Blog or white ... because it never is.

Which one is real and which one is plastic?  As the province is on the eve of Phase 2, there is a significant sector of the population which is already waiting for Phase 3 no earlier than June 21.  Phase 3 is when casinos can re-open.  I think there is a few bread crumbs that indicate that "can" may not equate to "will" On Friday, CEO of Liquor and Lotteries updated the province.  One would think he would be sounding the alarms of how much revenue is being missed by the casinos being closed.  Truckloads of revenue that are needing to fund provincial problems.  Of course, I wasn't there so all I have to rely on is the news coverage. Instead of concentrating of revenue, the CEO was talking about the tremendous savings to the province from not paying salaries of casino employees.  Yesterday, Saturday, the Casinos of Winnipeg put out an interesting tweet.  Now, the Casinos of Winnipeg have been maintaining a presence on twitter throughout th...

During this State of Emergency, my partner and I explored different nooks and crannies of Winnipeg.  We found lots of cool places and took the road less traveled over and over.  I remember one particular spot that there was a lot of interesting things to take in.  I looked at my partner and he had knelt down and was touching the textures of the ground and was focused on such.  I was standing up and instead of looking at this spot, I was scanning the area at all 360 degrees.  I realized I was planning my escape route if something happened.  I realized I constantly do this when I am in some place new.  I always plan my escape route in case something goes wrong.  I don't realize I am doing it, but I am always doing this.  Something my male partner doesn't do.  I don't know if I do this because I have been previously been a victim or if this is just something women do as a reflex reaction.  If you look at the statistics of women and a...

Watched Filthy Rich yesterday.  Cringe.  Here are the things I got out of this series.   1)  The focus of the series was to give victims a voice and a chance to be heard. Unfortunately, they will never get any restitution for the crimes committed against them but atleast this series gives many an opportunity to speak their truth.   2) The smugness and the arrogance of this man was remarkable.  Hard to believe he did an honest days work in his life.   3)  He was investigated for three decades.  If the #MeToo movement didn't happen, he likely still would be victimizing girls.   4)  Most people with money have to keep earning money.  This guy apparently has not worked for decades and just was a full-time pedophile.  5)  Pedophiles continue because they know what they are doing.  They target the most vulnerable and have multiple ways of ensuring their silence.   ...

Long term care homes are being hit very hard during the pandemic.  That makes sense as the residents mostly have underlying conditions which make them especially vulnerable.  But, is more going on?  Out of desperation, the Military was called in to offer assistance and what they found was a broken system with many of our older adults not given the care that they deserve.  Essentially, not providing them with dignity in the sunset of their lives.  Reactions from the Premier of Ontario and the Prime Minister have been wrought with real emotion as they had no idea that such conditions could exist.  I wasn't the least bit surprised by what I read.  I could actually picture every scene that was described.  I worked in long term care in Manitoba for over a decade. Frankly, I don't think I will ever recover from the moral distress that I accumulated during that decade.  I worked for a profit-based company, but, I don't think there is much differ...

It is one of the lowest of lows.  It is hard to describe the level of deep despondence I feel today.  I am a regular blood donor.  People who donate blood regularly have their own reasons for doing so.  I do it because I think it is my civic duty.  There are so many reasons why people can't donate blood, and I just feel if I am able, I should donate.  It is in me to give.  There have been many years when I wasn't able to donate because I lived in communities without a place to donate. I donated for the first time when I was 16 and at that time, I barely met the weight requirement.  I also donate for selfish reasons.  I have an amazing vein in my left arm.  Anyone who takes my blood compliments my vein and tells me it is one of the best ever.  I like compliments.  Seriously, though, although everyone has their own reasons, when you donate blood, it is such an amazing feeling.  I like going at 8:00 am on a Saturday....

I have been a contributor to an online poker magazine.  I contributed one entry which optimistically was read by 10 people.  Nevertheless, I have been a contributor to an online poker magazine.  This naturally gives me credibility to comment on the state of poker in Manitoba, specifically how to get poker back as quickly as possible.  Here are my suggestions/thoughts on bringing poker back.  I think there is some urgency to do so.  Manitoba has essentially flattened the curve better than most and because of such the public will want to be rewarded for our efforts and want our casinos open.  As far as poker goes, I also think the window of opportunity is closing.  Even before the State of Emergency, the Club Regent poker room was looking to cut the hours of poker and to scale back to one tournament a week.  People were already finding alternative poker venues. Charity poker venues in Winnipeg were getting busier and the game was increasi...

I read via twitter today that a northern RCMP detachment issued 8 tickets over the weekend for violating travel ban due to Covid19; 7 residents of Winnipeg and 1 resident of Dauphin.  Apparently, all 8 people knew of the travel restriction but decided it was more important for them to see family and friends. If you are a regular reader, you may know that I am from Dauphin and believe all people from Dauphin are inherently without fault. Well, this entry really isn't about people from Dauphin.  I have made it my mission to come out of the pandemic induced State of Emergency healthier.  I want to start consistently losing weight slowly as the result of eating better and moving more.  I want my cognition to get a tune-up as well and I am trying to exercise my mind.  I am trying to improve my mental health by increasing positive moments in my life and not allowing negative energy to occupy space within me.  That one is the hardest to achieve.  Nevert...

Howard Stern definitely said it better but I said it first.  Two years ago, I said that Donald Trump wasn't the real problem.  The real problem was Trump voters.  Don't get me wrong.  I definitely think that Trump is a problem but he wouldn't exist without people voting for him.  If you haven't read what Stern said about Trump voters on Thursday, I urge you to read it.  Also, update your opinion of Stern.  He is not the young shock jock that would say outrageous mean things to build his base.  He is older, wiser, famous, and wildly wealthy.  He is no longer trying to establish himself.  He is intelligent and secure within his skin.  He does his program because he wants to and not because he needs to make money.  There is a great wisdom that comes when you do what you love regardless of the money.  He basically said that Trump despises his supporters.  It is something that I have personal experience with that b...

I can't remember the last time I blogged.  A long time.  I keep writing ideas for entries, just haven't felt any motivation.  First, the pandemic.  I made up made during the first couple of days of the pandemic to fully trust my political leaders.  So, I am rating Justin Trudeau and Brian Pallister as high in regards to the ways they have handled the virus.  I may not have been big fans of them before, or I may not in the future, but, I have felt this pandemic to be such that we all needed to be in this together.  Interesting, federally I have found the Opposition party to be completely off the mark and making bizarre statements indicating poor understanding of the country citizens.  Whereas, I have found the NDP quietly making positive suggestions that have been integrated and make sense.  They have done so just because it is good for the country and don't seem to be interested in making political points.  Provincially, I have found...

So, this is me and one of my besties at Halloween.  We like dressing together and going as a couple.  In case your new to this blog, she is Betty and I am Wilma.  We ordered the costumes online and hers came as a flattering little number.  Mine was basically a white bath-towel that I had to wear leggings and a tank top underneath so that I didn't reveal my who-who and/or boob.  Betty, as I shall refer to her in this entry, is one of the most beautiful people on the inside.  She is kind, compassionate, funny, supportive.  I will love and cherish her forever, but you can sort of understand why she is hard to be friends with.  I mean she is one of the most beautiful people on the outside.  She is simply drop dead gorgeous. When we go out, I am the one holding her purse while he conquers any room. She has never made me feel bad, of course, she is not like that.  But, seriously how can you not feel bad about your body when next to a perfec...

I love being a swing voter.  It means I can find honorable people in all parties.  One of the people that I find honorable is our Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau.  I believe he sincerely and earnestly is trying to do put Canada in a positive financial position.  It is impossible.  We are already in a recession and he will have to raise taxes next budget.  It will make him unpopular but he will have no choice.  It will less money in our pockets, but, it is good thing that there are a lot of things that money can't buy.  Those things are more important than money.  However, back to him being honorable.  Shortly after the pandemic started closing our country, Minister Morneau spent a great deal of time negotiating on behalf on Canadians for banks to drop interest rates on consumer debt.  First of all, what a crock.  Banks just couldn't do the right thing, they had to have an intervention by the Federal Finance Minister....

If you have never been to the Selkirk Waterfront, you don't know what you are missing.  Wonderful pathways and walkways and lots to see.  This is not an exaggeration but it is probably similar to walking the BoardWalk on Coney Island.  You can entertain yourself for hours.  In the summer time, it is glorious.  And, the two afternoons that we spent there, we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves.  Social distancing wasn't even an issue. I have a feeling that once social distancing measures have gone, this wonderful space won't be empty anymore.  It is one of those things you take for granted until it is no longer there.  If there is one thing I know about Manitoba, there are thousands of little gems waiting to be discovered.  Here is a favorite spot of mine.  When you are out walking and you cross Provencher bridge, turn left (North) on Tache on the walkway.  You will have a glorious walk and learn about an important locatio...