Took a ride up to Musselman's Lake with Nancy last night to check out a house I saw a listing for that's in the realm of something I might be able to afford. At least in the financial sense. I'm not sure if my sanity could take it since it looks to be a really great place in the summer and a hellhole in the winter. And it's a bit too outdoorsy for me. And it looks like it requires some of that "home improvement" crap that not only do I know very little about, but quite frankly care little to know about at all. I like the whimsical feeling there but I just don't think it's for me 24/7. It would make a nice 2nd property. HAHA. And maybe one day I'll be able to afford such a thing.
The whole house buying thing has been on my mind lately because I think that era of my life is fast approaching and I like to be prepared for these things...financially yes, but also emotionally, which really has a lot to do with finances anyway because money can be such an emotional thing. I don't know that I could ever have enough money to truly feel secure, so I'm left to manage my sense of security with something less that perfection, which is completely unattainable in all things anyway.
Buying a house is really about buying into a lifestyle. I can see myself in the Musselman's lake lifestyle, but only in the summer. I can see myself having a wicked lifestyle in the summer, but I hate winter, which may be the heart of the matter. And it's not about not being able to ski. Winter is pretty in Robert Frost's poems but when you have to live in it, it's stifling and oppressive. And this coming from a Canadian. Because what is Canada anyway, but the ultimate paradox.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
Maybe the world is round after all...
I was just listing to CBC Radio News and heard that the Vatican may now be considering a reversal of the ban on condoms, but only in the case of preventing AIDS/HIV transmission. Here's the online article.
So it sounds like they're moving forward, but really, only very incrementally. And normally I don't totally mind incrementalism, but this is minutiae at the speed of molasses.
Still, it's kind of odd considering what we all thought John Ratzinger would be as Pope.
I know just because everyone does something doesn't make that something right, so the argument that most Canadian Catholics completely ignore Vatican directives in this area doesn't wash. And yet, the Church does not exist in a vacuum. In fact, I think the Church is the people, right? What about overpopulation and the continual depletion of non-renewable resources? What about starvation? What about the dis-value placed on human life when every child is not a wanted child?
So it sounds like they're moving forward, but really, only very incrementally. And normally I don't totally mind incrementalism, but this is minutiae at the speed of molasses.
Still, it's kind of odd considering what we all thought John Ratzinger would be as Pope.
I know just because everyone does something doesn't make that something right, so the argument that most Canadian Catholics completely ignore Vatican directives in this area doesn't wash. And yet, the Church does not exist in a vacuum. In fact, I think the Church is the people, right? What about overpopulation and the continual depletion of non-renewable resources? What about starvation? What about the dis-value placed on human life when every child is not a wanted child?
Friday, April 21, 2006
Time for a happy moment again...
Happy day, it's the 21st, my lucky number. And Miriam Toews won Canada Reads. And K got the job. And it's Friday. And if all isn't completely right with the world, at least there are some good things to make you smile.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
My Uncle Henry
It is with great sorrow that the family of Dr. Henry Theodore Dirks announces his sudden death, on Tuesday, April 11, 2006. He was 76 years old.
Predeceased by his parents, Alexander and Agnes Dirks; he will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his wife Elizabeth (Betty); his two daughters, Mary Husband and Janet Dirks; sons-in-law, Dr. Jeff Husband and Peter Hogg; and three grandchildren, Samantha, Jillian and David Husband. He is also survived by his seven siblings, Victor (Margaret Barton), Neil (Laurette), Elisabeth, Irene, John (Fay), Rosemarie (Arnold Thiessen) and Marguerite (Rudolf Dyke).
Born in Arnaud, MB, Henry was the fifth of eight children. In his teen years the family moved to North Kildonan. Upon graduation from United College Collegiate, Henry received a BSc from the University of Manitoba and an MA from the University of Toronto. Henry felt a calling to pursue medicine and received an MD in 1959 (University of Manitoba). He was an extremely caring and devoted family practitioner, serving the Kildonan community until formally retiring at age 75. While serving at Concordia Hospital, Henry headed the Emergency Department and then became Medical Director. In addition, he was medical examiner for The Province of Manitoba for many years. In 2000 he was awarded the Martin Bergen Award for longstanding contributions to the community served by Concordia Hospital.
Henry married Elizabeth Lewicki whom he met and fell in love with at the University of Manitoba. Together they shared 48 years of happiness, enjoying travel, gardening, books, art, history and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. They also shared a deep Christian Faith. Henry was an active member of Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church for more than 40 years. Last year, Henry realized his lifetime dream by visiting Israel.
A man who was generous to the core, Henry spent a lifetime looking after people, devoted to alleviating their suffering. He was much loved and will be truly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations in Henry's memory may be made to the Mennonite Benevolent Society, 1045 Concordia, Winnipeg, MB R2K 3S7 or the Jewish National Fund: Plant Trees in Israel, 1-800-542-TREE (8733). Interment will take place on Thursday, April 13 at 3:00 p.m. at Brookside Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 15 at Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church, 1771 Pembina Hwy.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God. For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10
FRIENDS FUNERAL SERVICE 2146 Main Street 339-5555.
Predeceased by his parents, Alexander and Agnes Dirks; he will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his wife Elizabeth (Betty); his two daughters, Mary Husband and Janet Dirks; sons-in-law, Dr. Jeff Husband and Peter Hogg; and three grandchildren, Samantha, Jillian and David Husband. He is also survived by his seven siblings, Victor (Margaret Barton), Neil (Laurette), Elisabeth, Irene, John (Fay), Rosemarie (Arnold Thiessen) and Marguerite (Rudolf Dyke).
Born in Arnaud, MB, Henry was the fifth of eight children. In his teen years the family moved to North Kildonan. Upon graduation from United College Collegiate, Henry received a BSc from the University of Manitoba and an MA from the University of Toronto. Henry felt a calling to pursue medicine and received an MD in 1959 (University of Manitoba). He was an extremely caring and devoted family practitioner, serving the Kildonan community until formally retiring at age 75. While serving at Concordia Hospital, Henry headed the Emergency Department and then became Medical Director. In addition, he was medical examiner for The Province of Manitoba for many years. In 2000 he was awarded the Martin Bergen Award for longstanding contributions to the community served by Concordia Hospital.
Henry married Elizabeth Lewicki whom he met and fell in love with at the University of Manitoba. Together they shared 48 years of happiness, enjoying travel, gardening, books, art, history and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. They also shared a deep Christian Faith. Henry was an active member of Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church for more than 40 years. Last year, Henry realized his lifetime dream by visiting Israel.
A man who was generous to the core, Henry spent a lifetime looking after people, devoted to alleviating their suffering. He was much loved and will be truly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations in Henry's memory may be made to the Mennonite Benevolent Society, 1045 Concordia, Winnipeg, MB R2K 3S7 or the Jewish National Fund: Plant Trees in Israel, 1-800-542-TREE (8733). Interment will take place on Thursday, April 13 at 3:00 p.m. at Brookside Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 15 at Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church, 1771 Pembina Hwy.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God. For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10
FRIENDS FUNERAL SERVICE 2146 Main Street 339-5555.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Monday, April 10, 2006
It's that overdeveloped left wing again...
I admit that I gave up the West Wing there for awhile, but I'm back on it with a vengeance now. And just in time for it to end, which figures. Much as the American right-wing likes to talk of liberal media bias and include the West Wing on the list, I have to say it's always felt more real to me that reality. Politicians seem to work so hard to make things look seamless and intended on the outside. It was nice to see that on the inside it isn't always so pretty. I loved how CJ and Josh and Toby regularly just fell apart emotionally at dealing with the chasm between what they felt is right and what was in the best interest of the country. That's reality. Not the regular crap about "choosing" to leave politics to "spend more time with the family." Or, "of course we knew that we would be in Iraq for a long time." I mean, I think the "end" of combat in Iraq was declared a long time ago. Wishful thinking is fiction, you know. And how can that be more real than finding a way to help the "Qumari" women?
I hear that the writers intended to make Vinick the winner until Leo's real life John Spencer passed away a few months ago. Can't leave Santos with a double whammy. And while that's true, I don't for a minute believe that they actually would have had Vinick win. Much as they tried, and at times succeeded, in making Republicans as interesting as their Democrat counterparts with Alan Alda, it wouldn't have worked. I don't think I'm going out on a limb here in saying that most of the West Wing's viewership was at least centrist, if not outrightly left leaning. Not only would a Republican win wipe out most of the cast, but it probably would have certainly started the gravedigging for the show which, in my guess, would have only lasted another season at best.
While admitting to that liberal bias that I think the show had, and that I agree with said bias, I have to say it was really nice seeing young, smart, civic-minded people debating the issues, probably in a more meaningful way than one could see anywhere else.
I hear that the writers intended to make Vinick the winner until Leo's real life John Spencer passed away a few months ago. Can't leave Santos with a double whammy. And while that's true, I don't for a minute believe that they actually would have had Vinick win. Much as they tried, and at times succeeded, in making Republicans as interesting as their Democrat counterparts with Alan Alda, it wouldn't have worked. I don't think I'm going out on a limb here in saying that most of the West Wing's viewership was at least centrist, if not outrightly left leaning. Not only would a Republican win wipe out most of the cast, but it probably would have certainly started the gravedigging for the show which, in my guess, would have only lasted another season at best.
While admitting to that liberal bias that I think the show had, and that I agree with said bias, I have to say it was really nice seeing young, smart, civic-minded people debating the issues, probably in a more meaningful way than one could see anywhere else.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Further to our conversation, Nancy...
From "No Kidding", by Rick Moody, Real Simple Magazine, April 2006:
"...I understand these arguments, these disinclinations, I understand my friends who say that they will not reproduce, and I think their decision is fine, and appropriate, and some days I even think back on that time in my life with a warm nostalgia, the time when I had few complications and knew a lot less about death."
"...I understand these arguments, these disinclinations, I understand my friends who say that they will not reproduce, and I think their decision is fine, and appropriate, and some days I even think back on that time in my life with a warm nostalgia, the time when I had few complications and knew a lot less about death."
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