Christmas Memories

  When you think back on previous Christmas's what comes to mind? That year you got a puppy or when the power went out halfway through cooking the turkey? Maybe it was the one where Grandpa was in the hospital and you all went there for the afternoon and brought him his turkey dinner. Or where Aunt Mary drank too much wine and broke out the mistletoe. As I sit here looking at my semi-decorated tree I thought I'd share a few of mine. Feel free to do the same.

  My cousin Charlie always came after dinner for apple pie and ice cream. Every year he was old enough to drive. He would stay just long enough for a quick slice and a chat then head home again. He was the only Christmas day visitor as most of the visiting happened on Boxing Day. How he always arrived just as we were clearing off the table for dessert is a mystery.

  Mom's parents used to come "see the gifts" which I swear may just be an east coast tradition but one that was a personal favorite. It was the only time they would visit where playing cards wasn't the first thing. Each gift would come out and be passed around and told who it was from. Aunt Charlotte would come later in the day and while Dad and Uncle Roy talked about the weather and fishing, the same gift passing would take place. Sometimes Aunt Ann would stop in and our lifelong neighbor Angie would walk over later when she saw all the cars had left.

  Sometime between the 27th and New Year's day Mom and Dad would do their visits. We would go to Aunt Jeans and have her shortbread with rum icing cookies. Then my Grandparents house where Lori always played us the new album she got for Christmas. I know we went to other homes as well but the details are blurry. All the kids' favorite visit was to Uncle Roy and Aunt Charlotte's house because they lived beside Bernard's hill and we could go sledding for a few hours.

  Christmas morning we always had bacon and eggs. Bacon was a real treat as were oranges and a bag of nuts in the shell. Those were only during the holidays. We weren't allowed to open any gifts till after breakfast and the table was cleared off! Looking back that was quite a challenge for us. It is not a tradition I have carried on I should add. Once we finished opening we could play all day with whatever Santa brought us. You know I remember those details vividly but not one single gift. Interesting.

  Mom always put tinsel on the tree. One strand at a time. Yes, you read that right. And we were constantly being reminded not to run past the tree so that the tinsel didn't move. God forbid if it did then she would have to fix it and maybe even rehang it. The cats loved the tinsel too and we had to keep them from eating and playing with it. 

   Christmas time, in my memory at least, was always fun. I guess we choose to remember the good and forget the bad. I'm sure there were squabbles and full out fights. Just like there are at my house now. But I hope my kids will only look back on the fun we have had and our traditions with smiles and laughter. Just like their parents' will! 

  Thanks Mom and Dad for the great memories! The best gift of all.

    Ang

Battle Royal

  When Prince William got married the world gushed over Kate Middleton.  We were all glad he got his "happily ever after" with a real-life Cinderella. His mother, the late Princess Diana, would have approved of his choice in partner. Then more recently we watched Prince Harry fall in love and get married too. Again the world was mesmerized. And once everyone was living the dream, the press/tabloids/opinion writers decided to begin to tear it all down. As fast as they built it up.

  It started easily enough. An article about how the two women were nothing alike. Then one about an argument over a wedding detail. A harsh word at a staff member and some alleged tears by a Duchess and voila...a 21st century drama is underway. The British tabloids are the worst in the world and they know how to rile up their readers. 

  Stories about Meghan Markle being bossy arose....I could see this being true though as there is a big difference between the British and Americans and how they live their lives. Kate didn't like her new sister-in-law. One follows the rules while the other is a rebel. All speculation of course. Most probably not true. But a magazine publishers fairy tale.

  After a year of the fairy tale now they need to invent some cracks. Harry & Meghan are moving to the country because Kensington Palace is too close quarters with Will & Kate living next door. There is a strain on the brother's relationship because of their wives dislike. Jealousy. Anger. Distance. Something new every day. And most of the "blame" is on the women.

   Is any or all of it true? Probably not. Are they best friends? Again I doubt it. But I would bet money that they are polite, friendly and civil to each other when they are together. You know...like adults are most of the time. And why did the tabloids make it about the women and not the brothers? Is it so easy to believe that women can't get along? That there is always some competition between them and conflict. Short answer...yes it is.

  I honestly don't care whether these two women like each other or not. It does not affect me one way or the other. But I wish there were more articles about women empowering each other than they seem to print about them tearing each other down. Fake or not.

  Ang

  

LOL

  You know what the world needs? Right now at this very moment? Laughter. Side-splitting, cheek hurting laughter. The kind where your ribs hurt and you've snorted at least twice. You're wiping away tears and slapping the table and still can't bring yourself under control laughing. Each and every one of us needs this. And it's pretty simple to achieve.

  Watch The Birdcage or any episode of The Golden Girls. Google Carol Burnett outtakes and watch Tim Conway cry tears of laughter. Those baby giggling videos are perfect. Or the puppies. Anything that you think is funny. Just get to a point where you forget the world around you and then ask yourself how you feel.

  You don't need to watch something either. Have a friend who is super funny or a great storyteller? Spend a few hours in their company. My cousin Irvin tells stories that make me howl in laughter. Even now just thinking about it makes me smile. Or look through some old pictures. I guarantee there is a hairstyle that will make you fall out of your chair. We all have one don't we Will? 

  The world is a serious place right now. And we are all overworked and stressed. The holiday season adds to that. We need something to relieve the tension and one that doesn't cost us a dime. It's out there we just need to grab hold.

  Ang

Baby It's Cold Outside

  Baby It's Cold Outside, it's -16 so it's really cold out there, is the new "Happy Holidays" controversy for 2018. And it's driving me mental. Why? Because it is 99% made up. Someone with too much free time on their hands made one comment and boom social media overreaction. A controversy is born.

  Yet if it wasn't for us, by us I mean folks with a social media presence, this would have died a swift death a week ago. But we can't do that. We need to talk about it as if it's true. You would think by the way this has spread that everyone has been told at least ten times that the song is offensive and they never should be subjected to the song again for fear of permanent damage to their brains. 

  Now I know this entire blog is contributing to the insanity. The irony has not escaped me but I wanted to tell people it is fake. Yes, a few radio stations have gotten complaints. They probably get those same complaints about Cardi B or Maroon 5 or even the Stones. This particular song, which we've all heard over the holidays since 1949, seems to have invoked a response in many of us.

  The worst part of this controversy? Other than the insanity of it in the first place. It's being blamed on the #MeToo movement! Women are now being accused of being too sensitive and too politically correct. Social media is now filled with users complaining about how they spend their whole day worried about the feelings of others and how no matter what they say it's taken the wrong way. One person says it, another retweets it, the next one says someone was told....the cycle begins.

  Taking an issue as important as MeToo and reducing it to this makes me very sad. Almost every single woman in the entire world has a story to tell in this movement. Saying we are all now to blame for losing a holiday classic belittles the trauma and loss of dignity many went through. It's not fair and it needs to stop.

  If song lyrics are offensive to you turn off the radio, turn the channel or pick another song. Don't make up a controversy and don't blame it on a victim.

  Ang

The Holidays...Part 1- Great Expectations

  Every year, every single year, I have big plans for Christmas present shopping. Ask me October first and not only do I have a "plan" but I'll have one gift already bought. Feel free to call me the Martha Stewart of holiday gift giving! Not only does the plan detail gifts but decorating, food and must-do events. I am delusional and everyone knows it but my true friends let me enjoy my bubble while it lasts.

  It is now the 10th of December and my plan has failed miserably. Wait that word doesn't even come close to the level of failure this year. Why you may ask? Because there is still shopping to do. And those presents must go in the mail to the other side of the country! I'm not holding my breath that they will arrive by the big day. My bubble is officially popped!

  Yesterday the tree finally went up. Not decorated. But in the stand with the lights working. Progress. Today I need to fix the branches and haul the boxes up the stairs. It does look pretty without any decorations at night....I know what you are thinking and you are right, during the day it needs something. Very few other Christmassy things will be going out though. There just isn't enough time.

  I have spent the last thirty years trying to make John excited about the holidays and the shopping and decorating. He has never, ever, shown any interest in either. Yes, he will climb the ladder for the outdoor lights. Set up the timer for said lights and haul the heavy tree up the basement stairs. But once that is done he is just as happy to sit in the chair and watch me, and now the kids, do the rest. And now the kids are losing interest. I'm doomed.

  The holiday season will go on. Whether my house is decorated or not. Tree or no tree. Cards or no cards. Presents will not matter. The days will go on till we all wake up on December 25th with the same excitement we had as children. After all, it's about being together....right?

  

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

  Ang   

  

One Good Thing....Just One

  Someone made a comment today that really struck me as truth. He said, and I'm paraphrasing here....you, as an ultra-conservative, will never think one thing a liberal does is good. And he was 100% correct. Radical liberals will react the same to conservatives. So why can't people see the other point of view on anything when it comes to politics?

  I would say that Canada suffered through almost ten years of Conservative PM Stephen Harper. I was never a fan of his for various reasons but was everything he did as the leader of Canada bad? Of course not. He made some changes and brought about some policies that I agree with. And many I didn't. The same can be said for our Premier Doug Ford. While I disagree with almost all of his ideas for the province there are a few that might just be okay for the greater good. With an open mind, I will wait and see.

  Not wanting to paint every conservative with the same brush, but I am about to, they don't seem to be able to say anything good about a liberal. The vulgar word "libtard" has become a favorite go-to word for the unyielding conservative. It's offensive and you all know better than that. I've asked several right-leaning folks to say one good thing the latest PM, a liberal, has done. Silence. They make no pretense of even giving it some thought. Nothing. That is a sad fact for the majority. Sad for us as a country too.

  There will never be a time when everyone is happy. Some leaders will always be too liberal or too conservative or not enough of either. But we need to find a happy medium where the majority of people are getting ahead. 

  Let's try to become the "glass half full" country again.

  Ang

  

  

Too Busy

 Listen up all you overworked, underpaid, stressed out and tired people. Stop complaining. That's right you heard me. Stop right now. Who do you think you are? Cardi B? Because she is so busy she can't show up for her court date. That is a level of busy you and I "average people" don't understand.

  After allegedly ordering her bodyguards to attack two female bartenders in a strip club for sleeping with her husband, she is charged with assault and reckless endangerment. Now I don't claim to be a lawyer but years of Law & Order reruns means I know you show up for court. Because an angry judge is not who you want to be standing in front of.

  Her lawyer showed up and said she was too busy because she is a "fairly notable hip-hop artist". Wow. Just say that out loud and hear how foolish it sounds. I guess the fact that she is "fairly notable" means the law doesn't apply to her as much as it would to say an unnotable cashier or a nonfamous daycare worker? Does a lot of money and musical success mean you are above the law? Apparently.

  I wonder if this same court case had happened three years ago and the defendant was Belcalis Almanzar would the judge have been so forgiving or the lawyer so confident. The answer is simple....nope. Ms. Almanzar would not be afforded the same courtesies as Cardi B. Even though they are one and the same. 

  We've watched celebrities get treated differently over the years. This is just another example. But it's a hard one because we are all too busy. It's an excuse that doesn't ring true. The judge is busy. The clerks are busy. Every single person who works in that courthouse is busy. Yet somehow they managed to drag themselves there. She has access to private planes and can afford the Uber price to show up on time. Cardi B is more important in her own mind and she made sure the judge knew it as well.

   Stop complaining about how much sleep you got or how much work you have to do. Forget about the laundry piles and the dirty dishes as you help your kid with homework or shovel your driveway. Just thank your lucky stars you aren't as busy as Cardi!

  Ang

2 Things

  I know I know it's been a while. My only excuse is the two weeks of coughing. But now that I'm sure I'll survive I'm going to tell you two things I've learned about myself during this time. And no it's not that I'm a horrible patient although that is 100% true.

  One thing I always suspected, but now I'm positive about, is that I'm not a good hockey parent. Hard to believe right? Not one of these parents has the next Crosby or McDavid. None. There probably isn't even a university scholarship possibility. Yet these parents are relentless in their screaming, yelling and nastiness. They scream at other parents, the referees and the coaches. Then they scream at their own kid while he/she is on the ice! 

  I want to tell them to relax and calm down but we all know how that ends....badly. Actually what I really want to say is shut the hell up. They look possessed.  As if the world depends on the next 30 minutes. They are living vicariously through their kids and it's sad to watch. And even harder to listen to. No, it isn't every parent but it's enough to ruin the entire experience for me. Yet I go because Riley wants to know there is someone in the stands cheering just for him. That's my job.

 The second thing I've noticed is much more positive. I think we've got this parenting thing figured out. Alex has become quite the responsible young man who proves every day we didn't mess up as badly as some days we thought we had. And while he still can't seem to figure out how to put clean clothes in the dresser or find the garbage can, those things that really matter he's got in droves. He's kind and honest. He knows the difference between doing the right thing and making poor choices. Most of all he has a moral compass that he is following more and more without our constant input. That is growing up.

  Don't get me wrong he's not perfect. He still fights constantly with his brother and too often with us. Tests with so-so marks don't make it home but he's becoming the person we always knew he would be. That makes me very proud. I can't take all the credit. John gets a portion too. Not as big a part but some. In fact, Alex is going to be more like his Dad than even I hoped. 

  I guess I'm succeeding at this parenting thing where it counts and pretending to where it doesn't. Sounds about right for most of us, doesn't it?

  Ang

My Week In Review

  After a week of coughing, I think I'm going to live! So while the meds are working well I want to talk about a few things. Like...

  Rain has never killed anyone. Not even when there is a mild wind with it. No one has ever died from rainwater hitting their face and clothes or even their umbrella. Not even while standing or walking through a cemetery. Especially not a military one. And never on the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1. Most certainly not if you are the leader of the country of the soldiers buried there. I'm no doctor but maybe it would give you shin splints so better to be safe then sorry I suppose.

  Five days ago a gunman went into a bar and shot dead twelve people. It has become so commonplace that it couldn't hold the headline for a 24-hour news cycle. What does it say about society when a mass shooting is pushed out of the headlines for tweets?

  Stan Lee has died. He was the mastermind behind so many amazing characters. His legacy is unending and will be remembered by many young fans as the old guy in every Marvel movie. At 95 he made old bones as the saying goes. His wife of 70 years died last year. Excelsior!

  Viola Desmond's ten dollar bill is being released in a few days. Finally! It has been seventy-two years since she was kicked out of a whites-only section of a movie theater in New Glasgow. She has the honor of being the first Canadian woman on a regularly circulated bill in Canada. The Queen doesn't count. It is about time.

  Winter has come to Ottawa. Snow again today. While it's melting on the roads my lawn is white. My sandals are no longer able to leave the house. Except in my suitcase wink wink. Which can't come soon enough.

  The Grinch is out in theaters and I need to go see it. Not just because I'm a Cumberbitch but nothing says it's time to decorate like Max and his fake reindeer antlers! With the ongoing renos, we are behind already. But once this cough goes away I will catch up in a hurry. I might even be able to enlist a few elves.

  That's all I can think of for the moment. Tomorrow I might actually have a real topic. Like how to change a radiator pipe on an old minivan!

  Ang

  

  

Not Your Average Mickey

  We are being tested. Not by our kids, our friends or family. Ok, maybe a little by our kids but not what I am talking about today. This house is seeing just how much resolve John and I have for living here. It is about to win. I can see a "for sale" sign in our future.

  First, there was water. Then more water. Then more water. Next came mice followed closely by, you guessed it, more water. Then mice, mice, and more mice. Then to keep the pattern going a bit more water and now more mice! Enough already. I'm not sure which of the two I hate more!

  These little bastards are relentless. A few years ago John crawled under the bay window and insulated. With that really hard spray foam. Nothing can penetrate it. For good measure, he also did the same from the inside out which at the time seemed a little overkill. All in the hopes of keeping these critters out. Well it wasn't! Guess what mice will do? They will eat through the foam. Even though it kills them. That's right it's poison to their little systems yet one after another they sacrifice themselves to find a way into my house! I'm not sure how many it took to dig the tunnel but I hope it was a lot!

  Don't lecture me on God's smallest creatures and everything has a purpose. These have none and even if they did I don't care. I just want to be able to lie in bed without the "snap" of a trap going off.  That can't be too much to ask for in my own home.

  As much as I hate the idea of sharing my home with them, they are slowly taking away what little sanity John has left. I swear to you he might not make it through this. He walks around mumbling to himself. Swearing mostly. Checking traps. Listening for snaps. All the time scratching his head trying to figure out where else they could be coming in. He might just be the first person committed for rodents.

  By the end of this week if they are still here the sign goes on the lawn. No need for agents, lawyers or inspections. Just come with whatever cash you have in your wallet and it's yours. We will even leave the furniture. We will be well and truly beaten.

  Apparently, we will be moving to New Zealand. They have a plan in place to eradicate the vermin by 2050.  Maybe they will be ahead of schedule! A girl can dream.

  Ang

  

Not Bad

  I woke up a hundred times at least last night. My mouth was dry and my throat was sore. My head was pounding. And not for the first time in my life I cursed these Warner sinuses. It doesn't help that my Mom's family has the same issues so I've got it doubly, if that is a word, bad. 

  So with a headache and sore throat, I crawled back to bed after the kids left hoping for some relief. I took the laptop with me to check my stocks and maybe make a few dollars after a crappy week for the stock market. Scrolling through a few news sites I saw an article about a man in his seventies who lost his job at PBS for saying Meghan Markle was "Not bad".

  Here's how it apparently went down. This man was working on an article about the royal couple with another male coworker and was overheard by two female coworkers when he made the not bad comment. They could not see the picture in question but complained to their superiors about it and two days later he was fired without ever being asked about the comment or the context of it. Which he says had more to do with her grace and charm melding nicely with Harry's.

  It would never occur to me that this comment would ever be considered bad enough to lose your job over. But he did. But here is where the story gets interesting for me. The same two women who complained about his comment had been seen looking at a photo of our very own PM Justin Trudeau and called him "hot". They were not investigated and they suffered no consequences. Hmmmm that's interesting.

  Now the women's comments were witnessed. It was known they were looking at a man and I don't know how you can take "hot" and make it anything but sexual. So where were the disciplinary actions? How come they weren't fired? Is there a double standard at play here? The answer to that is absolutely. And that bias can hurt women who are legitimately harassed at work. Here's why.

  Once a woman gets a pass for doing something wrong men will use that as the basis for getting out of consequences when they do the same thing. That's a fact. And who can blame them? Either the rules are for everyone or they are for no one. Living in the real world we know that isn't always true but we cannot expect men to be punished and not ourselves. That would mean we are not equal and not able to suffer the results of our actions. Back to square one.

  Most likely this man will get his job back and some compensation for the damage to his reputation. What should happen is both of his female coworkers are fired. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Then perhaps they will understand that not only men harass and they will take a closer look at their own behavior.

  Feminism is about equality. If women truly want to be equal then we cannot accept two sets of rules just because one is leaning in our favor. 

  Ang

Dear Mrs. Clinton

    Dear Hilary Clinton,
    
  I am a fan. A big fan. I like how you have made your own choices. Fought your own battles. Stood your ground against bullies. Shattered ceiling after ceiling after ceiling. I am proud to say you are a fellow female in this male-dominated world. Women cannot thank you enough for what you have done for us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

  Now.....please go retire somewhere. Stop talking about a possible presidential run in 2020. Or any political office anywhere. Find a nice cottage on the beach somewhere. Or move closer to your grandkids and spoil the crap out of them. Travel the world. Climb Mount Everest. Do anything but do it quietly and out of the public eye. 

  There are many people who need a shot at the top job. Both male and female. Up and comers who need to become front and center with the country. You and your husband have had your hours in the spotlight. Move aside. Let someone else fix the United States problems.

  It may sound harsh, and I say this with love, you will lose and worse. Worse is Trump winning again which he most definitely will do if you run. His base hates you more than you think and will come out in droves to see you humiliated again. Trust me. Most of us don't want to see that happen again.

  The country has had two Bush presidents. It doesn't need to have a second Clinton. Especially now where your country is fighting for its very soul. It needs new blood. New leadership. New vision. All metered out with sanity and calmness. The polar opposite of what you have today.

  Please think about the Cory Bookers and Kamala Harris's of your party. Let them show the country they have what it takes to lead you all down the right path. They may stumble a little at first but they will not fall. Or fail.

  In closing Mrs. Clinton, please remember there is life after politics. Most of us can't wait for retirement. Perhaps you should follow our lead.

  Ang

Why?

  I hadn't even finished writing about the pipe bombs that had sent the U.S. into chaos last week when the news of another mass shooting, this time in a synagogue in Pittsburgh, hit the air. While the entire country was lucky that not one bomb actually exploded, eleven people inside that house of worship were not so lucky. This yet again begs the question....what is wrong in the United States?

  Millions of people every weekend go to church or temple. Right now at nine in the morning people are sitting and kneeling in pews and benches praying to whomever they believe in. Peaceful and serene. But as with many times in the past, yesterday reminded us that no place is sacred. Or safe.

  Schools aren't safe. Movies theaters either. Not nightclubs. Or concerts. Malls. Sporting events. Airports. Private companies. Medical clinics, army bases, spas and the streets in your neighborhood are all fair game for mass shootings. Where does that leave? Nowhere. Once you leave your home nowhere is safe.

  Going back to my question of what's wrong in the U.S., I don't have an answer for you. Yes, access to automatic weapons plays a role. So does having a leader who embraces chaos and gives permission to create it. Feeling disenfranchised absolutely. Bigotry. Racism. Yes, yes and yes. However....there are countries with similar gun access and this isn't a common occurrence. There are dictators and fanatics in charge of many countries where this doesn't happen. Poor people without hope are worldwide. Bigots and racists live outside the U.S. as well. 

  So why is it commonplace there and nowhere else? I wish I knew. Being able to explain it might mean we could change it. Or stop it altogether. Right now we can all make assumptions and guesses but we are all grasping at straws. 

  After all, if the murder of 21 four and five-year-olds doesn't have people making radical changes......absolutely nothing will!

  Ang

  

  

Ian Rankin

  Yesterday John and I, and some other folks had lunch with famous Scottish author Ian Rankin. I have been looking forward to this since I bought the tickets three months ago. He is my favorite author by far and most of his books I have read at least three times. So to say I was excited to hear him speak about his new book, In A House of Lies, is an understatement.

  While he did give a few insights into this latest chapter in the lives of John Rebus, Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox he also gave some background on the people and places I've read about for years. Giving me a whole new insight into some of the characters who find their way into each book. Making me want to go back and read them all over again. Smart move Mr. Rankin!

  Take one of my favorite relationships in the Rebus series, the police officer and the criminal. Big Ger as he is referred to, has lived a life of crime but could have been a successful businessman had circumstances been just a little more in his favor. And Rebus just the opposite. He walked a fine line between cop and criminal too many times to count and could just have easily been the breaker of laws instead of the enforcer. They are polar opposites yet so similar. They hate each other, in some ways respect each other and in an almost unbelievable way, they are friends. Hearing the author reiterate what I always knew, or thought I knew, made the characters more "human" to me.

  When Ian, I'm on a first name basis in my mind at least, spoke about his writing and characters I was intrigued. Someone who has written for a living for over thirty years still has those moments of blankness that I have. Sits down with no clue where things are going or how they will end. Something that anyone who tries to write anything can understand. 

  One line I found most fascinating "The book writes itself." made so much sense to me. These characters have been around for decades. They have grown emotionally, gotten older, had relationships and setbacks. Their history propels them in certain directions that as readers we expect and enjoy. As an author Ian Rankin lets them go where they are meant to. It all sounds so....easy. Yet it's not. 

  I cannot tell you how happy a simple lunch made me. Or how listening to someone talk made me want to start reading again, something I have done very little of since finding Netflix a few years ago. Thank you, Ian Rankin, for coming and renewing my love of reading. Thank you for signing my book....ok books I did  take my favorite one with me just in case! Finally a huge thank you for another installment of John and Gerald. I hope you never run out of ideas for these two.

  And thanks for the selfie! 

  Ang

  



  

Thailand's Rules

  A 23-year-old woman from Alberta is sitting in a jail in Thailand right now and many people are outraged at the idea she may get up to ten years in prison for her crime. She has admitted to committing the crime but explains she was intoxicated and is very sorry for what she has done. Her crime? Writing graffiti on an ancient wall.

  "This is not a crime that warrants jail time." and "She's only a kid who made a mistake." are both floating around the news services.  Brittany Schneider is twenty-three, an adult, not thirteen which is a child. Would the punishment be different here in Canada? Absolutely but welcome to Thailand and it's their country and their laws.

  When you travel anywhere you must adhere to the laws of the land. Not Canada's. And when you break those laws you cannot cry to the Canadian government to bail you out of trouble and put you on the first flight home to the Great White North. They can help get you a lawyer or make sure you are being fed and taken care of medically but that's it most of the time. Part of your vacation planning should include a quick google search of laws and customs for the destination. Hell do it at the airport before your flight but be prepared. Especially if you are prone to drunken stupidity.

  I was told I had a "harsh" take on the situation. Where was my compassion? My empathy for a person who made a wrong choice? My response? Imagine that she had spray painted the War Memorial. Would you still be saying she was just a kid who made a mistake? Would you not be livid when she only received a fine and community service? People would be screaming for a tougher sentence. But she didn't disfigure anything of ours so we can be more lenient? I don't think so.

  A Thai jail is not going to be like anything here in Canada. Not even close. And if she does go to jail she will have a hard road in front of her. But perhaps she, and all of us, will learn a valuable lesson. Know where you are going. Know their customs and their rules. 

  Then respect them.

  Ang

  
  

  

Cannabis is Finally Legal

  Now that cannabis is finally legal in Canada can we move on to another topic please? It's been months and months of talk about production, will there be enough, where can you do it blah blah blah. Yes I do get this is a big deal but surely we have beaten this topic to death ten times over. Let's find something else to obsess about.

  Over the course of my lifetime, I've lost many friends to drugs. Some have died and some have lost everything that mattered to them. What they all have in common is marijuana was their introduction to illegal drugs. And I know some of you don't agree with me but I see it as a gateway drug that can easily start people down a road to something much worse. Please don't explain to me why you disagree this is what I have seen.

  Study after study shows that cannabis use in teenagers does permanent damage to their brains up till the age of twenty-five. But what is the legal age to buy/use/grow? Eighteen or nineteen, it varies by province. So there is at least five years of government-sanctioned brain damage that can happen. And again don't tell me how friends or family have always used it and they are really smart. I don't want to hear it. With two kids I'm not willing to take the chance they will be like your Uncle Bob or cousin Mary instead of Cheech and Chong. Besides, how do we know this is as smart as they could have been? Maybe they were supposed to be the folks who cured cancer. Ever think about that?

  I have no quarrel with adults, who are not working or driving, from partaking in this particular hobby. I couldn't care less. But when you throw kids into the equation we need to be more cautious. And I'm not so sure we have. The police have said legalization came too fast. Shouldn't we listen to them since they are the ones who have to uphold the law? 

  Those of you who are celebrating today please do so responsibly. Do not drive while under the influence. Do not work under it either. Be respectful to those who choose not to. And do not expect that everyone is going to be happy about this change. 

  Ang

  

Some Interesting News

  A few news articles peaked my interest overnight and I thought I would catch you up on a few of them. Like...

  Harry and Meghan told their family about their pregnancy at his cousin's wedding. Not cool. You do not steal the wedding couples spotlight. It's rude and very disrespectful. And doesn't make for pleasant Sunday dinners either. One more day would not have killed them. It says a lot about who they are as a couple. Yes I know it's their first child and they are excited but I doubt they would have wanted someone to make the same announcement during their special day.

  Hilary Clinton does not get the MeToo movement at all. Not one iota. During an interview, she was given a chance to clarify her husband's infidelities during his time as President. Instead she again missed the mark on whether an affair with an intern was an abuse of power. It was and everyone knows it so why didn't she say it? But here's where I falter. What did we expect her to say honestly? Yup he is a sexual predator? Or he should have been kicked out of his job? She stayed married to the guy so while she may have said it privately there is no way in hell she was saying it in an interview. If I stayed after that I wouldn't either. So while I wish she would, I get why she won't. 

  Global warming, yes it is real, is what is behind the intensifying hurricanes and tropical storms affecting the world. They are coming faster, hitting harder and lasting longer than we have seen before. The rise of sea levels means more damage farther inland and that is going to cause major damage in areas that were supposed to be safe. Yet many people still don't believe this is a reality. Or worse that there is nothing we can do to stop it. They are both wrong and we need to start right now seriously trying to fix it or our grandkids are screwed.

  A woman tried to stop her black neighbor from entering his own apartment building. He was on his way home from work and this woman tried to bar his entry. Was it race related? Of course it was. He happened to have his phone out, who doesn't these days, and recorded her. After it was posted on social media she lost her job. Even though this occurred while she was at home and not work. Did she deserve to lose her job over this? I don't know but we are now squarely in the  "big brother is watching" time that Orwell spoke about way back in 1949. It is safe to assume that no matter where you are or what you are doing someone is watching. And taping it on their phone.

  It's now early in the evening. I've walked away from the computer several times today. Life has a tendency to interrupt writing. I just want to add one more news item that I found shocking but not surprising. Donald Trump called a woman "horseface" on Twitter. How does an adult do that? Let alone someone who is the leader of a country? Especially one who's wife's major agenda item is online bullying. What an ass.

  Keeping informed in this digital age is easy. Sorting through it not so much.

  Ang

  

  

  

  

I'm a Hypocrite.....But

  Last year I wrote about a baseball team in the United States and how they sold raffle tickets on a rifle to raise money. I believe I went on a little rant about how irresponsible it was and just a little strange to use something not intended for children to raise money for children. I guess that makes me a bit of a hypocrite because I just finished making raffle tickets for Riley's hockey team and the prizes are.....liquor.

  Yup, I guess I didn't put alcohol and firearms in the same league. Yet when I spend a second thinking about it, there is no difference. Not really. What seemed insanity for a children's fundraiser is now exactly what I am participating in. I should probably take a few minutes to reflect on what exactly that says about me. 

  Yet I cannot change the fact that when it comes to raising money nothing is a bigger seller than alcohol. Especially as we start to come into the holiday season. All of my friends, even those who are not drinkers, buy some. Who knows who'll stop by and want a glass of wine or a beer. A nice bottle of wine is a great hostess gift or for a neighbor. And every single teacher would love to get a bottle of something. Seriously they would.

  As I'm sitting here at my dining room table writing this, I've already sold over half of them....over social media. One comment and my friends open their wallets. See liquor sells. And easily.

  I am going to embrace my hypocrisy and sell as many raffle tickets as I can. Maybe one of my friends will be a lucky winner. I won't get Riley to sell any though. Now that I've brought it to my own attention I might feel weird watching him do that.

  Or maybe not. 

  Ang

  

The Princess & Mr. Brooksbank

  This morning I watched bits and pieces of the latest royal wedding between Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. Over the years she has been criticized often by the press for her fashion sense, her vacations and the luxurious lifestyle she lives. That life is common to people born into money. So why does she get so much negative attention when William and Harry are adored?

  Part of it is her Mom I suppose. And theirs. The world seems to think that Fergie is an embarrassment and a joke to both herself and the royal family. Maybe they are always waiting to say "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree". Diana never lost her sparkle even after affairs and a tell-all book. While it seems wrong to say it, dying so young and so tragically made her almost saint-like to many people. Making her kids more sympathetic as well.

  Most people who come from money and boy does this family have some, live differently than you and I. Ever stepped on a private yacht? Or celebrated your birthday in a palace? Have servants wait on you 24/7? Not wait for a table or inline at "the" club? Let's not forget private jets and a black AMEX card. All of those things are beyond us but as common to them as shopping at Walmart and eating at Red Lobster is to us. And that is by no means a slight to either company, I love the stuffed mushrooms at RL.

  On Harry's big day no one mentioned his Nazi costume from a few years back but I heard several times, on several different sites, about her past missteps when it comes to fashion. The costume seems ten times worse to me than a fascinator that is ugly or a dress that doesn't suit your coloring. We are all guilty of making bad fashion choices over the years. Why bring them up when she looked stunning on her wedding day? Seems petty, doesn't it?

   Unlike Kate Middleton or Meghan Markle, Eugenie has lived her entire life in the public eye. There are pics of temper tantrums and drunken bar nights I'm sure. Every boyfriend, every job, every appearance scrutinized. Every mistake and embarrassment front page news. It's a sad existence really when you look at it. Yet now Kate and Meghan are fashion darlings when we all know there are some bad choices hiding somewhere.

  Just now I saw a split screen picture of Eugenie and Meghan with the title "The Year of Meghan". Didn't she have her own day? Shouldn't the press let this woman have her own day without being compared to her cousin's wife? Personally, I don't get the hoopla around Ms. Markle. 

  Let Eugenie have her wedding day. Let her be the center of attention. The most beautiful. The most loved. Let her celebrate marrying the man of her dreams. Then leave her alone to get on with her life. Let's hope they will be happy.

  Ang

  
  

Twitter Madness

  A man on Twitter just told me that if women didn't come forward right away when they were victims of a crime then no one should believe them. It is their own fault when they don't get any justice. Then a woman said it's too bad but if they don't come forward then no man's life should be ruined because of it. This same woman then asked me if I was a "new-age feminist" and did I feel big and important while trying to ruin a good man's name and reputation. 

  All this took approximately three minutes on Twitter. Now I love that particular social media more than any other. I can find out things in a second. It's short, sweet and to the point. But it's also nasty, vile and disheartening. It's that damn keyboard courage I keep talking about.

  I have found though that killing people with kindness works wonders on that platform. So I responded with civility...aren't you proud of me Lew Bayer?...and agreed with one of her statements, one that wasn't totally nuts. And her entire attitude changed. She wasn't rude. Or superior. Yes, she was still very very very Republican conservative but the nastiness seemed to have left her keyboard. We disagreed but in an easier manner. Could it really be that simple?

  Feeling a bit proud of myself after numerous polite exchanges, I thought one more engagement might just make her see my point as clearly as I saw hers. Using my best language skills I said how I hope that one day, in the very near future, all women would feel safe enough to come forward in a timely fashion so real justice could prevail. I ended my tweet with a simple enjoy your weekend. An adult exchange! On Twitter!

  Nope cause the bat-shit crazy came out of the eaves. White men were the true victims. Women were vindictive and only wanted revenge from these wonderful people who had probably scorned them in some way. The Democrats were using them as pawns in their political treason and making them victims. She took it back to politics. So much for that adult stuff I mentioned.

  Let me make it perfectly clear....I think Brett Kavanaugh did it. He was a heavy drinker on one hand and a choir boy on the other. He was an innocent but liked to party. But the main reason I think he is guilty is Dr. Ford. Do I think we should always believe a woman over a man...no.  In this case, when it comes to credibility I have to say she had lots and he had none.

  I will continue to enjoy Twitter. But I won't try to have an adult conversation with someone who's profile pic shows them wearing a MAGA hat!!!

  Ang

The Porn Star vs The Dr.

  I asked John one day not that long ago why Stormy Daniels was always referred to as a porn star. Every news commentator on every channel said the same words over and over again to describe her. Porn star Stormy Daniels. Stormy Daniels the porn star. As if that was all she was in life.

  Ms. Daniels was treated as if being a porn star, not illegal by the way, was the absolute lowest form of employment known to humankind. It is not. There are many jobs much worse in my humble opinion. But because she has a career that many find questionable she is treated in a certain way. At times that meant she was treated with disrespect and disdain. With rudeness and a lack of civility. Her words were dismissed. Her honesty questioned.

  Fast forward to these past few days and you see the treatment Dr. Ford has been getting. She has been treated with the utmost respect and dignity by everyone. Politicians, including Republicans, news people, 
and even the White House are watching their P's and Q's for the most part. She is consistently called credible. 

  Now one is a porn star. One has a doctorate. Should that make one more credible than the other? No. Does it? To many yes. That makes me sad because I'm assuming more women in the lower tax bracket and education ladder have to deal with people questioning their words than their counterpart. So why are folks more apt to believe the "good" woman? Is it because they think she doesn't deserve what happened but the "bad girl" does?

  Unlike Ms. Ford, Stormy Daniels is not saying she was sexually abused by Trump or anyone else. But her treatment in the press, and by Trump and his "people", is abuse plain and simple. And that treatment will mean that others will not come forward. Who could blame them? To be called a liar, a low life, and worse? Nope, it makes perfect sense why they wouldn't want to be revictimized. 

  One final thought on this topic and it is aimed directly at any and all women reading this. Stop asking why did she wait. Stop asking where the witnesses are. Stop asking why she didn't just move on. Stop trying to minimize her fears. Stop. Just stop. Instead.....try lifting her up. Try understanding. Try compassion. Try imagining yourself as a victim. Try. Just try.

  And if you can't....shut the hell up and make room for someone who can.

  Ang

  

  

  

I'm Tired

  I'm tired. Of hearing the same things about the same people over and over and over again. It's not as if there isn't enough news going on in the world. We don't need to hear about the same handful of folks day in and day out. Let's expand our horizons a little.

  Meghan Markle annoys the crap out of me. This time last year she was a semi-successful actress and now she is a Duchess who is news fodder every day. We hear about her not wearing hose, as if it's headline news. Then it's her hair and how a messy bun is her standing up to the Queen. Enough already. I'm sick of hearing is she or isn't she pregnant. The "American Princess" is famous for doing nothing except marrying well.

  Michael Avenatti is another person I could do with hearing less about. He is everywhere talking about Trump and how he is going to be the one to depose him and bring him to his knees. Enough already. Hints and innuendos are old news. Either show what you got or go away. Now he is representing another Kavanaugh victim. Maybe. He has yet to bring her forward and the clock is ticking on that front so what is the hold-up? Oh wait it's build-up for...drum roll please...his 2020 Presidential run! Give me a break. And a tylenol.

  Marijuana is a topic I've had enough of as well. Whether you are for or against its legalization it's happening and soon. Stock analysts here seem to talk about little else and the volatility of the major company's stock price. I worry about my kids and the effects it has on young brains. But since I'm making a small fortune on its stock I guess that makes me a hypocrite. A title I can live with I assure you.
  
  NAFTA. Those letters make headlines every day. Mostly in the fact that Canada isn't being fair, if you watch U.S. news and Canada is standing firm if you watch CBC. Either way, let the negotiators do their job and come up with something that is fair for both sides. Christina Freeland is trying to negotiate with a flip-flopper. Leave her alone cause that cannot be easy. 

  And last, but certainly not least, the big guy himself Trump. I want one day. Just one day where he doesn't say or do something that makes Chris Cuomo roll his eyes or me swear at the tv set. A mere twenty-four hours without insanity coming from his lips. Though after the reception he got at the UN yesterday today will not be that day.

  We are living in a bubble. One of our own creation. And if we aren't careful we might not survive when it pops.

  Ang

  

We Aren't In Kansas Toto!

  On Friday we had a tornado! In Ottawa! In September! That has never happened before in recorded history. But we didn't have just one. We had three. And though this isn't like a Kansas tornado, the damage was extensive but luckily no one died.

  We were sitting here with friends talking and laughing. Not really paying attention to the weather outside. Yes we had turned a lamp on but it's fall and it gets darker earlier. Apparently, the fact that it was only 5 pm didn't click with us. That I blame on the wine. Every computer, smartphone, and tv in the house started sending out alerts for possible tornados. We all silenced them and returned to our socializing.

  The wind blew. The sky got very black. Then the wind subsided and we could see traces of blue in the distance. We contemplated bbqing but it was raining on and off. Then we proceeded to spend the rest of the evening reminiscing and laughing. Not realizing what was happening just a twenty-minute drive away.

  Saturday morning was a real shock for us all. There was damage and lots of it. Over a hundred thousand people had lost power. Roads were closed. Houses destroyed. Our house? We had three leaves in the pool. 

  Then the real miracle began. People, ordinary people, started helping their neighbors. They brought hot food and checked on the elderly. Blankets, clothes, diapers, shoes...you name it, it was distributed. They cleared branches and moved debris. Homes were opened up for showers and a place to put your feet up. Ottawa showed it's true colors.

  There is a lot of work to be done. Right now there are thirty homes that will need to be demolished. Another twenty they are assessing because of extensive damage and one hundred with some form of damage that will need to be repaired. Too many trees down to count. Crews are working hard and every day progress is made.

  A huge thank you must be said to all the first responders!! Police, firefighters, EMT's. And there are no words to express the entire city's thanks to the Hydro One crews who worked 24/7 restoring power. They had a tough job and did it well. 

  One final thing....we spend a lot of time complaining about social media and how awful it can be. These past few days our Mayor showed everyone how it can be used in times of crisis to relay correct information in the fastest way possible. To keep people safe and informed with updates and to distribute help to those that need it most. So thanks Mayor Watson for all the information!

  The next time my phone says there is an emergency I will listen. And do whatever it tells me to do!

  Ang   

I'm Done Parenting For The Day

  The next parent who tells me how wonderful their children are ALL the time...be prepared cause you are not going to like my response. 

  The next grandparent who has a selective memory and says their children were never misbehaved, rude or lazy and that their grandchildren most certainly are not....again be prepared.

  The next childless person who gives me parenting advice to better control my kids and how I went wrong as a parent......do I really have to say it?

  The next "reason with them about proper behavior" lecture I get....are you seeing the trend here?

  Maybe it's an off day, or week, or month but I have had it with parenting. I'm tired of repeating myself five times and still no one has heard a word I've said or done one thing I've asked! Then when I'm ranting like a lunatic they finally hear me and ask why I'm freaking out!!!

  Are my kids the only ones who don't know where the garbage can is? Or the hamper? Was I supposed to teach them 1000 times instead of 999 to wipe the toothpaste off the sink? What about loading the dishwasher or putting clothes away? Someone needs to tell me exactly how many times I'm supposed to teach them those basic life skills because apparently I haven't quite gotten to that magic number yet.

  Yes, I'm frustrated. Yes, I'm angry. And yes I am somewhat disappointed with myself for getting to this point. But parenting is a daily struggle of balancing expectations and reality. Seeing success amongst the failure. Knowing that tomorrow will be better. Or worse. That doing your best is all you can do.

  But if one of you feels the need to give me any advice on any of the above.....not tonight. You've been warned!

  Ang

  

Sins of the Husband

  I'd bet money that Brett Kavanaugh's wife is wishing her hubby had said no when asked to be the supreme court nominee. Whether he is guilty or innocent is no longer relevant for those around him. She is embarrassed. Her kids are too. While she will defend him to the ends of the earth publically, I would think she no longer thinks of this whole process as a career boost.

  Maybe she can hang out with Julie Chen.....excuse me Moonves now. After all this is over they can have coffee laced with whiskey and commiserate on how they paid for accusations against their husbands. It's looking as if Mrs. Moonves will be leaving her day job as a talk show host because of her Mr.'s deeds. A show she has anchored since it's inception.

  So why are these women paying a steep price because of their husbands? Why can't Julie Chen go back to The Talk and do just that...talk. Would she be any less relatable because of this? Or is what Joy Behar said really the hard truth...what can she ever talk about without it coming back to her husband's allegations?  Ashley Kavanaugh has had a great career as well. Does she just abandon any hopes of advancement in the future because of this?

  The short answer is public figures sins are paid for by their families as well as themselves. Period. And when it comes to allegations of sexual abuse today everyone pays and quickly. Both of these women will be asked why they stayed and how they can ever explain to their daughters the whole situation. It's not fair, their marriages are their own private business. But Hilary Clinton has paid for standing beside her husband for years. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not.

  But these two innocent women aren't the only ones paying big prices. So are the accusers. Never wonder why some women wait years before speaking out on abuse. They are dragged through the mud and their entire lives are opened up to scrutiny. Who can blame them for wanting to keep their trauma private when they know exactly what is going to happen to them. Assaulted again.

  It's time for men to understand this behavior isn't acceptable, whether you are in the entertainment business or the bar business. Women need to be heard and believed not shamed and ridiculed. And the spouses of these men should be left alone to deal with their marital issues in private.

  Kavanaugh and Moonves are in the news and having their lives gone through with a fine-toothed comb. So are there victims. Which begs the question....why hasn't anything been done when Trump has not one, not two, not three accusers but 17???

   Ang

Curtains To What???

    When we moved into this house nine and a half years ago one of the first things I wanted to do was take down the ugly, don't work properly blinds from the patio door in the family room. Last week I finally got around to it! Casually I asked John to fill in the holes left because the new curtains were not going to be in the same spots. That was the start of a tsunami.

  While waiting for the mud to dry, he asked about painting the room. The mud, of course, was going to stick out against the tan walls. That sounded like a great idea so of course I agreed. Maybe I'll change out the last of that baseboard while I'm at it was the next comment from his lips. Remember all I wanted was new drapes.

  The next day while John was at work I removed the baseboards in preparation of painting. All the furniture was moved out or to the middle of the room. While I was cooking supper and he was catching up on the events of the day, John said the wires from the tv were driving him nuts and since the mud was out anyway he should finally put them behind the wall out of sight. 

  Before we went to bed, a mere four hours later, a plan was hatched. One I had no idea would be put into motion by new curtains. Especially with the basement supposedly on the fall agenda for renos. But life in our house is never as we plan.

  As I sit at the island watching him work, let me tell you John's new and improved family room extravaganza. First, the ugly, woodburning fireplace is gone! Completely gone. This in itself brings me more joy than I can convey to you. Soon there will be a beautiful new fireplace on the same wall surrounded by a natural stone finish! Can you picture it already??

  Not to be outdone, the walls on either side will have built-in cabinets and shelves, with lights under each one. Staggered on a beautiful barn board wall to complement the fireplace stone! All of this came out of the beautiful brain of my hubby. With a little help from Pintrest.

  Let me say again...I was only looking for curtains! Not one of the extras came from me. I may have been hoping his mind went in that direction but I certainly never would have suggested any of them. At least not right now. After the basement is finished perhaps but not this week.

  I can't wait to see the finished product. As a bit of a perfectionist, John does sensational work. He enjoys building and making our home a place we all want to hang out at. Soon that is exactly what we will be doing!

  And isn't that what a family room is supposed to be?

  Ang

Taxes Taxes and More Taxes...and Interest

  Like most Canadians, I assume, we file our taxes every spring....on time. Since John retired we always owe some extra tax money. When the taxes are filed we immediately pay them. Immediately. Same day. Same hour. Almost the same minute. Apparently, that isn't good enough for Revenue Canada.

  We have received notification that some interest is due. Interest? Isn't that what you pay when you owe money? Our balance is zero. It must be a mistake. Not according to them it isn't. They want us to pay installments on the projected or estimated amount that we are going to owe. Four times a year they want a lump sum payment from us. On taxes we don't yet owe. The outstanding balance we have at the moment is based on not making those payments. Am I making this clear? Interest on money not yet owed.

  This is insanity! Now perhaps if we were always delinquent filing on the taxes or late with the payment maybe I could see their point. But we are neither. So why should we be forced to make payments on money we do not yet owe or even more bizarre pay interest on said unmade payments? We didn't ask for the payment plan nor agreed to it or how much it could/should/would be! This was all from them. Remember we ALWAYS pay the amount owed in full.

  What the CRA doesn't seem to understand or care about is that when filing my returns every year I get a refund. And it's always 75-90% of what John owes. I file first, well before they are due, receive my refund and then use that to pay John's. With a little help from our savings. They are asking for money we do not have extra right now but do have in the spring. WTH??!!

  It's a losing battle with CRA I know. We will pay up and shut up as most of us do when it comes to this branch of the government. The fear of an audit keeps us in line I suppose. Part of living in a country is paying taxes and I really do enjoy all the things we receive from those funds however I would just like to owe it before I pay it.

  Hmm, I wonder how PM Minister Brian Mulroney got out of paying taxes on that $250K cash he put in his safe and never claimed? Think he would take my phone call?

  Ang
  

Ramblings

   A week ago after enjoying the peace and quiet that comes with back-to-school, I sat down to give this little blog of mine my full attention. Filled with ideas, opinions and curiosity I was raring to go. With a full cup of coffee and a comfortable chair I open the laptop and it's.....dead. As the proverbial door-nail.

   One quick trip to a "nerd", not meant as any kind of insult I assure you, and the words I was dreading. The battery is dead and it's hard wired to the motherboard so it won't work plugged in either. Then the final nail in the coffin...it will cost upwards of $500 and three weeks to fix! Ugh. All of my enthusiasm gone.

  So now I have confiscated Riley's chromebook today to try and catch up. Lots has happened over the past week that I have been dying to talk about. Here we go.....

  Serena Williams, I'm not sure if she is a tyrant or a victim or a women's equality fighter, but I do know she has stolen away the spotlight from the actual U.S. Women's Open Naomi Osaka. By all accounts she was winning the match and at the time of the incident Ms. Williams was in no way making a come back. But she will be forever remembered as part of the incident and not for the huge accomplishment she made.

  Doug Ford is invoking a Not Withstanding clause in the constitution to bypass a court ruling he doesn't like. It seems petty on his part as it has to do with the size of city council in Toronto where his brother was the Mayor before his death. No matter what the reason I'm leery of anyone having the power to overrule something when it's gone through all the proper channels. It smells a little of a dictatorship.

  Donald Trump did thumbs up and fist pumping at a September 11 memorial ceremony. Why this surprises folks is beyond me. He has no idea how to behave in most situations. Then proceeded to explain how the storm relief in Puerto Rico was a huge success...remember almost 3000 people died as the result of Hurricane Maria! That is a success?? Not by my standards thank you very much. Every single day he says or does something that is offensive, rude and wrong. Why am I still shocked on a daily basis I wonder?

  It's been seventeen years since the attack in NYC and boy has the world changed a lot since then. This year the services were not as elaborate. As time goes by I suppose they will become less and less common. Life moves on and while we still remember what happened it dulls in our memory. That's the way of the world I suppose.

  It's time for me to move on with my day. I'm sure many more things will catch my attention. Hopefully one of them will be a new computer!

  Ang