SB

I realized the other day that I have not seen one bookstore here, quite different from Oregon where we saw them in every town. I asked a woman in the Museum Gift Shop, she said that both Barnes and Noble and Borders were downtown but closed leaving only one downtown, The Book Den. Not that I need something to read, I loaded my iPad up with library books before I left, and I can add more if I run out. I just find it weird.

It's been an interesting couple of weeks.

As you might expect, we have a weekly community worship service here at school. In the fall these are planned and led by the faculty, and in the spring the graduating students take turns. I wanted to get it over with before the work of the semester really picked up, and so I volunteered to be the first student this spring. This involves not only simple things like picking hymns, but preaching to all the other students and all the professors.

The musican for community worship, who comes in just for that, has a reputation of being fairly bossy when it comes to the music. He also insists on including at least one piece that he wrote in every service. Knowing this, I didn't consult him at all when I picked my hymns, and just let him know what they were. He pushed back on a couple of the hymns, but when I pointed out why I had a chosen them, he agreed. A few of them were traditional texts (the Magnificat) and I let him choose what music they were set to. He chose music he had written.

The sermon part went pretty well. It took quite a long time to write, and I still had a bit of finishing to do the night before. This was also the night of the inaugeration of the new Indigenous Studies Center (a new name for work that has been going on for a while). I thought I'd slip down there for an hour, and then have lots of time work on my sermon. I didn't realize that Native time is a lot like Sri Lankan time - things take as long as they take! The keynote speaker alone was an hour, and there were lots of other speeches, and some west coast dancing. It was great, but I didn't get home till 10:30, which meant that the sermon got finished quickly!

It went well though. People seemed to like it. Our Distinguished Theologian in Residence Sallie McFague, told me that it was good, and she was proud to have me graduate from the school. That was nice to hear, especially since Sallie is not shy about speaking her mind!

That was the first interesting thing. The other is adventures in babysitting. A fellow student, Patrick, is around the same age as I am, and is married with a 20 month old daughter. Mallory (Patrick's wife) is taking a course at UBC, and yesterday she had to get some work done. Patrick was at his field placement. So, they asked me to babysit. A toddler.

Actually, it went ok. I was only there for an hour or so, and Esther and I spent the whole time playing. She likes to read, and her book of the day was one that I remember from when I was growing up "There's A Monster At The End Of This Book", starring Grover. I was pretty happy to read that to her, and she was happy to listen.

As if we are even springing forward

Judith invited Grace, Stan, Bob, and me over for dinner tonight -- we had tasty slow-cooked chicken and rice, I made salad, and Grace made sticky toffee pudding. yum. It was a good visit. Stan and Bob told lots of stories about Grandma and Grandpa, and we talked about Bill and Mom...nothing scandalous, Mom.... Well, actually maybe there is something scandalous! Apparently you used to HITCHHIKE from Calgary to Edmonton to see your family on the weekends!? Did you?

Stan also told the story of when Margaret left home to live at the institution -- he said it was the only time he had ever seen Grandpa cry. Sniff.

Stan looks great. He said he had gained 20 pounds since he was in the hospital. And that he had stopped chemo for 5 weeks while he waited for the blisters on his feet to go away, and the doctor was pleased to see that the cancer hadn't grown during that time. So he he seems to be in good shape and good spirits.

It was a nice time, and Bob said he'd invite us over just as soon as he cleaned off his dining room table. He promised an apple pie. And he's looking for Grandma's fudge recipe -- he said Mom doesn't have it. Does anyone else?

I hate spring forward. I also feel that I somehow lost many hours, not just one. I did reorganize my storage closet and cleaned my house this weekend, though.

I'm reading Wolf Willow by Wallace Stegner -- what a good book. I want to go to Cypress Hills now. If the snow ever melts.

Leaving. This House.

Rest up so you can go back to work and retire Geoff.
Then you can come here and help us with a few electrical projects we have. Nothing major, just some reversed plugs and a ceiling fan whose lights flicker off.
2 days until we move!! Really nothing much left to pack-a couple plates and coffee maker, that kind of thing. Now, I am no longer anxious and irritable-just excited. Talk to me on moving day and am pretty sure that I will be irritable though.
No renters for this place yet. I blame all the condos that are for rent right now. It is kind of annoying me I would like to get it over with and rented, but this is not a major stressor.
I have a cold and so have called in sick the last 2 days. I am considering calling in for tomorrow as I sound terrible and am still coughing which does not sound good when you are a nurse trying to promote health. Though I hardly ever call in sick and thus do not feel really guilty, there is always a small part of me saying, 'you are costing our healthcare system money that should be going to patient care'. PLus the attitude of entitlement some nurses have disturbs me and I don't want to be like that.
Here is the link to the book I made for Mom, if you should like to see it. There are a couple typos, which I plan to fix for the next edition.
I would really like to do some stuff here today, like clean a couple windows and go to the dump. This is probably not advisable when sick, but being home sick for 2 days is boring.
We went to see Defiance-alright, Curious Case of Benjamin Button-pretty good, and watched The Visitor on DVD-which was good.
I have not seen the sun since Mexico, Okanagan winters can be difficult.

Information Doesn't Want a Fatwa

I'm going to see Salman Rushdie tonight at the Winspear. And going to a one-day conference tomorrow at which Nancy Pearl is speaking! Yes, that Nancy Pearl. She's talking about why people like the books that they like. I think it has something to do with dustjackets. When I was talking to a work friend about my interest in how people think an 'information container' (book, webpage, journal, article) has 'authority' (can be trusted for leisure purposes or work information), she said she'd like to understand why we remove all the dustjackets from the books at UA Libraries. Maybe because a plain hardcover without pictures seems more 'scholarly.'

___

I didn't realize that the talk was an interview between Eleanor Wachtel & Rushdie for Writers & Company! It's going to be on the radio. I really like her most out of all the CBC One radio hosts. And he was really really funny.

book

The last good book I read (actually reread) is The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. I think Al read it too. I really liked it, even better the second time.

Book

I suggest 'A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian' I laughed out loud reading it. And that doesn't happen very often. Laura has it, i borrowed it while she was here and read it before she did. It's about a British woman whose widower Dad (immigrated from Ukraine) marries a much younger woman, who seems to be looking for the British equivalent of a green card. Well worth reading.

Summer is Offcially Here

I don't care what the calendar says, this weekend, I sat on my balcony Saturday and Sunday morning, surrounded by my flowers in the pots, drinking my coffee. To me that makes it summer. The weekend was quiet, a trip to the Farmers Market, to pick up a few more plants, then just hanging around the house, doing some clean up and chasing pigeons from my balcony. I might have to try getting a fake owl to stand guard, apparently pigeons think they are real and then stay away.
I have booked my flights and hotels for Hawaii, I land in Honolulu, and spend a night there, then the next day to Kauai, for 6 days. The trip is sandwiched inbetween the Calgray and Edmonton Folk Fests. Then I still have a week off, after the Edmonton FF. Life is good.
Have finished with my last project, and gone back to Dana and Cigna. It is nice because I know all the people and means I will be around home for the summer. Then in the fall it is back to looking for somethig new. I had an IM from one of my nieces in Costa Rica, who is excited about my coming back, so that made me feel really good.
Author - Jaqueline Winspear - set in London, during the early part of the century, starting just before the first world war. So far I am the only one putting any new authors on the blog. Come on you guys.
Looking forward to this weekend and seeing Lisa receive her degree. The last four years seem to have gone by quickly. It will also be fun to go on the garden tour, may inspire some changes to my balcony.

Shrimpcatcher

I was walking back to the office on Thursday morning, and who do I see? The shrimpcatcher (AKA Ken Herbert). He was going back to work after being at the dentist. He is working at the Royal Alec, doing project work related to the new building they are doing there, says he really likes it, same money and no supervision!! His youngest son is going to the U of A in the fall. Theresa and Geoff, he says you need to organize a get together.

My DNA kit came, have not scaped my cheek yet, will do that this week. According to the literature, females can only have their mitochondrial DNA tested, but males can have either. So I think that Jim needs to get his done so we can see where Dad started out. I will bring the DVD to the houseboat, so eveyone can see what the project is about.

The long weekend in Rocky was fun, Geoff, Theresa and I went to a couple of greenhouses, so I came home with some new plants for the balcony. Last week I took them in at night, because it was not all that warm at night, but I believe this week I will plant, the long range is for warm weather all this week, except today.

Took a trip to the Farmers market downtown on Saturday, and picked up a few more plants. but will probably have to get a few more once I plant and see what kind of room is left in the pots.

It sure was good to read about the trip Lisa, it sounds like you had a great time. congratulations on your new job for the summer. That must feel wonderful. Looking forward to being in Kelowna for the commmencement.

Anne and Allison and I were talking and think that this would be a good place to share authors and books. So I have one that I want to post, here name is Louise Penny, and the series is set in Quebec, with Insp Armand Gamache, and the series is called the Three Pine Series, so far only two books, but well worth reading. For people in Edmonton, the Library has both of them.