Today, I send you away to read other people’s writing. Specifically, Margaret Atwood’s thoughts on libararies (thanks to Adrienne Mason for the link.)
That’s short, so you should still have time to read Bill McKibben‘s thoughts on why we should make links between extreme weather events and climate change. He’s the 350.org guy, and he’s much better at sarcasm than I am.
It was the 50th anniversary of UBC’s OT department this weekend, and Min, as a member of the event organizing committee, scored a discounted room at the River Rock Casino in Richmond. So, we dropped the kids off at their aunt’s house early Saturday afternoon, and checked into what turned out to be a one-bedroom suite, complete with two TVs and a jacuzzi tub.
Min had a head cold and immediately fell asleep, leaving me with several hours to spare, a stack of books, and absolute silence. No one asked me for a snack, no one had to use the potty, and no. one. talked.
Oh my.
After a while, I got to thinking. What if we were in the witness protection program? What if there were armed guards outside the hotel room, and we were’t allowed to leave? How long would it take me to get bored?
I decided AT LEAST seven days. Min (when he woke up) said he could last a week, but only if he were allowed access to the hotel pool and gym. Which I think those secret service guys could arrange, no?
All I can say is… if any of you are secretly laundering drug money, I’m TOTALLY turning you in.
My friend Liisa just got a new job. She’ll be working from home a couple days a week, and she asked if I had any secrets. Why, yes I do! Here’s my survival checklist:
That’s my advice! I was working from home for years before these rugrats trapped me here, and I think it might kill me to go back to my old windowless office. And how would my laundry get done?
Good luck, Liisa!
I’ve been reading Stephen King’s On Writing this week, a book I’ve been meaning to buy for… years. So far, the memoir section has been highly entertaining. One of the things that always strikes me about writers’ personal stories is how hard they’ve worked. They didn’t just scribble a first novel in the back of their high school math book, realize its brilliance, and sell it for millions. No, they worked their arses off.
Oh, and they had wives. The type that cared for the children, did the laundry, and cooked nightly dinners.
Hmmmm… where can I get one of those?
50 Poisonous Questions received a good review last week in CM Magazine.
“…easy to understand writing and humorous illustrations…make 50 Poisonous Questions fun as well as educational. Highly recommended.”
—CM Magazine, May 20, 2011
A book by Jacquie, for Jacqui! Jacqui-without-an-e, you are the lucky winner of a lucky cat book. Specifically, a signed copy of The Mystery of the Missing Luck. I’ll be e-mailing for your address, and a book will soon be on its way to you.
Congrats!
My daughter was sick for most of this week, and I was lazing around with a back spasm (something that’s not supposed to happen to those of use who are card-carrying members of the Jillian Michaels cult.) The up-side? Well, there was a screening of The Sound of Music. Good fun for both of us, with the added benefit of chasing the boys from the room.
Even better: our first reading of Anne of Green Gables. I’d forgotten how… abundant… the writing can be. We’ve had countless stops to talk about “bosum friends” and “kindred spirits” and “tragical events.” Then we had to name some of our neighbourhood geography the way Anne names hers. (A walk along Lindsay Tree Lane, anyone?) When we actually stop talking and READ, it’s wonderful. We’re both thoroughly in love with Anne, and I’m finding Marilla more entertaining than ever before.
I have to admit, Emily — not Anne — is my favourite PEI girl. I’m hoping that after we’re finished this book, my daughter will be willing to try Emily of New Moon, just to make her mother happy.
Min has suggested — somewhat diplomatically — that my letters to government officials be less sarcastic and more respectful.
I’m torn on this, personally. I don’t believe anyone will thoroughly read the letter, so I see no reason to be overly respectful. If someone actually does read it, it will probably be a co-op student. In which case, my letter serves a dual purpose. It counts on whatever scorecard the politician’s office keeps for these sorts of things, AND it keeps just one young civil servant from dropping into a boredom-related coma.
What do you think? I’m theoretically capable of writing a more serious letter (though I find the idea less than motivating). Is sarcasm disrespectful? Do elected officials deserve respect simply because they’re elected officials?
Or does any of it matter?
Dear Christy Clark:
Congratulations on winning the recent by-election. I understand that your government will be putting families first, so I thought I would write to you about some of my family’s particular concerns. First, as I send my children across the street each morning to their school, a 100-year-old brick building, I’m extremely concerned about earthquake safety. I understand that you committed to seismic upgrading when you were the Minister of Education. And still, our school — rated at high risk of severe damage in the case of an earthquake — is not even scheduled for repairs. I find this offensive, particularly when I drive by BC Place and see its $563 million new roof. (Which, by the way, is horrifically ugly. Have you seen that thing? It’s likely to scare tourists from the city.)
Onwards. My second concern is the underfunding of the school system as a whole. I notice that you transferred insurance payments to the individual school districts this week, which to me doesn’t indicate a strong interest in better funding. Also, I take issue with the way the carbon tax is being implemented. While I support the tax, I was appalled to read in the Vancouver Sun that the money taken from the Vancouver School Board — enough for the equivalent of five full-time teachers — was given to Encana, the oil company currently being sued for contaminating drinking water through fracking. I had the opportunity to speak with David Eby before the by-election, and he mentioned that one of your key advisors is a former executive of Encana. Nice.
These facts alone lead me to doubt your “families first” priorities… and I haven’t even done any research yet. In order to earn my vote in the next provincial election, I’m afraid you would have to improve your environmental standards, and begin repairs immediately on our neighbourhood schools.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Tanya Kyi