Climate Change
Just a quick one...
Work's been crazy, step-dad had a heart attack (another)... wish I'd never got out of bed this month.
Anyway...
I have to admit to some embarrassment over winning "fossil" awards at the climate conference in Africa. I just don't get why the Conservatives are so against, or at least indifferent, about protecting the environment.
I'm part of a research program looking at ways of reducing GHGs in various sectors, specifically related to climate change. During a recent meeting, one of the 'hi-ups' who was on the cross-country tour undertaken regarding environment issues, said the message on the tour was basically, "don't expect any money for climate change research". And even went so far as to say "just be glad you're not sunsetting today".
What the hell????
No one seems to get the fact that we're going to have to make an investment to get this stuff going. In the long run, its going to pay off - in a huge way - but no one seems to want to do anything different now unless it saves them money. Never mind what the consequences will be like if we don't get going with this. Even the U.S., who's administration wouldn't touch Kyoto, are miles ahead of Canada with change.
Maybe I'm going to have to move to a country where this stuff matters. This government may actually be putting an untimely end to my career. Oh well, I'll be too sick with respiratory diseases and cancers from the pollution to care anyway.
I just can't let this go...
Back in mid-October I blogged about losing a friend. Or finding out I didn’t have as good of one as I thought to begin with.
This has really been plaguing me. Every time I read her blog and heard about all these fun things she was doing and all her free time, it ripped my heart out. I felt like I’d been thrown to the curb. So don’t read her damn blog, right?
I know, I know, but this is my best friend we’re talking about here. I don’t get it. Maybe I’m being punished for some slight that I didn’t realize I’d made? I recall many many moons ago she stopped talking to me and it took years for me to find out it was because I spent too much time with my new boyfriend and neglected her. I don’t know. I certainly don’t want to start pointing fingers and bashing anyone.
I’m just so g-d
hurt. I love her. And I miss her. And I just don’t understand why she doesn’t want me to be a part of her life.
I've tried. I've e-mailed. I've called. I've made invitations. I've tried to become part of her usual 'group'. Nothing works.
Now I'm just sad.
I guess I owe an update...
So I’ve just had the most tiring 7 days in as long as I can remember, it’s 12:00 am, and I’m wide friggin awake. Go figure.
My pooch has been ill. She has a swollen disk in her back and its pushing up against her spinal cord, pinching countless nerves and causing a great deal of pain. I’m really not up to going into the details, suffice it to say, I got the “she’s suffering” speech a couple times this weekend. Which led to mucho tears. At any rate, I think she’s on the mend now, slowly, but on the right track.
I’ve been working at home a great deal; the dog has to be carried around to keep her off stairs and to keep her from jumping on and off of furniture. I think she’s getting used to my position as slave labour. Hubby’s been away most of it too…
My boss heads off to New Zealand for two weeks holidays starting Thursday. Lucky bitch. I mention it because that’s added considerable stress to the situation – trying to get things wrapped up and/or reviewed before she goes so I know what to do while she’s away. While trying to stay home as much as possible with the dog. Not to mention several meetings I’ll be attending in her absence.
I’m thrilled for all my Yankee buddies down there that the Dems came through. Actually, thrilled for the rest of the world too.
I’m also pleased to see our Environment Minister getting bashed over in Kenya at the climate change summit/conference. I hope that pushes our gov’t to make their “Clean Air” strategy a little better. A lot better.
Lastly, I got my wish last night, as the candidate I supported for Mayor of Ottawa won by a landslide. Now, lets all hope he doesn’t make me eat my vote, so to speak.
Looks like Blogger's really pushing beta, hmm? Great, one more thing to do.
The Great Pumpkin
FINALLY have the pics of some of my pumpkins... here are this year's:
Anyone recognize Iron Maiden's "Eddie"???
The vampire pattern came from a website, the pumpkin lady I think...
it turned out really good - the angle I took the pic at seems to be just right...
Last year's pics are really dark, the "eyes" were along my windowsill and the tree below. There was another - a pirate skull - but the pic didn't turn out.
I did two the year before, a gargoyle and a haunted house... I had to take pics of pics, and they weren't good to begin with... I got the house anyways.
And last, but not least, the pumpkin that my team won our office's carving contest with. We got the idea from a pic I got in an e-mail... the sheet metal and nails were our little addition (two of our team were machinists). Little did I know how competitive our office can be!! It was really fun - and we did it in 35 minutes!! Now if I can just get hubby to spring for a dremel, next year's will be REALLY awesome!
