“Ainsi sera groigni qui groigni.”

“Grumble all you like, this how it’s going to be.”

This pithy bit of wisdom is attributed to Anne Boleyn. A woman who certainly understood toughing it out, right up to the moment she lost her head, literally.

And it’s this basis of my post today, in light of my country’s federal election.

To my American friends who don’t follow Canadian politics and to my “less informed compatriots,” I’ll do some very quick explaining as to what happened, who was involved, and what it means. I’ll also explain why there are a lot of people grumbling in my country; sixty percent of the population to be precise.

On Monday May second there was a federal election to determine which party would run Canada. The reason for this election is the Conservative party was in power with a minority of votes, and their delinquent behavior found them in contempt of parliament (serious charge which translates into “We don’t give a tinker’s curse about democracy and we’ll run this government they way we want to!” Which resulted in a “vote of no confidence.” Which means an election.

The Parties involved are:

1. The reviled Conservative party. Disliked for their ultra right wing politics that have borrowed heavily from your Republicans and Tea Partiers alike.

A very nasty man leads them, by the name of Stephen Harper whose campaign tactics were comprised negative campaigning or slagging off the competing parties and adding generous dollops of fear mongering.

In short, “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll vote for my party: the great and noble, fiscally responsible Conservatives (no, not really) or risk having a bunch of spineless pansies over taxing you and running this country into debt. VOTE FOR ME OR FEEL THE WRATH OF MY HEAT RAY!” Well due to 60 percent of the population, not bothering to vote, and with the help of the western provinces who like the Conservatives for some reason, they won the majority of votes cast.

2. The Liberal party. A centrist party that’s probably closest to your Democrats. They had Michael Ignatieff as their party leader, a former Harvard professor who moved back to Canada to lead the Liberal party to a resounding defeat this time around. They have a lot of work to do if they want to continue as a legitimate party, as they’re only sending 34 of their members to Ottawa. Big-time losers this time around.

3. The New Democratic Party, or NDP led by Jack Layton. This is the party responsible for implementing what you would call, “socialized Medicare.” Thanks to their socialist platform, Canadians have had fighting chance at having a decent life. As of late, they’ve ranked third or fourth in the polls. The Conservatives and Liberals have written them off in the past as being a bunch naïve, idealists who can’t balance a ledger if they tried. Well guess what? They got a ton of votes this time around and are the official opposition party, Sending a 102 members to Ottawa!

4. There was also the Green Party, and The Bloc Quebecois who was the voice of Quebec over the last twenty years. But they got walloped and Elizabeth May of the Green party was the only one who was elected. That’s all you need to know for now.

To sum it up: we have an ultra right wing government who will be challenged every step of the way by a left-wing party and boy, will they fight them!

Granted the Conservatives are ruling by a majority and don’t have to listen the opposition party, but Harper does so at his peril! The man is not liked by the majority of Canadians which translates to sixty percent of the Canadian population, he also has no representatives in Quebec (the NDP have a whopping fifty seats in Quebec and have seats in every province!) Which means if he goes playing dictator this time around, that would be political suicide. Unless he wants to quit in four years time when the next election comes up, but I somehow doubt that.

For the first time ever we have a polarized parliament. No moderates here, and I believe that is a good thing. Sure the Conservatives are going to make a mess of things, but with the NDP as the opposition party things are going to be a lot less dull and it just might shake things up a bit. So much in fact that some good things might actually get done!

It also might shake you lazy, apathetic non-voters out of your complacency and you might just actually go out and vote next time. Let’s not squabble about which party split the vote and got the Conservatives in power, it was you bunch ignoramuses who didn’t bother to vote!

Back to my opening line by Anne Boleyn, grumbling ain’t gonna do squat. Tough it out, write your Member of Parliament frequently, get involved in the dialogue, get on with your life and suck it up.

And maybe, just maybe in four years we’ll end up getting an even better government.

Here’s to you Jack Layton, give those Conservative bastards hell!

Lately the “Mental Knights,” in my head have been working extra hard to get me up in the mornings. The fact that spring is asserting itself in this city helps, but it still comes down to working through a grind period before the spring in my step returns.

Part of my “Blah-ness,” is due to the upcoming election. For my American friends we’re facing another federal election and the malaise that has infected this campaign and the Canadian voters in general is to due Prime Minister’s bombastic, contempt for the democratic process, his greed mongering, and his negative campaigning in general. To NDP and Liberal Party, stay on the high road guys.

Here’s what I’m talking about.

Enough on that subject; my next favourite city (New York, as if you didn’t know) has a very cool sculpture being installed outside the Seagram’s building.

I just had a friend move to Brooklyn a week ago. Which is quite fortunate for her really since it’s becoming more upscale and financially challenging for most creative types. Nevertheless, it has its own allure and this has been chronicled endlessly in the media, but there’s a new published book about the Brooklyn experience recently published and bears investigating.

Having said that though I cooking up plans to see Chicago this summer. Further bulletins on that as situation warrants.

So I leave you with that. It’s gym day for me and afterwards off to Kensington Market for groceries and crank out some pages on the book as well as some drumming.

Two months into the New Year and this is my first blog entry for the New Year.

Hey, it’s been a Herculean labour to make time for my novel, keep the drum licks up and slogg through this winter. It’s been a cold, snowy one and damper than usual,

and no trips to warmer climes either.

Well enough about that,

I’m starting off this year’s first posting with some positive ponderings. And to help usher in these Positive thoughts I've enlisted the aid of

Senge Dongma (see Pic) She's a powerful entity who removes obstacles and negative thoughts wither before her gaze.

So here we go...

1. New Years’s Eve found me back at the Zen Temple as I was badly in need of some karmic mental flushing. The ceremony they do for the forthcoming year is always good and I did have something of a revelation.

Part of the ceremony has us carrying a small candle in our hands. Looking down at it I realized what a powerful metaphor it is for our lives. It shines brightly in the darkness, yet could be extinguished so easily and there it is, right in YOUR HANDS. It really IS IN YOUR HANDS so look after yourselves, be kind to yourself as well as to others and start moving on that “Bucket List,” now!

Regret is not an option, DO IT!

2. Not all of us do what we love to pay the bills and that in itself is something I’m sure you’ve tussled with. Well, have a look at my friend’s blog : “Showing and Knowing,” you will find yourself both inspired and entertained.

3. Further thoughts on getting things done: Looks at what consumes your time and productivity and KILL IT! It’ll probably be a social activity with no real friends in particular and it’s also been eating the contents of your wallet. LOSE IT. It will not miss you. Stick with friends who care about you and inspire you.

4. 90% of my IPod’s content is Middle Eastern music and lots of percussion. But the odd scrap of western groove will sneak on to it from time to time, and in this instance it’s The Black Keys’ “Howlin’ For You.” I’m lovin’ Patrick Carney’s drum groove on this song.

So I’ll say goodnight with that playing on your ears and grey cells

Happy 2011!