I'm having trouble with the conectivity of my multiple platform universe. My desktop is a Mac, my Lap top is a PC and my phone is an Android. And I am a technological retard who hasn't been able to keep up with this stuff since they took away my flip phone! Is it my age or my IQ. I'm from a different generation. I remember all the kids on West Avenue hoping to get a look inside Rod Harvey's house at the first color TV on the block. We had all heard about them and some of us had seen one at the Eatons Store on Younge Street. But to have one right there on the block, that was something. Rod was a good kid and we were best buddies when I was 10 years old. I thought his family was rich. He had a new bike, his dad drove a nice car and they had a place at the lake. I had a 30 year old bike held together with string and wire, my Dad never owned a car and our lake was Bareass Beach on the Don River under the Bloor Viaduct! Turns out they didn't have more money, they had less kids! Rod was the only only child I had ever known up until this point in my life. My Mom had 7 kids , the Pattersons had 6, the Meanies had a soccer team with 11 kids. Everybody had a house full.
Why did I start my blog this way you may ask? Or not, I'm going to tell you anyway. I was so tired when I posted last I did some weird shit with my computer. I proof read and edited my post then posted the unedited version then tried to swap it out for the right one and may or may not have erased it. Now I'm not sure what is out there. Or if any thing is out there? Also , it's not the best idea to proof read your own stuff. You tend to read what you think you wrote instead of what's on the screen. Just lining up my excuses.
It was an amazing morning on the front deck. While I was watering I noticed the first tomato taking shape.
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| Grow Baby Grow! |
The addition of Michele's things has made the front deck extremely comfortable and peaceful.
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| The peaceful corner. |
Except once an hour when the bus goes by. So I'm told. I don't hear it. 15 years have turned the air brakes into part of the cacophony of sounds that make up the soundtrack to our lives here on Austin Ave. We had gone through a pot of Jo when I realised it was after noon. I was going to weed whack and mow the lawn for sure today. I've been trying to do it for a week now. Instead I had lunch.
When Michele came to live with us, a big pot of lettuce came with her. I've been eating it every day. It is so cool to step out onto the deck and trim a few leaves for lettuce wraps. I went triple salad for lunch. I whipped up some tuna salad for wraps and complimented it with a Squatch salad and some left over potato salad.
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| Tuna fish lettuce wrap |
A funny thing happened on the way to mow the lawn. I cleaned the BBQ. I'm starting to think I have some kind of mental block or something. I had left the cover off the BBQ 2 days ago because it needed to be cleaned. Then I got busy doing other things and it never happened. Kind of like the lawn.
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| Bertha the Broil King |
I named it Bertha just to be politically correct. Why do only boys get to be king? It has both male and female parts so maybe I should call it Caitlyn.
Just as I was finishing up the BBQ, Tamara, our tenant, told me that there was an issue with the toilet. "Hang on lawn,
I'll be right there'. It was just a matter of adjusting the bobber on the overflow tank. It's trial and error. Mostly error. It is the slowest filling tank in the history of toilets. It took about 8 flushes to get it right. The whole time I could here the lawn calling me! By then I needed a coffee.
I'm on the front deck cup a Jo in front of me. I may as well have been the Buddah! I am definitely digging the new surroundings.
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| Happy Buddah |
My sense of tranquility exploded as the shrapnel of reality pierced my inner calm. "It's after 3 and we need to get going". I did a quick twirl in the shower (How's that for a visual?) Put on a party shirt, shorts and my plastic shoes. Just in case they have carpet. We put a small cooler in the car. My beach guitar just in case, and we were off to see Mama Lee.
If you ever find yourself in the situation that we are in with your parents. Be patient, be kind and realise how difficult it is for them. Modern medicine has given us bodies that outlive our brains. There is no blame, it just is. It's hard to say no all the time. Especially for the lovely Lisa. Mama Lee raised four kids as a single Mom. A vibrant and intelligent woman who was self sufficient and independent. It's hard for the lovely Lisa to see her any other way. Mama Lee wanted us to know that she is praying to die. Needless to say this upset the lovely Lisa. I told Mama Lee that was okay. God would want to know you're ready to go. Now you just have to wait till he's ready for you. It seemed to help her a little bit. This Parkinsons thing is hard on the heart.
It was a quiet and reflective drive to the party in College Park. Maybe 10 minutes from Mama Lee's and we sat in the car for a few minutes after we arrived.
"Come on Babe, time to put on our party face!"I left the guitar in the car. This is not a music party per se. Though there are a few people there who are part of the musical gang this is more of a conversational gathering.
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| A few of the Celibrants |
The Scots gang were all there. Willie and Annie, Mo and Tom and Jane McNair who we don't see nearly often enough. Tom is usually the life of the party. He's a wee Banty Rooster with a quick wit and a sharp tongue. Sadly their wee dog Alba passed and Tom is shattered. I know how that feels and I try to console him. It was, I believe his first pet. I grew up with dogs. The truth is we outlive our pets. That's a good thing I said. "Otherwise they would eat your face!
It was a really good party with lots of interesting people we hadn't seen in a while.
I was attacked by a giant Salmon that Reg had one somewhere. Second prize was two of them!
Colin and Shelly both retired last Thursday. Sold their house near the P N E and bought a house in Chilliwack. So they can be closer to their property on Green Lake. A great spot that we have visited many times. We used to do an annual Ice Fishing trip but after 5 or 6 years most of us stopped going. In all those years no one ever caught a fish! It would be 10 guys from the city in leather jackets and running shoes standing on a frozen lake, stomping our feet to retain circulation and drinking whiskey straight out of the bottle. If that doesn't say "Good Times" what does? I'll tell you what does. After the second year Larry Cathcart and I went to the pub and watched the idiots from the comfort of the big warm Pub. It was great! Their were several locals who fancied themselves pool players. I am okay with a cue but Larry's misspent youth was obvious. To me anyway. We never lost a game and we never paid for a drink all afternoon. No that's what I call Fishing! Even though we hooked nothing but suckers!
Back to the party.
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| Reg and I, Those Howdy Doody looking guys age well! |
There was tons of food
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| Tall Dar, The hostess with the mostest |
And of course Cake.
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| I like the black sperm motif. That's what 60 year old sperm looks like I guess? |
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| Blow man blow! |
The party thinned out a bit as some of the older and non drinkers made their way home around 10. I was a little disappointed that Mark and Lea left. I thought we might get a chance to play some tones around the campfire. Mark is on a pretty regimented diet and was having trouble finding things to eat. Plus he was the Designated Driver. I was asked to go get my guitar and we sat around singing all the classic campfire songs of our generation.
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| Jane, Mo, Shelly, Colin and Me. |
Gordon Lightfoot, Cat Stevens stuff like that. People were requesting songs and I would play them if I knew them, but only if they sang along. Leaving on a Jet Plane and Me and Bobby McGee were well versed! Not in key, but loud. That's gotta count for something! It was midnight by the time we left the party. I started to write this but couldn't do it. I was nodding off at the keyboard. Now it's 12:30 Sunday and I'm going to stick a few party pictures in here and call it done. Me and God are taking the rest of the day off. I'm not blogging until Monday. I'm going to try to mow the lawn and then go down to the open mic at the Rocky Point Brew Pub at 4:00. But wait! Bro Steve just pulled up. That's always fun!
That's all I've got
Till next time
Peace out Y'all
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