Hymns Old and New -- Imagine

I used to think that the greatest hymns were all written in the 1800s or earlier when the Christian church was at its peak. Then one day I realized that no, this is not the case at all. Hymns are still being written in our own day and age. It's just that they are largely secular hymns, not overtly Christian or even religious, but still steeped in humankind's timeless yearning for our highest aspirations to come true. The modern hymn that caused me to have this epiphany was John Lennon's Imagine.



John Lennon was shot and killed 35 years ago today on December 8, 1980. I grieved his loss then and continue to do so today.

Still Getting Ready for Christmas!

Singing a few carols --

Wrapping a few gifts --

Trying to piss off a few right-wing fundies --

Doing more decorating --

Remembering what's truly important about this holiday --

Christmas for Movie Geeks

I've always been a movie buff and, of course, that means following the work of favourite directors, whether they're old, new, american or foreign. Now, what if these directors made Christmas movies, each in their own particular directorial style? Enjoy!

It's THAT Time of Year Again

Do you decorate for the holiday season? Are you one of those people who go ALL OUT?

Are you creative and innovative, with a UNIQUE decorating style?

Or . . . are you like ME?

"Meh, this'll do."

I've become quite a SLACKER in the holiday decorating department. These days, my halls are decked with only TWO seasonal decorations. My tree consists of this little pre-decorated bottle-brush that takes me like 2 seconds to haul out of a dresser drawer and stick on my table --

And this large pressed-tin representation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth actually sits out ALL YEAR LONG on the floor by my TV, so technically this is not even a holiday decoration per se. She is part of my extensive Divine Feminine statuary collection.

Now I'm EXHAUSTED from decorating! I need an eggnog 'n rum.

Edmonton is the City of Champions Once Again!

Here's Mike Reilly, quarterback of the Edmonton Eskimos, hoisting the Grey Cup in victory after yesterday's game! Edmonton won the championship game 26-20, although the Ottawa Redblacks certainly didn't make it easy by taking an early first quarter lead.

Looking forward to the victory parade here in Edmonchuk in a couple of days or so!

P.S. Mayor Iveson and City Council -- it's time to restore our signs and put the slogan back!

It's Grey Cup Sunday!

Great news! For the first time in 10 years, the Edmonton Eskimos are playing for the Grey Cup! YAY!

Today the Eskies square off against the Ottawa Redblacks for the Canadian Football League championship. The big game is being played in Winnipeg at the Blue Bombers' beautiful new stadium which is located on the grounds of my old alma mater, the University of Manitoba.

Edmonton is always careful to emphasize that our team is called "the Eskimos" because Edmonton is so friggin' cold in the wintertime, rather than the team being directly named for the Inuit First Nation. To reinforce this "weather connection," the football club never uses human imagery in its marketing . . . hence, polar bears and the Double EE logo. However, calls are quite rightly getting louder for the team to change its culturally insensitive name, coming from such prominent organizations as the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. (Incidentally, my suggestion for a new name is "the Edmonton Edge," so the team can sound modern and keep the Double EE logo).

"The Redblacks" are so named because historically, Ottawa was a forestry town with log booms on the river and pulp & paper mills on the shore. And of course, Canadian lumberjacks stereotypically wore red-and-black plaid shirts and jackets . . . hence the Redblack name and their sawmill blade logo. Hey, nice tuque as well, eh?

Well, gotta go now and find our foam fingers in the storage room before game time on TV. As a prairie girl and an Edmontonian, you know for whom I must cheer. And this may be one of the last times this phrase will still be used . . . .

GO ESKIES GO!!!

A Supersized Tribute -- You Want Fries With That?

Who doesn't love McDonalds?

Who doesn't love working at McDonalds?

Who doesn't love eating at McDonalds?

Who doesn't love going through the drive-thru in the middle of the night?

Who doesn't cheer for Ronald McDonald in a fight to the death against any other fast food spokesperson?

It's like he's a . . . a . . . superhero or something! The Mighty McThor!

Okay, admittedly, that went too far. Sorry.