Tim Russert-Will be missed!

Meet the Press with Tim Russert was a part of my family's Sunday routine. Every Sunday my grandmother, mother, and I would watch the show together. We didn't always stay together as our emotions would kick in and space was needed in order to keep peace in the family. However, we all agreed that the discussions sparked by watching the show were always valuable for our development of opinions in regard to the political world. Now, I am not a politically savvy by any means. The past couple of years I have become more interested and involved because I felt a sense of duty and responsibility of representing my generation.

We had a mix of political parties in our house but as we discussed the issues at hand the lines became blurred and what was important seem to be standing on an even plane undefined by either party line.

Tim asked difficult questions and presented the facts. He was compassionate and unwavering on responses that were unclear or vague. Tim brought pieces of him to the table. I remember his Father's Day meet the press when he talked about his book.He talked about the incredible lessons he learned from his dad and it was so honest and true. His collegues had a deep respect for him. Many Americans had a deep respect for him.

So when the news came in about his passing I knew immediately my grandmother would be devastated. Not only because he was a part of our family network but because his passing reminded her of the great loss she had when her husband died at a young age of 56. He too was a great noble man.

It isn't a democrat or a republican thing. It is a great man lost too early. I am eager to see the tribute tomorrow on Meet the Press. He deserves that tribute from his collegues and many political powers that sat around that table.

My grandmother, mother and I will continue to have our political dialogue on Sunday mornings and we will remember the great man that helped spark the discussion.

Thank you Tim and God Bless! My prayers are with your family. You will be greatly missed.

Happy Birthday Queen Victoria!

I received bad news on Friday. My furniture won't be here until some time next week. It is frustrating. Especially when they told me at 5a.m. on Friday that it was on it's way. I even took off work and cleaned to prepare. I have been sleeping on a blow up mattress since the beginning of the month. Flip and f**cks were fun in college but there is a time and an age when it gets old. The apartment feels empty even though I have attempted to make it cozy.
I have also been wearing the same two weeks worth of clothes that I packed on March 31st. It is hard to feel settled when you don't have your things. It feels like a big camping trip minus the baking soda toothpaste and needing to shovel to take a dump.
This slight misfortune does not reflect my experience in Canada at all though. I have loved every minute in Vancouver. It is simply beautiful. The mountains, the ocean, the blooming flowers, the shops, the boats are all breathe taking. It is hard to focus on work but even that seems to be a great joy. Work hard and play hard. Can't ask for more. Well more money would be nice but walking on the beach is free so I don't mind.
I brought my dogs with me and in hind sight it was probably a bad idea. However, they are getting the socialization that they both desperately needed and they are getting way more exercise. So this has been a great blessing. As soon as they get over the separation anxiety when we are together all will be good.
It is amazing how much responsibility these little creatures can be but they give back so much it makes it worth it.
I just got my garage door opener tonight and a key to the elliptical machine. Now I don't have to run to put a stick in front of the censor every time I want to leave. It is the small things that make me happy.
I do have to get a new travel mug because my dishwasher melted the one I brought.
I don't think I will go camping for awhile that is for sure.
I tried to download my videos from the cross country trip but the photobucket only allows two minute videos and I don't have anything to edit them with...if you know of any free software or downloads I would be grateful if you passed the information along.
Tomorrow I am taking the boys out on a boat to see the whales or whatever else might be out there. Should be interesting. We are celebrating the Queen Victoria's Birthday. Love the provincial holidays. Seems like there is one about every month and Thanksgiving comes a month earlier. Bonus!

Peace!
Katie