The Last Post ...

My final post of 2011. Like every year, it seems, this one went by too fast. When you're young, time seems to drag. When you're older, the opposite holds true. Now, I'm just wondering if I'll be able to stay awake long enough to welcome in the New Year. Probably not. But, no doubt, I'll be awake in the middle of the night again, on January 1st, 2012, drinking coffee and checking out all the supposedly interesting photos from today on Flickriver. Most will likely be creative ways of saying "Happy New Year!" to their friends and family. Like I just did, but without the photo.

Aspergers

According to one on-line source, Asperger syndrome is "a developmental disorder that is characterized by:

• limited interests or an unusual preoccupation with a particular subject to the exclusion of other activities.
• repetitive routines or rituals.
• peculiarities in speech and language, such as speaking in an overly formal manner or in a monotone, or taking figures of speech literally.
• socially and emotionally inappropriate behaviour and the inability to interact successfully with peers.
• problems with non-verbal communication, including the restricted use of gestures, limited or inappropriate facial expressions, or a peculiar, stiff gaze.
• clumsy and uncoordinated motor movements".

This was the subject last night of a lengthy telephone discussion with my friend, Vlad. We agreed that we both suffer from this so-called disorder, to some degree (him, more than me, of course). Indeed, we thought most older men do.

I certainly can get preoccupied with a given subject for days on end (with him, it's more like months on end, maybe suggesting a compulsive-obsessive twist). And, with my back pain this week, my motor movements certainly were clumsy and uncoordinated (more than usual).

I also seem to have some repetitive routines. One of my favourites is my afternoon nap. Another is sharing a bowl of Cheetos with my dog at bed-time.

One routine I've developed that I'm not impressed with is waking up about 3 a.m. and having a cup of coffee while I review the latest interesting photos on Flickriver. That, of course, reinforces the need for a nap, later in the day.

Okay, enough of the self-analysis. Note that I made two posts today, proving that I haven't lost my touch in that regard.

Statistics Don't Lie

I just checked and found I've written 550 posts so far and the last one was on Christmas Eve. So, you say, who cares? Hmmm ... not too many people, I suppose. So, nearly a week later, I guess I'll make it 551. I do have a better excuse than usual for taking so long to keep you up to date on my exciting life here at 43 Carbutt.

On Christmas Eve Day (or was it the day before that?), I put my back out.  It rarely happens. Maybe every 10 years or so? But, it's a pain. A stabbing pain in the lower back, especially when you try to move from point 'A' to point 'B'. Think "walk like a duck". I did manage to get through the festivities with hardly a grimace. I don't like to complain in public.

Lots of rest, some liniment, a few glasses of wine and a rum and coke, and many Tylenol 3's later, I'm almost back to normal (pun intended). Statistically speaking, I may even write another blog post before New Years Eve.

Christmas Eve

Our present to the dogs this afternoon was to take them to Beaudry Provincial Park for a good run off-leash.  While Marg watched over the mutts, I took advantage of the golden light of the setting sun to take a few photos of some cattails that seemed to glow.

Then, it was back home. Marg wanted me to get a photo of our new and decorated Christmas tree with the lights on in the dark living room.  So, here it is.  There are lots of presents under the tree but most of them will be taken over to the grand-kids tomorrow morning.

We were planning to attend Christmas Eve services at Marg's church tonight but I managed to hurt my back today and decided sitting stiffly in a pew for a couple of hours was not a great idea.  So, we're staying home to rest up for tomorrow's family activities.

Connecting over the Holidays

Part of the fun of the holiday season is reconnecting with friends and family.  Although most of mine are scattered across Canada, there are some who live in or are travelling in other countries. It's a challenge, touching base with some of them.  Fortunately, we have a variety of tools to help us make those important connections.

We can, of course, open our home to friends and family who live close by, as they do for us. Face to face contact has always been best. For those further afield, we can use email, the social media (like Facebook), digital and written letters, cards, and, of course, the telephone. I haven't tried it yet but we could also use video chat (Skype).

However we make those connections, it's good to make them. Everyone feels better, knowing they are remembered at this time of year. Unfortunately, there remain a few people we cannot contact, for one reason or another, but we can still think about them and, in our minds, wish them all the best, now and in the New Year.

Be of Good Cheer ...

... for Christmas is near.  If you're like me, you're looking forward to Christmas because it means you'll get to see your kids and your grand-kids again.  Sure, there are gifts to exchange and great food to share but it's the 'getting together' that's the most important thing.

It's also a great opportunity for some of us to bring our family photo albums up to date by catching the younger ones playing with their new toys. They don't even notice the camera in your hands because they are so fascinated by their gifts. Sometimes, you can also persuade people to gather together for those family group shots that are so hard to get at other times.

Occasionally, in the past, I've printed up recent shots of members of the family and given them as Christmas gifts, usually pre-framed and ready to hang on the wall. They seem to be greatly appreciated. Equally appreciated, by me, are the Christmas family group shots that my kids have taken by professional photographers and give to me each year.

Only Five More Sleeps

The Christmas season has snuck up fast on me this year. I haven't even finished writing my annual letter to friends and relatives. Hopefully, I'll do that today. But, never fear, I have gotten all the presents. They just need to be wrapped or, in some cases, slipped into a card.

It's hard to believe that in 5 days, it'll actually be Christmas. I'm so looking forward to spending time with family, both at Josi's family brunch and Marg's family dinner. Like all grand-parents, I most enjoy watching the grand-kids open their gifts and seeing their eyes sparkle when they see what they've been given. Marg and I have been doing something very untraditional, giving each other our gifts early, as we get them for each other. Of course, I'm saving one special gift for her to open on Christmas Eve.

That'll happen right after we return home from attending Christmas Eve services at our local Church. We started that tradition together last year. This time, we'll attend as a married couple. Happiness is ...

"What is your happiest memory?"

Have you ever been asked the simple question: "What is your happiest memory?" Most people will pause for a few moments, smile to themselves, and and describe some simple event from their past. Although it may seem trivial to the listener, it was a happy time in their life and it was and will always be treasured.

According to Pierce Harris, writing in the Atlanta Journal, "Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things".

Happiness can be restored, if only briefly, by thinking of or recalling some times in our past that brought us joy. Our happy memories are well worth remembering and examining now and then. They remind us life is full of good times, too.

What would you say if a friend asked you "What is your happiest memory?"

Adrift in Music

This morning, after reading my cousin Barb's blog post about Christmas music, I began listening to some of my favourite vocalists sing some traditional Christian music. Thanks to YouTube, I listened to some truly great songs by some fantastic singers. Singers like Nana Mouskouri, Celtic Woman, Eva Cassidy, Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, and many others. And countless choirs.  Some of the music was quite moving.

One of the most moving was The Kelly Family singing Amazing Grace (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoL5-TUat5o&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLF084D2E1D77775A1). I dare any of you to listen to this song without tearing up.

So, if you have time, I suggest taking some time to explore some Christmas music on YouTube or on some of the radio stations that are now playing more or less non-stop Christmas music. It's a very good way to reduce the stress that sometimes creeps into our lives at this time of year.

Routines

Let the dogs out; (listen for Holly to yelp at the back door) let the dogs in. Repeat this several times per day. Tidy the kitchen and wash a load of dishes. Feed the dogs (after listening for Holly's whimper, "feed me, feed me"). Make my own lunch (hmmm ... did I do that or did I miss that again?). Do a load of laundry (even though Marg does most of it on the weekend). Most important, read for awhile and have a nap. Finally, make supper (tonight, a pork roast with potatoes and assorted greenery). I enjoy my routines. Happiness is ...

Christmas Cards

I stopped sending out Christmas cards years ago. With the ability to email my Christmas greetings, I let the cards fall by the wayside. I do send the occasional card out, usually just to people I know that don't have an email address. Well, an email address that I have on file in my contacts folder any ways.

My Christmas greetings, like many of the people I know, go out in the form of a Christmas letter.  The letter, just one or two pages long, recounts my year, letting friends and relatives read about what I consider the highlights of my year. Sometimes, it may seem redundant, having written about most of them, here in this blog. But, the letter goes to many people who I know never read these posts. Of course, I suppose some people don't even read my Christmas letter but that's their lose. I often include the odd photo in the letter.  Sometimes, it's a shot of me or my home or my dog or, more recently, my grand-kids.

So, be watching your email box to see if you are on my Christmas letter list. If you don't receive one this month, it means I don't have your email address. That's easy to fix. Just send it to me. Maybe, enclose it in a Christmas card?

Beauty Sleep

One of the many nice things about retirement is the ability to have a nap during the day.  It's especially nice on those winter days when it's really cold outside, you have an interesting book to read while you get drowsy in your warm, comfortable bed, and there are no pressing errands to run.  When I think about it, that means almost every winter day here in Winterpeg for me.

Sure, I feel a bit guilty, napping while others are at work. But, hey, I was in their shoes for many, many years and, now, things are different.  Most days, all I really have to do is tend the two dogs, Holly and Mollie, and prepare a nice meal for my wife, Margaret.

This afternoon, I don't even have to make a meal. No, we're not having left-overs (though we could). I'm meeting my wife at a new Mexican restaurant because she's working a bit late at Celebrations and I want to do a little shopping near there before I meet up with her.

I'm happy to say that the Christmas shopping is almost all done. Tonight, I want to buy a new pair of runners for the treadmill we're setting up in the basement.  It's simply too cold to go for long walks now and I definitely need more exercise. The treadmill should help. I have a feeling that, with all the holiday eating ahead, that treadmill will get a lot of use.

The Penultimate Day

One more day to go. By this time tomorrow, I'll be a happily married man. Margaret and I will have finally tied the knot. It seems like it has taken forever to reach this point but I know that's not the case. But, it certainly will be the last time that I'll get married. I have no intention of ever disappointing this fine woman. I may have a hard time, at my age, living up to my promise to give her 20 years but I'll give it my best shot for her sake.

"True love stories never have endings" (Richard Bach).

Los Chicos

Marg and I went for supper at the new Los Chicos Mexican Restaurant which is opening soon (maybe tomorrow) in Lindenridge Mall. We were invited for taster's night. The decor, food, and service was great. So good, in fact, we plan to go back again on December 3rd. Maybe, we'll take along some friends and family.

Riding Shotgun

Holly persuaded me to take her for a drive to Carman yesterday. The 45 minute drive was great, with dry highway all the way. We stopped just before Carman, near where I used to live, by the bridge over the now frozen Boyne River. That gave Holly the chance to sniff the tracks left by deer, fox, and other creatures and leave some scents of her own.

In Carman, I made an appointment with the vet for Holly's booster shots for an hour later. Meanwhile, I went into town to shop at the Coop Food store, stocking up on some freshly baked breads for the home freezer. While there, I let it be known to one of the checkers I know that I was getting married in a couple of weeks. By now, I imagine most of Carman (at least those who know me there) is talking about the news. There are few secrets in a small prairie town. I also stopped at Knockabouts to visit with Karen, my guardian angel.

Back at the vets, Holly was examined, given her booster shots, pronounced healthy, and told to lose some weight. Then, the vet gave her a treat. What's wrong with this picture?

Knowing I had to tidy the kitchen and prepare supper, I headed back to Winnipeg. Happiness is ...

Triskaidekaphobia

Triskaidekaphobia is a fear of the number thirteen. Thirteen is regarded as an unlucky number in many cultures. Some hotels and apartment buildings do not use the number thirteen for floors or suites at all.

Why is this number considered unlucky? Some people think it comes from the Last Supper or a Norse myth that having thirteen people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners.

The fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia. I can't even pronounce that! Personally, I am not "afraid" of the number 13 (he said as he threw some salt over his shoulder).

Thud!

That was the sound of winter, arriving here on the prairies. For the next 4 or 5 months, Winnipeg will be Winterpeg. I noticed the white stuff has covered the dandelions that never got sprayed. Maybe, I'll have another chance in the spring to deal with those weeds. For now, I'll just enjoy the season.

For the first time in my life, I've hired a fellow to clear my driveway and walk of snow. I have mixed feelings about that. In some ways, it's great. Shovelling or blowing snow in bad weather is hard on the system. But, I've also given up some independence. On the bright side, I'm helping someone who needs the extra income.

The dogs, so far at least, are enjoying winter. Holly especially likes winter. Sometimes, she can lie on a snow bank for hours without feeling the cold with her thick fur coat. And, regardless of the weather, she's always eager to go for a walk.

Happiness is ...

Blacklegged Ticks at Beaudry

I just learned today (from a friend in Health Canada) that deer ticks are now established at Beaudry Provincial Park, our favourite place to take our dogs for an off-leash walk and to do some nature photography. Lyme disease is not a pleasant thought. It's just another thing we'll have to watch out for, here in friendly Manitoba. 

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. People become infected with the Lyme disease bacteria when they are bitten by an infected blacklegged tick. I guess we'll have to use a repellent with DEET (on our skin or clothing) or permethrin (on our dogs and our clothing) to protect ourselves next spring and summer.  We started using insecticide-impregnated tick collars on our dogs last summer. We probably should be taking extra precautions on our walks anyways.

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
Canada mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Laurence Binyon

Memory

One of Aldous Huxley's famous quotes is "every man's memory is his private literature". Maybe, that's why he never seemed to publish his memories.  Not that they might have been included in some of his essays, novels, or poems.

Of course, some times people do publish their memories, making what might be called a memoir or a more lengthy or detailed  autobiography. Others leave the task to their biographers, like Huxley did. Some autobiographies and biographies make excellent reading. I certainly enjoy reading ones about famous historical people, especially scientists.

It's really interesting reviewing the life of someone whose theories have shaped modern thought or whose art remains magnificent. People like Charles Darwin, Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, Albert Einstein, Galileo, and Guglielmo Marconi.

For me, I will just share most of my memories with my very close friends and family. My children will inherit my journals where most of my history is written (at least the last 45 years or so).

You Cannot Win a War

In Flanders fields the poppies grow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place, and in the sky,

The larks, still bravely singing, fly,

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

(John McCrae)

Brown-out

Autumn is a great season but, right now, I'm getting very tired of all the browns I see when I look outside or go for a drive. That must explain why I delved into my photo archives this morning to review some of my more colourful images. I stayed away from all the winter shots I've done; white (as in snow) is right up there with brown. I concentrated on spring and summer shots.

I found several that I posted to my Flickr page this morning. No. None of them were flowers or other plants. They were all shots of mammals ... two of wild mammals and two of tame animals. You'll have to check my Flickr page to see them. The link is right beside this post.

Surfing Other Blogs

Maybe, it's just procrastination, avoiding writing in my own blog, but I do enjoy surfing other people's blogs, especially those of artists. I've just spent the last hour, reading some such blogs and marvelling at the photos of paintings and ceramics that these artists have completed or are working on. It's truly inspirational (if not motivational). I find it incredible that there are so many talented people out there, in blog world. Not only do they find time to work on their art, whatever it happens to be, but they also write about it. Yes, I know that it's a way of promoting their work but that's okay. If I was an artist, I'd probably do the same thing. I just think it's wonderful to be able to visit so many artists and to see what they're doing and, in some cases, to see the steps that they've taken to complete a project.

My Golden Years

This morning, I thought it would be good to reflect a bit on where I've been and where I am going in my life.

I decided to retire a few years back. I always thought that the day that work stops being enjoyable will be the day that I call it quits. My consulting business was beginning to tail off then, with only a few new projects coming my way, projects that weren't really that interesting to me. Many of the new projects were essentially 'repeats' of projects I done earlier or projects that I really didn't enjoy but that I simply did to maintain cash flow.

I was beginning to be much most interested in my hobbies, reading, woodworking, and nature photography. I had even started to renew my interest in travelling a bit, with trips to Vancouver Island and the Yukon. And, as always, I was getting more and more interested in cooking.

So, at one point, I started to withdraw from the business life, referring offers of new projects to my colleagues in the business and divesting myself of memberships on various committees. I concentrated on improvements to the Carman acreage.

Well, that all changed when I agreed to move back to Winnipeg and took up city life. Each life-style has its pros and cons. Certainly, city life is physically easier in many ways than country life. And, that's important, considering my age and health. I began to enjoy the easy access to shopping, entertainment, and restaurants. All went well for awhile. Then, there were some changes in my personal life that were difficult to cope with, for a time.

Now, everything is back on an even keel and I'm again enjoying my life in the city. I've really gotten back into my favourite hobby, nature photography. Margaret and I have a nice home, a couple of great dogs, and we share many good times together. We travel occasionally, we get out at least once a month to a fine restaurant, we attend many plays, concerts, and musical comedies. And, so important, we're in close and frequent contact with our families and friends.

The moral of this little story is that life is too short and too precious to be wasting it doing something you’d rather not be doing. Horace, the Roman lyric poet said it so well: carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero or "seize the day, putting as little trust as possible in the future".

And Then There Were Five

Papa now has five grand-children, with the birth yesterday of Becca. All are well. Happiness is ...

"De-clutter in 5 Minutes"

I just saw this cover headline on a magazine at the Safeway check-out. I almost laughed out loud. It's taken me a lifetime to amass all the clutter in my home and some advertising agency for this magazine thinks I'm stupid enough to believe that nonsense. Maybe, they do. Maybe, some people believe this silliness.

It would take me at least 5 minutes just to wade through all the clutter in my basement, let alone the whole house. And that wouldn't de-clutter anything. It'd just discourage me.

I did do some de-cluttering today. I cleaned out my Ford Escape for the coming winter months. I vacuumed up a lot of dog hair, sand, and straw. I even wiped down the seats a bit. Maybe, I'll clean the insides of the windows tomorrow. If I have 5 minutes ...

Wind-swept Winnipeg

It's not too often that we get wind warnings in Manitoba but, for the past couple of days, and today, they have  been common. Cottagers along the southern beaches of Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg are suffering more damage as the waves on these large, shallow lakes become fearsome. Docks get washed away and beaches erode as the surf pounds them.

Here, in the city, the branches of trees and shrubs are whipping around, scattered all but the most tenacious leaves. Around my home, the leaves have been swirling on the walks, making little clumps here and there. A little sweeping and raking will take care of them as the winds die down over the next few days,  Our big section of our back fence, now tied to a tree, took a beating and will have to be replaced soon.

I keep telling myself that these winds would be much worst if they were associated with a blizzard. There's a lot more hard work involved, cleaning up after a winter storm.

Jumping for Glee

Last night's opening show of "Jump for Glee" at Celebrations Dinner Theatre, here in Winnipeg, was a hit with the capacity audience of over 400 people. Everything about this show was stellar, from the energy, singing, and dancing of the cast to the set design and lighting. It made me realize once again that Canada is full of talented young people.

Even the accompanying dinner was great, served by the costumed and characterful wait staff.  If you and your family have the opportunity to see this show before it closes in early January, take it. You'll thoroughly enjoy the evening.

Autumn Again

John Burroughs (writer and naturalist in the late 1800s) said, "How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and colour are their last days".

Someone else said that autumn is when every leaf becomes a flower. It seems every shade of green turns to yellow and gold and, in some cases, to red.


Many people bemoan the coming of winter. I don't. Sure, I love spring and summer the most on the prairies but winter has its charm as well. I think of watching the snow fall, covering everything in white, and mornings when the bare trees are cloaked in heavy hoar frost. Those days can be magical in themselves but are even more of a treat for a photographer. Blizzards are the most unwelcome of winter events here but, when things calm down, the roads are cleared, and the sun shines again, it's great to go for a drive and watch for the sparkling, wind-sculpted snow drifts along the way.  Happiness is ...

Jargon

Eric Bentley, an author, editor and translator, once said “Ours is the age of substitutes: instead of language, we have jargon: instead of principles, slogans: and, instead of genuine ideas, bright ideas”.  Jargon is the vocabulary that is peculiar to a trade, profession, or group.  We often encounter jargon when we go to a doctor's office or try reading the fine print of the limited warranty for some expensive product that we've just bought. However, jargon can be found in any group of people with similar beliefs or activities.

During my life as a university student and, later, as a government employee and as a consultant, I was constantly bombarded with jargon. I even used it, in varying degrees, in my own business writing.  Jargon is fine if your audience understands it.  If you're giving a technical presentation to people in your profession, most of the audience will expect and understand your words. But, many people would argue that jargon is simply a protective barrier, put up to prevent others from infringing on territory. 

Brian Martin, with the Department of Science and Technology Studies, University of Wollongong, in Australia had these critical words to say about academic jargon: "Academics may battle among themselves over knowledge, but they have a common interest in maintaining the status of academic knowledge in the eyes of outsiders. If what academics do is too easy to understand, then it becomes harder to justify comfortable salaries and conditions". One could say the same thing about doctors, lawyers, publicists, plumbers, and other groups of like-minded people.

What jargon users fail to realize is that ordinary people who hear them speak or who read their words give them less credibility than they give to people who speak or write plainly.  So, if you want to be heard, believed, and understood, speak with words that paint clear pictures.

Normality Returns

The turkey dinner is just a pleasant memory now as the short work week begins for most people. I expect these same people wish every week was this short.  Retired people, like myself, don't really care.  We've "been there; done that" and most of us are enjoying our golden years.

It doesn't mean we don't work. We do. But, we work at our own pace, in our own place. In the early hours of today, I still don't know what I'll do to fill the hours but that's okay. There's always stuff "to do", in and around a home. It's just a matter of picking some things to do off the mental list and getting them done.

I'm now thinking of all of the things I could or should do today.  I can't say that there many things that I 'want to do' today. Most of them actually sound like tedious, boring activities. But, life is like that. You have to do the things that have to be done so you can spoil yourself a bit later, doing the more pleasurable things you enjoy. I do know that I will have a nap soon because I didn't get enough sleep last night. Usually, I need "two sleeps" to come close to having 8 hours of sleep total per day. Fortunately, I can do that.

Today, the weather looks good for some outdoor work.  The yard is more or less ready for winter but there are still some small jobs needing attention. I would like to get those done because the weather forecast is for cool, rainy weather for the next few days. At this time of year, in Winnipeg, we can suddenly receive a staying snow so it's best to get all the yard work done that you can, while you can.

Leaf by Leaf

After a short walk with the dogs last night, as we drove to a nearby Starbucks in downtown Charleswood, it was like driving through a blizzard of blowing leaves and dust, with a smattering of rain drops every few minutes.  Inside the store, all was calm, except for the occasional gust of wind and leaves against the windows.  Armed with a chai and pumpkin spice latte and decadent brownie and a cappuccino and a molasses-ginger cookie, we sat and enjoyed the atmosphere inside.  It was a good evening to be on the inside, looking out.

Later, while Marg enjoyed watching the Winnipeg Blue Bombers beat the Hamilton Tiger-cats 33-17, I surfed on my laptop, studying various photography subjects on the blogs of some exceptional good photographers.  One topic I researched was night-time photography.  I would like to take some better moon shots and to photograph the milky way.  I'll drive outside the glow of the city lights sometime soon, in the middle of the night, to capture these scenes.  Maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll also be able to capture the aurora with my camera, with some leafless trees in the foreground.

Calm Inside

But the weather outside is frightful.  To quote our weather office (wherever it is these days), "Very strong south winds are associated with a strong low pressure centre moving from Montana into Saskatchewan today. As a result, wind gusts throughout parts of the Red River Valley including Winnipeg are expected to occasionally be in excess of 90 km/h this afternoon. Winds should diminish slightly this evening".  And, this evening, it's supposed to rain.  Maybe, even a thunderstorm.


Yes, Martha, our Fall weather is back.  Looking out the window, the tree and shrub branches are crazily whipping around and the leaves are blowing down the street, occasionally forming clumps where the eddies occur.  It's amazing that there are still so many leaves on the trees.  I chuckle when I think of all the people that have been raking leaves off of their lawns this week.  Now, all of their work has been for naught as leaves blow from one neighbour's yard to another. I rarely rake leaves.  Our small patches of grass out front and out back don't collect that many.  Most of the fallen leaves end up in the flower beds where they belong, acting as winter insulation and summer mulch.  It's much easier on the back if you don't fight nature.

It's Not the Heat

Finally, summer has arrived.  Well, maybe not.  Our high yesterday of 31 and today of 28 makes you wonder what's happening with our local weather.  These record-breaking temperatures are certainly not normal for this time of year in Winterpeg.  Snow flurries ... yes.  Heat waves ... no.  But, no-one is complaining in our fair city.  Meanwhile, the leaves are blowing in the wind and the geese are continuing their training flights.

A friend was telling me the other day of watching two flocks of geese during evening twilight, flying overhead.  Through some miscommunication, on the parts of the leaders, the two flocks crashed into each other and there was more than the normal amount of loud honking going on.  There were lots of ruffled feathers but no serious casualties.  It reminded him of rush hour traffic and what can happen when some people aren't paying attention.

Maybe, the geese crashed because they were just confused by the heat ...

What Kind of a Learner are You?

Visual learners tend to understand and process information through observation. They like to use pictures, charts, concept maps, and demonstration. A visual learners are usually good at recalling colours, details, and faces.

Auditory learners are best are best at retaining information by listening to lectures and benefit from discussion, reading aloud, and forming study groups. Auditory learners are usually good at interpreting speech intonations, names, and languages.

Kinesthetic learners learn best through touching and moving around (also called hands-on-learners). They are easily distracted when having to sit still for long periods of time. They are usually good at sports, dancing, and activities that use the motor muscles.

Put more simply:

          Visual learners need to 'see it'.

          Auditory learners need to 'hear it'.

          Kinesthetic learners need to 'do it'.

Of course, it's not all this simple.  People cannot be so easily pigeon-holed.  Some people may have a tendency to learn more one way than another but, as often as not, most of us use a combination of all three ways of learning.  You might be a visual learner in most areas but switch over to a kinesthetic learner in others.  For example, you might be a visual learner when it comes to needing to see someone's facial expressions when they are talking to you but you have to switch over to an auditory learner when it comes to playing a musical instrument.  Similarly, you may be a hands-on learner when it comes to understanding how to use a camera but you may not be very good at such motor activities as sports or dancing.

Maybe, you need to do all three (see it, hear it, and do it) to really learn something well.  I remember, as a graduate student, when dealing with complex theories or concepts, having to listen to lectures and to make copious notes, complete with illustrations.  The next step was using mind maps or charts to plot out the inter-relationships.  Finally, I met with other students and discussed the theory or concept.  Only after using all three styles of learning did I finally know and understand the theory or concept.

Reading

I have a confession to make. I love to read books. Although, now, I really enjoy mysteries, I've gone through many categories of books over my life. Adventure, science fiction, fantasy, historical novels, and biographies Occasionally, I will go back in time and read some classic book that I enjoyed many years ago.

Some authors are well worth reading, over and over again. "Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read" Francis Bacon. Ones that come to mind are Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Rex Stout, and Orson Scott Card. Obviously, some books are very old, others less so.

I've got to go now. I have to finish a book by Ian Rankin that I'm reading. Happiness is ...

Coping with Problems and Worries

You don't have to go far these days to realize so many people are trying to deal with problems and worries in their life.  Their problems or worries may be simple or they may be complex.  Small or large, they can cause a lot of stress to these individuals and to those around them.  Coping is sometimes very hard, especially when it involves a family crisis.

It might be a financial problem, moving to a new city, an ill child, a serious illness of one's own, ageing parents, or a death in the family that is the concern. Sometimes, we get stressed out, trying to solve a problem that we don't realize we can't solve.  Sometimes, just waiting for a problem to slowly resolve itself is all that we can really do.  Reaching out to someone you trust can help, even if all they can do is lend a sympathetic ear.  Talking about a worry can put it into perspective.  Other times, it may help to simply sit down and write about what is happening.

Some people face their worries by taking long walks, escaping into good books, indulging in a favourite hobby, going out to dinner with family or friends, listening to their favourite music, or submersing themselves in work around the home.  Sometimes, it takes a combination of all of these coping exercises to get through the weeks or months of stress.  If it seems that the worry is getting too intense, just too hard to cope with, then we should probably see a counsellor.

A Worthy Cause

Last weekend, Margaret and I attended a charity dinner/fund-raiser for Child Haven International.  It was held at the Punjab Restaurant and Banquet Hall, near Inkster and Madalay, here in Winnipeg.  We now seem to go to one of these types of events once a year now.  I especially liked this one.  The MC, Big Daddy Tazz, did a fine job.  And, the appetizers and buffet dinner were great, especially if you like Indian food (though they do seem not to know how to make a good cup of coffee!).

Child Haven, a registered charity, operates 8 homes for women and children in Nepal, India, Tibet, and Bangladesh.  That night, we raised enough money to purchase a special, 3-wheeled, powered vehicle for one of the homes, for transporting staff and patients to nearby hospitals.

Part of the fund raising involved tickets on gift baskets (I won 2 Christmas gift baskets) and written bids on various donated art work.  I out-bid others for one of the many items, a fused glass bowl made by local artist, Kate Thompson.  As you can see, it is quite beautiful.

We even met several old friends there and recognized some of the local celebrities in attendance.  A good evening for a good cause ...

Wonderful Weather

I've certainly been enjoying the past few weeks of fantastic weather.  For one thing, it's allowed me to drive out to Beaudry Provincial Park most days.  Usually, while Marg walks with the dogs along the grassland trails, I head into the woods with my camera and tripod to look for new things to photograph and to just enjoy the quiet and peacefulness of being surrounded by trees and shrubs.

Often, I try to capture the changing colours of the leaves and the way the light comes down and passes through them.  I usually post some of the images that I like the most on my Flickr page.  And, from some of the comments made on those photos, there are others like me that marvel at what light can do to something as simple as a leaf.

Marg and I took Holly and Mollie out to Beaudry again tonight.  Although I carried my camera with me, I never took any pictures.  I simply walked around the edge of one wooded area and enjoyed watching the sun set and listening to the birds and squirrels that I stirred up as I meandered along.  Happiness is ...

Pelicans

Vladimyr and I travelled up to Lockport today, on the Red River, hoping we could get some shots of pelicans. We thought that we might have been too late, that they might have already migrated south.  Not so.  I guess they're enjoying our Indian Summer.  We found a group of about 80 of the them resting across the river from where were and took dozens of photos with our telephoto lenses.

Here's one shot of part of the group:

This second shot is one of the pelicans in flight:

Water Feature in Basement Still Works!

After yesterday's inch and a quarter of rain (that's 31.5 mm to my kids), I heard an unfamiliar noise coming from the basement last night.  It took me a moment to realize that the sump pump was running again.  We haven't heard it going for months.  It's been so dry here the past 3 months.  Now, the stream that flows beneath our basement is moving again.  I expect the pump will run now, intermittently, until freeze up if we keep getting the occasional rain.  I'll have to check the big cracks in the lawn to see if they've closed up again.  Our sump water gets pumped out through an underground hose to our front flower bed, keeping those flowers, shrubs, and trees well watered (no pun intended).  I suppose all the roots are sighing with relief now. Normalcy returns!

My 500th Post

Does this mean that I'm perseverent or what?  Probably 'or what', whatever that is.  Regardless, I'm still here and I'm still writing.  I wish I could think of something momentous to say but I can't.  It's just another Monday.

Today, it's raining.  Our soil sure needs it after a drier than normal summer.  Hopefully, the moisture will loosen the roots of those persistent weeds in my flower beds, enabling me to pull a few hundred more of them before long. I'm really looking forward to that.  Right, just like I look forward to seeing my dental hygienist again.  Today's weather makes me really appreciate the conditions over the weekend.

We made three evening trips to Beaudry over weekend.  Yesterday was especially nice, allowing me to spend some time in the woods there and to do a little photography.  While Margaret walked Holly and Molly, I communed with nature and my camera.  I came away with a few images that I later posted to my Flickr page.  Nothing too exciting but a good record of what the bur oaks woods are like at this time of year.  Just building up my memory bank and honing my observation skills a little.

Today?  It'll be a 'follow the thread' kind of day around the home.  There certainly are lots of threads all over the place. As Robert Brault, a freelance writer, once said, “enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things”. He has a blog, too. But, he's a long ways from his 500^th post. Hah!

A Surprise

Lately, the weather has been a bit gloomy.  Overcast, grey skies and cool winds.  Yesterday was better: partly cloudy with lots of sunny breaks and mild temperatures.

Out on the deck, in my little water garden (a large, water-filled pot with 3 miniature water lily plants submerged in it), I was very surprised to see a beautiful water lily in bloom.  Surprised because we've had 3 overnight frosts in the past week!

And, soon, my Michaelmas daisies will be in full bloom as well.  They are my usual harbinger of the coming cold weather.  Already, a few of those flowers have opened and are being visited by a variety of pollinators.

Curiosity

According to Wikipedia, the word “curiosity” comes from Latin curiosus ("careful, diligent, curious"). It is “an emotion related to natural inquisitive behaviour such as exploration, investigation, and learning”. Because “this emotion represents a drive to know new things, curiosity is the fuel of science and all other disciplines of human study”. Perhaps, that explains, to some degree, my life-long interest in nature, an inexhaustible subject of study.

I've been very fortunate to live when I have and, even more so, now, in the Information Age. For the naturally curious person, the Internet is a fantastic, huge library. Search engines, like Google, allow me to find the answers to most of the questions I can frame as a series of 'key' words. I recognize, of course, that not everything a search engine turns up is worth reading or credible. But, after many years of using them, I can quickly weed through the trash to find the best and most accurate information that I want.

Invariably, what I find enables me to dig more deeply and read more widely about a subject. Some would argue that it would be better to read scholarly journal articles and books on a subject. Little do they know that you can even do that on the Internet, if you know where to look.

Someone once said (I think it was Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers) that you only become an expert at something after you've practised it at least 10,000 times.  I guess that makes me an expert at quickly finding things on the Web because I do it dozens of times every day.  Sometimes, hundreds of times in a day if I become obsessed with learning a new subject.  Is this skill worth the effort?  Yes, it is, if you're a curious person ...

Full Moon Rising

Last night, after we ran the dogs in the grassy field at Beaudry Provincial Park, I set up my camera and tripod and pointed my lens west to capture the sunset over a nearby field.

Over my shoulder, the full moon was rising above some trees.  Of course, I photographed that, too.

Happiness is ...

A Good Weekend

This past weekend sped by.  I suppose most weekends do.  But, it was thoroughly enjoyable.  First off, we went out to Beaudry every evening to let the mutts run in the grassy field at the park.  Mostly, there was no one else around and we never had to worry about the dogs.  Each night, we saw some wildlife.  One night, lots of geese and a cormorant on a fence post, spreading its wings to dry.  Another night, a group of white tail deer in the field.  Last night, a young buck, with a small rack of antlers.

On Saturday morning, we wandered around the farmer's market, purchasing odds and ends for the larder.  Afterwards, we went to Mike and Tasha's home to celebrate Katie's 2nd birthday, along with other members of the family.  KT was a little under the weather but seemed to enjoy her gifts and birthday cake.

Sunday was, as Sundays often are, a lazy day.  I spend quite a bit of time going through my recent photos, massaging some of them in Photoshop Elements before emailing them on to people I thought would appreciate them.

I also spent many hours on the phone with my friend, Vladymer, talking about (among other things) time-lapse and astrophotography and all the gear it would be nice to have in order to do some of the things we'd like to do.  That reminds me, I'd better buy a lottery ticket ...

Shoot for the Moon

Brian Littrell, an American singer-song writer, once said “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars”.

Last night, aided by my friend Vladymer, I tried, for the first time, to photograph the nearly full moon. It was very humbling and frustrating to fiddle in the dark with all the knobs and buttons on  my camera as I tried to get a decent image of Earth's natural satellite.  I thought I knew my camera fairly well, until last night, as I groped like a blind man to make exposure adjustments.

In the end, with Vlad's patient guidance, I did manage to get a few acceptable images.  I now know that I'll have to make many drives into the country, after dark, to get the kind of images I really want.  It's all part of learning and practice.  At least, I've made a start.

 

Back to Beaudry

In the midst of our Indian Summer now, we couldn't resist another evening drive out to Beaudry Provincial Park last night, to run the dogs before it got dark.  It was warm at first, gradually cooling as the sun went down.

Holly and Mollie galloped along the trails, mowed through the grassy fields, stopping every once in a while to investigate some odour that only they could detect with those super-sensitive noses of theirs. I brought along my little point-and-shoot camera and took a few shots of the grasses and wild flowers.

As 8 p.m. approached and the sun set, it was time to go.  We gradually headed back through the woods to the car and the return trip home.  The sky was so beautiful.

Just Joshing

American operatic-pop singer, Josh Groban, performed at the MTS Centre last night for his Straight To You Tour.  He's done well with his singing career. His four solo albums are multi-platinum.  In 2007, he was the number one best selling artist in the USA.  To date, he has sold over 24 million albums worldwide. I guess he wears those old jeans on stage because he just wants to be comfortable, rather than waste his money on fancy clothes.

I've enjoyed listening to his songs for several years, both from his CD albums and on YouTube.  Two of his most loved songs are "You Raised Me Up" and Don't Give Up".  They're my favourites and he sang them both last night.

Knowing how much I like his singing, Margaret bought tickets for this show back in early May for my birthday present.  Tonight, I finally got to enjoy her gift to me with her by my side.

There were two stages, the big fancy one with all his musicians present and a smaller one at the other end of the  the arena that he walked to several times during the evening.  Scenery on the main stage was ever changing, using film projectors and fantastic lighting.

This image, taken with my Blackberry, gives you an idea of the impressive main stage set-up. You should be able to click on the image to see a larger one, with more detail.

Josh is quite talented.  Obviously, he's a great singer but he also accompanies himself sometimes on the piano and, a couple of times, he took to the drums.  With two other drummers at opposite end of the stage, he kept up with them quite well, sort of like duelling banjos. At the end, befitting his performance, he received two standing ovations.  I consider myself very fortunate to have finally seen and heard him perform in person.  Happiness is ...

Moving into Fall

Sarah Helen Whitman, a poet and one time close friend of Edgar Allan Poe, wrote "when summer gathers up her robes of glory, and, like a dream, glides away".  I can feel that happening here at 43 Carbutt.  After another thunderstorm last night, complete with thunder, lightning, gusty winds, heavy rain, and hail, it definitely feels like summer has left us once again. Fewer and fewer new blooms are appearing in the garden.

On the bright side, the moist soil should make pulling weeds this weekend easier. And, there are lots of dandelions and thistles to remove.  These two common weeds seem to thrive under all weather conditions.  I have neglected weeding this summer, always seeming to find better things to do with my time.  Now, I have no choice because they are embarrassingly numerous.  Hopefully, we'll now move into a long stretch of Indian summer.

More Navel Gazing

A habit is a settled or regular tendency or practise, especially one that is hard to give up. John Dryden, an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright in the late 1600s, was quoted as saying "We first make our habits, and then our habits make us".  I've been thinking about my habits lately, the good ones, the bad ones, and the ones that seem to be forming recently.  Like everyone else, I suppose, I want to break my bad habits and develop my good ones.

I won't reveal either my good or bad habits here in this blog post.  People who care about and understand me well certainly know what my bad habits are.  I guess, if they ever think about my habits, they wish I'd break my bad habits because they hope that, by doing so, I will live longer and have a better life.  They're probably right.

Someone once said that you should hold true to the habits that make you a better person.  In my personal, hand-written journal, I plan to list my good and bad habits that I've developed over the years, as I see them, and try to improve myself.  Maybe, over time, I'll be able to eliminate some of the worse habits, strengthen some of the better ones, and find better ways to move forward in my life.  Maybe, I'll make that a new habit.

September Morn

Retirement allows me to 'follow the thread' most days, including today.  I've had a thoroughly enjoyable start to my day, saying goodbye to Margaret as she headed off to work, looking at the great photos recently posted on Flickr by my 100 or so contacts, going through recent messages, listening to some of my favourite singers on YouTube (singers like Josh Grobin, Nana Mouskouri, Celtic Woman, Sarah Brightman, Celine Dion, Elton John, John Lennon, and several others), and just plain relaxing.  I am so fortunate.  Happiness is ...

Everything Happens for a Reason

As I near my 500th post on this blog, I think I will post someone else's words.  It's an essay by an unknown author.  It made me think of some of the people who have come back into my life in recent years and who have had a profound affect on me and my thoughts.  Here is the essay, in it's unabridged form:

"Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbour, teacher, fraternal brother or sister, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them, you know that at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without the small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things. Make every day count.

Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets. Most importantly, if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store. And finally, enjoy looking forward to learning a new lesson each day and enjoying the journey".

Dacquisto

We had a wonderful Italian dinner at Dacquisto last night.  Several senior staff members dropped by the table to say hello to us.  Margaret knows them, of course, because they all work for the same company here in Winnipeg, "Wow! Hospitality Concepts".  That company owns a series of nice restaurants, in addition to Celebrations Dinner Theatre.  It was kind of sad, this restaurant closing and the staff not knowing yet.  Today, Sunday, is their last day.  I imagine most of the staff will stay on for the opening of the replacement restaurant.  As we left, I took this picture of the restaurant's entrance:

A Perfect Day

With sunny skies, low winds, and a high of 25, the weather was perfect today.  Totally to my liking, any way!  Early on, we drove over to the farmer's market to load up on more fresh produce and preserves.  I think I may have enough Bavarian relish and pickled beets in the basement larder now; well, maybe.

I was tempted to buy some containers of honey because the honey looked so good but I resisted the urge.  We still have lots from last year and really don't use much in our cooking.

And, tonight, we're off to Daquisto's for some fine dining.  It's my all-time favourite restaurant in the city.  Unfortunately, it hasn't been doing well in it's present location and the owners are closing it tomorrow.  It will be replaced by a Mexican food restaurant.  Too bad but this final visit will be a great way to end a perfect day.  Happiness is ...

It was Wicked

The opening of this Broadway hit last night was great!  The singing and acting by the large cast, the sets, the costumes, the props, and the lighting were all superb!  It was easy to see why this show has been so popular.

I took a couple of photos, using my Blackberry, outside and inside the Concert Hall, before the show started.  As cell phone photos, they're not great but they will serve as memory joggers for me in the future.

There was a capacity audience for the opening.  They were wowed by the show, giving a long standing ovation to the cast and orchestra at the end.  If you ever get an opportunity to see this musical, go for it; you won't be disappointed.

Off to See the Wizard

Marg and I are off to the Land of Oz to attend the opening of the Tony- and Grammy-award winning show, Wicked, tonight.  We're both looking forward to hearing the music and seeing the costumes for this show.


Reviews of this North American tour have generally been favourable.  Apparently, shows have been produced around the world since the first in 2003 so this production has had lots of time to 'get it right'.  It's certainly been a money maker, averaging $1M a week in ticket sales.

Body Temperature ...

... is normally 37.0 degrees Celsius.  And, that's also our current temperature in Winterpeg.  And, that temperature is not normal for this time of year!  When I walked out of my air-conditioned Safeway store this afternoon, I was literally met with a blast of very hot air coming off the parking lot.  Needless to say, it was good to get all the bags into the house and packed away and then to relax.  Yes, you guessed it: I made a fresh cup of coffee.


So, it's hot out there.  Again, I won't complain because I don't want to give my favourite cousin a chance to scold me.  So, I'll just imagine being on the beach at Tofino.  To help my imagination, I looked back at some photos of that Canadian gem.  I found this collage that I made after my last trip there.

Funny, I feel cooler now.  Happiness is ...

Gassed Up Again

We attended Corner Gassed 2 again on Sunday, this time with my son, Mike, and my favourite daughter-in-law, Tasha. The cast has definitely improved since the opening night, a week or so ago.

If you liked the TV show, Corner Gas, you'll really enjoy this musical comedy.

Beaudry Provincial Park

Beaudry Provincial Park is located 10 km west of Winnipeg on PR 241.  We drive out Roblin Boulevard, through Headingly, and   The wooded areas are dominated by bur oak, green ash, Manitoba maple, American elm and willows.  There are also some sspectacular, large basswoods and cottonwoods.

But, it's the grassy areas and their trails that we (and our dogs) like the most.  After walking down a short wooded trail, you reach one of the grassy fields.

The trails through the fields are mowed regularly, making walking easy for all of us.  The dogs, of course, often leave the trails to investigate new scents.

We're very fortunate to have a park like this so close to our home in Charleswood.  Not only is it a great place to take our mutts for a walk, it provides all sorts of opportunities for photography.  At this time of year, with fall approaching, it may appear a little drab overall.  But, when you look closer, there are some neat plants to photograph.  Maybe, just a thistle, gone to seed.

Or, maybe a wild flower.  If you're lucky, maybe the wild flower will have some insects on it.

Happiness is ...

The Markets

Farmer's markets, to be precise.  I'd rather go to a farmer's market than a grocery store.  Yes, I know that grocery stores are great and supply us with lots of things a farmer's market cannot, all year round.  Important things, like milk and Cheetos.  But, farmer's markets are just a pleasure to visit in the summer months.

You can wander the stalls and compare products and prices for one thing.  And all those fresh vegetables are just that, fresh!  Not trucked in from the States or flown or boated in from China.  And, you get to meet the producers.

I've mentioned in an earlier post that i also like to be able to buy home-made products from these people.  Things like preserves and baked goods.  Sometimes, as I have, you discover some pickled relish that is both unique and delicious and you learn to stock up for the long winter months.

Farmer's markets are also a place to take pictures.  On my last visit, I took the three candid shots attached below.

Happiness is ...

Improvisation

When it comes to communicating something, especially something technical, most professionals use jargon that's specific to their subject, especially when they're standing in front of a group of professionals, giving a lecture or seminar. Often they will use a Power-point presentation or closely follow their prepared notes. The result? They usually bore the hell out of their audience and get some lukewarm applause.

The best communicators improvise. They look into the faces of the audience members while they're speaking, making sure that they are listening and comprehending, and adjusting their talk 'on the fly' to ensure that their message is getting through. Their body is always in motion, their facial expressions constantly changing, their arms and hands reinforcing what they're saying. They may use visual aids, including a few projected slides, to reinforce, illustrate, or prove something but, most of the time, they're just conversing with the audience.

They never read their notes, if they have any notes. They simply know what they want to say and then they go ahead and say it. The result? They get their message across and their audience is left wanting more. The 'more' often comes in the form of a lot of thought-provoking questions.

First Day of the Week

Yes, we had a great Sunday, ending it with supper at Boston Pizza and a walk with the dogs out at Beaudry.  It was a great way to end the weekend.  Today?  Back to the routines.  Marg walked the dogs this morning before leaving for work with Holly.

My hairy mutt goes to the groomers this morning for a much needed trim, wash, and nail clipping.  The groomers are out in the SW area of the city, not far from Celebrations.  So, Marg will also pick her up after work and bring her home again.  Holly will be more comfortable without the thick fur coat.

After both of us eating too much this past weekend, I'll have to plan some suppers that are nutritious but "low cal" for the next few days.  I think it was all the ice cream desserts we had because of the heat.  Notice I'm blaming it on the heat, not on our weak resistance.  Oh, well.  Life is to be enjoyed sometimes.

Looks like we're going to get some rain soon, finally.  It's sad that everything is so dry around Winnipeg lately.  With our heavy clay soils, the cracks in the ground are huge.  Our lawn, like everyone's, is parched.  We need a few inches of rain to bring the plants back to health.  Funny, last year and this spring, we had too much rain.  Winnipeg, it seems, goes from one extreme in weather to another.