Port Stanley Yacht Basin Pre-1960

Another Time... Nearly 60 years ago.

My "artsy oil" for today. Thinking of warmer days!
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Nature's Paintbrush at Work at the Blue Water Bridge

Last week we drove to USA to pick up mail and do some shopping but on the way we stopped briefly in Point Edward to get some awesome shots of the icy waterfront caused by extreme winds and extreme cold. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Click on any picture to enlarge it.

It reminded me of the icy pictures I have taken in the past at Niagara Falls. Of course in both cases the resulting ice sculptures were caused by the same phenomenon, water mist blown onto the shore in frigid temperatures.

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My Irish Birth Certificate Came Today

Well, it's official now. My Irish birth certificate (even though I was born in Canada) came by registered mail today. That means I can now apply for my Passport and Passport Card (for traveling in the EU).

I'm now a dual citizen Canadian and Irish. This entitles me to freely travel (or work, God forbid) in any of the 28 EU countries. I really don't know what I'm going to do with it but I'm getting a second passport anyway. Just getting it because I can. At least I'm legitimately able to celebrate Patty's Day March 17.

Read about becoming Irish CLICK HERE.
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Another Sad Ending. Another Era?

 

On January 3, 2018, it was announced that our closest Macy's would be closing as part of a plan to close 11 stores nationwide. The store will close in March 2018. The liquidators have taken over the disposal of the existing inventory, with some employees retained to the end. Is this indicative of the general decline in "bricks and mortar" stores that we see all over North America?

History of Birchwood Mall, Port Huron Michigan.
The mall opened in April 1991, with Target, Sears, JCPenney, and Wisconsin-based department store chain Prange's as its anchor stores. Upon opening, the mall attracted Canadian shoppers, who crossed over from Sarnia, Ontario on the Blue Water Bridge.
The Prange's chain was acquired by Younkers in 1992, and all Prange's stores were re-branded. Three years later, Detroit-based Hudson's announced that it would add a store to the mall, and this store opened in 1997. Old Navy was also added in the Younkers wing in the late 1990s, followed by Dunham's Sports.

In 2001, Hudson's changed its name to that of its Chicago-based sister nameplate Marshall Field's. On September 9, 2006, Marshall Field's was one of several nameplates to be converted to the Macy's name. Old Navy closed in late 2007. The space was later occupied by Rainbow Shops and is now Planet Fitness.

In January 2013, the Younkers store changed its name again, this time becoming Carson's. On January 13, 2016, it was announced that one of its anchor stores, Sears was planning to close its doors after being at the Birchwood Mall since its opening in April 1991. There are no current plans for that particular retail space. In March 2016 Carmike Cinemas announced closure of the movie theater for remodeling. The remodeling would last two weeks. Upon first opening, the mall had neon lighting in some archways in the mall. Most of it was later removed or turned off.

On July 8, 2016, a Five Below (a dollar store type format) went in the former Chuck E. Cheese's.

Internet file photos at the abandoned Rolling Acres Mall in Akron, Ohio

Have we lived through yet another era? Is it the end of the shopping mall as we know it? Only time will tell. See more good photos of the Ohio mall, CLICK HERE.

Give It Up!

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Happy Birthday

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Happy Birthday To ME...

I'll take all the Birthdays I can get. My good friend Jeannie from UK says:

"We wish you a very Happy Birthday not only are you a FortyNiner but now a SixtyNiner .

Have a wonderful day .

With much Love 
Jean and John xx"
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I Am Now IRISH!

Top o' da marnin' to ya,

Thought you might be interested... In October I applied for Irish citizenship. Under Irish and Canadian law I am allowed dual citizenship if either of my grandparents were Irish.

CLICK HERE to read about how I acquired a dual citizenship.

Congratulations you are now an Irish Citizen. Your recent application for Foreign Birth Registration has been successful and your certificate is currently awaiting printing.
Your original documentation and your certificate will either be sent to you by registered post in 2-3 weeks or our mission will be in touch with you directly to arrange collection/delivery.  If there is a delay in you receiving your documentation you should contact the office listed at the top of your application form.

Is mise le meas
FBR Team

Now I can legitimately drink green beer on Paddy's Day. Citizenship will certainly add to the experience when I finally visit Ireland and explore my roots. I wonder what other advantages I can find, now that I have access to the EU and its 28 member countries?

Hope you are doing well... (Tá súil tú ag déanamh go maith) Irish? And I thought high-school French was hard enough! Good thing they also speak English.

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A Drive In Springbank Park.

The deep snow and bitter cold temperatures (-22C) combined to make the park into a winter wonderland.

It was a good opportunity to try out my new "all wheel drive' car. It performed marvelously.

A Fowl Party - Click on any duck to enlarge.

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Benz Cat Picture #593

Hey Benz! What is it?

My son Tim saw my computer open at my Photoshop page and while I was sleeping he added stars and craters to make an eerie sci-fi scene. First cat in space? Thanks Tim. Ha ha!
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The Weather Outside Is Frightful...

I sent an email to our good friend Linda (from Grand Bend) wintering in Fort Myers telling her to "Enjoy the Florida heat! Looking at the Fort Myers weather it may seem cooler than usual there today, but just remember Canada. Attached, here's an "artsy" pic from the GBYC Webcam that I somewhat embellished for your pleasure." 

As you may know, I love this view from the lighthouse at the Grand Bend Yacht Club. I check it often and like to experiment with Photoshop expressions.

You can go to the actual web camera if you CLICK HERE.

When Grand Bend gets snow, we often get it too. This is because of streamers off Lake Huron, pick up moisture and deposit it in definite streaks. This area is known to be in a "snow belt" and quite often experiences greater precipitation amounts especially in winter. The warmer lake water evaporates into heavy clouds and the prevailing north west wind carries them right to London.

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Twenty First Century Computer Cat...

Our cat Benz has literally warmed up to high tech. He monopolizes endless hours on the computer and has assumed a top position at "the tower". He is one happy cat, content to soak up the warmth of his new-found position.

Some might say he really takes the heat during the work day, and he appears to thrive and basque in the warmth as he stays on top of the latest technology. The computer generates and emanates a comfortable temperature that any cool cat can really warm up to, especially in the winter. As the computer's hard drive whirs away Benz cat-naps, rejuvenating before downloading himself to his food bowl. What a life!
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Detroit - 9834 Chenlot Street

Please click on my pic to enlarge it.

Today I invite you to view an 'artsy' experiment, my first one this year. Fascinated by the deterioration of the urban core of Detroit, I zeroed in on a house on Google Street View and through the magic of Photoshop, transformed it into an eerie fire scene, fueled only by my imagination.

Detroit's plight is mostly blamed on racial unrest but I fear this urban blight is only the 'canary in the coal mine' as upcoming financial chaos spreads to epidemic proportions and our economy as we know it collapses under the impossible burden brought on by decades of cheap credit. In the name of racial discrimination all kinds of terrible events have escalated in recent months, but many see that racialism is only a symptom or excuse to demonstrate against the hopelessness that millions of North Americans feel when they wake up every day. Time will tell if Trump's MAGA (Make America Great Again) can truly work. Somehow I doubt it.

The map shows the seriousness of the decay with many homes now missing; obliterated completely.

Petosky-Ostego area of central Detroit:
% of unoccupied buildings: 37.8%
# of unoccupied buildings: 2,614

With large brick homes and two-family flats, this area was booming in the 1920s with a growing Jewish population. But the area eventually gave way to rampant crime, poverty and abandonment. Some blocks are lined with garbage, burned-out brick homes and overgrown lots.

You might want to read the whole article CLICK HERE.
You can go to the actual Google map if you CLICK HERE.
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Happy New Year!

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Drive It 'Til The Wheels Fall Off... A Christmas Miracle!

2015 Lincoln MKX with All-wheel Drive.

On Friday I decided I would drive down to Chatham (60 miles) to buy a new (used) car. I knew I was driving my 16 year old car on borrowed time, but it just keeps going. I always said I would "drive it 'til the wheels fell off". I had seen a beauty in the Auto Trader and decided it was time to get rid of my trusty, or should I say, just old, 2002 Buick Rendezvous. Erin volunteered to come with me. What you will see next, you will NOT BELIEVE!

As we wheeled into the dealership, the rear passenger wheel decided to abandon ship.

Thank God it didn't separate while speeding down the highway at 110 km/hr only minutes earlier.

The whole wheel and brake assembly was only held on by the drive shaft, brake hose and upper ball joint. Ironically, we had earlier today, dropped off Erin's Elantra to have our mechanic repair... the ball joints.

The last 50 feet of our trip was unbelievable. I went back to look at the little bump that we went over as we turned into the dealership. There was really nothing there that would cause such a calamitous ending.

 I dragged the poor old Buick into a spot on the used car lot and we strolled into the dealership.

My bargaining power was completely destroyed as Santa and I contemplated my strategy. I decided not to mention the incident until after the test drive in the new car. My hands were still shaking. I had trouble concentrating on the new car.

As luck would have it, we arrived at the Staff Christmas Party for Victory Ford Lincoln. We were invited to a fabulous pot luck lunch with the workers at the dealership. Roast beef, scalloped potatoes, falafels and many other entrees followed by a marvelous desert table with a great selection.

Here I am conferring with the mechanical Santa.

Puts new meaning to "tire kicker".

Our sales rep Mark Jackson introduced us to his Sales Manager, Sa'id Hammoud and I finally explained the problem with "our trade-in". To my complete surprise, they were very understanding, and bent over backwards to put a deal together for us even though they knew...

... we really HAD to buy this car. It was that or take the bus home. Ha ha. They even offered me the scrap value of $200 for my "trade-in". They must have pitied me because they still gave me an even better deal on my new awd Lincoln MKX. This is truly a first-class dealership!

Christmas is a magical time of year and this little tale truly verifies this. Our story could have been much different if the sequence of events had changed, even a tiny bit. Disaster was was so close! Only the miracle of Christmas can explain the happy ending.

 As different as day and night! Ha ha. Goodbye old buddy.

Merry Christmas to all.
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