The Great Miriam Makeba

I had the profound privilege of seeing this great woman perform with Harry Belafonte way back in the 70s. A courageous champion for South Africa and a brilliant musician. May her memory be forever a blessing!

My Anniversary Issue!

Today is an anniversary, of sorts.  Around this time last year, I began this exercise in idiocy that has become known the world over (ok-maybe just in my small corner of it!) as Dawn Ponders. On November 5th 2007, I decided to write a short Facebook note describing the impending chaos of our kitchen renovation.  (If anyone is interested in those early posts, they can be found in the archives on this site and the pictures are in the file Kitchen Renovation 2007.) The initial impetus in starting the Kitchen Reno blog was to keep my parents, who had already made their snowbird flight to Florida, up to date on the progress.  Facebook was an easy way of posting the pictures and writing a quick blurb.  Never in my wildest dreams did I suspect that others were lurking and reading the posts and keeping abreast on my kitchen progress.  I was stunned to receive comments from friends and their friends asking me for more.  As the project wound down to its natural conclusion, I figured that my scribbling days had come to an end. But, something strange happened on my way to writing retirement.  I found that I missed it.  And so, I started up again and have kept it going ever since.  I don't expect anyone to read it (although I am truly gratified that you do!) and I certainly don't expect everyone to agree with my ranting. (I love that we all have differing opinions, and I love the debate and dissent.) This is my space and these are my thoughts alone, but the feedback has been eye-opening and gratifying.  So, on this my anniversary, I thought that I might share with you my random thoughts on blogging and my tentative sticking of the toe into the water of the blogosphere. 

• My sister-in-law, the political science professor, has described blogging as a giant sociology experiment, sort of like a giant virtual time capsule.  On any given day and at any given time on that specific day, millions of people around the world are expressing their views, thoughts, dreams and disdain on a whole host of issues.  We can read about parenting problems, political and social issues, humour and maybe a kitchen renovation or two. It is a slice of life that cuts across oceans, socio-economic and racial lines, sex and age. It has been truly fascinating to venture into this world and peek into people's living rooms, kitchens, backyards and read what is on their minds.  There are some very talented people out there and some very scary ones as well.
• Unless I personally know the blogger, I never post a comment.  This is an extension of my own shyness, and I cannot understand speaking, even virtually, to a total stranger.  I admire those who can, but it is not me.  On the other hand, I have become a rabid lurker, a sort of legalized peeping tom.  I am fascinated by what is out there.  
• There are some very famous bloggers out there who make very substantial livings through their blogs.  Some have book deals, some have become attractive for advertisers, some have set up virtual stores on their sites and some have made their way to the mainstream media. This is most definitely not me, but I am so in awe of these people. They have found a new medium to build careers upon.
• If there was any doubt left in my mind that this is the new wave of communication, it has been put to rest.  I absolutely believe that we are witnessing the final days of the printed media.  In the next 10-20 years, (and that is generous!!) it is my belief that all of our written media- newspapers and magazines- will be online exclusively. The print guys simply cannot keep up with the instantaneous nature of the internet and they are putting more and more of their resources into their online sites.  Most newspapers have blog sites of their own!  Save a tree, read online.
• You have no idea how techno-savvy I have become.  I can now upload, download and create slideshows, movies and add music.  I understand more about my computer than I ever have before.  I think that this new side of my personality is a serious turn-on for The Husband.

There are some rules that I have learned to follow while blogging. (These are the rules according to Dawn and should not be misinterpreted as blogging-gospel!)

1. Use a pseudonym whenever possible.  While many of you personally know The Husband and the Progeny, I would never think of putting their actual names out there for the world to see.  I think that some semblance of privacy needs respecting and frankly, I am not certain that they would speak to me again.  Many many bloggers would disagree with me and state that the intimacy of putting themselves and their loved ones out in the forefront is what makes their blogs work.  I need the veil of anonymity and it works for me.
2. Always be careful to credit other people's work.  The internet is easy to steal from, but it is still stealing.  If I use another site, music or words, at the very least it should be credited and linked.  I personally know the pain of being ripped off.  Years ago, I attended a kiddie Channukah party with a young teacher who was passing off one of my songs as her own.  While somewhat flattered, I felt a flash of hostility that I was being usurped. Intellectual property is still property.
3. Too personal is uncomfortable.  Nobody really wants to read about certain things and I am certain that you all can figure out what they are without me labeling them.  
4. Trust is important.  My friends and family need to know that they can talk to me without fear of it ending up on the blog. With one notable exception, (which was quickly rectified!) I think that I have managed to walk that line. The stories that you all get here are the PG versions and they are usually about me and my ineptitude, with a bit of The Husband thrown in for good measure. (He loves me, so he is somewhat tolerant of this nonsense!)
   

I want to thank all of you who have visited, read, commented, lurked, dissented or merely just tolerated me while I have experimented with this new side of my personality.  I have found that since I don't drink or do the wacky weed, (believe me both have been suggested on numerous occasions!) this blog has become my outlet.  It is definitely cheaper than therapy. And now--onto year 2!!

Germ Phobic and Still Sick!!

We have a quaint little custom in our synagogue whereby at the conclusion of the service, everybody joins hands and lifts voices collectively in the recitation of the Motzi, the prayer before we break bread. As much as I love the connectivity of the community, I hate this little exercise in germ warfare. It is a proven fact that most viruses are passed on by simple person-to-person contact, and frankly, I don't always know where those hands have been. I have always thought that a dab of Purell should be required before we link around the room. At the height of the SARS crisis here in the GTA, we temporarily suspended our practice and grabbed forearms instead. I felt much better knowing that those insidious little buggers didn't have as much chance for survival on people's clothing as they did on the warm host of the human flesh. But, while the grabbing of forearms may provide for some fraternal bonding, it does not provide for the true human contact that people crave, and so we have resumed the joining of hands. I love the idea of the practice, I just hate the practice of the idea!

You see, I am extremely susceptible to the rhinovirus, also know as the common cold. I always have been. As a kid, I was sick at a minimum of 4 or 5 times during the school year. If it was going around, I caught it! It got so that I knew with the first scratch and itch of the throat that something was coming, and it was never easy. The watery eyes, congestion in the nose that inevitably found the chest, fever, chills--the whole enchilada! I learned to live with constant tissues falling out of my sleeves or pockets, and Vicks Vapo-Rub on my pajamas and sheets.

In my first year of marriage, I was afflicted with pneumonia, and was sidelined for weeks. The coughing was so severe that I cracked a rib, and the husband sent me to his doctor for a narcotic so that HE could sleep. (Never again. I was so loopy that I don't remember much of that time. I could have stripped naked and danced on the roof and not known about it. Maybe I did and that is why the neighbours were so odd for weeks after!) The residual effect of that illness was adult onset asthma. I have suffered with it ever since, and as such, the common cold has become much more of a hardship. The effects linger in my chest for weeks, and in my line of work, I can ill afford the brutality that the hacking and coughing inflicts.

And so, as I grew older and wiser, I learned how to better wage the preemptive battles. I learned to eat better and I tried to sleep better, though not always successfully. I took up exercise and found that it boosted my immune system, even while it caused aches and pains of a different sort. I became a freak about hand washing and I taught my boys the same. If anyone brought home a bug that was better left elsewhere, we washed and scrubbed and took great care with communal surfaces. It didn't always work, but it reduced my sick days markedly. I carry around hand sanitizer in my purse for the emergency situations like the Motzi and I avoid the sick people like the plague. (pun absolutely intended!) Nothing is foolproof however, or even Dawn-proof (some might argue that these are one and the same!) and so, today I find myself wheezing, dripping and coughing. (The only comfort I take from this fact is that my Kol Isha colleagues are ALL wheezing, dripping and coughing as well!! Now I know where it came from!) Since we all have two weeks until the concert to recover, the old adage of "timing is everything" could never have been more apropos.

So, here I sit with my green tea, "blankie", foot duvets (these are fantastic--find them at Restoration Hardware!!), tissues, hot water bottle and Vicks Vapo-Rub staining my pajamas in an effort to be well enough to sing this weekend at Shabbat services, a B'nai Mitzvah and a wedding! No rest for the weary, I suppose. I do know one thing. I will NOT be joining hands for the Motzi. I refuse to pass this misery on to anyone else.

Shabbat Shalom to all who observe.

The Sun Also Rises

There is so much to be awed by, touched by, mesmerized by and captivated by on this the day after. My cynical half is wrestling with my etherial half.  I want to bask in the glow of sanity returning to the world.  I want to relish the historical magnitude of the moment.  I want to shade my vision with rose-coloured specs, but I find reality invading at every turn.  Please do not misunderstand me.  I am beyond thrilled at the events of the past 24 hours.  I was personally drawn into the pure universality of the moment, when I found myself texting my Viet Nam- traveling parents electoral college updates so that they might in turn, keep their tour companions informed of the doings back home.  They were starved for information and when Ohio turned deep blue, I could almost hear 20 North Americans scream in joy from Ho Chi Minh City.  It is just that I know that in spite of the results of last evening, there is still a long way to go.  My progressive nature will not let me forget the battles for equality that were waged and lost yesterday.

The state of California passed Proposition 8 by the narrowest of margins.  This initiative will overturn the legalization of gay marriage in the state and will entrench a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Arkansas saw the approval of a ballot initiative that will prohibit same-sex couples and unmarried straight couples from adopting and Florida and Arizona approved marriage protection amendments that, in Florida, defines marriage as a bond between straight couples and renders invalid any other union that is "treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent." In other words, they have effectively eliminated any hope of even a civil union surviving in the state. Colorado citizens had the great sense to reject granting personhood to the unborn fetus, but they are very close to banning affirmative action.   

While a tremendous blow for equality was struck yesterday, there is still a segment of the population that society deems acceptable to marginalize.  Until all people are given equal rights and equal protection irregardless of race, creed, religion, sex or sexual orientation we cannot truly bask in the full glow of Mr. Obama's magnificent victory.  I am fortunate to live in a country where the issues of gay marriage and women's reproductive rights have been rightly consigned to the dustbins of history. Among my many hopes for an Obama administration is that my American brethren will come to understand the true empowerment of equalization for all.  And, while I want it to happen all at once, I take tremendous comfort in the enormous leap forward that was made yesterday.  

Baruch atah Adonai,

Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam

Shecheyanu, vikimanu, vi-higianu

Lazman Hazeh!!

Blessed are You

Adonai our God

Ruler of the Universe

Who has given us life

Sustained us

And enabled us to reach this day!

Amen!! 

Waiting for the Morning After

I don't do suspense well.  I hate movies that put the audience through the ringer, simply because they have as their goal a massive payoff at the end. (Mood music sucks!!)

I hate surprises.  I am anal retentive and methodical, hence I appreciate order, uniformity, regularity and routine.  I have suffered through only one surprise birthday party in my lifetime (my 18th) and I was thankful to have been felled by the flu, so that I did not have to feign shock.  

Fifteen years ago, I was fortunate enough to have attended a couple of World Series games involving my beloved Blue Jays.  I was grateful that they were early in the series, so that I didn't have to sit on shpilkis while my team battled for the championship against the Phillies. I had just arrived home from an evening at the theatre,  when Joe Carter hit his now famous home run. The husband and I managed to view the final inning without any of the suspense that preceded it.  I recently watched the entire final game on ESPN Classic, and I must say that it was very satisfying to view when the outcome was known and no longer in doubt. 

So it is with knotted stomach and lumpy throat, that I sit here in anticipation of the polls closing.  I am allowing my imagination to run wild.  I am concocting scenarios whereby we might witness another tarnished election.  I am watching CNN with the sound muted because I cannot take one more story about voting problems and broken machines.  I am avoiding all talk of exit polls and voter fraud.  I just want to know the inevitability.  I want to know the winner and I want the winner to be.......well, guess!!!

Some Random Pre-Election Thoughts

I realize that I am a dumb Canuck and have no real legitimacy to comment on the day of historic proportions that awaits, but I have been pondering some of the outright lunacy that surrounds the American political system. Call it a Stop the Stupid for the 2008 election season.

1. Why is it that every state cannot harmonize their voting processes? One would have thought that after the debacle of 2000 that introduced the world to the existence of a hanging chad, that the federal government would have passed a law that demanded uniformity amongst the states, at least in the cases of federal elections. I find it absolutely appalling that what might work well in Nevada, contravenes law in Florida. (Don't yell at me for ambiguity, these were just examples!!) Ohio, which has been a bastion for voting issues over the years, is operating under a new system for the third time in three elections. I realize that the ballots are about far more than the election of the president. They are crammed with House races, Senate races, Gubernatorial races, sometimes state house races, judges, sheriffs, Attorneys General and a whole host of ridiculous ballot initiatives. All the more reason to properly and accurately count each and every ballot with a uniform system that can be traced, retraced and backed up!! I understand that special interests on both sides of the aisle have interfered with a coherent election system, but this nonsense affects both parties equally and the untold millions that have been spent on band-aid solutions, should be an embarrassment to the American people. Come on, folks! It is time to practice what you preach to the rest of the world and hold an election that is totally democratic and above board. Harmonize the voting booths.

2. And while I am on the subject, what is wrong with a piece of paper and a number 2 pencil? That is how we do it in the north hinterland, and we don't have many problems. Simply go into the voting booth with a piece of paper that lists the candidates and mark a big fat X next to the name you choose. Sounds simple, doesn't it?  There is a paper trail that follows the vote and there is no doubt as to the veracity of the ballot.  If the argument against the paper ballot is that it takes too long to count, I cannot concur.  We here in the Great White North seem to always know the victors within a few hours of the polls closing.  Now I realize that you have a lot more people voting then do we, but that also means that you must have more volunteers, scrutinizers and paid employees to count the votes.  Trust me! Sometimes the simplest solution is the best solution.

3. There are thoughts that my friends to the south could be facing a record turn-out tomorrow. Fantastic, except if you happen to be stuck in one of those three hour lines.  Early voting has certainly helped to alleviate some of the expected congestion, but there are only a handful of states that permit early polls.  Again, there is an issue with harmonization. It is every citizen's constitutional right to vote and most workers should be provided with a window of time during the day to actually get out and exercise that right.  But, it seems to me that if numbers are a problem (and a nice problem to have, since we up here only managed to drag 58% to the polls) the idea of making election day a holiday has some merit.  For God sakes, you have holidays that celebrate dead presidents, why not have a holiday that celebrates a live one?  Maybe voting days should be shifted to Saturday and Sunday so as to maximize the turnout.  Whatever the solution, the disenfranchising of any voter should not be tolerated on any level, and it should be incumbent on the states to make the process user-friendly.

4. Which leads me to the voter lists and rolls.  New laws in many states, (Indiana are you listening?) are being enforced that will demand proper ID at the polls.  While fraud is of major concern, the type of photo ID that is required is sketchy at best.  Driver's licenses are now required in many places to prove identity.  The problem is that 1 in 4 African-Americans do not hold a driver's license.  Many people of a certain age have no further need of a driver's license. Many people cannot afford to drive a car, so getting a license has been on the back-burner. While it is my hope that other forms of ID might be accepted, the laws have become increasingly picayune, and many people may find obstacles to voting.  There are solutions to these issues, but once again each state is different and research needs to be done to find out how best to exercise the right to vote.  Allow me a bit of a personal anecdote. Since Canada was dragged kicking and screaming to polls for the third time in six years, many new voters were not on the previous voter lists.  Younger Son, having just reached age of majority was one of these new voters.  No problem.  On election day, he simply walked into the poll in our riding and presented the Elections Canada wonks with his photo ID and proof of residence. (He does possess a driver's license, but they would have accepted a passport, health card or university student card!)  He was immediately placed on the list and allowed to vote.  Older Son cast his ballot from his new address for the first time.  All that was required was ID and proof of residence. (In his case, a Hydro bill with his name on it was sufficient!) Voting made simpler, not stupider.  

5. Here in Canada, no electioneering is permitted on election day.  No rallies, no ads, no dirty tricks like putting up flyers with false election dates.  NO POLITICKING ALLOWED ON ELECTION DAY.  On election day here last month, I entered the polls wearing my Barack Obama button. I was approached and asked if I was making a political statement. I responded I absolutely was, but not one that was relevant to the Canadian election. The only reason I was permitted to keep it, was because it didn't support or bash one of our parties. You all should consider this hiatus.  It is a true breath of fresh air after the stench of muckraking.  

6. After the election is over, there should be a moratorium on 2012 speculation, at least until after the 2010 midterms.  Give the poor bastard a chance to govern.  Not only that, think of the money that will be saved.  Every political reporter should be on vacay until the inauguration. Enough already.  The world is screaming "UNCLE" in unison. 

That's it!  Enjoy the drama, the comedy and the absurdity.  I hope that on Wednesday, we can all collectively breath and know that we witnessed the truly historic.  

Nice Jewish Girls Do Not Eat Bambi!!

Sometimes there are perks in being the wife of a whisky widow.  Since I have absolutely no use for the free booze that might come my way, nor have I seen the monetary fruits of the Husband's and his Twin Son's labours (yet!!), I must content myself with whatever meagre crumbs are dropped under the table.  So, it was with eager anticipation and a fair amount of goofy-grinning excitement, that the Husband, the Twin Son, his Better Half and yours truly headed out to the horse country of Ontario to a lovely little place called The Millcroft Inn and Spa. The gruesome twosome of the whisky world had been invited to show their wares at the Inn at a fancy schmancy whisky tasting and gourmet dinner.  As part of the experience and as a reward for shlepping the bottles, the boys were graced with complimentary rooms and meals for 4. (It was nice of them to invite their wives, wasn't it?) On a cool and crisp All Saints Day, we headed into an area of the province that is still worthy of the word quaint, and has yet to be invaded by strip malls and big-box stores.  If we had been two weeks earlier, we would have been blessed with the magnificent colours of autumn, but I have no complaints about the true beauty of this place. The rooms were beautiful, spacious and wonderfully appointed and the grounds, complete with the requisite waterfall, were truly stunning.  

After a trek around the grounds and the requisite nosh and drink before dinner, we made our way down into the bowels of the Inn to set up for the whisky tasting.  The guys came complete with 5 (yes that is 5) different scotches from 5 very different distilleries. (This is what they tell me.  Honestly- and I realize that this is somewhat blasphemous-it all tastes like paint thinner to me!) The idea for the evening was that the chef would pair each of his courses for the dinner with one of the whiskies.  Well, this disgustingly creative man, went one step further.  He actually used each scotch in the recipes for dinner.  

Now, before I venture further into this description, I should warn you all that I have the palate sophistication of a gnat.  I have various food sensitivities that have dulled my appreciation for fine dining, and I am truly hesitant to try new dishes simply because of my fear of bloating and other hidden adventures into a gastrointestinal wonderland.  In other words, the menu scared the shit out of me and I was extremely hesitant to venture forth and sample.  Not only that, but there was a great deal of treyf on this menu. You would have thought that with last names like ours, the kitchen staff might have discerned that Whisky Brined Pork Belly topped with Truffled Quail Egg and Frisee Salad was not in keeping with our ancestral heritage.  It didn't seem to matter one whit to the patrons who shelled out $150.00 a plate for dinner and scotch, and my three dinner companions were way more into the experience than was I. I give each of them huge props, because there was absolutely no way that I was going to venture forth and gnaw on Bambi's mom!! Yes, the main course was deer, otherwise known as venison. I think that they call it venison because if it was called deer, nobody would eat it!  The audacity of eating a cute and furry woodland creature straight out of a Disney movie was enormous. NOT HAPPENING ON MY PLATE!!!  I instantly and automatically became a vegetarian for the evening.  I made every attempt to smile and nod throughout the evening at the wonders of the culinary creations put before me, but I was truly thrilled with my tomato salad and my pearl barley entree.  The food was delicious and the reviews from all present were exceptional.  The chef did a masterful job pairing the courses with the spirit and dessert alone was worth the drive.  I should also note that the guys were really on their game.  They spoke with authority on their whiskies and they were smart and self-deprecating.  The diners were novices that were very interested in learning and most, if not all, wanted to buy something. (The holidays are coming-have you all checked out whiskyworks.ca?) The staff was gracious and hopeful of another Premium Bottlers evening. I, on the other hand, was thrilled with the 24 hour hiatus.  I would gladly go back and pay for the privilege.  The spa looks glorious and if there was more time, I would have parked myself on the massage table.  My only caveat is that I really do not want to eat anything that I see on my walks around the grounds.