The first time he heard about you
he denied it could be true. You couldn't possibly be his baby #2. He thought you were someone else's ... told me that we're through. When you were born he began to realize that what I said wasn't a pack of lies. After a full day of labour ... one final push ... .SURPRISE! Looking at you it was obvious. You had his eyes. He couldn't get between mother and son So at you he decided to take a big run. Right through the front door as if for fun If the courts wouldn't give him two ... maybe the judge would grant him one. Upon filing for support and visitation the court ordered first step was mediation. Your father claimed I was the one with the addiction. The mediator sided with him in her final decision. Meanwhile, late every second Friday night I would pack your bags without turning on a light. Hiding them up in the closet way out of sight So that you wouldn't know he was a no-show and we wouldn't fight. He lost any opportunity in a fit of rage. One profound enough he ended up in a cage. His mom was disappointed that he didn't act his age. She would have testified against him if it got to that stage. My lawyer was prepared to set another date. His lawyer decided that it was already too late. That one final punch had sealed his fate The risk of one of the children getting hurt was far too great. The final decision was in my favour But it wasn't something that I could savour It had a somewhat bitter flavour "Daddy's Little Girl" without her saviour had to be a hell of a lot braver. by Cheryl Duggan January 31rst, 2016
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Corb Lund will be finishing up his Winter Campaign 2016 CDN Tour promoting his new album Things That Can't Be Undone with a show at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto on February 20th, 2016. One of my favourite songs on the new album is "Run This Town" There is a simplicity in the song and the video that many will appreciate. He's not trying to be something he's not. He doesn't need to be a bad ass, or pretend he is, for you to like his music. . Here's the link to the Toronto Sun article I am verbally shredding in a letter to their editor - TCHC Managers Should Work Closer To Tenants (Whether it gets posted to their website or not is unclear. So I thought I would post a copy of it here. Just in case they decided to simply delete my response.)
Re: TCHC Managers Should Work Closer To Tenants I understand that as an outsider reporting on this Sue-Ann Levy really does not understand the intricacies of what it's like to be a TCHC resident. Well I do. I have been a resident of the Gilder community for almost 30 years. My first question for you is did you speak to any residents that sat on the TCHC Facilities Management Operational Resident Focus Group? I did My second question is did your resident spokespersons supply feedback to Ameresco the consulting firm writing up the "final report"? I did My third and final question is did your TCHC tenant source provide an additional hour consulting with Ameresco directly about bringing TCHC standards up to that of privately run buildings instead of living down to social housing standards? I did. Trust me I was out of breathe at the end. It was great to finally be heard. As far as I am concerned, there needs to be a focus on TCHC staff and tenants working TOGETHER! I am happy to report that there are tenants that are grateful to not have to make the choice between food and shelter every month. In addition, there are rumours that some TCHC staff actually like their jobs. The next step in this process should be connecting these two camps. Working together would improve our living conditions and their job satisfaction. Both are very important in maintaining the health of individuals and that of TCHC communities collectively. THE NEW TORONTO: ft. TORY LANEZ & RYAN HEMSWORTH Sunday, February 14, 2016 (Valentine's Day) The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave, Toronto ON “The New Toronto” show presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka as part of NBA All-Star Weekend. The free show will feature Ryan Hemsworth, Bas and special guests at The Danforth Music Hall. Fans can RSVP at titosvodka.com/the-new-toronto/ for a chance to attend. Lanez’ single “Say It” is currently #1 on the Urban radio chart for the third week in a row and #32 on the Billboard Hot 100.
There is an image that appears on an individual's Facebook page with the caption "7 years of bad luck for those who don't like and type amen." The image is of a child with short hair, two black eyes that are swollen shut, heavy bruising around the right shoulder, and a spider like injury to the entirety of their right cheek, There is an inset image, of supposedly, the same child with pigtails, no bruising, and no stitches.
There is no explanation as to what happened to this poor child. I'm not even sure that both images are of the same child. Looking closely (much closer than I would have liked) you notice that the battered child has short hair. Admittedly, it may have been cut to treat the injuries. What the Hell was this person thinking to post such an image with no explanation whatsoever? NO I'm not going to "like" an image of a battered, or otherwise seriously injured, child. I don't think it's appropriate to say "Amen" (as almost half a million other people already have) to someone else's pain and suffering. For the individual to be indicating that I will get seven years bad luck if I don't comply is simply outrageous. It would seem that the masses appreciate a healthy dose of superstition sprinkled over their religion. It appears to go a long way to making them click "like" and say "amen" ... Like lambs to the slaughter. I did report the image to Facebook. Within their well defined reporting system Facebook has a survey section that specifically identifies what may be wrong with images. I clicked the statement "This advocates violence or harm to a person or animal" I have been given enough reason in this lifetime to believe I am one of a kind. I am sincerely hoping that's not the case with this issue. Honestly, for seven years of bad luck, I'll break that mirror every time. It was great to see so many Scarborough artists and enthusiasts outside their traditional boundaries last night for the Opening Reception of En Route at the Papermill Gallery in Todmorden Mills. My piece Flight Lights hangs among the art treasures to be found at En Route until January 24th, 2016.
After 23 years on death row, for a crime he claims he didn't commit, Nick Yarris learned there were more concrete things in this life to be afraid of than the irrational fear of the number 13. Nick Yarris appreciated the little things in life. The rain, even though he couldn't see it from his cell, he still described as "beautiful". Not exactly the stereotypical thoughts of a killer. In a flash of realization Nick Yarris accepted his fate. Oddly enough, for a guy who has spent over two decades on death row there seems to be a complete lack of any fear. Perhaps he thought the final judgement, the one before the pearly gates, would be more forgiving than that granted by the judicial system. "Dear Judge ... As a criminal plaintive I ask the one right that I have remaining to me as a condemned prisoner be recognized. That is, a condemned man's right to be executed. I hereby ask that counsel be dismissed. That my record be then transmitted to Governor ... for my execution date to be set within sixty days of receipt of this letter. I hereby swear that I am sane at the time of this writing. Signed, Nicholas James Yarris August 2002."
But, even that didn't go according to plan. The Fear of 13 will be screening at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016 @ 6:30 pm & 9:15 pm Thursday, February 4th, 2016 @ 6:45 pm Wipe that Sulk off your face. Toronto area synth pop band TR/ST will kick things off at the Grand Re-Opening of the newly renovated iconic Queen West venue - The Velvet Underground. In exactly one month, on February 12th, 2016 the doors will re-open with "some of the old Velvet Underground vibe." They promise that it will be transformed into a great live music venue. I can't wait to see my new piece Flight Lights on display at the Papermill Gallery. I'm also looking forward to picking up my copy of the BIG ART BOOK at the Opening Reception & Book Launch this Thursday. You can send your RSVP to info@scarborougharts.com . See you there.
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