Bunch of money grabbing...

Seriously! Paying for internet like we would pay for a natural resource like water or gas!?! Or something like electricity which requires large scale industry to produce? It's the internet! Yes there are infrastructure costs involved. Yes there are employment and other overhead costs involved - but we are not talking about a finite resource here. We pay a monthly fee for the service. Case closed.

Click here to sign the petition.

Something fluffy...

...yes, that could refer to any number of living things in my house right now. But what I am thinking of is something fluffy for my brain. Today was a really long day. A reeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaalllllllyyyyy loooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggg day. 12 hours and only one break is a long time to go without food, water or the potty (yes, I called it the potty). So consequently, I yam home. Wrapped in a snuggy. Fed and watered. Settled in to watch Fantastic Mr. Fox. Possibly the best movie made from a book ever. A grand claim to make, but I stand the cuss behind it.

Commercial Commercials

Oh babies...my life revolves around them so much these days but I still can't seem to get enough of them! These are a few of my favorite baby commercials which are on right now.


The best part of this commercial is the expression on the man's face right near the end - the guy whose face is about to be attacked by a platter of crabs.



My favorite part of this one is the baby cruising through the field behind the cows!

Some days it seems that a non-interventional uncomplicated birth does not exist. That is when I come home and watch this next video - although it can not change the cases I have participated in, it does make me laugh and helps me to remember what SHOULD NOT be done. Enjoy.



One of the best lines in this skit: "Take her to the fetus frightening room!" and "Nothing dear, you're not qualified!". Oh Monty Python. Your outrageous and unfiltered portrayal of life is refreshing.

Laugther: The best medicine

So this makes me laugh, a lot!



Ahhh, things that look like other things with clever captions.

Big Sky

I remember being a little girl and learning that the phrase "Big Sky Country" belonged to Montana and feeling a little disappointed. You see, when I think of Alberta, I think of sky. Of sunsets, sunrises, mare's tails and thunderheads. I think our new provincial motto could be "Alberta: Land of the Wild Rose and Big Sky". Admittedly this may prove difficult to write on a licence plate.

A dear friend of mine has encouraged me to be a bit more selfish this year. Not to the detriment of others of course; but to ensure I take a little bit more time for me. Time to develop and grow and reflect. Eric and I have been talking a lot about that too, about how we can take care of our relationship and nurture our happiness. One of things we have been trying to do this year is to get out and do some things - get back to the roots of what makes us...well, us. One of those things is to be outside more. Another is to take photos. Yesterday we both had time off together, so we took our silly puppy to Nose Hill and spent the afternoon scrabbling around, visiting with porcupines, making bad jokes and reminiscing about some of the first hikes we ever took together.

Sleeping Poplar

It was a very nice afternoon. I remember a particular sermon from years back where the pastor spoke of "Making God Smile" as a focus for daily life. I felt God smiling and I was thankful. Following my near sister's blog I am also reminded of God revealing himself in moments of epiphany. Yesterday was a divine game of hide and seek, except there was no hiding - just me seeking. And finding. Lovely.

Wild Rose

Big Sky (and unfortunately some smog...tsk tsk)

Goofy Puppy

On a total side, I have decided to re-enable the comments part of the blog. I had originally taken it off as I found myself writing to what other people may say and found this censorship to be constraining. So now I am challenging myself to wear big-girl pants and just be brave enough to write. No matter what the comment may be.

Going through some photos this evening, I came across this gem.

L to R: Me, Mikey, Jamie

Those were some good times...good times indeed!

On that note, they do make footy pajamas for adults still.

John Denver and Robin

One of my favorite Christmas albums is John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together. Listening to these songs never fails to bring back sweet childhood Christmas memories. Things like dancing around the living room in my new footie bumble bee pajamas with Jamie (who also had new footie bumble bee pajams). Rushing to turn the tape over in the old cassette player and always getting a static-shock from the big round silver volume button. Singing at the top of my voice "Go tell it on the mountain" and pleading with mom for yet another Daffy cupcake. The deeply spiritual love present. So many memories. Wonderful, treasured memories.

Listening to my iTunes yesterday, lo and behold, but on should shuffle John Denver and Robin singing "When the River Meets the Sea". I have always appreciated this song; it has a hauntingly simple yet slow and beautiful melody which makes my ears tingle. Yesterday, I listened harder to the lyrics then I had previously. For your reference, I have included them below:

Robin: When the mountain touches the valley
All the clouds are taught to fly
As our souls will leave this land most peacefully
Though our minds be filled with questions
In our hearts we'll understand
When the river meets the sea

John Denver: Like a flower that has blossomed
In this dry and barren sand
We are born and born again most gracefully
Plus the winds of time will take us
With a sure and steady hand
When the river meets the sea

All: Patience my brothers
And patience my son
In that sweet and final hour
Truth and justice will be done

Robin: Like a baby when it is sleeping
In its mother's loving arms
What a newborn baby dreams is a mystery (a mystery)

John: But this life will find a purpose
And in time we'll understand
When the river meets the sea
When the river meets the almighty sea 

This has not been as easy two weeks at work. So often people will tell me "How wonderful for you to work in such a happy place" without realizing just how devastating it can be. Colleagues have told me that the saddest cases we ever receive always seem to happen at Christmas time, and I wonder why? Perhaps it is because at this time of year many of us seek to reconcile ourselves with a sense of a deeper meaning - be that faith or family - and God knows that with this connection, we will have the strength to carry on.


Though our minds be full of questions
In our hearts we'll understand
When the river meets the sea.


Until this day, I carry on and live for the moments of a vigorous cry, smacking lips, fulfilled birth plans and a new father's tears. My heart understands these. Thanks for reading: this writing has been cathartic.