Tender Fearlessness: On Vacation from the Blog

MANIFESTO of the Blog

This blog is about exploring the world; my views, the news, my word storms, blurts, and blemishes. There may be themes, personal revelations; there may even be bits and pieces dealing with world or Canadian events.

At times, I borrow and/or link to others who have so much more to say, or show, or who say "it" so much better than I ever could. I credit them as much as I am able.

It is my hope that this blog provides one effective outlet for my anger at change's slow pace , and a porthole to yell through regarding suggestions for improving this world.

If someone finds something worthwhile in these items, then begins to think or feel differently about something, and then goes off and changes her world for the better, my success is assured.

If you changed your world - tell me that such an event has occurred; I would be gratified to no end. The comment box is there for you. No solicitations please.

Peace be with you always.

My Favourites to Jan 2009 to Dec 2010

New Adventures: buying a new car; snorkelling in a swimming pool; Human Systems Dynamics; Saskatchewan in summertime again; job competitions;
Good Friends: The Calgary Crew - You know who you are; Singing Teachers; Barbara Tose; Martha Aitkin - for Leonard Cohen and less;
Wonderful Reading: Three Cups of Tea; The Cleft; Dark Age Ahead; Reading Like a Writer; Selected Works of T.S. Spivet; When You Are Engulfed in Flames; Hold Me Tight; The Wayfinders.
Great Mystery writers: Val McDermid; Donna Leon (oh Venice); Karin Slaughter; Lynda Laplante; Peter Robinson (Canada!); Louise Penny (more Canada!!); Pat Caponi (yes, Canada again);

Least Favourite Things

My Favourites 2008

IDEAS: seeing behind the stories - writing letters to the editors to the shadows there.
WEB SITES: cbc.ca, NYTimes, Democracy Now!, Feministe,
RADIO: CBC radio1
TV: TCM, In Treatment on HBO
NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS: - China is repopulating Sub Saharan Africa, up to 12 million Chinese are expected to be displaced in the next decade!
PEOPLE: My Doctor, My Counsellor, My Pharmacist,
BOOKS: If this is your land, where are your stories? - Edward Creighton; Insecure at Last - Eve Ensler;
MUSIC: Soundtrack - Wicked, especially Defying Gravity; Herbie Hancock - The River; Alicia Keys - As I Am; Jill Barber;

My Favourites 2007

PEOPLE: The Women from Hollyhock - Nina, Toby, Linda, Meg, Cat, Maria, Shahla, Rachel, Jaymie, Jacqueline, Marni, McB, Stina - Michael, Lise, Hugues-Frederic,
NEWS: Male birth rate is declining; 1.25 million people have already been displaced in Beijing in preparation for the 2008 Olympics in flagrant violation of their right to adequate housing.
MOVIES: Not Many: Silk with Keira Knightly - breathtaking in its pacing - slowly snapping the traps; Jodie Foster's The Brave One - only for its Brutality, and honour; .
CURRENT AFFAIRS: Mia Farrow Rocks! She may seem timid but she continues fiercely. How demoralizing. Evangelistic Christians who think climate change is hooey and intelligent design deserves equal time with science make Islam look so much better as a peaceful path. Christianity almost seems to relish the end of the world. Could they be encouraging terrorism, bringing on the Apocalyse? hmmm
BOOKS:One Thing I Know For Sure - Wally Lanb - Topping She's Come Undone, a twins' story of revelation, redemption and...ferocity; Last Light of the Sun - Guy Gavriel Kay writes a year-long saga of universal scale enfolding an ancient, bold wonderful world that the reader becomes a part of - WOW! Exit Music - Ian Rankin puts the end to Rebus' police career - what's next?; Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides - Got the Pulitizer last year, Long After Fathers - Roberta Rees; and The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill; JK Rowling's last hurrah - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Anything by Peter Robinson - the Inspector Alan Banks series, Heather Mallick's book "Cake or Death" - hilarious! The Birth House by Ami McKay; Fun Home - Alison Bechdel's account of growing up.

My Favourite Things 2006

People to Thank: Martha Aitkin - for love and freedom; Sue Owen and Mary Trafford - for protection; Carroll Holland - for prayers; Kate Bell - for the spirituals; Karen Tierney, Mike Pitre, Louise Beauparlant, Andree Favreau, Ernie Depatie, Dave Huddlestone - for fellowship; Roland Leger - for support; Lesley Humber - for keeping a clear record;
Best Experiences: Belize - snorkeling the reef, Ambergris Cay, the rainforest, the Mayan ruins; Sauble Beach in June; Little Cove @ Bruce Peninsula NP - COLD snorkeling-brrrrrrr; changing my anti-depressant meds - yeah!; finding Global Mind-Shift.org and playing there; going to Niagara Falls;
Best Reads: All Ian Rankin's books; Three Day Road - Joseph Boyden; Heather Malick's column on CBC.ca; Saturday Globe and Mail Book Section; Rumi; Hafiz; Stumbling onto Happiness - Daniel Gilbert; Sight Hound - Pam Houston; Fever Pitch - Nick Hornby (perfect during the World Cup); Jodi Picoult's books - Vanishing Acts, Tenth Circle;
Best Music: Dixie Chicks - Long Way Around; Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood; Spirituals Mix from Kate Bell; Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome, The Seeger Sessions; Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium; Eliza Gilkyson - Paradise Hotel; Paul Simon - Sunshine; Liz Phair - Somebody's Miracle
Best Movies: The Queen; Bobby; Shortbus; Bon Cop, Bad Cop; Little Miss Sunshine, Stranger Than Fiction; Dead Man's Chest; Casino Royale

Tender Fearlessness

Get Ready

Sunday, July 15, 2007

On Vacation from the Blog

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My Favourites to Jan 2009 to Dec 2010

Least Favourite Things

My Favourites 2008

My Favourites 2007

My Favourite Things 2006