Amberism

The Next Question

Could the unimaginable loss of life been prevented? There's an argument that it could have been - http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO412C.html

Link courtesy of my Uncle Rick. It's hard to imagine that they had the ability to warn people on the coasts of South East Asia and simply didn't.

Canada is failing

Is it just me, or is Canada's involvement in the aid efforts for South East Asia pathetic? I'm embarrassed when I'm reading the news articles from canada.com.

Small things, but when you look at the whole package I'm sitting here wondering what the hell is taking us so long to get up off our asses and help. A $40 million donation is a good thing, I'm not begrudging that. Can we give more? I don't know, I have no idea where the money comes from, or how much we have to give, and I am glad we've committed to giving something and it's more than the original $4 million we committed.

That said, there are reports of the Canadian Embassy in Thailand charging Canadians to replace their passports. In response to that claim a spokesperson for the Foriegn Affairs Minister said ''to exercise maximum discretion in determining the needs of Canadians affected and to provide assistance tailored to their individual circumstances, including waiving fees for passport if necessary.'' If necessary? For fuck's sakes, if someone lost their passpost if a bloody tidal wave, isn't that enough to waive the freaking fees? Christ.

The other thing I'm completely confused about is why it's taking so long to decide to send out DART. Is the preliminary assessment team there yet? Have they made any decisions? Seriously, are we doing ANYTHING? Have we sent bodybags yet? Water purification experts? I don't care how complex the workings are, give us some information at least. And why is it so unorganized there? The US has dealt with hurricaines in the past (not the same scale, true, but the basic organization stradegy might be the same, no? And if no, why not?), they could be the ones running the show, getting things done instead of what appears to be confused and over-extended governments in South East Asia? Governments shouldn't be running it anyway, it's always way to bloody slow to get anything done, that's the nature of government.

Plus, what the hell is up with Prime Minister Paul Martin? Don't you think a natural disaster on a "biblical" scale warrants cutting short your vacation to oversea our involvement, especially since one of the reasons to be proud to be a Canadian is that we are perceived as peaceful, helpful people internationally? Honestly, the man probably doesn't do any of it anyway, I realize that, but fuck, for face value, as the main representative of our country, at least televise a public statement instead of sending a note to your people back home. He's probably drunk and gambling in Morrocco. Stupid ass.

And other countries have sent planes to gather their stranded people. Has Canada? No.

A year ago around this time, Steve and I and a close friend of ours were in Phuket, Thailand. I've been feeling incredibly blessed and overwhelmed. Even though I see it on the news, and I see the pictures, I simply don't understand this sort of tradegy. And everything I might tell you about my own life, although normally rather mindless on Amberism, seems petty and shallow this week. Our Christmas was quiet and wonderful, I couldn't have asked for more. I hope yours was the same.

If you're Canadian and you want to help, here are some organizations accepting cash donations to send to Asia via Canada.com

Canadian Red Cross: 1-800-418-1111

Oxfam Canada: 1-800-466-9326 (1-800-GO-OXFAM)

World Vision: 1-800-268-5528

UNICEF Canada: 1-877-955-3111

Canadian Tamil Congress: 1-416-751-8777

Canadian Relief Organization for Peace in Sri Lanka 1-416-429-2822

Development and Peace: 1-888-664-3387

Christian Children's Fund of Canada: 1-800-263-5437

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto: 416.631.5705

CARE Canada: 1.800.267.5232

Doctors without Borders Canada: 1-800-982-7903

Merry Christmas!

Best wishes for a relaxing and wonderful holiday season from Chateau Amber & Steve. We send all our families and friends love and hugs and kisses and all that good, gushy stuff.

Hee! Presents!

My friends rule. Christine and Sab sent me a little package with a cd of the wedding photos they took, a very cool Christmas card they picked up in Hong Kong, and home-made soap! My little cubicle area now smells like peppermint, it's very yummy! Thank you so much! It was an awesome little surprise! And some of the photos were hilarious ;)!

I spent the morning dealing with postal issues. One of the major drawbacks to living out in our little bit of paradise is that postal service is truly lacking. The room we call a post office has limited hours and is basically never open when you'd actually be near the post office to do postal like errands. The "box" that we get our mail in is teeny-tiny so anything that bigger than a bill doesn't fit in the box so they throw in a package card (even for big envelopes) and you have to figure out a way to get your packages before they're sent back. Not only that, it's not the place you can really mail Christmas presents from. So, I had to pick up my package (hee! thanks again guys!) and then find another postal outlet in Parksville to get stamps, and then went to Mail Boxes Etc. to mail my parcels because no where else would guarantee that they would get there before Christmas (yeah, yeah, I left it late, sue me, I just got married and I'm using that excuse for as long as it suits me!). The mailing of the parcels cost more than the contents did. Postal service is one of the insane aspects of living on an island. Of course, all the perks still out weigh the odd inconvenience.

What I really miss though? Ikea. Honestly. Who knew that Ikea had made such an impact on life!

ETA: Speaking of fun presents, my boss and his family bought Steve and I a cat couch from Catnap! Its the beatle in orange and it's ADORABLE. It totally made me giddy, I love it! So far, the cats are not convinced it's as good as the human couch, but we're working on those picky creatures!

Christmas came early

Steve and I drove up to Victoria yesterday to stop in at the Home Outfitters and spend our gift cards we got at the wedding. We bought the remaining plate settings we needed and completed our bedroom linen set (which was Nautica, which is insanely expensive, but man, it's nice stuff). Spending all that money wasn't nearly as much fun as I would have thought because money doesn't go all that far in a place like Home Outfitters where everything seems expensive. At least, everything I want is expensive ;).

We took the dog with us, and made a stop at Goldstream Park as part of our new training routine. You see, my dog? Terrified of people. It's becoming quite the problem as we can't leave him at a kennel or with friends and as much as I love my dog, I refuse to let a dog dictate how I live my life. Within reason. Of course I go straight home after work to let the dog out and take the pooch for a walk and spend some time with him, but that is par for the course with a dog, I knew that going in. That said, I still expect to be able to take vacation, or go away for the occassional weekend and the dog just has to deal. I'd feel the same way about children, if I had my own. You can call me cold-hearted if you will, but he's a dog and he's just gonna have to learn that the kennel isn't that bad and even though he's a big part of our world, our world doesn't revolve around him. Not that I expect him to understand that reasoning, it's how I intend to live my life.

Now, Vegas has been shy and skittish since day one. This isn't special or unusual with a dog from the shelter because most shelter dogs don't have a lot of experience with people and are seldom socialized so understandably, people are scary beasts. We've been through doggy school to increase his confidence and get him out and about in a room full of people and that helped a lot. He was quite a different dog after training. Then we moved, and moved again, and were going back and forth to Calgary, and then he spent a week in the kennel and now he's basically the dog he was when we first got him, except double in size. A scared, skittish 75 lbs dog is a handful.

I think it's a big deal, and am taking steps to get help for my dog. Steve thinks that he's fine because with US he is fine, but the minute you change the dynamics it's a production. In the spirit of increasing Vegas's confidence and helping him be a happier dog I spoke with a behavioralist. Even I'm shocked that I called her since it's not usually something I'd do. She has given us some tips on how to increase Vegas's confidence so he's a happy puppy who realizes that most people are good folk just like Steve and I. Part of that training is to take the dog to places where there are a lot of people, like the mall parking lot or the beach boardwalk, or Goldstream Park. By the end of our little walk in the park he had stopped barking at everyone who came near him so I think we're making some progress. I'm looking for encouragement where I can find it at this point. I'm meeting with the behavioralist after Christmas as well so she can meet Vegas and give us some better tools to socialize him more with people and children. I think it's important that she actually meets him because I think I might sugar-coat the situation too much because he is, afterall, my dog and besides the shy-factor, I think he's pretty marvelous. My view may be tainted!

Plus we're going back to school in January, which we had always planned to do even before we had this set back, so hopefully, with a little extra training work I'll have my dog back!

Seriously, how can anyone possibly have the energy for children. He's a dog and this is exhausting. We're calling in the bloody specialists for fuck's sakes and HE'S A DOG. Could I be a bigger yuppie?

Christmas Cards

If you want a Christmas card from me, send me your mailing address!

ambern AT canada DOT com

Candi, Cori and Munin, I've got your cards addressed already. I trust my addresses are up-to-date!

Scrooge-ville

I'm anti-Christmas this year, and for me, that's pretty unusual. Normally I love Christmas. This year we're staying in Errington (and not by choice, apparently my dog is equivalent to having one of those kids no one wants to babysit or pick for their baseball team). All involved think this is the best idea with the notable of exception of me. I think it would be a lot more fun to go home.

My anti-Christmas is in full force today because we went Christmas shopping last night and spent the entire time trying to find suitable gifts that wouldn't be too expensive to ship home. It's depressing after thinking you'd be driving and could buy whatever your heart desires and not have to worry about shipping and the cost of shipping. Plus, at this late day, there is some doubt it'll even get there before Christmas.

I'm getting a lot of "you're newlyweds, it's best to spend your first Christmas together, start a new tradition". awww, how romantic. Because you know me, Mrs. Romantic over here I'm all about the romance (that was sarcastic case you missed it).

I don't get it. Why is it best? Did everyone forget that we've actually been living together for almost three years? This is our third Christmas together since we shacked up, and our fourth Christmas together since we've seen each other nekkid. We spend our days together, literally. We drive into work together, go home together, eat dinner together, and we even go to bed at the same time every night, together. Let me assure you, there is a lot of Amber and Steve togetherness and there has been since we up and moved from Calgary. I'm not complaining, I rather enjoy my life and am not itching to change it. My point is simple - we don't NEED to spend Christmas together to fulfill some silly notion of first Christmas romanticism. Christmas is just another day for us (not being religious folk) so what makes Christmas special is that our whole family comes together and eats food loaded with calories and sugar and watches the little people go wild opening their presents. The same little people we missed last year opening their presents because we were traipsing across Asia (ain't complaining about that either, it was awesome, my point is this is Year 2 we've missed Christmas with the whole famn damily).

Steve is being really good about making the best of the situation and somewhere along the line decided that he's making us a Christmas feast, complete with turkey. Although my Grandma had already made her Christmas plans, the invite to her friends house was extended to us but Steve has decided that if we're to be forced to stay in Errington, we're having a special day. I tried to talk him out of it, as a person who doesn't even eat turkey and who has no clue what is involved in a traditional Christmas feast, his mind is made up, and he's taking care of the entire production. He's a stubborn man, plus he's cute when his mind is made up so you tend to give in to his charms.

He's also made the decision that we WILL exchange Christmas presents this year as well. Originally we decided not to as we bought each other extravagant wedding gifts (I got a diamond necklace!) and have a pile of wonderful wedding gifts waiting for us in Calgary that we thought would be coming home with us after the holidays. However, I've been moping about how the only present under the tree is for the cats from my Grandma and how depressing that looks so Steve decided we needed to up the joy factor. All very sweet, and I'm sure it'll be a fabulous day with a fabulous meal. We do have a good time together so I don't doubt that we will still have fun on Christmas. None of this good cheer is stopping me from being Mrs. Scrooge and bitching though because deep down I know that I still want to go home for Christmas. For me, Christmas has always been about family more than anything else and I'm going to miss not being a part of that again this year.

Don't even get me started about missing our traditional New Year's party.... ~sigh~

Tis the Season

To drink too much.

Steve's Christmas party, the part I cropped out was Steve's co-worker pinching the ass of Steve's other co-worker's wife. Edited for Steve's job security :). But trust me, it's funny. But hey, I find a little ass love humerous, it's not for everyone.

To laugh too much

Again, at Steve's Christmas party. He's so handsome in a suit, no?

To dance too much (~gasp~ is that even possible?!)

A little wedding glimpse! Courtesy of Miss. Christine (or Sabby, I think Christine).

And for a little nookie. Hey. Tis the season of giving my friends!

Another pic from Miss. Christine and Sabby's collection!

Just a few pics to keep you entertained. If you want to see more of the wedding, through Christine and Sabby's eyes check out their photo page here. Then come back and tell me I was so purty! ;) I don't have the professional pics yet. Will post more later.

Christmas Party Time!

This weekend we're off to Crown Isle Resort to partake in Steve's company's Christmas-like festivities. I intend to eat and drink too much. Hey, I went to the gym today so it's all good.

Have yourself a very merry weekend.

ps: I got me some egg-nog
pps: The Christmas swing-dig is free AND we get to stay the night. For free. How cool is that? Yes, I'm bragging.
ppps: Puppy is being cared for by a friend this time, and gets to stay in his own house. No kennel for him!

Big News In Canada

The Canadian Supreme Court OKs Same Sex Marriage.

Woot!

And religious officials cannot be forced to perform unions against their beliefs, which I think is as it should be. That is what religious freedom is all about.

The provincial government still has the authority to say "not in my province" so you can bet your ass that Alberta, and others, will be using that power to say no to same sex marriages, so the struggle isn't over yet. Still, times are a-changing, and I feel it's changing for the better.

Bring on the egg-nog!

I think we all need to head on down to Kansas and kick Candi's ass. Ever since this mention of egg-nog I've been craving it like if I don't get it now I might just die. Seriously, I'm on the verge of a complete mental breakdown if I don't get egg-nog ASAP. Need egg-nog now.

In other news, with the aid of a huge collection of Sears Points, Steve's company giving us a Sears gift certificate for the wedding, and my Grandma's wedding gift, we are now the proud owners of a Vacuflo. My vacuum has been broken since August so this is BIG NEWS. You can imagine how dirty my carpets were. Thank you Grandma! My house thanks you too!

In all fairness, I've only lived in this house for a month and a half so we're not talking accumulated dirt from August but it is pretty sad that I've managed that long sans vacuum. It also took me two nights to vacuum the house so the carpets were back to a reasonable condition, and I was giddy doing it! And who can't get excited about free appliances? Tell me who?!

I really need to get me a life.

And some egg-nog.

Junk Food Night

My puppy isn't doing any better. He's thrown up both nights he's been home and his tail was actually bleeding yesterday. Bleeding! We're going to the vet.

Last night Steve and I decided to do "junk food dinner" and went to the grocery store to get the appropriate food. In searching for convenience dinners we made a very dangerous discovery. You can get healthy, organic convenience food here. Yes, it's true. If you're willing to mortgage your house for it, you can have good-for-you dinners in mere minutes. Things like Veggie Pot Pies made with organic veggies, pastry stuffed with all sorts of yummy goodes that are also good for you. In British Columbia you can have healthy AND convenient! For one little pastry stuffed with spinach and cheese it was $3.50. Compare that to four pizza pops for $4.50 and it doesn't take a rocket science to guess that we had pizza pops for dinner last night. And now I feel sick.

We aren't convenience food eaters (well, beyond restaurant going that is). At home we make our meals and infrequently we'll have a frozen lasagna. It's basically unheard of that we'd have Kraft dinner and pizza pops so when we do, it's an outing. Last night we bought Extra Creamy Kraft Dinner which should really be titled Extra Gross Kraft Dinner. Either Kraft Dinner has changed, or the Extra Creamy adds a little something to it that was simply too gross for me to actually consume. That's ok though, I inhaled the pizza pops. Steve's comment when he finished off his first pizza pop was "I think that was the most disgusting combination of cheese and tomato I've ever eaten". He then proceeded to cook another one ;).

What's your favorite convenience food? Mine used to be Kraft Dinner, but now I think I'm leaning towards Three Cheese Pizza Pops or Michealino's Microwavable Macaroni and Cheese. Mmmmm....fake cheese....

Speaking of food, I've put on, eh, a few pounds since spending two weeks in Calgary eating all sorts of goodies people made for the wedding (it was like Christmas!) and lately I've been drinking Hot Chocolate like it's going out of style. I wonder how many calories are in one packet of Hot Chocolate? I need to get back to the gym ASAP!

Doggy Kennel

We're back! And were greeted by a very happy dog who very desperately wanted to go home.

He was so bored and lonely and stressed out in the kennel that he ripped out a strip of hair on his tail, and quite a bit of hair off his rump and knees. It's heart-breaking to say the least. If I remember to charge my camera tonight I'll take a picture, but I'm warning you, it WILL break your heart.

He also threw up some rawhide, so they took away the rawhide, then he chewed some board that was in the kennel with him (because, NEWS FLASH, he's a LAB, he CHEWS) and then threw that up too.

Then it comes out that when he goes out to the yard for his exercise (which is about 15 minutes) he doesn't come back when he's called so they stopped taking him off leash.

Ok, my first concern is why isn't he coming when he's called? He knows the command "come" and he's happy to come if it's a positive experience. He won't come if you're angry, or he thinks something bad will happen (like having to go back to the kennel I suppose). Plus, all you got to do is wave a treat or a toy and the dog is at your feet in a flash. This is a dog that loves people and attention. It shouldn't be that difficult to get him to come if you're experienced with dogs. Especially if you recognize that a skittish, shy dog needs positive reinforcement if you want him to come.

My second concern is this is a 70lb Black Lab with the energy of rocket. He needs exercise. We're talking a lot of exercise. You can't expect this dog to go a week and a half and never be off leash in the fenced yard (honestly, he can't escape, he knows his commands, this shouldn't be a problem). No wonder he's ripping his hair out, I would be too.

They did call once and ask what to do about the ripping the hair out business. Thankfully this was after the wedding so I wasn't thinking about it every second on my wedding day. I said to exercise him more, I'd pay for it. Obviously he needs more time outdoors and more time with people. She said that she'd let him wander in the kennel and follow her around. I agreed that he'd love that, he's a needy little thing and loves people, playing with other dogs, investigating the yard and then I said again that I think he just needs more exercise and I'd pay for it. I'd buy an extra half hour a day. That must have fell on deaf ears because he didn't get the exercise, although they did let him out to follow the gals in the kennel around and enjoyed that but the problems still persisted (you don't say? He NEEDS EXERCISE). He loves everyone and everything, and his tail is always wagging so they thought he was happy. And he IS happy, his nature is to be a happy dog, after his initial fear of meeting you, he loves you. But he still needs exercise.

He spent the entire day yesterday running around the yard like a crazy beast running off a week and a half of energy. He came every single time he was called without any drama. It was so obvious what his problem was. Poor pooch.