A Few of My Favourite Things: Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack Edition

As we're in October, there are certain soundtracks and films that I feel the need to listen to and watch as they're so appropriate for this time of year. One of my faves is the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Since I couldn't find my copy of the soundtrack, I ordered it in from the local library.

I'm certain you've all heard at least one song from RHPS, and my guess would be the "Time Warp," especially if you've ever attended a Halloween party. If you've never heard it, you will now. For those who have, let's do the time warp again!

 I also really like "Rose Tint My World." Sure, it's a little bizarre, but then so is the whole picture show. I don't know what it is about this song, but it makes me want to sing along, and bust a move, especially if I'm waiting at a stoplight. Yes, I was doing just that on my way home from work today.

As much as I enjoy these two songs, there is one that will always take the cake above the rest in the film. If you're a fan of Meat Loaf, then this song is definitely for you. "Hot Patootie (Bless My Soul)" is hands down, the best RHPS song. But then, can you really go wrong with Meat? Um, no. And yes, I was singing and dancing to this while waiting at a stoplight as well, and no, I don't care about the awkward stares I was potentially receiving.

These may be my top three, but the rest of the album is still worth listening to. Want to hear it? Thanks to the wonders of YouTube, the whole album is available for all the world to enjoy, so here you go:

Happy listening!

So Long, Squinty McGuinty!

Do my ears deceive me? I heard a wonderful rumour that Ontario Premier and Liberal Party Leader Dalton McGuinty is stepping down from his position, roughly one year after being voted in for his third term. What's that? MacLean's Magazine has confirmed it?!

http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/10/15/ontario-premier-dalton-mcguinty-resigns/

Oh, happy, joyous day!

I've never been a supporter of the Liberal Party, and even less still of Dalton McGuinty, or who my family lovingly refers to as Squinty. He has done less than little good for Ontario, and I've only ever supported one of his ideas, which was wanting to get free prescription eyeglasses to young children who needed them but didn't have the funds. Otherwise, he was useless, worthless, and gave me a pain where I couldn't bear.

So, for the moment, while this wonderful surprise sinks in, Ontario's Parliment has been prorogued. I'm wondering if this means another election for Ontario, or if the Province's new Premiere will be McGuinty's replacement. Personally, I'm hoping for the election route. After all, I'd rather see the party I support get in. As well, I never get tired of voting.

I might just have to do a little happy dance. The song "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang seems appropriate right about now.

So long, Squinty! Don't let  Queen's Park's door hit you in the ass on the way out!

Why I Do This

Yesterday night, while I was out celebrating a friend's birthday, a discussion occurred, and a part of it was around a post I'd written this week, "An Unfair Price to Pay," which was about the death of Amanda Todd. Many views were given, and just as many questions and observations were raised. It was a fascinating discussion, and I was glad to be a part of it. I felt a small pride knowing that a piece I had written was part of it as well.

Upon the conclusion of the Amanda Todd anti-bullying conversation, I was asked by another guest why I write, and what about. As you are likely aware, I want the A Paper Voice audience to be left thinking, or feeling something, about what I've written. It's important to me to provoke thought instead of being mindless, and for all of you to be able to connect somehow to the words I've carefully strewn across the page. I write for the love and the joy of it. To me, type across a screen, or taking pen to paper is an art form that people don't take enough advantage of. We live in a country where we are all able to be educated without fear of persecution, we are able to think freely, and speak our minds safe in the knowledge that we won't have someone wanting to throw acid in our faces, or shooting us in the back of a classroom. Though many would rather say nothing, I choose to take full advantage of this right, this freedom, and use it to its full potential. And those who don't have the right are daring to do it too.

How many of you have heard of Malala Yousafzai? I've seen her story on my Google Reader, and also on the Facebook pages of my former teachers. She's a teenage girl in the Mid East who was shot earlier this month for wanting an education. A terrifying thing, this need to learn, especially as a girl. After all, how often have we all heard the phrase, "knowledge is power?" Here's someone who would risk anything just to get an education and speak her mind, while the fortunate ones on this side of the world don't want to bother. It's disgusting.

Why do I do this? Because I can, for the love, the need, and the right to do so. Let's all be a little more appreciative of the rights and freedoms that we have. Speak your minds, dare to learn, explore the limitless boundaries of knowledge and free speech. After all, there's one young girl out there who was shot daring to have them.

An Unfair Price to Pay

I'm certain everyone has heard about Amanda Todd these last few days. She made a mistake that haunted her, and caused her to be bullied to the point that she took her own life. What the hell is wrong with people? Yes, we all screw up royally on occasion, but enough to be berated so badly that we're left believing that our only choice is to leave this world? More often than not, no. So, someone please explain to me how a teenager, making a teenager mistake, ended up taking her own life. Oh wait! Because she she harassed about it.

I wonder if those bullies, who should also be considered murderers, feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that they were so brutal to another human being, that she killed herself? Do they go to bed at night, and sleep like babies with the knowledge that they destroyed more than one life the day Amanda ended hers? Do they even feel sorry?

When will enough be enough? If it's not someone being bullied for their sexual preference, it's someone being harassed for a lapse in judgement, and they keep choosing the same solution: taking their own lives. Better solutions need to be found before more lives are lost. Those who are accountable need to be held accountable, and punished appropriately. Not a stern talking to, slap on the wrist or fine, but a jail sentence and a criminal record, though I doubt that would be justice enough for the families who have lost a child due to such bullying bullshit.

We can't stand idly by, and let this continue to happen. Remember, silence is consent. I refuse to keep quiet about this life-altering issue. You shouldn't either. Be heard, and support those who need it the most right now. No more lives ought to be lost. Let's make a difference. 


For more, please refer to my February 2012 post "Think Pink" along with my October 2011 posts, "Purple Rain," "Why So Homophobic?" and "why So homophobic: Part 2."

The Light

At the end of Fletcher Road, where it meets with Rymal, there is a new stoplight. By no means is this light particularly exciting, but I'm very glad it's here as it's long past due. Many people don't realize how dangerous that particular intersection can be, and yes, it has caused at least one fatal accident.

When I was in elementary school, I had a friend who I'd consider a recess buddy. She was a grade below me, so we were never in the same class, but that didn't mean anything. Everyone, no matter what grade, would interact with one another in some way. One day, about seventeen years ago, was thick with fog. My recess friend and her family were at the end of the road, and went to make a left hand turn. Because the fog was so thick, they didn't see the truck coming. My breaktime playmate was killed in the accident.

To have to wait nearly two decades for a set of stoplights to be put in strikes me as a bit of a jab. That accident should have caused them to be put in much sooner. After all, spotting a bright red or green light in the fog is much easier than a car. When the new surveys were going in, and their light was installed immediately, that just rubbed salt in the wound. But at least we have one now.

To those who might be annoyed by the new set of stoplights, please don't be. I'm very glad they're here. So we have to stop and wait now in all directions. Who cares? I feel better now that they're here, and much more comfortable with making left-hand turns at the end of my road. Better late than never, I suppose.    

A Great Pumpkin Patch Adventure (inspired by Charlie Brown)

I'm certain everybody here has heard of Charlie Brown. Also, I like to hope that you've heard of the Peanuts Halloween special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! If you haven't heard of it, Charlie Brown believes that Halloween comes with a great pumpkin that behaves much like Santa. It's really quite adorable. So naturally, I had myself a Great Pumpkin- inspired adventure.

After much bugging and prodding, I managed to get my boyfriend to come along with me to Lindley's Farm (in Ancaster, Ontario, located on Fiddler's Green Road), and go on an adventure that Charlie Brown would envy. You must remember, that my squeeze is a city boy, and thinks all this country stuff is slightly daft.

For approximately $25 total, we got a wagon ride down to the 4-acre corn maise, and then down to the pumpkin patch, where we get to pick out our own perfect pumpkin. The wind was biting cold, but in the corn field, we were quite warm. But then, corn stalks block everything.

With Lindley's maise, the participants are given a map, and throughout the maise are check points with a letter. Find all the check points, fill them in on the back of the map, and hand in your map with your name and email for the chance to win a prize. Some people take the foolishness too seriously, but I'm in it for the fun.

We didn't spend too much time down in the pumpkin patch since it was so cold, but in the short time we were there, I still found the best pumpkin ever. It's the perfect size, shape, weight, colour, texture, everything that the perfect pumpkin ought to be. Actually, we both found really good pumpkins.

After the wagon ride back up to the top of the hill, we put our pumpkins away, and went back for one more piece of foolishness that I insisted be done: Gourd slingshots. Lindley's has a pond, and out in the middle of it is a dock with a bucket. Get the gourd in the bucket, and win a prize. Allie won herself a big bag of apples a few years ago. Apparently, it's one of her greatest accomplishments to date.

Anyways...

For $2, you get three gourds to fire at the bucket. For originally thinking it sounded like a somewhat lame idea, my city boy sure seemed to enjoy it as he paid for another three gourds. But then, he came within a foot of the bucket, and just had to try again. I think he had much more fun with it than he'd care to admit.

Of course, you can't leave Lindley's until you wander through their little store, where there's all sorts of fresh baked goods, foods of the season, such as squash, and little country oddities. They were also selling apple cider, hot and cold, for those who were craving an autumn treat.

The day may have been cold, but it was fun. Silly, foolish, childlike fun. As we all take life too seriously some days, a pumpkin patch adventure is just what we need to let loose a little bit.

Want to partake in a Great Pumpkin Patch Adventure that Charlie Brown would envy? Support a local farmer, and go to Lindley's:

http://www.lindleyfarm.com/

Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy Pumpkin Hunting!

Thanksgiving Again

Hey all!

I apologize for not writing as often on here as I used to, but hey, it's Thanksgiving Monday in Canada, so of course I had to write.

This Thanksgiving is a minor repeat of last year, as I've managed to snag myself another cold. Luckily, this time around, I'm in much better shape than I was last year, and for that, I'm thankful. I'm also thankful that I read the cold syrup dosage properly this time around, and that the kleenexes are the good, soft, cushy ones so my nose doesn't hurt.

I'm also thankful that my family left me a slice of homemade apple pie. Homemade pie makes for a wonderful breakfast.

Last, I'm thankful to those of you who read A Paper Voice, my friends, family, and for having a wonderful guy for the last eleven months.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!