Thanks, Gramps!

I didn't say "thank-you" to him today. I should have. Grandpa served our country in WWII and I should have told him "thank-you" at the Remembrance Day service today. I should have thanked every single one of the veterans in attendance. We got busy talking and eating and enjoying each other's company and then we left.

I came home and was reading some articles on Remembrance Day activities that took place around the city today and realized that we should have thanked ALL the veterans for sacrificing their lives. Those who didn't perish defending the ideals of democracy witnessed the horrors of war. They lost friends and brothers in front of their eyes. They experienced deplorable living conditions. They lost their youth and were forever changed. They too sacrificed their lives. For us. And for that, I am truly thankful.

Lest We Forget

Remembrance Day is on Wednesday and I've been reading some articles this week about those who oppose the poppy and those who choose not to celebrate Remembrance Day as they do not support war. I, on the other hand, proudly wear my poppy and make a point of travelling out of town to watch my grandpa march in his Legion's service.

I don't support war. I would love to see every Miss America contestant's dream come true and see us achieve world peace. But I do support those who have sacrificed their own lives so that I can have the opportunity to voice my opinion. To choose what I believe. To be free to live the life I want to live. To be free...period.

My grandfather was fortunate enough to survive some pretty nasty battles in Italy. Only recently, as his memory has started to fail him, has he shared some of the tragic events he witnessed. He has lived his entire life carrying horrific memories of war with him so that I don't have to experience the same.

So, on November 11th, at 11:00am, please stop and observe 2 minutes of silence, not in support of war, but in honour of those soldiers who gave their lives for us. Because, you can.

H1N1 Rant

Okay...here it goes. Can't do this on facebook for fear of "starting something" amongst my 'friends'. The Alberta Government started the immunization campaign by saying they would like the high-risk groups to come forward and get immunized but they wouldn't turn anyone away. So, the selfish, red-necked Albertan's came out in droves creating huge line-ups that were impenetrable by those in the high-risk groups.

I got my seasonal flu shot a month ago, at work, because we're considered high-risk as we're providing direct support to kids who are high-risk. I'm at work 8 hours+ per day to pay my taxes to have health care (including immunizations). Because I'm at work for 8 hours, I missed out on the clinics as the lines were too long as they were filled with those who are not considered high-risk.

I don't know if I'm more upset with AHS for not putting a screening process in place or with all the dumb-ass idiots who stood in line taking up space for those most at risk of contracting or passing on H1N1.

Then I read today that the Calgary Flames were able to get vaccines at an AHS private clinic. Really...healthy pro-hockey players are high-risk? I call BS.

This just in (as being reported on Global news as I type) - an AHS employee lost their job after allowing the Flames to queue-jump. Still doesn't change the fact I didn't get immunized and am worried about the kids I work with.

But...Glee just ended with "Don't Stop Believing". I love that song.

Only me...

I got 2.5 hours of sleep last night. Well...to be honest, there may have been another hour in there but it definitely wasn't continuous. I was reading a great book (Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult) until midnightish. Around 2:30am, the power went out. Because my smoke detectors are connected to the wiring, they beep when they go onto battery power. They beep again when the power comes back on. Loudly. Right outside my bedroom door.

The power must have come on and off at least 4 times. Meaning, the beeping pattern happened at least 4 times. The power crew was working on the problem. I know because I could hear them...for 5 hours. Who can't sleep through a blackout in the middle of the night?!? Only me.

Blog Title

I feel the need to explain the blog title. Obviously it comes from the Paul Brandt song and lyric. I was born and raised in Central Alberta. I spent summers travelling through the Rockies, camping in the foothills and driving through farm fields. In 2001, I travelled across this entire great nation of ours. While I enjoyed every province, and the thrill of seeing new things, nothing compared to the thrill of crossing the border back into Alberta. Every time I listen to this song, I feel that same joy. And it's true...I will be bound to Alberta and for Alberta, no matter where I go.

Good intentions

My intentions were to write regularly. Somehow my actions and my intentions haven't managed to meet each other. I should introduce them.

Purpose

I have thoughts. Lots of them. All the time.

Lately my thoughts have been centered around the notion of purpose. I drove past Salisbury United Church and the sign out front read "The purpose of life is to lead a life of purpose" (or something to that effect).

When people I don't know find out what I do for a living, I often hear comments like "Oh, it takes a special person to do that." or, "What a difference you're making in the world." But, I don't see it like that. I know that some people are drawn to the human services field to "make a difference" but I just see it as something I've done for a long time, something I'm good at, something that is challenging and easy, all at the same time. I enjoy my work but I don't think it alone is allowing me to lead a life of purpose. I guess I'm not exactly sure what 'leading a life of purpose' means, or if I will even know what it is before my time on this earth is done but I think I'm at a point where I am more willing to take the time to consider it. To try new things. To ponder in detail. To allow all those thoughts to happen.

Winter, winter and more winter...

...yep, back to stating facts about the weather. It's March 8th. It's cold. It's going to be colder. I'm miserable. With the temperature sitting nicely below -20 for the next couple of days, spring appears to have forgotten to make its way into the Northern Hemisphere, or at least into Central Alberta. The forecast is for two days of very cold, a couple days of chilly and then it should be above zero by the end of the week. Perhaps spring is on its way...

There, Their, They're

I guess I'll end the weekend with another quick lesson on how to write without sounding like an idiot.

There - refers to location. ex - I'm going there. Put it there. Are we there yet?

Their - the posessive. ex - It's their dog. I want their opinion.

They're - the contraction, meaning: They are. ex - They're coming over tonight. They're going to win the game.

Used altogether - They're going over there with their dog.

Again, take a nanosecond to be sure you're using the right homonym and you won't sound like an idiot!

To, Too, Two

I had the day off today so a bit more time to post than I usually would. I thought I'd continue my homonym rant. To, too and two. Here's the 411 on them.

Two - the number 2 - ex: I have two parents, I need two socks.

To - preposition, more specifically, preposition of movement. ex: I am going to the store. He would like to come with me.

Too - it means 'also'; it is also used in reference to quantity. ex: Me too!, I would like to go too. That's too much.

Used alltogether - Would you two like to come too?

Again, the nanosecond of thinking required to pick the right homonym could stop you from looking like an idiot in front of everyone!

Your and You're

People who confuse these two homonyms drive me nuts. Here's how we differentiate between the two.

Your - is posessive. Meaning, something belonging to you. ex: your coat, your car, your friend, your bad grammar.

You're - is a contraction of 'you are'. Meaning, any time you mean to say 'you are', you can use you're. ex: you're nice, you're pretty, you're a good friend.

Yes, it's just that easy. The one time this is most misused is when people write "Your welcome". Your welcome what? Your welcome mat? It's "You're Welcome". YOU ARE WELCOME.

Please, take a nanosecond the next time you use 'your' and decide if that's really the word you want to use. You'll look like less of an idiot.

Pet Peeves

Ma and I went to see a family friend in a wonderful community musical theatre production of Anne of Green Gables last night. On the way there, the woman in front of me was driving like a total tool and I said, "My pet peeve is people who..." and I don't really remember exactly what was bugging me at that moment. What I do remember is Ma saying ,"Man, you have the most pet peeves of anyone I know!"

And it's true. I get ticked at a LOT of things. Like the old ladies behind us at the theatre last night who felt the need to give the "Described Video for the Blind" version of everything last night. And the fact that, when it snows, four lane roads somehow turn into two and nobody chooses to drive outside of the tire tracks, even when the lines dividing the lane are in the middle of those tracks. (I think that's what the lady in front of me was doing.)

I try hard to live a complaint free life. Actutally, many people comment on how I always find the positive side of things. The things above I can let go of. I mean, maybe the lady didn't have good tires and was being safer driving in the tire tracks. And maybe one of the old women really was blind and her friend was doing her a service so she could enjoy her community. But there are three things I can't get over...and they're all part of the same tragic phenomenon. The rampant misuse of homonyms. I'll post each of them in a separate post but let me say this: If you can fix these three things in your writing, you'll stop sounding like an idiot when you write.

Quick Post

Okay...so I know I've neglected this blog for the past two years (wow...can't believe it's been that long!). I had amazing intentions when I started it...and we all know where that road leads!

I've got a tonne of thoughts in my head and I recently learned the hard way that my facebook status is not the best place to communicate my opinions! So, I think I'll rediscover the joys of writing them here. I know I feel better when I write (whether it be songs, stories, papers, or just random letters to nobody) so I think this will help get my opinions out in a more appropriate forum.