Despite relentlessly bad news about the economy and the state of the world, I find I am more optimistic and happy than I have ever been. The cynicism has inexplicable fallen away.
The company I work for is closing it's Toronto office shortly. Several hundred people, including myself will be laid off. I have thought this could happen for sometime. Our work involves American contracts to do with financial services, pharmaceuticals, oil products and telecomunications. I have worked for the company off and on (mostly off) since 1998.
Since I only have a bachelor's degree and I cannot afford to do a Masters given the current economic climate, I thought of training in something specific. There is funding available for people who have been laid off that even covers living expenses. It is Bursary money not a loan, but two years at a community college especially after attending one of the best Universities in the world (check the polls) I can't muster the enthusiasm.
On the other hand there is bursary money for contining education courses, a sufficient amount that I could wind up bi-lingual at last if I am willing to put in the work. Although I wish I could do the courses at a University or other school with better credentials, this I think is a time comprimise.
The world is trying to metamorphisize into a world that is better for all it's inhabitants. I still believe it will be painful and take a long time but I will be happy to be a part of it regardless of the sacrifices.
Nigel is magical or I should say the combination of he and I is magical. We unfailing bring out the best in each other. So people who are waiting, enjoy single life and hold out for the best because the best does happen even though it may take it years to happen.
I have finally learnt to peel potatoes:))
My interests have changed drastically and it seems suddenly, although looking back on the journal parts of the blog I realise this has been a long time in the making. My mother and I are studying Opera together. I snagged an old laser disc player from eBay and a pile of laser discs on Opera and she bought the best books she could find. We will listen to/watch La Traviota next. We started with Verdi's Macbeth.
My father has almost every Opera known to man, on vinyl. His classical vinyl collection could be without parallel--hmmn that might be an exageration--but it seems that way (except in institutions and libraries) so we have heard all of it without being about to name it or describe anything about it.
I made some good guesses at the Symphony a few weeks ago, we had gone to see a specific part of the program so the other pieces were a surprise. I could hum them after the first few bars but I can't name it:)) So strange, for it to have been in the background of my life all my growing up years, but in such a way that I was barely aware of it.
We are seeing more Symphony and Dance soon.
THIS IS IMPORTANT! Have you noticed that almost all television, all film, all literature is about unhappy events. I suppose if the stories were happy there would be no story. A constant diet of unhappiness MUST effect one's mood and perspective.
I barely watch television any more. I read the New York times on my iPhone and that's all. I can't bear the news about my own country, and I will not give it any energy unless I think there is something I can do about it. Our current Priminister shames our country. He has only been brought into line (kicking and screaming--the long silent scream of an adolescent who miskenly believes himself to be right) by a minority government and Obama. Still many Canadians are so dumbed down and intimidated by authority (postering) that they don't see it.
There's a lot more to blog re television now that I am sufficiently distanced to see it, but that will be another possibly surprising blog.
Camarades server crashed and my cam page is down. I did not take it down. I will leave it down for a while but then it will go up again. I'll ask nigel to take some descent photos so that I might be remembered as I am.
Meanwhile, we are starting to visit grunge clubs, with live music too. A Toronto landmark is the Horseshoe. Wear your grubbly clothes though because you will come out soaked to elbows in spilt beer:))
I don't want to abandon the site and yet I haven't the time to do it. I have enjoyed the few nights I spent deciphering html and css though. It's just language. I suppose people who give it a lot of time write it the way I right English.
Yes I am very very happy, and feeling I have a new understanding of the world and it's people, but my brother pointed something out to me that hit home--he said my version of religion was adulterated--his exact words were "according to you, it's blessed are the A**H**** for they shall be forgiven from a great distance. "Precisely," I said. I responded that I hadn't read anything in the Bible that required me to keep company with destructive, psychotic or badly behaved people. I read FORGIVE :))
25/02: It's a new day!
Despite relentlessly bad news about the economy and the state of the world, I find I am more optimistic and happy than I have ever been. The cynicism has inexplicable fallen away.The company I work for is closing it's Toronto office shortly. Several hundred people, including myself will be laid off. I have thought this could happen for sometime. Our work involves American contracts to do with financial services, pharmaceuticals, oil products and telecomunications. I have worked for the company off and on (mostly off) since 1998.
Since I only have a bachelor's degree and I cannot afford to do a Masters given the current economic climate, I thought of training in something specific. There is funding available for people who have been laid off that even covers living expenses. It is Bursary money not a loan, but two years at a community college especially after attending one of the best Universities in the world (check the polls) I can't muster the enthusiasm.
On the other hand there is bursary money for contining education courses, a sufficient amount that I could wind up bi-lingual at last if I am willing to put in the work. Although I wish I could do the courses at a University or other school with better credentials, this I think is a time comprimise.
The world is trying to metamorphisize into a world that is better for all it's inhabitants. I still believe it will be painful and take a long time but I will be happy to be a part of it regardless of the sacrifices.
Nigel is magical or I should say the combination of he and I is magical. We unfailing bring out the best in each other. So people who are waiting, enjoy single life and hold out for the best because the best does happen even though it may take it years to happen.
I have finally learnt to peel potatoes:))
My interests have changed drastically and it seems suddenly, although looking back on the journal parts of the blog I realise this has been a long time in the making. My mother and I are studying Opera together. I snagged an old laser disc player from eBay and a pile of laser discs on Opera and she bought the best books she could find. We will listen to/watch La Traviota next. We started with Verdi's Macbeth.
My father has almost every Opera known to man, on vinyl. His classical vinyl collection could be without parallel--hmmn that might be an exageration--but it seems that way (except in institutions and libraries) so we have heard all of it without being about to name it or describe anything about it.
I made some good guesses at the Symphony a few weeks ago, we had gone to see a specific part of the program so the other pieces were a surprise. I could hum them after the first few bars but I can't name it:)) So strange, for it to have been in the background of my life all my growing up years, but in such a way that I was barely aware of it.
We are seeing more Symphony and Dance soon.
THIS IS IMPORTANT! Have you noticed that almost all television, all film, all literature is about unhappy events. I suppose if the stories were happy there would be no story. A constant diet of unhappiness MUST effect one's mood and perspective.
I barely watch television any more. I read the New York times on my iPhone and that's all. I can't bear the news about my own country, and I will not give it any energy unless I think there is something I can do about it. Our current Priminister shames our country. He has only been brought into line (kicking and screaming--the long silent scream of an adolescent who miskenly believes himself to be right) by a minority government and Obama. Still many Canadians are so dumbed down and intimidated by authority (postering) that they don't see it.
There's a lot more to blog re television now that I am sufficiently distanced to see it, but that will be another possibly surprising blog.
Camarades server crashed and my cam page is down. I did not take it down. I will leave it down for a while but then it will go up again. I'll ask nigel to take some descent photos so that I might be remembered as I am.
Meanwhile, we are starting to visit grunge clubs, with live music too. A Toronto landmark is the Horseshoe. Wear your grubbly clothes though because you will come out soaked to elbows in spilt beer:))
I don't want to abandon the site and yet I haven't the time to do it. I have enjoyed the few nights I spent deciphering html and css though. It's just language. I suppose people who give it a lot of time write it the way I right English.
Yes I am very very happy, and feeling I have a new understanding of the world and it's people, but my brother pointed something out to me that hit home--he said my version of religion was adulterated--his exact words were "according to you, it's blessed are the A**H**** for they shall be forgiven from a great distance. "Precisely," I said. I responded that I hadn't read anything in the Bible that required me to keep company with destructive, psychotic or badly behaved people. I read FORGIVE :))