Twas the day after Christmas and back in the barn,
A cute little kitten was playing with yarn.
“I am so happy, as happy can be,
For Santa brought a ball of yarn just for me!”
It chased that yarn ball as it rolled cross the floor,
And batted it 'round then chased it some more.
Until as it rolled it got stuck on a nail
And that little kitten, it started to wail,
“Oh no, my poor yarn ball! It won't roll around!
It now only sits there attached to the ground!
Is there not someone here to help me out?”
Then, in the corner, continued to pout.
It just so happens, right then I walked by
And paused as my ears caught the poor kitten's cry.
I'm a sucker for kittens, in distress or not,
So I sped up walking to almost a trot
And entered that barn so the scene I could spy,
Which was so sad it brought a tear to my eye.
So sad and forlorn was that little cat!
I walked over and gave it's small head a pat
Then I noticed the yarn ball that started this mess
And pulled it off the nail with much finesse.
But the nail was still there so lickety split
I found some stuff that worked well to cover it.
In front of the kitten I put the ball down
And almost instantly that kitten's frown
Was turned to a smile as it's heart filled with glee.
“I have my yarn ball back! Hooray! Whoopee!”
As I walked away with a smile on my face
I vowed I would soon voyage back to that place
And visit the kitten with the ball of yarn,
Which was happily playing out back in the barn.
Friday, December 31, 2010
The Kitten's Yarn
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Mother Of Invention
It has been said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” I disagree. I think it's more accurate to list Invention's hypothetical parents as laziness and/or impatience. We don't call it that though—we say something “makes life easier.” So much stuff out there was invented because the old way was slower than we'd like and/or took too much work.
Think about it. There's really not a lot of things out there that were invented because there was a real and genuine need for it. Cars? Horse drawn carriages were just too slow. Light bulbs? We were too lazy to deal with proper care and safety procedures involved in using candles. Don't forget the printing press. Those scribes were just too lazy to write everything by hand, and we were too impatient to wait for them to do it. And then there's computers. Obviously another child of both laziness and impatience.
Don't get me wrong, though—I'm not knocking all the great things that have been invented. It's hard to mention life without most of them. I guess I'm just too lazy and impatient to do things “the old way.”
Think about it. There's really not a lot of things out there that were invented because there was a real and genuine need for it. Cars? Horse drawn carriages were just too slow. Light bulbs? We were too lazy to deal with proper care and safety procedures involved in using candles. Don't forget the printing press. Those scribes were just too lazy to write everything by hand, and we were too impatient to wait for them to do it. And then there's computers. Obviously another child of both laziness and impatience.
Don't get me wrong, though—I'm not knocking all the great things that have been invented. It's hard to mention life without most of them. I guess I'm just too lazy and impatient to do things “the old way.”
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
So Close, Yet So Far...
I should have been spending the night in my parents' spare bedroom. Instead, I'm in a hotel room in Edmonton. I should have spent the evening playing board games with my family, enjoying some great Christmas baking and maybe watching some TV. Instead, I spent it on airplanes and in airports.
It started with a flight from Kelowna to Edmonton. I was not on that flight, but for whatever reason it was delayed from leaving for 20 minutes. I was supposed to connect with this flight in Edmonton, which then would take me to Saskatoon.
Not only was that flight late leaving Kelowna, but there were technical difficulties when the plane was going to leave Edmonton. By the time we were finally taking off, it was an hour later than it should have been departing.
And then came the weather. While we were enroute to Saskatoon, it started to rain. Freezing rain. As the Captain was starting his descent, he learned that the runways had frozen over. Plus, there were strong winds too. Definitely a bad combination, so he turned the plane around and headed to...
Calgary. Once in Calgary, we all deplaned while we waited to find out what was going to happen. And waited. And waited. It was determined that, unless individuals decided to make their own alternate arrangements, we all would be flown... Wait for it... Back to Edmonton.
Of course, that meant more waiting, as they needed to bring in a new crew and sort out everyone's luggage, to sort out what was and wasn't going back to Edmonton. At least I was certain that my luggage wouldn't be lost, as I personally watched it being reloaded.
It was appreciated that the Captain and crew for this extra flight injected extra humor into everything they said to try and lighten the mood. There were lots of laughs to the Captain's comment that the Customer Service folks in Edmonton were already donning their tackle gear and hockey pads... But it was indeed very much appreciated that the Captain took the time to explain the situation and what happened, not to mention that he and the crew probably gave up their own evenings with family for us.
After getting into my room, at about midnight local time, I checked for my updated boarding pass online. The passengers from this flight were being put in to any empty seats on flights to Saskatoon the following day. It looks like I'm on the 3:20PM flight—exactly 24 hours after my original flight was supposed to leave Edmonton. Oh well. At least I do have a couple food vouchers, so I can have a nice lunch at the Chili's in the airport.
I guess I can say that today was a bit of an adventure... Just not one I hope to repeat anytime soon. It's a little frustrating to think that if the flight had even one less delay, it may have beaten the icy runway conditions. I hope and pray that things go smoother tomorrow. That would not be fun at all, to be turned away from Saskatoon two days in a row!
It started with a flight from Kelowna to Edmonton. I was not on that flight, but for whatever reason it was delayed from leaving for 20 minutes. I was supposed to connect with this flight in Edmonton, which then would take me to Saskatoon.
Not only was that flight late leaving Kelowna, but there were technical difficulties when the plane was going to leave Edmonton. By the time we were finally taking off, it was an hour later than it should have been departing.
And then came the weather. While we were enroute to Saskatoon, it started to rain. Freezing rain. As the Captain was starting his descent, he learned that the runways had frozen over. Plus, there were strong winds too. Definitely a bad combination, so he turned the plane around and headed to...
Calgary. Once in Calgary, we all deplaned while we waited to find out what was going to happen. And waited. And waited. It was determined that, unless individuals decided to make their own alternate arrangements, we all would be flown... Wait for it... Back to Edmonton.
Of course, that meant more waiting, as they needed to bring in a new crew and sort out everyone's luggage, to sort out what was and wasn't going back to Edmonton. At least I was certain that my luggage wouldn't be lost, as I personally watched it being reloaded.
It was appreciated that the Captain and crew for this extra flight injected extra humor into everything they said to try and lighten the mood. There were lots of laughs to the Captain's comment that the Customer Service folks in Edmonton were already donning their tackle gear and hockey pads... But it was indeed very much appreciated that the Captain took the time to explain the situation and what happened, not to mention that he and the crew probably gave up their own evenings with family for us.
After getting into my room, at about midnight local time, I checked for my updated boarding pass online. The passengers from this flight were being put in to any empty seats on flights to Saskatoon the following day. It looks like I'm on the 3:20PM flight—exactly 24 hours after my original flight was supposed to leave Edmonton. Oh well. At least I do have a couple food vouchers, so I can have a nice lunch at the Chili's in the airport.
I guess I can say that today was a bit of an adventure... Just not one I hope to repeat anytime soon. It's a little frustrating to think that if the flight had even one less delay, it may have beaten the icy runway conditions. I hope and pray that things go smoother tomorrow. That would not be fun at all, to be turned away from Saskatoon two days in a row!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Home for the Holidays?
I had a strange realization last night. In a couple days I fly out to spend Christmas with my family, but I'm really not “Going home for the holidays.”
After I moved out on my own, my parents moved a couple times themselves but those other houses still felt like home to me, even though I never actually lived in either of them myself. But it's different now after this third move, to Saskatoon.
Other than the rare times with snow on the highways or some other road obstruction, I've never had to travel for longer than 40 minutes to spend time with my family. With their other houses I always felt at home there, as I was able to visit frequently and spent a lot of time there so I was strongly accustomed to them. In fact, while I lived in this apartment, to me home was my parents' house.
This Christmas I'm going to a house I've never even visited before. I know, technically I have been there back in September when I helped them move. But really, the extent of my time in their new home was just spending a day unloading a truck into the empty house and eating a quick-and-easy KFC take-out dinner. I spent that night back at my brother and sister-in-law's place and flew back to Abbotsford the following morning. I have a mental image of what their unpacked-and-set-up home might look like but that's it.
And now, with the extra physical distance between us, it takes much more time and expense to visit. I probably won't get out there more than a couple times a year, so by the time their house might start feeling like home, they'll be moving again and it'll start all over. Although I will certainly look forward to all my visits to see my family (although that may change after experiencing a Saskatoon winter...), I'm not sure that I'll be able to view my parents' house as home ever again.
And thus begins the process of redefining what home means to me.
After I moved out on my own, my parents moved a couple times themselves but those other houses still felt like home to me, even though I never actually lived in either of them myself. But it's different now after this third move, to Saskatoon.
Other than the rare times with snow on the highways or some other road obstruction, I've never had to travel for longer than 40 minutes to spend time with my family. With their other houses I always felt at home there, as I was able to visit frequently and spent a lot of time there so I was strongly accustomed to them. In fact, while I lived in this apartment, to me home was my parents' house.
This Christmas I'm going to a house I've never even visited before. I know, technically I have been there back in September when I helped them move. But really, the extent of my time in their new home was just spending a day unloading a truck into the empty house and eating a quick-and-easy KFC take-out dinner. I spent that night back at my brother and sister-in-law's place and flew back to Abbotsford the following morning. I have a mental image of what their unpacked-and-set-up home might look like but that's it.
And now, with the extra physical distance between us, it takes much more time and expense to visit. I probably won't get out there more than a couple times a year, so by the time their house might start feeling like home, they'll be moving again and it'll start all over. Although I will certainly look forward to all my visits to see my family (although that may change after experiencing a Saskatoon winter...), I'm not sure that I'll be able to view my parents' house as home ever again.
And thus begins the process of redefining what home means to me.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
I Saw Three Ships Do WHAT???
There is a well known Christmas carol that has the lyrics:
But I guess it's always possible he was actually referring to an airship...
I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas Day, on Christmas DayObviously, the songwriter did not do his research, as Bethlehem is nowhere near water. I don't know how these ships are supposed to have sailed in. From the satellite photos, there doesn't even appear to be a river near it, or at least not one capable of having a ship sailing up it!
. . .
O they sailed into Bethlehem, On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
But I guess it's always possible he was actually referring to an airship...
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Coke and Egg Nog
Christmas is the time where we all get to enjoy our favourite seasonal drinks, many of which tend to involve egg nog. I used to always wonder why, if everyone loves it so much, egg nog is only ever sold around the Christmas season. If they made it year-round, wouldn't they sell a considerable amount more? But then it hit me. If egg nog was readily available the whole year it wouldn't be special anymore and interest would wane, and over time annual sales would probably only be a negligible amount more than it is currently, as a seasonal item.
But I digress.
When it comes to seasonal drinks, a personal favourite of mine for years has been Coke and egg nog. Usually when I divulge that piece of information, people react like I'm some kind of freak. Well, perhaps I am, but that's a whole discussion for another day. Whether they've tried it or not, people have a preconceived notion that this is a gross combination. I can understand not wanting to try gross things. I personally am turned off of trying oysters because they look so gross when I watch people eat them. However, Coke and egg nog is simply two decidedly non-gross things that happen to be mixed together.
Here's the puzzling thing. Ask those same people if they would like a root beer float and I'm sure they'd love to have one. When you think about it, it's actually quite similar—a carbonated drink with a dairy product added. And for a while A&W even sold root beer milkshakes. It really doesn't seem like much of a stretch from that to consider mixing Coke and egg nog. I've also heard of root beer and egg nog or ginger ale and egg nog as other good combinations, although I haven't personally tried them yet.
So here's your homework. At least once this holiday season, I challenge you to try some Coke and egg nog (I usually go with a 50/50 mix). It doesn't even have to be a whole glass if you're not too brave; just try enough to form an informed opinion. If you end up not liking it, that's fine. Everyone has different tastes. But I've known more than one person who initially thought it sounded disgusting and changed their minds after actually trying it.
But I digress.
When it comes to seasonal drinks, a personal favourite of mine for years has been Coke and egg nog. Usually when I divulge that piece of information, people react like I'm some kind of freak. Well, perhaps I am, but that's a whole discussion for another day. Whether they've tried it or not, people have a preconceived notion that this is a gross combination. I can understand not wanting to try gross things. I personally am turned off of trying oysters because they look so gross when I watch people eat them. However, Coke and egg nog is simply two decidedly non-gross things that happen to be mixed together.
Here's the puzzling thing. Ask those same people if they would like a root beer float and I'm sure they'd love to have one. When you think about it, it's actually quite similar—a carbonated drink with a dairy product added. And for a while A&W even sold root beer milkshakes. It really doesn't seem like much of a stretch from that to consider mixing Coke and egg nog. I've also heard of root beer and egg nog or ginger ale and egg nog as other good combinations, although I haven't personally tried them yet.
So here's your homework. At least once this holiday season, I challenge you to try some Coke and egg nog (I usually go with a 50/50 mix). It doesn't even have to be a whole glass if you're not too brave; just try enough to form an informed opinion. If you end up not liking it, that's fine. Everyone has different tastes. But I've known more than one person who initially thought it sounded disgusting and changed their minds after actually trying it.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
The Worst Christmas Songs Ever
Okay, maybe that title is a little strong, but these are some Christmas songs I really can't stand hearing — the “Play this song and I'll shoot the radio” kind.
Mary's Boy Child, by Boney M
I don't know if I've ever heard anything else by Boney M, but this song alone makes me unlikely to actively seek out their other music.
Little Drummer Boy
I don't know why, but this song really annoys me. And the worst part is that at one church I used to attend, one of the worship leaders really liked leading the congregation in this song during the Christmas season. I don't know about you, but Pa rum pum pum pum doesn't exactly seem like fitting Sunday morning worship music.... But I have to admit that I do really like Jars of Clay's version. But maybe I'm just biased because they're one of my favourite bands.
Wonderful Christmastime, by Paul McCartney
This is probably the most annoying Christmas song I've ever heard. Except, of course, that I love Jars of Clay's rendition... Seriously, I didn't even recognize the song the first time through their Christmas album. Then when listening closer to the song later I realized it was “that song I hate hearing so much,” but I still like it. Jars of Clay's, that is. Not Paul McCartney's. Nothing would make me like the original version.
Feliz Navidad, by José Feliciano
This song is just too repetitive. I could write the entire lyrics out on one line. Well, except for some of the Spanish part. I have absolutely no idea what is being sung there aside from “Feliz Navidad.” And guess what, when trying to find a Youtube video for this song I found that Boney M also performed it. So that makes two Boney M songs I've heard, neither of which I like.
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, by Elmo and Patsy
This is one of those songs that was funny the first couple times, but I got sick of really quick. I bet if Jars of Clay were to record it I'd like it... But when it comes to novelty Christmas songs, I don't think I'll ever tire of Bob and Doug Mackenzie's 12 Days of Christmas.
Santa Baby, by Madonna
I first heard this song when I was in grade 7, when it was my class' contribution to the school's Christmas assembly. I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now. Actually, it looks like Madonna wasn't the original artist. I found a video of a performance of it from back in 1953, by Eartha Kitt. But I should consider myself lucky. One day, as part of the background music playing in stores, my sister heard this song being sung by a man. I think I'd rather listen to Madonna sing it.
And for an honourable mention...
Okay, this really isn't a song I hate; just one that I think it is quite overrated — The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. Yes, it's a great piece of music. But I don't understand why most people's reaction to it seems to be like it's the best piece of Christmas music on the planet, and having the chance to hear it live, or take part in singing it, is like the audio equivalent of seeing a double rainbow. Like how lots of Christmas presentations end with “a special treat” of the choir performing it. My church has a long-standing tradition in its Christmas Eve service of ending with inviting anyone who wants to up onto the platform to sing it. I understand that it's hard to sing and have it sound good without lots of practice, but that alone doesn't make it worthy of all the hype in my opinion.
Mary's Boy Child, by Boney M
I don't know if I've ever heard anything else by Boney M, but this song alone makes me unlikely to actively seek out their other music.
Little Drummer Boy
I don't know why, but this song really annoys me. And the worst part is that at one church I used to attend, one of the worship leaders really liked leading the congregation in this song during the Christmas season. I don't know about you, but Pa rum pum pum pum doesn't exactly seem like fitting Sunday morning worship music.... But I have to admit that I do really like Jars of Clay's version. But maybe I'm just biased because they're one of my favourite bands.
Wonderful Christmastime, by Paul McCartney
This is probably the most annoying Christmas song I've ever heard. Except, of course, that I love Jars of Clay's rendition... Seriously, I didn't even recognize the song the first time through their Christmas album. Then when listening closer to the song later I realized it was “that song I hate hearing so much,” but I still like it. Jars of Clay's, that is. Not Paul McCartney's. Nothing would make me like the original version.
Feliz Navidad, by José Feliciano
This song is just too repetitive. I could write the entire lyrics out on one line. Well, except for some of the Spanish part. I have absolutely no idea what is being sung there aside from “Feliz Navidad.” And guess what, when trying to find a Youtube video for this song I found that Boney M also performed it. So that makes two Boney M songs I've heard, neither of which I like.
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, by Elmo and Patsy
This is one of those songs that was funny the first couple times, but I got sick of really quick. I bet if Jars of Clay were to record it I'd like it... But when it comes to novelty Christmas songs, I don't think I'll ever tire of Bob and Doug Mackenzie's 12 Days of Christmas.
Santa Baby, by Madonna
I first heard this song when I was in grade 7, when it was my class' contribution to the school's Christmas assembly. I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now. Actually, it looks like Madonna wasn't the original artist. I found a video of a performance of it from back in 1953, by Eartha Kitt. But I should consider myself lucky. One day, as part of the background music playing in stores, my sister heard this song being sung by a man. I think I'd rather listen to Madonna sing it.
And for an honourable mention...
Okay, this really isn't a song I hate; just one that I think it is quite overrated — The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. Yes, it's a great piece of music. But I don't understand why most people's reaction to it seems to be like it's the best piece of Christmas music on the planet, and having the chance to hear it live, or take part in singing it, is like the audio equivalent of seeing a double rainbow. Like how lots of Christmas presentations end with “a special treat” of the choir performing it. My church has a long-standing tradition in its Christmas Eve service of ending with inviting anyone who wants to up onto the platform to sing it. I understand that it's hard to sing and have it sound good without lots of practice, but that alone doesn't make it worthy of all the hype in my opinion.
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