Still rambling

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Belleville Bulls are in town tonight

The Belleville Bulls are in Peterborough tonight.... Since this is month end, and I have paperwork to complete, I did not go... But I have the game on... TV Cogeco broadcasts a lot of the Pete's games.....














Bruce and I are talking on Messenger....



















I have my webcam on.... turned towards the tv, and am streaming it to Bruce in Belleville.... so he's watching the Bulls Game, while he listens to it on the Bulls website....

man, is the world smaller now eh? I love the world wide web!!!

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

well ... after a month of having trouble booking appointments for farm inspections, the last two days have been wonderful.... I can only assume God has made the difference.. but man oh man, what a relief.... I was starting to think I'd lost my touch!

Today, i did 4 farms and a residence... at the very last farm, I was coming up the long long laneway... and two cats came charging out at me.... I wanted to holler at the one cat.. YOU'RE NOT A DOG... Cat's don't CHASE cars...... but by then, I was too close to the house, and I was afraid the homeowner would think I'd lost my marbles ( not that that is far from the truth )....

it was actually pretty comical.... for half of the driveway, the cat stayed in the driveway just ahead of the car... turning around every few feet to see if I was still back there.... If i was truly warped and mean, I'd have blasted on the horn... but I didn't...

it made me laugh anyway!

I












I had a wonderful visit with the farmer there.... he's been married 51 years..... I find that totally amazing...

I said to him : " To what do you attribute your success?" and without even looking up, he said : "Short Memory! " ... Cracked me right up!

I heard it said one time... that in any good relationship, every day, there should be 2 or 3 things left unsaid! Good advice I guess....

well I'm off to work on paperwork....

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

An old hymn from my childhood

Words: Ludie D. Pickett, 1897.

I’ve seen the lightning flashing, I’ve heard the thunder roll.

I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, which almost conquered my soul.
I’ve heard the voice of my Savior, bidding me still to fight on.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!

No, never alone, no never alone,

He promised never to leave me,He’ll claim me for His own;
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,Never to leave me alone.

The world’s fierce winds are blowing, temptation sharp and keen.

I have a peace in knowing my Savior stands between—
He stands to shield me from danger when my friends are all gone.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!

No, never alone, no never alone,

He promised never to leave me,He’ll claim me for His own;
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,Never to leave me alone.

When in affliction’s valley I tread the road of care,

My Savior helps me carry the cross so heavy to bear;
Though all around me is darkness, earthly joys all flown;
My Savior whispers His promise, never to leave me alone!

No, never alone, no never alone,

He promised never to leave me,He’ll claim me for His own
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,Never to leave me alone.

He died on Calvary’s mountain, for me they pierced His side.

For me He opened that fountain, the crimson, cleansing tide.
For me He waiteth in glory, seated upon His throne.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!

No, never alone, no never alone,

He promised never to leave me,He’ll claim me for His own;
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,Never to leave me alone.

Click HERE to hear a really nice piano arrangement of this hymn

Monday, November 27, 2006

My weekend

well I had a wonderful time in Stoney Creek on Saturday and Sunday.... I was invited to sing at a 50th anniversary banquet Saturday night for Stoney Creek Baptist Church.... and then stayed over night at Ralph and Janice Lepore's house and sang twice in their Sunday morning service....

It was a really good time over all..... I left Belleville Saturday morning, around 11.....Ralph had called me earlier in the week, to warn me that the sound system at the banquet hall was not a very good one, and that very likely, I should bring one...... I've been, for the last couple of months, feeling I should buy one..... but since that hasn't happened, I stopped in Burlington at Long and McQuade and rented a sound system....talk about a God thing.... they had a 50% off sale on for saturday only , for their "Yorkville" brand equipment.... so for two speakers, a monitor, a powered mixer, two mics, two speaker stands, and all the cords, it was only $43 taxes included for two days... man, what a deal!!




My car was dragging pretty low, with all my luggage and inspection stuff and the sound equipment.

Ralph, bless his heart, paid me for the cost of the rental, out of his own pocket....I was very humbled by his kindness.

I sang 8 songs Saturday night... and had a very dubious distinction.... during one song, a couple got up and danced.... you KNOW you've picked a ministry song when people get up and dance!!
During one of the first songs I sang, two little kids got up and were bee bopping around the floor.... it was kind of cute, a little distracting... but cute. Thankfully, they were short, and I just looked over top of their heads! Thank God for poor peripheral vision!!

Anyway, when I started to sing "I'm Gonna Get Up" .....which is a Karen Peck song..... I jokingly looked down at the two kids and said.. now THIS SONG is one you could DANCE to........... It is a pretty neat song ( Click here to go to hear a sound clip ... click "MP3" on song # 8 )

Though my comments were a joke, one couple took me seriously I guess!! it was pretty funny... poor Ralph , keeping in mind he's a Baptist pastor, wondered why he'd invited ME to his church, I think!!!!

It was a very special time.... Ralph and Janice and I have been friends for many years... Ralph and I used to play hockey together back in the days when our equipment fit!!! Janice's father was the realtor that sold us our first house when we moved to Ontario in 1977 ....

I spent an hour with my kids yesterday afternoon.... we did the spiritual thing: We went to Tim Hortons!! They had a pot luck at their " home church" group, so I dropped them off there at 4:30 and drove to visit my friend Steve Mortley in Niagara on the Lake... we had a wonderful visit.... we drove all through the town, visiting, and eventually pulled up at a park at prayed together.... at one point I said to him: This would be very romantic, if you weren't a man!!!!

Love you Steve!!

So today, I'm doing umpteen loads of laundry, two weeks worth of dirty coveralls, and then after a breakfast meeting, heading to Lindsay to pick up my next batch of work....

Thank you for praying this weekend.... it was very evident to me that God was there, and not me!

Friday, November 24, 2006

some photos from today....











Photos from Lake Mississauga, north of Buckhorn... it almost looked like a gorgeous summer day up there today!!





















These are pictures of the sun setting in Belleville... the one is the train yard just around the corner from mom and dad's.....


Grace

Well... the week is nearly over.... I'm so thankful for the sun... and for my friends who've prayed with me through a lousy couple of weeks....
I was reading someone's blog yesterday.... they had a gorgeous picture of a sunrise.... it made me stop and think... how come I always have sun SETS and not sunrises?

and then the thought hit me....... At this point in my life, Sunrises are like feet.... : You know they are there, but you just haven't seen them in a while!!!


I'm singing this weekend in Stoney Creek for a 50th anniversary banquet and then on Sunday....
I would appreciate your prayers!

Early this morning, well not THAT early, the sun was long up , a hymn came to mind ... one that has always meant a lot to me : here are the lyrics:

He Giveth More Grace

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as the labours increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

Chorus

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His pow'r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!


When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we've reached the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Chorus

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His pow'r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!





Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Reflection

This morning, I was working at my desk... and happened to glance over at my bed to where I'd set my Bible..... the sun, a welcome surprise this week, was streaming through the window ....
The reflection caught me by surprise.... the Cross.... a gentle reminder of what Christ did for me....

His mercies are new every morning

The last while, it seems, the days are short... the clouds are dark.... people's moods are testy... I've not had a run of grumpy customers like I have this fall, in a very long time....

and it has taken it's toll..... I'm not sleeping, I'm up and down like a toilet seat emotionally....

and I look at all of this and say : WHY is this going on now? maybe because deep in my heart, I think God is calling me to RELY .... not to just function,or to endure; not to make it on my own... but to let go and rely....

I've gotta tell you, I don't care for it. I'm not overly independent as a person, but I can't stand being DEpendent.... it takes the confidence right out from under me.....

and yet... when I rely on paul mackay, I have this fake assurance that I can make it just fine on my own.... when in actuality, I flub stuff up more than most people....

and the God of all mercies, offers me the chance to sit back and just ride.... to let HIM drive the boat for a while....

and what do I say? oh no, not me.... I'm good... I took Drivers Ed ... I know how to handle this vehicle called Paul Mackay....

but when push comes to shove, and I feel myself sliding all over the road of my life, instead of grabbing the wheel harder, what God is asking of me.... is to let go.

take my hands off the wheel completely.... and let him drive....

I don't know ..... I hate riding... I prefer driving....that way, I usually know where I'm going to end up....

but this time, I have to let go of the wheel ....

I find myself on my knees in the morning lately.... pleading, claiming, frantic for calm and peace...

I think it is fitting that these verses are found in Lamentations ....

22It is ( because ) of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

and with it comes the still small voice that says : "hang on Paul.....You might not be sure where this thing is going, But I DO"

as hard as it seems, this time I'm resolved to not grab the wheel back....

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

I'm Backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

well.... after worrying far too long about my computer and whether or not I'd get my cloud pictures back ( and of course, the inspection photos!!, that enable me to LIVE this lavish lifestyle I've become accustomed to ) ......

my computer is back ... and it is up and running.... So now, there's a new plan in place to make sure this doesn't happen again.... a detached back up drive, and I leave the photos on my camera until it is backed up onto that drive..... but enough about me!

Thank you Angela, for responding as fast as you did Thursday night... otherwise, I'd likely have taken this thing in to Staples or Future Shop... and likely their techs would have wiped my computer clean and reloaded windows....

and Thank you to your dad and brother for rushing this thing through ..... I left their place in Guelph last night just before supper time, frantic to get through Toronto before rush hour.... I didn't MAKE it , but still... I tried.... and let me just say : the smells that were coming from that kitchen were something else... and when you think that I declined an invitation for supper, drove through Toronto traffic, and had uh... NOODLES in a mug for supper at 8:30... it kinda makes you wonder, quite honestly, how intelligent I really am!

So I'm back and ready to get my uh.... Cloud photos up and seen..... now after 4 days of anticipation, you'll probably all think they are just so so photos...... it's funny how much better things seem in your mind, when you've lost them huh?? anyway... here we go... Cloud Photos :










More Sunset Photos from Thursday Night








Sunday, November 19, 2006

just a couple more....










Friday, November 17, 2006

Computer Crash

well............. for the second time in, lets see.....7 years, since I've owned a computer, I've had a complete computer crash...... not sure exactly what happened.... all I know is last night, I took some of the most beautiful photos of the sun and a huge rainbow.........honestly, , bar none, i have not EVER seen the sun as red and gorgeous , particularly after not being out all day...... and the RAINBOW... mannn oh mannnnnnnnn.... complete arc ... with a double ring... man!!

but when I downloaded them, my computer froze up... when I powered off and started up again, windows would not load..... crap

the worst part, apart from losing GOOD CLOUD PHOTOS.... is that I have 4 days worth of inspection photos, including a full days worth from Iroquois/Kemptville, down near Cornwall.....

MANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN....

anyway... my friend Angela sent me a text message last night...and I quote :
" DO NOT TOUCH THAT THING... bring it here ASAP"

.... Her dad, unbenownst ( is that a word ) to me, runs a Data Recovery business : Recovery Force
So tomorrow, on our way to Belleville, I'll be dropping the computer off at her dad's place in Guelph.....

I could care a less about the inspection photos Angela, but the CLOUDS.... THE CLOUDS..... oh my MERCY.... of all times to LOSE PHOTOS ( Paul... give it a REST already.....)

Aaaaaaaaanyway.... I'm back in Brantford for a night.... whooeeee.... 4th night so far in November.... that makes 10 nights here since the end of September..... I'm not wearing the furniture out anyway!

So tonight, Anna is at a friend's house overnight.... and Abby and Taylor and I are going to go see a movie..... we had KFC for supper... so with any luck at all, I'll miss the movie , while I"m standing in the hallway of the theatre....fighting back the nausea from all of the grease in my system! you gotta LOVE THE FLAVOUR though!!

more later***pm

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Photos from my past....

after visiting with my friend Ganesh this past weekend, it brought back many many memories from my college days..... I found a photo album at home that had some pictures ( way too few .. obviously you had to PAY for developing back in those days! ) from my college and high school days.... check these out :




Check out the hair... and the uh... lack of GIRTH!!!



Jumpins.....














and if there was ever any question Mom, I made my bed out there! so there!!!

















This is Markus Melliger ... I called him Markus Markus .. I do not know why.... ever since then, everybody I know who's name is Mark, I call MARKUS MARKUS ...
















Here is a picture of the guys on my floor.... I can place some of them, but not very many faces... I'm the guy in the red jacket in the front corner...



Collector

all of my life I have been a collector.... I love seeing a whole collection of things... Even when I drive by a big huge Transport Truck terminal on the weekend, I love seeing the entire fleet of trucks all lined up..... I'm not sure why, but that kind of thing fascinates me....

When I was young I collected many different things :

It started with match books...

then .....

Hockey Cards
Key Rings
Jacknives
Caps
















Pens
Business Cards
Coins
Stamps
Buttons
Pucks

and probably a whole bunch more that my mother will remember!!

As I have grown older, the collections have become a memory more than a past time... .but still, I love a collection...
It's just that as I've aged, the type of things I collect is different:

Ties
Cd's
Movies
old discarded cell phones
sentimental letters
friends
photos from my childhood...

sigh.... Life is so much more serious when you're grown up!

or it should be....

This week I sorted through my tool box.... and realized that in spite of my uh.. matureness, I'm still collecting stuff......



Royal Canadian Air Farce




Carol and David and I went to a taping of the Air Farce last night in Toronto... it was fun.....



I didn't take my camera into the CBC Studio, because I was afraid they wouldn't allow it in... sadly, they would have.... so people can take pictures before and after the taping starts.... tsk.. bummer!!

oh well... it was fun... we went out for Noodles on the way home.....






I'm not all that handy with chop sticks... I had four of them, on my tray and a rubber band... I figured I'd manage...
then I found out that what I had ordered was not cooked noodles.... but rather one big clump of dry noodles and a soup bowl full of beef and vegetables that you pour over the noodles....

so then, in actuality, one set of chopsticks DID work!!