Thursday, December 30th/10
Had an amazing day at Point Pelee. We went with Amanda and Martin, meandering across
the county to get there, stopping at Colchester Harbour, and then Viewpointe Estates
Winery, followed by a short visit to Jack Miner's Bird Sanctuary. The ice out on the tip at
Pelee was very cool, with a distinct Arctic Circle feel to the land, ice and water. A fabulous
expedition!
Martin, Deb and Amanda at Point Pelee, as far south as one could get within Canada
Amanda and Martin also came over Tuesday night, and we played a round of Trivial
Pursuit: Bet You Know It, by far the best version of the game ever, and the only one I will
ever play from now on. Loads of fun, with insane questions and categories. Deb won the
game, with her now-famous mind that can forget nothing once it has been placed inside!
Tomorrow, the four of us are off to Detroit for the day.
I've been having a blast this holiday meeting people on Redhedd.com (Hi, Miowla, hope
you enjoy your visit!). Very fun group of people, a few who even write back to us! So far,
Miowla is our fav.
Monday, December 27th/10
We watched a documentary about Henri Cartier-Bresson, the iconic French photographer
who travelled the world and met and photographed many of the world's most famous
people. A very inspiring show, backlit by Bach piano works (which he called "Sacred
Music") performed by Angela Hewitt. A good reminder of what photography is all about.
New York and the remainder of the East Coast are beginning to recover from a direct hit by
Mother Nature, as the big Apple digs out from 50 cm of snow falling in less than an hour.
It continues to rain and freeze in Moscow, and part of eastern Australia is nearly
submerged in water from torrential rains. It's beginning to get scary, folks.
Let's hope things settle down somewhat in January (and also hope these are not famous
last words). If this turns out to be normal (as predicted), then we are doomed.
Sunday, Dec. 26th/10
Despite a (short) day of biting winds and falling temps, we have dodged a big weather
bullet yet again, as first the south and now the east coast gets blasted by storms.
Dodging bullets is a rather risky pastime, however, and sooner or later one is going to hit
us squarely between the eyes. Just when I'd heard of everything possible in the way of
airport closures and stranded passengers, comes a story out of Moscow, where their main
airport went dark for 12 hours due to a power failure. No back-up, no generators, just
passengers literally left in the dark. Our "civilized" existence hangs by a mere thread,
ladies and gentlemen. It won't be terrorists who have the final say, either, but Mother
Nature. What an incredible month of weather it has been around the world. And guess
what? According to climate change predictions, this will become more and more
prevalent. Get used to dodging bullets on a good day, but prepare to be hit by artillery
sooner or later!
Thursday, December 23rd/10
As some of my readers are aware, I have a small but impressive collection of old cameras,
and occasionally I use them. One of the odd little things about using film was that
sometimes the film would be in the camera so long that you would forget what pictures
were even on it. This happened to me today, when I took a 126 film cartridge out of the
fridge and prepared to load it into my Kodak Instamatic 500 (top of the line and made in
Germany--takes amazing photos). There was already a film in it, and at #15! I haven't used
this camera in over a year, so the pictures must be considerably faded. I haven't a clue
what is on there! So I will dutifully finish up the film asap and send it in for processing
(good old Shoppers still takes 126 film!).
It was a good year for receiving some thoughtful gifts from a few of my private students.
Brittany, knowing of my interest in Astronomy, got me a boxed set of dvds on the
complete history of the space shuttle! Pretty impressive for a 12 year old. She also got
Deb a daily cat calendar. From Tara I received a very generous gift card from Chapters,
and from little Sarah a Timmy's card. Then last night Holly and her mom appeared at our
door with a huge fruit basket, peeled and sliced and all done up to look like a flower
bouquet! What an awesome group of students and parents I have the good fortune to
work with.
And tonight's final topic will be--the weather! Now that we have more or less settled into a
normal December weather pattern (mostly gloomy and chilly, but not snowy and
outrageously cold--that comes in January), I find that I can accept it without fuss. That
and the fact that I am reading a book entitled "The Children's Blizzard," about a terrible
storm to hit the prairies in 1888, killing many children who were sent home amidst the
storm from school. I will have much more to say about this book when it is finished, but it
is one scary read.
Tuesday, December 21st/10
Winter Solstice sunrise, from our back deck.
five minutes today, in addition to observing an amazing sunrise. The lunar eclipse was
pretty smudgy, and we saw nothing at totality. Still, the day itself was mythic, with our
usual all-day snacks, all-day fire, and all-day party atmosphere. This is my first one since
being retired, and next year we will both celebrate that way. Getting paid to stay home is
the greatest invention since sliced bread! Needless to say, the cats had a great day, too.
Nothing they like better than an all-day fire.
Mogollon and Ferdinand curl up by the picture window. The Solstice fire burned all day
and evening.
Monday, December 20th/10
We had a fun two-day getaway to Michigan, returning this afternoon, and luckily for us the
weather cooperated. We spent Sunday afternoon in Ann Arbor, visiting a few of our
favourite haunts, before moving on to Marshall. We stayed a night in the same B&B that
we tried for my retirement party last July. This is a wonderful old hotel (1835), filled with
some great rooms. We walked to Dark Horse Brewery for supper on Sunday night,
enjoying the fine brewed-on-premises craft beer as well as pizza. This morning we walked
along their boardwalk, following a chilly but flowing river. Tonight, of course, is Solstice
Eve, made even more special by the full moon. We went outside to watch it rise. We may
try for the eclipse, though the forecast does not look promising.
Historic house in Marshall, MI (for sale!), which was used in the fantasy novels of Marshall
native John Bellairs.
Deb at the waterfall, seen along the boardwalk trail in Marshall, MI.
Full moon rise, from our backyard.
Saturday, December 18th/10
The Solstice decorations are up, though we are going to wait until Monday night for our
little tree. Looking forward to our Tuesday! Had a great day today, which went something
like this. 1) 90 minutes of piano and harpsichord practice, whilst doing the laundry 2)
began reading "Return of the King", the final volume in Lord of the Rings 3) also continued
reading "The Children's Blizzard", about a killer snowstorm in the Great Plains in 1888 4)
Explored my New Mexico topo map program on the computer 5) played "Lighthouse", a pc
adventure game (which is seriously messed up--I am now hopelessly stuck due to a
problem with the game) 6) worked on my NM #28 enlargement album project 7) 20 minutes
of flute practice 8) 15 minutes of clarinet practice 9) played Carcassonne with Deb 10)
completed physical exercises for today 11) various other things which I don't remember,
as I am now quite tired! And so the days will happily and purposely roll on!
Friday, December 17th/10
The long-awaited winter break has arrived, and for Deb it came none too soon. We are
both overjoyed to have two weeks off to play! For me that means reading, writing, gaming
on the pc, tons of practicing (piano, flute, clarinet), some baking and some listening to
music, hopefully an opera or two from my vast collection languishing in the basement.
For Deb, it means working on her 2nd cd, something she has been anticipating since the
launch of her first one last March. We also have a little one-night excursion planned to
Michigan, just to get away for a bit. Ever since putting Beorn away for the winter, I've been
house-bound during the week. Today after school, we sent off all the gift packages to
Sudbury and Lindsay, then headed over to Detroit for some cask ale at Slows (unbeatable
"Poet" from New Holland Brewing Co.) The barmaid bought us a round since we go so
often! We then went for coffee at Borders, and I bought a new sci fi book ("The Windup
Girl"), a Nebula award winner. So the holidays are off to a good start. Tomorrow we begin
our in-house preparations for Winter Solstice, the 2nd-biggest event of the year around
here. I'm going to try and post something every day for the next two weeks, including a
photo or two each day as well (new camera, virtually unused so far). So stay tuned and
come back often. I promise to try and stay in a good mood, even if it's really cold and
snowy.
Monday, December 13th/10
I am consistently amused by people who think global warming (better referred to as
climate change) is a joke, just as soon as the real cold weather hits. They assume that
where they live is all there is to climate. How quickly they conveniently forget that the
previous 11 months have all been above the norm, especially the brutally hot summer we
just had, and that only one month of 2010 (so far) is quite far below average in our area.
Polar ice caps melting? Glaciers receding? Lakes drying up? Droughts longer lasting
then ever? Doesn't matter. As soon as it's cold, they are convinced that warming is a
joke. Sometimes one wonders if the people of the earth are worth saving. Certain ones,
definitely not! There is certainly nothing wrong with healthy skepticism, providing one
knows the data and isn't basing his opinion on today's weather. Speaking of today's
weather, what a nasty bit of work that was. We usually don't get this kind of cold until mid
to late January. We received about 5" of snow, and three short shoveling sessions saw
the driveway cleared and the two parking areas. We are nothing if not efficient out here.
There was a lot of drifting snow on the road today, and on our brief trip to Windsor this
afternoon we passed two accidents, well after the storm had passed. On my next rant, I
might get on about "all-season" tires. If you think global warming is not happening, then
why aren't you buying snow tires? One of the biggest myths about winter, year after year,
is that "all-season" tires are perfectly fine. Must be why Quebec last year passed a law
requiring snow tires on all vehicles in winter. Why not Ontario? Good question.
Saturday, December 11/10
My idea of a perfect winter storm occurred early Friday morning, as we awoke to about an
inch of new snow and some slippery roads. However, by noon most of the snow had
melted, and by 2 pm we were out walking on the sidewalks of Dearborn, unhindered.
Poster of a perfect storm. Not the one we are getting tomorrow, which promises 4"-7" of
new snow (boo--hiss!), high winds (very unnecessary) and rapidly falling temperatures
(fine for people in cozy homes, but not too fine for critters that live outdoors). In short, a
very unpleasant day ahead, though it may produce a few lovely photos.
We are prepared, even for a power failure, but it doesn't mean I have to like it or accept it
graciously.
Deb played at a wedding today in River Canard, her final gig of the year (we hope). She
has five days left until her big holiday. I went in to school on Friday to help with the Gr. 6
instrumental program, working with 4 beginning clarinetists. Every time I go in to school
this year, I get no less than 4000 hugs from various students (mostly girls, but a notable
number of boys, too).
Christmas shopping is all done! We just have to package it and send it off to Sudbury.
Something here for Amanda, Jennie and Martin, too, for their upcoming visit. See
everyone after the storm, and the inevitable shoveling.
Thursday, December 9th/10
Deb is currently more than 1/3 through her final year of classroom teaching! She is just
about ready for a few weeks off, too. Teaching Grades 1, 2, and 3 is not her idea of
meaningful education. She will survive, and be stronger for it!! I had a few students
absent from lessons this week, making my load a bit lighter. Practicing continues to go
very well, and I am enjoying my flute sessions a lot. Clarinet is an amazing amount of
physical work by comparison, and my chops are nowhere near the required level for a
long session. Still, I am advancing. Piano is going amazingly well.
I completed work on my London journal. It is a huge volume, filled with photos,
descriptions, anecdotes and jolly good information. Since returning I have bought a new
camera, replacing the mid-sized S700 with the S1500, essentially the same camera but
three years newer. A few problems were developing with the S700, though it took
fabulous photos in New Mexico last August and in England last month. I've not had any
time to use the new replacement, but look for some photos from it here soon.
Snow will be arriving tonight and Sunday, so an early winter is a certainty. I can remember
fondly riding my bike to school and back many years right up to the last day before winter
vacation. I wish the snow would wait until late January, like it did last year. It has been
way too cold around here since the calendar changed to December, so it was inevitable
that we would get snow. At least during the first few snowfalls I get mildly excited about
taking photos.
Tuesday, December 7th/10
I haven't written about music in a while, so it is probably time. The Beethoven Sonata Op
10 #1 is in a quite advanced state at the moment. Once I made the decision not to kill
myself memorizing it, things fell into place quite quickly. Memorization of music for
concerts began in the early 1800s, with many listeners finding it horrifying that someone
would think they could do such a feat. Some say that it connects one more directly to the
music. In my case, it often takes me away from the music, as my mind is more occupied
with remembering than with making music. It seems that only pianists (and perhaps
violinists) are given the added pressure of memorizing. Piano material is required to be
memorized for exams and recitals in all universities, yet the flute material isn't.
Interesting. And yet some of the most beautiful piano playing I have ever heard has been
an accompaniment to a singer or solo instrumentalist, and such piano music is never required to
be memorized. Odd, isn't it? Same with chamber music. Memorization not required. I
guess the great string quartets I have heard over the years (Guaneri, Tokyo, Orford and of
course Juillard), just haven't been connecting to the music.... Anywho, my little program
is coming along well. The harpsichord pieces are ready, and Paula and I are working on
some duets; a Mozart Sonata and a lovely Debussy piece. I might also play a few things
on flute or clarinet, accompanied by Paula. Now, to find a venue.
On my flight home from London two weeks ago I listened to a few cds on the in-flight
entertainment system. One of them was an all-Bach cd by Helene Grimaud. I have heard
this young French pianist perform with the DSO, but did not know her solo work.
Needless to say, I now have the cd. It is such a good version of many pieces I have
learned over the years, and others that I wish to learn. Her version of the Chaconne in d is
simply the best--no time wasted here, though. She moves it right along, and brings
enormous power and immense tone to the epic piece. I also listened to an all-Bach cd by
violinist Hillary Hahn, and hope to soon have that one on my shelf, too.
Friday, December 3rd/10
Why haven't I been posting here of late? I'll tell you why (thanks for asking). I've been
editing photos from the London trip, working on the journal, and preparing a selection of
photos for a slideshow here. The titles appear on the slideshow, however the captions
cannot be read unless the pics are viewed one at a time. Choose your poison. The photos
are amazing, I must admit. It was such an incredible trip I can still hardly believe it! Ever
since I left, the country has been plunged into a miserable winter, with virtually no trains
running. Great trip and great timing!
We bought a new couch this week, too. Drop by and have a sit, especially when the fire is
on. We have some terrific Scotch selections just now, too (and of course many kinds of
beer).
The new sofa. The cats took an instant liking to it.
Sunday, November 28th/10
The season of wearing too many clothes has thrust itself upon us. Undershirt, shirt,
sweater, heavy jacket, ear muffs, gloves, scarf, boots, warm pants--it's all a bit much to
someone who prefers to step outside wearing exactly what he wears inside. And what
child could truly love winter dressed the way some parents do them up? I remember
being totally impregnable to weather when I grew up in Sudbury, and also unable to bend
over or move my arms freely. There are so many things to dislike about winter, especially
an approaching winter, which can approach for many weeks! Just come on and be winter,
and then end, please. All this nattering and false blustering until January finally arrives. It
is also a terrible season for photographers, despite the many fine opportunities for great
pictures. Cameras run on batteries, and batteries do not work well when temps are in the
minus range. Neither do fingers. I dislike winter in so many different ways. You can read
about all of them here over the next few months.
Beorn the Touareg got his big bath today, in preparation for his winter hibernation. After 4
1/2 years on the road, he still looks and drives like he is new. Sleeping through winter in a
garage and avoiding road salt and slippery fender benders certainly helps with that.
Fairlane Carwash in Dearborn does an amazing detailing job for a mere $25, inside and
out.
Beorn after his detail washing today. He goes into winter hibernation on Dec. 1st.
Friday, November 26th/10
My week of teaching went quickly, I am happy to say. Only one no-show out of 19
students, so a rather heavy week at that. Having been outdoors all of last week, it has
pained me somewhat to be mostly stuck indoors this week. My fabulous trip to London
continues to dominate my thoughts. I got to see Caroline quite often, usually for dinner
(4x), as well as our outing to Syon Park one night to see The Enchanted Woodland display
of tree lights. Toby joined us one night for dinner and gaming at Caroline's. We played a
fun board game called "Galaxy Truckers," complex enough to make it challenging but not
so much that it couldn't be learned quickly. It is a game I will be on the lookout for! Toby
works for a company that makes computer games, in the film department. He hails from
New Zealand and is very knowledgeable about games, both computer and board. He is
not geeky in the least, however, having a very friendly and down-to-earth personality. His
girlfriend, an articling lawyer, tried to join us but could not get away from her work that
night. I also saw Leigh O'Hara at the JAGs concert, and bumped into Nadia L. there as
well! Despite these memorable and fun social outings, the trip was by and large a solitary
experience, walking country lanes and paths, visiting villages large and small, and
drinking cask ale in pubs too quaint to even believe. I still find it completely amazing that I
was able to complete all of my planned walks (six). One of the days was tough, as it was
cold, windy and raining. I had all the gear, though, so there wasn't really any excuse not to
go ahead with it, so I did. There are no more major trips planned until March break, when
we both return to the hills and deserts of New Mexico.
Wednesday, November 24th/10
I've been working on the journal, my way of trying to remember all that happened and
everywhere I went. Despite the fact that each trip is always completely unique, it becomes
difficult to remember even important details a week or two afterwards. I would usually jot
down a few notes at pub stops, and refer to them when writing the journal.
Eltham Palace was the home of the royal family for over 250 years, from the early 14th C.
until the middle of the 16th. I look forward to an inside look next time with Deb. I went
inside for a pot of tea and a look at the gift shop, but pressed on with my walk after a look
around the exterior.
Part of the moat and outer wall of Eltham Palace, with the palace itself in the background.
Moat, bridge and house at Eltham Palace.
Detail of bridge across to Eltham Palace, London.
Palace Bridge
There were many and sundry interesting sights along the Capital Ring segment that I
walked...
Tuesday, November 23rd/10
The jet lag program worked again, as I was back to my teaching schedule today. To think
that only yesterday I was near Greenland! Flying over Labrador is always an adventure,
too. This time I was able to spot the immense Churchill Falls damn, as well as the
extremely isolated Labrador City, a mining community. My adventures in England were
mostly rural, though London served as my home base. My hotel was near Primrose Hill,
as well as near two tube stations on different lines. My main purpose was to walk in the
country, and that is what I did. However, London is so park-centered that walking outside
of central London one could easily be fooled into thinking he was deep into the
countryside. My first major walk was segment two of The Capital Ring. This took me
through Eltham and into the palace there. The photos below were taken before arriving at
the palace. Tomorrow I will put up some shots of the actual palace, though I did not tour
the inside.
Leaving Falconwood Station in suburban London (Zone 3), the walk is instantly magical.
This is part of the Capital Ring, a 15 segment walk around London totaling nearly 80 miles in length. Deb and I completed the first segment in March 2009.
Shop window fairy cakes, Eltham High Street.
St. John the Baptist Church, Eltham High Street.
16th C. dwelling just outside the palace grounds was once home to the Lord Chancellor. It
is now divided into 3 separate dwellings.
Monday, November 23rd/10
I am back from London, quite exhausted from 8 days of intense walking. There were many
woods of deep magic, and enough pubs with fabulous ales and farm ciders to quench
even the thirstiest soul! It was a glorious trip, marred only by the fact that I did it alone. I
did get to spend time with Caroline, Toby, Nadia and Leigh. More later. Now I need to
unpack, download the photos, download the GPS tracks of my numerous walks, and then
sleep soundly for several days. Stay tuned to this channel for updates.
Friday, Nov. 12/10
3:40 pm
It doesn't seem possible that only two weeks ago we were driving to Toronto during the
day and partying with friends that night. It seems like weeks and weeks ago! We certainly
enjoyed our glorious week of weather. There most certainly will be a price to pay, I'm sure.
I will pay mine in London next week. England is currently being hit by gale after gale, with
high winds and driving rain. Yay. I have six walks planned--fat chance of getting even half
of those done. We'll see.
Deb has now completed 1/4 of her final year of teaching!! Some celebrating is in order this
evening! We each got a new student this week, so perhaps we can actually pay off the
new car and still travel a bit. Albuquerque is in our sites for March. We are just off to a
group lesson with all our students (a few can't make it), so we'll see how that goes.
Monday, Nov. 8th/10
We had a good 5 mile hike at Point Pelee National Park yesterday, despite the fact that
much of the park is closed off to visitors due to road construction. The visitor center and
tip were off limits, but we still had a decent time. It was really blowing hard on the west
beach, so we stayed on the east side. Even the famous marsh boardwalk is half-closed
due to construction. The weather has not been too shabby lately. I haven't even burned
two bags of wood pellets yet in our stove!
West beach at Point Pelee. We made a brief visit to the windy side, before retreating into
the trees. We walked the bike trail from the boardwalk area to the homestead, around the
homestead trails, and then back.
Finally, we went on the north side of the marsh, as the south side is missing its
boardwalk!
Only half of the boardwalk is missing. The north side is still there, but the visitor has to
make a u-turn midway through to get back. There is a lot of construction going on.
Three coots run on the water. Taken from the marsh lookout tower.
day. I am now less than a week away from my first new walk in England in almost two
years. I have a week of walking and pub visiting planned, though past experience tells me
England's chancey weather will have something to say about my plans. I have a new
student coming on board this week, bringing me to 19. Such is life with a new car to pay
off!
Saturday, Nov. 6th/10
In preparation for my upcoming London visit, I have been continuing a sizeable walking
program. Weather permitting I have walks scheduled for each of the seven days I will be
there, including rambles in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Sussex. Today we walked
from downtown Detroit up to the DIA and back, stopping at pubs and cafes along the way,
and making a brief visit to the Art Institute. We were noticing tons of police cars in the
downtown area, and we eventually discovered that a parade was coming up soon. It was a
Veteran's Day parade, and some of it passed us by as we walked north on Woodward. As
we got to the corner of Woodward and Temple, I noticed a house on fire. No one was on
scene yet. There was a police vehicle nearby, and Deb ran over to it and informed the
officer. He quickly made the scene as we did, and we could see a man trapped in the
upper level of an abandoned house which was burning from the top.
Person in window below letter L, wearing a blue hoodie. The officer was telling him to get
out, but he shouted back that there were people downstairs with guns trying to kill him.
Welcome to a nice sunny walk in Detroit! We could hear distant sirens from two nearby
fire stations that were responding. The officer went on his own towards the building. Deb
and I backed off a bit.
The fire department arrived within two minutes, a full response which in Detroit is called a
Box Alarm (from the old days when you pulled a neighbourhood box alarm to summon
help). Three engines, a ladder (Ladder 20, a huge vehicle requiring a driver at the rear as
well), a squad and a chief were on scene very quickly. Not only that. Due to the parade,
downtown was swarming with police. About thirty officers showed up to catch the bad
guys, and they did! It included a swat team and dog, and lots of high power rifles. The
bad guys picked the wrong day to mess around. Usually in the city firefighters respond
alone, and it's difficult to get a single scout car to the scene if needed.
Temple St. during the mayhem.
Engine 1 was first on scene, though Ladder 20 is already setting up in
behind.
It was quite a nice old house, though long abandoned. Firefighters were already inside
that room with the brown smoke coming out!
Fire on Temple Street, Detroit.
the tiny Fuji A820) as the first engine was arriving. It is on Youtube. Everyone was
rescued, though lots of people were in custody by the time we left. Actually, parts of
Woodward are coming along quite nicely. It's not all desperation anymore. Still, Detroit is
a unique city!
Sculpture on Woodward, in front of a restaurant. There are plenty of nice pubs and cafes,
along with the occasional bit of drama!
Wednesday, Nov. 3rd/10
As I was explaining yesterday, the camera with Sudbury photos on it got left in Toronto
last month. So I am now going to put up a few pics from my September visit with Lynne,
Steve, and my parents. The star of the show, of course, is my niece Emma-Lee.
Dressed for Sudbury September pool weather.
Harvesting the last of the cherry tomatoes.
When is that man with the camera going home?
Tuesday, Nov. 2nd/10
So much news. Let's see, where to begin... On Thursday morning of last week I brought
the Jetta in for servicing. Whilst strolling around the showroom, I happened across a
spanking new 2010 VW Golf TDI Wagon. It was love at first sight! Since selling our Jetta
TDI (diesel) in 2006, I have lamented not owning another one. My lamentations have
ceased! I was destined not to drive the '03 Jetta ever again, as it remained at the dealer as
a trade-in. We picked up the new car Friday afternoon and headed for Toronto. There and
back, folks, for $38 in fuel. Not too shabby.
This trip was planned weeks ago to meet up with old friends who I have not seen in many
a long year. We arrived downtown around 7 pm, meeting up with Amanda, Martin and
Jennie at Granite Brewing Company on Eglington East for dinner (I'd seen them a month
ago). It was a serious party, and Deb and I didn't check in to our hotel until near 1 am!
The beer at Granite was disappointing, however the company was great! Jennie is
Amanda's best friend, and I had the pleasure of meeting her last month on my one-night
stay with Amanda and Martin.
in Toronto.
Saturday morning, Deb's mom arrived at our hotel from Lindsay, to spend the day with
Deb. We strolled a few blocks up Yonge Street, ending up at The Bay on Bloor Street for
lunch. We then walked back south, and Deb went with her mom to our room so she could
rest before Round 2. Next to arrive was Stephen Sword. I had been out of touch with my
first piano teacher/Gr. 11 English teacher for over 30 years. I had located his son on
Facebook, and through him we managed to hook up at the last minute (Stephen called me
Friday as I was leaving). I had no idea Stephen was even in Toronto! We sat at the hotel
bar for a bit of a catch-up session, barely scratching the surface. It was so amazing to see
him and talk to him after all those years, not even knowing if he was still alive. Stephen
Sword was one of those people who had a life-changing influence on me. I had been
searching for him off and on for about five years now. He is still heavily involved in music,
mostly singing in choirs. What fun this was! He had also arranged for an enormous
bouquet of flowers to be sent to us at the hotel the day before, and were waiting for us
when we checked in!
I had to leave him around 3:30 pm to meet Jennie, vowing to keep in touch. I met Jennie
around 4 pm at World's Biggest Bookstore, spending a happy hour browsing titles in
science fiction and then mystery. I ended up buying her a novel by Iain M. Banks. "Player
of Games" was the first book I read by him. He is now my favourite author, both in
science fiction and in fiction. We then went across the street and had a few drinks, before
going back to the hotel to meet up with Deb. She and her mom had been out again, but
were back now.
Sunset, looking west on College St., Toronto.
goodbye. The three of us (Deb, Jennie, me) then walked downtown. Jennie was meeting
Amanda to go to the Symphony that night, and Deb and I were off to meet more old friends
from Sudbury. The next party began at another brewpub, "C'est What?" This place had
good beer! Dino was my best man at our wedding back in /76, and newer girlfriend
Kathyrn was with him. Also present was Dennis. I have seen Dennis once in the past five
years, though it has been over 20 since seeing Dino! Lots of good times that night,
finishing up at a pub called "The Irish Embassy". Once again we got home late, and not in
the best of shape. A good night's sleep was in order, but my poor brain was so
overloaded with information (and other things) that it took a while to relax. We were
supposed to meet up with Amanda and Jennie afterwards, but they each had separate
parties to attend. The entire city population was wearing costumes this weekend, and
parties were everywhere.
Next day, Deb and I checked out of our hotel and went to High Park for a walk. Amanda
joined us, and the three of us went to a lovely Thai restaurant for lunch. Jennie was
supposed to come, too, but texted to say she was "broken" and unable to make it. Either
it was a good party she went to last night or a bad one.
Some of the colours Sunday at High Park. This was my second visit and Deb's first.
After lunch we made a brief stop at Amanda's house to retrieve my camera, which had
been accidentally left behind on my September visit. It had all the pictures from Sudbury,
Lake Penage, and of Emma-Lee on it. I will publish some of those over the next few days.
We left Toronto around 1 pm, and were home by 5:30 pm for our annual Samhain party and
Tarot Card reading. We had a great night, and even managed to unpack our suitcase.
Driving the car is like a dream come true--it's as nice as the Touareg, and that is saying a
lot!
Poor Deb had to trudge off to school on Monday morning, but she was in a good mood
after our fun weekend. We headed to a large cemetery in Detroit for the afternoon, doing
our annual walk and visit there. We went to Ferndale later for some microbrew from
Woodward Avenue Brewing Company, then went for coffee at a cafe on Nine Mile, a very
funky area.
Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit.
up having another great evening of conversation, with a little less alcohol involved.
Andrea is now from the Toronto area, but her parents live here. Like Amanda, I taught
school music and private lessons to Andrea. She has opened her own photography
business. Check it out--she is doing amazing work! Today, I joined Deb at school for a
short time, demonstrating the flute and the clarinet to two of her Gr. 1 classes. It has been
a whirlwind series of events, beginning Thursday with the purchasing of the car. It all
reminds me of organizing a big school concert! Lots of experience at organizing events...
Tuesday, October 27th/10
Luckily yesterday was our hiking day, and not today! A wee bit blustery today, and a lot of
leaves have come tumbling down. Yesterday we walked at Ojibway Forest (very fine
colours) and Ojibway Prairie (not so nice a walk due to the high grass). We saw two deer,
one of them a wee yearling. Being a Monday the park was quiet, except for the heavy
construction taking place on the new nature center. The old one is still open, though.
Deb heads into Ojibway Forest, Windsor.
We had a beautiful walk, with plenty of leaf colour showing.
This was the second deer of the afternoon, spotted near the pond (it's almost dried up!).
I'm in training for London, so after the walk we went to Slows in Detroit. They were havinga mini beer festival, and had just opened a cask of Harvest Ale from Founders Brewery.
Yum!
The weather was so nice that we sat outside on their patio, beneath three birch trees.
Sunday, October 25th/10
Getting caught up on a few things here. We went to Malden Hill on Friday for a walk, just
missing the elementary schools' long distance competition. We were nearly alone in the
park, but the din of kids from the parking lot could be heard. It has been a less than
colourful autumn, though the odd tree here and there seems bursting with good old fashioned
lack of chlorophyll.
Malden Hill Park on Friday.
There were a lot of geese in the pond at Malden Hill, trying to get as far away from the
hordes of kids in the parking lot as possible.
We are on a roll with weather. Today we are in the 70s, and for the next two days, also.
Ludwig the Tortoise had a good run outside today, his first in quite some time. I am
feeling less than ambitious today, though, and have been indoors much of the time,
reading and planning for my trip to the UK in a few weeks. This weekend we are going to
Toronto to meet Deb's mom for a day, as well as meet today with some friends old and new.
Here are a few photos of our day in downtown Detroit yesterday.
Yesterday, we began our day with a pint of microbrew at Foran's Grand Trunk Pub. We
then strolled around Campus Martius Park, finding espresso in the old Kresge Building!
The guy there is very cool, and we will be back.
The park was looking festive, though there were very few others about. Mostly tour
groups, including one on Segways!
Autumn in downtown Detroit. The skating rink will soon be up.
View of the fountain from inside the cafe at Campus Martius Park, downtown Detroit. No
bar yet, but we had a wonderful grilled veggie wrap.
Saturday, October 23rd/10
There are a couple of odd things regarding Facebook. Firstly, virtually no one my age is
on. I've tried friend after friend with no luck. Secondly, those who are don't seem to use
the resource for very much. It seems like a novelty that once worn off is left to itself.
Serves me right for climbing aboard so late. Still, I've had a good chat with Jennie, and
have seen some great photos of some super nice former students (and their own kids). Still
waiting for confirmations from John T., RASC, Kati G. and my oldest niece. They don't
seem to be on it very much.
To wrap up the KC trip from last weekend, here are a few shots as we departed their
airport late Sunday afternoon. It was a super weekend and we'd go back any time. We
may go back in early May!
Kansas River (at 5 o'clock) flows into the wide Missouri River just northwest of downtown
Kansas City, MO. Kansas City, KS is in the foreground.
Similar shot to above, with view of downtown KC, MO. State and city of Kansas in
foreground, with Missouri in background.
restaurant at Campus Martius Park. We bought a portable breathalyzer (!) at CVS. I never
blew above a 0.01. Deb managed a 0.08! Guess who drove...
Wednesday, October 20th/10
Have been enjoying some episodes of The Avengers lately, with John Steed and Mrs. Peel!
Great fun, with Diana Rigg always in fine form. Stories are silly and almost comic book,
but that is half the fun! The b & w episodes are the best. Despite a howling wind today (it
was fun playing harpsichord and watching the leaves and trees go completely insane
outside my window) the house has remained not too cold, with a bit of wood stove here
and there all that is really needed. I also went to school again today and volunteered with
Gr. 6 flute beginners. There were six students today ( 5 girls and a boy), but they got a
good lesson and are making good progress. Jani gets two music student teachers next
week, so I won't be needed for a month now. I'm invited into Deb's classes, though, to
demo the flute and clarinet to Gr. 1s!
And now, back to our Kansas City programming! Sunday morning we went to City Market
for breakfast and a stroll. Great little cafe there, and the Sunday flea market was in full
swing. We also took a short walk on their waterfront, which is the Missouri River soon
after being joined by the Kansas River. There is about a mile of parkland down below the
City Market.
New bridge across the Missouri in Kansas City. We had to drive on the old one beside it to
get to our motel, as we did in June when we were last here. It's going to be a beauty!
Part of City Market, Kansas City. Not as sprawling as Detroit's, this compact area is a
really great place to hang out.
We had two options for Sunday, as our flight didn't leave until 5:30 pm. One was the zoo,
and two was Burr Oak Conservation Area, 25 minutes east. We chose option two, and
were soon undertaking a 5.5 mile hike in the woods. The Ozarks don't come this far north,
but the deciduous forest was a comforting place to be on a warm and very sunny
afternoon. There were some fun rock formations, too. Being a Sunday there were others
there, though the place was far from busy.
Some of the rocks we encountered on our trails. Deb hiked today, despite doing the half marathon
yesterday! Said she felt great!!
More funky rocks! A fun hike!
Coming soon: The Pond of Death (not for the squeamish).Tuesday, October 19th/10
I have finally signed up for Facebook. I was supposed to do this when I retired, but just
got around to it yesterday. Still learning the ropes, and I only have 5 friends so far (but
they are high quality!). Still, seems pretty cool, and with much more control over what you
post than when I first looked in a few years back. So far I like it.
Continuing with Kansas City (our second weekend visit), after the race on Saturday
morning and our light lunch, we returned to the hotel so Deb could shower and change.
Then we headed to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, one of the finest in the world. We
toured their excellent collection (newly reinstalled) of Egyptian Art, Classical and Near-
Eastern Art, and then European painting. We also revisited their modern wing, and went
outside (it was 80 F!) to see some of the sculptures.
Deb in front of a Near Eastern bas relief. Of course the art itself is fabulous, but the
installations and lighting were superb!
Outside the museum is a modern sculpture garden. Watch out for the big racket!
After we left the museum, we went to one of many large and impressive neighbourhood
shopping districts. This one was called Country Club Plaza, and was packed with great
stores and people, with a Spanish architectural theme. We had a relaxing sit down at a
cafe and bookstore, I found a KC hat and tee shirt at a KC store, and we found a decent
Irish pub that served the local beer, Boulevard IPA being our choice. We had our second
hummous platter of the day, and it turned out to be our dinner. We left the shopping
district heading for downtown. We were originally supposed to be hearing Ivan Moravec
that night in recital, but he had cancelled due to illness (the main reason we had planned the
trip). By some happy circumstance, I had picked up a brochure at our hotel about the KC
Ballet. They had a performance scheduled for 7:30 pm this evening. I left it up to Deb, but
she was as chipper as could be, so we snagged a parking spot right in front of the Lyric
Theatre, bought two rush seats and sat down to enjoy the ballet! It turned into the
surprise hit of the weekend! They were performing three works by Balanchine, including
"Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," as well as another masterpiece based on music by Vaughn-
Williams ("Lark Ascending"). What a great dance company! We met one of their lead
ballerinas, Tempe Ostergren, a drop-dead gorgeous young woman, at intermission. She
was injured a week earlier during rehearsal, and instead of dancing tonight was sitting in
the balcony watching! She seems a delightful person. Wishing her well with her recovery.
We enjoyed the show immensely, having attended many dance performances in Detroit,
though not lately. It has rekindled our interest, though! It had been a very full day for us,
and especially Deb, so afterwards we headed for our motel room and the oblivion of deep
sleep.
Monday, October 18th/10
Our flight left Detroit for Kansas City at 3:30 pm, so we left home for the airport shortly
after Deb got home from teaching. The flight was among the smoothest and most perfect
we have ever had (same with the return)! It took two hours from gate to gate, and we soon
zoomed off in our rental car. Deb had to pick up her microchip and racing gear at the
marathon expo downtown, then we happily went off to 75th Street Brewery for dinner. We
were up very early next morning, and Deb's race began at 7:30.
Here they come! All 12,000 of them! I stood near Mile 2 and watched them all go by. It
took about 30 minutes.
There they go!
I did my own quieter urban walk whilst Deb did her 13.1 mile half-marathon. We met up
near the finish line.
Deb has 0.2 miles left in her race, which she completed in 2 hours and 58 minutes,
walking fast. It was a perfect day, eventually climbing into the 80s.
The Cashew Pub, right after the race!
More coming tomorrow, so check back!
Sunday, October 17th/10
We are just back from a very fun trip to Kansas City, Missouri. I will have a lot more to say
about it tomorrow, but it was just about as perfect a getaway weekend as one could ever
hope for. Deb completed her half-marathon, beating her time of two years ago by over 20
minutes, which pleased her mightily. Stay tuned for more pics and info beginning
tomorrow.
Celebrating after the finish of the KC Half Marathon! Deb beat her time from Detroit two
years ago by over 20 minutes, which was her goal. Thus the big smile. Boulevard Pale
Ale didn't hurt, either.
Monday, October 11th/10
Yesterday was the first "family" Thanksgiving for Deb and me in over 34 years!! All tolled,
there were eight of us, including one baby. A far cry from the old days in Sudbury, when
uncountable hordes would descend upon several tables, often at the cottage at Lake
Penage! Still, it was a great little party! Except for a small turkey, it was a vegan/glutenfree
affair, and quite delicious, with pumpkin cake and pumpkin pie for dessert. There
were squash with corn-bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, veggie appetizers with fresh-made
hummous, beer and wine and coffee galore. Deb's nut loaf roast was a big hit, too!
Melanie, my cousin, holds her granddaughter Isabella, whilst Cathy and Deb look on.
Cathy sits before our pumpkin pie, and the pumpkin cake is in the foreground. The others
are up washing dishes before dessert is served. Thanksgiving dinner in Windsor was a
blast!
Deb is now less than a week away from her half-marathon in Kansas City, MO. We have
been walking a lot, including the trail in Dearborn on Friday (below), the
riverfront trail in Windsor today, and Essex last Monday.
Tiny turtles were basking in the pond in Sadler Park in Essex, as temps soared to near
record highs. It was a glorious Thanksgiving long weekend for outdoor activities!
Received a short e-mail from Andrea, saying that she and the kids will be coming down to
A'burg at the end of October. Hopefully we will meet up for an afternoon of adventure!
I put up a review of The Hobbit, and am now happily ensconced in the main volumes of
Lord of the Rings. My autumn reading program has been well-chosen!
Thursday, October 7th/10
The warmer autumn weather has been most welcome, though even when it was quite
chilly we were only running the wood stove for about 45 minutes in the morning. We hope
to use only the stove until at least November, barring any sudden arrival of winter. We
stand to save about $500 a year on natural gas by using about $100 worth of wood chips.
Deb has been fighting a cold all week, as has about a third of my private students (though
17 of 18 showed up for lessons). I continue to dodge the ball, but will get whacked
eventually, I'm sure.
My main reason for visiting Kansas City later in the month was to attend the farewell
concert tour of Ivan Moravec, long my favourite pianist. He has cancelled all three US
concerts due to illness. We got a refund on our concert tickets, but we are still committed
to going to KC. Deb subsequently signed up for their half-marathon that weekend. Not
sure yet what else we will do there. Damn!
We are expecting to see cousin Cathy this weekend. She is visiting cousin Melanie, her
sister, and staying for Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday. We are invited to this gluten-free,
somewhat vegan eating marathon! Deb is making a nut roast with stuffing, and I will
contribute a pumpkin pie (vegan but not gluten free). Deb has her third and final autumn
harp gig Saturday night, playing for two hours at a wedding reception. Tomorrow, we are
going to Detroit, our usual weekly mail run, with some good coffee and a bit of cask ale
thrown in for good measure.
Piano practice is going well, and I am getting back into flute and clarinet also. The
exercise programs are going full-steam ahead, the longest I've ever kept up with this
amount of intensity! So everything is good from here! Go back to what you were doing.
Sunday, October 3rd/10
It's hard to believe that nearly a week has passed since my last entry--time is flying past at
an alarming rate! It's been an eventful week, too, with all 18 students showing up for
lessons for the first time. Makes for an unretiring kind of retirement. Deb had her second
wedding gig of the season yesterday, at Willistead Manor in Windsor. I spent a pleasant
hour at Toloola's with a soy cappucino and a warmed up date square, reading a chapter of
The Hobbit called "Queer Lodgings." It is the chapter where everyone meets Beorn! One
of the best chapters from one of the best books!
John G, eldest son of our best friends, turned 21 last week. Go John! 21 was such an
incredible age, a time when you had the world in your grasp, and you knew it. An age
when anything seemed possible. Would I ever want to be that age again? Nope. Not at
all. It was fun the first time, though!
I have no pictures yet to post of Emma-Lee from my trip to Sudbury, as my camera was left
behind at Amanda and Martin's in Toronto. Luckily, Lynne has forwarded some to me,
which I enthusiastically share with you.
Emma-Lee is my main girlfriend (after Deb).
Emma goes October!
Who has mischievous beady brown eyes in this picture (besides me)? My cousin Cathy
and I are Emma's godparents.
Today I finally got around to testing the gas furnace. The house was chilly when we
awoke, so I tried it. It works! We have had no need of the wood pellet stove or furnace
yet, except to test each one time. Tonight we had our first wood fire of the year, and finally
had our Autumn Equinox ceremony. We changed the main artwork over to Autumn mode,
and the house looks suitably cozy. It has been a very cool September, with October
starting out even worse. Still, we are just now using our heat for the first time. We will try
to get through the month with just the wood stove.
Monday, September 27th/10
Last night we watched "Tokyo Godfathers," a remake of an old western about three misfits
who find a baby and care for it while searching for its mother. Most of this 2003 Anime is
quite good and very funny, though it falls apart at the end in a failed attempt to become
something it isn't. Still worth seeking out, and richly drawn with some truly beautiful
winter scenes.
We watched this anime last night. The director died very recently. A good little film, with
many rewards for the viewer.
nice to have memories of yesterday's sunny walk along the Maumee River to ponder in idle
moments.
Looking southwest from Bendview Overlook, Maumee River, Ohio.
Looking southeast from Bendview Overlook, Maumee River, Ohio.
recent voyage to New Mexico. I am currently writing the final essay, a summation and
evaluation of the trip. When that is done, I will begin work on an album of enlargements
from last summer's adventure with Amanda and Deb. I had wanted to have that ready for
my visit last week to Toronto, but alas, it was not to be. This is actually the end of my first
long weekend at home, having Friday through Monday off from teaching. It feels not too
bad! Last weekend was too hectic to even notice.
Sunday, Sept. 26th/10
It is interesting to note that weekends tend to pass just as quickly when one is retired! We
managed to keep ourselves busy again. On Friday, during a very bad wind storm, we
crossed the border and went to our mailbox. I had some black photo corners on order,
and they were in, along with more shoes for Deb. Photo corners should last me quite a
while! We also went for lunch to Detroit Beer Company (mine was free, thanks to their
Birthday Club!). More delicious IPA awaited at Slows, where they had some cask
conditioned for us on hand pull!! Next came the APS staff after- school meeting at Brews
and Cues. About ten people showed up for that party, which lasted until about 6:30 pm.
Deb played a church wedding in Amherstburg on Saturday, and today we went to Ohio for
a hike. Deb is less than three weeks away from her Kansas City half-marathon, and I'm
trying to keep up too, in case I get to go to England in November and do some walking
there. We walked the Towpath Trail, following the old canal bed from Waterville, Ohio to
Grand Rapids. Deb made the entire 8.3 mile trek, while I managed 5.4 miles (I had to go
back to the start and get the car and bring it around to the finish line). It was a perfect day
for some scenic riverside walking!
Deb gets into form along the Towpath Trail, west of Toledo, Ohio. The trail runs along
beside the Maumee River, passing through three Metroparks.
The old sawmill at Grand Rapids, Ohio, along the Towpath Trail.
Mule propelled canal boats still run, but not, alas, on Sundays. Canals once extended
from Toledo to Cincinnati, and even into Evansville, Indiana.
Thursday, Sept.23/10
I am just beginning to get my head back into proper functioning mode, after too many
parties etc. on my recent travels, capped off by a late-nighter at Amanda and Martin's
place Monday night/Tuesday morning. Last night was my birthday, giving good enough
reason to have another party! I'm having flashbacks to being 17 again! Anyway, it's back
to piano and fitness routines again today. Last night I taught until 8:30 pm, so the party
began late. The cake wasn't baked and ready until after 11. Luckily for me it was Deb that
had to get up and go to work this morning, though I will pay my dues this afternoon and
evening when it is my turn to teach. Friday the school staff is getting together at a pub to
celebrate all the September birthdays, so yet another party seems imminent.
On a sadder note, Penelope the lizard was found dead by Deb this morning in her
vivarium. Deb had seen her hatch from an egg and then had raised her, but she lived only
about a year. Funeral and burial services will likely take place after Deb gets back home.
Tuesday, Sept. 21st/10
Just back from a whirlwind but fun trip to Sudbury and Toronto to visit with family and
friends. I even got to go out to the old camp on Lake Penage to have a look around!
Watched movies in Steve's new home theatre, attached to his downstairs bar. We
watched Star Trek: The Motion Picture director's cut (extremely awesome!) and then
Galaxy Quest, a spoof on the old Star Trek series and fan conventions. Very funny, and
actually also a good sci fi movie! Emma Lee was sick, and I didn't take a lot of pics of her
this time, but she is more amazing then ever! She runs around on her own now, and plays
non-stop until she drops. When I get my camera back (left it in Toronto accidentally) I'll post
a few pics.
I spent Monday night with Amanda and Martin in Toronto, and a friend of Amanda's,
Jennie. Martin cooked an incredible meal, making it two nights in a row of very fun
intimate dinner parties for me! Sunday night Cathy cooked at her apartment in Sudbury
for Steve, Lynne and me, and we all had a very good time. Monday night the good time
lasted until after 1 am! Made it home today in time to teach my evening students, but my
batteries are very, very low right now! My travels are over until mid-October, when Deb
and I fly off for a weekend in Kansas City.
Thursday, Sept. 16th/10
The website has been updated with New Mexico photos, and it's a big bunch of files. Fill
up your coffee or beer mug and have a look.
My teaching week has ended (at last!). Aside from four new students, two others have
increased their lesson time. I'm actually up an hour and a half over last year, which was
my busiest year yet. I have a feeling I will learn from this, and scale back next year!
Wednesday, Sept. 15th/10
I've added a ton of new New Mexico photos to the website, so feast your eyes....Just a few
more to go.
Tuesday, Sept. 14th/10
A strange day, as I had to go into school to help Heather with the website. Of course I saw
lots of nice people, teachers and former pupils, but it was a bit weird being there! Then, of
course, I began my season of private teaching tonight, so it's back to work! Not much else
done except cleaning house! Two new students started today, an 8 yr old and a 9 yr old,
sisters who seem very sweet and eager to learn. Tomorrow, two more new students
begin, twin 6 yr old boys!
At any rate, I am working feverishly on the website mountain photos, and hope to have a
new batch ready by Thursday night at the latest. We'll see.
Sunday, Sept. 12th/10
Last week was a like a vacation, though there was no down time! I've been practicing
piano and working on the photo edits from the trip, as well as cooking meals, reading,
writing and maintaining the exercise program. This coming week the private teaching
resumes, all 11 1/2 hours of it. I now have 18 students, including four new ones. There are
three others I am expecting to hear from, but am not chasing. The only one not returning is
Kyran, who is gone off to York University!
I will resume work on the website photos soon, though I still have acres of work to do on
the journal.
On Friday after school, Heather, an APS teacher, dropped by for a visit. She and her
husband (Deb played harp at their wedding) went to Vancouver to live for a year. He is a
child psychologist who interned at a hospital there. They did some hiking, skiing,
snowshoeing, and even saw some of the Olympics. We had a lot to catch up on! I will be
going in to school this week to help Heather with the school website, as I have passed the
job on to her.
Yesterday we spent an entire day and evening in Detroit. Without my passport. As we
neared the customs booth I realized I had left mine in the Jetta. Not to worry! I was
allowed in with my birth certificate and driver's license!! Luckily we had an understanding
guy! We spent some time at John King books, then in a cafe, and then Borders and
Barnes and Noble. It rained all day, sometimes quite heavily. We went to a bar/grill in
Berkley for dinner, catching the last quarter of the Michigan/Notre Dame football game. It
was quite an ending! Michigan pulled off a victory in the final seconds.
This little fox snake was in our garden at the side of the house today. Quite a cutie pie!
He may be after voles.
Tuesday, Sept 7th/10
Retirement is here! As Deb chugged off to work this morning, Elaine, Mary and I went to
Windsor for breakfast and a long browse through Chapters Bookstore! Deb joined me and
Elaine for lunch. When I got home I began to work on the website, and have the entire first
section completed! If you've read the blog of the drive west you will be familiar with the
material. However, the pictures are now much larger. I will work on the NM portion as
time allows. See the other side for the link. I may have enrolled two new piano students,
as I got a call about twin 6 year old boys! They would replace Kyran, who is off to
university in Toronto this year. Tomorrow I will determine who is returning, and set up my
teaching schedule for next week.
Monday, Sept 6th/10
With Deb returning to school tomorrow morning, I officially go into semi-retirement (semi,
because my private teaching commences soon). Life will be different, likely a lot quieter! I
cannot think of a noisier space than my music room at school when a class would arrive
and begin to warm up. Elaine (my partner in retirement) and I are going out for breakfast
tomorrow morning, and to spend some quiet time at Chapters Bookstore to (as she puts it)
read some books that have nothing to do with education. Sounds like fun.
Today, Deb and I made the traditional Labour Day pilgrimmage to Lake Erie for a picnic.
We went all the way to Rondeau Provincial Park, completing a six mile hike on the South
Point Trail. As we neared the lake the sound of waves breaking on the beach gradually
became louder and louder, until it sounded like we were near an airport! The wind was
howling on the point, but we found a sheltered spot for lunch and enjoyed three kinds of
salads. The return to Nature was just what we both needed! Believe it or not, the park
costs $16 per vehicle to use for one day!! Most American parks are free to hikers, and
usually in tip top condition. Even Cahokia Mounds was free! $37 to pitch a tent, too! $5 in
NM, and free in many other States! Anyway, summer vacation is officially over, though
hopefully summer will linger awhile longer...
South Point Trail makes a 5 mile loop at Rondeau Provincial Park. We added another mile
at the end on a smaller trail (Tulip Tree). We saw two blue-tailed skinks on our walk!
It was a perfect day to be at the lake! Lots of drama in the sky and from the high winds on
the point.
Thursday, Sept 2nd/10
I got my first official taste of retirement today, as Deb had to go downtown to attend a PA
day series of talks for all county and city teachers, high school and elementary. I stayed
home and practiced piano, did the on-line banking and prepared some weekend hiking
trips. I think I'm going to get used to this!
Returning one last time to my solo drive to the southwest, Day 4 was a long one.
Oklahoma City to Albuquerque comes in at 550 miles, or just over 880 km. Far short of
my record with Steve and Monique when we drove 1200 km in one day, but still a long
drive. There isn't a lot to see, either, as the land flattens out west of OK City and trees all
but disappear. Having planned such a long drive today, I also knew I would cross over
into Mountain Time from Central, thus gaining my second hour of the voyage. Crossing
the Texas Panhandle offers only three sights of interest. The first is a scenic rest area and
overlook, built as a demonstration of wind power. The windmill hasn't worked in years,
but the building is a pretty cool place to relieve onself on the journey! Next comes the
leaning water tower in Groom, Texas, of far more visual interest than the giant white
crucifix that also rises beside the highway on the other side of town.
I stopped for a quick lunch in Amarillo, a town I've passed through many times but never
explored.
The third and final point of interest is Cadillac Ranch, located just west of Amarillo along
I40. It can be reached from a secondary road, followed by a short walk. A lot of people
had stopped today as I flew past. We have never stopped here, but it is on the list of
things to do! The cars, half-buried, are lined up exactly east/west, making them slightly
out-of-the-ordinary Equinox markers.
About 16 miles from NM, the plains begin to break down, and by the time NM is reached
(and watches set back an hour), the scenery is becoming quite interesting.
I-40, coming into New Mexico from the Texas Panhandle. There are some long straight
stretches!
Storm in the plains, from a roadside rest area in NM. August is monsoon season, and
afternoon storms are frequent.
drove I was able to follow her progress with her flight itinerary. She flew to Houston first,
then an hour later on to Albuquerque. She was scheduled to arrive at the airport hotel
about 4 pm, and I was aiming for a similar time. I got into the lobby at 4:45 pm (not too
bad), but there was no Deb as yet. I walked outside to look up the sidewalk towards the
airport, where she would be walking from. She turned into the parking lot as I reached the
sidewalk! Rendezvous complete! After checking in and a quick freshen-up, we were off to
Marble Brewery for a pint of their delicious IPA! Afterwards came our shopping at La
Montanita Co-op, gathering food for five days and nights of camping meals, and then we were
back for an early night with our take-out dinner. Our first major hike was scheduled for
tomorrow. This fascinating account will continue on the other side of this website
sometime in the near future. Photos will be big! Stay tuned. Don't change that dial!
Monday, August 30th/10
Despite today being the hottest day of the summer so far, we went ahead with our hike and
walked four warm miles. Since returning from our big New Mexico adventure, we have
continued our walking and general fitness program, hopefully permanently, but at least
until Deb's half-marathon in Kansas City in mid-October. My hornet bite was very itchy
today, still red and a bit swollen. It did not interfere with piano practice, which is getting
back into high gear. I have begun to memorize the short program, which consists of six
Baroque pieces for harpsichord, and a three-movement Beethoven sonata for piano (Op 10
#1). We'll see how the memorization goes over the next two weeks.
To continue on with a brief description of the journey west, on Day Three I finally made it
to the official American west, though not before a final Ozarks hike. I needed to continue
preparing for the mountains of New Mexico. Wildcat Glades is an Audubon park, though
being a Sunday morning the visitor center would not open until afternoon. I hiked 4.6
warm and humid miles beside a river and onto a cliff side landscape that always varied.
This is my second visit to fun parks near Joplin, MO, and both are conveniently located
just off the highway.
Lesser heron at Wildcat Glades, Joplin, MO. They have highly recommended hiking trails.
View from footbridge at Wildcat Glades. I would like to hike here again. There were
benches up here for viewing the falls.
as far as Oklahoma City. This was the hottest travel day yet, with the temp reaching 99 F
and the humidity was off the charts! I spent a fun evening in Oklahoma City in Lower
Bricktown, just southeast of downtown. I had dinner at Tapwerks, a pub with over 200
beers on tap!! It would take me two months to try them all! Also here was a unique canal
that cut through an old warehouse district, home to bars, restaurants, a cinema and lovely
walking paths and bridges. Taxi boats cruised the water, allowing passengers on and off
at will. The canal winds for about a mile. It would be even more fun on a cool autumn
evening, but the place was busy even in the unbearable early evening heat.
Canal in Lower Bricktown, Oklahoma City. This is a very pleasant area for strolling.
Because I had shortened today's drive to allow for a longer hike and some time to relax in
OK. City, I would have to pay the price tomorrow. Although officially in the west, I was
still over 500 miles to Albuquerque and my rendezvous with Deb...
Sunday, August 29th/10
Deb played her last summer harp gig yesterday (she has a few autumn ones coming), and I
accompanied her to help her carry things. As I was helping her carry her stuff into the
Ciociaro, I was stung by a hornet. After two weeks of driving, camping, and hiking with
barely a scratch to show for it, I get laid low opening a door in Windsor. It bit on my upper
right arm, and felt as if I had been shot with a rifle. Over the years I've endured a number
of bee stings, but nothing like this one. Usually they hurt and subside over about a two
hour period. I immediately got ice from the bar and basically kept ice on it until bedtime,
when it was still very sore, red and puffy. I also took allergy pills with anithistime, and
applied Benedryll to the area. Things are much better today. For a while the pain was so
intense I could feel it in my teeth!
Anyway, Deb's gig went very well. Beside me in the parking lot was a Windsor Police
escort for the wedding. A genuine officer was at the wheel (not in vintage costume,
though).
Windsor Police escort for wedding!
Last time, I briefly talked about my first day's adventure on the big trip to NM. Day Two
would see me arrive in Springfield, MO. My first hike awaited at Fox Ridge State Park in
Illinois. By any standards, this is a great little park, with dense stands of deciduous forest
and a number of steep and winding ravines. It was so hot and muggy, however (at 9 am!)
that I was forced to take things very slow and easy. I checked out the campground as I
passed by on one of the many trails, and liked what I saw. With a number of long climbs
and descents (some with stairs), I felt that this was a good prelude for what was to come.
One of many fine trails at Fox Ridge State Park, IL.
After the hike, I drove into St. Louis in search of a little veggie cafe we had found on-line at
Happy Cow. The drive down into St. Louis from the hills above, and the subsequent
crossing of the Mississippi, is always a highlight of the trip. Never have I seen more
bridges within one or two miles! This is also the lowest elevation of the trip, at 440'. From
here on in it was mostly uphill, eventually heading to over 10,000'!
I had lunch at the quirky Black Bear Cafe, tucked deep within a St. Louis neighbourhood.
Vegan focaccia was on the menu, along with a cookie and freshly brewed ice tea.
As I've commented on the other trips, the drive from St. Louis across Missouri is
extremely fun and exciting, even on the Interstate. Plenty of hills, rivers, gorges, bridges
and endless amounts of forest keep the driver awake and interested. I made one final
stop, at St. James Winery, stocking up on some supplies for the planned five camping
nights. I also had a bottle of Jim Beam, in case it got too cold and/or the campfire
wouldn't start!
The highlight of a stop in St. James, MO is a visit to this fine roadside establishment.
They have a number of very fine and inexpensive reds.
The final stop was at the Springfield Brewing Company, where a fine dinner and glass of
well-deserved ale awaited. After two fairly long days of driving, I was still in the Midwest
and only half-way to Albuquerque! Tomorrow, however, would find me in Oklahoma, the
beginning of the true west.
Friday, August 27th/10
Thursday was a bit of a blur, with unpacking, getting groceries, cleaning and such.
Amanda L. and Martin came over for a long visit in the evening. They are great company,
with non-stop fascinating topics of discussion coming and going all night! Amanda may
return here herself on the weekend, as Martin heads back to Toronto. They are getting
their own place in two weeks and are very excited.
I've been editing photos whenever I can, as well as getting back to piano, flute and
clarinet. It is always very odd to practice piano after a lengthy lapse, and it feels very
strange when pieces come pouring out of my fingers!
Deb has her final wedding gig of the summer tomorrow afternoon, a same-sex ceremony
at the Ciociaro Club. After that she is done until next Thursday, when she attends a mass
teacher workshop/lecture at the Casino auditorium.
The first part of the most recent epic trip was a solo drive for me to Albuquerque. Along
the way I made a few fun stops, and will include a couple of photos of these over the next
few days. I nearly have my first big batch of photos ready for printing, but not quite. I am
anxious to work on the travel journal while everything is still fresh. Hopefully tomorrow I'll
get some prints done. The website will take a while before it is up. Here are some
highlights from Day One
This year I made time for a stop at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Parking and admission
are free, and they have an enviable art collection of encyclopedic scope. I focussed on
Asian, European and American paintings.
This is an enormous wall and atrium at the museum, featuring a unique light art work
along with the up and the down escalators.
View from within the museum looking out towards the sculpture gardens. I spent a very
pleasant time here on a very hot afternoon. Afterwards, I headed to Terre Haute, IN for my
first night's rest.
Wednesday, August 25th/10
We're back! Our two-week adventure has come to an end for another year. We did two
very difficult hikes and a number of easier ones, all in New Mexico. We managed to visit
all three of our appointed mountain ranges, and camp and hike in all of them, too. The
drive there and back does not get any shorter, but the Touareg offers the ultimate in
comfort and quiet riding, even on tough back roads. Over five hundred photos remain to
be edited. Updates will come beginning tomorrow.
Thursday, August 12/10
The exercise prep program is (mostly) done, the vehicle is (mostly) packed, and I am ready
for my 4th epic solo drive west in the last five years. The intense heat and humidity will
follow me all the way across the Midwest, as I travel through Michigan, Ohio and Indiana
tomorrow; Illinois and Missouri on Saturday; more of Missouri and plenty of Oklahoma on
Sunday; and Oklahoma, Texas (the Panhandle) and New Mexico on Monday. I have hikes
planned along the way, though intense humidity could limit what I want to undertake. I
rendezvous with Deb on Monday, and our mountain hikes begin Tuesday. If all goes well,
we will complete four major expeditions on foot in three separate mountain ranges before
heading for home. Deb will drive back with me, her second such journey. Next update
should be on the 25th or 26th. Adieu!
Tuesday, August 10th/10
Beorn went into the shop today for an oil change and thorough check-up. Everything is A-Ok
and ready for the big drive! We brought our bikes with us this morning and rode the
Ganatcho Trail for an hour while the vehicle was in for service. It was the warmest and
most humid day yet! We have now completed five very active weeks of our mountain prep
exercise program. In exactly one week we will undertake our first big mountain hike, so
we have one more week to prepare ourselves physically and psychologically. I have a few
hikes planned en route to help keep me toned. Can't wait!
Ganatcho Beach in Windsor, on Lake St. Clair, from our morning bike ride. Today was a
cross-training day, meaning that we do a different type of exercise than walking. Usually
we bike on that day, but once we swam (at Anita's, during harp camp)!
Lake St. Clair from a park opposite the Ganatcho Trail. The humidity was brutal today, in
the 90% range. It was more like swimming than riding bikes.
On Saturday when we returned from Sarnia, we stopped in Chatham for coffee and to pick
up a loaner clarinet Mike Rossi gave me to use. I've been having problems with my
wooden one, not being able to play more than 20 minutes without totally losing my
embouchure. The plastic loaner is so much easier to play, but sounds like total crap by
comparison with the wooden one. Whilst at the music store where Mike R. had left the
clarinet for me, Deb saw a used classical guitar she liked. We returned today to Chatham
and she bought it. It is a parlor-sized Art & Lutherie guitar handmade in Quebec from solid
Canadian woods. With a solid spruce soundboard and top-of-the-line strings, it has a full,
rich satisfying sound. She is already in love with it! The best part is that it was less than
half the price of a new one!
Deb tries out her new classical guitar.
Monday, August 9th/10
We completed the fifth and final big hike of our prep stage, managing 8 very humid miles
in the Spring Garden and Malden Hill areas in Windsor. We are nearly fit, though the
summer weather has taken its toll on our ambition. It will feel so good to be hiking in the
lower humidity of the southwest mountains! I will hike a few times along my solo drive
south, in the humid reaches of eastern Illinois and then in the northern Ozarks in Joplin,
Missouri. Most of the journey plans are now complete, and after tomorrow's oil change we
will begin to (over)load the Touareg with our gear. This year, for the first time, this will
include a small telescope and two eyepieces. Since we can usually see the North America
Nebula with the naked eye whilst lying on a picnic table at a campground, a 4" reflector
should add immensely to our viewing pleasure.
We saw three deer on today's walk. One doe held her ground,
but the momma and her fawn that we also saw last week still kept their distance.
Saturday, August 7th/10
Deb had a wedding gig in Sarnia today. It was a beautiful day for it, and we enjoyed the
drive. It was at Canatara Park, on the shore of Lake Huron (the world's 2nd largest freshwater
lake, and the world's 3rd largest lake). It is a large park, with many different aspects,
not the least of which is a magnificient beach. There were several small walking trails to
keep me occupied while she played, and I managed 3 miles of prairie, woods and beach. I
went as far as Lookout Point, where the lake opens up to an ocean-like expanse. Sarnia
has an enviable park system!
Lake Huron from beach at Canatara Park, Sarnia. Deb played harp at a wedding in the
park.
Michigan lighthouse viewed from Lookout Point, Sarnia. This is just north of the
Bluewater Bridge.
Another view of the beach at Canatara Park, Sarnia.
Monday, August 2nd/10
Our hike today was seven miles, meaning that we are right on schedule with our training
program. We have nearly completed four weeks, which is the minimum one needs to get
reasonably deep into the mountains. A fifth week makes the adventure far less strenuous,
while the sixth is insurance. We will be able to approach our mountain hikes with some
degree of confidence now for the third year in a row.
The mountains of New Mexico that we choose for summer hiking are filled with black
bears, mountain lions, and other wild creatures (wolves in the Gila!). I have had two bear
encounters whilst hiking on trails there, one on a solo hike and one with Deb. Both ended
as they should, with the bear giving way and changing directions. A third bear ran in front
of our vehicle one time on a backroad drive. We've never seen a lion, though would dearly
love to. No doubt we've passed one or two without knowing, as they like to perch high in
trees! Campgrounds are getting smarter, with some of them requiring that all food be
stored in large metal bins provided, away from campsites. Fines are very high for feeding
bears, or for for being careless with food.
Today on our walk we came across a doe and her fawn. They were too far away and too
fast for me to get a clear photo. We walked from Malden Hill Park to Zehrs, via the paths
that run east of Malden Road. We are going to bike there tomorrow for our cross-training
day.
Our trail today headed into the woods east of Malden Road. We encountered a doe and
fawn just inside the forest.
Saturday, July 31st/10
It's official! With my first retirement cheque in the bank I am actually getting paid to stay
home!! Woo hoo!!!
Following the success of last Sunday's movie marathon, we are going to have another one
tomorrow, this time featuring Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman (and sushi and saki). Can't
wait! Today we hung out awhile at our new favourite pub, Motor City Brewing Co. near
Wayne State University in Detroit. I was at the U. studying maps for an hour whilst Deb
perused the music section at the Detroit Public Library.
Back at home, I continued to prepare topo maps for our upcoming expedition. We will
hike in at least three mountain ranges south of Albuquerque, starting out in the Manzano
Mtns. where we will hike and camp for two days and nights. Both hikes are loops, as we
scramble up to the crest trail to walk the mountain crest. The Cerro Blanco Loop will be
the first indication that we are no longer at Malden Hill in Windsor. This will be a 6.3 mile
hike beginning at 7800' and topping out around 9400'. If that doesn't stop our hearts, the
next one likely will. The Bosque Peak Loop will go on (and on) for 11 miles, beginning at
7600' and heading up to 9600'. A third hike up here had to be cancelled, as the area has
been closed for several years due to fire restoration.
We will head southwest for two nights of camping and exploring in the Magdalena Mtns.,
home to a number of research institutions up top. We hope to hike the summit trail from
South Baldy to North Baldy and back again, without even once getting struck by lightning.
The hike begins near the summit of South Baldy (well over 10,000'), and is about five and
a half miles one way to North Baldy (around 9800'). Views should be spectacular all along
the trail.
We will finish up in the Gallinas Mtns. near Corona, where we heard (and Deb saw) a
meteor swoosh by our heads many years ago whilst climbing Cougar Mtn. We hope to
camp at the summit of Gallinas Peak this time, then next day climb Rough Mtn. (sounds
like real fun). Lots of planning still to do, but things are falling into place.
Thursday, July 29th/10
As you may have noticed, I now have a new domain name. Book mark the new site and
welcome to it! Too much frustration lately trying to get updates, so I have a new server for
one year to try out. The site can now be almost any size I wish, and I won't have to skimp
on the photos.
Harp camp went well, and I met a lot of very cool kids. They were ages 5 through 14, 24
kids in total, with 6 boys and 18 girls (and many, many chickens and horses, several frogs,
and three dogs). Today was the final concert, and we had a good turnout of parents and
siblings to listen. It was a perfect day for an outdoor concert. I am now looking forward to
getting back into my routines for two weeks, before the departure for the mountains. We
managed to keep up the fitness training despite the full day of work and the long drive to
Woodslee from A'burg and back every day.
Tuesday, July 27th/10
Have...survived...first..day..of..summer music..camp....
Monday, July 26th/10
Over $6,200.00 later, it has come to an end. We've had more large trucks in our driveway
over the past week than since the house was built. Plumbing leak repaired, downed and
damaged trees gone, new roof installed, and new portable air conditioner humming along
nicely upstairs. Hopefully, things will quiet down a little until our bank account can
recover.
Tomorrow, Deb and I begin three days of teaching summer music camp in Woodslee. This
is my first direct involvement with the camp, though Deb has done it for several years
now. By school teaching standards we won't earn much money, though by the enormous
hole in our bank account at present I am glad we took the job! 24 kids are enrolled, and
we teach from 9:30 am until 4:30 pm. Hopefully it will go quickly and be fun.
This morning we undertook a warm walk along the Windsor riverfront. Our Monday hikes
are now at 6 miles in length, heading for 8 before departing for the mountains in a few
weeks. There we will have several challenging hikes which I shall outline in an upcoming
blog.
I added a new review, opposite, to the fantasy series I am reading, having just completed
my third (or fourth?) reading of "The Worm Ouroboros," one of the greatest fantasy books
ever penned.
Yesterday we enjoyed our first in a series of upcoming home film festivals. We watched
the greatest movie ever made, "The Seven Samauri," followed by "The Magnificent
Seven," which was the American remake. At nearly six hours, the two movies took up
most of our time between 3 pm and 10 pm! We enjoyed saki and sushi for the first film,
and chips, beer and guacamole for the second. A great party! Lovely full moon rise, too.
Japanese poster for "The Seven Samurai."
Original poster for "The Magnificient Seven."
Saturday, July 24th/10
From our walk Friday morning at Malden Hill Park, we came face to face with this beautiful
buck near the top of the hill.
The roofers showed up this morning, but as it was raining they didn't stay. Our roof will
be now completed on Monday. It seemed to weather the storms okay in its half-finished
state. We managed to get hold of a plumber willing to come out on a Saturday morning.
Our leak is fixed, and it only cost $100. Got the basement toilet fixed on the same deal!
Woo hoo! It wasn't a big deal to fix, though Deb and I could never have done it. If you
need the name of a very good plumber whose rates are ridiculously reasonable, let me
know! When he was finished, we headed to Detroit. I bought a travel book on Budapest,
as it would be an inexpensive and exciting destination for me this autumn. No decisions
yet, as it all hinges on any deals going on at the time, as well as many of my private
students returning for regular lessons. Tomorrow we have a mini-film festival planned as
part of our full (buck!) moon festival. We are going to watch "The Seven Samurai,"
enjoying saki and sushi, followed by "The Magnificient Seven," with beer and guacamole!
The first movie is over three hours long, while the second is a big one, too. Should be a
blast.
We had lunch today at Mudgies in Detroit's Corktown, a recent discovery. A true
neighbourhood cafe and sandwich shop, this place had some decent veggie options
among its truly enormous menu. Located on Porter east of Trumbull, we will be back.
Friday, July 23rd/10
It's been quite a day! It began with our warmest, most humid walk of the summer at
Malden Hill in Windsor. It was 76 F when we awoke this morning before 7 am! The roofing
team showed up and were able to get half of our roof done before the heat drove them off
around noon. The first storm hit around 2 pm, the 2nd one about an hour later (2" of rain
in less than 30 minutes!), and the third around 7 pm. In total, there were 3" in the rain
gauge, not counting some overnight rain. Much of the same is predicted for tomorrow.
Today was the worst day of the summer for the heat/humidity combination. It was
completely unlivable. During the third storm we temporarily took shelter in the
basement, as tornado warnings were out for our immediate area. This involved
transporting a large bird cage with three finches, the reptile aquarium with Penelope the
lizard, Ludwig the tortoise in his carry case, and three wandering cats, wondering what all
the fuss was about, but happy nonetheless to be in the basement. As often happens with
severe weather approaching from Michigan, the river simply dissipated it! We had phone
calls from Steve in Sudbury and Randy in Windsor, who both had been following the storm
and called to see if we were alive. I had planned to write a bit tonight about my musical
rebirth, but it can wait for a less event-filled day. Nature can be such a showboat!
Wednesday, July 21st
Some progress to report. Our dangerously leaning spruce tree is down and removed. It
was one of our finest trees, shading the house in summer and protecting it from wind in
winter. It sheltered innumerable birds. Now there is a gaping hole at the side of our
house, and it saddens us deeply. It was a really healthy evergreen, too. It seems as if the
maple, when it fell, hit the spruce very hard, bouncing off. One whole side of branches
had been broken off on the spruce. Tomorrow, Dave the tree guy will return to remove the
enormous maple. He is also going to help us with our basement. We found the leak. It is
in the main 4" drainpipe, with water seeping out at one of the lower joints. We will have to
cut it off above the leak and replace the entire bottom section. Not as devastating as it
could have been. It was not the heating system, at any rate. Still lots to do in the
basement, though, and in the meantime the leak is still there.
The roofing dudes will be here Friday. All should be done by Saturday, and then we can
focus on the drainpipe leak.
Our leaning spruce tree just before removal. The far side branches (south) had all been
ripped off by the falling maple.
Spruce stump in middle ground, left side. On the right is part of the maple.
Damage to our roof, which will be replaced on Friday. It was only twelve years old.
In other news, "Valeria the Vegetarian Vampire" kids novel is finished at last! It began
several years ago, when Alicia B. was in 7th grade helping me create it. She is now going
into Grade 11! I have sent it off to Amanda L. for a read, hoping she mostly likes it. I will
now turn my writing skills to improving "The Dulwich Haunting," in an attempt to get it into
a final form for publication. It only needs a few little tweaks.
Tuesday, July 20th/10
We finally went to work in the basement. It was gruesome! We tore up the old tiles in the
laundry room where the water was, and the floor seems to be drying now. About half of
the tiles were taken out, as we left the dry ones in place for now. It appears that the leak
might be coming from the washing machine or laundry sink. It could be as simple as an
overflow during a wash. We still aren't certain.
Today was cross-training day, and we managed a bike ride this morning. Two weeks of
fitness training are beginning to have their desired affect. Three to go before I set out for
the mountains. Deb follows me by plane four days later as we rendezvous in
Albuquerque, but she will drive home with me this year.
We got 1.1" of rain overnight, our biggest downpour in quite a while! It was needed, too.
Things are really perking up once again. We should be good now for a week or so.
Monday, July 19th/10
We managed a decent enough hike today in Dearborn, walking five humid miles along the
River Rouge Trail. When we got home, there was a message from Anita, the organizer of
the summer music camp where Deb and I will work. We were expecting it to begin
tomorrow, as per our calendar, when in fact in begins NEXT Tuesday! We had to scramble
to rearrange our new roof installation for this week. As a result, we are now unable to
head up to Sudbury on the weekend. Sadly, a summer trip up there now seems unlikely.
We are very disappointed, but must get the roof on, as well as two big trees removed (one
leaning heavily), and find the water leak in the basement (tomorrow's priority). Besides
the three-day summer camp, Deb has two more weddings to play, messing up other
weekends for us. The big trip to New Mexico is only three weeks away, too. Hard to
believe that July could be so hectic (and expensive). Who knows what misery tonight's
expected severe storms will bring.
Saturday, July 17th/10
I've had to make some adjustments to our August mountain hiking trip, as the central
section of the Manzanos Mtns, including two campgrounds, remain closed because of a
very bad fire several years ago. I had mistakenly assumed the area had been stabilized by
now. So we will make two expeditions into the northern section of those mountains before
breaking camp and spending two nights in the Magdalena Mtns to the southwest. This is
virgin territory for us, and we can't wait to get up there.
My cousin Cathy has just returned from a NM driving adventure with her mom and dad.
She is very eager to tell us all about it. We will all get together for dinner next Sunday
night in Sudbury!
Deb played harp at a wedding this afternoon in Jackson Park . It was a warm one, but she
managed to survive by staying in the shade of a tree.
Deb played at Jackson Park today for a wedding. Her next one is in three weeks in Sarnia.
I am finding it as difficult as ever to drag my body into some semblance of physical
fitness. We have now completed 1 1/2 weeks of our hiking program, and we are suffering.
Tomorrow morning (very early) we are back at Malden Hill for some stiff and very fast hill
walking. If I didn't know for certain how well this program works in the mountains, I would
cease and desist right now!
After ten wonderful days in a row of piano, flute and clarinet practice, I took a day off. I
managed to finish my children's story, began a few years ago, entitled "Valeria the
Vegetarian Vampire." I'm hoping once it is published that it will offend the Church just
enough to enable it to sell half a million copies in at least thirteen languages! It is
completely harmless fun, suitable for kids ten and up, but of course contains some magic.
It is one of the better things I have ever written. I'll let you know when you can buy a
copy!
Wednesday, July 14th/10
With our first week of fitness training complete, we have proved that we can do it despite
some very hot weather. Of course it means getting up very early, which means going to
bed early, too. Still, we are now only 4 1/2 weeks away from a good level of fitness for
mountain hiking!
We need a new roof on our house, despite replacing it in 1998 with 20-year shingles! That
expensive event will occur on July 29th. Bring a lawn chair and come watch. We still have
a huge downed tree obstructing our yard, which looks like it might get removed tomorrow
or Friday. This will continue to be an on-going problem for us, as we have so many trees
on our property.
Our venerable Manitoba maple tree came tumbling down during a storm early in the week.
It will be a costly cleanup. It did not damage our deck, though it caused damage to one of
our three mature spruce trees, which might also have to be taken down.
Every morning I am greeted by at least one duck. Lately, it has been this young female.
musician (instead of an educator). I have been putting in 90 minutes on piano with no
apparent strain on my elbows, as well as about 20 minutes on clarinet and 15 on flute. I
am very out of practice with the woodwinds, but hopefully by September will be getting
back into the groove. Next week our pattern will be shattered by three days of teaching at
harp camp and then four days visiting Sudbury. I have shortened the New Mexico trip this
year to 13 days. Our main goal is the Manzano Mtns summit trail, and we will have three or
four hikes up there. No need to extend things, though I would like to hike in the Sandias,
as well as up near Santa Fe. We'll see. Things may get changed again.
Sunday, July 11th/10
Our largest tree came down tonight, the one with the most character. Our venerable
Manitoba Maple came crashing down during one of three storms that came across the
river this afternoon. Very sad to see it go, though by some miracle it didn't take out our
deck, the house, or the neighbour's garage/apartment. It is such a large tree. It will cost a
small fortune to have it removed.
As they are fond of saying in third grade, life is getting gooder and gooder! We are now
four days into our mountain hiking fitness program, and I am feeling the pain! It will take
five full weeks to prepare for our challenges, but for the third year in a row we shall be
ready! Tomorrow morning we will do a four mile walk along the Detroit River, beginning
and ending at the DH Tavern. Eventually, those Monday hikes will increase to around ten
miles, weather permitting. Although our NM hikes include enormous altitude gains at
higher elevations, hiking in Windsor offers unparalleled humidity, especially first thing in
the morning. Today's hill climbs at Malden Hill were tough!
I watched the World Cup Football final game this afternoon. What a snoozer. The (very)
slow movement of my current Beethoven Sonata offers far more in the way of excitement.
Anyway, I imagine the victory party in Spain will last well into the night. More than a few
people will not be in shape to show up for work there tomorrow.
Deb and I have decided to return to our unforgettable room in Marshall, MI for Winter
Solstice this coming year. Can't wait! We had such a good time there. It will be fun to
visit there in early winter.
I have been unable to take advantage of recent clear nights for astronomy purposes. We
have to get up very early each morning to do our physical fitness program, so I have been
going to bed while it is still light outside! I have a very strong urge to get out under a dark,
clear sky, so I hope it will happen soon. I am still saving money each month towards the
purchase of a new and larger telescope. I am hoping that a 12" mirror is somewhere
nearby in my future.
Friday, July 9th/10
During the fifth and final day of the mini-heatwave, our upstairs bedroom portable air
conditioner gave up the ghost. It served us faithfully for at least eight years, chilling a
room that defies newer eco windows, more insulation, and carpet. Despite this, the above-garage
bedroom is a hellhole in summer, unsurvivable for one hour, even with all three
windows wide open. We had to bite the bullet and purchase a new machine, which is
currently upstairs chugging away. Last night I slept on the air mattress in the living room
(surprisingly comfortable), whilst Deb got snug on the futon couch in the tv room.
Tonight, we return to the bedroom.
We have just finished watching the dvd of the second season of "Big Bang Theory," one of
our favourite tv sit-coms of all time (up there with "Wings" and "North of 60"). Each
episode is priceless, though the 2nd season Christmas one was extra special! Very, very
funny stuff. So was the Mars Rover episode.
We are now two days into our 38-day fitness plan, to prepare ourselves for mountain
hiking in NM in August. The first two weeks are always the hardest, and this year is no
exception. With the heat promising to come back after one day of respite, things will not
become any easier. The past two summers have not been that hot. This year, we have the
extra challenge of a warm summer. When the average daily high weighs in at an ugly 86F,
it will be an uphill battle.
Not only have I resumed piano practice, but I have also taken up the flute and clarinet once
more. My sessions on the woodwind instruments are currently very short, not running in
excess of 20 minutes each per day right now. And to top things off, Deb went to an Ottawa
Street pawnshop yesterday and purchased herself an inexpensive classical guitar! She is
currently learning to play it on her own.
Tuesday, July 6th/10
The fourth and final retirement party has come and gone, as 11 of us headed to Marshall,
MI for two nights to stay at the National House Inn, Michigan's oldest hotel continuously in
business as such (since 1835). Barb got sick at the last minute and was unable to attend.
With 16 rooms, we had more than enough space to spread out, and we mostly had the
place to ourselves! There were two common areas we could gather, as well as the front
porch. We ate and drank and shopped together in Marshall and Battle Creek. Everyone
seemed to enjoy themselves, especially Elaine and Sarah. There were early morning
walks as well as late night gab sessions. This was a unique experience for us, as Deb and
I are usually alone on these adventures. We had a great deal of fun, and only wish it could
have lasted even longer. We got to eat and/or drink at Schulers, Dark Horse Brewery,
Arcadia Brewery and Charlie's. We would definitely do this again, especially on a
Sunday/Monday when rooms are reduced in price.
Group photo, l to r: Jim, Pat, Ingrid, Sarah, Elaine, Mary, Ruth (hidden), Deb, Suzanne, me,
Cathy. Taken on the verandah of the National House Inn, Marshall.
National House Inn, Marshall. Breakfast was provided, as well as afternoon tea and
evening popcorn. The location is perfect, being right downtown at the central intersection.
We were able to walk to pubs and restaurants and shops.
National House Inn, Marshall. We picked the hottest time of the year, but still had a really
fun time. The entire Inn is air conditioned.
View from one of four large windows in our bedroom at the National House Inn, Marshall.
The view looks east towards the shopping area of the historic downtown.
Now I can return to my routines again, which lately have included piano, clarinet and flute
practice, as well as reading and writing. Nothing big in the works until our July children's harp
camp, which will last for three days. After that, a short visit to Sudbury, and a return to
routines. On Thursday we commence our mountain fitness program for 2010.
Thursday, July 1st/10
Day One! Not too sure if I should count this as my first day of retirement, as it is Canada
Day and a National Holiday. Sadly, it's also the day when heating and cooling, as well as
gasoline, gets highly taxed. Goodbye to a lot of hard-earned money. I am not a fan of the
HST, at least not on things like home heating. Ridiculous. Any amount of money that
busineses save on reduced taxes for them will just go into higher utility bills for them, too
(and fuel for their delivery vehicles). Nobody wins except the government (sounds like a
familiar refrain). Come next election it will be 'bye bye' liberals, and a new bunch of ding
dongs will take over.
This afternoon, Deb had a gig at Fort Malden in Amherstburg, as she did last year. She
was playing harp at the annual ceremony for new citizens being sworn in. I bumped into
several students, but mostly sat in the shade watching the diverse goings on at the fort.
Deb played harp at Fort Malden today, at the ceremony for new Canadian citizens. A large
tent was set up facing the river.
Deb at Fort Malden.
A freighter passes the Fort along the Detroit River. The festivities today were busy but not
crowded. I mostly sat and enjoyed the incredible weather whilst Deb played harp.
I managed to boost my piano practice to 90 minutes today. I am now working on a full
Beethoven piano sonata, as well as five Baroque works on the harpsichord. I also began
studies of the flute and the clarinet, and resumed work on my children's novel, "Valeria,
the Vegetarian Vampire." I also hope to resume my listening program, getting back into
the many records sitting in my basement I have yet to hear. I have also loaded "Riven"
onto the computer, possibly the best pc game to ever land on planet earth. As soon as I
can learn to stay awake until it is dark outside, I hope to get back into observational
astronomy as well!
Ludwig the Tortoise encounters a ceramic twin in his outdoor garden recently. Deb still
takes him outside daily.
Wednesday, June 30th/10
0 days! Summer holidays (and retirement!) are off to a good start. We came home at noon today, after getting Deb moved into her newest classroom for next year. We brought home sushi, and opened a bottle of champagne on the back deck. It was a perfect Sudbury summer-type day, with low humidity and temps in the low 70s! I am looking forward to a visit to Sudbury in late September for some autumn astronomy from Lake Penage! Today's blue sky reminded me of what is in store for me if the weather cooperates! Of course we are also going up for a visit in late July. Tomorrow, Deb has a gig playing harp at the Canada Day "new citizen ceremony" at Fort Malden in Amherstburg. Ironically, we will likely run into quite a few kids and parents from school.
Thursday is also the day I begin my new piano practice regime, in the hopes of having a concert ready in the fall, as well as preparing for the Manzano Mtns in New Mexico in six weeks. This will be our second visit to this incredible wilderness range, in our on-going attempt to complete the incomparable summit trail. We began a few years ago, and if successful this time, we will have walked more than half of the distance across the top of this range. Trip #29 to NM will be an exciting one, taking us to new trails and hopefully giving us our first taste of back-country camping, leaving the vehicle far behind. Of course, hiking the summit trail means that we have to climb up there each time we wish to complete a segment! We hope to do three segments this year. Thus the training program, which begins in earnest tomorrow morning.
View from the summit trail, Manzano Mtns, from our expedition in 2004. The trail runs north/south for many miles, and we hope to someday walk all of it.
Another view from the summit trail, Manzano (Apple) Mtns, looking west towards the Rio Grande Valley many thousands of feet below. We are returning here this summer to continue our exploration of the summit.
Tuesday, June 29th/10
1/2 day remains, though no children will be present tomorrow. I've spent exactly half of my life (28 years) in the music room at Amherstburg Public School. Many of the children I teach are children of parents that I also taught. Today was a difficult day to get through, not made any easier by the fact that I set a new personal record for the amount of hugs received. My final class was a Gr. 4 group, and after class they spontaneously lined up to hug me (though a few of the boys opted for a high five instead). No words were spoken. I admit to becoming a bit emotional at that point. The music room is now quiet until September, when most of the same children will enter it, but not the same teacher. I can't help but feel that I am abandoning some of them, whose only real love is music. It's different for most teachers, who say farewell to a group of kids each year that they have come to know well. They often know very little about the new, upcoming class. However, my job involves working with kids from Gr. 3 through 8, so I have become very used to seeing them grow up until they graduate. Suddenly, I leave most of them in mid-stream, never to see them grow any older. Instead, I will always remember them (unrealistically) as they are today. The students in Gr. 5 will forever be in that grade in my mind, and so on. A very strange and unique series of emotions within me results. At any rate, it is done. I will miss so many of them so very much. So long, kids. It's been a slice!
Monday, June 28th/10
1. Un. Uno. One day left with kids! I am now officially excited and smiling broadly. 99% of the music room clean-up is now complete, and I feel good about that. I could have been a shmuck and just left the instruments uncleaned and the room a mess, but I'm just too nice a guy for that. Damn! Three more classes with children tomorrow and there is no more (except a final morning of meetings on Wed., which hardly counts, as I can just sleep through the meetings!).
Deb has a gig at Fort Malden on Thursday afternoon, our first official day off. It's part of the Canada Day celebrations there. And of course, tomorrow after classes we have dental appointments. Still, I've been awaiting this particular June 29th dental cleaning with great excitement! Last year I remember thinking that this day would never come. One more sleep!!
Sunday, June 27th/10
The staff party has come and gone, and it was great to see so many friends, old and new, in one place. It was quite crowded at Escape Cafe, however, and mingling was not easy. Deb and I sat at a table with Roger and Mary, Joe and Debbie, Randy and Anita, and Philip and Anne, so we had a good time. Elaine didn't cry, and I only danced once (with special guest Uma Thurman!), so the evening wasn't bogged down by either of us. We weren't expecting so many people, but the gift money contributed meant that more could be given to the Children's Wish Foundation, so I was pleased. Today, Deb and I just chilled. I practiced, we went for a little walk, and I was able to organize my memory box (a lovely gift from the ETFO dinner a few weeks earlier) with retirement memorabilia. It was nice to just spend a quiet day. Monday will be long, with a full school teaching schedule as well as my final evening of private lessons.
Why does Randy look so calm and I look totally shell-shocked?
I got to dance with Uma Thurman, guest of honour at the party! She couldn't stay long, however. She said I could be in her next movie, though!
Friday, June 25th/10
2!!!!!! Hard to believe, folks, but the time has actually arrived! They say it's never over until it's over, but right now, I'd say it's over. 90% of the cleaning in the music room is now done, thanks to my small army of student cleaners, paid with candy. My fingers are raw from dissembling and reassembling the instruments. It will cost me big-time next week in ice-cream wages, but hey, it's worth any expense! Today, Deb's class put on a "Retirement Tea" for Elaine and me. There was iced tea, sweet treats, blueberries (which the kids know is my favourite snack), live entertainment (Callie on flute), and two dvd biographies (one for Elaine and one for me) made by students in Deb's class. It was a really fun event. I was given a tee-shirt by the class with a class photo on it that says "From Teacher to Geezer: Happy Retirement."
Elaine and me enjoying our iced tea, while Deb manages the high-class service in the background. Do I look like I'm stressed from a hectic week filled with teaching and cleaning? Time to retire, I think.
On behalf of the 5/6 class, Callie and Marissa present me with my tee-shirt, which was a big surprise!
After school, we headed for Detroit. We stopped at Slows for a beer. They had a tap from Meantime Brewery in Greenwich, England, a micro-brew that Deb and I visited on our last trip over. It was Chocolate Stout, and was delicious.
20 taps were on today at Slows in Detroit, including one from Meantime in London, UK. Yum!
Afterwards, we went to Borders, well-armed with coupons. Next came coffee at Cafe con Leche in Mexicantown. It was a fun day, though we realized as we drove towards the bridge that everyone else was still in school! How great to be half-time!
Thursday, June 24th/10
3!!!!! That's how many days I have left with kids before retirement hits me right between the eyes. Most of it now is just putting on a video for the class to watch (music related, of course), while a handful of students and I clean instruments and the room. Lots left to do do, though we are making good progress. With Graduation out of the way, the Gr. 8s are disappearing from the scene, giving me a few extra badly needed prep periods. It wasn't so much the school stuff that wore me out today, but rather the five hours of home teaching that followed! Do I really want that much teaching next year? I'm thinking now that three afternoon/evenings per week are too much, and it would be lovely to just have two. Not sure that can happen, especially with Linsey coming on board. A gifted Gr. 9 piano student, she will be a high maintenance person, with exams, concerts and competitions galore in her future. Then again, maybe next year I will have the energy to deal with three nights of teaching. Anyway, I am now officially getting excited for school to end. It has been a long month, and there is still a lot to do before Wednesday. I've been averaging twenty to thirty hugs per day from students, and need to find a safe, hug-free zone pretty soon!
Wednesday, June 23/10
4!!!!! A big one down, as graduation has come and gone. It was a pretty classy affair, mainly thanks to Joni, our temporary Gr. 8 teacher. Well done, everyone involved! My final grad ceremony can be remembered as one of the best. A very unusually great group of students, too. Music awards went to Melanie R. and Alexandra (Alex) Turner. It was so hot and humid in the gym, however, that it really was a chore getting through everything. However, it's done. Tomorrow, Deb has her class field trip to Science City in Windsor. June is such a big month.
We are currently sitting up awaiting another round of severe weather. Tornadoes are on the ground in Michigan and heading our way in the next forty-five minutes. That's life in Essex County, folks. At the very least, we will get high winds and a ton of rain. No bedtime just yet, despite both of us being tired beyond words.
Tuesday, June 22nd/10
5!!!! One more week, and that's all folks! I now have a tree planted in my memory, and I'm not even dead yet! Yesterday, after the marathon-length assembly, we all went outside for the tree and plaque unveiling. Elaine got some flowery tree in the middle of the walkway, in full sun. Mye tree is odd and twisted, nestled nicely in the shade! A good deal of cleaning got done today, and that makes me feel somewhat better. More will happen tomorrow, too. Gr. 8 Graduation is also tomorrow night, another tear-jerking event to look forward to. Two hours in a sweltering gym on top of everything else. I will MC for the final time, as well as give out the Music Awards.
Monday's school tree planting was a nice touch. The rock at the bottom of the photo has my name on it and the year I retired, as well as a quote. Callie and Marissa, two of my buddies from Gr. 5, stuck pretty close to me. Elaine also had a tree planted in her name.
Monday, June 21st/10
6!!! Happy Summer Solstice! What a beautiful morning it was, too. We never plan much of a celebration around this major Pagan event, usually because it is a very hectic time of year. Still, it's nice to know that despite our busy lives, Nature carries on with its magnificent plan for us and our planet. We have been sitting outside the past few nights in our screened-in area awaiting darkness, which never seems to come. Still, there are a lot of fireflies to watch as dusk deepens, and it adds to the magic of the seasonal change. It's all downhill from here, though, as the days grow progressively shorter and we inch our way towards Winter. Oddly enough, I usually have a deep winter dream around this time of year.
School today consisted of our final assembly, where Elaine and I were feted and said our final goodbyes to over 500 students, parents and teachers. There were many teary eyes, and it was sweet to see all my little friends in one place one final time. I really won't miss them all until September, when things will finally sink in that it truly is the end of that particular road for me. There are a lot of students I will miss considerably, especially my best musicians that spend so much time in my room at recesses practicing, as well as my little lunch group that eats with me there every day. It was a bitter-sweet day.
Sunday, June 20th/10
By a strange coincidence, we will both be going back to Kansas City in October. Ivan Morovec, my favourite pianist, is giving a farewell tour, and will be appearing in KC. I already bought my ticket. That same weekend, Deb was expecting to redo the Detroit Marathon (half of it, anyway). So she had to decide whether she was staying here or coming west. Just on a lark, we searched for the KC marathon, and found out that it is on the Saturday of our visit. So Deb has signed up for their marathon instead! It should be a fun weekend, with a return visit to Lawrence, KS being replaced by Deb's morning marathon. Saturday night is the piano recital. It will be a very fun weekend!
Tomorrow morning, the Summer Solstice will arrive at 7:28 EDT. I will likely be shaving--how exciting. We will try and have a small celebration after teaching on Monday night.
Saturday, June 19th/10
7!!! It's always a nice feeling to reach a Friday and still be sane. Yesterday was my music award assembly at school, with awards going to students involved with two musicals I helped put on, as well as for the band and the recorder band, and the music awards themselves that were given to high achieving students (there were ten of them this year). In addition, there were two musicals put on by other staff members this year. There was live music and a culminating slide show as well. It went very smoothly, and the kids appeared to have a good time. Friday night we took Amanda W. to the Art Institute in Detroit. She has been helping me in the music room since late January as part of the high school co-op course, so we took her out for dinner and a concert. Performing at the museum Friday night was Burkina Electric, a very funky dance/electronic group consisting of three African members and two non-African members (one from Europe and one from the USA). Their show was very good, and I bought their CD and Deb bought their t-shirt!
A member of Burkina Electric performs in Riveria Court at the DIA.
We also had time to tour some of the galleries, including the modern wing with its sometimes stunning art.
Today was the concert of our private students. We had violins, piano and clarinet, though no harps this year or flute. Held at the Windsor Public Library, we had a good turnout of students and audience. Everyone made it through their pieces alive, including me!
So those are a few more things checked off on my June to-do list. Here's what's left: school assembly on Monday, where Elaine and I will be featured--am expecting tears from Elaine and from many of the kids; Gr. 8 Graduation, where I will be MC one last time (and I admit to loving this group of Gr. 8s!); cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning. Some progress has been made in the music room, but there is so much to do.
Trying to keep up with piano practice and a walking program is pretty much hopeless right now. I did manage a walk in our neighbourhood, among the canals in Edgewater. A very unique environment!
Edgewater Canals, from our walk last week.
Thursday, June 17th/10
8!!! I'm beginning to think I might be able to get my music room cleaned out AND some of the instruments too! So far my desk is done, as well as the shelves behind it. Tomorrow is a very big day, with the Music and Drama Awards Assembly that I organize each year. The Band will perform, as well as a few student soloists, and students will be recognized for their contributions to the performing arts at APS. There will also be a slide show, as well as the awarding of bronze, silver and gold medals to deserving students (there are ten of them this year). There is very little time to think about retirement while at school, despite being reminded (by staff and students) several times each day. One thing about classroom teaching, especially in a busy music room, is that you are always so busy that time flies past very quickly. No time to think about anything except the tasks at hand. I hope it slows down a lot when I am done with school teaching!
Wednesday, June 16th/10
9!!! Nine days with kids left to go. I am definitely beginning to lose it, as excitement creeps into my bloodstream! Today was the final music room "open practice" at recess, which typically attracts anywhere from four to forty kids who come on their own time to sit down and practice. I need plenty of time to clean house, so the music room is now officially closed to regular students. My Band is appearing one final time this Friday, as I hand out music and drama awards for the year at an assembly, assisted by other teachers who have been involved. When that is done, we have our private student concert Saturday afternoon at the library in Windsor, then the school assembly on Monday (in which Elaine and I will be saying goodbye to the student body), and Graduation on Wednesday night. Never a dull moment, anyway. The time will go quickly. What's the plan for retirement next year? Stay tuned for more, as the countdown to retirement continues!
Meanwhile, Kansas City continues to resonate with both of us, and we often wish we could be back there. There are so few cities that function really well that when you find one, it's difficult not to obsess over it. It's still a long drive west to the mountains from there, but so much closer than we are now! On my drive home this year from New Mexico, I am going to try and revisit KC for one night at least. Culturally, KC is a powerhouse, though admittedly not in a league with Detroit. However, there is more than enough to do there for people who love art, music, theatre, walking (big hills, too!), cafes, brew pubs and urban markets. If London, UK continues to be too expensive to visit, I can see KC attracting us a lot more in the future.
Tuesday, June 15th/10
10!!! The official countdown has commenced! I have ten more days to stand in front of classes of school children and wave a conductor's baton around. As usual at this time of year, it's getting hard to keep things together. The kids are getting wiggly, to say the least. Many of them are providing me with daily hugs. I know some of them will miss me, and for some of them the feelings are mutual. I have a horrendous cleaning job ahead of me in that music room, which will begin in earnest first thing next week. Usually all of my time near the end is spent cleaning the instruments. This year, they will have to wait until I've got my desk and cabinets and shelves attended to. It's a nearly overwhelming task. With Deb's help I have completed my very last set of report cards. Tomorrow I will do a quick spell check and read-over, then submit them to the office.
Sunday, June 13th/10
The whole point that Paul Theroux tries to make in his fascinating book Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town is that Africans have come to depend on foreign aid to such a degree that they are now incapable of helping themselves. This is a rather humbling message for countries like Canada that continue to pour millions of dollars of aid into underpriviledged countries. Before coming to his conclusion, Mr. Theroux, who is revisiting Africa after some thirty-five years, enlists the opinions of many Africans from several different countries. This throws a whole new light on aid and aid workers, who despite their best efforts and literally billions of dollars, have made no real progress now in over forty years. What a fascinating travel book this is, as we travel by bus, train, truck and van across the world's most inhospitable terrain, often on nothing more than pot-holed cart tracks! But it is also a keen history of both hideous colonialism and of corrupt and inept black leadership. If you are ever going to read one book about Africa, this is the one.
The book also helps put other travels into perspective. Theroux is often pointing out the difference between the Africa that tourists see, flying in to shoot or photograph game, see the pyramids or Victoria Falls, and the real Africa where the people actually live. The first is a mere facade; the second a brutal and incomprehensible (for Westerners) reality. Poverty, dirt, crime, death, neglect and uncaring and corrupt bureaucrats are everywhere. Until Africans learn to take care of themselves without foreign aid, there can be no "progress" in much of the continent. A sobering thought, though well-illustrated in Theroux's book.
It makes me appreciate our visit to Kansas City even more! Even Detroit runs much better than most African cities. Now that is a sobering thought.
Thursday, June 10th/10
Our internet went down on Wed. afternoon, so I was unable to post yesterday's update until just now. What an exhausting week it's been, not helped by my cold, which now seems to be passing on. I like to think of it as a parting gift from the children I teach! Tomorrow night is the first of four retirement parties (I feel somewhat like a Hobbit). It is a formal dinner put on by our union. Deb and I dine for free! Peasants have to pay thirty bucks each! More on Kansas City later in the week.
Wednesday, June 9th/10
With three weeks now remaining in my school teaching career, it's difficult not to get excited. However, I am managing nicely! Fourteen kid-days left to go. Still no word on my replacement, though. Sadly, Andrew Shaw, the well-liked music teacher from the local high school, has been bumped out of his position by a seniority issue. So Amherstburg will have two completely unknown music teachers next year. I am optimistic that things will transfer smoothly.
Now, back to Kansas City!
On Saturday morning, after leaving the City Market, we headed west, arriving in Lawrence, Kansas before noon hour. I had stopped here briefly on one of my westward drives, and had wished to bring Deb here. It is a town very much in the spirit of Ann Arbor, with a wonderful downtown shopping scene, cafes, bars and shaded sidewalks. I brought Deb to Free State Brewing Company, my second visit and her first. The beer here is top knotch. After a pint, we wandered up the street towards our chosen lunch destination, a veggie restaurant on 10th St. The heat was building, as was the humidity. During the hottest part of the day we retreated to the cool and inviting confines of the Spencer Museum of Art, on the campus of the University of Kansas. We spent a quiet but worthwhile hour admiring the collections, then poked around the vast campus for a bit.
Interior of the Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, KS.
The Carillon at the U. of Kansas. It was being played whilst we visited!
Front entrance of restored train depot in Kansas City. Note the people in front for scale!
Vast interior of Union Station, Kansas City, now fully restored to its former glory.
We followed up with a night time stroll through the downtown area known as "The Power and Light District". We came across an upscale, full service grocery store right in the middle of downtown, and it was open late on a Saturday night! Most impressive. With one day left to go in our short visit, we were already having a truly fun time.....
Monday, June 7th/10
What a great weekend! Kansas City provided us with a perfect getaway--a very civilized big city that is easy to get to know. It is also very lively and active, with streets busy with people shopping, dining, or just strolling. In fact, the only major drawback is that the eight or nine fun areas to visit are so busy that it is virtually impossible to find a parking spot.
The fun began Friday afternoon. We departed Detroit around 4:15 for our non-stop flight to KC, which lasted about two hours. Since we put our watches back an hour, we were on the road with our rental car before 6 pm! We headed straight to 75th Street Brewpub, enjoying excellent in-house beer and veggie food (there were choices!). After a long and relaxing stop at the pub, we headed towards the "Crosstown District". All of the neighbourhood art galleries were having new shows open tonight (1st Friday). We drove around and around looking for parking, but with no luck! We eventually gave up and returned to our hotel, finding a little dive bar to have a nightcap before retiring.
Next morning we explored the City Market, a very large city block in size. While perhaps a sanitized version of a real city market, it tuned out to be a very fun stop. There are little stores, bigger stores, bakeries, cafes, restaurants, and of course fruit and veggie stands. It all has a wonderful indoor/outdoor setting, and is open seven days a week! We liked it so much that we went back on Sunday morning for a second visit.
Deb grabs the first of her many weekend espressos, this one at City Market.
Kansas City is at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. In earlier times, steamboats made it up here from New Orleans! The "Arabia", or parts of her, are on display at a museum within the City Market. The paddle wheel is at least 20 feet high, and it turns in water even now!
Railway lift bridge over the Missouri River, seen from near City Market. There are dozens of bridges, old and new, across the Missouri and the Kansas Rivers. We crossed several of them!
Did I mention there were bridges? To be continued....
Wednesday, June 2nd/10
It's official! 90% of the year has come and gone. There are only 20 days left of school, 19 with students! The informal countdown has begun!
We had quite a storm at school today, with heavy rain, gusting wind and some ferocious lightning. By afternoon, I was able to (thankfully!) cut our lawn. We will be away for the weekend, and it was two days overdue for cutting (but looking like four). Kansas City, MO is on the program for this weekend. Friday night we will attend numerous art gallery openings in the city. On Saturday, we will visit Lawrence, KS, a funky university town not unlike Ann Arbor. Saturday evening we may attend a performance of the KC Orchestra, and on Sunday we will visit the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum, one of the finest in America. We'll be home on Sunday night, though quite late. I should have some photos to post next week.
Monday, May 31st/10
June is always the worst month for teaching. The heat in the classrooms becomes unbearable, the kids work even less than normal, and there are so many interruptions for field trips etc. that it becomes difficult to maintain a steady flow or rhythm. I had a test planned for today for the Gr. 7s, but due to the track meet it didn't happen. Next week it will be too late to count the test towards their final term mark (though they might do the test anyway). Of course, this is the time when the Ministry decrees that the Gr. 3 and Gr. 6 standardized testing shall commence. Never mind that some schools are fully air conditioned whilst others aren't. How could that possibly affect results? Deb and her Gr. 6s begin six days of testing tomorrow in a very warm and stuffy classroom. Good luck!
I am still having some arm and joint problems in both arms, so I will likely resume my physio exercises here at home in July. I have a very tender spot that if barely bumped causes me a lot of instant, high level pain. It's amazing how many times one can bump such a spot over the period of a single week!
Deb and I had lunch yesterday with Anne and Philip Adamson (Taloola's). I am truly hoping I can resume regular lessons next fall with Philip, providing I can get back to at least two hours piano per day without injuring myself further. Philip will be giving a solo piano recital next year. His theme will be composers from Ontario. I, too, hope to give a recital next year. My theme will be a little less focused: Scarlatti, Rameau, Beethoven and perhaps Debussy or Bartok.
Sunday, May 30th/10
Now only 4 "normal" weekends left in my career. What will life be like without weekends? Will I survive in such a world? I will continue to teach at home on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, thus enjoying a weekend that will last from Friday morning until Tuesday at 3 or 4 pm. Not too shabby! I will certainly report here on any hardships I may encounter under such a regime!
This weekend we revisited Eastern Market, which was rather busy! We have found a few alternative stalls there that we like to frequent.
Two views of one of the sheds at Eastern Market. This is a great market, as good as any in London, Spain, Mexico or Denmark.
The market is at its best on a Saturday morning, though many of the stores are open all week. Besides literally hundreds of stalls spread over 4 or 5 sheds, the streets are lined with fabulous stores selling everything under the sun. There was quite a nice clothing market this weekend, in addition to all the fruit, veggies, and other things sold at stalls.
Afterwards, we went to a new (for us) brew pub. Dragonmead Brewery is in Warren, off Exit 26 along Interstate 696 (south side). What an outstanding selection of beer (and I don't mean bottles!). Their cask IPA was to die for, and their British bitter was none too shabby either. They don't do very much food, so we brought in a Buddy's Pizza for our lunch to go with the beer. We'll be back here soon, to play a game of Carcassonne and Middle Earth: The Wizards.
Tonight we watched one of my favourite old movies, "Five Weeks in a Balloon." What a great cast! What a silly movie! It was a lot of fun. I can remember being a young boy and playing this adventure by the hour on a Saturday afternoon (not the movie, but actually playing at being in the balloon). Of course, I've seen the movie about fifty times, too. Same with "The Long Ships", coming up later next month on Turner Classic Movies. Another movie that shaped my childhood!
Wednesday, May 26th/10
Some Clarinet Cuties from tonight's concert. I can retire knowing that my last band was a large one and a pretty darn good one!
Another "final" concert has come and gone, with both the afternoon one and the evening one going rather well. My Concert Band performed 4 pieces, plus I accompanied a Gr. 8 flute student for a solo. The Recorder Band also played their four songs. I couldn't be happier. Seldom has a concert gone so well, especially with only four weeks of prep to get all new songs ready. Also on the program was the stage musical "A History of Rock", with lots of lip synching and dancing (not my production but a colleague's), though there was a very talented dancer imitating Michael Jackson!
Now I can start to work on the report cards! One step at a time....
Monday, May 24th/10
It's been a glorious weekend, not unlike what I can look forward to in retirement! Practicing, lots of reading, yard work, etc. Can't wait till next year! I have now practiced four days in a row, the first time since early January. Elbows are not great, but they are functional. I really want to start work on the first movement of the Beethoven Sonata, but will try to wait until summer.
Despite vast areas of wetness, I got the lawn cut today. Things are looking rather green and lush this year. I try to imagine if all of this rain was snow, and how I would cope with that.
Wednesday is our next big arts presentation at school. The Band will play, as well as my Recorder Band. We have an important rehearsal tomorrow, then two shows on Wednesday. After that, it's report card time, followed by a month of coasting downhill, hoping it's not too hot.
I finished reading "Grounded" today. An excellent book, despite a bit of mean-spiritedness towards some groups of people (backpackers and retirees among them). The author does a fantastic job of reducing an epic voyage to only one book. I would need an entire book just to talk about the preparations made to undergo such a trip, and then 15 volumes to describe everything in detail! Favourite sections include a ferry ride to Helsinki, the trip across Russia by train, and the bicycle segment across Vietnam. A MUST-read for armchair travelers. Though I would not wish to undertake the same identical journey, I would willingly do segments of it, such as the drive across the Australian Outback (bleaker than the bleakest corner of New Mexico), and the container ship crossing of the Atlantic (that is a REAL possibility for us). Although I totally agree with the author's disdain of air travel--thus my long cross-country drives each year--sometimes it is a necessary evil. For those of us who work for a living, for example, there is no other way to get to exotic places quickly. Our upcoming trip to Kansas City is a good example, as was our trip a few years ago to Colorado Springs in October. As much as I would prefer to drive there, it just doesn't work well for a weekend trip. Limiting oneself to only ground travel might be a worthwhile goal, but it just doesn't work for most people. Still, each time I board an airplane the experience becomes less and less attractive. I can see our retirement years filled with as much ground travel as we can manage. Hello Touareg! Hello Amtrak! Hopefully, not Greyhound....
Sunday, May 23rd/10
It's been a fun weekend so far, despite cancelling the astronomy night yesterday for my Camera Club. It was pouring rain (and I mean pouring!) at 6:30 pm, and cloudy at 8 pm, so I cancelled the night. Of course, it cleared up immediately afterwards, and the rain never reached the observatory! I tried to revive it tonight, but the families who would have come last night were busy tonight. Ah well!
I've practiced three days in a row now (though only for one hour per day). The Beethoven Sonata (one I worked on many years ago but never performed) is coming along nicely, though I have yet to start work on the first movement. That will likely wait until July.
Deb now has two rain barrels in operation, as well as a rolling drum composter. Work is also continuing on the deck to cover it in black tiles, like our front verandah.
Our fitness program is also getting back on track, and we managed a few warm, humid miles at Malden Hill Park this morning. Yesterday, we explored Eastern Market, and despite the drizzle and gloomy skies, had a really fun time. We came home with incredible fatoosh salad dressing, and some whole grain walnut/raisin bread to die for. Detroit has nearly as many good things about it as bad. Eastern Market is one of the best! Without that city (and its numerous, prosperous suburbs) our lives would be much poorer.
In two weeks we visit another great American midwest city, namely Kansas City, MO. We are both looking forward to the weekend getaway, another deal found on-line that includes flights, hotel and rental car. All we really have to buy is gas, two lunches and three dinners! Plus, it will give us a feeling of being out west.
I've also been researching Amtrack service throughout the USA for a possible autumn train ride. We stopped at the Dearborn station yesterday and stocked up on brochures and magazines. An attractive route for me would be Detroit to St. Louis, where I could spend one day; go from there to Kansas City and catch the Southwest Chief to Albuquerque, where I could stay as long or short as I liked, and then return 'directly" from there to Detroit. It would cost $462, and that includes a bedroom on the way down and two meals. Once in Albuquerque I would need accommodation, and possibly wheels, though I could get around on public transport, including a commuter train to Santa Fe. The more I fly, the less I want to fly. I enjoy my drives west each summer, and would no doubt enjoy a train ride down and back also.
I'm reading a fabulous "around the world book" right now called "Grounded", about a guy in his thirties and his girlfriend who drop everything to take a tour around the world, not using air transport at all. There are lots of trains, ferries, container ships etc., and the guy is an excellent writer. Many parts are laugh aloud funny, whilst others are rather deep and serious. Highly recommended, and I have not been able to put it down! I should be done it by the end of the weekend (bought it yesterday at Borders in Dearborn).
Wednesday, May 19th/10
What a bright, fine day! What a glorious night sky, and I wish I could be out locating spring galaxies with my telescope. I continue to squirrel away $100 each month towards the purchase of a larger, updated telescope for my retirement years of viewing. So much sky to see, and so little time! Looking forward to visiting the Comber Observatory this weekend, and I'm hoping a few Camera Club families come along as well.
I've loaded up my Kodak Instamatic SLR camera with 126 cartridge film, and have been introducing interchangeable lenses to the kids in my school camera club. I have three lenses for it, none of them new enough to be zoom. Since the lenses and camera were contracted out to Germany by Kodak for this camera (as well as my other high-end Instamatic), they produce images of outstanding quality. I need to use up the last of my 126 film, too, before it spoils.
There are now officially 6 weeks left of school! Even in a normal year I would be getting a bit excited by now, especially with the long weekend approaching. 85% of the year is over. My last big school concert is coming up fast (next Wed.), and I can't wait for that to be done. The band sounded quite awful today at rehearsal. Oh well. C'est la vie! We have learned four new (harder) pieces since our last concert barely a month ago! Quite impressive, really.
Thanks to another good soaking of rain this week, our new 100 litre rain barrel is now full to capacity! It doesn't take much to fill it. The ducks keep coming for birdseed every day, and we are keeping the drinking bowl filled with fresh rainwater. If we ever get a dry spell, we'll use the water for the plants. Deb has a decent veggie garden started now, too. We had to bite the bullet and purchase a new weed wacker this week. We chose a very inexpensive electric one. While it doesn't reach the limits of our property, it does a fine job as far as our two extension cords reach. No more pull cord, no more mixing gas and oil, no more stalling in the midst of a job.
Sunday, May 16th/10
Yuja's concert was rather overwhelming. It is almost unimaginable that someone could play with such vitality, energy, and musicianship. This is not just some technically perfect bravura artist, though she is technically perfect and has an exceeding amount of bravura. Her emotional bond with the music runs deep, and her understanding of it leaves one speechless. She is virtually flawless, a very frightening scenario. All pianists aspire to these heights, but seldom if ever reach them. That is a good thing, and keeps most of us working towards that goal all of our lives. At the tender age of 22 or 23, she is already there. I almost pity her! Will she be able to maintain interest throughout a lifelong career? Will she injure herself, with those skinny little arms and hands making as much sound on the keyboard as someone three times her size? In the meantime, I will strive to hear her play whenever I can. She is totally amazing, and not to be missed.
On the subject of totally amazing pianists, we heard from Kati today. Here is a link to a short news article on her Stratford performance. I am hoping to be able to get to a few of her upcoming programs in Indiana.
Deb has planted a veggie garden, our first. I have promised to become more involved in our yard upkeep in my retirement year. Speaking of that, it appears that England is out of my budget for next fall. However, I am being inspired by Amtrak fares, and will likely plan a trip from Detroit to the southwest in October.
Looking forward to a long weekend next week, our final holiday before the Big One commences.
Friday, May 14th/10
After a rather hectic period of time over the last few weeks, things are slowly falling into place once more. I've had some time for reading (currently Banks' "Canal Dreams", about a ficticious hostage taking incident on the Panama Canal), writing, piano practicing (still only one hour per day at most), gaming (an old Sierra adventure game called "Lighthouse") and walking. I have vowed to restart the walking program. In a mere 13 weeks we will be scrambling to the tops of sizeable mountains in New Mexico once again. As far as piano goes, I can hardly wait to get back to two or more hours per day. Realistically there just isn't time right now. I'm happy for the hour, which is enough to review some technique, work on two Scarlatti Sonatas, two pieces by Rameau, and the 2nd and 3rd movements to Beethoven's Sonata Op. 10 #1. When time permits, I shall add the first movement, and possibly one other piece (an old one I will pick up again).
Tomorrow night Roger, Dave and I go to Detroit to hear Yuja Wang perform a solo piano recital. This should be the highlight of the year's formal concerts! We heard her now-legendary Ann Arbor recital over a year ago, and still remember it vividly. Her website lists her concert schedule for the year. Check it out and be amazed! What a ball of energy!
Our walk today (my first in ages) was over to the pond behind our house. The flowers at the edge of the woods were stunning!
Wildflowers from our field walk today. The bright sunshine was most welcome, despite a strong wind.
Thursday, May 13th/10
The week was made palatable by anticipating Wednesday's outing to Slows BBQ in Detroit (they also have incredible veggie offerings). The five main members of our monthly group all attended, and we had a very good time. We met at 4:30 at University Mall parking lot, and all went together in the Touareg over to Slows. Although it was chilly and damp, we didn't mind waiting for our table whilst sipping beer on the outdoor patio. The food got rave reviews from the group members, who immediately all wanted to return here next month. However, I have another place in mind! After dinner we went to Borders Books for an hour before returning home.
On the deck at Slows, awaiting an inside table. Deb, Barb (looking just a bit too happy!), Mary and Ruth (both retired teachers as of last year).
Brad, our staff car accident victim, was at school on Monday to visit. He had the awaited surgery to return the piece of his skull back onto his head, and is making good progress towards recovery. He will not return to teaching this year, though perhaps in September. Also, he will likely transfer to a school closer to his home, avoiding the long and tiresome drive to A'burg every day from Windsor.
Another staff member, who is spending a year in Vancouver, e-mailed us to ask if we could use her apartment out there this summer for a few weeks. Damn! Our summer plans are already locked in, otherwise I would have taken her up on that. Heather will be returning to APS in the fall, and we won't get another chance like that one.
Saturday, May 8th/10
A night of pure magic, brought to you by Kati Gleiser's phenomenal piano playing and the equally phenomenal hospitality of Philip and Anne Adamson! I've never seen their home look more welcoming. Kati performed several of my favourite pieces, including the immense and amazing Bach Chaconne, transcribed by Busoni. Although she struggled a bit at first with the mechanics of the piano, the music easily transcended any minor glitches that occurred. Kati has a way of entering a piece of music wholly and spiritually, and she doesn't come out until the work is done. She gets inside every phrase and note, filling the air with luscious and meaningful sound. And she has a big sound, too; full, round and incredibly satisfying to the listener.
After the Bach came Chopin's 3rd Sonata. To me, this was the highlight of the evening, every moment making me feel as if Chopin himself was playing for us. Kati's overall sense of "what to do" is incredible. I'd like to think she has inner communication with the composer, and that he is constantly whispering in her ear how to play each phrase. However, I realize that it is Kati's hard work, complete familiarity with the score, and her well-thought out understanding of how to play Chopin that is her real 'secret'. Of course, studying at Indiana for three years with Menahem Pressler, and before that in Toronto with Andre Laplante, hasn't hurt her performance style, either! After a lively intermission (there were only ten of us there listening--it was heaven!!), Kati returned to play three shorter works by Rachmaninoff, and L'Isle Joyeuse by Debussy. All of these pieces sparkled and shone as if just cut and set by a master jeweler. The depth of feelings that Rachmaninoff probed in his compositions were easily handled by Kati's emotion-filled playing, and now, with even better control over Philip's wonderful piano, the music continued to soar to new heights. The Debussy was performed with such velocity and virtuosity that one might think the notes were played but not the music. Not so! The rhythmic tightness, the singing phrases, and Kati's enviable ability to enter fully into the spirit of the music she plays (in this case, an almost intoxicating joy) made for my second favourite piece of the night.
I have not heard Kati play for six or seven years now. How sad! I promise I will be down to Bloomington to hear the rest of the recitals (there are at least four more to give as part of Kati's doctoral program). She plays Saturday night in Stratford. Lucky Stratford!
On Saturday afternoon, Deb and I attended a Cask Ale Festival in Detroit! There were over 20 casks available for sampling, and we gave it our best shot. There were a few very good ones, though I daresay that England still holds the trophy!
What a wild weekend for weather! It almost felt like our annual May long weekend, usually the worst weather of Spring! We got to use our wood stove again on Saturday, at any rate. It sure warms up fast around here when that thing is on.
Wednesday, May 5th/10
Okay folks, exactly eight weeks left in my final school year (but who's counting). That would be thirty-eight more times I have to enter that building as an employee (but who's counting). I had a concert band rehearsal this morning, realizing how many great kids I have occasional contact with. There isn't a single student in that 40+ person ensemble that I wouldn't be happy to see again tomorrow, or every work day. Sometime near the end of May will be my final appearance as a conductor of the APS Band. That will be a moment to savour, unless, like last year, my percussion section decides not to show up for the big concert! The joys of teaching children.
It has been an incredible Spring so far, with things far more green than usual at this time of year. Lots of rain, some very warm weather, and plenty of sunshine have all contributed to the most advanced spring I have ever seen. I've already cut the grass 4x, and am feeling the pain of having a non-working weed-wacker. I have to bring the old one in to get repaired (yet again) before the wilderness overtakes our home! April was the warmest one ever for Ontario, and if that continues through May and June, it will be a nasty finish to the school year.
Our large debt of years past is now virtually paid off, and we will soon be in the clear! There is still money owing on the Jetta, which I hope to take care of next year, but the Treggie is paid off, as well as all of the work we did on the house. Getting back $3200 in government rebates helped out a lot with that! We are going to celebrate by spending a weekend in Kansas City in June, booked through Priceline.com once again. We have our flights, hotel and car already paid for. It will be a really fun trip. I always zoom past this fabulous city every year on my drive to and from New Mexico. It's only a two-hour flight! We visited briefly once in 1990, and have wanted to return ever since. Looks like it will finally happen. I need something like that to make all of my night teaching seem worthwhile! Tomorrow I teach from 3 pm till 8:15 pm, making a very long day indeed.
Tuesday, May 4th/10
With half of my work week over, you'd think I'd be in a good mood. I am! We have an incredible weekend coming up, with Kati's concert at Philip's home on Friday evening, and then a cask ale festival in Detroit on Saturday!! Woo hoo!!
The private students just keep on coming. I have a new one hour student commencing this week, and another new one (half hour) on Monday. It's all a bit much, and I'll have so many students by next year at this rate that it won't even seem like I've retired! I must say that when all facts are carefully weighed, I would much rather be a private instructor than a public one. On the other hand, if I got to choose the kids I taught in school, I'd probably still do it until I was sixty-five! For example, my concert band tomorrow is jam-packed with wonderful students, but I only see them once each week as a group. Sigh.
Emma Lee continues to get cuter and cuter, and I am stuck down here unable to see her. Lynne keeps sending me photos, for which I am totally grateful! Here is a recent one that I love!
I'm glad Emma parked the Ford and is now driving a classy VW, just like mommy!
Saturday, May 1st/10
Despite a thundering beginning to the day, we went ahead with our school camera club field trip to Maidstone Woods Conservation Area. By the time we arrived the rain had ceased, and the cloudy skies gave us ideal light for flower photography. The area was teaming with wildflowers, including the incredible and elusive wild ginger plant! Wild geraniums were in abundance, as were many other colourful varieties. We seemed to come upon new colours and flowers at every turn in the path. We even found a small patch of trilliums, which we have never found here before. Jack-in-the-Pulpits were everywhere!
The kids loved it and were great company on our annual Beltane/Mayday walk in the woods. Our next outing is to Comber for open house at the RASC telescope. That takes places three weeks from today. Our final walk will be sometime in June to the Windsor waterfront, to photograph the sculptures on the riverwalk.
Cici, Brittney and Keely from our spring wildflower walk today at Maidstone Woods. The flowers were peaking!
Wild Ginger, an incredibly beautiful flower, the colour of Hind's Crimson Star.
Everything was so fresh and green after the rain this morning! There were many violets.
One of several types of yellow flowers seen today.
Thursday, April 29th/10
Deb has a young violin student from Harrow, and her family always celebrates the Solstices with big parties! Pretty cool stuff, as hardly anyone takes notice of such things around us, even though it's the very basis of our lives (passing of the seasons) and most of our major holidays. So many Christian holidays are built over top of Pagan ones that it is quite remarkable! Anyway, we are invited to the Summer Solstice party! A nice family, too. Dad is a crown prosecutor in Windsor!
We had our third and final group lesson tonight, and many of the students played very well (they should by this time of year!). Only eight more regular lessons left in the year, with a Sunday concert in there somewhere, too!
Over the past year we put about $5500 into making the house more energy efficient. Attic insulation, basement headers getting sealed, and four new basement windows helped keep our energy bills down a bit this winter (25%). We received rebates totaling $3200 from the Province and the Feds, so we are pretty happy about the whole program we signed up for. Too bad it ended, because we still have things to do...
Randy read here yesterday where Deb and I had hiked the Ojibway Prairie the other day, startled by the scale of the burn they had undertaken there, and how well the shoots were coming back up. He sent me a link to a blog by Paul Pratt, director of the Nature Center at Ojibway with some very cool pics of the prescribed burn, and some other great shots as well.
Wednesday, April 28th/10
Nine weeks and counting! But who's counting.... Tomorrow night I have a group lesson with my private students, but other than that I've done no lessons this week. Back at it next week for the final semester of private lessons (there will be only eight lessons remaining).
Tonight we went and watched the sunset from the huge mountain of broken concrete and pavement near the lagoons behind our house. We had hoped to see the moonrise too, but we got too cold waiting.
Sunset from the lagoon area tonight.
Ojibway Prairie from our walk on Sunday.
Today at school I began preparing the band for our final concert late in May. However, about half the band was missing due to a Gr. 7 day away. It's difficult enough having only one practice per week without something like that happening on our day!
Saturday morning is our first outing of the season with the Camera Club. The kids are excited, and we are hoping to find the woods out at Maidstone Conservation area filled with wildflowers.
Piano practice has resumed, though not full steam ahead. I have been working on a Beethoven sonata, but so far just the slow movement. It's kind of nice just working on something slow and peaceful, especially when things are hectic all around me
Saturday, April 24th/10
Today was just what I needed! We took a two mile walk this morning to our local forest, checking on the progress of the wildflowers. Then, we stayed home all day and restored some balance to our lives! We have been on the go all week, non-stop. Today I got to practice piano, finish reading my latest Adult Fantasy novel (and post a new review!), work on my New Mexico trip summary project, and do some gaming on the pc. I feel so much better tonight than I did last night. That should be the last of the big weeks ahead, though a few coming up might rival it. The only thing on tap for next week is a trip with the school Camera Club to Maidstone Woods on Saturday morning. I should be able to handle that.
Friday, April 23rd/10
It's been a very tiring week, and as a result I am now very tired! We met up with my cousin Cathy for dinner tonight in Windsor (Taloola's), and even got to talk with Melanie for a few minutes!! Previous to that we went to Detroit to pick up another batch of Deb's new CDs, as she has completely sold out of the first batch. It was busy crossing the border both ways, though much worse coming back into Canada. They move the trucks through very quickly and efficiently, though the same cannot be said for cars.
Wednesday's two concerts went without a hitch, though I am still tired from them. So much at-home night teaching now, too. I don't think I want that many private students even next year when I am retired from the public school half of things.
I have been unsuccessful so far at trying to resume piano, managing a mere one hour of practice so far this week. Hopefully this won't continue. I have kept two Scarlatti Sonatas, two works by Rameau, and have begun studying a new Beethoven Sonata, one that I worked on many years ago but never brought to fruition. Maybe this time, though it's a tough one, and my technique is not what it used to be.
Monday, April 19th/10
We are at the beginning of a very long week! Tomorrow is the final rehearsal for our Spring show on Wednesday at school. I will also be teaching an extra hour tomorrow night. On Wednesday (our biggest day in a long while), we begin with the two school performances at 9:30 and 11:30. I conduct the beginning band for three numbers, and the choir for the musical (six numbers). Deb has been coaching the stage actors. It is a short show, about 45 minutes. Then, at 4 pm, Deb has a harp gig at the Caboto Club until 6 pm. I will drive her down and wait for her at the cafe/bar. Following this, we are both attending the school board meeting at 6:30, where Elaine, myself and eight other teachers are receiving a commendation for outstanding service. After that , we are going out with some teacher friends for awhile. Thursday appears to be normal, though it is my heaviest day of private teaching, nearly 4 1/2 hours straight through. Friday is a PA Day for parent interviews. Then, Friday night my cousin Cathy is arriving from Sudbury. We are going to meet for dinner later that night. So, a busy week, and filled with all of the normal stuff, too (such as teaching school classes).
The weekend was great, though about two days too short! We got our deck repaired, the grass cut and some tree thinning done across the creek.
Friday, April 16th/10
I can't make up my mind if the week went really slowly or really quickly. It was that kind of week. Bogged down in details, along with far too many kids at school who don't seem to care about anything, let alone learning music. It's a very familiar tone among teachers. Still, I am one week closer to being out of it all for good. My only regret is that Deb has one year to go.
I've been searching for any kind of deal to London next autumn, without any luck. Fares have jumped so much for overseas flights that it is back to what it was for all those years we couldn't be bothered to go over! With the deal we got for our March trip to Albuquerque, it is doubtful there will be any rush to get back to London.
Meanwhile back at school, Deb and I are doing our spring concert a bit early this year. Wednesday is the big show, with band and a Gr. 5/6 musical called Update Earth. Today was crazy hair day, and there were a few heads of note! Our favourite was this one, chosen as the smile of the week. Mom did a fantastic job on this!
In Dearborn today, we got the Jetta washed and detailed at Fairlane Car Wash. They did an absolutely amazing job, and it only cost $25! The car looks brand new, inside and out. We left a generous tip.
Sunday, April 11th/10
Deb's London workshop went very well. There were twenty participants, though Deb only worked with six in her group (the advanced harpists). I uploaded a short video of their final ensemble number. That would Deb's partner, Anita, bellowing out orders like a drill sergeant.
Beorn, our VW Touareg, at Parkhill trails. Although hiking was allowed, a local ATV club has virtually ruined the area with their machines. What a shame.
Small waterfall at Parkhill.
Old abandoned staircase at Parkhill. Walking trails all follow deeply rutted ATV trails, which are causing enormous erosion problems at this park.
Today, I completed the first grass cut of the season, always an unwelcome chore. Deb has been preparing our south-facing garden for veggie planting. This will become a much larger production once I am retired. We plan on trying to grow a lot of food during the long season we get here in Essex County. We are also going to try and pull up some of the rotten boards on our back deck. The back deck is a top priority for this year, and we have some lovely plans. We also want to replace our two front doors with ones that are sturdier and insulated. We received money back from the government for insulating our house last year, and we will use some of it for the new doors and deck upgrading. improvements.
Friday, April 9th/10
It is amazing how slow a 4-day week can go by! I am not looking forward to 5-day weeks again! I am in the thick of a spring musical with 5th and 6th Graders at the school. All will be over by April 21st. We are putting on an Earth Day musical with several catchy songs and some skits in-between. One of my bands will also perform.
On Saturday, Deb is giving a harp workshop and short concert in London, ON. She and Anita L. do this annually. It's a chance for me to do some spring hiking after dropping her off at her venue. Because of the long drive, the three-hour workshop will take us all day.
Monday, April 5th/10
It is amazing how fast a 4-day weekend can go by. How do people manage on just a normal weekend??!! I cannot remember more ideal weather on an Easter holiday. Amazing stuff! It does mean that the grass will need cutting this week. Drat!
I have returned to piano practicing, though I will keep working only on some of my least difficult pieces for now. I am trying to work for one hour each day, and if things go well with my elbow, I'll increase that back to two. I'll likely stay at one hour until the summer at least.
I got my 2009 taxes prepared for my accountant. It's always a major chore to keep all receipts, though of course it does pay off to do so.
On Saturday we went over to Detroit for the day. Ruth (retired APS teacher and good friend) came with us. We started with a walk on the River Rouge Trail in Dearborn, followed by an always fun visit to Westborn Market. What a store!! Next, we went to Buddy's Pizza for lunch, before heading out to Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. We went to the annual "Hops for Hope", a fundraiser for abandoned domestic rabbits that we usually attend. Food, chocolate and beer for $20, all in copious amounts. I really wish I had a designated driver for this event, so I could drink more than a few ounces of beer. No one kept me from the free-trade chocolate, though!
Turtles were basking at various places along our walk today.
Friday, April 2nd/10
We watched another episode of Jamie Oliver tonight, as he continues his crusade to bring fresh, healthy food to the schools of Huntington, W. Va. A pasta with 7 vegetables and fresh fruit for dessert is not nutrionally valid enough for the school inspector, even though kids leaving the cafeteria with a burger and fries apparently meet the nutrional requirements! An eye-opening series, this was the third episode. It seems to be on every Friday at 9 pm. We caught it last week by accident, seeing two unbelievable episodes.
Today I finished my latest New Mexico trip journal, as well as getting the website updated with photos from our recent voyage. We also managed a walk, and I put in my first hour of piano practice in the last ten weeks! It's been a good day. Oh yes, and Beorn the Touareg is now out and about once again!
Thursday, April 1st/10
Today was probably the finest day we've had here since last September! It is currently 78 F as I write this!! Ludwig the tortoise went into his outdoor enclosure for the first time since last autumn, and seemed to greatly enjoy his run. Beorn, the mighty VW Touareg, can now come out to play as well, though due to heavy teaching duties today that happy moment will wait until Friday.
I now have 4 pages complete on the website, describing our most recent trip. It should be up for viewing by tomorrow night. I know how excited you all are. Me too! New Mexico is such a photogenic place. Even though we were only there for 6 days, I took as many photos as I did on last summer's two week journey. Many of the recent photos are of rock art, and I will only be posting a few of those here. I have many, many others if you are interested in that sort of thing.
I must now teach from 4 pm through till 8:15, no breaks. Thursday is rather a busy day. Cheers! Here's to a very long weekend!
Monday, March 29th/10
We watched a lovely moonrise tonight, our monthly party being hampered by teaching duties until 7:30 pm. Still, we managed to bake a moon cake earlier, and sitting out with some dark rum and watching the moonrise was special. I just can't believe how hectic a pace things can reach at school, and it's nice to sit and relax together, even ever so briefly.
Saturday, March 27th/10
I took Iain M. Banks' sci fi novel "The Algebraist" with me for the flights to Albuquerque and back last week. I managed to read about one hundred pages or so each way, getting completely engrossed in the novel by page 200. Tonight I will finally finish the epic (well over 500 pages). It is completely brilliant and very entertaining, with most of it taking place within the atmosphere of a distant gas giant! I don't know how the guy does it, quite frankly. Highly recommended reading for science fiction fans. Banks is at the top of his game once again!
I've been working diligently on the journal to the Albuquerque hiking trip. We managed seven hikes in six days, though a few were short and not really classifiable as "hikes" (for instance, the two rock art outings). I came home with about 350 photos, which I have been gradually weeding out. I am currently down to 239, so I still have a bit of work to do (I might be happy in the end with 125). I've printed about 80 and am using them for the journal. The website will not get done this weekend, but perhaps next. Be patient--it will get done. I don't like posting photos until I am totally happy with them.
We went to Ann Arbor today. We had 40% off coupons for Borders!! I purchased volumes 7 & 8 of the Andras Schiff recordings of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas. I am now only missing volume 4! These are far and away the most superior recordings one could ever hope to hear in this life. Hearing him do them live in Ann Arbor last year wasn't too bad, either!
Our new backpacks were at the mailbox today. This summer we are preparing to camp in the back country, away from the vehicle. We needed proper, updated packs to carry our tent, bags, etc. These ones from Sierra look great, and the on-line sale prices were ridiculously cheap! We've already booked the middle of August for our next big New Mexico mountain adventure, hoping to assail Santa Fe Baldy and at least two other peaks over 12,000'.
Tuesday, March 23rd/10
It's hard to believe we've only been back 3 days! Seems like ages ago when we left Albuquerque. I've been editing photos at a fever pitch, though still have a batch to go. I took over 350 images, and after saving all the originals on a dvd, I have been ruthlessly eliminating many of them from the computer and trying to crop and edit the remainder. Some are perfect right out of the camera, but that is just luck! Having Photoshop CS2 is liking having one's own darkroom (which we used to have!). It's fun to play around with the photos, but I have been strictly down to business for now. I have a batch of 80 to print tomorrow. One of the main reasons for this trip was to visit two important rock art sites, and I have many images of those. We saw more rock art this trip since our visit years ago to Alamo and Cornudas Mountains down near Texas.
Bird with Antlers, Albuquerque site.
Various critters, Albuquerque site (Petroglyph National Monument).
Sunday, March 21st/10
The glamour of travel is soon erased by the day after. Unpacking and laundry go a long way to erasing said glamour, along with the cat hair that once again becomes part of one's daily existence. We also spent time today reinstalling Photoshop CS2, and the editing of photos taken on the recent voyage is well underway. Here is another photo to whet your appetite for what is still to come.
Deb follows the designated path at Tent Rocks, NM.
Speaking of photos, our niece Emma-Lee continues to get cuter by the minute, as evidenced in two recent photos sent by Lynne. We miss you Emma, and wish we could be with you sooner. See you in July!!
Emma-Lee gets it into gear!
Lookin' good, Emma!!
Saturday, March 20th/10
We're back, and more New Mexico-ish than ever! Trip #28 was a blast, with six days of great hiking and several afternoons spent at wonderful cafes and brewpubs! Albuquerque made a perfect central hub for our numerous nearby short day hikes, with a very comfortable motel room near the center of things to return to each night. A lot more details will follow in the coming weeks, including the usual write-up with photos. I will move NM #27 to my site, and then post my write-up over here on the right side. For now, I am posting one of my favourite photos from the trip, taken from our motel balcony right outside our room. Even back at the motel, our views were outstanding!
Thursday, March 11th/10
We were spared a $4000 bill for replacing part of our sewer line. The part that was broken happened to be on town property, and the boys from Amherstburg just finished the job. They began at 8:30 am and completed the work at 2 pm. We were very fortunate this time. A few inches more to the east and we would have been in debt once again. I am hoping to pay off most of our loans before retiring, and now that is almost a possibility!
We have been keeping up the fitness program, though it hasn't been as intense as the summer ones we do, nor as long. Still, we will have had four full weeks of prep before our first hike in Albuquerque on Sunday. I hope it helps.
I managed to fight off a sore throat this week, so I already know that it is helping. Two more days of work before the break, and we are finally starting to get excited.
I am slowly moving most of my photos onto a different website. I spent a lot of time redoing the Cats folder and the most recent London trip. Large sizes can be viewed. Comments are below the photos. Also, slideshows can be used!
Sunday, March 7th/10
We had a good turnout to the CD launch last night. We figure at least 35 people showed up, which pleased us both. It proved to be a good venue, too. A big thank-you to everyone who came out and supported Deb.
Deb autographs her CDs at the launch Saturday night. They were selling like hotcakes!
CD launch banner! The disc and even individual or multiple downloads will soon be available on-line.
Earlier on Saturday we hiked four miles along the riverfront and university area in Windsor. It was a very still morning, producing some excellent photos. The river bottom itself was clearly visible today, the first time I have ever seen such a wonder! I also took a short movie of the ice floe and uploaded it to Youtube.
Ambassador Bridge. Note the clear river bottom!
Another view of the bridge.
It was an incredible day for a walk! Detroit skyline and ice floe.
During the event last night, it became apparent that the cafe's CD player was not working!!?! Randy and I went back to his place to borrow one of his to play Deb's CD in the background of the gathering. While visiting, he showed me his latest telescope acquisition: a 12 1/2" reflector mounted on a 'portaball', similar to my little Astroscan! It is a brilliant design, and I am instantly aching for the very same type of scope. He got the deal of a lifetime on a used one--new ones are around $6000. Can't say I'll be getting one soon, though I am still socking away $100 per month for a new scope of some type or other.
Kati Gleiser will be performing once again in Windsor, likely on Friday, May 7th. No details yet, though her playing is now so advanced that it is virtually top of the line! Stay tuned for details. There may only be a very limited audience, as it might be held in a local home. This will be a very memorable concert, indeed (Bach, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy).
Thursday, March 4th/10
It's been a busy week! First off, my 2nd term report cards are proof read and have been sent off. That means that there is only one more set to do IN MY WHOLE LIFE!!! Speaking of which, the school year is now just over 60% complete. Of course that last 10% happens to hit in June, and this year we are stuck until the 30th, so there is still a long way to go.
On the same note, Elaine (the other teacher retiring this year at APS) and I went over to Ruth's house on Wednesday night to get help in applying for retirement status. It is fairly complicated, with loads of paperwork. Not only that, but I have to find my marriage license. Yikes!! That was almost 35 years ago!!
Deb and I have also been keeping up our hiking preparation program for New Mexico, which is coming up fast. We have a major desert mountain hike planned every day but one while there, and some of them are very major, indeed. We've been using the hills at Malden Hill Park in Windsor, but the park has slowly turned into a quagmire. We are not looking forward to tomorrow's attempted hill walk.
Deb is all ready for her CD release party this weekend at Cordoba Cafe in Lasalle. So far about 35 people have said they are coming, including people from Detroit and London, ON. That would be fantastic! It's just a casual drop-in thing. Come by for coffee, listen to some of the CD, watch a few films that use Deb's music, and perhaps BUY A CD! I told her that if she sells even 100,000 she can retire early, with me!
Sunday, Feb. 28th/10
With Deb's help I managed to finish my report cards today. Only one more set to do until retirement! Another milestone achieved.
We tried out a new brew pub today for lunch, in beautiful downtown Clawson (14 Mile Rd. and Livernois). Black Lotus Brewing Company had a few veggie items of interest on the menu, and we have wanted to visit for a long time. If ever up this way again, we will likely return. Good food and good beer in a non-smoking atmosphere. Well done! On the way there, we passed this burning car on I-75. Yikes! No fire truck was on scene yet.
Burning car passed today on I-75 in Detroit. Deb snapped a photo as we flew by in the fast lane, trying to stay as far away as we could.
Part of the interior of Black Lotus Brewing Company. Good food and good beer. Very good waitress. We had a glass of Detroit Hip Hop Ale, and Deb tried a bit of the Black Bottom Oatmeal Stout.
Friday, Feb. 26th/10
The snow just keeps piling up. We received another three to four inches today, which means yet another major snow removal from our driveway sometime this weekend. We did get to Malden Hill Park today for some snowshoeing (not as much new snow there). It was windy, cold, and snowy, but a number of people (and dogs) were out enjoying the winter weather.
Deb enjoys the winter weather at Malden Hill Park in Windsor this afternoon.
Whereas last year our snowshoe season ended in late January, this year it didn't even get underway until the end of February!
Thursday, Feb. 25th/10
Andrea has returned from her China expedition, her memory card loaded down with about 1000 photos! I'll post a link here soon.
There is a unique look to the average schoolyard after a large snowstorm, when the snow can be packed and rolled. Dozens of giant snowballs lie across the landscape like some undiscovered archaeological alien environment. The kids start rolling them and seem only intent on getting them as large and as far as they can. Once the snowball is too large to push any further (even after enlisting the help of kids in older grades), it is left abandoned, like some forgotten giant's toy.
Ever since (somewhat optimistically) predicting the final end of winter on February 14th, it hasn't stopped snowing! There is so much snow on the ground right now that we are going to go snowshoeing tomorrow for the first time of the season! Tomorrow is a PA Day for us, so no kids. Term 2 report cards are due next week, so guess what we are doing tomorrow (and Saturday, and Sunday).
Speaking of kids, I have recently added two new students to an already full private studio. I'm hoping I have this many next year, too. Right now it is a bit draining.
I have written a 2nd e-mail to Brad, awaiting a response. He is eager to receive mail. His first reply to me sounded exactly like him, in fine form. The reading and writing is also part of his therapy. We are hoping to pay a short visit to him next week.
Speaking of physio, I continue to slowly improve, and have begun practicing the piano for a few minutes each day. I've decided to start new pieces for now, rather than plunge into the old ones. Perhaps the slow pace of learning new and difficult music will assist my healing.
Monday, Feb. 22/10
This too shall pass.
Another sure sign of spring, as our car and driveway got buried by snow last night.
Saturday, Feb. 19th/10
It's been a whirlwind couple of days for us, but we are both still here and somewhat sane. On Thursday I completed my fourth week of physio on my elbow, and it seems to be getting better every session now. Still pain, still slow to unbend, and still not straightening all the way, but better each time. Home exercises are helping, too. I've had to practice piano a bit each day lately to prepare for Angela's flute exam.
On Friday, the Recorder Band played their first concert of the new year, this time for the JKs. We need work, especially the third graders. The concert was a big hit with our audience!
Two Grade Five members of my APS Recorder Band perform for the JKs on Friday.
After school Friday we ate a quick lunch at home, then headed to Assumption Chapel for Angela'sflute exam. It is such a treat to play in that incredible space! I am glad it is finally over, as now I can return to learning my own pieces for a few minutes each day. No regular heavy practice for a while yet. Afterwards, Deb and I headed straight over the bridge to Kalamazoo, checking into a motel just after 5:30 pm and arriving at Bells Eccentric Cafe at 6 pm. The place was packed, but we found a table to stand at with our beer, and our food arrived very quickly. We went across the road to a cafe after dinner, awaiting the main event of the trip. One of Deb's favourite professional harpists was performing with the Kalamazoo Symphony. Yolanda Kondanasis played two major works for harp and orchestra, the Hovhaness Concerto and the Debussy Sacred and Profane Dances. She has a totally amazing sound and technique, and it was a very good concert.
This morning we ate breakfast at a funky, vegan-friendly restaurant called The Crow's Nest before departing Kalamazoo for Marshall. We will certainly return here when the opportunity arises. I wish we had eaten dinner here last night, too!
Crow's Nest Restaurant, Kalamazoo
Deb at The Crow's Nest.
Marshall, MI is itself a lovely town, with a huge district of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and a lively downtown of shops, cafes and pubs. There is also a Museum of Magic that we are hoping is open when we are there.
Through the window at the Museum of Magic, downtown Marshall, MI. It is currently closed for the winter.
Wed., Feb. 17th/10
What a depressing end to winter! While temps are just about average for this time of year (cooler days but less cold nights), the greyness and overall dampness is not something that overly impresses me. It's like we are back into December, and that is a very depressing thought! However, it gets lighter each morning and evening, so we are making progress. Keep the faith!
A favourite former student walked back into my life (and classroom) today. I remember Amanda W. as a terrific music student, especially in Gr. 6 & 7. She was tiny, had very long blonde hair, and played a mean trombone! She is now in Gr. 11, prettier than ever, and doing a semester of high school co-op activities at our school. She will assist me in the music room, hopefully for the remainder of the year, as well as doing other things around the school. All is not well currently in her family life, though she is very interested in trombone lessons again. We did two national music exams together way back when, and she aced them both.
Brad is now home from the hospital, staying with his wife's parents. I have e-mailed him, and hope to hear a reply soon. He still has trouble reading, one of his favourite pastimes.
I have finished reading the latest volume of fantasy stories in the Ballantine series from the 1970s, and have posted a review opposite. I seem to get a fair number of hits on that page, though a few searchers are looking for a different type of adult fantasy story, and must arrive at my site bewildered and disappointed!
Speaking of reading, I have also made great strides with a massive novel by Wilkie Collins called "The Moonstone" (1874). Very, very witty and highly readable, this is a classic English novel I had somehow missed over the years. It has been called England's first and possibly best detective novel.
Sunday, February 14th/10
In Plutarch's words:
"Lupercalia, of which many write that it was anciently celebrated by shepherds, and has also some connection with the Arcadian Lycaea. At this time many of the noble youths and of the magistrates run up and down through the city naked, for sport and laughter striking those they meet with shaggy thongs. And many women of rank also purposely get in their way, and like children at school present their hands to be struck, believing that the pregnant will thus be helped in delivery, and the barren to pregnancy."
Sounds like a weird, sort of fun kinky early Spring festival, brought down to Earth by Hallmark and your local restaurant, hoping to score big in a generally slack period of business (not to mention the Christian Faith, who brainlessly came up with St. Valentine, yet another cover story for the older, more meaningful rites of the seasons). Around here it is a typical pagan festival. Good beer and wine, a cozy real wood fire, superb food from the incomparable kitchen of Deb, and great music from the vast library. I am not allowed to run down the street naked. Hoping your celebration of old pagan rites was as much fun as ours!
Saturday, Feb. 13th/10
Yesterday I had an opportunity to visit Dr. Greg Butler's new home in Lakeshore, in Russell Woods. He has completely shaped the bottom floor into a giant music studio, equipped with two pianos, one a full concert grand and the other a mere baby grand! He accommodated about thirty people in the room with no trouble at all, so that may give some idea of how large it is! It is completely breathtaking!
Later on, Deb and I went to the Winter Blast in downtown Detroit. Not quite up to the standard of the Quebec Winter Carnival or Rio's Lenten extravaganza, it is nonetheless a diverting event for kids and parents. We had a quick look at the ice sculptures, helped along well by the chilly weather. Despite winter being over tomorrow (in my calendar), it appears to be hanging on for much longer. Oh well, there isn't a lot one can do about it.
Everyone's favourite sponge was there...
...with a friend.
After dark, colours changed continually on the sculptures.
Pink Parrot, Detroit Winter Blast.
Figure Skater ice sculpture.
Detroit Winter Blast public skating.
Tonight Deb played harp with Anita at the Irish Club's 25th Anniversary Dinner at Cleary Auditorium in downtown Windsor. We were home early, but she was tired. An early night, to rest up for Lupercalia Festival tomorrow.
Wednesday, Feb. 10th/10
Well, if that was the big snowstorm for this season, I will still say that it's been a pretty easy winter, despite a chilly forecast. We may try the snowshoes this weekend, but the 6" of snow we received is barely enough. The school buses ended up being cancelled today, meaning that I taught small classes this morning: 6 Gr. 8 Band members, 9 third graders and then 16 Gr 8 General Music kids, a combination of both Gr. 8 classes (only one-quarter of the full Gr. 8s). So, a light duty day. I attended my sixth physio session today, and I must say the improvement in my elbow is remarkable. I have been practicing piano now about ten to fifteen minutes each day, in preparation for Angela's Gr. 4 flute exam next week. Once I get through that I'll go from there. Flexibility is much improved, though I still cannot lift anything or move the elbow quickly. Shovelling was a task that had to be done, but using the snow float proved not too difficult or strenuous for me. The main driveway is cleared--we now have our two parking lots to work on.
Monday, Feb. 8th/10
Looks like all of my wishful thinking for a nice, easy end to winter has been in vain! As I write this on a bright, sunny Monday afternoon near sunset (with temps above freezing, too) I think to myself "Why couldn't Winter just curl up and go away?" I won't repeat the answer I received from Winter himself, but suffice it to say he is not going away anytime soon, as hoped! At least the Detroit Winter Carnival this coming weekend will be the genuine article! We hope to attend it on Friday.
My fifth physio visit today brought me some hope, though I was told not to shovel any snow. I now have my full range of motion back in the elbow, though a lot of pain still. Now I just need to figure out how to make ten inches of snow disappear from my driveway tomorrow without shovelling!
Saturday, Feb. 7th/10
9:55 am:
It has been an odd winter for us here in Essex County. It has been colder than the norm, but not by all that much, with daily temps getting close to freezing but usually not achieving it. And then there is the snow, or rather lack of it. Once again a giant storm has socked our neighbours to the south (Ohio), missing us completely. It is certainly not a winter to complain bitterly about, unless one loves snow. Deb and I have not had one opportunity to use our snowshoes this year. The 10-day forecast calls for much of the same--somewhat cold and relatively dry. Even if we were to get a big storm now, it would not last long enough anyway. No complaints here!
A plethora of squirrels (in this case 9) were feeding outside our window today. A relatively easy winter means that most of them are surviving, and we can look forward to lots of babies in the spring....
My elbow continues to cause me pain, and my piano playing is restricted to the bare minimum, currently preparing the accompaniments for Angela's upcoming flute exam. I've been to physio four times with no appreciable end to the pain. Mobility improves at the physio, but not so much afterwards. It's only been two weeks, so we'll see what happens after two more.
Last night Roger and I attended a recital in Detroit by Emmanuel Ax, one of today's most sought-after pianists. A quick glance at his busy schedule from his website shows a performer I feel fortunate to have heard yet again. The program consisted of works by Chopin and Schumann (both composers born in 1810, and thus a bi-centennial year celebration). The highlights for me were the two major works by Schumann, the seldom heard Fantasy in C, Op. 17, and the delightful series of shorter works Op. 12 Fantasy Pieces. Amazing performances of incredibly fine music! By Chopin, Ax performed three Mazurkas, the Polonaise-Fantasie Op. 61, the Andante Spinanato and Grande Polonaise Brillante Op. 22, and the lone encore, a Nocturne (Op.27 #1).
Brad Update:
Brad has a room in Hotel Dieu and continues to make good progress. Visitors have commented on how his personality remains unchanged, a very healthy sign. He does tire very easily, and continues to have some difficulty with reading and forming sentences, though all indications are that he will make a complete recovery.
Tuesday, Feb. 2nd/10
Today marks the beginning of the end of winter. Celebrated by Pagans, Candelmas sees the return of the daylight to northern areas of the globe. The sun is now streaking higher each day towards Equinox, and Candelmas falls roughly halfway between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Now horribly distorted by one of the most idiotic of media events (ground hog day), a major celebration still occurs in many parts of the world. For us in Essex County this time of year marks the end of the severest part of winter. This year winter has been anything but severe. With barely any snow and only a few truly dangerously cold days, it has been a non-winter compared to the last one. Over the next two weeks the daylight will increase significantly, so that by the middle of February we are nearly out of the woods. Any snow that falls after that date does not stick around for long; nor do colder temps. No sign of our snowdrops in the garden yet, but we expect them soon enough. Since we both taught tonight there was no home celebration, so we have put it off until tomorrow. New Tarot cards from our Samhain reading, our annual imbibing of Benedictine Liqueur (the real stuff made by the monastery monks, not the imitation), another real wood fire in our fireplace, and the displaying of our Brigid doll, the Celtic goddess responsible for returning the earth to fruitful life following winter are all part of the festivities! It's great fun marking the subtle changes in seasons as they occur each year!
Tomorrow also marks a landmark day for us, as our school year will be exactly half over! 20 weeks down, 20 weeks to go!!
It's been a very light year for snow, as our winter begins to end. Scene from my walk home from school
Smiles of the week, as school reaches its half-way mark tomorrow.
Deb's class raised money to purchase free trade sports equipment, meaning that the adult workers were paid a fair wage for their work.
Saturday, Jan. 30th/10
Last night's full moon rise was a beauty, and we celebrated by visiting the back deck a few times to observe it. By coincidence Mars was at opposition last night, thus appearing near the moon all night long. As usual for lunar holidays we had a roaring wood fire, baked a moon cake (round, of course), had a roasted veggie pizza with whole grain organic crust, and sipped some fine dark rum. For the second full moon in a row we have listened to music from our large cassette collection. I began with some Navajo songs to set the mood, then we listened to the Alexander Nevsky suite by Prokoviev, a winter favourite that we haven't heard in years! We warmed up afterwards with Nights in the Gardens of Spain by Manuel de Falla, and concluded with some Argentinian guitar music and songs by the legendary Eduardo Falu.
I've been fighting off a minor bug since Thursday (very tired and no appetite), but I was much better last night and today.
Speaking of much better, Brad is now on the 8th floor of the hospital, and may be discharged on Monday to be cared for by his parents at their home. A part of his skull has been removed due to brain swelling, and will not be reattached at this time. He will have to wear a helmet and be very careful not to bump his head in any way.
Friday, Jan. 29th/10
Brad Update:
We have been hearing more and more good news. Brad has been able to get out of bed, and seems to be making a miracle recovery. A week ago doctors were not certain he would still be alive. He has difficulty putting a sentence together, but is otherwise alert, curious, impatient to move around, and asking about his class, basketball team etc. Many get-well cards are on the way to him today, at least one from each class in our school plus one from the staff. They may be moving him out of ICU soon.
In other news, Andrea will soon be in Harbin, China, one of the coldest cities on earth in January. Her husband is attending a conference and she will spend a week there and 4 days in Beijing afterwards, presumably to thaw out. She sent me a link to the Ice Festival that is held in Harbin each year, and that she will be visiting. Check out at least the first two pages! This is amazing stuff that almost no one has heard of! Probably anyone who has actually seen it has froze to death, not living long enough to tell the tale. Let's hope Andrea bundles up!
After my second physio-therapy session on my elbow, I realize how much work there is to do. I do need to practice piano very soon, as I am playing for my flute student's exam Feb. 19th. I will continue to rest it for as long as possible, with hopes that the little exercises and frequent icing will help.
Tuesday, Jan. 26th/10
Brad Update: Slight improvements, though things are happening slowly. Brad is reportedly getting restless, and wants to get up and move around. Of course he is still in ICU and hooked up to too many things for that. He ate a popsicle today, his first meal since the accident. He is recalling a few details about the crash as well. So good news, at least.
Tuesday marks my halfway point through the workweek, with four half days completed and four to go. There have been no private students absent yet this month, an unusual thing in itself. Today our energy assessor returned. We will receive a second report soon to see how much money we qualify for. We expect some from installing four new windows, having the basement headers insulated as well as the attic. The only other things we could do would be to insulate the walls, install a final two windows, and put in two new doors. Not going to happen anytime soon.
Yesterday I attended my first physio session for my right elbow and assorted attached tendons and muscles. Haven't played piano now in 10 days. After just one session of proper exercises my arm is better than it was after a week of pills and ice. So there is hope this thing can be fixed (a classic case of "tennis elbow"). Brought on by thirty-five years of piano playing, but made acute by wood chopping and some heavy lifting over the holidays. I return tomorrow for part 2.
Sunday, Jan.24th/10
Last night we watched a tv show on the 10 most significant and unexplained UFO sightings of all time. It was rather good, and certainly leaves room for much discussion of the topic. Many retired air force personnel are now talking. All of them were debriefed at the time of their reports and forced to remain silent about events throughout their careers. Many of them refused to report any further sightings afterwards, and told others who did see strange things not to report them either. Too much hassle from the brass, which then swept everything under the table. No one is saying that the cause of all these sightings are aliens from other worlds. However, no one is seriously investigating just what the hell they are. Natural phenomena? Hallucinations? Other dimensions? By coincidence there was an article in the Telegraph of London today about earthly attempts to contact alien cultures. There is a conference in London currently taking place that is discussing first contact and its ramifications for science and humanity. Some scientists think we should not hasten contact, as it might be hostile. All one has to do is think of the places on earth we have explored and exploited throughout history. Would we be friendly if we landed on other planets and found life there? More likely we would see if they tasted good (especially if they had four legs), or had any minerals we could pull from the ground....A little taste of our own medicine, perhaps? One is reminded of the classic episode of Twilight Zone, "To Serve Man."
No Brad updates today. Hoping to hear some good news tomorrow.
Saturday, Jan. 23rd/10
The Windsor Star has finally acknowledged that someone was seriously hurt in Wednesday's crash, even though everyone has known it since Thursday morning (reported this evening around 5 pm on-line). Sheesh. For some odd reason they are not giving out his name. Anyway, the latest update we have received is that Brad is still critical, but breathing on his own. He is in and out of consciousness, but did recognize his wife, and managed to tell her that he loves her. So some good news there. Go Brad!
Our walking program continues, though it is not due for its much-needed upgrade until early February, when things will shift into higher gear. I am using the new guidebooks which I received yesterday from Amazon to plan some superb hiking this March. New Mexico, like much of the west, just received a severe blast of snow and ice. On several March trips we have encountered snow. It can go either way. At least I now have enough hiking choices to deal with almost any weather-related issues (except flooding).
Friday, Jan. 22nd/10
Not much news on Brad's condition. He is in an induced coma at Hotel Dieu, has had at least one operation, and this weekend will be a critical period. Very tragic, very sad. He did nothing wrong except be in the wrong place at the wrong time. One second can change one's life. Most of the kids at school are still unaware of how serious his condition is, though the community is finding out and word is spreading. Brad has driven out west a couple of times in his vehicle, enjoying Colorado a lot. Let's hope he gets to go again someday.
Thursday, Jan. 21st/10
We both had our birthdays on a Tuesday this past year, a work day when it is virtually impossible to celebrate. So for Deb's event this year we waited until Wednesday, heading over to Detroit with Mary, Ruth and Barb for some wine at Enoteca in Detroit, followed by the main event at Detroit Beer Company. Mary drove, so I was able to consume beer at an alarming rate for once. It was a good party, and the food and beverages were outstanding, as was the company and conversation. We got home late, finding a message on our machine.
One of our school staff members had been involved in a serious car accident on the EC Row Expressway in Windsor. It had happened at 5:45 pm, about 15 minutes after we passed by. Brad is a Gr. 4 teacher and basketball coach at our school, and was travelling with his wife (expecting a child) when a car came flying across the median from the other side and struck them on the driver side. Even though the local paper has been reporting "no one seriously hurt", Brad has been in the ICU since it happened, and has had at least one bout with surgery on his head. Sounds pretty serious to me. No update at all today so far. His wife is reported to be just fine. So a very strange day at school, with another one likely coming up tomorrow. Hopefully there will be some good news.
Monday, Jan. 18th/10
I went to see my family doctor today about some serious problems I'm having with my right elbow and lower arm tendons. No piano for awhile. The pain was likely brought on by some holiday wood chopping, and has been growing progressively worse when I practice. Hopefully some rest, ice, anti-inflammatories, and maybe some physio-therapy will take care of things quickly. I'm on it!
Five months after the fact, I have finally managed to upload my little movie to Youtube from the summit of Little Costilla Peak. You can watch it here. It's unoffical name is "Attack of the Summit Flies." Amanda makes a brief appearance near the end, and Deb and I both sputter from the bugs. No bugs anywhere else on that hike--just the very summit.
We heard from Steaming Cliff today, a man we met in England last year. He was wondering if we were returning this year, and was about to tell us about all the upcoming beer festivals. Drat! Still, we are very excited to be going to New Mexico for some desert hiking. We haven't done that in ages, having stuck to much higher elevations during our annual summer visits. We are bumping up the walking program, and will soon have it in high gear again.
I got a new piano student tonight. Alex had studied with me before but had stopped for a year and a half. He is a very talented young man, nearly finished his high school diploma now. Good to have him back. I now have five male students, a record for my studio!
Saturday, Jan. 16th/10
Our next mountain adventure is only 8 weeks away! We have booked a flight to Albuquerque for March Break, along with a hotel for one week and a car, all for around $1000 Canadian (Priceline.com). What a deal! Gas and food will be our only expenses. Couldn't get anything to London for much less than $2000 US, flight and hotel only. This will be our first March visit to NM in many years. Hiking will be at much lower altitudes than in summer, but the desert mountains are so spectacular. I've ordered three new hiking guide books to help us prepare. Now we have to get the legs and lungs and heart ready once again. We did a brisk 40 minute walk today, and will again tomorrow.
Friday, Jan. 15th/10
Preliminary plans for our summer mountain trip continue apace. I am now thinking of tackling three 12,000' summits in one overnight backpacking trip. These would include Santa Fe Baldy, the highest for us so far, as well as Lake Peak and Penitente Peak. The distance and elevation gain would not be significantly different from just ascending Baldy, so we might as well try for all three. The catch is water. For the single peak climb we would not need to carry much water, as we would pass several reliable streams. However, the triple peak endeavour does not have any water at all until the second day, meaning we'd have to carry a lot with us. However, this could be alleviated significantly if the Santa Fe chairlift is running at the ski basin. It often runs in the summer for tourists. This would save us much elevation gain, and we could carry our water.
Here is a link to a short summit movie on Youtube taken from the summit of Santa Fe Baldy. Very atmospheric.
Here is another taken from Lake Peak, with views of Baldy at 35-40 seconds in and at the very end. Very inspiring stuff! I love these videos, and the image quality of the second one is amazing!
After two weeks of temps never rising above freezing, we finally made it yesterday! The long range forecast (for the coldest part of the winter) is for seasonal temps, if not slightly above average. Hurrah!
We had a good walk in Dearborn today, then stopped by one of our favourite cafes, Cafe Con Leche in Mextown Detroit. Across the street ( where we parked) is Clark Park, home to this funky bench.
Street bench at Clark Park, Detroit.
Cafe Con Leche, Detroit, looking across West Vernor towards Clark Park.
Monday, Jan. 11th/10
We both went to a retirement workshop today, sponsored by our Union. I am qualified to retire on March 1st, but will continue until June 30th as planned. The event was packed with good info, though we left early (home teaching duties, and the fact that the latter portion was about health insurance, which I won't need next year as I will be covered under Deb's). We got a free dinner, too. Veggie pasta, stuffed green peppers and salad and potatoes. Yum! There are lots of things I need to do before my retirement, in the way of forms to fill out and people and places to notify. The fact that I am having a decent year at school is helping a lot. Had it been a stressful year like many of the past ones, I likely would have gone at Christmas, or March 1st at the very latest.
Of course one takes a sizeable hit with gross income, but the net income isn't that much different. Let's face it, if someone paid you a decent wage to stay home and not come to work anymore, wouldn't you take them up on the offer?
Sunday, Jan. 10th/10
Today traditionally begins the "Dead of Winter", the coldest part of the year. In Essex County, Canada's southern-most area, this only lasts about three weeks. Once we make it to the beginning of February, the amount of daylight available begins to affect the climate, however slowly at first. By Feb. 15th, Spring is well on its way. In other parts of Canada, winter is still going strong on Feb. 15th, and the Dead of Winter lasts at least six weeks. Looking today at the ten day forecast, we are going to get above freezing this week, our first chance since New Years' Eve. Any "warm weather" luck we can grab onto this time of year goes a long way to helping with the heating bills and general gloominess. My walk today was a chilly one, especially with a stiff breeze out of the southwest. However, with the sun shining on snow that is still white, and kids skating and playing hockey on the ponds, it was like a peek at a traditional Canadian winter. Let's hope the Olympics have such luck.
Sunset from my walk a week ago, before the snow arrived.
Today things looked (and felt) quite different!
The wind was enabling patterns to appear in the snow.
Saturday, Jan. 9th/10
Yon rising Moon that looks for us again--
How oft hereafter will she wax and wane;
How oft hereafter rising look for us
Through this same Garden--and for one in vain!
Omar Khayyam, The Rubaiyat
I found out today that one of the greatest poets of all time was also a very important Astronomer! How important? He gave us our solar calendar. Up until his intense calculations, the calendar had been based on lunar months, giving a year of only 354 days. This caused a number of obvious problems. He measured how long it took the sun to pass through each sign of the Zodiac, figuring out the year to within 12 decimal points (accurate today to the first five). His calendar was more accurate than the one developed and used in Europe over 500 years later! Impressive. He died in 1141. Even more impressive.
Quite a chilly day, but oddly enough one does get used to them. We walked today in Essex, as they had plowed the trails at Sadlers Pond. There was a minimal wind, which helped. We have been below freezing since Dec. 31st! And this is the most southern part of Canada! The wood pellet stove continues to make our life very comfortable. I am sitting at the computer in a tee shirt right now. It also dropped our gas bill dramatically this month. Woo hoo!
Friday, January 8th/10
Winter has finally officially arrived in Essex County, though in a less than serious manner. Our driveway received about 4" (10cm) of new snow, the first real snowfall of the season. All of my private students managed to get to their lesson here last night, despite some messy roads. There is not enough snow to snowshoe, yet the sidewalks are too messy to walk. Looks like treadmill time. With Santa Fe Baldy looming on our horizon, we cannot afford to stop walking.
I had yard duty at school on Wednesday, and it was quite sad and heart-rending to see young kids trying to make snow forts and the like with about 1/16th of an inch of snow on the ground. There were many happy little faces today, however. Just enough snow to make it interesting for the kids, and not enough to make it totally miserable for the adults. It's called Nature in balance!
Kati Gleiser sent us 4 cds of herself playing piano in concert!! It will take me awhile to get through it all. Tonight I listened blissfully to her grad recital recording (live) of the Bach English Suite in g-. Quite sublime, and I will listen again to it very soon. Also had time for the Op 17 Mazurkas by Chopin. Overall not my favourite set, but it is capped off by #4, the magical a- Mazurka, one of my very favouites. I still have the Chopin Sonata in b-, Op 58 to listen to on that first cd. There are also two recordings of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2 in c- to look forward to, one with piano accompaniment and one with orchesta! Lots of other goodies, too. Thanks, Kati! Can't wait to hear you live again (and again!).
Wednesday, January 6th/10
It's comforting to know that it won't be climate change that destroys our planet, or even a roving asteroid. If those petty means of destruction are keeping you awake at night, fear not. The real reason that the earth will die (and rather rapidly) has been revealed by an article I read today in the Guardian of London. A relatively nearby star is about to go supernova on us, and will obliterate everything on earth. You can read the article here if you currently having nothing in particular to worry about and you feel that something significant is required. Makes me want to get on with some of the reading I've been postponing, quick time. Happy dreams! Another article in the same on-line edition brought up a good point. The writer asks if British children should be learning to speak and read Chinese. Good point indeed, since China is fast becoming the global leader in so many things, not the least being manufacturing, engineering, running the economy and keeping its people employed and under control. Kinda makes learning French as a second language not exactly the great idea it might once have been (somewhere). Can you imagine our poor, overworked stressed out children trying to learn Chinese? Ha!
Locally, 40% of the school year is over as of today! Even better, I have a retirement workshop to attend next week. That should help make it seem real.
Monday, January 4th/10
As an infamous sci fi tv doctor used to say, "Oh the pain, the pain..." Working for a living can sure put a crimp in one's lifestyle! I did manage to practice for an hour and do some reading, but the rest of the day was not much to write home about. At least I have a few shining private students right now (and a few where the light bulbs need changing). Deb and I managed to get her "Tango Barocco" piece recorded yesterday. It's fun to play it (harpsichord and harp duet), and should be fun to hear. Her CD is nearly ready to be sent off for mastering. It's all original compositions, and much of it is quite good. A package arrived in Dearborn today from Katie, our doctoral piano performer student friend in Indiana. We'll pick that up Wednesday and give a listen!
It's official--we have selected our major goal for next summer's mountain climb! We are going to tackle Santa Fe Baldy! Slightly higher than last year's Little Costillo Peak, the climb is also nearly twice as long. This means that we will have to hike in and up with gear, and then camp beneath the peak for one night, so that we can ascend early the next morning to avoid afternoon lightning. Last year we got very lucky with our all-day assault on Little Costillo, as the weather was sunny. This is very rare in August. This is a mountain I have wanted to tackle for over 20 years now, having seen it on our first visits that long ago. Hopefully we will be ready for the challenge, and hopefully we will dodge the nasty weather that can strike up there on just about any day.
Saturday, January 2nd/10
It has been another epic holiday, my last winter vacation until the biggest one of all. As things draw to a close and we prepare to reenter civilization, it might be good to take a quick look back. Firstly, my piano and harpsichord pieces are sounding better and better. That is to be expected when one practices intently nearly every day of the week! Secondly, Deb has recorded nearly her entire CD of original material. We have a big session planned for tomorrow to try and nail "Tango Barocco", a piece for harp, harpsichord and percussion. When the CD is eventually ready, you'll hear about it.
We saw at least two very good movies over the break, both rare and courtesy of Netflix. The first was "Accatone", Pasolini's first big film. It tells the tale of a pimp who survives (barely) in the slums of Rome. Shot in b & w in some very raw parts of Rome, the film is a don't miss for those interested in post-war Italy and what was going on there (not much). I also really enjoyed the short documentary about Pasolini included on the DVD.
In additon to any number of indoor activities (eating and drinking not the least of them), we managed several walks outdoors. I went alone the past two days, while Deb used the treadmill. It was especially cold out, but I bundled up and kept moving!
Kids skate on the large pond behind our house. Despite the cold, we are still able to find dandelion flowers to pick for the tortoise!
We had a fun time on New Years Eve, though admittedly we didn't last until midnight. Which is fine, because we always celebrate with London and Greenwich 5 hours early. So we opened our champagne bottle at 7 pm, and lit our wood fire, keeping it fed until we went to bed around 11 pm. Not only was it the Big Night, but also a full moon. That meant a mooncake was called for, and this time we outdid ourselves! I just finished the last piece tonight. Based on a recipe made with espresso and rum and lots of nuts, it is the best vegan cake we know how to make. And this one was the best of them all!
Serious looking Full Moon Cake, homemade with the usual ingredients, plus espresso coffee, rum and pecans. Yum!
In addition to seeing Amanda and meeting Martin, we also had a visit from Julia R., her sister Jessica and their dad (who stayed for coffee but not for Carcassonne). Amanda left us a book and some fabulous tea, Julia left behind some wonderful baking, and after Randy and Anita's too-short but always welcome visit, they left behind a bottle of Scotch! Yes Virginia, there most certainly is a Santa Claus!! Randy also has the latest Star Trek movie on blue ray, so I may try and invite myself over soon to watch it on his 9 million inch hd tv!
