A blog full of memories
In 2000, I spent Easter weekend in San Jose, Costa Rica sitting on a park bench in the middle of the city with a fellow traveller from Argentina. First, you have to know that Central America is devout Roman Catholic and closes down entirely for the four days of Easter weekend. Nothing is open. I …
Yesterday, Ian showed me Picasa (free photo edititing software from Google). Today, I made some Polaroid collages from some digital pictures with a few clicks of the mouse. Click. Click. Click. 1. 2. 3. Done. Picture simplicity.
Birthday wishes Hugs and kisses Dad does dishes Abundant riches For you today On your birthday I love you Mum. Happy Birthday!!
If you are Canadian, shame on you if you don’t know the origin of this statement. If you are a Quebequer, you should definitely know the origin of this statement. As a Canadian AND a federalist, I am more passionate about this statement than the original statement. Support the free kisses. Order one today from …
When I was a nanny in France, I had to spend the first few weeks adjusting to the new language. My French was very, very basic when I arrived. However, I discovered that with many words, I could say them in English with a bit of a French accent–and they meant the same thing. For …
My neighbour won a GOLD award for his 2003 Petite Sirah at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. I’ve offered to pour for him on Saturday. I’m hoping I’ll have some interesting stories at the end of it all. About his label: Origin 1: Bluenose is a nickname for Nova Scotians and originated during the early …
Here is part of a sign from Fitch Mountain Eddie’s–a restaurant in Healdsburg, California. I have lived here for four years now. I have only eaten at Fitch Mountain Eddie’s once. It was quite good. I think I had a garden omelette. When I got out of my car the other day to get some …
My very first attempt to take Polaroid pictures. I somehow thought that the cows wouldn’t mind. After work one Monday, I drove up Sonoma Mountain Road to see if there were any cows who wouldn’t mind posing. The funny bit about this story is that I am wearing a designer skirt and heeled boots. I’m …
The other night, after I took Polaroid pictures of the cows (entry above), I got back in my car and started home. I got on Highway 101 at Pengrove. As I’m accelerating up the on ramp I see two hitchhikers and I decide to pick them up. I have hitched before (in Europe, Canada, and …
I had dinner with my friend Amy the other day. I told her how much I liked writing on my blog. I probably talked a bit too much about it because she told me about this cartoon she’d seen in the New Yorker.
This blog entry is dedicated to my friend and colleague’s granddaughter who had heart surgery last Thursday. Today, I walked the Heart Walk. My friend Carol and I managed just under an hour for five miles around Spring Lake. She sets a good pace. I’m always impressed. Up until today, I didn’t really know why …
I have recently decided to take Polaroid pictures. I even borrowed a Polaroid camera to see if I would like it first. I originally had an idea to make a photo essay of the coffee makers in my life. I seem to somehow have accumulated seven, even though I use only one. I just thought …
It’s all in the anticipation I think. It’s all in the expectation of doing something that makes it exciting. I guess that’s why there is an entire industry of marketing and advertising. The entire industry is dedicated to creating hype and expectations. I’m pretty much a novice at biking. In fact, last year, I simply …
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Because there was a tiny bit of confusion with the title of this entry, it probably is best to read the two previous entries before you read this one. How to Get into a Kayak from a Dock Without Getting Wet. The Seal Launch (off a dock). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ok. Now, I’m just talking nonsense, …
Another way to get into a kayak from a dock is the seal launch. In this case, I think it might be better if you are using a small, plastic kayak. Simply leave your kayak on the dock with the front end sticking off the dock as much as possible without it tipping into the …
To my sister who asked in an email: How do you get in a kayak from a dock without getting wet? From someone who got wet. Imagine you are standing on a dock perpendicular to the shore. That is, the dock sticks out into the lake. Imagine the kayak is on the left hand side …
I got up extra early this morning to go to the DMV in Petaluma. I wanted to get there when it opened (at 8h00 am, or so I thought). There were a few other people when I arrived who immediately told me that, today, the DMV opened at 9h00 am. I have lost my driver’s …
Otherwise called antiques. Today, there was a huge antique sale in our town square. What is an antique, really? It’s just dead people’s stuff. Not that I know anything about antiques–but I find it all kind of creepy. Dead people’s stuff. Stuff that didn’t belong to anyone you know, so you don’t require a fond …
I have been walking every Sunday with my friends and neighbours around Fitch Mountain (the bump in the landscape behind Healdsburg, where I live). It’s quite a climb, especially if we do it in the reverse direction. We call ourselves Fitch Mountain Fitness!! Carol asked me to walk with her and her team for the …
My friends Ian and Wendy attended a Chinese opera when they went to China this summer. Ian took a picture of the translated words from the opera. That is how I feel today. Weird how you can see some words from another language translated into your own (however rough) and they seem to say exactly …
Last night I bought some root vegetables to make soup–root vegetable soup with turkey. Wholesome. Nutritious. That was the plan anyway. I bought four red potatoes, a turnip (or I call it a turnip–people here in the States call it a rutabaga), a parsnip, and an onion. I already had celery and carrots. That’s it. …
One day my sister and her friend Alison were out for a horseback ride. Alison seemed a little more quiet than usual, so my sister asked her what was wrong. She said she had been preoccupied with what to do with her aging cat. Merlin was nearing 12 or 13 at the time. Alison had …
Today for lunch, we went to a little place 5 minutes drive from work. We sat outside and ate lunch and commented on the lamas, various cars, and license plates. When it was time to go, we cleared the dishes back into the cafe, and came back outside to get in the car to go …
My parent’s long-time friend and neighbour, Nancy, has a herniated disk and is getting surgery for it. In fact, I believe she’s had the surgery, but she’s still in Vancouver. The Friday before she was due to fly out (from Whitehorse to Vancouver for the surgery), she called my Mum to ask for some help. …