MY BAD LUCK

My Bad Luck!

What is it with me watching this movie, "The Other Boleyn Girl?" Or I should say NOT watching it!! I read the book and desperately wanted to see the movie, but for one reason or another and many attempts, I just never got to the movie theater to see it. So, then put my request into the Library for the DVD and my name went on hold and I was 2ND in line for weeks upon weeks!! Every time I asked I was still second in line to get it! Finally I began to make a noise about it and all of a sudden I jumped up to first place in line, where I remained for a few more weeks. Last week, I inquired again, and asked how long should it be! They said if it wasn't picked up on the last request, I'd have it this weekend. I got the call, IT WAS IN and FOR ME!!!! So, up we go to get it and home I came to watch it. I was thoroughly engrossed in it, when all of a sudden...it quit, and of course right at a part where Ann is in deep shit with the king! No matter what I did, it wouldn't start again. I'm certainly not technically inclined, but I think the problem was beyond what I could do, it's a disc problem! Why Me???????????????

So, the TV is back on and a movie just stated and it's called "A Bear Named Winnie", which is about a bear adopted as a mascot in the Army. Cute movie, but I was into lust, sex and betrayal before, and just can't get into a cute bear!! Aghhhhhhhh!!!!! The black cat crossed my path, I'm sure!!

This morning, Tom and I went for my favourite breakfast, "Monty Egg Bennie" at White Spot.

Mmmmm was it ever good!! Then we toured all the display tents of crafts down at Ambleside, and I saw a really nice hat that I wanted, but a woman was trying it on, turning her head this way and that, as she looked at herself in the mirror. I fell in love with the hat and was standing back trying to "will" her to decide against it, so I could grab it for myself. It was the only hat like it! Her friend didn't help my cause, as she was convincing the women with it on her head, how cute it looked on her!

Dang it!!

So, out came her wallet and she bought it. Then I went up to the display, and all the hats are priced at $65.00!!! THEN, I was glad she bought it!!! So, it wasn't an all bad luck moment!!

This is one of the picture's my Cousin Dorothy and roving photographer, took next door to the school where she met up with what looked like drug dealers in the back of the school. This house is where my friend Frances lived, and where I spent all my playing time when I lived in Owen Sound. What great memories and a beautiful house inside. Our house, which is now torn down, was down that little laneway on the left, between Frances house and the school. The lane was much wider then.

The school yard was much different back then and a fence all around the school parimeter. I spent many days, bouncing my red, white and blue rubber ball, off the side of her house seeing who could do it the longest. Remember the little songs we use to play and throw the ball under one leg and catch it, quickly turn around and catch it again. I wish I could remember those little songs we sang and the one's that where the skipping songs.There was a garage behind her house, and we'd dare each other to go upstairs in the garage which was used for storing junk. We we're sure that someone lived up there , or was hiding, so it was a scary game. I can remember the stuff stored up there and even then at a young age, knew they were valuable antiques, just discarded. We never ran into anyone living there but we sure had chills climbing those stairs!!

My father as a young boy, grew up in a beautiful home on Niagara on the Lake and used to tell us of the antiques stored in the attic when he was a child, and when they moved away, they left all that "junk" behind! Somebody gained a fortune when they bought that house. The house still stands and it's still a beautiful huge home.

Well, this didn't interest most people reading this, but that's my blog for this evening.
Happy Trails!

Note: Boy, some of the people in my posting are sure far away!!! First Afganistan and now Bangladesh???? AMAZING!!

AUGUST 1st/08

CUTE, CHUBBY, CHICK!

Gee, that picture of a plump red-head looks familiar!!

Here we are in August already! For some reason, the summer hasn't seen like a summer. Not once, did I wiggle my bare toes in the green grass, or sit under a tree in the shade and read, or watch the scenery, no swimming, no ice cream cones, no listening to music outdoors! Not once, have I been on the sea-wall, or wiggled my 10 toes in the sea! It just hasn't been a normal summer for me, it seems.

I'm hoping to take in some of the activity this weekend though, that is taking place around the area. Sat, I'd love to take in the huge chamber orchestra playing outdoors just a block away, then the big finale firework show on Sat. night, from our balcony, and on Saturday afternoon, I'd love to have a look at the gay parade with all the fancy outfits and floats that takes place downtown Vancouver. I hear it's a blast!! I'm only an onlooker!!!

What a photo-op, this could be!!

This is the month we go on our cruise to Alaska too!! I'm starting to count the days and can't wait!! All that great posh living....no meals to make, no beds, no laundry, just get up and entertain yourself....it fact, even the entertainment is done for you! How good can it get eh?

My cousin Dorothy(my roving reporter) sent me some more photo's of Strathcona school for those of us, that are familiar with it and why. I won't include them on this blog, but will on tomorrows. Our house was once right beside the school and in order to expand the school, they tore our house down, so I asked Dorothy to go to the back of the school to take some pictures of where Dad's great garden once was, so she did, but also included this funny story she had when taking the photo's!

"You have been sent 4 pictures. All taken from the back of school. Two of them, I was standing where I thought our garden was. There has been quite a controversy about tearing down the school. Too expensive to fix all the problems and drastically reduction in enrollment. Looks good from the outside. I have more to send and a story about being in behind there last evening when a car load of bad looking dudes came racing in. Mexican stand-off. Both them and me, looking shocked, "what are you doing here?" This city has a real problem with heroin addiction among teens. I wondered if they use that secluded spot to do their deals. They must have thought "what's this old granny looking to buy?". They left in a hell of a hurry. Scared of me no doubt. Then a couple of kids came lurching out of the bush looking dishevelled. Easy to guess what they were up to.They headed off on the path toward 10Th St. and kept looking back at me. One could be entertained all evening back in there. I then went off to the library and encountered an odd man there. I'll send the Joseph house etc. later to-day."

They probably thought you where an undercover cop in disguise! Owen Sound Police must be having trouble with recruits!! hahhaha (Dorothy is over retirement age and that's all I'll say, otherwise, it may be me that's roving.....right to the moon!)

Being my roving reporter is tough work eh and the benefits aren't great either!! (But, I did have a great chuckle!) Next assignment: (she has a new camera too), is to the cemetery for the latest picture of some graves, just to see how the grass is growing!!! Specifically on certain graves, that I know you will figure out, because not only are you a fantastic roving reporter, but a super sleuth, which asset, comes naturally in our family! (Just ask Roxanne about that one!)

My roving reporter also sent me an article about the last hanging of a man in Owen Sound and how my father, being a policeman there at the time and was involved in the arrest, had to witness the hanging. I remember Dad telling us about it, and it bothered him for such a long time after.

Well, to leave on a cheery note, I'm feeling better today, still a wee bit tired, so must have had some kind of bug. I sure did lots of sleeping and so soundly that apparently, Tom said the phone practically rang off the hook while I was napping and I never heard a thing. I woke up in my usual grumble-grumble mood after an afternoon nap, we had supper and I was back in bed and asleep by 8:15 for the whole night and got up at 9 this morning, feeling like I wanted to greet a new day!

So, see you tomorrow!

Note: No Roxanne, not even a ride in the Bentley!! I cancelled the order when nobody won the trivia. You had too many wrong answers to win! Better luck next time!

John!! When did you move to Afghanistan?? Is that what you do when you retire? I can think of better places then that!!! However, you'd look good in a turban, and it would save on a sunburned head eh? As for the test, you did better then me! Forth time and I only got 52.

I guess, I'll include this test on here. It's really neat to see what your mental age is.

Read the following instructions since the game is in Japanese:Procedure of Flash Fabrica Game:
1. Touch 'start' 2. Wait for 3, 2, 1. 3. Memorize the number's position on the screen, then click the circle from the SMALLEST number to the BIGGEST number. 4. At the end of game, the computer will tell you the age of your brain.

Good luck !!

http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html

HISTORY BEING CHANGED

History is being changed for many in Owen Sound where I grew up until about 12 years old.

This is Strathcona School in Owen Sound and also where we lived right beside. Where the white trailer beside the school is where our house just about began. It too was pulled down to make room for more school, which looks like it is a compact trailer for added classes. All my little bit of growing up history is being removed, never to return to. How sad!!

One of my great daredevil feats, when a child, was making the great leap from the stone pillars beside each door. When I was small, it was such a long way down, and to jump and land in a big thump, was a show that I was as big as my older brothers. Sure doesn't look like a big jump now, but I sure know it would be a bigger feat to jump now!! Those cement barriers where not there either, it was a big open school yard, where we played baseball in the bottom right corner.

I remember being in kindergarten there (classroom on set of window's on the left) I was terrified of going to the washroom, because you had to walk through this big cavern of a basement with gyms on both sides, and walk to a little room at the other far end of the school. I hated going there, and still have the odd nightmare of going down there. It was a scary place to me.

Thanks to my Cousin Dorothy for these pictures.

I guess time marches forward and changes happen that we often hate to see. Nothing ever stays the same!

Right now, as well as doing this, I'm watching Frank McCort, narrating a television show about Ireland's Pubs. I think we've been in a few of them Roxanne!! Fond memories! The music was in full bloom during our time there, as it's showing on TV! Remember the guy with the moustache after a glass full of Guinness. He was VERY good looking and knew it, and strutted around, almost saying "look at me!", then he took a drink of foamy Guinness and was left with a white moustache and looked very silly!! How we giggled at laughed. Maybe it was the Irish Whiskey we had been drinking that made it funnier then it really was!!

Went for my walk today and then Tom offered to take me to the White Spot for Eggs Bennie. I love egg' Bennie, but ask for Monty Bennie, which also comes with cheese and mushrooms and I love them. But, I am just plain tired and felt like going home. My back is still aching, and for some reason when I get a B12 shot, I get really tired instead of the boost most people claim they get. I always have to be different!! So, we came home, I went to bed and slept soundly for a few hours.

I never watched what they said was the BEST fireworks display last night, but I was in bed, heard them, got up for a peek and went back to bed. I'll watch on Sat, when all three are in competition

I'm off to the bathtub and bed

Goodnight, and sleep tight!

Coronation Street

My favourite and only soap!

Seven pm, Monday to Friday, this is where you will find me, sitting watching Coro Street! My sister Roxanne, got me hooked on it years and years ago and after, I got used to what they where saying, I got thoroughly hooked. Tom wander's in when I'm watching it and all I hear from him is "what he/she say?" He finally gave up when I shushed him multiple times, and now, he just goes and lets me watch it in peace.

Where they come up with the story lines is beyond me, and how they can drag a story out for weeks and still keep such a large audience is also beyond me, but it's such a favorite, that when CBC was going to take it off the air many years ago, there was nearly a revolt!! We all have or favourite, be it the one everyone likes, or maybe it's the villian, but we are all mostly sad when one of the characters are cut from the show and new actors take up residence on the Street

However, I hear lots of complaints lately that all the old favourites are being cut and these new and very young teenagers are taking over the show. I hope my interest doesn't wane!!

This morning was spent cleaning and dusting and cleaning moss off the edge of the balcony, making a mess on the floors below!! I hope nobody know's where it came from! I'll go down tomorrow and clean it off the pavement, but right now, my back is killing me, and just want to get into a hot tub and soak, take some Advil and head off to bed. No fireworks for me tonight....meaning...the firework display is on tonight!!! Not the other kind of fireworks!! Hmmm!!

Tom and I went out for dinner tonight and I had delicious lasagna, which half is in the fridge.

As you can see nobody bit on the trivia except Roxanne,and she had a few wrong, so the 2009 Bentley car wasn't won, and the trivia is cancelled!! Tough titty!!

So folks, I'm off, and into the tub...it's that time of night!!

BIRDS ON JULY 29.08

Birds of a Feather, Flock Together

Well, the trivia quiz bombed, so that's the end of that!!

Goodness, how can I entertain you people?? So, the answers are:

#1 Scapegoat

#2 5

#3 40

#4 4-Cut, Clarity, Colour, Carat

#5 Killing a cat

#6 Underground

#7 25 MPH

#8 Crowded House 11-10

Which means..nobody attempted to answer the questions, so there goes the brand new Bentley car, you could have won....it was a pretty silver colour too. Oh well!! Better luck next time!!

How about the new addition to the blog...any comments on that? It's a little on the big size, but there is no way to make it smaller. I'll leave it for a week and see if it's correct with the temperature. If not, it goes the way of the Trivia!

Another addition, that may entertain you for about 15 seconds or less is the cat virtual cat. Don't see it eh? Well, you have to scroll down to the end of this page. Remember..curiosity got the cat!!! He'll stick around for same amount of time as the weather report, and a few days longer then the trivia!!

Yup, this is what it's doing here today!! Boy are they coming down too!!! Pouring, grey, cool, and plain miserable. A good day for a snooze, but what am I doing...trying to entertain you!!

Actually, I'm trying to keep myself awake. We have to drive to Horseshoe Bay in an hour for a appointment. DRATS!!! It's a beautiful place in Horseshoe Bay, but on a day like this, it's just not uplifting in any way!!

I guess Auntie Irene is babysitting the "Terror of Ontario" at the moment eh? TJ, is visiting for a couple of days and playing with Tizzie. TJ is the smaller dog.

Well, we are getting ready to rumble here, so I better sign off.

Have a great evening

MONDAY, JULY 28.08

The start of another week and our summer is slipping away quickly! For those back at work after your vacation, my heart goes out to you! I remember those hard first days back! Sometimes, though, it's good to be back at work. We are creatures of habit and getting back into the routine of our everyday lives can be a relief as well.
Bahhhh, it's not really all that bad eh??
But, then as I sit here watching Martha Stewart, I can say life is good. She stresses me out with all her talents though!

Tom and I walked down to a corner restaurant we often pass by, that advertised breakfast, but we never have gone in before, so we decided to go down for breakfast this morning. The owner must have decided breakfast wasn't working out for him, because, when we walked in, he was on the phone but told us, he wasn't open until 11 and didn't serve breakfast anymore. So, we walked further down to a little coffee shop and just had a tea-biscuit and coffee for $10.53. Tad expensive eh? We had a morning walk anyway!

Change of pace here...the other day, my cousin Dorothy wrote me and was telling me about a little girl from China that her neighbour friends had adopted. This is her letter with names with last names deleted.

"Those pics I sent of little Isla, pronounced (Eye-lah), were taken by someone in an orphanage in China. My friends, adopted a little Chinese girl (Georgia) a few years ago. That little dude fascinates me. She is so bright its scary. She comes out with the funniest stuff. She came from one of the few good orphanages in China. Sometime, if you have time click into Chinese orphanages and read the blogs of people who have adopted. No kidding Linda, it will make you almost weep. Georgia was left at the door of this place dressed in expensive baby clothes so they figure the parents had passed their quota on the number of kids and to avoid punishment, turned this little girl out. Her clothes were very good ones. Once you are approved here in Canada and by the Chinese they choose a child and send pics. My friends went for Isla last year. She was from a very bad place and was left there in rags at the door. I saw some pics of her on her bed and it was a piece of plywood. She had rickets from poor nutrition but that's OK now. Her new Mom said it was quite a distance in northern China from the first place. She was horrified at the conditions there. No money for food or much else. She is a quick little kid and happy as a lark.I can see Georgia will be the curious bright student and Isla will be the party girl. Anyway those pics I sent were sent to my friend from the orphanage. Quite deceiving to say the least. All the families, 25 of them fly from Vancouver together. They have kept in touch and on the civic holiday in Aug. they are all getting together at my neighbours. They have 5 or 6 acres up near here and everyone is camping outdoors. Imagine 30 some Chinese kids running hither and yon. My friends are in their 50's and nobody can figure why at their age they adopted two little kids. China has since passed a law you must be under 50 to adopt so they just got under the wire. They would be disqualified now."

I did Google Chinese orphanages, and yes, there as some very sad stories! Heartbreaking to say the least. One family who had a little girl, and were so disappointed in the sex, that they never registered her with the Government, until after they tried for another child. It was a boy, so they gave up the little girl to an orphanage. How sad!!! A boy is more important to the parents as tradition is that to a Chinese family, a boy will look after the parents in their old age. Girls go to live with the husbands family, plus there in the one child only allowed there. I didn't include the pictures Dorothy sent, but they looked like sweet well cared for children, which really is a ruse, because they sure don't look so well looked after in their everyday, sad life in the orphanage. They were groomed and posed for the adoption pictures.

I just found it a touching story, one that we are all likely aware of, but it sure makes us appreciate our freedom of choice in good old CANADA!!

Our summer, sunny weather is about to change! Tues-Friday, rain and much cooler temperature's are called for. I hope the nice weather comes back!!

Well, I better get off this hunk of burning technology and go do something constructive.

JUST FOR FUN!

See how many of these trivia question you can get right. Answer's tomorrow!!

I should start a trivia contest on here everyday and the person with the most correct answers within a month wins a prize. A small prize!!!

So you don't copy each other, you will have to email me at irish5@hotmail.com I'll keep a tally who answers the most correctly! No cheating and looking it up on the internet!!

What animal linked name describes someone who always gets blamed?

How many James Bond movie titles have just one word in the title?

Which is the lowest whole number, when spelt out, is in correct alphabetical order?

How many "c's" denote the value of a diamond?

What is 'felicide'?

What is he only word in the English language that begins and ends with und?

According to Tina Turner, what is the speed limit in Nutbush?

Which band has won more ARIA awards, Crowded House or Midnight Oil?

LAZY DAY SUNDAY

Ahhhh, even in this modern , rush, rush, world, one can still have a lazy day Sunday and it feels sooo good!!

We haven't done much today, except, eat, relax, sleep and play on the computer and read! How good can it get?

This is the book I finished today and I highly recommend it! A wonderful story about WWI and two Cree Indians who after living in the old ways of their people, join the war. It's a wonderful story and I had tears in my eyes when it ended. I give it ***** 5 stars!!

I haven't been keeping my "book's read list," on here up to date! I can't even remember the titles anymore and sometimes I get a book home, begin to read it and find it's one I've already finished!!

It started off a dreary looking day, after a little downpour through the night, and then the sun came out, and it's been beautiful all day. We are sitting out on the patio/deck, veranda- whatever it's called, with my computer, and Tom sitting beside me reading his book. The cat is laying in the shade, dozing as cat's do....cat napping.

It's just about time for the parade of cruise ships to start cruising by, on their way to Alaska. There sure are many more ships going past this year. They also come from Seattle as well, so there must be very busy ports in Alaska with all the tourists. I hear that some of the businesses that sling merchandise to the tourist, pack up at the end of the season in Alaska and move kit and caboodle down along the Mexican ports and set up shop there. Soon we will be going and I can't wait!!

The second part of the Festival of Lights, was last night. I'm talking about the firework competition they have every year. The first night it was Canada, last night it was the USA and next Wed. night, it's China. Then next Sat. night, it's the Grand Finale with all three Countries, lighting the sky up with fantastic displays. I watched it from the balcony last night and it's really beautiful to see and different displays I've never seen before. Some became big hearts and then they have these circles or rings that are pretty neat.

Well, that's my blog,because I can't see out here anymore. The light is shining right on my screen and finding where my mouse goes is difficult.

So, until tomorrow......

Goodnight!