Penguins, Pot & Other Stuff

Last regular season home game for the Tiger Cats.  With the playoffs still up in the air, they are all important games now.  Unfortunately Brother Mike was unable to attend.  It was his weekend to be working.  So, off to the game with Trish the Dish & Paulo.  Even Dickhead came along as there was an extra ticket for him to scoop up.

 

It was a very cool & windy day.  Usually the wind is coming from behind us so we are somewhat protected by the seats at our back.  Not yesterday.  A strong, somewhat cold breeze was blowing steady at us throughout the whole game.  Thank goodness I had 4 layers of clothing on.  Managed to stay quite comfortable during the whole game.  Of course, my smuggled in thermos of hot chocolate was also a lifesaver.

 

The game: total domination by the Cats.  They were running & passing quite nicely while Saskatchewan was having problems going into the wind and even playing with it.  24,000 people saw quite a good game by the Cats.  As usual, Brother Joseph came over at halftime to compare notes.  At that point, Dickhead was mumbling something about Long John Baldry & my blog to him.  Avid blog readers will know where I am coming from on this one.  Anyway, final result was a big win for the Hamilton boys.  Now, when we take care of those Bombers in Winnipeg, it will be back at Ivor Wynne for a home playoff game.  Oskee wee wee!

 

Check out the Pictures

It was a spur of the moment thing.  The lovely Trish gave me a call and suggested we head out to Port Dover for some perch.  Was only there once before this year; with Brother Mike to check out some fishing possibilities.  We had footlongs at Arbors but that’s just not the same as a perch dinner!  Off we went.

 

Was a nice day although there wasn’t as much sunshine as I would have liked.  It wasn’t very crowded so we had lots of room to enjoy ourselves.  Trish insisted we split a footlong before the main event.  Who am I to argue?  After that, it was off to Knechtel’s for the perch.  Delicious!  Came with french fries & coleslaw.  We were both quite satisfied and figured it was time to head towards the pier.  The walk would do us both some good.  Trish found a bench to relax on while I tilted back and grabbed a quick catnap.  So relaxing!

 

Then, almost at the same time, we decided we both needed-ice cream!  I had a scoop of mocha chocolate almond ice cream while Trish went with a combination cone consisting of Funky Monkey & Birthday Ice Creams.  Looked delicious!  Eventually though it was time to go home.  A quick stop at Tim Horton’s for a cup of the good stuff and off we went.  All in all, a very enjoyable day!

As mentioned in another thread, a very important event!  As soon as I got back from fishing with Brother Mike & Herb, I had to get ready for dinner at the Keg.  Terry, my neighbor & friend in the apartment above mine, had organized a gathering at the restaurant for friends to get together and eat some good food while enjoying each other’s company.  I was escorted by the lovely Trish the Dish.  Of course, Paulo and his crew were invited but he gracefully declined to attend.  Too bad, it was a great spread!

 

Started with a delicious salad & appetizer (bacon wrapped scallops).  Then the main course: a blue cheese fillet with garlic cloves, mashed potatoes & a baked tomato.  Just the thing for a hungry boy back from hard work on the fishing boat!  After that, a cup of hot coffee and some Billy Miner pie for dessert.  Truly sumptuous!  Thank goodness we don’t do this every weekend.  The old tummy is big enough as it is already!

 

Check out the Pictures!

It’s a yearly tradition.  The lovely Trish & I load up to spend a day at the CNE.  Today was the day.  Once we landed, off to the food building-our favorite spot.  I usually have a goat roti but I wasn’t in the mood for one today.  Instead, something called the Lumberjack Special: french fries, cheese curds, beef gravy, 2 sausages & one egg.  Simply delicious!

 

Then, we started to walk the grounds.  I could tell Trish wasn’t feeling very well.  She told me she was having problems with a migraine and didn’t feel too good.  She thought maybe it would pass with time (& ice cream) but nothing seemed to help.  We did check out the International Building where I bought myself a new hoodie.  This one will be special.  It commemorates the Canadian Armed Forces involvement in D-Day at Juno Beach.  I always admire the fighting men of any nation.  True heroes!

 

By 7 PM (well before we were originally planning on coming home) Trish was really not feeling very well.  She wasn’t hungry and she didn’t want to really do much of anything besides sit down in the shade to rest.  Even though I insisted we go home, Trish didn’t want to let me down.  Enough of that!  After assuring me she could handle the drive home, off we went.  After all, Trish & I can always go again next week!

 

Even though there aren’t many, Check out the Pictures!

Got an invitation from Dickhead (okay, he was being nice so I’ll call him Charles for now) the other day.  He was inviting the gang-that includes Paulo, Jeannine, Kaleb & Trish-to an annual potluck barbecue they host every year at Christie’s Conservation Area.  Yesterday was the day.  We loaded up in the van (under very dark, brooding skies) and made our way out there with a delicious vegetable tray & pumpernickel bread thing with dip.

 

Five minutes before arriving, the skies opened up.  A steady rain.  Do I spend the $18 to get us in the park?  Would hate to have to turn around shortly after to go home.  I work hard for my money!  What the heck, in we went.  Found the festivities and unloaded.  Wouldn’t you know it, 10 minutes later and the rain had stopped.  We actually got a little bit of sun!  Charles & Liz greeted us and we went through the introductions.  Their daughter Jenny was there and it seemed that most of the people who had showed up were friends of hers.  I felt very old all of a sudden!

 

Trish, the lovely dish that she is, decided to become busy.  Not only was she my official photographer, she also offered to handle the barbecue duties.  What a talented girl!  It was quite the spread with various burgers, sausages, hot dogs & little skewers of delicious meets.  Of course, numerous salads and other goodies made a great complement.  Also, delicious desserts!  I tried to get Kaleb to go swimming or to join the other kids in various activities but-no way!  He wanted to spend his time with either myself or Charles.

 

We stayed for a few hours and then decided to head home.  Trish had some bingo playing to do!  A great time.  Thanks Liz & Charles!

 

Check out the Pictures!

Today was the annual Malta Day Barbecue which is held at Burlington’s LaSalle Park.  The lovely Trish came over and drove me & her along with Kaleb, Paulo & Jeannine over to the festivities.  When we arrived, Brother Joseph & Lady Kathryn were already there.  I don’t know what I was thinking but I had invited Liz & Dickhead to join us.  Sure enough, 10 minutes later and the whole gang was there.  Wait, Kathryn had invited her sister Ruth who showed up 10 minutes after that.  The gang was all there!

 

I must say, a great time was had by all.  Perfect weather, great food and good company. It’s nice to see so many of the members of the Maltese community gathered for the day.  I especially like touching base with some of the old-timers from my father’s crowd.  Not many left but there are some. Brother Joseph did really well-he won the bocce tournament and also the big raffle!  I’m telling you, being an Aquilina has its benefits!  Kaleb got some swimming in.  Trish, Liz & Dickhead got to see the sights of Burlington Harbor.  We all had great food.  To top it off, Kaleb & I got to eat some goodies from the traveling ice cream truck!

 

Some great pictures (thanks Trish).  Check Them Out!

Got an invitation from Liz & Charles (I will refrain from his real name in this post because he provided free food).  They wanted myself, the lovely Trish, Paulo, Jeannine & Kaleb to come over for a barbecue.  So yesterday, an absolutely perfect barbecue day, off we went.  The lovely Jenny (daughter of the one whose real name I will not use) and her friend Hannah were also there.  Before we sat down to eat, it was off to the Dundas Driving Park.

 

That used to be one of the favorite places for Mom & Dad to bring the family when we were younger.  When we got there yesterday, the memories came flooding back even though the park has changed quite a bit.  I recently put some old family movies on DVD for everyone and it was nice to match the scenes from the DVD to the current real-life scenario.  Gone are the old roundabout, teeter totter and slides.  Still though, a very nice park.

 

Then, back we went to chow down.  Charles took care of the cooking and he managed to get by without burning anything.  A lovely selection to choose from: burgers, sausages & chicken.  Some delicious salads and everyone was happy.  Unfortunately, desert proved too traumatic for Kaleb as the ice cream Charles brought out was not nut free!  We would have stayed longer but Trish was dying to get back home to watch the hockey game.  Since she did such a great job taking pictures, we said our goodbyes and went home.  A great day.  Thank you Liz & Jenny.  Yes, and I guess you too Charles!

 

Check out the Pictures

Dickhead and his lovely wife Liz invited some of us over to their place for some friendly poker & chit chat.  I went with the lovely Trish and her friend Teresa.  Also invited were Joe (one of the regular poker boys) and his wife Karen.  We used to play at Dickhead’s a lot (in the days before & after my lovely ex) but I bet it’s been 6 or 7 years since our last game.

 

Being a gracious guest, I asked Trish to pick up a couple of dozen pastitzi for everyone to try.  A smashing success!  Even the lovely Jennifer (my ex partner in crime) took part in the feast.  We did get there a little late (thanks Trish) but still managed to squeeze in a lot of fun.  Dickhead (alias Toots) tried his best to rob me of my money but in the end, I did okay.  All in all everyone had a great time.

 

Thanks Liz-and yes, you too Dickhead.

Yesterday was the day.  Hit the big 56!  And it turned out to be a simply wonderful day.  Woke up to the best day of the year so far weatherwise.  Sunny, warm with a comfortable breeze blowing.  Decided it was time to go talk to Anita, my tattoo lady.  Got the Aquilina crest done a while back so now I figured it was time for Sciberras to make an appearance.  That’s my mother’s maiden name.  Fortunately, Anita was in.  She owns the Aardvark Tattoo Shop on King Street East, just around the corner from me.  Anita is from Columbia; tall, slender, tanned with long long long dark hair.  And she’s so nice!  We caught up on things and the appointment has been made-Saturday of next week at 1 PM.  After that, Aquilina & Sciberras together forever on my arm.

 

Then, the weather was feeling so good, I decided to wheel down to Dundurn Street to get the license sticker for my van.  A lovely little trip!  On the way back, I cruised through Hess Village to check out the patio scene.  Just in case Claudia Schiffer or Angelina Jolie or Brooke Burke was looking for me.  Don’t want to disappoint the ladies!  Unfortunately, they were nowhere to be seen so off to Jackson Square I went.  Checked out the new Farmer’s Market location in the mall.  Picked up some grapes, veggies & Cajun catfish fillets for dinner.  Grabbed a coffee at Pam’s and sat back with the minced meat tart I picked up at the market.  Simply delicious.  Gave me a chance to enjoy the scenery in the mall!

 

Then it was back home.  Unfortunately I had missed Brother Joseph who had dropped in with my birthday card while I was out.  Not only that, he had some goodies from the Lady Kathryn.  Thank goodness Jeannine & Paulo were here to let him in!  No sooner had I settled when the phone rang-my friend Sherri wanted to meet at Jackson Square for a coffee and a catch up.  Off I went where I spent the next hour or so with her.  Quite an interesting get-together as Sherri is always full of "unique" conversation!  Then, back home.

 

Earlier in the week I got a call from Dickhead (okay, he was so nice I’ll call him Charles-but just this once!).  He was actually offering to take me out for birthday dinner (his treat) along with his lovely wife Liz & Trish.  Free food, even from Dickhead, is something I can’t turn down.  I figured he would also offer to cover for Paulo and Jeannine (2 very very dear friends) but this was not to be.  Being the good guy that I am though, I sprang for them & Kaleb and the deal was done.  It was decided we would meet at the Black Forest Restaurant on the evening of my birthday.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature stuck her nose into things by sending us a deluge to deal with while getting there.  Eventually though, we were all seated at our table.  It was a great get-together.  Good food & good friends.  Even the presence of Dickhead could not bring things down!  My scotch was good and my dessert was even better.  Kaleb on one side of me, Trish on the other-I would have been in heaven if it wasn’t for the fact that Dickhead was right across from me.  Oh well!

 

We got the staff from the restaurant to take a couple of pictures (I forgot my camera) but I don’t have them yet.  When I do, I’ll let everyone know.  Thank you all, it was a great day.  Hopefully I’ll have at least 56 more!

The lovely Trish hit a significant birthday milestone on November 21 of last year.  The big 40!  I promised to take her out to dinner at the restaurant of her choice.  Unfortunately, my well documented health problems (combined with Trish’s busy schedule) delayed our little celebration until this past Monday.  Off to The Keg, Trish’s favorite restaurant (when she’s not paying!).

 

I ordered the short ribs which came with a lovely 3 mushroom cream sauce, garlic mashed potatoes & fried onion strings.  Of course, also had the house salad.  Trish enjoyed a delicious Keg steak with a baked potato & veggies.  The two of us shared a steamed garlic shrimp in butter sauce appetizer.  Ice tea for both of us.  The meal was fantastic.  I couldn’t handle too much desert so went with the crème brûlée.  Trish chose the brownie sundae.

 

Happy birthday Trish.  Hope you have many many more!