Did you ever wonder what it would be like to only have an official birthday once every four years? To me, that's quite a concept! Each of us takes the annual celebration of our birth for granted, as it comes around, every year on the same day, (duh) and we choose to celebrate, or try to ignore it. But for those rare souls who are born on February 29th, this is a monumentous occasion! Oh sure, February 29th babies grow older every year and progress through the daily trials and tribulations, but an actual birthday seems as rare as a tax rebate!
As my friend Henry Small celebrates his 16th birthday (or 64 in old man years!) I know he will be doing it up right on the wrong side of town! Kick up your heels my friend and enjoy the ride! Celebrate like it's 2016, 'cause you ain't gettin another one till then!
Thanks for the cake.
luv ya
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Are we being Governed by Pirates?
First off, I am NOT a political person. I don't get overly involved in politics and I don't hammer my opinions upon anyone who'll listen. I am informed, educated and realize that politics, like almost EVERYTHING these days is a two sided sword... There's never an easy answer... but lately things have really been pissing me off.
I read recently that the Pirates in Somolia have lessened their attacks but are demanding more money for their hostages. Attacks have become viciously violent, and ships are now stockpiling weapons and guards to counter-act the terrorism. Which brings me round, more or less to the question at hand.
First of all, the current Government here in British Columbia held the province hostage with a vote on the Harmonized Sales Tax, a tax that they brought in without any consultation. After the electorate became surpemely agitated over that, they held a referendum to repeal the tax. However, Government told us, using millions of dollars in taxpayers money, that if we did not accept the tax as such they would be forced to take Billions of dollars out of other areas such as education and health care to pay for it. This made me feel like a hostage held for ransom. The public voted the tax out and things took their course. Health care is suffering, even more than before... patients are being held in hallways for a lack of space, surgeries are being cancelled and waiting lists are increasing. I have no doctor as mine has retired and can't find a new one. Education is suffering, more than even before. In fact, Teachers and Goverment are in a stalemate over contract negotiations, and a resolution will most likely be rammed through in the form of legislation shortly. Education is getting so rough right now, schools are forced to close and courses are being axed. My daughter came to me the other day with her course selection for the next year and quite angrily stated that if she wanted to take Physics 12 at all, she would have to take both Physics 11 and 12 in the same year as they would only be offering the course every other year. But there seems to be enough money to put a new retractable roof on the stadium and endless funds to make sure that drug addicts have a safe place to inject themselves with poison.
True Piracy? Terrorists?? Just the Politics of Pirates.
I read recently that the Pirates in Somolia have lessened their attacks but are demanding more money for their hostages. Attacks have become viciously violent, and ships are now stockpiling weapons and guards to counter-act the terrorism. Which brings me round, more or less to the question at hand.
First of all, the current Government here in British Columbia held the province hostage with a vote on the Harmonized Sales Tax, a tax that they brought in without any consultation. After the electorate became surpemely agitated over that, they held a referendum to repeal the tax. However, Government told us, using millions of dollars in taxpayers money, that if we did not accept the tax as such they would be forced to take Billions of dollars out of other areas such as education and health care to pay for it. This made me feel like a hostage held for ransom. The public voted the tax out and things took their course. Health care is suffering, even more than before... patients are being held in hallways for a lack of space, surgeries are being cancelled and waiting lists are increasing. I have no doctor as mine has retired and can't find a new one. Education is suffering, more than even before. In fact, Teachers and Goverment are in a stalemate over contract negotiations, and a resolution will most likely be rammed through in the form of legislation shortly. Education is getting so rough right now, schools are forced to close and courses are being axed. My daughter came to me the other day with her course selection for the next year and quite angrily stated that if she wanted to take Physics 12 at all, she would have to take both Physics 11 and 12 in the same year as they would only be offering the course every other year. But there seems to be enough money to put a new retractable roof on the stadium and endless funds to make sure that drug addicts have a safe place to inject themselves with poison.
True Piracy? Terrorists?? Just the Politics of Pirates.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Is there a difference between "Cheap" and "Thrifty"?
I have been unceremoniously charged with being "Cheap". I take offence to this and retort that I'm not cheap, I'm thrifty. I am told that it's the same thing. I disagree.
I would equate cheap to a Millionaire offering pennies when he can afford to spend dollars. To me, Thrifty is making more, with less. I repair anything that I can repair. I recycle, and re-use what ever I can. I prefer to spend Time over Money, because quite simply, I seem to have more of one, than the other. But that doesn't mean I don't buy anything. Sometimes you have to. Sometimes you just can't repair it anymore. Sometimes you just don't have a choice.
I understand the difference between "value" and "price"... because the "lowest price" does NOT mean the best deal. And personally, I think many people have a difficulty with that.
Growing up, we didn't have a lot of money. We had food on the table, and we had a roof over our head, but not alot of extras.. and that's ok. It taught us that we had to work hard for the things we wanted; that if you didn't work, you didn't eat. When I was my own, the latter was absolute. Not knowing where (or when) the next meal was coming from sucks.
When I got married I thought things would get better financially, but as the old saying goes, money isn't everything. Financial sacrifices were made to create happiness : a happy wife means a happy life.... money was tight. we budgeted, we scrimped and we saved for the items we needed to acquire...
and once again, I find that there's too much month at the end of the money. Yes, I have food on the table and a roof over my head, but there's not much left over. So unfortunately, I don't drive a new car, I don't have a new computer, and I don't have a big screen HD TV.
but I AM...
Generous when I can be. Tight when I have to be. and I always try to give more of my time, than I take.
So don't call me Cheap.
I would equate cheap to a Millionaire offering pennies when he can afford to spend dollars. To me, Thrifty is making more, with less. I repair anything that I can repair. I recycle, and re-use what ever I can. I prefer to spend Time over Money, because quite simply, I seem to have more of one, than the other. But that doesn't mean I don't buy anything. Sometimes you have to. Sometimes you just can't repair it anymore. Sometimes you just don't have a choice.
I understand the difference between "value" and "price"... because the "lowest price" does NOT mean the best deal. And personally, I think many people have a difficulty with that.
Growing up, we didn't have a lot of money. We had food on the table, and we had a roof over our head, but not alot of extras.. and that's ok. It taught us that we had to work hard for the things we wanted; that if you didn't work, you didn't eat. When I was my own, the latter was absolute. Not knowing where (or when) the next meal was coming from sucks.
When I got married I thought things would get better financially, but as the old saying goes, money isn't everything. Financial sacrifices were made to create happiness : a happy wife means a happy life.... money was tight. we budgeted, we scrimped and we saved for the items we needed to acquire...
and once again, I find that there's too much month at the end of the money. Yes, I have food on the table and a roof over my head, but there's not much left over. So unfortunately, I don't drive a new car, I don't have a new computer, and I don't have a big screen HD TV.
but I AM...
Generous when I can be. Tight when I have to be. and I always try to give more of my time, than I take.
So don't call me Cheap.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Who Keeps the In-Laws?
Today's kind of a hard day for me.
No, not because I spent another Hallmark Holiday alone. I never really spent that much attention to it in the first place, and besides I got to have supper with my daughter whom I don't get to spend enough time with these days.
Today would have been my 26th wedding anniversary. I say "Would have been", as four years ago she sat me down and told me that she'd been having a secret affair with a close family friend and did not want to be married to me any longer. She led a double life for many years and I didn't have a clue. Oh, there must have been an inkling here and there; a suggestion, or rumbling of something off centre, but really, I had no idea. I had no reason not to trust her and still firmly believe that if a relationship has no trust, there IS NO relationship. But I had no idea. How cliche!
The person I was, ceased to exist on that day.
I lost it all. I lost my spouse, my friend, my family, my future security, my present stability, my retirement savings, and even what little self esteem I had left. and I had no idea.
How could I have been so blind? I felt stupid. I felt betrayed. I had the rug pulled out from under me and I felt like I had been shot.
I don't know to come back from this. I know others have had messy situations, and moved on. I know it's something I should do too, but I can't seem to leave it behind. You've heard the old expression, "fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice, shame on me!" How can you take that blind leap forward knowing there's no safety net waiting to catch you if you fall? How can you invest yourself to the degree a good relationship requires after all of this. I don't know how to come back from this.
I guess, that writing this all down is a small way of coping... a way to put it out there and stop it from rumbling all around my head. Which leads to today's question: Who keeps the in-laws?
The ex has numerous brothers and sisters with children of their own, and now, some with Grandchildren of their own. Some of these nieces and nephews were close and considered by me as family. Now in those very awkward chance meetings, they don't know what to say to you; you don't know what to say to them and the awkwardness of the whole situation is a palpable pressence that lingers like last night's fish dinner. They still call me Uncle, but by law, I am their uncle no longer. I would prefer that they just call me by my name.. but they don't. I still do consider them family, but I know they can't be, because their family is part of the ex's family.
I miss my kids. I miss my family. I miss being married.
No, not because I spent another Hallmark Holiday alone. I never really spent that much attention to it in the first place, and besides I got to have supper with my daughter whom I don't get to spend enough time with these days.
Today would have been my 26th wedding anniversary. I say "Would have been", as four years ago she sat me down and told me that she'd been having a secret affair with a close family friend and did not want to be married to me any longer. She led a double life for many years and I didn't have a clue. Oh, there must have been an inkling here and there; a suggestion, or rumbling of something off centre, but really, I had no idea. I had no reason not to trust her and still firmly believe that if a relationship has no trust, there IS NO relationship. But I had no idea. How cliche!
The person I was, ceased to exist on that day.
I lost it all. I lost my spouse, my friend, my family, my future security, my present stability, my retirement savings, and even what little self esteem I had left. and I had no idea.
How could I have been so blind? I felt stupid. I felt betrayed. I had the rug pulled out from under me and I felt like I had been shot.
I don't know to come back from this. I know others have had messy situations, and moved on. I know it's something I should do too, but I can't seem to leave it behind. You've heard the old expression, "fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice, shame on me!" How can you take that blind leap forward knowing there's no safety net waiting to catch you if you fall? How can you invest yourself to the degree a good relationship requires after all of this. I don't know how to come back from this.
I guess, that writing this all down is a small way of coping... a way to put it out there and stop it from rumbling all around my head. Which leads to today's question: Who keeps the in-laws?
The ex has numerous brothers and sisters with children of their own, and now, some with Grandchildren of their own. Some of these nieces and nephews were close and considered by me as family. Now in those very awkward chance meetings, they don't know what to say to you; you don't know what to say to them and the awkwardness of the whole situation is a palpable pressence that lingers like last night's fish dinner. They still call me Uncle, but by law, I am their uncle no longer. I would prefer that they just call me by my name.. but they don't. I still do consider them family, but I know they can't be, because their family is part of the ex's family.
I miss my kids. I miss my family. I miss being married.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I Miss You Andy Rooney
"Did you ever wonder?"
Andy Roooney often started his closing segment in the 60 MINUTES news program with this question. It is a question we often pose to each other. Whether via a child's curiosity, or as as an adult, to help us make sense of the events that just don't.
Richard Wright made a comedic career on one liners asking that same question. "Did you ever wonder.... If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends? If you can't drink and drive, why do bars need parking lots?"
Curiosity is healthy. It means you're trying to make sense of the world you live in; To think for yourself; To form your own opinons and not blindly follow a dogma or political diatribe that is put in front of you, just because it is expected that you will. Be a shepherd, not a sheep. Ask questions.
Did you ever wonder why we need to wonder why?
Maybe it's time we did.
Andy Roooney often started his closing segment in the 60 MINUTES news program with this question. It is a question we often pose to each other. Whether via a child's curiosity, or as as an adult, to help us make sense of the events that just don't.
Richard Wright made a comedic career on one liners asking that same question. "Did you ever wonder.... If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends? If you can't drink and drive, why do bars need parking lots?"
Curiosity is healthy. It means you're trying to make sense of the world you live in; To think for yourself; To form your own opinons and not blindly follow a dogma or political diatribe that is put in front of you, just because it is expected that you will. Be a shepherd, not a sheep. Ask questions.
Did you ever wonder why we need to wonder why?
Maybe it's time we did.
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