Freedom - Day 5

Today it's a shout out to Sean for his 26th birthday.  All the best Sean.  Nice outfit - the Craig tartan!

It was amusing last night at the party to hear Sean answer the phone with this salutation: "Trillium Hill.  We'll have more Lilies tomorrow morning".  Certainly shortened the conversations!

So, the blog has already mentioned Chloe's, Roy's Sean's and my birthdays.  Yet to come this month are:

• A.J. on the 8th
• Sue and Reggie on the 11th
• Matt on the 17th
• Mardi on the 21st
• Wayne Hilts on the 23rd.
• and David just missed - May 2.

Seems to me that there must have been a lot of what I call "July vacation creations" in our families!

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Noted in the news that Zoom shares have slipped over security concerns and rising competition.  Some of my friends were using Zoom to stay connected despite the privacy risks.  That was a bit like ignoring the 2 metre distancing rule by thinking that nothing bad can happen to me.  Thankfully, they are now shifting to Web-Ex, a Cisco product that is supposedly more secure.  Nevertheless, I'll take a wait and see on that one.  Besides, I obscured my computer camera a long time ago and probably wouldn't be able to clear it up anyway.
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The U.S. Supreme Court, loaded with Trump's conservative judges, has ruled that Wisconsin cannot delay its primary election vote.  So voters in that state who want to use their right to vote must risk their health in the process.  Brilliant!
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The CBC has an item about Ravensbergen Greenhouses giving away 10,000 plants.  Sue has advised that CHCH will be visiting Trillium Hill Greenhouses for a story.

David's main claim to fame so far has been on Instagram from an "activist wannabe" member of the Young Liberals castigating him for "selling" plants and being open illegally.  Apparently that person either can't read or doesn't know the meaning of FREE, and isn't aware that farms have been deemed an essential service.  Ah, young enthusiasm!  Of course, anti-business attitudes always boil beneath the surface of the Liberal veneer.  Sorry Gary - if the truth hurts, I had to say it!
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It seems that every day I add people to my email distribution list (most of them request it, if you can believe that!).  If the newbies want to catch up on previous issues they can check out the blog:
dorsalsdiary.blogspot.com
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Visited my barber today.   Well, actually it wasn't a long trip - we share the same bathroom.

Hope she doesn't ask me to return the favour - not sure that I could control my impulses😉.

I built the vanity that's behind me.  Can't wait to get back at the kitchen when things settle down.
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We intended to go out for a walk today but the drizzle kept us in.  Only made it to the garbage and recycle bins.

The weather tomorrow looks more promising.  Talk then.  Stay well.

Freedom - Day 4

After I closed off yesterday a thank you note slid under the door from the lady in our building who had requested a Lily (that Mardi had delivered).

Then we got this email from David.
I’ve always said, “if you are willing to lose money you can sell a lot of product. “ well, I proved that today. I doubled expectations and gave away 8,000 Lily’s! That is a one day total of $40,000.00 at wholesale prices. This picture was taken around 5:00 PM. It was the first time since 7:45 AM that no one was in the driveway. However, just after I took this they started rolling in again. We might move the last 800 that are left in the driveway today. Not to worry I still have 20,000 more to go. I put in 10 hours flat out, no lunch, just to keep up with demand. Actually, it was a fun day. I was busy instead of just sitting around. We had almost 8,000 hits on our Facebook page yesterday and today. A few more than our usual one or two for the week.
I might be trending.

A quarter of a million dollars worth of product is a lot to spend on an advertising campaign!  Hopefully it will pay off in the long run.   In the meantime it's spread at least that much joy!
"Proud dad"!
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So, today is my birthday.  It's also the birthday of my much younger friend Roy Mandy.  Happy birthday Roy - sorry you're not invited to my party!

You know, when you reach the age of 83 you have learned everything there is to know - now if I could only remember some of it.
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There was an article today regarding a young couple from Quebec who fled to a native community in the Yukon to escape the virus.  They arrived in -30 C weather without even gloves.  The article goes on to state:

Otto and colleagues at McGill are conducting research on whether people's cognitive functions are being negatively affected by the virus. He said he wonders whether the panic caused by COVID-19 can cause excessive rumination, or a stress response, which he said is known to throw off higher order cognitive function.

"So the simple question you can ask is: are people just getting dumber right now because they don't have any bandwidth or capacity to actually do what they need to be doing?" he said.

Good question!  I remember where I put the rye and coke so I'm OK.

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So, this afternoon we headed to David's for my birthday party.  As we turned in to his driveway we saw nothing but empty carts.

I have never been to a birthday party quite like this one!  We sat at separate tables.  After Mardi and I had finished eating, Malcolm and Esther arrived...

..and took our places so we moved into the aisle.

In a way, I wish we had social distancing when I was a kid.  Then I wouldn't have had to put up with the "bumps" on my birthday.

Great chili Sue.  Thanks for a wonderful (if a bit strange) party.
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Nothing special planned for tomorrow.  We'll see what we can stir up.

Freedom - Day Three

I think that you all were copied in on David's email about his free Lilies, but I'm including it here because I want it to be preserved in the blog.

Put 4,200 Easter Lily’s down at the end of the driveway today. First 1,000 were gone in two hours. I think we may have moved 2,000 today. Hoping for 4,000 tomorrow.

Dave Craig

Trillium Hill Greenhouses

When, in adversity, you're dealt lemons, make lemonade!  I am very proud of my (almost 60 year old) kid!  Well done David.
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Speaking of character, which I think I was, I've been extremely impressed with Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York State and his press briefings.  Wouldn't it be great if he was President instead of Governor?

And our own Doug Ford has certainly risen above his reputation in this crisis.  Honest, straightforward and caring.  Who knew?

The jury is still out on the rich kid who is trying to run our country.  Measuring him against our southern neighbour's leader makes him look good, but anyone could beat the guy at the bottom of the barrel!  We'll have to see how that goes. 

And the Queen's speech today was right on the money!  What a classy lady!
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Mardi and I made another trip to the greenhouse today to stock up for our condo neighbours.  While there, Mardi took a few more pictures.

Our hero!

And his latest truckload of lilies, along with the empty shelves from earlier shoppers.

He's expecting to move about 6,000 plants today!  And the recipients are certainly appreciative!

A couple of you have suggested that David ask for a donation to his favourite charity.  He has decided not to for a very good reason.  Some people are taking several lilies, presumably to share with family or friends.  If they were asked to make a donation they might only take one or two.  Better to make it pure and simple and spread the love!  I'm sure that a lot of these people will "pay it forward" anyway.  
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Mardi delivered one Lily to a lady who wrote her unit number on the page on our door, and one each to the building superintendent and the assistant supr.  The rest are left outside our door - I bet that as word spreads those will disappear.  What a great feeling!
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The bar is now open so I'm closing this off for today.  Talk tomorrow.

Freedom - Second Day

Surviving this coronavirus thing is like participating in a behavioural study!

Last evening we had a tentative knock on the door - it was the lady who had slid the first note under our door and she was here to apologize.  When her husband saw Mardi walking out with two suitcases and she told him she wasn't going anywhere, but had recently returned, he made an incorrect assumption.  She and Mardi had a nice conversation and mended fences.  I have since taken the first note down and taped a new one on the door bringing the rest of the world up-to-date.

The lilys I placed outside our door were gone within about three hours.  In the new note I have offered to supply more to whoever writes their unit number on the page.  We'll see where that goes.
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You're probably getting tired of this, but I have to give my pharmacist Sam another kudo.  According to last night's TV, a lot of pharmacies have stopped supplying 90 days worth of a prescription, instead limiting it to 30 days.  Of course this triples their income from dispensing fees (and forces the public to go out three times as much while the pandemic rages).  The prescription that Sam filled for me yesterday covers 100 days - thank you Sam!
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Communication 2020 style.

Just as our parents and grandparents couldn't shake their thrift habits after the Great Depression, we won't likely be able to shake our distancing dances totally either.  The handshake may become a distant memory, but we look forward to the time when we will hug our kids and grand-kids once again.
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Mardi and I hit the fresh air for a short walk outside the building and around the neighbourhood today.  Felt good.  Spring is here and the forecast calls for moderate temperatures for the next few days.
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Nothing special planned for tomorrow - we'll play it as it happens.

Freedom - Day 15

Mardi was the first one out of the barn yesterday when the time came.  She headed to Burlington to deliver (on the porch) some Maleleuca product for Monica and have a social distance chat.  

On the way home she stopped at our favourite Asian restaurant, The Banana Leaf, and picked up some takeout - Cashew Chicken and General Zuo's Chicken.  Awesome, and enough left over for a meal tomorrow (which is today).

Interestingly, she took a couple of empty suitcases with her that will eventually end up in storage.  Saw a guy at the elevator who asked her if she was going on a trip.  She told him no, she was just putting them away.

This morning there was a note under the door saying: "Please stay at home for 14 days!  We want everyone in the condo to stay safe!  Thanks."

So, I got out a full size piece of paper and wrote:
"This note was placed under our door this morning (April 3)"
Taped the note to the page and continued:
"We have completed our 14 days of self isolation.  You are now a bigger risk to us than we are to you.  Have a nice, safe day."  
Then taped it to the outside of our door.

I can understand their concern.  But it did piss me off!
They could at least have said "Welcome home"!  

Well, there was a reaction.  We had a note from another unit under the door a couple of hours later:

"Dear Bud and Mardi,
Welcome back & glad to hear your 14 days of isolation is over.  Keep safe.  Mark & Diane #410"

So, we have now visited the greenhouse, which I will get to in a minute, and have left the following display outside our door, with the message:

"FREE

PLEASE TAKE

ONE

COURTESY GRIMSBY'S

TRILLIUM HILL

GREENHOUSE"

By taking the high road we have hopefully avoided a war!  Thanks David - maybe this will get you one or two new customers when things return to (a new) normal.

We'll let you know if there are any more iterations of this drama.
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OK.  So we headed out this morning to my favourite drug store.  Saw Sam....

who had filled my prescription.  As I was leaving he said "say hi to Mardi".  Sam, you are special!

A short visit to Queenston Stationery to buy a stamp for a U.S. destination and a card for Sean (don't tell him) and we were off to the greenhouse.

A sight for sore eyes!

...even though it looks pretty desolate right now.

My effort at topiary seems to be maturing nicely.

And the driving range and rink are as I remember them.  David's property extends to the base of the escarpment.

Now, I know you won't believe this, but I think the rink and it's concrete foundation have moved several yards south since David built it.  I used to be able to reach it with a pitching wedge - now it takes a seven iron!

As expected, we were entertained by Jake.  He always brings a "sacrifice" with him to welcome you and show his devotion.

In the background you can see some of David's Easter Lilys.  And there are more.........

The bulbs, soil and pots were bought and filled in December.  Four months of planting, nurturing, resetting so they grow straight and in the middle of the pot - and in the next week or so, paying staff to take them out of the pots and compost them.  Lots of money out the door - very little back in.   Not a crop "failure" but a financial disaster nonetheless.

Boston Ferns are another of David's major crops.

They're not date sensitive, but what will the future bring?

The next major crop for David will be fall Mums.  I didn't see him today so I'm not sure what his plans are for that.  Difficult times for sure!

On the way home we stopped at Food Basics.

A strip of black tape every six feet - as people leave, more are let in.  We wore masks, and I was having trouble getting enough air.  But we probably got enough ($208) to last us for a couple of weeks or more.

It's only 3:30 p.m. but I'm sure you've read enough for today.  We'll reload tomorrow.

Hibernation - Day 14

This afternoon our isolation sentence expired.  Until now, we have been considered a risk to the rest of society.  Now the tables are turned - they are a risk to us.

So, for the most part we plan to "sequester in place", taking only very necessary shopping trips and perhaps walking around David's farm - touching only Jake, the welcoming dog, as we go.  Just knowing that we can now go out if we need to seems to have taken some pressure off.

Our parents' and grandparents' generations were called to war.  We are called to sit on the couch.  We can do this!  
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Matt and Calvin's isolation will be done tomorrow.  I think that Fred's isolation expires a day or so later.  May they stay healthy as well.
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Florida's governor, a staunch Trump supporter, has finally faced up to the need for people to isolate, but he has made some exceptions:

• church services may continue
• golf is an essential service

In that regard, Calvin forwarded to me a notice from King's Ridge, one of the courses we play down there, which outlines their new stringent rules, e.g. one player per cart, etc. as they continue to stay open.

You know, I wonder when this is finally over if they will do stats on the death rate among Evangelicals versus non-believers, golfers versus sane people?

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And a quote from our latest Optimist bulletin:

WHAT IS THE BUFFALO THEORY? (by Cliff Clavin, Cheers)

Well ya see, Norm, it’s like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can
only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”

-Cliff Clavin

I'm finding that Rye has the same effect!

By the way, alcohol sales have increased by 40% in Ontario in the past month, and that doesn't include the volume brought home by Snowbirds during that time.  Apparently, Mardi and I are not the only ones toasting our good health!

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Adversity doesn't build character - it reveals it.  Stay strong my friends.  We'll talk again tomorrow when we'll have a small venture outside to post about.

Hibernation - Day 13

Played a couple of games of Freecell Solitaire this morning before realizing that they had reversed the black and red suits.  Hearts and Diamonds were black, Clubs and Spades were red.  Saw what I expected I guess.  Happy April Fools Day!
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Got a nice note from Ed Strecker in response to yesterday's post:

"Nice going Bud, thanks a lot  Rose is looking at me thru the window from outside and making a funny face like "Bud cleans these for Mardi, How come you don't clean our windows for me" Not just that,you even include a picture with your rear sticking out.

I said to Rose, Bud isn't cleaning the window he's probably letting out a little gas. She didn't buy that.

Any way glad both of you are back safely

LOVE

Rose & Ed"

Hey Ed, that's what friends are for!

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Mardi took that unflattering picture of my rear end.  Was it intentional?  I may have to amend some of those nice things I said about her yesterday!

You'll notice that I am much more prudent in my picture taking.

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Phoned in an order to my favourite pharmacy (Kingmount Pharmacy at the corner of King and Mountain in Stoney Creek) this morning.  Even though it is three months between visits, Sam the owner always calls me by name when I come in and is a fine gentleman to deal with.  

I started to deal there shortly after I went on my heart medication.  I had been dealing with Shoppers until they told me that what I needed was no longer being made and I would have to change to a medication that was not covered by OHIP.  Cost me over $70.  I later checked with my doctor and he told me that some of his patients were still able to obtain the original medication and suggested that I check with a 'mom and pop' pharmacy, which is why I turned to Kingmount.  

This was at the time that Shoppers and Rexall were fighting with the government to get more money for drugs.  Turns out they were lying about the medication being discontinued so they could scam the public!  Scumbags!  So, I don't go into their stores any more!  

Thanks Sam!  You're my hero!  See you on Friday.
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And a shout-out to Mardi's granddaughter Chloe who turns 17 today.  I've attached a photo of her on point in front of the Eiffel Tower when Mardi took her to France and Italy for her 12th birthday.

Happy Birthday Chloe!
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Tomorrow is my 14th day of isolation and our sentence will finally be commuted (at least for now).  Poor Mardi will be on her 18th day and she will surely be glad it's over.  But, we're going to have to be careful - we're in the danger demographic.  Won't stop living - just not as large and carefree as we are used to.  Lots of fresh air away from crowded civilization.  Time at the greenhouse, hitting and retrieving golf balls, will hopefully be part of it.  Seeing (but not hugging) our grandchildren will help.

The Trompers and Fishguts for me, the church choir and her business for Mardi, will have to wait for a while.
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But, we shall overcome!  Ca va bien aller.
Talk again tomorrow.