Ontario Diary - Day Four ...

The day started a little slowly, but it quickly picked up some speed and momentum ... We headed off after breakfast to the Ikea store in Burlington ... after arriving there, I had to question - WHY??

IKEA was in the midst of their after Christmas Boxing Day Sale ... and it was PACKED. We were in search of candles for next Christmas (never too early to look), and for a quick look around ... We pushed through the crowds of people ... (why is it, that in places like IKEA, Superstores, Wal-Mart and other big block retails stores, people lose not only thier minds, but any semblence of manners as well ... I quickly grew weary of having to push past people who were stopped for no apparent reason in the middle of aisles and who were unmoved by polite 'excuse us please' comments. It got so bad I was ready to start hip-checking old ladies and pregnant women out of the way if they didn't move of their own volition) ... I was glad to head out the door and leave it behind ... But we no sooner got on the highway towards our ultimate destination for the day, than Beetle chirped from the back seat - "I really wish we could have bought the leaf canopy for my bed ..."

My head pivoted - "what? ... why didn't you say something in the store??"

She then said she had realized she really wanted it until we left ... AARRGGHH !!!!

We agreed to go back later and pick one up for her and our drive to Niagara Falls continued ...

We stopped for lunch at a rest area/restaurant near St Catherine's. Everyone got what they wanted ... Noahkila and Ms H had Pizza, while Beetle and I had Chinese food ... my stir fried tofu and sweet and sour veggies were yummy !!

Our drive continued to Niagara Falls where we parked across from the visitor's centre and stepped out into the "rain", except it wasn't rain - it was the falling mist from the Horseshoe Falls !!

We walked across the road and enjoyed the vista of looking over the maw into the plunging water and turbulent cascades ... then we walked along the gorge to Clifton St to take in some of the tacky touristy sites ...

One of the first stops was the Ripley's Believe it Or Not Museum ... then we walked around the corner to the Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum ... Beetle and Ms H wouldn't go through the Chamber of Horrors there, but after the Wax Museum, Beetle was insistent that we just HAD to go through the House of Frankenstein down the street.

Even though it was kind of tacky, both Ripley's and the Wax Museum were fun ... The Ripley's exhibits were interesting, and the kids enjoyed sitting and standing alongside dummies as diverse as Mother Teresa, George W. Bush, Oprah, Shania Twain and Austin Powers ... as well as dozens of others ...

After the fun of Ripley's and the Wax Museum, it was off to the House of Frankenstein ...

We tried and tried and tried to dissuade Beetle that this wasn't a good idea - all to no avail. So, we paid our admission and went into the darkened hallway of The House of Frankenstein ... Noahkila was covering his eyes and saying - "this really isn't that scary ..." Ms H was hiding under the BACK of my coat and Beetle was holding my hand tightly ... We got as far as the first exhibit, that was down a short hall, up some spooky steps and down a long dark hallway ... Then there was simultaneously a BANG, and two 'ghouls' leaping out of closests and ALL THREE kids said - "I want to LEAVE !!!!!"

Grand total of time spent in the House of Frankenstein - about 45 seconds ... Even the woman at the ticket booth was amazed ... The 'ghouls' hiding in the dark were heard to mutter as we left: "Cool!! I've NEVER had someone leave so soon before !!"

We finished off our afternoon with a visit to a very cool LEGO display with over a MILLION pieces of lego assembled into buildings, streets capes and even a replica of Niagara Falls themselves ... It was a more popular stop than the House of Frankenstein ...

We then walked back up along the gorge enjoying the display of Chirstmas lights, only to turn around and head back to Clifton St to take in a Maze that Ms H DESPERATELY wanted to visit ... We went and had a very confusing round in the maze trying to find our respective ways out ... Then it was another LONG walk back to the visitors' centre enjoying not only the Christmas Lights but the illumination of the Falls themselves with the enormous coloured lights ... After a visit to the gift shop where we didn't buy anything (Yeah !!) we hopped in the car and headed back to Grandma's House for supper and bed ...

Daredevils ...

Can't go to Niagara Falls without checking out

a Daredevil Barrel ...

A "Visit" to Hogwarts ??

A visit to the Tussaud's Wax Museum

revealed a bewitching corner ...

Beetle and Noahkila caught up with some

special friends before departing Hogwarts!!

When Cousins Meet ...

Would you believe that Beetle (r) and Cousin E (l) are only about a month apart in age? While Beetle is unusually tall for her age, Cousin E is a dwarf, and is as a result unusually short ... But it doesn't slow her down much, and since we first met her when she was a toddler, she has been a favourite 2nd cousin for us to visit whenever we're in Ontario ...

Cousin E is proof that what many would call a "disability" exists only in the minds of those unable or unwilling to look beyond their own small mindedness ... As Cousin E used to say herself - "I'm just short, get over it !!"

Ontario Trip - Day Three ...

We got up early and headed over to McD's for Breakfast (yes, not a good choice - but we WERE on holidays !!??), then made the two hour drive to the east side of Toronto where we met up with my cousin Tina and had a wonderful walk through the zoo.

I have taken each of my three to the zoo on the rare trips I've taken back to Ontario over the last 10 years. I have gone back for a variety of reasons, usually family funerals, or failing health of family members, and on those trips I've taken ONE of the children in turn. So this time I had all three, and we were going to the ZOO together !!

We went through the gate at 9:30 and began walking ... and walking ... and walking ...

We spent a fair bit of time in the Indonesian Pavilion where we watched with great delight the antics of the Orangutans. The baby, pictured above was cute beyond words ... my one frustration was just as I snapped this picture my camera's batteries died and I had to run back to the front gate (no mean feat) to get replacement batteries while Tina and the kids carried on to the African exhibits ...

The Great Apes are endlessly fascincating ... it's hard not to agree with Darwin that we share a common ancestor, and perhaps the proof of thier superior intelligence is that you don't see them contributing to such things as habitat degredation and global warming ...

The rest of the Zoo was a delightful walk. It was chilly and overcast, but warm for our Manitoba blood ... most of the animals were out and about, and with the new camera I was able to capture some wonderful images of animal like Lions and Tigers and Cheetahs (sorry, no bears !)

We stopped for lunch at the Harvey's and Pzza Pizza restaurant in the middle of the Zoo, and everyone got what they wanted ... Beetle has decided she doesn't like pizza, while Ms H and Noahkila wanted ONLY Pizza - so we established a pattern for our trip - "Here's twenty bucks ... go get your lunch and meet us over there ..." Noahkila and Ms H would get pizza while Beetle and I would pick up burgers, fries and salad.

We then said good bye to Tina who headed home while we finished the Zoo.

From the Zoo we drove west on the 401 and went down the Don Valley Parkway to the Ontario Science Centre (one of Santa's presents to the three kids was a 'City Pass' that gave us admission to six attractions in Toronto for one 'LOW' price ...we used them all). We had a long wander around the Science Centre and checked out most of the exhibits.

From the Science Centre we headed to Milton for a visit with the my cousin Paul and his family (his children Emily and Kate are favourites with our three), then we headed back to Stratford for the night ... a long, productive and delightful day ...

Ontario Trip - Day Two (addendum) ...

Oops, I forgot that on our SECOND day in Ontario, after being at Centennial, I collected the kids and we went out to my brother's bush (a 40 acre property covered with a beautiful mixed forest south of Stratford - the term 'bush' lead to some confusion on Beetle's part - she thought we were driving out to a field outside of town to see a single BUSH that belonged to her uncle !).

We went for a long walk around the property, enjoying the unseasonably warm weather, and sighting some deer and more than a few birds.

From there, we headed back in to town and visited the Holy Grail of my chocolate loving children:

Yes, we made our PILGRIMAGE to Rheo Thompson Chocolates ... most people make pilgrimages to places like Rome, Mecca, Jerusalem and so on ... but my three wanted - they desperately WANTED to visit Rheo Thompson Chocolates ... So we did.

They each bought a box of assorted Chocolates to munch on over the next week or so ... and they made plans to pick up more chocolate to bring home before our trip ended ... So, our rest day was kind of busy ... but topped off with Mint Smoothies from Rheo's made it all worthwhile ... YUMMY!!

Ontario Diary - Day Two ...

Day Two of our trip in Stratford began with a late rising by myself and the kids ... we slept in, then at about 10 am, Ms H and I went over to Centennial United and poked around with the crew who were packing up. I left with a small box of treasures tucked under my arm, and a dozen or so photos in my camera ...

My treasures included a couple of Old Evangelical United Brethren Hymnals, a couple of Voices United with the stamp of Centennial United in them, and few other items that would have landed in the garbage without a new home ... I lingered before leaving, taking in one last walk through the building that holds such a special place in my heart ... It was a fun place to grow up. It was a beautiful building filled with beautiful (and incredibly patient) people. I will, till my dying day, be proud to say I am a child of Centennial United Church.

The photos above are all images from within the building of Centennial United Church ... the a detail of the beautiful stained glass windows, the painting of Jesus knocking at the doorway that has graced the wall over the main entrance for many years, the rug picture of the Last Supper that hung on the wall alongside the pew I sat in throughout my teenaged years and one of the beautiful stained glass windows that made that sanctuary such a beautiful place ... They are all glimpses that remind me of my home ... my sanctuary ...

The rest of the day was a "hang out at Grandma's day" with a visit to my brother's bush south of town where he is busy building a new building ... We had a lovely walk through the forest, saw some deer and just hung out for awhile before heading back into Stratford for supper and an early bed time ... Day Three was our trip to The Toronto Zoo and the Ontario Science Centre !!

I would HIGHLY recommend:

Okay, Jimmy Carter IS a politician, and as such is suspect simply by virtue of his chosen career. But when you remember that he has won the Noble Peace Prize for his work through the Carter Institute, he is highly intelligent, and he spends his spare time doing silly things like actually helping in the construction of houses for Habitat for Humanity, you gotta cut him some slack ...

His penultimate latest book (pictured above) was one of my Christmas Break reading selections ... I simply loved it. It is Carter at his best. He offers his wisdom on all manner of issues facing us from Religious Fundamentalism and the dramatic political shift to the right, to economics and poverty.

Carter is clearly a man who knows, and doesn't hold back his punches. His words are worth listening to, and more importantly - acting upon.

If you haven't read it - look for it, buy, borrow or even simply peruse it at the local library - you won't be disappointed.

The only disappointment I HAVE is - Why won't people listen to Carter ??? The world could be a much better place if we did ...

Maybe that's a good place to start our New Years Resolutions ... Hmm, couldn't hurt ...

He Touched Many Lives ...

You may not have known him. You likely have never heard of him.

But I doubt very much if your life wasn't touched by his in one way or another ...

In University, I like many others lived off of Kraft Dinner, canned soup, and Instant Noodles ...

In our kitchen today are a variety of bagged Instant Noodles for school lunches (they are a favourite of Beetle) ...

And when we lived on the West Coast fishing vessels were ALWAYS loaded with a the ubiquitous little plastic bags of instant noodles as well as the styrofoam cups of noodles too ... In fact I remember one of the insults lobbed from one fisherman to another was - "the only thing you know how to cook is Ichiban Noodles, and you even screw that up !!" (Insulting a North West Coast fisherman's cooking is a serious thing - they take their culinary skills seriously)

And on our flight home from Toronto, Beetle was thrilled to see that Westjet offered "Cup of Noodles" on their menu card ... It was what she chose ...

So, if you're like me - you've never heard of Momofuku Ando, but his invention of Instant Noodles in 1948, and the founding of his company NISSIN FOODS has touched your life in some way, even if only incidentally.

Today at the age of 96, Mr Ando passed away, and with him the legacy of a wide variety of instant foods that have fed children, university students, and fisherman the world over ... The whole concept of Instant noodles was apparently borne from the hunger that set in in Japan following World War Two, that caused Mr Ando to say - "I think I can do something about that ..."

The result was a product that you need only add boiling water to - and voila: lunch, dinner, or just a warm comforting snack.

It may not be the most nutritious food around, but is DOES taste pretty good. And it was all the result of one man who got a good idea ...

Kind of gives you hope for this old world doesn't it ...

Thanks Mr Ando - and rest in peace ...

Ontario Trip Diary - Day One ...

So, our trip began on December 25th ... We finished a yummy supper of roast chicken and all the fixings, washed the dishes and threw our luggage in the car. After saying Good Bye to Mummy who was heading to work, we drove into Winnipeg for our flight the next morning at 6am!!

We overnighted in a motel near the airport, then arose at 4 am !! To get to the airport on time ... Everything went smoothly, except for Beetle trying to sneak a bottle of water on the plane in her knapsack !!

For Christmas Beetle had recieved a toy dog that when you put water in its neck, will give you very wet "kisses". She had been told NOT to bring it, but didn't realize this wasn't just an arbitrary parental rule, but the rules of flying ... SO in the security line, little 7 yr old Beetle had to endure the opening of her back pack and the removal of the offending item and the scorn of the security guard (and the ridicule of her siblings) who told her this was a serious matter. (The water bottle was packed in her check in luggage for the flight back - BY HER)

Our flight was uneventful ... and we arrived in Toronto on time to a warm and slightly overcast day ... We picked up our rental car and hit the road ... Our original plan was to head straight to Grandma's House (like little Red Riding Hood), but like Red, we detoured - in our case into Downtown Toronto. Our first stop was the Police Memorial east of the Provincial Parliment Buildings, were Grandpa Sam's name is engraved. Only Beetle had been there before ...

From there we toured around downtown Toronto, enjoying the dearth of traffic, and being able to drive down Yonge St from Bloor to Front in about 10 minutes - try that any other day !!?? After exploring downtown Toronto and checking out a variety of buildings and neighbourhoods and locales, we headed up the highway (literally) to Stratford ... Along the way we stopped in Cambridge at an All-Day-Breakfast place for brunch ...

We arrvied at Grandma I's and innundated her house with our luggage and ourselves, then a couple of hours later we headed to the bustling Metropolis of New Hamburg for the E-Family Christmas Celebration. Even my brother came along with us ...

That afternoon and evening the entire clan save Grandma I, and the New Brunswick branch ate, talked, got caught up and had a wonderful time. I hadn't been to an E-Family Christmas since 1992, so it was good to see my Aunts and Uncles and cousins again, and Noahkila, Ms H and Beetle all had a good time meeting so many people that "we didn't even know we were related to !!"

Then it was home to Grandma I's for the night and the beginning of our Ontario adventures ...

Just a Couple of Cool Pictures ...

Got a new camera for Christmas ... (can you tell??)

These are some of the shots I took at the Zoo ...

I REALLY like the Cheetah shot on the top !!

2006 ... The loss of Sanctuary ...

On December 27th I went to the Building that for 106 years housed Centennial Evangelical, Centennial Evangelical United Brethren, and Centennial United Church - one Congregation that over its long and storied history, had carried three distinct denominational names ... Wednesday December 27th, a small group of folks gathered to pack up the last remnants of that Congregation, and to move out ...

Through the day there was lots of recalled memories ... looking through old Photos, reading record books, recalling memories and moments spent in the wonderful building that we the People of Centennial United have called home for these many years ... I even found my baptismal record ...

It was a hard day. It is always hard saying good bye to a friend ... As I wandered through the building that for so many years was my home - my sanctuary, I thought about all the friendly ghosts that inhabit the building for me ... I recalled with some tears the many memories I carry with me from that place ... a place that will no longer be my home - my sanctuary.

The year 2006 has been the year wherein I have lost the sense of Sanctuary in life ... on the cold winter morning of February 12th that loss began with fire that consumed the historic, heritage structure that housed Minnedosa United Church ... then the bitter betrayal by some I had lovingly called friends ... the experience of burn-out and then the hardest news of all: that Centennial was closing ... the losses and the hurts mounted ... at times it seemed like there would be no end to the sorrow and the hurt that I was enduring ...

Fortunately, along the way came some positives ... time to reflect and heal ... time to remember and celebrate those memories ... the arrival of new friends ... the support of other friends and family ... the precious gift of laughter and life ... With each downward twist and turn came an upward twist and turn, until the upward twists and turns began to out number the others ... and suddenly the sky began to lighten ... suddenly it seemed less bleak ...

It has not been an easy year, this 2006. But I can look back with gladness that I lived it and have in many respects survived it. With the loss of Sanctuary came much pain and hurt ... but with time and Grace and the balm of care and love from friends, the year ended in a positive way ... and 2007 began with potential, possibility and a positiveness that I have not felt in a very long time ...

This week, I can wrap 2006 up and tuck it away with a "Whew !! Glad that's over ..." and get on with living in the New Year ... It was hard to say Good Bye to the Sanctuaries of Minnedosa, Centennial, and those of friendships I once valued ... but life goes on, and God (and the cosmos) has a funny way of creating new Sanctuaries ... If only we dare to hope ... believe ... and trust in it ...

It will happen. That's the reality I will create in 2007: The simple reality of new and wonderful Holy Sanctuaries throughout my life ...

Dayenu !!! Dayenu !!

and L'Chaim !!

Chillin' to ...

The final unpacking can wait ... Today I've been resting and relaxing (as well as snoozing on the couch periodically) while listening to a couple of the CDs from the CD set I got for Christmas ...

Six CDs, one brilliant musician ... Can anyone think of a better way to spend a dreary winter day recovering from a long trip, than listening to John Coltrane??

If you haven't gotten Fearless Leader yet ... what the heck is your problem??

You won't be disappointed ... I was thrilled with it on Christmas Morning when I opened it ... and I still am ... My one regret: I shoulda taken it to Ontario with us - it would've been sweet cruising around Toronto listening to Coltrane ...

Home again, Home again ... Dijjery Doo !!

The Toronto Zoo ... Niagara Falls ... The CN Tower ... and a dozen points in between ...

Noahkila, Ms H and Beetle had a very busy and hectic break in Ontario over the Christmas Holidays. We arrived in time for the Boxing Day Christmas Celebration with Grandma Izzy's family (all the cousins, and aunts and uncles were there except for the New Brunswick contingent), then on the 27th Ms H and I were at Centennial to say our farewells as a small group gathered to pack up the last remnants of Centennial United Church and lock the door ... Then over the next week we travelled, explored, walked, drove, ate, slept, and explored a HUGE variety of places in Southern Ontario ... We put more than 3000 kms on our rental car in 9 days ...

It was a good trip. We arrived home last night exhausted, and over the next couple of days, I'll post more pics of our trip and some of my observations ...

It was fun ... talk to you soon !!

Leaving on a Jet Plane ...

Tomorrow morning at 6am ... Noahkila, Ms H, Beetle and I

board a flight from Winnipeg to Toronto for a brief

winter holiday in Southern Ontario.

We're going to visit family, do touristy things, and

just kind of hang out in and around my home town.

(I got a digital camera for Xmas - so I'll try it out too!!)

Should be fun ... I'll post if and when I'm able ...

If not, I'll see ya on the 4th when we get home !!

Until then:

Happy New Year !!

Christmas at Home ...

So ... the hub-bub has receded in our house ... the presents are opened ... dinner is cooking ... the parents have rested ...

It's been a full day ... it started at 5am, with Noahkila rising, but not leaving his room (Santa is smart to put stockings in their rooms - it buys extra zzz time for the parents) ... then at 5:24 AM, the sisters arose and the day began ... The opening of gifts didn't happen until 7:20 and by 8:30, mom and dad were wandering back to bed for a snooze ... It's been a good day !!

The three kids got nice presents from Santa and from family and friends ... there were books, toys, clothes and a variety of very cool things ... but what did the girls spend the rest of the day playing with??

AN ENORMOUS BOX that they have decorated with the Christmas Ribbons, Bows and wrapping paper ... so far it has been a car, a house, a spaceship, a boat and an airplane ...

... Next year maybe we'll get Santa to just drop off the recyclables from the North Pole and nail two birds with one stone ... er box !!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!

Good Bye God Father ...

He had a troubled life at times ...

... but damned, the man could rock !!

Rest in Peace Brother James ... Rest in Peace.

James Brown

The God Father of Soul

1933 t0 2006

(He said once - "I wanted to be somebody" I think he made it !)

Through the eyes of a child ...

Last night Ms H and I were doing some stuff in the kitchen. We emptied a tin of "Deluxe Mixed Nuts" ... Ms H picked up the tin and started reading it. Suddenly she said:

"That's just stupid !!"

"What?" I asked, "what is stupid?"

"This warning label," she answered, "It reads 'May contain traces of peanuts and/or other nuts.' ..." She paused before turning the tin so I could see the front - "It's a tin of NUTS, of COURSE it contains other nuts ... we wouldn't buy it other wise ..."

Hard to argue that point ... it struck me as a redundant label ... still does ...

Hard to

A Perfect Day For ...

Sledding !!!

The Case for Shopping Locally ...

While the so-called "experts" tell us that big block chain stores are the way of the future, I am one who tenaciously holds to the values of small, family owned, local businesses like the Small Town Hardware store ...

Back in the days when we lived in Bella Coola we used to stop periodically in Anahim Lake in the heart of the Chilcotin ranching country of central BC. We would stop at Christiansen Store more for a visit with Darcy, the owner, than to buy anything (Darcy is a cousin to M's father). The store was a great place to look around. They had almost everything imaginable in stock somewhere, and their motto was "If we don't have it, you don't need it."

This weekend, I had an experience that reminded me of the joys of small town Hardware stores ...

The kids and I were looking to replace a silicon spatula I had broken baking cinnamon buns earlier this week. The broken spatula was bought at a high end kitchen store a year or so ago in Brandon. We went to the local hardware store in the vain hope of finding one ... I wasn't expecting to, and after looking down the kitchen ware aisle, Ms H and I were discussing the possibility of a trip to Brandon to get a replacement spatula and a silicon brush for bread baking ...

I was dreading the thought of going to Brandon so close to Christmas ... I shuddered at the thought ...

Then Ms H and I came out of the aisle and were confronted with a display of sets of silcone kitchen utensils ... in the box was a small spatula like that I wanted to replace, a silicone brush and two other spatulas ... I was thrilled. Not only was I spared a trip to Brandon, I actually found what I wanted cheaper than I had found it ANYWHERE in Brandon !!

So, all I can say is: "Merry Christmas Gord and Kathy and all your staff. And Thanks !!"

Another Christmas Secret ...

I'm not ashamed to say it -

I LOVE CHRISTMAS CAKE !!!

I Adore it ... At this time of year I could subsist on coffee, egg nog, sherry, butter and mince tarts and CHRISTMAS CAKE. Even if I gained 300 lbs doing it - I would be happy ...

I love Christmas baking, especially Christmas Cake - store bought, home-made, light, dark - with royal icing, without ... bring it on !!! I love a slice of Christmas Cake, and if it has been aged with a healthy dram of whiskey, rum or brandy - so much the better.

In many ways I dread the arrival of the Christmas Season. But the one thing I DO look forward to is the gift of Christmas Cake ... no re-gifting in this house ... I savour every bite, even though in the spring I'll have to spend extra time on my bike ... Oh well, it's the burden we must bear ... but one I bear willingly.

Staring Heavenward ...

Last night I was waxing eloquently about staring at the countless stars that fill the Prairie sky on a cloudless night ... Tonight, after getting an email from a friend who commented on the Northern Lights you can see on the Prairies, my mind has wandered back to the visit of the Hale-Bopp comet in 1997 ...

One night while we were still in Bella Coola BC, the comet was very noticable in the sky north of town ... I went out with my binoculars to get a better look. I couldn't keep the steady, so I laid down on my back in the front yard ... Now, to provide the context - the front yard of the Manse in Bella Coola was smack on the corner where most of the life of the Native Community passed by day and night ...

That night as I laid on the grass looking skyward, a group of young people were making their way home from somewhere ... They noisily came down the road until they noticed me lying on the grass.

"Who's that?" one voice asked.

"I think it's the minister," observed another.

"Yeah, It's Shawn ..." said a third, "think he's okay?"

"Maybe he's drunk," observed the first.

"Maybe he's dead," observed the second.

"I'm watching stars," I answered, not looking to see who it was ...

Gasps and laughter and running feet met my words ... and I was again left in peace to watch the comet and the stars ... Though, I still love staring into space when the Northern Lights are dancing across the sky, most of the time though, it's too cold to lie on the ground outside when the Northern Lights are out ... too bad.

Catch of the Day ...

Behold - the first clear footage of a living GIANT SQUID in the wild!!

If you click on GIANT SQUID and you can read for yourself the article, and with luck you can open the file footage from a Japanese research vessel of a Giant Squid (the food of Sperm Whales) trying to wrestle his/her lunch from the scientists.

This is just a cool photo, cooler video and the coolest story ... the sea still has its mysteries, and even though we can SEE a Giant Squid, it is still a mysterious creature we know little about ...

'Only in Canada?' you say - Pity ...

I once heard a comedian joke that the Hottest Canadian Guy is the one with a gazillion Club Zed points and a big wad of Canadian Tire money ...

... well, if that guy were in West Edmonton this Christmas Season, he would be able to turn his Canadian Tire money into a little bit of Holiday Cheer from the local Liqour Store !!

Turns out in an attempt to draw in customers, a Liquor store in Edmonton is accepting Canadian Tire Money at par for purchases. The only caveat is - a maximum of $50 per purchase, and no 5 and 10 cent bills (they plug up the register too quickly).

The incentive has proven popular and people are using handfuls of Canadian Tire money (usually what they've found in their glove compartment of their car or truck ...) in exchange for their alcohol. And here I save up my Canadian Tire money for foolish things like bikes, cleaning supplies and sporting equipment - mea culpa !!

This truly is one of those - "only in Canada" moments ... Pass the Red Rose and let's pull up to a plate of Back Bacon, and we'll wash it all down with a bottle of Blue, while we watch Hockey on CBC ... Eh !!??

Nice One Mr Strahl ...

Dear Mr Strahl, this letter is to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year ... enjoy it, because if the actions of your Government over the last few weeks is any indication, your time in office is already waning ...

Mr Strahl, you claim to be from a party that not only espoused values of democracy and every vote counting, yet you seem to be ignoring the will of the majority, for the sake of a minority ... Have you and your caucus mates taken the whole minority government thing too seriously??

I think you know where I stand, as a non farmer, on your approach to the Canadian Wheat Board. But Mr Strahl, the question you need to ask yourself as a Proud Canadian, is simply this - "Why do our American Cousins want the Wheat Board eliminated??"

Mr Strahl, I've not been in politics, but I do read - alot - and I've learned that if the Americans (to paint with broad generalities) want to eliminate something that we Canadians have, that's a pretty clear indication that we should be circling the wagons and preparing a good defense of whatever it is ... I remember the US manufacturing companies deciding that they didn't like the Auto Pact that kept Ontario car manufacturing plants humming - so after Free Trade not only was the Auto Pact gone, so too are most of those factories, and their good paying jobs ...

Call me crazy Mr Strahl, but I see parallels here ... in 10 or 15 years the prairie wheat farmer will likely have gone through the same nonsense the auto workers of Southern Ontario have ... it's not worth it Mr Strahl ... it's really not worth it.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas Mr Strahl, because I think there are two very fine candidates for your job ... One is Inky Mark, I may not agree with everything he says and does, but he atleast is listening to the farmers in our constituency ... and the other Candidate is a guy named Adiran Measner, he is currently available for work, and he knows how to represent the interests of farmers, not agri-business ...

One Amongst Millions ...

There is no way to do justice to the starry sky tonight ...

I came home from the longest night service (sometimes called Blue Christmas), and stood in the driveway and simply looked up ... it was breath-taking ... there were countless stars and constellations I couldn't name ... it was beautiful ...

Tonight's service was the time in our Church Calender when we pause to name the burdens and the sorrows and the hurts we carry into the Holiday Season ... It is a time when we acknowledge the losses we as human being shave suffered and own the hurt those losses have wrought.

I like the Longest Night Service. Liturgically, I prefer it to the other services of the Christmas Season. To me it is the service where we face the reality of life ... On the Longest Night of the year, in the darkness, we light our candles and echo Isaiah who said "the people who walked in the darkness, have seen a great light ..."

For some, Christmas is not a season filled with lightness and joy. It is struggle ... it can be a burden. I don't mind Christmas, but it doesn't fill me with overwhelming joy ... I understand how people can feel down at Christmas ... I often do ... But tonight, standing, looking up seeing the countless stars and galaxies over head, I felt connected to something beyond myself ... it wasn't joy that washed over me, but it was a sense of contentment ... knowing that no matter what twists and turns life might take - we are never alone in the cosmos ...

Tonight, I stood in my driveway and looked up at millions upon millions of stars ... and I felt a little bit less alone in the cosmos ... I simply can't do what my eyes beheld any sort of justice ... I can only invite you to go out on a clear dark night and take in the same vista ...

Let me know what you discover ...

Reason #363 for adoring Ms H. ...

Last night, Ms H. was using my lap top to cruise the net ... she was happily typing away when suddenly she exclaimed loudly: "Cool!" stretchng out the "oo" ...

Fearing what she might have found, I asked reluctantly: "What is it?"

"Smart cars !!" She answered triumphantly, as she turned the computer around and with a broad smile showed me a screen filled with pictures filled with cute, environmentally friendly cars ...

Tonight I continue to count my blessings that I have a 10 year old daughter who would rather look up pictures of smart cars, rather than just play mindless computer games ...

Like the girl said - "Cool !"

(I was finishing this entry as Ms H cruised by behind me - she saw the picture and once again exclaimed - "Cool !! Smart Cars are SSSSSOOOOOO CUTE !!!" - do I hear 364 ??)

A NEW Christmas Story perhaps ...

Sometimes the Cosmos offers what can only be described as a laugh ... Today is one of them ...

Over at Katie's Blog - "At the Half Note" today, she posted a piece from Overheard in New York, that is presumably a tip of the hat to my conversation back a ways about what the plural of Jesus might be ... (click on "At the Half Note" to visit)

Now tonight as we were cleaning up for supper CBC Radio's Six O'Clock news carried an item about a Virgin Birth that has scientists baffled ...

Turns out that a female Komodo Dragon has laid and fertilized eight (count em - eight) eggs that are due to hatch any time between now and Christmas.

We listened to the report and Noakila quipped - "I know what they should name them?"

"What?" I asked, fearful of the answer.

"Jesus," answered Noahkila proudly.

"Jesus?" replied I, "but there are eight of them?"

"What's the plural of Jesus?" asked Noahkila (he never reads my blog), "and is there a girl version ..."

My reply: "Just stop talking ..."