Video Blogging Part 2

This is Steve's best friend Paul, entertaining me at the airshow. Horay Paul!

Video Blogging Part 1

This is my mom in our condo in Vancouver, surprised to be caught on camera.

Pirahnas!

There are my mom's pet Pirahnas, named Hambone and Meatloaf. We're trying to sell them on Craigslist, so the photo was necessary.

They're quite photogenic.

The one on the left is smiling. He has no teeth. And only one eye. Meatloaf ate it.

Home on the Range

I'll interrupt your regular morning to let you know that I'm off for the weekend, jet setting to my favorite place in the world, Vancouver. Why are you looking at me like that? Hey - I never said that being the daughter of a flight attendant and getting stupidly cheap passes was easy. I suffer. I mean, I only get to sit first class SOME of the time. The privilege comes with responsibility, my friends. Responsibility.

In any case, I'll be back home on the West Coast until Monday night. I haven't seen my family since April and it's been a long awaited visit. Not only has my first week of teacher's college completely killed my perception of being a puttering teacher dressed in bright print shirts with little whales embroidered on the pocket, with time to plant gardenias in window pots and lovingly care for a class pet ... I'll be lucky if I have time to shower. And, well, I miss home. I'll update with pictures, stories, and a bit more about becoming a teacher when I get there.

May every aircraft fly safely ...

B.

9/12

What happened the day after 9/11?

It's a topic that gets talked about and talked about and talked about. No one can say we're flogging a dead horse, because that wouldn't be sensitive (and they're right). But there's only so much that we can say about something for which no words exist.

I was in my 'drama for teachers' class this afternoon and we were discussing our thoughts on 9/11, where we were when it happened, etc. A bunch of people agreed that they refused to watch the 9/11 movies because it would be American propaganda, that no one should be allowed to make a profit off of such a tragic event. People have good reasons not to go and see the movies ... but I disagree completely.

One of the strongest tools that people to heal and grieve and memorialize tragedy (both personal, and in this case, international) is through ritual and art. Children draw pictures. We hold remembrance day assemblies. We attend funerals. We make scrapbooks. We recite poetry. We gather together in a public way and share our grief.

Theatre (which is my real interest in the matter) has been used as a way of sharing and expressing sorrow since its earliest roots in tribal ritual. We recreate pain to share it. We represent events in a real and safe way. We create something tangible out of our fears. Who is to say that making movies is not rooted in the same instinctive function?

I'm not saying that the 9/11 movies are good. But I have to defend our right to create art out of tragedy. A movie like WTC or United 73 is someones way of saying "this happened. This affected us and changed us and changed our world" It creates a collective outlet and a communal memory of an event. It gives meaning to something that is destructive. It allows us to feel.

This is starting to get wordy and I'm sorry. I guess it's something that I believe strongly in and I hope I've articulated it in a way that makes sense. I watched United 73 with steve a few nights ago and although it was hard to watch, I felt like it was an important part of my own healing. There was so much sincerity in it. I have a lot of respect for that.

I wish I could have said all of this in class.

In Memory

2996 people died 5 years ago.

I'd like to remember them all, although I didn't know anyone connected to the tragedy. I will try tomorrow to find some peace inside of myself that the world so desperately needs right now.

Other people are conducting memorials far more impressive than my own. I came across a fantastic project called "2996" - where 2996 volunteer bloggers each research and write a short entry celebrating the life of someone who died in the attacks.

I was particularly struck by two young brothers (aged 6 and 4) named Ben and Noah, who were selected to write a memorial for Mr. Lester Vincent Marino, and decided to name the tree house in their backyard in his honour. Visit their page if you have time.

http://treefortenterprises.com/

I will grieve tomorrow for the men and women who can be seen, in several photos, jumping from the towers, which is the image that I cannot shake from my memory even 5 years later. I can't imagine what people went through that day. I hope that their families have found peace. I hope we all can.

The First Day of School

I've never been a New Year's Eve observer. Although I'll join in on the midnight kissing, my fresh start doesn't happen on January 01. The true start of every year in my life has been marked by something else entirely - 'back to school'. The smell of new notebooks and the bright white of a brand new pair of gym shoes makes me feel excited. I love how freshly scrubbed everything (including me!) is. I love new outfits and new agendas and new classes and new friends.

Today was my first day of school in my B.Ed program at the University of Toronto. All in all, it was pretty status quo and all the usual suspects were present: the motivational assembly (where the music of Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" ushered us into the auditorium ... huh?). The new teachers. The picking up of the student loan documents. Nothing really remarkable happened. Why then, did I feel all goosebumpy all day? Why did I want to burst into some sort of emotional display of happiness (tears, singing, etc)? I can't wait to be a teacher. It sounds stupid, but I knew as soon as I walked into the building that I was doing the right thing for my life.

I don't really have much to say right now, except that I hope everyone has a good first week back - whether you're a teacher, a student, starting a new job or simply pulling your favorite fall jacket out of the closet. Summer is coming to an end, but everything feels like spring; fresh and new. I'm so lucky to have chosen a profession where I get to experience this renewal every time september comes around.

How To Bother Me

Here's how to make me REALLY GRUMPY: Complain to me about something that I have absolutely no interest in. It makes me even more mad if I have no idea who you are. It's the worst if you're a crazy old woman. And if I've just worked a 12 hour shift and don't feel like listening to crazy people on my commute home ... well, I can't help it, can I - we're both sitting at the same bloody stop. So I make eye contact with you, crazy woman, and that was my first mistake.

I'm sorry that the Food Building at the CNE doesn't give out free samples any more. I'm sorry that the roller coaster was dismantled in favour of a soccer stadium. I'm especially sorry that you came all the way from Scarborough to see the Chinese Lantern Festival because you had a coupon from the Toronto Star and you forgot to check if it was even open today. It wasn't, and I'm sorry. No, really - I take full responsibility for your pain. Please lower your voice, you're starting to yell. Better yet, please PLEASE stop talking to me. I only work at the casino, and no, we no longer have dollar tables and I'm sorry about that as well. Forget I said anything. You should probably go comb your hair and makes some friends, you witch

Love,
Bri

Work in Progress

Hi Kids,
I'm working on it. I got blogger's new beta version on my computer and I'm playing around with the colours, layout, etc ... all in good time. Sorry if things look a little rough for now :)

-Bri