Having mentioned the best thing to happen in 2005, i.e. Irfan, here a list of things I plan to make happen in 2006,

• Not get married (sorry Mother)
• Pick up on where I've left off French and salsa lessons
• Finish Dostrovsky's 'Crime and Punishment'
• Try out skiing one last time and hopefully succeed in getting off the ski-lift thingi this time without having the operator- scowl at me, stop the lift and push me out
• Touch base with friends more often
• Not get married (sorry Grandma)
• Finish the paintings I've started
• Check out one of Rushdie's books for the first time ...I'm thinking 'Midnight's Children' (suggestions?)
• Spend less
• Re-do the apartment in a more grown-up style, oh and buy another bookshelf....fix the closet....buy a rug for the bathroom....the curtains are looking kinda ratty.....errr...okay there is lots of do in the apartment....help? :D
• Ummm....hope for a pay-raise so that can spend less and still afford the stuff for the apartment
• Learn to make fuchka shells (thats panipuri for you non-Bengali folks) from scratch
• Limit daytime calls on the cell phone
• Try baking something edible
• Buy sensible but pretty shoes for winter
• Stop making list of things to buy
• Start volunteering once a week
• Did I mention the not getting married bit?
• Get inspired to write more often on the blog
• Have interesting things happen in life, or failing that gain the imagination to make them up, for the blog
• Hope friends blog more often so have something to read
• Stop obsessing over blogs
• Learn to be nicer to people, even the marraige minded people
• Get Irfan away from him mother's TV and interested in reading more
• Buy sturdy drool-proof books for Irfan
• Have courage and money to move to a different city by the end of the year and start new
• Continue loving all my friends for their love and support

...........*Inshallah*

Considering its common in most large cities, it was only a matter of time before Toronto saw the murder of a young girl along with others being shot in the middle of a busy street during a shopping spree

These kids in these gangs.... what were they thinking?
that when they walk into a crowded street and start shooting at each other, that it is a game? that they are in a movie? that by-standers won't get hurt? or do they think its not real blood that comes out when you shoot?
What's even sadder is that all 15 people involved would probably turn out to be young offenders with previously wiped out records, a lot of whom will never get caught.
No one will come forth with information. Not when 'it's like snitching out on a friend'.
Ofcourse there are people out there who know who these people are.
Fifteen kids will have been kind of hard to miss. Not to mention their family and friends who are only hurting them by keeping them safe.
But then obviously these kids are not inhuman- they must know what they have done. But do they realize the extent of their action. Or is it just 'some girl dying' for them?
One good way I think, would be appeal to their humanity.
Put up pictures and details of the the girl who died along with people who got shot at on one daily newspaper. Just one is enough. Its not insensitive- not when it can help with the investigation. If it was my kid or me I'd have no problem. I would want them to know exactly how they have ruined my family's life.
Even if one of these kids feel guilty after seeing the pictures and come forth it would be enough.
Maybe some family/friend/neighbours would stop protecting these criminals as well or stop being afraid of them and get to the police with some information to help in their capture.
Its about time, idiots with too much testosterone for their bored lives, stopped getting away with senseless murder.

In letting us spike your hair

You made my year, Irfan :D

A very Merry Christmas

....

......

From

Tazzy

And

the Snow Aunty!



Constructed with loving care on a snowy afternoon.










On the 1st week of christmas elections we have been promised-
The GST cut
The increased child support
And now the tax relief for small businesses

I hope you won't stop there Stevie dear.
How about promises that we could really sink our teeth into, promises that would marvelously hit us over the head and propel our digits towards the Bushist Conservatives?
Look here, I've listed some to help you win over the voters demographically most likely to vote Liberal eh? And wWe know how difficult it is for you to ooze cheer. So I've even added a seasonal twist to it to ease the delivery for you.

(Note to readers: Its more fun to sing this part. Come on. Sing with me...just like me...out of tune....)

On the 2nd week of the elections Harpie promised me
Free icecream every thursday
Why thursday? just 'cause
Tax break for makeup purchases
Tax free RRSP withdrawls (or $1000 rebate cheque)
For turning thir-tee

On the 3rd week of elections Harpie promised me
Free chocolates for a week every month
Why? we need it. p-e-r-i-o-d
Window offices across canada
And Tax deductable rentals for high hee-eeels

On the 4th week of elections Harpie promised me
The 'perfect man'
Thats' not Martin
A three year maternity
And a butterscotch candy
(just for showing up at the booths)

........

You get the idea.
Feel free to add your own ideas for our slanty eyed contestant.
The best entry wins.....a BIG plaque with my picture on it that says ...
in very small writing:
'Most likely to replace Tazzy on A Sunshine Too Brief'

For more (unchanged) info on the all of our contestants that we had already checked out 18 months ago click here