Let's see.  Today's headlines have to do with a Via Rail train quarantened in Northern Ontario (the Vancouver to Toronto run - it used to be called "The Canadian" and I've been on it 5 times and would do it another 5 times though it is now a luxury train I think).  There is a flu outbreak on it and one person has died.  Scary.

Next up, in downtown Toronto there is a measles outbreak.  Listen to me people.  As the mother of a child with an autistic spectrum disorder I can tell you that if you look at the studies, do some research on families and comorbidity with such things as OCD, manic depression, anxiety disorders and ASD, you will find there is a very strong genetic component, and a very weak measles vaccine link.  Please do not fear vaccinating yourself or your child against measles.  Death is NOT preferable over the faint unproven possibility of winding up with an autistic spectrum disorder.

I've started a Wordpress blog and set up a msySQL database on my computer so that I can run Comicpress.  All open souce, and pretty cool.  Plus I saw an ad for a programmer for this so I thought, hey, if I can put my comics up there, maybe start a new strip, then why not apply if it is still available as a contract work by the time I've got it up and running?  If not, well, it's still cool.  Oh, my Wordpress blog is at http://mrssauga.wordpress.com.  They're free and geared towards writers so you can see where I'm going with this idea as well .

I rewrote my written French exam on Wednesday.  How did I do?  I don't know, better I hope.  I sure the hell don't want to take it again.

The power of friends:  I was feeling somewhat depressed on Wednesday (yeah, good timing eh?) and nearly in tears while I answered a phone call by email (I do that a lot, I have an anxiety about telephones unless I know what I'm going to say.  You may or may not have known that).  Anyway, I poured my guts out and the answer was nice.  Yes, I will try to keep positive.  Yes I will not even think about the possible outcomes of things as a result of other people doing weird things to my credit rating based on long ago stuff, among other things.  And no, Jim is NOT the reason.  He is working two jobs like I am to deal with it.  Plus we have our business, though it is still in the red because of a couple small pieces of equipment we bought.  Hey, what can I say?  We've only brought in $60, but that is $60 for doing stuff we love doing.  And that's a good thing. Smile, Cathi.

LOL.  My friend Melissa is doing wonderfully these days, yay!  So is Scott and that's great too.  Cyndi, well, we're here for you, literally.  Poor thing stranded where we live for 8 weeks and now another 1.  Travelling is one thing, two months 500 km away from your family is another.  I do hope something works out soon for you guys.

I won't talk about Burma or the Olympic stuff.  Or the bees dying or wheat rust in Africa.  I won't.  It's Friday, it's time to smile, and that's exactly what I'm doing.