Gargoyles

I don’t know what it is about them but I love gargoyles. Back in the GEnie days (anyone who was a member will know what that is) there was a writer on the critique boards who was writing about a gargoyle. I always remembered that story and wondered what became of it. I remember the gargoyle and a helicopter. Or maybe it was the cartoon in the early 90s. I loved that show. I loved the Star Trek: The Next Generation voices in it too. I loved the idea of these medieval gargoyles coming alive at night to protect New York. How can you not be drawn in by the tagline? One thousand years ago superstition and the sword ruled. It was a time of darkness. It was a world of fear. It was the age of gargoyles.

Gargoyles have been around for a long time. A very long time. They can be traced back to ancient Egypt and Rome. But they are more commonly associated with the middle ages as well as gothic architecture. The gargoyle is actually the hollowed out stone carved grotesque used as a water spout. The carvings not used as a water spout are simply called grotesques. Commonly found standing guard on top of churches, they were believed to ward off evil. So how could they ward off evil? Well, they’re hideous and can frighten off almost anything. They come alive at night and can protect you while you’re sleeping. They return to their perch when the sun comes up so no one is the wiser.

I like some of the guesses for the origin of gargoyles on the Gargoyle Etymology & History page. The rainwater plumbing is practical. But some of my favourites include the idea that they were carved out of mischief, retribution for not paying the stone carver, caricatures of local townspeople.

I’m not going to go into all the history, religious and architectural. There’s way too much out there for this little post. But check out some of the links from the post is you want to know more. Looking into gargoyles has nudged my muse and got the creative juices flowing. Not that my muse needed any help of course. I already have enough to write about. But now I’m thinking there might be a gargoyle story in my future.

Well, off to get some work done.

Until next time…

Cindy

A dealership, groceries and more

So, didn’t really get to sleep in a lot this weekend. I had to take my car into the dealership for a much needed oil change and I needed to get the EGR valve fixed. My car now accelerates without me having to stomp on the gas. Woo hoo! My boyfriend followed me there so I wouldn’t have to wait the three hours they said it would take to fix my car. Glad he did too because it actually took closer to five hours. Bonus, it cost less than the estimate, including the oil change. My bank account was happy.

On the way home I had to get groceries. Which also cost me less than I had budgeted for. I love when that happens. It helps to have a list. Of course I don’t always stick to the list, especially if I’m hungry. This time though I rushed in and out with very few extra items. I did grab a package of pecan tarts they strategically placed in front of the check out aisle.

I learned Saturday while making dinner that I need to have an aloe plant in the kitchen. We decided to have pork chops with gravy and scalloped potatoes. I brown the pork chops first of course. I make sure the oil is hot before putting the pork chops in the pan. That part was fine. Turning them over however caused a little splash of grease. Grease burns don’t hurt right away I discovered. But when they do start to hurt they hurt like hell.

Sunday morning was a good morning. Relaxed in bed for a while cuddling with the boyfriend, watching Myth Busters, sipping coffee and having Tim Bits. Then got up and dragged myself to the bathroom for the weigh in. One whole week back on the points and I was worried what the scale would say. I did slip a number of times during the week. But I lost a pound! I don’t know how I did it but I’m going to do the same this week.

Off to work. If I get there earlier enough I can leave early. Then I can go swimming on the way home.

Until next time…

Cindy

Lazy days of summer

Summer is finally here. The weekend was a semi-long one. Thursday was a holiday. Canada Day. Friday was a work day for me but there was hardly anyone in the office so it didn’t really feel like work. Then there was the weekend. The most strenuous thing I did was go to the backyard and pick raspberries. I like weekends like that.

Saturday I was supposed to take my car in for an oil change but Friday night it felt like I was coming down with something. My throat hurt and I felt very tired. So Saturday morning I called to reschedule. I slept in. When I got up I made breakfast. Then the boyfriend and I watched marathon TV. We finished watching The Amazing Race season 13. I was happy Nick and Starr won. Though I would have been happy with any of the teams who made it to the final three.

We alternated TAR with House. We’re part way through season four of that. Watching the old episodes reminds me how really good the show was. The writing was great. I love House’s character. We just finished watching the episode with Mira Sorvino as a guest star.

We’ve also started watching TAR season 6. We haven’t seen many episodes of that yet. I think we’re on episode four. I already have people I definitely do not want to win. Jonathan and Victoria. She needs her head examined for not only dating him but actually marrying him. I don’t think I’ve wanted to actually hit anyone before but I wouldn’t mind giving him a few good jabs to the face. I’m not fond of the actors either. Can’t remember their names. Aaron and Hayden I think. Also, the engaged models aren’t doing it for me either. Well, they were okay until I heard that Kendra reveals herself to be racist in a later episode. I like the father/daughter team. Could have something to do with the fact he said he used to work for the CIA.

This week will be the usual. Except I’m hoping to get to the hotel to swim. I bought a membership to use a hotel pool and I’ve been once so far. I’d like to go at least three or four times a week. I’ve also started back on the points so I need to exercise as well.

That’s it for me. Not a very exciting weekend this time but it was a much needed lazy one.

Until next time…

Cindy

Guest blogging!

Hey, guys. I’m guest blogging today at Pink Fuzzy Slippers. It’s part of a week long talk about attending a citizens’ police academy. Check it out!

Pink Fuzzy Slippers

Cindy

CPA – Day 9

For those of you actually following along with my citizen police academy you’ll notice there is no post for Day 8. That’s because I played hooky that day and didn’t go. I was looking after my sister’s cats because they were away and then I just wanted to go home. Day 8 covered diversity, the communications centre and media affairs.

Tuesday was Day 9 and covered community policing support. For the community policing to be effective they have a number of the programs, all volunteer, to help members of the community.

The C.O.A.S.T program that helps people in the community over 16 years of age with mental health issues. The plain clothes officer is teamed up with a social worker. The number of calls they got last year was staggering, to me. Mental health issues are a huge and no one likes to talk about them.

There was an officer talking about education services which includes the D.A.R.E. program. Officers are assigned to schools and can actually get to know the students. The D.A.R.E. program starts in grade 6. I never had it when I was in school. Then in grade 8 they follow up with the MOTIVE 8 program.

A member of the auxiliary police service spoke as well. The volunteer police service helps out in the community a lot. They get training just like the police do. They also have to go through the background checks, interviews etc. It’s a two year commitment but most of them end up staying longer.

The last two speakers were from the victim services unit and elder services. Victim services is there to help anyone who has been the victim of a crime. Any incident that could cause the person trauma. Elder services is of course there to help the elderly when they can’t always help themselves. Or they don’t know their rights in order to help themselves.

Next week we get to check out the judicial system. Can’t wait for that.

I’m off to work.

Until next time…

Cindy

I AM CANADIAN

Despite our lack of vocalization, most Canadians are extremely proud to be Canadian. We’re just subdued about it. That is until last night. The Canadian Men’s hockey team won the gold medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics. It was an awesome game. Nail biter. I love those and I hate those. The suspense kills me. And just when we thought we had it all wrapped up a goal by the U.S. to tie it with less than thirty seconds left. Over time just about did me in. But in the end Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal for Canada. Despite being ecstatic that Canada won I felt kind of bad for the U.S. team. They played a really good game and they looked so dejected.

All in all Canada won fourteen gold medals. A record not only for a host country but for the winter Olympics period. I loved the opening and closing ceremonies. It was great to see all the Canadian celebrities. But I especially love William Shatner and Michael J. Fox.

Now that the Olympics are over it’s back to normal. New episodes of favourite shows will be on. I can actually get writing done. During the Olympics I only wrote 3100 words.

Congratulations Canada!

I’m off to get some work done for a change.

Until next time…

Cindy