Election Fatigue

 Greetings

Today I want to go over a feeling that's hit me recently, other than the wanting to no longer be on the planet anymore (again) 

That feeling dear friends, is Election Fatigue. 

Now, I'm Canadian. Our Federal Election isn't scheduled for another year (Oct 2025) yet for the past, I guess 8 months or so, we have had a politician campaigning basically illegally (Our elections rules state you can only campaign once an election has been called) across Canada. Really, he's campaigning to campaign for an election, so he can campaign normally.. 

His followers, who are very vocal on social media, have been yelling for an election and whining that the government isn't listening to the will of the people.. Other people, who are perfectly willing to let the current administration run its course, are being called every name in the book because they're not calling for an election like they are, and are willing to stay the course, or even vote to keep the same person in power for another term. 

There were two provincial elections recently and the whining has been nonstop.. Calling into question the validity of the results in one province, and just outright disbelief in another. In both cases, the party followers doing the most whining and crying of rigged and fixed are the Conservatives. 

Now, Federally, we have 5 major parties. Liberal, Conservative, New Democratic Party, Green, and Bloc Quebecois. 

The Bloc-heads are a Federal party but only operate in Quebec... Liberals are, I guess, like the US Democratic Party. The Conservatives are like the Republican Party. NDP is... I dunno.. Somewhere... 

Provincially, we have the same parties in general, but some places have their own as well.. British Columbia is weird. They have 13 registered parties. The Liberal party is there but under a different name (BC United) They also have NDP, Conservative, Green, Libertarian, Communist, Freedom, Christian Heritage, Action, Vision, Cascadia, Direct Democracy, and the Party of Citizens Who Have Decided To Think For Ourselves & Be Our Own Politicians.

Well, the Conservatives had a lot of votes in the mountains and other rural areas. Liberals and NDP got votes in the populated areas. One of the issues was storage of the ballot boxes after the election. In some areas, there isn't a nearby Elections Canada office, so the boxes had to be taken to peoples' houses. Eveyone has accepted the results except the people who don't like the Federal Liberal and NDP parties. 

The other province that had an election was Saskatchewan. Now, there's only 7 here.. 

Buffalo Party (seems to be one of those For the People, By the People deals) 

NDP

Progressive Conservative (this was the former name of the Conservative Party Federally)

Green

Saskatchewan Progress Party

Saskatchewan Party (re-elected)

Saskatchewan United Party

Again, people are complaining about the result.. I know people will complain about the result no matter who wins, but it's tiresome.. 

And of course, there's the Three Ringed Circus south of the Border. It's almost constantly an election or near to an election there it seems. 

On Social media I'm hearing the same bullshit from the same side on both sides of the border. 

(If Trump/Poilievre doesn't win, USA/Canada is screwed beyond hope! If Kamala/Justin wins it has to be rigged/stolen/work of the mysterious New World Order that wants to enslave humanity and lock us into evil 15 minute cities where our movements will be tracked!) 

Now, I don't watch the news. I don't enjoy seeing this constant bombardment of shit. I don't like the constant negativity of hearing Canada/US is broken, only I (Poilievre/Trump) can fix it. I mean, if people think the place is so broken, why do people still immigrate to both places? If they think it's so broken, why don't they get out from behind the keyboard and actually do something in the community to help fix it? There are places that need volunteers. There are community associations that can work on the issues you directly face. 

I'm tired. It's a circus that never ends and leaves us all as chumps no matter who wins. 

September

 Hello again..

It's been a little while since I've posted anything here. 

Been up and down mental health wise and emotionally, really. With it being rainy the last few days, I've been really stuck in my apartment. The building I'm in used to have a common room for us to use, but it was taken over by admin during Covid. 

So.. People who need a place to gather and converse with others have nowhere to do so now, unless it's nice outside. 

I haven't been able to get into anything else that would occupy my mind and maybe make me happy.. Video games aren't really appealing to me right now. I want to get some work done with my cards, but I need my space figured out more.. It's very annoying. 

To add onto all of that, I ran over my door opener, so I had to get it replaced, and I dropped my phone and broke it. I was able to get that replaced, and already had help with paying the amount owing on my old phone to do so.. 

Still, The last little while hasn't been the greatest, but I do have a few good friends in the building. 

Is it strange to want to get more cards despite needing to organize what I have still? 

Is it odd to find absolutely nothing you find enjoyable to be.. well.. enjoyable?? 

Anyway, I really don't know what else is floating around in my mind right now, so I'll end this here.. 

July

 Hello!

I know it's been a while. 

Just want to let you all know I'm ok. Been dealing with a lot of dizziness, but ok. I also just got a new computer so for a while I didn't have anything set up.

I hope everyone's ok. I'm at a concert today for Canada Day.

The group is Road Apples, a tribute band for the Tragically Hip. 

I'll post more later when I'm not on my phone

Am I Cynical?

 Greetings!

I've been having a laugh about a couple things lately, and getting tired of seeing another thing. I'm going to talk about them today..

First: The doom and gloom over 15 minute cities.

People seem to be absolutely convinced that trying to return to a 15 minute city, or lets be real... NEIGHBOURHOOD model is the first step towards limiting movement, tracking people, and whatever other whacked out idea they have thought of..

Before the big box stores became king and the suburbs weren't sprawling all over the place, we had neighbourhoods. The neighbourhood would have a shopping centre with a bank, a grocery store, a department store, and some other stuff.. You'd still have to go outside the neighbourhood for things.. But 80% of what you needed was right there. 

Then box stores came into prominence and new residential developments were just that.. Residential with maybe a park.. Any retail was outside that 15 minute radius. Because this model has become so ingrained in the lives of the people, they forget, or weren't born/conscious enough to remember the neighbourhood model that was around really until the early 90s. 

The other thing I'm having a laugh about is I was told that, because I would rather see the Criminal Code definition of Crimes Against Humanity be used and as a result, the proper channels for said, I'm complicit to crimes against humanity. All because I'm not blindly bleating to throw Justin Trudeau in jail without due process...Am I happy with his tenure as PM? There were good and bad, just like any. The power of hindsight shows us maybe the lockdowns were a little extreme, but at the time given the information we had, it was the right move. The "Freedom Convoy" people are taking that hindsight look and applying it like we had a crystal ball for the future. 

The funny thing is they only blame Trudeau for the border being closed. They conveniently forget or are unwilling to accept that it was a mutual decision by Trudeau and Biden. 

Now.. The thing I'm tired of seeing.. We're a little different up here when it comes to election campaigns. Officially, you can't start campaigning until an election has been called. Well, Pierre Poilievre has basically been campaigning for the last year or so.. Our election won't be until next year.. People are already annointing Pierre as our next PM. They think things will be different.. Better... 

Nope.....

The country will be the same, just with a new coat of paint. Nothing changes because there's no incentive to change. At a Federal level, it's all a theatrical performance. Provincially, there's more impact on our day-to-day lives. (for example, people needing social assistance are still impacted by a guy who ran the province in the 90s.. Healthcare and schools also haven't rebounded.. And are just being made worse by the current regime)

Indeed, Pierre has some nice slogans.. But that's all he has. 

Axe the Tax

Build the Homes

The Tax he's wanting to axe is the carbon tax implemented by the current government. 

We've got a housing and affordability crisis in Canada.. Some areas it's almost $1000 for a room.. Other areas have no vacancies, and because of the market pressures, and houses for sale have a premium on the prices. Of course, that's unsustainable. But it's the Provincial governments' job to work with the municipalities to build homes. The Federal government basically makes the Crown Land available.. The Province of Ontario wanted to build homes on the Greenbelt, a protected area that is used for farming. After much outcry, they backed off, no Plan B in sight. 

So I'm tired of seeing any level of government, but I'm also sick of the "Oh this person's going to make things so much better!!!" No he won't.. We'll follow the same path as before, people will get sick of the new leader, then vote the party they voted out previously, while two other Federal parties that could take a kick at the can stand on the sidelines. 

(Our system, though having multiple parties, is essentially a revolving door of Liberal and Conservative. We also have the New Democrat Party, the Green Party, the People's Party of Canada, and Bloc Quebecois, which only is in Quebec) 

So dear friends, that's what's been on my mind lately..

Sleepless in Peterborough

Greetings!

As you can probably guess from the title, and the fact that I started this at 4:40am, I'm having a night where sleep is but a dream..

While I do have some opinion posts planned, I need to do a little bit of legwork on them before I write. So today, I want to continue my attempt of not being as negative on here with a post of things I'm grateful for. 

I'm grateful for my innate stubbornness.. It's a blessing and a curse to be honest. While it did get me through the near death illness and the recovery process to the point of getting out of the hospital, it also got me sick enough that hospitalization was needed. 

I know the talk about wanting to die for a while was probably an uncomfortable topic, but it was a stuggle I needed help with. Yes, I was and still am seeing mental health professionals, but sometimes you need friends too.. Someone who isn't paid to say things like "People would miss you" 

That talk was a way of asking for assistance through the trying times. 

There's also this poster that I have saved on my phone.. 

So really, those posts are me asking for a stick.. Dear readers, the messages of concern you've sent are those sticks. 

So all that sappy stuff tangent said... 
I'm grateful for you.. Yes, you.. Points to you directly You and points elsewhere you and everyone else. 

I'm grateful to be in a housing situation where I can get the help I need.

I'm grateful for my sense of humour. I repeatedly said while recovering in the hospital that if I lost my sense of humour, that was the time to truly worry.. That would be the point where I gave up.. 

I'm grateful for those who have helped with needs while I'm struggling in poverty. 

That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. 

Wherever you are, whatever may be going on, remember...

You matter

If I may be so crass.... You're the reason someone masturbates today...

And if you need a stick.... Just ask..

 

Favourite Songs

 Greetings!

I'm feeling oddly good today.. Though part of it is also feeling antsy. But anyway.

I've been in a deep hole for a while and I know it's been rather negative around here lately. I wanted to do something different today and bring up some of my favourite songs. 

Straw Hat and Old Dirty Hank by Barenaked Ladies

I don't know what it is about this song, but I've loved it since I first heard it on Born on a Pirate Ship. 

No Man's Land - Billy Joel

This is the opening song of the River of Dreams album. To me it speaks of the isolation in urbanization, if that makes any sense. The River of Dreams album is one of my favourites overall. 

Twilight in Hell - Lillian Axe

That opening riff.. 

Voyager II - Virginia Coalition

I found this group on MySpace (remember THAT place??) years ago.. I have a few favourites from them, though one doesn't seem to have any representation on YouTube.. 

I love the melodies and the energy their songs have. That and the stories.. 

Other songs I love of theirs are Spare Change, The River, Green and Grey...

Tell Me Why - Genesis

This is another one I've always just loved the message of. And really... The message in this seems to be timeless... 

Never is Enough - Barenaked Ladies

I remember the first time I heard this song. It was still when it was in a demo stage. I got into the song right away. 

Walking Through Walls - Escape Club

I don't know what it is.. I just loved this song from the first time I heard it. 

The Last Saskatchewan Pirate - Captain Tractor

Now.. There are two groups that originally did this song. The Arrogant Worms, and Captain Tractor. I like both versions, but this one is above the Worms.. This is just a fun song all around.

Shades of Grey - Billy Joel

Another song off the River of Dreams album. This song spoke to me when I was young. The album came out in my Grade 9 year. I think I've always known things aren't black and white.. Sometimes we just don't see, or have the mesans to articulate, the nuances... 

Intermittently - Barenaked Ladies

This was off Maybe You Should Drive. MYSD is one of my all time favourite albums. I don't skip songs on it when I listen to it. 

These Apples - Barenaked Ladies

Another song off Maybe You Should Drive. I love the guitar and for some reason, the little solo from 2:20-2:30 reminds me of the original Railroad Tycoon. 

There were a couple songs I had written down that I couldn't find on YouTube. I mentioned Spare Change by Virginia Coalition earlier. Another one is I Will Not Go Quietly by Don Henley. 

So dear reader, what are some of your favourites? 

Some Thoughts

 Greetings

I'm a little upset today. So pardon my rant.. 

Thursdays I get help with housekeeping in my apartment. I'm in an independent living place, but with assistance. I get help with showering three times a week, housekeeping once a week, and other things as needed. For example, I can't put my shoes on by myself, so I need help with them. It's one thing that keeps me from ever really traveling.. Well aside from the complete lack of money. 

Well, today was the first time in two weeks I had housekeeping. They were short staffed last week so it was canceled. I was able to do some things like get a bag of garbage out.. I also was able to somewhat keep up on dishes, but this week I was so on edge I'd stand and within a couple minutes I was shaking. So I had a pile this week. 

When they come do my housekeeping, they normally sweep/mop my floors, gather garbages, and clean my toilet. Today they did that plus my dishes. Wonderful! But at the same time, I had one of the PSWs complaining about how dirty the seat was. Actually having to move his arm and elbow is more than light housekeeping to him, apparently. Complained about empty boxes being on the floor. Again said "Light housekeeping, this is just laziness, man...." 

That set me off... Now.. When I get pissed off, I get really quiet.. I internalize it. My main reason for writing this tonight is to be able to get it out of my head enough to actually be able to sleep tonight. 

This PSW that complained today is the only one that complains. I like the guy otherwise, but I think I might need to ask if I can not have him come up here.. 

As is I've been dealing with loneliness, depression and a general lack of worth. After this interaction, I had a feeling of a noose around my neck for 5 hours. I still feel like I have hands around my neck.. 

I don't know what to do.