Happy Birthday to Me!

Okay... so today is not actually my birthday. It was yesterday. I didn't feel like blogging yesterday though: I was too busy enjoying the day. But enough of the splitting of hairs!

This post is about celebrating birthdays. As many of you know, I always celebrate the anniversary of the date of my birth. For the past 5 or 6 years at least I have had a party at home and invited my close friends and family to come celebrate with me. Other years (when I was perhaps a little younger) I celebrated with my friends by going out for dinner, or dancing, or both. I'm sure I've done other things to celebrate as well, but the point is, I celebrate my birthday. I don't expect my friends to bring gifts to my parties (although they often do which is very kind and generous of them), I really just want to have a party at which people have a good time. I feel that my birthday is as good an excuse as any; especially at this time of year when everyone is feeling a little blah because of the winter and can't wait for spring.

Having stated my opinion rather clearly I think, I'll bring up the reason for this little post. I have met several people in the past few years who do not celebrate their birthdays. Apparently they think that adults shouldn't really celebrate and it's just a kid thing. No one has come up with a reason valid enough to convince me to change my opinion (obviously), but they seem to think it's childish to celebrate your birthday.

I think that's just sad. Even if you're not a big fan of getting older (which is kind of silly because it happens everyday), at least look at it in the same light as I view celebrating Valentine's Day. Why not? As with any type of event in the western world these days, we can (and often do) go overboard, but we don't have to. We can celebrate our birthdays without much expense. We spend so much time being stressed these days and being indistinct numbers (employee numbers, customer numbers etc.) that I think it's a fabulous idea to have a day dedicated to your being special; and I have no qualms about telling people.

I know that if everyone is special then no one is special. I get that. However, everyone is the star of her own movie and there is something warm and fuzzy about being extra special for at least one day of the year and having your friends and family support that feeling. Of course, you have to support them as well on their birthdays, but that's cool. It's fun. Again I ask: Why not?

What do you think?

It's -35 degrees Celsius with the windchill here in sunny Toronto. You don't want to have an accident today.

Drive safe peeps,

Happy Valentine's Day

Bonjour Mes Amies,

I know that many of you are somewhat cynical about Valentine's Day and call it a 'Hallmark Holiday' and things like that (heck if you weren't somewhat cynical you probably wouldn't like me much), however, please allow me to make a somewhat unsubstantiated argument in favour of celebrating it. (Unsubstantiated in that I'm not doing any research and presenting you with any actual numbers or facts.)

There are a few different ideas as to the history of St. Valentine but regardless of which is actually true, there really seems to have been a St. Valentine (at least for the Catholics, and let's face it, they came up with some good holidays to keep the people contented).

As with many of our traditional holidays or celebrations, we (modern western society) may be taking the consumeristic (no, I don't think that's a real word, but it fits) aspect of the holy day a little too far. That's what capitalism is all about though. It's what all those commercials on tv are telling us: if he doesn't get you flowers and chocolates and a diamond heart shaped necklace, then he really doesn't love you.

So yes, I agree with you cynics... remember I am one of you. Valentine's Day has become mostly about consumerism. However, every now and then I like to play the devil's advocate (even against myself) and try to look at things in a fresh way. Notice I wrote mostly?

Think about all the people you know. Or at least some; you probably know many. How many of them have been divorced? How many in long-term relationships that didn't work out? According to 'statistics' 51% of marriages end in divorce now. Those aren't great odds. That's not counting the people who didn't actually take the chance and make the commitment in front of their family and friends. If we could include people who had cohabitated for any length of time, that number would probably be much larger. I think that's sad.

So, if some people need a little reminder to stop and smell the roses (or buy the roses) then where's the harm? I've never been married (as you know) so I'm probably not the best advisor on this subject, but from what I've observed and experienced, not enough people take enough time out to celebrate love. Whether it be romantic love, friendship, or familial love, we get caught up living our lives and assume (subconciously) that if it's not broken, it doesn't need attention. I know that one day a year is not enough to keep a relationship strong, but at least it's a reminder. And it doesn't have to cost anything. You know that just as well as I do. If you're expressing love to someone, then they're not going to care whether or not it comes in a little blue box.

Call your mom (or at least someone you care about) today peeps! And drive safe!

Happy Robert Burns Day!!

Greetings Friends!

Sorry this is so late in the day (in fact, you may even be reading this after the day has ended), but I wanted to wish you all a happy Robert Burns day. For those of you who don't know who Robert Burns is, you can check him out here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns

Robert Burns is not just the foremost poet of Scotland, he is one of my favourite poets. He was also one of my grandmother's favourite poets (and I think she actually understood most of the words in his poems). He wrote the words to a poem which became a song that I'm sure you all know: Auld Lang Syne. While I do not like haggis at all, and thus do not participate in the traditional Burns' Suppers, I do always remember the day and read some of his poems. Following is one of my faves... can you guess why?

Bonnie Lesley, a poem by Robert Burns

O saw ye bonnie Lesley
As she gaed o'er the border?
She's gane, like Alexander,
To spread her conquests farther.

To see her is to love her,
And love but her for ever;
For Nature made her what she is,
And never made anither!

Thou art a queen, fair Lesley
Thy subjects we, before thee:
Thou art divine, fair Lesley,
The hearts o' men adore thee.

The Deil he could na scaith thee,
Or aught that wad belang thee;
He'd look into thy bonnie face,
And say, 'I canna wrang thee.'

The Powers aboon will tent thee;
Misfortune sha'na steer thee;
Thou'rt like themselves sae lovely,
That ill they'll ne'er let near thee.

Return again, fair Lesley,
Return to Caledonie!
That we may brag we hae a lass
There's nane again sae bonnie.

See ya an' be good peeps!