The Secret Life of a GG

Call me unpatriotic, or whatever you will, but why do taxpayers have to continue supporting an antiquated system of governor-generalship? I’m traditional in many ways, but do we really need this in our constitution? Can we not find a more inexpensive figurehead? Or why doesn’t Lizzy and Co. whether it’s Charlo or Haro or Will fund it?

I was driving past the governor general’s house some time ago and facetiously I said I would like to be a GG when I grow up. Housekeeping, cooking all taken care of and all spruced up and polished, go to all kinds of social functions, with my own personal guard... attend a few crappy functions, sign a litany of documents, just to say I signed. (to be honest I would not like it very much, except for enjoying the location and beauty of the colonial home)
I might be holding an extremely unpopular position but we waste so many dollars on useless figureheads, useless commissions that I want to wash my hands clean of being an active part of society. But that’s just a fleeting sentiment of wondering why keep this figure head? (ok ok if there is one place I should be completely honest, it’s this blog, so no, it’s not fleeting)
I recently saw a TV clip of the GG trying to bob the head to enjoy the music at a festival. It looked a bit silly. I immediately had the idea of someone writing a satirical faux blog of the ‘The Secret Life of a GG’ like TNT’s ‘The secret blog of “the current political leader”’ I used to read that TNT blog. I found it hilarious, much like the local TV satire of leading figures we had here a few years ago. A SNL genre of writing:
Inside the GG’s head: You know I don’t understand this music thing at all, what is this, no tambou and jouk fouye, the traditional things we grew up on? What is this do do do we do wop thing, I can’t even tap my fingers to it at all. But I better look as if I can enjoy this because over there the camera man is panning the camera towards me, ok, now little smile, fix the lips, and head left to right back and front yes, ok I think this will look respectable. Do do do do de wop wop. Cheups, a little quadrille and chac chac would go down well here.

‘The Secret Life of a GG,’ I can imagine the reactions to that irreverent kind of writing. Of course in a particular kind of social environment I would denounce it while secretly checking every week for an update.

'Tis the season of do do do do de wop de do...

The Art of Beautiful Writing

As usual this post is going to be all over the place...the luxury of blogging.

The 'Beautiful Writing' which I speak of is calligraphy! I have fallen in love with it. It's been a few months since I bought a kid's calligraphy kit, and every now and then I try to be the artist I was never meant to be. But you know even if the scripts don't turn out how I want them to, I don't feel frustrated. It is surprisingly calming to be practising over and over and the results change ever so slightly. I have pages and pages of lettering and sometimes when I carry the kit around in my bag, I whip it out to get a few minutes of art in the middle of my day.

Now I am obsessed with getting the right pens for the skill. Right now I'm using chisel tip calligraphy markers, and I recently bought the last packet in the only store here, where I found them. So although my birthday is a long way off, you know what to get me if you ever swing by a stationery store. I might just be able to thank you with my eventual expertise in beautiful writing.

As for the other writing... can I say 'beautiful'? I'm not sure I want to be that daring. But I have dared myself to 1000 words a day. If I can squeeze that much in on a daily basis, then soon, very soon I can have the manuscript that is impatient to get out.

I got a puppy about 2 weeks ago and all I could think of when I saw him was 'runt'. Unsually harsh coming from dog-lover. But I think it was partly grief from having my Mavis replaced only 6 months after she died. And Harry was not taking too kindly to Puppy. He looked very uncomfortable. AND puppy had the same colouring as Mavis; gave me a bout of chagrin for my crazy, emo Mavis.

But you can't help but love a puppy. And call me crazy, puppies especially when they're still drinking milk have a distinctive smell which makes you want to pick them up and fondle their faces. I don't particularly like the teeth at my ankles, but they're a ball of energy, total fun.

All this to say, after a week of having 'Franco' (so named by a little person) he was not at all runt-like. He was round and roly-poly and his barking was so cute. Day by day I can see him growing, because I make sure he is fed at least 3-4 times for the day (I can't stand to see skinny dogs unless they're supposed to be a skinny breed).

Feed your writing 1000 words a day and soon you're going to see well-rounded project unfold.

But you know that already!

Namaste