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So I thought I’d do a quick search on youTube and see what types of stuff other folks from the neighborhood had posted. Some interesting things, some less so. And then there was this:

Turns out this isn’t where I live at all…physically at least. But I have to admit that there is something in this video which resonates with me. So I won’t go as far as to say that I don’t sometimes go there. In fact, it’s actually strangely comforting to me to know that there’s another Cabbagetown; not in genteel Canadia, but deep in the belly of the Georgian beast. Almost as if a big eraser could descend from the Toronto sky and wipe out our car-seats and Bugaboos making room for Elvis and lemonade.

Jonathan Purdy-Flacks, son of our friends Janis Purdy and Diane Flacks was born with a pair of conditions which have led him to spend most of his young life in the hospital. He recently had a pair of heart surgery’s and is back in critical care, and his health is improving slowly. I can’t really explain how brave and tough these guys have been through an ordeal which is as all-consuming and overwhelming as is possible to endure.

Today it was announced on the purdy-flacks blog that friends have organized The Jonathon, a terrific benefit show to celebrate the plucky lad and to support the family. A fantastic idea. The show looks great, and we’ll greatly look forward to being there. There’s also a silent auction, which I strongly encourage those who can’t make it to participate in. I’ll happily pick up anything you win a bid on and get it to you.

A terrific show of support to some really wonderful people who are going through a tougher time than anyone should ever have to. So let’s send our thoughts and bids out to Janis, Diane, Eli and Jonathan!

The first Iris of Spring bloomed today in Elena’s garden in the front of our house. I took the opportunity to polish my flower porn skills. They definitely need some work (for example the kids’ toys in the background don’t add much), but they flower was truly beautiful.

Yesterday at Wellesley Park Jake’s friend Eli seems to have buried him in the sand. Leaving only what Jake described as a “live ball” (his head I think). Eli’s Mom Janis caught it all on video thankfully, so even though I missed the action, I was able to appreciate the drama.

The 2008 presidential primary process is quickly ramping up to full swing. And rising along with it are my old feelings of disenchantment with the miserable state of the process, filled with garbage kabuki-style debates, petty swiping, and tales of obscene amounts of cash raised; all accompanied by the usual hand-wringing. So I thought I’d share a particularly apropos quote from Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience”:

“I hear of a convention to be held at Baltimore, or elsewhere, for the selection of a candidate for the Presidency, made up chiefly of editors, and men who are politicians by profession; but I think, what is it to any independent, intelligent, and respectable man what decision they come to, shall we not have the advantage of his wisdom and honesty, nevertheless? Can we not count upon some independent votes? Are there not many individuals in the country who do not attend conventions? But no: I find that the respectable man, so called, has immediately drifted from his position, and despairs of his country, when his country has more reason to despair of him. He forthwith adopts one of the candidates thus selected as the only available one, thus proving that he is himself available for any purposes of the demagogue.”

Today was the day of the Spring Concert at Winchester PS, where Jacob goes to Junior Kindergarten!  We were treated to the musical stylings of each class in Jake’s school.  Jake’s class dressed as flowers and performed a spectacular rendition of “I’m a little teapot”.

Sophie was there to cheer her brother on.  She seemed to really enjoy the show and tried her best to play along with the different moves she saw going on onstage!

I hear people say sometimes that impeachment isn’t important because Bush’s term is so nearly finished. It’s still important. This points to the type of thing which can go on if he’s left in office. Every day he’s left in will make it harder and harder to uproot him when the time comes. Do it now…it’s not just pardons.

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I loves me my LOLcats, and those who know me know I loves me the austere halls of learning as well. So you can imagine my glee when I discovered that they are being given the serious treatment which they deserve! The envelope is pushed yet again.

This could have been me…any day of the week. ‘Nuff said.

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