All Hallow's Eve

It's Halloween, one of the oldest holidays in the Western European tradition, invented by the Celts, who believed Halloween was the day of the year when spirits, ghosts, faeries, and goblins walked the earth. The tradition of dressing up and getting candy probably started with the Celts as well. Historians believe that they dressed up as ghost and goblins to scare away the spirits, and they would put food and wine on their doorstep for the spirits of family members who had come back to visit the home.

All Hallow's Eve -
Is that the way it's said?
All I know about the Eve is that I don't have one thing for any of those "trick or treaters" that may come calling.

Looks like a good day though. Very sunny so far and sunny for 5 days.

I've been reading that Halloween is becoming more and more popular! I'm not sure what part of it. My guess would be the "pretending to be something" part of it. I think we like that.
Ever notice that costume parties are always sort of "let loose" "let it all hang out" affairs?
If we can wear a mask, we gain all kinds of confidence, and a normally shy person becomes quite different. It's fun.

I got my grandson one of those "hatchet through the head" touques. When you tug it on your head, the hatchet sits up as if you'd just been - well - knocked off. Had an ambivalent feeling about it afterwards. The world has become a bit scary - and we can't be funny that way any more.
Sad.
All Hallow's Eve. Mmmmmmm. I'll have to Google that one before the day is out.

Well. Agenda.

A big new TV with surround sound and HD quality. Favorite football team plays at 11 o'clock. Then a World Series game at 4:30 - Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees are tied at one game apiece. Then a hockey game at 6:30!

I don't know what'll happen tomorrow!

And so . . . . . . .

All we have in our house is a grande piano, a rug, and a lot of silence.
It's amazing how quiet it can be without a TV. For the guy, life is depressing.
So here we sit at our kitchen counter, drinking coffee, and reading poetry.
Strangely enough, the washing machine is running - far off in an upstairs room.
The furniture store has promised chairs tomorrow. "Just think! A football game and a chair on Saturday afternoon!"
After 30 years in one house - starting from scratch has been a bit of a stretch. I would recommend doing this no later than 65. Ironing board, garbage can, baking sheet, shower curtain. Sometimes we forget that we've already bought something and end up with 2 of them.
Today, I stared at one of those labels that say

"This tag not to be removed except by the consumer"

I'm angry. I paid $69.95 each for 2 very fancy bed cushions. There are three labels attached to each cushion - sewn right into the seam!
I decide to leave this project to a later date. I go to Google:

You'll need a surgical seam ripper and a steady hand!
Very carefully, cut the tag just alongside the seam stitching. If you are dexterous enough, you should be able to pull the remaining tag piece off the other side. If not, use the blade and a pair of tweezers and carve little pieces off until you get it all.

This whole tags on anything with stuffing in scenario sounds like something from the dark ages. I know people who wouldn't think of taking off these tags!
We do the strangest things.

DameElizabeth

I'm part of the Elizabeth Taylor generation.
I'm also part of the "Twitter" generation.
So when I heard that Elizabeth had "twittered" about her recent heart surgery, I went on the search.
And there she was!
DameElizabeth - "Dear Friends, My heart procedure went off perfectly. It's like having a brand new ticker. Thank you for your prayers and good wishes."

When I googled this, I found a great shot of an elderly Elizabeth Taylor.
She was the most beautiful woman in the world as a popular actress when she was young. And she played many roles very well. Her role as a young girl, earnest and dedicated, was every bit as good as her role as a high class hooker. She never took herself seriously.
It's been said that her strongest role was playing the perfect celebrity. She knew the press. She knew her public. And she had both of them in the palm of her hand. Still does as noted by the "twitter" above.

http://twitter.com/DAMEELIZABETH

Movin' On - Where's the Kleenex?

Quick thought.
Last week we had a "Wow" moment.
Where's the Kleenex? For years we've reached for the Kleenex as soon as we started our breakfast. Runny noses.
And driving. The first thing Merv would reach for was a Kleenex. Runny nose.
And other occasions - too many of them - runny noses.
Last week at breakfast, he said "It has just dawned on me that we don't use Kleenex any more!"
Our eyes got wide. We both talked at once. "It's right! We don't have runny noses anymore!"
How did we miss this? We just hadn't clicked into it. So.
Two possibilities. Dry air in Alberta. Or allergic elements in our wooden house on the farm. Perhaps both.
We've had 2 grandsons who have both had allergic reactions to the farm house as years have gone by. I think that's a good indication of the second possibility. But also we are in a much more humid environment here, so that should be considered.
Whatever. We use a lot less Kleenex than we used to.
Anyone got opinions?

Movin' On - last strokes

Moving into new digs? Highly over-rated.
No salt.
No Toilet paper.
No garbage can.
No peanut butter.
Where's the list of "things to buy" - rumpled and usually lost and we can't find a pencil.
There's an "echo" in the main floor - a couple of weak lamps trying to cheer us up.
Don't need an ISP! These townhouses are so close together, we're just using everyone else's.
First night in new beds worked good. Slept and slept and slept.
Unpacked the few boxes we'd saved from our old life. Threw out a lot of stuff. ("What the hell did I save that for?")
Went golfing in an unexpected glorious afternoon. Played so bad we got the giggles.
It felt strange last night to walk back and forth from #12 to # 8. The street lights shining down through the red leaves of the little trees. Red and yellow leaves strewn everywhere.
#12 is ready for maid service. Looks just like it did when we moved in.
#8 needs a lot of work. A lot of work.
So we're heading out. Let's see. Home Outfitters. I guess that's where we'll start.
Now where's that list?

Movin' On - Discovery

Life is a strange thing.
Years and years living beside the river. Watching the trees grow big and stately. Watching the deer and the antelope play.
and then - driving away. Packing it all up and driving down the country road. To parts unknown.
Strange. Not just the doing of it. But the living of it.
Strange new towns and people. Strange new smells and air and sounds.
New golf courses and new food.
New weather and sunsets and oceans.
Somehow or other we never think about where we came from or where we're going.
We don't wonder about the old house. We don't wonder about the river.
We never even think about that life.
We start each day as if it were the first day.
Just as easily as that.
No big deal. No tossing and turning. No angsting about the past. No sobbing into pillows.
A day at a time. Smile at the sun. Hug the good mornings. Yawn the good nights.
We still have down days. We still have nights where sleep is scarce.
We still have disagreements. We still have spaces that are still.
But we forge ahead with vigor. We mostly feel enriched.
Will this last?

Movin' On - Grace

Nine years ago our daughter invited us to the birth of her baby.
So when the phone rings on a Friday evening - "The baby is coming. It's time to gather" - we hit the road - takes 90 minutes.
Jeff greets us. "Nancy's having a bath", he says. "Go on downstairs and make yourselves comfortable." I can tell he's a bit nervous - as usual with dads, not sure where he is going to fit in. But Jeff and Nancy have always wanted to get away from the hospital thing when having babies. Nancy was frustrated there, and could hardly wait to get home.
It's cosy and warm. A huge bed, fresh and white.
Nancy hears us. "I'll be with you in a sec. It won't be long now."
There are 4 older children in this family. The two older children are part of the gathering. The younger two are asleep.
The eldest is Amy and Ben is next. He's quieter than usual, perhaps apprehensive. These things are easy to handle when they're in the future. But now with the time at hand - we are all in new territory. We are all somewhat unnerved, somewhat tentative. Amy is the ultimate greeter, happy to see us and to talk about what's been happening in her life.
Nancy has been in labor for a few hours.
She settles into the big bed, the midwife checks with her often - they are getting along just fine, and we like her air of confidence and cheeriness. Grandpa is restless and disappears upstairs. "Hey Grandpa - are you checking the stock market again on the computer?"
"I'll be right back" he says to me, giving my hand a squeeze.
We move back and forth for awhile, and when Nancy becomes more intent on the job at hand, we settle down throughout the room, on the floor, on the stairs, on the sofa. Although her labor is short - it's not without its share of discomfort and pain - Jeff holds her as she goes through the final struggles.
Suddenly, we see the baby's head - there's a big "Whoo" !!
And then the baby is all there - just like that - it happens that fast - a little girl, lying there on her mummy's tummy, her wee hands close together. Not a cry from her.
The midwife wraps her and puts her close to her Mom. We gather round with lots of talking and tears, hugs and handshakes. It's over and it's just the way her Mom and Dad wanted it to be. Nancy is radiant now and relieved, laughing in delight, holding her little one close as she hugs her children. The third child Susie has awoken and made her way downstairs to find a new baby sister there! She's all smiles and can't keep her eyes off this new baby. Amy is completely overwhelmed. "I don't want to ever have a baby" she laughs. Ben? You know, I have to admit that I haven't caught up to that one yet. Some day perhaps -.
Meanwhile the babe sleeps in her mother's arms. We all hang over her and pull the blankets apart and peer and peek and stare and touch her soft face. "Look at her! How perfect is that!"
Grace. Her name is Grace Elizabeth.
She's nine years old today. Happy birthday, Grace, Happy Birthday.

Movin' On - Buying a bed

We have no furniture. We decide that the first thing to buy is a bed.
Beds are changing. Gone is the foot stool that we needed to get into our bed at night. No more huge boxsprings. No more mile high mattresses with soft top on top of soft top. No more bedskirts. We're back down to earth. The platform bed. Headboard attached to wooden bed-form with four sturdy legs. Lots of slats to support the mattress.
The Bay, Sears, the Brick, LazyBoy do not have platform beds.
Pier 1, Urban Barn, Hudson Madison. No luck.
"We may have to start with the mattress and sleep on it for awhile".
Sleep Country has one platform bed. But they have a lot of mattresses and we get a quick lesson in hard, medium and soft.
"Are there any furniture stores in this area?" we ask.
"You could try "John's Bed Barn." We put this address into our GPS. (God bless GPS).
Most of their beds are the platform design so they are right on the mark. "The Sleep Country guy sent us here", we said. "Yes, he's very good at doing that. We really appreciate it".
As we're getting back in the car, we notice another furniture place next door. Nothing prepares us for what we find when we open the front door.
The place is massive and yet tastefully filled with gorgeous furniture! We spend an hour and a half here, and see many things we like - including beds.
Nanaimo/Parksville are very good at supporting local products. In fact, in many places (like the "Bed Barn") they take orders for products, and get the local builders to make them. The customer can't expect the product for at least 6 weeks.
This is not the case in the furniture store I just mentioned. You're welcome to whatever is on the floor and at quite worthy sale prices (although even their sale prices are hefty) I'm wondering if they have the support of the other furniture people. Perhaps their furniture is not "local" enough.
We found another great store. Some stunning pieces and all of them surrounded by bras, panties, and fine clothing! I kid you not. They sell both of these lines of goods and display them side by each in a delightful space. She's from Turkey and designs shoes. She will also come to a home and offer design ideas.
At any rate, that's my update. We're not sure about everyone's "Oh, you'll likely have to shop in Victoria" advice. We don't feel this will be the case.
So far.