It was better than Disneyland. I swear. Louder and with a bit more slobber, but still better than Disneyland! You know what I learned in school today? That I have a better dog than I gave her credit for... and that she will come back to me(eventually), if I give her a little more freedom than I have been. Those times she's bolted from me really scared the bejesus out of me and I have to learn to give up some of that fear...and find better ways of dealing with my headstrong dog.
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh," he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you."
Monday, September 29, 2008
It's take your mom to school day...
It was better than Disneyland. I swear. Louder and with a bit more slobber, but still better than Disneyland! You know what I learned in school today? That I have a better dog than I gave her credit for... and that she will come back to me(eventually), if I give her a little more freedom than I have been. Those times she's bolted from me really scared the bejesus out of me and I have to learn to give up some of that fear...and find better ways of dealing with my headstrong dog.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
sleep sound
(taken off Yahoo news this morning)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Happy Birthday to me....
I have been waiting nearly twelve years to see this guy live...so for my birthday(he must know it's my birthday, right?)tomorrow, tickets went on sale(today) for Martin Sexton's show in Vancouver next month...Orchestra level seats...and for me, for my birthday, I bought some. And honestly? Serendipity. Yeah, cuz I didn't know about this ticket sale at all...was looking into a Ticketmaster notice about Lucinda Williams tickets going on sale tomorrow at the same venue and stumbled across the news by accident....which is just the slightest bit irksome cuz I am on Martin's mailing list....but whatever. And? I already have the day off and the day after...just saying, serendipitous, eh? And you know what else??? You only turn 40 once. I may just buy myself tickets to see Lucinda, too. Because I love a girl who knows how to rock, in a bluesy, country, soulful sort of way...and doesn't really fit the mold.
Life can be sweet, even without the cake...
and tomorrow?
I get cake, too!
with frosting.
Monday, September 22, 2008
summer is definitely wrapping up....
We had a lovely dinner party the other night...a goodbye to Dukie and family. It was fun to have the house full of people, and laughter and food, and love. I reckon there won't be so many of these moments for a while, the house crowded with dogs, elbows knocking into elbows, the good-natured teasings of good friends come together. I will miss them so much.
It certainly has been a summer of change...my emotions have run the gambit, and still are. My pack of plenty is down to just Eem-er and I most of the time now. Thank goodness she loves the U-Dog. At least she will be part of a pack still. Thank goodness I have work now, as well, and that I love it.
Well, it's time to get out of here for a bit...there is sunshine out those doors, even if the wind is chilly...and smells for Ee-mer to smell, and sights for me to see, pictures to take and discoveries to make. Tomorrow, I will download some of the photos off the camera and give you all a little update on the Hood. Some cool haps down this way...of course, lots of the same old crap, too! Talk to y'all later.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Ditto what Allium(Life in the Bathtub Racing Capitol) said...and the best friend the south end ever had
Elect to Council
Gordon Fuller
Building Community
An Alternative to Vested Interests
In running for Council for the third time Gord believes he would bring a balanced perspective with both personal and professional experience around social issues as well as his involvement over the years with various community groups. A long time Social and Community activist Gord knows it is critical to recognise the importance of a healthy diverse economy in providing meaningful employment and the necessary tax base from which to run our fair city. “We need a strong advocate on council representing the interests of the South End, an advocate who also understands the issues in other areas of the city as well. There is much to be said for the Ward system as opposed to the at large. This becomes even more apparent when we consider South of the Hospital area has seen no elected representation for years.”Gord is a third generation Nanaimoite, himself having lived in Nanaimo for the past 27 years most spent in the South End and Downtown areas. In 2002 he completed a degree in Child & Youth Care at Malaspina University/College while working full time as manager of Samaritan House Emergency Shelter. Gord is currently employed with Nanaimo Youth Services Association as coordinator of their 20 unit Youth Housing Complex.Active in the community Gord Fuller is currently Co-Chair of the Nanaimo 7-10 Club Society, President of Friends of Plan Nanaimo, Vice President of the South End Community Association and Vice Chair of the Nanaimo Neighbourhood Netwerk. He is also an active participant on the Board of Citizens Advocacy as well as with the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership – Housing Design Development subcommittee, Working Group on Homeless Issues, Neighbours of Nob Hill, Nanaimo Old City Association and Mid Island Coalition for Strong Communities. Gord’s past community involvement has also been extensive including participation with the Nanaimo Crystal Meth Task Force, Nanaimo Alcohol and Drug Action Coalition, Working Group on Downtown Social Issues, Mental Health Advisory Council, City of Nanaimo Nuisance Property Committee, Nanaimo Social Development Strategy, S.A.F.E.R Downtown Nanaimo Project, Community Food Connection, Food Link Nanaimo, Action for Diversity Team and Nanaimo Food Share Society.“I believe Nanaimo is a unique city that still has an opportunity to work collectively towards not repeating the mistakes other cities have made in the past. We need to focus on the preservation of Nanaimo’s heritage with development that works in harmony with the waterfront and mountain vistas, maintaining the unique character of neighbourhoods and the community, Citizen Driven and Not Developer Driven. Smart Growth not rapid growth should determine Nanaimo’s future.”“We need to implement sustainable small-scale social programs that move away from the institutional and towards community integration. We must work towards Social Equality and the elimination of the endemic poverty that exists in Nanaimo. This process can be accomplished in part through innovative sustainable affordable housing options that do not place a greater burden on the already high taxes that exist in Nanaimo. It is imperative that we, as a community, recognize and value diversity and the potential of all citizens in contributing to make Nanaimo a vibrant and inclusive community.”In keeping with a vision of a healthy community Gord believes, “we must look towards the environment both urban and rural. Initiatives towards green energy, environmental protection and public ownership of our drinking water must be given priority.”Other Comments:Parks: “ From recreational to Tot Lots we need to ensure all of Nanaimo’s Parks are safe from rezoning in the future.”Water: “We need to ensure that privatization of water never comes up on the agenda of the municipality and Regional District. Nanaimo needs to look to the purchase of the watersheds surrounding our drinking water.”Planning: “Nanaimo is fast becoming a laughing stock, among communities across Canada, when it comes to urban planning. We need to implement smart growth principals creating density within, rather than by expanding, the urban containment boundary.”Development: “Neighbourhood involvement needs to be the first step for developers before taking their projects to the city for approval. “Housing & Homelessness: “The City of Nanaimo must lobby provincial and federal levels of government to work with the municipality in the provision of affordable/social housing and other means to end homelessness and poverty in Nanaimo.”Concentration of Social Services: “Most communities work from the adage that you put the services where the people are. This has tended to concentrate services in the downtown or bordering neighbourhoods and results in urban decay and the ghettoization of the community. Poverty is not located in any one area and as such we need to look at creating smaller scale services outside of the downtown areas. We need to move away from large scale all-in-one institutional settings.”
Food Security/Policy: “The City of Nanaimo must adopt a food charter coordinating municipal strategy that will encourage greater support for local food producers as well as allowing for the development of community gardens that would help provide food security to those in need in Nanaimo.”
Conflict of Interest: “If there is even a remote chance of conflict or perceived conflict of interest councilors must make it known.”Councilor behaviour at council meetings/public hearings: “The denigrating of people speaking to council must stop. All citizens coming before council must be treated with respect.”City Council Terms of Office: “Too often this has become a career, many having sat on council for 25 years or more. I believe we need to limit the number of terms a person sits on council to 2 or 3 at the most. This would allow for a quicker turnover to fresh ideas and enthusiasm on the part of newly elected municipal officials.”A strong believer in an open communication process you can feel free to contact Gord at:Ph: 250 754 6389e-mail: gorfathome@yahoo.ca
Posted by Allium at 8:04 PM
Tags: City Council, Community, Community Gathering, Homelessness, Nanaimo, Natural Living
3 comments
Sunday, September 7, 2008
so, hey, it's me now, Dilling. If you are reading this in Nanaimo...get out and vote...and make your vote count....make it count for something you believe in... You do have a voice...USE IT!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
whew...........
Thursday, September 11, 2008
reveries
It's 9/11 then...I am still sitting alone on the floor of our house in Vancouver watching the towers fall through my tears, barely able to breathe, alone in a foreign country, unable to cross the closed borders even though I should be home, part of the collective pain, part of the collective suffering.....bleeding.
Eem-er's boyfriend, Dukie, is moving back to Ontario this month with his mom and dad. This neighbourhood seems so empty now. Except for the crack hookers.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
"I have worried about many things
-- Mellencamp on Life, Death, Love and Freedom in Rolling Stone magazine's 2008 spring music preview issue.
Friday, September 05, 2008
The Rapture
All summer
I wandered the fields
that were thickening every morning,
every rainfall,
with weeds and blossoms,
with the long loops
of the shimmering,
and the extravagant-
pale as flames they rose
and fell back,
replete and beautiful-
that was all there was-
and I too
once or twice,
at least,
felt myself rising,
my boots
touching suddenly the tops of the weeds,
the blue and silky air-
listen,
passion did it,
called me forth,
addled me,
stripped me clean
then covered me with the cloth of happiness-
I think there is no other prize,
only rapture the gleaming,
rapture the illogical the weightless-
whether it be for the perfect shapeliness
of something you love-
like an old German song-
or of someone-
or the dark floss of the earth itself,
heavy and electric.
At the edge of sweet sanity open such wild,
blind wings.
(Mary Oliver)