Sunday, December 30, 2007

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.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

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.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

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!

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

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.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

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?!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

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.

Monday, December 17, 2007

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.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

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.

Friday, December 14, 2007

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.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

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.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

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.

Monday, December 10, 2007

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?

Saturday, December 8, 2007

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.

Friday, December 7, 2007

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.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

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.

Monday, December 3, 2007

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!

Sunday, December 2, 2007

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.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

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.