February 1st has been designated as #NoHijabDay and is supported by author and activist Yasmine Mohammed as well as other ex-Muslims fighting for women’s rights around the world.

Remember a year ago, when we were all wishing each other a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year for 2020?

Now that we have 2020 hindsight, as it were, that all seems rather comical, doesn’t it?

A lot has already been said about 2020, and more will be; a global pandemic the likes of which had not been experienced since the Spanish Flu of 1918. It gave us a chance to make some important observations.

SPOILER ALERT: if you haven’t seen the series and plan to, then this blog is NOT for you – it’s full of spoilers!

So, my wife and I just finished binging on the Game of Thrones series; we did not partake of all the excitement while it was originally airing, but this past spring we decided to give it a try and, well….we got addicted.

At this time last year, I wrote about expectations, and how they often seem to be the source of so much of our unhappiness. I know too many people for whom 2019 was less than great, and I count myself among those.

2019 cannot be done with fast enough.

Tuesday, June 6th, 2141.

The Earth is quiet. There are only 2 humans left. All activity has ceased; the hum of the cities, the roar of aircraft in the sky, the power stations. All silenced.

it runs through my veins, like dirty water
like the current of an oil-stained river.
i never chose to be so afflicted
it’s just the way that it was directed.

It’s a beautiful day here in southern Alberta; partly cloudy, 19℃, a light breeze. The grass is finally showing its hues, slowly poking through the greyness of the winter past; trees are in bud, and already have that light, springtime green. I sit outside, sipping on a cup of coffee and smoking a pipe, soaking it all in.

Everyone should know Nasrin Sotoudeh.