I heard the bells on Christmas Day, Their old familiar carols play; and all throughout the songs refrain, I puked and staggered with woeful pain.
H.W. Longfellow and D. Bowers
Merry Christmas everyone.
Tapped out again…learning my limits.
January 29, 2012
So there I was, lying on a mat. Quite a soft and comfortable mat actually. The problem was, I had this guys forearm under my chin and his elbow pressed hard against the left side of of my neck, cutting off the blood-flow to my brain. His other arm was hooked under my right arm and pushing my head in the opposite direction to the pressure from his elbow. His left leg was hooked around my right somehow rendering it immovable. Also, his right knee was jammed hard against my ribs causing a fair amount of pain. Apparently I never quite utilized the butterfly guard properly – it was more like a squished caterpillar defense. I tried to wiggle my arm free but just my hand stuck out, waving around like a “surrender” flag flapping in the wind. I shifted a little more and got my arm out enough so I could touch his back and, “Tap-Tap-Tap” – I tapped out…again. It was the third time I had to tap-out in less than twenty minutes.
Immediately, Josh was standing over me, hand extended to help me up. As the blood flowed back into my brain, I pictured my crumpled form laying there on the mat as something you’d see in a bad movie; the body of someone that just fell off a high-rise building . Right leg twisted to one side, bent at the knee, left arm up behind my head and my right arm straight but still shaking a little.
As I regained focus and stood up, I was actually congratulated. Apparently I did much better in that round. We did the fist bump and prepared to “roll” again.
Josh is 22 and had been training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, BJJ, for seven years. That was my first day. He tied me in knots or a pretzel or both. Such was another day of my venture into the world of MMA – the Jiu Jitsu side of things anyway. Fondly known as the “ground and pound”.
Strangely enough, it’s the most invigorating fun I’ve had in years. The cardio workout is amazing. There is no letting up. Pressure and persistence. You push yourself to the limit and beyond. Getting that one extra breath is a major bonus and then you dig in again. When applying physics and leverage to physiology and structure, technique will almost always dominate strength. So even though I was much stronger than Josh, he ‘ techniqued’ me to pieces.
Most people look at MMA as brutal, and it is in its harshest form, but it is also a combination of arts, Mixed Martial Arts. The pros make it look so smooth, almost dance-like. Getting to that point takes years. However (for me there’s often a ‘however’), since I am not planning on entering the UFC or a hospital, I gracefully backed away from more BJJ classes. It was a real learning lesson. See, you can teach an old dog new tricks. I learned a few moves, hooks, holds and throws. I also learned that BJJ is brutally hard on your joints, especially on someone with as many injuries as I have. But most importantly, I learned that I must operate within my limits. Physical fitness is one thing but pushing it beyond my capabilities is just asking for trouble. Isn’t that the case with most everything?Everyone has some kind of limitations; learning to operate within and around them, without letting them hold you back is a crucial part of growth.
That doesn’t mean I’m giving up…that’s not how I operate. I signed up for a year and I’ll do a year. I’m continuing on with Muay Thai and Krav Maga. I’ll strengthen my body and learn how to work around my injuries until I can start BJJ again. It’s important to understand limits, have the persistence to develop and the knowledge (and courage) to change direction if necessary. This has helped me many times outside the gym as well. The bend in the road isn’t the end of the road…unless you fail to make the turn.
Quitting isn’t an option. I’m quite confident that the day will come when the “Tap-Tap-Tap” is on my back and it will be me that’s holding out a hand to help someone else up and encourage them on their journey, both on and off the mat.
Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you.
Aldous Huxley
Stay strong – and smile, even through the pain.
Doug
Fats and oils…what should you use?
January 23, 2012
I apologize if this is rather lengthy but it I thought it important and wanted to get this to you. So please…just for the health of it, check it out.
...not all fats and oils are bad for you.
Choosing the right fats and oils in your food preparation has a dramatic impact on your health. There is much information and misinformation on what constitutes healthy fats. This chart simplifies the best choices of fats for cooking, fats that should not be heated, and which to avoid altogether.
It took our health community decades to recognize the dangers of trans fats in margarine and other butter replacements. And only recently are the anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing benefits of coconut oil, a saturated fat, being publicized. How long do we need to wait until “heart-healthy” vegetable oils are recognized for its inflammatory effects and as a major contributor to modern disease?
Do what healthy traditional societies free of disease have done for generations, eat fats from foods that nature provides, including the highly stable animal and tropical fats and avoid industrial, factory – made processed fats and oils.
Fats and Oils 101
All fats and oils are made up of a combination of three main kinds of fatty acids; saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated linoleic (LA) or linolenic acid. These refer to the kind of structure these fatty acids have between their carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Saturated Fatty Acids
The carbon chain in a saturated fatty acid are filled, or saturated, with hydrogen atoms.
This saturation creates a compact and highly stable structure that resist oxidation, even under high temperatures.
Saturated fatty acids are found in animal fats and tropical oils.
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids
The carbon chain is missing two hydrogen atoms and has one (mono) double bond instead between two of its carbons – so it is not saturated (unsaturated) by hydrogen atoms.
Monounsaturated fatty acids are not densely packed and bends at the double bond – why these fats are liquid at room temperature and cannot be exposed to high heat like saturated fatty acids.
They are found in olive oil, avocados, and nuts.
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs)
The carbon chain is missing several hydrogen atoms and contains two or more (poly) double bonds.
PUFAs are highly unstable and sensitive to heat and light that can cause free radicals which harm your body.
They are found in corn, canola, soy, sunflower, safflower, rice bran, and grapeseed oils.
Vegetable Oils and the Omega ratio
“Back in the MI (myocardial infarction) free days before 1920, the fats were butter and lard and I think that we would all benefit from the kind of diet that we had at a time when no one had ever heard the word corn oil.”
- Dr. Dudley White speaking at an American Heart Association fund raiser in 1956.
Vegetable oils may sound healthy but they are highly processed foods that require industrial processes to extract its oils. Part of the process involves using toxic chemicals like hexane and bleaching agents to help extract and deodorize these oils. Even organic expeller-pressed vegetable oils undergo tremendous processing and are exposed to heat and therefore oxidize easily resulting in a toxic food.
A crucial factor for good health is the proper ratio of Omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids in the diet. (Omega 3 fatty acids are triple unsaturated (3 double bonds) linolenic acid and omega – 6 is a double (2 double bonds) unsaturated linoleic acid). The exponential rise of vegetable oil consumption in our diets (found in all processed foods) and grain feeding of cattle and poultry has altered the ideal healthy omega 3 to omega 6 ratio.
**The high omega – 6, polyunsaturated vegetable oils like corn, canola, soy, sunflower, safflower, rice bran, and grapeseed oils, increase inflammation in the body and are associated with;
- cardiaovascular disease
- diabetes
- obesity
- IBS
- asthma
- cancer
- auto-immunity diseases
- high blood pressure
- infertility
- weight gain
- blood clots
These polyunsaturated vegetable oils – especially when heated – damage your cells, metabolic function, gene expression, and hormone functions. (Borage, evening primrose, and hemp oil are exceptions, though they are PUFAs they function as anti-inflammatories: are GLA Gamma-linolenic acid). This is why the addition of fish oils and cod liver oil supplements (omega – 3) are so popular in the natural health care industry.
Vegetable oils, if not organic, are likely derived from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s), another important reason to avoid them. That’s a whole other story I’ll get into later.
Note: It is possible to go the other extreme as well and become deficient in omega – 6 fats, though very uncommon. Read more about Omega – 6 Deficiency at the Agriculture Society website.
What about Saturated Fats?
“The greatest scientific deception of this century, perhaps any century.”
- Geroge Mann, American scientist, criticizing the diet-heart hypothesis; the idea that high cholesterol foods cause heart disease.
The diet-heart hypothesis or lipid hypothesis first proposed by Ancel Keys surprisingly has little evidence to support it. Heart disease was rare in the early 1900′s when our diets were much higher in animal fats. The elevated triglycerides in the blood linked to heart disease do not come from dietary fats, but are produced in the liver from excess sugars from carbohydrates like refined sugars and white flour and from fructose. What is contributing to heart disease is theexcess consumption of vegetable oils, hydrogenated fats, and refined sugars in our modern diet.
Essential Roles of Saturated Fatty Acids
- enhance the immune system (needed by the white blood cells)
- needed for strong bones (helps absorb calcium)
- provide energy and structural integrity to the cells
- protect the liver from alcohol and other toxins
- healthy lungs (saturated fatty acids create the surfactant that and protect coat the lungs airspaces)
- building blocks for hormones
- assist in mineral absorption and
- cardiovascular health
- building blocks of a healthy brain and nervous system
Berry Pudding-Berry Delicious!
January 19, 2012
Good and good for you!
OK. Bad pun aside, this is awesome! This isn’t really a Smoothie but it’s close enough and it’s so delicious I had to share. Like all things good, feel free to adjust to your own taste; a little sweeter or a little more tart. Your call but this is the way I like it…
1 cup ( 250 ml) frozen raspberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen blackberries
1 block (12 oz / 340 g) soft tofu
2 Tbsp ( 30ml) coconut palm sugar
2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp corn or tapioca starch
1/2 tsp (2ml) cinnamon
1 tsp (5ml) orange zest
1/2 tsp almond extract
Combine everything in a blender or food processor until smooth and refridgerate a couple of hours before serving…it’s that simple.
Makes 6 servings.
This can be served with shaved chocolate – you can mix in a little lemon and / or a few mint leaves. Add less honey if you don’t want it so sweet. You can even add a pinch of sea salt. Play around with it to get the taste to your liking.
Nutritional info. per serving;
126 calories; 3 g protein; 2 g fat ( o sat fat and 0 trans fat); 26 g carbs; 4 g fibre; 103 mg sodium
Still here? Go make a pudding!
…and as always…smile as you’re making it.
Doug
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true Love gave to me…Peace
January 6, 2012
Christmas Day. Old Christmas Day. Saint Nicholas. Santa Claus. What exactly is it all about anyway? If you do a little research on Christmas Day and the festivities, it becomes quite confusing and actually kind of upsetting. Calendars were changed; dates were changed; one bit of history has it that 11 days were moved to “even out” the dates of the different countries. December 25th is not considered to be the correct birth date of Jesus…it’s was just a convenient day to have a celebration.
Regardless of allll that – I’m still very glad to have had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas the way we know it, in so many places, with family and friends. I still enjoy it and hopefully, I will continue my celebrations, pagan, religious or else-wise until I am on this earth no more. I love the season and for me it has always been, and will always be, a special time of year.
That being said, there were a few times I just couldn’t get into the ‘spirit‘ of Christmas, as the saying goes. This happened just a few years ago here in Toronto. I celebrated Christmas Eve with some friends; Christmas morning came we did the customary Christmas stocking and gift exchange; that afternoon we had a wonderful dinner with my family. Not a lot of activity afterwards but it was fun and nice to be with the ‘crowd’ again. Still, something was missing. I just wasn’t into it and that’s just not me!
Well, to get into the spirit of things, I could have turned to alcohol, that’s spirits; or a medium and call down a few spirits; or visit a graveyard and see if there were any lingering around. Instead, I decided to go to church. To me that’s seemed the most logical place.
Boxing Day, I went to a morning church service. It was nice, we sang Christmas carols and other hymns. The sermon was interesting with a good bit of humor mixed in. We said the final prayer, shook hands and everyone headed home. Done. I sat there, a few rows from the front, the only one left in the place. An usher came by and asked if everything was O.K. I assured him I was fine and asked if I could sit for awhile because I had to think about a few things. No problem there.
So I sat…and thought…and thought. About Christmas, life, the universe, the cramp in my foot and the twitch in my right knee; the white lint on my black pants and the scratch on the pew in front of me…hey, somebody stuck gum under the hymnal holder. Like a dog chasing it’s tail, my thoughts were going around in circles but quickly going nowhere. Someone dimmed the lights of the church.
That’s when I noticed the Nativity scene was still set up on the alter. A spotlight was shining down on the center where The Baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes. I began to stare at the light. Then the rest of the place became dark and the light didn’t seem to be shining down on the baby, but up from the baby.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world…” John 8:12
I stared more intently, the light seemed to grow brighter and my thoughts became slower. Light – pure light. Pure energy – positive energy. Love.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matt.5.8)
The longer I stared the less aware I was of my surroundings. I became absorbed in the light coming from the ultimate gift. Given to the world then giving of himself to others for the betterment of the world.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
I sat there and slowly my mind relaxed. The cares and thoughts and cramps and twitching and gum on the pew and wrapping paper and trees and shopping malls and turkey and even friends or family didn’t register any more. I felt weightless, almost like I was floating. It was a most incredible feeling. I was genuinely and truly, at peace with myself.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Suddenly a hand was on my shoulder. The usher was back. “Are you OK sir?” he asked,looking somewhat concerned. ” You’ve been here for almost an hour.”
That’s when I realized I was no longer staring at the light because I opened my eyes when the usher touched me and I noticed the church lights were back on. I was sitting straight up in the pew, sweating profusely. The usher, John according to his name tag, handed me a handkerchief. “It’s clean.” he said with a little chuckle. I wiped my face and neck.
Finally I replied, “O.K? Sir, I feel better than I have in many years. Merry Christmas, my friend.” And with that I jumped up, vigorously shook his hand and went home.
I was full of energy and raring to go. I was off and running to visit more family and friends, ready to face whatever commercialism and strangeness the world had to offer. I was back and I indeed had found the spirit of Christmas again.
Regardless of your thoughts on spirituality or your religious beliefs, we all have to believe in something, even if it’s believing that there is nothing to believe in. Me? I believe there is a higher power surrounding us and within us. Countless times over the ages, in many ways, by many profits, we have been told that truth and purity of heart and mind is the gateway to peace. How you want to arrive at that peace, for all eternity, into the next life, whatever you may believe that is, is your’s for the asking.
Nothing brings a feeling of peacefulness and love to me as much as Christmas. A chance when I can share time, laughs, maybe a few gifts and especially love with my friends and family.
To me…that is my favorite way of Christmas.
Peace on Earth...Goodwill to men
He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith
…though a cool tree sure helps!
Merry Christmas everyone.
Get ready to be hit with more health stuff and weird fitness news from here on.
Doug
The Eleventh Way of Christmas…Movie Mania!
January 5, 2012
This one is wacky. You would have to see the video to really appreciate it, but I’ll try to explain.
I was in Toronto, staying with my sister Shirley. Her teenage daughter was going through a rough stage and she wasn’t the happiest kid in town. Christmas was fast approaching. The family had planned a big get together and some of us were heading back east to visit Mrs. Claus, our mom. What could I do to bring all of this together and somehow involve the grumpy kid? Why do I even try these things?
I decided to make a movie…not just any regular Christmas movie…an Obnoxious Santa movie! I started, skinny, weird with big glasses and a prominent pony tail, singing rock songs, instead of Christmas carols. Instead of black boots I wore reindeer slippers. I had sourface Jill do the camera work to get her involved. Soon she was laughing at my antics. Shirley was set to sing a nice carol but old Santa wasn’t having any of that. I interrupted every chance I got with silliness and anything else I could do to get a laugh.
Finally we convinced Jill to sing and she kind of got into it. Head bobbing along, clinking on a glass to the beat. Then we convinced her to dress as a little kid and sit on Santas lap. Santa was not having any of that Christmas request crap. She was told that nothing she asked for was available and all good kids were seldom seen and never heard. ( I told you you had to see it to understand!) So far it was going well.
Then we went to the big gathering and O.S.( obnoxious Santa) went along as well. After the greeting and eating, we created our own Christmas carols based on our childhood memories, involving socks and Christmas cakes and Purity Orange syrup! All throughout the singing, old O.S. was sticking his bearded face in when ever he could. Sometimes it drew laughter – sometimes it was a little over the top. But I didn’t care, people were laughing and the kids loved it! In fact, the kids did their own medley of Christmas songs, lightly based on Bob and Doug Mackenzies hosers theme. And yes, Jill was there singing right along with the worst of them.
O.S. poked around and sang and got his nose into almost every shot of the movie Hey, it was my movie! Sometimes annoying but always enjoying the antics of the Bowers family. We headed back to my sisters and I finished out the movie by saying good night, flip flopping around in several positions and finally falling asleep, kneeling on the couch with my red, Santa suit butt in the air as “The End” scrolled on the screen.
The movie became a favorite of my mom and kind of a family cult classic. Interestingly enough the kids, who are now grown adults, are asking to see it again.
It was a great Christmas – Jilly cheered up a little – the family get together was one of the best in my memory and mom loved the movie. What else could anyone ask for? However, since I was the “star” of the movie I don’t have any photos. Maybe I’ll do a private screening of the movie someday…cause there ain’t no way that thing is going public!!
Merry Christmas everyone!
The Tenth Way of Christmas
January 5, 2012
Almost there.
Not all Christmas event’s turn out as planned. Let me rephrase that. The event turned out fine, it’s just that I wan’t able to enjoy it!
Santa?
Still in Thailand. I was teaching at a Christian school in Nan Province. Not only was it a Christian school but it was an expensive school, so they wanted something special for the parents to see during Christmas. We started preparing in October. The locals were in charge of setting the stage to a winter scene based on my photos. I was building Santa’s sleigh out a kids cart, with cardboard cutouts for the sides and a horse costume for the dog pulling it. The poor dog! Then we rehearsed Christmas carols in English and went over the routines for two solid months. They didn’t do a Nativity scene because most of the parents weren’t christian…just the school, which happened to be the best around.
The kids Santa costumes were hilarious and occasionally ”dashing through the snow”, became, “dashing through kee mah”, which is Thai for doggy poo. As Santas sleigh ran over some dog crap during rehearsals. Over all it went well, Angels to sing Silent Night and even a decent looking Frosty the Snowman. The English? Acceptable at least.
We all worked hard and I was really anxious to see how it went. The performance was set for Christmas Day.
Pain!
I woke up at about 6:00a.m. with an earache, that soon turned into an incredible, unbelievable, unbearable pain. I couldn’t stand up. The pain was so intense I actually considered poking a needle in my eardrum to relieve the pressure…but I reconsidered. The room would spin and I would crash into something and fall down. There were ceramic tiles on the floor of my room and the most comfortable position I could get was with my butt in the air and my ear on the cool tiles. I managed to stagger around enough to find and start taking handfuls of Tylenol extra strength…and they only helped for a short while.
The stage was near the soccer field just a few meters from my room. I could hear the people outside setting up and rehearsing a few lines. Soon, the cars started pulling into the parking lot. Didn’t anyone notice I was missing? I kept hoping someone would come and discover my plight but that never happened. I guess they were all too caught up in the events of the day to worry about me. So here it was, Christmas day, I’m kneeling down, butt in the air, ear to the floor and trying not to puke.
The concert started. I swear I could hear a couple of the kids say “kee mah” during the song but with my ear I couldn’t be sure. Applause and a few announcements and thanks and welcomes. “Hey! You’re missing an English teacher!! Anybody? Somebody?” I tried to yell but it was useless. The concert continued without me. On and on and on it went while I staggered and stumbled alone.
I couldn’t handle it any longer. I got myself together, loaded up on Tylenol again and tried walking to the the clinic at main intersection in town. I was staggering all over the place, hanging onto fences as I went. More than a few times I heard comments about the drunk teacher…how terrible. Then as I got closer, one lady came over and helped me to the clinic. A five minute check up and I left with a handful of pills. I don’t know what they were but the pain stopped within a few minutes. I was kind of wasted but no pain!
By the time I got back most of the cars had gone and they were taking down the stage.On my doorstep was some food and a nicely wrapped Christmas gift. I was in no condition to attend the big dinner so I took my chicken and rice inside and finished out one of my strangest Christmas days on record. Later that night a couple of my friends dropped by with two teachers from the school. They were all apologetic about not coming over in the morning…but, you know, the concert and everything. I assured them I understood and I just hoped the concert went well, which it did…but after two months of preparation, I never got to see one second of it. Then again, I had to remind myself, it was for them – not me – about giving, not receiving. The ear infection lasted a week.
And so, the way I spent that Christmas Day is also was one for the record books. A painful Christmas day.
The Ninth Way of Christmas
January 4, 2012
I’m dreaming of a white…sandy beach…Christmas! Well not exactly dreaming, but that’s how it ended up.
Let’s flip from Toronto back to Thailand. This was actually the precursor to the Bangkok Christmas with the English teachers.
Visa run – Malaysia – return to Thailand, December 24th and I was held up in Krabi. A beautiful little place in Southern Thailand. I booked into the Walker Guest House. Holy dismalness batman!! The guesthouse was fine, I’m referring to the people inside. There was a nice, oval shaped bar in the center of the room, surrounded by 9 of the gloomiest people I’d seen in a long time. A British couple, a Swedish couple, 2 Aussie couples and Sharon, a young girl from Canada. They were all watching ‘Blue Hawaii’, with none other than Elvis of course. I ordered a pint of Beer Chang and tried to start a little conversation. I got mostly “hmmphs” or ”Right mate” and back they went to leaning on their elbows and watching the movie. I couldn’t let it go, so I asked, “What’s up with everybody? It’s almost Christmas. Why all the long faces?” That was it. That started a barrage of, “This look like bloody Christmas to you mate?” and “Oh Christmas is it? Ho Ho Ho!” from the Canadian and a few more comments I can’t put in print. Ahhh, a severe case of the ‘missing Christmas at home’ blues. I supped quietly for a little while and then told the bunch of mourners that I was going to Phi Phi Island to try and enjoy the next few days. Anyone was welcome to come along because the boat was leaving in 3 hours. They all perked up at that. A little chatter and they all agreed to go!
We bought our tickets at the guest house, they went to pack and I headed out to the biggest department store in town to do the obvious Christmas shopping. I loaded up on whatever I could find, from lights to canned snow to that white cotton wool stuff and a Christmas CD. The thing was, I had no real idea what I was going to do with it just yet. I arrived with one backpack but headed to the dock with two packs, stuffed full.
We met at the boat and a few hours later we were checking into guest houses on one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand. I was quite surprised to find there weren’t many tourists on the island at all. I scoured the area trying to form a plan of some kind. We all did the beach and swimming thing and their spirits seemed to be lifting a little.
Then I spotted it! A little abandoned gazebo at the end of the beach. It had an electrical outlet and was kind of hidden from the main beach area. I knew what I had to do but as always, I’d be taking the chance of looking like a complete fool. I figured, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Besides, I’ve looked like a fool so many times in my life it didn’t bother me any more!
Around midnight, Christmas Eve, we all drank a toast at a little bar, gave a few hugs and headed off to our rooms. No visions of sugar plums dancing in those heads I can confidently say! I waited for 30 minutes, preparing the arsenal for the attack. I slipped out, confirmed that what I was going to do was OK with the owner of the guest house and ran down to the gazebo. I strung lights all around the place, hung garland from the rafters and around the door, dragged some kind of bush-in-a-pot to the middle of the gazebo and did my best to create a Christmas tree and put the cotton wool padding all around the base of it, then loaded it with little wrapped gifts. I sprayed the canned snow anywhere and everywhere. Tinsel on the sides of the gazebo blew in the gentle breeze as I set up the music. I turned on the lights and it actually looked pretty cool! The owner of the guest house said ” Dee Mak”, ’very good’, which scared the crap out of me because he was sitting on the beach, in the dark, watching me do all of this. I then curled up on the floor and slept for a few hours.
It had to be dark to make this work. 4:00 a.m I was up and banging on the doors of the gloomy crew. They all came out to see what was going on. They were slightly hungover and apparently, to no surprise, a little upset, but I was acting all excited.
“He was here!” I said. “Who? What the hell are you talking about you @#!#**# crazy Cannuck?”
“Santa Claus! He came last night!” I yelled in a whisper not wanting to wake the other guests.
That was it – I was certifiably a nutcase. They all started to go back to their rooms. I grabbed Sharon, the Canadian. “Help me out here kid. Santa came here last night. At least come and have a look.” I pleaded. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and more out of pity than anything else, started to follow me…and strangely enough, the rest came as well. For them it was just curiosity I guess. I led them to the end beach but not without a few complaints. It was still quite dark. I ran ahead of them and waited until they got close enough and then plugged in just the tree lights only. That got a few comments and they started a little run towards the Gazebo and then I plugged in all the lights. Just as they got there I turned on the music.
The reaction was a concern. Complete silence for about ten seconds. I waited…and waited…and finally Sharon screamed, “Oh my God! Santa was here!” And that was all it took. Some kind of weight was lifted. It was Christmas morning! They all came in and started dancing around, tearing up the cotton wool and throwing it at each other, wishing each other a Merry Christmas. All of this was very much to my relief. I handed everyone a Santas hat but there was one other thing they weren’t expecting. It went silent again as I called their name, one by one, and handed out two little presents to each person. All wrapped with their name on a little tag. They Swedes were the first to sniffle. They were the youngest. Then Sharon and the Brits did a fair bit of sobbing as well.
I couldn’t let that last too long so I changed the CD to some dance music and we all partied on the beach – dancing like maniacs, under the glow of twinkling Christmas lights, throwing sand up in the air like snow as we wished each other Merry Christmas about a hundred times. The mourners had become a happy bunch of campers again.
My Two British Elves
I spotted the owner sitting quietly off to one side and he gave me a big grin and two thumbs up. Did this guy ever sleep?
For the next week, I never paid for a meal. Between the guest house owner (whose name I just cannot remember) and my Christmas elves, I was taken care of until we left. They even pulled together and paid for my boat ticket back to Krabi, where we finally went our separate ways.
Christmas is an emotional time for many, regardless of where they are. I love it when those emotions switch to positive and smiles abound.
Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone. Charles Schulz
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Doug
The Eighth Way of Christmas
January 4, 2012
Marks First Real Christmas Tree
(Oh Oh – I’m back at work and falling a little behind. I have more stories than days left for Christmas. No worries – the rest are shorter so I can double up.)
A few years back I was sharing a condo with Mark, a buddy of mine. He was born in Jamaica but moved to Canada when he was 2 years old. He was a great singer and was a member of the church choir. He and his family were Church going Christians but for some reason, they didn’t do much to celebrate Christmas…not since his dad died when he was 10 years old. He or his family hadn’t had a tree since then and even that was a store bought, plastic thing.
However, when Christmas was drawing near, I asked him where the tree should go. His eyes lit up. “We’re going to have a tree?” he asked, not even trying to hide his excitement. Apparently they didn’t celebrate Christmas in a big way but deep inside he always wanted too. “Of course we’re going to have a tree. And no store bought crapola either. It’s real or no deal for this kid.” He jumped up and down and clapped his hands, which was kind of weird since he was 32 years old.
I checked the tree farm situation and found one about two hours north of Toronto that had lots of snow. The city was still green at the time. I grabbed my small bucksaw and got bundles up for the trip. Mark asked the obvious, “What’s the saw for?” When he found out we were cutting down a tree he lost it. He was ready in a flash. Looking like a cross between Almer Fudd and a character from South Park, he was ready to go.
At the farm, we did the whole sleigh ride and hot chocolate thing and at the end of the ride they were singing Christmas carols around a big open pit fire. Being a singer he was ‘in like Flynn’ and actually did a couple of solos. That man could sing!
While that was going on I talked to the owner, of the farm, Mr. Scott and explained the first tree situation. After the carolling was done, Mr. Scott took us to the back of the farm where the most mature trees were…all covered in snow.
Mark and I wandered around for an hour or more. Checking this tree – shaking the snow of another one. Circling each one to look at it from every angle. Finally he found it – the perfect tree. I thought it looked too bushy but he loved it. So I gave him the buck saw. He held it between two fingers like it was contaminated and just stared at me. “Cut the stupid tree down!” I yelled. He had a smile from ear to ear. I gave him the basic concept and ten minutes later he managed to hack the tree down and of course, I let it fall right on me. He was in stitches laughing, rolling around in the snow. It was Mr. Scott who actually helped get the tree off me.
Back to the Condo and up it goes. A real Christmas tree. He grabbed the phone to call his mom but hung up right away. It wasn’t decorated – We had to decorate it first! We had no decorations. Hmm. The perfect opportunity for a party. We both spent the afternoon making phone calls and the next night our little place was full of food, music and friends, all bearing some kind of Christmas decoration. We ate and sang and decorated the whole condo, even the bathroom, because people brought so many beautiful things.
There were many lovely items but also some funny and weird stuff too. They ranged from real crystal ornaments to socks…yes socks! Believe it or not we left the colored socks hanging on the tree. Everything looked great except for the tree topping. There was a Gorilla, carved from a coconut shell, sitting on top of the tree. That would never do. Early the next morning Mark was up and gone. He came back with a beautiful big star and replaced the gorilla. Then he called his mom and sister. Lord have mercy it was a sight to behold. The three of them were hugging each other – jumping up and down and crying! I never got the whole story but I just let it go as it was. They were more than excited. That tree drew something out of them they had been holding back for years. I think it had something to do with his dad. Whatever it was they were enjoying this and they called more family members over…who came bearing food also! The singing and eating went on for hours and tears flowed freely. I just looked on in amazement.
I’ve never seen a Christmas tree cause such excitement before or after that particular day. But like so many other of my Christmas Ways, it’s one I won’t soon forget.
The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis
Merry Christmas Everyone.
Doug
The Seventh Way of Christmas
January 2, 2012
The Great Escape
So this is Christmas...?
Sometimes people need a break. Even an old Christmas nut like me. This time of year a lot of people become overwhelmed and stress themselves for a lot of the wrong reasons. They feel pressured to buy the biggest, best, newest, or most expensive, ‘thing’ they are buying. Or, they have to buy for too many but are on on a limited budget.
The crowds in the shopping centers get frustrated with each other and the parking lots actually become fighting arenas. Fist fights for parking spots were really trendy this year. Ahhh – guys, ladies, let’s not forget the ‘Peace on earth‘ thing we are supposed to be celebrating!
Preparing for family dinner has even become stressful; where, when, how many? He’s not coming because she will be there. She won’t show up if the ‘other one’ is there. We might have to go to the in-laws this year. A basic Christmas dinner has somehow become a major headache to plan for so many people. Big turkey? Small turkey? What about the vegetarian that’s coming? Will she be offended by the meat? And this year I heard, “Will the food be Kosher?” Oy Vey!
These are just a few of the complaints I heard this season. Fortunately, I do have a lot of friends that celebrated Christmas in the old fashioned way with friends and family but I think the majority of people become frustrated with the “whole thing.”
Thing? It’s Christmas for crying out loud! It’s supposed to be fun, festive, entertaining, joyous and jolly. Still, I can understand the frustration because here in the city, the media has extended the Christmas season to about 2 1/2 months. Down come the witches and pumpkins and up go the Santas and Christmas trees. One radio station plays Christmas music 24/7 from the 15th of November until the 25th of December. Christmas is old before it even starts!
Anyway – that’s the way things are for a lot of people here in the big city. All you hear on the radio is Buy! Save! Buy more! My head hurt from hearing so many complaints and worries about ‘another Christmas season’, like it was a major, obligatory, burden.
Combine all that with Orathai juggling two online jobs, working on her university courses and my work place unable to make a decision about who would be working, what shift if any, and possibly even working Christmas Day - and it all added up to a perfect excuse for us escape and celebrate a nice quiet peaceful Christmas.
- Stress? What stress?
I made arrangements a few days before Christmas. A nice small, quiet, hotel with a Jacuzzi, swimming pool and sauna. A few Christmas movies; a park nearby with a lovely display of lights for all to enjoy…for free; and a Christmas buffet that would satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
- Round 1…before the turkey!
Yep – we ran away for Christmas…and it was great. There were two beautiful trees in the lounge of the hotel where Christmas music softly played. (There was a TV in the corner with TSN playing as an added bonus!). The place was almost empty. Christmas eve we bundled up in thick warm quilts, surrounded by big fluffy pillows, and had a glass of wine with a few snacks as we watched some classic movies. Christmas morning we opened our gifts, went for a swim and soaked in the Jacuzzi for awhile. Then we had an amazing breakfast. Sleep. Swim. Sleep. Movie… and off we went to enjoy a dinner fit for a king with not a plate or cup to clean up afterwards.
- Hello Frosty!
Later that evening we went for a walk in the park filled with lovely Christmas lights. It was really cold, so after our walk, we dashed back to the hotel and sat in the sauna to warm up. It was brilliant! Stress level? Zero.
It was basically much of the same for the next two days. Total relaxation – zero stress. Finally we had to check out and proceeded to drive north to Lake Huron to visit a good friend of mine. We were treated to real, grass fed beef and organic veggies for dinner and a then we kicked butt in a serious game of Crokinole. Later, we went out for a little walk to enjoy some of the biggest snowflakes falling that I have ever seen. After a hot coffee it was time for the drive home.
All in all it was exactly what we needed. A nice relaxing break from the madness of the city, yet still managing to celebrate Christmas in our own little way.
For me, it was just another way of Christmas.
Christmas–that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance – a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.
Merry Christmas Everyone.
Doug
The Sixth Way of Christmas
December 31, 2011
…it’s more blessed to give than to receive.
I think growing up with that concept as a lifestyle in my family, especially around Christmas, is the reason I enjoy doing crazy things at Christmas so much. Seeing the look on peoples faces, watching someone smile that hasn’t smiled in a long time, or good deeds done by those who have been part of my crazy Christmas ways, makes it all worth while…and then some.
Back home, Christmas usually started around September or so. That’s when my sister Shirley and I started saving our few pennies to buy or make as many gifts for as many people as possible. This concept was a hand-me-down from my big sister Laura (Sis) who, by this time, already had a few gifts wrapped and hidden in a closet somewhere. Like other kids we loved receiving gifts but giving seemed more of the thing to concentrate on.
Shirley and I would scour the Christmas Catalogues (do they still have Christmas Catalogues or is everything online now?), especially the ‘five items for under 10 dollars’ pages – then on to the ‘three items for under ten dollars’ pages and on and on until we found a few things that were within our budget. I have no idea where we came up with some of the stuff but I do remember Shirley did most of the wrapping and we always managed to give quite a few gifts. There were no $500.00 computer games in that pile, but usually something for the whole family and a few friends as well. I remember I even gave away some of my toys to my friends…always with Mom’s blessing. My good buddy Johnny really like a model Corvette I had made, so with a big smile from my mom and a helping hand to wrap it from Sis, I had another name crossed off my list. This was really cool stuff! I couldn’t wait until he opened it yet the thought of getting something in return was never in my mind. Another time I received some hockey gear from my brother in Toronto…but holy smokes, I had nothing for my best friend Gary from across the street! No worries. We were hockey buddies. The puck and a roll of hockey tape from my brothers gift along with a toque my mom knit were quickly wrapped and tagged “to Gary”, for as always, he would be at our house right after he opened his gifts.
All of this was standard procedure. Growing up it was a regular routine to see Sis and Mom come home from shopping and certain packages always went directly into ‘the room’ and we were never allowed to look in there – and I don’t think we ever did. Sometimes the door was left open and we accidentally got a peak at wrapping paper, bows, ribbon, bags of candy, boxes of chocolates and gifts already wrapped. That little peak simply made the season more exciting. My mom and big sisters really did have a list and they sincerely checked it more than twice. Looking back I don’t know how they did it. There were multiple gifts for all siblings – then the nieces and nephews and grandchildren – then the close neighbors – a few people from my sisters work place – a few from church – then a few people that might have said hello as they passed by the house, or someone in the back of town that were less fortunate than us – on and on it went. The giving just never stopped! Packages were mailed across Canada, the province and the town, all done, usually in time to reach everyone for Christmas day.
That was just the gift side of things. There was also the baking and cooking. The smell of Christmas cakes being prepared is a sensation that will never leave me. That and the vision of those cast iron cake pans or pots or what ever they were. Big, round, black containers that provided so many people with fresh Christmas fruit cakes for so many years. We all pitched in with the decorating. They wouldn’t win any ribbons for beauty, but putting those silver ball things (as many went on the table and floor as on the cake) and the colored sprinkles on the icing, was another high-light of the season. Of course we also got to lick the spoon and clean out the mixing bowls…mmm what a treat that was! It has slowed down in latter years, but a few cakes are still shipped out each year. I wonder if she still uses the same pots? Cakes for the family away – family nearby – neighbors – definitely anyone sick or having a “hard time”. If someone was alone for the season for whatever reason, they could be assured a fruit cake and some cookies and maybe a pie or two plus something wrapped in colorful paper with a bow on top. It didn’t matter if they were friends or family – my mom and sister were content knowing they gave something to help them out and make help Christmas a little better.
Did I mention cookies? Good grief Charlie Brown! Every year the refrigerator and freezer chest downstairs were overflowing with cakes and cookies. We usually had to stash some out in the back door, porch area (which was as cold as the freezer anyway) to make room for the food for Christmas dinner. Multi-colored, multi-layered, sweet and delicious cookies of every shape and size; there were always more than enough even though many trays left our house destined for someone else’s dessert table.
Then there was the dinner. It’s all changed now of course, as most everyone has moved away, but growing up it was standard to have an extra table set somewhere with a few extra chairs at the main table. And almost always, there were a couple of people seated that I barely knew, some friends of family or long lost relatives, sitting in, made to feel like they were one of the clan, enjoying the Bowers chatter, sharing the turkey and all the fixings.
Let’s not forget the tree. That also was a family and friend affair. Decorating the tree at the Bowers household is worthy of a book in itself. Everyone took part. Drilling holes to add extra branches, tying on balloons, breaking the balloons, falling into the tree, picking the tree up again…walking into our house during tree decorating time…which usually lasted at least a few days, was always an adventure. Then, Christmas Eve, the pile of gifts under the tree was so high it covered half the tree anyway.
More often than not, it was my honor to give the gifts out on Christmas morning to family, friends and visitors alike. After all the wrapping paper was put away, and everyone had their fill of cookies, chocolates, oranges, not to be confused with the ever present chocolate-oranges, Life-Saver candies (especially Butterschotch!), tea or syrup, we got ready to deliver a big bag of gifts. Sometimes we never even got fully dressed, just put our winter boots and coats on over our pajamas or housecoats and trudged through the snow to family across the hill and under the hill, friends next door and down the street as well as a few quick special deliveries to certain others. Ahhh! Christmas – what wonderful madness!
You may laugh at some of my crazy, Christmas-time antics - so just blame it on the way I grew up. Giving and sharing was the main theme in our family. I’ll never be able to go back and relive anything close to those years, so I try my best to make it enjoyable for those around me that may not have been so lucky in the past or the present. It’s the giving that brings me the real joy. I still love to see the smiles and surprised looks – the uncertainty as people realize someone just wants to give for the sake of giving and to spread goodwill.
There’s more, much more, to Christmas than candlelight and cheer;
it’s the spirit of sweet friendship, that brightens all year.
It’s thoughtfulness and kindness, it’s hope reborn again,
for peace, for understanding, and for goodwill to everyone.
Merry Christmas
Doug
