Belle is doing well. She's settled into living in the Plateau and, as long as Portugal doesn't do well in any upcoming soccer matchups, it should be a peaceful summer. It's springtime, everything's wet and she isn't a fan of such things so walking is a bit of an issue. She didn't even poop yesterday because it was raining too hard. We had some issues this winter with her health: she just wasn't "right" so we went off to the vet. She was discovered to be jaundiced and the vet decided that there might be some liver issues (ie cancer or hepatitis). We ended up having a harrowing Valentines Day: 
Sweet Pea had an echocardiogram that day and Belle had to be driven (in the middle of a snow storm) to St Hyacinth for a biopsy. Both are fine: Sweet Pea is "too thin" (sigh....) and Belle has some gall bladder issues that need medication but in the end she's fine. Here's a photo of my two on Mt Royal after a snowstormand finally: j'ai vote hier! I love voting. I don't really trust people who don't vote. I realize that it's not always exciting to follow politics but to dismiss it? Kinda dumb, IMO. Prior to the election I didn't know who to vote for. Usually I vote NDP but this time there were no candidates available and I was just flumoxed.
Here was the breakdown of the choices:
* ADQ: I want to like Dumont, but he made waaaaay too many mistakes during the campaign & we're in a big enough mess. Also, it seems to be a one-man show and that's not cool. The fact that they did so well and formed the opposition is a little scary: we'll be talking about reasonable accommodation for a very long time.
* Liberals: I can't vote Liberal. It's beyond reasonable. I just can't do it. Fortunately, others can and they're in a minority government position.
* Parti Quebecois-
a bunch of lefty intellectuals? What's not to love? And Andre Boisclar is pretty charming, I love the fact that he seems like he could go to a rave at any given moment. isn't he cute? doesn't he look like a mix-and-match separatist Ken doll? I also hate how "character issues" become such an issue whenever there is a gay candidate. It's such bull. It's not like the hetero politicians in this province (or country for that matter) have been choirboys. Anyway, even though they kept banging the separation drum I was teetering. Until the slant eyes comment, then it was all downhill and I realized that they was no way I could vote for them.* Marxist Leninists- these are STALINISTS! didn't even know such things still existed. They support NORTH effing KOREA! they are connected to the larger Canadian party & have union connections to the Steelworkers and the Postal Workers so I was almost on board, but North Korea? come on!
* the Green Party: ummm... no! I won't vote for refried Conservatives who mask themselves as progressives
* Quebec Solidaire- more lefty intellectuals. Yes, they are pro-separation but in a vague community activist way. Basically, they give the impression of being lefty Kubaya types.
Readers, I was going to vote for the Marxist Leninists. Basically, I ended up decided on the way to the polls to vote for Quebec Solidaire. They didn't win any seats, came in 2nd in a couple of ridings, which considering they became a party in 2006 ain't bad. I don't know how I'll vote or even be involved in the upcoming federal elections. My head hurts thinking about it. I was seriously considering setting my ballot alight in protest at the paucity of choice. vive la difference!
