Penguins, Pot & Other Stuff

Yes, it’s upon us again.  I remember going out trick or treating as a kid and coming home with so many goodies!  The dentists lived off of me.  Actually went out one Halloween after a football practice at Bishop Ryan High.  Yes, me and several of my senior football team buddies dared each other so up-and-down a couple of streets we went.  We used our helmets to collect the candy and a couple of people actually contributed!

Was at the CNE a couple of years ago when the opportunity of a lifetime for Penguin fans presented itself.  We were getting ready to leave when I saw someone dressed up like a clown driving a golf cart on the CNE grounds.  He was pulling a long line of penguin statues behind him as if they were cars of a train.  I quickly wheeled to the end of the line and became the Quack-Train caboose.  Classic!

Recently purchased a new printer that also scans & photocopies.  Did some fooling around with one of my favorite pictures.  My good friend Eric took it many many years ago.  Everyone loved it except my mother.  Just take a look and you’ll know why.  If you can take your gaze away from my oh so sexy eyelashes, well, the resemblance is uncanny.  All I can say is-I was nowhere near the place!

Was getting ready for dinner on Sunday (Cajun catfish with green pepper & mushrooms- all purchased at the Farmer’s Market) when I noticed it was so dark outside around 6 PM.  Looked out the balcony window and there it was-a beautiful rainbow!  Stood out so much against a dark dark sky.  Fortunately, Dianne (March of Dimes staff) was here so I asked her to grab my camera for a couple of shots.  Turned out excellent!  Even got a picture with 2 rainbows in it, although the second one is very faint.

When Cousin Jan was over the other day hanging my curtains, he took it upon himself to get one of my favorite pictures ready to be a screensaver.  Up it went-The Algonquin Park Six.  Me & 5 of my buddies who used to go up into Algonquin Park during the summer for 3 weeks of canoeing/portaging/camping/fishing.  We always had a great time.  Brings back memories from my high school years.

Cousin Jan was over the other day helping out with a couple of long jobs in the apartment.  First, he took out the window air conditioner from the bedroom.  Then, on to bigger & better things!  The lovely Jeannine had previously helped the pick out some curtains for the apartment.  It was time for a change.  And she did a lovely job-they match my new couch perfectly.  Cousin Jan put them up for me and it makes the apartment looks so much nicer!

Then, Cousin Jan helped out over a Jeannine’s.  He put up some pictures & knickknacks for her.  Thanks Cousin Jan, as always a job very well done!  It’s nice having him over because we always managed to have a laugh or two at each other’s expense.

It was time for Kaleb to get a haircut.  I knew he wanted to go short but when he came back from his "stylist", I was very surprised.  Not with the length of his hair; although it was very very short.  No, Kaleb decided he wanted a soccer ball pattern on the back of his head.  Presto, mission accomplished!  Looks quite good.

When I was a kid growing up, my best friend was George.  He lived and not too far away and went to the same grade school as me.  His father was our family doctor.  We went to high school together and got to know many people there.  This included Lorne & Eric.  We knew Eric from grade school and got to know Lorne at Bishop Ryan High School.

One of the many things we did was head to Algonquin Park every summer for a couple of weeks of canoeing/portaging/camping/fishing.  Always had a great time.  We even went on a winter camping trip.  Middle of January in the bush around Huntsville.  We were on snowshoes and planned on sleeping in tents.  Unfortunately, it turned out to be the coldest week of the year: -40°C at night.  Even our rum froze!  We ended up breaking into a boarded-up hunting cabin.  Paradise!

As happens with many people, we all went our separate ways.  George ended up getting married, becoming a doctor and moving to Victoria British Columbia.  Hardly see the man.  The last time was maybe 10 years ago.  I knew he was coming into town (Niagara Falls really) to get together with some of the boys he went to university with in London.  This included Lorne & Eric.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it to the get-together.  But-lo & behold, there was a buzz from my lobby on Sunday morning and it was George!  Shortly after he got here, Lorne & Eric arrived.

It was so nice to get together again.  Of course we talked about so many things from the old days.  Caught up on things and spent a lovely couple of hours together.  Eventually though, George had to leave to catch his flight back to British Columbia.  I got some contact information on his mother who lives there are also.  Mrs. Urban was always so nice to me.  I’ll have to give her a call!  Thanks George, it was nice to see you.  Now, let’s not let another 10 years go by before we do this again!

I have such a good time when Owen & Glory invite me to the house for a barbecue, that I decided it was time for #2!  And this time, I would spring for the steaks.  After all, the lovely Marcy (their daughter) felt left out when she wasn’t invited to the first one this year!

Got together with everyone for the festivities.  And I do mean everyone-there were nine of us!  Owen & Glory along with their siblings Kyle & Darcy and their respective spouses, myself, the lovely Lynda and Glory’s other son.  Man, that’s nine steaks!  Good thing I have a connection at the Farmer’s Market.  I explained to him what was going on and he gave me a deal on nine delicious New York steaks.  Owen did a fantastic job at the barbecue and everyone raved about their steak.  Some delicious salads, good drink and a lovely strawberry/rhubarb pie for dessert.

Gave everyone a chance to catch up on things.  Even got to watch some football on TV!  Things didn’t get too rowdy, even though Lynda was there!  All in all, a great time.  Who knows, if Indian summer is a long one, we may get to do it again!

The Hamilton chapter of the Maltese Canadian Association has a link on their web site where you can look up the family crest & history of common Maltese names.  I knew Aquilina had something to do with an eagle and when I checked, lo and behold, there it was!  Decided it was time for my next tattoo.

Went to see Anita at Aardvark Tattoo.  She has become my regular tattoo lady.  Very nice person; from Chile, long dark hair & amenable to the "good stuff".  Anita took a look at the picture I brought and said it would be no problem.  We set a date, I showed up and 45 minutes later-there it was!