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01:48 - 05.09.05
Conservation
I joined the Gold members ranks today, dear diary, so bear with me while I play with all the new features that are available to me. The images were something I especially wanted, but I also want to learn over time how to create and maintain a webpage. By using the free Diaryland features I've picked up some skills with the support of the FAQs on the site but it's time to grow again. I'm not certain why, but there's this little voice in the back of my head saying I'll need those skills some day soon. I do have some webspace available with my internet package and I've offered to experiment in that space by trying to set up a trial website for my sister's sister-in-law. She's the one who does Jungian analysis through astrology. She has quite a lot of clients, but has always only communicated with them through letters and tapes. She seems to be technophobic, but she's finding that the other methods are too expensive now. She is also passionate about various social issues and wants to have a platform to disseminate the research she does on her own. We don't always see things from the same perspective being that we have had very different lives, and I can't say I always agree with her on every issue, so there will be one of those disclaimer notes on it from me. Freedom of both thought and speech are of critical importance for me, so that is the one thing I can think of that will allow both of us to maintain integrity in a shared endeavour. We'll see.

Just a few brief notes I think tonight. The theme in the news was about air transportation. Air Canada has always had a monopoly of the skies in Canada being the federal carrier. As with most monopolies it has a horrible reputation - well deserved in the past - for being less than interested in pleasing it's clients. They've just redeemed themselves greatly in my eyes by sending their CEO and airplane to help with the evacuation in the US. Having eaten their food you know that the people they are caring for must be very hungry to enjoy what was offered. The plight of animals in the area is really upsetting too when stories like this start to appear pets.

I loved this idea being tried by one of the airlines in Demark, although the grocery bills might seem awfully high after adding the cost of a flight in to the mix. Went shopping myself today and the experience was a bit surreal without adding a "choice of destination" at the end of the session even though escape would have been welcome all the same. I grabbed my coffee/chocolate/espresso mix as I walked in the door. Headed down aisle one and two. The staff in the meat department always make a point of talking with me - maybe because I laugh at their jokes. Today was the usual light chit chat. Aisle three is when things went a little strange. First up found myself face to face with the hubby of the neighbour I used to ride in to work with. That was strange because they usually refuse to shop in this store - don't like the prices or the selection available, I was told. The hubby had a basket over his arm and looked really angry. Like every other person I met I acknowledged him, but he just growled and stomped past. Fair enough. Their son is the one who just had knee surgery, so maybe he had been up all night with him or something, and had lost his way to the "real" grocery store.

Exited that aisle. An older lady wandered in to that aisle and sidled up close. She looked at me a couple of times obviously wanting to say something, but not feeling comfortable in doing so. It also felt as though she was wanting to test me in some way. Finally she stood looking at the international food section, addressing her question to the shelves waving her arms as though conducting an orchestra. Rhettorically speaking. "Now where would one look if one wanted to find powdered milk? Do they even carry such exotic things anymore?" I suggested she try the baking aisle. She stated that she had, but couldn't find any. I suggested she look on the lowest shelves - we bakers all being of the diminutive persuasion, I think. She laughed and commented it was more likely that the milk was kept there because there were so few of us traditionalists left. Me traditional? Owww.

Then things got just odd. I found I was being escorted through the rest of my trip by one of the male staff. It wasn't like when the security guard keeps an eye on you either. When I drop in to pick up things after work I still have my backpack with me. I prop it in the child carrier of the cart zipped up until I reach the till. The security guard makes frequent passes to ensure it stays that way and I am happy with that. Means no one can accuse me of stealing anything. Today I just had my little change purse and was wearing clothes that had no pockets. This wasn't the security guard either. He was one of the really tall senior staff and he just seemed to be watching out for me. Maybe he thought that I was bothered by the other people in the store. Every so often he would joke about something as we came close enough to exchange words, but he never let me go to far away from him. When I got to the checkout one of the other husky males who works there packed my cart and insisted he wanted to walk me to my car. I explained that I am vehicularly challenged and use the services of a cab. He was fine with that, but still wanted to take me to the waiting area outside. That isn't a usual practice, but fine. I don't think I did anything bad and I certainly wasn't being disruptive, unless humming under my breath to the muzak playing throughout the store is now not acceptable. Don't know how to interpret that.

When I got home, I spent more time going through the fliers I've been collecting to compare prices on my renovations. This on-line story about green building construction was the reason. Lets see then. Some of the techniques like the geothermal heating are probably way out of my price range, but I thought I could incorporate some of the other ideas as I went along. If it reduces my energy consumption and my monthly bills at the same time, that's even better. Right now the one thing that really matters to me is conservation of energy - my own. I need to find ways to create storage space I don't have, that helps keep things out of the way and orderly too. I also need to find a way to hook up my dishwasher so I can save a few hours a week there as well. Remember that plumber who was here fixing the burst pipes a year ago took out the T joint that allowed for the use of the second hand one my Dad had just given me. With extra work coming up for Elections Canada I can't afford to lose the use of any time savers. I'm going to finally breakdown and buy an electric can opener too. Such laziness, eh? Other conservation of energy techniques. Going to bed I guess. Good night dear diary.

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