...early afternoon bourbon...

I don't know what I was expecting when I started reading (almost against my better judgement) the book "My Mother the Cheerleader", due to be released in April by debut author Robert Sharenow. For one thing, the title is reminscent of all the Gossip Girl-types I dread in YA books. For another, Sharenow, when he isn't writing, is the executive producer of Growing Up Gotti and Dog: Bounty Hunter, among other shows. I was very close to judging the book by its cover, and moving on. But whatever it was I was instinctively expecting to find, this book was definately not it. It was subtle and sensitive, and tackled serious historical issues that have contemporary relevance, without the heavy-handed density that can turn off adolescent readers. It was also, despite a weak last few paragraphs, both touching and real. No false sincerity here, making the story that much more powerful. Teachers are going to eat this book up. Four hours after starting it, I already did.

...friendly neighbourhood watchdog...

I am not sure how many people know about this telephone feature, but I think it incredibly important and it came in handy recently for me so I thought I would share.

If you get a phone call that is a prank, harassing, from a caller wanting personal information or if you have a gut feeling is suspicious on some level, you can dial *57 and the call will be traced, and the info automatically sent to the police. If afterwards you need to find out who the caller was to take action of any kind, the police releases the information to you, or initiates the action.

In some areas, this service is free (and it should be!). In Canada, Bell Canada charges $5 per call, to a maximum of $10 (2 calls) a month. Relatively costly, but priceless in terms of security. And I'm not just talking about personal security. Have you ever had someone call and say they are calling from your bank's security department investigating potential fraud and they need you to read back your account number to them, so they can verify it is correct? I have. In addition to first saying "why don't you give me your phone number, and I will get the account number and call you right back" (at which point they promptly hung up), I put in a call trace afterward, and let my local station know.

Just things to keep in mind.

...she promised we would be there...

It's snowing movie-thick and the weather is getting colder. The day before was perfect skating weather, so we had perfect skating (followed by perfect drinking). Birthday greetings to Matthew, Alex and Daniel.

Too tired for completeness, I'm going to aim for brief:
i) 716 people in Toronto, having found the secret, are better off than I am? Know more than I do? Are on their way?
ii) I let myself say yes to a nintendo date. I will not let myself back out of it (again).
iii) I graduated from moderate to tricky in Sudoku, solved 7 puzzles and then. got. stuck.

...things they did without me knowing...

If I were Denny on Grey's Anatomy, and I died, and I broke Izzy's heart and ended Love (this is particularly potent tonight), How would I come back? And How would it be Justified?

I loved Denny alive. I was sad that he died. But. I do not want him back as a ghost, or a flashback, or a look-alike twin, or an alien visitor. So whatever TPTB are planning in having Jeffrey Dean Morgan tape scenes for new Grey's episodes better be very very well thought out.

...buy stock in yourself...

Actual quote as heard on Beauty and the Geeks:

"I can think smart without talking but more better than talking smart without thinking".

Heaven help us.

...forced migration...

"Why did you join the group?", they asked me over cranberry juice and (sponsored) all-dressed Doritos. As it turned out, today was interview day, and no one was spared. "Oh, it's my first day" -- words not strong enough to grant you leave. Why did I join? To belong to something again I suppose. I'm surprised how easy it was. In less than two hours I was hugged, fed, high-fived, asked for opinions and given tasks to carry me through to the next meeting. But "only if you want to, only if you can". Of course I can. I will, I will for you.

The distraction machine we live in has its faults, of course it does. But it's full, crowds of people/groups/causes everywhere around you, everywhere you look things to do, things to be. No place to be lonely.

...when he ran past you...

Some who know me well know that last year I made one brief attempt at entering the world of indoor plants. I started with a tree, a gorgeous little potted tree that I loved. I researched its care, named it, spoke to it. Two weeks later I found it was the cause of my centipede infestation, and promptly threw it out.

This year a friend gave me a young aloe vera plant, and looking up info on it I was ecstatic to see it was one of the easiest plants to care for. Doesn't need a lot of sunlight, or water and (so they say) thrives on neglect. So fine. I neglected it. I watered it the first day, placed it on the kitchen counter and a week later looked back at it to find the outer leaves are droopy and plump with liquid, a couple of the stems are brown and mushy, and even the biggest leaf usually so firm and strong is becoming visibly plumper with moisture at the tips.

Somebody help please. What must I do? I thought maybe I was giving it too much water, so I cut off the most damaged smaller leaves, and moved the pot to a window in more direct sunlight. Any other thoughts?

...marie, marie, hold on tight...

I can't believe I just wrote that. Delete, delete, delete. And no more vodka cran's before blogging. Moral conscience! Decorum!

It's nice to be young and happy with great hair and hot boots on a Friday night in Toronto. Kiss/cheek.

...be it prejudice or hate, or even love...

This makes me very angry. I'm so tired of people (parents, teachers, media, administration, etc.) underestimating the intelligence of youth, trying to shelter them from things they should appropriately be exposed too. It's funny to me that the parents who are protesting the book "Snow Falling on Cedars" for its sexual content are likely the same parents who unwittingly and unconcernedly buy Gossip Girl for their kids. The sex, alcohol and drug use, and irresponsible behaviour in Gossip Girl is episodic and trashy - no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Gossip Girl and series like it have the same sexual content as what you would find in "Snow", sometimes more sometimes less, but without any of the sociohistorical or literary context, or the gorgeous writing, to place it in perspective. Not to mention that "Snow Falling on Cedars" is not about sex! It's about coming of age, community relations and racial tension in a very tumultuous time and is the kind of fiction that anyone would enjoy and thoroughly benefit from reading.

The second problem here, which bothers me no less, is the fact that the school board felt themselves swayed by the comments of one dissenting parent. When educators start being intimidated by every whim of ignorant or emotional parents, we're all in trouble. When educators decide that one parent's protest can limit every student's access to material, especially mainstream literary material of impeccable repute, it is indefensible.