Grass Police

you heard me, the grass nazis police. I finally broke down and mowed part of my lawn at my vacation home (aka my old house in Newfoundland) so that we could have a grand match of croquet. Raked it all up and went about setting up the croquet set when before I knew it, someone was out trimming the edge of my yard and then cutting the rest of my yard. They have been cutting it all along while I was gone, which is a little weird, as I couldn't imagine someone doing that in the city unless you already arranged it. I don't really care if the grass is cut or not, but apparently the townspeople do, particularly this person. They seem to want to cut down anything growing, heh heh.

the reason some folk are upset about the grass police is when they are specifically told NOT to cut someone's grass, they went ahead and did it anyhow. The home belonged to summer folk and they loved the wildflowers that grew, so didn't want the grass cut. The grass police ignored this and RAZED them down. So that summer, in protest, I refused to cut my grass, even though I had plenty of time to do it. I wouldn't have cut it this week if I hadn't wanted to play croquet. Let it all go to wildflowers I say...its my damn yard!

anyhow, that's my rant. What irritated me most was I had planned on a leisurely afternoon with my mother, neice and my mother's friend B. knocking the balls around the croquet court. Instead we were drowned out by the racket of lawnmowers and gas weedeaters and the stench that comes with spilled gasoline. Great. Thanks you grass nazis police.

They think they're doing you a favor and will make sure to mention to everyone that they cut the grass FOR ME, even though I did not ASK them, nor did I WANT it done. I'm not being ungrateful, I just resent things being IMPOSED on me is all. They make such a stink here if you DON'T cut your grass.

All I can say is I am SOOOO glad I don't live here full time, as I could not handle the politics of this small community anymore. I have heard and seen enough over the years that makes me thankful I don't live here, and can leave it all behind when I go back to my own home in Cape Breton.

end of rant...

God Help Me, I'm Singing Country Music

I have only been here a week today and I'm already catching myself singing country music or humming a newfie tune. I'll have to apologize to my inner senses as they are assaulted daily with this stuff. They are more accustomed to classic rock than anything. I know its a regional thing, and I should go with the flow, but I JUST CAN'T come to this music.

Oh GOD, I have to leave now as the hill tunes are on now...

Another Graceful Move

Well, was up swimming with distant cousins S. and C. and neice O. this afternoon and managed to hit the bottom during my initial plunge. What the hell happened? I have jumped off "diving point" for years and rarely even touched bottom with a toe. Today I hit and nearly snapped my foot off. Got quite a scrape and bruise on the top of my foot (how in the hell I got the top of it scraped up, I'll never know). That was probably the reason why they built a diving platform last summer...hmmm...did the pond's depth lower, or did I simply fall deeper (weight???). Either way, I stroked out to the diving platform and had a much more enjoyable jump into the pond, without striking bottom.

Vacation time is slipping by...I don't want it to end. However, if I didn't hear a certain voice again anytime soon, that would be fine too. Whoever said you can never go home again was dead on. And the newfie/country/what in the hell is that wailing is making my ears bleed.

Which is why I spent yesterday in near seclusion and it was fantastic. I'm reading through Alistair MacLeod's short stories in Island. I have brought quite a stack of books and have not even made it through the first one...what am I doing wrong??? I spend more time going to and from, playing with Stormy, visiting friends and napping. But isn't that what vacation is all about?

Oh GAWD, have to leave my mother's computer again...she's hauling out the newfie music and my ears are sure to bleed again...

Fog Again

Foggy day in Grand Bruit again. Not that I mind terribly. As long as its not as hot here as it was in Cape Breton when I left, I am just fine. This photo is a house that I can see from my parent's deck through the fog.

My cousins left today, as did my friend B. with her baby. I'm not sure who the next visitors are to the area. Anyone could show up on the boat! I'm considering going to my parent's cabin this weekend for some true solitude. Just me and the dog and a pile of books to read. The kayak will also go as it is an excellent area for it, with a whole barasway to explore.

My cousins and I played board games last night and drank my mother's rhubarb slush. It was good until you get to the frothy mush at the bottom, and then it was just plain SOUR and NASTY. I think it wasn't stirred properly as I drank it, perhaps.

Stormy seems to be enjoying his vacation in my house here. There is plenty of house for him to explore in my absence, and he curls up closely to me at night, without Via getting in the way (sorry Via, but you are large and hog the bed at night).

Now its 9:50am and I haven't even had breakfast...must go remedy THAT!

Getting Wet Again

This was last night's voyage. I paddled across Big Pond towards Eastern Brook, where I did a short portage, then floated my kayak into deeper water in Eastern Pond. Getting in and out proved to be not as difficult this time around until it came time to get out at that same nasty spot in Big Pond. Of course, I had an audience, my friend B. and rolled into the water, getting wet yet again. She got a laugh out of it, so I guess that's what counts. I live to serve...heh heh.

Cousins

We visited Long Point across the bar last night...here is a quiet moment between my neice and my cousin, worthy of a photo....moments later the cousin was picking herself up off the seaweed when we crossed back across the bar, and so was I! Flat on my rear end I was.

Fishing Expedition

I took my neice, O. fishing for the first time yesterday and we caught two little trout, and cooked them for her lunch. Next trip hopes to be more successful.

Rain and Fog is Lifting

Well, here I am on day 5 of my vacation. A couple of my cousins are visiting the area, so last night we got together at my house and drank and ate the night away, talking about our parents and how similar our families are. It was quite interesting as we hadn't all gotten together in many years, and compared how each other viewed our families.

Energy level has been rather low, so I'm not sure what that's about. I have some things I would like to accomplish here, but not getting much done! Have been hiking a few times with my neice O. and cousins, but have only been in the kayak once. The weather hasn't been clear every day and yesterday when it was finally sunny again, it was too windy to go in my kayak.

Today feels like a good day to just hang out at home and read the day away...haven't done much of that so far.

Northwest Brook was a lovely sight today...this runs into Big Pond where I was kayaking this afternoon. Getting into the kayak was fairly uneventful...getting out was a different story. With nothing but rocks at the shore, it took some finesse...something I do not possess. Thankfully E. came along and helped steady the kayak so I could barrel roll out without shooting the kayak off across the pond...sheesh...there has to be some sort of technique that I have not yet discovered...

Sunrise on the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Finally figured out the problem...I forgot to resize it...so once I downloaded a program to do that with on my ma's computer, I was set to go.

Sunrise on the Gulf of St. Lawrence

hold on for pics...blogger image upload is frozen...

Vacation Time aka Sunburn time

I made it, I''m on vacation on the rock. My dad even came up and got me in his own boat, saving me an hour and a half on the local ferry. I also got a nasty sunburn to go along with it! The water was beautiful, smooth and the sun was strong.

Crossed the ferry last night - slept in the hammock, hung off the rails on deck. It got a little windy as the night went on, but I just wrapped it around me and snuggled deeper under the blanket stolen from marine atlantic I brought. Much better than trying to sleep on those cold and hard fibreglass moulded benches. Went to sleep under the bright stars and later saw the moon. I woke to the sunrise, something I haven't been up early enough to see at home, but over the ocean, it was fabulous this morning...see next post for pics.

I even saw a shark eat a duck...a few fellow passengers and I were checking out the sea duck swimming below, and then I saw this big swirl, and the duck disappeared..moments later we saw the shark's fin. And that was breakfast at sea for that shark...a la duck.

took my little neice swimming today; and for a walk; and to search the beach for beachglass; and over to help me unpack; and over to play with Stormy, again, and again. She has certainly grown up and I have certainly gotten older...she pooped me out! I had to go home and have a nap this evening!!!

And Stormy, by the way, fared well on the ferry. Got stuck in a kennel room with 3 big dogs and another cat. I thought he would just die of terror, but what a trooper. He just padded around, streched himself out and flopped to the floor for another nap...dogs? whatever...he seems to be saying. Good for him, my little cat. The EFFING dogs never stopped barking and whining all night, but yet Stormy napped through the entire ordeal. And now he's tickled to be exploring our vacation home. Penny was a different story...

haven't had the kayak out yet, but plan to get out early tomorrow morning for a little spin before the wind picks up. Will surely have pics then too.

hello to the gals at work...aww, lookatyas, working so hard in the heat...pffffffttttt, that was the sound of another beer...

Somedays you just gotta scratch...

Someone's got a problem

Came home today to find this mess on my floor...catnip spilled and rolled around in. Someone needs rehab...

Same Sex Marriage - What's the Big Deal

I usually don't tend to comment on current events too much, but have a few thoughts on the subject, which are simply just that - THOUGHTS. Not a formal argument, not based on any particular research, just THOUGHTS.

I REALLY DON'T MIND that our country has just passed the law to allow civil unions between same sex couples. Good for them. I think anyone who wants to make that kind of committment should be able to. Why are religious groups up in arms? It's not like they passed the law.

It's also not like marriage actually means much anymore anyhow. With over 50% of marriages ending in divorce (come on, it has to be higher now) no one seems to be taking the notion of marriage too seriously anyhow. Gawd knows I didn't. I have been divorced for nearly 5 years. Exactly how will civil unions between same sex couples affect religious groups? Are they expecting a mass exodus from their beliefs to become a homosexual that wants to get married in a civil ceremony? Give me a break. Give them a break. Give it a REST already. At least those wishing to participate in a same sex marriage civil ceremony care enough to fight for the right.

Isn't it really about people who love each other that want to make it legal for whatever reason? What's wrong with that? Are religious groups that exclusive? If so, it just makes me more certain that I have made the right choice in not being a part of any organized religion.

There, I've had my say. And just so the bible thumpers know, I am REALLY not interested in rants about how homosexuality is wrong in the comments section. I've heard it all before and don't agree with you, so plaguing me with incessant rambling about it will not win me over. Ever. This post is more in support of same sex civil unions. Go ahead, get married, love one another. I dare ya...

Shortest Joke Ever

A man walks into a psychiatrist's office wearing only underwear made of Saran Wrap.

The psychiatrist says, "Well...I can clearly see your nuts."

10 Reasons to Smile

Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can't even get into my own pants.

Marriage changes passion. Suddenly you're in bed with a relative.

I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it. So I said"Implants?" She hit me.

How come Americans only get to choose between two people to run for president but 50 for Miss America?

A good friend will come and bail you out of jail... but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Darn... that was fun!"

I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed upin the first place!

When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just "chunky dunk.

"Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell thedifference.

Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl, Alt, Delete' and start all over?

Wouldn't you know it... Brain cells come and brain cells go, but FAT cells live forever.

Make Some Noise, some White Noise

Well, against my better judgement (well, I don't know if I have better judgement) I rented White Noise with Michael Keaton. And in case you're new, I live alone with my two kitties and tropical fish. I can handle the movie...but then I get all jumpy afterwards. And its so frigging hot here tonight that I had to go get the big fan - out of the BASEMENT. Of course, I didn't think of it BEFORE the movie. So now here are me and kitty, racing to and from the basement for the fan. PHEW! made it. What really made me jump was when my supervisor called me on my cell phone (I'm on call and it was a return call to me), shortly after the guy's wife's cell phone called him. THAT made me scream a little. Thanks P. Appreciate the free thrills at my expense...heh heh.

so now how long do I have to stay up before I can go to bed...

pant pant pant...summer has arrived

Well, this is the first REALLY hot day we' ve had here. 30+C and the humidity is up. I love summer and all, but can't take the really hot days, especially when I have to work and it gets busy like today, so I was in and out of my oven of a car all day, and I would just get it cooled off with the A/C and I would be at my destination. So then into the oven hot outside, to the various buildings, which sometimes had A/C and sometimes not. I couldn't wait to get home and at least settle on one temperature. So now here I sit with a tall glass of cold water, and an icepack on my knee. pant, pant, pant...

Sunset in a kayak

I know, I will be deluging my blog with kayak pics, but this one is just wonderful...I am partial to sunsets and tonight was a fantastic one, especially over the water.

Incidentally, I am still having a little difficulty getting OUT of the kayak. Put it this way, it ain't graceful. And tonight I managed to FALL out of the kayak while trying to get out and got soaked. I know I can do it, I just have to get a system of sorts down, and so far, that is just not happening.

ahhh, back to the drudgery of my job again tomorrow. What keeps me going is the knowledge that I will be on a boat to Newfoundland in just 4 days!!!

The People That You Meet

when you're kayaking down the creek...or lake. I was out again in the kayak and loving it. No jellyfish at this spot, or eel grass. Just enough wind to keep all flies at bay. So I'm kayaking back towards the beach and my car when I see a woman walking down by my car. She appears to be looking for something, but I'm not sure. Then I get in closer to shore and she is walking on the road again, but then cuts across the grass to the beach towards me. Ok, what's up. Well, it appears she was camping about 100 yards from my car in the bush, private land it appears. She had been stranded there two days ago (Friday) by her friends. Hmmm...she smells a little like someone just off a bender, you know, that after-drinking-your-face-off-odor. She is also shaking like someone with the DT's. Turns out her friends were with her on Friday, the male friend there decided he needed to play Paul Bunyan and saw down a tree, despite the abundance of driftwood on the beach nearby to burn. The tree nearly clips my new friend, and she freaks out at him. He gets pissy, takes the other friend and leaves, never to come back. Hmmmm...and to add to the complications of being left in the middle of nowhere, she is a severe asthmatic, can hardly talk because of her hoarseness, and her "friend" left with her meds in the car. She takes two inhalers, one tablet med, and is on a breathing machine at night. She is lucky she didn't take a severe attack and die!

So she wanted to use my phone, and I happened to have it with me in the kayak as I am on call for work. She left a message for her friend, and began to cry, not knowing what to do. So I offered to give her a ride somewhere, and took her back to the "friend" who left her. Things seemed a little sketchy about leaving her there, and she was holding my hand through the car window to say good bye and thanks for everything. I offered a dozen times to take her back to her house in another town, but she wanted to stay there.

Strange, very strange...

The Maiden Voyage

I finally got the kayak out in the water last night at West Bay. And I didn't have to roll into the lake to get out of it this time...I had a nice little paddle, but was very aware that I would not want to flip it in this particular portion of the lake...full of jellyfish and eel grass...YUCK!

I haven't quite gotten the whole tying it to my roof rack sorted out, but will learn with time. At least it didn't fly off yet.

one cool thing my kayak has is a place to secure the paddle for when you want to stop and take picures, a drink, etc. GOOD, so I won't lose the damn thing like if it flys off and floats away.

had the locals restless...a nice older couple that was out walking their dog stopped to confirm that I knew what the hell I was doing and that I knew how to swim, had a life jacket, that I wouldn't be going too far. heh heh...sweet old folks. I can see their point though, as I was alone, which can be dangerous if I haven't told anyone where I'm going or if something happens.

Kayak Saga

Well, I damn near made it out for the maiden voyage tonight...but I am on call and got a call shortly after I got home that took me to almost dark...RATS. I even bought a PFD today, and a whistle, and made myself a bailer (out of a milk jug). I was planning to go out on the lake until just before sunset and get some great pics...so much for that. The work call was a serious one, so had to deal with it immediately.

I have to figure out a better place to store my kayak too...turned it over today to show it to a friend and it was ROTTEN with earwigs, the dirty pests. So I moved it from there and now have it resting on a bench outside, but really need to find a better place for it and don't reckon I'll be dragging it in the house each time I use it...

So the christening is going to take place tomorrow night, weather providing...I just wanna kayak!!! I wanted to post a pic of it tonight now that I got things figured out, but the MEC site is down, so I can't get a pic, unless I go take one outside in the dark...bummer.

This is what happens when you pick a fight with a porcupine...

Shoreline Festival

Now that I finally got the pics working, here is one of the Shoreline Festival in PEI.

Smiling Kitten

Just too cute!!!

WTF

When did Blogger begin allowing uploading of images? I guess I haven't been paying attention but for the longest time I always had to store them somewhere else to upload from, and was using Hello until it crapped out on me. so then I signed up for photobucket and was poking around the create post in Blogger and when clicked on image, I finally had an option to upload from my computer...cool. now I can tell Hello to lose the O and forget about photobucket. Stay tuned for more pics I have been itching to get up...

My little one is growing up!

He looks so grown up here, but is still quite an evil kitten...

Some Things Just Don't Make Any Sense

like the cheque I got in the mail the other day for $ .01 - yup, a whole cent. I knew it was coming too, as my last Visa statement read I had one cent credit and I was planning on cancelling the card and closing the account. Of course, they cannot close it out as long as they have a balance, even one cent. I had been getting statements for months for this one cent. So I phoned them and told them to close the account and they told me they couldn't unless the cent was used up. I asked them how long they would continue to send me statements, costing them printing and postage. Answer was they would send them as long as the one cent remained. So I asked them why they couldn't just write it off somehow, and he told me they could and would. What I didn't realize is that they would send me a cheque for one cent, spending more money on a statement, a cheque and postage. And guess what. I'm not cashing the cheque. They have been bastards for years to me, hence the reason for paying off the card and closing the account. I hope it fucks up their books for a while.

the other thing that doesn't make any sense is concerning another piece of mail I received today. Remember the new sofa I bought at the going out of business sale...well they sent me a credit card for their store. Great. I'll use it now that you have boarded up the building. Sheesh, what assholes. They aren't a chain, just a family owned business, so where in the hell else am I going to use a credit card for Hassin's Furniture Store????

some things just don't make any sense.

Female-Male Prayers

FEMALE PRAYER

Before I lay me down to sleep,
I pray for a man, who's not a creep,
One who's handsome, smart and strong
One who loves to listen long,
One who thinks before he speaks,
One who'll call, not wait for weeks.
I pray he's gainfully employed,
When I spend his cash, won't be annoyed.
Pulls out my chair and opens my door,
Massages my back and begs to do more.
Oh! Send me a man who'll make love to my mind,
Knows what to answer to "how big is my behind?"
I pray that this man will love me to no end,
And always be my very best friend.
Amen.

MALE PRAYER

I pray for a deaf-mute nymphomaniac with big tits
who owns a liquor store and a bass boat.
This doesn't rhyme and I don't give a shit
Amen.

The Kayak Ordeal

Well, I got it. after no small amount of frustration, let me tell you (I am, I am). Thanks go to my good friend K. who was able to pick it up in Halifax for me easily while I rocked it up at the Shoreline Festival. She even left it out for me to pick up today on my day off. So off I went to put the roof rack on and bring home my kayak. Well, for the fit kit, no words included...a 3 step photograph of how it might look is all. Great. The aero feet that attach to the car, somewhat better but no recommendations on how things would go easier if you just did this or that first. Complicating factors were the heat, the deer flies (several new bites, thank-you), not ever having seen one of these racks up close before to see how it went, K.'s dog and his incessant barking each time one of the many people trafficking in and out of the house, leaving him behind...oh, and lets not forget the fact that I am totally hungover and lacking coordination. I think it waited through yesterday to jump on me today the minute I made an efforts at physical tasks.

anyhow, got the rack finally on, and realized that the covers for the mechanism were not on. Ripped the whole fucking thing off again, and put the covers on, then put it all back on again. The load bars were driving me insane though, moving about. Apparently if I had read the directions correctly and when necessary, I would have discovered that there was a "cam" tension thing that allowed the bar to move freely. I definitely should have know that before I was pounding them through with a rubber mallet. And the measurements need to be exact (spacing of bars and feet) in order to fit my car properly and it wasn't until this happened that everything finally fell into place.

I got it home and it took me about 3 minutes to get it off the car. phew.

I love the kayak. The seat is taller than my friend K.'s and is padded! What a bonus. I sat in it on the grass and motioned paddling, surely in much amusement to my neighbors who likely thought I was still drunk.

now point me to the best spots on the water for a recreational kayak. I'm there. Just not today.

PEI Rocks it with the Shoreline Festival

Virgin no more (to festivals that is)...I had a wonderful time in Prince Edward Island and the Shoreline Festival. I wasn't quite sure what to expect since it wasn't going to be bands I had ever heard of, other than through my friend M, with whom I went. I could ramble on into senseless nonense, but instead have chosen to outline what I saw as highlights of the whole scene, from my perspective...

1. the weather rocked. Some thought it chilly the first nice, I was super. I don't normally get chilled, so had on a skirt, t-shirt, long sleeved top, and a Shoreline hooded sweatshirt (that I bought that night). It alternated between sun, overcast, short spell of rain late Saturday night, and some fog. It was mostly hot sun!
2. performance art...while it wasn't super swarming with it, there was enough - huge hula hoops, marked with glow in the dark paint/tape and there were both guys and gals hooping; large flashing batons - they held my interest alright, but moved away from my space; ribbon twirling and pompoms on string - sweet!; jugglers with colored balls on the dance area; back-flip frisbee...well, ok, there as a light-up frisbee and one guy kept doing back-flips when he thew it; and tons of things that glow and move...
3. drumming - there was a booth set up for sale of drums, but next to it were many drums and a group that jammed between sets of the other music...and they still went on at 4am, very tribal and cool. I want a drum.
4. cool people. lots of "hippies" but many seemed more new age hippy. Loved the festival clothes, people...I got to get me some more.
5. the tent nazis police...when we got there our crew was moved 3 times before the feckers let us rest and get some serious alcohol consumption underway...but then we had a very "organized" tent city. We did end up with a nice enough area, right next to a screen tent so we used it as a landmark to find our way back. We also had some flags nearby, once from Finland.
6. the van that broke down a few times on the way there. Not mine. Someone else's. So glad you folks made it. We came over on the ferry with ya, and left you behind in the parking lot as someone was giving you a boost, then saw you pushing the van some miles later up into another parking lot. incidentally, you also ended up in the next row at the festival field too, fate, I tell ya.
7. bathrooms with endless toilet paper. I can't even tell you how excited I was about that. I do not DO porta potties if I can help it.
8. hot showers, any time of night. Again, very nice.
9. some very interesting people - the gal with gorgeous dreds who loved to dance and smiled from ear to ear each time I passed her in the bathroom line up; and the mushroom man with the green hat; the very tanned topless gal returning from the and provoked the guy sitting next to me to exclaim that he was now happy...he had seen some excellent bands, drank a ton, went to the beach and saw titties. its the little things, I tell ya...also of interest was the guy dressed as Homer, rockin' it up on the dancefloor; the gal who was on a little too much of something and was chewing her gum like no tomorrow, while fixing a very intense stare on you; the sweet kid who asked for a spare candle on Friday night to light up his corner of tent city who returned it today; the gal who we tried to warn from the meadow where we had tried to stumble to the beach on Friday night...she got into the poison ivy and poison oak that night...sorry gal, tried to warn you, even if it was about Samsqatch (gotta see the Trailer Park Boys to understand that) and so many more colorful people...
10. the lovely ladies selling the veggie wraps who cared enough to ask me if I had eaten today and then sold me two so my friend wouldn't be hungry either
11. the nearly total lack of flies was mint. I brought fly dope, but rarely used it, thankfully!
12. the fireworks that nearly got our buddies kicked out of the festival - oops! They looked great, I don't care boys, you guys rocked it.
13. the fact that it waited until 2 or 3 am to finally rain, so I just climbed into the tent and chilled there, watching the world go by until the worst of the rain and thunder came.

And of course, last but not ever least - the music. A fabulous effort by all. Although you folks were all strangers to me, I had a great time, danced a lot, and plan on looking for your music. Top picks for me would have to be Grand Theft Bus from Fredricton; Slowcoaster from Sydney, and The Jimmy Swift Band from Halifax.

ok, now I really have to go find my bed...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Happy Festivus...I mean Festival time

I am off to a music festival in another province in a few hours...who hoo! Had a rocky start today with the power going off, and thought I was going to have to leave the cat litter boxes less than sparkling (water pump), but alas, it has just been restored...

so when the power was off I thought about getting together some of my cod's ears earrings to bring and sell if anyone is interested. If Hello ever gets on the go again, I'll post a pic. They are made from a bone in the head of the codfish, where the "ears" are situated.

Three days of music, food, drink and camping...I am so down for that...just hope we don't get too much rain...I have packed two ponchos and a tarp JIC...

Rock a Bye Kitty with the red paws on

Well, if Hello was working, I'd post a pic, but that will have to wait...and you will have to suffer with the written description of tonight's events. Got the soft claws nail tips for the Stormy today, and attempted to put them on. I knew I would have to catch him in a slow moment, when he was relaxing in my arms or on a chair somewhere. And I knew I would have to be quick as they're put on with a type of super glue, dries very fast. Sooooo, I slide kitty into my arms and try to stuff a couple on out in the kitchen. Like a lamb to slaughter, you'd swear I was shoving bamboo under his nails by the fuss he put up. And I was super gentle. So I got two on and a bunch on the floor.

Plan B. I waited until he got up in my arms and began to relax and would fill the tips with glue and jam them on. That lasted for about 4 tips, when he realized the injustice being done to him and began to wail again.

Plan C. nurse wounds left by uncovered nails and take a break. Get kitty again and lull into false sense of security and jam a few more on. Got 2 more on that time...only 2 more to go. We both needed a break that time. About 15 minutes later after he pranced and danced around the room after the resident feline and his teddy bear, he came back, I rocked him again and got one more on. Then ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. More blood (mine), howling, squirming, and sputtering at the outright indignation I was putting him through once again. Dammit, I only have one left and if I don't get it on soon, the super glue is going to dry up (comes with a small disposable tip to fit the inside of the nail tips.

Plan D. get another drink, chill for a bit, and wait until he climbs back up on my lap again and sneak up on him with the last tip. and Voila. 10 tips on 10 claws. PHEW. What a friggin ordeal.

He sounds hilarious when he walks on the floor...I think he is most offended by this, and not so much the fire engine red nails he is being forced to wear...poor little effer.

"Discovering" Music

I have found over the past few years, quite a struggle to find new music that I like. I don't know, this hip hop and rap stuff just does nothing for me. When I turn on the radio, its all you hear and we have only two radio stations here (not including CBC aka sleep radio). But perhaps my parents felt that way about Disco and Rock and Roll, who knows. Anyhow, what I have been finding lately though, is that I am discovering more and more classic rock and folk music that I like. Most of these artists I have heard of before, but other than their top hits, had not heard much from some of them. Perhaps their song might be in a movie I've seen recently. And I was just a spud when much of it first came out.

So now, instead of grumbling about the local radio station playing "today's" music, I sweep the net looking for more and more 60's and 70's folk/rock music. One song leads to that musician's career discography, and before I know it, I have rediscovered some great musicians of the time. They might not be everyone's taste, but I am finding some really great stuff. Comedic sketches by musicans were popular and some of this stuff just cracks me up. Now, I'm not talking about stuff like Eddie Murphy, hardly a musician, or Cheech and Chong (which are BOTH hilarious, but they are hardly musicians. But I just discovered Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant" and it is just hilarious! Check it out sometime if you get a chance. I had come across Arlo on my Woodstock DVD as I wrote about earlier this week, and so thought I would check out some of his other stuff, and I find that I quite like it.

another group I recently "discovered" - Blind Faith. They only put out one album, and were together for short while, and it comprised of Eric Clapton, Steve Windwood, and Ginger Baker, Rick Grech. I had heard one or two of the tracks from it over the years, but didn't really look into who Blind Faith was, although I should have recognized the vocal talents of Eric and Steve, but missed it. I saw the song "Can't find my way home" on a couple of movies this winter and so looked up the group, found the cd on e-bay, and its now one of my favorites cds.

so if you're finding it hard to hear music you like on the radio, dial back a few decades and check out some of the fantastic music that has been around for years.

Why buy either?

in a conversation with a co-worker today, she handed me a quote of sorts that she had heard...the first part is very familiar...the second part caused me to howl out loud. If it offends the male population, then you obviously have gotten the point. It is in reference to making the commitment of marriage.

...said by certain members of the male population...

"Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?"

snappy retort by female counterpart...

"Why buy the pig when all you want is a little sausage"

Howl...

Kayakless No More!!!

Well, after much consideration and ridiculous amount of calls, net searching, whatever, I have decided to buy a kayak and the pricey roof rack. My last big purchase of the year, but I am so excited! The one I'm buying (and no negative comments about it please, I just can't handle it now!!!) is from MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) and is an Old Town Otter XT 9'6" long recreational kayak. If I find that I want to upgrade to a better quality one, then so be it. For now, this will get me used to it. The details have been worked out, my friend K. is going to Halifax on Friday for a few days and will pick it up for me, rack and all, while my friend M. and I will be partying our way through the Shoreline Festival in PEI.

And right now I am off to the river to kayak with my friend K. in her kayak...later all!

Sunny Sunday Sunshine Shine ON

Beautiful day here in Cape Breton...sun is shining again, the wind is nice and warm, keeping the flies at bay, and it is NOT a work day!!! I am hanging out the laundry, reading and taking in the sun out there...came in for a drink and a quick peek online...must get back before the sun thinks I don't appreciate it...

Arlo Guthrie

I have rediscovered Arlo after watching him play at Woodstock (via DVD of course, I was just a little kid when the original was happening). I just love his voice, and his humour sketches are quite funny. What totally cracked me up though was him talking for a moment after the song Coming Into Los Angeles (the live version from Woodstock) he speaks to the crowd about the amount of people and traffic and says "Hey, it's far out man, I don't know if you can dig how many people there are man, like I was rappin' to the fuzz, right, can you dig it?" GAWD its been years since I've heard that lingo...rappin to the fuzz...go Arlo!

Live 8 Canada

well, the music would have been betterif the damn microphones worked...is it just me or do most of the canadian microphones suck on this show? What a disappointment, bad enough we have to put up with Dorky Ben Mulruney, not to mention Twitty Tanya, now we lose out on some of the best music because the microphones are having serious malfunctioning issues...great. Thanks CTV for screwing it up...I hope the folks at the concert at least heard it...

Insult to injury was when Aerosmith thanks TORONTO for the concert venue...um, yeah. Don't take it personally BARRIE...I wish I had live feed from London only, or even Philly for that matter...at least their microphones work...

Now, I know that the concerts are more about bringing an end to world poverty, but these are some BIG names and the sound at the Barrie concert is so very low most of the time...rats.

it was very cool however to see everyone live though, some I had never seen sing live before playing at the London Concert, like Deep Purple, and Pink Floyd. That was just awesome!

I did buy a white bracelet and hope to get it in the mail soon...been a few weeks since I ordered it. I reckon I'll wear it often as I usually wear bracelets anyhow.

last but not least and most important...go here and sign up...and help put and end to world poverty - make poverty history...

Kayakless in Cape Breton

decisions decisions...I have been seriously looking for a kayak for the past few days (had pondered for many months) and went so far as to go to Costco on Thursday to pick one up and throw it on my friend M.'s roof rack. They were out of stock...unfortunately I didn't discover this until AFTER I dropped $50plus tax on a membership...feckers...

so now I am just looking in general and finding suitable kayaks everywhere...the issue now is the damn roof rack. I first went to Crappy Tire only to be told that it would be nearly $400 with their stuff, not to mention they didn't have the one piece particular to my car. Fine. Feck you too. I then went online and came across several companies that sell car racks, with the best bet so far being Thule and they are not cheap either. The rack for my car will cost me $180 for the foot pack, $75 for the load bars, and another $75 for the fit kit (special piece for my car).

So now I am looking at basically spending $900 on the whole kayak idea. Holy FECK. Now, I can rationalize that the roof rack has MANY purposes and it is transportable to any car, minus the $75 special piece. I can carry a lot of crap on my roof with a good rack. The kayaks I am looking at are roughly $450 each (or $399 if I was lucky enough to get one from those bastards at Costco). Can I justify this expense? I currently have the money...it is a long drive back to Halifax though where both rack and kayak are to be found...

the story on Costco bastards is that I called on Thursday told me they had 3 in stock, hence my spur of the moment trip to the city with my friend M. who already HAS a roof rack. Only when I got there, the 3 in stock were actually not fit for sale because of damage...so they didn't actually have ANY. But 12 on order. to be in in 2 weeks...MAYBE. Of course, this was not explained to me until AFTER I spent the $50 on the membership...I know I can use it for anything else, but it just SUCKS to be SUCKERED!

The 2005 Nova Scotia International Tattoo final formation 

Tattoo Me!

Went to the big city yesterday afternoon with M. in search of a kayak and found a tattoo. The Nova Scotia International Tattoo that is...great show Halifax! RCMP, Militia, Navy, Army, Air Forces, United Nations Peacekeepers, international guests from Germany, France, England, Africa and more. There were marching bands, acrobatics, technical displays, dancing, singing, skits, monologues, drill teams, and more. The pace was so fast the 3 hours there flew by. Happy Canada Day! We attended a special showing for family and friends of the performers...it opens for real tonight for the masses...They are in Halifax for a week, and I recommend anyone going~ it was truly groovy.