Ongoing Adventures in Semi-Conciousness

I started at the beginning of Ugly Betty this weekend. I think it is the most light-hearted shows I've seen in a while. I enjoy every single character, and have enjoyed every single plot line, some of which have had the brightest and most unexpected resolutions. They've done a great job of integrating good characters into a reasonably realistic editorial/fashion/photography environment. The production is very good on all fronts, America Fererra is incredibly likeable, and I find it truly funny. A positive and engaging piece of programming.

Most surprising to me is Vanessa Williams, playing the only evil person on television I've ever wanted to succeed. Who knew she was any good? Wish there was more with the irish (?) seamstress. I think CityTV did a brilliant thing purchasing this program, and that everyone involved should be very proud.

YA RLY.

I'm trying to get back in to updating this more often. It's hard. Excercise is such a huge priority in my life these days, if I want to accomplish what I want to accomplish, it kind of has to be. Work is getting busy again as we head into what is our high-season, and by the time I hit the gym and drive home, it's usually getting close to seven or eight o'clock... and well, some of you know what my couch is like. But I'm trying to. It's nice to have all the writing to look back on after many many months, and it helps me to vent a little when I'm frustrated or sad, or brag a little when things go right.

I'm at home tonight, watching the Terry Fox Story dramatized film on CBC. I expected it to be pretty tacky, but it's actually really good. There are so many little details that make the whole story that much more incredible, that much more moving. I watched in horror as I saw the way he was treated across Quebec, and I just struggle to understand how that happened. When I think about what he did, I find it hard to imagine any more pure mission, and more noble movement. Such a humble human being. It makes it impossible to fathom a lack of support let alone acts of maliciousness. Did you know the Quebec police threw him off the freeway? The OPP gave him a full escort.

I feel this strange sense of pride watching this representation, proud of the changes occurred for him the moment he stepped onto Ontario soil. Proud of Canadians for being so proud of him, proud that we hold him up over all other figures - he was voted "greatest Canadian". I love that we chose to honor a man like him, as opposed to a military man or a political figure. A real person, who made a major major personal sacrifice. There are the unsung heroes in it, too - his best friend, who drove the van and protected him every step of the way, his family who had to let him go, knowing what he was doing was so much bigger than their love for him.

This is the preachiest thing I have ever written but this shit is really moving!!

I remember my mother telling me what it was like when he ran through Southern Ontario, that people lined both sides of Lakeshore Road and cheered and screamed as he loped down the road. I remember running down that same street every September, struggling to make it, usually coming close to last. I am a notoriously terrible runner.

Cancer is such a filthy word to me, it is one of the most powerful words I know. It's like a punch in my gut, and I hate it. That makes me feel weak, and I wonder if I started participating in more runs and events if I would feel stronger. And maybe I don't need to run, maybe I could just help, help organize, help with the media, help with some other skill I've got - like shooting the event... I dunno. Something to think about.

In any case, if this airs again, and I'm sure it will - sit and watch it. It's an incredibly moving portrait of an incredibly inspiring human being. If they took the Queen off the 20 and put him on - I'd be thrilled.

I was unaware there even WAS a gospel of Judas.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1144360212246&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home

This summer past, a strange thing happened up the hill from our apartment - in the new, swank-ish condos by the Go-Station in Oakville. After smelling rotting meat on their floor for several days, neigbors of a resident on a higher floor in the building knocked on the door. They asked if perhaps his freezer was broken, could his food be rotting?

One neighbor, a doctor, recognized the smell as rotting human flesh the second the resident opened his door. He called the police, and hours later, a weeks-old unidentifiable body of a woman was pulled from the man's bath-tub. And yes, that was odd.

But what was odd-er was 20 minutes ago, as I lay in bed, I thought I heard a faint knock on the front door of our 10th floor condo. I passed it off and rolled over. Minutes later, I heard the key, the door opening, someone talking to the cat, and hollering "Hello?"

Justin sat up, bleary eyed, "Hi, we're just in bed, sorry we didn't hear you!"

Our familiar Super called back "Oh, it's okay - sorry to disturb you. We're just doing a floor check for anything dead."

We exchanged glances and announced we would just stay in bed, then - but they'd already gone on to next door.

Weird.