Post random thoughts, observations, and events of the day...

About a month ago, the computer stopped working, and we realized that we could no longer update our computer programs, since our Sympatico has been dialing up as slow as 12 kb/second. Sometimes we’re able to get up to 28.8. The pages just time out before they load. My partner, who likes to mess around with computers, finally fixed everything after a few 50 km. trips to town, and after reloading almost everything including a new antivirus program. Now, it does work, but still extremely slowly. It makes us wonder if Bell is ‘throttling’ dial-up as well as high-speed internet. We live in an area where high-speed is not yet available, though they are promising it ‘soon’.

My month without computer access gave me an extra hour per day, which made me feel happy and productive, though I missed 43T and may never catch up on returning all those cheers. It takes a long time to go from page to page, so I won’t be too active online until we get high-speed, whenever that is!

Our area still had old-fashioned phones as late as 1979 (the kind where you turn the crank and the operator says, ‘Number, please’). There were still party lines until the late 1980’s. So we are on the opposite end of every technological wave, receiving each new thing just before it becomes obsolete… ;-p

My shift ends around 10:30 pm, and I often see wild animals as I drive home along the country roads. Sometimes a fox or coyote, or a raccoon drifting like a puff of smoke across the road.

Last night, there was something large and grey sitting in the middle of the road. I slowed, not knowing which way it would go. At the last moment, it flew upward past the windshield, and I saw that it was an owl with a wingspan of about 3 feet. I was glad that I was able to avoid hitting it, and glad to know that it lives in my neighborhood!

(Stream-of-consciousness, flowing)
Mid-June bursting with life, humming and surging,
Pale green new growth sprinkled with rain,
Exuberant birdsong at 4:30 a.m.,
Long grasses and reeds dancing in the wind,
Interwoven patterns and cycles of renewal
Approaching the longest day, and beyond,
Wild and ancient life-force!

I’m typing this on someone else’s computer, and won’t be here for a while til we figure out if ours can be fixed after our power line was struck by lightning. It’s wierd having no computer time at home, but perhaps it’s a good thing; there are plenty of outdoor things to do!

It’s spring and the birds are nesting. But this year, my own ‘nest’ is officially empty, as my youngest child has just finished her culinary training, and is moving away to begin her career. I’m very happy for her, knowing that this is a path she is passionate about. At the same time, it will take a while for me to get used to it!

This week I have been helping her move. Every minute has felt sweet, enjoying the last few days, and laughing and joking as we cleaned her apartment. When everything was packed, we went for a walk in the spring sunshine, and sat on a park bench blowing soap bubbles and letting them drift away on the breeze. (Bottles of bubble soap are are a tradition for us, this time of year.) I feel a mixture of happy and sad. I will miss her terribly, and still be okay, because things are happening as they should. My last fledgling has flown!

I consider myself to be quite frugal, but I’m still learning. Two lessons occurred recently, and I will record them here, in case it might help someone else.

1. The free window:
A friend (and retired builder) gave us a leftover window, which was stored in his (dry, clean) basement for 10 years. The window is a high-quality brand, and the paper stickers were still on the glass. It had never been used. We installed it in the workshop, and discovered that the seals are gone, so that condensation forms between the thermopane layers.

Lesson: Seals age, even if the window was never installed. I am thankful that we did not use it in the house, and we now know we should buy new windows… at least we’ll know how old they are! There is a lot of labor involved in framing and installing a window, so you don’t want to have to tear it out.

2. Big sale at the shoe store:
A chain of shoe stores was going out of business, and we bought two pairs of work boots for my partner. The boots were a top-of-the-line brand, and were half price. We thought, wow! The first time he wore one pair, the soles began separating from the boots. Both pairs are now unwearable. Our sales receipt was stamped ‘Final Clearance, no returns’ since the stored had closed. Called the 1-800 number of the manufacturer, and learned the following:

Lesson: There is a model number on shoes. Ours was a discontinued style which had probably been at the store for years. The glue begins to age after a while. The lady in customer service said, Do not buy extra pairs of shoes, ever, since this could happen; just buy them as you need them. The manufacturer was nice enough to let us return one pair for exchange; we were lucky, since it was the store’s fault, not the manufacturer. So we ended up getting one usable pair for the price of two, instead of the other way around. Now we know!

This morning, it feels as though we are inside a snow globe, with the feathery snowflakes floating down ever so slowly. There is hardly a breath of wind. A small flock of wild ducks is swimming in the river beside the house. Snow has drifted on their backs, though they don’t seem to notice. The sunless morning is pale, snow-washed into muted tones of grey, silver, tan, and spruce green.

Okay, I know that water is essential for everyone. I just do not understand why people will pay so much more for it (either in a store or restaurant) when it has a tiny amount of something added to it (tea, soda pop, artificial sweetener, imitation flavor, or whatever).

I began to wonder about this after reading the Latte Factor articles, where it explains the long-term cost of a lifetime coffee-shop habit… Tens of thousands of $ over a lifetime! And that’s just one product.

We definitely need to consume water in some form. I’m just questioning the cost, both health-wise and financially, of buying the flavored version as a regular habit. I would like to only purchase it as an occasional treat, or make it at home where it only costs a few pennies. In 2008, I plan to drink tap water most of the time, with a limited amount of juice, tea, and the occasional beer or wine. We are fortunate here, to have very good well water. The other advantage of tap water is that it doesn’t create any empty plastic or glass bottle waste when it’s consumed.

Our region of Canada gets plenty of snow. I tend to associate snow with endless shovelling, scraping off the car, and slippery roads. This morning I’d like to take a moment to think positively about snow, since we have a long winter ahead of us!

Snow is beautiful It often falls softly and windlessly in huge flakes, coating every twig and spruce bough delicately. Individual snowflakes have complex and unique patterns. Early morning sun makes the snow crystals sparkle like gems.

Snow is vital moisture, necessary for the soil When it melts, snow water replenishes the earth with fresh water. A blanket of snow also insulates the plants and grasses from bitter cold winds.

Snow can be fun to play in Roll in it, sculpt it, slide on it, til our fingers and toes are numb. Be a kid again, make snow angels and forts. I’m not a skier (water is more my element than snow), but I will do my best this winter, to enjoy the snow more.

Last night on the news, I saw that a man in Montreal listed the huge pile of snow in his yard on EBay for a joke, and now has bids as high as $3500. for it… huh? Obviously someone really appreciates snow…

I don’t know who you are (except Madison and Icarusette), but I want to wish you all a lovely holiday season, in whatever tradition you celebrate. I hope that it will be peaceful and happy, with plenty of food to share with loved ones, music, and community events. And I wish you all blessings in the coming year.