Blog or white ... because it never is.

We just got through another weekend in the new reality.  I never knew how exhausting it was to do nothing.  Years ago, we would plan self-isolating weekend without knowing we were doing it.  We were delighted to have a weekend with no commitments so we could have a scrabble marathon.  We would play scrabble continuously for 12-15 hours on Saturday and Sunday.  We kept track of how many games we won and our cumulative scores.  I used to be in a scrabble league so scrabble brings out the competitor in me.  But, we both just liked playing scrabble.  It is different now when we are looking for a way to pass time.  We play one game of scrabble and then we need a break for about 3 hours to recover.  We both are exhausted and it is not physical fatigue but emotional exhaustion.  We are worried about friends and loved ones.  We both want to take a break from worrying about everything yet we are glued to the news channels to know ever...

One of my friends has just become a grandmother.  Well, her grand-daughter is 8 days old, so, I suppose it is not "just" anymore.  In this new reality, we are all looking at our social media more.  She is posting pictures of her grand-daughter every time she moves.  Conservatively speaking, she is posting 20 pictures a day.  I love it!  Seeing new life and seeing the pure joy of being a grand-mother is very welcome news.  Usually, I get irritated when people overshare pictures of their grandchildren, using every opportunity to put a picture up showing how cute their grand-baby is when their grandchild pales in cuteness comparison to precious boy !!  Kidding.  Other good news is how many people are stepping up to help others.  Safeway has become the model of corporate kindness in Canada.  They are probably one of the few companies making money but they are focusing on what is good for everyone and are valuing both their customers...

I have seen so many examples of incredible kindness and respect.in our province over the last two weeks.  People doing everything they can to help when they can.  Businesses using creative means to keep their businesses alive.  This is true of the local food truck to big corporations.  Everyone is trying to help one another.  We are all in this together, apart. It is not business as usual for anyone.  We are inspired by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brent Roussin.  When asked when he was going to take a day off, he replied when the virus is over. There is absolutely not one business sector that is not affected by the virus, yet, they still are doing what they can to help others.  Oh, wait.  There is one business sector that is not affected.  That is the large property management companies.  Business as usual for them.  Not the slightest reduction in rent or any willingness to dialogue with tenants for even the most modest ...

Overnight, he defended his orders to get the economy going at Easter by tweeting that if the economy didn't get running, there would be thousands of suicides.  I am sure his desire to get the economy going has nothing to do with the fact that the Trump organization is estimated to be losing $500,000/day.  This is why they have conflict of interest rules.  I have to admit that I used to have a conspiracy theory.  I really thought that Trump had created the virus in a lab and it was his master plan to put the world on hold and to cancel the US election in November so that he would stay President.  I realize now that I was giving him too much credit.  He is incapable of forward thinking.  Here and now and how it impacts me.  That is all that he is capable of thinking about.  COVID-19 is serious.  The hashtag #NotdyingforWallStreet immediately starting trending.  Which is good because twitter is the only source of information th...

I am putting politics aside during this extraordinary time.  I wish others would as well and stop commenting along their own political alignments.  This is a hard time for our political leaders as well as we need to remember they are human and we have to believe they are doing their best in our best interest.  My Counselor Scott Gillingham is working from home.  He is hard-working and compassionate. Thank you for your work on our behalf.  I don't know what our Mayor is doing and that is probably a good thing.  I have been disappointed in many of his actions since re-election.  However, I have been particularly impressed with Kevin Klein.  I will better about our city knowing he is there to provide checks and balances and oversight. Provincially, Premier Pallister is doing the best job he can and the app that links helpers to those needing help is fantastic.  There are lots of little things doing go in our province.  Very proud....

A State of Emergency was declared in Manitoba yesterday.  I tried to read everything I could about the changes and basically nothing was changed from the recommendations of social distancing made over a week ago.  The only difference is now they can enforce the recommendations.  This means there must have been significant evidence that some were not following the rules.  I did grocery shopping yesterday and ran some errands for friends.  While in my grocery store, I saw some extraordinary examples of social distancing and being prepared and saw some equally awful examples.  One woman demanded to speak to a manager after she was denied a refund on a $7 pepper.  As the whole store heard, she never would have bought this pepper if she knew it was $7.  After she was denied a refund, she basically told the manager where she wanted to put the pepper and the whole store heard.  I think they should have given her the $7.  Why escalate a situ...

1.  No one should use the word "incredible" during a news conference about Pandemic.  I'm looking at you Orange Menace. 2.  Canadian Finance Minister gave a news conference today about pandemic measures.  He sounded very statesmanlike and unveiled lots of avenues for support for Canadians.  I was impressed.  All parties have agreed to minimum MPs in attendance to vote for measures to ensure minimal travel.  Lots of indications from him, other leaders both national and provincial, that they are communicating and working with their International colleagues.  Makes me proud to be a Canadian.  3.  Then, there is Manitoba which may or may not be fighting over introducing a budget.  A budget that has become irrelevant.  And, I am still receiving highly political emails from all three parties represented in the Leg.  Come on.  Right now, no one has extra $ to contribute to a political party.  Also, forget party lo...

Believe it or not, I am usually glad that I live with mental illness.  I am a much better person since I have began to live with a mental illness.  Now, I am especially happy because I am in a much better place in our new reality of living with COVID-19 precautions.  The first thing is people living with mental illness have a clearer mindset about what is and isn't a problem.  I can thank (c)PTSD to giving me perspective.  Temporary precautions, which seem difficult for others, are no big deal to me.  Self-isolating for a couple of weeks or so doesn't bother me.  When I first was diagnosed, I self-isolated (non-intentional) for almost 6 months.  I already know every trick to getting through a long period of staying at home.  It is great that the government has waived the two week waiting period for EI benefits.  The problem with that is that there no more workers to process the claims which are rising every day.  People are ex...

Manitoba will provide daily updates on COVID-19.  They will be conducted by Dr. Brent Roussin, Chief Medical Officer and other people who he chooses.  I am extremely impressed by him.  He is calm, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and prepared.  No press question is flustering him.  He has the answers and when he doesn't, he states that.  Very impressed that the updates are not done by politicians.  This isn't a political issues; it is a medical issue and I am impressed by the politicians who respect that. 

Tim Horton's acknowledges today that there is a lot of misinformation out there.  True.  They basically issue a statement that acknowledges that there is a lot of misinformation and doesn't provide any clear anything up.  In fact, there statement is as irrelevant as they are.  It is hard to even understand what they are saying. I am reading between their lines.  They are going to keep their, I don't even know what they are, stores, restaurants, whatever, and employees want to stay home without pay, they are ok with that. Meanwhile, MGM Resorts announce they will cease all operations in Las Vegas on Tuesday.  A pretty strong precaution since they had already installed thermal cameras at entrances to test to see if anyone entering had a fever.  Regardless, this is a major corporation and I am guessing that each property does more business in a day than a local Tim's does in a year.  Presumably, top level executives worked throughout today ...

In 1996, Jets 1.0 left Winnipeg and Manitoba, but not without a strong fight.  I remember we were given a dollar amount that needed to be raised in order to keep the team. We, the people, showed up.  I remember children handing over their piggy banks.  Most of us pledged money.  When the Jets left, we showed up.  We were heart-broken.  When The Moose came, we showed up.  We supported the team.  We still do.  Not the NHL but good hockey, good value, and good entertainment.  Jets 2.0 came into our lives.  We showed up big time !! Rallies in the city and a Jets ticket came to be one of the most impossible tickets in the world.  It was a rough few years, but we were not deterred.  We showed up patient with the team while "building".  Some of us would go to other sporting events all across North America and still shout "TRUE NORTH" whenever the anthem was sang causing those standing next to us to inch away from us....

Poker has been suspended at Club Regent.  (Table games as well, but that doesn't impact me.)  Also, the major charity provider, Northern Stars Poker, has also canceled games until further notice.  It has been less than 24 hours since the poker room closed at Regent.  I miss it already, although I totally support the decision.  Worse for me, curling championship and GSOC events have also been canceled for the rest of the year.  Seriously, what am I to do?  I might have to clean up the messes that my little man creates.  I might have to talk to my partner.  No, I am not that desperate yet, but it may come to that.  Long before COVID-19, I have felt that poker rooms are basically petri dishes full of infection.  Players eating and drinking at the table without washing their hands before or after.  People sneezing or coughing into their hands and then touching cards, chips, etc.  I always have hand sanitizer in my purse an...

I used to look forward to the MPI publishing their annual top fraud cases.  They were hilarious.  But, also not funny.  Fraud costs us all.  The last couple of year, they haven't been that funny.  Very boring, actually.  That tells me that MPI are doing a good job finding suspected fraud before it happens.  It also tells me we live in a tattle-tale society where we are willing to throw anyone under the bus.  Personally, I have only tried to throw my ex-husband under the bus, as everyone else I know is a quality person and would not engage in fraud.   However, there are still so many phone scams out there.  I fell for one on the internet a few years ago.  My insomnia saved me.  I happened to quick my banking at 3:00 am and discovered a large amount was withdrawn from my account.  I phoned my bank immediately (they are available 24 hours) and reported this and answered all the questions honestly.and actually ha...

Scratching my head over the NDP budget delay today.  It seems like a headline grabber for headline sake.  I don't know what they accomplished rather than create a little bit of chaos.  The face is that the budget was decided a long time ago.  It went to Her Majesty's printer and thousands of copies were printed.  If you actually want to fight the budget, your best bet is to allow the budget to be presented and then there are numerous parliamentary options to delay and/or amend the budget.  Right now, it is hard to be on the NDP side because the majority of us don't know what we are even fighting for.  There are other consequences that should be considered by NDP.  First of all, they risk alienating the Press Corps.  Can you imagine all these journalists stuck together and unable to report on the budget that had already been distributed to them.  The timing is horrible.  A world pandemic has been declared and social distancin...

I get a lot of emails from political parties asking for money.  Yesterday, it was the provincial Conservatives. For half the email, it went on about climate change, carbon tax, pledge to be green, fighting the federal government, carbon footprint.  Honestly, I read it several times and I could not understand what point was trying to be made.  Seriously, I couldn't understand what point they were trying to make.  I am not trying to be cute.  I literally could not fathom what was being said.  And, I'm like, smart.  However, I do remember Premier Pallister on the day after his re-election saying that his government was going to eliminate reusable plastic bags in his first 100 days of office.  Guess what?  They are still here, so I don't have much confidence in any environmental claims.  The next part of the email touted that Pallister was going to reduce PST by 1% on July 1.  This would mean that we would have the second lowest...

A long time ago, Jim McCrae was Attorney General of the Manitoba Government.  Now, I think they have renamed it Justice Minister.  Like I said, it was a long time ago.  Anyway, other than he was unqualified for this position, I remember one thing specifically.  The radio ads.  Apparently, the government changed the DUI ads for stiffer penalties.  The radio ads (maybe tv too) featured Jim McCrae saying "Manitoba is NOT a good place to drink and drive."  Everytime, I heard that ad, I would literally have to pull over because I was laughing so hard.  Like, there was a "good" place to drink and drive.  It turns out the laugh was on me.  But, it wasn't about drinking and driving.  It was about depression.  It turns out, Manitoba is NOT a good place to have depression.  There is an article circulating on the internet about a young woman suffering from depression who died by suicide.  The article describes how much s...

Two designing men in Winnipeg.  Both have interesting hair cuts.  The 74 year old one has a hair style that perhaps was popular in the 70s but I doubt it.  The younger one has a modern style that he changes and updates and uses it to help define his creativity.  Peter Nygard is famous for designing a slim pant that is sold mainly on the shopping channel.  Yes, a slim pant.  Basically, the same pair of pants that every clothing line has.  You can buy a slim pant at Reitman's, Walmart, and Superstore.  In other words, big whoop.  Colin Hodgson is famous for being President of Dynasty Curling and basically responsible for making curling clothes cool.  Not only cool but contributes positively to performance.  Wildly creative use of colours.  Curlers are even more motivated to win their province to get to wear a Dynasty Curling item.  Not only professional curlers love them, recreational curlers and fans love them....

Our first date was memorable for one reason.  Irony.  Seriously, he kept using the word, "ironic" wrong and often.  A sentence didn't come out of his mouth that didn't include "ironic".  It was like fingers on a chalk board.  I so wanted to tell him that not only was whatever he said not ironic, it was not even interesting.  But, I didn't want to be that mean on a first date.  This was a third date conversation.  Our second date was like the first except I talked less.  I wanted it to be over and on to the third date.  Finally, the third date.  I gave him the English lesson on irony.  And, then because I was on a roll, I also offered my observation that he was clearly suffering from depression.  To my surprise, he embraced both comments.  So, then I couldn't break up with him because I broke him and felt a sense of responsibility to ensure he sought treatment for his depression.  As time went on, I realiz...

As a grandmother, I can tell you one of the most beautiful sights is watching your grandson sleep peacefully.  I can tell you that another one of the most beautiful sights is watching your grandson awake.  I, like every other human, have made mistakes.  My grandson doesn't know that.  He just knows that I love him and he thinks I am perfect.  It is like having my life start again.  Eventually, he will find out that I am not perfect, so I am going to enjoy my perfection for as long as I can.  And, it is not just me.  My angel thinks everyone he meets is perfect until shown otherwise.  The point is he is innocent and naive.  Whatever the adults do around him, he is not making the decisions.  Some children just aren't lucky when it comes to choosing their parents. Some grow up in situations where there is little money for basic necessities.  Some children, in our own communities, are growing up hungry through no fault of their...

Like many Winnipeggers, I read a detailed interview that Steve Vogelsang gave from the prison common room at a minimum security prison in Alberta.  He is serving time for several bank robberies but he is eligible for parole in April of this year and will likely receive it.  I was curious to hear his story of what went wrong in his life for him to go from small celebrity to convicted felon.  He said he has had all this time to think but he has no answers.  He is also writing a memoir to be released soon after he is released.  Apparently, it will go through all the high-lights of his life and then briefly talk about his life as a bank robber and what went wrong but it will offer no insights into why.  I will provide the answers for him so that he might produce a book worth reading.  The easy question is where he went wrong.  The answer is that he started robbing banks.  The bigger question is why and the answer is obvious to me. ...

Shame on you, Winnipeg media.  Now, you are doing "investigative reporting" on Nygard.  After the Bahamas and the FBI broke the story for you.  However, for the last few decades, yes, decades, you have ignored what almost all of Winnipeg new.  This man is a world class creeper.  Almost everyone who met him had a story of extreme white privilege and arrogance.  Did you ever think, maybe there is more to the story?  Did you ever think of investigating some of the whispers to see if there was fire where there was smoke?  Look at the top 10 richest people/families in Winnipeg.  Look at how much they have given back to the community.  Look at how they contribute to the well-being of our city and province.  Then, look at Nygard.  If anything, he has been taking out of our community and not paying forward any of his success.  Now, you are interviewing victims.  I guess, in one respect, it is positive that you are giv...

What do you see when you look at this picture?  Do you see two polar bears having a playful moment at the World Class Display of Journey to Churchill?   Or, do you see a #MeToo moment. I can tell you that I watched these polar bears play for about 15 continuous moments.  They were being playful with each other and both of them were enjoying themselves as was the crowd watching them.  The #MeToo movement is an important social justice moment that it was time for our society to wake up too.  It gave women the courage to stand up and face their accusers and to speak their truth.  Why did we need to empower women? Well, one of the reasons is that we all grew up with Disney Princesses and the message it gave to us as girls.  First of all, Cinderella.  Cinderella\s biggest problem was that she worked in a non-unionized environment.  If the story was happening today, it would be like she was working in a Tim Horton's franchise.  An...

Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the day that Sandra Schmirler left us.  Many of her fans remember the emotional press conference she did a few weeks before her death.  Many of us remember her funeral which was shown live during the Brier.  Many of us now contribute to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation which has raised enormous amounts of money in support of care of premature babies.  She was the only curler to ever have her obituary published in the New York Times.  It wasn't surprising.  She transformed the game of curling and made it popular and mainstream.  There was just something about Sandra.  Every time she won a game, let alone a Championship, I would cry along with the team.  When her team won the Gold Medal, it was one of the most memorable moments ever.  It helped a little that Team Canada had those amazing outfits that arguably were made just for Sandra, Jan, Joan, and Marcia.  I always cheer for the underdo...

Economic times are tough these days.  It is hard to tell sometimes because we spend out loud so to speak but save privately.  This translates into growing debt and struggling retirements.  The people that are really hurting these days are our charities.  Organizations that enhance lives have a harder time separating us from our money.  Charities need to get creative and partner with organizations who also want to get creative. That was the recipe for a Charity Poker tournament that happened on February 29.  I can tell you the important thing about this tournament was that over $5000 was raised for the Deer Lodge Centre.  Deer Lodge Centre is an important health care facility in Winnipeg and has dedicated personal care home beds for our Veterans.  That is only one of the worthy services within the Centre.  The Prime program literally changes lives.  Not to mention, the amazing chopped salad that is made at lunch time in the cafeter...

Look at that guy smiling away.  How can you not love him?   I love him so very much, but, it is so much because of the little things.  He has changed immensely since we have been together.  Everyone will tell you that you can't change a man.  And, that is true.  He has changed all by himself and he keeps changing and evolving.  A great example was last night.  I took him out for dinner to celebrate his birthday.  A decade ago, when we first got together, he had a very bland palate.  In fact, he only ate three different foods: milk, cheese, and bread.  Three meals a day.  Not very adventurous at all.  Last night, the waiter listed the specials and there was a steak covered with seafood and a fennel and caramelized onion jam and some other things that I wasn't listening.  To my surprise, he ordered it. He gave me a taste and it was an explosion of flavour.  The waiter came by and asked how the meal w...