Jian Ghomeshi...you can do my chores any time!

Yesterday on CBC (Jian's Q) there were responses to a guest who had been speaking about the great gender divide and housework. After many years of frustrated hand-wringing, I think we (the hubby and I) have this one figured out. Many an evening, if you peer in the windows of the Patterson farmhouse, you will observe a husband contentedly reclining on the couch reading a business mag or Rolling Stone, or perched on a stool strumming his guitar. Sounds idyllic, non? Glimpse his lovely wife, rag in one hand, bottle of Windex in another, finding things to wipe.



Is the husband lazy? No. The husband is a genius. He knows how to spend his precious down-time doing things that make him happy. If he is asked, he will do any chore requested of him. He just doesn't look for them.



This is the difference. Women have higher expectations for a perfect house. Full stop. We are deranged. Either our own need to control the surroundings, or our desire to impress others, propels this compulsion. Maybe men are just better at realizing what matters.



My sister was recently stressed about her shedding dogs and busy daughter and messy house. I asked her, point blank, what will happen if you don't clean up. The answer: NOTHING!



And don't argue with me that a clean house matters. It doesn't. Dirt is my friend.

"The Happiness Project"

How often do you hear something that moves you to tears? (Other than a Hallmark commercial, I mean). I listen to a lot of new music. I like to fancy myself a "discoverer" and use a few sources to find new stuff. (CFRC, Jian on CBC, ITunes freebies, etc.). Today I heard something that was so original, and so moving, that I felt compelled to share it.

Charles Spearin (of Broken Social Scene fame and other cool mash-ups) started a sound project where he interviewed his neighbours about the meaning of happiness. Now for the cool part, he invited his musician friends to find instruments that matched the tone of the individuals' voices and set their speaking to melody. It is incredible. If you check out his website, you will hear Mrs. Morris, and I've also included a link to the performance on YouTube. Another cool clip on CBC was a child repeating "Like um, um like" which they set to a very bluesy speakeasy-type poet beat.

I'll be buying this for sure. Check it out:

http://www.happiness-project.ca/index.php?method=add

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nP0bx4ZI6Y

"HAPPINESS IS LOVE"

The Twitter Revolution...

What does Twitter mean for the future of mainstream media? If consumers can share en masse, world happenings in real-time, and 'readers' (scanners? users? visitors? voyeurs?) can follow the tide like a ticker tape, who will find time for a newspaper, even one online? People witnessing the Hudson River plane crash (and capturing photos with their PDAs) shared the content before CNN interviewed a single witness.

Imagine the next generation of Twitter as an audio feed that fills the air around you, as CBC currently does. Stop and pause at content that grabs your attention. Drill down on what matters to you. Connect with like-minded folks around the globe.

Imagine the potency of a fully integrated Facebook/Twitter mash-up. Or does that already exist??? There are more apps out there than I can keep track of.

Most silly, some mind-blowing.

Robin wants to learn how....

Is it easy to blog?
Can you type in Word?

YES YOU CAN!

Blood, sweat and tears

Question gentle reader:
Do you love your job?
Was I the only one excited to get back to work today?
Among how small a minority does this place me?
Let me tell you:
According to the definitive authority, (Oprah ), 85% of people dislike their jobs.
This makes me sad.
What accounts for this?
Why is it so hard for us to find meaningful work we enjoy?
Are we conditioned to take jobs for the wrong reasons?
Anyone??

Nostalgia...

It amazes me how certain places reside deep inside you. I lived in Barrie for as long as I lived in Elliot Lake. Barrie was completely unremarkable to me and I remember very little. Elliot Lake, on the other hand, has a stronghold in my heart. I have a fondness for that little space on the earth, that cannot be explained rationally. Many would call it a dump. I call it heaven. "My year at Walden Pond".

Boxing Day Temptations...

Here's a little tip for all those people waiting in line for great deals on new electronics during the sale season. If, like me, you think one laptop is as good as the next, the decision on brand choice comes down to service. What happens when something goes wrong? Ask the salesperson that question and go so far as to ask for the 1-800 number used to obtain service. Then, before you lay down your credit card: CALL! How long are you on hold? How helpful is the person? How deep is the voicemail maze before you even speak to a human? I've tried it, and been amazed at the differences between companies.

And here's a hopeful note: major recession on the horizon? You'd never know it by the numbers of new TVs flying off the shelves. Does this say more about economic optimism or consumerism out of control? Your thoughts?

Spinning the Din...

Does everyone sit back with a sigh on Boxing Day?



With a long uncluttered day ahead, we both revel in our freedom and agonize over how to spend the precious free time. Catch up on overdue work? Clear away the festive mess? Lounge in bed with a newly gifted book, or a film on the MacBook? Make music? Return the dozen phone calls I've been too crazed to make?



I think I'll just consume all the sweets acquired over the last week and make an oath not to touch the stuff come January 1st.



Sometimes too much time is as challenging as too little.

Staying Sane in an Insane World...

I believe it was Paul Newman who replied when asked about the atypical success of his Hollywood marriage to Joanne Woodward, "Only one of us is crazy at any one time". (Or something to that effect.)

Yesterday was a crazy day. Both of us could easily have lost it. But Mike stayed sane.

Sometimes in a relationship, one of us has to make a conscious choice to keep it together for the sake of the other.

I think perhaps the key is to make sure you take turns.

Make Music...Not War

Make Art...Not War

Launch of JoyousNoise

In class we have an exercise where students compose their personal motto. The only requirement is that it be as brief as possible, while still being personally meaningful.

Nike conveys an entire attitude with three small words: Just Do It.
I've upped the ante using only two: Live Joy.

What's yours?