The visitation is today from 2-4 and 7-9. Of course I will be there to lend my sister moral support, I just have to remember to hide the fact that my heart is breaking for her and his family until *after* when I'm alone.

Memo to self: be brave be brave be brave bebravebebravebebrave

Inigo Montoya: Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father: prepare to die. Now, offer me money.
[slices Count Rugen's cheek]
Count Rugen: Yes.
Inigo Montoya: Power too. Promise me that.
[slices Count Rugen's other cheek]
Count Rugen: All that I have and more. Please...
Inigo Montoya: Offer me everything I ask for.
Count Rugen: Any thing you want.
Inigo Montoya: I want my father back, you son of bitch.
[stabs and kills Count Rugan]

my sister-in-law's (recently ex) boyfriend committed suicide yesterday. he hung himself. she had moved out just this week and still hadn't collected anything. his mother was to take him out for breakfast this morning... the police found him. i can't think. all i keep thinking is holy fuck. she only just found out today. the police came to her workplace and brought her back in to town.

i spent almost all day with her, and all i kept doing was talking, talking, talking. making her laugh at my inane dribble because i didn't know what else to do. except hold her when she cried. and hold her head when she vomited after drinking too much. i don't know.

she's angry, of course she's angry, i don't know what else to do. i'm angry too and i'm thinking of things that have happened in the past and it makes me angrier.

went to C's school and helped put together their little play. it was so dang cute to see the kids dressed up in togas, lol they were so funny.

then at lunch i met S for some food which i haven't done in a month of sundays. then i went to the archives to try and find some old articles etc for the kids' school, as i am on parent council and have been volunguilted to look up things for their 50th anniversary next school year.

then i came home and took a nap. it was glorious. then i picked up C.

interesting occurence: when i went to see the principal to get his request letter for the archive, the secretary wouldn't let me in but told me to wait outside the office. when she finally came out with the document she apologised and said i couldn't go in at that point because there was an undercover police officer in to talk to the principal. hmmm. very interesting. so i hung around and when i saw the undercover guy came out i was a little surprised, because he had been sitting in the audience for celeste's class's re-enactment. hmmmm.

so i have thursday off, woo! to go see C perform a little re-enactment of the last supper. they are going to have pita bread & grape juice hehe and put on a little feast for the kindergarten kids.

also i was on the radio this morning talking about the walk for ms i do every year, and totally messed up because he asked me something and i drew a complete blank and tumbled over my words but he was really nice and helped me through it. eep! scary. i'm not meant for radio interviews.

ok time to go sleep i am TIRED. man. oh man.

i'm not here right now. leave a message at the beep.

*bweeeeep!*

School On: School will be in session once again tomorrow. Steve Howe, the media contact for the Avon Maitland District School Board has confirmed that both the Catholic and Public schools in Stratford will reopen Wednesday. That follows word from the city and the Perth District Health Unit, that the water advisory has been downgraded to a boil water advisory. In addition, the city will supply bottled water to all affected schools.

Drinking Water Advisory NOW a Boil Water Advisory

Initial tests conducted March 7 on your water identified trace amounts of the chemical, 2-Butoxyethanol, a solvent found in industrial and household cleaners. Repeat testing done overnight by the City of Stratford and the Ministry of Environment, now show that the chemical has been completely removed and that no other chemical contamination has occurred. However, because a large amount of untreated watered entered the drinking water system on March 7, the Medical Officer of Health has asked for further testing to
ensure that the water is free of any harmful bacteria and is safe for drinking. The results of these tests will be available by the end of the week. Therefore, the Medical Officer of Health is reducing the Drinking Water Advisory to a Boil Water Advisory. Before you start using the water, you need to flush your system. Flushing information is being supplied to all residents through door-to-door delivery this
afternoon. Call the City of Stratford at 271-0250 ext 237 for more information. Until you are advised by the Perth District Health Unit, you can continue to use the safe drinking water being supplied at locations around the city, or boil your water to a rolling boil for at least one minute. Use boiled or bottled water to:
- drink
- gargle, brush your teeth or rinse dentures
- wash fruits, vegetables and other food
- prepare food
- make ice, juices, pudding or other mixes
- make baby food or formula.

INFORMATION ABOUT A BOIL WATER ADVISORY

THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF STRATFORD

PLEASE FOLLOW THE FLUSHING PROCEDURE BEFORE USING ANY WATER

1. Run all cold water taps for 5 minutes.
2. For larger multi-unit residences, it will be necessary to run water for a longer time period. Water should run until a constant temperature is noticed; this will indicate that the water is from the watermain.
3. Once all cold water lines are flushed (step 1 above), run all hot water taps until water cools. Time how long it takes to do this step and then repeat it again. By doing this you will be flushing your hot water tank twice.
4. Regenerate water softener, if you have one.
5. If you have fibre or carbon water filters, consideration should be given to replacing the cartridges.
6. If you have a reverse osmosis system, contact the supplier or manufacturer for advice. In the meantime, you could by-pass the reverse osmosis filter.

Bathing/Showering
Adults, teens and older children can use tap water for baths and showers. Small children can be given sponge-baths instead of tub baths or showers. Do not swallow any unboiled water used for showers and baths.

Handwashing
Wash your hands as you normally do: under warm running water with soap.

Drinking Water Depots are set up at the following locations and will be available until the Boil Water Advisory is lifted
· Kiwanis Community Centre
· Coliseum Fairgrounds
· Festival Marketplace Mall
· Fire Station - 388 Erie Street
· Fire Station - 44 McCarthy Road

Anyone needing further information can call City Hall at 271-0250 ext. 237.

Water Volunteers: The city of Stratford is looking for volunteers to assist in delivering water advisories door to door. If you are able to help out with the next delivery at 1:00 p.m. today, please call the city to register at 271-0250 ext. 237. They require approximatelty 80 volunteers.

Boil Water: The water advisory for the city of Stratford has been ammended. At a news conference this morning at City Hall, it was announced that the advisory has been downgraded from a full ban on the use of water for personal use or washing of clothes to a Boil Water advisory - effective immediately. That means people people can use water for cooking and drinking after it has been boiled for a full minute and that taking a shower or bath is okay as well. It is suggested that for the time being however, that babies be given a sponge. It is also suggested that before using the water, you should run your tap for a few minutes first to flush out your system. The city will continue to offer free water at it's depot points until the boil water advisory has been lifted.

Water Source: The source of the water contamination in Stratford was a spill of detergents and waxes from a car wash. City engineer Tom Crozier says the car wash was doing maintenance work on its plumbing system using a pressure washer to clean out pipes. He says a malfunctioning valve allowed water being used to flush the pipes to back up into city mains. According to the Perth District Health Unit, about 5 gallons of car wash detergent containing the chemical 2-Butoxyethanol was released into the city's water system. The chemical is an irritant and has no long-term or chronic effects. Testing for the chemical and any possible bacterial contamination has been done and it will take between 48 and 72 hours before it is complete. It is expected to show that the city's quick action prevented harmful levels of the chemical to accumulate in the the water supply.
2-Butoxyethanol is completely soluble in water an is effectively removed by actions the city has undertaken

Update Water: The drinking water advisory for the city of S

Update Water: The drinking water advisory for the city of Stratford continues this morning. An update and further information on the situation will be outlined at a news conference this morning at 10:30 at Stratford City Hall. In the interim, the city of Stratford will continue to supply drinking water to residents this morning. Distribution starts at 6 this morning from the Kiwanis Community Centre, the Coliseum at the fairgrounds, the Festival Markplace Mall (by the former Robins Donuts) and at the city's two fire stations at 388 Erie Street and 44 McCarthy Road. Water is being distributed from water trucks and in pre-packaged bottles. Households are being limited to one case of 12 bottles of 12 litres. It would be appreciated if you could bring clean containers. For those unable to pick up water due to limited mobility, you can call the city at 271-0250 extension 237 for assistance. The city has been working with the Ministry of Environment since the problem arose late yesterday morning to make sure everything as been pressure washed and back-flowed out. Once that has been done, it's expected the advisory could be lifted. The cause is being linked back to a wax or detergent fluid leaked into the water supply from a car wash on Erie Street and can be an irritant to people internally and externally.

Water Schools: As a result of the continued water advisory in the city of Stratford - ALL schools - both Public and Catholic in the City of Stratford will be closed today (Tuesday - March 8th.). An announcement will be made later today regarding schools for Wednesday.

Water Closures: The water advisory also led the closing and cancellation of some activities in the city yesterday - some of which will continue today until the water situation has been rectified. Swimming lessons, the volleyball league and the youth centre activities at the Y in Stratford were all cancelled.

Other cancellations -.MDF Laboratories closed due to the water. The William Allmen Arena and Rotary arena are closed until noon today. McDonalds on Ontario Street is closed - but Erie street remains open and the A&W on Ontario Street is also closed. Tim Horton's outlets in the city are open - using bottled water to operate. Some gracery outlets ran out of water in the early stages - but most have had their stocks replenished for this morning.

Gleened from local radio website news page:

Stratford Water Emergency: A water emergency for the City of Stratford this hour. Dr. Rosanna Pellizzari, the medical officer of Health for Perth County issued the warning at 12:15 this afternoon. There has been a spill that occured at about 11 this morning that may affect the water supply for the city and all residents are being advised NOT to drink the water, do not give it to your pets, don not bath or wash in it until further notice. The city is currently making some provisions to supply water to residents at this time - but they have not been completed. The Ministry of the environment has been called in to investigate the spill. Dr. Pellizzari notes that if you feel ill from drinking water - you should go to Stratford General Hospital.

Schools Water: Schools in Stratford apart of the Avon Maitland District School Board are remaining open until further details come in to them from the Health Unit. Steve Howe, the media manager for the board says all precautions are being taken. He says access to water has been removed for staff and students at all schools in Stratford. Water fountains have been covered and signs are being posted everywhere in the schools. They are also working on bringing in an outside water supply as soon as that can be arranged.

Closures: Swimming lessons, the volleyball leauge and the youth centre have all be cancelled for this evening at the YMCA in Stratford. The centre remains open for the time being, but no water is in use. Other cancellations...MDF Laboratories will be closed due to the water. Also the William Allmen Arena is closed while the Dufferin and Rotary arenas are still open. The Senior's luncheon at the Spruce Lodge tomorrw at noon is cancelled. Conestoga College, Stratford Campus is closed tonight. Bingo Country Stratford is closed tonight. McDonalds on Ontario Street is closed.

Stratford Water Emergency Update2: The City of Stratford remains under an emergency water advisory. A car wash on Erie Street is the cause of the contamination. In regards to water distribution. The city has set up water depots at both fire stations in Stratford, the Coliseum, the Kiwanis Community Centre and Festival Marketplace Mall running from 5pm until Midnight. For seniors who cannot make it out. They are asked to call City Hall at 271-0250 ext. 237. The Water Advisory will more than likely remain in effect for tonight and throughout the evening. All residents are being advised NOT to drink the water, do not give it to your pets, do not bathe or wash in it until further notice. Dr. Pelliazzari notes that if you feel ill from drinking water - you should go to Stratford General Hospital.

Stratford Water Emergency Update3: A scare for Stratford residents today as the Perth District Health Unit and the city placed an emergency water advisory on the city's water. According to officials, a chemical leak occurred around 11 this morning at an Erie Street Car wash. Testing is being done by City Officials and the Ministry of Environment. Now residents are told NOT to drink the water, do not give it to your pets, do not bathe or wash in it until further notice. Water depots have been set up at the Kiwanis Community Centre, the Stratford Colliseum, Festival Marketplace Mall, and the Fire Station's on Erie Street and McCarthy Road. The depots run from 5pm until midnight tonight. However, households are being limited to one case of 24 bottles or 12 litres. It would be appreciated if you could bring clean containers. For those unable to pick up water due to limited mobility, please call City Hall at 271-0250 ext. 237. A further news conference is scheduled for tomorrow morning where updates will be given. The drinking water advisory remains in effect until further notice.

Holy cats, batman! So uhm my city's water is hazardous as of noon today. There was various detergents and wax spilled from a car wash into the city's main water supply so we have been banned from using water for anything, washing cooking drinking, I mean ANYTHING. The situation is still being assessed by the MOE and the city has had to set up free water depots throughout the place. The grocery stores ran out of it by 2 pm barely 2 hrs after the situation was reported on the radio.

http://www.livejournal.com/community/pearlswine/39930.html

hehehee.

bleh, i don't want to go in today. my head feels like a balloon, a big balloon filled with green goo that is slowly leaking out of my nose. what a mental picture! ha!

i've literally gone through three boxes of 300-sheet kleenex in the past 2-1/2 days. my nose is raw and my head is achey and i'm still going in to work anyway, because the only thing better than calling in sick is GOING in sick and infecting everybody else. take that, buggers, you all deserve it for all the times you've come in sick and talked into my face with your runny noses and sneezing and watery eyes and ashen faces!

this not caring thing is kind of fun.

i'd kill for a cup of tea right now. and a kruller, god i love krullers.

Well not really. I *do* have a pretty nasty cold. But I likely could have toughed it out at work today. I decided instead to say "tough beans" to that, and call in sick. What are they going to do, fire me? Good! That's what I want anyway!

Talked to Dad yesterday at lunchtime about my current existential crises with regards to job, family, etc and he said that family should come first and foremost and the rest of it can go fuck itself. He said if I'm that stressed that it is effecting my marriage and family life, to quit the job because it isn't worth it.

I'm likely going to stick to my original plan though, and wait until September. I will probably give my notice in late August and give them a few weeks to find someone - that way I am free and clear before V's wedding (have I even mentioned this wedding? I have not one but two major weddings to go to this year - my cousin L's and my cousin V's. I'm very excited about both).

I am wearing my superman t-shirt today, which makes me feel pretty invincible. If I had underoos to match, my powers would be UNSTOPPABLE!

I'm feeling more cheerful of late, probably because I made up my mind and decided fuck the system, fuck corporate ladders, fuck inter-office politics, fuck customs and logistics, fuck it all. It's just a job and it isn't like we are out there saving lives every day.

panel three.

just keep breathing