Warmest Wishes for Christmas

I found a lovely Christmas wallpaper on Tumblr by Anna on Richard Armitage Poland Fanpage.

And here is my contribution...

I hope everyone out there has a wonderful, safe and peaceful holiday season.

November, Revisited.

I apologise for neglecting my blogging duties lately.  It's not that I haven't had ideas, I just lack the energy to put it all down in some kind of logical manner. November's weather was very gloomy, and winter has set in for the season.  I was considering whether I wanted to do a Remembrance Day post, but the Sunday before the date, we were invited out for dinner so that meant if I wanted to write something I would be up most of the night.  Then that night we heard the news that there was a plane crash at our local airport.  This was something that had never happened here before.  Sure, there were sometimes accidents with float planes, but never a passenger plane.  With sick hearts, we went to bed knowing that in our small area, it was a certainty that we would know at least one person who died in that crash.  We learned the names of the victims the next day.  There were three local people who were killed, as well as the pilot, and copilot.  Miraculously there had been 2 survivors.
That was a dreadful time of mourning for our town.

The other thing that has been occupying my every waking moment was getting ready to transfer to another elementary school library in our area.  It was very bittersweet to say good bye to such a wonderful group of students and teachers.  It was hard work trying to tie up all the loose ends I had built up over the dozen or so years I had been at that school. But I received such a fabulous send-off in a school wide assembly - it was truly overwhelming.  I am still going through all the lovely notes and drawings I received from the students.

The other preoccupation around here lately has been antics of Toronto's mayor.  It is a Canadian truism that everybody hates Toronto (except Torontonians).  While some might think that it is a western Canadian thing --  I can assure you that Northern Ontario has a much bigger grudge.  So of course we can delight in the world wide mockery that Rob Ford has made of his city!  Almost every day there he was on the news making an even bigger ass of himself than the day before!  My favourite comedians didn't have any trouble coming up with something to say- they just basically needed to repeat his quotes.  I love the look on Stephen Colbert's face after Ford's last infamous quote.

But as always, Rick Mercer manages to bring everything into perspective.

I was dying to write something about this ridiculous excuse for a public figure, but I have tried not to be too political on this blog, although it has been difficult at times.  Why did I wish to reign in my very strong opinions? -- Just that I had no wish to offend anyone.  So imagine how thrilled I was when I read Richard Armitage's statements in the New York Moves article!  Nothing he said really surprised me, but I was glad that he had the courage to share his opinions.  Since he is a British citizen, it isn't hard to believe that he would be pro gun control and pro National Health Care. Most Canadians would also agree. (Not too sure about Rob Ford, though!)

Well, with all this talk about guns and Rob Ford, I can't help thinking about one of my favourite songs from Elton John's fabulous "Rock of the Westies" album.

These lyrics in particular:

Like a child when his toys have been stepped on

That's how it all seemed to me

I burst the bubble that both of us lived in

And I'm damned if I'll ever get rid of this guilt that I feel

And if looks could kill then I'd be a dead man

Your friends and mine don't call no more

Hell, I thought it was best but now I feel branded

Breaking up's sometimes like breaking the law

Breaking up's sometimes like breaking the law

And I feel like a bullet in the gun of Robert Ford

I'm low as a paid assassin is

You know I'm cold as a hired sword

I'm so ashamed can't we patch it up

You know I can't think straight no more

You make me feel like a bullet honey in the gun of Robert Ford

I Feel Like a Bullet (in the gun of Robert Ford /Elton John

I really couldn't resist this!

I've been meaning to post something for ages...  There is nothing like a good belly laugh to finally get me motivated!

Voice-over Switch: The Hobbit / North & South / by Buchjj

Thanks to fellow RA well-wisher Teresa Armitage, 

who posted this on The RA Friends Network Facebook page.