Anniversary wishes

Hi Joe;

Thank you for the anniversary wishes and its hard to believe we have been married this long and we still like each other. And what else is humorous that the wishes become fewer each year. Well, its not amusing because some of the well wishers have moved on to paradise, so you can’t expect a note from them.

But from all the other people that were there I guess they have forgotten the special moment in time. Our wedding day was the hottest and most humid day in the history of that city in that year. How can you forget that feeling with all your clothes stuck to you like glue and you are sweating in small rivulets from your head to our feet. That is aka “A HOT WET FEELING”, and you can think whatever you want.


After over 40 years of the same date been fêted you think everyone that cared for you would automatically send out greetings just like the other national days of celebration, but not so. People forget about it and just zone in on their lives which now include more celebrations of their own Families.

So, in a way when you have Family Reunions it’s a form of celebration and more likely to see who is here and you won’t be here next year, yes life the never ending cycle of new life and continual passing away.

And to respect those that are close to this plateau, if its of any comfort, we are going there in time. Yes, I know it’s a kick in the nuts, I didn’t say this was a sentimental journey did I.? , I apologize.

Anyway Joe, thank you again and I have to go ,I hear a call for help, its not serious?. The youngest boy is washing dishes and there is water coming down the stairs, so you can, IMAGINE WHATEVER YOU WANT, I GOTTA GO.!!. Did you know that water emerges anywhere.??.

P.S.; Our sons have not acknowledged our anniversity,  because they don’t know, what they don’t know.

P.S. 2: (actual e-mail sent to us)  please note the sensitivity. “Sorry, we missed your anniversary but since I wasn't there, I don't remember the date. and let me know when your anniversary is so maybe it will get remembered.” Is it Aug. 31st?.

 (that is a real good one).!wtf ,eh, ??,. Fair enough, that makes sense, you don't know, what you don't know, so all we can say is "you all is forgetfull". I need to pause as a moment as I am choked up with emotions I never knew I had before. I am verclemkept , please discuss among yourselves..

 

And since you did ask,I still ain't telling you.!!!



So ??



No Cat in the Hat for Poppa.

Dear Joe;

How are to-day ?, and is it warm here too. I am going to tell you something although it is amusing ,also its not. A car has hit a pole at the corner of our street and the only thing that was damaged in our block was the main cable TV line, knocked off the pole.

So, that means no Cat in the Hat for me to watch, a moment of silence to reflect on the impact that this has caused. And of course my internet and phone are off as well, so much for a bundle deal, they get all my money and I lose all my services. HUM, maybe sticking with Bell was a good idea after all. Hum, have to think about that one.

Oh, and try phoning those peoples for service is something that pisses me off as well. You get a answering machine that acknowledges there is trouble in the hood and they are working on it. I have to phone from a pay phone 4 blocks from my home to report I have no signal.???? And it’s a Bell phone. So, I didn’t bother to phone, there are other people that are reporters, that do this job very well. UFO’s, not this week.!!

No, folks I don’t have a cell phone either, so I am a dinosaur and besides the cable company already knew there was a problem because the infrastructure of the plant, it sent an alarm back and they knew before I did. Cell phone, had one implanted in me for 20 yrs, no thanks.

And from my front window, there is nobody on the street doing nothing. The lying bastards. All the cables are on the ground and NOT in harms way, but also NOT working. And mommy is pissed.??? Did I mention it is a Saturday at 6 o’clock in the evening by any chance??.

So, I have finished making burnt offerings on the Q and I have consumed 750 mls of mighty fine wine in the process of making dinner on the Q, which is very hot to-day because it is over 30 degrees C air temp + the Q heat, it’s a Blacksmiths dream.

Now, on top all this the cable goes off due to unknown circumstances like a truck/car hitting the pole, suddenly becomes my problem. Hello, I ain’t the Mayor of the Block and I don’t care that your cable is off. My only problem is keeping the wine flowing and burning the offerings, aka dinner.

So, in a word or two, folks, screw Off and get a Life, please go and support the Salmon Fest at the bay. There is plenty of people that may want to listen to you for moment and them they will tell you to, Piss Off as well. Now, that what I call “relative humidity”.

No sooner than I have finished this rant, guess what the cable boys show up and I was able to assist them in their endeavors in getting the signal on until the Ontario hydro showed up and I was relieved of my duties. And the signal is back on now and life is back to normal. Sigh, a bit of excitement in my life.

So, are you going to go fishing this week.??, I ain’t busy, so if you need a “buoy there” for company.?.



See you alls later,



What red light??



A story about a piss poor restaurant.!!!

So, to-day it’s a story about a piss poor restaurant that we happened to pick and tried to eat there. To be fair I am sure that they do serve a good meal here.(when?). I, am sure there are other good restaurants in the area, but we choose this one because it was recommended and we feel the person was telling us a firkin’ fib. We will make sure he gets to read the blog for sure.


Did you ever go a place to eat and the food was so yucky that even a doggie bag with two gold stars on it, won’t elevate it to a stature fit for your dog.?? Only a real s-muck would try and feed this to his best friend and it’s a small wonder that you get bit in the ass when you aren’t looking.!!. Doggie Bag,??, leave the stuff there. Your dog deserves better than that, but of course you will reheat and eat IT.??, wtf ??.

I am sending this to the place in town and a copy to head office and then on this blog. It won’t do anything but I will feel better about it.?? Revenge of the Rationally Dis-a-d-d-vanced or something.

Dear Sir;

We had the misfortune to have visited your restaurant during the mid week. I am complaining about the food, that was a problem. And, we had to ask for condiments for our orders. You would think that it would come automatically when setting a table.?? Along with the fork-ink’ knifes.

We had two orders of your supposed fish and chips and in different sizes and both were under cooked. “Lightly battered?’ That was pancake mix into which they were dipped . Which probably explains the uncooked batter inside. Beer batter, not on your life..!! , in your dreams maybe.

It didn’t seem busy to us and yet our food gave us the impression that it was cooked in a “hurry” and was ill prepared. We mentioned this fact to the girl and we were given an explanation and she made an attempt to get this corrected.??. what are you doing to do, refry it.??, should have left. But, no, we eat the fish and left the batter on the plate.!! so we were hungry, yes, I know why complain, if you are eating a poor meal.??

If we are asking about the preparation of the food and are not happy about it, you would think it would get corrected.??, not really, we should have picked up and left and just paid for the drinks. The fact is we travel around a lot and every place we have visited had good food, not so yours.

Maybe you should have “a chefs surprise day”, but you take your chances and if you finish your meal, by chance, the drinks are free.!!. But, first you must announce you want the special of the day and you don’t care what comes up. “rules”. Sorry, I do digress.

This was mentioned so, we decided not to tip the girl for full 15% of the total bill. It was inexcusable. And,. When she asked how was it,?, we relied “never seen anything like this before”.!!, really, really.!!,

Anyway, I don’t expect you will do Anything, to compensate us for the dreadful meal or do I want to come back, I rather go the Harvey’s, or A and W, where at least the food is prepared in the same fashion every time and it’s consistent and warm. Atmosphere, taking in account as well.

Do you know that, “McDonalds” on this day would have been better, than what we had at your place. “Ronald McDonalds” .!!! Why is it you can’t get a decent meal from you people??. What you say or do will not alter the fact, your place does NOT, give “consistent good food service”.

How the hell you stay in business is beyond me. On a scale out of, 10, you rate a 4.0., You are rated as #23 out of 62 restaurants in our town.. and you are a major chain with weak links.

The small downtown eatery is even ranked higher than you.!! And that place has authentic atmosphere and it’s a mom and pops place and the food is delectable. The following, hints will tell you which place I am referring to. Starts with a K and ends with an S.

Whatz dat dare??? Chef's Surprise.!!!

The Boy Scout Rides Again, the stupid macaroon.!!

Hi Joe:

Well, we are fine and our kitten is now fixed so we won’t have to worry about more kittens. There are a few people that I have met, that the same thing should have happened to their parents. I know its nasty but you wonder wtf sometimes.

I gotta tell you this story about my supposed friend. Well, since this has happened I don’t think he is a friend, but, he is somebody I know. I asked if I could lend a hand helping him move some stuff into his new home and they said ok. Boy Scout rides again to another flaming adventure. What a macaroon.!!

I was planning to use my truck to help but it turns out there is 4 of us in a car and a trailer to move stuff. I was thinking this is going to be easy and I can be home early and do some stuff around the house. Well, it started that way and then the wheels came off the whole dam train. Somehow, We ended up moving 3 sets of appliances, fridge and stove from 3 locations??. As well or instead, I haven’t figured that one out yet.

So, let me tell you how this went. And for added suspense, the doors had to taken off the fridges because they were large or the door openings were too small and then reassembled again at the new locations. And in one case the house door was removed.

And from what I remember not much was really moved in the first place or maybe. * now pay close attention if you lose your “place” you will have to start over. And maybe you should reread, to grasp this moment, I didn’t believe it when I read it and I was there in person.!! It’s a true story, really, really.

* Having said that,I will remind you that this story has been embellished for dramatic's for your enjoyment.
You don't really think that could happen to a person, even he is a Boy Scout do you.??

Ready.?? Place #1, is the where all the stuff is leaving from, to go to place #2, the new place.

Place #3, is the place where the appliances went to from place # 2 and the appliances from place #3, went to place #1 and the appliances from place #1 went to place #2. And there is a place #4, keep reading.

And when the appliances from place #3 made it back to place #1, They came from place #4, to go to place #3 because we were getting new appliances and place #3, needed some because they just moved in some time ago and it was decided our stuff was better than what was there.. So, Did you get all that.??

Wait, wait, there was stuff moved, only I was not paying much attention and all I know is I was there until about 5 o’clock in the evening and all I had was 2 bottles of water. WTF you say??, yes this is what happened. I might have had a few candies.???, I don’t remember, it was a zen flash.

And when its all moved, then they said well lets eat and there wasn’t a thing started for supper and they were still thinking of what to have. 3 women were there most of the day, (place #2) and they were rearranging all that we had placed there in the first place. What, more places.??

So, if you are a smoker, you don’t get real hungry. But, if are a mean moving machine, I get real hungry. Bullshit to this, I am sorry I hear my mom calling and she says my supper is ready.!! And they still wanted me to stay and eat and I said no, I really have to go home.

And it was a warm day and I was wearing the coveralls made in 99% polyester and they were hot and I was steaming. At least somebody could had enough foresight to have some beverages and pizzas for us. Like a frosty, ice-cold, perspiring, freezing, beer for shits sake. With a thick rising crust with a cheesy surprise and double tinged basil sauces, portabella mushrooms ,red n green peppers, olives, bacon bits, is that too much to ask for???. NO.!!

So, when you get back home and think about all this will a cold one in your hand, all these random thoughts from the day coming crashing into my head and I say, hey there is a story here. Quick scribble it down. And of course I am shaking my head in wonder, WTF, where are some peoples heads.

So, you ask if I can help you move sometime, don’t be surprised if I say” no”, I am helping my mother with something, sorry.!!. all day and I am staying for supper and I am doing the dishes and then we are going to knit some socks.

See you, Joe.

Summer time at the Lake Cottage

Hi Joe:

Well, its raining here, so no outside work. I want to continue about the cottage and what it was like with all the people there that made this place special in its glory days. This is my supposition of the Families.

The main purpose of the cottage was for Family time and to relax from the city or town and enjoy a simpler time as the Families were growing up and struggling with the day to day life. This was a place where the rules could be relaxed and everyone could explore who they were.

Parents of course were still watchful over the kids but it was the aunts and uncles that didn’t hassle them over certain rules. They in fact would encourage the youngsters to do their own thing within reason and still have fun.

This would make your Uncle or Aunt a person to admire more so than Mom and Dad. These people were laid back already because of there nature and the quiet calm and wisdom they had rubbed off on their nieces and nephews. Having said that, they also had a lighthearted side and that’s what was the most fun when they all played games of tag, hide n seek or duck, duck, goose, within limits.

These relatives would instruct the kids on the proper pronouncement of certain words read to them from the paper or magazine as they explored new ways to improve their minds and outlooks on life. These words will stick with them as they brag about “listen to what I can say” and do you know what it means?.

And now the ipads and iphones are the replacements tools the adults use to teach the kids and the kids also can teach the adults as they are more in tune with the technology used in schools. Reading in the bathroom is going to take a new dimension., not the same??, Or different.?. these models even have a piano and guitar programs on them and the kids can play them very well.

Before the advent of hand held electronic games I could imagine that reading out loud, coloring books and looking thru magazines or Sears catalogues was the way to pass time in the evening. They would have their snacks and washed up and now some quiet time before bed to settle them down.

This was a time where the family would bond on a personal level as each child would rotate around the relatives and say their good nights and review that special moment that was fresh in their minds. Hugs and kisses and then off to bed.

Once the kids were in bed the parents would play cards or read or just talk about the events of the day and their own world. The quiet chatter and laughter would drift to the bedrooms of the kids and give them a sense of comfort as the sandman came to put them to sleep. Sometimes the critters of the night might interrupt the sleep but only a short time.

Morning was another adventure waiting to happen as everyone slowly awoke from the sleep and began to go about getting food for the Family. Mom would start the kettle and Dad started the coffee in his usual manner and soon the smells of the breakfast was drifting around and waking the rest of the Family up.

The feeding was in stages as the kids were fed first and then the adults would filter in the empty spots or wait in the rec room for a turn. The kids would get dressed and the younger ones would dawdle in pjs for a while until someone would help them. And soon its time for them to go outside and play.

The day was spent swimming, playing in the fields and forests and getting back in time for a quick snack or lunch and then going away again to continue. The smaller of the kids would have a afternoon nap and the afternoon would laze away into evening. Suppers were the same, kids first and then the adults.

After the dishes were done it was a walk down to the shore and watch the big old sun set into the water ending another perfect day of bliss. The kids were given a quick bath and into their pjs again and the evening would slowly dwindle to bed time for the kids.

This was a wonderful time for all and it was sad to see the aunts and uncles pack up and leave, but the next day more relatives would show up and it all begin again. Summer time at the Lake just never ceases to amaze and revitalize people with a short visit. Time, well spent.


Cheese,........its coool!!

 So, Joe, want to be a kid again??.

The story is about this cottage and its magic

Hi Joe;

How did you enjoy the long weekend?. We were invited out to visit the in-laws at the cottage and this was an experience worth telling you about. The visit went well, but it’s the aura of the cottage that intrigued me the most. Other people just wouldn’t notice things that I was attracted to.?

The story is about this cottage and its magic on me as I first viewed it in its cornered shaded and heavily treed lot. It had a certain timeless grace to it and its little nooks and carnies held little stories of their own. As I wandered around in the cottage I saw lots of well worn furniture and special blankets, pillows and afghans in each piece as well as the beloved wooden chairs. And the pictures on the wall old and faded and significant.

And then there is the smell of the cottage. Many different smells and complex aromas have been generated with the people going about there daily lives and enjoying the simple pleasures this offers. Its like opening a can of coffee and you breath deeply and the calming effect this has on your self, the cottage has the same effect as well.

The bathroom was small, about the size of a closet on the boat. You think this area would have been the largest for the amount of people that depend on it. Maybe there was an outdoor can that was available for the men only. No, more discussion on that, but I can sure write a story if required.

There was no air conditioners, a ceiling fan in the kitchen, it was the cross breezes from windows and screened doors., Certain doors gave a squeak in protest of been opened and closed. The appliances all had their certain uniqueness and you could see notes to help the next cook figure out the stove. Charming and homely would describe this place and I could imagine all the special memories this place held to the Family. It was like putting on a comfortable sweater against the cool of the evening.

There no electronics, no TV’s, no phones, just a radio with rabbit ears, that captured some faraway signal, once in its life. A few jig saw puzzles and game boards were stacked neatly in the cupboards. Kids will bring their hand held games but there is a time limit on them, enjoy the out of doors, play with them later.

And the outdoor family Fire pit is always ready to warm and cook snacks like s-mores. It had a character of its own and it was easy to see why it was close to the house as many meals were served off its hearth. Gas Bar-b-ques are more efficient, and will in time replace this timeless treasure.

As I looked around, no dusty bunnies or cobwebs were to be seen, either very good house keeping or the breeze sure is stiff in here. There was a bit of carpet but mostly good old vinyl flooring and it was in good shape. The bedrooms were all arranged for adults and kids, so theoretically you could have slept anywhere. It was well cared for and neat as a pin when empty of guests.

The front deck was ample, with tables and chairs, perfect. There was a lot of room and with a rail on top to hold your plate of food ,all you need is a chair and that’s how you eat your meals. You could see every one and talk without our spraying them with your food. Ain’t, life grand.??. Life experience, priceless.

But, because of the age of the principal owners this was surely the last year this cottage would have its original Families here as the place was going to go up for sale and no one was willing to buy it and carry on the traditions. I think that, All the special memento’s would go in the trash and then it was a done deal. The usual kids treasures of stones, drawings and feathers and pieces of drift wood.

That is a sad thing, as the grandkids and their ilk will never know how unique this place was to their great-grandparents, thee grandparents and the parents where they sent all summer long here, learning to swim, growing up and bonding with the land they called the Summer Place by the Lake. Telling a kid about it is one thing, but let them live it, the experience, is another. Lessons about life.

I don’t know what the reasons are that the younger age group of kids are turned off about. If it’s the price of the cottage or the hassle of getting there that makes less attractive. Perhaps the lack of luxurious accommodations and surroundings. They are perhaps the ones that find going to the “the Blue Mountain Chalets” as perfect source of activity. Not, the same.!!

Best time of all is when everybody is making supper and dinners and as the burnt offerings are been prepared on the Holstein grill and its smoke and aromas whetting everyone’s appetite. Hot dogs for the kids and burgers for the adults with corn on the side and a famous homemade salad and crusty buns.. I can imagine the noise as everyone was digging in and trying to talk with a mouth full.! Towels and napkins, please.

Its like ritual happening 3 to 4 times per day that a makes this all special, all I know is when you are near water you are always hungry and the kids are twice as hungry. Cooking outside is better than a hot kitchen, everybody gets a break and only one is a fryer aka a cook.

That warm and fuzzy feeling you get when its over, plates are loaded, people fed and your dinner is cold. Yes, been the camp cook, is a privilege all onto its own.!! No dishes to do.!! And you are expected to do this again.??? Anybody else, want a turn??. Many a fine times are spent at this location and the chats that were held, beyond priceless.

This nostalgic moment is brought, by Many Beers and Ales, and mighty fine wines, brought here ever since the cottage was built, a lot of malted beverages was consumed here, processed here and left here to mingle with the earth from whence it came. I am sure if you scouted around you could find some empties of glory days waiting to see the light again. Cycle of life, you bet.!!

Hey, Joe, want to buy a cottage, I hear we can get a real deal.??. ,those nooks and carnies sound interesting .!!.

Summer Adventures in the Hood.

Its been a while since the last episode of neighbor hood kids getting mean with each other and now that school is out that changes the dynamics a little bit. This kids now need to find more things to do that are constructive because the destructive is already in play. If one doesn’t think of it the other surely does.

The few that are sent to day camps are well cared for and if they all play together things work well or otherwise they get sent home early. If they continue to act out enough they get uninvited for the rest of the camp and become a pest at home.

Well, there are two little guys, well 11 and 12 yrs old isn’t little, but the brain power sure is. They were caught doing damage to properties and taking turns in out doing each other in their challenges. The last straw was a assault on two smaller kids with threats and actually knocking them off their bikes.

The parents were quick to fix things but the promise of “law enforcement action” was loudly stated and implied to each of the boys. Only one was given his just desserts and the other got away scott free. And to keep them apart is going to be a chore since both seem to ignore our instructions in this manner.

The scott free kid has no discipline at home or suffers no consequences, so he is disadvantaged by his parent whom can’t do anything with him, he also swears enough to make me blush and at times its directed at adults. Old school, would be the “wood shed”, should we be bringing these buildings back??.

So, if they (parents) call the police, it will be outta of our hands and then its off to the “juvenile hall” to let them deal with it. I prefer to send both of them to a “friendly boot camp” where you work to eat and you eat to work for a time until you understand you are a nasty and need to pull up your socks. Some where in this place you have to shovel “horse shit”, exercise, leadership and education is provided. FREE!!.

There is nothing like mucking out a stall, you throw your weight in horse shit all day. And guess what tomorrow you get to do this again. You start to get an appreciation of nature at work. How can a horse produce so much shit and he doesn’t really do anything in return.??, by now the reality is sinking in.!!

At the moment our society is leery on doing this because of the age of the kids and other problems on being inclusive or exclusive. You can’t be sugar coating this, “they are little criminals ” unless you intervene you have failed your child and yourself. Little Johnny “ain’t cute anymore”. But, in real life this corrective society exists and it does help the ones that want to free themselves of self destructive behaviors.

Tough love is ok folks, somebody benefits, remember its for their good. Beat your chest and cry, but please get over it. Funny thing is; behind our backs the kids play together and have fun and the parents are still pissed off about it, but its not clear why or at whom???. That is really extraordinary.

So, this begs the question, whom is the fool here.??