I feel I need to clarify myself, and frankly, Twitter is not the platform. I’m sure that by carrying on this conversation I’m only digging myself deeper but I can’t leave this issue hanging.
The backstory:
What I mean to say is that there are certain things, like cars and computers, that I will not attempt to fix myself, because in my attempts to repair these items, there is a good chance I will only succeed in damaging them further, probably quite beyond repair.
Guitars are fabulous in their simplicity. If you have a guitar that is not functioning properly, chances are it is fixable. Short of ripping the electronics out and stomping on them and possibly lighting them on fire and having the neighbours dog come over and pee on them, then freezing them in liquid nitrogen and smashing them with a hammer, anything you do in your attempts to fix a guitar is not going to result in it being ‘more broken’ than it already is.
Wow. I’m STILL not articulating myself very well, am I?
*sigh*
If you have a guitar, and you try to fix it, and you find it completely unfixable, chances are it was unfixable from the beginning, not as a result of your attempts to repair it unless, of course, in the process of trying to fix the problem, you performed one of the many actions described above. In which case, Durr...
Basically in a roundabout way, I agree with your original statement. Does that make sense now?
If not, I’m going to blame the oppressive heat for my inability to form a cohesive thought and choose to avoid speaking in more than monosyllables until the temperature decides to dip below 30C. Sound like a plan?
In the meantime, I thought that after confusing you, the least I could do is offer a more detailed explanation and some free publicity.
Nick’s Website and MySpace Page. Is good stuff. Has anyone ever told you that you sound kind of like that guy from Fastball?
Stealing some time on my parents computer to do a quick check-in. God, I miss my computer. I thought I'd get a lot more done around the house without it, but all I'm really accomplishing is more movie watching. I've rediscovered the DVD player PS2 (that we use because DVD players have a very short life span in our house. Game consoles, I find, are much more hardy than DVD players).
Grundy Lake was fantastic, relaxing in spite of the army of mosquitoes and deerflies that descended upon us after two hours of rain we got on Monday. My oldest seems to be in the full thrust of pre-adolescent moodiness, which caused some conflict but overall a good time was had by all.
Getting too old for two nights out in a row, I think, but had a good time karaoking on Thursday in celebration of the good news re: car, and again dancing Friday night for another girlfriend's birthday. Yesterday I spent driving around Barrie and Orillia, looking for a birthday gift for my grandmother, finally finding some cool Coronation Street memorabilia at the Orillia Scottish Festival. This is awesome, because Nanny, bless her heart, is the hardest person in the world to buy for. You could give this woman a Mercedes Benz or a box of Kleenex and the general reaction would be a completely sincere "Oh, well that will come in handy." Zero reaction. The only gift I've ever seen elicit a reaction was a hand-held carpet shampooer, which garnered a very enthusiastic 'WAHOO!'
Recall a while back when my car got totalled, and the friend who was driving (in one of those 'can you move your car I have to go to the store' 'Oh, just take mine' moments) got a bogus careless charge despite the fact that the woman she t-boned was trying to make a U-turn out of a parallel spot and was not looking where she was going?
Well, her court date was today and the charge was thrown out. As it should be.
Huh. ZAH. Vindication, y'all.
There will be some calls to my insurance company, and there will be drinks in celebration. Today is a good day.
Will be taking a *hopefully* small blogging hiatus. My computer at home has gone kablooey and the work computer, which I am at during work hours, is generally meant to be used for work. In the meantime my cell phone has begun doing this weird thing where it blinks on a intermittent basis, and although the phone is in full working order otherwise, it's driving me frickin' batty. Time for an upgrade.
The lack of online time sucks, because I have a lot I'd like to touch on, like the Rebecca Watson/RichardDawkins/Creepy Elevator Guy fiasco and how everyone has gone apeshit over some woman who had the audacity to mention in a videoblog that getting propositioned in an elevator at four in the morning felt a little creepy and that if guys want to avoid being perceived as creepy, maybe they shouldn't do creepy things.
THE NERVE. /sarcasm.
Also have some writing bubbling up in the old head. It happens, especially when I read something breathtakingly beautiful such as this. It'll be relegated to paper, for the time being.
Off camping with the kidlets for the next few days anyway, so I'd be MIA. Some time off will be nice.
N: Hey what you doin?
Me: Just packing up after the fireworks
N: {my brother in law} n {my nephew} n i aret mom's
Me: Are you drunk?
N: No lol E was on my lap and it was hard to type. lol. jackass.
Me: you shouldn't call your toddler a jackass. that's not nice.
N: lol no love YOU'RE the jackass
I mean, I already knew that, but I couldn't resist such a set up.
Well, another school year has come and gone and with it, year end report cards. Generally, my youngest gets glowing reports in the A and B area. The oldest, although very smart, has a little more trouble with school, but on the whole, she gets by with B's C's and the occasional D.
A friend on the Facebook brought up an interesting question.
What do you think about giving your kids gifts for passing onto the next grade?
Me? I think it's kind of like paying your kid to clean their room. A Non-issue. It's something they are expected to do, it's their responsibility. So no, I don't necessarily agree with buying gifts for simply passing from one grade to another.
That's no to say that there aren't some good arguments. One other friend pointed out that working parents get yearly raises, so why shouldn't kids get similar? And that's fair, to a point. However, many raises are also awarded on merit, rather than for simply being there.. not for simply doing your job, but for doing it well. A raise is also supposed to cover the increases in the cost of living that accrue each year. A new bike, or XBox is not a living expense.
However, going to school is a responsibility, much like keeping ones room clean at home is a responsibility. It is expected as a part of a household, and as a current/future member of society. In my honest opinion, these are things that should be expected if they are within your capabilities, and offering rewards for them may only serve to foster a sense of entitlement, a "What's in it for me" mentality. Education in and of itself is a reward. Feeling good about yourself for having accomplished something is a reward. Satisfaction on a job well done is a reward and I think a focus on these things is important to a child's self-actualization.
Now, I will say that I don't think there isn't some place for rewarding your children for hard work. If they have gone above and beyond, then there's nothing wrong with acknowledging that with a gift or a special day, especially if you have a kid that really struggles. But the focus should be on the effort rather than the end product. Myself, I'd be more apt to reward a child who struggles with school who manages, through dedication and determination, to raise their grade from a D to a C+, than I would a kid who regularly excels at school getting straight A's yet again. I will admit that I don't know what it's like to deal with a kid who routinely struggles with school. If I did, my expectations would be different, I suppose.
To use the housekeeping example again, I don't think I should have to reward the kids for doing things they are expected to do as part of a functioning household. However, if there was something they did (say, for example, weeding gardens, cleaning the bathrooms etc) that was not a part of their expected chores, then I'd be inclined to give them a little something for their efforts, along with a (more importantly) a sincere "Thank you!" and "Great Job!" - an acknowledgement for contributing beyond normal expectations and going out of their way to help out. It's probably an interesting contradiction that I'm more likely to reward my kids for doing things without the expectation of a reward.
It's also important to take into consideration what is considered a 'Gift'. I knew a girl growing up who received extravagant gifts each year for passing into the next grade. Call it sour grapes if you will, but looking back this girl was a bit of an entitled brat, and this always became apparent around the end of school year, as she would brag about the new scooter, or bike she got for passing. I know not all kids are like this, and giving your kid a present doesn't mean they'll also be entitled brats, but it's something that has always stuck with me.
I did enjoy one woman's idea that her and her family have a special dinner or special day, more as a tradition to celebrate the end the school year. It sounds like less pressure for the parents (since much like the Tooth Fairy tends to leave more money with each tooth, Passing Gifts may get more expensive as the years go by) and a fun way to reflect on the year and look forward to the coming summer.
Conversation I had with my sister shortly after the birth of my eldest daughter.
N: So, are you going to have her circumcised?
Me (with utter shock): Uhm. No. Pretty sure that's heavily frowned upon in this part of the world. I think the UN may be trying to have it banned, even.
N: Ah, frig. Girl. Right.
In fairness, my sister had had her second son a scant year-or-so earlier and it was a question she was surprisingly used to hearing. I say surprisingly, because I would think the decision whether to snip your little one's pecker would be a pretty private matter, but as I have learned over the years, when it comes to conceiving, carrying, birthing and raising babies, nothing is sacred.
As much as I bitch about the perils of raising little girls, this is one area that makes me glad I never had boys, although nowadays I'm sure I'm a lot more clear on my stance as far as to snip or not to snip. Unnecessary surgery? Oh hell no. I didn't even want to pierce my girls ears until they were old enough to ASK me.
That being said though, there's some interesting debate happening around a proposed law to ban male circumcision in San Franciso. Personally, I think treating such a topic as a matter of a municipal by-law is silly at best, since anyone could drive out of town to have the procedure done. Plus the proposed sentence of a year in prison seems, oh, I don't know, a little over-the-top.
No, this is one of those cases where "Education, Not Legislation" would be the most viable approach. As far as I can tell, the most common reasons for circumcision are:
For religious reasons
For hygenic reasons
Because it's better to do it when they are younger so they don't feel it as much (lolwhut??)
Fear of the child looking different than other kids or their respective male role models
Religion: This is one of the main reasons why an all-out ban is asking for a shit-storm of trouble, because jailing people for performing what is viewed as a sacred ritual is going to cause all manner of discrimination suits. In all honesty, I'd be willing to guess that the people who circumcise for religious or spiritual reasons are probably a smaller number than those who do it 'Just because'. Aim for reducing the numbers elsewhere then eventually the major religions will catch up, just like the Catholic Church did with birth control.. oh, wait.
Hygenic reasons: Teach your kids to wash their junk properly. Pretty simple, no? From what I understand, research on the health benefits of circumcision are pretty sketchy and the benefits don't seem to outweigh the risks of just leaving well enough alone. Yes, a kid may have a problem down the line that requires foreskin removal, but the thing is.. if you have a problem because you're intact, you can fix it. It's a lot harder and likely more costly to fix issues from a botched circumcision. And it's super-cheap to teach your kid to wash their junk.
Better to do it when they are Younger: I call bullshit here. I will not be convinced that an un-anesthetized procedure hurts a baby less than a older child or an adult. The difference is a baby can't verbalize their discomfort in the same way.
But I don't want little Billy to Look "Different": Calling bullshit again here. This is where North American tendencies to be over-the-top Puritanical when it comes to our bodies and how they work really does a number on us. So little Billy's little billy doesn't look like Daddy's? Try this:
“Well, Billy, once upon a time, when Daddy was a baby, people had no problem with slicing off the end of your penis for no apparent reason, and even encouraged it. But we think they were wrong, so we didn’t, because we like you and don’t think cutting babies is cool.”
That's not so hard is it?
*snicker* Yes, I have then mentality of a 12 year old. Don't you judge me.
This line of reasoning always reminds me of this joke:
One day a little girl was watching her mom make a roast beef. She cut off the ends, wrapped it in string, seasoned it and set it in the roasting pan.
The little girl asked her mom why she cut off the ends of the roast. Mom replied, after some thought, that it was the way that her mother had done it.
That night grandma came to dinner and the little girl and her mom went to her and asked why she had cut the end off of the roast before cooking. After some thought grandma replied, that was the way her mother had done it.
Now great grandmother was quite old and in a nursing home. But the little girl went with her mom and grandma to see her and again asked the question.
Great Grandma looked at them a bit annoyed and said, "So it would fit in my pan, of course."
Standing at the busy intersection a young woman in her mid-twenties watched the light turn red out of the corner of her eye. When the cars started into the intersection, she did a quick survey to make sure there were no cars in the right-hand-turn lane. Although the light facing her direction was still red and the pixellated amber hand beckoned her to hold her place, she started out into the intersection, knowing the way was clear.
A little man watched from the corner as she strode confidently into the street with head held high and sucked in his breath. When the walking man appeared on the traffic signal he dashed across the street to catch up with her.
"Excuse me! Excuse me miss!" She kept walking, either ignoring him or not realizing she was the miss he was addressing. Meeting her stride, he tried to get her attention again. This time she turned.
"Why did you do that?"
"I'm sorry?" she asked, puzzled at this odd little man who was attempting to keep up and doing a not-so-good job at it.
"The light. It hadn't changed. But you went anyway. Why? Are you in a hurry?"
She stopped in her tracks. This was a bizarre line of questioning indeed. Shrugging, she replied "Well, the way was clear. So I decided to go."
The little man furrowed his brow and shook his head. "No, no," he said, clearly troubled. "The light had not changed. You can't go if the light hasn't changed. That's the rules."
She looked at him for a long moment before she replied. "That light is there for the our protection. But as people, we are able to make decisions, to gauge risk and to decide, ultimately whether we walk, or we don't walk. Sometimes it's necessary to break rules, even small ones, to remind us even for a split second of our free will. Of our agency over our own bodies and minds."
He looked around as he pondered her words, but when he turned again, she was already down the street.
Just doing some light house keeping. Updated the blogroll and took off some folks who are no longer blogging or actively blogging.
D'Artagnan, if you're reading this... WTF man? Not even a good bye?
I've also added some folks to the roster who I think are worth a read, so take a gander and see if anyone catches your fancy. Moved the Popular Posts over to the sidebar so I could include more posts. If anyone knows how to do 'Random Posts' or 'Related Posts' and wants to let me in on the secret that'd be great.
To date, my most popular search term is "Tom Cavanagh" which has led a whole fifteen people to this little piece of the internet. Is it wrong that a little part of me hopes that Tom Cavanagh spends his spare time Googling himself and will one day stumble across this blog and fall madly in love with me?
It'd be great. We could get a cottage on Georgian Bay where we'd sit and be reminded of light beer.
And this could be me. I thought photo-shopping my head onto Julie Bowen's body could be construed as "Creepy" - Source
The Tragically Hip are playing in Bobcaygeon this weekend (and if you're a Hip Fan you will know how epic this really is) and I'm in physical pain from the knowledge that I won't be going. I'd almost consider offering perverse sexual favours to the person who could offer me me a ticket, but then again if I was willing to go that far, I might have held off on cutting the most-recent-ex out of my life for a couple weeks or so.
Maybe Tom Cavanagh has an extra ticket?
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch this video on loop and drink heavily and cry.
Author's Note: Just wanted to point out how creepy, out of its proper context, this still from the video is. It's like the girl is off screen is going "Noooooo!" at the approaching Gord Downie in all his law-enforcement intimidation (for context: she's opening the screen door for him)
Been a little quiet the past few days, I know. Going through some stuff. Had to cut off contact with someone who was very important to me in order to save myself a whole lotta time going through the emotional wringer and would you know it pretty much blows? Big time. Running the gamut of emotion, angry, sad, self-righteous and well.. you know how it is. Boys n' such. So I've been disgustingly emo over the last 24 hours. I've had a few of my closest girlfriends be super supportive as I got all weepy and snotty and introspective about it, even though over the last 12 months or so the "I swear this time it's really DONE" has been nothing new to any of them.
But I swear, this time, it's really done.
Hit the local Party On The Dock this past weekend, which proved to be quite the raucous affair. There was much beer, much dancing to all-ages friendly (as in 9 to 99) cover bands. Okay, this is something that gets me every year. The headliners are a group called Northern Harbour, who bill themselves as
The Ultimate Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band!
But.. if it's true as some say that Jimmy Buffett is essentially a cover artist himself, then wouldn't a Jimmy Buffett cover band really just be a generic cover band that happens to play Margaritaville and Let's Get Drunk and Screw? (which, incidentally, Northern Harbour DID play much to my amusement).
Anyway, was a fun-filled evening. We closed the party, headed to the local bar, closed the bar, got food, ended up at the park and next thing you know it was all "Oh hey. Hello, 5 am! Fancy meeting you here!"
A word of advice: Sitting down by the water in the wee hours of the morning may sound like an awesome serene idea, but you change your mind quickly when you wake up in the morning with goose shit on your pants. Had awesome Karen-Walkeresque moment the next day as my bestest and I sat in her backyard feeling rather rough and a small child was driving around in one of those Power Wheels dealies. Shielding my eyes from the sun I asked "Is it really necessary for that kid to be driving that thing this early in the afternoon?"
I'm fucking witty when hungover, I tell you.
My shitty mood after last night's drama nearly resulting in an ass-kicking today as I got a wee bit snarky with some folks who insisted on ignoring the giant No Loitering sign on the front door of our building and wound up with a rather frightening woman up in my face because apparently I'm doing a huge disservice to their hanging-around-in-front-of-Tim-Hortonsing by not-so-subtly suggesting her friends try standing 2-3 feet to the left or right AND NOT IN FRONT OF THE FUCKING DOOR.
How silly of me.
And then some guy got his ass handed to him in the parking lot about an hour later. Cops and everything. I have a great view from my desk. And YES, I DID call 911, as buddy was taking quite the beating but I guess someone beat me to it because all I had to say was the address and "Fight" and they said "Yeah, we're already on our way." at which point the cops pulled up.
I swell with absolute pride at my town, which is NOT AT ALL white-trashy in ANY WAY.
Today my geek worlds collided. For about 6-8 years I was a soap fan. To be clear I was regular follower of the Guiding Light. It started when I was hospitalized at 18, after which I drove my ex-husband nuts with it for years, and when the Sister and I lived together we watched religiously.
I stopped watching after I moved out on my own in 2005, as I wasn't home when it was on and I didn't have a VCR. The show was cancelled in 2009 and a little part of me was heartbroken that I never saw the last episode. I found out today that in 2006 Marvel Comics did a Guiding Light crossover based on a halloween storyline where Harley (one of my favorite characters) gets super powers and becomes a heroine by the name of 'The Guiding Light'
Har Har.
So this evening I wasted a whole lot of time looking up clips from this story arc on YouTube, and trying to find out where I can get my hands on the comic portion of the storyline, which apparently included Spiderman and the Avengers, as well as GL characters such as Buzz Cooper and Gus Aitoro (*drool*)
The link to the Comics Alliance page has a preview where you can see some of the other drawings. I enjoy seeing the characters rendered in comic style.
The story arc on the tv side is atrocious, but what do you expect? Part of the fun of soaps is the groaningly bad melodrama and improbable story lines. Hell, that's part of the fun of comics too.
memorabilia at the 
