Deceased Dentists Perhaps?

"Most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches�I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference."

-- Dr. Kimberly Daniels, in an essay posted on Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network

Sidewalks, Swine Flu , Space, True Confessions

More windy, wet, and gloomy weather, resulting in further delay of the outdoor renovations.
Rain rain go away and come back when the work is done!

Today was my regular office stint. While at the mall for my morning break, I noticed a huge line stretching all the way from one end to the other and up to the second level. At first I thought people were lined up to buy tickets for a hot concert. Turns out they were waiting to get a Swine Flu shot. A thirteen year old boy died on the weekend from swine flu, which has parents in panic mode. Not that I blame them. This flu is hitting young people the hardest. On my way home I took a short cut through the mall and the line was still huge. A public health nurse was making an announcement that there would be a clinic everyday next week, all day. I guess she was hoping that some would hear that and come back another time. Nobody budged.

One thing that really upsets me about this Swine Flu is an annoucement on the business news, that Glaxo Smith Kline is making huge profits thanks to the vaccine.

Then on the evening news there was a story about possible cuts to the NASA budget or at the very least, cancellation of any possible trips to the moon. Should space exploration be funded by public money? We always hear that private enterprise is best. That is the arguement against a public health care option in America, so why not private money for a trip to the moon? Bored rich people can pay millions to travel to the space station, a publicly funded project. Why not let them take over the whole thing? Funny how something as important as health is left to for profit corporations, but space travel is somehow better suited to government funding. Or is it that the corporations will sit back, wait and see when they can make a buck off of it, and then whine (or should I say lobby) to privatize.

Finally, a few comments about celebrity true confessions. Normally I could care less about what the beautiful people, who's mirrors are covered in lip prints, are up to. However, I'm really getting weary of tell all books were individuals admit to cheating and cover ups, ten years after the fact. Yeah when the money was rolling in and you were getting lots of attention, you never had this crisis of conscience. Now you have had a very long think, have decided that what you did was bad, and you feel so terrible. Guess it's a good way for you to flog some books too. Crystal Meth!
How pathetic is that?

Time for some vapour I think ;) ;)

No Great Loss

You will no longer be able to get a Big Mac in Iceland. Read the details here
(Yes, I am always trying to get you to read more)

Hey! people eating locally grown food instead? Sounds like an improvement to me. Even if it is a hamburger.

Computer Nerds

Got bit by a flea today and does it ever itch!

Response to my IT inquiry as to why I couldn't access a data base: "Huh?" "How did that happen?"

Response to my inquiry regarding a redundancy error on my Sims3 game, that won't reloaded after the computer crash: "The disk is scratched".

Yikes !! Less than two months till Christmas !!

Update and Mini Movie Review

Today when I feel the worst I have in ages, I thought I may as well update my blog.

Got my computer back from the shop. The guy was able to put things back almost as they were before the crash.
Still no front stairs. The weather has been so awful, cold rainy and extreme wind. Not good stair building weather. Today is lovely, only it's Sunday, so I suppose the workers are resting. I'm too tired to care.

It never fails! I feel good, get carried away doing things, and then pay for it the next day AND today I'm paying big time. I can barely move. It took me half an hour to psyche myself to get out of bed. I am so profoundly tired, it is beyond description.

Otherwise not much happening. I did watch a very good horror movie last night.
"The Host" a Korean film about a mutant lizard that emerges from the Han river, scoops people up, and dumps them in a sewer to eat later.
What makes it a good film is that it isn't over the top scary and you beleive that something like this could actually happen. The lizard isn't that big, about the size of a car, but fast and clever. The main characters, a dysfunctional family,who get a phone call from their little girl telling them she is still alive. They search for her, bickering and fighting all the way. The authorities screw everything up, refusing to believe that the girl is alive. The ending is unexpected and unconventional. I won't tell you in case you decide to check it out, which I suggest you do. Movie watching is a great escape when you feel crummy.

Headaches Not Just From MS

After a crazy weekend with my good computer crashing and having no stairs outside, is it any wonder I have a massive headache today ?

Yesterday I was accused of trying to use fake ID.
I was looking at notebook computers and I thought what the heck, instead of buying online I would give some business to my local computer store. When I presented my Visa card to buy a laptop, I was told I would need a picture ID. I went back home to get my driver's license because I don't normally carry it around and I never use my work ID for identification. It's only a short ten minute walk, so no big deal. I get back to the store and give the cashier my license. She calls the manager, he looks at my license, and flashes it back and forth . He puts it back on the counter and without even looking at me, tells the cashier not to accept it because it's a fake !! I am stunned and tell him so. He tells me that a "good" license has a hologram on it and me stupid, why I even bothered I don't know, tell him that there is a hologram on it. He says it's not the right kind of hologram !!

The cashier pipes in and says I can use my health card as ID. Me, continuing to be stupid, take out my health card and tell the cashier that legally she isn't allowed to ask for a health card as ID. Well, now three people are looking at my health card scrutinizing it. I don't know why this third guy had to get into the act ,but no matter. I get very annoyed and tell them to forget the whole thing . Just as I am about to leave the cashier says that it doesn't matter because my transaction has been declined by Visa. I call her an idiot, and the store manager a moron, and I walk out. It was a Sunday so there really wasn't much I could do about it except fire off an email to the head office of this store.

This morning I call Visa and they tell me there was no reason for the sale to be declined. Then I went over to the drivers license bureau which is in the same mall as the computer store. I tell them about the fake ID incident. They call the Ministry of Transportation and verify that my license if fine . I go back to the store and buy a cable for my modem, it was just a few bucks and I paid cash. It was they same idiot cashier and manager. After making my purchase I tell them that I checked with Visa and there in nothing wrong with my card and that I also checked with the license bureau and my drivers license is fine. I also said I had reported the incident by email, but that I was sending a complaint letter to there head office. Did they care ? No they told me to get out of the store because they really weren't interested in dealing with a person who tries to use fake ID !! I called them both idiots, morons and told them where to go. I was so angry.They threatened me with the mall cop.

Now you are wondering why on earth did I go back to that store and why did I spend money there? Two reasons: I wanted to see what their reaction would be and I also wanted a record of the store number and the sales clerk ID# My memory is very poor and if there is one thing I have learned from my work grievance, is you better have your facts straight or an incident can, and will, be used against you.

So this evening I have some letters to write. I don't really want to because I have so many other things on my plate. Still, I really think these people need to face their stupidity and apologize to me

One good thing. I'm very pleased with the work on my stairs and walkway. These young men from Back Yard Boys, are very professional and do excellent work. It's going to look fantastic when it's done and I won't have to worry about falling down the stairs anymore. Hey when people deserve compliments I give them. When they deserve my wrath, I give that too.

Now where's the Advil ?

Blog Action Day

Nat @ London Calling reminded me that today is Blog Action Day on Climate Change.

My post is short. Here's a link to "Ontario Drive Clean" which by coincidence is ten years old. I don't own a car and I don't believe in car ownership. We have adapted our lifestyle to the car instead of the car adapting to us. Instead of living in the suburbs and driving everywhere, do like me. Buy a dumpy house in the ghetto and walk everywhere or use public transit. You will feel better and so will the earth. If you have to drive a car, at least keep it clean to save the air we breathe. It also reduces the effects of climate change.

Oh yeah and you will save on gas too, which I notice the price is going up again.

David Suzuki and Alt Nobel

David Suzuki says he feels humiliated about winning the alternative Nobel prize for the environment because Canada is failing it's obligations on climate change.
Shame on us !!

A Turkey Ending

Not much to say about the Thanksgiving weekend. Plans made, revised, cancelled, revised. Mostly to do with the diabolical weather, that made sure that when there were outdoor activities (fairs, festivals) it poured rain or was freezing cold. Sad because these are yearly events. When they are ruined there's not much you can do, except wait till next year. End result is I had an alt dinner of Indian Butter Chicken. Yes I ditched the traditional meal. I have cooked so many turkey dinners;it was time for a change.

Today I'm exhausted. I have a pattern of having a good day, followed by a bad one. It's still a shock to wake up in the morning and feel so awful. I think of all the things I need to do and I cry. I'm always trying to bargain "Please let me have a good day so I can get such and such done, "so I can see so and so and they won't worry " "so I can not have an anxiety attack or a brain freeze or pee my pants, at the worst possible moment" There are no bargains to be made. Last week I was jealous when a friend said he felt refreshed after a good night's sleep. I can't remember the last time I felt that way. The best I can do these days is to feel OK. The MS roller coaster does what it pleases and either I hold on for the ride, or I give up. Those are my choices. I choose the ride. Some days it really sucks and others it's tolerable. What else can I do except keep going?

Attention to The Obama defenders. You are becoming similar to the Bush defenders, who would tell me " don't you dare criticize our wonderful President "you commie, lesbian, pot smoker" (Anyone who supports gay rights is a lesbian). Now, instead it's " don't you dare criticize our wonderful president you racist, ungrateful, moocher".

Relax OK? If the guy is so wonderful he will survive anything thrown at him. He has to take his lumps too, just like everybody else. That's politics. To loosely quote Mario Cuomo " the politics of campaigning is poetry, the politics of governing is prose ".

I will never mention the subject again, as I have more important things to worry about in my own country, although our dollar is going way up and our economy is creating jobs, so there is hope. Oh yeah and I still have my universal health care .

100 or 1000 years ?

Last night's Mega Art crawl was a washout due to heavy rain, so instead today I'm going to talk about the environment or rather about three news stories I read, heard, and saw this morning. Yeah I'm a news junkie. Not sure if it does me any good. Like all addicts I rationalize my habit trying to convince myself that being in the know matters. Then I realize that what goes on in the world is out of my control, that human behaviour is unpredictable, and we are doomed to continue making the same mistakes. Then again, maybe not. So I keep listening, reading, watching.

Oh and while I'm writing this Martha Stewart, is on the tube introducing her show "Everyday Food" That's were she does all the talking and other people do the cooking. Yeah, they do the cooking because you need an army to make one of these meals. These shows discourage cooking by making it all seem so complicated and requiring many gadgets and appliances. No wonder people eat so much junk food.

My first eco news story is taken from The Toronto Star. Hippie Eco Activist Stewart Brand, who wrote the Whole Earth catalog, says "The Greens" should grow up. He advocates building more nuclear power plants to save the planet. He justifies this stance by stating that it doesn't matter if nuclear waste will be around for 1,00 years because we most likely will only last another 100. Very encouraging words !!

Next is Guy Laliberte founder of Cirque du Soliel who paid $35 mil to become an astronaut on the International Space Station Here's a link to his space show to promote One Drop, an organization that works to clean up our water.

Finally, the most interesting eco story I saw was on BBC world. Masai warriors, who once hunted lions are now doing there bit to save them. They have been equipped with electronic tracking devices to determine where the lions are and what they are up to. Their hunting skills make the Masai ideal for this task. It is hoped this will help cut down on poaching and allow researchers to figure out how to preserve the big cats in the wild. Sorry I can't find a link to this story it was a t.v. newscast.

Now I have to tend to my clogged kitchen sink by pouring "eco friendly" drain cleaner down it. Wow! it sure doesn't smell like friendly stuff

Nobel Also Rans

With today's news of Obama winning the Nobel peace prize, I thought I'd post a link to a story of Nobel also rans, who should have one.

Does the president of the United States really deserve a Nobel ? and if so Why ?

Recession ? Really ?

You would never know there is a recession around here. The frustration I'm having with contractors.

Two weeks ago I had a guy come around to give me an estimate for a new walkway and stairs for the front of my house. He had done work on a place down the street and I really liked it. OK, so he comes over, is very polite, shows me the brochures, and discusses what should be done. I'm impressed and tell him to go ahead with the job.
He says he will be back the following week with an invoice and pick up a deposit.
Great! Wonderful! We shake hands on it and chat for awhile.
A week goes by I don't hear from him . I call to ask what's going on. He says he will be around on Friday. They are so busy because everyone wants to take advantage of the government tax rebate for home renovations. Friday he's a no show. The weekend goes by and I don't hear anything. I call him Monday morning and leave a message. Here it is Tuesday and still nothing.

Now the company that is doing my new windows( been in business 35 years) calls and says that they can't do them till December, because mine is a custom order and takes longer. December !! This Canada man. They tell me not to worry they will replace them one at a time and compensate me for any extra heating bill. Sorry but they are so busy because of the tax rebate. Ah yes so busy, but not too busy to take my deposit, which if I had known I would have kept and use it to do my Christmas shopping. I guess new windows are what Santa is bringing this year, so to heck with my plans.

Don't even get me started talking about the cable company, who when I tell them that my cable doesn't work properly when it's raining, they don't believe me and insist I need a new digital box. They too are Oh So Busy, and threaten me with a $100 billing if the cable problem is my fault !! Then there's the plumber and the guy who is supposed to do my flooring and painting. They are so busy too.

Now I'm wondering if this entire tax rebate thing is such a good idea. Yeah OK, it's supposed to be good for the economy. However when I read about local governments not being able to met their budgets and cut backs( you just wait and see they haven't even begun) maybe our tax dollars shouldn't go to prop up business.

Build lousy cars that nobody wants? Hey don't worry the government will bail you out. Run a dodgy bank? No problem, there's lots of tax money for you. Home sales are down and business is bad? Well here's this nifty tax rebate that will encourage people to get their old house fixed. And don't worry, because even if there's no money they will just make more of it and sink us all into debt.

End result? Nobody has to try, nobody has to compete, nobody has to give customer service or even provide a simple courtesy like a phone call. Big Brother is out their and no matter how much you screw up he will help you. And the suckers?, well they just have to keep paying. What a sweet deal. Just wait till the real bill comes due and their aren't enough people to pay it.

I read an article in The Independent, that California may become the first of many failed states. California! The richest state in the richest country in the world.
As I write this, on the radio news, the buzz is that Australia is raising interests rates and the stock markets love it. Whoopee ! The recovery is here !!

Yeah but for who ?

Sun Worshipping Long Past

Here I am on the beach in Toronto. It was sometime during the 1970's, not sure of the actual date. That was back when I was a sun worshiper. I spent as much time as I could at the pool or on the beach tanning.

How different things are now, that I can barely stand being in the sun.

After the cancer scares about too much sun, I started weaning myself off long tanning sessions. I tried those fake tan creams. Gave them up because I can't stand how they smell and they clogged my pores. Now because of MS, I avoid the sun and use leg makeup and bronzer's.
The current trend is back to sunbathing . All that natural vitamin D that's also free of charge. Yeah vitamin D has replaced C and E, as the new miracle nutrient. I wonder how long it will take for it to be replaced by another wonder supplement ?
Think I'll stick to the tablets and sitting in the shade.

So what do think? Is the sun friend or foe ? Do you sunbathe ?

Furnace Day

October 1st and I celebrated by turning on the heat!It was only a couple of weeks ago I had the air conditioning going full blast. Crazy weather.

Finally the letter I have been waiting for arrived. A strange thing happened with the original one. A lady showed up at my house today and handed me an opened envelope. She was very apologetic saying she opened it by mistake. This lady lives two streets away from me, so how the heck did my letter get mailed to her place ? I took her word for it but it does bug me that she opened the envelope.

I'm feeling much better, though still very weak. Had to take things slow today.
The news is that a second wave of swine flu has hit our area. I'm pretty certain I don't have it, not that it would be such a bad thing. It would be worth having swine flu to be over and done with it and not need to get a shot. Everyday there's a news story about swine flu and I'm really getting fed up. I might go over to the clinic tomorrow and get myself checked, just out of curiosity.

Hope I can go to the art gallery tomorrow too because it's free night and they have some new exhibits.
That's it for me. I'm too tired to type anymore