Remebering Anastasia of Dawson College

12:45 September 13th 2006 Kimveer Gill opened fire on the students at Dawson College in downtown Montreal Quebec.

His bullets flew and hitting 19 people, killing Anastasia Rebecca de Sousa (above).

Its a blessing that the 18 other victims (8 who where in critical condition that day) all survived to live another day.  But we must remember Anastasia this day!

A tree will be planted at the school in her memory, just after the moment of silence.

Montreal is no stranger to school shootings – with the December 1989 rampage of Marc Lepine at the Ecole Polytechnique, where 28 people where shot (14 of them succumbing to injuries – all victims were woman)

I took a quick gander at Wikipedia under “school shootings” and frankly my eyes welled to see how EXTENSIVE the entry was, the dozens of instances of kids killing kids.  Or adults murdering children.

Here is the link if you are brave enough to read for yourself – School Shootings Wiki 

I’m reminded of so many of these events that have happened in my life time, and happened in the last 15 years!

The Amish school shooting occurred on the morning of Monday, October 2, 2006, when a gunman took hostages and eventually killed five girls (aged 7–13) and then killed himself at West Nickel Mines School

The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School. Two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a shooting rampage, killing 12 students and a teacher, as well as wounding 24 others, before committing suicide.

The Dunblane massacre was a multiple murder-suicide which occurred at Dunblane Primary School in the Scottish town of Dunblane on 13 March 1996. Sixteen children and one adult were killed, as well as the attacker who committed suicide. It remains the deadliest attack on children in United Kingdom history.

The Virginia Tech massacre was a school shooting comprising two separate attacks about two hours apart on April 16, 2007, on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. The perpetrator, Seung-Hui Cho, killed 32 people and wounded many more, before committing suicide, making it the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

School’s Back In

Congrats to my sister in law Kate.  She was accepted to teachers college and plans to attend during the next school season.  Lots of new changes for her and Paul, including a temporary move.  Kate will live closer to school, and Paul will be working at a satellite plant in Port Colbourne so they can be closer to one another.

source

The Last Laugh?

I was watching TV last night and came across a Canadian ‘game show’ where the contestants can win a house.

They are given the chance to tour the house for 5 minutes alone, then they get 45 to drive around the local area and learn about the amenities, then another 10 minutes in the house with a real estate expert to ask questions specific to the house.

They then have 15 minutes to decide on the price. . . to win the house they must be the closest to the price within $5000.

Its harder than it looks.

They do these ‘mini interviews’ throughout the show to see how the couples of contestants are doing, and how they are feeling during the process.

One couple in particular stood out to me.  The girl was talking about how much she wanted and needed the house, and how important it was to win it and her competitive nature.

She said she would be devastated, and probably cry if they didn’t win.

The girl was someone I went to school with, and someone who wasn’t really nice to me all the time ago.

The show was nearing the final reveal, I watched with baited breath.

Couple one’s envelope revealed.  Their envelope revealed.  Couple three’s evelope revealed.

The presenter of the show says that couple one is closest to the price.

The camera quickly pans to my old school mate with the most heart breaking look of defeat, a long drawn face and tears welling.

I smiled.  And chuckled coyly to myself.

I don’t know why I felt some sort of satisfaction in her loss.  Perhaps its like feeling like I’ve had the last laugh.  

Either way that was then and this is now. . . I think this was me (finally) letting go of the hurt I felt when she and others picked on me.    I wish her successes.   I know I’m enjoying mine.

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As for the people who were closest to the price, their bid was only $1000 outside of the $5000 buffer.  If they had made their bid simply $1000 dollars more they would have won!

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You know whats awesome to do on Thrusdays? Fuel Joey’s blog, thats what!

Reminiscing About My First Love

May is Matt’s birthday.

 

 

Matt was my first ‘boyfriend’, my first ‘real love’. In fact, there is still a teeny tiny bit of my heart, way in the back, which loves him still.

 

 

I remember the horrible childish circumstances to which our ‘relationship’ started. My best friend at the time Katie and I made a contest. Who could kiss Matt first.

 

 

Although I was pleased I ‘won’ the contest, I failed to tell Katie that I actually had a crush on Matt. Later on, I would find out she did too.

 

 

It was the summer before we started high school. We were about 13, and awkward. Matt had floppy blond hair, parted in the middle. He was tall and slender and very toned. He had friendly blue eyes and a wonderful warm smile complete with metal braces. That was Matt’s geeky phase. Sweaters, khaki pants, running shoes with the laces untied. He was strikingly handsome. Even in his geeky phase.

Whats in a Colour ::: What Awarness Ribbon should Virginia Tech Use?

 

In light of the tragic event that took place this week in Virginia I suggested here that we should wear white ribbons to show love and compassion to the victims, white meaning peace, and victims of terrorism.

I’ve noticed on all the Facebook groups and other online places of mourning people have been using the black ribbon – which is actually mourning (but also gang violence)

 In a time of such sorrow, sadness and uncertainity on our own shores, shouldn’t we be trying to look to the positive, look to rebuild. . . .  . .

What colour ribbon should Virginia Tech use?

Wear a White Ribbon for Virginia Tech Massacre Victims

  

As a Canadian, and now someone who lives in Montreal – The White Ribbon Campaign is something we are all aware of, and take part in every year. The white ribbon campaign is specifically Men Againist Violence Aganist Woman.

This campaign was started in 1991 after the school masscare at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal.  A lone gunman, Marc Lepine,  killed 14 woman before killing himself on December 6th, 1989.

Virgina Tech ::: Thoughts and Prayers as the Victims are Named

Things will never be the same.

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Are You SMARTER than a 5th Grader??? 5th-graders accused of sex in Louisiana school

Late March I made an entry about a little daughter of one of my co-workers, she is six, and the little ‘sex’ song she came up with – read about it here.  That amuzed and worried me.. . . . then  I stumbbled across the below posted article, about 5th graders having sex in an unsupervised class room.

My jaw dropped, not only for the pure fact that its about 11 year old fornicating, but by how severe the penalities may be for these children.   Shocked yes, do I agree,  is it unfair.  I’m not sure.

I’m just shocked. I’m not sure how to wrap my head around it.  Problems of our kids are far more grave than they were when we were children.

When did sex become a “problem” for pre-teens?   Parents, have you had “the talk” with you teeny boppers?

Facebook Dilemma

I got a friend request and a message from someone I just don’t know.  I spent a few minutes reading over their profile – no clues.  I looked at their friends – no mutual friends.

The person sent me a quick little message, and the personal information in the message shows me that they have the right person, but I just don’t know them – or remember them as the case may be.

I’m intrigued that I made enough of an impact in this person’s life to warrant a message above and beyond the usual friend request.

Should I be their friend in hopes that something will jog my memory, or decline the friend request.  . . . .Would it be worse to be ignored, or not remembered?