Two exciting things. Well, one fun/exciting the other tickyaoff/exciting.

In about 30 minutes I'm hitting the road with 5 girlfriend and we're heading South. Two days of Christmas shopping Stateside. I'll be frank and say I'm really not a shopper - in fact, I actually hate shopping. Always have. But I do like my friends. And I LOVE staying in a hotel especially one with a hot tub. So I'm off. Woo hoo.

In other news....
Yesterday I received a call from my bank (Credit Union) and they told that I had to come down and get a new debit card as they had canceled mine. Why? I ask. It had been used somewhere that had been targeted in debit card fraud and therefore it was immediately shut down and I'd have to check my accounts. Sure enough - withdrawals made in Richmond and Vancouver - places I haven't been to in quite some time! The transactions were made on Wed. My card was canceled on Thursday and I was notified shortly thereafter. I'm impressed! Very timely. The woman I spoke with said it is a huge and growing problem and people are just not taking it seriously enough. Especially at Christmas.

So be diligent. Watch that your card is swiped correctly and that you receive YOUR card back.

or just switch back to good old cash.

First off - let it be said - I DO NOT like football. Not even in the slightest way. I used to work for a company that owned a suite at BC Place and every once in a while my friend and I would go to a Lions game. But instead of watching the game - we'd stay inside the suite and watch TV and eat the yummy appies that we'd ordered!

But this morning as I was listening to the news - I was hearing the joy and celebration from all those Saskatchewan fans. Their team just won the Grey Cup for the first time since 1989. Now really, who couldn't be happy for them? It made me smile. Then on the same news clip they played a fan from the other team (maybe Winnipeg??) who was actually in tears because his team lost. devastated. Alright. Call me crazy but doesn't it just tell us that maybe we get joyful/riled/devastated over some pretty pathetic things??

Where is our sorrow/rage over Darfur , or Afghanistan, or Iraq. Where are the tears over the insanity in so many Asian countries who practice child prostitution? Where is the emotion when millions die from disease and hunger. And closer to home. Where is the will to help the many homeless people who slept outside last night in freezing temperatures? Right here in Hope.

I know there are no answers. But nor will there be if we stop asking the questions.

In Language Arts (grade 6) we are writing Haiku. Here is mine. I call it "Wind"

Here we go again
The trees blown by a fierce wind
And my heart with it

Ok, so there are better Haiku - but oddly enough, I feel a bit better after writing. Maybe poetry is therapeutic after all.

TRICK OR TREAT!! and although you may not be able to tell...what we have is a biker, a fairy, Nancy Drew, a doll and a Hershey's Kiss. Doesn't it just make you say "awww"!

My coffeemaker broke today. bad,bad,bad. However! The she-woman in me got out the manual and fixed it. Okay, in truth it was only a switch. But I've got coffee again and I'm exceedingly happy.

Today is my dad's birthday. These next few months are crazy busy for us with birthdays. But any chance to celebrate life is important. Dad is an amazing man. There isn't much more I can say but that.