1) The Loonie hit .98 cents to the US Dollar today indicating a few things. 1) The shitty state of the US economy, 2) the housing slump is worse them people feared and 3) that all the money we have sitting in our US account at Scotiabank will soon be equal to the Canadian dollar…so much for the illusion that Canada has a horrible economy and is a socialist state (that’s for the Canada-haters out there.)  They expect parity by the end of the year; I think the first thing they should do is let us pay the US Price on books.

2) The NDP won the riding in Outremont in Montréal; now I am by far the least versed in Québec politics, but I’m pretty sure that Stéphane Dion is spinning the results out of his ass.  He states that the reason the Liberals were shut out of all three by-elections was because it was the public reacting to the government’s increasing commitment to staying in Afghanistan and that they want the Liberals to get “tough.”  The reality is Mr. Dion is that you lack as a leader and even I cannot see you as Prime Minister of this country.  While I love the NDP, they will never form a government in Ottawa, so my hopes rest in the Liberals to stay the course and wave the flag of the centre-ever-so-slightly-left and I don’t see that happening with you Mr. Dion.  Mr. Kennedy? Mr. Rae? Mr. Ignatieff? Get your shit together before October’s Throne Speech.

3) I’m thinking of going on an all out cooking spree this weekend for Mabon!  It is one of my favourite holidays of the year (who am I kidding I love them all, but Mabon has a special place in my heart) and with the weather changing I’m feeling the need to get crafty in the kitchen.

Ugh, it’s only 5:47PM? Sigh.

Whatever your decision, please remember to vote, and remember that there are those of us (me included) who live in and love Ontario, but don't have the privilege to vote...yet.

It's fascinating really to see how things are going for people and how they develop on this side of the fence; now I know how L-Girl and Redsock felt when they watched Mason and I do the same thing last year. Now all that's left is for The WBC Boys and The Vancouver Boys to make it across the finish line; you're almost there guys!!!

It's sad but gratifying to see our little group of refugees finally make it into Canada altogether.

No postings today, just a re-post of one I did last year. May they all rest in peace...

I never knew Kevin, but Mason had met him a few times at family functions. The only things I have ever heard about him have been extremely positive and heroic – he was a good man, husband and father.

I need to thank Charleen & Tim Dowdell, Mason’s sister and brother-in-law, Kevin’s brother and sister-in-law for helping me with Kevin’s memorial here at Life Without Borders. In addition, to their stories they lent me a book that Kevin’s family put together after 9-11 and was published by The American Tribute Center. It details his life and times and has excerpts written by his family & friends. Most of what I will be posting is from this book: “Respect Gets You Respect.”

Kevin was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY the fourth of seven children, he would always point out to his siblings that he was the “middle child.” As a child Kevin was always inquisitive, independent and wanted to explore the world around him. There are many stories of Kevin’s childhood where he struck out on his own to make his mark – from building his own secret fort in the backyard, to his summer adventures at the Longshore Beach Club in Breezy Point, Long Island.

Kevin went to St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School, and eventually St. Albert’s Seminary in upstate New York for the priesthood, but after a year he returned to Nazereth High School in Brooklyn when he realized that was not the path he wanted to take in life. Eventually the family grew up and apart – his parents moved to Colorado with Kevin and some of his other siblings, but soon after getting there Kevin realized he wasn’t at home here. So for his 18th Birthday he got a one-way ticket back home to New York and his older sister Gloria.

Kevin got a job as a sandhog and found an apartment with his brother Brian (who sadly died a year later.) He eventually met and fell in love with his wife, RoseEllen, at St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn. I had the pleasure of meeting RoseEllen at our nieces wedding last month and she really is a beautiful and delightful woman. They got engaged on October 2, 1979, an excerpt from the book:

“I had said, ‘Let’s get engaged for Christmas or Valentine’s Day,” says RoseEllen, “but he said, ‘I don’t want to do that. I want it to be a regular day, like a Tuesday. It shouldn’t be a holiday.’ And sure enough, it was a Tuesday.”

Kevin and RoseEllen had two boys – Patrick & James. Having never met them I only hear of the stories from my nieces and nephew about their cousins – it sounds like they are strong and independent young men, like their father. Patrick currently works for the New York Fire Department (NYFD) and James plans to join after college. Patrick recounts his father’s favorite quote in the book: “Respect gets you respect”

“My father always said, ‘Just do the right thing. Do what you know is right and everything will always work out,” he says. Patrick says he now values that. He also learned a work ethic from his father. “He worked like a madman all the time,“ says Patrick. “So I guess I learned that not everything comes easy, and you have to work hard no matter what you do. He didn’t mind working every day.”

Kevin joined the New York Police Department (NYPD) in 1980, and in 1981 was appointed to the FDNY. His brother-in-law Terry (Gloria’s husband) was a firefighter and Kevin had always looked up to him. He was first assigned to Engine 290 in Brooklyn where he stayed until 1984 and then transferred to Squad 1. In 1988 he joined rescue 2, was promoted to Lieutenant in 1995 covering different firehouses in lower Manhattan. In 1997 he was transferred to Special Operations Command (SOC) and in September 2000 he finally received his dream assignment of being in Rescue 4 – in Queens, near the Midtown Tunnel.

Kevin loved going to work and had numerous stories to share – good and bad. While in Rescue 2, Kevin was with FEMA and was called to assist with the recovery after the Oklahoma City Bombing. Kevin received medals for his heroic efforts in New York City.

On September 11, 2001 it began as an ordinary day – Kevin was working a 24-hour shift, Monday night to Tuesday night. RoseEllen was teaching third grade at PS312 in Brooklyn and was told by a paraprofessional that a plane had hit the World Trade Center (WTC). She couldn’t get away from the classroom until well-after the planes had hit the Pentagon, the second tower and the crash in Pennsylvania. She didn’t honestly think Kevin would be in danger since the towers were in Manhattan and his station was in Queens.

Patrick was away at college, and James was in school, only blocks away from the WTC – his school was on lock down and only a parent could sign him out. Being isolated with the bridges to Manhattan closed RoseEllen tried to see if Kevin could go and called the firehouse. She asked the person who answered the phone if Kevin was there and he said “No.” She then asked him if he was at the WTC and he said “Yes.” She told him that if he heard from Kevin, to have him call her. By now the towers had both collapsed – from the book:

“I wasn’t hearing from Kevin, and he called me all the time,” she says. “He called me every time he was at anything big. He would tell me, ‘Before you see it on the news, I’m okay.”

This time it wasn’t okay.

At 12:30am SOC called to let the family know that Kevin was missing. By the next morning it was evident that Kevin was not coming home. Days and weeks flew by. Eventually recovery turned to mourning and planning a memorial service. Most of the other members of Kevin’s company were found in late October and early November. Kevin and the probie who was with him were never found. A memorial service was finally held for Kevin on April 19, 2002 – a chance to remember and celebrate the life of a man who helped so many and loved to do his job and do it well.

To date Lt. Kevin Christopher Dowdell has never been found, but his spirit lives on in the hearts and minds of his friends, family, wife and children. He was the epitome of heroism on that fateful day. Please take a moment to pay respect to him and honor him, as hopefully I have done in this blog

Blessed Be, Kevin.

However, today over at WMTC, L-Girl linked a similar article from the other side of the border from the US broadcaster ABC.  Want to see some true hate?  Want to see the reason why I left the United States?  Read this little gem of an article over at ABC and then click to read just a handful of the 700+ responses by ordinary American folk.  Some highlights include:

I think you get the drift....

Gods, the hate and vileness of these people disgusts me, and I think more then anything else I am saddened about the perception they have about Canada and its institutions.  There is more to Canadian culture then liberal policies, socialized medicine and civil rights.  You actually think I’m going to be scrambling back over the border because I have to wait a couple of days to see a specialist for FREE?!?  Sigh.

Wow, what a perfect time for me to head to the States.

Things have been up and down this week, actually the last couple of weeks; so the fact that today is August 1^st is quite settling as I feel this month will bring some much needed changes to my life as Mason and I close in on our 1-year mark since the move. You know what that means…bullet time!

1) The Move: The big part of the move (movers and a truck) is scheduled for August 18^th  but before then there will be plenty of little trips over to the house to clean and cleanse and move items room by room.  I’m becoming happier with this move and more comfortable with the home; I really like the neighbourhood, our landlord rocks and the house feels better to me then the one we are currently in on sooooo many levels.  I will feel at ease when it’s all done, have our deposit back and we can say C'est la vie.  As far as Asshole and Countess Cuntula, Mason and I have decided not to throw a “Fuck You” party and will instead focus on a housewarming one at our new place instead. He’s already taken up too much time in my writings and my life…

2) Between The Worlds: A festival that I have had the privilege of attending the last few years; it has given me a sense of renewal and peace every year spiritually, but this year I can’t make it.  There are a number of practical reasons; money, lack of time off, newness in our respective jobs, but I believe that things happen for a reason.  Riding that sentiment, Mason won a trip on the CBC this past winter and we need to use it before December, so we decided to use what little vacation time we have this year and use the trip to go here in Cancun, Mexico in November; just the two of us :-)

3) Work: Has been kicking my ass at some times, but leaving me bored out of my skull at others.  I can’t complain, I love my job but I seriously need a break from it and I think my side trip to California tomorrow is going to be just the thing.

4) Relationships: I’ve struggled with this one, both publicly and privately; some things have gone behind a my-eyes only filter.  To say it has been an easy year is laughable; Mason and I saw some depths that before now were uncharted and some peaks that were off the charts.  All the more reason for the trip mentioned in #2 and I am thankful every day that goes by that this man is in my life and that he has chosen me to be with for the rest of our lives. 

On the same note, I have had a good long look at the friendships in my life up to this point.  I’ve had the pleasure of meeting new friends, solidifying present ones, reevaluating old ones and struggling with some; in some cases leaving me scratching my head and wondering what happened.  It’s alright though, as I think I have finally figured out who counts and respects me as a true friend and treats me as such.  It’s sad but exhilarating at some times, happy and debilitating at others; regardless I consider myself a lucky man.

Part of me longs for the fall and for summer to be over, I always do best with the colder months and the waning half of the year.  I have a lot of goals and plans to accomplish before the year is out and starting 2008 with a running start.  Enjoy the ride.

The number of Americans admitted to Canada last year reached a 30-year high, with a 20 per cent increase over the previous year and nearly double the number that arrived in 2000.

The results of a survey, conducted by the Association for Canadian Studies, also revealed that the so-called "brain drain" of Canada appears to be narrowing.

The survey found that 10,942 Americans came to Canada in 2006, compared to just over 9,262 in 2005. In 2000, 5,828 came to the country.

I look at that number and realize that Mason and I make up that last number in the figure, 10,94(2.) 

That's kind of neat :-)

I'm sitting on VIA Rail right now headed back home to Toronto after spending a few days in Montreal for a client trip to experience Just for Laughs Festival. Spent some great time with our clients who turned out to be a ton of fun. They all got to experience "The Mason" Byrne complete with me handing out autographs to complete strangers in line ups. Then the night ended with my autographing one of our client's TaTas and in turn, she signed my right ass cheek - while waiting in line in front of a hundred or so people. It was pretty damn fun.

But the most interesting part of this visit for me is the incredible influence of French in Montreal. When I visited a few years ago for the Black and Blue Festival, I was aware of all the French, but now being a resident of Canada it's been interesting experiencing it now - especially since while we're exposed to French in Toronto and Canada as a whole, it always seems like one of those odd requirements that doesn't make sense, but rather just part of inclusion. Then visit Quebec. It's not even inclusionary, it's truly a way of life.

You always hear that you don't need to speak/understand French to visit and while that's true, I can certainly see how important it is to those that live and work in the province. While English and French are the two languages of Canada, if you just materialized in Montreal, you would be hard-pressed to find any English. Subway signs, printed materials, advertising and most television stations are all in French. In fact, looking for English subway directions, etc. was fruitless.

I felt my "Americanism" start to surface as I was getting frustrated at times trying to deal with the French, but then when I took a deep breath the realization overwhelmed me that I live in a multi-language country and felt so BIG - so intense and I was a very proud Canadian. Outside of the separatist thoughts and emotions, I really felt that Quebec is just another element that makes Canada the wonderful and diverse place it is and makes it so great.

I remember during my first visit dealing with not only being in another country, with a "foreign" language, but also this "funny money" that included one and two dollar coins. This trip was different - as I pulled out my red fives and green twenties and fiddled through Loonies and Toonies on this trip, it was that subtie reminder that, yeah - while I'm hearing and reading French everywhere, I am still in my own country.

Thank you Montreal for solidifying my belief that moving here was the right move and to the right country. In true Quebecois attitude, I'm sure you probably don't care, (but deep down, I know you do - I won't tell anyone!) :-)

I know it's probably going to be an effort in futility, but I think I was to at least attempt to learn some basic French. There was one interesting moment at the greasy, Greek diner Saturday morning when I did my best to order in French "Omellette su bacon n' frommage," but then said "ephadiso" Σας ευχαριστούμε (thank you in Greek) to the waiter! I felt so grown up.

As I was putting that last entry up on the website, I realized it's been nearly a month since the last entry! Needless to say it's been a crazy month with friend's visiting from the states, a great Canada's Day BBQ over at Allan and Laura's house where we met some great fellow-bloggers and caught up with many others! We've taken in the excitement of hanging out at a friend's backyard pool in the home city of Wayne Gretzky and tried to take in just about every weekend festival, event and/or entertainment this metropolis has to offer (and missed probably just as many.) On top of all this, Nick and I have been looking for a new place to live since our lease here was just for one year! Can you believe it's been a year already!! We did find a beautiful home to call our for the next couple of years in Leslieville!

Between Facebook, Live Journal and a myriad of other online areas, Life Without Borders has suffered lately. I'll try and do a better job of updating over here - I promise!

ATTN: All My Canadian Friends!!!

Why the hell did you all not tell me about this earlier!!!

Thanks to my boss's weekend baking, I am experiencing the chocolate goodness that is a Nanaimo Bar. It's even in the handy-dandy Wikipedia!

Now to attempt a mint-flavoured version!!!

Overall I think it went well, mostly had to speak to my mom for 3/4 of the call, but I did talk to my dad too. Got the latest dirt on who died, who got married and a really interesting chat about immigrating to Canada. It was interesting to say the least, for the first time in over a decade my parents and I had something in common; we were both immigrants now. Don't get me wrong there was some tension, but in the end I think we were both too tired and too old to pick up our argument where we usually left it off.

I've been here before; the hopeful moment where you think it all changes. I'm not expecting anything, but if the next phone call is this easy it will be a pleasant surprise.

Thanks for the support all.