Remember that song!

If you read my blog about Algonquin, I went on about mountain biking. Well now, I think I have the bug. I”ve been thinking about flying down that mountain every now again. Joe and I have started looking at bikes, because my sisters bike likely isn’t going to handle the riding I want to do. Remember riding your bike as a kid? There was something about it that made you feel independent, free, almost like you were flying. I can remember the first time I tried riding with no hands, I felt like a stunt person from the Bionic Woman. I also remember the time I fell off, and ended up with two large holes in my knees. I spent almost a month trying to get my knee healed, it was a mess and hurt when I did anything (especially if I bent it) My first bike had a banana seat, it was blue, and had a big orange flag attached to it. My second bike I won from the Belgium fair, a red BMX. My third bike was red ten speed. It was super fast, and I rode it everywhere. My fourth bike, is a red “Jeep” mountain bike, complete with shocks and a heavy metal frame. Joe uses that bike now, because it is too heavy for me to do actual mountain biking. (I can lift it, but I choose not to drag it up mountains) So now the search is on for a mountain bike. ( a lightweight) I’ve got a helmet, I just need the bike. Joe’s got the bike, he just needs a helmet!

Talking tough is part of being a police officer. While talking to Shawn Brant about an aboriginal blockade, Fantino said he would “ruin” Brant. Now the NDP want him to step down. Fantino was trying to stop traffic chaos, and possible conflict. The last thing he wants is bloodshed. Actually that is the last thing most people want. Fantino seems to me, to be the type of person that if you pushed him, he is going to push back. He is known as someone who is a stickler for rules, and if he did break the police act, then I am sure we will hear about it. I like one of the comments from the CD 98.9 website, “what is he supposed to do, offer them cookies and milk?” It’s true. There are some instances where you get more if you are nice to a person, but in a “talk” such as this with Brant, if he doesn’t sound tough in protecting our rights, than he may as well have hung up the phone and let them do whatever they want.

When I drive by Lake Erie, or I am out on the boat on Long Point Bay, I often take for granted the fact that we share that water with the U.S. I don’t know about you, but I never really worried about our water being taken by bottled water companies. A report today from the Toronto Star indicates we should be worried. “The pact prohibits the bulk diversion of water from the Great Lakes, but lawyers say it still allows private companies to take water out in containers, as long as they are less than 20 litres in volume. The catch, is that there’s no limit on how many containers a business, such as a major bottler, can take.”
We need to protect Lake Erie, and this is an issue that should be brought to the attention of MP Diane Finley.

I have started running a lot more. Even though I hate it. I mean I really do hate it. Dread it, hate the out of breath feeling, sweating buckets and wishing every second that it was over with. I hate running outside, especially if it is hot.

However I have seen the health benefits of running. It slims you down, and just generally makes you feel better. I can burn (according to the treadmill) 300 calories in 30 minutes of walking and running. I walk 10 minutes (warm-up) and then run for 20 minutes. This week I am going to boost that up to 25 minutes of running. I find the first 10 minutes of running isn’t that bad, it is around the 15 minute mark that I despise it and want to stop. There is something about competing with yourself, seeing how far you can push yourself. My personal trainer (hope that doesn’t sound pretentious, but it really is worth it!) at Final Touch has told me several times that every woman has an inner athlete. One time, after a hard run, personal trainer (P.T) asked why I was pushing myself so hard to the point of pain? I said because the girl beside me was running as well, and I didn’t want it to seem that I wasn’t keeping up. It seems sort of ridiculous now, but at the time, I wanted to see if I could keep up. P.T. told me I should only compete with myself, otherwise I would end up having to have surgery on my knees. She's only half kidding. My knees do ache a bit after a run. So now, I just run, watch t.v, and compete with myself. After all, the whole point is to be the best you can be. Not competing with someone who is 10 years younger and a whole lot skinnier than me.

As you may or may not know, I am not a fan of the hot humid weather. Yesterday, when Joe and I went to fill our propane tank, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. It was so humid, so close, that it felt like the air I was getting was not reaching my lungs. I don’t know about you, but my a/c is on. Perhaps we are becoming too spoiled to not be able to deal with the heat without air conditioning. My grandfather never had a/c in his house, and on hot days like today, he would just limit his activity. He would keep a wet washcloth nearby and

I can remember playing outside on hot days like today, spending most of the time at Deer Creek Dam, or in my friends pool. We would set up sprinklers and run through them. We would cool off in little kiddy wading pools, even though we were too big for them. It would be so hot, we wouldn’t care. I can remember climbing trees with my friend Julie on hot days. It would be smoking hot outside, and yet we still managed to play, ride bikes, and cool off by eating popsicles.

Now that I work in an air conditioned building, have a/c in my truck, and then go home to a/c, I am wondering if I am just too used to being cold, and when I do go out, the heat knocks me out. How are you handling the heat? Got the a/c on?

Does Simcoe need two ice rinks?

The County is looking at saving money, and one way is to take the ice out of the Rec Centre Arena.

However I wonder, what then happens at Talbot? Will there be too many kids, along with adults competing for ice time? Ice time is already at a premium, with many left scrambling trying to get their games on the ice. Not to mentions figure skating classes and public ice time.

I have to agree with callers this morning who stated that Norfolk County should take the ice out of the rec centre arena if it means the possibility of closing an arena in the areas outside of Norfolk. We have to be fair to all residents of Norfolk. For those of you who pay for ice time, and have children in hockey and ice skating, how will the possibility of this ice being removed affect you?

Think back to when you were 16. I was in high school, my dad had bought me a K-car, and I was having fun with my friends. At the time, I thought I knew what the world was about. I was also drinking too much, partying too much, and had low self esteem. I was not an adult. At 16 you are impressionable, you are an easy target to be led astray.

This is where I have a problem with the interrogation and treatment of Omar Khadr. A 16 year old from Canada, who was arrested by CSIS in 2003, was taken to Guantanamo Bay for interrogation. CSIS wanted to know more from Khadr about Osama Bin Laden and and al Qaeda. His father, Ahmed Said Khadr, was a vocal supporter and financier for al-Qaeda. He died in 2003. The younger Khadr is also accused of murdering a U.S Soldier. Now in fairness to CSIS, there is no known physical abuse to Khadr. However if you watch the videotape, it is clear he is scared, and is alone. He is shown crying. He is still considered a minor and should not have been kept at Guantanamo Bay. I know there is a lot of discussion about minors and the law. There will be those who agree with his treatment. He was accused of murder at the time, and the government wanted information from him, quite possibly information that could have stopped terrorist activities. But at the same time, you and I both know that when we were 16, our decision making ability is not the same as what it is as an adult. This boy was brought up in a household that was headed by a man that allegedly supported terrorist activities. We have no idea how long he has been told what to believe. I strongly believe if this was a 16 year old girl, a stop at Guantanamo Bay would not have happened. A 16 year old girl would have been brought back to Canada. There are international laws in regards to this case, but for the past 5 years, this young man has been sitting in prison. The Canadian government should be doing more to bring this young man home. He is now 21.

understand why rules are in place to keep signs, decorations and even flags of off apartment buildings balconies. At my aunts apartment building, you are not allowed to have bar-b-q’s (smoke will go into the neighbours balcony) however you can hang Christmas lights out. One lady leaves her lights out year round. Mark Murray of Cardinal, Ontario has had to take his flag down, because it violates his apartment rules. Murray is a war veteren. So what should be done? Do you agree that the rules should be followed? Or should we be allowed to fly our Canadian flags, no matter where we are in Canada? We had calls from both sides this morning on CD 98.9. Tom said the rules need to be followed, while Robert told us that we should support this man and support our country. I don’t understand why there would be a rule about flying flags on apartment buildings. I would rather see someone flying it properly than using it as a curtain. The rules are in place to stop clutter, but at the same time, this man is likely paying between 400-800 dollars a month for this apartment. This is his home. He wants to show his pride and support of our country.

The beauty of Algonquin Park absolutely stunned me. I felt like we were in Cape Breton, with the trees, water and mountains. It was so lovely that I booked another trip for Thanksgiving weekend. Joe and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary in October, so we thought a trip to Algoniquin when it is quiet would be nice. I also told Joe to make sure he jumps on the treadmill and does the mountain walks because the plan is to do a 10k difficult rated hike on our 10th anniversary. For the first time, I went on a mountain biking trip, on an actual mountain. I screamed all the way down, nearly falling off 4 times, and each time screaming, and then saying to Joe, Robin, and Matthew—”It’s ok, I’m ok!” The adrenaline rush was great! We went on a 5 k hike, which took 2 hours because it was up and down and muddy. However it too was great, just too many bugs. I've never been that deep in the forest before. We saw moose tracks the size both of my hands put together. I had a lot of fun in Algonquin, and I think along with the well kept park, (great showers, clean bathrooms, quiet well spaced out campgrounds) it just cemented the fact that I want to see more of Ontario.

Big Families

Over the weekend Angelina Jolie gave birth to twins. (Knox and Vivienne-cute names) She now has 5? children. That is a lot nowadays. On the weekend, Steve&Trish Sabourin stopped by my house to say hi! They were on there way to Long Point camping. They had little Mary and Paul with them. I joked around with Trish and said "when you have 5 kids..." to which she replied, "nope, it is way too expensive." And you know what, I wonder how people who aren't rich could have a big family. You look at the show Jon&Kate plus 8 and think of the enormous cost associated with having a big family. Big families are going out the way having a family supper is. It rarely happens, only once in a while. Did you come from a big family? In my immediate family, we have 6 (including mom and dad)

I have to say I am a bit shocked about the verdict in the Vandenbussche case. I wonder what sort of precedent this sets. Our local OPP are sent out to do a job and protect the public. By dismissing the charges it opens a door for violence against officers if you have a medical excuse. I don’t know what else to say except that I want to hear what you have to say. It just doesn’t seem right to me. Does it to you?

I am riding down the 401 just outside of toronto and can’t wait to get home. I miss my dog! Joe and I had a great time at Algonquin. The Gilbert’s and Deseranno’s had fun too. We went to the dump to try and see bears but there was a family there with a bunch of kids who were making too much noise for anything to come out of the woods. So that was a letdown but the park is amazing and I will tell you tomorrow what animals I did see. Right now I am typing this with my thumbs on my blackberry and my hands are really sore from mountainbiking and canoeing!