HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

(not sure when I will be able to post next but I will try. Keep checking in, alright)

Have you been thinking about resolutions? I have.

I try not to but this year there seems to be many things that I want to work on and the list keeps getting longer. It's probably too long a list to share with everyone and if I narrow it down, I will post it later. There is one thing though that I have a lot of resolve to accomplish.

I want to rid myself of other peoples' drama.

Really, I have enough of my own.

Mostly this drama comes from misunderstandings but sometimes I think it is a careful and supposedly clever manipulation of people and their emotions by others.

We judge and are judged everyday by people. People may not admit that they make these judgments but we all do. And these opinions can sometimes cause misunderstandings. I, too, am guilty of having this happen. I am no different from others.

The thing is, I don't understand why, if people are having a problem with someone that they do not go to that person and talk about it. Communication is so important yet we avoid it because we do not want to face conflict.

I have a policy of my own honesty. If I feel something, I will tell someone about it. If the situation doesn't really make it onto my "radar", then it is a non-problem. That means that I don't make a big deal out of it because it isn't really that important.

I used to feel like I had to be everyone's friend. Now I feel that if I meet a person, and through trying to forge a friendship with them find that we are not compatible, then it is best to admit that this relationship isn't going to work for either party and not waste time on something that is at best superficial. I have no time for that. If a person wants to be my friend and is honest about it, then that's great. However, if they do not, I would rather there be no pretense and that we both move on.

I am who I am. So people can take it or leave it. I refuse to curb my way of being to please others.

I am guessing that there may be people out there reading this who think that this post is specifically about them. I want you to know that this is not a rant about any one person. Instead, it is a commentary on things I see everyday. You can be sure that if I have a problem with someone, I will tell them. To their face. If I do not, then there is no problem.

I just feel that there are far too many people out there pretending to be something that they are not. I have been guilty of this myself in past. Life is too short to pretend, or put your life on hold to make someone else happy.

And that leads into my final message: Communication is good!

I was thinking...

Why don't I send postcards to everyone who asks me to via my blog? The offer will stand until December 23, 2005 at 1 pm local time. (You can find out the time by clicking here.) You can either leave your postal address or just leave me a yes and your email address as a comment.

I will try to be creative about it.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't fallen off the edge of the world. Actually, I have spent much of the last week at home sick. Time seems to take forever when you are stuck in the house watching television because your head hurts too much to read. I hate being a couch potato. I really wanna go for a walk but am taking it easy so I don't suffer a relapse.

The holidays are almost upon us, I've done no Christmas shopping (I never do) and my brother's family will be here to visit soon. I can't wait for the tension level to rise and everyone to be bitching at each other. Oh, maybe I should try to keep a positive outlook this year...

Everything is going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine....

I haven't had much time to get on my soapbox because I have been ill but I wanted to comment on Mr. Bush's recent revelations about WMD and other stories that have been fabricated by the government to the south of us. Really. Did this surprise anyone? Does it surprise anyone that their government lies? We have our own problems in Canada as I am sure they have elsewhere. Why can't we demand governmental representation that tells the truth? Is there no way that, before politicians run that we can learn how trustworthy they are?

Am I just hoping for something that will never happen?

I have taken to reading Aljazeera.net lately so that I can get a different spin on things. It is refreshing to read news from a different perspective.

Today, I read an interesting opinion about the elections in Iraq. Entitled Iraq needs free institutions not elections, it made some really valid points. It would be difficult to get this kind of perspective from Western news sources.

I was also amused to hear about the loss in court in the intelligent design model vs evolution argument. It's really funny how the law works, isn't it?

And, while searching for that article, I came across an article about a court ruling in Ontario concluding that sex clubs are legal. I suppose a lot of people in the Ottawa area will be happy. I just hope that they are being careful!

That's it for me today. Have a great one.

Okay, so my head is all congested and I feel achey so don't expect much...

It's a week before Christmas and I don't feel stressed about it at all. In fact, it's amazing how great one can feel if they swear off the holiday altogether. I don't buy gifts and I just hang out with my family and friends when there is time to do so.

I started this "non-tradition" a few years back and it's just great. Not only do I save money but I don't get gifts that I don't really need, or want for that matter. I thought that my niece and nephew would balk at the plan but as they have an aunt that is anti-big-american-companies, it was just one more reason to just accept her for the quirky individual that she is. I love those kids...

They know that I don't encourage people to go into debt for things that we don't necessarily need. They also know that I am non-religious and that's alright with them as well. (Funny, as their mother used to live in a Mennonite community.)

Anyway, I hope that everyone out there is doing fine. Have a great weekend and I will see you next week.

My friend left today.

Take-chan, please take care of yourself...

For those of you who like to feel powerful OR if you just hate stuffed bears, check this out. And remember to turn the sound on as it adds to the effect...

Sometimes I am reminded how small this city that I live in really is...

The nightclubs here really are a little on the sad side!

I went out dancing with some friends last Friday and while the nightclub that we went to had nice decor, after the first hour, the music got all top 40 (and lower) on us. You've gotta wonder when a dance club plays "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy". They even managed to throw a ACDC song for good measure.

We did manage to have a good time despite this...

I do think however, that the patrons of the club were not really prepared for the creativity of our dancing. Especially the girl that danced using her partner as a pole (must have been taking one of Carmen Electra's courses). I was wondering why they didn't just get a room.

Anyway, fun was had by all of those in our group. Next time, (this week?) we will have to try another of the establishments to see if the music is better. If I don't find one that is more "big city", I may have to move to one of your towns...

Just a note to Mr. "T": make the most of your last 24 hours here, my friend. We'll miss you but at least we will see you tonight!

For those of you who are considering seeing Narnia, you might want to read this.

I found it quite interesting despite not being really that interested in the film or the books.

Does anyone out there read Maxim magazine?

If you do, just how seriously is it supposed to be taken? I think it's pretty interesting reading however, I question that it should mostly be taken with a grain of salt.

Am I missing the point?

I'd like to say congratulations to Brian & Heather who got married in Ireland on Saturday! Read about it here!

Good luck you crazy kids...

Wow! The weekend is over and I am just shattered from being too busy. However, I had something to say and wanted to post it quickly before I forget to...

I realized over the weekend that my attempts to save the world have really been in vain. No matter how ecologically aware I have been or how much I try to demonstrate a healthy lifestyle, there are hundreds of others who counter-balance my contribution. People still drive SUVs and use their cars for short jaunts to the neighbourhood shops. People still eat crap food (including GM and processed) and compromise their immune systems with these items as well as soft drinks and alcohol. They don't exercise and much of this weighs heavily on our medical system.

I guess what I am saying is that if everyone else is going to continue with this kind of lifestyle, why should I bust my ass doing something that I think is good for the planet and thus humans. It just seems so futile...

I have always felt that it is everyone's responsibility to do this but it looks like people want such a convenient lifestyle that they don't see the big picture. We can rally together and fight child labour or buy conflict free diamonds or try to stamp out AIDS but we cannot get out of our cars, refuse to support big multinationals or not eat fast food or drink alcohol and drive (either separately or in combination).

What I want to know is why?

And, if others aren't going to be more responsible, do I have to be?

Sorry about the negative note. It's been a tough weekend and I really need some more sleep. (Which is probably not going to happen until after Thursday...)

World AIDS Day.

What are YOU going to do about it?

Today, I was reading an article, from Aljazeera no less, about otaku in Japan. It appears the meek (or in this case, the geeks) shall inherit the earth.