I was talking with my dad and stepmom yesterday. They mentioned a friend who has recently had her second child and enjoys motherhood so much that she'd like to have five. To me, that's a lot. But not to these people. In fact, they probably think five kids is for suckas. Get this: Michelle, the mom, has been pregnant for 135 months of her life. They've got 15 kids! They have 4 washers and 4 dryers! They just bought a bus from a defunct minor hockey team so that they could go on vacation! Two kids and a dog, this is not.

As my first weekend of home-ownership approaches (as does my first mortgage payment) I can look back and marvel at the fact that I've only had 4 nights-sleep there but it does feel like home. Home with lots of boxes everywhere. I do enjoy getting the place set-up so I am enjoying this process while trying not to let it rule my life. I think it has helped that I don't have cable television at my new place. I hope that I can continue to make good use of the time otherwise sent killing brain cells in front of the tv.

It's Wednesday and I don't live in the same place that I did last Wednesday. I have joined the ranks of the mortgage-payers... er, home-owners. I'm still surrounded by boxes but it's coming together. Unfortunately, it has kept me occupied and not posting. I'll be back. I swear.

Yawn. First post from my new digs. Big thanks to those who were able to personally be a part of the adventure. To those that couldn't, I know you were here in your thoughts. You know you were.

Monday, monday, monday! Moving madness! Everything must go!

I guess I should start packing, eh? ;)

Some of the most important "learning moments" can often come as part of extremely trying times. While the challenges in our lives can often leave us, with the benefit of hindsight, better people, I am thankful that not all "learning moments" need to be challenging. In fact, some can be quite tasty.

Just look what my chicken/avocado sandwich taught me today:

Fall in love or fall in hate. Get inspired or be depressed. Ace a test or flunk a class. Speak the truth or lie and cheat. Dance on tables or sit in the corner. Life is divine chaos. Embrace it. Forgive yourself. Breathe. And enjoy the ride..."

--Solbeam

As I continue to consider people's sage advice about babies I focus more and more on a more immediate issue: moving. Just 1.5 weeks 'til I move into my new digs. Not only are they new digs but they're MY new digs. I hope and trust that home ownership will suit me well. There are many things to consider and an equally large number of things to buy.

Thankfully, I'm using my tendency to procrastinate well. Yesterday afternoon I went to the International Plowing Match taking place just less than an hour outside of Kingston. It was quite the event. Thousands of people visiting a city of vendors, campers, quilters and of course, plowers set up in fields in what could reasonably be described as: the middle of nowhere. It was a great event. I'm glad to have gone. We even saw some plowing. Having lived on farms when I was younger, it was nice to stay in touch with that side of life after living in cities and towns for such a long time. That, and they also had some tasty, tasty treats.

Babies!

It seems that babies are the new black (cool, for those of you who were confused by that statement). Besides those that are already roaming around on their own two feet (or hands and knees), I just came back from a baby shower and found out that two other friends are pregnant.

Not having a "biological clock", I am not necessarily feeling the "tick, tick, tick". Still, it's a relative thing... As those with whom you've shared many life experiences start going through such a transition it's hard not to consider when or if you'll share a similar experience. I certainly don't have an answer to that questions. At least it's a question that I'm willing to keep open. There have been times when I've come out against the idea of bringing a child into the world. I'm not going to lie, I fear what the state of the world will be 30 years from now. Hell, I fear the state of the world 10 years from now. But that is not reason enough not to raise a child. Then again, maybe I need to play the devil's advocate and ask myself what is reason enough TO raise a child. I'm not going to hum-and-haw over it while I type but it's worth considering as part of this growth process. I'l be sure to let you know what I come up with.

It makes me happy that these are some of today's news stories:

"Jogging your way to saggy breasts" (Especially the part about when a woman runs a mile her breasts actually have gone 135m).
"Russian 'sex day' to boost births" (What a great day to choose).
"Led Zeppelin to confirm reunion" ('Nuff said).

There are lots of acronyms out there. Find yourself interacting with the same people in the same environment all the time and you're likely to create and/or learn acronyms to try and make your communication more "efficient". Find yourself in a university environment and watch out! My work reminds me regularly how such efforts to simplify communication and make things more "efficient" can have the exact opposite result for new members of the community. So, why then am I going to refer to another one? Because I can.

MMP.

Momma makes pie? No. Mail more peanuts? Nay. How about Mixed Member Proportional? Ding, ding, ding!

What am I going on about? Well, as Ontario's provincial politicians officially started their campaigns today with our provincial election just one month away (October 10) I think it important to remind people of the fact that this isn't just any provincial election. There will also be a referendum in this election. The referendum is on whether to keep our exisiting electoral system (known as first-past-the-post) or to adopt a new system (Mixed Member Proportional). Mostly, I'm writing about it because I want people to know, and maybe even care about it. For general information on the referendum see the Referendum Ontario site. Basically, the new system would see us vote twice in future elections. One would be the standard vote for your local representative. The second though would be for a political party in general. Seats in the provincial legislature would be set aside for this "party" vote. They would be distributed to pre-selected representatives of each party proportionally to the number of votes each party received.

As for my personal opinion. Any system that will allow for representation that is more in line with the proportion of votes actually received by a party sounds like a good thing. Some have complained that it might lead to more minority governments. I say "bring it on". Politics should be about working together, not working against one another. I for one would like to see our political representatives working together to fulfill our needs as citizens and not trying regularly to either undermine the other parties and their efforts.

P.S. Who'd have thought? This is my 300th post. How'd that happen?

I am going to be well pleased when my schedule returns to "normal". Weekend and evening work is fine every once-in-a-while but I'm ready to stop. Thankfully, I'll be able to very soon.

Facebook, the social networking site, is good for a number of things. Wasting time is among them. Still, good things can come from it. Besides catching up with long lost friends you can find out about new and interesting events that your friends are participating in. Enter "Free Hugs Day". While I couldn't find any worldwide reference to Monday, September 10 being Free Hugs Day, there are a fair few people (hundreds of thousands at last glance) that are intending to consider it so. The concept is a great one as we can all use hugs and seldom get enough of them. Want to know more?

Yes
No

I should be making up for lost time but I would rather be eating. I can say that I'm starting to feel some of the excitement associated with being a new homeowner. It has yet to come to fruition but it is just over three weeks away. I'm looking forward to the part I like the most: setting it up the way I want it. The rest of it: not so much.

Hi. My name is Justin. I think we might've met before. You might not remember me though. I'm the person who usually writes here. It has been an extended hiatus. I've been hiding. Not in the bushes. Not behind a tree. Mainly hiding from responsibilities (including posting).

I share parts of myself through this blog but it is never going to be a complete picture of who I am. Really, only being me provides a complete picture of who I am (and even then, I'm not too sure). I guess the past while has been a time of things that I wasn't interested in sharing. It has also been a time of preoccupation. I have made it through the core of my busiest time at work which is definitely a relief. Perhaps that alone has been enough to shake me from my avoidance and get me posting. Either way, here I am. And here you are. I'm glad we're together.

I know, I know

Yes, yes, it has been forever and a day since I've posted anything. Being busy, buying a house, being stressed and active avoidance all seem to have played a part. Without getting into it or promising to be all that much better in the immediate future, I thought I'd post an article that may explain a lot about me.

Apologies

While I excused myself before my south-western adventure I returned a few days ago and seem to have pointedly avoided posting anything. Unfortunately, I can't post much as I have an assignment to do. Speaking of the assignment, it is for a course on intercultural communication through UBC's Centre for Intercultural Communication that is certainly stirring my thoughts. Needless to say, the tools, theories and models mentioned in the course apply to all sorts of communication which I'm finding quite interesting and will likely lead to future posts of greater depth.

In the meantime, "Congratulations Mom!" She has been selected to perform in a play that will be taking place next spring. The play will be put on by a renowned Canadian playright with the involvment of a major company. She worked hard and I'm proud of and happy for her.

Full Mind or Mindful?

I've been in a training program this past week looking at intercultural competency. Without really picking my wording apart let me say that cultures need not specifically be related to countries or regions of heritage. It need only represent a group with which we identify. Still, I couldn't help but go into things with the mindset that intercultural theory would be specifically applied in such circumstances. Imagine my surprise then when I identified communication models that I felt could be applicable with those who I believe to share my culture. I guess it comes down to being mindful. I hope I'm working in the right direction on that.

I'm heading on a wee work adventure so if I'm not around for the next week, at least I have an excuse.

How much are your pants worth?

Think the U.S. is too litigious? 'Nuf said.

"Less Gas, More Ass!"

It seems that the World Naked Bike Ride has passed us by. Here I am with a broken bike, missing the opportunity to bare it all to draw attention to the fact that the world is changing and our reliance on fossil fuels is part of the problem. As silly as it is, it gets the point across and may just inspire me to get my bike fixed, but not necessarily join in the fun.

Remember me?

It's been another long dry-spell where you may have come looking for Justin's perspective on those things around him but found nothing new. Well, finally I come to you with something new.

This week, the Globe and Mail newspaper had an article entitled: Welcome to Green U. It highlighted the interest in environmentally-themed employment and how universities are developing programs to suit that interest. That, is fine by me. What isn't fine, is the response of some parents. It appears that the "income model" is at the heart of it all and that maybe everyone should be growing up to be lawyers or doctors (no disrepsect meant to any lawyers or doctors reading my missive).

I feel as though the changes that are happening around us are going to necessitate the future revolving around an environmental conciousness. Businesses who disregard their influence on the environment will do so at their own peril. As such, employees will be dedicated to efforts to ameliorate their influence (even the lawyers and doctors).

Why is it that ostensibly-successful parents cannot have the vision of their kids? Why do they have to undermine their children's goals by blaming it on their unbridled optimisim? I hope that the necessary support will be there for those whose optimisim drives them to opportunities to save us all, rather than just save money.