I will be working in Europe for the next two weeks. In other words, I don't have time to blog about that amazing dream I had last night. See you when I get back!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Love Actually
Anyone who follows the news will be familiar with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent speech at Columbia University. According to the Iranian leader, there are no homosexuals living in Iran.
I’m not sure about you, but wouldn’t this make a great sequel to Brokeback Mountain? Replace the ranch with a jihad, and you get the general idea.
The sad truth is, it wasn’t until 1974 that the American Psychiatric Association no longer classified homosexuality as a mental illness. Not to mention that Gay couples living in America, still do not have the right to get married. Are we living in the dark ages?
My grandmother used to say that at the end of our lives, love is the only thing we take with us. At that time - I didn’t appreciate her wisdom - thinking it was just another cliché.
People do not choose to be gay, they are born that way. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t think a loving God would ever put someone on this earth just to suffer. In fact, the very survival of our planet depends on our ability to protect and respect the diversity of life
My Grandmother was right, love is the only lasting thing……
I’m not sure about you, but wouldn’t this make a great sequel to Brokeback Mountain? Replace the ranch with a jihad, and you get the general idea.
The sad truth is, it wasn’t until 1974 that the American Psychiatric Association no longer classified homosexuality as a mental illness. Not to mention that Gay couples living in America, still do not have the right to get married. Are we living in the dark ages?
My grandmother used to say that at the end of our lives, love is the only thing we take with us. At that time - I didn’t appreciate her wisdom - thinking it was just another cliché.
People do not choose to be gay, they are born that way. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t think a loving God would ever put someone on this earth just to suffer. In fact, the very survival of our planet depends on our ability to protect and respect the diversity of life
My Grandmother was right, love is the only lasting thing……
Monday, September 24, 2007
Puma in the Hood
Last night when we took the Pugs for their walk – Tex had a melt down.
He normally loves our nightly strolls, so it came as a bit of a surprise when he dug his little heels in and refused to move. We tried everything – promising treats, gentle coaxing, and finally insisting that we were the Alpha dogs - so move it! Nothing from our bag of tricks worked. Left with the option of dragging an unwilling pug down the sea wall, we decided to just pick Tex up and head straight home.
This morning we felt terribly guilty when we found out that several of our neighbors had spotted a cougar prowling around Granville Island – and all of this happened around the same time that Tex refused to budge. Texie-Baby has always been very intuitive. Who can blame the little guy for not wanting to be part of the food chain. On the other hand, his sister Maggie was totally oblivious. Bless her heart, she’s never going to be the dog that alerts her family when Timmy falls in the well.
Even though we live smack dab in the middle of a city of two million people, we are used to seeing wildlife in our neighbourhood. Over the years there have been seals, sea lions, herons, ravens, hawks, eagles, skunks, coyotes, racoons, otters – and once Tom and I even had to stop traffic so a beaver could cross a busy intersection. But a Mountain Lion takes things to a whole new level.
Well, time to go. Have to take the Pugs for their nightly stroll.
He normally loves our nightly strolls, so it came as a bit of a surprise when he dug his little heels in and refused to move. We tried everything – promising treats, gentle coaxing, and finally insisting that we were the Alpha dogs - so move it! Nothing from our bag of tricks worked. Left with the option of dragging an unwilling pug down the sea wall, we decided to just pick Tex up and head straight home.
This morning we felt terribly guilty when we found out that several of our neighbors had spotted a cougar prowling around Granville Island – and all of this happened around the same time that Tex refused to budge. Texie-Baby has always been very intuitive. Who can blame the little guy for not wanting to be part of the food chain. On the other hand, his sister Maggie was totally oblivious. Bless her heart, she’s never going to be the dog that alerts her family when Timmy falls in the well.
Even though we live smack dab in the middle of a city of two million people, we are used to seeing wildlife in our neighbourhood. Over the years there have been seals, sea lions, herons, ravens, hawks, eagles, skunks, coyotes, racoons, otters – and once Tom and I even had to stop traffic so a beaver could cross a busy intersection. But a Mountain Lion takes things to a whole new level.
Well, time to go. Have to take the Pugs for their nightly stroll.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
"It" Moments
Last week I was working in New York City, needless to say it was a little disconcerting going from Haida Gwaii to the Big Apple. Trust me, moving from island time - to the hustle and bustle of the big city - is a study in contrast.
Over the past few years, I’ve undergone a revolution. I am no longer searching. I've learned that if you are always trying to fill the voids, you miss the important things in life. So much of it is out of our control – the only sensible thing is to let go and learn to live in the moment.
Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean that I am always in a state of nirvana – life still has it’s ups and downs– it's all part of the journey.
So at the risk of sounding like a drama queen, here is my New York “it” moment.
This is a cell phone image from the roof of the Met, where I'm sipping a glass of champagne and taking in the sunset. Feeling connected, blessed, and overwhelmed with love for my family and friends.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Blackbird
When you go to the Queen Charlotte's, you realize why the Raven plays such a prominent part in native mythology. According to the Haida’s, the Raven is know as the trickster and is credited with creating life, the moon, stars and sun.
You have to experience the Raven first hand to understand what the fuss is about. Scientist consider Raven to be the most intelligent of birds, often comparing their cognitive development to that of a dog or wolf. Wild Ravens have even been know to mimic the sounds of cell phones and car alarms
Everything about the raven is larger than life - just think of them as Rock Stars on wings. Unlike other animals, the Raven looks you straight in the eye and tells you what it thinks. Most of this interaction is humorous, but there were a few times when I felt like shouting “ you talking to me!?”.
You have to experience the Raven first hand to understand what the fuss is about. Scientist consider Raven to be the most intelligent of birds, often comparing their cognitive development to that of a dog or wolf. Wild Ravens have even been know to mimic the sounds of cell phones and car alarms
Everything about the raven is larger than life - just think of them as Rock Stars on wings. Unlike other animals, the Raven looks you straight in the eye and tells you what it thinks. Most of this interaction is humorous, but there were a few times when I felt like shouting “ you talking to me!?”.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Back in the Saddle
Just back from the Queen Charlotte's, a place I have always dreamed of visiting.
A beautiful archipelago that consists of more than 460 islands – often referred to as the Galapagos of North America – home of the Haida Nation.
Here are a few of the highlights:
Distance Traveled: 2278 KM
Places visited: Queen Charlotte - Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve – Prince Rupert – Prince George
Modes of Transportation: Commercial airline – float plane – ferry – train – zodiac – car
Traveling companions: Juice, Susie and Midgie
Wildlife spotted: Raven – eagle – deer – bear – kingfisher – moose – humpback- seal - dolphin
Bonding with the Chica's: Finding a romance novel on the train and reading steamy passages out loud
Culinary highlight: A picnic on a remote beach – doesn’t everything taste better when you’re in the wild?
More stories to follow.....
A beautiful archipelago that consists of more than 460 islands – often referred to as the Galapagos of North America – home of the Haida Nation.
Here are a few of the highlights:
Distance Traveled: 2278 KM
Places visited: Queen Charlotte - Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve – Prince Rupert – Prince George
Modes of Transportation: Commercial airline – float plane – ferry – train – zodiac – car
Traveling companions: Juice, Susie and Midgie
Wildlife spotted: Raven – eagle – deer – bear – kingfisher – moose – humpback- seal - dolphin
Bonding with the Chica's: Finding a romance novel on the train and reading steamy passages out loud
Culinary highlight: A picnic on a remote beach – doesn’t everything taste better when you’re in the wild?
More stories to follow.....
Sunday, September 2, 2007
The Fighting Ryans
Last year, when we visited Chile with our good friends Scott and Janice – we were a bit surprised at all of the free advice we received from the locals. Everywhere we went, well meaning citizens from all walks of life would approach us with warnings to be careful. Very careful.
Tom and I found this perplexing, and soon we decided it had to be Scott and Janice. After all, they are as nice as they look – a wonderful, trusting, Canadian couple. On the other hand, anyone who meets us Ryans would immediately know that we are a street smart, take no shit kind of couple. Or so we thought.
When we (okay, when I) decided to renovate our little home, everyone tried to warn us. They all shared their own personal horror stories of Contractors Gone Bad. We appreciated the good advice and politely took note – but we never really thought it could happen to us. We decided to add new flooring to the hallway, stairwell, both bedrooms, tile the bathroom floor, paint all the walls, and completely overhaul our kitchen. All at the same time of course.
By now, we should have a brand new kitchen and bathroom, but in reality we are a full two weeks behind schedule. We have no kitchen sink. Our unplugged refrigerator is in our living room. Tom’s home office also includes a dishwasher, oven, and somebody’s electric sander. We have been eating ‘take-out’ for 15 days straight - and just last night I caught my husband washing the dishes - while having a shower. Our sweet house guest from Thailand has been surreptitiously checking for earlier flights home. The pugs seem befuddled.
Are we worried? Of course not. We’re the fighting Ryan’s! And after all, according to our calculations - everything should be completed by Friday. This will be perfect timing, as we are expecting a cheque in the mail……
Tom and I found this perplexing, and soon we decided it had to be Scott and Janice. After all, they are as nice as they look – a wonderful, trusting, Canadian couple. On the other hand, anyone who meets us Ryans would immediately know that we are a street smart, take no shit kind of couple. Or so we thought.
When we (okay, when I) decided to renovate our little home, everyone tried to warn us. They all shared their own personal horror stories of Contractors Gone Bad. We appreciated the good advice and politely took note – but we never really thought it could happen to us. We decided to add new flooring to the hallway, stairwell, both bedrooms, tile the bathroom floor, paint all the walls, and completely overhaul our kitchen. All at the same time of course.
By now, we should have a brand new kitchen and bathroom, but in reality we are a full two weeks behind schedule. We have no kitchen sink. Our unplugged refrigerator is in our living room. Tom’s home office also includes a dishwasher, oven, and somebody’s electric sander. We have been eating ‘take-out’ for 15 days straight - and just last night I caught my husband washing the dishes - while having a shower. Our sweet house guest from Thailand has been surreptitiously checking for earlier flights home. The pugs seem befuddled.
Are we worried? Of course not. We’re the fighting Ryan’s! And after all, according to our calculations - everything should be completed by Friday. This will be perfect timing, as we are expecting a cheque in the mail……
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