It started snowing early this morning. It has snowed hard all day. It's supposed to wind down around 10 tonight, but at that point the wind will kick up to 45 mph. Oh joy!
Given the circumstances, when I went to the basement to do laundry, I thought, why not start the wood furnace? It's been pretty clearly demonstrated to me that the gloom and doom scenario I had been presented about my chimney could be disregarded. Where the wood furnace vents into the chimney, the tiles are fine.
So, I surveyed the situation and ultimately, realizing that I needed to climb up into the cobwebs above the furnace in order to remove the newly installed (last year) pipe insulation (which would melt near the stovepipe) and try to put the t.v. cable as far away from the pipe as possible, I said, oh well, maybe tomorrow.
Around mid-day, I thought, come on, you can do it, and descended to the basement and did all of the above, and then opened various valves, turned a switch and built a fire. Then I stood there for what seemed like forever, to try to see if I had built a fire that would burn in the "good" range on the stovepipe thermometer, and could get hot enough to push the temperature of the water in the wood furnace to 195. The temperature of the fire can be regulated only by one small damper at the bottom of the furnace. I easily got the fire into the "good" range, but it took a while to get the water temperature up high enough to kick the valve open to send hot water to the system.
I have actually spent the rest of the day remembering what it is like to be warm! It is now 72 in the living room, and I'm feeling hot. I have a suspicion that the valve that sends hot water to the house is permanently open, and therefore if I build a fire too big, the house is going to turn into a sauna. As with so many things, it's a delicate balance.
So......yesterday I had two new windows installed, and my study already felt warmer today, and now, real, actual, steady HEAT all through the house.....tomorrow, 3 more new windows are going into the living room....who knows what that will do to the temperature in the house!! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
On Being Grateful
In general, I think I am usually grateful for the many good things in my life. My regular practice of yoga serves as a good reminder, though, in case I am feeling the least bit down in the dumps. The different teachers I have almost always include in their closing meditation the fact that "We all have something to be grateful for every day."
I am always grateful for my family and friends. On the day of the ice storm, Eileen, who lives nearby, had a generator, and immediately called to see if I'd like to come there for a hot dinner. (I never turn down dinner!) Even though I had my power back by dinner time, the invitation stood, and it was way better than eating by myself! Later that night, Donna, a friend in nearby Berwick, called to see if I was all right and did I need a place to stay. My nearest neighbor, who has a generator came to see if I needed to borrow the generator to pump water out of my basement. These small acts of kindness made me feel so much less alone, under circumstances which were less than ideal. It also motivated me to try to offer the same kinds of assistance to friends who were without power for so much longer than I!!
My two children have also been constant sources of support and help when needed, and constant sources of joy ( and yes, some sorrow at times). Todd came with his kids last Saturday, after the storm, and he dragged all the willow branches into one big pile, and rehung my birdfeeders. Emily and Nate helped with the smaller branches. Later they all helped put up and decorate the Christmas tree, which I perhaps could have done myself, but it sure was a whole lot more fun to do it with them!
Sarah was first to call to see if I was o.k. and had power. In fact, while I was talking to her my power came back on, so she had a chance to share my joy at the simple sound of the refrigerator humming!! She has brightened many days with her phone calls sharing her delight with a particular Christmas present she has found, or a question about a gift for someone else. Today she shared her time and a new friend in her life for lunch and the afternoon, and visited my mom, brightening her day as well. Other people might have been tempted to cancel the drive up here after the snowy night, but I knew Sarah would come if she possibly could.
A recent scientific study has actually proved how happiness spreads through friendship and kinship networks. To those of us who are blessed with those networks, the results of the study come as no surprise. It reinforces what Thich Nhat Hanh says in his book "Being Peace," about the importance of smiling at another person, and how that simple act can spread peace in the world. If only it were just that simple; on the other hand, at least on one level, it IS just that simple.
I am always grateful for my family and friends. On the day of the ice storm, Eileen, who lives nearby, had a generator, and immediately called to see if I'd like to come there for a hot dinner. (I never turn down dinner!) Even though I had my power back by dinner time, the invitation stood, and it was way better than eating by myself! Later that night, Donna, a friend in nearby Berwick, called to see if I was all right and did I need a place to stay. My nearest neighbor, who has a generator came to see if I needed to borrow the generator to pump water out of my basement. These small acts of kindness made me feel so much less alone, under circumstances which were less than ideal. It also motivated me to try to offer the same kinds of assistance to friends who were without power for so much longer than I!!
My two children have also been constant sources of support and help when needed, and constant sources of joy ( and yes, some sorrow at times). Todd came with his kids last Saturday, after the storm, and he dragged all the willow branches into one big pile, and rehung my birdfeeders. Emily and Nate helped with the smaller branches. Later they all helped put up and decorate the Christmas tree, which I perhaps could have done myself, but it sure was a whole lot more fun to do it with them!
Sarah was first to call to see if I was o.k. and had power. In fact, while I was talking to her my power came back on, so she had a chance to share my joy at the simple sound of the refrigerator humming!! She has brightened many days with her phone calls sharing her delight with a particular Christmas present she has found, or a question about a gift for someone else. Today she shared her time and a new friend in her life for lunch and the afternoon, and visited my mom, brightening her day as well. Other people might have been tempted to cancel the drive up here after the snowy night, but I knew Sarah would come if she possibly could.
A recent scientific study has actually proved how happiness spreads through friendship and kinship networks. To those of us who are blessed with those networks, the results of the study come as no surprise. It reinforces what Thich Nhat Hanh says in his book "Being Peace," about the importance of smiling at another person, and how that simple act can spread peace in the world. If only it were just that simple; on the other hand, at least on one level, it IS just that simple.
Winter Solstice
Winter has struck southern NH somewhat suddenly, it seems to me. In reality, we usually have snow by now, so I wonder why it seems early. Upon reflection, I would have to say that it's not that it's sudden, but that it has been so vicious so early in the season.
A week ago yesterday, I awoke to what appeared to be a war zone in my backyard, where my magnificent willow tree had been decimated by the now famous ice storm. Large branches and small littered the entire back yard. Additional branches were hanging from the willow, waiting to drop on the unsuspecting. My power, along with that of about 400,000 others had been knocked out as well. I was among the lucky few whose power returned quickly, due in part, I suspect to my proximity to the University of NH, where 7500 students were in unheated, dark dorms.
Yesterday, our first snowstorm added insult to injury for those who were still without power and for those who were working so hard to restore it. We had about a foot of snow - a bit unusual for this part of the state. Most of our snow turns to rain or freezing rain, so it was kind of a nice change to be greeted by light powder this morning. On the other hand, shoveling, even light powder, isn't a whole lot of fun, and I wouldn't mind if this were our first and last storm for the winter. Mother Nature has other ideas, and we are slated for the next storm tomorrow and overnight into Monday. This one is carrying a lot more moisture, and is predicted to end as sleet and freezing rain.
As I got up this morning, I contemplated the fact that we are at the solstice, when we will have the least amount of daylight of all the days of the year. That is a heartening thought, because the days will grow longer now, and soon it will be spring. At least that was my thinking this morning. As the day wore on, and snow kept falling and lightly swirling in the air, covering everything that I had already shoveled (twice), I thought that the solstice has a lot in common with the 45th parallel (see a previous entry) in that supposedly I was half way between the equator and the North Pole but it sure felt a lot more like I was way closer to the North Pole......in this case, the reality is that the solstice is just the beginning of winter, deep winter, and though it is true that the days will be getting longer by almost miniscule amounts, we are a long, long, long way from spring.
Sigh!
A week ago yesterday, I awoke to what appeared to be a war zone in my backyard, where my magnificent willow tree had been decimated by the now famous ice storm. Large branches and small littered the entire back yard. Additional branches were hanging from the willow, waiting to drop on the unsuspecting. My power, along with that of about 400,000 others had been knocked out as well. I was among the lucky few whose power returned quickly, due in part, I suspect to my proximity to the University of NH, where 7500 students were in unheated, dark dorms.
Yesterday, our first snowstorm added insult to injury for those who were still without power and for those who were working so hard to restore it. We had about a foot of snow - a bit unusual for this part of the state. Most of our snow turns to rain or freezing rain, so it was kind of a nice change to be greeted by light powder this morning. On the other hand, shoveling, even light powder, isn't a whole lot of fun, and I wouldn't mind if this were our first and last storm for the winter. Mother Nature has other ideas, and we are slated for the next storm tomorrow and overnight into Monday. This one is carrying a lot more moisture, and is predicted to end as sleet and freezing rain.
As I got up this morning, I contemplated the fact that we are at the solstice, when we will have the least amount of daylight of all the days of the year. That is a heartening thought, because the days will grow longer now, and soon it will be spring. At least that was my thinking this morning. As the day wore on, and snow kept falling and lightly swirling in the air, covering everything that I had already shoveled (twice), I thought that the solstice has a lot in common with the 45th parallel (see a previous entry) in that supposedly I was half way between the equator and the North Pole but it sure felt a lot more like I was way closer to the North Pole......in this case, the reality is that the solstice is just the beginning of winter, deep winter, and though it is true that the days will be getting longer by almost miniscule amounts, we are a long, long, long way from spring.
Sigh!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Capital Punishment
The news in NH is full of the trial of Michael Addison, who shot and killed a police officer, Michael Briggs. Addison has been found guilty of murder, and is eligible for the death penalty, and the poor jury is now deliberating on his fate. According to NHPR, the state currently doesn't possess the means for an execution, and no one has been executed since 1931 or some such date.
Why is it that we feel the need to take a person's life in exchange for the life they have taken? I've always believed that the greater punishment for the murderer was to have to live the rest of his/her life behind bars, thinking about the crime they have committed and the freedom they have lost. What could be worse?
Not only that, but what does it profit anyone to snuff out another life? The original victim will not come back, and, the executioner, representing the state, has just become a murderer. A murder for a murder. It just doesn't make sense. We are not a barbaric society. We are supposedly a predominantly Christian society, and the last time I looked, it was the Old Testament that called for an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I thought that with the coming of Christ and before his MURDER, he preached a new theology, that of the New Testament, which suggested that we should turn the other cheek, that we should practice forgiveness, that we should love others as we love ourselves. Even those who interpret the Bible absolutely literallly can't miss these tenets of the gospel preached by Christ and his disciples. This half of the Bible superseded the theology of the Old Testament, at least that is what I was taught.
Tonight's news featured Michael Briggs's parents testifying about what their son's death has meant to them. Of course it was emotional testimony. But do they think that the death of Michael Addison will really make them feel any better? Will it ease their grief and sense of loss? I can't see how it will.
I am in favor of bringing a criminal to justice. I guess I just think we don't need to take a life in order to accomplish justice. Michael Addison committed a heinous crime. He deserves to be punished and removed from society. He doesn't deserve to be murdered.
Why is it that we feel the need to take a person's life in exchange for the life they have taken? I've always believed that the greater punishment for the murderer was to have to live the rest of his/her life behind bars, thinking about the crime they have committed and the freedom they have lost. What could be worse?
Not only that, but what does it profit anyone to snuff out another life? The original victim will not come back, and, the executioner, representing the state, has just become a murderer. A murder for a murder. It just doesn't make sense. We are not a barbaric society. We are supposedly a predominantly Christian society, and the last time I looked, it was the Old Testament that called for an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I thought that with the coming of Christ and before his MURDER, he preached a new theology, that of the New Testament, which suggested that we should turn the other cheek, that we should practice forgiveness, that we should love others as we love ourselves. Even those who interpret the Bible absolutely literallly can't miss these tenets of the gospel preached by Christ and his disciples. This half of the Bible superseded the theology of the Old Testament, at least that is what I was taught.
Tonight's news featured Michael Briggs's parents testifying about what their son's death has meant to them. Of course it was emotional testimony. But do they think that the death of Michael Addison will really make them feel any better? Will it ease their grief and sense of loss? I can't see how it will.
I am in favor of bringing a criminal to justice. I guess I just think we don't need to take a life in order to accomplish justice. Michael Addison committed a heinous crime. He deserves to be punished and removed from society. He doesn't deserve to be murdered.
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