One Facebook Trend I won't follow..

Lately, I have been noticing a lot of my friends and other people doing this trend on Facebook. The message goes: "Change your profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood. The goal? To not see a human face on FB till Monday, December 6th. Join the fight against child abuse. CHILD ABUSE IS UNACCEPTABLE!! Copy and paste to your status to invite your friends to do the same."

Health Canada, in the Child Maltreatment Section states child abuse as: "Child maltreatment can be categorized into several broad types including: physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect/failure to provide, and emotional maltreatment.

Some child abuse stats from around the world:

- Worldwide, approximately 40 million children are subjected to child abuse each year (WHO, 2000).

- A Canadian child abuse statistics survey done by Bibby in 2000 (2001)revealed that 56% of adolescents rated child abuse as their top societal concern.

- Adolescents experience maltreatment at rates equal to or exceeding those of younger children (Council on Scientific Affairs, 1993, p. 1850).

- Sexual abuse statistics vary between countries and reports, but are consistently alarming: One country's research indicates that up to 36% of girls and 29% of boys have suffered child sexual abuse; another study reveals up to 46% of girls and 20% of boys have experienced sexual coercion (The 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights).

- Each year, approximately one million more children around the world are introduced into commercial sexual exploitation (Casa Alianza, 2001).

- In a study of runaways presenting at an emergency ward who reported a history of maltreatment, 83% had disabilities as compared to 47% of the non-maltreatment runaways. Using information collected from schools, 34% of the maltreated had disabilities as opposed to 17% of the non-maltreated runaways (Sullivan, et al., 2000).

- Close to one-third of teens between ages 14 and 19 who participated in a Canadian study had experienced some kind of childhood abuse or neglect (Wolfe, 2001).

- Girl victims reported emotional distress, post-traumatic-stress related symptoms and acts of both violent and non-violent delinquency. Boy victims of child maltreatment reported far less emotional distress and delinquent behaviours; however, they were far more likely to assault their dating partners (Wolfe, 2001).

l won’t buy into this until someone explains to me how, exactly, changing ones facebook profile picture to a childhood memory will magically stop violence against children. Promoting awareness does nothing but make you feel good. Action is what creates change. Instead of using that money that you were going to spend on the DVD/Blu Ray box set of your favourite childhood that you rediscovered today by looking at all your friends pictures and looking on Ebay today? Give it to your local YWCA, shelter or this group called Little Warriors. Little Warriors is a sexual abuse education charitable organization that focuses on the education and prevention of child sexual abuse and also provides information to those people who need it. www.littlewarriors.ca

What is "Normal" really?

I was watching day time TV the other day which is really odd for me to do because I don't really have the time usually but this week I did for some reason. I was flipping channels and came across this one preview about on of Oprah's new show that she was doing What is Normal? She was going to discuss it with her audience, viewers and with her 2 favourite doctors that she helped along with their own TV careers: Dr Phil and Dr Oz. I can say that I am not a big fan of Oprah, Dr Phil or Dr Oz.Everyone has to be on the Oprah bandwagon (for example: I read an author way before Oprah discovered this person and once she 'discovered' him everyone had to read him. A few of my friends went oh this author is so good.. I am so glad Oprah found him. I went his been writing for years..good to know that you are on the bandwagon like everyone else.)

Oprah has a 'test' to on her website to see you are normal on her website: http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/Are-You-Normal-Take-the-Test_1 (I'll leave you a min or two to check out the website)

I find it a little odd that you can find out if you are 'Normal' by taking a test on Oprah's website. What happens if you answer a question differently is it going to say that you aren't normal at all?

The dictionary defines Normal as: 1. Conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural. 2. serving to establish a standard 3. Psychology. a. approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment. b.free from any mental disorder; sane.

Normal is often perceived by society and social norms. But even that is flawed because it is influenced by how we are raised in groups we associate with. And with our own personal belief structures that we grew up with.

My one Professor asked as once to define for ourselves what we thought was normal but we couldn't because it was all different. Our definitions was all different and was influenced on how we grew up in society and the group we associated with as a group.

My friend said this as to the question "What is Normal":

It is a question that can be casually dismissed, or treated with philosophical rigor. The answer can be assumed self-evident, or open to an exhaustive debate. In truth, there are as many responses as there are people. Culture, race, gender, religious belief, age, status, genetics, income, education, and experience all have a say in what we perceive as normal. Where we find consensus, we find community.

I can say that there is no such thing is normal at all. We are all different in our own ways and that is what makes as special and human. What is so bad about being different?

What REALLY makes the world go around?

Yes I know that conservation of angular momentum is what really makes the world go round but some people say that there are other things that make it go around.

I recently watched Cabaret where they sing that

"Money makes the world go around

The world go around
The world go around
Money makes the world go around
It makes the world go 'round."

So is it that money makes the world go around? I hope it doesn't because I am the type that believes that money doesn't make people happy.

Then Merlin sings from the Sword and the Stone to Arthur:

"Left and right Like day and night That's what makes the world go round In and out Thin and stout That's what makes the world go round For every up there is a down For every square there is a round For every high there is a low For every to there is a fro To and fro Stop and go That's what makes the world go round Brains and brawn, weak and strong That's what makes the world go round..." I am not to really sure what this one means. I think what Merlin is saying that everything makes the world go around in the grand scheme of things. Kiss on the other hand says, "Once I was a fool dreamin' my life away, and then yesterday I found you Lookin' for me, draggin' your heart around at the lost and found I love you, you're the only one who could make me feel love was smart I feel you deep inside of me, beatin' up against my heart And I found out, I found out, what makes the world go 'round Oh I found out, really found out, what makes the world go 'round" Hmm so some girl is what makes the world go around. Interesting.. I looked on online and saw other worlds like maths, communication, music, education, greed, and software(computers). Its a good list I think but then I found this quote:

"Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place." ~Ice T.

So does passion and love really make the world go around? There was lots of songs that said that did:

Love makes the world go 'round.
Love makes the world go 'round.
Somebody soon will love you,
If no one loves you now.

High in some silent sky
Love sings a silver song
Making the earth whirl softly
Love makes the world go 'round.

- Bob Merrill, 1961, From "Carnival."

I just wanna talk to you
And my broken heart just has no use
And I, I guess promises are better
left unsaid, yeah
Everytime you try to tell me
You say the words that I'm the only
But I'm the one who's crawling on the ground
When you say love makes the world go 'round

- Ashlee Simpson "Love makes the world go round"

There's been a lot of talk about the game of love,
It's what everybody, everywhere, is thinking of!
The love bug's busy as he can be,
And I gotta a funny feeling that he just bit me!
'Cause love makes the world go 'round and around.
Love makes the world go 'round!
Your pulse will beat and your heart will pound,
'Cause love makes the world go 'round!

-Perry Como "Love Makes the world go Round"

Okay.. so I think we got the picture.. Same title different song. People think that love and passion makes the world go around. What are your thoughts? I am not to sure about what really makes world go around but I do wish that it is love and passion for one another that makes it go around because it is certainly better than hate, fear, pain and suffering. I am going to guess that we are just going to have to leave the actual question to science and say that it is

conservation of angular momentum that makes the world go round but that is always not as fun to say.

C'est la Vie..

I can say that I had wanted to give it a shot to write every day this month. But I can say that something happened to it. Life.

At Stampede, we are in the middle of our busy season, with Christmas Parties, Conferences, Concerts and many more events that its hard to keep up with everything that is on your plate. Most days I barely have enough energy to come home check my email and climb into bed for a few hours of sleep before getting up and starting the whole process again.

I know that I broke the rules of NaBloPoMo but I thought it would have been a good challenge for me to do. Hopefully I will get a second chance at doing it and then being able to write every day.

History of the Chuckwagon Repost..

I had wrote this piece during the Calgary Stampede. I loved working on this post so much that I think its worth a repost.

Chuckwagon Race- Then and Now.

“There’s the Horn: Annnnnnnnddddd They’rrrrrrrre Offfffffffff………….” That’s what we all hear when Les McIntyre starts the Chuckwagon races at the GMC Rangeland Derby. Then there is the mad dash of the outriders putting the stove and tent poles into the back of the chuck, and the thunder of the horses running by. I can tell you it’s one of my favourite parts of the Stampede. But the chuckwagon wasn’t always used for that. Today, we’ll look back to its humble roots.

A Quick History Lesson.

The chuckwagon was designed by Charles Goodnight in 1866. He purchased a government wagon and completely rebuilt it according to his specifications in seasoned bois d’arc, the toughest wood available.The most identifying feature of the wagon was the sloping box on the rear with hinged lid that lowered to become a cook’s work table. The box was fitted to the width of the wagon and contained shelves and drawers for holding food and utensils. To the cowboys, “chuck” was food, so the box was called a chuck box and the wagon became known as a chuck wagon. Goodnight’s early prototype of the chuck wagon was copied widely and changed little in the years to follow. During the long trail drives, the chuck wagon was the headquarters of every cattle outfit on the range. Cowboys didn’t just eat their meals there; it was their social center and recreational spot. It was a natural gathering place filled with tall tales, listening to music, or just recounting the day’s events.The chuck wagon was also the cowboy’s only known address, truly their home on the range. If the chuck wagon was their home, the chuck wagon cook was king. The morale of the men and the smooth functioning of the camp depended largely upon him - the cook’s authority was unquestioned. Wagon cooks, as a group, had the reputation of being ill-tempered, and no wonder - their working conditions usually left a lot to be desired. The nature of the cook’s job required that he get up several hours earlier than the cowhands, and work longer hours with less sleep. When the outfit was on the move, he had to be at the next appointed camp and have a hot meal ready on time - often working short of both fuel and water. He was constantly called upon to battle the elements – wind, rain, sand, mud, insects, and even rattlesnakes. In addition to preparing meals, the cook also was expected to act as barber, doctor, banker, and sometimes if needed, a referee if a disturbance among the cowhands arose.

The chuck wagon was also used as a hospital unit used by the Union army surgeons during the later stages of the American civil war.

How it got started at the Calgary Stampede.

For the very first Rangeland Derby Stampede in 1923, founder Guy Weadick convinced a number of working ranches to enter their authentic chuckwagons and roundup crews. The No. 10 Event evening competition was the “Cowboy’s Chuck-Wagon Race” with Purses and Prizes totaling $275.00. Bill Sommers, a stagecoach driver from the Yukon, won the first wagon race that year.

For the Official Canadian Championship title, each outfit, consisting of 4 horses, a wagon, a driver and 4 helpers, were required to “cut a figure eight around barrels, out through backstretch into track, run around track back to camp bround, unhook team from wagon, stretch fly. No less than two stakes, and make a fire. First puff of smoke signals the winner. The Prize of the day goes as follows: Day Money: 1st $25 | 2nd $15 | 3rd $10 | Free Entrance – Man entering team that wins the greatest number of races out of 5 will be awarded a special prize of a $25.00 and a John B. Stetson hat”. Today is a completely different story!! Now the cowboys compete for $945,000 dollars and $150,000 sudden death championship and a GMC truck.

Today the rules are a little bit simpler – no starting fires and first smoke, but you have to make sure everything is timed absolutely perfectly. The rules are: hitch a team of four high-strung thoroughbreds to a chuckwagon, stop them at a barrel, settle them as four outriders (each with their own horse) set the tent poles and stove, and wait for the starting horn. When the horn goes off, throw the stove, tent poles in the back of the chuckwagon and then do a figure 8 around the barrel and then run like crazy to the finish line. There is a thin line for error and those who cross it will not earn a spot in the $150,000 final heat on Day 10. It’s those little intangibles that make it so difficult to run 10 days penalty free. When so much has to go right—to run fast, to stay in the top four—you just hope to avoid penalties. Teams can be penalized for: stove off ground- 1 second, late Outrider 1 second, wagon failing to follow proper figure 8 pattern- 5 seconds and the list goes on.

The 36 drivers that qualified for the 2010 Calgary Stampede are based on the formula established by the Calgary Stampede, the breakdown as follows:

• 8 wagon drivers from the 2009 GMC Rangeland Derby Aggregate Standings after eight performances;
• 8 wagon drivers from the CPCA Final Standings in 2009;
• 16 wagon drivers from the WPCA Final Standings in 2009; and,
• 4 wagon drivers selected at the Stampede’s discretion

There you have it. A brief history of the chuckwagons and the evolution to modern day racing. I hope you all will come down and watch at least one race. I’ll be down on the tarmac, cheering on all the drivers, hope to see you there!

Things I am Grateful for..

I had a discussion the other day with a co worker about we really do take things for granted and we should be grateful. I had to stop and think about things I am really truely grateful for. She asked me to name some of them. So here is my list of what I am grateful for:

1. Family- even though my family drives me aboustely batty some days, I know that they will always have my back when I need it.

2. Friends- they are always there when I need a hug, a shoulder to cry on, or just need a ear to talk to. Or help plan crazy ideas that you go huh I hope we don't get caught...

3. Music- is such a huge part of my life. I don't know when I am not listening to it or have a song in my head. It makes a bad mood go away, cures heartache or makes you want to sing from the roof tops on the top of your lungs.

4. Saying NO!- I recently had a huge disagreement at work with some of my bosses this lead me to saying no to some of my shifts and I can say its really nice to be able to say NO! to people when I am over worked and tired and I can't take on another project. I've discovered that the more I say it-the easier it gets to say.

5. Naps- I got home today after doing a load of errands and I sat on the couch and promptly fell asleep. I had planned to do other things before I even thought of a nap. Life lately was been busy lately that I haven't had the chance to just relax and have a nap and just restore myself.

6. Laughter- Nothing makes any day better than a down and out laugh until you cry laugh. I feel so much better after I do it and I go why don't I do more of this? The other day was a prefect example Patty and my co-workers just laughed the whole shift and I left so much better when I left that day.

7. Hugs- I can have the crappiest day ever and then one of my friends can give me a hug or send a hug over text, Facebook or twitter and I feel so much better.

8. My Mum- is amazing. She raised both me and my sister all by herself with out help. I don't know how she juggled working, going to school, making sure we got to rehearsals, various practises and them some. My mum was a supermom. To this day, I have no idea how she did it. For that, I am grateful for my mum.

9. Knowing I am still under construction and growing every day- I am. I am always changing, learning and growing every day. I can say that I was not the same person I was 5 years ago. I have learned some new lessons, dealt with some of my faults and learned to be myself. I know I will never be prefect but then we are only human and I've learned that's okay.

How is it?

How is it that someone can turn your mood from absolutely amazing into crappy in approx. 2.5 seconds? I know someone shouldn't have the power to do that..but that happened to me at work today. The person I am talking about seems to do it to quite a few people I know and yet we have no idea what to do about it.