☆❀☆

I'm feeling very discouraged about the upcoming federal election. And I don't just mean like, on the big picture level, but at the local level.

My district will go to the Conservative candidate no matter what. This is northern Alberta; enough said. Even so, I'm disappointed that the other candidates aren't making more of an effort. People shouldn't have to go digging for information about why they should vote for you in particular to represent them (rather than just looking up the general party platform); it should be easy to access.

Additionally, some of the candidates don't even live in the riding*. FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) is a sore spot up here even when talking about regular workers; there is no way anybody in Fort Mac is going to vote for a candidate who doesn't have ties to the region.

Some things I'm taking into consideration are:
Which party aligns closest with my values?
Which non-Conservative party do I think is most likely to win nationally?
Which candidate for my riding do I actually like the best and would theoretically want to represent me based on the information that I have?

Unfortunately, the answers to those questions are all different. But advance voting opens tomorrow morning, so I guess I'll come to a decision soon.

Even though there is unlikely to be a shakeup here, I hope that there will be enough non-CPC votes that the other parties will take that into account and at least make more of an attempt in this region next time.

On the subject of the Conservative candidate for my region - I've been a little frustrated about this. I was speaking recently with some people who will not be voting for her, which is great. But the only thing they're interested in discussing is the fact that she's related to someone who has a criminal record. As far as I know, Laila Goodridge was not involved in the robbery*. There is plenty to criticize her for on her own merits and her party's merits, and personally I don't think we should take her family member's actions into account here.

Well, the result wasn't as bad as I feared, so at least there's that.

Since I voted two weeks ago, I had nothing to do after work on Monday except track the results and bite my nails. Probably wasn't the best plan; that was nerve-wracking.

I've been very disappointed with Trudeau and the Liberal Party for a good while now. But at least there's time to fix some of those problems, maybe. (Trying to be optimistic, here.)

My riding managed to pull even more Conservative than it did in the last federal election, which makes me feel kind of sick but also completely unsurprised. But at least Alberta didn't go 100% Conservative - there's one tiny splotch of orange in the Edmonton area. Fine; I'll take it.

So. I cast an advance vote for the provincial election this morning. I rather like that it didn't involve any fuss or waiting; I think I'll do this for future elections when possible.

( Alberta politics )

☆ Letter for Screen Exchange is complete (Voila). Requesting VME, Frozen, & NiF. I'm a little concerned about matching - I don't care if I go out as a PH, but this seems like it will be a very small exchange, and I'm worried that I might end up not having anybody to write for. Ah, well, if I have to drop out, I'll just save my ideas for later, and write them for myself!

☆ The first aid course that I was psyching myself up for has been cancelled. What a bummer. There'll be another opportunity in June, but still. I'm glad that I don't have to lose a weekend, but on the other hand, I was steeling myself to spend that time, so...! Eh, feels disappointing.

☆ To make up for that, I scheduled a driving lesson for this Saturday. I was planning on doing something useful that day anyway, so, might as well substitute it with something! I'm not looking forward to it, but I should probably get this done. And then do several more. Ugh. It'll be interesting to drive in the daylight; it's been... a while... since I've done some of that.

☆ Things are heating up in SSSS. I have no idea how this turn of events is going to unfold, and I'm not sure I want to speculate. Waiting is frustrating, but that's what I get for following an in-progress canon. Webcomics! They sure are a thing. I find the pacing is fine when it's complete, but ongoing, arrrrgh.... But I'm probably just impatient.

☆ Canadian politics always frustrate me for some reason or other, but this pipeline stuff takes the cake. My province is a big bug-eyed bully, and it's downright embarrassing. I'm torn between getting all angry about it, and wanting to sink into the floor. Well, both. Let's do both. And... see about sending some strongly-worded emails, or something. Ugh, Alberta.

Trudeau? More like TruDON'T.

Seriously, two of the major things that the Liberal party promised were related to election reform and Indigenous issues. They've spectacularly fallen down on both.

And it's not just a matter of not living up to promises. Trudeau has his head so far up his ass, he's licking his own tonsils. Like, HOW do you even....

"Canadians don't want election reform" my ass. One of the reasons your party was elected in the first place is because of election reform! Not to mention all the people talking about it right now. Somebody should shove that petition in his face.

And let's not get started on, well, everything relating to what's going on with Indigenous issues/rights/etc right now. It makes me fucking sad and fucking mad and SOMEBODY (I'm not sure who, but somebody) is going to get a strongly-worded email and maybe a phone call and I should probably see what Amnesty International is doing with regards to all this because fucking seriously.

ARRRRGH. Like, okay, Trudeau is better than Harper. But it's not hard to clear that bar when the bar is on the ground.

Not to mention, I'm worried that, because of the above, we might end up with a Conservative government when the next national election rolls around. Obviously, I am not thrilled with the idea. The Harper years were not good. But a lot of people (including myself, obviously) are not thrilled with the Liberal party. So I can only hope that a lot of the people who voted for those fuckers will throw their lot in with the NDP instead. HELP US, NDP, YOU'RE OUR ONLY HOPE.

I'm tired and sad and angry, and I'm sick of feeling tired and sad and angry, but I expect there'll be more of that in the future.

On February 1st there will be a walk* in solidarity with the local Muslim community in response to yesterday's terrorist attack at the mosque in Quebec City*. I want to go, but like most things in this town, it's happening when I'm at work. ...I think I'll ask my supervisor if I can leave early. It's worth a shot.

Dunno how I'll frame it to my parents, mind you (rearranging the hours would require explaining). Whatever. I'll figure something out. If I'm able to leave work early, that is.

...On the upside, this is the first event that my city has done related to the clusterfuck going on now, as far as I know. So that's something, at least.

[Edit] Work gave the OK, so I'm going. Probably. I have Friday off, so I'll just come in for a while to make up for the lost time. That sounds good.

☆ First, some Canadian politics stuff (sorry): The KXL Pipeline is on the table again, which is of course awful. There is a petition to the government to give the issue a serious review (and reject it). Those who sign are encouraged to also contact their MPs*, so I'll be drafting up an email after I do some reading to make sure I understand everything that's going on and have something competent to say. Anything I say will probably fall on deaf ears, considering I live in oil country, but fuck it. This shit would be happening in my backyard, figuratively speaking, and the pipeline would go through Athabasca Chipewyan lands*. I've got to say something even if just to make it clear that Indigenous people aren't the only ones in this municipality who're objecting to it. (I'll probably try calling, too, but I don't know how seriously anyone would take a shaky voicemail left at 6 AM from a municipal transit stop, pffff.)

...Anyway.

☆ The mysterious package I mentioned yesterday turned out to be a pair of SSSS mittens from Olga! *_* They're sooo gorgeous - purple and red, with the SSSS selburose logo on the back. SUCH a nice surprise. I'll have to get a picture of them... later. Can't be bothered to get my camera. xD But ahhh this was so wonderful and unexpected.

☆ I can't be bothered to do a full reading post today, but anyway - I've been reading Höllmann's The Land of the Five Flavours: A Cultural History of Chinese Cuisine, and while it's kind of so-so on the reading front (perhaps I don't know enough about China to appreciate it properly?) it has the unexpected side-effect of making me want to cook. Especially since it includes a lot of neat-looking recipes. But... I never cook. Baking, yes, but only certain no-fail recipes. Cooking, no. In this house, if you screw up once, you're basically never allowed near the stove again, heh. Blargh, how inconvenient. Oh well, if I write these things down, perhaps I can try them eventually....

☆ Does anyone else get nervous when commissioning someone for art? Because man, do I ever get nervous. It doesn't matter whether I know the artist or not, it still makes me feel jittery. I guess it's because there's this deep-down feeling that they'll be like, "Your idea is weird, and you're weird, and even though you're paying me $$ I'm going to judge the hell out of you every second that I'm working on this," ahaha. BUT on the upside, I know that's just my stupid brain being stupid, and it isn't actually what the other person is actually thinking.

/backdates on account of this being related to my cranky outburst earlier this week (though it's much more positive)

( Mission accomplished )

To my southern neighbours: I offer my condolences.

I'm not going to be talking about the US election much beyond this brief post. There's a lot of that on the internet already. But do know that you guys have my support. If you want to talk about anything else to get your mind off it, hit me up.

Good luck with everything.

I'm going to have to turn down any and all marriage proposals, though. Sorry about that.