A week of Alice

It has been a week of Alice.

The first Alice popped up in our lives when, due to my continued limited mobility issues due to a foot/leg cast, we decided to purchase a netbook. In doing so, I am now free to sit for copious amounts of hours on the sofa, leg propped in the air, AND get some work (o.k, o.k, a lot of email and facebook too) done. It is great!

The reason that my netbook and the topic of Alice go together is that, when asked what the name of my netbook should be (because that is a completely normal question to be asked by one's spouse), the first name that came to mind was 'Alice'. The netbook is red, after all.

So shortly after christening the netbook, I began an impromptu version of the children's song, 'Alice the Camel' (has 5 humps...has 4 humps...etc). To my shock and horror, my spouse (who happens to be in a children's band) did not recognize the song. This was news to me. First, because it is such a good children's song and second, because I, greatly lacking in the musical skills department, so rarely know a song that he does not.

The second instance of Alice is not quite as light-hearted; as I continue to research about the Canadian tainted blood scandal, I am -- again -- stunned at how complex, deep and wrong this scandal was/is.

One American whistle blower who had been working in the Arkansas prison saw evidence of inmates "donating"* blood who had obvious jaundice/liver disease...and when he started documenting/mentioning this, he and his family got death threats, and his clinic 'mysteriously' burned to the ground (and, conveniently, all the documents).

He subsequently wrote a thriller/mystery novel about the tainted blood scandal, but skewed some details to protect himself from liability and --well-- those death threats. He, aware of the seriousness of his exposing such scandal, felt the need to write under a pseudonym.

So my second 'Alice' of the week is: how deep does the rabbit hole go?

*Inmates "donated" blood for $7 a pop.

The Scarlet 'H'

After I found out that I had Hep C, I informed my roomates of this news. I barely knew, at the time, what Hep C was, nevermind being able to explain it to other people. Indeed, at that time in history, not much was known about the virus, at least not publically, anyway.

I have to admit that I felt an increasing isolation from my peer group due to some comments and questions that I encountered, questions like "is it safe to share utensils with you?" I felt like I, much like Nathaniel Hawthorne's main protagonist, had a large, shameful letter 'H' on my chest, for all the world to see.

That utensil question, asked immediately after I had informed my friends of my positive status, may have been a valid question considering not much was known, in the mid-nineties, about how Hep C was spread. It was, however, ill-timed and unsympathetic.

Dentist woes

Well, I finally have a new dentist. It is embarrassing to admit, but not only have I not gone to my dentist for an unreasonably long amount of time, but my new dentist is less than a block from where I live. In fact, I can actually see the dentist sign from my office window as I type this. That is procrastination, my friends!

So why am I writing about the dentist, you ask. Well, the other day, in my failed attempt to get into see a (medical) doctor at the walk-in clinic just up the street, I had to walk past the aforementioned dentist office. I decided, on the spur of the moment, that today would be the day that I would go in there, and book myself a cleaning. So I did just that -- I walked in.

The receptionist was efficient but friendly, and immediately made me an appointment for the first Monday in March. At that point, however, at the time, the inevitable question floated into my head: do I tell her about my Hep C+ status?

This is a dilemma, as too much information at the wrong time can be as damaging as no information. But, recognizing that dentists put themselves at risk by dealing with my teeth/gums/etc I, at some level, prepare myself to possibly be denied services.

Moreso than the possiblity of needing to inform her of my positive status, I was upset at myself for feeling ashamed (about having the virus). Why would I be shamed? I do not know -- I never engaged in any typical activities associated with Hep C transmission that may be frowned upon by the general public; I simply had blood transfusions that had not been checked properly for HCV. That's it. Not my fault.

So, I quietly gave myself a good talking-to, and in the end, I did not devulge my positive status to the receptionist. I left the office, glad for an appointment, and willing to discuss such "issues" with the dentist him or herself.

Look for it!

West Central Streets is a non-profit community newspaper based in the West Central community of Winnipeg, bounded by Portage, Arlington, Notre Dame and Carlton. The purpose of the paper is to give voice to the interests, struggles and achievements of people who live in the community.

As one of those people who choose to live in this particular community, plus being an illustrator who is working on a graphic novel about the tainted blood scandal, I somehow ended up in the latest edition.

So if you live in the West End of Winnipeg, look for my shiny face & accompaning article in your mailbox at the end of the month!

In case you did not make it out to the show...

here are a few photos to re-create the event. Imagine with me, if you like, an intimate (small) gallery of two rooms, 30+ illustrations framed in blue and hanging from the walls, 40ish people mingling about, live music filling the air, and finger-food of veggies, dip, cracker, cheese and non-alcoholic beverages (good-for-your-liver wine)...and then it will feel ike you were really there.

All photos courtesy of Mandy Shostal. (Thanks Mandy!)

Highlights from the Edge

The show last Friday was a success, with food being eaten, people meeting each other, artwork being discussed, and of course, live music to round it all off. Although I was exhausted by the end of the evening, I enjoyed myself and appreciated the encouragement such feedback gave. Thank you everyone who came!

The preview illustrations will be available for viewing from 12 - 5pm for the next 2 days (The Edge Gallery at 611 Main st.)

And if you cannot make it out to the gallery by Thursday, then here are a few highlights!

Enjoy the 'show' -- !
1. Whose Fault is it?
I get my best ideas and thoughts sorted when doing seemingly mundane tasks such as brushing my teeth.
I am intrigued by the commonality of brushing one's teeth. I wonder if Bill Clinton brushed his teeth minutes before accepting the role of Governor of Arkansas in 1978? It was during this time, as tainted blood flowed from Arkansas inmates to other countries then-governor Clinton did not act, despite evidence of severe mis-managment in his prison system and medical operations...

At the time, prisoners were paid $7 US for each pint of "donated" blood.



2. Chronic Renal Disease and Other Things Six-Year-Olds Do Not Understand

3. "Housekeeping!"
In response to the Access to Information request, the Canadian Blood Committee destroys all its minutes and taped proceedings of its meetings dating back to its formation in 1981, a move it later tried to pass of as mere “housekeeping.” (PICARD 218)

The Edge this Friday

Come and hear some tunes from Izzy Art and Oh My Darling. Oh, and see some preview artwork from 'How I Contracted Hep C and Other Bedtime Stories'.

Doors open at 7:30pm, no cover

Be there or be square.