happy birthday

oh hai pataee -

jus a lil bloggy jok fur u on yer bertday. (i jus kiddin. rilly.)

frum millhouse

can it be?

The basement is painted - Arcadian Blue, if that matters to you. It's actually more purple than blue. Spike says it looks a teensy bit girlie, but I promised to man it up for him with an accent wall or something.

Flooring is laid.

Carpet comes next week.

And I will have my basement back - much, much better than it was before.

---

Lumber has been cut and sanded.

Staining will be done next week. I would have finished it today, but rain threatened all day long so I couldn't take the chance. Plus, I was feeling pretty darn lazy today, and I'm not ashamed of it.

Then Spike and my b-i-l will make our big front porch look new and beautiful.

My Dad has volunteered to paint the green eavestroughs and trim, because ... I don't like them.

And the outside of our house will look soooo much better.

---

Peach Festival this weekend. Followed by several days of canning - peaches, tomatoes, salsa, beets, I presume.

My sister really is in charge of that. She just tells me what to do, and we split the results.

And I will feel proud all winter long, with my home-canned foods.

---

Books have been ordered.

Including something called a "clicker".

I don't know what that is. But it cost close to $50.

And I start back to school, after ... well, let's just say a number of years.

---

Can it be? Have all these things really been accomplished - or are about to be???

Good for us!

the end of the story

My back-to-school story is boring me.

When you are boring yourself, you should stop. It's a rule that I have. Mostly I apply it to preaching, but it's a rule with other uses as well. Like blogging, for instance.

So, here's the end ... er... the beginning of the story.

I'm going back to school. Part-time. At McMaster University. To study Sociology. Because it interests me. I will graduate - again - when I am 82.

(Pause for you to sigh in relief that you don't have to plow through anymore mindless babble to learn that crucial bit of information.)

And why am I in such a hurry today? Because painters who were coming tomorrow just phoned to say, "Hello, Meesis Meelir? We gonna come today, if tha's OK wit you."

I used my relaxed voice to say calmly, "Oh sure, that is just fine."

And then dashed to get out of my jammies, into some clothes, wash my face, brush my teeth, clean up yesterday's used-for-bacon frying pan, and most importantly, make some coffee.

Gotta run!

where to learn?

Originally, my intention was to attend here.

It's not too far from where I live. Toronto traffic would be irrelevant. It would likely give more recognition to the Theology degree I already have. And it has a fantastic Distance Ed program, which would suit me perfectly. This university has always appealed to me, for some undefined reason.

So I went through the website, and sent emails, and made phone calls. Until finally one person said off-hand to me - "You do know that we don't offer the program you want through Distance Ed, don't you?"

*sigh*

No. I did NOT know that.

Hope sprang up briefly when someone randomly informed me that this university had a new campus even closer to me. But alas, they don't offer the program at that campus, either.

And although the main campus is not too terribly far, the fact is we're a one-car family, and getting there every week for the next hundred years or so could really put a strain on Spike's and my relationship.

So I checked into the possibilities here. I used to work around the corner - walked from work to play squash on campus in fact - but they were on strike at the time of my possibility-checking. Which reminded me that they seem to go on strike frequently. Plus, there's the Toronto traffic (although public transit is an option). The final straw was the possibility of some courses being held at a different campus, Way The Heck on the Other Side of Toronto. I'm just not doing that. I have a full life now, without adding Toronto Traffic to it.

Looked half-heartedly here and here, knowing right well I wasn't interested in either one.

So I finally checked into the university that is in my own darn town. Why didn't I check that before, you ask? Because I wanted Distance Ed. And lots of credit for my B.Th. And I'm kind of a weird person who doesn't want to just do the obvious thing.

I got REALLY excited when their webpage extended an invitation to prospective students - "Drop in anytime to meet our faculty and consider your possibilities!" Finally, an opportunity to talk to real people with helpful information, people that would point me in the right direction!

I sent a quick email saying I would like to drop by, should I make an appointment, and how much I was looking forward to meeting them.

Got a reply: "We apoligize. That option is only available for prospective graduate students. We have changed our webpage accordingly."

And that's when spite took over for a little while.

Because if you are going to inform me that I am not educated and/or intelligent enough for you to meet with me ... perhaps you could spell "apolOgize" correctly.

because you asked

... inquiring minds want to know ...

But I get to tell the story, which means you get the long version. Perhaps in installments. I'm on vacation this week, so it's important that I have a real reason to procrastinate on various projects.

October, last year. "Where do you want to be in 5 years, 10 years?" was the conversation of the hour.

"Hmmmm," I thought to myself, looking around and mentally dusting off my hands. "This project appears to be about wrapped up ... time to go back to school."

"WHAT?" shrieked my shadow. "Are you CRAZY??? Do you even REMEMBER these many months of buying-a-building-and-renovating-it-while-still-doing-your-regular-full-time-job INSANITY???"

"Other people do it," I answered. "There's no reason I can't. I am reasonably intelligent. I always said I would, and I'll regret it if I don't. No time like the near-future present."

My shadow grunted unhappily and retreated. There's no arguing with me when I'm in a mood like that.

Went home, and said to Spike - "Hey ... here's what I'm thinking ... do you think we can do this?"

"Yep," he said. "Totally. Do it."

The next morning, on the way to Montreal, talked it out with the other Big Boss (that's what we call ourselves - "the Big Bosses" - I'm kidding - we don't) and he laughed. He knows me.

"Great," he said.

Of course, on the way home from Montreal, we hit a freak storm that closed highways and tried to END our tiny little lives, so that was almost the end of that.

But it wasn't.

... to be continued ...

ready to tell

I think I'm ready.

I've been holding it in for a long time. I know you'll be shocked I've kept a secret from you, my bloggy buddies, but ... well, I just wasn't ready to share it. Don't be offended, OK? It wasn't personal.

I alluded to it briefly back in the spring, in a vague "pursuing secret goals" reference.

I decided last October, actually.

We had just finished renovating our new church building and moving in, and we were all exhausted. But I'm more of a create-and-reach-a-goal kind of person, and less of a maintain-what-has-been-done kind of person.

(Which explains why it's harder to want to run now, than it used to be. It's not new anymore. The only goals left to set are longer and/or faster, and I don't have time for that.)

So I talked to Spike and he wholeheartedly told me to go for it, and reminded me he's been telling me to go for it for quite awhile. Which is true.

But then I tried to start the process, and it was a frustrating process. So I called on an old friend that is now in a high place, and humbly asked for advice and help. And he took pity on me and gave me some pointers. Which made me excited all over again.

But it was STILL frustrating. So I stopped trying for a short time, out of spite. Then realized that was a stupid reason. (Can you hear the end-of-life conversation? "Why didn't you go for your dreams, Patti?" "Out of spite against a faceless institution. Guess I showed THEM!")

So I tried again, and this time it went a little better.

And then it got frustrating again. But I pushed on. And ranted sometimes. And waited for systems to work through their deadlines and their complicated scheduling and forms.

And then ... when I was "this close" ... the whole thing slammed down with seemingly no options. I was flabbergasted! That's when another friend came along, gently scolded me for not asking her for help earlier, agreed that the whole thing was incredibly annoying, and assured me that this was not the end.

And she was right.

And now I have not only an online confirmation, but also an actual piece of paper and an ID card.

So I'm ready to tell.



I'm going back to school!

you know it's hot when...

Imagine a dog that is just completely overheated and done in.

You know how that dog looks, right?

Sprawled on the floor. Legs out. Everything as low as it can go, including chin and tail.

And then imagine that dog on a raised platform of some kind - so now his body is flat out on the top of the plank, and his legs are hanging down on either side of the plank.

Are you there?

Can you picture that?

OK. Now forget that it's a dog.

I just looked out my window, and saw a squirrel doing that exact thing on top of our wooden gate.

Every piece of him, from chin to tail, flopped onto the top piece of wood, legs dangling down either side.

Baby, it's HOT outside!

remember the blackout?

Six years ago. I know - I was startled too.

I was the last one to leave work that day. Finishing up a few things, waiting for Spike to pick me up. When the lights went out and the fire alarm started its annoyingly repetitious *DING!!* (just in case no one had noticed there was a problem) I shrugged my shoulders and locked the place up. We were in a building with lots of daylight, less-than-reliable power much of the time, and I wasn't the owner. Not my problem. A guilt-free way to suddenly declare this workday as over.

I met Spike down in the parking lot - "Perfect timing," I said. "Power's out here."

"It's out in a few places," he said.

"Maybe a car hit a transformer or something," I said - as if I know things. "Hey look, all these traffic lights are out too. Turn the radio on."

Static.

"Weird - try another station."

Static.

" ... "

We looked at each other.

Suddenly one station's back-up generator kicked in, and news that the power was out ... everywhere ... was broadcast.

My first thought was a terrorist attack. And I thought - "Wow, it never occurred to me that I wouldn't KNOW."

We got home pretty quickly, and sat in the driveway listening to stories of commuters walking ... of local heroes directing traffic ... of speculation regarding the cause, the impact, the response.

Radio as the only form of mass communication - I felt like I was in my grandparents' era. Automatically reaching for lightswitches, cordless phones, all the things you are supposed to check and turn "off" before going to bed ... no need ... just ... go to bed. Weird.

Silence usually reserved for the country. Darkness that allows you to see the stars. Conversations with neighbours when none of us have to go anywhere. A break from ... everything.

And once we were in bed, with windows wide open, hearing my neighbour from her bedroom across the street call quietly through the darkness to the elderly neighbour next door to me - "Good night Leo!"

And oddly enough ... all was well.

Six years ago.

They've now said it will never happen again.

I hope they're wrong.

heaven on a Thursday night

Rich, dark coffee.

Rich, dark chocolate.

With burnt almonds.

This is my dinner tonight.

Outside.

On my deck.

Enjoying a cool breeze, and my neighbour's brief back-yard acoustic guitar interlude.

Reading a newspaper.

And then the book I'm halfway through.

Knowing I have, really, the most wonderful friends in the whole wide world.

And a most amazing husband who will be home soon.

Aaahhhhh.

storm sleep

Did you SEE that storm last night???

It was TREMENDOUS!!!!

Spike and I were driving home at the end of a looooong and busy day -

(oh! i forgot to tell you, Spike brought me flowers on Friday! i just love that boy. pause for me to smile, and all of you to gag.)

- anyway, we were driving home and the lightning show in the sky was worth stopping for. So we did. Then decided we could find a better vantage point. Drove to the lake where suddenly the air changed from hot and sticky to cool and windy ... stuck my feet out the window ... and watched the show rolling across the sky, as we exchanged comments with other kindred storm-watchers doing the same thing.

When finally the rains came, we dashed home, and right out onto our big, covered, front porch. Stayed out there, reveling in the ear-pounding thunder, the blinding lightning and the spray from the driving rain hitting our arms and faces.

(Spike ran in once to check the basement - cheers all around - it is dry!)

Finally went back inside ... crawled happily into bed ... and slept for a solid ten hours.

testing, testing

Saturday, Spike and his also-roofer friend re-roofed part of our house. The addition to the original house. The "new" part. Which, it appears, is possibly 80 years old, judging by the material under the shingles, which was NOT plywood. The part which seems to be less than watertight, although one can never fully tell.

They iced-and-watered every conceivable edge, including all the way around the skylights.

They bought a tub of stuff that looked like Vaseline and slathered it liberally over every crevice.

They emptied entire tubes of caulking into tiny holes that might lead somewhere.

I returned home at the end of someone else's moving day, and they were just finishing up. Trying to be encouraging, I commented, "Wow, that looks good."

They turned to me and replied, "It looks exactly the same as it did before. But hopefully this time it won't leak."

And today - judging by the sky - the rains will come.

Testing, testing.