... from Christmas
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Television that's Good for the Brain?
Speaking of brain power (which we weren't but I've been thinking about it lol), maybe television can help. I know that's not the usual take on this supposedly mindless activity, but bear with me, will ya?
The Cuppa and I have been catching up on some programs that we missed over the hols but recorded on our handy dandy little machine. The programs that we regularly record include British series such as Waking the Dead, Judge John Deed, Inspector Lynley, and Midsomer Murders (among others). In this round of catchup, we have been privileged to watch two episodes of Midsomer Murders, each episode being composed two separate hour-long segments.
We found ourselves, not for the first time, being totally confused by the first episode that we recently watched: The Fisher King. In this, a typical case by the way, we were so quickly introduced to so many characters that we easily lost track. It's not so bad when you can see who Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby and his assistant are talking to, but when they just reference these suspects in passing dialogue, it can become mighty confusing.
So, I decided to take notes in our next episode, Sins of Commission. It's a good thing because, in total, we were introduced to 15 characters (16 if you count one person who changed identities and not counting the regulars), mostly in the first hour. Dems allotta characters, eh? So, you can perhaps see why one might become a trifle lost when someone whom you've barely met is referenced as Sam Callahan or Neville Williams later on. You tend to think Sam Who or Neville Huh?
But the notes helped. It seems to me that they helped me engage my grey matter by forcing me to focus more clearly. Even before I referred to the notes, I found that my brain was working harder to recall the particulars. In other words, the experience became more active rather than simply passive, and that would seem to be good for the noggin rather than bad.
As I said, within reason, we watch as much British television as we can. I think it all started when we chanced upon Cracker many years ago. It was great stuff which blew North America TV out of the water (poor metaphor, I know). If you ever have a chance compare the British Waking the Dead to the American Cold Case, two programs based on similar premise. In point of fact, there really is no comparison. Waking the Dead is deep and variable while Cold Case employs the same banal and predictable formula every darn week. The ghosts (you know what I mean if you watch it) and the music do help to make Cold Case watchable, but I think that most would agree that it's pretty thin.
Over the years, we have watched Prime Suspect, Inspector Morse, Frost and others, some of which I've listed at the outset. At one time A&E was a good source for such programs, but it doesn't seem to be any more, but PBS still has its share. I think we pick up Midsomer Murders on our local PBS-like (but not PBS) station, but I'm fairly confident that it can be found elsewhere. Now, in Canada we have BBC Canada to help to feed our addiction for these types of programs, and if there's a BBC Canada, there surely must be an American version too? Hint, hint.
FYI: here's how midsomermurders.net describes the program that I've gone about today, Midsomer Murders.
The Cuppa and I have been catching up on some programs that we missed over the hols but recorded on our handy dandy little machine. The programs that we regularly record include British series such as Waking the Dead, Judge John Deed, Inspector Lynley, and Midsomer Murders (among others). In this round of catchup, we have been privileged to watch two episodes of Midsomer Murders, each episode being composed two separate hour-long segments.
We found ourselves, not for the first time, being totally confused by the first episode that we recently watched: The Fisher King. In this, a typical case by the way, we were so quickly introduced to so many characters that we easily lost track. It's not so bad when you can see who Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby and his assistant are talking to, but when they just reference these suspects in passing dialogue, it can become mighty confusing.
So, I decided to take notes in our next episode, Sins of Commission. It's a good thing because, in total, we were introduced to 15 characters (16 if you count one person who changed identities and not counting the regulars), mostly in the first hour. Dems allotta characters, eh? So, you can perhaps see why one might become a trifle lost when someone whom you've barely met is referenced as Sam Callahan or Neville Williams later on. You tend to think Sam Who or Neville Huh?
But the notes helped. It seems to me that they helped me engage my grey matter by forcing me to focus more clearly. Even before I referred to the notes, I found that my brain was working harder to recall the particulars. In other words, the experience became more active rather than simply passive, and that would seem to be good for the noggin rather than bad.
As I said, within reason, we watch as much British television as we can. I think it all started when we chanced upon Cracker many years ago. It was great stuff which blew North America TV out of the water (poor metaphor, I know). If you ever have a chance compare the British Waking the Dead to the American Cold Case, two programs based on similar premise. In point of fact, there really is no comparison. Waking the Dead is deep and variable while Cold Case employs the same banal and predictable formula every darn week. The ghosts (you know what I mean if you watch it) and the music do help to make Cold Case watchable, but I think that most would agree that it's pretty thin.
Over the years, we have watched Prime Suspect, Inspector Morse, Frost and others, some of which I've listed at the outset. At one time A&E was a good source for such programs, but it doesn't seem to be any more, but PBS still has its share. I think we pick up Midsomer Murders on our local PBS-like (but not PBS) station, but I'm fairly confident that it can be found elsewhere. Now, in Canada we have BBC Canada to help to feed our addiction for these types of programs, and if there's a BBC Canada, there surely must be an American version too? Hint, hint.
FYI: here's how midsomermurders.net describes the program that I've gone about today, Midsomer Murders.
The programme possesses a unique style. It is almost entirely set within the closed, backwards-looking fictional English county of Midsomer. Midsomer is a world whose inhabitants are a collection of wealthy, amoral and snobbish eccentrics often obsessed with the fairly small lives they lead in these isolated communities. This provides for an enormous amount of friction between them which is observed with a self-mocking, sardonic humour.
The show often highlights the facade put up by people. To the eye Midsomer is a picturesque, peaceful and prosperous county but in fact behind the well-trimmed hedgerows and cricket on the village green is a society brimming with all kinds of vices. Barnaby by contrast offers a stable homelife and an exceptional morality.
Each story is built up carefully, with underpinning currents and unsolved mysteries adding to the bemusement of the detectives. There are usually a number of false leads, such as those who have committed petty crimes, or harbour some dark secret that they attempt to conceal from the world. Despite the sinister, atmospheric edge that runs through the show, it maintains a constant humour.
One feature of the programme is the extremely large number of deaths, especially considering that Midsomer is a small, rural county. Because of the slightly bizarre nature of the place, this does not seem entirely improbable. The show at times even plays on this lack of realism, with characters within it often commenting on the astoundingly high numbers of deaths.
The show often highlights the facade put up by people. To the eye Midsomer is a picturesque, peaceful and prosperous county but in fact behind the well-trimmed hedgerows and cricket on the village green is a society brimming with all kinds of vices. Barnaby by contrast offers a stable homelife and an exceptional morality.
Each story is built up carefully, with underpinning currents and unsolved mysteries adding to the bemusement of the detectives. There are usually a number of false leads, such as those who have committed petty crimes, or harbour some dark secret that they attempt to conceal from the world. Despite the sinister, atmospheric edge that runs through the show, it maintains a constant humour.
One feature of the programme is the extremely large number of deaths, especially considering that Midsomer is a small, rural county. Because of the slightly bizarre nature of the place, this does not seem entirely improbable. The show at times even plays on this lack of realism, with characters within it often commenting on the astoundingly high numbers of deaths.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Being Wise on a Snowy Day
It's back — winter and snow, I mean. After huge mountains of white were reduced to only large mountains of white by a day of rain on Sunday, we had a new fall yesterday, with more expected in the next few days. Which means that after week of respite it is high time for AC to get out and shovel.
But I don't mind shovelling. In fact, my perverse side rather enjoys it ... up to a point at least. It's good exercise, and it's usually not too much of a strain if one applies a modicum of common sense. You do need to be cautious, however, because snow-shovelling can be dangerous: hard on the heart. During the pre-Christmas accumulations, for example, a 45 year-old man in our town dropped dead in his driveway after shovelling.
That's why Cuppa worries and frets when I get out there. But while nothing is completely safe, I don't think she needs to worry much because I try to exercise caution and vigilance over my body as much as possible. When I feel that I'm beginning to breathe too hard, I pause and lean on my shovel. Sometimes, to reinforce the necessity of taking it easy, I actually put the implement down and/or move back into the edge of the garage and lean against the car. I catch my breath a little before re-commencing to push more snow around.
I try my best to enjoy what I am doing: the exercise, the invigorating air, the chance to wave at a neighbour or two. I think that's a key: to see it as an enjoyable opportunity and not just an odious chore to be dealt with as quickly as possible because I'm pretty sure that's when the catastrophes occur. Snow-shovelling and many other chores really can be enjoyable if we go about them in the right frame of mind.
I learned some this from my father. He had a bad hernia, but he'd get out there frequently and just sweep the snow aside. While that approach wouldn't have worked with our excessive pre-Christmas dumping, it often worked for him during ordinary winters. While I don't have a hernia, I try to follow his example by attending to the snow frequently. On one or even two days a week or two ago, I went out at least three times, so that no single shovelling event became too onerous. Fortunately, nice neighbour with the snow blower came to the rescue the few times that the load got a bit beyond comfort level.
Maybe, there's a certain wisdom that comes with age (not that I'm terribly old, but, at sixty, I'm no longer young either). I find that the younger set doesn't always get it that less can be more. For example if one needs to shift a load from here to there, making two trips carrying fewer bags or boxes can actually be easier than overloading oneself so that it can be accomplished in one trip, thereby possibly saving a whole minute or two. It's the same with shovelling snow. Three light shovellings can be a lot easier than one big one, especially if you slow down enough to enjoy it.
So ... I don't think Cuppa needs to worry when I head back out there to do my duty in a little later this morning. But she will.
But I don't mind shovelling. In fact, my perverse side rather enjoys it ... up to a point at least. It's good exercise, and it's usually not too much of a strain if one applies a modicum of common sense. You do need to be cautious, however, because snow-shovelling can be dangerous: hard on the heart. During the pre-Christmas accumulations, for example, a 45 year-old man in our town dropped dead in his driveway after shovelling.
That's why Cuppa worries and frets when I get out there. But while nothing is completely safe, I don't think she needs to worry much because I try to exercise caution and vigilance over my body as much as possible. When I feel that I'm beginning to breathe too hard, I pause and lean on my shovel. Sometimes, to reinforce the necessity of taking it easy, I actually put the implement down and/or move back into the edge of the garage and lean against the car. I catch my breath a little before re-commencing to push more snow around.
I try my best to enjoy what I am doing: the exercise, the invigorating air, the chance to wave at a neighbour or two. I think that's a key: to see it as an enjoyable opportunity and not just an odious chore to be dealt with as quickly as possible because I'm pretty sure that's when the catastrophes occur. Snow-shovelling and many other chores really can be enjoyable if we go about them in the right frame of mind.
I learned some this from my father. He had a bad hernia, but he'd get out there frequently and just sweep the snow aside. While that approach wouldn't have worked with our excessive pre-Christmas dumping, it often worked for him during ordinary winters. While I don't have a hernia, I try to follow his example by attending to the snow frequently. On one or even two days a week or two ago, I went out at least three times, so that no single shovelling event became too onerous. Fortunately, nice neighbour with the snow blower came to the rescue the few times that the load got a bit beyond comfort level.
Maybe, there's a certain wisdom that comes with age (not that I'm terribly old, but, at sixty, I'm no longer young either). I find that the younger set doesn't always get it that less can be more. For example if one needs to shift a load from here to there, making two trips carrying fewer bags or boxes can actually be easier than overloading oneself so that it can be accomplished in one trip, thereby possibly saving a whole minute or two. It's the same with shovelling snow. Three light shovellings can be a lot easier than one big one, especially if you slow down enough to enjoy it.
So ... I don't think Cuppa needs to worry when I head back out there to do my duty in a little later this morning. But she will.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Christmas Eve in Anvilcloudia
While this, the 23rd, isn't likely your Christmas Eve, it's ours this year, and tomorrow, the 24th, will be our Christmas Day. That's because of travelling and flight times, not necessarily because we can't wait to tear open our gifts. Soon, we will head to Thesha's for a brunch, and we'll do a big snack-spread this evening with cheeses, crackers, dips and many etceteras. Tomorrow we will open gifts and devour the turkey.
So it is that the timing has worked out well for my last Christmas Music post. I've seen this video on two blogs already, so you probably have too, but for those who haven't seen and heard, Celine Dion's O Holy Night is pretty awesome — traditional but wonderful nevertheless. Enjoy, and have a great Christmas at your house.
So it is that the timing has worked out well for my last Christmas Music post. I've seen this video on two blogs already, so you probably have too, but for those who haven't seen and heard, Celine Dion's O Holy Night is pretty awesome — traditional but wonderful nevertheless. Enjoy, and have a great Christmas at your house.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
It Continues to Snow
We just made a whirlwind trip to the cottage and back. We left, somewhat unpreparedly, on Monday and returned on Wednesday with the A-Team in tow. Yet another snowfall caused us to depart back home somewhat abruptly that morning, but we made it back in one piece and none the worse for wear about four hours later. The above photo shows the road just outside the cottage upon our departure. The one below looks back toward the cottage from the same spot. Note: In part, I post these because some dear readers expressed their appreciation of my previous winter photos, and I do like to
Getting into the cottage on Monday night was a wee bit of a problem, however. You see, on Sunday, Cuppa had called the gentleman who is paid to clear the snow from the driveway, and he had assured us that it would be done by Monday afternoon. When we arrived, however, not only had the driveway not been ploughed of its knee-deep snow, but the entrance was totally blocked by the leavings of the township ploughs.
Note: for those unaccustomed to real winter, this (being plowed in or out) is a perpetual and unavoidable scenario. It happens here in the city too; no sooner do I get my own driveway shovelled, but the town plough happens by and leaves me a pile at the entrance about a foot high and four feet wide. The additional problem is that this machine-dumped snow is almost invariably quite heavy. No one is to blame, and there's no sense in getting strung out over it; it's just the way it is.
In the event, the girls shovelled enough snow for us to get the car off the road, and we then lugged our very full carload of stuff down the knee-deep snowy lane to the cottage. Snowshoes helped the process a lot, but it took one long trip down in the knee-deep snow to locate and make use of them.
I told my ladies that if Mr Ploughman gave us some sort of lame excuse like a flat tire in the morrow that we'd know he was lying. His eventual excuse was a weak variation: "Sorry I couldn't make it yesterday, I had some car trouble." Uh huh! We believe him, don't we?
Anyway, we survived to eat many snacks, play various games around the kitchen table, and go out for a snowshoe walk. I took the next two photos on that walk. The second illustrates that if you do fall on snowshoes, it's very difficult to get back up without assistance.
When we got home last night, I had my driveway to shovel out, and I see that I will have to repeat the process this morning.
Monday, December 17, 2007
More Snowy Pics
Yesterday, I posted this photo of the disappearing bbq, taken mid-morning.
Here it is early in the afternoon.
And by mid-afternoon.
In the evening.
The snow is piling up like crazy. I went out shovelling three times.
The last time I went out, I took some night photos.
Here it is early in the afternoon.
And by mid-afternoon.
In the evening.
The snow is piling up like crazy. I went out shovelling three times.
The last time I went out, I took some night photos.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
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