Super Short Blog Entry

I exercise because I love my body, not because I hate it.

Hugs & Shit

The Momma

Cats!

The hubs and I lately have been two ships passing in the night. With his work and audit time and me and my 12 students and full-time mom gig, life has been passing us by as a couple. I noticed that the hubs, who is an incredible cat lover, was paying more attention to Lucy Catt than me. So last night I curled up beside him, batted his face and swiped at his hands. It worked! I realized I must act like a cat to get his attention. So from now on I will be standoffish, sit on his papers while he tries to work, scratch his hands, knock over plants, sit in boxes and hunt for birds.

Hugs & Shit

The Momma Catt

                                              Cats in Jars

Jar Jar

Things that go in jars...

**A special shout out to my pals Darcee & Steph who inspired this topic amidst an all out craft-off. Please comment to add things to the list. **

honey
nuts and bolts
screws
huckleberries
loose change
alcohol
pickles
glitter
magic
science experiements
samples of bodily fluids
relish
nut butters
lentels
dry soup mixes
collections
snails
a slug, a stick, and a leaf to recreate what they are used to
bait
baby teeth
buttons
raisins
pennies for ramoli
guitar picks
precious dirty outside things your children give you
rocks
Siamese fighting fish
candles
old pens and pencils
paperclips
beads
secret chocolate stashes
used oil from the deep fryer
spaghetti sauce
Allen keys
leftover bits from post IKEA assembly
jellybeans for estimating and eating
random keys that once had a purpose but are forgotten, lost, and lonely still holding out to be reunited with its previous life mate
remnants from previous stored items
chili
pickled eggs, cabbage, and beets
marinades
sand art
wishes
mini marshmallows
cinnamon sticks
peaches
ashes
Epsom salts
heirloom popcorn seeds layered in different colours with a raffia burlap bow sold only at farmer's markets
guac
salsa
dandelions your kids picked for you
ideas
pretzels
egg wash
twine
soap
an ecosystem
gumballs
soaking seeds and legumes
shaking up some butter or whipped cream depending how long you shake for
jam
mothballs
dried flowers
potpourri
homemade triple sec
cat or dog treats
swear money
savings
growing things
old Halloween candy
cats
smoothies from Pinterest
shells
soaking the corks
sand


I am tired.

HUGS & Shit

The Momma

                                                     I didn't say my blog was good.

 

Uncouth? N'est-ce pas?

SO I have a weird little thing I like to do, I like to read comments on message boards on controversial topics and sometimes some not so controversial topics. I find it strangely fascinating. I sometimes comment and it is usually on the topic of fat-shaming, body nonacceptance or something along those lines. I responded to a fella tonight and this is what I got:

Re: Naked jogger spotted on Coquitlam trail

Random Dude: "Some people do nekkid polar-bear swims... some people are less public about it and prefer to just run nekkid in the freezing cold forest. I think those who noticed this man should just be thankful he was young, slim and wearing earbuds. He coulda been 150 pounds overweight and carrying a 20 pound, 30 watt boom-box. :-)"

Me: "Why with the weight comments? Unnecessary."

Random Dude: Courtney Catt-Cam Unnecessary? Yes. You're quite right,
I'm not wrong though... although I certainly could have chosen a more "sensitive" metaphor.
I suppose I could apologize... might even be polite to do so insincerely... but I won't: I'm often effed-over for what people see in my own disability. If I've got skin thick enough to be a happy fellow anyhow, so should everyone else, no? Lighten up. (no, that's not a weight reference) I don't get bent over jokes about "cripples"... in fact, I sorta think people oughta get hip to people like
http://www.callahanonline.com/index.php."

Me: "Bizarre response. I just like to call people on their shitty behavior that is all."

(He changed his above response a million times...)

Me: I will not stop calling people on their shit. It is not cool to shame people of different cultures, religions, sexual orientation, sexual identity, disabilities, diseases etc so why is it ok to shame people who are overweight? If we change our language, call people out, and care about those around us; the people who fat shame will one day be seen just as uncouth as the ignorant gay shaming person. Oh and for the record, fat shaming someone does not help their plight, in fact, it does the opposite. 

Random Dude: "Please feel free to "call me on my shit". I'm no one special and you've every right there is to tell me you disagree with me. Still, I wasn't "shaming" anyone: I simply took a common metaphor everyone understands and applied it where people would get the point. You're perfectly right that people will often see that as pejorative... but what would *you* have me say instead to prevent others' assumptions and biases getting in the way of clarity?"

 

Me: "Your words" I think those who noticed this man should just be thankful he was young, slim and wearing earbuds. He coulda been 150 pounds overweight..." Your comments blatantly express that overweight is undesirable therefore shedding negative light on overweight therefore fat-shaming language. You know what I love? I got to you, this is good. I like to make people think. It will make you think twice next time on your crappy metaphors because someone else might call you on it, maybe even publicly. ;) I love it when people who are in the wrong jump to the "lighten up" argument. Classic.

I am done, thanks for the weird debate. Cheers!"

Well I let him get the last response, he seems like that sort of person...

Random Dude:": "blatantly express that overweight is undesirable therefore shedding negative light on overweight" I offer no defense. You're right. I just hope you never have to be heckled in a comedy club... or worse, have to suffer the abuse of a good comedian if you heckle them like this. Your stridency hurts your cause, love. Lighten up. :-)"

LOL his last comments was a big fat "There, there dear".

Well you can't change things by being soft I am afraid. Shit gets done when truths are said. -Said by anyone who moved and shook the world ever.

Well that was fun.

HUGS & Shit

The Momma

Priorities

The Mayor of the city I live in, put it out there on Facebook, what are the top issues for our community for 2015. Great! He is polling for public opinion, I am a fan of that. Here were the responses...

"Last week I asked the question - what would your #1 priority for 2015 be? Here are the results, group by category with # of responses:
- Pedestrian Improvements (35)
- Road Improvements/Traffic Flow (27)
- Speed on Local Streets (16)
- Transit Improvements (14)
- Rec Centre Redevelopment (10)"

Clearly we have some on-the-move issues to work out but what interested me the most was not on the list at all, homelessness. My suburban city has been turning a blind eye to what literally surrounds us, which is, humans in need.  In many ways my city is new, innovative and trendsetting on many fronts; business support, wireless technology, environmentally friendly, etc. The city has even won awards for such innovations. But we are light years behind any sort of social programs for those in need. I know when it comes to the homeless and funding the municipalities turn to provincial for help and in turn provincial turns to federal for assistance. The problem is that each level of bureaucracy looks to each other and claims it is not my responsibility. In my opinion, it is everyone's responsibility.

Truth be told that many homeless people migrate to the lower mainland in the winter months simply because we do not get much snow and it is the warmest spot in Canada during this time. There are solutions to be had but we are so consumed with the idea of consumption we like to lay blame rather than take action.

My little city is surrounded by rivers. We have many homeless people camping out by the river banks at night. Which is a convenient for the out of sight and out of mind argument. There are beautifully innovative things being done to help those in need all over the world. I am wanting and hoping my city could put itself on the map for difference reasons other than business and start implementing these things such as; portable mini shelters, meals on wheels programs, medical assistance, addiction services, etc. Our current system is broken and we are all accountable to fix it. So if money is the bottom line for any sort of innovation in my city lets look at the long-term effects of putting homelessness on top of the priority list. It is a well known fact that providing services now will cut down on costs later. It feels gross to be connecting homelessness with a monetary value but when this issue is not even on the list I guess it is best to speak in their language.

I keep thinking about Maslow's hierarchy of needs; if the physiological and safety needs are being met then wondrous things can happen. Studies have shown that simply having a roof over a person's head and having a fixed address gives a person a chance at being integrated back into their community. Next, it provides them access to services they may need and in turn gives helper access into their world if they so need/want it. If someone has a fixed address, more appointments can be made and kept, more ways social service workers can get an idea of what is really needed as well.

I am rambling... just a few of my thoughts...I am sure I have missed a few...

HUGS and Shit

The Momma

                                              

                                                        Yeti says, "love everyone."

2 year old logic...

An awesome mom says to me today, "Oh wow you got Thing 2 to wear gloves! My kids refuses to wear gloves." My response, "Yes he only wears gloves because they are red and it is a Thursday."

I open up a banana for Thing 2, it accidentally breaks in two. Banana is null and void.

Thing 2 drops his juice box and cries while pointing at it. I come along and pick it up and wipe it off. Thing 2 cries harder. I switch it with mine. Thing 2 cries even harder. I cut it open and put it in a cup. Thing 2 cries the hardest. Note to self: Ignore Thing 2 when he drops his apple juice, especially when he can reach it himself.

Give Thing 2 mac n cheese, his favorite, but not this week. Thing 2 wants ketchup. I put ketchup on Thing 2's plate beside mac n cheese. Thing 2 points at mac and cheese and cries. I put ketchup on mac n cheese. Thing 2 collapses into a pile of tear-snot ridden mess. He just wanted a pile of ketchup for lunch.

Put Thing 2 down for a nap. Thing 2 insists I lie down with him. I think Thing 2 is sleeping. I lift my head gently, Thing 2 forcefully puts his hand on the side of my head and pushes it back onto pillow.  Repeat 8 times over next half an hour. I give up.  Screw the shower, I am getting a nap.

Thing 2 got mad because I went to the bathroom and did not invite him.

Thing 2 got mad because Thing 1 looked at him.

Thing 1 got mad because Thing 2 looked at him.

Thing 2 got mad because his tiny tongue cannot reach the snot coming out of his nose.


Babies are such a nice way to start people.

Hugs & Shit
The Momma

I gots da poo rage!

Tonight, in the span of  2 minutes and 100 square feet.... Thing 1 took off his underwear and was showing his brother how to do the downward facing dog pose. Thing 2 tore off his diaper and found a hard little poo nugget in which he threw at me. Simultaneously, the hubs took a big shit in the en suite bathroom, door open, whilst giggling.  And lastly, my cat, took the turd of her life in her litter box adjacent to the bed. It all hit me at once. My olfactory receptors were assaulted.. The smells were accosting my senses. I could smell, taste, and even hear the poop sensations. And then it happened, I got a bad case of the poo rage. True Story.

No HUGS
The Momma