Walden Cabin: Observations typed on an old Underwood

Friday, October 19, 2001

There's nothing like house renovations to provide distraction from grief. Ever since Dad died a few weeks ago, Suzy and I have had the bathroom, kitchen and our bedroom torn apart, have repainted the basement office and stained the pocket doors (sliding french doors) to my office. Among the additions/changes: A new kitchen counter, and insulated glass door to outside; a new toilet, tub and floor in the bathroom upstairs; a burst of red in the office to spruce things up. I had been complaining that I felt like I was working in vanilla pudding in my office -- red should fire the creative juices! The bedroom is Allspice, a soothing Pittsburg paint colour. Kinda looks like a baked pumpkin pie.

And I'm counting on my new jacuzzi bathtub to also help with the stress and frustration of life. In just a few hours I will be able to sink into that baby to feel those lumbar jets!

Then next week we can have a "normal week" and spend a good deal of our time working to pay for all this.

posted by Stuart Hickox | 11:51 AM

Tuesday, October 16, 2001

Do people still lick stamps? I mailed a dozen letters this morning at a local Quickie Mart. The teller at the postal outlet handed me the proper postage in individual stamps and I automatically began to lick and stick them. After the third one, it occurred to me that maybe there was some other way to wet the adhesive. I mean, it tasted fine and everything, but did I really want to be licking something some dude just handed me across a counter? We don't lick other stuff, like candy wrappers or CDs or other merchandise. Imagine: "Oh, thank you for that new pair of gloves. I'll just stick them in my mouth now!"

I looked around for an alternative wetting method, but decided to pass on the dirty sponge in a cup that was on the counter. Who knows where it had been! So I turned my Trudeau 47 over and licked away. This has opened a whole new line of thinking. People wash pants, shirts and socks, but why don't we wash our belts?

posted by Stuart Hickox | 1:18 PM

Monday, October 15, 2001

We live in an age of comfort, in a country of abundance. Yet, there is always something to annoy us.
Some laments of Autumn:

1) "These wool socks are so itchy!"
2) "I just raked that yard, now look at it!"

Send me your suggestions. Complain. Feel better.

posted by Stuart Hickox | 8:58 AM

Wednesday, October 10, 2001

Who said it's unsafe to travel? Take a trip to Syria through another excerpt from my travel journal. This time I visit a Hamman, a steam bath, and transcend the chaos of urban Aleppo. A chunk of soap and loofa go a long way. See The Soothing Hammam.

posted by Stuart Hickox | 9:36 PM

Secret no more! Discover the simple pleasure and delight of mustard pickles. It's not too late to bottle your own -- in time for Christmas. Anne Nicholson of Borden, Prince Edward Island shares the family recipe.

posted by Stuart Hickox | 12:58 PM

I searched and searched, but have not been able to find Osama Bean Laden, the terrorist with the face of a bad British comic -- a photo published in Saturday's Globe and Mail.

They said September 11 marked "the end of irony" -- reminded me of the 1989 claims that the fall of the Berlin Wall was "the end of history". It's nice to laugh again, but I'm still thinking about those poor people in mud huts getting hit with 'smart bombs'. I'd say there's nothing smart, or funny, about that.

As winter approaches, and sense of powerlessness over world affairs descends like a chilly frost, all we can do here is curl up with a good afghan and hope for the best.

posted by Stuart Hickox | 9:03 AM



	Friday, October 19, 2001 There's nothing like house renovations to provide distraction from grief. Ever since Dad died a few weeks ago, Suzy and I have had the bathroom, kitchen and our bedroom torn apart, have repainted the basement office and stained the pocket doors (sliding french doors) to my office. Among the additions/changes: A new kitchen counter, and insulated glass door to outside; a new toilet, tub and floor in the bathroom upstairs; a burst of red in the office to spruce things up. I had been complaining that I felt like I was working in vanilla pudding in my office -- red should fire the creative juices! The bedroom is Allspice, a soothing Pittsburg paint colour. Kinda looks like a baked pumpkin pie. And I'm counting on my new jacuzzi bathtub to also help with the stress and frustration of life. In just a few hours I will be able to sink into that baby to feel those lumbar jets! Then next week we can have a "normal week" and spend a good deal of our time working to pay for all this. posted by Stuart Hickox \| 11:51 AM Tuesday, October 16, 2001 Do people still lick stamps? I mailed a dozen letters this morning at a local Quickie Mart. The teller at the postal outlet handed me the proper postage in individual stamps and I automatically began to lick and stick them. After the third one, it occurred to me that maybe there was some other way to wet the adhesive. I mean, it tasted fine and everything, but did I really want to be licking something some dude just handed me across a counter? We don't lick other stuff, like candy wrappers or CDs or other merchandise. Imagine: "Oh, thank you for that new pair of gloves. I'll just stick them in my mouth now!" I looked around for an alternative wetting method, but decided to pass on the dirty sponge in a cup that was on the counter. Who knows where it had been! So I turned my Trudeau 47 over and licked away. This has opened a whole new line of thinking. People wash pants, shirts and socks, but why don't we wash our belts? posted by Stuart Hickox \| 1:18 PM Monday, October 15, 2001 We live in an age of comfort, in a country of abundance. Yet, there is always something to annoy us. Some laments of Autumn: 1) "These wool socks are so itchy!" 2) "I just raked that yard, now look at it!" Send me your suggestions. Complain. Feel better. posted by Stuart Hickox \| 8:58 AM Wednesday, October 10, 2001 Who said it's unsafe to travel? Take a trip to Syria through another excerpt from my travel journal. This time I visit a Hamman, a steam bath, and transcend the chaos of urban Aleppo. A chunk of soap and loofa go a long way. See The Soothing Hammam. posted by Stuart Hickox \| 9:36 PM Secret no more! Discover the simple pleasure and delight of mustard pickles. It's not too late to bottle your own -- in time for Christmas. Anne Nicholson of Borden, Prince Edward Island shares the family recipe. posted by Stuart Hickox \| 12:58 PM I searched and searched, but have not been able to find Osama Bean Laden, the terrorist with the face of a bad British comic -- a photo published in Saturday's Globe and Mail. They said September 11 marked "the end of irony" -- reminded me of the 1989 claims that the fall of the Berlin Wall was "the end of history". It's nice to laugh again, but I'm still thinking about those poor people in mud huts getting hit with 'smart bombs'. I'd say there's nothing smart, or funny, about that. As winter approaches, and sense of powerlessness over world affairs descends like a chilly frost, all we can do here is curl up with a good afghan and hope for the best. posted by Stuart Hickox \| 9:03 AM				(10.10.2001) Cabin Son Jasper at Walden Cabin. October, 2001. Bedouin Boys Out there, in the desert, they keep watch, and serve tea. See The Soothing Hammam, from Syria. >> See the full photo. >>See previous cover photos. << Larger photo >> (09.27.2001) Joe, that's who. Charlottetown, 1979, with Valerie (left) and Stuart Hickox. See Me and Joe Who Jasper is live on Jasper Cam most mornings and in the early afternoon. Keep an eye on the toy box! 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 >>
	about us \| current article \| archive \| home Copyright 2001. info@accolade.ca Accolade Intermedia Inc. .