For those who don't know, southern Ontario has been terribly dry as of late. I would even dare to utter the word drought. I realize that it's summer, and that people want heat and the sun, and that's great, but I'm still surrounded by farm property, despite my proximity to the Hammer, and the crops out here have been in dire need of rain. I can't remember the last time I saw corn so stressed, and the beans in our fields were looking worse for wear too.
People who aren't accustomed to country life, or who see crops in the fields, probably forget that those crops not only feed us all, but they're someone's livlihood. Some people drive their cars to the office, farmers take their tractors to the barns. It was hard enough that the warm weather came early, and then snapped back to cold, killing large percentages of produce we take for granted, such as cherries, plums, and blueberries. To have a drought add salt to the wound? It's been a rough season.
Rain wasn't even in the forecast today, so I was slightly confused when I thought I heard thunder. I checked the radar, and there was a blip so small that had I blinked, I would have missed it. The rain has been coming down for about a half hour now, and I hope it goes for a bit longer. The grass is greener, the beans are jumping, and we'll finally have some relief from the heat and drought.
For everyone else who's in dire need of rain, I hope you get some soon. Whoever did the rain dance, the farming community thanks you.
For those in North America with a motorcycle, particularly Southern Ontario, especially within a few hours of Lake Erie, today is their day. Every Friday the 13th, thousands upon thousands of people with their motorbikes make their way to Port Dover (on Lake Erie) for what is quite possibly the biggest bike rally the world has ever seen. According to The Hamilton Spectator, roughly 150 000 bikes are expected for this year. As this one has come in July, I wouldn't be surprised in the least.
A few years ago (ok, maybe more than a few... I can't remember if it was before my move to Thunder Bay, or after I returned back home), I attended a Friday the 13th rally. No, I didn't have a bike to ride out (the best I've done is a dirt bike I used to ride when I was younger before I outgrew it), but I do have an aunt who lives in Dover. People can get in and out of the town with their four-wheeled vehicles on the Thursday and the Saturday, but the Friday is so busy, that unless you have a motorbike, or the three-wheel equivalent, you're not going anywhere, and I don't think you're allowed to for the day anyway. But I must say that it was quite the experience to sit on her front lawn, and watch a never-ending line of motorbikes enter the town. Walking down to Main St to look at a fraction of them would leave you rubbing elbows with the person next to you. It was all bikes for as far as the eye could see.
Back when I was in grade 12, I did my co-op at Peninsulair, which was a flight school at the Hamilton Airport. Sure enough, Friday the 13th came around while I had my co-op. It was either in May or June, I can't quite remember. What I can remember, though, is one of the PA-140 Cherokees was fresh out of the shop with some brand-spankin'-new parts, and it's reintroduction to the sky was a flight to Port Dover to check out all the bikes. I had been asked if I wanted to go along. Methinks the answer is quite obvious with that one. There were three of us in the Cherokee, and another three or four people in the PA-160 Warrior, and off we went to fly over Dover for part of the afternoon (best co-op day ever). That, I must say, was an interesting experience. Everything was so shiny and bright, you weren't exactly sure where the lake ended and the bikes began, the metal and water were glistening so much.
If you're wanting to take part in Friday the 13th, but you have no means of getting there, or you simply live too far away, follow the link I'm attaching for the official Friday the 13th site from Port Dover. There are pictures, facts and pieces of history surrounding the event, as well as a link for a live video feed.
A little over a week ago, on a night when we were having a bonfire, a cat that we had never seen before, wandered over to keep us company. The night turned into the next day, and still she stayed. We'd hear her meowing constantly. We started to give her a bit of food, as she was terribly skinny, and some water. After a week, we knew that we were going to keep her.
My mum had called Glanbrook Animal Control, and no one and reported this talkative little tabby missing. We figure that someone decided that they didn't want her anymore, saw our barn, and dumped her off. Honestly, it's not uncommon to see dumped off cats wandering around. Until Meu (said me-you), they'd all kept to themselves, and did their own thing. Meu was wanting someone to love her.
So, yesterday, we took her to the vet, and got started on her shots, as we have no idea if her previous owner had done so. We also established that she's about 1 1/2-2 years old, because we had no clue, but figured she was pretty young. However, she was already litter trained, so that was a bonus.
Throughout the week, we'd kept Meu in great gram's part of the house. Yesterday was her first day in our part, and she's settling in nicely. Last night she cried a bit, but once she came into my room, she hopped up into my bed, and her crying stopped. Who knew something so little could take up so much space? Once Meu got herself comfortable, we were both able to sleep well.
A new day, a new addition to the family. Life's good.
Last night, like many years before, my family and I made our way to the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Rec Park for Canada Day festivities. Like every year, the party didn't disappoint. There were games and activities, more so for the kids, a photo booth, free mini putt, and assorted musical acts.
Every year comes with a musical tribute/ impersonator. Past acts, all of which I've enjoyed immensely, include Abba Gold (Abba), Stayin' Alive (BeeGees), Shania Twin (Shania Twain), but the best by far are The Caveners (Beatles tribute). I'm not exactly a Beatles fan (I think they're overrated and mediocre), but The Caveners are fantastic, and I'd even dare to say that they've been my fave tribute act at the park. Last night was a Michael Jackson impersonator. I must admit that even though I prefer Prince over MJ, the Jackson tribute was quite well done.
For as much as I enjoy the afternoon's activities, and the musical acts, the fireworks display is always the best part. However, last night's Canada Day fireworks display was amazing! It's always top notch, but this year was the best yet. They really outdid themselves, and I loved it!
The rec park always sets their fireworks to music, and I don't know how they're going to top this year's score. Sure, fireworks exploding to James Bond is pretty awesome, and West Side Story has some excellent music, but there's something about the grand finale, the biggest explosions, and most spectacular in-air display being set to the theme from Star Wars. As I'm a Star Wars freak (see my May post titled "May the Fourth Be With You"), this definitely made me very happy. My mum had commented earlier today that she wasn't sure what Star Wars had to do with Canada, so drawing at straws, I told her that a Canadian played Anakin Skywalker in two of the prequels. But I was still more than content either way.
Well, for those of you who live in this great nation, or are from the great white north, I hope you had yourself a fantastic Canada Day as well. If not, you missed out on one hell of a party!
My home country was quite the place to be this past week. Not just because yesterday was Canada Day, but for the LGBT community and its Allies, it was Pride Week, particularly in Toronto, Ontario. There was also a Pride celebration in the Hammer recently as well.
Many people view Pride in different ways. I choose to see Pride as a celebration of both difference and unity, a time when everyone can come together to celebrate the human spirit as one, while as a whole fight homophobia.
I must confess, I've never been to Pride. I was once asked to go by one of my closest friends. I had said yes, that I'd join him, and then something came up on his end, and we didn't end up going. That being said, if he ever asks me again to join him, of course I would go. He's my longest-standing friend, our dearest friends are also our family, and there are some things you do for family without a second thought.
I remember when that specific friend came out to me a few years ago. He was really nervous about doing so. Even though he knew I wouldn't think any different of him, he still wasn't sure what my reaction would be. When he came out to my family, my mother hugged him, and then we all told him that he was still loved the same as always. As for me, I don't know who was in deeper denial about him being gay (him or me), but I can tell you that while many other people weren't surprised, I was shocked. But, after we laughed over my foolishness for a few minutes, we had a serious conversation. In his culture, being homosexual is punishable by death, particularly stoning. Think what you want of me, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I let anyone harm him for his sexual preferences. And even if it is a cold day in hell? I'm Canadian. I'm built to withstand the cold. And same for the rest of you who are members of the LGBT community. I will ALWAYS stand by your side, and treat you as equals.
I'm certain you've all heard about the bullying going on in schools, and the number of kids who are choosing suicide because they can't take the abuse anymore. Well, I can tell you of at least one high school that has chosen to fight back: Saltfleet District High School (my former high school). My sister Allie is one of the founding members of Saltfleet's Positive Spaces club. I'm not sure who chose to start it, but my sister joined it because one of her dearest friends is homosexual. The Positive Spaces group was for everyone who felt out of place, and needed somewhere to belong. It was where the LGBT kids could feel a sense of comfort, and openly discuss their sexuality without judgement. The world needs more people and places like this. My sister may not be in high school anymore, but last I heard, the Positive Space club was still in operation.
Perhaps I'm naive, as I will never understand homophobia. As far as I'm concerned, we are all people. We all live. We all breathe. We all feel, and if someone feels comfort and compassion with a member of the same gender, who the hell cares? So long as the relationship that person is in is caring, and built out of love, trust and respect, why should others feel the need to make it their (negative) business? As far as I'm concerned, and my family thinks the same way, what two consenting people choose to do in private is no one's business but their own, and if you want to marry, we will support you. If people could put as much effort into getting along as they do into hatred and discrimination, this world, our world, would be a much better place.
For more on the subject, please refer to my October 2011 posts, "Why So Homophobic?" and "Why So Homophobic?: Part II".
For those who live in Canada, you already know what's significant about today. For those of you who don't, it's Canada Day, the day where all of us in this nation celebrate the birthday of the best damn country in the universe!
I have a little tradition that I try to uphold every year on Canada Day, and if you don't mind, I'd like to share it with you. For the entire day, I will only listen to the best music that Canada has to offer, and I'm not talking about this Justin Bieber crap either (he's just embarrassing). No, I'm talking stuff like Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Alanis Morissette, Tom Cochrane, Bryan Adams. So, to start you off, here are some kick-ass Canadian tunes.
First up, Alanis Morissette, "All I Really Want".
Bryan Adams, "Run to You" (I know, you were expecting, "Summer of '69").
You can never go wrong with a little BTO, "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet".
Randy Bachman, who's the Bachman half of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, is also part of another awesome Canadian band: The Guess Who. I think Guess Who's, "No Sugar Tonight/ New Mother Nature" is warranted right about now.
Now, in other countries, such as the USA, when references to the "big leagues" are made, it generally refers to baseball. If you're Canadian, and if you're familiar with Tom Cochrane, you'd know that his song, "The Big League" is all about the sport that this country cherishes most: hockey. I must confess, I love the onomatopoeia in this song.
I'm such a terrible Canadian! I almost forgot about Rush (I think I'll go with a little "Tom Sawyer" for this list)
and Loverboy. Yes, "Working for the Weekend" is totally cliche, but hey, we're having a long weekend in Canada at the moment, so it's totally appropriate.
Of course, Canada has other big name retro artists, but I just can't leave out some of the more modern-day groups, such as Hedley. "Never Too Late" has summer written all over it.
State of Shock is awesome too. I saw them open for Hedley once a few years ago, and they were fantastic. "Hearts that Bleed" happens to be my personal fave.
Carly-Rae Jepsen has been doing very well for herself lately, and even though, "Call Me, Maybe" is her big song as of late, Allie and I prefer, "Curiosity".
Marianas Trench is pretty fantastic too. "Fallout" is their hit song at the moment, and I'm also loving it at the moment too (don't worry, they have tons of others).
There are many more Canadian artists from the present day, however, I just don't have enough hours in the day to post them all. But you know you've heard them, many many times.
Though I love to spend my day listening to the best music that my home and native land has to offer, one of my favourite things to do on Canada Day is watch Molson Canadian beer commercials. I hate to break it to all the other countries out there, but Canadian beer commercials are awesome. If you live in a place that doesn't air commercials for alcoholic beverages, I apologize, but, at least you don't have to be sheltered anymore.
To get an idea as to how epic Canadian beer commercials are, I'm going to start you off with the "Joe Canadian" rant.
This rant makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and incredibly patriotic. Perhaps it's because Joe rants of so many truths.
And now for a few others that don't really have names associated with them, however, they're still epic.
Oh, breaking stereotypes. Gotta love it! To finish, I leave you with Molson's, "I Am" anthem. How many other countries have an unofficial (alcoholic) anthem?
Sure, our music is awesome, and our beer commercials are epic, but those are just a part of why I love being Canadian. It's my heritage. I'm about as purebred Canuck as you can get. I'm sixth generation on the family property (we've had it since 1871), but my family has been here since long before then. My great gram's family has been on Canada's soil since the 1700's. I had a great grandfather, whom I never met, who was born in the Eastern Townships of Quebec in the 1800s, and guess what? His parents were born in Quebec as well. My grandmother is Metis ( her mother was Abenaki from Quebec as well). Yep. I'm Canadian born and bred, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
So, as I bid you all farewell for now, I'll leave you with two more anthems of importance. If you're from Canada, you'll definitely now this one. After all, it involves hockey. For the record, I prefer the original. If you are utterly clueless as to what this hockey anthem is, it's the CBC's original Hockey Night in Canada intro.
