Ides of March, April, and the Twitter newness

Wow, it's been too long since I have updated my blog!

What's new.... I joined Twitter and Linkedin recently. They're both great tools for social networking, and in some ways superior to Facebook.

On the health side of things, I got 15 minutes shaved off of my dialysis time, and I expect another 15 minutes to come off in April. My blood is so clean that I don't have to be there as long. Yay! On the negative side, hemodialysis still makes it really difficult to travel. But I do have an appointment in May at St. Mike's in Toronto for another transplant related appointment. This will be my first at St. Mike's since moving to Barrie from Ottawa.

Everything else is generally status-quo. Still looking for a new job, all these 6 - 7 months later. :(

iPods, the economy, and me

I finally got my grubby hands on an iPod touch. I admit, I really, really wanted an iPhone, but I couldn't afford the outrageous rates that Rogers was charging for a data plan. It's like highway robbery, except for them it's legal.

But yeah, I got my iPod and I take it with me to dialysis. It's a real life saver when there's nothing to do. Sure we have TV, but unfortunately for me, there isn't always something good on, especially when I have to go in for 8 am.

I'm still waiting on St. Mike's to hurry up with my transplant workup. They're taking forever. The nurse at the dialysis unit tried to reassure me since it's a 6 - 8 year wait for a transplant, and the wait time goes back to the date I returned to dialysis. But if I wanted a living donor transplant, if it could even be remotely possible, as it stands now I couldn't even get that because St. Mike's is dragging their feet.

I'm still looking for a new job too. What really sucks is because of my dialysis schedule, it's really difficult to find something. The goods jobs are no where in or around Simcoe County, which means I have to move to Toronto. But I have to give some notice to move there. It's a classic catch 22 scenario.

At least at the end of the month I get to attend the Green Party contention. What drama that will be.

Year of the Ox

Sorry I haven't posted in a few months. Post-election got to be a busy time. Not much going on now post-Christmas. I'm looking for a new job. That along with dialysis keeps me occupied for the time being. Plus Green Party stuff.

Running an Electoral District Association isn't a small task. Here in Barrie we have our AGM coming up on Wednesday. Having a new constitution proposed, along with having to give 30 days notice, and so forth takes a lot of time. It all got done, and it got done on time, thankfully.

I have no new years resolutions for 2009. I think I like it that way, for now at least.

Life, the universe, and everything

I apologize to everyone for taking so long to update my blog. It has been an incredibly busy few weeks with the recent federal election. So I guess I'll start with that.

I managed a very successful campaign for local Green Party candidate Erich Jacoby-Hawkins. He got 11.1% which qualifies us for a 60% refund of our campaign expenses. As well, his actual number of votes increased significantly. The bonus for me during this campaign was that I made a few new friends, and considering how new I am to Barrie, a few new friends would be very welcome.

I finally got laid off. While normally you would expect someone in this situation to be depressed, sad, etc I am none of those things. First the campaign kept me far too busy to think about it, but even then, I am excited for the opportunities I might be able to pursue. That is if and when I get the energy to keep up. I must admit the campaign had me quite tired by the end. Good thing real jobs aren't like that most of the time!!

Elizabeth May & the debates

I just posted on the Barrie Greens website, an editorial by former Prime Minister Joe Clark that calls for Elizabeth May's inclusion in the televised leader's debates.

From my point of view Stephen Harper, Jack Layton, and Gilles Duceppe are all having a big hissey fit. It's like they are 2 years old, and are crying because they don't want to share.

My message to them is this... GROW UP!!

Canada has its first Green MP!!

Greens woo independent MP; May now in leaders' debates?
Full story.

MP Blair Wilson joins the Green party as federal electon looms
August 30, 2008

Bruce Campion-Smith
Ottawa Bureau Chief

OTTAWA – Green Party Leader Elizabeth May has wooed Independent MP Blair Wilson to her party, making him the first-ever Green politician in the Commons and dramatically boosting May’s chances of a spot in the televised leaders’ debates in a possible fall election.

A beaming May called it an historic day as she pinned a Green Party button on the lapel of Wilson’s suit jacket at an Ottawa news conference this morning.

“This is the first time anyone with the House of Commons Parliamentary seal is also wearing a Green Party button, but not the last,” May said as she announced the stunning news.

Wilson, the MP for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, resigned from the Liberal Party under a cloud almost a year ago after questions were raised about his personal finances. He has sat as an independent MP since the fall of 2007.

While a spot in the debates isn’t guaranteed, May said the broadcast media consortium that sets the ground rules for the French and English debates has no choice but to ensure she is included now that the party has an MP.

“We believe that under all the criteria that have been put forward . . . that we now have made thoroughly the case that I must be included,” May said.

CTV news coverage

Reading is wonderful

So I've just finished reading Tanya Huff's Blood Books and her Smoke series. I have to say, the books were amazing. She manages to pack a lot of info into them. The smoke series I was really impressed. Book 2 titled Smoke and Mirrors was truly a horror book, true to the genre.

I still like that the books are in Canada. I think that's fantastic.

My only complaint would be that there's no epilogue, or finishing chapter where it's sorta explain what happens after -- like the consequences of actions, and so forth. It sort of drops off after the creature-of-the-book is dealt with.

I highly recommend these books.