Redneck Rib Fest, XUP, and Pottery Camp
We took a whirlwind trip this weekend to Orangeville to meet my newest great-niece, Sienna, and visit with my sister’s family. Is that a cute baby or what? She’s happy…
Zoom!
Happy Second Bird-Day Oboe
I’ve known Oboe since he was a freshly laid egg. He was the third of four eggs in Billie and Lester’s first clutch. We had a webcam on the nest,…
Motorcycle madness
Have you seen that crazy video of the motorcycle out in BC going 299 kph? Somehow I missed it when it was first making the rounds. Here it is, if…
Simon’s first real conversation
“Wow!” says Simon. “Wow!” I say. “Wow!” says Simon. “Wow!” I say. “Wow!” says Simon. “Wow!” I say. “Wow!” says Simon. “You’re talking!” I say. “Wow!” says Simon. “You’re amazing!”…
Simon says!
They say you should never get an African Grey parrot because of their famous speaking abilities. It’s not fair to the parrot, and besides, there’s no guarantee that the African…
A pool of fresh blood
Every morning I go for a long walk along the bike path and I encounter all kinds of other people walking, biking, roller blading, skateboarding, running, and dog-walking. On Sunday…
Happy Canada Day, Stephen Harper. Here’s 59 cents.
It’s hard to look at yourself objectively, but rightly or wrongly, I’ve always thought of Canadians as peaceful, fair, decent, thoughtful and compassionate people who respect diversity, care about social…
I need your advice
I’m thinking about applying to UBC to do a master’s degree in creative writing. I could do it part-time, through distance education. I’m feeling conflicted, though. Part of me says…
Sweetest picture ever taken by anybody anywhere
From 21 pictures that will restore your faith in humanity
We’re not quick, but we don’t quit
Remember last spring when GC and I signed up for a quilting course and we each made a sampler quilt? Mine was black, white and red, and his was exquisite…
I had a grandfather
My grandfather, Opa, would be celebrating his 104th birthday today if he hadn’t been killed by an irrational fear of surgery. He died in a hospital in Hollywood, Florida, as…
Next thing I knew, the duck was mine
Yesterday afternoon I walked right into an unfolding crisis on Fisher Avenue. The scene, as I approached, involved a man stopping rush-hour traffic while he retrieved an injured duck from…
I got laid off again
I got laid off last week; today’s my first day of unemployment. There were three weeks remaining on my three-month contract, but we started running out of international tax returns…
Pollination
I just wanted to share this with all of you. My friend Gwen sent it to me, and it’s awesome. Look for the baby at 2.38.
Great Glebe Garage Sale 2012
Lamaze Peekaboo Flower We had a lot of fun and this is what we got: Skates for GC A stuffed snake for Rosie, who loves stuffed snakes and has amassed…
Blogging in point form
Lately I’ve been falling behind. In April I went from a four-day-a-week job and two contracts on the side to a five-day-a-week job and four contracts. It’s temporary – the…
GC reads the Riot Act
I live in a row house. The woman who owns the next house in the row is an investment advisor. She rents the place out to one group of kids…
Duncan’s twice-yearly annual checkup
There has been a cluster of cat deaths among my friends lately. Several good friends have lost beloved cats, and they’re grieving. It doesn’t seem to matter if the cat…
Weird encounter at the bank
GC and I want to travel a little, maybe go to Newfoundland or New Orleans or San Francisco…anywhere, really. But when we have money we don’t have time, and when…
The right place at the right time
First off, I’m happy to report that Cindy Lou was found and captured on Friday afternoon as she was running down the Queensway! It’s a miracle she wasn’t killed. Two…