I am reading, A Brief History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson. It is a book that followed three years of the author's study during which time he dedicated himself to trying to understand as much as he could about the universe he lives in. He realized how little he knew about the planet he lived on and sought out the brightest scientific minds to enlighten him. If you are familiar with Bryson's style, you will understand that the info is presented in a humoruos, understandable, and interesting manner. This is surprising considering the topics are astrology, geology, physics, cell biology, etc. etc . It is a great read if you are interested at all in taking a marvellous journey into your very existence.
It is interesting how history's most significant scientific ideas were often initially scoffed at and outright rejected. Years later these same ideas become accepted, proven facts. One of the lines in Bryson's book reflecting on this, has stuck with me over the last couple days. He comments, " ...sometimes the world's not ready for a new idea." It just struck me how true this is in so many facets of life whether it be religion, faith issues, politics, etc. What is it about human nature that we so tightly cling to old ideas and lack an imagination ?????????
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
In Search of a Lucky Bounce
Have you ever been on the express train of bad luck .....?? Can't catch a break......??? If something could go wrong it will go wrong.....??? Any of this sound familiar ???? I have to admit that I have had my share of good fortune in life and perhaps it is because of this that when things start turning south for me I can be found dazed like a deer in headlights with my arms raised, looking towards Heaven muttering, "you have got to be kidding me ..!!!!"
Let me procede to describe my weekend.
We have had a lot of snow and storms since December...For what reason I am not sure we have been unfortunate to find ourselves driving in most of these low pressure systems. So, it was no surprize to wake up Friday to bad weather knowing we were to drive to Winnipeg to catch my plane to Toronto for an exam on Saturday. Kassidy did not sleep on the journey (big surprise!!!) but instead, decided to put on a bit of a circus show attempting to escape from her restraints. Throw some white out conditions into the stew from passing semi's, and you've got a stressed out Ross' family.
When a man drives in bad weather he has one thing on his mind...the destination! All energy is channelled into getting to that destination by any means possible, and he will stop for nothing....except perhaps his daughter getting so upset she throws up all over herself. That might, and in fact, did stop the driver of our van at the earliest convenience. (in case you were wondering, Kassidy had eggs for breakfast on Friday) After a feeble attempt to clean up, we continued our journey and arrived in Winnipeg, somewhat rattled but intact.
My exam had originally been scheduled for 5:30pm on Saturday and I was overjoyed (and a little dependant) at the opportunity to do some last minute cramming during the day on Saturday. This plan was suddenly changed late in the week when my new time of 8:30 am was announced. I figured that I could get a good night's sleep and get up quite early to prepare, so wasn't too concerned by the exam time change. After sitting on the plane in Winnipeg for 40 minutes waiting for a glycerine shower (wing de-icing) and noticing that my watch read 9:00pm, I had concerns that the good night's sleep part of the equation was in jeopardy. I arrived in Toronto 11:30pm, hopped into a cab and was dropped off at my hotel at 11:50pm. Although behind on the itinerary, I was still hopeful I could be in bed by midnight, and so approached the reception desk in a jovial mood.. The evening (male) desk clerk had the kind of look that says, "I am at the end of my shift....I don't really care about you.... why do you have to be so jovial at this hour..." After confirming the reservation, the following, is the conversation that ensued.
Clerk: "Your credit card is not going through (emotionless). I need another card to secure the room." (returns the card to me)
Me: (hmmm...this is odd) "Could you try it again. There's no reason the card shouldn't go through" (he swipes again)
Clerk: "This card is not working. I cannot secure the room with this"
Me: (What could possibly be on this card?? I just paid this off) "Oh well, we can try thi....(Oh crap, I left my VISA at home!!!) Do you have a cash machine?"
Clerk: "No"
Me: "Could you tell me where the closest one is?" (Why doesn't a large hotel like this have a cash machine ??)
Clerk: "Across the street there is a HBC" (I bet he has no funds in there either)
Me: (I can't believe this...this I did not anticipate !!!) "Could you watch my things, I'll be right back!"
I stepped outside into the -24 degree midnight air looking for the HBC. You would think that when one tells you the thing you are trying to find is across the street that it would be easy to spot. What the not-so-helpful clerk failed to mention was that it was across the street at the end of the street that the hotel sits adjacent to. It is interesting what things go through your head at midnight on a cold winter's night looking for a cash machine. (ie "What the hell am I doing and how did this happen???", and "I think I jost lost all feeling in my legs and ears", and "things are going so well, I'd bet the money I just withdrew that I will be robbed and beaten senseless tonight out here in the cold")
I entered my room at 12:30am and my heart beat finally returned to resting by 2:00am which allowed me to finally fall asleep. Seeing that my wake up call was for 6:00am, it would a short night indeed.
I made my way to the exam room a few minutes early in case something happened to me enroute. (by this time I felt anything was possible) I was greeted at the door by the schedule with my name written beside 8:35 am. (finally I have got something right) A sheet of paper on the door listed the exam format. As I began reading it I realized that I had prepared totally wrong for this exam, and my knees felt weak as the door opened and my name was called. I do not wish to extrapolate the events that unfolded behind those doors. I will say that if they grant me a pass, it will be an act of grace.
The plan for the rest of the day was to meet my parents at the hotel for a few hours, then meet another friend who would take me to Oakville where I would stay until Sunday, which was also a day to visit a good friend. I went back to the room flipped on the TV and listened to the broadcasters discuss the blizzard hitting the metro area. I looked out my window to see this blizzard first hand and knew very quickly that I was in for a long, lonely weekend in the hotel. My parents, nor either of my friends could make it, and as I soon found out, there were no earlier Westjet flights I could take home. I resigned myself to reading and watching golf on TV (The Buick championship). The golf was postponed due to fog...things were not going well.
I was determined to sort out the Mastercard fiasco. I was informed by MC customer service that there was no reason that the card shouldn't have gone through, and that there was a card expired message. Looking at my card I read, 2008. Did three years somehow pass from the time I stepped on the Westjet flight without my knowing ??? I approached the front desk to let off a little steam the next morning, and was upgraded to a renovated suite for my second nights stay all by myself. What a treat. Yippee
I had a brief visit Sunday afternoon from a friend due to the weather improving and watched the Eagles game before returning to Manitoba without incident Sunday night.
We left Shelli's parents today to return to Brandon and drove through ice rain.
Half way home, my cell rang and Shelli's mom informed us that we left our big travel bag with most of our clothes at the top of the stairs......perfect!!!
Still waiting for that lucky bounce !!!!
Let me procede to describe my weekend.
We have had a lot of snow and storms since December...For what reason I am not sure we have been unfortunate to find ourselves driving in most of these low pressure systems. So, it was no surprize to wake up Friday to bad weather knowing we were to drive to Winnipeg to catch my plane to Toronto for an exam on Saturday. Kassidy did not sleep on the journey (big surprise!!!) but instead, decided to put on a bit of a circus show attempting to escape from her restraints. Throw some white out conditions into the stew from passing semi's, and you've got a stressed out Ross' family.
When a man drives in bad weather he has one thing on his mind...the destination! All energy is channelled into getting to that destination by any means possible, and he will stop for nothing....except perhaps his daughter getting so upset she throws up all over herself. That might, and in fact, did stop the driver of our van at the earliest convenience. (in case you were wondering, Kassidy had eggs for breakfast on Friday) After a feeble attempt to clean up, we continued our journey and arrived in Winnipeg, somewhat rattled but intact.
My exam had originally been scheduled for 5:30pm on Saturday and I was overjoyed (and a little dependant) at the opportunity to do some last minute cramming during the day on Saturday. This plan was suddenly changed late in the week when my new time of 8:30 am was announced. I figured that I could get a good night's sleep and get up quite early to prepare, so wasn't too concerned by the exam time change. After sitting on the plane in Winnipeg for 40 minutes waiting for a glycerine shower (wing de-icing) and noticing that my watch read 9:00pm, I had concerns that the good night's sleep part of the equation was in jeopardy. I arrived in Toronto 11:30pm, hopped into a cab and was dropped off at my hotel at 11:50pm. Although behind on the itinerary, I was still hopeful I could be in bed by midnight, and so approached the reception desk in a jovial mood.. The evening (male) desk clerk had the kind of look that says, "I am at the end of my shift....I don't really care about you.... why do you have to be so jovial at this hour..." After confirming the reservation, the following, is the conversation that ensued.
Clerk: "Your credit card is not going through (emotionless). I need another card to secure the room." (returns the card to me)
Me: (hmmm...this is odd) "Could you try it again. There's no reason the card shouldn't go through" (he swipes again)
Clerk: "This card is not working. I cannot secure the room with this"
Me: (What could possibly be on this card?? I just paid this off) "Oh well, we can try thi....(Oh crap, I left my VISA at home!!!) Do you have a cash machine?"
Clerk: "No"
Me: "Could you tell me where the closest one is?" (Why doesn't a large hotel like this have a cash machine ??)
Clerk: "Across the street there is a HBC" (I bet he has no funds in there either)
Me: (I can't believe this...this I did not anticipate !!!) "Could you watch my things, I'll be right back!"
I stepped outside into the -24 degree midnight air looking for the HBC. You would think that when one tells you the thing you are trying to find is across the street that it would be easy to spot. What the not-so-helpful clerk failed to mention was that it was across the street at the end of the street that the hotel sits adjacent to. It is interesting what things go through your head at midnight on a cold winter's night looking for a cash machine. (ie "What the hell am I doing and how did this happen???", and "I think I jost lost all feeling in my legs and ears", and "things are going so well, I'd bet the money I just withdrew that I will be robbed and beaten senseless tonight out here in the cold")
I entered my room at 12:30am and my heart beat finally returned to resting by 2:00am which allowed me to finally fall asleep. Seeing that my wake up call was for 6:00am, it would a short night indeed.
I made my way to the exam room a few minutes early in case something happened to me enroute. (by this time I felt anything was possible) I was greeted at the door by the schedule with my name written beside 8:35 am. (finally I have got something right) A sheet of paper on the door listed the exam format. As I began reading it I realized that I had prepared totally wrong for this exam, and my knees felt weak as the door opened and my name was called. I do not wish to extrapolate the events that unfolded behind those doors. I will say that if they grant me a pass, it will be an act of grace.
The plan for the rest of the day was to meet my parents at the hotel for a few hours, then meet another friend who would take me to Oakville where I would stay until Sunday, which was also a day to visit a good friend. I went back to the room flipped on the TV and listened to the broadcasters discuss the blizzard hitting the metro area. I looked out my window to see this blizzard first hand and knew very quickly that I was in for a long, lonely weekend in the hotel. My parents, nor either of my friends could make it, and as I soon found out, there were no earlier Westjet flights I could take home. I resigned myself to reading and watching golf on TV (The Buick championship). The golf was postponed due to fog...things were not going well.
I was determined to sort out the Mastercard fiasco. I was informed by MC customer service that there was no reason that the card shouldn't have gone through, and that there was a card expired message. Looking at my card I read, 2008. Did three years somehow pass from the time I stepped on the Westjet flight without my knowing ??? I approached the front desk to let off a little steam the next morning, and was upgraded to a renovated suite for my second nights stay all by myself. What a treat. Yippee
I had a brief visit Sunday afternoon from a friend due to the weather improving and watched the Eagles game before returning to Manitoba without incident Sunday night.
We left Shelli's parents today to return to Brandon and drove through ice rain.
Half way home, my cell rang and Shelli's mom informed us that we left our big travel bag with most of our clothes at the top of the stairs......perfect!!!
Still waiting for that lucky bounce !!!!
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Why I Sometimes Wish I was not a Christian..
How's that for a catchy title.
I was looking through my "goto" newspage this morning and followed a headline titled, "Aid workers warned not to preach". Apparently some Christian based Aid groups are using the opportunity to proselytize to the predominantly Muslim Indonesians. A quote in the article pissed me off ! Evangelist Mark Kosinski (from WorldHelp) states, "...these people need food but they also need Jesus...God is trying to awaken people and help them realize that salvation is in Christ."
So I gather what he is saying is : 1) that God is the planner and orchestrator behind natural disasters that cause inconceivable suffering 2) This happened in Asia rather than in the USA because they are Muslims 3) you are most likely to get conversions when people are vulnerable because hey haven't eaten in a week, have no place to sleep, and are fighting disease...."Let's go get 'em bretheren "!!!!!!!!
Here's a thought ...maybe filling somebody's stomach, helping them find loved ones and shelter, and giving them the medicine they need to survive is the greatest form of Christian service...maybe it is the gospel in action in flesh and blood, a practical compassion, and guess what....you can do all of these things without ever opening your mouth !!! I refer you to Matthew 25: 34-40
How's that for a personal rant !!
I was looking through my "goto" newspage this morning and followed a headline titled, "Aid workers warned not to preach". Apparently some Christian based Aid groups are using the opportunity to proselytize to the predominantly Muslim Indonesians. A quote in the article pissed me off ! Evangelist Mark Kosinski (from WorldHelp) states, "...these people need food but they also need Jesus...God is trying to awaken people and help them realize that salvation is in Christ."
So I gather what he is saying is : 1) that God is the planner and orchestrator behind natural disasters that cause inconceivable suffering 2) This happened in Asia rather than in the USA because they are Muslims 3) you are most likely to get conversions when people are vulnerable because hey haven't eaten in a week, have no place to sleep, and are fighting disease...."Let's go get 'em bretheren "!!!!!!!!
Here's a thought ...maybe filling somebody's stomach, helping them find loved ones and shelter, and giving them the medicine they need to survive is the greatest form of Christian service...maybe it is the gospel in action in flesh and blood, a practical compassion, and guess what....you can do all of these things without ever opening your mouth !!! I refer you to Matthew 25: 34-40
How's that for a personal rant !!
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
The Princess and the Pea
Today my daughter pushed a Green Giant sweetlet pea up her nose during supper....Not only did she place the pea inside the nostral...she proceded to ram her finger in immediately after, nudging it to it's final location adjacent to her hypocampus. I suppose most parents at some time or another will experience removing small objects from their children's body cavities and for parents of multiple children this is probably commonplace and no big deal. I however, was somewhat concerned seeing that upon staring up my child's right nostril, I could see only a speck of green. My body immediately jumped into action as I headed towards the garage wondering if I had such a tool for this delicate extraction about to take place. The garage did not possess an appropriate tool. I did however, emerge from the bathroom with tweezers in my hand and a very determined look in my eye. My wife could only observe a few seconds of the struggle between a poor frightened child in a headlock and a father with a sharp utensil in his grip. I was ordered to stop...
I had treated an elderly client a few years ago who told me a story about himself. He had been experiening frontal headaches, and rhinitis for 6 months following a sinus surgery, and his doctor had all but given up hope of helping him. Then one day in the middle of lunch he sneezed unexpectedly and a cotton swab flew out of his nose into his soup.....apparently it had been mistakenly left behind after the surgery. (true story) So you could imagine my concern as a father in my present situation, imagining my daughter at the alter on her wedding day caught off guard by sudden sneeze, launching a Green Giant sweetlet out her nose onto the minister's notes..... But this horrible thought also gave me an idea. I tilted Kass' head back, plugged her left nostril and said' "OK ...BLOW !!!" Although I did not see any tangible results, my ears detected the sound of a small object ricocheting off the East window about ten feet away and onto the floor. All three of us looked at each other then laughed !!
HO HO HO GREEEN GIANT !!!!!
I had treated an elderly client a few years ago who told me a story about himself. He had been experiening frontal headaches, and rhinitis for 6 months following a sinus surgery, and his doctor had all but given up hope of helping him. Then one day in the middle of lunch he sneezed unexpectedly and a cotton swab flew out of his nose into his soup.....apparently it had been mistakenly left behind after the surgery. (true story) So you could imagine my concern as a father in my present situation, imagining my daughter at the alter on her wedding day caught off guard by sudden sneeze, launching a Green Giant sweetlet out her nose onto the minister's notes..... But this horrible thought also gave me an idea. I tilted Kass' head back, plugged her left nostril and said' "OK ...BLOW !!!" Although I did not see any tangible results, my ears detected the sound of a small object ricocheting off the East window about ten feet away and onto the floor. All three of us looked at each other then laughed !!
HO HO HO GREEEN GIANT !!!!!
Monday, January 10, 2005
Why blog??
Well....WHY NOT ?? It's not like this will be the first place to find a lot of useless personal, ordinary information on the internet.
Thankfully, it seems that there has been a shift in our culture, where we have become somewhat disinterested in the sensational and fascinated by the ordinariness of life, (ie reality television) so perhaps somebody will read this and somehow find it interesting. Maybe it is because most of us live in "the ordinary" and we can relate to it better. Maybe we have become so bombarded by sensationalism, we have become immune to it's effects. I am reminded of a Christmas letter we received from friends in BC. They claimed nothing extraordinary happened in their life this past year , so instead told us about their ordinary events, including a trip to Walmart to buy steel bowls..(see www.mtplanet.com) I was somewhat surprized by how incredibly interesting and entertaining this was for me to read. I could relate to it....I've been to Walmart....I've bought useless crap before....tell me more !!!!
Later after thinking this over a bit, (ie wondering what is wrong with me that I would find dumb stuff so interesting) I realized that there is a therapeutic value in all this. It seems like the first half of your life you are trying to find yourself, trying to fit in, trying to measure up, trying to appeal to this ideal life the media beats you over the head with, trying to figure out where I went wrong in life that my existence is so ordinary, and suddenly thanks to culturally relevant TV you realize that we're all pretty much all the same, and that the perceived ideal is mostly fantasy... Ninety five percent of all our lives are ordinary and routine.
One of my favourite authors, Fredrick Buechner writes about how people are always looking for God in the sensational and miraculous, but suggests that perhaps God speaks to His creation most loudly through the ordinary events of our lives, between the end of one sentance and the start of the next, when there are no words spoken...
I guess all this is leading to my point that I don't have an overly sensational , soon to be documented on Dateline, life, but perhaps that is what makes it most valuable...it is ordinary and it is real.
If you are at this point extremely bored, this is your opportunity to find another website. Lord knows there is an infinant amount of sensational crap out there to numb your senses.
Thankfully, it seems that there has been a shift in our culture, where we have become somewhat disinterested in the sensational and fascinated by the ordinariness of life, (ie reality television) so perhaps somebody will read this and somehow find it interesting. Maybe it is because most of us live in "the ordinary" and we can relate to it better. Maybe we have become so bombarded by sensationalism, we have become immune to it's effects. I am reminded of a Christmas letter we received from friends in BC. They claimed nothing extraordinary happened in their life this past year , so instead told us about their ordinary events, including a trip to Walmart to buy steel bowls..(see www.mtplanet.com) I was somewhat surprized by how incredibly interesting and entertaining this was for me to read. I could relate to it....I've been to Walmart....I've bought useless crap before....tell me more !!!!
Later after thinking this over a bit, (ie wondering what is wrong with me that I would find dumb stuff so interesting) I realized that there is a therapeutic value in all this. It seems like the first half of your life you are trying to find yourself, trying to fit in, trying to measure up, trying to appeal to this ideal life the media beats you over the head with, trying to figure out where I went wrong in life that my existence is so ordinary, and suddenly thanks to culturally relevant TV you realize that we're all pretty much all the same, and that the perceived ideal is mostly fantasy... Ninety five percent of all our lives are ordinary and routine.
One of my favourite authors, Fredrick Buechner writes about how people are always looking for God in the sensational and miraculous, but suggests that perhaps God speaks to His creation most loudly through the ordinary events of our lives, between the end of one sentance and the start of the next, when there are no words spoken...
I guess all this is leading to my point that I don't have an overly sensational , soon to be documented on Dateline, life, but perhaps that is what makes it most valuable...it is ordinary and it is real.
If you are at this point extremely bored, this is your opportunity to find another website. Lord knows there is an infinant amount of sensational crap out there to numb your senses.
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