Walden Cabin: Observations typed on an old Underwood

Monday, January 07, 2002

Critical observations of early '02

I’m still concerned about the licking stamps thing. We don’t lick money, but when a stranger hands us stamps across the counter, out comes the tongue.

It occurred to me the other night at about 3AM that Hershey Kisses are just glorified chocolate chips. Therefore, if you’ve ever felt the intense guilt of sneaking handfuls of chocolate chips from the pantry, get over it.

Why was I thinking about this at 3AM? I had taken sinus cold medication that I didn’t realize had expired (in 1999) and had just woken up from the most stupid but oddly horrifying nightmare. I was being attacked by flying raisins and marshmallows. (I’m thinking of selling my Contac C stash to the Rave crowd).

Then there are Pringles chips. How did this brand survive the evolution of the potato chip? I mean, who would have thought chips would be profitable sold in cans, especially when the ones at the bottom are always broken to dust. And why are they only sold in drug stores?

I’m taking votes: When is it gauche to still have your Christmas lights on? There’s always a house on my street where the February Christmas lights scream “I’m away in Florida! Rob me!” – just like the people who double park and put on their flashers: “Ticket me! Ticket me!”

Jasper has been up a lot at night over the past month. Chicken pox, a head cold… To get him to sleep in the wee hours, Suzy and I sing to him. One night I awoke to a moaning babble that was punctuated by repeating refrains of “Ee-ii Ee-ii O” and various clucking and mooing sounds. The lyrics get lost in the half-life. In the morning, Suzy confessed that she was worried about repeating the animals too often, desperately trying to think of unique animals to add to the repertoire. What does a snake say, “and (what’s he doing) on that farm”?

In closing, remember these essential tips to get through winter:

- It's a lot more fun having holiday guests over when you have thrown out the map from the chocolates box.

- Always buy brand name cling wrap.

- Don't panic and call the manufacturer! The baby monitor works best when it's plugged in.

- And, no matter how many resolutions you make, just when you think you're getting ahead, you will need another haircut.

>> Send your Early '02 Observations to us.

posted by Stuart Hickox | 5:04 PM

I got a labeller for Christmas. Suzy was disappointed when her laminator didn't materialize. She must have been bad -- or Santa thought she was just kidding.

posted by Stuart Hickox | 5:03 PM

Wednesday, January 02, 2002

Slice of life.
Tonight my wife picked up some groceries, including a bottle of Welchs Prune Nectar. It's delicious stuff, full of vitamins and iron. I was introduced to the magic of the dark nectar by my late grandfather, Reverend Bill Weale. He loved it like date squares and God. When he told me about it, he'd raise his hand and pinch his index finger and thumb almost together. "You don't need too much!" he'd say. Grandpa swore prune juice (as well as hot water with milk) helped to keep him young, but when he said it kept him moving, I'm sure he was referring to the fact that he did hours of tai chi and stretching each day right up to the week before he died, at 85, last year.

So, after a decadent holiday month, I rustled through the groceries to find my elixir. I struggled with the cap for about a minute before I resorted to using a knife to cut the top open -- nearly stabbing myself in the process. I thought of Grandpa then, blind since he was 75, and of Grandma's small but strong hands. It must have been love -- or maybe glass jars with e-z off lids.

posted by Stuart Hickox | 8:53 PM

New Year's List #1:

24 Extra Strength Tylenol
16 Advil Cold and Sinus
2 boxes generic facial tissue
1 box facial tissue "with lotion"
6 hot rum toddies
2 rum toddie hangovers
8 pots herbal tea
6 holidays spent in bed
1 New Year's resolution: Be healthier in 2002

Happy New Year!

posted by Stuart Hickox | 9:36 AM



	Monday, January 07, 2002 Critical observations of early '02 I’m still concerned about the licking stamps thing. We don’t lick money, but when a stranger hands us stamps across the counter, out comes the tongue. It occurred to me the other night at about 3AM that Hershey Kisses are just glorified chocolate chips. Therefore, if you’ve ever felt the intense guilt of sneaking handfuls of chocolate chips from the pantry, get over it. Why was I thinking about this at 3AM? I had taken sinus cold medication that I didn’t realize had expired (in 1999) and had just woken up from the most stupid but oddly horrifying nightmare. I was being attacked by flying raisins and marshmallows. (I’m thinking of selling my Contac C stash to the Rave crowd). Then there are Pringles chips. How did this brand survive the evolution of the potato chip? I mean, who would have thought chips would be profitable sold in cans, especially when the ones at the bottom are always broken to dust. And why are they only sold in drug stores? I’m taking votes: When is it gauche to still have your Christmas lights on? There’s always a house on my street where the February Christmas lights scream “I’m away in Florida! Rob me!” – just like the people who double park and put on their flashers: “Ticket me! Ticket me!” Jasper has been up a lot at night over the past month. Chicken pox, a head cold… To get him to sleep in the wee hours, Suzy and I sing to him. One night I awoke to a moaning babble that was punctuated by repeating refrains of “Ee-ii Ee-ii O” and various clucking and mooing sounds. The lyrics get lost in the half-life. In the morning, Suzy confessed that she was worried about repeating the animals too often, desperately trying to think of unique animals to add to the repertoire. What does a snake say, “and (what’s he doing) on that farm”? In closing, remember these essential tips to get through winter: - It's a lot more fun having holiday guests over when you have thrown out the map from the chocolates box. - Always buy brand name cling wrap. - Don't panic and call the manufacturer! The baby monitor works best when it's plugged in. - And, no matter how many resolutions you make, just when you think you're getting ahead, you will need another haircut. >> Send your Early '02 Observations to us. posted by Stuart Hickox \| 5:04 PM I got a labeller for Christmas. Suzy was disappointed when her laminator didn't materialize. She must have been bad -- or Santa thought she was just kidding. posted by Stuart Hickox \| 5:03 PM Wednesday, January 02, 2002 Slice of life. Tonight my wife picked up some groceries, including a bottle of Welchs Prune Nectar. It's delicious stuff, full of vitamins and iron. I was introduced to the magic of the dark nectar by my late grandfather, Reverend Bill Weale. He loved it like date squares and God. When he told me about it, he'd raise his hand and pinch his index finger and thumb almost together. "You don't need too much!" he'd say. Grandpa swore prune juice (as well as hot water with milk) helped to keep him young, but when he said it kept him moving, I'm sure he was referring to the fact that he did hours of tai chi and stretching each day right up to the week before he died, at 85, last year. So, after a decadent holiday month, I rustled through the groceries to find my elixir. I struggled with the cap for about a minute before I resorted to using a knife to cut the top open -- nearly stabbing myself in the process. I thought of Grandpa then, blind since he was 75, and of Grandma's small but strong hands. It must have been love -- or maybe glass jars with e-z off lids. posted by Stuart Hickox \| 8:53 PM New Year's List #1: 24 Extra Strength Tylenol 16 Advil Cold and Sinus 2 boxes generic facial tissue 1 box facial tissue "with lotion" 6 hot rum toddies 2 rum toddie hangovers 8 pots herbal tea 6 holidays spent in bed 1 New Year's resolution: Be healthier in 2002 Happy New Year! posted by Stuart Hickox \| 9:36 AM				(01.07.2002) Jasper: Don't label me. None required, son. See the cover photo archive. (12.22.2001) Ruby Tuesday My sister's dog romps in the cold October surf on PEI's north shore. See more photos. (11.19.2001) Walden Cabin 1996 See the photos. (11.13.2001) Lowell and Sharon's first house in Calgary. See the photos. Updated - September 12, 2001 Head for the Hills of Prince Edward Island Walden Cabin >> "I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, to front the essential facts of life and to see if I could learn what they had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) Walden; Or Life in the Woods (08.21) Walden Cabin is a publishing creation of Accolade Intermedia, an Ottawa-based communications company that specializes in content-rich Web products. www.accolade.ca >>
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