Today, I went to see the Olympic Torch relay at 5:45pm.

Torch; bus train; random peoples; bus train

Yeah. Then, I went to the mall to get KFC (which is wtf because why did I have to go to the mall to get KFC?) I got Dairy Queen’s Brownie Explosion thing too. Yeah. Fat.

My bro and I, munching on some KFC

My Bro and I, again.

So... Fat........ Brownies, soft serve icecream, hot fudge, and vanilla fudge....

Okay. Great. Now for some random pictures:

The bubble wrap dress I'm working on for Textiles. This is a really old picture, because I've basically finished most of this dress by now. More pictures after break.

LULU'S PENCIL POUCH THAT IS A KAT. WOW.

The day after the electricity outage day at school (which is also the day after I heard from Cornell), I tripped in the art room and SCRATCHED MY Coey BRAND SHOES.)

This was really cool. The payphone at the mall had a keyboard in it for TEXTING. I mean, TEXTING. wow.

The Olympic Torch is welcomed by thousands in the global and diverse city of Toronto! Torch Relay Reporter Chris Wheeler follows the flame and checks out The Bata Shoe Museum, some Indian cuisine at 309 Dhaba, and watches Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar run with the Olympic flame.

Torch Reporter on twitter: http://twitter.com/torchreporter

More about Canada: http://www.canada.travel

Today the Olympic Torch came through my town.  I  recorded it’s progress with my camera.  I would upload the short movies I ma to this post, but Dad has the USB cable required to transfer them onto the computer.

The crowd was loud.  It is mostly the only thing you can hear in the movies I made, besides my conversation with Mom, who was beside me.  My hand wasn’t very steady while I filmed it, so I may have accidentally aimed it at one of the people in the crowd instead of at the person holding the torch.  But most of it was of her, I think.

And besides that large event, I have had an amazing idea for crocheted animals!  I have even planned a colour scheme!  Green and white, blue and white, yellow and white, pink and white, red and white, purple and white, etc.  The animals themselves will be cute things like kittens and puppies and chicks and other animal young.  I could write a pattern book about them, if they are successful.  I had this idea in the late evening, when I was supposed to be sleeping.  That is the best time that I have found for coming up with ideas.  Wouldn’t you agree?

Yesterday was Yule.  It was great: I received a tripod, two EB Games gift cards, an Ardene’s gift card, and a stocking full of fun stuff.  I gave Dad the second Pink Panther DVD, Mom a book about knitting, and my sisters EB Games gift cards.  I have to hurry and make/buy something for Sarah!  Christmas is on Friday, and she is having her holiday then.  Mom’s mom is coming in January, so I have to finish what I am crocheting for her, and I have no idea what to make/buy for Jon!  And Dad’s birthday is on Thursday!  Four gifts to make/buy!  Less than a month to complete/buy them all!  Chaotic times, the holidays.  Wouldn’t you agree?

But I shouldn’t complain.  Holidays are for having a good time, right?  And I enjoy crocheting, so all four of them are getting quick crocheted things!

I really should get going.  See you tomorrow!

1. It turns out that the great gold heist of this summer wasn’t pulled off by some crack squad of thieves, but rather some really bad accounting.

Back in 2008, someone made a little miscalculation and said that the Royal Canadian Mint 17, 500 troy ounces than there actually was.

On top of that, over $3 million in government-owned gold was sold off as if it were et cetera.

Oh, and it cost $1.3 million to figure this out.

2. Native protesters caused the Olympic torch route to be diverted slightly.

Torch runners in Caledonia, all 25 of them, were forced to run in circles around a parking lot.

Talk about raining on parades and taking names.  Take that, torchbearers!  Those natives sure proved a point, and I’m sure you want to support them now!

3. Section 2(b) of the Charter just got a little more awesome for journalists.  The Supreme Court of Canada has created a new defamation defence for the noble reporter, “responsible communication.”

The defence is based around due diligence on behalf of the reporter, and is meant to keep the press from being muzzled when reporting on important points of public interest.

Public interest is to be determined by the judge, but a jury is tasked with deciding if the reporter took enough steps to reasonably ensure accuracy.

High five, journalism!

4. Martin Brodeur completely and officially holds the title of world’s best goalie after his 104th career shutout last night, a record previously held by Terry Sawchuk.

Brodeur now owns just about every title the NHL has for goalies, including the most regular season wins, the most overtime wins, the most 40-win seasons, most games played, the only goalie to score a game winning goal, and the only goalie to do your mom during a regular season game. Zing.

Activists Divert the Olympic Torch from the Heart of the Grand River Territory, Six Nations

by Niki Thorne

“We are Haudenosaunee people, and we stand strong for our sovereignty and our rights, and we will never give that up, not even for a day, not even for a celebration. We will never give that up.” (Ojistori:yo, also known as Melissa Elliot)

On December 21, 2009, Six Nations activists peacefully diverted the olympic torch from entering the heart of the Grand River Territory. Spokespeople for the action stressed that allowing the torch into Haudenosaunnee Territory at all was a compromise in good faith with Canada and the people of the Six Nations community who did want to celebrate the Olympic torch. However, in solidarity with First Nations communities out west, who have made an international call for support regarding the destruction caused by preparations for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, under no circumstances was the torch to pass through Ohsweken village.

The torch was peacefully prevented from entering the heart of the Grand River Territory, and no arrests were made for blocking the planned torch route, despite over $900 billion spent on Olympics security. The celebrations organized by Band Council were relocated from the community centre in Ohsweken to Hwy 54 & Chiefswood Road, where all who wished to participate in the Olympic torch ceremony were able to do so.

Allies were encouraged to participate in the action to divert the torch, organized by the Hoskanigetah (Men’s Fire), Ahgongweh (Women’s Fire), Onkwehonwe youth and other concerned people to prevent the torch from entering the heart of Grand River Territory. Allies were asked to be present to show bonds of peace, respect and friendship, but to stay back if there were attempts to push through with the torch–stopping the torch would ultimately be up to activists of Six Nations.

Activists stand in solidarity

The physical presence of 30-40 individuals at the Riverbend on Hwy 54 ensured the organizers decision to reroute the Olympic torch, and there was no confrontation. Six Nations people blocking the torch specifically noted that they were not ‘protesting’ but protecting the land and the people, and making a stand for the coming faces (future generations). Activists were not protesting athletics, or international competition, but are against the Olympics for breaching the Great Law of Peace, which gives Haudensaunee people the responsibility to protect the earth for future generations. Some specific reasons include:

-Damage to the land, including destruction of habitat of the endangered spotted owl, and destruction to mountains for Olympic infrastructure such as stadiums, stands, and wider highways;

-Continuing colonialism and damage to First Nations communities and people, including the continuing appropriation of unceded land, and the death of Harriet Nahanee, who, when imprisoned for Olympics related activism became sick and passed away after spending 11 days in a men’s prison;

-Detrimental effects for the people of Vancouver. Due to gentrification, many lower income families and individuals have been rendered homeless as affordable hotels are turned into accommodations for the Olympic tourists and higher priced condominiums. The United Nations Human Rights Council delegation, reporting on their 2007 visit to Vancouver stated concern regarding information “received on the impact that the preparation for the Olympics could have on low-income housing residents, and particularly on low-income single resident hotel units situated in the downtown Eastside neighbourhood.” Am Johal of the Communities Coalition reported to the Dominion that there has been a doubling of homelessness since 2002. An estimated 1,150 low income housing unites have been lost in the past six years. Additionally homeless people are criminalized and can legally be removed from the downtown core by police force, which hosts a variety of key services such as needle exchanges and free condoms. Poor people and women, often aboriginal, are put at further risk through forcible relocation to places that do not have these services.

Ojistari:yo (Melissa Elliot), cited Six Nations sovereignty as an additional reason to block the torch: “We are not Canadian. We are not a conquered people.” She stated, “We stand firm…the torch and what it represents: the destruction of the mother earth out in BC, and the missing aboriginal women, the homelessness, all of these things that the torch represents…we are not allowing their flame, that foreign flame through the heart of our territory.”

—

TOP 7 REASONS WHY HAUDENOSAUNEE NATIONS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST 2010 OLYPICS & TORCH RELAY: (document prepared by concerned Haudenosaunee people)

1. The 2010 Olympics & Torch Relay does not reflect the values of the Great Peace
Essential values within the Great Peace are being ignored with the planning of this Relay. Division of our people is being influenced by a foreign nation, consensus decision-making is failing to be utilized and temporary benefits are being prioritized over long term effects on the future generations from our participation. The Olympics is promoted as representing “peace, friendship, inspiration, passion for the love of sports, and unity amongst all people around the world.” In reality it is a multi-billion dollar industry representing colonialism, fascism, power, corporate interests, industrial profits, homelessness, inequality, racism, violence against women and the raping of mother earth. The Torch Relay was initiated by Hitler during the 1936 Berlin ‘Nazis’ Olympics where it was run through ‘conquered’ territory to showcase and empower white supremacy. The Torch continues to represent this legacy.

2. Band Council has no jurisdiction to approve the Torch Relay to come through Haudenosaunee Territory
In every Haudenosaune Territory, approval for the passage of the torch relay has been granted under the authority of band council. Under the 8 Points of Jurisdiction, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy alone has jurisdiction over both Land & International Relations. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy was only asked to participate after the Torch was already approved and their involvement is limited. At Six Nations community meeting the vast majority of community members present were against this Torch coming through our territory and these voices were ignored. Throughout the planning of this Torch Relay, the International Olympics Committee has been treating every Haudenosaunee Territory the same as any other Canadian Municipality. When the Torch comes through our territories it is not coming though another Canadian community – it is coming through another nation’s land. If we are a sovereign peoples we must act sovereign and demand treatment as such.

3. Canada is breaking the peace with their extreme Olympic security tactics
These Olympics are being used as another opportunity to target our people as “terrorists”. The security for the 2010 Olympics & Torch Relay is the largest military operation within home borders in the history of Canada. The Canadian military, Vancouver Police, RCMP, CSIS, NORAD & US military are being joined together for this. They are utilizing Emergency Response Teams, riot cops, helicopters, armoured vehicles, new crowd-control technology, over 35,000 police & security. The security tactics Canada is testing with these Olympics are serious and are setting the precedence to be used on our Onkwehonwe people whom are already criminalized in our assertion of inherent rights. OPP, RCMP & other security agencies will be allowed to travel free through our territory with the Torch Relay.

4. Canada has been breaking our treaties, denying our rights, and refused to move forward on our peoples many issues. It is a widely know fact that Canada has a horrible record with our peoples: They have openly rejected our treaties such as the Two Row Wampum and after 4 years at a negotiating table (Canada, Ontario & Six Nations) – our people have been made many promises which have all been broken. With continued development on unceeded lands, criminalization of land defenders, border issues in Akwesasne, the HST tax and so much more – Canada expects us to put aside all ‘politics’, to forget all of the things they have & are still doing to our people so we can be used for preformances in their events.

5. The international image Canada is trying to create with this “Red” Olympics is a lie
There has been a premium set for the inclusion of ‘First Nations’ within these games. However, Canada is putting a “Red Face” to the 2010 Olympics & Torch Relay for very particular reasons. Canada has had a negative image in the international realm for the treatment of Onkwehonwe (Indigenous) peoples with the Residential School exposure, refusal to sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ongoing land claims, missing & murdered aboriginal women, HST tax etc. In light of this negative image, Canada is using these 2010 Olympics & Torch Relay as a way of undoing the negative image their relationship with Onkwehonwe peoples.

6. It is our responsibility to stand up for and protect our Mother – the Earth
Massive destruction to the land has taken place in preparation for the 2010 olympics in so called “British Columbia”. Ski resort development of sacred mountains still in use by native peoples, 2 million salmon being killed in local rivers, blasting of mountain sides for the development of the Sea-to-Sky highway are all examples of the environmental impact. We have a responsibility to stand by our principles of not supporting the destruction of our mother.

7. It is our responsibility to assist and unite with those other onkwehonwe peoples/nations that call for our help.

In 2007, an international call for help and solidarity with west coast and BC interior nations to expose/resist the 2010 Olympics & Torch Relay was sent out from an international indigenous gathering that took place in Sonoma Mexico. The same Onkwehonwe peoples in 2006 held a Six Nations Solidarity Rally in Vancouver with over 500 in attendance to support our people in our time of need. In the spirit of unity and in accordance with the Great Peace, we have the responsibility to assist our brothers and sisters out west in their time of need. Now is the time to unite, to show canada and the world our strength and to proclaim that we, the Onkwehonwe are one peoples and what affects one affects us all.

WE MUST TAKE A STAND AGAINST THIS TORCH RELAY’S TRAVEL THROUGH OUR TERRITORIES BECAUSE WE ARE HAUDENOSAUNEE ONKWEHONWE PEOPLES THAT REMEMBER OUR WAYS AND RESPONSIBILIES – WE CAN NEVER GIVE THIS UP – NOT EVEN FOR A DAY.

Activists Divert the Olympic Torch from the Heart of the Grand River Territory, Six Nations

by Niki Thorne

“We are Haudenosaunee people, and we stand strong for our sovereignty and our rights, and we will never give that up, not even for a day, not even for a celebration. We will never give that up.” (Ojistori:yo, also known as Melissa Elliot)

On December 21, 2009, Six Nations activists peacefully diverted the olympic torch from entering the heart of the Grand River Territory. Spokespeople for the action stressed that allowing the torch into Haudenosaunnee Territory at all was a compromise in good faith with Canada and the people of the Six Nations community who did want to celebrate the Olympic torch. However, in solidarity with First Nations communities out west, who have made an international call for support regarding the destruction caused by preparations for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, under no circumstances was the torch to pass through Ohsweken village.

The torch was peacefully prevented from entering the heart of the Grand River Territory, and no arrests were made for blocking the planned torch route, despite over $900 billion spent on Olympics security. The celebrations organized by Band Council were relocated from the community centre in Ohsweken to Hwy 54 & Chiefswood Road, where all who wished to participate in the Olympic torch ceremony were able to do so.

Allies were encouraged to participate in the action to divert the torch, organized by the Hoskanigetah (Men’s Fire), Ahgongweh (Women’s Fire), Onkwehonwe youth and other concerned people to prevent the torch from entering the heart of Grand River Territory. Allies were asked to be present to show bonds of peace, respect and friendship, but to stay back if there were attempts to push through with the torch–stopping the torch would ultimately be up to activists of Six Nations.

Activists stand in solidarity

The physical presence of 30-40 individuals at the Riverbend on Hwy 54 ensured the organizers decision to reroute the Olympic torch, and there was no confrontation. Six Nations people blocking the torch specifically noted that they were not ‘protesting’ but protecting the land and the people, and making a stand for the coming faces (future generations). Activists were not protesting athletics, or international competition, but are against the Olympics for breaching the Great Law of Peace, which gives Haudensaunee people the responsibility to protect the earth for future generations. Some specific reasons include:

-Damage to the land, including destruction of habitat of the endangered spotted owl, and destruction to mountains for Olympic infrastructure such as stadiums, stands, and wider highways;

-Continuing colonialism and damage to First Nations communities and people, including the continuing appropriation of unceded land, and the death of Harriet Nahanee, who, when imprisoned for Olympics related activism became sick and passed away after spending 11 days in a men’s prison;

-Detrimental effects for the people of Vancouver. Due to gentrification, many lower income families and individuals have been rendered homeless as affordable hotels are turned into accommodations for the Olympic tourists and higher priced condominiums. The United Nations Human Rights Council delegation, reporting on their 2007 visit to Vancouver stated concern regarding information “received on the impact that the preparation for the Olympics could have on low-income housing residents, and particularly on low-income single resident hotel units situated in the downtown Eastside neighbourhood.” Am Johal of the Communities Coalition reported to the Dominion that there has been a doubling of homelessness since 2002. An estimated 1,150 low income housing unites have been lost in the past six years. Additionally homeless people are criminalized and can legally be removed from the downtown core by police force, which hosts a variety of key services such as needle exchanges and free condoms. Poor people and women, often aboriginal, are put at further risk through forcible relocation to places that do not have these services.

Ojistari:yo (Melissa Elliot), cited Six Nations sovereignty as an additional reason to block the torch: “We are not Canadian. We are not a conquered people.” She stated, “We stand firm…the torch and what it represents: the destruction of the mother earth out in BC, and the missing aboriginal women, the homelessness, all of these things that the torch represents…we are not allowing their flame, that foreign flame through the heart of our territory.”

—

TOP 7 REASONS WHY HAUDENOSAUNEE NATIONS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST 2010 OLYPICS & TORCH RELAY: (document prepared by concerned Haudenosaunee people)

1. The 2010 Olympics & Torch Relay does not reflect the values of the Great Peace
Essential values within the Great Peace are being ignored with the planning of this Relay. Division of our people is being influenced by a foreign nation, consensus decision-making is failing to be utilized and temporary benefits are being prioritized over long term effects on the future generations from our participation. The Olympics is promoted as representing “peace, friendship, inspiration, passion for the love of sports, and unity amongst all people around the world.” In reality it is a multi-billion dollar industry representing colonialism, fascism, power, corporate interests, industrial profits, homelessness, inequality, racism, violence against women and the raping of mother earth. The Torch Relay was initiated by Hitler during the 1936 Berlin ‘Nazis’ Olympics where it was run through ‘conquered’ territory to showcase and empower white supremacy. The Torch continues to represent this legacy.

2. Band Council has no jurisdiction to approve the Torch Relay to come through Haudenosaunee Territory
In every Haudenosaune Territory, approval for the passage of the torch relay has been granted under the authority of band council. Under the 8 Points of Jurisdiction, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy alone has jurisdiction over both Land & International Relations. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy was only asked to participate after the Torch was already approved and their involvement is limited. At Six Nations community meeting the vast majority of community members present were against this Torch coming through our territory and these voices were ignored. Throughout the planning of this Torch Relay, the International Olympics Committee has been treating every Haudenosaunee Territory the same as any other Canadian Municipality. When the Torch comes through our territories it is not coming though another Canadian community – it is coming through another nation’s land. If we are a sovereign peoples we must act sovereign and demand treatment as such.

3. Canada is breaking the peace with their extreme Olympic security tactics
These Olympics are being used as another opportunity to target our people as “terrorists”. The security for the 2010 Olympics & Torch Relay is the largest military operation within home borders in the history of Canada. The Canadian military, Vancouver Police, RCMP, CSIS, NORAD & US military are being joined together for this. They are utilizing Emergency Response Teams, riot cops, helicopters, armoured vehicles, new crowd-control technology, over 35,000 police & security. The security tactics Canada is testing with these Olympics are serious and are setting the precedence to be used on our Onkwehonwe people whom are already criminalized in our assertion of inherent rights. OPP, RCMP & other security agencies will be allowed to travel free through our territory with the Torch Relay.

4. Canada has been breaking our treaties, denying our rights, and refused to move forward on our peoples many issues. It is a widely know fact that Canada has a horrible record with our peoples: They have openly rejected our treaties such as the Two Row Wampum and after 4 years at a negotiating table (Canada, Ontario & Six Nations) – our people have been made many promises which have all been broken. With continued development on unceeded lands, criminalization of land defenders, border issues in Akwesasne, the HST tax and so much more – Canada expects us to put aside all ‘politics’, to forget all of the things they have & are still doing to our people so we can be used for preformances in their events.

5. The international image Canada is trying to create with this “Red” Olympics is a lie
There has been a premium set for the inclusion of ‘First Nations’ within these games. However, Canada is putting a “Red Face” to the 2010 Olympics & Torch Relay for very particular reasons. Canada has had a negative image in the international realm for the treatment of Onkwehonwe (Indigenous) peoples with the Residential School exposure, refusal to sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ongoing land claims, missing & murdered aboriginal women, HST tax etc. In light of this negative image, Canada is using these 2010 Olympics & Torch Relay as a way of undoing the negative image their relationship with Onkwehonwe peoples.

6. It is our responsibility to stand up for and protect our Mother – the Earth
Massive destruction to the land has taken place in preparation for the 2010 olympics in so called “British Columbia”. Ski resort development of sacred mountains still in use by native peoples, 2 million salmon being killed in local rivers, blasting of mountain sides for the development of the Sea-to-Sky highway are all examples of the environmental impact. We have a responsibility to stand by our principles of not supporting the destruction of our mother.

7. It is our responsibility to assist and unite with those other onkwehonwe peoples/nations that call for our help.

In 2007, an international call for help and solidarity with west coast and BC interior nations to expose/resist the 2010 Olympics & Torch Relay was sent out from an international indigenous gathering that took place in Sonoma Mexico. The same Onkwehonwe peoples in 2006 held a Six Nations Solidarity Rally in Vancouver with over 500 in attendance to support our people in our time of need. In the spirit of unity and in accordance with the Great Peace, we have the responsibility to assist our brothers and sisters out west in their time of need. Now is the time to unite, to show canada and the world our strength and to proclaim that we, the Onkwehonwe are one peoples and what affects one affects us all.

WE MUST TAKE A STAND AGAINST THIS TORCH RELAY’S TRAVEL THROUGH OUR TERRITORIES BECAUSE WE ARE HAUDENOSAUNEE ONKWEHONWE PEOPLES THAT REMEMBER OUR WAYS AND RESPONSIBILIES – WE CAN NEVER GIVE THIS UP – NOT EVEN FOR A DAY.

Innovative public/private partnership has online videographer following the Flame on icoke.ca and cokenews.ca

Vancouver, BC, Dec. 14, 2009 – As the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay makes its way through Canada, travel enthusiasts from around the world can get up close and personal with some of the extra-ordinary Canadian sites along the way.

Online videographer Chris Wheeler is following the Olympic Flame and producing authentic, lively travelogues about the great Canadian communities participating in the relay, while promoting the local flavours of Canada along the way.

It’s all part of an innovative partnership between the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), Coca-Cola and Tourism British Columbia who initiated the program as a way to share the excitement of the Games. Coca-Cola websites, icoke.ca and cokenews.ca, are showcasing the 43 videos and they’re carried as well on HelloBC.com/2010torchrelay, YouTube.com/2010torch and YouTube.com/canadiantourism. A social-media outreach program will ensure that the stories are made known around the world.

“This relay marks the seventh time Coca-Cola has sponsored the Olympic Torch Relay, and we are very excited to share this journey with the Canadian Tourism Commission and Tourism British Columbia. The videos capture the excitement and the moments of happiness that torchbearers are experiencing around the country, while highlighting the beauty and uniqueness of Canada,” said Mickael Vinet, Manager, Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola Canada.

“The CTC seeks out dynamic, ground-breaking partnerships to expand the reach, impact and return of our marketing programs,” says Michele McKenzie, president and CEO of the CTC. “Online videos are a fresh, fun way to share some of Canada’s hottest travel spots and we’re thrilled to work with our partners at Tourism British Columbia and Coca-Cola to use this amazing opportunity of the Olympic Torch Relay to show off our country.”

Among the many excited, everyday Canadian torchbearers, Wheeler will capture in their moments of glory are international torchbearers from CTC’s global markets who are part of an international media program. These sports and media celebrities were chosen by VANOC, in collaboration with the CTC, to maximize international media coverage of the relay and spread the excitement and Olympic spirit around the world.

Watch for Wheeler’s reports still to come from: Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Calgary, followed by daily video reports in British Columbia where the Flame returns for its final 22 days prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Games in Vancouver on February 12, 2010.

About the CTC
The CTC is Canada’s national tourism marketing organization. Our vision is inspiring the world to explore Canada. With our partners in the tourism industry and the governments of Canada, the provinces and the territories, we advertise and market Canada in 12 countries around the world, conduct industry research and studies, and promote product and industry development. For daily updates on CTC initiatives, subscribe to CTC News, available through RSS feeds and by e-mail.

Links
icoke.ca
cokenews.ca
HelloBC.com/2010torchrelay
YouTube.com/2010torch
YouTube.com/canadiantourism

For further information, please contact:

I:

Like the torch

In a moonless night,

You break the darkness, And

Guide me to the bright site.

Like the air

In the atmosphere,

You keep my dreams alive, by

Showing your support everywhere!

Like the rain

In early spring,

You give life’s meanings

To every living being!

II:

You are the reason

The bells jingle;

You are the reason

All stars twinkle;

You are the reason

The birds whistle;

You are the reason

All children giggle!

III:

Your words always ring true,

Your style is absolutely cool!

Your judgment is incredible,

You are invincible!

PS: Christmas is in the air, I can smell the candy canes and freshly baked apply pies.

I know you care about your children, your parents, your spouse, your friends, and your life. You have been working hard to show the world that you do care, and you can make a difference in other people’s life. Thus, Believe it, You Are Invincible!

A night in Sydney

My friend’s daughter Jordi won the opportunity to carry (and purchase at ~$500) the Olympic torch as it makes its way across Canada.  I have to say, it was kind of exciting!

I SAW THE TORCH TODAY!!!

Lianne Trout passes the torch flame to Hilda Vlasic at Yonge and John in Thornhill

Honestly, as the world is busy fighting it out in Copenhagen (and with good cause, don’t get me wrong), it was really nice to see people come together today and just be proud to be Canadian.

We may be a mess environmentally, but I refuse to “hate on” my home and native land today.

I’m too busy beaming with pride.

These are some amazing pictures of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. From The Big Picture blog.

A lot of pictures here, each telling a small story within a much larger story…

On December 17, 2009, the Olympic torch will be in Toronto and then on its way to Vancouver from there. Torontonians are you excited?? Will you be attending and joining in the festivities? Let Dom & I know via our Twitter or on the comments below! We would love to see you there and meet other fellow Olympic fans or Samsung Mobile Explorer contestants. Hopefully we will know by Thursday so we will have something to celebrate in addition!

When: December 17, 6:00PM
Where: Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen Street West
Queen and Bay Streets
Map to this event
TTC: Exit Osgoode or Queen subway station.
Cost: Free
For the full programming of the evening featuring local Olympians, performers, artists, check it out here!

Wondering when it will come to your city? Click on the picture to the left or click on this link to see the Olympic Torch Relay Interactive Map!

We are getting so excited, we just can’t hide it!

CHEERS CANADA!

<3 Dom & Tine

As with many Canadians who cared to leave the house, we had the opportunity to watch the Olympic Torch go by last month. Yep, last month, I have over three weeks worth of pictures to update.

The Olympic Torch Relay for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver passed within 100 metres of our house and unknown to us beforehand it was a transition point for passing the flame from one participant to the next.

Web site: www.robhuntley.ca
Click on the image to go straight to the same image on my website.

“I’m back from my world-wind tour!”

“Jack, it’s a ‘whirlwind’ tour.”

“Uh, did I travel around the ‘whirl’?”

What a whirlwind couple of days it’s been.  Thursday was an all work day…the fates are probably punishing me for lamenting about my job considering how little stress it affords me.  I worked from 5:30ish to about 11 and clomped home in the frigged winds to have a quick shower and a bite to eat.  Leh picked me up (late) at 1pm and we were off to Alight at Night.  She was in a bit of a mood, so I napped a bit on the way in as I was drained.  We got there and got the grand tour of Upper Canada Village with the lights starting to twinkle in the dusk-light.  I was pretty excited.

Once the sunset (it really doesn’t take long now) everything was sparkling and waving in the wind with 250,000 lights aglow.  Crysler Hall, a mans from the 1860’s (and one of the only modernized homes) was where we were stationed (inside).  They had the Sight and Sound Spectacular, where every half hour the lights would dance to the beat of Christmas songs.  Inside the hall, they had the display of Gingerbread homes from the big contest.  Amazing what people can do with some icing, dough and a little creativity.

It was fairly quiet in the hall for the first part of the night, and so Leh and I chatted with a girl our age named Martina who was working for the Festival.  Nice girl.  Cute.  Around the end of the night this lady EMT comes in and whispers something to Martina and I caught part of it (even with all the old people and kids chatting and milling around us).  I call out, “You know you can come talk to us right?  We won’t bite!”  This caught her off guard a little and she calls back, “I’ll be over there, don’t you worry.”

All I can say is, “Gaynip strikes again.” as she came over and chatted me up for the rest of the remote and Leh ended up packing the gear alone.  Not my type at all but I really thought she was a cool person and had done some interesting stuff.  We gave her a movie and a CD from our prize box (this might have been an encouragement).  Turns out her allergies are weirder than mine!  Did you know they put soy in candy canes?  It’s true.  Leh spent a good bit of the trip back making fun of me, but not too hard because this grizzled old security guard was chatting her up.  We didn’t get home until 9:30 (after a brief pit stop at Burger King because Leh hadn’t eaten all day…) and I wound up in a bubble bath reading Edgar Allen Poe.  I was too tired to be in there long and was in bed by 10.

Friday was killer.  I was completely exhausted.  I rushed to finish a bunch of jobs that didn’t get done.  I forgot all about NARL.  Ooops.  I misheard something Office Mom said (I thought she threatened to yell at me) and I wisecracked back “Haven’t you made enough people cry today?” as she had just made her kid cry not 20 minutes before.  As soon as I said it, I felt completely bad.  I didn’t mean to be hurtful, and she wasn’t actually upset but she gawked a bit when I said it.  I get a little…bitchy when I’m beat.  Dutchess shouted, “For the love of God, drink a coffee!!  DO IT!”

I had to go back to work as the Olympic Torch was passing through our sleepy little town.  I know not a lot of people are fans of the Olympics, and there are plenty of reasons to not support them…but…I love them just the same.  Not the summer ones, we suck at summer sports.  Winter sports is where we are kings.  I love to watch curling (I love to do it too but it’s been almost 2 years now) and the skiing stuff as well.  It amazes me how people can be so fearless and so graceful all at the same time.

So, we watched it run by and like a completely patriotic sissy that I am, I got misty eyed.  So did Leh, and she’s a robot (so she says).  We fought with traffic to go the park and take part in the celebrations.  We even got a little swag while we where there…and some photo ops

Torch Bearers

How cool is that?  We didn’t stay too long though, as it was -17 with the wind and Leh didn’t have gloves.  Not that they helped because even mine didn’t do the wind justice.

Another Bearer

I spent most of yesterday sleeping when I wasn’t working.  I think I was completely run down, and I try to listen to my body when it tells me it needs sleep.  Otherwise, you do things like fall asleep while driving.

Work work work today.  Wasn’t too bad, I had a lot of fun with the girls.  It stopped being fun when my feet hit the blacktop as we arrived at the station.  The door was swinging open and The Sizzle was shouting.

“You’re late.  Don’t turn the truck off!  I’m taking it.”

“Uh no, Leh is giving me a lift home.”

“Well then hurry the hell up.”

As I walked into the station, he started to freak out, becoming more and more agitated.  Chantal was still outside collecting her baskets from the truck as I was heading to the prod studio.

“You’re late.  Leh said 3pm.  You’re late.  I was supposed to leave at 3.  You’re LATE!”

“I’m not late.  I wasn’t driving, I was with the group.”

“Where the HELL is she?”

“She’s coming in the billboard truck.  Relax.  Stop yelling.”

“Oh.  Fine.  Relax.  Fine.  I’m not yelling.”

Chantal could actually hear him yelling at me from the parking lot.  With the door closed.  Leh came in and he was in her face as she strode through the door.  She was holding her own, but as soon as she swore in French he lost it.

“Don’t swear!  You screwed up.  Don’t swear at me.”

Thing was, she didn’t swear AT him she just swore.  His tirade continued until I had to shout above the din

“Can you stop yelling?”

He glares at me and keeps on about 3pm, his event, professional courtesy, etc.  No one called, we shut the company cell phone off (and put it in the metal briefcase where it goes).  He had my number, and didn’t call.  He rounded on me,

“So you shut the other one off?  Why?  It’s meant to be used.”

“For remotes.  That’s it.”

“So, what?  Your phone dead too?”

“I didn’t know we promised you anything.  You had my number, I gave it to you this morning.  It’s on the staff list.  You could have called.”

The swearing and shouting continued.

“Do you want a ride home or not?”

Leh shouts, “Obviously not with you, not after this!”

I add, “Wow, nice people skills there Miki.  We were late, the world isn’t ending.  You don’t need to scream at everyone.”

This really got his goat and he stormed out.  I ended up having to call The Boss.  Poor guy.

On a more positive note, I ran into The Lesbians I know in this town.  They’re engaged!  Wassail!  I’m so happy for them.  I am pretty sure I’ll be helping them out tomorrow as they are doing a huge dinner for the less fortunate.  Most years they do one sitting of 300 people but this year with the hard times they are doing two sittings and expecting 500.  I need something worthwhile to fill up some of my free time.

Tonight, I’m going to relax and soak in the tub and then watch Zombieland!

Over the past few months I have discovered that planning anything with a baby in tow, takes a lot longer than planning in the pre-baby days.  Mind you, it is totally worth to have this little guy in tow, and Borys and I consider ourselves very lucky, but the planning and logistics around feeding and dressing for the cold weather does take a bit of brainpower.

Tomorrow is the day I will be running with the Olympic Flame, and I am super excited! My sister and her whole family as well as my mom have all come in from out of town to be a part of the day, and having them here to cheer me on makes it even more special! But what will become of little Niko? I know he will be in the good hands of his daddy and at some point tomorrow the whole “taking care of him” bit will be totally out of my hands, but as I sit here and type my mind is turning with all the things I need to get ready for him for tomorrow, for all the “just in case” scenarios that could pop up: a bottle, hot water, a diaper bag, warm clothes, and the list could go on and on.  Well actually now that I think about it, maybe that is it? Maybe the list isn’t as long as my mind has made it out to be? I guess whatever happens will happen, and like I’ve said before, not too much harm can really come to him when he is in the capable hands of Daddy and I am out of sight for only an hour or so, right?

It’s always a good idea to use 3V CR2032 batteries in your latest invention. Now someone’s invented a cheap and very good second-generation light that clips around the battery. You may recall seeing on someone’s keyring a very tiny round LED flashlight. Well, we’re talking about the second design of that.

You can pick up the chunky round torch in many colours and the LED is single but phenomenally bright – brighter than some bike lights. The chunkiness is new and the switch is more protected and the squeezable button less so. There is also a new keyring design.

You can get these mini-torches off my favourite cheap Channel Island website 7dayshop.com, but Amazon also stocks these goodies. £1.49 to £1.99 and look for buy one get one free.

Venturing into the thick island jungle the pirates continue their quest even as darkness starts to fall.

“Who are you?” A voice asks startling the unsuspecting pirates.

Captain Brickbeard and Janey Blackheart each draw their weapons, brandishing pistols and swords at the much bedraggled and cowering castaway. Quickly realizing they are in no danger they lower their weapons and ask the old man for his story.

He explains that he was accidentally left on the island many years ago and all that his wishes is to return home to his family.

“I know what you seek and I will guide you there if you will promise to take me home.”

Image courtesy Chris Wattie/Reuters

1. The Olympic torch arrived in Parliament today.

Carried by former Olympian Barbara Ann Scott, cheers quickly turned to screams as the elderly woman turned the torch on the crowd. MPs became hostages until it was time to continue the relay and she was forced to pass the torch on.

Just kidding.

Barbara Ann Scott was Canada’s first gold medalist in figure skating in 1984, and she’s now 81.  And that’s awesome.

2. Sarah Palin might be thinking she has a fan in Barack Obama after she found some striking similarities between her book and Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.

“Wow! That really sounded familiar.’ because I talked in book too about the fallen nature of man and why war is necessary at times.” she told USA Today in an interview after the speech.

Yes Sarah, he definitely cribbed it from you, and not Thomas Hobbes, or someone else really, you know… Smart.

No ten foot pole, but at the bottom of that backpack is a large sack.

Torch, originally uploaded by Valerie Morrison.

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When I left the house this morning, I purposely left my cameras at home. However, I feel so naked without them and went back in the house and grabbed my kid’s camera.

Later, I stopped by my mechanic’s shop and when I saw him using this “fire thingy”, I just had to get a photo. I asked if he was going to use the torch again and he said no, but later called me into the garage and let me take a few photos. Now, I want to go back.

Just really wanted to share a photo I snapped with the Rebel XT at my town’s celebration of the Olympic torch relay