Favourite Books

  • The Green Mile
  • Animal Farm
  • Lord of the Flies
  • Lord of the Rings
  • To Kill a Mockingbird

Friday 24 May 2019

The Sky Is Falling

I have always been a fan of morals. I read and re-read Grimms Fairy tales, and Chinese Tales of the boy who drank the ocean, and even a Fish out of Water(trust me, read that one hundreds of times). I enjoy the story and the lesson learned. Most of which are very easy to glean.
  Those who grew up in my time period, and maybe even those earlier and later, might remember the Story of Chicken Little. This story attempted to teach the lesson of always ensuring one did not simply jump on the bandwagon and accept what another said was fact. Maybe check things out, before going off the deep end, and spreading lies? Old Chicken Little got herself in quite the state thinking the world was going to end, and spread that crap around like chicken manure. She latched on to something and went squawking about scaring everyone. Sound familiar? 
  Well, as an old biddie, I have been around for awhile now. I have lived through a Cold War, that had the whole continent digging underground shelters to ensure survival. I have lived through a hole in the Ozone layer that was going to fry every last one of us. I have lived through acid rain...eeeech..even the sound of that is scary. Oh, and Y2K ..I will admit that one had me a tad bit concerned, enough that I bought an oil filled heater, just in case the power went off. That one had me a wee bit baffled, because it concerned mathematical stuff, and I have never been good at numbers. That said...aside from a few sun burns because of my lily white sensitive skin (not because of Ozone) somehow I am still alive and kicking.
  Now I see children walking out of schools because they are protesting Climate change..WTF? I will again admit, I once, and only once, protested, and that was a lifetime ago when the US decided to detonate an Atomic bomb near Amchitka in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska, keep in mind where I lived Alaska was right next door. I also joined an in school protest in the hallway when our Guidance/PE teacher reneged on the promise of a skating class and decided on a guidance class, instead. Failed PE because of that little escapade. However, walking out of school, with what appears to be the consent of school staff, because of Climate change, is insane. What do these folks think they will accomplish? These same folks putting children who somehow get the ability to have media coverage to spew their uneducated rants regarding the necessity to combat climate change because the past generations have destroyed their world. Sorry, this is stupidity at it's finest. What the heck do these children know? They simply know what someone else is telling them, and they are sucking it down like soda pop. Children who spend day after day on their computers or I suppose now, their cell phones. Children who have never had to work a day in their lives, and who have simply listened to their educators in the classroom, or perhaps flown from one country to another and traveled about, in the atmosphere, assisting the very issue they are warning the world about. Hypocrites at a young age, but put on a pedestal by those who wish to spread false fear. 
  I call it false fear. The same fear I grew up with thinking the Russians were going to kill everyone. Ignorance! Perhaps that is a more fitting word to use. Ignorance of the facts. Thinking somehow they can change what cannot be changed. The same mindset that imagines humans can change rain to sunshine. In truth, that is what they are attempting to do..control something that is naturally occurring. Sure you can change climate in your home. Furnaces, air conditioners, they can fight heat or cold in a small area that is closed off from the elements. What perversion makes these folks assume they can do this all over the world? 
  My country has decided they will "Tax Pollution". Clearly in this government's mind, life is pollution. Attempting to keep warm in winter is pollution. A city cannot have wood fires like those in the past, before these horrid climate change fear mongers attacked. Nope..no coal burning, like the industrial age saw billowing smoke into the air. What the heck do they suggest folks do? One can only turn the heat down so far, before they freeze to death, so is the plan to kill off people so the world lasts longer? No driving, unless it is an electric car (don't get me started on this foolishness). So, you can take polluting large vehicles in a city spewing out noxious fumes (until they are all plugging into that amazing green hydro electric source), but you cannot drive in the middle of Hell's 1/2 acre unless you pay a tax? Is this giving you pause for thought? 
  Climate change is the new Pied Piper. It is focusing on young minds, and scaring the sh*t out of them, so they follow the music. Yes..see..morals..they are all about you, and they are the basis of my life, I see them in all that goes on around me. Young minds, open to accept things so easily, prey for those who have agendas..Look to history and see. 
  I sit in my house, today, one that we own, simply because of resource based income, as the rain pours down (non acidic). I am surrounded by trees ( proven healthy for the environment). I am kilometers away from a small town, and drive very seldom. I pay an average of $250 a month to keep my home warm enough to be comfortable wearing a sweater and slippers. The last time I was on a plane was about 5 years ago. If I vacation it is a trip into the back country, where I sit in silence, without cell phones or video games. I certainly do not wear designer clothing, and attempt to purchase items made in North America where regulations are strict, unlike countries such as China or India (yes, I believe my actions assist for a healthier environment). However, now those who claim they are doing something absolutely critical for my well being, and those who follow, have decided I am going to have to pay a tax on absolutely everything in life. I already pay higher utilities than those pushing this agenda, because of my location. I pay obscenely higher for my groceries already because of shipping, and now they will go up even higher (because of that nasty fuel pollution). 
  I am a simple person. I am quite happy with the basics of life (O.K. yes, I love my internet, because it along with social activities that are pretty limited where I live, it allows me access to knowledge), I don't have the latest phone, or a new vehicle (which apparently would be better for Climate change) I live sparsely, not a lot of fluffy extras in my world, and that is pretty much by choice. I don't know when the last time I was in a shopping mall, I don't have access to concerts, or museums, or art, but again, pretty much a personal choice. However, I am somehow being told I am at fault for pollution. 
  It is time for Chicken Little to hit the stew pot. Chances are with all these new tax hikes, she would be gone long before she lays another egg. Stop listening to the music of the pipes, and following the crowd, because we all know what happened when the Piper got to the end of that road. The sky is NOT falling..the climate is changing..but that is the natural course of things, and we can only adjust..we cannot change what is inevitable. Go with the flow folks..fear is your enemy. Clean up your space, use less, conserve, and maybe stop with the plastic..or at least limit it. Carbon Dioxide is a fact of life..lord I hated science almost as much as math, but I think my trees give me enough carbon credits for a tank of gasoline!! 

Thursday 16 May 2019

Time Waits For No One

Been awhile, eh, folks? Hey not that I haven't sat down and typed a thousand words, because I have. They all sit in drafts , because I am not quite ready to set them free. Clearly hitting the post button has not been an issue in the past, but today, it has become harder to send my rants out into the world. I seldom get that feeling of relief after spewing..Not sure why, but, I have to follow my feelings, so..they will sit.
  This morning, I felt the urge to bare my personal journey with my lifelong partner, Time. I seem to recall a point in life when Time was my friend, and it brought me the ability to do things I dreamed of. Specific ages were so very important, and without Time, they were impossible to reach. Oh you know what I am talking about, old enough to begin school, old enough to be called a teenager (that seemed so exciting, hah!), old enough to go to restricted movies,old enough to go to the bar..and then suddenly Time just started moving so damn fast, and all I had in the future was old enough for a pension and Dennys discounts. 
  Since a pension is not going to allow me much, and I have probably been to Dennys about 3 times in the past 5 years, age has lost it's glow, and I would very much like to have Time take off in another direction. We don't get along anymore. Not a single day, or night for that matter, goes by, without Time ticking me off (get the pun?). All I seem to get from it, is aches, pains, lack of sleep, trips to the toilet, and loss of the simple things in life. When I speak of simple things, I mean the ability to open bloody doors! Suddenly, my companion forever, has decided to throw a wrench in my option of leaving or entering a place, by making it impossible to turn a door knob!! WTF is that all about? Yes, it was a recent issue in my household. I was constantly informing my beloved and my son, that the door knobs had to be changed, because they would not turn! I would stand there trying to turn them one way and the other as they watched, until they would wander over, and poof..they would throw the door open, while looking at me like I was insane. I argued the knob wouldn't do that for me, even two hands, would be difficult. Of course, with my mind, I suddenly was overcome with the thought.."what if there was a fire, and I had to get out quickly? Damn doorknobs would have to be changed, because clearly, I would be trapped." Yes, folks, that is how my mind works..Some days, those knobs would open easily, most days, I would have to place whatever I had in one hand on the floor, so I could use both to attempt to turn them. My Honey watched me one day, clearly I was trying my best to get out the door, he saw me use both hands. Now, I am someone who friends used to hand hard to open jars to, I had hands like plumber's wrenches, that changed years ago. It happened overnight, Time decided to throw those wrenches away, and replace them with bits of tinfoil incapable of opening an aspirin container. I don't know why it took me so long to realize my parasite, Time, was responsible for my inability to turn a damn door knob. 
 That is indeed how I feel about Time now. It is living off of me, sucking the life out of me. I lay in bed and make a move to get comfortable, and suddenly I have pulled a muscle in my back. Those wonderful stretches one would have to get themselves aligned, no longer happen. If I accidentally attempt one, I am in agony, twisting about, trying to unlock knots that scream. Stubbing my toe, means tears of pain shoot out of my eyes, and that appendage will throb for hours. Rub my knuckles against a wall..well there will be blood..because my skin has decided to drop a layer (a small weight loss, but not enough to compensate). Cripes, even trying to cut my damn toe nails is a effort of frustration. I can't put my foot up and lean over quite far enough for the period of time necessary, so this process drags on forever. 
  My skin has changed, my bones have changed, my hair has changed, my eyes...well those suckers were not nice to begin with, and now they seem to get irritated by the smallest gust of wind. Oh..wind..we won't even touch that issue...Now, as for hearing..I truly believe I still have full volume, but family members dispute this..I think they are full of crap, but I will allow them to use my time travel issues if they want. 
  Of course Time plays games with itself, as well. That allocation that used to be given to sleep, well..Time has decided to screw that up totally. Long before darkness sets in (well at least in the summer), Time will start hinting I must replenish by hauling my sorry ass up the stairs and hitting the hay. It doesn't allow much leeway, anymore. I do acknowledge I am one of the lucky ones, I will plop down in bed, turn on the TV watch for about 20 minutes, and I am out like the lights. But...that is when Time plays it's tricks. Long before my energy level has recharged, I am awake..in the darkness. I have to get out of bed to head directly into a specific room, and once that business has been taken care of, there is no way in the world I can return to allow myself to have my batteries restored to full charge. So..I am aware that once again, my days will end sooner than a decade ago. Thankfully my life is seldom full of excitement, and there is nothing that requires me to attempt to fight Time, and stay awake longer than allowed, so..we have reached a mutual understanding of sorts. I just don't argue with the boss. 
 yes, Time is my boss. It rules my world. In childhood I had extra time, as an adult, I had enough time, now as an old fart, Time is limited. I could waste it , once , but now it is precious. I begin my days, hoping to make the best of Time, but generally, somehow Time gets away from me, and I am left blowing my daily limit. The clock keeps spinning, and it goes faster every year. I am afraid that learning to make the best of time, is a lesson I missed. It is not like I can rewind , and go back to a point that I can correct my mistakes, and renew my friendship with Time..we are now enemies, destined to be together until the end of Time, and of course ultimately the end of me. Time...perhaps if it waited, and we caught up to it, we would be sorry?