X-Country has begun!!!

The cross country skiers have taken advantage of the recent snowfall and made trails through the Durham Conservation Area.  I am told there is just enough snow and the conditions were pretty good considering.  Better take advantage of the snow now, as it sounds like rain is in the forcast.

 The snow hanging on the trees makes for a picturesque time.

The snow and the ice formations at McGowan Falls look beautiful.

Comic Jam

Last night I went to a Comic Jam hosted by Rhonda Abrams of Durham Arts School  and  Tim at The Color Jar  in downtown Durham.  This is where one person draws the start of a comic (the first frame) on a sheet of paper, the next person continues the comic and so on.  I am by no means an artist but schrugged aside the potential of being laughed at and ridiculed for my lack of talent,  and gave it a try.

Hard at work - deep in thought

Rhonda Abrams

The nine or so participants all started their comic with different themes ranging from Super Hero, Slapstick and Animals to a Stick Man with an extra appendage.  It began with deafening silence, but as more frames were drawn, the giggling and laughs began.  

The good news for me was, that I was allowed to stay, and I had a lot of fun.  Stepping out of my comfort zone wasn't so bad after all..... Oh by the way....... It wasn't me who created the Stick Man!!!!

Truly Christmas

I want to share this post with you because I believe it is truly what Christmas is about.  Merry Christmas!

Monika Griffin

TODAY WILL BE THE 9TH ANNUAL XMAS DINNER FOR ANYONE WHO HAS NO FAMILY. THIS WAS STARTED BY MR. AND MRS. OVENS 8YRS. WHO COULDN'T BE WITH THEIR FAMILY.  THEIR 1ST XMAS DINNER WAS HELD IN THE BASEMENT OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH WITH 13 GUESTS.  MRS. OVENS PASSED AWAY AND CAROL VAN, A HAIRDRESSER FROM TOWN HELPED OUT MR. OVENS.  THE DINNERS WERE HELD AT THE TOWN HALL.  LAST YEAR WE HAD 76 GUESTS PLUS TAKE OUTS FOR THE SICK.  I HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING FOR THE LAST 3YRS., AS I HAVE XMAS WITH MY FAMILY ON XMAS EVE.
THE GUESTS ARE MOSTLY SENIORS.  WHAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE ONE IS THE JOY I FEEL WHEN I SEE THE SPARKLE IN THEIR EYES AS THEY COME IN AND SEE THE TABLES ALL SET AND THE XMAS DECORATIONS AND KNOW THEY HAVE PEOPLE TO SPEND XMAS WITH.
I WISH ALL MY FRIENDS A VERY MERRY XMAS.

One of my Durham friends sent this to me.  Thought it was worth passing on.  My American friends can change the news networks to American versions to make it fit.  I don't think it means to tar everyone with the same stick, but there are sectors of the population it may apply to.

The ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

Two Different Versions.

Two Different Morals.

OLD VERSION:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building

his house, and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and

plays the summer away.

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no

food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE OLD STORY:

Be responsible for yourself!

MODERN VERSION:

The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer

long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and

plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference

and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and

well fed while he is cold and starving.

CBC, CTV, Global and City TV show up to provide pictures of the

shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his

comfortable home with a table filled with food. Canada is stunned

by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor

grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on CBC News with Peter Mansbridge along

with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not

Easy Being Green.'

People Against Poverty stages a demonstration in front of the

ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, We Shall Overcome.

Then Olivia Chow has the group kneel down to pray for the

grasshopper's sake.

Dalton McGuinty condemns the ant and blames Prime Minister Harper,

former Premier Mike Harris, Bill Davis, Joe Clarke, Harold

Ballard, and Conrad Black for the grasshopper's plight.

Ed Broadbent and John Sewell explain in an interview with Wendy

Mesley that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the

grasshopper and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to

make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the Provincial Liberal/NDP coalition drafts the Economic

Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of

the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of

green bugs and having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes

his home is confiscated by the government Green Czar David Miller

and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading

friends finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the

government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to

be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopper

doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the

house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who

terrorize and ramshackle the once prosperous and peaceful

neighbourhood.

The entire Nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world with

it.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Be careful how you vote in the next election

You may wish to pass this on to other ants, but don't bother

sending it on to any grasshoppers because they wouldn't understand it,

anyway.

Backing Up The Wagon

I've received emails from West Grey Council members stating that the $10.00 minimum fee for dropping household garbage at the dump has been removed.  This is great news.  The fee by most accounts was excessive and further more was a tax on one of life's little pleasures................The Dump Run!!!   I mean who doesn't enjoy an excursion to the Landfill.  It is a great reason for a Saturday morning outing with the kids.  You may have an opportunity to talk to someone you haven't seen in a while, or you may just enjoy the ambience.  Whatever the case, you may continue without digging too much deeper into your pocket.  See you down there!!   

More FREE skating during the Holiday Break. 

Lions Family Skate

Mark this on your calendar.   Free family skating brought to you by West Grey-Durham Lions.  Dust off the skates and dazzle the youngsters with your ice skating ability. (There's time to practice - check the arena schedule for the Adults only skate)  Please pass the word.

Hey folks, if you want to get a broader perspective on things download the APP Photosynth to your Smartphone.  It stitches the frames together seamlessly.  Above is a photo of the main corner in Durham, intersection Hwy. 6 and 4.  (You may recognize it.)  This picture was taken with an iPhone 3GS. (Yes it is outdated by two models!!!)   The App is from Microsoft.  There are options that allow cropping and sharing within the App.

Since we are dabbling in technology, take a look at my most recent attempt at animation.

West Grey Council has hit the Town of Durham rate payers were it hurts.... yep... right in the garbage bag.  They have doubled the price of Bag Tags while at the same time reducing the service frequency by 50%.  Now, wait.... as if that is not enough, Council has imposed a minimum fee of $10.00 for dropping a bag of garbage at the Landfill.  (increased fees apply to all of West Grey)

Apparently these new charges and schedule changes are meant to encourage the use of curb-side pickup.  I am told that 44% of householders are not using curb-side pickup even though they are paying a portion of it on their tax levy.  Council has not investigated why this high percentage isn't taking advantage of the service.

I would suggest there is a problem that needs to be identified and addressed before ramming a dose of prescription bag tags down our throats.

 NEWS FLASH - there is garbage being dumped on vacant lots and in ditches now.... higher fees, and less service isn't going to fix that.

I am told that West Grey Council will probably revisit the issue.  In doing so, I hope they will lay their cards on the table and tell the truth about why they need the extra revenue.......because I know it's not for the curb-side pickup service within the town of Durham.

October 29/11 - A new business opened it's doors on the main street of Durham. 

Holiday Message

Snowman - December 2011

Brendan, Madilyn and Elliott worked hard to build this Snow-Guy.