Social Architecture

"How late are you open today?" Simmy asked the person who answered the phone at 'The Old House Revival Company.'
"We're open until 5:00 pm. Then we're closed..."
There was a list of days that she named and Simmy tuned her out and waited until she took a breath before quickly saying, "Well, we'll be right down then... so we can take a look around."
... Sam thought he had the map figured out but he turned the wrong way on Portage and had to retrace his steps... Simmy managed to keep her mouth shut, mostly,... at least, she didn't scold Sam with any recriminations or discipline.
Whew! Progress!
Three floors of antiques plus a basement full of old windows and tinned ceiling tiles proved to be a treasure hunt of interest. Simmy held up a piece of fabric and then, when she saw the price, put it back. As she was about to leave the area, Sam said, "Where is that fabric with the circles?"
"I put it back because..."
"Buy it! You love that type of fabric. You'll only regret it if you don't. Go! Get it!"
That kind of command isn't very hard to follow so Simmy picked it up and Sam took it from her immediately so she wouldn't put it down anywhere when he wasn't looking.
As they drove home, there was a plaque on a building that was dedicated to Rev. Harry Lehotsky which paraphrased as...

so, this year, let's connect the dots of our social fabric and make building relationships the new architecture.

Walking on Water

The day was warm... for Canada. Sam and Simmy decided to explore The Forks and go for a walk on the river trail. It was a surprise to see so much open water on the river.
"If the river doesn't freeze, the project that Noa and Roy want to build on the river won't even be possible," Simmy said to Sam.
http://www.indiegogo.com/Winter-Garden
Two elderly ladies passed them on the path and Simmy greeted them happily. They responded in kind.
There weren't any other people out at all... until... a slim man walked speedily toward them but then he turned sharply and started walking on a footpath that had been made across the river.
"Really?" Simmy asked begrudgingly. "There is no one else around to rescue you... except us... and you're going to endanger your life and try to cross the river on...

very thin ice.
Simmy blew out her lips in exasperation, "This is how all those incidents happen. There is open water on both sides of this little path and off he goes, trying to walk lightly and hurriedly...
Oh! Did you see his hand go out in a fan shape... I think it may have been trembling."
"Well, he'll be sorry when he finds out the only rope we have handy is in the hood of our jackets and, Oh no!, an 18 inch shoelace type of twine will not be very helpful," Sam said.
"Lord Jesus, I pray that water doesn't open up before he gets across," Simmy said, kind of mad that she had to ask for this,... for a guy who, obviously, was playing with fire and wasn't very concerned about his life.
                                                                 .          .          .
Later in the evening... Simmy relayed the story to construction son, who mumbled,... "Haven't you heard, Mom? It's Darwinism,... not so much that it is survival of the fittest... as... the stupid ones tend to off themselves."
"Oy! Dr. L used to say that all the time," Simmy recalled.

Sherlock Holmes

A Game of Shadows... is a great movie. I mean, it is the best  movie of 2011. Fantastic!
"Hey, you have to pose with these glasses I purchased last year," Sim...my said to Sam.

We didn't know they were for keeping the bugs off your eyes in those early motor mobiles. They look sim...ilar to the ones Robert Downey Jr. wore when he and Watson were driving that jalopy."
Simmy snapped a picture but grimaced and said, "I need another picture. That one isn't quite right. Let's get one with the shadows on the other side of your face."
Snap!
"I think that one is better. What do you think?"
Sam took the camera and looked at the two options. Oh yah, the first one is no good. The second one is better."
"I can take another one if you don't like either one of them," Simmy offered.
"No, that's it. Only two photos. You didn't pay for anymore. You'll have to contact my agent if you want to take anymore."
"Sure! Right!"
Simmy laughed and went to download the photo to see if it was acceptable.
The old typewriter looked like the same keyboard that Watson used... except, the one Simmy had was a portable one...
Updated version, so to speak!
Go see the movie 'Sherlock Holmes- A Game of Shadows.'
You won't be disappointed!

Sugar Plum Fairy

... and a whole lot of pink tutus showcase in The Nutcracker performed by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. A Christmas gift from the young marrieds gave Simmy a lively, lovely extravaganza of costumed sugar, indeed.
It was a girls night out and a guys night out... by default then.
The dancing was lively, the music was fine and the children's' choir was soft and melodious.
The scenery lacked naught. It was a saucy and sweet affair. May we all have lovely dreams this night... with sugar plums dancing in our heads.

Mission IM Possible

Monday night Simmy had been antsy and she had asked construction son if Mission Impossible was a adrenaline rush because she was in the mood for a good action flick. He had assured her that it was energetic so the three of them had gone to see it.
It was now Tuesday morning and the landline phone rang early-ish. Simmy darted out of bed but all that energy was wasted as she heard Sam pick up the phone and say 'Hello!'
Simmy shuffled back to bed and snuggled under the covers happily... but only for a minute before Sam appeared in the doorway of the bedroom holding the phone and saying, "It's your Mom!"
Simmy had a bit of a cough, so her voice sounded gravelly when she said, 'Hello?'
"Are you coming?" Sun Ray demanded. "We need to buy some stuff."
Simmy knew it wasn't their weekend to serve the old folks but she would have to deal with that after she got off the phone.
"We can't come out today so do you want us to come tomorrow or Thursday?"
Now that Sun Ray knew she would get her taxi service, her tone of voice softened and she said, "Tomorrow."
Okay, it was still a little firm.
As Simmy hung up the phone she thought to herself, 'Mission Impossible, indeed.'
Sorry Cruise, you've got nothing on my Mama.

'Word on the Street'

The 'Word on the Street' at Riverwood Church was an adaptation of the Christmas story that was a here and now interpretation.
Warlike and Driver had agreed to come to the event along with their daughters Favored and German Tribe. Now, these are the meanings of their names and it always adds something interesting to the story when you look them up!
This family was in the city for Christmas... having come from the U.S.A. the night before.
Now... Driver didn't even like church and it was a miracle in itself to have him there. He had grown up in New York and his life experiences had been vast and varied and street- like... in some ways.
Favored had been wearing some awesome shoes...

and they were photo worthy indeed.

Cantors' Hanukkah Cantor

Simmy was a little off the mark with her Happy Hanukkah... she had given one of those old Cantors a warm hug yesterday... first she wished him a Happy Hanukkah and he had smiled serenely and wished her a Merry Christmas.
When everyone had laughed he had said, 'One good turn deserves another.'
That had warranted a friendly Christmas hug for that aging Jewish servant and a, 'You're doing a good job here with your grocery store.'
We're never too old to warrant a little praise.
Simmy chuckled as she realized that was her third 'Merry Christmas,' in as many days, from a Jew.
Doesn't that just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?
A favorite Christmas song for me is... 'The Chanukah Song' by Neil Diamond.
Maybe we could say he would be a cantor who the Cantors' can share a love of Chanukah with... and who can be against eight crazy nights of celebration?