Post #38 for the month!

Hummm... I just noticed that this is post number 38 on the 29th day of a month with 31 days! Keeping in mind I was out of town for about 5 of the days of the 29 that have gone by, that may be a tad verbose I think.

Please note... I do have control of the comments section and am not afraid to use it!

Happy Feet, sad fins... :(

Mich, Alex (favourite God-child,) & I watched "Happy Feet" tonight. It was ok. Not really as good as I thought it would be. Well, I suppose for penguins, the singing and dancing was rather exceptional but hey, it's a cartoon, I think they could have done more. I like March of the Penguins better and they weren't cartoons!

My fishes are not all covered in a white slime anymore. Their fins are rather tattered and they still are not Happy Fish, nor are they dancing and singing but they are far better than yesterday. note* Ichy fish don't like light! They freak out when I turn the light on so they are living in a murky, dark blue world at the moment. Peanut Butter, the fat fancy gold fish, was doing his imitation of The Titanic earlier (nose straight up, bottom straight down...) but seems better now and I'm not hearing any Celine Dion so I think we may be ok!

While on the subject, as a Canadian, I'd like to apologize to the world for Celine Dion! Veuillez m'excuser.

I have to do 25% water changes every day and treat them with the medicine but hey, they're worth the effort!

This morning, Mich came into the room saying "it's a miracle, it's a miracle..." that in itself is rather miraculous as it was a tad early for such enthusiasum.

Well, off to bed to dream of fishies and dancing penguins. Really not a great combo though since ummmmm... fishies are the staple diet of penguins, dancing or non types! As long as I don't dream about Celine!

Good News / Bad News

Well, where do I start?

The good news, my plane didn't crash flying to Toronto & I got one glass of wine... The bad news? "Attention Ladies and Gentlemen, please ensure your seat belts are fastened, do not get out of your seats, all in-flight service has been suspended and crew members are asked to take your seats as we are flying into turbulence!" (I kind of had that figured out already from the teeny tiny plane being buffeted around the sky!)

The good news? The Toronto Airport Travelodge was wonderful and they spoiled me rotten. The bad news? Hello? Airport Travelodge! The good news? I didn't need my alarm clock... every 45 minutes or so overnight!

The good news? My basement smells really, really fresh! The bad news? It's really, really slippery as dropping a whole bottle of liquid laundry soap, (lid first 'cause it's the hard plastic and will break as opposed to the bottle which will just dent,) makes the floor a tad tough to navigate!

The good news? My new 30 gallon fish tank is a beautiful deep blue! The bad news? It from the medicine that is trying to stop the ich disease that is rotting my fishies! (It's really quite gross! They look so pathetic! but the blue is a very artistic background to the carnage!) *I am not giving up hope for my fishies!*

The good news? I'm back to work full time! The bad news? I'm back to work full time!

sigh...

Danielle was amazing!

Just got home from Danielle's premier... I had goose bumps, she was fantastic! Way to go Danielle. Alex, (my favourite and only God-Daughter,) thought she was amazing too. First audition, gets the lead role and handles it like a pro, at 13!

I can see a great future for this talented little girl!

A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Mom (Patty) and Dad (Rick) are so proud, and happily over their nerves!

A & P - University Plaza - Windsor

Yesterday, March 24th, I went to
A & P on Huron Line around 2pm. While in the pet food aisle, buying my Purina One dry cat food, I overheard two older people discussing that they did not know what was safe to buy. I, of course, tried to help them. As Bob, (husband, not next door,) says, I cannot just mind my own business!

I explained that dry food was fine. I explained that the cut meat in gravy was the problem. That I was sure it was a removed from the shelves.

When what do I spot? IAMS tuna in sauce pouches and two or three other flavours. Well I was a tad surprised. I finished helping them pick out cat food, avoiding the IAMS pouches and went to the checkout.

I told the cashier. She said she'd talk to someone. I went home. Around 5 or 6 it was really bothering me so I called. They put a guy on from the grocery department, I explained that I was surprised to see the IAMS pouches there and he said... in a gruff, snippy voice... "they're dated, we only have to pull off certain dates!" I was surprised by the attiutude, Bob says they are likely tired of getting the questions?

I was still surprised that food was on the shelf and this morning, what do I see,on the front page of CBC.ca?

MARCH 24, 2007 - 14:09 ET (that's 2:09pm for non army types)

Menu Foods Initiates Market Withdrawal of All Varieties of Recalled Wet Pet Food to Ensure Consumer Protection

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - March 24, 2007) - As a result of reports from the FDA and various media outlets that some recalled lots of "cuts and gravy" style wet pet food remain on store shelves, Menu Foods has asked all retail outlets to immediately remove all impacted varieties of wet pet food posted at www.menufoods.com , regardless of the date code.

Menu Foods remains concerned that consumers are able to purchase recalled items.

There is no known risk from items not listed on the recall list but an abundance of caution is called for in this situation. FDA has been apprised of this action.

I rest vindicated... that does not, however, give me a great feeling of security as my phone call to A & P was a full 3 or 4 hours AFTER this press release! Makes you wonder about human food recalls eh?

*Update* Today, Sunday, March 25th, 11am, Bob (next door, not husband,) and Susan went to A & P. The IAMS pouches were still on the shelf. They tried to talk to the woman at the Service desk and were told that until Head Office told them to pull it it was staying on the shelf!

*Update #2* Bob (next door again,) called A & P and spoke to the manager on duty, John. John said he'd go to cbc.ca and check into it and take care of it. Not bad, only almost 24 hours after the press release!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow...

Yep, tomorrow's the day... the big premier! Bon Chance Danielle! I'm very excited. See you at 2pm. :) Danielle, second from left, top row!

la belle provence ... bonjour! bienvenu!

I'm not sure who's peeking in here from Montreal? Sarah (my baby sister?), Auntie Lorraine (one of my very young Aunties?) Really she is quite young. I have a couple of Aunts only 10 years older than me! Three actually if you count the one in Germany as she too is only 10 years older.

Anyway, whomever is peeking in from la belle provence... drop me a note and let me know who you are!

401 Service Centre - East bound - Ingersoll - km 225

Well, last Saturday, on our way to Toronto for Joey's surprise party, the six of us stopped at the Wendys/Tim Hortons on the 401 just east of London. My order was two Junior hamburgers, plain.

Now these are about 1/4 of an inch thick. I took two bites then happened to look at it. It was raw! I opened the other one, ripped it and it was worse. How you can not cook something that thin is beyond me. This Wendy's has two service windows. One was closed but two women were setting up the cash register for the coming dinner hour. (It was about 3pm when we were there.)

I went to the closed window and showed them my raw burgers. They apologized and went to talk to the grill guy and get me two new ones, they also gave me back my money.

As I was standing there I could see into the kitchen. The floor was filthy, littered with food pieces and crumbs. It was under the stainless steel counter things. Suddenly, I saw a mouse run left to right, then another one!

I emailed the Health Department of Oxford County who advised me they would do a sneak inspection. Well...

She called me just now. She went into the service centre at 10am two days ago. The floor was just as I described it, at 10am! There was evidence of (read mouse poop!) of rodents clearly visible. She called their head office and is meeting with them and a pest control company today. Obviously the staff isn't doing clean up and ultimately, the managers are certainly NOT doing what they get paid to do.

She thanked me and said she wished more people would report the things they see.

Luckily, I did not get sick but if the conditions here stayed that way so many people could have. Think about how many people from all over could stop there and carry stuff away with them!

Take a good look around folks when you stop at places like this!

About Pat Toal... me :)

Well here I am putting up post after post and really, I haven't told you much about me. So if you care, keep reading, if not...

I'm going to be 50 this year (collective gasp!) I was born in Germany. My Mother was German, my Father posted there with the Canadian occupational forces. My Father was born in Verdun Quebec to a Scottish Father and an Irish Mother. My Dad does a great Quebec accent and does a hockey play by play in that voice that is great!

My Mother's family lives in Essen Germany, my Father's in Belfast (well the Irish side.) Of the Scottish side we haven't much info. I found the records where his parents came over to Canada but not too much more. I found a cousin in the Northern Isles, Father Joe Toal. We're pretty sure we're related. He lives in Spain now and is in charge of a large Seminary there. We email occasionaly and he sent me a lovely letter with a picture of himself. I found another Cousin in the States who is a poet. The internet is a wonderful thing no?

I am a Fireworks Supervisor / Pyrotechnician and work at K & H fireworks. (link to our website is on the right side.) It's coming up to one of our busy seasons soon, Victoria Day.

I collect gargoyels, stamps (yes send me some from anywhere,)and Wade Red Rose Tea figurines. Lately I've been collecting Gold Fish as the pond stock keeps making more! I have a thing for Mikasa crystal glasses but the coloured ones, not the clear. I read almost everything except romance novels. I especially love Ian Rankin, Nelson DeMille, Alistar McLeod and Diana Gabaldon books. I like to learn about computers and techy stuff.

I love to cook, host parties, play poker Omaha Hi/Lo is my favourite but most people play Hold 'em and I play that at our parties. I'm on a losing streak!

Ok, that's enough I don't want to bore anyone.

me :)

I have a migraine!

Be afraid... be very afraid!

Correction: Hello my visitor from Sturgeon Falls!

Ok, my sister works in North Bay but lives in Sturgeon Falls. So here's a nice pic as a tribute to her town of residence!

The Mich strikes again!

She told me today that she was having a hard time in "The Organic Chemisty of Biomolecules." phhht... whatever! She then mentioned she was going to switch majors. I asked to what?

She replied... Philosophy and Liturgical Dance. After I picked my teeth back up off of the floor and started breathing normally again I asked why. It turned out to be over an excel spread sheet assignment. Well... tada... I can still help with homework afterall! I knew I wasn't completely useless! (I may disable the comment section on this post if abused! Govern yourselves accordingly!)

Now as much as I would love to debate Socrates and Voltaire and watch Mich flit about waving multi-coloured scarves, I'm pretty sure Science is her bailiwick, have I mentioned I'm pretty sure she's adopted?

Hello my visitor from North Bay...

I know who you are! Well, actually I guess it could have been one of two of you eh?

Happy Birthday Ann & Joe!

xoxoxoxoxo

oh and yes ummmm all permits were obtained!

the line guy... 56 episodes! whoo hoo!

http://www.tv5.org/TV5Site/la_linea/

*fine, whatever, courtesty of the tart!

copy and paste into your browser... (make sure your speakers are on!,)
you will NOT be dissappointed and if you are... then, well, ummmmm, I don't know what to say? It's the line guy for pete sake!

I'm baaaaaaaack!

Well I've been offline for a day. I couldn't post I was going away and where and why! Mich and I were off to Toronto for our friend Joey's 40th birthday party. Now... the reason I couldn't post it is it was a surprise party. Ann, his wife, my dear friend, also has the same birthday but she was putting on a surprise party for Joey. She told Joey it was a Stag & Doe for friends of their's who are getting married in July. (She's really sneaky!)

We went to Dave & Busters where we hid in a room and when he walked in we all sang "happy birthday to you!" He was surprised, it was great. We had a great time, great food, lots and lots and lots of great drinks and I made new friends. I met Norma, a lovely friend of Ann's for over 20 years who happens to be turning 50 1 week after me! She has a beautiful, funny and very charming 22 year old daughter named Haley who got along famously with the Mich! It was Kismet, Karma... It was fun!

Ann put on a great party, we all had a wonderful time and I need to sleep for a week. The hotel, The Courtyard Mariot was beautiful and Ann got us a $279.00 room for $119.00! It was huge, beautiful and quiet.

Mich & I went with Debbie, Robin, Alex (may favourite God-daughter,) and her friend Rachel. They were in rooms across the hall from us. In the same complex was an Ikea! We went there this morning and I bought an ice cube tray in the shape of little wine bottles! Did I mention I love white wine? I also bought some fancy paper napkins. As an aside, I have a thing about fancy paper napkins. I have bought 20 paper napkins and paid $7.99 for them! I take the price tags off before I get home lest Bob, (husband, not next door,) see it! Hey some of them have Monet reproductions, some are themed... Easter, Christmas etc... well worth $7.99 for 20!

Then we went to Brantford (on fireworks type business) but we had Robin drop us at a Mall. I came home from this trip with about 12 smelly candles! I have a thing for white wine, fancy paper napkins and smelly candles! We shopped until he was done and came back and got us.

So in 24 hours I've done all that and now I need sleep, lots and lots of it. As I said above, almost 50 years old here!

Introducing my Jamtart... this is gonna be a long one!

Ok, those of you reading this blog are likely wondering "who is this tart that's suddenly appeared in the comments section?" Those of you not reading this blog likely aren't! Well let me tell about Jammy.

Way back in 1997 or 1998 (at my age, what's one year?) my father gave me his old HP computer. I bought Michie a $20.00 Sympatico CD for Christmas so she could go online. Now... the old HP couldn't even take the download for Sympatico. So... we went out and bought a $2000.00 Pentium II 350 to go with the $20.00 CD. (Please don't talk about this in front of Bob (husband, not next door,) as it is still a touchy subject! (I googled the Pentium II 350, it was 1998 so it's only been 9 years, give him some time to get over it!) We set up the new machine, downloaded sympatico and a whole new world opened up to us! (Well me really more so as I am compulsive about new stuff!)

Michie showed me a game she had seen at a friend's house. It was called Acrophobia. A word game. I love word games! I became an internet daemon after the first night! I woke up at 6 or 6:30am the second day and logged on. There were two people in there playing, Jamtart and Lemontwist. I found that rather ironic. I typed my first ever line of chat and ... a friendship was born.

I joined an acro team... OMG what a horror story that first team was. OK... my team captain, who's name escapes me, was on the Maury Povich show TWICE... for internet addiction. She also was a maniac and I'm pretty sure the offspring of some deposed dictator! I did, however, enjoy playing against the team Jammy was on. I ended up joining her team. There were people on the team from all over the world, Jammy in Australia, people in Ireland, England, USA an 18 year old named Pladin from Windsor - yep - went to Massey School, weeeeeeeeno from Regina and two folks from Calgary.

Jammy came to visit me, (in person,) in 2000. She came twice actually. Once in June and once in October. For her first arrival, Michie, Pladin and I went to Windsor airport to get her. Now we had been talking non stop for over 2 years. Not all that easy with a 12 hour time difference but we managed. We had, however, never seen each other so we sent each other pictures. All you heard when we saw her was "Jammy! Pyro! (I'm pyropatti online,) Pal! Michie!... people were staring!

She also went to Calagary to visit 4ever40, (whom I cannot talk about right now or this post will never end.) Michie and I visited him too when we went to visit family and he was wonderful!

So that's the story of my friend the tart who has a delicious sense of humour and I love her in spite of how she mocks! :þ

Justice prevails!

Big news! I called my insurance adjuster, a lovely and helpful woman named Linda, she called the insurance company of the front ending, avoiding, "I could paint it in my garage for $50.00" woman who smacked into me and... tada... my deductible is waived, I am innocent and my claims free record still stands!

NOT everyone gets my sense of humour ... so...

It seems I, unintentionally, upset a some
Windsorites. It seems that Perth Australia (see comments in previous post,) too has been defamed! I shall, therefore, now post the positive things about these two cities.









1. Windsor has great things to offer, like... me! tada
2. Perth has great things to offer, like ... Jamtart! (even though she mocked me!)
3. Windsor has a very moderate climate and is as far south as parts of California.
4. Perth has a very HOT climate and has Jammy whinging like mad! (hello? below the equator?)
5. Windsor has affordable housing.
6. Perth has, holy cow... never mind! Perth's median house price for the June 2006 Quarter was $455,000 compared to $523,000 in Sydney. Ok then compared to Sydney it's reasonable?
7. Windsor has my great neighbourhood and neighbours!
8. Perth has - well I don't know Jammy's neighbours but I've seen pics of her backyard and the hood looks pretty nice!
9. Windsor has great shopping! Ok fine. You have to go to another country for it but it's only 5 minutes away.
10. Perth has... hold on, gotta google it as I've never been... ok then, tons of great shopping including pedestrian malls of which I am a big fan!
11. Did I mention Windsor has me?

Wednesday wrap-up... Windsor, Ontario... one of the worst places in the world?

Some words are just fun to say, some place names are really fun to say. Like, for instance, Kuala Lumpur. Now what brought this to mind was I had a visitor to my blog from Kuala Lumpur. I also had a visitor from Perth Australia... my friend Jamtart, aka Sue. Ha.. It's great that Jammy visited, but hey, she's not from Kuala Lampur!

How great would it be to say... "hi, I'm from Kuala Lumpur." It sure beats the heck out of "hi, I'm from (discreetly place hand over mouth and slightly muffle hoping no one will understand you,) Windsor, Ontario. Yes, the same Windsor, Ontario that Steven Colbert just had up on his screen on his show's "The Word" segment as one of the "worst places in the world."

Antique American Federal Chair?

My Mother had it refinished in the 1970's. You can't see the back legs but they are claw foot also. I think it's American Federal or Empire but I'm not sure? Click the pic for close up. Anyone?

*Edit* I just found out, (October, 2007) it's Empire or Regency!

The "line guy!"

I love him! I wish it had sound! Remember him? It was my favourite part of the "Great Space Coaster" kid's show.

If anyone knows where there's some video w/sound of the line guy, please post it in the comments!

I hate when we change the clocks!

Yawn!
So we jumped ahead one meesley hour! I laid in bed for many, many hours not able to fall asleep. I dragged my sorry old body out of bed and had a raging headache. Tonight, I can barely think, I'm so tired. It's doesn't take much to throw me off balance anymore. I'm beginning to think I'm not quite as versatile as I used to be!

Oh sure, just as I'm whinging about getting old, Mich jumps onto the eliptical machine behind me to make me feel even more ancient! fffffffffttttt! I'll just have another glass of wine, it cures all ills!

Still pic of the pond (in winter)

Hard to believe it's winter today... no coat, windows open! Other than that stupid Amerikan induced one hour ahead thingy, life is good. (Don't ask about my neck.)



Fluffy is the giant orange blob in the middle!

Fluffy & Friends - on a glorious, sunny March day

An hour by the pond... with wine!

*photo courtesty of http://sqsblog.blogspot.com/ Susan's pond blog.*
A summer pond pic from last year.




Susan and Bob, (next door) just had me over for wine, (big wine fan here,) and chips by the pond. It's 8 degrees today and gloriously sunny. While admiring the fish, that have very successfully wintered, we noticed the following:

a: there are teeny brown/black ones we haven't seen before
b: Fluffy is ginormously fat!

Fluffy is a long story. He was a present to Mich for her 16th birthday. He came in a fish bowl, with pink rocks. He was a normal little goldfish. Now, Fluffy obviously didn't ever learn the rule about fish NOT growing beyond their environment. He outgrew the bowl. I bought him a lovely 5 gallon aquarium. He outgrew it. A friend of Bob's (husband, not next door,) gave me a 15 gallon... Fluffy outgrew that one too. Fluffy was relegated to the pond (next door, yes same next door as Bob next door,) where he flourished!

Today. sitting outside with our wine we noticed Fluffy has a "normal" head and then poofs out into this exta-wide body! Now, pond fish are supposed to go dormant over the winter. Fluffy is a rebel. No stupid rules for him obviously. He is now over 4 years old, about 8 inches long and 3 inches wide!

I fixed my visitor map!

Visitor log for thirtypoundsofcat


1) March 9, 2007 10:05 pm: Spokane, Washington
2) March 9, 2007 10:03 pm: Denver, Colorado
3) March 9, 2007 9:57 pm: Toronto, Ontario
4) March 9, 2007 9:55 pm: Guangdong, Guangdong
5) March 9, 2007 9:53 pm: Windsor, Ontario
6) March 9, 2007 9:11 pm: Windsor, Ontario
7) March 9, 2007 3:31 pm: Beijing, Beijing
8) March 9, 2007 3:30 pm: Manama, Al Manamah
9) March 9, 2007 3:30 pm: Heilongjiang, Heilongjiang
10) March 9, 2007 10:21 am: Hebei, Hebei
11) March 9, 2007 10:20 am: Atlanta, Georgia
12) March 9, 2007 10:20 am: Heilongjiang, Heilongjiang
13) March 7, 2007 11:10 pm: Windsor, Ontario

Now if I could only get these folks to send me stamps, life would be perfect!

They're smart over there!

I love Farmer Jacks in Taylor Michigan. It's A&P at less than 1/2 price for some stuff. Yep... 3 pounds of butter - $5.00; 3 bags of shredded cheese - $5.00. They have OMG... pie in a box, Mich's personal reason for loving Farmer Jacks. It's two individually packaged pieces of ice cream type pie in pie shaped boxes! They have several flavours well actually I guess they have flavors don't they?

They have zillions of cashiers, they have baggers and the cashiers chat with you and... they smile!

My stuff was $38.00, I have a "Farmer Jack bonus savings thingy" that they swipe. (Well I don't have one exactly, I have Bob (next door) and Susan's key chain size one from their set.) It saved me $11.98 so the total was only about $26.00! That is a huge percentage. I'll have Mich figure it out for me on her scientific calculator later! ha lator/later... totally unintentional :0)

This tidbit is from Farmer Jack website store locator for which you use a zip code:

ATTN:
Canadian Customers
If you enter from the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel or Bridge, please enter the zip code: 48207
If you enter from the Port Huron/Sarnia Blue Water Bridge, please enter the zip code: 48060

Now how smart is that? You can sure tell that they're a blue state!

Off to a foreign land

Well at 5ish, I shall no longer be in the country. I'm off to exotic Detroit. Yep, a long and devilishly complicated drive of 5 minutes. Hey, it involves a right turn AND a left turn to get there! There's even 2 0r 3 stop lights involved. You have to show ID and everything! I'll be home in a couple of hours.

Oh, for those of you who know me and know I do not drive in the USA, no I didn't hire another limo, Bob (next door) and Susan are taking me. :)

EDIT: ummm, beginning of March break today. Took a tad longer than 5 minutes to cross the bridge. Took 25 but for the amount of traffic it really wasn't too bad. Well, except for that whole bouncing bridge thing from the transport trucks!

Mich has two midterms today!

Yep she just came into the room and said "goodbye" to me like she'd never see me again. Two midterms in one day. Should be a law against that don't you think? I offered to write her a note but apparently in university that doesn't work... hehe

So it's Evolution this morning and Biomolecules, ( see wiki link below,) this afternoon. Here is one biomolecule CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)11COOH
For those of you who don't recognize it right off, it's euric acid, not to be confused with, C5H4N4O3 , uric acid.

Sheesh, I can't see why she's so worried about this exam?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomolecule

Y2K + 7.315

Well, I just got off the phone with my sister (Government IT person) and her spouse, (another government department IT person,) and dang... now I understand all this daylight savings time change panic! It's ugly, it goes way deeper than I, a meer minor geek realized and it's costing gazillions of IT dollars and one cannot help but wonder if this is just another brilliant Amerikan idea that went horribly, horribly wrong!

I thought, hey, just change the clock on my old computer manually, )my XP one will do it all by itself, it's patched,) no biggie. Well, I have to do it 4 times. Once this weekend, again in April when my computer thinks the time change happens and then twice in the fall, back then forth. That's just me, just a simple home computer. I will not talk about data interfaces and time sensitive relays of information! Mostly as I really wouldn't know what I'm talking about but I do get the gist of it.

Hope none of you are online stock traders with pre-set orders! Ah... Good thing my neighbour's "alleged" nominee trading account, (one of three that netted anywhere from 7.8 to 12 million!) was closed by the time the Ontario Securities Commission found out about it, and this whole time change debacle happened or she could have lost tons of money while artifically inflating the value of the Sulja Brothers stock she was trading! Whew, lucky she beat that by about 6 months eh?

Damn Yankees! Next thing you know they'll decide to re-write history or something... ahhh wait... never mind!

Save the cheerleader? This show saved tv!

I love Heroes! I love Hiro... he's so darn cute. His dad being Sulu from Star Trek was pretty cool. I'm not crazy about the Nicky/Jessica story line but the rest are great! Never call me Mondays between 9pm and 10pm! Well if it's some giant emergency that absolutely no one else could handle and you've exhausted all other possibilities I suppose you could. But it better be good dammit!

ps. for the next 7 weeks, feel free to call. Hiatus/schmiatus!

Michelle is an ungrateful child!

Many of you already know that I often cook 2, sometimes 3 different things for dinner. For those of you who don't... Mich only eats chicken, Bob likes his pork I am a big fan of cows.

Today, I was making Mich a chicken stir fry. In the middle of the day I might add. She has to work at 5 and being the selfless, sacrificing mother I am, I gave up some of my valuable on line poker time to cook. I plopped a rib roast into the oven and started the stir fry. While looking for my water chessnuts, I found a can of sweet potatoes. Mich loves candied sweet potatoes. So I opened the can, mashed them and added butter and brown sugar and popped them into the oven with the roast. I made the stir fry, gravy for the roast and peeled white potatoes for me.

I put Mich's stir fry in a bowl on the counter and stuck a note in front of it..."surprise in the oven, ask me." I signed it in case she couldn't figure out who it was from.

So... around 4 she comes to me and asks, "so, what's in the oven?" I replied... "funny you should ask..." After we finished laughing uproariously, I, with grand flourish, took out the sweet potatoes. Imagine my crushing disappointment when she informed me that stir fry and sweet potatoes just don't mix and that I was mean for now making her choose between them! I pointed out that the stir fry had orange things (carrots) in it and it matched the sweet potatoes; to no avail.

I told her there were children all over the world with NO sweet potatoes, she asked me to get out of the way of the cutlery drawer. I pointed out the children all over the world suffered a shortage of cutlery and the fork and spoon she already had should suffice. She pointed out how ironic it would be if those children actually had a plethora of cutlery whilst not having any food. Which brought us back to the uneaten sweet potatoes.

So... how's your day so far?

Someone/something... owes me 2 hours of sleep!

Up before 5:30am! Why? Don't know. Not a happy way to start a Monday. I'm cranky & tired.



Govern yourselves accordingly!

Sunday musings...

Pretty quiet day. Neighbourhood's abuzz with the murder around the corner and the dreadful firetruck accident! I saw the guys, and noticed Hopkins, at A & P not long before the accident. I hope they will all be fine. George Copeland is in rough shape according to news reports. It must be tough for all the firefighters. I missed the woman coming into the police station to confess she killed the guy on Bruce Ave. by minutes the night I went to file my report of my "front ender."

Nothing happening here. Well Bob, (next door) & Susan went shopping in the States and brought me a handy/dandy picker/upper thingy. Of course the first thing Mich did was torment the cats with it!

I took down my 15 gallon aquarium as all eight fish seem to be flourishing in the new 30 gallon tank. My computer room is huge now. So, of course. Mich had to have Matthew assemble her elipitical machine. It now stands in the middle of the room! I am resisiting the urge to get on it! I will be strong! I will fight! Exercise... well that word is NOT in my volcabulary. I go up and down the stairs 900 times a day as it is. I will fade away to nothing should I start exercising! ( hehe...)

NOT talking about my neck on purpose... This is ridiculous! Been hit before, once or twice or nine times, thousands of dollars of damage... get a measely $600/$700 jolt est voila? C'nest pas amusant!

Thwarted yet again!

Bah... For weeks, I've been planning on watching the lunar eclipse! And... thick cloud cover, blanketing snow makes that just a tad tough eh? Curse you Glacius!

ps. "thwarted" - great word eh? should have used... "T'was thwarted yet again!"

update: just in case, I bundled up, grabbed the binoculars and went out. Didn't want to unpack the giant telescope for naught... and it would have been ... for naught! :(

Well my insurance company now has the claim. It's official. Linda, my adjuster, was very nice, personable and witty. Unlike the last 9 or 10 I had to deal with! She called the liar/cheat/reversingslammintome woman's insurance and they said they were aware of the claim but had no details. Well, lets guess how they are aware? Could it be an email to the Claims Manager from oh... I don't know... ME? We'll see what happens now. Everyone is calling her, her insurance company, my insurance company... Maybe now she'll figure out I'm NOT going away? My neck still has the burning feeling and I take tylenol every 4 or 5 hours, white wine doesn't hurt either!

Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

Ok, no more Mr. Niceguy for me. I went and filed a police report. I emailed the claims manager of her insurance company. Well the manager for S/W Ontario, it's not like I emailed the company president or anything. She is actually in violation of her insurance policy but not reporting. I did, I'm the good child! So, here's SOME of what I know about her to get things rolling...

Michelle Elizabeth Dunlop (26 years old)
Greg Dunlop - not sure if that's her father or spouse (I will find out)
Drives: turquoise 1997 Pontiac Sunbird, plate # ALWP 319 (front end's banged up, not from when she hit me as she hit me with her back end!)

Anyone know this "go back on her word and ignore me" person?

If much more time passes before I hear anything... up go her cell phone #, home #, address and email!

Me and my burning neck will be avenged!