Happy Halloween!!

I am trying to upload the most kick ass costume party photos you've ever seen from the party on Saturday night, but it seems blogger wants to be an effer x a zillion these last couple of days.
Boo.
I mean Boo! hehe.

I'll keep trying throughout the day to see if they've fixed the problem.

Anyways, hope you all have a great Halloween and whole heartedly enjoy all your tricks and/or treats!

*EDIT: Seems that upgrading to Blogger Beta solves the picture posting issue. See the post below for the pictures from Saturday...finally.*

Halloween Bash Pics

So the Halloween party on Saturday night was a blast. Sandy and I didn't end up getting our costumes together until Saturday afternoon (which was a weeeee bit stressful), but it all turned out in the end and we had a great time.

I was an old hag with pizza box ass and a gunt (ack!) made out of rolled up tea towels:

Sandy was a Gynecologist:

Skybar was a model...lol:

Speedoguru was Spiderman:





Calvin was a cross dressing cowboy!

Doug - the host of the bash, was a wizard (right):

Jeanette & Shawn were a rodeo clown and cow:

Curtis had an uncanny resemblance to Professor McGarnagle from Harry Potter later in the evening:

What a night it was...oy! Tons of laughs, drinks, prayers, and debauchery were had by all.

Good times. Good times indeed.

Lorraine Swanson Kicks All Asses Everywhere

Good GAWD this character is funny...

Time, Time, Time - See What's Become Of Me

Well I suppose an update is due by now…

This week has been so ridiculously busy that I haven’t had time to do much of anything I had planned. I don’t know why, but it seems as time is passing, life is getting busier and busier.

I am usually a very organized person with the memory capacity of an elephant - I can remember anything for myself or anyone else, no matter how big or small. Lately though, I feel like the filing cabinets in my head have tipped over and spilled their contents all over the floor.
I can’t remember an effen thing these days! I rarely feel prepared for my daily schedule or social plans. I have post it notes all over my desk and on my fridge at home. My email calendar reminder buddy thingy is working overtime. My cell phone reminder function had been ringing off the hook - its nuts.
So my question is this- has life actually gotten busier, or is my memory going with age?? I hope it isn’t the latter cuz I’m not even 30 yet! Cripes.

And in other news…

I went on a tour of CUPS on Tuesday, which was a really great experience. CUPS (Calgary Urban Project Society) is an agency downtown that helps to support the medical, physical, and emotional needs of our growing homeless population in Calgary.
I was kind of expecting a dingy, run down, dirty kind of environment in there (not sure why?), but was pleased to see how well maintained their facilities actually are. It’s a 3 story building with a state of the art medical clinic and lab in the basement, common rooms, beds, kitchens, computers, and counselors on the second floor, and a women’s health facility on the top floor.

It was really quite impressive.

I was quite taken with this agency as I learned more about what they do to help those in need in the community.
The main thing I was impressed by was their “under any circumstance” policy for the people that come in. They do not judge anyone or care what they are on at the time they come in - they treat all ppl with respect and open arms. Mainly because they feel that these same people will come to them for help with changing their lives when they are ready if they feel that they are not being judged. That makes sense.

I was also glad to hear that each person that comes in seeking medical attention spends no less than one hour with the doctors on site as policy.
Even if they just need a band-aid.
The doctors will spend the rest of the hour talking with the patient, about how life is really going for them, if they need help to get off the streets, and basically treating them like regular human beings - which I’m sure they don’t get much of otherwise. This process can also help refer the homeless to intake workers for low income housing assistance (CUPS will pay security deposits and help search for rentals in many cases), child care assistance, psychiatric help, etc.
It’s just a really great organization because they deal DIRECTLY with the people that require help. They also have an outreach street team that delivers food, blankets, and checks on the welfare of the thousands of people unable to get into shelters every night.

Overhead is minimal (10%), and the doctors and volunteers donate their time every week to help out. I’ll get behind something like that any day.
As a matter of fact, after discussing my desire to support this organization with Sandy, she decided she would like to help as well. So we have decided to take a hamper of clothing, baby supplies, hygiene products, socks, underwear, etc. directly to them every Friday afternoon.
Starting today.
We are going to do a case of formula, diapers, infant outfits, and perhaps blankets for the smallest victims today. Next time probably mens/womens hygiene supplies, after that, maybe winter clothing, etc.

The opportunity to donate my time to low income housing development also came up this week, and I have signed on to build a Habitat for Humanity house on November 10th. I am excited about it, and I think that even though it will be a long, hard day, it will also be lots of fun.
Let’s just hope I don’t shoot myself with a nail gun or saw my hand off. Gawd knows I’m not that mechanically inclined.
I am hoping I get hammer and nail duty for the most part, but I’ll help out wherever they want to place me.
Should be a good experience.

Lastly, tomorrow there is a Halloween party being held, and with the pace of these last couple of weeks, I have not had time to get a costume together. So my panic button is on high now - I am worried we won’t find anything in time.
My own fault really, but crap, time is flying faster than I can handle lately, and things get put on the back burner. And I don't like it!

Depending on how our shopping trip and delivery of goods for the homeless goes this afternoon, I am hoping there will be enough time to go shopping for a costume tonight. But then again, we’ve already committed to a pumpkin carving.

See?
I tells ya - it’s gettin, it’s gettin, it’s gettin kinda hectic (I’ve got the Pow-AH!)

David Reimer

I watched a program on TLC last night that absolutely broke my heart. It was called Born a Boy, Brought Up a Girl, and it was nothing short of tragic.

In 1966, a woman gave birth to twin boys in Winnipeg. During circumcision of the boys at about 8 months old, a terrible medical mistake was made, and David’s entire penis was badly burned during the cauterizing. Shortly thereafter, it fell off (cringe!).
The boy’s testicles remained intact, but the penis was gone.

(The twins as babies)

Faced with such a situation, David’s parents looked for medical advice about what to do next. They were directed to John Money, a Baltimore doctor “specializing” in helping people of ambiguous gender. At the time, Dr. Money was revered in the medical and scientific fields for his work on nature vs. nurture dynamics in the human child.
His theory was that no matter what gender you were born, if you are raised as a boy or girl from a young age, you will identify as that gender.

Dr. Money persuaded David’s parents to transform their son into a daughter, based on the extent of damage to his genitals. He recommended surgery and hormone treatment to turn young Brian (his given birth name) into a girl. His parents agreed, and treatment commenced soon thereafter.
Brian was forced to become “Brenda”.
His parents were advised never to tell the children the truth about Brian’s gender or accident.

This doctor did not really have the family’s well-being at heart, but instead was driven by the challenge of proving his theory - that gender identity does not take place in the womb.

Over the course of the twins’ childhood, they were subjected to many experiments and humiliating question sessions by Dr. Money. The parents were never involved in these sessions, and later in life, both boys claimed that the doctor made them take their clothes off to be photographed in sexual positions during their visits.

Fast forward to 13 years old, and “Brenda” is having social problems at school. She has no friends, and she looks alarmingly masculine despite her clothes and hair.
The kids at school refuse to let her use either the male or female washrooms, and she is often forced to relieve herself in the alley behind the school. She has no interest in boys; she is depressed and feels alienated.

("Brenda" at 12)

It was around this time that Brenda began refusing to attend her sessions with Dr. Money, going so far as threatening suicide if made to attend.
Her parents were scared that she may well take her own life, and made the decision to tell her and her brother the truth.

Brenda was taken for ice cream and told by her father. Her brother was sat down and told the news by their mother at the same time.
Brenda was obviously shocked by the news, but happy to finally have an answer about her differences with other girls her age. Her father asked her what gender she wanted to live her life as, and she immediately said that she wanted to be a boy.
Her twin brother reacted in anger, and began a slow decline into schizophrenia in the years to follow.

Brenda had reconstructive surgery on her genitalia, and became David Reimer. By all accounts his life went well, he was handsome, happy, and popular in his new surroundings (he changed schools). He even went on to get married after high school.
The only thing missing in his life was his twins brother’s presence. They became estranged in the years after the truth came out.

(David at 36)

David was angry about what Dr. Money had done to him and his family. He was also very angry that the experiment they were guinea pigs for was published as a success! He felt he should go public with his story, to expose the fraudulent claims in the infamous John/Joan case still going undisputed in medical journals.

After some convincing, David enlisted the help of his twin brother to participate in a documentary about their experience. Shortly after the documentary was complete, David’s twin brother was found dead in his home - the result of a drug overdose/suicide.

David was never the same.

In the two years following his brother’s death, David became depressed.
This was amplified by a bad financial investment, loss of his job, and separation from his wife. David moved back in with his parents to try and get back on his feet, but unfortunately, his inner turmoil was a hell he could not conquer.

In 2004, David went for a walk in his parents wheat field, inserted a shotgun into his mouth, and pulled the trigger. He was 38 years old.

I cannot even tell you how sad I was to see the end of this show - well ALL of it was horrible, but wow.
Seeing his parents looking down on both their sons’ graves was heartbreaking.

Not surprisingly, Dr. Money refused to partake in the TLC documentary about this case.

Meh...

I am skimping on updates lately, because honestly, I don’t have a lot to say.

It’s not that there’s nothing exciting going on in my life - there always is - but posting about my daily activities seems boring to me. Maybe it’s not boring to you…I dunno.

Anways. Let’s see…

It’s effen cold outside - snowing and blowing. I think winter has unofficially arrived. Although cold is not my first pick for favorite seasons, I do enjoy it. Cozy sweaters, warm fires, making toasty home cooked meals, walking in the snow…

The one thing I don’t like to see this time of year is the ever increasing homeless population on the streets - huddled in corners, trying to keep warm with old blankets and cardboard.
It is absolutely inhumane - regardless of the reasons these people ended up on the streets in the first place.
Warmth, food, and shelter are human essentials no matter who you are. It irritates me to no end to see the number of people on our city streets at any time of year - we are the most prosperous city in the country! There’s simply no need for it.

Our homeless shelters are filled to capacity on a nightly basis, and there is no priority for low income housing to be designated/built to help alleviate some of the problem.
It’s bloody ridiculous.
But I do understand the politics behind it all - I, along with all people working in and supporting the current economic boom in Calgary - am part of the problem. We need to push the city and provincial government to address this issue. Relentlessly.
But that won’t happen, because we are all comfy in our cushy jobs, extravagant homes, and middle to upper class lifestyles. It’s never a problem until it happens to you.
Apathy.

Anyways…

On a totally unrelated note, there’s something wrong with my left eye, and it’s driving me up the effen wall. It’s been constantly irritated for over 4 weeks now, and nothing seems to help.
I’ve tried eye washes, antibiotic drops, flushing systems, heat, cold, everything. It just isn’t clearing up.
So off to the eye doctor I go this afternoon to get an exam. I hope they can figure out what it is and prescribe some relief, along with a new lens prescription I would imagine. CHA-CHING.
Can’t wait to see the damage on that bill. I’m expecting between $500-$600 easily if I need new glasses. Ouch.
But whatever, I can’t take this irritation for one more day. It’s swollen, red, and I have a very painful stabbing sensation occurring like every 5 minutes.
If the doctor can’t figure out what’s wrong, I swear I am going to gouge it out myself - with a rusty spoon!

What else…hmm. I don’t know.
I need to come up with a Halloween costume idea on the ASAP and get on buying the materials to get it together. Problem is, I can’t think of anything awesome to go as this year, so I’m drawing a blank and starting to panic.

I am open to suggestions.

Meh. I’m starvin like Marvin. Going to get some lunch.

My next post won’t be nearly as ass as this one has been - promise.

Until next time dear readers…

Fondues, Turkies, and Runway Modeling?

This past Thanksgiving weekend was all kinds of awesome!

Saturday evening, we had a blast at a fondue at Skybar's place. Look at all the food!

Mmmm...fresh Nova Scotia lobster tails:

Melting Bernard Callebaut chocolate to dip fruit in! Droooool...

Matt joined in the festivities as well. It was nice meeting and chatting with him throughout the night...

Sigh.

Looking at all that delicious food is making me want to go back and revisit the evening all over again. It was all so good!

Chicken, beef, prawns, lobster, veggies, fruits, chocolates, cheese, dips, breads. Yum.

These pics are relatively tame compared to the mayhem that ensued as the night wore on. There was piano playing, Heart karaoke, a wig, table dancing, Gowan, crazy ass car racing, and unforch - one casulaty:

The vase.

I accidently knocked it over with my foot as we were chatting it up in the kitchen, and it broke in 3 or 4 pieces (Sorry again Jeff!).

Luckily, there were plenty of adhesives around casa de Skybar for just such an event, and we were able to paste it back together again.

I dunno...I think the cracks make it look more rustic/authentic. Yes? No?

On Sunday, Sandy and I were invited to a fantabulous Thanksgiving dinner at our friend Sherry's place. We usually do a turkey with all the trimmings for Sandy's daughter and b/f every year, which we have always enjoyed - but it really is a lot of work. So having someone else cook for us was a real treat!

Check out the 25 pound monstrosity:

mmm...stuffing.

I hate to say it, but my infamous stuffing was put to shame in comparison. It was SO GOOD. She used button mushrooms! Like who does that? I'll tell ya who...ME from here on out. Effen delish!

Sherry and her pussy ;)

Somehow, after dinner and many glasses of wine, Sherry decided it was a good idea to try on wedding gowns and evening dresses with her daughter for us:

lolol...what a weird experience THAT was. Gotta say it was definately one of the strangest Thanksgiving dinners I've been to...but lots of fun none the less. Great food, great wine, interesting and diverse company (16 people was the official turnout I believe), and great fashion.

Who could want for more, really. Good times were had by all.

I hope you all had a great holiday weekend as well.

And now, back to the grind...

A New Color To Paint The World

Thought I'd share some of the pics I've taken in the last week.

The colors in nature this time of the year are simply amazing...