then the humour of the situation kicked in and we laughed as the mental picture of what would have happend if I had been clipped onto my bike sunk in. Without a sliver of doubt, I would have made it over the root and taken the drop like a hero and ended up in the creek bed... the only doubt remaining was whether or not I would have landed it long enough to unclip before a near drowning experience.
So despite avoiding the inevitable plunge into the creek my friend gave me an old pair of clipless pedal shoes to try it out and see how I liked it. This last week I started biking to work, it's downhill most of the way to work which means it takes me twice as long to get home. I was sure that the ride home would go somewhere along the lines of: *Wow this is really sweet, I get the pull and the push* ... *Holy crap what was I thinking yeah lets bike to work* ... followed by pedalling slower and slower in the lowest gear possible until I'm no longer going fast enough to maintain any forward motion and I just fall over on the side of the road, unable to unclip in time to stop the deadweight of my body... luckily I was wrong, I made it all the way home and didn't get run over.
I found out this morning that my timing was just off a little, I had a wicked mountain biking dream last night, and as I got ready to bike to work again, I stood at the top of the driveway and...
*clip* ... *plop*.
Yes that's right, failure to unclip. Perhaps I was overconfident of my ability, or tired from mountain biking all night... but I did not give the required uumph get my ass on my bike and be able to clip in my second foot. It was all there in perfect slow motion as I fell over thinking I seriously can't believe I just did that.
Of all the people I've talked to througout the biking world I have yet to meet someone who hasn't had a similar "failure to unclip" experience.
To this day that creek remains my best near-miss but nonetheless I am hooked. It hasn't turned into a burning obsession, but any time someone mentions mountain biking, or downhill my fingers start to sweat and I get a little bundle of excited anticipation in my tummy just thinking about it, and that's good enough for me!
Bike sales dude: "Would you like us to install the clipless pedals?"
My friend (bless her forsight): "Nope, I don't think that's a good idea"
Bike sales dude: "You don't have very much confidence in your friend here eh?"
Me: "No she just knows me better than most people"
Well that afternoon we took my new wheels out for a spin, and after launching myself over the handlebars in the first ten minutes. And figuring out what happened was not me being dumb and hitting the front brake instead of the back break. But was merely me being inexperienced and clamping the back brake, and having my un-rotating tire hit a root and bounce me like a mechanical bull at midnight.
That aside the rest of the ride went extremely well, I was keeping up (relatively anyways) and we were on last section of trail before we made back for an apre ride beverage. I was bombing along after another friend of mine, when all of a sudden we came upon a little bit of the trail, where there was a tree on the right, the trail dropped oooh say about 5 feet steeply with a single large root in the middle (keep in mind my earlier root experience), and to top it all off the bottom of the 5 foot drop there was a rather nasty sharp turn to the right... and by nasty I mean if you missed the turn you would end up dropping at least another 10 feet into Mill creek.
I mustered all the riding skill that I had gained from the days ride, slowed down before the root, slowed down after the root... memory fades out... memory fades in... and I'm crouched on the side of the trail like a jungle cat, my left hand is still on my handlebar and it's the only thing counterbalancing my bike, keeping it from plunging down into the creek without me.
In retrospect the thought was maybe we shouldn't have taken you on such an advanced trail your first day on your new bike... and then the humour of the situation kicked in and we laughed as the mental picture of what would have happend if I had been clipped onto my bike sunk in. Without a sliver of doubt, I would have made it over the root and taken the drop like a hero and ended up in the creek bed... the only doubt remaining was whether or not I would have landed it long enough to unclip before a near drowning experience.
So despite avoiding the inevitable plunge into the creek my friend gave me an old pair of clipless pedal shoes to try it out and see how I liked it. This last week I started biking to work, it's downhill most of the way to work which means it takes me twice as long to get home. I was sure that the ride home would go somewhere along the lines of: *Wow this is really sweet, I get the pull and the push* ... *Holy crap what was I thinking yeah lets bike to work* ... followed by pedalling slower and slower in the lowest gear possible until I'm no longer going fast enough to maintain any forward motion and I just fall over on the side of the road, unable to unclip in time to stop the deadweight of my body... luckily I was wrong, I made it all the way home and didn't get run over.
I found out this morning that my timing was just off a little, I had a wicked mountain biking dream last night, and as I got ready to bike to work again, I stood at the top of the driveway and...
*clip* ... *plop*.
Yes that's right, failure to unclip. Perhaps I was overconfident of my ability, or tired from mountain biking all night... but I did not give the required uumph get my ass on my bike and be able to clip in my second foot. It was all there in perfect slow motion as I fell over thinking I seriously can't believe I just did that.
Of all the people I've talked to througout the biking world I have yet to meet someone who hasn't had a similar "failure to unclip" experience.
To this day that creek remains my best near-miss but nonetheless I am hooked. It hasn't turned into a burning obsession, but any time someone mentions mountain biking, or downhill my fingers start to sweat and I get a little bundle of excited anticipation in my tummy just thinking about it, and that's good enough for me!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
How do you spell it... Cuboree or Cuburee?
Last night marked my first view into a 1st BX Cub meeting. It was an experience fit for lifting the soul of even the darkest among us. Now I specify it as a 1st BX Cub meeting as I was informed by a reliable source that not all Cub meetings were created equal and neither were all Cub packs ;o)
The meeting was filled with many jokes and more laughter, but above all everyone's ideas were considered and built upon until we arrived at a rough draft of a good place to start.
It reminded me why I was involved with Girl Guides for so many years, and it made me wonder why I hadn't volunteered to help with it again sooner since my completion of University.
Apparently the Universe is trying to tell me to get my ass in gear, and it has realized that I needed a kick to get going. Heres to funny stories to share as only kids can create them.
The meeting was filled with many jokes and more laughter, but above all everyone's ideas were considered and built upon until we arrived at a rough draft of a good place to start.
It reminded me why I was involved with Girl Guides for so many years, and it made me wonder why I hadn't volunteered to help with it again sooner since my completion of University.
Apparently the Universe is trying to tell me to get my ass in gear, and it has realized that I needed a kick to get going. Heres to funny stories to share as only kids can create them.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The right hand... the left hand... wtf?
He who shall remain nameless: "So this is just a case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing"...
Me: "Yeah basically"
muttering "Actually this is more a case of the left hand not bloody listening to the right hand when it said what it was doing first thing this morning"
He who shall remain nameless: "What's that?"
Me: "Nothing"...
Me: "Yeah basically"
muttering "Actually this is more a case of the left hand not bloody listening to the right hand when it said what it was doing first thing this morning"
He who shall remain nameless: "What's that?"
Me: "Nothing"...
The stolen generation...
Last night I attended a local showing of a child slavery documentary entitled "Stolen Childhoods". Wow. It was very well done and although I don't think it addressed all the issues that lead to child slavery, it is a place to start.
There is a great quote "Don't think that a small group of organized citizens can't change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has" Margaret Mead
Although I don't think that this film looked at the whole picture, similar to a doctor treating the symptoms rather than the problem, it is a place to start. And I believe that starting on anything that helps to make any child's life better is better than doing nothing at all because we don't know how to fix the whole problem.
Now I haven't read much about the industrial revolution in Britain, but I'm wondering if perhaps there are some similarities to what we are now seeing in many third world countries. During the industrial revolution, and also during the war many children were forced to work, either to help support their family or because they were small enough to easily fit into the small spaces required. I think that as these countries go through a similar development period we are seeing children forced to work again, but on a much larger level. There are way more children living in conditions that are deplorable. Perhaps we should look to our past to help them pave the way to their future.
I also had another thought, part of the problem is that the markup is occurring at the end of a product's selling cycle. Perhaps there should be some way to break down the cost of something fairly. For example a can of coffee is sold for $12... which is a 4000% markup from what the farms and the people who pick it are actually paid. Is there not some way to distribute the profit more fairly? Perhaps companies selling the end product need to realize that they are responsible for where their product comes from, and how it is made.
There is a great quote "Don't think that a small group of organized citizens can't change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has" Margaret Mead
Although I don't think that this film looked at the whole picture, similar to a doctor treating the symptoms rather than the problem, it is a place to start. And I believe that starting on anything that helps to make any child's life better is better than doing nothing at all because we don't know how to fix the whole problem.
Now I haven't read much about the industrial revolution in Britain, but I'm wondering if perhaps there are some similarities to what we are now seeing in many third world countries. During the industrial revolution, and also during the war many children were forced to work, either to help support their family or because they were small enough to easily fit into the small spaces required. I think that as these countries go through a similar development period we are seeing children forced to work again, but on a much larger level. There are way more children living in conditions that are deplorable. Perhaps we should look to our past to help them pave the way to their future.
I also had another thought, part of the problem is that the markup is occurring at the end of a product's selling cycle. Perhaps there should be some way to break down the cost of something fairly. For example a can of coffee is sold for $12... which is a 4000% markup from what the farms and the people who pick it are actually paid. Is there not some way to distribute the profit more fairly? Perhaps companies selling the end product need to realize that they are responsible for where their product comes from, and how it is made.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Somebody doesn't think I should exercise... my squishy bits say otherwise
Yesterday I decided that it was time to start mountain biking again, the weather has been warming up above friggin' chily, and I still had time to squeeze a ride in before dinner... and really I probably shouldn't have had that third piece of pizza for lunch, I'm a programmer... there's no *way* I'm going to burn off 3 pieces of pizza no matter how intense the programming is!
So I get all dressed up, collect the various articles of riding gear that I will need hop on my bike and remember that my clip in pedal needs adjusting. So I go to dismount only to discover that my right foot will not unclip. Now picture this, I have a small backpack with allan keys in it, and my right foot stuck to my pedal... I undo the shoe so now I'm standing in one bike shoe and a sock looking at my other shoe that is now semi-permanently attached to my bike for now.
I considered for a second that I could forgo the clip-ins and throw on a pair of runners, until I thought it through all the way and realized that I would be trying to bike with a shoe under one pedal. Thinking that maybe a screwdriver might be of some use, I hopped into the trailer which I'm currently moving into, and being unable to locate a screwdriver grabbed my pocket knife and hopped out again.
Now I'd just like to clarify at this point that anything incorrect in my clip in settings are entirely my own fault. I installed them myself and true to form monkeyd with them to see how they worked. By this point in the whole ordeal I'm guessing, poking the pocket knife screwdriver head into various positions praying that I don't slip and gouge my other hand and bleed all over the place, and hoping that I will discover some previously unknown master release... yeah not so much... (just incase you were wondering)
Basically what had happened was the screws holding the clippy bit onto the shoe had come undone... but not all the way, and only one of them had *rolls eyes* so I had no torque twisting the shoe to trigger the release, and jamming the pocket knife into various locations did not work either. I couldn't undo the screws holding the clip to the shoe all the way, and twisting the shoe all the way around wasn't triggering the release either!
I did finally get it undone, and everything tightened up and adjusted properly but after all that I seriously considered saving my ride for another day ;o)
I found this quote on a fridge magnet:
"I gave up jogging because my thighs kept rubbing together and setting my pantyhose on fire."
I need one of my own -I gave up riding because I couldn't unclip my foot and fell over.
So I get all dressed up, collect the various articles of riding gear that I will need hop on my bike and remember that my clip in pedal needs adjusting. So I go to dismount only to discover that my right foot will not unclip. Now picture this, I have a small backpack with allan keys in it, and my right foot stuck to my pedal... I undo the shoe so now I'm standing in one bike shoe and a sock looking at my other shoe that is now semi-permanently attached to my bike for now.
I considered for a second that I could forgo the clip-ins and throw on a pair of runners, until I thought it through all the way and realized that I would be trying to bike with a shoe under one pedal. Thinking that maybe a screwdriver might be of some use, I hopped into the trailer which I'm currently moving into, and being unable to locate a screwdriver grabbed my pocket knife and hopped out again.
Now I'd just like to clarify at this point that anything incorrect in my clip in settings are entirely my own fault. I installed them myself and true to form monkeyd with them to see how they worked. By this point in the whole ordeal I'm guessing, poking the pocket knife screwdriver head into various positions praying that I don't slip and gouge my other hand and bleed all over the place, and hoping that I will discover some previously unknown master release... yeah not so much... (just incase you were wondering)
Basically what had happened was the screws holding the clippy bit onto the shoe had come undone... but not all the way, and only one of them had *rolls eyes* so I had no torque twisting the shoe to trigger the release, and jamming the pocket knife into various locations did not work either. I couldn't undo the screws holding the clip to the shoe all the way, and twisting the shoe all the way around wasn't triggering the release either!
I did finally get it undone, and everything tightened up and adjusted properly but after all that I seriously considered saving my ride for another day ;o)
I found this quote on a fridge magnet:
"I gave up jogging because my thighs kept rubbing together and setting my pantyhose on fire."
I need one of my own -I gave up riding because I couldn't unclip my foot and fell over.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
On paternity tests
Optional Dad #1 says: Yeah well how do I know he's even my kid?
Mom says: Well my blood type is O+, and his is A+... so if you're not blood type A, he's definitely not yours, and sometimes that would certainly make my life a helluv a lot easier!
That's the cheap and easy way of doing a paternity test!
Mom says: Well my blood type is O+, and his is A+... so if you're not blood type A, he's definitely not yours, and sometimes that would certainly make my life a helluv a lot easier!
That's the cheap and easy way of doing a paternity test!
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Nothing says I've been thinking of you like...
A portable toilet!!!
Yes that is 3 exclamation marks. A friend of mine is going through a bit of a tough time right now, her grandmother recently had a heart attack. Somehow in the midst of all that she got to thinking about the trailer that I will be moving into soon... and got me a portable toilet so that I will not have to get dressed and run into the house and pee. (Assuming I'm sleeping in the buff) If that doesn't say I was thinking about you I don't know what does ;o)
Yes that is 3 exclamation marks. A friend of mine is going through a bit of a tough time right now, her grandmother recently had a heart attack. Somehow in the midst of all that she got to thinking about the trailer that I will be moving into soon... and got me a portable toilet so that I will not have to get dressed and run into the house and pee. (Assuming I'm sleeping in the buff) If that doesn't say I was thinking about you I don't know what does ;o)
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