Taking a Winter Vacation

One of the questionable pleasures of air travel in the wake of 9/11 is the joy of being treated as if one is about to enter a maximum security penal institution at the airport. Number two is that it costs almost as much to get to and from the airport as the flight itself. Despite Spartan conditions I made it safely from Oakville to Halifax Region on the 17^th of February and thanks to our pilot made the softest landing I can remember. Home is where we are accepted for who we are warts and all and there’s nothing like a warm fire to make one feel welcome.

I could, however have done without the other houseguests but isn’t he cute?

I’d arranged for the three of us—my Sister, Marguerite and Brother-in-Law, Richard to go to Halifax Feast Dinner Theatrethat Saturday night and discovered that Richard can’t go anywhere without running into work. The food was first class and we selected an excellent Merlot to go with it. The floor show was a take-off on the sitcom Cheers entitled Jeers and while no one could fault the actors’ musicianship thehumour was a bit raunchy for my taste.

http://www.feastdinnertheatre.com/index4.html

Sunday and time for church. Well, I was visiting the pillars of the congregation. Pastor Jim Slack, Jr. has aged a might since I knew him at Camp Mush-a-Mush at age 7. In the afternoon Richard and I took a long walk around the old Shubenacedie Canal Lock area.

We’d checked out the subdivision the day before. When we got back I was initiated into the joys of the Daytona 500—my Brother-in-Law is a mechanic after all. Those racers don’t so much drive those carsas wear them. Somehow it’s a young man’s game; I don’t particularly follow racing but most of the drivers seem to be atleast second-generation members of elite racing families. The finish was more like a demolition derby. When I got the chance I dipped into the Joudrey’s DVD collection.

Monday saw a blizzard hit the southern counties of Nova Scotia and although we were spared the worst in the Halifax area it was still a good day to be in by the fire. I spent time reading and fine-tuning my Brother-in-Law’s laptops. In fact, my efforts were so successful I got to work on at least four in all.

Tuesday, as pre-arranged Marguerite drove me to Bridgewater where we visited Bridgewater Mall for the “conveniences” and looked up Ganong’s Double-Thick Peppermints at Sobeys. At Ten I visited my Land Surveyor, a former schoolmate to learn about the hassles of being an absentee landowner of property that has never been accurately run. Business completed we went to visit my Father’s Sister, his junior by 10 years but now in her 87^thyear. There’s some pleasure in knowing that one can still walk into a few homes unannounced and unexpected and be made welcome. I do wish that I lived closer to be able to listen to the ‘gossip’ more frequently. The drive to and from along Hwy 103 was remarkable for the incredible number of potholes on a major trunk route. The storm of the night before had coated the trees along the road on the side facing toward the Atlantic in snow.

Wednesday and a trip to Mic Mac Mall inDartmouth. No word on what the local First Nations people think of that appellation. Went looking for some locally available CD’s and found a couple prints by a local artist named Frank Boudreau; my picture framer will be happy.

http://www.frankboudreau.com

This being Ash Wednesday, we were back in Church by 7:30.

Thursday. What’s a vacation if one doesn’t get a chance to sleep in? Richard had taken the day off and we went for a walk in Point Pleasant Park. It’s one thing to have read the Hurricane Juan knocked down 360,000 trees in this one park; it’s another to see the devastation up close—the park was closed for months until it could be made safe.

After that bracing walk we had lunch at Your Father’s Moustache on Spring Garden Rd:

http://www.yourfathersmoustache.ca/

And a fine meal it was! I’d go back again anytime. After we examined the dubious wares of the Halifax Mall which was under going major renovations. Have you ever been accosted by a talking pylon? Closer to home I discovered abook I didn’t already own at the local Chapters and then checked out the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission’s flagship store. One of its features is six varieties of wine available for fill your ownbottling and sampling in store. We settled for some Keith’s Ale after walking the aisles. No one asked us for proof of age ID. After supper Richard and I took a long walk in the crisp clear night air and did some stargazing though a waxing moon made it impossible to see the Milky Way.

Friday and I got up to join Richard while hemade breakfast. Joined Marguerite as she accompanied Richard’s sister Annie to the airport. In the afternoon went for a long walk with my sister stopping to check out a local arts and crafts store. We went back later when we had cash to pickup a heart-shaped jute welcome mat. After supper a warm fire, pop corn and a movie were the order of the day.

Saturday. Taking a bath in a household that attempts to save on power in an electrically heated home is a challenge. I did survive. Richard drove me into Bedford for a tour of Wallace Equipment where he is the Service Manager. Did you know a tree harvester is run by no less than four computers; I certainly didn’t? Mid-afternoon we drove into Halifax and parked beside the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium—Dalhousie University’s Convocation Hall. Walked back up to Spring Garden Road and did some window shopping—an indoor mall seemed a good idea. On impulse settled on Ryan Duffy’s forDinner—and that was with a capital D.

http://www.ryanduffys.ca/RyanDuffys/index.asp

It’s one of those places with white damask tablecloths, crystal goblets, and silver service along with a Maitre D, wine steward, salad at your table creator, and steak cut to order from the side of beef. At least our waitress didn’t condescend to us.

At the price I expect it won’t be an experience I’ll want to repeat soon. Not exactly sated we walked back to the Cohn and found our way to front row balcony seats for the Ballet, Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev.

http://www.symphonynovascotia.ca/

The music of Symphony Nova Scotia was complimented by the Ballet Jorgen Troup’s dancing, sets, costumes and acting. The lack of legroom in that front row balcony seating served to ensure we stayed awake.

Where else would one go on a Sunday? And we also got to stay afterward for a potluck dinner. Ran into a neighbour from home in Midville Branch—Charlotte (Mailman) Conrad and we talked about her 94-year-old Father Herbert who has been living the lonely life of a widower. After helping with cleanup we hurried home so that Richard could rush to the airport to pick up his neighbour—the owner of the four-legged boarders. When he got back we took the path across the canal and walked through the “cottage country” on the opposite side of LakeFletcher. The sun felt good and with only a light breeze it almost felt warm in spots.

That evening was taken up by yet another Indy race while Richard checked out my efforts on one of his office laptops.

Monday. Took a drive to Bedford Place Mall with my sister but discovered that one mall looks pretty much like any other. The bookstore, which had done inventory the night before, looked like it had been hit by an earthquake. I was so bored I even spent time looking at Blackberries. Diverted myself with Joan of Arc and CalendarGirls in the afternoon. At Richard’s request we had turkey dinner. Richard helped make the stuffing the night before and along with cranberrieshand-picked on an island in Soldier’s Lake the repast was complete. Channel surfing was the order of the evening. Kurt Browning’s Stars on Ice and Little Mosque on the Prairies. OhWell!

Tuesday. Packed and ready to go. The morning paper—The Halifax Chronicle:

http://www.herald.ns.ca/

Followed by more reading by the stove. A brief walk to get the mail and get the blood moving and all too soon a drive to the airport. The check-in was very informal. Passed on buying Lobster but couldn’t resist browsing an Artist’s Co-op Kiosk in the main concourse. Even picked up a few art cards. Security was also a might more relaxed in Halifax and for the second time the departure lounge for my West Jet Flight wasright opposite the exit from security. I’m more used to a three-mile hike. Seating on a discount airline made the front-row seats at the Cohn seem roomy by comparison but the flight was smooth. The drive home in rush-hour traffic on a snowy evening was tense but free of major slow-downs.

The view out my window the next morning made meglad I had no crying need to go anywhere.

Cocooning in Canadian Winter

Above is the view from my window five days ago. Welcome to winter in Southern Ontario!

Got back from vacationing with my sister in the Halifax area on Tuesday and when I got up the next morning decided that even if the Wiarton Willie didn't see his shadow that this Marmot definitely did and would love to hibernate another six weeks. I'm working on a holiday blog but just can't seem to muster the enthusiam for the task at the moment.

Mozilla has released a brand new browser called Flock that has blogging and photo upload support built in and having just installed it I'm giving it a try. I'm accustomed to writing posts in Word and uploading them via E-mail so this environment is novel. If you wish to try it out:

http://www.flock.com/download/

I'm still struggling with a sinus infection and between stuffed up nostrils, nose bleeds and the side-effects of anti-histamines I don't seem to be overly ambitious. To add to the adversity the Town and our Condo has been working on our water supply for the last week. It's a might disconcerting to turn on the tap and have it do nothing but suck air--hot water has been up and down as well.

In the past five days I've been attempting to get unpacked, remember where I put everything, get caught up on my browsing and read my mail--electronic and hard copy. Don't know that I'll ever catch up on my iTunes podcasts.

I keep telling myself that when I start feeling better I have to get back to a structured work-out routine but I begin to fear that I'll just have to bite the bullet and get started or I'll never feel better.

Think I'd better stop now, I beginning to depress myself even.

So now I hit publish and we'll see just how well this new system works.

Happy Valentine's Day

Just finished attempting to repair iTunes after it managed to freeze up my computer for the second time in an hour.  While I was at it rolled Internet Explorer back to version 6 for the second time.  I should know better!  I've come to expect system resource hogging, bloated programmes from Microsoft but with version 7 of iTunes, Apple has conjured up a rotten fruit.  Surely they don't think one uses a $ 3,000 computer solely to run their software.  I like to write letters, read E-mail, browse, and edit picture files with musical accompaniment but for reasons I don't understand when iTunes cycles from one file to another it tends to freeze up my computer for up to a minute at a time.  This morning it froze up completely.  Recently my Windows Explorer has been crashing as well.  Expect I need to get more memory but not sure if I want to add to the present configuration or look at replacing it outright. 

 

I'm in "hanging on by my fingernails" mode for the next week pending my upcoming vacation.  I've planned a visit to my sister in Halifax to get away from it all and scheduled a visit to my land surveyor as a side trip.  On Tuesday this week some harsh reality intruded upon my hopes of a stress-free visit.  Apparently in anticipation of my visit my surveyor had some "on the ground" work to complete and stirred up a hornet's nest when they ran into the fact that one of my "neighbours" has taken liberties with my property in constructing a "camp" on it.  Not the kind of situation I wanted to have to confront during a vacation but apparently one of the joys of being an absentee land-owner. 

 

Tuesday evening attended my bi-monthly Community Policing Consultation Committee Meeting.  As expected I retained the position of Secretary unopposed—in fact the meeting was sparsely attended probably by those unwilling to hold office.  I have minutes I've been putting off writing but must get to.  Of note is the number of cars people have left running to warm up with the doors unlocked—an alarming number have departed without their drivers.  Also the number of calls for service received by Halton Police Service in the first 5 weeks of 2007—8700—one every five minutes 24 hours a day. 

 

Also on Tuesday I picked up a copy of Flags of Our Fathers and after watching it twice have written a review on my sister blog.  "War, what is it good for?  Absolutely Nothing!"  Well it may be good for munitions manufacturers.  And, given the expense of decommissioning aging stockpiles using weapons is probably cheaper than rendering them safe.  Which begs the question as to what we do with obsolete nuclear warheads? 

 

Wednesday after work I had my hearing tested.  Nothing particularly wrong but as expected years of sinus trouble and the drugs used to treat it have taken their toll.  Whether I actually need to be tested again so soon, or what good it will do in any case the technician liked my business well enough to want to do it again in one year's time.  Her solution to tinnitus—ringing in the ears—is to listen to music.  Guess it's akin to the solution to engine noise in a car. 

 

Not much else to report.  I've been exercising my culinary skills at work at the behest of our superintendent making mulled cider to warm the troops after they return from delivering mail in sub zero temperatures.  Brought the coffee pot home to clean it out this weekend.  At least for once I actually got several compliments on my efforts. 

 

A Happy Valentines to everyone.

 

 

Ground Hog Blues

For the record, this groundhog saw his shadow yesterday and would love to crawl into his "Hobbit Hole" until spring. Get a load of this weather forecast:

Issued: 5.00 AM EST Saturday 3 February 2007 Today: Sunny with cloudy periods. Becoming cloudy this afternoon with a few flurries. Amount 2 cm. Wind west 30 km/h gusting to 50. High minus 10. Wind chill minus 26 this morning. Tonight: A few flurries ending this evening then cloudy periods. Wind west 30 km/h gusting to 50. Low minus 18. Wind chill minus 29. Sunday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Becoming cloudy in the afternoon with 40 percent chance of flurries late in the day. Local blowing snow in the afternoon. Wind west 30 km/h increasing to 50 gusting to 70 early in the afternoon. High minus 14. Wind chill minus 30. Monday: Cloudy with 70 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 17. High minus 10. Tuesday: Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 17. High minus 11. Wednesday: Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 14. High minus 10.

Needless to say the Arctic Jet Stream still has Southern Ontario in focus.

On a positive note tomorrow morning I will have no excuse not to defrost my deep freeze at last. The balmy weather we "enjoyed" through the Christmas and New Year Period prevented my doing this chore at that time.

For all the problems my own Condominium Apartment Building has had in the last week two buildings in Oakville suffered worse. The rental building to our north suffered a break in the weld at the top of its fire-fighting standpipe resulting in a flood augmented by the high-pressure fire-pump in the basement. I feel for the poor wretches who had their earthly possessions soaked by that deluge—insurance, however good hardly covers the loss. A sister Condo suffered a fire in an electrical panel resulting in a fire-call that shut down traffic in the area. I consider myself fortunate that I wasn't caught up in that one as I drive by that building on my way to and from work every day.

My E-mail "In-Box" is empty this morning. No one I correspond with has written me in over a week. Guess everyone is busy shoveling snow and sanding ice? I can't boast that I've accomplished that much more myself. I've already written about my miss-adventure with Office 2007 so I won't bore you further. I continue to attempt to keep up with the items I download to iTunes, but it is fun. I have also listened to the latest from Harry Connick Jr. and managed to catch up on my electronic magazines. My reading has suffered though I'm still making progress reading Can Lit Poets. Dipped into The Waltons though this romanticized version of life in the Blue Ridge at the height of the depression occasionally gets a might saccharin—see review in my sister blog. For a complete change of pace I've switched to a copy of Little Boy Blue which I managed to locate. The West Family personifies the concept of dysfunctional family but let's be honest; the main draw here is the opportunity to watch the camera pan lovingly over Ryan Phillippe's virile young naked body.

I continue to plug away at preparations for my upcoming vacation. I've been working on adapting shopping list software to my needs. If I keep it up I'll soon have my entire life recorded on a Hard Drive:

http://www.homeplansoftware.com/shoplist.htm

The software is freeware and recommended.

It has just occurred to me that it's now February and I haven't changed my calendars as yet. Luckily the computer automatically updates itself. Windows XP even does a decent job of keeping track of time as well. Guess I'll finish up for the moment and go attend to those calendars.

Kvetching About Microsoft Again

Yiddish is so expressive, No? 

 

Decided it might be interesting to try out a newer version of Word and decided to give Office 2007—released Tuesday January 30^th—a try.  The Home and Student Version is affordable and contains Power Point and Excel as well as the much-vaunted new One Note about which I was curious.  After considerable research I discovered that Microsoft is offering it in a downloadable trial version.   I suppose I should be thankful for Sympatico's unlimited bandwidth policy—the download is 300 MB—and the speed of my connection—I successfully got it in less than 30 minutes at 8:00 PM in the evening. 

 

I must say that the install went cleanly and without incident though once again I must comment about the incredulity felt by a customer who must immediately download and install updates for software that has just been released.  Why didn't they do it right in the first place?  The trial period is gracious being 60 days and was offered pre-release in stores.  Attempted to add some templates to One Note and discovered that some of them didn't seem to arrive. 

 

Things started going wrong when I decided to try out Word 2007.  In the first place documents created in this new version are not backward compatible—unless you install a 27 MB converter pack.  When I clicked on the shortcut to open the programme the cobwebs started growing as I waited for it to load—Microsoft gives you no option to disable the splash screen as any programme of theirs opens.  The first thing that hit me when it did open was the fact that the Graphical User Interface occupies the top half of one's screen.  In a continuing campaign to dumb down its programming Microsoft has abandoned smartcoms in favour of showing the user all the options visually.  If this is any indication of what Vista is going to be like I'll be avoiding it like the plague—at least XP gave one the option of using a "classic" desktop.  The final nail in the coffin came when I clicked on the "Send To" Menu—E-mail options were all grayed out.  Obviously this Word does not recognize Outlook Express, (at least in Windows XP), and Outlook doesn't come with this version of Office.  Since writing E-mail is 95% of my purpose in using Word its fate was now sealed. 

 

After the requisite shut down of running programmes I went through the uninstall process and rebooted.  Word 2002 then needed some repairing and the settings had to be restored—luckily I used the utility to back them up earlier.  Satisfied that everything was now working properly I went back into Windows Settings and disabled Restore—I don't trust it normally, finding it uses too much space and doesn't do as much as claimed; then I deleted the download.

 

In summary, One Note may be a useful programme but Ever Note Lite does all the same things and for free!  I've never used Power Point so I don't know what I'm missing and I'm swimming in spread sheet programmes so I don't actually need Excel.  Guess I'll be sticking with Works Suite.  I like to update Streets and Trips every now and then along with Encarta but may wait another year for that.  Buying the entire Suite is cheaper than getting individual updates.  So there you have it.  I suppose I should be thankful that the free trial enabled me to make these discoveries at no cost beyond my time.  

Songwriter's Circle

Despite freezing rain and ice pellets last night I hied me down to the Oakville Centre for what was billed as 'Songwriter's Circle'.  Joel Kroeker from Manitoba performs with Randy Bachman and looks like he could be his love-child.  Tal Bachman was born with music in his genes.  Andy Kim on the other hand is a generation removed from the other two and has connections with Ron Sexsmith and Ed Robertson, (Bare Naked Ladies).  Except for an association with the same agent I'm not sure how he got paired with these young turks.  Once he started performing I recognized songs like "Sugar, Sugar".  Joel and Tal did their own accompaniment but Andy had one Terry Gowan in tow to perform beautifully on the grand piano and on guitar.  One got the feeling that these two had a closer connection. 

 

In welcoming the audience mention was made of the printer of the Centre's programme.  A closer examination of that document would make one hope they did it for free—just who are (sic), "The Bind Boys of Alabama".  Just one of the many typos.  Joking mention was made after the intermission of the arm wrestling match that took place backstage.  Tal was quick to declare that they were all winners but Joel sports one impressive set of thighs; Tal, slim hips.  Reference was made to the wandering life of a singer/songwriter but it became obvious they depend on someone else to arrange their travels.  Joel has finished a Masters in Ethno-musicology and Tal is working on his Doctorate but he was repeatedly ribbed about naively grabbing a cab to Oakville from the airport during rush hour and Joel, though he spent some time in Haiti, didn't seem to know that it was on the island of Hispaniola. 

 

Aside from demonstrating the strikingly different musical styles of these three musicians who performed in turn; one would hope that if they continue this format they warm to each other enough to work together more closely on stage.  Singers accustomed to having a band at their backs require a great deal of courage to go solo and the strain of concentrating on playing guitar while remembering lines without a teleprompter was often obvious.  This group need a bit more practice before they can give an audience the sense of a group of friends gathering to swap stories and song.  The twenty minutes it took to scrap the ice off my windshield made me kind of wish I'd bought a couple of Joel's CD's rather than a ticket that required me to leave home this night.  The power black-out that interrupted the writing of this review proves the storm continues. 

Safely Through Another Week

The year 2007 is now 3 weeks old and certain themes are beginning to become apparent. 

 

Lake Ontario has cooled sufficiently and the Arctic Jet Stream switched direction enough to bring winter finally to Southern Ontario.  It arrived Sunday Night as a massive ice storm and the deep freeze that followed ensured that those who sell rock salt and provide auto-body repair services are well compensated.  Letter Carriers on the other hand are learning to creep around on pull-on cleats.  In the Vancouver Area a driver who was not so accustomed fell on the ice hitting the back of his head to his death.  I now have the right weather to defrost my deep freeze; what I lack is the enthusiasm for the task. 

 

What can anyone say about the Vietnam War that hasn't already been written over and over?  The passage of time, the objectivity of distance and non-involvement, and the act of watching 11 of the 14 DVD's that constitute the series, Tour of Duty, almost back to back leads me to make certain conclusions about the objectives of the creators of this series.  In the first place Sony Pictures have a nerve to call this "The Complete Series" when it is now obvious that they failed to negotiate a deal with the Rolling Stones for the use the series' theme music, "Paint It Black" in any of the episodes.  We've all heard about the demoralization factor in being drafted unwillingly to fight a war in a country that's been at war for generations while the people back home are protesting the fact that it's still ongoing.  It becomes obvious that the enemy here is war itself.  It can be argued that the pursuit of war is good for business but the costs in human terms on both sides are horrendous.  How can you win a war when it is impossible to tell your allies from your enemies and even your allies wish you'd go home?  The oxymoron status of the term "military intelligence" is reinforced repeatedly.  Rear-echelon Generals would rather trust information gained from surveillance aircraft 5 miles up than the instincts of the men on the ground.  What is most pointedly driven home is the slow descent into madness visited upon the men who fight what seems a pointless battle day after day.  I have now witnessed the series' representation of the My Lai Massacre and the first suicide by a monk by soaking in gasoline and lighting a match.  The pointlessness of attempting to rescue a people who don't want to be rescued, on their own turf which they have known intimately for centuries and are willing to die defending was never more plain.  The sad truth is that we've learned so little from history—the Americans and British in Iraq and the Canadian Army in Afghanistan.  Does anyone actually think we're ever going to find Osama bin Laden?  Does the term "pyrrhic victory" come to mind?  Has anyone seen the Vietnam Veterans Memorial?

 

http://thewall-usa.com/index.asp

 

On a personal level I lost interest in cooking this week especially after the events of last; so I ate out three times.  First at Bronte Chinese Cuisine at Hopedale Mall on the recommendation of friends—it's been over a decade since I went out for Chinese Food.  Then at the Niblick Pub in Upper Oakville Plaza on chicken curry in pita packets with salad. And finally at Swiss Chalet opposite the Go Station where for once they actually got my order correct—the food is good otherwise.  Speaking of eating, on Monday I actually got a compliment on the care I give my mouth from my dentist's hygienist. 

 

I should go grocery shopping now but somehow I lack the enthusiasm for that task as well.  Should I take in the Golden Griddles Buffet Brunch?  Before I do either I still need to shave. 

Assessing the Week that was.

Nearly two weeks of 2007 are already history and already certain familiar themes are making themselves felt. 

 

The weather here in Southern Ontario south of the Niagara Escarpment continues to be wet, mild, and drear.  I'm fairly certain there's a sun up there somewhere but from our vantage point it's been largely a stranger.  Mind you the fact I leave for work over four hours before sunrise, work inside, and then go home for a nap that ends after sunset doesn't help. 

 

Modern science has once again established that my medical problems are all in my head—my sinuses and trachea as a matter of fact.  Being seven years past my fiftieth birthday I was told a colonoscopy was in order.  There's nothing like entering a hospital, even a good one, to make one aware of one's place in the scheme of things.  In Ontario colonoscopies are booked twelve years in advance—and even then the doctor rescheduled it two weeks in advance.  That one is a number is established upon arrival when one is prompted to pick one to be served.  God forbid you arrive late.  At that point the theme of hurry up and wait is established.  Somehow I forgot to take my book with me and was forced to occupy myself with an issue of Canadian Living.  I learned all about balsamic vinegar and that Melatonin can now legally be sold in Canada—did you know that?  First one waits in the outer office, then in the outpatient's room.  Assigned a bed one is presented with the infamous backless gown and told to strip to one's socks.  An IV Stent is inserted and the waiting begins.  One hour later one is wheeled into the examination room.  There one waits another half hour—this time without one's glasses—the auto-blood pressure cup is timed.  Upon arrival without explanation and barely a greeting the specialist starts ramming drugs into one's veins—that actually hurt.  I'd agreed to sedation; what I didn't expect was that I wouldn't regain consciousness until the indignities were complete and I was back in the day room.  At this point the results were shouted from twenty feet across a crowded room.  Five years before the next insult.  Guess I'm supposed to feel relieved.  Anyone who has had such diagnostic work performed knows that it's the "preparation" that makes it such a joy.  I may never look at Jell-0 again.  The purgative costs $ 25.00!  The irony of arriving home from work for the second round to find the apartment building's water supply shut down lacked some humour at the time.  Yes I actually went into work after spending an entire evening on the porcelain throne. 

 

So went the first half of my week.  I actually lost 5 pounds in 2 days and have replaced only 2 of them.  Apparently someone wanted a night off as I arrived Friday to news that there'd been a bomb scare at the plant.  I pity the poor dog's bodies that have to search a building that size.  Our mail arrived late and we'll probably pay for it on Monday.  One thing there is no lack of is junk mail. 

 

I continue to have what are euphemistically called senior's moments.  How I managed to forget to renew the sticker on my car's license plate and drive it for six months like that—I live beside a police station—I really don't know.  The fact that it read 06 and it is now 07 was probably the tip off yesterday.  Don't know about you, but I'm not accustomed to being pulled over by unmarked cars.  The sticker is now in place. 

 

I'll be visiting my sister near Halifax in February and I'm presently on a mission to expose them to a few of the cultural events available in their area.  Just booked tickets to the ballet at the Rebecca Cohn.  Marvelous what one can do online at this distance.  We're now negotiating an evening of Dinner Theatre. 

 

Last Sunday I walked down to witness the Mayor's Levee marking Oakville's 150^th Anniversary.  Lots of hot air but no worthwhile libations to mark the occasion.  A new unused snow plough, a brand new bus were on display—half a mil each; along with the fire department's new sky crane—c.5 mil that one.  The exercise was good for me. 

 

Updated my OS with Microsoft's latest futile attempts to keep ahead of malicious internet users.  Somehow they manage to create more problems than they fix.  The recommended new driver for my pivoting screen is incompatible with Windows XP.  Took an evening to remember how to boot into 'Safe Mode', uninstall it, and re-install the original.  Some time I'll learn to leave well enough alone. 

 

And there you have my week.  Tell me about yours. 

 

Sceptics

We live in an era in which our children are not allowed to celebrate "Christmas" in their classrooms, it is argued that church property should be taxed, and malcontents complain about the ringing of church bells—(because it's too early for them to go Sunday shopping?)  In that context it is interesting to know that this little doggerel was written over a century ago.

 

 

The Sceptics

 

Said Grass, "What is that sound

So dismally profound,

That detonates and desolates the air?"

 

"That is St. Peter's bell,"

Said rain-wise Pimpernel;

"He is music to the godly,

Though to us he sounds so oddly,

And he terrifies the faithful unto prayer."

 

Said Grass, "And whither track

These creatures all in black,

So woebegone and penitent and meek?"

 

"They're mortals bound for church,"

Said the little Silver Birch;

"They hope to get to heaven

And have their sins forgiven,

If they talk to God about it once a week."

 

Said Grass, "What is that noise

That startles and destroys

Our blessed summer brooding when we're tired?"

 

"That's folk a-praising God,"

Said the tough old cynic Clod;

"They do it every Sunday,

They'll be all right on Monday;

It's just a little habit they've acquired."

 

                        --Bliss Carman  (the guy who wrote "The Ships of Yule")

 

 

In another aside, now that I'm forced to arise at 2:30 AM for a 4:00 AM shift and although we live in a 24/7 society it would seem the world still begins at 7:00. I'm beginning to feel a mild sense of discrimination.  Weather reports refer to tonight's weather—but it's actually last night's; today in history is a day old; the comics are yesterday's; and the news is history.

 

 

New Years 2007

I'm not normally into navel gazing and I'll attempt not to indulge in a 2006 retrospective today.  Obviously a lot happened in 2006.  The inundation of New Orleans has been covered ad nauseam but I just finished listening to a podcast from CBC about some food writers who have established a recipe exchange for people who lost their recipes for comfort food when their homes were buried by the floods. 

 

http://www.nola.com/food/

 

No matter what the story it seems it's always possible to find a new angle. 

 

Not much new under the sun around Oakville, including the lack of sunshine.  The sun actually put in a brief watery appearance this morning but that didn't last long.  By evening we can count on rain again.  I'm trying to decide if I want to walk down to Town Hall next Sunday to attend the new mayor's New Years Levee.  Seems to me they're a week late and a dollar short.  Did I mention he wasn't my choice for mayor?

 

It isn't raining yet so I suppose I should get out for a stroll for my health's sake. 

 

The best to everyone in 2007.