nieces

I went to my sister's place yesterday and helped out with the kids since she was sick. Picked Annie up from her morning kindergarten class. Waiting mothers were clustered on the grass in front of the school, chatting as they waited for the kids to be let out. When the school doors finally opened, the teachers called out the names of children whose caretakers had arrived, one at a time.


Felt a burst of auntly pride when it was Annie's turn to come out. She looked pretty darned cute, clutching a drawing in one hand and her school bag in the other, beaming when she saw me. There was an envelope and a piece of paper pinned to the back of her coat (when Ruth opened them back at home, it turned out they were a birthday party invitation, and a letter about an upcoming open house).


While I was putting Annie's bag into my knapsack, a little boy named Andrew came up and introduced himself. I asked Annie about him on the way home. She told me that Andrew had asked her to marry him when they grew up, and that she had said yes. A huge smile crossed her face then, and she said, "I -really- want to marry Andrew! I LOVE him!" Hm...I should have grilled Andrew more intensively to check out his credentials. Ah well, next time.





As we started to walk home, Annie suddenly asked, "Why are you walking so fast?" And of course she was right; I was virtually pulling her along the sidewalk. Augh, more evidence that I still need to learn to SLOW DOWN in general. I apologized to Annie, told her she was right, and forced myself to walk at her pace. We weren't in a hurry, after all; the whole day was ours.


So I looked at the flowers Annie pointed out, crouched with her to watch some ants scurrying across the sidewalk, waited while she jumped up to touch a branch hanging down from a tree. And gradually felt myself start to relax; I had no choice. :-)





Went out with our friends Alison and Jeff last night. We talked about our upcoming hiking trip, did some equipment planning. Alison's pleased that I'm experimenting with chocolate brownies. :-D We're all pretty hyped about the trip. Looks like five of us will be going: Parki, Jeff and me, Jeff and Alison. Should be fun!


Alison is going to Japan for four months (!) on a work assignment (she works for the NBA). Jeff and I might be going to visit her in the fall, which would be veryvery cool. I've never been to Japan. I'd love to be able to see where my mom grew up.




Today's Blatherpics:


- I took this photo of Annie on the walk home from her school.


- Reading "Ten Minutes To Bedtime" to Sara and Annie.


- Jeff, Jeff, and Alison last night.

Feel free to suggest a daily poll question.


Today's Poll: (Courtesy Sherman Dorn)

Have you ever killed a plant through neglect?

shrek

For those who know the Kesners: Gail's father passed away a few days ago. :-( Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Jeff and Gail.





Allison and I went to see Shrek last night. Unfortunately Jodi was home sick. :-( We had dinner at Milestones, where I grilled her about LOTR. Allison refused to divulge any spoilers. I've started a new comic strip, by the way...Waiting For Frodo. It will be around until December, when the first LOTR movie comes out. The next Lord of the Rings trailer should be available online sometime today, for those interested.


LOVED Shrek. The only other thing that I will say (for fear of giving away spoilers) is that I definitely plan to go back to see this several times.


One of my favourite bits of the movie theatre experience has always been the trailers. However, I'm getting pretty tired of the television-type commercials cropping up in greater quantities before the trailers, especially ones that are played over and over and over and over again. Ones that currently drive me around the bend (because I've seen them so often are):

- the ad for movietickets.com (where the family is running for the movie ticket theatre but get there too late).


- the ad for a product called Diane (?, still not sure what it is), where teenage girls spend the whole time giggling and preening.


- the ad for the National Post. I thought this was a cool ad in the beginning, and loved the music, but now it's just getting on my nerves.

These might only be shown in Canada, I'm not sure.


Has anyone else noticed that pre-movie trailers and ads are starting to take up more and more time? At some theatres, it's gotten to the point where you could show up nearly half an hour after the official movie showtime, and still be in time for the main feature.


Babysitting Annie and Sara most of the day, then going out with Alison, Jeff and Jeff tonight.

Firewoodstacking.com follow-up

From Paul B.:



Hey Debbie! Two weeks a go I was sent, at great expense and by special permission, on a business trip to go and learn how to stack wood, because the head wood stacker was aboout to take "extended" leave. Day 1: They showed me the wood piles. They handed me a document describing the wood stacking process. I read it. It made sense. I admired the nifty automatic wood-stacking gzmo the head wood stacker had built to make his life easier. Day 2: I read the manual again. It still made sense. Day 3: I read it again. Still made sense, but I geel asleep halfway through. Woke up and checked the auto-stacker: STill working fine. Day 4: Asked if there was anything else should be learning (Didn't dare say "this seems too easy".) Got given manual on how the auto-stacker works. Read it. It made sense. Flew home happy. All last week: Sat and watch the auto-stacker. Read the auto-stacker manual again. Web surfed a lot. All this week: Sat and watched the auto stacker. Read the manual about half way and got bored... Web surfed a lot. Now, I have to write a report saying what I've achieved over the last 3 weeks. Ummm... Help!!! I know I asked for a less hectic job, but... (Techies: For "wood stack" read "load-build".)




Today's Blatherpics:


- Sushi chefs at Fune.

Feel free to suggest a daily poll question.


Today's Poll: (Courtesy Rand)

Have you ever been in a physical confrontation/fight?

journal fiction

(Today's Blathering is part of an On Display collaborative project, and inspired by Mary's Conversations Among The Ruins)

Two years ago, a 19-year-old girl named Kaycee started an online journal. She was dying of leukemia.


Despite her circumstances, Kaycee remained friendly and relatively optimistic; she responded to e-mails, and even talked to several of her journal readers on the phone. She went into remission but then experienced some sort of liver failure. She died the day after Mother's Day of an aneurysm. Her mother also kept a weblog during the whole experience.


The online journalling community united in its support of Kaycee and her mother. As Kaycee's mother sat by her bedside during her final days, Kaycee's P.O. box was flooded with letters of support, cards, and money.


Just recently, it was discovered that the whole thing was a hoax. There was never a Kaycee. Word on the street is that several men were behind the hoax, though there may have also been a woman involved (there must have been, if people reported actually having talked to Kaycee on the phone). Another rumour claims that the journal was created with benevolent intent, that Kaycee was created out of bits and pieces of real people who once existed, and that somewhere behind the whole mess, someone really did die of cancer.


The Kaycee hoax is being hotly debated in the journalling community right now. Merav pointed out that the incident is the lead story today on Suck.com. Many feel betrayed and angry. Some are attempting to take something positive out of the whole experience. I had never heard of Kaycee until the hoax was revealed, and can understand both types of reaction.


Whatever the underlying circumstances, this incident has certainly highlighted one of the wonderful and scary things about the Internet: the anonymity and ability to be almost anyone and anything, at least at first glance. A single individual can create a Web site that looks like a well-funded corporate site. An incredibly shy or agoraphobic individual can more easily find the courage to interact with other people online. Several men can masquerade as a dying 19-year-old girl and her mother.


Just before I heard about Kaycee, I had proposed a new collaborative project to my fellow On Display members, a journal by a fictitious woman named Alice. I figured it would be a fun writing project, developing Alice's life and personality, trying to maintain a consistent writing style throughout all the entries by various authors.


The Kaycee fiasco, however, reminded me of how easily something like this could end up making readers feel betrayed. You make a certain emotional and time investment when you start regularly checking someone's blog or journal, with certain expectations. To not be warned ahead of time that the person never really existed in the first place would be like those movies of television episodes where all kinds of interesting and exciting things happen to the protagonist during the story, only to find out it was all a dream or hallucination at the very end. I hate those kind of stories.


So after much discussion with the other OD members, I've decided to launch The Alice Project anyway, but with a clear indication of its nature. At the top of every page, there will be a "READ FIRST" link, which will explain the collaborative nature of the project, and emphasize that Alice is not a real person.


I've always been highly intrigued by the possibilities of interactive fiction writing, but also aware of its limitations (wandering plot, inconsistent writing styles, etc.). It will be interesting to see what kind of person Alice turns out to be. :-)





Today's Blatherpics:


- Header for The Alice Project.


- Watching the last episode of Star Trek: Voyager last night with Reid, Luisa, Bryan, Jeff, Ronnie, and Michael.


- Reid with Michael and Ronnie.

Feel free to suggest a daily poll question.


Today's Poll: (Courtesy Amanda Snyder)

Do you like your name?

woodpile philosophy

There's a mouse in the boathouse. We've gotten used to having him around, to tell you the truth. I can hear him rattling something in the walls, renovating his summer quarters, cleaning out the cobwebs, storing away sunflower seeds swiped from the birdfeeder outside our sleeping cabin. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch him clamber down a chain on the wall and run across the floor. He's probably gotten used to me hanging around in the early morning, I'm sure.


Jeff and I are going home today. After Parki left, we spent a few hours doing some tidying up around the cottage. Jeff did some repairs and additions to the water system, and I restocked the woodpile. Jeff offered to help...I thanked him but said no. For me, this kind of activity is the equivalent of relaxing meditation. :-)


Firewood at the cottage goes through several phases. "Wood day" occurs every couple of years, and basically consists of ordering a face cord (pile of wood 8 feet long, 4 feet high, one piece of wood deep). The wood is delivered to the cottagers' dock in one big pile. It generally takes several boatloads across the lake, and then the wood is stacked in the "new wood" pile. There are three piles....one containing the newest wood, second pile nearer to the cottage (in above photo), and then a smaller pile of wood stacked up against the boathouse, just beside the door and beneath the roof overhang. The last pile is handy for winter visits since it doesn't get buried beneath four feet of snow. The reason for the other two piles is to separate wood from different wood days. Older wood burns better, so it makes sense to let firewood "age" for as long as possible.


During this trip, we went through a lot of wood. Since I felt mainly responsible (being up at 5 am pretty much every morning and always lighting a fire), I took on the task of restocking the second and third woodpiles by moving wood from the first pile, which is up the hill. It's a bit of a workout (my arm muscles still feel a bit wobbly as I type this), but I figured I've been slacking off for the past several days so needed the exercise. Plus for the therapeutic effect I mentioned in the first paragraph.





After my experience with the corporate dot-com world, restocking firewood is a hugely relaxing activity, mainly because it is so repetitive. My equivalent of knitting or cross-stitch, I suppose. :-) Minimal attention is required (only enough to make sure you don't trip over rocks and roots as you trudge up and down the hill), which leaves lots of room for reflection and daydreaming.


As I carried wood, I couldn't help but contrast the activity to what I was doing six months ago. Then I thought, what would be different if I was stacking firewood for a dot-com company?




firewoodstacking.com:

A Possible Scenario




SUPERVISOR: Hi, I'm Steve. What are you doing?


ME: Your company told me to stack firewood. I'm getting pretty tired, though. They said I could hire some help. When will I be able to do that?


SUPERVISOR: Hiring freeze right now, sorry. Anyway, you're not stacking the firewood properly. Here let me show you how. Here, why not try it like -this-?


ME: Um, doesn't it hurt when you do that?


SUPERVISOR: Hey, it's just a suggestion. Anyway, I need a report about how you think we can improve the whole process on my desk by tomorrow. And please hurry! We want a big a pile as possible as fast as possible! We -know- you can do it.


[Next day.]


SUPERVISOR: Hi, I'm Ted. What are you doing?


ME: Stacking firewood. Where's Steve?


SUPERVISOR: He's been transferred to Ops. I was hired yesterday. Anyway, you're stacking firewood in the wrong place. It should be over there.


ME: Okay. Uh, listen...I'm getting really tired here. Can I get some help?


SUPERVISOR: Sure, I'll see what I can do. And can you get a report to me about how you think we can improve the whole process?


ME: I gave a copy to Steve already.


SUPERVISOR: Oh. Well, I haven't seen it. I'd like an updated version on my desk by the end of the day, thanks.


[Several hours pass.]


SUPERVISOR: Hi, I'm Pete. Ted was transferred to another project. I was hired yesterday. Anyway, turns out we've run out of matches so we can't use the firewood yet anyway. Slow down on the firewood stacking until we find more matches, ok?


ME: Um, okay. I haven't had a break in a while, by the way. When do you think I can get some help?


SUPERVISOR: Soon, very soon. Anyway, you were stacking the wood in the wrong place. You should be stacking it over there instead.


ME: That's where I -was- stacking firewood, but Ted told me to stack it in the new place.


SUPERVISOR: Ted was wrong. You'll have to move the wood.


ME: Um, okay. But I have to warn you that I'm REALLY exhausted here.


SUPERVISOR: Ok, I'll see what I can do. And can you get a report to me about how you think we can improve the whole process?


ME: I already gave updated copies to Ted and Steve, but I'll print out a copy for you, too.


[Ten minutes pass.]


SUPERVISOR: Hi, I'm Lance. Pete's been promoted. Anyway, I know you're overworked, so we're going to hire some help for you. This is Gomer; he's here to apply for the job. Can you interview him and give us your feedback?


ME: Sure.


SUPERVISOR: And could you speed up the firewood stacking? Some potential investors from across the lake are going to be visiting, so we need as big a pile as possible as soon as possible. Oh...and I'd like you come up with some ideas on how to improve the whole process.


ME: I already gave copies to Steve, Ted, and Pete.


LANCE: But I never got one. Print out a dozen copies for the team, ok? We can discuss this in our next weekly Team Motivational Meeting.


[An hour later, after Gomer leaves.]


ME: I don't think you should hire Gomer. He doesn't know what firewood is. He also doesn't see the point of fireplaces, anyway.


LANCE: Thanks for your input. We definitely don't want to hire anyone you aren't comfortable working with. And can you get a report to me about how you think we can improve the whole process?


ME: I already gave you a copy.


LANCE: Are you sure? I don't remember. Anyway, print out out another copy for me.


[Next day]


LANCE: Great news! Gomer's been hired to help you.


ME: I'm confused. I had recommended he -not- be hired.


LANCE: Just give him a chance, okay? Anyway, here he is...


GOMER: Hi there! I'm really looking forward to working with you to move this project forward, going forward. I have all kinds of great ideas to help us think outside the box. Let me know what I can do to help you.


ME: Um, okay. You could start by helping carry some of this firewood.


GOMER: Sure, absolutely, no problemo. But first I have a two-hour lunch meeting with my buddy, Pete The Senior Manager Who Has Great Influence in This Company. We go back a long ways, you know, ha ha. By the way, Lance wants us to come up with a list of ways we can improve the process.


[Next week]


LANCE: So how's it going, guys?


GOMER: Just great. Lots of things are happening.


LANCE: Um. Why does the woodpile look smaller?


ME: Gomer accidentally set fire to the woodpile yesterday.


GOMER: That wasn't my fault. You should have -told- me not to pour gasoline on the wood and toss on a burning cigarette.


LANCE: Ah, that's okay, Gomer. If we need something to burn in the fireplace, we can use this stack of old papers I found in a bottom drawer my office desk the other day.


ME: Those are my Process Report docs.


LANCE: Great, even better!


Today's Blatherpics:


- Me and my woodpile.


- Fireplace this morning.

Feel free to suggest a daily poll question.


Today's Poll: (Courtesy Jeff)

Have you ever gone skinnydipping?

harp pine

LOTR updated

New LOTR comic




The long weekend is over, and the loud yabboes down the shore have gone home. Unfortunately Parki is also going home today. :-(


It's windy and raining outside, about 10 degrees Celsius. I've lit a fire, and am having a mug of chamomile and spiced apple tea (thanks, Lissa!). Jeff and Parki are still asleep, of course.


Yesterday, I was surprised to find an e-mail from one of my ex-supervisors from Philadelphia in my inbox, just asking how I was doing. Despite the fact that he and I had differences during my employment in Philly, he was the only senior manager type at the company who ever expressed any genuine regret (at least to me) about the company's shutdown of Inkspot. Granted, he had just been laid off at the time, but that gesture still scores some points in my book. Just a reminder, by the way, to make sure you aren't using my inkspot.com address when you send me e-mail. All inkspot e-mail is dead since the Inkspot server disk space filled up over a month ago.


It's been blustery and windy and rainy for the past few days, which has been a wonderful excuse for doing extra napping and reading and otherwise lazing about. However, I'm looking forward to going back to the city this week. And Andrea's coming to visit soon, woohoo!





I miss playing my harp more than I expected. I'm sure you other musician-types will understand. I've never felt as emotionally attached to a musical instrument before. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that I was so much a part of GP's creation, helping to choose the wood, the artwork, receiving photos of GP in various stages of development. Plus I consider the harp almost a piece of art as well as having a practical function; I get pleasure out of just LOOKING at my harp, admiring the workmanship, the curve of the wood near the top of the soundboard. Add the sensation of actually playing the harp and you have a highly sensual experience. I'm sure the harpers out there are nodding enthusiastically while everyone else is thinking, "Geez, what's IN the water up at that cottage??" Though other musicians may feel similarly, especially if they did a lot of research and drooling over guitars or other instruments in the store before finally settling on one. :-)


Many thanks to Joel Polowin for sending me the music for the Friendly Giant theme...I'm really looking forward to going through that when I get back. I'm also hoping to get in another harp lesson or two to keep me on track.





I finished my "Dot Com Survivor" song yesterday. Many thanks to technonerdboys Jeff, Parki, Reid, Andy, Andrew, and Bryan for their contributions. :-)

---

Message from Karen Linsley






Details about the unveiling of Lloyd Landa's memorial: Sunday June 10, at 2:00 p.m. at Pardes Shalom Cemetery. My understanding is that it is about a mile and a half north of Major Mackenzie off of Dufferin. After the ceremony we go back to Lloyd's cousin Elaine's for refreshments. Her address is 27 Tyrrel, near St. Clair and Wychwood. For further directions her number is 416-651-2530. I'm hoping to see my friends there. This will be a difficult day for me.



---

Message from Andrea



(who recently updated her filk column, by the way)




Hey all,


I am writing a column for The Dandelion Report (http://electricpenguin.com/filking/) called "The Supporting Note." The column is written for new and beginning filkers. With that in mind, my next column will be about housefilks (to be published within the next two weeks).


I'd like to include a list of contacts for "open" housefilks that occur on a regular basis. By open, I mean that the housefilk can be attended by anyone who contacts the person on the contact list (see below) and asks . . . I'd like to include the following information:


1) name and email address of contact (it doesn't have to be the host, since that can change) . . .I'll list up to three contacts per housefilk . . .


2) how often the housefilk occurs (typically)

3) Location of the housefilk, or the cities (for example, in Mid-Ohio our housefilks can be in Dayton, OH; Columbus, OH; and Cincinnati, OH.


Note: I'd really like this list to include housefilks in the UK, Germany, Australia, where ever!! Please pass this message to anyone who could send me the above info . . .


Your help would be greatly appreciated :-) And Thanks!!


See ya!


Andrea

--

Andrea Dale

adale@merlynproductions.com



---

Today's Blatherpics:


- A sunrise last week. None of my sunrise photos are Photoshopped in any way, in case you're curious (a few have asked). If anything, the colours in the photos are not nearly as impressive as in real life.


- Jeff and Parki.


- Recording scratch vocals for Allison and Jodi. I rely on our ancient 4-track recorder to help me figure out if particular harmonies or counterpoint parts work together. Sometimes I ask Allison and Jodi to come up with harmonies etc., but sometimes I find it better to write out the parts, particularly if they're somewhat complex.


Today's Poll: (Courtesy Parki)

Have you ever bought anything on eBay?