The Simple Life: No lives were lost but... darn those socks

Because I’m not going to buy any new clothes in 2009 [see Green Ideas, side margin] I’ve had to learn a new skill involving a very sharp object.

Darning socks with a needle sounds like a simple enough task though, right?

People have likely darned for years, written books about it (at least one article in a science journal for beginners - so no one would get seriously injured), and kept the same pair of favourite socks around for more than a decade.

But not in this house. That is, until last night.


Needle and brown thread in hand (I was out of brown darn), I closed a couple of small holes before they got to the point where I’d say, “Chuck ‘em.”

So, for the first time in my life, I've repaired a pair of socks.

And nobody got hurt.

***

How long will a pair of socks last? Until this year I never thought about it.

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Michael Ignatieff goes back to class in London

The federal Liberal leader walked into Room 2050 of the Social Science Centre at the University of Western Ontario yesterday afternoon and immediately felt right at home.

He likes being in a classroom, he said. It’s familiar turf.


[Michael Ignatieff, Canada's next Prime Minister: photo GAH]

Following his opening remarks he proved he was comfortable on his feet during a lengthy Q and A session. He gave thoughtful answers to questions related to the Palestinian situation, health care and rural Canada (for openers).

Related to the plight of farmers, who don’t see many following in their footsteps, he said, “I don’t want hope and opportunity to fly to the cities. The business of politics is to create hope and opportunity for people where they stand.”

In my opinion, to slow the movement of people from rural areas to towns and cities is a worthy cause to get behind.

But first, to have sizable influence he’ll have to become Prime Minister of Canada - which will, in fact, happen in the fall. (You heard it here first).

I liked his confidence and clarity during the discussion in Room 2050.

And I know it’s early days, but if he comes across as confidently in the House of Commons as he does in the classroom, I think he’ll do well as Prime Minister.

***

What are your impressions of Mr. Ignatieff?

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It Strikes Me Funny: North American gas crisis was quickly forgotten

While reading about the Toyota iQ, one of the cars of tomorrow, I came across something that struck me funny.

According to The Associated Press:

Small cars and hybrids surged in popularity last summer as gasoline prices in the United States blew past $4 US a gallon. But as the economy sputtered and gas prices collapsed, small cars lost ground to trucks and sport utility vehicles.

"Get out of town!" I said to myself.

"I heard it the other day — I don't know if it's true — that Americans' memory is about 60 days," said Tim Mahoney, senior vice president of Subaru of America. “I heard (a dealer) the other day talking about how they couldn't sell Civics and Corolla and Priuses fast enough (last summer). All of a sudden, 60 days later, we're back on SUVs and trucks."

Here in Canada, home to the dirtiest oil on the planet, we likely forgot in just 6 days. (We always divide by 10 when making comparisons with the US).


[Photo link to autobloggreen.com].

Now, where are my car keys? I have to go buy milk.

***

Just kidding about the milk thing.

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Latest Hit Single: Life is Better With You

So, it might not be a number one hit yet, but someday... maybe someday, Baby.

My wife hopes so. She’d like me to pay down our line of credit.

Backgrounder to my latest song: “So, what do you give a girl at Christmas... especially a girl who already has everything? I mean, my wife already gets the house, car, life insurance, my pension, RRSPs and hockey card collection when I die. Oh yeah, and my workshop and all my tools. So, what else can I give her?”


A brilliant song, maybe?

Verse 1 opens with...

You are the best of my friends.

Life can be a long, lonely road,
easier when you share the load,
and I’m walking with you.

Click here to sing along.

***

Have you written a hit single? I’d like to hear or see it.

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I’m Calling It, Canada: Fall federal election in 2009

You heard it here first - PM Harper will call for a fall election.

And how do I know? (A political pundit or hack I’m not. I don’t even know what a pundit is. I’d guess a small, tippy, leaky boat.)


Two reasons: I’m somewhat informed by news and events and... I trust my gut.

Here’s the news and gut feelings I rely upon:

Liberal leader Ignatieff is rising in the polls

PM Harper is sinking

Ignatieff is smarter and better looking than Harper

PM Harper will be fully aware of this by July


Tomatoes will be ripe in September and Harper will want to throw a big one at Ignatieff

Unity is growing inside the Liberal Party

Discontent, now red hot inside the Conservative Party, will peak in September like red hot chili peppers in my garden

Money in Liberal coffers is growing

My gut says Harper will want to burst that balloon

The recession will worsen

My gut says Harper will want to blame someone else, and soon

Ontario and Quebec is turning against Harper

This is just my gut talking again, but Harper will want to blame someone else for that too

And finally, Harper will call an election in the fall because that's when the pumpkins are ready... and he's almost out of ammo.

***

I think as far as Harper is concerned, “small, tippy, leaky boat” is spot on.

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Live Small and Prosper: Leaders need promote a “live small” philosophy

I’d love to see politicians lead the way and incentivize a ‘live small or go home’ philosophy.

As I said in an earlier post, “(After learning) that local new housing starts continue to fall because of the recession, I thought I'd rather see governments develop a plan to incentivize the building of smaller homes [and cars, other products, etc.], one that doesn't require another large layer of bureaucracy (as would, for example, a cap and trade system).”

Imagine the benefits if leaders encouraged the following:

(1) Buying a house no bigger than we actually need.
(2) Buying no more powerful a car than we actually need, with an emphasis on good gas mileage.
(3) Taking public transit to work, if possible, two days out of every five.
(4) Walking, if possible, for any errand of two km or less.
(5) Cutting back on optional air travel. For example, someone who takes two vacation trips a year by air could cut back to one, someone who takes one trip a year could cut back to one every two years.
(6) Using canvas bags for grocery shopping instead of plastic.


["Eat less food too!": photo link]

(7) Buying domestic instead of foreign made produce, goods and services whenever possible.
(8) Insulating your home, if financially capable; and if still on oil, converting to natural gas or alternatives.

What else? What else?

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The Economy Sucks, but... the government can incentivize small cars

Is incentivize an actual word?


[Toyota iQ]

If not, allow me to coin it and tell you what it means.

Definition: verb - actively encourage the building of small cars, I mean really small urban vehicles, with three wheels even, by providing substantial incentives to manufacturers and buyers.

[Quite possibly, incentivize was first used as a word here]

Something as cute as the Toyota iQ would be nice, but a three-wheeled scooter with a small cab and space at the back for groceries would also do the trick.

***

I think it’s “incentivize a small lifestyle or else”, if future generations are actually to have a future.

.

The economy sucks, but... someone actually said I was perceptive

Lorrie Goldstein said recently that politicians “are talking out of both sides of their mouths” when they tell you “we can grow the economy while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

[Click here to read Mr. Goldstein’s full article.]

He went on to talk about the downside of carbon taxes, cap and trade, carbon credits and offsets.


[Cap and trade this? Prolong the recession? What?"]

“What they really do is allow emissions, at ever-escalating prices, the theory being that when the price gets too high, people will be forced to use less fossil fuel.”

Sounds punitive to me, I thought.

So I emailed Mr. Goldstein with a possible solution re GHG emissions.

“About three months ago, I think you wrote that the recession does more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions than any government policy. The same is likely to be true as well in the future, unless someone gets a type of green shift or cap and trade policy fine-tuned to perfection.”

“After reading your article I also learned this morning that local new housing starts continue to fall because of the recession, so I thought I'd rather see governments develop a plan to incentivize the building of smaller homes [and cars, other products, etc.], one that doesn't require another large layer of bureaucracy, as would a cap and trade.”

“If major industries were positively encouraged to 'go small or go home' could we produce the same results as a punitive cap and trade?”

Though Mr. Goldstein is likely one of the busiest columnists in Canada, he promptly replied with the following:

Hi Gord:

“Very perceptive point. Controlled growth would be a much better answer than punitive economic contraction via carbon taxes and/or cap-and-trade.”

I’m trying to think of the last time I was called perceptive.

I got nothin’.

***

Cap and trade? Reduce consumption? Prolong the recession?

It may come to all three. Is that perceptive, or what?

.

It Strikes Me Funny: My stomach can’t handle conventional wisdom Part 2

Some leaders suggest we must buy our way out of the recession. Mortgage the future so that today is rosier.

Conventional wisdom makes me reach for the TUMs.


As I quoted in the last post, leaders want us to “borrow and buy with abandon.” [T. Homer-Dixon, The Upside of Down]

They suggest a dead end.

Homer-Dixon continues:

“Despite the fact that our lives are saturated with stuff, that we’ve already reached a level of material abundance unimaginable to previous generations, and that more money and possessions add little to our happiness, we must be made to feel chronically discontented with our lot.”

“In essence, then, the logic underpinning our economies works like this: if we’re discontented with what we have, we buy stuff; if we buy enough stuff, the economy grows; if the economy grows enough, displaced workers can find new jobs; and if they find new jobs, there will be enough economic demand to keep the economy humming and to prevent wrenching political conflict.”

“Modern capitalism’s stability - and increasingly the global economy’s stability - requires the cultivation of material discontent, endlessly rising personal consumption, and the steady economic growth this consumption generates.”

I think only my consumption of TUMs will go up if our leaders keep driving the economy toward a dead end.

***

I think there are more benefits to radically reduced consumption than constant economic growth.

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It Strikes Me Funny: TUMs please - My stomach can’t handle conventional wisdom

Our political and corporate leaders may appear wise at times, but only in a conventional sort of way.

And their conventional wisdom will not produce a sustainable economy, environment or personal level of satisfaction.

Ouch. Pass the TUMs, please.

Leaders want constant economic growth because they benefit from the upside of that growth, e.g. at the polls, in the stores.

“Growth creates the new industries and generates new jobs needed to absorb technologically displaced workers [e.g. workers displaced in car factories by robots]. The American economy, for example, must expand 3 to 5 per cent annually - doubling in size every fifteen to twenty-five years - just to keep unemployment from rising.” (T. Homer-Dixon, The Upside of Down)

Benefits: jobs, more tax payers, more goods on shelves, more profit

There are, however, many downsides.

“And to get this constant growth, our leaders and corporations - operating on the implicit assumption that people can be inculcated with insatiable desires and ever-rising expectations - relentlessly encourage us to be hyper-consumers.”


["Always shopping"]

“With our willing and often eager acquiescence, merchants, credit card companies, and banks barrage us with advertising (often showing how we’re falling behind our neighbour, Mr. Jones), while our economic policy makers ply us with economic incentives - like low interest rates and tax cuts - all to get us to borrow and buy with abandon.” (ibid)

Ouch. My stomach can only handle so much conventional wisdom and consumption.

More TUMs, please.

***

How do we get off the hyper-consumer treadmill?

[Click here to read about one way to my heart and stomach]

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Gord's Little Workshop: All I Need Is Birds

The birdhouse triplex below started its life, as far as I’m concerned, at the Dorchester landfill site (fondly known as the dump).

While picking up pieces of scrap lumber here and there my friend Don said, “Do you want this?”


Initially I thought, no.

The piece of lumber Don showed me had metal attached with screws (more work for me), was made of thin strips glue together (I don’t like running glue through my saw blades; call me fussy; don't call me late for supper) and was pretty dirty.


Then I thought, you never know.


And now I do. All I need is birds.

***

‘Twas a busy day. Coffee with a federal member of parliament at 8 a.m., then in front of the computer for five hours, no break.

Next week’s column, however, was finished two minutes before deadline.

I live such an exciting life, eh?

Click here for a look at my latest heart-breaking tune at Hit Songs, Lyrics and Prose. Then wonder what kind of life I must really live!

I hope you’ve had a banner day and are whistling a happy tune.

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It Strikes Me Funny: “Put me through to the Prime Minister, please” Part 2

I often feel like I need to call the PM to ask a few simple questions.

For example, I recently read the following:

PM Harper and Jim Flatulence, his loyal Finance Minister, contend “that Canada will lead the U.S. and the rest of the world out of the recession.” [The London Free Press]


Oh, such an urge to pick up the phone developed.

I’d say:

“Mr. PM. I think you’re putting way, way too much confidence in global capitalism and a free market economy. What if our supply of valuable resources, such as oil, natural gas and water, start to tighten up? Won’t our economy suffer even more than it is now? Shouldn’t you be talking about a backup plan? Hello? Hello?”

Sure, I don’t expect the guy to talk directly to me (typical scenario - his people would talk to my people and I’d get back) but it would be nice to hear about Plan B if global capitalism has another bad year like this one.

***

Plan B is discussed in The Upside of Down; see Read This in margin.

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Dear Ann Landers: Lunch out is not an ‘in’ thing

Dear Ann Landers,

My wife just called from my son’s house (she’s babysitting our grandson) and invited me out for lunch with Ollie and her mother.

Now, I don’t like restaurant meals all that much because of the cost and high calories. I’d rather putter around the kitchen and eat leftovers.

Plus, we went out for lunch together during our last Sunday drive and we’re going out for a big family supper tomorrow night.

Am I turning into an old scrooge? What should I do?

Signed: Perplexed

***

Dear Perplexed,

I hear your pain - but don’t feel it.

Go on, get out of the house. Order a salad.

Say ‘Hi’ to your lovely wife, Ollie and Betty for me.

Ann Landers

***

GAH: "I’m outta here. Maybe my wife will pay."

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It Strikes Me Funny: “Put me through to the Prime Minister, please”

Do you ever get the desire to call the PM to ask a few simple questions?

It happens to me all the time.

For example, I read the following recently:


“Canada is suffering through one of the worst recessions in decades, one that will see more than half a million people thrown out of work...” [full article: The London Free Press]

I wanted to get right on the phone.

GH: “Hi, Mr. Prime Minister? My name is Gord and I just wanted to know why you and Finance Minister Jim Flatulence keep insisting we’re only going through a short recession, as if our troubles will be over some time next week, or at least the week after that?”

Then I’d tell him that the term ‘worst recession’ falls short.

GH: “And while you’re still on the line I think we need a new name for this current situation. ‘Biggest Blunder in Human History’ sounds right. ‘Gigantic Goof Up’ is pretty accurate and even ‘Deep Delusional Depression’ hits the mark. Hello? Hello?”

Line is busy. I’ll call back later.

***

Really, at this point, it’s not a short recession. What kind of mess are we in?

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Zoom w a View: Port Bruce has a new beach hut?

My eyes play tricks on occasion.

Last Sunday, I stepped out of the car in Port Bruce and saw a new addition to the main strip.


["The Beach Hut is back?": photo GAH]

I initially thought someone had opened a new diner, beach hut or drink bar to serve pina coladas and cold Coronas to the thousands of tourists that pour into the rustic hamlet each summer.

As I approached I laughed aloud at the optical delusion.

No beach hut, just a pile of ice pulled from a nearby creek, topped with winter debris.

Still, a beach house would be nice. And cold Corona.

***

Do your eyes play tricks?

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A Follow Up: The workshop needs a good sweep out Part 2

The workshop is now upside down.

I only needed to put a second coat on a birdhouse triplex, put a few tools away, burn a few wood scraps and grab the broom.

One hour's easy work - tops.

But while puttering I thought, a new lathe is coming, I should rearrange a shelf and spare work bench, take a bit of wood out to the annex, stain that work bench...

Sure, the clean up is long overdo. Dust settles everywhere.

I'll be done by Thursday.

***

Is there a spring clean-up gene?


Also, I'll tidy up, the lathe will arrive, and I'll just mess the place up again turning four bits of wood into bowls.

.

Zoom w a View: The workshop needs a good sweep out

Busy days in the workshop are over for a week or two.


Three dozen birdhouses from reused or scrap lumber - check.


A few new styles - check.


One for my side fence - check.


After I sweep out the sawdust (and a few ladybugs) I’ll sell the houses to local stores.


***

One birdhouse pays for a tank of gas for my motorcycle... and spring is coming, right?

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The Simple Life: Birds make do in the smallest of spaces

While attaching a second birdhouse to the Annex (a small shed in my small backyard) I wondered if birds would find it under the spruce boughs.


[House from scrap, knot-hole entrance, flax oil finish: photo GAH]

Snow is in the air and hopefully a pair of birds who don’t mind getting their picture taken will settle in shortly, and not fly off when I aim the camera their way.

Birds make do in the smallest of spaces, don’t they? To a pair of finches, for example, twenty-five square inches of floor space, 6 inches of headroom and a shared backyard is prime real estate.

Though I’ve made dozens of birdhouses in the last three years (36 this spring, so far) I haven’t spent much time observing the tenants.

This year, I have my camera ready, am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for colourful neighbours.

***

Do you have birdhouses in your yard? Photos to share?

.

The London Food Bank Challenge: Pop tarts for breakfast? Yipes

As I mentioned earlier, I’m one of a dozen people who recently agreed to live on the groceries a typical food bank client receives.

I suppose during a huge recession is the best time to learn about the concerns of the local food bank and the growing number of those who rely on it for help.

I’ve been asked to record my challenges, concerns, complaints and how long the food lasts?

Today’s entry, thus far:

Breakfast: leftover oatmeal w milk - very good (I felt I needed to finish off the last of it before it turned into a science experiment)

Snack: pop tart - tasty but worrisome e.g. what is it and what is in it? (Several years ago I ate pop tarts during a camping trip. I took them only because the slim packages could be stored easily inside motorcycle saddle bags.)

Lunch: Primo brand ‘grilled chicken and two kinds of rice’ soup with two toasted whole wheat rolls - very good as well

Concerns: That was the last of the ‘quality’ canned soups , and the whole wheat rolls are on their last legs too.

Looks like Kraft Dinner for supper - again.

Thank goodness I can add a bit of homemade chili to the plate, even though it’s cheating.

***

Is there a food bank in your neighbourhood? Is it busy too?

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Newspaper Clippings: Hot Air Worrisome - Greenhouse gases growing

I read the newspaper with scissors in my right hand.

It’s a habit I’ve developed as a writer, blogger, curious geek, man who wants to keep chickens inside city limits [see post below] etc.

The following, from a clipping from The London Free Press (Apr. 1), made me think of something from The Little Green Handbook (TLGH), one of the best books I’ve read about trends that are shaping and our planet - for the worse [see Read This in margin]:

“Two new greenhose gases are accumulating in the atmosphere... powerful GHGs growing quickly... used in industrial processes, partly as alternatives to other harmful GHGs and ozone depleting gases.”


(Another case of a solution just making some problems worse? (e.g. destruction of the atmosphere)

I found a similar entry in TLGH:

“Even though we have identified a series of greenhouse gases, we might be still surprised by new discoveries, because we release so many pollutants into the atmosphere e.g. one that turns out to be 18,000 times more efficient in trapping solar energy than carbon dioxide.” [pg 85]

When will we collectively learn to reduce non-essential industries? Reduce emissions? Reduce spending on non-essential items?

***

In some cases, the recession is doing what common sense should have done long ago.

But I'm not breathing easier. You?

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The Simple Life: Can I keep chickens inside city limits?

Last year, while out for a morning jog, I heard a rooster crowing near the Thames River in downtown London.

I thought, what’s a chicken doing down here? Did it escape from a backyard coop? Can Londoners keep chickens in their yard?

I’d now like to find out the answer to the last question.

A recent CBC radio program informed me that more people are keeping chickens in England for a variety of reasons.

The benefits of eating fresh, local eggs and real chicken soup come to mind.

Though I write in an upcoming column I’d like to keep chickens myself I don’t think local by-laws will permit it.

***

Will trying to find someone at City Hall to answer my question be a challenge?

Stay tuned.

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It Strikes Me Funny: Men are from Mars and women don’t listen

I woke up this morning thinking about power tools, but in a good way.

[See post below or click here].

I thought I’d use them less often, make some projects by hand, and make a huge name for myself with a line of rustic birdhouses from my workshop.

After fluffing my pillow I rolled over to see if my wife was awake so I could tell her about my idea.

A red light turned on inside my little round and sleepy head.

I remembered she stopped listening to most of my wacky ideas over 30 years ago.

A while ago, in a moment of weakness or clarity or both (I don’t know how she thinks), she told me 1974 had been a turnaround year in her life.

1974 was the year she’d listen to yet another new idea for about 15 seconds, file it under ‘Hey, Another One’ and go back to what she was doing before I interrupted.

For over three decades I thought the look of peace that came over her face during many of our conversations was the result of a mutual love and respect that would carry us through all the highs and lows of married life (38 years of apparent bliss so far).


How wrong I’d been.

So, though she appeared to be sleeping, I gently rocked her shoulder and said, “Have you ever tasted squirrel stew?”

***

38 years and counting. Hard to believe, eh?

Click here to read an ode to my better half

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The Simple Life: Rustic birdhouses may be the next new wave

As soon as I woke up this morning I thought, I should make a few birdhouses with hand tools, skip the power tools.

I’m not kidding. Even before I thought about making coffee and what I was going to have for breakfast I was thinking hand tools - so that the birdhouses would look more rustic.


["From scrap lumber; pre-finish": photo GAH]

Building by hand would conserve hydro too, I thought. We’d burn less coal. And I hate coal. I fluffed my pillow. Though I should get used to it. Our society has no Plan B. When oil becomes more expensive we’ll just burn more coal. We have few alternatives ready once Plan A runs its course i.e. burn cheap oil without a care in the world. What about sausages for breakfast? No, I gave up sausages long ago. That’s why I make my own porridge. And am thinking about trapping rabbits and squirrels for Brunswick Stew.


["With linseed oil plus touch of maple finish": GAH]

I rolled over in bed and thought, I should tell Pat about my plan to use hand tools and trap squirrels.

[Stay tuned for It Strikes Me Funny: Men are from Mars and women don’t listen].

***

I think making birdhouses by hand will take 3 - 4 times as long and time is money isn’t it?

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It Strikes Me Funny: Men are from Mars and I'm liking it

Yesterday I mentioned a recent trip to Value Village where I snagged a great pair of well-worn Levis for $14.99 that fit like a glove, or a very comfortable pair of jeans.


[My home planet: GAH]

Happy days. Sure, I can’t buy new in 2009 (iron-clad contract avec moi) but anytime I can score big on the reduce-reuse-recycle program of life I win. (And so does the Village of Values and the local environment in some small way).

These comments followed:

Jane at Gaston Studio said... "29L vs 30L! We women have to worry about other measurements like do they fit around the thighs or do they squeeze the life out of you; or, if they fit in the hips, the waist stands up out like a flag!

"


["I love being a 'regular' guy"; photo GAH]

Jessica said... "I wish it was as easy to buy clothes in the right sizes for women. Here in Canada, I'm a different size in different shops!"

Sometimes it dawns on me that I love being a guy.

***

And I had to ask myself, do we men (in my case, wee) have an easier time shopping because we’re from another planet?

.

The London Food Bank Challenge: Breakfast was OK, but lunch?

I’m one of a dozen people who recently agreed to live on the groceries a typical food bank client receives.


Not a bad idea. With the number of food bank clients rising quickly in London (approx. 2,500 per month in 2008; 3,000 per month in 2009) the challenge is a direct, hands-on way to learn more about the 24-year-old nonprofit organization and thousands it serves as best it can.

How long will the food last? What will be my challenges, concerns and complaints?


It’s early days, but so far I can honestly say that yesterday’s breakfast was just fine (Kellogg’s Muxlix, tea and a snack bar) but lunch wasn’t.

I ate the following at noon yesterday:

More tea - but I miss my coffee.

Whole wheat roll (one of six I was given) - with butter, it was fine. Nothing to write home about so I won’t.

Chef Boyardee Beefaroni - Not much taste, too much salt, I wouldn’t even take it camping.

Did I say I miss my coffee?

I’m predicting the bulk of the food won’t last longer than 3 - 4 days and my wife and I will have to cheat a bit to keep meals fairly healthy. Should be interesting.

***

Are food banks under stress or doing well in your city?

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Link and Learn: I sing songs that all sound alike after awhile

My younger brother and I get along very well. Our similarities and differences are better appreciated now than when we were kids and battled for equal billing around our small family home.


[Younger brother on the left; sure, sure, he looks harmless enough.]

How he ended up being the cause of terrible heartbreak in one of the favourite songs I like to sing I’ll never know.

For your entertainment, amusement and musical enjoyment (??) I’ve started a new site that will eventually list all of the hit songs I’ve written over the years. I’ll also throw in a bit of prose for good measure.

Perhaps one day I’ll add an audio link so you can wonder aloud why I would ever think about singing in public, even around a campfire.

Join the crowd. @ Hit Songs, Lyrics and Prose by G. Harrison

***

Do you write a song or two on occasion?

Post your lyrics. I’ll tune in.

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The Simple Life: I like how my new pants have legs

Levis for $14.99.

I know, it’s a lot to pay for Levis at Value Village but they fit like a glove.


["Two legs work for me": photo GAH]

Though you may recall that one of my Green Ideas for 2009 was NOT to buy clothes until Jan. 1, 2010, I said no NEW clothes. [see Green Ideas 2009, right hand margin]

Other things I liked about the used Levis besides the price and fit:

- they were new to me (sometimes I’m tempted to buy back my own stuff. You been there, done that?)

- they were 34 W 30 L which can be long on me at times but this time they weren’t (Does anybody make 29 L anymore?)

- the colour was scuffed and I like scuffed

- wear marks where I usually have wear marks

- two legs and a sturdy zipper (Trust me. This is important stuff to a guy who only shops a half dozen times per year.)

So, I’m now set for clothes for the year (though I’m sensing trouble ahead in the socks and unmentionables dept.)

***

Two legs works for me. Would you buy used Levis?

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Photo File: A perfect spot to sit and relax with coffee and soup

Due to the all-time high (or low?) Canadian slump, I earlier recommended we “increase our enjoyment of local surroundings by 3 per cent this year” - you know, to take the sting out.


At the same time I recalled a perfect spot for a cup of coffee and delicious bowl of soup I found by accident two years ago.

While riding my bike east on the north shore of Lake Superior I pulled off the main highway on a whim and stopped along the main street of Thessalon, Ontario.

Not much was going on. With spare change I could have bought a well-worn building and pursued a career in barbering.


But in a small cafe a kind-hearted women (originally from Romania, and now the local heart-throb as far as two 80-year old gents were concerned) sat me down at al lace-covered table and made me feel right at home.

Hot coffee and butternut squash soup increased the enjoyment of my trip by at least 4 pr cent.

***

I will return to the north shore. Ever been to Thessalon?

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My Point of View: Canadian slump like a bad tooth ache, only worse Part 2

Are you in a cheery mood? This may or may not help.

In many countries the slumping economy will feel like a bad toothache, only worse, because it affects our wallets and not our choppers.


["Increase your enjoyment of local surroundings by 3 per cent": photo GAH]

And because of so much global inter-connectedness (among other things) a relatively small shrinkage in the world economy has caused great calamity and endless headlines and reports in many countries.

One might ask, “Relatively small?”

According to economists, “The world economy will contract by more than 2 per cent this year - unprecedented in the modern era - while the U.S. will shrink 3.7 per cent and Canada by 2.5 per cent.”

I recommend two things instead of individually or collectively trying to spend our way toward a short-term recovery:

Together, let’s increase our enjoyment of local surroundings by 3 per cent this year.

i.e. go for a walk, take a photo, paint a picture, sit on the ground with a thermos of coffee, sniff the breeze...

The practice we get by enjoying our surroundings more this year will come in handy when an even greater toothache arrives.

And, together, let’s complete 4 per cent more preparations for more economic shrinkage in the future. Peak oil may arrive shortly (the time when cheap, easy to access reserves are gone) if it hasn’t done so already, unbeknownst to us.

Aren’t I in a cheery mood today?

***

Do you have a favourite place to sit with a thermos of coffee?

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Firefighter Scorch and Burn Chili: Faint of heart? Back away slowly Part 2

In one of yesterday’s brilliant posts I mentioned I served chili hot enough to scorch a forehead after Friday night’s poker game.

Try this recipe, and get back to me if you survive:

While cooking up 1.5 pounds of ground beef and 1.5 lb. of ground pork, place the following ingredients into a deep pot or slow cooker:

(I prefer to use a slow cooker in my workshop so that it smells like my favourite old diner).


1 diced green pepper, 2 sliced jalapeno peppers, 3 dried and crushed hot chili peppers, 2 diced red onions, 1 can corn niblets, 1 can bean medley, 2 cans of red kidney beans, 1 can mushrooms pieces, 1 can diced tomatoes (drain all cans), 1 large can spaghetti sauce, 1 cup chicken or beef broth, 1 heaping tablespoon cumin, 2 heaping tablespoons chili powder, Tabasco sauce to taste.

Add cooked meat (and more broth to get consistency you like as it cooks).

Stir. Wait a few hours. Serve with fresh rolls. Be ready for a high five.

***

Why does chili taste better on the second, third, fourth and fifth day?

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My Point of View: Canadian economic slump like a bad tooth ache, only worse Part 1

If the global recession was a toothache, it would be unlike any toothache most people alive have ever had.

And for Canadians (count me in), the pain will go on and on and on and...


Consider the following:

“Canada will fare better but may take longer to emerge from the longest and deepest global recession since the Second World War.” [The Canadian Press, March 26]

So, wake up Canada, your toothache (conceivably) won’t hurt as bad as many of your global friends but will last longer. Youch.

(And...) "This is the deepest and longest world recession in the postwar era," said Nigel Gault, a chief economist in the U.S. "The global depth and reach of this downturn makes it much more difficult for any individual country (e.g. Canada) to pull out because there's such a drag coming from the rest of the world."

So, an individual or country may try to brush regularly, floss before going to bed and reduce the intake of sweets but will find "we're all in this together."

(When have we ever had such global unity?)

Can we individually and collectively agree to reduce our intake of all things material?

Our teeth will last longer.

***

Who is in charge of global reductions of sweets?

Which countries or organizations should be leading the way toward a healthier lifestyle?

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Firefighter Scorch and Burn Chili: Faint of heart? Back away slowly Part 1

Last Friday night’s poker game in the workshop was a big success for two reasons.

Everyone was up or down just a few rolls of pennies by the end of the evening and agreed we couldn’t have more fun for the money if we tried.

I mean, dinner out followed by a movie and popcorn costs a bundle these days. (Unless you leave your spouse at home and sneak your own candy and pop into the theater. But I'd never do that. Pat would want to come too).

As well, just before midnight we put the cards away and set the table for my all-new Firefighter Scorch and Burn Chili - and it was a hit.


Here are a few comments:

“Wow. Great. Whooee. What’s in this?”

“Now, that’s chili! I want the recipe.”

“You’re in the big leagues now, Gordie.”

Yup, my friends were blown away. One almost blew up.

“You OK, Dave?” I asked, as beads of sweat dropped off his nose.

He just nodded, took another napkin and repeatedly wiped his brow. But he kept eating and almost cleaned the pattern off his dish.

I’d never seen him sweat so much, not even during or after a hockey game. His forehead was so red I thought he'd catch on fire.

Even though I was feeling the heat I took the high five offered by another fellow who also makes ‘knock ‘em down’ chili.

Recipe, off the top of what’s left of my head, will follow tomorrow.

***

I should know this for future poker nights.

At what temperature does human hair spontaneously burst into flame?

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Link and Learn: Walnut bowls - good; sawdust - beware

I asked a reasonable question and received a reasonable answer:

“Are there types of sawdust I should not add to my garden, e.g., red cedar, black walnut?”


twinkelydots said... “I believe black walnut inhibits the growth of some plants. You may want to google & see what you find.”


Gaston Studio said... “I thought sawdust was good for the soil, but what do I know! I'd agree with twinkelydots and google anything and everything.”

So, I googled ‘black walnut sawdust’ and discovered it is a hot topic.

Link to woodweb.com for a lively discussion about sawdust, gardens and mulch, mulch more.

Conclusion: I live and learn. I’ll use black walnut sawdust as mulch but not on my garden. Red cedar will go into the garden in small amounts.

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Link and learn: Solar oven from cardboard and tin foil

While raking the surface of my small garden plot the other day I realized two things.

First, I’d added a lot of sawdust from the workshop to the mix in the last few months and I’m not sure if sawdust, soil and my future cherry tomatoes will go together well.


["Experiment with squirrel meat?": photo and article link]

(I’m not much of a gardener, am I? My oldest sister inherited my father’s green thumb; I picked up his scavenger gene, however, and will soon be turning red cedar and black walnut bowls from wood found nearby).

While turning over sod I also noticed that squirrels were everywhere, sitting on fence tops, racing across tree branches and hydro wires, clambering up the fence next to my garden, waiting for me to leave so they could continue to dig new holes in my patch.

I thought, should I trap one? Make squirrel stew? In the solar cooker?

No, I’m not ready yet to experiment with squirrel meat. However, some of my leftover chili (made from my soon-to-be world-famous Firefighter Scourch and Burn recipe) would be nice.

And soon my first solar cooker will be ready for action.

A reader who noticed I’d added ‘solar oven’ to my 2009 ‘green list’ [see right hand margin for full list] supplied a link to his very helpful, hands-on website, www.greenterrafirma.com, and there I found instructions for a cardboard oven.


[Photo from greenterrafirma]

The site’s creator, Bruce Knight, also lists several other worthwhile DIY projects.

Link and learn at your leisure. You could be heating up leftovers, or squirrel stew, within the week.

***

Are there types of sawdust I should not add to my garden?

E.g., red cedar, black walnut?

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It Strikes Me Funny: I have a one track mind made of wood Part 2

With the best of intentions and restraint I brought home one piece of rare wood recently.

I felt I could make bowls out of an old cedar telephone pole that had been chopped and dropped onto a nearby curb.

And because my wood lathe hasn’t arrived (ETA late April) I also felt I shouldn’t get greedy, or ahead of myself, so took only one prime piece.

However, a day later, I mentioned my treasure to friend Don over coffee at the Red Roaster and his eyes lit up.

He asked, “Where is the cedar pole? We can take my truck.”

“Not far,” I said.

Within five minutes, refills in hand, we were on our way.

As we approached the site we noticed a man throwing sections of cedar pole into the back of his own truck.

“Go farther west, Don. The best pieces are in the next block,” I said.

Though the pile had been picked over, one beautiful section remained at the same spot I had retrieved mine - and into the back it went.

A few minutes later, in my driveway, Don looked it over closely, wondered how he would cut it, how he would actually use it, worried what his wife would say about another addition to his growing collection of odds and ends in the garage and slowly scratched his head.

“Well, if you don’t want it, I’ll take it,” I said. “I’m pretty sure there are a lot of good bowls in this piece.”

(Stink. I forgot to add, “And for five bucks I’ll take it off your hands.”)

Moments later, we carried it into my backyard.


Good intentions? Restraint? Out the window.

***

Hey, I tried.

And trust me, the cedar won’t become fire wood. Any other projects I could pursue besides bowls?

[One good idea already suggested by Jane at Gaston Studios - small cedar shakes for my birdhouses.]

.

Zoom w a View: Making bowls could take me into December

How could I say NO to a face like this?


Red cedar (possibly from B.C.).

The hardest job will be cutting through 14 inches with my handsaw.


Old insulators were a bonus, all together on one section of discarded telephone pole.

***

Nabbing insulators is in my genes. Wooden bowls? I'll know by Christmas.

.

Live Small and Prosper: Bits and pieces about solar and cob ovens Part 3

Finally, something about cob ovens.

I’ve had solar ovens on the brain for a few days (hard to tell, right?) and after one related post the following email arrived:

“Hi-Ya Gord! Been a long time, I know...too long. I've been enjoying your thoughts on solar ovens. I've always wanted a cob oven myself.”

“Oh and, I loved your cartoon of the Fat Economy...so true!”

Signed, Myshell

[Yes, I post the odd cartoon... ‘odd’ being the operative word].

At first, I thought a cob oven was an oven in which you cooked corn or burned dry cobs as fuel. (A friend of mine heats his cottage with a corn stove).

Myshell was referring to something entirely different, i.e., an earthen oven made from cob (a mixture of sand, clay and straw), in which a person can bake pizza, bread, cookies, and much more.

After viewing many photos and reading about the building process I can safely say they are a ton of work (or more) to build, require a healthy wood supply to operate, but last a long, long time.


View a team building effort here.

View several other informative links here.

View Myshell’s first connection with cob ovens here.

***

I think cob ovens do serve a very useful purpose. The wood supply, however would be a challenge to maintain for many urbanites.

Thoughts? Opinions?

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It Strikes Me Funny: I have a one track mind made of wood Part 1

I didn’t want to leave the comfort of home, my coffee time in front of the computer (brilliant ideas were flowing and multiplying like rabbits - I’m sure you’ve been there), but once my wife had batted her eyes at me after asking for a ride across town I couldn’t refuse.

Two blocks from home I was so glad I helped out.

I drove by several city workers in the process of cutting up old telephone poles and dropping 3 - 4 foot pieces at the curb.


["Red cedar. Minimal creosote residue": photo GAH]

Looks like red cedar, I thought. Perfect for wooden bowls. Another project for my workshop and lathe. Reduce, recycle, reuse. Yeh man.

I made record time across town, gave my wife quick instructions re how to safely exit the car at 30 kmp (drop, roll, tuck in your head, I’ll worry about the door), sped back to Old South and parked next to a freshly cut pole.

Red cedar. Minimal creosote residue. Trim one inch off with my bandsaw and I should have some of the nicest wooden bowls ever. And four insulators.

My wife will be so impressed. Hopefully, enough to forget about the old drop and roll.

***

Ever wonder how our marriage has lasted 38 years? Me too!

Any 'reuse' ideas?

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Live Small and Prosper: Bits and pieces about solar and cob ovens Part 2

I’m pretty sure I can build a solar oven using materials from around the house, i.e., two old windows, leftover cedar siding and a bulky wool sweater (for insulation).

Will it get hot enough to heat up my leftovers? I’ll have a test run in about two weeks.

In the meantime, I’ll consider what another reader has said.

“On building your solar oven: The base of ours is painted matt black inside & out. The door is plexy glass with a rubber gasket going around the opening of the door.

There's a tray that hangs on a hinge where we put the food. I have 2 covered casseroles dishes that I use. One is metal the other is pottery. Both work great.

There's also an adjustable stick thingee coming out of the back to adjust the angle for full sun coverage."

"We've used a solar oven for years. Bought it at a solar festival and now we sell them in our store. I've had pies, a turkey, bread and many casseroles from solar ovens. 

Living in the high desert where we get an average of 300 sunny days a years helps.

"Treat it like a crock pot. The food will cook slowly. You have to remember to turn it every so often. 

A friend does frozen pot pies in his. 

Mine is a Global Sun Oven."


[Global Oven at work: photo and company link]

Signed, twinkelydots

Interesting ideas and information, for sure. Thank you.

Though I’m a long way from the desert I’ll add a small pie to my menu.

***

Part 3 relates to cob ovens. Stay tuned.

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