The Church of the Nodding Angel - #3 of 52

Thinking of Christmas

Just got back from church. I think I'll add go to church more to my list of 52 things to do when I'm 52. I've been a Christmas Catholic the last few years and tonight at church I was thinking perhaps I have been missing something in my life.

Christmas growing up always meant going to midnight mass. The church in Wheatley was decorated to the nines and the pews were filled with folks in their finery. Baby Jesus was in the manger surrounded by statues depicting the Christmas miracle. But off to the side on the first step of the altar was a table with an angel on it. My favourite Christmas story as told by my younger brother is about this angel.

Each Christmas we would be given a quarter to give to the angel. This was a special angel because when you dropped your coin in the slot between her hands, the head would nod back and forth as if it was thanking you for your donation. Kids would line up to give their coins to the angel and the angel would silently give thanks by nodding it's head. When we were kids 25 cents could buy you some cool candy at Fudd's mini-mart, so my brother, as he tells the story, was thinking ahead. Hmmm, he thought, I wonder what would happen if I kept the quarter and put in a penny instead. So before church he put a penny in his pocket. Sure enough after mass, all the kids lined up to wait their turn. He saw the angel nod in thanks as the other kids in line deposited their alms for the poor. My brother slipped his hand in his pocket, dropping the quarter in and taking out the penny with no one the wiser (so he thought). He walked up to the angel and put the copper in the slot and waited. In what seemed like an eternity, the head remained motionless and then the angels' porcelain eyes caught his and the angel shook her head side to side in disapproval.

He never says if he put the quarter in and it doesn't really matter. The angel no longer adorns the altar at the Blessed Sacrament church, rumour has it that it was tossed during renovations along with some of the other statues in an attempt to modernize the church. I am reminded of this story every time I see the Salvation Army kettle and I reach into my pocket and think for a moment about how much change I should give and then grab whatever is in my pocket and plunk in it the slot. I never know if the person with the kettle is really that angel in disguise. You just don't mess with Angels as my brother says.

Now being Christmas Eve, I'd like to wish everyone the best of the season. I have to perform another Christmas tradition, which is wrapping my wife's presents now that she has gone to bed.

Cheers
Mit.

P.S. As I refilled my coffee I noticed one of our fridge magnets had an angel on it. It says "Cherish angels wherever you may find them and you will find them everywhere" Sort of sums it up nicely!

Size Matters - #2 of 52

The Mrs. and I went to a house party Friday night. Met one of our local Dentists and we got to talking about toilets. Seems the subject is fascinating to folks other than myself. Proves that either I am not eccentric or that there are others other like me.

Anyways I thought Blog #2 would be dedicated to #2. (Say Ewww!)

Since part of my list of 52 things to do is to reduce my utility bills, the main floor toilet was a natural target. I bought a 17.5" height, 3.8 litre/flush, 1000g rated American Standard Toilet "made in Mexico". It replaced a 16 litre/flush American Standard Toilet  "Made in Stratford Ontario" toilet that I gleaned from the roadside last spring. That replaced another Canadian made toilet "Crane" that I think used about 45 gallons per flush but it came with the house.

For toilets size matters - The 17.5 inch height should be the new standard - Not sure why 14 inches is the standard but perhaps the folks in England were a lot shorter when it was invented. According to my Dentist friend, his brother-in-law with bad knees could not thank him enough for recommending the extra height. In the Lobzun families our porcelin thrones have reading materials beside them as a mandatory accessory.

After hooking everything up, I anticipated the first flush. I thought the toilet was broken as the speed at which it emptied was almost at outhouse levels. This is in part to the 3 inch hole beneath the flapper. I had to wait for some contents but I will admit as a regular go-er I was impressed once again. I never weighed what I consider to be a good poop but the 1000gm rating took it with no problem. Comments from the other users can be summed up as "I love it". Can you love a toilet? I look forward to our open house on the 18th to hear what my friends think.

If you are wondering about the picture, it is called a Whiz and Wash. Another simple environmentally friendlier idea whose time has come. In the operation of urinals, the greatest enemy of the drain is urine sitting in the P-Trap (Shape not contents). Since good hygiene practice is to wash your hands after you go, this combines 2 functions in one as the sink above the urinal, drains in to the urinal below. Sadly this is an artists conception right now but I can see it becoming commercial soon. This is actually better than the waterless urinals as there are no special fluid discs to replace. Imagine if all commercial buildings converted over to the Whiz and Wash!

Since I am on the topic of bathrooms, I'll share a couple more observations. One is the new Dyson (Vacuum guy) hand dryers that use a band of concentrated air flow to dry your hands. This actually works and the new 401 service centres have some of these. The other is public washroom doors, new designs don't have them. I wonder how much disease could be prevented if we just didn't have doors on public washrooms. Having no door is wheelchair accessible - kid friendly (Somedoors require superhuman strength to open) - no maintenance on automatic closers or paint/graffitti. It would be cheap to retrofit (Take door off hinges - put sign on wall). Another benefit is an open doorway adds a level of security to public places by not being sealed off from the main area. I am sure that there is some consultant right now advising government at $1,000/day on how to do this.

Water is very precious and although governments have taken up the fight against bottled water, we can do much more by changing the way we use water. As an added bonus for business and residents on metered systems - every litre you save on water use you save on sewage costs.

It's a small thing but it's how you use it that matters ;)

Cheers
Mit

52 Weeks being 52 (Edition #1)

I turned 52 on November 28th. According to a British Study, 52 is the average age that people turn grumpy. I got thinking about the number 52 and wondered if it is of some significance to me. 52 weeks in a year, I spent my formulative years growing up at 52 Hillcrest Drive in Wheatley Ontario, B52's the band have a song "Rock Lobster" (Lobster was one of my nick names), B52's in a bottle were on sale at the liquor store, etc., etc..

So I am making a list of 52 things to do when I am 52. It will take me a while and if anyone wishes to give me some ideas please comment or send me a message on FaceBook.

1: Put $52 a week in a Mad Money account. (Started)
2: Put an extra $52 a week towards paying off my line of credit. (Started)
3: Quit Smoking
4: Take a night course (*signing up for an online course - Introduction to DownTown Revitalization)
5: Write 52 Blogs
6: Start a newspaper column.
7: Write a book on Management Techniques and get it published (*I've been planning this likely since Harper started his Hockey Book)
8: Help the Ingersoll Times (Hmmm)
9: Help Fusion Youth Centre reduce their tax burden on Ingersoll ratepayers (*An Eco Challenge may be a way)
10: Become involved in the Downtown (*See #4)
11: Get new members for my Lodge
12: Finish my Attic (Well it will never be finished but stairs and walls would make me happy)
13: Save another $52/month on my utility bills. (*Half way there - Now to change my Electricty provider)
14: Start an income producing business (* Met a web developer through Kijiji - Buy Local)
15:  Add a water feature to my garden (Accumulating Parts)
16:  Buy an EBike
17: Have no credit card debt - Starting at 0 this week (*Still 0)
18: Add a solar feature to my house.
19: Attend at least 13 live theatre or other cultural events. (13 is one fourth of 52)
20: Watch 13 movies in the theatre
21: Visit 13 places I have never been before
22: Visit 13 friends I haven't seen in a while.
24: Have an adventure with my girls
25: Have a weekend away with my wife
26: Get a passport

That's a good start - Stay tuned. Just for shits and giggles I challenge you to start your own list - Pick a number and do it.

Cheers
Mit
Dec 24 update:
#27: Try 52 different beers - (*35 more to go)
#28: Go to church more.

January 1st 2011 update - (*)
#29: Purge (Starting with my inbox)
#30: Plant a Tree
#31: Plant an Herb Garden  >>> One that I know what is in it ;)
#32: Start a Bonsai
#33: A Canoe Trip on the Thames
#34: Attempt to learn a musical instrument
#35: Make a change with my change
#36: Make a YouTube video
#37: Visit another province
#38: Go camping in a tent