Snow Day

How many centimeters have come down so far? Reports of 15-20 seem reasonable. I took my daughter Georgia with me this morning to check on the boiler at St. Paul's. The boiler looks fine; I didn't perform any chem tests today but emptied the return valves and blew down the main part. The wind is whipping at the window....

Back outside again where Georgia and I gazed upon an expanse of white, undisturbed snow that is the Charlotte Street parking lot. Scratch that; the plow (Darrell Bruce) had made one sweep earlier and there was a good sized snowbank to the right which Georgia made a beeline for. I bent and tested the snow for 'packiness' - how sticky, or 'packy' the snow was for making snow balls. Perfect stuff! While Georgia tumbled down the snow bank I started work on a snow man. Eventually she joined me and we made two great big snow people and positioned them at the entrance to the Charlotte Street door. Hers is wearing an evergreen wreath. I know it will bring a smile to the regulars who come through that door to do their volunteer work, or attend exercise class, an AA meeting, a play group or a quilters' circle. I look forward to Cathy's reaction!

This is the first time I've ever been caught at work, when not working. This job may be turning into a vocation.

I have a donkey in my office!

It has been suggested to me that my one liners regarding Sextoning should be shared with the world at large. Indeed, being a sexton has some very unique challenges and rewards, not the least of which is the legitimate occasion to say "I have a donkey in my office!". I like this idea. It may also cross paths with some thinking and reading I am doing regarding service vs. servitude, and a nifty book that Peter Short gave me titled 'Shop Class As Soul Craft'. One challenge I face in maintaining a blog regularly is being regular - I often get distracted by fatigue, other projects, beautiful women and the like. I don't think there is a shortage of material...so perhaps you could help. Leave an encouraging one liner comment and I'm sure this will spur me on! One cannot create in a vacuum....

So back to the donkey in my office. The week before Christmas and the hooligans have come out; baby Jesus is missing and I had to dig out my spare (yes, He is a hot commodity apparently. Last year He was stolen as well, but returned after The Big Day. I can only imagine the hilarious photos of baby Jesus' travels those lawless hooligans took Him on...). A poor hapless donkey also got vandalized, and is awaiting repair in my office. Unfortunately, there is no replacement donkey as he is not central to the story...PETA will be up in arms, no doubt.

On my last day before vacation, on the last hour before vacation, a storm window in the bell tower blew off and shattered glass came flying down the roof onto the side walk. Thank God no one was walking underneath when it happened! Now the already fragile stained glass window is exposed to the elements, but I see no way of protecting or repairing it that doesn't involve scaffolding or fall arrest harnesses, or general danger and mischief. It's not something I want to take on, but I will have to figure out some solution or the stained glass window will not make it through the winter, of that I am sure.

So let me know what you think. Encourage me. Pummel me. Do what you will....