Borg Dog

Christmas Borg Dog. Shelby really wanted a laser to chase but was outfitted in Quinton's spy nightvision glasses.

Arlene, Bill and Dad at the Marlies Game

We went to the Leafs Open Practice, we went to the Marlies game and all I shot was this short film of Arlene, Bill & Dad sitting at the game.

Extreme Sheep LED Art

Leafs Practice & Marlies

We went to the Leafs Practice on Saturday, not only did we get to see the Leafs practice but we watched the 2nd annual Mascot Games. They gave out foam hats which Dad wore while watching the game on TV later that night. (now he is compelled to wear it as the Leafs won that game) On Sunday a bunch of us went to see the Leafs practice again - a much more demanding practice after which a kids team went on the ice for instructions from the Leafs. The Leafs looked like they enjoyed themselves and certainly the fans did. The Marlies game was exciting and they won it in a shootout. We used our noisemaker clappers in support and this made the difference between winning & losing.

Halloween 2009 Pirates Booty Bay

Here is 2009's Halloween theme of Pirates

Canadian, Please... NOW ON ITUNES!!!

Dad's Birthday & Closing the Cottage

We pulled the dock up, took down a tree and closed the cottage up this weekend. We drove back and had Dad's birthday and Thanksgiving dinner.

Toronto Marlies 2009 Season Home Opener

We went to the Marlies home opener and what a game. We got swag, we got goals, we got fights, we got autographs, we got snacks, we got pictures. What more can you want?

Milton Civil War Reenactment 2009

Milton Ontario Civil War Reenactment

We went to a civil war reenactment on the weekend. I will be posting a bunch of pictures on Facebook & YouTube when I have time. I hadn't been in a couple of years and this year the battle was interesting, the people were interesting and it was actually a real fun day.

Passing

I sit and think of the funeral. I am pouring out tears one moment, the next thinking that my one hand is extremely moist and the Kleenex in it almost entirely destroyed, then musing on another story about our friend and should I tell it to the mourners.

There are weird isolated moments that are extremely funny. There were four men and two women to carry our friend, specially picked because of their true friendship towards our man. Six novice pallbearers being instructed on how to bear. There was a seventh pallbearer that I didn't notice. I forgot to tell him that we had it covered and he could sit back and watch. I didn't notice that he was at the back of the coffin helping to carry. We are given small increments of instructions as anything more complex would throw us into chaos. We start to walk towards the plot and all I am doing is watching the ground. It is uneven, we are walking over plaques. I find that I am noticing their names and even said sorry to them once or twice. We are not in step with each other, there are great height differences and strengths. My sandal gets stepped on slightly and I squeal like a monkey. Louise is stepping on the heels of the person in front of her. There is a resting place ahead where we can put him down for a moment. We all laugh at our situation. Not really thinking of the person we are carrying. At that point I do not want to think of what we are actually doing - it would make it too real. Because I am in the middle position the weight is not a problem. We reach the plot and it is over. We have carried him to the last place. We have cared for him all those years and never thought that it would end. I am a denier of the circle of life, I tend to believe that things do not end this way, that there is an out. Right now my friend is passed but because I can imagine him sitting at the table or eating some buttertarts he is still here. I can't see him gone. He is living on.

People asked about the carrying our friend. Why we would volunteer to walk with him that last time. We could have had strangers do it for us take that burden away from us, allow us to think of our loss. None of us thought of it as a burden or if it would be too much for us. I would like to think if one of us faltered then someone else would step in and take our place. There was no burden only sadness in our hearts.

Looking for Fish

Life should be this simple. You look down in the lake for fish. You have no intention of catching those fish but when you see them it is the most exciting thing that's happening. You run back and forth till the fish disappears. You look for them. You wait. If they come back great. If not you look for squirrels. You forget the fish until someone mentions the fish and you watch until the fish disappears. Squirrel are more fun but require more effort.

Redstone Weather

It seems every weekend when I go up to the cottage those dark threatening clouds come by to visit. I thought we going to be thrown to the winds the last time we were there. Me and Dad were on the roof trying to fix the terrible leaks and the winds picked up, the clouds rolled in and you could see the storm slowly working it's way across the lake. We secured things as best we could and hurried off the roof. It had started to rain but only slightly. Then it was over, the lake was calm. Back on the roof and continuing the fix the wind picks up again. On and off for the entire day, in fact the entire weekend. I was amazed at the size of the waves. I made a small movie of Lincoln biting the waves. (on Youtube) He came back to Toronto with cedar sticky things on his under carriage. I thought he was bleeding and had horrible sores near his dog parts. He got a partial bath - he smelled like an old rag and I had to wash that area to tend to the sores. That's I realized it wasn't sores. Lincoln was happy that he didn't have to go to the vet.

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The Cottage Roof

Lincoln the Border Collie Swims

Dad at the Cottage

Bleeding Billboard

Lincoln the Border Collie

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Christopher Hinton - Black fly [1991]

Can't wait to experience the first bites of the season.

Spring brings Flowers and Squirrels

Can you imagine? Flowers blooming, leaves budding and birds singing. Instead of the smeary glare of the sun bouncing off of the window actually feeling the warmth of the sun caressing your face. I did notice a squirrel eating the tulip flower buds and sent Lincoln out to chase the squirrel. He doesn't really see where the squirrel is, he just goes to the place where he thinks it might be and the squirrel just runs up the nearest tree. He is never endangering the squirrels in any way, Lincoln only thinks he is. I am waiting for more flowers to bloom so I can take a multitude of pictures. As you can see the daffodil is my first subject of the season. I do have some greenery and I may post them later but for now it's all about the flowers and colour. And maybe the squirrels.

Meet Me in the Playoffs - Round #1 Game #3 LIVE

Saying the Stupidest Thing

We went to the Marlies game on Wednesday. We had a great time there. The Marlies lost in overtime but still it was a fun and exciting game. I bought a blue Marlies t-shirt with long white sleeves. This is important to remember for later. Natasha, Arlene & myself watched the players come out of the dressing room and I got a couple of good pictures. I did miss a real nice one when Arlene moved her head and blocked the picture. No worries as I scored a bunch of photos as the team walked by. Later it was announced that Ryan Hollweg would be signing autographs. That made my day. Yes I would be lining up for his signature. I even put on the new t-shirt.

Two days after getting his autograph, I was playing on the Xbox and thinking about my exciting encounter when it hit me. I said the most stupidest thing to him. I have repeated what I said to anybody who would listen. I don't know why nobody caught what it sounded like, why nobody told me. Boy now when I replay that moment it takes on a different slant.

Now back to that day. Me & Arlene got in line to wait for Hollweg's appearance. We made a few off colour comments about where he should sign my shirt. I thought about trying to take of the new t-shirt so he could properly sign the sleeve but I was holding my coat, the camera, my purse and we were near the front of the line so I left it on. My idea would be that I would pull my arm out of the sleeve as much as possible giving him a nice flat surface to write on. Now when Arlene went up to him she said "I don't have anything fancy for you to sign, here's my ticket." That's when I took his picture with her. When I went up I did pull my arm half way up the sleeve and laid it on the table for him to sign. And I said to Ryan Hollweg of the Toronto Marlies, "Here let me make it real long for you!" He smiled (now I'm thinking he was ready to say something in response) I thanked him blissfully unaware of how that sounded.

New Addition to the Family

Here is Emberley weighing in at 7 lbs 7 oz, born in the early morning of March 28, 2009.

Quinton's First Marlies Game

Quinton's First Marlies Game

With much trepidation I arranged for Quinton (4 almost 5 years) to see a Toronto Marlies Game. We couldn't tell him what was going on in case he decided he wasn't going. So it was a party that we were attending with Nickelodeon characters and such and we had tickets for it. First there were problems getting to the Ricoh Centre and impatient me got us there by nagging my sister the driver until we parked. Brad our Marlies connection arranged for a lunch tin, hat, signed puck and buttons for Quinton first game. Quintion was overwhelmed. He took pictures of us with Sponge Bob and friends but would not get any closer to those characters. Once we got to our seats Quinton was a bit reluctant but agreed to sit down. Then we got our camera's out and started taking pictures. He got right into the swing of things and didn't stop until we left the building. He loved seeing his name up on the message board. Quinton thought he couldn't get a hotdog unless the Marlies scored. Luckily they did score right before the intermission and Quinton enjoyed a hotdog, plus he took a picture of the pretzel machine where he purchased a pretzel for me. The McDonald's thunder - clapper sticks were a big hit. Literally! Everyone was smacked around like bongo drums. Quinton even got into making some noise every time the sign came up on the board. I'm glad that the Marlies won, I'm glad that Quinton saw a winning game and that he enjoyed himself enormously.

Wayne Gretzky Tattoos

Wayne Gretzky Tattoos

A lady walks into a tattoo parlor. She's been told that the artist is the best. Being a HUGE Wayne Gretzky fan, she requests that he put Wayne's face on her right inner thigh. After an hour of work, the artist finishes and shows the lady her work. "This doesn't look anything like Gretzky," she says.  He takes out a picture of Wayne and compares them... "See, they look just alike." The lady does not agree. So, the artist agrees to do Wayne on the other thigh for free. She comes back the next day to have her left thigh done. He does the tattoo and excitingly shows to her.  "This one doesn't look like Wayne Gretzky either!"  The artist insists that this one is identical to the picture of Wayne that she brought.  To solve the debate, the artist calls his friend, a huge hockey fan, over to decide. The friend comes over and the lady lifts her dress to show the tattoos.  "Hmmm, I'm not sure who the wingers are, but the center is definitely Lanny McDonald."

Army of Mat Stajan Bobbleheads

It was good to see Ryan Hollweg playing. I missed his style of skating and hitting. Three hits in a row. He just picks his victims and knocks them off their feet one by one. He's quick too! I watched an interview with Hollweg and he has a great sense of humour. I could go on about his attributes but it's the Porn moustache that makes the package complete.
The Marlies won against Springfield and I think that was the first game that I attended that they won. Arlene and Dad went to the game with me and it was Mat Stajan Bobblehead night. We scored an extra two bobbleheads and now have a small army of Stajans. The seats were close to the goalie and when there was a hit the glass rattled like jello. We had our pictures taken with the Calder Cup as part of the food drive donations sponsored by Purolator. I am getting better at taking pictures but I have a long way to go. Which means a few more games to perfect the hockey shot and hopefully a few more chances to get pictures of Hollweg.

Evolution of Dance 2

Evolution of Dance

Last Live Game

It was my Dad's first hockey game at the Air Canada Centre. We had the chance to go to the Leafs vs Panther game courtesy of my nephew fiancee aunt's friend Bill. Arlene, Dad and myself got there in time to watch the pre-skate before the game. We went down to the gold ticket seating where Dad got very comfortable in the golds while we were taking photo's. Then we had to break the bad news that those weren't our seats. So up we went to the green seating. We had great seating near the goalie and what a view. We were shown on the Jumbo tron as the couple in front of us got a prize. The Leafs got a lead then blew it at the last minute. What can I say, it happens ... to the Leafs ... a lot.

From Water Mains to Grey Sweatpants

A broken water main started the day off on Friday. The works crew opened up a huge hole in front of our house. Good part about that was I was able to have a quick shower before they turned off the water. The bad part was no water for the rest of the day. I did fill up some jugs and the kettle but didn't think about filling the tub so that there would be water to flush the toilet. The other good thing that happened was that the work crew needed room for the trucks and the diggers so they plowed away the humongous snow banks that lined the street. So half good half not so good. I needed to pick up a couple of items at the mall so off me & my Dad went. He wanted to go to the Apple Store and I readily agreed and when we got there the place was packed. Apparently there was a photo shoot for the TV show Canada's Next Top Model. Here I was in my baggy grey sweatpants tucked in to boots, a hint of makeup, a bunch of wrinkles and the last remnants of a cold. There they were, young, tall, in the latest fashion, makeup and wrinkle free. I thought that keeping my coat closed would be best for all. That way no one would see the baggy pants that were on the edge of falling down. By the end of the shopping trip I was sweating up a storm, cursing the crowds of young beautiful people and hoping that no one would photograph me as a comparison to the women that were waiting to be selected for the show.
The water was restored for a short while - not long enough for another shower and it was out again until the crew came back on Saturday.
The water was back in time for Mom's & Charlene's birthday party. I think everything went well, you never know at family gatherings. I'm still not doing everything right with the new camera. There is so much to learn and I have to get out of the point and shoot mentality and figure out what settings are correct for each situation. Soon I will have better photo's.

First Post of 2009

It's the first post of the New Year. I wanted to wait until I purchased a new camera before posting so I could show off the amazing photos that I created. Since then I am still trying to figure out how to work the darn thing. Dials, menus and many, many different settings. My first pictures turned out so so except for a picture of a plant that I took. It was great because I apparently used the Live View (LCD screen) correctly something I was using for all the pictures that I took. The next day I did manage to use the preset settings for snow but I did use the Live View again so I lost some of the controls, functions that would have come in handy. The pictures did turn out better than the previous day and my family pictures were not too shabby. Soon I will be talented enough to take some snaps at the hockey game. This means I have to read up on all the tips and tricks and read the manual on how to do this. I must prepare, I can not go home with just mediocre photos. This is my first goal, next will be family portraits and then landscapes. Soon award winning pictures and my annoying familiar pictures of clouds, sunsets and closeups of rocks, leaves and flowers. Slideshow time, everyone gather around the computer to see my newest pictures. Wait ... come back ... you have to see this cute picture of the dog ... don't go!