I'm taking the time to commend the Dixie Chicks. In addition to writing (and co-writing) their own music AND playing their own instruments AND making music that I enjoy, they've gained some political credence. Even if you despise country music, you can laud these ladies for their anti-war commentary and their refusal to capitulate to the regressive rednecks who have chosen to blacklist them and burn their albums. Their new video "Not Ready to Make Nice" references their recent political flack.

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

They directly reference the death threats that they have received later in the song:

It’s a sad sad story when a mother will teach her daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge that they’d write me a letter sayin’ that I better shut up and sing or my life will be over

My favorite Dixie Chick is Natalie Maines, the outspoken lead singer who proudly declared to a British audience in 2003 that she was ashamed that George W. Bush was a Texan. In regards to her forced apology to GW, she recently told TIME magazine, "I apologized for disrespecting the office of the President, but I don't feel that way anymore. I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever." I agree, Natalie.

I need to buy stamps so that I can send out all of these ridiculous Father's Day cards. Frrcrsake...from now on it's homemade cards for everyone. They can't be worse than the inordinately expensive, yet inane and schmarmy cards I sifted through yesterday. Maybe while I'm at it, I'll turn my art into PDF form and make a website: "Free Feelingful and Meaningful Cards for Poor and/or Sapient Consumers." Of course, the next step will be manufacturing my own holidays. Perhaps, Margaret Sanger Day. Or Eugene V. Debs Day. Better yet, I'll start to market the obscure existing holidays the mainstream greeting card market is neglecting:

Festival of Sleep Day (3 Jan.)
Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day (12 Jan.)
Create a Vacuum Day (4 Feb.)
Umbrella Day (10 Feb. or 1 Nov. - 1 May in Vancouver)
Multiple Personality Day (5 March)
Everything You Think Is Wrong Day (15 March)
Tell a Lie Day (4 April)
Plan Your Epitaph Day (6 April)
Limerick Day (12 May)
National Sea Monkey Day (15 May)
Hug Your Cat Day (4 June)
Waffle Iron Day (29 June)
CANADA DAY (1 July)
Disobedience Day (3 July)
Sisters Day (5 Aug.)
Senior Citizen's Day (8 Aug.)
Grandparents Day (11 Sept.)
Constitution Day (17 Sept.)
Techies Day (3 Oct.)
World Egg Day (13 Oct.)
Gunpowder Day (5 Nov.)
World Kindness Day (13 Nov.)
Bathtub Party Day (5 Dec.)
Bill of Rights Day (15 Dec.)

Details will be forthcoming. Afterall, this Saturday is Iced Tea Day. Can't miss that.

I'm watching Mr. Holland's Opus while I spell-check a database I created. This is, by far, one of my favorite movies. It has to be in the top five list of all-time best teaching-themed movies. I better find the tissues before we get to the, "This is your opus, Mr. Holland" bit. My cat/cuddle-bug, Mr. Murray, is keeping me company. I'm also doing laundry. It's my anniversary present to Jay. True love = clean laundry.

For those of you who know me well, you're well aware of my personal obsession with song lyrics. When the woman I've been studying was living in England in 1967, the Beatles released "Strawberry Fields Forever." This song, and the Beatles in general, captivated her. She included portions of the lyrics in introductions to the anthologies that she wrote. I've adopted some of these lyrics as my response to politically apathetic individuals: "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see." I prefer to think that the majority of Americans are willfully ignorant as opposed to selfish and soulless. Then again, perhaps willful ignorance IS selfish and soulless.

The university provides all students with a free bus pass, so I am the Queen of Public Transit. Walking in this city is usually pleasant. Unlike some footsloggers, I adhere to pedestrian traffic laws. I use the cross-walks. They are monitored by these lovely flashing lights that - like traffic lights - flash yellow before transitioning into the glaring red DO NOT WALK symbol. When the light is flashing you are permitted to cross the street, just as cars are permitted to proceed through yellow lights with caution. As I made my way to the bus stop this morning, I crossed 12th Avenue just as the yellow light started to flash. An exceedingly disagreeable woman in an over-sized car shot through HER yellow light (without the requisite CAUTION, I might add) and nearly ran me down. She slammed on her brakes, and bellowed through her open window, "NO WALKING!" This was ludicrous behavior, so I responded in kind by slapping the fender of her car with my (closed) umbrella and saying, "No being an ASS HOLE." If looks or venomous language could kill, I wouldn't be posting this.

MORAL OF THE STORY: 1) Have respect for pedestrians (and bikers too!). While we're marching in the rain, you're dry in your gas-guzzling vehicle. 2) Don't be an ass hole.

Has everyone moved their blogs to MySpace? If so, I'll need to commit myself to updating my space on MySpace instead. I miss reading about everyone!

I am an anxious person. I have been an anxious person for as long as I can recall. As I waver in limbo, unsure of where I will be living or where I will be working in the next months, I've become increasingly uneasy. This anticipatory anxiety is compounded by residual guilt-anxiety from previous personal plights. I am unable to forgive myself for past behavior. Moreover, the emotions I have been repressing by immersing myself in my studies are coming to the fore as I complete research projects that I've been using to distract myself with. SO...in response to what I assume was an anxiety attack earlier this morning, I have scheduled an emergency meeting with a counselor here on Campus. I'm meeting with him in 40 minutes, and I'm hoping that he will have suggestions for effective ways to manage my anxiety.

Typically, exercise alleviates this, and I have not been physically active. My psyche is forcing me to get off my expanding ass and take better care of myself. Perhaps the Romans knew what they were on about regarding the mind-body connection. Since I can't climb the 20 storeys worth of stairs leading to Wreck Beach or go for jog in the kitten heels I'm currently sporting, talking with this counselor and sipping herbal tea must suffice. (I learned the HARD way that caffeine only increases anxiety.) I keep hearing my mom say, "Just breath, honey." It's like I'm 6 years old again. I'm four times that old now, but the same issue continues to plague me.

Clearly, I have been neglecting my LJ. My sister, Lady Mermaid Face, has cajoled me into posting an update on my life. I finished my MA last month, and I am currently working as a research assistant for my former supervisor. I read and catalogue historical documents (Judith Merril's letters), and I've created a searchable database to assist my supervisor in her research endeavors. The work is enjoyable, and I am using one of my prof's offices, which overlooks the ocean and the Coast Mountains from the 12th storey of the arts building. Palatial digs indeed.

While I am pleased to have completed the MA successfully, my real achievement this spring was winning the University of British Columbia Graduate Teaching Assistant Award. It was the first time someone from the history department has won the award. It's a prestigious award. The cash prize and the plaque I received were terrific, but this served as the ultimate validation re: my decision to return to education. My professors and peers here seem to feel that I am making a mistake, that I would make a better historian/instructor. But as much fun as I have hanging out in archives, I'm just not passionate enough about history to make a career out of it. I read US educational policy (in particular, No Child Left Behind), and I am ENRAGED. ENRAGED, I tell you. I realize that education does not have the same cache in academe as History does, but godamit I love applied research.

SO...I am looking for a teaching job in Seattle. Jay and I are moving down there this summer, and we're both thrilled. I'll miss Vancouver more than Jay will, but I'll still have all my friends here and we'll only be a few hours away. I'm looking at alternative high schools in the Seattle area. If I don't find a position at a school, I'll just sub and work as a tutor the first year. Networking is FUN! My close chum, Mr. James Brundage, is currently working at Microsoft and living around UW. His place is FANTASTIC. James is passing Jay's resume around to the right people at Microsoft, so hopefully my man will find full-time employment as quickly as possible.

I need to learn how to post pictures on LJ. Perhaps my first goal should be updating the damn thing. We shall see, Shepard Wong.

California was nice. Jay and I visited with his family and saw our friends. We went to the pub with Dave, and I forgot my ID. (Because in Canada a 19 year old can drink and they never ask me for my ID.) Fortunately, Dave knew the owner, so I was able to go into the pub. We saw our friends Dave and Julianna, and we met their son for the first time. Nevin is 9 months old, adorable and generally a very lovable baby. Jay was bitten by the baby-bug, which engendered several intense conversations about our future, etc. We're still working all of that out, but we're moving toward consensus.

I can never decide between pursuing advanced degrees in History or Education. I know Jay would prefer the education route, because it's easier to have a family that way, the PhD is much more flexible, and we would never have to move somewhere awful just because a job was available. I think I'd be successful either way. Educational policy fascinates me, and I could always return to my political roots. We'll have to move back to the US, because I'm more concerned with the state of education there than in Canada. In the meantime, I'm scheduled to finish my MA this April. I'm not sure what I'm doing after that. I'll most likely teach in Washington or elsewhere.

Yesterday Andrew told me that you can't worry about what you're going to do with the rest of your life. He's of the mind that you just need to live it. I wish I were so cavalier. I'm more the worry-ulcers type.

I am off for sunny California tomorrow morning. After a long layover in Oregon and much paper marking, Jay and I should be in San Jose sometime around 7. I’ve had an extraordinarily productive week. I wrote two chapters of my thesis and finished outlines for the final chapter. I should have my first draft finished by *gulp* next weekend. That is surreal. I am going to lie about it at Andrew’s New Year’s Eve party. No one ever wants to hear about your thesis unless it’s in the shitter or at a similar point of development as their own. Meanwhile, I’m waiting for my prof to post my grade for the course I took this term.

Jay only worked a half-day today, so we’re going out to lunch. Afterward, he is driving me to campus so that I can pick up my students’ exams and see if I have any pertinent mail. We need to pack and spend some quality time with Niles and Murray. Our friends Layna and Jesse are taking care of them while we’re gone, but the cats are total love whores. I feel bad leaving them, but we certainly can’t take them with us. Murray peed himself when I took him to the park, let alone on an international flight.

I’m finished. I just submitted my historiographical essay to Dr. McDonald, and I’m feeling fine. I’ve come a long way in constructing these pedantic papers. Jason read the conclusion last night and he didn’t know what I was talking about it. That is excellent. Only individuals taking historiography courses and English majors should be familiar with the rhetoric of post-structuralism and semiotics.

I fully intend to blow off the rest of this afternoon with pleasure reading, a walk and blowing catnip bubbles at Niles and Murray on the balcony. Perhaps I’ll morph into the time-vampire and convince Andrew to join me for a stroll on this surprisingly warm and sunny Vancouver day.

I have six days before we leave for California. In the meantime, I can finally turn to my thesis. (Something I actually care about writing.) I have 60 midterms awaiting me in my mailbox in the History Dept. office, but I’m saving those for the flight to San Jose. This way I can combine two personal hells: interminable layovers and marking 60 responses to the same essay question.

I want to say that I miss the Ohio snow, but I won’t. I can always drive to Whistler and take in as much as I can handle. Then I can leave the snow where it is. I do miss all of my friends! Too bad they’re not as accessible as the ski slopes. Maybe I’ll be better about updating my LJ. Maybe I’m a liar and this is just my perfunctory yearly submission. Only the future will tell.

The fact that the US Senate rejected the renewal of the Patriot Act has restored my faith in American politics to some extent. Canadian politics are in full-gear. There is a federal election this January, but it’s difficult to be jazzed about elections when you can’t vote. It is refreshing to see FOUR parties represented in debates. God forbid the Democrats and Republicans cease colluding with one another long enough to allow an outside voice to offer some redirection.

Enough with my vitriolic politic banter. Kittens, sunshine, love and rainbows to everyone!

I spent this past weekend in Qualicum, a sleepy little town at the Northern end of Vancouver Island. I was attending a conference for history graduate students, and we all had excellent time. It was great to see what my peers were doing, but more importantly to get to know them outside of academia. We were at this hotel, which was previously a boys school. It was eerie and charming. Most of our rooms were in the charming eggshell blue section, as opposed the Shining section.

It's nice to be home, but I have a lot of reading to catch up with, which is keeping me busy. I also have a presentation this Wednesday, but I think we have that one in the bag. I'm enjoying my semester, and I am learning quite a bit. Schools over at the end of March, but this summer I am teaching myself German again (with the aid of some friends who are fluent) and working on my thesis.

Becky, when are you hauling your buns out west? I might not let you go back, so you better watch it! :)

Last night Jay and I had a serious talk. We got a lot off our chests; however, we did not resolve anything. Today was lackluster, but productive. As I walked around campus and read this afternoon, I couldn't help but think of this unresolved tension. So I worried, which I am prone to do. As it turns out, it was all for no reason.

I came home from school around 7, and there was a note on the couch from Jay asking me if I wanted to go on a walk when he came home. I always ask Jay to go on walks, but he is rarely interested. Tonight though, we had a fantastic time. We talked about everything that remained from our previous conversation. We walked around town and our neighborhood, then we went to our deli, Max's, and had some dinner. It was an ideal night. My otherwise gray day has become stellar.

I am such a poor Live journalist. I become so wrapped up in life that I never bother to write down what is happening, or how it makes me feel, which is too bad, as it would most likely serve some therapeutic purpose. I am too exhausted from reading academic articles to write a coherent entry, so this time I am striving for more of a stream of consciousness.

First, I would like to begin with the topic of reality television. I don't particularly care for this genre, but I love Nanny Deb. I am not even sure what show this woman is on, but she is this fabulous British women (like Mary Poppins, but 1/5 as sexy) that goes into peoples' homes and teaches them how to parent. She works with some extraordinary people. By this, I mean couples who are a few steps from raising ferrel children. Unlike other reality TV, ripe with sex, T&A, consumerism, or cut-throat capitalism, Nanny Deb provides a valuable service.

Second, Get Your Vote On. GYVO is the non-profit, non-partisan organization I am working with in Vancouver in order to further enfranchise the homeless, battered women, and the youth of the East side in Vancouver. While we do not endorse a particular party, we primarily target groups of individuals who typically find it in their best interest to vote for the socialist party. This is the second most influential party in the province, and the New Democratic Party, might be able to knock the Liberals out of office. I'll keep you posted. The provincial election is this May.

That is all for now. I'm hoping a substantial update will follow soon.

Since I've been in Canada, I've grown increasingly objective about US politics. Of course I still support Kerry, but I do not envy him a possible win this Tuesday. He will preside over a country where 50% of the populace despises him and his politics, and another significant number of Americans support him because he is not George Bush, rather than because he is John Kerry.

That said, I would like to discuss the one way by which I believe the US political system must be reformed. We must maintain the electoral college, but force each state to allocate their votes in proportion to the popular vote. For example, in Ohio, which has 20 electoral votes, all twenty of those votes will go to the candidate who wins the majority of the popular vote, in spite of the fact that 49% of the populace chose not the endorse the candidate. This is absurd, and it impedes the democratic process. As of now, only Nebraska and Main allocate their electoral votes proportionally. Colorado may pass a referendum to do the same this Tuesday. This all-or-nothing practice did not take off until television became a part of the political process. It provides states like Ohio with media attention every four years.

I've begun to engage in the BC political scene, and I am leaning towards the New Democratic Party. They are the socialist party in BC, and I've met a number of people who support and work for the NDP. The Green Party is another choice. Ultimately, I think I prefer the Canadian parliamentary system to the US system, but the Canadian political scene is certainly not without its own flaws.

At any rate, my good friend Herr Brundage will be here shortly, so I must end here.

When I moved to Canada, I braced myself for anti-Americanism, and to be honest, I thought it might bolster my patriotism. Of course, no Canadian ever says anything about the States that isn't patently obvious, and I am always more outraged than they are over it. What is surprising to me is my new-found Ohio pride. I always considered Ohio the fly-over state I was raised in, but since moving to Canada, I've realized just how important Ohio is. Besides the now constant updates on Ohio's potential election outcome, many Canadian have been to Ohio. It's so funny to have people tell you how pretty they thought Ohio was, and how nice the people there are. I never thought of tourism in Ohio.

I can't believe that the election is only 12 days away. I'm anxious. I am SO happy that we are in the Pacific time zone so I can see the results soon. What I am also interested in is voter turnout. It will renew my faith in America if just 60% of the populace votes. If GW steals this a second election, there must be mass protest. I am also excited about some of the senate elections (i.e. Alaska) and hopeful we may take control of the senate.

Everyone here is just as excited about the elections as Americans are. The entire world is watching.

Jason and I are on our way to run around the city. Everyday I walk about a mile to my bus stop, then I take the 99 bus to UBC and arrive on campus about 15 or 20 minutes later. Today Jay wanted to ride the bus and go see campus with me. UBC is amazing, because of it's location (and because it is one of the top ten public schools in the world). The campus and the endowment lands are surrounded by water. There are beaches around campus and you can go sit and read there. The architecture is amazing and the campus is beautifully landscaped. Even when it's raining it's still fabulous.

I also love living in a city. It's so convenient to be able to walk wherever you want to go, and that could be the grocery, the cleaners, tons of restaurants and stores, or just about anywhere else you can imagine. Plus, I LOVE public transit. I doubt many people enjoy riding the bus as much as I do. I just like watching everyone on the bus and listening to snippets of their conversations and the bus itself. It's the best way for me to start and end my work day.

So...yeah Jason and I are out of here so that we can go explore.

Jason and I are finally in Vancouver, and everything is going very well. The drive was easy for us, but a complete pain for Jason's family (who were following us with a U-haul trailer). We had no hassles at customs or immigration, and we are settling in here.

Most of our belongings are unpacked, and our apartment is looking fabulous. I'll post pictures once I have figured out how to do this. I'm hanging out here waiting for someone to deliver our new TV. I want to see how Canadian news depicts US news. It should be extremely interesting...Today one of the Canadian ministers said that US missile defense ("defenCe" here) was run by a "coalition of idiots". When she was asked to recant her statement, she refused. She defined idiot and asked anyone there to deny that she had not accurately described the situation.

I've been to UBC and I have met with some of my professors, and I am very excited about completing my graduate studies here. The campus is AMAZING and so are the people I have met so far. I'll take pictures of UBC and post them as well.

For any of you who are interested here is our new telephone number and address:

(604)730-1584

1088 West 12th Avenue, Suite 201
Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 1L4

I took the time yesterday to rediscover my love for Tori Amos (Becky, please try not to throw up on your computer). I couldn't be happier, either! I bought Little Earthquakes, the CD that popped my Tori cherry, and I have been listening to it all of the time. Every time I hear it I think of the following: Nicole K's Cornflake Girl poster and T-shirt and her futile attempts to open me up to the magic of Tori our freshman year and of my junior year.

I spent the second half of my junior year living with Nicole Kesling and two people who I was growing mutually less and less fond of and who she already despised. We played the hell out of Little Earthquakes and Bob Marley. I also always think of Nicole Wolf (a.k.a. Watson) when I hear Tori. We spent so much time sitting around that huge bedroom studying and jamming out to music. Each of the Nicole's both have songs that I always associate specifically with them too. For Nicole W. it's Raspberry Swirl, and for Nicole K. it's China.

In the process of all this, I downloaded a copy of a song called "Sistersong". It's sung by Tori Amos, Ani DiFranco, Paula Cole, and some other artists. I love this song! I am playing it to death.

Jason and I are leaving for Vancouver next Saturday. It will take us two days to drive there, and his family is following us with a trailer with all of our worldly possessions. Staying here in California for the summer has been nice, because I have gotten to know Jason's grandparents and his friends, and we have been able to stay somewhere rent-free while earning money for the future. I'm ready for school and my teaching assistantship though. I remember a high-school health class where a football coach explained that not having any stress can be just as detrimental to you as having too much stress.

While I may not have to worry about any stress for another few weeks, Jason is stressed as he is currently trying to find employment in the Vancouver area. He has an excellent job here, and there may be the chance for him to transfer to Seattle. Additionally, he has had some other calls. The other good news is that he has an open work-permit, and there shouldn't be any governmental impediments to finding work. (Jamie, didn't you and Martin have some initial trouble with this when he moved to the US?)

I can't wait to post pictures of our apartment and our neighborhood on here! The city is gorgeous, and I am more than thrilled to be living there. In the meantime, I'm packing mine and Jason's books, clothes, etc. and spending time with our friends. For now, I am off to get ready to go out with Brett!

I am more than anxious to be in Vancouver. While I love Jason's grandparents, I am ready to be out on my own again. Additionally, my tedious, brainless job has become almost more than I can tolerate. Here is the deal with the store. It's like a mini-grocery store, but as an associate I am suppose to assist and serve customers as if they were purchasing a new car instead of protein bars. "Education" is very important to the owners. Unfortunately, as I have had time to read all the product labels I have discovered ingredients like silicon-dioxide (a.k.a. SAND). So these people buy all these designer foods that are probably no good for them. I just can't handle misleading customers anymore. I think the entire setup is a gimmick to make money. Besides, it's intellectually stifling.

I miss all of my friends from Ohio, and I am anxious to move on to Vancouver and meet new people and finally get settled. I can't wait to begin my classes and my research. I need to self-actualize, and that is certainly not happening here.