The Inauguration and Canadians

I admit it, this patriotic Canadian was glued to CNN most of yesterday, watching Obama's swearing in and all the hoopla surrounding it. What a spectacle. And I mean that in the good sense of the word. It really was just what Americans and the rest of us watching needed. Kind of like a royal wedding, something to take our minds off of the day-to-day grind. It was over the top, but again, in a good way. It made you feel like things really can change. I know that I can't really understand what it means to African Americans having a black President. After all, I am a white Canadian woman. But I can understand what it means to have someone young, confident and inspiring become the leader of the country that has so much influence over us all.

How I wish we had our own Obama waiting in Ottawa to burst upon the scene and reinvigorate parliament, make Canadians sit up and take notice of something positive and powerful. Instead we took only notice when our leader attempted to tear down democracy and when that didn't stop the opposition from exercising their parliamentary right to a vote of non confidence he simply shut everything down. As if that is any way to deal with the global crisis we find ourselves enmeshed in.

American used to be embarassed of their President and being American, now it is our turn. All eyes will be on Steven Harper next week when the House reopens and he presents his budget. It had better be more than a budget or policy statement. It must be something that will inspire confidence in the government, give us something to work towards together, allow us to believe that our country can and will make it through these tough times.

Harper must be more than a politician, hiding from the unfriendly press and opposition, he must be a leader and statesman. People say he is an intelligent but not very intuitive man, let's hope he has someone close to him, perhaps his wife or an advisor, who can feel what the country needs right now. Not just policy meant to placate or worse, alienate the opposition parties, but a statement of how and why, we as a nation, which is in better shape than most, can ride the storm outside our borders and emerge stronger - economically, socially and politically.

Inspire us with your words and actions, Mr. Harper. So, we too, can be proud of our country again.

6 Random Things About Me

1. I love stories about the end of the world, I don't know why. I remember reading Neville Shute's "On the Beach" when I was quite young and I scared myself silly watching Stephen King's "The Stand" late at night and did the same with "I am Legend".

2. I only drink tea or coffee out of cups with white inside, I hate dark, ceramic mugs.

3. I think heated seats in cars are the most important invention the car industry ever came up with.

4. I wanted to be Canada's first female Prime Minister. Kim Campbell beat me to it, unfortunately her term in office was one of the shortest in history, so maybe I should still go for it.

5. I wish I had bigger feet, I think that size 7 is way too small for someone 5' 7" tall.

6. I wish I was a morning person, in theory.

Taking Down Christmas

I there anything more depressing than taking down the tree? You have all those litte ornaments to wrap up, icicles to gather to reuse (I am my grandmother's granddaughter) and pine needles to vacuum. I always do it when the kids are at school, no way are they "helping." I like to do it with some semblance of order so next year I can find things again. I try to put on some cheery music but today with a storm outside and my dog and another wrestling in the snow I am on my own with the Santas and skiers and pinecones.

Everything was getting a little tired loooking but the house seems so bare when it is all down. We'll keep the lights on the trees outside for another month or so, at least until is isn't dark at 4pm anymore, that is one thing to look forward to. I am even cleaning out the last of the Christmas leftover from the fridge, no more mince pie and hard sauce (for those of you not of British stock, hard sauce is rum, sugar and butter or atleast in my family it is), my waist line can't handle it, no more candy cane bark or shortbreads. Full disclosure, I just finished the pie and a helpful hint: never eat a crumbly crust over your keyboard.

I know why we gorge at this time of year. It is the darkness and the cold, it is very primal. I don't know what all you people who live in warmer climates can use as an excuse, but that is mine.

We do get outside alot more now, living where we do. We can ski after school and now I can go riding (see previous post) but sometimes it is very hard to rouse oneself to get out, much easier to make a cup of tea or open a bottle of wine and sit by the fire. Good thing I have a 9 month old puppy to be walked otherwise the kids would be getting themselves to and from school (possible in a smalltown).

It's funny though, I am not watching as much TV as I used to in the winter, I guess that is because I am on the computer, but also because there is absolutely nothing to watch. No "Must See TV' for me these days. I hate reality TV, except Jon & Kate Plus 8, I admit I watch that because it is always on and it makes me feel so much better about my little family of five. And there are no series that I care enough about to remember what night they are on and if I do get into one the season always ends abruptly. No more pilots in the fall then new shows until March and then reruns to catch up on the ones you missed. They are all over the map, some start in October, some in February, who can keep track?

Life was much simpler when there were only three networks each in Canada and the US and your mother took care of dismantling Christmas while you were at school. Sigh ....

One more thing to make me happier

I can't believe that I didn't add this one to my list of what would make me happier? Having a horse again. Never in a million years did I think that at age 42 I would be riding my own horse again. I had hoped when we moved out of the city that I would be able to get out riding every once in a while as we do live in horse country. But with kids and a new business and other priorities getting back into horses did not seem to make it to the top of any list.

I guess my rather large meltdown last month sunk in and my dear husband heard me when I said that I didn't have anything that I do for just myself (wow, that sounds awful). He talked to a friend of mine who was leasing a horse at a nearby barn and found out what it entailed. Leasing is the way to go! All the fun and none of the work. No getting up early to feed or muck out, just pop up to the barn when I have the time and groom, tack up and off I go.

Freedom!

Even in the depths of winter I love it. Two of us headed out through the howling wind and snow (see photos) and had a great time. Can't wait for spring when my fingers and toes won't be icicles. Tomorrow I am hoping to be able to ski in the morning and ride in the afternoon - a perfect day in my books.

SO now, it seems, that even if I don't get a cleaning lady twice a week (or ever again) I am happy. I have a horse and I feel like my 14 year old self!