P: People

Above are the American and Canadian Falls at Niagara.

P:People

Over the Easter break I went to Niagara Falls on a day trip.I take the casino bus, but once I'm there I do very little gambling.

It's interesting to observe people's behavior on the bus. On the way to the casino everyone is talkative and bubbly, as they look forward to getting rich quick. On the way back home everyone is silent, so I guess that means they all lost.

I had a twenty dollar gambling credit, courtesy of a coupon and refund of my bus ticket. I decide to match that with my own money, so I spent fourty dollars total on slot machines. Well, it took about five minutes for me to lose it,  so I decided to get out of there and do some shopping and sight seeing instead. Yeah, I've seen the Falls dozens of times and the weather was awful, but better  to that than bankrupt myself sitting at a stupid slot machine. And please don't tell me how you win all the time and you know people who win big jack pots. I hear that so often, yet people are silent when they lose, because the truth is you might win occasionally but if you keep gambling you will lose it all and more.

How sad that  Ontario Lottery and Gaming admits that their main revenue comes from a small percentage of heavy gamblers. They justify it by claiming to spend money on counseling for gambling addicts and offer a hotline for people who get into   trouble from gambling. When did governments become so dependent on the proceeds of casinos and lottery tickets? When did trips to casinos become the mainstay of entertainment for so many?

So people; especially all you seniors out there wasting your pension money. Get out of the casino and go do something else. Anything, but stop wasting you life sitting in front of a slot machine. 

How about a walk on a nature trail? There are even ones for people with mobility  issues. You can even see some impromptu art works, such as these I spotted on the Sassafras trail this past weekend.

And other interesting things

O: Office

O: Office

Cold  rainy, and windy out this weekend. Haven't been out at all . My legs are really sore and stiff. Don't know why.

Decided to continue talking about The Office, no, not the show, but the place I work, although sadly that show is very much like it.  

I wish I could say that I like my job. Well I like the work just don't like the people and the place anymore.  I have a very good paying job with excellent benefits. Don't get me wrong; I'm grateful for it, but the last few years have been a real strain. In the past I was able to ignore the busy bodies, gossipers, and tattle tales, but lately they really have been getting to me. No matter how hard I try, there's always somebody in my face ! I expect it from management.They have to justify their existence and they don't treat me any different than most people (like crap).  What I don't get is coworkers who are determined to make life miserable for everybody around them.

Not sure if social media or things like reality shows have anything to do with it;  but it seems that a large percentage of the population really enjoys being in other people's pockets, all the time. They also seem to think that constant wise cracks and meanspirtedness is funny. It isn't. To para phrase Ellen Degeneres "if you are just kidding how come both of us aren't laughing"   Also think it has to do with my being sick and that I'm not on my game anymore. It's easier for people to get me because my defenses are weak.

If you work in an office you know what I mean. I won't go into details about the different office types mentioned above. What gets me is that most of us there are in the same boat. We earn roughly the same money, give or take a few thousand. We have similar lifestyles.  In so many ways we are the same.  So where's the solidarity? There isn't any. It's like working with a pack of sharks. 

So you will say that I'm ungrateful. That other people have crummy minimum wage jobs and get treated like garbage. That so many good paying jobs have been moved to other countries.  I should give up this job. Well I would love to and my plan is to retire next year. I'm not ungrateful I'm just tired of all the unnecessary negative attitudes. It only makes things worse.

On a lighter note Here's a funny article about women and aging.  I'm in the age group mentioned  and it's good to know others are going through the same crazy stuff..

N: Notoriety

N:Notoriety

A record 21C today and very windy.
 
To be unfavorably known. That's notoriety. This came to mind last week when I attended a Liberal party rally for Michael Ignatieff.  Hey! We're having a a Federal election !!

I went to the rally  because a friend convinced me to give the guy a chance, so I figured what the heck!
I know nothing about the man; only what I've read in the media and the Conservative  view of him, which is that of an intellectual elitist.

He's actually very well spoken and down to earth. What I didn't like, and I could tell it made Mr. Ignatieff uncomfortable, were comments by members of the audience toward out current Prime Minister. Yeah I don't like the man either, but I draw the line at calling him the "Crime Minister". I really hate the attitude that we must vote for the other guy because the current leader is  a bum . Hmmm,  wasn't that long ago people were saying the same about the Liberals. Remember when they were the "Fiberals" 

Here's the website for the Liberals, if you want to know more about the man who wants to be the next Prime Minister. I like him, and I do understand that backing a lesser party means we could end up with the same mess we have now, however, I'm voting Green. Not so much because I think they would be better; I mean good heavens!!They support nukes!!    It's more a protest vote. I'm sick of the fact that we only have two viable parties (Sorry the NDP aren't) and that is it. Just like America , left and right, with nothing in between. I mean seriously that's it? Till the end of time?  So yeah, my vote is seen as wasted, but I simply can't continue to follow the status quo.

Anyway, to show that in Canada we have our priorities straight: The french language debate has been moved from Wednesday to Thursday, as the Montreal Canadiens are in the hockey finals. 

Aside from that, things really suck at work . A notorious tattle tale ( fits in perfect with my topic) complained about me using the "F" word . I wasn't speaking to this person and I wasn't using it to offend anyone. I was simply telling my co- cubicle sufferer, about the title of a song that happens to have that word in the title. He didn't seem to be bothered and thought it was funny. Guess I'm use to it since my son listens to" Death Metal"
That music always feature lyrics with swearing and  many unpleasant, politically incorrect,  points of view.
Oh yeah the snitch is a guy that I had to file a harassment complaint against, so he has an axe to grind.
That show The Office is Oh so true and so is Dilbert. Who came up with this concept of  work places were people have to sit in little grey cubicles all day No wonder everyone is strange.

M: MRI

M: MRI

Typical April day; a very mild 15C and  rainy .

Had my MRI on the weekend. It was really fast this time, only twenty minutes. I'm glad I don't have to go all the way in the machine and have a mirror inside so I can see the technician. The space in the MRI is so tiny, like a white coffin. Now I just have to wait till my doctor's appointment in two weeks for the results. I also have to bring him this crappy letter from work, which is a revised version of an even crappier letter.

At my last meeting with management  they gave me two letters; one for me, one for my doctor. After reading them it was agreed that they needed some serious revision. You can't say in one letter that legally you are not entitled to medical information and then in the next letter ask for just such information. I'm getting really tired of having to tell other people what the policies and procedures are. Why can't they take the time to look this stuff up? Anyway, they decided to have someone at Human Resources draft the new ones. Still dumb, but not anything I will be embarrassed for my doctor to read.

Oh! and I'm going to have a serious talk with my doctor. Too much is at stake that I can't afford to be casual about the whole business.  If the worst case scenario happens I can always take early retirement. I would prefer not to since it will cost me lots of money. At the very least I will be taking some unpaid leave this summer. That, along with vacation time, should keep me away from that house of horrors till late August.

What a drag to have a really good job yet hate it at the same time. Not so much the job, but the people, and not so much the people, but the ones in charge!!  They thrive on making others miserable.

My THC vapour must really be working good.  I am told there was a huge thunderstorm last night. Didn't hear a thing. 

CCSVI Conference

Here's a link to a  conference on April 5th about CCSVI

Hello Everyone: We are announcing today   that a Canada  wide conference call will be held on April 5, 2011. This call is a toll free call and you will be able to listen in on the meeting.

Time   Tuesday  Apri l   5, 2011 at 4:30 pm Ontario Time.

Purpose    To announce our plans for a cross Canada  education and advocacy tour in support of CCSVI , that will be starting in Fredericton New Brunswick on May 5, 2011.

Guest Speaker will be none other than Dr. Sandy McDonald. He will be sharing with his thoughts and suggestions on  CCSVI .

We are hoping to have 1 or 2 more very influential people in on the call, so don’t miss this History Making Event.

Edward Conway will speak for a few moments as to the status of Angioplasty For All and will explain our fundraising attempts to complete the Medical Research for our case.

There will be a representative from the New Brunswick Government .

Diana Price and Tim Donovan,  and Richard Beecroft  will be chairing this meeting .Follow the innstructions below and we will see you on April 5 2011 4:30 pm Ontario time.

Instructions for getting on this conference call are as follows.

To join the conference by telephone :

Please try to call in 15 minutes early so we can start on time.

Call the number below and enter the access code.
Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-699-3239 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-866-699-3239      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Enter the access code when prompted:  969 899 293

To join by  computer and telephone use this link. You may have to cut and paste to your browser if this doesn’t work. https://canada1.webex.com/canada1/j.php?ED=151901662&UID=490697033&RT=NCMxMw%3D%3D

L: Life

L: Life

I shocked someone this week trying to describe my present day  life with MS. I said I felt like I died and was reincarnated as me, but only half of me.  Can't do as much, think as much, feel as much, as I once did.
That's life;  have to take what you get and make the best of it
Haven't felt like blogging at all. Too many hassles at work have worn down but I keep going What else can I do?

Have to go for an MRI now. More later.