What A Week.

 Been a wild and crazy week. Been off work since Wednesday for some much needed vacation. That day we also took Dash to doggy therapy at the U of S to get some advice on his behaviour. It was a long, three hour meeting and I feel was already worth it. We won't see any results for a long time though.

Yesterday I spent the morning seasoning some cast iron and then started to feel a dry throat in the evening. I was hoping it was just from the little bit of smoke caused by seasoning but this morning my throat is on fire. Hooray. Grumble.

That all is very minor compared to talking with the two women in my life. With the recent win by the SaskParty, Donald Trump and the assumed win that will come about for the Canadian Conservative party there are some emotions going around.

It is becoming very apparent to them that this world doesn't give a fuck about women or their rights and I can't find any logical counter to that. The closest I can come to is "they don't hate you. They are very selfish and don't think of you at all" which isn't really any better. Maybe gives a better target for future dealings but it's still assholes being assholes. Plus, when I said that to Daniella I immediately followed it up that I felt I was mansplanning and would stop talking.

Daniella can handle it a little better since she's seen it her whole life, just maybe not this up front, but Belle is taking it a little harder. She's got friends that don't care and work in the trades that generally have a bunch of people that say sexist and racist things. I was there once in my Surveying days. You may just be joking with the comments but it does breed a certain ability to not care.

Now, I'm sure my vast hoard of readers such as Pilot, Pilot, Pilot or their mother, Pilot, have people in their lives in the same boar. I know the stewardess hasn't hidden her politics and when you find someone who has the same political values as you then discussions tend to happen more since they won't get antagonistic. So, what can we do about all of this?

As an individual, not much. But, join a group or something and suddenly the power increases. I suggested to both of them to volunteer with a group that could help. Whether it's political like the NDP or maybe a group that helps single mothers. Change can and has happened but it takes lots of people. Those people aren't going to all realize this at the same time though so it takes persistence and patience.

I also sit in the "what do I do" camp. As a middle-aged white male I have it good. I know my voice generally holds more weight than Daniella and Belle's combined so I've let them know that if they need it all they need to do is ask. But, that still feels pretty empty.

It also doesn't help that I'm a huge introvert. I'd love to be able to walk up and go door knocking with the NDP but that's not something I am good at or enjoy. I know they have stuff behind the scenes but the point is that I'm not exactly a person to take a lead or make huge changes. I'm a follower, not a leader.

Which raises that questions again. What do we do? How do we ensure that this world is fair. Democracy doesn't work because the average person doesn't have enough information to know what politicians actually do. I include myself in there. I don't know how they budget shit. We have to rely on the kindness of others but humans only care about their immediate group. A woman that dies from not getting an abortion in Texas doesn't affect me. I'm a middle aged, white male. Why should I care? Daniella and Belle live in Canada where it's still allowed. The USA tends to rub off an Canada a lot though.

It's probably time for some new countries to form. My only hope is that when President Trump takes over, whichever of his dictatorial promises he keeps, the violence doesn't spread to Canada. I'm never good at predicting the future but I think there is a very large chance that a civil war is about to happen and I don't want any part of that.

Love you all.