http://bva.guetterman.com/ Eclectic ramblings of a curious mind en-us Nucleus CMS v3.31 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://bva.guetterman.com//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://bva.guetterman.com/ http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=738
It must be said that the weather, time of year, also plays a major role in my energy level.  This is my favourite time of year and I ususally do more walking in the cool brisk air. ]]> General http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=738 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:26:21 -0400 http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=735 General http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=735 Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:59:27 -0400 http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=681 In my last entry I wrote "pare" of skates instead of Pair of skates - I guess if I had used spell check it would not have registered as a mistake since it is a "real" word.
]]> General http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=681 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:51:37 -0400 http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=680
I am looking forward to seeing my two year old grandson in his first pare of skates this winter - his popa (Melissa's stepdad)  will be taking the little one to the rink and teaching him to skate - should be worth hundreds of pictures taken by the proud parents.
]]> General http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=680 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:46:03 -0400 http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=672
Tomorrow promises to be a busy day but I must schedule time for rest  to be well enough to work my next shift. Luckily I have two weeks of vacation booked at the beginning of Sept - it would really suck to be sick when I'm off.

This summer I have enjoyed the company of my grandchildren - a teenager and a two year old.  They give me the gift of seeing the world through younger eyes and prevent me from getting stodgey.  They give me lots of love .]]> General http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=672 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:41:37 -0400 http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=668
I must say the record rainfalls we've been having have given us beautiful green grass instead of the usual burnt August brown.  Before we know it the EX will be on and that's a sure sign of summer's end.  I am starting to get that usual back to school urge - it's WalMart's fault they had a big display when I went in there the other day.  Now find myself wanting to look through course outlines and wanting to sign up.  The urge will pass as it does every year.]]> General http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=668 Thu, 7 Aug 2008 18:45:22 -0400 http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=665
Yes, I know, I am getting abit carried away with the baby comparisons,  that's because Michael and Melissa have announced they are pregnant.  Jacob will have a baby sister or brother in Jan. 2009.  I do have a bias - I want it to be a girl.

So Melissa and Michael, Here is my offical congratulatios as well as my gratitude for letting me be a part of your lives. 

While I'm in this state of thanksgiving, I want to add that my eldest grandchild, Dianna, has spent a great deal of time with me this summer - It has been a joy.  So thanks Rose for letting her come here and thanks Dianna for being a great house guset.

Ok now i'm finished with the sappy stuff .]]> General http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=665 Mon, 4 Aug 2008 16:34:29 -0400 http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=610
Naturally when I got back to my place I had to put everything in place and ended up moving some furniture,  organizing closets and cupboards and getting rid of quite a number of things that I don't need/use anymore.  I really am sticking to the practice of getting rid of something every time I bring in something new.  My place is small and I don't want it to look or feel cluttered.

I'm going through a bout of feeling that most of what I do at work, at home and with family and friends is "invisible".  By that I mean that while it needs doing, it isn't really noticed unless it isn't done - it's mundane rather than big and flashy.  It also feels like the things I do aren't things that society presents as valuable or shows on TV or in movies.  When these things are presented they are presented in a negative way - as things that nobody wants to do or likes doing.   People who do these things seen as, and presented as, second class citizens who really don't have any "worthwhile" skills - they are also presented as not being very smart because the assumption is that if they were smart they would be doing something else.

It is time to get back to doing Zen meditation regularly - let go of expectations of outcomes.]]> General http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=610 Thu, 29 May 2008 21:00:25 -0400 http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=606
I will continue to let each day unfold and deal with it.  For now, I am looking forward to a couple of weeks of vacation from work. ---]]> General http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=606 Sun, 25 May 2008 09:10:39 -0400 http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=604
I have made it through one year of not smoking inside. Even on the coldest winter evenings I made the trip from my sixth floor apartment down to the front of the building to light up.  Am I smoking less?  Yes, but I am still smoking.  It has occurred to me that smoking has become an outdoor activity for me (and I am sure for many others).  The downside of this is that walking past "drinking holes" has become a source of tension as one has to make one's way through a haze of smoke from often large groups of rude drinkers out for a smoke between drinks.  I must confess that I did not experience that in my former neighbourhood.  In this area I have been subjected to threats and verbal abuse on several occasions as I tried to make my way past these places.

While missing my "puzzle" time on the subway going to and from work, I do like the shorter transit time due to not having to transfer - it's now one short streetcar ride and I often  get a ride from my son which  allows me to leave for work even later.

My Saturday morning ritual of going to the diner on my street for a liesurly breakfast as I did the Star crosswords has been replace with Saturday morning breakfast with a couple of friends who live in this area.    All in all, it has been a very full year of adjustments. ]]> General http://bva.guetterman.com/index.php?itemid=604 Sat, 24 May 2008 09:19:15 -0400