Seen in December 

Martin Freeman as Bilbo, standing above Mirkwood Forest in The Hobbit

December was an odd and unsettling month of ice storms, power outages, polar vortices, snow storms, biting cold, sickness, travel, and far more food than anyone should ever consume. And there were movies. As a kid, it seemed the television was always on in December, running as hot as a holiday hearth. I remember not only the Rankin-Bass Rudolphs but also the Bond marathons and holiday classics and musicals. Fantasy reigned supreme and there seemed to always be a cable provider making a movie channel available for free as a promotion. Now it seems so many obligations means you're lucky if you get to see one or two of all of the films released for Oscar season. This is what I saw. Read more »

In Memoriam 

Jacob Rogers, circa 1960

“Let us consider that the soul of man is immortal, able to endure every sort of good and every sort of evil. Thus may we live happily with one another and with God.”

(December 2, 1934-January 6, 2014) Passed peacefully away on January 6 at Agnes Pratt aged 79 years. Predeceased by grandson, Kyle Jacob Rogers. Leaving to mourn his loving wife, Ruth Rogers; sons: Peter, Michael, Christopher and wife Theresa and their children: Morgan and Alex; David and wife Janice and their children: Sarah (Curtis Deer), Daniel and Mitchel; sister, Mabel; sister-in-law Stephanie Wilson and nieces: Ruby, Suzanne, Rachel and Polly. Served as Anglican Minister at Flowers Cove from 1958 - 1964; Rector at Petty Harbour from 1967-1971; Teacher at Prince of Wales Collegiate from 1971-1992. He holds a Bachelor of Divinity from Queen's College; an associate of King's College, London; Master of Arts from University of Lennoxville, Quebec; Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Divinity from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

updated Monday, January 20, 2014
These last few days have been strange, tiring, distant, close, wrenching, funny, lovely and sad. I wanted to feel a greater relief at my father's passing. As you may know the effects that Alzheimer's can have on a family, there were certainly times we thought death would be preferable to that kind of living. Yet, there wasn't relief. Just that shitty feeling. Then resignation at that feeling, whatever it was. Like having your marrow sucked out of your bones. Then some laughter; surprise at the laughter. Surprise at forgetting my father was dead. Remembering the good. Remembering the not so good. But in the whole, looking at the people my brothers and I have become and all the friends and family and their remembrances and thinking, well - that's something, that's pretty good.