Night fever, socialist fever

France consigns smoky cafes to history under broadening smoking ban (Winnipeg Free Press)

A national union of disco owners has said it expects a five to eight per cent decline in business initially, and has urged the government to send pamphlets to police to show "understanding" in their enforcement of the ban.

Where do I sign up for such a union?

Christmas through the eyes of the child

I have seen Christmas through the eyes of a child - B has been playing Mario Galaxy since 8:30 this morning. I awoke, startled, to the sounds of "SUUUUPER MARIOOO GALAXYYYYY" and the day just hasn't been the same since.

We hosted Christmas and I am loving the leftovers. We are going to buy an awesome vacuum cleaner with our Xmas money. The excitement just never stops.

The best things in life are free

My hero Gail from Til Debt Do Us Part has a website, with a blog and some really good articles. I love watching the show and reading the website, for both entertainment and educational purposes.

It bothers me that most people on the show exhibit the same, terrible spending patterns. What REALLY bothers me is the people that post on her site, begging for her personal help (not that they could afford her). Everyone on the show and on the website wants an easy out, a way to get out of debt without having to change their lifestyle.

How can people earn fantastic degrees, work intense jobs, maintain marriages, and raise children, but not understand that if you earn X money and spend more than X, you will end up with a negative number? If your debt is increasing, shouldn't that signal that you should stop buying clothes/candy/smokes/tanning minutes/takeout/shit from Walmart until the debt is paid off?

Maybe these people amaze me so much because I have the opposite problem - I have trouble spending money on things I need (clothes for work), not to mention things I want (funny t-shirts) - the direct result of being Ukrainian/from Winnipeg/my mother's daughter. I have to say though, being miserly has its advantages - I made plans on the fly to head with some friends to Calgary for a weekend trip next month to see our favourite band. My husband and I should be able to get basement renovations under way next summer, although it might mean no big vacations for the rest of the year. We're also prepared in case the inevitable happens (the gigantor furnace chez nous is bound to go in the next 10 years), and can put extra money on the mortgage now and then. Life is good!

Favourite

If I had to pick my favourite Winnipeg pothole, it is most likely the one you hit while travelling northbound on Henderson, just past Johnson, curb lane. I get lifted clear off the seat while riding the 11 bus home every day.