Tuesday, November 28, 2006
if it is not the weather....then it is time for a mix tape
What helps you deal with a mood? You know, that day that never seems to feel right, maybe you are cranky the whole day, maybe sad or lonely, maybe mischievous? What ever it is, it is there and nothing and no one seems to be able to change it. In a discussion today at school, we divided ourselves into two camps: those who want to change any negative moods into something better/positive, and then there was us - the "us-es" wanted to stay fully in what ever we were feeling. We discussed several methods of maintaining our moods. Some of us watched movies that mimic our feelings, some isolate, and some listen to music. That last one is me. I like to wallow in what ever I am feeling by making mix tapes that reflect different moods. I have a mix tape or CD for loneliness, one for anger, one for sorry, one for low self-esteem and a few more that are probably buried in the back of my closet. These tapes (and now CD's) are and were never meant to cheer me up when I have the blues, but to maintain and savour what ever funk I was in. Creepy I know but it is nice to know that there are a good few of us in class that have the same sadistic tendencies.
Sample play list from "a terminal world" 2006:
Lisa Loeb: How
Tori Amos: Gold Dust
Ani Difranco: Swan Dive
Kinnie Starr: Secret Song
Dave Matthews: Spoon
Counting Crows: Raining in Baltimore
Iron and Wine: Gray Stables
Teagan and Sara: My Number
Tori Amos: Tear in Your Hand
Remy Zero: Fair
Ryan Adams: Dear Chicago
Tori Amos: Cooling
Monday, November 20, 2006
21 days
Yes more teeth problems. I thought that I could wear my retainer all day every day for a month to make it fit again but it was a lost cause (it still does not fit, and I have stopped trying completely - from now on, no retainer ever again).
Now I am on a new mission - to floss my teeth every night.
I don't know how many of you out there are regular flossers...I am not one of them. How do you do it? I hate it. Even when I floss for several days in a row, I still never seem to pick up the good habit. Which leads me to wonder if the common belief that it takes "21 days" to build a good habit even works with me? There have been several things that I have wanted to start, and even after a successful 21 days the effects are no where to be found. It is as if none of the repetition made it into my subconscious desire to preform that task. Is it possible that repetition as a form of conditioning just does not work for me or is it that I just lack any will power? Either way, here is to 21 days of flossing and more positive habits to be made.
Friday, November 17, 2006
"GO!"
Tonight is the night! Jeremy and I are going to a live recording of "GO!" a popular Saturday morning show in CBC hosted by Brent Bambury. Hopefully we will have the whole crew there like "Contest Girl," Kai Black, and Elizabeth Bowie (Jeremy's connection to the show). So listen Saturday morning at 10am to you local CBC station to hear what we heard or perhaps catch us getting on to national radio!
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
taking it like a man part I (a.k.a. what makes me sick)
*This is part one of many posts about gender issues surrounding women's sports illustrated by the Pasternak sisters human rights case in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The last couple of months, a major story here in Winnipeg is that of the Pasternak twins (17 year old women) who attempted to play on the men's hockey team at their high school. It went to court as a human rights case, and they won the right to try out. This has been putting people on edge ever since. Reading the "letters to the editor" in the local paper made me sick to my stomach, the way that people feel comfortable in tearing apart another person, reducing them to object, and suggesting that they are less than human for challenging inequality. Here is a quote from Lindor Reynalds commenters on her column titled "Talk of the Town"
To all the self deprecating women who still vicariously feel the *stings* of past injustices I will say that M. Reynolds had it right the first time-they are spoiled little brats. Just because someone believes in something & creates a brewhaha about it doesn't mean they deserve our respect. I move around a few different sports circles in & outside of Winnipeg and I have yet to here a good word about this outcome, from either sexes. One coach has seen them play and made the comment that they were & are average players and would never had made the boys team whether they had been playing or not the last few years. All this nonsense is not only based on false pretenses-the girls never wanted to make the boys team, but the monetary *‘damages* they received is nothing short of disgraceful. Where do you think that money is coming from? It is coming right of Manitoba Amateur Sport, & their mission statement is, & I quote: "“An athlete-centered Sport Manitoba leads and supports participation and achievement in sport by all Manitobans." So not only haven't these 2 snots not been involved in sport for the last years, they have taken $7000 away from other kids who just want to play. Again, I will say it: SPOILED BRATS!This is comment is not unusual, nor is it apart of some of the worst, hateful letters to the editor that have been printed to date. I do want to contrast the comment in three ways:
Comment by Jerome — September 29, 2006 @ 12:55 pm
First, the girls did receive about $3500 each get coaching and support in their hockey career. This came after a long court battle - so if you think they did it for them money, ask your self "if they did it for the money, why did they do it for such a small amount?" The point - for $3,500 you are not doing it for the money.
Secondly, are they not part of the category of "kids that just want to play?" My guess (and assumption) is that the write means "they should be happy to just play on a poor quality team."
Thirdly, I must let readers know that I too was prevented from pursuing my goals and was not allowed to play hockey (no girls team at the time) in my home town. They denied my request because they had no change room for me and I very vaguely remember being told "if you play, you are taking some boy's spot on the team." As a young kid of about 9, I did what all girls did in our town - I "chose" figure skating instead.
I ask you - is that acceptable to ask a girl to not try out for a boy's team because it might cause a boy to not be able to play? What gender (gender meaning the social construction of male and female roles in society) issues are working to prevent both men and women from reaching a conclusion to this issue? Why is this issue so important that people feel they have to call each other names?
