Another recently published article. I was pretty active with my writing during December. An election, Christmas and New Years. All this material is a writer's dream.
Judy
*******************************************************
It is time to take the gloves off when it comes to the fight over Boxing Day. Considering that most of us at some point or another in our lives supported ourselves through employment in the retail sector we must have short memory spans. For the most part these days a career sales clerk who has chosen and enjoys this line of work is about as common as an empty parking space close to the door. People work in retail because it is the best job they can get right now and they need money. Many staffers these days are temporary fill in's that will be cashing their meager final cheques to pick up a hangover remedy New Year's Day. But then most of us are too busy yelling or scowelling at them for being sold out of this or that to notice.
As a society we give these people very little of the respect we would want in their shoes however the one thing we did do right was the Retail Holiday Sales Act. At one time that meant these folks would get atleast one day a week (Sunday) to spend with their families. Now the stores stay open 7 days a week so instead of shopping on Monday or Tuesday evening after work we can shop on Sunday afternoon. We used to also give them Boxing Day off to enjoy like the rest of us. Of course that was such a bother having a day of peace and quiet after Christmas before the big sales started on the 27th that we put an end to that. Now we want to allow extended hours on Boxing Day because 9 hours of pushing, shoving and clawing each other isn't enough. It fills your heart with the joy of the season doesn't it?
Perhaps we could make Christmas Eve a Midnight Madness night or maybe we could get them to open Christmas Morning to allow us all to exchange the gifts we don't like. To be fair we would want to get the buses running a full schedule too for those without a car. We also might want to get the banks open for those who want to refinance their house after overspending on the holidays. Heck let's just make it easy and reopen all of the offices and factories so that none of us have to be inconvienced in any way by the holidays. But then that would mean the rest of us would have to go to work and do what we are volunteering these folks for wouldn't it? Were smarter than that. We have "good jobs", loud voices and enough clout to stop that idea.The Retail Holiday Sales Act was about drawing the line somewhere and protecting the rights of those whose voices are too easily ignored in our "shop til you drop" society. But then thinking and caring about others was always something that holidays were about.
If somebody wants to drive to Hamilton at 6pm on Boxing Day because the stores are open an hour later there let them. Most of us will be enjoying a quiet evening of rest and reflection knowing that another holiday season has come to an end and at supper tables all around Brantford the entire family will be home to enjoy it. A quiet tradition that is almost uniquely Canadian and says alot about the kind of community we want Brantford to be.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
A Holiday Election
Here in Canada we are facing a holiday election campaign. The following piece was published just before Christmas.
Judy
*********************************************************
Just over a year ago we fullfilled our obligation and chose the make up of Parliment for what should have been another 4 years. At the time we passed the sacred right to govern to this group all members vowed to work together and cooperate. This vow was certainly not too much to expect considering cooperation and consensus are the two main skills the rest of us are required to use every day in both our work and our personal lives. With very few exceptions they broke this vow almost immediately. The truth is our minority government and it's Conservative rivals have been more concerned with getting more power than making use of the power which we bestowed upon them. The only Party that bothered to work with the others to create options and compromises held a paltry 18 seats and in the end was instrumental in bringing down the government. This entire group has brought political leadership down to a new all time low. Politics in Canada is now more about getting the job than about doing something with it. The sheer fact that the parties are celebrating the sucessfull downfall of the parliment they were elected to is proof of this. Now with their disobiediance they have allowed their squables to interupt our holiday season. I can think of no image that is more opposite to what this season is about than the footsteps of these "selfish children" on our doorsteps looking for more power than we were willing to give them a year ago. Add to that the irresponsible handling of our tax dollars and the deplorable behaviour we have seen in this house of commons every day and the picture of the lack of respect they have for Canadians is complete. Canadians have every right to be angry over this continued lack of respect and make it an issue in this campaign. If any party can convince us they can and will raise the standards of honesty, respect, cooperation and accountability in the next parliment they will see their fortunes increase. Otherwise we can expect little change in return for this disruption in our lives and the buisness of governing this nation.
This election should be about giving us something to vote for not something to vote against. Otherwise no matter who wins this election Canadians will once again be the ones who lose and Parliment will continue to be little more than a circus of morons.
Judy
*********************************************************
Just over a year ago we fullfilled our obligation and chose the make up of Parliment for what should have been another 4 years. At the time we passed the sacred right to govern to this group all members vowed to work together and cooperate. This vow was certainly not too much to expect considering cooperation and consensus are the two main skills the rest of us are required to use every day in both our work and our personal lives. With very few exceptions they broke this vow almost immediately. The truth is our minority government and it's Conservative rivals have been more concerned with getting more power than making use of the power which we bestowed upon them. The only Party that bothered to work with the others to create options and compromises held a paltry 18 seats and in the end was instrumental in bringing down the government. This entire group has brought political leadership down to a new all time low. Politics in Canada is now more about getting the job than about doing something with it. The sheer fact that the parties are celebrating the sucessfull downfall of the parliment they were elected to is proof of this. Now with their disobiediance they have allowed their squables to interupt our holiday season. I can think of no image that is more opposite to what this season is about than the footsteps of these "selfish children" on our doorsteps looking for more power than we were willing to give them a year ago. Add to that the irresponsible handling of our tax dollars and the deplorable behaviour we have seen in this house of commons every day and the picture of the lack of respect they have for Canadians is complete. Canadians have every right to be angry over this continued lack of respect and make it an issue in this campaign. If any party can convince us they can and will raise the standards of honesty, respect, cooperation and accountability in the next parliment they will see their fortunes increase. Otherwise we can expect little change in return for this disruption in our lives and the buisness of governing this nation.
This election should be about giving us something to vote for not something to vote against. Otherwise no matter who wins this election Canadians will once again be the ones who lose and Parliment will continue to be little more than a circus of morons.
Friday, December 30, 2005
I resolve to put an end to broken resolutions.
New Years is almost upon us. A time we all take stock of the year that has past and make resolutions to make next year even better. Unfortunately many of those resolutions end January 1st because we are unrealistic and have not prepared ourselves properly. Let's face it change of any kind is never easy and resolutions often involve giving up something or changing a well entrenched behavior. This year I resolve to pass on my tips for keeping your resolutions beyond January 1st.
1) Know your enemy. If you are giving up something like smoking you first need to know what kind of smoker are you? Are you a chemically-addicted must-have-10 with my morning coffee? If so maybe you need the patch. Are you just a social smoker who smokes with a particular friend? Maybe you need to enlist their aid to quit together or see them a bit less at first.
2) To forgive is divine. Resolutions are so easy to break because we make them black and white. One slip up and we are off the hook. Life is not like that and neither should be your resolutions. Forgive yourself if you slip up knowing that with time and patience your temptation to slip up will decrease.
3) Make a long term/short term plan with goals. Anybody can say they want to lose weight. The question is how much and by when. By setting yourself real goals that you can achieve along the way you will see your progress and be encouraged to keep going.
4) Reward good behavior. It works for kids of all ages including you. Maybe you can set aside what you were spending on cigarettes and buy yourself something frivolous every week to celebrate your success.
5) Avoid the worst temptations. We all have friends who share the same vices we do. If you are trying to give up one of those vices you may need to take a pass on their big party this week. Perhaps instead you can add a new activity like going to a movie that night.
6) Enlist everyone's aid you can. Tell all of the people who are supportive in your life about your plans so that they can encourage you along the way. To often we don't tell them because we don't want to be embarrassed when we fail.
7) Keep a list of all the reasons why you should be making this change. Post pictures of the people who encourage you to stick to it on the fridge, by the bathroom mirror and at your desk.
8) Be proud of yourself for making the choice to change. Punishing yourself for having a bad habit does not help. You are a brave person for taking the first step. Be proud. Remind yourself of the things you can have rather than those you are giving up.
9) Keep it simple. One problem at a time. Trying to make more than one major change at once only adds to the stress and decreases your odds of success.
10) Clean and organize your environment to clear your mind and reduce reminders. If you are quiting smoking driving around in a car full of butts and old packages is not going to help. Clean up your environment and start off with a clean slate. It will help you to keep your mind clear and focused on the task.
Best of luck to all of you who are brave enough to take that first step towards making your life better January 1st. I am among you as I work towards filling up less of my favourite chair. A task which I am certain not to be alone in. Here's hoping we lose weight not resolutions.
Happy New Year
Judy
1) Know your enemy. If you are giving up something like smoking you first need to know what kind of smoker are you? Are you a chemically-addicted must-have-10 with my morning coffee? If so maybe you need the patch. Are you just a social smoker who smokes with a particular friend? Maybe you need to enlist their aid to quit together or see them a bit less at first.
2) To forgive is divine. Resolutions are so easy to break because we make them black and white. One slip up and we are off the hook. Life is not like that and neither should be your resolutions. Forgive yourself if you slip up knowing that with time and patience your temptation to slip up will decrease.
3) Make a long term/short term plan with goals. Anybody can say they want to lose weight. The question is how much and by when. By setting yourself real goals that you can achieve along the way you will see your progress and be encouraged to keep going.
4) Reward good behavior. It works for kids of all ages including you. Maybe you can set aside what you were spending on cigarettes and buy yourself something frivolous every week to celebrate your success.
5) Avoid the worst temptations. We all have friends who share the same vices we do. If you are trying to give up one of those vices you may need to take a pass on their big party this week. Perhaps instead you can add a new activity like going to a movie that night.
6) Enlist everyone's aid you can. Tell all of the people who are supportive in your life about your plans so that they can encourage you along the way. To often we don't tell them because we don't want to be embarrassed when we fail.
7) Keep a list of all the reasons why you should be making this change. Post pictures of the people who encourage you to stick to it on the fridge, by the bathroom mirror and at your desk.
8) Be proud of yourself for making the choice to change. Punishing yourself for having a bad habit does not help. You are a brave person for taking the first step. Be proud. Remind yourself of the things you can have rather than those you are giving up.
9) Keep it simple. One problem at a time. Trying to make more than one major change at once only adds to the stress and decreases your odds of success.
10) Clean and organize your environment to clear your mind and reduce reminders. If you are quiting smoking driving around in a car full of butts and old packages is not going to help. Clean up your environment and start off with a clean slate. It will help you to keep your mind clear and focused on the task.
Best of luck to all of you who are brave enough to take that first step towards making your life better January 1st. I am among you as I work towards filling up less of my favourite chair. A task which I am certain not to be alone in. Here's hoping we lose weight not resolutions.
Happy New Year
Judy
Letter to Santa
Some background...
The following was published last week in the Expositor.
Dave W is a local politician who admitted he is suffering from Manic Depression and had the courage to step asside. Kacie and Isabel are little girls whose letters to Santa were recently published. Our local bingo hall was recently shut down cutting a major source of revenue for charities and Wayne Gretzky a major local hero just lost his mother to lung cancer. She was a lifelong smoker.
Enjoy
Judy
********************************************************************
Dear Santa
I know I haven't written for a few years but I guess I have been busy. My adult life has been so full of challenges that I didn't expect that I lost touch with some of the things that were important to me as a child like you and Rudolph. I am however rediscovering these things with new eyes thanks to my nephew who sings Christmas Carols on the phone. I think I have been a good girl this year. Okay maybe not that good but I have a good excuse for all of the bad things. I guess that's the difference between being a child and a grown up. I can find something good even in the worst mistakes.
I have a list for you this year. I know that some of these things might be beyond the capabilities of your elves especially with so many Xbox 360's to make so I am going to "cc" in God. Hopefully he can help with the things that are beyond your abilities.
1) Teach us all first and foremost to give thanks for the things we have before we ask for more as little Kacie did in her letter to Santa in today's paper.
2) Give us all a bit of Dave Worbel's courage. It takes real courage to admit any illness let alone mental illness. More importantly it also takes great wisdom to admit that maybe the best job I can do is sometimes having the humility to admit I just can't do it. I know I could use a bit of that.
3) Remind me that Christmas is about giving to others whether it be large like Frank Stronach's Canadaville in New Orleans or 8 year old Isabel's simple wish of no more hurricanes.
4) Teach parent's to look after themselves and remind them that just being here to care for their children now and in the future is the greatest gift they can give. Help them to overcome life threatening addictions like cigarettes and alcohol and do all they can to see the joy on their grand children's faces on Christmas mornings years from now.
5) Give us Wayne Gretzky's devotion to family. Help us to make the right choice and put our career aside and family first in times of need. Give strength to the Gretzky's and the many other families dealing with an inconsolable loss at this time of the year. Surround them with the love and support of a community that truly cares.
6) Help us to teach our politicians that morals and honesty are more than just campaign issues. Give us the foresight to see through the BS and slogans and vote for the people who actually represent what we believe in and not just against something we fear.
7) Push us to maintain the remarkable spirit of giving that shined through so many tragedies in 2005. Remind us that everyday "hurricane's" of poverty and homelessness continue to claim lives in our own community every year. Help us to translate some of that spirit into making the lives of all the people in our community a bit brighter this holiday. Let everyday acts of charity fill the void of charity funding left by the closesure of our Bingo hall.
8) Teach us the vision to see that consuming without regard is not just wastefull but selfish. Help us to maintain the spirit of conservation we saw during our summer energy crunch. Teach us not to wait for a huge energy bill or a brownout to realize that everything we consume has a cost to our environment and a limit in supply. Remind us everything we waste today will have an effect on the world we leave to our kids.
9) Put something extra in the stockings of our city council for putting a limit on the hours of the commercial insanity of Boxing Day. Help us to remember that the "stupid slow cashier" behind the counter is somebody's child trying to earn a few extra dollars to buy his parent's a Christmas gift. Give us the courage to brighten their hectic day with a smileand a bit of patience in the spirit of the season.
10) Remind us to say thanks for all the gifts we get this year big or small knowing in our hearts that it is truly the thought that counts and nothing can be more special than being thought of. Help us to remember that spending time with the ones we love is a much greater gift that cannot be bought in any store.
With regards to you and Rudolph.
Judy
The following was published last week in the Expositor.
Dave W is a local politician who admitted he is suffering from Manic Depression and had the courage to step asside. Kacie and Isabel are little girls whose letters to Santa were recently published. Our local bingo hall was recently shut down cutting a major source of revenue for charities and Wayne Gretzky a major local hero just lost his mother to lung cancer. She was a lifelong smoker.
Enjoy
Judy
********************************************************************
Dear Santa
I know I haven't written for a few years but I guess I have been busy. My adult life has been so full of challenges that I didn't expect that I lost touch with some of the things that were important to me as a child like you and Rudolph. I am however rediscovering these things with new eyes thanks to my nephew who sings Christmas Carols on the phone. I think I have been a good girl this year. Okay maybe not that good but I have a good excuse for all of the bad things. I guess that's the difference between being a child and a grown up. I can find something good even in the worst mistakes.
I have a list for you this year. I know that some of these things might be beyond the capabilities of your elves especially with so many Xbox 360's to make so I am going to "cc" in God. Hopefully he can help with the things that are beyond your abilities.
1) Teach us all first and foremost to give thanks for the things we have before we ask for more as little Kacie did in her letter to Santa in today's paper.
2) Give us all a bit of Dave Worbel's courage. It takes real courage to admit any illness let alone mental illness. More importantly it also takes great wisdom to admit that maybe the best job I can do is sometimes having the humility to admit I just can't do it. I know I could use a bit of that.
3) Remind me that Christmas is about giving to others whether it be large like Frank Stronach's Canadaville in New Orleans or 8 year old Isabel's simple wish of no more hurricanes.
4) Teach parent's to look after themselves and remind them that just being here to care for their children now and in the future is the greatest gift they can give. Help them to overcome life threatening addictions like cigarettes and alcohol and do all they can to see the joy on their grand children's faces on Christmas mornings years from now.
5) Give us Wayne Gretzky's devotion to family. Help us to make the right choice and put our career aside and family first in times of need. Give strength to the Gretzky's and the many other families dealing with an inconsolable loss at this time of the year. Surround them with the love and support of a community that truly cares.
6) Help us to teach our politicians that morals and honesty are more than just campaign issues. Give us the foresight to see through the BS and slogans and vote for the people who actually represent what we believe in and not just against something we fear.
7) Push us to maintain the remarkable spirit of giving that shined through so many tragedies in 2005. Remind us that everyday "hurricane's" of poverty and homelessness continue to claim lives in our own community every year. Help us to translate some of that spirit into making the lives of all the people in our community a bit brighter this holiday. Let everyday acts of charity fill the void of charity funding left by the closesure of our Bingo hall.
8) Teach us the vision to see that consuming without regard is not just wastefull but selfish. Help us to maintain the spirit of conservation we saw during our summer energy crunch. Teach us not to wait for a huge energy bill or a brownout to realize that everything we consume has a cost to our environment and a limit in supply. Remind us everything we waste today will have an effect on the world we leave to our kids.
9) Put something extra in the stockings of our city council for putting a limit on the hours of the commercial insanity of Boxing Day. Help us to remember that the "stupid slow cashier" behind the counter is somebody's child trying to earn a few extra dollars to buy his parent's a Christmas gift. Give us the courage to brighten their hectic day with a smileand a bit of patience in the spirit of the season.
10) Remind us to say thanks for all the gifts we get this year big or small knowing in our hearts that it is truly the thought that counts and nothing can be more special than being thought of. Help us to remember that spending time with the ones we love is a much greater gift that cannot be bought in any store.
With regards to you and Rudolph.
Judy
Welcome
Someday I will think of something more impressive to say to introduce my blog. For now I will start off with the basics.
Who am I?
I am a thirtysomething married woman who currently lives in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Brantford is about an hour outside of Toronto and has a population of roughly 100,000. It isn't quite the end of the earth but it is far from a happening place. I enjoy the balance between the two. I am also here to assist with caring for my Grandmother (currently 89) and two parents in their 60's. I am what I would like to call semi retired. I earn an income from Workers Compensation due to a workplace accident that damaged my lungs. I moved out of the house at 16 so I have a relatively long experience of looking after myself. I have seen many different walks of life in those years and hopefully learned to see things from other people's points of view and not just my own.
Why am I writing?
I have a lot I want to share. I won't always be right but hopefully I will make you think. If you read my blog and get pissed off because you think I am wrong about an issue it has served it's purpose because it has made form an opinion on an issue I care about. I am a frequently published contributor to our local paper but a blog gives me a chance to reach a larger audience and makes it easier for relatives and friends who do not live here to read my latest writings. Some of the writings here will have been published in the Brantford Expositor. Having a blog however also allows me to put my original submission out there and not just the edited for print version.
What are my thoughts on?
Keep reading and you will find out:) I tend to believe in and support causes envolving the environment and social justice. I believe a society is only as good as the treatment it's lowest member recieves. I like to think I am one of those people who has the courage to step up and defend people who's voices we so often ignore.
Who am I?
I am a thirtysomething married woman who currently lives in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Brantford is about an hour outside of Toronto and has a population of roughly 100,000. It isn't quite the end of the earth but it is far from a happening place. I enjoy the balance between the two. I am also here to assist with caring for my Grandmother (currently 89) and two parents in their 60's. I am what I would like to call semi retired. I earn an income from Workers Compensation due to a workplace accident that damaged my lungs. I moved out of the house at 16 so I have a relatively long experience of looking after myself. I have seen many different walks of life in those years and hopefully learned to see things from other people's points of view and not just my own.
Why am I writing?
I have a lot I want to share. I won't always be right but hopefully I will make you think. If you read my blog and get pissed off because you think I am wrong about an issue it has served it's purpose because it has made form an opinion on an issue I care about. I am a frequently published contributor to our local paper but a blog gives me a chance to reach a larger audience and makes it easier for relatives and friends who do not live here to read my latest writings. Some of the writings here will have been published in the Brantford Expositor. Having a blog however also allows me to put my original submission out there and not just the edited for print version.
What are my thoughts on?
Keep reading and you will find out:) I tend to believe in and support causes envolving the environment and social justice. I believe a society is only as good as the treatment it's lowest member recieves. I like to think I am one of those people who has the courage to step up and defend people who's voices we so often ignore.
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