Lie Back and Think of England

There may be a wee snag in our going to England - The S.O.'s Bartholin's gland is kicking up again, and that may stop us cold. The whole "being 7000 km away from my doctor" thing is a bit of a hurdle, apparently... Likewise getting travel insurance for a pre-existing condition, and not knowing when it's going to blow up on her (again). It's fistualized (it's a word now... I love English!) and she's had some of the Bartholin's fluid (vaginal lubricant) leaking out her anus.

An interesting variant on a theme, but not something we were hoping for.

We're going to try declaring this a "controlled emergency", so we can get treatment NOW, with doctors who will know her history, instead of waiting for an "emergency emergency", where we'll get which ever doctor happens to be on hand at the time. That didn't work out so well last time we tried it.

The timing is a bit of a shame - not only would we miss England, but that makes us some money, too; plus, we'd be bailing on the lovely woman running the workshop awfully late in the program... Still, she's got some help, even without us. And personally, I'll take my wife's health over a trip anywhere, any time.

Not an uncommon feeling, I trust.

On the plus side, no deaths or crippling diseases just yet! One of the S.O.'s exes had Crohn's Disease (love the name of that newsletter), so she's been having visions of colostomy bags dancing through her head of late. So much energy is being expended trying to make her feel as little anxiety as possible.

Not sure if I should go cuddle her now or not - she's taken to starting work at 11:00, so she's getting up at 10, only half an hour from now. Bit like waking someone up to take their sleeping pill, isn't it?

Happy Anniversary! (A Short Comparison)

So Katrina's second anniversary coming up, and I haven't the slightest idea what to get them. Perhaps another speech by President George? Well, that will be coming anyways, so what else... what else...

I know!

How about we find an insider to discuss what the hell went wrong with the governments when the levees broke? Er... I mean another insider?

Done, and done!

Funny story:

"[...] under law dating back to 1935, a breech of the federal levee system makes the damage - and the deaths - a federal responsibility. That means, as van Heeden points out, that "these people must be compensated."

"Indeed, that was the rule applied in the storms that hit Westhampton Dunes, New York, in 1992. There, when federal sea barriers failed, the flood waters wiped away 190 homes. The feds rebuilt them from the public treasury. But these were not just any homes. They are worth an average of $3 million apiece - the summer homes of movie stars and celebrity speculators. "

But what about people who aren't Katrina victims? Well, not directly, anyways. Riddle me this: why would the public housing in New Orleans that was not damaged by any floodwaters have the homeowners kicked out by the city and then get sealed with steel plates for over a year?

If you didn't know that part of the story, turn on the sound and watch this.

Well, fair enough. After all, those poor folks in New Orleans public housing are awfully.. you know... dark.

Happy Decaversary!

We had our 10th anniversary, the Significant Other and I. A couple days back, we enjoyed a fantastic meal our with the S.O.s boss and her girlfriend/lover/person-she-argues-with-most-now-that-her-daughter-isn't-a-teen-anymore (it's one of THOSE relationships) and my dad; visited some friends; and found that the S.O.s Bartholin's Gland has not only started to swell again, but has now fistulized (is that a word? Done this, anyways).

Well, what's an anniversary without a severe medical condition, anyways? It just wouldn't be the same, that's what!

Government Punishes Commercial Success

A thousand curses on government oversight committees! A plumbing company finds a way to succeed in todays harsh economic climate, and the next thing you know, they're being investigated for "excessive shipping charges"!

Really, does $998,798 for two washers sound all that excessive to you?

Activism That Works

... Is rich, white, politically connected activism!

The pitch by a member of the Vancouver City Parks Board to a native band seeking possession of his favorite golf course:

"They are fine-tuning a pitch to encourage the 1,200-member Musqueam community to seek a 48-hectare piece of the Spirit Park in the University Endowment Lands instead of the 48-hectare course in Mr. Campbell's prosperous Vancouver-Point Grey riding."

Yes, that is correct: he want them to take University land instead.

Power to the (Right) People!

More over at the Gazetteer.

Johnny and the Dead

Open Letter to John Gibson:

In you summary dismissal of Jon Stewart’s speech opening his first show back after the Twin Tower attacks, you and your producer accused him of “faking it”, and of not being interested in preventing such attacks from happening again.

This, during the same show where you propose that the United States “needs another 9/11.” Apparently, irony has no place in your world.

Your “proof” that Stewart was “faking it” is… that he criticizes President Bush. Is there any possible way that one of these is even connected to the other?

Let’s try an imagination game, just to see:

Supposing your family has been brutally axe murdered in their home. Spouse, kids, parents, pets – all gone. The killer walked in through the front door, using a key, and set upon them while they slept.

A horrible event, I think we’ll all agree, and you weep at the funeral. Because you’re on television, someone records it.

The Chief of Police tells you that he will not rest until the perpetrators of this evil crime are incarcerated. He puts rewards out for information; he puts together a special investigative team; he uses a huge portion of the precinct budget for the sole purpose of finding and bringing to justice the brutes that devastated your family. In a matter of weeks, an arrest is made.

Of a goat.

When you mention that you don’t think a goat could have done that, he immediately accuses you of not loving your family. And besides, what would you know about it? You don’t have a team of experts and a squadron of investigators working on the case! Goats are dirty, smelly things and deserve to be arrested anyways.

Soon after, goat farms are raided across the entire state: owning goats is made illegal, and anything that contains or may have contained any part of a goat becomes contraband. Millions of dollars are spent from the city and state budget for the Capra aegagrus hircus crackdown.

When you point out that goats don’t use keys, and maybe the curtailing of rights is a bad idea, you are publicly rebuked, declared a “lover of goats”, and considered possibly treasonous.

The phones in your house, your work, and everywhere you have been in the past 25 years are tapped, because “you never know.” More goats are arrested on suspicion of being axe-wielding, key-using, phone-calling murderers. Everyone connected to people who may have used goat or “goatish” (sheep, llamas, and, what the hell, chickens) products is kept under constant surveillance. Further arrests are made, and Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken franchises start opening in Syria.

For seven years, this goes on. The policing budget has been almost entirely devoted to the arrest and detainment of ungulates (and chickens). Money is pulled from infrastructure, education, medical facilities. The crime rate increases, exhausted members of the police force are legislated on duty without leave, causing problems among them and their homes.

Again, you try pointing out that none of the animals listed could wield an axe, open a door or have a phone conversation; suddenly the tape that was made of you crying at the funeral of your family is played on national television. A new sound track is dubbed over that, so it sounds like you’re laughing about their deaths, and chortling about how rich you’re going to get off their life insurance.

Sound like a good idea?

*** *** ***

For the folks who missed it, here’s Jon Stewart’s monologue, and here’s Gibson’s mocking of it.

As an added bonus, how about Gibson encouraging other people to get their families murdered!

The Circling Skies

Or, in this case, far, far above the skies.

Remember: in space, no one can hear you scream "AAAIIIIIEEEEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!!!!!!" *swoosh* k-POW! k-POW! Nyyyyyyyrrrrrooowwwww *ka-booosh!*

Yep, another Skeptics' Circle is up and about. Check it out over at the Bronze Blog.

Leaving oil behind is FORBIDDEN!

And On And On...

Now, I know I've brought up the disaster that is the Missile Defence System often enough; but I think it's long past due for some praise:

At least it hasn't killed 30 people so far.

Oh I Wish, How I Wish...

...I had a tank.

Memo to car drivers: keep your excuses to yourself.

Communication of Thoughts

One of the more difficult things about writing messages it getting the tone right. I have been exchanging email with a lovely woman that the Significant Other and I are hoping to meet in person soon. Among the many, many things we've discussed came this comment:

"Re. play rape -- yes! Thank you! The reaction I've got from men I broached this with made me feel very self-conscious about this fantasy. And I know it's not at all the real thing ... that's the point. The power is in choosing to surrender, right? I so want to get past feeling guilty for my rape fantasies."

Which is an interesting point. This is not a woman who is unaware of the society she lives in; she is not foolish or "weak"; and she is certainly not stupid. She's had some experience in life, and she's put a lot of thought into this. She also has a college degree, which is a fair bit more than I've managed!

Yet...

She's been made to feel guilty about expressing a part of her sexual nature, both by the horrified and uncomfortable reactions she's received from boyfriends and by the environment we live in.

Considering the nature of rape itself, that's perfectly understandable: it is a nightmare scenario for anyone to have to endure and deserves full approbation. But what she is talking about is NOT rape, but more (as the romance novels put it) "being taken". It's simple arousal, but to such a degree that her lover(s) cannot help themselves but ravish her on the spot, and there's nothing she can do to stop it.

And this is where S/M and B&D come in to play. So to speak.

This is the first time she's managed to discuss this with someone who has the vocabulary and experience to ask her the right questions, and it makes a BIG difference! When everything is out in the open (what you want, what they want), it becomes much easier to make things safe, sane, and consensual.

Handing physical control of yourself over to someone else is a very dangerous thing. There is a lot of trust needed on the part of the person who yields, but also some from the person who is taking that control: we have to know that if anything is going wrong, they will tell us! There are safewords (usually "green" "yellow" and "RED!"), or hand signals when they can't speak (waving quickly works), or even stomping the feet if the hands are otherwise occupied. Whatever it happens to communicate the message needs to be decided upon before any play even starts.

But there is something that has to be done earlier than that: meeting in person.

And no, parties or bars don't count. People say and do things there that aren't exactly revealing of their home life...

Likewise on-line encounters. Someone can say the most amazing things, deeply impressing you... until you catch on that they're cut-and-pasting Whitman and Yeats.

So meeting in person is paramount. But how to do that safely, when you could well be traveling quite some distance to meet people? Here's the basic rules if you're not comfortable bringing someone you know and trust along:

1) Always have a way out. Either your own vehicle, or a transit system that will still be running (and is very close by) well past the time of the meet;

2) Meet in public, during daytime. Nothing secluded or dark - including dark restaurants/cafes and dark corners in same;

3) Always watch your drink. Seriously, take the thing with you to the bathroom if you have to. Never leave it alone with the person(s) you're meeting ("It's okay, my friend has fainting spells. I'll take her home...");

4) If you decide to go home with them, arrange a phone call with a friend, and make sure they have the full (real) names and address of the house you're going to before you go on the date! If 48 hours pass without contact, they can make a couple phone calls themselves...

5) No "last minute changes". Them calling to say they're going to be late is a polite thing to do: them calling to try to get you somewhere else is not.

6) Always remember you can leave at any time. During the date, when you see their dilapidated house, when you realize that their home is an insane asylum, or just because you get a "bad vibe". ANY EXCUSE is good enough.

Keep to these, and use them EVERY TIME, and that's as safe as this sort of encounter can get, short of bringing a body guard. Trust how you feel: if anything sense anything that disturbs you, say "I'm just not feeling a connection, here. Thanks anyways!" and walk. Disappointing, sure; perhaps borderline rude. But better than some of the options.

Another option is always playing in public. Go to a munch of a local group, or attend a party as a non-participant and just see what happens. Lots of people around, dedicated to having fun and not wanting that fur ruined = a safe environment. Remember these are adults, not kids; they know what they're doing.

Trust us.

That'll Leave A Mark!

So, I'm all done my tattoo: the only question now is what to tell people it says. Some suggestions:


1) Screw the Italians!
2) Long Live Rock and Roll
3) Ye Shall not make any marks upon you (Leviticus 19:28)
4) "It is Sweet" - Lao Tzu
5) Party Naked in Angkor Wat


Shameless Plug: I got this done at Urge Studios in Victoria. These people obviously have a good time at their job, and it's fun to head down there. There is a marked dearth of surliness. (Thanks Kim!)

In the spirit of sharing, here are some of the better science/scientist tats! There's a link there to a Flickr slide show with more, too - it's down and to the left.

Those are weird, because as we all know, scientists don't have any fun at all!

*!Warning!* Do not open the second link if you have boys in your home! *!Warning!*

How to Identify a Race

It's not like NPR isn't a good news source, even if it's quite obviously left-leaning in its coverage. I, as you might imagine, have no real problem with that.

But I'm trying to figure out why this is news?

It not just that non-whites are now a majority in 10% of the "most populous counties"; but that the so-called minorities are somehow transformed into a homogeneous blob. According to this story, the only important thing about non-whites is that they're non-white.

Apparently, there's an influx of Asians in Chicago, Hispanics in Washington, blacks in Houston. My favorite line from the story so far:

"Black populations declined in metropolitan New Orleans..."

Gosh!

Is there any way this isn't ridiculous? First off, I can name a few different "Hispanic" cultures, a couple "Black" ones, and a dozen "Asian" ethnic groups without even trying hard. Okay, I'm biased: I live on the west coast of Canada. If you can find someone here who couldn't name a dozen different Asian cultured, then that's only because they're too young to speak yet.

For the record I'm white, whatever the hell that means. If you say it's "European", doesn't that mean Slavs are white? How about the Italians, or the Spanish? I suppose not Spanish, given that "Hispanic" is apparently a category... If you say "I meant Northern European", then are you saying Ukrainians are white, Russians are white, the Irish are white?

And yet the title of the tale says it all: " Minorities Now Majority in One-Third of Most-Populous Counties".

And this means... what, exactly? More of the country will be exposed to the dangers of really good food?

Aha!

I think we have the way to divide all the races into their proper categories: If you have a cookbook, you're a race. Fair enough?

Run! Run While You Can!

For those happy few who have the option:

Leave your homes.

Turn away from civilization.

Go into the dark.

And Look Up.

Do it now!

Texas Buys a Lot of Textbooks

What a strange headline. If you're wondering why I used it, may I offer these quotes, verbatim:

"Our speaker of the day is Dr. Don McLeroy … He is a dentist, but he is also a member of the Texas State Board of Education, so he has a unique perspective on the battle I guess that is going on between evolution and other worldviews."

-Introducing the speaker

"I have been part of this group, it’s been very exciting being a part of this group. I am the only nonacademic in this group that has been meeting and I have gotten to really appreciate what academ, academicians do."

"This is Jonathan Edwards when he was 17-years-old, and, uh, he said “nothing is what sleeping rocks think of.” So it’s interesting to think about it."

"And one other thing about these lessons, big tent, and this is, uh, in the big tent of evolution we all have disagreements, but we’re united in one thing, and we’re united in what we oppose. And you’ll see this later. This is the power of the deductive argument, but nature is all there is. We’re united against the fact that that’s a true statement."

"But naturalism has enslaved our society’s mind. David Kupelian in a WorldNet article, it’s a fascinating article, on October 24, 2004, makes an interesting comparison. He observes that naturalism evolution is very much like the movie The Matrix."

"But one of the things that I really have read to my fourth-grade class, I’ve read them the entire Job: 38-41 at one time. It’s a speech by God, and it’s where he tells them that he is the Creator. It’s, you should read it sometime."

"He listed evidence, evidence, evidence as why he supports Darwinism. In fact, my question is – you can think about later, this is not a discussion question – why do they hold it so strongly?"

"[On Richard Dawkins] So he firmly has, so firmly established in his naturalistic belief that any argument that makes the case for a native designer must be arguing for faith, and in that case it must be evil. And that’s so funny because there’s no such evil in the world unless there’s a righteous God that the evil’s against. So he’s really making an argument for us! But he argues that it’s evil. He’s the one that said anyone who believes against evolution must be either dumb, stupid or evil. You know, he made a famous quote. I didn’t look it up to bring it here."

"Remember keep chipping away at the objective empirical evidence. Keep pointing out that their deductive reasoning depends on the premise nature is all there is to be true."

"To me engaging naturalism does bring religion into the equation, though I think by bringing in scientific method some of the points – I hadn’t thought about that, so I really gotten a lot out of this discussion."


Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the chairman of the Texas State Board of Education.

***Update: through much of his speech, he voices concern about scientists "not listening to evidence." As compared to, say, evangelicals, who aren't afraid of anything, right?

It's All In The Optics

From the Annals of Improbable Research:

2007 Best Visual Illusion Winner

Enjoy!

A Hazard of Email

So a friend of mine, who really should know better, forwarded me a bit of spam.

I thought I'd share, adding my own commentary to the mix:

----- Original Message -----

From: XXXX

Once you have opened this e-mail, there's no turning back.

Unless you, you know, turn back.

Below are true descriptions of zodiac signs,

Paradox!

with traits from a book written 35 years ago by an astrologist predictions.

By a what?

Read your sign, then forward it on, with your zodiac sign and label on the subject line.
This is real deal, try ignoring it, and the first thing you'll notice is having a horrible day starting tomorrow morning - and it only gets worse from there.

As long as it's better than your punctuation, I'll be fine.


ARIES - The Liar

So the writer's an Aries, then?

Outgoing. Lovable. Spontaneous. Not one to mess with. Funny.
Excellent kisser EXTREMELY adorable. Loves relationships, Addictive. Loud.

Punctuates randomly...

16 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

For them or me?

TAURUS - The Tramp
Aggressive. Loves being in long relationships.

Wait - "The Tramp" loves long relationships?

Likes to give a good fight for what they want. Extremely outgoing. Loves to help people in times of need.

Unless they're in the way of what the Taurus wants.

Good kisser. Good personality. Stubborn. A caring person. One of a kind. Not one to mess with. Are the most attractive people on earth!

And, boy! Do they let everyone else know! Arrogant bastards...

15 years of bad luck if you do not forward.


GEMINI - Irresistible
Nice. Love is one of a kind. Great listeners Very Good in the you
know where...

Ass? Just guessing here.

Lover not a fighter, but will still knock you out.

...By being Very Good in the you know where, I'm guessing.

Trustworthy. Always happy. Loud. Talkative. Outgoing VERY FORGIVING.

I see the Random Capitalization Fairy has arrived.

Loves to make out.

But apparently, their kissing isn't worth mentioning.

Has a beautiful smile. Generous. Strong. THE MOST IRRESISTIBLE 9 years of bad luck if you do not forward.


The most irresistible 9 years of bad luck? This word... I do not think it means what you think it means...

CANCER - The Cutie
MOST AMAZING KISSER.

And most high quality spammer! Most honourably gullible!

Very high appeal. Love is one of a kind. Very romantic. Most caring person you will ever meet! Entirely creative. Extremely random and proud of it. Freak. Spontaneous. Great telling stories. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out if it comes down to it. Someone you should hold on to.

So when you fight them, get into a clinch right away?

12 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

Poor bastards. I'm feeling a little bad about giving all these folks bad luck!


LEO - The Lion
Great talker. Attractive and passionate. Laid back. Knows how to have fun. Is really good at almost anything. Great kisser. Unpredictable. Outgoing. Down to earth. Addictive. Attractive. Loud. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Not one to mess with. Rare to find.

About 1 in 12, in fact.

Good when found.

Better when lost again.

7 years of bad luck if you do not forward.


VIRGO - The One that Waits
Dominant in relationships.

AKA "Shrew"; "Harridan"; "Virago".

Someone loves them right now.

Until they find out what the Virgo is like.

Always wants the last word. Caring. Smart. Loud. Loyal. Easy to talk to.

Wait - go over that list again... Always wants the last word, loud, easy to talk to?

Everything you ever wanted. Easy to please. The one and only.

Except for all the other Virgos.

7 years of bad luck if you do not forward.


LIBRA - The Lame One

LAME!

Nice to everyone they meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet!

Um... You've met the Significant Other, right?

However, not the kind of person you want to mess with... you might end up crying...

Well, they got that part right, anyhow!

9 years of bad luck if you do not forward.


SCORPIO - The Addict

Heh - couldn't have guessed.

EXTREMELY adorable. Intelligent. Loves to joke. Very Good sense of humor. Energetic. Predict future.

Do NOW! Predict! Says I!

GREAT kisser. Always get what they want. Attractive. Easy going. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Caring. 4 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

Pfft! I see they got off light!


SAGITTARIUS - The Promiscuous One
Spontaneous. High appeal. Rare to find.

Only a 8.33% chance! Get yours now!

Great when found. Loves being in long relationships.

Unlike all those other signs.

So much love to give. Not one to mess with. Very pretty. Very romantic. Nice to everyone they meet. Their Love is one of a kind.

Lost of repeated phrases in these descriptions. Does that mean "not terribly original"?

Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! Amazing in the you know where..!!!

The back seat of a 1973 Plymouth Reliant?

Not the kind of person you want to mess with- you might end up crying. 4 years of bad luck if you do not forward.


CAPRICORN - The Passionate Lover
Love to bust.

Um... What? Bust a move? Bust a cap? Bust a trust with heavy litigation?

Nice. Sassy. Intelligent. Sexy. Predict future.

Can not predict future. I can has cheezburger?

Irresistible. Loves being in long relationships. Great talker.
Always gets what he or she wants. Cool. Loves to own Gemini's in sports.

Bad abuser of apostrophes! Bad!

Extremely fun. Loves to joke. Smart.

As compared to "intelligent"?

24 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

So smart and intelligent that they are SOOOO going to forward this spam or ELSE they'll get, like, cursed and stuff! No, really!!1!11!!one!!

AQUARIUS - Does It In The Water

The hell'd that come from? Suddenly we get a single entendre? Or is that the only one the writer could think of?

Trustworthy. Attractive. Great kisser. One of a kind.

Except, of course...

Loves being in long-term relationships. Extremely energetic. Unpredictable. Will exceed your expectations.

Lower your expectations enough, and anyone will!

Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out.

How, exactly? Run over me with their car?

2 years of bad luck if you do not forward


TWO?!? What the -? Is that all they can handle, or what? Pussies!

PISCES - The Partner for Life
Caring and kind. Smart. Center of attention. High appeal. Has the last word.

...Pissing off their Virgo partner no end.

Good to find, hard to keep. Fun to be around. Extremely weird but in a good way.

Assuming you like liquid latex, Alsatian fur wall hangings and six-fingered Hittites. What are you waiting for?

Good Sense of Humor!!!

OH MY GOD!!! NOOOOO!!!

Thoughtful. Always lets what he or she wants. Loves to joke. Very popular. Silly, fun and sweet. 5 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

OK here's the thing you cant send this

And you can't punctuate.

to the person who sent this to you so good luck! the other hard part is that last one with this is the loser.

I think I may have another definition...

ready . set............ GO!

1-3 people= 1 minute of luck
4-7 people= 1 hour of luck
8-12 people = 1 day of luck
13-17 people = 1 week of luck
18-22 people = 1 month of luck
23-27 people = 3 months of luck
28- 32 people = 7 months of luck
33-37 people = 1 year of luck
38 and more = a very lucky life!

So XXX - let me know how your one day of luck goes, and I'll tell you about my several years of bad luck. Deal?


Jackie Mullen
Faculty of Arts
XXX-XXXX

Jackie, you fail at English: please don’t tell me you’re a teacher! May I introduce you to two very helpful men...?

Want to Help an Actual Reporter?

Bad news.

Reporting investigative journalism takes time. Real, actual time: it's not something you can do on a whim or a weekend - sometimes, it can take years before the right people are found, or the pieces of the puzzle are put together in the right order.

Greg Palast takes that time, and the time has taken his money. And there's a whole lot of people (turn on the speakers) who are happy about that.

Got twenty bucks? Like knowing what's going on? Want to make the right people real uncomfortable?

Give him a bit of love.

Hey, Toots! We're Back!

Ain't ignorance grand?

"As written, the bill would ban women from seeking an abortion without written consent from the father of the fetus. In cases where the identity of the father is unknown, women would be required to submit a list of possible fathers. The physician would be forced to conduct a paternity test from the provided list and then seek paternal permission to abort."

My word.

So, just a guess here, but the man should also have the option of forcing the woman to have an abortion too, right? After all, he's going to be fiscally responsible for it...

With luck, we'll be able to remove women from the abortion debate entirely!

Running Semi-Circles

This week, the Skeptics' Circle is at the Denialism Blog, and the applications each come with an abstract - you'll know what the conclusions are, but to find out how they were done, you'll have to look.

Check out the Denialists' Deck of Cards while you're there. They're under Chris' description on the left, there.

The Money Comes, The Money Goes

I confess: I'm a class traitor.

The Significant Other and I keep looking around for alternative energy sources; we've converted our new (to us) truck to propane; we use a composting toilet and grow a lot of our own food; and I'm a die hard socialist who supports the progressive income tax and socialized medicine.

But I've probably had Big Oil drop $250,000 in my lap over the past 10 years.

C'est weird, eh?

My grandmother's father was good at leagalese, so we've ended up with mineral rights to a small plot of land in southern Alberta, which Husky has decided is worth drilling for oil. Add that to the skyrocketing cost of fuel, and that means I just got another cheque. Granted, it's "just" for a few thousand dollars, but it means we've made some silly purchases of late.

For instance:

a tattoo;
an ice cream maker;
two pairs of prescription glasses (1 of shades);
a beer kit (cream ale);
a bottle of 15-year old Oban (finally!);
tea at the Empress Hotel for three.

You add in a new line-of-credit (cheapest way to borrow money) and there's the new(ish) truck and possibly a motorcycle for herself, and then we'll be broke again. It should be at least a year before a new round of Capitalist Orgasm (building a new bathroom) happens.

Still, damn fun when you can do it.