Cold and Carols

Happy holidays! I hope you've all enjoyed whatever time off you've managed to scrounge, and have spent it in the warm relaxing glow of your family/friends/partner/pets/spectacular self. Personally I am one of those nasty people who don't celebrate Christmas, who don't even celebrate Chanukah for heaven's sake, but I do love a little extra napping time, and the company and judgemental glares of my extended family. I also like to drink. It's win-win!

We did have a clinic last week, I just didn't blog about it because of my aforementioned schedule of napping and drinking. It was quite a horrible clinic day for my escorts, as it was terribly cold out. Even the protesters were going in shifts. Plus, half my volunteers emailed me in the days leading up to Tuesday to let me know that they couldn't make it, then another couple just didn't show up, so I was left with only two on the first shift and just one on the second. It blew. But you know, it's that time of year. It's cold and people have other obligations.

No clinic today, although I have to wonder if the protesters are out marching around anyway, the silly buggers. It used to be kind of funny to think of them out there when there was no clinic happening, but now it just makes me roll my eyes. They lose their amusement value after a while. Perhaps it will come back to me in the new year.

Oh I forgot to mention, the protesters were singing last week. A medley of Christmas carols. We couldn't hear them inside, but one of the escorts let me know. I suppose Christmas carols are infinitely better and more appropriate than "We Shall Overcome". Be thankful for small miracles.

I hope you all have a happy and relaxing end to 2008.

Nothing Much

Hi friends. First I want to thank everyone who voted for me in the Canadian Blog Awards - I didn't win, but I did make the finals so that's something. I know you love me.

Yesterday's clinic was pretty good. The guy who yelled at Peter Ryan came over to apologize to him - must be that holiday spirit. Our doctor brought chocolates for the escorts, which was lovely of her. And it wasn't too cold out, although it did get a little chilly later in the morning.

I don't have much to blog about because it was a fairly uneventful morning. I do wish I had something interesting to write on this, my 100th post (!), but alas, sometimes the good stuff just doesn't happen.

I hope you are all keeping warm. :)

Baby It's Crap Outside

Yesterday was freezing. I did not envy my poor frozen escorts. I brought out the toe warmers for the first time this winter, and we have a lovely new "take off your shoes" sign for when people come in (gotta protect the carpets, you know).

There was some excitement outside this week. First I should explain how the area is set up - there's the clinic, and then a little lane right next to it. You can't park or stop out front of the clinic, because that's the street - you have to turn down the lane and come around the back. Across the lane from us are two businesses - a hearing aid store and a real estate office. They both have two or three parking spaces. They are both very protective of those spaces. We have a relatively good relationship with both businesses, in the sense that they would like being next to us a lot more if the protesters weren't there.

So Peter Ryan was doing some obnoxious walking slowly across the lane while people were trying to pull in. I'm not sure if he thinks he can stop people from having abortions by doing this, or if he's just that oblivious. Anyway, yesterday one of the people he temporarily blocked was the guy who runs the hearing aid place. Well I guess the guy got (justifiably) mad and started yelling and swearing at Peter Ryan. AMAZING! It's always great when someone not affiliated with the clinic lets these people know what assholes they're being.

The other thing that happened was that there was a guy at the bus station across the street taking pictures of the clinic. There wasn't much we could do about it, and luckily he wasn't taking any pictures of the women going in. But still, you have to wonder. I mean, if you're doing something legitimate like a news story, it's not that hard to come ask us if you can take pictures. Which makes me think that people who don't ask are doing something that ISN'T legitimate.

I feel like I had something else to write about but I can't remember. Oh well. I do want to thank everyone who voted for me in the Canadian Blog Awards. They will be announcing the winners this week so I will let you all know how it turns out.

Old Man Winter's Coalition Jive Time

December is here. It's not too winter-y at all, and none of the snow has stuck yet, so that's been lovely. Plus, there's a coalition in the air! Can you believe it? After a supremely unexciting and useless election, suddenly Canadian politics means something again. Oh frabjous day.

Yesterday's clinic was fine. Not too many protesters out - Peter Ryan made an appearance. They seem to be moving away from "old dudes with signs" and more towards "old women with rosaries". Never a dull moment with these next door neighbours, let me tell ya. Amazing.

I received holiday cards from two of my escorts yesterday, which was lovely and unexpected. I am just so pleased with what a great group of volunteers we have. Oh, and a random passerby asked how he could be a volunteer, so I passed on my contact info to him.

I'm part of the feminist collective (or whatever we're calling it) at CHSR, and we do a radio show called Ovary Acting. My turn to come up with a theme is long overdue, so I'm currently working on a show about (what else?) abortion. So if anyone knows of any awesome Youtube clips or songs or whatever, let me know. And yes, I've already seen the Ali G. one.

Just think...the next time I blog we might have a whole other government. SO EXCITED!

Also, round 2 of voting is now open in the Canadian Blog Awards. Go vote! (I am in the Best Feminist Blog category).