New Start

Today I was walking in the park with Abby when that little voice inside me decided to mention that I forgive myself for everything.

How's that for a new start?

We arbitrarily create certain "new starts" in our calendars. Jan. 1 and the Monday after Labour Day come to mind. The truth is we can create a new start any time we want. And the real truth is that every second and ever nano-second is an opportunity to start afresh. Life is always new. Every second is a brand new one - it has never existed before.

We can choose to forgive ourselves and move forward into the world with a fresh page. Everything I have done in this life that I am less than proud of had been the result of being stupid and just plain not thinking ahead. I remind myself of my yellow lab (no coincidence that I have a yellow lab). When she was a puppy she knocked me down and I sprained my ankle. Of course she didn't mean to do it. Nor does she mean to do other things that upset me - like running off and following some intriguing scent. She does it because - well, it seems like the right thing to do at the time.

My mistakes fall into the same category. I honestly don't know of a single time that my intention was to hurt another person.

I think most people are the same.

Forgiveness is liberating, healing and necessary.

Work

I just filed my last story, which is pretty good considering I had to take a two-hour break today to go to the eye doctor. There I had to have my eyes dilated. Do you have any idea how long it takes for your pupils to come back to normal?

Also - do you have any idea what it's like interviewing people on the phone and taking notes on WHITE paper with your eyes dilated? And then - to write the story on a blindingly white screen?

Gaaaa!

On to the good news: my eyes have not changed since my last visit. No cataract surgery! Next visit in a year. I am determined that my eyes will actually improve. Yes - they will.

More thoughts on communications

So there I was in bed this morning in that lovely place between sleeping and waking - it's a place I do a lot of my thinking - and some folks will say that certainly explains a lot.

My thoughts strayed from the Oscars (better this year than usual) to City Hall. Yes, I know, that's a pretty sad state of things - politics while not even officially awake. Okay - back to the communications manager.

Listen up City Hall - I have a revolutionary idea for you. Blog! Tweet!

There - isn't that simple. Come on folks, you did it during the election campaign. You can do it again. Let me give you a for instance. I followed quite a few would-be politicians on Twitter during the campaign - and I still follow them. But, whereas I would get say about a dozen tweets a day from Diane Brennen during the election - now it's more like one or two a week. And when she does tweet, it isn't terribly germane to issues that are "up." Haven't heard a word out of John Ruttan.

And that, people, is just plain poor communications. I follow Justin Trudeau, Liberal MP, and you could take a note from his book - frequent tweets, intelligent and up to the minute communication about what's going on in Parliament. The same can be said about many senators and congressmen in the US.

So why oh why can't our elected officials keep us informed? Start a blog, get on Facebook and set up a Twitter account. Let the media people in town know where to find your blog etc. and we're off to the races. It ain't rocket science.

Just do it!

Save $140,000.

Sheesh!

Oscar Fever

I know I should have a lovely red carpet shot here - a celebrity - George Clooney perhaps or (gasp) Ryan Gosling.

The beautiful Oregon Coast on a carpet of sand will have to do.

Let's see, it's almost 3 p.m. - and that means I'd better get Abby out for one last pee before I drive off to J and P's place to watch the show. My one television indulgence every year.

And so I leave you with my predictions: see if I'm right.

The Artist will have Hollywood Love smeared all over it and will take the top two: best director and best picture. The star (I forgot his name - sorry) will win best actor.

Viola Davis for best actress and her partner (forgot name again) will win best supporting.

Christopher Plummer for best supporting - and well deserved.

Rango for best animated.

And why on earth was Drive snubbed???

Awards for cinematography, editing, costumes, audio and so on will likely be divided between Hugo, War Horse and the other top two

The Iranian film will win for best foreign language.

And that's all I know.

More thoughts on communications

I have let thoughts about a communications manager at City Hall percolate for a while and have finally come to a definitive decision.

No.

Nope

Not

Not necessary and a complete waste of the taxpayers' money.

So - how then do we solve the issue of the communication gap between City Hall and the public?

1. Stop these stupid "in camera" meetings. It's our money. We deserve to know what's going on. Unless you
are discussing something about personnel that could damage a reputation, the public has a right to be there.

2. Talk to us. You know how to do that. You learned shortly before or after one year of age and you've been adding to that knowledge ever since. Today, more than ever, there are many, many ways to communicate effectively - use them! Here's a simple rule of thumb. Pretend you're married to us. So, if you really want to buy a new sports car, discuss it with us first. If you don't you'll either spend the night sleeping on the couch or we'll divorce you.

Treat us with respect.

Talk to us.

Simple. done.

I just saved you $140,000.

You're welcome.

City Politics - Communications

I've given some thought to the latest City Hall kerfluffle - hiring a communications officer at a cost of $140,000.

In fact, I've given it quite a bit of thought ever since I debated it with Jim Routledge yesterday and then read some reactions in the Nanaimo Daily News letters to the editor.

My initial reactions were two in number and pretty much diametrically opposed: "Great idea!" and "Huh?"

Let's start with "Great idea." It is if this person can act independently. I wouldn't even put him or her on staff. I'd simply hire a freelancer - contract him or her and make sure this is not a PR person. A retired reporter would be ideal. I could see someone like columnist Ron Bolin doing a great job. The position would work well if the person was organized - a file on everything the public needs to know about - and that starts with every single place their money is being spent. So - the public needs to know what's happening in every area of City Hall. This person could question. mayor, council and staff just like a reporter would and then write up the results (unbiased) and get this stuff out to the public. There should be a City Hall blog - press releases - Facebook page - all that good stuff. If the communications person can communicate honestly and openly without restrictions, great!

What a boon that would be!

But is that what will happen?

In my experience as a sometime reporter, dealing with communications people at VIHA, VIU etc., I find their main job is to stop communications - as well as to spin facts to put their organization in a good light. Instead of talking to the person I want to talk to I have to go through convoluted hoops to finally get to the person I want to talk to - this does not facilitate transparency and timely communication.

It's completely understandable that the public eyes communications officers with a good deal of suspicion. I know that when I want to talk to John Ruttan, which I do off and on when I am writing stories, I want to call him and talk to him - not go through some minion.

Yes to a communications person if that means simplified, clearer communication, timely communication, answers to questions and increased transparency. No if it's the same old, same old.

Another thought - we have some very high priced people working at City Hall. I would assume they know how to communicate. Why on earth can't they do that as part of their job?

And finally - $140,000????!!!! Really? Hell, I could do that at half the cost - so could anyone worth their salt. And really, don't put a person like that on staff. Someone on the outside with no fear of being fired, would do a far more honest job. I still think Ron Bolin would be perfect - or someone like him. Someone versed in politics, someone passionate about politics and someone dedicated to honesty.

But (I told you I was of two minds) in economic times like this, spending $140,000 on yet another staff position at City Hall is downright irresponsible. Scrap it folks. Draw on your illustrious educations and skills and learn how to communicate.

Quiet Day

A quiet day feels like just what I needed - after a pretty busy week. So this afternoon Abby will get a nice long walk. I just indulged one of my secret vices - watched American Idol - the final judgment. Not as good as The Voice earlier this week but between the two of them I've got some nice "time waster."

(and I don't care one bit)

I think I see an afternoon nap on the horizon as well.

Life is good.