A friend of my husband suffered a hard loss yesterday. The woman he loves was killed in a car accident. We live in a different province now and we found out online instead of the usual channels. What was once a private loss for loves, family and friends is now disseminated through Facebook status updates, tweets and texts. Suddenly the whole world shares our loss and can grieve with us; and it does. Strangers are invited to join "in memory of" groups. They do. More now than ever before we can feel and see that we aren't alone in our grief. We can write it out and be read.
E.M. Forster wrote: "Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer." Though I have taken this quote out of context I think what I'm trying to say is still there. At first I worried that contacting someone by e-mail to offer condolences was a faux-pas of some sort, or was somehow less heartfelt because it wasn't sent in a card, but I feel differently now. No matter the distance or the emotional spaces between, we can connect through our words. Language is imperfect but sometimes it's all we have.
I realise it's close to the holidays, but I felt I needed to get this out. Life happens on every day of the year. Hold your loved ones close. Share your joy and even your sorrow. Despite how you might feel you really aren't alone.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Top 12 Chocolates for Christmas
I've never met anyone who eats as much chocolate as I do. That sounds like a boast. I assure you it is not. However, I do eat a lot of it - milk, dark, bittersweet, semi-sweet and in a pinch I entertain white chocolate. I'm as picky over chocolate as some people are over wine or coffee. My training has been informal and is based entirely on my palate. I don't expect all people will agree with my selections. For example, you will never find those Lindt Lindor Truffles on any top list of mine. Their cocoa butter content is far too high for my liking. They melt on the tongue like little globs of chocolate-flavoured fat. I don't like Moritz Icy Cups either. Same reason. Yet there are numerous people who love these treats and are shocked to learn that I don't. Please don't start thinking I'm a chocolate snob - I'm really not. I follow Nigella Lawson's motto: "If it tastes good, eat it." So without further defending my chocolate preferences, my personal top 12. In no particular order:
* Pot of Gold Excellence. Please don't roll your eyes at me. The new Excellence collection contains soft caramels, nut creams and nut-chocolate combinations. Very smooth, creamy and sweet.
* Le Chocolat 9-piece hand-decorated chocolate collection. You can only get these at Shoppers Drug Mart. Beautiful to look at, lovely to eat. The only chocolate rich enough to bring me close to feeling ill. (Yes, that's a recommendation and a warning in one, folks).
*Lindt Excellence Chili Bar Dark chocolate with hints of red chili. Not a hot and spicy chocolate. This pick is good for someone who's a little adventurous but not too daring.
* Godvia Chocoiste Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Decadent, decadent, decadent. Good with champagne or a nice cup of tea.
* Botticelli Cashew Butter Truffle Christmas Tree. A nice alternative to peanut butter and chocolate. The cashew butter has a richer, lighter flavour and balances nicely with the milk chocolate.
* Henry & David Four-in-One Fruit Chocolates Sweet & chewy pieces of dried blueberries, bing cherries, strawberries and peaches. I will admit the pastel coloured coatings were a bit off-putting but not so much that it stopped me taking a taste or four or twelve.
* PC British Chocolate Biscuit Collection Hubby & I mowed through a box of these by ourselves in two days. This is not to say we have no self-control. This is to say that these biscuits are delicious.
*Merci Finest Selection in Dark Chocolate or Milk Chocolate My in-laws brought me a pack of these from Germany and now I see you can get them at Wal-Mart and Shoppers Drug Mart. These are nice as after-dinner chocolates with guests. Pieces are individually wrapped and the flavours are clearly marked. Also includes a marzipan chocolate which my friend Cat & I personally love, though we are told marizpan is an accquired taste.
* Toblerone Honey & Almond Nougat Common as dirt and oh so good. There's also a recipe for a delectable Toblerone Cheesecake floating around cyberspace. Use Google. ;)
* Cocoa Camino Fair Trade Chocolate Bars Smooth, creamy and delicious. The best Fair Trade chocolate ever. Cocoa Camino also makes a toothsome white chocolate slab that includes cocoa nibs. This is the only white chocolate I like to eat.
* Green & Black's Organic For something a little different try the Maya Gold or Ginger bars. The ginger is candied and crispy with just a little bite. The Maya Gold combines cinnamon and other spices to create a Mexican style chocolate.
* Lily O'Brien's Just try them all. I swear my entire second trimester weight gain was due entirely to Lily O'Brien's Sticky Toffees. Seriously addictive.
If you have any favourites you think I should take a look at please leave a comment or e-mail me. I'm always willing to expand this list to be a top 15... 20... 25.
* Pot of Gold Excellence. Please don't roll your eyes at me. The new Excellence collection contains soft caramels, nut creams and nut-chocolate combinations. Very smooth, creamy and sweet.
* Le Chocolat 9-piece hand-decorated chocolate collection. You can only get these at Shoppers Drug Mart. Beautiful to look at, lovely to eat. The only chocolate rich enough to bring me close to feeling ill. (Yes, that's a recommendation and a warning in one, folks).
*Lindt Excellence Chili Bar Dark chocolate with hints of red chili. Not a hot and spicy chocolate. This pick is good for someone who's a little adventurous but not too daring.
* Godvia Chocoiste Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Decadent, decadent, decadent. Good with champagne or a nice cup of tea.
* Botticelli Cashew Butter Truffle Christmas Tree. A nice alternative to peanut butter and chocolate. The cashew butter has a richer, lighter flavour and balances nicely with the milk chocolate.
* Henry & David Four-in-One Fruit Chocolates Sweet & chewy pieces of dried blueberries, bing cherries, strawberries and peaches. I will admit the pastel coloured coatings were a bit off-putting but not so much that it stopped me taking a taste or four or twelve.
* PC British Chocolate Biscuit Collection Hubby & I mowed through a box of these by ourselves in two days. This is not to say we have no self-control. This is to say that these biscuits are delicious.
*Merci Finest Selection in Dark Chocolate or Milk Chocolate My in-laws brought me a pack of these from Germany and now I see you can get them at Wal-Mart and Shoppers Drug Mart. These are nice as after-dinner chocolates with guests. Pieces are individually wrapped and the flavours are clearly marked. Also includes a marzipan chocolate which my friend Cat & I personally love, though we are told marizpan is an accquired taste.
* Toblerone Honey & Almond Nougat Common as dirt and oh so good. There's also a recipe for a delectable Toblerone Cheesecake floating around cyberspace. Use Google. ;)
* Cocoa Camino Fair Trade Chocolate Bars Smooth, creamy and delicious. The best Fair Trade chocolate ever. Cocoa Camino also makes a toothsome white chocolate slab that includes cocoa nibs. This is the only white chocolate I like to eat.
* Green & Black's Organic For something a little different try the Maya Gold or Ginger bars. The ginger is candied and crispy with just a little bite. The Maya Gold combines cinnamon and other spices to create a Mexican style chocolate.
* Lily O'Brien's Just try them all. I swear my entire second trimester weight gain was due entirely to Lily O'Brien's Sticky Toffees. Seriously addictive.
If you have any favourites you think I should take a look at please leave a comment or e-mail me. I'm always willing to expand this list to be a top 15... 20... 25.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Oh, hai! I Broked the Guvermint (or Why I Have A Coalition-Led Headache)
Friends and readers, I usually keep my scant political opinions to myself. Today I feel inclined to use this as a venting space else my throbbing head might explode. I am tired of Coalition rhetoric. I am tired of Harper's rhetoric. I am tired of hearing the cheers, "Ding Dong, the wicked PM is dead!" I am tired of cries of, "This is a threat to democracy." And so, these are the two issues I will address: the state of the PM and democracy in general.
A "no confidence" vote is not undemocratic. Think of it as a panic button that is there to be pushed should the need arise. The need did arise when Stephen Harper strongly hinted he wanted to cut funding to the Opposition. Why would the Opposition agree and sign away their funding? They wouldn't. The option to have this vote is necessary so we don't end up with a dictatorship. However, that vote has yet to happen because Harper may prorogue the government. This means the legislature will be shut down and Harper starts another campaign smear against the Coalition. Right now Stephen Harper is still the PM, but very well could be the PM in name only. The House does not have confidence in his ability to lead.
Right now our Government is broken. It cannot lead. The Coalition cannot lead. NO ONE can lead right now. Canada is waiting for Gov.Gen. Michaelle Jean to make a decision - ask the Coalition to form a government or call another election. And until the GG comes to this decision we wait with a broken Government and peoples' emotions boiling over. Whatever the outcome, we are headed for another election sooner rather than later. And when it happens I'll be voting. Until then I will watch the news, I will read articles and I will keep the rest of my political opinions to myself... and take Tylenol as needed.
A "no confidence" vote is not undemocratic. Think of it as a panic button that is there to be pushed should the need arise. The need did arise when Stephen Harper strongly hinted he wanted to cut funding to the Opposition. Why would the Opposition agree and sign away their funding? They wouldn't. The option to have this vote is necessary so we don't end up with a dictatorship. However, that vote has yet to happen because Harper may prorogue the government. This means the legislature will be shut down and Harper starts another campaign smear against the Coalition. Right now Stephen Harper is still the PM, but very well could be the PM in name only. The House does not have confidence in his ability to lead.
Right now our Government is broken. It cannot lead. The Coalition cannot lead. NO ONE can lead right now. Canada is waiting for Gov.Gen. Michaelle Jean to make a decision - ask the Coalition to form a government or call another election. And until the GG comes to this decision we wait with a broken Government and peoples' emotions boiling over. Whatever the outcome, we are headed for another election sooner rather than later. And when it happens I'll be voting. Until then I will watch the news, I will read articles and I will keep the rest of my political opinions to myself... and take Tylenol as needed.
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