But when I yelled "HEY JAROME!" "HEY SIDNEY!" they didn't answer. Maybe they had earbuds in. I don't know.question: have you spotted any celebrities at the Olympics?
mompoet - HEYYYYY JAROOOOMMMMME!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
after the medal ceremony I spotted 2 team canada players in a rickshaw
But when I yelled "HEY JAROME!" "HEY SIDNEY!" they didn't answer. Maybe they had earbuds in. I don't know.question: have you spotted any celebrities at the Olympics?
mompoet - HEYYYYY JAROOOOMMMMME!
olympic medalist photos from the website
You can log onto the Vancouver 2010 website to see which country has won which medals, and who did the winning.
I think they should use some publicity photos though, instead of these grim looking photos (probably the athletes' accreditation shots). They might as well have posted photocopies of everyone's driver's license or passport images. Look at this. These photos do not say "Hey! I just got a medal for my country!" They say, "I have jetlag." or "I need to find the washroom," or, "Maybe I should have booked a condo instead of agreeing to stay in the athlete's village."
question: does anyone ever look good in an ID photo?
mompoet - smiling whenever it is permitted
I think they should use some publicity photos though, instead of these grim looking photos (probably the athletes' accreditation shots). They might as well have posted photocopies of everyone's driver's license or passport images. Look at this. These photos do not say "Hey! I just got a medal for my country!" They say, "I have jetlag." or "I need to find the washroom," or, "Maybe I should have booked a condo instead of agreeing to stay in the athlete's village."
question: does anyone ever look good in an ID photo?
mompoet - smiling whenever it is permitted
fun in the sun at the Olympics
On Saturday, Andy and Alex went to the Switzerland-Norway men's hockey game. They had a good time. I met them after the game for an afternoon in the big party crowd that is Olympic downtown Vancouver.
But first, I drove Fiona to her bus-muster point for her closing ceremony rehearsal. We were at Brentwood Mall at 7:30 so she could catch a bus departing at 7:45. Armed with something hot and caffeiny from Starbucks, she was off to rehearsal. It was early enough for me to go to the gym, then back home for a couple of hours.
Fi decided to stay downtown with a couple of friends after the rehearsal ended. I scooted downtown on the skytrain and met up with her. We agreed to stay in touch by cell phone, and travel home together when we were all ready.
I got my bearings. There are crowds everywhere, and several streets are closed for walking. All of the pavilion/celebration areas have lineups, but it's fun just people watching. I sat outside the CBC building and watched people line up to shake hands and take photos with one of the guys from the TV show "The Dragon's Den." The sunshine was warm, and I had a snack and found a clean washroom at the Bread Garden restaurant.
Alex and Andy met me around 3pm. We cruised around the streets and walked down to Live City Yaletown. The lineup was long, but it moved quickly, and we were inside in about half an hour. We visited the Panasonic pavilion and saw the HD 3D home theatre system. We agreed that we are not going to buy an HD 3D home theatre system, but Alex is still hoping the price might come down sometime soon. It was still an hour before the concerts started there, and we were didn't want to stand around that long, so we left and walked around a bit more.
Fi decided to stay longer with her friends she was having such a good time. Alex, Andy and I got on the most crowded skytrain we have ever seen, and traveled home. Expo Line trains were running every 30 seconds, and still it was a mad crush. Everyone was cheerful and polite, but tired. We got home around 7pm.
Andy and I will go back for a full day on Thursday, just us. We'll start earlier and get in to see a few things. I'm thinking I might go downtown super-early Friday and see if I can brave the lineup for a zipline ride. We'll see.
question: are you going to buy an HD 3D home theatre system?
mompoet - I didn't think so
medal ceremony
I got tickets for our family to see a medal ceremony. They were cheap to buy, and I figured it would be a good way to get a bit of the Olympic experience. I chose a night when the band Hedley would play after the ceremony, because Alex and Andy like Hedley.
Fiona had a rehearsal so she couldn't make it. We offered her ticket to our friend Sam, who was glad to come with us. We met up at the Lougheed Skytrain station and had a quick, crowdless trip down to Main Street Science world, where were advised to de-train as Stadium station was reportedly a crowd scene. It was a gorgeous afternoon, so we walked from Sochi World (the pavilion for the Russian city that will host the 2016 Winter Olympics) to BC Place. Outside, one of the many still-smiling volunteers offered to take a photo of all four of us with my camera. That was nice. We arrived at the stadium where checking through security was quick and easy, and we got to our seats early enough to watch BC Place fill up with people, mostly wearing read and carrying Canadian flags.
For the medal ceremonies, one end of the stadium has been partitioned off. There's a small front stage area with a curtained performance stage behind it. The podium is wheeled in the awards portion of the evening. I think this keeps most of BC place curtained off so that preparations may be made for the closing ceremony. We got seats way off to the side and up high, but whatever we couldn't see on the stage was visible on big screens all around. We wished that they would broadcast some events live on the screens while we waited, but they didn't. Instead we got event titles in French and English, and a couple of ads about how wonderful the Olympics are. So we talked about various Protestant Church denominations and their policies on gay marriage.
I had snacked us up at my office before we left, but Alex was hungry already when we got to BC Place. You are not allowed to pack a lunch or even a snack or a drink into any of the Olympic venues. I bought 3 cokes for a total bill of $13.50. The cashier at the concession counter said, "I'm sorry, that's a lot to pay for 3 drinks." I told her it was okay, it was giving me that Disneyland feeling all over again, but right in my own back yard. At another stand I bought spicy potato wedges, a small tray for $6. They made Alex feel better, so I guess the $20 snack and slurp was worth it. After the ceremony Alex, Sam and Andy chowed down at McDonald's on Robson. It was quick, and reasonably cheap, so that was successful. I'm glad Alex could wait so I didn't have to buy him a $40 hot dog at the stadium.
Before the medal ceremony began, there was a tribute to Prince Edward Island. A young singing/dancing group entertained us for about half an hour with songs and dances, including a song from the musical, Anne of Green Gables. It was pretty nice. We chatted about the trip that Sam and his mom, Louise, took to PEI a few years ago. Sam says it's a great place.
Then it was time for medals. The ceremony alternated between real-life medals being awarded to athletes in BC Place, and a live broadcast from Whistler, where medals were being handed out to winners of events at Whistler and the Callaghan Valley. We saw medals given out to Canadians Marianne St Gelais (a silver for short track speed skating) and Christine Nesbitt (a gold for 1000 metre speed skating). That was fun to watch. Then there was the Hedley concert. There seemed to be a lot of teenage girls very excited about Hedley. The sound was surprisingly good for BC place and quieter than a normal concert, and the crowd was much pretty laid-back. The concert went on for about 30 minutes, then Hedley left, and we left.
We walked around downtown Vancouver. Robson Street is closed to vehicles and there was a stream of pedestrian traffic, including people shouting and singing and cheering. At Robson Square, we saw a laser and fireworks show, with big flame-throwing towers, a lot like the end of the evening shows at the PNE, only a kajillion more people watching it.
After the show, we walked down to the waterfront to check out the flame cauldron. The cauldron has been surrounded by a chain link fence, and lots of people have complained that they can't just walk up to it, take a picture, or have their pictures taken in front of it. By Thursday, the organizers had opened a viewing platform. You could line up, climb a flight of stairs and get an unimpeded view. They had also cut a hole in fence, for the holding up of cameras. I still think it's pretty lame that you can't get close to the flame. The burning parts are at least 20 feet above the ground and the structure is hardly climbable. I think they should just post a couple of Mounties in front of it and invite people over. They're saying it's in a secure area, so the fence has to stay. I think that's crummy planning - like putting Stonehenge or the Blarney Stone inside the prime-minister's private lavatory, then saying "no admittance, we're peeing in here." The cauldron should be in the middle of a public place.
After the flame we were pretty tired, so we took transit home, It was crowded but quick. We left downtown at 11, and were home in bed before midnight.
So that was our first big Olympic evening.
question: have you seen the cauldron?
mompoet - giving this evening a bronze medal for variety and good company
torch relay
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The day before the Olympics opened, I watched the torch relay at Myrna's place. It was warm and cozy. Myrna made coffee and cinnamon buns. I brought some sugar mandarins and a couple of mangoes. We stood on her 3rd floor balcony and watched the crowd below. We waved Canadian flags and cheered the torch runner as he passed along the street in front of Myrna's place. It was very cold and rainy out, but a couple hundred people were in the street. Everyone seemed to be good spirits. It was just after 7am and still quite dark out, so you can't see much in these photos. The vehicles are part of the entourage. The dark shot with a blob of light is the actual torch.
I found out later that each torch has enough fuel to last about 20 minutes before it burns out. Somewhere back east, the torch did blow out twice on a particularly windy stretch of highway. A backup flame, taken from the Olympic flame in Greece, is kept lit in the torch bus, so a blown-out torch can be re-lit with the real thing. I began to think about what would happen if someone messed up and let the backup flame burn out, then the torch burned out. Would the flame keepers admit it? or would they whip out a zippo, relight the flam and act like nothing happened?
I also learned that runners get to keep their torches, but they have to pay if they want to keep them. A lot of people carried the torches, and the flame was relayed through a lot of cities in Canada. In the last few days before the Olympic opening ceremony, the torch relay took a loopy route all through the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver, so lots of people got to run with it, and to see it.
I'm glad I saw the torch. It was a brief encounter, but one I probably won't experience again. I'm glad it didn't blow out or get doused by the rain. I'm glad there was coffee and cinnamon buns, and mangoes, definitely mangoes.
question: did you see the torch?
mompoet - usually staying lit more than 20 minutes at a stretch
Sunday, February 14, 2010
(non-sequitur warning) why I am not a joke-writer
A bald, a grey and a toup walk into a bar. They sit down and start doing a jigsaw puzzle together.
"Why is it," asks the bald, "that my wife won't have sex with me any more? The last time we had sex was when I was 30 years old. Now I'm 42. That's a long time to go without."
The grey and the toup scratch their heads (the toup scratches carefully so as not to muss his 'do).
"Well," says the grey, "maybe it's your SAT score that's not high enough for her."
"Or possibly," adds the toup, "your cholesterol level is objectionable to her."
The three friends ruminate on this as they puzzle over the puzzle, which has only 15 pieces. Three hours later, they are still working on the puzzle.
"What does a guy have to do to get a drink in here?" asks the bald, "I've gone this long without sex, at least someone could bring me some whiskey."
"You're right. Let's go somewhere else. It's too dark in here for jigsaw puzzles anyway," says the grey.
"How about Hooters," says the toup. "They serve you real fast there, and the jigsaw puzzles are easier - only 8 pieces in the jigsaw puzzles at Hooters."
The bald, the grey and the toup leave the bar. A duck, a chicken and a goat take their places, finish the puzzle, drink whiskey all afternoon, and talk about how much they love their wives.
The end
"Why is it," asks the bald, "that my wife won't have sex with me any more? The last time we had sex was when I was 30 years old. Now I'm 42. That's a long time to go without."
The grey and the toup scratch their heads (the toup scratches carefully so as not to muss his 'do).
"Well," says the grey, "maybe it's your SAT score that's not high enough for her."
"Or possibly," adds the toup, "your cholesterol level is objectionable to her."
The three friends ruminate on this as they puzzle over the puzzle, which has only 15 pieces. Three hours later, they are still working on the puzzle.
"What does a guy have to do to get a drink in here?" asks the bald, "I've gone this long without sex, at least someone could bring me some whiskey."
"You're right. Let's go somewhere else. It's too dark in here for jigsaw puzzles anyway," says the grey.
"How about Hooters," says the toup. "They serve you real fast there, and the jigsaw puzzles are easier - only 8 pieces in the jigsaw puzzles at Hooters."
The bald, the grey and the toup leave the bar. A duck, a chicken and a goat take their places, finish the puzzle, drink whiskey all afternoon, and talk about how much they love their wives.
The end
Saturday, February 13, 2010
the colour of my hairs
Yesterday, I said good-bye to blonde hair. It's true that blonde hair has been saying good-bye to me for years. When I was little I had light brown hair that turned blonde in the sun. When I got older, I began having that light brown hair streaked blonde a couple of times each year. Most people (I think) have thought of me as having blonde hair for most of my life.
About 5 years ago, I started getting white hair. Sturdy, sometimes electrically wavy, strands of white poked straight up like exclamation marks, until they got about an inch or two in length, then they would lie down. Just a couple appeared here and there. Sometimes I plucked them, sometimes I'd go get my hair streaked again, and they'd blend in with the blonde.
I haven't streaked my hair for about 6 months. Wearing it shorter these days, I find that the streaks are cut out pretty quickly. Recently, I found myself with light brown hair again, but this time with a lot of white and grey all in the top and front of my head. The overall effect is kind of like a gerbil getting old. The only difference is that a gerbil lives for only a couple of years. I have lots of time to go, and I'm reluctant to impersonate an aging gerbil for a slow, drawn out process until I reach full silver.
At my last haircut, I consulted with Julie, my hairdresser. She told me that she could streak my hair again, but if I was looking for a change, she thought I'd look great with a browner kind of brown, maybe with a bit of gold to counteract the grey and the the gerbil-ness. She told me that she could colour my hair, or I could do it myself. Home hair colour products are apparently very good these days - easy to use and to achieve good results.
So now I am a self-coloured medium brown-haired mompoet. I decided to start conservatively with the change, but I'm sure I'll be more adventurous next time. Don't worry, I won't turn purple or orange (at least not on purpose). It's only hair, though, and it grows pretty fast, so why not have fun with it?
So, I am officially no longer blonde-haired. Notice please that I did not say "I am no longer a blonde." I don't like it when women are called a hair colour as if it is a noun. "A blonde," or "a brunette" evokes a stereotypical image in my mind, out of the 1940s or 50s in a magazine advertisement. It's as if the most distinctive and noteworthy characteristic about that woman is the colour of her hair. Ug. We never call a brown-haired woman a brown, either. We say brunette. I guess it's more feminine and diminutive, which adds to my dislike of the convention. We would never call an older woman (or man) a "grey," nor would we call a man a "bald," although I'm sometimes tempted to call a guy with a goatee a "goat" or a guy with a toupee a "toup," but I would't, really.
So I am, if anything, a brown now. In a month or so, I might be a different shade of brown. I prefer to be known as a mom, a poet, a neighbour, a helper, a friend, who no longer has blonde hair.
question: what shade is your hair? by birth or by choice?
mompoet - chemically modified ever so slightly
About 5 years ago, I started getting white hair. Sturdy, sometimes electrically wavy, strands of white poked straight up like exclamation marks, until they got about an inch or two in length, then they would lie down. Just a couple appeared here and there. Sometimes I plucked them, sometimes I'd go get my hair streaked again, and they'd blend in with the blonde.
I haven't streaked my hair for about 6 months. Wearing it shorter these days, I find that the streaks are cut out pretty quickly. Recently, I found myself with light brown hair again, but this time with a lot of white and grey all in the top and front of my head. The overall effect is kind of like a gerbil getting old. The only difference is that a gerbil lives for only a couple of years. I have lots of time to go, and I'm reluctant to impersonate an aging gerbil for a slow, drawn out process until I reach full silver.
At my last haircut, I consulted with Julie, my hairdresser. She told me that she could streak my hair again, but if I was looking for a change, she thought I'd look great with a browner kind of brown, maybe with a bit of gold to counteract the grey and the the gerbil-ness. She told me that she could colour my hair, or I could do it myself. Home hair colour products are apparently very good these days - easy to use and to achieve good results.
So now I am a self-coloured medium brown-haired mompoet. I decided to start conservatively with the change, but I'm sure I'll be more adventurous next time. Don't worry, I won't turn purple or orange (at least not on purpose). It's only hair, though, and it grows pretty fast, so why not have fun with it?
So, I am officially no longer blonde-haired. Notice please that I did not say "I am no longer a blonde." I don't like it when women are called a hair colour as if it is a noun. "A blonde," or "a brunette" evokes a stereotypical image in my mind, out of the 1940s or 50s in a magazine advertisement. It's as if the most distinctive and noteworthy characteristic about that woman is the colour of her hair. Ug. We never call a brown-haired woman a brown, either. We say brunette. I guess it's more feminine and diminutive, which adds to my dislike of the convention. We would never call an older woman (or man) a "grey," nor would we call a man a "bald," although I'm sometimes tempted to call a guy with a goatee a "goat" or a guy with a toupee a "toup," but I would't, really.
So I am, if anything, a brown now. In a month or so, I might be a different shade of brown. I prefer to be known as a mom, a poet, a neighbour, a helper, a friend, who no longer has blonde hair.
question: what shade is your hair? by birth or by choice?
mompoet - chemically modified ever so slightly
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
top secret show
Last night, I saw the first dress rehearsal for the Olympic Opening Ceremonies that will take place on Friday. Fiona got free tickets for our family, to the opening ceremonies rehearsal, because she will be performing in the closing ceremonies. All of the planning and rehearsing for both opening and closing has been top secret so I was super curious to see.
I will not reveal anything about what I saw in the show. I just want to say that it is going to be stunningly beautiful and amazing and wonderful. I'm so happy that I got a sneak peek.
I can say that it seems like everyone is ready and well-prepared, from the people who run public transit, to the umpteen bazillion volunteers guiding and assisting people (not just at the stadium but blocks away throughout the neighbourhood) to the security check people and stadium staff, and of course, the performers and crew on the show. I could see that this was more than a rehearsal for the performance. It was a practice evening for getting a huge number of people into downtown, through the gates and into the experience of the opening ceremony, then home again quickly and safely after it was over.
If you are lucky enough to have tickets to see the show on Friday night, you will have an experience that you will remember for a long time. If not, catch it on TV. I know I'm going to watch again and think, "yup, I saw THAT!"
One lasting impression - the perma-grins sported by almost every aqua parka-wearing support volunteer who I encountered (and I'm sure I saw hundreds). They may have been trained to smile, smile, smile, but what I saw was the real thing. These men and women are stoked to meet the world and help facilitate a really good time. Seeing their enthusiasm and excitement gave me a good glow. Somebody is doing something right. I can see in the eyes of these people that we are ready for something that will be good.
question: what's your Olympic experience?
mompoet - reflecting on an evening spent seeing one of the brightest sides of all of this
I will not reveal anything about what I saw in the show. I just want to say that it is going to be stunningly beautiful and amazing and wonderful. I'm so happy that I got a sneak peek.
I can say that it seems like everyone is ready and well-prepared, from the people who run public transit, to the umpteen bazillion volunteers guiding and assisting people (not just at the stadium but blocks away throughout the neighbourhood) to the security check people and stadium staff, and of course, the performers and crew on the show. I could see that this was more than a rehearsal for the performance. It was a practice evening for getting a huge number of people into downtown, through the gates and into the experience of the opening ceremony, then home again quickly and safely after it was over.
If you are lucky enough to have tickets to see the show on Friday night, you will have an experience that you will remember for a long time. If not, catch it on TV. I know I'm going to watch again and think, "yup, I saw THAT!"
One lasting impression - the perma-grins sported by almost every aqua parka-wearing support volunteer who I encountered (and I'm sure I saw hundreds). They may have been trained to smile, smile, smile, but what I saw was the real thing. These men and women are stoked to meet the world and help facilitate a really good time. Seeing their enthusiasm and excitement gave me a good glow. Somebody is doing something right. I can see in the eyes of these people that we are ready for something that will be good.
question: what's your Olympic experience?
mompoet - reflecting on an evening spent seeing one of the brightest sides of all of this
Sunday, February 07, 2010
no limonata for the duration
Mom, Dad and I went to the Playhouse Saturday to see Beyond Eden. It was very good. It's a musical about a real-life expedition to Haida Gwai in the 1950s, when an anthropologist, and artist, and their helpers traveled to an abandoned Haida village to collect totem poles, which they brought back to the city. Some of these poles stand today in the UBC Museum of Anthropology. The play is a musical, blending Haida language, song and dance, with a rock opera style telling of a story of intention and desire. It was unlike any other play or musical I have seen before.
Before the play, we enjoyed a coffee in the theatre lobby. I also went to the bar to pre-order intermission drinks. We usually enjoy a nice limonata at the break. It's a fizzy lemon treat that's very refreshing. This time, the bartender informed me that limonata was not available. For the duration of the Olympics, no non-sponsor beverages are being sold at the Playhouse. Our choices for non-alcoholic cold beverages: coke and related soft drinks, water, or Minute Maid orange juice. Um, no thanks.
I can understand that the City of Vancouver has an agreement with the Vancouver Olympic Committee, and the Plahouse is a civic theatre. But this seems a bit silly. Oh well, next time. In the meantime, I will not switch over to Coke. (or RBC, or VISA)
question: I wonder if they are using only sponsor toilet paper in the bathrooms?
mompoet - wondering about the usefulness of it all
Before the play, we enjoyed a coffee in the theatre lobby. I also went to the bar to pre-order intermission drinks. We usually enjoy a nice limonata at the break. It's a fizzy lemon treat that's very refreshing. This time, the bartender informed me that limonata was not available. For the duration of the Olympics, no non-sponsor beverages are being sold at the Playhouse. Our choices for non-alcoholic cold beverages: coke and related soft drinks, water, or Minute Maid orange juice. Um, no thanks.
I can understand that the City of Vancouver has an agreement with the Vancouver Olympic Committee, and the Plahouse is a civic theatre. But this seems a bit silly. Oh well, next time. In the meantime, I will not switch over to Coke. (or RBC, or VISA)
question: I wonder if they are using only sponsor toilet paper in the bathrooms?
mompoet - wondering about the usefulness of it all
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
share the gold
This came out yesterday from First United Church in the downtown east side of Vancouver. Not on their website yet, so I'm copying and pasting it here, in the absence of a link:
For Information call Nina Matthews
First United Church
604-681-8365 ext 117
Press Conference: Wednesday Feb 3rd at 7.00pm:
Launch of a campaign to build off the Olympics to end Homelessness
Despite their very different perspectives on the 2010 Olympics, the Mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson (hosting the Games) and Dr Chris Shaw (prominent anti-Olympics activist) will share a common stage in launching a new initiative to end homelessness in Vancouver. Local MPs and MLAs have been invited to join them at the Press Conference. (A full list of the people who to date have indicated support for the initiative is available from this office).
The initiative points out that whether we support or oppose the 2010 Olympics, the efforts of VANOC prove that we have the ability and the resources to overcome massive obstacles and achieve significant outcomes. “Two Worlds – Share the Gold” initiative seeks to translate the momentum and achievements of the Olympics into tangible and comprehensive actions that visibly address local needs. In particular it is a call to leverage the creativity, energy and commitment currently directed at successfully responding to the challenge of the Olympics to addressing the Olympian challenges of alienation, addiction, poverty and homelessness.
Share the Gold invites people, during the Olympics, to:
1. Wear Gold/Yellow (Toques, scarves, tops, ribbons, etc) as a collective call for all three levels of Government, Corporations and individuals to join in establishing a VANOC equivalent to end homelessness.
2. Deliberately engage in conversation with people from a world different to your own so as build understanding and respect (reaching out across social strata, race, nationality, language, religion, sexual orientation, etc)
3. Consider contributing 5% of what you spend on Olympics-related activities to a fund for ending homelessness.
Rev Ric Matthews (First United Church) points out “This is not about simply throwing more money at doing ‘more of the same’, but is about ensuring a comprehensive and integrated effort to address homelessness in its relation to poverty, addiction, mental illness and other socio-economic and political factors”. He adds, “It is about recognizing this need as a priority and providing a vehicle for addressing it effectively and urgently – and it’s about recognizing that a body similar to one like VANOC, empowered by the collective will of all levels of Government and actively supported by Corporate interests, (but also inclusive of the homeless community and its representatives) is the best vehicle to achieve that”.
The Two Worlds – Share the Gold initiative will be officially launched at a Press Conference at First United Church, 320 E Hastings Street, at 7.00pm on Wednesday February 3rd. All are welcome.
--30--
First United Church
320 Hastings St
Vancouver
www.firstunited.ca
For Information call Nina Matthews
First United Church
604-681-8365 ext 117
Press Conference: Wednesday Feb 3rd at 7.00pm:
Launch of a campaign to build off the Olympics to end Homelessness
Despite their very different perspectives on the 2010 Olympics, the Mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson (hosting the Games) and Dr Chris Shaw (prominent anti-Olympics activist) will share a common stage in launching a new initiative to end homelessness in Vancouver. Local MPs and MLAs have been invited to join them at the Press Conference. (A full list of the people who to date have indicated support for the initiative is available from this office).
The initiative points out that whether we support or oppose the 2010 Olympics, the efforts of VANOC prove that we have the ability and the resources to overcome massive obstacles and achieve significant outcomes. “Two Worlds – Share the Gold” initiative seeks to translate the momentum and achievements of the Olympics into tangible and comprehensive actions that visibly address local needs. In particular it is a call to leverage the creativity, energy and commitment currently directed at successfully responding to the challenge of the Olympics to addressing the Olympian challenges of alienation, addiction, poverty and homelessness.
Share the Gold invites people, during the Olympics, to:
1. Wear Gold/Yellow (Toques, scarves, tops, ribbons, etc) as a collective call for all three levels of Government, Corporations and individuals to join in establishing a VANOC equivalent to end homelessness.
2. Deliberately engage in conversation with people from a world different to your own so as build understanding and respect (reaching out across social strata, race, nationality, language, religion, sexual orientation, etc)
3. Consider contributing 5% of what you spend on Olympics-related activities to a fund for ending homelessness.
Rev Ric Matthews (First United Church) points out “This is not about simply throwing more money at doing ‘more of the same’, but is about ensuring a comprehensive and integrated effort to address homelessness in its relation to poverty, addiction, mental illness and other socio-economic and political factors”. He adds, “It is about recognizing this need as a priority and providing a vehicle for addressing it effectively and urgently – and it’s about recognizing that a body similar to one like VANOC, empowered by the collective will of all levels of Government and actively supported by Corporate interests, (but also inclusive of the homeless community and its representatives) is the best vehicle to achieve that”.
The Two Worlds – Share the Gold initiative will be officially launched at a Press Conference at First United Church, 320 E Hastings Street, at 7.00pm on Wednesday February 3rd. All are welcome.
--30--
First United Church
320 Hastings St
Vancouver
www.firstunited.ca
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
feb 2 haiku
not a groundhog - just
a windshield mosquito - no
shadow (spring has hatched)
question: el nin-yo you?
mompoet - all hoody, no mittens
a windshield mosquito - no
shadow (spring has hatched)
question: el nin-yo you?
mompoet - all hoody, no mittens
Sunday, January 31, 2010
on call
I have spent this week staying close to home and my car, carrying a constantly charged Blackberry. It's my first week on call for Emergency Social Services for the city that employs me. So far no calls, but I'm on until Tuesday morning. I hope I'll get no calls, because a call means a person or family is out of his/her/their home.
I have been an Emergency Social Services volunteer for about 5 years, and have taken training, but have only been called once to help at a respite centre for a few hours, in a supporting role. Recently, I was invited to join a team of staff members who rotate on-call responsibility to respond if a resident is put out of the house by a house fire or other disaster. I have learned that most calls are for single individuals or single families, but the situation can be larger, like a multi-unit apartment fire, or a gas leak that forces evacuation of a neighbourhood.
If someone is evacuated, and has nowhere to go, the fire chief or police officer on duty will call the Blackberry and I will respond. The Province of BC has a program that provides funding for 72 hours of shelter, food and clothing in emergencies, and my job is to help determine what the people need, and make arrangements for this. In the case of one family I can set them up in a hotel, arrange for meal vouchers, and give them a form that allows them to get enough clothing and personal items for a day or two at a local store. I can also arrange transportation. If it's a larger event, I might initiate setting up a place for people to go (a school or recreation centre) and a way to get there (a bus).
In any case, I can call other team members to help. The Emergency Social Services Director has been great and encouraging, and tells me just to call him when I get my first call and we'll work through it together, so I'm not as nervous as I would be if I was waiting for the Blackberry to ring so I could respond all on my own. I have a car filled with two big totes full of forms and a yellow safety vest, a bag packed with outdoor wear (boots, rain jacket, jeans), and a log book to record any incidents in detail. I have learned that every city or jurisdiction has a program like this. The province provides the overall program, regulations and funding for amenities and callout hours. The cities recruit and train teams of staff and volunteers and ensure that someone is available to respond all day and night, year-round. The cities also set up arrangements in advance with suppliers of food, clothing and shelter, so getting people what they need goes as smoothly as possible.
I'm excited, and a bit intimidated. I've been sleeping okay at night, knowing that I wake easily and will be helping someone in their time of need if I am called. The only thing I miss is walking home from work. I have to have a vehicle with me, ready to go, and that doesn't work with walking an hour from work to home. I've had to pick and choose what I do in the evening, so I'm not too far from home when I get a call, and I can't have a glass of wine when I'm on call. All of these are small concessions in return for being part of something that makes a big difference when help is needed.
If I do get a call, I won't be able to tell (or blog) much about it, due to rules and considerations of confidentiality. Just know, if you hear the fire sirens late at night, maybe I'll be there too, learning how to help.
question: do you know anyone who had to relocate because of a fire?
mompoet - ESS Duty Officer (sounds official, huh?)
I have been an Emergency Social Services volunteer for about 5 years, and have taken training, but have only been called once to help at a respite centre for a few hours, in a supporting role. Recently, I was invited to join a team of staff members who rotate on-call responsibility to respond if a resident is put out of the house by a house fire or other disaster. I have learned that most calls are for single individuals or single families, but the situation can be larger, like a multi-unit apartment fire, or a gas leak that forces evacuation of a neighbourhood.
If someone is evacuated, and has nowhere to go, the fire chief or police officer on duty will call the Blackberry and I will respond. The Province of BC has a program that provides funding for 72 hours of shelter, food and clothing in emergencies, and my job is to help determine what the people need, and make arrangements for this. In the case of one family I can set them up in a hotel, arrange for meal vouchers, and give them a form that allows them to get enough clothing and personal items for a day or two at a local store. I can also arrange transportation. If it's a larger event, I might initiate setting up a place for people to go (a school or recreation centre) and a way to get there (a bus).
In any case, I can call other team members to help. The Emergency Social Services Director has been great and encouraging, and tells me just to call him when I get my first call and we'll work through it together, so I'm not as nervous as I would be if I was waiting for the Blackberry to ring so I could respond all on my own. I have a car filled with two big totes full of forms and a yellow safety vest, a bag packed with outdoor wear (boots, rain jacket, jeans), and a log book to record any incidents in detail. I have learned that every city or jurisdiction has a program like this. The province provides the overall program, regulations and funding for amenities and callout hours. The cities recruit and train teams of staff and volunteers and ensure that someone is available to respond all day and night, year-round. The cities also set up arrangements in advance with suppliers of food, clothing and shelter, so getting people what they need goes as smoothly as possible.
I'm excited, and a bit intimidated. I've been sleeping okay at night, knowing that I wake easily and will be helping someone in their time of need if I am called. The only thing I miss is walking home from work. I have to have a vehicle with me, ready to go, and that doesn't work with walking an hour from work to home. I've had to pick and choose what I do in the evening, so I'm not too far from home when I get a call, and I can't have a glass of wine when I'm on call. All of these are small concessions in return for being part of something that makes a big difference when help is needed.
If I do get a call, I won't be able to tell (or blog) much about it, due to rules and considerations of confidentiality. Just know, if you hear the fire sirens late at night, maybe I'll be there too, learning how to help.
question: do you know anyone who had to relocate because of a fire?
mompoet - ESS Duty Officer (sounds official, huh?)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
the shirk
At the recreation centre where I work, supervisory staff members take turns being responsible for the building. The "Site Sup" is scheduled in half day shifts. While on duty, the site sup wears a 2-way radio to stay in touch with counter and janitorial staff. He or she responds to any emergencies, customer service issues, and anything else that needs doing.
Usually the site sup remembers to pick up the radio at the office at the assigned time. Sometimes he or she forgets. Then something happens and we hear the plaintive call, "Can I get a Site Sup?" with no answer.
Our trusty Rec Clerk, Rob, came up with a system recently to help us remember, and have fun when we do forget. Now, if you forget to pick up the radio for one whole hour, you get the Site Sup Shirk award. On Friday, I was the proud recipient. I just forgot that I was on in the morning, and went about my business. My co-worker Bruce popped his head into my office at about 10 past 10, and said, "Do you think someone might be shirking this morning?" My heart sank. I checked the schedule, turned pink, and went to the office to get the radio, and to Catherine's office to claim the Shirk award. You see, when you receive this award, you must display it in your office until it is awarded to the next shirker. You must also inscribe your reason/explanation/excuse on the award for posterity.
So here's my award, and my excuse. I am now famous, or infamous, depending on how you look at it.
question: do you shirk?
mompoet - Site Sup Shirker
ps Bruce says he is not gloating. It is after Christmas, and he is bloating.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
just sweet little things
A few things have happened this week that have made me feel just a bit more connected with the universe and happy with my path. Here they are - all real, and all helping me feel glad to be alive.
question: what has made you smile this week?
mompoet - blessed, yes.
- I met up with a lady at work who I haven't seen at the rec centre in months. She came for bingo on Wednesday. Last time I saw her, she was going away in an ambulance. Last time I spoke with her was on the phone in the hospital in August. She collapsed at bingo one smoking hot day in July. She couldn't remember much about the day, or even remember me at first, but as we chatted, I filled her in on what I remembered, and she filled me in on what happened next. She was very sick that day. I followed her into the washroom, and caught her as she fell, then sat with her on the floor until help arrived. She went to the hospital and had 2 surgeries, and stayed in the hospital until September. Now she's "really healthy again" and back to bingo. I was so happy to see her.
- Walking up the hill on Cambie Street, about 6 o'clock one evening this week, I came across a young woman hauling a cart, carrying 2 enormous floral arrangements. She was struggling as the wheels veered toward the curb and the arrangements teetered. I helped steady the big pots of flowers while she guided the cart up to the intersection, then I helped her get the cart over the uneven terrain of curb cuts and across to the other side. She headed off toward City Hall with a smile. I was smiling too.
- At church last night we held a celebration party for volunteers who helped with the shelter. I organized it, partly to honour and treat the hard-working shelter volunteer coordinator - a young mom with 3 small children who worked like crazy to make the shelter run smoothly all November. Toward the end of the evening, I sat with her daughter (almost 4 years old) and chatted about Franklin and Dora on Treehouse TV. Then the little girl asked me if it would be okay if Molly wore pants. I thought that's what she said, but it turned out she was talking about "MOLLY! You know, with JESUS?" Oh - Mary. Yes! That's what she said, Molly. She was very concerned about whether Molly was allowed to wear pants. We talked about how it might be cold in the desert at night, and if Molly had a long way to walk, maybe she needed to wear pants, or maybe a long skirt that went all the way down to her feet. The she asked "What about Jesus?" We talked about how he could stay warm in the desert at night. Maybe Molly wrapped him up in a blanket then held him close to her tummy, then put her coat on over the blanket with the baby inside, all warm. That seemed to satisfy this little girl's anxious concern about Molly and pants. I felt nice and warm too.
question: what has made you smile this week?
mompoet - blessed, yes.
Friday, January 22, 2010
loaner phone
I have a work cell phone, which I am allowed to use for personal call and texting so long as I pay my employer back for my share of the monthly bill. It works out well, as I carry just one phone. I also get a new phone every couple of years.
My current phone is less than a year old, but it stopped working last week. I took it into the retail outlet that provides service. The man there checked it, and took it for repairs. While my phone is in the shop, I have a loaner phone. Before I left, I asked to have my contacts transferred into the loaner. This helps with easy phoning and with caller ID.
A couple of days into using the new phone, I noticed some unfamiliar contacts on the list. On a hunch I began checking what was in the phone and found contact numbers, photos and sent and received text messages that rare not my own. It appears that somebody else's data is still in this phone, along with my own. I think the man at the phone shop neglected to wipe out the previous borrower's information before putting mine into this phone.
So in among my 200+ contacts I have someone else's mother and grandmother, but also most of the characters in the Harry Potter series (must be code names for friends). There's also a cryptic but enticing listing, "pot." I couldn't bring myself to read anything but the message subject titles, which are pretty banal "r u coming?" and "yep." The photos are nothing personal, containing no images of people. Hmmm, a landscape telephone photographer who loves his/her elders, hangs out with kids from Hogwarts and has either a dial-a-dope connection or phones kitchen utensils.
I deleted the pot contact (not like I'm going to call it or anything) and the text messages in and out. I have left the remaining contacts but will delete them before I return the phone. I'll leave mine in for now in case I get a new phone or my contacts are wiped from my repaired phone. I'll need mine from the loaner to restore the contacts when I get my own phone back. But after that I will delete them all from the loaner, along with any other traces of me. I don't want the next person reading my banal texts ("CU at the Skytrain," "Where are my sewing scissors?") speculating about my life or calling my dealer - oh, yeah, I forgot, I don't have a dealer.
In the meantime, there are two numbers in the phone called "voicemail." One is my own number. The other is (I think) the cell phone number of the person who used this phone before me. Maybe I'll call him/her and suggest next time to erase the evidence before handing in the loaner. Cell phones are handy little gadgets, but they pack a powerful key into a person's personal life, and should be handled with care.
question: what's in your phone?
mompoet - this cell phone will self-destruct in 30, 29, 28...
ps some people's taste in ringtones is inexplicable!
My current phone is less than a year old, but it stopped working last week. I took it into the retail outlet that provides service. The man there checked it, and took it for repairs. While my phone is in the shop, I have a loaner phone. Before I left, I asked to have my contacts transferred into the loaner. This helps with easy phoning and with caller ID.
A couple of days into using the new phone, I noticed some unfamiliar contacts on the list. On a hunch I began checking what was in the phone and found contact numbers, photos and sent and received text messages that rare not my own. It appears that somebody else's data is still in this phone, along with my own. I think the man at the phone shop neglected to wipe out the previous borrower's information before putting mine into this phone.
So in among my 200+ contacts I have someone else's mother and grandmother, but also most of the characters in the Harry Potter series (must be code names for friends). There's also a cryptic but enticing listing, "pot." I couldn't bring myself to read anything but the message subject titles, which are pretty banal "r u coming?" and "yep." The photos are nothing personal, containing no images of people. Hmmm, a landscape telephone photographer who loves his/her elders, hangs out with kids from Hogwarts and has either a dial-a-dope connection or phones kitchen utensils.
I deleted the pot contact (not like I'm going to call it or anything) and the text messages in and out. I have left the remaining contacts but will delete them before I return the phone. I'll leave mine in for now in case I get a new phone or my contacts are wiped from my repaired phone. I'll need mine from the loaner to restore the contacts when I get my own phone back. But after that I will delete them all from the loaner, along with any other traces of me. I don't want the next person reading my banal texts ("CU at the Skytrain," "Where are my sewing scissors?") speculating about my life or calling my dealer - oh, yeah, I forgot, I don't have a dealer.
In the meantime, there are two numbers in the phone called "voicemail." One is my own number. The other is (I think) the cell phone number of the person who used this phone before me. Maybe I'll call him/her and suggest next time to erase the evidence before handing in the loaner. Cell phones are handy little gadgets, but they pack a powerful key into a person's personal life, and should be handled with care.
question: what's in your phone?
mompoet - this cell phone will self-destruct in 30, 29, 28...
ps some people's taste in ringtones is inexplicable!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
mmmm kale...
I have been trying to eat seasonal vegetables and fruits to get the best nutrition and value. It's winter now, so roots and dark greens are prevailing. Kale is something that I think I tried once 20 years ago when someone served it to me. I remember it was good, but I didn't incorporate it into my kitchen repertoire.
The Province Newspaper featured a couple of kale recipes. I tried the White Bean Soup with Kale last weekend. It is so good that I cooked it again last night, for my friend Michele's birthday supper. It being January and all, Michele requested soup for supper, and a light meal in general. We met at Kathy's house. Kathy provided a veggie platter, a sumptuous green salad and crusty fresh bread. I brought a bottle of Prosecco, and a pecan pie because after all, it was Michele's birthday! Everything was delish and we had a great evening.
Friday morning I had leftover kale in the fridge from the weekend before. I probably could have taken it to Kathy's to make Michele's soup, but I wanted to use fresh kale for the special supper, so I decided to have the older kale for breakfast. I concocted this yummy panini. I made two, so Fiona took one for her school lunch. She said it was delicious cold. Here's my recipe:
Persian Panini with Chicken, Kale and Goat Cheese
Persian flatbread
pesto
cooked chicken breast
chopped kale
goat cheese
olive oil
(amounts vary depending on how many and what size paninis you want)
Cut matching pieces of the flatbread. Coat one side of each pair with a thin layer of pesto. Arrange thin slices of the chicken breast on top. Saute the kale in a bit of olive oil until it shrinks. Arrange kale in a generous layer over the chicken. Top with crumbles of goat cheese and put the second piece of flatbread on as a lid. Heat a skillet or griddle with just a bit more olive oil. Cook the panini on both sides over medium heat. It takes a bit of time to heat through the fillings so be careful not to burn the bread. It helps if the kale is warm from just being sauted.
Makes however many servings you wish. Good hot or cold.
If I was cooking this for vegetarians, I would substitute some cooked, seasoned eggplant slices for the chicken.
question: do you eat kale?
mompoet - mmmm...
The Province Newspaper featured a couple of kale recipes. I tried the White Bean Soup with Kale last weekend. It is so good that I cooked it again last night, for my friend Michele's birthday supper. It being January and all, Michele requested soup for supper, and a light meal in general. We met at Kathy's house. Kathy provided a veggie platter, a sumptuous green salad and crusty fresh bread. I brought a bottle of Prosecco, and a pecan pie because after all, it was Michele's birthday! Everything was delish and we had a great evening.
Friday morning I had leftover kale in the fridge from the weekend before. I probably could have taken it to Kathy's to make Michele's soup, but I wanted to use fresh kale for the special supper, so I decided to have the older kale for breakfast. I concocted this yummy panini. I made two, so Fiona took one for her school lunch. She said it was delicious cold. Here's my recipe:
Persian Panini with Chicken, Kale and Goat Cheese
Persian flatbread
pesto
cooked chicken breast
chopped kale
goat cheese
olive oil
(amounts vary depending on how many and what size paninis you want)
Cut matching pieces of the flatbread. Coat one side of each pair with a thin layer of pesto. Arrange thin slices of the chicken breast on top. Saute the kale in a bit of olive oil until it shrinks. Arrange kale in a generous layer over the chicken. Top with crumbles of goat cheese and put the second piece of flatbread on as a lid. Heat a skillet or griddle with just a bit more olive oil. Cook the panini on both sides over medium heat. It takes a bit of time to heat through the fillings so be careful not to burn the bread. It helps if the kale is warm from just being sauted.
Makes however many servings you wish. Good hot or cold.
If I was cooking this for vegetarians, I would substitute some cooked, seasoned eggplant slices for the chicken.
question: do you eat kale?
mompoet - mmmm...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
why not laugh?
January is a tough time for lots of people. I have so many friends who are facing medical crises or have lost loved ones, it's shocking. I know it's a natural phenomenon at this dark time of year, that people break down, book out, go home, more so than any other time of year. Still, it's stunning to tally up all of the people who are living through the hardest days right now.
My first impulse is always to love, comfort, offer prayer, make casseroles. After that, I want to make you laugh. I know that laughter is the farthest thing from your heart and mind right now, but my forte is cheering, and laughter is a natural phenomenon for me, any time.
So, whether or sad, or happy, or just neutral, here is a riddle someone asked me yesterday:
Q: What is black and white and black and green and black and white and black?
A: Two penguins, fighting over a pickle.
And are some cakes to read.
I know that silliness does not counteract grief of fear or worry. Still, I will try the route of laughter ever time, just for a break.
question: what makes you cry? what makes you laugh?
mompoet - knowing there is room for both, all the time
My first impulse is always to love, comfort, offer prayer, make casseroles. After that, I want to make you laugh. I know that laughter is the farthest thing from your heart and mind right now, but my forte is cheering, and laughter is a natural phenomenon for me, any time.
So, whether or sad, or happy, or just neutral, here is a riddle someone asked me yesterday:
Q: What is black and white and black and green and black and white and black?
A: Two penguins, fighting over a pickle.
And are some cakes to read.
I know that silliness does not counteract grief of fear or worry. Still, I will try the route of laughter ever time, just for a break.
question: what makes you cry? what makes you laugh?
mompoet - knowing there is room for both, all the time
Saturday, January 09, 2010
one leg at a time (shoes after)
Walking home from work has been the greatest new habit I have ever adopted. Three or four days every week, I take a one hour journey on foot from my office to home. It's great exercise, some time outdoors on the busiest of days, and good for the mind and spirit. I usually listen to podcasts while I walk, but sometimes I memorize a poem, or take photographs along the way.
The weather these days is cool and damp, and it's still dark outside from about 5pm. Andy has helped me find protective outer wear to make the journey safe and comfortable. I have a rain jacket and pants, reflective velcro arm bands, and now my two bright blinking light beacons - one for the front of my jacket, and one for the back of my backpack. I mostly use sidewalks, so the walk is pretty safe, except for crossing at intersections. It's amazing how left-turning drivers check for oncoming traffic, but not for pedestrians crossing side-streets. I make sure the way is clear before I step off the curb, and try to be as quick and visible as possible. Still, yesterday a guy nearly drove over my toes, turning left around me. I don't know what he was thinking.
Anyway, all of this gear requires me to suit up before I leave the office. I put on rain pants, jacket, running shoes or boots, toque and gloves in the changeroom at the rec centre before I leave. I am experiencing a bit of an obstacle in this process, however. I can't seem to remember to put my shoes on after I put my rain pants on. At least half a dozen times recently, I have got all ready to go then thought "Du-oh! there's my rain pants! Now I have to take off my shoes, put on my pants, and put my shoes back on!" It's a nuisance, and makes my feel annoyed at myself for my persistent absent-mindedness.
Starting this coming week, I have decided to try out a few strategies for remembering:
1. Note to Self - I will put a note inside my running shoe that says, "pants first." (I usually use my running shoes at lunchtime in the weight room, so this strategy will also help me not show up in the weight room without exercise pants. If I find myself forgetting to put the note in my shoe, I may just write it on the outside of my shoe with a sharpie. This will be a good conversation starter.)
2. Proximity Rules - When I get my outdoor gear out of my bag in the changeroom, I will put my shoes down at the end of the bench, and my pants near me, so I will naturally put the pants on first. If I find myself walking around the bench for my shoes, and wondering why they are so inconveniently placed, I may remember, "Oh yeah! shoes after pants!"
3. Aversion Training - If I forget again, and put on my shoes before my rain pants, I will not take the shoes off. The pants have zippers and velcro all the way down the outside of the leg. This is to facilitate putting the rain pants on if I am out on a trail somewhere, where I need to keep my boots on my feet. I suspect it will be a bit of a bother to undo and redo the zippers and the velcro. This will likely cause me to say, "Oh NERTZ! I don't want to have to do that again."
4. Reward - When I remember to put my pants on before my shoes, I will give myself a gold star, which I will stick on my shoe. Whenever I see the gold stars, I will smile to myself that I have not completely lost my marbles. I will also get home five minutes sooner than when I have to re-do part of my changing routine, and that's a reward in itself.
question: do you have something that you persistently forget or mess up?
mompoet - look for gold stars on my shoes!
The weather these days is cool and damp, and it's still dark outside from about 5pm. Andy has helped me find protective outer wear to make the journey safe and comfortable. I have a rain jacket and pants, reflective velcro arm bands, and now my two bright blinking light beacons - one for the front of my jacket, and one for the back of my backpack. I mostly use sidewalks, so the walk is pretty safe, except for crossing at intersections. It's amazing how left-turning drivers check for oncoming traffic, but not for pedestrians crossing side-streets. I make sure the way is clear before I step off the curb, and try to be as quick and visible as possible. Still, yesterday a guy nearly drove over my toes, turning left around me. I don't know what he was thinking.
Anyway, all of this gear requires me to suit up before I leave the office. I put on rain pants, jacket, running shoes or boots, toque and gloves in the changeroom at the rec centre before I leave. I am experiencing a bit of an obstacle in this process, however. I can't seem to remember to put my shoes on after I put my rain pants on. At least half a dozen times recently, I have got all ready to go then thought "Du-oh! there's my rain pants! Now I have to take off my shoes, put on my pants, and put my shoes back on!" It's a nuisance, and makes my feel annoyed at myself for my persistent absent-mindedness.
Starting this coming week, I have decided to try out a few strategies for remembering:
1. Note to Self - I will put a note inside my running shoe that says, "pants first." (I usually use my running shoes at lunchtime in the weight room, so this strategy will also help me not show up in the weight room without exercise pants. If I find myself forgetting to put the note in my shoe, I may just write it on the outside of my shoe with a sharpie. This will be a good conversation starter.)
2. Proximity Rules - When I get my outdoor gear out of my bag in the changeroom, I will put my shoes down at the end of the bench, and my pants near me, so I will naturally put the pants on first. If I find myself walking around the bench for my shoes, and wondering why they are so inconveniently placed, I may remember, "Oh yeah! shoes after pants!"
3. Aversion Training - If I forget again, and put on my shoes before my rain pants, I will not take the shoes off. The pants have zippers and velcro all the way down the outside of the leg. This is to facilitate putting the rain pants on if I am out on a trail somewhere, where I need to keep my boots on my feet. I suspect it will be a bit of a bother to undo and redo the zippers and the velcro. This will likely cause me to say, "Oh NERTZ! I don't want to have to do that again."
4. Reward - When I remember to put my pants on before my shoes, I will give myself a gold star, which I will stick on my shoe. Whenever I see the gold stars, I will smile to myself that I have not completely lost my marbles. I will also get home five minutes sooner than when I have to re-do part of my changing routine, and that's a reward in itself.
question: do you have something that you persistently forget or mess up?
mompoet - look for gold stars on my shoes!
Thursday, January 07, 2010
presents
Our son Alex and niece Maya turned 19 this year. We reminded them that this is their last Christmas of gift bonanza. Next Christmas, they join the family tradition of stocking stuffers and that's all. Well, not all really. In our family, the adults don't give each other "big" presents for Christmas. We spend time with each other, spend the gift money on charities, and just put small, funny or delicious stocking stuffers in each others' stockings.
I got chocolate in my stocking - but not as much as last year because I asked people if they could look for alternatives. My mom knitted me a cool pair of fingerless mittens - totally fingerless like long sleeves with thumb slots. They are warm and stylish. Andy shopped all over the place and finally found me some clip on flashing lights - like bicycle lights, but to clip on my backpack or jacket while I walk at night. He searched everywhere for them and finally found them at Home Hardware. Along the way, he tried the pet store, because people do put these lights on their dogs' collars for night walks. It turns out he could find them only attached to dog collars. Come to think of it, I could wear two small dog collars on my ankles, but that would be silly. At any rate, I feel pleased that he took the trouble to find something unusual that I would use, and that would help keep me safe when I walk home from work at night.
Alex and Fiona have informed me that a new iPod cover is on its way by mail from an eBay seller. I am looking forward to finding out what my new iPod cover looks like, although the pretty pink one that came with the iPod when Fi handed it down to me is really fine.
As for gifts I gave - my "big present" spending went to First United Church and Share Family and Community Services. So all of the adults who didn't get big presents can know that the money is helping people in the downtown eastside and our neighbourhood. I did put chocolate into stockings, but I also found a microwave egg poacher for Andy. He was skeptical when he opened it, but has cooked himself poached eggs almost every day since he got it. Mom and Dad got ticket vouchers for Little Shop of Horrors - Fiona's show in March. Fi got a guitar. Alex got hockey tickets. All in all, it was a Christmas with just the right kind and size of presents. We spent lots of time together, but not lots of money on gifts. It was the way it should be.
question: did you give or receive anything especially memorable?
mompoet - in the present
I got chocolate in my stocking - but not as much as last year because I asked people if they could look for alternatives. My mom knitted me a cool pair of fingerless mittens - totally fingerless like long sleeves with thumb slots. They are warm and stylish. Andy shopped all over the place and finally found me some clip on flashing lights - like bicycle lights, but to clip on my backpack or jacket while I walk at night. He searched everywhere for them and finally found them at Home Hardware. Along the way, he tried the pet store, because people do put these lights on their dogs' collars for night walks. It turns out he could find them only attached to dog collars. Come to think of it, I could wear two small dog collars on my ankles, but that would be silly. At any rate, I feel pleased that he took the trouble to find something unusual that I would use, and that would help keep me safe when I walk home from work at night.
Alex and Fiona have informed me that a new iPod cover is on its way by mail from an eBay seller. I am looking forward to finding out what my new iPod cover looks like, although the pretty pink one that came with the iPod when Fi handed it down to me is really fine.
As for gifts I gave - my "big present" spending went to First United Church and Share Family and Community Services. So all of the adults who didn't get big presents can know that the money is helping people in the downtown eastside and our neighbourhood. I did put chocolate into stockings, but I also found a microwave egg poacher for Andy. He was skeptical when he opened it, but has cooked himself poached eggs almost every day since he got it. Mom and Dad got ticket vouchers for Little Shop of Horrors - Fiona's show in March. Fi got a guitar. Alex got hockey tickets. All in all, it was a Christmas with just the right kind and size of presents. We spent lots of time together, but not lots of money on gifts. It was the way it should be.
question: did you give or receive anything especially memorable?
mompoet - in the present
Saturday, January 02, 2010
costumes
I must return to work on Tuesday, but for the next couple of days I'll be on a costume-sewing blitz. First I will sew a pencil skirt. Then I will sew a 1960s dress. Then 6 pink lady jackets (in pink of course). Later, I will sew a prom dress (for a play, not for a prom).
I don't expect to get to do all of these in the next 3 days, but I will get a start. I aim to have all of the jackets done by next Saturday, so there will be a few evenings of sewing after work this week.
The plays? Little Shop of Horrors in March. I'm sewing Audrey costumes. And Grease in May. I'm sewing for Marty and the Pink Ladies. I like costume sewing. I get to use patterns and fabrics I wouldn't use for real life garments. It's also fun to sew a bunch of things the same, like the pink lady jackets. It's fun to see them all on stage.
Sew, if you wonder why I'm home-baste this week, and not interfacing with the rest of the world. It's not that I have any particular bias. I'm just trying to selvage the rest of this weekend to make a fashion statement or two in the world of musical theatre.
question: do you sew? or if not, do you sing?
mompoet - definitely a better sewer than I am a singer (although I once had a singer sewing machine)
I don't expect to get to do all of these in the next 3 days, but I will get a start. I aim to have all of the jackets done by next Saturday, so there will be a few evenings of sewing after work this week.
The plays? Little Shop of Horrors in March. I'm sewing Audrey costumes. And Grease in May. I'm sewing for Marty and the Pink Ladies. I like costume sewing. I get to use patterns and fabrics I wouldn't use for real life garments. It's also fun to sew a bunch of things the same, like the pink lady jackets. It's fun to see them all on stage.
Sew, if you wonder why I'm home-baste this week, and not interfacing with the rest of the world. It's not that I have any particular bias. I'm just trying to selvage the rest of this weekend to make a fashion statement or two in the world of musical theatre.
question: do you sew? or if not, do you sing?
mompoet - definitely a better sewer than I am a singer (although I once had a singer sewing machine)
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