Midnight Musings – A journal by Jade Walker

Facts are your brain. Beliefs are your heart.

July 28, 2021 / No Comments

Here are some of the things that I wholeheartedly believe. I’m not saying they’re based on facts or even rationality. They’re just my beliefs and, of course, some of them can/will change over time.

I believe:

* Everyone should look up at the sky, often, and marvel at its beauty.

* Pie is one of the best comfort foods. See also: Tea, chocolate.

* One should read widely. We all have our favorite types of books — I tend to favor the genres — but it’s also a good idea to read stories that are utterly unfamiliar. Doing so will broaden your horizons, allow you to feel empathy for strangers and perhaps even teach you a thing or two. Reading from a wide variety of authors and subjects may also open new pathways for you to follow so dive down those rabbit holes and see where they lead.

* It’s better to have a house with lots of storage (closets, shelves, pantries) than wide, open-concept spaces. Unless you have kids.

* Storage units are good for times of transition. But, if you have to buy a storage unit because your home isn’t big enough to hold all your stuff, it’s time to either donate some stuff or buy/rent a bigger/better-designed house.

* You can never leave too large a tip for a person who has served you well.

* Everyone should have free access to a home, good food, education, a local library, a clean environment and health care.

* The moment a car starts, all phones should automatically disable texting options. And if a driver has become impaired by drugs or alcohol, the steering wheel should lock in place.

* We, as a society, should come up with alternative responses to sneezes. “You are so good looking!” from “Seinfeld” is fun. When I sneeze while cooking with spices/peppers, I generally go with “Chipotle!”

* Every nation on the planet should have a 100% literacy rate.

* Four-day workweeks are vastly superior to five-day workweeks. You need that extra day to decompress/run errands/etc., before “the weekend” actually starts.

* Growing older is a privilege and we should relish it. (Okay, not the weird pains or the one-day-closer-to-death part, but the rest of it is cool with me.) This is just another way of saying, I love my wisdom tinsel (a.k.a. gray hairs).

* Kindness is my ideal default position. I aim for it and often attain it, but sometimes it’s a struggle!

* Time should stop whenever a pet snuggles against you. This is a precious form of trust and love and it should be enjoyed without guilt or limited by other obligations.

* Time should also stop when I’m reading. Or sleeping. I guess what I’m trying to say is… I want more time!
My greatest tool against vaccine misinformation

July 26, 2021 / No Comments

As someone who has spent the past year and a half trying to provide useful and factual information about the coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines, I can’t explain how disheartening it is to see the number of cases soar once again. Yet, I fully intend to continue the battle against misinformation. I must. People’s lives are literally at stake.

I also agree with Hank Green. Gratitude is something we should all consider practicing.

Click here to read a blog post I wrote about some of the people I’m grateful for. Note: Although I published this in March 2020, the entire list is still valid.
Missing Stuart

July 18, 2021 / No Comments

I’ve been a fan of “The Vinyl Cafe” for more than 20 years. I own all of the CDs created during the long run of the CBC radio program as well as most of the books written by host Stuart McLean. When I’m out in the garden, putting away groceries or baking something special, I’ll turn on one of the old “Vinyl Cafe” podcasts that I’ve saved from when the show aired live and virtually. M and I faithfully listen to Stuart spin his wonderful holiday tales while we drive around the neighborhood on Christmas Eve, laughing at the characters’ antics even as we marvel at the lighting displays. We’ve even named our Wi-Fi network after one of the show’s fictional businesses (Wong’s Scottish Meat Pies).

While Stuart has been dead for more than four years now and his show has been off the air for nearly as long, his words and stories haven’t left my life.

Still, I was thrilled to receive an email from Jess Milton, Stuart’s “long-suffering” producer, bearing the news that the CBC Radio was bringing back “The Vinyl Cafe” and airing fan-favorite episodes this summer. Just thinking about the return of Dave and Morley, Stephanie and Sam and all of the other characters who appeared in these oh-so-Canadian tales filled me with joy.

So imagine my surprise when I downloaded the first couple of episodes of the podcast this morning, hit play and instantly burst into tears.

Oh Stuart, it’s so nice to have you back, even in this small way. You are truly missed.
Quote of the day

July 17, 2021 / No Comments

“If you put a lasagna on top of another lasagna, it’s no longer two lasagnas. It’s one giant lasagna. That is the power of lasagna.” –Bob Heller
Dreaming of a white Christmas

July 13, 2021 / No Comments

It’s that time of year — Christmas in July — and I’ve got mistletoe on my mind.

The maples and elms are full of leaves, but I’m already thinking of snow-covered pines, silver tinsel and golden garland. The fireworks have barely stopped echoing in the sky and I’m dreaming about taking our annual trek to the tree farms to find the perfect evergreen and driving around town to look at all the beautiful displays of light.

I want to plan my Christmas menu, combining traditional favorites with soon-to-be future classics. Or smell freshly-baked cookies that must be eaten warm with a large glass of milk. I’d like to trade in this tumbler of sweet tea for a massive mug of hot cocoa tinged with cool peppermint.

I long to sit on the couch, snuggled under blankets and cats, while black and white holiday movies play on the television. I’d much rather light a fire while a wintery wind howls outside than turn on the air conditioner once again.

If I concentrate, I can almost hear the silver bells that ring when the front door opens. The scratch of pens on paper writing pleas to Santa Claus or sending good cheer to family and friends. I yearn to listen to the carols of old while decorating the house in Currier and Ives fashion or wrapping presents in tartan paper and shiny bows.

But since it is Summer, I shall have to settle for placing the order for our annual ornament, knowing that in a few short months, it will be added to our family’s collection.

I can’t wait!