Charity -clarity? Clear as mud

This morning's paper brings disturbing but not surprising news, people using the local food bank is up 25% this Christmas time. But doesn't stop there, LIFE*SPIN have 508 families registered for gifts, and 288 on a waiting list. Toys for Tots haven't got as many donations as last year and more clients etc etc etc. We live in one of the greatest, richest countries in the world and yet we have a housing crisis not just in Attawapiskat, but in most of our aboriginal communities and we have people who are living under bridges everywhere. Where have we gone wrong? or have we gone wrong? Is it our lust for money, and material things? Is it our desire to live in the moment and not save for a rainy day? Does it matter what the reason is? The real question is what do we do about it?

We can do do the band aid solutions, stock the food bank, sponsor a family, join an "Occupy" type movement but it that doesn't find the cure. We need to take a hard look at how we run our programs, do we need programs, should we raise our minimum standards?

THIS IS NOT AN US VS THEM ISSUE  for who is us and who is them? Most of us are just 3 weeks from being another statistic, another % point in this social downward spiral. WE need ideas and solutions. Affordable housing, nutritious food, and clothes on our back should be basic human rights not perks from dwindling jobs. Where do we start? Do we need to start at the grass roots level or immediately through the government? What we don't have is time! If I had the answers to these questions I wouldn't be ranting here, If I had the answers I would be running the province, country or one of the famous NGOs, but I don't have the answers only the questions.

In the meantime I ask you to think about sponsoring a family this season, add a can to the food bank, drop a toy off or help build a house and think about the solutions to the questions.

I have changed the name of my blog, may be this is more original than the 3+  others who had the same title as mine, but probably not.

So it is Black Friday and people are going in droves to the US of A to save $$$. But what are they really saving? Unless you live in a border city, you have to drive (for me an hour), spend gas, and spend time in line at the border each way. Then you have to hope that the product you bought is legal to bring back, (not all electronics and appliances have the proper testing and certification) and that it won't break down (a number of warranties are valid when crossing the border). But more than that the dollar you spend down there may be the dollar that keeps your neighbour employed, it may be one more bed that is closed at the hospital, it may be less week knocked off EI, one less year of Canada Pension or Old Age Security and it maybe one more bridge that starts to fall down. We have  a higher minimum wage, a higher welfare assistance and fewer subsidies. If you think that it is better to shop in the , then  WHY DON'T YOU MOVE THERE!

protests

So a judge has finally decided that the Occupy movements do not have the constitutional right to stay in public parks overnight. It is about time that somebody put some common sense into this movement. The judge has said that there is plenty of time and avenues open to the movement to make their protests heard between 7 and midnight.  The message they bring is valid and needs to be heard but it is far from needing an Arab Spring or a Civil Rights Movement to have their voice heard. What I find amusing is that during the court fights the occupiers were using the very 1% (lawyers, newspaper execs, technology giants) to get their message across. Perhaps you have to use the system to fight the system but if that is the case where were these people during the elections. Occupiers keep pushing the message it needs to be heard but like mud slinging political ads you run the risk of losing those that  sympathise with your cause

Time to go home

So I'm laying in bed 4000km from home, no wife, no kids no dog. Attending a funeral is never fun, celebrating a life is better. It provided a chance to renew ties with family share a memory or two or three and to have the great taste of English ale ( and Welsh ales too Derek) but as much as I have had a good time it is time to go home. I dont belong here, I feel out of phase. In 8 hours we head to the airport for our goodbyes, well intentioned " till we meet again soon"and hugs , kisses and a pat on the back. I could stay for as long as I want, welcome have I been made but.... It is time to return to reality. Wheels up at noon..... Thanks Geoff, Alison and the girls, till we meet again Derek and Carrie good luck Deb and Philip.

Beth I'm on my way cause as Dorothy said " There's no ace like home"

Who you meet

So I'm at Pearson waiting for my flight when I hear " Mr Kinchlea " and I turn around to look at my self. Of course it isn't me it is my Uncle who happens to be my doppelgänger ( or I his ). Kerry and Jill are of to Paris leaving a half hour after moi. So 2 hours of reading or boredom turned into the same time enjoying a beer and catching up on lives. What a nice way to start what will be in part a somber occasion

Being thankful

Sometimes no, most times we forget to say thank you. Oh we imply it in our voice, nod when we get a parcel , or hum a murmur as people talk to you. But we have a harder time to say Thanks than I Love You.
So incase I fall in that group that doesn't use thank you enough I today say thanks.

Thanks for reminding me when I go a stray or do something dumb.

Thanks for driving me to the airport.


Thanks helping me with all my projects.


Thanks for being there when I needed a shoulder to lean or cry on.


I'm thankful for my family, sibs, parents, wife, children, aunts, uncles, cousins et al.

I'm thankful for my fellow workers who arranged things and understood I needed to be away.

I'm thankful for my relationship with God, and Jesus my saviour. The reason



What more can I say but thanks!

Getting Old Blessing or Curse

Today I'm sitting down in my campsite enjoying a beautiful Sunny morning. Listening and watching my niece and her son play talk and interact with us it makes me glad I'm the age i am. I get up go to work, get in the kayak work the garden and be one with the outside. Then I stretch and my muscles hurt, stand still and the back goes out and climb the stairs and me joints ache but the kids come over we have a beer and all is good. I've been all over North America, been to Britain seen the sun set in the Grand Canyon and watch a whale from a boat not too bad for a 50 something. What I find the hardest thing about being old is saying good bye, to a mother and father in law, best friends parents, my Dad, his older sins and mow last night we heard of the passing of his best friend and our cousins Dad. Would I trade this age do I want to be 20, 35 or 16 ? No I don't think so, I'm happy being who I am and the age I am . Besides there aren't much options I'm stuck here so I might as well buckle up and enjoy the ride

Get out and Vote

It bothers me to know end that people will not get off their fat asses and vote. I'm sitting here before going to work listening to all the callers on a radio show crucify Dalton McGuinty and yet accoring to the poles the man will lead us for another 4 years. Where are these bitchers when it counts! PEOPLE this is your life, taxes, standard of living we are talking about. If you are right vote him out. If you want him in vote him in but VOTE! We have the ability to make a difference whther you believe it or not. This is not the  Middle East, or China we have a voice use it! Take the time to learn the issues, check what your candidate has done or will do for you, wade through the baffle gab and decifer the information. IT IS NOT TOO LATE! There is still over 20 hours before DDay. Oh an if you really are fed up with the system and the leaders or all candidates, then show up and decline your vote, have registered and still have your voice and choice count