How we look at things

It is amazing how one's view of things can change rapidly. The new year started out normally, looking like the old year. Plans were being made for various vacations,trips and achievements that one hoped to make and all seemed well.
Then the earthquake in Haiti happened. A land where the average person lives on less than US$1/day. Being only 600 miles east of Cayman and close enough to the US so that there was full news coverage, we have been able to follow the developments. It is saddening to see the damage and struggles they are going through and it reminds us how blessed we really are. Our prayers go to the people in Haiti.
There were discussions at work on who would be willing to go and help the Haitians if they could. Most would go in a flash but some would isolate themselves from the scene.
Then Cayman gets a little shake to remind it that we are still here. A 5.9 earthquake on Tues Jan 19 rattles a few nerves but fortunately no damage was done to buildings or people. The only "damage" that we know about is a sinkhole that formed beside a beachfront condo.



One of my images was used in an online news site and I am now looking at adding watermarks to some of my photos. You can never tell when one of them might be important - but I'll keep on dreaming!

Chickens - some days we are getting 5 eggs as more of them begin to lay but 2 or 3 is the norm. We are now giving eggs away to family members. The Rhode Island Reds are all alive and just keep getting larger. When you lift them, they are solid and heavy and it seems like they might all be females. Another month or so of grower feed and we let them join the main population.

Still moving house. The good thing is that one can get organized as new stuff comes over. The biggest challenge is still the garage but I expected that move to be not only slow, but among the last to get done. I have been building cabinets and shelving to house sorted items.

AS work on the house continues to slowly get less and less, I am spending more time playing with my hobbies. Photography and astronomy are getting more time spent on them as well as woodworking. I just like creating/building things and keeping busy so I am always looking for neat projects or ideas to undertake. I will have to post some pictures at a later date on some of my projects.

Another year has begun

By the reckoning of the Western world, we have entered into a new decade, 2010. I did a bit of research and our counting of years is a little on the new side. It seems that our current numbering was calculated by a guy named Dionysius in around 523AD. Previous to those days, the year was calculated using the reign of the current king (i.e. the 20th year of King Mike). Of course you can see the confusion when you have King Mike in country A and King Fred in Country B. They just don't start or end their reigns at the same time!
I found out that this is 2010 (our calculation) but it is also 2753 for the Romans, 2312 for the Greeks, 5770 for the Jews, 4707 for the Chinese, 1931 for India, 1424 for Islam and Persia and 2001 for Ethiopia. So pick your number.

Cayman has been personally quiet over the holidays. Good food, company and days off are the usual fare. Did not leave the island but I'll fix that soon enough.

We have achieved something a bit disquieting as a country. We were #6 in terms of murders per population at the end of 2009. Not a great achievement to be boasting of. A total of 8 murders with a population of 60K puts ahead of Mexico but behind Russia. And it seems to be all gang related. A sad trend these days.

Still moving into the new house. Installed closet organizers over the holiday as well as sorted out some things. Trying to declutter.

I was reading about New Year resolutions and decided to follow the lead of a great thinker - the Adam comic strip. It is recognized that most resolutions are broken by February as we settle back into the old way of doing things. I am keeping mine simple but achievable and promise to brush my hair, have at least one meal every day and try to keep alive.

Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2010.