You Know It’s January In Maine

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#10: You know it’s January in Maine when not one, but MULTIPLE friends tell you excitedly “We’ve gained 19 minutes of daylight!”

You know it’s January in Maine, #9. The furnace won’t start up. The car won’t start up. The generator won’t start up. The only thing that DID start up was your seasonal affective disorder.

You know it’s January in Maine #8: When the crink in your back is inversely proportional to the angle of your shovel handle.

You know it’s January in ME #7. Wind pants. Sweatshirt. Boots. Two pairs of socks. Hat. Mittens. Headlamp. Reflective vest. Reflective collar. You know it’s January in Maine when it takes longer to gear up for the dog walk than actually taking them out! And then, when you are ready, they don’t want to go outside!

You know it’s January in Maine #6: When you leave for work and it’s dark; you come from work and it’s dark. Sunshine is something you get to see on Saturday–if there’s not a blizzard that particular Saturday.

You know it’s January in Maine #5: when your crock-pot is permanently plugged in. There are times when you are running two crock-pots at the same time.

You know it’s January in Maine #4: When you spend your Saturday in a shack, on the ice, with no toilet, heat generated by something about the size of your thermos, all so you can maybe catch a fish that’s too small to eat anyway.

You know it’s January in Maine #3: When you notice the shower handle in the bathroom is turned all the way to the left, and still you can’t get warm.

You know it’s January in Maine #2: You have to wait in line at the gas station in Oxford. The line is made up entirely of snowmobiles.

Finally, you know it’s January in Maine #1: You can drive down Main Street in Camden, Rockland, Wiscasset, or Bar Harbor and not run over a single tourist!

Dreaming of Windows and Rats

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In the first dream I am inside a house. I am in a room, and there’s a window looking into another room, apparently a bedroom. As I look through the window I see my dad in the other room, and he’s getting dressed. On the other side of the window there is a shelf that I can see through the window, and on the shelf are tchotchkes, a wicker basket filled with some socks, some flowers, and other things. All the way at the end of this shelf there are three large rats. I tried to get my father‘s attention to tell him about the rats, but I’m unsuccessful. I go into the room, and as I do I look off to my left and the rats scatter. Then proceeded to a dresser, which I open, and there among my shirts and socks I find two or three pairs of sneakers in a drawer. I think to myself “I had completely forgotten I had bought some shoes and put them in a dresser drawer.” Then I woke up

Two nights after that I have a dream that I am helping rid the neighborhood of rats! I am sitting over on Gilbert and Evelyn Post’s lawn, looking across the street at my grandparents old property. We turn on some lights, looking to spot some rats over in their yard. I think we’re going to see lots and lots, but I only see one lone rat, who is on the roof of this wishing-well that my grandparents used to have. I go across the street, and I am one side of the wishing-well. The rat is on the roof of the wishing well, and I am waiting for him to show enough of his body that I can get a clear shot of him with my air gun. I can’t really see a lot of him, but I can see shows that he is wet and greasy, covered in weeds and pieces of yarn or string. Then I woke up

And last night’s dream I’m playing a jazz gig with Wayne Delano at the Jackson Memorial Library in Tenants Harbor. Though I know it’s in the Jackson Memorial Library, it’s not the library we know today. It’s not even the former Jackson Memorial Library. This is some large Victorian house or law office or something that has been converted to a library. There are lots of rooms that are all connected together, and my drum set is in one room, and Wayne is in another room, and I can see him through a window/pass through in the wall. Wayne begins to give a speech in which she says something like “This is our drummer Bill Batty. Bill is having a hard day today.“ And I said to him “In what way am I having a hard day Wayne?“ And he said “Doesn’t your back hurt or something? Didn’t you hurt yourself somehow?“ And I said to him “No, that was last week. I’m just feeling a little gloomy.” And then he said “Bill, I want you to do me a favor. I want you to come out here and discuss the difference between tainted love and grace.“ and I said to him “You want me to talk about tainted love and grace?“ And he said “I do.“ Because Wayne was a good friend, and because Wayne had a way of challenging me for my betterment, I decided I would do what he asked. So I got up from the drum set, and walked to a more centrally located room – – the room that Wayne happened to be in. And then I proceeded to give, essentially, a sermon on the difference between tainted love and grace. It included me using an illustration of the old schtick about the boy who has two dates to the prom, and I use that to demonstrate tainted love. Then I retold a lesson I learned at a youth group about the definition of the word “grace,” and I likened that lesson to the purity of God‘s love and grace, which I then related towards the purity that you might find in gold, or in a beautiful gemstone. About then a preteen boy raised his hand and asked if I might comment on my previous teaching about the three points of communism! I told him to see me later and I would clarify that for him. And then I woke up.

30 Days of Thanks, 2023 Edition

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My theme for thankfulness in 2023 was based on the following: “If you have any money saved, a hobby that requires some equipment or supplies, a variety of clothes in your closet, two cars (in any condition), and live in your own home, you are in the top 5% of the world’s wealthy.”*
I began to think about the things I take for granted every day. I thought about Frank, the missionary in Africa, as he works in the slums of Uganda. If the people there saw how this very modest man of means (I have been on government assistance before, and I’m not very far from it even now) lives, they would think I’m a rich man. What do I have that I don’t even think about that would cause them to stare wide-eyed? Here’s my list.

#30daysofthanks day 1. I’m thankful for leftover pizza which made a fine lunch.

#30daysofthanks day two. Although we’ve been flirting with it, today was the first walk below freezing: 26.6°. I’m thankful for a little box called a thermostat. When it’s cold outside, this little device turns my home heater on so I wake up at 4:30am to a toasty warm environment.

#30daysofthanks day three. This little device is an oven igniter. Whenever I want chicken  nuggets or bacon or biscuits or a cake this little device causes my oven to turn on. Sometimes they go bad, and I have to replace it. I can get one for $20 on Amazon, and in 15 to 30 minutes I can have it swapped out and have my oven up and running again without having to call a repair person. I am thankful for these parts and for what an oven allows my family to do.

#30daysofthanks day four. I’m thankful for basic thick white comfy socks.

#30daysofthanks day five. Olive Tree Bible software is a free app that runs on my old iPad. The have lots of free resources and the software is easy to use.

#30daysofthanks day six. I’m thankful for the Brita water pitcher at work. It makes the town water taste much better. I’m not sure who bought it (Amy?),  but I’m thankful it’s a available to me.

#30daysofthanks day seven. A week in. Have you noticed a theme? Today I’m thankful for the Instant Pot. This device is so handy for us. I sautéed some carrots and onions and celery in it, then set it to pressure cook a few minutes just to get the vegetable soft. Then I’m going to set it to slow cook, and when Susan and I finally get home from busy days today we will be enjoying some chicken and rice soup. Sauté, pressure cook, and slow cook off from one device! 

#30daysofthanks day eight. I’m thankful for voting day.

#30daysofthanks installment nine. I’m thankful for all manner of cheap paper products. I almost always have a tissue or a paper towel or a napkin in my pocket. Want to have a little snack but don’t have a plate handy? Need to blow your nose or wipe up something nasty from the ground? Bang your hand on something and you’ve got a little spot of blood? Maybe a loved one starts crying, or you need to discreetly get rid of a piece of gum. Cheap paper product to the rescue! 

#30daysofthanks day ten. For my eyeglasses. It started of as a simple project today. I had a snare drum that needed some adjusting, so I went downstairs to the basement studio. I thought I would like to have a little music, but when I turned on the hifi there was no sound. Three hours and a repair to a speaker crossover later I finally was able to put some music on the turntable and hear it. Without my eyeglasses, my almost 52 year old eyes wouldn’t be able to see the tiny screws and small wires that I needed to manipulate so that I could have music in the basement. 

#30daysofthanks installment 11. Yesterday I was thankful for all manner of cheap paper products. Today I put the last roll of toilet paper on the holder. What to do? Run to Walmart for the second time today! I’m thankful I’m only 15 or so minutes from toilet paper, Columbian coffee, sweet potato puffs, salad mix, and paper plates. I’m thankful for supermarkets and department stores.

#30daysofthanks day 12. Gas stations. On the way to my gig I noticed I needed gas. I had literally seven gas stations along the way which were willing to sell me fuel. The one I chose also offered coffee (to which I obliged myself to a cub of dark roast Columbian), pizza, chips, chocolate, breakfast sammiches, Tylenol, tube meats of all varieties, and beer. (I picked up none of the latter items.)

#30daysofthanks day 13. I was making a recipe this morning when I realized we didn’t have any apples. I sent a text to my neighbor cousin: “Are you awake? Are you home? If the answer to both of these is yes, do you have two apples I can borrow?“ I’m thankful for a neighbor close by with ample fruit stores.

#30daysofthanks day 14. For my sink. It’s not fancy, it’s not new, it doesn’t have “features,” but it gets the job done.

#30daysofthanks day 15. I’m thankful for plenty of clean shirts.

#30daysofthanks day 16. What do I have, close to double digits pairs of shoes? These “Hey Dude” knock offs were $20 or something, and boy howdy aren’t they just the comfiest! (Comfy white socks made the list earlier.)

#30daysofthanks day 17. I was walking this morning when I heard an unusual noise. It was the noise of a single leaf being blown across the road. And I could HEAR it. For those not aware, I had a growth on my eardrum removed a few years ago, and because of a couple surgeries, an eardrum rebuild, and a prosthetic “bone” in my ear, I don’t hear well on my left side. But I CAN still hear. And it’s all because of the medical system we have here in the US. And as messed up as it is, and as much as it gets poo-pooed, I’m thankful for access to that kind of medical care–the kind that lets some average citizen like me have a frickin’ tumor cut out of his ear and his hearing restored with a titanium prosthetic ear bone!

#30daysofthanks day 18. My weather station informs me how much clothing to wear on my winter walks. Is it 54° or 34°? Is it 20° with no wind, or does a 15mph wind make it FEEL like 20°? Depending on conditions I wear different clothes; my weather station helps me decide.

#30daysofthanks day 19. I’m thankful for freezers that allow me to buy food on sale today and enjoy it some time in the future. (Seems like it’s about time to enjoy that corned beef we bought on sale last March.)

#30daysofthanks day 20. I’m thankful for indoor toilets.

#30daysofthanks day 21, three weeks in. Years ago my wife and daughter bought me some flannel lined jeans. It was 19° this morning so I wore them today. They’re a little big on me but that extra room and the warm lining make them the comfiest pants in the world.

#30daysofthanks day 22. I took a paid day off today. Consider that. I did NOT go to wotk today, but my employer paid me anyway. I’m thankful for that and for my coworkers covering for me.

#30daysofthanks day 23. Today is Thanksgiving, and I’m going to reveal my theme now. I think it makes more sense to do it today than wait for the last day of November. 

“If you have any money saved, a hobby that requires some equipment or supplies, a variety of clothes in your closet, two cars (in any condition), and live in your own home, you are in the top 5% of the world’s wealthy.”*

We frequently say “I have so much to be thankful for, things I take for granted.” Using that, and knowing that I’m in the top 5% of the world, I began to think about those things that 95% of the world may not have. Clothing like thick white socks, plenty of clean shirts, comfy shoes. Not only do I have a house, but I have a thermostat that turns my heat on, clean water from a water filter, and an indoor toilet. I have ample food–abundant even, held in freezers, and leftovers that I get to eat for lunch. I have eyeglasses to help me see and a healthcare plan to help me hear. I have the right to vote. I have tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, and paper plates. These simple things, well, perhaps when compared to the rest of the world, they’re not so simple. May I be thankful for these simple things.

#30daysofthanks day 24. Today I’ve watched Youtube on my iPad, a movie on my Roku, listened to podcasts on my iPhone, and browsed the web on my laptop. I’m thankful all this entertainment is available to me, and that I have leisure time to enjoy it.

#30daysofthanks day 25: I’m thankful for a washing machine and dryer that keep my ample supply of clothing clean.

#30daysofthanks day 26th. I’m thankful for, um, I don’t know, five different kinds of leftover pie. (Chocolate, lemon, maple, raspberry, and pumpkin cheesecake.) And I’m happy to live very close to my mom who made them all.

#30daysofthanks day 27. For our electrical grid. We lost power at the town office this morning. It was out 15 minutes or so. I’m thankful our electricity is rarely unavailable.

#30daysofthanks day 28. I’m thankful for aluminum sheet pans. Nachos, chicken nuggies, tater tots, roasted turkey, drip tray for pies, a carrying tray—a sheet pan can do it all.

#30daysofthanks day 29. I’m thankful for my pillow. Thanks Eben!

#30daysofthanks day 30. “Parise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”

30 Days of Thanks, Another Unknown Year

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30. For Sunday dinner with my family. This month, there won’t be many of them. I’m thankful we could get one in today.

29. Today I have much to be thankful for, but I’ll single out Julia’s successful wisdom teeth extraction.

28. Today I’m thankful for friends that buy lunch.

27. I woke up this morning, not to my alarm clock, but to Susan shaking me awake. My alarm was going off, and I wasn’t hearing it. I was so tired. That’s when Susan said to me “why don’t you go back to sleep, I’ll take the dog for a walk later.” I have a wonderful wife, and I’m thankful for her every day!

26. Today I scheduled a sick day for myself in December. I’m thankful for a job where I can use sick time for doctor visits.

25. Today I’m thankful for the drummer brotherhood and especially for Charles Daniel. I know a young drummer in need of an instrument, and he donated a snare drum to her cause.

24.  My dog Deuteronomy wants very little from me. He is very rarely disappointed with me. He loves me.

23. I’m thankful for my Sunday School class. I have some smart, thoughtful students who hold me accountable and keep me on my toes. No phoning it in with this group!

22. This is literally the first evening I’ve been at home in a week.

21. For forgiveness, grace, love, apologies, friendship, accountability, and reconciliation.

20. Day is gone,

Gone the sun

From the lake, from the hill, from the sky.

Rest in peace, soldier brave.

God is nigh.

19. I’m thankful for hot water heaters, hot showers, a heated towel bar, flannel sheets, and jammies.

18 . For Humpty Dumpty bacon hickory potato chips.

17. Glad to be home after a long night.

16. I’m thankful for two full weekends of back to back gigs. Yes, I’m busy, but it puts food on the table.

15.  In the sermon today, Pastor Jason Pauley said “Some have said ‘Marriage is the perfect example of two kingdoms being at war with one another.'” Although Susan and I sometimes hurt each other, let one another down, or otherwise make the other feel bad, I KNOW she never does it to “get” me. She never tries on purpose to hurt me, nor I her. We’re never at war with the other. We’re always on the same team.

14. Today, my sons joined me at Kiwanis. Julia warmed up my dinner for me. I’ve got some good kids.

13. A student drum set showed up at the local recycling yard. Jason Thompson had me on the horn toot sweet. “It seemed too nice to throw away.” I’ll clean it up this winter, and I think I already have a new home for it.

12. I had a great theological discussion with Julia on the ride to school today. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, can think logically, is not swayed easily, and is full of compassion.

11. Aaron. Laurel and Matthew. Paddy. Dave. These people in my life often don’t agree with me politically or spiritually. And yet, they don’t claim that because I’m a right wing Christian I’m on par with Islamic terrorists (as some info graphics are wont to do). I’m thankful I can be friends with them, disagree with them (often vehemently), but respectfully. I’m glad their friendship with me is more important than any particular disagreement we might have over religion (or lack thereof) or politics.

10. Vacation.

9. The members of the Rockland Kiwanis Club raise money by parking cars at the Owls Head Transportation Museum. The money raised from those events goes to our administration fund to be used to help pay for members to go to conventions. As the president, I am encouraged to go to up to three conventions during my year, and the club pays for my meals and hotel. It’s like a mini vacation for my family!

8. I’m thankful for two sweaters I found at Van Heusen outlet, $12 each. Mrs. Rhythm found the eggplant one, and then found another in cerulean.

7. “You know, having the conference in North Conway means it’ll snow on Sunday. Usually, when the conference is in North Conway, it snows on the drive home.”

~Gordon Page

I’m thankful it held off. Driving home in the rain was bad enough. 

6. Love God, love your wife, and love your kids, in that order. Help your neighbors with your talents. It’s ok to cry, and it’s ok to hug and kiss your dad. Ditch digger or Governor, they’re both people and worthy of respect. Marriage is supposed to be forever, so go into it with that in mind. And for all the other lessons he taught me.

5. Picked up a new drum student. After his first lesson tonight, he gave me a thank you note. Also, his father said “I appreciate you keeping your rate affordable, but you’re worth more than you’re charging.” He then tipped me 33%.

4. I’m very thankful for the soiree held at Spruce Head House today. For my mom, Marylou Batty, who loves her daughter-in-law Susan Dancer Batty as much as her own daughter. For my mother-in-law Donna Dancer, lover of grandkids and granddog Deuteronomy. And for John C. Dancer, who is a model for me as a Christian. All these people, plus my family and my sister’s family, all here. A blessed day, for sure. 

3. I’m thankful for a lazy day, with not much that needed doin’.

2. Home safe.

1. Rom. 8: 31-32 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

Bonus: So much to be thankful for that I didn’t get to this month! Susan. My kids. The great Kiwanis meeting tonight at Lynn and Kevin Taylor’s house. The happiness that comes from giving (and receiving) little baked dough balls called biscuits. The members of Harmony Bible Church. Vacation. Coming back from vacation to a good job. So much…

Choosing a Printer

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Printers are the bane of tech support people. “Why can’t I print?” we are continually asked. Check out this meme:

What makes the meme funny is it’s actually pretty accurate!

I thought today we could discuss printers, and that way when you need to purchase a new one you will pick just the right model for your needs and budget.

Printers can be roughly divided into two groups: inkjet printers and laser printers.

Inkjet printers use cartridges filled with liquid ink. When you print, the printhead squirts tiny dots of the liquid ink onto the paper. Inkjet printers are almost always color printers. Inkjet printers are also on the lower end of the price scale initially; the printer itself tends to be lower priced. The manufacturers make their profits on the ink. One website lists black inkjet printer ink as the 8th most expensive liquid in the world. A gallon of black ink costs $2700, ahead of a gallon of human blood ($1500/gallon)!

That same liquid ink is the cause of one of the major issues with inkjet printers: clogged print heads. If you don’t use an inkjet printer with regularity, the ink inside the printhead will congeal, and the printhead will clog. If you have ever printed and gotten a blank page out of your printer, you know about clogged printheads. Inkjet printers have cleaning cycles that are designed specifically for cleaning a clogged printhead. The humidity here on the coast doesn’t help matters. And, if you are a seasonal resident and your printer will be dormant for many months, the odds of printhead clogging increases. If you are an inkjet printer owner you should consider printing something every week or so, just to make sure the ink is flowing properly.

Laser printers work using technology similar to a photocopier. A powdered ink (toner) is applied to the paper and then a fuser heats and smushes (a highly technical term) the toner onto the paper. Laser printers, using powdered toner, don’t use print heads at all; you don’t have to worry about clogged print head ever! Powdered toner is also less expensive per page. A laser printer toner cartridge will last for thousands of pages. The quality of a laser printer also tends to be better than a consumer inkjet printer.

The benefits of a laser printer come with a price, though. Laser printers have a higher initial cost. A black and white laser printer will sell for the price of a good inkjet printer; you’ll spend a couple hundred dollars on an entry-level laser printer and only print in black and white. A color laser printer will sell for 2-3X the price of a color inkjet. That higher upfront cost will net you cheaper per page cost, though, and less maintenance.

Perhaps this handy flow chart will help. Does your printer need to be color? If no, a laser printer is your best choice. If it does need to be color, is price a concern? If no, get a color laser printer. If yes, a color inkjet. If you choose a color inkjet, remember to print a color page every week or so just to maintain the free flow of ink.