I Couldn't Resist Drawing This!

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Did you ever wake up in the night and just have to write something down so you wouldn't forget what it was? As I get older this seems to happen more often. But then there lots of things I probably didn't write down and I can't even remember them now... so what does it really matter?  Anyway I just thought this cool sign that I 'saw' in my twisted little mind was too neat to let slip away. Would make a good t-shirt don't you think?

Today, at the condo, Wendy and I got talking with our neighbour Chris Smith down in the underground parking lot. (This place is relatively warm and seems to be a key, impromptu, meeting spot especially in the colder weather when folks don't spend as much time outside.) We were discussing the deterioration of the great American Empire and Chris was making comparisons with the TSA, Hitler, McCarthyism, and the fall of the Roman Empire so I guess some of this stuff just stuck in my head.  The TSA is really out of control and seems to represent the twisted, paranoid thinking of many Americans. Here's a good blog about security and futile efforts by government if you are interested: http://www.schneier.com/
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Here's the original sketch I woke up with - while it was still fresh and dripping out of my brain. 

Here's some more that I found on the internet:

Where will all this end? My father fought a war to end this kind of government aggression and intrusion. He would be abhorred.

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Happy Birthday Wendy

"The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age."

Lucille Ball

"Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternatives."
Maurice Chevalier

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London Photo Walk - EOA

EOA 
 

We met at a little before ten at the Next Door Diner on Hamilton Road. This area in London's east end (East Of Adelaide) was always very 'blue collar' and is not the most affluent part of town. It was chilly and overcast at first but it cleared nicely for our walk. About 15 people showed up. (all ages) The plan was to walk for two hours as a group and meet back here for lunch.

The thing I like about this group is that there is no membership or rigid structure. You simply go to the web site and see what's coming up and show up if you want. No strings, no obligation, and no commitment. Here's the web site http://londonphotowalk.ca/

My friend Lissette and her Mom.

I'm not sure what to take a picture of but this hydrant is making me have to pee.

I wonder if graffiti is copyrightable. I'll take a chance and copy it to my blog. Click on it, it's really quite artsy in its own way.

A music store has an eye-catching sign

I've driven by this Chinese restaurant for years but I don't remember ever seeing a 'c' between the 'u' and the 'k' so I guess there never was one. Strange choice of names don't you think?

UPDATE: We drove by today Feb 15, 2014 and this place was I think,  a hair salon.

Trying my best to be 'artsy' I think I'm groping a bit... but when you click on it, it looks kind of neat.

Reminds me of an old joke. "Do you want a screw for that hinge?"...

"no, but I'll give you a blank-blank for the lawn mower!"

Some of the places are quite old and have character.

Wendy named the picture above "Time for dinner".  I guess they'll finish the lights later.

The Next Door Diner is new but the place is just as I remember it 40 years ago when it was Vito's Pizza Cave or later Vito's Pizza Grotto. Nowadays the water fall wasn't working, the food wasn't nearly as good and it took forever to get served. I guess they weren't used to 'a crowd'.

Food was OK but took for ever. I'll try again in another 40 years.

UPDATE: Wendy and I drove by this restaurant Feb. 15, 2014 and it was boarded up, out of business. Maybe the slow service did them in.

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Natural Beauty at Family Flowers

We drove down to St Thomas to visit the 'Parade of Poinsettias' at Family Flowers. The family-run farm was hosting an open house and the poinsettias were absolutely spectacular as you will se in the pictures below. I sized them larger than usual so when you click on the picture you will see a beautiful big close-up.

This is the perfect time of the year to visit a greenhouse.

Try clicking on a picture.

I don't need to write much on this post since the pictures speak for themselves.

Wendy took most of the beautiful flower pictures with her little Panasonic DMC FX9.

They even have some very friendly animals that are a hit with everyone.

Some old farm vehicles, long since out of service, make good subjects for some 'Artsy Pix'.

© Tim Carroll 2010

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London Photo Walk on Sunday

I really enjoyed my first ever London Photo Walk at the Zubick's scrapyard earlier this month so I was happy to see they are planning another walk for this coming Sunday at 10 AM. This time it will start and stop at a new restaurant in the east end called the Next Door Diner.  I remember this place at 435 Hamilton Road was called Vito's Pizza Cave back in the 60's and 70's. Used to take girls here for dinner. It was a 'somewhat classy' Italian restaurant in those days with a waterfall on the cave motif wall. Forty years ago... Ooooh I date myself!

I think the door and stonework around the entrance is all that's left of Vito's Pizza Cave

This Photo on Google Maps it doesn't look too appealing but the thumbnail mock-up on Facebook (inset) shows what it should look like as it is modernized. But hey, it's a photo walk not a food walk so we'll see if the joint is any good when we finish the walk around noon on Sunday.

If you're interested you can read more about the walk at: http://londonphotowalk.ca/

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No Cruise This Fall

Cheryl and John, our cruising friends from Toronto went  over to China to visit John's cousin who is living there on business. They spent nearly a month there in Sept. and had a first class view of many sights and cities (even had their own driver). All this means John can't get any more time off to go away again.  Our other cruising friends Donna and Pete were also committed with Donna working at a new job.  

The Westerdam anchored at Half Moon Cay. (File photo) Click pic to enlarge.

Holly and Barry did book a 14 day Caribbean cruise on the Westerdam and they will be leaving Friday Nov. 19. They will meet up with our friends Sharon and Greg from Pittsburgh for the second week of the trip.

Wendy and I had been exploring various possibilities like a cruise or just a stay in Florida but  have decided that since her mom Gene seems to have weakened this fall, that it would be better to stay close to home. Anyway, with the announcement of Erin and Jake's engagement, Wendy has her mind on other things. That's fine too because the weather here has been so nice that we really don't feel like we deserve a break.. .yet.
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IMHO There Is No Logic To Bagging Leaves...

Most of the colourful Maple leaves have fallen to the ground and when I drive around the city I'm always amazed to see hundreds of bags of the valuable vegetable matter lined up at the curb for pickup by our City Works Department. All this is way too good to go into our precious land-fill.

Why not return the nutrient back to the earth as a beneficial mulch? How much is here? Ten or fifteen bags? No problem - grind them up instead.

The lawn mower with a mulching cover over the discharge chute causes the leaves to stay in contact with the blades so they grind down to confetti sized pieces which will decompose into good soil. It helps keep moisture in the lawn and feeds it too.

In our case we wanted all the leaf mulch in one place - under the pine trees, but you could grind them up where they fail to distribute them more evenly over your lawn. By Spring you will never know they were here.

All gone? The whole thing took less than twenty minutes!  We are all the winners when we recycle.

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