🔔 at the Buddhist Church, the congregation used to go to a big bell [5 ft tall ] somewhere to ring in the new year
I never went that I can remember
we have a school hand bell [ for recess, sort of bell ]
however, I have set up the kaleidoscope multi colour light to automatically turn on at dark
not exactly, Times Square, not even close
but I did make an effort
cold and damp and gloomy
ran out to the Tiger [ staff cannot wait for 1 PM b/c I think the store closes early [ TG ]
🎀 well, we are close
now to be honest, I'm not awake at midnight on the 31 st
my excuse is that Asians tend to think of New Years Day as the holiday time
besides, I fall asleep anyway
dark out there, I have my ginger / lemon and honey drink. The marmalade jar b/c thats what it looks like, is an almost gallon bottle. I use two teaspoons of the marmalade in hot water
you could also employ the goop as ' spread ' on toast OR marmalade
a basically,umcomfortable type of day
damp and biting wind
I lugged home a pizza from Real McCoy Burgers. Great choice - tasty, moist
so burgers as promised were delicious
pizza is a winner
🍕.... your eye
like a big pizza slice [ OK should have shown a full pie ]
alrighty, last of the warmish days. form tomorrow we get pretty much Scarberian winter temperatures
of course, we are ready .... haul out winter gear
already I discovered my insulated boots [what a difference ]
water resistant [ big time ] not super high - ankle height
for warmth, a puffer jacket as a liner
💁
for December, a mild day and very humid, as promised rain is in the offing for the week
BUT - regardez ! colder temperature is the expected trend, starting in two days. Yes, we go back to freezing point
I was thinking .... [ dangerous, dangerous ]
watching the TV spot for ' Barbie, the movie '
is the Barbie movie a sign of how desperate society is ?????
its a surprise SURPRISE hit
Crikey, mate ....... really desperate
add the ' Oppenheimer ..... ' A bomb [ atomic ]
I did go out and the wind was the feature problem
never bought baby bananas before, the bunch of ten was $ 3.
We shall see said the Zen Master
🚱 or its the XXVII of DEcember
and there are no songs about the 27 th
alright, weather is dull [ as am I ] not freezing cold but raw w/ significant wind
rain has been happening for several hours steady not torrential
for a duck, perfect
" and you got nothing to be guilt for
out on the street, everybody we meet
got a heartache of their own " BeeGees and sung by Barbra Streisand
🔮what did you get for Christmas
Amazon brought me :
a multi socket. this socket head has pins that retract independently. the socket pins then take the shape of the screw or bolt
Chromecast. this device replaces a HDMI cable that would go to your TV s HDMI port. Chromecast makes the connection wireless. the Chromecast plugs into the TV and your phone or laptop can ' cast ' the image [ s ] to the TV
and socks and underwear which is traditional here
firstly. the multi socket. I always collected tools. psychoanalysis would note that my father was the same. only he collected bigger tools, machines really
alright, do you use them. yes. but not often
however, you can note that the right tool at the right time is invaluable
hasn't exactly saved my life but there is satisfaction in what I can do
Chromecast. why not.
of course, the next step is that the TV becomes your laptop but I still haven't seen a control system for TV as good as a laptop
I think thats part of the reason for Chromecast
BTW, I'm hopin that Chromecast can do what I just explained
the test comes today
weather is in the 40 s w/ rain sprinkled through the day
tested out the Chromecast device [ even the laptop calls it ' device ' ]
several aborts but the system found a work around [ which in itself is impressive ]
in essence, Chromecast turns a TV w/HDMI access into a smart TV
the laptop will project onto the TV, wirelessly. Up til now, I was using a dongle w/ the HDMI running to the TV. then, its a shortcut w/ less hardware
on the downside, the cursor is lagging visibly, so you can see the after image as the cursor moves
and right now, we are returning nothing
🌟 merry Christmas
no rain but drear
we have had a fog since last night - warm air and moisture
the rest of the lyrics for
' River ' from Joni Mitchell
a Xmas song that needs a bit of reflection
not quite the ' holly jolly ' stuff that we usually associated w/ Yule
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on But it don't snow here It stays pretty green I'm going to make a lot of money Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river I could skate away on I wish I had a river so long I would teach my feet to fly Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
ah, not exactly, bliss and commercial Xmas
thus, how do I feel about Christmas
if anyone [ everyone ] feels a little more compassion actually feels anything and considers their neighbour, friend or other human w/ compassion then Christmas has done its job
Kudos. I did my usual exercise. 45 minutes on the elliptical plus free weights and calisthenics [ good boy ! ]
we got prezzies. different this year. we both went on Amazon and bought each other s wish list
🐼 is Xmas Eve ?
or real close to the symbol for Porter Airlines
yes, the eve of Christmas
and dreary and rain portends
however, 40 F is not Scarberian winter
we'll take dreary for comfortable temperatures
M .. was wathcing the local ' all news ' station and turned it off
b/c shootings and thuggings dominated the feed
a quiet day in the ' boro
mainly chores, wash and setting timers etc
🎄 bringing Peace and Joy
the actual lyrics ala Joni Mitchell
It's coming on ChristmasThey're cutting down treesThey're putting up reindeerAnd singing songs of joy and peaceOh, I wish I had a riverI could skate away onBut it don't snow hereIt stays pretty greenI'm going to make a lot of moneyThen I'm going to quit this crazy scene
perhaps the words most likely to be 20 th century accurate
our Environment Canada issued a freezing rain warning for T.O.
then we warm up
Saturday the 23 rd will be 8 degrees warmer than yesterday ans still damp
we will be over 40 F on Xmas
and drizzly, uninviting conditions NO ice or snow [ TG ]
rain chance is 80 % for the duration of DE 23
🐧 the story :
I was in Walmart and saw 🐧🐧 the inflatable penguin was $ 20.
surrounding us on the street is a zoo and wildlife park in LED critters
we cannot compete or do not want to
but, one animule could be a start [ NOT ]
so far, the little guy pumps himself up ans stands at the doorway [ despite the cold]
our symbol of defiance in the midst of LED overload
the day is drear, 30 F and a wind chill yet a reprieve from yesterday s bitterness
warming trend to start Saturday and on
🐙 NOT but he was pink
we do not have little children in our lives
so, maybe, as we've gotten older - the magic of Xmas has faded
and as in many other households - CV 19 has altered our get togethers
cold is on the menu for this Thurs. Temperature predictions for the next week, say warming and high 40 s are in the realm of doable for the 25 th - rain is omnipresent for the next 7 days
you didn't know BUT I started internet surfing this morning about 4:30 AM
for the second night [ morning ] I saw the clock at 3:30
Crikey !
and a frigid day, to our embarrassment, it was really 30 F plus a degree of wind chill BUT that wind cut right through
clean bull of health at the dentist
cleaning w/ no gum bleed Kudos to you
🎺 the topic au jour is
Whatsapp or Neighbourhood watch
Item. Maybe, its only me. But the folks on the Watch are burning up the air waves
messages are flying back and forth
the main interest is the person s profile pix on message titles
after a flurry of messages
the fix was, to hit the profile image [ ghosted out template ], that will let you enter the profile page for the person and click on the real profile pix that the person offered
THEN, the two profile images - ghosted and personal picture MERGE or sync
best part is the cooperation shown for the group
at least they care
weather is blah !!! gray looking and threatening in a mild way
can't shake the feeling precipitation is waiting
however, a passable day
incongruities abound - we are going to see a warm up
w/ Xmas day over 40
b/c I picked up the snowblower this afternoon
a snowblower that we most likely will not need
we have the lawn service dudes
🎆 midwinter .....
thusly, its freezing out there, literally, b/c its 32 but not quite
the forecasted 1 inch or more is still sitting in the clouds
school buses out east were cancelled in our area
yet we have sun and light
our Xmas ritual lunch w/ M ... close friend got scrubbed
Reportage : I cooked pre - Xmas dinner
1. turkey
2. stuffing
3. gravy
a solo effort
result. a lot of cleaning to do after
alright but the meal ?
turkey was mostly a 8 of 10. Spatchcocking [ flattened bird ] turned out to save 30 min of cooking time
to be fair, instructions said ' a 425 F oven' temperature and half the time. I used 325 F or regular temperature.
On the plus side, the turkey was moist. The dark meat maybe on the stringy side.
Stuffing was a 8.5 of 10
Gravy tasted right, slightly thin
Summary. Do it again ? Spatchcocking, not a ton of effort, so maybe
Pluses. Taking out the back bone, meant that I could saute the backbone w/ veg and get stock before the bird was done.
I discovered that I was carving the turkey improperly. A great learning experience ..... b/c carving was and is a area where I feel inadequate. And really, I carve like crap
Lets get warm, now
Surprise ! friend A .. of M .. s brought the feast here, instead of us going [M .. wasn't up to it ]
called saving the day
a touch of difference and caring, for sure
the day is bright and crisp and inviting, basically everything that it was not going toward as of yesterday afternoon
📯 the ' big ' day
well. w/ the advent of Covid, our Xmas ' traditions have changed. AND M .. has had some issues around her health
thus, our ' newest ' tradition - buy three things from Amazon. you pick and the other person looks it up and buys the item
my idea. but a time saving and efficient way to get the job done
my latest worry is that there is light seeping through the front door - jamb junction. I weatherstripped the jamb w/ the correct style insulator. this type has a tongue of material that inserts into a groove in the jamb
I'll need to check if cold air is getting in. Maybe the material allows light but not cold
this is fairly pollyanna thinking. yet, modern materials often have some interesting variations
📛 and I know all the rules and
I know how the break them
from Air Supply
rainy and drear but wind is ruffling the leaves
Report :
' cocoa on the street ' reflections
all in all, 14 people showed
however, they were appreciative
the back story is two others attending had tried the neighbourhood watch concept but reception was poor
this cycle has 30 respondents and a fair degree of activity
you have seen my comments -lost cats generates the biggest buzz
after ' free ' pallets and stone
and the best of the afternoon - everyone appreciated the effort
🍫 ......" cocoa on the street " out of the garage
any doubts ....... YES who holds neighbourhood watch out of the garage
sort of comes as you are ???? or come see the minimum
we shall see said the Zen Master
cocoa al fresco
Alrighty !
A success in spades. Everyone who promised to come - did
Folks brought really dynamic cookies
Hot chocolate - EZ and a hit
and we found out who was who
㋋
b/c I am hosting ' cocoa on the street ' out of the garage for the local ' Neighbourhood Watch ' Sun is warm and inviting TODAY
tomorrow is ' cocoa day ' naturally
We shall see said the Zen Master !
ran around to the pharmacy and Chinese hot table + veggies b/c we re cooking our 7 lb turkey Sun or Mon [ thawing now, supposedly ]
We shall see said the Zen Master
Hear it here !!! exercise:
I am doing the usual but no goals except for 45 min
Sure. Likely story
and as advertised, exercise was ellipitical and free weights / stretches w/ no push - going along to do something / anything
sweat a little too !
how do I feel ? OK
🀩 ..... really only uncomfortable
we will be close to 40 [ little up / little down ]
again as in many previous Thursdays, A .. is meeting me for lunch
we are going to ' Magic Noodle '
A .. describes MN as more a cafeteria than restaurant
still might be worth the change from straight Dim Sum
... frosty winds do blow
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone "
words by Christina Rosetti and music by Gustaf Holzst
originally, a commissioned piece for a prayer book, '' Bleak Midwinter " is now a staple in Church Yule music
Christina is the sister of Dante Aliegheri
Report: the Magic Noodle was
I wish to return
Then I was chauffeured hither and yon from Chinese grocery to Costco and back to Noodle 🍜
Spending $ 200 including a shower caddy, shrimp and veg
∄ ... that you love me now ... '
oldie lyrics from Petula Clark who lives in France [ she sang ' Downtown ' too ]
A cold day brewing and the likelyhood of snow flurries this AM despite the sun peeking through about now
so, two cousins have read this blog, Vancouver and Edmonton based [ although G .. could be in Calgary, now ]
however, B .. from Ohio reads and has read faithfully
but the premise remains - we blog to the ether for therapy
BTW
the symbol emoji that I chose is named " there does not exist "
OK, you can say it " what does that mean ???? " Dunno
it was offered and I clicked on the symbol
crawling into the new electronic world [ not even sure if that is the correct term ' electronic ' ? thats b/c I'm 7 yrs behind ]
I'm getting Chromecast for Xmas [ we ordered, all our presents to each other on Amazon ]
I've been on YouTube, watching ' How to Set Up Chromecast in 5 minutes '. Naturally, this is a proposed time for normal people. At lest, on the last video that guy paused to correct the set up
I'll be pausing that I'm sure of
4 🔝 s
from Vancouver, a cousin sent a Xmas email. A little news and info was included
the day : shows signs of brightness but through the clouds and it felt uncomfortable popping out to reach for the paper
the song "Reach Out, I'll Be There " was a Four Tops hit [ 70 s ??? ]
as well, the cousin that pumps out the comedic online quotes - sent the 'Wisdom of Will Rogers " or the poet lariat
I posted back some WR quotes. I have the album, a one man show the humour of Wii Rogers where James Whitmore Jr reprises the stage performances of Will Rogers
a man who shook hands w/ presidents, emperors and world leaders
Hey, cousin L .. from Vancouver visited the blog
thanx, L ..
the story : today, I dropped off the snowblower that my Dad bought in 1985 or so. He was so proud of that Toro. The big claim was the ability to throw snow over thirty feet away
it was used two or three times here and on loan for 6 yrs
while planning and expediting grass growing this fall, I went to Homeland variety [ really ] and saw that they also repair lawn and garden equipment
yepper, decided to fix the snowblower. My estimate was the Toro was worth a couple of hundred dollars. To find out that if you could even find one, new - the cost would be $ 1500 and used $ 900
most likely the smart move - let the junk man take it
couldn't
so, pay the $ 200 [ I pray ] and get a functioning snowblower
💃she was a showgirl
at the Copa, Copa Cabana [ sing it Barry .....]
day is beginning the sky out the den window is brightening, bit of wind
temperature today is 36 [ maybe ]
this is our week - the word is intermittent [ everything ]
OK shopping at Superstore : $ 100
but beer and wine plus a turkey
we will cook the bird on Dec 16 or so - freeze a bunch for Xmas day brunch
$ 28 for a baby Butterball, this sucker is 7 # thus $ 4 / lb
🌟🌟🌟 no but we have a semblance of sun [ the day is lit ] and no rain
Lets cheer the sunshine and relative warmth - won't last tho'
I'm offering ' cocoa on the street '. For about 4 months now, I've been connected to Neighbourhood Watch via WhatsApp. A little bit of watch and a bunch of lost cats and stuff to give away
' cocoa on the street ' is to be held in my garage - sort of a drop in event. Originally, I said 2 - 6 P but then thought ' kinda cold to be out 4 h.
I'm planning on heating the garage w/ a spaceheater [ actually , used in my unheated workroom in winter ].
of course, the hope is to put names to faces [ ???? ]
realizing that this could be a total flop, however, its a kind gesture for the street [ s ]
Sunday is Giant Tiger shopping time. Not much on the want list - that didn't stop me from filling a bag
next a stop at Shoppers Drug Mart was handy
all totalled, I spent 130 dollars.
☑✅❎➰ which can likely be translated by AI
last night, I cooked salmon for about the fifth time
why ? never really think of cooking salmon
I've caught salmon, maybe 15 times
but bought salmon ??? not that I recall
I do buy haddock and bluefish etc and recently bought sole [ fillets ]
however, salmon was flavourful and satisfying
the house is redolent w/ the fish smell [ yick ! ]
a mild, to very mild day today
and enjoy b/c the bottom drops out of the bucket tonight
32 F will be a dream temperature, cuz we won't get there
I posted on Facebook. I've mostly given up on FB. However, this post said:
THERE is a god, his name is YouTube !. Our fireplace Napoleon started the heating season by not responding to the remote. The advantage to the remote is setting the temperature and the automatic shutoff feature. Well, it wasn't working
Thus, 3 minutes in, ' How to Re - synchronize the remote. Bada Bing --- success
WAIT !!! how can a hoodie cost $ 80
where have I been ????????? [ on Amazon ]
Give me a break ----- $80
eighty like 4 x 20
its biblical, ' 4 score years '
actually, that s Lincoln, counting biblically
🍔 a beautiful thing ..... " is the jingle. Harvey s franchise has been a hallmark of ' burger - fries ' takeout in T.O. [ well, all of Ontario ]
Recently, we ordered an Angus burger a Junior burger from Harvey s. My Angus burger was ' day old ' or from the afternoon rush. Dried out and hard
Thus, I complained. Harvey s has the notation ' comment on our service ' on the receipt
I did. In return as a thankyou for responding, I got a voucher for a complimentary burger
BUT Real McCoy s was a real treat [ not the greatest but good ]
The big melt is on. Streets are black and damp. The air is damp and the mood is gray.
As well, a coyote ran through our backyard heading east. The neighbours are not best pleased w/ the numerous coyote sightings and mishaps.
🌨 more than a dusting overnight. The prediction is 1 inch all said and done
winter announced itself
very pretty and iconic
crap !!!!
and melted, by the afternoon [ still sloppy but drive-able ]
did my exercise program
went for Burgers and Chick Soulvaki at ' Real McCoy Burgers ', a legend in Scarborough.
for the weekend, a bit of a warm up and after 3 days - back to freezing temperatures, and that goes for the next period as well.
Real McCoy has solid food. Burgers are a touch above average. Fries better than reasonable. Gravy is amazing
🍞 or day old
a mixed day
dismal and windy changing to full sun [ clouds still ] but the wind kept up
finished as gray as the start [ sun is enlivening ]
we ventured into the realm of construction. for 12 yrs and seems like longer, the city has been building a crosstown Transit route.
this route is legendary, a) there is nothing there
b) the road is torn up and ' orange ' is the new orange - as in change lanes and squeeze a lot
the intersection for us was Midland and Eglinton. One way East and West on Eglinton and the junction is a catastrophe of large orange rectangles w/ cryptic symbols [ like runes ]
in essence, you can't there from here
we survived and told the tale. the trip was vital
🏾 oh, my
keep your spirits up anyway that you can
we have ' blah ' weather
I should be out skiing or snowshoeing to Nome
My latest, and ongoing kick is saving boxes and bottles. We have been ordering from Amazon [ hence boxes ] and I hate to toss them.
To wit, I have been turning boxes into shelf organizers wherever possible. I stack the boxes sideways and create storage compartments that can stack. I've hit some snags but usually find a way to increase storage
The real trick, keep less stuff. BUT I come by this collecting odds and sods from Dad.
And every now and then, voila, I have exactly what I need in a bin or box or a bin in a box.
Bottles. I mean glass. If I toss the glass, supposedly the glass gets melted down and turned into ladies underwear [ or whatever ]
I've noticed though that some liquids need glass storage. Mainly, solvents b/c I still run gas motors.
We watch ' Hoarders, Buried Alive ', reality TV. And, yes, I occasionally wince and grimace - oh, well.
On to health. At Costco, I spied a glass [ right ] large jar w/ marmalade inside. Nope. Well, mostly nope.
The product was, honey, ginger and citron paste or marmalade. The main use is dissolved in warm to hot water and taken as an anti - cold, cough or sickness preventative. Oh, spread on toast, too !
Right up my alley. I am always getting colds. Usually, miserable ones. M .. says ' man cold ! ' and that is not a compliment.
I've always believed in honey and ginger etc. Before the ' jar ' I often had lemon and honey in hot water at night
Now, a cuppa HGC in the morning too ! Colds !!! stay away
Oh, bought a mini massage gun for my thigh massage. This sucker fits in my hand unlike some larger models that are shaped like a gun or hairdryer. I figured smaller to put less strain on my wrists. I'm sure that I've arthritis in both wrists [ and probably a bunch of other places too ! ]. Right on !
the mini gun is easy to use and no strain on the wrists [ good call that ]
Honestly, I was worried that I bought a chunk of junk - low power, poor battery [ its rechargeable, everything is rechargeable, except me ]. Bonus, about $ 60 for the mini ] Small enough to travel w/ as well.
🥝 this GIF appeared on Chrome by using the ' everything key + shift and space
💭 What already !!!
been pretty dull out there, sun for 6 hrs today according to Michelle [ WeatherNetwork ]
ran out to Skyland for the weekly sushi and 2 combo platter + fried chicken wings and dim sum [ har gow ]
returned empties to the beer store
managed to change the batteries in our photocell floor light. M .. noticed that the baby flood light wasn't turning on. Done !
꫞ welcome to my morning
I say welcome to my day
rather dismal looking out there
and yes, rain is due Maybe, Monday is sunny but cloudy all week
and it poured for an hour over noon
I've been re - watching ' Star Trek - Strange New Worlds ', specifically " Tomorrow and Tomorrow ". Due to the Writers Strike, no new episodes of many series were possible.
I maintain that good television is rare. Very rare.
I'm in love w/ Laan Noonien Singh [ Christina Chong ]. Actually, Star Trek SNW, introduces several new characters that so far have no correpsondence w / future based Star Trek entities.
" penny bright " is Laan.
㋋
starting the month, a bit on the cool side
Went to CBC online
you don't need to know what I saw
this week will be above freezing w/ rain and slush
if your Canadian, this is what your built for
the predictions say that Ryan Y'All [ YouTube ] showed the correct trends - warmer than average Winter
this pattern doesn't mean ' no precipitation ' however warmer rather than colder
🔱 ancient symbol of the .......
the weather : cool and damp just like fall after the leaves are down
in a fit of ennui [ love that word ] or in need of retail therapy which is running riot in this house - I bought a self inflating lawn penguin. The perky fellow has taken up residence on the front step.
And NO, 'perky penguin ' doesn't get a friend - at least not this year
consider him a trial run. Recall our house is surrounded by forest and not so forest animals
we are not competing
a review : bit the bullet.
I ordered and received a ' mini ' massage gun. questions were based on small size and ability of battery to power the device over a reasonable time
can the mini gun do the job .... yes
battery life ..... don't know but so far - I've used it three times for short massages
but, I can say, " gives relief "
to wit. this morning. a) mini massage b) ice blue gel c) however, this is exercise day, thus I added 2 acetominophen
I figured if the mini massager works - it can travel [ approx # 1 ] and a neat additional therapy on the road
♎ on it last legs
coming to the close of the month
do we look back in awe
or disappointment
big booming sun and cold
a YouTube weather dude ' has predicted ' warmish Dec for the Great Lakes Basin '. He didn't actually, say GLB, we got lumped in w/ the ' East ' He figures the Polar Jet Stream stays N ish of the GLB
the guy is ' Ryan y'All ' And today, well , he got it right. We crossed the 40 mark and kept going ....... Windy but so comfortable. Now, I wore a fleece vest and leather coat [ gotta knock the win down, step one ]
on the telecom front :
yesterday. the internet and thus everything was off. In fact, 4 times in two hrs or so. In between, I tried to use the ' chat Anna or AI assistant ' to explain my problem and the internet went down. I called a live person [ in Halifax no less ] and he carefully checked and explained and gave me tix #. Hrs later, I got a text ' all is good '
Today. The internet went out intermittently b/c the crews were working. I called a live agent [she understood ] then the internet went out.
After an hour, I called and explained to new agent. I started w/ ' say that I get a credit '. And she did. The neighbours have been getting $ 5 and such BUT she started w/ ' how about $ 40 for down time ? '
I'm a wimp and took the credit
Yeesh ! And the problem isn't solved b/c our phone [ natch, is VoIP ] thus no internet = no phone.
There is going to be a radical re - think re: this internet situation
❄ sugared the lawns, overnight
' snow covers the fields we used to know .... ' Harpers Bizzare
Harpers Bizarre was a vocal group circa 1980 { ? }
their trademark was the close harmonizing. the album that I know is ' Anything Goes ' and yes its Cole Porter ala HB.
" this is smiling Eddie Fatootsie coming to you from high atop the Altoona Motor Hotel. Bringing you the soft and lilting tunes from yesteryear. Songs to twinkle your toesies and ..... "
thats how I remember the sound
OK cold to uncomfortable for the day
been out to Princess Auto [ Pep Boys etc c.f. ]
Superstore [ Halal Chicken BBQ ] salads were on sale
as well, Superstore has a store brand potato salad that is superior
Plus Skyland for sushi and salmon bites [ dinner add ons ]
Note : its still bleeding cold and grim
another exercise session is logged and written
yes, I enter each workout. today was an average BPM of 113 and max BPM 136 over 47 min. I did sweat and drink about 400 mL. hydrate ....hydrate
that leaves 13 bouts of heavy breathing before the New Year
I can hardly wait
🌬 fishing is the best
I saw our indicator flags and figured that we had a South wind. The CBC weather site has the wind from the West. A South wind would bring fairly warm temperatures b/c the lake is warmer than the land right now. BUT also rain
Wind from the East
Not fit for man or beast
Wind from the North
Wise fishers goes not forth
Wind from the West
Fishing s the best
Wind from the South
Blows the bait in the fishes mouth Anon. or lousy poet
called Ohio this AM, and we left a message and didn't get a blocking message - this is good
AND the wind is westerly, brisk and westerly
Amazon got another order from us
I bit the bullet and ordered a massage gun for deep tissue massage. There were a plentitude of options from $ 30 to 300. The mini [ reviews say' good powerful massaging ] was $ 60 after a discount coupon. The ' Brand' was " Bob and Brad " who do YouTube segments as physio experts.
We shall see said the Zen Master
🎇 November 26 is the 330th day of the year (331st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 35 days remain until the end of the year.
35 days til the big change
a sunny, cold and welcoming day [ if you are a Scarberian ] or penguin
the shop at Giant Tiger yielded 9 cans of Campbell tomato - veg at $0.87 per can. Dole coleslaw and gardensalad at 20 % off. Unfortunately, an apple pie and banana loaf, magically appeared in the cart.
This afternoon, late, I did chores for the outside - no heavy lifting or slave labour. Little jobs that were better done in dry conditions b/c sprinkles began at 4 or so [ as predicted ]
Whenever, I offer a review for Amazon, I feel that ' as promised ' is a fine accolade [ especially, right now ]
the apple pie is good b/c the apple chunks are recognizable but the crust is average to dry.
no one ever left my mother s pie crust. In fact, remaining pie dough became tarts [ strawberry jam filling ]
yepper, my mom s lemon meringue pie was a legendary thing
🍚 refreshing ?
tangy, brisk ----- Cold as a ......s heart
a quiet day ahead - he hopes
Prime Minister is breaking the rules : Hope is not a strategy
Almost any budgetary process is an exercise in optimism. The federal government hopes it can hold the line on program spending. It hopes the global economy is on the road to a better place. Mostly, it hopes things don't get worse.
In a world awash in uncertainty, that can be a risky bet.
He picked up several local nicknames, including "Cluck Norris" and "Gobbles McFeathers," but Turkules — which rhymes with Hercules — is the one that really stuck. 🦃
reported from West Orange, NJ
after months of habituating the town, chasing things that moved and people - Turkules was captured and PARDONED and reputedly released far from town
after a sub freezing mark night and vague hopes of above 32, we start the day in part sun. likely to fool you into believing that you don't need thermal underwear.
If you read the packaging certain oddities arise. A common treat in England is ' Jammie Dodgers '. JD s are shortbread cookie rounds w/ strawberry jam for 🥧 filling
The motto reads : no nasty stuff, we are Jammie enough
🦃 apparently, this is the pardoned turkey for the year
the day should be calmer and more reliable, cool tending to cold, bit of wind, bit of sun
a busy morning. physio lady came to help M ..
our Instacart delivery arrived
besides, I got a slow start this AM
for my exercise session. I watched a fellow drill and fit steel beams. Wildling Adventure is a UK er refurbishing a catamaran in Netherlands - long range goal, sail to home. Then cruise the world
his ' boring ' video exactly matched my workout.
low skill and a grind
My thought was to start a book [ or shorter item ] w/ the title
" after Bunty Bailey "
notice the verbiage ' my thought '
thinking is always dangerous [ esp for me ]
as well, ' shorter item ' is an open invitation to get lazy
.... and do it in three paragraphs [ as per usual ]
🚱 reporting another month slipping by
cool and wet out there - not frigid slightly ugly
to wit, turned on the Xmas tree for a spark of lightness
well, we tried to get rolling
and seems to be happening
⾡ do the walk of life
w/ all the trouble and the strife
a true November day, chance of drizzle / rain and 35
makes you glad that you did outside chores - yesterday
admittedly, not a lot was done today
we accept that this situation is part of the run of life
the day was as predicted and maybe a little rawer
ah ! does it make the other day s this week - seem a bit nicer
we shall see said the Zen Master
🌚 a taste of 32 out there
sunny is promised but much colder than yesterday
final pre - winter chores are on tap
maybe a gutter blow out [ if not frozen up there ]
we shall see said the Zen Master
a synopsis : I decided to get my butt in gear at 9:20 AM
E ... was coming over to help blow out the gutters
Firstly, I got up to the gutters that I could reach w/ a ladder just to see how much ice and stuck leaves there were [really cold last night ]
Yes, pretty iced up at the bottom of the gutters
I built an igloo to protect the electrical set up for the roof heating coils. I used plywood that the neighbour had left out for pick up [ I picked it up ].
I knew that the leafblower would be easier starting if it was warm. I brought the leaf blower into the front hall. Really, 35 F vs 70 F - not even a contest. Of course, the leafblower would start better.
E.. came over to help. However, E ... has been constantly willing to help. Recall, his uncle did the starter repair on the E Tec. Just in case, I used the coupon for a bucket of chicken [ 20 pc ] and fries at Kentucky Fried .
E .. came over as promised and we did the gutters [ I held the leafblower and he did the work ]. The plan was that I would take E .. for a meal after as a thankyou.
Aha ! he was going fishing after the gutters
Perfect. Handed him the bucket of chicken - he was happy. A snack before fishing
Good planning was all
So, mostly, ready for winter
🙊 or our version. last night approx 8 P, the cable went out
the duration was 1 1/ 2 h we were not desperate. frustrated but not angry
we managed to discuss several key future events
mainly, the Fla trip. perhaps we ironed out some difficulties [ imagined, of course ]
if we don't pre - worry the whole trip - WELL its not us.
what we missed ...... NADA
we had a recorded show [ English crime show ] BUT b / c of the PVR system if you set the record feature THEN once the show begins, you can hit ' watch ' and it takes you back to the beginning
even while that show is still recording
the day will be cool sub 40 w/ a small chance of rain ... for sure the de - leafing process is 85 - 90 % done
on the good news front. North Carolina State [ the Wolfpack ] pulled off a three - peat in NCAA Cross Country. Down a star and a half [ one runner medically scrubbed and the other not up to par ] the Pack won the team title by 1 point. Maybe, a slight underdog going in, w/ 1 1/2 runners in trouble, that was an effort worthy of the record books.
OK what has this to do w/ anything. Nothing. But this world goes on. and good news is good news
the girls are not pros making big bucks [ except for Tuohy who does have a promotional contract ] thus it s a pleasant feeling when they do well
the old college try. I suppose
here at home. I'm giving the ' 1 hour cycle ' on the dishwasher, a go. Typically, we use ' normal ' [ 3 hrs ???? ]. However, someone forgot to run the beast overnight THUS try the one hour cycle [ maybe, b/c these machines use a different time universe, it seems ]
So, thats the un - report
OH -> and it will not be any better tomorrow
indeed. the one hour cycle is ' 1 hr '
a pattern. Finished my elliptical and free weight session for the day. To be clear, this month - I'm working out on odd days of the month. Hence, 19 is a workout day
yes, I'm on the 'clock ' so to speak. My 'Wahoo ' device, does track, Average HR and Max HR plus calories burned. For example. today 108 BPM was average and 121 was max. Calories burned was ' 480 '
translate into words. please.
my workout was primarily ' aerobic ' and much above what a similar aged person would get if walking.
as well, free weights, are essential to maintain minimum muscular strength and tone.
Sadly, my whole life, physiotherapists etc used terms such as ' below average ' agility, strength and flexibility
however, in the last ten years
I've heard ' much above what we expect ' for flexiblity and strength and balance
Egads !!!! I wait 70 yrs to rate ' positive ' comments
Really. for 60 yrs ---- ' You need to get in shape.
F *** You !!!
🈹 of the world OR
a simplistic view of life
dullsville, really
comsumerism. my new bathrobe or housecoat
longish, gray w/ patch pockets and a hood [ however, 50 % off ]
this would be bathrobe # 4 here in the house
# 1 is blue thick terry and bought in 1995 - still serviceable
# 2 is cream terry [ thinner by a lot than # 1 ] purchased in 2008
# 3 is cotton and plaid pattern [ really thin ] circa 2005. its primarily for after exercise and cool down
so for now # 4 is a walk around the house bathrobe or house coat
our weather is 40 - 50 ish clear sky this AM but we do get rain through the next two days
what constitutes a successful day
well, you log in to a gov't website AND
get what you want
we had our new passports
however, the new information [ passport # etc ] has to be recorded on the nexus website [ bunch of Letters e.g. CBP, ASCP, GOES and TPP ]
turns out what we required today was .....
login.gov
1. enter your email and password [ we had 2 for ???? who knows ] none were correct
2. we requested password reset
3. turns out we really never had a password at login. gov
Oh, well. We do now
Finally, logged in and info updated
M .. was keeping track. that was just shy of an hour [ for both ]
crikey !!
' success is counted sweetest
by those who ne'er succeed ' Emily Dickenson
🌠 or not
your good deed for the day. I had some paper for recycling and ran out to the curb to add to the recycle bin. the neighbour forgot to set his bins out
ran over and made it by a minute ! Boy Scout indeed
then neighbour and I talked about rain chance for today
A good day yesterday. accomplished much
Oh, forgot. The Xmas tree went up on the dining room table. Plus, a sparkler light shines on the front porch
Front porch ? well, the cord only reaches that far. I'll wait til the leaves are totally off in the lawn before choosing a likely place. Still some stragglers up high
workout day. or so they say
sorta, laidback, do the deed and accept the result. No push no drive
satisfaction is in the doing
its over, its good
really, even five years ago
never would have said that
it would have been set the goal [ s ] and perform
Oh, yeah - the good old days
🌛 shine on
Harvest moon
TG for sun. makes the day start a treat.
a slow go this morning. going to the loo in the early morning my back spasmed as a I reached for a towel. Ouchy !
took my Acetaminophen early and that seemed to help
what happens when the meds wear off [ ?????? ]
the nearest trees are 85 - 90 % de - leafed. So, a eavestrough blow out is due
all s right when the sun is out, breeze is cool but gentle. Wow ! many jobs were attended to
1. cleared the dead scrub form the wildflowers [ neaten the mess ]
2. aligned the snowblower parts [ took it apart for transport ] However,decided that I'm taking it to the local small engine guy ] to make it start
to be fair, its been 3 yrs since A .. tried b/c he borrowed it back then
3. banged in the 'WELCOME ' reindeer post for Xmas. And still haven't decided how much Christmassy decorations will go up.
We always claim that our display is subtle [ which means sparse and cheap ] We sit between two Xmas zoo scenarios
4. made the downspout runoff ready for fall / spring rains, to get the water far away from the wall
5. as well, the garage door opener ' went on the fritz ' on closing the motor hesitated and moved approx 8 inches ' lights flashing ' and 'STOP '
Yessiree - straight to YouTube. " Does your Chamberlain door opener balk " YES !!!! And the solution ? Realign the sensor lights. Done
See - a fantastic day
🌎 the blue marble
on the 15 th of the month and closing in on Dec [ too much, you think ] Time does march on
recycling :
I have a backlog of boxes. The supposed idea is to re -use them. Thusly, I have used these boxes inside cupboards to stack goods and items. Nothing fancy - just plop the box and its side and put in the items. OK - so how many boxes are we talking about.
I estimate 10 or so [ different sizes ].
I'm using the wine boxes and dividers to store T shirts in the slots and shoes or slippers [ slippers and flip flops fit best ]
Success ? all I can say is ' I didn't toss the boxes out '
Weather. Right now we have 36 F and it heading for 53 F. Likely, one of the warmest days this week. Time to get out and do tidying up.
I started yesterday by taking down the support poles and string that propped up the wildflowers.
the wildflowers are a success story. one packet, distributed under the bay window, three years of flowers
I started the monitoring setup for the roof - ice thawing coils
👾 just what you need to start your day : UFO - ians
Slept through except for a washroom break at 2:30 AM
refreshed ? no. but better than last night
slowly, I'm prepping for winter. I drained the outside lines to the hoses.
I've organized the gear that is needed for the melter coils on the backside roof
one last chore after a eavestrough blowout. The downspout run off needs a slight extension. for the fall - early winter I want the water firing out over the lawn. so, most of the runoff is further out from the walkway
Commentary : the internet and YouTube
I've mentioned searching for items on the internet
critiques of the internet abound
however ! today, I searched for ' roof coils ' in Google and YouTube. Helpful advice ? not really, interesting, yes
most importantly - I AM NOT ALONE lots of folks have questions about their gutters [ American or Eavestrough for us ] and ice damming and freezing gutters
kinda nice knowing that your roof troubles are not universal but at the very least common
this was everything you really did not want to know about your problems
bought an used DVD, ' Gods and Generals ' re: the American Civil War. My original copy has massive glitches [ jumps and pauses etc ]
Chatted w/ Cliff the manager, always interesting. He's a young pup [ 50 y.o. ] So, we discussed aging and getting older problems.
Next across the parking lot is ' Chapters ' an arm of Canadian retailer, Indigo Books. The business news has Indigo in the throes of a re - brand or re - purposing. I decided to explore after all Xmas and all that.
I found a cotton bathrobe, gray, longish and hooded w/ a sale tag, hanging. After much back and forth, it was determined that the packaged robes were also on sale[ $ 40 not $ 79 or regular ] however, there may been fleece lined robes that were still that $ 80.
Of course, I went cheap.
Realizing, fleece is comfy but that you still need to wash and dry the sucker. And fleece, I'll wear a scarf for warmth - or not.
that was the afternoon roadtrip [ in the ' boro ]
♎ this is the 13 th of the eleventh of 2023
the sun is blazing away in the cool and cooler breeze
people have invaded our house Merry Maids and Personal Service Worker are due for different jobs in here
🥀 forget. And so sad that the news-feeds are full of reminders of people hating people
sadly, I always wondered how religion could be so divisive [ world history and now ]
I suppose that I am like Snoopy ' I don't get it '
🎪 or not o near, nowadays
we had a local theatre. Saturday was 3 movies for a dollar.
our prelude to winter continues. leaves in the trees but our nights are reminders that heat is leaking out
our visit was peaceful. the Rehab Centre is clean and orderly
the mood was restrained but conversation varied
glad we went but not a fun filled afternoon
sunny and fine til the wind really kicked up in the early afternoon
9 ♎
a sad but true tale. I broke down and bought a cordless, high [ ? ] suction vacuum. In essence it is a knock off for a Dyson. Now, Dyson wanted $ 700 and Bu Ture $ 169. Guess ?
Yep. Went for the knock off.
great reviews. sad ? b/c it was like Xmas !!!!!!
I opened the box w/ care and there it was. Surprise [ No, but still ]
OK the nitty gritty. The Bu Ture came w/ instructions on the lid. All pieces in their own compartments. First charge the battery. The Amazon review said 3 - 4.5 hr - and yes, 3 h and a bit.
All the parts snap together.
Light weight [ more than our $ 60 Dirt Devil ] and a third of the weight of the HOSE for the Beam built in vacuum.
And works a charm - I vacuumed the front room scatter rug just this week after the rug shampoo job. The JR 700 got lint and dust off the rug
Yes. We have real fall leading to winter.
The JR has attachments for crevices, furniture and stairs. All the attachments connect w/ the wand [ for long reach that is adjustable by 20 inches ] and the vacuum assembly or body. Neat
I will pen a flattering review for Amazon of the JR
♎♎♎♎♎♎♎♎
this is the Libra sign or Zodiacal symbol for the month
Sunny in the ' boro and F ....... ng cold. I'm not sure if its 32 F but its doing a superb imitation
on the agenda. we get assessed by the Home Care and Social Services for the city. We have used their Occ and Support person. Thus, we need to be assessed for needs.
Never thought that we would be needy. Or needful. But here we are ..... at this place in life
we were going to get there
this soon ????
Yepper.
The assessment. We are in need. We might qualify for the minimum service hours of ' 4 '.
Good of them. But its free [ kinda free ]
At least, we qualify.
♎♎♎♎♎♎♎ - a week into November
weather forecast : hovering around mid 50 s for most of the day. however, the temperature falls as late afternoon comes. in fact, we will get close to 32 overnight.
6♎
this morning lying in bed, I dictated an email to Ohio by voice - no alterations or changes
* SEND
neat.
Well, the last of the red hot mamas - metaphorically speaking
our temperature goes sub 40 or thereabouts and thats all week. Friday the expected low could be 30 overnight
oh, yeah, frost on the pumpkin
and the little girls are jumpin' [ Joan Baez ]
WE hopefully travel to Fla in late Dec. Our passports were expiring in March 2024. We took ID photos and I drove 18 Km to Ajax [ a smaller city Canada Gov't office ]. I was the line at 9:00 AM. In Scarborough City centre, Canada Services, 9:00 AM makes you # 56.
The agent said that ' we aim for 15 days from reception to passport arrival '.
Now, this is the gov't and the Canada Post. I said thank you.
Friday, 15 days since, M .. got her new passport. Today, day 16, mine arrive
Oooh ! gov't services that work
The agent did say that as long as the passport was valid for days of travel, there wouldn't be any problem. Thank you -- but this agent likely never dealt w/ U.S. Border services
Kaboom,the skies opened up w/ buckets. Lord Thunder and Lightning [ alright the curtains are pulled but the boom was like explosions ]
♎♎♎♎♎ Booom- a - rama Change the clock [ we went back }
AND the sun bursts out.
Blue sky and sun - terrif !!!
there s your good news
and it stayed sunny and wrm ish. Wind was up a bit
but the best of fall was on display
our time zone changes to Daylight Losing Time or some name that is meaningless
unless you work. then you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark
we have a rectangular rug under our living room table. This table is dining area, post office, TV credenza [ love that word, but is it ? ] and collection agency,
the rug therefore is bombarded w/ detritus.
and needs cleaning. today, I vacuumed this rug, hung the rug on the back deck railing and beat it w/ a wooden paddle.
then out to the garage to dampen w/ a rug & upholstery solution, brushed into the fabric w/ a rotary brush attachment to a drill.
dry for 3 h and re - vacuumed.
good deed, NO don't you think!
♎♎♎♎ OK the day is sullen in this 'boro
boughs hang heavy and low
the flags are still, w/ a droop
the neighbours dog had a ..........
good news. I woke up. No rockets or bombs, we didn't get flooded. Theres grub in the kitchen [ not grubs, I mean food ]
a touch of cheer [ ? ] well its something
visitor for the yard
♎♎♎ kinda made that title up
awake at 4:30 or maybe 5 AM
sadly, I up and played 3D Match on the phone
truly, even a year ago
no way, that I'd be on the phone - playing Match
Margaret does, YouTube and such for news etc
today in the 'boro. The lawn guys came. Using 2 leaf blowers, they cleared the back in 15 minutes. However, they had just started and I saw that the leaf debris pile was past their calves. As they went on, of course, the heap grew like topsy. TG the gutters got done yesterday.
My neighbour said that it looked to be about 40 % leaf cover had fallen.
Yes. One more go for sure. BUT you can't always wait. One or two cold nights and there is leaf-sicles to try and move. And once the leaves freeze in there then you get layering of litter
I did 45 min on the eliptical plus some light weight work and stretch and flex. Truly, uninspired. You need to accept that not every workout is ' joy and light '.
Ha !! it is workaday / ordinary grubbing, mostly
♎♎ blue cloudy sky ? [ dawn is just here ] guessing a lot
a quiet day ahead - dangerous that [ cuz who knows ]
I meant very little planned. Highlights could be Shoppers Drug Mart. Thurs is Seniors Day and 20 % off. The blue rinse set goes wild [ well, they come out in droves ]
... well , I didn't want to bring her
I knew it would make her worse ...
as I look out on forever,
it sure looks nice down there ....
Edge of the Universe, BG s. My fav line is
' they call me Shennanadora in the ai...ir '
Been to the CBC online. I'm saying nothing. Get your good news elsewhere is the caption.
I watched a video on increasing the rear door opening on my truck. Basically, adding 5 inches of opening clearance
Maybe. It is tight getting boxes in the back. Yeah. Once.
Did some checking. The ' fix ' is to use a front door hinge door stopper
or door check. Obviously, the front door tends to open wider than the back on a mid size truck. Thats the trick here.
Oh, BTW, this process is to unpeel the back door panel [ plasticky cover over the door frame ]. Take out the speaker in the door. Then you can reach inside to hold the nut while you loosen the bolt through the door frame.
Gonna think this one over a bit
♎ sunny and bright w/ rippping breeze, today
what does the month hold ?
We shall see said the Zen Master
neighbour came and we [ he ] blew out the gutters for me. Actually, I meant for us to use the hose assembly. Nope ! He says ' there is a place to stand, I can do it quicker from up there '
I won't be asking him again. WAY too scary
however, anothe chore that niggles while waiting for it to be done
🌌 closing out the month w/ Halloween
I joined Neighbourhood Watch. Mostly, we swap household leftovers - pallets, stones etc. Occassionally, warnings for lost pets, stolen something - a real watch
folks have traded Halloween night tips for dossing out the goodies.
I will not use any tonight. Str8 up ' give away '
the day is dry looking - for once - sun is present.
Never one to leave the readers hanging ..... the mat is dry and placed in the garage
really, that thing is 60 + lbs - a bugger to drag around.
what to expect ? Dunno. I'm concerned that it could be slippery for truck and people.
Best part. If its crap --- toss it OR rather drag it out
always good to have viable options
📒 for sure the ' worm has turned '
the air is cold and the wind is bringing real fall to the 'boro.
Apparently, I have anticipation let down. Couldn't get to sleep last night. Saw the clock at 2.
Yesterday, worked out so well. Naturally, I pre - worried the day.
E .. was like ' what were you worried about ' ?
DUH ! its me.
Thus, I thought about fishing rods and what to take to Fla.
or Should I take a rod or
buy one there
Or ....... ?
the world s greatest problem [ give me a break] ........ what .... ?
Our lunch was takeaway from Skyland. Sushi plus the combo. The cost was $ 28 but that is two for lunch plus leftovers for 2 meals.
I brought home a utility mat that is weatherproof and heavy. Originally, the mat [ 10 x 12 ft ] was a roof cover to help prevent water intrusion for the boathouse.
Big fail, there.
The mat got blown around and never quite did the job.
The roofer guy did reveal that the boathouse roof was not finished correctly. Water could wrap around the eaves of the perimeter edge.
Also, it was old,
I used oxy -gel and a broom, then pressure washed. I removed crud. Changed the colour of the mat and now have a slightly stained appearance. Afterall, the mat is 12 yrs old
🙋 it all works out
Today
Uncle Peter visited the QMH and brought some tools.
Then 40 min later, he said ' turn it over '
I twisted the key and the starter engaged on the flywheel. This action means that the E Tec 75 HP will start.
Fixed !!!
Then both, Uncle and E ... carried equipment up to the Q' itself. I put away fishing paraphenalia and DONE !
The boat is asleep. I'm more or less done for the year - re: boat
What a relief. I'm at peace
and thats rare
A cool and damp day w/ bursts of sun. Just bursts, tho' - nothing long lived
🧣 not terribly cold out there
however, the much cooler - as in 40 F is on the way.
Always acknowledge the good stuff and good people
---- > In 2018, a Matsuba visit to England turned into a travelling adventure.
Starting in Ashford, Middlesex at the munificent Glass abode, West Close, we visited Windsor Farms for excellent dry goods and bakery.
Our southern swing took us to Bournemouth for a stay at the vintage Hermitage Hotel. A bank card debacle started our visit off w/ much drama.
We survived, somehow w/ loads of help from the Glass’.
Trips out from Bournemouth brought us to Swanage and area < a meal at the Ship Inn >.
A short stay in Milford on Sea, gave us a view of the ‘ Needles ‘ vista.
During this southern probe, we met Aunt Barbara. She kindly gave us the quilted piece available to see in this collection of memories. Thank you Aunty B
Returning ‘ home ‘, we prepared for a foray North to the East Midlands and Derby area. Mercia Marina is the biggest residential docking facility in Europe. Two longboats are the homes of the Hicks’ and Fosters. The occasion was the birthday of Pat Foster. Thus, a super shout out to Sue for tolerating this massive onslaught of relatives
We had accomodations at the Bubble Inn. A boutique establishment w/ well appointed rooms and
DYSON fans !
Our stay coincided w/ the long stretch of hot, humid times of that year. The ‘ god ‘ Dyson provided much welcome air movement. A truly, superior fan.
To finish the whirlwind UK travel - a - rama, we were able to visit the races and Grandstand………….
And WIN money. A classy conclusion to a memorable English visit.
Thank you to the Glass family
As well, we would like to thank the tour organizers ‘ K Glass and Associates - we bring the UK to you ‘
