Monday, October 29, 2007
Carol Got Married!!!
Aha! Ken thought he told all the news. It's true! She called on Sunday to share the good news. She and Bob went to the valley on Saturday to visit Gordon Neish ( our minister friend) and lo and behold, it happened. They went over to see the church single and came back a couple. Gordon's two children stood for them. Carol feels she saved me from having to buy a new dress. They are extremely happy and relieved and displaying matching gold bands.
Almost Hallowe'en
We are stocking up for another big Hallowe'en -- and both trying to stay out of the candy boxes, at least until Wednesday night. We expect our usual 200 or so; due to an appointment, Kathy will leave Ken to finish up with the trick-or-treaters, and then make his way to the titanic hockey struggle between Saint Mary's and St.F.X. (Lindsay's brother plays for X, so we expect we will see her there).
We had Eva, Clayton and Gary over for supper Friday night -- now we are down to five pies! And then Clayton and Gary over for the baseball marathon on Saturday night. That, plus the games on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, has imposed a little sleep-deficit on old Kenny; will need to spend the week catching up. In case any of you missed it or have forgotten, the Joy of Sox! sweep by the boys; let winter begin.
Spent Sunday afternoon visiting an old friend, John St. Amand, who's in hospital in Kentville and nearing the end of a very good life. Among his many visitors were a number of friends and comrades, some of whom have left him pictures from the time we knew him best -- the mid-1970s, when Kathy and I had just met. Wonderful pictures of old friends with us in a very good time of our lives -- nostalgia and sadness for us.
Got a good e-mail message from Jessie this week. Mostly news about the family she is staying with, but she is enjoying her jobs. Nothing much (wisely, we think) about the political situation (a showdown between the local authority and the military over control of the local airport about ten days ago, so things are yeasty). Bet she's going to have some stories, and a ton of good photos too.
That's it for now...
We had Eva, Clayton and Gary over for supper Friday night -- now we are down to five pies! And then Clayton and Gary over for the baseball marathon on Saturday night. That, plus the games on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, has imposed a little sleep-deficit on old Kenny; will need to spend the week catching up. In case any of you missed it or have forgotten, the Joy of Sox! sweep by the boys; let winter begin.
Spent Sunday afternoon visiting an old friend, John St. Amand, who's in hospital in Kentville and nearing the end of a very good life. Among his many visitors were a number of friends and comrades, some of whom have left him pictures from the time we knew him best -- the mid-1970s, when Kathy and I had just met. Wonderful pictures of old friends with us in a very good time of our lives -- nostalgia and sadness for us.
Got a good e-mail message from Jessie this week. Mostly news about the family she is staying with, but she is enjoying her jobs. Nothing much (wisely, we think) about the political situation (a showdown between the local authority and the military over control of the local airport about ten days ago, so things are yeasty). Bet she's going to have some stories, and a ton of good photos too.
That's it for now...
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
More signs of fall
That we don't have any kids around (the signs are all around us, but we don't notice and lament them with the head-shaking frequency we suffered in September). This morning, we finished the Jumbo box of "Just Right" cereal. Once a staple of our weekly shopping, it took us almost two months to finish this box. Anticipating Kellogg's announcement that they are going to reorganize their distribution system due to the sudden switch in demand for their products to Ontario.
Fall days! Colder, of course (though we had another 20+ day on the weekend) rain or the threat of it and wind and falling leaves. Fall can only mean one thing: the Red Sox are back in the World Series! Late nights for this fan, for a week anyhow. Hope A-Rod's golf game is rounding into shape.
On Sunday we drove down to Mahone Bay with the Harts...that's right, a pair of aging couples out for our Sunday drive. Stopped by Plovers for the first time since "the incident" (Kathy wore a "sheep" tea cosy around the store, thinking that it was a goofly hat). Noticed that the cosy was on the top shelf, well out of the way. Asked how come, and the staff member told us that "a lady" had come into the store some time before and put the cosy on for a hat, and they wouldn't want that to happen again.
Kathy chuckles every time she goes down to the freezer now. As a result of Ken's "generosity" toward the Highland Park Grade 9 class and the Rawdon Anglican women's group, we are the proud owners of six frozen pies...better off, she says, living on Just Right.
Fall days! Colder, of course (though we had another 20+ day on the weekend) rain or the threat of it and wind and falling leaves. Fall can only mean one thing: the Red Sox are back in the World Series! Late nights for this fan, for a week anyhow. Hope A-Rod's golf game is rounding into shape.
On Sunday we drove down to Mahone Bay with the Harts...that's right, a pair of aging couples out for our Sunday drive. Stopped by Plovers for the first time since "the incident" (Kathy wore a "sheep" tea cosy around the store, thinking that it was a goofly hat). Noticed that the cosy was on the top shelf, well out of the way. Asked how come, and the staff member told us that "a lady" had come into the store some time before and put the cosy on for a hat, and they wouldn't want that to happen again.
Kathy chuckles every time she goes down to the freezer now. As a result of Ken's "generosity" toward the Highland Park Grade 9 class and the Rawdon Anglican women's group, we are the proud owners of six frozen pies...better off, she says, living on Just Right.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Happy International Chocolate Week ...
...not at all why we are writing, of course.
Got a surprise call from Jessie in Santa Cruz last night -- just a few minutes and then the phone went dead. Jessie reports that she is well, working in the mornings at a vet's clinic and in the afternoons at a shelter for abused kids, many of them very young. Not much in the way of detail before the call was cut short; Jessie likes her work, she says, confesses to talking way too much English still -- all delivered with the breathless, words-spilling-out enthusiasm that we've all grown to love (or at least accept). And that was it.
Fall has arrived -- high of six degrees and rain today.
Got a surprise call from Jessie in Santa Cruz last night -- just a few minutes and then the phone went dead. Jessie reports that she is well, working in the mornings at a vet's clinic and in the afternoons at a shelter for abused kids, many of them very young. Not much in the way of detail before the call was cut short; Jessie likes her work, she says, confesses to talking way too much English still -- all delivered with the breathless, words-spilling-out enthusiasm that we've all grown to love (or at least accept). And that was it.
Fall has arrived -- high of six degrees and rain today.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Walking, laughing, dancing and eating: our version of a balanced life
Kathy and Ken communed with nature a little less than the rest of you this weekend, apparently. We went for a walk to the beach in Hubbards on Saturday night, but hardly noticed the leaves or the sea, as all was pitch-black. With a crew crew nearing 20 – Merle and Ray, Vince and Claire, Micheline et Cliff, Steve and Jane, Jane Wright and her new fella, Barb and John Arthur, and a half-dozen odds and sods, we went to the lobster dinner and 50’s and 60’s dance at the Shore Club, for many of us the second time this summer. The beach walk covered most of the hour between the meal and the band’s set-up, so it was a nice long leisurely stroll. Lovely evening of talking and laughing and dancing (K&K danced more than 2/3 of the first set – many of them real poppers! Once home it took us three minutes at least to talk our sore and weary muscles and bones out of the car and up the stairs.)
Thanksgiving dinner at Steve and Jane’s on Sunday, with another squad of pals. The turkey, one of Joel and Linda’s (and we have another in our freezer) was succulent, trimmings piled high and wide and traditional nut-filled desserts.
Signs of fall at last. Crisp nights and even though sunny days are relentless, they’re usually cool enough for a sweater.
Congratulations to Matt; came out of nowhere to win the first week of the famous Finally hockey pool. One week down, eight months to go…Ken and Ben – who often have more important things on our minds – did marginally less well (and promise not to report the standings each week).
Thanksgiving dinner at Steve and Jane’s on Sunday, with another squad of pals. The turkey, one of Joel and Linda’s (and we have another in our freezer) was succulent, trimmings piled high and wide and traditional nut-filled desserts.
Signs of fall at last. Crisp nights and even though sunny days are relentless, they’re usually cool enough for a sweater.
Congratulations to Matt; came out of nowhere to win the first week of the famous Finally hockey pool. One week down, eight months to go…Ken and Ben – who often have more important things on our minds – did marginally less well (and promise not to report the standings each week).
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Between Saskatchewan and Manitoba
The Trans Canada Trail winds through the Shubenacadie Corridor, among the Gatineau hills, along one side of The University Of Waterloo Campus and across Duck Mountain Provincial Park between Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It's proximity to all we care about is fairly guaranteed. As this blog creates an electronic tie, that path may provide to many of us " walkers", another link, one from the natural world. As Megan and Matt hiked in the mid east, Bob and I treked the mid west. Who else was afoot?
Bob and I love a section of this trail . We regularly make the 15 minutes drive from his home town of Kamsack, to a parking lot by a wall of trees. The 9 km(return) path around Madge Lake was set in rough asphalt over 30 years ago and the extreme temperature shifts that happen year after year have now left patches of black along only small portions of the walk. Time after time, snow or heat... we reflect, relax and breathe deep as we thread through the pines and the elm and the birch.
Saturday, deciduous trees were bare - too many evening frosts. As we made our way, the path appeared to pop up through the press of leaf piles. The weather managed 5 above and promised rain. First a drizzle. That was okay. We had packed rain gear. Two roughed grouse jerkily tiptoed before us for awhile. Did they know it was Thanksgiving weekend? Then the sky opened and the folds in our rain gear acted as drain spouts as water leaked onto our slacks. Too wet, we turned around early ... the soaking making as laugh as we remembered our previous drenching this year at the infamous Lightening Bowl game between the Sask Roughriders and the Edmonton Eskimos.
Back in Sakatoon we have just enjoyed our Thanksgiving Salmon (sure to be a tradition) and are thankful that Amy bused in from Edmonton for two days.
Bob and I love a section of this trail . We regularly make the 15 minutes drive from his home town of Kamsack, to a parking lot by a wall of trees. The 9 km(return) path around Madge Lake was set in rough asphalt over 30 years ago and the extreme temperature shifts that happen year after year have now left patches of black along only small portions of the walk. Time after time, snow or heat... we reflect, relax and breathe deep as we thread through the pines and the elm and the birch.
Saturday, deciduous trees were bare - too many evening frosts. As we made our way, the path appeared to pop up through the press of leaf piles. The weather managed 5 above and promised rain. First a drizzle. That was okay. We had packed rain gear. Two roughed grouse jerkily tiptoed before us for awhile. Did they know it was Thanksgiving weekend? Then the sky opened and the folds in our rain gear acted as drain spouts as water leaked onto our slacks. Too wet, we turned around early ... the soaking making as laugh as we remembered our previous drenching this year at the infamous Lightening Bowl game between the Sask Roughriders and the Edmonton Eskimos.
Back in Sakatoon we have just enjoyed our Thanksgiving Salmon (sure to be a tradition) and are thankful that Amy bused in from Edmonton for two days.
Gatineau Park in October?
Mathieu and I went for a walk around Pink Lake in Gatineau Park on Friday. It was a beautiful day, with the temperature climbing to 29 degrees! The scene was a bit disconcerting: the colourful leaves were a clear sign of fall but hikers in shorts and t-shirts made it hard to believe that this is Thanksgiving weekend.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Ben's Reluctant Blog Post Count: 2
Folks,
Ben here. I have to make this entry a quickie -- Lindsay and I are at the Dana Porter Library studying away next to the Doris Lewis Rare Book Room. Why do I have to make this entry a quickie? Three reasons, really: 1) If I spend too much time reading and writing on this blog Lindsay will out-study me, and I'll feel even more unaccomplished; 2) I've got a paper due on Tuesday and this is probably one of the last time slots available to finish it up; 3) I'm still anti-blog and quick posts support my cause.
Ok. That was the drawn out intro. Here's the meat: http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/cpis04a.htm
Kenneth mentioned to me a conversation between he and Cathy B. about housing costs in Saskatoon. While researching for the paper I should be writing, I came across the statistic. In one year the cost of constructing a house in Saskatoon has risen by 50%. That's insane! During the same year, the cost in Halifax has only risen by 6.8%.
No idea whether this was a worthwhile post or not, but here it is.
ps. happy to see your posts Megan and Cathy!
pps. Go Habs (vs the Leafs tonight 7pm EASTERN - finally applicable).
BEN!
Ben here. I have to make this entry a quickie -- Lindsay and I are at the Dana Porter Library studying away next to the Doris Lewis Rare Book Room. Why do I have to make this entry a quickie? Three reasons, really: 1) If I spend too much time reading and writing on this blog Lindsay will out-study me, and I'll feel even more unaccomplished; 2) I've got a paper due on Tuesday and this is probably one of the last time slots available to finish it up; 3) I'm still anti-blog and quick posts support my cause.
Ok. That was the drawn out intro. Here's the meat: http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/cpis04a.htm
Kenneth mentioned to me a conversation between he and Cathy B. about housing costs in Saskatoon. While researching for the paper I should be writing, I came across the statistic. In one year the cost of constructing a house in Saskatoon has risen by 50%. That's insane! During the same year, the cost in Halifax has only risen by 6.8%.
No idea whether this was a worthwhile post or not, but here it is.
ps. happy to see your posts Megan and Cathy!
pps. Go Habs (vs the Leafs tonight 7pm EASTERN - finally applicable).
BEN!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Never you mine
Last evening I went to a public meeting, sponsored by the Eastern Shore Forest Protection Assn. (the gist of the name, anyhow) about a strip mine being planned for the small community of Moose River Mines, an old gold-mining town once-famous because a failed rescue there was the first event ever covered live by the CBC.
The proposed new scar + tailings + cyanide +++ endangers a significant watershed, the opponents told us, a lake-and-river system that runs all the way to the Atlantic. Straight through an area that has been proposed as a park and wildlife preserve.
The meeting was remarkable (and so I'm writing about it a little) in the quality of the presentation, in the calm and pleasant way Association members marshaled their facts, in their polite, determined, and firm ("there are no evil people in this room", one of them said, "but..." and then proved otherwise) way they dealt with the company representatives, who scrambled from half-truth to bad science to outright fibbing (and do they ever hate it when someone asks how much money they are going to make!). And in the complete absence of political representatives of any sort from any level (it was by-election night, but still you'd think the NDP at least could send someone to something so genuine and local and right. And where were the Greens?). And in the presence of Dollie Bellemore -- closer to 100 than 90 -- and her two daughters, who with steel in their voices told the executives exactly what they would never do to the place they had lived all of their lives. And in one of the local guys standing up and reciting from memory an Alice Walker poem about the poverty of gold.
There's something exhilarating about people who believe in what they see and feel, about honest skepticism, about memory (who knew Westray still looms so large?) and genuine, rooted progressive sentiment.
Did I mention I enjoyed it a bit?
Ken
The proposed new scar + tailings + cyanide +++ endangers a significant watershed, the opponents told us, a lake-and-river system that runs all the way to the Atlantic. Straight through an area that has been proposed as a park and wildlife preserve.
The meeting was remarkable (and so I'm writing about it a little) in the quality of the presentation, in the calm and pleasant way Association members marshaled their facts, in their polite, determined, and firm ("there are no evil people in this room", one of them said, "but..." and then proved otherwise) way they dealt with the company representatives, who scrambled from half-truth to bad science to outright fibbing (and do they ever hate it when someone asks how much money they are going to make!). And in the complete absence of political representatives of any sort from any level (it was by-election night, but still you'd think the NDP at least could send someone to something so genuine and local and right. And where were the Greens?). And in the presence of Dollie Bellemore -- closer to 100 than 90 -- and her two daughters, who with steel in their voices told the executives exactly what they would never do to the place they had lived all of their lives. And in one of the local guys standing up and reciting from memory an Alice Walker poem about the poverty of gold.
There's something exhilarating about people who believe in what they see and feel, about honest skepticism, about memory (who knew Westray still looms so large?) and genuine, rooted progressive sentiment.
Did I mention I enjoyed it a bit?
Ken
Sunday, September 30, 2007
And in Saskatoon ...
Thanks for the invite to join. I read over past blogs and Ken, I can't believe I forgot your birthday!! Sorry :( ... I am beginning to preface more comments with " when I retire", so when I retire, we will celebrate one of your b-days over supper.
Ken and Kathy's Brand New Weekend
'We never do anything new', K and K whine to each other, so here's the test. Compare and contrast last weekend with this one -- is this really a boring existence? Or are we doing fresh and exciting things -- but don't notice because we are such bored people?
Friday Night
By good luck Kathy pulled a Propellor beer out of the fridge after work, which reminded us that we had promised Ben we'd attend the Scooter pull later on. Forty eight contestants (more than half showed up, each with a guest) eligible for a spiffy new 49cc scooter -- free beer and munchies while we endured the pull: your name gets picked and you are out. Presumably rising to a crescendo: last name left in the beer-box wins. Mega-beer consumption among the 50+ folk --mostly young, mostly looking like they would make good use of the nifty bike. The draw looks like it is going to be excruciating; the event was to begin at 7:00, and only 6 names had been drawn by 8:10. There are only two acceptable outcomes: Ben wins, or is eliminated early on. It's the latter. Ben's name is the fifth one drawn. We give up our seats to a couple of standing hopefuls, and leave with the silent wish that the mega-muncher next to Kathy, who stops scarfing only long enough to complain that other people are eating all the food, has her name drawn forty-seventh. We had a great time!
A new chair for the Living Room?
Still one old chair in the Living Room, and we have been thinking about replacing it. So began shopping for wing-back chairs on Saturday. Didn't see anything we liked -- but now we are thinking, "Maybe not wing-back after all." That's progress, sort of.
Sheet Harbour on Sunday
Up the Eastern Shore to celebrate Elsie's birthday, dinner with home-alones Wallace and Anna there too. Kathy made an exquisite cheese-cake birthday cake (non-glutin for Wallace) with fruit all over it, and a lovely raspberry sauce we forgot to serve. Lots of family pictures to be seen and tales to tell. Mitchell is two weeks from his mid-term exams (did everyone know that RCMP cadets go to school for six months and don't get paid! They pay for their books! Their laundry! I am astonished). Mitch is apparently doing well: says that some of the older cadets are having trouble accepting the unreasonable discipline, but he has no problem with it. Lindsay is enjoying NSCC; she hasn't begun some of her classes yet, as they are covering stuff she did in high school.
Came home to news that the Metro Transit dispute was settled at the eleventh hour. On the one hand this city needs a good strike; selfishly Ken doesn't need to worry about getting a passel of student assistants home at 11:30 at night.
Hockey Night in Cyber-space
Of course the big highlight of the week is opening night for the hockey-pool season. Finally! Our Matt-centric pool (for non-pool participants, of this blog team Ben, Mathieu and Ken are among the players; unaccountably Megan seems not to have joined. Is it 'cause she won't be able to get near the computer 'til June? Good luck to our worthy opponents!). Even before the season had begun, high-quality trash-talk had begun. Who would have guessed?
That's it from Kathy and Ken
Friday Night
By good luck Kathy pulled a Propellor beer out of the fridge after work, which reminded us that we had promised Ben we'd attend the Scooter pull later on. Forty eight contestants (more than half showed up, each with a guest) eligible for a spiffy new 49cc scooter -- free beer and munchies while we endured the pull: your name gets picked and you are out. Presumably rising to a crescendo: last name left in the beer-box wins. Mega-beer consumption among the 50+ folk --mostly young, mostly looking like they would make good use of the nifty bike. The draw looks like it is going to be excruciating; the event was to begin at 7:00, and only 6 names had been drawn by 8:10. There are only two acceptable outcomes: Ben wins, or is eliminated early on. It's the latter. Ben's name is the fifth one drawn. We give up our seats to a couple of standing hopefuls, and leave with the silent wish that the mega-muncher next to Kathy, who stops scarfing only long enough to complain that other people are eating all the food, has her name drawn forty-seventh. We had a great time!
A new chair for the Living Room?
Still one old chair in the Living Room, and we have been thinking about replacing it. So began shopping for wing-back chairs on Saturday. Didn't see anything we liked -- but now we are thinking, "Maybe not wing-back after all." That's progress, sort of.
Sheet Harbour on Sunday
Up the Eastern Shore to celebrate Elsie's birthday, dinner with home-alones Wallace and Anna there too. Kathy made an exquisite cheese-cake birthday cake (non-glutin for Wallace) with fruit all over it, and a lovely raspberry sauce we forgot to serve. Lots of family pictures to be seen and tales to tell. Mitchell is two weeks from his mid-term exams (did everyone know that RCMP cadets go to school for six months and don't get paid! They pay for their books! Their laundry! I am astonished). Mitch is apparently doing well: says that some of the older cadets are having trouble accepting the unreasonable discipline, but he has no problem with it. Lindsay is enjoying NSCC; she hasn't begun some of her classes yet, as they are covering stuff she did in high school.
Came home to news that the Metro Transit dispute was settled at the eleventh hour. On the one hand this city needs a good strike; selfishly Ken doesn't need to worry about getting a passel of student assistants home at 11:30 at night.
Hockey Night in Cyber-space
Of course the big highlight of the week is opening night for the hockey-pool season. Finally! Our Matt-centric pool (for non-pool participants, of this blog team Ben, Mathieu and Ken are among the players; unaccountably Megan seems not to have joined. Is it 'cause she won't be able to get near the computer 'til June? Good luck to our worthy opponents!). Even before the season had begun, high-quality trash-talk had begun. Who would have guessed?
That's it from Kathy and Ken
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Grandma's Birthday Card
I mailed a birthday card to Grandma last Friday so was pretty confident that it would reach Sheet Harbour for her birthday, which, as we all know, was yesterday. To my surprise, Canada Post deemed my modest card and envelope to be 'oversized'. It took some time, but yesterday -- on the very day I was hoping the card would be opened and read by Grandma -- it arrived back in our mailbox marked 'insufficient postage'.
Mathieu had retrieved the mail and gently broke the news. He has a great way of introducing minor problems as major disasters so that when he eventually comes to the facts of the situation, all I feel is a tremendous sense of relief.
Our friends at Canada Post had decided that I should pay 58 cents to send my apparently misshapen card and envelope. I'm sure it wasn't personal and that the figure resuted from an elaborate and standard calculation. It seems I'd tried to cheat Canada Post of 5 cents, though I can't be sure from the sheet of stamps we bought last week. They have a trademarked 'permanent' designation, which "provides great value since [they] will be honoured at the Canadian domestic basic letter rate regardless of stamp rate increases". This also means that there's no number on the stamps, no reminder of the Canadian domestic basic letter rate for 'standard' sized letters, something I find a little unsettling.
I considered the envelope for some time, wondering how to proceed. Should I start from scratch and stick (no more licking!) two fresh and precious sticker-stamps on the envelope? Or should I assume that I still had rights to the original stamp and add just one? Mathieu wasn't sure either. I was feeling a bit rebellious and may have acted rashly -- I decided not to be wastfeul and stuck just one more stamp on the envelope. I was working at the computer and Mathieu very kindly offered to take the envelope down to the mailbox across the street. I won't be too surprised if it turns out not to be the last time that envelope and I cross paths...
Knowing that Grandma wouldn't get her card until some time next week and still wanting to be an honourable grandaughter, I called her this morning to wish her a belated Happy Birthday. As it turns out, several family members had beaten me to it. She said she received a number of cards and phone calls yesterday, including a call from her grandson in Waterloo, which obviously made her very happy. She's also looking forward to hosting some notable visitors tomorrow. You aren't likely to be her most prominent houseguests of 2007, mom and dad, but I think she's looking forward to your visit. Drive safely.
Mathieu had retrieved the mail and gently broke the news. He has a great way of introducing minor problems as major disasters so that when he eventually comes to the facts of the situation, all I feel is a tremendous sense of relief.
Our friends at Canada Post had decided that I should pay 58 cents to send my apparently misshapen card and envelope. I'm sure it wasn't personal and that the figure resuted from an elaborate and standard calculation. It seems I'd tried to cheat Canada Post of 5 cents, though I can't be sure from the sheet of stamps we bought last week. They have a trademarked 'permanent' designation, which "provides great value since [they] will be honoured at the Canadian domestic basic letter rate regardless of stamp rate increases". This also means that there's no number on the stamps, no reminder of the Canadian domestic basic letter rate for 'standard' sized letters, something I find a little unsettling.
I considered the envelope for some time, wondering how to proceed. Should I start from scratch and stick (no more licking!) two fresh and precious sticker-stamps on the envelope? Or should I assume that I still had rights to the original stamp and add just one? Mathieu wasn't sure either. I was feeling a bit rebellious and may have acted rashly -- I decided not to be wastfeul and stuck just one more stamp on the envelope. I was working at the computer and Mathieu very kindly offered to take the envelope down to the mailbox across the street. I won't be too surprised if it turns out not to be the last time that envelope and I cross paths...
Knowing that Grandma wouldn't get her card until some time next week and still wanting to be an honourable grandaughter, I called her this morning to wish her a belated Happy Birthday. As it turns out, several family members had beaten me to it. She said she received a number of cards and phone calls yesterday, including a call from her grandson in Waterloo, which obviously made her very happy. She's also looking forward to hosting some notable visitors tomorrow. You aren't likely to be her most prominent houseguests of 2007, mom and dad, but I think she's looking forward to your visit. Drive safely.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Kathy and Ken's weekend
Our weekend note will be shorter, in keeping with our far-less cosmopolitan adventures. Saturday afternoon to Pictou to visit Steve and Jane -- a quiet Saturday night and Sunday morning eating (Saturday night: succulent steak and all the trimmings; Kathy and Ken made a more modest breakfast for the crew this morning), reading, crosswords and puzzles and a few harshly-contested cribbage games. This afternoon we drove up the shore to Pugwash (maybe 1.25 hours each way) and had an early supper at the Smiley family's cafe. Noreen was in Halifax for Word on the Street and the restaurant was quiet, so we had Greg all to ourselves; he was much more relaxed than the last time we were in, and they seem to be doing much better -- going to open one day a week through the winter, and relax.
Ken glanced in Kathy's copy of Ian MacEwan's "Saturday", a gift from Megan last year I think. The card that came with it read:
"It's Mother's day, Mom
forget about the cooking
forget about the cleaning
forget about the laundry
(and then inside)
just pretend you're Dad!"
(and then in Megan's distinctive hand)
"Don't show him this card"
I'm sure Ken will want to talk soon with you about this, Megs.
But mostly, he can't wait 'til hockey pool ... when does it begin?
Ken glanced in Kathy's copy of Ian MacEwan's "Saturday", a gift from Megan last year I think. The card that came with it read:
"It's Mother's day, Mom
forget about the cooking
forget about the cleaning
forget about the laundry
(and then inside)
just pretend you're Dad!"
(and then in Megan's distinctive hand)
"Don't show him this card"
I'm sure Ken will want to talk soon with you about this, Megs.
But mostly, he can't wait 'til hockey pool ... when does it begin?
Montreal Sejour
I think a short trip to Montreal is a worthy subject for my first -- and somewhat overdue -- blog entry. What can I say? I simply don't consider many things that happen in my life -- or my thoughts about them -- worthy of a written report. Chit chat is different.
We arrived in Montreal on Friday afternoon and checked into our hotel: the Hotel de l'Institut on Saint-Denis, across from Carre St-Louis. The hotel is run by the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ – Quebec Tourism and Hotel Institute) and employees are recent graduates or current students of the institute.
Our next stop was, of course, Simon's, which is still my favourite department store. I've been feeling like a bit of a ruffian at work lately, so was in the market for some new work clothing. Simon's -- and Zara's on Saturday -- didn't let me down.
But the highlight of our trip was dinner at Casa Napoli in Little Italy on Friday evening. We've eaten there once before, when we were living in Montreal, and Joan treated us during a visit. It was fantastic and we've long meant to go back. Being both organized and ambitious, we made a reservation. Impressed? Don't be. We left the hotel a little later than we should have, made our way toward St-Laurent to get the bus, and discovered that a huge stretch of 'the Main' is being repaved. The bus was re-routed and so we had to retrace our steps and make some enquiries to figure out the location of the temporary bus stop. We arrived at Casa Napoli about 30 minutes after our reservation but not to worry -- the hostess seemed even less concerned about this than Mathieu (someone has to overreact about these things). I explained our tardiness in French and she brushed me off in English and seated us. That was that. The meal was fabulous and our waiter was quite the upseller -- we ended up having foccacia with our caesar salads, which were made at a cart that was wheeled to our table. Mathieu had Risotto ai Due Formaggi and I had Pennine alla Signorina -- these people don't mess around.
We'd counted on the good food but not the entertainment. As was the case last time, the crowd was entertainment enough. Casa Napoli seems to be a good place for people/character watching. It's a restaurant frequented by couples, friends, and huge families with lots of kids who run around everywhere. Montrealers seems to be determined to incorporate their children into their very adult social lives. We had fun watching a particular pair of little girls make very frequent trips to the washroom. It appeared that their adults had decided that this was something the girls could manage on their own and they were out to make the most of this freedom.
The band topped off the atmopshere: a tall, blond, elegantly dressed Italian songstress and her not-so-impressive bass player, who together regalled the audience with a cheesy repertoire of English and Italian songs, Wind Beneath My Wings, R-E-S-P-E-C-T, and Mambo Italiano among them. I can't offer the names of any of the Italian numbers -- but our songtress sang both the female and male parts. A space between some tables in front of our musicians became a temporary dance floor for a few inebriated dinner guests during a few songs. Their dance moves attracted some attention, as did the singer's trombone playing in the resturant and on the terrasse during Mambo Italiano. As you might imagine, Mathieu and I were a bit mystified by all of this and did our best to seem engaged in serious conversation whenever the musicians came around to make small talk with diners and to ask for requests. At one point we even tossed around the idea of asking for a discount for putting up with all of this but we ultimately decided that it all made for a most memorable experience.
Having indulged so much at dinner on Friday, we weren't all that hungry yesterday. We did some more shopping, went to the fabulous Jean Talon market, and then wandered around our old neighbourhood. I wish we'd made the market a part of our Montreal routine. We became more than a little nostalgic walking along Saint Viateur, Parc, and Laurier, reminiscing about the things we did do in Montreal. We made a nice, long stop at the Renaud Bray bookstore. Mathieu cut me off, though, when I made nostalgic noises as we passed our old laundromat. He was having none of it. So we went for gelato, hopped in the car, and made our way back to Ottawa. The end.
Now back to laundry and Watership Down. The Home Based Learners Network book club I lead at the library is meeting to discuss this tome on Thursday. Our last meeting was in June so I've been putting this one off for a few months now and still have more than 150 pages to go. I find myself getting into certain parts of the story but for the most part, it's slow going. Very descriptive and, all in all, a story about rabbits.
We arrived in Montreal on Friday afternoon and checked into our hotel: the Hotel de l'Institut on Saint-Denis, across from Carre St-Louis. The hotel is run by the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ – Quebec Tourism and Hotel Institute) and employees are recent graduates or current students of the institute.
Our next stop was, of course, Simon's, which is still my favourite department store. I've been feeling like a bit of a ruffian at work lately, so was in the market for some new work clothing. Simon's -- and Zara's on Saturday -- didn't let me down.
But the highlight of our trip was dinner at Casa Napoli in Little Italy on Friday evening. We've eaten there once before, when we were living in Montreal, and Joan treated us during a visit. It was fantastic and we've long meant to go back. Being both organized and ambitious, we made a reservation. Impressed? Don't be. We left the hotel a little later than we should have, made our way toward St-Laurent to get the bus, and discovered that a huge stretch of 'the Main' is being repaved. The bus was re-routed and so we had to retrace our steps and make some enquiries to figure out the location of the temporary bus stop. We arrived at Casa Napoli about 30 minutes after our reservation but not to worry -- the hostess seemed even less concerned about this than Mathieu (someone has to overreact about these things). I explained our tardiness in French and she brushed me off in English and seated us. That was that. The meal was fabulous and our waiter was quite the upseller -- we ended up having foccacia with our caesar salads, which were made at a cart that was wheeled to our table. Mathieu had Risotto ai Due Formaggi and I had Pennine alla Signorina -- these people don't mess around.
We'd counted on the good food but not the entertainment. As was the case last time, the crowd was entertainment enough. Casa Napoli seems to be a good place for people/character watching. It's a restaurant frequented by couples, friends, and huge families with lots of kids who run around everywhere. Montrealers seems to be determined to incorporate their children into their very adult social lives. We had fun watching a particular pair of little girls make very frequent trips to the washroom. It appeared that their adults had decided that this was something the girls could manage on their own and they were out to make the most of this freedom.
The band topped off the atmopshere: a tall, blond, elegantly dressed Italian songstress and her not-so-impressive bass player, who together regalled the audience with a cheesy repertoire of English and Italian songs, Wind Beneath My Wings, R-E-S-P-E-C-T, and Mambo Italiano among them. I can't offer the names of any of the Italian numbers -- but our songtress sang both the female and male parts. A space between some tables in front of our musicians became a temporary dance floor for a few inebriated dinner guests during a few songs. Their dance moves attracted some attention, as did the singer's trombone playing in the resturant and on the terrasse during Mambo Italiano. As you might imagine, Mathieu and I were a bit mystified by all of this and did our best to seem engaged in serious conversation whenever the musicians came around to make small talk with diners and to ask for requests. At one point we even tossed around the idea of asking for a discount for putting up with all of this but we ultimately decided that it all made for a most memorable experience.
Having indulged so much at dinner on Friday, we weren't all that hungry yesterday. We did some more shopping, went to the fabulous Jean Talon market, and then wandered around our old neighbourhood. I wish we'd made the market a part of our Montreal routine. We became more than a little nostalgic walking along Saint Viateur, Parc, and Laurier, reminiscing about the things we did do in Montreal. We made a nice, long stop at the Renaud Bray bookstore. Mathieu cut me off, though, when I made nostalgic noises as we passed our old laundromat. He was having none of it. So we went for gelato, hopped in the car, and made our way back to Ottawa. The end.
Now back to laundry and Watership Down. The Home Based Learners Network book club I lead at the library is meeting to discuss this tome on Thursday. Our last meeting was in June so I've been putting this one off for a few months now and still have more than 150 pages to go. I find myself getting into certain parts of the story but for the most part, it's slow going. Very descriptive and, all in all, a story about rabbits.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Welcome, Jessie
The girl may be too busy to post much, but all hands should know that Jessie joined this blog last night. I hope she can find a little time to fill us in on her Life and Times -- 'cause from the phone conversations, she's having a real adventure. With the anticipation of much more to come. Kathy and Ken, by the way, are on our way to the Pictou area for the weekend ... we will be putting our feet up with Steve and Jane (and maybe sneaking in a little French 'revision').
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Jane Austen
Ken, Joan, Alfred, and I all thoroughly enjoyed The Jane Austen Book Club film last night. We ran into our in-law family in the line up and saved their seats. We expected the movie to start at 9:30 as listed in the fim festival catalogue, however, the tickets stated 10:00. For some of us staying awake past 10:00 is a challenge in itself. I know I only dropped off once and that was not reflective of the movie in any way. I think that Alfred laughter throughout indicated his pleasure with it. Light, funny, well written, interesting photography. Ken even gave it a 4/5. Quoting Ken, " At the end of it you were just happy for them. All the characters who were supposed to be in love were, and the one who should have been dead was gone and buried, and all the males were reading Jane Austen ." (I missed the dead and buried part!!!! That must have been when I closed my eyes for "a minute".) Love to all, Kathy
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The challenge goes out!!!
Well I wonder what's keeping some people from joining in on this modern means of communication. Maybe they don't feel there is anything worthwhile happening in their lives. We haven't heard from Miss Flinn yet....then again...she is probably home cuddled up with something soft and furry. Come on, Lindsay. Ken said he had a great chat with you at the library. He was, in fact, very happy to see you. Of course, there's also Megan and Mathieu. Surely there's a wise comment or two waiting to be made. Don't let's forget Miss Jessie out there in the far west. Jessie is working hard and otherwise busy travelling to majestic sites "on the border" (so to speak). Come on Jessie, tell all. With only the best intentions, Kathy
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Ben's Reluctant Blog Post Count: 1 (Also my first attempt at a witty title - which seems to be a characteristic of blog titles, no?)
Well, shit. Here I am. Sucked into a realm inhabited by those who precede my era. That's right, I think Blogging is officially a sport for those in our sphere who can't quite find themselves comfy using facebook or msn. Yes, Megan, parents, anyone else, please, take offense. I've quit facebook, I leave my computer at home during the days, but yet again, I find myself consumed; minutes are dwindling, pages neraby remained unturned. Well, so be it. We'll give it a shot anyhow. Below you'll find a more positive entry (hopefully, that is (i haven't even written it yet).
The chase: I went to the Laundromat today, and I fell in love (Lindsay, in the odd case that you find yourself on this Clare family travesty, I fell in love with no other person, just machinery. and some noise). As I was saying, yes, the laundromat: a perfect combination of humming washers and dryers; the constant buzz of people folding what would in any other situation be deemed as their unmentionables and other such forths and hence worths. Indeed. I haven't been able to think so clearly in weeks - I should have been brainstorming about my thesis, father, you're right. Anyhow, I also managed to clean my clothes for the first time in two weeks (an added bonus of the laundromat).
Other mentionables:
- I haven't spoken to Jessie in weeks now. Does anyone care to post her phone number? Are we even supposed to call her?
- I mentioned to a few of you that Ryan (Lindsay's brother) broke his thumb at training camp in Edmonton - which really doesn't help him too much. I learned from Lindsay today that he won't be playing for six weeks. On the up-side, the team assigned 14 or 61 odd players to other teams today (essentially cut 14 players) and he wasn't one of them. He must have impressed in his first few days.
- I should go now, the lundromat is closing, and I'm out of quarters anyhow.
Ben.
The chase: I went to the Laundromat today, and I fell in love (Lindsay, in the odd case that you find yourself on this Clare family travesty, I fell in love with no other person, just machinery. and some noise). As I was saying, yes, the laundromat: a perfect combination of humming washers and dryers; the constant buzz of people folding what would in any other situation be deemed as their unmentionables and other such forths and hence worths. Indeed. I haven't been able to think so clearly in weeks - I should have been brainstorming about my thesis, father, you're right. Anyhow, I also managed to clean my clothes for the first time in two weeks (an added bonus of the laundromat).
Other mentionables:
- I haven't spoken to Jessie in weeks now. Does anyone care to post her phone number? Are we even supposed to call her?
- I mentioned to a few of you that Ryan (Lindsay's brother) broke his thumb at training camp in Edmonton - which really doesn't help him too much. I learned from Lindsay today that he won't be playing for six weeks. On the up-side, the team assigned 14 or 61 odd players to other teams today (essentially cut 14 players) and he wasn't one of them. He must have impressed in his first few days.
- I should go now, the lundromat is closing, and I'm out of quarters anyhow.
Ben.
Highlights from the weekend
We had dinner at Cliff's on Friday night. Lee was in town and extended the invite to us, Steve& Jane, Judith, and Robach. Tasty meal with perhaps a tad too much wine for some. We had breakfast in the morning at Fred's. Another tasty event. Quiet evening at home watching Mystery... an Elizabeth George, Lynley and Havers. I am currently reading Pride and Predudice which I am thoroughly enjoying. I have to laugh at the time spent pondering everyone's love life.
The traditional Sunday afternoon drive in the Maritimes:
I want you all to know that my parents always went for drives in the car on a Sunday afternoon too. It seems to be a senior thing to do. Anyway after a healthy, but hearty breakfast, gas, and cash, we departed at 11ish, stopping off at Mathieu's to deliver the house keys!!! Declining an offer for tea, we did promise to bring apples back for Joan. They are planning on being in town to visit a niece and her new baby? do some stuff at the office and take in a film festival event, and will drop in sometime in between. The valley was our destination and our first stop was at the Jost Winery where we checked out their wines on display. Unfortunately, the tour wasn't until later in the afternoon. We taste tested a dry red wine ( Foch reserve 2005) and purchased a bottle. We then proceeded to Wolfville, had a light lunch at the Just Us cafe, and browsed a second hand bookstore. Remembering the original reason for our journey we headed off to Elderkin's market to get some apples and other produce. We actually ended up stopping at three markets. It was a great afternoon. Sorry you couldn't be there to share it with us. Love Mom
The traditional Sunday afternoon drive in the Maritimes:
I want you all to know that my parents always went for drives in the car on a Sunday afternoon too. It seems to be a senior thing to do. Anyway after a healthy, but hearty breakfast, gas, and cash, we departed at 11ish, stopping off at Mathieu's to deliver the house keys!!! Declining an offer for tea, we did promise to bring apples back for Joan. They are planning on being in town to visit a niece and her new baby? do some stuff at the office and take in a film festival event, and will drop in sometime in between. The valley was our destination and our first stop was at the Jost Winery where we checked out their wines on display. Unfortunately, the tour wasn't until later in the afternoon. We taste tested a dry red wine ( Foch reserve 2005) and purchased a bottle. We then proceeded to Wolfville, had a light lunch at the Just Us cafe, and browsed a second hand bookstore. Remembering the original reason for our journey we headed off to Elderkin's market to get some apples and other produce. We actually ended up stopping at three markets. It was a great afternoon. Sorry you couldn't be there to share it with us. Love Mom
Friday, September 14, 2007
Four for the Blog
Megan, Ben, Kathy and Ken
These four family worthies have signed up so far...Ben reluctantly, as (what he's afraid could become) undisciplined internetting is not high on his list of validating human activities.
Jessie doesn't have access as consistently as once was the case -- grand change, n'est-ce pas, Jess? -- so even if she wishes to clamber aboard, it will probaably take a while. Of course we do wish to hear from that precinct, so if you get a chance to get on board please do so, girl.
Other than this good start nothing special to post, so we'll shut up.
This one from Kathy and Ken
These four family worthies have signed up so far...Ben reluctantly, as (what he's afraid could become) undisciplined internetting is not high on his list of validating human activities.
Jessie doesn't have access as consistently as once was the case -- grand change, n'est-ce pas, Jess? -- so even if she wishes to clamber aboard, it will probaably take a while. Of course we do wish to hear from that precinct, so if you get a chance to get on board please do so, girl.
Other than this good start nothing special to post, so we'll shut up.
This one from Kathy and Ken
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Welcome to the Clare Family Blog
A little experiment.
Anyone in our extended family should feel free to join in: post your news, share your thoughts, tell us all what we're missing by not being you -- the song's you're singing, the people you've met, the places you've been, the books you've read. The many things that are making you happy right now, and occasionally the smaller things that make you feel blue.
Write once a week, once a month, or once a year.
In this way too this form is democratic: if people write it works, and if they don't it doesn't. Either way it's all good.
Clare Family Blog FAQ
Q. Do I need to be a Clare family member to share in this little enterprise?
A. No. When we say "extended", we mean ultra-elastic . To the companion of the progeny of the last lost third cousin twice removed: welcome.
Q. Do I need to be a Maritimer?
A. A harder question. Can we put it this way? You may not be a Maritimer, nor want to be one, but it will help if you have a sympathetic understanding of the unique charm that we bring to the planet.
Q. But suppose I pine for the Jays or the Leafs?
A. Even then we embrace you, though like life it's not always going to be easy.
Q. Do I need to be able to write?
A. No, but it always helps if you try to spell.
Q. What can't I write about?
A. Nothing. Conversely, you also can write about nothing.
This first one is from Kathy and Ken
Anyone in our extended family should feel free to join in: post your news, share your thoughts, tell us all what we're missing by not being you -- the song's you're singing, the people you've met, the places you've been, the books you've read. The many things that are making you happy right now, and occasionally the smaller things that make you feel blue.
Write once a week, once a month, or once a year.
In this way too this form is democratic: if people write it works, and if they don't it doesn't. Either way it's all good.
Clare Family Blog FAQ
Q. Do I need to be a Clare family member to share in this little enterprise?
A. No. When we say "extended", we mean ultra-elastic . To the companion of the progeny of the last lost third cousin twice removed: welcome.
Q. Do I need to be a Maritimer?
A. A harder question. Can we put it this way? You may not be a Maritimer, nor want to be one, but it will help if you have a sympathetic understanding of the unique charm that we bring to the planet.
Q. But suppose I pine for the Jays or the Leafs?
A. Even then we embrace you, though like life it's not always going to be easy.
Q. Do I need to be able to write?
A. No, but it always helps if you try to spell.
Q. What can't I write about?
A. Nothing. Conversely, you also can write about nothing.
This first one is from Kathy and Ken
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