Every now and then, one comes across something ... um ... of interest in the Internet. Like this site for a company that calls itself WholesomeWear. Yes, it's a site where women and girls can buy swimwear which "highlights the face, rather than the body" and which "limits cling". There's a lot of commentary already out there on the whole matter (some rather hotheaded and some more thoughtful).
First, let me say from the get-go that I'm assuming this company caters to a rather specific and conservative audience and it's not my intention to mock anyone's beliefs; however, I do find some things curious about the whole thing.
First of all, I find it curious that covering a whole lot of skin automatically qualifies as wholesomeness. I would like to think that a person's wholesome quotient goes quite a bit deeper than mapping out and quantifying the exposed surface area. But that's really just a small side comment. What I find of particular interest is that the apparent requirement for modesty extends exclusively to women. Ah, yes. I did some further research and it's rather difficult to find any modestywear for men. In fact this site professes to be a listing of "Online Sources of Modest Clothing for the Family: Women, Men, Boys, Girls, Babies, Toddliers, Children, Adults!" and yet, scrolling down and reading through every one of the seventeen listed sites, one finds not a single reference to modest wear for the grown man. Hmmm. (I'm further stymied by the ad at the top of the page for Chinese Girls on the Web, where you can meet "beautiful, decent and sincere Chinese girls seeking love". Perhaps they are all of those things, but somehow the whole meet-a-Chinese-girl-on-the-web-through-chnlove.com seems to clash with the overall tone of the site...)
It's also a bit ironic that a company offering clothing which is meant to highlight the face instead of the body has a slimming line of wear.
I guess this whole thing also gets me because it pretty much excludes women from participating in the more athletic and sporty side of swimming. Testimonials say they're easy to swim in, but they're certainly not athletic wear. Of course, I guess women are expected to "splash" and "paddle" in those suits, not swim laps.
I dunno. To each her own, I suppose, but it sort of smacks of keeping women and children more HIS own instead. Wear what you want, but wear it becase you choose it for yourself...
And I won't even get into the problem I have with THIS site's name, which is about to make me puke.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
L is for Lazing About
Well, you'd think that after a week of virtually uninterrupted leisure, I'd be all refreshingly raring to go on things. That, I regret to admit, is simply not the case. I've spent the day running a few errands, and by "running errands" I mean buying books, but apart from that I have no drive to accomplish much of anything.
WAIT! That's not true. I also wrote a couple of cards and a letter and put them in the mail. Now I sound like a regular busy beaver!
In truth, I'm sure I'll get going again shortly. I'm heading into work in the morning to get some things done, and then I will hopefully get back into the seat of some writing I need to do, not to mention trying to keep getting things read. After all, I just replenished some of the recently vacated spaces on my "waiting to be read" bookshelves.
WAIT! That's not true. I also wrote a couple of cards and a letter and put them in the mail. Now I sound like a regular busy beaver!
In truth, I'm sure I'll get going again shortly. I'm heading into work in the morning to get some things done, and then I will hopefully get back into the seat of some writing I need to do, not to mention trying to keep getting things read. After all, I just replenished some of the recently vacated spaces on my "waiting to be read" bookshelves.
Monday, August 06, 2007
K is for Kickin' Back
I spent the last week enjoying a “Hermitage” up on Lake Huron. Although I broke my informal vow of silence by making a couple of calls ... um ... on more than one day ... it was basically a chance to get away, relax a bit, and get some work done. Here’s the week in brief.
SUNDAY
I drove up and my parents dropped by with my brother’s kids for a wee visit. A good time was had by all. Other than that it was just settle in time and a chance to get started on some serious reading. I also started my hermitage viewing of episodes of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse (it’s hard for me to define exactly what made this show so brilliant, but it really was) and The X-Files (Season One).
Book Still In Progress: The Secret History by Donna Tartt.
Books Started: Born to Rock by Gordon Korman and Babysitting is a Dangerous Job by Willo Davis Roberts.
MONDAY
I’d decided that I would try to spend more time at the beach this year, not to be all “beachy” but because it seems ridiculous to be five minutes from the lakeshore and not spend some of my relaxation time there. So I did. I spent a couple of hours in the late morning reading down by the water. In the evening (in addition to my required viewing at day’s end) I started on a simple mask, just to get going and to try something out. I also started some work on the script I’m supposed to be writing.
Books Still In Progress: The Secret History.
Books Finished: Born to Rock and Babysitting is a Dangerous Job (See additional notes below)*.
Book Started: Fair Weather by Richard Peck.
I’m thinking I should have brought more light and quick reading like these to have been able to cross them off the list.
TUESDAY
Back to the beach for a couple of hours of reading and a wee walk in the late morning. I’m trying to avoid the hottest and busiest times down there. Let’s be honest. I’m not really “Beach People”, am I? I have also figured out that if I had a barbecue at home, I’d probably cook more, and better. Those who know me would be impressed with the amount of salad and fruit I eat when I’m up here. I also made a little progress on the script, though I’m not entirely satisfied with the few pages I got down. That’s what drafts are for, though, right? For my good deed of the day, I went across the laneway to offer an extra set of hands to the neighbours who were trying madly (for some time before I went over) to figure out how to put up a tentish thing they’d been given to use for an event later this week.** The problem? Apart from the lack of directions, it appears they’d been given a rather random assortment of poles, not all of which seem to belong to this structure. Don’t worry, though, for they also had a distinct lack of tent pegs. Ha! In any event, we think we rigged up a plausible solution from the various and sundry bits and pieces they had handy. Pleasant folk, I must say. There. I’m not completely antisocial and crazy-man-in-the-woodsy.
Book Still In Progress: The Secret History.
Book Finished: Fair Weather.
Books Started: Prison Diary II: Purgatory by Jeffrey Archer and The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick.
I’m going to have to hunt down Volume III of the Prison Diary at some point.
WEDNESDAY
What do you suppose it means if something is best before 263A? Because that’s exactly the time when my juice is apparently best before. My second carton of juice is best before 339H, so clearly I’d better get drinking before it’s too late.
Today has been rather uneventful, much like the days before. I’m already half-way through my wee hermitage, and that’s sort of sad since I’m enjoying the opportunity to read so much, but also regrettably not getting all that much done on serious work. The work always comes in the evenings, when there is less to do (and it’s getting darker outside for reading). I started on a second very simple mask tonight, but I’m not sure it’s going to turn out well.*** I was using up some old art mache, so I really need a fresher batch to do anything well. (I can make that tomorrow.) There’s no truly comfortable place to read inside, so once things get dark outside, I move on to other things. Of course, my nightly episode of The X-Files is one of them.
Books Still In Progress: The Secret History and Prison Diary II: Purgatory.
Book Finished: The Last Book in the Universe (which was good but could have had a better title).
Book Started: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. I’ve read it a couple of times before, but it was given to me recently and I thought, “Hey, why not read it again?”
THURSDAY
Today was, perhaps a bit less productive – a term I’m using very loosely at the moment – than usual as I met up with my charming parents for dinner. Yes, they’re squeezing as much visiting as possible into my time up here and that’s fine. I also managed to grab a few nice framed photos for next to nothing from the restaurant where we ate.
Book Still In Progress: A Wrinkle in Time
Books Finished: Prison Diary II: Purgatory and The Secret History.
FRIDAY
I cannot lie. There’s nothing interesting to report, so I’ll just get to the reading update.
Book Finished: A Wrinkle in Time and The Baron in the Trees (see below).
Books Started: The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino (thanks, Linda!) and The Killing Art by Jonathan Santlofer.
SATURDAY
Book Finished: The Killing Art
Book Started: Exodus by Julie Bertagna
Then on Sunday I read a little more, but not much as I enjoyed a visit with my parents, my aunt, uncle, and cousin before heading back home. (I also began reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides in the morning.) As you can see, as the week became more routinely dedicated to little of interest, I gave up on specifics here.
---------------
* When you read several books at once or in close succession, you notice things. Little coincidences. By the time I’d reached Tuesday, I’d noticed that Born to Rock and The Secret History both had scholarships and financial aid as plot points. Babysitting ... and Born to Rock had characters named Murphy and McMurphy respectively. Babysitting ... and The Secret History both made references to root canals. These two books also both had characters named Henry while Born to Rock and The Secret History each had a character whose surname was Hatch. Later in the week I started recognizing other commonalities in books I was reading. Two involved twins. Two mentioned the ancient Greek language (one prominently and one in passing). Two made passing references to P.G. Wodehouse. And almost all of them, truly, featured a red-headed character, usually described as having unruly red hair of some sort. (I’m sure there are other commonalities which I noticed but can no longer bring to mind.) Interesting.
** As I drove by the event, apparently a rousing horseshoe tournament, I noticed that any plans to use the tent which I’d helped assemble had been abandoned sometime during the week.
*** The mask was not a rousing success, though I may try another similar design at a later date. I also discovered, as a sideline, that art mache is not nearly as flammable as one might think.
SUNDAY
I drove up and my parents dropped by with my brother’s kids for a wee visit. A good time was had by all. Other than that it was just settle in time and a chance to get started on some serious reading. I also started my hermitage viewing of episodes of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse (it’s hard for me to define exactly what made this show so brilliant, but it really was) and The X-Files (Season One).
Book Still In Progress: The Secret History by Donna Tartt.
Books Started: Born to Rock by Gordon Korman and Babysitting is a Dangerous Job by Willo Davis Roberts.
MONDAY
I’d decided that I would try to spend more time at the beach this year, not to be all “beachy” but because it seems ridiculous to be five minutes from the lakeshore and not spend some of my relaxation time there. So I did. I spent a couple of hours in the late morning reading down by the water. In the evening (in addition to my required viewing at day’s end) I started on a simple mask, just to get going and to try something out. I also started some work on the script I’m supposed to be writing.
Books Still In Progress: The Secret History.
Books Finished: Born to Rock and Babysitting is a Dangerous Job (See additional notes below)*.
Book Started: Fair Weather by Richard Peck.
I’m thinking I should have brought more light and quick reading like these to have been able to cross them off the list.
TUESDAY
Back to the beach for a couple of hours of reading and a wee walk in the late morning. I’m trying to avoid the hottest and busiest times down there. Let’s be honest. I’m not really “Beach People”, am I? I have also figured out that if I had a barbecue at home, I’d probably cook more, and better. Those who know me would be impressed with the amount of salad and fruit I eat when I’m up here. I also made a little progress on the script, though I’m not entirely satisfied with the few pages I got down. That’s what drafts are for, though, right? For my good deed of the day, I went across the laneway to offer an extra set of hands to the neighbours who were trying madly (for some time before I went over) to figure out how to put up a tentish thing they’d been given to use for an event later this week.** The problem? Apart from the lack of directions, it appears they’d been given a rather random assortment of poles, not all of which seem to belong to this structure. Don’t worry, though, for they also had a distinct lack of tent pegs. Ha! In any event, we think we rigged up a plausible solution from the various and sundry bits and pieces they had handy. Pleasant folk, I must say. There. I’m not completely antisocial and crazy-man-in-the-woodsy.
Book Still In Progress: The Secret History.
Book Finished: Fair Weather.
Books Started: Prison Diary II: Purgatory by Jeffrey Archer and The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick.
I’m going to have to hunt down Volume III of the Prison Diary at some point.
WEDNESDAY
What do you suppose it means if something is best before 263A? Because that’s exactly the time when my juice is apparently best before. My second carton of juice is best before 339H, so clearly I’d better get drinking before it’s too late.
Today has been rather uneventful, much like the days before. I’m already half-way through my wee hermitage, and that’s sort of sad since I’m enjoying the opportunity to read so much, but also regrettably not getting all that much done on serious work. The work always comes in the evenings, when there is less to do (and it’s getting darker outside for reading). I started on a second very simple mask tonight, but I’m not sure it’s going to turn out well.*** I was using up some old art mache, so I really need a fresher batch to do anything well. (I can make that tomorrow.) There’s no truly comfortable place to read inside, so once things get dark outside, I move on to other things. Of course, my nightly episode of The X-Files is one of them.
Books Still In Progress: The Secret History and Prison Diary II: Purgatory.
Book Finished: The Last Book in the Universe (which was good but could have had a better title).
Book Started: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. I’ve read it a couple of times before, but it was given to me recently and I thought, “Hey, why not read it again?”
THURSDAY
Today was, perhaps a bit less productive – a term I’m using very loosely at the moment – than usual as I met up with my charming parents for dinner. Yes, they’re squeezing as much visiting as possible into my time up here and that’s fine. I also managed to grab a few nice framed photos for next to nothing from the restaurant where we ate.
Book Still In Progress: A Wrinkle in Time
Books Finished: Prison Diary II: Purgatory and The Secret History.
FRIDAY
I cannot lie. There’s nothing interesting to report, so I’ll just get to the reading update.
Book Finished: A Wrinkle in Time and The Baron in the Trees (see below).
Books Started: The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino (thanks, Linda!) and The Killing Art by Jonathan Santlofer.
SATURDAY
Book Finished: The Killing Art
Book Started: Exodus by Julie Bertagna
Then on Sunday I read a little more, but not much as I enjoyed a visit with my parents, my aunt, uncle, and cousin before heading back home. (I also began reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides in the morning.) As you can see, as the week became more routinely dedicated to little of interest, I gave up on specifics here.
---------------
* When you read several books at once or in close succession, you notice things. Little coincidences. By the time I’d reached Tuesday, I’d noticed that Born to Rock and The Secret History both had scholarships and financial aid as plot points. Babysitting ... and Born to Rock had characters named Murphy and McMurphy respectively. Babysitting ... and The Secret History both made references to root canals. These two books also both had characters named Henry while Born to Rock and The Secret History each had a character whose surname was Hatch. Later in the week I started recognizing other commonalities in books I was reading. Two involved twins. Two mentioned the ancient Greek language (one prominently and one in passing). Two made passing references to P.G. Wodehouse. And almost all of them, truly, featured a red-headed character, usually described as having unruly red hair of some sort. (I’m sure there are other commonalities which I noticed but can no longer bring to mind.) Interesting.
** As I drove by the event, apparently a rousing horseshoe tournament, I noticed that any plans to use the tent which I’d helped assemble had been abandoned sometime during the week.
*** The mask was not a rousing success, though I may try another similar design at a later date. I also discovered, as a sideline, that art mache is not nearly as flammable as one might think.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
J is for J.K. Rowling
Okay, the title will greatly increase the Geek-Rating of this site, but SOMETHING's got to get me back on track with postings. In the past I've fallen off the weblogging wagon, but lately I've fallen off the wagon, been knocked unconscious by the heavy wooden wheels, and now I've come to, realizing that the wagon has trundled on several miles down the road without me.
But I'm back. I hope. At least until I have no internet connectivity next week for a while. Then when I'm back online, hopefully I'll be back here, too.
As for "J", yes I was one of those people who got the book on its release date, though it was really all about the discounted price for me. I didn't really have any intention to read it "right away". I did, however, finish another book this weekend (Nick Sagan's Idlewild) so I figured I was as well reading the latest Potter before someone told me everything that happened, anyway.
All in all, I thought it was a decent and satisfying end to the series, though I clearly won't get into any details. I will share my general amusement when I came across on chapter in particular and thought, "Holy Exposition!", though it was sort of necessary, I suppose. I think it will likely be a very difficult book to translate onto the movie screen, though. Lots of "stuff", some of which is already quite cinematic in the way it's been written, and then a lot of "how it all fits together" stuff that works better in a book where we can enter people's heads and thought processes, and just have the occasional bout of exposititory confab...
'Nuff said.
What else can I say? On the Lot was a bit of a disappointment tonight. No real shining stars among them. Since it's pretty much the only show I'm watching these days (that's not on DVD), I was particularly let down.
On an unrelated note (have you noticed I say that often?), although I don't actually listen to Dolly Parton's music, I have a feeling I'd really like to have her at my barbecue. (If I had a barbecue.) She seems like everyone's fun aunt!
And that's all I've got for tonight.
But I'm back. I hope. At least until I have no internet connectivity next week for a while. Then when I'm back online, hopefully I'll be back here, too.
As for "J", yes I was one of those people who got the book on its release date, though it was really all about the discounted price for me. I didn't really have any intention to read it "right away". I did, however, finish another book this weekend (Nick Sagan's Idlewild) so I figured I was as well reading the latest Potter before someone told me everything that happened, anyway.
All in all, I thought it was a decent and satisfying end to the series, though I clearly won't get into any details. I will share my general amusement when I came across on chapter in particular and thought, "Holy Exposition!", though it was sort of necessary, I suppose. I think it will likely be a very difficult book to translate onto the movie screen, though. Lots of "stuff", some of which is already quite cinematic in the way it's been written, and then a lot of "how it all fits together" stuff that works better in a book where we can enter people's heads and thought processes, and just have the occasional bout of exposititory confab...
'Nuff said.
What else can I say? On the Lot was a bit of a disappointment tonight. No real shining stars among them. Since it's pretty much the only show I'm watching these days (that's not on DVD), I was particularly let down.
On an unrelated note (have you noticed I say that often?), although I don't actually listen to Dolly Parton's music, I have a feeling I'd really like to have her at my barbecue. (If I had a barbecue.) She seems like everyone's fun aunt!
And that's all I've got for tonight.
Monday, July 02, 2007
I is for International Programming
Today I finally got around to watching The World According to Sesame Street. It's been sitting in my home for a few months now waiting to be viewed and I finally got around to it.
And I'm glad I did.
I've always been a fan of Henson and, thereby, of Sesame Street / Sesame Workshop. After watching today, I'm even more a fan of those Sesame folk.
If you're not aware, The World According to Sesame Street is a documentary about the Sesame Workshop's efforts to produce local programming for preschoolers around the world, specifically in Bangladesh, where many children start working as young as five years of age because they can't afford to stay in school, in Kosovo, where the conflict between Serbians and Albanians has fostered mistrust and hatred among its children as well as its adults, and in South Africa, where HIV/AIDS is running rampant in children's lives, leaving tens of thousands orphaned and many more infected.
What became infinitely clear while watching was the genuine dedication, the amount of heart, that these people, both from the American base and from the local production groups have to the children they are seeking to reach with education and hope.
It was shameful how members of American media and congress responded to the HIV positive Muppet character in South Africa's show with "moral outrage". Thankfully the hubbub died down quite quickly. Yeesh, people. Give your heads a shake!
Press on, Monsters and Muppets! Into the fray!
And I'm glad I did.
I've always been a fan of Henson and, thereby, of Sesame Street / Sesame Workshop. After watching today, I'm even more a fan of those Sesame folk.
If you're not aware, The World According to Sesame Street is a documentary about the Sesame Workshop's efforts to produce local programming for preschoolers around the world, specifically in Bangladesh, where many children start working as young as five years of age because they can't afford to stay in school, in Kosovo, where the conflict between Serbians and Albanians has fostered mistrust and hatred among its children as well as its adults, and in South Africa, where HIV/AIDS is running rampant in children's lives, leaving tens of thousands orphaned and many more infected.
What became infinitely clear while watching was the genuine dedication, the amount of heart, that these people, both from the American base and from the local production groups have to the children they are seeking to reach with education and hope.
It was shameful how members of American media and congress responded to the HIV positive Muppet character in South Africa's show with "moral outrage". Thankfully the hubbub died down quite quickly. Yeesh, people. Give your heads a shake!
Press on, Monsters and Muppets! Into the fray!
Friday, June 29, 2007
H is for Housework
Since I've been a trifle busy (read: running around madly trying to stay afloat) lately, it was high time I got down to some good old domestic duties. To that end, I spent much of the day engaged in housework types of activities.
I mowed the lawn, albeit half-heartedly and therefore none too well.
I did a few loads of laundry.
I cleaned the bathroom top to bottom, though I really started with the bottom.
I tidied, dusted, and vacuumed the bedroom, putting away a whole-lotta laundry that was just waiting there to be dealt with.
I started working downstairs in the living room, too.
If all goes well, this weekend will see a continuation of home improvements, including the repair of a small hole in the living room ceiling and even painting of the living room! Yahoo!
Of course, after all of that menial housework, I was due for a reward, so I was off to my friend Monica's for a lovely dinner gathering. Among the guests was a professor of mine from back in the day. Amusingly enough, it was well into dinner and into a lengthy conversation about the school, the professors there, and my behavioural ... well ... behaviour when suddenly it clicked that INDEED she HAD been one of my professors. Of course, that came after a number of amusing stories about the ways I'd viewed several professors, so she was likely feeling rather frightened to know what I had thought of her! Luckily, I had only positive memories of being in her class, and was able to honestly confess that I HAD done the readings for her course.
A good time was had by all (as far as I could discern).
I mowed the lawn, albeit half-heartedly and therefore none too well.
I did a few loads of laundry.
I cleaned the bathroom top to bottom, though I really started with the bottom.
I tidied, dusted, and vacuumed the bedroom, putting away a whole-lotta laundry that was just waiting there to be dealt with.
I started working downstairs in the living room, too.
If all goes well, this weekend will see a continuation of home improvements, including the repair of a small hole in the living room ceiling and even painting of the living room! Yahoo!
Of course, after all of that menial housework, I was due for a reward, so I was off to my friend Monica's for a lovely dinner gathering. Among the guests was a professor of mine from back in the day. Amusingly enough, it was well into dinner and into a lengthy conversation about the school, the professors there, and my behavioural ... well ... behaviour when suddenly it clicked that INDEED she HAD been one of my professors. Of course, that came after a number of amusing stories about the ways I'd viewed several professors, so she was likely feeling rather frightened to know what I had thought of her! Luckily, I had only positive memories of being in her class, and was able to honestly confess that I HAD done the readings for her course.
A good time was had by all (as far as I could discern).
G is for Gross
I've been away. Not from home, but from posting. Life = hectic. I apologize and move on. Again. And again and again.
Today I had a rather disgusting experience. Let me set the scene.
I try to be a good citizen and that extends, at times, to picking up errant litter and depositing it in the nearest trash recepticle. (As a tangent to the real story, it amuses me to no end that the garbage cans outside of the local Homesense Store say "Garbage - Trash" on them, as if that somehow makes them bilingual - bilangue. You see, "Garbage" is the way to spell that word both in English and in French, so do we really need "Trash" as a clarifying term or translation? Hmmm.) Yesterday, for example, a newspaper flyer was blowing directly across my path as I walked to the car at Canadian Tire (I was buying a filter for the furnace in case any of you desperately wanted to know) and so I scooped it up and tossed it. I admit, I probably miss infinitely more litter than I scoop, but I try and that's better than not.
Today, however, I had an experience that would make me second-guess my good intentions. I had just parked at the McDonald's (don't judge me, I just said I do what I can and know I have a ways to go) and got out of my car. There were about 20 paper-wrapped straws scattered between my car and the next, so I figured I'd scoop them up and toss them in the garbage to keep them from blowing across the neighbourhood. I bend. I scooped.
And that's when I realized what a mistake it had been.
There was something on the straws.
Something unidentifiable.
Something curiously like mucous.
Like dripping, oozing, transparent, slippery, slick, and altogether unpleasant mucous.
I dropped the straws into the garbage, carefully extracted my key from my pocket (so as to avoid getting the aforementioned mystery substance on my clothes and car) and unlocked the door. I was VERY grateful to have the bottle of hand sanitizer inside the door and I used it liberally. At the first opportunity, I washed and washed and washed my hands until I felt safe, secure, and free again.
I shall never know, for certain, what the substance was. I believe that's for the best. But I must wonder why, when I was simply trying to be a steward of the earth's parking lots, must these things happen to me?
Today I had a rather disgusting experience. Let me set the scene.
I try to be a good citizen and that extends, at times, to picking up errant litter and depositing it in the nearest trash recepticle. (As a tangent to the real story, it amuses me to no end that the garbage cans outside of the local Homesense Store say "Garbage - Trash" on them, as if that somehow makes them bilingual - bilangue. You see, "Garbage" is the way to spell that word both in English and in French, so do we really need "Trash" as a clarifying term or translation? Hmmm.) Yesterday, for example, a newspaper flyer was blowing directly across my path as I walked to the car at Canadian Tire (I was buying a filter for the furnace in case any of you desperately wanted to know) and so I scooped it up and tossed it. I admit, I probably miss infinitely more litter than I scoop, but I try and that's better than not.
Today, however, I had an experience that would make me second-guess my good intentions. I had just parked at the McDonald's (don't judge me, I just said I do what I can and know I have a ways to go) and got out of my car. There were about 20 paper-wrapped straws scattered between my car and the next, so I figured I'd scoop them up and toss them in the garbage to keep them from blowing across the neighbourhood. I bend. I scooped.
And that's when I realized what a mistake it had been.
There was something on the straws.
Something unidentifiable.
Something curiously like mucous.
Like dripping, oozing, transparent, slippery, slick, and altogether unpleasant mucous.
I dropped the straws into the garbage, carefully extracted my key from my pocket (so as to avoid getting the aforementioned mystery substance on my clothes and car) and unlocked the door. I was VERY grateful to have the bottle of hand sanitizer inside the door and I used it liberally. At the first opportunity, I washed and washed and washed my hands until I felt safe, secure, and free again.
I shall never know, for certain, what the substance was. I believe that's for the best. But I must wonder why, when I was simply trying to be a steward of the earth's parking lots, must these things happen to me?
Sunday, June 03, 2007
F is for Fauna, and also for Frustration
This evening I was in my kitchen, putting some rice into the steamer (as I was planning to enjoy steamed rice -- duh -- with Paneer Darbari) and talking on the telephone when I looked out my back door and noticed that there was a visitor in the neighbourhood. Yes, just beyond my driveway was a lovely deer. Yes, a deer in the middle of the city. It wandered around, not terribly interested in the mini-park that exists in the centre of the cul-de-sac back there. A moment later, the neighbours started appearing, cameras in hand ... I didn't have one handy ... and the deer wandered around and into a back yard where it was followed by the budding amateur paparazzi. I know not what happened to it from that point on, but it was an encounter both lovely and disturbing. Lovely because, hey, having a deer in ones backyard is a nice thing to observe, but disturbing because it's a testament to the continuing encroachment of humans on natural habitats. I won't preach beyond that.
Years ago, I almost hit a rather large deer driving downtown here. It jumped over the hood of my car and disappeared down a hill.
Then, later tonight, I was working on paperwork for work tomorrow (I'm away at a meeting) and, upon preparing to e-mail the paperwork in, discovered that my internet was being uncooperative. An hour later, after a lengthy conversation with Customer Service -- yes, the problem appears to have been with my computer -- I'm back online, though not wireless at the moment. Thanks to the lengthy problem-solving session, I now do not have all of my work prepared for the meeting. Too bad, I say, I really need to go to bed. I'll try to whip up some last-minute things before going to the meeting and, beyond that, I'll just have to send things in later, as needed. Heck. It's not my fault. Really!
Years ago, I almost hit a rather large deer driving downtown here. It jumped over the hood of my car and disappeared down a hill.
Then, later tonight, I was working on paperwork for work tomorrow (I'm away at a meeting) and, upon preparing to e-mail the paperwork in, discovered that my internet was being uncooperative. An hour later, after a lengthy conversation with Customer Service -- yes, the problem appears to have been with my computer -- I'm back online, though not wireless at the moment. Thanks to the lengthy problem-solving session, I now do not have all of my work prepared for the meeting. Too bad, I say, I really need to go to bed. I'll try to whip up some last-minute things before going to the meeting and, beyond that, I'll just have to send things in later, as needed. Heck. It's not my fault. Really!
[An Insert ]
How happy was I with these results?
Your results:
You are Superman
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test
Ahhh. I knew it all along.
Your results:
You are Superman
| You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.  |
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test
Ahhh. I knew it all along.
Friday, June 01, 2007
E is for Elephants
You know, it's oddly coincidental, but I was on my way to work today,
and I had just turned onto the highway when I saw that unwelcome glow
of red brake lights lined across all three lanes just ahead. I braked
quite heavily (having just gotten my wee vehicle up to highway speeds)
and stopped, creeping ahead from time to time as traffic allowed, until
I could at last see what the hold-up was. At the side of the road was a
convoy of about six vehicles -- trucks pulling livestock trailers. One
of the trailers was listing to the right (having blown a tire or axle ,
presumably). The back doors were dented and open, hanging freely on the
hinges, and there, in the middle of the highway was an elephant. (I
called upon my elementary school knowledge and judged, by its large but
not crazy large ears, that it was likely an Indian elephant). Yes, an
elephant in the road was the reason for my slow and arduous trip to
work.
If any of that were true, it would explain why today's entry is "E is for Elephants".
Do you remember Elmer the Safety
Elephant? Oh yes, he's still around today, though his
presence doesn't seem quite as prevalent as he was back in the day.
There's a thrilling history of Elmer in there, though I desperately
wish they'd included pictures of Elmer's numerous incarnations. (The
current one tries a bit too hard to be youthful and fun.)
Keltie's mother is a big fan of elephants, for those of you who may not know. Why not send her something elephantine today?
David Bowie earned rave reviews for his portrayal of John Merrick in
himself to be a bonafied actor as well as musician.
Elephants can't jump, making White Men feel like they're in good company.
A favourite joke from Muppets Tonight: What do you get if you cross an elephant with a rhinoceros? Elephino! (Say it out loud!) Love that Pepe!
(Edited to add: Oh dear. Again with the weird spacing thing. My apologies...)
and I had just turned onto the highway when I saw that unwelcome glow
of red brake lights lined across all three lanes just ahead. I braked
quite heavily (having just gotten my wee vehicle up to highway speeds)
and stopped, creeping ahead from time to time as traffic allowed, until
I could at last see what the hold-up was. At the side of the road was a
convoy of about six vehicles -- trucks pulling livestock trailers. One
of the trailers was listing to the right (having blown a tire or axle ,
presumably). The back doors were dented and open, hanging freely on the
hinges, and there, in the middle of the highway was an elephant. (I
called upon my elementary school knowledge and judged, by its large but
not crazy large ears, that it was likely an Indian elephant). Yes, an
elephant in the road was the reason for my slow and arduous trip to
work.
If any of that were true, it would explain why today's entry is "E is for Elephants".
Do you remember Elmer the Safety
Elephant? Oh yes, he's still around today, though his
presence doesn't seem quite as prevalent as he was back in the day.
There's a thrilling history of Elmer in there, though I desperately
wish they'd included pictures of Elmer's numerous incarnations. (The
current one tries a bit too hard to be youthful and fun.)
Keltie's mother is a big fan of elephants, for those of you who may not know. Why not send her something elephantine today?
David Bowie earned rave reviews for his portrayal of John Merrick in
himself to be a bonafied actor as well as musician.
Elephants can't jump, making White Men feel like they're in good company.
A favourite joke from Muppets Tonight: What do you get if you cross an elephant with a rhinoceros? Elephino! (Say it out loud!) Love that Pepe!
(Edited to add: Oh dear. Again with the weird spacing thing. My apologies...)
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