Washing Hands and Touching Doors

There is a difference between washing your hands and rinsing your hands.
Washing your hands requires soap. Rinsing your hands means you are not using soap. Sanitizing your hands doesn't require soap or water... you use hand sanitizer.

I hardly ever actually wash my hands.

After going to the bathroom in a public place, I wash my hands, (with soap and warm water.) I do this because other people are usually in the bathroom as well and I want them to think I am hygenic. After going to the bathroom at home, I just rinse my hands with water. Not even warm water either; the water's usually cold.

I rinse my hands after I eat, but only if they feel gross.
I rinse my hands several times when I'm making supper and handling food. I don't like the feeling of food on my hands.
I rinse my hands after washing the dishes and scooping the cat litter.

The only other time that I can think of when I actually wash my hands is after touching a dog or sneezing directly into my hand.

I only use hand sanitizer when I'm sick and coughing all over myself or camping and don't have acess to soap and water.

I don't know why people are so obsessed with hand washing. I think most people are like me and only ever rinse their hands anyway. People are paranoid.

The one thing that I am paranoid about it is touching doors. UGH AH EK! I just hate touching public doors! Automatic doors are my friends. People who hold open the door for me are my friends.

I actually go as far as to pull my sleeve over my hand to open a public door. If I don't have sleeves, I use the least amount of fingers to pull open the door, like my pinky, and then I wipe my hands on my pants. I don't know why I wipe my hands on my pants. I understand it doesn't help, but it makes me feel better.

If it's a door that I can push open, I use my shoulder or my arm, never my hand.

If a door is closing and I want to get in, I'll stick my foot in the door and kind of like, kick it open and wedge my shoulder in there instead of using my hands. I avoid using my hands to touch doors at all costs.

Yet, after touching a door, I don't wash my hands, or rinse my hands, or even sanitize my hands. I just live with it. I live with the fact that my precious hands have come in contact with a dispicable door!

The Women Are To Blame

I want to be a domestic housewife very badly.

I would have no problem at all staying at home all day, cooking, cleaning, baking, gardening, and raising the children.

What an awesome life to live! I get to make nutritious meals from scratch for my family. I get be outside when it's nice and sunny out and tend to my vegetable patch and water my flowers. When it's cold and rainy I get to stay indoors where it's comfortable and warm and bake a special chocolate cake for when Daddy and Johnny come home from work and school.

I was reading an article I found linked on MSN. I wish I could post the link here, but it was a while ago and I can't find it. It was about the cost of living and how today, middle class families are poorer than ever!

They took statistics from a family from the 70's where only the husband worked and the wife stayed at home while the two children went to school and compared it to statistics from a family from today where both parents worked and had two children in school.

Now obviously salaries and the cost of living are totally different. Inflation and all that crap was taken into consideration.

They found that the '70s family had enough money to pay for groceries, the mortgage, the car, all their bills, and save for their children's post-secondary education, AND save up money for a two-week family vacation!

Today's family was in debt, barely had money saved for post-secondary, if any at all, and didn't have any emergency savings to fall back on, let alone take a 2 week vacation somewhere as a family.

Why is that? Women. Fucking women ruining it for everybody! In the 30s and through till the 80's, people were getting richer. I mean richer in the sense that all families of every class kept up with inflation and were never worse off than the previous generation. When women started gaining "girl power" and getting employed however, they also started fucking everything up. Having two paychecks definitely helps to bring in more money, but it comes at a cost.

Because families started catching on that they could have two people out in the workforce and essentially make double their family income, they started to change the cost of living.

Today's middle income family has to have 2 breadwinners in order to pay all the numerous bills we have today! Because of that, they usually need two cars. Cars ain't cheap! Plus, who's going to take care of the kids? Add the cost of babysitting and that second paycheck is starting to dwindle. Most women going out in the work force need to dress in a certain attire that can usually be more expensive than staying-at-home clothes.

Things all start to add up. And what happens if one person falls ill for an extended period of time and can't work? How will today's family cover those extra costs? Back in the '70s, if the husband couldn't work for whatever reason, at least the wife could go out and get a job and make enough money (even though she wouldn't make exactly the same as her husband doing the same job) to continue living the lifestyle they were living.

Today's family is screwed.

Our middle class families of the '90s and beyond are not getting richer. They're not keeping up with the cost of inflation, and they're not benefiting from having two people out working, but there's no other alternative anymore.

I've heard people say we're approaching a generation of debt. We're spending more than we make and trying to hard to live an unattainable lifestyle. Perhaps it's true that some middle class families aren't making wise purchasing decisions, but for the most part, it seems that these middle class families really are struggling and there's nothing that can be done.

I was reading an example of one middle class family where both children are in school and both parents work. Their house is paid for, they only have one car, do not subscribe to satellite or cable television, and don't own cell phones. Their children are involved in only one extra-curricular activity, and many clothes and household items are bought second hand.

Yet, this frugal middle class family has trouble making ends meet every month! It's ridiculous.

If women had just stayed at home instead of following their dreams and having goals and aspirations for themselves, we wouldn't be in this mess today.

I am a phoenix.

I haven't worked out in a while... I'm feeling it. I'm craving it. I've been sleeping in every morning and working late every night. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I have the whole day off (and Tuesday and Wednesday as well) and I want to go to the gym!

I still haven't asked to cancel my trainer sessions and get my money back because I haven't been to the gym at all!!!

You know when things start piling up, and piling up, and piling up.

I haven't washed the dishes in over week, cleaned my hamster cage in a month, and I have a huge pile of laundry to wash and put away!

I need a maid. A maid would solve all my problems. The maid would keep my house clean for me so that I can do more important things, ie: work out, and not have to worry about other stuff to do.

I get so bogged down trying to keep my fucking apartment clean, it's hard leave for the gym. Any spare time I have I use it to sleep, or to clean it seems. (Or to procrastinate... but we're not talking about that right now.)

I'm discouraged now, but I shall rise up again. I am a phoenix.

Quitting

I'm not quittng my work outs just quitting my trainer sessions.

Enough is enough already. I couldn't book an appointment with any trainer for 2 weeks! I called and asked if I could start training with someone new and I like to start working out this week and next week around 11am. They had no openings around that time slot for two whole weeks! Not even anything earlier in the morning.

Such bullshit!

So I'm giving up on this. I haven't had a fucking trainer in a month now and it's become senseless. I"m so used to working out by myself that I may as well continue that way and save some money.

It's unfortunate. The staff at Shapes have realized this and have sympathized with my situation saying normally it's not like this. I honestly believe them. My trainer left suddenly and it's hard to fit me in with everyone else's schedules. I totally get it.

But I'm through.

Maybe I'll try again later in the year, but right now, it's not worth the aggravation anymore. I've become frustrated with the whole system and it's time to take a break.

I hope I get my money back. If not... well... I'll probably raise my voice about it. They know very well I've been getting screwed around and I'm sure they'll probably try to talk me out of it. I will be persistent about getting a refund. I will stand my ground and not be easily persuaded.

I still like the Shapes facility and will continue to work out there and recommend the group exercise classes to people, (at least I can count on those!)

NCR Poster Boy

Here is my Vince Li blog that I've been continuously working on for a while now... Maxwell beat me to it, but here's everything that I've learned so far.

Vince Li pleaded not criminally responsible or NCR. He has some definite schizophrenic issues and at the time of Mcleans's murder, going through a major psychotic episode including auditory hallucinations.

Vince Li claimed to hear the voice of God telling him to kill Tim Mclean

"The voice said: 'Do it now... If you don't, he's going to kill you.'"

He also believed McLean had supernatural powers and would come back to life if he did not cut him apart and spread his body parts around.

Li stabbed McLean almost 100 times before decapitating him and removing the internal organs.

Police documents said Li appeared to "smell, and then eat parts of Tim McLean's flesh" as they surrounded him in the bus.

Body parts were found in plastic bags throughout the bus and McLean's nose, tongue and one of his ears were found in Li's pocket.

Li was arrested after trying to jump out of a broken window.

Here are some weird facts that happened before the murder:

Li wet the bed until he was 18, but went on medication for it. He rarely drank and never did recreational drugs. He immigrated to Canada with his wife Ana in 2001.

In 2004, he wasn't sleeping or eating regularly. He spoke of seeing God. In 2005 he moved to Thompson, but told his wife he'd moved to Toronto. He did eventually make his way to Toronto, but his wife had moved to Edmonton by then.

He couldn't get a job in Toronto. God told him to go back to Winnipeg. Li thought God's voice told him to walk back, so he started walking on the highway. God also told him to throw away all his luggage. Police picked him up on Highway 427. Li claimed to be "following the sun."

He was hospitalized, diagnosed with schizophrenia, given meds, and sent on his way. Li didn't believe he was sick though and didn't understand his illness. He spoke more with God and started carrying a knife for protection from evil forces.

In 2008 he was living in Edmonton. He would disappear for periods of time, laugh at inappropriate times and talk to himself. He thought about suicide, saying "lots of times God's voice asked me to kill myself because I didn't follow his word."

I July 2008, God told him to leave Ana, go find a new job, have an independent life, and to leave right away.

We all know what happens next... Vince Li made history.

My View

I feel sorry for him - in fact, more so than Tim McLean. Tim's dead and doesn't have to deal with this, but Li has to face the world every day. He had no control over his actions. There was no way anybody, not even Li himself, could predict what he was going to do. And Tim's mother is completely over reacting. She's become a mad-woman!

There's justice and then there's revenge. Justice isn't about making people pay; it's about making the fairest decision based on the situation. For once Canada's justice system worked like a textbook and everybody loses their head about it. (haha get it?)

Her little boy could have just as easily broke his neck skiing, or have a drink machine fall on him, or whatever. Freak accidents happens. That's why they're called freak accidents.

The first few stabs would have killed Tim, no doubt. All the mutilation after that is irrelevant because he was already dead. He didn't eat him alive or tortuously slit his throat so he slowly and painfully bled to death. Tim's death was painful, but relatively quick.

Vince Li is a long, long, long, way from being healthy. For all we know, he could stay in the hospital forever, or be out in 10 years. It all depends on him. Honestly, Li has been living inside a mental prison for the better part of his life already.

But, if Li were sent to real prison, he wouldn't get the treatment he needs, his mental state would worsen, until he finally killed himself, or is released on good behaviour, - at his best, Li is considered to be quite docile - in which case, he'll probably re-offend.

Things really could not have worked out more perfect! Vince Li is the poster boy for the NCR plea. Li has slipped through the cracks long enough. It's about time he gets the help he needs. It's just unfortunate that to save one life, another was taken.

Dead White Peoples Clothes

Dead White Peoples Clothes

I read this article following a link on MSN.

I found it interesting, but some of the comments people lefts were a little tactless and almost rude.

It's about how used clothing that gets donated to charities in North America is sent to Africa and sold for a very low price. These huge charities set everything up and think they're doing some good for the communities, but everything isn't all that it seems.

Africans are spending their money on buying these "Dead White Peoples Clothes" as they call them, instead of buying from local dressmakers.

Clothing is a major part of African culture. Family fabrics are handed down through the generations. Each article of clothing has a meaning and symbol. It's not thrown out once it doesn't fit, but instead, it's saved for the next generation. I had no idea.

And I had no idea that many African business are going bankrupt because nobody is buying traditional clothes anymore.

White people can't do anything right it seems... but, I think something more is going on here. Wouldn't the charities have figured it out that they're ruining local business for a place they're supposedly trying to help? They spend enough time there.

I think they have their own agenda. Perhaps trying to wash out traditional culture and replace it with a more westerized view? People in sweat shops already worship Disneyland and Hollywood. Now these poor people get to spend a dime to wear our used clothes that we have discarded to "help."

A Tragedy

I have some sad news.

Luis - sweet Luis - my one true trainer who was biceptical beyond all measure, has left me once and for all.

I'm afraid Luis isn't with us anymore, the lady at the front desk said. He's gone away to Edmonton.

Damn him, I whisper, my sweaty hand forming a tight fist at my side. Damn him.

I had an 11:00 workout scheduled. Now I shall half to make do without him. It's not going to be easy. Luis was special. He knew when to cut me some slack and when to push me harder. He would come in at 8:30 in the morning even though his hours of availabilty only started at 9 am.

He went as far as to let me work out with him at 8:30 pm when his hours of availabilty were only until 4.

Then, one fateful night, he used his face like a piece of chalk and scraped the sidewalk during a heated street hockey battle.

He was never the same. He needed new teeth. Though I honestly wished that his face would heal, my heart was broken when he was taken away from me so he could have oral surgery performed on him.

Now this.

I thought he would be back. I thought things could be like they were before, but alas I was mistaken.

I will need a new trainer.

The worst part is that I was never able to say goodbye.

Farewell, dear Luis. I shall think of you often. Remember me. I won't forget you.