Where have I been and why am I travelling again?

Good question and I think it deserves at least a reasonable reply. I realize that it has been a couple of weeks since I last made some comments on the good life I have been blessed with. No doubt that delay could be due to the fact I am actually living a good life. The freedoms I enjoy sometimes are almost trivial in the larger scheme of things, and yet when I think about them for more than 14.8 seconds I realize that I live in a very wonderful country — even if it does apologize far too often for far too many things that are far too far from the radar screen of valid apologies…but I digress…

I’m not going to bore you with lengthy diatribes about what all has been happening…rather I will simply list the highlights…
#1)
Got to visit my Mother again this month. On the day the province of Alberta gives its public servants off in lieu of Remembrance Day coming on a Saturday, my sister decided to make her annual mega-batch of Shortbread cookies. Mother still plays a major role and prefers not to be interrupted in her tasks. Nevertheless I had been instructed that I was to go and view the process, take notes and pictures, and bring the information back to the Okanagan so that this receipe first acquired in Bassano AB in 1951 (from a youngish parishoner) could be replicated. The venture was a success although at one point I did have to be reminded not to interrupt!! When a 100 year old lady tells you not to interrupt — you stop doing whatever you are doing and you cease your senseless chatter, even if it is with your dearest sister who you do not get to chat with very often!!

#2)
I had lunch with a long time friend and colleague — probably the best financial adviser I seldom listened to!! He doesn’t mind though — he’s rich and I’m not, so he’s made his point. We met at the Faculty Club at the U of A where we had a large enough table that he was able to also help me review the financial statements and related matters connected to my role as Treasurer of the Strata Council I now sit on. We had a great meal, I learned things, was confirmed in my knowledge of other things, and share a few great laughs. This guy is amazing…has made sufficient cash to retire but continues to work, although at a somewhat lessened pace as we were known for just a short time ago (still he would outwork the majority of current MBA grads) — more importantly he uses some of his fiscal prudence to travel, climb mountains and generally see the world. He’s older than I am but is in shape that is better than I was thirty years ago.

#3)
The above-noted Strata Council is turning out to be a good group. There was a bit of a sputtering start but things are now getting settled down and with a subtle shift in the leadership along with a renewed focus on the transition from owner-developer strata to an owner-strata. I am looking forward to this year of governance.

#4)
For the first time in a couple of years or more, I conducted a “strategic visioning” workshop. This time it was for the congregation of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian in Penticton. The group that attended were keen, engaged and very participative. It was a good half-day and much was accomplished. It is going to be interesting to see how the ideas and concerns raised during the workshop come together in an “applied” way over the next couple of months as a lead-up to the AGM of the congregation. I’m sure that I will have more to say on this later.

#5)
Concordia University of Edmonton now realizes that forces of nature (i.e. the costs of maintaining let alone doing academic ventures) are significant in this new millennium. After significant budget cutting and other forms of belt tightening (including eliminating people, courses and even programs) it has also set up a division that will try to sell the talents and energies of its people (including adjunct profs) to the outside world: (corporate, public, not-for-profit, etc.). What is exciting is that they would like me to help, particularly in the world of ethics and “ethical reasoning”. I have been tasked with designing a couple of workshops so that in 2018 the office marketing these concepts can attempt to line up some paying clients. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds, and whether it increases my workload in the new year.

#6)
On the other hand, located at the University of Alberta an organization called ELLA (a very innovative group providing unique adult education each spring) has asked me to deliver an course on “ethical reasoning” this spring. Again, I will have more to say about this later and when my course is fully designed I will put a copy on the website. In the meantime, if you want to take an upbeat, interactive college-level course that delves into the world of “getting through the moment of critical choice” (see my paper elsewhere on this site: “Kohlberg through the Sinclair Prism”), then consider coming to the UofA for three weeks starting April 30th. I’m sure you could stay at the Residences there.

#7)
I saw another forgettable (and largely non-understandable) movie at a recent film club showing. Can’t even remember the name!! But then my faith in this TIFF-type stuff was restored when I was able to see “Loving Vincent”. The art work was more than amazing, the story line was intriguing and the acting was good. Some of the scenes were more powerful than others, but it all was a real treat from the perspective of the cinematography alone. This is a film that should be shown to high school students to inspire them to explore the new ways that technologies and the arts can come together to do something very neat.

#8)
Although I tend at times to be lazy, I was encouraged to help decorate the little ‘Craftsman Cottage by the Creek’ with various components of the Christmas season — lights, garlands, etc. Putting up lights standing on a ladder, reaching up to an eavestrough and wondering if the physics of the situation will actually hold, can be a bit unnerving — but I survived!! Not sure how it all will look as the lights will not be turned on until December 3rd… I have a real thing about people decorating their places in November and immediately turning on their lights…but I digress!!

#9)
And now I am at YUL — that is Dorval QC — the location of the Montreal aeroport… I have a rental car awaiting and after an evening with a delightful friend who serves Old Pulteney, will re-load the said rental car (actually a mini-SUV from the Jeep line-up) and head to Ottawa for the Grey Cup festivities… and I definitely will have more to say about this event…

#10)
I am learning a great deal about Lymes disease…you should too…

For now let me wish my American family and friends a very happy thanksgiving… and for the rest of the world, just remember this — if we think the political world is getting crazy, it probably is BUT that does not mean that you and I have to be crazy — we just have to love more, laugh more and remember this word of wisdom from the grandson of my sister who used to attend a day care at a local school… when asked how school is going these days, he indignantly retorted that he is NOT going to school, NOW HE IS GOING TO KINDERGARTEN… he may have it right — much better to be promoted beyond the school to kindergarten…

Enjoy your day…

g.w.