Mel Moments

PC be damned!

2010-02-24T18:24:00.002-05:00

I know it's not politically correct to say anything negative about anyone, so I won't. However, I believe it is open season on people's behaviour.

Yes, we believe in free speech in this country, but for pete's sake, if you don't have something intelligent to say - do us all a favour and keep it to yourself. Just because you talk louder doesn't make you right.

Only truly ingnorant people justify anything by saying "that's the way it's always been". Sometimes the way it's always been has been terribly, terribly wrong.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Again, I merely ask that you base that opinion on some fact. Do the work it takes to form an intelligent, well thought-out, reasonable opinion. Just because you read or heard someone else's opinion on something and are regurgitating it, doesn't make you sound informed.

(Is anyone sensing I'm on an anti-ignorance rant?)

If you are negative all the time, no one wants to hear from you. Most of us want to surround ourselves with positive people. If your life is that bad, seek professional help. There is absolutely no shame in seeking counseling to work out your troubles. Constantly burdening your friends with your negativity is unfair, uncool and unproductive.

Does anyone else see the incredible irony in people bitching about bitchy people?

Here's some reality - your Facebook 'friends' may not actually be your friends. Keep the really personal information off of Facebook. Future employers have access to FB too. Think about it.

If you have to look over your shoulder before you say something - you probably shouldn't say it.

Why do so many women spend all of their time on the wedding and absolutely no time on the marriage?

Why do you think it's ok to interrupt someone?

'Please' and 'thank you' are words that never go out of style.

Your perfume/cologne/aftershave is giving me a headache. Wear it when you're home, not in the workplace.

Cover your mouth when you cough/sneeze/yawn.

If you want to improve your life, do something that will improve someone else's life.

If you just stand by and say nothing while witnessing an injustice, you're just as guilty as the perpetrator. Speak up. Stick your neck out. Do what is right. Be an ethical person.

It's all right to choose one cause and not all causes. Just support something.

Nobody's perfect, but why not keep trying?

la la la la life goes on....

2009-12-03T14:54:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Long time - no write.

Let me start by saying I am one of those people who likes change. I think change is good for us because when it is not present, we tend to become complacent. Mind you, too much change at once can be a little daunting, but this is how we test our mettle.

After almost 25 years working for the same company, I am back working in radio in the type of situation I like - a family-owned business.

This is a good change for me. New hours, new colleagues (although I do miss working with some of the old ones), new attitudes and new ideas. I'm working with a team that is young, creative, open to new ideas and not afraid to express themselves. This is my kind of team.

I have to admit I'm at the bottom end of the learning curve when it comes to the technology, but I am ready, willing and able to learn it all.

The one thing I think is a constant in almost any workplace, is the personality types. There always seems to be the 'go-to' person who can help you with almost any problem. There's the 'go-to Tim Hortons person' who is always happy to grab refreshments if you're buying. There's the 'shy one' who won't normally speak to you first, but once you engage them, you find them to be fascinating. There's the 'tattle-tale'....need I say more? There's the 'drama queen/king' who always has to be the centre of attention (no, it's not me :P). It's fun getting to know each and every one of these personalities.

I believe a change is as good as a rest and I feel invigorated!

So, why not make a change today? Take a different route to or from work, eat something different for breakfast, change your hair colour. Don't be complacent! Be adventurous! Be willing to change.

New Beginnings

2009-06-21T14:59:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I blogged because I've been very busy. I'm not sure why I've been so busy considering I do not have a full time job. I did go on my first job interview in many, many years (not in broadcasting). That was a terrifying experience! Someone more qualified got the job and I wasn't upset about that. Actually it was a relief because I wasn't even sure I wanted the job. I know, you're wondering why I applied for it - because someone asked me to. Lesson learned.

Anyway, keep checking back because an announcement is coming soon about something new I'm going to be involved in. It's going to be fun and a great outlet for my creative side.

TTYL

On Losses.....jobs, weight and others.

2009-04-21T14:44:00.003-04:00

The Biggest Loser contest if finally over. Even though I was laid off last week, I was allowed back in the building for the final weigh-in and despite the turmoil of the past few days, I managed to lose almost another pound.I finished in second place and I'm darn proud of that. Now I will look smokin' hot when I go on all those job interviews. A big congrats to Greg Gnyp who won the contest and Sarah Casella who came in third! I'm very proud of them and everyone else who stuck it out for the 15 weeks.
It was a looong 15 weeks. By the end, I couldn't wait for the contest to be over. But I'm glad I took part and I'm really glad I lost 32.6 pounds. I'm not so glad I lost my job. But anyone who knows me, knows I truly believe everything happens for a reason. There must be something I'm supposed to do that will lead me down another path. Either that, or they will see the error of their ways and offer me my job back (this is me not holding my breath).
Many of us now find ourselves without gainful employment and it sucks. I know things will turn around eventually in Windsor and I hope I will still be here when that happens. I currently have no plans to leave, but you never know what's going to happen do you?
So for the time being, I am going to enjoy my new bod and try to figure out what to do for the rest of my life.

Starting weight - 164.8 lbs.
Weight lost - 32.6 lbs.
Current weight - 132.2 lbs.

One week to go!

2009-04-13T11:25:00.002-04:00

There is one week to go in our Biggest Loser contest and I have to say - hot damn! After a disappointing gain of one pound last week, I somehow managed to drop 6 lbs. this week!

Now, I know what you're thinking - she must have done something drastic. Starved herself. Took diet pills. Had some weird procedure that sucked the life force out of her. No, I didn't do any of those things. I ate as usual. I worked out 5 times at the gym doing 45 to 60 minutes of cardio and some weights. We had company over for dinner on Thursday night and I had a martini and shared a couple or 3 bottles of wine with our guests.

The bottom line is, there is no rhyme nor reason to my weight loss/gain over the 14 weeks of this contest. I have been up and down throughout this whole thing. Some people have been as steady as a spring rain. 1 to 2 lbs. every week. Me - not so much.

There is one week left - week 15. What will happen is anybody's guess.

Starting weight - 164.8
Today's weight - 133
Total loss - 31.8

I'm happy.

True Confessions.

2009-04-06T10:06:00.002-04:00

I have no one to blame but myself. I gained a pound this week because I am truly sick and tired of this Biggest Loser contest.

I am not going to make any excuses. I am simply tired of the contest.

I will not do a "master cleanse". I will not undertake the "wrestlers diet". I will not pop pills that make you appear to be on some version of speed.

I know what you're going to say - it's just a plateau...it will pass. I don't care. I'm tired of this contest.

I am very happy!!

2009-03-30T12:48:00.003-04:00

My hard work this past week has paid off. I kicked up my workout routine another notch and I managed to drop another 3.4 lbs.

I have not only surpassed my original goal - losing 15 lbs....my secondary goal - losing 25 lbs....but now I have entered into new territory. I am in the 130's. A place I have not been since I was in my 20's.

I bought some new clothes this weekend because I ran out of holes in my belt and couldn't keep up my pants any longer.

There are 3 weeks left in this Biggest Loser competition and I don't know how I can beat the guy in first place. He lost another 3.8 lbs. this week. He's up around 48 lbs. lost. Mind you, he started out more than a hundred pounds more than I did, so percentage-wise, he's still within reach. Anybody have any suggestions on how I can ramp it up for the last 3 weeks?????

Starting weight - 164.8
Current weight - 138
Weight lost - 26.8

Slowly, but surely.

2009-03-23T12:13:00.002-04:00

How is it that some people are still having huge weight losses 11 weeks into our Biggest Loser contest? I realize some people have a whole lot more to lose than others, but geez!

With just 4 weeks left in our little competition, it looks like the winner has already emerged. He lost 5 lbs. at this week's weigh-in and has dropped well over 40 pounds in the 11 weeks of the competition. That's almost 4 lbs. each and every week. Who does that? As it turns out, he did have the flu or some kind of bug for 3 or 4 days during this latest period. Is that the key to success? Should I stop washing my hands and start picking up stray tissues in the hopes the same happens to me? Oh man, just the thought makes me want to throw up!

Not much I can do about it. I lost another 1.4 lbs. this week and that is healthy. I have dropped 23.4 lbs so far. Can I overtake Mr. Big Loss. I doubt it....but I'm going to keep trying right to the end!

Starting weight - 164.8
Current weight - 141.4
Total lost - 23.4 lbs.

Whew...did I get lucky.

2009-03-16T14:50:00.002-04:00

I was convinced my weight was going to be up this week. I misbehaved. I ate in restaurants. I drank wine. I had a dinner party Saturday night where I made a Moroccan feast. I worked out a few times, but I didn't think it would be enough to put me in the negative numbers. I was wrong. Somehow, the diet gods were smiling on me and I managed to lose 1.2 lbs.!

I am thrilled! It's good to know that I can indulge every once (or four times) in a while and still manage to stay on track. I hope this also serves as encouragement for those of you who might feel like giving up because you had a cheat or two. I pointed out early on that getting healthier and fitter is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't be discouraged if you gain a pound or two here or there. Just get right back to what you know is the path to better health.

I'd be lying if I said how I look doesn't matter as much as how I feel. I'm a 46 year old woman, you're darn right I care about how I look. It's just an added bonus that my back feels so much better, I have tons more energy and I just feel better all over.

So, keep at it, friends. I have lost 22 lbs. 2.8 more to hit my goal. Everything after that - is gravy. LOL

Another Milestone.

2009-03-09T12:46:00.003-04:00

As reported in my last blog, I missed the last Biggest Loser weigh-in because I was sick. So, needless to say, I had no idea what would happen today after several days of being home, bored out of my mind, eating non-stop. (why couldn't I have gotten a nice gastrointestinal bug that would have discouraged that? - kidding.)

I stepped on the scale this morning and realized I had hit another milestone. Two weeks ago I dropped below 150 lbs. which was a thrill for me. The next goal I had in mind was to record a total weight loss of 20 lbs. and today I accomplished that. I am down another 3 lbs. and that brings my total weight loss to 20.8 lbs.

None of my pants fit - not even the ones that used to be really tight. I am using holes in my belt that I didn't even know existed. I need new bras (okay, that one was for the women who know exactly what I'm talking about) ; )

I am not winning the competition, but I'm in the top 3 so far! (it's difficult to compete with a dedicated man who started out weighing more than 100 pounds more than I did - but I'm very proud of his progress too).

Starting weight - 164.8 lbs.
Current weight - 144 lbs.
6 weeks to go.

A Missed Weigh-in

2009-03-04T14:08:00.002-05:00

I have been sick. It's this annoying throat problem that stole my voice for a few days and left my throat burning like I had just consumed a couple of habenaros.

Bottom line - I missed this week's weigh-in. I have not weighed myself since my shocking 5 lb. weight loss last week, so I have no idea where I currently stand.

I have to admit though, while I was off work Monday and Tuesday, I ate like I was going on Survivor tomorrow. It would not surprise me if I gained a couple of pounds after my anniversary weekend. Three days - 3 parties. Yikes! I'm scared.

I will not step on a scale until Monday....and I'm worried.

Wish me luck.

What?????

2009-02-23T12:38:00.002-05:00

After a lamentable couple of weeks, I am back on track with a vengeance!

I was shocked at today's weigh-in after losing only .4 lbs. two weeks ago and gaining .4 last week. I was hoping I would at least lose one pound and two would be fantastic.

I was able to start working out again this past week after hurting my neck and it felt good. I went hard on the cardio, doing 45 minutes on average and I upped my weights. There is a difference of opinion on how to work out when trying to lose weight. Some say don't use weights because you'll gain muscle mass which weighs more than fat. Others say if you increase your lean muscle mass, it will up your metabolism. I'm a believer in the latter. I'm also going crunch-crazy these days in an effort to diminish the several inches I'm able to pinch around my midsection.

I ate well this past week including a night out Friday at the Food & Wine fest where I drank wine and ate some good food without guilt.

The result - I lost 5 lbs. this week. Yes, 5 lbs. I'm starting to think there really is no rhyme nor reason to all of this - but I am thrilled. I broke that 150 barrier which is a great mental boost.

I have already surpassed my initial goal of dropping 15 pounds during the duration of this contest. (I've lost 17.8 now).

My ultimate goal - to reach 140 lbs., now seems attainable.

Thanks to all of you who have offered words of encouragement and advice. It is greatly appreciated.

Call it a draw.

2009-02-17T13:34:00.002-05:00

I cannot say I'm surprised. I'm not even terribly disappointed. After losing only .4 lbs last week, I gained .4 lbs this week. So, I figure it's a draw or a plateau over the past two weeks.

I had a weekend that was not conducive to weight loss. Oh, I suppose I could have said no to the potatoes. I could have had water instead of wine. But am I supposed to deprive myself and live what I consider to be abnormally, simply because I'm in a Biggest Loser contest? I think not.

It started Friday when we had a wonderful event to attend for cardiac wellness. The meal was terrific. Chicken, veggies, salad and wine. Saturday was Valentine's Day. We hadn't planned to go out, but we did and we had pizza and wine. Mind you, the pizza was whole wheat, thin crust. Sunday, we had a birthday party for a 3 year old. Needless to say, the food was geared toward the younger crowd. Cheesy potatoes. Hamburgers, hot dogs. Cake and ice cream. I ate veggies, salad and a hamburger patty - no bun. I did not have cake. Later on that night we went out for dinner yet again and I had a chicken dish with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, but I only ate half and saved the other half for lunch on Monday.

Now, here's my big finale. I slept funny on Friday and haven't been able to work out for several days because my neck won't allow me to turn my head to the right.

9 more weeks. I am down 12.8 lbs. I am OK!!

Arrrrrgggghhhhhh!!

2009-02-09T14:05:00.002-05:00

I want to lose a lot of weight every week...why is this not happening?!

I worked out a lot last week. I ate right last week. I lost half a pound last week.

To quote my ever-supportive husband - "it's a marathon, not a sprint". OK, but it's not fair! I eat great. Well, except for Saturday night at the hockey game when I had a big pretzel, popcorn and 4 bites of pizza. But should one little night of fun lead to such a small weight loss? I worked out extra hard on the weekend so I could indulge a little. Okay, so I also had a couple of glasses of wine and maybe a martini, but come on!

Let me check....okay, my rant is over. I am intelligent enough to realize I am doing well. I have lost 13.2 lbs. in 5 weeks which is fantastic. There are ten weeks left in this competition and I'm in it for the long haul.

I want very badly, however, to get under 150 lbs. I am currently at 151.6. I know it's a psychological thing, but I won't be truly satisfied with my effort until I reach that goal.

Why does trying to lose weight drive so many of us mad?

Week 4 nets the worst score!

2009-02-02T14:07:00.002-05:00

Okay, okay, so it's not that bad. I'm starting to think I'm lying to myself. All last week I said "if I just lose one pound next week I'll be happy". Well, I lost 1.8 lbs. and I'm a tad disappointed.

Intellectually, I know I'm being ridiculous. I have lost 12.8 lbs. in 4 weeks which is fantastic. However, I wanted to have another huge loss this week after being last week's champion.

My hubby pointed out to me that I got through Superbowl Sunday and still lost weight. My friend and co-worker S.C. pointed out that I've been working out every day and that means I'm building muscle which weighs more than fat. I can see the difference in my body with my own two eyes, yet still, disappointed.

I know it's not the winning thing because I am thrilled for my friend D.M. who dropped 3.6 lbs. this week. I had honest, encouraging words for T.D. who gained a little bit because she was off on a tropical adventure last week. Am I too hard on myself? Do I set unrealistic goals? Not sure. But if I don't lose two pounds next week.......there's going to be hell to pay! ; )

Til next time.

3 down....12 to go.

2009-01-26T13:46:00.004-05:00

Week 4 has officially begun in our Biggest Loser contest. We had our first drop-out this week, so we're down to 24 contestants. I'm very proud of my colleagues for making this kind of commitment to better health (the potential for prizes doesn't hurt either).

The one thing I'm most pleased about with this competition is how it seems to have raised morale around the building. People are talking to each other more (mind you, it's usually about the funny thing that happened in Zumba class or the weird concoction they had for dinner last night). Nonetheless, it's bringing us closer together.

C.S., who is in the competition, had the nerve to bring in a cake today that she baked on the weekend. Unfair tactics or smart games(wo)manship? It's not chocolate, so I have no problem resisting.

All right, down to the nitty gritty. I lost 3.2 pounds this past week and I earned it. I worked out 6 days out of 7. Nothing crazy, my usual 30 - 40 when at home and a little longer when I go to the gym.

I feel good. I can already see the difference in my face and my clothes are fitting a little better. My "loose" jeans are loose again.

All together, I have lost 11 pounds (14 more to go to reach my ultimate goal). I'm pretty sure I'll make the top ten losers this week again. (10th the first week, second last week).

Starting weight: 164.8 lbs.
After week 1: 160.8 lbs.
After week 2: 157 lbs.
After week 3: 153.8 lbs.

Goal for this week: 1.5 lbs.

Wish me luck!

P.S. My bro got Wii fit and made me try it. My physical age is 34! Put some icing on that and eat it! ; )

P.S. 2 - I'm this week's biggest loser!!! Woohoo!!!

End of week 2...

2009-01-19T13:50:00.003-05:00

There were a lot of nerves ahead of this week's weigh-in for our Biggest Loser competition. There were such big weight losses after the first week, people were wondering if they could keep it up. The answer for the most part is - of course not.

This week's results were much more in line with what you'd expect. People lost 1 or 2 pounds. Some had bigger results, but everyone is different. The sad part is I heard people lamenting the fact they didn't lose nearly as much this week. My answer to that is - did you gain weight? A loss of a pound or two in a week is something that can be sustained.

Now, having said that, I have to confess I lost almost as much this week as last. 3.8 lbs. this week. No, I am not starving myself. I eat 5 times a day. What I did do, was cut out white food for the most part - bread, pasta, sugar, etc. I stopped eating within 3 hours of bedtime. I am drinking even more water and green tea than I used to and I worked out 5 times in the past week.

Have I cheated? Of course. For dinner last night, I ate onion tart, baguette, camembert cheese, pate and grapes - leftovers from the birthday party we threw the night before.

Tonight, I'm taking my husband out to dinner to celebrate my success and that will probably include a glass (or two) of wine.

7.8 lbs. in 2 weeks. My goal for week 3 is one pound. Wish me luck!

By the way, I'm now back in the "normal" range of the BMI.

week 1 - 164.8
week 2 - 160.8
week 3 - 157

Am I a slacker?

2009-01-12T13:37:00.002-05:00

When I arrived at work today (around noon), most people in the Biggest Loser contest had already weighed in. I was told one guy lost 11 pounds, another lost 10 and one of the women lost 8. I thought to myself - am I a slacker? I had planned to lose 3 pounds the first week of the competition. What are these people doing that I'm not.

Then the chatter started......"you know, she drank as much water as she could hold before her first weigh-in"....."well, guys always lose weight easier than women"....."there should be separate male/female competitions".....LOL. I love it! Seriously, nobody was saying these things in a malicious way. It's all part of the heat of the battle.

I'm looking at this competition the way I looked at my sagging mutual funds portfolio this morning - I'm in it for the long haul. 15 weeks. It's only the end of week 1.

I refuse to engage in a ridiculous fad diet that will ultimately end in defeat once the competition is over. I worked out 4 times last week for 30 - 40 minutes. Nothing too strenuous because of my back, but I got off my butt. I guess I'm the tortoise - I believe slow and steady wins the race.

By the way, I exceeded my target for the week by one pound. I lost 4 and am down to 160.8 lbs.

In my mind, that's a huge success.

Until next Monday...........

The first weigh-in...

2009-01-05T13:57:00.006-05:00

The Biggest Loser competition is officially underway. Today was the first weigh-in and boy, did I do a good job of trying to pack on a few extra pounds over the holidays. Let me explain my reasoning....I figured I probably didn't have enough to lose to win the contest, so I should bulk up before the first step on the scale. Well, it worked. I weighed in today at a bloated 164.8 pounds on my 5'7" frame!

I managed to put myself into the overweight category on the Body Mass Index (BMI). Normal weight is considered to be a BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9. I currently stand at 25.8. I'm going to have to drop about 6 pounds before I'm back to "normal".

I'll be honest, I feel lousy after all the comsumption I enjoyed over the holidays. I'm tired. I feel like someone glued a tire around my midsection. Even my "loose" jeans are now tight.

I have a few goals. My goal for week 1 is to lose 3 pounds. After that, I will be satisfied with a one pound per week loss. My long term goals are two-fold. My tier one goal is to lose 15 pounds by the end of the competition which is 15 weeks long. My really ambitious goal is to hit 140 pounds by the end of the competition. If I do, I have promised my husband a beach vacation in May.

Let the games begin!

Biggest Loser....part 1

2008-12-31T14:07:00.002-05:00

Another year, another pledge to drop some weight and get in shape. The difference this year is the addition of some competition. We are having a "Biggest Loser" contest at work. 24 of us have signed up for the contest which begins with the initial weigh-in Monday, January 5th.

This has gotten me thinking about my "weight history". I used to be skinny. Really skinny. I recall older men inappropriately commenting on how my legs were 'skinny but shapely'. The boys in grade 8 joked about making a bra for me in shop class out of wood. It's true, I had no boobs, no butt. I was 5' 7" and change and weighed a whopping 112 lbs. I didn't mind the bra comments because I was athletic - who needed big breasts to get in the way? But somewhere along the way, 112 turned into 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, 172. Yes, 172 lbs. is the heaviest I've ever been. Do I know how it happened? You bet. We all know how it happens. In my case, I was married at a young age to a husband who I never knew if he would come home for dinner or spend several hours at a strip club. I sat home eating my dinner, his dinner and anything else I wanted to comfort myself.

Eventually, I said 'screw this'. I joined a weight-loss program and proceeded to lose 36 pounds in 9 weeks. In hindsight, that is NOT the way to lose weight and keep it off. I also lost another 175 lbs. by dumping his sorry a*@.

Over the past 20 years since that happened, I have yo-yo'd in a 25 lb. dimension I like to call - size 10 - 12 - 14 land.

I'll be honest, I have no idea what I weigh today. I have a scale I call 'Cybil'. I stepped up on it 4 times this morning and it said I weigh 158 lbs., 150 lbs., 174 lbs. and 185 lbs. I guess I'll have to wait until the official Biggest Loser weigh-in on Monday morning to find out which figure sticks.

I plan to post a new blog every Monday after our weekly weigh-in to let you know how I'm doing, feeling, cursing.

Any words of advice, encouragement, humour, will be greatly appreciated along the way. I don't know if I can win this contest, but at the end of it, I plan to be lighter, fitter and happier.

Wish me luck!

OHHHHHH....Canada!

2008-12-02T13:45:00.003-05:00

My oh my. When did polite, follow-in-line, don't kick up a fuss Canada become a kick up the dust, take no prisoners, political smartypants?

I must admit, I am enjoying the political jockeying that is going on right now in the Great White North. How much does everyone else despise Stephen Harper's Conservatives that the NDP would agree to get into bed with the Liberals and.....gasp.....have the Bloc as the supporting cast!!!

Many would ask, and perhaps rightly so, how can the NDP and Liberals sleep at night when they're in bed with the Bloc?

And at what price? What kind of deals have been worked out to form this alliance? Will we find out the BQ will benefit to the tune of an extra billion dollars in equalization payments? Will we find Senate appointments that will leave us with our mouths hanging open?

The bottom line is - a majority of Canadians voted against Steven Harper and his Conservatives and in our Parliamentary system, (s)he who is elected must have the confidence of the house, or else the opposition has the right to try to form a coalition government and take over.

Perhaps at this time in our history, we should be considering a more "democratic" system such as Mixed Member Proportional representation.

Just saying.

More on election '08

2008-11-13T13:39:00.004-05:00

One of the favourite rants of the right during the recent U.S. election was they weren't getting fair treatment from the "liberal media". Shame on the "liberal media" and its bias for pointing out what an unknowledgable person Sarah Palin is. Shame on the "liberal media" for making John McCain appear to be out of touch.

Oops! Wait a minute.....according to Media Matters for America, a 2007 Center for American progress and Free Press analysis of all the news/talk stations in the top 10 markets, "76% of the programming in these markets is conservative and 24% is progressive (read liberal) although programming is more balanced in markets such as New York and Chicago"

So, even with more than 3/4 of the news/talk stations being on their side, the right wing still could not get elected.

Next time the right cries "WOLF" about the left-leaning media, don't run for the fire exit.

Yes, We Can.

2008-11-05T10:58:00.003-05:00

Yes, We Can. Three words that moved a nation to make monumental changes. Three words that accomplished a feat many thought they would never witness in their lifetime. Three words that lifted the spirits of a nation fraught with bad news. Recession. War. Bankruptcy. Loss.

In spite of his name being Barack Hussein Obama. In spite of his being a bi-racial man in a country where racism is still rampant. In spite of being a relative newbie to politics. In spite of a nasty campaign run by opponents who tried to scare the American public with lies and innuendo. He became President-elect of the United States of America.

He is not an Arab....but so what if he were. He is not a Muslim....but so what if he were. The day needs to come when all people realize being of a particular heritage does not automatically make you a bad person. Having a particular religious affiliation does not automatically make you a bad person. You must judge a person by their actions.

I hope Americans will give Obama a little bit of time to try to improve their situation. After all, it took 8 years to get the country to where it stands today.

OMG!!!! Clay Aiken is Gay!!!!

2008-09-24T14:11:00.002-04:00

American Idol runner-up (shoulda been winner) Clay Aiken has come out of the closet to People magazine. Some are saying - it's about time. Others say it's no big deal. Idol judge Simon Cowell says "if he said it, it's the right thing for him. Good for him. I don't think anyone cares. Let's face it. It's 2008." Sadly, Simon is wrong.

There are still many, many people on this planet who hate gays, lesbians, bisexual, transgendered, etc...individuals. To put it in a nutshell, they hate anyone who's not like them. Some of these people hide their prejudice. Some only speak of it when they're with like-minded people. Others hide behind religion to spew their homophobic rhetoric. Others attack and kill people they believe to be "different".

I can only imagine what a huge decision this must have been for Aiken, who is a new dad. He said "It was the first decision I made as a father. I cannot raise a child to lie or hide things. I wasn't raised that way, and I'm not going to raise a child to do that."

Bravo, Clay. Bravo.

On pigs and lipstick

2008-09-11T13:33:00.005-04:00

Barack Obama did not call Sarah Palin a pig. The phony outrage on the part of the right wing needs to stop. But it won't. This is what many conservatives like to do. Throw false information or half-truths out there and hope it sticks. We're seeing it here in our election.

Now, let's take a look at Sarah Palin. This is a person who says it's "God's will" the U.S. invaded Iraq. Interesting - I believe that's what the 9-11 terrorists said. It was "God's (Allah's) will" that we blow up the twin towers.

Palin does not believe in abortion unless the mother is going to die. No abortion for an 11 year old girl who is raped by her father.

No sex education, teach abstinance only. Yeah, how's that working for you?

Under investigation for pressuring the head of security in Alaska to resign because he wouldn't fire her brother-in-law who is a state trooper and was going through a fierce divorce and custody battle with her sister.

Collected a per diem 312 times in less than 2 years when she was actually at home - not on the road on business.

I think it's great that Sarah Palin is a woman in an interesting, powerful position.
I think Sarah Palin is a person with views that scare the heck out of me.

Mr. Jones and me.....disagree.

2008-08-21T13:34:00.004-04:00

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has issued 6 safety orders to the Windsor Fire Department because of some problems at fire station number 7 on Lauzon Road. The issues include the doors that separate the living quarters from the truck bay don't meet building code requirements, a leaky roof above electrical fixtures, ceiling tiles in the boiler room requiring repair, no effective exhaust system to capture diesel fumes from trucks leaving the fire hall and there isn't a washroom for females.

Now, I'm no building/air quality/contracting specialist, but these sound pretty serious to me. (I can certainly relate to the lack of washroom facilites).

City Councillor Ron Jones (a retired District Fire Chief) is up in arms that someone within the ranks made a complaint to the Labour Ministry. He says they used bad judgement and did a disservice to fire administration (yet he acknowledged the problems). Jones claims because they're in the process of going to the table to have the fire station replaced, the person should have kept their mouth shut. WHAT?!!

Talk about closing in the ranks. No wonder there's so much secrecy at city hall. 'Let them ask, but don't tell' seems to be the motto. I say Bravo! to the person who had the guts to make the complaint. I'm sure they knew of the possible consequences should they be identified. I find it hard to believe nobody in administration within the fire department knew of these problems and if they did, why weren't they dealt with?

Shame on you, Ron Jones, for putting a "possible" new fire station ahead of the current safety, welfare and well-being of our firefighters.

A bad argument

2008-07-11T14:06:00.002-04:00

This is a bit of a follow-up to my last blog. A colleague has a commentary running about Dr. Henry Morgantaler and how he doesn't blame anyone who would return their Order of Canada honour in protest of the abortionist receiving one. My colleague's argument against abortion is that we wouldn't have Wayne Gretzky if his mother had an abortion or Shania Twain if her mother had had one. Bad argument. All those who would have been in favour of Adolph Hitler's mother having an abortion, raise your hands. Paul Bernardo's mother? Robert Pickton's mother? Saddam Hussein's mother? Osama Bin Laden's mother? Ted Bundy's mother? Jeffrey Dahmer's mother? Need I go on? Bad argument.

In this country you have the right to be anti-abortion or pro-choice - but let's make arguments that are thoughtful and make sense. Let's stop the propaganda. Let's be honest about whether we're arguing fact or faith. And let's respect each other's right to an opinion even, no, especially, if we don't agree.

Choose your groups carefully.

2008-07-10T12:37:00.002-04:00

A debate is raging as to whether or not abortionist Dr. Henry Morgantaler should have received the Order of Canada. Some people are calling for the Governor General's resignation over it, yet a recent poll shows 65% of Canadians support Dr. Morgentaler being honoured for his years of work in obtaining good health care for women. What crossed my mind is how someone could say they are giving back their Order of Canada honour because they don't want to belong to a group or organization that honours an abortionist....but they're all right with being a member of a group or organization that knowingly for decades, if not centuries, allowed many of its leaders to rape children. An organization that knew what was going on but shuffled the rapists off to other locations when the heat got turned up. I can only speak for myself, but I would never choose to belong to a group that did that.

Make my Caesar spicy!

2008-06-20T14:17:00.002-04:00

I had the good fortune to be invited to the Grand (re)opening of Caesars Windsor. (I'm sure some out-of-towners couldn't make it and I was a last minute fill-in) What a beautiful place! I've always liked the Casino in Windsor (especially since smoking was banned), but this new addition is spectacular. The Augustus Ballroom is absolutely beautifully and sophitiscatedly (is that a word?) decorated. The Colliseum is a great place to see a concert. Billy Joel was fantastic as the opening night act. I was in the first tier of seating to the left and can't wait to see Patti Labelle when I'll be in the 8th row. To the Government of Ontario and the folks at Caesars - I say - well done!

Thank God we live in Canada!

2008-06-16T14:08:00.003-04:00

Today I read a couple of news items that just made me sadly shake my head.

The first was about the authorities in Saudi Arabia detaining a woman because she was driving a car. In that Muslim country, there are rules banning women from driving. The woman had driven 10 kilometres to get her husband. The woman's "legal guardian" - her husband - had to sign a declaration that he wouldn't allow her to drive again.

In another story, Iranian police are apparently cracking down on those who are dressing too "western" - and I don't mean cowboy gear. 32 clothing shops and hairdressers have reportedly been shut down and police are stopping cars and pedestrians in the streets of Tehran to make sure women are adhering to the strict Islamic dress code.

I can't even imagine what I might do if someone tried to tell me how to dress or tried to ban me from doing something every man has the right to do.

It's truly a shame when weak men hide behind what they claim are religious requirements in an attempt to keep women down. The fact there are still such misogynistic societies on this planet truly speaks to our lack of evolution as human beings.

Some people are never happy.

2008-05-29T12:48:00.002-04:00

I just returned from a glorious week long vacation in Mexico. The resort was between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. It was a gourmet all-inclusive and I don't have one bad word to say about the whole trip. Everything from the plane trip (and believe me, I was worried about changing planes and whether or not my luggage would join me at our destination). But I needn't have worried as everything went as smooth as silk.

Our room was gorgeous, the view was breathtaking, the food was delectable and the staff was outstanding.

Why is it that even when you are in paradise, there is at least one loud-mouthed fool who has to put a damper on things. Our particular loud-mouthed fool was a woman whose child had just gotten married at a resort down the road. According to Mommie Dearest, the other resort was far superior to ours as when she demanded food, they brought it immediately.

Please understand, we were coming up to dinner time and at the resort, you had to dress for dinner. No tank tops, no flip-flops and certainly no swimsuits which were still in the pool.

This woman, in a very loud and obnoxious voice, yelled at one of the staff for a good ten minutes about how the other resort would bring them a pile of food to the pool for them to chow on before they went to dinner. Those of us who were in the vicinity cringed and were hoping someone would toss her a nacho to shut her up.

This rude woman did not ruin my vacation. She didn't even ruin the afternoon. But she did serve as a reminder that you should treat people how you'd like to be treated.

Gracias, Miguel.

On Vacation

2008-05-16T14:54:00.001-04:00

Need I say more? A beach. A pool. The Caribbean. A husband I still like. It's all good.

Our taxpayer dollars hard at work?

2008-05-08T19:34:00.005-04:00

What a drama unfolds over a police radio. A man and a woman. Let's see what do we know about them?

She's of German decent and grew up going to the Teutonia club. Her sister had an abortion in her 20's. She has a sister in London who lives in a house her parents bought for her where she supposedly has sex parties. She has a brother who is with a woman she really does not like and uses quite an uninspired negative term to describe her.

He is obviously a police officer who uses foul and derogatory language. He thinks nothing of having indecent personal conversations while on the taxpayers' dime.

She wants to have his baby and proclaims what a good role model he is unlike some of the cowboy cops out there.

Other names included in the conversation - "Jimmy", "Christa".

There are people who know who these two are and should not hesitate to let the Police Chief know. If this is a real conversation and not something staged for the fun of posting it on YouTube, then these two need to be identified and dealt with swiftly.

The worst part is - the innocent people whose personal business is now out there for all to hear. I think she'll be lucky if her family ever talks to her again. I believe these two will suffer humiliation when we find out who they are. Or will we? Will the police department and the police board hide behind - "it's a personnel matter and therefore must be dealt with behind closed doors".

My retired police officer grandfather must be rolling over in his grave.

A very traumatic day.

2008-04-06T12:45:00.002-04:00

I love my puppy, Willamina. I love my other dog, Max, too. But he's always really been my husband's dog. Willie has been a mama's girl from the start. (could be the similarity in our hair).

Saturday, I had an experience I hope I never have to go through again. I had come home from a hair appointment and decided to take Max and Willie out for a walk. Everything went well - Willie did #1 & #2 (picking up puppy poop is my life - ain't it glamourous)! When we got back home, I noticed some vomit by the back door. It had obviously happened before our walk.

Next thing I know, Willie is trying to sit - but she's listing to one side...almost as if she were drunk. Then her eyes start to shut....almost as if she were drunk. She became very non-responsive and I became very scared. My husband had the car and was 25 minutes away on the other side of the city. I called him and told him to come home right away. Then I called my very good friend, Joe McParland because I started to panic and wanted to get her to the animal hospital. Joe came over immediately and when he came in the house, Willie jumped up and started barking at him and I thought, okay, maybe she isn't as bad as I thought. But about a minute or two later, she started listing to one side again. She wouldn't or couldn't open her mouth and she looked like she was going to pass out.

Anyway, my husband - the other Joe - got home in record time and we rushed to the animal hospital where a wonderful vet (who looks like a surfer) named Dr. Kaye took care of Willie. Blood tests, thorough examination. He said she probably ingested a pill of some kind or even a cigarette (apparently nicotine can have a very strong reaction in a little puppy). About two hours after the initial incident, Willie seemed to be coming out of it, so we took her home with some activated charcoal to shoot down her throat. The vet had given her gravol before we left to try to settle her stomach.

Today, Willie is back to her old self.

But I beg all of you - before you throw that cigarette butt, or roach, or pill or gum on the sidewalk/lawn/street, please think of the puppies whose owners take them for walks and what might happen if they ingest it. Please.

AT LEAST THEY GOT MY NAME RIGHT.....

2008-04-03T19:35:00.008-04:00

I thought it was really cool to be asked to be in a BIZ X magazine article about people in their forties who have interesting jobs. I sent in the information they asked for and what was printed had some errors.

Of course I don't mind that they got my age wrong (they made me younger), however, some of the other mistakes should be clarified.

The article states my first job was at CHUM-FM in Toronto. My first job was in London. Actually, my first TWO jobs were in London. It was at one of those that I was the first female full-time dj they had ever hired. CHUM-FM was very progressive and had some wonderful women on the air way before I came along.

The article refers to my husband as "Big Joe" Deveau. When I sent in my rather humourous bio, I referred to my husband as - Big Joe Deveau (not his real name, but he loves being called that). I always include that disclaimer. I make a point of never saying his real name so as to help him avoid the embarrassment of being married to me.

What the article definitely got right is that I'm an animal lover. See picture at left. = )

In this day of the internet, it's no longer a case of - oh, only a few local people will see it. People from all over the world can go on line and read articles. I don't want my CHUMs in Toronto to think I've lost my mind.

Why didn't we get more than we asked for?

2008-04-02T13:30:00.002-04:00

It took me this long to write this blog because I was on the floor all this time laughing at a city council which sounds like an insolent child. We should have gotten 35 million dollars in infrastructure funding from the province......but we only asked for 11 million dollars....how dare they not give us our fair share. The Tecumseh-envy that infiltrates Windsor City Council periodically really needs to end. On a per-capita basis, yes, Tecumseh's is bigger than yours - get over it.

Impatient 20 somethings are wearing on my patience.

2008-03-24T18:56:00.002-04:00

I am tired of this 20-something generation which thinks it's entitled to everything.....right now.

Their lack of patience is getting on my nerves. These are the young people who don't move out of the house unless you throw them out. They will mooch off you until they get married and become someone else's problem. In the meantime, most of them are living rent-free, responsibility-free, carefree.

And you parents are not doing them nor us any favors. What kind of a partner are they going to be to someone? You pay the bills. You do the laundry. You buy the groceries. What are you teaching them?

Then, they come into the workforce. They don't believe in working their way up from the bottom. It would never even occur to them. They expect to be the person in charge immediately. They lack a decent work ethic and show no respect to those who paved the way.

To you parents who just want to give your kids everything you can - you're depriving them of one very important thing....a sense of responsibility.

He definitely played football....

2008-03-12T19:18:00.000-04:00

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick definitely played football because he is clearly a believer in 'the best defence is a good offence'. If you caught the tail end of his State of the City address Tuesday night, you witnessed one of the best end runs I've seen in a long time. The man not only did not acknowledge all the trouble he's in THAT HE CAUSED HIMSELF, but he blamed everyone else for his troubles.

What irked me the most was his playing of the race card yet again. Kwame, wake up, whites, blacks, hispanics, asians, most everyone believes you to be at the very least a liar and a cheat.

To use words like "lynch mob mentality" when describing the media just goes too far. (As a matter of fact, I had a listener send in a letter accusing me of "bigotry" because I let a union leader on to talk about jobs and negotiations in our community. I also had on an auto analyst with an entirely different view, but that wasn't good enough for this listener).

Kwame also showed his lack of class by centering out Detroit city council president, Ken Cockrell Jr. A clear case of trying to divert attention.

Give it up, Kwame. It's time to do the right thing and resign.

Life is not fair

2008-02-20T13:10:00.001-05:00

A lot of people will say good-bye to Windsor Spitfires Captain, Mickey Renaud this week. His life ended far too soon when he collapsed and died on Monday. By all accounts, he was a terrific guy. I had the pleasure of interviewing him on a few occasions and found him to be well spoken, polite and a lot of fun.

It seems so unfair that someone so loved, with such a bright future, would be taken so early on. It's especially hard to understand when you see some of the monsters who live to a ripe old age.

But anyone who was fortunate enough to have Mickey in their life, whether it was for 19 years, five minutes or three periods, remember him fondly.

Rest in Peace, Mickey.

love at first sight

2008-02-14T13:48:00.000-05:00

55% of Canadians surveyed say they believe in love at first sight.

The other 45% of us live in the real world.

There is no love at first sight. There is lust at first sight. There is interest at first sight. There is possibility at first sight. But there is NO love at first sight.

Doesn't this just speak to the fantasy world in which so many people live?

There are so many people who want to get married....not because they want to BE married, but because they want a wedding. That fantasy day where the bride dresses in a beautiful white gown (snicker here) and everything is just perfect. Well, that's the last time everything is just perfect.

Love is great, marriage takes work and believing anything else is foolish.

So, if you think you can fall in love with someone as soon as you lay eyes on them, wait until you lay eyes on their underwear they left on the floor and their nose hairs in the sink.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! xoxo

No money for us!

2008-01-17T13:45:00.000-05:00

I've been pondering why the federal government would not contribute 30 million dollars towards the reopening of the Essex Engine plant. After all, it's just a drop from the bucket of surplus they guard. They have helped out other industries in need (and some that weren't). They recently announced a big new funding pot for one-industry towns that might find themselves in dire need. Why doesn't Windsor make the grade?

Then....it hit me. There could be a federal election at any time. Is Prime Minister Harper trying to send a message to us. And by 'us' I mean those who keep electing those pesky NDP candidates.

Think about it. Is this a not-so-subtle message that Harper has the money to help us out in a big way, but if we ever want to see it, we better elect some Conservatives in this city and get rid of those NDPers who are constantly pointing out the flaws in the current government?

I actually feel sorry for Essex MP Jeff Watson. He no sooner says that good news is just around the corner and Harper does an end run around him. If Jeff Watson, a former auto guy, can't get Harper to understand the importance of the auto industry in this country, and get us the money, then who can?

To run or not to run

2008-01-11T10:35:00.000-05:00

I read with great amusement a local columnist's ramblings about our mayor. It would seem the mayor is quite upset that some city councillors might be considering running for his job. What did you expect? You swore up and down that you would be a two-term mayor - maximum - period.

It seems to really offend the mayor that some councillors seem to be starting their campaigns already when an election is almost three years away. What was the purpose of this article if not to serve notice the mayor might run again. So let me get this straight......it's not okay for councillors to start a campaign, but it's perfectly all right for the mayor to start a campaign. It's not okay for councillors to disagree with the mayor, but it's okay for the mayor to take swipes at unnamed councillors. How fortunate for the mayor that he has a local columnist who is willing to put his musings to print.

By the way, my husband must be psychic. After the mayor said - yet again - three weeks ago, he would only serve two terms, my husband said "don't count on it". He said just wait, Eddie's going to say - there has been great public pressure on me to run again. It's what the people want. I must follow through with the border file. I have asked my husband to buy a lottery ticket.

As for the councillors who say noone can fill Eddie's shoes - speak for yourselves. You may not be leadership material, but that does not mean there aren't others in our community who could skillfully run this city. I'm inclined to agree with those who are mentioning the name Larry Horwitz.

As for comments that there is not a united front on council....thank goodness! There should be debate. There should be differences of opinion. These are difficult issues our council has to deal with and I would expect there are no easy answers. I'm glad Alan Halberstadt is my representative because he speaks up. I might not always agree with him, but at least he's not afraid to stir the pot. I tend to think the real dissention happens behind closed doors. If this mayor and council would bring more of the issues into the public arena, I think you might find there's a lot more disagreement on council than we're currently led to believe.

In the end, all we have is our word. It's our own choice whether our word is any good.

Asking permission

2008-01-03T13:45:00.000-05:00

I read an article recently that went on about an old tradition that seems to be resurfacing in some places. It has to do with a man asking a father's permission for his daughter's hand in marriage. Even if we say a man asks both parents' permission, I find this a bit disturbing.

It has not even been a century yet since women were considered "persons'. Prior to that, women were considered less than that and in many cases were considered property - first their father's and then their husband's. That's also why in some cultures women were expected to take their husband's last name because she became his property upon marriage. (remember the vows - to love, honour and 'obey').

By holding up this old tradition of asking for the woman's hand in marriage, are we not just perpetuating that old notion that the woman belongs to her father (who gives her away at the alter) and then belongs to her husband. (By the way, you know slaves were forced to take their masters last name, don't you?)

While I understand for many, there is no sinister motive in this ritual, I would ask young women to think about it's implications. Think about why you want to give up your family name. Don't just do things because that's how they were done in the past. Think about it and make the decision for yourself.

Not all traditions make sense.

My first blog

2007-12-18T13:27:00.000-05:00

Dan has been getting on my case about finally putting some thoughts on this blog. My first thought was I want to start out on a positive note. There are lots of things to complain about right now, especially in Windsor, but I want to avoid being one of those bloggers who does nothing but gripe.

Oh, there will be griping along the way....just not today.

Something that has been on my mind lately is how we treat each other. Why is it we're so quick to yell, throw a gesture, give the evil eye to anyone who makes a mistake? I would like to propose a peace treaty. From today until the end of the year, how about we all make the effort to not complain.

This idea is not new. There are anti-complaining campaigns on around the world and I think we should start our own here and now.

I am making a pledge that I will not gripe about anyone's bad driving habits, bad clothing decisions, bad breath. I will not gripe about the weather, the reruns on t.v., or my favourite gourmet store being out of my favourite brownie mix.

I will, however, call 311 if you don't shovel your sidewalk. I consider this an allowable exception.

Every time I break this pledge, I will put a dollar in a jar and donate all of the money to a charity.

Are you with me? If we can accomplish this through the end of the year, I think 2008 is going to be our best year ever!