Are they nuts or what?

Apparently today is National Pistachio Day!

Go figure...

Well, just to let you all know that I am on the mend, the swelling of my lip is almost down to nothing and the wound on my face has become quite itchy. I suppose that's a good sign.

I will go to the dentist and get him to fix the tooth today. I should be as good as new later this week...

I wasn't really going to write about this but I was encouraged to share the story of my weekend.

It should have been the best weekend I had in a long time. Instead, I am bruised and battered and am missing part of a tooth. Go figure!

This was the weekend that I "opened" a little show of my photographs at my favourite Chinese restaurant. I had planned to celebrate on Saturday night by going, with my friends, to karaoke at this same restaurant and just enjoying myself. All was going fine for the day, the weather was beautiful, I bought new skateboarding shoes and even some tulips for my mom.

But, on the way to the bus, I tripped...Possibly over the curb or my shoelaces (of the old shoes) and went hurtling face first into the pavement. My hands were full from shopping and although one hand (which by the way is now brown and blue) went down first, I managed to hit my face on the pavement. One of my teeth broke part way off and the other part of it went through my upper lip.

So, there I was, a nice gentleman helping me up, while I was bleeding profusely and he picked up my purchases for the day and he walked me into the flower shop near to where I hit the pavement. He was so nice and he hung around to ensure I was alright but eventually left before I could get his name. ( I will have to go by the flower shop to see if he came back). My first thought was, "shit! so much for the karaoke party tonight" and the second was well, who should I visit first, the dentist or the emergency unit of the hospital.

I must have had my head on straight because I figured that the dentist's office would close earlier so I should start there. My poor dentist had to come all the way back from his home but he managed to get the bits of teeth out and then suggested that I get the the hospital to check my head. They determined that I was fine and sent me on my way. However, not until after they had given me a tetanus shot for good measure.

I managed to reach everyone while I was still bleeding to cancel the little soiree. I am sorry to have missed it but well, life happens.

Nevertheless, the photos have been hung up and it was a joy to see them up on the wall. I will heal and the dentist will be repairing my tooth tomorrow after the swelling has going down. I was thinking of donning an eye patch and a fake gold tooth and telling everyone that I became a pirate over the weekend.

Don't despair though. Hopefully, this coming Friday (our rescheduled date)we will try again. Maybe after then I can share with you the story of realizing my dream of becoming a Spice Girl? Ear plugs anyone?

By the way, if you are in the Victoria area and would like to see my photos, go to Gladiola Restaurant located at 622 Fisgard Street. And while you are there, drop by for a bite... I strongly recommend the Hong Kong style tea and the french toast... However, everything is good there!

I was thinking of going to this event that was advertised in the local free paper here entitled Beginners Erotic Bondage Workshop, where the beginner would learn rope safety, basic knots and ties in this fun, informative workshop. (Snacks, drinks and rope starter kit are to be provided). It sounded like a lot of fun...

However, after reading this story, I am afraid I might have to reconsider.

Note: If I didn't have another event for that evening, I probably would still go. It sucks when there are too many fun things to do on the same night...

This is really weird. Today, as I was checking out how many people were accessing my website and I came across this referral link. Who knew that Satan threw housewarming parties...

Could people just do me a favour and stop giving all of those awards to Justin Timberlake? Why should a man who doesn't seem to be able to belt out a good tune, and advocates stalking (that cry me a river video) get any type of award.

I suppose I should be thankful that 50 Cent didn't win anything this round...

In Canada, it used to be that all of the focus was what was new coming out of the UK. Since the change of music trends and what is played on the radio now comes by way of the States, we don't often hear what's happening in Britain. Gone are the days when groups like the Cure hit our shores before that Timberlake guy... We are so starved for exposure to what's new in the UK that I would really like any recommendations for good music (not like what comes out of the US).

Did anyone see the Brit Awards?

A while back, I mentioned seeing a documentary about the French and English cultures in Canada. To continue on that subject, I wanted to report about another recent television show and how it increased tensions with the Francophone population and the outraged English speakers as well.

The February 12 episode of the Conan O'Brien Show broadcast from Toronto included a segment where Triumph the Insult Dog went to Quebec. Interviewed Francophones were interviewed and the pathetic Truimph slagged the French speakers off with comments that would have made anyone's blood boil, had they been the brunt of the same kind of "jokes". While the idiots in the audience laughed and cheered, I am sure that many more were really pissed off. I didn't see the episode myself but I imagine that it was in really poor taste.

Anyway, it turns out that Conan found it necessary (probably at the insistance of the Canadian government) to air an apology. Hopefully, all of those who were in the audience feel remorse for it as well. With losers like that, no wonder tensions exist between the two cultures.

Torontonians should realize that not so long ago, people were avoiding the city because of SARS. If they are not careful, people are going to stop going to Toronto altogether because of their insensitive actions.

I don't know about this...

If you cannot trust German teachers to be smart, then who can you trust? They probably should have thought a little more about what might be in an "anonymous" chocolate cake before they ate it and had to suffer the consequences.

Oingo Boingo. Does anyone out there remember them?

I was having a conversation with friends about Tim Burton films and the soundtracks for them and immediately two of us remembered this group. Danny Elfman certainly has come a long way.

Do you have any stories to tell about this? Please share with us!

The justice system has failed again in British Columbia! Kelly Ellard, who was convicted of killing Rena Virk and then released because she supposedly didn't get a fair trial, was arrested again yesterday for allegedly assaulting another person.

I am sorry but even though I hate to judge people before they have a chance to prove they didn't do it, Kelly Ellard is getting no sympathy from me. All we can be thankful for now is that the current victim did not get murdered. What is wrong with people like this? Don't their parents care enough to give them a balanced upbringing in which open conversation with the children so that they know the difference between right and wrong?

Or is it that the examples worldwide prove that its alright to bully someone? You have one president who lies about having sex with someone who is not his wife OR another who is "fighting" in the name of ridding the world from terrorism yet is a terrorist himself. I suppose children can't help but learn that bullying is alright.

We need to talk to children, and I mean really talk with them, and explain things about life. We have to stop using the excuse that we are too busy working and sit down and talk to them about everything from bullying to sex to song lyrics and any other situation that they might have difficulty understanding. And I don't mean for us to say they are wrong because we believe they are. We need to stand back and take an objective look at things.

Let's talk to them before we have more of them out there doing harm to others, alright?

And let's tell our leaders that something has to be done to our justice system!

I don't think that I can hold my tongue about this much longer...

If I hear that "I'm lovin' it" song or even see the commercial from that evil American Fast Food chain, I think I am going to explode. I don't know about you, but it irritates me that a company that makes all of its money literally poisoning people is trying to make itself out to be a health-conscious food choice. It's not food. And it certainly is not healthy, no matter what they try to tell you.

Which brings me to another problem: Money! Companies will say anything to make money. They try to convince us that they are looking into your well-being but, in fact, they just want to line their pockets with cash. It makes me really angry.

However, we have also convinced ourselves that happiness comes in how much you own and that makes it necessary to work for that evil which is money.

It just seems that we can never quite win...

Hey! It's Stay Single Day today. Feel like sending a card? Click here!

Where have I been in the world? Check this out! (looks like I have to travel again soon...)




create your own visited country map
or check out these Google Hacks.

I cannot get my computer to read my last couple of posts. Is anyone else having difficulty accessing it?

Work is taking up most of my time lately. Not that I am complaining on being too busy as I actually like being busy. However, it seems that the time I use up being tired and keeping up with friends makes it impossible to feel rested.

Or perhaps its all of the Hong Kong-style tea I am drinking... (Caffeine certainly is a killer for me...)

Have a great day everyone!

This week on CBC Newsworld, they are showing a lot of documentary shorts and the past two nights, I have been watching them and been enthralled.

Last night, I watched Helen's War, Portrait of a Dissident which followed Dr. Helen Caldicott and her niece in her attempt to raise funds to start her Nuclear Policy Research Institute and to promote her new book entitled "The New Nuclear Danger: George Bush's Military-Industrial Complex" . It was very interesting and encouraging to see that Helen has not really lost any of her passion for her quest to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

On Saturday, I watched a short film called X-change which documented a ten-day exchange between an ardent Westerner (from Alberta) and a militant Quebec separatist. This was an interesting insight into two very different people who go to the other's hometown and try to understand each other. The separation of Quebec is a huge debate in Canada and there are many opinions of what should be done. But when it really comes down to it, both sides would be at a great loss if they were to separate because we compliment each other. On a non-political level, if we cannot all accept that we are different yet the same, then the whole world is in trouble.

I must say that I was impressed by both of these films and I was glad to actually spend some quality time thinking about some important issues.

I'm sorry. I have been neglecting you! To tell the truth, I have just been so busy with the new job that my mind has not had the time to think of how to write about what fills my head. I haven't even seen a newpaper or had time to watch the news... I have missed so much!

Olivia has purchased a new home, a baby born with two heads died (I didn't even know that it had been born), the Day of Action has come and passed (more on this later), and finally, Janet Jackson exposed her breast at the half-time show of the superbowl.

I am a little short of time today but I just wanted to comment on Janet's overexposure. What is everyone all worked up about? It's just a breast! I heard a comment yesterday that went something like "we spend the first year of our life feeding from one, so why do we get all worked up when we see one"! And let's be reasonable, if we had to see a breast, at least it was a beautiful one! So, all of you football fans... just get over it! If most of you weren't all gaga over the female body part that is composed mostly of fat cells in the first place, people wouldn't have to get all upset about seeing a nice one on telly. (By the way, one does not have to associate breasts with sexiness... Gwen Stefani is one of the sexiest women in America and she has very little in the breast department!)

Anyway folks, gotta dash! Take care!