Day is Done

Today is about the saddest day of the year for me. It's the day we “fall” back to Standard Time. And though technically we gain an hour, I always feel as if I lose so much more.

I have trouble with dark. I guess I have a bit of SAD. And so I particularly hate to see my precious sunlit hours disappearing. Now no matter what, the days are getting shorter, have been for months, and will continue to do so for almost two months more. But that being said, it really hurts to lose an hour when I feel we should be saving daylight more than ever.

I have no great desire to be dressing in the dark either, or course, but to me it's still infinitely preferable to taking my “afternoon” walk in pitch black. Already the sun was gone by 5:30; to lose it at 4:30 is painful. I know it was originally helpful to farmers without electricity in their barns to have extra light early in the morning. When most kids walked to school it would be safer too. But now everyone's electrified and few kids walk to school. Wouldn't it be better for them to fat least be able to walk home and even (novel idea alert), play outside for awhile? I'm sure we'd save some electricity too into the bargain.

Anyway, as usual, nobody asked my opinion. (If they had, I would vote for saving daylight year round. I'd even give “double daylight” or “daylight and a half” a shot!) So I will unfortunately have to settle for soaking in as much daylight as humanly possible until that happy day in spring when we spring forward once more to the right time ... the bright time.

Good Night Mr. Rooney

Andy Rooney, America's favourite curmudgeon, has passed away at the very respectable age of 92. Now I don't know too much about his television persona; when he began his 60 Minutes stint in 1978, we didn't have cable - and even if we had I would have been too young to appreciate his wit and wisdom. And by the time we finally did get cable and I was a bit more mature, it just wasn't a show on my radar.

I was always far more of a reader than a television viewer anyway though. And I did have access to a plethora of book sales where I picked up several of his anthologies of essays. Those I thoroughly enjoyed, and I plan to read his final books soon. I didn't get every reference, of course, particularly the political ones, but Rooney was at his best when he was waxing eloquent about the most ordinary and mundane facets of life.

You didn't always agree with him and sometimes you were bemused by his bafflement with the modern world, but you certainly loved and admired the grumpy old man behind the words. You have to respect anybody who can make his living complaining about life in three-minute sound bytes once a week. In fact, if I can keep this blogging thing going, I'd quite happily apply to be the next national curmudgeon! I like to gripe too; if I could raise it to an art form the way Rooney did, I'd be very satisfied indeed.

Sleeping Pretty in My Snoratorium

A few weeks ago there was an interesting item from House Beautiful in my Flipboard app. It talked about how one of the newest trends in bedrooms is the “Snoratorium”. This is a sort of annexe or partition or even an adjoining room that one member of a couple can repair to when the partner is snoring. Along with twin beds - supposedly something every couple over 45 is perfectly fine with - this is the new way to sleep in the modern age.

It definitely has validity. People are so sleep deprived these days they need all the help they can get. And no matter how in love two people are, their sleep styles just may not mesh that well. After two nights of poor sleep I was more than content to move to my study (henceforth to also be known as my own personal snoratorium) last night.

Dan and I are very different sleepers so I've had plenty of experience there. For starters, though a warm room is fine to begin with, I like it to cool down overnight - 65 is plenty. I like to be snuggly in cozy pyjamas with a few blankets ... and a heating beagle. But Dan feels 72 is just barely warm enough - even with blankets. At that temperature though I sleep fitfully and, worse, am prone to bad dreams. Dan also likes the curtains open, which is fine overnight, but will wake me up first thing. I need the tv power light off and the alarm clock too. Plus I love the memory foam mattress in my study. I do have a memory foam pad on my half of our bed, but it just isn't as good. Then there's the issue of blanket sharing (Dan doesn't). All that before we even get to snoring. He does, though I'm sure I never do more than a gentle whiffle, despite claims to the contrary. And there's scheduling too. Dan can go to bed late, get up early and make everything ok with a midday nap. I need to rise and sleep at the same time pretty much every day and I just don't do naps.

Phew, that's quite a list - and quite a few reasons to prefer the comfort of my own bed. I love Dan a lot, but I can also love him a whole lot better when I'm well rested. A tired me is not a pretty thing. So whether it were in vogue or not, I'd still happily be spending nights in my snoratorium, but it is nice to know that for once I'm actually following along with the latest trend.

There's a New Love in My Life!

There's a new love in my life and her name is Paisley Belle. She is my precious just turned four month old beagle puppy and she is a total sweetheart who I am absolutely smitten with. She is not the "new Topaze" any more than Topaze was the new Perky. She is her own adorable doggy self with her own unique personality.
We got her at a farm in Sunbury (near Kingston) on Labour Day weekend. She was a tiny and shy five and a half pound little pippin. Now, almost two months later she has doubled in size, but is the same timid and gentle soul. She is probably the sweetest puppy I've ever had. She is nice to all people and dogs. She is learning not to nibble and is finally catching on to the idea of housebreaking too. Her only "flaw" is that she is not very fond of walking yet. She's pretty good by the lake, but the streets have too many noisy and scary things ... and forget about going out at night; that's even scarier! I do hope she gets over this phase fairly soon; I'd be rather disappointed to end up with a dog who doesn't want to walk with me. But she is, as Mary Poppins would say, practically perfect in every other way. I love her to bits and hope to have a lifetime of happy memories with her.

Going Low-Tech in Silicon Valley

There was a fascinating article in the October 22nd New York Times that really called into question the role of technology in education. It focussed on very high-tech Silicon Valley executives who have chosen to give their children a very low-tech - no-tech, actually - education.

These are intelligent, affluent people who could send their children anywhere and who have made a very deliberate decision. Their children attend Waldorf schools where traditional educational principles and practices and hand-on learning are the emphasis. Classrooms are filled with books not computers. Children do music and arts and crafts, baking and knitting. Tech use is not introduced until the eighth grade; even television and movie watching is discouraged.

And the success rate is amazing. These are students who will be filling Ivy League universities in the next decade. These are kids who can read and write and calculate, who are focussed and creative, who are sociable and who can think outside the box. (And these traits seem to be characteristic of most Waldorf schools - not just the rich, Silicon Valley ones. From what I've read, lower class students attending these type of schools are also significantly more likely to end up in the Ivy League ... and on full scholarship too.)

Now I suppose you do want to take the article with a grain of salt. These are children, for the most part, from well-to-do families who can get their daily dose of tech at home. Their parents are obviously committed to, and involved with, their education to an admirable extent. They could quite likely succeed in a variety of milieus. But the fact their parents specifically opted for this type of educational experience does say something. It says that the type of human being they want to raise is far more than someone who can text hundreds of words a minute or download the newest app. They want kids who can think and be creative and, moreover, believe those are the types of people future employers will want too.

I agree. Particularly at the primary level, there is so much that needs to be learned. I would much rather schools focus on producing kids who are literate and numerate at or above grade level. I want students who, when they are taught to research online can actually focus on and read the articles they find, and who can think about what they're reading instead of mindlessly accepting it, kids who can draw their own conclusions and generate original ideas. They can easily acquire tech skills in middle and high school and, by then, will have enough of a background of ideas and knowledge that they can use technology that much more effectively and productively.

I'm not saying to necessarily ban all tech either. It can be a godsend for students with certain educational challenges. For underprivileged students who don't have access to technology at home it might be a great motivator too. But it can way too easily become a time-waster and distractor - not the productivity enhancer or key to getting ahead so many parents mistakenly believe it to be. There's such a short time to be a kid and so much to learn; let's leave the technology until they've become well-rounded enough people to use it to its best advantage.

"Nano"WriMo

Today is the start of NaNoWriMo - the 13th annual National Novel Writing Month. The ultimate objective is to produce a complete 50000 word (or approximately 175 page) novel during the one month period from November 1st to 30th. And this year, for the first time, I am going to be a participant - albeit in my own unique way.
I have always wanted to write more, but I have never been successful at it. This year I have the twin luxuries of both time and an iPad. I have apps like iA Writer and Blogsy to write with; I have apps and web sites to track my progress. I have a laptop, a bluetooth keyboard. Really, what possible excuses do I have NOT to write???
I am not a novelist, however - at least not at this point in time. My objectives, therefore are significantly more modest. If I achieve them though, it will still be a HUGE breakthrough for me. My goals are simple and two-fold:
Each day I want to accomplish two things:
a) I want to write a blog entry. Any length. Any topic.
b) I want to write a poem. Ditto.
So my daily word count might be as little as a few hundred, far from the almost 1700 needed to complete NaNoWriMo successfully. For me, this project is more aptly called "Nano"WriMo; even the tiniest bit of writing will be a big achievement if it's done on a daily basis. Since habits are reputed to take at least 21 days to form, hopefully by the end of the month writing regularly will have become my new best habit. Wish me luck. I'm already one day and 293 words closer to my goal by the end of this sentence!

Don't go, Indigo!

Or Coles or Chapters or Babar. Or any other bookstore either. I was horrified to read an article this week predicting the imminent demise of the brick-and-mortar bookstore. It figured the last of the independent bookstores would close - or be converted to cafés - in 2015 and even the last chain stores would be gone by 2018. After that Amazon and other online retailers would rule the literary world.

It may be a bit melodramatic to say, but I don't know that I want to live in a world without bookstores. (And if they disappear, can libraries be far behind?) Yes ebooks are convenient, portable, and don't require shelves to store (my brand new library, the delight of my life, is already obsolete!) but there's much to be said for the physical and sensual experience of the real book too. And how delightful to pass an afternoon browsing through a bookstore, discovering hidden treasures you could never have found otherwise.

I believe at least some books will remain as interesting artifacts and art objects. Collectible and used bookstores may hang on. And (at least until they invent unbreakable and chew-proof ereaders) books for kids should be safe. But, disheartening as it is, I think the article has a point. Retail stores are expensive propositions. So is publishing hard copies. You can find a lot of new books through Amazon links and Goodreads too. And once you're into a story the format you're reading in sort of fades into the background. Personally I'm not reading quite as many books digitally as physically yet and I do still buy "real" books, but it's admittedly fewer than in the past. And I hate the thought that I'm contributing in any way to the demise of something I treasure. I guess that's what "progress" is though: things change, like it or not. Still, I hope the predictions were a bit too hasty and that at least some (I'll concede there will be fewer) bookstores hang in for the rest of my life. A world without them is a sad, sad thing to contemplate.

There's a Beagle-shaped Hole in my Heart

(Picture is of Topaze lazing on the front lawn this summer.)

In the wee hours of the morning on August 15th, my beloved beagle Topaze took her last breath on this earth. Now she is prancing about heaven with Nicky and Taffy and Perky and all the other dogs who left before her. And I fully expect her to be waiting, tail awag, when I arrive many years from now.

I loved her so much and I miss her so much. I can still feel my hands running over her sleek back, sliding down her tail, and especially stroking her beautiful velvet ears. Without her I somehow feel empty and incomplete. I've had a beagle in my life for the bulk of my life - thirty years now! Beagles aren't the easiest breed, it's true ... just the best.

I am definitely a beagle girl. Topaze (and Perky before her) taught me all about love and loyalty, bravery and forgiveness and I know made me a better, happier person. Some of the very happiest moments of my life are the simplest: strolling leisurely by the lake, snuggling together on the bed in the morning and, especially, reading on the loveseat in my library, Topaze curled warmly on one side, Hershey on the other. Now Topaze's earthly remains are watching from atop a bookshelf, next to Perky's. So they're both close to me still; just not the way I'd wish it. Dogs' biggest flaw, really, is that they do only live fifteen years or so. But I guess we should be grateful it gives us a chance to meet so many.

And what a wonderful fifteen years I had with Topaze! We did obedience and flyball, had hikes in the woods, a few trips to the Maritimes, and countless walks by the water. And when I am ready - and it could be soon - I hope I will be led to yet another beautiful beagle girl to share my life with and to brighten my every day.

Bye Bye Jack

As if we needed any more proof that life is blatantly unfair, Jack Layton, leader of the NDP, died early this morning of cancer. He was just 61. Now this was a man who did everything right. He exercised religiously, ate very healthfully, and despite a busy schedule wasn't the sort of guy to stress out. He was pretty mellow and laid-back actually. He was a genuine person, loved and respected by people of all political persuasions. To be taken at the height of success, after leading the NDP to the role of Official Opposition and essentially annihilating the Bloc Quebecois only months ago, is just so wrong.

And so sudden. When he temporarily stepped aside as leader at the end of July to undergo cancer treatments he confidently - albeit weakly - spoke of returning for the opening of Parliament in early September. That might have been a bit optimistic; I felt maybe the beginning of 2012 would be more realistic. But somehow, though you worried, you didn't doubt him. He'd already overcome prostate cancer and campaigned right through hip replacement recovery this spring. He was a fighter and so so positive. How could he lose this skirmish? Except that he did. You sort of wonder if even a guy who kept in such good shape could succumb, what chance would an ordinary person have?

Anyway, my thoughts and prayers today are with his family and friends. All of Canada has suffered a loss and is the poorer for it. I fervently hope his successors will be able to carry on his legacy in the way it deserves. I hope they stay true to his values and ideals and continue to be a real party for the ordinary person. And I hope Jack does attend the opening of Parliament in spirit since he sadly won't be there in body.

I'm Making a List and Checking it Twice

August is a lazy time of year for me typically. I'm usually dopey from heat and a little bit at loose ends about how to fill each day. It's easy to putter around doing nothing in particular until I suddenly notice another whole day is gone and I haven't really accomplished much of anything. Not that there is so much that absolutely has to be done on any given day. Mainly it's lots of odd jobs where it really doesn't matter which day they get done. Still, they do need to be done sometime, and the good old-fashioned paper checklist is my current miracle tool.

There is something so fulfilling about writing stuff down, no matter how trivial, and then checking it off when it's finished. Sometimes I even add an item to my list after I've finished it, just to have the pleasure of checking it off! Pathetic? Perhaps. But it works.

Naturally "there's an app for that". I've downloaded several to-do list apps. They're good too. Still, at least for me, a paper list I can scrawl onto absolutely anytime is the number one choice. The act of physically crossing something off is so satisfying. And as fast as the iPad is to launch, my paper list is even more instantaneous. And when the day is over and everything is done (or moved to the next list) I can just scrunch it up and toss it away.

For a procrastinator like me, the list is a godsend. My biggest trouble is that I sometimes have difficulty estimating how long a task will take. Electronic tasks in particular are notoriously hard to predict. Yesterday I had to reinstall Dan's baseball game. I thought fifteen minutes would suffice, but it was more like forty five ... without letting myself get distracted or off task either. It was just plain slow. But I can tell you that checking it off felt awfully good.

Today I've come up with another dilemma. What happens when everything is done? Except for a concert I may or may not go to tonight (and very basic things like walking the dogs and making supper which I don't put on the list at all), I really have finished all I'd earmarked for today. Guess what I need to do is make sure I either have a list of any-day odd jobs saved up, or start scheduling in a few fun things too. "You must read for at least an hour today. You must eat a Popsicle!" That could be kind of fun. And now I absolutely must go and have a cup of tea and do a few puzzles - it's not on the list yet, but it could be soon!