Joe and I go back to Montreal

Joe and I visited Montreal again this year. We took in Divers/Cité in the gay village. We saw Lila Downs (we own most of her CD's). There were 3 stages, each with a different theme. We took in the Festival Latino and the drag show called Mascara. After the shows each night, before midnight, everyone seemed to go to the gay village. Rue Ste-Catherine was closed to traffic but there were so many people that it was almost impossible to walk.

Catch up time

I have a lot to catch up on. Since June, we had many visitors and we saw lots of places.
Julia visited from Budapest, Hungary. We went to Toronto for the Pride Parade, Montreal, Stratford (Stratford Festival), Long Point and took two trips to Woodstock.

The trip to Montreal was most memorable. In addition to the regular stops the city was busting with excitement and entertainment. We visited the botanical gardens as well as the Gay Village. We went to the top of Mount Royal and visited the shops and restaurants of old Montreal.

Since a picture is worth a 1000 words here a few pictures.

Pride Parade in Toronto.

Julia with a young weasel in our back yard.

Joe, a drag queen and Julia, in front of Mado in the Village in Montreal.

Julia and me in old Montreal.

Randy and Patty's Day

Today is the wedding day for Randy and Patty. They have asked me to be their official photographer. I am always reluctant to do such things because it means so much to them and me. I am always afraid they may not like my work.

Pictured: Gale, Walter, Patty, Randy and Kylie.

Yesterday, Frank from Reno, visited and we are having some good times together. We watched a movie that is a bit of cult film from 1969 called Easy Rider. It was actually my first time to view it. I liked it. Great backgrounds of the south and mid-west America.

Busy Week

I have very busy this week while on holidays. The grounds had to be manicured and the gardens prepared and mulched. There is a chance of rain today and my outdoor activities may have to be suspended. However, there are another set of tasks in the house to do.

Spring is such a nice time of year and here is a picture to prove it.


The picture is of one of many lilacs on the property with a flowering almond that has gone wild in the background.

Julia Visits

In about 5 weeks, a very special visitor will be here. Julia from Hungary will spend at least 3 weeks with us.

We are spending at least 3 days in Montreal and a couple in Toronto during her stay.

Initially we thought we would spend a week up on the lake in a rented cottage but on second thought we are already live in the quite countryside and decided against it. We will likely go to the beach on Lake Erie at Long Point, weather permitting.

I am sure that when she arrives we will think of all kinds of things to see and do.

Hair Day

Last Sunday John, Cecile, Rich and Eve came to visit. Just like other times when we get together with John, we get hair cuts. Today was no exception. The pictures are of John and Rich and John and Joe. Next time we get together will be at the end of next month in Hamilton, the home of John and Cecile.

Another Dodge disappointment

Sheesh! This is getting ridiculous. I just found out that the tires on the Dakota are not available through Canadian Tire. It seems that the tire is a rare one and wasn't used on many makes of vehicles. I did find a tire store that had it in stock but for how long is anyone's guess. I ordered two but I need four but can't afford all four. I'm going to take a chance that the tire will still be around next year when I replace the other two. Wish me luck!

Now, to make matters worse, I had to take it in this week for a drive clean test. It failed. One of the routes to go is to have it analyzed to see what the problem is. Then, it can be passed temporarily for one year. This is what I did. But eventually it will need a catalytic converter at around $900 a shot. I'm not impressed.

Our visit to Alma

We visited our dear friends in Alma this weekend. They have the most beautiful home on many acres just outside Alma not far from Elmira. Their house is energy efficient and very unique in design. They have designed their house around a central plenum, which most heat releasing appliance use and then that heat is recovered and again used to heat the house. There is also large south windows and and dark ceramic tile floors.

Our friends are very involved in their businesses. They are constantly on the go and have very little time for socializing. So, we don't get together that often.

I attach a photo of the west side of their house and Paul is looking out the window.

Spring has arrived

Spring is in the air in Southwestern Ontario. With my new camera I can take as many pictures as like without wasting film. Great way to experiment. Here are a couple that I took a couple of days ago.

The new camera

I bought the Canon G-7 and am in love with it. It has a lot of point and shoot features as well as being able to use manual settings. It's everything I wanted in a camera and it is easy to use. One of the pictures that I took recently is of the western sky at sunset. The camera has a feature called Colour Accent which allows for highlighting on a particular colour in a scene and then using only those colours. Here is that picture:

Some improvement, finally

My cold/flu is finally breaking. It's been a very uncomfortable four days. Little sleep and lots of couphing and pain.

With any luck, I'll be back to work soon.

Change of plans

Unfortunately, I came down with a very severe chest cold/flu so I didn't go to Toronto with Joe. Instead I stayed at home and in bed most of the weekend. Sigh.

Sick

I was a bit under the weather today.

Yesterday, I felt a tickle in my throat. Last night and today it blossomed into a chest cold. I have been getting pletty of rest and am already feeling better.

The changing weather has a lot do with this. It has been very cold of late and then just recently it warmed up to a balmy 6 degrees celcius. Now, we are going back to the minus teens celcius. Maybe I should just go to bed for the winter. The bears do.

Conference in TO

We're off to Toronto.

This is a conference for COUSA members and non-members. I will like just be an observer. I am going as Joe's guest or spouse. The workshops are interesting if I have the chance to attend. I am interested in the workshop dealing with stress, depression and anxiety.

This is the first of a couple of conferences we will be attending. Another one that is coming up is with the OSSTF also in Toronto. This one is their biggies for the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Assembly. It will be held at the Toronto Sheraton Centre, WOW!

For an update as to what happened at these conferences, check back here.

A scare

Last night while dining at one our favourite restaurants, I began choking. At first, I thought that I could clear the food by just coughing. Usually works and besides it seems natural. This time however, it didn't succeed and the particle of food covered my windpipe. I then had shortness of breath and panicked. I wanted to make my way to the washroom in case I had to stick my finger down my throat. On the way over someone came up behind me and gave me the Heimlick maneuver. It worked.

I have never had an experience like that one before and hope it never happens again.

I went back to my table and continued to eat my food. Then the fire department arrived because one of the staff called 911. I explained what had happened and gave them my name.

I think I just used up one of my nine lives.

Photos with Picasa

Istanbul

The renovated bathroom.

The crystal staircase at Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul.

An old wooden house on a street scene in Sultanhamet, Istanbul.

A plaza not far from the Spice Bazar.