Sunday, October 30, 2005

American Government: Greedy or Stupid?

No offence to my friends south of the 49th, but are you aware that you're stuck in Gawd's Little Acre, East of the Rock, West of the Hard Place?

For the 5th time, the dispute resolution panel of NAFTA has ruled in favour of Canada's position that duties on softwood lumber imports into the US are illegal, and for the 5th time, the American Government has responded with delay tactics to avoid coughing up the backpay they've unlawfully pocketed. Sadly, the US position is that they need time to "seek clarification" on the ruling...So either the US Government has the slowest learning curve in the world (FIVE TIMES PEOPLE), or they are thieving scoundrels.

Believe me, you don't have to bother pointing out the complete ineptness of Canada's politicians to me...it's a subject I'm fully versed on, and I'm seething in shame that we're still using tactics tantamount to bringing goosedown pillows to a gunfight. So you need not point out to me that the US Government is only part of the problem, I think I got that one myself Sparky.

But at the heart of my *ahem* dissatisfaction is that Canada shouldn't have even entered into a "Free Trade Agreement" with the US Government in the first place. I'm from the "Capitalism cannibalizes itself, given enough time" school of thought, and it was so obvious from the very start that the American side was calling all the shots, effectively making "Free Trade" an ironic cosmic practical joke on us. But then somehow, we suckered Mexico into joining up, and now someone else is feeling the pain of a certain male appendige in a certain anal orifice without the benefit of sufficient lubrication, so I'm not feeling so bad that we've spent so long bending over for the American Government.

So, the options are significantly limited...what motivates the American position on Softwood lumber? Is it greed, or should we start mass producing dunce caps for our American NAFTA and/or political counterparts?

Friday, October 28, 2005

7 years, 2 lovers, 1 gift

Yesterday, Rod and I celebrated 7 years together...with the same present to each other. He thought and thought and thought, and finally asked for a gift card for a full body massage, so that's what I got him. I had asked for 3 things over the course of about a month: A new Calvin Klein perfume, a jewellry box, and a very specific personal request. I specifically told Rod to get the perfume, but with 48 hours to go, I changed my mind, hoping he'd fall back on items two or three. Once I cancelled the perfume order, I was curious to see what he'd come up with, but...

Earlier in the week, I had made arrangements to have 7 white roses delivered toRod's office, and lo, yesterday, Rod turned up at my office with seven white roses (the ones he gave me were nicer, I have to say). Having received the same flowers, I told several coworkers that I was almost 100% certain that he'd get me the same present that I had bought him.

We went to The Creperie for dessert, because dessert is a far more important part of my life then supper, and stuffed ourselves with several dessert crepes (mmmmmm, yummy!) and exchanged gifts...two gift cards for Eveline Charles Salon & Spa. I almost bought the silver bag he gave me my present in. Now, I know some of you are trying to paint a happy face on it with something like 'Great minds think alike', but really, it was a case of Rod falling back on old reliable :p Cause girls will always want spa services.

I have a birthday and xmas coming up in the next few months...place your bets folks...Books, gift cards or movies?

hehehe...

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Bored and Angry?

This morning, I found this little tidbit on the front page of Yahoo! in their headlines section:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051016/ap_on_en_mu/people_martin

It seems our little Ricky from Menudo/She Bangs fame has suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. He says Fame and Fortune left him bored and angry. Now, how can I begrudge the guy this admission, when lifestyle-imposed poverty made me feel the same way? Anyone on student loans can tell you that life can quickly grow boring and angering when you are poor.

Ricky, in your hour of need, I failed you. Instead of being a supporter, a fan, a friend, I was cruelly making fun of you and the fluff you produced. Instead of putting you up on a pedestal, I gloated that your faddish rise to superstardom would be over in the blink of an eye. While I was bashing you for Livin' la Vida Loca, you were suffering from the debilitating side effects of adoration and constant attention. I truly had no idea that you were hurting inside. But now that I know, I feel akin to you. I too know the feelings of frustration and the hours of boredom that comes from being useless. You complete me.

I'm glad to hear you are now feeling good enough to attempt a comeback, but remember, it will be a hard journey. The people who loved you 5 years ago now hide their past in embarassment, shame, or bravado. Just as my peers are embarassed to admit their former love of the New Kids on the Block, so the generation after me will blush at their own unsophisticated musical taste of their youth. And if you should feel yourself straining under the yokes of oppressive boredom again, know this:

I will always be happy to ease your burden by offering up my house for you to help clean. How are you with a scrubbing brush?

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Blond...James Blond

Okay, so Daniel Craig is officially announced as the new Bond. I don't know about his acting abilities but as far as I'm concerned, he's got one BIG strike against him already...he's not BOND material. He's not handsome, even in the rugged sense of the word. He's not debonair/suave. He's 37, which makes it impossible to believe he's a Bond in his 20's, so he's not even right for Casino Royale. All this tells me one thing...The Broccoli's are getting greedy. Instead of putting out a quality product, they are mass producing for a quick buck.

I like the Bond series. Too bad.

Monday, October 03, 2005

Happy Blogiversary

One year ago, I sent a message out into the Internet Wilderness, trying to explain the meaning of the blog. I started with a simple question: What does "Now What" mean?

Last year's answer...

Well, it can be a very complicated question to answer. Now what? I'm never sure of how to answer it, so I do what anyone else bouncing from one uncertainty to the next would do...I avoid answer the question. Indeed, I avoid thinking about it as much as possible. Does this make me sound bad in any way? Well, stick around I guess. We'll see how I get through life.

One year on...

"Now What?" has literally become my signature. At this point last year, I was dealing with a different kind of family instability, everyone was reasonably healthy (physically anyway), I was in school, and so many world events were stoking the fires of my caustic wit. This year, the family instability has shifted into a whole new realm of "what the fuck is going on?", we've been through a few health scares, I'm forced into the working world for the time being, and the caustic wit has turned into spastic whining. I wake up nearly every day asking myself, "Now what?"

I guess I've taken my knocks for the year, and it hasn't been all high drama, but I'm certainly hoping that the next year of this blog reads a little bit happier than the last. May my sense of humour come back in daring fashion, may the insanity of my life quiet to a dull roar, and for the love of all things good and sensible, may Rod finally come to terms with the fact that one way or the other, I'm always right.