I spent a couple of hours last night “crafting” an email to the chair of the board. I had mentioned to the board on a couple of occasions that filling in grant proposals has never been my idea of fun—even if I were to get paid for it. It is hard to believe that in 2006 one proposal mails you hard copies of the application to fill in by hand. You don’t really want to try and read my hand writing. Though my printing is somewhat more readable it takes me much, much longer. I finally had to partly resign in writing to get this message across. I’ll continue, on a volunteer basis, with the choir record keeping and in making arrangements for concerts and rehearsal venues.
I’m a computer-type guy. If I can’t write, find or buy the programs to do most of the paperwork-generation then I probably won’t ever get around to it. I’ll choose to walk the dog in the pouring rain (like today) instead.
After the haggis was addressed, complete with actions and a piped in haggis in sheep stomach, we ate a fine multi-course “Scottish-type” meal including haggis which, to me, tastes like a spicy version of dressing. My cousin invited us. Her husband is the resident pro at the Royal Ashburn Golf Club where it took place.
My wife and I attended the ball yesterday at Fort York. Ms. Charlotte was the wife of King George III. He eventually went mad, partly from the genetic disease, porphyry, and partly as a result of the arsenic-laced antimony he was given to “help” his madness which actually triggered his madness from the porphyry.
Anyway, we learned a couple more early 19th century dances and tasted 5 kinds of port. It is too sweet for me—I’d rather have a stronger, tastier liqueur if I’m into sweetness; otherwise, a dry wine is fine with me. The buffet supper was derived from late 18th, early 19th century recipes, very tasty. Dancing afterward was enjoyable: we were a part of 5 other couples who knew what they were doing. We left at the dessert break since we had left the house at 9 a.m. for choir rehearsal. A long but enjoyable day.
I took today off [1] and took Finnegan for a walk. He found and tried to grab the back half of a dead red squirrel. Later on he sniffed out a mound of something in the bushes which appeared to me to be a dead raccoon. It was a great day for a dog! I’m not complaining, though, as the temperature is 8°C—very mild for mid-winter [2]. Finnegan turns one year old tomorrow.
- Good thing, too, I might have gone to work with this sore throat I’ve developed: instead, I slept in.
- According to Environment Canada the normal high is -4°C!
The other day, while walking my dog, a guy had stopped his car across the clearly marked pedestrian crossing waiting for the light to change. This is a “push button” light so he would have to wait awhile. I made a motion with my mitt to back up. (Most people, including myself, would do so anyway though we would try to stop before the crossing lines in the first place.) He didn’t move, so my dog and I had to walk around. As we were doing so he yelled obscenities like what’s your problem a**hole and don’t be a chickensh*t and walk away, c’m'ere. Yeah right: I have to look after my dog and you are inside a one tonne weapon. My only regret is not getting is license plate number and reporting him since he was obviously over the limit on something. I uttered my usual curse towards drivers who are morons about hoping they crash themselves (alone of course) into a concrete wall.
Through the This is True email list I found this standard scout knot site with animations.
The only missing knot was something with which to tie down your canoe to the car roof racks. The driver’s hitch, here or here would seem to be suitable though I use a simple overhand loop which, admittedly, gets very difficult to untie at the end of a couple of hundred kilometers. I don’t normally make New Year’s Resolutions; however, I might learn this knot…and the one I found for tying fishing line to a fish hook.