Retiring

Today I helped send off to retirement an old friend. It was bittersweet. While he worked at my workplace for 38 years, I had known him for only 10. A quarter of his work life. It isn't often you come across a man like he is. Kind, humble, thoughtful, generous and on and on. I am sure he will stop in from time to time but I will miss him. It got me thinking and wondering what my retirement will look like. What will it feel like to be saying goodbye to friends and co-workers you have spent 1/4 to 1/3 of your life with. It has to leave a hole.

Dancing with the Stars

I love this show. I love to dance but can't so I guess I live out my wishes through them. I am impressed by some how quickly they pick up the moves, then there are others who like me who can't get it together at all. Sometimes I am sad to see them go home because they provide an element of laughter to the show. What I can't figure out though is how 3 judges, looking at the same dance can come up with different scores so far apart. last night for example where, if I remember correctly, Len went to a 7 the other two were 9 and 10. How is that really possible?

Friends & Family

The other day my daughter had some car trouble. Fortunately it stalled in a town where her Uncles live. With a combination of friends and family she continued on her journey. Not only that but they had her car towed and fixed and gave her ride back ( 2 hours worth) to retrieve her car. This isn't so much about wonderment but rather about being awestruck at kindness and love. Thanks to all.

Starting to renovate....again

If I could get my butt off the couch I could get started. What I wonder about today is how I've done it so many times in the past. Some say I am always renovating, yet I really haven't done anything at home for awhile now. Other places, or outside, yes. Still it seems onerous to start. Maybe its just that I'm getting older. Who knows? I don't. The only real way to get it done is to start. Put a hole in the wall, Fill the basement with furniture from the reno room, etc. That way there is always a reminder to get at it. What holds you back?

This makes me angry!!

It has come to my attention through an email subscription "windows secrets"  that Windows Live (used to be messenger and MSN) http://home.live.com/ is somehow getting information on us and sharing it with anyone who wants to see it, through the "What's new" portion of your home page of Windows Live. I believe everyone had to upgrade in order to continue using MSN. I wonder where and how they are getting the information from? PLEASE, if you are using Windows Live go to your home page and see the "What's New" section. If there is information on your friends there, you can be guaranteed they are seeing information about you. Information from Facebook or other social sites. NEXT go to your permissions page and with much labor set each one as suits you. The default is PUBLIC for EVERYONE to view.

If anyone is interested in viewing the article please leave me a comment with your email addy. I won't publish it. I can then send you a copy.

Here is a quote I can get into...

If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, what is the significance of a clean desk?
  - Laurence J. Peter

Volunteers

I had the privilege to observe and be served by volunteers in the medical profession lately. It was incredibly good. They brought coffee around, answered questions and generally just made life a great experience. I wonder what their motivation could have been. Was it just the goodness of their hearts or were they affected by something in their lives which motivated them to help out? In case I thank all of them. they do more than can one can ever thank them for.

Focus - wonderful when attained

I am sure we all have had days when you need to get 2 days of work done in 1/2 the time or less. One suddenly is able to focus with extreme acuity on the tasks ahead. It is an absolutely fabulous moment in time as tasks are completed, and decisions made. Then I wonder why isn't it like this all the time or at least more of the time? Is it the deadlines or something else? Answers anyone?

Does anybody care?

I was asked this morning if I think that anybody reads this blog. Good question to wonder about. I know there are some who stop in - family, friends and few others who stumble across it. Of course there are always those blogs and websites that have many faithful followers. So far mine is not one of them but thats OK, I'm just starting. Besides I have enjoyed putting my musings out there. I am hoping that others might get involved and check off the boxes below or leave a comment, but whatever. For now I am just putting my ramblings out there for all to see. In the future - who knows?

Cleaning the garage

Don't give me a flat surface or I will fill it full of stuff. Then when the stuff starts to fall off I stop everything and clean it up. Thats been my MO for as long as I can remember. Which really isn't so bad. The problem though began a week ago when I decided to install a door in the basement. Of course it didn't fit so I had to cut it down. Without thinking I fired up the saw in the garage and .... anybody know what interior doors are made of ... what a mess! The finest sawdust one could imagine all over the garage. Well, what's a little more right? About half a dozen cuts later the door finally fit.  The garage though, is, or at least was covered with this awful fine layer of dust. It's in every drawer, on every tool, every possible crack and cranny. So today, this afternoon, all afternoon, I spent vacuuming, sweeping, washing, blowing dust off things, then more vacuuming till finally I could claim my garage back. I wonder what the odds are I'll saw in the garage again?

Big Mac

No not MacDonalds; rather a MAC computer. I have just started using one and I am frankly quite surprised. I like it. I never thought thta would be so. I like the speed, and the simplicity. I am still learning but it seemed to go pretty good. Like all things it helps to just start clicking on everything and using all the mouse clicks to see what happens. Ummm I wonder what happens when I click here...

Rumors

I had a really good laugh yesterday. I was asked about a heated argument I supposedly had with a co-worker. Never happened! I then was asked about me having to buy two hearing aids! I am wondering if someone is trying an old form of practical joke on me! Maybe the alleged argument is about me not hearing someone and therefore I need two hearing aids. I still am grinning about these two.

Some days are like this....

I was expecting this morning to be one where I could could get some of my own work done, you know, the stuff that needs to get for your position. Instead my office took on the revolving door syndrome with literally people standing in line to discuss something. Phew! Thats OK though, my other stuff will get down eventually on a weekend or whenever. I tip my hat to all those who are in similiar situations. Personally, I love it. It makes for a very interesting day, a day when you are fully engaged. My interuptions are typically from those within my office. I do wonder how those who deal with interuptions that come from within their workplace and without the workspace, manage to juggle it all (nurses, trades supervisors, etc.)?

Communication

I suppose we are guilty of failing to communicate. When failed communication has very dire consequences one would think there would be protocol in place to ensure the failure doesn't happen. Apparently though for my situation it doesn't exist. All I can do is be angry and complain. It just doesn't seem fair. It does really make me wonder how often these screw ups happen.

Divine Mercy Sunday

I sure do need it today. Faith the size of mustard seed; thats not very big but at times even that seems huge. How does one even get it to that size?

Up to down can leave you feeling like crap

I have often thought it would be cool to bungee jump but have always been to scared to. You can put me in a plane and and do dives and rolls and sharp banks, but don't put me in a roll coaster or ferris wheel!. I also don't like going from an emotional high to an emotional low. Why does life do that to us? I guess I only have to look at my Good Friday post.

World Curling Championships

With curling so popular in Canada, why isn't TSN or Sportsnet providing TV coverage? One can get some of the games via broadband on TSN.ca, but the quality isn't very good. It is a bit disappointing.

I am not the only wonderer..

I am not the only one who wonders about a lot of things. Pat Katz of www.patkatz.com also wonders. Hers is mostly about life and work. I highly recommend her ezine or blog. You can click on the title above to get there from here. Her latest ezine, or newsletter states: "I found myself wondering, "Could making your mark on the world really be that easy?" It really did make me "pause" and think about things. Thanks Pat.

Saskatchewan Jobs on the rise

Once again our jobs here on the rise (click on title above). I wonder if we'll be on CNN again?

These guys are good

These are old but hilarious satirical interviews. Click on the title for their website. I highly recommend the "the front fell off 1991". I find it amazing and wonder how some people have a mind that can put this kind of thing together, keep a straight face and get away with it. Rick Mercer and his 22 minutes company fit in the same group.

Christ is risen...

Christ is Risen...easy to wonder about that.

And so we wait...

Easter - we know the start and we know the finish. It's the part in the middle that seems so ominous and and so full of wonder.

Christ has died....

People say after a personal or global disaster: Why does God allow this to happen? Yet we celebrate Christ's death because He died for us. The shame is why we question God in our suffering, yet the perfect sinless lamb willingly suffered and died for us. The real question to wonder about is Why God allowed that to happen?