Aunty Laura

I got notice this morning that my Aunty Laura had passed away over night. She has been sick for the last couple of months and had been put on palliative care a few weeks ago. Goodbye Aunty Laura, you will be missed.

Aunty Laura and I at my wedding

September 24, 2016

Toronto Island, Ontario

Photo by Stephanie Beach Photography

This is her official Obituary which will be published in the London Free Press on Friday:

Sweeton, Laura Delbridge 
April 5th, 2017 

Born March 13, 1943 and died at home on April 5, 2017. Predeceased by her father Alec, mother Berniece and brother George (Carol). Aunt to Christine (Jason) and Michael (Aimee), and Great-Aunt to Avery and Maya. Bridge player, collector, cat lover and traveler. The funeral service will be conducted at Westview Funeral Chapel, 709 Wonderland Road North, on Sunday, April 9th, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. with visitation one hour prior. Private interment, Exeter Cemetery. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Laura are asked to consider the charity of your choice.

Execut-ing It Up

Last week, in a whirlwind - interview - job offer - contract negotiation - Board vote - start immediately - situation that spanned just four days, I became the Executive Director at The Junction Business Improvement Area. So I didn't really get much of an unemployment break at all. It really is great to be back in a BIA job, I love the concept so much. The title of Executive Director is exciting even if the realities of the position are pretty overwhelming. The neighbourhood itself is awesome, actually it is too cool for me but hopefully I will find my own way to fit in.

By the end of last week a press release introducing me to The Junction BIA Members (see left) had been sent out and people were already welcoming me to the area. The week is starting off with our website publishing the same announcement publicly. You can read it HERE.

Internet Famous

Taylor posted an amazing video of her kids on Facebook and Instagram over the holidays. The little girl is basically teasing her older brother by repeatedly swearing, it was so hilarious that I told so many people about it and showed it a whole bunch of times. Well, shortly after posting it on private social media, Taylor went a bit bigger and added it to YouTube. So, now I can share it here!

She has also signed with a distribution/media company since it was getting so much traffic and starting to make some decent advertising revenue. The plan is that any money made will go into the kids' education funds, and I hope these two consider going to university for media and get into making more viral videos as they get older!!

Accomplished Before Engagement

I ran across the article Getting Married Is Not an Accomplishment at just the right time, wedding planning had been getting me down, I was struggling with a small depressive low, and I was not looking forward to the future. I needed perspective and it was great to read some words that seemed more based in my reality.

Being popped the question is still more celebrated than academic and professional pursuits of women. Yes, college graduations and landing a great career and receiving wonderful promotions are all received with happiness from friends and family, but not even close to the same level of elation received when you announce that you are getting hitched. This is my experience, at least. I am so grateful for the excitement surrounding my upcoming marriage, however, I often wonder why the event of getting married is put on a higher pedestal than the true successes that come along with an education and career.

Despite everything Jason and I are doing to try to take away the parts of a 'traditional' wedding that don't mesh with our personalities, relationship, or personal views. I still struggle with how gendered this event is - especially everyone's reaction to it. I completely notice the same things as the author, Natalie Brooke:

I can’t blame anyone for being more curious about my relationship status than my career, as I too have been guilty of doing the same with other woman. After all, we are all taught through expertly crafted commercials and advertisements that it is of utmost importance for a woman to get a ring put on her finger. Perhaps it’s time for society as a whole to re-evaluate what aspect of women’s lives we put the most value on. In my opinion, getting married should never be put in a higher regard than the academic and professional successes that women work hard to attain.

I have a slightly different reaction though, I DO blame people for being more interested in my relationship, wedding, etc than my career - I work for a really really interesting company!! Jason is constantly asked more about his job than I am. I will do another post on that since it is a longer rant.

You can read the full original article on Huffington Post HERE. Also check out Natalie Brooke's follow-up article: Getting Married Is Not an Accomplishment, But Finding Happiness (In Any Form) Is.

Also, on an end note, I am feeling much better now and wedding planning is exciting again.

Changing Seasons

My dad would be turning 62 today if he was still alive. I had to check all the dates and timelines and birthdays again with my mom on the phone this evening cause I still have a hard time believing that he was only 59 when he died - though I mentioned that fact when I spoke at his funeral, my mind seems to reject it.

I always associate the summer solstice with Dad's birthday since he was born on June 21st. I actually would normally wait until the radio or TV or friends or co-workers started talking about how it was the start of summer and I would know I should call him to wish him happy birthday.

Yes, Father's Day was Sunday, and his birthday is today, and it does feel like it has been a hard few days. It was harder last year when it all landed on the same day. Another difference this year, June 21st isn't the first day of summer. Everyone was talking about it on Monday, yesterday. I didn't know it moved. So, of course, I looked it up online:

A solstice happens when the sun's zenith is at its furthest point from the equator. On the June solstice, it reaches its northernmost point and the Earth’s North Pole tilts directly towards the sun, at about 23.4 degrees. It's also known as the northern solstice because it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Even though most people consider June 21 as the date of the June Solstice, it can happen anytime between June 20 and June 22, depending on which time zone you're in. June 22 Solstices are rare - the last June 22 Solstice in took place in 1975 and there won't be another one until 2203. 

The varying dates of the solstice are mainly due to the calendar system – most western countries use the Gregorian calendar which has 365 days in a normal year and 366 days in a Leap Year. A tropical year, the time it takes the Earth to orbit the Sun completely, is ca. 365.242199 days, but varies slightly from year to year because of the influence of other planets. The exact orbital and daily rotational motion of the Earth, such as the “wobble” in the Earth's axis, also contributes to the changing solstice dates.

I looked at all the summer solstice dates going back almost 50 years and forward more than 30, it usually is June 21st. Besides starting summer on June 20th this year, it always was a full moon, which had everyone quite excited - since it is pretty rare to have these things line up. I didn't notice anything special - just sadness, missing my Dad.

The Strength Of Words

Yesterday I read the brief article followed by the full statement from a sexual assault survivor in California, raped behind a dumpster while she was unconscious. It details a terrifying situation and shows the range of emotions that come with that type of experience: anger, fear, pain, helplessness, confusion, etc. It is detailed and well written. Having spread quickly across the internet it seems that this powerful statement, bravely written, read, and shared by the victim, is having an impact on many people. I don't know what change it might bring but I hope for something.

Read it: 

Here Is The Powerful Letter 

The Stanford Victim

 Read Aloud To Her Attacker

I see myself in her words, or a future child, or a friend or family member and it scares me. With no way to prevent it from this side the reassurance of law and justice provides little comfort when the courts so regularly fail rape victims.

These Are My Guys

I am in a Fantasy NHL Playoff Hockey Pool at work. (We are using the Sportsnet platform.) I have done lots of hockey pools before, but just picking teams on the bracket, never actually choosing players. These are the guys I chose for the first round of playoffs that start tonight. (Hockey playoffs that don't include any Canadian teams! Not a single one made it, which hasn't happened since 1970.)

I first made my picks based on a combination of ESPN suggestions, former Leaf/Ottawa players whose names I recognized, names/teams that I like, etc. I decided that this didn't seem like a winning strategy so I reached out to Rob for some suggestions. I also got a lesson at lunch as to how 'player value points' work and heard about various strategies. I also now have some clarification on how points are determined. Then I made some changes to my original picks to end up with the players above. I wonder how I will do?

This has reminded me of making my Fantasy Baseball Team from the Brantford Expositor when I was really little. You had to cut out the entry form from the newspaper, fill it out, and mail it in. I always got Bon to help me with my picks since I only knew of Roberto Alomar and didn't follow baseball at all. I have no idea why I used to participate in that as a kid but I remember doing it for a couple of years in a row.

Needing Alternatives

Yesterday, in my rant against publicly funded Catholic Schools in Ontario, I referenced that I see one advantage to the system. The positive that I see is that it provides a second school choice and it provides it everywhere.

Growing up some students would switch to attend high school in the Catholic system, which meant taking a bus from Paris into Brantford. Sometimes it was a case of not wanting to attend PDHS, or no longer wanting to attend PDHS, or other reasons. A switch of schools, without having to move, is a nice option to have available.

Without the Catholic Boards across the province there wouldn't really be that place to switch to (or from) if the child or parent felt a change was necessary. Poor behavior, disagreements with teachers or administration, bullying, a bad group of friends, even easier commutes, could all be reasons to leave one school and want to try another.

In Toronto, the main school board offers French Immersion or specialized Academies for kids who are Elementary age. These might work for some kids but not ones struggling academically, there are also Alternative choices. In Toronto these options are available and often fairly close by, in other parts of Ontario that isn't the case.

It is nice to have a second 'normal/basic' school to switch too. It is very difficult to have a child go to a school in a different district than assigned in Toronto. - The Toronto Star wrote an article about this. If I was faced with these types of decisions as a parent I wouldn't switch my child into the Catholic system, but I know lots of parents who would do it or who have done it - it is nice to have that easy alternative.

But is it worth the unfairness it shows to all other religions whose school systems don't get funding and must be run privately? I personally don't think so.

Get Your Crucifix Out Of My Pocket

I cannot believe that the Ontario Provincial Government is still funding a Catholic School Board. (I also think it is amazing that the Lord's Prayer was read in my public school growing up.)

 I read a good piece about this in yesterday's Metro newspaper. I agree with everything that Samantha Emann says, including:

"Publicly funded Catholic schools are unfair to Canada’s many other religious groups and cultures. Funding all religious schools equally would be a logistical nightmare, and in my view, public services should be affirmatively secular." 

"Some Catholic schools’ boards, trustees, teachers and advising clergy have a record of discriminatory, socially regressive efforts to hinder advances made in the interest of student safety and learning."

I hadn't even thought about the cost factor, of course it is more expensive to have both and merging them could save tax payer money. As a tax payer I am angered that my money is going to provide teaching in the Catholic faith but not other religions. It needs to be an all or nothing situation. Apparently British Colombia funds different denominations. I can see that while option would be logistically challenging, at least it is fair. The current system is not fair.

In terms of dismantling it, which I hope happens sooner rather than later, if the percentages listed in the article are correct there isn't strong enough opposition at this time. Yes 51% wanting to end the public funding for Catholic schools is technically a majority but only barely. Also, 38% wanting to continue it is really powerful, and needs to be listened to. I guess it isn't time yet.

I do see one advantage to having the publicly funded Catholic School Board in Ontario - I will post about that tomorrow.

An Excellent Cabinet

People are getting pretty excited about the recently announced Canadian Federal Cabinet. I admit that when reading the Globe and Mail summary yesterday I felt really proud of my country. I am getting excited for the new Liberal parliament under our 23rd Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.

---- From a Facebook post by Alana and Micheal Philips

We have a Minister of Environment and CLIMATE CHANGE.
We have a Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and REFUGEES.

Our Prime Minister is a sci-fi geek.
Our Minister of Health is an actual Doctor.
Our Minister of Families, Children and Social Development is a poverty economist.
Our Minister of Science is an actual Scientist (oh, and she has a Nobel Prize).
Our Minister of Status of Women is an actual woman!
Our Minister of Veterans Affairs is a quadriplegic because he was shot in a drive-by shooting.
Our Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour is a Professional Geologist.
Our Minister of Democratic Institutions is a Muslim refugee.
Our Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities is a Paralympian Athlete.
Our Minister of Defence is a badass war hero, Afghanistan combat vet, and police officer.
OUR MINISTER OF TRANSPORT IS A GODDAMN ASTRONAUT.

Half of our Ministers are women.
Half of our Ministers are men!
Two of our Ministers are people of First Nations (Kwakwaka'wakw, Inuit).
Three of our Ministers were born outside of Canada (India, Afghanistan).
Two of our Ministers are Sikh.
At least one of our Ministers is Muslim.
At least two of our Ministers are Atheist.
One of our Ministers is battling breast cancer (we wish her well).
One of our Ministers is in a wheelchair.
One of our Ministers is blind.
One of our Ministers is openly gay.
One of our Ministers is openly ginger.
Also, Hon. Navdeep Bains has a perfect twirly moustache.

Ritual And Happiness

According to my Book List 2012, I was reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project in February of 2012 and I was quoting it that same month. I really liked the book and have since passed it on to friends to read. Teri liked it. K had a very adverse reaction to it and in fact couldn't finish reading it. I do agree with many of K's points but I still found the suggestions insightful.

I just started another 'self-help' style book by Rubin, Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives. I love rituals and routines (I don't like to think of them as habits, though they are) so it has been an enjoyable read so far.

My love of rituals drew me to the title of a recent Time magazine article: 4 Rituals That Will Make You Happy, According to Neuroscience. As detailed in the article, these rituals are:
- Feeling gratitude
- Labeling negative emotions
- Making decisions 
- Touching 

I am pretty good at the middle two on that list. I am very decisive, which eliminates a lot of the worry, anxiety, and stress that I see in less decisive people. Years of therapy, with various practitioners, has helped me identity things I am feeling and I try to acknowledge them aloud. I don't really like 'touching' and am not a fan of hugging. Luckily, I think Jason fills enough of that component to keep my happy.

The thing that I really really need to work on is the first point of the article - gratitude. It shows up everywhere as an important factor in happiness!! Scientist prove it all the time that it helps with depression and anxiety. It isn't that I take things for granted (though I do) it is just that the idea of gratitude doesn't have a permanent place in my life. Actually, with less and less people practicing religion, rarely does anyone take time to be grateful for the things in their lives. "Things I am grateful for" seems like a boring journal or blog to keep but is scientifically proven as beneficial to do. I need to work on it somehow.

I Want To Be A Media Mogul

Today we visited Hearst Castle. Here is a post of quotes and photos to give you a sense of the experience.

A few months ago, 

while planning for our trip:

Teri: I want to visit Hearst Castle. It is at the bottom of the Big Sur area.
Me: Umm, sure. What is it?
Teri: It's the real life mansion made by the man Citizen Kane is based on.
Me: I haven't see Citizen Kane, is that the "rosebud" one?
Teri: Yes

The night before our castle tour, 

while watching Citizen Kane

Me: This movie is SO GOOD! How have I never seen this before. Hey! Are you even watching it?
Teri: I have seen it before. I am looking up stuff about Orson Welles, the movie, and William Hearst. Hearst did not like the movie.
Me: What?! He was alive when it came out? Yeah, that's insulting.

At the start of our tour, 

looking at the front door:

Me: It looks like a cathedral... It is a bit much. But designed by a female architect, which is super cool. Wahoo, go feminism.

Seeing the part Teri was most excited about,

The Neptune Pool

Teri: Aw, it is all drained. I have the worst luck with pools!
Me: Closed for maintenance last night.
Teri: Or you know, when we were in Washington and the Reflecting Pool was drained for repairs?
Me: Oh yea, that sucked.

Wandering on our own after the tour,

the grounds are beautiful.

Me: Let's get a selfie with the ocean behind.
Teri: Haha, I thought we weren't doing selfies?
Me: No no no, it is no selfie-sticks. I am too lazy to ask someone to take our picture. Oh, let's also get a shot of our feet again, I love all the tile work.

Looking at the gardens,

admiring one of the three guest houses.

Me: Oh, my god! This is a guest house?
Teri: Yeah. Which one is it?
Me: I don't know. There is Casa Del Sol, Del Mer, and Del Monte. Sea, sun, and mountain.
Teri: It is based on the views. So that one over there is Casa Del Mer, it faces the ocean. That back there would be the mountain one, and that means this is the sun?
Me: I guess it faces the sunset nicely. I would totally live in this, as like a house.

As we were leaving,

The Roman Pool.

Me: Huh? There is a modern ladder.
Teri: Yeah, the family can still use the facilities. Even though they donated it to be a museum, the kids come back and swim and stuff.
Me: Man it would be cool to swim in a museum.

All photos above taken by ME with my phone

Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California, USA

A Published Wedding

This is both a Wedding Wednesday post and a Much Overdue Congratulations! If you have been following along with Steph's Photo Blog (link on the Left) than you will already know that she has had some amazing business announcements over the past few months. She is starting to get regularly published in wedding magazine's and blogs! This photo (taken by Dave) is Steph showing her photos in the Spring/Summer 2015 edition of Ottawa Wedding Magazine. She is in a Chapters - her photos are in something that is sold at bookstores! I am so proud of her. You can read more about these recent announcements on her blog HERE.

I also wanted to let you know that Stephanie Beach Photography has been nominated again this year for the Ottawa Wedding Awards. Please vote for her HERE. Voting ends on March 16, 2015.

Goodbye To Bon

--- as given in the morning of Saturday February 28, at William Kipp Funeral Home in Paris at the funeral service for Yvonne Fountain

Hello, for those who don’t know me, my name is Christine Sweeton and Mrs. Fountain babysat my brother and I growing up. However, that description is far too casual for our relationship, as we have always considered her part of our family.

My mother is out of the country but I asked her to write to me about Bon. (I couldn't pronounce Yvonne when I was younger, I don’t know if my family is alone is using that nickname.) My mom described Bon as a third grandmother, which I think fits. I was always strangely jealous when she talked about her actual grandchildren, which she did often because she was so proud of all of them, and excited about their accomplishments.

Almost 30 years ago, my parents moved here and put an ad in The Paris Star looking for someone to care for their one and half year old baby – me. They interviewed people and Bon was the least likely candidate: gruff, a heavy smoker, and seemed old. (She may have looked older 30 years ago, when she wasn't, but then she didn't age. She has looked the same for as long as I have known her.) Well, my parents may have been skeptical but they were taken by how calm and caring she was – and I loved her right away, which sealed the deal. Toddlers often get what toddlers want.

She then became a part of our family. She came over in a moment’s notice when my mom went into labour with my brother, and took care of me. She was a regular fixture in our neighbourhood and often helped other families, like The Smiths, if a kid was home sick.

My family was devastated to hear a few months ago that Bon was sick. She never got sick – she was the one to look after us when we were sick. And the best part of that care, that she gave everyone in her family, was her laugh and her hugs. Her hugs were amazing! So much loved wrapped around you in a sweatshirt – she owned a lot of sweat shirts.

This is something I realized when I got older, thinking back to my childhood, and looking through Facebook photos of her. Yeah, she’s on Facebook and has been for a long time. Bon was always cooler than my parents. It was through Facebook that I discovered she was a night owl. I would be up studying in the middle of the night and she would message me. I couldn't believe she was up so late – she said she always was. When did she sleep? She used to be at our house early in the morning, and she walked there from Willow Street.

She walked everywhere. And when you were with her, you had to walk everywhere too – and not complain about it. She didn't really let us whine about anything, or stamp our feet, or ‘talk back.’ But I would not consider her strict – she was very protective.

 Of everyone I know, she was the most upset when my brother, Mike, joined The Military. In fact, the late night Facebook chats were usually on one of two topics – Was Mike still in the Army? and, When was I going to finally get married? And if you all want the report – it is ‘not yet’ on both fronts.

Becoming Bon's friend as an adult opened my eyes to how strong and dynamic of a woman she was. And also tiny! I don’t know how such a firecracker of a person fit in such a little package. But her love was huge!

It is wonderful to see so many people here to support her family. This is a heartbreaking loss and I hope the good memories of her joy and her strength can give you peace.

TB - Vaccines Again

These are the facts listed on the Measles page of the World Health Organization's (WHO) website:
-- Measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available. 
-- In 2013, there were 145 700 measles deaths globally, about 400 deaths every day or 16 deaths every hour. 
-- Measles vaccination resulted in a 75% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2013 worldwide. 
-- In 2013, about 84% of the world's children received one dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday through routine health services, up from 73% in 2000. 
-- During 2000-2013, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 15.6 million deaths making measles vaccine one of the best buys in public health.

I have posted about vaccinations on Always Standing before:
- The Cost Of Sex
- Flu Shot - Get It
- Put My Arm Where My Mouth Is
- Look! No More Polio

Well, after a high-profile Measles Outbreak in the USA over the last couple of months, the "debate" about vaccinating children is front and center in the news lately. The thing is, it isn't a debate - get your kids vaccinated.

This Facebook Post from a York Region mother is heartbreaking. Her newborn son was possibly exposed to the measles virus when visiting the doctor's office. I appreciate that she isn't blaming the individual who was at the office and later developed measles, but instead says, "If you have chosen to not vaccinate yourself or your child, I blame you. I blame you. You have stood on the shoulders of our collective protection for too long. From that high height, we have given you the PRIVILEGE of our protection, for free... I PROTECT YOUR CHILD. We protect your child. By being concerned world citizens who care about ourselves, our fellow man, and our most vulnerable. So we vaccinate ourselves and our children... As an unvaccinated person you are only protected by our good graces. WE LET YOU BE SO PRIVILEGED thanks to our willingness to vaccinate ourselves and our children."

I wholeheartedly agree.

My Year?

Here's what 'the stars' have in store for me (Gemini) in 2015...
(I have reworded them slightly.) There seems to be a common theme of something happening in regards to my career in the summer. This is both exciting and scary as my contract at Forrec currently ends in late July. I find the Horoscope.com one the most vague and generic. At the completion of the year it would be hard to verify if it really provided any insight.

From The Globe and Mail 
There will be a continued uncertain air to your career prospects this year – it’s as if you don’t want to commit yourself too deeply in case something better arrives out of the blue. Most likely it will, but maybe not in the way you were expecting. August will bring good news about your home life, which in turn will make you more relaxed about what goes on in your working environment. It does not mean you will no longer be ambitious – if anything you will be even more determined to succeed – but you will see career choices from a higher perspective.

From Horoscope.com 
2015 is an exciting year, when relationships bloom, opportunities for personal growth and maturity abound, and friends and family become more cherished. As blazing and energetic as the year begins, you have plenty of built-in pauses to stay on track and take care of all those people and things you love. January 21 to February 11 is a calmer social period; May 18 to June 11 lets you mentally regroup and rethink what might have been done with too much haste the month before. September 17 to October 9 offers a chance to take a second look at any agreements or commitments you made or that were made to you earlier in the year. Socially, you will be running in high gear all year. Eat healthy and get enough rest, and moderate social indulgences. Friends and family are there to remind you how important you are, especially in the July. It is a fun, fabulous year!

From Astrology.com 
All of your diligence and handwork is totally paying off in 2015. You've fought your way through enough bumps and bruises on the road to success over the past few years, and now you're ready to truly claim your foothold and take your vision to the next level. Spend the first half of the year pursuing excellent collaborations and stellar people to partner with. Relationships of the romantic variety will take priority in 2015 as well. You're learning and re-learning the art of partnering. This requires quality-time and attention, good boundaries, reciprocity and the ever-elusive balance of self and other. One of your strongest assets in 2015 (if not always) is your mind. The difference this year is your knack for large-scale dreaming.

You're totally a creative visionary as the New Year begins and that powerful and exuberant influence will push you to new heights for the first half of 2015. Life will be more playful and joyful with childlike enthusiasm all around. Wait until spring to launch your biggest-of-the-big-shot projects. If you've had home improvement dreams or the fantasy of a total change of residence in your brain, the second half of the year could bring tremendous opportunity for expanding your domes-tic horizons. August will bring a strong urge to spread out and take over more living space and land. You're ready to live large in whatever context that best supports your fabulous dreams of the moment. In late September and October mark your calendars for your new home or biggest renovation project during that time. Don't worry; you should be making enough cash to support some pimped out, extravagant living. You continues to bring the glamour to your career zone for the fourth year in a row.

Longform

I really like long-form journalism, which, according to Wikipedia, is a branch of journalism dedicated to longer articles with larger amounts of content. The length of long-form articles is between that of a traditional article and that of a novel. Long-form articles often take the form of creative nonfiction or narrative journalism. They do take longer to read and I tend to use the tablet. I also use Buzzfeed to get suggestions as to what to read. It was there that I was pointed to the article Ghosting by Andrew O'Hagan about WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange. So interesting!

Foiled By Ford

I had every intention of going to the basement at work and running for a bit on the treadmill. I joined this really nice gym that is just steps away from my office and I have gotten into quite a good routine of going at lunch, working out for 20 to 30 minutes and then having a shower before heading up to work for the afternoon. It has been really helpful for my mood and I can tell that it is slowly giving more energy.

Well, today, just as I was standing up to head out - Rob Ford, the Mayor of Toronto, admitted to smoking crack. I have been following this story from the start. Even before all the crazy drama I follow city politics and policy quite closely because it has a direct connection to my daily work. So, the gym will not be happening this lunch hour as I spend the time reading up on this latest update. Man, this city is crazy sometimes.

Most Useless Degree

I ran across this great article/rant on Thought Catalog (which as a 'digital magazine owned and operated by an experimental media group based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn' and might be a little too trendy for me to be reading.) I often talk about the uselessness of my TWO degrees in English (proof of this can be seen in the English, Carleton, Ryerson, or Grad School Always Standing tags.) However, I agree with author Tyler Vendetti when she says, "Yes, I’m An English Major. No, I Will Not Be Working At McDonald’s." and in fact I agree with her whole article, my favourite part being:

"I can be a publisher. I can be a journalist. I can be a research assistant. I can be a speechwriter. I can work with magazines. I can be a movie critic. I can review books. I can be a copywriter. I can be a news reporter. I can manage social media. I can be a lobbyist. I can be an editor. I can write for television or radio or movies. I can be a travel writer. I can work in advertising. I can do anything I want to do ... The skills that you develop through writing and reading (such as critical thinking), the skills that come with an English degree, are used in every single day of your entire life." - By Tyler Vendetti, Yes, I'm An English Major. No, I Will Not Be Working At McDonald's., Thought Catalog

I would have made the list of career options longer and more varied, and the list of famous people who were English majors is way too actor heavy, but the article as a whole hits home, hard.

Anna And Halley On The Front Page

The article that Halley wrote, that I mentioned yesterday, on the Huffington Post, became the main feature on front page of Huffington Post Weddings the day after it was published! They used one of the pictures from the wedding that featured Anna as well, since she was in the bridal party. Check out the screen shot:

Large Photo on the Left is from Halley's Wedding

By Atlas and Elia Photography

Halley is obviously the bride, and Anna is the brunette on the left. I loved looking at these wedding shots and it is awesome that one got featured. Sadly, when the story got moved to the front page they changed the title. The article is actually "I Took My Husband's Name and Kept My Identity" not "Why I'm Glad I Took My Husband's Last Name."