Someone asked me a couple of days ago my opinion on how to know when someone is really a friend or just playing games. They had recently had the heartbreaking experience of feeling betrayed by someone of the opposite sex who they trusted was their 'best friend'. We all go through this at one time or another. How do you know, when you trust someone, that they aren't just in it for themselves. I've had about a million conversations with women (only a tiny bit of hyperbole here!) about whether women and men can be just friends. In my experience and in observation of other people's experience, there is a very narrow window here. The answer tends to be for the most part, no. Now I'm sure that there are those of you who will jump up and down and say "no, I have male/female friends and it's great!". I don't doubt it. I would have jumped up and down and said the same thing at one time. But here's the thing that I and many people I know have experienced. The friendship between men and women is (often unbeknownst to one or the other party) very lop-sided. In other words, someone has a crush and is playing the role of 'friend' in the hopes that it will become something more. I've had many 'male friends' who seemed like really awesome people willing to do anything and everything to help out, be a pal, be supportive. When I was about 19 or 20, I knew a guy who worked in a shop across the mall from where I worked. He was just the nicest, most supportive person. I was going through a rough time with my roommate, I had no money and 'John' was really understanding, liked to buy lunch, hang out and just listen. We'd go out to eat and he would commiserate endlessly with my situation. We hung out, rented movies and in my mind there was not even a glimmer of sexual interest. Unbeknownst to me, that was not the case on John's part. In his mind, it turned out, he had us "together". He was biding his time. Things took a turn for the extremely weird when I met someone and began a relationship. I didn't spend less time with John. I didn't talk to him less or think any differently of him. But he began acting in the most bizarre manner whenever the new boyfriend was around or mentioned. He began to act almost hostile towards me. There was one strange afternoon when the boyfriend was over. We were having a beer and John showed up unannounced. He took one look at the boyfriend and this odd look came over his face, as though he were trying to act the part of Pacino in The Godfather or something. He then sat on the edge of the coffee table like a perched vulture. I gave him a beer, tried to have a conversation. Not much was said. Then to my astonishment, he literally threw back the beer in one long gulp, crushed the can in one fist, kind of slammed it down, got up and in a Clint Eastwood voice muttered, "I gotta go" and slouched out. The looks on our faces must have been comical to say the least. What can I say? I was a kid and didn't put two and two together. The boyfriend certainly did. I think he felt a little sorry for John and that just made things weirder. Long story short, after a particularly rude display on my 'friend's' part, I had to make a choice. John was not it. It happened several times over the years. You meet a nice dude who seems to just want to hang out and pal around and you make the mistake of being nice...ie: You hug bye as you would a female friend, you tell them personal stuff, you share problems as you would with a female friend. Things in life are never simple, though. The relationship starts with an over-enthusiastic helpfulness and a willingness to do just about anything. The second that it becomes clear that the only relationship that is happening is in one person's head, things go south. Male acquaintances tell me the same story in reverse. It's hard to be nice to someone when both parties are 'single' because that underlying thing is always there. I even had a deep friendship with a VERY gay male friend many years ago. We were both single and spent every waking moment hanging out together. He once said to me, when I went to his place for supper, "You know, we'd be together if I wasn't gay". I didn't know if I agreed or not and still don't...I didn't find him an attractive man but he was sweet and I still treasure the friendship I had with him. We eventually drifted apart when he got into a relationship and moved away. The point is, even then there was an underlying "what if...". In the case of many male/female 'friendships', once it became clear that I was not interested in anything more than friendship, the hostility begins. It is taken as an affront or blow to the ego that feelings beyond friendship are not returned. I've had experiences where the person who feels they've been jilted or turned down (even though their agenda was underhand) becomes quite nasty. There is a sense that the person wants to punish or 'get revenge' for this imagined dumping. I think women can be even worse for this than men. I've had female friends who played the role of 'friend' to a guy in the hopes that it would turn into something more. In the worse case scenario, in their own heads it IS something more. When the truth is revealed (usually when Mr. Friend introduces a new girlfriend), let me tell you, hell hath no fury like that of a woman who imagines she's been scorned. I've known women who almost turned into stalkers. I've watched friends pining away for someone who never showed the slightest interest from what I could see other than as pals.
Let me tell you something I've learned over the years. Men and women can be friends...usually if one or the other is gay. I'm sure that there are exceptions...I haven't seen too many, but there is always an exception to the rule. The friendship only tends to work if there is a group involved or if it is kept VERY casual. Maybe it's the way we are hardwired. You can be acquaintances with the opposite sex when you are in a relationship but don't try to spend too much time with that person. Someone's gonna get a hurt real bad, one way or the other. You can be friends as a couple with another couple, but if your partner wants to hang out with the other partner of the opposite sex, problems are bound to follow. It's how we are. And we live in a society where people are free to socialize with the opposite sex. In many societies, you just don't.
Then there are the people who serially latch on. In other words, they glom onto anyone of the opposite sex who shows them friendship then explode the second that their bubble is popped. Then they serially hate that person, at least behind their backs...to their faces there is still a forced friendliness. Oddly, they never seem to just go out and find an actual relationship. It is almost as though it is easier for them to sit back and fantasize about someone that they likely know deep down has no feelings for them whatsoever, and then be enraged about women/men in general. Then they can say "See...Men are assholes" or "See...Women are nothing but bitches".
To delude one's self into thinking that there is more to a friendship or someone's friendliness toward you is a fool's errand. And it doesn't really work to "be up front" and tell the person "All I am interested in is friendship". For some odd reason, often people hear that as "I just have to try harder". It is true that the best relationships start out as friendships but friendships do not automatically mean relationship shortly to follow.
You also must not fall into the trap of being friends with a person because you feel sorry for them. I have made some huge, stupid mistakes with that as well and it caused nothing but pain for the other person, which to this day I am regretful of.
Here's a pretty fool proof list of rules. It is not comprehensive but it is a guideline that can help you to navigate people's feelings and can help you avoid causing great pain to someone else or to yourself. It can also save you a bundle in comfort chocolate:
* Don't get too cozy with the opposite sex if you are in a relationship already. Trouble!
* There is no such thing as "friends with benefits". Someone is going to feel more than the other. That's just the way it is.
* If you are in a relationship and as a couple have friends in couples, keep it that way. You start meeting Bob's wife for coffee and there's gonna be trouble.
* If you are in a relationship and find that you are attracted to a friend, end the relationship or end the friendship. Or there's gonna be trouble. You really cannot have both.
* If you are attracted to someone in a relationship, for your own sake walk away. Don't pretend to just be their friend. You and I both know you are just waiting for your chance. There is nothing but trouble there.
* If you want to try the whole male/female friend thing, it is probably best to keep a certain distance, especially physically. What is a friendly hug for you is likely something entirely different to the other person and could be trouble down the road.
* If you are pretending to be a woman's/man's friend when what you really want is something more, don't.
* If you are more into them than you are pretending, tell them and get it over with.
* If they tell you that they are not into you that way believe them.
* If they are into you, they will tell you. If they are not, walk away. You are doing no one any favours by hanging around looking like a mournful hush-puppy.
* If you hang around and act like an angry, jilted lover, get over yourself.. You are not and you are making yourself look the fool.
* If someone gets into a relationship while they are 'friends' with you, they were never into you. They are into the person they are with. Let it go. Stalking is very unbecoming.
* If you do something inappropriate or act in an inappropriate way with a 'friend' (ie: and this is in no way a complete list )- too much touchy/feely after you've had a few; implying to your friends that there is more to said friendship than there is; acting rudely to their other friends; being possessive when they are with another person of the opposite sex; making assumptions about how close your 'friendship' is...be prepared for that person's anger.
* If you are acting like a guy friend to get closer to a guy you like (ie: dressing like one of the guys, talking like one of the guys, watching sports that you hate, etc) a) his other guy friends likely think you're an idiot and know what you're up to b) his new girlfriend will see right through you
The bottom line is this: Men and women are built very differently and not just in the plumbing department, which is why there are a million Mars-Venus types of books. If we are not gay, we are designed to go after the opposite sex, especially if the opposite sex seems kind and we are lonely or hunting. Women, I think, are better at thinking they can 'just be friends' and share intimate things with a male 'friend' because that's what they do with other women. They can be a little careless about the effect that can have on a guy they want to be just friends with.
Men don't, as a rule, share intimate things with their male friends. So when a woman shares something intimate, it is viewed as intimate. It is viewed as an invite or message that more intimacy is desired, even when it is absolutely not. So ladies, if you want to have someone to share your innermost feelings and personal information with, keep it to the same sex or a sibling. Men, whether they admit it or not, have delicate egos and can lash out in strange and sometimes unpleasant ways when that ego has been bruised. Male friends should not be viewed as asexual replacements for a female friend.
Politically, economically, educationally and judicially men and women are entitled to be viewed as absolutely equal in every way. When it comes to our mental and emotional make up, heterosexually speaking, we are not the same. We think differently. We view the world differently. Our chemistry is different. Our evolutionary urges and desires are different. In may ways, on an emotional level, we are a different species. And that is not a bad thing. It doesn't make one or the other greater or lesser. It just means that we have to be realistic in how we behave toward one another and maybe a little more observant. We can say the same thing to a man and a woman and they will each hear something entirely different and act on what they hear.
So. For those who are wondering if men and women can be 'just friends', in my opinion, it's maybe possible, but people are people and people are very seldom upfront, especially when it comes to emotions. Be careful. Use discretion and some common sense. If you suspect that they might feel more than you do, it's probably true. If you have gone in for a few too many friendly hugs and they cringe away, stop it. They are sending a clear message. If you want more than friendship but are pretending to be just friends, you are acting in a dishonest and underhanded way, especially if the other person has come to trust you as just a good friend. You are betraying them in the worst possible way. There is nothing okay about that.
What's on the menu: Mushroom soup
Listening to: Dawson singing "Moves Like Jagger"
Reading: 'Torment' by Lauren Kate
To Do: Web Junk
Viewing: Great Lectures: The Italian Renaissance
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Feeling Hot Hot Hot...
Yes, it's hot. It is hot in an unholy kind of way. But the complaining I'm hearing from people is a little inconsistent. And if you look around you, the entire continent is suffering in a brutal way. The thing is, this is only the beginning. We were warned. We were given more than a decade...closer to two...warning that we were headed for a furnace of our own making. There is a reason that historic temperatures are not just broken but shattered almost daily now. A reason that people are dying. We...that is, all of us, had a hand in this snarled up mess. I know, there are those who will continue ambling along in their fantasy world claiming that "this is summer!" It is supposed to be hot. It is not, however supposed to be this. More than half of the US is in the throws of a brutal drought. Huge fires are raging unchecked, aided and abetted by the heat. And yet here we are. An advisory was posted that Alberta is under rolling blackouts now. This happens because everybody turns up the air conditioner and fans and the electricity grid goes wack. What do you think makes all of those electrical units turn on though? That's right, kids. Fossil fuel. It's a vicious closed loop and we all think that we are entitled. Yeah, right. Whatever you say, pal.
Other things baffle me too.
So on Sunday, it's feeling we're living on the surface of the Sun. It is a boiling disk in the sky, hammering down relentlessly with a force that is inescapable. Driving through Alberta Beach on the way home from the market (where if you say the words 'organic' or 'healthy' the people look at you as though you have a lobster lodged between your eyes...'holistic' just gets you a blank stare), it was busier than I have seen it since we moved here. And there are wall to wall people laid out on the 'beach' (read mudflats) like sardines in a can, cooking themselves in the godforsaken heat. As though the idea of melanoma were as foreign to them as the idea of women's rights in Afghanistan. Literally thousands of them. Lying there baking when moving through the air is like moving through molten lead.
That's their right though. I consider them excellent candidates for the Darwin Awards. For what it's worth though, you may want to consider these tips to combat the heat. They are working for me. More or less...
*If you absolutely MUST use an air conditioner keep it on the lowest setting. Everybody knows it's hoooooot. But cranking that sucker up to the Antarctic setting is only going to make it worse when you go outside. It will literally make you sick.
*Close your drapes, blinds, whatever...during the day. What I do is track the sun...I can because I'm working here now. If you are away during the day, make it as dark as the inside of a boot. In the evenings after the sun goes down, all windows are wide open. I have two fans. One is a ceiling fan, the other your run-of-the-mill floor fan. The ceiling fan is in the bedroom and I leave it going to keep the air moving. The other one goes into an open window to bring in cooler air in the evening and into the night. In the morning the windows that the sun is touching are draped. You can use tinfoil too. It doesn't look pretty but neither does heatstroke.
*Drink water. Lots of it. If you are sweating a lot, drink Powerade or Gatorade. Do not drink colas, iced coffee, etc as they are diuretics...they make you pee which in turn...I know you know this one...dehydrates you. Dehydration in this heat is very bad.
*Drink room temperature water...it absorbs better,
*Keep a few frozen facecloths in the freezer (wet them, put them in a freezer bag and place in freezer). For a quick cool-down, place on the back of the neck or wrists.
*Keep your pets inside. Don't take them in the car. If you do, you are just being a cruel jackass. However much they beg.
*Keep your kids in during the hottest time of day and for crissakes don't leave them in the car. Go to someplace that is air conditioned. Let them play outside in the evening. Make sure they are drinking water, not pop.
*Don't run water just to play in. If kids want to play in the water, fill a small wading pool. Wasting water is not an option.
*Water your garden late in the evening. DO NOT water the grass. At all. Screw the grass.
*If you can, sleep through the hottest part of the day. There is a reason that people rest in the afternoon in Mexico and other hot places.
*Eat spicy food. It cools you down from the inside.
*Use the damn sunscreen.
*Stripping down to near nudity (shudder) is not the answer. White, light and flowing is the answer. You are doing yourself no favours by exposing every inch of yourself to the mallet that the Sun is wielding. You are doing everyone else no favours by showing off your questionable yet ample endowments.
*Wear the damn hat. No one cares what your hair looks like.
*Check on each other. If you know someone who is living in an oven like walk-up, check on them for godsakes. If they are elderly, offer to take them to the Timmies to cool off or something.
*Drink water, not booze. Booze dehydrates you and remember about dehydration being bad?...I know you do...
Believe me, if you do these things you will still feel hot, but you will acclimate. You pretty much have to. It is adaptation time. That's what evolution is all about. And remember, if everyone turns up every cooling device in creation, you will blow the grid and then no one will be feeling very cool.
Take it easy, eat some frozen fruit and hope for a few storms in the evening to cool things down. And if you are looking around wondering who's in charge of the temperature knob, look in the mirror. You were. We all were. Now it's broke.
What's on the menu: Smoothies
Listening to: Snarky punk stuff
Reading: "Your Brain on Nature" by Eva M. Selhub & Alan C. Logan
What's the Plan: Website stuff
Watching: 'Primeval'
Other things baffle me too.
So on Sunday, it's feeling we're living on the surface of the Sun. It is a boiling disk in the sky, hammering down relentlessly with a force that is inescapable. Driving through Alberta Beach on the way home from the market (where if you say the words 'organic' or 'healthy' the people look at you as though you have a lobster lodged between your eyes...'holistic' just gets you a blank stare), it was busier than I have seen it since we moved here. And there are wall to wall people laid out on the 'beach' (read mudflats) like sardines in a can, cooking themselves in the godforsaken heat. As though the idea of melanoma were as foreign to them as the idea of women's rights in Afghanistan. Literally thousands of them. Lying there baking when moving through the air is like moving through molten lead.
That's their right though. I consider them excellent candidates for the Darwin Awards. For what it's worth though, you may want to consider these tips to combat the heat. They are working for me. More or less...
*If you absolutely MUST use an air conditioner keep it on the lowest setting. Everybody knows it's hoooooot. But cranking that sucker up to the Antarctic setting is only going to make it worse when you go outside. It will literally make you sick.
*Close your drapes, blinds, whatever...during the day. What I do is track the sun...I can because I'm working here now. If you are away during the day, make it as dark as the inside of a boot. In the evenings after the sun goes down, all windows are wide open. I have two fans. One is a ceiling fan, the other your run-of-the-mill floor fan. The ceiling fan is in the bedroom and I leave it going to keep the air moving. The other one goes into an open window to bring in cooler air in the evening and into the night. In the morning the windows that the sun is touching are draped. You can use tinfoil too. It doesn't look pretty but neither does heatstroke.
*Drink water. Lots of it. If you are sweating a lot, drink Powerade or Gatorade. Do not drink colas, iced coffee, etc as they are diuretics...they make you pee which in turn...I know you know this one...dehydrates you. Dehydration in this heat is very bad.
*Drink room temperature water...it absorbs better,
*Keep a few frozen facecloths in the freezer (wet them, put them in a freezer bag and place in freezer). For a quick cool-down, place on the back of the neck or wrists.
*Keep your pets inside. Don't take them in the car. If you do, you are just being a cruel jackass. However much they beg.
*Keep your kids in during the hottest time of day and for crissakes don't leave them in the car. Go to someplace that is air conditioned. Let them play outside in the evening. Make sure they are drinking water, not pop.
*Don't run water just to play in. If kids want to play in the water, fill a small wading pool. Wasting water is not an option.
*Water your garden late in the evening. DO NOT water the grass. At all. Screw the grass.
*If you can, sleep through the hottest part of the day. There is a reason that people rest in the afternoon in Mexico and other hot places.
*Eat spicy food. It cools you down from the inside.
*Use the damn sunscreen.
*Stripping down to near nudity (shudder) is not the answer. White, light and flowing is the answer. You are doing yourself no favours by exposing every inch of yourself to the mallet that the Sun is wielding. You are doing everyone else no favours by showing off your questionable yet ample endowments.
*Wear the damn hat. No one cares what your hair looks like.
*Check on each other. If you know someone who is living in an oven like walk-up, check on them for godsakes. If they are elderly, offer to take them to the Timmies to cool off or something.
*Drink water, not booze. Booze dehydrates you and remember about dehydration being bad?...I know you do...
Believe me, if you do these things you will still feel hot, but you will acclimate. You pretty much have to. It is adaptation time. That's what evolution is all about. And remember, if everyone turns up every cooling device in creation, you will blow the grid and then no one will be feeling very cool.
Take it easy, eat some frozen fruit and hope for a few storms in the evening to cool things down. And if you are looking around wondering who's in charge of the temperature knob, look in the mirror. You were. We all were. Now it's broke.
What's on the menu: Smoothies
Listening to: Snarky punk stuff
Reading: "Your Brain on Nature" by Eva M. Selhub & Alan C. Logan
What's the Plan: Website stuff
Watching: 'Primeval'
Monday, June 25, 2012
Okay. I know. I saw the date on the last post. I do have a perfectly good explanation(s).
Chester is doing great! Most important update, of course.
I stepped back from this blog a little because a LOT has been happening and I just wanted to get life in order. I suppose now's the time to share.
It was a long time coming but I had to make some decisions about where life was going. This happened a while ago. It came about with a little (a lot) of strong 'suggesting' from Twyla. She's been on me for a few years about my career. I resisted because I've for pretty much my entire life identified myself as primarily being an artist. I am not being egotistical when I say I have some talent in that department. Most of my family does. And I've made, at various times, a lot of money through that talent (most of it went down the gullet of one rescued critter or another). But with the advent of digital art...it's relative ease to produce and it's perfection in the fantasy department, not to mention the blatant, rampant thievery of ideas and images, it became almost impossible to make a living selling prints. I was lost in a sea of mediocre deviant artists. I suppose it was inevitable. I know several artists of the same genre, who sell much more than I, in about the same boat. They are still struggling along and are able to do so because there are so many fantasy and faerie cons in the US. Not having that option here is a problem.
So anyway, Twyla had told me a few years ago that I should consider becoming a Life Coach. At the time I thought about it. Her reasoning was that it was what I did anyway and that maybe I should get paid for it. People would turn to me in grocery lines and tell me, out of the blue, the most intimate details of their health and personal lives (to Twyla's great embarrassment and chagrin) and look expectantly for guidance. I was usually a little nonplussed but did my best to do what I could.
There were other things I wanted to think about as well as far as what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. Long story short, I finished my education in Herbalism, learned to be a Life Coach and added Aromatherapist formally to my repertoire. Twyla is studying to become a registered holistic nutritionist. We sat down and thought a little bit about where we were going with all of this. As a Life Coach, I decided to specialize in Holistic Health and sustainable living. It all seemed somehow to knit together. After deciding it would be neat to put together a practice where we could work together to help people to improve their health and lifestyle, we were led to the name Hummingbird in a story in the documentary "Dirt". Ten months later and here we are.
I admit it has been a struggle in many ways. There have been betrayals and some pretty unpleasant discoveries about people that I thought were...well...different people. And it turns out, as is often the case, that I am not alone in this. But that's okay. In the long run it has made some decision-making easier. Everyone has to go through this sometimes. It usually happens when you don't do or don't turn out to be what someone else wants you to do or be. This is where it becomes easy. Because you must remain true to yourself. It can trigger anger in another person but then their true nature comes to light. Makes life easier in a lot of ways.
Some decisions are still being worked out but we've come a long way. Hummingbird is now a reality (a baby one, tis true) but building momentum. It is a work of love in progress and the people who have been supportive, interested and helpful we are forever grateful to.
I am practicing under my legal name (Paula Thibaudeau for those of you unaware of it). Yes, Autumn is an artistic Pseudonym. I used it to separate my art from my private life. I thought about changing it legally. Thibaudeau is not my 'original' name. It is my late stepfather's name. I haven't a single drop of French or Scottish blood in me. But I've had it for so long now, it doesn't seem worth the trouble and it's sort of like a pair of shoes that are worn in. We have a working website up and running and we'll be getting up the usual social media stuff...hope ya'll will sign up to be a part of. I'll let you know when that's a go. So yeah, that's where we're at. I wasn't even sure that I would continue with this blog. I have another coaching related blog and newsletter (hope you sign up for that!) on the new website but decided that this is my personal one where I can share more personal stuff and I just know you all wait with bated breath for my grouching. Without further adieu, here's some for you:
*To the "Peace Officer" at the A.B. farmer's market making everyone's life annoying: Do you really feel it is your job to become known as the "Grass Cop"? Cause that's what people are calling you. And it doesn't mean anyone thinks you are ridding the world of the skunk stench of weed. No no. You look like a nut sitting at the Farmer's Market guarding the grass. Dude, it's shite lawn and vendors have been parking on it for YEARS without hurting it. All you've done is make said vendors think you're a little slow and maybe need to re-examine what you want to be when you grow up. I'm just sayin'.
*To the jackholes that leave their dogs in the car in the heat with the window down an inch, I curse you to an eternity in a hot car. I've been there. I know what kind of Guantanamo torture it is. You deserve it.
*To the (many) males who think that when a woman is nice, kind or polite it means she is hot for him, wants him or is a bitch that is teasing him when he discovers that no, in fact she would rather roll in honey and nest in an anthill, go look in the mirror, tell yourselves that you need to get over yourselves and grow the hell up.
*Along those lines, no amount of man perfume is going to make you appealing. Try deodorant.
*To the phone solicitors who call when they are asked not to, I'm getting annoyed with you. Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. You know the Hulk? Compared to me...pussycat.
*To Commandant Harper: So...straight-armed-blade-hand salute to you next? Just wondering.
*To the ladies in the Superstore line talking in Serious Big Girl Voices about what Lindsay Lohan's real thoughts on the matter are...REALLY?!? Maybe you should start reading something relevant. Like Archie.
*To the nitwits who think it's okay to throw your (cigarette not actual) butts out the car window or onto the sidewalk: When you do that I look at you and have daydreams of throwing you to the ground and sticking your butt up your nose.
*(This is a reiteration but worthy of endless repeat) To the bastards who get behind the wheel after drinking: I hope you get caught very soon...(I'm putting the intent out there)...and that you rot in jail, have your license revoked and are finally seen for what you are. Driver with intent to murder.
*To the Oil Companies: You don't actually think that these spills are okay with the Provincial Coalition of Albertans with an Actual Brain in Their Heads...do you? Karma can be a bitch.
*To the eejits who think we can't live without oil...whether we can is not relevant. We will. Peak, baby...peak.
I don't have time for anymore right this second, but hope you've enjoyed or at least can identify with these grouches;-)
So: www.hummingbirdholistichealth.com
Check it out if you have a moment. Pass it on if you have two. Sign up for the newsletter if you have more than two. There'll be good stuff.
Please spare a thought for our brave little old chinchilla who is in the process of crossing over the rainbow bridge. Safe journey, Mr. Hobbes. We love you!
Have a safe and fun long weekend. Happy Canada Day! Maybe one day it will again be a Canada we can be proud of. Here's to hoping.
What's on the menu: Potroast
Listening to: Random radio
Reading: Whole buncha stuff
Working on: House cleaning
Last Viewed: Brave (awesome)
Chester is doing great! Most important update, of course.
I stepped back from this blog a little because a LOT has been happening and I just wanted to get life in order. I suppose now's the time to share.
It was a long time coming but I had to make some decisions about where life was going. This happened a while ago. It came about with a little (a lot) of strong 'suggesting' from Twyla. She's been on me for a few years about my career. I resisted because I've for pretty much my entire life identified myself as primarily being an artist. I am not being egotistical when I say I have some talent in that department. Most of my family does. And I've made, at various times, a lot of money through that talent (most of it went down the gullet of one rescued critter or another). But with the advent of digital art...it's relative ease to produce and it's perfection in the fantasy department, not to mention the blatant, rampant thievery of ideas and images, it became almost impossible to make a living selling prints. I was lost in a sea of mediocre deviant artists. I suppose it was inevitable. I know several artists of the same genre, who sell much more than I, in about the same boat. They are still struggling along and are able to do so because there are so many fantasy and faerie cons in the US. Not having that option here is a problem.
So anyway, Twyla had told me a few years ago that I should consider becoming a Life Coach. At the time I thought about it. Her reasoning was that it was what I did anyway and that maybe I should get paid for it. People would turn to me in grocery lines and tell me, out of the blue, the most intimate details of their health and personal lives (to Twyla's great embarrassment and chagrin) and look expectantly for guidance. I was usually a little nonplussed but did my best to do what I could.
There were other things I wanted to think about as well as far as what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. Long story short, I finished my education in Herbalism, learned to be a Life Coach and added Aromatherapist formally to my repertoire. Twyla is studying to become a registered holistic nutritionist. We sat down and thought a little bit about where we were going with all of this. As a Life Coach, I decided to specialize in Holistic Health and sustainable living. It all seemed somehow to knit together. After deciding it would be neat to put together a practice where we could work together to help people to improve their health and lifestyle, we were led to the name Hummingbird in a story in the documentary "Dirt". Ten months later and here we are.
I admit it has been a struggle in many ways. There have been betrayals and some pretty unpleasant discoveries about people that I thought were...well...different people. And it turns out, as is often the case, that I am not alone in this. But that's okay. In the long run it has made some decision-making easier. Everyone has to go through this sometimes. It usually happens when you don't do or don't turn out to be what someone else wants you to do or be. This is where it becomes easy. Because you must remain true to yourself. It can trigger anger in another person but then their true nature comes to light. Makes life easier in a lot of ways.
Some decisions are still being worked out but we've come a long way. Hummingbird is now a reality (a baby one, tis true) but building momentum. It is a work of love in progress and the people who have been supportive, interested and helpful we are forever grateful to.
I am practicing under my legal name (Paula Thibaudeau for those of you unaware of it). Yes, Autumn is an artistic Pseudonym. I used it to separate my art from my private life. I thought about changing it legally. Thibaudeau is not my 'original' name. It is my late stepfather's name. I haven't a single drop of French or Scottish blood in me. But I've had it for so long now, it doesn't seem worth the trouble and it's sort of like a pair of shoes that are worn in. We have a working website up and running and we'll be getting up the usual social media stuff...hope ya'll will sign up to be a part of. I'll let you know when that's a go. So yeah, that's where we're at. I wasn't even sure that I would continue with this blog. I have another coaching related blog and newsletter (hope you sign up for that!) on the new website but decided that this is my personal one where I can share more personal stuff and I just know you all wait with bated breath for my grouching. Without further adieu, here's some for you:
*To the "Peace Officer" at the A.B. farmer's market making everyone's life annoying: Do you really feel it is your job to become known as the "Grass Cop"? Cause that's what people are calling you. And it doesn't mean anyone thinks you are ridding the world of the skunk stench of weed. No no. You look like a nut sitting at the Farmer's Market guarding the grass. Dude, it's shite lawn and vendors have been parking on it for YEARS without hurting it. All you've done is make said vendors think you're a little slow and maybe need to re-examine what you want to be when you grow up. I'm just sayin'.
*To the jackholes that leave their dogs in the car in the heat with the window down an inch, I curse you to an eternity in a hot car. I've been there. I know what kind of Guantanamo torture it is. You deserve it.
*To the (many) males who think that when a woman is nice, kind or polite it means she is hot for him, wants him or is a bitch that is teasing him when he discovers that no, in fact she would rather roll in honey and nest in an anthill, go look in the mirror, tell yourselves that you need to get over yourselves and grow the hell up.
*Along those lines, no amount of man perfume is going to make you appealing. Try deodorant.
*To the phone solicitors who call when they are asked not to, I'm getting annoyed with you. Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. You know the Hulk? Compared to me...pussycat.
*To Commandant Harper: So...straight-armed-blade-hand salute to you next? Just wondering.
*To the ladies in the Superstore line talking in Serious Big Girl Voices about what Lindsay Lohan's real thoughts on the matter are...REALLY?!? Maybe you should start reading something relevant. Like Archie.
*To the nitwits who think it's okay to throw your (cigarette not actual) butts out the car window or onto the sidewalk: When you do that I look at you and have daydreams of throwing you to the ground and sticking your butt up your nose.
*(This is a reiteration but worthy of endless repeat) To the bastards who get behind the wheel after drinking: I hope you get caught very soon...(I'm putting the intent out there)...and that you rot in jail, have your license revoked and are finally seen for what you are. Driver with intent to murder.
*To the Oil Companies: You don't actually think that these spills are okay with the Provincial Coalition of Albertans with an Actual Brain in Their Heads...do you? Karma can be a bitch.
*To the eejits who think we can't live without oil...whether we can is not relevant. We will. Peak, baby...peak.
I don't have time for anymore right this second, but hope you've enjoyed or at least can identify with these grouches;-)
So: www.hummingbirdholistichealth.com
Check it out if you have a moment. Pass it on if you have two. Sign up for the newsletter if you have more than two. There'll be good stuff.
Please spare a thought for our brave little old chinchilla who is in the process of crossing over the rainbow bridge. Safe journey, Mr. Hobbes. We love you!
Have a safe and fun long weekend. Happy Canada Day! Maybe one day it will again be a Canada we can be proud of. Here's to hoping.
What's on the menu: Potroast
Listening to: Random radio
Reading: Whole buncha stuff
Working on: House cleaning
Last Viewed: Brave (awesome)
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Sleep...beautiful sleep...
“The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep.”
~W.C. Fields~
“A well spent day brings happy sleep.”
~Leonardo DaVinci~
It is no secret my problems with insomnia. Many nights have found me wandering the house like a ghost, haunting the various rooms or lying awake reading, writing or hanging out with the skunks on the front step gawping at the stars in the middle of a summer's night. It's not really a healthy way to be and I've noticed a whole bunch of people suffering the same problem over the last couple of years. So below I want to share with you an article I wrote for the Quantum Health Newsletter. If you are like me and your brain tells you that there are far better things to be doing in the wee hours, then you might be interested. You might be even more interested if it is someone you know that lies awake at night and acts like a mentally disturbed patient during the day as a result. Your life and their's might depend on it. So, without further adieu enjoy. And...sweet dreams!
Ah...Sleep!
There is not a single one of us that has not spent a restless or sleepless night at one time or another. We are largely creatures that are ruled by our emotional state. We suffer loss, pain, grief and, as every child who has ever awaited Father Christmas’ arrival, occasionally unbearable excitement and anticipation, all of which can cause us to lose a night of sleep. There is usually no lasting harm when these occasions occur and the only repercussion is a set of puffy, grainy eyes the next day.
It seems lately, though, that every time I look on Facebook or read someone’s blog there is someone complaining about a prolonged inability to sleep through the night. Why is that? Sleep is the blessed remedy for nearly all of the things that ail us. Both physical and psychological. Yet it is increasingly elusive to many and to others a necessary nuisance and a thing to be avoided whenever possible. I hear many excuses for lack of sleep: work, stress, play, anger. I’ve used many of them myself. Being a life-long insomniac , I know what it is to be lying awake at 4am staring at the back of my eyelids just praying for dawn so I can get on with things. Over the years I have cultivated different ways to deal with sleeplessness and, though I still occasionally have bouts of insomnia, I can and do sleep now. Once in awhile though, I envy those, such as my daughter, who can dream on blissfully through the night.
The average adult typically needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night to feel fully rested and refreshed and to be able to function at their best. There are exceptions to this rule (some need more and a few less) but in truth this is rare. While there are those that claim they can function and even thrive on as little as 4, 5 or 6 hours of sleep, it is simply not true. They may feel fine for awhile but damage, some of it severe, is being done.
A 2005 National Sleep Foundation poll found that we sleep an average of 6.9 hours per night, which is a drop of about 2 hours per night since the 19th century. No one can say it is because we do more physical labour…the opposite is in fact true, our collective expanding girths being testament to this. A more likely reason(s) is that we experience far more hypnotic distractions, light pollution, an over-indulgence of stimulants (hello, Starbucks junkies) and an absolute overload of useless and negative information.
Humans are not very adept at perceiving within ourselves the extreme detrimental effects of sleep deprivation (SD). In tests where volunteers were restricted to less than 6 hours of sleep per night for 2 weeks, the volunteers noticed only a small increase in sleepiness and felt that they were functioning fairly normally. This may explain why we just don’t slow down and in fact push ourselves beyond the limits of our fatigue, even when we haven’t gotten sufficient sleep over a period of time. In fact, however, tests showed that the volunteer’s cognitive ability and reaction times progressively declined. By the end of the two week test period they were as impaired as those who had been awake continuously for 48 hours.
Researchers at the University of Chicago found that too little sleep changes the body’s secretion of some hormones, causing an increase in appetite and a reduction in the
sensation of feeling full at the end of a meal. Also, the body’s response to sugar intake changes significantly, increasing the potential to gain weight as well as increasing the risk of diabetes.
Studies are showing an alarming number of health problems that directly correlate with sleep deprivation. These include:
*an increase in aching muscles due to over-exertion
*confusion
*memory lapse or loss
*hallucinations
*hand tremors
*headaches/migraine
*sensitivity to temperature- specifically cold
*increased blood pressure
*heart disease
*increased stress hormones
*increased risk of diabetes
*increased risk of fibromyalgia
*extreme irritability
*aggressive behavior
*involuntary eye movement
*obesity
*temper tantrums
*panic attacks
*bipolar behavior
*ADHD type symptoms
*increased paranoia and psychosis
SD affects the brain in an alarming manner. A study at Chicago Medical Institute suggested that SD is linked to mental illness such as bipolar disorder and psychosis. A further test showed that SD was revealed to cause the brain to become incapable of putting an emotional event into proper perspective and it is then incapable of making a controlled, suitable response to the event.
Another study showed the negative effects of sleep deprivation on alertness. Cognitive performance tests suggest a decrease in brain activity and function, primarily in the thalamus- the brain structure involved in alertness and attention, as well as in the prefrontal cortex where higher order cognition is processed.
Perhaps the most alarming effects of SD on the brain are those that change or decrease attention and working memory. The lesser effects of these can cause problems such as forgetting an ingredient when cooking or missing sentences when taking notes. It is the more critical attention lapses that we must sit up and truly pay attention to because life or death can literally hang in the balance in these circumstances for not just the sufferer of SD but for others as well. What is perhaps the most critical problem in these cases is that the individual’s subjective evaluations of their own fatigue do not reflect what is in fact happening in the brain. Chronically sleep deprived individuals tend to rate themselves as considerably less impaired than totally sleep deprived people. Since people tend to evaluate their capability in tasks such as driving, subjectively, their evaluations may lead them to the false conclusion that they are performing these tasks safely when in fact the opposite is true.
One of the greatest dangers of sleep deprivation is on the road (or in the operation of any vehicle as demonstrated by a recent deadly plane crash where a pilot was sleep deprived). The American
The national Sleep Foundation identifies several warning signs that a driver is dangerously fatigued including rolling down the window, turning up the radio, trouble keeping eyes open, head nodding, drifting out of the lane and daydreaming.
Microsleeps occur when a person has significant SD. The brain automatically shuts down without the subject being aware that this is happening. The microsleep state lasts for 1 second to half a minute – more than enough time for deadly consequences to occur – and happen no matter what task or activity the subject is engaged in. SD causes roughly 71,000 injuries each year and nearly 2000 fatalities.
This all sounds pretty dire, but there is hope. If you follow a few guidelines, you can hopefully turn things around, if you are an insomniac, before it is too late.
Let’s Get Some Sleep…
Sleep is one of the most deeply healing gifts that we can give ourselves, yet we tend to have a whole lot working against us. The following are some strongly suggested guidelines to help you to get a good night’s sleep every night. It does require some adjustments and an attitude of wanting to change, but with a little effort, we can have you snoozing like a baby in no time.
It is untrue that silence will automatically help you to sleep. When tested in complete silence, many subjects found that they were able to sleep even less. This is because most humans never experience complete quiet. Even in the womb we are surrounded by the noises we hear going on in Mom’s life as well as her steadily beating heart and circulatory system from the moment of conception. With this in mind, experts recommend adding a white noise machine to your bedroom. Many people find this will subtly drown out outside noise while giving that same comforting essence we experience before we emerged into the world.
Pay attention to the temperature and humidity of the room. The temperature should be about 16 degrees C. Humidity should be balanced for maximum comfort with either a humidifier or de-humidifier if necessary.
You may need to change mattresses. This can be key. If your mattress is lumpy, too hard or too soft, you will be experiencing unnecessary pain, discomfort and restlessness as you toss and turn trying to find a comfortable position. This applies to pillows as well. I prefer a heavier comforter and like the weight on my body, even in the summer. Others may feel opposite. If this is the case, the temperature may need to be adjusted slightly.
Never eat anything less than 4 hours before bedtime. Eating will jumpstart your metabolism, sending your blood sugars soaring and telling your body that you have energy to burn. Not something you want to experience at bedtime.
Drinking less than an hour before bedtime is also not a good idea, with the exception of that old remedy for sleeplessness, warm milk. More on that in a minute. Drinking before bed will inevitably wake you during the night for trips to the bathroom. This can be enough to switch off the sleep vibe and send your body the signal that it’s time to be up. Along those lines, all caffeine should be stopped at least 6 hours before bed. If you are an insomniac or having temporary trouble sleeping, it is best to eliminate caffeine altogether except 1 cup in the morning.
If you are feeling tense you can try giving yourself a massage over the neck and shoulders or have your partner help you with this. They may be more than happy to help, since it is more likely than not that your insomnia is causing them to have significant sleep deprivation too. WARNING: If you receive a massage from your partner, you may be required to reciprocate.
Also, do not exercise before bed as this will not tire you, it will energize you and do not nap after 4pm.
So now you know what not to do. What are some things that you can proactively do to turn things around? First and foremost it is important that you maintain a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time every night and get up in the morning at the same time, even if you don’t have to. Remember, what we are trying to do here is reset your circadian rhythms and it might take a few months to do so. This is imperative!
Regular exercise on a daily basis is important, though remember, not before bed!
Here is where some work might need to be done. The bedroom is not an entertainment centre, nor is it an office space. For those who have no trouble sleeping, this isn’t a problem. For those who do, the bedroom should be a place for sleep and sexual activity only. Heavy drapes or dark blinds should be added to all windows. Even if you have a sleep mask, light still tends to penetrate. Keep your room as dark and cocooned as possible. Keep the room uncluttered and don’t use a clock with a light on it. Insulate the room from sound as much as you can and add a white noise machine. Earplugs can help too, but some people find them uncomfortable. Plus, you don’t want to miss the sound of the fire alarm.
About an hour before bed, let go of the worries of the day. I’ve had to teach myself that there is absolutely nothing that is going to change by worrying at a problem. In fact, sleep will make you more alert, will make your brain a more efficient problem solving entity, and will help adjust your attitude to a more positive level. One trick I have learned is to choose a favourite book that I have read already. It takes my mind off of the day without putting me into a state of wondering what’s gong to happen next in the book. It’s a little like chatting with an old friend before drifting off. (Don’t go picking up your favourite Stephen King or thriller. This is not conducive to a restful night!)
A good stretch before getting into bed is a wonderful feeling too. I like to wear a pair of socks to bed…I can’t sleep if my feet are even a little cold.
Try, as you settle in, to give thanks for the things you have. It doesn’t have to be to ‘God’ if you are not spiritually inclined. But it serves as a mantra to the Universe that you are aware of the gifts that have been given to you and that you are grateful. Repeat “I give thanks for __________. I give thanks for _________. I often drift off to this litany of gratitude.
If you do awaken in the night, try for no more than 15 minutes to just fall back asleep. Try deep breathing – breath in to the count of 4 slowly, hold it for 4, release your breath to the count of 4 and again hold for the count of 4. Repeat. Just focus on your breath, not on sleep. If you are still awake, pick up that boring old book. This works for me 9 times out of 10. Just make sure the light is very dim. A book light is a great investment since you cannot see the rest of the room. Have a nightlight in the bathroom so that you don’t have to turn on a large light if you do get up to relieve yourself.
It is important not to watch tv or sit at the computer waking up your brain if you are awake in the night. This serves no purpose other than to continue the cycle.
Recipes for sleep:
I don’t like to recommend tea before bed as it does tend to fill the bladder through the night, even if it is a sleepy-time herb. That being said, one of my favourite sleep inducers is the following recipe about a half hour before bed:
1 cup milk (soy, etc can also be used)
2 Chamomile teabags – I actually like the Chamomile Lavender blend from Traditional Medicinals available at Superstore or through their website at;
http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/us_products
1 tsp unpasteurized honey.
Start the milk simmering in a saucepan. Add the teabags and bring the milk almost to a boil. (there should be bubbles around the edge)
Remove the teabags with a spoon and add the honey. Sip slowly, sitting quietly under a favourite comforter.
The same recipe can be followed using either passion flower or hops instead of the chamomile.
Valerian capsules or tea are very effective sleep aids. Follow the directions on the bottle. This should be taken nightly. Herbs are much gentler than chemical drugs and can take time to be noticeably effective. They work holistically on the entire body rather than just working on a symptom.
Look to your diet as well. Eliminate spicy foods that can upset the digestive system. Wholesome, mild foods are best here.
I advise people to avoid chemical drugs that induce sleep, especially self prescribed or over the counter medication. These products can easily be abused without intention to do so, can tend to be addictive and they do not give the body a true sleep. It is more like being in a coma, which is not truly restful.
99% of the time, sleeplessness can be altered with a change in lifestyle and some wholesome remedies that will not cause further harm to the body. We have a fabulous gift in our bodies and they, with love and deep care, have a tremendous capacity for repairing and healing themselves if given the proper tools. However, they can take some work if they have been abused. If you are having trouble sleeping, give yourself and those around you the gift of healing. You will be amazed at how Grandma was right. Sleep on it. Things will look better in the morning!
What's on the menu: Last night's noodle soup & toast
Listening to: Celtic Mix 1 CD
Reading: 'Morphic Resonance' by Rupert Sheldrake
Viewing: Jamie Oliver's Food Escapes
Goals: Research for new article
PS: If you haven't gotten the chance to watch our new video, check it out at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=34PoYdmRX4E
Saturday, February 4, 2012
New Video
I just wanted to leave a quick message to let you know that we have posted a new video on Youtube. Now you can see for yourself that Chester is doing great (and maybe why!). It was great fun putting it together and I think Twyla has a real gift for film editing.
Right now we're just enjoying the lovely weather and working on all kinds of new projects. I have a new proper blog coming this week so stay tuned. In the meantime, get your behinds out there and enjoy these beautiful days under the sun.
The link to the video is:
If you like it let us know!
So, I'll talk to you in a few days. Take care until then.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Winter Sorrow
I wanted to post a quick blog because I was reminded today of how fragile life is. We all think that we don't need reminding but we do. My niece, Koral lost a friend to the icy winter roads. I didn't know her and I think Koral knew her through her friend, Tay. All I know about her is her name, Melissa. She was 14 and played soccer. I don't know the colour of her hair or the music she liked or if she had a crush on anyone. All I know is that she wanted to live and see Spring come again, and Summer after that.
She was driving with her daddy and the passenger side of the car where she rode was demolished in the collision. I know she left a mom to suffer forever and one or two sisters who will always grieve. Probably many, many more. I want to ask you to lift up a prayer, however it is you pray to whomever it is that you pray to. Say a prayer of thanks that you are with your loved ones tonight and that they are all safe. Say a prayer of passage for a little girl who had to cross over far too soon and leave behind lives that will never be the same. Say a prayer that her daddy will make it so that there is one more tree in her family's forest to withstand the long winter that is that is ahead. We don't need to sink ourselves in sorrow because we all have much to be joyful about tonight. But surely we can spare a prayer for this little girl, her family and her friends left behind.
Thanks guys.
Many Blessings.
Autumn
She was driving with her daddy and the passenger side of the car where she rode was demolished in the collision. I know she left a mom to suffer forever and one or two sisters who will always grieve. Probably many, many more. I want to ask you to lift up a prayer, however it is you pray to whomever it is that you pray to. Say a prayer of thanks that you are with your loved ones tonight and that they are all safe. Say a prayer of passage for a little girl who had to cross over far too soon and leave behind lives that will never be the same. Say a prayer that her daddy will make it so that there is one more tree in her family's forest to withstand the long winter that is that is ahead. We don't need to sink ourselves in sorrow because we all have much to be joyful about tonight. But surely we can spare a prayer for this little girl, her family and her friends left behind.
Thanks guys.
Many Blessings.
Autumn
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Winter's Arrival
There is finally a soft blanket of white on the ground. It is a thin blanket, to be sure, but long overdue. When my sister-in-law, Patrina, Twyla and I walked into the Y yesterday so they could take my nephews swimming (I do not partake), it was a grey day but not so terrible. One hour later, as we bundled the little ones to leave, a right howling blizzard had begun. By the time we were driving back home last night at about 10:00, it was a fright. In fact, it could have turned very bad as the car in front of us began to spin uncontrollably while at the same time figure-eighting back and forth in front of us. We barely missed them as they frantically tried to get the car under control, pulling to the side as we slid by them. If another vehicle had been involved, one of those brainless idiots in a pickup truck who thinks they are invincible (invincible ignoramuses), it would not have gone well and I likely would not be writing this now. For our safe return home, I am so very grateful. Please be careful. There is no place you need to be so badly that you have to risk your life or anyone else's to get there. A truck, no matter its size, does not grant you super powers. Pass it on.
Chester had his check up this week. He's doing great, though his doctor looked a little run down and tired. She 'felt' funny and didn't seem herself. Hmmm...
I guess Happy New Year is in order. For us the holiday season was quiet. Didn't do a lot of visiting. The New Year was brought in with a little champagne and some really nice chocolate cake at home and the hope that all was well with everyone.
Can I tackle the bitter moaning about the snow? Please cut it out. We have had it pretty warm for close to a couple of months now with temperatures way above seasonal normals. We have had next to no snow and as a result we've had to put up with a sheet of ice on the ground instead, making walking (and driving) a nighmare. I am the first one to admit that I am not very happy with the idea of minus 33 coming up this week, but fer crissakes, you're Canadians. We laugh in the face of this kind of thing. Put your game face on, joke about it a bit and shut up. What I do fear for is the animals out there that are going to suffer while we are safe and warm in our centrally heated homes. We have a number of kittens (young adults now) in the basement that we've managed to trap. They are brought in cold, skeletal and fearful. These are just the ones we can catch. They have been dumped here because it is a dead end or their owners just don't care enough to keep them inside and they wander off. There are others I've caught glimpses of. They are too fearful to let me get near. But no worries. This cold snap will take care of them once and for all. And there's always more where they came from, right. Then there are the jackasses who chain up their dogs outside with no care for their suffering. If you can't keep your pet inside, especially when this kind of temperature hits, then you do not need to own an animal. And while we are at it, whenever you begin to complain about the cold, think of the many homeless people who will be huddling in doorways to try to keep warm the next few nights. Try to keep things in perspective.
I have been interested in just how many people think that the end of either the world or the world as we know it will be arriving shortly. There's the Mayan thing and the Niburu (sp) thing and the Elinin thing...comets and planets and calendars, oh my! But then a friend of mine, who runs the archery department of a sporting goods store told me that people have been coming in looking for weapons that are good to use on zombies. They actually think that a Zombie Apocalypse is or shortly will be upon us. ~pause in silent thinking for a moment~
Yes. I said zombies. Now, I'm not saying I think with utter conviction that all of the above stuff is bullshite. I don't know. I am of the mind that not much is actually impossible. But ZOMBIES? How are we going to get zombies? Twyla told me there's some theory about how the rabies virus will somehow become airborn and that will do it. I've seen a few animals with rabies and they just look really sick. I never heard of one of them trying to get at your brain for a light snack. I will re-iterate what has always been my stance. Things could go south, there's no doubt (all zombies aside). We could experience a solar flare that knocks out the grid or a super volcano or some other thing that makes us an immediate endangered species, because we can barely get along now, never mind if a lot of us are starving. I'm guessing that bad manners will win the day. People tell me things like "oh, solar flares have always happened and the world didn't end." What I say to them is that, I don't think the actual world will end, but if the grid were somehow knocked out, our world certainly would. How many things can you do without electricity. I imagine that without that furnace in your basement, you wouldn't do any better than those poor abandoned animals out there in the cold. For one thing, you have no fur. There is a certain sense in being prepared for whatever emergency might take place. Here's a fer-instance. What do you have in your vehicle for an emergency? Probably a spare, maybe a flare or two. Maybe even a snack. How's that going to work out of you are stuck on the side of the road with no help in this kind of cold? I can answer that right now. It's not. Here's a little run-down of what we have in the car. It's all kept in a tote bag: candles, matches, lighter; socks, mittens and hats; energy bars; blankets; emergency heater (this consists of a medium coffee can inside a larger one. Inside the smaller can is a roll of toilet paper with the tube removed. In the tin is also a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a set of matches. In case of an emergency, the cans are set up one inside the other, the paper roll is saturated with the alcohol and can be lit to provide heat. It will burn quite a long time.); we also have a power pack that can be used to plug in the battery or phone chargers if necessary; radio; multitool; knife; first aid kit (this is quite extensive, put together myself. I don't think those pitiful little kits you get at Canadian Tire are much use at all); first aid manual; rope; several large garbage bags. There is a bit more that I can't think of right now, but you get the picture. I also want to add a tarp and a couple of those self light logs. They store under the seat and take up almost no room. We also keep a bottle of water in there that is changed regularly. In winter, I make sure that everyone has or brings along boots and a parka, even if what you are actually wearing is lighter or dressier. You'll look stupid trying to change a tire in dress shoes and a trench coat in the midst of a blizzard or even just a cold day. We've never had to use most of the stuff but I will sure be grateful to have it if we ever do.
The same goes for being prepared wherever you go and however you get there.
It may (and likely will) come to pass that the most interesting thing to take place this December is The Hobbit: Pt 1. If on the off chance things get icky...does it hurt to be a little prepared? I look at it this way. There's a lot of people out there who are capable of a lot of mischief. And there's a lot of pretty shaky climate stuff happening. Just, you know, try to be a bit of a forward thinker is all. Spend less time complaining and more time going "If I don't have power for a couple of days when it's -32 outside, what can I do about that?"
I have a lot of yuck chores to do outside today so I'd better get started. You guys keep warm, stay safe, put some food out for the birds and animals having a hard time right now. Make a nice pot of cocoa this evening, make a fire if you can. Then sit and gaze into the flame (a candle will do) and dream about the spring to come. It's really not so far off. And remember...wherever you go, take your toque and mittens!
What's on the menu: Mushroom soup and sammiches
Listening to: Best of Enya
Reading: Resurrecting Michelangelo
Goals: Above mentioned yuck chores
Viewing tonight: Star Trek Next Gen
Chester had his check up this week. He's doing great, though his doctor looked a little run down and tired. She 'felt' funny and didn't seem herself. Hmmm...
I guess Happy New Year is in order. For us the holiday season was quiet. Didn't do a lot of visiting. The New Year was brought in with a little champagne and some really nice chocolate cake at home and the hope that all was well with everyone.
Can I tackle the bitter moaning about the snow? Please cut it out. We have had it pretty warm for close to a couple of months now with temperatures way above seasonal normals. We have had next to no snow and as a result we've had to put up with a sheet of ice on the ground instead, making walking (and driving) a nighmare. I am the first one to admit that I am not very happy with the idea of minus 33 coming up this week, but fer crissakes, you're Canadians. We laugh in the face of this kind of thing. Put your game face on, joke about it a bit and shut up. What I do fear for is the animals out there that are going to suffer while we are safe and warm in our centrally heated homes. We have a number of kittens (young adults now) in the basement that we've managed to trap. They are brought in cold, skeletal and fearful. These are just the ones we can catch. They have been dumped here because it is a dead end or their owners just don't care enough to keep them inside and they wander off. There are others I've caught glimpses of. They are too fearful to let me get near. But no worries. This cold snap will take care of them once and for all. And there's always more where they came from, right. Then there are the jackasses who chain up their dogs outside with no care for their suffering. If you can't keep your pet inside, especially when this kind of temperature hits, then you do not need to own an animal. And while we are at it, whenever you begin to complain about the cold, think of the many homeless people who will be huddling in doorways to try to keep warm the next few nights. Try to keep things in perspective.
I have been interested in just how many people think that the end of either the world or the world as we know it will be arriving shortly. There's the Mayan thing and the Niburu (sp) thing and the Elinin thing...comets and planets and calendars, oh my! But then a friend of mine, who runs the archery department of a sporting goods store told me that people have been coming in looking for weapons that are good to use on zombies. They actually think that a Zombie Apocalypse is or shortly will be upon us. ~pause in silent thinking for a moment~
Yes. I said zombies. Now, I'm not saying I think with utter conviction that all of the above stuff is bullshite. I don't know. I am of the mind that not much is actually impossible. But ZOMBIES? How are we going to get zombies? Twyla told me there's some theory about how the rabies virus will somehow become airborn and that will do it. I've seen a few animals with rabies and they just look really sick. I never heard of one of them trying to get at your brain for a light snack. I will re-iterate what has always been my stance. Things could go south, there's no doubt (all zombies aside). We could experience a solar flare that knocks out the grid or a super volcano or some other thing that makes us an immediate endangered species, because we can barely get along now, never mind if a lot of us are starving. I'm guessing that bad manners will win the day. People tell me things like "oh, solar flares have always happened and the world didn't end." What I say to them is that, I don't think the actual world will end, but if the grid were somehow knocked out, our world certainly would. How many things can you do without electricity. I imagine that without that furnace in your basement, you wouldn't do any better than those poor abandoned animals out there in the cold. For one thing, you have no fur. There is a certain sense in being prepared for whatever emergency might take place. Here's a fer-instance. What do you have in your vehicle for an emergency? Probably a spare, maybe a flare or two. Maybe even a snack. How's that going to work out of you are stuck on the side of the road with no help in this kind of cold? I can answer that right now. It's not. Here's a little run-down of what we have in the car. It's all kept in a tote bag: candles, matches, lighter; socks, mittens and hats; energy bars; blankets; emergency heater (this consists of a medium coffee can inside a larger one. Inside the smaller can is a roll of toilet paper with the tube removed. In the tin is also a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a set of matches. In case of an emergency, the cans are set up one inside the other, the paper roll is saturated with the alcohol and can be lit to provide heat. It will burn quite a long time.); we also have a power pack that can be used to plug in the battery or phone chargers if necessary; radio; multitool; knife; first aid kit (this is quite extensive, put together myself. I don't think those pitiful little kits you get at Canadian Tire are much use at all); first aid manual; rope; several large garbage bags. There is a bit more that I can't think of right now, but you get the picture. I also want to add a tarp and a couple of those self light logs. They store under the seat and take up almost no room. We also keep a bottle of water in there that is changed regularly. In winter, I make sure that everyone has or brings along boots and a parka, even if what you are actually wearing is lighter or dressier. You'll look stupid trying to change a tire in dress shoes and a trench coat in the midst of a blizzard or even just a cold day. We've never had to use most of the stuff but I will sure be grateful to have it if we ever do.
The same goes for being prepared wherever you go and however you get there.
It may (and likely will) come to pass that the most interesting thing to take place this December is The Hobbit: Pt 1. If on the off chance things get icky...does it hurt to be a little prepared? I look at it this way. There's a lot of people out there who are capable of a lot of mischief. And there's a lot of pretty shaky climate stuff happening. Just, you know, try to be a bit of a forward thinker is all. Spend less time complaining and more time going "If I don't have power for a couple of days when it's -32 outside, what can I do about that?"
I have a lot of yuck chores to do outside today so I'd better get started. You guys keep warm, stay safe, put some food out for the birds and animals having a hard time right now. Make a nice pot of cocoa this evening, make a fire if you can. Then sit and gaze into the flame (a candle will do) and dream about the spring to come. It's really not so far off. And remember...wherever you go, take your toque and mittens!
What's on the menu: Mushroom soup and sammiches
Listening to: Best of Enya
Reading: Resurrecting Michelangelo
Goals: Above mentioned yuck chores
Viewing tonight: Star Trek Next Gen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
