Stitching Lotus

Not Dead, Just Blocked

Posted on September 1, 2006 by Heather

It has been quite a while since I have posted an entry here. I haven’t grown tired of my blog–I’ve developed an awful case of writer’s block. And you know it’s bad because I can’t even write about my life.

With the start of a new month and the start of the last quarter of the year (and Samhain, the end of the Wiccan ritual year, just around the corner) I feel that it is time to reassess my New Years Resolutions and other goals. That means more writing, and less looking for excuses. I’ve also started taking a meditation course, which is helping to encourage this reassessment. So, with luck and dedication, you will soon see more entries from me, and more updates to The Lotus Pond too.

Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me during these times of infrequent postings.

3 Comments | Posted in Site News |

Staying Grounded for Now

Posted on August 12, 2006 by Heather

I don’t like to fly. I know the physics behind flight, but I still feel like it shouldn’t work. I suppose you could say that I just don’t believe that the plane is actually going to stay in the air, and every time it hits a patch of turbulence, I’m sure the the laws of physics have decided that planes really shouldn’t fly…

Since 9/11 I have had even more reasons to have flying–I am treated like a terrorist every time I travel by plane. I must take off my shoes and be submitted to a scan; I must be prepared to open by bags for inspection; I must be sure not to look suspicious (whatever that means); I must be at the airport hours early just so I can be treated like a terrorist. It’s no wonder airlines are losing money. Who would want to pay for the privilege of being treated like a criminal?

With the arrest of terror suspects in the U.K. this week, new regulations have been implemented. Now, at least in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K., liquids and gels are banned from carry-on luggage. Restricted items include:

All beverages (so no water for those dehydrating flights of long waits; good news for the restaurants in the waiting areas)
Shampoo (I hope hotels will start providing better shampoos and conditioners)
Suntan lotion
Creams (Ladies, remember to toss out that bottle of hand cream floating around in the bottom of your purse)
Hair styling gel
Any item of similar consistency

Thankfully, items like baby formula and breast milk are still being allowed, at least for the time being. However, Canada’s Federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon has said that more items are likely to be banned. It has also been suggested that passengers should pack their laptop computers into their checked bags. I refuse to do that until checked bags are treated more carefully. And apparently women shouldn’t wear high heels. I can’t image why. Perhaps there is a fear that the heel will be used to stab someone?!

At lunch yesterday I told quanta that I have no intention of flying any time soon. I don’t want to be treated like a terrorist, nor do I want to have to check my bag if I am taking a short flight. (How long until carry-on bags aren’t allowed at all, I wonder…) Only a few hours later, my boss hinted that I will taking a flight up north within the next couple of weeks. I wonder how I will stand by my principles, make my boss happy, and still be able to get on the airplane.

2 Comments | Posted in Media & Politics |

Ben Jonson (and me) on Words

Posted on August 5, 2006 by Heather

Ben Jonson (the poet, not the athlete) once wrote that poor speech discredits both the speaker and our opinion of his reason and judgement. Today, when so much of our communication is done over the Internet via writing, I’d like to expand Mr. Johnson’s statement to include poor writing as well.

Yes, I know I’m not the world’s best writer. Sometimes I use words wrong, and my grammar and sentence structure can occasionally use some work. And, of course, there is my atrocious spelling ability. (Thank goodness for spell check!) But at least I make an effort to express myself as clearly as I am able. I wish the same could be said for everyone.

As a lover of words, a logophile, it brings a tear to my eye when I see a message on the Internet that has been hopelessly mangled. No capital letters, no attempt at punctuation or grammar, and forget about using spell check! The computer would probably start to smoke if you even tried.

As a Wiccan, I am aware that words have power. By using words poorly, both in speech and writing, who knows what we might be conjuring up. I don’t mean to suggest that we should police our expression, but rather that we should be more careful about writing clearly and saying exactly what it is we mean to say. Lately, I have noticed that I have a tendency to use words like “crap” very often when I am speaking, and that doesn’t go a long way towards accurately reflecting who I am or what I want in my life.

I know I sound like a crotchety old woman, well before my time I might add, by we have such a beautiful language, capable of such a wide range of expression in both its written and spoken form. It seems a shame to me that so many people don’t even try to use it to a fraction of its full worth.

Here are some interesting links that fellow logophiles and grammar police may enjoy:

2 Comments | Posted in Me, the Writer |

(Not So) Sweet Dreams

Posted on July 19, 2006 by Heather

Once, when my little cousin A was only 3-years old, I asked her what she dreamt about. She told me that she dreamt of lambs. How sweet! And how I wish that I had dreams a lovely as that.

My dreams often revolve around the past. I dream that I am back in university with an assignment due that I didn’t know about, or with an exam for a class I didn’t even know I was taking. I also dream that I am back in the time before I got together with quanta, alone and sad that no one loves me. (It is always wonderful to wake up and find him sound asleep beside me.) Last night I dreamt I was back at the vacation trailer park where I spent many summers as a young girl. I wish I knew why I dreamt so often of the past.

When not dreaming of the past, though, I generally have nightmares. People are hunted and die, buildings collapse, and all manner of bad things happen. None are particularly bloody, but they are generally very disturbing. It is so odd, since I’m not really exposed to those sort of things in my everyday life… well, I do like watching the occasional crime show, like Cold Case Files and American Justice.

I sometimes wish I could have the pleasant dreams that other people mention–dreams of faeries, the divine, what-have-you. Of course, A is now almost 20-years old and probably doesn’t dream of lambs anymore either.

1 Comment | Posted in My Life |

Hotel Hell

Posted on July 4, 2006 by Heather

What did I do this weekend? Take a look at quanta’s blog entry: Sketchy Sheraton.

Now, I don’t consider myself a hotel snob. Some of the best times I had with my parents were in inexpensive hotels like the Knights Inn. (I loved the faux-medieval theme!) But there is no way I will stay at a Sheraton again. I’m also boycotting the Hilton chain, since I have no desire to support the hi-jinxes of a certain duo.

Not surprisingly, there are a few people out there that feel the same way I do:
Boycott Hilton – ‘Cos Paris is heinous

But at least I wasn’t staying at the Westin Harbour Castle.

1 Comment | Posted in The Outside World |

French/Mexican Fusion Food?!

Posted on July 1, 2006 by Heather

Conversation overheard at Toronto’s Cafe Crepe:

Older Woman: So, crepe’s are French, right?
Younger Woman: Yeah, think of them as French burrito.

I just don’t know what to think. I do highly recommend Cafe Crepe though, as it is very tasty. And it is very near lots of great Toronto landmarks, like the Much Music/City TV studios and Active Surplus.

Comments Off | Posted in The Outside World |

The 419 Keyboard

Posted on June 29, 2006 by Heather

I get a lot of spam everyday. I get, maybe, 60 spam messages through the email account that is attached to this website, and probably another 10 spam messages from all my other email addresses. I get messages about everything from stocks to making my (non-existent) penis larger. My personal favourite, though, are 419 Scams, also know as Nigerian Scams. I’ve got some pretty creative letters, and I am always amused when they say they have researched me but still call me “Sir.”

There is a fun website called 419 Eater that posts the results of various scambaiting attempts. My personal favourite has to be John Boko and the Wooden C64. I mean, who wouldn’t want a wooden C64?

Yes, okay, it isn’t nice to string scammers along. Surely it causes harm somewhere along the way. But I can’t help but take a little bit of secret pleasure when I see scammers being strung along.