An Old Friend or a New Enemy?

I’m sitting in a Starbucks in Regina, and I’m on holidays. That changes everything. There’s a bit more space in my head, a bit more freedom to experiment, and less pressure to stick to my usual routines. So I decided to make a small moment out of an ordinary day: I opened my calendar and marked it down—September 13, 2026, Regina—the day I tried a pumpkin spice latte again for the first time in years.

When pumpkin spice lattes first showed up, I was completely taken with them. I loved the flavor. Sure, they were too sweet for me, but I accepted the sugar overload because the taste felt worth it. It was a treat, and it felt like a seasonal signal—like fall could be ordered in a cup.

Then the bandwagon got crowded. Everybody piled on, and the whole thing started to feel noisy. It wasn’t just the drink anymore. Suddenly the flavor was everywhere. Cereal, bread, donuts, pop, tea—honestly, the list kept going. It felt like the world grabbed the idea and squeezed it until it was no longer special. So I hopped off. I didn’t want pumpkin spice to follow me down every grocery aisle.

Lately, though, I’ve noticed something. Some of those companies seem to be backing away from the whole pumpkin spice everything approach, and going back to what they normally do. The hype has cooled off a little. And that made me curious. Maybe it was safe to try again. Maybe I could have the drink without the whole circus that came with it.

So I ordered one. And yeah—it was sweet. Still sweet. But it was also good. It tasted like an old friend you haven’t seen in a long time, where you remember exactly why you liked them in the first place. I’m sitting here now, sipping it slowly, and it isn’t half bad.

Outside, the weather is starting to turn cool. The trees are beginning to shift color. Everything is leaning toward fall, and this drink fits that mood perfectly. It’s funny how a flavor can match a season, not just outside but inside you too.

I don’t know if this means I’m fully back on the pumpkin spice train, but I can tell you this: it feels like a small second start. A tiny reset. And if I’m being practical, I’ve got Starbucks cards that need to be used, and there are worse ways to spend them than on expensive drinks that make a regular afternoon feel like a mini event.

All the best. I’m heading back to my holidays. 

—letters from vacation. 

I Was Made To Be

I was made to “be”
And out of my being, I do

My doing comes from my being.
It’s when I get that reversed, when my being comes out of my doing, that I get in trouble.

And it takes me a while to return to my be-ing.
And then life is balanced correctly again.

Because I was made to be.

Ten Days in California

This month we spent 10 days down in California for church meetings etc. It was in Anaheim CA To be exact. In fact we were staying about three or four blocks due South of Disneyland. (You can insert your own comments here about denominational annual meetings being their own sort of Disneyland.)

I had to be there to complete my five year term of work on the board of ordered ministry. It was really good to see that work come to an end. I found it to be very fulfilling and very intense work but also very satisfying. Especially when we were able to help a pastor or a church leader who found themselves in a difficult situation. Especially especially when they were willing to be helped. 

Last night of our meetings the board held a dinner to celebrate those who were leaving the board. There were two of us this year and the evening turned out to be very moving. The many individuals who were on the board had become friends over the years, somewhat even brothers in arms. They were amazingly kind and generous in their affirming comments. It was considerably humbling to sit and listen as they thanked me for all the different gifts that I brought to the table.

Following that was the ministerial meeting and then the next days began the denominational annual meeting. I have been wanting to take Lauralea too many times but this time I wasn't taking no for an answer and I booked her a flight.    

I would say we had a lot of fun those days. We found an amazing little Mexican restaurant across the street from the hotel, and beside that was a target store which was just more fun for us. 

Yes we made it up to Disneyland for a few hours the one day. Of course the temperatures were high but we found the sun wasn't as hot as it is here in this field. Anyway we snooped around there and got a couple of souvenirs and headed back to the hotel and the air conditioned room. 

It was great to get away and to show Lauralea the people and the work that I've been doing for the past five years. It was fun to share some good meals together a bunch of laughs and sharing in some experiences that we can remember in the years ahead.

Maybe some pics of the fun.

California at the hotel

Hotel Entrance

By the pool

My first taste of crab

At Disneyland

A beautiful evening by the pool

The Delegate gets to work

Board Friends

 

Joke of the Day

a farmer friend sent me this today.

I laughed out loud after I had worked my way through it.

 

JOKE OF THE DAY

Jacob (age 92) and Rebecca (age 89), living in Miami, are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and on the way they pass a drugstore. Jacob suggests they go in.

Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: "Are you the owner?" The pharmacist answers, "Yes."

Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?" Pharmacist: "Of course, we do."

Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?" Pharmacist: "All kinds."

Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism?" Pharmacist: "Definitely."

Jacob: "How about suppositories?" Pharmacist: "You bet!"

Jacob: "Medicine for memory problems, arthritis and Alzheimer's?" Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety. The Works."

Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson's disease?" Pharmacist: "Absolutely."

Jacob: "​An​ything for heartburn and indigestion?" Pharmacist: "We sure do."

Jacob: "You sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?" Pharmacist: "All speeds and sizes."

Jacob: "Adult diapers?" Pharmacist: "Sure."

Jacob: "​Ok good, ​We'd like to use this store as our Bridal​ Registry!

​

Who am I

Identity is something that is sort of imprinted in us by our DNA but we are also shaped by our surroundings. My DNA testing kit tells me one thing, but my mom, siblings, friends, spouse, and children have another part of the story to tell.

Boy that seemed to go deep kinda fast there, for Pete's sake, (apologies to Pete.) 

I am doing some internal processing of my identity, checking my present understanding of myself with my previous understanding. What to change, what to keep. Or better yet, what I like and what I may be wise to toss out, if I can toss.

Actually the point of this post was that I downloaded the Snapchat app. (See what I mean about going deep quickly?)

I downloaded the app for some of the fun with the filters and yeah, I had fun.

This one was called the Hipster Look Lens. 

Umm yeah, or I look like that guy from The Oak Ridge Boys. Either way, it's a stretch for me. If Covid has taught me anything its that I like my hair short.

This one is more of a sixties rock band manager look.

I appreciate what its trying to say, yeah baby, and my hair is grey enough. But it's the problem I always have wearing shades.  I already wear glasses and how cool do those people look who wear sunglasses over their prescription glasses?

Yeah, you know it.

So then I though what about clearing the land up there on top?

It's kind of what my brother, my younger brother I hasten to add, has to do. And it's kind of where my friend Toni is headed, at least it seems. So it's a look some of my best friends and family are sporting.

But alas I have been blessed with locks of hair. I expect I'll be ok with the receding hairline, and it will speed up my morning ablutions considerably, but why rush it.

So I land here. An older version of myself.

A few more pronounced wrinkles, probably more ear hair. Certainly whiter, which my barber Moe tells me we are moving quickly towards these days.

Mom says I look like my great grandfather, which I'm ok with certainly. He was a good looking fellow and in the photos I have from the sixties he's wearing a narrow tie, the style back then. (Yay grandpa)

I do kinda like this version of myself.  

Now, I understand that this is all on the outside, but if I can just keep the inside gentle and at some sense of peace, if I can not get bitter and angry in there, if I can age well in my spirit, I stand a chance of pulling this look off.

Or failing that, I can fight aging and go with the darker, hipster look.

Hey, youths...

Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 11

Vacation. Day One.

Dear Diary,

Its officially day one of my vacation, and Herself is sitting beside me on the couch, playing some of her games on her phone.

She has just enquired as to what the heck I'm chewing on and biting here in my mouth because it may make her crazy and candy is meant to be enjoyed by sucking on it, not chewing on and biting in half.

Well Diary, this will be an awesome first week, I'm sure of it.

Tomorrow will be day two.



Regards,
etc.

You Might Be a Redneck This Thanksgiving If…

You Might Be a Redneck This Thanksgiving If…

… you’ve ever had Thanksgiving dinner on a ping-pong table.

… Thanksgiving dinner is squirrel and dumplings.

… you’ve ever reused a paper plate.

… if you have a complete set of salad bowls and they all say Cool Whip on the side.

… if you’ve ever used your ironing board as a buffet table.

… your turkey platter is an old hubcap.

… your best dishes have Dixie printed on them.

… your stuffing’s secret ingredient comes from the bait shop.

… your only condiment on the dining room table is ketchup.

… side dishes include beef jerky and Moon Pies.

… you have to go outside to get something out of the ‘fridge.

… the directions to your house include “turn off the paved road.”

… you consider pork and beans to be a gourmet food.

… you have an Elvis Jell-o mold.

… your secret family recipe is illegal.

… you serve Vienna sausage as an appetizer.



via.

La Lune

It is a crisp cold night out there tonight. Just a few moments chance to get a shot or two without the tripod.

The sky is exciting these days with Venus and Mars near the moon.
Tonight the two jewels shone a bit white and brilliant red, Mars up and to the right of Venus.

Beautiful and amazing sights to see.

Memories of Brown

Ah yes, this was one of randallfriesen.com's finest designs, made by me from scratch.

http://web.archive.org/web/20060424091706/http://randallfriesen.com/

One of my very favourite designs.

…Hmm, I wonder…

Radio. Things that make me smile.

This could probably be classified under Too Much Information, but I still get a buzz when I get to play with a new radio or radio format.

I think it all went back to that small AM Transistor I won in a contest and how that radio opened the world to me late at night when I was suppose to be sleeping. Salt Lake City came rolling in and I got my buzz on. Then there was Seattle and Iowa and Vancouver and sometimes Chicago and St. Louis. Listening to those far away places just really made me happy, in healthy ways.

Then I found an old Shortwave radio in my great grandparents old things and I set that up beside my bed. I will never forget that first night when HCJB came booming into my bedroom, all the way from Quito Ecuador. Then came the BBC and Radio Netherlands and that led me through the next few years of occasional pleasure in an otherwise bleak teenage existence.

When I started to drive dad's old 68 Pontiac Laurentian it only had an AM Radio in it and the late 70's were the time when FM was just starting up. Granted there were only three FM stations in Saskatoon at the time, and they were mostly crap, but still, more radio, more opportunities to hear the world. I had an 8-Track player in it at the time, and one day while down at Canadian Tire I saw an FM Radio Adapter you could insert into the Eight Track slot and have FM Radio in your car. My eyes got big and the cost wasn't that great so after a few weeks I got it and took it home. I unwrapped it carefully and plugged it into the old 8-track player and within a few moments that old simple pleasure of tuning a new station brought a grin to my acne covered face.

The years went by and I never had lots of cash to spend on radio's so I enjoyed the simple pleasures of tuning in distant stations. I'd work on simple inexpensive antennas which would dramatically increase the reception, and the occasional smile.

The Internet came along, and one of my first demands of the Internet was pulling in distant radio stations who would put their feeds up online. Though it wasn't the same buzz as a small radio in my hand pulling in distant stations, it was cool to have clear quality signals coming in over the internet wire, right into my house. I bought a small FM Transmitter, hooked it up to the computer, and retransmitted the stations throughout the house and yard and about a block into the neighbourhood so that I could turn on my handheld radio and listen to the stations a world away, right from the comfort of my back yard. And I would smile.

In the 1990's Satellite radio came along and though at the beginning was too expensive to consider, by June 2006 we were enjoying the variety of distant sounds bouncing off a chunk of metal somewhere up there in space. I remember the smile on my face when we could listen to NPR or the Seventies Channel. Old Time Classic Radio still plays throughout the house here in the field, and this morning I woke up to a thought provoking interview on NPR. Simple joys for a simple mind you might say, I know you're thinking it.

:)

So where is this all going you are saying to yourself. Well I was thinking the other day about all this stuff and history and wondering why a simple pleasure such as radio still has the power to make me smile. I was thinking about it because I was driving down the highway heading to town, and in my hand I held my mobile phone, a small blackberry on which I had downloaded an application to play online radio stations. I was jumping between continents and genres, between local stations and international ones. I listened to the traffic in New York City, and the Cubs getting ready to play in Chicago. Worship music from St. Louis and the weather from Germany. I was grinning ear to ear again and though nobody gets it I'm k with that.

I think what was making me smile even more was the sound coming off of that small tinny phone speaker. It sounded exactly like my first small AM Transistor radio, pulling in the local stations. In terms of radio at least, it felt like we'd come full circle.

And I smiled again.

Getting BBC Radio on the iPhone or iPod Touch

Finally, finally finally, IT'S HERE.

The one feature I have missed and looked for for my iPod Touch is the ability to play streaming audio from the BBC.

Yes I can play other streams, especially windows media format, but not Real Audio format which is what the BBC is mostly about, especially outside the borders of the UK.

Anyway last night the latest update of the Wunder Radio app made my life complete. They now run a simple version of Real Audio codec in their radio app that does bring in the various BBC options.

So this morning I lay in bed listening to the weather from Radio Cumbria (Sorry, no snow for Christmas) and a program on BBC 4 discussing Christian vs. Pagan Christmas. Good stuff.

Ever since I got the iPod I've searched for this ability every few weeks, and now it's here. My Christmas Miracle.

If you've been looking too, here it is.

http://www.wunderground.com/download/index.asp

Enjoy.