(no subject)

My allergies have been very bad lately.
My garden seems to be doing well. Our compost is already composting and yesterday I planted some bok choy bedding plants. I was not even aware that you could grow bok choy here until I saw them. I will update more later, but I have to run away now. It's been a bit of a busy week.

I've been very happy since I got back. I'm not sure if it's-

1. The weather
2. My current lack of financial worries
3. The fact that I've been busy and have lots to do.
4. The fact that I know that I'm supposed to be in Vancouver at this point in my life
5. A combo of these things.

(no subject)

I have a bike! I shipped it here from Saskatoon. I took it into the store on Tuesday and they put it back together for me. I'm so happy to finally have it here.

This morning I ended up having to go to the Explorasian office to put the finishing touches on the script. Unfortunately, I won't be able to see my work, as I have to work tomorrow night and will have to miss the gala.

Books read lately

1. A student of weather by Elizabeth Hay- Blah, what a dull book. It's the story of a man and a woman who meet and whose lives keep intertwining throughout the years. I like Hay's writing, but this story was dull and I think it's been done before.

2. Perdido Street Station- by China Mieville- A good science fiction book, but it suffered from first novel syndrome. Mieville is very creative, but he has a tendency to put too many things and characters in his books. Still, it deserves points for the wonderful characters and scenarious he can create.

3. Banished from our home- by Sharon Stewart- The Acadian Diary of Angelique Richard- one of the books in the "Dear Canada" series. I really liked this one, since I know VERY little about Acadians. Interesting.

Incorrigible

"Incorrigible" is a true story written by Velma Demerson. I found it a fascinating, and disturbing read.

In 1939, 18 year old Velma Demerson and her fiance, a Chinese man named Harry Yip, were sharing breakfast when the police arrived to arrest her. Her parents had arranged for her arrest. She was tried and deemed "incorrigible" because of her mixed race relationship. She was sentenced to a home for wayward girls and was eventually transferred to Toronto's Mercer Reformatory for Females. Many of the women at Toronto's Mercer Reformatory were arrested for being wayward girls, having children out of wedlock, or having affairs.

Pregnant at the time of her arrest, she was locked in a cell and forced to work on site. She was also subject to painful, disgusting medical procedures which included burning her on her genitalia without anesthetic. Her mixed race child was taken away from her. Upon her release, she married her lover. Since she married a foreigner, her marriage resulted in the loss of her citizenship. In the following years, Ms. Demerson was forced to give up the custody of her child and deal with social and legal issues, including custody battles which involved her mixed race son.

In recent years, she confronted the province of Ontario for Redress, and brought her arrest and the arrests of many other women to attention.

In 2002, the NDP gave her an award for her anti-racist work. She is self-educated, and continues to be involved with the Chinese community, and with anti-racist action. She is 85 years old and lives in Toronto.

I was sickened to read about all the disgustings that had happened to Ms. Demerson in my own country not long ago. I have Ms. Demerson's phone number, and will hopefully be able to speak with her next week.I'm glad that she was able to share her story, and bring such an important matter to justice.

**My mother says the movie "The Magdalene Sisters" deals with a similar issue. I shall have to see it.