I have an ad on "kijiji" (sp?) inviting university students to send me their papers for editing or re-writing. I have had a few interesting jobs, but am now "earning" my PhD in Economics. Lots of fun! I am completely re-writing a thesis by a brilliant fellow who, unfortunately, can barely speak, and cannot write, English. So, hey, that's what I'm here for. I am learning a lot, thanks to his 90-page paper about how the internet has changed hiring practices and what effect this has had on the economy. It will take me hours to re-do this mess, but I do get his ideas. He is a brilliant fellow.
I figure I should get paid for my expertise in English grammar; a lost art.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Caitlin in Calgary
A few shots of Sarah and Caitlin's visit to Calgary:
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| Babies getting to know each other |
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| The Maharani of Calgary |
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| Lunch at The Ranchmen's Club |
Missing grand-daughter
I realized that B and I are not used to little kids -- at least I'm not. I had forgotten how demanding they are. Come on, she is still not two. But it was great to see Caitlin and her mother, Sarah, here in Calgary. She is one very cute toddler.
Took a side trip to Banff the other day and spotted a couple of local residents having lunch smack dab in the middle of town:
More pictures later...................
Took a side trip to Banff the other day and spotted a couple of local residents having lunch smack dab in the middle of town:
More pictures later...................
Friday, May 25, 2012
Grandchildren and stuff
Daughter Sarah and granddaughter have arrived from Houston for a visit. Caitlin is adorable. Here are a few shots of the BBQ, held at other daughter Susanne's. Sarah is here with her daughter and nephew:
Lots of children met each other. Where will they all be in 20 years?
Lots of children met each other. Where will they all be in 20 years?
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Let's kill more girls
Things are going really well in Afghanistan, aren't they? Yesterday 120 young school girls were poisoned. Apparently, the taliban tampered with their drinking water. Nice work. There we are, sending our young men and women into battle to lose their lives so we can overlay our societal values onto their primitive and misogynist culture...and for what!? So Canadian soldiers can die building schools for girls?
And let's not get into the unbridled corruption that continues among the clansmen who rule that country. You cannot have democracy within a tribal society, can't be done.
It's all very sad and useless, but Harper sent our troops in to show the Americans that Canada can hold its own internationally -- not because he had any notion that anything would change in Afghanistan. Harper is too intelligent to believe the West can make a difference there. Never has and never will. Oh sure, we gave a few villages some primitive stoves, dug a few wells and put up a few shacks, but seriously, what have we changed? No, Harper wanted the Americans to "owe us one" -- a marker he could call in when he needed something such as the Keystone pipeline approved, for example. Didn't work. Ugly American partisan politics made sure of that.
Now he is adamant Canada will play a support role and not be in that hell zone after 2014. I guess he can't really pull us out any earlier without looking like he had made a big mistake. Too long for me. Canada has expended too much treasure and blood already.
And let's not get into the unbridled corruption that continues among the clansmen who rule that country. You cannot have democracy within a tribal society, can't be done.
It's all very sad and useless, but Harper sent our troops in to show the Americans that Canada can hold its own internationally -- not because he had any notion that anything would change in Afghanistan. Harper is too intelligent to believe the West can make a difference there. Never has and never will. Oh sure, we gave a few villages some primitive stoves, dug a few wells and put up a few shacks, but seriously, what have we changed? No, Harper wanted the Americans to "owe us one" -- a marker he could call in when he needed something such as the Keystone pipeline approved, for example. Didn't work. Ugly American partisan politics made sure of that.
Now he is adamant Canada will play a support role and not be in that hell zone after 2014. I guess he can't really pull us out any earlier without looking like he had made a big mistake. Too long for me. Canada has expended too much treasure and blood already.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Back in the slow lane
Got back into the pool this morning for the first time in more than a month, thanks to wrecking my shoulder a while back. Had to hit the slow lane because I still cannot handle the front crawl, just breast stroke and back crawl. Man, it is difficult to not swim hard, but I did get a pretty good workout.
Gingerly stepped on the scales to see what not swimming had produced (I don't own scales, so rely on the pool's). Forcing myself to open my eyes and look at the number, I was relieved to see that two pounds were all I had gained. But I have been eating less, so that helped. Maybe I will actually have a piece of bread?
Walking out on the deck, about 10 people came running up. "Where have you been? We were worried about you!" Casting their eyes on my black-and-blue upper right arm, they all gasped. "No, it's not from the injury, it's from the treatment," I explained. Whaaaaat??!!! Yep, my physiotherapist uses a sadistic treatment called the "Graston Technique", which consists of a collection of steel instruments that he runs with considerable force over your flesh to see where the injury is and then proceeds to pound and push it with all his strength. As I said, it's a great profession for a sadist. It is incredibly painful, but it is working.
Enough whining, as I always say, it's not cancer!
Gingerly stepped on the scales to see what not swimming had produced (I don't own scales, so rely on the pool's). Forcing myself to open my eyes and look at the number, I was relieved to see that two pounds were all I had gained. But I have been eating less, so that helped. Maybe I will actually have a piece of bread?
Walking out on the deck, about 10 people came running up. "Where have you been? We were worried about you!" Casting their eyes on my black-and-blue upper right arm, they all gasped. "No, it's not from the injury, it's from the treatment," I explained. Whaaaaat??!!! Yep, my physiotherapist uses a sadistic treatment called the "Graston Technique", which consists of a collection of steel instruments that he runs with considerable force over your flesh to see where the injury is and then proceeds to pound and push it with all his strength. As I said, it's a great profession for a sadist. It is incredibly painful, but it is working.
Enough whining, as I always say, it's not cancer!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Battle lost
Heard the most distressing news today. 'Battle of the Blades", one of my favourite shows, has been cancelled. I have blogged about this gem before -- the competitive show where big, burly professional hockey players team up with delicate figure skaters, don fancy skates and morph into amazing partners. It's a "beauty and the beast" scenario and so entertaining.
I figure the head of the CBC is cancelling it as a protest over budget cuts. Let's not cancel a crappy show, let's cancel a hugely successful one. 'Connect' with Mark Kelly is also being cancelled. Go figure. Contrariness at its finest.
The head of the CBC is a francophone, so I guess it's just an accounting anomaly that 40% of the CBC budget is devoted to the french-language network to serve 25% of the Canadian population. It's scandalous. Hmmmm, I seem to becoming very "anti-eastern" here.
I figure the head of the CBC is cancelling it as a protest over budget cuts. Let's not cancel a crappy show, let's cancel a hugely successful one. 'Connect' with Mark Kelly is also being cancelled. Go figure. Contrariness at its finest.
The head of the CBC is a francophone, so I guess it's just an accounting anomaly that 40% of the CBC budget is devoted to the french-language network to serve 25% of the Canadian population. It's scandalous. Hmmmm, I seem to becoming very "anti-eastern" here.
Friday, May 18, 2012
A Loyal Toast to Queen Victoria
This is Queen Victoria's weekend, her birthday. How lovely it is that in Canada we have "Victoria Day Weekend" -- the weekend to remind us that we are not the United States. We are Canada and honour a Queen who is Head of State and will always be. Now, of course, May 24th is the official birthday of all Canadian Monarchs; it will be Charles' when he ascends.
I know that the media will typically be filled with ignorant rants about how we should do away with the Crown and become a republic. How ridiculous. Canada just can't write a letter saying..........
Dear Queen,
We don't need you any longer and we don't want you.
Yours sincerely,
Canada
No, it is not as easy as that because, of course, the Canadian constitution would have to be opened and re-written -- a can of byzantine and convoluted worms no self-respecting and ambitious provincial premier would would dare reconnoitre; federal transfer payments would be altered and no one knows what that would bring. Heaven help the province that received less! Folks, it's all about money and federal spending power...a la British North America Act, 1867.
Happily, The Monarchy rises above such pedestrian and prosaic concerns. It defines Canada and sets us respectably and sensibly apart from other countries. Our parliamentary democracy works better than the republican system of the US, in my view. They must have elections every four years, which means the politicking starts the day after the inauguration and poisons effective domestic debate. And God help us if we ever have an elected Senate here! Nothing would ever get done.........hello policy-crippled Washington! That is one thing on which I disagree with Albertans, many of whom are lobbying for one.
In Canada, elections are triggered when the government loses the confidence of the House and is defeated by Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition -- might be the day after an election, might be years later, it all depends on "the people". I like that.
It always amuses me that the country which dumped the monarchy a few hundred years ago did so over a tax on tea, that very "British" of beverages. Today, I defy anyone to get a proper cuppa' anywhere in the entire country (Careful!...if you don't specify "hot" you will be served "iced"). Even more ironically, when a member of the Royal Family visits the US, he or she is mobbed and worshipped! Indeed, the gentry pays thousands of dollars to simply get a sniff of an oil rag...in "The presence". B and I were honoured to have been presented to Her Majesty in London a few years ago simply because of volunteer service; no money changed hands. Can you imagine being presented to the president of the United States in a formal setting without having paid for it? Service is what Elizabeth II exemplifies.
Presidents come and go, but The Monarch goes on forever. Notwithstanding, I love the United States, admire, respect and revere it. In fact, I sport an American flag bumper sticker because both my natural and adoptive fathers were American -- not to mention that I have had a few charming American suitors. (I also have two adorable Texan grandchildren.) Doesn't matter; I love Canada more.
So, when you read the predictable letters to the editor about abolishing the Monarchy, ignore them and drink 'The Loyal Toast' to Queen Elizabeth II. Hip hip!
I know that the media will typically be filled with ignorant rants about how we should do away with the Crown and become a republic. How ridiculous. Canada just can't write a letter saying..........
Dear Queen,
We don't need you any longer and we don't want you.
Yours sincerely,
Canada
No, it is not as easy as that because, of course, the Canadian constitution would have to be opened and re-written -- a can of byzantine and convoluted worms no self-respecting and ambitious provincial premier would would dare reconnoitre; federal transfer payments would be altered and no one knows what that would bring. Heaven help the province that received less! Folks, it's all about money and federal spending power...a la British North America Act, 1867.
Happily, The Monarchy rises above such pedestrian and prosaic concerns. It defines Canada and sets us respectably and sensibly apart from other countries. Our parliamentary democracy works better than the republican system of the US, in my view. They must have elections every four years, which means the politicking starts the day after the inauguration and poisons effective domestic debate. And God help us if we ever have an elected Senate here! Nothing would ever get done.........hello policy-crippled Washington! That is one thing on which I disagree with Albertans, many of whom are lobbying for one.
In Canada, elections are triggered when the government loses the confidence of the House and is defeated by Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition -- might be the day after an election, might be years later, it all depends on "the people". I like that.
It always amuses me that the country which dumped the monarchy a few hundred years ago did so over a tax on tea, that very "British" of beverages. Today, I defy anyone to get a proper cuppa' anywhere in the entire country (Careful!...if you don't specify "hot" you will be served "iced"). Even more ironically, when a member of the Royal Family visits the US, he or she is mobbed and worshipped! Indeed, the gentry pays thousands of dollars to simply get a sniff of an oil rag...in "The presence". B and I were honoured to have been presented to Her Majesty in London a few years ago simply because of volunteer service; no money changed hands. Can you imagine being presented to the president of the United States in a formal setting without having paid for it? Service is what Elizabeth II exemplifies.
Presidents come and go, but The Monarch goes on forever. Notwithstanding, I love the United States, admire, respect and revere it. In fact, I sport an American flag bumper sticker because both my natural and adoptive fathers were American -- not to mention that I have had a few charming American suitors. (I also have two adorable Texan grandchildren.) Doesn't matter; I love Canada more.
So, when you read the predictable letters to the editor about abolishing the Monarchy, ignore them and drink 'The Loyal Toast' to Queen Elizabeth II. Hip hip!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Musings on my mother and other fine women.....
On this mother's day, my thoughts naturally turn to my mother. They also dwell on my aunts and my grandma -- wonderful ladies all. My mother gave me so much. She was a beacon of calm, no matter what the commotion. In that way, sadly, I am completely unlike her.
Now I am marvelling at being a grandma and relishing every minute watching my own daughter as she develops into motherhood. This morning we headed down to the Chinook Mall for the annual mother's day run. What a crowd! There were 14,000 runners and Susanne -- not having run a race for two years -- came third (first in her age category, however). None of us was surprised. I told my gurgling grandson to get used to this because his Mummy and Daddy would be taking him to lots of races from now on.
To all my friends and fellow mothers, Happy Mother's Day! Mummies make the world go 'round!
Now I am marvelling at being a grandma and relishing every minute watching my own daughter as she develops into motherhood. This morning we headed down to the Chinook Mall for the annual mother's day run. What a crowd! There were 14,000 runners and Susanne -- not having run a race for two years -- came third (first in her age category, however). None of us was surprised. I told my gurgling grandson to get used to this because his Mummy and Daddy would be taking him to lots of races from now on.
To all my friends and fellow mothers, Happy Mother's Day! Mummies make the world go 'round!
A proud moment
B was presented The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubliee Medal for outstanding public and volunteer service over many years. Here he is with His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, enjoying this happy moment -- his own "gong" show, as the Brits say:
Saturday, May 12, 2012
More about women, unfortunately
Too bad we can't get over ourselves.................
http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Queen/6611139/story.html
http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Queen/6611139/story.html
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
I'm all right, Jac(queline)
Women are their own worst enemies. True to form, newly-elected Alison Redford stuck it to the women in her cabinet by giving them the "soft" portfolios. Of 19 members, only three are women. Heather Klimchuk gets 'Culture'; Christine Cusanelli, 'Tourism, Parks & Recreation'; and Diana McQueen, Environment. No finance, infrastructure, justice, education or health for the gals. No siree, it's basically, well.... parties.
It's the female version of "I'm all right, Jack". I guess Redford doesn't want any other women dogged by the media and sharing the spotlight. I mean, who's really gonna care about culture, tourism and other related soriees? The press hounds will be paying attention to her ladyship, the premier, and the other hard portfolios held by the men. It's so obvious and such a slap in the face to the women of her cabinet and the province.
If you read this blog regularly you will know I am no "libber" -- and it's basically because of women like Redford that I am not. When I retired, I decided to send out a message of farewell, thanking all those colleagues and bosses who had mentored and helped me throughout my career -- and there have been plenty. But do you think I could come up with one women over 40 years? Not one. Starting with my first job at IBM and on through, only men had spotted a bit of brains to develop and work with. When women in my era spotted brains, they tried to banish them. It's no different now. Something very basic and primitive is at work here.
"How can there not have been one women who helped me," I incredulously asked my husband. "Come on, help me think of one." He couldn't. I certainly had a long list of women who had tried to thwart me (unsuccessfully), but not one who had reached down into the trenches and offered a helping hand. Pretty sickening. Maybe it was because I needed the best people to work for me -- regardless of sex -- so I could attend to the thousands of other stuff I had to take care of with four kids and a very full outside life. I wanted to delegate to capable people. How grateful I was when I found a really talented man or woman to take the pressure off me. As a result, I hired many smart women and considered myself lucky to have found them.
As I have said, never underestimate envy in the workplace.
It's the female version of "I'm all right, Jack". I guess Redford doesn't want any other women dogged by the media and sharing the spotlight. I mean, who's really gonna care about culture, tourism and other related soriees? The press hounds will be paying attention to her ladyship, the premier, and the other hard portfolios held by the men. It's so obvious and such a slap in the face to the women of her cabinet and the province.
If you read this blog regularly you will know I am no "libber" -- and it's basically because of women like Redford that I am not. When I retired, I decided to send out a message of farewell, thanking all those colleagues and bosses who had mentored and helped me throughout my career -- and there have been plenty. But do you think I could come up with one women over 40 years? Not one. Starting with my first job at IBM and on through, only men had spotted a bit of brains to develop and work with. When women in my era spotted brains, they tried to banish them. It's no different now. Something very basic and primitive is at work here.
"How can there not have been one women who helped me," I incredulously asked my husband. "Come on, help me think of one." He couldn't. I certainly had a long list of women who had tried to thwart me (unsuccessfully), but not one who had reached down into the trenches and offered a helping hand. Pretty sickening. Maybe it was because I needed the best people to work for me -- regardless of sex -- so I could attend to the thousands of other stuff I had to take care of with four kids and a very full outside life. I wanted to delegate to capable people. How grateful I was when I found a really talented man or woman to take the pressure off me. As a result, I hired many smart women and considered myself lucky to have found them.
As I have said, never underestimate envy in the workplace.
Monday, May 7, 2012
These boots were made for.....me
Thought I'd share the cowboy boots I have acquired...........
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| These are the snakeskin (python) variety |
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These are the (not) leather ones, but I love them! |
More birthday with Reed
I know I am getting boring, but here are a few more shots of my "blank"-fifth birthday with our grandson.
As I said, loving Calgary with the family!
As I said, loving Calgary with the family!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Scandalous
Here's the deal. The natives get $275 million every year for education. They also get $300 million for water treatment on their reserves.
So, what are they doing with the money??
And that's part of the $8 billion
(yes, you read that right "billion") per year we pour into the chiefs' coffers....$8 billion!
That's about it, folks.
So, what are they doing with the money??
And that's part of the $8 billion
(yes, you read that right "billion") per year we pour into the chiefs' coffers....$8 billion!
That's about it, folks.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
May 1st and it snowed!
Snow just appears in Calgary, usually after a hot spell. The weather is the only thing I don't fancy about this place. My son-in-law told me to expect snow every month, all year 'round because we are so close to the mountains. Yuck and Yikes, are all I can say.
But the health care is great! I have not been able to swim for five days and it's killing me. Wrecked my shoulder, but have found a fabulous chiropractor who is working his magic on it. And he's handsome and funny to boot! Just like my new female doctor who is young, cute, fun and very thorough.
It's funny how one gets addicted to exercise, at least I do. No clue when I will be able to resume my pool workouts, so that's depressing. But my birthday came and went without too much trauma -- thanks to all the lovely people and children who sent me good wishes, cards, pressies and flowers.
Spent another wonderful day and evening with my grandson, Reed. Not that I am biased, but he is so cute, smiling and laughing all the time...unless he is mad about something. How a four-month-old can get mad because he drops a toy is beyond me, but even when he "loses it", as his mother describes it, he is still very cute. Hit two bazaars on the weekend and stocked up on toys -- some for the baby and some for the toddler granddaughter who will be visiting from Houston with her mother in a couple of weeks. My living room now resembles my own mother's when my kids were little, a bit of a daycare centre.
All good.
But the health care is great! I have not been able to swim for five days and it's killing me. Wrecked my shoulder, but have found a fabulous chiropractor who is working his magic on it. And he's handsome and funny to boot! Just like my new female doctor who is young, cute, fun and very thorough.
It's funny how one gets addicted to exercise, at least I do. No clue when I will be able to resume my pool workouts, so that's depressing. But my birthday came and went without too much trauma -- thanks to all the lovely people and children who sent me good wishes, cards, pressies and flowers.
Spent another wonderful day and evening with my grandson, Reed. Not that I am biased, but he is so cute, smiling and laughing all the time...unless he is mad about something. How a four-month-old can get mad because he drops a toy is beyond me, but even when he "loses it", as his mother describes it, he is still very cute. Hit two bazaars on the weekend and stocked up on toys -- some for the baby and some for the toddler granddaughter who will be visiting from Houston with her mother in a couple of weeks. My living room now resembles my own mother's when my kids were little, a bit of a daycare centre.
All good.
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