Who are you?

Ok, I know who many of you are that visit my little blog on a regular basis. BUT... I have some constant visitors that I would love to identify! Sudbury,Ontario, Erin, Ontario, Chatham, Ontario, Burnaby, BC, to name a few. Please, drop me a comment, let me know who you are and how you know me! Thanks!

Happy Father's Day...

To those with us and those we miss every day, especially today.

United Nations, International Year of the Potato

Who knew? I heard it this morning on CBC Radio. I love potatoes! In all forms. I have long said they are the perfect food. The fact that my name, in it's original form would be Patty O'Toole has nothing to do with it. Actually, I'm genetically predisposed on both sides. Irish and German. Huge potato fans there.

Seriously, you can do anything with a potato. Also, as is shown in the UN website, potatoes are a good staple that can help the world's food shortage problem. (As long as they are genetically diverse and therefore not all susceptible to the same diseases as what happened during the potato famine.)

Check out the website. http://www.potato2008.org/en/index.html I'm going to try the Chinese stir fried potatoes. I'm very excited about it! Oh and the website leads to links to other potato sites that are strangely fascinating!

Oh, I'm more than just a bit ashamed that the Canadian Government does not show up anywhere in the sponsor or supporters list!

Counterfeiting, a life calling?

Rehan Bawania, arrested in counterfeiting ring, June 2006, he was 22.


June 2008, now he's 24.

Obama & Clinton, the dream ticket

A new site calling for the "dream ticket" of Obama & Clinton. Or, as I like to say, Barackilly! My favourite part is the store... "got both?" t'shirts and bumper stickers.

www.voteboth.com

Obama wins nomination, HIllary wins speech contest!

A historic night for the USA. A proud moment for Obama and too for Hillary. She gave a riveting speech, gracious and supportive in the beginning and blisteringly confrontational after the niceties were over. I do not understand the call to arms to visit her website to tell her what you want her to do. I do not understand what she may be planning. Mostly as I do not 100% understand the delegate process and the weight of super delegates etc.

Tomorrow could be a very interesting day. No matter what happens, tomorrow is a very new day for the USA.

It's unofficial! The ticket is...

Barackilly!

Note: I figured if every news desk is publishing innuendo and maybes... so could I!

Overpasses and foresight!

On May 22nd, I blogged about the Jackson Park Overpass and a couple of days later, a drunk driver went over the side into a parking lot and walked away from it. I also mentioned the Howard Avenue/ Expressway overpass. I spoke of how I hated to stop under it, how it creeped me out and that I stopped well before it should the light ahead be red.

Today, on my drive in, what do I see? Men in orange vests, under the overpass, building support trussing! Hello!

I spoke to a lovely and helpful man, Mr. Webb, in Public Works who explained to me that the overpasses are old and are being re-fitted. The "decks" are being re-done and I then asked if this was just "cosmetic." Nope... There's steel showing through, (not really a good sign on a bridge,) and other areas that require structural re-doing. Like the joints... joints are important thingys on bridges and overpasses!

So you nay sayers who mocked me for my queasiness at stopping under thousands of pounds of aging concrete with rust stains and cracks all over it... HA! Honk at me again guy in the over sized F350, who needs to move up 4 car lengths to stop at a red light! I shall not be moved!

I think next, I shall blog about myself winning a lottery as lately it seems if I write about something, it pops up in the real world!

What I learned coming home from London today!

When driving 95km/h down highway #2 with your driver side window open... do NOT decide you need to get rid of the bug splatter by turning on your windshield washer/wipers! It tastes really icky... the good news? The left lens of my eye glasses is really, really clean!

Uncontacted tribe in the Amazon Basin of Brazil

photos: Reuters













It is so incongruous, sitting at my computer, reading newspapers from all over the world and seeing this. I knew there were still a few uncontacted tribes living deep in the jungles of the world but these images certainly give one pause.

Their fear, anger and sense of threat is obvious in these pictures. The first time the small plane flew over it must have cause them to prepare for defending themselves as when the plane returned, they had painted themselves red and black and armed themselves with bows and lances.

The group showing these pictures is doing it to prove that these people exist, that logging and clearing of the jungles threatens their existance. Too many people think that we have found all there is to find. There is still much out there of which we do not know and does not know of us.

Our history with "primative" tribes is not a good one. I hope we just leave them alone and ensure they are not obliterated by our couriosity.

Welcome to Windsor!

Welcome to my city. Now not only can you enter off of Dougall Ave. and admire the lovely side view of the Walmart, now you can come from the airport, down Cabano Road, with the other thousands of cars that traverse this road daily, and see... the rear storage/loading dock area of the new Home Depot! Pallets of soil, bags of manure... (click the pic for the full impact view!) Wow... The planning committee and Council must have really put a LOT of thought into this one!

The pic is actually from the West going East direction. I haven't had a chance to show the true, full frontal impact of the view due to the construction at that point of Cabano Road. I will try to get one soon though.

The people who live across the street must just be thrilled with this view! I know it adds so much to my drive to work every morning.

Ouellette Avenue overpass, in the news.

Strangely enough, two posts ago, I blogged about the Jackson Park overpass. This happened yesterday.

A Windsor man had lady luck on his side after a crash on Ouellette Avenue. Police say an SUV struck and broke through the guard rail at the Jackson Park overpass-- then dropped 30 feet into a parking lot below. The driver was not injured and walked away from the scene but police say the vehicle is a write off. Impaired driving charges are pending.

One lucky drunkard!

A section of the guard rail was replaced when the repairs were done. It was dented and bent from a previous hit. It was on the west side of the overpass.

My Sunday morning

I had planned on an early start. I was going to the garden centre and coming home and taking on the gardens! I had a mission.

My usual morning routine is to get up, go downstairs and microwave a Tim's coffee, take my 7 pills and sit at the computer waiting for the Celebrex to start working. So, today... I got up, came downstairs, microwaved my Tim's coffee and... noticed the seam was about to let go. Those "camp day" cups suck! I quickly found another cup and sat down at the computer. I suddenly thought about my pills.

Well... I have a 7 day pill box, however, I was somehow not on the right day. I had decided that was no big deal and to just finish it up. The problem with that is when I tried to remember if I had or had not taken my pills I couldn't tell by the day!

I thought about it for a while, decided I hadn't taken them and took them. They I started thinking "what if I had taken them?" There are 3 blood pressure pills in that mix! I could have, therefore, taken 6 blood pressure pills. At this point I realized I wasn't going anywhere soon. I told Bob and sat and waited to see if I "tanked." After about two hours we decided I must not have double dosed and off I went.

I have now sorted out my pill box and Sunday is empty, Monday is ready to go. No more leaving it to guess work.

Personally, I blame Tim Hortons and their lousy cup seams for the distraction! Come on folks, use more glue!

Oh then I went to Canadian Tire and spent $140.00 at the garden centre. Tim's and Canadian Tire in one post, what a good little Canadian I am eh?

Ouellette Avenue overpass, Windsor Ontario

I drive this overpass every day, twice a day. A couple of years ago they did some major repairs. They came back and fixed something almost immediately. I mean ripping off new tar down to the cement and steel supports. I was not impressed. They've been back a couple of times again since and this morning... they'rrrrrrreeeeee baaaaaaaack... I cannot help but wonder why? They seem to be working on the steel plate parts, the connecting thingys. I'm hoping that's not too important to the structural soundness of the overpass?

I'm seriously considering changing my route to work. Though that's not the overpass that really has been bothering me. Funny enough this is not the overpass that, for some strange reason, freaks me out. It's the Howard Avenue/EC Rowe one that I drive under every day, twice a day. I hate, hate, hate stopping for a red light under it. I usually just stop before I get to it if the light is red. The guy in the big hurry behind me honking through the entire red light trying to make me move up 5 car lengths so he can move up 4 and stop at the red light... I ignore him. I just don't get a good feeling stopping under those thousands of pounds of concrete and steel.

American Idol... It's David Cook! The winner!

I knew when Simon pulled back on his comments of last night! woo hoo... It's David Cook!

American Idol finale, the first hour

A quick synopsis during the commercials...

OMG! Seal, (with Sayesha), Donna Summers, (with all the female finalists), Bryan Adams, (with all the male finalists), ZZ Top, (with David Cook) and Graham Nash, (with Brooke!) What a show. Can't wait to see the next hour.

Ok fine, now it's the Jonas Brothers, well it was great until this point.

American Idol re-cap...

Well, despite David C. being my personal choice, I have to give the night to David A. If the voting is based solely on tonight, David Archuleta is the next American Idol.

Happy Victoria Day Canada!

And by Canada I mean mostly Ontario. The other provinces don't really get too excited about it! Especially "La Belle Provence!"

Happy Birthday to my little sister Sandra!

Wish I was there! xo

10:55pm and I just got home from work...

The lovely Pinot Grigio I'm sipping is helping ease the hour of my homecoming. It's going to take more than one glass to make up for the 8:15am to 10:15pm shift! Too bad I'm too tired to stay up and enjoy another. We did have really good Chinese food for dinner at about 9. I ate two fortune cookies and both fortunes had the same lucky numbers. I've asked Bob to play them in 649 tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed!

Help! I'm working and can't get out!

Send help! Or wine. Or cookies. Or wine & cookies!

American Idol, elimination

Sayesha is gone. No surprise there. So next week it's the Davids! I have to give David A. The funniest line of the night. When the tape of his home visit was shown, at the Mall, there were thousands of people. David was shocked, overwhelmed by their numbers and in the car talking about it said, "where do they all park?" Made me laugh out loud.

American Idol Re cap - David Cook, I need not say more!

David Cook, David Cook, David Cook. Seriously, nothing more need be said. Though, thinking about it, kudos to David A. for the Dan Fogelberg. Funny that I just blogged Dan F. a week or so ago! Next week, David vs David, a variation of the David vs Goliath theme! :)

To my Mom readers.

Happy Mother's Day!

My favourite saying at the moment. :)

8 days a weeks, I'm wor-or-or-or-or-orking...

I've been at the office since April 21st without a day off! We are NOT amused!

American Idol, bye bye Jason

See? I didn't even need to see last night's show. I knew a week ago who would be going home. You will never convince me that this isn't somehow "arranged" once it gets down to the final few. I still, however, am torn with which David it will be. I choose David C. but it's a toss up!

American Idol... I missed it!

I missed it! Got home too late from work; stupid fireworks season! Anyway, for a change, how about if you leave me YOUR impressions of the night in the comments section, instead of you coming here to read mine? I'd welcome the insights! Thanks :)

Hmmmmmm...

A large theft of wine is under investigation in Kingsville. OPP say more than 10 thousand litres of white wine was stolen from a secured area at a winery on Seacliff Drive early yesterday morning. It's worth more than 15 thousand dollars. Anyone with information should contact police. There may be people, many people, of my acquaintance, who need to account for their whereabouts! hehehe

Happy 30th Rodney!

:)

American Idol elimination... bye bye Brooke

Well, I figured this. It should be Sayesha but she'll be in two weeks, after Jason is gone, leaving the two Davids. Sayesha's voice is a dime a dozen... Brooke was different, unique. Whatever.

American Idol Recap... Paula's off her meds!

Seriously, she judges these kids? Each contestant sang 2 songs tonight. The first songs were sung straight through, with no critique by the judges until the end. Randy made a quick comment on each of the 5. Paula, starting with Jason, first critiqued his first song, then proceeded to his second number? When it was pointed out that he'd only sang 1 song she said, "oh, I thought you sang twice!" What does one say to that? Gotta love live tv!

David C., David A... final two... should just cut to the chase. I really liked Brooke's second song. Jason, as cute as a button but he's a balladeer not an American Idol. Sayesha, forgettable.

Unintentional theme!

Looking back at the last two posts, I realize I have a theme... Grass! hehe So, I've put up a pic of a pot of grass to tie them together.

Back to the 70's, school locker sniffer searches!

Random use of police sniffer dogs breaches charter:

The use of drug-sniffing police dogs in the random search of a southwestern Ontario school and a Calgary bus terminal was unconstitutional, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Friday. In a 6-3 decision, the top court ruled that the actions breached Section 8 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which covers what constitutes reasonable search and seizure.

So, to all my '70's friends from high school who were nabbed by the random sniffer dogs and still carry records, go get 'em cleared folks. They used to walk the halls with those dogs at least once a month if not more, out of the knowledge that they knew those long haired, hippie, freaks were smoking that marijuana!

Peace!

First lawn mower of the year!

Mich and I were chatting in the kitchen when suddenly we were interrupted by the sound of the first lawn mower of 2008! The kitchen virtually exploded with excitement ... we were stunned to silence! We looked at each other and both said aloud... "who is it?" I said there should be a reward. Mich said well then go and get a beer! Everyone knows that lawn mowing requires a beer! I grabbed one, ran outside and went to the house to the right of me.

I presented the beer and congratulated Sabet on being the first one in the hood to fire up his mower. He told me he just wanted to see if it still ran, but once it started decided to do the whole back yard.

Coming back into the house, Mich reminded me that Bob/Daddy, refuses to fire up our machine until the Victoria Day weekend. Well, actually he says "May 24th." So this year it's actually a few days past the Victoria Day weekend which is May 19th! I think it's kind of like the never wear white after labour day thingy? Or just a good excuse? He scoffs and mocks those who cut their grass pre-May 24th... though I'm pretty sure last year it was a tad premature for him too?

I'd like to mention that by May 24th, we'll need machetes to get through the back yard!

ps... to my family who live East and North of me, oh and those waaaaaaaay West and North of me who still have snow... ummmm... sorry about your luck! :)

American Idol... elimination... surely you jest!

Carly Smithson going home? lord love a duck... are you all tone deaf? Were there hanging chads? Problems with the voting machines? At least that time there was an excuse. sigh...

p.s. I couldn't have been more wrong in my predictions this week!

Nothing new to report...

Illness and fireworks season do NOT mix!

There is no such thing as quiet at a fireworks company, 28 days before Victoria Day! sigh...

American Idol, recap

These two should be the final two. David A. needs a bit more training, especially in breathing, he's young. Sayesha should go home but it will likely be Brooke, with Jason the other bottom 3 contestant.

Guilt and Alfred Hitchcock!

Mich and I decided to stop feeding the birds once the seed ran out. It is spring, there is food and really they don't need us anymore! Well... tell them that! They gathered early this morning, Cardinals, Grackles, Sparrows, Finches, Jays, Starlings, well you get the drift. They were NOT impressed. I took the feeder down last night so as not to taunt them.

Mich suggested a "closed" sign. I decided against it. Maybe I should have listened. I swear they're out there cussing me! Glaring maybe plotting? yikes!

I felt the earth, move... under my bed...

Living by the US/Canada border, about 200' from an underground rail tunnel that runs to Detroit, I am used to feeling slight vibrations as trains go through the tunnel. At 5:30 this morning I awoke thinking, "wow, that must be one heck of a train!" Only to discover that an earthquake had occurred. As earthquakes go, it wasn't much of one BUT... I hadn't gone to sleep until 12:30am!

The best earthquake I've ever experienced was in Calgary, in the 80's. I was sound asleep on my water bed when suddenly I was body surfing! Seriously, there was a tsunami happening! (Earthquakes can cause tsunamis you know!) The only other one I've felt was in Windsor, very early 80's and I happened to be laying in the tub at the time. I jumped out, grabbed an towel and ran into the living room to find pictures askew, and a couple of knick knacks knocked over. I had thought that on was a big truck going down the road past my apartment building.

Sooner or later I'm going to figure out that hey, earthquakes happen and it's not always large motorized vehicles shaking me up!

American Idol... finally!

Ok fine. It was even worth having to listen to Mariah, (though I was emptying the dryer during her singing; hey can't let stuff wrinkle,) if it meant finally getting rid of Kristy!

Don't be shocked

Yes I'm blogging during American Idol results show... Hello... Mariah Scary remember? Even the opening number made my teeth hurt! I'm going to tune in for the last 5 minutes. She's going to sing tonight, that's worse than the kids having to sing her songs.

Notes, written and responses delivered with a sarcastic one.

This is a note I left on the counter this morning for Bob & Michelle. Michelle my loving (and oh so grateful for all I do for her,) child called me at work. I quote, "I'm thinking of having you micro chipped in case you wander outside of the yard." end quote! (I realize that stating "quote" and "end quote" whilst using quotation marks is redundant, I am accentuating my point, not exhibiting any further signs of confusion!)

I, of course, took great umbrage at that remark. As an ironic aside, I did end up working late, unscheduled to do so. Unlike TOMORROW, which IS THURSDAY, where I am scheduled to work late.

Blast from the past

Today, I heard from an old friend. He found me on Facebook. He was always one of my favourite people in high school. Hearing from him made me think back to my favourite things. Dan Fogelberg was one of them. He left us too soon. This song always made me sing at the top of my voice, with all my heart. I always substituted the word "life" for "love." Love, was easy, life... well that was hard. Still I marvel at what life throws at you. How hard life seems to fight to make itself tough and really, how simple, happy and easy it should just be. Thinking about this, I guess I never really left the 70's did I?