Yesterday the government of Alberta once again used the Nothwithstanding Clause to strip trans children of their rights to medical care.  Trans children will not be allowed to seek medical help in postponing puberty to allow them time to explore their gender identity without irreversible physical changes occuring, or to use gender affirming hormone therapy to induce physical changes that align with a person's gender identity.  Children under 18 have never been able to have any kinds of surgery related to their gender, they have to be adults to make that decision.  However, parents, children and doctors could use hormone therapy to help the kids get through puberty.  That option has been removed by the provincial government, a government that is run by closed minded bigots who believe everyone must think as them.

There are now 9 recall petitions circulating for Alberta MLAs, and they're mad about it, so is the Premier.  She says that Albertans aren't using the recall legislation properly, the legislation that she pushed through.  Oh the irony.

We had our last Skills Group yesterday.  It was a day to go over what we had learned, what had worked, or not worked, and a chance to say goodbye.  It's hard to believe it's been ten weeks already.  We also found out yesterday that the docs are going to make a referral for Jack to go to a trauma treatment group.  Children who have experienced trauma in their lives have a hard time with attachment.  I'm thankful that we'll be able to access this resource and of course there is a part of me that is angry that Jack had to go through any of this.  Can't change the past though, just do better going forward.

Pottery is done for this year.  Yesterday I glazed my last pieces and when they come out of the kiln there will be photos.  I'm curious to see how they turned out because I got a lot more adventurous with glaze this fall, I've been watching videos:)  The ladies and I will continue to meet up as a book club though which I'm very happy about.  I wanted a group of friends my age(ish) when I retired and I found one.  And they're all interested in reading and pottery, does it get better?

We've had snow twice, just a tiny bit.  It's supposed to be above 0C tomorrow, so hopefully the ice and snow will melt again.  I have to walk Jack to the bus stop in the mornings and he slipped a couple of times on the ice.  I'll have to check his boots when he comes home, to see if he needs new ones with better grips.  I managed to stay upright.  Yay.

I'm also working on Jack's quilt and it's coming along nicely.  I'm almost done making the squares and then it just needs to be sewn together and taken to the quilting lady who quilts it for me.  She has a long arm quilting machine.

And now for some funny.