Canada in Afghanistan

I'm against the war in Iraq. I'm against Canada being part of the missile defense program. I don't like most of what the Bush administration has done. But I am for what Canada is doing in Afghanistan. The liberation of Afghanistan is backed by the UN and for good reason. The Taliban infiltrated that country imposing its morality on the people against their will. The Taliban was an oppressive regime which marginalized women, not allowing them an education or the right to work. Since the UN along with Canada has been in Afghanistan, the country has changed, its been slow and painful and not without costs but it is changing. There is an elected government. Girls are now getting an education. Our soldiers are doing an exemplary job and they deserve our support. Just because the US is there and backs it doesn't mean we should be against it. If we pulled out of Afghanistan we would be sending the world the wrong message that we don't support the UN that we don't care about freedom. Canada can and should be a force for good and freedom around the world. Afghanistan is part of that.

Klass act! A Klass of her own.

Sorry couldn't resist. Cindy Klassan won five Olympic medals in two weeks! Real proud right now.

And I don't give a *%^&^%$^%#$ for the men's hockey team.

The Winter Olympics

I've been nursing a cold and watching the Olympics. I've always prefered the Winter ones to the Summer ones. The summer ones are just too large. Canada is doing well at these ones. Been some great stuff happening.

In women's hockey - Swedens surprise upset against the US could be good for the sport.

The first black man to win a winter gold medal - Shani Davis in speed skating but what impressed me most was how gracious he was afterwards, a true gentleman.

And I always love it when someone over 30 wins a medal like - Duff Gibson aged 39 winning in men's skeloten for Canada.

And figure skating - so much better now that they've changed the judging less emphesis on jumps more on everything else.

But my favorite winter sport - curling - it uses brain power, I can sit and figure out the next moves - its chess on ice.

Hunting

I've got nothing against real hunting. There are people who live so far north and in isolation or are so poor they have to hunt. And I'm not against sport hunting per se. Going out into the wilderness and tracking an animal that you eat. After all I do eat meat.

But getting out of your car, and shooting at birds on a ranch - that's just not my idea of hunting. Its target practise using live creatures.

Trying different things

I tried Choyote, did what it said on the wrapper and it was less than stellar, rather bland. Won't recommend it.

My son has been preparing meals and its been wonderful. Last night was leg of lamb, with mint sauce. Yummy!

Also hubby and I have been doing Latin dancing, lots of fun, energetic stuff would really recommend that.

Durian or Jack fruit

My mother who was born in India told me about Jack fruit. A large fruit that they cut open and had enough inside to feed a dozen people.

We could never get it, in Vancouver despite all are connections to a Chinese grocer who got us just about everything else we asked for. Over the years I saw it on tv shows and heard about its earthy jungle smell but its delightful taste.

Today we found it, in Fisgard Market in Tan Fan Alley - a huge prickly fruit we had to cut open, outside using a cleaver and gloves. It like a porcupine coconut but the meat inside tastes like something of a cross between bananas and mango. Definately worth a try.

Kiwi

Kiwi were the most of exotic of fruit. I remember when they first hit the grocery stores, they cost $2 each and had to come all the way from New Zealand. Despite that kwiwi was replacing strawberries in many desserts.

In the mid 80's - I was pregnant with my second child and developed a powerful kwiwi craving - I could eat six at a time in those days an incredibly expensive craving!

Last week I bought a whole bag of a dozen for $2! We had kwiwi with crepes for breakfast.

Rambutan

I was in Chinatown and I picked up something called a 'rambutan' - it has a red furry exteror hard shell - its like a leche nut except milder in flavor. I quiet liked it.

Il Terrazzo

http://www.ilterrazzo.com

We got married on Groundhog day so every year we go out to a great restuarant. If Terrazzo was one restuarant I've always to go to, it was voted best restuarant in Victoria several years in a row and I understand why.

Great atmosphere: We always want to believe it doesn't matter but it does, its not just the decor which exudes warmth with fireplaces and red bricks and just enough lighting but also the upbeat friendly staff.

The Waiter: Its always a good idea to talk to the waiter they know what's up. Ours was a friendly chatty man who has been working at there for 13 years - though he has taken classes in computer science and stock brokering and briefly worked as both he always comes back. We discussed the weather (lots of rain and wind) the anniversaries, and the wood burning pizza oven.

The food: This is what makes a restuarant. Staff no matter how wonderful and decor no matter how gentile can't make up for the food. And we got real food, no fancy all shaped in a cylinder stuff, this was full plate food! We started on the bread with finely diced and spiced olives. Perfect. I had Minestone soup, the real stuff, with beans rather than pasta. He had the salad. I decided to try the salmon pizza wondering if a wood burning stove really does make a difference - it does, thin but substantial crispy crust with thin smoked salmon and baby spinach. He had a chicken with tomato sauce and pasta. I've tried making chicken with tomato sauce myself but its never worked. They have a light but flavorful sauce and it works. We asked the waiter for the right kind of wines to go with our meals (the wine list is as thick as Gone with the Wind!) and his choices were spot on, he had red and I had a not too dry but fruity white. Then came desert, we got the sampler - best bet.

They are open for lunch on weekdays - so if you are even in Victoria....