OK everyone! Hands up if you missed me!

(The title is a direct quote from my brimming-with-confidence niece a few years ago, when she had been away from school for a few days. She happily reported that everyone in her class did, indeed, miss her.)

Yup, I'm back, been to Alaska, moved to a new house, and even managed to find clean clothes to put on this morning to come back to work. Where my desk is buried, and the "welcome back" comments had just a hint of desperation.

Just a hint, mind you.

It's nice to be missed!

Someone asked in the last post how one plans a trip to Alaska. I'll put the website in the links to the left - we did one of the self-driving, land-only tours. Meaning you pay the company, and they set everything up, and hand you a book of vouchers, which you tear off and hand in one by one as you arrive at the next event or hotel. There are some amazing descriptions of the things you can do!

If you want a cruise, that's a different company, but you can do a combo kind of thing.

I have a new phrase I learned there....I will write it out for you the way it sounds....we'll see if any of you can translate it.

Here it is -

"Izeer uh muwal ineeweya"

And if I have already told you the story of this phrase, don't tell!

alaska? really?

These pictures are for all those who wondered why on earth we would go to Alaska on vacation.

That last one - Mount McKinley - highest mountain in North America. Normally fogged in. But it cleared for us.

Absolutely BREATHTAKING!!!!

Alaska...really?? REALLY.

(We're not home yet - we're in Anchorage airport right now - but thought I'd tease you with some pics!)

on vacation - TTYL!

the people have spoken

Poll Results:

Reddish - 26%

Blondish - 20%

Brownish - 6%

Washed - 48%

Now that I know how a poll works, I will try to think of a more interesting, thought-provoking or entertaining question!

a tough job and sad news

It must be hard to be Pope.

Seriously.

Obviously I have no experience with that job, and I don't expect I ever will. I don't know anyone who has ever done it.

But I think it must be a tough job.

Pope Benedict XVI has just released a statement saying that Protestant churches are ecclesial communities, but not the true Church. And Orthodox churches are closer, but defective.

I wonder why? What's the purpose of releasing that statement? Just something he felt strongly about? Or was there some rumbling at the Vatican? Did a stand need to be taken? Because I do respect taking a stand for what you believe, even if I disagree with the belief.

Seems to me it probably won't be a statement that will be particularly helpful to the Catholic Church in North America. Maybe other parts of the world are different, but our culture isn't big on labelling others as "defective". I'm not saying that should matter to him - statements of faith shouldn't be motivated by political correctness - I'm just saying, if I was Catholic, I might be squirming a bit at that statement.

(Or maybe I wouldn't. Maybe as a Catholic, I'd be cheering it. Maybe I'm just thinking like a Protestant.)

Can you imagine trying to follow in Pope John Paul II's shoes? Rose to prominence from the ashes of wartime Poland. Youth around the world loved him. First non-Italian Pope in a gazillion years. Travelled everywhere. What's not to love? Plus the fact that "John Paul" is a lot more approachable name than "Benedict".

I mean no disrespect. I'm just saying. It must be a tough job.

*****

On another note...I just got a phone call from a friend, letting me know that Ed Mirvish died today. That is sad news.

Entrepreneur that started with not much, I think, founder of Honest Ed's in Toronto, almost single-handedly the reason that there is live theatre in Toronto, and an incredibly generous man. Every year on his birthday, he would throw a huge street party for whoever wanted to come! He also gave away turkeys at Thanksgiving.

I would love to read his biography - the title has something about an "Orange Crate" in it - but I've never been able to track it down. If you know where to find it, let me know!

Ed was 92 years old.

I will miss knowing he's a part of my world.

people with foibles

I'm not even sure I'm using "foibles" correctly. Wait, let me look it up.

Hmmm..."a weakness in character" my dictionary says. I don't mean it as judgementally as that. Maybe this would be better titled "people with idiosyncracies". ("a personal peculiarity" - that's better!)

OK. Some random people things today.

First - a Spectator article that entertained me enormously on Saturday. The scene - a husband and wife in a loving and committed relationship go on a long-anticipated vacation together. On the first day, the wife breaks her foot, thus effectively ending the vacation. Husband inexplicably changes personality as a result. Wife decides to speak the husband's language - he's a lawyer - and she lovingly serves him notice of his breach of contract of the "love and cherish in sickness and health" part of their marriage vows. You can read it here.

Second - another Spectator article, by someone people-watching in a restaurant. As an avid people-watcher, who has been caught staring more than once, I thought this was funny. He has category titles for the different kinds of people. You can read it here.

Third - not an article, just my experience today. Telemarketer called the office during staff meeting. Since I was in the middle of staff meeting, I politely but quickly interrupted, and thanked him for calling, but explained that I was not interested in whatever he was selling. He started talking again. I politely but quickly said, "Excuse me, are you selling something?" He said, "Yes." I said, "I am not at all interested. Thank you." He got a little crusty, and said, "But ma'am, why won't you just hear me out, and at least give me a chance to tell you..." and on he went. I gave him about 5 seconds, waited until he took a breath, and then said firmly, "Thank you, but as I said, I am not at all interested. We don't need a credit card. Our business finances are taken care of. We are not interested." And at that point, I realized that he had already hung up, not even bothering to thank me for my time.

I think that's rude. THAT, my friends, is a FOIBLE at least on the part of the company who tells him to treat me like that. And I know we've all been there. At home, I don't answer those calls. At work, I don't have the option. And I understand that they get paid by the sale, but it really ticks me off when they demand that I not hang up on them (even though I'm trying to do it politely) - and then - they just hang up on me!!!

That's all for today.

Oh, here's a fun question. What other phrases could I have used, in place of "ticks me off"?! Non-cussin' phrases please, keeping in mind kids read this sometimes, but feel free to use your creativity. If you make me laugh, my irritation will dissipate!

I can do a poll!!!

Hey!!! I just figured out how to add a poll to my blog!!!

(It's on the left, and down a bit)

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, I am excited, because we wanted to put polls on CF's webpage, but we haven't figured it out yet, so we can do it here instead.

I did a rather meaningless question, just for experimental purposes. Feel free to vote, but no nasty comments about my hair please.

Or...feel free to suggest poll questions!!

*****

Also, here's a weird thing. I read a complete stranger's blog yesterday, and it seemed really nice. Their profile said they liked Charles Dickens and Jane Austen, as do I. And I enjoyed some of their posts.

So I dropped a comment, saying so.

And today - their blog no longer exists!!!

I wonder if they think I'm an internet stalker or something, and I scared them off?? LOL!!

before and after

Painted at the new house last weekend.

Blue-and-border is "before".

Off-white and brownish is "after".

Toilet-papered ceiling fan is in-between.