Jack Layton's Final Letter to Canadians

I wanted to repost this here in my blog, as any time Mr Layton came to my attention he struck me as a man working for the good of all Canadians and sticking to his ideals and morals.

TORONTO - Jack Layton's family has released a letter the federal NDP leader wrote just two days prior to his death today at the age of 61. The text of that letter follows.

August 20, 2011

Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don't be discouraged that my own journey hasn't gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don't let them tell you it can't be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,

Jack Layton

Under the Weather

Been quite hot over the past few days, and I'm under the weather.  Think it's likely related to both the heat and (mostly) stress.  Sick to my stomach, and yesterday almost didn't manage to get out of the two chats I was in at work and get to the ladies' room, so after that got permission to do email while I'm feeling so bleachy.  Go figure I haven't had to make a made dash since (at least at work), but still feeling like I might need to at any time, so hopefully I'll be able to work on email again this evening.

All packed up for the trip to Penticton for a couple of days, so when we get home tonight it's straight to bed as need to get up at 4am to catch the 5:15am ferry.  Going to be a long day!

I know that Merry and Trouble will miss me, and I am guessing that Angel will.  She's never been away from me before, so hopefully she'll eat and behave for her Daddy.

Dog Park

Had the munchkins out to the off-leash dog park this morning after dropping Maxx off at work, and again in the afternoon before we picked him up from work.

This morning, Angel actually was upset at one point because Hobgoblin was playing with three other little dogs and she was being left out.  When I told her she could go over and meet the other dogs and she could play too, she slowly went over and met the Papillon named Bella, very briefly, then came back and stayed by me as we walked around and around the park.

Hopefully the more she goes the more outgoing she'll become around other dogs when she's off the leash.  Hobgoblin just has a good time!

All Clear

Just have to use Angel's antibiotic eye drops for another week, and then we'll be good to go!  At her appointment today, the dye test showed it's not sticking to anything any more, even though there is still a mark on her eye where the scratch was, so we don't need to do anything more for it.

Yay!  So, had another vet bill submitted to Trupanion, and I must say I am just so very impressed with how quickly the last three claims were submitted, reviewed, approved, and paid out!  Worth that $50/month I pay for my Angel-kin, as I don't have a deductible, so everything that's covered gets paid out at 90%.  It really does make a difference for times when she's sick or hurt.  If I'd had that for Merry, there's been some vet visits for him that have been multiple hundreds of dollars and the only thing from the visit that wouldn't have been covered would have been the exam fee ... so if you run into an expensive visit your reimbursement is actually much greater than if you have multiple smaller price-tagged visits.

Found out yesterday that Maxx's schedule has changed so that he starts at 9:30am instead of 8am, so I'll be popping out later to pick him up from work, and then see if we're able to head out to PetSmart to pick up some more bird food, possibly some dog food, and take a look at a new type of litter box, to see what it's like and how much it costs.

Speedy Returns

So, when I had Angel in at the vet last Monday, we submitted claims for that and the previous two visits to our pet insurance company, Trupanion.  When on Wednesday I saw online that the claims were approved I contacted them to find out about how they send out the funds and was told a cheque takes about 7-10 days ... and I got my cheques in the mail today.

How's that for a speedy turnaround!

Good thing, since I can put them into the bank tonight after work and then use those same funds to pay for Angel's visit tomorrow.

Raven Call

For some reason, any time I hear the call of a raven, I'm instantly transported to a sense of alpine stillness and peace.

I love ravens.

We seem to have a fair few around our place, and it's lovely when they strike up conversations.

One Day Weekend

I hate one day weekends.  I guess I can be grateful that I have it followed immediately by only two days of work and then a regular three-day weekend ... but still.

We're broke, and the VIEX is on this weekend so the off-leash dog park at Beban will be out of the question, as I'm sure it's parking lot will be crammed with people going to the Ex, and the weather is supposed to be pretty hot tomorrow ... so I think we'll make it a pool day.

Twitch

I've been having a twitchy eye for the last couple of weeks (stress, I'm sure, with Mum in the hospital, Merry just getting old and being so unwell that he's likely going to have to be put down in the next couple of months, Angels' eye, and trying to afford to pay bills).

And I'll tell you ... the customers at work aren't helping any!

If you're chatting in for assistance and provide your account number, make sure that's the correct account number for your services.
If you're providing your phone number, make sure that's the one set up on your account.
If you're providing your address, provide the one at which the services we're trouble-shooting are located.
When we ask you to check the serial number on a piece of equipment printed directly on that piece of equipment, check that and not the cardboard box in which it was packaged.
When we ask you if cables are connected and power is hooked up ... DON'T LIE!

Argh!

Vet Insurance ... Yay!

So, on Monday when I had Angel in to the vet, we submitted the claims for that visit and the previous two to our vet insurance company (first time I've had a medical issue that is covered, not simply regular visits).

Logged on yesterday and was able to confirm that the claims were all three received and processing, and today when I logged on, I found that all three are approved and paid.   Chatted in to a representative on their live on-line chat, and found that the cheques should be mailed out today or tomorrow, and received within 7-10 days.

How's that for fast and easy!

For all you pet lovers out there, if you can afford the monthly payment pet insurance can be a really good idea.  While you may never use it, it's nice to know you have something to back you up in case your pet gets sick or injured.  And the sooner you get it covered, the more things will be reimbursed under your policy (pre-existing conditions aren't covered, at least on my policy).  The company I'm with also let's you pick your own deductible, and if you have three or more pets under the same policy, you get a discount on premiums.

Here's a referral link if you're interested in information on pet insurance from Trupanion.

http://trupanion.tellapal.com/a/clk/TJvy

I've got another link I'd like to share, to the website of a shelter called Best Friends Animal Society ... you may have seen them on Animal Planet on Dog Town.

These folks are so amazing with what they do for dogs which have nowhere else to go.  Unless there is a medical reason for euthenasia, if a dog is considered "not adopotable" (which in Dog Town parlance means "not YET adoptable"), they will continue at the shelter and continue being worked with by the fabulous volunteers, working towards the day when that particular animal will be considered adoptable and be looking for it's forever home.  When I watch the show, I'm almost always brought to tears.  Some of the animals which have been rescued have been through such horrific times, but at Dog Town, they have reached a safe haven.

Vet Visit

Well, the scar in Angel's eye is much smaller, but still not healed.  Today we had her eye scoped with the green dye again, then the vet froze her eye and removed the edges of the scar with a couple of Q-tips, to see if we can get it to finish healing.

She has another follow-up visit for next Tuesday, at which point we find out if Angel has go to under anaesthetic and have her eye debrided or not.

Keep your fingers crossed that the follow-up is actually just the last visit we have to do for the eye!

The past three visits over the past three weeks have now been submitted as claims to the insurance company, though, so hopefully I'll recoup that before the end of the month.  We'll just have to wait and see.

Plan for Today: Eat Breakfast for Real

So, yesterday we were sort of busy.  Got the dogs out, came back and dropped them off, rushed out and did the little bit of grocery shopping we could afford this payday, came back and stuffed perishables into the fridge and freezer, and rushed back out again to go see Captain America ... since we had some free movie tickets I won last year at work and had completely forgotten about.  Had popcorn at the movies, and realized when we were coming home that all we'd had to eat for the day was ice cream from Dairy Queen when we were out with the dogs, and popcorn.  Of course, by the time we got home I myself wasn't particularly hungry, and it was late, so I ended up just going to bed.

What a nutritionally empty day!

Dog Days

Today's been one of those dog days of summer so far.

Slept in late.  When we finally did get up and going, we headed out with Angel and Hobgoblin down to Maffeo Sutton Park.  There was a City Carnival going on, so when we managed to find a parking spot we actually took the dogs north along the Queen Elizabeth II Promenade to the marina.  Nice walk, met some folks and some other dogs.  Relaxing and sunny, nice breeze off the water.  Angel decided while she still had energy it was time for her to have a lift, so when we'd stop for a moment for Maxx to adjust the straps on his sandals, she'd be bouncing up and down against my leg for "Up Up".

When we got back to the car, we headed out to the Beban Park Off Leash Dog Park.  We'd never been there before.   Nice to say that it's got two separate areas, one specifically for small dogs, and the larger area for all sizes of dogs.  Fairly good mix of dogs there, but Angel and Hobgoblin weren't really interested in playing.  I think the next time we take them we'll have them out on a shorter walk before-hand.  But a good first visit to the off-leash park, they weren't involved in any wrangling nor were they dashing away from other dogs in fear.  So, we'll try to get them back fairly regularly and see if they start to play more with the dogs on-site.

Now, we need to head out for some few groceries, before we come back and work on house cleaning.  Guess the enjoyable and relaxing part of the day is done!

Please

. . . PLEASE . . .

When I cried, you dried my tears,

When I laughed, you shared my joy.

When I found I knew none of the answers,

You helped me ask my questions.

When I had nobody to listen,

You lent me your ear.

When I thought no one cared,

You taught me to love.

Now I am grown, and you are old.

Let me dry your tears.

Let me share your joy.

Let me help you ask your questions.

Let me lend you my ear.

But more than all of these …

… Please …

Let me give you the love

You gave to me.

(1989)

"Eye" Love Angel

Seems like Angel's eye is improving, but still slowly.  The cloudiness seems to be mostly gone, but her pupil is still pretty wide open (seems to be slowly closing back down), and there is still the scratch on her eye.

When I take her in on Monday, I'm hoping progress has been enough so that the vet doesn't indicate we have to debride her eye.  I checked with the Vet Insurance company today, though, and there is a "claims express" that we can do, where they would send the cheque for the covered treatment directly to the Veterinary clinic, so I wouldn't have to pay that portion up-front.  I'll be checking with them on Monday if they'd be willing to sign up for the claims express, as it's one thing to have the 90% reimbursement on covered treatment, but if you have to pay $1000 up front and then claim $900 back, there's treatments I wouldn't be able to afford for my wee baby girl.

Keep your fingers crossed on both fronts!

Eye Drops

Angel actually followed me into the room on her own today to get her eye drops, and seemed nonchalant about having them put into her eyes.  Of course, immediately afterwards she was all excited and cute asking for her post-medication treat!

Tonight when we're both home I need Maxx to help me shine a light in her eyes to see if her pupil is open or not, to determine if she needs her second type of eye-drops today.  The vet said yesterday that if the pupil is closed (compare to the other eye) to put those drops in, but otherwise don't worry about them going forward.

Angel Update

Went in to the Vet's today for some paperwork what needed to be completed for the vet insurance claim I'm able to submit for Angel's visit last Tuesday about her eye.  Managed to get a follow-up visit in with Dr Young, too, who isn't happy with the way her eye is healing.  There's still the injury showing and some cloudiness, and the vet thought it should have cleared up by now.  So, we're going back in next Monday at 9am to re-check it.  The vet mentioned that if the wound doesn't seem to heal properly, we may need to debride it.

So, even with the vet insurance, it looks like I may need to cash our some more stocks and / or options, although of course our stock has just tanked losing $1 since yesterday, so I guess we'll be playing a waiting game.

I hope my poor wee baby doesn't go blind in her left eye, and that she doesn't have to go through debriding.  She's much herself and in good spirits, though ... and of course while I took her and Hobgoblin into the examining room this morning she dropped to her belly like a wee starfish and was dragged along the floor like a mop.

Colliery Dam

We took the dogs out to Colliery Dam Park today, and took a different trail route around the lakes.  Took us up (pretty steep in a couple of spots but none of them long) to an area that actually opened up quite a bit, seemed very alpine.  Lovely to hear the ravens calling.

Even living in Nanaimo for seven years now, I never get over the amount of green space we have to enjoy, and how just minutes away from your own home you can feel in the heart of a wilderness.

The dogs thoroughly enjoyed the trip, although right at the end Angel was done and did ask to be carried for a bit, so I packed her for about five minutes or so.  Hobgoblin was also tired, but not so tired that if Angel and I got out in front he wouldn't pull on his leash to tug Maxx out in front again.  Hobs always wants to be the leader.  Angel doesn't really care.

Fair number of people out at the different lakes and beaches in the park, some diving off the floating platforms and Maxx even saw one young man ride his bike right off the bank into the lake.  It's just so cool and inviting and relaxing in that park!

I hope one day Dad will be able to come for a visit and we can take some leisurely strolls through our favorite parks with him.

Walkies

While Maxx volunteered to work four hours of overtime this evening, we were still able to get out together for a lovely walk with the dogs out at Bowen Park ... even if Maxx did twist his ankle getting out of the car.  It's amazing how calming a walk in one of our green parks is, and how soothing to the soul.  We even got to sit down on a bench for a few minutes and watch the falls with the dogs parked at our feet.

There weren't many people out on the trails themselves, or not on the same trails as us, so it was a peaceful little idyl with just the four of us.

"Eye" See

Looks like Angel's eye is starting to noticeably improve .... although it's a little tough to tell right at this moment as she's tucked under the bed gently growling, as it's time for her eye drops.

Angel-kin

My poor wee Angel-kin isn't very happy with me at the moment, as I have to put two different types of drops in her left eye, twice a day.

Her eye was obviously painful on Monday and she kept it squinted, and it was much more "teary" than usual, and by the end of the day it was starting to go cloudy.

Got her into the vet luckily at lunch on Tuesday, who was able to confirm that Angel had a scratch on her left eye, so we've got her on the drops to make sure her pupil doesn't scab closed, and to help heal things up.  The eye is still cloudy, and still squinty, but she is opening it further than she was on Tuesday morning.  As Dr. Young agreed, when it's your pets eye it's a good idea to get them in right away, to do your best not to have them go blind.  Hopefully all goes well over the next week and a half and she heals up smoothly.

She just hates it when I put the drops in, and sits there and trembles, but she doesn't fuss or try to get away or anything, until I'm done and I release her ... and which point if I don't have a treat ready for her right away she dashes under the bed to hide.

I'll be off for a four-day weekend this weekend, so I'll be able to keep a close eye on her to make sure things are improving, and I will let everyone know how things go.

Quick Visit

John and Steve popped over for a whirlwind visit on Sunday.  They took the earliest ferry, so the four of us went out for brunch at Smitty's, then once we came home contacted RCI for assistance with setting up the booking of their vacation for next year ... hopefully the one they wish to take comes available so we can book it!  Afterwards, we headed out to Coombs to get ice cream and wander the different stores.  I didn't actually notice any goats on the roof, but there were a couple in a field behind the vegetable market.

After Coombs, we headed to the World Parrot Refuge, to check out the various parrots and spend some time in the room with the loose birds.  John had a cockatoo decide to go from my shoulder to his and then cuddled up on his chest with it's head tucked under his chin ... although it wasn't sucking its thumb but slowly scratching its neck.  It didn't want to get off him!

I was wearing my turquoise crocs, and I don't think I'll wear those to the parrot refuge again.  One of the cockatoos either took exception to them or thought they would make a nice snack, and I ended up endlessly walking around in circles trying to get away from the silly thing.  Talk about persistent!

Once done at the refuge, we headed home and their friends who live here in Nanaimo picked them up for dinner, so a real whirlwind visit!