Mom ...

In loving memory ...

June 8, 1941 - March 29, 2007

Always in our hearts.

Earth Hour ...

May I direct your attention to the shiny new web badge in the margin. Go ahead, click on it. It will take you to the website for Earth Hour 2009. Once there you can learn all about Earth Hour, register, and find ways that you can support this eco-initiative.

If you haven't heard of Earth Hour before it's a pretty simple concept. On Saturday, March 28 the organizers ask that you turn off your lights for one hour starting at 8:30 pm local time. Why? To show our politicians that we care about global warming. The goal this year is one billion participants world wide. The statistics from Earth Hour will then be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. If you plan on participating it's important to register!!!

While the rules don't explicitly state it, I think it doesn't really count if you just turn off the lights and continue to blast the stereo, run the dishwasher and lay on the couch in front of the tv. Now I know it might be extremely painful in many Canadian households to switch off Hockey Night In Canada for a full hour, but it is for a good cause. And besides, by 8:30 the kids should be in bed. I'm sure you can find something else to occupy your time ; )

Officially in print ...

Today my first column appeared in our local newspaper. It's a few weeks later than I thought, but better late than never! Unfortunately I don't have a link. They don't post all of the articles to the website every week and my column hasn't been uploaded yet (so likely won't make it this time). You'll just have to take my word for it that it's a fantastic read. LOL ... And I must give a shout out to one of my bloggy bff's, Miss Sarah J. Clark for the tip about the "family cloth". It was the inspiration for the piece. So, thank you Sarah! Mwah!

*ETA: the link is up. You can read my column here.

The most important book I will ever write ...

While I do have a badly neglected WIP it will have to remain neglected for a little while longer. Lately I find myself compelled to tackle an even more important project, our youngest daughter's "life book." This book is intended to chronical all of the information about an adopted child's life before they came to live with their forever family. It is especially important for internationally adopted children since there is usually very little information available to them regarding the beginnings of their lives. So now I sit my computer and cobble together the scant details, information about her homeland and the sparse photos with the hope that I can create a narrative that will help our daughter understand as much as she can about who she is and where she's come from. As she grows we wish for her to be as proud of herself as we are that she is our wonderful child. This book will hopefully be a valuable tool in that process.

And The Winner Is ...

A few months ago I wrote a post about CBC's annual literary smackdown, Canada Reads. Today the winner was revealed ...

The Book of Negroes By Lawrence Hill

I am currently reading this book and so far I have to say it is a fantastic read. I highly recommend it. Actually, based on the discussions of the panelists I would recommend any of the contenders. They all sound like interesting, compelling books (you can find the list and their descriptions in my original post).

Well, it looks like my article didn't make it into this week's paper after all, so sorry, no link. Hopefully next week. So this leaves me with a question about what to post. hmmm ...

I could rant about the hell that is the passport office, but many of you already know of what I speak, so that would be redundant. Although I will at least vent about the fact that you would think an office of the federal government would have a friggin' parking lot! What's with all the "no passport office parking" signs?!! I had to walk two blocks in the subarctic winds with my little babushka in a stroller. Not fun. Nor was the hour and a half wait. Or having to listen to the rednecks in the back of the room talking about "uneducated losers" who are now working as armed border guards and how they targeted the lead redneck as a terrorist (interestingly enough, because he looked somewhat like a demented Santa). Then they took a turn bashing Quebec ... Then, lucky us, demented redneck Santa zeroed in on me and the babuska and started quizzing me about her hearing aids. Weird. And uncomfortable. At least we made it out of there before I ended up with a parking ticket. The high point of my afternoon.