It's time. Time to declutter. This is not something that I'm good at. I'd be the first to admit it. But it's time.
Where to start . . . the job seems too overwhelming. Maybe that's why I never get going on this larger-than-life project. So I picked something small and manageable in a short amount of time.
The mission: the bathroom cabinet. Its size fit the bill: 13 x 17 x 3.75 inches; two glass shelves plus the bottom. How hard could this be?
All medicine with a past expiry date (all it all was expired!) went into a bag to bring to the pharmacy to be disposed of properly. I can't tell why I saved some of that stuff. I'm not a pill-popper and I'm not often sick, so the chances of my taking something long after it had been bought are very slim.
Next, I looked at all bath and beauty products. If the contents smelled like the plastic container, they went into the garbage. I tried to be ruthless, which wasn't easy for me. On a scale of 1-10, I'd give myself a 7.75.
I have a long way to go, but as they say, tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life. My new motto is Less is More. What a bright future!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Icing Sugar and Ants
Ants were a topic of discussion in the staff room today. Specifically, how to get rid of them from your lawn or garden. Maybe even from a picnic.
Icing sugar and borax. Nobody mentioned the specific quantities of these two ingredients, but it was determined that this solution would be cheaper than cornmeal, another much-touted natural method of ant extermination.
Someone even knew where to find the borax--on the bottom shelf at Safeway, one of the local grocery stores. When this was voiced, another woman and I, as if reading from a teleprompter, both piped up in unison: "Twenty Mule Team Borax."
We both laughed; she said, "We're dating ourselves here."
I remember a black and white television ad, with a wagon train pulled by two lines of mules (no doubt ten to a line, although I don't remember ever counting to make sure). The company that made this brand of laundry booster sponsored that great old western, "Death Valley Days."
Now, it just sponsors Death Valley Days for the ants.
Icing sugar and borax. Nobody mentioned the specific quantities of these two ingredients, but it was determined that this solution would be cheaper than cornmeal, another much-touted natural method of ant extermination.
Someone even knew where to find the borax--on the bottom shelf at Safeway, one of the local grocery stores. When this was voiced, another woman and I, as if reading from a teleprompter, both piped up in unison: "Twenty Mule Team Borax."
We both laughed; she said, "We're dating ourselves here."
I remember a black and white television ad, with a wagon train pulled by two lines of mules (no doubt ten to a line, although I don't remember ever counting to make sure). The company that made this brand of laundry booster sponsored that great old western, "Death Valley Days."
Now, it just sponsors Death Valley Days for the ants.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother's Day
Yesterday, when talking with my grandchildren about Mother's Day, they asked a logical question: is there a Children's Day? I laughed and said that "everyday is Children's Day!" In North American culture, I think this is pretty true, but today is a day set aside specifically to honour mothers.
The ancient Israelites were admonished--no, commanded: "Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you (Exodus 20:12). Paul brings this forward to the New Testament church in Ephesians 6:2-3) when he emphasizes the promise attached to the commandment: "'Honour your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), 'that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.'"
Of course, in those times, there was no special day on which people honoured their mother; it was a year-round thing! It was an attitude and it was action.
What about today? The telephone company statistics tell us that more long-distance phone calls are made on Mother's Day than on any other day of the year, even Christmas. Flowers are bought and delivered. Family dinners are prepared, or Mom is given a day off from cooking dinner and washing dishes because her family takes her out to dinner. If they can't afford to go out, the kids will make her "breakfast in bed." When I was a kid, this event was tolerated with great affection and appreciation, and I can tell you from personal experience that crumbs in the bed are easily disposed of.
My mother passed away several years ago, but today I think of her. I think of her kindness, her creativity, her selflessness. I think of her strength, her determination, her stick-to-it-iveness. Of course, I think of her love. Her love to her family, her love to my sisters, her love to me.
With these thoughts in mind, I wish "Happy Mother's Day" to my daughter, who is a great mother to my grandchildren. She is carrying on in my mother's footsteps.
To all my friends who are mothers, I wish a Happy Mother's Day. May your "children rise up and call [you] blessed" (Proverbs 31:28).
The photos here are pictures of my mother when she was young. She was beautiful, and still is in my eyes.
The ancient Israelites were admonished--no, commanded: "Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you (Exodus 20:12). Paul brings this forward to the New Testament church in Ephesians 6:2-3) when he emphasizes the promise attached to the commandment: "'Honour your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), 'that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.'"
Of course, in those times, there was no special day on which people honoured their mother; it was a year-round thing! It was an attitude and it was action.
What about today? The telephone company statistics tell us that more long-distance phone calls are made on Mother's Day than on any other day of the year, even Christmas. Flowers are bought and delivered. Family dinners are prepared, or Mom is given a day off from cooking dinner and washing dishes because her family takes her out to dinner. If they can't afford to go out, the kids will make her "breakfast in bed." When I was a kid, this event was tolerated with great affection and appreciation, and I can tell you from personal experience that crumbs in the bed are easily disposed of.
My mother passed away several years ago, but today I think of her. I think of her kindness, her creativity, her selflessness. I think of her strength, her determination, her stick-to-it-iveness. Of course, I think of her love. Her love to her family, her love to my sisters, her love to me.
With these thoughts in mind, I wish "Happy Mother's Day" to my daughter, who is a great mother to my grandchildren. She is carrying on in my mother's footsteps.
To all my friends who are mothers, I wish a Happy Mother's Day. May your "children rise up and call [you] blessed" (Proverbs 31:28).
The photos here are pictures of my mother when she was young. She was beautiful, and still is in my eyes.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Lights are Still On!
I went by the bank corner [see yesterday's blog post] this morning. The lights were still on.
I'll be writing a polite note to the occupants of those offices, just to let them know that people do notice and ethics are important.
I'll be writing a polite note to the occupants of those offices, just to let them know that people do notice and ethics are important.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Earth Hour 2011
I've just returned from the Earth Hour event organized by NEAT, the local environmental action and awareness team. It was an evening of live music, chatting, visiting, coffee, and tea--and let's not forget those eco-tinis that were included in the ticket price.
From 8:30 to 9:30, all the lights were turned off in the cafe. Small "fake" candles on each of the tables provided . . . fake light. It was pleasant. The singing was sweet; the audience was happy to be there.
The inside of the cafe was also lit by the ambient street corner light from outside. So here we were in the dark, conscious of people everywhere taking part in the same ritual, mindful of the theme of this year's campaign: Beyond the Hour. We were encouraged to think of how we could make Earth Hour "last longer" by coming up with new ways to save energy in our homes on a daily basis, and not think that because we attended the Earth Hour event, we had done our duty and our part in saving the planet.
The singer, standing at the mike in the dark, drew our attention to what she saw outside across the street: the brightly lit sign of a bank. As I looked out the window at the red and yellow sign, I noticed that two of the offices on the second floor of the building next to the bank were ablaze with lights.
These were Law Offices: the lights were on, but nobody was home, as the saying goes.
Perhaps lawyers don't notice how much electricity costs because they don't have to notice--unlike the rest of us, who scrutinize our hydro bills and try to figure out what we can turn off to bring the bill down.
A few people gathered in a cafe in the dark for an hour can't save the world.
Everybody needs to do his or her part. Even lawyers.
From 8:30 to 9:30, all the lights were turned off in the cafe. Small "fake" candles on each of the tables provided . . . fake light. It was pleasant. The singing was sweet; the audience was happy to be there.
The inside of the cafe was also lit by the ambient street corner light from outside. So here we were in the dark, conscious of people everywhere taking part in the same ritual, mindful of the theme of this year's campaign: Beyond the Hour. We were encouraged to think of how we could make Earth Hour "last longer" by coming up with new ways to save energy in our homes on a daily basis, and not think that because we attended the Earth Hour event, we had done our duty and our part in saving the planet.
The singer, standing at the mike in the dark, drew our attention to what she saw outside across the street: the brightly lit sign of a bank. As I looked out the window at the red and yellow sign, I noticed that two of the offices on the second floor of the building next to the bank were ablaze with lights.
These were Law Offices: the lights were on, but nobody was home, as the saying goes.
Perhaps lawyers don't notice how much electricity costs because they don't have to notice--unlike the rest of us, who scrutinize our hydro bills and try to figure out what we can turn off to bring the bill down.
A few people gathered in a cafe in the dark for an hour can't save the world.
Everybody needs to do his or her part. Even lawyers.
Monday, March 21, 2011
I've Always Resisted, but Now, I've Relented!
I've always resisted reading C.S. Lewis. This is a bit odd because many of the people I know rave about him, maybe even idolize him a bit. Come to think of it, perhaps that's the exact reason I've resisted taking him up.
Recently, a few free books were put out on the back table at church, and I picked up a copy of Mere Christianity by Lewis. Not at all attacted to his books in the fantasy genre, which the whole world has gone ga-ga over, I thought I'd make a modest start.
It's not a long book, and I read it over the course of a week. The introduction explains that what appears in the chapters of the book was originally given radio addresses to the British people during the dark days of World War Two. It was Lewis trying to make some sense of his particular moment in history.
I admit it: I was so pleasantly surprised. Here was a man who was talking to his readers in a friendly tone, asking questions about Christianity and giving answers from his head and his heart. He anticipates many questions that his readers might ask and calmly answers them, yet does not evade the difficult answers.
Considering the state of the evangelical church today, I read his book with great interest. He was so sensible yet unwavering in his explanation of the tough questions.
A convert to C.S. Lewis? I wouldn't quite describe myself that way. Let's just say I've made a start. I'll be contemplating some of his thoughts and ideas over the next little while here at the-sheepcote.blogspot.com.
What about you? What's your experience with C.S. Lewis? Have you read Mere Christianity? What about the Narnia series?
Join the conversation by leaving a comment!
Recently, a few free books were put out on the back table at church, and I picked up a copy of Mere Christianity by Lewis. Not at all attacted to his books in the fantasy genre, which the whole world has gone ga-ga over, I thought I'd make a modest start.
It's not a long book, and I read it over the course of a week. The introduction explains that what appears in the chapters of the book was originally given radio addresses to the British people during the dark days of World War Two. It was Lewis trying to make some sense of his particular moment in history.
I admit it: I was so pleasantly surprised. Here was a man who was talking to his readers in a friendly tone, asking questions about Christianity and giving answers from his head and his heart. He anticipates many questions that his readers might ask and calmly answers them, yet does not evade the difficult answers.
Considering the state of the evangelical church today, I read his book with great interest. He was so sensible yet unwavering in his explanation of the tough questions.
A convert to C.S. Lewis? I wouldn't quite describe myself that way. Let's just say I've made a start. I'll be contemplating some of his thoughts and ideas over the next little while here at the-sheepcote.blogspot.com.
What about you? What's your experience with C.S. Lewis? Have you read Mere Christianity? What about the Narnia series?
Join the conversation by leaving a comment!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Who Do You Write Like?
Try this for fun: copy a few paragraphs from your blog or some other writing that you've done--fiction is best--into the dialog box at the following web site:
www.iwl.me
Click on the ANALYZE button, and presto! the program will analyze your writing and tell you who you write like.
As you can see, I've been analyzed.
I write like Kurt Vonnegut, famous and influential 20th century American writer. This didn't sound too bad, though I admit I had never read anything by him. So a few clicks on the keyboard and I brought up a few excerpts.
Hmm. What if I don't want to write like Kurt Vonnegut? I read some weird futuristic stuff, some stuff that was obviously influenced by his World War Two military service, and some stuff I just didn't get.
Maybe another piece of my writing would bring up another name. I found a story I had written back in my feminist awakening days and plugged it into the Analyzer at iwl.me. This time a new name that I had never heard before: Chuck Palahniuk. Okay, check him out. Wow, hmm, ooh, lots of police stories, prostitutes, drugs, awful things happening, blood, violence, etc., etc. Certainly not my first pick for curling up on the couch on a winter's eve for an engrossing read.
Anyway, today I went to the public library and took out three of Palahniuk's novels. The dust jacket of one of his books tells me that his books are "generation-defining" (another Douglas Coupland?) and that he's sold more than three million copies of his novels. Okay, maybe I should reconsider. Who wouldn't like that to be said about his or her writing?
I also took out Vonnegut's Bagombo Snuff Box. It's a collection of his uncollected short fiction (that means previously unpublished in book form). I've sat here for the last hour reading four short stories, totally engrossed in the author's craft. Now I see why he's counted as one of the recent American greats.
I've changed my mind. I'll wear the Kurt Vonnegut badge.
Maybe I should give Palahniuk another chance. I think I'll check out his non-fiction.
www.iwl.me
Click on the ANALYZE button, and presto! the program will analyze your writing and tell you who you write like.
As you can see, I've been analyzed.
I write like Kurt Vonnegut, famous and influential 20th century American writer. This didn't sound too bad, though I admit I had never read anything by him. So a few clicks on the keyboard and I brought up a few excerpts.
Hmm. What if I don't want to write like Kurt Vonnegut? I read some weird futuristic stuff, some stuff that was obviously influenced by his World War Two military service, and some stuff I just didn't get.
Maybe another piece of my writing would bring up another name. I found a story I had written back in my feminist awakening days and plugged it into the Analyzer at iwl.me. This time a new name that I had never heard before: Chuck Palahniuk. Okay, check him out. Wow, hmm, ooh, lots of police stories, prostitutes, drugs, awful things happening, blood, violence, etc., etc. Certainly not my first pick for curling up on the couch on a winter's eve for an engrossing read.
Anyway, today I went to the public library and took out three of Palahniuk's novels. The dust jacket of one of his books tells me that his books are "generation-defining" (another Douglas Coupland?) and that he's sold more than three million copies of his novels. Okay, maybe I should reconsider. Who wouldn't like that to be said about his or her writing?
I also took out Vonnegut's Bagombo Snuff Box. It's a collection of his uncollected short fiction (that means previously unpublished in book form). I've sat here for the last hour reading four short stories, totally engrossed in the author's craft. Now I see why he's counted as one of the recent American greats.
I've changed my mind. I'll wear the Kurt Vonnegut badge.
Maybe I should give Palahniuk another chance. I think I'll check out his non-fiction.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Strange Photo Caption
When the local weekly newspaper arrives in my mailbox, I glance through the ads, recycle them, and then browse through the paper, reading the articles that interest me. I like to keep up with what's happening in town.
Today, my attention was arrested by a caption under a photo of a happy looking older man and woman, sitting on a bench, obviously enjoying each other's company, a fine summer day, and a moment of laughter.
Nothing unusual in that, I suppose. What was strange was the caption: "As more and more Canadians reach 'baby boomer' status, society and business alike will feel the impact."
I wasn't aware that "baby boomer status" was something one "reached." Either you are a baby boomer or you're not. If you were born between 1946 and 1966 (the usual dates given), you are one.
I was also unaware that people were still being added to the ranks of baby boomers, but according to the photo caption, "more and more Canadians" are.
Although baby boomers represent almost a third of the Canadian population, apparently there are still not enough of us.
Today, my attention was arrested by a caption under a photo of a happy looking older man and woman, sitting on a bench, obviously enjoying each other's company, a fine summer day, and a moment of laughter.
Nothing unusual in that, I suppose. What was strange was the caption: "As more and more Canadians reach 'baby boomer' status, society and business alike will feel the impact."
I wasn't aware that "baby boomer status" was something one "reached." Either you are a baby boomer or you're not. If you were born between 1946 and 1966 (the usual dates given), you are one.
I was also unaware that people were still being added to the ranks of baby boomers, but according to the photo caption, "more and more Canadians" are.
Although baby boomers represent almost a third of the Canadian population, apparently there are still not enough of us.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Check-up!
I know it's only three days into the new year, but maybe it's a good time for a check-up to see how I'm doing on my resolutions. The one I'm interested in today is "Live Lean." Hmm. One trip to the grocery store and I've missed the mark already.
After a day at the toboggan hill, I invited my family over for soup for supper. I knew just what I wanted to make. O'Charley's Potato Soup. The only problem was that I didn't have even one of the ingredients I needed, not even the potatoes. I made a list and headed off to the store. A quick buzz around the aisles, and $41.17 later, I was ready to make that soup.
$41.17!!!! I know what you're thinking. I'm thinking exactly the same thing. That's a pretty expensive pot of soup. Six of us ate, so if we do the math, as they say, that works out to $6.86 a bowl. Well, that's not quite right because there was some left over, which I sent home with my family. So maybe they'll get tomorrow's lunch out of it, for four people. So that brings the price per bowl down to about $4.12 a bowl.
We had sandwiches on crusty buns with sliced sandwich meat, ham and summer sausage (some of which is also left over). Oh, and I have two 500 gram packages of bacon in my freezer (a three-pack, one of which I used for the soup, for $9.99).
Still, at the check-out, $41.17 didn't seem to be very lean.
After a day at the toboggan hill, I invited my family over for soup for supper. I knew just what I wanted to make. O'Charley's Potato Soup. The only problem was that I didn't have even one of the ingredients I needed, not even the potatoes. I made a list and headed off to the store. A quick buzz around the aisles, and $41.17 later, I was ready to make that soup.
$41.17!!!! I know what you're thinking. I'm thinking exactly the same thing. That's a pretty expensive pot of soup. Six of us ate, so if we do the math, as they say, that works out to $6.86 a bowl. Well, that's not quite right because there was some left over, which I sent home with my family. So maybe they'll get tomorrow's lunch out of it, for four people. So that brings the price per bowl down to about $4.12 a bowl.
We had sandwiches on crusty buns with sliced sandwich meat, ham and summer sausage (some of which is also left over). Oh, and I have two 500 gram packages of bacon in my freezer (a three-pack, one of which I used for the soup, for $9.99).
Still, at the check-out, $41.17 didn't seem to be very lean.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Is it Too Late for Resolutions?
I hope it's not too late to post my resolutions. Somehow, having them public seems to be a good thing. It makes me more accountable. At any time during the year, feel free to ask me how I'm doing on my resolutions. I've categorized them so it will be easier for me to keep track; as well, the list will be posted on my fridge.
In 2011, I would like to . . .
Spiritual
Finish two courses for my Master’s degree
Read through the Bible at least once
Physical
Walk or bike to work
Drink at least four glasses of water a day
Intellectual
Take Creative Writing
Read more poetry
Write more on my blog
Environmental
Keep up with the recycling
Be more conscious and careful of water and electricity use
Household Projects
Patch and paint stairwell
Clean filing cabinets (aim for two empty drawers)
In General
Live lean (this means spend less money frivolously)
In 2011, I would like to . . .
Spiritual
Finish two courses for my Master’s degree
Read through the Bible at least once
Physical
Walk or bike to work
Drink at least four glasses of water a day
Intellectual
Take Creative Writing
Read more poetry
Write more on my blog
Environmental
Keep up with the recycling
Be more conscious and careful of water and electricity use
Household Projects
Patch and paint stairwell
Clean filing cabinets (aim for two empty drawers)
In General
Live lean (this means spend less money frivolously)
Friday, December 31, 2010
Trying to be Helpful
This morning, I drove by the mailbox as the driver was putting the mail into the slots for the houses in my area. A letter carrier was also collecting her bundle of mail from the truck and starting out on her route. As she started up the block, I saw something drop from her hand. From where I sat, it looked like a chain with keys. She didn't seem to notice, so I stopped my car, turned it around in the intersection, pulled over to the side, got out, and . . . no, it wasn't keys at all.
Four elastics. Four wide elastic bands--the kind used to bundle mail together for the carriers.
Hmm. The truth of what had happened dawned on me. Those elastics were not dropped by accident. The carrier unbundled her mail and THREW them on the ground. I picked them up, got back in my car, and continued on my errand run.
Thinking back over this, I wonder now how that letter carrier thought those elastics were going to be useful there in the snow. Or how they would be "recycled" through the layers of pavement once spring came and the snow melted away, to return to the earth from whence they came.
I wonder.
Four elastics. Four wide elastic bands--the kind used to bundle mail together for the carriers.
Hmm. The truth of what had happened dawned on me. Those elastics were not dropped by accident. The carrier unbundled her mail and THREW them on the ground. I picked them up, got back in my car, and continued on my errand run.
Thinking back over this, I wonder now how that letter carrier thought those elastics were going to be useful there in the snow. Or how they would be "recycled" through the layers of pavement once spring came and the snow melted away, to return to the earth from whence they came.
I wonder.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Solving My Own Problem in an Environmentally Friendly Way
Yesterday, I called the local home renovation centre and asked if they had any reel lawn mowers. “You know,” I said, “the kind without an electric or gasoline motor.”
“Oh,” said the woman on the other end of the line, “you mean you want one with a diesel engine.”
No, actually, what I meant was that I wanted one with no engine at all. I wanted the kind everyone used to have. Mechanical moving parts. A handle, two wheels, and several twisted blades that turned when the wheels turned. The design hasn’t changed much over the last century.
“Let me check and see what we have. It’s kind of late in the season. We might be all sold out.”
After a few minutes, her voice came back on the line. “We have one.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I’ll come down and have a look.”
It was just what I was looking for. The handle and frame were turquoise and the blades were orange. A Gardena brand. Hmm . . . at $289 plus tax, the price seemed a bit steep for the end of the season and no motor. I’d have to think about it.
I called my son-in-law to see if he could stop by on his way home from work and have a look at it. He knows about all things mechanical. He was busy but said that he thought my next-door neighbour used to have a push mower.
“Maybe you could try before you buy," he said. "Just ask. Maybe they’ll let you try theirs out.”
Good advice, as usual. Today, I saw my neighbour out tending her beautiful flowers in her yard, so I took the opportunity and popped over. I explained my situation and she said, “Sure.”
She opened her garden shed and there was . . . the exact same model as the one I had just seen for $289 (plus tax!).
“If you want, I’ll even sell it to you,” she said.
That was music to my ears! Back over to my side of the fence. Up and down in rows not-quite-straight. The grass was actually a bit too long—I had let it go for too many weeks without a trim—and so in some places, the mower didn’t exactly cut, more like just mashed the grass down. But back and forth a few times in the same spot solved the problem. I was out there in the front and back yard for more than an hour. These mowers don’t have a handy bag that catches all the grass, so raking is necessary unless you want to go au naturel and leave the clippings. Because the grass was so long, I decided to rake this time.
I knocked on my neighbour’s door. “The good points are: I can work it, but I’m not crazy about yard work, but it’s good exercise and I can do it myself. I don’t have to fiddle with it to start it or mess around with gasoline. How much do you want for it?”
I held my breath. Any amount less than $289 would sound good to me. She had used it for about six years, she told me, but really, what can go wrong with this type of mower?
“How does fifty dollars sound?”
More music! I had been prepared in my mind for two, three times as much! I was delighted!
“I’ll run to the bank and get you the money right now,” I said.
“Well, take it easy for a bit and cool down,” she said.
I must have been working harder than I thought. My car keys were in my pocket. I opened the garage door. Having conquered the mower, I hauled out my bike. Cheap to run and provides some exercise. Just like my new lawn mower!
“Oh,” said the woman on the other end of the line, “you mean you want one with a diesel engine.”
No, actually, what I meant was that I wanted one with no engine at all. I wanted the kind everyone used to have. Mechanical moving parts. A handle, two wheels, and several twisted blades that turned when the wheels turned. The design hasn’t changed much over the last century.
“Let me check and see what we have. It’s kind of late in the season. We might be all sold out.”
After a few minutes, her voice came back on the line. “We have one.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I’ll come down and have a look.”
It was just what I was looking for. The handle and frame were turquoise and the blades were orange. A Gardena brand. Hmm . . . at $289 plus tax, the price seemed a bit steep for the end of the season and no motor. I’d have to think about it.
I called my son-in-law to see if he could stop by on his way home from work and have a look at it. He knows about all things mechanical. He was busy but said that he thought my next-door neighbour used to have a push mower.
“Maybe you could try before you buy," he said. "Just ask. Maybe they’ll let you try theirs out.”
Good advice, as usual. Today, I saw my neighbour out tending her beautiful flowers in her yard, so I took the opportunity and popped over. I explained my situation and she said, “Sure.”
She opened her garden shed and there was . . . the exact same model as the one I had just seen for $289 (plus tax!).
“If you want, I’ll even sell it to you,” she said.
That was music to my ears! Back over to my side of the fence. Up and down in rows not-quite-straight. The grass was actually a bit too long—I had let it go for too many weeks without a trim—and so in some places, the mower didn’t exactly cut, more like just mashed the grass down. But back and forth a few times in the same spot solved the problem. I was out there in the front and back yard for more than an hour. These mowers don’t have a handy bag that catches all the grass, so raking is necessary unless you want to go au naturel and leave the clippings. Because the grass was so long, I decided to rake this time.
I knocked on my neighbour’s door. “The good points are: I can work it, but I’m not crazy about yard work, but it’s good exercise and I can do it myself. I don’t have to fiddle with it to start it or mess around with gasoline. How much do you want for it?”
I held my breath. Any amount less than $289 would sound good to me. She had used it for about six years, she told me, but really, what can go wrong with this type of mower?
“How does fifty dollars sound?”
More music! I had been prepared in my mind for two, three times as much! I was delighted!
“I’ll run to the bank and get you the money right now,” I said.
“Well, take it easy for a bit and cool down,” she said.
I must have been working harder than I thought. My car keys were in my pocket. I opened the garage door. Having conquered the mower, I hauled out my bike. Cheap to run and provides some exercise. Just like my new lawn mower!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Ready and Willing
I'm the kind of person who, if a friend mentions a book that he or she is reading, I'll read it, too, so we can talk about it together. That's always my hope, anyway.
Once I slogged through an 1,100-page biography of American actress Lilian Hellman because a friend said she was reading a biography of Hellman. It didn't quite work out as I thought, though. The book I got from the library was a biography of Hellman, but, unfortunately, it wasn't the same biography as my friend was reading. Imagine being famous enough to have two fat biographies written about you! Anyway, we never did discuss it.
Then there's my Spanish-speaking friend. "I'm reading Robinson Crusoe," she announced one day. "I've already read it in Spanish, but now I'm going to read it in English."
Wanting to encourage her, I said, "That's great! It's been a while since I've read it. I'll read along too and then we can discuss it!"
As this was a relatively non-busy time for me, I whipped through the library copy fairly quickly--a week or less. I was ready to discuss!
"How are you coming along with Crusoe?" I asked one day shortly after that. Well, now that school was back in, it was a relatively very busy time for her as she was taking six courses, and Robinson Crusoe was left on his island by himself. Another book I never discussed!
Now it's summer again, a time for relaxing and, yes, reading the afternoons away. Having abandoned Crusoe, my Spanish-speaking friend is braving Wuthering Heights. This time, I didn't have to run to the public library to get a copy. Right during our Skype conversation, I pulled my own copy off my bookshelf, noting that I had read it during a fourth-year Women and Literature course in the Spring 1996 semester. Fourteen years ago! No wonder the details were foggy!
I promoted it to my bedside table and am making my way across the heath and cliffs. Last MSN conversation I had with my friend, I casually asked, "How are you making out with Wuthering Heights? I'm on page 48."
"Ahhhhhh!" she shrieked. "I haven't even got my copy yet."
Is this another not-to-be-discussed book? I hope not because my copy is a veritable rainbow of highlighting--blue for the supernatural (devil, angels, hell, heaven), yellow for banishment or exile, orange - Nelly, pink - forgiveness, and green for references to the landscape. Such a shame to let all that work go to waste! I'm not sure if the discussions will ever take place, but I'll keep on reading, just in case.
Tonight, I was talking with a friend whom I haven't seen for more than 30 years, but who recently reconnected with me. You guessed it. She mentioned a book she's reading: Why I'm Not a Calvinist. "Ah-ha!" I pounced. "I have the companion volume, Why I'm Not an Arminian. You read yours, and I'll read mine, and then we can talk about them."
Even as I said these words, I was reminded of some verses in James:
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"--yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that" (James 4:13-15).
As a strong believer in the sovereignty of God, I rephrase: "You read yours, and I'll read mine, and then we can talk about them . . . if the Lord wills."
Once I slogged through an 1,100-page biography of American actress Lilian Hellman because a friend said she was reading a biography of Hellman. It didn't quite work out as I thought, though. The book I got from the library was a biography of Hellman, but, unfortunately, it wasn't the same biography as my friend was reading. Imagine being famous enough to have two fat biographies written about you! Anyway, we never did discuss it.
Then there's my Spanish-speaking friend. "I'm reading Robinson Crusoe," she announced one day. "I've already read it in Spanish, but now I'm going to read it in English."
Wanting to encourage her, I said, "That's great! It's been a while since I've read it. I'll read along too and then we can discuss it!"
As this was a relatively non-busy time for me, I whipped through the library copy fairly quickly--a week or less. I was ready to discuss!
"How are you coming along with Crusoe?" I asked one day shortly after that. Well, now that school was back in, it was a relatively very busy time for her as she was taking six courses, and Robinson Crusoe was left on his island by himself. Another book I never discussed!
Now it's summer again, a time for relaxing and, yes, reading the afternoons away. Having abandoned Crusoe, my Spanish-speaking friend is braving Wuthering Heights. This time, I didn't have to run to the public library to get a copy. Right during our Skype conversation, I pulled my own copy off my bookshelf, noting that I had read it during a fourth-year Women and Literature course in the Spring 1996 semester. Fourteen years ago! No wonder the details were foggy!
I promoted it to my bedside table and am making my way across the heath and cliffs. Last MSN conversation I had with my friend, I casually asked, "How are you making out with Wuthering Heights? I'm on page 48."
"Ahhhhhh!" she shrieked. "I haven't even got my copy yet."
Is this another not-to-be-discussed book? I hope not because my copy is a veritable rainbow of highlighting--blue for the supernatural (devil, angels, hell, heaven), yellow for banishment or exile, orange - Nelly, pink - forgiveness, and green for references to the landscape. Such a shame to let all that work go to waste! I'm not sure if the discussions will ever take place, but I'll keep on reading, just in case.
Tonight, I was talking with a friend whom I haven't seen for more than 30 years, but who recently reconnected with me. You guessed it. She mentioned a book she's reading: Why I'm Not a Calvinist. "Ah-ha!" I pounced. "I have the companion volume, Why I'm Not an Arminian. You read yours, and I'll read mine, and then we can talk about them."
Even as I said these words, I was reminded of some verses in James:
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"--yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that" (James 4:13-15).
As a strong believer in the sovereignty of God, I rephrase: "You read yours, and I'll read mine, and then we can talk about them . . . if the Lord wills."
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Folly
All over, in many cities and towns across North America, this weekend was a soccer weekend. No, I’m not talking about the FIFA World Cup. It was something on a smaller scale—thousands of kids played in outdoor soccer leagues during May and June, and this weekend was the tournament weekend.
Parents and grandparents ferried their kids and grandkids to the fields, watched them play, cheered them on, and proudly took photos of the kids receiving their medals. For the younger ones, participation is rewarded, with everyone on every team getting the same medal. For the older kids, they are out there hustling for the gold, silver, or bronze!
Such an event takes lots of planning, and I salute those who did such a great job. Coaches, too, deserve a round of applause for dedicating at least two evenings a week for two months to helping the kids develop their skills and encouraging team play.
Of course, with hundreds of kids gathered for hours on end, there need to be “facilities.” And there were. Johnny was On the Spot, and made use of during the day. It was hot; the kids are running hard and drinking lots of water. You see my point.
It being the weekend, however, those companies that supplied the Johnny on the Spot facilities were not available to collect them after the tournament was over on Sunday. I guess workers will arrive on Monday to do that job.
Where is the folly that the title alludes to? Well, this afternoon I saw several young people (teens) do something foolish. They were crossing one of the school yards where the soccer tournament had taken place. On seeing the Johnny on the Spot that was waiting to be removed, they took matters into their own hands and tipped the small grey building over. This was accompanied by pushing, shoving, and lots of laughter. They quickly went on their way and disappeared from the field.
When those teens arrived home, and their parents asked them what they had been doing that afternoon, my guess is that they did not tell their parents about what they had done. Probably their parents would not have been amused.
Neither will the workers who arrive at the field on Monday to pick up their cargo. Johnny is no longer on the spot where it had been installed.
Parents and grandparents ferried their kids and grandkids to the fields, watched them play, cheered them on, and proudly took photos of the kids receiving their medals. For the younger ones, participation is rewarded, with everyone on every team getting the same medal. For the older kids, they are out there hustling for the gold, silver, or bronze!
Such an event takes lots of planning, and I salute those who did such a great job. Coaches, too, deserve a round of applause for dedicating at least two evenings a week for two months to helping the kids develop their skills and encouraging team play.
Of course, with hundreds of kids gathered for hours on end, there need to be “facilities.” And there were. Johnny was On the Spot, and made use of during the day. It was hot; the kids are running hard and drinking lots of water. You see my point.
It being the weekend, however, those companies that supplied the Johnny on the Spot facilities were not available to collect them after the tournament was over on Sunday. I guess workers will arrive on Monday to do that job.
Where is the folly that the title alludes to? Well, this afternoon I saw several young people (teens) do something foolish. They were crossing one of the school yards where the soccer tournament had taken place. On seeing the Johnny on the Spot that was waiting to be removed, they took matters into their own hands and tipped the small grey building over. This was accompanied by pushing, shoving, and lots of laughter. They quickly went on their way and disappeared from the field.
When those teens arrived home, and their parents asked them what they had been doing that afternoon, my guess is that they did not tell their parents about what they had done. Probably their parents would not have been amused.
Neither will the workers who arrive at the field on Monday to pick up their cargo. Johnny is no longer on the spot where it had been installed.
Monday, June 7, 2010
One True Sentence
A friend was staying with me this weekend. She’s a writer, with 16 fiction and non-fiction books to her credit, plus hundreds of articles and short stories, some of which have been anthologized. She teaches writing workshops to school children as well as to adults.
She was telling me that, over the years, she’s had 38 jobs. Some lasted only one day. Her last job lasted for 12 years. Once, she up and quit her job, called up her travel agent, and said she wanted an adventure. She got one: on his advice, she, her husband, and their two daughters left Canada for a year to live in Australia.
She has what I call a “spirit of adventure.” Not only does she do many different things, she mines each experience for the most it can give her. She meets people, talks to them, takes a genuine interest in what they do and in their lives, and then composts all those experiences into fertile soil for her writing.
She’s a great story-teller. Story after story, one leading right to another, the words rush out of her mouth, putting the listener in the middle of the scene. With all her adventures as foundation, she has many tales. Yarns they might have been called in another era. But they’re something more than that. They’re art.
Art? Yes, art. Life happens. Life is messy. It’s the unexpected, the unexplainable, the unpredictable. Life is definitely not art.
Art, on the other hand, is Life Arranged. The medium doesn’t matter. We compose a photograph, moving over slightly to avoid the appearance of a tree branch sticking out of someone’s head. A painter arranges and interprets a scene, adding something here, removing something there to make a harmonious whole. Even a portrait that looks the very likeness of its subject is the result of an artist’s mind and hand working in concert to interpret the face, the posture, the body language, the light, the shadow. A writer, also, arranges: time, events, moods, accidents, coincidences, and a cast of characters to tell the story.
I’ve been inspired! I want to rev up my spirit of adventure. This doesn’t mean I’ll be taking off for Australia any time soon, but I want to soak up all I can from the experiences I have. I want to gather raw material and put it into the composter. I want to remember the details—colours, smells, sounds, faces, postures—so when I tell a story, it’s true.
Even if it’s not exactly the way it happened, it will still be true.
She was telling me that, over the years, she’s had 38 jobs. Some lasted only one day. Her last job lasted for 12 years. Once, she up and quit her job, called up her travel agent, and said she wanted an adventure. She got one: on his advice, she, her husband, and their two daughters left Canada for a year to live in Australia.
She has what I call a “spirit of adventure.” Not only does she do many different things, she mines each experience for the most it can give her. She meets people, talks to them, takes a genuine interest in what they do and in their lives, and then composts all those experiences into fertile soil for her writing.
She’s a great story-teller. Story after story, one leading right to another, the words rush out of her mouth, putting the listener in the middle of the scene. With all her adventures as foundation, she has many tales. Yarns they might have been called in another era. But they’re something more than that. They’re art.
Art? Yes, art. Life happens. Life is messy. It’s the unexpected, the unexplainable, the unpredictable. Life is definitely not art.
Art, on the other hand, is Life Arranged. The medium doesn’t matter. We compose a photograph, moving over slightly to avoid the appearance of a tree branch sticking out of someone’s head. A painter arranges and interprets a scene, adding something here, removing something there to make a harmonious whole. Even a portrait that looks the very likeness of its subject is the result of an artist’s mind and hand working in concert to interpret the face, the posture, the body language, the light, the shadow. A writer, also, arranges: time, events, moods, accidents, coincidences, and a cast of characters to tell the story.
I’ve been inspired! I want to rev up my spirit of adventure. This doesn’t mean I’ll be taking off for Australia any time soon, but I want to soak up all I can from the experiences I have. I want to gather raw material and put it into the composter. I want to remember the details—colours, smells, sounds, faces, postures—so when I tell a story, it’s true.
Even if it’s not exactly the way it happened, it will still be true.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Cheap at Twice the Price!
I received some advertising today from a national (maybe inter- or multinational) company that sells a variety of electronics goods and gadgets. Not being important enough for a cell phone and not owning an iAnything, I don’t often shop at this store, but today, something in the ad caught my eye.
The price wasn’t too high, only $79.95. Oh . . . then I saw the small print: on a 3-yr. term ($399.95 no term). Hmm . . . well, that upped the ante quite a bit, but still not too far out of reach.
The paragraph describing the item was sprinkled with words with the TM (Trade Mark) beside them, words that even my Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition, doesn’t carry. I guessed that DEXT had something to do with text, and MOTOBLUR—this sounded a bit negative to me, as if I wouldn’t want it, but apparently, it must be something excellent as it was mentioned twice in the small paragraph, once preceded by the word Only.
The photo showed what I’ll call a two-layer cell phone, a cell phone with a little sliding tray with a mini-QWERTY keyboard. It claimed to be a smartphone, Bluetooth compatible, with a 5 mp camera, capable of sending and receiving e-mail, media-ready, Internet-ready, and Wi-Fi ready.
Now I must admit that I have been a bit left behind in the electronic revolution. Once a few years ago, I thought I was ahead, but now I know I’m not. I’m running pretty close to the back of the pack.
I wasn’t interested in this ad because I think I need a cell phone. No, no! And I have a camera already and a cheap mp3 player, the name of which does not begin with “i.” If I want to send or read my e-mail, I actually sit down in front of my computer at work or at home and compose or read my messages.
No, I was interested in what this smartphone promised to bring to my life, beyond the fact that I’d have “no apps to open and no menus to dig through.” No, I was interested in only one thing.
It’s something that I’ve worked hard all my life to achieve, and yet, it still seems to elude me. I’ve put in lots of effort, sometimes some money, and plenty of time over the years. I’ve spent hour upon hour talking on the phone to friends and family, helping them through crises of one sort or another. I’ve stayed up all night on occasion, more than one, to comfort a friend. I’ve carried on thousands of conversations with myself in my head, practicing what I’d say in certain touchy situations, so it would come out right and wouldn’t offend. I’d worked hard, and now, I was confronted with the upsetting news that I could have saved myself the trouble. For a mere $400 less loose change, I was being promised something I’d been on the qui vive for all my life.
Instant social gratification. Yes, that’s what this ad promised, as incredible as it may sound! Doesn't that seem like the answer to world war, world peace, global warming, global cooling, climate change, environmental degradation, and all the other ills of this world? Think of those three words separately--instant . . . social . . . gratification—and now put them together for a powerhouse expression—instant social gratification. Who wouldn’t want this?
For $400, sign me up!
The price wasn’t too high, only $79.95. Oh . . . then I saw the small print: on a 3-yr. term ($399.95 no term). Hmm . . . well, that upped the ante quite a bit, but still not too far out of reach.
The paragraph describing the item was sprinkled with words with the TM (Trade Mark) beside them, words that even my Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition, doesn’t carry. I guessed that DEXT had something to do with text, and MOTOBLUR—this sounded a bit negative to me, as if I wouldn’t want it, but apparently, it must be something excellent as it was mentioned twice in the small paragraph, once preceded by the word Only.
The photo showed what I’ll call a two-layer cell phone, a cell phone with a little sliding tray with a mini-QWERTY keyboard. It claimed to be a smartphone, Bluetooth compatible, with a 5 mp camera, capable of sending and receiving e-mail, media-ready, Internet-ready, and Wi-Fi ready.Now I must admit that I have been a bit left behind in the electronic revolution. Once a few years ago, I thought I was ahead, but now I know I’m not. I’m running pretty close to the back of the pack.
I wasn’t interested in this ad because I think I need a cell phone. No, no! And I have a camera already and a cheap mp3 player, the name of which does not begin with “i.” If I want to send or read my e-mail, I actually sit down in front of my computer at work or at home and compose or read my messages.
No, I was interested in what this smartphone promised to bring to my life, beyond the fact that I’d have “no apps to open and no menus to dig through.” No, I was interested in only one thing.
It’s something that I’ve worked hard all my life to achieve, and yet, it still seems to elude me. I’ve put in lots of effort, sometimes some money, and plenty of time over the years. I’ve spent hour upon hour talking on the phone to friends and family, helping them through crises of one sort or another. I’ve stayed up all night on occasion, more than one, to comfort a friend. I’ve carried on thousands of conversations with myself in my head, practicing what I’d say in certain touchy situations, so it would come out right and wouldn’t offend. I’d worked hard, and now, I was confronted with the upsetting news that I could have saved myself the trouble. For a mere $400 less loose change, I was being promised something I’d been on the qui vive for all my life.
Instant social gratification. Yes, that’s what this ad promised, as incredible as it may sound! Doesn't that seem like the answer to world war, world peace, global warming, global cooling, climate change, environmental degradation, and all the other ills of this world? Think of those three words separately--instant . . . social . . . gratification—and now put them together for a powerhouse expression—instant social gratification. Who wouldn’t want this?
For $400, sign me up!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Number of our Days
There was a lot going on in town today. It was the annual Bluey Day. It’s a day, when in sympathy for those who undergo chemotherapy, and, as a result, lose their hair, people young and old voluntarily shave their heads. In preparation for today, my grandson's 11-year-old friend dyed his hair bright pink a month ago. Both of his grandmas had breast cancer and one died from it.
A couple of weeks ago, he sent me an e-mail, asking if I would like to sponsor him, and I said yes, of course I would. Today when we arrived at the shearing station to cheer him on, he was $1.70 short of having raised $2010. The significance of the amount did not escape us, and I hunted through my change for the $1.70. When his turn came, we watched as the volunteer from the hair salon ploughed a path from his forehead to the nape of his neck with her electric cutter. After his head was shaved, we took pictures of the kids with him. Well done!
Another event today was the annual Relay for Life, a fundraiser that takes place in towns and cities large and small all across the nation. The junior high school track is the site for this 10-hour walk, with teams sporting names such as the Chemo Queens, Gunning for Cancer, and the Rootin’, Tootin’, Shootin’ for Pink Mountain Mamas. On the Memory Board, participants can post photos of those who have died from cancer. The closing ceremony, with more than a thousand luminaries (a white paper bag decorated with the name of someone who has survived or died from cancer; a tea light candle is placed inside the bag) lining the edge of the track is quite moving. The word HOPE is spelled out with luminaries. We walk a silent lap and remember.How much time and money will it take before cancer is beaten? I don’t know . . . but these events remind me that we are not God . . . and neither is cancer.
It is God who gives us our breath. When we leave this earth, it is not some random accident. Our life is in God’s hands. He knows the number of our days.
Our hope is not in research funding, as needful as that is. It is not in earlier detection, better care, or chemical miracles.
Our hope is our God and our Saviour. Psalm 71:5 says: For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
On days like today, this comforts me.
Friday, May 28, 2010
The End of An Era
I lost a great friend today.
A long-time friend who loved me with all his heart. I believe there is nothing he would not have done for me.
He was my spiritual father. He preached the gospel to me, the good news of forgiveness and salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He prayed with me as I confessed my sins and received new life in Christ.
I first met this man when I was 16. Although he was just over four years older than I was, I always thought he was a lot older. He was already mature in God. He was a leader in Montreal Youth for Christ. This Christian outreach youth group operated in many high schools in Montreal, but, for some reason, was not allowed in to Macdonald High School, where I was in Grade 10. An alternative arrangement was made, and a group began in the home of a member of the local Presbyterian Church. I attended this group because it was in the home of a friend (my boyfriend’s sister’s boyfriend!)
It was there that I first heard the gospel. It was there that I prayed the sinner’s prayer. It was there that I turned my life over to Christ. It was there I received forgiveness.
That was more than forty years ago. In the forty years since that time, I saw that this friend was a man who loved God. He loved the Word of God. He used to joke that he’d forgotten more scripture than most people ever knew. I saw a man who was fervent in his search for the things of God.
I saw a man who, when his first wife was killed in a plane accident, gave glory to a sovereign God and did not falter in his faith. Many eyes were on him at that time, and the faith of many was strengthened.
Through the providence of God, I was blessed with the friendship of his second wife, who became my dear, dear friend. I drew close to their family, and their family and my family spent countless hours together. Talking, playing, planning, studying. Always returning to the history we had together, to the bond of love in Christ that bound us to each other.
This great friend was a man who dreamed big. He had grand ideas, even if he didn’t always have the ways and means to bring them to fruition. He was never downcast. It was always “onward and upward” with him. Today, he went onward and upward. Today, he went home to be with the Lord.
He was a dynamic and charismatic person, and I loved him. I loved his love of the Word. I loved his love of God. I loved his laughter, his voice, his smile. I loved him for who he was. I loved him for the man he was in God. But mostly, I just loved him.
Ross Walter Bracewell. February 20, 1947-May 28, 2010.
A long-time friend who loved me with all his heart. I believe there is nothing he would not have done for me.
He was my spiritual father. He preached the gospel to me, the good news of forgiveness and salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He prayed with me as I confessed my sins and received new life in Christ.
I first met this man when I was 16. Although he was just over four years older than I was, I always thought he was a lot older. He was already mature in God. He was a leader in Montreal Youth for Christ. This Christian outreach youth group operated in many high schools in Montreal, but, for some reason, was not allowed in to Macdonald High School, where I was in Grade 10. An alternative arrangement was made, and a group began in the home of a member of the local Presbyterian Church. I attended this group because it was in the home of a friend (my boyfriend’s sister’s boyfriend!)
It was there that I first heard the gospel. It was there that I prayed the sinner’s prayer. It was there that I turned my life over to Christ. It was there I received forgiveness.
That was more than forty years ago. In the forty years since that time, I saw that this friend was a man who loved God. He loved the Word of God. He used to joke that he’d forgotten more scripture than most people ever knew. I saw a man who was fervent in his search for the things of God.
I saw a man who, when his first wife was killed in a plane accident, gave glory to a sovereign God and did not falter in his faith. Many eyes were on him at that time, and the faith of many was strengthened.
Through the providence of God, I was blessed with the friendship of his second wife, who became my dear, dear friend. I drew close to their family, and their family and my family spent countless hours together. Talking, playing, planning, studying. Always returning to the history we had together, to the bond of love in Christ that bound us to each other.
This great friend was a man who dreamed big. He had grand ideas, even if he didn’t always have the ways and means to bring them to fruition. He was never downcast. It was always “onward and upward” with him. Today, he went onward and upward. Today, he went home to be with the Lord.
He was a dynamic and charismatic person, and I loved him. I loved his love of the Word. I loved his love of God. I loved his laughter, his voice, his smile. I loved him for who he was. I loved him for the man he was in God. But mostly, I just loved him.
Ross Walter Bracewell. February 20, 1947-May 28, 2010.
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