A Reading Week

It's been cold over here. Since Thursday until today, we've had mostly clear skies,sunshine and a decided chill in the air.  It is always colder here when it isn't raining. Last night I felt the deep chill despite having the central heating on. When I woke up this morning, there was a sprinkling of snow on the ground. Enough to cause a lot of havoc on our streets because at a certain dewpoint (in this case zero degrees) we get fog cover and icy streets. The city workers weren't ready for the snow fall this morning for some reason but they should be ready now.  The meteorologist says this weather is expected to continue for a few days.

In other news I've been slowly making my way through two books "Where White Mean Fear to Tread", the autobiography of Russell Means and "Appetite for Life", the biography of Julia Childs.

I have completed the chapters devoted to Russell Meanses' early life and work history and am now in the early days of his involvement with the American Indian Movement (AIM), the sacrifices made by his family and and some of the personal angst he suffered in his early days of involvement with AIM.

I have completed the chapters devoted to Julia's Child's early life, her early work history in India and China, and marriage to Paul Child. I am now at the part where Julia has finished her training at the Cordon Bleu Institute in Paris and is writing her book on French cooking.

These two books couldn't be more different but they are very fascinating since both of these individuals contributed to the contemporary history of the United States.Initially I didn't like the style of either of these books but I got into them as I delved deeper into the books.

Both of the accomplished individuals in these books are now deceased and I  wanted to learn more about them and their huge contributions to today's society. Mr. Means came from an impoverished background, of rough living, drugs and moving from job to job; whereas Julie McWilliams came from a very privileged background.

I didn't plan to read both of these large-ish books at the same time but I'm glad it turned out that way for it helps me to compare and contrast how each of these larger than life individuals developed and became what they became. I found it very striking what each had gone through in their early lives and how they both reached a pivotal turning point in the direction of their respective lives when they reached their early 30s.  For Mr. Means this meant becoming highly active in the AIM movement and for Mrs. Child, this meant, getting married and moving to France to begin her culinary training and career.

I still have a lot to read and am taking my time. If you get a chance I would highly recommend you pick up one or both of these books.

In other news I've been spending some time studying Cree, dealing with things around the house and for my mom. I also have a whole lot of errands and appointments this month; many of which I've had to cancel or postpone due to the leg problem. If the weather ever improves I should feel better all around but I'm glad to make even a little progress. At least the weather is a good excuse for staying indoors and reading a good book.

I hope all of you are enjoying your January.

Blessings.

Journey Home - Part 3

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. 

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

I returned home from my Christmas travels on December 27, 2012. Part 1 of my journey photos can be viewed here.  Part 2 can be viewed here. This is the last installment of this series.  I hope you enjoyed the peek into the scenery around these parts.

We are at Herrling Island just before you get to the City of Chilliwack.

 

I think I was just taking photo of the traffic sign and the red barn to the right of the photo.

Chilliwack is a farming community and in this photo you see row upon row of greenhouses.

A photo for my international readers so you can see what is on the side of the road. I think KFC is now in many countries including Kenya. It is a fried chicken fast food outlet.

 

A scene from the freeway toward one of the many suburbs outside Vancouver. I think this is part of Port Coquitlam.

We are fast approaching the new Port Mann Bridge. You can see it in the distance to the right of the photo.

We are on the new Port Mann Bridge which has only been open about a month and cost 3.4 Billion dollars or thereabouts. It has already been closed to traffic twice due to the bad weather we've been having. They need to find solutions to the problems that have arisen thus far. It's atrocious that the bridge cost that much and can't help move the traffic in bad weather, especially when drivers have to pay a toll fee on top of it all!

A close up view. You can see the posts are designed to join right above the cars below. This was problematic after a snow fall when icy snow bombed cars below causing numerous accidents and bridge closure just before Christmas.

After we crossed the 2nd Narrows Bridge to the north we travelled west on the Upper Levels Hwy. (Trans-Canada Hwy. to Taylor Way and then south to Future Shop at Park Royal Mall). You can take this highway to the Sea to Sky Highway which takes you to the beautiful ski town of Whistler where many locals and celebrities go skiing.

We ended our long journey with a several hour shopping expedition at the Future Shop looking for appliances. It was a busy store that day and my leg was very sore. I was not in the mood for shopping. Thank goodness my brother and nephew were there to do the "legwork".

I was glad to finally get home to Vancouver that day!

This is my submission to Skywatch Friday. You can see the sky was very gray in the last hours of our journey. If you look at Parts 1 and 2, you will see we had a variety of skies that day.

Happy Skywatch Friday! 

Kenyan Update

Hello friends,

From time to time I've blogged about Kipngeno  and his need for sponsorship to attend medical school. Kipngeno is a very bright high school graduate from the highlands of Kenya.  Though it was a huge struggle financially with not knowing where his funds were coming from, he managed to finish first year medical studies and sustain his desire to continue medical studies.

My efforts to find him a sponsor have gone in vain but I am thanking God because now Kipngeno has finally received a loan from his government to pay for his tuition.  Praise God!!

Kipngeno still needs some modest support to pay for transport from his home to his university each new term and to pay for his room and board.  The costs are a lot less than in America and if you are able to help at all it would be gratefully appreciated.

Kipngeno on the far right with his classmate in the middle and Jonah on the far left.

Please send any donations to me and I will send them on to him in Kenya. It costs about $300 total for Term 1 (room and board, travel).  I don't expect any one person will be able to cover the full amount but if you can help at all, any amount you can send would be a huge help. Somehow with God's help, and a little help from others here and there, Kipngeno will get through another year of medical studies. Kenya is in dire need of doctors and medical professionals. If you are new to this story and this need and you would like to help Kipngeno through the longer term I would love to hear from you!

In other matters, Jonah's mother is still in hospital in Eldoret. She was released and went home to the village but was readmitted to Moi University Hospital in Eldoret before Christmas. She is suffering from some kind of vascular,  blood and paralysis issues.  Doctors believe it is caused by decades of bending over to cook and do the work that village women do.  Doctors would like her to be transferred to hospital in Nairobi for further treatment and surgery.  Your prayers for her and all the associated needs would be most welcome.

Thank you.

Moving Forward

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.

2 Chronicles 15:7

This is an encouraging word from the Bible. It encourages me to be diligent in all things and to keep moving forward despite the challenges that come and go and some that drag on longer than I'd like.  The verse is a promise to me (and to all who believe) that eventually (perhaps sooner, perhaps later), my efforts will be rewarded.

The process of goal setting, which I started a few years ago, and the process of reflecting on progress at the end of each year, helps me to see what it is I am moving forward to each year, and whether my efforts are being rewarded with all my goals, not just the spiritual ones though those are very important too.

Of course other things may arise which impacts on what I am doing at any given time. New things may take priority, like the Swahili class I enrolled in in 2012.  I had not planned on taking the course in a formal way, and that is okay because I simply adjusted my priorities to fit in new ones. Anything I do not achieve in a given year can simply be carried forward to another year, and other things can be dropped if they no longer fit my needs. What is important to me is that I keep in mind the things I have been wanting to do for a long time and make space in my life now that I have the freedom of more time. When I was working I never had much time for doing anything that I really wanted to do. My hours of work were excruciating and demanding. Family needs took up the rest of my time. Now I am retired but I have health challenges that take up a lot of my time.  Even so I am blessed with more time for doing some of the things I want to do and I don't want to waste it.

Helping in the mission field is a huge part of my life. I was helping Jonah at Missions of Hope in Kenya but he is taking a break from his volunteer efforts at present and for the foreseeable future.  I will continue helping him and others whenever I can.   Jonah is not currently working on missions as a volunteer while he contemplates and acts on the next important phase of his life but we have not lost contact. Later, I hope to be able to undertake some projects of my own in Kenyan villages and I have done that several times before, often with Jonah's help. If you are new to my blog you can read about some of that work here. You can either read the posts backwards or scroll down and start from the beginning.

Image Credit: AANISCHAAUKAMIKW Cree Cultural Institute

Monday night I started my new language class. I think I will enjoy it a lot. I don't intend to say too much about it as I'm sure that will not be so interesting to most of you. I will simply say that I am studying the Cree language, and in particular, the Plains Cree dialect which is spoken in the western provinces and northern territory of Canada (which you can see in map above).  The map suggests that the Plains dialect ends at the BC/Alberta border (the two westernmost provinces) but there are actual Cree speaking communities in northwestern BC as well.  They have been established in that part of the province for a very long time.

This was the scene as I got off the bus at the university at 6:20 p.m. Jan7, 2013. It is very dark but at least it wasn't raining as was earlier in the day. This bus "loop" did not exist when I was a student many years ago but that tall building directly ahead in the photo is where I lived for a year in my 2nd year on campus. Oh the memories!

I actually spoke Cree as my first language but my parents started me speaking English when I was only about 3 years old so I didn't get much of a grounding in the language.  When I started university I tried very hard on my own to practice the language.  I had some success, however there weren't a lot of opportunities to practice. My mother did not remember to speak to me in the language even though I reminded her many times.  Speaking to her children in English was a habit hard to break.  Now I will be studying the language formally. My nephew and I will be enrolled in the same class and it will be fun to see how we both get on with the language. He was a huge help to me tonight finding the building and escorting me from and to the bus stop as well as carrying my bag and coffee.  We both plan on practicing what we learn with my mom over the phone. It will be special and nice.  In fact, right after class, my nephew called his grandma and said some words to her in Cree, including words that I don't even remember and which we did not learn in the class.  I was quite impressed. I do also intend to get back to studying Swahili as soon as I am able. 

What about you dear reader?  What are your special goals for 2013?

This is my submission for Our World Tuesday. Please join in if you can and read what others are up to.

Simple Woman's Daybook

 

I haven't participated in this meme for awhile. Thanks to Rachel for inspiring me to join in today.

FOR TODAY...Monday 7th January, 2013

Outside my window...the sky is grey and overcast and wet!

I am thinking...that tonight is the start of my new language class at the university. I really don't want to leave the house due to inclement weather and a bad leg but I will. I'll be "testing" the leg this week and see how it goes.

I am thankful...that even though my leg is not yet 100% and is more sore than yesterday, I can walk better than I did a few days ago.

In the kitchen...Nothing is happening today. I had cold cereal for breakfast and will have some cold chicken and hot soup for lunch.

I am wearing...pajamas. I'm feeling lazy today but I really do need to get dressed.

I am creating...nothing at the moment but am very excited as I have a new sewing machine to work with soon. More about that later.

I am going...to eat, have my shower, fold laundry and get going to the university.

I am wondering...when I will complete all the registration requirements for my new class. I am already a bit behind schedule with the process through no fault of my own. Everything is much different since I last attended university!

I am reading...university websites and trying to register on line. I need technical help but not for the obvious reasons. I've looked for their phone number (hard to find) and sent them an email instead. My alma mater is geared to doing everything on line these days. So far no response but I'm sure (hope) it will be sorted out this week.

I am hoping...My leg holds up to a lot of walking this week. I was also hoping to get some financial assistance with the class but found out this afternoon that won't happen.  I still want to take the class :-)

I am looking forward to...some deliveries in the mail which will help me with acting on two of my longer term goals for the year.  More about this in future posts.

I am learning...to relax, take it easy and more or less "go with the flow".

Around the house...the rooms are relatively clean or "liveable".  The kitchen floor is in need of a wash after the delivery and installation of new appliances, the pots and pans need hand washing and laundry needs folding. I'm listening to old Ed Sullivan shows and old music on KCTS 9. One of my favourite bands, Creedence Clearwater Revival just finished singing "Proud Mary". It's so funny to see the old "hip" clothing they and other groups like The Fifth Dimension are wearing.

I am pondering...my new class and how much home work I might have. Perhaps I should say I am excited about taking my new class but I'm more anxious than excited. I want to do well and at least retain a lot of what I'm taught. Of course everyone would like to do that and the older one gets the harder to retain things.

One of my favourite things...reaching goals and feeling like I'm making progress.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  catching up on my new book "Where White Men Fear to Tread: The Autobiography of Russell Means", finishing my old book "East of Eden" and continuing with my Bible readings; completing the administrative requirements for my course, going to the eye doctor and making my appointments for the rest of the month.

The autobiography of Russell Means is a long book (573 pages in hardcover).  Amazon describes it as "
An autobiography of epic scope--the riveting life story of Russell Means, the most revolutionary Indian leader of our century, who burst onto the national scene when he led a 71-day armed takeover of Wounded Knee in 1973. Means brilliantly recounts the tragic quest of Indians to maintain cultural identity in the face of unremitting white assimilation."  Personally the style of writing doesn't fully engage me but I think this is a very important book to read.  It covers important aspects of American history and race relations with Native Americans.  Mr. Means died on October 22, 2012 and  I'm glad he had a chance to write his autobiography before his passing. May he rest in peace.

A peek into my day...getting organized for the week and learning to be a student again.

Click here if you would like to participate in this meme or read other entries in the Simple Woman's Daybook.

A Sunday Afternoon

It was a Sunday afternoon, wet and cheerless; and a duller spectacle this earth of ours has not to show than a rainy Sunday in London.

Thomas De Quincey

When I read this quote I thought it was made just for my city on a cold, wet afternoon. It is often like this in winter on a weekend when one would like to get out and see something.  A lot of people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (depression from lack of sunlight over the dark, winter months) as a result and it is easy to see why. I find it helps to get out when you can despite the weather and to also have things that you look forward to doing, whether it be inside or outside (having my list of annual goals really helps me with ensuring I have useful things to do and things I want to do).

However I've been indoors a lot since I returned home from my Christmas visit.  I am nursing my left leg which gave out before Christmas (another knee problem in my good leg). It has been too painful to walk and I'm trying to get well before my new class starts on Monday night (that's tomorrow already!).

I've been praying for myself, getting others to pray for me, putting a heating pad on the knee for hours at a time, rubbing some  liniment on it, doing some light stretching, taking fish oils and generally staying off the leg as much as I can.  Just the other day I added Curamin to my regimen.  I am happy to report that late yesterday and again today I can feel an improvement and I'm cautiously optimistic that if if things continue to improve I will be able to make it to my first class tomorrow night. I plan to study and learn the Cree language, one of the largest of the First Nations languages of Canada.  It doesn't seem to be offered every term so I really want to take advantage of the offering now and will be studying the Plains dialect (spoken in the western provinces and Northern Terrritories).  Originally I was going to carry on with my Swahili language lessons but that will have to wait until the Fall or I will try to make time to study on my own.

In domestic news, my kitchen is now back to normal. The new dishwasher has been used to wash a load. It is a very quiet operation (so nice). I've also made some porridge on the new stove top. The burners heat virtually immediately. This is such a nice feature as I really dislike waiting for water to boil. The oven was also used to roast a rosemary chicken and came out very nicely crisped on top. I will save some white meat for my lunch or dinner tomorrow. The fridge appears to be working very well. Everything is nicely chilled. So far I'm very happy with all the new appliances. I'm now going to kick back with the heating pad on my leg and read a good book.

I hope you are making good progress on your goals and plans for 2013. We have a whole wonderful year to look forward to and enjoy. See you soon.

Blessings!

Starting the Year With a Bang

The first few days after the holiday are always busy. Busy trying to take down Christmas decor, unpack from travels, reflect on last year's goals and set new ones and generally trying to be organized for the new year.

I'm off to a good start. I've been busily researching courses and workshops in my local neighbourhood and at my Alma Mater which is quite a bit farther. I've re-enrolled as a student at my Alma Mater and I'm possibly taking a course next week.  It will require several evenings of my time each week for the next several months. Next week I'll know more fully whether I will take the class. If I do take it,  my nephew and I will be classmates. This is hilarious as I haven't been to uni. in decades.

Over the holidays, I purchased several appliances and dealt with all my technical needs (television, speakers, laptop and new operating system for my PC).  All appliances are stainless steel and all were purchased at excellent seasonal discounts.

My appliances were delivered today! Yeah!!

Today, I also got rid of the old refrigerator and stove and have put everything (all the frozen food) back in the new freezer before it began to thaw.   The refrigerator is much bigger than the old one so it also takes up more space. It is heaven to have a refrigerator that is nicely organized inside and has lots of space for everything and more!  I'm still tearing the plastic off the new stove so probably won't use it for another day or so.  Tomorrow the new dishwasher will be installed and the old one taken away for recycling.

To add to my happiness, I found out today that I got another 15% off the dishwasher because the store extended it's sales this week.  That meant another trip to the store for the refund but it was well worth it. I shared the refund with my brother who actually caught on to this sale and went himself to obtain the refund for me.

I didn't take the following photos but they show you what the appliances look like.

Once the dishwasher is installed my kitchen will be more or less organized and I can get back to cooking again rather than eating take out.

One of MY commenters (Judy, below) asked about whether I get rebates from my utility company for the new appliances and whether the utility company would take away old appliances for free and give me a discount on bills.

Oh boy, do I wish that were the case!  The utility company does buy back old refrigerators.  Sadly I forgot about the buy back program and instead paid $30 to the retailer to take my old refrigerator away. I guess that means the company made $60, since they will likely take the refrigerator to the utility company themselves for the $30 rebate.

The utility company does pay an energy rebate on certain appliances. You have to check the make and model of your appliance to determine if it is eligible for a rebate.  Then you mail in all the required information and wait a few months.  When I purchased my washer and dryer I found they were eligible for a rebate. It took about 4 months to process but I was pleased to get it.  If I remember correctly the amount of rebate was about $75.  I'm so pleased with the purchase of the HE washer and dryer because they use so little water and power.

One of my other plans/goals for the year is to investigate and "cost out" some modest renos in the kitchen.  This goal has become a little more heightened in priority because of the refrigerator.  It is actually larger in size though characterized as the store as "standard".  Due to the larger size, the baseboards had to be taken out in the "refrigerator closet" to make room for it to slide in. When I re-do the kitchen counter and possibly the kitchen floor, the "closet" walls can be narrowed a bit to make more room for the refrigerator. Right now you can't see where the baseboards have been removed so things will be fine until the remodel work is done.

So all in all the week has been very busy and the new year has gotten off to a busy start.

I hope you are all having an excellent start to your New Year also!