Sunday 6:41 PM

 

It was a hot humid day.  But I was in an air-conditioned Safeway so I wasn’t impacted.  I did feel the humidity as I walked to the now air-conditioned Sportage.

Late in the afternoon, the sky clouded up suggesting the possibility of a late evening thunderstorm.

At Safeway, a gentleman, I talked to, told about his uncle who had Parkinson’s: the uncle said smoking marijuana helped him to operate. 

Was watching the Norway Brazil game at the Safeway.  I saw a woman wearing a Brazil shirt. Don’t think she was a football fan.

At Wendy’s, this English gentleman gave Tony a list of books to read.

Getting my haircut, I met a Korean Chinese couple. Their son was half Chinese. As was my Tony, I told them.

Brandon Correl Centre

 Or is it the Corral Centre?  Whatever! Who cares?!? Sue me!

Here’s the environs of the CC:

The Grand Valley. Le Valle Grande?

Notice the work being done in anticipation of possible flooding.

Today’s fundraising miscelánea:

A man from Wyoming in Brandon on the Fourth of July. Said he didn’t want to be in the U.S. for the holiday.  He was a cowboy.

Times are tough.

Not at the moment.

If I had money,

Not today, thank you.

I’m in a bit of a rush!

Are you the sort of guy who likes to pick pretty flowers in an azure green meadow where you hear birds delightfully chirping songs of summer and where you can gaze upon deers with cottony soft tails hopping daintily with cute rabbits? Or are you a fellow who prefers the butch thunder of high explosive shells zooming through the sky reeking destruction and mayhem upon all without discrimination or moral justification ?

No. I’m good. Thanks.

I don’t have any change. Sorry!

Not right now.

I’m sorry, but I can’t.

I’m gonna pass!

He is a precious flower. A real tulip.

Morocco 3 Canada 0.  Morocco was not dazzling.  They did what they had to do.  Canada put up a good show in the first half.

Can France beat Paraguay. Doubt it, I highly  do.

I don’t think today thanks.

I have no cash and my mother’s debit card.

I have MS.  It’s horrible!

Yes I would be interested but right now, I am kind of short.

I talked to a one armed man.  Nice person.  He was talking to some American with a southern drawl.

It’s a hot one out there.

Took a poo at Winners.

You know I did last time you were here.

Yes, but not through here.

I don’t have any change or anything.

I’m okay right now.

I’m alright thanks.

I did this the other day!

Thursday 8:50 PM: Overnap

 

In the morning, I talked to China for two hours and then to Spain for three hours.  The topic of conversation with many of the Spanish students was the game: Spain — Austria WC knock-out match.  I told the students of my sincere desire to see Spain win and of my thinking that Canada was not going to beat Morocco.

In the afternoon, we — that be, my son Tony & me — did some work.  I cleaned the interior of the car and the garage while he mowed the lawn.  We did at one point switch roles: with him cleaning the car and me mowing part of the lawn.  I mention this for the historical record.  

I suppose I should also mention the trouble caused by the recycling bin.  I reluctantly inform historians of what happened.  The green bin was put out in the back lane so that the city truck coming around could get the organic contents.  It turned out that the truck put a big dent into the green bin as the bin was emptied.  We were later able to get the dent out with a hammer and my feet.  The green bin also stunk because of the rotting of its organic contents.  My mother had the lid open so she could air out the bin.  After we mowed the lawn, she told me that she wished we had not mowed the lawn because she wanted to let the green bin, which we had filled with grass clippings, air out to remove the stink. You can’t win.

We finished our work in time to watch the Spain — Austria match.  I saw Spain score a well-deserved first goal.  Then, I took a nap. I overnapped, waking up groggy and unsure where I was.  For an instant, I thought it was time to start my evening classes.  It turned out I still had a few hours.

In the evening, I taught three classes while watching the Portugal — Croatia match.  I talked to Fredericton, Brazil, and Toronto.  The student in Brazil was watching the game.  The student in Toronto lived close to the stadium where the match was being held.  The game was filled with drama.

Tuesday 7:11 PM: Waiting

 

The Sportage has AC.  Hurray!

Today was a day of waiting.  I waited to get the AC repaired.  I waited to order at the BSM A&W.  I waited for my order at Popeye’s where I couldn’t understand what the clerk was saying. I waited for the road construction flag man to let us go past a lane in the process of being resurfaced. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my dear wife on the 14th of July.

Saturday 5:51 AM

 The weather has been so unsettled recently.  I have thought that and so have a few who been here all the while.  The sky, which can be beautiful here, does have its moments when it ceases to be a pretty painting and becomes like a video lacking focus.  It’s a quality I can’t say I saw at all in China.

Yesterday, I was outside for the morning and it was cold.

I purchased a World Cup package from TSN.

I had a student cancel a class this morning. So, I have an extra hour. I am using it to journalize.  I will use it to read Trollope and Guardini and NGD and Escriva:

• El enemigo de una civilización es menos el adversario externo que el interno desgaste.
• The external adversary is less the enemy of civilization than is internal attrition.

           Bitterness has sharpened your tongue. Be quiet!

Thursday 7:12 AM

 Yesterday was too long a day.

Today, my student in Xinjiang had to cancel which was a bit of relief. I was able to do my reading and to plan my classes for the rest of the week. Just two classes tonight.

Sunday 9:15 PM

 For Mother’s Day, I ordered Chinese food from the Double Happiness Restaurant on Rosser Avenue. Couldn’t have Mom cooking today.

In Minnedosa, the past two days, I raised nearly 1400 dollars.  We meet this 91 year old Ukranian woman who was alive and driving.  She called Tony a sweetheart.  She told me that her secret to a long life was to not stop.  In her case, it was to not stop farming.  One gentleman asked me if I was retired. I answered that I was piecing together a living still.  

At the church, I was able to nab books by Father Groeschel and Thomas Merton.

Wednesday of Holy Week: 8:10 AM

 

No snow last night.

Today, I’ve already talked to Urumqi, prayed the Rosary, extended my Duolingo streak, and did some Twenix onboarding. I still have some planning to do for my classes with Chile, Toronto, Fredericton, Alberta, Istanbul and Moldova.  With it being Easter, I can do an Easter plan, talking about secular Easter and uses of the word Cross.

I got a welcome to the BSD email.  Soon, I’ll be saying where I was teaching.

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent: 11:15 AM

 Yesterday the snow fell but it is quickly melting.

Last night at RCIA, we had an in-depth look at the Lord’s Prayer.  We have to forgive before we can be forgiven.

I turned on the light at 5:00 AM. I crossed myself.

Then:

I then spoke to Anhui Province.  I will do so, as well, on Thursday and Friday.

I started my planning for Maple Ridge, Istanbul, Fredericton, Toronto & Taiwan.

I drove Tony to school. I’ll have to work on the love.

I finished the planning.  Moldova tomorrow. Yes indeed.

Then Reading: Trollope, Gueranger, Guinness, Thompson,  Scripture, Collins, Davila, Escriva, Pieper et al.

NGD:   The two wings of intelligence are learning and love.  

 I’ll have to work on the love. The readings also check me on vanity.

And here’s another:

—El alma es la tarea del hombre.

—The soul is man’s task.

Yes indeed

Sunday 9:47 AM View

 So far this morning: Rosary prayed (sorrowful on Sunday during Lent), Duolingo, class with Anhui, class with Toronto, secure an afternoon class with a student in Istanbul (a pretty Turkish accountant who observes Ramadan), make Mom coffee, rouse my son out bed, reading (where I extracted a NGD quote), the previous entry.

Will: have that class, take my son to the Mall, and go to 19:00 Mass for second scrutiny about light.

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent: 6:15 PM

 Got up at 5:00 AM. I did the sign of the cross.

I showered.

I prayed the Rosary.

I then did some Duolingo.

Brazil.  My student told me about  a dam where the drying of the water revealed a pile of cars that had been reported stolen to the insurance companies.

Beijing.  My young student had an amazing vocab.

I then got ready for a shift of fundraising.

I then drove there.

Behind me as I sat there I could see this:

The Canad Inns and my car.

Not too many customers at the shop.  So not much rejection. I read a lot on my phone: ten chapters of that Trollope novel that Alec Guinness got me to read, and Iran war analysis:  either the mullah regime will fall soon because it has sustained tremendous damage, or Iran has weathered the damage and USA will either be bogged down or forced to retreat from the Middle East.  I heard it said that the Iran attack will deter the Chinese from invading Taiwan because it has shown the CCP that America has great resolve and that the CCP will see that the USA doesn’t have the resources to defend Taiwan so it will have incentive to attack it.  While not reading, I didn’t raise much money.  I prayed the stations of the cross.

Then I went to Sobey’s to buy my Mom some whipped cream that she mentioned she had forgotten when going grocery shopping yesterday.  I took it home, hoping for some appreciation, and she asked me why I didn’t tell her I was going to Sobey’s.  I can’t win today.

Friday of the Third Week of Lent: 8:02 AM

 

My son Tony woke me up, around 4:00 AM, complaining of a sore neck.  I gave him some advil.

I’ve talked to Anhui province.  Later, I’ll talk to Brazil and Chile.

I’ll take my Mom shopping this aft. Tony doesn’t have school today. Professional Development Day.

No meat for me.  It’s Friday.  

To go or not to go to Friday Mass.  That is the question.

About 1.5 km’s from here, a person or persons went on a tire-slashing spree.  At least 75 cars had their tires slashed.  Who did it?  A drug addict, a homeless malcontent, teenagers having shits & giggles, or a tire company wanting business? I hope they catch the perpetrator(s).  Thankfully, I have a garage in which to park.  

—El cristiano no tiene nada que perder en una

catástrofe.

—The Christian has nothing to lose in a catastrophe.

An NGD quote.  I came across it today.  If it was a cheese stick, it would have knocked me over.  As it was, the quote hit me with the force of an anvil.  I have nothing to fear.  (Have to present it to my RCIA group).

Thanks to reading the Alec Guinness book, I am reading this Anthony Trollope novel:  The Way We Live Now.  Guinness said it was a wonderful book, and so far, in my reading of it, I am agreeing with him.  There are already passages I am highlighting.

It isn’t all bad in the world of news.  Chile has a new President who is classified as an ultra conservative Catholic.  I will have to ask my Santiago student about him. 

Tuesday of the first week of Lent: 7:39 AM

 The fiery looking speck of light flashing through the trees looks like an ice cream cone all ablaze. The canvas that I can espy from my bed room offers never ending visual delights.

I have a RCIA meeting tonight.

I have four classes today.

Yesterday, the garage changed my oil, gave the KIA a clean bill of health, and washed it as well. I was reluctant to wash given how messy the streets are.

Reading a book by a Japanese about the beauty of every day things.  True beauty is not forced; it comes naturally as a result of necessity.

Monday of the first week of Lent: 6:37 PM

 Three classes today is a much needed respite.

Canada lost a hockey game that they could easily have won.  No big deal.

Got the KIA’s oil changed.

Contemplation is the key to happiness?

It will snow tonight.

Tony’s job hunt ain’t over.

Doing more praying this Lent.

Jenny is coming July 14th.  Yesss!!!!

First Sunday of Lent: 7:15 AM

 I don’t start till ten this morning. I went to Sunday Mass on Saturday.  That means a lazy morning for me.

Some hockey game happening.  Tried to get my son to watch but he’d rather sleep.

Tuesday 7:26 AM: Fat Tuesday

 Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday so I have to make plans for Lent.  What will I give up?  Booze and junk food to start,  I will, as the previous entry says, stop posting quote videos.  I will probably stop uploading videos altogether for 40 days.  I will not post anything on X, Facebook, WeChat and Rednote.  I will also visit these apps as little as possible.  I will stop using AI to make silly videos.  I will ignore politics as much as is practical. But, I am not sure about this blog.  Perhaps, it will just be a spiritual journal.  I hope to be in communion with the Catholic Church in 40 days.

Friday 5:18 AM: Busy Daze

 I was so busy yesterday that I didn’t do all my daily requirements like reading and blogging. I apologize to my non-existent regular readers for not posting yesterday.

I had a job interview. Cross my fingers, I got the job.

I then had to do paperwork which was annoying.

I had class prep and classes to teach.

I went grocery shopping to the Super Store. Getting a cart and bagging groceries was annoying. But Mom says it’s cheaper than Sobey’s.

Monday 10:06 AM: Busy Day

 Busy day.

I’ve already done a class, made a bank deposit, and bought bananas.

While I was at the grocery store, the clerk commented about how today’s weather is a relief from yesterday.  Today, it’s minus thirteen; yesterday, it was in the minus thirties.  She was right.

I have yet five more online classes and I have to get Tony to drop off a CV.

Arctic Cold

 That’s what it’s like outside.  I don’t mind. I got four layers on top, two layers below the waist, and three layers covering my head if I need it.  Inside, I feel overdressed.

I got four classes tonight. I’m talking to Brazil and Toronto 

Canada can sell beef to China.  Oh boy! Canadians can buy Chinese EVs. Oh well.

Snow looks better in the colder cold.  From my window, I can see it glisten in the morning light. The surface of my neighbor’s snow covered lawn looks like a snowy other world.

Cars making a scrunchy sound as their tires are driven over the snow.

So easy to be focused away from God.  Even while praying, the stupidest things come to mind. Picayune concerns rush me and I forget to float up and away towards transcending this world.  

Friday 7:38 AM: Good & Bad

 

I will be fundraising at Canadian Tire today which is good because I’m working and I don’t have a long-ass drive to get there. But it is bad because I can’t attend my beloved Friday Mass.