Our PC sound wasn't working for the longest time and now that it is I have access to youtube. I came across this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1u93VduIUI
Its about clown training as a form of ministry and at first I was convinced they were kidding but by the end I'm not too sure. It was funny but not enough to be a satire. Anyone who knows my fear of clowns will understand that clown ministry is in my books one of the Dark Arts.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The MultiMedia Generation
I was playing a board game with the kids that their father used to play. Its actually quite fun because it relies on lots of spaces that say take another turn and move ahead and draw cards and stuff so they don't get too bored with it. During the game one of them realised it was time for a cartoon he likes. He asked me to "pause the game while we watch this". I explained that boards games are not like X Box where we pause the game - Aunt Vicki is not going to sit in suspended animation for half an hour. I lost out to a cheesy cartoon! Some of the cartoons - particularly the anime ones totally lose me. There is one where its a guy but as a superhero he turns into an adult androgenous woman - as near as I can tell.
I'm old.
I'm old.
When I Grow Up.
Apparently my four year old niece (well not biologically) sees some mothering instincts in me. She told me yesteray that "You will make a good mommy when you grow up". I'm not sure if this is a statement on my adultness or just that she figures if you don't have children you haven't grown up yet. She asked her brother for confirmation (he's 5) and he gave a rather unenthusiastic sound. I don't let them get away with much so maybe he's figuring that he could find better!
He later told me that when I get old I am going to yell at people and he killed himself laughing. Now this is in fact quite true - I just couldn't figure out how he knew that. He remembered a card my brother got me in June with an old lady on the front who is a crank and how as I reach old age that's where I'm going. I was quite surprised that he could remember this card but apparently it has struck a chord with him.
He later told me that when I get old I am going to yell at people and he killed himself laughing. Now this is in fact quite true - I just couldn't figure out how he knew that. He remembered a card my brother got me in June with an old lady on the front who is a crank and how as I reach old age that's where I'm going. I was quite surprised that he could remember this card but apparently it has struck a chord with him.
Weddings in Edwards Gardens
SO On 07/07/07 Lesley and I went to see the brides at Edwards Gardens. In the parking lot we came across a few cars "decorated" with white fabric and gold tinsel - it looked like a Christmas angel was taken out on a hit and run. Well, we found the wedding party that these cars belonged to - you may have seen them on the news. We took a picture because I just don't have the full vocabularly to really paint the picture.
An older lady came over and was not very approving - she told us the world is changing and she can't keep up.
We later saw a beautiful wedding which took place after the Egyptian/Roman theme. Unfortunately as the bride and groom were saying there vows a man decided that that was a good time to get right in there and take some pictures of the fountain - then his family joined him. I wanted to go down and quietly lead them away - the people around us were muttering and murmuring about how outrageous it was and can't they see there is a wedding go on and so forth. Anyhow, Lesley didn't want me to get involved - but my feet were itching to go and fix it!
Weddings at the gardens are a riot. You are guaranteed to see a wide range of fashions - particularly the bridesmaids, some really cheesy photo shoots and the occasional ceremony. I doubt I will see one quite like this one again though!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Burial Shoes
Apparently, I'm just a babe in the woods (see my entry below). I found this website that talks about the absurdity of the funeral industry and another business opportunity I was unaware of: burial shoes
http://www.funerals.org/decca.htm
http://www.funerals.org/decca.htm
I design clothes for the dead.
While lurking around the Internet looking for funeral related t-shirts and stuff for a relative in Holland, I came across a whole industry I was unaware of. Burial clothes. Most of the providers of this are offering shrouds and such, some are offering clothing for funeral directors (I always thought they just got that stuff at Sears) but Sindy's Designs offers a whole new perspective. They create clothing that funeral homes can have on hand so the bereaved don't need to go out and buy something if they don't have anything suitable at home.
The bizarre fascination with looking our best for our funeral is a North American thing (with an exception here and there). Its contrived, costly and fools no one though we like to stand around and pretend that Aunt Enid really looks good. I used to have romantic notions of death -Snow White's glass coffin with her perpetual youth encased in it seemed ideal. Looking good requires a bit of manipulation and approaches taxidermy a bit too much for my liking. But if you are worried about having "nothing to wear" check out this site: http://www.sindysdesigns.com/ You can't see the pictures of the merchandise unless you are brave enough to fill in a fabricated identity. But here is a quote:
"I appreciate the quality of the dresses I buy from Sindy's. The colors are so complementary of the colors in the caskets. And the men's suits are complete with tie, etc." Gail Krien, Krien Funeral Home, Davis, Oklahoma
'nough said.
The bizarre fascination with looking our best for our funeral is a North American thing (with an exception here and there). Its contrived, costly and fools no one though we like to stand around and pretend that Aunt Enid really looks good. I used to have romantic notions of death -Snow White's glass coffin with her perpetual youth encased in it seemed ideal. Looking good requires a bit of manipulation and approaches taxidermy a bit too much for my liking. But if you are worried about having "nothing to wear" check out this site: http://www.sindysdesigns.com/ You can't see the pictures of the merchandise unless you are brave enough to fill in a fabricated identity. But here is a quote:
"I appreciate the quality of the dresses I buy from Sindy's. The colors are so complementary of the colors in the caskets. And the men's suits are complete with tie, etc." Gail Krien, Krien Funeral Home, Davis, Oklahoma
'nough said.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Congrats to Caroline
Those of you who have joined us for our dinner group might remember that Caroline was going on a marathon in Alaska to raise money for leukemia and lymphoma. She completed her marathon and reports that she had a great time and the 8 people from Toronto raised over 60,000 dollars. I can't even get my head around that!
Congrats Caroline on behalf of the dinner group!
Congrats Caroline on behalf of the dinner group!
Friday's Feast - Random questions
Appetizer
How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?
I only wear my wedding band and my anniversary band. I used to wear my wedding ring but it has some delicate spots on it and I worry about damaging it. I sometimes were a broach, a cross or earrings.
Soup
What is your favorite instrumental song?
How many do I actually know? Probably Classical Gas.
Salad
Who has a last name that you like?
Okay, with my last name I have thought about this already. I love the names: Victoria "Cookson", Victoria "Roberts", Victoria "Shaw". My choices if I were to revert to a family name are my original name of Collins (people can not spell it), mother's of Robertshaw (people think its two words). My grandmothers was a better bet and I can't remember for the life of me what it was - Meekes? I remember it started with an "M" because it went with where she was from - Micklefield.
Main Course
Name a popular movie you’ve never seen.
I wish, like my friend, I could proudly boast that I have never seen Star Wars. But my father insisted we go and line up for this movie because it was going to be a real experience. Didn't like it and have never felt the need to try to like it.
As for a popular movie - Titanic. As soon as I good wind of the love story I lost all interest. Though the rest of the film may have been historically accurate the whole love story was pretty far fetched for the time and social class system. It wasn't just that people did not marry beneath them, but there was a lot of disparaging things said about some one who married up - from people in her own class. A man could marry up - provided he was already upper class. But a woman wouldn't go from being a servant to having servants and it was understood that this was the way it was. We might not like it and certainly Americans may feel they escaped that system but in 1912 it was still the way it went.
Dessert
Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me ___________ like ____________.
Nothing makes me frustrated like people sampling at the Bulk Barn and in the fruit aisle. Don't get me started!
How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?
I only wear my wedding band and my anniversary band. I used to wear my wedding ring but it has some delicate spots on it and I worry about damaging it. I sometimes were a broach, a cross or earrings.
Soup
What is your favorite instrumental song?
How many do I actually know? Probably Classical Gas.
Salad
Who has a last name that you like?
Okay, with my last name I have thought about this already. I love the names: Victoria "Cookson", Victoria "Roberts", Victoria "Shaw". My choices if I were to revert to a family name are my original name of Collins (people can not spell it), mother's of Robertshaw (people think its two words). My grandmothers was a better bet and I can't remember for the life of me what it was - Meekes? I remember it started with an "M" because it went with where she was from - Micklefield.
Main Course
Name a popular movie you’ve never seen.
I wish, like my friend, I could proudly boast that I have never seen Star Wars. But my father insisted we go and line up for this movie because it was going to be a real experience. Didn't like it and have never felt the need to try to like it.
As for a popular movie - Titanic. As soon as I good wind of the love story I lost all interest. Though the rest of the film may have been historically accurate the whole love story was pretty far fetched for the time and social class system. It wasn't just that people did not marry beneath them, but there was a lot of disparaging things said about some one who married up - from people in her own class. A man could marry up - provided he was already upper class. But a woman wouldn't go from being a servant to having servants and it was understood that this was the way it was. We might not like it and certainly Americans may feel they escaped that system but in 1912 it was still the way it went.
Dessert
Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me ___________ like ____________.
Nothing makes me frustrated like people sampling at the Bulk Barn and in the fruit aisle. Don't get me started!
The TTC Experiment
I started taking the TTC as my main form of transportation in June. Well, only two things have changed from 15 years ago when I took it every day - there is a lot more air conditioned buses and subways and you can't get a seat going southbound at Sheppard. The minute I get on in the morning I read because I am not a morning person and this is my way of becoming more awake so I really want a seat. If you don't get one at Sheppard you will not get one until Eglinton. In the old days you could still get a seat at York Mills. So I have been going north to Finch and starting my book the minute I sit down. By the time I get to Bloor to change I am in a much better frame of mind and a little more alert.
So, if they keep saying ridership is down and I can no longer get a seat they must have pulled cars off of trains or the ridership south of Eglinton is where they have lost fares. People seem to be streaming in from the north!
My biggest surprise is that the announcements are actually no easier to understand and maybe even worse. I can barely make out the words let alone the entire message. They must have their own radio system for all the employees because the strange "99 Bloor. 99" announcements have stopped. I was told this meant a jumper but with the number of times it was called I knew that wasn't right - someone else told me it meant they need a janitor. Of course you would need a janitor in the other scenario too!
I don't need a metropass because when Cliff is on nights I have the car and when he is on evenings I can choose to take the car as long as I get back in time to take him to work. So, really, I'm relying on the car more than I thought. I don't think anyone is really surprised by that!
So, if they keep saying ridership is down and I can no longer get a seat they must have pulled cars off of trains or the ridership south of Eglinton is where they have lost fares. People seem to be streaming in from the north!
My biggest surprise is that the announcements are actually no easier to understand and maybe even worse. I can barely make out the words let alone the entire message. They must have their own radio system for all the employees because the strange "99 Bloor. 99" announcements have stopped. I was told this meant a jumper but with the number of times it was called I knew that wasn't right - someone else told me it meant they need a janitor. Of course you would need a janitor in the other scenario too!
I don't need a metropass because when Cliff is on nights I have the car and when he is on evenings I can choose to take the car as long as I get back in time to take him to work. So, really, I'm relying on the car more than I thought. I don't think anyone is really surprised by that!
Bridezilla
Today, I'm going to go and do something I haven't done in a long time - go and watch the brides at Edwards Gardens. With it being 07/07/2007 there was a big demand for this day as it is lucky. My pastor had been asked to do a number of weddings from outside the church. He gets requests like this but not usually more than one for the same day.
So with the high humidity, heat, grandiose expectations and crinolines the bride watching will be spectacular!
If you think this is an unusual thing to do on a Saturday well let me tell you - the knowledgeable crowd bring their own lawn chairs and set up right at the first garden at the entrance. Okay, they are all over 65, but I'm not the only one to go and watch. I love watching people and I know there are going to be some sermon illustrations in this.
So with the high humidity, heat, grandiose expectations and crinolines the bride watching will be spectacular!
If you think this is an unusual thing to do on a Saturday well let me tell you - the knowledgeable crowd bring their own lawn chairs and set up right at the first garden at the entrance. Okay, they are all over 65, but I'm not the only one to go and watch. I love watching people and I know there are going to be some sermon illustrations in this.
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