Scarey Pumpkin Night

The little ghosts and goblins are home loading up on sugar by now and the only riff-raff out there now are the idiots who do not know or do not care that fireworks are illegal in our city. We had to shut off the lights early tonight as we actually ran out of goodies, for the first time ever. We had a box of 100 treats and there is not a single one left. If you take away the ones that I pilfered, that still makes a new record for numbers of kids trick or treating on our street. Some observations.

The spookies out numbered the cuties by about 2 to 1. The older the kid, the more blood and gore and knives that were evident. The wee ones were mostly princesses and spider men. I caught one little girl coming around for seconds but hey, how can you turn away a chubby cheeked cherub in a skunk outfit. Her parents at the end of the driveway needed a good talking to, however.

The surprise of the night was a buxom teen aged girl dressed in a slinky/sleazy outfit with a little too much cleavage showing (not that there is anything wrong with that). She had the appearance and the attitude that made me think she would be willing to turn a trick for a treat!

Halloween! Don't cha' love it.

Foraging

I think these are Highland cattle but I am not sure. I like the look of them. They are stocky and compact, giving the impression that they could weather the storms of cow life, except perhaps for that final journey to the slaughter house. Watching cattle grazing in the fields has a way of calming a person. Is it the fact that they lead a simple life and seem to have no cares? Their needs are basic and uncomplicated and when met, they are happy and content. It matters not the length of ones life, but the quality of the time given us. We seem to waste so much time pursuing those things that we believe will make us happy, only to find that they often do not. High expectations and lofty goals are laudable, but can also lead to big disappointment when not reached. If we cannot be like the beasts of the field, then we can at least take the time to watch them to calm down our frenetic lives.

An Afternoon Stroll

Looking West

Looking East

Me and she who works too much had a rare day off together yesterday. We took advantage of the fair fall weather and strolled the promenade at White Rock Beach. As you can see, we were not the only ones. It was a rare day, without wind blowing off the water, and we decided to lunch at an outdoor restaurant. It was so wonderfully warm that we soon shed our jackets and basked in the sunshine. The afternoon jaunt to Crescent Beach was like going to another planet, although it is only a few miles down the road. The more westerly facing beach had a blustery cold wind discouraging us from taking our hands out of our pockets or turning down our collars. Our weather is in transition now and winter is knocking at the door, although uninvited.

Angry

This is a sand sculpture from the summer's competition at Harrison Lake. It reminds me of possibly how the voters felt tonight in the provincial by-elections that were held in Vancouver. The reigning party rarely does well in by-elections but this is an indication that it will not be a cake walk for the Liberals in the May elections. The standings in the provincial legislature now stand at 45 Liberals and 34 NDP. Let the games begin, but first we have these pesky municipal elections to get behind us. Are we all getting a little election weary yet?

Outside My Front Door

There is beauty all around us and I must admit that many of my photographs are taken on our small city lot. My beloved is an avid gardener and it shows. The Angel Trumpet below is in its second bloom, a little paler in yellow, and little less fragrant, but a welcoming sight right outside our front door. The Virginia Creeper is disguising our somewhat ugly fire place brick, but today it is bare and the soil beneath it carpeted in blood red.

The plaque is a reminder not only appropriate for gardening, but for life in general. I just caught up on the financial news after being out all day and I see that the markets have spiked yet again. This time in the right direction, however, tomorrow may bring another story. This month alone the world equity market lost $10 trillion! A quote from a financial report:

"Lurking behind this rally is this unsurprising tidbit: consumer confidence in the United States hit an all-time low in October. The Conference Board reported that expectations have turned “significantly pessimistic with the percentage of consumers expecting business condition to worsen over the next 6 months rising to 36.6% from 21% and those expecting fewer jobs rising to 41.5% from 26.9%”

The confidence index is all important because it predicts human behaviour. If I may have been sounding pessimistic in my posts on this subject, it is for a reason. All the wishful thinking and as much as we would like to believe that this whole thing will just go away, it will not. I truly hope I am wrong but perhaps we are a very long way away from the bottom yet. I would like nothing better that to be proved wrong.

Autumn Signs

How is one supposed to pay attention to all the signs when the brilliant trees are so distracting?

I took these photos a week ago and today as I drove past this spot, I noticed the trees are bare. How quickly beauty fades!

Cell Phones

There is a proposal being put forth to ban cell phone, blackberry, and text messaging use while driving, in Ontario. I am not usually one for more rules and regulation but when stupidity and carelessness prevail, new laws are sometimes necessary. I have stopped using my cell phone while in my vehicle because of the disconnect it creates between me and what is going around around me. My awareness levels are cut in half and although auto pilot works well most of the time, it is not a good idea to use it most of the time. A driver should never depend on the other guy's vigilance as it takes both drivers to avoid nasty situations. This is one law that should be applied across the country. If you disagree, get yourself a bluetooth hands free device. Looking geeky is better than being a hazard on the roads.

Another Poll

As the beautiful Autumn weather continues unabated, so does the world financial crisis. One is very pretty, the other very ugly.

I caught an on-line poll today that asked if we thought it was OK for governments to run deficits during the financial crisis. The numbers were revealing. Only 49% of 31,000 respondents thought it was harmful. That says to me that 51% of the Canadian population still do not understand how we got here in the first place. So tell me about your household. When things are getting lean, do you go borrow money and spend your way back to prosperity? Or do you tighten you belt, postpone unnecessary expenditures, and try to save in case it gets even worse? It works exactly the same way for individuals, businesses and governments. Debt always eventually has to be paid. How much easier to not incur it in the first place.

A Time For Reflection

Autumn is a time for reflection and how appropriate that within this time of reflection, we are forced to look back not only at the last year, but on our lives in general as some of us are headed for difficult times. Investors in the USA alone have lost an estimated $5 Trillion and a large part of that number involves retirement investments. But are not all investments really a hope for a better future? We should be trying to understand what 'better future' really means. We have bought into the idea that more is better and that financial security will bring peace, harmony and happiness. I think that most of us will be surprised to discover that we could have been barking up the wrong tree, the 'hollow tree'. (See previous post) Many of us will be forced to re-evaluate our priorities and may be pleasantly surprised to discover that we can actually be happier with less material wealth as we discover riches in simplicity and in relationships. It has always struck me as a marvel of human nature that those who are exposed to a broad range of human experience have witnessed the fact that those who have very little are actually very happy. We (fellow baby boomers) have been reluctant to try this out, to discover its truth, but now we may have no choice.

"Don't worry, be happy." Bobby McFerrin

A Form of Insanity

A certainty of nature is that all living things die and decay but some people just cannot get over that fact. Here is a story in the news today.

"The Stanley Park Hollow Tree Conservation Society says it has a plan to keep the famous tree upright.The ancient red cedar has been leaning precariously after it was severely damaged in the 2006 windstorms. The plan would use hydraulic jacks and steel anchors to right the tree. The group says it will cost 215-thousand dollars but have collected all but 60-thousand and are asking the park board to help."

If we take this story to its natural conclusion, there will be a day when there will be a steel structure similar to a tent that will be holding up the tree after the roots and trunk are completely rotted. What will be suspended will be shreds of bark and strands of rotted wood fibre. People will walk past and ask, "What in the world is that?" The answer, of course, will be in the signage. "Stanley Park Hollow Tree"

You would think that with the coming economic difficulties, there would a better prioritization of public funds, or even private donations for that matter. There is definitely a form of insanity happening here.

Whatever You Call It

Global recession, meltdown, credit crunch, contraction, or economic crisis, it all means that sooner or later, every person will be some how impacted. So far, at least here in Canada, most of us have only been noticing a decrease in the value of our investments, if they are market related. We have also noticed that the value of our homes has decreased. But few of us, at least in the west, have been impacted in terms of employment or job loss.

We had our first little taste as a contract job has been put on hold due to financial pressure on the part of the client. There will be more of this, I am sure. The attitude of fear and uncertainty is very catchy, somewhat like the flu. While we cannot and should not bury our heads in the sand, it does nobody any good for the economy to grind to a total halt when there is no need for it. Those without debt and a reliable income should keep on spending. Too bad there are so few of those kinds of folks around.

The Last Hay Crop

I noticed, yesterday, that there were a few farmers taking in the last crop of hay. Naturally, this is called 'making hay while the sun shines'.

There is another type of making hay in the US Presidential race. A headline caught my eye that alluded to the idea that McCain could die while in office. His chance of doing so is 6%. This calculation is based on his age and the fact that he had skin cancer 7 years ago. He has been tested thoroughly and has in fact submitted 1000 pages of medical records and is deemed healthy by the best doctors. Joe Biden, on the other hand, had an aneurysm a while back and required emergency surgery. He has not been following up with the recommended brain scans so his health is questionable, but not by the press. This whole exercise is, of course, to scare the American public into thinking that the the flaky Sarah Palin could likely be president and rule the free world. (Flaky according the Obama crowd) Now, I do not really care one way or the other as I cannot even vote in this one, but like in the Canadian election, fear is being used to manipulate people. It is done because it works.

I Have a Beef

Don't get me wrong. I am not a fan of Dick Pound and I am not defending him or anything he does, but I have an issue with what is happening to him. You regular readers know that I have a real issue with political correctness and here is another example. Mr. Pound stated that 400 years ago Canada was populated by savages. For the full story check here.http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20081022%2fdick_pound_081022

I find it interesting that he is being castigated without any question as to the definition or the context of the word 'savage'. It seems that when an aboriginal is offended, he is offended. Period. Why not let this incident open a dialogue. Was 'savage' an appropriate term given the circumstances, what are the French nuances of the term, (he spoke the French term which has a different connotation than the English) and was any offense meant, or was it not? Calls for his resignation are way over the top.

Mt. Baker

These wonderful Autumn days bring me such joy. It has always been my favourite time of year and 2008 holds no disappointment for me in terms of sunny days and rustic colour. My view all day was an exotic maple tree that was tinged with brilliant red, golds, oranges, and pale greens all on the same branches. It seemed to be warming to the oranges as I watched. In the background were the layered mountains, starting with Vedder and ending in Baker, each distant layer more obscured by Autumn haze. I did not have my camera with me so I posted the above photo which is similar only in that Mt. Baker is visible in the background. My plan for tomorrow is to go panning for gold. As in panning the camera and looking for golden leaves.

Slow Down

There was a time when I would walk past a park bench and not give a glance or second thought to its significance. But I have slowed down and now take in a great appreciation for these rest stops. Park benches are usually strategically placed, like at the half way mark, or in a place to take advantage of a great view. Park benches are often donated and then dedicated to deceased love ones so should not be casually ignored. Park benches are for sitting on and I do so more these days. And, I have discovered that park benches are very photogenic, whether occupied or not. I have been working on a collection of park bench photos, but only since I have slowed down to appreciate them. What else will I discover when I take even more time to stop and look, perhaps while sitting on a bench in the park?

Lakefront

There is no escaping the beauty of the lake shore walk at Cultus Lake, no matter the season. Surrounded by gold, walking on gold, and warmed by the golden sun makes a bright autumn day an occasion to be exuberant about life. Having been at this spot many times at the height of the swimming and boating season, the peacefulness of a day like this is a stark contrast. The water is calm, there is an absence of shouting and laughter, and the boats are almost all put in storage for the winter months that lie ahead. There seems to be a sadness in the air and maybe it is the lack of human participation and activity that is missed, although in summer, one often wishes it would go away. It could be too, that the dying leaves are indicative of a dying summer and an ushering in of the leaden days of winter. One does not relish the thought of spending time beside the water in the cold winds of winter, but rather, seeking the warmth of the hearth, while looking through a window at the water's icy edge, is winter's appeal.

Reflecting Geese

This photo is an example of how to double the colour in the Autumn by getting it to reflect on something. The Canada geese took instructions well as they lined themselves up on the log according to my specifications. It is called man and nature co-operating.

We spent a good portion of the afternoon one day this week, in a line up, waiting to get our passports renewed. It occurred to me that anything involving government requires that one lines up. Were private business to operate in this fashion, it would go bankrupt as customer service is one of the pillars of good business and we, the customer, would simply take our business to the competition. But, governments run monopolies, hence, no competition, hence, no service, hence, lineups, hence customer dissatisfaction, hence elections etc., etc. Things just go in mad circles as we wait in line. Don't get me started on Health Care lineups.

Autumn Path

I am running to and fro, too busy to do the thing I want to do. I see the leaves turning, more brilliant and deep with each passing day, and I know that soon they will be loosed from the branches to an ending of decay on the wet soil beneath. This happens every Autumn and rarely do I take the time to do the thing I want to do. The branches will soon be bare, the skies grey, the days too short and nothing but drab to describe my surroundings. And yet, there is still time to do the thing I want to do. When the foliage is piled deep and crisp on the trails, the dry cool air swirling it into drifts, I will think that I should have taken the time to do the thing I wanted to do. The window of opportunity is small and comes but once a year. I must take the time. I must make it a priority. I will not live with regret, waiting once more for next year.

Flaming Sumac and Burning Questions

The house was tucked away in the hills behind the Mission Golf Course, at the end of a long gated driveway. It was very peaceful and quiet, a contradiction to the twelve pairs of shoes lined up at the front door. By the voice on the phone, I knew I was dealing with an Oriental gentleman and they always remove their shoes at the door. I did likewise. A very pleasant young man greeted me and showed me to the area of the house where I would be performing my services. It was evident, almost at first glance, that I was in a situation, that in my 34 years of work, I had never been in before. I have seen and experienced many different things over the years and am rarely taken by surprise, but now I was. The decor, the accoutrements, and the garb of the young men in the house gave it away. I was in a monastery! But what really baffled me was the decor in the master bedroom, something for which I was partly responsible. In an all male environment, why was there pink flowery wallpaper, flowered garland borders, and a half dozen frilly, lacy, negligee like lamps in the bedroom, surrounding a huge four poster bed? A guest room perhaps? But who were the guests? I may never know, but being the curious person I am, I want to know.

One More Post

Happy Birthday to the one who lights up my life and keeps my tank filled. Where would I be without you? Too terrible to contemplate. Thirty eight years ago we promised to grow old together. Today we are doing it. Why does it not feel like old? I gladly put the blame on you. I blame you for everything else. :-)