I thought I should include a really cool picture from our recent trip to Qualicum Beach on the eastern side of Vancouver Island. We stayed at this awesome little inn that I heard about on the show "Creepy Canada" (because it's haunted!). We didn't see anything to make us think it was haunted, but my mind was in over-drive and I barely slept because I was so scared. The next day we took a drive in the rain and admired the coastline.

Anger Management

Yesterday I was reading about how anger can be good when it's used in the right way and how it leads us to sin when it's directed at the wrong situation. It made me think a lot about how it affects me and I realized that I get angry really easily over things or people that inconvience me; I get frustrated when I feel like someone is being disrespectful to me. I don't think this is abnormal behaviour, in fact; it's all too common for most people.
It's sad how often I hear on the news a story about a teenager getting angry and stabbing someone. It's usually over something so insignificant as a dirty look. I, and so many other people, let negativity infiltrate us so much that it becomes part of what we give to the world. I don't want to add to the problem of impatient and disrespectful people, but I'm afraid I could be sometimes.
Since reading the article in my daily devotion book and really trying to be aware of my reactions I feel less irritable. I'm trying really hard to choose not to get angry. I was angry the other night about some teenagers on the bus who were spitting on the seats. I was also angry (and uncomfortable) when I saw a drug transaction at Burger King. These are things that Jesus would have been angry about. I also got really angry though when a customer was extremely rude and disrespectful towards me. He was the type of person I am supposed to love and pray for. It's easier said than done, but the more I thought about it later the more I tried to figure out why he may have acted that way. I came to the conclusion that he has let anger penetrate him and has held onto that. He most likely has not asked Jesus to help him love people. So what I need to do is pray that he can have peace in his heart.
I know this will continue to be a struggle for me. I know that the next difficult customer I have I will probably start thinking of 7 x 77 not-so-nice things I would like to say instead of forgiving him/her that many times, but I need to remember to take a deep breath, ask Jesus for guidance and to give the struggle to Him. I was told again today that I seem very calm; I'd like to feel more often what so many people see.

We just flew back to Vancouver last night from Edmonton and we had a great trip. It was full of watching hockey and football and playing pool, pinball and bowling. With a couple dinners out with friends it made for a perfect trip. The best time was had at the two hockey games. The first one was aired on Hockey Night in Canada, which was really exciting for me. I only become a real hockey/Edmonton Oilers fan 4 years ago and I never realized what I had been missing. I grew up with hockey since I had brothers who both watched and I also played with them and their friends, but never had an intense liking for it. To be in the city of my favourite team with thousands of fellow fans was incredible. Almost everyone in the building wanted the same thing and we were all suddenly friends. Even the few people who were there to cheer on the visiting teams were part of the family.
It's good to be back home, but we're really looking forward to our next hockey game. Edmonton will be in town in December and we'll be taking that game in as well.

I'm back

I've decided it's about time for me to get back into blogging. I gave it up almost a year ago when the blog I had started to go in a direction I wasn't happy with. So now I'm back with a new title and I think a new focus.

I got a message from my boss today saying that she had to cut my last two shifts of the week because the budget wasn't there from payroll. My initial reaction was relief because now I have more time to finish what I need to at the apartment before we go on our little holiday. Reality set in though and I hope that my hours aren't going to be cut too drastically when I return because I do need a paying job. I consider myself a housewife first and foremost, but between the work I do at home I go to a store and sell useless things to people so that I can afford a few more luxuries in life.

I feel like I would rant to politicians today about the importance of housewives and how important they are to society. I wish I could get paid for all the work I do here. Although I have no children, studies have shown that children who have the constant care and security of a parent with them are more autonomous and well-grounded. According to Erikson this is the first step to a happy life. But let's face it, it's just not financially feasible for all those parents out there who want to stay with their children. I'm not saying that kids who are in daycare are worse off. As someone who has spent time working at a daycare I know that kids there are well cared for and they get what they need. Also, the parents who wish to be with their kids all day are more likely to spend quality time with them in the evening which is so important to their self-image.

Statitistics have also shown that men who are happily married live longer. Why? I think it's because companionship is a stress relief. Men are also more likely to eat better when they are married which is a no-brainer for a longer life. If women were paid to stay home to take care of their children and their husbands they would be giving long term benefits to the world by raising happier children who are less likely to turn to bad habits and their husbands would be happier at work, therefore performing better and more efficiently. I absolutely do not want to sound like I want a patriarchal society. It's the last thing I want. What I want is a world that has more respect for women who choose to stay home, whether they have children or not. As someone who hasn't had any kids yet I get a lot of strange looks and questions as to why I want to stay home. Very few people understand. I think things would be more balanced this way. of course, there would be no reason why women couldn't go to work outside the home if they wanted to, but staying home would be a paying job. There would never be any lay-offs because a woman's work is never done. Which reminds me...I have to clean the fridge now.

(I'm speaking from my perspective, but obviously men could also stay home and do the same thing)