Tsk Tsk Tsk...and a Merry Christmas

Recently I had the joy of being near a mall in Ottawa during the Christmas season..People from PEI think it's bad..Think Again. The traffic was so bad that police were guiding drivers in and out of the parking lot..not only that, there were no parking spots anywhere. It litterally took me 40 minutes to find a spot..I eventually sat in one spot and waited for my fellow shopper friend to rescue me by jumping in their holy shit mobile and driving off into the Ottawa sunset. People are CRAZY this time of year. What ever happened to just maybe 1 item to people. What's all this about the 100.00 we tend to spend and the people we give the presents to, don't know the difference and frankly don't care what the price was. I, for one, would be happy if a friend or family member gave me a card(with 100.00 in it...just kidding) saying what they feel, or say that they're thinking of me, and/or praying for me. That means a lot. Seriously.
Knowing a Christmas like that will never be because of the intense commercialization that happens over Christmas, I've also given in to the wrath of purchasing gifts for many people; however, I'm a person that thoroughly enjoys giving people things, and I'm very happy to be able to do so. For those of you who have received a gift or gifts from me, I hope you all know that I put a lot of thought into the gifts I give and try not to get gift certificates as it, to me, defeats the purpose of gift giving. It's like " hey i don't really know you, but you must like clothes, so here's a gift certificate from Smart Set." I don't work like that folks. So if you're looking for a gift certificate go ask one of your friends you don't know that well.
On another note, I just got off work, and there was a riot early on in the evening. Minus a few cuts on my legs from chairs being thrown at me along with a sore shoulder from a restraint or two, I made it through my second ever riot.
On a happy note, there are 3 days until I go home, to the island, where I fear I will regain my once sought after accent. I know it sounds crazy folks, but I did lose a lot of my slang. I can turn it on and off, but tend not to use it around the Ontario folk as they tend to get confused VERY easily. Small words work best.
I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a sober New Year.(dont' wanna wake up beside Mr. or Mrs Wrong, and feel like you'd rather knaw off your arm that's under their body than to face actually talking to them) Hope you all really start to find the true meaning of Christmas and are able to share it with others.
God Bless

Goodbye Old Friend

As most of you know, I had a fabulous dog, Champ, for the past 7 years. This was the incredi-puppy. One of the smartest dogs I've ever come to know. Unfortunately, he became sick a few weeks ago, and had to be put down this past friday. This is going to be my dedication to Champ because he deserves it.
And as a dedication I'm gonna jot down a few odd memories I have of him...
This incredi-pooch (border collie part beagle) played a significant role in my life and the life of my family. Years of not getting along seemed to disappear when Champ was around and made for less uncomfortable conversations. I got Champ when he was 5 weeks old (the runt of the pact..born on April 1st) and the first few nights he slept in my bed..unfortunately, he peed all over my sheets twice and that was that. He then went to a box...which he howled at for a few nights..and that was that...then I left him in my garage until he got used to being alone and not howl..then he came back in the house. Every night thereafter until I moved out when I was 17, Champ slept with me in my bed.
This was not just any regulard dog. I began teaching him tricks shortly after getting him and he caught on very quick. His tricks included the obvious: sit, lay down, stay, and shake a paw. However, he caught onto others very quickly: play dead, roll over, sit pretty, keep something on his nose and flick it up to catch it..and my personal favorite-go get it. I'd tell Champ to go get something in the house, and he would go get it and bring it to me...
Champ had a very protective side to him and he unfortunately took that out on a few unsuspecting victims who fell to the wrath of his teeth. One of those people was Kim Baglole. Champ nipped her in the ankle..although funny at the time, i think it left her with a complex. He also hated the paper boy....I mean really. He even met the damn kid one day, but continued to try and kill him with everytime he dropped off the paper( everyday ).
My favorite game to play with champ was hide-and-seek. I would tell him to stay in the kichen while I went to hide..then I'd call him..and he would trott through all the rooms until he found me...in which I look would come across his face of sheer delight and his tail would be a waggin.
I know this is probably a bore the lot of you who didn't know him, but for my sanity, this had to be said.
Champ was not only my protector, he was a good friend, and if it wasn't for him, I may not have made it through the dreadful high school years with as much sanity as I have. Thanks for listening.
Love you Champers

Sometimes I wonder

Some people may be wondering "Hey, is Mindy really working, or did she build an igloo and move in with an Eskimo in Nunavut". Well folks, unlike mine and Tasha's song "Cold Love", I did not move to the north, and I'm not all about living in snow.
Although once I had a dream that I was mysteriously trapped inside of an igloo with a professional scrabble player. He kept making stupid words that made no sense, and then would say they were in the damn dictionary but didn't have a stupid one to show me. He claimed he used the words before, but his friend Knuck Knuck told me different on our adventure to find a pizza parlor in downtown Nanisivik. He claimed Knuck Knuck was a phony and that he only became a professional cause he knows the Betty from Long Island who makes the final decisions on people becoming professionals. So, we couldn't find the pizza parlor, but we had a good chat.

On a life note, I'm sure you're all wondering, I'm still working with little shit pricks in group homes and still with the school board. It's all good though. Had a girl drink a bottle of hairspray last week, and then claim her throat hurt...bright one she is. Think she's flyin with the shit hawks...or a really big buzzard.
Other than that, only a few weeks now until the ole PEI comes a callin, and Ricky finally got his grade 10 while bubbles was left feedin the cows..
Peace out

Best Party Ever..

Now, for those of you who still don't understand what a kitchen party is, just stop asking. We gathered a bunch of people into Nancy's basement last night for a little, soiree of fiddle sets, country kickers, and foot stompers. Note to all readers: If you want to have a good party, invite teachers..they get surprisingly drunk after a long week of teaching.
So, no lie, I played for about 5-6 hours straight. The only time I stopped was to do a little Mindy dance with J-9 in the middle of the crowd. The microwave, The Lumberjack, The Q-Tip, The Grocerie Shopper, The Fireman, The Lawnmower, The Sprinkler, and my personal fave, my dad dancing, were the highlights from this event. I think I scored big with the old man dance...but then J-9 came up with the big booty dance which stole the show. But what night would be complete without a little "Put Another Log on the Fire". I think the YMCA was a bit much..a little on the Kareoke sound, but hey, whatever gets the folks up to dance is alright in my books.
We had people playing spoons left right and centre as well as a beautiful piece of accompaniment: the Egg. I brought along 2 eggs and Nancy had about 4 that were used for the most part of the night...through every song....and even when no one was playing. We also had a bodhran, and a djembe, which are both in the drum category for those of you who have never heard of them.
The fiddler we had knew absolutely everything you would ever want to hear from PEI...yes folks including the St. Ann's Reel.(which I'm not a huge fan of, but it's an Island fave). The people from Ontario didn't know what hit them last night with all the East coast drama. Which leads me to this conclusion: No one knows how to party better than the East Coasters.
Geter dun

Sanity is one closed door away..

This past month has been up and down for me really. While configuring this so called " work " with this "life" i've tried to find a balance and have truthfully fallen short of sanity. Now, it's not that I don't have a life, because realistically I have it pretty good considering I'm 9 months into a new city, job, and altogether lifestyle and doing pretty well. It's that in order for me to actually enjoy a day off, I have to have at least 2 days off before. This may sound odd, I know, I live it. But, it usually takes me 1 day to dig out of the depression that these little jerks put me in, and the following day is usually my "clean up the apartment and do the laundry that I haven't done in a week, day. So, there goes 2 days, which leaves the third that I can actually enjoy..which most of the time I don't cause it's rare that I get 3 whole days off.
I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, because I do love this job, but Terrace Youth Residential Services,( for those of you captivated oh so much in my life, that's the full time job), has literally made me feel inadequate as a person, as well as a Youth worker. Knowing this is crap is one thing, feeling that it's true is another.
And besides the annoyance of working, on days off, IT'S FRIGGIN RAINING EVERYDAY! I think this province has been cursed with some sort of extra rain intake. I can't believe the amount of no sunshine I've seen in the past 3 months. It's probably more depressing than having to work everyday. At least the little darlings don't run away when it's raining..although i wish they would.
On a lighter note, I'm going to PEI for Christmas. Yes folks, it's true. Deck yer halls, and load yer boats, cause I'm coming home and i'm ready for some drinkin PEI style. From December 22nd until January 1st or 2nd, I will be indulging myself in the serenity, tranquility and peacefulness of being with my dearest and closest friends...that means you Kurtiss, and bringing myself back to reality if only for 10 days.
In other news, I was gonna get a cat, but didn't want to keep her boxed up in the apartment.....then again.....I live here..
Peace

New York

So I decided to go to Syracuse, New York today on a road trip with my buddy Steph. We left around 7:30 am and met some interesting things along the way. First of all, it was not the nicest of days..and the weather appeared to be colder as we headed to the US of A. Driving through Ogdensburg, New York we came across what appeared to be a Menonite Calvary heading to God knows where. Every 2 minutes we ran into a bearded man, with a woman or two in his carriage with the horsey pullin them along..We also spotted every few yards a sign that said "Posting" which we didn't know what the hell it was for, but it was pissin us off that it was posted every time we looked around. We eventually figured it out the hard way.
As we were travelling it began to snow (to Americans it was probably a blizzard, but it was just a little wet snow to me "Queen of the Snow Island". As we were driving in this "snowy weather" there was an accident that left one SUV completely demolished and another 1/4 ton truck in pretty bad shape...the Interstate Police were everywhere......and I mean everywhere.
So we arrived in Syracuse at around 10:30 but not before paying 2 tolls..folks, it costs money to get onto and off of the interstate as well as to get into the states..i can understand the getting into part, but getting onto the intersate? that's dumb. So we arrived to Waterloo Premium Outlets, which was like heaven in a strip mall. No joke people there were 103 outlet stores complete with all you'd ever dream of and any where you'd ever want to shop. LOVE IT!!
We spent the majority of the day here and left in the afternoon for a fun trip back to the land of the sane, and the home of the "I'm not scared of no white stuff fallin on the ground..friggin Amercian babies.
As we were returning, I happened to develope a sort of "heavy foot" persay, and well, I was chased by the friggin State Patrol for like 20 minutes..that's a joke..i pulled over. The officer who came to the window was very polite and asked if I knew why he had stopped me. I explained to him that I was goin a little fast, but the numbers on the odometer were so bloody small..he laughed...and asked if we were shopping in Waterloo..agreeing to this, he also said because we had spent so much money today, he'd let me go, but to slow it down...cute cop..blue eyes...
So, the trip continued and we finally figuered out what the bloody signs were. Posting, as it said on the top, was a No Tresspassing sign..which is what we guessed but we literally stopped and took a picture to make sure.
The last stop before our beautiful Canadian soil was the border crossing..which isn't always fun, but there was a hot guy workin, so it made a big difference. After paying duty, we were on our way and back to the Red and White phenom.
A reminder for any of you crossing the border:
No guns at the border...that's bad.
Don't push the Menonites...they're not always nice.
State Police do not like to be told that you're speeding to get the hell out of their country...it's a bit offensive.
And finally, if in doubt, don't eat the steak...it's not real meat. Canadian Beef. Mmm..Mmm..tasty eh?
LOVE IT

Kitchen Party

So, as a research projet, I set out in Ottawa...mainly my work place..to find out what Ontarioians know what 1: A kitchen party is; and 2: What happens at a Kitchen party. (mainly ya get shit faced loaded, and play instruments that you never knew you could play...spoons come in handy at a local kitchen party). Approximately 15 people gathered at Nancy Mac's rez this past Saturday, which turned out to be a pretty lively event. What with the guitars, piano, Bodhran, egg, and spoons, ya never knew what was gonna happen. So, back to my research. Not one person I spoke with over the last couple of weeks, knew what the hell I was talking about when I said "we're having a kitchen party". One idiot actually thought people came over to cook. Has our culture evolved so much in the past 10 years, that a city of almost 1 million doesn't recognize or even understand what a true party is or consists of? I feel sorry for the children in Ontario who will never get the chance to hear fiddle tunes, amazing songs (ie Put Another Log on the Fire/ My Ding-a-Ling), step dancers, and some guy named Leo or Buddy Whatshisname, telling stories in the corner about their childhood and how for fun they would roll each other down a hill in a tire.(wait a minute..that was my childhood)
This was the first time in a long time (about 4 years) that the party I was attending actually had music all night (not just in the background to drown out the sounds of random men belching to make themselves look like incredibly gross idiots.)
A fun night to say the least. Unfortunately we couldn't get a fiddler, so we made due with what we had.
On another note, to those of you actually following my life, I quit my full time job at Terrace Youth Residential Services. I did this for a few reasons: 1: They warehouse kids 2: The pay is shit and I could make more at Tim Hortons and 3: They've treated me like shit, I've never had a thank you, and they completely take me for granted.
My morals and ethics came into play, and I had to leave for my own sanity. I told them I would work part time until the end of November, and they didn't even attempt to change my mind, leaving me to feel dispensable to them and worthless. Luckily, my other 2 jobs are very good in pay and ethics, and I feel much more appreciated for my skills. TYRS can go fly with the Shit Hawks.
Peace