Just to let you know I'm keeping an eye on the blog. Here is a new thread and a picture to remind us it is warm here some days. This picture is of us waiting for the parade at the Lumsden Duck Derby last year.
It's GROUNDHOG DAY. Though this tradition is a North American one, we are sure that no St. Andrews woodchuck was frightened by its own shadow on this overcast morning.
Now, I'd like to point out that it was a Scottish poem that inspired Groundhog Day:
As the light grows longer The cold grows stronger If Candlemas be fair and bright Winter will have another flight If Candlemas be cloud and snow Winter will be gone and not come again...
Here in Alberta, Balzac Billy (our prairie groundhog) didn't see his shadow. It appears that all across the country today, groundhogs were shadowless! Hooray!!
Thanks for the new thrED. I was getting really blogged down again.
Actually it was pretty warm here today (of course anything seems warm after last week).
Lorraine is safely back from Victoria (thank God). Pretty soon she'll have here second Masters will be the most educated person in the house (at least on paper).
Also not so in Fort Qu'Appelle, a groundhog could have seen his shadow here today from space.
Any Super Bowl thoughts? I'm going to go out on a limb and say New England might take it.
Tiger is struggling is Dubai. I guess 12 in a row might still be a challenge. I've always said Byron Nelson's 1945 season is the only record in golf safe from Woods.
Hey Ed, I have a chance to get you a personalized, autographed picture of Jack Nicklaus. It is authentic and says 'To Ed, Best wishes' and is signed by Jack himself. What do you think?
Hi, Lui I wasn't going to admit how hard I was laughing at Kenneth's tongue-in-cheek request for stock tips from Thom. What a quick and clever retort that was, eh? Brothers will be brothers, I guess.
Now, what's the catch (if any) on the autographed Jack Nicklaus picture?
Barbara ... I prefer your Groundhog Day poem to the one I posted. I also had not heard of Balsac Billy. Albertans will be very happy to hear that he did not see his shadow on February 2nd. Yea spring!....
BJ ... sorry to hear about Willie. He didn't even get a chance to enter a prediction regarding winter's stronghold on Ontario. Oh, oh ...
Thom ... and poor Saskatchewan! I recall the deception of that bright prairie sunshine. It goes without saying that your part of the world is in for at least 6 more weeks of winter. You are getting what might be called a "baptism by ice". But at least Fort Qu'Appelle is bringing out the artist in you! We like that.
Okay, Marty, For which "Ed" did Nicklaus sign this particular photo? I guess it really doesn't matter, does it? Ed, where are you, now? When are you going to claim your picture? Lucy
Whoa! Lou...don't tease me. It looks like Tiger will beat Jack's major records eventually, although after watching the Super Bowl yesterday, nothing is certain in sports. One thing I'll say about Jack is, playing against Player, Trevino, and Watson inparticular and a few other notables, he couldn't count on those guys to fold like they seem to against Tiger. Nicklaus won 18 majors but he also placed 2nd in 19 more. I still remember the 1977 British Open at Turnberry. The best in the field was Hubert Green at one under. Nicklaus and Watson played head to head over the last two rounds shooting 65's in the third and Watson shooting a 65 to Nicklaus's 66 in the final to finish at 12 and 11 under par. At the final hole, Nicklaus has a very long and difficult birdie putt while Watson is in close. "I think we've got him now," Watson's caddie said. "No, he's going to make this," Watson replied. Jack did, but Watson sank his short one for the win.I'll always remember that tournament, it was intense, they were playing the game by themselves. Nobody else mattered. A signed picture from Jack Nicklaus...Awesome.
I was at the Shell Houston Open one year and I was standing near the 17th tee, which is adjacent to the 18th green. All of a sudden there was a huge rush of people all around me. I turned around and THE Nicklaus was standing right there. He was there to see his son Gary play, but instantly became the main attraction.
Lucky Ed. The sig isn't on one of those 5-pound notes is it, Lou?
Here in Saskatchewan we don't put our faith in a groundhog - we'd rather trust a farmer to forecast the weather using pig spleens. Our pig spleen reader (surprisingly, there is only one living pig spleen reader in Saskatchewan) tell us that the spleens he has collected are uniform (not wider or narrower at one end), which means a normal spring with no major storms. So spring will be here at its regular time... June.
This is all so funny. We can't even say "pig spleen reader" without stumbling over the words. We certainly did not know about the lone Saskatchewan farmer who uses pig spleens to predict the coming of spring.
We have, however, discovered that a pig spleen reader makes a good tongue twister, if not a reliable weather man. Just try saying "pig spleen reader" quickly, three times in a row.
Last night we went to an amateur production of Fiddler on the Roof. Aside from the fact that the show was performed on a gymnasium stage, everything else about the production was first-class. We enjoyed every minute of the performance.
This morning, as I go about my work, I am humming familiar tunes and recalling highlights of a wonderful evening. The Cupar Amateur Musical Society has been presenting annual shows since 1896, missing only the wartime years.
Sonia, a pig spleen reader died last year, but there is still one left. I think his name is Paul Smokov or something like that, but I think Gus makes a much better pig spleen reader name.
Thomas, sorry I missed you during your sojourn into the city! I guess I was in the middle of my lengthy to-do list that I try to complete in the brief hours that mom takes the kids on Wednesday afternoons for me! You may have had some luck finding me at the doctor's office, Safeway, cleaning my bathrooms, etc. Next time!
Sonia and Holly ... you have introduced me to a whole new world of pig spleen reading. You talk about "Gus" and "Paul" as if they are familiar guys - living, dying and carrying on a strange tradition in Saskatchewan. Is there any way that you can enter Thom in Paul's apprenticeship program?
Melissa ... welcome back to Ed's Edition and to Bjorn Updates! Let's hope your computer stays strong and healthy now that you are back on the scene.
Thomas, I think you are out of luck. Most pig-spleen readers learned their craft from their fathers. And I know for a fact that your father is not and never has been a pig-spleen reader!
BJ, I find it hard to believe that Bob doesn't have at least a working knowledge of pig-spleen reading. His world travel and exposure to a wide variety of subjects and customs, make him the family source of info on most things.
With Bob's interest and Thom's tutorial maybe the two of them could learn the craft of pig-spleen reading and start a whole new family tradition!
Every year in her February "Barker Bugle", Betty Jo reserves a corner for remembering Dad.
My favourite quotation is still the one taken from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery which BJ featured in Volume 10, Issue 2, February 2003:
In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be As if all the stars Were laughing When you look At the sky at night.
Dad was a happy man and died a happy death.I like this quote: No one's death comes to pass without making some impression, and those close to the deceased inherit part of the liberated soul and become richer in their humanness. Hermann Broch Love, BJ
Whew, that's quite a concept, BJ, I can appreciate the part about the "liberated soul". I am not so sure about being richer in my own humanness. I certainly don't feel that way; in fact, I feel quite deprived.
Then, again, maybe it's a wealth that others perceive in us more quickly than we see the richness in ourselves. You sure have me thinking hard this morning!
Hi, Mike You're right, the blog does live on. It's still a great site for family contact, however brief, silly or profound.
BTW...we just received (on Friday) your envelope containing forwarded mail from Suite 403. There were two items that we would not have wanted to miss, even after all this time. Thank you! Lucy
The funeral home director made a request on our behalf.
We purchased a casket made by Batesville Canada. Through Batesville Canada's Living Memorial program, a tree has been planted in Saskatchewan as a memorial for mom.
The program is administered in cooperation with the Canadian Forestry Association and the Grand River Foundation, as part of a major endeavor to conserve the natural resources and beauty of the Canadian landscape. The species and location of the tree are determined by resource specialists, based upon the greatest reforestation need.
I received a small Living Memorial Program certificate this week signed by The Canadian Forestry Association and The Grand River Foundation.
Thanks Ed, It's good to know that Mom is helping to reforest some part of Saskatchewan.She was always pretty good at conservation. In fact, the last time I was with her in the suite, I threw out quite a bit of "stuff" she had been conserving. eg. little out-dated ketchup packets from McDonald's; dried up rose petals from her 80th birthday ( quite dusty ); old shoes that she was never going to wear again. What a girl! I'm very grateful now, that I was able to spend that time with her. I didn't realize it would be the last time I stayed with her, although I was very aware that it could be. I'm glad I was there. I've been blurking and thank everyone who is posting comments and contributing to Ed's Edition. I was hit by the flu bug in January and was pretty much out of commission for the whole month. Thanks to Louise & BJ for their quotes on Dad, and Mike for blogging for him. Wouldn't he have loved this computer communication?
Love to the whole clan, ME xoxoxoxoxoxo xoxoxoxoxoxo
Yes, Mary Ellen, without a doubt, I can agree that Dad would have loved this computer communication.
Years ago Mom told me the story about Dad's first experience with computer technology. He spent hours exploring a word processing program, composing letters, running them off and sending them to us.
One day Mom was trying to get Dad's attention away from his work. She said to him, "I think you love that computer more than you love me!"
The blog definitely lives on and I hope everyone who contributes never quits. I for one appreciate the time everyone takes to put their comments down. I sometimes feel a little guilty because I read the blog almost every day and don't seem to have much to contribute. I love reading it and like I said, I do it nearly every day. Here's a little quiz. Mary Ellen wrote about one of Mom's idiosycrasies and if you take two of the letters in it and flip them, you get something else she was good at.
This morning I was looking out at our garden watching for signs of spring. I wondered how many kinds of flowers are just waiting to blossom as winter fades.
I discovered that I could easily name 20 blooms which I have put into "bouquets" of 5 for you to spot by unscrambling their letters.
Fair enough, Mike, Spring is bound to come to St. Andrews long before it takes hold in Regina. I hope it is a flower-filled spring for all of us whenever it arrives. Lucy
Lucy, ROSE PETUNIA ALYSSUM SNOWDROP DAFFODIL It is hard to imagine flowers blooming when you have as much snow as we do--so far 275 cm and more expected tomorrow. Love, BJ
I know what you mean, BJ On Saturday afternoon, my friend, Margaret and I went to a snowdrop festival on an estate called Cambo Gardens.
Already the grounds are covered with tiny white flowers called "snowdrops" interspersed with bright yellow aconites growing wild everywhere. "Lenten Roses", crocuses and other flowers are appearing in cultivated beds closer to the mansion. A walled garden with a running stream is also coming to life. In the courtyard, the groundskeeper and crew were selling a variety of potted plants. Two large sows in open pens already have litters of 7and 8 lively piglets.
It's no wonder that I am checking our own garden and talking about spring. Your turn will come, too.
In the meantime, here's another scrambled bouquet. You had no trouble identifying the first batch of blossoms.
Ed, Easy for you to say! How about we ship you some of our snow. The city is running out of places to put it. We had another 15 cm last night. Lucy, I much prefer your 'let it grow' sentiments. Our flowers come early, but not as early as yours. We usually have some in April. Your flowers: IRIS HEATHER NARCISSUS BLUEBELL The TECANION has me stumped, unless you spell aconite with 2 Ns in Scotland. I feel I have an unfair advantage because I am the main audience for Bob's and my friend Louise's gardens. I hate to get my hands dirty so I compensate by oohing and ahing over their labors. Probably Carol could out do me in this area; she not only has more flowers than Bob, but she does the planting as well as the enjoying. Love, BJ
BJ, Unfair advantage or not, I should not be putting extra letters into the mix just to stump you. My insert probably had more to do with the fact that I should have been in bed at midnight instead of sending another flower bloguet. Even in Scotland, ACONITE has only one "N". Sorry!
It did cross my mind that the mention of flowers might attract Carol to the blog. No such luck!
B.J - i saw steven and louise on the weather channel this morning, steven was teaching children. it should be on a few times today if you want to watch it.
We just got off the phone after a surprise call from Len, Christine, Rob, Mike and Marcia. They were together in Regina and Len decided they should include me in their fun.
At 6:30 in the morning our time, they figured David would probably be getting ready for a round of golf.
Thanks for the wake-up call, Len, Christine, Rob, Mike and Marcia. You guys really made my day! I love you, too.
Jamie and I are off to Wpg tomorrow - we have been invited to speak at a marriage renewal. We will be giving the same talk that we gave at a similar event here in Regina a couple years ago, which includes many stories about Grandma and Grandpa. Our theme this year is joyful sacrifice in marriage, and we talk about Grandma learning to play the piano for Grandpa, and of course, his last gift (her cameo earrings) to Grandma. Anyways, it has been a joy to reread the talk and remember these little stories again (which we had printed out and gave to Grandma to read after we had given the talk). And we are looking forward to our winter getaway!
Mike, Thanks for the heads up. I watched the weather channel quite a bit yesterday, but never got to see Steve and Louise. Lucy, I love your birthday verses. I think you weren't the only one who got an untimely phone call! Your flowers: CARNATION GERANIUM I DON'T KNOW THE OTHER ONE. Thomas: 6-line stories are hard to write. I tried; I came up long.
Holly and Jamie, We'll be thinking of you at your "winter getaway" in Winnipeg this weekend. (Too bad the conference isn't being held in a warmer place). At least your marriage renewal talk will warm the hearts of the participants.
During one of my visits, Mom let me read her copy of your talk. She was so proud of you and Jamie and so modest about herself and Dad. She was always quick to say that any glory in their accomplishments belonged to God.
We hope the weekend goes well for you. Thanks for the memories!
Hi, BJ I'm glad you're enjoying the children's birthday verses. I love writing them.
Your 6-word story is both clever and funny. It's not easy to achieve so much in so few words.
Between you and Thom, 4 of the flowers in my bouquet have been identified. My friend, Margaret, sent me an email naming all five so I'll enter the AUBRETIA on her behalf.
Okay, BJ and Kenneth, that finishes off my scrambled bouquets.
BTW...Mom once told me that sweetpeas were her mother's favourite flowers. Dot Evans had a whole garden of them at her farm on the edge of the Qu'Appelle Valley. After an afternoon's visit, Dot used to give Mom an armful of sweetpeas to take home with her.
Their scent is so memorable that I can smell flowers now, even as I write about Mom, Grandma Wilson, Dot Evans and sweetpeas.
Kenneth, I stand corrected! Lucy, I can't believe I missed sweetpea; not only is it one of my favorite flowers, but it is April's flower (my birthday month). What a maroon!
Well, now, that IS funny, BJ First, I double-checked to see if I had somehow missed a letter. Then when Kenneth said that he wasn't sure a sweetpea is a plant, I really started doubting myself. Was he thinking of Popeye's baby?
Isn't it strange how we can so quickly wonder what mistake we have made when the smart people in our lives question things? There must be a lesson for me in all of this for me; but I'm not going to look too hard for it.
One thing I did learn is that the sweetpea is the flower of the month for April! Lovely!
Where would I be without my daily fix? I think it goes without saying, that there are so many more people involved in this blog than meets the eye, but I am sure it doesn't hurt to let you all know: "We're Listening"
We have had a bit of a flower frenzy, haven't we? ... what with a double letter mis-clue, an unfamiliar latin name for a type of violet and confusion over the nicest smelling blossom in the bunch.
This family never gives up though, and the flowers have all been identified. Now Dave tells me that we don't have any carnations in our garden. I should have put chrysanthemums on the list instead. What do I know?
Before I came to St. Andrews I could not have named 20 different flowers, never mind being able to recognize them growing in my own back yard.
When I said I wasn't sure if SWEETPEA was a plant, I meant I honestly didn't know. I can tell St. Augustine from Bermuda, but if it doesn't pass under my mower blades, it's off my plant radar.
No, no. It's not my right hand. Johanne's 6-word story consists entirely of keys from the left-hand side of the keyboard, as though the "used once" table saw ad was typed with the left hand only.
Kenneth, It's the next morning and I am still laughing about the last few entries on the blog.
It all started with your mention of "mower blades" and progressed through a "rash", ... "left hand typing", ... a mother's fright, an uncle's concern, and your own apologetic explanation. I couldn't resist a "slice" of the action.
If it is any consolation to Johanne, tell her that I got the point of her story on first reading. Your "YUCK" immediately reinforced my interpretation.
There must be a lesson in all this confusion but, once again, I am not going to look too hard for it. I am simply enjoying the humour it all.
I got the point of J's story immediately as well. My exclamation point after the 6 word 'What's wrong with your right hand?' was meant as a jok---and another 6 word story. Too bad we can't all read each other's minds. K got my joke until he read Marty's reaction and then started to worry about whether I was worried. Oh, what a tangled web we weave....when we're trying to be funny.
This is getting funnier with each new entry. I have had to go back and re-read each person's comments with added insight.
These six-word stories are better than I thought they were. They are open to as much interpretation as a six-page short story under discussion in a classroom.
Johanne's story was brilliant! We could have done without the answer, though. We all come from a long line of puzzle doers, we would have figured it out (unless we were sinstral).
When I was leaving Ontario to become a newspaper reporter, I was used to writing 1500 to 3000 word stories. An editor told me it is much easier to write those than a 250 word story. She was right. It is much, much more difficult to write a six word story, but when done well, it is quite genius. CBC didn't get it. Not because they didn't choose mine, but because many of the winners weren't really stories. A clever turn of phrase is a clever turn of phrase and six words strung together with a noun and a verb in it is a sentence. There is more to a story.
I liked Q host Gian Gomeshi's entry:
My ambition was to be ambitious.
Here's another good one (an edited version of Kbub's blogger profiled).
We can't help but think that, today, you are in a warm place with all the right people for a good family party. What could be better? Brant, Kahless, Briana and Braden are sure to make it an especially happy time for you.
We add our wishes for your health and happiness on this, your special day, and throughout 2008.
Yesterday we travelled by bus to Aberdeen, where David had a routine follow-up appointment about his July 2007 laser eye surgery.
His golf game has definitely improved since the procedure was done but his left eye needs "tweaking". That will be done some time in April, so we will head back to Aberdeen when that time comes.
Let's hope April's weather is nicer than February's. Yesterday was dry but frosty, and the visibility was poor. We should have been able to see picturesque coastal communities along the North Sea. No such luck.
The rolling farmland did remind us of the Canadian prairies though and we reminisced about home.
The first thing I did when we got back to St. Andrews was check the blog. Juliana's birthday greeting encouraged us to pour ourselves a wee dram and raise a toast in her honour. Cheers!
Did anyone else watch the eclipse last night? With a clear sky and the full moon, it was a wonderful event. It was very cold, and I am still thawing out but it was worth every minute.
Yes, it was fabulous. We were able to watch it from our living room window (although I did go out and freeze for awhile as it bacame full. I can really understand why primitive humans would have attached so much significance to these events.
Hi BJ, We were told to watch for the eclipse around 4:00am here but the sky was overcast and the moon was not visible. I guess a cold, clear night has its advantages once in a while. Apparently the next full lunar eclipse will happen in 2010. We have a long wait.
cbc sports on-line has been showing the morning games from the Scotties Tournament of Hearts (3:30pm our time). I just finished watching Alberta steal a game that PEI should have won.
The good news is that we'll be able to see the weekend games as well. Our screen may be small but we love the live action in any size.
Should we be watching for any familiar faces in the crowds?
We didn't see any of the first round of match play in golf but we're hearing a lot about Tiger's eagle putt. It seems that he does whatever he has to do to win in the end. What a guy!
Luce, I was at that game that PEI should have won. It's a shame, Alberta needed to be taken down a peg. Nova Scotia also gave away their game to Newfoundland/Labrador... I got to meet the girls after the draw in the press room... that was pretty cool.
I suppose you're watching the tie-break right now, Luce. I'll be going to the semis and finals tomorrow and sunday...
And yes, Tiger is a phenom... maybe Byron Nelson's 11-straight wins is not unachievable... he'll never beat the 18-win season though (he doesn't play enough tournaments)
Wow, that was a close call for Tiger. Even HE admits that he was pushed to the limits, having to make 12 birdies to win 1 up.
Apparently Tiger's final putt had not even reached the hole when he took off his hat in victory on the 20th hole of match play. He said that the putt looked good from where he was standing and he knew it was in.
Now the match between Baddeley and Woods is being described as one of the most suspenseful and sensational in the 10 year history of this Championship. It would have been sweet to watch.
Today Choi and Woods face each other. From what we have seen so far, anything can happen in match play.
The curling is also getting very exciting. I'll be watching the Ontario/Manitoba semi-final later today and the Alberta/? final tomorrow.
The press description of the 1/2 match between Alberta and Ontario gave much credit for Alberta's victory to their third. That eighth end would also have been sweet to watch.
Who would have expected Ontario to lose today's semi-final at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts? I wonder what kind of surprise finish awaits us tomorrow. The action has been very exciting.
There were no surprises for us in golf's match play. Woods is exactly where we expected him to be for tomorrow's final against Cink.
Gee, it's tough waiting the extra five hours for the sports action to get started. It will be 7:30 pm our time when the Scotties final begins.
We aren't getting any coverage of match play here in our home. Tiger and Cink are just teeing off on their morning round at 2:40 pm our time. I'm keeping track on line. Go, Tiger!
That's it. Tiger has won the world match play 8 up with 7 of 36 holes to play. He didn't have to work nearly as hard on this final day as he did in earlier rounds.
I see a lot of talk here about golf & curling. I don't watch or play golf, but here's a QUOTE OF THE DAY: Columbus went around the world in 1492. That isn't a lot of strokes when you consider the course! - LEE TREVINO
BJ, your February 9 Remembrance in this month's Bugle is fit, indeed. For those who don't get the Bugle here's what Shakespeare says:
And, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of Heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun.
I agree, Louise. WOW, what a tribute! It's perfect.Whenever I look up at the night sky, the stars, and especially the moon, I think of Dad. I miss him.
That BJ is something else, isn't she? I think she's a bit of a genius myself! The Barker Bugle always amazes me - its format, its contents, its publisher, and the fact that it's been coming once a month for over 10 years. HOW DOES SHE DO THAT? BJ - what a girl!
QUOTE OF THE DAY Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. -LES BROWN
You sure know how to pick them, ME! Your latest quote by Les Brown is inspiring.
You're also right about BJ, the Barker Bugle and a bit of genius.
BTW...don't you love the column entitled Canadian Winter in the latest issue? It reminds me of our long-ago blog run on "you might be an Antonini if ...."
I've got one of my own:
If you drive a vehicle with a electric plug hanging out of the engine, you may live in Canada.
A friend of mine here in Austin is from Edmonton. He said that one year he got so fed up with the Canadian winter that he stuffed his family in the truck, strapped a snow shovel to the front bumper, and drove south until people started asking "What's that strapped to the front of your truck?". He drove another 100 miles south, just to be sure, and that's how he ended up in Texas.
Lucy and Mary Ellen, Thanks for the kind words re: the Bugle. My contribution to winter mights.... You might live in Canada if you've had 310 cm of snow so far and you are still far short of the record. Love, BJ
What a treat it was to sign on to the blog this morning!
Kenneth ... I've heard about those "Texas Tales" that are as big as the state itself. Your family-packing, shovel-toting, yarn-spinning Edmonton friend definitely belongs in Texas.
ME ... pickled ankles?!!? The cold reality is that we all knew from experience exactly what you meant (with a bit of a reminder in brackets).
Mike ... are you still laughing at Mary-Ellen's ankles? ...So am I.
BJ ... see how your Bugle gave the blog new life? Winter-weary Canadians are still able to laugh at themselves.
In that vein: You may be a Canadian if your wardrobe includes a balaclava.
If you complain bitterly about cold winters, hot summers, the government, healthcare, taxes and fuel prices, but are ready to come to fisticuffs with anyone from another country who disses your home and native land... you may be Canadian.
Surprise! It has been snowing for the last 10 hours here. It is still snowing. It is supposed to snow tomorrow. You might live in Ottawa if you can down-hill ski in your front yard. Bob has snow shoes for the back yard so he can get to the bird feeders. Love, BJ
If possible, our wishes for you are warmer than the Austin weather. We hope that you and Johanne will find some special time today to celebrate your mid-week birthday. It's a big one this year.
Here in St. Andrews, we will raise a toast in your honor as we listen to you play the piano in the background. Cheers!
Have a great day, Kenneth! Lots of love, Louise and David
Our honourary Antonini in Scotland is also celebrating a birthday today. This morning, Margaret is busy teaching school in Cupar, Fife (another Saskatchewan connection). We may get to greet her later if she drives over to St. Andrews to visit her parents next door.
In any case, we wish you a very Happy Birthday, Margaret. If the students find out it's your birthday, they are sure to find creative ways to help you celebrate. Enjoy your special day from start to finish!
Thom ... the "you may be Canadian" statement you wrote reminds me of the old Molson's ad I AM CANADIAN. It builds momentum and rings with feeling. Great stuff!
BJ ... what can we say? Has it stopped snowing yet? There must be a Canadian Winter slogan in Bob's determination to feed the birds no matter what. Snowshoes? Really?
ME ... keep those daily quotes coming. You make them fit the blog scene with perfection. I just have to say it one more time: UNDER MOODY AGO!
It seems like there have been hundreds of these jumbles of the "DAMN, YOU'RE GOOD" expression. Without going back, it doesn't seem like there have been many, if any, repeats. Of course, intuition (and vague recollections of high school math) would suggest there are a lot of possible combinations.
If you actually do the math, however, it's almost incredible:
13! = 6,227,020,800
Sometimes, though, people have used the variation: "DAMN WE'RE GOOD"
12! = 3,113,510,400
Which means we've got a hell of a long way to go to exaust all the possibilities.
13! + 12! = 9,340,531,200
But wait, there's more! Because we're also juggling spaces between letters, it's actually:
Interesting tidbit: Google, the search engine I used to refresh my mathematical memory is a play on the term googol coined by the Milton Sirotta, nephew of American mathematician Edward Kasner to refer to a number with 100 zeros. It was no coincidence. Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin say the use of the term reflects the company's mission to organize the seemingly infinite amount of information available on the Web.
MI DON GOD MAN
Crap, another variation, that adds another 121.6 quadrillion possibilities.
Happy Birthday Margaret who's teaching in Cupar, Fife. Funny thing, I did one of my practical teaching stints in Cupar, Sask. I lived with one of the locals and practice taught in the high school there many years ago. MANY MANY YEARS AGO! More years than how old Kenneth is!
Hey Thom, this quote is for you.
QUOTE OF THE DAY Mathematics is the sister as well as the servant of the Arts and is touched with the same madness and genius. -Harold Marston Morse
The snow has stopped in Ottawa for the time being. We may get more tomorrow, but today was sunny and white with the new 10 cm snowfall. And yes, Lucy, Bob does use snowshoes--not the new aluminum and stainless steel bear-paw type, but the traditional wood and leather kind that look like racquets. If he didn't use them he would sink to his waist in the snow. I don't have a Canadian slogan for Bob's dedication to the birds, but I do have a good quote from Maya Angelou: Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, 'I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough! I am going to snow anyway.' Happy birthday to Kenneth in New York. I'll be in touch when you get back.
....It's tomorrow, BJ. Is it snowing in Ottawa yet?
....When I imagined Bob in snowshoes, I didn't even know about the light-weight, "bear-paw type". I was thinking of our Yukon days and those awkward racquets for redistributing body weight. I hope the birds appreciate the effort Bob takes to feed them through the winter. I wonder if he looks as funny in reality as he does in my mind's eye.
....Maya Angelou has such an earthy way of putting things, doesn't she? I'll bet ME has a few powerful quotes from that woman.
....So, Kenneth was in NY on his 40th birthday! Tricia will be impressed. So are we.
The snow has stopped! However, Mother Nature has a sense of humor..? With the snow stopped, the temp has dropped to minus 22 (wind chill minus 32. Will this winter never end?!!!
Love, BJ
PS: Kenneth was in NY on business, not as a birthday gift.
Speaking of the greatness of technology (and I am speaking, of course, about communications technology, as was Lucy (there are plenty of technologies that are by no stretch of the imagination great)) check this out.
My new album (which is approximately one month shy of hitting the shelves so start saving your pennies) was recorded mostly in Austin, TX, but the electric guitar parts were done in Ottawa. Not once did a physical object (i.e., disc, tape etc...) have to be mailed or otherwise transported between the two places.
The manufacturing is even more complex. The mastering is being done in Austin, the insert is being designed in New Brunswick, manufacturing is being coordinated in San Francisco, the actual discs will be burned in Minnesota and the whole thing is being overseen from Saskatchewan.
Again not a single physical object, not a contract, graphics proof or anything else has been or will be transported until the master is sent to the plant in Minnesota and the final product shipped Fort Qu'Appelle.
Furthermore, at the same time the discs are being burned, the tracks will go up on more than 100 websites where the album can be purchased, in whole or in part, anywhere in the world without anyone ever leaving their living room (or wherever their computer sits).
Oooops...Now that I think of it, Thom, "smooth" was a poor choice of word. You would think that I had not read any of Kenneth's introductions to the album tracks or your journal entries on how the songs came to be written in the first place.
I already have my favorites, though, and I look forward to having your finished album when the final step is taken.
Greetings one and all on Leap Day! We're not going to get one like this for another four years. Ed's Edition may not even survive that long.
So... make your mark. How many entries can we post on February 29, 2008? Here in Scotland, we have a head start, of course, but the challenge is on for 29. Bloggers and blurkers unite!
Our extra day is cold and sunny, but as the temp rises we will be getting snow this afternoon..... You probably live in Canada if you start your day by turning on the weather channel.
.... and you probably live in Scotland if you have to wait until after lunch for the appearance of other bloggers on Ed's Edition. It's already after 3:00 pm here.
Hi, BJ, if rain were snow, we'd have lots of the white stuff in St. Andrews today. There was no golf for Dave on this extra day in 2008. I don't imagine that many Canadians will have any sympathy for him at all.
Wow, you're right, Thom, Kenneth could have been a Leap Day baby in 1968. At the end of a 9 month wait, I'll bet BJ was just as happy that he arrived on the 27th.
"Hello to everyone on the blog on this Leap Year Day, February 29th. The weather is not very good so it is an evening for baffies on and sit by the fire (or the computer). Louise is trying to extend her vocabulary of Scottish words so she may know what baffies are by now.
If we have gales overnight, March will be coming in like a lion, and should then go out like a lamb.
Hope you have all had a good time on this extra day."
Yes, Margaret I have discovered that "baffies" are slippers. (Others may also have figured that out from context in your Leap Day Message).
You've also reminded us to pay attention to March's beginning tomorrow. If the lion roars Dave is going to be terribly disappointed. He tees off on the New Course at 10:45 am, rain or shine.
We have been very sick in the Gustafson household for the past week. which inconveniently corresponded to Jamie's week-long business trip to Toronto. Mom and Dad have pitched in more thancould be expected: Dad came over Tuesday afternoon after getting off work early and played with the kids while I rested, then Mom brought over supper and helped me put the kids to bed. She was over all day Wednesday and cleaned my entire house and did probably a dozen loads of laundry, made supper and helped put the kids to bed. On Thursday she did the same thing, except had to leave after supper, so Dad came over and helped put the kids to bed and then got me a Slurpee before heading home. Mom came over again today, and finally went home before supper... with a terrible cold! I feel awful for giving her our illness, but certainly grateful for all the help over the past week - I don't know what I would have done without them!
Jamie is expected home tonight... if he can get out of Toronto! There are some delays and cancellations expected with the snowfall, but hopefully his flight won't be affected!
We here in Regina had a beautiful leap day: sunny and -5! Can't do much better than that in February!
Good night, Holly Your bad news/good news story ended on a very positive note with sun in Saskatchewan and Jamie on his way back to you.
We're sorry you have had such a rough week. No matter what the weather, March's beginning will have the nature of a lamb about it - nice!
It's approaching midnight in BC. We are just starting a new day here in Scotland. Leap Day won't occur again now until 2012. We have had fun remembering this event on the blog.
Oh, oh, ... March has come in like a lamb here. We have wakened to a bright, sunny day. The wind is a bit gusty but the sky is blue with not a cloud in sight. The last sign of early-morning frost has already disappeared. The golfer in our household is smiling this morning.
Hello? Hello? Anybody there? Even Lucy is not on the site the last couple of days. Hello??
QUOTE OF THE DAY: You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go. -Dr. Seuss
Where did they go? I do not know. I do not know why it is so That blogging has become so slow. We need some posts to make it grow And create again the wondrous show That it was once, not long ago. We need some serious to and fro I'll start the flow, love Betty Jo
164 comments:
Dear Papa Edward,
What a terrific beginning to another Chapter of Ed's Edition - Eddie, Papa, Ellie, Mia and Lui out for fun in the sun, in a loving family line.
This morning, the five of you are featured on our desktop!
Love Louise
It's GROUNDHOG DAY. Though this tradition is a North American one, we are sure that no St. Andrews woodchuck was frightened by its own shadow on this overcast morning.
Now, I'd like to point out that it was a Scottish poem that inspired Groundhog Day:
As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and snow
Winter will be gone and not come again...
LOL, Lucy
Happy Groundhog Day!
Groundhog, groundhog,
What will you see?
Groundhog, groundhog,
please tell me!!!
Here in Alberta, Balzac Billy (our prairie groundhog) didn't see his shadow. It appears that all across the country today, groundhogs were shadowless! Hooray!!
Love to all,
Barb
Sorry, Barb,
Ottawa was sunny today. It also had mountains of snow, so maybe Willie couldn't make it to the surface. We can only hope.
Love, BJ
Thanks for the new thrED. I was getting really blogged down again.
Actually it was pretty warm here today (of course anything seems warm after last week).
Lorraine is safely back from Victoria (thank God). Pretty soon she'll have here second Masters will be the most educated person in the house (at least on paper).
Also not so in Fort Qu'Appelle, a groundhog could have seen his shadow here today from space.
Any Super Bowl thoughts? I'm going to go out on a limb and say New England might take it.
Tiger is struggling is Dubai. I guess 12 in a row might still be a challenge. I've always said Byron Nelson's 1945 season is the only record in golf safe from Woods.
Nice call on the Super Bowl and the Dubai. Got any stock tips for us?
I said New England MIGHT take it. What a game!
I stand by my Tiger prediction.
Kenneth, I must say, it was enjoyable reading something very funny today. Sorry Thomas but I have been chuckling to myself for hours!
Hey Ed, I have a chance to get you a personalized, autographed picture of Jack Nicklaus. It is authentic and says 'To Ed, Best wishes' and is signed by Jack himself. What do you think?
Hi, Lui
I wasn't going to admit how hard I was laughing at Kenneth's tongue-in-cheek request for stock tips from Thom. What a quick and clever retort that was, eh? Brothers will be brothers, I guess.
Now, what's the catch (if any) on the autographed Jack Nicklaus picture?
LOL, Lucy
Lucy again,
Barbara ... I prefer your Groundhog Day poem to the one I posted. I also had not heard of Balsac Billy. Albertans will be very happy to hear that he did not see his shadow on February 2nd. Yea spring!....
BJ ... sorry to hear about Willie. He didn't even get a chance to enter a prediction regarding winter's stronghold on Ontario. Oh, oh ...
Thom ... and poor Saskatchewan! I recall the deception of that bright prairie sunshine. It goes without saying that your part of the world is in for at least 6 more weeks of winter. You are getting what might be called a "baptism by ice". But at least Fort Qu'Appelle is bringing out the artist in you! We like that.
Hey Lucy
There is no catch. It is absolutely true. Lou has, in his possession, a picture of THE Jack Nicklaus, signed by Jack himself, addressed to Ed.
Marty
Okay, Marty,
For which "Ed" did Nicklaus sign this particular photo? I guess it really doesn't matter, does it? Ed, where are you, now? When are you going to claim your picture?
Lucy
Whoa! Lou...don't tease me. It looks like Tiger will beat Jack's major records eventually, although after watching the Super Bowl yesterday, nothing is certain in sports. One thing I'll say about Jack is, playing against Player, Trevino, and Watson inparticular and a few other notables, he couldn't count on those guys to fold like they seem to against Tiger. Nicklaus won 18 majors but he also placed 2nd in 19 more. I still remember the 1977 British Open at Turnberry. The best in the field was Hubert Green at one under. Nicklaus and Watson played head to head over the last two rounds shooting 65's in the third and Watson shooting a 65 to Nicklaus's 66 in the final to finish at 12 and 11 under par. At the final hole, Nicklaus has a very long and difficult birdie putt while Watson is in close. "I think we've got him now," Watson's caddie said. "No, he's going to make this," Watson replied. Jack did, but Watson sank his short one for the win.I'll always remember that tournament, it was intense, they were playing the game by themselves. Nobody else mattered. A signed picture from Jack Nicklaus...Awesome.
Don't worry, I'm used to people having chuckles at my expense... sniff
think i'll go eat worms
I was at the Shell Houston Open one year and I was standing near the 17th tee, which is adjacent to the 18th green. All of a sudden there was a huge rush of people all around me. I turned around and THE Nicklaus was standing right there. He was there to see his son Gary play, but instantly became the main attraction.
Lucky Ed. The sig isn't on one of those 5-pound notes is it, Lou?
Here in Saskatchewan we don't put our faith in a groundhog - we'd rather trust a farmer to forecast the weather using pig spleens. Our pig spleen reader (surprisingly, there is only one living pig spleen reader in Saskatchewan) tell us that the spleens he has collected are uniform (not wider or narrower at one end), which means a normal spring with no major storms. So spring will be here at its regular time... June.
Holly, how does one become a pig spleen reader? It would be a shame to see such a noble calling go the way of the dodo.
Some sort of apprenticeship, I'm sure.
This is all so funny. We can't even say "pig spleen reader" without stumbling over the words. We certainly did not know about the lone Saskatchewan farmer who uses pig spleens to predict the coming of spring.
We have, however, discovered that a pig spleen reader makes a good tongue twister, if not a reliable weather man. Just try saying "pig spleen reader" quickly, three times in a row.
LOL, Lucy
Last night we went to an amateur production of Fiddler on the Roof. Aside from the fact that the show was performed on a gymnasium stage, everything else about the production was first-class. We enjoyed every minute of the performance.
This morning, as I go about my work, I am humming familiar tunes and recalling highlights of a wonderful evening. The Cupar Amateur Musical Society has been presenting annual shows since 1896, missing only the wartime years.
Lucy
Holly, didn't the pig spleen guy, I think his name was Gus, die last year??
I seem to recall hearing that on the radio?
He was so funny to listen to, the guy was nuts!
Oh, this is Sonia, you might forget who I am because I have been on the blog for a long time!!
I may have forgotten my password.
Hello everyone - I'm Back on line and have about 2 months of Blogging to catch up on! See you in a while!
Melissa
Sonia, a pig spleen reader died last year, but there is still one left. I think his name is Paul Smokov or something like that, but I think Gus makes a much better pig spleen reader name.
Thomas, sorry I missed you during your sojourn into the city! I guess I was in the middle of my lengthy to-do list that I try to complete in the brief hours that mom takes the kids on Wednesday afternoons for me! You may have had some luck finding me at the doctor's office, Safeway, cleaning my bathrooms, etc. Next time!
Good Morning!
Sonia and Holly ... you have introduced me to a whole new world of pig spleen reading. You talk about "Gus" and "Paul" as if they are familiar guys - living, dying and carrying on a strange tradition in Saskatchewan. Is there any way that you can enter Thom in Paul's apprenticeship program?
Melissa ... welcome back to Ed's Edition and to Bjorn Updates! Let's hope your computer stays strong and healthy now that you are back on the scene.
Love, Lucy
Thomas,
I think you are out of luck. Most pig-spleen readers learned their craft from their fathers. And I know for a fact that your father is not and never has been a pig-spleen reader!
Actually, there's a very good tutorial on the web... my only problem now is where I am going to get the spleens
BJ, I find it hard to believe that Bob doesn't have at least a working knowledge of pig-spleen reading. His world travel and exposure to a wide variety of subjects and customs, make him the family source of info on most things.
With Bob's interest and Thom's tutorial maybe the two of them could learn the craft of pig-spleen reading and start a whole new family tradition!
Don't forget, Thom, every pig has a spleen.
LOL, Lucy
February 9 .... a day to remember!
Every year in her February "Barker Bugle", Betty Jo reserves a corner for remembering Dad.
My favourite quotation is still the one taken from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery which BJ featured in Volume 10, Issue 2, February 2003:
In one of the stars
I shall be living.
In one of them
I shall be laughing.
And so it will be
As if all the stars
Were laughing
When you look
At the sky at night.
Love, Louise
I imagine you would need a good size sample of spleens, just to rule out any pig-specific anomalies. One or two wouldn't do.
That's what I'm saying, every pig has a spleen and there are farms that raise only pigs. Go to it, Thom and Bob!
Lucy
hello everybody, i'm bloggin for Dad, i'll try do drop in more often.
the blog lives on!!!
mike
Dad was a happy man and died a happy death.I like this quote:
No one's death comes to pass without making some impression, and those close to the deceased inherit part of the liberated soul and become richer in their humanness.
Hermann Broch
Love, BJ
Whew, that's quite a concept, BJ,
I can appreciate the part about the "liberated soul". I am not so sure about being richer in my own humanness. I certainly don't feel that way; in fact, I feel quite deprived.
Then, again, maybe it's a wealth that others perceive in us more quickly than we see the richness in ourselves. You sure have me thinking hard this morning!
Love, Louise
Hi, Mike
You're right, the blog does live on. It's still a great site for family contact, however brief, silly or profound.
BTW...we just received (on Friday) your envelope containing forwarded mail from Suite 403. There were two items that we would not have wanted to miss, even after all this time.
Thank you!
Lucy
I was't aware of the following.
The funeral home director made a request on our behalf.
We purchased a casket made by Batesville Canada. Through Batesville Canada's Living Memorial program, a tree has been planted in Saskatchewan as a memorial for mom.
The program is administered in cooperation with the Canadian Forestry Association and the Grand River Foundation, as part of a major endeavor to conserve the natural resources and beauty of the Canadian landscape. The species and location of the tree are determined by resource specialists, based upon the greatest reforestation need.
I received a small Living Memorial Program certificate this week signed by The Canadian Forestry Association and The Grand River Foundation.
I thought it was something I should pass on.
Love, Edward
Thanks Ed,
It's good to know that Mom is helping to reforest some part of Saskatchewan.She was always pretty good at conservation. In fact, the last time I was with her in the
suite, I threw out quite a bit of "stuff" she had been conserving. eg. little out-dated ketchup packets from McDonald's; dried up rose petals from her 80th birthday ( quite dusty ); old shoes that she was never going to wear again. What a girl!
I'm very grateful now, that I was able to spend that time with her. I didn't realize it would be the last time I stayed with her, although I was very aware that it could be. I'm glad I was there.
I've been blurking and thank everyone who is posting comments and contributing to Ed's Edition. I was hit by the flu bug in January and was pretty much out of commission for the whole month.
Thanks to Louise & BJ for their quotes on Dad, and Mike for blogging for him. Wouldn't he have loved this computer communication?
Love to the whole clan,
ME
xoxoxoxoxoxo
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Edward ...
Thanks for letting us know about this living memorial program and the certificate you received regarding Mom.
The planting of a tree in a Saskatchewan location, in memory of our mother seems like a nice gesture that is also good for the globe.
Love, Lucy
Yes, Mary Ellen, without a doubt, I can agree that Dad would have loved this computer communication.
Years ago Mom told me the story about Dad's first experience with computer technology. He spent hours exploring a word processing program, composing letters, running them off and sending them to us.
One day Mom was trying to get Dad's attention away from his work. She said to him, "I think you love that computer more than you love me!"
His preoccupied reply?
"Not really."
LOL, Lucy
The blog definitely lives on and I hope everyone who contributes never quits. I for one appreciate the time everyone takes to put their comments down.
I sometimes feel a little guilty because I read the blog almost every day and don't seem to have much to contribute. I love reading it and like I said, I do it nearly every day.
Here's a little quiz.
Mary Ellen wrote about one of Mom's idiosycrasies and if you take two of the letters in it and flip them, you get something else she was good at.
Hey Lou,
I'll tackle your quiz and flip the s and v to produce "conversation".
She was.
A brief conversation on conservation:
Funny story, ME!
Nice twist, Lui!
Good eye, Ed!
LOL,Lucy
Ed - thanks for the tree planted for mom info, maybe we could go look for it sometime?
Mike
Mike,
If you wait until Fall, you'll just have to find the tree with the reddest leaves. Good luck!
Lucy
This morning I was looking out at our garden watching for signs of spring. I wondered how many kinds of flowers are just waiting to blossom as winter fades.
I discovered that I could easily name 20 blooms which I have put into "bouquets" of 5 for you to spot by unscrambling their letters.
Here's your first bouquet:
OSRE
ATUINPE
SYMAULS
WRONPOSD
FALIDDOF
Love, Lucy
i'm not good with flowers lucy, but i can hardly wait for spring
Fair enough, Mike,
Spring is bound to come to St. Andrews long before it takes hold in Regina. I hope it is a flower-filled spring for all of us whenever it arrives.
Lucy
Lucy,
ROSE
PETUNIA
ALYSSUM
SNOWDROP
DAFFODIL
It is hard to imagine flowers blooming when you have as much snow as we do--so far 275 cm and more expected tomorrow.
Love, BJ
Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.
I know what you mean, BJ
On Saturday afternoon, my friend, Margaret and I went to a snowdrop festival on an estate called Cambo Gardens.
Already the grounds are covered with tiny white flowers called "snowdrops" interspersed with bright yellow aconites growing wild everywhere. "Lenten Roses", crocuses and other flowers are appearing in cultivated beds closer to the mansion. A walled garden with a running stream is also coming to life. In the courtyard, the groundskeeper and crew were selling a variety of potted plants. Two large sows in open pens already have litters of 7and 8 lively piglets.
It's no wonder that I am checking our own garden and talking about spring. Your turn will come, too.
In the meantime, here's another scrambled bouquet. You had no trouble identifying the first batch of blossoms.
SIIR
TAHEEHR
SASIRNSUC
TECANOIN
LLEEBBUL
Love, Lucy
Spring breezes outside are blowing
And some early plants are showing
Since the garden is set to go
Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow.
Ed,
Easy for you to say! How about we ship you some of our snow. The city is running out of places to put it. We had another 15 cm last night.
Lucy,
I much prefer your 'let it grow' sentiments. Our flowers come early, but not as early as yours. We usually have some in April.
Your flowers:
IRIS
HEATHER
NARCISSUS
BLUEBELL
The TECANION has me stumped, unless you spell aconite with 2 Ns in Scotland. I feel I have an unfair advantage because I am the main audience for Bob's and my friend Louise's gardens. I hate to get my hands dirty so I compensate by oohing and ahing over their labors. Probably Carol could out do me in this area; she not only has more flowers than Bob, but she does the planting as well as the enjoying.
Love, BJ
BJ,
Unfair advantage or not, I should not be putting extra letters into the mix just to stump you. My insert probably had more to do with the fact that I should have been in bed at midnight instead of sending another flower bloguet. Even in Scotland, ACONITE has only one "N". Sorry!
It did cross my mind that the mention of flowers might attract Carol to the blog. No such luck!
Anyway, I've double-checked this batch:
LPITU
SOCURC
IBARTUAE
ANICNTAOR
MUGEINAR
LOL, Lucy
Oh, the coyotes outside are cowering
'Cause the wind it won't stop howling
But basking in the candle's glow
Let it blow let it blow let it blow
Not to good at flower names but the first two are tulip and crocus.
CBC is running a Valentine's contest of six word stories inspired by Earnest Hemingway who wrote:
For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.
Apparently he said it was his best work.
I submitted:
They loved. They cherish their scars.
Granted, stolen from track 2 of my new album, but there you go, you can't plagiarize yourself.
Go to it bloggers.
Two out of five is good, Thom! Someone else will identify the other three.
I like the six word stories. Yours says it all, especially as a precis of the fuller version on track 2 of your new album.
How about:
She crawled, walked, ran, stumbled, fell.
Luce
"I ate it. I shouldn't have."
its still freezing in regina
Happy Valentine's Day!
Here's hoping that the affection we express to one another today is a happy celebration of 24/7 love, all year round. Cheers!
Lots of love,
Louise and David
Lucy again,
Kenneth ... when I read your 6-word summary, I thought, "Hmmm. That's the story of my life."
Mike ... one more word in your sentence and yours might be the story of Regina. "It IS still freezing in Regina."
And while I'm at it, here's a Scottish tale for all you young parents:
Thae weans has gote me wabbit.
B.J - i saw steven and louise on the weather channel this morning, steven was teaching children. it should be on a few times today if you want to watch it.
mike
We just got off the phone after a surprise call from Len, Christine, Rob, Mike and Marcia. They were together in Regina and Len decided they should include me in their fun.
At 6:30 in the morning our time, they figured David would probably be getting ready for a round of golf.
Thanks for the wake-up call, Len, Christine, Rob, Mike and Marcia.
You guys really made my day! I love you, too.
LOL, Louise
February 15, 2008
Dear 5-year-old Sadie
We're writing to say
That we hope you are having
A wonderful day.
We know it's your birthday;
That's plain as can be.
Your picture is posted
On our family tree!
So light your five candles
And make a wish, too.
In your heart, hear us singing ...
"Happy Birthday to you!"
Best wishes, Sadie,
Louise and David
Jamie and I are off to Wpg tomorrow - we have been invited to speak at a marriage renewal. We will be giving the same talk that we gave at a similar event here in Regina a couple years ago, which includes many stories about Grandma and Grandpa. Our theme this year is joyful sacrifice in marriage, and we talk about Grandma learning to play the piano for Grandpa, and of course, his last gift (her cameo earrings) to Grandma. Anyways, it has been a joy to reread the talk and remember these little stories again (which we had printed out and gave to Grandma to read after we had given the talk). And we are looking forward to our winter getaway!
Mike,
Thanks for the heads up. I watched the weather channel quite a bit yesterday, but never got to see Steve and Louise.
Lucy,
I love your birthday verses.
I think you weren't the only one who got an untimely phone call!
Your flowers:
CARNATION
GERANIUM
I DON'T KNOW THE OTHER ONE.
Thomas:
6-line stories are hard to write.
I tried; I came up long.
Holly and Jamie,
We'll be thinking of you at your "winter getaway" in Winnipeg this weekend. (Too bad the conference isn't being held in a warmer place). At least your marriage renewal talk will warm the hearts of the participants.
During one of my visits, Mom let me read her copy of your talk. She was so proud of you and Jamie and so modest about herself and Dad. She was always quick to say that any glory in their accomplishments belonged to God.
We hope the weekend goes well for you. Thanks for the memories!
Love, Louise
Hi, BJ
I'm glad you're enjoying the children's birthday verses. I love writing them.
Your 6-word story is both clever and funny. It's not easy to achieve so much in so few words.
Between you and Thom, 4 of the flowers in my bouquet have been identified. My friend, Margaret, sent me an email naming all five so I'll enter the AUBRETIA on her behalf.
Here's my final bunch:
APYSN
PILNSU
GDAYERAHN
WPATEESE
MERPOSIR
Luv, Lucy
Lucy,
PANSY
LUPINS
HYDRANGEA
PRIMOSE
I'm not as familiar with the Latin names of plants. So maybe your 5th one is another Latin one I don't know. Lots of fun, though. Thanks.
Love, BJ
Mom, WPATEESE can't be Latin... it has a W in it.
I'm going to guess Sweetpea, though I don't know if that's a plant.
Okay, BJ and Kenneth, that finishes off my scrambled bouquets.
BTW...Mom once told me that sweetpeas were her mother's favourite flowers. Dot Evans had a whole garden of them at her farm on the edge of the Qu'Appelle Valley. After an afternoon's visit, Dot used to give Mom an armful of sweetpeas to take home with her.
Their scent is so memorable that I can smell flowers now, even as I write about Mom, Grandma Wilson, Dot Evans and sweetpeas.
Love, Lucy
Kenneth,
I stand corrected!
Lucy,
I can't believe I missed sweetpea; not only is it one of my favorite flowers, but it is April's flower (my birthday month).
What a maroon!
Well, now, that IS funny, BJ
First, I double-checked to see if I had somehow missed a letter. Then when Kenneth said that he wasn't sure a sweetpea is a plant, I really started doubting myself. Was he thinking of Popeye's baby?
Isn't it strange how we can so quickly wonder what mistake we have made when the smart people in our lives question things? There must be a lesson for me in all of this for me; but I'm not going to look too hard for it.
One thing I did learn is that the sweetpea is the flower of the month for April! Lovely!
LOL, Lucy
"Our blog is so entertaining"
Where would I be without my daily fix? I think it goes without saying, that there are so many more people involved in this blog than meets the eye, but I am sure it doesn't hurt to let you all know: "We're Listening"
Love,
Marty
That was some cooooool ending to the "wofler zefyrn".
Hi Marty,
It's nice to know you are there.
We have had a bit of a flower frenzy, haven't we? ... what with a double letter mis-clue, an unfamiliar latin name for a type of violet and confusion over the nicest smelling blossom in the bunch.
This family never gives up though, and the flowers have all been identified. Now Dave tells me that we don't have any carnations in our garden. I should have put chrysanthemums on the list instead. What do I know?
Before I came to St. Andrews I could not have named 20 different flowers, never mind being able to recognize them growing in my own back yard.
Love, Lucy
When I said I wasn't sure if SWEETPEA was a plant, I meant I honestly didn't know. I can tell St. Augustine from Bermuda, but if it doesn't pass under my mower blades, it's off my plant radar.
"What could have caused this rash?"
Johanne offers this variation on Hemingway's story: "4 sa1e: tab1e saw, ewesed 1ce."
(typed with the left hand only).
Yuck.
Kenneth,
What's wrong with your right hand?!
Mom
The scary part is...He can play piano with his left hand only and still sound like he's playing with both.
hey little buddy...are you okay?!!
Uncle Marty
No, no. It's not my right hand. Johanne's 6-word story consists entirely of keys from the left-hand side of the keyboard, as though the "used once" table saw ad was typed with the left hand only.
Sorry for the confusion.
.... And the moral of the story is:
Six words just can't cut it!
Lucy
Lucy again,
Kenneth, It's the next morning and I am still laughing about the last few entries on the blog.
It all started with your mention of "mower blades" and progressed through a "rash", ... "left hand typing", ... a mother's fright, an uncle's concern, and your own apologetic explanation. I couldn't resist a "slice" of the action.
If it is any consolation to Johanne, tell her that I got the point of her story on first reading. Your "YUCK" immediately reinforced my interpretation.
There must be a lesson in all this confusion but, once again, I am not going to look too hard for it. I am simply enjoying the humour it all.
Love, Lucy
Hi Lucy,
I got the point of J's story immediately as well. My exclamation point after the 6 word 'What's wrong with your right hand?' was meant as a jok---and another 6 word story. Too bad we can't all read each other's minds. K got my joke until he read Marty's reaction and then started to worry about whether I was worried. Oh, what a tangled web we weave....when we're trying to be funny.
Love, BJ
Now that you mention it, Marty's concern is also six words. It looks like I'm the only one who's humor-challenged (=humour-challenged).
This is getting funnier with each new entry. I have had to go back and re-read each person's comments with added insight.
These six-word stories are better than I thought they were. They are open to as much interpretation as a six-page short story under discussion in a classroom.
Where do we go from here?
LOL, Lucy
" One man's misery...is another man's".
Anonimartyous
Johanne's story was brilliant! We could have done without the answer, though. We all come from a long line of puzzle doers, we would have figured it out (unless we were sinstral).
When I was leaving Ontario to become a newspaper reporter, I was used to writing 1500 to 3000 word stories. An editor told me it is much easier to write those than a 250 word story. She was right. It is much, much more difficult to write a six word story, but when done well, it is quite genius. CBC didn't get it. Not because they didn't choose mine, but because many of the winners weren't really stories. A clever turn of phrase is a clever turn of phrase and six words strung together with a noun and a verb in it is a sentence. There is more to a story.
I liked Q host Gian Gomeshi's entry:
My ambition was to be ambitious.
Here's another good one (an edited version of Kbub's blogger profiled).
Lined up for glory. Sold out.
I also really enjoyed Anonymartyous's:
One man's misery... is another man's.
Happy Birthday, Juliana!
We can't help but think that, today, you are in a warm place with all the right people for a good family party. What could be better? Brant, Kahless, Briana and Braden are sure to make it an especially happy time for you.
We add our wishes for your health and happiness on this, your special day, and throughout 2008.
Cheers and lots of love,
Louise and David
Yesterday we travelled by bus to Aberdeen, where David had a routine follow-up appointment about his July 2007 laser eye surgery.
His golf game has definitely improved since the procedure was done but his left eye needs "tweaking". That will be done some time in April, so we will head back to Aberdeen when that time comes.
Let's hope April's weather is nicer than February's. Yesterday was dry but frosty, and the visibility was poor. We should have been able to see picturesque coastal communities along the North Sea. No such luck.
The rolling farmland did remind us of the Canadian prairies though and we reminisced about home.
The first thing I did when we got back to St. Andrews was check the blog. Juliana's birthday greeting encouraged us to pour ourselves a wee dram and raise a toast in her honour. Cheers!
Love, Lucy
Did anyone else watch the eclipse last night? With a clear sky and the full moon, it was a wonderful event. It was very cold, and I am still thawing out but it was worth every minute.
Love, BJ
Yes, it was fabulous. We were able to watch it from our living room window (although I did go out and freeze for awhile as it bacame full. I can really understand why primitive humans would have attached so much significance to these events.
Hi BJ,
We were told to watch for the eclipse around 4:00am here but the sky was overcast and the moon was not visible. I guess a cold, clear night has its advantages once in a while. Apparently the next full lunar eclipse will happen in 2010. We have a long wait.
Lucy
cbc sports on-line has been showing the morning games from the Scotties Tournament of Hearts (3:30pm our time). I just finished watching Alberta steal a game that PEI should have won.
The good news is that we'll be able to see the weekend games as well. Our screen may be small but we love the live action in any size.
Should we be watching for any familiar faces in the crowds?
Lucy
We didn't see any of the first round of match play in golf but we're hearing a lot about Tiger's eagle putt. It seems that he does whatever he has to do to win in the end. What a guy!
Lucy
We don't have a lot to say;
It's another quiet day.
Luce, I was at that game that PEI should have won. It's a shame, Alberta needed to be taken down a peg. Nova Scotia also gave away their game to Newfoundland/Labrador... I got to meet the girls after the draw in the press room... that was pretty cool.
I suppose you're watching the tie-break right now, Luce. I'll be going to the semis and finals tomorrow and sunday...
And yes, Tiger is a phenom... maybe Byron Nelson's 11-straight wins is not unachievable... he'll never beat the 18-win season though (he doesn't play enough tournaments)
Anybody else going to the Brandt Centre this weekend? Blurkers?
No such luck, Thom
The CBC didn't broadcast today's tie-breaker. It looks like a close one, though. I keep checking on the scoring updates.
The two weekend games will be on line and I'll be there. Wouldn't I love to drop in at the Brandt Centre and "meet the girls", too. Lucky you!
Lucy
Wow, that was a close call for Tiger. Even HE admits that he was pushed to the limits, having to make 12 birdies to win 1 up.
Apparently Tiger's final putt had not even reached the hole when he took off his hat in victory on the 20th hole of match play. He said that the putt looked good from where he was standing and he knew it was in.
Now the match between Baddeley and Woods is being described as one of the most suspenseful and sensational in the 10 year history of this Championship. It would have been sweet to watch.
Today Choi and Woods face each other. From what we have seen so far, anything can happen in match play.
Lucy
The curling is also getting very exciting. I'll be watching the Ontario/Manitoba semi-final later today and the Alberta/? final tomorrow.
The press description of the 1/2 match between Alberta and Ontario gave much credit for Alberta's victory to their third. That eighth end would also have been sweet to watch.
Were you there, Thom?
Lucy
Most incredible of all is the latest news on Tricia's Tides.
Tricia's "journey" has more ongoing suspense and life-altering possiblities than anything else that is happening in our lives today.
Manitoba and Ontario was an exciting semi-final (even if the bad guys (girls) won).
That Baddely-Woods match was a keeper for sure. All I can say is wow.
Single-elimination match play is brutal. Love it.
Who would have expected Ontario to lose today's semi-final at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts? I wonder what kind of surprise finish awaits us tomorrow. The action has been very exciting.
There were no surprises for us in golf's match play. Woods is exactly where we expected him to be for tomorrow's final against Cink.
We can hardly wait for the games to begin.
Gee, it's tough waiting the extra five hours for the sports action to get started. It will be 7:30 pm our time when the Scotties final begins.
We aren't getting any coverage of match play here in our home. Tiger and Cink are just teeing off on their morning round at 2:40 pm our time. I'm keeping track on line. Go, Tiger!
Lucy
Manitoba's win must be a big upset at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts - at least for Alberta fans.
There will be no such thing at World match play in golf. At the time of this posting, Tiger is up 7with 8 holes to play.
You win some and you lose some.
That's it. Tiger has won the world match play 8 up with 7 of 36 holes to play. He didn't have to work nearly as hard on this final day as he did in earlier rounds.
Way to go, Tiger!
Love, Lucy
Hi Lucy & all blurkers,
I see a lot of talk here about golf & curling. I don't watch or play golf, but here's a
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Columbus went around the world in 1492. That isn't a lot of strokes when you consider the course!
- LEE TREVINO
Love to all,
ME xoxoxoxoxoxo
Oh, that's a good one, ME!
Trevino's quotation really fit the occasion as Woods took top prize at the world match play event.
What choice words do you have for us today?
Love, Lucy
Speaking of choice words ...
BJ, your February 9 Remembrance in this month's Bugle is fit, indeed. For those who don't get the Bugle here's what Shakespeare says:
And, when he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of Heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.
Wow, what a tribute! Thanks BJ.
Love, Lucy
Hi All,
I agree, Louise. WOW, what a tribute! It's perfect.Whenever I look up at the night sky, the stars, and especially the moon, I think of Dad. I miss him.
That BJ is something else, isn't she? I think she's a bit of a genius myself! The Barker Bugle always amazes me - its format, its contents, its publisher, and the fact that it's been coming once a month for over 10 years. HOW DOES SHE DO THAT? BJ - what a girl!
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.
-LES BROWN
Love,
ME xoxoxo
You sure know how to pick them, ME!
Your latest quote by Les Brown is inspiring.
You're also right about BJ, the Barker Bugle and a bit of genius.
BTW...don't you love the column entitled Canadian Winter in the latest issue? It reminds me of our long-ago blog run on "you might be an Antonini if ...."
I've got one of my own:
If you drive a vehicle with a electric plug hanging out of the engine, you may live in Canada.
LOL, Lucy
Speaking of Canadian winters and block heaters...
A friend of mine here in Austin is from Edmonton. He said that one year he got so fed up with the Canadian winter that he stuffed his family in the truck, strapped a snow shovel to the front bumper, and drove south until people started asking "What's that strapped to the front of your truck?". He drove another 100 miles south, just to be sure, and that's how he ended up in Texas.
And speaking of Canadian winters and block heaters...
My desktop weather widget says it's 33°C and sunny outside right now.
Sorry.
Lucy and Mary Ellen,
Thanks for the kind words re: the Bugle.
My contribution to winter mights....
You might live in Canada if you've had 310 cm of snow so far and you are still far short of the record.
Love, BJ
You might live in Canada if you have "pickled ankles" ( the white marks on your boots and pants form the salt used to melt the ice!)
ME xoxoxo
"pickled ankles" - now thats funny!!!
Dear Mary Ellen,
Pickled ankles--what a great expression! You must live in Canada.
Love, BJ
What a treat it was to sign on to the blog this morning!
Kenneth ... I've heard about those "Texas Tales" that are as big as the state itself. Your family-packing, shovel-toting, yarn-spinning Edmonton friend definitely belongs in Texas.
ME ... pickled ankles?!!? The cold reality is that we all knew from experience exactly what you meant (with a bit of a reminder in brackets).
Mike ... are you still laughing at Mary-Ellen's ankles? ...So am I.
BJ ... see how your Bugle gave the blog new life? Winter-weary Canadians are still able to laugh at themselves.
In that vein:
You may be a Canadian if your wardrobe includes a balaclava.
Love, Lucy
If you complain bitterly about cold winters, hot summers, the government, healthcare, taxes and fuel prices, but are ready to come to fisticuffs with anyone from another country who disses your home and native land... you may be Canadian.
You may live in Canada ( especially Ottawa) if the following quote applies to you.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
It was evening all afternoon. It was snowing and it was going to snow.
-Wallace Stevens
WHAT A WINTER BJ'S HAVING!
ME xoxoxoxo
Surprise! It has been snowing for the last 10 hours here. It is still snowing. It is supposed to snow tomorrow. You might live in Ottawa if you can down-hill ski in your front yard. Bob has snow shoes for the back yard so he can get to the bird feeders.
Love, BJ
40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KENNETH !!
40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40
If possible, our wishes for you are warmer than the Austin weather. We hope that you and Johanne will find some special time today to celebrate your mid-week birthday. It's a big one this year.
Here in St. Andrews, we will raise a toast in your honor as we listen to you play the piano in the background. Cheers!
Have a great day, Kenneth!
Lots of love,
Louise and David
Our honourary Antonini in Scotland is also celebrating a birthday today. This morning, Margaret is busy teaching school in Cupar, Fife (another Saskatchewan connection). We may get to greet her later if she drives over to St. Andrews to visit her parents next door.
In any case, we wish you a very Happy Birthday, Margaret. If the students find out it's your birthday, they are sure to find creative ways to help you celebrate. Enjoy your special day from start to finish!
Cheers and much love,
Louise and David
I'm back again; but that's no surprise, is it?
Thom ... the "you may be Canadian" statement you wrote reminds me of the old Molson's ad I AM CANADIAN. It builds momentum and rings with feeling. Great stuff!
BJ ... what can we say? Has it stopped snowing yet? There must be a Canadian Winter slogan in Bob's determination to feed the birds no matter what. Snowshoes? Really?
ME ... keep those daily quotes coming. You make them fit the blog scene with perfection. I just have to say it one more time:
UNDER MOODY AGO!
LOL, Lucy
It seems like there have been hundreds of these jumbles of the "DAMN, YOU'RE GOOD" expression. Without going back, it doesn't seem like there have been many, if any, repeats. Of course, intuition (and vague recollections of high school math) would suggest there are a lot of possible combinations.
If you actually do the math, however, it's almost incredible:
13! = 6,227,020,800
Sometimes, though, people have used the variation: "DAMN WE'RE GOOD"
12! = 3,113,510,400
Which means we've got a hell of a long way to go to exaust all the possibilities.
13! + 12! = 9,340,531,200
But wait, there's more! Because we're also juggling spaces between letters, it's actually:
23! + 22! = 25,852,016,738,884,976,640,000 +
12,926,008,369,442,488,320,000 =
38,778,025,108,327,464,960,000
or, if you like, 38.8 sextillion
Get to work people!
Interesting tidbit: Google, the search engine I used to refresh my mathematical memory is a play on the term googol coined by the Milton Sirotta, nephew of American mathematician Edward Kasner to refer to a number with 100 zeros. It was no coincidence. Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin say the use of the term reflects the company's mission to organize the seemingly infinite amount of information available on the Web.
MI DON GOD MAN
Crap, another variation, that adds another 121.6 quadrillion possibilities.
Hi Everyone,
Happy Birthday Kenneth. 40 is a nice number!
Happy Birthday Margaret who's teaching in Cupar, Fife. Funny thing, I did one of my practical teaching stints in Cupar, Sask. I lived with one of the locals and practice taught in the high school there many years ago. MANY MANY YEARS AGO! More years than how old Kenneth is!
Hey Thom, this quote is for you.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Mathematics is the sister as well as the servant of the Arts and is touched with the same madness and genius.
-Harold Marston Morse
DON YOUR MAD EGO
Love,
ME xoxoxo
Thom,
It's funny that you should examine the number of possible combinations of "damn we're good" and its variations.
When Mary-Ellen first introduced her exclamatory anagrams, I tried to keep a running list of them so that I didn't repeat any.
Eventually, without knowing why, I realized that repetition was not likely. (I also convinced myself that it wouldn't matter anyway.)
Thanks to you, I now know my instinct was infinitely accurate and I also appreciate how the GOOGLE search engine got its name.
I don't often admit this about myself, but I think you'll agree:
GO DIM MAN DO!
LOL, Luce
How do you do that, ME? You must have a book of quotations to beat all other compilations.
Don't quit now!
The snow has stopped in Ottawa for the time being. We may get more tomorrow, but today was sunny and white with the new 10 cm snowfall.
And yes, Lucy, Bob does use snowshoes--not the new aluminum and stainless steel bear-paw type, but the traditional wood and leather kind that look like racquets. If he didn't use them he would sink to his waist in the snow.
I don't have a Canadian slogan for Bob's dedication to the birds, but I do have a good quote from Maya Angelou: Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, 'I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough! I am going to snow anyway.'
Happy birthday to Kenneth in New York. I'll be in touch when you get back.
25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25
Happy Birthday, Holly!
Our family tree reveals that both you and Keenan will reach the quarter century mark in 2008. Today it's your turn!
We hope you have a terrific Silver Birthday celebration, Holly. We raise our glasses in a toast to your health, happiness and prosperity in 2008.
Cheers and best wishes,
Louise and David
25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25
....It's tomorrow, BJ. Is it snowing in Ottawa yet?
....When I imagined Bob in snowshoes, I didn't even know about the light-weight, "bear-paw type". I was thinking of our Yukon days and those awkward racquets for redistributing body weight. I hope the birds appreciate the effort Bob takes to feed them through the winter. I wonder if he looks as funny in reality as he does in my mind's eye.
....Maya Angelou has such an earthy way of putting things, doesn't she? I'll bet ME has a few powerful quotes from that woman.
....So, Kenneth was in NY on his 40th birthday! Tricia will be impressed. So are we.
LOL, Lucy
Hold on... don't be impressed yet. I'm in NY for work and I'm not even staying in the city.
But thanks for all the birthday wishes!
The snow has stopped! However, Mother Nature has a sense of humor..? With the snow stopped, the temp has dropped to minus 22 (wind chill minus 32. Will this winter never end?!!!
Love, BJ
PS: Kenneth was in NY on business, not as a birthday gift.
Oops, while I was writing, Kenneth was posting. Youth is quicker than age, I guess. And yes, 40 is youth in my books.
I agree, BJ
40 is youth in my books, too.
And winter seems to be going from bad to worse in Ottawa. Dare I tell you how our garden grows?
Lucy
Kenneth ... that's one deflated birthday balloon. At least our greetings reached you so far away from home. Isn't technology great?
Lucy
Speaking of the greatness of technology (and I am speaking, of course, about communications technology, as was Lucy (there are plenty of technologies that are by no stretch of the imagination great)) check this out.
My new album (which is approximately one month shy of hitting the shelves so start saving your pennies) was recorded mostly in Austin, TX, but the electric guitar parts were done in Ottawa. Not once did a physical object (i.e., disc, tape etc...) have to be mailed or otherwise transported between the two places.
The manufacturing is even more complex. The mastering is being done in Austin, the insert is being designed in New Brunswick, manufacturing is being coordinated in San Francisco, the actual discs will be burned in Minnesota and the whole thing is being overseen from Saskatchewan.
Again not a single physical object, not a contract, graphics proof or anything else has been or will be transported until the master is sent to the plant in Minnesota and the final product shipped Fort Qu'Appelle.
Furthermore, at the same time the discs are being burned, the tracks will go up on more than 100 websites where the album can be purchased, in whole or in part, anywhere in the world without anyone ever leaving their living room (or wherever their computer sits).
Pretty cool.
Thom ... is the album that you are talking about the "Twice the Usual" one that we can listen to on Art Facts?
It's fascinating to hear how smoothly the process happens from beginning to end. Awesome!
We're saving our pence here in Scotland. Keep us posted.
Luce
Happy B-Day Holly
Yes, Luce, Twice the Usual.
And I wouldn't say it's a "smooth" process, but it is one unencumbered by physical barriers.
Oooops...Now that I think of it, Thom, "smooth" was a poor choice of word. You would think that I had not read any of Kenneth's introductions to the album tracks or your journal entries on how the songs came to be written in the first place.
I already have my favorites, though, and I look forward to having your finished album when the final step is taken.
Luce
Greetings one and all on Leap Day!
We're not going to get one like this for another four years. Ed's Edition may not even survive that long.
So... make your mark. How many entries can we post on February 29, 2008? Here in Scotland, we have a head start, of course, but the challenge is on for 29. Bloggers and blurkers unite!
LOL, Lucy
Happy February 29, Everybody.
Our extra day is cold and sunny, but as the temp rises we will be getting snow this afternoon.....
You probably live in Canada if you start your day by turning on the weather channel.
love, BJ
.... and you probably live in Scotland if you have to wait until after lunch for the appearance of other bloggers on Ed's Edition. It's already after 3:00 pm here.
Hi, BJ, if rain were snow, we'd have lots of the white stuff in St. Andrews today. There was no golf for Dave on this extra day in 2008. I don't imagine that many Canadians will have any sympathy for him at all.
Lucy
Happy leap day blog. I'm back in Texas where it's 16°C, looking to a high of 23°C, mostly cloudy: a good day to go run around Town Lake after work.
Hi, Kenneth
I'm glad to hear you're back in Texas where it's warm and dry. Enjoy your run around the lake at the end of your work day.
Dave and I are just heading out for a walk to the harbour. The rain has stopped and we are craving some of that fresh sea air.
Leap Day is going well so far.
Lucy
I'd say Kbub cut it pretty close. If he had waited another 2 days to be born he'd only be 10 instead of 40.
LEAP YEAR QUOTE OF THE DAY:
30 days hath September,
April, June, and November.
All the rest have 31
Excepting February alone:
Which has 28 days clear,
And 29 in each leap year.
or if you prefer:
Excepting February alone,
When once in four,
February has one day more.
Enjoy this Feb. 29 - we won't get another one for a while!
Bye & Love,
ME xoxoxoxo
Wow, you're right, Thom,
Kenneth could have been a Leap Day baby in 1968. At the end of a 9 month wait, I'll bet BJ was just as happy that he arrived on the 27th.
LOL, Lucy
ME ... here's one more version of the conclusion to your familiar quotation:
...February alone has 28.
Except in Leap Year, that's the time when February days are 29.
Here's a forwarded message:
"Hello to everyone on the blog on this Leap Year Day, February 29th. The weather is not very good so it is an evening for baffies on and sit by the fire (or the computer). Louise is trying to extend her vocabulary of Scottish words so she may know what baffies are by now.
If we have gales overnight, March will be coming in like a lion, and should then go out like a lamb.
Hope you have all had a good time on this extra day."
Margaret in St. Andrews/Cupar
Yes, Margaret
I have discovered that "baffies" are slippers. (Others may also have figured that out from context in your Leap Day Message).
You've also reminded us to pay attention to March's beginning tomorrow. If the lion roars Dave is going to be terribly disappointed. He tees off on the New Course at 10:45 am, rain or shine.
Good night, now,
Louise
We have been very sick in the Gustafson household for the past week. which inconveniently corresponded to Jamie's week-long business trip to Toronto. Mom and Dad have pitched in more thancould be expected: Dad came over Tuesday afternoon after getting off work early and played with the kids while I rested, then Mom brought over supper and helped me put the kids to bed. She was over all day Wednesday and cleaned my entire house and did probably a dozen loads of laundry, made supper and helped put the kids to bed. On Thursday she did the same thing, except had to leave after supper, so Dad came over and helped put the kids to bed and then got me a Slurpee before heading home. Mom came over again today, and finally went home before supper... with a terrible cold! I feel awful for giving her our illness, but certainly grateful for all the help over the past week - I don't know what I would have done without them!
Jamie is expected home tonight... if he can get out of Toronto! There are some delays and cancellations expected with the snowfall, but hopefully his flight won't be affected!
We here in Regina had a beautiful leap day: sunny and -5! Can't do much better than that in February!
Well, Jamie just called as he was boarding the plane. So that's good news!
Good night, Holly
Your bad news/good news story ended on a very positive note with sun in Saskatchewan and Jamie on his way back to you.
We're sorry you have had such a rough week. No matter what the weather, March's beginning will have the nature of a lamb about it - nice!
It's approaching midnight in BC. We are just starting a new day here in Scotland. Leap Day won't occur again now until 2012. We have had fun remembering this event on the blog.
Love, Louise and Dave
Oh, oh, ... March has come in like a lamb here. We have wakened to a bright, sunny day. The wind is a bit gusty but the sky is blue with not a cloud in sight. The last sign of early-morning frost has already disappeared. The golfer in our household is smiling this morning.
Hello? Hello? Anybody there? Even Lucy is not on the site the last couple of days. Hello??
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own,
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
-Dr. Seuss
Hello?
ME xoxoxoxo
Hey Mary Ellen
Isn't it amazing how we can live so far away from each other and still communicate on the blog so easily.
Hello everyone
Love, Marty
Where did they go? I do not know.
I do not know why it is so
That blogging has become so slow.
We need some posts to make it grow
And create again the wondrous show
That it was once, not long ago.
We need some serious to and fro
I'll start the flow, love Betty Jo
Hey Marty,
Nice to see you! Thanks for the hello and the love!
BJ,
I think your rhyme is great,
I'll even say first-rate.
As a poet, I'm not first.
In fact, I'd say I'm worst!
But I did give it a try,
And now I'll say bye-bye.
LOL,
ME xoxoxoxoxo
Hello family.
We all moved over to the new chapter for March. Surely you didn't think Louise stopped posting....
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