Politics

  When it comes to politics people have short memories. Very short. Whatever party you like can do no wrong and the others can do no right. And when the other party gets into power....history rewrites itself.

  The Conservative party was in power for over 9 years. Over that time they made some good choices for the country. But they also made bad ones too. No one can believe PM Harper did anything intentionally to hurt the country. In the eyes of many though, he did. 

  Now we have a Liberal government.  After only one year, PM Trudeau is being heralded as a great leader by his supporters. Not surprisingly, as a failure by those who aren't. Such is the life of politicians.

  John Lydgate said "You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time." That sums up politics perfectly I think.

  However much you dislike this Prime Minister, or the previous ones, we do owe that office respect. We are lucky to have the systems in place for honest, open elections where we can fire one leader and hire another. 

  Besides no matter what your personal opinion of PM Trudeau or PM Harper I think we can all agree they are both much, much, MUCH better than Donald Trump.

  Ang

Send In The Clowns

  With Halloween less than a week away I thought it was time to talk about those "clowns" we keep hearing about. For those of you not in the know....people are getting dressed up as clowns and scaring the pants off of folks. So far this has been reported in many parts of the world. Quite a few here in Canada.

  Some incidents are on dark, deserted roads late at night. Others are happening to people walking in the evenings. Some are even knocking on people's doors and peeking in windows. WTH???

  How or why this fad started is beyond me. Why no one has been killed yet is an even bigger mystery. After all there is no telling what the intent is of the clown OR the reaction of the person that has been scared.

  Just in case there is any doubt....if you are dressed as a clown and jump out at me as I'm driving, the chances are extremely high that my foot will go to the gas not the brake. A knee jerk reaction if you will. One I'm sure most drivers will experience. And I'm also sure not a court in the country would convict me for running you over.

  Life has consequences. Lots of them. Being an idiot and trying to scare people might have more than you expected. This is not a joke.

  No one finds this funny.

  Ang

Brrrr

  It's raining this morning. That cold, fall rain. The kind that means a sweater, scarf and jacket. It chills you right to the bone. I think it's because we are still in denial that summer is over.

 Alex still left for school in shorts. He swore he had gym first class and will change into his pants afterwards. I heard the same thing yesterday and he arrived home still in those same shorts. Probably today too.

  Riley, on the other extreme, wore a hat, gloves, jacket and his woolly pajamas. He was not taking any chances on being cold. Or wet since he also took an umbrella.

  I want to turn on the heat. I really do but....once it goes on you can never go back. The first morning you touch that button you have made a statement....I'm choosing to believe winter is here. I'm not quite there yet. My Dad used to tell us to "think warm". It could become my phrase of the week.

  Maybe next week I'll be ready. I doubt it but you never know. What I know right now is I need to find a sweater.

  And maybe some gloves.

  Ang

  

School....yuck!

  
  Alex accused me this morning of not knowing what it's like to be a teenager and hate school. No amount of words on my part could make him believe that in fact I do. But yes I do. I remember all too well.

  Turning 13, starting high school, everything different and everyone new. Yup I remember it all. The fear and anxiety. Will I fit in? Will I make friends? Will I pass my classes? We've all been there. Unfortunately our kids can't see that.

  I can't blame him for disliking school. He's up at 6:00, on the bus at 7:15. From 8:00 til 2:00 he's sitting and listening. Not talking with friends or playing on his phone. Quietly taking notes while teachers drone on about subjects he might not understand or have any interest in. Not to mention homework. It's tough.

  But it's also his job. Right now that is where he needs to be. Doing what he needs to be doing. And while I wish it was more engaging for him, this is the real world. School isn't always fun. It isn't all bad either though. Today it might be hard to get him to see that.

  I'm his teacher 365 days out of the year. Today I must teach him it's life. We all get through it.

  Ang
  

Early Night

  John drove 560 kms....today. Alex was at a Scouts camp ninety minutes away. Of course when we said yes to the camp we didn't realize it was that far. Then no sooner did he get home then a quick lunch and off to Riley's hockey game. That was an hour away. Way too much time in a car on a Sunday afternoon.

  Luckily, for me, I got to stay home out of the rain. Nice and dry with old movies on in the background. Some how folding laundry doesn't seem so bad when Mrs. Doubtfire's with me. Too bad she couldn't put it away!

  Our weekends seem to rush by lately. Too many things to do. Not enough time. I guess it's the after summer rush to get the outside ready for winter. Not to mention all the activities are up and running again. We made an agreement a few years ago that the weekends would be free. I guess that's not applying this year.

  It's now 9:00. The entire house is quiet. Everyone is asleep except for me. I can hear the clock ticking. The ice machine taking in water. The settling noises of the house. I can hear myself think.

  I just told myself to get an early night too.....I'm so smart.

  Ang

It Costs How Much????

  This fall Riley started playing hockey. As "Canada's game" many kids play. It consumes any free time we might possibly have. It is every weekend and at least one night during the week. I was unaware of the time commitment. Oh I knew it would take some time but this is craziness. And before all you hockey parents condemn me...don't waste your limited time.

  But this is not about time. Or the driving. Fundraising. Relentless emails. Nope it's about the cost of hockey. Not from my mouth but from arguably the greatest hockey player of all time #99 Wayne Gretzky.  

  He very honestly says his Dad borrowed money to buy him skates or a stick. And questions whether he would even be able to afford to play now. I personally am blown away at the amount of money we have spent in the past 30 days alone. We are sitting at $650.00...not including equipment!

  Our child is lucky...we can afford it. Many families, who's kids really want to play, simply can't come up with that much money. And what if you have two or even three kids? How do you decide who plays and who doesn't? And is there any money left for activities for the other kids? Or even time? It is very much an elitist sport.

  After listening to the interview I wondered to myself how many "Great Ones" never got the chance to play based on finances? How many "Super Mario's" never stepped on the ice because their parents chose groceries over hockey dues? How many "___ the Kid" there could have been had their folks been in a higher tax bracket? I guess we will never know.

  For now I will be thankful that our children have all the opportunities available. And feel disappointed for those who don't. 

  Ang

***For you non-hockey fans Wayne Gretzky was called "the Great One". Mario Lemieux was "Super Mario". And Sydney Crosby was "Sid the Kid"....at 29 I think it's time they stopped using that ;)***

In Other News

  While it seems that everyone is talking about Donald Trump, there are actually other things going on in the world. Not just this one particular train wreck. Things not necessarily as bizarre or interesting but happenings we should be aware of.

  Twenty one of the 276 Chibok school girls, who were abducted by Islamic extremist group Boko Haram in 2014, have been released through negotiations. That leaves approximately 197 girls who are still in the terrorists hands. Most have been forced to marry, many are pregnant and some have already given birth. The horror these girls have endured is unfathomable.  But we still must take heart that the Nigerian government is making some progress....be it ever so slow.

  Haiti is getting some much needed food, water and medicine. That country always seems to be rebuilding. I'm not sure why but it seems as if they are also the last to receive real help. And interest in helping them seems to wan pretty quickly. Is it because they aren't a "tourist spot"? Boy I hope not.

  Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature! Who saw that coming? He did write a novel and a book of poetry a long while back but this was based on his song lyrics. While I wouldn't put him in the same category as Yeats, Hemingway or Faulkner, all previous winners, his songs are very good. Congrats Mr. Dylan! Don't spend those 8 million kronor in one place!

  CoverGirl has a CoverBoy! The company announced that 17 year old makeup artist, James Charles, is their next cover model. For a mascara no less. Yes you sense bitterness in my words. Males always have better lashes then women! It's so unfair.

  See?? The world hasn't stopped turning just because Donald is imploding. The news channels just want us to think so.

  They are very good at it too!

  Ang