Found writing

I found this piece while cleaning up my old stock of crap writing that I've had sprayed over multiple disks. The date on it says I wrote it in 2005, but I think it's from even earlier. Still relevant though, whatever the calendar says.

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I can be anything I want to be. Except President of the United States.
Apparently, you have to be born there. What a crock. How elitist-you want to
be a good leader and rule the "free" world? You'll need a log cabin to apply,
I'm afraid. Oh, and did I mention the white male clause in the contract as
well? So sorry, perhaps you could try somewhere in South America instead?

It's especially unfortunate because what that country really needs is an
outsider's viewpoint. Someone impartial, with an unemotional connection to the
issues facing the US. I tell you I'd have things fixed in a jiffy-none of this
I-need-two-terms-in-office-to-make-history crap. In, out, wham, bam, Boom! All
handguns confiscated. All drugs federally regulated, with proceeds going to
social programs and health care-it'd be the biggest cash cow any government
could ever hope for. Not bad for the first week in office. And I'm just
getting started.

I could do it too. Know why? Because I'd be an outsider. Fresh. Cool.
Uncorrupted by 200 years of white-washed US history. It'd be grand, don't you
think? And the best part would be that if it didn't work out, if radicals (or
Republicans) attacked the White House, I'd just jump on board that big old green
helicopter and get my non-US butt back over the border to Canada. ASAP. Maybe
that's why you have to be born there-they want to make sure you don't have a
backdoor to retreat through.

Makes sense, now that I think about it.

Vacation

I've been feeling kind of run-down lately. Partly due to illness, partly due to the fix-up-the-house-at-all-costs mentality that comes with a new home. But whatever it is, I'm flat. I wondered today if it's because I haven't had a vacation in a very long time.

When I was a kid, vacations were the long breaks between the joyous end of June and the terrible woe of Labour Day in September. I remember weeks at our cottage in Manitoba, a trip across the northern US, and many other time sinks that seemed to narrow as I grew older. The last trip I really recall with my parents was a 3 day whirlwind drive through Montana, Idaho and the top corner of Washington. I spent most of it reading prep materials for my Grade 12 courses.

My last long vacation was in my 5th year of university (1997) when I was doing my English degree. I only had essays due at the end of the fall term, and no finals, as all my courses were year long. I remember leaving Queen's on the 3rd or 4th of December, and realizing that I had no responsibilities, exams, classes -- nothing for 5 whole weeks. During that long lazy winter break, I even remember thinking to myself that this was likely the longest break I'd get until retirement. Sobering.

The last three years, my long vacations have been: 2006 moving cross country and setting up house in Alberta (2 weeks), 2007 Bailey's birth (combined with parental leave 4 weeks), 2008 moving cross country (2 weeks). Hardly stress free relaxation time.

For me, the dream 'vacation' means packing bags, going to the airport and flying somewhere to lay on a beach sleeping and drinking pina coladas for 6 days. The last vacation where I flew somewhere was Florida in fall 2005, and that week was spent fighting a cold and putting up with Ronan (who also had a cold). Not good times.

What's your idea of a vacation, dear reader? Post your thoughts in the comments.

Happy Canada Day

Just to show you how behind I am on everything, I'm now 2 days overdue in wishing you all a happy Canada Day!