This sky just won’t do.
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
The Memoirs of Chateaubriand I had In China
Here is the copy of Chateaubriand’s Memoirs that I had in China.
Here is the copy I just bought and have in Brandon:
George Strange Used Books
This store is my favorite store in Brandon.
I love cruising its shelves.
Today I purchased:
The poetry and Letters of Gerard Manley Hopkins.
Four Quartets by TS Eliot
Scoop by Evelyn Waugh.
The Memoirs of Chateaubriand, hardcover edition.
A driving situation I never encountered in China
In 2025, I was driving in China, having done so for ten years, and then had to do a road test in Branson. A strange thing that can happen when you change the jurisdictions in which you reside as I have done this year.
One would think it is more challenging to drive in China than Canada because of the larger volumes of traffic. However, driving in Canada has challenges not experienced in China. A lot of these challenges are because of stop signs. There aren’t many stop signs in China. When I came across them in China,I would take photos.
Stop signs mean you have to make judgements. Do I have enough time to enter traffic? Will I annoy another driver if I enter the lane in front of him? Do I have enough time? And you also have to be patient.
One of the challenging situations I came across the past weekend was being at a stop sign by a road with a 100 kmh speed limit and having to make a left turn. I never had to do this in China. Thankfully, the #10 Highway was clear of traffic when I did have to make the left turn. Still, my instinct was to turn onto the road as quickly as possible.
Wednesday 4:18 AM Green Light
The green light you can see in the picture is on account of an outdoor Christmas display.
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
RCIA: The Next Stage
The inquiry is over.
Now, I’m in the Catechumenate stage. Though, I’m still an inquirer.
I’ll have to go through a rite of acceptance.
Dinner at Wei Ming Zao’s
My son Tony & I were invited for Dinner at Wei Ming Zao’s house last evening. Grace before the meal was said and great conversation was had.
I took some photos with Wei Ming’s Paintings.
This painting is of Saint Augustine’s Church where I will be attending my RCIA class this evening.
This painting is of downtown Brandon.
This painting is of the veterans section of the Brandon Cemetery. My father’s headstone is there.
Tuesday is Latvia Day
November 18th is Latvian Independence Day. On tbat date, it became independent of the Soviet Union. However, it seems to have somewhat given up that independence by being a member of the European Union which is turning into the Soviet Union. But that’s another story.
I’ll treat it like a national day and wear my Latvia hat all day.
Last year in China, I celebrated Latvia Day this way:
In the conference room at NJHS Jiangyin, I put a Latvian flag on the big screen and posed in front of it.
Tuesday 5:40 AM: Class
Cloudy this morning.
Extended my Duo streak to 2123.
I uploaded this NGD quote video:
I was at Weiming Zhao’s last evening. Photos to follow.
Monday, November 17, 2025
Don’t abuse the bank employees.
I was in the TD bank and Bank of Nova Scotia. Both had signs saying they didn’t tolerate bank employees being screamed at. What’s up with that? I hazard to speculate.
Be that as it may, I do tolerate Mark Carney, a former central bank employee, being jeered at any time he appears in public. It’s people like him whose actions probably lead to banks feeling compelled to put up those signs.
Deloraine Photos
I finally am able to publish them.
Here are the photos taken of the Deloraine Grain Elevator.
Here are photos that were taken in the town.
This building was used as a church.
A video comparison of driving in China and Canada
Above, I drive in China; and below I drive in Canada.
Monday Morning Sights
Brandon Shoppers Mall parking lot.
The owner of this car really loves Jesus and likes Canada.
These houses have already put up their Christmas displays:
Monday 7:02 AM: Day 321
November 17 is the 321st day of the year.
44 dais til 2026.
44 days left in the year where I was in so many places: from Qingching to Gladstone.
Monday 6:17 AM: streak and videos
I woke up at 5:30 AM. I felt like I overslept.
The Duolingo streak is up to:
8 days till Lou Gehrig.
I uploaded this video last night;
It was recorded on Saturday. Hundreds of views in China; two in Canada.
This is a Simone Weil quote video. It is fairly longish. I recorded it in two clips. Hundreds of views in China; not thousands as I’m hoping to have had.
On the agenda today: a bank deposit, an online class, and dinner at Weiming Zhao’s.
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Deloraine Notes
Thoughts on my trip to Deloraine:
Also, I am transcribing any interesting things overheard:
Also, things seen:
A sunny Saturday. A great day to drive here from Brandon. I espied landscape that was flat and clean. The flatness had a breathtaking aspect to it, akin to being at the foot of high mountains.
I like driving these roads without other cars near me. I had my Sportage set to cruise at 100 kmh and this pickup rode close behind me for five minutes until he was able to pass.
Chinese mandarins for sale. They were cheap as chips in China.
A lot of pickup trucks.
The town has a railway track running through it. No trains yet seen.
Davis Warren made a good blog entry about the evil of democracy. The problem with it? The people are evil and divisive. Parkinson.
People in this town can go to the states to buy groceries.
A gentleman tells me the treatments I’m raising funds for will soon be rendered obsolete by new technology. Not many know about it.
Talk of the game.
Stihl hat.
Rough riders hat.
Fenway park hat
Jets hat.
Red wings hat.
A few people tell me about their stricken relatives.
A Newfie marries an Englishman. The accent is amazing. The man is from England. His wife is from Newfoundland. He has a Newfie accent.
Newfoundlanders are the Italians of Canada. Fun loving.
I saw a tractor drive by. Cool.
Oilers hoodie.
Detroit Tigers hat.
Green Bay Packers Hoodie.
What’s going on?
Ready for winter?
Take’er easy!
Sure. You bet!
You betcha!
Mac Tools hat.
I saw flurries on the drive here. I recorded a video in which I said as much.
At the mass I attended. I sat next to this well to do couple. White. They left as communion was being received, and when I retuned to my seat after being blessed by the priest, I was startled to see Africans sitting in their place. Or least that is what seemed to have happened. Or maybe I imagined them? The couple that is.
Texas sweatshirt.
Jays hat.
Senators hoodie.
Shur gro hat.
Texas hat.
University of Saskatchewan hoodie.
I would vote for the Bloc Québécois if I had the opportunity. The three mainline parties are no good.
Make Quebec Catholic again. They can have their own country or not. It don’t matter about the latter, but the former.
Blue Jays Store bag.
Columbus Blue Jackets hat.
Westman Wildcats Hat
Twins hat.
Sunday 5:16 AM: Busy
Only one entry this morning.
I’m busy today. I have an online class with a student in Brazil, a mass to attend, and a long drive to and from Deloraine.
I will publish my Deloraine recordings later.
It is cold this morning.
I extended my Duolingo streak.
I uploaded a NGD quote video
It’s about the most common prejudice of them all.
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Saturday 8:11 PM: Back from Deloraine
Deloraine is over an hour from Brandon. Having driven there and back, I’m pooped. I post my stuff about it later.
Saturday 8:01 AM: Dawn & Deloraine
I just finished an online class with a student from Toronto.
Now, I’ll have breakfast.
Then, I’ll prepare.
I will go to Deloraine.
I’m going south.
Video to follow.
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