The 7 Estonians that were kidnapped in the Bekka valley near Zahle in Lebanon were released in Beirut today and are in good health according to an article in Al Jazeera this morning.
This is good news for those 7 Estonians that have been captive for over 4 months. They can go home and be re-united with their families.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Poor wittle dead meadow vole
I didn't really want the poor little thing dead. Unfortunately, most small rodents like mice and voles can carry the Hantavirus. This can be deadly in some cases.
Ironically the maintenance guy who disposed of the vole and cleaned my tray with disinfectant, also tossed the contents of my tray by just dumping it in the garbage. Never a good idea. They suggest to wash and wet everything so it doesn't become air born.
I really hope that my exposure won't make me sick. The entire contents of my drawer has been exposed to voles. I just cleaned my top one with Lysol wipes. I didn't clean the other 2 yet, I will tomorrow.
I had no idea that rodents could be so deadly. Of course the risk of me having unwanted rodents in my house with the 4 cats is limited. But in a large building like at work, it's not unusual for it to be full of rodents.
Ironically the maintenance guy who disposed of the vole and cleaned my tray with disinfectant, also tossed the contents of my tray by just dumping it in the garbage. Never a good idea. They suggest to wash and wet everything so it doesn't become air born.
I really hope that my exposure won't make me sick. The entire contents of my drawer has been exposed to voles. I just cleaned my top one with Lysol wipes. I didn't clean the other 2 yet, I will tomorrow.
I had no idea that rodents could be so deadly. Of course the risk of me having unwanted rodents in my house with the 4 cats is limited. But in a large building like at work, it's not unusual for it to be full of rodents.
Rodent dead finally
They brought me 2 new glue traps and 2 regular mouse traps yesterday after I discovered that the 'mouse' had been stuck in the glue trap over the week-end but had managed to escape since Monday morning all I found was droppings and lots of fur in the glue.This morning there was a body in my drawer. I would call it a "field mouse" but it's probably a meadow vole. Some kind soul in maintenance disposed of the body after I called them.
A co-worker asked me how I can live with myself killing an animal when I'm vegetarian. No one likes to have droppings of any animals in their drawer. Seriously.
Arab summer going on.
Just because I haven't written about Syria or other hot spots in the Middle East doesn't mean I haven't been reading the news. Things haven't improved, Assad is continuing to be a butcher. Interesting observations from the US Ambassador to Syria.
No one ever fires on the people holding 'mnhebak' or Pro-Assad demonstrations. He also noted that if his embassy and the French embassy as well as his residence was stormed by demonstrators, it's because the government allowed the people to get that close. Generally they are heavily guarded. Embassies of other countries were not swarmed. Just pointing out a fact.
In Yemen the people don't want Saleh back. In fact even the US is trying to get him to sign the GCC brokered deal in which he steps down within a month in exchange for his freedom from prosecution. He still hasn't signed. The Yemeni want to be rid of him and they keep protesting to back their point. Even if there is a calm in Yemen it certainly isn't over.
Monday, July 11, 2011
UGLY Black google bar - Part II
So since the first post I made about the ugly black google bar, I figured out that this new bar is part of the Google + they have on Beta.
However it still doesn't make it anymore friendly to impose it black like this on any google page once you're logged in. I still stick to my guns. It's like I don't have to worry just about Microsoft taking over my entire PC experience, it's like now that I let google in, it also wants to take over my entire PC experience! Just because I use google to search and for email, and I use blogger doesn't mean I want my life to rotate around google applications.
Anyhow, I'm exploring this new Google+ so far I'm lukewarm.
However it still doesn't make it anymore friendly to impose it black like this on any google page once you're logged in. I still stick to my guns. It's like I don't have to worry just about Microsoft taking over my entire PC experience, it's like now that I let google in, it also wants to take over my entire PC experience! Just because I use google to search and for email, and I use blogger doesn't mean I want my life to rotate around google applications.
Anyhow, I'm exploring this new Google+ so far I'm lukewarm.
Disappointed that equality just isn't there.
Alasdair Thompson, of New Zealand's Employers and Manufacturers Association, said on a radio show that women should be payed less then men because they take sick leave once a month. You can imagine that women in New Zealand were less then impressed. The guy got sacked and for good reason.
I often like to read comments on articles that I read, and was flabbergasted by how most supported Thompson. Besides it's really bullshit. With the exception of one woman who worked for me, I've never heard of a woman where I've worked who's taken time off because it was her time of the month. While up to 50% experience painful cramps, only 10% are incapacitated by them, to the point they can't function. So for a 10% we're making a blanket statement about women in general?
Years ago I had a female employee [which is rare in my field] who suffered from endometriosis. There was two to three days a month where she could not get out of bed she was in so much pain. She proposed that she would work extra hours each week, so she could take those 2 or 3 days off when she was incapacitated. She was as productive as any male employee in my team and worked as many hours. I'll give my boss credit, I explained the situation to him and he was fine with it.
Something else he said is that women also take too much time off for children. Well maybe on the other side of the various ponds that's true, but from where I'm sitting, with a team of mostly men, I have a different experience. I currently have 5 male and 1 female employee who have children. I don't see either gender not involved with their kids, including those with adult children. That's the way it should be. Besides my one female employee with children will bring her sick kids to work with her instead of staying home with them, so she doesn't miss time for sick kids.
A lot of the guys I work with and/or who work for me are involved in their kids lives. They might be the one who drops off and picks up the kids at school or the daycare. They might also be the one who stay home with a sick child.
It also makes me wonder what people in other countries figure single women should do? Not work and be on welfare instead of working and supporting their children? I don't know too many men who would do that, and yes if you made a baby you're just as responsible as the woman who carried it.
It makes me wonder about the men in the U.K., in Australia and in New Zealand. I didn't think Canada was so far ahead of other nations for their gender equality but I suppose we are! Or maybe it's just because I work for a company that encourages men to participate in their children's life? Either way I tend to think it's normal. What's abnormal is expecting everyone but yourself to take care of your offspring, which some people seem to be champions.
I mean at that rate, what should you prevent all those with children from working since they are obviously unreliable, they get less sleep and they have more stresses in life and more responsibilities? No so this theory that women should make less money then men because they have children and are a weaker gender is for the birds.
Over the years I've met male employees who couldn't make it to work the day after payday because they partied so much they couldn't get out of bed. I wonder how much sick time they take for being too hungover or alternatively how unproductive they are when they come into work hungover? Maybe we should dock the pay of anyone who drinks too at that rate.
I often like to read comments on articles that I read, and was flabbergasted by how most supported Thompson. Besides it's really bullshit. With the exception of one woman who worked for me, I've never heard of a woman where I've worked who's taken time off because it was her time of the month. While up to 50% experience painful cramps, only 10% are incapacitated by them, to the point they can't function. So for a 10% we're making a blanket statement about women in general?
Years ago I had a female employee [which is rare in my field] who suffered from endometriosis. There was two to three days a month where she could not get out of bed she was in so much pain. She proposed that she would work extra hours each week, so she could take those 2 or 3 days off when she was incapacitated. She was as productive as any male employee in my team and worked as many hours. I'll give my boss credit, I explained the situation to him and he was fine with it.
Something else he said is that women also take too much time off for children. Well maybe on the other side of the various ponds that's true, but from where I'm sitting, with a team of mostly men, I have a different experience. I currently have 5 male and 1 female employee who have children. I don't see either gender not involved with their kids, including those with adult children. That's the way it should be. Besides my one female employee with children will bring her sick kids to work with her instead of staying home with them, so she doesn't miss time for sick kids.
A lot of the guys I work with and/or who work for me are involved in their kids lives. They might be the one who drops off and picks up the kids at school or the daycare. They might also be the one who stay home with a sick child.
It also makes me wonder what people in other countries figure single women should do? Not work and be on welfare instead of working and supporting their children? I don't know too many men who would do that, and yes if you made a baby you're just as responsible as the woman who carried it.
It makes me wonder about the men in the U.K., in Australia and in New Zealand. I didn't think Canada was so far ahead of other nations for their gender equality but I suppose we are! Or maybe it's just because I work for a company that encourages men to participate in their children's life? Either way I tend to think it's normal. What's abnormal is expecting everyone but yourself to take care of your offspring, which some people seem to be champions.
I mean at that rate, what should you prevent all those with children from working since they are obviously unreliable, they get less sleep and they have more stresses in life and more responsibilities? No so this theory that women should make less money then men because they have children and are a weaker gender is for the birds.
Over the years I've met male employees who couldn't make it to work the day after payday because they partied so much they couldn't get out of bed. I wonder how much sick time they take for being too hungover or alternatively how unproductive they are when they come into work hungover? Maybe we should dock the pay of anyone who drinks too at that rate.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Another day stuck inside my head
I woke up this morning and still feel miserable. It's a beautiful day out and I could be doing 1001 things and I can't even get the motivation to leave the house. I feel like crawling under a rock. I feel particularly crappy today.
What makes me feel worse is that there is nothing physically wrong with me, it's all in my head. Yet it stops me from enjoying life sometimes. I can't even go outside on my property to garden. I wanted to go to the PowWow, but the thought of running into my ex, I can't handle it. I would have another meltdown if I saw him or if he insisted on talking to me. I know how he is. He's not getting that I want to have nothing to do with him. He figures if he runs into me, we're going to talk.
Heck he was going to come over to apologize. Hubby stopped him and said that I didn't want to see him. I mean this happened in February and now he SAYS he wants to apologize. I know what that means. He'll say one sorry and then find a way to make me feel like he said this bullshit because of me. He'll guilt me into thinking that it was all my fault. No. Not going to happen. Hubby made him an appointment with our therapist. It's a step in the right direction, but I feel it will take years of therapy before we can have a conversation where I don't feel he's being an ass hole or making me feel responsible for his shortcomings.
When I feel like this I'd rather be dead. I feel like I'm the worst piece of trash that ever walked this world. I feel nothing I can say or do has any value, and makes any difference I feel insignificant and useless. I know it's my brain that has fucked up wiring, but nothing much I've done over the years has helped me fix it. I still end up feeling like this periodically.
I can hear those who said "Just go out there and do it". Sure. Easier said then done. My head is so fucked right now, I'm a danger to myself. I can't drive anywhere, I'd be an accident waiting to happen. Wouldn't be able to focus on the traffic. If I get stuck interacting with people, and they say the slightest negative thing I'll have a meltdown. It sucks but it's the truth. Since I'm not with the people of Walmart, I'll keep my meltdowns to the inside of my house thankyouverymuch.
Edit: As one last note, I feel even more like crap because I have it good here in Montreal, I have a good job, a good hubby, good kids, good friends and a peaceful life. My problems are tiny compared to people from the Middle east or Africa, who are fighting for their lives and for freedom.
What makes me feel worse is that there is nothing physically wrong with me, it's all in my head. Yet it stops me from enjoying life sometimes. I can't even go outside on my property to garden. I wanted to go to the PowWow, but the thought of running into my ex, I can't handle it. I would have another meltdown if I saw him or if he insisted on talking to me. I know how he is. He's not getting that I want to have nothing to do with him. He figures if he runs into me, we're going to talk.
Heck he was going to come over to apologize. Hubby stopped him and said that I didn't want to see him. I mean this happened in February and now he SAYS he wants to apologize. I know what that means. He'll say one sorry and then find a way to make me feel like he said this bullshit because of me. He'll guilt me into thinking that it was all my fault. No. Not going to happen. Hubby made him an appointment with our therapist. It's a step in the right direction, but I feel it will take years of therapy before we can have a conversation where I don't feel he's being an ass hole or making me feel responsible for his shortcomings.
When I feel like this I'd rather be dead. I feel like I'm the worst piece of trash that ever walked this world. I feel nothing I can say or do has any value, and makes any difference I feel insignificant and useless. I know it's my brain that has fucked up wiring, but nothing much I've done over the years has helped me fix it. I still end up feeling like this periodically.
I can hear those who said "Just go out there and do it". Sure. Easier said then done. My head is so fucked right now, I'm a danger to myself. I can't drive anywhere, I'd be an accident waiting to happen. Wouldn't be able to focus on the traffic. If I get stuck interacting with people, and they say the slightest negative thing I'll have a meltdown. It sucks but it's the truth. Since I'm not with the people of Walmart, I'll keep my meltdowns to the inside of my house thankyouverymuch.
Edit: As one last note, I feel even more like crap because I have it good here in Montreal, I have a good job, a good hubby, good kids, good friends and a peaceful life. My problems are tiny compared to people from the Middle east or Africa, who are fighting for their lives and for freedom.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
My cleaning lady really pissed me off
 |
| Left kitty litter on sewing basket! |
This means that she's more spacey then usual. She always forgets at least one thing, usually it's turning off the lights after she's done, but of late she leaves bags in random places or the mop. Heck last week she forgot her umbrella on my front door and two weeks before that she forgot her sweater in the kitchen.
But yesterday she outdid herself in spaciness and while it really pissed me off, when I do talk to her next Friday I'll just ask her not to do this again so if she spaces out, the results will be different. No matter how upset I was when I saw it, I certainly won't chew her out or dock her pay or anything like that. I suppose she put the kitty litter on sewing basket while she mopped the floor. It's hard to see it's a sewing basket because I cover it with a towel since the kitties like to use it as a chair to look out of the window. Problem is she left it there, and I presume one of the 4 cats decided it might be a good idea to use the litter not realizing it was precariously perched and it toppled emptying it's contents on the sewing machine desk, the floor, the chair, the vent you name it there was kitty litter on it.
I'm sure in a couple of weeks I'll look at this entry and laugh but last night when I spotted that, it was just too much. I had a complete and utter meltdown. It was the straw that broke the camel's back or the drop that made the glass overflow. Thankfully hubby picked up the mess, I just couldn't cope.
Frazzled
I still haven't gotten over the shock of Rick's death on Canada day. I'm well aware of the fragility of life, but Rick you know was the guy who was going to live forever. Or at least it seemed that way. From the time I met him in Fall 1990 till today, Rick had pretty much been a constant in my extended circle of friends. I read his Facebook page just hours before his untimely demise.
I've been upset about it all week. Not to the point where I can't function like after my parents death, but I'm not functioning so well. I was just able to go to work, go to the funeral home for the viewing on Wednesday and that's it. I haven't been able to do any errands or even leave work at lunch time. I'm just frazzled. I was hoping to go to Quebec City to see daughters this week-end, but I didn't even have the stamina to drive up and for some reason this week-end is bad because they are booked at the base. I also don't have the cash right now for anything.
I also couldn't find it in me to put on a happy face and go out for dinner with some friends from out of town, who only had a tiny window to meet friends and family. I so wanted to see them, I've missed George and Bia. I also wanted hubby to meet them as I've talk about my buddy George often enough. But I got home after work and all I could do was cry and cry and cry last night.
It didn't help that sometime this week I noticed one of the sapphires on my engagement ring had fallen off. That really upset me and every time I'd think of it hubby wasn't around. I finally got to show him yesterday and cried and cried. I'm not sure I know why I'm so upset. But I love that ring we got in Gold land in Dubai. I love the fact it has like 6 little sapphires and 5 little diamonds. It's just so beautiful and unique and it's white gold. I remember when we toured this place in Dubai, I was just disappointed by the jewellery. Traditionally Bedouin jewellery is big and being tiny I tend to like smaller things. That's why my ring is so special, it's so delicate. Hubby took it to get it fixed and I feel bare without it.
It's a beautiful summer day and I could be out enjoying it but chances are I will stay in and watch M*A*S*H in hopes it lifts my spirits. It's the show that helped me get through that nasty break-down I had in 2001 [or was it 2002].
I've been upset about it all week. Not to the point where I can't function like after my parents death, but I'm not functioning so well. I was just able to go to work, go to the funeral home for the viewing on Wednesday and that's it. I haven't been able to do any errands or even leave work at lunch time. I'm just frazzled. I was hoping to go to Quebec City to see daughters this week-end, but I didn't even have the stamina to drive up and for some reason this week-end is bad because they are booked at the base. I also don't have the cash right now for anything.
I also couldn't find it in me to put on a happy face and go out for dinner with some friends from out of town, who only had a tiny window to meet friends and family. I so wanted to see them, I've missed George and Bia. I also wanted hubby to meet them as I've talk about my buddy George often enough. But I got home after work and all I could do was cry and cry and cry last night.
It didn't help that sometime this week I noticed one of the sapphires on my engagement ring had fallen off. That really upset me and every time I'd think of it hubby wasn't around. I finally got to show him yesterday and cried and cried. I'm not sure I know why I'm so upset. But I love that ring we got in Gold land in Dubai. I love the fact it has like 6 little sapphires and 5 little diamonds. It's just so beautiful and unique and it's white gold. I remember when we toured this place in Dubai, I was just disappointed by the jewellery. Traditionally Bedouin jewellery is big and being tiny I tend to like smaller things. That's why my ring is so special, it's so delicate. Hubby took it to get it fixed and I feel bare without it.
It's a beautiful summer day and I could be out enjoying it but chances are I will stay in and watch M*A*S*H in hopes it lifts my spirits. It's the show that helped me get through that nasty break-down I had in 2001 [or was it 2002].
Friday, July 08, 2011
Cheeky bugger
Something tells me I will be buying a real mouse trap at the dollar store or Canadian tire. Those glue traps they got seem to be for the birds.
The trap has been in my drawer for 3 days, there are mouse droppings around the glue trap but the mouse is avoiding them like the plague.
Waiting for Monday morning to see if the glue helps over the week-end
The trap has been in my drawer for 3 days, there are mouse droppings around the glue trap but the mouse is avoiding them like the plague.
Waiting for Monday morning to see if the glue helps over the week-end
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Dead children get no relief
Two verdicts came out in 2 trials involving children yesterday.
Closer to home there was the trial of Guy Turcotte, who killed his 2 children by stabbing them, probably in a fit of rage. He was held not criminally responsible. Which pissed off a lot of people. How can he not be criminally responsible?? He admitted to drinking windshield washer fluid and killing his children by stabbing them more then 40 times?
From across the border there was the trial of Casey Anthony over the death of her daughter Caylee Anthony. Another gut wrenching story that has been riveting audiences for several years. The final verdict, she was held not guilty of killing her daughter.
In both cases the verdict certainly didn't reflect popular opinions or the media. Most people wanted to throw those 2 people in jail and toss away the key. However one has to consider that in each case a jury of 12 people, supposedly of their peers, spent weeks, probably sequestered, trying to go through all the evidence and coming to a verdict. I always read that a verdict has to be "beyond a reasonable doubt". Both may be guilty, but if the evidence left the jurors wondering, isn't it better that they 'acquit' a guilty person then put in jail an innocent?
Many of us are so disturbed by these 2 verdicts that we want to impose our own sense of justice, but then at that point we become judge, jury and executioner as well as a lynch mob. How many cases seemed a slam dunk 20 years ago, and now we're slowly checking DNA and realizing that we have jailed, or even executed innocent people.
I'd like to think that the juries in both cases gave it lots of consideration and we should respect their findings even if we think that they made a mistake.
Closer to home there was the trial of Guy Turcotte, who killed his 2 children by stabbing them, probably in a fit of rage. He was held not criminally responsible. Which pissed off a lot of people. How can he not be criminally responsible?? He admitted to drinking windshield washer fluid and killing his children by stabbing them more then 40 times?
From across the border there was the trial of Casey Anthony over the death of her daughter Caylee Anthony. Another gut wrenching story that has been riveting audiences for several years. The final verdict, she was held not guilty of killing her daughter.
In both cases the verdict certainly didn't reflect popular opinions or the media. Most people wanted to throw those 2 people in jail and toss away the key. However one has to consider that in each case a jury of 12 people, supposedly of their peers, spent weeks, probably sequestered, trying to go through all the evidence and coming to a verdict. I always read that a verdict has to be "beyond a reasonable doubt". Both may be guilty, but if the evidence left the jurors wondering, isn't it better that they 'acquit' a guilty person then put in jail an innocent?
Many of us are so disturbed by these 2 verdicts that we want to impose our own sense of justice, but then at that point we become judge, jury and executioner as well as a lynch mob. How many cases seemed a slam dunk 20 years ago, and now we're slowly checking DNA and realizing that we have jailed, or even executed innocent people.
I'd like to think that the juries in both cases gave it lots of consideration and we should respect their findings even if we think that they made a mistake.
Cheers good buddy!
Today is the service for our buddy Rick. It's going to be difficult.
I didn't really post what happened, so I'm cross-posting a message left on Rick's wall by his friend Lee:
Early morning July 1st, after spending a night of celebrating with close friends, Rick fell from a partition outside his apartment, striking his head. The partition was only 3 feet high, but the blow was hard enough to kill him instantly.
It is sad and shocking and terribly difficult to comprehend, but we can at the very least take some comfort in knowing that his last memory was of having a wonderful time with a few of his closest and dearest friends. If he had had any choice in how he was to leave this world, that is exactly how he would have wanted it.
I didn't really post what happened, so I'm cross-posting a message left on Rick's wall by his friend Lee:
I am afraid I have some very sad news to share with you all.
Early morning July 1st, after spending a night of celebrating with close friends, Rick fell from a partition outside his apartment, striking his head. The partition was only 3 feet high, but the blow was hard enough to kill him instantly.
It is sad and shocking and terribly difficult to comprehend, but we can at the very least take some comfort in knowing that his last memory was of having a wonderful time with a few of his closest and dearest friends. If he had had any choice in how he was to leave this world, that is exactly how he would have wanted it.
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
The mouse is toast
For the third morning I checked I had pistachios shells and mouse droppings in my top drawer at work. I also had a maintenance man show up this morning with 2 glue traps. I'll see if there's a mouse stuck in my drawer ! Or maybe 2? then I will have to Lysol my drawer because apparently mice can carry deadly disease so those mice droppings can be deadly.
New white dress popular with felines.
Yesterday I ironed and try out a dress I bought a month or two ago and haven't worn yet. It's a white sundress, with blue flowers best worn in the heat of the summer. I left it on the ironing board after trying on the dress.
Well first I found Spock, on the ironing board passed out on the dress mid-afternoon. I had to shoo him off and re-position the dress. A few hours later when I went to sleep, I noticed Jethro was lying on the ground next to the ironing board. That's when I realized he was asleep on the dress, he had knocked to the ground. I shooed him off the dress and put it back on the ironing board for the night.
Monday, July 04, 2011
Sunday, July 03, 2011
The women of the Middle East
I blogged a week or two ago about the women in Dubai, and in general the UAE, to highlight their position in Emirate society. I stumbled upon an interesting article by Naomi Wolf about women in the Middle East. One of the point she highlights is that once women change in a society, everything changes, and the women in the Middle East are going through a radical change. She points out how the women in Egypt and Tunisia weren't just taking part in the protests but helping lead them. That part of the reason they were so peaceful was because of the women and the children that were also with them.
I suppose this is why in Libya Gadaffi's encouraged his armies to use rape as a "weapon of war". Attack half of the population by violating them and figure it will break down the rest of the society.
I've also read that in Syria women were being raped by the various "security forces". Of the extent of this problem won't be fully grasped until the uprising is over.
However I've also read of a movement in Syria where young men are saying that they will marry women who have been raped, sight unseen. I hope this movement spreads throughout Syria and also to Libya. I'm happy there are men who realize that being raped is never a woman's fault, and always her attackers fault, and she shouldn't have to carry the shame of being spoiled for others. It's hard enough to deal with having been forcefully violated, but to be cast aside by society and sometimes your family due to the shame is inconceivable to me.
I have been raped and what has helped me deal with the rape is talking about it. Telling other women that rape doesn't only happen to others, it can happen to any woman. Rape isn't about what you did, it's about men who want control. I have never allowed anyone to see me as less worthy a human being because I was raped.
On the topic of rape, the "SlutWalks" that started in Toronto have spread all over the world, with one in London this month. Some of the criticism of these walks includes that women are now defining themselves in male terms. I have issues with that. I don't dress for men, I dress for myself. I like wearing clothes I find attractive on myself. My mom used to tell me as a young woman to not wear shapeless clothing. That I had an attractive body and I should wear clothes that makes me look good. Not once was it mentioned I was dressing for men. My mom's point was that if you feel good about who you are you should also be projecting a positive image with your clothing. That it was all one package.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Friend's death hits home.
When I heard this morning that Rick had died, I was shocked and upset. But I didn't cry. I barely reacted. I've known him since 1990. At some point for about a year I was really close to him but I had to distance myself at some point. However I always stayed on good terms with him, and I did seem him on average once to twice a year, of late more typically at my gf's place when she has BBQ's.
I had gone to Fairview Mall in Pointe-Claire this morning to pick up my black pair of Rockabilly Hush puppies. On the way home I was thinking about what my gf told me about Rick talking in the past few months about what would happen to his cat should he die. The tears just poured out. I hadn't realized I was still very attached to Rick. You don't have to see someone daily to care about what happens to them. I always enjoyed reading his silly comments on Facebook and had "liked" one just a couple of hours before his demise. He was known for his sense of humour. He was also known for being a good friend. He was someone who would listen to your problems if you were upset, and somehow always make you smile. He will be missed by many people.
There's a lot of things in life I never saw the same way after meeting Rick. Not something you can say about everyone you meet.
I had gone to Fairview Mall in Pointe-Claire this morning to pick up my black pair of Rockabilly Hush puppies. On the way home I was thinking about what my gf told me about Rick talking in the past few months about what would happen to his cat should he die. The tears just poured out. I hadn't realized I was still very attached to Rick. You don't have to see someone daily to care about what happens to them. I always enjoyed reading his silly comments on Facebook and had "liked" one just a couple of hours before his demise. He was known for his sense of humour. He was also known for being a good friend. He was someone who would listen to your problems if you were upset, and somehow always make you smile. He will be missed by many people.
There's a lot of things in life I never saw the same way after meeting Rick. Not something you can say about everyone you meet.
Woke to find out a friend had passed away
I met this friend back in 1990 at one of the many BBS GT's we had in Montreal back in the day. He has pretty much been a constant in my circle of friends for the past 21 years.
The one thing that can be said about this friend is that he was pretty much the same back when I first met him as the day he died. You could count on him for that.
He was out drinking on Thursday night at Peel pub with friends and had an accident on the way home. He was found dead in the wee hours of July 1st outside his building.
May he rest in peace. If I still drank I'd have a beer in your honour Rick Langston.
The one thing that can be said about this friend is that he was pretty much the same back when I first met him as the day he died. You could count on him for that.
He was out drinking on Thursday night at Peel pub with friends and had an accident on the way home. He was found dead in the wee hours of July 1st outside his building.
May he rest in peace. If I still drank I'd have a beer in your honour Rick Langston.
Friday, July 01, 2011
July 1st - Canada day and Quebec moving day!
One of the weird things people who arrive in Quebec notice is that most landlords have their leases that start/end July 1st. They also notice how crazy July 1st is in neighbourhoods where there are a lot of rentals. Everyone their mother, brother, sister, and their dog move on July 1st. [Sadly the family pooch and feline might be moving from a nice pampered life in someone's home to being abandoned in the streets]
I've heard rumours from other parts of Canada that people think we're doing it on purpose not to celebrate Canada day. The amusing part is that the change to July 1 was introduced by federalist MNA, Jérôme Choquette of the Quebec Liberal Party. His intention was certainly not to dis Canada day. However there's a history as to why this is.
Back in 1700 when Quebec was still the colony Nouvelle France, one of the rules was that Lords could not evict peasants until spring, because it's cruel to evict someone in -20C weather. For urban leases it became May 1st. By 1866, it was included in the Civil code of Lower Canada [Which became the civil code of Quebec]. For over a century leases in Quebec by law went from May 1st to April 30th. The Quebec Government in 1973 created the Regie du Logement, which has guidelines for landlords and tenants, as well as a court to deal with problems between owner and renter. Also they added that leases dates and lengths could be fixed as the landlord see fit, and decided that all the leases that ended in April 1975 would be extended to the end of June 1975. This was done to push the end of leases away from May 1st.
It was great, because for the first time, children weren't changed schools the last 2 months of the year if their family moved. My mom, who was a first grade teacher, was so happy when the leases ended at the end of June after the school year was over. At least if the family moved every year and some families do surprisingly, at least the child could get to do a full year of school in the same school with the same teacher. She claimed the date of July 1st was chosen because it was after the end of the school year and it was about time.
In theory landlords could have their leases end on different dates and have leases for more or less then a year but it seems a large percentage of landlords keep it like that. Some say it's just easier to rent if your lease is from July 1st to June 30th. The exception are generally large building complexes and low rent housing complexes. They just try to fill vacancies as they come and they generally have 1 year leases. Personally while I rented after separating from first husband, I always had my leases that went from August 1st, to July 31st. Just to avoid the July 1st madness.
My mom used to live in Rosemont as a girl and she tells me my grandma didn't understand the neighbours, who would live next door one year, across the street next year, 3 houses down on the left the year after that, and come back and be neighbour on the other side the year after that. I mean the row houses on that street were more or less the same. My grandparents rented the same place for the 10 years they lived there. They never understood people who moved every year and on the same street no less!!!!
While researching a bit why Montreal had it's rents going to May 1st, I found out that New York City also had their leases that terminated May 1st starting also sometime in the 1700's. The difference is, that in New York City the practice came to an end after WWII, due to the lack of availability of able men after the war, the advent of rent control and many other factors.
In this province despite the fact the day changed from May to July there is still moving day madness. I was reading that any July 1st in Quebec, there's 20% of the population moving. If we talk in terms of Montreal and Quebec city it might be a larger percentage. As of 2002 only 36% of Montrealers owned their own home. So that means lots of people move on moving day!
I was just thinking if that friend had been visiting in Montreal today, I could have driven her a bit around town and she could have seen some of the moving day madness. I mean sometimes it's worth driving around just to see how precariously they balance furniture in a tiny little pickup truck. Or people who pile stuff on the roofs of their car. Of course after wandering around the Middle east, seeing stuff piled as you can on what you have, this is not eyebrow raising in the least, just amusing.
Joyeuse fête du Canada - Happy Canada Day to all those who aren't moving :)
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