Kidnapped

My new mommy says “kidnapped” but I don’t agree. I like it here and want to stay.

I was quite surprised to be going home with my new Mommy last week – but I like my new home. It has a yard and my new Mommy lets me play in it all the time. She also likes to take me for walks – even when she complains that I pull on my lease too much.

When I arrived at my new house, however, I wasn’t impressed that there were two of those other types of animals in the house. You know, the ones that like to hiss at me and hide when I come their way. One of them (the skinny dark one) even tried to open one of my bags of food – humph the gaul of him – but luckily my new mommy stopped him. However, I do growl at him when he tries to eat my food just as I’ve started to chow down on it.

Speaking of food, I sure like the meat in this house. A prime rib was cooked for Christmas dinner and I just couldn't wait to get the bone. Oh, it was so good.... I also liked all the left-over gravy that was cooling down on the counter when the humans were on to after dinner drinks. Oh, it was so yummy! but one of my new Mummy's guests liked to call my "Garbage Gut" for all the snacking I was doing.

For the first couple of days here, my new mommy called me her foot soldier. I’m not sure why, but I just couldn’t let her out of my sight so I followed her wherever she went. Sometimes she would get tired of my trying to cuddle with her on the couch because she says I’m way too big to be a lap dog – but she did have some really nice friends over who gave me lots of attention so I didn’t mind not being on her lap every time she sat down. Last night she didn’t want me around much at all because she said I had bad breath. I wonder if that has something to do with the snack I had at the kitty litter box. Unfortunately it was a very short snack because Uncle Jim shooed me quickly away from the box. He now calls be “Poo dog” or “Whiskey the Poo”

The most bizarre situation happened when my new Mommy took me for a drive. I got really excited when the smells got familiar and I saw my old house. She got out but left me in the car in the driveway. She walked around the house and was mumbling. She then came back to the car and we drove back home! I don’t think my new mommy was very happy. We made the trip another time and my new mommy did more than just walk around the house and mumble. We both actually walked into the house only to be greeted by “Uncle Rob”. I was really happy to see him, but got a couple of hisses from the black furry animal that lives in my former house. Uncle Rob and New Mommy didn’t pay much attention to me though, because they were both doing strange things to the walls with these funny things they call tools and/or brushes in their hands. Some of the walls even changed colour! I think the colour is very dark, bold and very very dramatic.

A few hours later while at my old house, I heard a familiar car and then saw my best friend Scarlett and Auntie Giz. We played in the backyard and Scarlett and I did some greko-roman wrestling. Auntie Giz and my new mommy were talking and from their conversation I learned that if my new mommy had driven me to Scarlett’s house for that first car drive I could have gone into their house because she was given the key to Scarlett’s house even though she was told that it was the to my old house.

I was really surprised this morning when I jumped on her bed and discovered that I landed on those two other animals that apparently were sleeping under the covers. They weren’t too happy and gave me a few hisses and a many dirty looks. But, they seem to be getting used to my presence and look more relaxed than they did when I first arrived.

This evening, I went for a walk – pulling lots on my leash, had a nice supper and am now resting.

I really do like it here – and don’t think I’m kidnapped at all. I’d like to stay.

Below is a picture of one of those other animals trying to steal my food!

Happy Holidays

.... To everyone that passes by. Hope it is a peaceful time ...

... and all the best for 2010

A basement in transition

When I bought my home, the basement had thin siding on it - but there was no insulation. That is a no-no in a Canadian climate.



I took the siding away - and - oh no. Look what I discovered below!


A red wall, with questionable artwork .... and even worse ... see below ...


Black mold!!!


I got rid of the mold (with great difficulty .... and scraped the entire wall as seen here. This is the only picture I have of this, which I don't mind ....

This month, I bought a bundle of styrofoam....



and so this is what my basement currently looks like. I need to do a bit of sealing around some cracks. Then the next steps are to put new windows in, drywall, subfloor and ceiling tiles.

This actually will become my bedroom for awhile as I plan to rent two bedrooms on the main floor.

Lots of work, but great satisfaction too.

Thanks ....

On this day of remembrance in Canada. I want to thank all those who have served for my country and in the allied forces for their sacrifices.

War can tear countries apart - or bring them closer together.
War isn't always right and I don't support every one.
But, for those who believe strongly in supporting their country in combat - that is an unbelievable personal sacrifice that I acknowledge.

Mostly on this day, I think of the two great (and horrific) wars that happened in the last century and greatly shaped how we live today. The poem below was written by a Canadian medic serving in Belgium just before he passed away.


In Flanders Fields
by John McCrea - May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
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.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The poppies referred to in the poem grew in profusion in Flanders in the spoiled earth of the battlefields and cemeteries where war casualties were buried and thus became a symbol of Remembrance Day, November 11.

Flanders Fields was the site where around half a million deaths occurred in the horrific trenches of World War I. There are numerous military cemeteries and ‘Missing Memorials’ in the region commemorating those of all nationalities who fell in battle. Most of the soldiers who perished were the victims of poison gas attacks.

Curling Season has begun

The days in Canada vary drastically between summer and winter. In summer, the sun shines on us until 9:00 pm or later, but in winter the sun sinks beyond the horizon as early as 4:00 pm. So, now that we are approaching winter and the sun is making shorter daily appearances, I like so many other Canadians, turn to the sport of curling to help get through the dark evenings.

I began curling when I was 11, so obviously I have been doing it for a long time. During my teens and early 20s I was extremely competitive and had some relative success before taking seasonal breaks on and off for travel and other interests. But for the last three years I've become once again addictive and hope to regenerate some of my competitive ways and if I'm lucky, equal some of my earlier success. (So far I've curled seven games in the club, three mixed and four womens and have a record of seven wins - yeah!)

This upcoming year, we host the Olympics in Vancouver. Curling is one of the sports where Canada is hoping to medal in both the women's and men's competitions. Our representative have yet to be determined so all eyes are on our potential teams. Trials begin in November and conclude in December.

In the Toronto area these last five days, an mens elite international curling competition was held - with with five of Canada's top teams competing. I was lucky to have won tickets to the event and saw some fine play. Good practice as well for these Canadian teams before they enter the Olympic trials by playing the top teams from other nations that have already been declared as their country's Olympic representatives.

I'm just home from the finals where Canada's Glenn Howard (the 2007 world champ) won the competition. Here are some pictures from the competition.

Brad Gushue from Newfound and 2006 Olympic Gold medalist.

Alberta's Kevin Martin, 2002 Olympic Silver medalist

The Randy Ferby team from Edmonton Alberta, four-time Canadian and two-time World champs

The Ontario Glenn Howard team, 2007 world champ. (Glenn has won the worlds three times and his vice-skip Richard Hart is a 1998 Olympic silver medalist)

Autumn Splendor - My favourite season

There is something that I like about every season, but in Autumn it's the colourful trees in this part of the world and the cool crisp air.

These photos are all from the Laurentian Mountains in the Province of Quebec. Lost River, Lake MacDonald, Mt. Tremblant and Campbell's Bay Road (in that order)

Happy Birthday Boys

12 years ago these two brothers were born with four other siblings in the basement of my old house. Me and my ex discovered them after returning home from our favourite indian restaurant.

Over the years they have given me much joy and comfort. I love them very much!

Here's to you Leo (Leopold) and Rory (Rorschach)