So, how about that local sports team?

Where have I been?

Well, the short simple answer is Not Blogging. I'm limited by what I can blog about these days, which is frustrating, stifling, and just plain sucky.

I can't discuss work, or criticize the evil political overlords because I'm bound by the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service, and that even extends to not being able to criticize stuff outside of my portfolio. I get that I'm not exactly on par with the norms when it comes to ethics and values, but I see a huge distinction (and I've said this before) between being competent and doing a good job, and being able to express my feelings and perceptions in a way that shouldn't reflect on my ability to do that good, competent job. When my Prime Minister, one that I did not vote for, does or says something I don't agree with, I should be allowed to reserve my right as a private citizen to publicly declare my opposition, as long as I am not doing so in my capacity as a Federal Public Servant, and as long as I am doing so on issues that are unrelated to my files at work.

But I can't because some people decided that I'm not responsible enough to make a distinction between my actions as a private citizen and a public servant. So...work's out on the allowable topics.

I can blog about my relationship with the Quebecois-Swissman, but I'm cautious about that because he prefers a private life.

I can say that right now the words "moving in" and "houses" are entering the vocabulary with some regularity, and I'm wary of that discussion. He makes excellent points, that there's no sense in paying two rents and two power bills, that the markets here are cheaper compared to other cities; points that I once made to Rod when it came to discussing next steps in our relationship. But I'm just out of the relationship with Rod, and I'm still planning on leaving Ottawa as soon as I can, whereas Etienne's tacit plans are to remain here until he's ready to move back to Switzerland. He's also made it clear that I should not go planning my life around him...would you not be wary in my place?

A year ago, I wasn't even sure he wanted me as a friend...a year later, we're here. But then, the relationship between Etienne and I has always been mysterious and unusual, from the start of the most unlikely friendship up to now.

So, a little more to talk about on that subject.

The cats! Oh, I can talk about the cats! My precious little babies, and the constant care and affection they want and need...not to mention the cost of food, and the pain of hauling 15-30 lb pails of litter between the store and here...and for a while, Max went through a phase of peeing on my bed (until I submitted and put the bathroom floor mat back on the floor so he could pee on that instead), which brought me to the brink of giving a cat away.

But you'd get sick of this being a cats-only blog.

There's plenty in the news for me to work with, but yeah, see above discussion on values and ethics code.

So, I'm left with three things at the moment: how much and how desperately I miss Vancouver and my family; Movember; and sports.

On those topics...

...desperately miss Vancouver. The weather, the restaurants, the friends, my parents, the family dog, my views at the Grange St. apartment, the pool, Shaw cable, the car, the access to the states...if you can think of it, I probably miss it like crazy. Ottawa is not home, nor will it ever be.

...Movember...more men in my life are sporting mo-staches this month than not. Etienne, Brent and Ian are all donating their faces for Mustaches for Kids, while Rod, Jeff, and a few other friends are mo'ing up for Movember. If you feel like supporting either cause, that's great, and because I'm biased, I'm going to recommend that you sponsor 'Etienne Normandin' for M4K, and Rod Chudyk for Movember.

...and sports. Guess who's going to Detroit to see the Detroit Red Wings play the Montreal Canadiens on December 10th!! Yeah bitches!! My team plays Etienne's team in the most holy of hockey shrines...the Joe. I'm so stoked!

SQUIRREL!