Earth Hour 2012

Hey all!

I just wanted to remind all of you that tonight from 8-9 pm is Earth Hour. Never participated? For one hour, to support climate change awareness, shut off all lights, and don't bother with your computer or television. Think 60 minutes without light or some form of technology-related entertainment is too difficult, it's not. The first year my family participated, we lit some candles, maybe had a flashlight or two, and shared Best/ Worst stories. Before we knew it, the 60 minutes were up, and Earth Hour was over.

When I worked at ArcelorMittal Dofasco, I was so disappointed that I was going to have to work a night shift during Earth Hour... That is, until I stated that we were going to have Earth Hour in the (Shipping) Pulpit. I switched off the lights, but I had to keep the computers running (for shipping purposes). Yes, I realize that a single, solitary pulpit in darkness was going to do nothing against a steel mill going full steam ahead, but dammit, I wanted my Earth Hour (and I think my co-worker enjoyed himself too). 

An hour in darkness isn't a very hard thing to do. Besides, you might just have fun finding an old-fashioned way to amuse yourselves.


Possible Best/ Worst Topics for Earth Hour Entertainment:
-Birthday present
-Christmas present
-Childhood memory
-Thing you did in school
-Vacation
-Embarrassing moment
-Teacher
-Something you witnessed

The Ultimate Girl Adventure

I suppose I should start off by saying that I have a guilty pleasure, which is a fondness for the television show Say Yes to the Dress. As I'm a girl, such might make sense, but given how I'm the type of person who'd rather watch a horror flick than a rom com, such a feminine show for me may strike those who know me as odd. So, imagine my delight when one of my close friends, who I affectionately refer to as Goose (and she the same with me) said she was wanting to go wedding dress shopping, and wanted me to go along. Suddenly, I'm no longer watching that bridal show, but I'm living it with my Goose.

We only hit up two stores (she'd been to others with another member of the bridal party), but that's alright, because only two were needed. One of the other bridesmaids was going to meet up with us too, but she was at the mercy of the HSR.

The first store was a no-go, but it wasn't dedicated solely to bridal, so that didn't surprise me much. The second store was Rainbow Bridal, down on King Street in downtown Hamilton. We didn't have an appointment, but the employees didn't mind. They told us how the store was organized, and left us to explore the racks. We each pulled dresses, and hoped that the other party member would be able to show up before all the fun was over.

We're looking through dresses, and there was one I saw, and pulled it because the sash caught my eye. Seeing how it was a wine-red sash, and red is one of the wedding colours, I couldn't help but pull it, especially since its price was about a tenth of the budget. Looking at it further, we noticed that the sash had beading. Even better!

While my favourite Goose was trying on her dresses, I couldn't help but torment a certain guy in my life. Ladies, if you ever want to put your man in a panic, just send him a text that goes something like this: "Hey babe, guess what I'm doing right now? I'm out shopping for wedding dresses." And you'll likely get a response that goes something like (and I quote): "...no offense, but I hope to god it's not for you." And when you say, "no you idiot, I'm in my friend's bridal party, and we're shopping for her dress," don't be surprised if the next thing he says is, "just don't go getting any funny ideas now..." A cruel thing to do, I know, texting the boyfriend and saying that you're out shopping for wedding dresses, but the panicked response is so damn funny and worth it.

So back to that dress with the red sash. It was the first dress that Goose tried on. The fit was almost perfect, just about a size too small. And then we found out that the sash doesn't have to be red, but that you can choose pretty much any colour under the rainbow. Also, we learned that it would be easy to alter (the bride's going to be wearing boots, and she'd like to be able to hike up the front, and only the front, of the dress enough to show them off). But, you can't just settle on the first dress you try. So she tried on a few more while we waited for the last third of our trio to arrive (hoping that she didn't get herself lost in the process).

Our last musketeer arrived in time to see which dress was selected, and how it was going to be altered... And to hear the awesome, way under budget grand-total for the dress. Goose chose the very first one she put on in that store: the one with the beaded red sash that I pulled from the rack (yeah, I'll be milking that one for a long while).

I have to say, it really was the ultimate girl adventure. There's just something about being in a room filled to the brim with white dresses that fills a person with so much happiness and positivity. I'm glad I was asked to experience it... But I don't think dear Goose would have had it any other way.

I'm Not a Mathematician, but...

We all know that when it comes to math skills, I am by no means a genius. I can add, subtract, multiply, divide (aka, all the stuff you do with BEDMAS), and do trigonometry/ geometry, but beyond that, my mathematical abilities are pretty hopeless. What can I say? I had to be tutored all through high school, fractions make my head hurt, and if you throw algebra in the mix, that's it. I'm done. But at least I can do the simple stuff.

Once again today, I witnessed math skills that have me wondering just what kind of mathematical world we live in where a person can't so simple subtraction... Especially after I made a point of making it so no thought was required.

I suppose I ought to backtrack a bit though first. Sometime within the last two months or so, I went to put some gas in my car, and my total came to something like $32.05 (I know for a fact, though, that the $32 part is right... no matter). So, I walk into the kiosk to pay, and give the kid behind the counter, who looked around 20 or so, $40.05, with the intention of making my change-back easy to calculate. So the kid PICKS UP A CALCULATOR, punches in some numbers, and tries to give me $12. I suggested that he try again. So he USES HIS CALCULATOR AGAIN, and tries to give me $10. As I said, my math skills are terrible, but even this was too painful for me to watch. I told him that my change was $8 (since the extra few bucks aren't worth my soul), and went on my way.

Today, I went to the same gas station, with a similar intent in mind. My total came to $25.40, so I took out $40, and found $0.40. The girl behind the counter asked what my total was. I told her, and handed over what I had in my hand (and I told her how much was there). Extreme confusion came over her face. She just held on to the money, and stared at it as if the twenty-dollar bills held the answers. Luckily, there was someone there to help her, and a moment later, I had my $15 change. But seriously, the gas girl shouldn't have needed someone to tell her that 40-25= 15, especially when I made it so she wouldn't have to figure out change that would have equaled $14.60.

So this is what I can't help but wonder... Are we, as a society, becoming so dependent on technology, such as calculators, that we are losing the ability to do simple calculations in our head? I mean, the girl who has difficulty with math, and had to be tutored, knew the answer without thinking (after all, once you omit the forty cents, everything else becomes easy). I'm thinking that people, particularly the younger, tech-savvy ones, need to sit themselves down, and start doing math the old-fashioned way again: with a pencil and paper, especially when they can't get a correct answer with a calculator.

On the plus side, they sure know how to make this girl with horrible math skills feel like a mathematician.

A (Belated) Happy Spring

After a rather eventful week and a bit, I can finally sit down here and wish everyone a, "happy spring!" Okay, I know we never really had much of a winter, but still, there's just something about the winter season officially being over that people seem to really enjoy.

Looking around at home, you can tell the signs of winter are for the most part over. Mum's put the teapots back on top of the cupboards, the trees are budding (the willows already have small leaves from the looks of things), and the daffodils that some squirrels transplanted for us a few years ago have already bloomed. If the lilacs are starting to sprout, then I'll know that we really are experiencing an early spring. The only real sign of winter left is with the two decorative snowmen that are sitting by the basement door. However, those are the result of cleaning out my aunt's apartment, so they don't really count.

When the warm weather hits, and I'm certain the rest of you do this too, the windows roll, down, and the tunes get cranked right up! I'm certain we all have music that makes us embrace the warm weather. At the moment, for me, it means getting my Prince on, with, "Raspberry Beret" being my song of choice. A few minutes ago, it was Sheryl Crow, "Wanna Soak Up the Sun," Shania Twain, "Up!" and Nickelback's, "Gotta be Somebody." Yes, I enjoy Nickelback. I'm not a die-hard fan, but I'm not a hater either. But really, so long as the song has a wicked beat, I'm good to go.

I love winter, not that we had much of one for me to enjoy, but I love when spring officially gets here. The grass is green, the fields should be getting planted soon, and though we're having a semi-winter temperature at the moment, when it warms up again, you can bet I'll be spring cleaning my car. Now find some good music, a nice sunny spot, and enjoy!  

A Few of My Favourite Things: Drinking Song Edition

First and foremost, I'm not a big boozer. I drink on occasion, but not often, and even rarer still, I'm left feeling absoloutely horrendous. Just so nobody gets any misconstrued views of me.

That aside...

It's St. Patrick's Day, everybody, and you know what that means! For one day a year, everyone is Irish (even this purebred Canadian)! Of course, St. Paddy's means wear your green, bust out the Irish Ales, and belt out a good ol' drinking song. I must confess, though, I've never really participated in St. Patrick's antics, with the most I usually do being wearing green (I think I only own one green shirt, but I think I have a couple of green dresses in my closet). So I'm trying to make up for my lack of March 17 awesomeness by writing in green, and sharing with you some of my favourite songs that I'm certain will be heard in all the pubs tonight. And if they're not, well, that would really be quite tragic as they truly are awesome. 

Now what would an Irish holiday be without a good Irish band. I think you know where I'm going with this one... That's right. You can't have St. Paddy's without The Pogues.

So to start you off, I present to you The Pogues, "If I Should Fall From Grace With God"

 I can't leave you with just one Pogues song though. That would be a sin! Another favourite of mine that they do is "South Australia" (I know, I know, Australia has nothing to do with Ireland... or if it does, I never received the memo... but it's such a fun, crazy song).

Don't worry. I'll give you all another one from these crazy Irish boys. 

Sidebar: When I used to work at ArcelorMittal Dofasco, there was a guy on my crew, who was Irish, and one night, back in December...2010, I suppose it was... we found ourselves singing The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York." The only reason why that one's not going on this list is because it's the wrong damn holiday! However, if he were to read this, I'm certain he'd be pleased to see that his Irish boys were the first, and most prominent, on my list of St. Paddy's drinking songs.

Ok, so here's the last one I'll give you from The Pogues (What can I say? I have a couple of other bands that are in dire need of mention).

The Pogues have a couple of medleys that I do enjoy. The first medley consists of "The Recruiting Sergeant," "The Rocky Road to Dublin," and "The Galway Races."

Ok, I lied. I'll give you one more. Here's the "Battle March Medley." Don't let the slow start fool you...

Aside from, "Fairytale of New York," I hadn't listened to The Pogues in ages. A couple of years at the very least. Thankfully, St. Patrick's Day (and A Paper Voice) remedied that for me! 


Actually, the entire Pogues album If I Should Fall From Grace With God is fantastic. You can't go wrong with it.

Have you ever heard of the Dropkick Murphys? If not, you're going to get to hear them now! Their music is the same style as The Pogues, but on acid. The Dropkick Murphys are insane, but they're epic. 

I'd heard of the Dropkick Murphys for the first time about five or six years ago when I was living in Thunder Bay. I was hanging out in my friend's room the one night, and he had their music cranked. Then a few years ago, my mum and I borrowed their music from the library (I don't know how to download... don't judge me...), and thought it was pretty fantastic. It was when the 2010 Olympics were going on, and one of the Coke commercials featured the song, "I'm Shipping Up to Boston." Think you don't know the Murphys? You'll know them by this:

I love the beat of this one. I kind of makes me want to grab a Magners (an Irish cider as I'm not big on beer) and dance.

Hmm... What's another good Dropkick Murphys song to get your St. Paddy's mojo going??? I know! 

Now presenting the Dropkick Murphys, "Your Spirit's Alive."

Epic!

Now I understand that St. Patrick's Day is all about being Irish, but here in Canada, we have our own Celtic-rock band from the Maritime province of Newfoundland. I've never been to the land of the Newfies, but if the reputation of George Street is anything to go by, oh boy, they know how to have a good time! This awesome Canadian band is Great Big Sea.

I've only ever seen GBS once. I was eight or so years old, and they were playing at the Festival of Friends at Gage Park in downtown Hamilton. Oh. My. GAWD! THEY ARE SO MUCH FUN! 

To start you off here's Great Big Sea doing, "I'm a Rover."

Don't worry, Great Big Sea has songs with the sole purpose being for drinking. That goes well with the 17th of March, does it not?

Why have a funeral when you can have a wake instead, such as when, "The Night Pat Murphy Died"?

Not good enough? What about when ,"The Old Black Rum," gets a hold on you, like a dog wrapped 'round your leg?

 

By this time, you're probably feeling the effects of that old black rum. You're singing, and dancing, and having a grand ol' time. And then you hear it. The mother of all Great Big Sea tongue twisters: "Mari Mac." (good luck)

Oh baby!

Now I know this final song isn't Irish, especially when it's called, "Scotland the Brave," however, I heard this remix for the first time in high school, and for the moment, I think it'll qualify. (Irish people, please forgive me.)

 

 And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes this edition of, "A Few of My Favourite Things: Drinking Song Edition." 

Happy St. Paddy's everybody! If you're drinking, please be responsible. Don't get alcohol poisoning, and please ensure that you have yourself a safe way to get home, and a safe place to stay (no passing out on the street, you hear me?). 

 

Review: Hatchet

I was so excited when I saw that I'd get to read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen for my Children's Lit course. I haven't read that book since I was thirteen, the same age as the main character Brian.

Brian Robeson has been cursed with a secret: knowing what caused his parent's nasty divorce. Though Brian spends most of his time living with his mum in a big city in the States, his father works up in the far reaches of Canada. When the pilot of the Cessna Brian's flying in suffers a heart attack and dies, Brian finds that the only way he can stay alive is to take care of himself.

I think the biggest reason why I really enjoyed Hatchet is because I could connect with it. When I was an Air Cadet, we used to go on survival weekends a few times a year, and we'd learn all the tricks and techniques that Brian must use to survive. Also, I spent just under a year living in Northwestern Ontario, where the bulk of the story takes place, so it brought back many memories for me too.

Though Hatchet lacks dialogue (it's not like Brian has anyone to talk to but himself), it's still highly engaging, and is never boring. I'd be quite shocked and surprised if someone said that they didn't like this story.

Review: The Great Gilly Hopkins

I hated this book. Like The Hobbit, my favourite part of The Great Gilly Hopkins was when it was over. Then again, Katherine Patterson wrote another book that I despise (and proudly never finished) called Bridge to Terabithia.

Granted, I could just be suffering bias with The Great Gilly Hopkins. The author already annoyed me, and the main character, Gilly, has the same damn attitude problem as someone else I know who's almost the same age. Yes, I realize that Gilly's a foster child, and as such, is entitled to having more than a few issues, but I could only stand putting up with so many. Never mind the fact that Gilly was a racist.

So now you have a theiving, lying, inconsiderate, racist, ill-behaved child character who takes great joy in bullying those around her. Some might say that Katherine Patterson's character was successful as an author if her character instilled such loathing in me. I say that the author ought to get her head examined. First, a main character dies in a freak accident in Bridge to Terabithia (I only know that because I asked), and then Gilly. Seems to me that Patterson is a tad touched up top...

The Great Gilly Hopkins annoyed me from start to finish. I was glad that Gilly didn't get a happy ending. We'll just call it karma.

Review: Tuck Everlasting

I'd heard of Tuck Everlasting, but I think I'd more so heard of it in film form. Either way, I was unfamiliar with it. But, now I've read the book, and am capable of having an opinion.

Winnie, an only, sheltered child, decides that she's tired of the life she's living, and runs away into the wood in her back yard. There, she meets an interesting teenager, drinking from a secret spring, and discovers that looks really can be deceiving, not just with him, but with his entire family.

The spring grants eternal life to all who drink from it. Winnie must decide if she is going to keep the spring a secret, or even if she's going to drink from it herself. But that's not her only problem. Someone else has heard of the secret spring, and he has no intentions of leaving well enough alone.

Tuck Everlasting was a simple book that kept my attention, but it didn't have the same impact on me as other childhood novels. But, should there be a child who'd like a fairly easy story to read and comprehend, this one would definitely work.

Dear Leukemia

Dear Leukemia,

January 2009, you decided that you wanted to pick a fight with my little cousin. It was a battle that lasted three months and three years, and brought him to today, March 10, 2012. You both fought hard, each determined to win. Now today, leukemia, I must ask you this question:

What's it like to get your ass kicked by a nine-year-old?

That's right. My cousin now gets to boast this ribbon. 

Sincerely,
Me.

Review: Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web. I read this novel for the first time in the third grade (along with Pippi Longstocking, and Bridge to Terabithia). Reading it again for my Children's Literature course made me feel like an eight-year-old all over again.

Wilbur the pig was born the runt of the litter, and was going to be killed until Fern stopped her father with her cries of injustice against the tiny. Once Fern's family was unable to care for Wilbur any longer, he was sent to live at the Zuckerman farm, Fern's Aunt and Uncle. There, Wilbur learns that he only has until Christmas before he's turned into dinner.

Cue Charlotte, a spider who befriends Wilbur, and vows to ensure that nothing terrible of dinner sort should happen to the pig. Fern knew that Wilbur was something special, and Charlotte ensures that the rest of the world knows that Wilbur is "Some Pig" too.

Charlotte's Web is a beautiful, simple story about love, life, death, and friendship that stays with you until the end of time. My heart broke when I read it the first time, and it broke again, even though there was a fairly happy ending. It reminds us that though we lose those we care about, we can never lose their memory, or how we feel about them.

Review: Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang

That's right. It's time for another Kid Lit review. What Canadian child didn't grow up reading Mordecai Richler's Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang at least once in his or her life? I'd forgotten how amusing that book could be.

A novella for those who were just starting to read chapter books, Jacob Two-Two is a child who is two plus two plus two years old who's been sent to the children's prison at Slimer's Isle for insulting a grown-up, the worst crime of them all. Soon, Jacob Two-Two discovers that the Hooded Fang isn't nearly as dreadful as he ought to be, and he figures out what weaknesses adults have.

I'm certain that at some point during childhood, all kids want to be superheroes of sorts (I know I did), and sure enough, in Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang, Child Power saves the day.

If you want to relieve your superhero childhood, or know of a kid who's about eight years old or so who's just starting to read chapter books, I'm certain you (and he or she) would heartily enjoy Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang.

Memory of a Friend

My youngest sister sent me a text late yesterday morning. A dear friend of ours, Jim Cornwall, passed away after losing his battle with cancer of the blood. Old enough to be our grandfather, he was one of the kindest, sweetest people you could ever hope to meet who always had a big, happy smile. He had nary a negative thing to say about a person, and he'd always put others first.

Mr. C was widowed about five years ago. It was heartbreaking. Even though I didn't get to see him often (as he lived about 3 hours away from me), I always had the feeling that even if he was feeling alone, he could never be lonely. Someone would always make sure that he was over for supper, or pay him a visit for an afternoon to see how he was holding up.

After shit hit the fan within my family, I remember I had sent him a Christmas card. By this time, he'd been widowed for about two years. I thought nothing of sending him a card. It was Mr. C. Why wouldn't I? You send such things to people you care about, so of course, I made sure Jim made the list. One evening, that December, he called me. He wanted to thank me for the card I sent him, but he wanted to thank me for something else too. He had told me that after Margaret passed, he just didn't feel the holiday spirit anymore, and hadn't sent out any cards or letters. But the one he received from me reminded him that there were still plenty of people in the world who cared about him and loved him dearly. I'd reignited the holiday spark in him, even if only for a little while, and he was going to send out cards that year. Who knew such a small, simple act could have such a large impact? He'd called me a few times since, just to say hello. Even though I hadn't seen him in a couple of years, we made sure that both of us knew that the other was still important.

Mr. C didn't deserve cancer. He deserved to live out his days happily and peacefully, not in a hospital fighting a losing battle. At least I'll always have that gentle, smiling face to remember him by.

Review: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The last time I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I was probably about ten years old. I remembered the story being awesome, and it seemed like an eternity was required to get through it. Fast forward fourteen years, and I plowed through the novel in a matter of hours. It was so much shorter than I remember, however, it was still awesome. That part remained the same.

The story era is WWII, and the Pevensie children are sent away from London, due to the bombings, to live with a mysterious, yet wonderful, Professor in a large, adventure-worthy house. When Lucy, the youngest of the four children, goes to hide herself in an old wardrobe full of fur coats during a game of Hide and Seek, she finds herself in the magical land of Narnia. Though Lucy's away for many hours, only a moment had passed when she returned to her English world. Naturally, her siblings Perter, Susan, and Edmund think she's daft, but the Professor doesn't think so...

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe contains everything that not only a good fantasy requires, but what a good book in any genre ought to have as well (with a few modifications on key components). There's adventure, meeting strange, magical creatures, epic battles, and the curiosity of who will triumph: Aslan, the great lion, and King of Narnia, or the evil White Witch who (to paraphrase) has made Narnia always winter, but never Christmas.

This book was simple, sweet, and charming. I loved it when I read it the first time, and I loved it again when I read it a few days ago.

The Month of Book Reviews

I get the feeling that March is going to be the month of book reviews. I'm doing a Children's Literature course for my degree, and as such, I have no shortage of material to go on. So, when you start to see that the bulk of these reviews are aimed at kiddies and teens, my reading level isn't shot to high hell, not by any means, it's just that it's what I currently have in hefty supply to review.

Besides, sometimes we want to throw away our adult life, and go back to being kids again, even if only for the length of a book. Can you blame me if I'm trying to do the same with reviewing them for you?

Long live our childhood literature... Unless it's J.R.R Tolkien, or Katherine Patterson...

A Matter of Days

The first is March is here. Do you know what that means? It means my cousin is in the final stretch of his cancer treatment. March tenth is the day he's to be deemed cancer-free. Now let's count down the days until the battle is over...