Why do dogs seem to like me? Hello. The guys upstairs has got two of them and I drive him crazy because they seem to like me more than him. I wouldn't imagine him being crazy and completely nuts would have anything to do with it of course. This is the best place I've lived in Toronto (old Victorian house, quiet, nice landlord) so I'll regret leaving it. But I do have two insane persons living in the house. But they have always left me alone. I'll miss them.
Why does Jesse Green of the New York Times want my e-mail address when I move? I put him through hell in the last few years. When I get a few beer in me I have no borders. He's rich and he's interviewed every famous person that exists. He's angst-ridden and I'm angst-ridden and I can write words every bit as good as him so no surprise.
Why do I love my family? I'm slightly biased but I think Bob is cute. He can be annoying but so could Mother Teresa. And he's got a heart of gold. And he puts up with me which is good.
Why in the hell do I not mind Ger, Jim and Kev. This is not a new question. I've asked it a trillion times. I'm not a physicist but I have come up with a theory: d=&^ 6+2+1 squared. In laymans terms that means they should be tortured for up to six months before one kills them. And of course one can add Robin and Neil, whom should be tortured for an additional month because they are extra cute.
How will I survive? I won't. I've been given an ultimatum from Kevin: Uncle don you have to quit a bad habit. "which one?" 'we'll discuss it over a toke, cigarette and a beer"
Why do I love Anita: I think she is completely annoying but maybe not. I've really grown to love Brenda, Kerri, and Anita. Especially since I've noticed that Jim, Ger and Kev aging so quickly. I'll need friends.
Why do I think that having Shawn e-mail me and asking when I'd be out there to bike may be the greatest compliment I've ever had: "yeah biking would be alot of fun. I got a bike too now so when you come down maby we can go biking somewhere". It would be tough not to feel good about that e-mail. And it will be nice to see Colin and Tyler. I'm not a 'sittting around the kitchen table and rehashing things that have been said already'-type person. I can survive it but my attention will wander, probably within six seconds. Yay hah. Hopefully there will be deer around. I'll pet them: And then I'll bike to Gerry's: "Ger?" "yes uncle don?" "I've biked over to your place for sanity, hello, it was a little insane at Kevins, and I'm a roving reporter, what have you got to report. Oh my God you've re-done the kitchen in a Spanish motif and you have three flamingo dancers in your hallway" So I'll rove over to Justins. "justin?" "yes uncle don" "any news of note?" "I'm a father" "when can I interview the child and Shayna, it's too bad you are related to Ger"
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
Bob and Lorraine have decided to put the house on Dalarna up for sale and move out of the city and Bob figures they will be moving next month (which makes complete sense considering the boom Calgary is in). I thought it was kind of weird that two brothers who have lived in a city for so many years, may well end up moving out of the city in the same month and in the same year (great minds think alike, I guess).
But Bob's physical move will be quite different than mine (think day and night, black and white) in every way, shape or form. I won't be bringing much stuff out ((six items or less (probably less), although I will store some boxes at a friends here at a friends)). I don't know if that is a tragedy or a comedy on my part. My guitar comes with me for sure and probably my hard drive, and I'd love to bring my bike but I don't know how I can ship a bike.
And of course our mindsets will be quite different just before we move: Bob: That was a chore, gee it will be nice to relax and get to our new place and relax and enjoy and relax. Don: I can't do this, I'm crazy, whom talked me into this, I can't afford it, maybe I should buy an open-ended return ticket, Jim's mad at me I think, I may be okay to be with in the short term but I'm sure that will wear off, etc., etc., etc.
But hopefully the end result will be the same somehow; we'll both be happier. I don't doubt that I'll be welcomed but I don't see what I've got to offer, it certainly isn't fame and riches. I'm already wealthy in some respects, having Neil e-mail me Kara's e-mails from Thailand is worth millions to me. And his pics and Robin's and Ger's and Bob's. And Shaun asking me by e-mail when I'm coming out there because he's got a bike now. And Robin e-mailing me and telling me how he is doing on the guitar.
But the next few weeks are still going to be quite terrible on me until I actually get there. It's not that I don't want to leave Toronto, it's the idea of the things I must do (cancelling cable, saying goodbye to friends, riding my bike in Toronto for one last time). But it will be done.
But Bob's physical move will be quite different than mine (think day and night, black and white) in every way, shape or form. I won't be bringing much stuff out ((six items or less (probably less), although I will store some boxes at a friends here at a friends)). I don't know if that is a tragedy or a comedy on my part. My guitar comes with me for sure and probably my hard drive, and I'd love to bring my bike but I don't know how I can ship a bike.
And of course our mindsets will be quite different just before we move: Bob: That was a chore, gee it will be nice to relax and get to our new place and relax and enjoy and relax. Don: I can't do this, I'm crazy, whom talked me into this, I can't afford it, maybe I should buy an open-ended return ticket, Jim's mad at me I think, I may be okay to be with in the short term but I'm sure that will wear off, etc., etc., etc.
But hopefully the end result will be the same somehow; we'll both be happier. I don't doubt that I'll be welcomed but I don't see what I've got to offer, it certainly isn't fame and riches. I'm already wealthy in some respects, having Neil e-mail me Kara's e-mails from Thailand is worth millions to me. And his pics and Robin's and Ger's and Bob's. And Shaun asking me by e-mail when I'm coming out there because he's got a bike now. And Robin e-mailing me and telling me how he is doing on the guitar.
But the next few weeks are still going to be quite terrible on me until I actually get there. It's not that I don't want to leave Toronto, it's the idea of the things I must do (cancelling cable, saying goodbye to friends, riding my bike in Toronto for one last time). But it will be done.
Embarrassing moment
Sheesh I just had an embarrassing experience on the way home from work this afternoon. I was merrily biking up Parliament Street from the beer store (since it's Friday) with 18 beer in my backpack and I got to Wellesley (the street I live on) and was about to turn right when the light changed and a horde of people started to cross Parliament and Wellesley. And so I came to a screeching halt (I wasn't paying attention because I was almost home and I was a touch tired) and as I put my foot out the backpack changed positions (because of the beer) and because of the sudden weight re-alignment, I went right down on my ass. That wasn't the worst of it. It was the horde of people trying to help me up in the busiest intersection in this area. And because I had this heavy backpack still on I was totally helpless lying on my back (I felt like a turtle) and so I needed a horde of people to help me up. The last comment made was by this old guy who was brushing me off: "that must have been quite a shock". As I slowly biked the two remaining blocks to home, I was thinking: 'no, no that wasn't a shock, I've done worse, I'm way passed being shocked by what I do'. And I always thought the old adage that 'most accidents happen close to home' only applied to automobiles. I guess I was wrong.
Another letter from Kara in Thailand
Today I am in Auythaya, the old capital of Thailand, we arrived this morning at 4:30 by night train, and I hardly slept at all because the air conditioning was SOOO cold, brutal! Im going to die when I come home! Anyways this morning we looked at some old budha relics/temples that were destroyed in the wars, its was pretty interesting, but we saw a whole pile and after a while they all kind of looked the same. Tommrow at like 7am we leave for the bus for a 4hr ride to another town where we are going to see some sort of WWII site which should be sad but good. And then the next night or that night I'm not sure were going to stay on a bambook raft. Then on sunday night we're going to be back in Bangkok to join up with 2 other people and lose 7 of our current tour friends, as we will be starting the Southern tour. I'm pretty excited, it sounds a lot more slack and a lot less travelling which will be fantastic to stay in one place for more than 1 night. A lot of beaching on the white sands and I think i'm going to buy all of my souvenirs/ gifts there as well so I have less distance to carry it.
If there are any requests please tell me before Sunday as I will probably use the free internet in Bangkok before the 2nd tour starts. Oh yeah thanks dad for the id number, I sent him an email so hopefully everything works out. To answer your questions if I can remember them all, yes its still humid here. Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai were not as bad, almost cool considering the weather here. Ayutaya though is brutally humid, not as hot as Bangkok but definately way more humid, I feel like im breathing in Water and strange scents. The trek was AMAZING, everything is absolutely gorgeous, I loved it. The first day we were hiking was intense though, I have never sweat from every limb and pore in my body before. MY Forearms were dripping! It was like having a shower, SOOO WET! when we got back we did laundry and I felt awful for whomever got stuck doing ours cause I'm sure it all reeked! Oh yeah they don't have any coin laundry here, mostly you pay to have them do it for you..so far we've paid 70 and 100 baht for our laundry. Not too bad I suppose. Sometimes its hard to tell if your getting ripped off or not. The second day of the trek it rained alll day which was not that awful because it was a lot cooler, and the third day we got to ride elephants!
I can't wait to show you the pictures, it was wonderful! Anyways I need to go. My mp3 is hopefully done charging, I hope everyone is doing well!
kara
If there are any requests please tell me before Sunday as I will probably use the free internet in Bangkok before the 2nd tour starts. Oh yeah thanks dad for the id number, I sent him an email so hopefully everything works out. To answer your questions if I can remember them all, yes its still humid here. Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai were not as bad, almost cool considering the weather here. Ayutaya though is brutally humid, not as hot as Bangkok but definately way more humid, I feel like im breathing in Water and strange scents. The trek was AMAZING, everything is absolutely gorgeous, I loved it. The first day we were hiking was intense though, I have never sweat from every limb and pore in my body before. MY Forearms were dripping! It was like having a shower, SOOO WET! when we got back we did laundry and I felt awful for whomever got stuck doing ours cause I'm sure it all reeked! Oh yeah they don't have any coin laundry here, mostly you pay to have them do it for you..so far we've paid 70 and 100 baht for our laundry. Not too bad I suppose. Sometimes its hard to tell if your getting ripped off or not. The second day of the trek it rained alll day which was not that awful because it was a lot cooler, and the third day we got to ride elephants!
I can't wait to show you the pictures, it was wonderful! Anyways I need to go. My mp3 is hopefully done charging, I hope everyone is doing well!
kara
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day! And you know whom you are. Especially to Anita, Lorraine, Dawn, Julie, Donna, Gail, Brenda, Kerri, Kim, Karen, Kristin, Jennifer, Shayna (mother-to-be, if it hasn't happened yet) and others whom I've probably forgot to include. I especially want to mention Lorraine, Anita, Kim, Kerri, Brenda, Karen, and Shayna and I will certainly include Jennifer whom have chosen a Storm/Douville person to be with. That took guts. Of course love may have had something to do with it but hello. I think you should all receive a medal and trip to an exclusive spa. I love you all dearly. This is the one blog posting where I won't put down my blood relatives. But they are so easy pickings. Certainly they are cute (especially Bob, Jim, Ger, Robin, Neil and even Kevin) but looks aren't everything. But has anyone noticed Bob has a huge forehead. He was spoiled as a child: "Marlene and Anna, I exist" "out of the way donny we have to change bobby's diapers" And Robin's head used to be bigger than the rest of his body. And Ger was not only fat as a child, he was cranky. I had to talk Anna down from jumping off the rock bluff several times. Neil was cute I must admit, he was somewhat like bobby, he grabbed all the attention and it was odd to see him without the mustache. Jim was cute too. He didn't look like a hunter/gatherer when he was little, although the camouflage diapers should have given it away. Kevin was also cute. He perfected the look I still get from him by the time he was two: one eyebrow arched and a bemused smile on his face while he's watching me about to throw a dart, thinking: is uncle don an alien, what solar system did he originate from?
I don't eat out often, but this morning I went out for breakfast. Bacon, eggs (easy over), rye toast, potatoes done like only a greasy spoon can do, two pancakes with syrup in a bottle so I could use as much as I wanted, fried tomatoes (never had that before) and coffee. And then I wore it off with a nice bike ride.
You know what I've been craving lately? BBQ'd ribs and baked potatoes with sour cream and cole slaw. I must admit I love Anita's cooking and when Ger and Kerri invite me over for supper I'm in heaven. Good food! And we won't mention Jim's cooking, scrumptious. And Greg, a friend here in Toronto, is an artiste in the kitchen. I used to watch the food network but of course I quit that. Has anyone noticed that they quite often make something that you can't buy in a normal grocery store. I've never seen Rosemary Shrimp in a grocery store. And what is a shallot? I really love sushi. I could eat sushi pretty well every day. There is no bad sushi. Dawn and Lorraine love it too. I think Anita likes it too. But it's really not something one can make, of course one can but you know what I mean.
I was out there in January. It seems like a thousand years ago. Perhaps you all can tell I love writing. But I just don't feel like writing if I can't write about family. I have a gift but if I can't have fun using it, what's the point? And I need some new fodder for my mind which means I guess moving out there and sitting back and observing. I will ship my hard drive out to Bob's and a few other items (guitar, my Brew'N Go coffee maker). I travel light. This is terribly an egotistical thing to say but my mind will be with me. It might be my one and only asset.
I don't eat out often, but this morning I went out for breakfast. Bacon, eggs (easy over), rye toast, potatoes done like only a greasy spoon can do, two pancakes with syrup in a bottle so I could use as much as I wanted, fried tomatoes (never had that before) and coffee. And then I wore it off with a nice bike ride.
You know what I've been craving lately? BBQ'd ribs and baked potatoes with sour cream and cole slaw. I must admit I love Anita's cooking and when Ger and Kerri invite me over for supper I'm in heaven. Good food! And we won't mention Jim's cooking, scrumptious. And Greg, a friend here in Toronto, is an artiste in the kitchen. I used to watch the food network but of course I quit that. Has anyone noticed that they quite often make something that you can't buy in a normal grocery store. I've never seen Rosemary Shrimp in a grocery store. And what is a shallot? I really love sushi. I could eat sushi pretty well every day. There is no bad sushi. Dawn and Lorraine love it too. I think Anita likes it too. But it's really not something one can make, of course one can but you know what I mean.
I was out there in January. It seems like a thousand years ago. Perhaps you all can tell I love writing. But I just don't feel like writing if I can't write about family. I have a gift but if I can't have fun using it, what's the point? And I need some new fodder for my mind which means I guess moving out there and sitting back and observing. I will ship my hard drive out to Bob's and a few other items (guitar, my Brew'N Go coffee maker). I travel light. This is terribly an egotistical thing to say but my mind will be with me. It might be my one and only asset.
I have a problem. Kevin was nice to me this weekend on the phone. The only time Kevin is nice to me on the phone is when something bad is going to happen to me. I've had a relatively bad weekend because my boss, whom I thought loved me, is just one of those money-grabbing annoying persons. I thought Gord was okay, but obviously I was wrong. He sent me home early on Friday. And he doesn't want me to work Monday. Although I almost never work on Monday, it's the idea of the thing. I was rejected. Perphaps I wasn't the only one but I take it personally. I should be immune to rejection by now: "hi kevin" "click" ringy, ringy "but I'm dying and I only have six or seven minutes to live" "click" I think kevin is the only person whom could hang up on Mother Teresa.
I must admit that it was nice to have Shawn e-mail and offer to bike with me. It's a ruse I'm sure. And yes, talking to Julie last night was fairly okay. But when Kevin was nice to me on the phone I pretty well knew I'm doomed: Hi uncle don "whom?" "may I speak to Kevin" "this is Kevin" "whom?, I'd like to speak to The Kevin whom I'd like to use as an example for birth control" "I thought I was cute uncle don" "nope" "not a teeny weeny bit?" "nil" "slightly?" "a little maybe, it's a good thing you are small and wiry, why can't you be nice once in a while, so I phone you at wierd times, there is a three hour time difference"
Speaking of wierd, there is Ger, and I should be shot. So I phoned Ger last Saturday while he was re-doing his house: "Ger?" "hi uncle don" "are you busy?" "no, I'm just pulling the rafters down" "okay" ringy-dingy "Ger, do you mind me?" "I love you uncle don, whoops the foundation is about to topple" ringy-dingy "Ger, should I move down there?" "yes, the I-beam is sticking through my torso" ringy-dingy" "Kerri, how are you, is Ger still breathing?"
I suppose it would be okay to have Anita look after me. She probably doesn't want to. Not that I'll ever need much looking after. I don't like to make a fuss or muss. But just to have a woman around would be quite nice. I have no idea what Kev and Anita have planned, they'll probably want me to live in West Creston. I won't be adverse to having Kev and Anita around. If they will have me, it's pretty well guaranteed that Kevin will never have to lift an arm around the house and/or yard. The grass will be cut. I'll add an extension to his house if he wants.
I must admit that it was nice to have Shawn e-mail and offer to bike with me. It's a ruse I'm sure. And yes, talking to Julie last night was fairly okay. But when Kevin was nice to me on the phone I pretty well knew I'm doomed: Hi uncle don "whom?" "may I speak to Kevin" "this is Kevin" "whom?, I'd like to speak to The Kevin whom I'd like to use as an example for birth control" "I thought I was cute uncle don" "nope" "not a teeny weeny bit?" "nil" "slightly?" "a little maybe, it's a good thing you are small and wiry, why can't you be nice once in a while, so I phone you at wierd times, there is a three hour time difference"
Speaking of wierd, there is Ger, and I should be shot. So I phoned Ger last Saturday while he was re-doing his house: "Ger?" "hi uncle don" "are you busy?" "no, I'm just pulling the rafters down" "okay" ringy-dingy "Ger, do you mind me?" "I love you uncle don, whoops the foundation is about to topple" ringy-dingy "Ger, should I move down there?" "yes, the I-beam is sticking through my torso" ringy-dingy" "Kerri, how are you, is Ger still breathing?"
I suppose it would be okay to have Anita look after me. She probably doesn't want to. Not that I'll ever need much looking after. I don't like to make a fuss or muss. But just to have a woman around would be quite nice. I have no idea what Kev and Anita have planned, they'll probably want me to live in West Creston. I won't be adverse to having Kev and Anita around. If they will have me, it's pretty well guaranteed that Kevin will never have to lift an arm around the house and/or yard. The grass will be cut. I'll add an extension to his house if he wants.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
the next month
Everyone in the world has problems but I wish it was July 1. I've got so many things going through my mind ger and I don't even know if I will survive. I have been in Toronto twenty-five years. I'm never going to be a rich person, never. But I think I am a blessed person, as you know, but I worry too much. And I only have to worry about me which is one good thing.
I tried to explain that to a friend last night. I couldn't. And it doesn't need explaining anyway. But from day one I could tell that I had 'special' family. How does one explain Marlene and Leo and Roy and Anna. It's pretty well a guarantee that the kids will be the cutest in the history of mankind: "mom" "what?" "jimmy is here" "yes" "roy and anna have no, nil and not one whit of knowledge about raising a child, especially one whom has his own recipe for pablum" "and marlene and leo?" "Laurie is a cutie but she's already organizing my ironing"
"donnie" "yes Mom" "kill yourself now" "now?" "now" "why?" "because they will all annoy as you approach old age" "not Robin" "yes, in spite of his big head or small body (I'm never sure which), he'll annoy you" "not Ger" "yes, in fact roy and anna fed him lard for the first three years of his life, hence tubbo" "but kevin and neil are quite cute" "do you like pain?"
There is one advantage I've got over every single person in the world. I'll walk down to the highway and hitchhike back to Toronto (while trying to avoid Kevin laying in the middle of the highway while semi's are whipping by). Okay, okay when I'm there this time, I'm there for good. "unlce don, why don't you unpack your bags, I need to wash your clothes" "here's a hanky, Anita" Anita is not the one I worry about, I think she is the cutest and nicest person in the history of mankind.
It's too late back now, but Kevin's coming home to nap is not going to work for me. I'm up at four in the morning. I'll get up at the crack of dawn and make coffee and sit out on the deck and play the radio while I read and and think about cutting the lawn. He'll need a three hour nap. I have no idea, when I come there for a week I sleep in. But I'm sure when my bod adjusts, I'm gonna be looking for work very quickly. I like reading, but (knock on wood) you are getting me at a good time. Eight months ago: not so. I'm wondering how I will aclamatize. I'm fairly uptight and I think when I get out out there I'll just want to relax and unwind for a day or two. Throw a few darts. I'll send my important stuff to bob's (computer, guitar, and a few boxes) by fedex and I can get that whenever.
I cannot imagine me being at Kevin's just relaxing for week thinking that I don't have go back to Toronto. At the moment that is beyond me. I presume it will take a long time for that knot in my chest to disappear. On the other hand, being with family could make it go away quickly: "ger?" "yes uncle don" "don't smile" "why?" "because you're blinding me and I need you to make me a trailer for my bike so I can go into town and shop, and make it look really cool" "but how can you bike up the hill uncle don?" "unlike you guys I can walk up the hill with my bike, that would unbelievably fun for me, my dream is to impress you guys and I don't know if can, I talk the talk now, I just hope I can do it this summer, it seems I have a lot of good will built up, I don't want see any of it eroded" "you don't have to impress us uncle don" "I know, I just want to feel good at the end of the day"
I tried to explain that to a friend last night. I couldn't. And it doesn't need explaining anyway. But from day one I could tell that I had 'special' family. How does one explain Marlene and Leo and Roy and Anna. It's pretty well a guarantee that the kids will be the cutest in the history of mankind: "mom" "what?" "jimmy is here" "yes" "roy and anna have no, nil and not one whit of knowledge about raising a child, especially one whom has his own recipe for pablum" "and marlene and leo?" "Laurie is a cutie but she's already organizing my ironing"
"donnie" "yes Mom" "kill yourself now" "now?" "now" "why?" "because they will all annoy as you approach old age" "not Robin" "yes, in spite of his big head or small body (I'm never sure which), he'll annoy you" "not Ger" "yes, in fact roy and anna fed him lard for the first three years of his life, hence tubbo" "but kevin and neil are quite cute" "do you like pain?"
There is one advantage I've got over every single person in the world. I'll walk down to the highway and hitchhike back to Toronto (while trying to avoid Kevin laying in the middle of the highway while semi's are whipping by). Okay, okay when I'm there this time, I'm there for good. "unlce don, why don't you unpack your bags, I need to wash your clothes" "here's a hanky, Anita" Anita is not the one I worry about, I think she is the cutest and nicest person in the history of mankind.
It's too late back now, but Kevin's coming home to nap is not going to work for me. I'm up at four in the morning. I'll get up at the crack of dawn and make coffee and sit out on the deck and play the radio while I read and and think about cutting the lawn. He'll need a three hour nap. I have no idea, when I come there for a week I sleep in. But I'm sure when my bod adjusts, I'm gonna be looking for work very quickly. I like reading, but (knock on wood) you are getting me at a good time. Eight months ago: not so. I'm wondering how I will aclamatize. I'm fairly uptight and I think when I get out out there I'll just want to relax and unwind for a day or two. Throw a few darts. I'll send my important stuff to bob's (computer, guitar, and a few boxes) by fedex and I can get that whenever.
I cannot imagine me being at Kevin's just relaxing for week thinking that I don't have go back to Toronto. At the moment that is beyond me. I presume it will take a long time for that knot in my chest to disappear. On the other hand, being with family could make it go away quickly: "ger?" "yes uncle don" "don't smile" "why?" "because you're blinding me and I need you to make me a trailer for my bike so I can go into town and shop, and make it look really cool" "but how can you bike up the hill uncle don?" "unlike you guys I can walk up the hill with my bike, that would unbelievably fun for me, my dream is to impress you guys and I don't know if can, I talk the talk now, I just hope I can do it this summer, it seems I have a lot of good will built up, I don't want see any of it eroded" "you don't have to impress us uncle don" "I know, I just want to feel good at the end of the day"
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Kara is in Thailand
Hey Don Q. Storm,
Thought you might like this. Kara and two friends are in Thailand right now. She left on Friday, May 4th and returns to Calgary on June 4th.
This is the latest email from her.
Neil
Subject: Thailand!!!
Hey Everyone, I think this is the last time I can email for a while. Im leaving for Chiang Mai tonight by night Train, which should be pretty exciting. Last night we met the other tour people and there are really nice, most of them are older, but very experienced so thats a good thing to have. This morning we saw a temple here in Bangkok. Beautiful and massive, there was this HUGE statue of a leaning, golden budha. And everything was colourful and bright and the architecture is pretty interesting. Haha now I sound like a man! Anyways then we went on a river boat canal tour around, quite neat to see, a little upsetting to view their standard of living, but they all seem to be quite pleased with it. Very cheery, smiley people! Anyways I need to go, talk to ya guys. .definitely in a week or so, but im not sure if it will be sooner than that! Miss everyone! See you soon!
KARA
Thought you might like this. Kara and two friends are in Thailand right now. She left on Friday, May 4th and returns to Calgary on June 4th.
This is the latest email from her.
Neil
Subject: Thailand!!!
Hey Everyone, I think this is the last time I can email for a while. Im leaving for Chiang Mai tonight by night Train, which should be pretty exciting. Last night we met the other tour people and there are really nice, most of them are older, but very experienced so thats a good thing to have. This morning we saw a temple here in Bangkok. Beautiful and massive, there was this HUGE statue of a leaning, golden budha. And everything was colourful and bright and the architecture is pretty interesting. Haha now I sound like a man! Anyways then we went on a river boat canal tour around, quite neat to see, a little upsetting to view their standard of living, but they all seem to be quite pleased with it. Very cheery, smiley people! Anyways I need to go, talk to ya guys. .definitely in a week or so, but im not sure if it will be sooner than that! Miss everyone! See you soon!
KARA
Friday, May 04, 2007
Friday ramblings
I wonder if any other family has an uncle whom gets up at 4am and makes coffee, has a shower, reads the news/sports on the Internet, writes about how the medieval torture instruments would be suited to his nephews, has a breakfast of ham, scrambled eggs, toast with peanut butter and marmelade and bikes a fair distance to work and arrives at least on hour early so he can work on a crossword puzzle......and then have Joanne, his boss (and whom he's secretly in love with but whom has a husband called Ollie whom he presumes is six foot nine and an Adonis and whom could beat him to a pulp if necessary (not that it would be)) bet said uncle two pitchers of beer that said uncle wouldn't make it to work on Monday. Said uncle resents that, but said uncle will be at work on monday morning if it kills him. Said uncle will collect on this bet........I'm listening to a CD that I haven't listened to for so long, it's a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young compilation that a friend put together for me a long time ago. Nice to hear it again, for me listening to some of their songs is like rewinding parts of my past life and playing it again, for example, Neil sings 'rock and roll is here to stay, it's better to burn out than be here to stay', in some way I think we would all agree that if Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Hank Williams, Buddy Holly would have lived a long life, they would have been shuffled off by now to just small footnote in the history of rock and rock.....Roy did comment once on this blog, when I was out there the time before last: "the last few posts on your blog haven't been that funny don" I was thrilled, to have someone who is the only one I know who has read more books than I have only mildly criticize me was nice, and for him to have read the blog was even more special.....I certainly don't mean to single out Ger because Roy and Anna needed a barge and a crane to take him to his crib and Marlene and Leo had to build a special crib just to accommodate Robin's rather large head. These things aren't well known in the family, you didn't know that?
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Medieval torture
I have a problem. I have a sudden urge to inflict pain upon certain family members. Actually it's not sudden, the urge has been with me for quite some time. I don't know if anyone is into medieval torture. I am.
Thumbscrews come to mind: Justin? "yes uncle don?" "can I borrow your thumbs?"
Jim? "yes uncle don?" "would you step into the Iron Maiden, don't worry about the spikes that will penetrate your bod from head to toe when I close the door"
Robin? "yes uncle don?" "would you put your chin on the lower bar of the Head Crusher while I put the 'cap' on the top of your head and turn the screw, anyway your head needs to be smaller"
Neil? "yes uncle don?" "could you get on the Rack while I pull your bod in opposite directions, you always wanted to be six foot nine, so you're going to be six foot nine"
Colin? "yes uncle don?" "do you mind if I put you in this iron harnessy thingy called the Judas Cradle and lower you very, very slowly onto the pointy thingy, don't worry about screaming, the castle keep is soundproof"
Ger? "yes uncle don?" "I've always wanted to use the Heretic's Fork, I'm just going to thrust prongs into your chin and sternum, don't worry that you won't be able to move your head and/or talk, the world will be a better place"
Kev? "yes uncle don?" "would you get on the Wheel, don't worry that your bod will turn into a writhing, slimey, shapeless mass of flesh mixed in with splinters of smashed bones"
Tyler? "yes uncle don?" "I presume you won't mind when I impale you by lowering your bod on top of this Pointed Stake and impaling it through your abdomen and chest cavity, it will be uncomfortable for a while"
Uncle vlad, I mean don? "yes?" "I thought we were cute" "you are so I won't leave your bods to rot that long, only a couple of millenia"
Thumbscrews come to mind: Justin? "yes uncle don?" "can I borrow your thumbs?"
Jim? "yes uncle don?" "would you step into the Iron Maiden, don't worry about the spikes that will penetrate your bod from head to toe when I close the door"
Robin? "yes uncle don?" "would you put your chin on the lower bar of the Head Crusher while I put the 'cap' on the top of your head and turn the screw, anyway your head needs to be smaller"
Neil? "yes uncle don?" "could you get on the Rack while I pull your bod in opposite directions, you always wanted to be six foot nine, so you're going to be six foot nine"
Colin? "yes uncle don?" "do you mind if I put you in this iron harnessy thingy called the Judas Cradle and lower you very, very slowly onto the pointy thingy, don't worry about screaming, the castle keep is soundproof"
Ger? "yes uncle don?" "I've always wanted to use the Heretic's Fork, I'm just going to thrust prongs into your chin and sternum, don't worry that you won't be able to move your head and/or talk, the world will be a better place"
Kev? "yes uncle don?" "would you get on the Wheel, don't worry that your bod will turn into a writhing, slimey, shapeless mass of flesh mixed in with splinters of smashed bones"
Tyler? "yes uncle don?" "I presume you won't mind when I impale you by lowering your bod on top of this Pointed Stake and impaling it through your abdomen and chest cavity, it will be uncomfortable for a while"
Uncle vlad, I mean don? "yes?" "I thought we were cute" "you are so I won't leave your bods to rot that long, only a couple of millenia"
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Not a soul in Creston thought that the Canucks would win last night.
Amazingly, no one has complained to me about Alain Vigneault. I think he's brilliant but you see him more often than I do.
I got so annoyed that TSN and other 'experts' wrote off the Canucks after game one: "Anaheim will win in four" Mr. Vigneault is a good coach, I knew that he would never let that happen. I hope now that they think they can win. If they get that idea in their head they will be unstoppable.
The game is on.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Unlike Creston, in Toronto you don't see many conifer (pine, larch, cedar or spruce) trees so when the buds on the elm and oak trees in front of the house that I live in start to bud I get excited. In the last few days it's happened. In the winter I don't even note they exist but in the late spring, summer and fall they are fairly prominent. And in this neighbourhood, which is probably one of the oldest in Toronto, and I suppose Canada for that matter, they can be quite stately. But this tree across the street from me, which I think is a black oak, is different. The trunk at the bottom is huge and then about thirty feet up five large branches branch out and then in another twenty feet, more branches branch out, and so on. At the top there has to be five hundred branches, all reaching the same height, at about five or six stories high. In spring that tree goes from being the ugliest specimen of a deciduous tree to being awesome. I find it quite an amazing transformation. Mother Nature, aye.
I hit a wall at 3:45pm today. Not literally of course, but I ran out of energy. Completely. From 3:45 to 5:00 I was running on fumes. It was Friday, I'd kinda worked hard all week, and I was looking forward to my first cold beer. Normally I love to bike home on Fridays with the adrenelin flowing and my legs a'pumping but not today. It was still good but it was nice to get home and relax.
I haven't seen much playoff hockey. The only series I can watch is the NY Rangers and Buffalo. I refuse to watch the Senators play and I'm in bed before anyone out west starts to play so I'm limited in my choice. I'm secretly hoping the NY Rangers upset Buffalo but don't tell anyone. You know who will be in the Stanley Cup final? Anaheim and Ottawa. I'd watch cricket before I'd watch that match-up. In fact I'd watch the first round of the over 65 year old sumo wrestling championships (wouldn't that be an ugly sight?) first.
I used to be the worst person in the history of mankind as far losing. And I haven't changed much. My competitive spirit is still alive and well. I don't mind losing to family members actually. That is not a problem. But at work it's a problem. I gotta do better than anyone else. One would think it would wear off eventually. I presume family members would let me win in whatever game I was playing: "uncle don?" "yes?" "you are cheating" "I don't even know what game I'm playing" "it's called Crazy Eights Pass the Ace" "I should pass a two?" "Only if you have wild card" "which is?" "it depends" "on what?" "if you passed an eight previously and used it as trump, it could be a queen or king" "any beer left?" "no uncle don, it's very simple, think majoong with several tiny changes"
I hit a wall at 3:45pm today. Not literally of course, but I ran out of energy. Completely. From 3:45 to 5:00 I was running on fumes. It was Friday, I'd kinda worked hard all week, and I was looking forward to my first cold beer. Normally I love to bike home on Fridays with the adrenelin flowing and my legs a'pumping but not today. It was still good but it was nice to get home and relax.
I haven't seen much playoff hockey. The only series I can watch is the NY Rangers and Buffalo. I refuse to watch the Senators play and I'm in bed before anyone out west starts to play so I'm limited in my choice. I'm secretly hoping the NY Rangers upset Buffalo but don't tell anyone. You know who will be in the Stanley Cup final? Anaheim and Ottawa. I'd watch cricket before I'd watch that match-up. In fact I'd watch the first round of the over 65 year old sumo wrestling championships (wouldn't that be an ugly sight?) first.
I used to be the worst person in the history of mankind as far losing. And I haven't changed much. My competitive spirit is still alive and well. I don't mind losing to family members actually. That is not a problem. But at work it's a problem. I gotta do better than anyone else. One would think it would wear off eventually. I presume family members would let me win in whatever game I was playing: "uncle don?" "yes?" "you are cheating" "I don't even know what game I'm playing" "it's called Crazy Eights Pass the Ace" "I should pass a two?" "Only if you have wild card" "which is?" "it depends" "on what?" "if you passed an eight previously and used it as trump, it could be a queen or king" "any beer left?" "no uncle don, it's very simple, think majoong with several tiny changes"
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Whew
Well that was a close call. I was pleased to see Trevor Linden score the go-ahead goal, he's one of my favourite hockey players. And no rest for the wicked, they play tomorrow night, we can only hope Roberto Louongo is really hot for the series and some of the would-be scorers finally score some goals.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
so uncle don, no one is going to want to bike with you when you move out there: "they don't want to have fun? they are afraid they will have the best time of their life" "sez who?" "sez me, 100% guaranteed". "Kev will never go for it" "I know, I just need to get him out once". "granny, I mean Jim will never go for it" "it'll be a challenge" "Robin might want to bike" "I'm not sure, but me and him are going to eventually take our guitars up to the lookout and sing John Denver's Rocky Mountain High while having a toke" "and Ger?" "do you know what I hate most about persons whom bike?" "what uncle don?' "bikers who yap" "we may have a problem" "we will not have a problem, I'll duct tape everything on his bod but his eyes"
uncle don don't forget about kev, he's beginning to itch and be bothered. "I knew I should have left him at home, at the next mountain pass just push him into the gorge" "Granny, I mean Jimmy is fretting also" "sheesh, well there is a crevice coming up which should be wide enough to throw his large bod into" "and Robin?" "hmm, he's cute, a chasm is coming up so perhaps we can use his huge head as a bridge" "and Ger?" "we'll need the duct tape and Robin's forehead to bike over to the next glacier so just hold your hand over Ger's mouth and then throw him him into the canyon after we've crossed the bottomless pit, but keep his teeth as a beacon". Neil is here uncle don. "to rescue moi no doubt, how is his mustache?" "cute" "good, I'll need it to brush off the wear and tear of the trip from my Gore bike wear"
uncle don? "what?" we are rebelling" "from whom?" "youm" "moim?" "you said this was going to be fun and we do all the work" "I presumed you guys were born to spoil me, am I wrong?" "don't have that hurt look on your face, uncle don" "I laughed at all your inane jokes from when you were tots and my bod still hurts from the torture you guys put me through, my remaining life is devoted to making your remaining lives as nightmarish as possible" "I thought we were cute uncle don" "that too, but I still have a throb in my left vortex caused by following one or two of you down a black run" "whom was it uncle don?" "I'm not mentioning any names, but one of them has a mustache and the other one looks like a small, white biafran and has an attitude"
uncle don don't forget about kev, he's beginning to itch and be bothered. "I knew I should have left him at home, at the next mountain pass just push him into the gorge" "Granny, I mean Jimmy is fretting also" "sheesh, well there is a crevice coming up which should be wide enough to throw his large bod into" "and Robin?" "hmm, he's cute, a chasm is coming up so perhaps we can use his huge head as a bridge" "and Ger?" "we'll need the duct tape and Robin's forehead to bike over to the next glacier so just hold your hand over Ger's mouth and then throw him him into the canyon after we've crossed the bottomless pit, but keep his teeth as a beacon". Neil is here uncle don. "to rescue moi no doubt, how is his mustache?" "cute" "good, I'll need it to brush off the wear and tear of the trip from my Gore bike wear"
uncle don? "what?" we are rebelling" "from whom?" "youm" "moim?" "you said this was going to be fun and we do all the work" "I presumed you guys were born to spoil me, am I wrong?" "don't have that hurt look on your face, uncle don" "I laughed at all your inane jokes from when you were tots and my bod still hurts from the torture you guys put me through, my remaining life is devoted to making your remaining lives as nightmarish as possible" "I thought we were cute uncle don" "that too, but I still have a throb in my left vortex caused by following one or two of you down a black run" "whom was it uncle don?" "I'm not mentioning any names, but one of them has a mustache and the other one looks like a small, white biafran and has an attitude"
Friday, April 20, 2007
Yay Calgary
It's all tied up! So Calgary, win a game on the road. And the Canucks lost in overtime. A gloom is hanging over Creston.
Toronto forecast: today a high of 18 with nary a cloud in the sky. And on the weekend, highs in the low twenties with not a single cloud appearing on the horizon. It's about time.
I finally went to the doctor this week. Nothing to report other than her sending me for tests. I have to decide what day I want to take off work and go in to the clinic at 9am (I guess it's an all day thing). The doctor is so young, she could be my grandchild. Although she grew up in Toronto, she's spent the last few years in Kelowna and she's been in Creston so we hit it off.
I finally went to the doctor this week. Nothing to report other than her sending me for tests. I have to decide what day I want to take off work and go in to the clinic at 9am (I guess it's an all day thing). The doctor is so young, she could be my grandchild. Although she grew up in Toronto, she's spent the last few years in Kelowna and she's been in Creston so we hit it off.
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