Janus Geminus

Janus Geminus is the Roman God of gates, doors, beginnings and endings. He is depicted as having two faces, to signify his two sides. The Romans sacrificed to him to protect their houses and sacred buildings, and also on the New Year (hence, January). Saturn gave Janus the gift to see into the future and the past. In more modern times, Janus's name has been used in cell biology, and when you google Janus you come up with lots of interesting depictions of two faced men. Janus-faced can mean two faced. Interestingly enough, it's also where we get the word janitor, the caretaker of doors and halls.

So, here's to ends that lead to beginnings and keeping an eye on both the past and the future.

Wherein Conservatives are stupid and Pierre Poilievre is a "twerp"...

I'm sitting here watching the election results and I'm despairing about how I'm not represented at any level of government.

I consistently vote in my home riding, though I could have voted in Ottawa Centre this year. The problem is that Barrhaven (or Nepean-Carleton) is all upper middle class families. Who vote Conservative. And so, in all of the elections I have ever voted in I have consistently voted for a losing candidate. Or, better yet, against the winning conservative candidate. Municipal election: Jan Harder won. Provincial election: Lisa McCleod won. Federal election: Pierre Poilievre won again.

I have particular problems with Pierre. To quote my granny, he is a "twerp." He consistently says stupid things in Parliament that discredit my riding and insult me as a Canadian. He schmoozes with the locals to buy votes and licks the boots of Stephen Harper and John Baird. He can't think for himself - when he tries he just proves he can't. He's the youngest member of Parliament in history. It's a discredit to young people everywhere.

So, as we enter another Conservative minority government, I'm weary of the future of our country and all the thing I value about Canada. The only hope I have is that the Liberals will axe Dion and give us a good leader that can get Harper out of power.

It's a sad night to be Canadian.

On a lighter note, if Stephen Harper is Spongebob:


Then Pierre is definitely Patrick:

My most ridiculous day

Today was so ridiculous that I just have to write about it.

7:00am - Alarm clock goes off. Wake up briefly, turn off alarm. Promptly fall back to sleep.
7:20am - Actually wake up. Shower
7:45am - Grab marked assignments to give to prof. Count. Realize that I have 43 papers when I'm supposed to have 50. FREAK OUT.
8:00am - Phone home to see if I left them there. No luck. FREAK OUT. Decide I'm going to be late for class anyway and I have to find the papers, and so decide not to go. Mark remaining assignments.
8:30am - Phone Billings to see if I left the papers there. No luck. FREAK OUT.

That was the most stressful part. Eventually, Kristen got home and we searched frantically and went over the options of where they could be. I decided I wasn't going to find them. I also made an appointment to do an interview for my science reporting article due Thursday. Kristen researched our TV story, and went to vote. I finished marking and put all the marks together on a spreadsheet. We went to school to meet our TV prof about our story idea. MEANWHILE, I'M STILL FREAKING OUT. Honestly, making myself feel sick worrying about it.

Then, I went to meet the prof to give back the papers at 1pm. I asked to see the list and discovered *drum roll*..... that I just don't know how to count to 50 and I only ever had 43 in the first place. To say I was relieved is an understatement. I already went to buy a file folder at the bookstore so that it doesn't happen again.

Then I went to do my interview. And decided to stop by HR on the way home, since I was confused about whether I got paid from Carleton Now or not. Turns out that I was actually paid twice for the same job. Being an honest person, and really not wanting to mess with karma after this morning, I told them so and had to figure out with the HR people how they were going to get the money back. And sadly do not get $520 for free. Hahaha.

That's my day so far. But you'll be happy to know I didn't cry. I just don't think I could stand it getting anymore exciting. I just want to sit here for the rest of the day and do my homework. And possibly go to the Wild Oat for dinner.

AS!**R^(*&^@#!*@&KJADH!!!!!!!!

Oh my God I'm so fucked for this week.

I promised myself I wouldn't have a mental breakdown this semester...

Ahhhhh!!!

Billings Estate National Historic Site

Since I posted pics of Pinhey's at the beginning of the summer, I guess it's only fair that I do the same for Billings since I started working there in September. It's a gorgeous place too, but instead of being in the middle of nowhere it's sort of right in the middle of the city. The cemetery was particularly gorgeous today, so I snapped some pictures with my cell. I love that both museums have cemeteries. It makes them more creepy and more authentic. This month we're doing Murder Mysteries, ghost hunts and seances at Billings. And a Haunted Walk at Pinhey's. I love October.

Roman humour

Ask anyone that knows me and they'll tell you that I laugh like a maniac at any type of historical joke. Even as I write this I'm watching Season Two of Hercules.

I just wanted to share one of my favourites, as I get ready to write cheesy puns for my fourth year classics class presentation.

Google goggles?

This is hilarious. I feel like facebook needs one too:

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-in-labs-stop-sending-mail-you-later.html

Not quite what I was planning

It all started with PostSecret and asofterworld. I soon moved on to Found Magazine, Common Ties, One Sentence.

When I read on the PostSecret website that there was a book of six word memoirs by the editor of Found Magazine, I knew I had to buy it. Within a week, I did.

Not Quite What I Was Planning was amazing. Can you summarize your life in six words? The book was inspired by Ernest Hemingway's famous six word memoir: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." It was hilarious sometimes, heartbreaking others. And the best part is that it's a book that you can pick up whenever and just read a few.

Some of my favs:

"Wasn't born a redhead; fixed that." - Andie Grace

"Tell your story. That's my story." - Andy Goodman

"The road diverged; I took it." -Rachel Farris

"Lived in moment until moment sucked." - Janine Goss

"My life's a bunch of almosts." - Shari Bonnin


A couple I've thought about for myself:

"There's nothing quite like a song."

"Loves easily, dreams big: the end?"

"Happiest pretending to be someone else."

"Still waiting for life to begin."

I could speak in six words forever. I think there's another one of these books coming out soon. I can't wait.