The Hood

The last couple of years I am astounded, along with many other Calgarians, at the extreme violence that is now plagueing our city. The other day an innocent bystander was shot in the head and is now permanently blind. This was one of the 3 shootings that occured in a 24 hour period. I am starting a course this weekend, and where it is being held is downtown. The last time I took a course there was when Ellie was a baby and my car was broken into. Needless to say I wish I had a bullet proof vest to take with me. We are a city of a million people and here is the number of police officers we have: 1600. Thaaaaat's right. 1600 men and women who are serving and protecting over a million people. It's insane. I go for a walk pretty much every morning, and the last few weeks the vandalism has just taken over our neighborhood. Most of it looks like gang type stuff. Along with something that looks curiously like a sperm. I kid you not. It makes me sad, really, more than scared. But like I said to Regan not long ago when we talked about it, where do you go? I mean, where do you move that will not eventually in years to come turn into a big city center with big city crime? Maybe an island somewhere? Sigh.

Ayana has added a new word to her little collection of words. And I am very excited about this one. Can you guess what it is?

BOOK.

And not only does she say it clear as a bell, she puts her lips hard together at first and then puffs her cheeks up with air as she gets ready to explode the "b" part of the word. She will point to books and say "BOOK." OMG, it's the cutest thing.

Have a terrifac day!