strike one!

Rumours are flying on campus about a possible teacher's strike. Here's the page where the administration posts what they're saying. Here's the page for the faculty union. It has all progressed suddenly, from a student's point of view, but they've been negotiating a new contract since summertime. Before we went on break, there was a general information session in the James Dunn Cafeteria, and the teachers and administration both insisted that a strike was the farthest thing from their minds, the last option. Here we are, just 3 days into the new semester, and the news and gossip everywhere is that the strike is moments away. What?!?

Both sides are quite adamant on their position, I suppose. The teachers want smaller class sizes, (more pay), and a few other things. I haven't been doing much reading on it, so I'm not too sure on the administration's position. In any case, there will be on a student meeting on Monday (that I will miss due to being in Ohio), and by then we'll know how the teachers feel about striking, as they meet tomorrow to suss things out.

One prof of mine said that if the strike happens, we'll still have class (this was Biology). She is part time and may even be a UNB employee. None of the others have mentioned it. At this point in time, I'm not upset by the possibility of a strike. I figure if it does happen, I'll read all the necessary things for classes, drink lots of hot chocolate, and take up some outdoor winter sport. Ice hockey? Probably not. Snowshoeing is more my speed. Bring on the snow, bring on the strikes.

For other people, however, the idea is a bit nasty. It will push graduation time forward. It will disrupt plans. But, let's not be too hasty. Let's take it as it comes.

In other news, it's back to normal (freezing) temperatures here--minus 11 or so. And my cold's going. And my classes are all good. And Mr. Pizzarelli is crooning on my stereo. Life's good.

soup and salt and sweaters

Soup: Chicken and veggie, that I just made. This was to combat the impending throat cold that apparently wasn't scared off by the 1500 mg of vitamin C that I took yesterday. (In the world of body viruses, that was meant as a message that tonight, Mr. Bug would sleep with the microbes--err, fishes--of my intestinal tract.) Mr. Bug the Microbial Gangster was not frightened: he had his goons visit my poor weak old throat again this morning. "I'm gonna give you a cold you'll never forget," he rasped. Rather, I was the one rasping, until I had some water. Mr. Bug backed away; "You'll be hearing from me," I heard. Even though the immediate threat was gone, I took action: after class I went to the store and bought chicken legs and other ingredients for the only thing that microbial gangsters take seriously these days. A fully loaded 15cm soup pot.

So far, so good. The true test will be tomorrow morning.

Salt: In the soup. On the roads--crunchy and grey, melting everything it touches by virtue of its chemical makeup. Thrown like chicken feed by the groundskeeper all over the brick pathways of campus, the boarded marble staircases. Clinging to my boots as I walk into classrooms and dropping silently onto the floor.

Sweaters: A while back, Ardelle had as her MSN nickname, "Put on a sweater and you'll feel better." Every time I put on a sweater I think of that. I'm wearing them all the time now, most of them from Value Village or gifts or from so far back I can't remember. Yesterday I wore the new aquamarine, lambs-wool one to school. When I got home I put on the super-soft, pastel striped one (that Grandmaman got me for Christmas) to study. Today at school I wore the grey, old cashmere that I've worn so much it almost looks felted. And now it's back to Old Faithful, the dark blue one with the light blue collar and cuffs. Also a Value Village find.

(PS: Songs: An album by my new favorite, John Pizzarelli, called "Dear Mr. Cole". His voice is dulcet and spunky at the same time. Mmm, yes please. You can sing for me, forever.)

worth my salt in '05

So, here we all are. As Rabi says, 'a whole nother year'. (That links to a nice little questionnaire where she summarizes the past year; I did it and attempted to send it to everyone but my Hotmail is just killing me with how it refuses to load or do anything other than produce a white screen. I do apologize; I want to email all of you who sent me Christmas wishes and looove.) S'anyway, my responses are coming as soon as my email gets its kinks sorted.

New Years Eve was rather quiet. The stomach bug isn't reigning terror on me like it was before but it makes itself known, and as I have a family reunion next weekend in Ohio (for which I truly want to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed) I decided to lay low this whole weekend. So, I watched Wonder Boys and sat snug as a bug on my couch. Then, the lovely Janice called, and we spent 3 hours yabbing on about things as diverse as sex, sociology, diseases, and the economic pecking order. No doubt chocolate was mentioned in there somewhere. Thus was the New Year rung in, while I heard the tip-tap of freezing rain on the window and was not sore, nor drunk, nor spilled upon by anyone. *

*Disclaimer: I do enjoy parties, very much, and I do enjoy celebrating the New Year. But this was a really lovely way to do it, a sort of anti-celebration, and was much needed.

The holy daze went well, and contained the following events:

St John, NB: Gill McInnes had her birthday festivities at the Buccaneer's Pub, and Janice and I went. (We made a weekend stop here as we drove home with her mother.) Draught beer was one dollar until 11 pm, and we even had the DJ play Gill a special birthday song. Gill's birthday present from all of us girls was the new Britney perfume "Curious", which came with a great tee shirt with Britney's tagline 'do you dare?' printed across the front. A delightful night out, and I hear Gill left some broken hearts behind...

Cape Breton, NS: During the four days I was here I managed to throw an awesome party (though my part was mostly cooking, cleaning and inviting: the rest is all thanks to those who came), hang out with "me da", see Jacky Mills for the first time since we got back from Australia, and actually relax a little! It was great to be home, and I realized the importance to me of everyone there. One resolution, not necessarily New Years-related: keep in better touch with everyone, by telephone if possible.

Québec City, PQ: Here I stayed with my grandparents on my mother's side, and basically lounged around for a good long while. Christmas dinner was delightful, with my aunt and uncle Michel and Nathalie hosting, and the courses delectable and divine. There were little cousins I hadn't seen in ages, shopping on boxing day in Place Laurier (crazed! but I got a sweet black bikini), and wandering around la vieux ville, filled with lights and tourists and the semi-foriegn language. A beautiful time, excepting the sickness at the end. But really--it's over now, so no worries. It was great to get to spend time with relatives, reading, and enjoying Grandmaman's cooking--especially my favorite lunch of soup and sandwiches!!

Now it's off to more sickness remedies (mint tea, a blanket) and watching When Harry Met Sally, one of those sappy sweet Meg Ryan movies, which any girl worth her salt pretends to disdain but secretly indulges in, every now and again.