I find it very hard to shop for my father. Christmas always reminds me of how little I know him.
I have found books that I think he might enjoy but he doesn't really have the time to read them.
I have thought of classes to sign him up for but again, he doesn't have enough time.
Does anyone have any suggestions? What do you get a guy who has no time?
I actually have a great idea but I'm afraid of turning him into a spy freak...

later today...

and on the subject of gifts...
it's D's birthday today and I'm really hoping he likes his gift. I figured it was the last thing he would spring to buy for himself - which is a hard thing to find...

now for me.... what would I like for Christmas you ask?
hmmmmmm, world peace, a master's degree, time, happiness, a home of my own, a feeling I'm making a difference, the ability to fly, a singing voice, crazy bread, flexibility (both mental and physical), ahhhh, the list is endless....

pregnancy....

It must be hard... really hard.
A friend of mine just had a baby - 3 months ago. She is someone who (unlike me) keeps everything around her under control. It's phenomenal really, how much time she will devote to this.
I only marvel at this behaviour because it's the complete opposite of me.

Nevertheless, perhaps it is a wise idea to always think of the worst scenario and you will always be pleasantly surprised.

later...
speaking of worst scenarios,

I just called one of my bosses and the first thing he said after I told him who was calling was
"OH GOD, What-did-i-do-wrong?!?!"

I have a sneaking suspision he was making fun of me...

The coffee house last night was amazing. It was very powerful to be in such a silent room, listening to women speak about their lives and their concern for the lives of other women. A women from our Vagina Monologues group read My Vagina was a Village. She started to cry half-way through the reading. I was crying before she even started.

What was even more incredible to me was the impact we (I mean women who gather together and speak about our rights and experiences, aka feminists) have had on a particular man here in Victoria.
He likes to come to every "feminist" gathering to intimidate anyone who participates. He stood outside the cafe and asked women as they walked by,
"Hey, you're good-looking, are you single?"
This is a BIG man. He does not ask this question in an inviting way either.
When I first saw him I thought the organizers of the event had hired security. I was quite confused for I had asked him to exuse me while I tried to move some heavy speakers into the building. He glared at me and wouldn't let me pass easily. I figured out quickly that he wasn't a welcome presence there.

Curious and disturbing isn't it? What exactly is he tring to prove? What happens when he feels that he isn't getting his point across? Does he try to be even more intimidating? Violent?

I drove the van to a legal parking spot and walked back to the cafe. I walked through two prostitute areas and passed one strip bar. Each place I passed I was approached either by a car which had slowed down to talk to me or by a bunch of guys gathered around having a cigarette.
Being approached isn't the crazy part. I wasn't frightened by any of these guys - although perhaps I should have been.
Yet, when I was approached by this man standing outside the cafe, it was different. He wasn't interested in my availability at all. He was interested in making me feel small and powerless. It worked for a second, I wasn't expecting it. I was there for a welcoming, accepting gathering of concerned people.
I'll know that the next time I see him, it won't work. But I'm glad that I was surprised, that I didn't expect it. It's not normal in my world to be attacked for what I believe in.
I appreciate that.

I don't have to get to work until noon today.
ahhhhh, the joys of sleeping in until the light is actually streaming in your window!
I'm getting really sick of waking up in the dark, dressing in the dark (because if I turn on the light the neighbours will see - sheer/useless curtains...),
catching the bus in the dark, entering the bookstore in the dark, walking out of the bookstore in the dark, walking home in the dark, and going to bed in the dark.
The only daylight I see these days is out the skylight and the occational survival walk on campus to keep me sane.

and just to whine about one more thing.... we have NO SNOW!!!!!!

argh, what's so strategic about that?