Hello Birdie

So as you maybe can tell by new feature on your left, I've joined the Twitter Nation. Why? I'm not quite sure yet but with the lack of creative brain-space I've been experiencing lately I'm finding it a lot easier to post 140 character thoughts than blog.

Not to say chickenandfries is no more. This space will remain for the longer diatribes that cross my consciousness.

However.....

For slightly more frequent bursts of not-so-intelligent musings stay tuned to the feed here or even better search for tkantel at Twitter and follow me there.

What does this say?

I've been to way too many conferences!

Milton

It's been snowing here a lot lately...such is life in the Ottawa Valley in winter.

Milton lives next door to us. I think he's retired. A very nice guy who spends most of his days puttering and shooting the breeze with his neighbors.

Without fail after every snowfall he starts up his snow blower and does his driveway and then ours.

He just finished now. It's garbage day today and I noticed he even moved our garbage cans and recycling box.

I always say thanks but I wonder if there's something else I could do to thank him. I wonder though if that would embarrass him as I suspect that he's the type of guy who likes to help out without the attention.

I appreciate him and what he does.

Thanks Milton!

A Timeless Principle

So I woke up this morning and thought sleepily, "Well I'll wear these socks one more time before I throw them out." Imagine my surprise when I get to the building my morning meeting is at and I'm warmly welcomed with the message, "We're asking everyone to take their shoes off so the wet boots don't ruin our floors."

There you have it folks. Me spending 2 hours this morning trying to come up with non-weird looking ways to sit with the soles of my feet together. Honest to goodness I was walking up the stairs at one point and looked back to see the woman starting at my socks.

Such is my life....

Reflective Travel

I found this post at the blog of a student at SSU right now. I got to know Ray as we worked together along the journey of him deciding if he was going to come to study with us and from what I got to know of him and what I've heard of his time at school, I would say he is a deep and reflective thinker with a genuine heart.

This post to me is a wonderful reflection of the value behind the travel study terms we do at SSU.

Enjoy!

Rules Schmules

Author's note: As I read through this I realize this may be one of the most boring posts I've ever done so far. If you choose not to read any further check out this link here for something far more interesting.

Happy holidays to everyone! I've started my next MBA class this week and imagine my surprise to find out I had an essay due at the end of week 1. I know I really should suck it up as it is a graduate program and all but doesn't something seem inherently wrong with that? It's like when the teacher gave you homework on the first day of school. A natural law has been broken.

Perhaps one of my biggest struggles with this program so far has been how to write an essay that conforms to the expectations of the program. Perhaps it's because I'm an Arts major writing a business paper (an paradox if there ever was one in my estimation) but I consistently struggle as I feel like my ideas and creativity are being stifled and I end up spending more time making my work follow the rules than crafting the actual content.

...stupid APA!

Is it a good discipline? Yes I know, understand, and even agree with the reasoning behind needing to conform your work according to a reasonable expectation but bottom line, the balance seems out of whack.

Grace Giver

My friend and colleague Joel Mason at The Herb of Grace has been sending out daily meditations over the Advent Season which have been quite good. Today's in particular resonated with me.

The Herb Of Grace

Tuesday, December 16th in the season of Advent Posted: 15 Dec 2008 08:05 PM CST Christmas is a time ripe with stress, so be a grace-giver to those in your family. Resolve to pray for God’s kingdom to come everyday, for a revealing of Jesus to those who don’t know his love, for the turkey to turn out well, for authentic and loving relationships to be built, for no-one to get hurt in snow football this year. You see, all these things are in His kingdom, every breath of life is His. Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!” Amen.

Why I'm Not Against The Coalition

I voted Conservative last election but here's why I don't have a problem with the concept of what's happening right now in Canadian Politics.

1. It is legal.
2. Even though we may never think it will happen, it is an acceptable (although not necessarily popular) move within the parliamentary system within which we choose to operate.
3. Every party (including the Conservatives) have tried something like this in the past whether we knew about it or not...including partnering with the Bloc.

So while I think this does nothing for the images of our leaders, or the benefit of our nation; as Canadians we are a part of this system and unless it is changed at some point, we need to be content this letting it play out.

The good thing though is that we still are all entitled to the freedom to voice our opinions.