Archives for: 2007
12/31/07
Happy New Year's Eve!
Happy end of 2007 folks! As I've said in previous posts, it's been an okay year... kinda an odd holiday season, but overall, pretty good.
I do have my usual complaint at this time of year...
Yup... honours list comes out... and I ain't on it AGAIN. No OBE for 2007.
I can hear the SAME tired excuses already... Oh! Matthew! Well, we MEANT to put you on the list, but wouldn't you know it, the pen we were using ran out of ink! or something like Well, we would have, but things got caught up in the mail and... well... you know how it is!
I'm beginning to think the household is AVOIDING me...?
I mean, Sue SHOULD become "Lady Didier", don't you think???
...and I promise not to make everyone call me "Sir Matthew" (for the most part...)
Anyway...
Sue and I have a GREAT night planned... and we're gonna party like it's New Year's Eve 1999!!!!
On that note, I am taking tomorrow "off blogging" most likely... to celebrate being away from the office one last time for a long while... and spend some goofy time with Sue and the kidollo... maybe walk der puppies...
...granted, saying that (like last time,) means SOMETHING will come up and I'll be FORCED into blogging... so perhaps I'll say it THIS way...
Currently, I'm not planning on posting a new blog tomorrow, January first, two-aught-aught-eight, but this could change without notice.
There. That works!
The Happiest of New Years and Best Wishes
for a Prosperous and Healthy 2008!
...
From us to you!
HELP US GET RLH 3 - OUR ONE OLD GREEN BUS!
Click Here to read about the dream itself and why it's so important...
Click Here to read about how this is more than one person's dream... but a whole family's...
Click Here for one of our ideas to help raise money for our dream...
Click Here for another idea to help us raise the funds for our dream...
Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!
12/30/07
Blog Your Blessings Sundays: 2007's Best
Fast away the old year passes... as the song says...
See?
Anyway, I decided to go through all my old BYB posts for the last year and pick my favourites... five that I will link to... and one I'm re-posting...
So without further adieu, here's my "Top Six" starting with numbers 6 through 2 links...
#4: Logic, Respect, and Common Sense...
All I want is a room somewhere, Far away from the cold night air.
I went grocery shopping on my lunch break at work on Wednesday... there's a large "upscale" grocery store not too far from the office and Sue asked me, despite the extra expense, to pick some things up for home... and in front of me, walking along Wellington Street were two women. Both were dressed rather nicely and warmly (it's been unseasonably cold in Toronto right now)... it was obvious by their lack of hurry and their conversation (which was clearly audible) that they had come from a lunch date with one of the women's husbands and were heading back to their car... probably to head home.
Unfortunately, my clothing is not-so-nice... but that's as much a factor of time constraints and personal taste (where to shop) as it is not having enough money to buy a new jacket, so since I was not dressed for the weather like them and rather cold, I breezed past them in order to shorten my trip. This is a fairly easy trick on the wide sidewalks downtown and didn't ruffle their feathers.
At the corner of Wellington and Yonge sat a young woman bundled up in ragged clothes and a sleeping bag. She was obviously homeless... or at least, not doing too well... she was dirty from the city's soot and smog and was shivering by a lamp standard with an old paper coffee cup in front of her with a couple of coins in it... she was hoping for spare change from passers by.
I reached into my pocket and dropped about $2.50 into her cup... not much, but it's what I can afford right now... I don't know if she thanked me or even noticed... really, that wasn't important... she wasn't openly soliciting for spare change save the cup with a few dimes in it and seemed far more concerned with staying warm than the activities or inactivities of passers by.
Once across the busy street, the two women were now on my heels after being able to catch up with me at the traffic light, they started in with what could only be described as a "stage conversation" for my benefit after they saw me toss my money into the cup...
"You know that she's strung out on something." one said.
"Giving them money only encourages them." said the other.
What neither of these two women could know is that the man in front of them who so foolishly parted with his coins was once almost in her position...
My mother and father had been married for many, many years... and I was, to say the least, a "problem child"... "troubled teen" perhaps would be better.
Either way, when my father suddenly passed away when I was seventeen, after some rough few months where my mother was in serious doubts about her future (which wasn't really too shaky as our father had provided well for us... he was an insurance executive after all,) I was given "the boot".
"I've done kids." were the last words I heard before heading out with the clothes on my back and really, little else.
I managed to "couch surf" with a friend for a few days... but ended up not being terribly welcome with his parents... and although it was foolish, I ended up lying when I knew my presence was becoming unwanted and saying I had a place to go... when I didn't... and yes, spent some time sleeping in parks.
Weirdly enough, I had too much pride to admit I needed a home and help from people and preferred self-imposed homelessness to being a burden.
I never panhandled during that time... I tried to earn what food I found by doing "odd jobs" or by offering to do help where I could in exchange for food... mow lawns, help move furniture, even carrying groceries for people.
Luckily, my "homelessness" didn't last too long (just a few weeks in the Summer,) and soon I was living with one of my sisters in her apartment...
After "settling in" with the sister, I managed to find my way back into school, a decent job, and eventually even start a career.
...but I will never forget how close I came...
...nor how much a small amount of money (even $2.50) would have meant to me during some of the colder and leaner days...
I won't lie to you... there ARE homeless folks who HAVE chosen that path for various reasons ranging from not wanting to live by certain rules to "habits" and "addictions" that led them there. There are some who didn't choose that path, but due to usually mental illness, there they are.
...more importantly, I found out that although a minority, there were a good number like me... roof over their head and food in their belly one day and through a twist of fate or something else, they are on the streets the next day.
I don't know what this girl's story was... I had to rush to accomplish my tasks and get back to my office and couldn't chat even had she wanted to... but I know that a lousy $2.50 is enough for a hot coffee and a small snack inside a nice, warm donut shop... and a respite from the lamp standard for a few brief minutes until the staff or management would kick her back out onto the street.
All those years ago, when I was in the park, I was dirty... cold... tired. I heard people comment when I was forced to be somewhat near them (I tried to avoid people until I could get to the public washroom and clean up a little)... and the words stung. "Get a job" was something I heard a couple of times... even though I hadn't elicited any "conversation". The folks who said it felt I was "benefiting" from their helpful advice, I 'spose... though both times, the words were not said as much spitted out with venom.
Get a job... with no bus fare, no clean clothes, dirty hair and body, empty stomach, little or no sleep, damp from dew... yeah, perfect conditions to apply for any position.
Oh, and how to contact me if they had an opening? Please find me in between Allens Gardens and Serena Gundy Park... on a hill, behind a few large birch trees that affords me some weak form of privacy and security when I'm sleeping. Oddly enough, being the 1980's, I didn't have a cell phone nor Wi-Fi internet access...
Granted, how many homeless folks have you seen nowadays with a laptop and flip-phone?
These two women I started talking about have the blessing which I'm about to mention... and don't realise it... I guarantee it. The young lady doesn't have my blessing... yet... I hope she finds it some day soon and I'm certain that, like me, she most likely won't take it for granted.
My blessing is the roof over my head and food in the fridge. I'm thankful to not be truly hungry... and to know that tonight, there's a warm home, warm family, warm pets... and a comfortable, if small place to lay my head.
I won't lie... I wasn't handed these things... I worked for them. I earned them... but if not for a bed-couch in an apartment with my sister, would I be where I am today?
I don't think those around me know how much these blessings of warmth and comfort mean to me... I was fortunate, I only stared into the eyes of the beast for a few scant moments... many don't have siblings or friends or anyone to rescue them and are stuck with their lot until someone gives them one ounce of stability to work from.
Maybe I was wrong... maybe my coins would be used for booze or drugs... maybe I'm encouraging to poor girl to stay in the street...
...or maybe, with that quarter change after her coffee and donut, she'll make a call to someone to help her out...
...or maybe she won't make a call, but will have a little food and warmth for a short time...
I'd like to think it will be one of the two latter choices... but who knows.
One thing though, after my own experiences and working since then when possible helping others in similar situations, (of course I've volunteered at homeless shelters and food banks,) it's the best thing I could do on that spot at that time to share my blessings.
One wonders what "blessing" the two women coming from their lunch shared that Wednesday and with whom? My only thought about them was, You have no idea... and honestly, I hope you never have to find out first hand.
...another thought occurred about the women too... I wonder if either of them have daughters... because that girl was someone's baby once... and is most likely still someone's daughter...
...and I don't know if I could stand knowing that one of my kids was in that position... but it they were, I hope someone would drop in that $2.50 for them.
For the record, my nasty story happened over twenty-years ago now... and I managed to finish college and soon I'll be announcing some goodly news about my current career*... and my mom and I mended fences long ago... but that's a story for another time...
* - Editor's Note: After publishing this, I announced my new (current) job.
Blog Your Blessing Sundays is a creation of NeoBluePanther... who may or may not be the famed Luchador!
HELP US GET RLH 3 - OUR ONE OLD GREEN BUS!
Click Here to read about the dream itself and why it's so important...
Click Here to read about how this is more than one person's dream... but a whole family's...
Click Here for one of our ideas to help raise money for our dream...
Click Here for another idea to help us raise the funds for our dream...
Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!
12/29/07
Stolen 2008 Survey! (No one asked, but what the heck!)
I know... I could... I SHOULD do a "Busly Saturday" post and catch everyone up... but if you scroll down you'll see that I kinda did that yesterday... so in an epic moment of originality failure sorry, I mean to say in lieu of doing something actually worthy on the blog no, that's not right... AH! In an inspired moments thanks to my new blogger friend at exhausticated.com, here is...
2007 SURVEY
...which may or may not be flying around FaceBook.
Now, the wonderful lass at exhausticated.com and her friends are no doubt a touch younger than Sue and I at the advanced and crippling age of forty, so this may seem a little stilted... and I apologise in advance.
So without further adieu, as I know you're waiting on pins and needles, here's the SURVEY!
DRINKING BUDDY OF THE YEAR
Geez, I'm (mostly) a teetotaler... so this is difficult. I 'spose I could qualify coffee... but I only drink one cup in the morning... that's it.
So, all things considered equal, I have to pick the person I most like spending time with... which, and it sounds like a cop-out, but it's true, is Sue!
LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD (longest friend)
Part of me wants to poke a little fun and say it's either my old buddy Nancy N., another old and dear friend Jennifer S. because they are both rather "long" friends being over six-foot tall... but I have a feeling this is NOT what is being looked for as an answer here...
Using Sue again would be a cop-out for sure... but really, she is my closest friend (amongst many other things) and we've known each other for a long time...
Life has tossed many curve balls at me and for various reasons, I am not the best person at "old friendships" and keeping up with folks... and in some cases that's very sad... in other's, it's probably a big blessing... so I'm going to list someone who, oddly enough, I haven't seen in a couple of years... mostly because, I know that WHEN we do see each other, we both "bounce" off each other and our dynamic is funny, happy, and mirthful! So, I'm going to say a chap named Wolfgang B. wins.
Anyone who hasn't seen me in two years that is GUARANTEED to refer to me as leipschen and I to him as dahling has to win.
...that, and I will always admire him for coming up with THE BEST pen name ever... "Vandura Schpankwagon".
NEWCOMER AWARD
It's been more than a year, and he probably doesn't know how much I appreciate his counsel and efforts, but Chris L. by his efforts has been a true friend to both Sue and myself...
HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?
Da new job. Back in my field with a better income!
LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?
Probably anytime we had to re-do a budget in the early parts of the year...
BEST HOLIDAY?
I really enjoyed Halloween... and for all the weirdest reasons. Basically, it's a family thing.
YOUR SONG FOR 2007?
Oooo... tough one... possibly the theme to Dexter... or The Ghosts of Motley Hall... but because it was stuck in Sue's head for much of the year, Blue Oyster Cult's Godzilla wins.
MOVIE FOR 2007?
NOT a new release (shocking, I know...) but a purchase we made EARLY THIS YEAR from the local "Bargain DVD Bin"... The Court Jester... because, as we all know, the pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle. The chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!
...or was it the pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon, the vessel with the pestle had the brew that was true?
How about "Biggest Let Down" movie...
Hearing that a re-make of "The Omega Man" was done with Will Smith, I got purdy excited... I mean, Mathias and Lisa legitimately frightened me and yeah, I admit... I like Will Smith...
Well, we raced out and watched I Am Legend and it started off cool... and then fell off a cliff.
Instead of a cult of bizarre flesh-eating psychopathic zombies, we got "Night of the Living Dumb" zombies in poor CG with all the psychological fear that one gets from todays torture-porn horror flicks... yawn.
The ending of the original was so cheesey, it was fabulous... the ending of this one was just cheese. Not even good cheese. I was very let down... and I missed Mathias and his followers outside Chuck Heston's window calling to Lisa.
...oh, and speaking of Chuck... if you didn't know already, Soylent Green is made of people.
WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINES WITH?
SUE!
...and our assorted animals and the kidollo.
Romantic, no... loving, yes.
I owe Sue SEVERAL romantic getaways... and mean to pay that debt with glee!
BEST RELATIONSHIP?
MAX AND KIPLING!
...kidding, of course it's Sue.
WHAT WERE YOU FOR HALLOWEEN?
A tired, broken-down, media-weary paranormal researcher/investigator and computer technician.
The crying shame is, as a War of 1812 re-enactor, I have SEVERAL sets of period clothing that would be a superb costume... but as the kidollo does NOT like being upstaged, these are usually left at home. 
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR?
Gosh, I can hear the gentle strains of Nat King Cole telling me that we Don't Get Around Much, Anymore... but that is changing.
For various reasons, I'm going to pick St. Louis Bar and Grill on Bloor in Toronto.
BOOK OF THE YEAR?
I could tell a VERY funny and at the time, seemingly tragic tale of Christmas Book Woe... but I won't... instead, I'm going RETRO and saying that THE best book I picked up this year was THE ORIGINAL (hardcover, first-edition from 1976) BOOK OF LISTS which I bought for ONE DOLLAR at a very cool used book store on Bathurst just South of Bloor. They have a "jumbled basement" that Sue and I picked through where all books found in it are a buck. We were in heaven!
The real downer for me this year was after THOROUGHLY enjoying reading the first two Dexter books (which, if you're a fan of the show, you SHOULD read,) I read the third one, and in my eyes, it blew... it REALLY blew... it REALLY BLEW chunks. It sucked.
I believe the words I would use would be "dreadful", "wretched", and "horrible"... and for all the WRONG reasons.
I honestly believe that Jeff Lindsay purposely sabotaged the character in this book to spite the TV show...
BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR?
We quit smoking in September and have stayed "weed free".
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?
Romantic vacation(s) with Sue. Clear debts. Acquire and Fix bus. 
MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK?
Well, again... I'm a teetotaler... but I still had my share of really DUMB ideas...
...in many ways, I regret this blog.
Frightening, eh?
When I really got rockin' with my paranormal research and investigation in 1997, I had a person ask me if I REALLY wanted to be remembered as the "whacko" who looked into "spooks and goblins"... because, and he was right, probably 75% of the general population laugh at these things as being imaginary or stuff to scare little children. I go into this in detail in this rather oddly popular post according to my stats...
Basically, I now have to accept that I'm known as the goofy guy with the ghost thing... and now, in some circles, the "cyberbegger" at worst, the "dreamer" at best. The former is honestly much less personally stigmatizing than the two latters in some ways.
Still, I do know I really only had two choices... maintain my dignity and guarantee failure letting down Sue and kid with the "C'mon now! That's only a pipe dream!" logic... or swallow a bit of pride and try and have a chance for success... obviously, I chose the latter... but because of that stigma, I do often regret this rather blatant dropping of my drawers in the blog here.
Realistically, I do like the outlet, and probably would "blog" regardless... but every so often, something bites me on the butt about this venture... and yeah, I occasionally feel ashamed.
TV SHOW OF THE YEAR?
Dexter Season II didn't fail to impressed... but we also got in the "care package" of British documentaries... including some David Starkey, Tony Robinson, and James Burke things... all of which were EXCELLENT!!!!!!!
MOST LOYAL FRIEND?
Sorry if you think it's a cop-out, but Sue hands down.
BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
New Employment!
BIGGEST PAIN IN THE NECK AWARD?
Toss up... but related... The media with our studies... and the person who LOVES the media who thinks he's in our studies... and is pretty obviously to us a little... um... well...
No... that's not right... when a train is wrecked, it doesn't charge people money to do dumb things and it doesn't make people laugh at other, more secure and "proper" trains.
KISS OF THE YEAR?
Anytime with Sue.
BIGGEST D****BAG AWARD?
See BIGGEST PAIN IN THE NECK AWARD above and the related link on the words "The Media".
NEW YEARS RESOLUTION?
Spend WAY more loving and quality time with Sue.
There were another FORTY-ONE things to comment on... but I'll stop here.
I believe, like most people, the year had it's ups and downs... but honestly, mostly ups... and that made 2007 a good year that will be remembered by this weirdo as being a pretty damned good year, all things considered equal...
Now, off to the great unknown... what will 2008 hold??? Will it hold the bus? Will I get over my inferiority complex about the quest? Will Sue wise up and run away with a cabana boy? Will the return of John Cena to the WWE mix be all it should? Will Kipling stop peeing on my dirty clothes when he's angry? Will the kidollo learn that Apple products really AREN'T the best???
It all remains to be seen!
HELP US GET RLH 3 - OUR ONE OLD GREEN BUS!
Click Here to read about the dream itself and why it's so important...
Click Here to read about how this is more than one person's dream... but a whole family's...
Click Here for one of our ideas to help raise money for our dream...
Click Here for another idea to help us raise the funds for our dream...
Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!
12/28/07
We're skating to year's end...
You can always tell when the end of December is upon us with several naturally occurring phenomena... The days start (thankfully) getting longer... and colder with the approach of REAL winter here in Canada... there's less wildlife flittering about... snow is more common... and the buzz is all about awards shows and "Year End Perspectives".
I really only intend to do ONE bloggish "re-hash" in the foreseeable future (I'm going through to pick out my favourite "Blog Your Blessing" to re-do this Sunday,) but looking about the interwebs, I can't help but notice so many of the large websites and news sites already popping up with their "TOP" (this or that) "OF 2007" bits and pieces... allowing us all to get that lovely nostalgic feeling about the last twelve months.
I don't want to re-link or re-hash too much about what's happened here... because like the getting way too repetitive tagline that WAS going on almost all my "Busly Saturday" posts, there's just not a whole lot to talk about when it comes to matters busly on this here blog.
This COULD be seen as a bit of a bummer... but I don't think it is... realistically, I really did like it when Sharon said our dream was an anticipated adventure and yeah, in some ways, getting there may indeed be half the fun.
Actually, I am looking forward to one day telling you all about our work on restoration... our travels... and all the REAL goodly stuff that should happen once we have a bus... but for now, we are enjoying this odd ride... if for nothing else, for the creative juices it's managed to have flow.
One thing that SHOULD be seen within the next little while here is an idea to raise funds that is a kinda hybrid from a suggestion by Candy Minx that I think might fly VERY well and be actually VERY good for not only us, but those who participate in the venture. It's requiring a lot of server-side work first, though... so it's under wraps until launch-time.
...but I go through the posts of this year... starting out with the horrid and low paying gig I had to do until April... and where I am now... and where I believe we will be within the next twelve months... and all I can say about 2007 is was an improvement from 2006... and 2008 looks to be an improvement on this year.
That's pretty positive stuff.
Will 2008 be "The Year of The Bus"?
I'll be 120% honest with you... with the exception of a few momentary bits of blindingly optimistic light, I knew that 2007 would NOT really be the year that the dream came true...
I am, however, VERY optimistic about 2008... but I get the feeling it won't be the year of THE bus... but the year of "A" bus... in other words, not our beloved RLH 3 which is THE "Old Green Bus"... but we'll end up with another one.
This MIGHT sound depressing or defeatist... but here's my two lines of thinking...
- It's more of a fiscal reality to find another bus... closer to home and not as expensive in either initial purchase or repairs.
- Right now, although RLH 3 is undeniably special to us, the real goal is now proving something to our kids... that a whacky dream, tossed into the universe, might come true... and as much as Sue and myself hold RLH 3 VERY dear to our hearts, it's more important to make sure that the larger picture is seen... and that an old double-decker arrives to prove to the young'uns that, indeed, anything is possible. Truth to tell, they will only see the old bus... it wouldn't compute that it isn't "THE" bus to them... and they will see it as a perfect victory.
So, on those thoughts, we will STILL hope for RLH 3 and it will still be the main "thrust", we will also keep those options open.
I guess the other sad thing I have to admit is that the older kids know we're a bit looney... the youngest one has an inkling, but still finds our... um... "eccentricities" appealing... and at the age of twelve, I have probably only one year to either make her believe in miracles a little... or, as they say on these interwebs... show nothing more than this endeavour of ours as an...
Okay, I was just looking for a way to work that image in...
I doubt it will be THAT traumatic, but hey, it would be great to ignite a little magic...
Anyway, we will maintain... and for the here and now, 2008 will start off pretty much like 2007... but we maintain hope.
Who knows? Maybe we WILL get "Our" Old Green Bus... it's out in the universe... let's see what happens this coming year!
HELP US GET RLH 3 - OUR ONE OLD GREEN BUS!
Click Here to read about the dream itself and why it's so important...
Click Here to read about how this is more than one person's dream... but a whole family's...
Click Here for one of our ideas to help raise money for our dream...
Click Here for another idea to help us raise the funds for our dream...
Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!
Don't hate me 'cuz I'm cleanin' up...
I can hear the knives sharpening from some quarters... 'cuz yes, I'm cleaning up my linky love on the old sidebar from heck.
It has come to my attention... oh, that's a bit of a lie... it has ALWAYS been an issue I've been aware of, but indeed, it WAS brought to my attention by a recent viewer that MANY of my links on the sidebar are to long neglected blogs... and it's time to do sumthin' about that.
Basically, I'm going to visit EACH and EVERY blog and roll through it with a fine-tooth comb. If there's been NO updates within the last 90 days, I'm nuking the link.
This is NOT a "shot at" these blogs or bloggers... or even some form of disrespect... it's basically to ensure that readers here who DO use the links will find active blogs with newer content for their online time... It's also going to kill some links I "reciprocated" with that were obviously more interested in an attempt to improve Google page ranks and the lot with zero effort.
Also, I have dropped a few links already to some blogs that ARE still active... this is because I've decided that if your blog is either blatantly racist, homophobic, or nothing but cynical name-calling on a level of a poor man's schoolyard bully... I really don't want to give you any traffic.
Masking racism, sexism, or any type of intolerance as a "political philosophy" OR stating that you have the right to "hate" with little discrimination lest you be labeled "Politically Correct" is dumb, stupid, vapid, and ignorant. You can have strong views... and I often agree to disagree with people... but if you pushed the envelope in my eyes, I nuked you. I cannot "promote" people who genuinely seem to be only able to hate.
If you recognise yourself in the above statements, chances are you've mistaken "Political Correctness" for "Common Courtesy and Understanding" in my eyes and yup, somewhere in your blog, you crossed a line and I had enough.
Realistically, however, the amount of links probably won't change THAT dramatically... and MOST will be deleted because of the lack of new material...
...should that change, LET ME KNOW and I'll be glad to restore your link.
HELP US GET RLH 3 - OUR ONE OLD GREEN BUS!
Click Here to read about the dream itself and why it's so important...
Click Here to read about how this is more than one person's dream... but a whole family's...
Click Here for one of our ideas to help raise money for our dream...
Click Here for another idea to help us raise the funds for our dream...
Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!
12/27/07
Thursday Thirteen (26 in a series of NEVER ENDING LISTS!!!) - Lessons in Horror...
Twas the Thursday after Christmas, and all through the Palatial Didier/Darroch West-End Compound... Nah, I gotta MOVE ON from the Christmas-y stuff and into something more generic... like my Thursday Thirteen this week...
Did I throw you a curve there?
Okay, what brought THIS topic up is Sue's and my Christmas this year. Being that all three steplings celebrated with their dad (who we get along with well... it was an amicable split between Sue and he so it's all okay if anyone was worried...) Sue settled in for one of her favourite past times... watching horror flicks.
This, oddly enough, is NOT as odd as it would sound on Christmas as, indeed, Victorian Christmases often revolved around "spooky stories" and loads of ghostly lore... because Halloween, as it's celebrated now, was NOT celebrated until the 1930's in North America... and not until VERY recently in other places... so ghosties and ghoulies and things that went "bump" in the night were saved for Christmas. The most famous "pupose written" ghost story for Christmas was Dickens' A Christmas Carol or "Scrooge" to most now-a-days... but if you look back, you'll find MANY scary stories published during the Edwardian and Victorian age for Christmas time.
So, in Sue's eyes, she's just carrying on a time-honoured Canadian tradition.
Without Further Adieu...
Lesson One: If you feel you are being drawn to a small town by unseen forces or you're just being compelled to the town for no seemingly good reason, DON'T GO TO THE TOWN! In fact, avoid the town like the black death.
Lesson Two: Picking up hitchhikers is not a good idea.
Lesson Three: Cell phones are your friend. If you're driving through a dark spot, make sure you HAVE a good cell signal and that your battery is charged. If you have a breakdown at night, STAY IN THE CAR and wait until morning.
Lesson Four: Stay away from... um... uh... people of "easy virtue"... unless you can run faster than them and won't mind having bits of their brain matter or blood spray hit you.
Lesson Five: Before buying a home, if the real estate agent even HINTS that the house might be "stigmatized" by a past crime or death, and when you're looking around, something kinda freaks you out like a door closing on it's own or "whispering voices", DON'T BUY THE HOUSE.
Lesson Six: If Karen Black, Adrienne Barbeau, Sarah Michelle Geller Prinze, or Rob Zombie live anywhere near you, MOVE IMMEDIATELY.
Lesson Seven: If you see blood ANYWHERE in your home in larger quantities than one might expect from a paper-cut, LEAVE THE HOUSE IMMEDIATELY AND CALL THE POLICE. Let them go in to the house alone, too... and stay WELL back while they look.
Lesson Eight: If you have successfully fended off a killer and he/she/it appears to be "dead", the French have this wonderful thing called a "Coup De Grâce". Click here to learn more about it... and USE IT if you're in that situation.
Lesson Nine: If you have administered the Coup De Grâce, don't be a moron... MOVE AWAY to a VERY safe distance just in case... and NEVER turn your back to the killer.
Lesson Ten: Heels on boots or shoes = Bad. Chances are, if you're in heels, you WILL survive a horror movie (provided you don't screw up the rule below,) but you WILL hurt your leg or ankle and end up "limping" away from the killer or "bad guy" and that's no fun.
Lesson Eleven: No matter what, DO NOT smoke drugs, drink excessively, do something "cool and illegal", or have sex if you are in a horror movie. These are sure-fire ways to ensure a rapid but painful demise.
Lesson Twelve: If you find yourself in a place where an excessively creepy kid keeps talking at you in seemingly weird jumbles... things like...
One of you for one of them...
...or...
He's coming... again...
...over and over... it's a VERY good time to leave. FAST!
Lesson Thirteen: Many comedians point this out, but it's SO true! If you're in the "haunted house" or whatever and you see something weird or hear a weird sound, this is NOT the time to split up and search for ANYTHING.
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HELP US GET RLH 3 - OUR ONE OLD GREEN BUS!
Click Here to read about the dream itself and why it's so important...
Click Here to read about how this is more than one person's dream... but a whole family's...
Click Here for one of our ideas to help raise money for our dream...
Click Here for another idea to help us raise the funds for our dream...
Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II - On YouTube!
I am actually a monarchist and therefore I am FIGHTING the urge to work in the infamous "Chris Crocker/Leave Brittney Alone" video on YouTube into this post about The Queen's Christmas Address being online with the rest of the YouTubers... and I apologise for the disrespect of even squeezing it in with the above line...
That said, I am glad that the household and indeed, her Majesty has embraced technology and YouTubed the annual Christmas message... Allow me to share...
It is a somewhat tradition here in our home to listen to or watch the Queen's Christmas message... which continues, but has moved "online"!
So, since this is a "tradition"... but now it's on the dread interwebs... and I feel REALLY weird about calling anything "internet related" a "tradition" because, c'mon now... the internet is a pretty "new" thing... what does one call this?
I'll have to give this some thought...
HELP US GET RLH 3 - OUR ONE OLD GREEN BUS!
Click Here to read about the dream itself and why it's so important...
Click Here to read about how this is more than one person's dream... but a whole family's...
Click Here for one of our ideas to help raise money for our dream...
Click Here for another idea to help us raise the funds for our dream...
Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!
12/26/07
It was not an "Apple" Christmas for us...
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BELOW... This post is just me venting my spleen at "pop-culture consumerism".
Don't get me wrong... everyone had a fine holiday here at the homestead, but after having the PRAISES of a certain computer companies product sung as if the employees of said company can do no wrong, have nothing but brilliant ideas that never fail, and who's farts, apparently, issue no odour... I needed to see this... even those it's a bit old...
For the record, Macs are FINE... and Vista DOES suck... but realistically, as someone who's been in the field as a professional technician for almost fifteen years, realistically, I'd still prefer a PC over a Mac...
...now, to address those "products" from Apple...
- Leopard sucks and is almost as buggy as Windows Vista.
- iPhone is a beta-product that gives the original manufacturer WAY too much control in the aftermarket... ask anyone who now owns an "iBrick".
- iPods are not BAD... but they are expensive for what they are... and I dislike the "non-changeable battery".
- Upgrading an iBook or indeed, any Mac, is about as easy as neutering a wild Bengal tiger without anaesthetic.
Sorry, but I had to get that out of my system.
HELP US GET RLH 3 - OUR ONE OLD GREEN BUS!
Click Here to read about the dream itself and why it's so important...
Click Here to read about how this is more than one person's dream... but a whole family's...
Click Here for one of our ideas to help raise money for our dream...
Click Here for another idea to help us raise the funds for our dream...
Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!
Wordless Wednesday: More Christmas-y Buses!
Last week, I did London Transport image of wintery scenes... with Christmas now behind us, here's some "Christmas Themed" bus images... You have NO idea how hard it is to find "Christmas Themed Bus Images"!!!!
I did my best...
For a list of other Wordless Wednesday participants, please click here.
HELP US GET RLH 3 - OUR ONE OLD GREEN BUS!
Click Here to read about the dream itself and why it's so important...
Click Here to read about how this is more than one person's dream... but a whole family's...
Click Here for one of our ideas to help raise money for our dream...
Click Here for another idea to help us raise the funds for our dream...
Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!
12/25/07
Uh... Wha... Are you here? What gives? It's Christmas!
Oh... that's right... if you're here on the 25th, this is indicative of one of four possibilities...
#1: You're online wishing "online friends" Season's Greetings...
#2: You don't celebrate Christmas...
#3: You're bored and killing time on Christmas until the next bit of "festive stuff" starts...
#4: You are THAT addicted to the Internet.
If it's number four... I can't help you... and as a technician, I do feel for you and wish I could do something more than scream "GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY!!! REAL LIFE IS AN OPTION YOU KNOW!!!" and otherwise give you the same song and dance that probably all your family and friends give you when they notice you haven't slept or eaten properly in days.
If it's number one, and you're here wish us a Merry Christmas, we thank you kindly and wish you and your's a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!
If it's the second option above, we still wish you a Merry Christmas with NO disrespect intended (see my post yesterday and this will make sense,) or, if this is troublesome, a Happy December 25th... or how about simply a "Nice Day"? - Granted, when someone tells me to "Have a Nice Day", I usually respond by asking, Great! Where can I get one? or No, I'm sorry... I've made other plans. - but hey, I'm a cynic.
If it's number three above... well, I know I just wasted a FEW minutes for you... and hope it was at least SOMEWHAT entertaining... but allow me to possibly point you in some directions to "kill time" I suggested last year at this time... Oh heck, let me link to the old post... it DID have some reasonable suggestions to kill time if you're looking 'round the 'net today... CLICK HERE for my suggestions...
So, again, to everyone who fit's into categories #1, #3, and #4 above... Sue and I and everyone wishes you the Merriest of Christmases... and for the folks who are in category 2, I hope the day finds you happy, healthy, and well.
Oh, and if you're wondering, no, there was no bus under the tree at the time of writing this... I guess it was a bit big for Santa to lug about...
Honestly, all the best of the day to one and all...
HELP US GET RLH 3 - OUR ONE OLD GREEN BUS!
Click Here to read about the dream itself and why it's so important...
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Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!
12/24/07
Only the United States Military could make this so complicated...
Don't forget, NORAD tracks Santa...
...and despite opposition and general concerns about security, the Department of Homeland Security have promised they will not send out a military "Seek and Destroy" team should Santa fly over U.S. Territory... they will only do this if he tries to land anywhere without giving applicable tariffs and taxes to U.S. Customs on his "gifts" and allowing them to be searched for possible weapons, contraband goods, and of course, explosives. Also, as Santa is not an America citizen, he will have to go through a rigorous check via the USCIS in accordance with IMMACT and IIRIRA to ensure that America is safe from an illegal immigrant working within their borders... as anything other than household staff for a politician.
In suit, the Canadian government has also raised it's security status for this possible "invasion"... and will place one extra RCMP officer outside 24 Sussex Drive this evening.
Oh, and our Prime Minister has already put out his Christmas message...
Now, TO BE POLITICALLY INCORRECT, allow me to wish each and everyone who comes by today a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and prosperous New Year.
Now, in reality, this is NOT really all that politically incorrect as I'm actually a devout Agnostic.
...but allow me to quote my oft quoted bit about this from a previous blog post (this will be the reader's digest version)...
I am somewhat of a politically correct guy... I try to consider all people's thoughts, beliefs, and traditions and not supersede my own in any way.
I do believe that all people, regardless of sex, spirituality, gender preference, race, or what have you should only be judged, if necessary, on their character and contributions to society as a whole... and I respect and enjoy other cultures and philosophies that aren't necessarily my own and try to learn from them and take what is good... and learn what I feel is bad (and why) and continue to educate myself.
That said, 'round the end of December, I will be wishing friends, co-workers, and anyone a "Merry Christmas".
This, oddly enough, for me is not a case of jamming my religion down anyone's throat... far from it.
I was actually raised in an "agnostic" household... one that actually never preached to me about religion or religious beliefs... and I was allowed and actually somewhat encouraged to learn about as many faiths and spiritualities as I could... and decide what, if any, were best for me.
That said, as a kid, we did have a Christmas tree and did exchange gifts and had a large dinner with friends and family on that day... actually, it was not unusual to celebrate from December 24th through the 26th with the big "Family Feast" being more on Boxing Day here in Canada.
Sadly to some, for us the "Christ" in Christmas was more part of the word than anything else... we were aware and told of the religious significance of the time and the celebration of the birth of Christ, but we were mostly told that, if anything, it was a time to celebrate family and being together... a "fete" of simply being one with everyone else.
This was "Christmas" to me... and still is.
I liken it very much to Halloween. Although there was some significance in All Hallow's Eve, not to "satanism", but to ancient Pagan rituals, but for most folks Halloween is simply a time to "dress up", hear spooky stories, and go trick-or-treating for candy... the origins are there, but so thoroughly mixed in with the modern trappings that for most, it's simply a time to have fun... with no dogmatic issues attached... and the vast majority of people in and around where I live understand this... and kids and adults "celebrate" simply being able to be a little silly... nothing else.
As another thought in the same vein, I still call the months July and August... but don't venerate ancient Roman emperors as Gods during those months...
So, when I say "Merry Christmas!" to someone, I'm NOT thinking, "Merry time of the birth of Jesus Christ upon this world and I hope you're celebrating this day for this lest you be a heathen-scum!" mostly because, to many devote Christians, my whole bit above about the "Christ" in Christmas simply being part of the word makes me a "heathen scum" to them!
Nope, when I say "Merry Christmas!", I'm thinking of a time honoured tradition of gift giving, family gatherings, trappings of an ancient (and not-so-ancient) type that bring the joy of the season... even if you're possibly "sampling" and that season isn't for you and your faith.
My "Merry Christmas!" makes me think of old paintings of children playing in the snow... opening presents... a family eating a big meal... decorating a home... lights... songs...
Sure, some of that does have a religious connection... but what's wrong with the FEELING of what I described?
The warm glow of giving... the warmth of being surrounded by family... the feeling that on one lousy day, there's a sense of peace and togetherness...
Do the origins of this bother you?
I'm an agnostic... and it doesn't bother me a bit.
In fact, I'd be honoured to be wished a happy Ramadan... and I have been wished a Happy Chanukah and felt the spirit in which it was said...
...and yes, I do accept and occasionally wish people a Happy Hogomanay and Happy Saturnalia...
...and even more oddly to some, with the above said, I wouldn't be and am not at all insulted by these "alternative" greetings to my own faith and belief... again, I'm honoured to be included and that I was thought of.
Just because there's a "spiritual" or religious background to something doesn't make it "bad" or "wrong" or even "ethno-centric" to enjoy it...
It will be Christmas...
...and I'll be wishing you, and everyone, MY version of Christmas... and hoping yours will be a merry one when the time comes.
Sure, Happy Holidays covers it all, but please, when the time comes, accept my wish of a Merry Christmas... as I'm wishing you the joys that I experienced during this time... and I'm not trying to force anything on you except my most heartfelt glad tidings.
I hope this makes sense to most people reading this...
...and doesn't offend anyone...
December 25th, according to my Calendar is called "Christmas"... and much as an atheist friend of mine retorted once, Well, there's fifty-two days as a rule called Monday on your calendar. Would you wish me a Happy Monday? and, I'm sure no one's shocked, I said, YES! I would!
...I'd wish him a Happy Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday... Yup, I'd wish him "Happy" all those days.
I don't like Wednesdays so piffle on that.
So again, MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL... and hope that this day finds you all well, happy, and enjoying the season.
HELP US GET RLH 3 - OUR ONE OLD GREEN BUS!
Click Here to read about the dream itself and why it's so important...
Click Here to read about how this is more than one person's dream... but a whole family's...
Click Here for one of our ideas to help raise money for our dream...
Click Here for another idea to help us raise the funds for our dream...
Click Here for One Old Green Bus SWAG!
Will someone PLEASE sing Jingle Bells with me???
I fell in love with this video clip and just had to share it with you all. Singer, and songwriter Alisa Apps has really gotten into the spirit of the Christmas season this year, and asks the question "Will someone PLEASE sing Jingle Bells with me??? in this vid clip....and people really do start to listen, and participate. 
Check it out above!
Her enthusiasm, and energy really shines through in this video, and certainly brightened up my early morning Christmas Eve. Go ahead and give the video a watch and you too will soon be singing along at your PC and tapping your feet. You really cannot help it, plus it is a lot of fun!
Merry Christmas, and Enjoy!
Best. Looking. New. Movie. Release...
...so much for not posting today... but...
Had to post these things... Sue and I were going through the new movies coming out in 2008 and... well...
The Pixar guys are geniuses!
...granted, being the super-Geek I am...
Oh yeah, that will rock... that and the new Indiana Jones flick... and...
Gonna be a fun year at the movies!