another lisa

Tuesday - final youth event planning meeting... dinner with Eric.

Wednesday - took my mom to the eye doctor, then had lunch with her...

Thursday - attended "meet the teacher" night for Oliver and Zoe...

Friday - Zoe and Oliver helped chip the car out of deep ice - then headed to courthouse to file court documents...

Saturday - spent most of the day and evening helping to coordinate another OWL weekend at our church... teaching a group of youth sex ed information.

Sunday - finally went to see Broke Back Mountain - very depressing sad movie! (but well done)

This year's Olympic's is spotlighting women in several ways. I thought it was amazing to see eight women carry in the Olympic flag at the opening ceremonies. What a great moment!

For the first time in history, women from different backgrounds, cultures and professions, all with strong civil commitments carried the flag together into the stadium. Eight women representing all women in the world symbolizing peace, fraternity and communication among cultures.

These women included: Sophia Loren: Italy - Actress, Goodwill Ambassador UNHCR, Cinema icon, winner of two Academy Awards, in 1960 for best actress and 1991 for her career; Isabel Allende: Chile - Writer and journalist, greatest Latin-American writer, her books are translated in over 30 languages. Founder of Isabel Allende Foundation, supporting education and protection of underprivileged women and children; Nawal El Moutawakel: Morocco - 400-meter hurdles gold medalist, Los Angeles 1984, First African Muslim woman to win an Olympic gold medal; Susan Sarandon: United States - Actress, Goodwill Ambassador, United Nations refugee agency, One of the most acclaimed actresses of the international panorama of the movie business, winner of one Academy Award (1995), liberal and pacifist; Wangari Maathai: Kenya - Environmentalist, Peace Nobel in 2004, Founder of Green Belt Movement (against the uncontrolled deforestation). Since 1977 has planted over 10 million trees in Kenya. She is Minister of Environment and Natural Resources in Kenya; Manuela Di Centa: Italy - Nordic skiing, seven gold medals, she participated in four Olympic Games, winning two gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals. IOC member; Maria Mutola: Mozambique - 800-meter gold medalist in Sydney 2000, the woman from Mozambique to win an Olympic gold medal; Somaly Mam: Cambodia - Human rights activist, Founder of AFESIP Acting for Women in Distressing Situations. Has been fighting for years against sexual mistreatment of the Cambodian young women.


Canada has two medals so far, both held by women. It was neat seeing Jennifer Heil win the gold for women's moguls - she was so proud to see the Canadian flag go up and she even sang the anthem!














And have you seen the women's hockey team? Wow! They are amazing. What kills me is that some people are complaining that they are getting too many goals. Apparently getting huge scores against the Italians and Russian women's teams isn't "nice". Can you imagine sports commentators saying that about men's hockey? Give me a break!

On Saturday Sarah announced she was buying a laptop. So we went to three stores, compared what they had to offer, and she ended up with a Compaq, 15 inch widescreen, which means it's actually pretty big. But she is happy to have her very own computer, which means now Amelia and Oliver are pretty much the only people sharing a computer. (I use Eric's occasionally as I leave my laptop at work)

The other technological craze at our house is in the form of ipods. Dorothy and Eric both have one, and they both seem obsessed with getting a huge collection of music on them. Personally I don't see the appeal of listening to music when on a bus or out for a walk. Maybe I should try it sometime.

We finished the 4th season of Six Feet Under. Overall we have really enjoyed this show - it is sometimes sad, frightening and disturbing. But it is also very interesting, moving and funny. You can't quite like any of the characters as they all have huge flaws, but you can't help liking them a bit because they are so imperfect. Kind of like real people, eh?

Now we are mostly watching the Olympics. Go Canada!

I think last weekend I was having a bout of depression linked to the death of our friend's son. Our kids aren't so far from his age, and it hit hard. I had to keep the office going for a couple of days, but when Saturday arrived, for the first time I had a chance to actually think about it all. I was very touchy and upset all day, and when my daughter Sarah walked in around 11 pm with a FACE PIERCING I totally lost it.

This is the kid who told me a few nights earlier she was going to look for a better job. Like maybe in an office. Now the tally of her self decoration includes 3 tattoos (all in places you can't see), about 8 ear piercings, and a stud below her lip. *sigh* I have always respected her choices in the past, but this time I somehow couldn't stand what she had done.

Later on I apologized to her - yes - it's her body - yes - she is over 18 - it's her life etc... blah blah blah... but it reminded me of how I felt when Amelia quit her job a few months ago. I feel like shaking them or hitting them over the head with a metaphysical two-by-four.

They are goofing off - wandering around with no direction in their lives - whining about how crappy things are - with no initiative, no real plans - no goals. They have no idea that life is precious, a gift, and something to celebrate. At least Dorothy and Zoe have some plans, some initiative... although they tend to be more anxious/depressed than Sarah and Amelia.

I guess they are just acting like teenagers. And I guess I am acting like an old fogey. Crap.

This past week has been so sad. A friend of mine (whom I work with) lost his son last week on Thursday to cancer. The funeral was on Wednesday this past week at All Saints Westoboro Church.

Hundreds of people showed up and it was a very moving service. My friend's wife is a minister at the Anglican church (like Episcopalian I think), and the service was held at their church. She actually gave a small talk (or sermon) which was quite a mix of memories and hope for the future. My friend then got up to do a prayer, but actually read a few funny poems in his sons memory. He asked me later if that was shocking, but I told him it was just perfect and that Ian would have loved it. Ian had a great sense of humour.

The overall sadness and patheticness of our lives has been pretty blatant to me this week. As I meet new clients or talk to old ones, I just want to give them a shake and say "count your blessings". Stop complaining about who got the time share in the separation and thank God you are alive and have your health. Be here, right now. Forget the bad things from the past and move on.



Last Sunday we took some youth from our church to visit another church across the border in Canton, New York. It was really nice meeting another group and we hope they will come to visit us in Ottawa sometime soon. We had a great trip and they gave us lunch. Discussions included what kind of candy they have - they don't have caramilk or kit kats or smarties! We were thinking about bringing chocolate bars next time.

Sometimes life is just unrelenting. Two difficult situations are happening in our lives.

A close colleague of mine went with his wife and daughter-in-law this morning to the emergency. His son (in his late 20's) has been struggling with cancer for many months and now is on life support due to the complication of pneumonia. We are all trying to keep calm and keep the office running, while waiting to hear news. Please keep Ian in your thoughts and prayers.

One of our extended family members (age 22) is dealing with severe psychotic symptoms which may be the result of the onset of mental illness or extreme drug use. We aren't sure what the cause is, but at this point it doesn't really matter. She needs help. We are trying to provide as much support to her and her mom as we can.

I am thinking of going home, rounding up the kids, hugging them, and then running away with them to some warm spot to just enjoy life together.