Greatwall Studios Graphic Design

What an exciting whirlwind weekend with two of my brothers and their families in town. There is not a whole lot that we didn’t do. Ran the kids ragged, and did some catching up while we were at it. Today I have the last of my appointments (until we schedule more) in the mid morning, about ninety minutes from now, and then I can get back to working on projects again. Not going to lie, I am wiped out after all that activity. I need a weekend to recuperate after my weekend. Ha.

High points, Wonderland, swimming, Playdium, Mini putt, ifly Whitby, swimming, and more swimming. Hard to beat a warm dip after a hot hard day on your feet. The kids had a long and arduous Nerf Gun battle, which sounded pretty epic for what we could hear from out of the basement. Memories made. Positive ones at that. Bonus!

Forget about singing any tenor parts today, it’s baritone until my throat heals from all the screaming in excited terror. Seems I can now carry my part in “Hoist the colours“. Usually I could do the first verse only (and just barely at that!) and then it drops too low for my range. Not so today! I regaled myself with three of the four parts. The uber deep voiced bass is still to low for me. I don’t have the resonance of a barrel chest to do that level of deep. But I think I got the other less deep bits! Cool. As soon as the stressed cords heal in another day or two, I’ll be back up to a low end tenor. My falsetto isn’t much to worry about. I can’t reach a full tenors high notes without cracking and some serious throat strain. I’m kind of a muddle in the middle. More like a sing song talking if anything. But I like to do it, so – I do. Mostly at home, or belting out lyrics in the car when tooling about town by myself. It’s no career choice if you know what I mean.

I have ordered a new book at the behest of my brother(s), so that should arrive at some point on Monday. I hear it could be a potentially difficult read. Not in a technical science way, but a “hey! I know all about that type of thing, huh...that brings back memories” so that should be an interesting read through. Can’t wait. It should at least be enlightening, if nothing else.

In other news I’m about a quarter of the way through Don Winslow’s latest. Liking it so far. I’m just waiting for the shoe to drop, which will turn everything to shit for dear ole Danny Ryan. I know it’s coming. I have a sense that in order for this to end the trilogy, dear old Danny boy is gonna bite the dust. The mob will rub him out in truly horrific fashion, and then Ian will take up the mantle (by a guest/ghost writer in the future). I can’t predict it, but that’s what I would do if I had to kill my sympathetic lead character. But I have trouble leaving shit alone, especially if I like the world I’ve created, and the people in it. Oh don’t get me wrong I’ll kill characters left & right if it suits me, but a legacy character whom builds on what came before is my jam! I can dig it. I’ll have to wait and see how it plays out to know if I got anywhere close in my imagination.

We are going to try out a new place with the kids today. It has been really great to see all of the young cousins come together and play like they’ve known each other for years, rather than meeting all together for the first time in ages. I’m happy they were here to sing happy birthday to my youngest, and enjoy some beverages and cake. I think she’ll remember that for the rest of her life. I know I will. I appreciate it.

I need to get ready for today’s outing(s). Take care out there. Ciao Bella!

Forced a deciding game seven, after being down three nothing in the series. Madness. Can they continue this heater snd make a four game sweep of their own? I don’t know, but I intend to stay tuned to find out. What an exciting game it was though! This overturning of Florida’s first goal, which cut Edmonton’s lead in half really seemed to deflate Florida. It was a call based on millimetres of error causing an offside. What a ride.

I was fortunate enough to have my eldest sat with me to watch the first two periods, cheering and reacting to what was happening on the ice. After a long day out in the heat, moving from appointments to seeing people, and wandering around in the heat of the day, our air conditioned living room & over stuffed couch was the perfect way to decompress. I know it isn’t much, but I’m glad we get to spend some time together enjoying similar things.

Now that it is Saturday, I’m ready for a more chill day. I have more medical appointments on Monday. Not sure if I’m exactly happy about it. I just know that it is all out of pocket, and is going to cost thousands of dollars if I move ahead with the procedures. Teeth & gums are expensive and not really covered by Ohip. This might get some personal insurance coverage, but it’ll cost me a bundle anyway. I thought I would go to hear what’s what, and to get a sense of just how much it is going to cost. Cannot make an informed decision if I don’t know the facts & figures. You know what I mean. The initial consult is $250.00, and if they order their own x-rays or follow ups that will go up before I get out the door. Fun.

Which reminds me I have forms to fill in prior to going to this appointment Monday mid morning. I need to find the time to sort out all of those details. Scrolling through page after page of insurance details and medical history isn’t my idea of fun. I do need to get it done though, so best find the time, and inclination.

I need to check the tv schedule to see when the big finale, game seven of the Stanley Cup actually is. Clear the schedule people! History could very well get made that night. And I for one, am here for it. Take it easy in this heat, and humidity. Ciao Bella!

It is a gamble to count on any one type of weather for Southern Ontario in June. But you can count on both heat & humidity. But will it be sunny, cloudy, windy, still, drizzle, 4ain, down pour, cloud burst, thunder, thunder and lightning, hail, or anything else beside be a sunny breezy day? Who knows – act accordingly.

The heat warnings are still in effect. Rain is on the schedule. Electrical storms are poised on the horizon to mess with our plans. Rain I can make do with. Lightning will shut everything outdoors down. I have two of my brothers here, with their families, and a lot of what we had very loosely planned involved being out of doors. Silly for us to do given the weather in June here. But a gamble made just the same.

It is prior to seven AM as I start this. My bowels are less than chill about last nights dinner, or perhaps it’s the concern about the weather that has turned me out early this morning. Hopefully it will pass quickly, and I can get on with my day.

On the plus side, our house has never been cleaner. Which is nice to see finally. I’m sure it has all been bunged into a onset out of the way, rather than sorted & dispersed properly. But on the surface the house looks neat, and i appreciate it, even if it is just the appearance of being cleaner. Ha. Fake it until you make it, I suppose.

Come September I WILL purge this house once more. I have some monster sized black garbage bags calling out to me, “Use us to cleanse this mess! We’ll help you…” and thirty six hours later someone will drop of a garbage bag of clothes or toys and all the gains will dry up and vanish. It’s a cycle.

Forgot I left the van windows down last evening when I went out to watch the Jay’s Game. I could hear something against the glass, but thought it was the nails and tiny tip tapping sound the upstairs dog makes walking on tile. Then quickly realized it was too much tip tap tapping, and bolted to the van to close all the windows. My poor man’s AC bit me in the behind! AC has gone on the van too, so I’ve revisited the 90’s by driving with all four all the wY down. Luckily I caught the storm early on, and only a few drops had gotten into the armrests. No damage done. Yay!

Also the WestJet strike was averted very early this morning, so my eldest brother and his children are currently in the air for the first leg of their flights over to Ontario from B.C. it was a real nail biter! So I’ve done a grocery shop, and snagged some extra burgers, hot dogs, buns, chicken burgers, fancy desserts, additional sodas, and some beers to have on hand if they should decide to come here to look around.

Our house AC defrosted over night when we turned it off. Had some cold air inlet blockages by ice build-up. Back to working order. Just can’t have it running full tilt for multiple days on end. Luckily after the storm last night the overall temperature dropped, even if the humidity didn’t go away – like, at all. Dehumidifiers were bone dry yesterday morning, and full to the brim by evening. That’s a wet bulb warning if I ever saw one.

Well, back to work before I go and vacuum out the pool. The storm dropped a fair load of debris into the inlaws pool. So that should be a fun clean up to tackle. Might swim while I’m at it! Ciao Bella.

Eighty two years since this last occurred. Could the Oilers “possibly” rebound from a three game deficit to take the Stanley Cup Finals from the Florida Panthers? I don’t know. It seems very unlikely, but they’ve come out the gate ready to roll these last two games. Went from a clean sweep in four, now hot on a two game heater heading into game six. Hell they took game four 8-1. If they’d have put some of those goals into games one through three it would be a different series altogether. I’m happy we still have 3xciting hockey left to see.

I have no dog in this race beyond wanting to see a Cznadian team take it. It really looked like Florida were going to steamroll Edmonton and lounge into the championship parade with nary a break in sweat. But the Oilers have pushed on, now looking at a sixth game in the series. I believe it is highly unlikely that they’ll do the near impossible,  82 years after it has last been done. But, sports can be unpredictable, so don’t count anybody out just yet.

Yesterday’s power outage made it so we had to go out to see the first two periods of the game. Grandmas speed watching Wheel of Fortune meant we missed the opening minutes of period two, and the Oilers second goal. No matter. I saw the rest of the nail biter!

Wednesday – Hump Day is here. Field trips are still on. Heat warnings in effect. Gonna be another warm one.

Was very thankful for the chance to float in a friends pool yesterday afternoon once school was done. Gathered up the whole family, and had a refreshing dip. So nice. It was a sweat rolling down your back, and stinging the eyes kind of day yesterday. So hot right now. Looks like we are in for some storms today and possibly tomorrow. I would prefer all the messy weather blow itself out by Thursday, but I don’t control jack shit, so likely nasty weather is in store for the partial family reunion weekend. Supposed to feel like low 40°C temperatures today. I feel bad for my kids at school. No AC in that old building. Kids on the third floor will positively melt in the heat of the day, and the trapped rising heat from the classes below them. The windows are small and don’t open all the way. Yuck.

Next week is the last official week of my wife’s year off. We still have 9 weeks of summer break, but by late August she will have to head back on the daily. Which means we need to have both cars looked at. AC is down in both vehicles, and he’s has an as of yet unidentified red fluid leak. The red fluids I know of are; transmission, power steering, and the radiator fluid. Plus her compressor on the AC unit is pooched, not the refrigerant, or the belt that drives it. So it requires a knowledgeable hand to repair it. Beyond me at this point.

So that’s Tuesday for ya. Need to sort out our plans for the youngest’s birthday party next week. Also pin down what it is she’d like for her birthday. Turning seven means she flip flops between items on the daily. I’d rather get her an item she actually wants instead of filler/fluff she’s not interested in.

The first of many Heat Warnings have arrived. We will have them all week and eventually it will blow itself out through a series of electrifying storms, high winds, and a hard driving rain. Those summer time storms are a real show if you aren’t petrified of them. Just in time for family coming to visit later this week. Love it.

It’s Monday once more, and boy am I glad I did so much laundry and cleaning over the weekend. Blinds are trimmed down to not allow too much sunshine in. AC unit is ready to kick on should the house internal temperature rise above 24°C. Not too hot, and not too cold. Fine for shorts and a t-shirt combo.

I could always do yet another load of laundry, as we seem to produce so damn much of it. My favourite! Will likely hold off on grocery shopping until Wed/Thurs in preparation for the incoming family. Dietary restrictions means I’ll need to be careful when shopping. Several food/ingredient allergies and aversions. Best to take care with that sort of thing.

Several days ago my lovely garage/shop which usually smells of wood chips, WD40 and wood stain, began to smell horrendously of death. At first glance I was worried the stains on the ceiling were the remains of a squirrel or raccoon going to jelly in the attic. So I braved the ladder and heat, took a torch and respirator with me and crawled head long along the ridge beams to look at the ceiling above the garage. Whilst hot, it did not smell, and there were no signs of disturbance on the vents, beams, or blown insulation. So I started to pull apart shelves where I felt I could smell the stink the most. Nothing along the ground. Nothing behind the wood piles, or in the garbage cans. Nothing near the top shelf where the heavy old doors, and a bed frame are stored. It took several days and I finally located one abandoned nest. So with a last hurrah I pulled out the Christmas lights tote box, and whoo boy! Jackpot. Stink-o-Rama! Got it out of there asap.

I dumped the whole lot out on the lawn and found three baby mice, a few centimeters each, and one massive mama. All four are dead. But mama was the foul beastie that stank up the joint. Man oh man. You always know when you’ve found death, it has a real cloying, stick to the nostrils, blah about it. Hopefully now the garage can begin to smell like wood, wood chips, WD40, and various stains once more.

I’m just glad it wasn’t something juicier like a squirrel, or bunny, or raccoon, or chipmunk family. That’s why I wore the respirator when I went up into the attic. I not only feared the stink, but that blown insulation is no joke either. I recall how hot and unpleasant a job it was to haul my ass up there with the hose/gun and spend a couple hours filling up each section between the rafters and beams. I remember there being more room the last time i went up there nearly 15 years ago. I was about 80lbs lighter, and more nimble. That probably had a lot to do with how i felt about it too.

Problem solved – for now. I don’t think an air freshener is going to cut it, as far as rehabilitating the space. I’ll have to give it a good mulling over. Perhaps I’ll get hit with some divine inspiration. Happy Father’s Day!

Busy day over at the Mini Putt, Batting Cages, Driving Range local. Took the oft forgotten route and did the panning for gemstones activity. Only one other family doing that when we arrived. It was a 90 minute line just to pay for Mini Putt. Then another set of lines for either course; pirate ship wrecks, or the logging camp. I don’t travel with my clubs in the car, so the range was out. I’m not that into baseball, and can not for the life of me remember the last time I took action on a pitch. I know from tossing the ball around with my eldest that my shoulder isn’t what it used to be. Not that I has much of an arm to begin with, but it’s worse than I ever recall it being. I don’t think I could toss a ball over my own house with much success. Lengthwise, not back to front. I’m not that far gone – yet. Ha. Once you’ve paid, and waited in the appropriate course line-up, you still have to contend with the slow moving families, and the fast play ones nipping at your heels. Worst of every option that is. Pass.

I’d rather we have lunch together and watch the original Pixar hit Inside Out. It is a surprisingly good movie, and I like the voice cast to boot. Doesn’t really matter what we watch or do, I like us being together as a family. Perhaps I’ll do dome basement karaoke, and the kids will dance along. That would be fine by me.

Have a great Lazy Sunday afternoon all.