JoyfulC

Fair example of flamenco v. belly dancing -- they both sprung from the same culture.

Oh man. Ohmanohmanohman. This rocks.

It's not true that those who have died of H1N1 "were very weak, or very immunosuppressed." The lad who died earlier this week was a healthy 13-year-old hockey player. I'm still not getting a flu shot, but I did find an excellent article in the Globe & Mail that describes symptoms, window of contagion, and how to tell if things are getting serious: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/h1n1-swine-flu/a-closer-look-at-how-the-virus-works/article1341054/

Someone would actually go to a dinner party where neither politics nor religion was discussed?? BORING!! Remember back to junior high school literature -- literature must contain at least one of the following conflicts: man against man, man against nature, man against himself. Otherwise, FAIL!

I think those of us who've been around a while are getting a little bored of every year's latest flu hype. Seriously, this has been going on since the seventies. What's worse, one year, they'll have a shortage of vaccine, and then they advise otherwise reasonably healthy people that they don't need one, and the next year, they'll have a glut, and they'll be insisting everybody needs one. I think I read somewhere recently that, despite ever increasing numbers of flu shots given annually, the rate of deaths from complications of flu has remained stable. I'm inclined to believe that -- not necessarily because I think the vaccines don't work, as that I think our lives are becoming more and more complicated every year (with respect to what we do, where we go, who we meet, what we eat, the amount of distractions in our lives, the stress, being kept alive longer through various medical interventions, etc.), and that's bound to have an effect on the average immune system walking around out there. I've never gotten a flu shot, and I won't be getting one now. It is a personal decision, and so I feel it would be wrong for someone to try to talk someone else into or out of getting one. If a person is on CERB, they're on the interweebs. They have access to plenty of information to base their decisions on.

Anyone here on Google Wave? I just got my invite! I'm [email protected] .

Sometimes it's just best to bring your happy smile. I had a session with a guy this afternoon that, while he isn't one of my biggest spenders, is certainly one of my favourites. He's just a happy, joyful guy to be with. And I like that more than anything. In years past, I've received everything from perfumes (and really, I can't wear perfume -- it's a professional thing), to flowers (... I've mentioned my cut flower nightmare -- the one with the aliens?), to books (used to love them, but presbyopia now prevents me from reading hard copy books), to jewelry (don't wear it), to lingerie (...anyone who's ever met me would know why it's hard to buy lingerie for me -- I am an odd size), to wines and liquers (nice, but I prefer to make my own ;-), to chocolates (ditto), to cash -- and hey, that's what you give me anyway, eh? Some of my favourite gifts in recent years were drawings that friends made for me, poems they wrote for me, jams or pickles or baked goods that they made up themselves (I do like to eat, but avoid commercial and processed foods). One guy brought me a cactus and some hot wings -- ... what do you suppose he meant by that? (still, I enjoyed them) My absolute best all-time gift was a friend who sang and performed "Mountains of Mourne" for me on his harmonica. In his underwear. I'll never forget that as long as I live! I was in tears!!

After nearly 30 years of missed Thanksgivings, mismanaged Thanksgivings, and mangled Thanksgivings, we FINALLY had a decent one this year. The secret? Well, first... remembering it was Thanksgiving before it was too late. And the other thing is, we brined our turkey. For once, it came out moist, tender, juicy and delicious! I'm not sure what happened to the pumpkin pie, though. I figured I'd catch a nap after dinner and when I woke up later, I was still full. This morning I was informed that "we're out of pumpkin pie." Somebody around here certainly has my alter-ego of appetite.... Thank goodness we here have so much to be thankful for (... or we wouldn't be here, I guess).

A preacher's daughter! THAT I never would have guessed!! Oh no, you misunderstood me. I don't think streetwalkers should be able to solicit. I don't think telemarketers should be able to phone us up and bother us. I don't think spammers should be able to fill our mailboxes with junk. I don't think fax spammers should be able to use our paper and electricity to print their ads so they can make money. I definitely don't think cosmetics sales people should be able to squirt me with smell stuff as I walk by -- ick! And I also don't think the Witlesses and other door-to-door canvassers should be able to knock on our doors any old time they feel like it. This is the 21st century. If you're selling something or looking for donations, have some class and advertise in a way that is least invasive and most respectful of your prospective customers. I wish all businesses would advertise as we do -- we have our web sites, and we have ads in the proper sections of proper web sites or printed directories. No one has to be bothered with us UNLESS they want to. Our customers seek us out -- we don't pester them. I just say no to any sort of advertising or solicitation that finds it necessary to interrupt me and waste my time. I have no problem with print/display advertising (eg. on-site advertising) as long as it's not invasive (like the kind the pops up and blocks what I'm reading). Print/display advertising makes much of the free content we enjoy online possible, and allows me to choose whether or not I wish to look at it. That is respectful. Tried that. They didn't answer the phone. I think the Witlesses are into 1-way communication. They'd probably think that if they let my dog out and it got run over by a truck, it was part of god's plan. I used to have a sign on my door at the first place we met. It advised people coming to my door that unless they had an appointment or were delivering a package, they should not ring my doorbell. Never fazed the Witlesses -- nor numerous other canvassers who apparently decided that their causes were so worthy, they didn't need to respect my expressed wishes. I ended up taking it down, though, because apparently not all couriers and package carriers read so well. A few of them saw the sign, and left!

I don't believe it! The doorbell rang about 10 minutes ago. A Jehovah's Witless opened our back gate, strolled into our yard and rang the doorbell -- leaving the gate open so our dogs could get out near a busy intersection!!! And when my husband brought this to his attention, he didn't even blink -- just launched right into his speel! This is outrageous. (Not the least of which because he could have come to the front door without putting our dogs at risk.) These people behave with utter rudeness and inconsideration. We have always tried to be polite and tolerant of them, although it's highly unlikely that we're going to hop on the bandwagon to join a religion that requires us to treat our fellow man with a complete lack of regard and respect. We figure surely no true god would think that was a good idea. But we don't tell them to "fuck off!" or insult them. We usually just say, "no thanks, we have our own very private faith." We try to be polite because we do understand that their religion demands that they actively proselytize. But surely there are less invasive ways for them to do this? Where is the government to protect us from this public nuisance and threat to our privacy and security on our property? The government regularly runs sweeps on streetwalkers and johns for being public nuisances. The government has set up a no-call list for telemarketers, and apparently has enforced the new laws a couple times recently. Where is their response to this ongoing nuisance to just about all Canadians everywhere? Surely their religious rights don't trump our rights in our own home? Grrr! I guess we'll take to locking the back gate. We rarely lock our doors -- we're not very materialistic and we've always figured if burglars ever got in, they'd leave us a few bucks out of pity before leaving empty-handed. (Those who've been to my home know what I mean!) But now, we have come to the conclusion that we'll have to lock our gate to protect us from the rudely religious. What a world!

I was never that impressed with him in he first place -- I was uncomfortable with the "American Idol" style of hysteria over him. I am an American myself (... well, technically, on paper -- I've been here for the better part of three decades, so I'm probably more Canadian than American now), but the truth is, a big part of the problem with the United States is the American people themselves. But they'll never vote for anybody who comes right out and tells them that to their faces. Too, anyone who dares to take on any of the big lobbies will find his (or her) shoelaces tied together every time they turn around, and photoshopped pics of him/herself in bed with sheep (and not on top). And the American people are easily duped by this. So anyone who speaks the truth to the American people will never get elected. And anyone who dares to take on the powerful interests that are killing the nation will be made to look a fool or a scoundrel in front of a gullible American public, who will swallow it hook, line and sinker. So that really doesn't leave much hope, does it. I actually believe that the US is in a civil war. I'm sure it will get much worse, but when historians look back at this time, they'll see that it had already started by now.

Hmmm, that's funny. I thought I heard somewhere the President Obama wasn't born in the US. ;) (Seriously, I'd be thrilled if President Obama survives this term. There are some scary people down there. Showing up to political rallies with weapons?? Yeeks!)

I've been popping in here from time to time, and I can't help but notice how polite and civil people here are. Much more than, say, Parliament. Or Congress during President Obama's address. I think we should send MOD south of the border and run him for President in 2012. And maybe we should find some hobbyists and ladies here to run as MPs in the upcoming election. The CERB Party of Canada. It has a ring to it! Maybe if we could just get some decent, respectful people into Parliament and Congress, who could be counted upon to lead by example and truly embrace moderation, we could clean up our economy and improve some outstanding issues. (Hell, I'd settle for some CERBies on the Ottawa City Council!)

Oh yes, I agree with you on that! In fact, some of the stuff coming out of the States these days is mind boggling. Some of the Christians down there are morphing into Taliban-like critters! Just this morning, I was reading that a movie about Darwin can't find a distributor in the US because so many of these Christian types have decided that evolution is bunk and that Darwin is an evil man. ??? And elsewhere, I read that they have a "Creation" museum where Christian parents can take their kids for a day of dumbing down, totally confusing them on anything they might learn in science class. It's absolutely unbelievable. And, like the Taliban, while Christians make a great show of respecting women, it's a facade. Women are cherished and protected -- as long as they're good little chihuahuas and behave their masters. Jimmy Carter recently turned his back on his Southern Baptist church after deciding that Christianity -- as with most major religions -- at its heart doesn't truly view woman as a man's equal in god's eyes. So what you're saying is, if we can prove by demonstrating that we're testing clean, repeatedly for years, with myriad sex partners, we might convince someone? Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working with climate change, evolution, and countless other issues. Some people are determined to steadfastly remain ignorant in the face of heaps of evidence. And many of those same people will continue to distribute misinformation and stigmatize SPs for their choices. There's an old saying in skydiving: "You ask me why I skydive. For those who've done it, no explanation is necessary. For those who haven't, no explanation is possible." Might be the same with us! But definitely, I admire you for taking it on! Bravo!

Oh! I'm sorry for hijacking your thread. I think I misunderstood the question to be 'have you ever been called?' instead of 'have you ever legitimately been called?' As is probably obvious, the calls from those who have guilty minds and imaginary symptoms that justify them putting me out of commission for a few days, but not enough to go get tested themselves, are a touchy subject with me. I often wonder if they're too embarrassed to go, and figure they'll have me go first to see if it's really necessary. Sort of like the canary in the coal mine. Dummpy, forgive me, but you seem inordinately concerned with the health issue. You once mentioned that your family doctor refused to treat you as frequently as you wanted even when he knew why you felt such frequency was necessary. If you've never tested positive for anything and always take precautions, do you think perhaps you could be overdoing it a little? Granted, it's a very important issue and one we all face here -- but you seem obsessed with it to a degree I've rarely seen.

I would never chance to accept as a client someone I knew in another capacity -- such as, say, an owner of a shop I frequent, or someone who works on my car, or my accountant, etc. Nor would I turn to a client for services. That has the potential to get messy. I have also refused appointments with people who I knew lived in my close neighbourhood. But on the other side of the coin, some of my best friends are my clients. It's still a proscribed friendship -- it's not like I can call them up to chat any time of the day or can expect to be invited to their home for Thanksgiving dinner. I'm married; they're married. But we correspond, share thoughts. I have a few clients who know my husband, cat and dogs very well, and who come for the day with a session in there somewhere, and stay for dinner, maybe a walk by the river. Obviously it's not like this with everyone. The clients who are like this generally are older and have a much easier grasp on things. I've also found myself in situations with clients. I used to participate in some federal regulatory consultations on behalf of my association, and often found myself sitting in a room with one or more clients. Everybody was discreet and no one was the wiser. And I've run into clients in various situations -- again, everyone behaves as they would meeting any other stranger, so no problem.

I have been phoned a couple times -- and every time, I had to cancel all appointments until I got checked out. I always checked out clean. So essentially, I took a hit for a figment of someone else's imagination. Unfortunately, there are some mentally weak characters around who have their fun and only afterward begin to think about what might have gone wrong. Paranoia sets in, and next thing you know, they're imagining symptoms. But they don't go to their doctor or local clinic -- no. They phone the SP and suggest that SHE should! This is extremely irresponsible. The last time it happened was in the mid-90s. The activities involved weren't such that it would be likely to result in any transmission of any kind. But I get the call. I asked him why he didn't go in and get checked before phoning me, and he said something to the effect of "I dunno..." Real cerebral! I got checked, no problem -- except for the loss and inconvenience it caused me. A few months later, he phones to make an appointment. I asked him what happened when he went in to get checked, and he says he didn't bother, since I didn't get back to him to let him know I had tested positive! Outrageous! And even then, I think he was shocked when I told him I didn't ever want to see him again. Back in the 70s, one of my clients phoned me up one day, screaming and threatening me, because I gave him the clap and he gave it to his wife. I went and got tested. Negative. I got treated the same day I got tested on this guy's word that he had tested positive. The calls and harassment continued -- and back in those days, the cops were pretty unsympathetic. Then abruptly they stopped. A few months went by and he calls me up all nicey-nice for an appointment. I was shocked! After explicitly describing how he was going to beat and kill me in raging phone calls at all hours of the day and night, did he really think I'd agree to see him again? Oh that. He explained. Shortly after the last time he'd seen me, he had sex with his wife. A few days later, he developed symptoms. Believing his wife to be faithful, and since I was a pro, he assumed that I'd given it to him and he gave it to his wife. He confessed to her that he'd seen a prostitute, and they got treated. But turns out, wifey had a boyfriend, which of course she didn't mention during the confession phase of the deal. Wife didn't tell boyfriend. A little while later, wife is with boyfriend again, then comes home and sleeps with husband -- guess what? Reinfection! So frankly, although it's rare, my experiences have led me to believe that getting a call from someone isn't a reliable indicator. If it were the health agency, that would be different.

Trust me, it's not the boobs that count, but the nipple sensitivity. I've had no boobs and I've had larger boobs. It's the nipples that count. (And lots of guys have great nipple sensitivity.)

One thing that has always annoyed me is when someone says that prostitutes are "selling themselves" or "selling their bodies." As if that is somehow wrong. What is a neurosurgeon selling? An astronaut? An airline pilot? An actor? A chef? A computer programmer? I don't know anyone who could get his job done without a body, and so it's fair to say that they're "selling their bodies" as much as I do! My work requires my mind, my body AND my personality. I can't send my body off to work without the rest of me -- without the knowledge and skill I've acquired, without my senses, without my people skills, without my heart. So why would anyone think it's wrong for me to "sell myself"? Perhaps because they think I'm selling something I don't have a right to? That's what I suspect. I believe that many religions are based on the notion that women are not valid people -- that we're somehow less than men, and that men should own and control us, as they would children or cattle. And that makes me sick. As for the Salvation Army, in these times of terrorism and security fears, one has to wonder about a religious group with such a militant name. The government protects the religious, but leaves the secular (either atheists or people of faith with no religious affiliations and no desire to see religion used as a basis for law and policy) to twist in the wind. We need to speak up to our leaders and let them know that we aren't going to take being walked on and bullied by Christians any more than we would from any other religion. If they want our vote, they must extend protection to us under the law. It should be illegal for religious people to harass secular persons minding their own business.

I always thought "spinner" was a take-off on "spinning" or indoor exercise cycling. I never realized it meant skinny -- I thought it simply meant fit, perhaps even athletic. You learn something new every day!

Just finished Lynne Truss' "Talk to the hand: the utter bloody rudeness of the world today, or six reasons to stay home and bolt the door." I loved it! Very British flavour, but she's got to be my identical twin, separated at birth. Her reactions were so similar to my own! I couldn't find anything to disagree with. When I told my daughter I had downloaded this book, she said, "you don't really need any more reasons to stay home and bolt the door!" She's right about that. I try not to go out and face the rudeness unless I absolutely have to. I'm definitely from another generation.

Thanks, Kate -- that might be it. I'll contact the site and see if I can get a preview before buying anything in DVD or VHS, though (ancient technologies!). BTW, there's an excellent site called http://www.FreeDocumentaries.org that carries quite a few good ones. Unfortunately, not this one, though.

Thanks. No joy on a half dozen different search criteria so far, but looks like a valuable resource.

The summer of 2002, when I was in Alberta, I caught a documentary on TV one afternoon that I would really like to see again. The documentary covered the MEDIA COVERAGE of the Bernardo trial. NOTE: NOT THE TRIAL OR THE CASE, but the media coverage of it. I may have seen it on A&E, but I'm not sure, as we had some unfamiliar channels out there. Thanks in advance if you can point me to the name of this documentary, or anything else that would help me find it.

I think you were way too nice, and too bad for him if it wasn't good enough. There are some risks involved in our meeting someone new -- physical risks, legal risks, and monetary risks. Men are supposed to be bigger and stronger than we weak females -- and so I really don't think it's asking too much for them to meet us halfway and accept their own share of risks. But if they think it is too much, then let them see those chicks who are so desperate that they're willing to take the greater share of risks. And let them too question why an SP should be willing to do so. (...maybe she doesn't have much repeat business? Hmmm....)