Charles Leblanc continues to shake, rattle and roll all over this province!

I call him "CrazyMan Blogger" because he's outrageous.  He calls me "The Irving Blogger" because its ironic. And, well, for a short stint, I published a blog on their media website thinking this was a good thing.  And, he's never let me forget it.  Like I had paid off the devil or something.  

When God made Charles, he threw away the mold.  Thank God he is in my life, this man who is who he is........ one of the most intelligent, politically astute, emotionally driven crazyman I have ever met.   He's the Jerry Lee Lewis of blogging!  Shake Rattle and Roll!

Most days, he checks on me through a chat pop up on facebook .......... Sometimes we swap quick opinions, juicy news, clips of stories, maybe even an email or two.  And every now and then, we have a chance to catch up live and in person.  But by then, so many stories, personal experiences, events have flowed under that darn Westmorland Street bridge that its almost impossible to get to a point in the conversation when there's nothing left to catch up on.  Our discussions have no ending......... it just continues where we left off after we've hugged and said our goodbyes. 

Charles Leblanc is a constant in my life.  A good friend. Someone who cares and someone I care about deeply.  It's a mutual respect thing........ but goes deeper than that.  I think we get one another.  Two misfits who see the world through similar eyes............ well, at least the political swirly world.   And the  man cracks me up!!!!   Sure we are very different.  Our upbringing couldn't be more opposite.  Even now from a surface perspective, our lives appear to be very different.  But, we have much in common that allows us to connect cognitvely, emotionally and spiritually at a comfort level that I don't share with many others.   We have shared the vulnerable stories that make up our spirits, as well as the piss and vinegar side of our selves.  How many people can you say that about in your life??

The majority of what we discuss never ever makes it to either one of our blogs. Blogger secrets!!!  I know he's shared stuff with me that will allow me to go to my grave laughing.  I have done the same!  I love it when I can share something with Charles he hasn't heard yet.  That is a feat in itself because the man is EVERYWHERE and knows the dirt on most people in this whole freaking province!

My God, the man is wired into the pulse of this place and it scares many! However, people knock on his apartment window night and day to find out the dirt, and to share some dirt.  Dirt swapping.  It's good journalism, because MOST of the dirt is news.  Sadly, this province's media is predominantly tied up with one family.  The Irvings.  Charles, "Crazyman Blogger" has a love/hate relationship with them that is healthy, wealthy (for them) and wise (for both).   He has the same relationships with paid journalists too.  They know where to go to seek out some facts.  Fiction too.  'Cause sometimes he has facts that go beyond the realm of what really happened.  This isn't a surprise given that so many people are in touch with him.   But, I got to say, the  majority of information Charles acquires is the honest to God truth.  

Some of it is heartbreaking.  Some of it is butt slapping hilarious.  A lot of it is eye popping.  Can I just say it's a breath of FRESH air to talk to someone who is the salt of the earth and who sees it in the others around him and writes about it?  He also sees the pontificating phonies too and they know it.  That's a threat eh?

So, why am I writing about my friend tonight?  Well, he's had a momentous week.  He spent 70 hours behind bars (without his medication btw!) for going TOO far with his megaphone antics in front of the Fredericton police station.  Drove everyone batty!  Created havoc in the boardrooms within listening distance.  Irritated the throngs of folks who work in the area barking out his mantra about being treated differently than others.  All over a ticket for riding his bike on the sidewalk.  They arrested him for disturbing the peace.   Hello?  He's been disturbing, shaking, challenging and rattling the peace all his life.  And good on him!  More people should be like Charles.  But then, he wouldn't be as unique, as effective if others were like him.  

Charles is one smart fella!  Never one to keep his opinions, nor his feelings on a matter to himself, he lives above the radar.  Can you imagine always living above the radar?  But, that's where he has chosen to remain.  What an advocate he is too!  Think about how many stories have been revealed by this man, many of which would never have made the light of day. 

 For the past couple of days, this "place of honour" has foisted him into the "first news item" time slot in the media.  Good God, he even usurped the Harvest Jazz and Blues headlines by becoming the top headline in the local Irving paper.   People are talking either about the headliners at Harvest OR about Monsieur Leblanc.  It's a hilarious combination.......... I heard both discussed at the Market today, and on the radio this week.   Ironic given that he normally skips town when the Harvest takes over his downtown.  You gotta laugh at that one Charles! 

As much as he was probably striving for this attention, it is still stressful. and I don't think he ever thought he'd end up in JAIL!    But, believe me there are more folks out there who admire and appreciate Charles' work as a journalist blogger than the folks who find his antics beyond the realm of acceptable. But,  he has a point too.  

His choice of driving everyone batty on the police station end of Queen Street in this anal retentive conservative city of stately elms may not be "acceptable" to the folks who have to sit in boardrooms in strategic planning sessions.  Loud speaker phones are comparable to screeching brakes on a transport going downhill.  But, because he has chosen to live above the radar actively documenting the political, personal, and community based events in this part of the world, Charles is now treated differently than others.  He's a marked man.  He's pissed people off.  He's created a power struggle and by doing so has exposed the hierarchical hypocrisy of our system.   

Who else gets a ticket for riding a bike on a sidewalk for God's sakes??  Unjust.  Simple. 

No, I am not seeing him through rose tinted glasses.  I see his real-ness because he has shown that to me.  I am well aware of his previous shit disturbing, most recently his over the top ADHD/OCD sandwich board messages during the last election.  He made the local MLA sitting member's life miserable!  And he lost too!   I probably would have been irritated if I had to work in the area while this madman was barking out his mantra over a speaker phone.  (who the hell gave him that piece of equipment anyways???)  However, I believe it could've been handled very differently than it was.   Like everyone on this planet...... Like Charles does himself for others......... he wanted to be listened to.  Why wasn't someone listening to him instead of simply dismissing his message as noise?   He HAS been treated differently than others. 

I call him "CrazyMan Blogger" because he's outrageous.  He calls me "The Irving Blogger" because its ironic.  More importantly, we call each other friends.   Will someone please listen to this human being?  Drop the charges and lets all move on before it becomes even more ridiculous than it already is! 

ps.......Charles?  Thank God for you.  Yes, you are a marked person and you've known it for a long time.  You've chosen a life of shaking, rattling and rolling.  But, that doesn't mean that anyone can treat you any differently than someone else.  You always have my support and I hope you will always know that.   The gift you gave me when I needed it the most?  I will never forget it.  Neither will dozens of others who have experienced the hurting side of life and found you by their side walking a  mile or two with them as they struggled to find their footing again.  You sir, will find your footing again.  Keep on walkin'!  Keep on talkin'!

got an agenda?

if you're going to have an agenda, at least make it friendly.

this is the journal my friend Heather made me to take on my travels.

It seems to me that one of the worst inventions humans ever created was an agenda.  I have one.  You have one.  My neighbour has one.  So does yours.  They come in all colours, shapes and sizes.  Book form, electronic, or a calendar posted on the kitchen wall..... we live by our agendas.   Some don't share theirs AT ALL.  They keep it all tucked away in their brains and let it fuel their mission. They remind us of what we want and what we must do to get what we want.  They hold our schedules, timetables, deadlines, appointments so we don't have to think about them.  Those navigators are necessary to free up our minds in order to pursue pot of gold goals.  You know, some people even testify that their agenda is a Godsend.  hmmmm............ Can't live without an agenda. 

Isn't that crazy?  Can you see why I suggest they are the worst invention ever?  No.......... Well, here's more.  They drive our choices, our days, our lives and make us single mindedly blind to the agenda of another.  You see, my agenda is more important than yours.  Isn't that right?  What I want is WAY more important than what you want.  I know this for a fact because I have a full agenda.  Yours has gaps. In fact. I know most of your agenda and it's ridiculous! Who in their right mind wants those things???

So often I know my agenda clashes with yours, but since I need to be rigid in my pursuit to get what I want accomplished, I'm not really concerned what yours holds. Mine's more important than yours.  My agenda. All MINE. And the more I rely on it...........on the so VERY important items that drive my mission to succeed, to WIN, the more psyched I am to do whatever it takes.  I have absolutely NO TIME to get to know you..... I'm way too busy getting my needs met.

At night, when we finally collapse in a heap on the couch after a full agenda day........of pushing to get what we want, to be recognized with email accolades, coffee mug prizes and air mile bonuses for trips we never have time for; when we let our guard down as we sink into a soft landing pad after clashing with other people intent on jousting for their pie of the agenda pie....... silent reality hits just for a scary split second.  Alone, except for our selfish attitudes.  It is only then we have the opportunity to address what is really important in life, but oddly is missing on the pages of our agenda scribblings ........ love, friendship, compassion, serving others, connecting, sharing.  

Then we push that aside.... pffffffft to that!  WE've got better fish to fry than that mushy stuff.  Let some do gooder social work type deal with that crap.  Besides, I've got church services booked in my trusty agenda.  I can listen to that sermon on Sunday.  Same old, same old.......

Sadly, the gas tank is empty anyways.  After a long day of working our agenda, we have no energy left.   Too tired to reflect.  Too tired to look in the mirror.  Too tired to care. So, we uncork the bottle of wine and pour ourselves a glass to toast ourselves as we close the book on another day. 

Gee....it sounds like one hand clapping.

Fredericton flood watch update........it is rising.

The river flows on it's own accord. We are in the middle of an emergency flooding, with expectation that the levels may even surpass the record high from 1973! With the rain from last night and the melting snow up in Northern New Brunswick, our river is swelling and spilling over fast. It's supposed to rise to a total of more than 8 metres expected sometime on Friday. If this happens, the downtown streets will become part of the river. There will be many millions of dollars in damage.
The media is swarming the place and there was a buzzing feeling downtown all day.......business owners, all levels of government, homeowners began bracing for the worst......emergency planning is in place........ Max and I went out and took some pics around dinner time. We found our trusty Mayor Brad Woodside being interviewed by CTV along the shore behind the Delta Hotel. Mayor Brad once had a riverboat which he ran in the summers as a touristy attraction. I think we could use that boat now, right your Worship?

I've included a few "Then and Now" pics to give you some perspective.......

The above photo was taken a week or so ago......below was tonight. By tomorrow, the whole parking lot will be flooded. They are expecting the water to spill out onto the downtown streets. My office has been evacuated as have many other buildings including the Legislature. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery and Hotel right next to this spot are already suffering from water damage. Power was cut in the government buildings at 7 pm tonight and the emergency fan out plan is in place.......people involved are on alert for massive evacuations etc.

I took the above photo in early March when the snow was deep......as you can see by the park bench! The walking bridge in the background? Check out the struts underneath.....with the flood waters rising, there is much less space between the river and the bridge. I was told tonight that the road on the other side of this walking bridge is closed.....and debris from a tire business is floating downriver.......

I took the above photo at the beginning of April when the snow was melting quickly. I love the reflection of the tree in the still water. The picture below was taken last weekend. No island....no tree trunks...no silouettes. I'll check out the same view tomorrow to see if these little trees are now completely submerged.

This is the entrance to the lighthouse, situated behind my old office building.

There were lots of onlookers out and about this evening. I captured this young ballplayer relaxing on a park bench which is located ON A HILL overlooking the baseball diamond. In the background is what is left of the back stop protecting homeplate. Looks like there will be no soccer or baseball on "the Green" for a bit. Canoeing has taken over.....

ps. My home is safely ensconced on a hill..........we are fine, and may be hosts to some friends who live in the downtown core.

Anne? Heather? You out there? If you guys end up having to bail out, there will be lobster and some of that "crazy cat" wine waiting for you....and you know the music here will always be excellent! Life can always be turned into a theme party can't it?

folding laundry.....and Britney.

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself folding clothes in a laundromat after I somehow managed to melt some kid's snowpants to the back of the inside of my dryer. The zipper on his coat jacket turned to a hard mass of plastic glob. I had good intentions........a bunch of boys in the house after heavy duty sledding..........I threw their wet stuff into the dryer while they warmed up and had a snack. 20 minutes later, we all smelled the very recognizable odour of melting man made materials...........by then it was too late. Turns out I stuffed the dryer too full and the air vents were covered.

Can I say that this is yet another example of Murphy's Law? If one manages to melt a kid's winter attire in one's dryer, it will always be the kid whom you don't know that will be the one affected. Nice way to introduce yourself to the kid's MOM too.

"Hi, you don't know me but.......................I'm the airheaded mother who........" Oh, and let me add that this child was the best friend of the kid who lives across the street whose Dad thinks he has the right to judge all others as below his standard of approval?? GREAT! I normally get a look of disdain.......you know the one where the person's face looks like it had sucked about 10 lemons........whenever our paths cross during gardening season?? You know that type? I don't really take it personally because he throws it at most of our neighbours...... I just try to avoid having conversations with him. And I really try to avoid conversations with him that begin with...

"GEE, _________ I completely fucked up by melting your son's bestfriends snow gear to the back of my dryer. Can you send the mom over when she comes to pick up her son so I can square it up with her? By the way, any new plans for the garden this spring?"

So........once that was admitted to, profusely apologized for, and resolved with only a bucketful of leftover remorse to deal with...........I found myself alone with a dryer with hardened bits of nylon and plastic stuck to the inside dryer drum. I got down on my butt, stuck my head in the dryer and began to scrape it off, only to realize that the little bits were flying through the once obstructed airholes and settling in with a pile of accumulated lint behind the back of the drum. The alert light went on in my head.......potential fire hazard.....beep,beep,beep....... (obviously this light in my head was shorting out only an hour before when I shoved 4 jackets and snowpants and a bunch of mitts and hats and scarves into it without blinking.........doh).

At this point, I'm paranoid and begin wondering just how much lint has nestled in the back of a dryer which owes us NOTHING as it is a gift from God that it still works..........and then I begin to wonder how much lint has accumulated through the whole venting system. By the time my imagination takes complete control over an otherwise sane human being (that would be me), I have decided that the dryer is completely off limits until we can get the back of the drum unscrewed and pulled out and scrubbed down........until we suck out the lint etc......

But, we can do this on our own, cant we?? Apparently not.

Special bolts require special friends with special tools..........enter our handyman friend who lives in the neighbourhood and who was in need of empty wine bottles for his homemade hooch........He just happened to phone at the right moment, for me not him. We arrange a modern day barter thing.........empties for bailing us out AGAIN. I mean, he's ALWAYS looking for wine bottles. Such a pain in the butt he is. er.........actually....... i'm sure he hesitates to call this house for fear of what request I have..... I do offer him a gift from time to time..... a good laugh.

So......the back of the drum of the dryer was taken off, scrubbed and the whole area was delinted. Easy? SHOOOOOOUUUURE..........that part was. What wasn't was being able to put it all back together after the whole drum slipped and nothing could be aligned. A phone call to the dryer fixer guy......the one who gets paid for dealing with zealous mothers who are trying to be nice by drying all the neighbourhood kids snowgear all at once...........the earliest visit?? 2 weeks.

Hence...........finding myself folding clothes early one Sunday morning at the laudromat. However, because of my screw up, this is what I learned:

Most laundromats look and smell the same. And, I love the scents of mountain fresh, after the rain, sunshine softness, blossoming meadow, citrus essence, spring anew combined together. It smells of goodness and memories for some reason.

Using the large industrial dryer which safely holds two loads of laundry and dries it all under an hour for a measley 2 bucks is WAY more cost efficient.

Folding clothes is a chore I don't mind doing.

Interesting people use the laundromat before 9 am on a Sunday morning. Friendly too.

The most profound learning that morning was that Britney Spears has my complete empathy. Until then, I had glossed over the many stories of Britney's spiralling life seeing them as one incident at a time and not a series of unrelenting cries of a very ill young woman.

On the TV bolted up in the corner of the laundromat was a review of the last couple of years, one incident after another with gory commentary from drooling media types who are sliming their way to being famous for being there during one of this poor woman's episodes. I was only half paying attention until then. All of a sudden I was struck by the plight of a mentally ill human being, vulnerable and broken, collapsing in front of our eyes.

And it continues doesn't it? This week as she is struggling behind closed doors while the pirhannas swim hungrily waiting for her to show her sad face again, I wonder if she will make it? I care about whether Britney Spears makes it. I care about the treatment she has received, about society's role in perpetuating the insatiable thirst for celebrity drama. I care about whether her plight will turn a corner and allow her to find her way without the flashing cameras and psychological intrusions.

She may be the cause of some of her situation.........but who really cares about that at this point? I just hope this talented beautiful human being makes it, and finds the loving trusting support she will need to live a life of freedom and piece of mind. She's one of us.

wake up..........again.............

The latest foiled terrorism attacks by the Muslim al-Quaeda gang members surely has raised the fear level throughout the world. The fact that these terrorists are all from the medical community forces us to question the stereotypical profile we have been fed through the main stream media stories and the politician's speeches. Having stated that, I do believe we are at fault too.....we want to believe in the sense that these suicide bombers are downtrodden. It helps us make sense of it, and it helps us walk away from the responsibility of doing something about it.

There was a feeling of pity for the poor souls who had been brought up in poverty, with no upward career possibilities as a way of understanding the motives behind the bombings around the world. This in turn most likely affected the approach governments and do-gooders have been taking to try to assuage the Muslim community to feeling "connected" to the bigger community. As well, it minimalized the severity of the hatred and the drive behind a much larger Muslim group.

Where and when did we forget that the 9-11 attackers were educated people as well? When did we begin to focus on just the so-called marginalized Muslims? When did we pigeon-hole the "typical" potential al-Quaeda suicide bomber as a wayward kid in search of life meaning? This is a major wake up call. We should never be so stupid again to think that Islamic extremists fit into a one size fits all mold. The level of hatred and devotion to their cause goes deep.....much deeper than we have ever given them credit for. Educated people living in our communities ARE involved. They always have been.

Where this will end? I surely don't know. What I do know and fear greatly is that we are a very long way from any resolution whatsoever. The recent calls for the moderate Muslims to come forward to lead seems very hollow right now as I can't quite get my head around the idea that moderation is understood or embraced the way I define it. Yes, we need to carry on and live our lives. But, I find this process more and more difficult as my trust of government and the power people decreases and my doubt of the idea of a Moderate Muslim increases.

No country is safe. That's the fact. And as much as we carry on living our little lives, our world continues to spew violence, hatred and craziness so much so that we are learning to always look at our neighbours with very different eyes. I hate it, but that's our reality.

in the news

What is the difference between fiction and reality?
Fiction has to make sense.

Wednesday evening, I flicked on the TV to catch up on the news I had been hearing earlier in the day that a package had been sent to NBC from Cho Seung-Hui. I turned on CNN first since it wasn't time yet for the "Nightly News" program and found myself watching and listening to none other than Wolf Blitzer, Mr. Drama Guy, who was "hosting" a panel of journalists who were sitting in a field somewhere on the campus of Virginia Tech. CNN, of course, already had all the graphics in place as well as the "theme" music for this tragedy, and Wolf was doing his very best to make the horrendous story of mass murder even more dramatic......if that was possible.

At the beginning and ending of each panel segment, Blitzer launched into his segue, using phrases like "biggest EVER in the HISTORY of America" which to tell you the truth left me feeling nauseas. I got this sick pit feeling that he was lapping this story up........ his emphasis on certain words felt too much like a promotional advertisement for something "New and Improved..." He couched the panel conversation by stating that they (the media/journalists) had been on campus for several days, that information about the event was only trickling in, etc........ completely oblivious to the fact that this tragedy had only taken place a little more than 48 hours before and that the world had been emotionally inundated with the reality of Cho's murdering spree.

It seems to me that CNN, like many other stations, has the power to turn reality into the surreal. Their over the top journalism comes across as dramatic, disrespectful and desensitizing all at the same time. They are notorious for this approach to journalism. Albeit there are some journalists with CNN who hold onto their integrity (and following) by allowing the story to be the lead and not have their personality swamp it, the attention grabbers.....the ones whose personalities grow bigger than the story seem to be the ones who end up hosting their own news show.

Can I just add here..................oh yes I can..........that Larry King has got to be the worst interviewer in the land of interviewing? He interupts, he ad libs, he asks the doofiest questions, and yet..........you're frigging nobody unless you get to sit across the desk from Mr. Suspender guy? His inability to allow for any pauses or any deep breaths by the interviewee leads me to think that this man is not comfortable whatsoever with silence. Quite frankly, I think he's rude.

Gee......I started out wanting to write about media coverage in general and have somehow found myself going down the rant road lambasting CNN........

Let me get back on track.........

What has stunned me more than anything this week is the locomotive pace this world seems to have when it comes to grieving, and to learning the details of a story even before it has unfolded. Our collective impatience and attention span feeds the mainstream media (and visa versa) to go into overdrive. Granted, as soon as new information is available, it is the responsibility of the media to share it (it is our responsibility to choose to view it or not). But, the inundation of graphic information and heart wrenching details coupled with the eye-blinking roll out of a memorial less than 24 hours after the murderous event that seemed to veer close to feeling like a bizarre rally, a candlelight service, a thousand intrusive interviews with families in shock.......it's like this whole thing has been scripted.

Are we supposed to be at a point in absorbing the magnitude of this killing spree and the horrendous loss of precious life where we are reflecting already? Yesterday's big headline wasn't about the loss of life.......or the heroic actions of beautiful people who saved others.......it wasn't about the devastation felt by the families.........the headline grabber was about the media itself over whether or not they should've shown the video clips of Cho.

Life is not a movie.......... but OMG, I'm sure someone is out there salivating over the rights to the story and WHO is going to play the role of the key players..............is this not SICK?

I believe the public reacted partially to the heinous video clips because they simply weren't prepared to see them. It was too soon. It was thrown into the "script" too early. And the public reacted. Too much reality.............and not enough time to respectfully acknowledge the families and friends of the victims.......to let the story sink in........or something like that. Who really knows?

Last night, I caught the editorial commentary of a coiffed talking head whom I had never seen before on one of the Canadian news channels throwing her 2 cents into the debate on whether or not the media should've disclosed the pictures and video clips of Cho Seung-Hui. She began by providing a "textbook" theory of how events like the Virginia Tech tragedy unfold with the public as a way to rationalize the decisions made by the media.

• On the first day, we are in shock and denial
• On the second day, we turn our anger on and point fingers at the administration
• On the third day, we turn our anger on the media.

According to the "talking head" we are responding "according to plan....."

Wow! Did you know we are so programmed? Her thoughtless editorial fed my disdain towards the media. But then, that was predictable, wasn't it?

(oh, and btw? I do believe we would be angry at the media if they hadn't shown the clips because then we would be shouting at their authoritarian censorship practises............)

Wolf Blitzer was right. It is the worst killing spree in the history of the United States of America. HOWEVER, there is no script. We are in unknown territory. It needs to be felt and absorbed and reflected upon. Does this need to be rushed out in "dailies?" Do we really need theme music and graphics already? No. We need to surrender to the fact that we are in unknown territory, realizing there are no clear cut answers to this senseless awful event. And then, we grieve and feel for the families, friends and colleagues directly affected by the horrible acts of one very very sick man.

Irish Eyes..........

It's St. Patrick's Day and I'm stuck thinking about a guy named Mulroney. Remember him? He was the Prime Minister who had the gall to stand up on a stage with opera singer Maureen Forrester, his wife Mila, and Ron and Nancy Reagan after the Shamrock Summit, and sing............

When Irish Eyes are Smiling...................

With a big ending...............hamming it up. Front and Centre. It was a Mulroney moment

There they were, the five of them standing in a row, dressed in fancy green duds looking united, enjoying each other's company. The ladies were all sparkly in their beaded gowns; the two men handsome in their tuxedos. Their Irish eyes were smiling. I remember thinking........gee, they look like they are having fun. No biggie.

oooooooooops..........silly me...........it was a biggie............or so the scathing media decided to portray it to be.

It was the beginning of the end of Mulroney, the guy who had just won the largest majority in the history of Canadian politics, the guy who finally ousted the Liberals, who stood up to patronage during the election debate, who charmed the country with his Irish roots charisma. Dead in the water in the eyes of the media. Consequently dead in the water in the eyes of many Canadians. All of a sudden, he was the guy who sang along with a "Neo-con" like Reagan, and was painted with the same brush.

It wasn't like Mulroney was seranading Reagan......he wasn't on his knees woooing the Knute man. He was just singing with him. I guess the hand holding of the five of them, and the comfort level exhibited was enough to send the media monkeys into a frenzy. They did their very best painting a picture of our Prime Minister acting like Chester the little excitable dog in that cartoon trying to gain the attention and respect of Spike the bulldog. Somehow, the negotiations on behalf of our business world, with our largest trading partner became a farce.....personalized to sway the masses that the only objective Mulroney had was a personal desire to sleep with a giant. The masses swallowed it whole.

And it started with Irish Eyes smiling............

It was also the beginning of a vocalization of disdain by Canadians towards American politics. Though it was always simmering under the surface, the supposedly blatant coupling with Reagan brought it to the surface. It was like a bubble of decorum had burst and out slagged vitriolic green puke a la Regan in the exorcist and it hasn't stopped flowing. Nasty.

In hindsight, I believe it was also the time that the MSM decided to jump on the opposition horse and lead. Mulroney NEVER had a honeymoon period with the press, and in fact the shortest honeymoon since then has been with Dion. Harper seems relatively unscathed by the MSM. Trudeau, who abhored the media, and wouldn't give them the time of day still manages from the grave to be the political poster boy...............why? I DO NOT KNOW......... Maybe the rule is that if you treat the media with disdain, with a don't give a shit attitude, they flee?

From that point on, it seems that the media has taken on this role, and has decided it is their right (or should I say left??) to BE the opposition................they've been pretty consistent since then, havent they??

Mulroney? He liked the spotlight.........still does I bet, but it's a snowstorm on a summer day when you see him, a powerful man who was our Prime Minister for 9 years ever being interviewed. Brian Mulroney loved the scrums, loved the interaction with the media. He was a self-confessed newsy addict. And yet, the media HATED him..........and did their very best to sway the masses. The masses loathed him. Still do. Heaven forbid someone brings up his name in a crowd of people. You'd get flogged and an earful of hate. You'd think that he did something heinously evil. He never did, and yet at the time, journalists were writing tripe comparing him to Hitler.

I saw a short interview last night with him and George Strombolopolous on his CBC show, and was once again pulled in by this man. Brian Mulroney is the person who stoked my interest in politics, who pulled me into the blue light of the Progressive Conservatives. His vision, his manner, his ideas at the time resonated with me. Having stated that, I think I'm probably the only person left besides his family who still likes the guy. As I watched the interview, and could see that he has obviously had time to reflect on his years running this country, I wondered how much his long illness last year affected the way he looks at the decisions he made. Has it humbled him more now, so that the pride he displayed didn't rankle others so much anymore? He seemed more humble, but who am I to be able to gauge that. I still like the guy. I'm a bit biased.

Would "history" be kinder to him than previously predicted? I hope so..........he deserves to be.

I also hope he BELTS out Irish Eyes every St. Patricks Day with a smile on his face.

the "do it" people......I'd like you to meet one.

Are there people in your life who make things happen? You know, the ones who have an idea and follow it through to fruition - the people who have the capacity to alter a way others may see or think about something? They come in all all ages and shapes and colours. Poets, builders, architects, photographers, philosophers, artists, musicians, leaders, inventors, kids, politicians, volunteers, ministers, mystics, bloggers, humans...........the people in your community......

These are the "do it" people who inject ZEST into life.........the bright lights who say things like........

"HEY! Let's try it this way........"
"Why don't we plan a.................?"
"Let's turn this painting upside down and see what it looks like from that angle."
"Wow! Look at those clouds rolling by...........don't they look like......."
"That person looks like they need a friend.......I'm going to see if they need help."
"When life gives you lemons................Dance!"


Sometimes, we consider their ideas and quests a bit eccentric. Initially, we might even see them as strange because their views seem so different from our own and are too "out there." Why is that?

Different connotes the unknown. Different means unpredictable.

Ah...........but different also means a tasty new flavour...........a spicing up of a bland meal.

Most people fear the unknown that accompanies change. Status quo....stay the course....Why rock the boat? These cliches resonate with non-risk takers. They are secure in their knowledge of how things are in their world. While remaining cocooned in a safe place that lacks fluidity normally generated by new ideas and visions, they remain stifled and unmoved. Opportunity knocks, but the door to awareness and learning does not open. It's just too scary.

All achievements, great or small begin as a single thought; an idea that is nurtured and expanded upon through the confidence of believing in the vision. If the feat falls outside of the realm of the ordinary, one tends to face many more obstacles. Many more people will balk at their vision.

And yet, there will be others who are open to the freshness of new ideas and they will support and even sustain the individual as they work towards their goal. Often it is this type of supportive nourishment from others that will allow the individual to push through the difficult vulnerable self doubts that crop up in order to continue to pursue their dream. Ultimately however, it is up to the Visionary to persist against the odds to reach their summit....to remain resilient.

Resilience...............isn't that a great word?

Resilience.............It comes from within. It is fortified by faith....it is what propels the dreamer forward..........and up to the top of the hill.

Let's always applaud their efforts and thank them for bravely exposing their uniqueness.

Today..................I want to applaud and recognize a definate "DO IT!!!" person in my community. Charles Leblanc is the most prolific blogger in the province. One most days, Charles posts 4 or 5 stories and photos a day! Full of passion and vision and ENERGY to burn.........Charles' goal is to shake things up and to document it. He's a beautiful man who tries his very best to be the thorn in the side of politicians and mainstream media journalist. And, I say to him..........................go get 'em TIGER!! Spice this planet up!!

Check out Charles' blog...........and if you want to know more about his story, try googling his name.........

let the silly season begin.........

The top of the New Brunswick Legislature on a snowy January day, 2007

"This is the song that doesn't end
It goes on and on my friend
Some people started singing it
Not knowing what is was
And they'll continue singing it forever
Just because..............

This is the song that doesn't end........."

sung by shari lewis and the ever insightful lambchop.

Today, pomp and circumstance invades this fair city as a knock is heard on the door of the illustrious Legislature. Just like ALL good British parliamentary forums. However, don't let the beautiful facade fool you. Inside lurks silliness masked as elected officials who will do their very best to primp and pose in front of the camera.

Sound bites and sword fights take centre stage as they parry and counter-parry over issues, some of which are meaningful to voters, others created as fodder for the fencing bout. It always gets heated. It always gets silly. It always gets off track as personal points become more important than the larger picture of progress.

So, what to expect this time around as the Liberals take centre stage for the first time in this provinces in 7 years? This issues may have a slightly different flavour, but the fencing footsteps will most likely be the same old song and dance.

Be on the lookout for that ever elusive elf named "self-sufficiency".........clothed differently, but still the same McKenna face. This catch phrase has lost it's shelf life.........but will be dredged up again and again and again. This time, it will somehow be paired with the homeostatic term "sustainability." That way, it will cover all hot ticket items............jobs, energy, poverty, and the environment.

Self-sufficient sustainability...........it just slithers off you tongue, doesn't it? Too bad it means squat. The brain drain will continue, as will the ongoing overloading of our energy usage, as will homelessness, as will our mucking of the environment.

My, how cynical I have become.

The opposition Tories still smarting from their losses? Be prepared to hear their rally cry trying to score early points ----

"You Grits BROKE your election promises!!"



The finger pointing, sabre crossing, eye rolling, voice raising, vein popping blaming game is about to begin. We can only hope for some uniquely interesting scandals and dirt to liven things up.

Gee, for some reason, I can't get Lambchop's song out of my head............

"Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue singing it forever just because........."

what to believe..............

What I love about the autonomy of blogging, well writing in general really is that it allows me to write anything I bloody well want to. Not only that, I can complete a thought and a sentence without being loudly talked over. Sure, my point of view can be dismissed by the reader with one click of the mouse. Fine. But, I can lay out my opinion as linearly as I can even if it's just for my own benefit.

Blogging is not as all pervasive as other methods of mass communication. It's more intimate, more personal as well as one sided until (and if) comments are left to offer another view or another opinion. And, if someone leaves a nasty rude comment that I deem inappropriate, I can delete it and move on because it's my blog. My perogative......................

Unfortunately, the media is very difficult to turn off, dismiss and ignore. And this week, I'd like to turn it all off. Why? The Robert Pickton trial has begun in British Columbia. His heinous crimes are worse than Bernardo, Legere, and Olsen combined. If you havent heard about this evil man and the gruesome murderous acts he is accused of commiting, just take my word for it, it's beyond comprehension. And yet........

CTV has been "promoting" the trial for over a week like it was a CSI episode. They are inviting us to tune into the National news at 11pm to get all our updates on the trial with these "alluring" ads. It sickens me...................as I try to explain to my kids what the networks are "promoting" while they are watching some innocent TV show that's gone to commercials.

CBC Radio One not only has the updates during every top of the hour newscast, albeit with warnings just before they rail into the gore (at which time I am running around the house turning off the radios in all the rooms so my children don't have to learn any more details of it), they have also developed "angles" for interviews on forensic this and DNA that with experts during their morning, afternoon and evening shows. You may have turned on the radio in the morning to try to catch the local information and news (weather, school bus delays, updates etc) but be prepared to switch off at any time, because Robert Pickton is front and centre.

All newspapers have a gruesome eye catching photo and headline on the front page, and then have a "special section" devoted to the details.

Any online newsite you click onto will have a picture of the scumbag front and centre because he's intriguing??? I'm sure if you looked.........and it wouldn't take a lot of digging.....you could learn all the details which the court has banned from reporting on.

I have stopped reading newsites online................I have turned off the radio............I refuse to watch the TV news. My choice, I realize...................... and if you want to watch or listen.......if you have a driven desire to learn more, well then fill yer boots.

What I don't understand is why someone would want to pollute their brains with such vile descriptive violence? Is it some kind of thrill? Where does the curiosity for this stuff come from?

This particular story, along with a few others that seem to be in the news every single day has also generated a lot of questions in my head about the amount of lies and disceptions we are fed daily.....................stuff others with an agenda want us to believe. I find it very difficult to find my way as I filter through propaganda, spins, left leaning thought vs. right leaning thought, political correctness, fundamentalist finger pointing, poll inducing assessments, opinionated editorials, heartfelt testimonials, and emotional diatribe that makes up the majority of our media. I don't care which political planet you're from...........................we are all fed a lot of bullshit, and innuendo that more often than not reinforces our own take on the world.

WHERE is the BALANCE? DOES BALANCED reporting exist? Did it ever exist. I don't believe it ever has...........but who am I for YOU to believe? I'm just a lowly little blogger with an opinion.

Just like a horoscope, it makes sense to you by the way you interpret it. You can make a horoscope fit your day anyday!! How scientifically magical that is. The news is that way as well. If I'm a supporter of Stephen Harper, I can find many articles to support my point of view. I can even decide to only read those articles and dismiss everything else as lies. Same with any issue.
It leaves me confused and at times unsure as to where I stand on certain issues. What I try to do, if I'm interested in learning about a topic or an issue...........if I want to form an educated opinion, I try to read a variety of articles that reflect many angles. Easier said than done..... but I try.

'Cause the truth HAS to be in there somewhere...........doesn't it?

Not that I want a world that is black and white, right and wrong.....but it would be nice if I could at least trust something that I hear or read or see in the media because right now, not one politician comes out smelling fresh and not one journalist comes out unbiased......... integrity and honesty seem to have been flushed down the toilet and into the sewers.........polluting the rivers, which in turn is consume by the cows, which in turn produce flatulant methane gas, which as we all know is the major cause of global warming.......or not.

Gee........this was the fastest post I've written in weeks. I wonder why??

I will end this little bloggierant with a quote I found in the newspaper today. Not only did it make me laugh..........I BELIEVE it.....

"The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts. The alter the facts to fit their views, which can be very uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that need altering." Dr. Who.

Anyone going to watch Dubya's State of the Union Address tonight?