Aliens

As sometimes happens, my father has come up with something rather amusing to himself and annoying to my mother. Actually, both Dad and I find it funny, as does the Wookie, and Mom is starting to come around. I think.

About 15 years ago, my Dad became a little fixated with aliens. The kind from outer space. He was watching the X-Files a lot and Millenium (his favourite movie is the original Invasion of the body Snatchers, mine is Alien). Dad's always been interested in space. In fact he had a telescope we used to use quite a bit when I was younger. Looking at the moon, Mars and whatever else we could find. I have even taken to searching for orbiting satellites from time to time and spotted the International Space Station once as it was visible in the sky over Halifax.

A couple of years ago, in the back part of their yard, my mom had quite the vegetable garden. There were even kiwi vines on a pergola back there. Over the years Mom's put in more flowers than veggies and it looks like a botanical paradise when you're in the middle of it. My Dad likes to go up there and have his coffee (who wouldn't?) but the ground was uneven and he needed to do something about that. He built a miniature deck under the pergola that's big enough for two chairs.

Dad started calling his little deck the Alien Landing Pad. Mom didn't think this was funny when he referred to it in front of the neighbours. I gave him some solar powered lights for around the ALP, as I'll call it, and was accused of encouraging him. Of course I was!

Enter the Wookie. He's been travelling for his job for a couple of years and really hasn't had the time to do much with his house and property. But lately, he's had more time here. So this past week he's put a whole bunch of solar lights on his property. Last night was the first chance for me to see it. The lights are in front and on the side and all the way to the back around the pond. There are even two floating lights in the pond. The effect is amazing. Very spooky in one way as the lights aren't terribly strong, but when you look at it from the end of the street and begin to approach it, it's like you're coming in for a landing from an airplane. With any luck, he'll take some good pictures of it for me (my digital camera wouldn't take a good enough shot I'm afraid). So now the Wookie has his own ALP that puts Dad's to shame.

Last night, I hosted an appreciation dinner for a local Special Olympics group. It was so nice to be there and the kids were so sweet. I was even made an honorary member of their team. After the dinner, the Wookie and I went to the village where he lives, in a small community outside of Halifax, where they were having their annual Fire Hall Fair. I had run into Jessica and her mom the other night and they suggested I come out for the fireworks. So that's what we did. After the fireworks we went back to the Wookie's to take a look at the ALP. It really was kind of spooky, though the Wookie insists it's even spookier when it's completely dark.

Today is the Wookie's birthday. I'm off to help him celebrate.

S.

Does Whatever a Spider Can

Shawna, across the country at The Nervus Rex, took advantage of my honesty, made a Secret Super Hero Blogger Award and gave it to me. I wasn't going to post this pic yet again, but the Wookie is amazingly amused by the fact that the entire world can see the pic he took of me. The least I can do for the hairy one is make him giggle like a little girl by putting this up.

One thing I would like to point out, though, is the beautiful Purolator T-shirt I am wearing. I currently have two of these garments and will be looking for another one this summer. The Purolator folks are very generous sponsors of our Rona MS Bike Tour, and I've gotten to know them quite well over the years. And I ask for a T-shirt every time. They are perfect for biking. If it ever warms up here enough to bike again.

S.

Taking the Lord's Name in Vain

While looking for something on the net this morning I came across something else of interest. that happens a lot to me. I am known for my fondness of useless information, but it has helped me win a few Trivial Pursuit games. And I am easily amused and distracted. Anyway, while searching for whatever it was, I came across the name of a neurologist who lived in the first part of the 20th century. Interesting fellow, really, as he was knighted, then later made a baron. He served on a number of government committees in the areas of physical and mental health.

In the past, at least in the English speaking world, you were given a name and identified by your profession. A baker named Joe, was Joe the baker, and later Joe Baker. If you made barrels for a living, you became known as Cooper. In Gaelic families, your father was often referenced in your name. Hence Joe MacKinnon was really Joe, son of Kinnon, just as in families of Germanic descent "von" means the same as Mac : son of. And quite often, if you were born a Cooper, you became a cooper by trade. As time wore on, people drifted from the professions from which their ancestors were named.

What's more interesting to me is when a person's name reflects somehow in their choice of profession. For example, Joe Payne becoming a dentist, Joe Nurse becoming a doctor, Joe Baker becoming a....baker. I think Dear Abby or Ann Landers have had a few columns on this phenomena.

So when I came across this fellow this morning, the neurologist (if you're still with me), I was amused: Dr. Russell Brain. How much did this fellow's surname have to do with his choice of profession? Did he think before attending medical school of the consequences of becoming a doctor?

Who's your neurologist? Dr. Brain.
The Lord?
No, Jesus was taken. Lord Dr. Brain.....and of course in later years, Baron Brain.

See what I mean about easily amused?

S.