Why Don't They Just Ask Us?

Health care seems to be the "hot topic" now, probably ever since Michael Moore had the guts to make a documentary about it! If I recall, America's health care system came out under Cuba's!

As a Canadian, I am proud to say that we are number 2 in the world in regards to our health care. True, on a government sponsored health care system the waiting time is a LOT longer, but as a Canadian citizen, I can feel good knowing that no matter where I am in this country, I will be taken care of if something happens. There are many people who would never be able to afford health care if it were to be privatized. If it ever came down to a hospital bill of thousands (or hundreds of thousands. as it is in a lot of cases) of dollars, or a 2 hour wait, I've got a lot more time than money!

I've been hearing the discussions and debates about Barack Obama's plan to reform America's health care system, and to be honest, sometimes it just makes me laugh. They are so scared of this plan being put into place! Do they not know that public health care works in a lot of countries? Don't they realize that they have a neighbour that has done it successfully for years? They could call in a favor and just ask us for some advice - I'm sure we could help them out quite a bit. And I'm sure we would as well. Even if they asked rudely, we are nice people! We would still gladly help out.

But...like most big brothers, they are too used to helping the little brother, and probably think that little brother can't help them...

Hopefully they do eventually reform their health care, so that millions of people can afford to go to the hospital when they are ill or injured. (Americans are well known for being proud to be Americans, but when that guy in Michael Moore's film "Sicko" found out it would cost him $72,000 to sew two fingers back on, I'll bet he wished he had been born somewhere else!)

Please get a grip America...let's move onto something else. The only people fighting the reform are the rich anyways, because they are scared of being treated just like everybody else.

I'm My Own Boss! Wait A Minute...

I've been "working from home" for a few weeks now, and I must admit, the dream job situation does have its challenges. There are so many different distractions around here! Why is it that we would rather clean, dust, vacuum, (blog,) do dishes, organize, fold laundry, unpack boxes, hang pictures, etc, than work? It doesn't matter what kind of work either - and in my case, it's writing.

I have always wanted to be able to stay at home and support myself freelance writing. Now (finally!) it looks like I'll be able to do that with a part-time job teaching 2 days a week to supplement my income. However, it takes discipline - and a lot of it! Being my own boss is great, but I really need to start listening to myself. Hmmm, maybe if I threatened to fire myself I would be more on the ball...

I grew up as an only child, so I'm used to being alone. I always had to play alone, and I was pretty good at making up for the lack of siblings. I even played board games with myself (somehow I always won...I'll let you think about that one ;) So, it makes sense that I would want to work by myself, but to be honest, it was a lot easier when I was a child - probably because playing is always more fun than working! ;)

Don't get me wrong though; I love writing, and it doesn't even matter what I'm writing about. Sometimes I write about fun topics, but there are a lot of times when I have to write 500 words on the most boring subjects, but once I start writing, it always feels good - feels write. Oops, I mean it feels right. (Just a little writer's humor there for you!)

It's hard to go to work at a "normal" job day in and day out when you've known what your dream is since a young age. (I was 5 when I knew I wanted to be a writer.) But it's way too easy to put your dreams on the back burner and forget about them. Maybe they don't seem realistic, or maybe your family or friends think you'll never make it - whatever the reasons are, you are afraid to step out and take a risk. I have 2 words for you: "DO IT!" Even if you have to work full-time and do what you love part-time, do it! Don't live a life of regrets - live a full and satisfying life, and do what you were born to do.

Wanna Buy Some Death Sticks?

Well, I'm all moved in, and loving the new place! It's great to be so close to family members that I haven't spent enough time with the last couple of years...

They came over to watch Star Wars last night ("Wanna but some death sticks?" "You don't want to sell me death sticks." "Uhhh, I don't wanna sell you death sticks." "You want to go home and rethink your life." "Uhh, I wanna go home a rethink my life.") Best part in the movie! I always seem to like the little, insignificant parts in movies the best!

One of these days I'm going to have to write a post in español. I've been learning the language of love for over a year now, and I guess it's about time I show off a bit! ;)

Well, this is a very random post, but it feels good to get back to blogging after being too busy for the last month!

Will Post Soon!!

Sorry all...I am in the middle of moving, and I haven't had time to post anything new on here, but things should settle down soon, and then I will go back to being regular...I promise!

Miss California Uses Freedom of Speech

I can't believe how much controversy there has been in the last few weeks over one simple answer to one simple question. I'm talking of course, about Miss California's surprising stand on gay marriage at the Miss USA pageant.

I didn't follow the pageant at all, but I sure heard about it! People are saying that Carrie Prejean should have known her judges and answered the question accordingly, but if that is what contestants should do, then what is the point of having questions as a part of the competition? Perez Hilton started the question with the words, "In your opinion..." Well, she gave her opinion. When you ask for someone's opinion, you cannot get upset when they give it! That is not how it works...

If the judge had worded the question differently, for example, "Tell me what I want to hear..." what would people be saying about that? Probably that the judge had taken the integrity out of the question by asking it that way. Yet, people expected Carrie to lie and tell them what they wanted to hear - to say what was politically correct.

Standing up for what you believe in should never be looked down on - no matter what. People always come down on Christianity for being intolerant, but they don't realize that they are being intolerant when they don't let Christians have an opinion. There is tolerance for every religion under the sun, but there is no tolerance for Christianity. And there never will be, according to the Bible.

Here in North America we are blessed to be able to express our opinions, and have freedom of speech and freedom of religion. We can choose what we want to believe and how we want to live our lives. There are many countries where this is not possible because people are not free to have an opinion. So the next time you start to judge a Christian because of what they believe, think about what it would be like if your country suddenly took away freedom of religion. Freedom is only freedom when it applies to everyone - even Christians.

Besides, its not like Miss California was rude or degrading - she expressed her opinion very respectfully. Barack Obama is extremely well-liked, and he said the exact same thing in a speech not too long ago...but I don't remember any controversy surrounding him!

What's Up With the Foonie?

I've been hearing little snippets every now and again for the last couple of years about Canada getting rid of the five dollar at bill. Now, this alone wouldn't be that bad, although I would miss the pretty blue color... However, I keep hearing that they are going to replace it with a five dollar coin!

Really? Do they think we need more change weighing our pockets and purses down? Who makes these decisions? We have the Loonie - classic Canadian dollar, then they surprised us with the Toonie, which has worked out well. However, the only name I am hearing for this supposed five dollar coin is the "Foonie." Now this is just taking things too far in my opinion! America already thinks we're geeky enough without adding this to the mix... (not that I really care what they think of us, but still!)

Since I've been hearing about this for quite some time now, I don't actually think they are going to do it - at least I hope not! But who knows? Maybe it's all part of the plan to "go green." I don't know how many trees will be saved by replacing thousands of bills that have already been made, and I think that minting coins is more expensive than printing bills, but I'm sure they will make only good and wise decisions when it comes to how to spend our money.

So here's to the Foonie - our tax dollars, hard at work!

Who Has the Power?

It's amazing how much we are dependent on technology. If any one of us had to be transported 200 years back in time, I don't believe we would make it! After knowing what its like to have everything at our fingertips, and never having to wait longer than 3 minutes for anything, I think we would slowly go insane without everything we have become accustomed to.

The power went out at work the other day, and it surprised me how much I take it for granted. Even though I knew there was no power, I still kept trying to turn things on without thinking; things like the microwave, the stove, the computer and the TV. I knew the lights were out, and I never tried to turn them on, but my subconscious hadn't yet realized that everything else wasn't working as well.

Remember Y2K? Everyone was in a panic because if the computers were to go down, life as we know it would cease to exist. Scary, isn't it? I mean, if the world came to a sudden halt, just because some machines stopped working, who is running things? Us or them? (It's just a thought...)