Did you vote?

[BoyNhisDog]

Canada in summer is interesting. I like to travel there but you will never get this American boy up there to actually live.

This is an image of the last time I set foot in North Dakota. Charley, my Micronesian friend and I are right on the Canadian border at the Peace Gardens. I am 17 years old, have just graduated Hollywood Hills High in southern Florida. I came back to see some friends, the parents and my north country girl. Within three years I would find my way to the southern deserts and here I would remain but I’ll never forget the long stretches of 40 below zero and that is not counting wind chill. Snow lay on the ground for six months. It was a frozen h#ll.



Two masterless Ronin. Had the world known we were coming, it would have run.

One year before this image was taken I met my first Canadian official one on one. I was 16 and had just traveled the entire coastline highway from San Diego to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The man told me I could not enter Canada without a note from my parents. Wrong thing to tell me. LOL I told him I would forge a nice note for him if he wanted. What was the difference. He took a long look at me and said, fine, come on in. I met some people who were hiding out up there. They had a little farm. There were two couples. We visited friends in the city and then everyone piled into a big van and we went to a beach. I told them I would be right along, that I needed to change into my cutoff jeans. They all laughed and told me that nobody needed any clothes on that beach. Now remember, I’m sixteen. Do you understand what that means? LOL So there I am laying on my stomach and the first thing that happens is an older woman of maybe twenty comes along, lays her blanket not more than ten feet away and strips. It was two hours before I could get up and play Frisbee. Everyone was there, people from a few months old to near seventy. That is how I would remember Vancouver in the middle of summer.

I remember the Forth of July when we where wearing winter coats. I remember Flin Flon in the middle of summer were everyone was wearing a coat. Then there was that sandwich shop lady in Bracebridge two years ago who tried to cheat me with her Canadian money. She was sharp witted and English. Finally like some character in a Monty Python movie I let her cheat me about half way.

Yes, a fun place to travel but I would never live there. The fact is all the Canadians are moving to Lake Chapala down near Guadalajara anyway.
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Seize from every moment its unique novelty and do not prepare your joys
- Andre Gide

[Shihiyea]

[Andy]

I'm with Kristyn! I don't care who you voted for! Name calling is just childish!
You might have to stand in the corner for awhile if this continues.
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http://community.webshots.com/album/136917818udlQWZ

[Davis2001R6]

Funny Beach story Glen

[roger]

[cactuscat]

I really don't care about offending or alienating anyone, okay? I'm offended, to.

I'm not "bitter" or "unhappy" - self righteous, maybe.

Yes, I think most people who vote for Bush!t are arrogant, selfish, bigoted and many other harsh words - although none of you are, I'm sure! I'm sure there must be some other reason to vote that way, I just can't comprehend it. We've tried to see things from the other side, but the issues are just to polarized - we'll never agree.

Someone mentioned to me in a PM that she doesn't care about people's sexual orientation (although she called it "preference", suggesting there's a choice) - she said that's "their business", not hers. I think that what she really means is that it's our "problem", not hers ... it doesn't affect her personally, so why would she care that millions of Americans are treated unequally and discriminated against?
For that matter why would she care that thousands of innocent Iraqis are being killed? As long as it's not us being raped and shot, then it's okay apparently - that is why I see Republicans as selfish.

Also, to that person I refered to about the PM - Misty is my wife, not my "wife".

Okay, now it's starting to get "heated" so I've said all I'm going to say on this thread - if anyone wants to continue, then let's do it privately.

[cactuscat]

Awesome picture, Glen! You were too cute.

[Daddee]

For anyone who is interested - the dialog continues on my blog.

As a side note, I am enjoying all this tremendously, and thanks to all those with the patience and tollerance to read my blatherings and write thoughtful responses. I truly enjoy hearing about your beliefs and thoughts. Even if I disagree with you, I still find it invaluable to be able to understand a little more.

I hope, once again, that I have not offended anyone. I certainly don't intend to, but, I'm not very good about that kind of thing most of the time so, if I have offended, please accept my appologies.

It is never, ever intended to be personal. Really. I'm just not too bright is all.
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"Only small minds want always to be right."
- Louis XIV

"...haven't you lived long enough to know that two men may honestly differ about a question and both be right?"
- Abraham Lincoln

[analoggirl03]

Hi!
I posted this on one of you hiking kid's blogs but i thought i'd stick it here too cause it always annoys me when people get upset about people being critical of their governments.

"As far as being ashamed to be an american, i think thats completely acurate. Complain if you will but i dont love america like a three year old loves her mommie. i love america like a grown up, For all its faults, its triumphs and failures; however like in an adult love i want to see my loved one do better. In the same way that i'm ashamed to be in public with my boyfriend (whom i love very much) when hes behaving like a retard i'm also ashamed of america when it acts retarded."

Similarly, if my boyfriend refused to marry me because he was on his high horse touting morality as his excuse for totaly biggotry, I'd dump him and move to canada too!

[Andy]

[Tom Treks]

Welll, if she's anything like Diane, then she'll be out on the trails kicking our butts when she's a grandma too...

[Hikngrl]

Ok Tom, How did you know that was my Katie? She didn't say who she was did she?
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~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

[Tom Treks]

Ummmmm.

"Post Subject: Diane's daughter = me"

[analoggirl03]

I am not a huge hiking fan i figured that since the topic was unrelated to hiking however that i was free to say it.

mom youre slow. =)

[BoyNhisDog]