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Acton/Georgetown, Friday, August 10, 2007 7 `Jack' earns his keep being my alarm clock Most of us have alarm clocks or clock radios to wake us in the morning. You know, that appliance that was invented to make sure no one was ever late for work, thereby creating the very first element of stress in civilized mankind's life. Now personally, I've never really needed much of an alarm clock, having spent too many years getting up at the break of dawn to milk the cows, when I was a dairy farmer. Waking at 6 a.m. seven days a week for years established a sleep pattern that I doubt I'll ever change. But, just in case, I do use a clock radio. Recently however, I have another reminder of the dawn's early light. His name is `Jack'. Jack moved to the Brown farm a few weeks back, taking up residence in the hen house, right next the barn. His job is quite simple-- he's my auditory ambiance to remind me that I'm waking up on a farm, and that it's near time to consider rolling out of bed. You see, Jack is a rooster. A BIG rooster. Ted When he arrived, he was called `JD' Brown but no one was quite sure if it was short for `John Deere' or `Jack Daniels'. When The Sidekick saw him, she automatically decided that it stood for Jack Daniels, so she dubbed him `Jack' for short. She likes to call him her pet, and from time to time she does feed him, but she still hasn't quite garnered the nerve to pick him up yet. Jack came from my next door neighbours, who acquired him a year ago, when they bought a bunch of day-old chicks for their kids to feed and raise, and in doing so, experience a little bit of rural life. All went well, with Jack enjoying his little harem of a dozen hens, until he got a bit cocky, (no pun intended.) Seems Jack figured he was king of the roost, so to speak, and the little kids feeding the chickens were fair game for him to chase. In other words, Jack developed an attitude. The little kids were scared of him, so the parents asked if I would take Jack off their hands. I said sure, he was welcome to move in. So Jack moved north a few hundred yards-- close enough for the kids to visit from time to time, yet far enough away from the opportunity to terrorize them. When I was a kid, my parents and grandparents had chickens, and ran an egg route, delivering fresh eggs to local restaurants and individuals in Georgetown every week. Having Jack move in was kinda like déjà vu for me. He signals the break of dawn with his cock-a-doodle-do around 5:45 a.m., and I smile to myself in the sleepy fog of the early morning, as I hear him through my open bedroom window. Naturally, Jack was used to having a flock of hens around him, and with his new digs, I'm sure he's not really enjoying his celibate lifestyle that much. Before he arrived, I had intended to pick up a half dozen hens. In time, I will, rescuing him from a life of celibacy in the old hen house. But until then, he can earn his keep, crowing at the top of his lungs every morning. And in doing so, remind me that morning has indeed broken, and it's time to get up. (Ted Brown can be reached at tbrown@independentfreepress.com) FREE FREE FREE Adult ENGLISH CLASSES with computers (LINC) Churches & Temples Georgetown Alliance Church St. George's Anglican Church Sunday Worship* at 10:00 am *Nursery & Jr. Worship for children Specializing in complete diagnostic and repair of Volkswagen and Audi. 905-702-8323 Offering Literacy & Levels 1 to 7 60 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-877-8044 Additional parking at Georgetown District High School www.stgeorgesgeorgetown.com Full-Time, Part-Time, Evenings, Weekends Accepting Ages 18 & Older Childcare offered at some locations "Home Study" program available www.agrowingfamily.org 290 Main St. (S. of Maple 905-873-0249 Sunday Summer Worship - 8:00 & 9:30 am Childcare - 9:30 am CALL & REGISTER TODAY!!! 905-875-3851 Oakville, Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton Toll Free: 1-866-277-5462 Visit our website: www.lincpeelhalton.com Peel program information: 905-279-0024 x1369 Funded by Citizenship & Immigration Canada a Time for Fellowship God's Word for & Friendship Today's World. www.knoxgeorgetown.ca www.aztec-net.com/~KPC KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH REV. DR. Kobie DuCOOPER Rev. Dr. JAMES Plessis 116 Main St. South Georgetown, ON (905) 877-7585 Service Dial-In: (905) 702-1629 SSUNDAY SERVICESi 11:00 AM m u n d a y Wo r s h p : 11 a (Nursery Services Provided) GEORGETOWN CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am & 6:00 pm Hands up if you're a year older! Happy Birthday Mom Love the family welcomes you! Lead Pastor: Rev. Gary vanLeeuwen Associate Pastor: Rev. Ted. S. Bootsma www.gcrc.on.ca 11611 Trafalgar Road (north of Maple Avenue) 905-877-4322 ACTON HOCKEY and SKATING SCHOOL (Affiliated with World Christianship Ministries) Georgetown Cinemas 3 Playing the week of August 10 - August 16 Registration For Ages 4 to 9 years AT ACTON ARENA Sat. Aug. 25 Starts at 9 am until full For more information contact Jim James 905-877-8339 ([SORULQJ &RULQWKLDQV :KDW GRHV LW PHDQ WR EH VSLULWXDO" *HOOHUW &RPPXQLW\ &HQWUH DP 235 Guelph Street 905-873-1999 RUSH HOUR 3 (PG - Parental Guidance: violence, not recommended for young children) Fri & Sat at 2:15, 7:30 & 9:20 pm, Sun to Thurs at 2:15 & 7:30 pm BOURNE ULTIMATUM (14A - Violence) Fri & Sat at 2:00, 7:00 & 9:30 pm, Sun to Thurs at 2:00 & 7:00 pm UNDERDOG (G - General) Fri to Thurs at 1:45 & 6:45 pm Immanuel Lutheran Church The Church of the Lutheran Hour We are not ashamed of the Gopsel of Christ. Sunday Services 9:00 am Bible Study & Children Singing 10:00 am Divine Service & Sunday School 100 Mountainview Rd. South, Georgetown Pastor Gerson Flor (905) 877-1172 RATATOUILLE (G - General) Fri & Sun at 3:30 & 8:30 pm, Sun to Thurs at 3:30 pm SPECIAL ADMISSION PRICES: Friday & Saturday Adults $6.50 evenings, Children / Seniors $4.20, Matinees & Sundays Thru Thursday all Seats $4.20 Please email comments to: ibtsl@bellnet.ca