Our Canadian Prime Minister is a moron!! We have a moron for a Prime Minister. Let me say that again. Stephen Harper is a moron! Our brilliant Prime Minister has gone to the APEC meeting to represent our lovely country. What does the idiot do while OUT of our country! He bashes the Liberals.

 

Now bashing the Libs on our own turf is one thing. I'm all for free speech and the such. I'm all for a good Libs bashing--me being a Green and all! But to use an International forum to take on the Liberals is unacceptable. You keep our dirty laundry in our house. You don't air it on a world stage.

 

I think Harper is going to go down as the dullest and most moronic Prime Minister in Canadian History. Even Mulroney will have more popularity than Harper.

 

 

So the last time I was in China I loved it. I loved it because I was treated like a rockstar. Who doesn't love to be treated like a rockstar!!. However, this time around I am finding the adjustment to being treated well much more difficult. I think it's much more difficult this time becase we have someone in our house. We have a nanny/house keeper. Commonly called here the Ayi.

 

Now  we did have a Nanny for Bailey in Toronto. It was an afterschool nanny. She was great until we enrolled her in the afterschool program. It was expensive yet ideal for the short fix we needed her for. This one is a slightly different and def cheaper. We hired a Philipino lady to come into the house to clean and organize the appartment, to watch Bailey, and to cook for us--and we pay about 400$CND a month for this. We are paying much more than the average expat for this service but she is older--which works for Bay--speaks english well and comes with great referrences.

 

What is weird for me is not having access to my kitchen when I come home. It's weird to be served your dinner that you didn't prepare. Although I think the hardest thing is being called Sir/Mom(ma'am). Today before she left she applogized--"sorry Mom(ma'am--haven't figured out which she is saying) I forgot to mop the floor--let me get that before I go".....so weird I tell you!! Weird!!

 

I like it a little too much though!

 Well folks, it's been a swirly, wirly, fun dazzle time since our arrival in Shanghai! We arrived on Tuesday August 14th and I started back to work on the 15th. My first couple of days of work was just getting settled in to the new job and tour of the Hongqiao campus.

 

The Hongqiao campus of the Soong Ching Ling Kindergarten is a beautiful, smaller campus of the two. It is small but very cosy and very convienient for us foreign workers. I live about a 15 minute walk from the school. It has a beautiful grounds with walking open hallways surrounded by gardens. There is a fish pond with Koi's(sp??) and lilly pads and the whole bit. They have a pool on this campus and a little mini track for rollerblading. All this for kids 2-6 years old!!

 

My campus, the Qingpu Campus(although it's not in Qingpu but in another district but it is often called the Qingpu campus) is massive in size and beautiful beyond words! We have to take a bus every morning to get there. I walk to the Hongqiao campus and catch the bus at 7:20am to arrive at the school for 8am. The ride isn't too bad, it's on the highway so no crazy taxi drivers or scooters all over the place. When you drive up to the school grounds you have to pass through this beautiful yet very super rich neighbourhood. They have huge houses--very much like the $500 000 and up homes back in Canada--which are gated. You pull up to this grand building which is very palace like. I would compare it to a small Thai palace with it's white and red brick and tiling. The grounds are lush with gardens and play ground areas. On the outter limits of the school ground are canals that throughout the day little ships go up and down carrying items. They have a clay ground area--where they do these clay acativities. They have this massive room that is call the skylight room. It's a dome with stars and clouds and all neat things. They have a music room that has individual piano rooms and they have a dance studio and a little kitchen so they can cook. It is a very kid friendly building, however it's also very large. If I was a child I'd be very frightened by the size and magnatude of it all. I will be taking pictures of the campus on Monday so you all can see what I'm talking about. All this, again, for 2- 6 year olds!!

 

My first week at the school has had me doing all sorts of things, like getting the boards decorated, the classroom ready for the students and just exploring the building. I think I'm going to like working here.

 

Peter starts his job training on Monday. Bailey and him have been exploring the city a bit. They have found some great shoping areas and got Bailey signed up for Mandarin lessons. She starts intensive training on Monday. She also has an Ayi that will be watching her while she does independent projects for me. She'll also be signed up for some Hip hop/funk dance lessons and possibly some art lessons. She's going to have so much fun doing lots of things she likes.

 

She has adjusted well to the new surrounding. She's going to come back spoiled!!

 

Alright....we're off to Cirque today and then off to explore the city a bit. We might even end up in a 50rmb all you can drink bar tonite--child in tow. I love this country...hahahaha you don't pay for things up front, they don't have credit here and 50rmb all you can drink bars--which is about $7 Canadian---you just can't get better than that!! hahahaha

 

Alright more stories and pics to follow as we settle into China!!

Ola folks,

 

So I am back in China. This time I'm in Shanghai, and with my partner and child. I am using MSN Spaces again because for some reason my flickr account won't allow me to upload pics or it's the slow internet connection here for now. Anyways....loving the city. We're in Hongqiao area, way out in the 'sticks' if you can call it that. It's not really the sticks persay, it's the former expat area now a nice mix of both Chinese and Expat population.

 

So for your viewing pleasure--my pics of us on the plane and a few days here and there around Shanghai!!

 

Enjoy!!

 

I have created a second site. I'm tired of the way things have been run here on this Live Spaces. I have no loyalty to this site. Well that's not true but I tell you I'm sooo irking mad at all the bugs I've got a second site.

 

On the second site I've copied some of my greater posts, and I will be adding things to that site more and more, instead of here.

 

You can find it at http://redsneef.blogspot.com

 

Enjoy folks!

Seriously, you would think that Window's Live Spaces would have fixed the bugs in this lovely site before going public. I've had nothing but problems getting signed in, linking to this site and editing this site since the change over. I don't even like the layout. They've messed with my stuff. I am considering moving the site to MySpace or Blogger or Flikr. All I know is right now I'm very angry at this site.

 

People are going to say why trust a Bill Gates program. Lately I've been questioning this too but I can't help but like the guy. His Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a great organization but his company is being a big ol' pain in the ass right now with this Window's Live Spaces kafuffle.

It is official. Only 3 more shifts at Transitions for Youth and I shall be done forever with the agency. Not that I have not enjoyed my time there, I just think I am getting out at a time when a change over in staff is about to occur. I think most of the staff are tired of the way things are run and are looking else where. Such is with management. Everyone complains of the way things are run yet don't step up to the plate to initiate the change. I would have considered stepping up to the plate but I don't have an invested interest in the agency as I was only ever relief.

 

The awesome thing is I'm about to embark on a wicked job in a few weeks. I'm excited about it, and will be I suppose for the next three years. Pete and I have a plan. There is the staying stable for 3 years plan. We signed a two year lease with our landlord to be. At the end of 2008 or mid 2009 we will be heading to sights unknown. Probably heading into Korea or Taiwan.

 

I'm looking forward to the changes afoot. Should be a grand ol' time!

 

**EDITed as per Pete's request** Babe let me know when I can let the cat out of the bag!!

I just read that they are taking bets on how long it will take Fidel to die. A gambling site has taken to getting bets from the Miami population on Fidels death. How rude and vile. Yes I know Fidel has had some human right violations yet the argument can be made that he also cares enough to take care of his countrymen. Either way I just think it's right down rude to be taking bets on how long it will take an ailing man to die.

 

Oh where oh where did my very first post go? Why are all my posts prior to August 2004 all gone?? ohhhh wait.....is that when I first started posting?? let me check it out some more...could be a correction on the way!

 

Correction...they're there but until MSN Spaces works out the bugs I can't do that whole archiving of my blogs so that I don't loose them

 

 

Chavez as gone and made the US mighty pissed. Well I wouldn't say pissed but annoyed if anything. Chavez has agreed to work with Cuba during the transitional phase. Cuba has recieved some support through other countries like Venuzuela, Vietnam and China. This goes along with my thoughts on China and their standing back during this middle east crisis. Oh interesting times are afoot folks interesting times indeed!

This is my second attempt at writing this post.

 

I'm glad to see that the Cons are considering coming down hard on sex offenders. This comes as the two boys who were kidnapped by Peter Whitmore were found well and alive. He was charged yet again with sexual assault against these two boys. It also comes on the heels of a Catholic Priest who plead guilty to sexually molesting 47 girls throughout 34 years.

 

This is one of the only times that the Conservatives and I see eye to eye on an issue. As many of my readers know I've always advocated and voiced my discontent with the current law as it pertains to sex offenders. If this were to happen it would also be the only time that Vic Toews and I would agree. However, I have a hard time believing that this will happen as the Cons are currently trying to do a media spin to their falling support throughout the country. Their stance on issues in the Middle East has divided many people in this country as Canada generally likes to take the fence on international issues. Such is the case with us....we're a bunch of fence sitters.

 

Lets see if I get this posted

I should really just stop reading the news. Every other news article points to one war or another. Ethiopia is at war with Somalia, the US is at war with Afghanistan and Iraq, Lebanon and Isreal are at war, there is East Timor unrest and now I've just read there is a civil war in full force in Sri Lanka. What is this world coming too? Are we headed for an all out war again? I thought the United Nations was created to prevent an all out war. It appears that we are very much headed for a full out world war. This time it is a war of the "west" versus "islam".

 

My only concern at the present moment is where is China and the rest of Asia in this? The all seem to be very quiet while the US and Europe tackle what they percieve as threats. China does appear to be a bit concerned about North Korea but at the same time they're not pushing to stop them either. I wonder if they are going to sit by and wait until the world comes to a full out war than just sweep in and clear out everything. Seeing as they're grooming to be the next super power.

 

Ohhh Veronica will you stop with your conspiracy thoughts. Hahaha

 

On the brighter side of things, it's going all very well in my world. Peter and I are going to be moving into our home in about 28 days. This is very exciting news. I get to start my life with my partner, my baby girl is excited about moving to Toronto and having another person that cares for her, and I have a wicked job to look forward to.

 

The only question is with the state the world is in where oh where am I going to travel to this March break. I think South America seems to look like a good place, no signs of unsettling movements. Panama looks nice

As many of my readers know I have been very honest on how I think sex offences should be dealt with in the court system. I have always been of the belief that sex offenders, especially serial sex offenders, should be dealt with the same manner as that of a person who commits murder. Yet the laws of this land do not see it that way.

 

This whole belief is reinforced yet again with the latest Amber Alert. A 10 year old boy from Saskatchewan, Zachary Miller, was abducted by a known pedophile. This man has been convicted numerous times for his crimes against children. Peter Whitmore is his name, and apparently he has spent a few times in jail for his sexual fascination with children.

In 1993, he was convicted of abduction and five sexual offences involving four young boys in Toronto. He spent a year and four months in custody.

Nine days after his release he took an eight-year-old girl from Guelph, Ont., to Toronto and was sentenced to more than four and a half years in jail.

Less than a month after his November 2000 release, he was found in a downtown Toronto motel with a 13-year-old boy. He was sentenced to one year in jail.

In 2002, a judge in Toronto sentenced him to three years in jail for probation violations because he fled to British Columbia after being found in the company of a five-year-old boy.

The violations included the fact he was carrying a “rape kit” in his backpack while in B.C. It contained latex gloves, pictures of young children, tubes of jelly lubricant, duct tape, a sleeping bag and plastic zipper ties that can be used as handcuffs.

My question is this. How is it that this man who has over time shown no form of rehabilitation, nor any sign of desire to stop his actions, allowed to walk around a free man. Why is it that sexual offences--especially those committed against children--are not considered to be so heinous that they deserve the same sanctions as a person who kills another human being? How is it not considered a murder? When a sexual violation occurs it kills off any innocence within a child, it kills off any dignity within a person and it is one of the most invasive crimes out there yet for abducting and raping a child a person gets four and a half years in jail. This is a grave mis-justice to women and children across this nation(I say this as the rate of grown males coming forward for sex offences committed againsts them that it's so low) that it makes me so sick to my stomach. I think law makers should be ashamed of themselves.

Mark my words, if Zachary dies as a result of this man you can bet your bottom dollar that people out there are going to go to war on Vic Toews. If he is ever to win me over than he better change the laws on this issue. Not that he would ever win me over as currently he's hell bent on coming down on people who carry guns or kids who have consensual sex with their peers before the proposed new age of consent. Again this issue will get swept under the rug because the government is more concerned with other issues. Screw the vulnerable people of this nation. That's always been the position of the Conservative government.

So I've decided to quit my other two jobs. I was offered a position with the school board as a full time Child and Youth Counsellor which guarantees me some real good hours and excellent vacation time. Therefore I will not need the other two jobs that I have had for the last year and a half to maintain a certain standard of living.

 

As a result I will have more time on my hand for things that are going to push me forward in my career. I will be able to take my degree program part time. I will be able to focus on my daughter more and my relationship with Pete. I am turly looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead for myself.

The fighting between Isreal and Lebanon continues and the almighty Condelizza Rice is all over the news. How is it that this woman is the "saviour" of all? Everytime there is major conflict she is never far behind and all over the news. I have a theory about this. I know I know....more conspiracy theory about things that are not happening.

 

I think that the reason this woman is all over the news at the present moment is I feel she is being groomed to become leader of the republican party. The reason the republican party is going to allow a woman to spearhead their party is because Hilary Clinton is grooming herself to run for the leader of the Democratic party. This scares the hell out of the Republican party because Hilary is a strong, intelligent and forward thinking woman who doesn't cater to the big business of oil. So in order for the party to secure more time in office they have put this woman in the forefront in hopes of gaining some favor for when that time comes and Hilary plans to run they have a matching candidate. As it stands I don't think there is a male who could beat her on the Republican side.

 

Or maybe these are just ramblings of a tired person after spending 12 hours in a custody facility with 13 youth just going bonkers. Only time will tell if my theory will prove to be true.

Is this world of ours at war constantly. I just read that Ethiopia is going into Somalia. Isreal is at war with Palestine and Lebanon. The US is at war with Afganistan and Iraq and soon to be North Korea and Iran. Then there are the civil wars happening like in East Timor and Sri Lanka. Then there are the verbal war like spats between "western" countries like the US and Germany or the US and France or the Liberals vs The Conservatives in Canada.

 

Are we headed for an all out war in the near future. I suspect with the way things are going that a world wide outbreak in violence all over the place is unavoidable. I know it's faulty thinking on my part. I'm catastrophising the situation but at the same time I can't help but think this because of the direction the world appears to be going.

 

Don't worry I'm not going to bunker down in my apartment and wait for the destruction of the world. I do know better but alas the thoughts are always in the back of my mind.

Not that I had doubt but I'm happy to report that Clifford Olson was denied parole for his murders. For those not in the know Clifford Olson is Canada's infamous serial killer. Of course for my time it will always be Paul Bernardo but for the older generation it's Clifford Olson who murdered and burried the bodies of 11 children age 9 to 18 years of age. His deal was even sweeter than Miss Karla Holmoka. While she gets her freedom after 12 years of sentancing Clifford was able to secure $100 000 for his family in 1982 in exchange for the place of the body dumps. His deal is sweeter because the crown had already caught him red handed with a murder. I guess it's not "sweeter" per say but more like bitter sweet.

 

Either way I'm glad to report that justice prevailed and the man stays behind bars.

So I got a call today offering me a full time position with the Halton Board of Education. This is excellent news for me as I wasn't sure what I was going to be doing as of the next couple of weeks. I'm happy to report that I now have a wicked job with wicked pay and wicked benefits.

 

It appears I will not be confined to a classroom. This is the most exciting part of the gig. I will be what they call an Itinerate Child and Youth Counsellor. This requires me being the school counsellor for 3 to 5 schools in a certain area. I will be responsible for taking kids in as a referral, doing school consultations, running groups if the school feels it needs the programing and well I'll have a lot more responsibilities than working in a classroom and I will be utilized much more than in the past which makes me very excited.

 

The pay scale is a wicked pay scale. I love that I am getting paid as a professional instead of as an employee. I'm a professional. Who knew!

 

The other great thing about the job is I get benefits. I have the same benefits as teachers. My union is the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation. We have a sub branch for us Professional Student Support Personel(PSSP). I am in the same ranking as the Psych Ed people, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists. That's right...I'm a professional--SEE ABOVE STATEMENT

 

So in conclusion things look really good in Vern's world. Not only have Pete and I found an apartment(we're renting just to clear the air up) but I have a full time gig that works well with my needs and skills. Now if only I could get through this summer finacially. Only a few weeks...only a few weeks.

 

Ohhh speaking of summer...I get two months holidays...that's right I get the same holiday as the teachers!!!!!!

Pete and I were out and about Saturday night enjoying a lovely date night. We were down at Harbour Front Centre for some live music. It was great music. A mix of 60's to 70's soul, funk and reggae. The show was called From Jamacia to Toronto. Beautiful stuff.

 

However our evening was a bit off when we were at Splash! the outdoor makeshift restaurant. While we were enjoying our wood oven baked nachos the couple next to us decided to light up a cigarette. My god how disgusting and downright disrespectful for the people around them. I hate smokers who have no consideration for the people around them. So while we tried to enjoy our meal we were surrounded by gross smelly second hand smoke.

 

Grrr to that I say, grrrr

So Pete and I have a place that we take possession of as of September 1st. I'm soooo excited. It's a gorgeous place.

 

It's a two bedroom unit in a 4 unit building. The outside looks like a Hacienda. It's got this gorgeous dinning room/sitting room combo that has gorgeous french doors that open into a living/entertainment space. The kitchen is huge with lots of cuppard space and space for actual cooking. Bailey's room has a chandalier for a light and a large closet for her clothes and other items and my room has a walk in closet. There is lots of storage space but also just space in general. We also have a working fireplace that will be used in the winter on occassion.

 

I will be taking lots of pictures of the place once we settle in. The neighbourhood is gorgeous and is on its way to being a trendy place so getting there before it becomes trendy is awesome.