Of Tariffs

 One brave person ordered a towel as a gift, which I got into the mail last Friday.  It was too late for the truck to Vancouver, so it didn't get there until Monday, and when the post office attempted to transfer it to the custody of  US Customs/USPS, welp, I don't know what happened, but it still shows this message as of 5 pm April 30:

Delivery may be delayed due to public authority

I have never seen such a message in the years I've made stuff and shipped it across the border.  What does it mean, actually?  Dunno.  All I can hope is that Canada Post will return the parcel to me so that I'm not out the towel as well as the postage, packaging, etc.  If it comes back to me, of course I will refund the person's money.

Given the current situation, one wonders what is happening with Canada/US customs processing, and the USPS.

Over the past few weeks of political shenanigans, I have hesitated about keeping my ko-fi shop.  I'll be honest - the US was my 'biggest' online market and it's been a hit to tell my customers to *not* buy anything right now.  The continued uncertainty about international trade with our southern neighbour has left not just me, but hundreds of others in the lurch.

While the election turned out 'ok' (I was hoping for a Liberal landslide but the alt right has gotten a deep hold on a much larger chunk of our population than I expected - or hoped) and while the Liberals took the government, it is a 'minority' government.  Which is not necessarily a 'bad' thing - it means the Liberals will have to make any governance palatable to a smaller party and convince them to come on board.  In times past, we have seen some excellent concessions made that have made Canada a 'better' place than if they had a full majority.

But we are staring down a great divide and I don't know how to reconcile with the 'other' side, which shows zero interest in working together.  :(

I'm unsure what the future holds, if it is even a good idea to keep the ko-fi presence.  I do have a few monthly subscribers, but I don't feel like I'm giving those supporters much value - beyond writing this blog.  

Anyway, push comes to shove, I won't be losing my house if I do shut it down, but it is forcing me to keep picking away at the writing.  Not because it brings in a lot of income, but because I can 'teach' and get paid 'something' for my time, effort and knowledge.

So when they asked me to contribute two articles for a 2026 issue, it took a heartbeat for me to decide 'yes, I will'.

I still have not received my print copy of the first issue of WEFT, but I've booked the guild room for May 25.  If it still hasn't arrived, I do have the copy loaded onto my iPad, and I will bring the two sets of samples from the first issue that I wove and let people take a gander.  If it seems like people want to have that kind of 'hands on' experience for the following issues, I'm hoping that my new drug will reduce my pain levels and that I will be able to speak 'better' by then.  Now that I'm getting more than 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night, my brain injury seems to be improving.

I am trying really hard to look for the good things in this world, and change what is 'bad' if I can.  

I am really hoping to get back to my 'usual' content - weaving.  

To those of you still here, I thank you.  From the bottom of my heart.