Terry Chenier

All over North America there are millions of homeless people,

people who have fallen through the holes in the safety net,

the disenfranchised and the just............unlucky.

In Canada, much public debate has raged over the

years about providing social housing.

Usually little or nothing is done due to the political flavour of the month or

financial constraints and most people

don't want it in their neighbourhood anyway.

The NIMBY factor.

I'm assuming you have the same situation in the States.

Also, all over North America, there are massive graveyards

of ships in mothballs-

doing nothing, but rusting away.

I have been told that

these vessels can be bought for a buck-just to get them off the books.

Now, picture this.

Let's say, for the sake of argument, several of these ships were purchased,

converted into living quarters and permanently tied up at most ports,

(East and West Coast, Great Lakes etc.)

out of the way, so as not to interfere with shipping commerce.

Each of these vessels could adequately house several hundred people.

Everything is in place to sustain living already it just needs upgrading.

Full time security could be in place. (There is always that element in any society).

Medical and dental students could intern on a weekly basis in an on-board clinic.

Day cares could be made available for those wishing to re-train.

Legal aid could be available as well-

all centralized!

Now, I'm not a bleeding heart, just seems to me to be a solution

to a problem that's been around for a while.

I could probably do an essay on this, but this is a blog.

Maybe one day we'll see the end of this. Who knows?

I'm told this is the first milestone, so, I'll comment on it briefly.

When I was first introduced to blogging about

a month ago I had no idea what a blog was.

The first thing that came to mind was

that ridiculous monster movie that

Milestone came out in the late 50's.

At first, my scribblings were about the mundane,

and I quoted a lot of stats.

I soon discovered....

that wasn't

who I was.

Any one who has read my blogs

knows I tend to lean towards satire

and humour, and I can be a

"little off the wall".

I have done some thoughtful pieces,

and I always try to tart them up

with appropriate clip art.

I really enjoy creating these

little gems, and if I provoke thought

or cause a smile, it's a good blog.

So, I'll continue doing my

little blogs and hope the chemistry

keeps working.

In the meantime, happy

I told myself there would be no

self-congratulatory WHOOPS! or YAHOOS!

Well, maybe just one small

pat on the back!

Update! Stop the presses!

After I posted this blog, (that got me past the 10,000 mark),

I discover I now have a star for a previous blog.

I am honoured.

I wish to thank the academy, my agent, my publicist, the director............

For years and years, I used to go to a Salon to get

my hair "done". Not cut mind, but "done".

Wash and cut-$85 bucks (plus tax)-easy!

Reflecting back on that now, I think it had more to do with what the

stylist looked liked, that influenced my decision making.

Lately though I've going to one of these guys;

You know, the old style barber with one those striped poles outside.

He's also got this really, really old

BARBER CHAIR that dates back to about 1920!

On occasion, he'll even give me a shave, with a straight razor!

Something I haven't had in years.

Oh, and the haircut?

$10 bucks-all in!

Lately, there's been this pervasive 800 pound gorilla

in the room with me every day and it woudn't go away.

It was clouding my judgement and decision making and driving me insane!

I couldn't quite put my finger on the root cause,

then suddenly, it dawned on me what it was, and, I ended it!

I TURNED THE T.V. OFF!

I'm really mad at myself.

For the past several months I had been joined

at the hip with several T.V. news programs.

I was also reading several newspapers daily and

gleaning every bit of doom and gloom

from whatever source I could.

I was even taking it in subconsciously in my sleep!

..AND I LITERALLY QUIT WORKING!

Like cream that rises to the top, successful people

were taking advantage, and adjusting their plan.

Not me, I had been curdling like milk left out in the hot sun!

I FORGET MY OWN LESSON PLAN, AND EVERYTHING ELSE I'VE BEEN TAUGHT!

Today, I turned the page and the corner,

and it's off to work I go!

As the title of this blog clearly indicates,

this is the Morbid Irrational fear

of

Friday the 13th!

Many cities do not have a 13th street or 13th avenue.

Many buildings do not have a 13th floor. Check, the next time you use an elevator.

The Turks disliked 13 so much it was practically expunged

from their vocabulary.

If you have 13 letters in your name, it is

believed by many-you will have the devil's luck:

Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson,

Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy

and Albert De Salvo-pictured. (The boston Strangler).

Many societies believe that a dinner party with 13 guests

would result in a death.

12 gods were invited to Valhalla. Loki, the evil one had been left

off the guest list, but he crashed the party anyway, bringing the total to 13.

He incited Hod one of the other gods to kill Balder, another god.

Thereafter, 13 dinner guests was considered bad luck!

In pagan Rome, Friday was execution day

and later, Hangman's Day in Britain.

A witches' coven is comprised of 13 witches.

On October 13, 1307, (a Friday), the Knights Templar were rounded

up by King Phillip IV of France and most were killed.

Thereafter, Friday the 13th became synonymous with ill fortune.

MANY North Americans still won't go to work on Friday the 13th,

some won't eat in reastaurants, and many wouldn't think

of setting that as their wedding date.

It is estimated that it affects

21 million people to this day!

A study in Britain recently compared

traffic accidents on Friday the 13th

and other Fridays.

The study showed a significant increase

of accidents on the 13th!

Coincidentally, in the city I live , traffic accidents on this

Friday the 13th were WAY above normal!

They even commented on it on the news several times.

My theory: It's a mind set in some people,

and a self-fullfilling prophecy.