It was a dark and stormy night…
The late night drive to the lake was highlighted by non-stop lightening and intermittant heavy rain. Not too much different today. We’re in Kenora shopping for something to do and picking up some movies.
The wireless is broken or messed up but the cable connection to the net is still working. I think a nap is a very good possibility.
– I’m just hanging out in the car, working and playing. Perhaps, nap… Zzzz… Zzzz… Zzzz.
Author: garry.c.stewart
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Stormy
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Birthday Surprise
Scott’s birthday weekend had an extra special surprise when Mandi, her sisters and parents arrived at the lake to celebrate with us. We all had a great time chatting, eating, walking the trail and relaxing around the fireplace.
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Fireworks :Lake
After a very nice afternoon with Mandi, her sisters and parents we had supper and birthday cake and then Scott opened his presents. It was a wonderful day. After dark Eric, Dez, Scott, Mom & I headed over to the neighbors on the west side of the point where it was less windy to launch some fireworks.
This was a first for all of us, and a first for us at the lake and we all had a great time. I think a new tradition has been born, fireworks at the lake to celebrate your birthday, There are already plans for the next “event”.
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Running Water
We’re at the lake this weekend and the weather is great. We’ve actually been suntanning on the dock! As you can see from the photo, there is no running water yet, just me, running for water.
After fetching some water, it was breakfast and then a couple of cup of coffee while I tried to make a router think it was a wireless router. Then some reading on the deck. I’m reading The DNA of Relationships, which I’d highly recommend for anyone. It’s all about taking responsibility for your self and how you think and feel.
Only a couple of time in the history of the cottage have we conducted a pre-opening before the May long weekend. May long weekend has always been in my family the weekend that we made the first trip of the year to the cottage and “opened up”. This mean things like getting the water running, putting in the boats, and doing a little spring cleaning. This year, while it’s quite warm this weekend, I won’t be turning on the water just yet. There is still lots of ice on the lake
and temperatures are still going below zero over night. But, I’ve prepped the boats, re-connected most of the water system components, re-assembled the septic system where possible (the holding tanks are still frozen), and set out the chairs and loungers on the dock. Whew, all that work called for some lazing around on the dock, and lovely snack prepared by Shirley and a small cat nap.
It’s too nice to sleep the day away so I grab the camera and head out to the point to check out my trail and take some photos. As I emerged from the trail back on to the road I was greeted by two guys leaning on an ATV, and it seems like they were waiting to talk to me. It was quite interesting, ask me about it sometime.
Back at the ranch, somebody is sleeping. Zzzzzz, Zzzzz, Zzzzz. The lake has a tendency to slow you down a little and make it seem quite exceptable to nap the late afternoon away.
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Back on the bike
Just came back from a solo ride along the traditional route out to Assiniboine Park and back for about 33km. I was a little tired along the second half and when you don’t have anybody riding with you it’s easy to slack off. There were a couple of challenges however. One guy pulling a trailer with a sleeping child in side gave me a run for my money. Good grief a guy with a trailer! Well, he did look a lot younger than me, but really a trailer! Then I was really slacking off when some smart guy came blasting by me. Well that was the final straw. Up put of the saddle and I was quickly riding his rear tire and he knew it!
I think I start the summer bike commute to work this Monday.
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Disturba or disturbing?
I have not seen this movie so I have no idea just how disturbing it probably is, but here is what is really a little disturbing. We, that’s the royal “we” as in Canadians and Americans spent well over $92.4 million dollars in a single weekend, as this is just the top 10 at the box office, viewing mindless entertainment that well soon be forgotten.
So let’s round it up as bit to $100M/weekend, so that would be about $5.2 billion dollars a year. I wonder what else we could do with that kind of money?
‘Disturbia’ grabs movie-goers’ attention
1. “Disturbia,” $23 million. 2. “Blades of Glory,” $14.1 million. 3. “Meet the Robinsons,” $12.1 million. 4. “Perfect Stranger,” $11.5 million. 5. “Are We Done Yet?”, $9.2 million. 6. “Pathfinder,” $4.8 million. 7. “Wild Hogs,” $4.6 million. 8. “The Reaping,” $4.6 million. 9. “300,” $4.3 million. 10. “Grindhouse,” $4.2 million.
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Road Trip – Day 1
We’re taking a road trip to the US which is quite unusual for us. It’s the Easter long weekend and we headed south after making a Starbucks stop for a couple of ventis. The border crossing was backed up with travellers with the same idea at 9am but, thanks to Shirley’s skillful navigation we ended up in the fast lane and were quickly on our way after about a 15-20 minute delay.
The next stop was a rest stop, an impressive convenience in the US that Canada could do well to copy, assuming we had an interstate. Most amazing, besides the quality if the facility and it’s cleanliness was this. Only in America.
Back on the road it was a quite, sunny drive into Grand Forks for the real purpose of the trip, shop til’ you drop! We hit a few of the big box stores on the way to the Columbia Mall. We even bumped into some church friends doing the same thing. After cruising the mall and lunch at Applebees we were back on the road. Shirley had a nap and I listened to Maxwell on the iPod. Next stop, Fargo.
We checked into the HoDo and surveyed the room for a few minutes, then moved on to more shopping. West Acres for over 2 hours! I think I dropped after the first hour. Thanks to John Maxwell on the iPod and some comfy leather chairs the second hour was quite enjoyable. Dinner at Paradisio (mexican) and a litte sight seeing (Horbachers grocery store – wooo hooo!) we were back at the hotel, WOO HOO!!!
The hotel is very nice, quite artistic, but not very soundproof. The resturaunt had live jazz and the bar must have been busy, because there was quite a lot yelling and screaming. We’re also one block a way from a very active rail line in the heart og the city, which means a lot of whistle blowing. I slept through some of this but the 8am wakeup train could not be ignored.
Lots of wireless internet around besides the complementary hotel system, so that’s quite nice. We’re just enjoying the second cup and a snack from the complimentary breakfast and then we’ll be off for the day. More shopping, but a bit more of a focus on sight seeing, I’m hoping for the Air Museum.
p.s. – Scott, the Blue Man Group was in town yesterday, but we didn’t go (review). 🙁
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Good use of an iMac
Perhaps I’d just like one a little newer.
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Saturday
Today was a lazy day with out too many plans. We slept in a bit, until 8:30am or so. I was up a little earlier and did my Bowflex workout routine while checking emails and listening to The Daily Source Code. The DSC accompanies most of my early morning workouts. Sometimes it’s a little too raunchy for my tastes but Adam is quite informative and generally quite interesting. I know I’ve listened to some music that I normally would never have heard.
Anyway, after that I took a few pictures of the hoar frost that coated the tree in front of our house. Well, actually it was coating everything in sight, the fence, the neighbor’s tree, the stuff was everywhere. THien it was time for a couple of cups of coffee, some conversation, and a little reading. After that it was off to do a little birthday shopping. We went off to by Shirley a leather coat and one thing led to another and we ended up buying four leather coats, two for me, and two for Shirley, quite impulsive. Surprisingly, I’ve never owned a leather jacket and now I have two, and one of them is very cool, or is that hot? Perhaps sick? Anyway, I like them.
We went to see a friend at a local mall and check out a CX-9, wow, what a car. Way more impressive in person that what you see on the TV commercials. But at about $60K it should be pretty nice. Our friend wasn’t there, so after a little window shopping it was off to Starbucks to drop on on another friend. However, the timing was not so good, our friend’s shift didn’t start until later in the day. Back home for a lunch snack and to catch up on posting some photos from a week ago to flickr and blog a couple of things, like this.
Tonight we’re hanging around the house. I think I’ll go out an pick up a movie and Shirley is busy making pizza. So, a relaxing evening ahead. Great stuff after a busy week.
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The Million Dollar Man
Last week at church we had a guest speaker, Ted DiBiase, The Million Dollar Man of WWF fame. I was doing sound in the morning so I heard him speak two times and he has a great message. He was also going to speak at an evening service just for men, and I was not really planning on going but I found out that Eric and Scott where involved in the event. Prior to Mr. DiBiase speaking there were several special events, such as revving up a couple of chain saws to put a little “aroma” in the air, a hot dog eating contest, and some feats of strength such as ripping a phone book in two, and breaking bats and bricks. Mr. DiBiase spoke to the men and there was some great praise and worship singing. Top the evening off with a coffee & ice cream for everyone and some WWF video. It was a great evening and of course I was proud to see Eric and Scott’s involvement, they are two great sons.
