If We Were Having Coffee: Mid-winter Update

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Norm 3.0
Image courtesy of Ohmega1982 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of Ohmega1982 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If we were having coffee I’d let you know that my schedule is getting busier and that I won’t be around as much for the rest of the month.

I’d tell you not to worry, everything’s fine; it’s just that I have a few school and work deadlines coming up, so I won’t have as much time to take pictures or to write, but I’ll still put up a few posts, and I will be around to check in on what everyone is up to, whenever I can.

Our weekends are filling up with some fun activities over the next few weeks as well. We have our yearly family curling get-together coming up, and I’m really starting to get pumped about our upcoming night at the Ice-Hotel.

Yeah we’re just crazy enough to find something like that really exciting. And I can promise you I’ll be bringing along my camera, tripod, extra batteries and memory cards, along with ALL of my lenses for that!

Hopefully this will all be enough of a distraction to keep my mind off of how depressingly long this winter has been, and how much I regret that we weren’t able to take a week’s vacation down south somewhere.

On the positive side, the days are starting to get noticeably longer, so the warmer weather isn’t too far off.

If we were having coffee I’d ask you for your opinion on this big decision here in Canada from our Supreme Court that stuck down a federal law making Doctor-assisted suicide illegal.

The legal challenge to the law has been quietly moving its way through our court system for a few years now. But even though this is a hot-button topic in many countries, the media has pretty much ignored it; preferring instead to report on more sensational topics. I guess barbaric acts of terrorism get better ratings than a serious heartfelt debate about how to safely and humanely allow the terminally ill to die with dignity.

In any case, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. I wonder if the current government, which only has eight months left on their latest mandate, will try to put together legislation to properly control and manage how, when, and under what circumstances people can choose to end their lives, or whether they’ll just leave it until after the fall election.

If we were having coffee I’d apologize for bringing up such a downer of a subject and promise to have more positive stuff to talk about next time 🙂

You can link your own If We Were Having Coffee post with others on Part Time Monster and don’t forget to share them on Twitter under the hashtag #WeekendCoffeeShare

 

 

 

 

About Norm 3.0

World’s youngest grumpy old man & heart failure wonder boy. Interests: writing, woodworking, photography, travel, tennis, wine, and I know a bit about power tools.
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37 Responses to If We Were Having Coffee: Mid-winter Update

  1. Hugh's Views and News says:
    February 9, 2015 at 4:19 am

    Enjoy the break, Norm and especially enjoy your curling event and the trip to the Ice Hotel.

    I once went to an Ice Bar and it was an amazing experience. I loved it, but the rest of my gang were not keen and wanted to escape quickly and get some hot coffee.

    Thanks for coffee, and I look forward to seeing what you bring back for us from the Ice Hotel and the Curling weekend.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Random Musings and Wanderlust says:
    February 9, 2015 at 12:42 am

    I’m freezing over here on Long Island, NY and yet your mention of the Ice Hotel sounds like it would be so much fun. I’m in agreement with the doctor assisted ( I dislike the term suicide in this instance, but I understand its reasoning) I have seen to many people suffer needlessly for far to long, and if able to have this recourse I think it would make such a difference.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Robin says:
    February 8, 2015 at 9:40 pm

    Oh, the Ice-Hotel sounds wonderful (says someone who misses winter). I can’t wait to see it through your lenses. I used to live in place that had a real winter, and I’m still a bit homesick for it. On a sadder note, my mother died of cancer and the way they “allow” you to die (at least in most places here in the U.S.) is to take away food and water so that eventually, you die of thirst (and if that doesn’t get you, starvation might). All this is done under the auspices of medical personal who are doing the best they can in terms of giving big doses of drugs, and, I suspect, the morphine gets a push to speed things along, but no one talks about it other than to remind you that if you give water to the dying person, it will prolong the agony (theirs or outs?). Weird thing is, if we took away food and water from our pets (or other animals — particularly lab animals), it would be called “inhumane.” It seems to be okay to torture people.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. yprior1 says:
    February 8, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    well the ice hotel sounds super cool (no pun intended – lol) and have a nice month – even tho you brought up the serious topic in your coffee chat = the overall tone made me feel excited for spring as you noted the longer days are upon us – indeed – and whew I am welcoming them also.

    ☕☕
    cheers and have a nice – and busy = month

    Liked by 1 person

  5. DailyMusings says:
    February 8, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    I look forward to seeing your photos of the ice hotel, though I will wear a down coat while doing so. Just the thought of it makes me cold. I’m happiest when the temps are in the high 70’s 🙂
    I am all for the right to die- assisted or otherwise.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Serins says:
    February 8, 2015 at 6:07 am

    ahhh… TD/ Scott wrote about that topic some time ago, I’ll tweet the link at you.

    And it is important to talk of such things even over coffee. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    • Norm 2.0 says:
      February 8, 2015 at 10:01 am

      I absolutely agree. It is an important subject that forces people to think about their own mortality. I guess this is why so many are uncomfortable talking about it.

      Like

  7. Elizabeth says:
    February 7, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    Wow, Ice hotel, I didn’t know we have one so close, I’ve heard of the one in Finland, well take lots of photos and have fun!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. eclecticoddsnsods says:
    February 7, 2015 at 6:15 pm

    That hotel looks awesome I can’t wait to see the pics x

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Corina says:
    February 7, 2015 at 12:59 pm

    When they do get around to regulating how it will work, they have quite a few models to look at. I live in Oregon, one of only three states in the United States where physician assisted suicide is legal, and I believe it was the first state to legalize it (in 1994). I wouldn’t have it any other way. I think it’s the humane thing to do for the patient as well as for the family and loved ones. I know that if and when I reach that state, I would probably choose this option. I realize it might be difficult for some to understand, and for loved ones to let go, but it really is the humane thing to do.

    I hope you have a great week! See you next time.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Diana says:
    February 7, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    Sounds like you’ve got a hell of a February lined up!

    The ice hotel definitely sounds amazing—not sure I would make it though, it’s so cold! lol

    I’ve been paying attention to the Supreme Court decision, and I’m interested in seeing the fall-out. I think the issue is going to come back up again in the States eventually, too.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Norm 2.0 says:
      February 8, 2015 at 9:56 am

      It stays a fairly reasonable -4C inside the hotel and if you’re dressed for it, it’s quite bearable.
      We’ll see how the Government reacts to this decision.

      Like

  11. Judy @ newenglandgardenandthread says:
    February 7, 2015 at 12:38 pm

    If we were having coffee, I hope one of us brought something sweet to go with it. 🙂 No, no, no to the ice hotel. I’ve been cold for months already but I will look forward to your photos. Yes, I’d like to watch curling to see if I could get a better handle on what it requires. The serious decision regarding end of life is such a tough subject. As I get older, I tend to agree with it more. But, I want to make sure no one pulls any of my plugs until I really ready to go. 🙂 Have fun, Norm, and here’s hoping you pass by some intriguing doors on your adventures. An ice door??

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Bernice says:
    February 7, 2015 at 12:37 pm

    Good luck with all your deadlines and projects. Topics like assisted suicide is a big topic in the US. Controversial in so many ways. Yet should we really allow someone to suffer. I would think a hard decision because then you have lost hope. In the states you would see protests from both sides.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. renxkyoko says:
    February 7, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    I’m conflicted in a way, but I think the SC should legalize it.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. K. Renae P. says:
    February 7, 2015 at 11:52 am

    That ice hotel looks awesome, and I can’t wait for your posts on it.

    I’m not going to lie. I don’t get curling. It looks like you are sweeping the floor with brooms. My friend from Canada who was on a curling team in high school (no clue that it was a school sport) tried to explain the game to me. She got all exasperated with me b/c I wouldn’t stop telling jokes so she told me to just watch fake football. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Norm 2.0 says:
      February 7, 2015 at 12:02 pm

      Curling is a lot of fun actually. It takes skill, precision, strategy, and at the elite level a high level of fitness. Most people make fun until they try it, but whenever we initiate a newbie, they’re usually sore for days afterwards 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  15. mbarkersimpson says:
    February 7, 2015 at 11:43 am

    It sounds like a busy but exciting few weeks ahead. Thanks for the coffee, I enjoyed stopping by as always, and of course look forward to hearing about your adventures! I’m sorry I couldn’t comment on the Supreme Court’s decision – I don’t know much about it, being from the UK.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. C J Alan says:
    February 7, 2015 at 11:25 am

    The ice hotel… someplace I have always wanted to visit. Mama thinks I am completely out of my mind though, she’s a 90 degree type of girl!
    Looking forward to seeing your pictures. Thanks for the coffee.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Hippie Cahier says:
    February 7, 2015 at 11:18 am

    I clicked on the (or l’) Hotel de Glace link and literally shivered at the temperature gadget that popped up: Quebec, -17.degrees. Of course, I read it in Fahrenheit. But still.

    Maybe I’ve said this before, because it seems sort of familiar, but anyway — I like this “If we were having coffee” idea. Good luck with all the deadlines and the fun stuff, too.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Norm 2.0 says:
      February 7, 2015 at 11:55 am

      Thanks. It’s a much milder -12C here in the Montreal area today, Quebec City is always a little colder.
      Inside the Hotel it stays at a “very comfortable” (relatively speaking) -4C

      Liked by 1 person

  18. heatherjacksonwrites says:
    February 7, 2015 at 11:15 am

    I think the biggest thing that struck me about the Supreme Court’s decision was that it was unanimous. That’s quite a statement! After watching my grandmother die a slow agonizing death, I support the decision. On a more sunshiney note – Ice-Hotel! That sounds so cool (pun intended). Can’t wait to hear what it’s like sleeping on a bed made of ice.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Norm 2.0 says:
      February 7, 2015 at 11:47 am

      Totally agree. I’ve watched a few loved ones suffer. Hopefully a unanimous decision means they don’t try to stall, and concentrate on putting some sane, rational rules in place.

      Like

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