The Gift of Heat

To some extent I could welcome the gift of a lump of coal for Christmas. If given in the right context, it could probably be a rather genuine gift. Similar to what a hive of bees from the Heifer Project is like, or a designated gift to a radio station like MPR, Jazz 88 or RadioParadise. It could be something given that is enjoyed by others, rather than just an individual.

When burned, coal gives off heat. For those of us that live in the middle of a large continent, with a northern climate, which tends to experience colder spells through winter - we appreciate heat. Although its probably underrated a bit - and perhaps it's become expected.

Photo courtesy via CC

At some point in Minneapolis and other northern towns and cities, folks realized that they preferred individual homes. Some form of heat was needed to warm these homes. The structure we live in was originally heated by a coal fired furnace and boiler system – which then distributed heat to the rest of the house via radiators.

A furnace, boiler and radiators still warm our house, it's just that natural gas now “keeps the fire going”, rather than coal. We recently ripped the coal storage room out of our basement. It was an unused waste of space and we look forward to doing something else with that space. (Like a "study" for dad.)

Our house has a fireplace that still works too. Though most people mention that it is quite inefficient to run the fireplace as it heats only one room and sucks the air out of the house. We use it for special occasions, usually when the entire family is around. It will probably be lit sometime at Christmas.

The United States is said to have 200-300 years worth of coal still available. So, it doesn't seem to be a very rare substance here on Earth (says the carbon-based life form). Though I read recently that Germany has used up most of its coal and is looking to renewable energy, partly because it's an energy source they don't have to import.

Seems funny to me that we are still so reliant on coal, with all our latest technological advances in such important things as e-readers and phones...? Google, recently, invested in solar energy. This is part of an initiative by them to get off of non-renewable energy (like coal). I suppose they need to keep those server storage clouds cool somehow, perhaps they should move'em to Minnesota.

We're fortunate to afford heat. We're fortunate to have the option for heat. Right now we're fortunate to have coal. Perhaps some day we may have solar panels generate electricity to warm our radiators... who knows.... then we could think long term and invest with coal... as diamonds since they're such a rare commodity...

Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs. - Malcolm Forbes
 

Assistance from the Assistants

The Christmas aura is all over the place and we're about to hit that one week home-stretch. Which means the time has come for me to have no clue about what to get my wife. I am finding this to be an annual event - not knowing what to get my other half for this season of giving - geez the difficulties we face in America.

Perhaps it's a glitch in my programming. Perhaps it's a male thing. I don't know, I don't care - I get a bit stressed because my wife deserves to have the warm Christmas morning feeling as anyone else does. But, this year, I may have found an answer: like Santa has his little elves - dad has his little helpers, and I will use them to aid in Christmas shopping for mom this week.

Image courtesy via CC

My spouse and I know each other pretty well by now, but this Christmas thing kills me. She is different than me in that there are only a couple of recurring themes that work for her. Otherwise, I have trouble determining what new gadget or experience she might want or use. It's probably some perfectionist issue, as in finding the "right" gift. Often it becomes this last minute rush to find something - anything - to fill a void.

So sad, I know, again it's quite the dilemma. However, the honest thing is that I don't think its completely my fault. Similar to most years, unless she gives off a little steam and provides a bit of direction, she is going to get some random gift that may work out, or may sit on a shelf collecting dust.

Seemingly, despite voicing outwardly that she isn't fond of surprises, I think that inside she actually likes them. It's part of the psychology of gifting. "Wow a big gift and then a bunch of small ones - neat!" Oops. Yup, gonna really surprise her this year.

And with her presence within a household of boys, many of the gifts she gets are usually fairly aggressive in nature. Wow, now that there is thought behind it, a lot of what she has received has aggressive tendencies. Action figures, Wonder Woman stuff, hockey sweatshirts.

I have often made attempts at getting things that have a "softer" edge to them. The slippers were cute, but not quite right, the lacy stuff was never really used, the clothing was too big... ouch, the Cd's get listened to once in a while.

Anyway as mentioned in the above title line, I will be recruiting assistance from two of my assistants and we shall take a mom-shopping spree together (but I get to drive).

There is extreme uncertainty regarding what she will be getting - but it will be different because for the most part, much of the input will be from my cohorts, fellow conspirators - partners in crime - and we will be thinking about her, not us.

Actually, this may be all I need for Christmas - the inner chuckle from seeing what these descendants might suggest.


(But dad, you and mom never open your toys... they just sit on the shelf. Some day I'm going to open them for you, for real, and then I'm gonna play with them.)

Ick. I don't want to get sick.

Ick. I don’t want to get sick.

I shall dot my i’s and cross my t’s

this time it’s not about them but me.

Fight the system, hide within

for the bugs are small and wish to win

over my soul, my vigor and trust.

Image from CC

As within, so without - 

though the opposite is what this is about.

Theres no "i" in team

the saying is said,

but in this case I may be better off dead

than lying in bed

all covered in sweat

from head to foot.

So, of this I will put

my faith in one macro

avoiding things micro

we all know how that goes
and when we get to pick -

Ick. We don’t want to get sick.

Notes:

Sick, sick, no magical tour

No joyride if stuck in bed thats for sure.

The more your sick the worse you feel,

so wash your hands before every meal.

Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes

Over the past year the bumper sticker “Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes” has reappeared on cars at various intersections around the common places I have been driving. It has made me think, and obviously had an effect on me since I am writing about it.

My voice shakes when I voice my opinion in a hot debate regarding particular issues (the state of religion, politics, boxers vs. briefs). Its no big deal, at first I was annoyed by it, now I see it as a sign of my conviction.

I like this "speak your mind" quote, or bumper sticker. In a dreamworld, politically speaking, it may reflect both true Tea Partiers and true Occupy protesters - who seem recently, to be speaking their mind.

Image courtesy via CC

I like the bumper sticker to the point that I considered getting one for my car. That way, much like this blog I could communicate something to others in a mostly passive way, but still vent my mind out a bit, right?

Except if I placed this bumper sticker on my car, then I would see it all the time. I would potentially be reminded to “speak my mind, even if my voice shakes” on a daily basis. And how would that work out?

Would it soak in like a stain on a shirt, eventually becoming part of my overall fabric to the point that I declare it moreso to others? Maybe.

Or would it just sit there on my car, day in and day out, eventually fading and wearing from the outer elements? It would be another thing attached to my car besides the key scratches. Something that I recognize, but don’t really pay much mind to after the first few months?

Bumper stickers are perhaps like tattoos, neither of which I mind, though my experience with either is limited. There are no bumper stickers on my body and no tattoos on my car - yet.

Despite the lack of ink, I do have a tattoo in mind, it’s just that at this time in my life with kids and house and autos and church and other causes – there just isn’t a lot of extra cash on hand for such an experience… we’ll see.

And the only bumper sticker in my possession sits above my desk, taped over a big scratch on the hutch. It reads "When Jesus said, "Love your enemies," I think he probably meant don't kill them." It was left in my office at my previous job - and so I "borrowed" it when I left.

Anyhow, I haven’t purchased (or borrowed) the "speak your mind" bumper sticker. I guess I've made a choice by this choice. I’ve chosen to let others place that sticker on their bumper, and then let it affect me randomly. And yesterday, I was inspired by this randomness.

Now I just need to look out for boogers that are flicked on my windshield as I drive closer to read all these bumper stickers…

Frosted Flakes

Beyond a festive season the reality of each day sets its tone with muted brightness and solid darkness;

Illumined as blotted whooshes of color atop rigid lines.

Looking out at the chill from a multi-story window, there is the reality that it’s a long way down;
For gravity loosely pulls weight as if a hopeless constant.

Is it?

Because there are millions of snowflakes about and many are floating up and higher as if riding some breath that defies gravity;
Perhaps only for a short while.

Where might those flakes land?

Loaf of Meat

"Ma, the meatloaf! We want it now!" (Chazz Reinhold - Wedding Crashers)

For many, the dormant season comes about in the northern hemisphere. The days grow shorter with less daylight, which also means colder temperatures. Some folks (not all) may be more inclined to hang out indoors and play board games and pass colds around, and yes - it is the season for comfort food which may may mean "hot dishes" or meatloaf.

Courtesy Scott Robinson via CC

Except this blurb isn't about comfort food or a meatloaf.

It's about the fact that a grown man (a loaf of meat) lives at his mom's residence and screams for her to make he and his buddy a meatloaf... on demand, in the middle of the day.

Last week a similar request was made of my mother.

"Mom, a hot dish! We want it now!"

No, that's silly, it was scrambled eggs. We asked grandma/mom to make us boys some scrambled eggs (the kids have recently started to "love" them). In all regards, she was asked fairly politely and we were fortunate to have been rewarded for our request.

Grandma/mom doesn't "live" at the house. She comes to the house each day to watch the boys as the wife and I head out to our day jobs... except Fridays. Fridays, for me at least, are a day off from the daily job as other work gets accomplished. Admittedly, for this I am very fortunate and sometimes on Fridays, as the schedule permits, certain requests are made of grandmom. We can say that she makes mean french toast and scrambled eggs and dare it be said... meatloaf.

Rumors have reached these ears regarding how in Europe, Asia and many other parts of the world - an extended family lives together in one house, under one roof, the whole family - grandparents, parents, kids. This is something that is not completely common in much of Minnesota, although it's probably more common as of the past couple of years. Praise to those that make it work!

Also, praise to all grandmas, grandpas, moms and dads who cook and make those kitchens smell so good.

It's interesting how the schematics of this "family dynamic" will evolve and whether it will become more common across America.... as we ketchup to the rest of the world... in this regard.

Wait a minute, did he say ketchup? Do you use ketchup on or in your meat loaf, or both?