Sparky and the Skunk

Misty Hollow Carving
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Today’s Blog Post

Sparky and the Skunk
In order for you to understand what happened about 6 PM last evening you need to be able to “see” the front of our home.

Last year I built a ramp that helps my mother get into our front entrance better while pushing her walker. As well when any friend comes in wheel, chairs they have access to our home.

This ramp is built over the existing cement stairs and veranda pad. And to make it slope properly and allow easy rolling up and down, it was necessary to allow for some space under the ramp. That space is between the ramp bottom and the cement stairs top. There is about 6 inches of space.

Now down the street from us is the cutest puppy that goes for a walk at least two times a day with his master. The pup’s name is Sparky and he loves my wife Alida. That special bond is made by the fact that Alida always gives Sparky a special “treat’ when he stops by.

In fact when he comes close to our house he stops his progress forward on his walk and turns up our walk way. He then proceeds to the front screen door and looks in for Alida. She stops whatever she is doing and comes for his treat.

Yesterday all was normal. Sparky was out for his walk with his master. They stopped outside our house, came up the driveway, and then up the ramp. But instead of Sparky coming right to the door he stopped dead… went kind of weird and was looking down at the ramp below his feet. In fact he had locked on to something and was not about to leave until he knew more. There is space between the planks that make up the ramp.

Suspecting a possible mouse under the ramp – or maybe even a leaf moving around in the breeze… I stepped forward and asked Sparky to show me. His gaze had not left the ramp and the slots between the planks.

I nearly died when I looked down.

The “mouse” was very big and black with white stripes on it and it was moving restlessly.

Skunk!!! A Skunk had made his way under the ramp and was sleeping until the smell of Sparky woke him up… now it was moving around to find a freedom or get ready to exit.

All three adults and Sparky quickly walked inside our front door. Sparky still wanted to see and maybe engage his new friend under the step.

After Sparky left I found the garden hose and began to water Mr. Skunk under the step. He was not impressed with the bath and began to move.

One thing to note is… the 6 inch space under the ramp will not allow a Skunk Tail to be raised and release his odor stream!

But the minute he came out and waddled away.. his tail went up – HIGH. But HIGH TAILING me with me Jet Blast of water trained on his bottom discouraged his spray and he quickly waddled away.

I can’t believe the reaction my heart gave when he came into sight. The fear that is natural is not something that you can control. Skunks can scare the pants off me… and I am so outta there… as fast as my little old legs could carry me.

Yet I have never been sprayed by a Skunk!

I have had guns held on me, knives threatening me, and received death threats different times in my Ministry. I have had to deal with angry and frightening senior citizens… BUT none of those horrific scenes that once happened… scare me as bad a Mr. Skunk under my steps.

This morning I carefully exited the front door.. took a long sniff of the air… then walked out on the ramp to look down. Not there right now… but I will be watering the ramp to make it nasty under there for the Skunk!

My mom was reflecting on the fact that where he was located – was just below where she sits. She told me she should have no problem… because she is very quiet when she sits there…

I told mom that the Skunk is really quiet too. Oh Boy! I think I need to get some larger jars of Tomato Juice just for my mother…. Yikes what a thought that is! Hosing down a 90 year old in front of my house… may be considered abuse! Oh Boy!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/ 


Apologies to my readers - for the poor quality of the Photos.. my wife's hands were shaking as she shot there photos... on the run away from Mr. Skunk!  Too funny - now.  I had the hose and she had the camera!

 Mr Skunk is just behind the green rain down pipe drain... and heading away...

 But Mr. Skunk turned around and headed towards my wife - at which time she ran away - but shot this rather hurried photo of him coming back again...

 Next he headed out on to the street while shaking the water off.... then doubled back to the neighbor's place right next door! You can see him heading into the garden to hide until it gets dark.

Just a black spec between the garage and the fence

It depends how you look at it

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

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Today’s Blog Post


It depends how you look at it
Today and this week are running days. At the Peterborough Square today and beginning the Lindsay Fair Grounds tomorrow with the “Rendezvous”.

Not a lot of time to post – but will likely have a bundle to post about in days to come.

My friends Brenda and Winston passed this short story along to me… I thought it was so good that everyone should read it. Thanks friends…

Clean Windows
A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.
The next morning while they are eating breakfast,
The young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.
"That laundry is not very clean", she said.
"She doesn't know how to wash correctly.
Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry,
The young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a
Nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:

"Look, she has learned how to wash correctly.
I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and
Cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others
Depends on the purity of the window through which we look!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/ 

Meet Miss Alpaca

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

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Today’s Blog Post
Meet Miss Alpaca
The Brown Eyed and Beautiful Lady with the Tuft of Hair on Top –

What an amazing creature stood in front of me. She was beautiful and seemed to know it! She was eyeing me with her big brown eyes… and batting her long eye lashes. The hairdo she sported was more than cute – but it had a special purpose – to keep the sun off her head.

Meet the Alpaca and her friends at the CNE – the Canadian National Exhibition – in Toronto. But Toronto is about as far from Alpaca country as you can possibly get – isn’t it? Yep! But here they were – in the heart of a busy city doing their stuff, munching on hay and snoozing as visitors to the large fair watched them.

I think it was the lady that was scooting the large flaked wood chips over the manure that had caught my eye first. There in the middle of the Alpaca pen was a separate enclosure for the manure that would be offered after munching the hay. For the most part the Alpacas chose a spot to defecate in and would go back to the same spot each time. They are a little bit like a pig in that regard – always pooping in the same part of the pen or enclosure. The kind lady was covering the Alpaca chips with clean wood chips… keeping everything fresh and making a nice place for the droppings! (I think Alpacas are like humans they like a cleaner washroom!)

I do apologize to this knowledgeable Alpaca lady, I forgot to as her name when we were speaking about the Alpacas. She is from Grand Valley I believe and knows lots about her critters.

I learned that Alpacas have a gestation period of about 11 and ½ months. And if the Alpaca rancher plans it well they can have the entire herd bringing in its babies at the same time. What a difference between these creatures and the world of cattle – which seem to be staggered all around the calendar year. But mind you that is for a different reason.

You don’t the milk or harvest Alpaca’s meat. They are produced for the fine fibre they produce… and the breeding stock that can be developed.

I learned that an average baby may be worth $500 to begin with. But a full grown adult male, of good breeding stock and high quality fibre production, could bring from $10,000 each – or more. (That I had learned from another source before speaking with the CNE Alpaca lady.)

Yep – I had considered becoming an Alpaca investor at one stage in my life. And by investing in a local herd and one or two critters, the local Alpaca rancher would keep my animals and help increase their value and my investment.

In some areas outside investors can add to the operation and provide the working capital for the rancher… and when the time comes and the animal has proved its worth it is sold and the long term investment – with its profits paid out to the investor.

The one oops that I saw is that my animal could die on me after making the investment. Ooops. But that is what ranching and Alpaca production is all about. Risk mixed with opportunity to produce a fairly good living. And sharing the risk with investors from off the ranch that are willing to come on board and help the operation is a good way to go.

Mind you some outsiders could be and probably are pains in the neck. They could be there each weekend to love on their soft little guy making sure that it is okay. Alpacas are not like dumb cows. They have personalities and soft headed – soft hearted investors could be a problem to a local ranch operation.

After we listened to the Alpaca lady, my wife who is sometimes too soft hearted, looked at me and asked if we should have one too. Like maybe buy just one and have it in our back yard… “They are so cute..” she suggested.

I don’t think my neighbors or the city would see that as a good idea.

Can you imagine me walking my Alpaca down our local streets, stopping to scoop the poop and then walking on. The visual alone would cause car accidents in our fair neighborhood.

Mind you I might not need to mow the grass again real soon…

I was impressed by the presentation that the Alpaca Lady gave us at the CNE. “You” were very gracious with your answers to dumb city people. I knew a bit more than others did… hopefully my questions were not as dull as some.

Did you know an Alpaca needs protection from predators? They are almost defenseless except for their very powerful back kick when they don’t like what is happening. They are not at all like the Lama that is a great guard for a herd of sheep.

Alpaca herds need Lamas to protect them… and guard dogs as well.

The more I think of this beautiful creature, the more I like it.

We did yield to the story and the idea of owning a piece of Alpacas. We bought a Teddy Bear made of Alpaca fleece. It has to be the softest critter in our home… and that I have ever touched.

Alpaca lady at the 2011 CNE, about mid-afternoon on August 22… thank you. It was a pleasure speaking with you. You helped us a lot. Excellent!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/ 

Resource:
http://www.alpacaontario.ca/about.html
http://www.alpacainfo.ca/

Under the Shade of the Big Maple Tree at Barnum House

Misty Hollow Carving
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Today’s Blog Post

Under the Shade of the Big Maple Tree at Barnum House
It is doubtful that you have heard of Eliakim Barnum. He moved to the Haldiman Township in 1807 which was located on the North Shore of Lake Ontario. That was 60 years before Canada was officially formed.

Eliakim Barnum was a loyal subject of Britain and when problems were developing between Britain and the United States of America in those early years he packed up his family in Vermont and head north and west.

He built his house from 1817 – 1819 on the main route from Kingston to York. York was Toronto’s original name.

The route is busy today with local people flying by on motorcycles and trucks with cars mixed into that roar. But most of the traffic is local from what I have witnessed. The tourist types that might enjoy the stillness of the Barnum House and property are rushing through Ontario a few miles north on the 401 Highway – the main arterial highway from Montreal to Toronto and Windsor.

Few people stop to see the treasure that sits quietly beside the Highway #2.

The ones that do are deeply thankful for the experience provided by the guides that work there.

Yesterday…
Alida and I stepped back into time again as we arrived at Barnum House to begin an afternoon of demonstrating Lace Making and Wood Working. Specifically I was doing Tatting and operating the Spring Pole Lathe.

This was all happening under the shade of the gigantic Maple Tree that likely has been standing here since 1817 or earlier. It likely witnessed the burning down of the original house that stood on the property before Eliakim Barnum started to build. It was likely there the day that the British Soldiers were being billeted in the first house… and accidentally started the fire in the house.

The old tree has seen a lot over these almost two hundred years of standing on that spot.

From 1 PM to 4 PM we enjoyed the company of Reid and Gillian. Reid is a University of Ottawa student doing his studies in History and English. Gillian is a College Student preparing for Museum Studies. Barnum House is a perfect place for a summer job for both of these young adults.

I think the best part of the afternoon was getting to know these staff members at Barnum House. Sharing our laughter and stories with them was a delight under the large Maple Tree.

Local folk stopped by to look at the wares that we had laid out on the tables under the tree. They took part in the half hour tour that the guides provided. They also sat to have tea under the old Maple Tree.

At one point when it was quiet I stopped the wood turning on my Spring Pole Lathe and looked up at the mighty branches above me. On my lathe I had a beautiful piece of Maple that I was turning. The grain was bright and distinct. The shape of the small vase that I was turning was coming out very nicely.

The huge tree smiled. I am sure of it. After all these years of standing there faithfully and doing its job to provided shade it has almost been forgotten. Yet yesterday people gathered again to enjoy it and all that it provided.

It wasn’t a bright sunny day… rather it was over cast and rain was threatening the whole afternoon with clouds rolling by. Instead of blocking the sun’s rays… it stopped the rain from coming through the millions of Maple Leaves over head. The Old Tree was acting at times as an umbrella for us.

Yesterday was perfect for me personally. I was far, far away from the painful days that had happened before. The funeral on Saturday had taken its toll on my life. Other things that were pressing in around me to get done had to wait. Struggles from the old days, that were pressed forward again from the old jobs, had come swirling by as well.

Yesterday under the giant Maple all the traffic of my life was moved aside. I relaxed and stood again. My life was restored on this special Sunday afternoon. The Old Tree had helped one more person to find sanity again.

With its two hundred years of experience it does a great job.

The season for Barnum House is about to close. The students will go back to University and College. The doors will be closed again for another year. But all through these coming months, the change in the color of the leaves, the snow and the sleet that will come, the Old Maple Tree will be waiting for next summer and the return of the people that need to sit under it again. It will guard the house for yet another year.

What a happy place to be.

A special Thank You to Reid and Gillian for the time you gave me yesterday. Thank You to the Ontario Heritage folk in Toronto, whoever you might be. Your foresight and vision to keep this house as an Ontario Treasure has not been overlooked.

One Old Maple tree and One Old House want me to say Thank You for another wonderful year.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Resource:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnum_House
http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2677873&archive=true

Be a Prong Horn and get out of there!

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

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Today’s Blog Post


Be a Prong Horn and get out of there!

Have you ever had to deal with some one that can do No Wrong? Have you had someone in your life where whatever you say or do… is going to be wrong?

I am afraid that I have. And I know some others have as well.

Recently I conducted a funeral for someone I have known for 13 years. This person’s spouse passed away a few years back. She also lost her daughter a few years back as well. There are two adult kids left. One is dominant and the other is not strong enough to stand up for what he should.

The funeral was over and the people had returned to the mom’s house for the luncheon that was offered by the family.

It happened right in front of me. The internal family explosion took place. It had been suspected in my case, but I couldn’t put my finger on the cause or reason for what I saw take place at other times. Now right in front of me the explosion took place.

Kaboom!

The one sibling verbally attacked the other in front of everyone. “Sniping” would be a good word that could describe what was said. You know – like the guy with the rifle does. He is a good shot and he aims carefully, waiting for just the right moment… then Bam!

Remember they are the only two left in the immediate family. One was now showing her dominance and it became very clear what was taking place. Emotions that had been pent up over these past few days, were now beginning to show – Kerpow.

I have watched it happen in other ways as well.

In business meetings it has taken place. The sniper waits for the perfect opportunity to take out the one person that agitates by what she or he says. Bam!

In fact as I think about what takes place with this kind of thing… I shudder.

I think everyone I know has been subject to this happening at one time or another.

Yesterday… 
“Warning, what you are about to read may not be suitable for children to view”
Yesterday on a Saturday Morning TV show in our area, the hunters were stalking Long Prong Antelope in southern Alberta. The above warning was read and shown on the screen before the program started.

The animals were just coming around for their morning walk and stretching their little legs for another day’s journey with their families together. They had had a wonderful night of bedding down in that wide open space.

The TV cameras were being held now by camera men that were crawling on their stomachs behind the hunters. The hunters were down low, almost on their bellies, carrying their large guns with care.

They were stalking their prey, which was the Big Daddy of the herd. Just because of his horn size he was about to be shot dead. He was about to become a trophy that other people back in Ontario could “oooh” and “aaah” about, when they saw his head mounted on the wall of the hunter’s office. That was what the hunter was intent.

The suspense was growing as the camera man caught the main hunter, the guy that the TV program is all about, shoulder his gun. He peeped through the site and then held still.

The camera shifted from the hunter to the distant Long Horn Antelope… all perhaps 100 pounds of the Daddy Antelope.

Suspense had built to almost a fever pitch in that open area. Then Kerbam! The large rifle let go a spew of fire and launched the bullet at dazzling speed towards the unsuspecting Big Daddy.

The animal didn’t fall. There was a puff of dust just behind the animal, which then lifted its head and walked a few more yards forward, taking another bite of grass.

The hunter quickly pulled back his rifle bolt and then shoved another bullet into the chamber for the second shot… aimed again and Kerbam… missed again.

The camera man was good. He caught the larger puff of dust on the ground quite a bit behind the Antelope… which was now running as hard as he could. The second bullet and the report from the gun had made a louder noise… and maybe the light breeze had dropped enough to let the sound travel to the Antelope’s ears… and he was out of there, running as hard as he could for safety. He was very much still alive.

The next thing the camera man did was pan over to the main hunter and catch a priceless shot. The hunter had thrown his hat off on the ground. His rifle was laying beside him on the grass and he was on his stomach beating the ground with his fists, in a rage. He as saying over and over again, “I can’t believe I missed it! Twice in a row! I can’t believe that happened!”

I smiled. The Big Horn still had his head and Long Prongs for another day.

The stalker had lost his prey. He had missed this time.

Moral of this story… if you are the Antelope… and you hear the big, bad sound – run the other way. Get out of there! NOW!

In life… when you are being shot at by Snipers in business meetings, at funerals and in any other situation – hear the big, bad sound and get out of there. You don’t need to be there. You need to get your Butt out of there – now!

A week ago on one eGroup that I belong to, I stated that “Tatting was a dieing art”. One person kind of lashed out and let it fly. They didn’t like my words. They chastised me in ways that were not so nice… made me uncomfortable and made other people embarrassed as well. I ducked and ran away from the Big, Bad sound. I felt better because of it… and I am still alive and well.

I can’t figure why people do this kind of thing. The kill must be what energizes them to snipe, to wait in suspense for just that right moment.

The neat part about eGroups, you can shut them off, and then not participate. And you can delete, delete, delete.

As the TV camera man caught the last sight of the Big Daddy Prong Horn he was full speed as he ran from the danger. And right behind him was his family.

I know that feeling. You need to be along way from here – now run for all you are worth!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/ 

You have got to see “The Help”

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

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Today’s Blog Post


You have got to see “The Help”

We arrived early at the Theatre for our Date Night. Alida and I were off to see a show together.

Our selection was “The Help”.

At the end of the night I can tell you that this was an amazing movie! Maybe one that will stand out for a long time in my memory. It is actually unforgettable!

The Web Site that I read states… quote…
“Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, Skeeter (Stone) is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends' lives -- and a Mississippi town -- upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen (Davis), Skeeter's best friend's housekeeper, is the first to open up -- to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter's life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories -- and as it turns out, they have a lot to say. Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges, but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly -- and unwillingly -- caught up in the changing times. Written by Walt Disney Pictures - End quote.

I was almost 20 years old when this story was taking place, over and over again in the South. So in many ways the story is about my time and my generation.

Watching this movie made me embarrassed to be White at times. In fact that happens more than enough times when the real truth of the life that was lived by these Whites – actually is told. It was shameful what “we” did to “them”.

In ny city of Regina, Saskatchewan, in the 1960s, there were hardly any Blacks of any kind. I think in the entire High School system there was one Black Family. The one Black guy was my friend and his family attended the same church.

I am sure that they knew about how Blacks were treated at that time… and perhaps had chosen the City of Regina to live in… because it could not be any further from the troubled South.

I remember the day that President Kennedy was shot. I kind of remember the reports that it had something to do with his political stance on some Black issues… but there was more. At that age, 19 going on 20, their issues in the States were not really my issues in Canada.

I was in my early 20s when I personally felt the first really horrible racial hatred of one people against another.

With my friend Ken I traveled over to Detroit, Michigan for the afternoon from his home in Windsor, Ontario, he drove us to the Bobolink Park in Detroit. We had fun that day.

I stepped into a Washroom in the park. After doing my business I was washing my hands and face to cool down. I looked up to see another man step out of the toilet area and approach the sinks to wash as well. He stopped, hesitated as he approached the empty sink space near me…. as he looked carefully at me.

There was a definite feeling of hatred as he glared at me steadily. I was puzzled with what was happening.

I spoke to him in a friendly tone. I said something like, “Wow is it ever hot out there today!? This is a great park to help cool down. Are you from Detroit?”

Remember I am less than six months out of Saskatchewan. I am about as rednecked as any one can be. I have no idea of the South or of Detroit… or what was happening just over a few blocks from the Bobolink Park. Or what was about to happen in the few months to come.

The Black man didn’t answer but rather swaggered up to the sink beside me and turned the water on. His big arms were covered with scars and marks that showed dark spots on his dark skin. He had been in fights before from my guess.

I didn’t like his silence and decided it was time to go.

Outside the washroom I met Ken standing beside his small red sports car. He saw the funny look on my face and asked what happened. I told him quickly of the Black man and what I said to the man… and the man’s reaction.

Ken’s reaction to that was even more strange. He said quickly, “Jump in the car – we are out of here NOW! This could be dangerous for us! Let’s go NOW!”

No sooner did I slam the door than Ken was booting us out of the Bobolink Park.

“You could have got us both killed by speaking to that guy. You don’t talk to Black people in this city. Even being in the same Washroom is not a good idea. Don’t you know about this stuff?” he said/asked incredulously.

Nope I didn’t know nothing! I was a bumpkin from southern Saskatchewan which was at least 700 miles north of Detroit and way far to the West. And it was about 1965! We didn’t know about it at all.

It was in 1967 that Detroit finally erupted in the horrific riots. Read the Link below.

That day I stepped into a Washroom as a dumb Saskatchewan boy… I faced what “The Help” Movie was all about.

I can honestly say that I am ashamed of what “my kind” did to these people.

My how the world has changed… and most importantly – how my kind have changed as well… at least most of us.

I wonder if the audience in Mississippi will see the movie the way that I saw it last night?

The one thing I did notice last night was... there were no black people in the audience at that theatre… not one. But then the University Students are not back yet…

And Peterborough is still pretty White. A local person told me of the old days when Black People were not allowed to own property in Peterborough and before the sun went down, any Black person that was in the city – had to be out. They could not sleep any where in the city limits.

That law was changed in the late 1960s or early 1970s from what I was told.

“The Help” is a fantastic movie! You just have to see it!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/ 

Resource:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454029/
http://www.67riots.rutgers.edu/d_index.htm

Delete, Delay, Delegate or Do?

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

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Today’s Blog Post

Delete, Delay, Delegate or Do?

My friend Winston Bromley presented a seminar last evening for Business Owners and Entrepreneurs. It was entitled “Networking and Time Management for Business Owners”.

When I received his email the “Time Management” part caught my eye for sure.

Winston shared some of his personal reflections on the way that he organizes his life and business. Very interesting. Thanks Winston. Good stuff.

I came to the meeting a little late… duh! But thank goodness two guys came in later than I did. Not good for Time Management!

My business is growing steadily and branching out in different directions. This I am thankful for. These first three years have been “a challenge to get it all done”. Time is always in short supply and I need more of it.

In fact, if I can be honest, I thought I would have oodles of time in my retirement. I still have the same amount of time as I did before retirement – it is just used differently and seems to be scrambled at times.

Winston made a huge statement for me… to relieve the pressure that I have around me. Wahoo!

He said something like, “Forget the to-do lists!” or something like that – just as I was sitting down. Wahoo! I can feel freedom coming on Winston. Keep going! He said most people have it on a list and then never get to do most of it. The list is kind of way of getting the guilt off your shoulders from what I heard and lists work that way for me!

The funny thing is that I looked up just now and I have list hanging within inches on my nose. I made it that list three years ago. I got one thing on the list done. Oh Boy. But I have other lists as well.

What is Winston’s suggestion? I caught a few of them that will help me I am sure.

One is to write it down in your calendar… schedule the time to do whatever is on that list. By doing this you get it out of your head and recorded somewhere.

My wife does that all the time. She has two calendars – one in her purse and the other in a kitchen drawer. The one in the kitchen is the one that I know well… she tells me to look on the calendar when I ask her if we have anything on for next Monday or Tuesday – or three months from now. She is so organized!

Winston said if we write it down we can be more likely to get it done! Okay.. Okay… I get it.

Then he talked about things that come at you from all sides. Things like email and phone calls – or people asking you to do different things… right in the middle of what you are doing something important. Distractions of all sorts come our/my way.

This part was the best I think.

The Four Ds of Time Management… Delete, Delay, Delegate or Do. Very good. This is something that makes sense and I can likely work on.

It was very good until I realized there is one on that list that I cannot do. That is delegate. Way back in my working career I did that often. Now in the retirement mode it is different.

Who do you delegate to? Your wife? The Dog? The neighbour next door? Oh Oh – the buck stops here – it is me!

Then I can delegate this task to next Thursday. But that is Delay. And I don’t really like the task… so maybe I should simply Delete it.

So Delay is an option. Delete is not going to happen… with my wife looking on. Do is a possibility… But with so much happening… Delay is the best.

Now wait a minute! Wait just a cotton picking minute! I am doing all of that now. That is RETIREMENT! And that is likely why I don’t get much done – when it needs to be done.

Here is my list for these next few days. How would or could you help me?

* Meeting with a young couple today, meet a couple tomorrow… and another person next week…
* Haircut
* Prepare to conduct the Funeral tomorrow – (why did she die this past week… no time for this one)
* Show and presentations for Sunday
* Show and presentations for next Friday and Saturday
* Show and presentation for the weekend after that
* Complete 5 Teddy Bears, 15 Leaves, 15 Feathers for next week’s show
* Complete 5 Teddy Bears, 15 Leaves, 15 Feathers for next weekend’s show
* Draw more pictures for the International Web Site sale and market that is launched in two weeks time… that is taking wildly off in all directions!!
* A day off on Monday??? maybe…

Delete, Delay, Delegate or Do?

Oh Boy. Thanks Winston – you have me thinking. That is good – if nothing else!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource:
http://jeremy.zawodny.com/blog/archives/009311.html
http://www.fa-mag.com/component/content/article/1-features/4422.html?Itemid=67
http://debbiemcneill.com/blog/archives/579