Still more on New Year's

I used to think that the new year should start with the spring equinox. After all, that is the time of rebirth, when the days finally start to get longer, and the world gets ready to start new generations of just about everything. With the new grass, all things seem fresh.
The best argument for starting the year just after the winter solstice is a psychological one. For one thing, everyone needs a good reason to get out during the winter. Let's face it, even after all of that Christmas running around, the season isn't complete until you've kissed your sweetheart at midnight.
Another good thing to mention about the timing we have set for the new year is that it brings with it time for expectation and hope. By the time the "natural" new year rolls around, everyone is too busy to think about what they want or need to accomplish in the new year. In days not so long gone by, fields needed to be plowed and sown, calves were being born, and houses cleaned out. Granted that in our information age, these things aren't the distractions to celebrating a trip around our sun that they were, but it is a part of our heritage.
There is an even older psychological reason to put the new year in what we now call January. At the darkest time of the year, ancient peoples had the belief that there was the threat that the sun might never return. When your whole existence depends on the sunny days returning, you definitely want a time to pray to whatever gods you believe in that they will. Some say that's what the big deal was with Stonehenge. It was a place to pray to the gods for the dead and departed, and that meant the sun as well.
Sometimes we have to dig a little deep to understand the way that we do things. If you question things once in a while, instead of just doing the because "that's how it's always been done", sometimes the reasoning will make sense.
Then again, that is just my idea.

New Years

It has been pointed out to me that I missed the whole holiday of New Years. My apologies. That one kinda snuck up on me too. That is the problem with me these days, I lose track of what day it is, and what important event is coming up.
If this "event amnesia" ever extends to my wedding anniversary, I am a dead man!
New Years isn't the big deal with me that it once was. Just another turn of the calendar. I might watch one of the shows on television, but only because I tend to be up that late anyway. Neither Sandra nor I are big on parties. Most parties around this time of year are regular booze fests anyway, and we just don't drink. (On the other hand, it can be funny to watch others get plastered. Five women dancing on a coffee table is amusing for a few seconds.)
I think, as I get older, maybe the changing of the years will regain their importance. When I was a boy, it meant that I had another year of life behind me and, presumably, I was that much more mature (or as mature as guys get) and wiser. Approaching mid life, time has gotten somewhat irrelevant to me lately. So a new year is just more time. As I get older, it will be a question of looking back and deciding what I should have done, and what will have to be done tomorrow, if I am to make the world a better place. There won't be enough time to procrastinate.
And there it lies in black and white. I have put off so much that I really needed to do. When the time comes that the time behind is greater than the potential time ahead, I will regret all of those things I didn't do.
All of that being said, I refuse to make new years resolutions. The promises we make simply because of the time of year don't really mean much. Look at all of the people who are still smoking after years of saying that they were going to quit. No, the promises that matter are the ones we make to ourselves, and that we don't necessarily tell anyone about. They tend to be far more binding.
People also tend to do a lot of predicting at this time of year. I can't do that, the world is just too full of crackpots, malcontents and simple coincidences to accurately say something will happen. Which of course, leaves only hope, not unlike the tale of Pandora's box. I have hope that in the coming years we will finally shake ourselves out of our sleep and do something about the mess we have made of our world. I have hope that people will finally realize that only together can we keep the world a place we want to live.
Most of all, I hope that each of you will have a good year, filled with wonderful experiences and new things learned.

The holidays

The Christmas season is starting to wind down now, even if the kids are still high on the sugar, and the rest of us are still a little weighted down with turkey. That is, if you aren't one of those insane people who frequent the boxing day sales.
All things being equal, things worked out okay for my wife and I. Neither of us is overly tired out, and we didn't eat anything that didn't' agree with us. I am a little concerned that my brother and his girlfriend will be somewhat hurt by the fact that we didn't stay for Christmas supper with them. Two meals in two days is enough for us though.
Sandra is still feeling a little odd about the whole holiday this year. Nothing has been according to tradition, due to all of the moving around in the last four months. As I have noted before, my wife does have problems coping with change. The most I could really do was try to keep her rooted in what was really important, letting family know that we love them.
Somehow, Christmas kind of snuck up on us this year. Sure, we had all of our shopping done in plenty of time. Still, we were lying down one night after being out doing something, and realized that Christmas was less than a week off. It's like we blinked, and several days disappeared.
Duck everyone, Valentine's Day is on its way!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone! I just wanted to wish all of you a happy holiday season.
With all of the comings and goings, I thought it might be nice to remind everyone what the whole thing is supposed to be about.
For this special day, remember your family, remember your friends, and even your "enemies". Wish all of them the best in their lives. You might not be able to be with them all, but you are always with them in spirit.
And as Linus told Charlie Brown, the real reason, what Christmas is all about.
"And in that country were shepards in the field, abiding their flocks by night. And lo, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto them, and they were very afraid. The angel said to them "Fear not, for I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you, is born this day, in the city of David, a saviour, tis Christ the Lord."
To me, it isn't Christmas until Linus steps out on the stage and recites that passage from the bible. All too often, we forget where Christmas gets its name. Thank goodness Charles Shultz (God rest his soul.) thought to remind us in the process of writing a holiday cartoon.

Holiday Fun (Straight No Chaser - 12 Days)

This video was sent to me by my pastor. Who says you can't have fun with talent, and do these guys have talent?!

Dear Readers

I've been wondering on occasion who created the idea of blogging. It is a great format for people to get all of their questions out there, and sometimes even get good answers. A blog is one way for those without mobility, such as myself, to get out there and participate in the greater world.
There have been so many issues tackled and debated over the Internet, and some have even been resolved to one degree or another. That is another great thing about this medium, it allows for a large discussion group, which generally works to either a compromise and consensus, or to a polarized debate, where the argument is distilled down to what is really important.
I've only had one problem with the blog system. It generates a lot of adware. I have had to limit my reading to blogs that I have found and enjoy, and those that are recommended to me by friends. If you go through randomly, every five blogs you get perversion and more garbage dumped into your computer's memory.
What I have loved about my blogging experience so far, is the feedback that I have gotten. I do not have much of a readership, like some people, but the ones who do read tend to read often. The comments that I have received have been thought provoking and, most often, very helpful when I find myself in a bit of confusion.
With the new year coming, I just wanted to thank those of you who have been a part of my life on-line. Filis, you are a good friend of my wife's, and I am honored that you have taken time to read and comment. Joe Ganci, your blog has fascinated me and broadened my horizons, taking me places where I cannot physically go. One_Last_Kiss, we know that you mean the world to me, as family, friend, and a bit of a reality check when I tend toward fogey-ism.
Lastly, and most certainly not least, I want to thank Taffy for her comments. Quite often when I am not sure of myself, my wife is the one person who can give me the confidence to continue on a given path. Your comments to my blog are like the completion of my own thoughts. I treasure them almost as much as I treasure you in and of yourself.
So, if I don't get to post too often in the coming days, please, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I look forward to hearing from all of those who read my musings and whimsy. Criticism will be happily accepted. (Or overlooked, depending on the way it is phrased.)
Be well, all of you.

Let it Snow? Be careful what you wish for.

Well, winter has set in with a vengeance. The snowfall over the last twenty-four hours has been greater than the total for all of last year.
I wish I had a digital camera sometimes, so that I could get a picture of the snow coming up almost to our window sills. It's something to see, I'll tell you. It's the hazard of living in a "basement" apartment. On the other hand, it sure looks a lot better than the dead leaves and grass. As I said to my wife last night, this is what December is supposed to look like here. Just not all in one day!
I went out to try and get the car out, as my niece is visiting. The roads are plowed well enough, but there was no getting to it. The poor vehicle was buried to the roof line on the hood! I managed to back it up a few feet, at which point she just wasn't moving. So, I shovelled what I could out of the parking space, and then muscled her back in.
I'd known the second I tried to get to the sidewalk that my niece was staying a second night. I just thought I'd try to get the car out and accessible. When I came back in, I looked like the abominable snow monster!
Today, I'm going to have to move the car so that the plow company the landlord has hired can clear the space properly.
When the snow eased up last night, I did go out and clear around the back of the car. From now on though I think I'll back the car into the space. It's much easier to drive out than back out.

Thank Heaven for Miracles

As the title of this entry suggests, dear readers, a miracle has occurred. In the spirit of the season, and the nature of the miracle, I'd go so far as to say that it was a Christmas Miracle. Don't bother looking, Santa wasn't involved.
My missing wedding ring has been found! It was UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE!!! It seems that when I was working with some of the lights (after doing the dishes), my ring slipped off of my finger, and lodged somewhere in the branches of the tree.
In the time that it was missing, we and the cats must have jostled the tree. Sandra was under the tree, rearranging the fake snow our cats love to play in, and saw it next to the baseboard heater. There she was, talking with my sister, when suddenly she starts yelling to me in the next room. My sister thought she had hurt herself.
My finger no longer feels naked. I'm married again!
Needless to say, once the holidays are over, and the money can be found, this ring is getting re sized! I never want to go through a day and a half like that last one. It may not be a fancy ring or anything, but it is the one that symbolizes my wife's love for me. That makes it the most valuable THING that I have.
Still, as Joe Ganci said so eloquently (in the comments the other day), it was better to lose the ring, and keep the wife, rather than the other way around.

Things, or symbols?

Well, the Christmas shopping is done. The tree is lit, the stockings are hung.
There has been a cost. I've lost my wedding ring somewhere along the line yesterday. I finished with the dishes last night, and realized it wasn't on my finger. We searched high and low. No sign of it.
It's amazing how much difference a simple band of 1o karat gold makes. When I realized it was gone, I went into a panic. That ring represents so much! My wife put that on my hand two years ago, as a sign of how much she loves me, and now it's missing.
Some people take the little symbols of our lives for granted. You lose a ring, big deal. A gift from a special friend gets broken? It's replaceable. Call me weird, but I tend to find sentiment in even some of the smallest things. I still have a teddy bear that I won at a fair that I went to with an old friend years ago. I don't have the heart to get rid of it.
One man's clutter is another man's memory.

Creative ownership

As many of you who read my blog know, I am a great fan of the comic strip "For Better or For Worse", written by Lynn Johnston. I have been following the various story lines for years. You can read it yourself at http://www.fborfw.com/.
Unlike most comic strips, Lynn's takes place mostly in real time. Characters age, pets die sometimes, and normal life happens. More than one person has commented on how Lynn must be peeking into their windows and recording their lives. The chat section (which can be found under fun stuff) is full of that sort of thing.
Lately, people have taken to criticizing the various characters behaviour, the way Lynn is telling HER story, and anything else they can think of. I find some of the letters she has chosen to publish not only rude, but downright selfish.
This is a world of Lynn Johnston's creation. We, as readers have the right to enter it, but we should not presume that we should tell her how it is to be run. I have to think that all of the time that Lynn has devoted to the development of the characters gives her the right to decide their fates. Sure, as with any story teller, she must remain somewhat within the realm of believability, but she has the right to take the characters where she wants.
Sometimes a writer creates characters who take over the direction a story goes. In many cases, I think Lynn has fallen into this trap. The only way out is to let the characters do what they will, and guide them slowly back where she wants them to go.
My point, however, is that to criticize the story writing because we don't like a character or his behaviour within the story is wrong. We opted to enter that world, we should simply leave it in the hands of its' creator. Input is one thing. Telling Lynn that she is wrong is another. I would not dream of telling somebody who can create a world how it should work.
Lynn Johnston is now working toward a semi-retirement. Circumstances in her life have altered plans that she had made. This has begun to show in her writing. Just like her characters, I think she is a little unsure of where she is going now. In my humble opinion, that makes her work all the more "real" to me. Leave the lives of the fictional world in the hands that made them. They are hers, we just borrow them for a few minutes each day.

Where time goes

People often marvel at how quickly time goes by. We get busy living our lives, and never notice how much time has slipped through our fingers. For example, my mother-in-law was amazed to realize that it is only two more weeks until Christmas. "Where has the time gone?", she asked my wife.
Time, as near as I can figure it, leaves the point in space that we are currently in. Each of us lives in our own little bubble of space-time, as Einstein put it. That's why time can crawl for some of us, and speed by for others. Which is where the whole theory of relativity comes in.
Now, I won't get too technical here, but my theory is that time leaves our individual bubbles of reality and radiates out from them like the rays from the sun. How quickly the time goes depends on how fast we are moving within our bubbles, and whether or not we are really paying attention.
That is correct, ladies and gentlemen, I have just confirmed that a watched pot never boils, and that time is subjective. Remember that guys, from inside their bubbles, women are not spending any more time in the bathroom than we are. We just can't tell from our side.
At about this point, you are shaking your heads and thinking, "Where does he come up with this stuff?" As I've said, I tend to remember most of what I see and hear. It all goes in, gets mixed up a little bit, and comes back out as my various theories. What you just gotten was a little bit of Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking and Star Trek. (As written by author Diane Duane. I refer you to the book "Wounded Sky", and the theories in it.)
For my niece, who loves my ability to take lines from movies and television and use them to make a point, I will finish with a quote from Babylon Five, in which President John Sheridan tells the station Captain where time goes. "Out there," he says, "beyond the rim." He was referring to the rim of the galaxy, where all of the "first ones" had gone.
I think time moves "out there", to the very edge of the universe. If you feel it is going too fast, just slow down for a little while inside your own bubble of the Universe. The Zen Buddhist monks were on to something when they created the gardens for meditation. If you slow down enough, time... will... eventually... stop.

Late night antics

Does anyone know how to keep a cat asleep for the whole night? Last night, Taffy woke my wife up no less than three times. We love the little girl to pieces, and are happy that she wants our attention, but three in the morning is a little ridiculous.
The big problem is that Taffy insists on that attention, with her teeth. She will paw at you for a while, but if she doesn't get her way, out come the choppers.
Talk about temper mental!
I had mentioned to some that Taffy was getting awfully affectionate. I'm not sure just what the deal is with that. She used to be pretty standoffish. Especially toward me. When I first met Sandra and started spending time with her, Taffy got jealous as all get out. I couldn't get into the apartment without hearing her growl.
I hope to hades, she calms down a little bit soon. It's getting awfully hard to sleep around here, I have to get up and shoo Taffy away from Sandra, sometimes having to get down on the floor with her. I did that last night. I tried to pet her, and all I got for the effort was attempts to bite my hands off.
Please, feline owners everywhere, how about a hand here?

Nostalgia and impressions

For the first time, Sandra and I have composed a Christmas letter, to go out in each of the cards we are mailing this year. It' s basically just a way for us to let everyone catch up with what we have been doing lately.
At one time, a lot of people used to send out letters like this. Now, it's a rare family that sends out actual Christmas cards. E-cards have taken the place of the paper variety. It's hard to remember the last time that I got an actual letter in the mail. I think my grandmother sent one about eight months ago.
Technology has made communication a lot easier, but I don't think it has made it any better. Text messaging is a perfect example. It is a quick and relatively inexpensive way to get your message out there. A lt gts lst in the trnsltion tho. Is it any wonder kids are having trouble learning how to spell?
There are some things that pen and paper have going for them. All are purely psychological. For one thing, there is an immediacy to a letter that you are holding. The physical presence kind of makes you feel like the writer is with you. The other thing is the intimacy of the hand written letter. Somebody took the time to hold the pen and thought of you as they were writing. Sometimes, you can feel that in the letter.
Let's admit it, I am a romantic at heart. I like some of the old values that society has let slide. I still want to open a door for a lady, or help her on with her coat. I feel like a slob if I wear a t-shirt and track pants if I'm going to town. I think that tattoos and piercing should be private, in places that can be hidden when you go someplace formal.
That is another thing our society has lost. We might be able to get dressed up, but where are we going to go? I might use my suit once every year. Going out for a meal is done in denim jeans and a clean shirt. What ever happened to impressing your date's parents when you picked her up for dinner and a movie?
My oldest niece tells me that I sound like an old man when I write things like this. That's the problem. I sound like and OLD man, not a gentleman. My greatest goal in life is to have people remember me as a gentleman when I leave the room for the last time. It's the image I would hope to project when I meet somebody for the first time.

Be mindful of your environment

In my last post, Joe (a fellow blogger) commented that he tries to always be aware of what is going on around him. One_last_kiss says that people do sometimes get a little self absorbed and don't think to look where they are going. Taffy noted the presence of several disabled persons in the restaurant at the time, as mentioned, and that they seemed to be more aware.
I think all three of them have hit the nail on the head with those comments. It is all about being aware of your surroundings. Sometimes we get a little consumed by our thoughts, and that's when we miss that one critical thing we should have been looking out for, like that deer on the side of the road.
I'm as guilty of this as the next person. Sometimes I get so busy doing something, I'm not always sure just where my cane is pointed as I lean on something. Or I will be working at the computer, and totally forget the coffee I poured myself half an hour ago. Don't even get me started on my ability to ignore reality when there is a book involved!
I'm sure that you have all seen the Star Wars movie, in which Luke goes to train with Yoda, the Jedi master. Do you remember the scene where he is trying to explain how Luke can use the Force to move his ship from the lake? "Feel the Force around you." Sure, that might be fiction, but there is that grain of truth, that we can accomplish more if we pay attention to the world around us.
Every discipline I've ever heard of says that we must always be aware of what is going on about us, because all things are interconnected. Action is followed by reaction, even at the quantum level. (If you want to get all scientific about it.) Buddhists say that all things are connected, and how we treat the world around us is how we will be treated by it. The monks revere life to the extent that they sweep insects from their paths.
We don't all have to go to that extreme. Maybe just turn down the mp3 player a little bit. Maybe take the time to look around at the people going past you once in a while. The best advice of all, don't forget to look a child in the eyes when they speak to you. They are people too, and sometimes we overlook what they have to add.

Accessiblity issues

I was going to write about something else today, but it came off as whining, and I promised that this blog was not going to be a forum for my personal problems. Besides, it was getting too hard to write about what I was thinking without getting into the personal lives of others. That is a major blogging no-no.
Instead, I think I want to address the issue of accessibility.
Yesterday, my wife and I went out to do a little shopping. I have a disability that makes it necessary for me to use the scooters that the store provides. That the larger stores even have them is a good thing, and shows that they are thinking. The problem lies in the way people think when they see a person in one of them.
One of the biggest obstacles to getting around in a large store is the other customers. If you are in a wheelchair or scooter, it's like they don't even see you. People will walk directly into the path of a person in a chair, even just to stop and look at items they don't intend to purchase. Or they will stand there, chatting forever, even after you have politely asked them if you can get by.
Are disabled persons invisible when they get below eye level? The average shopper can spot a quarter on the floor, but not a person?
The other problem yesterday is that not every part of the store was accessible to the scooter. The restaurant had rather tight quarters, and trying to stay out of the way put me in a position that made getting out again very difficult. It didn't help that there were no less than four persons with disabilities in there at the time. It created quite a commotion, let me tell you.
I think from now on, I'll skip the scooter. If I can't take my walker, I'll use a smaller chair and just let my wife push a cart. At some point in the future, that won't be an option, but I'll put up with being overlooked if it avoids the embarrassment that I had yesterday.

How about that weather?

Okay, that title sounds like a really lame joke. It's been ages since we saw real snowfall at the first of December.
I had to go out and clear the car off this morning, so that the plow crew could get in and clear the parking lot. Not that it will stay clear long. It's still falling, and is expected to fall for the next three days.
I didn't realize just how bad of shape I am in. I had a hard enough time just getting to the car, never mind getting it cleared off. Then there was the ice to deal with. Half an hour later, the car was cleared and moved, and a fair bit of gasoline used up. At one time, cleaning off a car was no big. Now, it's enough to wear me out. Two cups of coffee worn out.
Which leaves me very worried about my mother-in-law. Cathy isn't there to dig her out when this is all over. I really have to get over there and clear off the "Mary-mobile" when this is all done.
If I ever have the money for a home of my own, there will definitely be a garage. At least for one vehicle. I just do not have it in me to clean up after an ice rain anymore.
I hope everyone has had the sense to stay home today. If you have to be somewhere, give yourself some extra time, keep a decent following distance, and for heaven's sake, PUT DOWN THAT CELL PHONE!

A slower pace

Yesterday, I ended with a line about cities that never sleep. I think I want to discuss that for a moment.
With the discovery of ways to keep things moving after dark, it seems like society has decided that things have to go on twenty-four hours per day. Just because we can be up all night long, we should. We demand the constant availability of good and services. Naturally, that means at least a part of the population is required to work the night shift.
Human beings evolved as diurnal, or daytime, dwellers. It is only in the last three hundred years or so that we have tried to make ourselves over. Trying to make such a dramatic change in so short a time cannot be good.
There have been some recent studies that suggest higher cancer rates occur in those who work late shifts. Disturbing the proper circadian rhythm of humans has been shown to cause a number of health problems. Insomnia, mood swings and just general fatigue are the most common. It's even been seen in astronauts, in an environment where there are no proper day/night cues.
Do we really need fast food at three in the morning? If it were not for people having to work the graveyard shift, there wouldn't be such a demand. If we just slowed down a little, and were ready to give up a little bit of convenience, maybe we could slow down the decline in our health.
I'm not suggesting we adopt the patterns of the Amish. They chose that technology-free life for their own reasons. No, I propose that we step back a little bit from the late night life. We produce enough during the day. If you want a night shift, you should ask for volunteers to do those jobs. Some people are able to adapt better than others.
Rotating shifts are another pet peeve of mine. No sooner does your system adjust to your hours, than you have to change yet again. Reaction times slow, sleep is disturbed and accidents happen.
Time to slow down a little bit folks. We evolved to work in the sun and sleep at night. Let's all get the rest we need. If we have to work at night (and there are some jobs that MUST be done at all hours) those shifts should be scheduled to last for at least one month on, one month off, giving the people working time to adjust to the change.
For the sake of your health, maybe give up the glow of neon lights.

Townscapes

While putting up the model village under the Christmas tree, I get to thinking about the way that people lived in days gone by. The model houses all have a very old European style and look to them. I generally lay them out in a pattern similar to a German village square.

If you look carefully, you can get a sense of what I mean.

What I have been thinking about is how we have lost the sense of the community center. Here in Canada, villages grew around the church, the town hall, or most often, the railway station. There was always a geographical center to any town. Modern communities don't have that anymore. Now we have subdivisions with sprinklings of malls and convenience stores.

Sometimes, I think it would be wonderful to have the opportunity to have the chance to build a town from scratch. I would build with a combination of traditional building designs, with all of the techniques and materials we have today. It would be as if I took an old village and just moved it to a site that had convenient, hidden services.

My model for the services is, of all places, Disney World in Florida. Everything comes in underground, via tunnels. Electric vehicles transport everything. All of the critical systems can be checked visually and worked on with ease. The trash is even emptied from the bins into carts in the tunnels. All of those necessary, but not really attractive things can be taken care of without spoiling the scenery.

As I have said before, I don't think the house of the future will differ that much from the homes of the past. There have been modern fads, but it is the tried and true that remains. Given all of the space that we have in this country, I don't see why we need to pile up on each other in huge cities that take up valuable land that could be used for food and energy production. City life has its' place, but I think that we can get by with smaller cities, say two hundred thousand people or so. In an age when I can write this opinion and have it criticized by hundreds from my own living room, why should we have to be all in the same square kilometre?

I eagerly await the remarks of those who are dazzled by cities that never sleep. And therein lies another blog.

Volunteering

For a while now, I have been spending a few hours each week volunteering at the Lutheran church that I was married at. The pastor has a very busy schedule, and sometimes it can be hard for her to get to all of the things that need to be done. Since my mother-in-law was going to be moving into Morrisburg anyway, I thought that it might be a good way for Sandra to get to see her, if she went with me.
Most of what I do is drafting letters, putting lists into order, and generally assisting with organization. When you are as busy as the pastor is, you have to be able to see your way through.
It feels good to be doing something useful. I've been unemployed for far too long. Pastor Norine tells me that my work has been noticed, and has made her job a lot easier.
I recommend that everyone volunteer at something at least once in their lives, for a couple of weeks at least. It doesn't have to take up all of your time. Just a couple of hours a week can make such a difference. You gain self esteem, and your hours help somebody who is in need.
It really is a shame that we have to mandate that students do volunteer work to get their diplomas. Maybe, once they have done that time though, they will discover the warm feeling that giving of themselves creates, and will continue.
Volunteers are important to so many parts of our society.

More decorations

Well, the tree is up. Sandra got it out of the storage room this afternoon, and we spent some time getting the branches together. We took our time getting the branches nicely spread out. We even decided where it would look best to set it up.
All of this just brings to mind how close it is now to the holiday. Sandra and I have been working at figuring out what to get everyone for Christmas. Naturally, I can't get into that here. My family reads this, after all. The most I can say is that we have opted to go with the practical for the most part.
We actually discussed what each of us would like most, within a set budget. Some things are traditional now. For example, Sandra always gets a cat calendar. It's just a given. Myself, I really need a new pair of moccasins. Or perhaps a book from the For Better or For Worse collection.
But, back to the tree. It is a very full tree, as artificial ones go. Tomorrow, Sandra and I will probably spend the evening getting lights all checked out and put on. Then it's on to the decorations. Being in the window, we will have to make certain that the lights and balls go all the way around, at least at the top. It will add to the decorations visible from the outside of the apartment.
I'm looking forward to seeing the tree all lit up, with the rest of the lights in the apartment turned out. It'll save a lot of power, when you think about it. I can't imagine that the decorations take much more power than the lamps that we use each night.
When the pictures come out, I'll post a few.

My oldest niece is getting set for college. She's decided to go into teaching, and has picked out several colleges and universities to apply to. Still, it is a nerve wracking time. All of the schools she has picked are a fair distance from home. I gather that she is already upset about leaving home, though she doesn't leave for several months.
She will do well enough in school, I think. Eventually, she will even come to accept being away from home. It's a question of adjustment.
I think the best advice I can give Steph is to look at the final result of her education, the profession that she has chosen. She has yet to decide what to do with that education anyway. Does she want to teach in high school, or little kids?
As for leaving home, it will always be here for her. Her aunt and I are only an e-mail away when she needs to talk. There are plenty of holidays, and we do expect her to come home every chance she gets. That's the college tradition. You come home once a month and bring all of your laundry with you.
Change is a hard thing to deal with, and the big changes often start to affect you long before they ever happen.
My mother-in-law's move and my sister-in-law's new place are prime examples.
Take heart, Steph. I am going to be a constant, mostly lacking the energy to be anything else.

Dream big?

There's been some times that I wish life could be a little simpler.
I got to thinking about just how much I need, versus my old idea of a dream home. At one point, I got to realizing that if I had the kitchen I once dreamed about, I'd never be able to keep it clean. Cooking for two doesn't require a gourmet workspace. We don't have people over for meals that often, so is a huge dining room such an essential? Heck, we eat in front of the television every night.
People like to dream big. Maybe we should try dreaming sensible.
I think my dream now is just to own a place of our own, something that keeps us warm, has enough space for the things we need and love, and isn't impossible for us to live in.
Let's try saving the big dreams for the things that matter. Peace in the middle east and at home. An end to hunger and child poverty. Curing diseases that take lives far too early. Big dreams are all well and good, but let's have them for the things that really could make a difference and then act on them.
I think what I'm saying here is that sometimes I let things I've seen done go to my head and want to try to do the same. Maybe we haven't evolved that far from monkeys after all.
It's time to come up with goals and dreams that are about what I need to be happy, not what "society" says I should have to be successful. Why should I let someone else tell me what success is anyway?
I used to be quite happy working in a fast food kitchen. Maybe if I had stuck with it, I'd have realized the full extent of how happy that job could have made me. It may have been lowly on the social pecking order, but it was meaningful from where I sat.

Domestication downside

Sometimes I regret that we have made indoor pets of our girls.

I got up this morning, and both of them were sitting on the dining table staring out the window at a bird feeding on the sidewalk. They looked as if they wanted nothing more than to go out and play for a while. You know that expression two year old children get when you tell them they can play in the snow? That was the look I was seeing.

When we lived in Cardinal, we at least had a balcony. We would open the door, watch the cats sniff the cold air and eventually step out. Then we got the laugh of watching them shake the snow off of their paws. I thought New York cabbies could make quick u-turns! Sometimes Taffy's paws would just barely touch the balcony and she would be back in.

If we had the resources, it would be nice to have a house with a screen porch. In the summer, the cats could lie around in the fresh air, and we wouldn't have to worry about bugs.

I guess that cats, just like humans, occasionally need a taste of nature.

Decorating for the season

Sandra has started getting out the Christmas decorations. She has a couple of ceramic trees that she really loves. They are the start of the season. As time goes on, she will bring out more of the decorations.

Actually, we got started on the decorating last week, with the outdoor garland and bows. It makes the space in front of our apartment look very nice. It's been kinda dreary lately, so anything was an improvement. The building superintendent likes the look of it very much. Whenever the other tenants go by, you can see them look at the decorations and smile. Mission accomplished.

You might be thinking that we are rushing the season. If we put out all of the things we have at once, that would be true. Instead, Sandra has a tradition of getting out just a few things over the course of three weeks or so. The tree and Christmas village are the last of the decorations to go up. That takes place on the sixth of December.

Everything comes down in reverse order. That brings some cheer to the month of January. It isn't until February that everything is finally put away. The over-all effect is to add light to the darkest part of the year.

Winter's arrival.

Well folks, it looks like winter is here. We got a whopper of a storm last night, and the snow is still falling. It certainly looks a lot better on the ground than when it just rains. Too bad the first snows of the year never last.
Actually, it's just as well this will melt. It's more grainy than fluffy. It was raining before it got cold enough to snow, so uncovering the car wasn't easy.
I'm looking forward to some nice winter weather. A nice, gentle snowfall, a cup of tea and something decent to read. You know how the song goes, chestnuts roasting on an open fire... All I know is, I'm sick of grey, dull days.
The down side is that so many people haven't figured out that it isn't summer anymore. My buddy Jeff came over for coffee last night, and passed three cars in the ditch. It seems to me that if you see sleet, you should have the sense to slow down to a speed you can control. If the weather is too bad, stay home for pity's sake.
I've always been comfortable riding with my wife or her sister. They drive at reasonable speeds, watch what they are doing, and just generally are safer than the average person on the road.
So, keep a thought for winter safety, but do get out and enjoy the snow when it finally does get here for good.

Comedic Timing

In yesterday's blog, I made a typo that got past the spell checker. This is the value of proper proof reading of all documents. Spell checkers are fine, but things will get by them.
In this case, it was a doozy, and my wife picked up on it and had a great laugh.
When I meant to write that my mother-in-law cannot bend a certain way, making cleaning the bathtub impossible for her, I accidentally dropped the "n" and said she cannot bed that way for medical reasons.
Sandra read this and just about died of hysterics!
Frankly, it isn't an image I really needed in my head. Granted, older folks are entitled to a life too, but I really don't need to know about it. I just don't see a magazine of that sort being a big seller, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, this is a classic case of comedic timing. The right word was misspelled at just the right time and place to make for something funny. To think that people actually have to try for this stuff! All they really have to do is turn off their spell check for a while, and just write. It helps if you have a bit of a tremor to your hands and arms, sometimes missing keys.
Please enjoy any errors that I make in my post, and feel free to point them out. We can all use a giggle now and then.

My mother-in-law, continued

As I have written before, my mother-in-law has been living alone for just over a month now. Being a somewhat older woman, my wife and I worry about her.
Since my last post about her, she has moved into her brother-in-law's home. He and his wife have gone away for several months, and offered her the use of the house. I am glad she accepted. It brings her closer to Sandra and I, to the point that we can visit with her once each week.
The house is actually and ideal spot for her, for the time being. She is right next door to one of her best friends. If it were not for the garage and a hedge, they could wave to each other from the kitchen windows. She is near good shopping and her church.
It's a good situation for Percy too. Leaving your home unattended for any length of time is rather nerve wracking. Now he knows that there will be someone in the house each night. There will be cars in and out of the driveway, deterring thieves. If Mary weren't there, he would have to rely on timers and occasional visits by a neighbour.
Like I have suggested, it's a win-win situation.
Sandra and I have been over to the house once already. I can see where our visits will be a good thing. The carpet is rather thick, and I don't know if Mary is up to vacuuming them. There are a lot of chairs that will have to be moved to do a good cleaning job. The bath is something she definitely cannot do herself, because of the sliding shower doors. She cannot bed that way for medical reasons, so I will clean out the tub for her.
I think the best part of her being in Morrisburg is that Sandra can see her often. They might not always see eye-to-eye on things, but I know that they miss each other terribly. And as I have said, Sandra worries about her. Sandra gets to have her mother back, and I get to look after the both of them.
The down side is that Mary does not really feel at home in the house. If she had moved her things into an empty space, it would be different, but as it stands, she sometimes feels like an intruder. All of Marilyn and Percy's things are there, and she doesn't want to mess with the settings on things. I can understand her position. I'd feel the same way.
Once she is in a place of her own, she will be even better off. Sandra will be more content, and eventually, all will be right with the world. Well, sort of.

And I dreamed

Lately, I've been having some very strange dreams.
For example, the other night, I dreamed that my brother was suddenly going on a homicidal spree. Somehow it became my job to stop him and clean up the rather gory mess. I don't watch horror movies or anything, so I don't know where that came from. For another thing, my brother, while not the most calm person in the world, is not prone to senseless violence.
Last night was even stranger.
For some unknown reason, a bunch of dope peddlers were trying to force my father and myself into the business. (I know, but who said dreams had to make sense?) The more I'd tell these two clowns to bugger off, the harder they would try. So I just worked my way up the food chain of this little organization, making a right nuisance of myself until they were doing everything they could to avoid me.
Dreams are tricky things. Sometimes they are warnings of things you should be aware of but are not able to consciously deal with. Other times, they are a way for your mind to sort through daily events, to put things together. Then you have dreams like the ones I have just written about. They have absolutely no context in the waking world. It's like every image you have ever seen just got piled in a jumble and put together as a picture.
I can usually tell when I'm dreaming. At that point, I can either ignore the dream, or see where it takes me. Last night, I didn't manage to control anything. I was just along for the ride.
It's kind of like paying ten bucks to see a comedy movie with a bunch of friends, and just not getting it. In the cold light of day, the dream makes even less sense, and is even less entertaining. Not unlike the movie "Dumb and Dumber".

The Christmas Parade

My wife and I went to see the local Christmas parade last night. It was totally amazing! Each year the parade just gets bigger and bigger. If they add any more, they are going to have to expand the town just to have room. I think that if the parade had gone in a complete circle, there would only have been a five minute gap from the end to the return.
This is the first time Sandra has ever seen a parade at night. I was rather shocked to learn this. In Prescott, it's called "Alight at night" and is when they officially light up the town for the Christmas season. The lights were being checked on the tree earlier in the day. Naturally, all of the floats had lights streaming on them. You could see the light for miles along the route.
Unfortunately, we were a little late in getting there. It was hard to get a good spot to see. Next year we will have to be sure to get in earlier, bringing the lawn chairs and blankets. It was also very cold out. By the time we got home, I couldn't really feel my feet anymore. We could make a proper night of it.
It is amazing how such a small town could put together such a large event. It is all a part of that community spirit. Prescott has an abundance of good people, belonging to wonderful organizations. From the Legion to the Girl Guides, veterans to young children, people in this town care. That feeling spread to neighbouring towns as well, judging by the places that contributed floats and bands. Even towns from the United States took the trouble to add to the festivities.
If only we could get that kind of feeling to last all year.

Vigilance is over rated.

I've been thinking about scaling back on the amount of time I spend worrying about the other tenants in this building. Being a good neighbour is one thing, but I think maybe I've given it just a little too much of myself. After all, we have a superintendent living in the building for a reason.
This isn't to say that I won't help when it is needed. If there is a definite problem that the management team needs to know about, I'll bring it up. After all, I still have a responsibility to my neighbours.
I'm just not going to go out of my way to look for trouble spots anymore. I'm not going to keep my eyes on the traffic in and out of the building at all times. It's time to let the curtain fall and enjoy some privacy and quiet. If there is a serious problem, I'm sure I'll know about it soon enough.
Lately, I haven't been able to tell the super anything he hasn't already known anyway.
Time to look out for my own a bit more, and let the rest of the world take care of itself. It got along fine without me, it will carry on without my watching.

Intelligent Design?

I watched a television show about the debate over what has been dubbed "intelligent design". Many people are lumping it all into the war between creationism and Darwinian theory. Religion versus science is a never ending struggle. From the days of Copernicus and Galileo, the church has done it's best to keep the strict adherence to the Bible as the basis of our society.
One person on the documentary said that the ultimate goal was to balance science and faith. I have to agree with that .
The goal of Intelligent Design is to get the religious right back into the rule of nations. In a few cases, it appears that they have made the mistake of actually putting that into writing.
The problem is, I like intelligent design as a concept. It just doesn't explain itself the right way.
You see, according to the creationists, the universe was created fully formed, as we know it. Everything is all the plan of God. It just doesn't state where the plan began, who God is and more importantly, how the plan was supposed to work.
I offer this compromise to the empirical scientists and the religious right. The Universe itself is God. It was created in one instant, postulated by science as the big bang, and in the Bible as the void of the beginning. From that point on, the Universe has been evolving, as Darwin hypothesised, following a plan that is the product of the the massed intelligence of the Universe itself. Evolution is the tool of the Universe towards fulfilling the ultimate plan.
This compromise has the effect of putting science into the realm of faith, the faith that there is a plan, and all we have to do is figure out what it is. Religion becomes an integral part of science, a starting point toward understanding the Universe, and a forum for stating theories and letting hard science take over.
I think that, in a way, the teaching of the various faiths has been science disguised as story telling. The Bible tries to explain the way the Universe works. Unfortunately, it is written for a people of a time when there was limited understanding. Taken in context, the scriptures are still valid advice and guidelines for living life. Think of them as the precursor to scientific method.
As the Universe allows us to evolve, we will be permitted to see more and more of the plan. I think that might be the ultimate goal of the design, to get at least one species to the point of knowing the whole, and maybe starting the process all over again.
Unfortunately, we haven't evolved to the point where enough of us can see the plan. We will argue about it for the next hundred years or so. I can only pray that we don't argue ourselves to another dark age. It's taken us over 600 years to get out of the last one.

The writers' strike

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the television writers strike has begun in earnest. What that means to you and me is, the fall season has just tanked. If you were waiting for a brand new show, you are out of luck. If the reruns are beginning to get boring, you had best run to the library.
I never fully realized just how much our lives revolve around the box these days. Given our access to other forms of entertainment, why do we stare passively at a glowing screen of characters that we cannot interact with? I know that I find some of the stories rather engrossing, and some of the characters do ring true, but those shows are getting fewer each season. The less said about most "reality" shows the better.
Unfortunately, that might be mostly what we will be seeing. On the other hand, now might be a good time for somebody to come up with a truly good reality series, something that might help people.
The strike has come at a very odd time though. Pretty soon, the networks will be trotting out their holiday fare. Many prime time shows would wind up being preempted anyway. Did the writers' guild consider that when it decided to walk out? They are very much in danger of the public not noticing for a good three months. Most shows have enough scripts to last them until about January. Put that together with Christmas specials and other live events, and maybe the networks can hold the strikers at bay for some time.
I think I might take the time away from prime time television to do something a little more interactive. Maybe Sandra and I could play some cards at the table. I might read a good book with music in the background, or even just enjoy some quiet.
Maybe the writers' strike will give us all a chance to blink away the afterglow from the television screen once in a while and notice each other.
Just not first thing in the morning please. I am truly ugly without my first cup of coffee.

Happy Anniversary Honey

Today is the second anniversary of the day I married my wife. I like to think of it as the day that I was finally completed as a person. It sounds corny, to be sure, but my wife, Sandra, is everything to me. Life just wouldn't have much of a point without her.

It was a beautiful evening that year. It hadn't yet gotten too cold out, there was no rain or snow to hinder travel for the guests. The church looked wonderful, with the lights dimmed and all of the candles by the alter glowing. It's what a wedding should look like.

My only regret of the day is that we somehow didn't get many pictures of Sandra and myself at the alter. No formal poses anyway. We were too busy concentrating on trying to get the family gathered for the pictures. We would get into our wedding clothes and have pictures taken, but now Sandra won't fit into her gown. She's lost so much weight.

I think everyone needs to experience a day like the one I had two years ago.

Unfortunately, there is only one Sandra, and she is spoken for.

Remembrance Day

I just want to take a moment to thank all of the veterans of Canada; past, present and future, for the sacrifices they have made. The freedoms I enjoy today have come at a high price. The fight I wage today, I do in the memory of the fallen. The life I live today, I live because of them. I will honour those souls to the best of my ability.
War is a last resort, to defend the ideal of the common good. I respect those who are willing to pay the ultimate price for what we believe in. Even when the belief isn't commonly held, it can be worth dying for.
Note, I said dying, not killing. To me, killing is reserved for defence of the self and the innocent. In the event of war, you can put a weapon in my hand. You can even make me use it. You just can't make me use it against the helpless or the innocent. I'd rather have an injured prisoner to reason with than a dead person on my conscience.
That last paragraph will likely get me in trouble with many. It is a tough ideal to defend, but it is one that I will take to my death. Life is precious and cannot be restored. I have to be careful with it.
I take this day to remember all who fought for my freedom in the wars of the past. I take this day to mourn the dead, on both sides of those conflicts. I take this day to pray for the safety of those who go into battle today, protecting the innocent. I take this day to hope that, in the future, there will be fewer dead to mourn, and far less need to fight to protect others.
Remember the departed. Remember who they were out of the uniform they died in. If you see a veteran today, give thanks in your heart for what they endured for your sake.

Electric vehicles

I have just been watching a series on the Outdoor Life Network. A guy went from New York City to Washington D.C. on electric bikes powered with electricity produced from garbage. It wasn't the easiest of trips to make, between cold temperatures and a busted throttle cable, but he did it.
On a stop in Amish county, he learned that the Amish are not totally opposed to technology. They are just very conservative about how they use it. By way of example, an Amish man pointed out that they use solar panels to charge the batteries for the signal lamps that the law requires on their buggies. You might consider the Amish the uber energy conservationists.
On the trip, the host of the show also saw some other electric cars, powered from garbage produced electricity. One was a kit, put together by a teacher. It was a small, three wheeled car. Unfortunately, it was a convertible, and therefore pretty cold. Another was a Pontiac Feiaro (however that is spelled) that had been converted to an electric car.
Given the opportunity, I think I might like to have a small electric car of my own. I would have to be able to produce my own electricity though. I wouldn't want to have to charge a car off of the grid. It would just cost too much for my liking. The environmentally responsible vehicle would be a lot of fun to have. I only drive short distances, so it would be practical for me.
Maybe if the manufacturers produced something affordable and usable, maybe they would be in higher demand. Battery technology has come a long way. So has the production of clean energy. It could be time for the green car.

Good neighbour policy

I told you once that I would write a bit about the way I walk around the building each night. It is all part of my "Good Neighbour" policy, regardless of where I might be living. My idea is that, if my home involves others, as an apartment building implies, I have certain responsibilities as a proper neighbour.
Each night, when I take out the garbage, I take a short stroll about the building. I look at the cars in the lot, to see if there has been any attempt at vandalism. While I don't actually look into the apartments, of course, I do look at the windows, to see if there is damage or if someone has attempted a break-in. Particularly on the first floor.
I also make a habit of noting who comes in and who goes out, with particular attention to strangers. The building I live in has had problems in the past with drug dealers. While the new landlords have taken steps to remove the pushers, it pays to keep a close eye on things.
I am in a very good position to watch over at least the one half of the building. With a window right near the front entrance, I can see the comings and goings, and have made it possible for the superintendent to have a picture of what is happening when he can't be here himself. Some might call it being nosy. I call it looking out for the young families that live in the building with me.
I would hope that my neighbours would share in this policy.

Autumn Aria

We are finally starting to get some autumn weather here. That is both a blessing, and a curse, depending on the time of day and what I'm trying to get done.
I have always loved the fall colours. When other kids complained about having to go back to school, I was too busy looking out of the bus windows at the trees. I could almost hear the leaves crunching under my feet as I went by particularly large stands of maples. Show me a kid that doesn't like to jump into a pile of freshly raked leaves, go on, show me.
I also rather liked going to school. Living out in the boonies, it meant access to a lot of things I had to do without over the summer. A decent library for example. My parents didn't have the time to drive me to the library as a kid, so I had to read the books that I had over and over. With the start of the school year, I could read a new book every two or three days if I chose.
I still like the crisp sound of leaves underfoot. A brisk breeze on a sunny day puts a smile on my face. When the fancy takes me, I'll put on a sweater and go for a stroll and look at the colours. The smell of a wood stove is like heaven to me. There are a number of people in my neighbourhood that use wood stoves to heat on cool evenings. It's a very romantic smell, in my opinion.
The downside of the fall weather is the positive chill at night. The heaters have to come on, and that means a dusty smell for the first while, because you can never vacuum all of the dust out of an electric baseboard heater. It's an added problem this year, since the unit in my wife's bedroom is not working. We are still waiting on the electrician to come and figure out what is wrong with the wiring.
Another problem is that we are getting more rain, and taking out the garbage becomes a pain. For the sake of ten minutes to dump a small bag of trash in the bin and do a check around the building (more on that another time), you get soaked, or at the very least, wet socks.
The weather can't quite seem to make up its mind either. It rains for fifteen minutes, clears up and then rains again. The unexpected showers are a real pain. You can't plan anything outdoors.
All things considered though, I think I'll just put on a sweater, pull up the quilts, and enjoy the season.

My mechanics

Yesterday, I wrote about listening to my wife (eventually) when she said there was a problem with the car. Today, I'd like to tell you a little bit about the mechanics that save my bacon on a regular basis.
Jim and Dave McEwen (I wish I had a picture available) are probably the best mechanics I have ever met. They care very much about their clients. They will not let me drive anything that they deem to be unsafe, even if the law doesn't require something. The twins have been known to go out of their way to steer people clear of what would turn out to be a lemon.
What makes this odd is that they are also in the business of selling used vehicles. If the old stereotypes held, they would be the shiftiest characters in the world. If Jim and Dave give you a quote, they stand by it.
In the case of the latest problem with the car, I literally showed up on their doorstep with no notice. They had their third hand drive me home, so that I wouldn't have to walk, and put it up on a hoist the instant it was available. When they called me, they gave me an honest assessment for the problem and what it would cost to repair. All three of them went to work on it, and then returned the car to me, again so that I would not have to walk across town.
Jim and Dave do not advertise in the papers. They don't have the budget for radio or television. They rely on word of mouth. Well, I have a big mouth, and I am not afraid to use it on their behalf.
Where else am I going to find mechanics that will fit me in at the last minute, do quality work, and then let me pay in installments?

Always listen to your wife

For the last couple of days, we have been experiencing a bit of a problem with the car exhaust. Again! I indulged in a bit of wishful thinking, and thought that maybe we had just gotten some bad gasoline. Sandra was adamant that it sounded too loud to her.
We had to go out for groceries the other day, so we took a quick drive out to my parents' house. My father, being more agile than I am, was able to get under the car. Yep, the exhaust was in danger of falling apart. He thought the muffler was coming away from the mid pipe.
So, finally listening to what my wife had been trying to tell me for two days, I took the car to our mechanics, who declared that the mid pipe was done and had to be replaced. All three guys at the garage dropped what they were doing and put the car on the hoist. It took them less than half an hour to get her fixed and returned to us.
The lesson here, always pay attention when your wife tells you that something is not right. Wishful thinking will get you stranded on the side of the road somewhere. Most likely when it's cold and wet out. Besides, sometimes another ear is needed to hear these things. Your wife may tell you things you'd rather not hear, but they need to be said.
If your wife tells you the car doesn't sound right, chase it down. If she tells you that you have been hitting the fridge to much, get on the scale tubby. Our wives want what is best for us, and only by paying attention can we hope to learn.
On that note, I'm going to pay attention to my wife again, take my vitamin pill and call for an appointment to get my flu shot.

The world needs more trivia

Sometimes when I write my blog, I feel a little bit like Andy Rooney, from 60 Minutes. Think about it for a second. I sit at my keyboard waiting for inspiration to hit, but what usually comes out on the screen is drivel that nobody in their right mind could be bothered to read.
I think I've hit most of the same topics as he has too, from the rising cost of everyday items, to stupid products or television programs.
On the other hand, I like to think I've touched on some things of interest as well. I have discussed depression, disability and morality. Certainly I have written my fair share about the environment. Serious subjects may be few and far between, but that isn't really what blogging is about, is it? After all, I have described this space as a look into what's on my mind. We all have days when there just isn't much there.
The chief advantage the computer age has given us is the ability to record our daily lives in this fashion. We, as writers, can reveal as much or as little about ourselves as we wish to. In some cases, we talk about the issues that affect all of us, and in others, we get down to the nitty-gritty of just who we are. The important thing is that, as long as blogs exist, there will always be an outlet for our feelings and our creativity.
Do you ever wonder what it would have been like if the Internet had been around during key points of history? Imagine a soldier in the trenches of World War I, being able to put the hell he was experiencing into his own words, words that just anyone could read. People who made great discoveries in the early ages of civilization could have spread them farther and faster. In fact, the dark ages might never have happened at all.
As with any medium though, blogs can and do get used for less than noble purposes. It is the price we pay for advancement as a society. As the readers, at least we get to decide what is of value, and what can be ignored. In a repressive regime, even the press can be stopped. Ideas on the Internet are much harder to keep under wraps. Just ask the government of Burma.
Write on, fellow bloggers. Even if you do write trivia some days, at least it's trivia of your own interpretation.

Q: Do men ever grow up. A: No, our cartoons just get more graphic.

The title of this post really says it all. As I've gotten older, I never truly gave up watching cartoons. It's an art form that will never really die out. Not unlike the soap opera, which made the move from radio to television. I can see the day when cartoons are a major part of Internet content.
The worst part of it is that the core of cartooning has been lost. Most of the stuff you see these days is made in the animae style of Japan. That means big busted girls in extremely short school girl uniforms. Well, there is more to animae than that, but that seems to be the biggest trend, from what I've seen.
What comes out of North America are cartoons that you just don't want your kids watching, if you have any hope of raising something other than psychopaths. At first glance, The Simpsons, Futurama and the like may seem harmless. Wait for three minutes into the show. There is always some sexual, racist or antisocial content. Don't even get me started on South Park! There is a reason why these shows aren't supposed to be on before eight in the evening.
I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to my cartoons. Give me a good episode of Bugs Bunny any day. Scooby Doo was another favourite. To this day, my father will snicker if you put in an old Scooby Doo tape and wait for a few seconds. Sometimes I think as we get older, our sense of humour atrophies, and the jokes have to become more and more crass just to get through.
Comic strips on the other hand, are another story. They are, for the most part, still the same, clean, family entertainment that we have always had. Which isn't to say that they cannot deal with adult issues. Being in the newspapers, they just have to do it in a mature, adult manner. I think the best examples of this is "For Better or For Worse" and "Baby Blues". Both have dealt with some pretty adult subjects in a way that does not offend the general reader.
I think that the older men get, the more infantile their idea of entertainment gets. As a man, I can say that without sounding like a sexist woman trying to bash males in general. What other guys will say is another matter.

Civic duty

In my humble opinion, we've dropped the ball again in the things we teach our kids. In this case, it can partly be blamed on the school system, and partly on the rest of us. I am talking about teaching kids about their responsibilities as citizens.
When I was younger, the basics of the Canadian Constitution were covered in History class. The key stuff was learned by the end of grade six. Now, so much is crammed into courses that kids don't even have a nodding acquaintance with the way our government works until high school. By that time, it is too late. Students have developed an apathy towards their civic duty, or they are already being asked to participate in the system and are confused.
Maybe as family we should be doing more. Each time an election is called, parents and older relatives (eligible to vote), should discuss the issues with their kids. After all, the government we elect today will make policies that will affect them down the road. That is the approach we could take too. We could ask them what they think about things, and in that way show them that their opinions already matter.
Kids these days assume that they have the right to do as they please. From an early age, they have an attitude of entitlement. Part of coping with demanding children could be showing them that with any "rights" they want come responsibilities, like taking part in making decisions and carrying them out.
Just a thought, but maybe when children reach the age of five or six, we should start giving them a vote on some family decisions. People seem to learn best when they start doing things at an early age. Maybe give them a little say in how groceries are bought. Just as much responsibility as they can handle, and that won't cause major headaches if the wrong decisions are made.
My point, (Yes, there is one.) is that we should be teaching our kids about the way our country is run from a very early age. It should not be done through book learning, but by example. Take your kids with you when you go to vote. And for heaven's sake, do vote! Let's set an example.

Monuments and memorials

My wife and I went out to the cemetery to take the flowers from her father's grave. When we did, we noticed a new monument. It was extremely tall, and had the family tree engraved on the one side, with a brief history of the family on the other. It was amazing. The stone was a beautiful shiny black granite, with pictures etched and then sealed on the one side.
This left me to thinking about monuments that we leave behind, and the way that we want to be remembered.
Granted, my final arrangements have been made, and they do not include a headstone or memorial of any kind.
I think, if I were to leave anything behind in memoriam, it would be something that could be enjoyed by others. I'd like to create a park or green space, with a small plaque bearing just my name and the date that the park was founded. I would not want the park named for me, just knowing that I had left something good for others would make me happy.
There is this tendency in our society to buy our memorials. If you are wealthy enough, you get a building or a bridge named after you. I'm waiting for the day that Conrad Black decides to build his own palace, if he has any money left after his time in prison.
The prime example of all of this self-aggrandizement is Donald Trump. Trump Tower, need I say more?
Naming something for yourself is the height of arrogance, especially if it is something that you and your family will maintain control of for as long as possible. The true memorial is something you give quietly to the community. If you are remembered for it, then you can be said to have been a person of note.
I'd just like to earn enough respect within the community I live in that I will be remembered, even without my name on some fancy bronze plaque.

The green life

I was taking out the trash last night, when I saw a can lying on the lawn. It's not enough that I have to take care of my own mess, but then I have to deal with stuff carelessly thrown about the property? With all of the talk about living green these days, I would have thought that there would be more effort to preserve the environment.
With the availability of recycling here in town, Sandra and I produce very little in the way of garbage. The only thing we really throw out most is kitty litter. I don't know if there is an environmentally friendly way to dispose of that. If we had the ability to compost, we could eliminate even further waste. Coffee grounds and filters apparently compost down to some of the best soil.
I think my ideal situation would be where waste output would be less than five percent of what is brought into the home. That would mean some changes in the way we do things. For starters, we would need a home that is built to be as energy efficient as possible.
That isn't so much of a challenge today as you might think. It's all about knowing your lifestyle, and how to get the most bang for your buck. Further more, an energy efficient home does not have to look any different from any other. Construction methods must change, not the style. The house of the future will not look so different from the home of today. The appearance means little, it's the structure and planning that matters.
I think, where the environment is concerned, we need to look to the past to find the solutions for the future.
Why do we waste so many of the planet's resources when some of the best stuff is sitting right in front of us? It seems to me that we should be mining our landfill sites. It takes decades for a simple piece of paper to decompose in the dump. With just a little effort, that paper could be recycled and still more trees saved. There are enough cans in our trash to keep us supplied with metal for ages.
It costs so much less to recycle as well. In terms of aluminum, recycling used metal uses only twenty-five percent of the energy required to process raw bauxite ore. It seems to me that, just in economic terms, we should start using what we already have to hand much more effectively.
Wouldn't it be ironic though, to see bulldozers digging up what we have wasted for so long?

Isabelle's Law

Apparently there is a new law in town. "Isabelle's Law" states that I have to get up at whatever time my little darling decides is appropriate. In the case of this morning, that would have been just after seven-thirty.

Enforcement of this law comes in a variety of manners. The first warning comes with little paws scratching (despite the complete lack of claws) on the side of my bed. If this is not given due attention, then the guilty party, aka me, is pounced upon, with or without the inclusion of a head butting.

I should probably note here that I am still mildly allergic to cat fur. Isabelle rubbing against my nose first thing in the morning usually results in a day of nasal issues, and the proximity of Kleenex. Besides which, who ever knew that cat skulls could be so hard. One of these days I'm going to show up in the hospital emergency room with a broken nose, and have to explain that my kitty cat beat me up. Don't worry, I'll post the pictures when it does happen.

The final trick for getting me out of bed is to find the nearest source of paper. My little fluff ball has learned early in life that chewing on my papers will get attention pretty quick. The more important the papers, the faster the covers fly off of me. Many is the time I have had to rush to save library books from her needle sharp little teeth. It's a game to her. Either that, or she really needs more fiber in her diet.

This morning, I opted to lose gracefully. Thank heavens for left-0ver coffee!

Depression and bi-polar disorder

Clinical depression is a severe condition to live with. Every time that you think things are finally getting better, something, even the smallest thing, will throw a monkey wrench into the works. When things are seriously off in your life, it's like you would rather have the whole world come to a stop.
I, myself, do not suffer in this way. Many members of my family do, or have bi-polar disorder, which is just as bad.
One of the biggest problems I face with depression is that no treatment is one hundred percent effective. It is almost impossible to get the right medication in the right dosage. Even when you can, the slightest change in metabolism can make it useless all over again.
The social stigma attached to emotional disorders is another aspect of depression that is difficult to deal with. Sometimes even family members will say, "Just get over it!" As if it were that simple! When the clinical illness is combined with traumatic events, of one kind or another, it just isn't possible to "get over" some things. It doesn't help to try to trivialize what a person is feeling either. In fact, sometimes it makes more sense just to acknowledge that they are feeling an intense emotion, even if you cannot understand it.
There is a lot to be said for just a little compassion, just being there when a person suffering from depression needs to be comforted. Understand that when they are angry and want to lash out, it isn't necessarily your fault. When a person is depressed, they will say things to you that they do not really mean, and that just depresses them even further.
I think what I really want to say to my family is that, no matter what they say or how they feel at any given time, I love them. I know they love me. When you are angry at the Universe in general, don't try to hold that anger inside. I will understand that it is not directed at me. Likewise, when you are upset, and don't really know why, that's okay too. You just worry about getting through that next bout of depression as best you can. I will be there on the other side with my hand out to pull you through.

More home remedies

Yesterday I wrote about the value of home remedies. I forgot to mention my all time favourite. It's what I turn to for just about any ailment.
Peppermint tea! It's great for upset stomachs, colds, cramps and just general malaise. Ever wondered what to do with those left-over candy canes from Christmas? Put them in the freezer or the back of the fridge. Whenever a case of the sneezes or nausea creeps up on you, fix a cup of tea and melt one of those candy canes in it.
Just about everyone laughs at me when I suggest this little cure-all. Until they ease a severe cold with it, that is.
Mint, in one form or another, has long been used medicinally. In medieval times, it was a staple of every herb garden. The tea was prescribed to calm the nerves and stave off scurvy. The leaves, eaten whole, were good for the stomach and definitely improved the breath. In an age before toothpaste, anything was a help.
I don't recall the name of the movie, but it involved a family of witches. For the most part, they kept their practices to themselves, but when illness struck, they would put together "potions" from their herb garden. Witchcraft, it seems to me, has never really been more than a mix of spiritualism and herbology. The persecution of witches by the religious community I think was misguided. Spiritual use of herbs and Christianity are not mutually exclusive. Only when the lore of witchcraft is used for harmful purposes does it become an evil.
I think my favourite fictional herbalist is Brother Cadfael, created by Ellis Peters. He is a Benedictine monk of the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul in Shrewsbury, England. Before coming to the cowl, he travelled the world and learned all about medicinal herbs, many of which he brought back with him, and cultivates in the gardens of the Abbey. A better example of natural medicine cannot be found.
I highly recommend that everyone learn about the healing plants that grow in their area. Remember, keep an aloe plant in your kitchen window, lavender by your garden gate and mint by your path.

Ear infection

My wife has been dealing with a major ear infection. The things are murder. The worst part is that there isn't a whole lot to be done about one. Antibiotics are pretty much useless, since we are talking about a virus for the most part.
She and I both used to get them a lot as kids. In her case, they are made worse by the fact that she needs to wear earplugs each night. I was lucky enough to outgrow the worst of them. That and tubes put into my ears as a child.
I've always found that the only thing that really works for an infection of this nature is rest and Tylenol for the pain.
Then there is the old standby to go with the rest. Chicken soup, or as I like to call it, Jewish penicillin.
Science has finally caught up with some of the old folk remedies. Chicken soup, ginseng, if it's been used as a treatment (Note that I don't say cure.) in the past, research has shown it to actually be effective. the only problem with all of that, is that the pharmaceutical industry likes to try and put these things into expensive pill forms.
I think maybe if we just payed a little more attention to our grandmothers when we were younger, we'd all be in better shape today. How often were we told to take cod liver oil and get lots of fresh air and exercise? Now the doctors tell us that omega 3 fatty acids (found in fish) and exercise are keys to staying healthy longer.
Unfortunately, my grandmother never had a remedy for an earache, aside from the rest and an elevated head.

Technological dependance

I've been putting a little bit of thought into my relationship with technology. This was prompted by reading one of the robot books by Isaac Asimov. In his books, people either use robots out of need, or by preference. On Earth, robots are unacceptable to be seen in society, and are often knocked around for the fun of it. On Spacer worlds, they are domestic staff, security and general attendants. It is unseemly not to have one about.
I think that I prefer my technology immobile and as unobtrusive as possible. If I had my way, the computer would be an all encompassing device, handling all of my data needs, but hidden in a box somewhere. The only time you would see it would be when it needs maintenance. It could control the temperature of the house, feed television signals to screens in various rooms and even answer direct verbal questions.
In short, I'd prefer to see a Star Trek version of the future as opposed to a Star Wars version, with droids running all over the place.
The flip side to that argument is that I can see where a mobile and autonomous robot would be useful in certain situations. For example, if an elderly person wishes to remain in his or her own home, a robot could be assigned to make sure that medication is taken properly, that the home is kept clean, and to summon help if needed. It might work best if such a device looked and acted somewhat human, I suppose.
What it all boils down to in the end is a question of just how dependent we want to become on the things that we create. At what point does the leisure we gain become outweighed by the loss of the ability to do things for ourselves?
Even the technology we have has left us at a disadvantage in some ways. There are kids out there that cannot do simple arithmetic in their heads. Spell checking has taken the place of learning to write properly. (I do have to admit that I use the spell check, but I don't rely on it. It never does the job completely right anyway.) An entire generation is growing up losing basic abilities.
The use of the Internet to cut and paste essays is another fine example of a good tool being used to avoid learning anything. When I went to school, writing papers was all about knowing the material. It would have been nice to have all of that data at my finger tips, but we should be stressing the absorption of the knowledge that the Internet gives us access to.
Maybe we should teach our children the basics of reading, writing and math before we let them use the tools to expand on that. It seems to me, that once you have mastered the "three r's", as we used to call them, education using computers could take you a lot farther.
As far as robotics goes, let's give that a chance to develop, without letting it interfere with our ability to do for ourselves.

My mother-in-law

I cannot wait until my mother-in-law is finally settled into a place permanently. At the moment, she is living alone. This is putting a lot of emotional strain on my wife, as we live an hour's drive away. Mom is getting up there in years, although you wouldn't know it to see the way she moves. (The woman won't stop for anything!)
Last night, her phone in the basement somehow got taken off the hook. My wife tried to call her several times. Sandra was up all night worrying. When she couldn't get an answer this morning, she woke me, and we called the police.
There is an O.P.P. detachment just across the street from her house. When I called, they said that they couldn't get anyone there in less than an hour! All we wanted was for somebody to go over and knock on the door for heaven's sake! Instead, we drove an hour to check on her ourselves.
Fortunately, it was just that the phone had fallen off of the hook.
My sister-in-law was there when we arrived. She had been trying to get hold of Mom all night too. At least she wasn't that far away, though she did have to take time off of work.
Mom wants to move to Morrisburg. There she has all of her friends and fellow church members. If she can get an apartment there, at least she will have people around her, and we can call around if we cannot reach her directly. Besides, Morrisburg is much closer, and we could get up to visit her more often. Sandra could use it as an excuse to get away from the apartment once a week or so.
Maybe I should just hurry up and win the lottery and build her a cottage right next door to us!

Tribunals and tribulations

Yesterday was a major pain in the neck. I was asked to appear before a tribunal regarding two of the tenants in the building that I live in. Now, for the sake of legality, I cannot name names. For the sake of ethics, I will try to be fair to all parties.
The hearings started at ten in the morning, so I had to get up earlier than usual to be there in time. As most of my friends know, I am not what could be termed a morning person. What I did not know was that this was a general hearing, meaning that more than one case was going to be heard. Neither of the ones I was being asked to testify to were even started until after noon. Have you ever heard the phrase "hurry up and wait?"
Well, the first case went up, and as witness for the landlord, I was asked to wait in the lobby, so as not to prejudice the case to follow. At least, I think that was the reason. Anyhow, I am sitting out there with the other witnesses, and the tenant involved in the second case is ranting and raving about how nobody is going to mess with her, and she will settle anyone who went against her!
I was never called in the first case, so I don't know more than that the Chair found in favour of the tenant. She came out jumping up and down, "I won, I won, I won!" She then proceeded to stick her tongue out at anyone in her vicinity.
The next tenant seemed to assume that this implied an easy victory for her. What she forgot to consider is that the best way to win a legal case is to keep your mouth shut and let evidence and witnesses speak for you.
This tenant would not let the Chair ask his questions, would not answer questions put to her directly, and would interrupt at every opportunity. When that tactic failed, she simply added whining to the strategy.
I said that I would be fair. In this case, that means telling you what I saw of the landlord's case and how it was presented.
Now, bear in mind, I only have a couple of years of university level law to go by, but I think the lawyer did not handle the case properly.
First of all, they went in there with hearsay accusations, complaints written about the tenant, but without witnesses to bear them up. As well, those written complaints were never disclosed to the tenant. The first rule of legal procedure is that both sides see all of the evidence to be presented ahead of time, so that they can provide evidence to refute that evidence. So most of the allegations of wrong-doing by the tenant were summarily dismissed.
Next, there was not proper provision for witnesses of credibility. By this, I mean that the police officers were not summoned to testify. Rather, they were summoned, but at such a late date that the summons was not served in time.
The Chair, for his part, made more than his share of blunders in all of this as well. He would switch from one matter to another, so that neither side of the argument knew which document to look at for any given testimony. He also seemed biased toward documents over witnesses (which is correct, for the most part) to the point of being unreasonable. He would demand documents to back up witness testimony before hearing that testimony.
As I said, the tenant did not seem to grasp that she was not to speak without being recognized by the chair. He was getting so upset with her behaviour, the lawyer's less than stellar evidence preparation and the hearsay nature of the case, that he couldn't work a straight line, even if he were so inclined. Several times, he lost his temper and had to cool down for a moment and try to find his place.
The upshot of all of this is that, while it was all a case of hearsay and testimony by both sides, with no documentation, he was able to make a decision. Her behaviour before the tribunal was such that he could understand the landlord's request to terminate the lease on the grounds that the tenant was a disruption to others and possibly a danger to people and property. He cautioned that if the landlord ever came before him again, he should have the evidence straight and laid out precisely.
I never had to testify. Before they could even get to the point where I had moved into the building, the Chair had made his decision. I spent six hours of my day sitting around listening to posturing, whining and people generally losing their tempers.
The lesson here is the one they drilled into me in my first year law classes. Be prepared when going to court. Be courteous, especially to the officials and your opponent. Most importantly, keep your mouth closed until you are asked to speak, and then, keep it brief.

Our newest project

My wife and I have been given a fish tank. My parents had it sitting around, and thought it might be a nice addition to the apartment. My sister has a lot of fish she can give us. Brenda promised us a bunch of male guppies. That way we don't have to worry about an overpopulated tank. If some die, we can get more from the same source.
It is amazing how much neat stuff is available for a fish tank these days. At Wal-Mart, we got some plants and a nice little cave for the fish to hide in.
What we could not find was a replacement top for the tank. We'll have to go to a specialty pet store for that, I think. We really want a proper top for the tank, not just to keep the cats out either. The light makes a big difference in how a fish tank looks.
I've seen special lights for aquariums. There are lights to keep your tank clean. Lamps that can bring out the colour of your fish, and bulbs that warm the tank for tropical fish. Somebody must be putting a lot of time and thought into how to make a bunch of little captive fish happy and healthy pets.
It is amazing how quickly we get attached to our pets. At this point it is a multi-billion dollar industry. The dog and cat food businesses alone keep many people employed. Just go through the pet department of any major chain store. The toys alone are mind boggling.
I am looking forward to having the fish tank set up though. There is something relaxing about watching some colourful fish swimming around like they don't have a care in the world.

My worth

I often wonder these days at my value as a husband, and as a member of my community.
My wife has been under a lot of stress lately. I do my best to reassure her that things will be okay, but it doesn't help. It's as if there is something I should be actively doing, but I'm not. There isn't any real way I can help her to feel better. I try to listen, but sometimes she doesn't want to talk.
That is part of the problem. She wants me to talk to her, but I just don't have anything helpful to say. When I don't say anything, it seems like I just don't care.
Where I feel like a drain on my community is that I don't do too much of anything. As a recipient of a disability pension, there are few places in the community that I can get proper employment. I just don't have the skills necessary. Retraining is possible, but would still leave me without much in the way of job options. In this area, most of the work available is either specialized, or requires an able-bodied person.
What that really leaves me with is trying to find someplace that can use a volunteer. I did do some volunteer work at one time. Perhaps I should go back to that. Maybe one of the local organizations could use some one to organize, or keep records or something.
As for my value as a husband, I just try to be there when she needs to talk, and stay out of the way when she just wants to be alone.

The Canadian dollar

For the last week, the Canadian dollar (affectionately known as the loonie) has been trading at par with the American dollar. That hasn't happened in the better part of thirty years. The result is a rush to the border for those searching for bargains.
What I can't understand is why the same item is so much less expensive when purchased in the United States. More than sixty percent of the time, that product was manufactured in Canada in the first place. Even if that weren't the case, the price difference is sometimes beyond belief. Books are a prime example. On average, a hardcover book can be up to twenty-five percent more expensive in Canada than in the States. What is the deal with that?
Of course, currency is going to become obsolete one of these days. As it is, most of the money that trades hands is "imaginary". It is all just numbers in a few computers. Aside from vending machines and certain coffee shops, there really isn't a need to carry cash anymore. Everybody uses debit cards these days. In the future, I see secure biometrics being used, your fingerprint is your bank account access.
Why should we bother with exchange rates? It is a global economy, despite the protests of certain extreme groups. Perhaps it is high time that we acknowledged the fact, and came up with one global currency, something that we could all agree upon the value of. When resources are harder to come by, the currency would be worth more, reflecting the amount of effort to produce goods and services.
If we are going to argue that people should be thinking of the environment on a global scale, then maybe we should think of the global economy, the resources that link all of us.
I am very much an idealist. On the other hand, I know just how much stands between an ideal world and reality. Just putting it out there for consideration.