The Groups in Town

After hearing someone in Tim's mentioned "the farmers" with a bit of a scowl in his voice I realized that there are more groups here then I first imagined.

The three obvious ones:  First Nations, French, English.  The French go to French school so you won't likely run into them because of course so many things we do are related to school.  But even there, there is a break out of French Roman Catholic and French.  The Roman Catholic also have their own school.  First Nations seem to exist on their own in some unclear way.  I have a feeling its a larger symptom of Canada.  They are hear but I really don't know much about them and I certainly can see a difference in culture that makes others irritable.

But now I have to add the farmers.  Of course they know each other through their agricultural connections.  But then there are two that I know of  The Christian Farmers Association and the mainstream Ontario Farmers Association.   I didn't realize how different the farmers are until I noticed that our church holds its nursing home service at 2:30 when it is our turn while the rest of the churches hold it I think at 6:00.  We can't hold it at six because of milking.  So again there is something that separates our church from the other non-farmer led churches.  I don't think other churches know why we insist on holding it so early and the last time we went the nursing home didn' know we were coming.  I wonder if people think we are being difficult by marching to our own tune!

Its a wonder any of us talk to each other at all! 

Life in the really slow lane.

Each day I think "what will I do today?"   I can go to the library to study or do it at home. Or go to the lake for a swim.  Or grab a freshly baked doughnut at the local bakery.  Gee, I can even do it all!

Went swimming the other day in our lake.  I couldn't stand the heat one more minute and putting all self consciousness aside decided it was time to take advantage of the opportunity.  The lake was a bit cold but delicious.  I just paddled around for about half an hour and I ended up feeling cooled off for a few hours.  Now I know why people say "Go soak your head!".

Really interesting at the beach.  Lots of teens.  A few parents with toddlers and a few adults.  I'm not sure where the 20 something set is - I don't think there are any.  If there are they are never where I am.  Tim Horton's seems to be the place for the over 50 crowd.  The local brunch place seems to attract the 30 - 40 group.  How you get all of these people into one event beats me!

Polar Bear Rocks!

I found a local radio station.  Very local.  The music is a bit eclectic - old time country, new country, light rock.  I laughed all morning at the song they played - look at the lyrics:

Constellations – Felicia Lyrics


With her cigarette lips and soldier tits
yeah, they stand at attention with her hands on her hips…
shes got a crocodile smile and switchblade style
yeah, she’ll stab you in the back with her fingernail file..
stays cool as you come so uncomfortably numb
as you drop to the floor with the flick of her tongue..
shes got her hand on the wheel and one on the stick
yeah she’ll put you in gear with the twitch of her neck…
oh Felicia babe i think i really really need ya
So sexy when you’re working on your knees girl......

Now it is actually a very catchy tune - but I'm not convinced that the person who picked it intended it for the morning show.  Especially since the other tunes were early country - we're talking low production values.  This tune was followed by a very old version, probably original of  "Please Release Me, Let Me Go"   I later saw the irony in that and laughed harder.   I believe in  "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." 
 
The other song was "Put My Little Shoes Away" by Hank Snow - lovely tune about a dying child.  I didn't even stay to drink my coffee in Tim Hortons - grabbed my coffee and went down to the lake to listen.  I also love the local advertising.  Hey you can listen to it online:  http://www.cpbrfm.com/
 

Glories of Clotheslines!

First off, let me say that 6.99 for a bag of clothespins is ridiculous!  I was looking for clothespins because they have just replaced the washing machine at the parsonage and I am thrilled because now I can wash my clothes at home and hang them to dry.  I haven't used a clothesline for probably 25 years - and then only when my Mom was doing the wash.

I have always but my private wear with the assumption that only my husband would see it - not that there is anything spicy to see - but rather that odd colours, polka dots and stripes that cheer me up look a little clownish.  I figure ER staff have seen it all so didn't worry about that possibility.  Its a funny contrast - blue and black and grey clothes with these bright undies flapping in the breeze!

Elmer Fudd and Porky Pig Are Different People

I just remembered as I was watching Bugs Bunny. Bugs is one of my favourite characters – as a child I was fascinated by how smart he was. I now understand this to be wit and cleverness.

I was watching Elmer Fudd the day before and Porky Pig today and I suddenly remembered (I figured this out once before sadly) that they are completely different characters. For crying out loud they are not both pigs even. For some reason as a child I think I thought that Porky Pig was the hunter Elmer Fudd when he wore clothes. This is why I can never be put in a police line up. I’m lousy with faces and names. Can you see the resemblance? They are both short, pink and have a problem with speech. That’s close enough for me.

Now you know why I can't keep anyone's name straight!

Ministerial Meeting

It was great – there was a BBQ for the ministerial group (the pastors in the area who meet) so I got to meet them for the first time “off duty”. It was really interesting – over half are women. Well, that’s not completely true – there is a priest who didn’t come and a pastor who won’t join in because he does not belief in women in office. Its too bad because I’m sure he could do with a place to pray and such.




It was fascinating trying to guess the denomination by the person. I was really off on one or two. Everyone’s about my age or a bit older which is a nice switch too.



They meet every Thursday for prayer. Every Thursday. I was surprised – in Toronto they tend to meet once a month. And they are offering food for sale for Canada Day for the assistance program (diaconal money for those of you who understand the lingo). I was really impressed to see pastors doing this administrative work. They are super busy just like in the city but are busy with more direct contact things.



Some were more friendly then others – I think there may be one or two who aren’t sure what exactly my role is. I’m not a pastor but in a pastor’s position since the church doesn’t have one.

Perils of a Vanity Plate

I’m actually having to adjust my driving here. When I get to a stop sign I feel like I need to go right NOW! But others slowly pull away from the stop. And when I’m waiting to turn into traffic I get that nervous feeling that someone is going to honk and try to push me through the intersection – yet others wait until the its perfectly clear before they turn. So I have to slow it down. Its actually a bit harder to drive here – there are four way stops everywhere and lots of “busy” streets. I have gotten used to traffic lights in the city that tell me when its my turn – you don’t actually have to do a lot of concentrating. Here there are tons of kids on bikes, pedestrians and stop sign after stop sign. Its also embarrassing that I am still getting lost. There are a few places I have gone where I’m sure no one would ever drive – its just a sign that you don’t know what the heck you are doing. Soon enough people will recognize the plate and have me labeled as some control freak driver with lousy direction.

Interestingly I have noticed that some drivers wait for the other cars to stop at a four way intersection rather than proceeding. I got in trouble for this in Toronto – the instructor couldn’t understand why I was waiting for the other car to stop when I clearly had the right of way – I guess it’s a country thing because I’m sure we did that in Nova Scotia too!

Country Standards Or....

I saw something today I didn’t think I would ever see again. Not since my youth. A young girl, very pregnant smoking a cigarette. I’m usually not a health fanatic but I couldn’t stop thinking about what that must be doing to the baby. I would be too embarrassed to do it at the library entrance – geez, at least go sneak off and have it out of sight for my own conscience!

Country Standards Or....

I saw something today I didn’t think I would ever see again. Not since my youth. A young girl, very pregnant smoking a cigarette. I’m usually not a health fanatic but I couldn’t stop thinking about what that must be doing to the baby. I would be too embarrassed to do it at the library entrance – geez, at least go sneak off and have it out of sight for my own conscience!

Dark Days in Monkey City

Dark Days in Monkey City




Yup, I lost a husband but gained Bell TV. I can now see crap in two official languages and news from 4 cities. If that doesn’t satisfy I can watch shows with names like “Dark Days in Monkey City”. I was curious enough to look at it. The narrator has a bit of a Brit accent and adds excitement to the show by exaggerating the narrating. Look Out – There’s a Python!!! Dark Days indeed.



I didn’t have the heart to watch “I Didn’t Even Know I was Pregnant”.