Reminiscing

What a weekend! Saturday was haulout day, and, in keeping with past haulout weather, it was cruddy. It was cold. It was very windy. It rained.











Now, Sunday was an entirely different story. The boat was out of the water, and of course it was splendiforous outside. Like 70 degrees or something silly like that.










Anyway, I had a bit of down-time, and observed a few things:
- various people sailing on the bay
- the grouping of eight Muskoka chairs around an imitation fire pit
- various boaters offloading their boats, in preparation for their upcoming haulout
- the glowing highlight effect that the sun had on the islands in the distance

And of course, I always sit and think about:
- how can we just cash it all in and sail south, and live on the boat indefinitely

That last one is the biggest threat to personal security for me. It takes a huge leap to actually be able to throw the docklines and head south for the BIG adventure. It certainly takes some planning and some money.


It would also mean that BJ would have to learn to sail very quickly.

BJs Update: The Trip to the Vet...The True Story..

Hi! It's me, BJ, the cat!
Well, by now you would have read my Mom's account of my trip to the vet. She tends to sugar-coat things, so I am here to tell the real story.

I had a few aches, relating to an injury that I sustained many years ago, while being accosted by a piece of duct work in the basement. There was a casualty....one of my toes had to be amputated from my left hind leg. Little did I know then, that my rambunctiousness would have me paying the piper as I got older.

Prior to this week's vet visit, my parents were staring at me, like I was going to drop dead or something. They would peer at me while I walked, or while I tried to jump up on that incredibly high bed that they have (why do 2 small people need such a BIG bed anyway???).

In any case, I guess they figured they had seen enough. My Dad hauls this little box with a cage-like front door which could be locked from the outside. I was unceremoniously dumped into the box with the door locked behind me! Hey! What is this anyway? Let me go back to my hidey place in the basement, the place that I covet, which makes me feel safe, and long to be in forever!! But no, my Dad had to go and grab me and insert me in this box, and then lock the door. By crappy!

To make matters worse, Dad got his coat on and took me out to the truck. Let me tell you, this was the ride from hell. Bumpyy? Man it was a noisy, bumpy ride. I was rolling from side to side mroooooowwwwing all the way. There was no way that I was gonna shut up, that was for sure. At least I didn't puke, pee, and poop like CoCo would have done. I am above that sort of behaviour.

The trip lasted for about 10 minutes, then Dad carried me into this strange building....a building that had a number of stupid barking d-o-g-s! Not one single cat! I felt outnumbered and definitely threatened. The only saving grace was that I was inside this locked box, and not too excited about getting out at this particular moment!!!

My name was called (How did they know my name???), and we followed this lab-coated person into an examination room (eek! no way out!!). They petted me and cooed and made all doe-eyes at me in the hopes that I would trust them (hah!). I recall them saying how cute my little pink nose was (a boy cat with a cute pink nose....how unmanly!). They checked my ears and teeth, stuck their fingers in my stomach, and then pronounced that I was fine but arthritic in one joint.

The long and short of this visit was that I am just getting old. No drugs for me, nah uh. No drugs to even get me home in that stupid truck. Oh the INDIGNITY! They stuffed me back in the %#!@$* container again and back home in the noisy, bumpy truck. I forgive them already...Meow!

These Boots are made for...uh...well, never mind!

I was going to take part in Wordless Wednesday, but instead I was drawn into another "wordless" arena....BJ the Cat had a little something to do with it.

BJ the Cat gets his daily 'bit' of milk at breakfast every day. We don't give him too much because he sometimes pukes it back up along with some of his dry food breakfast. Not a pretty sight!

Today we heard the typical "growlp-growlp-growlp" auditory warning of impending milk treat rejection. First he targeted a kitty basket. As usual, one puke is not enough for BJ. The second installment, a minute later, landed directly in Dad's shoes (BOTH OF THEM, INSIDE!!!)

After that, I broke into a fit of laughter, the kind of laughter that I typically break into when My Sweetie trips or falls or whatever. All I could hear was My Sweeties voice..."my f*&^%ng shoes...my f%^*&#g shoes".

My Sweetie had to wash his shoes out in the sink and now put them away to dry - growling all the time.

Poor BJ - He is now in his hidey spot in the basement, the place where he goes in order to get away from whatever made him puke in the first place.

Poor Sweetie - I told him to put his shoes in the cupboard but he wouldn't listen!
:-)

One Kitty Left.....Still

How do you like that for a picture of an unhappy kitty with a little yellow mousey sitting on his head? Well, he was a tad unhappy in that picture and he has been slightly unhappy lately too.

Yesterday, BJ, our only remaining kitty, went to the vet. He had been walking around favoring his right side, and we became increasingly concerned. He looked uncomfortable, and we had no idea what was going on. So we made an appointment for him. Both of us were nervous as to what they might find, but we were adamant that he would be coming home with us that evening.

The trip to the vet is always an ordeal. He constantly mroooooowed during the drive, but at least he didn't poop, pee and puke the way poor CoCo used to do.

When he got there, he became Mr. Curious, exploring every surface and corner, and then he turned on the charm for the staff. They were particularly taken with his little pink nose (so are we hee).

Now, mind you, he is 15 years old, that dreaded old age number for a cat, so we shouldn't really be too surprised that he may have ailments associated with aging, but BJ's behaviour is very much like that of a kitten sometimes. When we still had CoCo, she would, at times, appear older than BJ.

In the end, BJ came home with us and got lots of cuddles and treats. He is just an old guy who has a bit of arthritis linking back to an injury that he had a few years ago, when he got his foot caught in a crevice in the basement and had to have one of his toes amputated. When his foot got caught, he probably twisted his knee as well, hence the difficulty later in his little life. He was never quite the same after that I guess.

But at least we still have him, hopefully for quite some time.

Blog Action Day - Blogging for the Environment

"Blogging for the Environment. Today is Blog Action Day, and the theme this year is the environment. If you have a blog and want to join in, all you have to do is use today to post something related to the environment, in whatever way, shape, or form you prefer. You can pick an environmental issue that has meaning for you and let us know why it's important. Organize a beach or neighborhood cleanup and tell us about it. If you're into fiction writing, give us a story with an environmental theme. Have a podcast, videoblog, or photoblog? Join the fun! The idea here is to have a mass effect on public awareness by sharing as many ideas in as many ways as possible. If you're game for participating, go register your blog Blog Action Day with the 7,000+ other blogs (with 5 million readers!) that are already signed up. Also, see the Blog Action Day blog for more on how bloggers can change the world."

Happy Blog Action Day.

We all do little things to make our environment. It might be something as small as recycling our plastics or turning the lights off if not being used.

Our household actively tries to do the following:
- use energy efficient light bulbs (the curly Q type)
- use green waste boxes for food to be recycled/composted (the City provided everyone with a small one for kitchen use and a large one which goes out on garbage day)....the red one is coming in the future (for hazardous waste)
- use brown leaf bags to recycle lawn/tree cuttings
- use blue boxes to recycle glass and hard plastics
- use grey boxes to recycle paper and cardboard
- when we eat out, will bring home the containers and recycle them if the establishment does not recycle
- use less plastic water bottles. Buy a Rubbershmaid bottle and refill it!
- speaking of Rubbershmaid, if your old containers have bit the dust, don't throw them out. I use old ones to store a variety of things, from matches to tealight candles.
- when shopping, bring your own bags. We do this especially for food shopping. As a matter of fact, we no longer do huge groceries. On our fridge, we keep a list of things that we 'need', and we only buy those things. It sure saves money!
- recycling is relative to shopping. Before purchasing something, ask yourself 'do I really need this?'


Everything makes a difference. Remember, we're all in this together. Life is good. Let's keep it that way.

Friday's Feast - One Hundred and Sixty-Four

Welcome to Feast One Hundred & Sixty-Four
for
Friday, October 12th, 2007

Pull up a chair and dig in!
Friday's Feast is a meme of five questions
cooked up by the chef each and every week.
Enjoy!

Appetizer
When was the last time you were surprised?

In August, when we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, we received some nice cards from some very close friends.

Soup
Fill in the blanks: My eyes are ________, but I wish they were __________.

My eyes are hazel, but I wish they were nothing different than what they are. I happen to like my eyes the way that they are.

Salad
If you were a Beanie Baby, what would you look like and what would your name be?

I would probably morph into a kitty Beanie Baby....and I'd be called Minky.

Main Course
Name two things you consistently do that you consider to be healthy habits.

Gosh, I do many things...exercise regularly, eat fruits and veggies, track my food intake, drink lots of water.

Dessert
What brand of toothpaste are you using these days? Do you like it? Why or why not?

We use Colgate, and we like it.

BJ's Update: Election Day

Hi! It's me, BJ, the cat! Well, yesterday was election day here in Ontario, Canada, and my parents, were involved in getting the vote out. They also offered our house to be one of the host houses.

This surely spelled trouble for me.

A host house is when an individual's house becomes a mini command central on election day. It serves as a central meeting place for the volunteers who are working the polls in the related riding. This means that people have a place to get their instructions, use the phone, washroom, have lunch and dinner, take a break, get a drink and a snack. It becomes their home away from home.

This also means that I got to spend my day hiding out in the basement, in my snuggly place, with my litter, my food, and my water. This also meant that I was subjected to loud blaring stereo music, altering between heavy rock and soothing classical.

And they kept ringing that darned doorbell! Now that really makes my fur stand up!

This entire day lasted from about 8 o'clock in the morning, til my folks got home around 1AM. Then I quietly creeped back upstairs and crawled into bed with my 2 favourite people.

p.s. - my folks were out so late because they were celebrating!!!!! Yay to our lady who took Barrie!!!

For My Ontario Voters

Get your Vote Out TODAY!

I am on vacation day - working on the Provincial election to get the vote out.

Our house is one of five command centrals.......Yay!!!

I Am An Alien

But then some of us already knew that...right?

Found this at Skittles' Place....and while I thank her for the link, I must say....AN ALIEN!!!! REALLY!!

Your Halloween Costume Should Be

An Alien

What Should You Be For Halloween?

Bloggy Fall Cleanup

My blog was overdue for a facelift. I was getting tired of the dark colors of my previous blog, and there was a general sloppiness about it that needed some attention. Hopefully this new look will alleviate some of that sluggishness.

I learned a few things about myself through this process (okay, I probably already knew these things).

I am organizational freak. I like to have a place for things and things in their places. I am obsessed about having organized spots.....hence the reason for the new pockets of links at the side. Everything in a neat little bucket. I also detest having and maintaining long rolling lists of links. I absolutely hate scrolling and scrolling to try and get anywhere. I find it a pain.

Motto: don't hide your good stuff at the bottom.

Through this cleanup process, I also, sadly, removed some links, either due to lack of recent updates or due to lack of interest (ie, lack of interest for me). That hurt, because I know that some of those people gave up blogging. *sniff*. My old faithfuls are still there, and even some which you can't see, and there are some new links that I enjoy visiting.

So, with that, I hope you enjoy the new look.

Happy Thxgiving....and remember...it's not about the food.....

Friday's Feast - One Hundred and Sixty-Three

Welcome to Feast One Hundred & Sixty-Three
for
Friday, October 5th, 2007

Pull up a chair and dig in!
Friday's Feast is a meme of five questions
cooked up by the chef each and every week.
Enjoy!

Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you look forward to your birthday?

Because my parents always made a big deal of my birthday, I get excited, so it would be a 10, but I usually get let down once it actually arrives, so that 10 drops to about a 2.

Soup
What is one word you don’t like the sound, spelling, or meaning of?
There are many words that I dislike. Here are a few which particularly irk me: any swear word, chill, addy.

Salad
Do you wear sunglasses when you’re outside? If so, what does your current pair look like?

When it's sunny out I wear sunglasses. I have 2 pair right now. One is a pair of RayBans and the other pair I got at Harley Davidson...black with rubber around the inside to prevent slippage..great for the boat..

Main Course
If you were to write a book, to whom would you dedicate it?

I would dedicate it in memory of my parents.

Dessert
Name a beverage that you enjoy.

Iced Capps!!! Made with milk of course.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

BJ's Update

Hi! It's me, BJ! My Mom thought it would be a great idea if I did a post every now and then, and so here I am, hiding under a pile of tissue paper. I just luv tissue paper.

A little background about me. I'll be 15 years old this month. I'm just an old fart of a cat. My Mom and Dad found me in Midland, on a farm. I was advertised as a free kitten, along with my sibling. Because I was just so adorable, I was scooped up and brought home to join Muffy and Cleo. CoCo later joined the household, and we became a cat house of 4. Eeek! Muffy went to kitty heaven in 1999 and Cleo in 2000. Then it was only me and CoCo....and little did I know that she would smother my space!

Now, you know I am the Top Cat now, since the other one (CoCo) left. I don't know where she went, but now I seem to have the entire house to myself. I have My Mom's lap to sit on whenever I want it, and I don't have to be afraid of getting kicked off. I have My Dad's stomach to lie on when I go to sleep with them at night. I get to eat MY food whenever I want, without being pushed out of the way. I even go out on the patio (with someone of course) so that I can roll around and smell the air.

Now, this is not to say that CoCo was a brute, but she certainly did command her space. She just seemed to dominate everywhere.

I am so glad that My Parents have decided not to bring home another cat. I really am enjoying the spotlight.

Have a purrrrrfect Thanksgiving.....til next time....meow xx

That Time of Year

Fall is here....sort of. Some days it feels like a hot summer day outside, while the nights get downright chilly. From my window I see the trees losing their leaves. We all know what that means.

This year, fall is also wrapped around a Provincial election. My Sweetie and I are working with one of the local candidates, and hoping for a win, and most assuredly a change, since it appears to be time for one.

How did this start? Well, a few years ago, we got involved as a way to funnel my frustration. It was a great experience. Even though we worked long and hard, our candidate did not win, but we learned so much and met new people. So, it seems that in small cities/towns/whatever, one hand washes the other, and here we are again working.

Now, I have always been kind of shy about discussing this other side of my life. I am not a political activist by any means. Neither am I a protestor. I am simply involved in this group endeavour along with a number of other really fine people. Sometimes, there are events to which we get invited, and I need to rearrange my gym/work schedule to accomodate. Sometimes people are curious as to why I can't be at the gym for example. The other night I finally told someone what we do. To my amazement my blurt was received positively (which surprised the heck out of me). I didn't really feel uncomfortable talking about it either (although my tone of voice was certainly waaaay quiet, in case others would hear). I was asked if I ever got frustrated while calling on people at their homes. I guess I mostly get frustrated when people say that they don't vote, but moreso if a woman says she never votes, and even moreso if a woman says that she votes the same way that her husband votes. Other than that I don't get too frustrated. We are merely messengers.

So far it is great. We can even feel the momentum working in our favour...at least we'd like to think so.

~`~ V~`~O~`~T~`~E~`~
(don't let others speak for you)

Update as of 8:30ET - We just got back from our very first political rally, where the premier came to speak. How can I best describe this? Exciting, full of energy, fun, alive, crowded....WOW!

Disturbed People's Day

Today is International Disturbed People's Day !


Please send an encouraging message to a disturbed friend... just as I've done.


I don't care if you lick windows,
take the special bus
or occasionally pee on yourself...
You hang in there sunshine,
you're special.

*sent to me in email, thankfully from a crazy friend*

Stuck In The Bathroom With You

Yes I'm stuck in the bathroom with you,
And I'm wondering what it is I should do,
It's so hard to keep this sweat off my face,
Losing control, yeah, I'm all over the place,
Throne to the left of me, Shower to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the bathroom with you.
*Stealer's Wheel lyrics modified somewhat*

My Sweetie and I used the marina showers on the weekend. Because these are showers in individual rooms, we usually share so that frees up a shower for someone else. So, we did our thing, and were just gathering our things to leave, when we couldn't...leave that is. I unlatched the deadbolt, turned the doorknob, but the door she no open.

*note - I am claustrophobic in these situations, and proceed to panic, sweat, scream, pull clothes off...etc*

So I did what I should do, and started to knock on the adjoining walls and scream at the back of the door, all the while My Sweetie is telling me to calm down and be quiet.

Of course I can't.

After some time, a voice from the free world responds, and says that they will try to get us out. So they try. They jiggle the little metallic piece which has become jammed, but nothing is happening. We are still held captive in the washroom (good thing neither of us had offloaded a stinky bowel movement!).

So we continue to watch the crack of the door, in the hopes that the broken latch will soon become unjammed.

Now, picture if you will, that My Sweetie has his face planted pretty much right up against the door, peering closely at the latch. At the very last second, he moves away....good thing too because just at that particular moment, there was a loud *BANG*. Someone kicked the door in, the door flew open, and we were free!!!

But we couldn't help thinking about My Sweetie's predicament if he had not moved away from the door when they kicked it in, since they gave no warning that they were about to do so.

He could have had his nose broken. He could have had his face smashed. He could have been knocked out cold. He could have been spending his evening at the Emergency and not just the washroom.

Enjoy the pseudo earworm.....

I Make Someone Smile!!

(Beware - This post contains happy content.)

"It takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown."

A powerful little saying, but oh so true.

Did you ever meet up with someone that you knew, and you had a big smile on and happy things to say, and then the other person grumps all over you?

Been there.

Did you ever meet up with someone, and you greeted them with a happy face, and you get 'what the bleep are you smiling about?'

Been there.

Skittles passed this award on to me, because I am one of the people who makes her smile. That's a good thing.

It's always nice when you find out that someone has smiled about something that you wrote, in fact it's darn right cool! I try to write about me, about experiences related to my time on this earth, and I try to be entertaining. I enjoy visiting other blog sites, most of them listed on my sidebar, but some not (surprise!). And with that, I get to pass this award on to other people who make ME smile.

Inner Dialogues
Down River Drivel
Dork-O-Rama: Random Thoughts of Total Goofball
The Rising Blogger
Crazy Working Mom

Enjoy...and be happy!

Stray Cats

A certain post, over at Inner Dialogues, reminded me of a couple of stray kitties that My Sweetie had befriended over the years. Perhaps they befriended us. No matter. We named one of the kitties Scottie and the other Buster.

Both of these cats had been owned, at least that is what we were led to believe, and the owners had decided that they no longer fitted with the family lifestyle. So they were left behind to fend for themselves.

Scottie was the first to land on our doorstep, and would come by to visit for quite a few years. When Scottie died (we assumed), Buster started to come by.

We'd give food and water, and because they let us, they'd let us approach so they could be petted. Now, it wasn't like the cats were there all the time. Sometimes they would disappear for a few months, and them reappear one day at our front door. Sometimes, I'd be doing the dishes, and would look out and there would be a body....sitting at the door....hoping to get some food. Or I'd hear the famous Mmmmmmmrrrooooww! I knew that was our call to action.

One of the last times we saw Buster, he came to visit with sores all over his body (probably from fighting). Festering sores. One of the sores even had a branch stuck in it. We knew we had to do something. He was suffering. He even let us put him into a spare cat cage that we had. The vet said that he was in pretty bad shape, and we bid him farewell.

There is a phrase 'Cats leave paw prints on our hearts.' This is imprinted on a rock that sits on my cat shelf.

This is so true...and it doesn't matter whether it's our own cat or whether it's a passerby, because whenever I think of the cats that have have popped into our lives, my heart aches.

Scottie - November 2001


Buster - May 2004

Head Is Spinning

My head is going around and around. Various tidbits are floating around in my head, including earworms. Bah. (earworm alert => you spin me right round baby right round....like a record baby...)

Firstly, I went to bed last night and woke up this morning with Brian Melo's voice singing Kharma Police, and also singing the new-to-be-released single. (btw - if you're interested, YouTube has his Kharma Police performance). Earworms are bad enough, and can take over your whole persona if you let them, but this one I can'r seem to shake. Argh!

So now, I have 3 earworms roaming through my head. Just great.

Secondly, we have another neighbour who has decided to do some property adjustments in the form of new stone walkway. This, of course, entails cutting of said stones and pounding and leveling said ground. Translation => NOISE (which is not great since I wok from my home). Bah. (earworm alert => boom boom boom, like a hammer to the heart...(from the first ever BodyStep release)).

The only interesting thing about the neighbour's property work was watching the workers. They would ogle the good looking ladies who were walking their kiddies to school. And I do mean ogle....the kind of ogle where the head gets cranked right out of the neck. (earworm => pretty woman walkin down the street).

Oh, and they also worked shirtless....and had tatoos on their arms....and no plumbers crack....or beer bellies. (earworm => flaunt it lyrics...come on and flaunt it, what ya mama gave you )

Thirdly, there is an Internet cold going around, and I have a small touch of that. Now, I am not quite sure how these colds are passed on through the Internet since none of us actually see or touch each other (earworm alert => reach out and touch ...somebody now...).

So, I guess that I'll go to the gym, and do a class, where I'll hopefully leave with another earworm to replace all of the others that are cluttering up my head today.

Melo Yelo

Canadian Idol does it again, although for awhile there I wasn't sure who I was rooting for. Some of my original picks had been voted off, and at one point, nobody really stood out.

Then, Brian Melo sang Kharma Police by Radiohead.


I was smitten...(a) because I like that song, and (b) because of the way that Melo performed it. He has a raspy, raw, powerful voice. He is also very humble. He acknowledges his roots and his family for his success so far. Like the infamous Taylor Hicks and Fantasia, I would buy his music.

Now, I have to admit that I did have a small soft spot for the other contestant....Jaydee Bixby, the 17 year old with another powerhouse voice. He sings with a country twang, and performs for seniors (he can't be all bad then, can he?), but there was something that I wasn't comfortable with...maybe the fact that I would never buy anything that he would release. Pretty good reason for me.

So another season ended last night with the king being crowned. Performers such as Bon Jovi was also on the show (pretty amazing band...and their music is widely used in our Body classes), Avril Lavigne (such a cutie), and Eva Avila, last year's Canadian Idol, .....and wow has she matured...luv her.

So, congrats to our new Canadian Idol! Can't wait for American Idol now!

The Attack of the Toilet

*I'll probably get hit for that title*

My toilet attacked me today. Nasty ceramic bowl of nothingness.

A little background.

My quads and butt are very sore from my workout sessions. Since returning from vacation, it's been a bit of a struggle to get back on track with my regular workout routine, and the past 2 weeks have been ON (right on brother!). With that, I have a few sore muscles, and rightly so.

This morning, though, my muscles and the toilet got into a fisticuffs, and I was the victim of the assault.

*note small bathroom*.

I was just about to sit down on the royal throne, in a half squat position (you know...somewhere between standing and falling down). I proceeded to lift the lid of the toilet, and then I would sit. Actually it's kind of a synchronous motion....squat, lift lid, sit....tada!......but the lid didn't stay up.

The lid started to come down, just as I was lowering. The lid poked me in the butt, and I went into a forward vault with my head crashing into the wall. I have never seen stars before (except in our wondrous skies), but I did this time! I guess I tapped my noggin in the sweet spot.

Moral of the story?
Always make sure the toilet seat is firmly in position before going anywhere!

Ten Years On

Today is a very special and sad day. Ten years ago, Princess Diana perished in a car crash. In the days and weeks leading up to this day, we have heard many versions of what happened that day, from conspiracy to supposed theory. Maybe the stories are true, and maybe not.

One thing is for sure. We probably all remember where we were when we heard the news of her death.

I do. Hence my post.

We were on our sailboat, in one of the nearby bays, rafted with friends. It was a lazy sort of day. People were rising, getting breakfast ready. I had just started to awaken, and was lazing in the V-berth. I heard My Sweetie talking to our friends. I heard the word 'Diana'.

My mind reeled with the possibilties of the news. Maybe she and Dodi were engaged. Maybe she and Dodi had eloped. Maybe there was some other reason for them to be in the news.

There was.

Now, anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a Royalty fan, and was especially a huge Princess Diana fan, pretty much from the first time I saw her. I was smitten, and that has not changed to this day.

My Sweetie came in to see me, and he had an odd expression on his face. I looked at him, and asked what was wrong. He hesitated at first, I guess not really knowing what to say. Then he told me that Princess Diana had died in a car crash.

From that moment on, I experienced all of the emotions that have been described in the media. Shock. Disbelief. Denial. Sadness. Never ending tears.

The following week was tortuous. The carpet of flowers at Kensington Palace. Details of the crash. Her funeral plans. Contraversy surrounded the Royal family's behaviour.

But I remember the tears. Tears that would continue well past the day of her funeral.

There is no logical explanation for us to feel this way. She was not a member of our family. Not a close friend. Not a dear neighbour.

But, in a way, she was all of these. She related to the common person, the sick, the poor, the helpless, sometimes by a simple touch, or a smile. She was the gift, which would bring the Royals into the current world.

I often wonder what her life would have been like if she had lived. We know that she was trying to be less in the spotlight, and was searching for a more reclusive life. Would she have remarried? Would she have, one day, seen her HRH restored?

We'll never know anything about that. But we may know other information, once the inquests continue.

Maybe it was indeed a 'crash', and not an 'accident'. Maybe there was something else.

Whatever.

Rest in Peace, Sweet Princess. You are still causing the world to pause and take note that you were an important part of our lives.

A Tidbit for you.....

Very busy with 'other stuff'.....

A friend sent this to me, and I thought it was cute, so I am posting it for your enjoyment.

BBQ Blues

BBQ Blues...not really...happy actually.

After many years, it was time to upgrade our BBQ. Things get old. Things get tired. Our BBQ was both old and tired....plus it had a mouse living somewhere inside of it.

*eeeyyyoooo*

Window shopping, without actually buying any of the window contents, is a wonderful experience, and if I were born in another era, I might have been a guy. I love to shop for cars, and BBQ's. If it were in my realm of possibility, I would have purchased the BBQ of all BBQ's. You know the kind....dual burners, wine fridge, rotisserie, wet bar capability, of course stainless steel. All of this would be built into an outdoor fireplace pit, nestled in the middle of the multi-level deck.

I could go on, but I am running out of virtual $$$, and need to get a grasp on reality.

In the end, we bought the cheapest BBQ that we could find. No, it was not stainless steel, and nor did it have any of the fancy bells and whistles that I dream of.

But it did have a side burner.....such extravagance.

May summer live on through December...

My Boyfriend's Having A Baby!

It's been quite a week in the newspapers and magazines. Strange headlines, with even stranger stories.

The title for today's post has to do with Gisele Bundchen...top model. Gisele is currently dating a guy who has an ex-girlfriend who is having his baby.

Can you just imagine this? Can you just imagine the scenarios?

"It's not mine...really."

"Uh, Gisele? I can't see you tonight because I have to diaper the baby."

"My ex wants me to attend birthing classes with her. Can we go to dinner some other night?"

"Don't interrupt me while I am reading how to be a good father to my ex's baby."

It's all a little surreal to me.

No wonder our world is so screwed up.

*wah*

Dead Person Talking

Lately, the newspapers have been producing some interesting fodder for my wee blog.

Yesterday was no exception.

The article noted something about how Germaine Greer was launching a verbal attack on the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

hmmm. This ought to be something to witness. Diana has been gone for almost 10 years (this month on August 31st).

I wonder how Diana is supposed to respond to thus verbal attack? Perhaps through a seance? Crystal ball? I know! Tarot cards!

Perhaps she'll come back to haunt Ms. Greer.

wooooooooooo!

To Writ..I Mean Write

Some titles you just have to read over and over and over.

When I spotted this headline (Pet camel kills woman while trying to have sex)
in one of the online papers, I did a double take. My mind whirled with the possibilities, as follows:

1. The camel was trying to have sex and the woman got killed for getting in the way.
2. The woman was trying to have sex and the camel got jealous, so he killed her.
3. The camel and the woman were trying to have sex with each other, and the woman just wasn't up to it, so the camel killed her.
4. The camel decided that the woman would be a good candidate to have sex, so it jumped her.

Which do you think it was?


Update:
The camel was 10 months old, and was a pet. It apparently jumped on the woman, perhaps to play, but more likely to engage in sexual activity...and it asphyxiated her.

The moral of the story.....don't have a camel as a pet! Doh!

Someone Thinks I'm Nice

Bing-bing-bing-bing...hear ye...hear ye!

Somebody on TV used to say 'it's nice to be nice to the nice'....so true.

Skittles received this Nice Matters award, and then passed it on to a few people, and I happen to be one of them. I am still blushing. As I commented at Skittles post, I wrote how I do not really put a lot of effort into being nice. It is just part of my nature. Sometimes it can be a bit trying, and most assuredly I too can be crabby, but being and staying crabby really takes more effort. So, nice it is. Thanks, Skittles.

This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass it on to others who you feel are deserving of this award.

The next one goes to Mau from It's About Time. Mau was one of my first returning readers. Since then we have become friends and have talked on the phone more than a few times. She never has anything but nice and encouraging to say and her posts are wonderful, especially when she does sound effects.

Wow. So nice. And so is she.

So, I am to pass this on to other people. So here goes. (I'd give one back to Skittles, but it just wouldn't be right, doncha know?).

Silverneurotic is one of those nice people. She always comes around to visit, and drops a little comment. Her blog is quite entertaining....and her life is quite different from my life, but there is always a touch of intrigue.....just to keep you coming back for more.

Terry, Queen of the Dorks and another nice person, is still one of my favourite people to visit. She is a bit of a kook (that's a good thing), and doesn't seem to take things seriously...also a very good thing, in this our most serious of all worlds. When I first got into blogging, I recall being attracted to the strange title of her blog. I have never looked back since.

Jeni , another nice lady with whom we have a few things. She loves to write, and does it very well. I adore her daily Bushisms (even though I had the same calendar and could look them up...but I preferred to read them her way).

Ruth , is a newer addition to my list of people to callout. I am still getting used to including her in my daily visits, but I do enjoy her style of writing. She is another beam of entertainment and good clean fun.

I have another nice person, Mairin, but she no longer has a blog, but I'd like to send her this little award anyway. Just because.

There are so many others I could include in this list, but these are some that stand out, and who always send a warm and fuzzy feeling that way (and we're not talking caterpillars here).

So, go on...pass this award on to someone nice that you know. Brighten their day.

It brightened mine.

Thanks, Skittles.

~Nice~

I See Stupid Drivers...I See Stupid Drivers Everywhere!

Yikes...between last night and today, I have seen stupid drivers everywhere.

Last night, I was returning from the gym. I was about to turn left on my green light, when I noticed in my right peripheral a car speeding toward the intersection. He did not look as though he was going to stop at the red light. At first, I double checked MY light, because I surely must have been mistaken (right?). Not! This guy had a red light, and he was supposed to stop. I stopped in my tracks, and the guy woke up and finally stopped his car, albeit 12 feet after the line.

Stupid!

Today, I ran out at lunchtime, and there was a guy stopped at a red light. Out of nowhere, he started his car and tore through the intersection, just as cars were starting their advanced turns.

Stupid!

Then again, there was a guy who HAD to turn into Wendy's, like right now.....except that it was heavy lunchtime traffic, and he tore right across 4 lanes, with only inches to spare.

Stupid!

*it's one thing to be able to technically drive a vehicle, but a totally different thing to be able to drive defensively*

Halloween...or Christmas???

Yesterday, I had to go to the local craft store to pick up some cross stitching materials. Now, they have reorganized this store, so that when you first walk in , you are never really sure where exactly everything is. Eventually, I was saved and found where I needed to go.

While I was picking out the 'stuff', I kept hearing 'woo hooo.....wooo hoooo'.My first thought was that this sounded like Halloween ghostie stuff. Sure enough, I was right. There in the main aisle, which I had not walked through, was the Halloween decoration setup. Everything was there.....

IT'S ONLY AUGUST 13TH FOR GOSH SAKES!!!!!

And, to make us cringe even more, the Christmas stuff was threatening to take over the Halloween decor (like go figure...Christmas cross stitch on sale!!!).

Yikes.

Now, I, being a crafter, realize that you have to start your craft projects now in order to have things ready for Christmas, but geez.....this was a shock to me, and also brought into focus the idea that these holidays are a matter of months away.

I take solace in the knowledge that we may be sailing til Canadian Thanksgiving....

*bah humbug*

and

*boo hoo*

Are You A Doodler?

No, not diddler...silly! Doodler!

Definition: To scrawl or scribble aimlessly and meaninglessly.

I am a doodler...big time. Yes, it's a total meaningless past time, but I enjoy it. Sometimes I doodle some festering mental plan. Sometimes I doodle a layout for a card that I plan on creating.

Now, some people doodle well enough to publish their works of art. These can be fancy and intricate and worthy of public consumption.

Not mine. Nah ah.

They are just scribbles that end up on a piece of paper somewhere.

Makes me wonder sometimes what is scrambled inside my brain!

The Mother of All Sudoku's

This is the mother of all Sudoku's, at least it is for the two of us.

This is for any experienced Sudoku lovers who are interested in a bit of a challenge. Inexperienced players need not apply.

We started doing this one while on vacation. We are both stumped at the same spot, and by cracky we cannot find the next spot. Of ourse, that next spot will probably cause the entire puzzle to be solved.

So, if there are any Sudoku fans out there who want to give this expert one a try...please, be our guest and work on it at your own leisure.

P.S.- we're looking for the logic of the next number...please leave a comment.

Col1	Col2	Col3	Col4	Col5	Col6	Col7	Col8	Col9
___	9	___	___	3	2	4	___	___
___	1	___	___	___	6	3	___	___
___	8	___	___	___	5	7	___	___
1	4	2	___	5	___	6	3	7
8	___	___	2	6	4	5	9	1
9	5	6	___	___	___	8	4	2
5	___	8	6	___	___	___	7	4
4	6	9	___	___	___	___	5	___
___	___	1	5	4	___	___	6	___

The Day That Never Ends

Our Silver Anniversary seems to continue on. Yesterday, there was a flower delivery, and of course cards. We went to one of the more upscale restaurants for a special dinner, and then came home. Ma Petite Cousine called, and it was good to be able to speak with her last night.

It's really kind of neat. People think it's a big deal to reach 25 years. I guess it is in this day and age, where disposable marriages are commonplace. Sure it takes a bit of work, mixed with some patience and understanding, but it's not a totally belaboured ordeal.

We just get along well. We are two peas in a 25 year old pod.

Today, I was informed that there is another flower delivery coming this afternoon. How cool. It's nice to have flowers for this type of occasion.

Our Silver Anniversary Today!

Happy 25th Anniversary to My Sweetie! Another milestone! Wow!

This morning, we exchanged cards, and both had similar sentiments about how it doesn't feel like 25 years, and how time seems to have flown by. I guess you could say that same thing about life in general. It certainly has not felt like 25 years, but it's been a good 25 years. I am very lucky to have found My Sweetie. He's the top of the heap for me.

Last night, while reading Harry Potter and waiting for Canadian Idol to start, I was looking at our group wedding photo, and reminiscing about the night before our wedding, which was the ceremony rehearsal and a subsequent dinner held in a room where our wedding reception would be. That was a really cool night, except for the life of me I cannot recall what I ate, nor can I remember what I ate at our wedding. Too much excitement, and other things to cloud the mind.

Now, the event would not have gone smoothly of course. My parents, just 3 months prior to our wedding, had to move from the house they had been in for 25 years. This meant that I would not be married from my childhood home. It also meant that my parents had to deal with unpacking and settling in AND deal with the wedding. Talk about stress. But, they did it, and everything worked out in the end.

Today at this time, 25 years ago, I think I was having my hair and makeup done. I remember that it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, and it promised to be a warm one. I recall that the photographer was to be at the house fairly early to snap pre-wedding photos of the bridal preparations, and was also going to visit the groom for pre-photos there.

I remember that the day was full of ToDo's, and in the end, that day too just flew by. That's life.

So cheers to us, and cheers to another 25 years.

Another Vacation Come and Gone

We have returned from our 14 day boat-a-thon vacation, and I must admit that I am still foggy-brained. Foggy-brained may not be a typical word, but my brain has turned to absolute mush over the past 2 weeks.

It was a most excellent vacation. I am so well-rested that I can hardly stand up! So, what did we do you might ask. Well, for starters, we spent 14 days afloat on our boat. We anchored out for every one of those 14 days, always in search of a special bay somewhere. We never paid to stay at any dock. Just dropped anchor in the most adorable of spots. We cooked our own transported food, swam in lovely warm water, and read. I, the slowest reader in the world, managed to read the first 3 Harry Potter books, and have now started the third. Of course, I am working my way up to book 7, so no spoilers please.

We started out the trip by staying for 3 nights at our favourite bay, Brown bay. Because there was no one else around, we got to skinny dip! When we weren't doing that, we were listening to the loons, swimming, reading.

When we finally pulled up anchor, we decided to go to Port Rawson. This id one of the bays that is a popular anchorage in these areas. We don't get to stay there very often, and on this occasion we were 1 of 3 boats anchored there. We were enjoying the quiet of the area for all of about 15 minutes, then the quiet dissipated in a hurry. Around the corner came a 70 foot Viking....followed by a second on, then a third one. In total there were about 12 of these huge monsters arriving. Each of these vessels ranged in size from 50 to 70 feet. They all had multi-level decks, and every imaginable boat toy possible. Of course, once they had settled in, they never turned off their generators. Why? Because they had to keep all of their expensive boat gadgets powered. Now, you have to picture this. We were the only sailboat amid a crowd of 16 huge power vessels. Needless to say we felt a little overpowered (heh). So we did what we had to do to survive. We raised our Air-Chair (the same one that was in the picture for my last post). Well, I'll tell you that these power vessels may have had a slew of fancy gadgets, but not one of them had an Air Chair! Na uh! While I was swinging happily in the air, one of the couples got in their dinghy and floated by staring at me in the air. I think they were trying to figure out what it was and how they could rig something like that from their overhanging deck (since power boats don't have halyards).

By now the bay was humming with the sound of generators. In fact some of the boats never shut them down all through the night. So, this was not what we came for, so the next day we pulled up the anchor and moved to a quieter spot just around the corner. It was so nice that we stayed there for 3 days.

No sailing trip would be complete without a thunderstorm or 2, or 3, and we had one specific doozy of a storm. We had been anchored in Kilcoursie Bay. We had been enjoying a nice couple of days there. The weather was on the horizon. It happened around midnight. The thunder was deafening, the rain pelted down, and the lightning was vewy scawy. A few boats popped their anchors and were dragged out of the bay (they had to re-anchor once things had settled down).

Other than that, we had an extremely lazy vacation, just the way vacations are supposed to be.

Oh, and a BJ update:
BJ is doing quite well. He was totally spoiled with care from my BIL and SIL (many many thanks to both of you xxx). In fact, the little guy even came out to visit them, I was told. So that is truly marvy, because he doesn't do that for too many people. I think he is happy to have us back home, and I don't doubt that he will be snuggling with us tonight.

Tap-Tap-Tap....Anybody Home?

Nope, not here, well soon anyway. Tonight we are doing the Happy Dance. We are on vacation....finally. So what does this mean exactly? Well, for us it means two weeks to explore new places and meet new people, while travelling the waterway on our sailboat.

And let me tell you that this is no straight and easy feat.

You see, our boat is also our tent, if you will. While landlubbers hitch their tent on the back of their car, and head for campsites, we untie the docklines and head out on the water.

We have all of the amenities to survive a vacation off the grid, and this a good thing, since the grid needs a little rest methinks. It just takes a little bit of planning to get us to Nirvana land. We bring our own food and beverages, bottled water, entertainment, clothing for four seasons (this IS Canada after all). It's sort of like packing for a few extra weekends, but not knowing what weather we'll actually experience, so we bring LOTS.

We'll have to stop at the storage and pick up the kayak, and floating chair and 2 telescope chairs.

It sounds like a chore, and in some ways it is, because we repackage things to fit into small spaces, and leave the garbage at home, but once we get everything stowed away, and those docklines are free, so are we. It's a feeling of excitement mixed with anxiety, happiness and hysteria. Freedom from the rat race, the expectations, the demands.

So, I leave you with this picture of My Sweetie. It was taken last year at the Benjamin Islands. Doesn't he appear to be having the most leisurely time in the floating chair?

*the chair is calling*


**if I find a wireless connection somewhere, I'll be able to blog**

I Heard the Sound Of.......

It was a typical sailing weekend. We went to find a sheltered bay, to protect us from winds and waves. Instead of going to one of our usual spots, we decided to try a new spot, which was located near a camp. It was a nice anchorage, big enough so that not many boats could enter.

We settled in for the evening, listening to the sounds of the kiddie campers, singing their campfire songs, and banging on tribe-like drums. It was pretty magical to hear this at night, as the sounds echoed through the forest.

The next morning, we lazed around after breakfast. We were comfy in the cockpit, having breakfast, watching the kiddie campers go sailing in their Pico sailboats and Hobie-cats. While some of the campers were sailing, there were other campers on shore, singing typical camp songs, and once again, banging in unison on the camp drums. The sound of the thumping was again very tribe-like; almost as though these kiddies were going to war or something.

Then we heard it.

One lone voice in the woods.

"No! I don't want to!"

"No! I don't want to!"

When we first heard this, we thought really bad things, like someone was being forced to do something that they didn't want to. With that in mind, we were preparing to go ashore to the camp to see if assistance was required.

Then we heard more.

"I want to go home."

"I want you to come and get me NOW!"

"I don't want to stay here!"

"Get me the F*** out of her....NOW!"

These were the sounds of some poor young, spoiled lady, who desperately wanted to go home. She was either a counsellor, or a camper, we did not know which, but one thing was certain....SHE WAS NOT VERY HAPPY, and did not want to be where she was!

From what we could make out, she was on her cell phone or a pay phone, probably talking to her parents, and the call lasted a good 20 minutes.

We continued to hear these cries from the woods, and wondered when she would be escorted out of the forest and back to civilization (gosh why would someone want to have that?). We also don't know if she ever made it off the island (hello Gilligan?)

What we do know is that eventually, her telephone cries were drowned out by the sounds of the campers, singing their camp songs in loud unison.....and the woods continued to echo with the sound of tribe-like drums.

Word (less) Sunday (almost wordless)

Just thought that I would post this photo (with permission granted from his Pop) of a young relative of ours. After a hard day at play, and in severe need of a nap, he has this habit of gathering all of the nearby pillows, and scooping them all around him.

And then he nods off to sleepy land.

Just too cute for words I think, but I found some anyway.

I can hear y'all saying 'awwwwwwww!'.

(Click on the image to enlarge).

It's My Sweetie's Birthday Today!

Happy Birthday to My Sweetie!

I know that he will eventually read this. He always reads my blog entries, and, at times, he is my Editor. Every writer needs an Editor, and he does an excellent job.

So, this morning, we did the birthday giftie thing. I made him a special card...motorcycle theme. Even BJ made him a card (such a crafty little kitty).

Now, this is the last birthday before he enters the half-century club. Hang on to #49, Honey, and look forward to many more happy birthdays.

On that note, I leave you with some tidbits of information for your special day. Enjoy!

Word of the Day for July 6, 2007
GAUCHERIE - A tactless or awkward act
Example: The mother was embarrassed by the GAUCHERIE of her child.
Synonyms: gaffe, solecism

Positive Quote for July 6, 2007
Perhaps love is the process of my leading you gently back to yourself.

-- Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Daily Motivator for July 6, 2007
It's already yours
You already have what it takes to be anything you want to be, to have anything you want to have, to live the way you want to live. The ability to create the life you desire, is already yours.

Your job is to find that ability, make use of your potential, and take the actions that will lead to the achievement you desire.

It is foolish to wish that you could get something for nothing. Foolish, and quite unnecessary. Because you already have everything you could possibly want, if you will just find it and make use of it.

You won't get something for nothing, and you don't need it anyway. Look inside yourself. Find the value that is already there, and make the most of it. Whatever you truly desire, you already have the ability to acquire. It's up to you to make it happen.

People Born on July 6, 2007
Geoffrey Rush (1951)
Actor who came to the attention of the media when he gave an Oscar-winning performance in the 1996 film, Shine. Rush began his stage career in his native Australia in the 1970s. He starred in a production of "Waiting for Godot" in 1979, with a then-unknown Mel Gibson, and did not make the leap to the big screen until Twelfth Night in 1986. In addition to his critically acclaimed performance in Shine, Rush has also appeared in Twisted (1996), Shakespeare in Love (1998), Elizabeth (1998), Les Miserables (1998), Mystery Men (1999), Quills (2000), Lantana (2001), and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. He is also the voice of Nigel in the hit animated film Finding Nemo.

Sylvester Stallone (1946)
Actor who attended beauty school before discovering his true calling. Stallone began his film career as a screenwriter, and struggled for many years in New York before penning the script to the 1976 hit, Rocky. Rocky was the sleeper smash that year, earning critical acclaim and spawning a successful series of sequels. Stallone has since enjoyed a lucrative acting career, starring in films including Rambo: First Blood (1982), Tango and Cash (1989), Lock Up (1989), Oscar (1991), Demolition Man (1993), Judge Dredd (1995), Daylight (1996), Cop Land (1997), Driven (2001) and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. In addition to his many talents, Stallone is also a gifted painter.

George W. Bush (1946)
43rd President of the United States. Upon graduating with his MBA from Harvard Business School, Bush served in the Texas Air National Guard as an F-102 pilot, and worked on his father’s presidential campaign in 1988. Before being elected as the 46th Governor of Texas in 1994, Bush was a managing general partner of the Texas Rangers.

Ned Beatty (1937)
Actor who gave a memorable performance as Lex Luthor’s accomplice, Otis, in the first two Superman films (1978, 1980). Beatty began his career in show business on the Broadway stage in "The Great White Hope." His performance did not go unnoticed, for he was soon offered a role in the 1972 film Deliverance. After making his screen debut, Beatty had no trouble finding work. He has since appeared in films including Our Town (1977), Friendly Fire (1979), The Toy (1982), The Big Easy (1986), Back to School (1986), Repossessed (1990), Prelude to a Kiss (1992), Rudy (1993), The Affair (1995), Cookie’s Fortune (1999) and Where the Red Fern Grows (2003).

Della Reese (1931)
Actress and ordained minister whose portrayal of the angel, Tess, on "Touched By an Angel," inspired viewers for nearly a decade (1994-2003). In 1953, Reese moved to New York to embark on a career in music. She was met with success and released the hit singles "And That Reminds Me" and "Don’t You Know." Reese began to host her own talk show in 1969 and joined the cast of the sitcom, "Chico and the Man," in 1976. Reese starred in two other sitcoms, "It Takes Two" (1982) and "Charlie and Co." (1986), before appearing in her first feature film, Harlem Nights, in 1989. In addition to her work on "Touched By An Angel," Reese has appeared in the TV movies "Miracle in the Woods" (1997), "Emma’s Wish" (1998), "The Secret Path" (1999) and "The Moving of Sophia Myles" (2000).

Music History for July 6, 2007
In 1998, Indonesian pop star Iwan Fals gives a free concert in Jakarta. More than 5,000 economically devastated people break out in a riot and charge the stage, hurling bottles and sticks and shoes. Fals barely escapes the mob and flees with his band to a nearby hotel.

In 1998, Acclaimed cowboy singer and actor Roy Rodgers, 86, dies in his sleep at his home in the desert community of Apple Valley, Calif. The 'King of the Cowboys' had been ill with congestive heart failure for some time.

In 1991, Van Halen's 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's pop album chart.

In 1976, The Damned give their performance debut at the 100 Club in London.

In 1971, Trumpeter Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong dies. He had turned 71 two days earlier. He wins a Grammy in 1965 as Best Male Vocal Performance for 'Hello Dolly,' a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1972 and is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 as a forefather of rock music.

In 1965, No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction,' The Rolling Stones. It is the Stones' first No. 1 single in the U.S.

In 1964, The Beatles' first film, 'A Hard Day's Night,' premieres in London.

In 1937, 'Duke of Earl' Gene Chandler (Eugene Dixon) is born in Chicago. His biggest hit is 'Duke of Earl,' which tops Billboard's Hot 100 for three weeks in 1962.

In 1925, Rock n' roll pioneer Bill Haley (William John Clifton Haley Jr.) is born in Highland Park, a section of Detroit. The biggest hit for Bill Haley & His Comets is the rock n' roll classic '(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock,' a No. 1 song for eight weeks in 1955. He is posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

HAVE A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
XXX

"Middle Age" Meets "Youth"

We were invited to a Pot Lock dinner at a friend's house, a gathering of fitness enthusiasts. We were sitting on the back deck, enjoying the evening. In a neighbouring backyard, four young lads were playing guitars and a bongo drum.

Two different worlds it seemed.

Our hostess decided to ask them to join us later, if they wished, provided they brought their instruments. As the temperature dropped, our little party moved inside. We warmed up various foods, and settled into comfy chairs, and chatted.

"Knock-knock-knock" at the rear patio door.

The young lads were at the back door, armed with instruments, and ready to play. They came inside, hopped up on a couple of breakfast bar stools, and started to play. Our hostess offered them food and drink (mostly beer!).

They started to play. We were instantly hooked on their sound. Their voices all had a distinct quality. Their guitar playing was impressive, and they could pick up each other's musical cues quite easily.

I loved the bongo/drum playing. It has to be one of my favourite percussion instruments. It was more than just accompaniment. It added a whole different dimension. AC/DC never sounded so "funky', to use an old term.

Now, this little concert went on for a few hours. They played and sang. We sat, tapped our toes, clapped.

Then, after awhile, their friends started to arrive. One, two, three, more! Yet, we never felt alarmed. They were an easy-going, relaxed, and thoroughly friendly bunch.

One half of the room with the "youngsters", and the other half with the "oldsters". Quite a sight this must have been. (visions of the hired entertainment for senior citizens comes to mind).

We never heard us referred to as "old', though. Maybe the word "folks', but that was all.

As the evening grew late, a couple of young women arrived, and the time came for the whole group to leave for a party downtown. We all stood up to shake their hands, and thank them for coming and playing. They, in turn, were thanking us for inviting them and for listening.

A splendid meeting of two generations in a spirit of openness, trust, and sharing.

The world could use more of this spirit.