Math professor at StFX, obsessed with geometry/topology/connections with art. Single mom, music lover, book hoarder, feminist. Settler in Mi’kmaki. She/her.
I have a few new followers, hello! Sorry if I haven't followed you all back, I'm at my limit of 5000 and Twitter won't let me. I mostly talk about math, academia, my kids, life in a small town in Nova Scotia. Once in a while I rant about something that touches a nerve.
I have been contributing to EI and CPP for 30 years. The only EI I have collected has been on maternity leaves. I am happy to keep contributing to EI (and CPP) because I think a safety net is an important part of a humane society.
#PierrePoilievreIsLyingToYou
At home with a new baby after a traumatic c-section, with a pile of calculus exams to mark (he was born on the day of the exam). No make-up or filters, age 42.
A facebook friend posted that they have continued to work as a school bus driver despite being sick with a cold and flu and many drivers are doing this because they need the money and otherwise kids would be stranded. The friend said that they are the real heroes for doing this..
but the whole situation makes me so sad and angry. They shouldn't be in a situation where they have to work if they are sick. And no they aren't heroes because they are literally spreading the sicknesses to all the kids on the buses and their families.
I hate it.
Gotta love random dudes who point out that I'm not a "real" doctor. True- I'm not a medical doctor (don't claim to be) but I did earn the title of Dr. by successfully defending a doctoral thesis. And it was in math, so I know a bit about checking arguments for logical validity.
I was so nervous to check the news this morning because of Alberta. I was clinging to the faint hope that the UCP would lose.
FUCK. This may seem like hyperbole but this fucking sucks for Alberta, for Canada, for the world.
It is so disappointing and scary to see the replies that don’t see how the fires are connected to climate change. It was a dry winter and many trees were down from the hurricane. Fires are spreading because it is so dry.
When I left NS this morning, wildfires had displaced thousands of families at home.
When I arrived in Ottawa this afternoon, Conservative MPs insisted we repeal policies designed to fight climate change.
Climate change is real. Let’s treat it with the seriousness it deserves.
I'm sad for the PM and his family because I know how hard separations can be. It can take a long, difficult time to even get to that point.
I'm also sad that many conservatives will be gleeful about this and show their true "family values". I predict a lot of blocking.
The President of the United States just scolded the Conservative caucus for not clapping for 50% women cabinets.
The Conservatives are now an international embarrassment. The whole world just saw that.
Thank you Joe!
Shit. I’m positive. FUCK. I’m not surprised given the lack of social distancing with the 6yo. At least the agony of wondering and waiting is over but fuck I hate this.
I’ve been single for a long time but I still celebrate Valentine’s day. There are many different kinds of love. I’m wearing the Lego heart my son made me last year. My neighbour helped me shovel out. All love is worth celebrating ❤️
Annual reminder: if you want to wear shorts, wear the damn shorts.
I grew up with a mom who often said you shouldn’t wear them if your legs were too pale, too hairy, too big, too thin, had varicose veins, had cellulite…
I’m still trying to unlearn that ❤️
So help them find alternatives to driving on gas and heating with oil. JFC. I live in rural NS. I hate this generalization. I have neighbours with solar panels and electric cars. We need more public transportation options.
Premier Tim Houston, at news conference a day after disastrous rain storm, gives long answer attacking carbon tax. He talks at length about rural Nova Scotians who can't stop driving, can't stop heating their homes.
I've seen some parents in NS advocate for more security guards in schools and holy hell that is FUCKED up. How about we use resources for smaller classes, teacher supports, mental health...and look into why some kids are struggling. We need to trust kids and listen to them.
The 5yo attended part of his online class meeting this morning. I noticed that many of the kids were with grandparents. I've been thinking of how hard it is for parents in academia because we often live far from extended family. We can't just call up a grandparent.
When I talk to people in other provinces about the very real and rational fear we have about losing power during storms, they are surprised because power outages are so rare for them. It's insane how awful it is in Nova Scotia. But I'm seriously anxious about it.
@ArgyleBestiary
Agreed. I hate that they are made to feel like they are heroes. I'm not blaming the individual (although that was my first reaction), I am infuriated at the system that has set this up.
I would like to tag my Nova Scotia MLA Michelle Thompson in a post asking why restrictions are being lifted when hospitals are already stretched beyond capacity, but I can't find her page anymore. Either I have been blocked or she is off twitter.
The Premier says people losing thousands of dollars paid to heat their homes is the same as if their gym went under. This is dangerously out of touch.
Maritime Fuel's bankruptcy leaves many with no idea how they'll pay to heat their homes this winter.
#nspoli
@lraitt
Seriously? Have you been in NS lately? The first question was about people without shelter and the second was about climate change. Both are relevant and on the minds of many in NS especially because the PC government keeps dropping the ball on both. YOU do better.
Motherless kids. A teacher tries to help them. PP twists it and now I see comments that Trudeau and woke people are trying to cancel Mother’s Day.
I fucking hate this.
A Quebec teacher tried to adapt Grade 2 Mother’s Day craft sessions for some motherless kids and the federal leader of the opposition has decided to get involved.
I need to take a break from this cesspool, but forest fires that are the worst a province has ever seen, that have destroyed at least 150 family homes, deserve more than a "meh, these things happen".
Every day I think the tin foil hat people won't steep lower...but I'm seeing comments of "fake news" about the child's death and I fear I might spontaneously combust with rage. What the fuck is wrong with them?
So frustrated with the Nova Scotia media's fear-mongering about the carbon tax. Why don't they share more info about how the rebate works? Because I keep seeing misinfo like middle class people won't get anything.
If you filed taxes you will get it.
My kid's daycare in Antigonish has 5 staff out with covid 😬
They are scrambling to figure out how to stay open because they know how much families depend on them, especially now before Christmas.
But everything is great, right
@TimHoustonNS
?
I just stepped out of a meeting with healthcare partners, including associations, service providers, education institutions, regulatory colleges, unions and senior leadership.
My message to them is crystal clear - go like hell.
#novascotia
#nspoli
#healthcare
If I hear one more person say it’s not a big deal because we have high vaccination rates on campus I will lose it. Many of us have bubbles that include non-vaxxed people like young children. JFC.
One of my students has tested positive on the PCR test. That was the final push for me to move my exams to take-home, open book assignments. Students are SO stressed out. I'm so pissed off I had to make this decision. But the response from students has been immense relief.
Seeing this unfold as a teenager had a deeply profound effect on me. I already was a feminist but this kicked it into high gear. Fuck the patriarchy.
Sinead was right.
I’ve blocked more people this morning than I have in my entire Twitter life. Don’t come at me with your antivaxx conspiracy bullshit. I’ve got no fucks left to give.
I keep thinking about this. Programs like Ideas, Canada Reads, Quirks and Quarks, Tapestry, The Nature o Things... they compel us to get past our own little worlds and want to learn more. I am terrified of a government that doesn't want us to learn and think and question.
The QEII emergency department in Halifax is seeing extremely high patient volumes and limited capacity while admitted patients await movement to other areas inside the hospital. 1/4
So this tweet kind of blew up. My parents both worked full-time their whole adult lives, but both died before they retired (heart attack and cancer). That doesn't make me resent how much they contributed to CPC without getting any back. I know that life is unpredictable.
Very few people are still wearing masks here, but I feel a gut punch every time a “mandate” is eliminated. The knife in the wound is the request for respect of people who continue to mask.
I’ll continue.
I have struggled with this. We technically have extra space but I am not ready to be a landlord. My son can get very loud but can also get overwhelmed by other noises (he's autistic), so I don't want the stress of worrying about that.
This isn't a solution.
You should be able to be who you are and love whom you love, free from discrimination and hate. Full stop. No ifs, ands, or buts. We’ll keep working to make that possible – and we’ll always stand with 2SLGBTQI+ people at home and around the world.
#IDAHOTB
A few more thoughts about the proposal to change the BEd requirements in Nova Scotia
1. What is the goal of public education? Do we want ALL kids to be able to learn how to learn? Do we want ALL kids to develop literacy, critical thinking, and numeracy skills so that ... 1/8
I've never had a tweet really go viral, nor have I been subjected to so much hateful trolling. There were times today that I felt like I should just delete my whole account because I don't have the stomach for this. But so many of you have stepped up to the trolls, thank you.
My dad died of a heart attack 25 years ago today. He was a complicated man, my uncle described him as “easy to like, tough to love”. He was a recovering alcoholic and he ran to fight his demons. He bought me my first pair of Nikes. ❤️
It has been 11 years since my mom died of colon cancer. I like to reread her obituary every July 10 because she wrote it and I can hear her voice. For a long time she didn't like the phrase "lost the battle with cancer" but near her death she changed her mind. It had been a 1/4
Here’s the Trudeau interaction with an anti-vax protestor at the Ukrainian vigil in Toronto. He really snapped back at the individual who was shouting at him for stealing freedoms.
Joe Concha is horrified that Taylor Swift, who is 33, said "Let's fucking go" during a sporting event.
"I'm sorry, if I heard that and my son was dating a girl who has a mouth like a teamster, that's it"
Went to the 6yo's holiday concert and it was beautiful. They included a video of kids saying happy holidays in their first languages and it made me cry. Antigonish is a small town, like 5000 people, so this was really special. The kids were so proud. 1/2
Holy frig. Shed fire on Highland Drive in Antigonish. Saw smoke from the kitchen window, it turned black within minutes. It all happened so fast. It looks under control now.
This is 100 metres from my house.
I understand the need to say “Nova Scotia Strong” and to be proud of how people come together to help. But there are major systemic problems that are getting worse. And people are falling through the cracks.
I have no idea when the 5yo did this on the wall. Solo parenting while sick with Covid sucks. I couldn’t get mad though, he was trying to cheer me up 😂😊
It took over 2.5 years to get the actual award, but I’m still so thrilled, proud, and humbled. I feel incredibly lucky to love what I do. I love learning and I love math- the beauty, the surprises, the symmetries and patterns- and I get to share that love with my students ❤️
Wear the damn shorts. I’m forty fucking six years old and I still have a little voice that says I shouldn’t wear shorts. Internalized misogyny can go to hell. It was my long run day and it was hot so I forced myself to wear the damn shorts.
The 6yo has started walking to school alone and it is a game changer. I was extremely nervous the first time, and luckily a neighbour walked close behind and gave me an update. Now the 6yo is excited to get ready and leave for school. He is SO proud of himself, and is excited
I was open about testing positive for covid yesterday because there is still so much stigma, a lot of people still think it is about personal responsibility. I see a lot of posts like "I did everything right, but I still got it...". I am triple vaccinated and wear KN95 mask...
The
@AntigonishTown
painted a rainbow fence last year and they just added some flowers and it looks amazing! It makes me so proud of this little town, it is on a very busy street that most people would see ❤️🏳️🌈