Still Think FREE Trade is a good idea????

They were ubiquitous on the roads of Southern Ontario growing up ... Champion Road Graders, manufactured in Goderich Ontario were standard fare for almost every heavy equipment operation in Ontario. Afterall, in buying and using a Champion Grader, you were helping the economy of a local community that needed the economic impact that a major equipment manufacturer represented.

This was in an era when almost EVERY city and town in Southern Ontario had furniture manufacturing plants - known in our day as FACTORIES !!! Stratford, where I grew up had no less than five MAJOR factories churning out high quality furniture for the world ... and the Auto Pact kept not only car assembly plants, but dozens and dozens of parts manufacturing plants operating across Southern Ontario too !!! Stratford had more parts plants than I can shake a stick at ...

Today though, I read the discouraging news that the former Champion Road Grader manunfacturing plant in Goderich Ontario is following the Free Trade Lead of dozens of other plants and factories before it, and heading south ...

Now owned by Volvo, a large multi-national conglomerate, the Champion plant is simply another cog in the wheel of internation trade ... trade that seems to keep chewing up Canadian plants and spitting the jobs elsewhere ...

From Canoe.ca: Volvo shuts down road grader operation in Goderich, Ont.

From CBC.CA: Volvo to cut 500 jobs in Ontario plant

I remember well the debates over Free Trade back in the 80's when those in the Ontario Manufacturing sector warned that we would witness massive job losses as the plants and factories headed south ...

"Not to worry," counselled then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, a fierce advocate for Free Trade, "Canadian jobs are secure." He and his conservative hordes assured us that our nation would remain competative, and the loss of things like the Auto Pact, that assured Canadian assembly and Canadian Content of vehicles sold in Canada would not adversely affect either the Canadian economy, or the location of good paying jobs ...

Hmmmm ... looking back I can't help but wonder if Mulroney really knew what he was talking about, of was he too enamoured with his duet with Ronnie, to care a whit about the average Canadian at all ...

Methinks Brian has lived up to the moniker - "Lying Brian"

As 500 more jobs are lost to the Ontario economy, and we seemed poised to put a Conservative Government BACK in Ottawa, I can't help but wonder ... who is going to buy all these lovely good manufactured elsewhere ??? If the average Canadian isn't working how can they buy ANYTHING????

And at this point unemployment and the extinction of the Middle Class seems inevitable as plant after plant after plant closes ... and still we think about re-electing the Conservatives ... I guess the lesson of the 80's remains lost on the average Canadian ... The Conservatives aren't really interested in the average Canadian, just in preserving the profitability of business, and look what THAT got the United States !!!

Be afraid fellow Canadians - be very very very afraid !!!

Good start to the day ...

Outside the sun is shining ...

(I even biked to work this morning)

... inside Trane's Settin' the Pace is playing ...

... in my mug is hot fresh fair trade coffee ...

... and the day is unfolding as it should.

.

I LIKE moments like this,

they make life wonderful.

Moments like this

make working in an office

ENJOYABLE !!

.

The Woman who SHOULD be our next Prime Minister!!

--

She's funny.

She's intelligent.

She's flamboyant.

She's bold and brassy.

She calls it like she sees it.

and

She's NOT afraid of offending ANYONE.

Is it just me,

or would

Mary Walsh

and her alter-ego

Marg Delahunty

(complete with the princess warrior garb)

make a

BETTER

Prime Minister

than the current field of possibilities ???

---

Reading the piece on CBC about

her protest against the current PM

just reinforced my

appreciation of Mary and her abilities.

--

So, who's with me ??

Mary Walsh for PM !!??

--

Wouldn't that be FUN ???

We'd have a government that is honest,

cheeky, outspoken, and

completely,

utterly

irreverent.

And there's be NO sweater vest

in sight !!

--

I see NO down side!!

--

GO MARY GO !!!

Everything Old Becomes New Again ...

.

Dear Mr Harper:

.

Today, while getting caught up on the news online, I found the same story at both the CTV and CBC news sites ... It noted that you have made no less than 148 patronage appointments to people with ties to the Conservative party just prior to your election call.

.

The CBC story - Harper government opened patronage doors before election, records show

.

The CTV story - Tories opened patronage doors before election

.

While I applaud you for ensuring that the vacant posts on various committees, boards and other government bodies are filled to better serve all of us, I have to wonder how you, as one who was so firmly opposed to such patronage appointments by the previous Liberal Governments could have such an oversight. Surely you haven't abandoned the HIGH moral ground you once claimed by so blatantly resorting to patronage appointments to thank and reward the party faithful.

.

I would not like to think that Stephen Harper would resort to such pork-barrelling after so many years of protesting against it ... has the memory of Chretien's Liberals and the Sponsorship scandal slipped away THAT quickly ???

.

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT political patronage appointments??!!

.

I could call this a coincidence if it was a dozen or so. BUT, Mr Harper, 148 stretches it a wee bit too much. This smacks of political pork barrelling, the very thing you promised repeatedly would NOT be part of your party's legacy. Surely, you don't want to be likened to Mr Chretien for such petty politicking.

.

However, as one who has not voted Conservative nor Reform in my life, I would like to assure you that I am more than ready and willing to serve the people of Canada in any capacity that might be available. The prospect of sitting on a Committee that pays 80 to 100 000 per year plus expenses has a definite appeal to one who has often struggled from pay cheque to pay cheque.

.

I have my CV, and references ready to send to you, should you choose to consider me for any current or future vacancies. I have a background in public service, and of late have worked closely with a number of community groups and government bodies addressing the issues of poverty, hungery, housing and homelessness in the City of Brandon. I am also working on my Masters in Rural Development, and am familiar with a wide breathe of academic issues ranging from Social Capital to Asset Mapping and numerous others. I am adaptable, a quick learner and have a very high IQ.

.

I feel I would be able to serve the people of Canada well, and if recieving such an appointment requires voting for the Conservative Party, well, I would happily vote for Mr Tweed in my current riding. He's done a fine job and has represented Brandon well, and no doubt will serve Canada in the future in whatever appointment you bestow upon him when he retires from politics.

.

Mr Harper, please consider this letter my application for any vacant position in the Government Service sector. I wrote you previously with the same offer, but you must have been so busy that you didn't have the chance to respond. I would suggest to you that one way of countering the media's contention that you have in this current round of appointment, engaged in political patronage, would be by offering a position to a radical, out-spoken, left leaning person like myself. They couldn't possibly say that you are rewarding one of your cronies.

.

If you would like to discuss this further, I would gladly pay for the coffee, wine or beer - your choice. I know you're busy, but taking a quick break from the stresses of the campaign trail, kicking back and relaxing would be a good thing. Give me a call - I'm sure my number is one file. .

If it wasn't previously, I'm pretty sure it is NOW!!

.

In the meantime, good luck in the election and happy campaigning. I look forward to hearing from you.

.

Oh, and as one father to another: give your damned kids a hug in public once in a while ... slapping on a sweater vest and pretending to be all warm and friendly in an ad on tv is one thing, but patting your daughter on the shoulder when she heads off for school ??? Mr Harper open those arms and hug the girl !!!??? We didn't really buy it when you claimed that YOU bought Maple Leaf cold cuts like the rest of us, now THIS really doesn't help much either ...

.

Yours respectfully,

Me!

Remember when ??

This morning I was getting my toast and pb prepared and I got thinking about foods of my childhood ... for some reason I thought about the peanut butter that I first sampled thanks to a family friend who lived in Chicago and when he visited Ontario would bring up all manner of delightful food treats ... our first taste of Golden Grahams, Cookie Crisp and the whole spectrum of Count Chocula and his buddies: Franken Berry, Boo Berry, Fruity Brut.

But the favourite treat that Dick and Elva ever brought, aside from the first processed cheese slices in the early 1970's, was the Kraft Peanut Butter Koogle that came in Banana, Cinnamon, Chocolate and Vanilla flavours ... my preference was for banana and vanilla ... my brother prefered the chocolate ... today I wondered if I would like it now as much as I did then ...

For the moment though - anyone else remember Koogle and the other strange and delightful foods of our childhoods???

Feel free to share your recollections ...

Today's Reality Check Moment:

(it reads - For every winner,

there are dozens of losers.

Odds are you're one of them.)

Kinda makes you say "hmmmm ..."

doesn't it?

Psssst !!!!!

Wanna to be in on a "secret"??
.
Well ... the big secret, isn't so secret ... but it's worth sharing ... My latest sermon, preached as pulpit supply this morning in Arden and Neepawa, is posted over at Meditative Moments.

.

It feels SOOOOOOOO nice to be invited back into the pulpit to share one of the passions that enflames my soul ... of all the tasks and duties of Ministry, it has been the preaching that I missed the most. Today I felt like I'd come HOME !!!

.

I still get butterflies and feel incredibly nervouse when I start ... but an hour later when I walk down the aisle, my heart leaps and I feel like smiling ... Preaching is something I thoroughly enjoy, and am told I'm pretty good at ...

.

I dunno ... I just know I savour every moment I'm blessed to be in a pulpit proclaiming the Gospel ... and I appreciate the graciousness of Neepawa, Arden and Brookdale for entrusting such an awesome responsibility to me !!!

.

A New Ring Tone for my Cell ...

Lately I've been in a place where I'm feeling very happy and content with life ...

My job remains inspiring and fun ... the people I work with both in the office and in the community are some of the most inspiring folks I've ever met ...

I've been given wonderful opportunities to reclaim the passions and talents that have been an intimate component of my ministry, and that were unceremoniously stripped from me by the toxic soup that remains Minnedosa ...

I've discovered a circle of incredible friends who have filled the void left by those who scurried away as my life continued its slow descent into darkness ...

I've had some of my friends from the past come out of the shadows and reconnect ...

My little house is feeling more and more like my own space ...

AND some very exciting possibilities are looming on the horizon that will bring a new patina of excitement, contentment and enthusiasm to my life ...

Today I kept thinking of C.S. Lewis' book title "Surprised by Joy". He was describing a transitional point in his life that lead to the arrival in his world of his wife and partner ... but over arching this was the Joy that comes from a contented and meaningful life ... Today I feel not only surprised by Joy (JOY in it's fullest and broadest term), but I feel overwhelmed by the gift of JOY ... and it's wonderful ...

So, this weekend to "celebrate" the happenings in my life, I downloaded a new ring tone for my cell phone ... there are infinite choices "out there" ... but there was only one dial tone that I could think of ... and I found it in short order ... and for a nominal sum, down loaded it to my cell phone ...

What was my choice??? (my dear readers ask) ... Well, my friends ... it is the final song in one of my top ten favourite films ... the film is a brilliant and cheeky little comedy called "Life of Brian" by the Monty Python troupe ... and the song is of course - "Always look on the bright side of life"!!!

And now when you phone or text me ... I hear the opening stanza of this outrageously FUNNY song that has delighted me since I first saw it back at the age of 15 or 16 ... and so, now for your listening and watching pleasure - the last three minutes of "Life of Brian":

TODAY ...

.

Today in Ottawa, they added SIX new names to the memorial to fallen Police and Peace Officers. I've searched the news sites to find a story about the service, and thus far have found NONE ... obviously the gathering of a few thousand uniform police officers, and assorted family members to remember their fallen family and friends is not newsworthy ...

.

So, as this day draws to a close, I offer this posting as a reminder to all of my readers to pause and remember the fallen, whether they wear a uniform of green or a uniform of blue ... it doesn't matter how they chose to serve us and our nation ... when they pay the ulitmate sacrifice the grief that remains doesn't really care one way or the other ...

.

Today our country may not have remembered the fallen police officers ... but I did ... As the laughter of my children drifted in the open kitchen window on a beautiful autumn afternoon, I couldn't help but think how much my father would have enjoyed meeting and spending time with his grandchildren - like their grand dad, my three have discovered the joy of making films ... Dad used his little super 8 to preserve family moments ...Noahkila, Ms H and Beetle along with a new friend, were creating a "not so scary" horror film ... from the rough cut and the laughter, I'm not worried that it will be rated Adult Accompaniment ...

.

Today I thought a lot about the father and grand father I never knew:

.

Constable Samuel E. Ankenmann

Badge # 3000

September 16th 1928 to June 29th 1968

A Hero in Life, NOT death.

The Canadian Police & Peace Officers' Memorial Entry

OPPA Honour Roll Entry

Officer Down Memorial Page Entry

For if we fail to remember them,
who will be left to remember but their families,
and we are ALL family.

We are NOT alone ...

Tonight, two snippets are rolling through my brain ... the first is the opening stanza of THe New Creed of the United Church of Canada that begins with the words - "we are not alone, we live in God's world ..."

The second is the stanza from the poem Footprints that reads: "when you could see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

I see a connection between the two, and feel a deep resonance with the sentiments of both ...

Tonight I looked back in this blog and read the posting from March 27th 2008 when I admitted to being in a deep dark place ...

My status and acceptance by the United Church was in limbo ... I had been fired by so-called friends who were afraid to face up to the truth swirling around them ... I had been abandoned by almost ALL of my "friends" to use the term loosely ... I was starting a new job I was feeling less than secure about ... my reputation had been utterly destroyed by nasty, venomous, mean-spirited, and small minded people who prefer to gossip and pull others down rather than facing the meaningless of thier existences ... I was battered and bloodied, spiritually, emotionally and physically ... I was alone and frightened and I was grinding into rock bottom ...

AND YET, as I admitted to hitting bottom I began the slow arduous journey back upwards ... first by finding the trail head out of the deep dark valley into which I had fallen ...

I mused at the time:
.
The journey starts by first groping through the thick dark undergrowth and finding the trail head ... then one step at a time ... moment by moment ... minute by minute, you begin journeying up the trail ... it can be slippery and treacherous, and in places it seems to be heading back down into the valley ... but over time you slowly move your way upwards ...
.
Focusing on this moment - this step - this tiny piece of the trail ... you keep moving, until one spectacular moment you suddenly find yourself standing on the top of the mountain and looking back you wonder why you were so worried about the climb ... Looking back, it all seems so easy ...
.
Today I have a long way to go before I get to the top of the mountain ... but I'm on the trail ... I've lost NOTHING along the way, but rather have gained new friends, new opportunities, and new POTENTIAL ...
.
I've left the toxicity of the valley bottom behind, and with it, those who see no problem living in the muck and the bullshit that lies so thick in their Valley Home ... Before me the trail winds upwards to a destination I don't yet see, but in faith I KNOW is there ...I will take each step of the journey thankful for the preciousness of life, the strength of my faith, the care of my TRUE friends, and for the amazing possibilities that now lie ahead ...
.
I don't know where I'm going, but right now that is less important than the simple fact I'm moving forward and reclaiming MY LIFE.

Today I spent some time looking back over the six months that have elapsed since I wrote those words ... and I realized that I may not be at the top of the mountain yet, but I'm close enough to feel the warmth of the sun on my cheeks ... the thick dark forest has given way to alpine meadows and spectacular vistas bathed in light ...

No longer looking back, I have been looking forward and today I realized just how far I've come...

The shore I let go of and in time lost sight of, is not one I miss ... the new lands I've found myself coming ashore at are filled with a glow and a goodness that is simply breath-taking ... Today the plaque left on my desk by a cherished and loved friend that said - "Life is not to be measured by the number of breaths you take, but rather by the moments that take your breath away ..." proved prophetic and telling ...

Since that post back in March, I've journeyed from a deep dark and very lonely place and today find myself in a very different place with a vista that beckons me forward ... now rather than looking back on "what was ..." and the people who chose to live fettered to a toxic past that simply poisons the present ... I chose to live free ...

Like a dear friend one said - "Live, Laugh, Love" ... Today I see the power of Maureen's creedo ... and I chose to drink deeply from the cup of each word ...

As I move forward I will live my life fully ...
I will laugh freely ...
and I will love deeply ...

Life is too valuable to dwell on the "woulda's", "shoulda's" and "coulda's" ... I will not let the chains of unhappiness fetter me any long ... and I will live free in the bright sunshine of the mountain tops, rather than in the deep darkness of the valley bottoms ...

I'm free ... and I plan on staying that way !!!

The past is what has been ... the future is what is shall be ... I will live present to what IS, and I will experience the reality of this moment on my terms, and in relationship with the people who care about me ... everything else is pointless and without meaning!!

In the fullest sense of the word - DAYENU !!!!! DAYENU !!!!!

In my day ...

.

Reinhold Neibuhr once quipped - "Humor, is a prelude to faith, and laughter is the beginning of prayer.”

.

Last night I "prayed" like never before ...

.

The Ron James concert was TWO hours of non-stop stand-up hilarity ... there were portions of the show that had me wiping aways the tears of laughter, as Ron thoroughly entertained the audience assembled before him ... but his segment on camping in a tent trailer during a three day down pour on Cape Breton being warned by his father "not to touch the tent when it's raining" being set up by the realization that HIS dad needed the shot of ritalin, left me gasping for oxygen ...

.

The funniest line of the night put the exclamation point on the story ... "ADHD ??? In my day we never heard of ADHD, we just said 'JESUS CHRIST, there's something not right with THAT kid !!"

.

HE BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN, and was grinning all the way ...

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And his occasional rants about "The Church" were hysterically accurate ... his shows are well worth checking out ... you won't leave disappointed.

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This morning Noahkila and I started the day watching the new DVD we bought last night ... revisiting the show was a delightful (and fun way) to start the day !!

YUMMY !!!

It was a simple oatmeal raisin cookie from Tim Horton's ...

Today they are selling cookies in support of the local United Way Campaign that helps a myriad of not-for-profits in our community that in turn help those who need assistance in a wide range of ways ...

I came back from lunch to find it sitting on my desk with a post-it that said simply - "Enjoy! It's United Way day at Tim's. So I bought cookies !"

It was left my my co-worker just because ...

I enjoyed it with my afternoon cup of green tea.

It was a lovely break in the day made possible by the simple gesture of a friend ... thanks !!

More about Nyac ...

Just got this in an email and thought it was worth sharing:

September 23, 2008

VANCOUVER AQUARIUM’S OLDEST SEA OTTER, NYAC, PASSES
EXXON VALDEZ SURVIVOR WAS 20 YEARS OLD

Hello:

I have some sad news to pass along. Earlier this morning Nyac, our 20 year old female sea otter passed away.

Nyac came to the Vancouver Aquarium in 1989 as one of the few young survivors of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. A veterinary team from the Vancouver Aquarium were on the scene to help handle the disaster and to provide expert care for the traumatized animals. Many of the animals died but a few were rescued. The Vancouver Aquarium was able to provide a home for 8 of the unreleasable otters, including Nyac.

Nyac was at the upper limit of a female sea otter life span. Over the last 2-3 years Nyac has been showing signs of her advanced age most obviously a gradual slowing down in her general behaviours. In July, Nyac suddenly showed limited energy and mobility. The Aquarium’s veterinary team immediately began their work in an attempt to determine a reason for the sudden deterioration of Nyac’s health. An MRI revealed a serious inner ear infection however blood test results showed a more serious underlying disorder.

With treatment, Nyac’s behaviour improved and since that time she had been under close observation by the marine mammal and veterinary care teams. Last Friday her condition worsened and she was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Nyac was placed under 24-hour care with key staff in attendance. Her condition continued to worsen until Nyac passed away early this morning.

“Nyac was a very special animal and had been placed under palliative care. Our entire veterinary and marine mammal care team is, of course, devastated this morning. Lymphocytic leukemia has not been previously reported in sea otters and because there is some association with contact with petroleum in other species, she is an important animal. From a medical perspective, Nyac is also very important because of her long life. Even as we’ll miss her we know she’ll continue to provide vital information on the long-term effects of oil exposure.” said Dr. Martin Haulena, Staff Veterinarian, Vancouver Aquarium.

Nyac’s birth occurred in the wild in late 1988. During her life, Nyac won the hearts of members, visitors, volunteers and staff at the Vancouver Aquarium. Her wonderful spirit and lively nature captured the attention and adoration of all who have had the good fortune to spend time in her presence.

“It is an extremely sad day with the passing of one of our favourite animals. Nyac helped the Vancouver Aquarium interpretive teams engage and inspire millions of visitors as they learned about conservation, rehabilitation of injured marine mammals, and how to help sustain our aquatic environment. Having survived such a traumatic event and overcoming incredible odds at such a young age, her life has been an amazing journey for all of us to share. She lived long, has been adored by millions, and is an inspirational story of hope against the backdrop of a substantial environmental tragedy - the Exxon Valdez oil spill” said Clint Wright, Senior Vice President, Aquarium Operations & Planning.

Since 2007, a video documenting the playful nature of Nyac and her companion Milo has been seen by over 11 million viewers after it was posted on Youtube.com by Cynthia Holmes, a visitor to the Vancouver Aquarium. Ms. Holmes graciously donated the video to the organization in 2007.

Dr. John Nightingale
President, Vancouver Aquarium

Tonight ...

Noahkila and I have

tickets to see comedian

Ron James

when he stops in Brandon

on his

Mental as Anything

tour.

Should be a good time,

I'll let you know ...

If ...

If we can avoid a Conservative Government in the upcoming election,

but can't have a LIBERAL Majority,

the next best thing would be a Liberal Minority,

with a strong showing by the NDP

who partner in a coalition Government.

Looking back across the breadth of Canadian history,

some of the most productive times in our political litany

came into being when the Liberals and the NDP(CCF) worked together.

Without such cooperation we would not have something

as fundamentally Canadian as

UNIVERSAL MEDICARE.

If we can avoid having a second term of the current government

perhaps we will succeed in having a left of centre

governing coalition that remembers the average Canadian.

My second choice for PM after Mr Dion

would be Mr. Ducceppe.

He's an unabashed social democrat,

too bad he's a Quebec Sovereigntist!!

Farewell to a VERY Old Friend ...

I just read on-line that Nyac, the 20 year Exxon-Valdez disaster survivor who has lived the last 19 years at the Vancouver Aquarium has just died at an estimated age of 20 ... the story from CTV is here ... the pictures are from our stop at the Aquarium this summer ... Nyac is the otter resting in the sun, ON the rock ... Milo is checking on her from the water ...

A Special Treat ...

This morning Ms. H asked if I had looked at the pictures she took on Saturday at the Dragon Boat Festival ... I hadn't ... I did later ...

And I was impressed ...

The pictures here are some of those that Ms. H took of our City of Brandon Aquanauts team. I can think of no more fitting way of celebrating her birthday than giving her pics a showing here ...

Thanks Ms. H.

Happy B.day ...

Twelve years ago in Campbell River BC,

she arrived in the world,

and she's made her presence KNOWN ever since.

It's hard to believe my little baby girl,

is becoming such a beautiful young woman.

It's ALL happening too fast,

and the twelve years have simply blown right past.

Happy Birthday Ms. H.

I hope it is a marvelous one.

One of many many more !!

(I LOVE YOU !!)

Also born today ...

Bruce,

Mickey,

Ray,

and of course:

TRANE !!!

My weekend ...

Sorry I haven't been bloggingmuch lately but it's been a busy few days ...

On Saturday I was in the City of Brandon Dragon Boat entry in the West Man Dragon Boat festival ... I even had a turn sitting in the jump seat at the front pounding on the drum (thanks to Mayor Dave for the paddle full of water "accidentally" sent my way!!!) ... then I had a lovely night out and about in town ...

And today I did a round of pulpit supply at a very warm and welcoming congregation who have been an absolute blast to preach for ... stay tuned my last two sermons and associated services should be posted over at Meditative Moments soon ...

I'll be back to blogging soon ...

A NEW Day has begun ...

My theme song of the moment:



Today things have gone well ... on the way home in my van I listened to Great Big Sea's album - "Turn" ... a new day has truly begun ... I can feel the world turning - and it's good:

Feel It Turn
Released June 1999(written by McCann)

I had a dream I was moving forward
Floating gently to the sun
I've come to see my world rewarded
A new day has begun

A lost bird caught in mid migration
Far away to a foreign land
Offspring of a secret nation
A new day has begun

Chorus

I can see the earth below me and I can feel it turn
Fog lifts to reveal potential
For generations prophesized
Our growth to be exponential
Our promise finally realized

Chorus

Bridge Feel it turn
Across the sky
The world it learns
So must I
Cut steel wired into water
Fixed link, circumnavigate
Old men see your sons and daughters
No longer, no longer hesitate

Chorus X2

A comment that made me blush ...

I found the comment posted below left on my blog ... It TRULY is worth sharing ...

Moments like this inspire me and remind me WHY? I have been writing this blog and putting up with all the crap that has been flung my way by frightened, small minded and spite filled people ... For everyone of them there is a Nadia out there who deserves to be respected and cared about, and who understands that God is not a vengeful petty tyrannt like too many in the institution that is the Church have perpetuated a belief in ...

I was left humbled and blown away ... if the author of this comment is a 16 year old girl, she is a young woman wise beyond her ears, and I am honoured she has stopped by:

I know this comment is late compared to the others... I know this comment is late compared to the others...

But I just recently discovered GOD HATES GOTHS. It saddened me almost instantly. For hours I prayed this man would be forgiven for his hatred. I fear that he will be scolded, rather than the teenagers who dress in black...

I am 16, yet I have experienced this ridicule all my life. I fell into the gothic lifestyle at the young age of 9, never left it. However, I am also a baptized Mormon. This raised even more havoc, since the word Mormon is all too often mislabeled as a bad religion. I have heard comments saying I don't believe in God to I must be a whore because my religion allows polygamy, which it DOES NOT.

I do not focus my entire life on spirituality, but I am indeed spiritual.

God isn't the cruel being the owner of GODHATESGOTHS describes... God has loved all of his children, even me, though I have strayed away so many times...

It's just hard hearing adults say such close-minded and horrible things...

He reminds me of the schizophrenics you hear about on television, justifying murder with their claims that the Lord told them to do so...

Thank you for having a warm and loving heart, the heart a man of God SHOULD have...

<3>

Drat !!!!

I know I'm a creature of habit.

I also really like to cook.

I am also INCREDIBLY particular about the tools and utensils I use cooking and baking.

After 15 years together with M, I have gotten used to particular, and certain utensils for my culinary adventures in the kitchen. Some time ago I submitted the above picture of my kitchen gadget drawer and its contents as an example of a drawer that looks messy and disorganized, but has EVERYTHING in it I would need to whip together a gourmet meal (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) in a matter of minutes. The contents pictured above have been the "tools of my trade" when it comes to working in the kitchen.

Today for the umpteenth time, I pulled open a drawer in my kitchen and asked out loud, "where is ... (insert any number of kitchen utensil descriptors here - tonight it was serving spoons for the veggies - last week it was a small silicon spatula - yesterday it was a mixing bowl for the waffles) ???" Only to hear the answer from the living room - "At Mom's house ..."

"DRAT !!!"

You don't realize how much is involved in setting up a household until a moment like that ... when you pull open a drawer and reach in for a spatula or a whisk or any number of kitchen utensils only to note its absence ... Starting a new kitchen from scratch is A LOT of work. Things you've taken for granted for a decade and a half are suddenly absent and need to be replaced ... as a friend observed recently - "the best laid plans" ... sometimes life and reality intervenes in strange ways ... lately I've been spending inordinate amounts of time in the kitchen gadget aisle at the local Canadian Tire ...

It's the small things ...

It doesn't take much to make me happy ...
... a kind word ...
... a small gift ...
... a suprise gesture of kindness ...
... last week it was the gift of a yummy muffin left on my desk by a dear friend ...
... last fall it was discovering Halloween Kisses on the clearance table AFTER Halloween ...
... tonight it was finding tootsie roll midgees in the display of Halloween candy ...
... for me it truly is about the thought and the kindness behind it ...

ANYONE WANT TO COME OVER AND HAVE SOME TOOTSIE ROLLS??
I have MORE than enough to share ...

A comment got me thinking ...

This morning when I checked in, I found this comment left by a visitor:

Hi, I too live on the prairie. Glad to see your blog. I have been going to our Methodist church, here, in our little town in New Mexico and wanted to comment on your goth section. I have been depressed since age 11 (I am now 47) and naturally turn to the darker colors in life. So, I feel that Goth is for those who are depressed inside. What do you think? I call myself Prairie Goth. (patd116)

It got me thinking ...

I see a link between the feelings of the reader who acknowledged feeling depressed and drawn to the darker side of life, and the success of sites like Post Secret where people anonymously send in their secrets on a post card for ALL to see ... I wonder if the problem isn't that depressed people, or those hiding a secret are the exception, but rather are the NORM.

Rather than seeing those who are drawn to Goth, or other subcultures as the non-conformist, perhaps our society in its unspoken, yet overpowering expectation of conformity to an unrealistic set of expectations, has revealed the truth of what lurks inside the human soul ... a yearning to be loved, accepted and most of all - to be one's self.

I wonder if the "problem" is simply that we've lost the willingness and perhaps the openness to simply be the people we are meant to be ... we're so caught up in the false pursuit of happiness, that we've forgotten that EVERYONE has those deep dark thoughts, that everyone struggles with feelings of un-happiness, that everyone has life experiences like ours ...

In our zealousness to keep up with the Joneses, we've lost sight of the fact that that Joneses are like us, and maybe the stuff they've surrounded themselves with is a vain attempt at attaining happiness that is lacking elsewhere in their lives ...

I've watched beautiful people slap on a happy face and convince themselves that they are happy and things are wonderful when the contradictiory evidence around them is compelling and overwhelming ...

Settling for what is will not lead to happiness ...

Convincing one's self that what they have is all they are entitled to is not happiness ...

Accepting things the way they are with a sigh and an "Oh Well," is not a place of contentment or happiness ...

What will bring happiness - true happiness within the soul - is a reality check, and the realization that we are not abnormal for feeling less than "HAPPY" because often the definition of Happiness in our society is a false, shallow warm pink fuzziness that is unrealistic and ultimately unattainable if you are to live a life of integrity with honesty and openess.

What is needed is opening our eyes to the reality around us ... depression runs rampant in our society because we've been given a bad bill of sale ... the rat race of our consumer culture simply doesn't work ... we spend our time chasing after the "newest" and the "best" only to get the and realize that they are already being replaced ... Instead of simple conversation, we fill our space with noise from personal electronics and the endless barrage of "entertainment" from an industry that is about profits not art.

I wonder if we really dared to ask - "Are you happy?" to our children, our friends and ultimately, to ourselves, if we would be ready for the answers.

Post Secret has perhaps shown us that EVERYONE struggles in life ... we all carry our secrets ... perhaps that's where we need to keep up with the Joneses ...

The Holy Gift of House Work ...

Yesterday I did three loads of laundry and took them up to M's house to hang on the line in the back yard ... as I hung the assortment of clothes and other asundry I felt a sense of serenity I haven't experienced in a very long time ... It got me wondering what it is about hanging laundry on the line that is so peaceful and relaxing ...

Then last night I read a passage in Fulghum's "Maybe (maybe not)" where he describes pressing a shirt in intimate detail and ends with the reflection:

To this day, I usually tend to my own shirts.

Only because it gives me solitary pleasure.

The kind we all enjoy alone when doing out nails, or taking a bath or shaving or weeding in the garden or chopping wood or knitting or baking bread or hanging sheets out on the line.

Sure, sometimes these activities are just a matter of taking care of personal business or routine tasks. But as often as not, we use these times to reflect and talk to ourselves.

Or meditate - even pray.

Just because you aren't on you knees in church or sitting still in a cramped position doesn't mean you can't be talking to God. Just because both you and God are busy doesn't mean you can't be in touch.

Such times are the sacred part of the secret life.

Such times keep my soul sane.

That's WHY I enjoy hanging laundry on the line ... the solitary pleasure that it brings ... yesterday hearing a blue jay chattering over the persistent hum of lawnmowers and weed whackers in distance, the rustle of the breeze through the yellowing leaves on the trees, and feeling the warmth of the sun on the back of my neck ... ALL of it brought into a being a holy moment that was entirely MINE, and mine alone!

Just for Fun ...

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Because a couple of you asked nicely, I decided to share the image painted on my desk chair:
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The chair was a lovely Christmas gift back in 2003 from M and the kids ... a plain wooden chair became a cherished family heirloom with the addition of a quaint and adorable painting of a fuzzy mouse reading "Of Mice and Men" (what else?) ... M got the chair and she and the kids readied it for then local Minnedosa artist Michelle Hinch to do her magic ...

It was, and remains a favourite place to sit a spell ...

Wisdom for today ...

I do not believe that the meaning of life is a puzzle to be solved.
Life is. I am. Anything might happen.
And I believe I MAY invest my life with meaning.
The uncertainty is a blessing in disguise.
If I were absolutely certain about all things, I would spend my life in anxious misery, fearful of losing my way. But since everything and anything are always possible, the miraculous is always nearby and wonders shall never, ever cease.
I believe that human freedom may be stated in one term, which serves as a little brick propping open the door of existence: MAYBE.
- Robert Fulghum from Maybe (Maybe Not): second thoughts from a secret life

Daily Clicks ...

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Two of the sites I visit EVERYDAY when I'm online are

The Hunger Site,

where 1.1 cup of food is donated to food programmes

by the simple click of a button on the webpage.

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The second site is

Post Secret,

which updates every Sunday with new post cards

holding secrets to be shared.

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Click on the icons below to check them out yourself:

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My New Desk ...

I picked it up in Winnipeg on Thursday ... it came in two flat, very heavy boxes ... I started working on it this morning ... I finished tonight ... it took Noahkila's help periodically ... but after about 6 hours of work, I finally got my desk put together ...

Now, I have a place to sit and work on my thesis ... I can leave my paper work and KNOW it will be there when I come back ...

Slowly my little house is feeling more and more like home ...

The Church and Change ...

This past week I had the opportunity to sit in on two workshop/conference events in Winnipg focusing on the concept of Housing First (I will blog more about this later - like food security, it has become one of my new passions!!). One of the conferences was held in a hotel in Winnipeg where one of the overnight guests was some guy named Stephen Harper - the RCMP security was tight and VERY noticable ... I even bumped into an RCMP Officer who had been in Minnedosa a few years ago - it was good (and strange) to get caught up under such circumstances ...

What struck me though was the absolute FEAR that rolled through the room when the presenters started presenting the radically common sense solution that Housing First offers to the crisis of homelessness ... Housing First is like it sounds, a commitment to HOUSE the homeless person first and foremost. There is no need for the person to stop drinking or enter rehab - that can come later BY THEIR CHOICE if they want to ...

Instead, the commitment is to house them in a HOME of thier own and let them make decisions about their long term mental and physical health on THEIR terms with 24 hour support from the service providers.

It's a radical concept with a success rate of 75 to 80% of successfully housing individuals who had been chronically homeless, AND best of all, in time the substance abuse issues disappear as stability is offered and lived ... It's an amazing concept that is working in New York City and in Toronto and is being copied in dozens of other centres. But in Winnipeg this week people heard the ideas and reacted with FEAR ...

There was an unwillingness to open one's mind up to a NEW way of doing things and seeing the world ... As I sat and listened to the opposition and resistance I realized that the contention of one of the presenters was dead on. He said - "people aren't resistant to the idea of change, they just don't like the transition from here to there ..."

Yesterday I had a conversation with a gentleman who has walked away from "The Church" and misses it ... his reason was that the Church is intellectually dishonest in maintaining a conservative, narrow-minded, politically correct vision of faith that offers comfort and complacency rather than challenging us to re-vision the world ... he said that The Church is often about fearing that which is different, and that which would challenge us and change the way things are ...

He was SO right ... fear is rampant in our society ... fear is rampant in our Churches, our neighbourhoods, our world ... we fear that which is different ... we fear that which will challenge us ... we fear that which represents a stretch beyond our comfort zone ...

Sadly though when fear takes hold the small groups of people operating in relative ignorance can influence larger groups of people, and like the poster above says - one should never underestimate the stupidity that can come into play ... I've experienced it in many forms and in many venues - I've lived through the vicious stupidity of otherwise intelligent people trying to address their fear by avoiding change - and I continue to see it unfolding when new ideas are introduced and the response is an angry - "it can't work here" ...

Change is inevitable, and with knowledge, faith and more than a little risk - almost anything is possible - even changing the world ...

To me, the poster below is one of the most inspiring posters I've encountered. One person's avalanche of destruction is another's zone of opportunity.

It's all a matter of perspective:

Not much to do at 3 am ...

I woke up at 2:02 am ...
I laid in bed till 3:03 am ...
I got up and made a mug of hot milk ...
Now it's 3:35 am ...
Coltrane is playing in the background ...
A candle is glowing on the coffee table ...
I have to be up in two hours ...
I'm not feeling sleepy ...
But I am feeling very content with my life ...
And that is a wondrous gift of this moment ...
Afterall, there's not much else to do at 3 am,
but be present to this moment,
and appreciate it fullness ...

So simple a solution ...

Tomorrow morning I'm heading into Winnipeg for another conference/workshop on Homelessness and housing ... This time we will hear Dr Sam Tsemberis (pictured above) who originated a concept called Housing First.

Housing First is just like it sounds ... when you encounter a person on the streets who is homeless and perhaps suffering from concurrent challenges like substance abuse and mental illness, the FIRST STEP is to house them ... when you encounter ANYONE who is homeless, the first step is to find them a home ... and the best thing about Housing First is - IT WORKS !!!

Dr. Tsemberis is travelling from New York, where he has founded Pathways to Housing (click here to learn more about them), to share his knowledge and this "radical" concept with some Canadians who want to make a difference in the world around them ...

Another great article on Dr Tsemberis is found in a 2004 Interview with the magazine - Mother Jones.

There's more - Google Sam Tsemberis and you'll find loads of references to him ... and tomorrow night I'll likely add to the list ... until then ...

And the curtain falls ...

He had quite a run ... the last 14 as Artistic Director at the Stratford Festival ...

Today, at the age of 64, the curtain has fallen on one of Canada's most influential figures in the world of Theatre ... he's gone too soon, too young ...

Aideu Mr Monette, and thanks.

(cbc.ca - Theatre Director Richard Monette dead at 64)

God HATES NO BODY !!!

Last night I found another comment on my blog from someone calling themselves "The Goth Princess" commenting on the posting "God Doesn't Hate Goths" put up back in 2007.

After reading the comment and posting it, I spent sometime reading the web site GodHatesGoths.com ... I wish I could say I was "inspired" to read it, but the word inspired calls to mind positive Spirit generated ideas for me ... this particular website is ANYTHING but positive and Spirit generated.

Claiming that God hates a sub-culture that a particular narrow religious view fears and fails to understand is not a faithful response ... even more disturbing is the contention of the author of this web site that God hates handicapped people ... the language used drips with ignorant hate and is not reflective of ANY God I could or would love ... and from there the web site only gets worse ... the narrow small minded views expressed there are simply and utterly horrifying ...

I will however agree with the author that Jesus DOES weep at times ... unlike this frightening, small minded world view, I think that Jesus weeps when sites like this perpetuate unfaithful hatefilled nonsense that is not reflective of God's gift of Grace and Love ...

In an effort to provide "BALANCE" to this I would direct my readers to the numerous posting I have placed on this site discussing this issue in the past. In addition to the posting mentioned above there are others.

Feel free to browse some of my musings:

Whispers from the Margins - November 2007

Words Worth Hearing - January 2008

Hmmmm ... - June 2008

I always like these kinds of comments - July 2008

Thanks to anonymous reader - September 2008

And of course there was yesterday's posting ... if you want to read more type in Goth or Goths in the search bar in the upper left corner of this site ... most of what will pop up are the various newspaper articles that linked the Church Fire at Minnedosa United to the Goth sub-culture.

For me personally, the intent is to continue to perpetuate the idea that God hates NO ONE, and that sites and groups who would make such a claim are not only offensive and mistaken, they are an anathema to God and those who profess faith in the Creator ...

Blessings to one and all ... and I MEAN ALL !!!

And NOW a word from a reader ...

I was off at a Conference all day today on Housing the homeless by giving them HOUSING unconditionally, then offering them support to deal with their problems, issues and burdens ... it's quite an innovative thought - but one that makes way too much sense ...

I'll have more about that later ... for now, I want to share the delightful comment I just found posted by a reader:

i am a goth and im really surprised and glad to se... i am a goth and im really surprised and glad to see that some christians do not hate goths. its really amazing and well, surprising becuse of all the bad press that we have been getting recently especially from a site called godhatesgoths.their information is sadly misguided and the REV RG GREEN needs to stop being so blind and do some research because if he doesnt watch himself some "goth" will get so angry and have had enough and then go mental and hurt someone. that woukld be unfortunate because it is not our way really and we dont really jhate everyone. that would be really unfortunate. i hope he sees his mistake and stops before it is too late. respect to you and all the people who believe what believe, the gothic princess

Thanks The Gothic Princess ... I hope you come back anytime !!
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The U-Haul Experience Revisited ...

My day started early as I prepared for a worship service at a rural church not far from Brandon ... unfortunately, I screwed up on the time and got there 30 minutes late - but we had a lovely service and I headed back to Brandon...

Just before lunch our neighbours from Minnedosa came and helped to start moving M and her stuff up the street to her house ... after the first pick up truck load we decided to rent a U-Haul and move the BIG stuff including the appliances ...

... it was a LONG day ... but we managed to get lots of stuff moved and re-organized ...