Abby and We – Tales of the Worst Emotionally Damaged Dog

I or Tim should write a book. I mean Josh Grogan did it about his dog Marley didn’t he? If you never read Marley and Me, you should – or go see the movie that will be coming out Christmas day. It’s a funny, heart warming book about a family and their supposedly “worst dog” Marley. They should have tried out a Wire Fox terrier name Abby for size and then they’d see what truly a “worst/best/emotionally damaged for no good reason” dog is!

Don’t get me wrong, I love the little bitch. She has personality like you wouldn’t believe…but for some reason she seems either that she is entitled to be royalty or that we beat her in our sleep without us knowing it - she does some weird shit. She’s really a tough audience. I think perhaps she was either a Queen or Princess of some sort in another life. Her perpetual glare seems to say “We are not amused”. Or my favourite expression of hers I am pretty darn sure she says to us all the time “Fuck off human”.

Since she was a pup from 8 weeks of age, she’s just been so damn serious and looks like she feels entitled to it all! We thought it was us! We couldn’t get her to play for any long length of time. But when she did like something it was a sickness – an Obsession (in case you don’t know Terriers, then tend to have obsessive compulsive disorder of some sort). At one point in the first few weeks I came home and Tim was LIVID and said “That is it, we are taking her back. I am damaging her”. I kept trying to reassure him that it had to be her , she was defective – I had met other dogs and they were so “normal”. We discovered only 3 years later getting her puppy Guinness that indeed she was abnormal, and that Fox Terriers are generally very goofy, fun and cuddly. As Abby got “older” we discovered how smart she is – maybe that is part of the problem, we are just too stupid to be her owners.

I then discovered a few ways to keep her entertained for longer stretches of time: Dog Obedience (so she is generally well behaved), Agility, Flyball, and walks in the woods/hiking. And the LASER pointer which we don’t use anymore as she was just too obsessed over it.

At any rate, it is hard to sum up all the “worst” events this Terrier has done. I’ll try and list a few here – and keep in mind, I laugh at all this, cause what else can you do?
- she’s destroyed a whole front hall of baseboards;
- she’s peed on the bed multiple times (she has to sleep on the floor now);
- she’s peed on the couch and chair this past weekend – did I mention she’s 5 years old - floor for no apparent reason;
- we have to put the baby gate up at night for fear of stepping into a pile of “something smelly” in the morning.;
- She eats the stuffing in any toy we buy;
- She cries for food – oh wait now she barks at us for it, but before she had her litter of puppies she would rarely eat – From one extreme to the other it seems;
- She beats up, mounts, obsessively licks her boy Guinness – he is usually too scared to move, and also she Tim – to dominate it seems;
- When we go to leave in the morning, and tell her to go upstairs she acts like we’ve beaten the crap out of her.
- When you groom her, she looks and acts like you are killing her
- She used to bolt out of the house the first year and a half – sending us into frantic mode – that Laser pointer then became VERY useful.
- When I take her out for her last pee, she looks at me like I’m destroying her spirit;
- She GLARES – OH BOY does she glare…See pictures here for details;

I could go on about this truly cranky pants dog, but I won’t. Now don’t get me wrong, I would not trade her for anything. I love her to bits. And if we had not gotten her, then we would not have a stunted, not so bright but such a good loving puppy Guinness. But this is what we vow…..we shall never get another female Terrier again – unless the breeder knows for sure she’s dumb and happy like Guinness.

I’d take a dumb Marley dog (or another Guinness dog) any day – at least he was happy and goofy, not a crabby serious Terrier.

OH but Abby…you do make me smile!!!!!

ACK, alright I'll Bite....Team Edward

Finished the Twilight Series. Edward can bite me anytime.

Yup, it's official I have defected to team Edward. Perfect man (well some faults - a bit over protective) , hot, a vampire....powerful, and rich what else can you ask for?

Team Edward vs Team Jacob

Alright, so I have just finished New Moon – the second book in the Twilight series. (all the rage with young girls every where in case you didn't know). It was not the best written book by any stretch of the imagination; however Stephenie Meyers books about a girl in love with a Vampire, and Werewolf are addictive.

After the first book I was both pulled in by Edward, loved him, and then pissed off at him for being so weak and brooding –running away from Bella. And then I started to read New Moon and fel in love with Jacob – so didn’t mind so much Edward was gone. I was hoping Bella would feel the same eventually and decide that the werewolf might be better after all – since he was sort of human and sweet, in a large, paw ripping sort of way. But then I ended up pissed off at Bella for her treatment of him. As soon as Edward was in trouble she dropped Jacob like a hot potato….bad girl!

I guess I am a Team Jacob supporter although by the end of New Moon I was sucked (ha ha) back in by Edward and his Clan. But to my mind I must be the gal who prefers the nice boy to the angry, brooding, hot guy who seems all consuming. Also what makes me prefer Jacob at this point in the series, is the fact that Bella did more fun things with Jacob, was more herself with Jacob, and could reveal anything about herself with him, coupled with the fact that he is her best friend. When one looks for a mate doesn’t one want that person to be her Best Friend? I know I do. With Edward, she is always touching him, and just wanting to stare at him, but I get no sense they are best friends. It just seems like a clear case of intense infatuation to me. And we know what happens to infatuation. It fades.

Now I can’t believe that I am actually writing about this in this fashion, but the books are addictive!!! I have read both books within a few days (and both are over 500 pages each). They are an easy read being Teen books. Harry Potter is a far better written series. But I see why teens love the Twilight series. I sure wish they had these books when I was a teen. Instead I read Judy Blume (she was great actually), Sweet Valley High, and those other stupid romance books until I got into V.C. Andrews – V.C. and Meyers certainly are no Rohinton Mistry or Michael Ondaatje. But, there was always C.S. Lewis whose writing was far superior to some of the teen fair out there.

What Meyers does well in her books, however, is create that true feeling of what it is like to be swept away by young love as a young woman, and also the intense pain that can come after a break up – coupled with the uber cool paranormal twist. Now granted her breakup pain went on a little longer then in real life, but I recall feeling that searing pain after a breakup. It’s brutal. I just hope that young girls realize that you don’t need a guy to make your life whole, and that eventually pain from that love or infatuation fades, and you move on. Also I hope girls realize that they shouldn’t cut out their friends for their boyfriend. I know at first when a relationship starts, you want to spend all your time with that person. Hell I think when Tim and I first started going together that was certainly the case, and even in the first few years. We always had friends about however, and have continued to build a large mutual friend base – both together and separately. Eventually we settled into making sure we hung with friends either as a couple or individuals and made sure we keep time for ourselves in our own pursuits. The great thing is though – I have a best friend, who I really love spending time with most of the time. Even after 11 years, I enjoy the stuff we do together. I found my Jacob after all. I don’t need no stinkin’ vampire! I got a Tim! I think Bella would have been better off with a Tim ….so until I finish the series of books I am on the Jacob Team. Who knows, maybe I’ll change my mind but for now it’s ---.GO Team Jacob!



NOTE: now I haven't seen the movie Twilight yet either ...but that Rob Pattinson who plays Edward....YUMMY -- maybe I'll be on Team Edward yet!

PPS - gee started Eclispe....Edward...hmmmmm..I'm coming around. I might be a fence sitter.
HOWEVER he is no Gerard Butler.

"Made in China" Makes Me Feel Dirty

I hate Xmas.

Correction, I hate the Commercial Xmas – because I do love the family time/friend time Xmas. Why is it that parents or family have to lavish kids with useless crap that is covered in plastic packaging, padding the pockets of a communist human rights violating country, that the kids will pretty much forget about in a few days? Why do I sometimes get sucked into this vortex? I guess some habits can be hard to break and one can fall off the “wagon”, as I do live in the North American Mc-World. Tim and try to be responsible, and we don’t often buy excessive things for ourselves. We have stopped buying presents for each other at Xmas. It really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense since all the money comes from the same pot. And we really really try to buy gifts from a good place. We also don’t tend to shop at malls, or buy clothes that often (I did buy some stuff last weekend for myself at Ladyfest but they are all made from recycled stuff). I mean we do sometimes go outlet shopping in the States but are always very reserved in our spending.

So I went to Waldo-mart yesterday after my office Xmas party to finish up the Xmas shopping. I only had one more person to buy for. My sweet nephew Aiden. He’s only 5 ½ and what do you get a boy that age? Something Boyish – cars, things that blow up, Pokemon etc. But where do you have to buy such things? Walmart, Zellers etc. Now where are these items all made? Human Rights violating China. I know , I know – last year I was good and I went to Tiggy Winkles and got a European toy for the boy. I felt good. Less money in cheap toyland hands. And so far this year, Tim and I had been good with the gifts we bought the “kids” – saving Child soldiers in Africa for the older kids, and some crafts that are made from recycled items at Ladyfest, then for Marissa - a beautiful quilt made with loving hands, and an organic bamboo/soft Lamby filled bunny – again made with loving hands all from the Wakefield Craft show. The parent folks will also have very thoughtful gifts. Not a “Made in China” stamp to be found. Until yesterday.

My reasoning is this – Aiden is still too young to understand giving to the less fortunate, or saving a child in Africa, and he loves to play with stuff. So why deny that? That was what I was thinking as I entered the horrific place called Walmart. (god that place makes me feel sick). I discovered a few items I know he’ll like, and walked out. Then I got home.

Tim: “Look at all that packaging. And it’s all made in China. I’ll go to Tiggy Winkles tomorrow and get him something made in Europe”. And he went on and on…the usual rant that we both have about these big box mall stores that we sometimes enter, but never feel good about entering.

Me: “ya but, Aiden’s only 5 ½, he doesn’t care that it’s made in china! And it’s a NASCAR…Jimmie Johnson! You can control it…it’s COOL”.

Tim” ya but, look, the packaging…oh that stuff makes me feel sick to my stomach”.

Me: ”But Buddy, Aiden is too young to understand – we can’t buy him stuff like “You saved a child soldier”, from World Vision yet. What does a 5 year old play with - cars, pokemon…fun stuff. Wait until he is older to get him something that “saves the world” ”

And on and on the conversation went, while Tim was flanked on the couch by two tired cuddly terriers. I threw a blanket over his head.
Me: “Ack, live with it Dude. I ain’t taken the stuff back!”

I hate to be part of the problem, as we often talk about, but sometimes I‘m just to tired to think about what the alternatives are. It’s Xmas after all. I promised that next year, would be different. Maybe I’ll start looking in September because right now, I still feel kind of dirty.

Do children run this country or am I dreaming?

I live in a strange place......where children are allowed to run government.....

Well there is lots going on - both politically and theatrically. The hostage takings in Mumbai (read false flag oh ya for sure), the financial crisis, our own Canadian Government Circus– I actually am gleefully hoping they take the Neo Cons and get to form a coalition government. I think we need a shake up. I think we need to show that smarmy Harper he does not have a Majority to toy with. The one thing that pisses me off about this whole debacle is it could have been averted if 1) PEOPLE had gone out last Oct. 14th and actually VOTED. This year was the lowest voter turn out in decades, which is super sad. So we have no one to blame but ourselves…well I won’t blame myself because I actually got off me arse and voted.
2) If Harper wasn’t so blatantly ego maniacal and worked like he had a Majority which he does not! Hello Stephen, Love, you have a MINORITY. Last time I checked you have to actually WORK with the Opposition, not piss them and the rest of us off. He basically gave everyone the bird last Thursday and said “I dare ya”….well guess what Steve….they took your dare. Why do you play with us like that? Why don’t you just get to friggin’ work…ah too late now. I don’t think it’s in his DNA.

I don’t think the coalition will actually work but hey, can’t be worse then the non action going on with the Conservatives. I love the fact that all the Neo Cons call this coalition stuff “undemocratic”..uh duh really…so have you taken Canadian Poli Sci 101 lately boys? Last time I checked, this was all constitutional law. What an attempt to claw their way from defeat…desperate times call for desperate measures I suppose.

On the theatre front - Monday was the big day for the Stop the Cuts Rally. At 10am artists from all over showed up at City Hall wearing black and bringing artists props, dance shoes or what have you to show the City that Ottawa does not want these drastic cuts to the Arts. John Reid demonstrated wonderfully the importance to arts to a city. Did you know that Ottawa spends the most in the arts – that is people pay out of their own pockets more on average then other cities in Canada, yet its municipal government spends the least on Arts and Culture….what is wrong with that picture???? A lot! But the Councillors seem to want to reverse their decision…they seemed supporting the arts after all the information that they have received in the last months or so….so here is hoping.

Last Thursday night I went to see Coma Unplugged at the GCTC. I did enjoy it. Some parts I was not sure about but I did on the whole enjoy the experience and quirkiness of the play, the set design, and acting styles. Also, it was a joy to watch Jeff, my former Studio classmate. He was amazing to watch. I could see the training that we were taught come together like a fine wine. His alignment was PERFECT, connected voice and body, relaxed, and nothing contrived. And FUN FUN FUN. It looked effortless. He was a standout. Anyways, it makes me sad in a way that I didn’t finish the program although I think I took the base work with me. I mean after 3rd term would have been 4th – which is performing and just building on the basics to make it even more solid. But it also inspired me that I should use my tools and give ‘er!

Currently I am in rehearsal for Life After God with Vision Theatre. So far it’s a pretty light schedule and my sections seem to be going well. Although I have to hit the memorizing.. Ya, that might be an idea. Maybe tonight after the Tudors...ah TV how I have missed you all these long months away…….sigh.

Dear City of Ottawa - My Ottawa STILL Includes Culture!!!!!

I had my husband help write the following letter which i have sent to City Hall and various Representatives. This is ridiculous. Why do we still have to keep fighting this?
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Welcome to Dumbed Down City, population –you.

Once again actions have preceded thought. One wonders at this fallibility for this century of advancements points towards an apex of human understanding. A good hoodwinking it is. While city hall execs get the boot with hundreds of thousands of dollars in payouts, the arts get the shaft once again. I am ashamed that we still have to keep fighting about keeping Arts and Culture alive in this town when it has been proven time and time again, that we pump money into the Ottawa system.

As an Ottawa Tax Payer, who pays over $4000 per year in Property Taxes, and one who has paid to use City of Ottawa Facilities to rehearse as an artist and who is one who enjoys all arts, from paintings, to theatre, to music, I DO NOT support the 100% elimination of funding for festivals and the 42% reduction of funding for the arts and I want that money reinstated before the budget is passed.

While City Hall has rarely been charitable with its arts community, the source of funding has trickled. Mayor O’Brien is now preparing to park his Benz on the trickle lest it become a flow.

Let’s be clear, no arts community expects blank-cheque charity. Any artist knows that art is only true art when hard fired in the kiln of the hungry. And while I applaud a politician whose intent is clearly stated, I find nothing to applaud in a community that believes zero means zero without knowing the cost of zero. The cost is always that which we see least, the easiest cut to make.

Unfortunately the cut and the cost will be a struggling arts identity that will continue to struggle for less and less funding. While not forced out of it their theatres and dance halls, artists will have to charge more, and work in worsening conditions. Audiences will have less and less choice, perhaps giving up the search all together. And let’s be clear, business will also suffer as a result. Easier isn’t just the purview of government as audiences drive instead to see American artists on boxy-big screens.

If the cuts continue, when and if the enlighten Ottawa goes searching for a piece of art outside of the mainstream, the cost will be made prohibitive by semi-professional or amateur art groups eking out meager existences. The beauty of art is its birth in a crucible of supportive attendance—give and take.

Don’t get me wrong I believe in the Ottawa Senators. I believe, however, that there cow palace was planned with business concerns in mind and not a search for a city’s heart. Mayor O’Brien’s search again for a zero tax increase (har har) will continue with an attack on the only other thing that remains to define a city’s heart--it’s art.

Paris was not romantic Paris until the artists invaded Montmarte. And Ottawa will never be anything other than dumb Ottawa if the artists have to lay claim to distant acres to get some funding attention.

To be perfectly crystal clear:

1. any cuts to festivals, arts and heritage programs and organizations are unacceptable;
2. any proposed increases to funding already committed should be followed-through; and
3. that the City of Ottawa consider a budgeting mechanism so that this does not happen again.

I urge you to rethink this obsurd proposition. Saying NO to culture is saying no to your city.
My Ottawa Still Includes Culture!

Respectfully,

Chantale Plante
Public Servant , Tax Payer AND Artist

It’s Opening Night!!!!!!!

What is that song from the musicial The Producers...."it's opening night, it's opening NIGHT!!!!!"

Guess what, it's OPENING NIGHT! Our Tototoo evening of One Act plays opens TONIGHT. So finally Tim’s and my work is done. The show is now Linda’s, our Stage Manager, and we can just sit back and enjoy it with the audience.

Last night was a bit rough for all the actors in The Soldier Dreams - well for them rough is still GREAT - I was secretly hoping it would be. Is that wrong? The curse goes that if you have a smokin’ Dress rehearsal you have a lack lustre opening night. However, if you have the opposite then your opening will rock it! Hopefully that happens but only to the first one act, because Remembering Shanghai has really taken off and was great last night. It was just lovely to watch. At one point I stopped taking notes, held Tim’s arm as he held mine. I had tears in my eyes. The connection between Elyot and Victor was so beautiful to watch.

One thing I hate being a director though…is having the audience for the first time – and something happens that isn't what you directed – you feel helpless, want to yell at the stage….like last night we only had 5 audience members who were invited. Jesse, our young lad, finished his “Her Majesty” scene with Tish, with wine glass in hand, got confused as to what scene was next, proceeded to walk into the bedroom and move the chair and stand beside the bed with a wine glass…something he never does in the show. It took him a minute to clue in “gee why am I standing here with a wine glass in my hand?”…then he walked off. I wanted to calmly yell at the stage, “uh sweetie, you are suppose to exit Stage Right after your speech not Stage left”, but if this happened live I wouldn’t be able to do that. So Tim and I bit our tongues, then giggled to each other once he figured out he wasn’t suppose to be there. I might add Jesse is blonde..and oh so adorable.

I think I am getting better at this “letting go” business as a director though. Perhaps in maturity or experience. I recall directing my first one act play at Ottawa U for directing class. I was nervous as HELL as were my fellow classmates also with shows that night. We all went out before and got tispy to soften the nervous blow..then proceeded to hold each others hands. Tonight I can just hold Tim’s hand and he can hold mine with confidence, not nervousness. No matter what anyone says, we did a good job, we have two fantastic casts of actors who know what they are doing, and we can now sit back and enjoy the show with the audience for the rest of the week!

And tonight after the show is $5 MARTINI’s at THE BUZZ, the official Tototoo sponser! YAHOO!

A $300 Million Dollar Waste of money for an Ego Maniac

After today I'll go back to some theatre stuff, but we just had an expensive few weeks FOLKS!What a wonderful day it is! The government pretty much looks like it did yesterday except Canadian Taxpayers are out $300 Million dollars. OH JOY!

"Let’s call an Election against our law and spend $300 Million of tax payers money for basically the same results!" Thanks you bunch of morons. The only positive thing that might come out of this election is a new Liberal Leader…..I say groom Hottie Julian, but put Rae or Ignatif in there for a few years, until Trudeau Jr. is ready to rule. Oh come on, am I the only who wants to see a hottie in the PM’s hot seat???….yummy Julian….

So riddle me this: only 58% of Canadians voted yesterday (SHAME on you and you know who you are) , The Bloc got 10% of the vote in Canada, and The Greens got 6%, YET the Bloc get 50 seats and the Greens NOTHING…what is wrong with this picture.
Harper’s Conservatives (or I should say Reform party cause they are NOTHING like the old PC’s) got LESS votes this time around but got more seats! Harper received 168,737 less then the last election. Our system needs re-vamping for sure.

To be a really representative democracy we need to update our elector system to be a bit more reflective of the percentage of the popular vote. And here is what it would look like after last night if this were the case:

Party Proportional Seats
CON 116
LIB 81
BQ 31
NDP 56
IND 2
GRN 21

Elector reform is needed.

In the mean time, the Arts will suffer once again because Harper believes Ordinary Canadians don’t do Culture….I’m sorry last time I checked most “ordinary” Canadians I know read books, listen to their IPODS and watch TV…um I hate to tell you Stevie-boy but that would be CULTURE and The ARTS. Chump.

I found this lovely sarcastic comment on CBC.ca...enjoy - next week maybe i'll talk about Tototoo!
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"I started voting Conservative in the election a few years ago. I think I am going to vote conservative from now on. Who cares about the future of the environment and the health of our children and there children? We won’t be around when they die of cancer and other pollution related disease. I buy two new cars every year so the cheaper GST helps me. It helps me a lot more then those lazy poor people who can’t even afford to buy things that GST is charged on. It helps the rich get richer and poor get poorer. THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. All there other tax credits and bonuses are just so wonderful! Like the 1200 dollar a year childcare credit. I know I can’t find a daycare anywhere, but my wife doesn’t work. Furthermore, in bad economic times the conservatives make it easier for foreign businesses to take over Canadian businesses. Canada doesn’t need to own their businesses. We should not aim to be self sufficient. Those foreign companies can use there own manufacturers in China and Canada will get more service industry jobs. Even the working class can’t complain, because service jobs are WAY more fun then working in a factory. Conservatives are for here and now, and everyone gets nice little tax breaks. Cleaning up the world is for another generation!"

LOL that's funny eh?

Theatre Freebies and Extraordinary Canadians!

I love freebies and generous people. THEY ROCK. So Tim and I have been very busy as of late rehearsing the shows we are directing called Of Their Reflection – An Evening of One Acts. And we’ve been quite the travelling gypsy group of actors, from rooms at the University, to Crichton Community Centre to Lawrence’s, or our living room to Nancy’s basement. You have to be creative when you do theatre, and this includes places that are cheap or FREE to rehearse and props to use (we’ve been known to substitute martini glass with Bridgehead take-out coffee cups or coke cans instead of Ensure).

That is what is kind of fun about low budget theatre. We still get the professional standards up there – hopefully – and yet we do it with little to no money, operating off freebies, what we have at home or generous supporters. Even the other day, there is a girl in my neighbourhood who goes to my gym. I know she’s a nurse, so I asked her about what our Nurse in our play would be doing with a Drip line. After the conversation she asked if we needed a bag filled with Saline and a real drip line….of course I said YES! Another freebie.

And Tototoo is great for getting connections for “freebies” or for borrowing. Trivoli is lending us plants, another sponser may lend us a bistro set, we are getting a Scrim and a VERY reasonable rental rate.

In life you have to go with your connections to get anything you want. If you don’t try or don’t ask you won't get. And isn’t free always better?

So Mr. Harper, I guess we are Extraordinary Artist since we use our creativity to save money – since we spent it all on those Galas, expensive designer dresses and Canapés you seem to think we Artists attend all the time – since we spend so much money on those things we can’t afford rehearsal space or props obviously! HMMMMMM, not being able to afford simple things sounds to me a lot like ORDINARY Canadians!

On another theatrical note, a bunch of us ladies met at my friend Riley’s house to start a collective theatre project called Virtue. Riley is writing the show on a smaller scene he did many years ago for the NAC Atelier. Based on our feedback and ideas about each character he’s assigned us, he will write scenes or we will improv them. It is going to be a very interesting and creative process. Hopefully by next year it will be good enough to do a staged reading and move on from there. If only Ordinary Canadians would do this...how much fun they would have instead of watching TV like Ordinary Canadians do every night.

Speaking in the Tongues of Brokers - The Bailout in Plain English

I found this great article on Counterpunch today that I wanted to share. Written by Joe Bageant. It sums up exactly what is going on. I know we are now starting to feel a little of this over in Canada. I myself have been facinated by this all going on on Wall Street because. 1. I don't have money in any stocks, although I am sure my pensions are wrapped in this somehow, 2. I knew this would all happen like LAST YEAR, and have been watching the signs over the year leading up to this...but part of me didn't believe it or else didn't really care...but still it's facinating that my friend who go me on to this was SO RIGHT! Anyways, we are not immune here. We are only lucky that we are in Ottawa (lots of government which still has to keep chugging away), and at least we do have better laws about giving out housing loans (except for those 0% down, 40 yr loans lately...now that was STUPID of CMHC).

Anyways , read and enjoy.....and if you have some extra cash, might be a good time to invest...
I hate gambling so I won't be taking part in that, but fill your boots!
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The Bailout in Plain English
By JOE BAGEANT

Any number of cultural historians have noted the American belief that success is a sign of God’s favor. And over the past couple of decades he has had a downright love fest with the already-rich. So much so that the richest 400 Americans now have more money stashed away that the combined bottom 150 million Americans. Some $1.6 trillion bucks.
This was accomplished by selling off or shipping out ever available asset, from jobs to seaports, smashing usury and anti-monopoly laws, raiding the public coffers and manipulating the medium of exchange and blackmailing the peasantry regarding common needs such as heath care and energy to keep their asses warm … to name a few. The ultimate coup was to convince the entire nation that the well being of the rich, meaning the well being of Wall Street, was indeed the common man’s well being.
All went well for a while. People went into credit card hock up to their noses in order to provide 26% credit card interest to Wall Street, etc. And when that became untenable, flimsy mortgages were cranked out by the millions ensuring that every American who could hold a cray on could sign to purchase a home. To facilitate this all sorts of shaky ‘mortgage instruments’ were created – balloon, (sign here Jeeter, you’re gonna flip it in a year and make a hundred K on this house trailer) interest only, and finally negative balance mortgages where you only paid part of the interest and the rest was rolled back into the principal balance. And joy of joys you could refinance a couple of times while the inflated value of these houses was on the way up. Life was good for everybody. The bill was never gonna come due because, god in his wisdom, had deemed that capitalism would defy the second law of thermodynamics and expand forever. So every time a bank made a mortgage loan of say, $400,000, even though the debtor had never even made a payment yet, the loan was declared a bank asset and another $400,000 was loaned against it. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Bank yelled whoopee and printed another $800,000 in currency. Of course at some point the country had to run out of customers, so the loans got easier and easier. No matter that debt is not wealth. Wink and call it that and most folks won’t even look up from their new big screen high resolution digital TVs.
Problem was that all the jobs to pay for this stuff were stampeding off toward places in China with names containing a lot Xs, Zs and praying for a vowel. It was becoming clear that the entire economy was running on fumes. In fact less than fumes. It was running on the odor of paper. Mountains of the stuff. Bundles of mortgages and very strange securities and derivatives of unknown origin and value. Paper that stated its own worth and signed by some mystic hand no one could quite identify though the blurry signatures looked to read Greenspan, Paulson and Bernake.
But there was a rub. Things reached the point where there simply was not anything left to defraud the public out of, nothing left to steal from the nation’s productive capability, no matter how much paper Jeeter and Maggie signed for that trailer house, no matter how secure Brian and Jennifer out there in Arlington Virginia and Davis California thought they were. So the only thing left to do was steal from future generations of Americans and accept an I.O.U. which the government would happily sign on behalf of the people and enforce. By the wildest coincidence, under the Bush administration this I.O.U. happened to tally up to about $700 billion.
Seeing the oncoming train of financial disaster, the financiers just about wet their pants, and screamed “We want it all now! And if we don’t get it the “economy” will lock its brakes and crash. Remember, we control the medium of exchange. Nobody gets a paycheck if we don’t. Remember that it’s lines of credit from us that backs every working man’s and woman’s paycheck in the country. So pay the hell up”
Folks, they’ve got us all by the nuts and nipples. McCain knows that. Obama knows that. In the end, regardless of the so-called dissenters in the House and the Senate, we will pay up. It s election season and the dissent is for show. So it looks like we will get some “concession.” For example, we will get shares in these “toxic assets” that are stinking up the joint. The rich need to dump them and dump them fast. In another magnanimous concession, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will ra ise the insurance on “our savings” to $250,000 (how many readers have 250 K in the bank?). But it will be redeemable in even more inflated currency amid an inflationary environment. And, in case you didn’t know, the FDIC has up to ten years to pay up on that insurance. So don’t get any ideas about running off to Mexico, to which by the way, we are a net debtor nation.
We will pay. We will pay because the European banks holding all that bad paper we wrote demand that we make good on it so even more of their banks will not fail. We will pay because the Chinese, the Japs and everyone else will cut off the loan tap with which we pay the interest (not the principal) on our exploding super nova of national debt. We will pay because God loves the rich. We will pay because we will not be offered any other choice. We will pay because George Bush worked hard for all those Ds in school and became20the first MBA president. We will pay because our media has internalized the capitalist system so thoroughly they can only talk in Wall Speak. We will pay because the only language we have to describe our world is that of our oppressors because we have been taught to think in Wall Speak. We will pay because we hitched our wagon to last stage capitalism and even though the wagon has now two wheels over the cliff and roars forward, we don’t know where the brake handle is located. And because we don’t know any better or understand any possible resistance to the system because we have been kept like worms in a jar and fed horse shit.

And as we all know, worms do not rise up in revolt.
That takes a backbone.

Random Musings and Goings On

I haven’t had the time or thoughts to blog as of late. I just finished Playing Bare with Evolution Theatre, and was happily surprised when I got a cheque! It was a small cheque but more then I anticipated.

Now Tim and I get hot and heavy into rehearsals as we direct the Tototoo theatre One acts. I am scared…..the one play we find easier to direct then the other and I am hoping inspiration hits us as we work on the second one.

On to random thoughts. The credit crisis in the US is scary. My friend predicted this last year even so far as saying September 2008 was going to be the month everything unravelled…well guess what????? Lehmann Brothers, Merrill Lynch == this is just the beginning folks. Even my old friend who works at TD Waterhouse said “hold on to your hats!” I am just glad I don’t have that type of investments.

And why if oil per barrel is trading at $97, is the price at the pumps staying the same? Things that make you go HMMMMMM….

On another note of things that make you go hmmmmm, and this some will find a controversial statement however I am allowed my opinion --- the 7th anniversary of September 11th came and went. There was a rally on Parliament Hill for Ottawa 9/11 Truth but apparently it was a sad turn out with only 3000 people. Instead what got major news was the sappy re-enforcing of “the Muslims terrorists did it” even thought there are more and more of us who have researched this topic to many ends with scientific scholars and high profile military folks, and airline pilots who now say it was an Inside job. I truly believe this to be the case. I hope someday the truth comes out. But by then it will be too late. I mean the truth about JFK’s assassination is there to be read, you just have to find it….does anyone care that his own government killed him and pinned it on a patsy named Oswald. NOPE. They turn a blind eye. Does anyone care either that Pearl Harbour was a False Flag and the US wanted and knew it would happen, just so they could get into the war? Same thing will happen in this case. Once the truth comes out it will be so far away that people won’t care to do anything about it. And the sappy two faced vigils or ceremonies will continue with the criminals behind it sad faced and acting as if they were not responsible, that they were part of the American public victimized by “terrorists”. It sickens me to know end that greed of money overcomes preserving human life of your own people. In the mean time, people are more discriminatory against those of the Muslim faith, children, families are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan with no end in sight. All because of money…which is turning down and crashing anyways…so what was the point? OH YA, so the powers that be can chip away at “democracy” and eventually control the population – done so slowly that we accept it as it goes. Don’t think it’s happening…? Think again.

I know there will be those who read the above and say – she’s crazy. Maybe I am, but if you have read the sources I have read from the much respected folks who wrote them and believe it too, you too might change your mind. I will not do the work for you though. But Steven Jones’ papers are a start.

However I am strangely optimistic. You know why? Cause right now everything is ok for me and I want to live and enjoy life one moment at a time. Might as well. This could be as good as it gets. I used to get stressed out about it, but what is the point? Just live moment to moment I say. That is why I am usually in a good mood I think.

But on to even happier topics…..I had a wonderful wedding Anniversary with my best friend and hubby – Tim Ginley. We had a beautiful brunch at Les Fougeres in Chelsea, followed by an afternoon at the Nordik Spa, and a nice dinner at my folks. I thought I was going to fall asleep at my parents house I was so relaxed – but wasn’t sure if it was from the spa or the fact that I had partied at the cast party for Playing Bare until 3am the night before. Maybe it was both. Anyways…so good.

And many projects in the fire. Rehearsing with Tototoo, working FOH for the new Gladstone theatre, play development project with my friend Riley, auditions coming up with Vision Theatre for the January show, and potentially another project I am not at liberty to announce yet…..but it’s exciting if it comes to fruition!!!!!!

I am also really really stoned right now on Sinus meds……I knew there was a reason why I hated taking them. I forget then I take them and wish I hadn’t. Damn you Golden Rod and Rag Weed. Damn you to hell!

Sometimes Happy, Sometimes not so much.....

Some things make me very happy. I just recently opened a show with Evolution theatre called Playing Bare, which has a great cast and crew – so come see it!! And the wonderful show that was The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine was nominated as Best Theatrical Production for Le Prix Golden Cherry (Saw Gallery), as well as my co-actor – the fabulous Riley Stewart. Also, the show I am co-directing with my hubby for Tototoo Theatre is going very well indeed. So theatrically speaking, all is super duper. Except I didn’t get that part at GCTC that I wanted even though I had a second call back (OH SO CLOSE). But that is another story.

On another note: You know what annoys me …Agents….talking FOR famous people without having had asked said famous person if they would like to do something we think they’d be willing to do for a wonderful Charitable cause….I can’t say more on that…but Agents irk me. Someday I will expand on this cryptic paragraph…but not today.

However, some things really really make me very ANGRY. I live in a beautiful, peaceful and quiet neighbourhood called Manor Park. It’s full of greenspace, the RCMP Musical Ride, the Aviation Museum, Rockliffe Airbase, lots of doggie walks, people can cycle on the parkway on Sundays…..HOWEVER, the NCC in its infinite wisdom (sense the sarcasm here) has decided for us that the best place to put the Interprovincial Bridge is right in front of my house in this beautiful area. Are they NUTS!!!!!! They are apparently letting the truckers decide where the best route is for them. Give me a break! What about the thousands of people who live there every day? What about the Long Term Care facility and Montfort Hospital right beside the Avaition Parkway (I can’t see HOW they’d be able to expand there with the hospital banking on one side and big beautiful homes on the other). It’s pure political pressure, not thought or consideration for the residents of this lovely place.

WE are ready to FIGHT! I am so angry right now this is all I can write. ARRRRGGGHHH.

Tom Welch, A Life Lived - 1942-2008

There once was a man we called “Charlie” to our three Data Model angels here at work. His real name was Tom Welch.

I received this sad news this morning at work after having seen him Friday at the Civic Hospital knowing it would probably be the last time seeing this very special man, much admired co-worker, husband, father, grandfather.

“After a valiant 7 month and 1 day struggle in hospital to hold on to
his precious life with all those who loved him in this world, Dad
succumbed peacefully to carrying on with his journey onward and
upward at 8:45 this morning, Saturday August 23, 2008.

His heart was huge enough to encompass even those he did not
personally know. He will be dearly missed.

The memorial will be held in celebration of his life this Wednesday
August 27th 2008 at 10:00AM. St. Michael & All Angels Anglican
Church, 2112 Belair Drive, Ottawa Ontario, K2C 0W9.

Everyone is welcome,

With all the love that he gave instilled in me,

Maureen”

Tom was a man who knew so much – about his work, love, and life. He was a recipient of a liver transplant 10 years ago and every year would teach us at work about his “Life Day’ the day the transplant gave him life…and shared a big cake in celebration. He always celebrated that day more then his actual birthday. He taught us how important it is to sign and have an extra copy of your donor card. He got 10 extra years due to someone’s generosity in that regard.

He leaves behind a very loving family who I have had the privilege of meeting a few times.

Everyone here at work will truly miss this gifted, patient man, and great mind.

Here’s to you Tom…I hope you have found 3 new “angels” to show you around your special new place.

What I learned in PEI and at the PEI Conservatory

I found a new love. That is the Gentle Island of PEI. The rolling hills, the foggy shoreline, the seaweed, the endless walks on the beaches, the friendly people, the seafood. The Theatre. How does one describe the slower pace, the relaxation and the feeling of being in another country or different world with some aspects of home? I can’t. All I CAN say is I loved it and will be back very soon to that lovely island.

What PEI did teach me is try and be more relaxed. Let things roll off me. Don’t fret or sweat the small stuff. And I discovered I don’t mind “island time” at all…..

As for my Acting Renewal at the PEI Conservatory – I meet some wonderful artists who are very giving and nurturing. They taught me a few things – I knew but now seem older or more settled to let it sink in. I know I NEED Yoga, and want to continue Voice work if I can.

A few key things I took away:…which I already knew…but always good to re-affirm:

“You are enough” "What you need, you already have”

- Connect
- Act/Action
- Tactics/Strategies
- Given Circumstances
- Future Circumstances

Now to apply it!!

The Flat Tires of Life

Sometimes our tires on our bikes go flat, as in life not everything goes your way . Sometimes it can be really tiny things not going your “way”. Like this morning when I went to leave the house my front tire of my bike was flat. Dead. DAMN. Or one of your Terrier is “going through something” and acting out – like peeing on the bed while you are watching TV downstairs, or beating up on her boy (you can guess which Terrier I speak of).

Or you haven’t heard yet of a part that you wanted to get from a very prominent professional theatre company in town – not that you expected to get it in the first place, but it would have been nice. Or you get a $400 water bill….mostly because the City of Ottawa really low balled your estimates over the last year, but also because you have a friggin’ leaky toilet which both you and your hubby are too lazy to get fixed.

Or you go for an oil change for your car and it costs $10 then the last time due to the hire price of crude oil.

Regardless of the flat tires life throws at you, one must role with the punches, glide along and just go with the flow. If you don’t you’ll just go crazy.

I have lots going on, bills to pay, things to do, place to be etc etc. and am I stressed out? Remarkably not…just sleepy. I’ll just go Friday and get my tire fixed. Get that inner tube, pump up that flat tire on my bike and keep on rollin’.

Next stop ---- a hammock and a lobster to feast on in PEI!!!!!!!!!!

Aches and Pains at 35 and Memoirs of a SGWM

OK first for the ACHES AND PAINS:
I can’t believe I am only 35 because sometimes I feel so much older – physically I mean (not mentally that is for certain). I have many aches and pains that have plagued me for sometime and seem to get worse as the time flies.

It all started many years ago when I was 17 when I was playing Field Hockey in High School. I started getting Sciatic pain radiating down my right butt and leg. So what does the doctor do – gives me muscle relaxants….if I only I knew what that and asprin does to your guts (can you say IBS?)…then when I was in the militia the back pain got worse, always on the right side, creeping up to my right shoulder blade, pain down my arm and neck. I was in physio for 2 years..didn’t work. Finally I had a boyfriend (his blog is here—a very very good artist actually) who said “why don’t you try a Chiropractor”? I’ve been going ever since – but not without its pitfalls.

When I started going to the Chiro in Orleans things seemed to go well…however one year my neck went out so badly he didn’t help. I was also tired of bussing out to Orleans from Sandy Hill. So found Dr. Mark DeGruchy. I’ve been with him for 10 years now and he is awesome – not only as a Chiro but as a human being and wellness coach (he gives me tips all the time). My back felt pretty good. Then I started really working out at the gym which was amazing to help the pain, and seeing a massage therapist and viola….relatively pain free manageable back!

Until 2 years ago…..the back is still really good, but the right knee started hurting with pulling pain on the inside when I did squats in Body Pump. Fine – I went to physio. And discovered my outside quad was stronger then my inside quad. It helped a bit. Of course I am very remiss on doing my exercises and I-T band stretch, which is not good. Then last year I did a show with Vision Theatre which was uber physical and now I have been living with Achilles tendonitis for a year now. I can only seem to wear custom orthotics in shoes, or sandals (that are very expensive). I have a lot of tense muscles….I have lots of joint pain….so lately I’ve been biking to work and feeling this knee pain, and still have this ankle pain (all on Right side though). And in the last 6 months my hip has pretty much has this small gnawing pain that I can’t seem to stretch out. There is a pattern I am sure is happening –as they say “The knee bone’s connected to the ankle bone. The ankle bone’s connected to the”…yada yada. My thoughts on this though are…if I hurt like this now, what will it be like when I turn 40? Is it because of my workouts that I have some of this pain?

I am still young. Now I can’t complain too much. I am pretty healthy, don’t get sick very much and my pain probably is no where near some of the people I know. But I have been living with this since I was still really young…so does not seem to bode well for the future. Especially since Fibromyalgia is hereditary. OH JOY. Can’t wait for that to settle in soon!

Tim and I always joke that he should take me outside behind the barn and ….well you know…”take care “ of me…..maybe I should just take him up on that offer now, save myself some trouble. Ah, and a few years ago I thought I was doing so well……

Second for the Memoirs of a SGWM : I'd say go see this show by Tototoo theatre , but then you wouldn't get tickets because it's sold out! I'll give my review next week when I see it Saturday (I know the producer). But this is the theatre company Tim and I are directing shows with. SOLD OUT..yahoo. That bodes well for our shows!

Panic ATTACK!

Ok I think now I am starting to panic a little…..I don’t know what to start with, where to go etc. Do I look at that script I have an audition for Sunday? Do I work on my script for the show I am in right now (since I have to put in the Beats and my characters Actions which is work I really find difficult)? OR Do I re-read, for the millionth time, The Soldier Dreams and Remembering Shanghai (the shows Tim and I are directing). There is also that application Maureen wants us to submit for the Playwriting unit at GCTC (although I don’t fancy myself a playwright we do have a couple of good play ideas). There is starting to be too much going on, and I PRAY for my PEI vacation so I can lie in a hammock, drink wine, eat Lobster, walk with dogs on the beach, play boardgames with my folks, and act a little in a “spa for your talent” acting workshop at the PEI Conservatory. (although I’ll still have to memorize my Playing Bare lines, and go over the One Acts with Tim while there….we will find time….I hope).

In the mean time, I am looking at a potential schedule to start rehearsing our One Act Plays for Tototoo theatre and it’s sort of freaking me out a little. It’s tough enough scheduling a biggish cast with all the conflicts, but when you and your husband are directing, you have two active Terrier dogs, and another play on the go, a house to keep clean and all of lifes 'stuff'….it’s a bit stressful. Then I brilliantly decided to register for Ken Godmere’s OSSD Improv Summer Jam on Thursday nights – which is fine and will be fun, it’s only until the end of August but I will also have Playing Bare rehearsals, and a few Tototoo rehearsals to plan for. Also Tim and I have to break down the plays into beats (which seems easier at first glance then most plays I’ve tried). Ya, that is a lot…FREAK OUT.

THEN, I have 2 big auditions this weekend – one Sunday, and one Monday….if I get the Sunday gig I may have to bow out of directing for Tototoo..but it might work, and I’d have to take the paid gig as my priority so that is fine, but I’d feel bad. Especially since I adore the plays….and I wouldn’t be able to go to Hilton Head South Carolina in November. If I get the Monday Workshop (Shakespeare thingy) it’s a free workshop however will be Sunday Afternoons – I guess we have to rehearse the One Acts Sunday evening then.

Oh ya, and then there is my day job…….in which I hope to find enough time to do the stuff above…hee hee.

Then to top it all off I discover Tim’s Uncle Tony is staying with us July 23rd to the morning we leave for PEI…….

OK, can’t wait for Xmas to relax…..I only hope my blood pressure doesn’t go up and I have a heart attack before then!

Post Fringe Festival Blues

Well Fringe came and went quickly and it was certainly a lot less stressful then last years fringe. but I was still nervous before EVERY show. Probably because the first show I blanked or screwed us up....anyways, I so wish I had seen more shows then I did. I saw a couple of really great shoes. One was Shadows in Bloom by Gemma Wilcox. This young woman is an amazing performer and story teller. She only has a piano bench as her one prop/set piece and uses her body to do the rest – even become a plant or two, a pair of lobsters and have two or three people conversations. If you can catch her in another town (like Toronto Fringe) do yourself a favour.

The last day of Fringe Tim and I saw a friggin’ phenomenal show called Die Roten Punkte – Super Musician. This is a couple of actors from Austrailia who put on an amazing show that was a cross between Clown, White Stripes on Comedy Central, and a mix of Hedwig spinning musical monologues. They are doing a cross Canada Fringe tour SO CHECK THEM OUT. They are just hilarious, and the music is pretty good too!

We saw a few duds at Fringe.  I won't mention them cause some people I like very much, or else I think they are very talented just missed the mark on this one.

Our show at Fringe did quite well and we received great reviews on the production. I bonded more with the group, and met a really cool guy that I want to work with next season so it was fruitful all around….but now, I wait…I wait for my next round of rehearsals for Playing Bare with Evolution Theatre…and count the days until my trip out to PEI…..only 13 more working days….SIGH……

On a real bummer note, now I have to clean my house now that all the shows are over for the mean time……Tim and I started on the first floor…tonight we tackle the second. I hate friggin’ cleaning! Part of my post Fringe Blues for sure.

Vision Theatre at the Ottawa Fringe Festival - June 19th to 29th

Fringe is fun! Well when you are doing an esemble fun comedy it can be a BLAST. Last year was lonely as I performed in a One Woman show – which was more done as an exercise to stretch my acting abilities and see if I could do it. But this year, I wanted FUN FUN FUN…and that is what I got. I am doing a show with Vision Theatre called – 4Play – One Acts by David Ives. COME OUT AND SEE IT. It is such a fun crew to work with. We are like a little family. And the audiences have been great! I think we have now hit our fun stride and we are just playing.

We have 3 shows left, In Arts Court Theatre:

Thursday at 9pm
Saturday at 6pm
Sunday at 1:30pm

Read these reviews we gotten below – and you know if Alvina from the CBC laughed you will too!!!

FROM CBC Radio 1 - Alvina :
"4Plays Vision Theatre created near pandemonium with 4 short one-act plays by David Ives. It features 6 actors who morph through all these performances with the greatest of ease. These are all comedies based on language…very different from the Austrailians who like their bodies who do things with their bodies. These are all twisted uses of English, and reminds a bit of George Carlin actually, running jokes, word plays, everday situations made strange and hilarious and lots of verbal gags. Best of all I liked the 4th segment, based on 4 plays by David Mamet all squashed together in 15 minutes, you got to know his works to get this but it was quite funny I loved it! This one directed by Greg Wysynski what we come away with are the basic themes of Mamet’s theatre – male bonding, women are dangerous, and lots of F-U words, which Im not allowed to say on air either. So for me however there was a bit of deja-vu in it all, but they still pulled it off very well, and the staging is excellent and the audience loved it again…packed packed packed, their packing the houses its very good."

From a Audience member posted on the Ottawa Fringe website:

Saturday night, I spent my money well with this one! Or FOUR as it turns out! Four Plays by David Ives.The elevator doors opened at Arts Court Theatre to a packed lobby and a crowd eager to see what Vision Theatre has produced this year! Last year’s craziness with the 3 one acts were wild and pushed the envelope. This year, they’re treating us to 4 tightly knit shows that may not have the EDGE but most certainly have the entertainment value. Picture 6 cast members woven into shows (some, as I’ve read the scripts) adding actors where they wouldn’t normally be, duets becoming foursomes and finishing with an ensemble piece. The packed house on Saturday night roared with laughter and applauded with a want for more! All six actors are STRONG and know what comedy is about. Their understanding of that allows the audience to just sit and enjoy every single moment of it. The facial expressions of Jennifer Scrivens are priceless. Shaun Toohey’s hysteria balances Sam Awwad’s subdued manner in The Philadelphia. Stewart and Laplante’s deadpan in the difficultly maneuvered Sure Thing allowes the audience into "what if we could take back what we said" moments, and Marsha as the male roasting David Mamet in Speed-the-play does a great job keeping the scenes running with an "F-U if you don’t like it" attitude.I HIGHLY recommend spending your money wisely and entering the world of Vision Theatre. This is a talented young theatre company that, if they continue to fire out the hits, will soon become a company in the ranks with GCTC and NAC.Go see their shows. You won’t be sorry you did!

Grandmaman Plante - Marguerite Plante 1922-2008

This is a poem I found that I read at my grandmaman's funeral on June 6th.

I Remember YOU

I find an old photograph
and see your smile.
As I feel your presence anew, I
am filled with warmth
and my heart remembers love.

I read an old card
sent many years ago
during a time of turmoil and confusion.
The soothing words written then
still caress my spirit and bring me peace.

I remember who you used to be
the laughter we shared
and wonder what you have become.

Where are you now,
Where did you go,
When the body is left behind
and the spirit is released to fly?

Perhaps you are the morning bird
singing joyfully at sunrise,
or the butterfly that dances
so carelessly on the breeze
or the rainbow of colors
that brightens a stormy sky
or the fingers of afternoon mist
delicately reaching over the mountains
or the final few rays of the setting sun
lighting up the skies edging the clouds with a magical glow.

I miss your being
but I feel your presence,
In whatever form you choose to take,
however you now choose to be.

Your spirit has become for me
a guardian angel on high
guiding, advising, and watching over me.

I remember you.
You are with me
and I am not afraid.

Proud Theatre Parent and other parent stuff

It's been awhile. I've been busy in theatre of all kinds but mostly at the Ottawa Little theatre as of late. So after the last few days this is how I feel......

Directing is like being a parent. You nurture and guide the play and send it on it’s way to fly on it’s own. Last night I felt like a proud momma watching her baby bird fly. Mind you I am not the director of The Ladies of the Camellias (which opens on Tuesday June 10th by the way), but I have been a close part of the development of this production helping with the casting, blocking, elements etc. Sarah listened to me, and found that I had some good ideas as did some of the actors. I gave the actors some very good guidance which is showing through. When I see them with that energy, that commitment and that fun it makes me proud to be apart of this production.

Granted there are things I would change about the show – but not a lot. I think the movement works well and everyone looks really great and committing to their roles. I wish Eddie the scenic painter at the OLT would actually do the job he gets paid for and paint the backdrop he was suppose to paint, and that The Girl actually have a second skirt for Act II so she can come in as she is suppose to – soaking wet….and then there are Sarah Bernhardt’s “feathers” on her costume……suppose to be ostrich, looks like she’s a dead seagull…but the rest of her looks GREAT. At least the actress is not letting it get to her and rising above the dead bird around her neck.

Nope, I feel other then those minor things (and maybe some lines and blocking change that are minor that I would change) , the show is getting tight and the actors are ready for their audience. I am so proud of them. They still are making me laugh with there small touches and reactions, and they are definitely ready to fly and take the audience on a fun ride.

Break a leg Cast and Crew of the Ladies of the Camellias. I’ll be watching a cheering for you from the audience on Opening night.

On another similar note; which is dog related, I am a proud “parent” of the cutest Wire Fox Terrier --Guinness. We are done Level 1 Agility. Though he’s not the brightest dog on the face of the Agility planet (and neither is his handler – ME) he LOVES playing on the field and when he gets a sequence or obstacle he really remembers and gets it. He’s a little too Handler focus (meaning he watches ME all the time instead of the obstacle he’s suppose to concur) but he’s smart and funny when he gets things…..I am proud of that little cutie pie. I just love that little dog.

Bloggers Block and other Musings

Is there such a thing as Bloggers block? I think that is what I have. I mean there is a ton of things going on, I just don’t know how, what or why to jot it down.

Maybe it is because I am a bit overwhelmed after staring at my calendar from now until about mid June. I do not have one night off…not one. Ok MAYBE one. The thing is I cannot help myself when it comes to theatre, and to think about what could potentially be my theatre season with the play prospects is very very exciting to me. Now that my name has sort of gotten “out there” and I am being asked to audition for stuff…I have to take the rings and go as who knows how long that will last. If I don’t go, and it seems I have a good chance of getting these very good roles, then basically I’d start back at square one. That is how it is in Theatre unfortunately. You have to take the opportunities as they come. And if I am in demand, I should embrace that.

On a very exciting note though, I am patiently waiting for that phone call that says that my new niece/nephew is on her/his way. I was asked by my sister-in-Law if I’d like to be a part of the delivery with my mom and her mom (an aunt Monique…but I think Monique is going to pass…or pass-out if she went). Everything will be dropped for this once in a lifetime event for me. Looks like the wee babe will be forced out of the womb, poor lamb. I don’t like leaving a nice warm shower or bath, so I can just imagine the baby’s head is close to the exit point and he/she saying “ya know what…you gotta force me outta hear ‘cause this is WAY too comfy and warm”. I hear ya kid, I hear ya…sometimes it might have been better to stay in the womb with all the adult “stuff” one has to deal with.

But I can’t wait, and I am hoping it’s a nice easy birth for Lisa….she deserves it after the pregnancy she’s had. And I hope Aiden isn’t to jealous of his new sibling. I know Marc wanted to give me away to any one who looked my way….but I think he loves me now….I mean if it hadn’t been for me he would have gotten in so much trouble for all those parties he threw because he wouldn’t have had me to clean up! So siblings are really crucial if you want to party.

WOW I'm Busy!

Haven’t written for the blog in a bit so I’ll fill it what is going on. I am the Apprentice Director for the last show of The Ottawa Little Theatre’s season, The Ladies of the Camellias. We just replaced the young guy who was playing Ivan so had to get him up to speed (and man can this guy learn fast which is fantastic). It is going pretty good. If I was directing I’d now focus on bits that are slower/sloppier then others, then go back to running Acts but I am not the director.

Tonight I start Level I Agility with my young Wire Fox Terrier Guinness (my little cutie pie) and his sister Lola is in the class as well. She likes to harass the Guin-man so I am curious as to how the class will run….should be pretty funny. But then I have to run off to OLT for rehearsal.

Tomorrow I finally start rehearsing with Vision Theatre for their Ottawa Fringe Festival show, One Acts with David Ives. It’s going to be very fun, and their new Season is fantastic! And some of the OLT rehearsal conflict with the Fringe rehearsals…so now have to negotiate that.

Tim and I have auditions for our One Acts with Tototoo in June as we have to get in before summer vacations. We want to at least cast one of the shows so people can just go off and research, learn lines, figure out characters (well, one hopes they do that).

Then Tim and I have to go out to Alexandria very soon so he can see the Wedding site of my friend Deanna – whom he is taking pictures for. And I am in the wedding party which is in June. Plus, Tim has started assisting Mark Webster from Tototoo on some weekends doing his Sports photography, and Tim continues to write his play, and now will start researching a Memoir about Stewart MacDonald (a very very interesting chap who actually found some new species of birds in the far north, plus a bunch of other things.). Plus he wants to get involved in some Flickr photography group (with his snazzy new Nikon D300). Anyways this summer, and year could prove to be very very very busy.

I am also going to be workshopping a new play by my friend Riley with Vision Theatre, and maybe getting an audition with Evolution theatre for their September show, as well as a 2 week vacation in PEI – which includes a 6 day acting workshop. God I can’t wait to hang in the hammock in July…..Calgon take me away!

Doggy Tail...or Tale

Here is an interesting doggy story....

My neighbour Ron, who just lost his 6 yr old Golden Retriver to cancer 4 weeks ago, adopted a 6 year old retired breeding female and picked her up last Saturday. Seems all was going well. Papillon, or Pappi for short, had always lived in a kennel with straw in a barn on a breeding farm to those who only bred Goldens. She’d never been housetrained, never slept in a bed, never climbed stairs, never met another dog breed other then Goldens, never been in a car etc etc. How happy was she to meet Ron….I met her onTuesday and she adores her new owner. She’d listen to him and wag, and rub up against him affectionately waiting to be told what to do and be petted. And why wouldn’t she, he is so nice and you can tell he adores animals.

“Well all was going well” he said when I met him Tuesday with Pappi, but he said she was acting strange, digging, etc. Abby (my usually cranky terrier) seemed to like her and was sniffing her "thingy" (or doggy vajayjay) and I asked if she was coming into heat, as Abby knows these things having had heats and a litter of pups herself. He said he didn't think she was. But he thought, she acting strange today digging a lot and just being off.

Well I dropped off my pooches today at doggy daycare where they know Ron, as they used to groom Riley (the one he lost recently) and I was telling the doggie daycare lady about his issues with the new dog. I was saying how he has to treat her as if she were a rescue, be patient etc. Well she said "she's doing fine now". I said "why....."

Well turns out Pappi had 2 puppies last night .....they were born April 30th...hence why she was acting weird and digging the other day (she was nesting, getting ready to give birth). And ...funny Abby knew......that was why she was sniffing her so intently.

Anyways, apparently the puppies are doing well, and Pappi is a good mommy. Ron, her new owner, is dotting on her and babies. And he's keeping all 3 dogs. Apparently the breeder didn't know she was prego...GIVE ME A BREAK...she either knew and didn't want to deal with it, or she/he are TERRIBLE breeders. They just lost a WAD of cash through their stupidity. I mean, I had a pregnant dog in my house you KNOW they are pregnant. I won’t go into details why you know, just trust me that you figure it out. And being breeders with experience you’d think before they sell her off as a retired dog, they’d check her over…HELLO not hard to tell at that point.

Well at least he is getting his money's worth eh? Now he has Pappi and two wee wriggly little puppies...many laughs await him!

Now, can I rant about backyard breeders (which this one must be in this case) and puppy mills. They make me sick to my stomach. That is why when we bought ours or were looking into buying ours we not only researched the breed, but also where to buy. If a breeder says “yes, come right away I have many puppies right now”, or they say “I sell Goldens, and Bichons, and Yorkies, and this and that and that…” walk away….they are either backyard breeders or puppy mills out to make a prophet. The poor dogs live in terrible conditions and all they do is breed in small enclosures…..NEVER buy from them or pet stores (who get their puppies from puppy mills etc and JACK UP the prices). Do your research. Not only will you get a more healthy dog who will probably live longer, but you will be supporting those who truly care about dogs. If a breeder is grilling you and interviewing you and deciding if you are worthy to have one of their dogs, THAT is a good breeder.

The breeder of my dogs is an amazing woman. We went through that process with her Wire Fox Terriers, and she even admited to me that if she doesn't like a person, she will try and stear them away from wanting a Fox Terrier. (that is nice of her, some will actually say "no you are not worthy to have one of my dogs")

When my dog Abby had her litter of 7 puppies a year and a half ago, my breeder took a week off work (she raises the puppies in her house). One of the pups was lame for a time, and would have normally died. My breeder got up every 2 hours and personally held him to my dog Abby to make sure he fed. She’d mix up pablum with evaporated milk and water at 4 weeks to transition the puppies to food. She’d get into the room on the floor and play with them on the floor. She kept saying how she’d just love to keep all of them (of course you can’t that would be madness). And she treated my dog with so much love and affection as if she were her own, I thought Abby wouldn’t come home – Abby wanted to come home, still even though she does like to go visit my breeders house and gets all excited…YAY she loves us. Anyways, that is the way it should be done…with care and love, and health and all.

I am glad I met my breeder…..she’ll be my dog supplier until she breeds dogs no more….plus that means Tim and I will always have a wee bit of Abby in our lives for years to come even after her time has come. That is pretty rare and special actually.

So the lesson today boys and girls...do your research, don't buy from backyard breeders, petstores, or puppy mills...lets put those bad people out of business!!!!

One the many reasons I love Theatre, and starting Acting

Let me preface this by saying the Ottawa Public Library is amazing, and if you want to see some good stuff or hear good music without adding to your clutter at home…go there! Get a card. This is why…..

Last night I was watching American Idol….I thought David Cook, and Carley Smithson were awesome by the way, when Tim yelled down “are you watching anything?” and I said “no”, I said guiltily as I kind of wanted to watch Dancing with the Stars…for lack of anything better on….TV is pretty much crap…but there I was watching it. SIGH

Anyways, I said “why, what do you want to watch?” “A Documentary on Eugene O’Neil I got from the library” Tim said. My first reaction was going to be, yuck, but I immediately thought, ya I would like to watch that. Then Tim brought it down and I realized it was a Ric Burns documentary on Eugene O’Neill and then I thought FANTASTIC!

If you don’t know who Ric or Ken Burns are….they are brothers for one thing, but both are amazing Documentary film makers. Ken Burns did the New York City Series and the Jazz Series…both are AWESOME - all of which we've gotten at the library. Anyways, I knew it would be good.

I had forgotten how interesting Eugene O’Neill’s life was, and how sad. He was haunted by ghosts. His mother had lost the brother he never known, Edmund, to the measles when Edmund was 2, before Eugene was born, which pretty much set the stage for the older brother James Jr.'s demise in life as a philanderer and alcoholic (read Moon for the Misbegotten, a play he wrote about his brother). When Eugene was born, his mother felt she was being punished and Eugene grew up with feelings of nothingness, and lonliness. His mother became a morphine addict, his father sold out to make a buck , after a promising potential career as an actor – well he did very very well as an actor playing the Count of Monte Cristo, but that was his sell out moment when he could have been a great Shakespearean actor and not be just known for that melodrama part of the Count. Eugene wandered amlessly, to South America, drinking, abadoning his wife and children, but ultimately becoming a celebrated American playwright in the process -- aren't all great artists tormented by their lives?

At any rate, I was watching this documentary and they had various actors doing scenes or monologues from plays like The Iceman Cometh, and Long Day’s Journey Into Night – two of his most famous works. Then I saw Al Pacino doing something from Iceman and both Tim and I said “Oh SHUT UP AL….god he pushes and trys too hard, he’s acting too hard and milking it” As an actor who has studied a lot , I can see it. But when Jason Robards did the same part in a clip from an old film version of the Broadway production…wow, magical.

Then the documentary went into his most famous play. Christopher Plummer did that speech from Long Day’s Journey into Night about how he sold out as an actor, what he could have been, the pain, etc, I wept (luckily Tim was sleeping). The language was so beautiful, and said by Plummer so simply I said “wow, that is why I love the theatre, and acting – what it can do to the audience if just done from the gut, simply – the beauty of language, how personal it can be”. Of course if you know O’Neill’s life you know this was an autobiographical play that nearly killed him to write. He actually sealed it at Random House and told them only to open it 25 yrs after his death and never have it performed. Both of which were ignored once he died….thank god. Anyway, it was stunning.

At one point Robert Sean Leonard (if you watch House he plays Wilson…he was also in Dead Poets Society when he was younger...I love him), he did this speech as Edmund in Long Day’s Journey…and the end went something like this..... "It was a great mistake my being born a man. I would have been much more successful as a sea-gull or a fish. As it is, I will always be a stranger who never feels at home, who does not really want is not really wanted, who can never belong, who must always be a little in love with death!" That was Eugene from the depth of his soul and said by Leonard, so simply, so grounded – painful, wonderful.

I love to act, and often it’s so hard to ground yourself to remember to listen, to “let it land”, but when it happens, or if you are a witness to such a performance, it can change your life – at least for that period in time. That is why I keep going back on stage, to catch that feeling, to be in the moment however hard it might be – even though it should be the simplest of things. Maybe that is selfish in a way, but it’s also the love of conveying the playwrights words to an audience, to share it with them. And when it is done right, affecting lives – touching people….a playwrights whose words can move people is a very special thing. It’s personal. And we as humans need to connect.

Eugene O’Neill was a most gifted and special artist. Thank you Mr. O’Neill for leaving us your words, and for inspiring us to convey your secret life to the world. And thank you Tim for having that library card....keep them movies and documentaries coming my friend.

Earth Day Moment

Happy Earth day…..does it really matter?

“What we have lived through, the 20th century, has been like a great party. Adults now have had the best time humanity has ever had. Now the party is over and the Earth is reckoning up.”
James Lovelock

Climate science maverick James Lovelock believes catastrophe is inevitable, carbon offsetting is a joke and ethical living a scam. So what would he do?

If you read James Lovelock, he predicts if you want to get some idea of what much of the Earth might look like in 50 years’ time then get hold of a powerful telescope or log onto Nasa’s Mars website. That arid, empty, lifeless landscape is, he believes, how most of Earth’s equatorial lands will be looking by 2050. A few decades later and that same uninhabitable desert will have extended into Spain, Italy, Australia and much of the southern United States. With that, comes mass migration North.

“We are on the edge of the greatest die-off humanity has ever seen,” said Lovelock. “We will be lucky if 20% of us survive what is coming. We should be scared stiff.”

"It's just too late for it," he says of going “green” and conservation "Perhaps if we'd gone along routes like that in 1967, it might have helped. But we don't have time. All these standard green things, like sustainable development, I think these are just words that mean nothing. I get an awful lot of people coming to me saying you can't say that, because it gives us nothing to do. I say on the contrary, it gives us an immense amount to do. Just not the kinds of things you want to do."

If you don’t know who James Lovelock is, he’s the high ranking scientist guru that discovered CFC’s were burning a hole in the ozone – he kind of knows what he is talking about.

So should we be scared? I suppose so, but in reality and if you think about it in a common sense way, we are not the be all and end all of civilization and the earth as we know it. There were other civilizations and life forms on this planet way before us, and there will be after us when we finally destroy it. No other life form has ruined the earth so quickly quite as we have (I’d be kind of embarrassed if I were us …oh wait I am)……We are pretty egotistical to think we are IT and we can stay the course. So why get depressed when you have come to terms that this universe is much bigger then all of us….no point stressing about it really.

Lovelock thinks that we are way too late to do anything about it and that we should enjoy life now while we can - he says this all with a smile and a shrug…what else can you do?- Regardless of what Lovelock says, and even if he says there is no point now going Green since it’s too late, I still don’t see why we can’t TRY though. It’s easy to cut things out –everyone just has to make a hard effort.

All this to say, with Earth Day upon us, a lot of people wonder how they can do their part for the environment. Thinking of our modes of transport, is crucial. A third of the emissions from Canadian households come from transportation -- the gas our vehicles burn. This is more than the total emissions of all utilities needed to power and heat our homes. Does that make sense?
Every additional car creates more traffic congestion which means more stops and starts, more idling and terrible fuel economy -- greater emissions. It also means more damage to the existing roads and creating more new roads. New roads mean destruction of farms, forests and wetlands, and increased demand for petroleum products for their construction and repair.

Let's not forget the energy needed to manufacture each car and the minerals, rubber and other components that have to be harvested from nature to make its component parts. That's a partial list of environmental considerations for operating car.

And we always forget that the oil that runs or makes our cars, also makes our clothing, delivers our food, makes our plastics, carpets, and pretty much most of the 1st world conveniences.

Our thinking has to change…because maybe, just maybe Lovelock is wrong…let’s prove him wrong. Re-use/ re-cycle as much as you can. Conserve as much as you can, and try to keep the buying to a minimum, plan your day so you only have to take the car out once to do all you need to do (if you need your car at all to do so).

Can you imagine if we all decided at once to not spend a dime on anything (other then food – and bring our own containers to buy only non packaged items) for just one month world wide? Or don’t drive any cars for 1 week……I bet we’d be shocked at what would happen.

Too bad humankind are such idiots, she says with a smile.

The End of Suburbia

“It’s the end of surburbia as we know it, and I feel fine….” Not exactly the REM song but close enough…..

This website is really interesting.....in Breaking news he posts articles in mainstream news as well.
Check it out.... Life after the Oil Crash


There was an article in the Ottawa Citizen yesterday about the end days for Suburbia…I laughed…I’ve been reading about it and talking about it for years….and most people didn’t believe it. Years ago no one heard about Peak Oil when I asked if they knew what it was. I have a friend at work who luckily is a “the sky is falling” kind of guy (and does his research) and he told me many years ago that oil was at it’s peak and things were going up up up in price and to get out of the suburbs ASAP – I believed him (he predicted Oil at $2.00 per litre years ago..and it will happen as we can see from the $1.20 it is now) Luckily at the time, I loathed suburbia anyways, and wanted to move closer to downtown. It was the best move I ever made. I believe my house is a gold mine. It is not too big, I don’t bother watering my grass (why bother…what a waste), we rarely put on the AC, it’s a mere 5 min bike ride to any type of store you want, 10 minutes to work or the Byward Market, or the theatre area in downtown Ottawa. I breath a sigh of relief at the move we made 3 years ago (we couldn’t afford the price of it now that is for sure!) And I have a spare room in my house that is always open for family and friends in times of need.

Tim and I decide once we saw the price of gas going higher and higher, we would leave the car in the driveway unless necessary (like weekend running errands out of the urban area). It’s so easy to ride the bike in the Spring/Summer/Fall and I even bought a Chariot for my dogs to ride with me – which I plan on getting them in this weekend. I realize that the winter poses problems (I don’t ride my bike in the winter) and it’s harder for me to walk to work because of my ankle problem, but we figure if we save now by not driving as much, will off set in the winter time once the snow starts flying. I must admit it is difficult at times, because I too am part of that addiction to oil, but I've started to change habits slowly, and my mind set as it takes time to break of habits / addictions. But I can see small changes happening in my thoughts as I purchase, drive etc. Baby steps they say.

The long and the short is this -- the way North Americans live, and our hunger for oil cannot be sustained. People have to wake up even though now that it’s in the mainstream media it might be too late. (although still no one seems to be listening). So for all of you people who think I am crazy when I tell you certain things, maybe now you will listen…or you can go on your merry little way, and suffer when the shit goes down. I, myself will be happily biking to work, walking for groceries, and living my life with money in my pocket. Will the majority of the population, in their useless 5% car or Hummer, heating their oversized natural gas guzzling 3000 sq ft houses be able to survive? (I mean SERIOUSLY who needs that much car or house space???? My mother grew up in a one bedroom apartment then small house for gods sake and my grandfather didn’t get a car until she was a teen…and then he stored it away during the winter -- she turned out ok).

Buy a used small vehicle and get rid of that gas guzzler, move OUT of the suburbs into a smaller place if you can, before your house is not worth much if anything! If you can’t do that TAKE THE BUS, or bike (bike=in shape) Buy as Locally as possible to help the situation, or plant a garden. It’s still not too late, but soon it will be as people start panicking and massive sell off ensues. . People will wake up in the ‘burbs, and feel trapped. Trapped in their depreciating homes, trapped at home, and essentially trapped outside the urban areas rapidly escalating in cost. (Urban = where I LIVE).

Plus, Keeping up with the Jones’ is so passé…get over it!

A Sad Day for E-Street Fans

I really don’t know how to feel right now. Well I do. Sad. I just found out that Danny Federici , one of the original, original E-Street Band members and long time friend of Bruce Springsteen died yesterday of his 3 year battle with Melonoma Cancer. Whether you knew it or not, he was instrumental to Bruce Springsteen’s vibe and signature sound.

"Danny and I worked together for 40 years -- he was the most wonderfully fluid keyboard player and a pure natural musician. I loved him very much ... we grew up together," Springsteen said.

Danny, I hope you are playing your Organ wherever you are. You will truly be missed.

Danny Federici
1950 - 2008

The 1st Annual Rideau Awards

Well, the 1st annual Rideau Awards have come and gone, and what a night it was….now let me just say it would have been quite nice to have heard my name called out as the winner of Best Female Performer, and I could have used that Physio for my Ernestine pained ankle, but it was not to be. Would have been nice though – we all in the show certainly worked our asses off, and might have launched a remount. Anyways, here are the winners (note I am NOT one of them...GRRRRRRR):

The winners of the first-ever Rideau Awards -- covering theatre presented in Ottawa during the 2007 calendar year -- are:

BEST PRODUCTION
Greek (Repercussion Theatre)

BEST DIRECTOR
Kevin Orr ( Greek, Repercussion Theatre)

BEST PERFORMANCE -- FEMALE
Kristina Watt ( Top Girls, Third Wall Theatre)

BEST PERFORMANCE -- MALE
Peter Froehlich ( Merz, New Theatre of Ottawa)

BEST DESIGN
Rebecca Miller (Lighting Design, Top Girls, Third Wall Theatre)

BEST NEW CREATION
The Churchill Protocol (Gruppo Rubato; original script by Patrick Gauthier and Kris Joseph, directed by Natalie Joy Quesnel)

EMERGING ARTIST AWARD
Michelle LeBlanc (Actor)

24 professional theatre productions were juried by a team of 11 local arts professionals during the 2007 calendar year. Nominations were submitted by secret ballot and tallied by local accountant.

That being said, It was a lovely evening though – well organized, chic, dapper, everyone looked cleaned up nicely, and some connections made.

My only beef has to be, regardless of how good Greek by Repercussion Theatre was, why did a remount done by a Montreal Company win? How did it get approved to be involved in the process? It was originally done in April 2005 by Thirdwall Theatre (before the Rideau Awards) and had original cast, but it was adjudicated in 2007......curious ........

But now that it’s over we can concentrate on getting the Vision Theatre Season out there (coming soon! And it’s exciting!), a play workshop over the next year and the Fringe show as well, which will reunite my Ernest and I in one of the shows -- Riley kids around that we are the new Kat Hepburn/Spencer Tracy of our generation -- with one minor exception, and if you know Riley you know why that is! LOL

Other exciting happens – Maureen and I (Let it Land Theatre) are discussing a potential play project– so if anyone out there knows of any women in the Canadian Military who just got back from Afghanistan, or has served there please direct them to us.

Extending Birthday Wishes

Today I would like to extend very happy birthday wishes to my older brother Marc!

Happy Birthday Bra!

I love you.

Today I Climb the Soapbox

I can't in good conscience keep quiet after all these really good documentaries I've seen lately, so I do apologize for this soapbox type post. But I have to at least spread the word about the way "democracy" is going. Maybe we can make a difference?

"The Road to Guantanamo" - it's a re telling film, done in documentary style….Frig. Sickening. I don't care if people at Guantanamo are guilty or not (only 10 of the 775 have ever been "proven") No one should be treated like that and not given access to a trial and held indefinitely. It's modern Concentration camps à la US style. It is becoming pretty awe inspiring to witness fascism happen right on our door step.

Other important documentaries that I've seen lately ( you can probably rent most or stream online) is "Orwell Rolls in His Grave" which asks the question Can Lies become Truth? ,on how the media has manipulated us to believe things that aren't true or twist the truth. IE: Saddam was part of 9/11, Iraq has WMD's. etc.
Very well done. Did you know that in 1979/80, the planned release of the Iran hostages were to be 6 months later after the elections so that Jimmy Carter could be defeated all this brokered by the Regan election camp (the October Surprse) ? They were held longer to be released on the day Regan got sworn in….….just one example.

"Taxi to the Dark Side" the Academy Award winning documentary about treatment of detainees (in Afganistan, Abu Grab - Iraq etc.) , including one innocent taxi driver who was tortured by Americans and died at their hands.

Also see "No End in Sight" …although I think that documentary was funded by some Democrats, as it never says the Iraq war was wrong, just mangled in planning…it's sickening as well, but well put together.

Most can be streamed on Google Video. (Orwell, Guantanamo, and Taxi). Rights of all are being taken away slowly in the name of "security". I know most of these are American documentaries, but we are so influenced by them, that it is slowly trickling in. Plus, remember what happened to Mahar Arar?

For a Canadian turn try “The Corporation”.

There are all mainstream, truthful documentaries. If you rather something fictional there is the most excellent 1976 movie -- Network (Starring: Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Robert Duvall)

Lets not turn a blind eye anymore and say "it won't happen here", because it has started……

"In times of universal deceit telling the truth will become a revolutionary act"

George Orwell

On another note, it seems world food prices are hugely on the rise – corn (for ethanol), wheat, rice. This article on CBC is worth the read.

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/04/08/food-prices.html#storycomments

Ok, my soapbox will be put away for a spell. Peace out!