A nice surprise present for Michie's birthday!

*EDIT* Apparently I had a picture up of Carnegie Hall! oops... Google fooled me!

The Salisbury Hotel, New York City

The five girls had a one bedroom, one bathroom hotel room booked. They got there early and just wanted to drop off their luggage so they could go out and about. As they were sorting through to pick out what they'd need for the day, the manager called Mich over and said, "I'm sorry to disappoint you but... we're upgrading you to a suite!"



Now they have a two bedroom, two bathroom suite with a living room! (At no extra cost.) From her description, this is what the room looks like. I got this pic from google. I think this will be a tad more convenient for 5 girls no?

Michelle is in New York City

She called from JFK Airport about 10 minutes ago. All is well, they're excited and ready to shop!

We just hope they'll let 5 in a taxi. They have some pretty strict taxi rules in NY.

21st cake

Here's a pic, (sent by the very speedy Susan!) of Michie's 21st cake. Actually, it's a 21st pie, a banana cream pie from Tunnel Barbecue! One of Michie's favourite things! The candle is the same clown candle that was on her first cake and every subsequent birthday cake. It has also been on every one of Debbie's three kids' cakes since 1987! We sing really, really fast and blow it out quick so we've only just burned away part of the clown's hat and a bit of balloon! I figure we can use it for another 60 years or so!

If we do it right, Michie can use the candle on her daughter's 21st cake and pass on the "21" charm that Bob & Susan gave her, the same charm Bob gave Susan on her 21st! The clown candle may be a tad stubby by then though?

The Eve of Michelle's 21st birthday

Tomorrow Mich will be 21 years old! She'll be celebrating it at Serendipity in New York City. Her third trip to NY but the first for which she can actually go into a club. New Year's Eve will be spent at The Paramount's party and at midnight they can walk outside and see the 100th anniversary ball drop and the fireworks! Then step back into the warm, bathroom accessible club! Good planning eh?

So at 7:15am tomorrow Rodney, bless his generous soul, and I take the girls to Detroit airport and off they fly!

Garbage thoughts...

We had, 12 full bags of garbage to put out for this morning. 12! An even dozen! It was ludicrous! It was also scary.

Every time we put out our garbage, the next morning I go out with an A&P bag and a latex glove to clean up what the animals have torn apart. Today I went out with 2 green garbage bag and two gloves expecting the worst. There were 983 paper plates, 1232 plastic glasses, 4765 plastic knives & forks. There was food from Christmas Eve open house, a ham bone, food from Christmas breakfast, food from boxing day dinner, two prime rib bones and a chicken carcass! A veritable feast for feral felines! (And the odd raccoon, skunk and rat.) The garbage truck came by before I got out there, so I figured I'd have all the strewn remnants left to pick up. I approached the back gate with dread, I slowly opened it and... NOTHING! Not a scrap! I now have two garbage bags and an extra pair of gloves in my car console.

Now I could not help but notice as I drove to work, all the houses along Janette, Dougal and Giles that had put out ONE teeny can! Hello? ONE CAN? How do they do it?

(This is my second attempt at this post. If it gets eaten... It was never meant to be!)

The mysterious vanishing posts!

Ok, two so far today, one I re-did, (with less graphic images,) the other I will now wait on. I'll see if this one gets eaten or not!
This is a test of the blogger posting system, do not adjust your monitor!

Benazir Bhutto

The more things change,











The more they remain the same.

wii want to play...

Dinner was good, I advised all persons involved of the attempted chicken escape, they ate it anyway! (So far, no ill effects.)

The wii is set up and entertained everyone apres dinner. From 12 to 50+ it was a hit! Susan got a home run in baseball... whatever! fine, congrats... whatever!

Roaster update, #1 The great escape!

Well it didn't start well. I pre-heated the roaster and THEN read the instructions where it said to take the lifting rack out BEFORE pre-heating. Of course, I had just put all my oven mitts, and pads, (I have 197 of them,) in the washer. So I grabbed two tea towels and took the rack outside to cool down. Then I put the chicken in a small pan, put the pan on the rack on the counter, added a touch of water, lifted the rack, walked over to the roaster and the pan/chicken/water slipped off and went flying across the kitchen floor! I picked it up, washed it off, plopped it back into the pan and proceeded to put in the roaster more carefully!

Michelle, upon my describing the incident, asked, with a straight face... "why did the chicken cross the floor?" I replied... "because it could." We laughed uproariously, Matthew just looked at us. I think he's forgotten Michie's and my delightful sense of humour!

Really, I washed it well and it's cooking at 350 it should be fine. Plus, I don't eat chicken and the prime rib didn't fall on the floor! ha!

ps: The chicken is done but I'm waiting for Bob to come home as I'm afraid to try to take it out! A cooked chicken falling onto the kitchen floor is NOT funny!

Boxing Day Prep

Today I'm trying out my GE roaster oven that I bought last month in Detroit; on the shopping trip with Patty that I thought was happening just because she loved me and it turned out to be a ruse; to get rid of me for three hours so my house could fill up for my surprise 50th birthday party. (That was one long sentence and likely not properly structured!) I should mention that it only cost me $29.97 at Walmart in Detroit, I got US dollars for about .92 cents Canadian that day so what a deal! I just saw the same oven for $99.00 here. I'm using it to cook a chicken. I am also cooking prime rib. The beef is going into the oven.

Should the roaster oven be a flop, I'd rather ruin the chicken than the beef!

And no... there is still NOT a turkey on the menu Michelle!

Christmas Eve Party, friends, food, fun & a surprise!

Michelle told us she had to go and pick up Jenny for our party. People started arriving, more people, more people... you get the idea. The house is packed with revellers Michelle came home and says, "look what I found!" There, was Matthew! Home 24 hours early as a surprise. Apparently he had told her the night before on the phone that he managed to get an earlier flight and they decided to surprise us. What a great surprise. Now of course, the first words out of his mouth were, "so we're having turkey tomorrow right?" I'm sure there was NO conspiracy involved!

The party was great friends, neighbours and family all laughing, eating, drinking and there may have been a few fireworks and another illegal outdoor fire burning.
(Unless, of course, you are a Fire Department person or a by law enforcement officer then... no there wasn't!)

It's Christmas morning, in an hour the breakfast people will be arriving and we start all over again!

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you too get wonderful surprises.

Christmas Eve, 2007

Today is the 6 month anniversary of my Dad's death, next month is the 1 year anniversary of Evey's. Evey was my Brother-in-law Mike's Mom, one of my favourite people.

Today I am thinking of both of them. Today I am missing them and thinking about my family in London and Sturgeon Falls and their missing of them too.

In two days, it would have been my Dad's 71st birthday. Last year, we were all in London, at his house having a big party for this 70th. No one then had any clue where we'd be today.

I am happy too this Christmas, shortly, my home will be full of friends. Tomorrow again, for the annual Christmas breakfast it will be full of friends and Matthew comes home from Alberta tomorrow night!

There is much for which to be thankful but I cannot help but be just a little sad and wistful.

Happy Christmas everyone and remember to tell them you love them!

My traitorous, ungrateful Child!

Here's an email I was kindly forwarded from Bob (next door, not husband, and Susan,) upon Michelle's being advised Susan was cooking a turkey today...

From:
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2007 10:44 PM
To: Sue & Bob Tereschuk
Subject: RE: Lots of turkey next door

Hooray!!! I don't know what I'd do without Turkey Sandwiches during the Christmas season (and before Christmas is even better than after, less waiting involved).
And no my mom didn't tell me, probably because of all the guilt and shame she feels for not making turkey herself..... yeah right!

G'night
Michelle


Now... I'd like to point out that I am making, perogies, pene, spiral ham, 4 baked goods, deviled eggs, and many, many side dishes for Christmas Eve. We are NOT having a big Christmas dinner this year as Matthew does not arrive until 7:30pm Christmas night from Lloyminster Alberta! I am, however, having a big Boxing Day dinner of Chicken, Prime Rib and all the fixings!

Michelle Bondy... you are sooooooooooooo busted! :þ

A good time was had by all!

T'was a great party last night at Patty's house. (I found this beautiful pic of Patty on Google!) Good food, good wine and great friends! Stimulating conversation, though a few did rub me, the right way (wink, wink,) in the kitchen! (hehe, you had to be there!) Going to wear my faux leopard more often!

I am fighting off some horrendous disease, hopefully not elbola/plague again, so I left rather early. Oh and I drank water! So again... no wine involved! Ok, fine, about 2 inches of a glass of wine, once but that's it! The rubbing me was not wine induced... on my part! :)

Sometimes, the title says it all!

Lucky me!

Sometimes you're just in the right place at the right time and you go wii, wii, wii... all the way home! :) (Well actually I went wii, wii... but that just doesn't sound as good!)

Dazed and Confused!

Last night I forgot to put the brownies in the oven left them on top of the stove.

Today I found out Christmas Eve is Monday, NOT Sunday. While relieved, as it gives me an extra day, it still is a bit of a shock. Then, re-reading a list, I realized I bought the completely wrong thing! Good thing I now have an extra day!

Note- there was NO wine involved today!

Age? Wine? Distractions?

I was making two kinds of brownies for the Christmas Eve open house. I was sipping wine, I was talking to Bob, I was talking to Robbie, (in Calgary,) on the phone, the doorbell rang, (I should mention it was a delivery of delicious fudge from Susan next door, very distracting!)... the oven timer went off; the oven I had pre-heated to 350 then set for 30 minutes. I put on oven mitts, ran to the stove, opened the door reached in... it was empty! The brownies were sitting on top of the stove, raw! sigh...

Bob, (husband, not next door,) is now lecturing me about the hydro bill!

I know it's NOT the wine!

Brother, can you spare a dime? (or 7000 dimes?)

Just do the math! sigh... Too bad MY "easy button" doesn't work!

Fa, la, la!

Driving home from work. Bumper to bumper on roads that only Windsor could plow so poorly when... I notice my temperature gauge is approaching the red zone! Oh, wait, it gets better... something catches my eye on the opposite side of the dashboard. It's a rapidly blinking ABS light! It's bright red and going, ABS, ABS, ABS... ad infinitum! So what eh? It's just my brakes, just my engine, no biggie!

It's only Christmas week. What would I need brakes and an engine for? So what if I'm on slick roads in front of Windsor's only Mall with 20,000 cars all trying to get to shopping or home from shopping? Stress? What stress. As it turned out, I did stop when I braked, what more could I ask for? It was kind of like a skipping stone, but I stopped. (eventually.)

I did make it to my neighbourhood where instead of turning right onto my street I went straight for one more then turned right into my auto mechanic's lot! So, my Grand Am is there until further notice!

Oh and I forgot I had 2 turkeys and a ham in the trunk, they're still there, at the auto repair shop, in the trunk of my car. I called Peter and asked him to leave the car outside for the night, I'll go get the turkeys and ham tomorrow morning.

Michelle making a visible statement?

I was wrapping presents in the computer room and could hear Bob's voice coming from the other side of the house. He sounded amused but disconcerted so I had to check it out... above is what I found.

Michelle, studying for her Ornithology exam, wearing two shirts, hooded sweatshirt, woollen hat, scarf and mittens/gloves. I would like to point out our thermostat reads 74 degrees! When I went in to take a picture for this blog she ducked and said, "this is a serious issue, I'm just trying to stay warm."

Click the picture to get the full effect of the garb.

I think, she thinks we're mocking her?

Attention... Windsor is closed!

At least I bet it is. The storm hit, hit good and is still hitting. This pic, taken from the comfort of my back kitchen, through the window, does not do it justice.

I'm glad I went out and did everything yesterday! Wonder if we'll be able to get out by tomorrow?

**EDIT** I just had to put on boots and a coat and go outside. The birds were sitting in Doug,(the pumpkin ash tree,) looking longingly at the bird feeder which was under several inches of snow. I cleaned it off and they are now happily munching on sunflower seeds. Oh, the snow is up to the screen door at the side. Luckily it was light and just pushed away. (That door is just above ground level, if it gets to the bottom of the front door, past the porch we're in trouble!

My early starting and very condensed weekend!

My plans were to shop Saturday and Sunday, finish up my list and wrap gifts. When I heard the weather forecast, I realized all outdoor activities had to be done Saturday with Sunday likely being a snow day. No big deal, get an early start and don't come home until done. Buy all my baking stuff and bake all day Sunday if snowed in, hydro allowing, so as not to waste the day.

So how does the day start? Oh, how about by waking up at 4:11am? 4, freaking 11 am! Wide awake, no hopes of getting back to sleep. So, I came online, tried to read some newspapers, they were all still yesterday's news. Read CBC, CNN, checked my email, facebook and went back to bed. I read until about 6am, tried to go back to sleep, gave up at 7am and got back up. Went out at 8am.

I shopped from 8am until about 2pm. I'm now well ahead of the game and think I'm close to done! Actually, I'm done in more ways than one in that it's only 6:41pm and I've been up for 14 1/2 hours; I'm way too old for that!

Now, the weather. We're under a massive winter storm warning. Up to 30cm of snow. Keep in mind, banana belt here! 3cm shuts the roads. Windsor owns maybe 1 plow. Contractors do it, if they're in the mood. Let me put it this way, if a plow goes down our street, we race to the windows exclaiming... "the plow, the plow." Reminiscent of Hervé Villechaize on Fantasy Island. Ok, fine he said, "the plane, the plane," but you get the idea!

So, if there are no postings tomorrow, I have no hydro. Ominously, Hydro One is recommending people "stock up" just in case. I wonder what they know that we don't?

I have wine, food, wine, blankets, wine, candles & lots of wine, I'm good!

Burnaby, BC

I was just doing a quick check in before bed and I notice that the person in Burnaby has been back... hi! I think I know who you are... :)

I'm slothing tonight!

Mich and I are going to watch Harry Potter #5 and I'm doing nothing! Of course I just finished cooking 3 different meals for the 3 of us and now I'm going to clean up.
After that I'm slothing! No new posts, no updates, no nothing...

See you tomorrow! :)

For those who have asked... a close-up shot

1- sparkly Christmas poop
2- Christmas bass
3- plastic cup covered with tin foil and a piece of wool
4- Styrofoam with Christmas wrap & a ribbon glued on
5- Maisy



6- light reflector made by Matthew in Cub Scouts
7- reindeer made of bulb (getting a bit more sophisticated by then!)
8- Madison
9- pickle finger puppet from a "free gift" jar of pickles
10- Michie's face in a Christmas ornament courtesy of Shelley who makes them

Yes there is a big red, sparkly high heeled shoe... so?

Just a couple of other Christmasy spots in the house.

Putting up the tree... the saga

The tree wasn't up 10 minutes yet and was still naked!

Licorice ate the tree and puked on the skirt! She looks abashed, that or she's admiring her work?

It did get finished... though I just noticed the big hole on the right side.

What a production! First I put the middle part on the bottom and of course, screwed it ever so tightly into the tree holder upper! After I took it apart and put the three pieces in the right spots, branched started falling off. I lost several of the green peg thingys that hold the branches in, I think Licorice ate them! I used garbage bag ties, so don't look too closely if you come over.

Then I painstakingly tested every strand of lights and hung them from the top, down. I wrapped them around branches, I twisted I went inside the tree... I plugged them in and tada... one half of the top strand didn't light! Why does that happen? Why the top one every time? Can I find the 987 other lights I know I own? NOT! So we re-arranged quickly but 1/2 of one strand is still out. So, don't look too closely if you come over.

Nothing on my tree is glass. I have beautiful ornaments, some over 60 years old, they're in a box, in the attic. I have 40 year old Hummel ornaments, years of them. They're in a box, in the attic. I have a lovely Eastern Star for the top, it's in a box, in the attic. Why? Hello? Look at the pics? Just how long do you think they'd last? Licorice would eat them!

Half of the tree is ornaments Matthew and Michelle have made over the years. Including the sparkly dog poop. Yep, Mich made it in daycare out of clay; it's "O" shaped and painted green with red sparkles on it. Tonight reaching into the bag for ornaments to hang she exclaimed excitedly... "oh, our Christmas poop!" So, ummmm, don't look too closely if you come over ok?

Babies with guns

2nd photo - credit: "Armed America" Kyle Cassidy


Thanks to the commenter, (whom I'm sure is Michie,) in my previous post about the 5 year old that shot a black bear I've done another Google search. "Armed Americans" brings up interesting photos and stats! Check it out.

The Right to Bear Arms

Without even trying hard, here's some headlines from TODAY's news in the USA.


1 Teen Leaves UMC After Shooting
5 Remain At Hospital, In Serious To Good Condition

Colorado gunman scared co-workers 5 years ago, one says

Police have arrested a known gang member they believe shot another during a drive-by shooting of a home in which 10 others, including an infant, were inside.

Teenager seriously wounded in shooting

Riverside club shooting injures 6

Seattle teen in critical condition after shooting


Maybe they should be baring arms and checking for concealed weapons?

Telemarketers: not my favourite people!

I'm done with them. When I answer my phone, you'd better be there, if not... when you are finally there, after me saying "hello, hello" 17 times, you are in for a very unpleasant surprise. I am NOT nice, I am NOT polite, I am, however, grammatical, non-profane and well spoken. I can call you an ass 7 ways from Sunday without swearing!

The one plaguing us today is this number. 000-000-000! Twice since I've been home and Michie says about 4 times earlier today, interrupting her studying for tomorrow's final exam!

I'm not answering next time. I think it's an Internet call, not sure though. I'll see if they leave an "please stay on the line, this is an urgent message from ___________'s office." Then I'll call ______________ 789 times, google and get ____________'s email and spam the hell out of him and then just for fun... post it here where you can all spam him too!

Now this did give Michie a big laugh today, on a day where she does not see much about which to laugh. Studying every minute of every day is NOT her idea of fun. So... after two of these calls, I'm standing in the living room talking to her, when I hear the phone ring. I raise my right index finger, indicating "hold on, I'll be right back" and walk into the front hall to answer the phone. It is NOT ringing. Michie is laughing uproariously and I am confused. Apparently it was an ad for Rogers phone on tv and well... it sounded just like ours and well... fooled me. Now I have yet another reason to destroy this telemarketer! ha... make me look silly eh?
This is war!

Bring it on 000-000-0000, I'm ready!

**EDIT** I've edited and way, way toned down, my title; it was unnecessarily mean and may, just MAY mind you, have been a tad over the top! (How unlike me eh?)

Welcome Air Canada... see posting below (6 or 7 down)

I emailed Air Canada the link to the posting about my miserable trip home from Calgary. They were here today at 9:53am... lets see what happens now!

Weekend wrap-up

What a weekend! Shopping in Detroit, (thanks for the trip!) I got tons of bargains, lots of selection and took a big chunk off my list. Then came home and Bob and I cleaned up the leaves that until about two weeks ago, were still on the trees. Sadly, it has snowed over them so it was a mess and took 8 bags. Way too wet to mulch. Then I put up a few lights outside. As it is now the second week of December, outside lights are ok! (Unlike the day after Halloween where it is NOT ok!)

Today, I shopped, twice. De-cluttered and scrubbed my computer room and ... slipped on the icy sidewalk and landed on my right hip and elbow. I laid there for a bit, got up, finished unpacking the car, came back into the house and kept working on the computer room. Then I made dinner, cleaned up dinner and Bob and I carried stuff two floors up to the attic.

Now I'm going to bed if I can make it up the stairs. If you don't see me tomorrow, I can't get out of bed... send food & books ok? Oh and wine, as long as I'm not on any good drugs! If I am on the good drugs, never mind the food or books either! ;)

My beautiful God-daughter, Alex Anber

Semi Formal night. She's spectacular! She's my fairy God-daughter... She's my Alex!

Christmas Eve Party!

If you're in the hood, come on by!
(This is the edited invite, no address, I thought that prudent!)

Sandra Day O'Connor, a class act

Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female judge of the US Supreme Court, retired in 2005 to care for her husband John who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He is in an Alzheimer's care home and has now lost all memories of his life. This alone is pathetically sad. Add to this the fact that John has established a romantic relationship with a fellow patient. When Sandra visits, John's new "girl friend" is there too. They sit with Sandra, they hold hands.

Sandra says that this actually gives her some solace. She is happy for John, who has lost his past, finding a connection during this part of his life. Regardless of what she says, can you imagine the heartache it must cause? Yet she visits regularly, John has no idea who she is as he sits there holding his new friend's hand.

Sometimes, life is just macabre.

Travelodge, Strathmore

shower for at least 6 (never used it)
spare bedroom (never used it)
my bedroom (used it every night - even with the way too big pillows)
livingroom with fireplace (hospitality room used often)
jacuzzi tub (floated in it every morning)






Lovely hotel, great staff, eager to please. Now... this suite I had, OMG! I made the mistake of filling the tub too full the first morning. I couldn't sit in it, I floated! Six could have showered at once and I never did use the second bedroom!

*EDIT* Blogger is messing with my posts... do not adjust your machine!

My Calgary visit.

Auntie Sheila, me, Auntie Kay, my cousin Gillian. It was great! I also visited with my little cous Trisha, My Uncles Joe & Rick and my cousin Joey. We gossiped, we reminisced we enjoyed ourselves.

I really shouldn't be calling Auntie Sheila, Auntie. She's only 6 years older than I.

Looking at this pic... please keep in mind I wasn't sleeping well in the dry, dry air of the hotel and the pillows were way too big and well... I'm old dammit! :)