Christmas Eve Service: Dec. 24/04

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Syl and Guest

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"He's Just Not Into You."

Miriam (Tim's wife, who is much more in the pop culture loop than I now) was telling me about the above phrase and resulting book -- something to do with that being the response to a woman's question "Why hasn't he called me for __ days (or weeks)?", as if that guy (whoever he is) can speak for all men. Well, Miriam and I agreed that it's not necessarily true. Of course, it's not. That just seems so obvious to me.

Last Week

Here's what I did last week with little philosophizing or ranting:

Monday evening: Walked to IV Area Committee (at Suttons' near TBCF) and back. It was sort of our Christmas party, because we had munchies.

Tuesday: Started Christmas shopping at Victoriaville and Great Northwest Coffee Co.
Walked to Cambrian Players Board Mtg in the evening. Eva was feeling sick and so pushed Gabe to end by 2030hrs. Walked home. Early night (2330).

Wed. morning: Met with Tim and Eric.
Supper with my parents and nephew. Then Tim and I went to Value Village (bought the Pueblo style dark Phoenix jersey which people have commented on as "Christmassy"), then Chapters/Starbucks and then "Ocean's Twelve" (which I didn't particularly enjoy).

Thu. afternoon: Had coffee with Annika (and her Sista-the-Barista, Eerika, and Mike Hurlbert) at Starbucks. Actually, E and M just stopped by separately, but I could misrepresent it to you simply by saying A and I had coffee with E and M, which is accurate, but imprecise enough to be misleading.

Thu evening: Small Group at Lappalas', but they had to skip out to the Jedi play at Magnus for most of it. So I led in the inscribing of requests into the sacred book.

Fri. morning: Read one of the candidate plays for Cambrian Players and delivered it to Rebecca S. who works nearby at Cook Engineering. Went to Youth Leaders meeting which wasn't and so instead hung out alone at Starbucks (served by Eerika), reading sections of "Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham" by Pangle. Sang carols (to Mike H.'s grandmother etc.) at Pinewood Court.

Fri. evening: Went *way* earlier than necessary to church Christmas party. Led carols there, too. Then went to a youth event at St. Thomas' and led carols (& praise songs) tere too. This involved skipping hockey, but we did play a bit of floor hockey. Another early night (0030).

Sat. Spent much of the day reading Pangle for the evening discussion with Tim, Chris Minor and Patrick Cain. Rick Three stopped by and picked up his bed etc. from my dining room.

The evening discussion was at Chris and Zuly's and was invigorating. Is creation "good" inherently and therefore God "saw" (recognized) that or did God "see TO IT" that it was good? A plain reading of the text suggests the former, but then doesn't that mean that God was not totally free in His creating, but limited only to what was (eternally, pre-existingly) good? Okay, that's a bit of philosophizing. But no ranting.

Sun. morning: Children's Christmas play. Led singing for church.

Sun. afternoon: Lunch at East Side Mario's with my parents', Doug Livingston Sr. and the 3 oldest nephews (MIB). "Christingle" service at St. George's. One day I'll post a picture of a Christingle. Chatted there with Rose McGratten (wife of Dorion board member).

Sun. evening: Superstore (Travia and Sylvis were looking for Rauni.) Then "Deeper Water" at St. Luke's. Krista asked me if I could play bass with them in future. I think I basically said, "Sure, after all, I can play the guitar!" (That's for you, Robin.)

Christmas Party: Dec. 17/04

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J and K

Smile! It's a present!

"What's 'clockwise'?"

New furnace!

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Christmas slogans

"Keep the Mass in Christmas." (Roman Catholics)

"Keep the Mass out of Christmas." (Baptists)

"Keep the "t" in Christmas." (Elocutionists)

"Keep Christ in Weihnachten." (Confused German)

"Put Mashiach into Chanukah." ("Messianic" Jews)

"Saturn is the reason for the season." (Historians)

Answers

I don't seem to be able to post a comment right now.

The in-joke re. Robin's is that *every* Friday we go to Robin's *Donuts* (not Pizza, Tim!) after hockey. Last week I emailed my schedule to Tim saying I was going to Robin's after hockey and he wondered why I was going to Harbrons' place so late at night.

There. Now it's not an in-joke. The whole worldwideweb now knows!

Re. shovelling for Hull's. Not for old times sake. For $10.

"Jen" not "Jenn" say Robin and Shroom

Okay. I've not been doing a great job of daily blogging. Here's just a quick catchup of events since my last post -- with very little philosophical comment.

Tuesday, Nov. 7 evening: Hung out with Tim at his place. Drank coffee.

Wednesday 1000-1245hrs: Hung out with Tim and Eric at Tim's place. Had lunch there.

Wednesday 1300-1600hrs coffee with Annika and Brian Jones at Seattle Red River. Annika was very animated and inspired re. Frontline having just returned from the Inter-Varsity National Conference. Very encouraging.

Wednesday evening: Tim and Matt and I ate pizza and watched a Japanese film about a blindswordman at my place. (That is we watched the film at my place.) I fell asleep partway through and missed some of the blood.

Thursday lunch: Evangelical Ministerial Christmas Banquet. Sat with Eric and Erica because, of course, I never see them at church. ;) Ken Parker mocked me twice re.my mistletoe Santa hat, apparently fearing that he would be obligated to kiss me if I came too close.

Thursday evening: Grabbed quick supper at Small Group at Tim and Miriam's. My hat "worked" for one there, but she has a bf; so don't get any ideas.

Then skipped out to the Redwood Dessert Theatre production of The Word on the Street mainly to see Brian Whitfield. Sat with Whitfields Senior (and grandson Andrew) and my sister's ex-mother-in-law, Gayle Willoughby. Doug Doyle teased me about my hat, too (but didn't kiss me. Nor did anyone else there, in case you are wondering.)

Back to Small Group -- very small -- all but Lappalas had left.

Friday noon: Youth leaders prayer meeting at Evangel. Then downtown to buy gift for our church's "family".

Home for leftover pizza, while watching more of Steve Martin's "Roxanne" (which I am enjoying, but haven't finished. Don't tell me the ending. If it's realistic, it should be sad).

Friday evening: gifting wrapping with church youth group and then hockey and then Robin's. (That's *Robin's*, Tim.)

Sat. morning: Church Youth/Outreach committe mtg/brunch with Baileys. ;) Worked on sermon on "Joy". Played guitar for Saturday Night Life along with Robin and some of the Interpreter's House gang. Apparently I met Jen Barker, not Jenn Barker. So say Robin and Shroom.

Then I helped lead singing at a Sinter Klaas party at St. George's Anglican. The rector is Dutch and likes to remind his congregation of St. Nicholas' Day (Dec. 6) which is a big deal in the Netherlands.

Afterwards I defragged my harddrive. That gives me a good feeling watching all those clusters get back into line.

Oh, yeah, three older ladies felt obligated by my hat to kiss me at St. George's.

Sunday morning: Led class on Proverbs 26 (the Fool) and preached on Joy. I was not very happy with my effort, knowing that my prep was poor, but some folks liked it.

Birthday Party/Have a Safe Trip lunch for Matt at Kelsey's.

Then to St. Luke's for Deanery Youth Unit meeting, supper and "Deeper Water" service (with Eucharist). Helped Kara and her visiting sister, Pam, lead worship. Cake and coffee afterwards. Talked with Kara (former MPC staff) re. people we know from Manitoba Pioneer Camp and how much we both enjoyed our times there and the intelligent atmosphere of the place.

Shovelled the snow in Hull's parking lot and then came home.

So there you have it.

Today I met Jenn Barker

So for two years I've been hearing about Jenn Barker from Robin and Shroom and tonight she was actually leading the program for Saturday Night Life (at which Robin and I play). So now I've actually met her. I just thought that was worth noting.

And last night I scored. Paul Muzzin is a pretty good goalie but my wounded duck shot on his stick must have caused him to laugh and lose concentration. His stick wobbled and my shot dribbled in through the 5hole.

Gift Wrapping: Dec. 10/04

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Express Wrap

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Coffeehouse #4: "Double Double" Dec. 5/04

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George is a genius!

Tim and his ghosts

Gord Ellis & Roadie

The power is in the eyes.

Pic o' Peter picking.

Idol in church basement

Never to be performed song

Obvious falsehood

Other participants included Doug Livingston Sr. and Erica Bailey.

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Carolling at Hull's Bookstore: Dec. 3/04

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Nothing profound to say today (or ever?)

Hull's Bookstore asked Eric (who asked me) to provide some carollers for their extended Friday hours (open until 2100hrs). Due to sickness and other things it ended up being only Erica and me. Eric and the boys did join us for a bit while we sang outside. Inside I used my guitar and we experimented with slaughtering more challenging songs such as "The Holly and the Ivy" (at Paul Capon's request) and John (and Yoko) Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" (at no one's request). Fr. John Sovereign also helped me sing the self-contradictory "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" and soloed on "I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship" to the tune of London Derriere.

I had a nice little chat in the kids room with Rianna and Heidi.

Hull's gave us gifts bags as thanks. Mine included a manly John Eldredge book and Erica's contained a Christian romance novel. My water bottle is orange and Erica's is pink.

| Outside |

| A passing priest joins in.|

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Hurt People Hurt People.

Last Wednesday I spent a Quiet Day at St. Paul's Anglican with Anglican clergy (and some Deanery staff and some Lutherans). A retired Bishop (Hockin) gave short talks based on text's from Handel's "Messiah" (bearing in mind that it was the librettist who culled and arranged these texts from Scripture). Charles Jennens is usually named as this man, but
http://www.safeplace.net/members/mer/MER_T001.htm argues that a Dr. Pooley deserves the credit.

Anyway, I liked the fact that this *retired* Anglican Bishop referred to the Simpsons (somewhat) favourably. And when later I pointed out that he had attributed to Ned something actually spoken by Maude, he rec'd the correction graciously.

But the quote from the day which I will remember the longest I expect was "Hurt people hurt people."

Not only is this a useful thought, but it demonstrates the usefulness of standardized punctuation.

I can't recall whom the Bishop was quoting. I don't think it was the Simpsons. But, as the Handel/Jennens/Pooley (& maybe the Ned/Maude) story illustrates, perhaps someone other than the originator will be given the credit centuries from now.

Who know? Maybe it will be creditted to *me*!

Coffeehouse

This coming Sunday evening (Dec. 5) we will be having our fourth coffeehouse (in this series)in the basement of the Northwood Park Church of Christ (corner of Redwood and Edward Streets) 1900hrs to c. 2200hrs. Its coffee nickname is "Double Double". Get it?

I'm not sure what I'll be performing. Bass player Robin will be at a geek conference and so I can decide at the last minute, unless I think rehearsing alone might be worthwhile anyway. I may dig deep into my back catalogue of songs &/or poetry.

Sylvia plans to sing some Sarah MacLachlin accompanied by me. Gord Ellis Jr. will put in an appearance on moose call (or guitar). Tim (plus Miriam and Chris M.) are planning a performance piece of his poetry. Erica is putting together another set. Peter Fergus-Moore will be singing this time, too. I expect others will participate as well.

This event would be announced on local CBC-1 as a "fun-free event". (I think they mean "a free, fun event".)

34 Friends

I did some calculating recently and it seems to me that I had 34 people come to see "The Hound of the Baskervilles" more than likely in order to see me as Barrymore. That's counting Tim twice. That is encouraging. So thank you to all of you.

How to Give Yourself a Heart Attack

Today I learned that it does not work to enter your Library Card number as your Bank Card number when attempting to do on-line banking.

Travis's Birthday Party: Nov. 27/04

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Three pics of his Simpson cake
made by Erica

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"The Hound" is Dead

I've been using my involvement in Cambrian Players' "The Hound of the Baskervilles" as an excuse not to blog much -- because after all it is my *duty* to blog, i'nit? So, I do need an excuse.

Saturday night was closing night and so now I will attempt to return to regular blogging -- briefly each day, I hope.

A good friend asked me just before the last show whether I was sad/happy/anxious/excited. Replying after the show I said I was sad because it was fun and it's over, but that I'm also happy that no longer have to worry about whether tonight's the night I'll drop the tea service or screw up my lines in a big way -- bigger, that is, than calling "Sir Henry" (living) "Sir Charles" (dead). I think that was probably done at least once a show by somebody.

Well, that's all I'll say for today.

The Hound of the Baskervilles: Nov. 15-20/04

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Cast photo by John Perry

Adapted for the stage by F. Andrew Leslie
Directed by Gabe Ferrazzo
November 15-20, 2004

I played Barrymore, the butler who (SPOILER) didn't do it.

These pix are not hosted on blogger, and so will open elsewhere. If that does not work try here.

"The butler didn't do it."	"I'm not dead yet!"	Two doctors	The missing corpse	"Now I know what a bustle's like!"
"You can trust me, Mrs. Lyons"	John (Jay) Stapleton and John J. Stapleton	"After a hard chase out on the moor I drink Aquafina."	The women in black (& purple)	What on earth is Myles doing?

FOR MAC:

The future of my beard

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To Cambrian Players' website.

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To Menu of Cambrian Players' Productions and Events since Mar. '02.

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To Richard Pepper's Main Page

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Wiring With George: Nov. 13/04

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Dorothy and Richard were there as well. Richard took the photo and maybe "Dorothy" is in the Witness Protection Program.

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Sept. Oct. Activities Pictures

Pictures of my Sept. Oct. activities can be viewed at

http://my.tbaytel.net/rpepper/sept04.html

and

http://my.tbaytel.net/rpepper/oct04.html

Copy and paste these links if they are not clickable.

Activities include Frontline events including the IVCF Fundraising Dinner and Hallowe'en Food Drive, some things about my Anglican Youth Ministry job, my very own hockey card and my visit to the Ladies Room at "Fort William Historical Park".

Almost anything of mine that may interest you can be accessed from http://www.richardpepper.ca , if you need to remember something simple.