A New Journey

Life's a continuous journey with significant turns at various times. One frequently ponders changes and sometimes second guesses them after they occur. When I look back at my 60 some years I can identifty several turning points that were significant (and life changing).

Well 2010 will see another turn in our live stories. It will take several months for this turn to fully occur.

But we started our turn last night. We have put our condominium on the market here in Ottawa. We have been advised the state of our local real estate market is that it will sell relatively quickly.

Here We Go Again (Maybe)

Just casually watching Olympics reviews and news this morning and saw reference to Maxime Bernier and climate change. A government back bencher making remarks questioning the validity of widely accepted scientific opinion that our world is facing the challenge of climate change.

Maxime Bernie is not an ordinary government back bencher. He's a former cabinet minister who is rumoured in some quarters to be heading back to the ministry some day soon.

I fear that our federal governing party still has climate change deniers in its midst. It seems that party continues to have active members who question the existence of climate change. I can only hope that when the election finally comes our ratonal electorate will rise up and 'spank' those who just don't get it on climate change.

Putting Things into Perspective

Was 'complaining' on facebook about my ankle.. Someone told me to be thankful as it could be worse and some folks have it worse.

I was most appreciative of that reminder. Too often all of us think we have it bad. We do all have challenges but must understand others' may have more significant and long term challenges.

A very refreshing 'slap on the head' by a young man.

Relationships - Keys to Our Lives

Almost finished my first full week of wearing cast as my ankle heals. Was reminded that after my six week 'cast' period there will be a period of rehabilitation. Strongly hope it won't interfere too much in April which is the culmination of each year's tax preparation seasion.

I do volunteer driving for a local social service agency. I also drive a group of seniors to a local Jewish community centre social activity. This week I have received moving emails and greeting cards from people in both groups. Their words of encouragement have been moving to say the least.

I am currently co-ordinating an outreach/conversion class at a Ottawa synagogue. Earlier this week a pot of plants arrived with a card from the 'class'. A totally unexpected surprise.

I was to be in Kingston today leading a local synagogue service. It was cancelled (the synagogue is quite small) with a request that members send me get well wishes.. and within minutes of being notified, several of them emailed me with heartwarming messages.

Being laid up in tax preparation season is problematic in a significant sense. But my clients have reacted quite positively to my suggested alternatives to my going to their place to pick up tax papers. Many have agreed to wait until after I have my cast off. Other have agreed to accommdate me in other ways.

Personal Experience with Public Health Care System

This past Saturday I slipped on some ice in a parking lot near my home. Passersby immediately came to my assistance. I was able to get into a local store and the people there removed my boot and saw a large swelling on my right foot. They called an ambulance and when they arrived, the emergency medical people said I should go the hospital and they thought there were some breaks and possible dislocation.

Shortly after arrrival at Ottawa's Montfort Hospital I was treated at a 'fast track' area to determine if I did not have to stay very long. But this changed quickly as xrays showed a dislocation and three breaks in bones in my right ankle. I was admitted to the hospital. Prior to going to my room though, they did a wonderfully painless short procedure to relocate my ankle bone. As it would hurt tremendously they gave me what I can call an instantaneous anesthetic. I recall lights moving and thought I kept chatting (as is my wont) but then realized the bone was no longer swelling (I had been asleep for maybe 30 seconds)

After admission I was told surgery would likely occur on Sunday. Well after several false expectations I was told on late Sunday it was postponed to Monday. About 2:00 PM on Monday I had the surgery. It went well...was 'joking around a bit' with the surgeon, aneasthetist (sp?), recovery room staff etc. etc. One staff person kidded me about giving out my PIN when I was in the recovery room but still 'out of it' ((:-))

The hospital sent me home yesterday. I am now using a two wheel waker to get around our residence. My wife and best friend is pushing me in a small 'wheelchair' device when going to and from our car.

Here's my POINT. This experience at the hospital reinforced my view of our Canadian Health Care system. Is it the BEST we have here in Canada. The staff I dealt with were a marvellous group of men and women. They try to meet all various personal needs of patients. They are also very patient with patient idiosyncracies (and yes I have some too).

They have an always present happy disposition.

I have now even less patience with those private health care advocates. We do have mixed health care system when looking at the overall system.. but the public part is alive and well. May it flourish forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Olympics Blog

What a wonderful arrangement.... once every four years the world's best athletes gather to compete in the Olympic Games. A wonderful time when representatives of different countries get along.

Wouldn't it be nice if all differences between countries could be resolved on the slopes, ice rinks, bobsled or luge runs? Gee think what a wonderful world we would have if all nations and peoples could live in peace. We would only see disputes over who could do it swifter, higher, or stronger.

Ah.. such a utopian vision? Why cannot it be done?

An Upsetting But Worthwhile Read

Just finished going through Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism" a ringing condemnation of what is referred to as the "Chicago School" of economics.

It portrays a history of 'shocks' in many many countries ever since the Chilean coup of 1973. She traces the application of 'shocks' to both economies in many countries and also is quite explicit on governing authorities usages of torture and other human rights violations to go along with 'economic shocks'.

While the book is unpleasant to read in many cases it is a 'must read' for anyone wishing a progressive analysis of what happened in our world the last four decades.

Banks and Mortgages

Let's see ....the banks are asking the Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Minister of Finance to tighten up mortage rules in Canada.

As I heard this morning on our local CBC station, there seems to be a question of 'responsibility' (my term). Mortgages are fully secured by property...and insured to boot. If a borrower defaults the lender can rely on insurance. They can also foreclose on the property.

The banks believe our mortgage rules are too easy....yet who decides on mortgage approval. Of course the banks themselves do it. Anyone who has tried to obtain a mortgage knows the lenders are the ones to 'approve' the mortgage.

So if our mortgage rules are too easy why cannot a lender simply apply a less easy rule.. oh of course, in a competitive economy (which we are supposed to have) that might mean a bank that applied a tougher standard would lose business.

Using this argument suggests the motivation behind the banks' wishes is not some altruistic concern about public welfare. They seem to not want to be unpopular with prospective borrowers. They want the government to 'toughen' up mortgage lending rules so when prospective borrowers complain, they, the banks can always blame the 'government'.

They invariably want their cake and eat it too.. so it seems....

Politicians Own Health

Everyone is rightly saying the right things about Jack Layton's disclosure of a health challenge. He joins the likes of Preston Manning, Allan Rock, and Max Keeping (a local TV news anchor here in Ottawa) who were very public with similar conditions.

My gender is traditionally quite reluctant to share details of what is often an uncomfortable issue. These gentlemen deserve our highest praise for opening up their health issues for all to see.

Quite the contrast with the situation involving the Premier from Newfoundland. Maybe someday, we will all understand why whatever procedure he had, could not have been done in Canada.

But in the absence of hard information, it is upsetting to see his situation being used by right wing American anti-health care activists as a 'poster case' for problems in Canada's health care system.

Parliamentary Stuff - Master Wedgers

So the government is proposing a modification to parliamentary schedule in March and April... how 'wise' of them.

To think if they were less 'wedge'-oriented... they would have not prorogued parliament, removed much of the anxt out there about them, prevented all the wonderful activity of January 23, and likely still be ahead in the polls.

The idea of making up some of the lost time makes sense but even cannot erase bad feelings about the prorogation. This 'making up time' idea seems like an attempt to recoup some lost 'political points'.

But my senses is it's too late. Canadians have seen the last few weeks how quickly the government moves to 'disunite' Canadians.. picking out selective groups to fight with. They are highly skilled at polarizing people. If it isn't saying opposition parties are critical of Canadian troops, it's reducing or cancelling grants to groups and organizations operating at arms length.

Rights and Democracy

Just saw an upsetting item on CTV's Power Play about the government's attempt to control the Rights and Democracy organization. What is most disturbing was government not realizing that administrative improvements were occuring prior to the new chair's arrival.

The current federal government has behaved in a way that suggests it 'demonizes' folks who disagree with them; or organizations that have different political points of views. (It sounds so much like many of our local radio talk show hosts). The current government is continually fighting with lots of interest groups.

We really do need a federal election!!!!!!!!!