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post-grad
I haven’t rambled on here for nearly a year. Not a whole lot has happened. I’m still somehow getting used to the idea that September isn’t marked by twitching on the inside when the cashier at the bookstore rings my textbooks through for the semester or spending an hour on the bus to get to school. What has remained the same, is my dependence on coffee, and I’m not horribly upset about feeling like a “tickle me Elmo” after four or five cups.
> I am still going to the gym. Every. Damn. Day. Unless I’m sick. Then I lie in bed and feel guilty about missing a run. I do spin class every day, and a few other classes throughout the week and have maintained a weights routine every other day. I started out thinking 10lbs were heavy, and now I can make 220lbs move. It’s a big of a surreal feeling knowing that I’m 4x stronger. I feel strong.
> I met someone that makes me laugh. For the first time since jr. high I have a picture of myself and a boytogether. I’ve been showing all my friends (and mom) giddyily. Giddyily isn’t a word, but you get the point. Between our schedules hanging out hasn’t been the easiest. But for every day apart, that hug and comforting smell/feeling/smirk/whatever makes it just, worth it.
> I enjoy listening to the new Taylor Swift song. Something about never ever getting back together, like, ever. It’s catchy. Kind of like Carly Rae’s “Call Me Maybe.”
> I spent an hour today taking pictures of a hat.
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Blerp, blorp, bored
I haven’t blogged in awhile…
I’m drinking tea, it’s a Friday night and I’m pretty gosh-darn bored. Might flick on a movie in a bit and chill out. After this. I have some sort of blog itch…
So… what’s new…
- I graduated. Finally. My beloved degree is framed and on the wall and I look at it everyday. And everyday I look at it, and it’s a bit of a motivator. I did that. I accomplished something.
And the neatest thing, is that when people ask me “what do you do?” my answer is “oh I’m a student” and get that pitty-esque response “ohhhhh that’s cool? What are you taking?” because really, how many people honestly give a fuck and are just asking out of politeness?
The downside is that I’m not entirely sure about grad school. And it’s infuriating when people ask me when I’m going to apply or which program or… whatever. I went into post-secondary right out of highschool. I didn’t take a break. This is my break time. And it doesn’t quite hurt that I really am enjoying the job that I have right now. - I work out. Everyday. And, it might be pushing it or overdoing it a little, but I don’t care. I like it. I like feeling the sweat drip down my face and as of late, starting to notice little things. Like feeling strong. Or clothes fitting a little differently. And nothing beats breaking a tiny record I set for myself.
Everday I run for at least an hour. Maybe an hour and a half. Every other day is a weights training routine. Some days it’s running and weights. Some days it’s just running for 1-2 hours. I’m also taking TRX classes and other random little ones throughout the week. So I do my regular stuff (running and/or weights) and then go to the class afterwards. Days where there’s running, weights and TRX are kind of brutal, but man do I sleep well.
It’s fun and I enjoy it but there’s two other reasons I keep doing it (i) just about everyone I know in town has moved away; this keeps me busy… (ii) I hate my body. I hate it. I want to get back to where I was when I felt like me. It was a long time ago. But I’m going to get there… eventually. - Did I mention that I really like working out? …
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Yeah… I really have nothing else… my “love life” is non-existant, work is work and it’s going well… I haven’t taken my camera out for a walk for awhile… summer’s gone and whatever season it is now, it’s been raining almost non-stop for the past week…
- I graduated. Finally. My beloved degree is framed and on the wall and I look at it everyday. And everyday I look at it, and it’s a bit of a motivator. I did that. I accomplished something.
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Never been to riding?
So, the election is over. There’s no more election-memes to be posted. This only means that I can now post about whatever I want. I don’t like this much freedom. Therefore, I will keep up with the political-bloggin’ and add in some of whatever-I-wants. Because that’s just how I roll.
Today’s blog post is about this article I read on the CBC News website, “Never been to riding, rookie NDP MP admits,” which can be read here.
The article says, “a rookie NDP MP who won a seat in Quebec despite being largely invisible during the five-week campaign admits she has never set foot in her riding.” I think this is absolutely disgusting. I think that if someone chooses to run in a political election they damn well better make their presence known in that riding and actively engage with the community. It is only with this participation that an individual can get to know the community that they could (potentially) end up speaking for should they win their seat. I feel for the people in this riding of Berthier-Maskinonge, Quebec who now have an MP who couldn’t bother jumping in feet first and at the very least visit the riding during those five weeks leading up to election day. According to this CBC article, “Ruth Elen Brosseau said her victory in the southern Quebec riding of Berthier-Maskinonge came as a ‘shock’ because she ‘wasn’t really expecting to win.” This only furthers my disgust. Maybe not disgust, but disappointment - and I’m not even a resident in that riding. It doesn’t matter that she’s planning on “visiting the riding in the next few days.” Trying to do anything for any job requires a level of commitment. You wouldn’t show up to class having not read the textbook for a month. You wouldn’t not show up to a shift at work. I don’t think there’s any excuse for this. The logical thing, would to have been to give someone else the opportunity to run in the riding that knows it. Or you know, go visit it before the election. That is why there are election campagnes.
“Brosseau has been criticized for not living in the riding where she ran, as well as for taking a trip to Las Vegas during the campaign. Brosseau, who just turned 27, told the newspaper the Las Vegas trip was a ‘special birthday trip’ that she couldn’t cancel. ‘It was planned before [the election], but it was just kind of bad timing.’” Sure, chalk it up to bad timing. But a trip doesn’t five-weeks. Priorities are priorities are a reason and I think this all goes to show that the riding isn’t a priority.
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Hum drum…
Now that the election is over, I think I might have to figure out something new to ramble on about… hmmm….
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Giggly Political Funny Bone
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Is BC Thinkin’ Green?
Well, I don’t think I’ve done a post on the Green Party yet… partially beacuse I haven’t really heard a lot about them this election with all the bee-buzzing with the others. But this story caught my eye, at least after I was discussing with a friend which party we were likely to vote for. They were in Elizabeth May’s riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, while I’m in Kelowna-Lake Country (decidedly the less exciting of the two ridings).Recent projections ‘n talk suggest that Green party leader Elizabeth May is in the lead to win against Conservative incumbant Gary Lunn in the Sannich-Gulf Islands, after a poll conducted for the party showed that almost half of residents in the region were plannin’ on putting a green ballot in the box.
“Forty-five per cent of voters polled in the riding said they would vote for May, compared with 38 per cent who said they would vote Conservative, results from an Oraclepoll Research survey revealed.”
Doesn’t this sound exciting? I’d say it’s just as exciting as when hearing that NDP was surgin’. I might even have an election party on Monday (a la watchin’ the hockey playoffs style) to see if May is able to take the riding and the rest of the election festivities.
Although “May has faced criticisms for not running a national campaign… she has held quick whistle-stop tours. The remainder of her campaign has been focused on canvassing in the BC region.” said the story I read on canada.com. Which, while kind of disappointing that she hasn’t strutted the party across the country like the others, I think that it’s almost a good thing. Partially because it allows her to gain some serious footing not only in her riding - but maybe that support will grow out of that riding into other areas of the province and creep up to reveal an even stronger show of support whenever the ends up being another election.
So, as is customary in my blogging I Googled for Green Party memes to add some lulz to this post. I could find no Green Party memes, and it made my political funny-bone kind of sad.
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Ignatieff pleads for support?
Note: Today’s pictures are only really included for the lulz, and don’t exactly fit in with the subject matter of today’s post. So, enjoy the lulz.
At the beginning of the election, Stephen Harper made a heart-felt appeal to Canadians to vote Conservative. With the hopes that enough of us vote for his party to give him a majority government. Then there was Jack Layton who has presented himself throughout the election tide as “that other option.” I haven’t heard a lot from the Green Party, but I’m assuming Elizabeth May is still hoping some of us vote a few more in her direction. And then… and then there’s Michael Ignatieff calling “contempt!” and “no fear here!” and now? “Vote for me? Please? Pleeeeeeeease?”
In his last town hall discussion before the big day (May 2), he made a “desperate please for voter support” at the Vancouver Alpen Club, in the riding of Vancouver Kingsway. “Ignatieff noted some people are taking a close look at the NDP but, he said, they really ‘ought to look at the fine print.’”“It’s a scary sight. [NDP Leader Jack Layton] wants to fund all his programs with a $3.6 billion energy tax, effectively - which he can’t get into operation the first year anyway but he has already booked the money,” Ignatieff told the crowd. Which, I suppose is a fair enough statement to make. It makes people question that which should be questioned. But then he continued on, “See, if you have been in permanent opposition that’s the kind of funny stuff you can do but if you’ve been in government, you would never dare try that on the Canadian people.” Thus bottoming out on a “well they haven’t done it… so… yea…” or “dude. dude. dude. they’ve never won! just go with what’s been tradition, us libz or those conservativesz” (because you know, adding a ‘z’ to everything makes it hip!)
But while he’s trying to point out the small print, and paint the NDP as an inexperienced sneaky choice… the NDP are surging in the polls. And some are quietly worrying about a potential “bandwagon effect [that] could create three-way races in some vulnerable ridings.” Personally, I don’t see what’s wrong with a three-way race. It makes things interesting. It’s keeping the parties on their toes and ears to the ground listening to Canadians. And maybe that’s exactly what they need to be doing.
“One man told Ignatieff he’s concerned the Liberals and the NDP will split the opposition vote and allow Conservative leader Stephen Harper to win with even less than 40 per cent of popular support. ‘We don’t know how to vote,’ he told the Liberal leader.” To which dear Iggy replied “that the liberals had to persuade Canadians that ‘this is the alternative that can defeat Stephen Harper.’”
Ignatieff further stated after pleading to voters, “I’m not asking you to vote negatively, I’m not asking you to vote strategically, what I’m saying is please vote positively for the values and allegiances and commitments we both share.” Now… what if someone’s ‘values’ line up with the NDP? Doesn’t that throw a little monkey wrench into Ignatieff’s plan?
In any case, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about all of this ‘pleading’ for votes during this election. It’s been kind of some strange… choose-sides because the other guy is the bad guy, kind of run. “Don’t vote ___! Fear! Fear! Fear! They’re going to backstab you! You! You common Canadian!” Although I throughly enjoy reading the papers every morning with my morning coffee and writing my blog posts at night, I’m kind of looking forward to May 2nd and not having to listen to all of this campaigning hubbub.
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Erect the “wall of protection” for Stephen Harper
I hope everyone had a relaxing easter weekend. I know that I did nothing but cat-nap, make a fort in my living room and watch movies.Moving on…
I read an article called “Harper offers Easter wish; pastor prays for his protection from ‘evil’,” today. Well, five minutes ago (same thing). And I really only read it because the title of the article intrigued me enough to click on the link. Which you can find here.
Stephen Harper (or C-dawg, as I’ve been calling him in election-esque conversation with friends), issued an Easter message today at an event on Sunday. The article stated that it was an “Easter message of hope,” I’m not entirely sure if that makes it more important then “Easter message.” Or if the presence of “hope” is significant. I suppose it is important, Harper didn’t issue a message of “dreary thought,” or “foreboding bad stuff.”
After he talked his talk, the pastor talked his talk. Or, prayer’ed his prayer? In which he asked god to “erect a ‘wall of protection’ around Harper to shield him from ‘evil’.”
I do understand that this was said following the Easter Sunday service, but it still made me “lol” when I read it. Considering that Easter (and spring generally) are considered a time of renewal, or ‘re-birth,’ I think that it’s hilarious that Harper would need a “wall of protection.” I’m not entirely sure what is “evil” unless our Prime Minister has a severe allergy to grass and pollen.
Does anyone else know why Harper would need a pastor to pray for a “wall of proection. Protection from evil actions. Protection from evil people. Protection from evil intentions, as well.” … ? … is evil the Bloc? That word “coalition?” A room full of fluffy kitties? What? On the otherhand one could probably say that such a gesture is really sweet and enduring. But it’s election time, there’s fear in the air. Or optimism. Or both? In any case, beware the ambiguous fear. Walls of protection can be found at your local grocery store.
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Made a fort. I’m bad-ass.
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What happened to playing nice?
Since I have quite a bit of free time on my hands today, I thought I would post another blog post. With all of that free time, has given me the opportunity to sit on my deck with a cup of tea and take in whatever sunshine has been out today, while reading some more articles about the election.
What really is starting to stand out is the parties’ inability to play nice. While I’ve spoken plenty about whether or not there will be a Harper majority/minority or some sort of coalition, the one thread that runs through all of these is that no one really wants to share their crayons. Apparently the phrase we’re taught as children, ‘if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say it at all’ doesn’t apply in Big Kid Politics Land.
Sure, you have everyone saying why they’re best suited to manage the country. Why Con/Lib/NDP/Bloc/Green/your-sock is better then the other, etc. But the attack ads are really what takes over the tv and radio waves. I mentioned in today’s earlier post about how issues aren’t the issue anymore.
NDP sees a surge in the polls, and there’s a huge target on his back. Have you seen the ad? The ad is dark and foreboding. The Tory attack ad suggests that Layton had “planned a coalition with the Bloc Quebecois” even before the votes were counted in the last election in 2008. And that he (Layton) was “willing to makes Gilles Duceppe the driving force” behind it and that he kept his plans hidden “until after the election.” DUN DUN DUN.Beware the Bloc! Beware Layton! Fear, fear, fear! I even found a picture which likens Duceppe to Lord Voldemort. VOLDEMORT. In response, the Ottawa centre incumbent, Paul Dewar said that this 30second ad is a “complete” fabrication” and a sign of “complete desperation” by the Tories. Urging the Conservatives to pull the ad immediately - likening the situation to an incident last week in which the Liberals were forced to pull and ad which misquoted something Stephen Harper had said.
“Stop the hypocrisy,” argued Dewar, “if you want to put ads on the airwaves that reflect that facts and issues - fine. But you can’t be making stuff up and be taken seriously.” What a wonderful point. Now if only the parties stuck to making ads that reflected only the facts, and only the issues. Too bad mudslinging is so much fun! I have seen articles by the NDP about hiring more doctors or helping small business - surely it can’t be that difficult to make persuasive election ad based on a party’s platform?
It’s not just the Conservatives that have flung themselves knee-deep in the mud. Duceppe urged people not to be swayed by Jack’s “nice guy” persona or “the best way not to have a Conservative majority is to have as many Bloc MPs as possible.” Liberals had their anti-Harper ads. Layton has his ads about the attendance at the House.You can watch the NDP attack ad: here
So what do you think about advertising ‘n parties now? Should they save some money and fill a pool with jello (or mud) and battle it out that way?
