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!
Saturday, July 07, 2007
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.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Societal Structure
I did a lot of reading about the Dutch society before the war and just after. At one point the Netherlands operated under a pillar society. What this meant was that each self-identifying group created their own system of society. Each major religion had their own school system, places of work and circle they moved in. There was also an understanding that different social classes remained at their level thought this was not openly discussed.
Though this form of society started to break down I still saw traces of it. Though the Netherlands are small, there are areas with their own dialect; the Roman Catholic church rules the south, the protestant more to the north. And what was really disturbing was the circles we ran in. If someone in the family or acquaintances was lower class in occupation I would be assured that they were "smart". We only went to "quality" stores, ate "quality" food. There were things that others do in Holland that we didn't - notably eating fries with mayo and the little pancakes. Our hosts being older might have accounted for this narrower middle upper class view of Holland and I found it disturbing - as if we weren't really visiting Holland but a narrow version of it. This dedication of staying in the "best" and eating the "best" (within upper middle class standards) meant eating in the same restaurant two nights in a row instead of the other many choices of small places with terraces and local colour.
Most disturbing was the invisibility of those who don't fit. Though very small details of Dutch life were pointed out to us on our visits to different places there was one area where we quickly noticed that no explanation was given. We were in a pretty town and there were what appeared to be gypsies (they go by the name Roma) at the entrance to the area of shops playing accordians for money. I thought they were roma because I had seen a presentation on them in class last semester and they looked very much the same - they certainly weren't Dutch or Muslim by birth. Though they dotted the area - and its hard to miss accordian players - no mention was made of who they were or what they were doing - it was as if these people just feet from us weren't there. I know from class that many Europeans dislike the roma and they were taken to concentration camps by Hitler during the war though their fate has not been recognised to the same extent as other persecuted groups. So whereas other groups of people were commented on either in passing or negatively this group didn't warrant any discussion. We decided not to ask because we didn't want to have a negative conversation about them - little good could come out of that. Cliff, who is usually so gracious, made sure his dontation of coins to the accordian player tinkled enough to draw out a comment from his aunt - but none came! He really can be quite the instigator when he wants to be!
Since people are the same all over, I have been thinking about my own attitudes - who do I ignore?, what class biases do I have that prevent me from seeing the whole world - all of God's children?, is there stuff I wouldn't do because its not "quality"?
Though this form of society started to break down I still saw traces of it. Though the Netherlands are small, there are areas with their own dialect; the Roman Catholic church rules the south, the protestant more to the north. And what was really disturbing was the circles we ran in. If someone in the family or acquaintances was lower class in occupation I would be assured that they were "smart". We only went to "quality" stores, ate "quality" food. There were things that others do in Holland that we didn't - notably eating fries with mayo and the little pancakes. Our hosts being older might have accounted for this narrower middle upper class view of Holland and I found it disturbing - as if we weren't really visiting Holland but a narrow version of it. This dedication of staying in the "best" and eating the "best" (within upper middle class standards) meant eating in the same restaurant two nights in a row instead of the other many choices of small places with terraces and local colour.
Most disturbing was the invisibility of those who don't fit. Though very small details of Dutch life were pointed out to us on our visits to different places there was one area where we quickly noticed that no explanation was given. We were in a pretty town and there were what appeared to be gypsies (they go by the name Roma) at the entrance to the area of shops playing accordians for money. I thought they were roma because I had seen a presentation on them in class last semester and they looked very much the same - they certainly weren't Dutch or Muslim by birth. Though they dotted the area - and its hard to miss accordian players - no mention was made of who they were or what they were doing - it was as if these people just feet from us weren't there. I know from class that many Europeans dislike the roma and they were taken to concentration camps by Hitler during the war though their fate has not been recognised to the same extent as other persecuted groups. So whereas other groups of people were commented on either in passing or negatively this group didn't warrant any discussion. We decided not to ask because we didn't want to have a negative conversation about them - little good could come out of that. Cliff, who is usually so gracious, made sure his dontation of coins to the accordian player tinkled enough to draw out a comment from his aunt - but none came! He really can be quite the instigator when he wants to be!
Since people are the same all over, I have been thinking about my own attitudes - who do I ignore?, what class biases do I have that prevent me from seeing the whole world - all of God's children?, is there stuff I wouldn't do because its not "quality"?
Tolerance
I'm rather disappointed at the ideas the people I have been talking with have here about immigrants.
I know that my aunt has a thing about Muslims and has talked about how there are too many here and that they will take over the country. Yesterday the whole table of people we were sitting with talked about how the people from Turkey are taking over Holland. They are buying land bit by bit and as my aunt says in 50 years the Dutch will be under the authority of the Turks. Of course the complaint is also that the government gives out all kinds of handouts to these people and that the government is wrong to do so.
I have a really low tolerance for this kind of talk. I suspect that the refugees from Turkey are getting thrown into this discussion. I also suspect that everytime a Muslim is seen in the street that it is assumed they are from Turkey. Fact is this is a very Caucasion country from what I have seen so far. I have seen less then ten or 12 blacks the so far. There are some Muslims but not nearly the tidal wave that people talk about.
What really bothers me is that my aunt says that we must remember the war and be "alert". Talking about Turks coming into the country, taking the land and controlling the marketplace and that they are threat to the national security of the Dutch sounds very familiar doesn't it?!
I know that my aunt has a thing about Muslims and has talked about how there are too many here and that they will take over the country. Yesterday the whole table of people we were sitting with talked about how the people from Turkey are taking over Holland. They are buying land bit by bit and as my aunt says in 50 years the Dutch will be under the authority of the Turks. Of course the complaint is also that the government gives out all kinds of handouts to these people and that the government is wrong to do so.
I have a really low tolerance for this kind of talk. I suspect that the refugees from Turkey are getting thrown into this discussion. I also suspect that everytime a Muslim is seen in the street that it is assumed they are from Turkey. Fact is this is a very Caucasion country from what I have seen so far. I have seen less then ten or 12 blacks the so far. There are some Muslims but not nearly the tidal wave that people talk about.
What really bothers me is that my aunt says that we must remember the war and be "alert". Talking about Turks coming into the country, taking the land and controlling the marketplace and that they are threat to the national security of the Dutch sounds very familiar doesn't it?!
Say Cheese
We went away for a few days to see a site with many, many windmills, a few towns and a cheese market. The cheese market has the producers of the local cheese display their products on Friday which are then tested for quality and then purchased by local distributers. The cheese wheels sit it the market square and are carried to be weighted and carted to the storage area. This is quite the event with the market square filled with cheese and with people crowded around the barriers to watch the event. I was thoroughly embarassed when Marta had arranged that we would be some of the few who could sit inside the square and watch the events up close. I'm sure people were wondering who the heck we were and I was wondering myself what connections she had.
The continual driving, Dutch and forced march across Holland is taking its toll and I am becoming frustrated with the continual mothering. We have not been able to pay for much which I am thankful for but I also find it awkward. Our hotel for two nights was one of the nicest places in town - a few rooms in the back garden with homemade bread, meat and cheese for breakfast. The cost was 150 Euros for Cliff and I - over 200 dollars Canadian. There really was no need for the second night and many of the places we have been going have been picked for us.
I am grateful but not one who likes to be told what to do continually and have been resisting in my own way in order to keep my sanity. For instance Cliff was eating an apple and was told he should not eat the skin because of the pesticides. He proceeded to peel it. I would have washed it and then kept eating it. He likes the peel, is not worried about pesticides but is so easy going that it doesn't bother him to give in. Therefore he is asked continually if he has brought his sweater - I refused to take a sweater the first day and have not been asked since! First, we are from Canada and its pretty nice spring temperatures here - secondly we are not on blood thinners like our aunts!
The continual driving, Dutch and forced march across Holland is taking its toll and I am becoming frustrated with the continual mothering. We have not been able to pay for much which I am thankful for but I also find it awkward. Our hotel for two nights was one of the nicest places in town - a few rooms in the back garden with homemade bread, meat and cheese for breakfast. The cost was 150 Euros for Cliff and I - over 200 dollars Canadian. There really was no need for the second night and many of the places we have been going have been picked for us.
I am grateful but not one who likes to be told what to do continually and have been resisting in my own way in order to keep my sanity. For instance Cliff was eating an apple and was told he should not eat the skin because of the pesticides. He proceeded to peel it. I would have washed it and then kept eating it. He likes the peel, is not worried about pesticides but is so easy going that it doesn't bother him to give in. Therefore he is asked continually if he has brought his sweater - I refused to take a sweater the first day and have not been asked since! First, we are from Canada and its pretty nice spring temperatures here - secondly we are not on blood thinners like our aunts!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Yesterday - Amsterdam
I wouldn't have thought you could see a lot of Amsterdam in 6 hours but we crammed in a lot.
We took a canal ride which gave us a lot of information about the city and the architecture. We wandered around the shops - and yes, we saw tons of head shops and smelled a lot of pot!
We even took a trip down to see the ladies in the windows - strange culture in Holland - they talk about it being Calvinist and pious but they have a lot of tolerance for stuff we would shy away from. The women were not that attractive and really gave the impression of how lousy a business it is to be in. We must have looked quite strange Cliff and I with the two older aunts - obviously tourists. More so then the prostitution is the storefront selling of sexual devices and porn - really more shocking than the women! Nothing I haven't seen before but not usually right on the street.
The architecture is beautiful, the shops are interesting but we were definitely in the touristy area.
Today we go overnight for a few days - I'm not sure where.
Vicki
We took a canal ride which gave us a lot of information about the city and the architecture. We wandered around the shops - and yes, we saw tons of head shops and smelled a lot of pot!
We even took a trip down to see the ladies in the windows - strange culture in Holland - they talk about it being Calvinist and pious but they have a lot of tolerance for stuff we would shy away from. The women were not that attractive and really gave the impression of how lousy a business it is to be in. We must have looked quite strange Cliff and I with the two older aunts - obviously tourists. More so then the prostitution is the storefront selling of sexual devices and porn - really more shocking than the women! Nothing I haven't seen before but not usually right on the street.
The architecture is beautiful, the shops are interesting but we were definitely in the touristy area.
Today we go overnight for a few days - I'm not sure where.
Vicki
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Update-More Windmills
Today we go to Amsterdam for the day and tomorrow we go for a few days to the coast where we will see more windmills, cheese and a dam. Some of these things are preplanned so I will make the most of it!
I have found the candy, soccer shirt and little ceramic house I have been asked to find. Still keeping an eye open for lockets.
It has been raining every day and brightening in the afternoon. I don't mind but I think Marta is disappointed. The weather is mild so even the rain is not a big deal.
Sometimes I need to sneak away for a break - I'm an introvert so continually being with company - especially with so much Dutch - is draining. Sometimes I don't really know what is going on!
We visited Marta's brother whose wife was very concerned that she does not speak English. Marta taught Cliff to say - I take my coffee with a bit of milk in Dutch. When Marta's sister-in-law came out with the coffee Cliff said his bit and she was so shocked - she said "How is this possible that he learns Dutch so fast". We had a good laugh!
I have found the candy, soccer shirt and little ceramic house I have been asked to find. Still keeping an eye open for lockets.
It has been raining every day and brightening in the afternoon. I don't mind but I think Marta is disappointed. The weather is mild so even the rain is not a big deal.
Sometimes I need to sneak away for a break - I'm an introvert so continually being with company - especially with so much Dutch - is draining. Sometimes I don't really know what is going on!
We visited Marta's brother whose wife was very concerned that she does not speak English. Marta taught Cliff to say - I take my coffee with a bit of milk in Dutch. When Marta's sister-in-law came out with the coffee Cliff said his bit and she was so shocked - she said "How is this possible that he learns Dutch so fast". We had a good laugh!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Send me your emails!
Hi Guys:
I can pick up my emails but I can't remember most addresses. If you happen to read this can you send me an email to shipmaker@primus.ca so I can get your address?
Thanks, Vic
I can pick up my emails but I can't remember most addresses. If you happen to read this can you send me an email to shipmaker@primus.ca so I can get your address?
Thanks, Vic
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