I am so very much feeling the love right now, can barely stand it. I'm employed, albeit at the most boring job I've every had. Window washing? Tree trimming? (machete tree trimming, not tinsel - they don't come that shape without coaxing, trust me) Standing around dressed as a cow promoting frozen yogurt? In heels? All thrilling adventure by comparison. It is, however, the most money I've made and if I can stick it out (and remain conscious) they may be willing to pay for me to go back to school. Large bonuses there. And today I found out that the other job I was going for? Still open, still looking. Something about that pleases. And I got an email back from an old colleague, now heading up another publishing house. There's a job opening that's way entry, very little on the money front, but at a really decidedly groovy house and in a great direction.
I. Have. Options.
And isn't it funny how options equal love? Maybe it's an aquarian thing, maybe it's a "don't fence me in" thing, but having room to grow and do and find - it's necessary. It's oxygen. It's all I need.
How bout you?

Dear Everyone

I sort of consider myself oblivious on the best of days, normally because I sometimes find something out that’s not part of reality and I’d always assumed it was. Like a specific law to address the deliberate killing of police service animals – makes sense, right? The animals are normally either dogs or horses, really dedicated and loyal, out there doing a great job that humans can’t and adding something primal and good to a presence that serves and protects. Picture a kid you know being lost, or yourself trapped in a collapsed building – isn’t it somewhat comforting to know that several of the of the service professionals looking for the kid/yourself are actually dogs, designed to sniff and search and find and dig? And I think anyone who’s not been on the receiving end of horse as crowd control likely can foster some warm and fuzzy feelings toward them. If you have been on the receiving end, you know how uniquely effective they are. Law enforcement dogs and horses add something to the streets of Toronto, whether you feel it’s a tourist thing or a sense of peace or a knightly vibe, you’d think that somewhere there would be a law to protect them. Apparently there isn’t, and here’s where I’m having a problem with the oblivious feelings. I can’t understand why not.

In case you don’t remember – likely you do, but in case – this past February a Toronto officer and horse were deliberately struck in a case of yahoo with road rage. The officer was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The horse, a seven year old Belgian cross named Brigadier, had life ending injuries which hadn’t quite done the job yet and had to be shot at the scene. The aforementioned yahoo has been charged with “dangerous operation causing bodily harm” and “failure to stop at the scene” – kind of lame sounding things given the devastation caused. Nothing about equucide, and nothing about maiming or causing the death of a law enforcement animal because there is no bloody law for that.

Anyway, there’s an online petition. I think it is well deserving of attention, and if you feel that way too you might like to sign it. Here’s the website for the petition:

http://www.torontohumanesociety.com/brigs_law.html

If you think this is a good idea but doubt the power of the online petition, you might also like to write a letter in your own words about the proposed law making the deliberate injury or murder of law enforcement service animals covered under the Criminal Code of Canada. A post card would do, bonus points if it has a picture of a Mountie. if you want to be taken seriously. I don’t think you actually need postage to send letters to govt officials, check with the post office near you and chat them up about Brigs Law while you’re at it. Try:

The Honorable Vic Toews, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
284 Wellington St
Ottawa ON
K1A 0H8

Or:

Office of the Prime Minister80 Wellington StreetOttawa OnK1A 0A2

Or try any MP or MPP or elsewise that you can think of. Thanks for reading, thanks for considering the proposal. Have a fabulous weekend.

Ad Astra

Last Saturday was pretty amazing; didn't comment on it, I apologize. Mythspring also launched at Ad Astra at noon, attended by both editors and about six contributing authors, all of whom (yes, including me) read bits from our respective stories. Then 80 people launched forward for autographs and the next author in line for the room (rather well known gent) patiently waited an extra ten minutes while we filed out toward the piano bar to continue signing copies. Biggest. Rush. Ever. Two friends in the audience and a bunch of new ones along side me, I think that might just be the most fun I've had yet in 2006. Going to be hard to top.
And it was my first visit to Ad Astra, although I've heard about the marvelous fun to be had there for years. There were people dressed up in requisite fan garb, a "many moods of angel" t-shirt that I secretly really wanted, and one guy dressed as Jayne from Firefly. Buoyant and friendly lot. Will try to spend more time next year.