Current Distractions, August 2013 Edition

Believe it or not, all I could think about while driving through the Rocky mountains were how much they reminded me of Minecraft and how much I missed the unobstructed view of the horizon

If it's even possible, I feel like my life has simultaneously gotten worse and better over the course of the month of August. The trip I took didn't cure all of my ills, and I didn't have a chance to read as much as I'd planned. But I did take a lot of pictures with a camera that is way too fancy for me.

Also milk and cookies apparently make an excellent road trip snack

Watching

I decided to watch Orange is the New Black after everyone ended up thinking it was really good. I agreed with the general consensus. You don't realize how much you want to see a show full of ladies until you get one. Other than that I haven't watched much lately, besides diving back into Breaking Bad with my sister. We can't watch too much at one time because we both hate "Hal," so we're on I think the fourth season right now after quite a long break.

Listening

I've started listening to the Dead Authors podcast, which is somewhat relevant to this blog. H.G. Wells goes back in time (using a time machine he "found") and brings authors from the past into our time to chat about things. Some episodes are definitely better than others.

Reading

Different Seasons by Stephen King, at last. Stephen King is basically my favourite summer reading. The first book of his that I ever read was Firestarter, and I read that one at the lake some time before I graduated from high school.

Grumbling

So here's a little political rant that I couldn't put anywhere else, but need to get off my chest. Justin Trudeau has been in the news recently for admitting that he has smoked pot, including once since he became an MP. I unfortunately haven't had time to read all of the editorials on this, so I can't figure out what to link you to. But I have some thoughts about it.

Point 1: I am pro-decriminalization/legalization in a big way.

Point 2: Justin Trudeau really rubs me the wrong way for some reason.

With those two biases admitted, I'll say I have a huge problem with the fact that Trudeau has used illegal drugs since becoming an MP. I have no major issues with any prior drug use on his part, given that I know a lot of productive members of society who have used drugs that are currently illegal.

So what's my problem? When I discussed this with my sister, she was quick to point out that people break the law all the time. For example, the vast majority of people who have driven cars have sped. That's definitely a false comparison, though. Unless you are speeding chronically or speed through a school zone and mow down five children, you aren't going to lose your job or go to jail for speeding. You aren't going to get a criminal record. However, Canadians who aren't Trudeau, including his own brother apparently, face major penalties all the time for possessing and using marijuana.

Disagreeing with this country's laws is one thing, but just because you disagree with a law doesn't mean you don't have to follow it, especially as an elected representative who is empowered to change said law, or at least more empowered that the average citizen. What other laws does Trudeau feel comfortable breaking while sitting as an MP? If he really feels strongly about the issue, why not try to introduce a private member's bill? Of course I realize that it's nowhere near that simple, but I really don't think Trudeau should be getting a free pass on breaking the law just because so many of us agree with his views on this issue.

Showering

But to end this post on a cheerful note...

At my cousin's baby shower this month, her mom, aka my auntie, told what is basically the most insane birth story that is not at all surprising if you know my auntie. Apparently she woke up in the wee hours of the morning, knowing she was starting labour with her first baby, and then proceeded to:

• Let my uncle sleep until he normally woke up to leave for work
• Let him leave for work
• Called her office (my cousin was a little early so my auntie wasn't off work for maternity leave yet) to offer to come in to work that day—they told her she absolutely should not
• Sewed an outfit to bring the baby home in
• Presumably cooked supper
• Gave birth approximately 29 hours after this all started

I admire this woman like nobody's business already, so I barely needed to hear that story. Same with the fact my grama revealed at the same baby shower—that her first baby was potty-trained by the time her second baby was born slightly less than a year later.

Moms are just amazing.