Colin Powell is a well respected American General and member of the Republican Party. He was Secretary of State, a Cabinet level position, under GW. Bush and Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest ranking military officer of all US Forces. under GHW Bush. Today on Meet the Press, a non-partisan political news show on NBC, he spoke very candidly and intelligently about the two men running for President. Please watch, its very informative.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Why This Election Matters...
Example 1
So we dont have 8 more years of buffoonery in the highest leaders of our country.
Of course, rank and file Repubs dont care...they'll vote for the party, regardless of how dangerous it is for the nation. Rank and file Repubs dont even understand that their party is a mere skeleton of what it is supposed to be and if you arent scared about this woman and a 72 year old man who isnt even the same honorable guy he thinks he is, then you havent been paying attention.
So we dont have 8 more years of buffoonery in the highest leaders of our country.
Of course, rank and file Repubs dont care...they'll vote for the party, regardless of how dangerous it is for the nation. Rank and file Repubs dont even understand that their party is a mere skeleton of what it is supposed to be and if you arent scared about this woman and a 72 year old man who isnt even the same honorable guy he thinks he is, then you havent been paying attention.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
I have tons of time on my hands....
And nothing interesting to write about. Strange... like the cat on the left...Love him!! Just want to squeeze his little cheeks!!
Anyway after the concert we drove from Toronto to North Dakota in a day and a half. We drove across Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota in 24 hours. Michigan was ok, at least the mainland as it is populated better than the UP. Indiana (well at least Gary Indiana) I am convinced is the armpit of America. God what a shitty town. So shitty in fact that the water sanitation department (aka, place to remove shit from your drinking water) had the "Welcome to Gary" sign plastered on it as we drove by. Quite fitting I must say.
We spent a lot of time at the lake cabin this summer. Too much but thats another post. I have a tan...well sort of, as tan as I'll ever get.
Then we went to Montreal. Correction, we went to a suburb of Montreal. God they get me all hyped for a new city, a fabulous city in fact, and then I see the goddamned suburbs. Ugh!! My husband owes me big time. The highlight was I got to see Quebec where there is no English on the signs and everybody speaks French first. Of course they'll talk English when you answer their "Bonjour" with "Hi." But they look at you as though you farted in the store. And I know enough French to get started in a conversation but not enough to stay committed.
Which is why we are going to Montreal in November for a hockey game. My first Canadiens hockey game at the Bell Centre. I'm super excited! By then I'll have taken a French Second Language course so I'll be able to get almost committed to a conversation....I might fart in the stores just to get the look anyway.
Canada is good too. I get healthcare next week...wooo! Hmm what else? Still not sold on the bagged milk...I think it tastes funny...and the grocery stores finally introduced Count Chocula last week. Praise Baby Jesus, indeed!!
I've been following the American political season like crazy, deciding who I will vote for. I get to send in one of those nifty absentee ballots. Let me just say, now that I'm on the outside looking in and getting broader coverage with an international spin is that most Americans are stupid when it comes to politics and I am truly scared as to what this election will bring if we dont have an educated vote. Get educated on real issues people!! The economy is in the toilet, the rest of the world is laughing at us, our no left behind children are mind-numbingly stupid, and our men and women are coming back from a war that is disintegrating their sanity one day at a time. I swear to God if someone cries out sexist the next time an incompetent woman isnt given enough 'deference,' and questioned on her lack of sound policies, I'm gonna scream!!
By the way...
Rihanna is hot. Last year I was hot for Shakira...this year its Rihanna. In fact, lets just have both at the same time.
I'm such a sexist.
Anyway, due to a request from Emmiloni I am writing an update...witicisms, life in Canada, joblessness and awesomeness, and general hilarity will follow. Pictures to help narrate, of course!
Since the May update, I have acquired residency. We took a trip home to the US that started in Toronto when my dear husband bought me tickets to see Dave Matthews Band for my birthday. Though he was awesome and Dave was awesome, I missed my girls terribly. It just wasnt the same without you guys, though Todd was a suitable replacement and now a pseudo-fan and doesnt mind if I play Drive In, Drive Out over and over and over.
Speaking of Dave...RIP Leroi. I'm happy I got to see him in one of his final shows. The band wont be same without you and when I hear Grey Street or the Stone, I just cry a little inside.
Anyway after the concert we drove from Toronto to North Dakota in a day and a half. We drove across Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota in 24 hours. Michigan was ok, at least the mainland as it is populated better than the UP. Indiana (well at least Gary Indiana) I am convinced is the armpit of America. God what a shitty town. So shitty in fact that the water sanitation department (aka, place to remove shit from your drinking water) had the "Welcome to Gary" sign plastered on it as we drove by. Quite fitting I must say.
Chicago was awesome, but we drove right through it of course. Then we ended up in Eau Claire Wisconsin at 1am after driving through 3 hours of rain and thunderstorms ending our 14 hour first day. My god the Super 8 never felt so good...it wasnt the most aesthetically pleasing hotel I've ever slumbered in but at that hour after that long of a drive, it didnt matter. By the way, we totally drove through Wisconsin without stopping for cheese...what the hell is the matter with us???
The next morning was an 8 hour drive through Minnesota and North Dakota to end up in Minot. The things I do for my extended family. We were in Fargo, less than a mile from my parents house and we kept right on going for another 4 hours. Holy christ....
Anyway it was worth it. I got to see my grandparents, my aunts and uncles and my cousins. We had a good time and some funny stories to tell. Then we drove back to Fargo and spent the week there.
The drive back was uneventful. I insisted on stopping at a Taco John's in Ashland Wisconsin for potato ole's. There are no Taco John's in Canada and my husband had his first potato ole dunked in nacho cheesy goodness. It was no easy feat...we had to traverse a mile of construction detours to get to the TJ's but it was worth it. Well until we got to Michigan when I started feeling ill from the grease.
Michigan in the UP sucks. Lets be honest...Marquette is the only thing going for that part of the State. The US should have just let Canada have that piece of land, its totally worthless. There is a 40km straight road between Marquette and Sault Ste Marie with NOTHING there. Not a hotel, a gas station, an adult video store....trees, trees, and more trees with Lake Superior buried behind them somewhere.
The next morning was an 8 hour drive through Minnesota and North Dakota to end up in Minot. The things I do for my extended family. We were in Fargo, less than a mile from my parents house and we kept right on going for another 4 hours. Holy christ....
Anyway it was worth it. I got to see my grandparents, my aunts and uncles and my cousins. We had a good time and some funny stories to tell. Then we drove back to Fargo and spent the week there.
The drive back was uneventful. I insisted on stopping at a Taco John's in Ashland Wisconsin for potato ole's. There are no Taco John's in Canada and my husband had his first potato ole dunked in nacho cheesy goodness. It was no easy feat...we had to traverse a mile of construction detours to get to the TJ's but it was worth it. Well until we got to Michigan when I started feeling ill from the grease.
Michigan in the UP sucks. Lets be honest...Marquette is the only thing going for that part of the State. The US should have just let Canada have that piece of land, its totally worthless. There is a 40km straight road between Marquette and Sault Ste Marie with NOTHING there. Not a hotel, a gas station, an adult video store....trees, trees, and more trees with Lake Superior buried behind them somewhere.
Immigration ended on a high note with me getting residency and not getting stripped searched at the border. I was so hoping for a cavity search but they didnt even open the van to check out my stuff which was piled high to the top. In all, it took 40 minutes at the border to close 8 months of stagnancy and bureaucratic bullshit that took over my life.
Canada Day was awesome. My first Canada Day as a resident. After the trip to the States, we went to Ottawa for a week. Ottawa is a great city. Way better than Toronto and I would totally live in Ottawa. We ate good for a week and got fat...Portugese, Latin (mmm empanadas, how I love thee), Italian, Irish....ugh...fantastic. Not only is the food fantastic, its a really clean city. I suppose if the capital of your country looked like Gary Indiana it wouldnt be such a great place, right?
Canada Day was awesome. My first Canada Day as a resident. After the trip to the States, we went to Ottawa for a week. Ottawa is a great city. Way better than Toronto and I would totally live in Ottawa. We ate good for a week and got fat...Portugese, Latin (mmm empanadas, how I love thee), Italian, Irish....ugh...fantastic. Not only is the food fantastic, its a really clean city. I suppose if the capital of your country looked like Gary Indiana it wouldnt be such a great place, right?
We spent a lot of time at the lake cabin this summer. Too much but thats another post. I have a tan...well sort of, as tan as I'll ever get.
Then we went to Montreal. Correction, we went to a suburb of Montreal. God they get me all hyped for a new city, a fabulous city in fact, and then I see the goddamned suburbs. Ugh!! My husband owes me big time. The highlight was I got to see Quebec where there is no English on the signs and everybody speaks French first. Of course they'll talk English when you answer their "Bonjour" with "Hi." But they look at you as though you farted in the store. And I know enough French to get started in a conversation but not enough to stay committed.
Which is why we are going to Montreal in November for a hockey game. My first Canadiens hockey game at the Bell Centre. I'm super excited! By then I'll have taken a French Second Language course so I'll be able to get almost committed to a conversation....I might fart in the stores just to get the look anyway.
Still not working. Freaking awesome. Not only am I not working, I'm not getting interviews for jobs I've applied for. Doubly freaking awesome. Does wonders on the self-esteem and mental health. I did just get one interview scheduled for Thursday at a local college for a teaching position. Not my ideal but beggars cant be choosers...though they can become meth addicted hookers which is the road I am headed upon if I dont get a job soon.
We've been married just short of a year and that is really the best part of our life right now, despite all my kvetching about everything else. We are happy and we make each other laugh everyday. He's easy on the eyes too and he treats me like a queen. Things havent been easy...in fact I think the 8 month mark we disliked each other a lot for awhile. But its a bump and we're over it. Never lasts long around here. We are headed to Niagara Falls for anniversary. I think it'll be fun and beautiful with the fall colors. I'll post pictures of course.
We've been married just short of a year and that is really the best part of our life right now, despite all my kvetching about everything else. We are happy and we make each other laugh everyday. He's easy on the eyes too and he treats me like a queen. Things havent been easy...in fact I think the 8 month mark we disliked each other a lot for awhile. But its a bump and we're over it. Never lasts long around here. We are headed to Niagara Falls for anniversary. I think it'll be fun and beautiful with the fall colors. I'll post pictures of course.
Canada is good too. I get healthcare next week...wooo! Hmm what else? Still not sold on the bagged milk...I think it tastes funny...and the grocery stores finally introduced Count Chocula last week. Praise Baby Jesus, indeed!!
I've been following the American political season like crazy, deciding who I will vote for. I get to send in one of those nifty absentee ballots. Let me just say, now that I'm on the outside looking in and getting broader coverage with an international spin is that most Americans are stupid when it comes to politics and I am truly scared as to what this election will bring if we dont have an educated vote. Get educated on real issues people!! The economy is in the toilet, the rest of the world is laughing at us, our no left behind children are mind-numbingly stupid, and our men and women are coming back from a war that is disintegrating their sanity one day at a time. I swear to God if someone cries out sexist the next time an incompetent woman isnt given enough 'deference,' and questioned on her lack of sound policies, I'm gonna scream!!
By the way...
Rihanna is hot. Last year I was hot for Shakira...this year its Rihanna. In fact, lets just have both at the same time.
Yes please....
I'm such a sexist.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Losing my brains....
I think its bound to happen...the longer I'm unemployed, the more likely I'm going to lose my brains...my education, my 100k education thankyouverymuch.
I fear if I do actually get an interview, I'll get questioned about the standard explanation of paranoid schizophrenia from the DSM and I'll sit there and stare at them with this deeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr look on my face.....and not know how to do it. Even more fun is if they ask me what therapy I would use on meth addicted prostitutes...yep, thanks, I'll pass this one....
Then they'll look at me like why do you feel youre qualified to assess and therapize our patients, roll their eyes and tell me to get the hell out of their office.
Yep...I'm awesome.
No seriously, I HATE being umemployed against my will. It would be one thing if I was able to work, but I cant without a work permit. Employers up here dont know how to do that, so they wont hire me. I have applied for a few positions for shits and giggles, not really expecting anything to come of it.
So what have I been doing with my time? Not reading my textbooks obviously, since their still back in NoDak packed away. Reading a lot of other books...you need a book recommendation I can give you one, I've read at least 100 books since November. I try to read relevant books like my latest "Dry" by Augusten Burroughs. He write about his alcoholism and sobriety...so I can sit there and feel like I'm smart when I nod my head up and down vigorously as if I could therapize him and his problems. Yeah right. I also bought a book on female serial killers...and I'm trying to slog through a book on the Mob, but thats taking awhile.
Lets see...my SIMS have been drowned, promoted, re-produced, famous, bred puppies and kitties and crafty with their magic. My husband recently reformmated my computer so they have now been laid to rest permanently...well until my brother in law borrows me his SIMS 2 game.
I need a new hobby.
Its finally warming up here, which means Todd and I have been out biking and trying to get active again. I have a shitty knee which limits me in many ways. I'm trying to work around it.
Our town has a big lake and because of the big lake we have spiders. Lots of them. At least one at every window of our apartment. I hate spiders. And they arent little spiders, they're big spiders. I am watching one now, dangle from the roof, weaving his web. Its disgusting.
I'm obsessed with babies lately too. As if we could even start a family right now but its there anyway.
I'm bitter lately and its not healthy. I'm bored and tired and sick of sitting around useless. I really hope my PR gets here soon, for my sanity. If I'm not working by this winter, I'll need to be in the padded room, instead of working in the padded room.
Its amazing my husband tolerates me. Lately I'm sure its been harder for him to do so. Some days I can barely tolerate him. Welcome to real life, real marriage folks. Its not all roses and sunshine and puppies shooting out my ass. In general we're very happy. But there are days when we probably dont like each other very much. I think thats normal if its temporary.
I miss my friends. I have two friends up here and have attempted to make more but they arent very receptive. Every been in a room at someones house who is throwing a party and invited you, but barely acknowledges they know you are in the room?? Yep...thats pretty awesome and its what I've put up with twice now. I'm not so convinced I'll put up with it a third time.
Camp opens up this weekend, will be nice to have something to break up the monotony. Have a few summer trips planned around Ontario.
The spider is still there. God it gives me the willies.
Anyway, thats a really random update from me. Life isnt that exciting up here.
I fear if I do actually get an interview, I'll get questioned about the standard explanation of paranoid schizophrenia from the DSM and I'll sit there and stare at them with this deeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr look on my face.....and not know how to do it. Even more fun is if they ask me what therapy I would use on meth addicted prostitutes...yep, thanks, I'll pass this one....
Then they'll look at me like why do you feel youre qualified to assess and therapize our patients, roll their eyes and tell me to get the hell out of their office.
Yep...I'm awesome.
No seriously, I HATE being umemployed against my will. It would be one thing if I was able to work, but I cant without a work permit. Employers up here dont know how to do that, so they wont hire me. I have applied for a few positions for shits and giggles, not really expecting anything to come of it.
So what have I been doing with my time? Not reading my textbooks obviously, since their still back in NoDak packed away. Reading a lot of other books...you need a book recommendation I can give you one, I've read at least 100 books since November. I try to read relevant books like my latest "Dry" by Augusten Burroughs. He write about his alcoholism and sobriety...so I can sit there and feel like I'm smart when I nod my head up and down vigorously as if I could therapize him and his problems. Yeah right. I also bought a book on female serial killers...and I'm trying to slog through a book on the Mob, but thats taking awhile.
Lets see...my SIMS have been drowned, promoted, re-produced, famous, bred puppies and kitties and crafty with their magic. My husband recently reformmated my computer so they have now been laid to rest permanently...well until my brother in law borrows me his SIMS 2 game.
I need a new hobby.
Its finally warming up here, which means Todd and I have been out biking and trying to get active again. I have a shitty knee which limits me in many ways. I'm trying to work around it.
Our town has a big lake and because of the big lake we have spiders. Lots of them. At least one at every window of our apartment. I hate spiders. And they arent little spiders, they're big spiders. I am watching one now, dangle from the roof, weaving his web. Its disgusting.
I'm obsessed with babies lately too. As if we could even start a family right now but its there anyway.
I'm bitter lately and its not healthy. I'm bored and tired and sick of sitting around useless. I really hope my PR gets here soon, for my sanity. If I'm not working by this winter, I'll need to be in the padded room, instead of working in the padded room.
Its amazing my husband tolerates me. Lately I'm sure its been harder for him to do so. Some days I can barely tolerate him. Welcome to real life, real marriage folks. Its not all roses and sunshine and puppies shooting out my ass. In general we're very happy. But there are days when we probably dont like each other very much. I think thats normal if its temporary.
I miss my friends. I have two friends up here and have attempted to make more but they arent very receptive. Every been in a room at someones house who is throwing a party and invited you, but barely acknowledges they know you are in the room?? Yep...thats pretty awesome and its what I've put up with twice now. I'm not so convinced I'll put up with it a third time.
Camp opens up this weekend, will be nice to have something to break up the monotony. Have a few summer trips planned around Ontario.
The spider is still there. God it gives me the willies.
Anyway, thats a really random update from me. Life isnt that exciting up here.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Well I'm lame...
6 months!!! Holy crap...
Well ok, so my life hasnt been all that interesting in 6 months but I'll try to summarize.
So we've been married for 6 months on April 5th which is in a few weeks and I'm absolutely amazed how the time has flown by on us. We have already done so much together already. We've had a lot of family events, hockey games and tournaments, a trip to Florida and tons of good and bad.
I havent been working since September and I am trying really hard to go crazy. I try to keep busy, some weeks are better than others though. I have read a lot of books, played a lot of Sims and other games and watched a lot of tv.
Hmm what else...well Canada has been good to me most of the time, but some folks havent been so nice. A few interesting stories I may post about later. Mostly its been good, not all that different from the US.
It was interesting though...when we lifted off from Chicago to Toronto way back in October I cried a bit realizing it was gonna be awhile til I was back in the mother land...yet another thing I let go in the course of a few weeks with the wedding, leaving my family and my friends. It was rather bittersweet.
We went to Florida for Christmas and when we crossed the border into Detroit, it was so...exhilarating...for lack of a better word. My in-laws and husband probably didnt notice much of a change in me but I definitely felt it...Canada and the US may be very very similar but there are a lot of differences and it felt so awesome to be HOME even though I wasnt really at home in NoDak.
Christmas was hard...for one, Florida didnt feel like Christmas as there was no big dinner or get together with family, no gifts or tree or Grandma's goodies after. I did call my family and I talked to all 20 of them....I was tearing up a bit with the first 3 people...my grandma, mom and sister...but for some reason, when I got to my aunt Tina, we both just lost it. It was really sad. Florida was fun but I wasnt really there mentally at times.
Since the new year Rumba and I have been working on our health. We've started eating healthier and I've been working on exercise which is my nemesis. We bought DDR which is really fun and gets me off my ass during the day. Since then I've moved onto other exercise videos...we cant afford the gym but for now its working for us.
Not working is really tough. Rumba and I have had some tense moments financially, things are tighter than a drum and I really wish we didnt have this immigration challenge in the first year of our marriage when the first year is hard enough. I feel like our dreams are on hold,....careers, home, babies...I have learned the true power of patience and how much of it I really have. There are day when I feel very hopeless and useless...its unfortunate that this is part of the deal to get me here permanently.
I dont feel like I have many rights as Rumba's wife...which is hard to handle at times when I come to face it. There are so many things I hate about this, but in the end, its a challenge we have to get through and its something I was aware of full on when I decided upon this life. But it will pass soon and it will be much better than it is now.
Anyway, thats my life...it hasnt been that exciting, in fact, quite boring...and normal which I think is a blessing too. We are happy and so in love, despite it all and I couldnt ask for more.
Well ok, so my life hasnt been all that interesting in 6 months but I'll try to summarize.
So we've been married for 6 months on April 5th which is in a few weeks and I'm absolutely amazed how the time has flown by on us. We have already done so much together already. We've had a lot of family events, hockey games and tournaments, a trip to Florida and tons of good and bad.
I havent been working since September and I am trying really hard to go crazy. I try to keep busy, some weeks are better than others though. I have read a lot of books, played a lot of Sims and other games and watched a lot of tv.
Hmm what else...well Canada has been good to me most of the time, but some folks havent been so nice. A few interesting stories I may post about later. Mostly its been good, not all that different from the US.
It was interesting though...when we lifted off from Chicago to Toronto way back in October I cried a bit realizing it was gonna be awhile til I was back in the mother land...yet another thing I let go in the course of a few weeks with the wedding, leaving my family and my friends. It was rather bittersweet.
We went to Florida for Christmas and when we crossed the border into Detroit, it was so...exhilarating...for lack of a better word. My in-laws and husband probably didnt notice much of a change in me but I definitely felt it...Canada and the US may be very very similar but there are a lot of differences and it felt so awesome to be HOME even though I wasnt really at home in NoDak.
Christmas was hard...for one, Florida didnt feel like Christmas as there was no big dinner or get together with family, no gifts or tree or Grandma's goodies after. I did call my family and I talked to all 20 of them....I was tearing up a bit with the first 3 people...my grandma, mom and sister...but for some reason, when I got to my aunt Tina, we both just lost it. It was really sad. Florida was fun but I wasnt really there mentally at times.
Since the new year Rumba and I have been working on our health. We've started eating healthier and I've been working on exercise which is my nemesis. We bought DDR which is really fun and gets me off my ass during the day. Since then I've moved onto other exercise videos...we cant afford the gym but for now its working for us.
Not working is really tough. Rumba and I have had some tense moments financially, things are tighter than a drum and I really wish we didnt have this immigration challenge in the first year of our marriage when the first year is hard enough. I feel like our dreams are on hold,....careers, home, babies...I have learned the true power of patience and how much of it I really have. There are day when I feel very hopeless and useless...its unfortunate that this is part of the deal to get me here permanently.
I dont feel like I have many rights as Rumba's wife...which is hard to handle at times when I come to face it. There are so many things I hate about this, but in the end, its a challenge we have to get through and its something I was aware of full on when I decided upon this life. But it will pass soon and it will be much better than it is now.
Anyway, thats my life...it hasnt been that exciting, in fact, quite boring...and normal which I think is a blessing too. We are happy and so in love, despite it all and I couldnt ask for more.
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