Into the Wild

A thought to start the week.

Maurice: How ‘bout that men’s hockey win eh?

Yes, Canada’s men won the big gold medal game against the U.S. and suddenly there’s an explosion of patriotism in the true north…and I just don’t really get it. Yes, it was a tense game, hard played, the perfect ending to a wonderful Vancouver Olympics etc…But a gold medal in hockey is not why I love my country. Here’s an excerpt from a piece I wrote for www.worldpulse.com, the focus was “Land: My Story”:

Concrete towers and asphalt roads dot my horizon. Land, as an organic, life-giving entity doesn’t seem to correlate with my 9-5 office job. I am a city girl. I’ve always lived in large urban centres, where pockets of land are set aside for recreation. I’ve never had to gather crops or water fields, and my income has never been dependent on the weather.
However, when I think about the land of my country, Canada, a vastly different picture emerges. I see strength, families bundling up against -40 degree Manitoba blizzards without batting an eye. I ponder struggle, what are the true implications of the battle for Aboriginal treaty rights? I envision beauty, friends sharing a day’s end in front of the most beautiful Saskatchewan sunset. And I contemplate conflict, is producing crude oil from Alberta’s tar sands really the greatest of environmental crimes?
I guess these few examples from my “home and native land” speak to the nature of land itself – a living, dynamic, complex organism. Forever giving and taking, being taken from and given to. And this realization is where, under fluorescent office light, I can find meaning. Because with this awareness comes a certainty that cannot be ignored. I must always respect my country and cherish her land. And I must never take my home for granted.

Trying out a new look for the blog. I don't know if I've hit on "me" yet...but I kinda like this one.
And here's a new etsy artist I discovered today. Love her style! www.babayagada.etsy.com

Usually when I search for art I am not immediately drawn to the Japanese style. Yes, Kokeshi dolls are cute and Koi Fish can make beautiful tattoos, but it's generally not my first choice...
However, I am currently reading this amazing book about Princess Masako:
A book that came to be banned in Japan (it is only now being published there) it steals a look into the mysterious world of the Japanese royal family and details the pressure that the Royal Household Agency placed on the princess to produce a male heir. "A thoroughly modern woman in collision with an ancient system." Its fascinating. I love this kind of story. Sooo...

Maurice: So?

I put together some fun finds from Etsy shops - paintings and photos, Japanese themed art I can get behind - in honour of my current read. Enjoy!

Maurice: Whatcha got for the morning mojo?

The latest book I'm reading, "The White Tiger" by Aravind Adiga. It took me awhile to get into this one, but now that I am, I highly recommend it. Set in modern day India, against a backdrop of development and depravity, it tells the story of servant Balram Halwai; how he came to be a success in life - having nothing but his own wits to help him along.

Maurice: "Never make someone a priority when they only make you an option."

One of my favorite artists of all time is Saskatchewan born Wilf Perreault, and today's weather here in Edmonton reminds me of his work. Stunning details in light and colour make me stare at his paintings for hours:

Vintage paper, ads, images, photos, stamps etc. That's what I've been using lately to create some of my own artwork...while I watch the TV show "Bones" on DVD - my idea of the perfect evening! Add a glass or two of Chardonnay and it doesn't get much better.

I'm still waiting to hear from Guatemala! Fingers and toes crossed!! Have a great week.

Maurice: Well...where have you been?

I was in Saskatchewan for a week hanging with some pals.
I used to live in Regina, spent 5 years there, and it always feels kind of weird when I return. So much happened in my life while I was there and then I up and left it all to live and work in Poland! I don't really know why it feels so surreal to return to a place you were once so immersed in...

So I finally had an interview with the school in Guatemala!! It went quite well considering some technical difficulties (we were skyping). Fingers crossed. I would love the chance to teach there. The other solid possibility right now is in Russia. The quest continues...

I've posted some new things in my etsy shop. Like this funky, retro ad:


Very happy with the new camera so far.

Maurice: And your latest read?

"I, Rigoberta Menchu" Inspired by my latest potential teaching gig, I picked up this book the other day. So far it is a pretty good read. It tells the life story of peasant woman Rigoberta Menchu who grew up in an Indian community in Guatemala. Chapters are divided into themes such as "Marriage", "The family", "Life in the Community" with each one detailing the community's customs and traditions for that theme. There is a lot of repetition and many details become redundant. Yet it is an very interesting look at the culture of an entire, often forgotten, people.

I'm halfway through "The 19th Wife" by David Ebershoff. It is a very interesting and compelling read. Part history, part mystery Ebershoff weaves his story back and forth between the roots of nineteenth century polygamy, the Mormon faith, and a modern day polygamist murder. I'm finding the information on Ann Eliza Young (19th wife of Brigham Young, prophet and leader of the early Mormon Church) to be the most interesting and absorbing.

So the TEFL job search continues! Now, a position in Guatemala City looks to be the most promising. I am scheduling an interview with the school for next week. What an experience that would be! Fingers crossed.

Maurice: And our smile for the day?

Comes from an etsy artist who I love.
Fall Down Tree.

Maurice: Yup, it’s time for some morning mojo ‘round here.

Today has not started out well. I found out that I didn’t get the teaching job in Micronesia. Therefore, it’s back to hunting and applying and interviewing and hoping…I still have possible opportunities in Guatemala, Poland and Russia, but nothing for sure yet…I’m definitely in need of some mojo.

Thankfully I have an awesome pal who is always ready and able to supply some. I was having a crappy day on the weekend (why so much crap in my life lately?!) and asked said pal Justin if he would mind texting me some mojo. He sent me the following story which made me laugh and then smile for a good half hour after. Thanks Justin! Mwah!!

"Once upon a time there was this giant turtle that had a bad case of hemroids. He went to his mom’s house to borrow her friggin laser-gun-flame-thrower cuz he figured he could just lance the fuckers right off. Well, turns out that the weapon was on the marshmallow cooker setting, so when he went to fix himself up he managed to get s'mores all over his ass and this attracted a large colony of ants that in turn ate away at his ass leaving his body in wreckage only fit for the life of a pirate. He left his home with two wooden legs and a box of saltines and a family size jar of peanut butter to sail the seas…You could say he was an anti-butt pirate. Ha! Get it? He’s an anti-butt pirate cuz the ants ate his butt right off…Well I thought it was funny…"

I feel better already! Tank Girl also gives me mojo. Peh-peh-peh-POW!!!