Greetings from my mother's. I arrived here around 9:30 this morning.
The weather had been poor here as well. Many Canada Day activities have been postponed if not canceled. This includes the time I spent today in Kingsport for its gala days. No parade. No fireworks. Precious few yardsales.
I drove around for a while afterward, eventually ending up in Baxter's Harbour, where my mother did most of her growing up, and where my parents met more than 60 years ago. Her parents are buried there in the community's only cemetary. Less stuff goes on there than in Kingsport, not that that's saying much.
I returned to the house and killed some time until I visited my mother. She was very surprised to see me. After she got over her shock, we went out to New Minas, where we got a few things. I bought her a banana split at the DQ in town, picked up some fresh haddock for Sunday's lunch, and dropped her off at her new home.
Mom will be coming over here on Sunday for lunch. We will share some of that haddock. It'll be maybe the 4th time she's been to the house since she moved out. It's still her house. It'll always be her house.
I still haven't watched "Movie 43". I will let you know when I've seen it and what I thought of it.
It's past 1 ayem. Guess I'll turn in. Busy day on Sunday.
See you tomorrow.
From Bevboy's BlackBerry to Bevboy's Blog!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Post 2373 - Friday
It is 11pm. I should be in bed because I have to get up early in the morning.
As I mentioned last night, I am not going to the cottage this weekend. Patricia drove up this morning because she had a thing to attend to in New Glasgow. She reported to me this evening that the lawn at the cottage needs to be mowed as much as Mrs. O'Leary's cow needs to be milked.
I had to take a nap when I got home this evening. Newbie was happy to see me, or at least happy for me to feed him. He eventually joined me on the bed, snuggling up against me in a way that makes me think he's a lonely cat when I'm not at home.
I will go to my mother's in the morning, there to spend a couple of days. I need to mow the lawn there, too, but that won't happen because of the weather.
I will probably spend part of an afternoon or evening watching a film called "Movie 43". I watched part of it last evening. It may be the oddest film I have ever seen. It has an all-star cost: Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Halle Berry, Will Sasso, and an awful lot of other people who should have known better.
It took the filmmakers literally a few years to shoot it all. They would have to wait until certain actors were available and get them to agree to work for scale. I have no idea why they would agree to this. The segment I watched featured Kate Winslet going out on a date with Hugh Jackman, and how Winslet reacts to an unfortunate birth defect that Jackman doesn't notice, but which makes Winslet extremely uncomfortable. It wasn't funny at all. Just... weird, and makes a person why these people would agree to shoot something so stupid.
I will watch the rest of the film this weekend, probably Saturday, and report back here afterward. I know all 4.7 of you care deeply. Bottom line: I think there is something in that movie to offend everybody, regardless of how liberal he may think he is.
Anyway, it's getting late, and I haven't packed anything for the weekend yet. Should turn in.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
As I mentioned last night, I am not going to the cottage this weekend. Patricia drove up this morning because she had a thing to attend to in New Glasgow. She reported to me this evening that the lawn at the cottage needs to be mowed as much as Mrs. O'Leary's cow needs to be milked.
I had to take a nap when I got home this evening. Newbie was happy to see me, or at least happy for me to feed him. He eventually joined me on the bed, snuggling up against me in a way that makes me think he's a lonely cat when I'm not at home.
I will go to my mother's in the morning, there to spend a couple of days. I need to mow the lawn there, too, but that won't happen because of the weather.
I will probably spend part of an afternoon or evening watching a film called "Movie 43". I watched part of it last evening. It may be the oddest film I have ever seen. It has an all-star cost: Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Halle Berry, Will Sasso, and an awful lot of other people who should have known better.
It took the filmmakers literally a few years to shoot it all. They would have to wait until certain actors were available and get them to agree to work for scale. I have no idea why they would agree to this. The segment I watched featured Kate Winslet going out on a date with Hugh Jackman, and how Winslet reacts to an unfortunate birth defect that Jackman doesn't notice, but which makes Winslet extremely uncomfortable. It wasn't funny at all. Just... weird, and makes a person why these people would agree to shoot something so stupid.
I will watch the rest of the film this weekend, probably Saturday, and report back here afterward. I know all 4.7 of you care deeply. Bottom line: I think there is something in that movie to offend everybody, regardless of how liberal he may think he is.
Anyway, it's getting late, and I haven't packed anything for the weekend yet. Should turn in.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Post 2372 - One Day To Go!
It is Thursday night. Just past 9:30. This time tomorrow I will be in long weekend mode.
Patricia is taking Friday off; she had to work 2 weeks ago on her normal earned day off, so she is making up for that tomorrow. An extra day at the cottage.
As things stand, I will likely not go to the cottage this weekend. We both have another day off in a week's time. Rather than go up this weekend and get rained on for 3 days, we thought it might be better for me to go to Port Williams this weekend instead. Fine by me.
So, after work tomorrow, I will find a way to trick Newbie into his carrier. I am afraid to let him see this blog post for fear that he will hide from me and I'll never be able to find him. Instead, I will take a measured approach and try to distract him when I get home on Friday.
Cindy is having a grand old time pissing all over my house. We have been ripping our hair out. We have been trying spray after spray to try to dissuade her from peeing everywhere. We clean all litter boxes on a regular basis, but she still does what she wants, where she wants. She used to go downstairs to my home office and pee on a carpet remnant I keep under one of my office chairs while she curled up and slept in that chair. Patricia could not smell it. I could. When I discovered the problem, I was sitting in that very chair, and therefore was directly over the pee stain, which had seeped into the bottom of the carpet remnant and onto the floor. I threw the carpet out, cleaned the area, put a fresh piece of remnant there, and banished Cindy from my home office and even the entire downstairs area. She can still access the main level and the upstairs. Maybe we should keep her in the bathroom all day, with fresh water and food, of course. It's a very severe reaction, but the only one that's more severe is one we do not wish to contemplate.
What are your fave methods for combating this problem? How do you keep cats from peeing everywhere, and anywhere?
That's it for tonight.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Patricia is taking Friday off; she had to work 2 weeks ago on her normal earned day off, so she is making up for that tomorrow. An extra day at the cottage.
As things stand, I will likely not go to the cottage this weekend. We both have another day off in a week's time. Rather than go up this weekend and get rained on for 3 days, we thought it might be better for me to go to Port Williams this weekend instead. Fine by me.
So, after work tomorrow, I will find a way to trick Newbie into his carrier. I am afraid to let him see this blog post for fear that he will hide from me and I'll never be able to find him. Instead, I will take a measured approach and try to distract him when I get home on Friday.
Cindy is having a grand old time pissing all over my house. We have been ripping our hair out. We have been trying spray after spray to try to dissuade her from peeing everywhere. We clean all litter boxes on a regular basis, but she still does what she wants, where she wants. She used to go downstairs to my home office and pee on a carpet remnant I keep under one of my office chairs while she curled up and slept in that chair. Patricia could not smell it. I could. When I discovered the problem, I was sitting in that very chair, and therefore was directly over the pee stain, which had seeped into the bottom of the carpet remnant and onto the floor. I threw the carpet out, cleaned the area, put a fresh piece of remnant there, and banished Cindy from my home office and even the entire downstairs area. She can still access the main level and the upstairs. Maybe we should keep her in the bathroom all day, with fresh water and food, of course. It's a very severe reaction, but the only one that's more severe is one we do not wish to contemplate.
What are your fave methods for combating this problem? How do you keep cats from peeing everywhere, and anywhere?
That's it for tonight.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Post 2371 - Wednesday
Hi. Welcome to Wednesday.
I keep expecting to go to Toastmasters on Wednesday nights. When I go home early I feel that I am cheating or missing out on something.
In two days the long weekend will be here. I will probably go to the cottage, for the first time this year. Even though the lawn needs to be cut, it will probably be too wet to perform that task. We will just end up sitting around the living room watching stuff on the media player or reading our kindles.
The cats will laze about as well. Newbie will rest atop a scratching post that has a flat surface. I have take many pictures of him up there. He can spend hours there. Cindy will be in the second bedroom down the hall. She has pretty much commandeered it as her own. We know better to go in there when she is sleeping.
We don't have cable or satellite or an internet connection at the cottage. Not necessary. In years past, we would pack a gym bag full of dvd's and just leave them down there for the year, taking them back home when we shut the place down. But a few months ago I bought a couple media players that are perfectly content to play whatever content I have copied to a couple thumb drives. We can just transport those thumb drives back and forth in a small camera bag the size of your open hand. The media player is connected to the tv down there via rca jacks.
We have a barbecue down there. A ceiling fan. Except for the knuckle dragger (and his ilk) who owns the ATV, we have good neighbours, which is to say that they leave us alone, and we return the favour.
A three week vacation for both of us starts in just a few weeks. We are looking forward to that. In the meantime, however, the Canada Day long weekend will be a dress rehearsal for that special time.
What are your plans for the upcoming long weekend?
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
I keep expecting to go to Toastmasters on Wednesday nights. When I go home early I feel that I am cheating or missing out on something.
In two days the long weekend will be here. I will probably go to the cottage, for the first time this year. Even though the lawn needs to be cut, it will probably be too wet to perform that task. We will just end up sitting around the living room watching stuff on the media player or reading our kindles.
The cats will laze about as well. Newbie will rest atop a scratching post that has a flat surface. I have take many pictures of him up there. He can spend hours there. Cindy will be in the second bedroom down the hall. She has pretty much commandeered it as her own. We know better to go in there when she is sleeping.
We don't have cable or satellite or an internet connection at the cottage. Not necessary. In years past, we would pack a gym bag full of dvd's and just leave them down there for the year, taking them back home when we shut the place down. But a few months ago I bought a couple media players that are perfectly content to play whatever content I have copied to a couple thumb drives. We can just transport those thumb drives back and forth in a small camera bag the size of your open hand. The media player is connected to the tv down there via rca jacks.
We have a barbecue down there. A ceiling fan. Except for the knuckle dragger (and his ilk) who owns the ATV, we have good neighbours, which is to say that they leave us alone, and we return the favour.
A three week vacation for both of us starts in just a few weeks. We are looking forward to that. In the meantime, however, the Canada Day long weekend will be a dress rehearsal for that special time.
What are your plans for the upcoming long weekend?
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Post 2370 - A Wonderful Dinner
First of all, I did write a post on Monday night. But somehow, foolishly, I forgot to publish it. That's why you get 2 posts this evening. Feel happy.
Monday evening we were wondering what to prepare for dinner this evening. We didn't want to prepare anything elaborate or that was hot, because it matches the weather. Somehow I got the idea of having a ploughman's lunch, which typically consists of some meat, bread, cheese, maybe some fruit, and perhaps a few other simple things.
Patricia ran with it. She went to Pete's Frootique during her lunch hour and spent more than a little bit of money on the appropriate victuals. I had already taken some lobster meat out of the freezer, as well as smoked salmon slices so thin they only have one side.
I picked up Patricia after work because the bag carrying the groceries was too heavy to take on the bus. Drove home. I fed the cats and came upstairs to have a nap to try to sleep off the headache that I had acquired during the day. It must have worked because the next thing I knew, Patricia was summoning me downstairs for dinner.
I was blown away by the quality of the dinner. Ploughman's lunches are simple but super filling, because of the bread I guess.
As you can see there was quite a spread, and Patricia took great pride in preparing it. I ate it with great gusto.
In the following picture you see bread, pate, Branson's Pickle, the lobster mixture, the salami, veggies and some very expensive cheese. Patricia forgot to throw in some hard-boiled eggs and the salmon. You know, the salmon that only had one side because it was cut so thin.
It was a very nice dinner. Just the perfect thing to eat on a hot summer's evening. I am full but in a good way.
Thanks, Patricia. It was a wonderful dinner.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Monday evening we were wondering what to prepare for dinner this evening. We didn't want to prepare anything elaborate or that was hot, because it matches the weather. Somehow I got the idea of having a ploughman's lunch, which typically consists of some meat, bread, cheese, maybe some fruit, and perhaps a few other simple things.
Patricia ran with it. She went to Pete's Frootique during her lunch hour and spent more than a little bit of money on the appropriate victuals. I had already taken some lobster meat out of the freezer, as well as smoked salmon slices so thin they only have one side.
I picked up Patricia after work because the bag carrying the groceries was too heavy to take on the bus. Drove home. I fed the cats and came upstairs to have a nap to try to sleep off the headache that I had acquired during the day. It must have worked because the next thing I knew, Patricia was summoning me downstairs for dinner.
I was blown away by the quality of the dinner. Ploughman's lunches are simple but super filling, because of the bread I guess.
As you can see there was quite a spread, and Patricia took great pride in preparing it. I ate it with great gusto.
In the following picture you see bread, pate, Branson's Pickle, the lobster mixture, the salami, veggies and some very expensive cheese. Patricia forgot to throw in some hard-boiled eggs and the salmon. You know, the salmon that only had one side because it was cut so thin.
It was a very nice dinner. Just the perfect thing to eat on a hot summer's evening. I am full but in a good way.
Thanks, Patricia. It was a wonderful dinner.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Post 2369 - Monday
Hi. How are you?
Sorry I didn't write on Sunday. I slept in. Cooked steak and eggs for my lunch. Napped. Visited my mother and sat out in the shade with her and her new friends. Returned to her house. Napped again. Collected Newbie. Returned to the city. And went to bed for the evening around 8pm. Did I forget to take my iron supplements yesterday or something?
Returned to work this morning. It was a long day. Every few hours I kept wanting to walk across the parking lot to The Bargain Shop to pick up some snacks or another tv remote discounted by 90%, or even some of those hook things you attach to peg board and hang things from. I have a life time supply of those hooks. Even if every house I have control off burns down, I can fish enough of those hooks from the embers to attach to fresh pegboard. I also have a lifetime supply of ice scrapers. They were 80% toward the end. Couldn't resist. If you ever need one, let me know and I will make you a deal. Ditto for remote controls or Justin Timberlake dvd's, or boxes of Cream of Wheat.
Got home a few minutes earlier this evening. Didn't have to wait for Patricia. She had to take her car in for repairs. She had to shell out a tidy sum, but not nearly as tidy as what I had to a few months ago. I spent nearly 3000 dollars on my car, what with new tires and ... crap, I forget what all I had done. I just know that nearly all of it was necessary. If my car doesn't last me for at least 3 more years, I will scream.
Not much else is going on. I finished reading a horror novel this evening called "Shackled" by a guy named Ray Garton. My first Garton novel. I gave it four stars, but with the proviso that this material is not for everybody. It was a violent and disturbing book, which nonetheless has a pretty satisfying ending. The bad guys are evil nearly beyond description, so it was fun to see them ultimately get what was coming to them. Next novel I read will be the ARC I got from Max Allan Collins last week. Will commence that over the long weekend.
I also read a Stephen King story this evening called "A Very Tight Place", about a guy who gets trapped in a portable toilet. Pretty gross.
Newbie is gazing up at me with his come hither look. He cannot be denied.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Sorry I didn't write on Sunday. I slept in. Cooked steak and eggs for my lunch. Napped. Visited my mother and sat out in the shade with her and her new friends. Returned to her house. Napped again. Collected Newbie. Returned to the city. And went to bed for the evening around 8pm. Did I forget to take my iron supplements yesterday or something?
Returned to work this morning. It was a long day. Every few hours I kept wanting to walk across the parking lot to The Bargain Shop to pick up some snacks or another tv remote discounted by 90%, or even some of those hook things you attach to peg board and hang things from. I have a life time supply of those hooks. Even if every house I have control off burns down, I can fish enough of those hooks from the embers to attach to fresh pegboard. I also have a lifetime supply of ice scrapers. They were 80% toward the end. Couldn't resist. If you ever need one, let me know and I will make you a deal. Ditto for remote controls or Justin Timberlake dvd's, or boxes of Cream of Wheat.
Got home a few minutes earlier this evening. Didn't have to wait for Patricia. She had to take her car in for repairs. She had to shell out a tidy sum, but not nearly as tidy as what I had to a few months ago. I spent nearly 3000 dollars on my car, what with new tires and ... crap, I forget what all I had done. I just know that nearly all of it was necessary. If my car doesn't last me for at least 3 more years, I will scream.
Not much else is going on. I finished reading a horror novel this evening called "Shackled" by a guy named Ray Garton. My first Garton novel. I gave it four stars, but with the proviso that this material is not for everybody. It was a violent and disturbing book, which nonetheless has a pretty satisfying ending. The bad guys are evil nearly beyond description, so it was fun to see them ultimately get what was coming to them. Next novel I read will be the ARC I got from Max Allan Collins last week. Will commence that over the long weekend.
I also read a Stephen King story this evening called "A Very Tight Place", about a guy who gets trapped in a portable toilet. Pretty gross.
Newbie is gazing up at me with his come hither look. He cannot be denied.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Post 2368 - Saturday
The old tv I got for free a few months ago rests on a tv stand I got for 20 bucks. The tv has a built-in vcr. Much to my surprise it works very well. I got rid of nearly all of my vhs tapes last year but kept a small percentage. They're mostly genre films. I figure I'll never have movie channels here at my mother's. Or netflix, or an internet connection, so I keep a supply of dvd's and vhs tapes here.
Tonight I watched "Enemy of the State", starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman. As cutting edge as the tech was when it came out 15 years ago, I have to wonder how cool it would be today.
Newbie watched the movie with me as well. I don't think he liked it that much. His loss. A cat has a supporting role in this movie, and I think Newbie was jealous. You can see for yourself.
See you tomorrow.
From Bevboy's BlackBerry to Bevboy's Blog!
Friday, June 21, 2013
Post 2367 - Valley Time
Hi. Welcome to the weekend.
I am at my mother's this weekend. I got here around 9. It still wasn't dark, and the lawn was shaggy, so I hopped on the lawn tractor and did a rough cut.
Ever wonder why lawn tractors have headlights? Me, too. But I had them on this evening. By 9:30 it was just getting too dark to continue so I came in.
Newbie's with me this weekend. He just nudged up against me on the bed. I'll be along soon, honey.
Mom wants me to take her shopping tomorrow, so I will. I have quite a few pieces of broken electronics so I will drop them off at a local recycling depot. I have to finish the lawn. God knows I have other things to do that I don't know about yet.
It has been a long week. I have earned a rest. Guess I'll turn in for the evening.
See you tomorrow.
From Bevboy's BlackBerry to Bevboy's Blog!
I am at my mother's this weekend. I got here around 9. It still wasn't dark, and the lawn was shaggy, so I hopped on the lawn tractor and did a rough cut.
Ever wonder why lawn tractors have headlights? Me, too. But I had them on this evening. By 9:30 it was just getting too dark to continue so I came in.
Newbie's with me this weekend. He just nudged up against me on the bed. I'll be along soon, honey.
Mom wants me to take her shopping tomorrow, so I will. I have quite a few pieces of broken electronics so I will drop them off at a local recycling depot. I have to finish the lawn. God knows I have other things to do that I don't know about yet.
It has been a long week. I have earned a rest. Guess I'll turn in for the evening.
See you tomorrow.
From Bevboy's BlackBerry to Bevboy's Blog!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Post 2366 - An Interesting Challenge
Hello, my wonderful readers. How are you this evening?
I am fine. I have had much more energy this week than I have had in several weeks, minus the little Wednesday night set back. But here it is, after 9pm, and I feel I can keep going for another 40 minutes or so. I think the worst of my iron deficiency is behind me. Thank you, Crom and Mitra.
I had meant to tell you about something that I got in the mail yesterday. Yes. The mail. You know: You walk from your front door to one of those super mailboxes. Use your key to open your little mailbox, and extract what is therein. Ask your parents about this process if it is new to you.
Anyway, I received an ARC from one of my favourite authors. His name is Max Allan Collins. He mostly writes detective/mystery/crime fiction; I have been a fan of his for a few decades now. On the bookcase to my left, I have an entire shelf crammed full of MAC's books, with a few more on the shelf above, plus more items on my kindle. MAC has probably earned enough royalty money from just me purchasing his stuff to buy himself a decent pair of shoes or to take his wife out to dinner to Red Lobster, as long as they didn't order an appetizer or alcohol.
Go ahead. Check out his website.
Hmm?
What's that?
What is an ARC?
In writer lingo, an ARC is an advanced reading copy. It is a copy of a book sent out prior to its publication to professional book reviewers so that they will have time to read it and write a review that is published the same time the book is.
I got this book because I read MAC's website every Tuesday, when the great man himself writes a blog entry. A couple of weeks ago, he offered to send out 10 advanced reading copies of his to-be-published-in-September novel, "What Doesn't Kill Her". As soon as I finish the really creepy Ray Garton novel I'm plowing through, I will read the ARC. I will write some kind of review. And it will show up on Amazon as soon as the book comes out That was the deal. He sends you the book, for free. You review it. Even if you don't like the book (impossible, where he is concerned), you can post this review. Of course, you get to keep the book. Sweet deal.
This is a first for me. I have never had a writer whose work I really liked send me something before. I mean, Stephen King has never sent me anything, not a doggone thing, not even Bengay to rub into my tired muscles after holding up one his 3000 page novels for extended periods.
Anyway, I will read this book. I will write a review. I will post it here. And, if I am lucky, Max Allan Collins will post to my review from his own blog/website. I may pick up another 3/10's of a reader out of this.
Wish me luck.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
I am fine. I have had much more energy this week than I have had in several weeks, minus the little Wednesday night set back. But here it is, after 9pm, and I feel I can keep going for another 40 minutes or so. I think the worst of my iron deficiency is behind me. Thank you, Crom and Mitra.
I had meant to tell you about something that I got in the mail yesterday. Yes. The mail. You know: You walk from your front door to one of those super mailboxes. Use your key to open your little mailbox, and extract what is therein. Ask your parents about this process if it is new to you.
Anyway, I received an ARC from one of my favourite authors. His name is Max Allan Collins. He mostly writes detective/mystery/crime fiction; I have been a fan of his for a few decades now. On the bookcase to my left, I have an entire shelf crammed full of MAC's books, with a few more on the shelf above, plus more items on my kindle. MAC has probably earned enough royalty money from just me purchasing his stuff to buy himself a decent pair of shoes or to take his wife out to dinner to Red Lobster, as long as they didn't order an appetizer or alcohol.
Go ahead. Check out his website.
Hmm?
What's that?
What is an ARC?
In writer lingo, an ARC is an advanced reading copy. It is a copy of a book sent out prior to its publication to professional book reviewers so that they will have time to read it and write a review that is published the same time the book is.
I got this book because I read MAC's website every Tuesday, when the great man himself writes a blog entry. A couple of weeks ago, he offered to send out 10 advanced reading copies of his to-be-published-in-September novel, "What Doesn't Kill Her". As soon as I finish the really creepy Ray Garton novel I'm plowing through, I will read the ARC. I will write some kind of review. And it will show up on Amazon as soon as the book comes out That was the deal. He sends you the book, for free. You review it. Even if you don't like the book (impossible, where he is concerned), you can post this review. Of course, you get to keep the book. Sweet deal.
This is a first for me. I have never had a writer whose work I really liked send me something before. I mean, Stephen King has never sent me anything, not a doggone thing, not even Bengay to rub into my tired muscles after holding up one his 3000 page novels for extended periods.
Anyway, I will read this book. I will write a review. I will post it here. And, if I am lucky, Max Allan Collins will post to my review from his own blog/website. I may pick up another 3/10's of a reader out of this.
Wish me luck.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Post 2365 - The Rule Of Three
It is just past 9pm. Normally, I would only have been home for a short while, thanks to my weekly Toastmasters meeting. However, we are on Summer break until after Labour Day, so I got to go home at 4:30.
When we got home Patricia decided to take a nap. I soon joined her; before I knew it, I was fast asleep as well, not getting up until around 8:30. So much for my improving iron levels.
Today, James Gandolfini died. I was not held in thrall about that show the way so many other people were. Like too many HBO shows, the episodes dragged more than a little bit, as if the actors were making it up as they went along. They would punctuate the monotony with some sex and violence. I guess I like a little more story in my tv. But Gandolfini was inextricably linked with that show, and I enjoyed watching him on the program.
Kim Thompson also died today. He was an editor almost from the beginning of The Comics Journal. He began working on the magazine in 1976, along with Gary Groth and Mike Catron. I used to read TCJ regularly, in an effort to impress... well, nobody at all, it turned out. Much more to my liking was Amazing Heroes, which Kim Thompson oversaw for its full 204 issue run. I have got rid of most of my comics, but I don't think I have ever parted with any issues of Amazing Heroes. Among other things, they published my favourite comics story of all time, "Skyborne" by Dwight R. Decker. It was only published the one time, in instalments in Amazing Heroes, and I loved it. I even got my younger sister to read the story, and she loved it as well.
Anyway, Kim Thompson's editing and editorializing was never anything less than interesting, and I am sorry to see another piece of my childhood go away from me. RIP, Kim Thompson.
Lastly, Slim Whitman died today. He was 90. I was never a fan, but lots of people were. His singing voice sounded like nothing human, but once again, he would never have sold as many records as he did had he not had people who liked that sort of thing.
You know, to list just 3 people who died today is pretty silly. Around the world, many thousands of people died on June 19, 2013. But we just focus on the people who are celebrities or who are known in certain circles. For example, my father died the same day that actress Lynn Redgrave did. I remember hearing about her death around lunch time on May 3rd; I got the news about my father around 3:50. Which one was more important to me? That's why I'm loathe to make fun of those folks who crossed over, because they would always have left behind people who cared for them who would not appreciate snotty comments made about the deceased. I think I am the only one who has read every single post, but that is one reason why Bevboy's Blog began in the first place. You can go back and read post #300 for the full details.
My condolences to the families of Slim Whitman, Kim Thompson and James Gandolfini. And everyone else who died today.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
When we got home Patricia decided to take a nap. I soon joined her; before I knew it, I was fast asleep as well, not getting up until around 8:30. So much for my improving iron levels.
Today, James Gandolfini died. I was not held in thrall about that show the way so many other people were. Like too many HBO shows, the episodes dragged more than a little bit, as if the actors were making it up as they went along. They would punctuate the monotony with some sex and violence. I guess I like a little more story in my tv. But Gandolfini was inextricably linked with that show, and I enjoyed watching him on the program.
Kim Thompson also died today. He was an editor almost from the beginning of The Comics Journal. He began working on the magazine in 1976, along with Gary Groth and Mike Catron. I used to read TCJ regularly, in an effort to impress... well, nobody at all, it turned out. Much more to my liking was Amazing Heroes, which Kim Thompson oversaw for its full 204 issue run. I have got rid of most of my comics, but I don't think I have ever parted with any issues of Amazing Heroes. Among other things, they published my favourite comics story of all time, "Skyborne" by Dwight R. Decker. It was only published the one time, in instalments in Amazing Heroes, and I loved it. I even got my younger sister to read the story, and she loved it as well.
Anyway, Kim Thompson's editing and editorializing was never anything less than interesting, and I am sorry to see another piece of my childhood go away from me. RIP, Kim Thompson.
Lastly, Slim Whitman died today. He was 90. I was never a fan, but lots of people were. His singing voice sounded like nothing human, but once again, he would never have sold as many records as he did had he not had people who liked that sort of thing.
You know, to list just 3 people who died today is pretty silly. Around the world, many thousands of people died on June 19, 2013. But we just focus on the people who are celebrities or who are known in certain circles. For example, my father died the same day that actress Lynn Redgrave did. I remember hearing about her death around lunch time on May 3rd; I got the news about my father around 3:50. Which one was more important to me? That's why I'm loathe to make fun of those folks who crossed over, because they would always have left behind people who cared for them who would not appreciate snotty comments made about the deceased. I think I am the only one who has read every single post, but that is one reason why Bevboy's Blog began in the first place. You can go back and read post #300 for the full details.
My condolences to the families of Slim Whitman, Kim Thompson and James Gandolfini. And everyone else who died today.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Post 2364 - Brewdebaker's Is Da King! And... A Mystery!
I have seen the future, and its name is... Brewdebaker's!
We were driving home this evening. I announced I would like a light dinner like a salad or even some strawberry shortcake. Patricia agreed.
She wanted to go to Lee Valley and get some stainless steel clothes pins (bet you never knew they existed!). Afterward, we ended up driving to Brewdebaker's in Clayton Park for that Caesar salad. We had it last week when we were there. We also decided to have the 10 dollar burger and beer special. I am not much of a beer drinker, but the burger was just about the best one I have eaten in my life. The price was right. The quality is beyond anything we could have imagined. The service was impeccable. We can't wait to go back!
We got home. I came down stairs to my home office to surf for a few minutes. Then, I heard Patricia call my name. I told her where I was. She came rushing down the stairs and into here. She had been wondering where my orange K-Rock hat was. It's in the backseat of the car. She wanted to know where my shorts were. I asked her which shorts. "The shorts you were wearing a moment ago when you went outside." Picture me as Astro, the dog on The Jetsons. "Ruh-roh."
(The phrase originated with Astro, not Scooby Doo.)
I assured her I had been here, ensconced in my comfy office chair, ever since we arrived home. Intrigued, and to assuage both her and my curiosity, we went upstairs and headed to the front door. There was no such person matching my approximate description (handsome, well-hung, gloriously-beautiful hair, six foot four) anywhere within eye shot. Then, I noticed a piece of heavy paper wrapped up inside the door handle. I removed it and unfolded it. It was from a realtor in the area who was trying to drum up business. If he is only half as handsome as I am, he will have an excellent business.
Patricia thought this sight of "me" might have been a harbinger, a forerunner. I hope not. There's so much I haven't done yet. Like...well, anything.
The excitement over, I returned downstairs. Surfed a bit of the web, and wrote this blog post.
You're caught up.
And I'm turning in for the evening. I have a book to read.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
We were driving home this evening. I announced I would like a light dinner like a salad or even some strawberry shortcake. Patricia agreed.
She wanted to go to Lee Valley and get some stainless steel clothes pins (bet you never knew they existed!). Afterward, we ended up driving to Brewdebaker's in Clayton Park for that Caesar salad. We had it last week when we were there. We also decided to have the 10 dollar burger and beer special. I am not much of a beer drinker, but the burger was just about the best one I have eaten in my life. The price was right. The quality is beyond anything we could have imagined. The service was impeccable. We can't wait to go back!
We got home. I came down stairs to my home office to surf for a few minutes. Then, I heard Patricia call my name. I told her where I was. She came rushing down the stairs and into here. She had been wondering where my orange K-Rock hat was. It's in the backseat of the car. She wanted to know where my shorts were. I asked her which shorts. "The shorts you were wearing a moment ago when you went outside." Picture me as Astro, the dog on The Jetsons. "Ruh-roh."
(The phrase originated with Astro, not Scooby Doo.)
I assured her I had been here, ensconced in my comfy office chair, ever since we arrived home. Intrigued, and to assuage both her and my curiosity, we went upstairs and headed to the front door. There was no such person matching my approximate description (handsome, well-hung, gloriously-beautiful hair, six foot four) anywhere within eye shot. Then, I noticed a piece of heavy paper wrapped up inside the door handle. I removed it and unfolded it. It was from a realtor in the area who was trying to drum up business. If he is only half as handsome as I am, he will have an excellent business.
Patricia thought this sight of "me" might have been a harbinger, a forerunner. I hope not. There's so much I haven't done yet. Like...well, anything.
The excitement over, I returned downstairs. Surfed a bit of the web, and wrote this blog post.
You're caught up.
And I'm turning in for the evening. I have a book to read.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Monday, June 17, 2013
Post 2363 - Radio Stuff!
A brief post. Ostensibly.
I wasn't feeling well last night and nearly lost my dinner around 2 o'clock this morning. I eventually got back to sleep, but it was even harder than normal to get up at my usual time. We left the house late. Realized I'd left my lunch on the counter. Left a second time, driving for some distance before I realized that my parking pass was in Patricia's car. We doubled back a second time to retrieve it. Despite all this silliness, I was only 20 minutes late this morning. Sorry, guys.
I spent my lunch hour transcribing the last couple pieces of the Julia Kirkey interview. I have about 10 minutes of material left. I had no idea this would take so long. Frigging iron deficiency has been affecting me in many ways. The good news is that this will be a good interview, maybe even a very good one, with a fair amount of controversy. It will also be very long.
After that I have to transcribe the Mike Cranston interview. And I have been trying to connect with Ron Roberts, but the guy is never home. From what I can tell, he only worked at CJCH for a couple of years in the 1950's before going to Ontario and eventually ending up in television, I think locally. I really don't know much about the man, or that era of Halifax radio. I look forward to learning stuff and sharing it with you, my 4.7 readers.
Speaking of which, if there is someone you would like me to try to interview, preferably in the radio field, let me know and I will see if I can make it happen. I am fairly well known in radio circles. Kids applying to the radio course at NSCC have cited my interviews as a reason they wanted to get into the biz.
Andrew Chiasson also interviewed me and Frank Cameron and Wayne Harrett as part of one of his projects this Spring. I keep meaning to link to the interview so that you can listen to it as well. Assuming you care that is.
Anyway, you can hear the interview right here. Scroll down to "Major Project", and you will hear us talking about the art and history of DX'ing, the process of listening to far away AM radio stations. Yes, I still do that. My car has an excellent AM tuner. I know that I can fire up my browser and go to live365.com or something, and hear whatever I want to; but there is still something about being able to pick up a radio station at night from hundreds of miles away. It is almost like being sneaky about something.
But play it back and let me know what you think.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
I wasn't feeling well last night and nearly lost my dinner around 2 o'clock this morning. I eventually got back to sleep, but it was even harder than normal to get up at my usual time. We left the house late. Realized I'd left my lunch on the counter. Left a second time, driving for some distance before I realized that my parking pass was in Patricia's car. We doubled back a second time to retrieve it. Despite all this silliness, I was only 20 minutes late this morning. Sorry, guys.
I spent my lunch hour transcribing the last couple pieces of the Julia Kirkey interview. I have about 10 minutes of material left. I had no idea this would take so long. Frigging iron deficiency has been affecting me in many ways. The good news is that this will be a good interview, maybe even a very good one, with a fair amount of controversy. It will also be very long.
After that I have to transcribe the Mike Cranston interview. And I have been trying to connect with Ron Roberts, but the guy is never home. From what I can tell, he only worked at CJCH for a couple of years in the 1950's before going to Ontario and eventually ending up in television, I think locally. I really don't know much about the man, or that era of Halifax radio. I look forward to learning stuff and sharing it with you, my 4.7 readers.
Speaking of which, if there is someone you would like me to try to interview, preferably in the radio field, let me know and I will see if I can make it happen. I am fairly well known in radio circles. Kids applying to the radio course at NSCC have cited my interviews as a reason they wanted to get into the biz.
Andrew Chiasson also interviewed me and Frank Cameron and Wayne Harrett as part of one of his projects this Spring. I keep meaning to link to the interview so that you can listen to it as well. Assuming you care that is.
Anyway, you can hear the interview right here. Scroll down to "Major Project", and you will hear us talking about the art and history of DX'ing, the process of listening to far away AM radio stations. Yes, I still do that. My car has an excellent AM tuner. I know that I can fire up my browser and go to live365.com or something, and hear whatever I want to; but there is still something about being able to pick up a radio station at night from hundreds of miles away. It is almost like being sneaky about something.
But play it back and let me know what you think.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Post 2362 - No Nap
It is 8:45 at night. You know what? I have gone the entire day without taking a nap today. Are you proud of me? Huh?
I didn't get up until around 10am. This was not bad considering that I was up until 2:30 this morning. After I wrote the Saturday blog post, I went to bed and read until that late hour.
The time was, I could get up beastly early and go to bed very late, and turn around and do it all over again. That was my university period. I was a full-time student and had part-time jobs. I had to go to my classes, do my university work and work at the library or wherever I was working at the time. One year, I took an elective English course. Thinking it would not be difficult, that I could just breeze through. The full, me. I had a full course load and was otherwise reading the many books the professor was getting us to read, and then write papers about them. It was a pace that I could never hope to duplicate today. You can read the 1986 entry in the year in review series and see more deets or re-familiarize yourself with that period in my life.
Anyway, I can't keep those kinds of hours any more, and that's fine. It still gives me time to be contemplative as well as rest and finish getting over this lovely iron deficiency that has been kicking my ass for months now.
Of course, being Father's Day, I had lots of time to think about my father. We were using Netflix today and I noticed all these classic Western films. I remarked to Patricia that my dad would have loved to sit there all day long and watch these films. I had bought him vhs tapes and then dvd's of John Wayne movies, and he'd watch them over and over. He developed a late-in-life liking for Harrison Ford; he must have watched "Air Force One" a dozen times, even muttering "Get off my plane!" under his breath when he was in a moment of reverie.
Dad died 3 years ago last month. I still miss him, and I know I always will. For the longest time after he died, I expected him to round the corner from the kitchen and greet me in the living room. The old family home is occupied only the times I stay there, which works out to a couple of weekends a month. It is hard to believe that at one time a family of six lived there. Not, it's just me, and my mother's Winter clothing. And Newbie, when I can trick him into his carrier. And Mom herself, the odd time. When things change, they can change pretty quickly, can't they?
Anyway, it's back to work tomorrow. It will be time to wear pants again, dammit to heck. Muumuu's are so comfortable and freeing. You don't know what you're missing.
Have a nice evening. I will see you tomorrow. And hug your dad for me.
Bevboy
I didn't get up until around 10am. This was not bad considering that I was up until 2:30 this morning. After I wrote the Saturday blog post, I went to bed and read until that late hour.
The time was, I could get up beastly early and go to bed very late, and turn around and do it all over again. That was my university period. I was a full-time student and had part-time jobs. I had to go to my classes, do my university work and work at the library or wherever I was working at the time. One year, I took an elective English course. Thinking it would not be difficult, that I could just breeze through. The full, me. I had a full course load and was otherwise reading the many books the professor was getting us to read, and then write papers about them. It was a pace that I could never hope to duplicate today. You can read the 1986 entry in the year in review series and see more deets or re-familiarize yourself with that period in my life.
Anyway, I can't keep those kinds of hours any more, and that's fine. It still gives me time to be contemplative as well as rest and finish getting over this lovely iron deficiency that has been kicking my ass for months now.
Of course, being Father's Day, I had lots of time to think about my father. We were using Netflix today and I noticed all these classic Western films. I remarked to Patricia that my dad would have loved to sit there all day long and watch these films. I had bought him vhs tapes and then dvd's of John Wayne movies, and he'd watch them over and over. He developed a late-in-life liking for Harrison Ford; he must have watched "Air Force One" a dozen times, even muttering "Get off my plane!" under his breath when he was in a moment of reverie.
Dad died 3 years ago last month. I still miss him, and I know I always will. For the longest time after he died, I expected him to round the corner from the kitchen and greet me in the living room. The old family home is occupied only the times I stay there, which works out to a couple of weekends a month. It is hard to believe that at one time a family of six lived there. Not, it's just me, and my mother's Winter clothing. And Newbie, when I can trick him into his carrier. And Mom herself, the odd time. When things change, they can change pretty quickly, can't they?
Anyway, it's back to work tomorrow. It will be time to wear pants again, dammit to heck. Muumuu's are so comfortable and freeing. You don't know what you're missing.
Have a nice evening. I will see you tomorrow. And hug your dad for me.
Bevboy
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Post 2361 - Saturday
Well, in keeping with my iron level deficiencies I slept a lot on Saturday. I slept in until 10am. By 11:30 and after my shower, we stepped out for brunch. It was at the Lower Deck in Clayton Park, and it will be a long time before we go back. We prefer Brewdebakers across the street.
We returned to the house by 2pm. By 2:30 or so, we both announced that we could close our eyes for a few minutes. The next thing I knew it was 7pm. We'd slept for more than 4 hours. Yikes.
I spent quite a bit of time washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. By 10:40 or so, I came down here to my home office to watch the Horror Writers Association annual Bram Stoker Awards. A whole bunch of people I have not heard of won some prestigious awards. I am most interested in reading "Blood Oranges" by Caitlin R. Kiernan. She won for superior achievement in a novel. She was one of the presenters this evening. A most unusual-looking woman. I read her wikipedia article and learned that she is a transsexual lesbian and an atheist pagan. People were pretty pleased that she had won, and I am curious enough to check out her work.
It is now past 1am on Sunday morning. Father's Day. I have already changed my FB profile picture to one of my dad, taken in 2002. He was helping Mom get out of the van he owned at the time and was holding her purse as I snapped the photo. A funny moment. I miss my father every day. He was not a perfect man, but he was my father and I loved him, and I still wish I could have a conversation with him. Among the things I would discuss with him would be: What the hell are all these loose keys for that I have found in the garage and in your work shop? Is there some vault or safe somewhere that contains a pile of money or dirty books or empty soda bottles, whose key is among the many I have found?
For what it is worth, I would also ask him for some carpentry advice, something I should have asked him about many times over the years. Much to my regret I did not, and now I must fend for myself with tools whose use is murky to me, and on tasks I do not know how to commence, let alone see my way through to their conclusion.
Happy Father's Day. Love him while you have him, and miss him like crazy when you don't.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
We returned to the house by 2pm. By 2:30 or so, we both announced that we could close our eyes for a few minutes. The next thing I knew it was 7pm. We'd slept for more than 4 hours. Yikes.
I spent quite a bit of time washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. By 10:40 or so, I came down here to my home office to watch the Horror Writers Association annual Bram Stoker Awards. A whole bunch of people I have not heard of won some prestigious awards. I am most interested in reading "Blood Oranges" by Caitlin R. Kiernan. She won for superior achievement in a novel. She was one of the presenters this evening. A most unusual-looking woman. I read her wikipedia article and learned that she is a transsexual lesbian and an atheist pagan. People were pretty pleased that she had won, and I am curious enough to check out her work.
It is now past 1am on Sunday morning. Father's Day. I have already changed my FB profile picture to one of my dad, taken in 2002. He was helping Mom get out of the van he owned at the time and was holding her purse as I snapped the photo. A funny moment. I miss my father every day. He was not a perfect man, but he was my father and I loved him, and I still wish I could have a conversation with him. Among the things I would discuss with him would be: What the hell are all these loose keys for that I have found in the garage and in your work shop? Is there some vault or safe somewhere that contains a pile of money or dirty books or empty soda bottles, whose key is among the many I have found?
For what it is worth, I would also ask him for some carpentry advice, something I should have asked him about many times over the years. Much to my regret I did not, and now I must fend for myself with tools whose use is murky to me, and on tasks I do not know how to commence, let alone see my way through to their conclusion.
Happy Father's Day. Love him while you have him, and miss him like crazy when you don't.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Friday, June 14, 2013
Post 2360 - A Day Off
Friday was a day off for me. I slept in until even my body told me to get off my ass and get on with my day. Newbie was looking at me with a disgusted look that said, "Lazy human! You're making me look bad!" I got up.
I spent time today tackling the mountain range of laundry that has taken up residence in my home. I will be spending the bulk of the weekend washing clothing. I am glad that my laundry room is next door to my media room, so that I can watch the HWA Bram Stoker Awards Saturday night.
What else happened? A slight disappointment. I made dinner today; Patricia was at work. She told me that there was fish in the fridge, and that it should be thawed out by now. I was looking forward to fish for dinner. I prepared the batter and the spices. Reached into the fridge and removed the contents of the bag that contained the fish. And discovered that what she thought was fish, was actually chicken breasts.
I cooked the stuff anyway. When Patricia got home, I broke the bad news. Ended up baking the chicken. Patricia said she loved it. I didn't have any. I can be obstinate when I want to be.
We spent a couple of hours tonight watching the HBO movie about Liberace starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. I thought it would be extremely explicit as it was an HBO movie. Instead, it was surprisingly tame.
It is now pushing 11pm. I am going to turn in and get my sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day around here as tackle long-ignored chores around here. Lots of fun.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
I spent time today tackling the mountain range of laundry that has taken up residence in my home. I will be spending the bulk of the weekend washing clothing. I am glad that my laundry room is next door to my media room, so that I can watch the HWA Bram Stoker Awards Saturday night.
What else happened? A slight disappointment. I made dinner today; Patricia was at work. She told me that there was fish in the fridge, and that it should be thawed out by now. I was looking forward to fish for dinner. I prepared the batter and the spices. Reached into the fridge and removed the contents of the bag that contained the fish. And discovered that what she thought was fish, was actually chicken breasts.
I cooked the stuff anyway. When Patricia got home, I broke the bad news. Ended up baking the chicken. Patricia said she loved it. I didn't have any. I can be obstinate when I want to be.
We spent a couple of hours tonight watching the HBO movie about Liberace starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. I thought it would be extremely explicit as it was an HBO movie. Instead, it was surprisingly tame.
It is now pushing 11pm. I am going to turn in and get my sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day around here as tackle long-ignored chores around here. Lots of fun.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Post 2359 - A Lesson in Parliamentary Procedure
So, how many of you like to have the feces scared out of you? Really like a good fright?
Regardless of what form you like to see horror in, whether it be in the form of a short story, a novel, a screenplay, a movie whose director takes 98% of the credit for its success, whatever, these things all have something in common. At some point, somebody sat down in front of a computer, or perhaps even a typewriter, maybe even a tablet, and started writing a story that he hoped would scare others, and probably even himself.
The books, et. al, that are deemed to be superior achievements in the horror genre are awarded pretty cool looking trophies every year by the HWA, the Horror Writer's Association. They have a banquet and a party and the awards follow. They call them the Bram Stoker Awards. (If you don't know who Bram Stoker was, then we can't be friends any more.) It is on my bucket list to attend one some day.
For I think the third year in a row they will be broadcasting the awards over the internet. The webcast starts Saturday night, June 15th, at 10pmET. You can bet that I will watch. I will even tweet who wins what, just because I wanna.
I watched the awards in 2012. The MC was writer Jeff Strand, whose work I've heard of but have never read. My loss, I'm sure. I have at least one of his novels in my vast horror collection. If Brian Keene will take a day or two away from publishing something, I would be happy to check out a Jeff Strand book.
At any rate, Strand kept things moving along quite well last year, but having been in Toastmasters for more than 20 years, he and others made a pretty fundamental mistake that I cannot just overlook. Namely, they would introduce someone and walk away from the lectern until the introduced person got up there and did what he was brought up there to do. Abandoning a lectern is something that should never be done. The lectern is the focal point of a meeting space, whether it be a Toastmasters meeting, a house of parliament, or the Horror Writers Association annual general meeting and awards night. When the lectern is left unmanned, people in the audience will almost always start murmuring because there is nothing for them to look at or listen to. Audiences, like nature, abhore a vacuum, and find any way they can to fill it.
In any environment where Robert's Rules of Order are adhered to, or at least respected, the person at the lectern is in control of that section of the meeting. That way, when a member of parliament or a member of the legislative assembly asks a question, it is not to another MP or MLA. The question is funneled through the chair person and then reflected to the person in general. It ensures that the chair retains control and that only one person at a time is speaking. That is why the heckling that one hears during a Question Period in parliament is so damned annoying and discouraging to me.
In the case of the HWA meeting, what should happen is that Jeff Strand or whoever is MC'ing the awards night, would introduce, say, Joe R. Lansdale and remain at the lectern until Mr. Lansdale ambled his way to the lectern, at which time the MC would go sit down somewhere. When Mr. Lansdale was finished he would yield control of the chair back to the MC, remaining there until the MC got there to relieve him, at which time the MC would have control again. Mr. Lansdale would return to his seat. By adopting this procedure, there is always someone at the lectern, eye candy for the audience to look at and to listen to. Also, this way, people in the audience who do choose to talk amongst themselves will be much more likely to be asked to be quiet. It's all about respect and keeping control of a meeting.
I hate to be so negative. I will be watching the webcast with great interest. In the big scheme of things, this is a minor issue compared to world hunger, VD, or the outcome of the Chicago Blackhawks/Boston Bruins National Hockey League finals. However, it is sufficiently distracting, and so easily fixed, that I had to bring it up. Please forgive me for my picayune ways.
Hmm? What's that? You want to watch the webcast as well? No problemo, effendi. Just point your browser here Saturday night at 11. Maybe we can have competing tweets.
That'd be sweet.
Tweets that compete.
Friggin' neat.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Regardless of what form you like to see horror in, whether it be in the form of a short story, a novel, a screenplay, a movie whose director takes 98% of the credit for its success, whatever, these things all have something in common. At some point, somebody sat down in front of a computer, or perhaps even a typewriter, maybe even a tablet, and started writing a story that he hoped would scare others, and probably even himself.
The books, et. al, that are deemed to be superior achievements in the horror genre are awarded pretty cool looking trophies every year by the HWA, the Horror Writer's Association. They have a banquet and a party and the awards follow. They call them the Bram Stoker Awards. (If you don't know who Bram Stoker was, then we can't be friends any more.) It is on my bucket list to attend one some day.
For I think the third year in a row they will be broadcasting the awards over the internet. The webcast starts Saturday night, June 15th, at 10pmET. You can bet that I will watch. I will even tweet who wins what, just because I wanna.
I watched the awards in 2012. The MC was writer Jeff Strand, whose work I've heard of but have never read. My loss, I'm sure. I have at least one of his novels in my vast horror collection. If Brian Keene will take a day or two away from publishing something, I would be happy to check out a Jeff Strand book.
At any rate, Strand kept things moving along quite well last year, but having been in Toastmasters for more than 20 years, he and others made a pretty fundamental mistake that I cannot just overlook. Namely, they would introduce someone and walk away from the lectern until the introduced person got up there and did what he was brought up there to do. Abandoning a lectern is something that should never be done. The lectern is the focal point of a meeting space, whether it be a Toastmasters meeting, a house of parliament, or the Horror Writers Association annual general meeting and awards night. When the lectern is left unmanned, people in the audience will almost always start murmuring because there is nothing for them to look at or listen to. Audiences, like nature, abhore a vacuum, and find any way they can to fill it.
In any environment where Robert's Rules of Order are adhered to, or at least respected, the person at the lectern is in control of that section of the meeting. That way, when a member of parliament or a member of the legislative assembly asks a question, it is not to another MP or MLA. The question is funneled through the chair person and then reflected to the person in general. It ensures that the chair retains control and that only one person at a time is speaking. That is why the heckling that one hears during a Question Period in parliament is so damned annoying and discouraging to me.
In the case of the HWA meeting, what should happen is that Jeff Strand or whoever is MC'ing the awards night, would introduce, say, Joe R. Lansdale and remain at the lectern until Mr. Lansdale ambled his way to the lectern, at which time the MC would go sit down somewhere. When Mr. Lansdale was finished he would yield control of the chair back to the MC, remaining there until the MC got there to relieve him, at which time the MC would have control again. Mr. Lansdale would return to his seat. By adopting this procedure, there is always someone at the lectern, eye candy for the audience to look at and to listen to. Also, this way, people in the audience who do choose to talk amongst themselves will be much more likely to be asked to be quiet. It's all about respect and keeping control of a meeting.
I hate to be so negative. I will be watching the webcast with great interest. In the big scheme of things, this is a minor issue compared to world hunger, VD, or the outcome of the Chicago Blackhawks/Boston Bruins National Hockey League finals. However, it is sufficiently distracting, and so easily fixed, that I had to bring it up. Please forgive me for my picayune ways.
Hmm? What's that? You want to watch the webcast as well? No problemo, effendi. Just point your browser here Saturday night at 11. Maybe we can have competing tweets.
That'd be sweet.
Tweets that compete.
Friggin' neat.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Post 2358 - A Night Out
Wow. Blog posts, two nights in a row. Are you impressed yet?
After work today we had dinner at Boneheads, a local barbecue joint. It is miles, leagues, light years, ahead of the bbq dump at Dartmouth Crossing, where we ate during the Winter. Boneheads is where it's at. I love that place. I just have to wonder how much longer they can languish in that part of town, off the main drag and out of the downtown. Why don't they move downtown, and why don't they open up a second restaurant out closer to my home?
After dinner we drove to the Spatz Theatre to attend a taping of CBC Radio's "Quirks and Quarks". I have listened to this science show since I was quite little, back when David Suzuki was the host, which wasn't yesterday.
Every year they have at least one "Question" show. It's where you call or write or send in some way, a science-related question. They choose the most interesting ones and find experts to answer them. This evening, they had 10 questions, and 10 experts to provide responses.
I could get into the questions or you can listen to the show yourself. You can turn on your radio and tune it to your local CBC radio one station (90.5 FM in Halifax), or fire up cbc.ca and click on the listen tab. The program recorded this evening will be broadcast at 11am ET on Saturday the 15th. Alternatively, you can download a podcast of the program from the cbc website. I will do this, as it was a pretty good program, and I was delighted to have been able to attend it.
After that was over, we drove back home. The little brake fluid light did not come on, which tells me that I was able to fix the problem on my very own. So there! We got home. Fed the cats. Got into our comfies. And it's about time to turn in.
Two days in a row. Two blog posts. And I am not exhausted this evening. Maybe my iron levels are starting to turn the corner. Let's hope for the best. I'm getting tired of being bunged up.
Yeah. I share a lot.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
After work today we had dinner at Boneheads, a local barbecue joint. It is miles, leagues, light years, ahead of the bbq dump at Dartmouth Crossing, where we ate during the Winter. Boneheads is where it's at. I love that place. I just have to wonder how much longer they can languish in that part of town, off the main drag and out of the downtown. Why don't they move downtown, and why don't they open up a second restaurant out closer to my home?
After dinner we drove to the Spatz Theatre to attend a taping of CBC Radio's "Quirks and Quarks". I have listened to this science show since I was quite little, back when David Suzuki was the host, which wasn't yesterday.
Every year they have at least one "Question" show. It's where you call or write or send in some way, a science-related question. They choose the most interesting ones and find experts to answer them. This evening, they had 10 questions, and 10 experts to provide responses.
I could get into the questions or you can listen to the show yourself. You can turn on your radio and tune it to your local CBC radio one station (90.5 FM in Halifax), or fire up cbc.ca and click on the listen tab. The program recorded this evening will be broadcast at 11am ET on Saturday the 15th. Alternatively, you can download a podcast of the program from the cbc website. I will do this, as it was a pretty good program, and I was delighted to have been able to attend it.
After that was over, we drove back home. The little brake fluid light did not come on, which tells me that I was able to fix the problem on my very own. So there! We got home. Fed the cats. Got into our comfies. And it's about time to turn in.
Two days in a row. Two blog posts. And I am not exhausted this evening. Maybe my iron levels are starting to turn the corner. Let's hope for the best. I'm getting tired of being bunged up.
Yeah. I share a lot.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Post 2357 - Tuesday
Hey, folks. How are you?
I am feeling much better tonight than I did last night. It was all I could do last evening to wash some dishes before turning in for the evening at 8pm. I only got up at 6:37 this morning after Patricia screamed in my ear for five minutes. In other words, a typical morning at Casa Bevboy.
For the second day in a row, the low brake fluid message came on in the car. I had already fixed the sensor indicating low oil, and I have learned to ignore the low washer fluid message because I check that reservoir a lot. The brake fluid worried me a bit, because you kinda need brakes to stop a car.
According to some research, there could be a small leak in the hose. The sensor could be faulty. Or maybe I just needed to put some fluid in the reservoir. I did notice the light did go out after a while as the fluid presumably sloshed around from one side to another.
After work I checked the level in the reservoir. It seemed to be just below the minimum level. I decided to buy some brake fluid at the local Crappy Tire, put a little bit of it in the reservoir, and started the car after putting the cap back in place on the reservoir. So far, fingers crossed, the light hasn't come on. Remind me to tell you about it in the morning.
We decided to get some dinner at the nearby Brewdebakers. I had never been there before. We ordered a caesar salad to share. Patricia had fajitas and I had a fisherman's platter. Excellent.
Patricia had strawberry daiquiris. Two of them. She was pretty happy. I buried my sorrows in root beer.
Patricia let me get a couple pics of her on the BlackBerry camera. Here they are. Once again, the built-in Bluetooth on this netbook has been a God send. So easy to send contents from the BlackBerry to this computer wirelessly.
She's not a cheap drunk, but it can be achieved.
We got home. Fed the cats. And ended up feeding a neighbour's cat that wandered over to our kitchen window. It mewled until we fed it something. Patricia ended up holding the cat, which caused it to start purring like the kitten it was. I would consider having a third cat. Patricia's heart may melt a bit more if I ply her with more strawberry daiquiris. Wish me luck.
I have had my shower. I feel pretty good tonight. I will probably read a chapter or two in a film biography I'm working my way through. And I wonder if my iron levels are finally on their way up to where I want the little bastards to be.
Let's hope.
Remember: strawberry daiquiris are the way to a woman's heart.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
I am feeling much better tonight than I did last night. It was all I could do last evening to wash some dishes before turning in for the evening at 8pm. I only got up at 6:37 this morning after Patricia screamed in my ear for five minutes. In other words, a typical morning at Casa Bevboy.
For the second day in a row, the low brake fluid message came on in the car. I had already fixed the sensor indicating low oil, and I have learned to ignore the low washer fluid message because I check that reservoir a lot. The brake fluid worried me a bit, because you kinda need brakes to stop a car.
According to some research, there could be a small leak in the hose. The sensor could be faulty. Or maybe I just needed to put some fluid in the reservoir. I did notice the light did go out after a while as the fluid presumably sloshed around from one side to another.
After work I checked the level in the reservoir. It seemed to be just below the minimum level. I decided to buy some brake fluid at the local Crappy Tire, put a little bit of it in the reservoir, and started the car after putting the cap back in place on the reservoir. So far, fingers crossed, the light hasn't come on. Remind me to tell you about it in the morning.
We decided to get some dinner at the nearby Brewdebakers. I had never been there before. We ordered a caesar salad to share. Patricia had fajitas and I had a fisherman's platter. Excellent.
Patricia had strawberry daiquiris. Two of them. She was pretty happy. I buried my sorrows in root beer.
Patricia let me get a couple pics of her on the BlackBerry camera. Here they are. Once again, the built-in Bluetooth on this netbook has been a God send. So easy to send contents from the BlackBerry to this computer wirelessly.
We got home. Fed the cats. And ended up feeding a neighbour's cat that wandered over to our kitchen window. It mewled until we fed it something. Patricia ended up holding the cat, which caused it to start purring like the kitten it was. I would consider having a third cat. Patricia's heart may melt a bit more if I ply her with more strawberry daiquiris. Wish me luck.
I have had my shower. I feel pretty good tonight. I will probably read a chapter or two in a film biography I'm working my way through. And I wonder if my iron levels are finally on their way up to where I want the little bastards to be.
Let's hope.
Remember: strawberry daiquiris are the way to a woman's heart.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Post 2356 - Sunday
Hi.
Once again, I must apologize for taking the last couple of days away from blogging. Friday after work, I pretty much just went to bed, and didn't arise until Saturday morning.
We got up early on Saturday and drove to Port Williams, there to enjoy, allegedly, the village-wide yard sales. However, there was so much rain, torrents and torrents of it, that most yard sales did not take place. There was a fleamarket in a former furniture store. I bought a nice set of wrenches and a pretty good carpenter's level for 30 bucks. The guy was also selling a railroad wrench, and I wish I had bought it to have a pretty cool conversation piece, if nothing else.
There was a fleamarket at the local church. Patricia got a couple plants, but I got nothing. And there were a couple garage sales, but there was nothing that interested us.
We had lunch at a place called Callister's, in Coldbrook. We had to wait 30 minutes to get our food. We were not impressed. From there, we went to a local used clothing place. People at my work will soon see me wearing new-to-me shirts, so I hope they like them.
We visited Mom. A woman on freecycle had given me a bunch of magazines, which I in turn gave to my mother. She was happy to get them, and has gone through 3 of them in the last 24 hours.
We had some time to kill before the supper at the Port Williams Community Centre. We went to Herbin's Jewellers in Wolfville, where Patricia got a new battery for her watch, and we both looked at the Acadia University grad rings. I still have mine, but have been unable to wear it for years, as it makes my finger itch like a bastard. I can take it in to be cleaned, and I will. Meanwhile, they have revised the design for the rings, and I saw a design that captured my fancy. Imagine the Acadia "A" on a dark blue background setting, on a ring made of white gold. Beautiful. And one can have one's degree initials and year of graduation on either side of the "A", as well as one's personal initials on the inside of the ring. I am not a big jewellery guy, but I am having a hard time getting my mind off that ring design!
We returned to Port Williams, this time to the community centre. We ended up parking in a section of the parking lot we had not been to before, and noticed PW's very own cenotaph. I had heard there was one, but figured it was just the big sign in front of the community centre, just off the road. But, no. There is a very nice, albeit small, cenotaph. I was so interested in it that I have decided to include a few pictures of it to share with youse.
Interesting, huh? An aspect of Port Williams' history I did not know about. I wonder what other hitherto-unknown things I will discover if I park in yet another unfamiliar part of the parking lot sometime? Maybe Port Williams has its very own red light district!
(Remember: You can click on each image to make it bigger.)
We returned to the city Saturday evening. Due to my iron deficiency, I was pooped after a day of driving around, so I turned in disgustingly early, and slept through the night. Didn't get up until after 10 this morning.
This afternoon, we picked up some soil for the back yard garden. We also drove around and took advantage of the local curbside giveaway, collecting a few items for the house and cottage, all at no cost. Free is good. Don't ever forget that.
This evening I am down here in my home office. Newbie is next to me on his perch atop the computer desk. And I am here writing you guys. Circle of life if you ask me.
You guys have a good evening. I will see you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Once again, I must apologize for taking the last couple of days away from blogging. Friday after work, I pretty much just went to bed, and didn't arise until Saturday morning.
We got up early on Saturday and drove to Port Williams, there to enjoy, allegedly, the village-wide yard sales. However, there was so much rain, torrents and torrents of it, that most yard sales did not take place. There was a fleamarket in a former furniture store. I bought a nice set of wrenches and a pretty good carpenter's level for 30 bucks. The guy was also selling a railroad wrench, and I wish I had bought it to have a pretty cool conversation piece, if nothing else.
There was a fleamarket at the local church. Patricia got a couple plants, but I got nothing. And there were a couple garage sales, but there was nothing that interested us.
We had lunch at a place called Callister's, in Coldbrook. We had to wait 30 minutes to get our food. We were not impressed. From there, we went to a local used clothing place. People at my work will soon see me wearing new-to-me shirts, so I hope they like them.
We visited Mom. A woman on freecycle had given me a bunch of magazines, which I in turn gave to my mother. She was happy to get them, and has gone through 3 of them in the last 24 hours.
We had some time to kill before the supper at the Port Williams Community Centre. We went to Herbin's Jewellers in Wolfville, where Patricia got a new battery for her watch, and we both looked at the Acadia University grad rings. I still have mine, but have been unable to wear it for years, as it makes my finger itch like a bastard. I can take it in to be cleaned, and I will. Meanwhile, they have revised the design for the rings, and I saw a design that captured my fancy. Imagine the Acadia "A" on a dark blue background setting, on a ring made of white gold. Beautiful. And one can have one's degree initials and year of graduation on either side of the "A", as well as one's personal initials on the inside of the ring. I am not a big jewellery guy, but I am having a hard time getting my mind off that ring design!
We returned to Port Williams, this time to the community centre. We ended up parking in a section of the parking lot we had not been to before, and noticed PW's very own cenotaph. I had heard there was one, but figured it was just the big sign in front of the community centre, just off the road. But, no. There is a very nice, albeit small, cenotaph. I was so interested in it that I have decided to include a few pictures of it to share with youse.
Interesting, huh? An aspect of Port Williams' history I did not know about. I wonder what other hitherto-unknown things I will discover if I park in yet another unfamiliar part of the parking lot sometime? Maybe Port Williams has its very own red light district!
(Remember: You can click on each image to make it bigger.)
We returned to the city Saturday evening. Due to my iron deficiency, I was pooped after a day of driving around, so I turned in disgustingly early, and slept through the night. Didn't get up until after 10 this morning.
This afternoon, we picked up some soil for the back yard garden. We also drove around and took advantage of the local curbside giveaway, collecting a few items for the house and cottage, all at no cost. Free is good. Don't ever forget that.
This evening I am down here in my home office. Newbie is next to me on his perch atop the computer desk. And I am here writing you guys. Circle of life if you ask me.
You guys have a good evening. I will see you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Post 2355 - Goodbye To The Bargain Shop
Sorry I didn't write on Wednesday. Had to turn in early. Iron.
It's been a long day. Had a hard time getting up this morning.
A store I've shopped at a whole lot since I started working in the other part of the city, shut down today. Since they announced their closure a few months ago, they've been gradually increasing the percentage by which they were selling off their wares.
I've spent a small fortune there. I've replaced nearly my entire sock collection. I can throw out my wireless N router twice, since I've got 2 new ones on deck that I got for 15 dollars each. Bought dvd's to watch at my mother's since there's no internet connection down there. Half price thumb drives and sd cards. Based on advice from a co-worker I've purchased many of the commercial-grade hooks stuck in the pegboard they hung merchandise from. Dad had some hooks but they are of inferior quality and don't jut out as much as the ones I've been buying. They were 10 cents each until Wednesday, when they went down to a nickel apiece.
Their victuals went on sale much more recently. Coffee tins were marked down. I have enough coffee at my mother's to keep me up for years. I have my very own book rack. I have a high quality fixture in the garage that holds tools and the like. Another fixture is like a portable piece of pegboard. I just have to use a couple of the holes to attach them to some studs and I will have an excellent quality peg board to house some of these hooks.
Light bulbs were marked down a lot. I bought plenty of 60 watt ones. I use them, among other things, as security lights over the garage, which is much cheaper than flood lights. Why use flood lights? Not when a regular bulb can cost me only 55 cents or so? The light bulbs will last me for years.
I bought other stuff as well. I got a good half dozen screwdrivers at 70 cents each. They have multiple bits and will be lightly used, but that's the whole idea.
Laundry detergent. Dish detergent. Jeans. CD's. Clock radios. Power bars. Automatic transmission fluid. Oil. I can't remember what all I got.
I will miss the Bargain Shop. Not just the store. The staff were a delight. The manager's name is Ruth, and she is a lovely person. And she and all the other folks who worked there, are now unemployed. I hope and trust they will find new work and soon.
Today I dashed across the street and went into Superstore and got a vegetable tray for the hard working staff. Someone else got them cupcakes. A staff person was lugging coffee, probably paid for by the owner. I hope others bought them things as well.
As I understand it, this particular store had good sales, but the corporate owners decided to shut down most of the stores across the country. The Young Street store was one of the last ones standing.
This is a blow to the community. This part of the city doesn't have many affordable department-type stores. Many people can't afford to get to, let alone shop at, stores in other parts of town. It's just a damned shame that the community will no longer have this outlet.
Thanks for letting me shop there so much the last couple of years. My very best to you. Keep in touch. You all have Blog business cards.
See you tomorrow.
From Bevboy's BlackBerry to Bevboy's Blog!
It's been a long day. Had a hard time getting up this morning.
A store I've shopped at a whole lot since I started working in the other part of the city, shut down today. Since they announced their closure a few months ago, they've been gradually increasing the percentage by which they were selling off their wares.
I've spent a small fortune there. I've replaced nearly my entire sock collection. I can throw out my wireless N router twice, since I've got 2 new ones on deck that I got for 15 dollars each. Bought dvd's to watch at my mother's since there's no internet connection down there. Half price thumb drives and sd cards. Based on advice from a co-worker I've purchased many of the commercial-grade hooks stuck in the pegboard they hung merchandise from. Dad had some hooks but they are of inferior quality and don't jut out as much as the ones I've been buying. They were 10 cents each until Wednesday, when they went down to a nickel apiece.
Their victuals went on sale much more recently. Coffee tins were marked down. I have enough coffee at my mother's to keep me up for years. I have my very own book rack. I have a high quality fixture in the garage that holds tools and the like. Another fixture is like a portable piece of pegboard. I just have to use a couple of the holes to attach them to some studs and I will have an excellent quality peg board to house some of these hooks.
Light bulbs were marked down a lot. I bought plenty of 60 watt ones. I use them, among other things, as security lights over the garage, which is much cheaper than flood lights. Why use flood lights? Not when a regular bulb can cost me only 55 cents or so? The light bulbs will last me for years.
I bought other stuff as well. I got a good half dozen screwdrivers at 70 cents each. They have multiple bits and will be lightly used, but that's the whole idea.
Laundry detergent. Dish detergent. Jeans. CD's. Clock radios. Power bars. Automatic transmission fluid. Oil. I can't remember what all I got.
I will miss the Bargain Shop. Not just the store. The staff were a delight. The manager's name is Ruth, and she is a lovely person. And she and all the other folks who worked there, are now unemployed. I hope and trust they will find new work and soon.
Today I dashed across the street and went into Superstore and got a vegetable tray for the hard working staff. Someone else got them cupcakes. A staff person was lugging coffee, probably paid for by the owner. I hope others bought them things as well.
As I understand it, this particular store had good sales, but the corporate owners decided to shut down most of the stores across the country. The Young Street store was one of the last ones standing.
This is a blow to the community. This part of the city doesn't have many affordable department-type stores. Many people can't afford to get to, let alone shop at, stores in other parts of town. It's just a damned shame that the community will no longer have this outlet.
Thanks for letting me shop there so much the last couple of years. My very best to you. Keep in touch. You all have Blog business cards.
See you tomorrow.
From Bevboy's BlackBerry to Bevboy's Blog!
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Post 2354 - Tuesday
It is past 10:30. I will turn in shortly.
My iron levels were low enough this morning that I had to get some extra sleep today. That didn't stop me from having a nap after I got home from work this evening. It won't stop me from sleeping yet more in the next little while.
Patricia returned to the city this evening. She had been at the cottage for a few days. I was at my mother's for a couple of days. Maybe someone should live in this house in Halifax from time to time, huh?
Something I wanted to mention that I have kept forgetting to is my twitter account. There is content there of a Bevboy nature that you won't see otherwise. For example, whenever I finish reading a book on my kindle, it offers me a chance to tweet that I finished reading the book. This tweet in turn feeds my facebook status, which can launch some discussion about the book in question.
If you care, I just finished reading Peter Criss' book about his life in and out of KISS. It is the first of the KISS members' memoirs that I have read. I have downloaded Ace Frehley's and Gene Simmons'. Paul Stanley is probably working on his now.
I thought Criss was very honest in his book, wasting no opportunity to make himself look like a jerk, even when he was trying to justify some of his slovenly behaviour. I look forward to reading the other 2 books and hope that Paul Stanley does one as well.
I am currently reading a biography of silent film actor Harold Lloyd. It is interesting, but the way it is formatted for the kindle leaves much to be desired. Much. For example, there is a "fun facts" feature sprinkled throughout the book. It is in a different font and presentation, the result being a washed out look that makes it nearly impossible to read on my kindle. No. The e-reader technology isn't perfect, and this is a perfect example of how. When a book with no frills whatsoever is translated to kindle, with any typos corrected, a kindle reading experience can be absolutely fine. Any special formatting, however, can and does affect the reading experience in a way that isn't absolutely fine.
Like you care.
Tomorrow we're having our annual Toastmasters elections. I will yet again be running those elections. I should pimp myself out to a Lion's club or an Oddfellows club or something. I could use the money.
You guys have a good evening. Time for my 6.5 hours of sleep to add to all the other sleep I have had in the last 24 hours.
Bevboy
My iron levels were low enough this morning that I had to get some extra sleep today. That didn't stop me from having a nap after I got home from work this evening. It won't stop me from sleeping yet more in the next little while.
Patricia returned to the city this evening. She had been at the cottage for a few days. I was at my mother's for a couple of days. Maybe someone should live in this house in Halifax from time to time, huh?
Something I wanted to mention that I have kept forgetting to is my twitter account. There is content there of a Bevboy nature that you won't see otherwise. For example, whenever I finish reading a book on my kindle, it offers me a chance to tweet that I finished reading the book. This tweet in turn feeds my facebook status, which can launch some discussion about the book in question.
If you care, I just finished reading Peter Criss' book about his life in and out of KISS. It is the first of the KISS members' memoirs that I have read. I have downloaded Ace Frehley's and Gene Simmons'. Paul Stanley is probably working on his now.
I thought Criss was very honest in his book, wasting no opportunity to make himself look like a jerk, even when he was trying to justify some of his slovenly behaviour. I look forward to reading the other 2 books and hope that Paul Stanley does one as well.
I am currently reading a biography of silent film actor Harold Lloyd. It is interesting, but the way it is formatted for the kindle leaves much to be desired. Much. For example, there is a "fun facts" feature sprinkled throughout the book. It is in a different font and presentation, the result being a washed out look that makes it nearly impossible to read on my kindle. No. The e-reader technology isn't perfect, and this is a perfect example of how. When a book with no frills whatsoever is translated to kindle, with any typos corrected, a kindle reading experience can be absolutely fine. Any special formatting, however, can and does affect the reading experience in a way that isn't absolutely fine.
Like you care.
Tomorrow we're having our annual Toastmasters elections. I will yet again be running those elections. I should pimp myself out to a Lion's club or an Oddfellows club or something. I could use the money.
You guys have a good evening. Time for my 6.5 hours of sleep to add to all the other sleep I have had in the last 24 hours.
Bevboy
Monday, June 3, 2013
Post 2353 - Monday
I'm back in the city. I return to work in the morning.
Without getting into any real details, my mother's appointment went well today. Before hand, I was cleaning around her house a bit, and cleaning out the back seat of my car. I rescued and consumed that sandwich just in the nick of time. Another few days, and its rancidity would have reached a point where eating it might have made me sick. Phew. I'm know you're as relieved as I am.
I don't know how car's back seat becomes so cluttered. It is as if people break into my car and leave crap back there. I can't imagine why anyone would do that, but I can think of no other explanation.
Newbie enjoyed his time at my mother's. He always does. He loves to run downstairs into Dad's old workshop and roam around looking for who knows what. He spends more time down there than I do. Literally. I guess I should spend more time there, but I like being out in the garage. As I mentioned before, it makes me feel closer to my father.
Speaking of Dad, June 4th, tomorrow, would have been his 82nd birthday. He died one month and one day short of turning 79. For the longest time after he passed, I kept expecting him to walk through the door and boisterously say hello to me as I sat in front of the television. Now, I spend a weekend there by myself (except for Newbie), and know that I won't see my father, and realize that my mother will likely never spend another night in the house again, either. I keep wondering where the time has gone.
I am pretty sure I haven't linked to this before here, but it is on my Facebook. This video was shot on June 4th 2009, Dad's final birthday. I took a day off work because I felt it might be his last birthday. Don't ask me why I felt that way. I just did.
I took my video camera with me. Got the server at the Old Gummer's restaurant to record the following:
Sniff!
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Without getting into any real details, my mother's appointment went well today. Before hand, I was cleaning around her house a bit, and cleaning out the back seat of my car. I rescued and consumed that sandwich just in the nick of time. Another few days, and its rancidity would have reached a point where eating it might have made me sick. Phew. I'm know you're as relieved as I am.
I don't know how car's back seat becomes so cluttered. It is as if people break into my car and leave crap back there. I can't imagine why anyone would do that, but I can think of no other explanation.
Newbie enjoyed his time at my mother's. He always does. He loves to run downstairs into Dad's old workshop and roam around looking for who knows what. He spends more time down there than I do. Literally. I guess I should spend more time there, but I like being out in the garage. As I mentioned before, it makes me feel closer to my father.
Speaking of Dad, June 4th, tomorrow, would have been his 82nd birthday. He died one month and one day short of turning 79. For the longest time after he passed, I kept expecting him to walk through the door and boisterously say hello to me as I sat in front of the television. Now, I spend a weekend there by myself (except for Newbie), and know that I won't see my father, and realize that my mother will likely never spend another night in the house again, either. I keep wondering where the time has gone.
I am pretty sure I haven't linked to this before here, but it is on my Facebook. This video was shot on June 4th 2009, Dad's final birthday. I took a day off work because I felt it might be his last birthday. Don't ask me why I felt that way. I just did.
I took my video camera with me. Got the server at the Old Gummer's restaurant to record the following:
Sniff!
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Post 2352 - An Extra Day
Sunday night. Pretty much Monday morning. I'm still in the Valley.
Turns out my mother has an important meeting at her nursing home on Monday. I will attend. Just as well because the things I should have got done on Sunday, didn't get done.
That means my car still has that six month old sandwich in the back seat. I recall I prepared it with extra mayo, so I really should consume it soon. I think there may be some, um, overripe bananas there as well. Tomorrow. I'll do it tomorrow. Yep.
I did take Mom shopping on Sunday. She likes that teeny tiny used clothing place in New Minas that you wouldn't even know was there unless someone told you or you happened to be at the sushi place next door and wondered why there was a "cash only" sign in the window and ventured inside to see why so many elderly women frequented the establishment.
I ended up buying a couple of summer shirts and a pair of shorts. I overdressed when I came up this weekend. The heat nearly did me in on Saturday so I bought some lighter clothes.
Of course by the time I got back here and ate supper I had been up for about six hours. Nap time!
I've spent the balance of the evening watching some eps of The Americans and the second Harold and Kumar film. I love these movies. Wish they'd make them more frequently.
Time for bed. Been nearly 5 hours since my last nap. Frigging low iron levels are kicking my ass.
See you tomorrow.
From Bevboy's BlackBerry to Bevboy's Blog!
Turns out my mother has an important meeting at her nursing home on Monday. I will attend. Just as well because the things I should have got done on Sunday, didn't get done.
That means my car still has that six month old sandwich in the back seat. I recall I prepared it with extra mayo, so I really should consume it soon. I think there may be some, um, overripe bananas there as well. Tomorrow. I'll do it tomorrow. Yep.
I did take Mom shopping on Sunday. She likes that teeny tiny used clothing place in New Minas that you wouldn't even know was there unless someone told you or you happened to be at the sushi place next door and wondered why there was a "cash only" sign in the window and ventured inside to see why so many elderly women frequented the establishment.
I ended up buying a couple of summer shirts and a pair of shorts. I overdressed when I came up this weekend. The heat nearly did me in on Saturday so I bought some lighter clothes.
Of course by the time I got back here and ate supper I had been up for about six hours. Nap time!
I've spent the balance of the evening watching some eps of The Americans and the second Harold and Kumar film. I love these movies. Wish they'd make them more frequently.
Time for bed. Been nearly 5 hours since my last nap. Frigging low iron levels are kicking my ass.
See you tomorrow.
From Bevboy's BlackBerry to Bevboy's Blog!
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Post 2351 - Saturday
Hi.
Very late at night. I am at my mother's yet again. Patricia is at the cottage. Newbie is here with me.
I drove up this morning. I mowed most of the lawn before I went to pick up Mom. She wanted to go shopping.
We ended up having lunch at Rosie's in Wolfville. Then to Lawtons and Superstore in New Minas. Then icecream at Dairy Queen. Then back to her nursing home. Then I came back here and slept for a couple of hours.
The heat sapped what energy I had. It was beastly hot today. After my long nap I went back outside and finished mowing the lawn.
I have spent the bulk of the evening in front of my free tv. I watched a couple episodes of "The Americans" before the season enders to "Orphan Black" and "In the Flesh". Now I'm watching a film called "Zombie Apocalypse". Ving Rhames and the frizzy haired guy from "My Name Is Earl" are the only two I recognize. Rhames was also in the big budget remake of "Dawn of the Dead" several years ago. Wonder how he felt being in this cheapo movie.
I will turn in after this is over. When I do get up I have to clean out my car. Misplaced a sandwich in the back seat last year and really should eat it soon.
Found out about the existence of another guy named Bev this evening. We could probably form a baseball team by now. We'd all throw like girls though. Wouldn't get us too far in the standings.
Have a pleasant evening, folks. See you tomorrow.
From Bevboy's BlackBerry to Bevboy's Blog!
Very late at night. I am at my mother's yet again. Patricia is at the cottage. Newbie is here with me.
I drove up this morning. I mowed most of the lawn before I went to pick up Mom. She wanted to go shopping.
We ended up having lunch at Rosie's in Wolfville. Then to Lawtons and Superstore in New Minas. Then icecream at Dairy Queen. Then back to her nursing home. Then I came back here and slept for a couple of hours.
The heat sapped what energy I had. It was beastly hot today. After my long nap I went back outside and finished mowing the lawn.
I have spent the bulk of the evening in front of my free tv. I watched a couple episodes of "The Americans" before the season enders to "Orphan Black" and "In the Flesh". Now I'm watching a film called "Zombie Apocalypse". Ving Rhames and the frizzy haired guy from "My Name Is Earl" are the only two I recognize. Rhames was also in the big budget remake of "Dawn of the Dead" several years ago. Wonder how he felt being in this cheapo movie.
I will turn in after this is over. When I do get up I have to clean out my car. Misplaced a sandwich in the back seat last year and really should eat it soon.
Found out about the existence of another guy named Bev this evening. We could probably form a baseball team by now. We'd all throw like girls though. Wouldn't get us too far in the standings.
Have a pleasant evening, folks. See you tomorrow.
From Bevboy's BlackBerry to Bevboy's Blog!
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