It's a new year, a good time for a new slate, so here's a new chapter.
I resolved not to make any resolutions this year then realised I failed as soon as it came out of my mouth.
We spent the evening at the Gustafson's to bring in the new year. After driving Heather home I was stopped by the police and asked if I had had a drink, I said I had tried one 40 years ago realising this is my 40th anniversary as a D D. He said that will keep me out of trouble. I've driven a lot of different cars, there were times Fairchild,in front of MacDougall's cabin, looked like a parking lot.
Happy New Year everybody
Lots of Love
Edward, Ed, Eddie, Uncle Ed and Edwierdo
262 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 262 of 262Hi, Thom ... I'm glad you're okay with moving on to cities ...
NANAIMO, British Columbia
The first Vancouver Island city that drew the Butcher family south from Whitehorse. Whenever I hear its name, I can't help but think of those wonderful triple-layered squares that are called Nanaimo bars. Yum!
Our nephew Campbell has made Nanaimo an Antonini family household name by playing football there.
Luce
WARNING: This blog post contains coarse language and adult themes that may not be suitable for all audiences.
I could tell you a thing or two about cats being difficult when their owners are away.
The key thing for our feline friends is routine. Hence, Lorraine's two little rescue kitties have settled into a pattern of getting up at 5 a.m. when Lorraine feeds and waters them. They then disappear during the day while she's at work. At 4 p.m. when she gets home, they come out to eat and drink and preen themselves and then sit with her on the couch after supper until bedtime (approx. 9 p.m.) Even if Lorraine decides to stay up a few minutes later than normal, the animals become agitated, meowing and trying to lead her into the bedroom.
Consequently, when Lorraine left for school a week and a half-ago, her two little "sweeties" (yeah, right) became right little pains in the ass. First of all they've got another think coming if I'm going to get up at 5 a.m. and go to bed at 9 p.m. Not that they want to sleep with me anyway. The little (I named her crystal because she's so emotionally fragile) hid under the bed for two days. She's coming out now but can't really get comfortable because she has to keep an eye on me at all times just in case I do... something....
The other one (I named Ashley because she's so pretty, like Ashley Judd) seems to be reluctantly willing to use me as a Lorraine substitute, but when push comes to shove, she'll side with Crystal every time.
But every night at around 9:00 they start meowling and won't shut up. Same thing at 5 a.m. And every morning when I do get up I have to pick up whatever a bunch of stuff they have vindictively strewn all over the house.
One day when I got home, they had somehow managed to get the door to underneath the hot tub open. I dared not close it, because I could be certain Crystal was hiding in there. Eventually she had to come out to eat and I somehow managed to sneak by her and get the door closed. When I came back and she saw me, she immediately fled getting a big surprise when she almost bashed her head into her now blocked off hiding place.
Oh well, at least this time they're not pissing and shitting all over the house like they did the first time Lorraine went away to school.
Spirit (my Siamese), is governed by an entirely different kind of routine, which seems to be internally governed and mostly consists of sleeping. Every hour or so, she'll get up, stretch, move a few feet, settle into a new spot and go back to sleep
Thom ... Wow, life with cats can sure be complicated. Perhaps some of Spirit's independence and composure will rub off on Crystal and Ashley if you stand waiting while they learn by example. In the meantime, good luck!
Luce
OXFORD in England. One of the cities I've always wanted to visit.
Lucy,
Weren't you shocked at how tiny Anne Frank's place was? We visited it and I could hardly believe how that many people could live there. And did you know that Nanaimo bars are also called New York Slice and London Fog?
Love BJ
DETROIT. A small town in north Texas. Population: ~800.
TAIN, Scotland ... located on the Morangie Burn in the Northern Highlands, Tain is famous for its distillery which produces the biggest selling single malt scotch in Scotland - Glenmorangie.
It's Robbie Burns Day tomorrow so many a wee dram of Glenmorangie will disappear in celebration of Scotland's favourite poet.
Cheers!
Hi, BJ
It's good to have you back!
Yes, we found Anne Frank's hiding place very crowded and tight. I had expected that, though, because Anne's diary deals with frictions that developed because so many people had to live together in such a small space.
So Nanaimo bars are also known as New York Slice and London Fog. Mmmm ... I imagine that a Nanaimo bar by any other name would taste as sweet.
LOL, Lucy
Kenneth ... I googled Detroit, Texas because I thought that you were reporting a population of "minus" 800. I see now that your ~ line meant "less than" 800. Whew. Texas really does have a Detroit all of its own!
Luce
@Lucy: Texas really does have a Detroit all of its own!
You mean there's another one?
I assumed Kbub was talking about the Detroit we all know, which is in North Texas the way San Franscisco is in West Texas and New York City is in East Texas. It's all a matter of perspective.
Hello to you in sunny California, Braden!
Today you get a second chance
To be a Birthday Boy
With just two candles burning bright
And lots of family joy.
You'll hardly know why all the fuss
Is being made for you;
But, Braden, things are happening
Because you're turning 2!
Enjoy whatever fun is planned
To make your day a treat
'Cause, when it comes to two-year-olds
We'll bet YOU can't be beat.
Lots of love,
Louise and David
Okay, Kenneth and Thom, I'm getting the impression that Texans are a state-proud bunch of people who view the rest of the country, maybe even the world, in relation to TEXAS. So.... meet....
NAPLES, Texas ... that's right folks! Naples is just one county south of Detroit (~800), with almost double its population (+1400).
LOL, Luce
izzat a draw or a wet cowknee?
Two Texans talking:
Bubba: M R snakes
Billy Bob: M R not snakes
Bubba: O S A R, C M B D eyes
Billy Bob: L I B, M R snakes
Thom ... I know what a draw is but what is a wet cowknee?
M R fun E. U get A 4 F ort.
Luce
there are still counties in texas where you can't buy a wee dram, or any other alcoholic beverage... the other ones are called wet
I had no idea, Thom, but now I understand your question about whether Naples, Texas is a dry or a wet county.
I dinnae ken the answer to that one but there is nae drouth in Scotland, especially not on this braw nicht in honour of Robbie Burns.
Luce
Lucy here,
I finished my murder mystery jigsaw puzzle and figured it out on my own. It quickly became obvious to me that the son had poisoned his parents for his inheritance. It was elementary stuff, all right, but I had fun reading the story, assembling the 1000 piece jigsaw and solving the mystery.
I have already returned the puzzle to the charity shop for resale. It's a great system for recycling such items for others to enjoy as well.
Louise, your murder mystery puzzle reminds me of a murder mystery dinner I went to once. While you eat dinner, actors put on a murder mystery play. At the end you write your suspect on a piece of paper and if you get it right, you're eligible for a prize.
I came up with some bizarre theory where the second-last victim was actually the murderer. (The last two victims were poisoned, and the way it happened made it possible that the murderer accidentally drank his own poison before the final victim drank his).
Anyway. When the host comic was announcing the winners, he made me stand up in front of the hundred-or-so guests so he could ridicule me for thinking a dead guy murdered the final victim.
Traumatic.
Hi Thom,
I have heard about those murder mystery suppers. They're supposed to be fun. It seems to me that participants who really stick their necks out to solve the case should not be ridiculed the way you were.
If I happen to get an invitation for such a meal, I think I will decline. I would be so keen to solve the mystery that I'd probably make a fool of myself.
I did hit the nail on the head with my jigsaw puzzle mystery though.
Luce
How about that Tiger Woods? I was watching the leaderboard on msn until Paul told me how to get live action on the pgatour.com website. Tiger is 10 shots ahead of the golfers who are tied for second place. What a guy!
And I am in Scotland watching the action live!
Lucy
Sorry Kenneth,
That entry about the murder mystery party should have been addressed to you. David noticed my mistake and called me in to make a correction. See what I mean about making a fool of myself?
Lucy
Kbub: BRILLIANT... it gives me an idea for a murder mystery in which:
The second-last victim was actually the murderer. (The last two victims were poisoned, and the way it happened made it possible that the murderer accidentally drank his own poison before the final victim drank his).
Nevermind Tiger Woods (he's on a planet all by himself), how about the Australian Open Men's semi-finals and championship matches. It was unbelievable how Tsonga and Djokovic dismantled world numbers one and two and then went on to play a barn-burner for the title.
I tried to stay up for the championship match (which started 2:30 a.m. Saskatchewan time) but fell asleep during the second set. When I woke up this morning I unplugged the phone, resisted getting online and did not turn on either TV or radio in fear of finding out the result before getting to watch the replay this afternoon. It was worth it. Stars arising in those two dudes.
In case anyone is interested, I just posted my latest painting "Northern Lights over B-Say-Tah Point" on my blog.
The building on the right is our house and the building on the left is our garage.
Nice one, Thomas.
Hi Everyone!
Thanks for the greetings - birthdays and anniversary. I love your birthday verses for the kids, Louise.
BJ, I'm so glad to hear that your surgery went well. I'll be anxious to hear how you progress.
Thom, your paintings are beautiful. I can see your unique style - that's what you want. Keep it up.
We are doing great here. Just returned from Las Vegas where we attended the Miss America pageant. We had a blast! If you saw the broadcast on TLC, you may have seen my grandson (and son) in the last shot as the new MA walked past them.
When Don and Vic were here a couple of weeks ago, Vic gave me a 'sister' calendar for my birthday. It has a little message every day. Today it says, "sister, dear sister, come home." So, I will be in Regina from Feb 13 to Feb 17. I'll be working with Chris' chorus, but should have some time to see some of you. Looking forward to that.
Bye for now. Love to all,
Marcia xoxo
Lucy here,
Marcia ... It's good to see you on the blog again. Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you like the kid's birthday poems. Enjoy your mid-February visit to Regina - the work part of it and the play end of things as well.
Thom ... Those northern lights bring back Yukon memories of skies alive with sound and movement. Lovely! We are so lucky to be able to see your latest paintings on your blog site.
Sonia ... Since we've had no further word of the Mexican holiday crowd, we're assuming that they arrived home safely on the weekend. Now comes a period of re-adjusting to abandoned cats and winter's cold. Brrrr!
ST. ANDREWS, Fife ... a Scottish burgh known to have existed from before 1144. Site of Scotland's oldest university, home of golf and choice retirement city. Visitors are welcome!
Well, spring was short-lived. Yesterday it was +7 (that's right plus 7) in balmy Saskatchewan. Today it's back down into the minus 20s and the snow is blowing so hard I can't even see the lake 20 feet outside my window.
Welcome back, Marcia.
Anybody going to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts? I'm trying to get media credentials.
Hey Guys
It's colder in Calgary right now, than it is in Saskatchewan.
Hey Thomas
Good stuff once again.
Marty
On this dreich, drookit (drab, wet) morning in Scotland a little white snow and sunshine might be welcomed.
SANTA CLARITA, California ... is another USA city with family connections. With Brant, Juliana, Kahless, Briana and Braden living and working in Santa Clarita, this city is a favorite haunt of Marcia and Dennis who themselves hail from Victoria, BC.
Love, Lucy
Hey, I'll take drab, wet, snow or cold over freezing rain anytime. Guess what it is doing in Ottawa right now? The world should stop when there is freezing rain!
Love, BJ
Doesn't it stop - one way or another?
In my 57 years of life I have found that no matter what happens to you, not only does the world not stop...it doesn't even slow down.
I hear it was -54 with the windchill here this morning. I wouldn't know because I refused to leave the house...
Edward ... How right you are! With an 8-year head start on you, I should have learned your life's lesson long before now. Time keeps moving, no matter what.
Holly ... Yesterday we stayed indoors for different reasons - on the shores of the North Sea, wind and rain at +2 degrees C really bite, too. This morning the sun is shining so we're heading outside now for a refreshing walk into town.
No, Lucy, it doesn't stop. Every time we have freezing rain, 300 people end up in the hospital emergency rooms with breaks, sprains and bruises, 200 cars go off the road or into other cars, public transportation is delayed, and lots of people are hours late for work. Today's prediction is for wind, wind chill, freezing rain, winter storms and flash freezing. So far we have had the first three and the temp is rapidly dropping. Ahh--winter in Canada!
Hang on, Edward, not only does it not slow down, sometimes I think it gets faster.
Love, BJ
AUSTIN. Full name: AustinTexasBaby! Best known as the home of my cats Shiner and Kashmir and my dog Maple.
I stayed indoors yesterday, too, but it was because I was sick. It was +22°C and sunny outside.
YORK, England. It is famous for its walls and snickelways. The walls have been there since Roman times and York has more standing walls than any other city in England. The snickleways are small paths or walks between or through buildings. I read about both these things in a mystery series. BJ
Snickleways, I love it. The more I hear about the names of places and things in the U.K., the more I have to wonder, why didn't we import this wealth with the rest of the language?
BJ ... the snickelways of St. Andrews would fascinate you, I'm sure. After years of living here, we are still discovering these hidden passageways that provide pedestrian access between buildings, from back streets into the heart of town.
KINGSTON, Ontario ... is a beautiful Canadian city at the eastern end of Lake Ontario. Its motto: "Where history and innovation thrive". Kingston was the home of Sir John A. MacDonald and the first capital of Upper and Lower Canada before confederation.
There is a family connection here, too. Brian and Michele will soon move from their home in London, Ontario to settle in Kingston. From there, it will be easier for them to spend time with family living close by.
... and to continue the family connection, Kingston is the home of Queen's University, which owns a castle (Herstmonceux) in East Sussex, UK.
...furthermore, Queens University once accepted yours truly into its geology program (I declined because they only found me worthy after I had already completed a year at Carleton).
NEPEAN. Now a part of Greater Ottawa, but for many years we were a very prosperous city. With a population of 135,000, it is the largest suburban area of Ottawa. A Nepean quarry provided the sandstone blocks which were the principal building material used in the Parliament Buildings.
BJ
Kenneth ... once again, I went googling to follow up on one of your comments. I even found a picture of Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex and discovered that it had been purchased as recently as 1993 and gifted to Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. How do you know this stuff?
Thom ... that's twice you have mentioned geology lately - once in reference to Nain, Labrador where you did field study and now in relation to Queens University where you almost entered the geology program. Obviously geology is a study of interest to you. I didn't know that. I love this contest of yours.
BJ ... I remember addressing letters to you in Nepean and then having to change the city to Ottawa. I guess that's "progress". At least the sandstone blocks in the Parliament Buildings will assure that the name, Nepean, will not be forgotten.
Love, Lucy
NEWPORT-ON-TAY ... a Fife town on the banks of the Tay River across from the city of Dundee.
Dave and I never hesitate to make the 20 minute drive from St. Andrews to Newport for a delicious fish supper. Our favorite cook, Hamish, serves up a generous portion of Icelandic Cod and fries. We then drive one block and eat our take-out meal while watching life along the Tay.
Lucy
Lucy again, LOL
This morning I discovered that the motto of Scotland, translated from the latin is: "No one provokes me with impunity". A further translation into Scots is: "Wha daur meddle wi' me?"
Lucy,
Your Scottish motto sounds a lot like the "Don't Mess with Texas" slogan. Although it started out as an anti-littering advertising slogan for Texas highways, the citizens have adopted it as a general all-purpose slogan.
YORKTON, SK. One of the best places to snowmobile in Sask.
BJ
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas. A town just north of San Antonio in the German Belt. New Braunfels is also home to a Mary Antonini original rosary, one she dedicated to my friend Margaret Poling. I wonder how many towns around the world have Mary Antonini rosaries?
SANTIAGO, ... is the capital city of Chile. With over 6 million people living in Santiago there is bound to be one with a Mary Antonini rosary. She is Mary de Silva Brieba, a frequent visitor to Port Alice. On north Vancouver Island Mary became a good friend of our family and received David's own rosary as a gift before one of her return trips to Chile.
Lucy
Yes, Luce, I do have a great interest (and a university degree) in geology although I never worked as a professional geologist.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Nepean sandstone was one of the first rock formations I studied. In order to prepare us for the exercise, our prof took us out into the quad at Carleton where we looked and sedimentary structures in the snow.
My current location is the best location I have ever seen for this kind of exercise. The drifting snow creates all manner of sedimentary structures, but it doesn't end there. because of the drift at any given time there are large sections of exposed ice on the lake. In the undisturbed areas, I can look into the ice and see the kind of features you see in igneous rocks. Where pressure has created cracking and faulting metamorphic rock structures and features abound. It is really fascinating.
From one capital to another: OTTAWA - officially the seventh coldest national capital city in the world based on year-round average. By mean January temperature, however, it is third. At one time, it had the dubious distinction of being first but the breakup of the Soviet Union put Astana, Kazakhstan ahead and colder winters in Mongolia over recent years has allowed Ulaanbaatar to move ahead. Ottawa has also recorded the third lowest temperature ever national capital (-39 C in 1933).
I wonder why I'm thinking about cold temperatures? It's a balmy -20 here today.
Oh yeah, and I'm pretty sure there are a number of MA rosaries in Ottawa.
Louise, I attended a conference at Herstmonceux Castle in the late '90s. I loved the castle, the surrounding area and nearby Brighton. I ended up stranded in London after the conference because Air Canada went on strike while I was there. There are worse things in life than being stuck in London for a long weekend.
ATHENS. A small town in east Texas. Recognized (by law) as the birthplace of the hamburger!
Thom ... I had no idea that you have a degree in geology. How is it that you are working in journalism, and in the visual and performing arts instead of in geology?
Kenneth ... I have to agree that an unexpected long weekend in London would not be a hardship ... unless you had no money to spend on lodging, food and entertainment. The conference setting at Herstmonceux Castle must have been awesome.
Lucy
ST. MONANS .... a coastal town and active fishing community in the East Neuk of Fife overlooking the Firth of Forth estuary. Less than half an hour's drive south of St. Andrews, St. Monans (pronounced Mo-ans)boasts one of the finest remaining churches of the Middle Ages(c1330)still in use in Scotland.
The East Neuk of Fife (a string of picturesque coastal villages along the North Sea)is referred to as the jewelled collar on the King's cloak. As frequent visitors to those communities, we know why!
Lucy again, still laughing out loud
When our friend (and honourary Antonini in Scotland) , Margaret Strachan, read about Scotland's motto translated she shared the similiar fate of the Strachan family's motto:
Non timeo sed caveo (Latin)
Not afraid but cautious (English)
Not feart but canny (Scots)
SAULT STE MARIE, Ontario
Also known as the Sault, the Soo, and the Long Soo. Its twin city is SAULT STE MARIE, Michigan.
SSM. Ontario has the largest solar farm in Canada.
BJ
Hey. We're over in a new thread "February 08". This thread's dead.
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