Sigurd and the Nativity

If you were to visit our home this Christmas you might wonder why there is a little Norwegian troll looking at the Christ Child via the back door of our nativity set.  The story goes like this:

I was given a little troll by my wife Nancy while visiting Alexandria, MN several years ago.  After some thought we named him Sigurd.  He usually sits atop our stereo to keep an eye on our apartment when we are not there.

While doing some research on King Harold of Norway I found that his given name was Harold Sigurdson and besides being part of our family tree he played a significant role in establishing Christianity in Norway.  Therefore it is fitting that our little troll be named Sigurd and equally fitting that he should be gazing at the Christ Child in the manger. 

Sigurd is fascinated by the Christ Child and wants to know him more.  Some people today may be interested as to what Christianity is all about.  Perhaps Sigurd can play a role in bringing the Christ Child to our world today.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

United States Post Office

I had to go down our local post office to mail an oversized letter today.  The line was nearly out the door and only one clerk was at one of the three windows.  I noticed several others busily doing what was probably 'administrative stuff' to satisfy the 'system'.  My observation is this - most of the postal employees I have met are great people who really want to do a good job.  The problem is they seem to be stuck in a system that does not allow or encourage good customer service.  No wonder there a problems!  Let's hope for a change.

Tea and Toast

In the last years I have developed a habit of waking up in the middle of the night, enjoying a cup of tea and a piece of toast, and reading/thinking in the quietness of the night.  For me there seems to be something special about that time that is hard to describe to sound sleepers.

The Psalmist says 'My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.'  I wonder if he had 'tea and toast' also.

Sauntering and Bimbling

Reading 'Walking' by Thoreau made me think back to my youth when I would take long walks through the countryside, often down the railroad tracks and ending up near a small lake at a neighboring farm.  A young man had drowned in that lake so we were made hesitant to swim in it.  There was, yet, a certain pleasure in simply walking around it and absorbing it's stillness.  Perhaps this was true sauntering.  Bimbling at it's best.  Such times are difficult to regain.

Bimbler-at-large

I recently came across a new (to me) word.  Bimble.  As a verb it means to travel at a leisurely pace.  Living on a street named Leisure Lane this seemed perfect for me.  To amble without a real aim, yet in a friendly and harmless manner.  You are not required to achieve nothing though this is a frequent side effect.  As a noun it is a stroll or gentle meandering walk.

I wonder if this might be a good way to live life.  Would you care to join me in finding out?  We can be fellow bimblers.

Luddite Laptop

I have developed a renewed interest in manual typewriters recently.  Although I have always enjoyed using them, it just seemed that the time was right to explore this aspect of the 'luddite world'.  Maybe that makes me a 'retro-techie' as one blogger calls herself.

I was passing a thrift store the other day after picking up my mail at the post office.  Sensing an urge to pull in, I asked the manager if they ever carried old typewriters.  (Many thrift stores no longer accept them for lack of potential buyers.)  She told me that they has just received one and asked if I would I like to take a look at it.  There it was - the Olivetti Lettera 32 that I had been looking for!  For only $4.99!  This was my day!

I have been interested in this model because it had a history of use by many writers and reporters, many of whom covered the Viet Nam conflict.  The Pulitzer Prize winning author, Cormac McCarthy had used one to tap out nearly every one of his novels.  In fact, when it began showing the inevitable signs of wear he agreed to auction his trusty Lettera 32 off to benefit a charity, the Santa Fe Institute.  To everyone's amazement it sold for over $254,000!  He bought another one for under $20.

I don't think my 'Luddite Laptop' will ever bring that kind of money but it sure looks good on my desk.  That is my story and I'm sticking to it.

Is 'Information' the problem?

I keep hearing people say we live in an 'Information Age' and we have an 'Information Economy'. My question is this - for how long does information have value and to what extent does it create 'worth'? Information is a tool and like my lawnmower is useful in creating a finished product. In the case of my lawn, the mower creates a temporary illusion of attractiveness. In the case of information, I am guided somewhat by the data in making a decision. Both the well-cut lawn and my decision are temporal. My questions are these: what does our economy produce that has somewhat of a lasting value and can one build an economic system out of things like information which may have a very short-lived value?

A friend of my says 'unless you dig something out of the ground and make something out of it you don't have an economy'. Could he be right?