Things To Do Before I Die

These are some things I would like to do before I die... (in no particular order)

1) Go back to school
2) Visit Japan
3) Visit India
4) Learn Gaelic
5) Write a book
6) Lie in the grass for an hour, no cellphone, no pager, no talking, no purpose other than to just lie there
7) Teach someone something they never forget
8) Learn to not care what other peoplr think of me
9) Forget insults
10) Learn not to take myself so seriously
11) Make an origami swan perfectly
12) Dance for an audience just one more time
13) Make a perfect curry
14) Drive across Canada
15) Take down a few emotional walls
16) Own a pair of Prada shoes
17) Go to New York with a one way ticket
18) Go to London with a one way ticket
19) Learn to turn off my thoughts at will
20) Be really good at something
21) Read Ulysses
22) Do something that scares me - like jump out of a plane
23) Have a child (maybe)
24) Learn Latin
25) Get a few more tattoos
26) Swim in the lake at night
27) Learn to pronounce this, Xoloitzcuintli, properly
28) Learn to play the Cello
29) Climb the Himalayan Mountains
30) Go to Egypt
31) Build something
32) Enjoy every moment

Book Review

I recently re-ignited my previous affair with a book titled "How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter" By Dr. Sherwin B. Nuland. I know what you're thinking 'Gee isn't she a ray of sunshine?', but despite the book's morbid title, it is much more than the stark and sterile biological breakdown of the body's ultimate demise. Depressing - a bit, gruesome - sometimes, compassionate - always. This physician writes with the knowledge of a seasoned practitioner but with the tenderness that one doesn't usually possess at the end of such a grueling career. It is rare to find a physician at the end of his/her practice with this kind of tenderness that hasn't been chipped away by impossible patients and equally impossible health care systems (for you Americans I have one acronym HMO, need I say more?). Not to say that physician's don't feel this way, it's just not outwardly apparent to people like me for instance. Most physician's would prefer not to reflect on their career since the first time around was draining enough.

The author recounts a time when he watched a patient and friend die in front of him from complications of heart failure. He tells it with two voices, the doctor and the friend, perfectly blending together harmoniously each voice getting it's chance to evaluate the situation. This must have been one of the most difficult times in this doctors life, or so I would imagine.

Bottom line, for any lay person, green horn to the health care field, or even seasoned physician, this book gives a wonderful perspective on life both from the biological, scientific breakdown and raw humanity.

Da Vinci Wars

In a recent issue of Vanity Fair, an article focused on another plagerism suit against Dan Brown. Long story short it went nowhere. Too bad. Who really cares? Except people like me who blog about it. But this is not what I'm blogging about necessarily. I'm commenting on the whole Dan Brown/Da Vinci Code controversy. First, why is it controversy? Did anyone get this pissed off over Charlotte Brontë's writings (I'm not comparing the two just work with me here)? It's a story. Yes, he's trying to pass some of it off as truth but truth has basis in fact and to date no solid fact has been found despite the best efforts of the authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail. My position is that I agree that the patriarchal Christian church did in fact supress much of the female involvement in the Bible and that nothing of a single Jewish man in Biblical times intellectually speaks to me (people, he would have been FORCED to marry c'mon!) but what are we really afraid of? Ask any devout Catholic for example (well I actually have so this is more of a story rather than example but...whatever) and they would tell you that unless Jesus Himself turns up and says 'hey I was married and had a few kids just like you poor suckers' nothing that Dan Brown, Leigh Baigent or anyone else puts forth as 'proof' is going to sway them in the least. That's not how faith works. What's at stake here are the few uncommited folk who couldn't really be bothered which way they go in the whole debate. So the Vatican for example is fighting over a few people who really don't care. They're uncommitted either way. Sure if you win them over to the Mother church what a major coup for you but how devoted will they really be? I can bet a weeks salary that they won't be padding the collection plate a whole lot if at all. I know what I say is true because I am one of THOSE people. I defected to Gnostism a couple of years ago because of my disatisfaction with Catholicism. Truth told, it wasn't like I was their biggest supporter anyways. I coulda gone to Buddhism or Hinduism just as easily. Maybe I'm just being sassy for the sake of it but honestly, does a book published by Doubleday really pose a threat to a religion that has been deeply seated on it's St. Peter's throne since 389 AD (er somethin' like that)? My guess is no. The Vatican won't be losing much of anything over this. Just look at me! I think my horns kept poking the priest during eucharist anyways.

Oldies But Goodies - Posts From My Old Blog

Harry Potter - The Gospel Truth

Harry Potter. I admit I LOVE the books. My children will be required to read them. They are all well written, artful and yes, even have a moral message (it's in there). I have been reading some of the hate mail on mugglenet.com (don't sue me I love your site) and they are quite amusing though some are almost disturbing. One angry Christian said "What made you want to write about satanic things? What do you have against the Christians? Why are you making these books to try to turn everyone away from God? Why'd you make the Christians the bad people?..." (edited for poor punctuation). May I, a humble lady, enlighten the "Christians" (for the record I am one), first things first PLEASE, PLEASE read the book then pass judgement, this is called making an INFORMED opinion. The goal is to not look dumb in a public forum. Next, there is NOTHING literal nor figurative which points to dislike for Christians within these books (I've read 1-6 and nada people!). "Satanic things" is a very broad term, which could also be used to describe the war in Iraq, poverty or other world evils, but I somehow think that these people accusing JKR of Satanic sympathies mean the magic and incantations. All I can say in that defence is that right after your parents told your there wasn't a Santa Claus they should have also thrown in 'and you can't materialize things out of thin air with incantations, that's magic and it doesn't work'. There I did it for you. One last thing to clear up, satanism is NOT the same a witchcraft (or Wicca), it's totally different. Wiccans are pagan, meaning they don't believe in the same God or Devil that Christians do. This does not mean that they are hateful animal sacrificing, cackling loonies around a cauldron. Quite the opposite, they are a nature loving, caring, and welcoming following, most are actually Vegan (look it up). To learn more (which is a cure for ignorance) put down your torches and pitch forks and go to your local book store. In summation, these books are FICTION (look it up) they are designed as an escape from the daily grind, school, work, satanic rituals (sorry I can't help myself) for all ages. In a world with Hurricane Katrina, wars, famine and GST why not a little pleasure in the form of a well written book. Harry Potter is destined to become a classic and his inventor, J.K Rowling, a literary icon.

Maybe I'm Wrong But...

I just finished watching "Sex Slaves"a documentary on CBC about European women who go abroad to find work to help their families. These women come from destitution and dispair and look for work as a cleaner, waitress, or other domestic, low paying job. Instead they find themselves sold into the sex trade with no hope for escape. The authorities in each country permit the pimps who bought them to operate, selling them to other pimps some of them being sold three, four upto thirteen times. They are found and deported home with STD's, psychological and physical trauma. Meanwhile, a guy growing a pot plant is chucked in jail for no less than 15 years. Does any of this make sense? posted by Blair @ Friday, September 09, 2005

For Pope OR Country

[Pope Benedict XVI] writes, in probably reference to the reception of the Eucharist by pro-abortion politicians and others opposed to Catholic teachings, and the destruction of the ancient traditions of the Catholic liturgy. "How often is the holy sacrament of his Presence abused, how often must he enter empty and evil hearts! How often do we celebrate only ourselves, without even realizing that he is there!" This has been in the news recently as Paul Martin is a devout Catholic who had been denied the Communion as he supports the Gay Marriage bill. Here, before I begin, I would like to say that I have read Leviticus and understand that it does condemn "...lying with mankind as one does womankind.."That said and disregarded, as I wholy question the accuracy of Biblical translation, I feel that while the Catholic church is trying to preserve its doctrines it has so long tried to hold on to, it is taking a step back to the pre-Reformation and as such may suffer the same if not worse consequence. In these spiritually derelict times when church attendance has reached historical lows and the overall observance of church festivals have been diluded, packaged and sold at the local Wal-Mart, the Catholic faith particularily cannot afford to alienate it's followers. I am not suggesting that the church alter it's teachings to suit the times, HOWEVER, to put a person who has political office and a public duty in the position to chose between their soul and spiritual private life and what is best for their people is doing the church and their followers a gross disservice. The people of this country are not all Catholic, and do not recognize the Pope as God's earthly servant, so why would they expect to be governed by someone who is driven to govern as the pope would? This harkens back to the days of Henry VIII who instead of accept the pope's ultimatum chose to break from Rome, and he had the title of "Defender of the Faith"!Religion cannot dictate the conscience of one who has to make choices which are best for their people, as there are two sides to every person, one professional and one private. A doctor whose religion condemns artificial life support cannot deny a patient that option, and would have her licence stripped if she did, while at church or home she may preach against such or pray for delieverance.The Catholic church needs to realize that the world is no longer separated into neat little countries with one religion each, Europe -Catholic, India- Hindu, etc. it is now inter mixed with many different faiths in one community, province, state and country. If they try to interfere in one percentage of the population what of the others? If the pope is truly anti-war then why not adopt toleration, compassion and comprehension for today's people? This is how wars begin.

Monday, September 19, 2005

Beware the Big Bad Terrorists

Upon hearing reports of "homegrown terrorists" in Toronto and area and also possibly linked to the England terrorists caught meer days later I felt two things-bored and confused. Bored because it's the same old boogie man story and confused because I couldn't figure out what I had just done with my Tim Hortons muffin (did I leave it on the roof of my car again?). I think it may be a case of the government who cried wolf. Is this just a scare tactic to get Canadians on board with America's War on Terror? Has the proverbial ant hill been magnified into a mole hill by the Harper government? Or am I just desensitized by the constant reports of terrorism and Orange alerts?
I recently traveled on business with a colleague who was of Indian descent but was born in Canada. I was so nervous for him because of all the horror stories I hear from a friend of mine who is an avid traveler but also of Indian descent. When he travels to the USA he is eyed with suspicion and contempt. Luckily though, my colleague got through without much fuss. But what are we, as a nation to do? Be fearful of any non white person who traipses through the airport? Or signs up for flying lessons?
Upon returning from a trip to Boston, I was instructed to remove my shoes. I looked at the security office like he had just told me to flash the line up of people waiting. He wants me to WHAT? Walk in bare feet where others in their bare feet have walked before me? EWWWW! It's been almost a month and I'm still checking my feet for a veruca planteris (wart). God forbid any one tries to hide something in their underpants, then we'll all be obliged to drop trow and waddle through security.
Of course I haven't forgotten 9/11 (lest we forget) but aren't we breeding a world of paranoid, freaked out people? Anyone see Bowling for Columbine? There again with every step towards prevention won't these people take one further to attain their desired level of destruction? They're like a disease, a pandemic if you will, which adapts it's technique of infection with every vaccination that is developed. And how far can we go to protect ourselves? No wonder the percentage of the population popping Prozac has quadrupled. We are scared witless.
I suppose for now I'll keep taking my shoes off in security, cutting my airline chicken cutlet with a plastic knife and popping my Prozac.

This is my favorite picture. I'm in London on Fleet St (I think) St. Pauls is behind me. Hopefully we're going there soon.

I don't usually have an opinion but...

In Biblical times Moses saw a burning bush which began the start of 10 Commandments. Now we have a Bush we want to burn. I'm no political watcher (not enough full body contact, not good T.V) but I don't live under a rock. The Iraq thing, the V.P shooting his friend in the head thing, now since Bushys' funds are running ever thinner and the fear factory ain't what she used to be (hey every economy slows a little), he needs a new platform to keep things interesting. Enter the Gay marriage debate. This isn't the entry where I will divulge my opinions on the subject but-and this is just me- aren't we flogging the proverbial dead horse here? Again, not a political aficionado but I'm tired of the same ol' issue. WHO CARES PEOPLE!? I frankly don't care who dirty's your sheets, hey you're gettin' some, that's more than some people can say. At the end of the day, isn't New Orleans still a bit of a mess? Aren't there still street people and poor single mothers and 13 year olds selling their bodies on the streets of America? It just seems to me that they're picking and piking over a piece of lint amid the dump heap. There may just be bigger things to focus on. Just a thought.

And with that, my bored reader, I begin my Blog