Holiday Cat Cuteness

Okay, so I haven't posted much over the holidays. Tough time for me minus the kitties, but I just couldn't resist posting this.

 

I mean, does it get any cuter ??

 

 

Loved this so much I had to post it, absolutely true !

Will Technology Replace Thinking?

• Created on Friday, October 4th, 2013
• Written by Kirk Douglas

--Huntington Post, October 3, 2013

When you get to be 96 years of age the road ahead is short, so you look back at the road you have traveled for almost 100 years.

The first thing you come up against is technology. One night we took our grandchildren out for dinner. I looked around the table. Jason, the youngest, was playing games with his cellphone; Ryan, 12 years old, had his head under the table and I assumed he was watching his cellphone; Tyler, 16, and his sister Kelsey, 18, were both involved on their cellphones too. Lisa, their mother, was frantically searching in her purse for her ringing cellphone; and Peter, their father, was leaning back, laughing loudly, on his cellphone. I looked across the table at my wife. We both shrugged.

Outside is worse. People walking down the streets, holding objects against their ears, either listening or talking. When they're speaking it looks like they're just crazy people talking to themselves. They cross the road without looking, still talking, and people driving their cars are doing the same thing. Is what they're saying really that important?

I don't have a cellphone. I don't want one. But my wife secretly had a computer installed in my room. They taught me how to play Spider Solitaire. I quickly became an addict -- just solitaire, nothing else. I don't press any other keys because I'm sure it would cause an explosion.

What will become of our world in the next 100 years? Will our children and grandchildren even learn how to write or spell? Will technology replace thinking?

I just realized that you're probably reading this on your computer or on your cellphone while you're driving or crossing the street.

Watch where you're going!

And May the Animals Be Remembered Too

REMEMBERANCE DAY -LEST WE FORGET

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 Fall Guy...

 

Pretty much feel this way about Fall, but happy new season anyway!

Inspiration on a Monday

An article about these parents caught my eye today...the embodiment of "teach your children well..." I couldn't post the pictures, so just follow the link...

http://www.parentdish.ca/2013/09/16/inspiring-stories-parenting-done-right/?icid=maing-grid7%7Ccanada%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D375889

BON JOVI - Livin' the High Life...

I won Bon Jovi tickets a la radio this morning and was actually annoyed that I wouldn't be able to go (we are off to Mytle Beach and will still be away) until I read this ridiculous concert rider...Leather couches, 12 phone lines, specific colour cups, copious amounts of food ect...

Seems like the self -proclaimed  "Jersey Boys" have completely lost touch with any kind of reality. It will be a pleasure to make money off of them and run. Seems like they've been doing it to their fans for years...

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/bon-jovi-backstage-rider

Locke Street Festival

I live around the corner from this festival. No wonder I couldn't hear myself think on Saturday night...this thing has grown exponentially in the last five years...

My kind of bus stop...

The Royal Spoils

So here he is...baby boy royal...:-)


I'm guessing Will was missing his Mom in this moment--and kudos to the proud parents for being so accommodating considering the media has stalked them both for weeks.

July 22 2013

George Alexander Louis

ETA: Booooooooooooo was rooting for James aka "Jamie." Let's hope they go modern and call him "Alex."

I get wanting to honour the Queen's father, but it doesn't mean they can't keep things "modern."

Interesting too that there's been no mention of Diana's brother visiting...I hope they stay in touch. 

http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/royal_family/duchess-catherine-307803.html

And Let's not forget Harry...lol at his comments. Anyone care to guess what he means by "fun???" :-)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23451635

And Diana's brother was asked about the baby...

http://ca.eonline.com/news/441743/princess-diana-s-brother-calls-royal-baby-birth-lovely-news-gun-salute-honors-kate-middleton-s-newborn-prince

Mom and I were debating this last night, will the monarchy still be viable when the Queen passes?? Pretty amazing that Britian doesn't mind funding all of this when they can take back land, parks and a whole heck of a lot of money...

http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/07/25/royal-riches-what-the-monarchy-costs-great-britain/?icid=maing-grid7%7Ccanada%7Cdl8%7Csec3_lnk2%26pLid%3D349406

Just because....

Animal Friends--Meet unconditional love...

I know exactly what he means...And very fitting for me this weekend. Cherish your animal friends, they are truly the definition of unconditional love.

http://video.ca.msn.com/watch/video/man-and-dog-swim-together-for-the-dogs-health/2jdaiwpp?from=en-ca-infopane

In loving memory of my Buddy and Kasey

July 20 2010 and July 22 2006

love you to the moon and back,  I miss you both everyday and dream of you on angels' wings

xxxxoooo

Mommy

Baby, oh baby!

Next time I fly to London I can use this--people aren't waiting for this kid or anything...

One of a host of new "baby" things over there I'm sure!

Rain, rain go away let Toronto keep the boats away!

One hundred millimeters of rain fell in Toronto today in  matter of hours (equivalent to one month of percipitation)

Collage of pictures

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=toronto+flooding+in+pictures&qpvt=toronto+flooding+in+pictures&FORM=IGRE

http://storify.com/theglobeandmail/massive-toronto-storm-causes-floods-blackout-in-to/slideshow

1400 people are currently being rescued off of this stranded GO Train

3 marine boats + 1400 passengers = an all night rescue

no idea why a city of over one million people only has 3 rescue boats but there it is...

 

 

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=toronto+train+rescue+pictures+july+8+2013&qpvt=toronto+train+rescue+pictures+july+8+2013&FORM=IGRE

 

ETA:

A snake made his way onto that go train that was flooded --here's a little vid of him making an appearance...

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/story/2013/07/09/toronto-snake-go-train-video.html

 

Some were scared, some thought it was funny, and by the end of the night the car named him "the 5:30" since that was when they boarded the train.

Chocolate Night on the Cruise

We hit "chocolate night" on the cruise because well, who doesn't love chocolate? Some of the displays were just incredible...Seriously, it must take hours to pull some of this stuff off. Pay no attention to the girl on the dance floor. The cruise social director dragged me out there because we were both Canadian and she thought she was doing me a favour getting me free of my mommy and out on the floor with the "cool" kids. Yeah, the last pic is me and all of the popular jocks/cool kids that would never talk to me in high school you know who they were...

Yes, we were both very happy at this point, but I'm guessing not as happy as this 8 yr old that got to pour his first champayne (not taste it --much like  the poor sound of music daughter:-) He ended up going crazy on the dance floor (maybe he was a little tipsy) and made the cut for the "memory video" of the cruise.

 

 

 

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT

I'm adding in a few extra 2012 cruise pics because I actually look like a healthy sea-girl and I like them:-)

Happy 146th Birthday Canada!

146 years young and she doesn't look a day over 25! Thanks for your freedoms, your voice and your "just because you're "you" specialness!

For Father's Day, Three 'Gifts' My Dad Gave Me

I don't celebrate Father's Day (this is code for my Dad is a deadbeat) but I found this article and thought it was worth posting. My Mom suprised me with a gift "just because" the other day (West Wing disks that were brand new which she drove an hour out of her way for) and I find as I get older, I too enjoy giving the "because it's Tuesday" gift.

I don't come from a gift giving family.
As adults, my sister and I will sometimes exchange presents, but my parents, immigrants from India, have never been big on the ritual of using material objects to show affection, gratitude or appreciation.
Seriously, my Dad will honestly just shake your hand on your birthday. That's no big deal when you're in your 30s, but kinda sucks when you're 10.
So most major and minor holidays pass without exchanging cards or ugly sweaters that we'll have to shove in an over crowded closet.
Despite the lack of STUFF growing up, I didn't turn into a serial killer or some seriously maladjusted hoarder. For the most part, my sanity is intact, and just because my parents are total gift-giving disasters, doesn't mean they didn't buy me stuff.
My Dad has a good track record of unexpected giving (sorry Mom, not you) but not in the ways one would expect. Here are three things my Dad gave me and what (I think) they secretly mean. I call them gifts. Other people might call them, oh... trash.
A Pair of Work Gloves
I got laid off from my first real job after about nine months. I was unemployed and living with my parents. As the weeks of unemployment started to stretch out I busied myself with small DIY projects around the house. I put up blinds, fixed broken drawers and started staining the brand new deck.
After the second day of watching me shred my fingers trying to sand down the deck with my bare hands, my Dad brought home a pair of durable, yellow work gloves for me to wear. It was a surprisingly thoughtful gesture and tacit approval of my hard work thus far.
In all that time, he never uttered a complaint about my employment status. Just tossed the gloves at me and sent me on my way.
Hidden Dad Message: "Keep doing what you're doing, kid."
Swimming Goggles
During my second long bought with unemployment I started running and swimming to fill the time. I'd come home with red, watery eyes that itched and burned from the chlorine. My form was terrible, I could barely make it from one end of the pool to the other and life guards routinely assumed I was drowning. Any reasonable parent would have had their kid pack it in already.
My Dad just picked up (slightly too small) swimming goggles for me to wear in the pool and made at least some portion of my workout bearable.
Hidden Dad Message: Wow, you're pretty terrible at this right now, but keep working and maybe you'll get better. I said maybe. Don't get your hopes up.
"7 ways to prevent hair loss" Article
Not too long ago, my Dad clipped out an article titled "7 Ways to Prevent Hair Loss" from a magazine and left it on the kitchen counter for me to find.
The man is not one for tact.
At some point, he must have overheard me worrying to my Mom that my hair was falling out (it's not) and decided he needed to intervene. I'm baffled by this gift but use it to remember that sometimes, even things we think are mildly insulting are done with an air of good will and love.
It now proudly hangs on my fridge.
Hidden Dad Message: I'm worried about you and how you'll ever find a husband if you lose all your hair.
My theory has always been that the best gifts are things that come unexpectedly, without occasion and simply say, "Hey I was thinking of you." Usually, they cost next to nothing. This Father's Day, I won't be getting my Dad a gift. I'll probably just shake his hand.

 by Taboola

War Dance

Because we should all remember that it is very real..

 

It's been awhile...

I haven't been in a posting mood lately, not sure why, just life I guess. We had a tragedy in this area and it's hit me pretty hard. A man selling his truck on Kijiji went out on a test drive with two men and never came back. They found his body in a neighbouring town a few days later, and it's rocked the whole community.   The media has since labeled it a "thrill kill" and it just makes me sick. The guy they've got in custody (thanks to an identifying tattoo seen by another man who had similarly taken the two men on a test drive the week before) is staying silent but they are now looking into the "suicide" of his wealthy father and the "disappearance" of his ex girlfriend. A privledged punk kid who had everything that money could buy, takes the life of a man who's daughter is too young to remember him. Just because he could.

I use Kijiji. I send Mom out there to meet people, you can bet that we'll be just a little more cautious, a little more careful, and ALOT more aware.

Sometimes I just can't understand what this world is coming to.      

Buddy's Birthday

In honour of my sweet boy's birthday. I miss you everyday, you were the light in a very dark world. You brought me such joy and happiness. I was blessed to know your sweet little soul for 18 years. I couldn't have asked for a better friend.

"Love you forever, like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be..."

Heartache knows no boundaries...

If you think animals don't miss their owners, all you have to do is watch this video to know how far from the truth that really is.  The connection between an animal and their "person" will be one of my life's greatest lessons. I've been blessed to know it's power, it's heartache, and it's grace. So glad to know this beautiful pup has a loving family to help him cope. He won't ever forget her, that's just not the way it works.

Boston

May good always triumph the veil of ignorance.

“Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.”

Because I could dance all %%$### Day! Priceless!

88 years young indeed! We should all be this happy to dance our way through life! Watch til the end--Grandma has her own view on things! :-)

The Royal "Pick-ture" :-P

I just had to post this, I'm sure Kate is looking forward to moments just like this with her own "royal" bundle of joy!!:-P

Gone to the Dogs....

Smart boy! Pretty much makes me obsolete! :-)

Friday Beyonce Dance

 

Hey all, it's Friday! Let's do the "Baby Beyonce" dance to celebrate!

A few Christmas Morning Pics

Yeah, I know, I'm 2 months late but I wanted them up to document my Christmas morning..Only one of me as my eye was really bad, and don't mention my dreadful hair...It's cut now for which I am truly grateful...

                                          Christmas Eve Day in the Starbucks near Mom's Place

                                                 

                                                 Both in red so we look nice and festive!

                                           Mom opening her "Night before Christmas" book from 1956
                                           she has tons of books after years of collecting, but I like to find
                                           her that one "special" one every year. (Thanks to ebay!)

Mom and I at the Huntington's Fundraiser in Toronto

Mom and I hit a swanky Toronto Fundraider thanks to another great radio win. What a fun night! Mom loved all of the food stations--everything from Chinese noodles, to chicken panani's to cajun steak pieces. All kinds of yummy followed by a dessert table to die for. Chocolate covered strawberries, cookies, cake lollipops, brownies, the list goes on. They had silent auctions (no luck there) live auctions (tickets to a Taylor Swift concert complete with an overnight stay in Toronto went for $1400 dollars. (Nobody I know is worth that much!:-))

The best part was getting to play 21 scratched off my bucket list as we were given free gambling chips and had a whirl at the gambling tables without spending a penny. We pretty much broke even...:-)

In between all of the food/gambling/auctions they had free picture taking and circus acts dangling from the ceiling to keep us entertained. Fun night!

 

My Circus Look!

Mom and I hamming it up for the camera as we were getting ready for the night--we always end up having to take pics of ourselves because no one else is around:-)

The circus folk showing us how it's done!

Mom, making some "money" gambling--she did better than I did!

Bay Street Christmas Displays meets the St. Michael's Choir...

We hit Bay Street to check out the Christmas window displays before the choir concert...LOVE these. The Hudson Bay Company does them up every year. Complete with beautiful colours and moving parts....sooo pretty makes me feel like a kid again!

Pretty colours aren't they???

Pictures of the boring kids' choir we saw later that night--music was all religious and not much fun. I guess we should have gotten a clue when it was the "St Michael's Children's Choir." Yup. Known world-wide and had an audience with the Pope. Opps!