ROBBLOG #668

Today a Blog of thank you's....mostly insincere. Some very sincere.

Top of the heap in thanks goes to Kevin spacey.

Thanks Kevin for coming out of the closet and for telling us something we didn't know already years ago. I mean c'mon Kevin.

Really?

No. Really?

I mean really....

"I used tah like that Kevin fellah Blanche. So, he's a big ole Homo these days, eh?"

"Oh Jane...I do believe he always was..."

"Even when he was Bobby Darin?"

"Yes Jane Dear, even then."

"Huh...ya don't say?"

Second thanks also goes to Mr. Spacey for linking homosexuality (being Gay) to being a pedophile.

He was 26 when apparently in a drunken stupor he sashayed into his bedroom where 14 year old Anthony Rapp- not yet a "star" was watching television. Tony had pooped out at the party Kevin was hosting and decided to watch the tube. Anthony by the way, is the red-haired actor from Rent- both on Broadway and in the Movie version.

So hennaway, Kevin- remember he was shit-faced, flung himself on top of Anthony.

Now, if it were me, I'd have to be shitfaced- really shitfaced, plus in a drunken stupor to even want Kevin Spacey to jump my bones. Of course, this 14 year old apparently didn't have the choice to be jumped and humped whether sober or pissed. That's the bad part.

Boy, the Baptists will all be saying-

"Told ya so. Told ya so. Homosexuals and pedophilia."

They'll have a field day!

Of course the Catholics will be saying-

"At least this time, it's NOT us!"

Thanks thirdly to "Just Me" for never letting myself get piss-eyed drunk and jump on anyone. Anyway, like Kevin, I probably wouldn't remember.

That's my story and I am sticking to it- unless there's a book deal involved.

In my dream world, I can imagine being in the same room- or grass hut, as Mr. Hugh Jackman and comfortably numb- thanks to Vodka (thanks number four). I'd let nature take its course...

That's Okay- isn't it? If it's nature doing the deed?

Me being just a little numb and Hugh being a little number than me and taking me- as Pat Hervey sang in the 1960's- to "Heaven For A While".

That's Okay- right?

Hugh. Place a big ~sigh~ here.

A fifth thanks to our builder and his associates who after total delays of 4 and 1/2 months since February of this year, doesn't seem willing to build a huge fire- or fires, under someone's ass- or asses, just to get us into our new house a few days earlier. Now, we are running into the problem of the mover- who has our furniture stored "up island" in Nanaimo, being just too busy at the end of the month of November to move us!

Number of favours we have received from that builder since February 2017?

Bet you were gonna say "six"!!

Nope.

None.

All favours cost money.

Number of thanks we have offered to workers?

Untold.

We even thanked the guy laying our floors today.

"Hey, thanks for doing such a great job on your floors!"- I said.

"They're YOUR Floors!" He says to me smiling.

"Ya butt...if you didn't install OUR floors they wouldn't look this good.

He smiled...

We thanked Jason the Trim Guy- and quietly thanks his biceps, for the beautiful trim work he is doing. Makes the wall colour pop and the finished interior look amazing.

Finally, a true thanks to Islanders who are always aware than one wants to cross the street or is even contemplating crossing when not quite at the crosswalk.

Thanks too for the friendly waves when a fellow driver waves you out of a parking lot into an opening in traffic. It's either fantastic ESP or just good manners.

Island weather remains sunny and warm and I know it sucks if your weather is worse- wherever you live.

H A P P Y     H A L L O W E' E N

ROBBLOG #667 W E E K E N D Edition

A Beautiful Island Weekend.

Warm sunshine. Mid-Teen temps and more. The skies are a brilliant blue and everyone is smiling- including "The Mister" and I.

We saw our new house again yesterday- second day in a row. We had taken a utility sink we had had in storage, over to the house on Thursday for installation. As our interior design gal Joanne said, it was- "A Beehive of Activity"!

It was indeed.

In fact we were so very excited we forgot to take photos, so we returned Friday to do just that.

Jason- the trim guy who has biceps the size of watermelons, was hard at work finishing windows and baseboards. A nice guy and his work looks good.

His "big boys"- ditto. ~grin~

Two fellahs were siding the front of the house- the right side is done. Another worker bee was laying the flooring. We have hardwood floors on the main level and laminate on the lower level. In the kitchen cabinets are installed waiting for appliances and a sink.

Our Kitchen in Island Sunshine

Outside Cam and his Dad- the landscapers, were moving rocks and earth around with one of those little front-end loaders. Our back yard will be fab-you-luss! however, smaller than back in Orillia. Just maybe we'll take possession by the end of November as one part of my brain is already starting to get into Christmas mode. Well, how can I help it? Christmas magazines are at the Wal*Mart checkouts. The Dollar Store is pushing back Hallowe'en décor while stocking ornaments and tinsel

in places where spooky things once hung.

Siding on the front.

Not the final colour which will be Sage Green

A new house means new decorating possibilities and I may be a week or so late decorating our three Xmas trees if our possession is pushed back to November 30th.

It's all good though. Tom and I are being patient. At this point we want a great job done- not just good.

IN OTHER NEWS

One of the Winnipeg Missing and Found Cat Watch Facebook Page contacts- Maili, sent us a message Friday afternoon accompanied by two photos of an orange tabby that just might be our Doyle. She is travelling from her home in La Salle- southwest of Winnipeg over to Headingley/St Francois Xavier- which is the community where the KOA is located. That KOA was where we stayed as we travelled across Canada to The Island. It is also the KOA where Doyle jumped ship on August 17th. The photos are distant but one in particular looks like Doyle. He had this extra pocket of skin and puddy hair that hung down from his stomach. From what we can determine- so does this cat.

I don't like the idea of someone taking the time from their weekend to search for us but if it is Doyle, we'd be on a plane to Winnipeg as soon as we could get a seat and we'd be forever indebted to Maili.

She says she just wants to get Doyle home.

What a gal!

I will keep you posted.

In the meantime have a great weekend.

Could this be our Doyle?

ROBBLOG #666

A "Devil" of a Blog today!


The number "666". That's the Devil's Number.
Good Old Satan.
The Lord of the Underworld.
The Man at the Mouth of the River Styx.
Beelzebub. Lucifer. Emperor of Hell.


So, using my special telephone, I made a call...


DEV: Good Morning, Dev here.


Me: Dev? Is this the Devil? It's Rob from up here on Earth Calling. We have an appointment?


DEV: Oh Robby-Bobby. Been waiting for you my friend?


Me: Friend?


DEV: Of course Friend. What else....oh right. You think just because I'm "The Devil" I got to be a baddie. Not so Robert. I put my pant's on one leg at a time just like everyone else.


Me: That's encouraging. So I should ask- How are you down there? Hot enough for ya?


DEV: Well, that's the first time I've heard that one. Heh. Heh. BUT- Down there? C'mon Rob. You've been reading that Christian Fiction again, haven't you?


Me: Well...Maybe...


DEV: Look Robbie, things are Hunkey Dorey. Like everyone I have good days and bad and by bad I mean some days I feel like I need a holiday but mostly I'm keeping busy. Boy, there sure is a lot of stuff happening around the Universe these days and again- not all of it bad.


Me: No, I suppose not.


DEV: I was just yacking to Henry the other day and he says...


Me: Uh, Henry?


DEV: Oh sorry. Shoulda said God,


Me: You call God- "Henry"?


DEV: Oh sure and he usually calls me "Archie"- like archangel, you know when we go fishing or something like that?


Me: What's that now...You and Hen...I mean God see each other socially? You fish together?


DEV: Oh  C H Reist yes! He is a fisher of men you know. Never lets me forget that. You do know I'm an Angel Rob? Oh, I had a nasty fall a few millennia back but I'm back on my feet these last few thousand years. No, Henry and I have had some great old times...and I do mean "old". Gosh we go back many a year to be sure.

Me giving Henry's Son an iPad for his 2000th Birthday.
The Kid was really surprized!!

Me: Gee, I didn't know. So, what about this 666 number. How did that become associated with you?


DEV: Nothing too deep there Rob, it was an old area code I had on Sturrmidgen.


Me: Sturrmidgen?


DEV: Yes, it's a planet just outside your solar system. Way, way ahead of you earthlings and they LIKE me there. I'm known as ...how should I put it so you'd understand...ummmm... A good-time Charlie?


Me: You're saying we are lagging behind when it comes to other "places" in this huge place we call our existence?


DEV: Leaping Lucifer, you'll always be lurching in the darkness as long as you allow types to rule like that North Korean fellah or Cheezie Face there in The U.S. or even that Harper guy like you had there in your country. What up wit dat?


Me: I honestly don't know sir. I don't know.


DEV: I do know one thing Robbie, I'm just a regular guy trying to make it through life.


Me: Sounds simple. Do you have any special powers? Like, can you move mountains or create havoc or make people go bad or do nasty things.


DEV: Whoa Nellie! You think I'm responsible for all the crap that goes down in your world? Look Robbie Bobby, all that bad stuff? Not my fault. I mean ask "Henry" when you talk to him next time. He'll tell you that all of you there are Earth are responsible for each other. There will always be good and bad. You can't get away from that but me being responsible for a few loose cannons like some of the so called "leaders" you have or have had in your world? No way Hose! That's all your doing. Oh and Communism...what the H E Double Hockey sticks is that all about? The things you guys come up with! Jesus Christ...you know Henry's son? Nice kid but a little "Fay". I mean running around with all those guys swimming and eating and wearing those itchy, white smocks? Anyway, still a nice kid with a lack of great fashion sense. But, Henry should be AND is- proud of him!

Me: You got kids Dev?


DEV: Oh fer sure. Me and Mary Magdalene hooked up oh, what...a thousand or so years ago. Nice gal but she wanted one thing and I wanted another, so we parted- like the Red Sea. By the way, that was me, you know. I know Henry gets the credit but no...it was me. Henry was a little under the weather that day so it's just something I came up with last minute like.


Me: Really? Good one Dev. Look, I have kept you long enough.


DEV: No problem Robbie Boy. I do have a tee off in an hour with Pierre Trudeau and No, he is NOT in Hell!! He's just become an excellent golfer since he passed into the next realm and you know what?


Me: What?


DEV: He's just an all-round nice guy and a great dancer too. I mean you saw that little jig he did behind Liz when she was about to sign your Constitution home- didn't you? I put that music in his head.


Me: You are a good guy. Too bad you've taken the rap all these years.


DEV: Rap? Jeeze I hate that stuff. Should be called 'CRAP". Anyhoo, I have survived. Look. Nice chattin' to you Rob and we'll do it again- before Hell freezes over....That's just a joke, eh?


Me: Yes. Right. Thanks. Bye.

ROBBLOG #665

Final Full week in October Kids and Kidlettes!!

We saw our new house on Saturday afternoon- in the rain and mist.

The painting is done inside- from what we could see, looking through the windows to a less than well-lit interior- that is.

Sure looks like home with those colours!!

The same colours we had in good old Pine Tree House back in Orillia, Ontario. It made me teary and it made me feel like home- at last, even though there isn't one stick of furniture inside.

Kitchen cupboards are piled up in the great room ready for installation, probably this week.

On Saturday, we also met met the "new" neighbours who will be living next door to us. Air Canada Jazz Pilot- Jill and her hubby Tim- who we think works for a beer company.

They are from Woodstock, Ontario.

I know....

Another transplanted Ontarian. Jill and Tim arrived on the Island back in July expecting to be in their new house on the same date as Tom and I- September 29th. Now, their move-in date is Oct 31. They only have summer clothes with them for the most part- just like us.

They are very nice folks.

Yeah!!!

Before windows and doors and an interior paint job

Earlier on the way out the exit of the development, my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number but Tom said "Pick it Up".

He thought that maybe it was a call about our puddy- Doyle.

It wasn't.

It was our friends Deb and Warren from back in Orillia

Warren was on the other end of the line and asked me- "Where are you?"

Strange question I thought- "We are just leaving the new house".

Warren asked-" How far is it to where you are staying?"

Strange again I though...

I said- "3 minutes but give us 5 minutes before you call back. Let us get into the house."

We hung up and drove towards our temporary home.

In a few minutes we pulled into the drive.

A second or two after, a car pulled in next to us.

I looked over thinking it was our "land mistress" Donna.

IT WAS DEB AND WARREN!

OMG!!

They came to the island from Ontario and took a chance we'd be home. They had checked into their hotel and then looked for us. They had the Cedar Ave address, yet no house number BUT they knew there were horses along the lane behind us. After the phone call, they waited patiently on the street and watched us drive along Cedar and pull into our drive.

OMG again!!

WE didn't know whether to laugh, cry or pee our pants and me without my Depends on!!!

What a surprize!!

They are on the island for a few days and out west here for a week!

It took some time to process their arrival.

How nice!!

We drove back to our "new" house to give them a quick peek- with flashlights this time! They seemed suitably impressed. Later, the four of us enjoyed a "White Spot" dinner and then Toma nd I let them go back to their hotel to sleep away the jet lag.

Old folks.

Ya gotta love 'em!!

They need their rest!

Sunday, we showed them "Our Island"- the Island we had come to know so far, starting with breakfast in the sunshine, on the Lanai at a Scottish Pub in Maple Bay, overlooking the Pacific and Salt Spring Island.

Photo by Tom

We toured Chemainus and Ladysmith and finally walked along the ocean-front board walk in Parksville. Mountains, palms, clouds, steep hills, more mountains and ocean.

Lots of ocean and a few frolicking Sea Otters too.

It was a perfect day!

Maple Bay October 22, 2017

Starting tomorrow- if the weather forecast holds, it is to be sunny every day through the next week and a half!!

Like Santa Claus- If only you can believe.

ROBBLOG #664 W E E K E N D Edition

Another week gone bye...and here we sit.

Not that where my Husband and I are living here on Vancouver Island in Canada's most western province isn't fairly comfortable but if I had a wagon, a horse and wore a bandana on my head, I'd sing a gypsy tune, cast a dark spell and place a curse on Patrick Brown's enormous nose.

Yup, I now know what a gypsy lifestyle is all about.

It entails travelling across the country from place to place. Camping here and there. Shopping at tiny Wal-Marts in places like Dryden. ~bletch~

We've been living in a vacuum (that's my Cousin Jude's term) these past 60 some days and we still have just short of 30 days to go before we take possession of our new home that we are calling "Palm Villa".

Cute eh?

Palm Villa. That's what we're calling the new place.

Well, after Pine Tree House where else could we go with a name? You build a new place. Plant a palm tree- or two, a yucca plant and a laurel hedge and presto chango- "Palm Villa".

Now you might be saying out loud-

"Rob, how can you even think to plant a tropical palm in November or December even?"

Because I can. The Island offers that opportunity.

"Opportunity?" you say...

For instance, when you go to Canadian Tire here in Duncan or a local garden centre such as Dinter Nursery, you'll find the greenhouse is still open and plants are thriving.

Japanese Maples. Yuccas. English Laurel. Portuguese Laurel and a bunch of plants that grow year-round and stay green too- year round! Plants such as Heather, Wintergreen, Bamboo, Rhododendrons and Holly.

But enough about Island greenery.

You have to have land in order to plant any of the plants I mentioned above and that is something we lack- for now- but in a month or two we'll laugh at our present situation...

We will....won't we?

Now, some of you back in Ontario have been telling me that your temperatures are still on the nice side and your days are filled with warmth and gentle autumn sunshine.

Enjoy it.

I know and you know it won't last.

Your temperatures will soon start to plummet. Snowflakes will fill the air. Ice will cover your car windshields and slush will get tracked in on your new hall rug.

Whereas here- on the Island in the Cowichan Valley, our temperatures will moderate and pretty much stay on the mild side throughout the coming months.

Would this be a good time to mention we not only have green grass in January and February but we have to cut it as well?

Oh Dear.

Now I've gone too far, haven't I....

So, as I said off the top of this ROBBLOG, another week has gone by and we sit with dreams of sugarplums- or at the very least new flooring and a cozy fireplace, dancing in our heads.



ROBBLOG #663

How to assimilate into Island Life.


Today's Lesson  #1


When it rains and rains hard, get up and get outside.
It's why God invented umbrellas.


We have had some heavy rain in parts of the island yesterday. Some wind too. Some folks are without power.
Not us.
We decided to do what the Islanders do.
Walk in the stuff and keep in mind this is the first all day rain we have had since arriving on the Island back on August 22- the day we drove off the ferry.


We took Missy and Koko for their usual walk around a few blocks. They had their puppy rain gear on but still they got more than damp. They didn't seem to mind though and trotted along happily- even depositing a poop or two in between the rain drops.
Such good girls.


Afterwards, Tom and I decided to go for a jaunt ourselves. He pulled a hood over his head and I grabbed the umbrella that our friends Cathy & Steve gave us as a going away present. It's a bright little umbrella and has blue skies and fluffy clouds imprinted on the inside.
Such Fun!
It wasn't cold walking.
It was mild and there was no chilly wind.
My feet got damp though, so I guess unless I wear my flip flops all the time, I'll need to invest in a good pair of waterproof walking shoes.

Today's Lesson #2


Know what to do in an earthquake.
Today, Thursday October 19, millions of people worldwide will practice how to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” during "Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills". Here in  British Columbia people are urged to register at www.shakeoutbc.ca.
In the event of an earthquake one should
Drop,
Cover-
and Hold On.


Cripes. Is that a little scary or what?
Hold on??
The sketch on the website shows a person ducking under a table and holding onto the table legs.
That'll do it, eh?
Reminds me of the drills we had in school in the 50's when Cuba- not North Korea, was about to blow up the world.
I always wondered how I would squeeze under my bed if I had to "duck and cover"!


If you're caught on an Island beach during a shake, one lays flat and then runs like hell to higher ground after the shaking stops. I presume this is in the event of a Tsunami.
Again- such fun!


It sure is different here and we're just about to pass the two month milestone on Sunday.

Lastly,


To take one's mind off a rainy day- or earthquakes, tune into Cousin Brucie on Sirius XM.
We have a trial period- free of charge. It came with the new Grand Caravan and is activated until December 22. This is the first time I have listened to satellite radio.
Ever!
I've had the 60's station on while driving around the valley this week. Cousin Brucie- who I used to listen to in the mid-60's from WABC 77 in New York City, broadcasts "live" Wednesdays from 2 until 6pm Pacific Time and again on Saturday. I listened to WABC at night when AM radio signals skipped great distances.
Bruce  Morrow is his full name and he certainly was one of the 1960 era jocks who got me interested in radio along with CHUM's Jay Nelson, John Spragge and Bob MacAdory as well as CKFH's Tom Fulton and Don Daynard.


Cousin Brucie sure brought back a lot of memories and Wednesday he just happened to have
Mary Wilson from the Supremes on "live" for an interview. Mary had Brucie play one of her favourite Supremes' songs from the 1970's- "Stoned Love".
The Jean Terrell lead song is one of my fav's too.


Will I keep Sirius XM?
Don't think so.
Once Swisssh and Starlite are back on air I'll be listening to them a great deal of the time.


Have a great one and hold on- if need be!

ROBBLOG #662

Another week on the Island begins.


Yesterday was bee-you-tea-ful!
15c and sunny. We walked around the neighbourhood and chatted to folks. This neighbourhood is about three minutes driving distance to our new house. Probably not the area we'd be walking through with the puppies once we move into Stonewood Village.


Moving?


Not a lot of changes to the new house. The mudding on the drywall takes time to dry. Who knows maybe some painting will commence this week and the siding on the exterior looks like it's set to go. The house next to us has their siding finished, as does three doors up the street, so we hope we are next in line. I was thinking we would be in a bit earlier than mid-November but reality has smacked me up the face and I now think we'll be a month away from possession.
The Hallowe'en décor will stay packed away for this year. ~sigh~
What's a person to do?

Pine Tree House Hallowe'en 2016

Am I getting better at playing the waiting game?
Nope.
Its still hard and we both wish we had our stuff around us- now.


We browsed through some Downtown Duncan shops on Saturday- after the farmer's market, chatting with shopkeepers Leslie at Embellish and Heather at Khaya. Nice stuff at both stores. I could have spent a mint.  My Tom spied a Quebec spool-back chair with rattan seat. Apparently he just had to have it.


He had made a rule that we wouldn't buy anything until we moved into the new house but I guess rules are made to be broken since the chair is sitting here in our kitchen.


I would expect that the leaves are falling or have fallen off most of the trees back in Orillia, Ontario.
Certainly here in the Cowichan I have yet to see anyone raking their yard. So much is still green. A few trees are bright red and along the Island Highway yesterday heading up island, there were some that had turned a brilliant yellow. I expect once these trees shed their leaves the landscape will go back to green. I remember back in February when Tom and I first visited Duncan and the Cowichan, we were amazed at how green it was in a winter month- keeping in mind we had just arrived from snowbound Orillia. I guess this is where we separate the men from the boys. You in Ontario being the boys and we- "the men".

Bamboo green and lush

Our temps will stay pretty much where they are these days in the high single digits or the low teens.
Last evening coming out a local restaurant chain called "White Spot", we were amazed at how mild it was- warm, even. I mean not Hawaiian Island warm but I'll take it!


You see, our minds are still stuck in Orillia expecting crisp air and the hint of colder temperatures to come. Not so here on the Island and it is playing tricks with our mind and bodies.
We keep saying-
"Oh yeah, we're on the Island now."


Come on out.
It's fine.

ROBBLOG #661 W E E K E N D Edition

Time for my first call from the "Big Guy" upstairs since arriving on the Island.

I am so excited!

So grab a bag of popcorn and enjoy...

~ring....ring~

Me: Hello?

HIM: Well Hello Rob. It's me. Your Heavenly Father. You know up here floating around on a cloud.

Me: Hey, it's good to hear your voice Lord. How are things?

HIM: Now Rob, I should be asking you that question. So now you're an Island Boy Eh?

Me: Yes, finally. It's quite a change. So different out here.

HIM: Yes it is different but goof for you- and Tom!!, I've been following you along your journey across the country in your Priscilla. She took good care of you- didn't she?

Me: Yup. All was good...except for losing our Boy Doyle. That was sad. Very sad....

HIM: Yes it was but this thing we call life throws up some roadblocks now and then.

Me: I thought you threw those roadblocks up just to test us.

HIM: Afraid not Rob. All that stuff is happen-chance. Nothing to do with me- or with my Son.

Me: Oh...

HIM: Look. Don't give up your Doyle. Tony is doing what he can.

Me: Tony?

HIM: Saint Antonius. Helps you earthly humans look for things. You know like your car keys and debit cards.

Me: Oh, that Tony. ~pause~ Hey God I know I've hinted at this before but I sure would like to meet you in person some day.

HIM: Oh Hell Rob, that would burn your eyeballs out. I mean I give off such a bright, white glow

it would knock you off your feet. It was part of the reason the shepherds were sore afraid. Afraid of the light and their eyes were sore if they peeked at ME. Like looking at the eclipse.

Me: Hmmm. I thought that was a "Multitude of Angels" floating over those fields.

HIM: Oh it was but I was there too floating in the background. I mean it was my "earthly wife" bringing forth my newborn Son. I had to be there in the waiting room. Boy, that Mary. Such a trooper. Rides an uncomfortable ass for weeks just to have my kid. My ass is uncomfortable just thinking about it. That's a joke Rob...

Me: So I hear.

HIM: Actually, Mary and I are going out for coffee later today. Joe's gone fishing over on Nebula at Lake Titicaca and it gives us a chance to bond and catch up.

~giggle~

HIM: That you I hear giggling Robbie?

Me: Ya, Lake Titicaca always makes me laugh!

HIM: Me too. ~Hah. Hah.~

Me: While I have you on the line Your Heavenly Majesty....

HIM: Oh Rob! Superior Being is fine. We're friends after all. S.B. for short.

Me: Right, S.B. Um, should we all be worried about North Korea and Kim Jong.

HIM: Well Rob, that will all play out eventually but you know my hands are tied. Some of the folks down there on earth actually believe I can wave my hand and fix that sort of stuff. I can't. It's just the way of the world. You folks have to figure that out and good luck with Mr. Cheesepuff  who seems to have an itchy trigger finger.

Me: Oh. That guy.

HIM: It's a good thing there are reasonable, smart people there on the blue planet- like your Justin Trudeau, who do things the right way. That French fellah is a good "oeuf" too. Listen Rob, I got a pedi booked in two hours before I have coffee with the Virgin Mum, so I got to get going.

Me: Okay...Still calling her that eh?

HIM: Yes. Tough to change some people's minds and besides she still gets a lot of "I want this and I need that" from the Catholics. Look Rob, I want to wish you and Tom good luck there on the Island. That Island is one of my favourite places in the whole solar system. Those ocean views and those mountains. I was hot that day my boy. I was really cooking when I designed that place. Heaven on earth and it all came together in one afternoon.

Me. Yes...well, imagine that. We think we'll be very happy here.

HIM: You will. I can tell you that. For sure!

Me: Have a good day Sir and tell your Son I was asking after him.

HIM: I will Rob. He's off with the boys again this weekend. They're off ballooning somewhere. Kids, eh? They never grow up. Buh Bye now and take good care.

Me: Bye. Nice talking to you again.

ROBBLOG #660

I must have more time on my hands these days!


I sure am blogging more.
I find it calming and it gets many of the repetitive thoughts out of my head and down on paper- or at least a computer screen. Blogging fills some time as Tom and I wait to take possession of our new home here in The Cowichan. Still a few weeks to go if you have been following our journey since August 15th  on this very blog.


I have been blogging a long time before that date, however. You might wanna check back and read some of the stories I posted over the years like Bleeker Street with Baby Jane and Blanche or Blog #579 which is an interview with Sister Mary Margaret. There are a few conversations with the "Big Guy" upstairs too- or with his son at #548.
"It's Not Like That" is Blog #157.
There's of Blog about my Mum #536.
You'll just have to scroll through until you find something you might like to read. My first blog was published on February 13, 2010! It was mostly about my Rob Reid Online Website changing to the ROBBLOG here on BlogSpot.
Gee, almost 8 years since I started writing here.
Time flies.


Back to the present now and this 12th day of October in the year 2017.


We have some sun.
We have some cloud in this new community of ours- North Cowichan and the City of Duncan.
I still wake up some mornings thinking I am comfy under the covers in Orillia, Ontario. I get a small shock when I fully open my eyes and realize the bedroom's Roman shades are not the white, plantation shutters I was used to for 24 years.


We are gradually getting comfortable here. It is still going to take some time especially when we make another move into our forever house.


In the meantime, I thought I'd list a few things that I consider "odd" here in Duncan.

Don't Jig when you should Jag or this is the look you'll get!

Street signs.
Don't look for them on every street corner. You may get one but not usually one on every corner.
Be thankful if you see one. Some streets have none.


Stop signs.
Some streets- like two near this house, don't even have a yield sign let alone a stop sign. You come to a corner and you just...well....you edge forward. You look left. Then right. Then left and after it appears it's clear, you move on....cautiously.


In the open mall areas along the Island Highway it can be a bit of a nightmare. Streets are a variety of pavement markings with crosswalks, left turn only lanes, right turn only lanes, left and straight ahead only arrows and speedbumps and cement barriers and curves and more.
There are stand alone stop signs. The remainder of the signage is painted on the pavement. Huge arrows and yellow and white lines you drive within as you traverse the parking lot in front of  London Drugs, or Winners or Staples or Save-On Foods. At first all you see are lines and arrows and then more lines.
Eventually it starts to make sense.
These markings would never work in Ontario- especially Orillia. You wouldn't see then for 5 months of the year what with all the ice and snow. Orillia drivers always did what they wanted to begin with so this type of signage would only confuse all the elderly drivers and they would ignore them.
It would just never work.
Never.

The Boulevard near White Spot

One can never drive from A to B or even C here in Duncan.
One must drive A to B to C to D,E and F- sometimes G.
There are centre boulevards on the Island Highway that prevent a simple left or right hand turn.
On Coronation Avenue for instance, one can turn left or right into the Shoppers Drug Mart/Dollarama parking lot but when you leave you can only turn right- east. Even exiting from the lot onto the Island Highway, one can only turn right- or south, and travel a block or two towards the White Spot Restaurant, then circle around the Great Canadian Superstore (Like a Zehrs in Ontario) where you can turn right or left onto Trunk Road to head west through Duncan.
Tom and I have spent many a joyful time detouring, getting lost, ending up on the wrong side off the divided street and detouring again.


One day, we were on Canada Avenue heading to our new build to have a look at the progress. We were in the curb lane. Cars were in front of us. We couldn't see the pavement. The vehicles started to move forward with the light change when suddenly we realized we were in an exit only/turn right only lane.
We drove down the street.
Circled a Mobil Oil Change shop to turn around in order to head back to Canada Avenue.
Head-Ache!!


We are doing better than a few weeks ago but really Duncan-
Really?


I'll have more quirks in another blog.


Lator Gator.

ROBBLOG #659

The first reported earthquake since being an Island Boy.


2:26am Wednesday October 11, 2017. 170 km out in the Pacific- west of Tofino, then down so many metres. No shakes and shivers here in the Cowichan but I have added Emergency Info BC to my Twitter account.
One never knows.
I do know, we have to have Earthquake Insurance here on the Island.


I was up "gawd-awful" early today.
I had my eye doctor appointment. Drops in my eyes to dilate my pupils so I can be checked for glaucoma. My Grandmother- my Dad's Mum, had it, so I have been checked these past 5 years or more. There are signs it is there- especially in my left eye, however, I am not on drops yet. I return in another six months.
Just a note here. If there is glaucoma in your family history go to an Optometrist to be checked. The Optometrist can send you to a specialist if need be.
You need to catch this early.

IN OTHER NEWS


I was a bit taken aback earlier this morning when I read that actor Terry Crews had been sexually assaulted. He is a mountain of a man. Muscles on top of muscles. He stars in the TV show Brooklyn 99- a funny show and a funny guy and totally into Jesus and the whole "saviour" complex.
Cripes! Who would have guessed?
Now, I am not into a lot of muscle.
Why I am sharing that- I am not sure...
I appreciate how he looks and I am amazed at how tight the wardrobe department is able to make both his shirts and slacks without him popping buttons and seams.
Anyway, apparently he was "grabbed in the swanstucker area" (pronounced: swan-stooker) at a Hollywood party in recent years by a big Hollywood Executive.
What?
Terry Crews.
I should imagine a lot of drink was behind it but it is still not right. I guess he turned the other cheek. Lucky for this executive he didn't find himself flat on his back at the end of one of Mr. Crews massive fists.
Creeps are everywhere and it appears with other current new stories, Hollywood still has it's quota of lecherous men and women too.
We have all heard stories of the "Casting Couch".


Oh, this brings up a question.
Was it alright that I wanted to take Hugh Jackman and press his gorgeous face and hunky body to mine when I met him at the stage door of the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto a few years back?
Is that bad of me?
I mean my Husband Tom was right beside me and snapped a couple of photos, so there was nothing dirty going on.
I mean I guess I thought dirty thoughts but I was a gentleman.
Ok...I giggled and blushed like a little schoolgirl but still...was I being a bad boy?

Mr. Hugh Jackman signing a DVD cover for me.
He wouldn't sign my left pectoral...

Meanwhile, here on the Island we had a nice afternoon and dinner yesterday with our sister-in-law Gudrun. We chatted and laughed and toured her around our new build. It was a terrific afternoon weather-wise but warm autumn sunshine gave way to frost on the grass this morning. Temps got quite cool overnight but they are rebounding to the teens again today- with more Island Sunshine.

Gudrun & Us

Our house is moving right along. We worked with the Interior Design Consultant Joanne yesterday going over our paint colour choices for inside the house. Then, we dropped into both the Benjamin Moore paint store and Dulux paints to grab some colour chips.
Good Gosh, we must be getting close to possession!
Painting then flooring then cabinetry and finally light fixtures. All have been chosen and awaiting their turn at installation.
Me-thinks and me-hopes we might get in a bit earlier than the proposed Nov 16 date?
Fingers and toes are all crossed.

Colourful later afternoon clouds
over Mount Prevost and our new house

Looking forward to hearing about your first snow on the ground back east when that happens- and it will happen.
Heh. Heh.


Have a good one and if you get a chance sometime in your busy day, Gudrun said I am to ask you to put a good thought out to the universe.
Ask Saint Antonius to help us find our boy Doyle and return him safely to us.
Any port in a storm.....