test blog #10

Once again, persistence has paid off. I kept in touch with some law firms that had expressed interest in me but didn't have a position I wanted. Now one of them has a weekend person going on an extended sick leave. They asked me to quote a hourly rate - I aimed high, thinking they would bargain it down - and they said yes! It's a contract position, and may or may not become permanent. Either way is fine with me. If it continues, I'd be able to do the other things - notetaking, ESL tutoring - at the same time. This would provide a steady income in between terms, when there's no notetaking work. If it doesn't continue, it's good money and a good connection while it lasts. I would start training next week, except my mother will be visiting, and then we have the Hawaiian wedding in Vermont . So I have time to get dogwalking set up, and to mentally change gears. Now I feel extra vindicated that I didn't let myself get sucked into a Monday to Friday job. Halleluj...

Later this month, Allan and I are gong to Vermont for a wedding. Ray, Allan's oldest friend (who I've known 30 seconds longer than I've known Allan), is getting married. He and Lindy, and her two kids, are hosting a very informal wedding and party at their home with a tropical theme - Hawaiian shirts, leis, a pig roast, a bonfire. Do you know where we can find fun tropical-themed attire in Toronto? Maybe a store with vintage clothing, bowling shirts, Hawaiian-style shirts? Most cities have at least one such store, and I'm sure Toronto is no exception. Ideas?

The great Beverly Sills is dead. The American soprano was 78 years old and had lung cancer. I am not an opera fan by any stretch of the imagination, but Sills - born Belle Silverman, but always known as Bubbles - was a New York City icon. Born in Brooklyn and trained in the United States at a time when it was thought that serious opera study could only be done in Europe, Sills sought to demystify opera, and to bring music to ordinary people. While she was still singing, she hosted her own talk show, and then went on to direct New York City Opera, and later to be chairperson of Lincoln Center and Metropolitan Opera. She was a regular guest on "The Tonight Show," the only opera star Johnny Carson ever had on, was a frequent guest of Carol Burnett, and famously appeared with the Muppets. Sills didn't have an easy life, but she was a quintessential survivor, reaching out to others and channeling personal tragedy into work. She had a great sense of humour, loved New York and c...

By writing about violence against women , I am demonizing men. So says a nasty commenter, whose content, tone and word choice violated wmtc comment policy . Some facts. In Canada: In 88% of all violent incidents , males are identified as the suspects; half of all incidents involve a male perpetrator and a female victim. Women are almost 8 times more likely to be victimized by a spouse than are men. 30% of women currently or previously married have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence at the hands of a marital partner. 21% of women abused by a marital partner were assaulted during pregnancy; 40% of these women stated that the abuse began during their pregnancy. In the US: Estimates range from 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend per year to three million women who are physically abused by their husband or boyfriend per year. Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexual...

Happy Canada Day - our second in Canada! I'm pleased to report that wmtc2 was a great success. Turnout was good and people really seemed to enjoy themselves. I had a great time, and what more can you ask of your own party. Tala and Cody were big hits. James and Lori brought Cobalt , and Tala has made a lot of progress in the other-dogs-in-her-backyard dynamic. There were two surprise appearances by other (very tiny!) dogs, but their people wisely kept them in laps. They were, shall we say, bite-sized. After everyone left, Allan and I were relaxing among the empty chairs and the citronella torches, and we both remarked that it's great to be able to have an annual backyard party. That may sound funny if you've always been comfortable, but it's something we really appreciate. It's so nice to have the space, to be able to afford it, and to be happy enough with our lives and each other that we want to make the effort. Thanks to everyone who made it, and many thanks to...

The party's today! I'm excited. The weather looks beautiful, Allan's got the whole weekend off, and I feel like I'm on vacation. There's been a flurry of last-minute cancellations, of course; that seems to be inevitable. I've learned not to worry about who can't make it, and just enjoy the company of who shows. Last year, we actually knew very few of our guests before they arrived. It was more like an internet meet-up than a regular party. This year, it feels like our friends are coming over. That is a great feeling.

Thank you, Antonia Zerbisias, for using the word that the media won't learn: femicide . So, World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Chris Benoit – a.k.a. "The Canadian Crippler" – sent "several curious text messages" to friends last weekend before apparently strangling his 43-year-old wife Nancy, smothering his son Daniel, 7, and then hanging himself. Atlanta authorities suggest he may have suddenly snapped in a fit of 'roid rage. Or was Nancy about to toss him out of the (marriage) ring? Meanwhile, east-end Toronto sewing machine technician Alton Beckford killed his common-law wife, her mother and himself Monday night, just after returning from his 13-year-old stepdaughter's Grade 8 graduation. The girl escaped with self-defence wounds. Beckford had reportedly lost his job five weeks ago because, according to what he told neighbours, he had complained about unsafe working conditions. Guess he must have "suddenly snapped" after five weeks of h...