A Busy Day

 Kathryn shared the following picture of my great granddaughter Rowan with her grandma Barbara.  Damn she's cute!  So is Rowan😏

----------------------------------------------

Speaking of granddaughter pictures, Harry and Meghan weren't allowed to have pictures taken of the Queen meeting Lilibet.  WTF!

Just reinforces my feeling that British "royalty" is totally out of touch with humanity and is on its way to oblivion.

---------------------------------------------

While I was at the greenhouse this morning, they waterproofed our balcony.

One more step for mankind.

--------------------------------------

Roger and Judy and I met today at Al's favourite squirrel counting spot - Gage Park near the lawn bowling facility.  

Didn't count many squirrels though.

There was a Cardinal on the scene but he took a hike when I reached for the phone to take his picture.

----------------------------------------------------

And then it was time for our Optimist meeting.  Mardi borrowed a wheelchair from her friend upstairs in our building and we picked up Jim Smythe.  

Jim was President of the Club in 1986-87.  A few years later he outgrew his President's jacket.  I had done the same so he gave me his jacket.  So I'm wearing a 35 year old jacket tonight.

His 97th birthday is coming up in a few days, but this is our last meeting until September, so Mardi bought him a cake and we celebrated early.

A great guy!  Hope we can repeat these get-togethers for a few more years.

--------------------------------------------

Blue Jays lost tonight 8 - 4 to the Royals after two shutout wins in a row.

Stay well.

Mardi's Baby

 Golfed today at Cambridge.  Much more satisfying than yesterday's round.  My putter was not cooperating today, but still managed to shoot 99.

---------------------------------------------

Got home in time to see Mardi's car go on holiday.

Water pump finally quit - it had been making noises for some time.  Apparently, the engine compartment has to be taken apart so that the rad (the water pump is in the rad!) can be replaced.  Big job, but it's a beautiful car and worth the cost of repair.

The car is on its way to Voisin Chrysler in Elmira, where fishing friend John Hughes is the Service Manager.  Should be back in Mardi's hands next week.

-----------------------------------------------

The start of the Blue Jays game in Kansas City has been delayed for two hours due to weather.  Will start in about 10 minutes (at 10:15 p.m.) and I'm not sure that I will make it through the game.  I've been up since 5 a.m. this morning.

Stay well.

Two Days In One

 Just realized that I neglected to copy the blog over to email on Sunday.  This is what you missed (if you're still wasting your time reading this thing).................

Two special people celebrated birthdays today.  Niece Robin (that's why sister Judy wasn't available for yard sales yesterday - she's visiting her daughter) and my daughter Jo-Ann.  Best wishes go out to both.

--------------------------------------------

Mardi and I played golf at Southern Pines today - a poor excuse for a golf course.  It's not in good condition!

Of course, I'm a poor excuse for a golfer these days, so it was a good match 😞.  I'm not in good condition either.

----------------------------------------------

While we're on the topic of poor excuses, the Blue Jays were just that today.  Dropped two catchable balls in the first inning, due to the sun (and the lack of sun glasses and hustle).  Lost 6 - 8 to the Twins.

Glad that we missed watching it due to our golf game! (But they won Monday night's rain delayed game 8 - 0.  I went to bed at midnight when they were in the 6th inning and winning 6 - 0.)

----------------------------------------------

Now, back to today.  Rain in the forecast, so Mardi didn't go golfing and I didn't go to the greenhouse.  Lucky that we still love each other enough to spend the day together indoors.

It also means that I have a thick hide, because we play Skip-Bo when we're stuck here.  It's probably time that I shared my pathetic results:

2020 - I had more points in total, but Mardi won 27 games to my 25.

2021 - Mardi beat me 18,690 in points to my 14,995 and 26 to 14 in games.

2022 to-date - Mardi is ahead by 1145 points, which isn't a lot, but she's up 14 games to 6.  I obviously need help!

Thankfully, we also do Wordle where I'm a bit ahead.  And Mardi won't play Sudoku anymore because I kept winning.  But I'm damned if I'm going to give up on Skip-Bo.

----------------------------------------------

Had dinner tonight with Kathryn.  First time in quite a while.  It's nice to get caught up.

And the Blue Jays had another shutout, beating the Kansas City Royal 7 - 0.

So today was a good day.  Stay well.

God Save The Queen.......

 .......because I don't like her successors.

I think that it is time to shed the connection to the Royal Family.  

But, our Indigenous peoples value the Crown because they believe that their original guarantees were with the Crown, and that Canada has eroded (a kind word for what happened) that original trust.  If the Monarchy were to end, they don't trust Canada to do what is right.  The stalled Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women review suggests they may be right.

Not sure what the ultimate answer should be. 

-------------------------------------------------

Blue Jays 12 - Twins 3.  A nice recovery.

Stay well.

A 75% Approval Rating

 More noise on the balcony this morning.  Looks like they're getting ready to do the waterproofing.

------------------------------------------------

Took an inventory of the skids of soil at the greenhouse.  Then cut some grass.

Mardi spent her three hours there helping the ladies with line production, then cleaned geraniums and pinched back cuttings.  Good work babe!

------------------------------------------------

Voter turnout for our Ontario election was the lowest in history!   Only 43.5% actually voted.  

So my take is that perhaps the other 56.5% were satisfied with Doug's record (prove otherwise Sven) which would overall give him a satisfaction rating of about 75%.   The few folks who actually voted, decided that Doug Ford was the guy!  So we're in for a calm four years while the NDP and the Liberals decide what they're going to need in a "leader".  Additionally, Sven's Liberals have to figure out how to become a real officially recognized party!

Quite frankly, I'm impressed with the job that Doug did on Covid.  He was a voice of calm during that storm, when every world leader was feeling their way.

And he made friends with some unions!  Sven must be gobsmacked!  Andrea Horwath sure was!

-----------------------------------------------

Today, Joe Biden said that 18,000 Americans had been killed by guns so far this year.  Even more disturbing, deaths of children by guns exceed police and military gun deaths combined.

Will they finally act?  Not on your life (or the lives of lots more children)!

------------------------------------------------

Blue Jays lost 9 - 3 to the Minnesota Twins.  Shake it off guys.

Stay well.

He Got It Done

 The Iris plants are blooming beautifully right now.  And behind them, the flag is flying to honour Pride Month.

When Sue was teaching, she took on the responsibility of being the liaison with the LGBTQ community at the high school.  

Looking good!

---------------------------------------------

Got a boost today.  Passed a commercial lawn mower being towed out of a wet ditch.  I'm not the only one!

And, a second boost: when I was moving skids of dirt with the fork lift, a customer stopped me to offer thanks to Trillium Hill for the Easter Lily giveaway back when Covid started.  She works for nursing homes and took a lot of plants to share with her people.  A feel good moment!

---------------------------------------------

Had dinner at Al's favourite fine dining establishment, Teddy's in Grimsby.  Under new ownership and even better (and more busy) than before.  Al, Liz, Mardi and I each had the Thursday Wing Special (half price).  But, they were out of Canadian Club, Al's favourite beer, and had no amber beer either.  On the brighter side, Mardi's substitute drink was a Rum and Ginger Beer.  Quite nice.

----------------------------------------------

Blue Jays 8 - White Sox 3.  Eight wins in a row.

Ontario PC's are taking twice as many ridings as all the others put together.  Two wins in a row.  Let's hope they stay steady and don't get arrogant.

Keep breathing.

Passport Backlog B.S.

 Sven has been having a bit of a struggle trying to get a passport in time for a trip to Europe.  Unfortunately the trip had to be cancelled, but the tragi-comedy carries on.  His dealings with the passport office have been unbelievable, even beyond the usual government incompetence.

Sean and Jaimie are joining us for our first weeks in Florida (Mardi and Jaimie are flying down, Sean and I are sharing the driving) so I alerted him to the shemozzle.  They both need new passports.

Fortunately, my passport doesn't expire until 13 days after my 90th birthday.  Will a replacement be needed?  Stay tuned.

--------------------------------------------

Spent an hour and a half at the greenhouse before the darkening skies chased me home.  Got in the door just as the skies opened up.

--------------------------------------------

Blue Jays 7 - White Sox 3.  This is the year!

Stay well.