I cried a little. I laughed a lot. You should see this movie.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Summer Highlights
Now that it's officially fall, I thought it was time to post some pictures from summer. It consisted of 3 main things which aren't surprising... Joel, family and friends. Here are some of the highlights.
TIME WITH JOEL
Joel doesn't get all summer off but took 2 weeks off to hang out with me. We went camping in Orillia where we spent some time with the Birch family and my brother and sister-in-law Jon and Adrienne and nephews Isaac and Ari. We made another short trip to Barrie and then went away to celebrate our third anniversary in Niagara-on-the-lake. We took a day trip to the falls which wasn't as exciting after having spent so much time at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, but got a kick out of some of the touristy stuff. Our vacation ended with a few days at my parents farm getting ready for a big family reunion.
At our campsite at Mara Provincial Park
Celebrating our third anniversary in style
Enjoying a bon fire at the farmTIME WITH FAMILY
It was great to spend so much time with my family this summer. We made trips to Barrie and Huntsville to see both of my brothers and their families, as well at time at the farm with my parents. The highlight was definitely a family reunion from my mom's side of the family. As kids keep coming the family has grown too big to spend holidays together, so it was a treat to all be together at once.
With my nephews Isaac & Ari in Barrie
With my neice Jane in Huntsville celebrating birthdays
The Miller/Hardie/Williams family reunion at the farmTIME WITH FRIENDS
I had a lot of great time connecting with old friends I don't get to see very often and getting to know new friends. Once a week a group from of girls from our homechurch had salad lunches together which was a great way to build friendships beyond Monday nights. In August I had a few days at some cottages up north with some good friends Cheryl, Kristen, Kat from B.C., and Phil, Kathy and Matty from Australia. My good friend Robin also came home for a visit from Calgary with her new baby Jake. We also got some more cottage time with Jenn, Alice, Wayne and Natalie from our homechurch. It doesn't get much better than hanging out on a dock, by the lake up north!
Weekly feasts with homechurch girls
Cottaging with the Westby's 
Catching up with great friends from camp and university
I guess reflecting back, this summer was about people. We were never too farm from home, but I had so many great times with the people I love the most. It takes time to keep relationships going and I'm thankful I was able to do that this summer.
Monday, September 1, 2008
The Last Day of Summer
I've bought my whistle and am ready to go. Tomorrow I will start my new job as ESL and Phys-ed teacher and I can't wait. I love the summer, but by the end I'm always a bit antsy and craving the routine of working life again. I had fun setting up my ESL room last week and meeting a few of my colleagues. They are great and I'm looking forward to stepping into a supportive and friendly environment. This is my fifth school in five years of teaching, so I'm hoping I can stick around for awhile at this one. New beginnings also means the chance to also work on a few of the million and one changes and goals I've been thinking about this summer. Pressing the reset button is a good thing!
I'll post some pictures of summer highlights soon, but for now I'm off to celebrate my last official day of it at my first ever rib fest...and then, let the new season begin!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Give Mugabe a Red Card
Below is an email telling people how they can do something to help Zimbabwe. Does it make a difference? I have no idea. But anything to get Mugabe out of power is worth a try...go for it! At the very least it's a good update on the situation.
I just sent a red card to Mugabe and joined with thousands of marchers who will be asking Southern African leaders to take action now to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe. If Southern African leaders, who meet this weekend, reject Mugabe’s attempt to hold onto power, and stand by the will of the people of Zimbabwe – a political solution is possible. Click here to send your red card:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/red_card_for_mugabe/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
Hopes are slipping away for a deal to resolve Zimbabwe's political crisis. Yesterday, Robert Mugabe announced plans to ignore the ongoing negotiations with the opposition MDC party, form a sham "Government of National Unity" with a breakaway opposition faction, and open parliament next week.
This weekend, when Southern Africa's 15 leaders meet at a major summit in Johannesburg, they will look out upon a sea of red. Thousands of Southern African trade unionists and other citizens will march to the summit waving red cards -- the football penalty symbol for expulsion -- and call for Mugabe to go. The organisers have appealed to Avaaz for international support, and will carry signs at the march representing the "virtual red cards" sent by Avaaz members.
The SADC leaders know that if the region's trade unions take action (by, for example, refusing to handle goods coming to or from Zimbabwe), Mugabe's government cannot survive. A bold march this weekend backed by 100,000 supporters from around the world will be a powerful signal to them that the time has come to act -- to announce that the Mbeki-led negotiations have failed, and to launch a new and fairer process immediately. Click below to send a virtual red card, and pass this message along to friends and family!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/red_card_for_mugabe/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
Four and a half months have passed since the people of Zimbabwe voted for Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change on 29 March. Hyperinflation has exploded to an unimaginable 40,000,000%, and millions now face starvation. The EU, US, and UK have pledged a $1.9bn financial aid package to stabilise Zimbabwe's economy, feed the hungry and combat hyperinflation -- but only if Mugabe is removed.
Meanwhile, distribution of food aid by local and international humanitarian agencies has been prohibited by Mugabe's government. Torture camps remain in operation, political violence continues in some rural provinces, and 12 opposition MPs languish in jail on trumped-up charges. The Mbeki-led talks are collapsing, as Mugabe and his military high command insist on retaining control.
Tsvangirai, and the people of Zimbabwe, need strong allies willing to take bold action. Already, more than 300,000 Avaaz members -- including tens of thousands in Africa -- have signed petitions, donated funds, and written to their leaders in global campaigns for democracy and justice. After Avaaz flew a 280-square-metre banner over an Mbeki-chaired United Nations meeting, South Africa finally called for the release of elections results. In April, trade unions and civil society groups including Avaaz led a successful campaign to block a Chinese arms shipment to Zimbabwe. Now, as the crisis accelerates, our voices matter more than ever -- we can send an electronic wave of red cards to Johannesburg and bolster the efforts of on-the-ground advocates pressing for change.
Join the global outcry now, and then pass this message along!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/red_card_for_mugabe/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
With hope,
Ben, Alice, Ricken, Brett, Paul, Iain, Pascal, Graziela, Veronique, and Milena -- the Avaaz.org team
PS: Here are links to sources for this alert:
"Zimbabwe: Mugabe set to keep power amid rumours of breakaway deal" - The Guardian, 14 August 2008http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/14/zimbabwe
Information on the march - COSATU / SW Radio Africahttp://swradioafrica.com/pages/marchagainst130808.htm
"South Africa: Unions Bid to Halt Zimbabwe Arms Ship" - Business Day (Johannesburg), 22 April 2008.http://allafrica.com/stories/200804220109.html
"No arms for Zimbabwe" - Avaaz campaign.http://www.avaaz.org/en/no_arms_for_zimbabwe/70.php
I just sent a red card to Mugabe and joined with thousands of marchers who will be asking Southern African leaders to take action now to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe. If Southern African leaders, who meet this weekend, reject Mugabe’s attempt to hold onto power, and stand by the will of the people of Zimbabwe – a political solution is possible. Click here to send your red card:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/red_card_for_mugabe/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
Hopes are slipping away for a deal to resolve Zimbabwe's political crisis. Yesterday, Robert Mugabe announced plans to ignore the ongoing negotiations with the opposition MDC party, form a sham "Government of National Unity" with a breakaway opposition faction, and open parliament next week.
This weekend, when Southern Africa's 15 leaders meet at a major summit in Johannesburg, they will look out upon a sea of red. Thousands of Southern African trade unionists and other citizens will march to the summit waving red cards -- the football penalty symbol for expulsion -- and call for Mugabe to go. The organisers have appealed to Avaaz for international support, and will carry signs at the march representing the "virtual red cards" sent by Avaaz members.
The SADC leaders know that if the region's trade unions take action (by, for example, refusing to handle goods coming to or from Zimbabwe), Mugabe's government cannot survive. A bold march this weekend backed by 100,000 supporters from around the world will be a powerful signal to them that the time has come to act -- to announce that the Mbeki-led negotiations have failed, and to launch a new and fairer process immediately. Click below to send a virtual red card, and pass this message along to friends and family!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/red_card_for_mugabe/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
Four and a half months have passed since the people of Zimbabwe voted for Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change on 29 March. Hyperinflation has exploded to an unimaginable 40,000,000%, and millions now face starvation. The EU, US, and UK have pledged a $1.9bn financial aid package to stabilise Zimbabwe's economy, feed the hungry and combat hyperinflation -- but only if Mugabe is removed.
Meanwhile, distribution of food aid by local and international humanitarian agencies has been prohibited by Mugabe's government. Torture camps remain in operation, political violence continues in some rural provinces, and 12 opposition MPs languish in jail on trumped-up charges. The Mbeki-led talks are collapsing, as Mugabe and his military high command insist on retaining control.
Tsvangirai, and the people of Zimbabwe, need strong allies willing to take bold action. Already, more than 300,000 Avaaz members -- including tens of thousands in Africa -- have signed petitions, donated funds, and written to their leaders in global campaigns for democracy and justice. After Avaaz flew a 280-square-metre banner over an Mbeki-chaired United Nations meeting, South Africa finally called for the release of elections results. In April, trade unions and civil society groups including Avaaz led a successful campaign to block a Chinese arms shipment to Zimbabwe. Now, as the crisis accelerates, our voices matter more than ever -- we can send an electronic wave of red cards to Johannesburg and bolster the efforts of on-the-ground advocates pressing for change.
Join the global outcry now, and then pass this message along!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/red_card_for_mugabe/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
With hope,
Ben, Alice, Ricken, Brett, Paul, Iain, Pascal, Graziela, Veronique, and Milena -- the Avaaz.org team
PS: Here are links to sources for this alert:
"Zimbabwe: Mugabe set to keep power amid rumours of breakaway deal" - The Guardian, 14 August 2008http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/14/zimbabwe
Information on the march - COSATU / SW Radio Africahttp://swradioafrica.com/pages/marchagainst130808.htm
"South Africa: Unions Bid to Halt Zimbabwe Arms Ship" - Business Day (Johannesburg), 22 April 2008.http://allafrica.com/stories/200804220109.html
"No arms for Zimbabwe" - Avaaz campaign.http://www.avaaz.org/en/no_arms_for_zimbabwe/70.php
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Changes
Do you ever have one of those days when you feel like there's so much about your life you want to change? I'm having one. It's ranged from things as trivial and specific as getting my hair cut, to more significant and difficult as becoming more other-centered. It's a little overwhelming. And probably the biggest change I want to make is from being someone who thinks a lot about change to someone who actually does change. I'm not so great on the follow through, especially on the big stuff. What is the secret to making changes in life? Is it hard core determination and self-discipline? Is it breaking it down into a step-by-step plan? Wanting to change is an easy first step, and too often the last for me. And if I don't really do anything about it, do I really want it, or just want to want it? I could drive myself crazy with the questions and I seem to have an endless list. And instead of doing something about it, I write a blog entry about it and succesfully avoid another 10 minutes of making any significant changes in my life. It's easier, at least in the moment!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Freerice.com
Have you been to http://www.freerice.com/ ? It's a website where you can work on your vocabulary and help someone out at the same time. You are given a word, and 4 possible definitions. Everytime you make a correct answer, 20 grains of rice are donated to the United Nations Food Program. The rice is paid for by advertisers on the site. I found this site through a colleague at work and decided to show it to my grade five students. They loved it and it was a great chance to teach them a little bit about world hunger. One of my favourite moments as a teacher was watching them eagerly answer questions to donate rice and adding up our total as a class. Some of them shared the site with their families and would proudly tell me the total of rice they earned the night before. For any skeptics, the site has a great FAQ section and I thought this video below was helpful too. How much rice did you donate? What vocabulary level can you get to? A little friendly competition anyone?!
Friday, August 8, 2008
08 08 08
Happy 08 08 08 day! I just realized that's the date today and since 8 is my favourite number I thought it was worthy of a post. I feel like I should have done more to celebrate but spending the evening watching the Olympics with my wonderful husband is pretty good I think.... a good excuse to add some ice cream!
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