Sunday, March 25, 2012

My Golden Girl


Cuppa seems to be contemplating something significant. Perhaps she is thinking about officially becoming a senior citizen today.

Sixty-five years ago on this very date, a baby girl, who was to become my bride, entered this world. And made it a better place. She certainly made my world a better place, and I can say that I am totally happy to be married to a senior citizen.

!! Happy Birthday Cuppa !!

May all of your days be GOLDEN

Friday, March 23, 2012

The Weather and Being Under It

It's been quite a weather week hereabouts. On Wednesday, Ottawa set a new record high for March. On Thursday, we set a new record for the 22nd by mid morning.While we typically get one or two splendid days in March, giving us a foretaste of times to come, this year we have had much warm weather. Yes indeedy, we're cavorting about in summer attire and still feeling too warm.


More than once we have enjoyed our after school snack, outdoors in shirtsleeves.

The weather has made the boy very happy.

However, the rest of us have been under the weather a bit despite the fact that it has been so nice. Both Amma and Buppa have had significant colds and the girl has succumbed to an ear infection. Here, she lies on the couch with her bad ear down, frequently asking me to turn up the tv because she isn't hearing very well.

On my way home after babysitting, I stop at the lights and snap this picture of people eating in the courtyard of the restaurant. This is a common sight despite the fact that there is no view and lots of fumes at this busy intersection. A few hours earlier, a sign just beyond this point indicated that the temperature was 32°C/90°F. While I think the reading was off, it does indicate that it was pretty doggone warm. Officially the high temperature was only 27°C/80°F.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

My Room

Since you asked, I am posting the photo that Cuppa was taking as she made the comment about my messy room. Yes, it is, but I think you might agree that it is a pretty doggone crowded place. About all that could have been changed here is the pile of clothes on the chair.

The picture is blurry because the flash didn't fire, but I think you get the point. Please see the previous post for the prose version.
 

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

It's Crowded in Here

Cuppa took a picture of the little fella doing something or other in my den and opined on how messy it looked it here. Well, yes dear, but it's a pretty crowded place. In a space of something like 10x12, perhaps a little more, I have a whole slew of furnishings.


Such as:
  • 4 bookcases, two of which are wall unit size
  • 1 fridge, bar-size but a fridge nevertheless
  • 1 tv with satellite box on top of the fridge
  • 2 computer tables, one large and one older small one where I keep paper and items to be filed
  • 1 computer chair
  • 1 visitors chair in case someone else needs to be able to view the computer
  • 1 big filing cabinet
  • 1 little roll-about set of drawers
  • 1 recliner chair
  • 1 little table beside the recliner
  • 1 lamp beside the table beside the recliner
  • 8 pictures/painting hanging on the walls
So, yes that's a whole lotta stuff in the littlest room in the house, so it tends not to look a little stuffed in here at the best of times. Of course it doesn't help when I leave a few items of apparel dangling from the [visitors] chair or when the little fella decides to spread his toy pizza all over the floor for the purpose of play-feeding his Buppa. Then, more often than not, I have a camera case and a book bag taking up floor space along with a pair or two of slippers and/or shoes.

Basically, when I'm home, this is the room in which I reside ... and it shows.

If you come to visit I'll want to make a good impression, so I'll do what I can to seem not too slovenly by clearing the surfaces such as to remove any clothes dangling from the chair. I'll do my best, but I can't promise miracles. Basically, it is what it is.

Monday, March 19, 2012

More Mill Pics

I have a few more photos to post from our visit with Lorna and Dave at the Mill St Brew Pub last week. The first was taken indoors from where I sat at the table; the others were taken outside, next to the mill, where there is an old wall standing right next to the mill and a generating station next to that.

Part of the somewhat edited and enhanced view from my seat in the restaurant


Part of the old walls beside the restaurant


No. 2 Generating Station of the Ottawa Hydro Electric Commission
Peeking at the generating station through the window frame


Friday, March 16, 2012

A Blogger and a Beer

We hadn't met up with fellow blogger, Lorna and her guy, Dave, since the summer. Ergo, now that they are back from California, it seemed time for another meetup now that we were free of the grandkids for the remaining days of March Break. It's about a forty-five minute drive to their place in Ottawa, and after saying that we'd plan to arrive at 12:30 give or take, I found myself turning off the ignition outside their place at exactly 12:30.

Both Cuppa and I suffer from the punctuality disease; we always strive to be on time, and we have passed this curse onto our children. Thesha was just telling us that all her friends are always late for everything. Perhaps that's the way to be in life, but we Clouds can't seem to manage it. Somehow, although we can accept of modicum of it in others, tardiness goes against our grain.

A new micro brewery/pub had opened up across from Dave and Lorna, and this was the intended destination for lunch. The Mill Street Brew Pub stands on the site of an old mill next to an intake by the Ottawa River. It's near the War Museum and about a mile west of the Parliament Buildings.

Just for a change, I have pictures to show you. I hope you can keep from fainting over this departure from the norm. :)  (Why doesn't Blogger give us the option of inserting real smilies?)


Cuppa and Lorna play with Cuppa's newly created rings before we head out for lunch.


The Mill Street Brew Pub


Cuppa makes an important point while Lorna listens with rapt attention.


Meanwhile, AC looks around and takes this photo (and others) of the actual brewery.


Upon departing, AC takes a few more photos, this of the No. 2 Generating Station just outside the pub.


Thursday, March 15, 2012

Day 2: Mom and Mickey Dee's

On Day 2 of March Break was another, lovely, snow melting kind of day. However, we had expected rain, so our special event was planned to be an indoor one: visiting Mommy at lunch and going to McDonalds for lunch. This McDonalds is one with an indoor play area that the kids love.
The kids are dressed and ready to roll

With Mommy in tow, off we go to McDonalds. Nikki Dee is usually charging ahead while Zach tends to lag. Zach was playing Robin Hood on that day.

Lunch was consumed. At the cost of $36.57 for three adults and two kids, I hoped they liked it. Sheesh!

He smugly peers down from his lofty perch.

She obviously needs to learn how to be enthusiastic about life.
He needed consoling from Amma after he was stuck up top with a nose
that badly required wiping. What a trauma!

Not to be outdone, she was soon seeking succor from Amma after being bonked on the head.
Spirits were restored and more climbing was on the agenda.

With a clear nose, he was also feeling much better about life.

Day 3 with the kids was rainy and spent indoors at their place, so there is nothing to report, and that's it for March Break with the grands as we will be without them for the the final two days of the this holiday. However will we survive?