There was a group rate to Marineland offered through our former preschool, so I took John out of school and we went down to Niagara Falls for the day. It was a virtual festival of skipping school, as there were many families with children from John's school in attendance.
We had fun; it was hot but not too hot and sunny, with a fair bit of rain at the end of the day that sent us home soggy.
On the way down I listened to radio interview with Alice Walker, about her serious activism and a trip she is making to the Gaza Strip. I missed the earlier part of the interview but was struck by a statement she made near the end: that climate change is a huge problem; the ice caps are melting, and weather changes abundant, but that humans are extremely intelligent and if they work together to address some of these problems. It all seemed so relevant, insightful, serious, and optimistic.
And then I arrived at Marineland and watched a show with seals, dolphins, a walrus, and a funny guy in a silly suit. It all felt so 12 Monkeys, the movie with Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt, about a deadly virus that has been released so all humanity has to live underground. Bruce Willis goes back in time to try and stop the release of the virus.
There is a scene in the airport where Bruce Willis is a little kid, and he watches his future adult self who has travelled back in time. We know what is going to happen in the future, but the kid does not; he is at a busy airport, going on a trip, participating in daily life. The audience knows that the virus has been released and the future will be bleak.
I was struck by that while sitting at this show; is that where we are, at the airport, the virus has been released and it is all downhill from here? Is humanity doomed? Can we adjust to an unknown future with intelligence, resourcefulness, and compassion?
Friday, June 24, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Political action - my reaction
A quick report on a demonstration I went to last Sunday... already a week has flown by since I attended Slutwalk Hamilton. I was a bit hesitant about attending, I suppose because of the terminology. However, I went, and found it to be a very dynamic and political rally and march. As I have been on so so so many political marches, it felt very familiar to attend. I felt somewhat nostalgic and very happy to be there.
The main message, loud and clear, was that women have a right to wear what they want, when they want; they should never be raped or sexually assaulted because of what their clothing.
My other thoughts, once I returned to my suburban neighbourhood, was that the suburbs are not political places. That is one reason I feel kind of fish out of waterish there - I am a political person, and there is not a whole heck of alot of political organizing going on.
The main message, loud and clear, was that women have a right to wear what they want, when they want; they should never be raped or sexually assaulted because of what their clothing.
My other thoughts, once I returned to my suburban neighbourhood, was that the suburbs are not political places. That is one reason I feel kind of fish out of waterish there - I am a political person, and there is not a whole heck of alot of political organizing going on.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Scrabble, again
There are several great games that can be played by two people. My game of choice is Scrabble, which is a fun and social board game that uses tiles to create words.
Scrabble is also very fun using the facebook app Lexulous. This way, I can stare at the computer screen for a very long time, coming up with word combinations that have a large score. Two and three letter words become important, and can, when used strategically, create very large words scores. My recent favourite: Xi, which netted me 50 points.
My opponent plays early in the morning, and so I have started to check her latest move when I first get up. This of course costs me valuable time, and we leave for school two minutes later than we should. We then have to travel fairly quickly to school, me urging the boys to walk faster or run while I push Owen in the stroller. It is fairly stressful.
I should probably start playing after John arrives at school, on time. The lure of the high Scrabble score is very enticing, though, so this will be a struggle.
Scrabble is also very fun using the facebook app Lexulous. This way, I can stare at the computer screen for a very long time, coming up with word combinations that have a large score. Two and three letter words become important, and can, when used strategically, create very large words scores. My recent favourite: Xi, which netted me 50 points.
My opponent plays early in the morning, and so I have started to check her latest move when I first get up. This of course costs me valuable time, and we leave for school two minutes later than we should. We then have to travel fairly quickly to school, me urging the boys to walk faster or run while I push Owen in the stroller. It is fairly stressful.
I should probably start playing after John arrives at school, on time. The lure of the high Scrabble score is very enticing, though, so this will be a struggle.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
My first garden....
I have never been much of a gardener, or interested in plants. I have often had one or two dusty plants kicking around, marginally watered and clinging to life. In fact upstairs I have a jade plant that must be at least 20 years old, looks terrible and looks the same from year to year.
However, I have a new interest in gardening, which has not developed from an interest in plants, necessarily, but more from a desire to produce food. Produce grown in one's backyard is as local as it gets.
There is, as I have mentioned, a fair bit of grass in a suburban neighbourhood; I wonder, as gas prices continue to rise, if this will change. In 10 - 15 years will we see sections of lawn turned over to vegetable production? Will fruit trees emerge, small orchards in the backyard?
Anyhow, our garden, was full of grass and weeds. I pulled them out, and planted 9 tomato plants and 5 lettuce... it is small, but a start.
This is the "before" picture... I will add an "after" picture later.
However, I have a new interest in gardening, which has not developed from an interest in plants, necessarily, but more from a desire to produce food. Produce grown in one's backyard is as local as it gets.
There is, as I have mentioned, a fair bit of grass in a suburban neighbourhood; I wonder, as gas prices continue to rise, if this will change. In 10 - 15 years will we see sections of lawn turned over to vegetable production? Will fruit trees emerge, small orchards in the backyard?
Anyhow, our garden, was full of grass and weeds. I pulled them out, and planted 9 tomato plants and 5 lettuce... it is small, but a start.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
patterns of thought and behaviour
I think we get into patterns of thought and behaviour. The boys and I successfully walked to school, and I returned home with Owen. I even forgot the stroller cover, and while it was raining lightly there was enough cover from the stroller itself that Owen did not get wet. There was indeed more traffic than on a sunny day, as more children are driven to school when it is raining or the weather unpleasant.
I think this is just a pattern - of thought, and subsequent behaviour - we have developed. It is generally unnecessary for any individual to have to drive due to rain. (Exceptions can be made, of course)
Someone once told me that there was no bad weather, just bad clothing, and I completely agree. I am off to buy some rubber boots, for if this rain continues I want my feet to be dry.
I think this is just a pattern - of thought, and subsequent behaviour - we have developed. It is generally unnecessary for any individual to have to drive due to rain. (Exceptions can be made, of course)
Someone once told me that there was no bad weather, just bad clothing, and I completely agree. I am off to buy some rubber boots, for if this rain continues I want my feet to be dry.
rain in Ontario
It sure is raining a great deal in Ontario. It rained all weekend, and has rained every day this week. It is raining now.
I have let the rain affect the amount I walk to school with the boys. In a way, it is perfectly legitimate, as I have a very young baby.
However, really, if we wear the appropriate clothing: rain boots, rain coats, a hat, we can quite comfortably spend time outside. I have a plastic cover for the stroller.
For most of human history, we have functioned without cars to transport us in times of rain. I am going to see how it goes this morning, with the three boys, as we walk the 800 m or so to school.
I have let the rain affect the amount I walk to school with the boys. In a way, it is perfectly legitimate, as I have a very young baby.
However, really, if we wear the appropriate clothing: rain boots, rain coats, a hat, we can quite comfortably spend time outside. I have a plastic cover for the stroller.
For most of human history, we have functioned without cars to transport us in times of rain. I am going to see how it goes this morning, with the three boys, as we walk the 800 m or so to school.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Election reflection what's your connection?
We just had an election. And with that came a fairly significant change in the political scene. Prior to the election, there was a minority Conservative government, and now, after voting day on Monday, we have a majority Conservative government. Truly a step backward. Coupled with the win of Rob Ford, the new right wing mayor of Toronto, it feels as though there has been step to the right in the Canadian political scene. In a certain respect, that is the case.
However, the fact that the New Democratic Party won 102 seats is important and historic.
The approach for the NDP in this government will have to be different. Instead of being a smallish group of MPs that can push for or prevent legislation in a minority government, they are a largish group of MPs who will bring a different, less direct, type of influence in a majority government. With a majority, the Tories can pass legislation on their own. However, the fact that 102 left wing MPs are arriving on parliament hill is extremely relevant. Furthermore, the fact that a bunch of them are super young is very cool. We need a bunch of young people running around parliament hill stirring the pot, and then we need to take that energy and continue to organize.
Perhaps an MP who is young and energetic will bring a new and interesting perspective to Ottawa.
Any election brings a mixed consciousness, people happy and people sad, and people like myself a bit confused. I suppose that is the contradiction that may be inherent in people living today, in a complex modern society. We can feel different ways about the same issue. And hence with an election, the electorate is greatly affected by the media, the mood, the economic conditions, geography; hence results like this can be so diverse.
I kind of feel that I might as well be optimistic, as that is a hell of alot more fun that feeling sad and bitter.
The weather is nicer too, which helps.
However, the fact that the New Democratic Party won 102 seats is important and historic.
The approach for the NDP in this government will have to be different. Instead of being a smallish group of MPs that can push for or prevent legislation in a minority government, they are a largish group of MPs who will bring a different, less direct, type of influence in a majority government. With a majority, the Tories can pass legislation on their own. However, the fact that 102 left wing MPs are arriving on parliament hill is extremely relevant. Furthermore, the fact that a bunch of them are super young is very cool. We need a bunch of young people running around parliament hill stirring the pot, and then we need to take that energy and continue to organize.
Perhaps an MP who is young and energetic will bring a new and interesting perspective to Ottawa.
Any election brings a mixed consciousness, people happy and people sad, and people like myself a bit confused. I suppose that is the contradiction that may be inherent in people living today, in a complex modern society. We can feel different ways about the same issue. And hence with an election, the electorate is greatly affected by the media, the mood, the economic conditions, geography; hence results like this can be so diverse.
I kind of feel that I might as well be optimistic, as that is a hell of alot more fun that feeling sad and bitter.
The weather is nicer too, which helps.
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