quiet riot

about a week ago, i had the misfortune of being downtown when a protest was happening. now, i'm all for protesting for something you believe in, if that's your thing (it's not mine). but this was different.

i was headed downtown for an appointment after work. i got out of the metro and walked a short distance (only to realize i'd gone the wrong way), turned around and crossed in front of the same metro station. only this time there were some 2 dozen cops, in full riot gear, heading inside. seemed odd. and frightening (i mean, i *just* left the same station). then i remembered that the students have been protesting tuition hikes and figured it was them.

i continued to meander the streets, looking for a bank, when i realized most of the streets were barricaded by cops. lots of them. it was unnerving. i hadn't realized the student protests had escalated to this. i turned up a side street only to hear an incredibly loud noise and suddenly see a group of people running. in my general direction. so i got out of there. fast. really fast.

it seemed unusual that the students could cause such intensity amongst the cops. i've been reading in the paper (every morning...) about their protests (a whole *other* story) but only remembered one count of violence. they've been pretty passive-aggressive since that time.

it wasn't until the next morning that i read what the riot was really about: the 16th annual march against police brutality. the irony of this is painful. according to the papers (and i read a kind of left wing one, so i feel it's pretty accurate), the "marchers" were throwing things at cops, turned over a cop car and vandalized and looted a few major shops downtown, amongst other things. when the cops responding by throwing "sound grenades", people got more violent and the rioting escalated. the paper also had some quotes from rioters discussing how this clearly demonstrates needless police aggressiveness.

correct me if i'm wrong but it seems to me that this is essentially, well, asking for it. it's like complaining that sharks are dangerous and demonstrating it by covering yourself in fresh meat and jumping in the ocean. or maybe it's more like sitting next to your brother and poking him repeatedly, while he tells you that if you keep doing it he'll hit you, and then wondering why he hit you (uhm, not that this uhm, ever happened to me...to be fair, i was 10. 12. ok, like 18. whatever)

the idea that a group of people would be protesting violence by engaging in acts of violence is beyond me. surely the best way to show that people are too violent is to be peaceful. or causing some sort of non-violent chaos. take the students for example. whilst i don't agree with their protest (again, another story), i think they are being very clever with their protesting. they generally just go and block/sit in the streets or in office buildings. or block entrances to major bridges/highways. enough to make people in the city go nuts, but not enough to cause a riot. people pay attention to them. cops actually facilitate them in their protest (directing traffic, etc)...as long as they don't get out of hand. makes more sense to me. fight for your rights. don't just fight.

again, i'm all for protesting if that's what you believe in. but it's pretty well accepted that you can't fight fire with fire. and if you choose too (*ahem* rioters), you can't complain that you've been burned.
xo

overheard

i am starting to think that i could write a whole blog based on things that happen at my gym. every day i leave there with things to write about, though i often forget them by the end of the day. i'm not sure if it's my gym specifically or just gyms in general. either way, it makes for interesting blog fodder. \

this morning in the locker room, i overheard 2 women discussing one of their daughters. the young girl in question needs a dress for a bah/bat mitzvah. the conversation was fascinating. some bits i agreed with, some not. first, the woman said "it says 'cocktail'. what is an 11 yr old supposed to wear that's 'cocktail''? agreed. 11yrs old. cocktail. those words don't go together. i realize bah mitzvahs are coming of age parties, but i always thought they included (correct me if i'm wrong. i don't know much about jewish culture) music, dancing, gifts and food. cocktails? interesting. for 11yr olds? wrong. just wrong.

then she says "it's so hard to buy for her cause she's built like me. with a stomach, hips, you know. she's a big girl". agreed. what do you buy an 11yr old girl who is built like her mom? they don't quite fit in the kids category anymore, but they certainly don't fit the lady category either. but then i thought, wait, don't all stores (from k-mart to mexx) sell "tween" lines, designed specifically for this age group? i'm pretty sure they do.

this is followed by the friend saying "oh ya. and it's not like you can tell her it doesn't look good on her". disagree. why not use opportunities like this to teach your child how to dress to best suit their build (and age). you don't have to say "that looks hideous" but more of a "it's nice, but i think i like this one better" or something along those lines. can't be that hard. i do it with my friends/husband all the time. and they do it to me. it works. and i/they look better for it.

and then the kicker (drumroll please). the mom says "i finally decided to buy her a tight, sequinned, halter, v-neck dress that has padding in the boobies (her words, not mine)". disagree! disagree! i'm no expert here but i'm pretty sure that this is not what you should buy an 11 yr old. for any reason. ever. especially one who is "built like her mom".

11! cripes. you know what i wore when i was 11? loose, boxy, babydoll dresses (hmmm, no that was 13 i think). regardless, i can tell you for certain that i didn't wear a tight-sequinned-v-neck-halter-that-emphasized-my-"assets" (not that i had any at that age) because neither of my parents would have let me out of the house (my dad still won't...)

i left pretty quick after that last bit. i couldn't bring myself to keep listening (though deep down, i was fascinated) but mostly i had to get to work. when i left i thought to myself "actually, i do have a dress quite similar to that. maybe i shouldn't judge".

then i remembered that i'm 31. not 11.
xo

deneigement

there are some things quebec does well. very well even. i know, i'm just as shocked as you are but it's true. in the wake of the first winter "storm", montreal has proven itself to me.

if you've ever lived in a city when snow hits, you know how supremely frustrating it can be. should you be one of the lucky ones with underground parking (thank god!) then you should be extremely grateful (which i am). because for the many unlucky folks, this is what happens: 15cm of snow falls (this, in itself, is not so bad. snow generally being light and fluffy). snow gets a bit melty on the road because of all the cars driving on it. snow starts to get thick and wet. snowplow drives by and rams all of the heavy wet snow against your car at 4am so when you wake up and need to head to work, well, you can't.

to be fair, drivers often have it coming. montreal has a lot (a lot!) of signage pertaining to snow removal. when to park where, which side of the street at which time, free parking during snow removal hours, etc. if you chose to ignore this, you do so at your own risk. the plows/snow removal crews have no mercy for your tiny little car stuck in the snow and will proceed to encrust you in it as best they can. plows have better things to do then worry about your car.

and this is where montreal's efficiency becomes amazing (yes, i said it). the "deneigement" process is an incredibly well organized ballet, leaving the city streets and sidewalks clear of snow until the next major dumping. first, the plow. he comes at specific times (noted on the street signs) and will crust you into your car if you chose to park there. then depending on which street you live on (main roads first, secondary roads, uhm, second, etc), the mini plow comes by and pushes all the snow from the sidewalk and road into the middle of the street (i know this sounds counterintuitive but trust me). then, the fun. if you've chosen to leave your car in the street, an irritating siren will sound (for about 1 minute) by the tow truck who drives ahead of the next crew. you don't move your car, they move it for you. at your expense (and trust me, they do it quickly). once said car has been relocated, the massive dump-style trucks are followed by little snow-blower plows who blow all the snow into the back of the truck. and poof! it's gone. when the truck gets full, it drives off to the nearest dump centre (toboggan heaven for kids) while the next truck pulls ahead.

it's astonishing really. in less then 4 days following the snow storm, the city streets and sidewalks are clear as though no snow dropped from the sky. snow removal crews work non-stop until the bulk of the streets are done, at which point they slow it down some.

i read in the paper today that it takes some 3000 employees in 2200 snowplow-blowers following 1000 trucks 4 days to clear 4100km of roads and 6500km of sidewalks in the city. this process can cost in the 17 000 000 dollar region (yes, that many zeros). and while it feels a bit excessive, i can't help but feel happy when i don't have to trudge through 4 foot snowbanks on my walk to work or take my car off-roading to get out of the building.

at least some of my tax dollars do something good in this province
xo

snow day

you know what i miss? snow days! if you don't know what snow days are, i feel bad for you.

today we're having the first "storm" of the winter- some 15cm (ish) covering the city in white goodness. the kind of white goodness you loved as a kid. thick, heavy snow. the kind of snow that made you giggle with anticipation in the morning as you listened to the radio (1220 CJSS...) to hear if your school was on the list: the magical list of schools that were closed for the day. you'd lie under the covers, half asleep, willing it with all of your might.

if you were lucky, your school was on the list. the most blissful days of the school year. an entire day off  to play in the snow with your friends because it's not that cold when snowstorms hit.

if you were less lucky, the school stayed open but the buses were cancelled. meaning if you lived in town (whether you were on a bus or not) you were sort of expected to go to school. you didn't mind so much though, because it was a pretty chill day involving movies, card games and 7up (the game, not the drink).

what i would give now to be able to look out my window and see the city covered in snow and think "oh my god! maybe work is closed today". i've worked it out in my head: i'd lie under the duvet (i've upgraded over the years), willing with all of my might for the public transit in the city to shutdown. i'd listen to the radio (podcast?) and wait for the wonderful moment when the announcer says "cirque du soleil is closed for the day, stay home michelle (hey, it's my imagination, of course he'd be talking to me)". i'd go back to sleep for a while (obviously) before gearing myself up to enjoy the great outdoors. i'd come back inside, cheeks all aglow, to sip on a cup of hot chocolate and defrost. *sigh*

instead i get to bundle myself up (in a jacket, boots, snow pants, mitts, tuque and scarf) so i can head out the door and walk to the metro station that takes me to work, work all day, then bundle back up to walk back to the metro station that takes me home.

somedays, i wish i was a teacher...
xo