For the Bible Tells Me So - Vancouver International Film Festival

http://www.forthebibletellsmeso.org/

today we saw two flics..one very dark about abortion in Romania in the late 80's. bleak and stark reminding us of the choices so many women did not have and continue not to have.

The other very emotional film was "For The Bible Tells Me So".

it is the story of how religious groups interpret, an often in contradictory terms, the bible, based on need to control any one group. it talked of current day pressures related to living as a gay person with the discriminatory relaying of the religious writings. these discriminations bare down on the soul of those who choose to love god but are restricted to gods-unlove by those who take the bible in the literal sense, often for their own gain and political agendas.

long story short- so much persecution still occurs at the hands of those who take the worlds oldest book and choose to control others through its fine print.

i am thankful that my experience of being non-heterosexual in these times has been without major incident, hurt or loathing.

perhaps my tenacity is to be credited?

...or perhaps my god has said "your path will be easier than some;take not for granted the freedoms that you have been blessed with"

and i don't.

hear or not to hear

tonight i saw a fab documentary on people who are deaf. the story is of a couple who have been deaf all of their lives, and decide at the very late age of 65+ , to embark on cochlear implant surgery. this trip into what they believe they want ends with them going back to what they know and feel comfortable with. i cant help but think ...at times we all do the same thing. wanting and needing becomes one selfish act often actionable to a detriment. the problem lies in that we are not always right in our assumptions that the grass is greener on the other side.

why i hate winter

ughh...just thinking about going into the sock drawer creates aniexty...

terrie -isms

while spending a very, very late night working on a paper, my dear friend "A" pointed out that there are many things i say, repeatedly, like strange sentence ending points or not-so-words-of-wisdom. she thot it might be funny to allow those who know me to bring such terrie-isims forward. so love'm or hate'em, now is your chance to poke public fun at the binns!!!!
she started the list :

"i was born ready"
ADDITIONS:
how about the worst offernder of all..."what's up buttercup?"

OR

"just 'cause we're camping doesn't mean we have to live like animals!"

heres a great addition :
"You have so many friggin' isms that your friends need a Binnsictonary to understand you most of the time!"

river road sightings

this is a very exciting time of year! all over richmond the cranberry fields are being flooded and the fruit is being harvested. this little field is near to the road so i have been watching the berries grow for the last few months. today as i drove by, many men with long white beards and mutlicoloured head gear walked through the speckled red waters . they coax the delicious fruit away from its nest and into the truck that will take them to the nearest packaging plant. i love turkey day , especially home made cranberry sauce; not to sweet and a little chunky please!

darkness descends

yearly, the change envelopes me
yet i feel surprised
the night reaches too far into the day
black becomes the overhead light

morning clocks betray inner need
slumber holds fast
dreams stretch on
bedding cocoons

room temperature makes me sneak
toe by toe out of my bed
cradled sleepiness guides
me into the dark morning

my spirit is heavy
winter arrives without permission

I found this article dated almost 18 months ago..interesting, eh? however, still does not help one with the " egos in suits" border geeks one has to make their way through in order to access the benefit of the dollar parity. why do those people get into the profession anyways? just a question...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Loonie predicted to equal U.S. dollar Eric Beauchesne, CanWest News Service
Published: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 Article tools

The dollar will be at par with the U.S. greenback within 18 months, a Canadian bank boldly predicted as the loonie rose to a fresh 28-year high on Tuesday.

"We believe that the stars will align for a Canadian dollar at par with the U.S. dollar . . . by the fall of 2007," National Bank of Canada chief economist Clement Gignac said.

The last time a Canadian dollar was worth the same as the U.S. dollar was in 1976, which was just prior to the election of a separatist government in Quebec, following which the dollar began a long downward slide, greased by weakening commodity prices and rising government deficits and debt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

here is some trivia for those of us who think trivia is intellectual gold:

The Arch was constructed to commemorate the centennial (1814-1914) of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent ending the war of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. The Arch’s design was donated by H.W. Corbett of London, England, an internationally known architect. Construction began under an international force of volunteers in 1920. The Arch was officially dedicated on September 6, 1921.
The Treaty of Ghent, signed on December 24, 1814, in Ghent, (Belgium), was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.The war was regarded as futile by both sides. The USA had been resoundingly unsuccessful in its invasions of Lower and Upper Canada, while Britain had not made any significant gains (albeit the burning of Washington D.C.) with its retaliatory raids into the USA. Fighting immediately stopped when news of the treaty reached the battlefronts. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved on February 16, 1815 and President James Madison exchanged ratification papers with a British diplomat in Washington on February 17; the treaty was proclaimed on February 18. Eleven days later (March 1) Napoleon escaped from Elba starting the European wars up again, and forcing the British to concentrate on the threat he posed.

pirates! ay!

today is "international talk like a pirate day"! not that i care about that..really just an opportunity to post a pic of the sexiest pirate ever! and let me say he could chart my course any day!

ge'ahead..google it...ya no ya wanta matie!

my life in retail

i started my retail career when i was 12. my father worked weekends in a friends pet store. he would occasionally take us kids with him. we would catch tropical fish, hamsters, snakes and other such "pets" for customers. then when i was in my teens my father opened a pet store in newmarket ontario where i worked p/t. in fact some days i ran it by myself. now some 25 years later i find myself in an industry wrought with labour challenges, "gen y" demand-rs and customers who expect way too much from my young and inexperienced employee base. today i hate retail.
for those of you that like it..here's a great game for you:


www.joeykatzen.com/alpha/


enjoy! cause i friggin dont

river road sightings

on the way in to work i pass many an interesting thing on the road that runs parallel with the mighty fraser. this antique truck part has been stoic in its place for some twelve months or so. and then one day someone gets creative and added the driver...has to make you laugh.

matters of the heart

i find myself introspective of late..spending a lot of time in my own head. seeking clarity on what is, what should be, what i want to be.maybe it is the change of the season. might be something i ate.
or perhaps its a pale moon...

river road sightings

most mornings i drive from new west to richmond for work. i take river road which winds its way along the mighty fraser. it is not a well used route and most mornings it is tough to count 10 others on the same stretch of asphalt.
the scene is that of mixed use, houses scattered, unplanned homesteads, fields of cranberries, commercial storage yards, a ship builder and various river side abodes looking frozen in time. abandoned vehicles overgrown with the wild vegetation that has been given carte blanc due to the mass available water nearby.
there is a railway bridge marked LuLu island. It is a swing bridge. wooden lattice braces create a webbed vision of the sunrise as you drive west.the tugboats chug along with various items in tow from logs to sulfur. some morning there are herons standing in the shallow edge. some mornings there are fisher people up way early in hopes of a hit. other days, no one crosses my path and i drive alone.
it is peaceful and hard to imagine that just on the other side of the farmers field over ten thousand cars whiz along the volatile stretch of 91.

Nearly 200 animals and plants have been added to a global database of threatened species

"MSNBC staff and news service reports:
Nearly 200 animals and plants have been added to a global database of threatened species, the World Conservation Union announced Wednesday, adding that the number is certainly on the low end."


forget that list...i have my own :

partylines - where you shared a telephone lines with your neighbour and calls came into your home on the same line yet had different rings..you could listen in

"alli- alli all come free" - classic hide and seek call,difficult to play now through the virtual net work

tv dinners with mystery deserts,like'em sticks, wigwags, macintosh toffee, black cat gum,squeeze a snack,pizza delivery - the only way you could get pizza

clothes lines

mood rings, lava lamps, field parties,sea monkeys, pet rocks,earth shoes,hoola hops, rubics cube,pez

what classic movie are you?

found this great test on line...here is my result

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

give it a go and let me know what your result is!

Rick and Steve - the happiest gay couple

a gal from work lent me this DVD..puppets gone gay! worth the watch, brilliant dialogue and so gay!

"my aphrodisiac is you" katie melua

Some people say That oysters make you come on strong,

But I don't buy it, I don't believe my diet turns me on.

Won't take no pills,

That's the last thing that I need to do, I can't deny it,

My aphrodisiac is you.

Alright, I could sniff some powdered rhino horn,

And go to bed in rubber gloves.

But I don't need no stimulation, Potions, balms or embrocation,

I'm in love, In other words... Don't smoke no grass,

Or opium from old Hong Kong,

That hubble-bubble Just makes me see you double All night long.

Don't waste my time With Spanish fly and roots to chew,

They cause me trouble, Because my aphrodisiac is you.

Alright, I could sniff some powdered rhino horn,

And go to bed in rubber gloves.

But I don't need no stimulation,

Potions, balms or embrocation, I'm in love,

In other words...

Some people like To read the khama sutra first,

But I don't need it I think if I should read it I'd be worse; Don't ask me why,

Because baby, I ain't got a clue.

I just concede it,

My aphrodisiac Is you

.
is it hump day?

Anita Roddick, 64 - Body Shop Founder dies

"The Body Shop chain became a massive success selling "green" cosmetics as customers were becoming

environmentally aware. She leaves us with an enduring legacy which will long guide the affairs of The Body Shop. Roddick had said her business ethics were partly inspired by women's beauty rituals that she discovered while traveling in developing countries, and lessons that her mother passed on from life during the hard years of World War II.
Roddick's business opposed product testing on animals and tried to encourage development by purchasing materials from small communities in the Third World. According to AP reports, the Body Shop also invested in a wind farm in Wales as part of its campaign to support renewable energy, and it set up its own human rights award.
The Body Shop has grown into a global phenomenon with nearly 2,000 stores in 50 countries and remains independently run despite being owned by L'Oreal Group.
In recognition of Roddick's contribution to business and charity, Queen Elizabeth II made her a dame, the female equivalent of a knight, in 2003"

wow just a reminder that life is so precious...and no matter what your status, the reaper cometh on his own schedule.

Titanic

i went to the Titanic exhibit in victoria this weekend. i have not been so moved in a long time. 1500+ souls lost due to human error. so avoidable.

history told in such a compassionate real way. ...people.... loss and survival.

i urge all to go. you will be moved and learn so much.

http://www.titanicarchive.com/History.aspx

communication chaos

we live in a time of over communication, don't you think? use to be there was only one three ways to talk to me....snail mail, one- on- one or through a telephone line where the equipment was tethered to the wall. now you can call, PIN, text, on line chat, use one of numerous emails assigned to me or even, if you are old school, mail me a letter. how do the young people keep up? how do they filter alll that comes at them...or does all this noise not phase them?

don't get me wrong i love technology..A LOT but sometimes feel it is difficult to be "present" when all the devices are coming at ya.

today something brilliant happened at the APEC Summit in Australia. a very talented comic crew pretended to be part of a Canadian Motorcade and were permitted through TWO security check points and ended up just 30 feet from where Bush was staying! the news is focused on the fact that one of the troop members was dressed as Bin Laden!
not me, i am focused on the fact that everyone trusted the motorcade based on a silly lil flag on the hood of an ominous black car. wow we truly are seen as a trust worthy culture, eh? today i stand proud of this fact. just my take.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2007/09/06/vause.apec.fake.motorcade.cnn

ipod envy

great, just when i think i am happy with my current candy along comes better, prettier, more desirable candy. ipod TOUCH. the name even evokes imagery of stolen moments,caring touches of love,button pushing elastic moments. i will not be complete until i have one of my own. is it so wrong to desire what you do not have ? apple: you are my drug

i am having an affair

with my ipod. i love to be with it, love to explore it, think about it all the time, carry it with and even installed a new deck in my truck so it can come on road trips with me.

recently a very dear friend of mine gave me access to her itunes library and now my ipod has a full belly! some 5k songs were added. now my ipod and i have have so much more to learn about each other. and my apologies to my pearl, sorry i will make more time for you later...you are still special to me.

back alley gardener

the place where my truck sleeps has an entrance that takes one down a long alley. different than most alleys of suburban overgrowth, in that it is a little piece of paradise. there is more green here than most downtown city blocks have. bar none.

he is there;rain or shine. i watched him in the fall of last year. meticulous in his cleaning. getting the space ready for oncoming winter. this year i watched again, watched him move through his diligent love for the green space...spring was due...he was there, daily..many countless hours in preparation of the new growth .

summer produced exuberant richness for the senses. such beauty through ones hands and soul. creation of birth for the visual enjoyment of him and others. greedy and selfish we take in all that has been created. chicken -little voyeurism. it stretches three spaces wide. each one tenderly cared for. each experience planned for blooming exactness. each flower and plant with one purpose; to touch those who take the moment to appreciate it's beauty.

passion shows itself in so many ways. drive by and see what i am blessed to see daily.

hamiton st,new west, back alley.

wet

today the rain came back. i swear it was gone for such a long time. or perhaps i am more aware because it is attached to the first week in September. the beginning of fall is upon us. change is good and i know i should embrace it but so much of me has changed these last few months. i feel melancholy today and am picturing a soft sofa, a good book and a cup of tea.

more of my passion, er, i mean hobby

altho some may think of us "trailer trash " hobby -nuts, we think of ourselves as inclusionists. all are welcome in the camp - does not not matter your walk of life, your passions beyond your trailer or your family status..only one thing is required..can you have a good time?

this photo was taken by Dwight, the man of a million stories! this was at the annual Vintage Trailer Rally, Deming WA.

we, the collective trailer peeps, are known for camp fire or pot luck events, road trip rallies, swapping junk or in this case, gathering $$ for a worthy cause. this day, all funds from the Tiki bar went to the CSF society. ok, so i got a kick ass marg in the exchange. not a bad way to "camp" eh?

my hobby

ok, for many, "they just wont get it" , for my like minded friends and i we do.

i belong to a "vintage fibregalss rv club" and it is fun! more than that, i have made some of my best friends through this little home on wheels.. and met some of the most sincere honest and beautiful people ever! r and c, r and s, m and c, s, you know who you are :)

soon we will gather many lil' fiberglass eggs and have our annual fall meet..will post pics after.. it is just too much fun!

Vintage RV's

recently attented a fab weekend of Vintage Rv Groupies! It was so fun. i love anyone who has a passion for anything! cantbe human without a passion...yes?

here's a pic...yup, not just the passion for trailers but a passion for the cars! google vintage trailer rally for more

the season of change

i walked to the grocery mart this evening, i am thankful that the city supplies all that is needed within a short stroll.
i took my umbrella but did not deploy it. the light rain felt cooling on my skin and the scent spoke to me of change and oncoming slumber.

while walking back on a street i don't usual travel, i looked down and saw multicoloured maple leaves! i had not seen this blatant fall designation...how could it be that it is here so fast?

tri- coloured death sleeping soundly beneath the pressure of raindrops.

I walk on afraid that time has passed so quickly without my knowledge.

thoughts on labour day

thank gawd for long weekends. i wish to the hunt the man down who decided that 5/2 was a good way to split the work week.

i am tired. we are all tired. slave to the rhythm has its costs. opening retail or any such business on a sunday or this designated no-labour day has caused society a great disservice. remember when sundays were "family days" and true lazy days? the day you could count on to spend time with those you often have taken for granted.

sunday meal with the grandparents.

roast beast; dad always carved, clean up and dress in your best. have pop with dinner. pour your own gravy on mashed potatoes. refuse green veggies without the stern look from the mom.

or even better, the day the dad washed the car and you sat in the criss- cross polyester woven lawn chair discussing things of importance to your child-world. the dad would always be interested. then he would launch into stories of his own childhood. his face alight with the memories of friends,time that belonged only to him, simple ways of showing friendships from sharing a fishing pole to letting your friend steal your girl cause you knew it was for the best. magic moments; him and you as the lawn sprinkler ticked and tocked and became the musical score of the moment.

About me

well, having been on the planet for some forty odd years plus, i still find it difficult to really tell my story. some reasons for the difficulty include the desire to forget things, the desire to reshape things and the just plain madness of a weak memory.