Monday, December 31, 2018

Post 3821 - Yes. Still Alive

Hello. Remember me?

I am terribly sorry not to have written in more than a week. I had every intention of writing last week, but on Christmas Day I took ill with a man cold. The really nasty one. I was asleep more than I was awake, for a few days there.

I began to feel human again on Sunday afternoon. Just in time for Patricia to start to get my man cold. Two days later, I don't think it has peaked yet.

I am still recovering. It is the early minutes of 2019 as I write this.

Christmas, even when I am feeling well, has become a shadow of its former self for me, especially since my parents have both died. My sisters and I no longer speak to one another. I am not interested in breaking the barrier between us, any more than they are. It is a long story, and it got me in trouble the last time I discussed it here, so I won't rehash it, but you can search through the old entries in the blog and see what is up.

And, too, New Years is no longer that big a deal. We saw it in. I went out on the front deck and observed some fireworks coming from the next subdivision. A couple of girls walked by the street. We wished each other a happy new year. A moment ago, I returned inside. Patricia was already upstairs getting ready for bed. I went downstairs to the little pantry we keep in the laundry room and grabbed a 12 pack of ginger ale, putting most of the cans in the fridge. I wandered back downstairs and made my way to the home office, fired up this computer and decided to say hello.

I used to make a lot of resolutions on January 1st. Most of them went by the wayside within days. But I do want to make at least one promise to you now. I deeply regret not having written more blog posts in 2018. There was a variety of factors that affected my productivity, but the one I will point to is a bad habit I got into of turning in relatively early with the intention of getting up after a while and writing a blog post. Invariably, I would stay in bed, thereby foiling that intention.  I will do whatever I can to reverse this trend. I will write a blog post, AND THEN head off to bed, sleeping better because I had produced a post for you. How do you feel about that?

It is now past 1 ayem on January 1st, 2019. I think I will turn in. After all, I have produced a blog post, and have earned it.

See you tomorrow.

Bevboy


Sunday, December 23, 2018

Post 3820 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day Fourteen

Still playing catch up.

Here is the Thursday entry in the contest. It is also the last entry in this year's extravaganza, as I was off on Friday, and off on the 24th. Only 14 entries this year. Get over it.




These pictures were taken following Patricia's Pilates class on Thursday night. Emily, another class participant, who knows someone I went to university with and who shares my opinion of him, took these pictures. Thank you, Emily. I thought you had good taste before you took the pictures. Now I think you have exquisite taste.



The extravaganza is done for another year. I don't know if I will do it again next year or not. Depends on many factors, like whether you want me to do it. If not, then I can find something else to do in December, like, I don't know, sleep or something.

Sleep. Man, that sounds good.



Will catch you up on my latest life developments tomorrow. I know you all care so much.

See you then.

Bevboy







Post 3819 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day Thirteen

(Playing catch up)

Sorry for not writing the last few days. Crazy times.

Here is my Wednesday entry. Working hard to meet a Frank deadline. Did I make the deadline? You'll have to check out the next issue to find out.


(Yes. I met my deadline!)

See you shortly...

Bevboy


Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Post 3818 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day Twelve

Sitting at home. Working on a Frank article. Had to come up with a tie picture.

I looked at my webcam, which I have used in previous years for tie pictures. But then I remembered the app that powers it, and some of the cool features it has.

What cool features, you wonder?

These ones!





See you tomorrow.



Bevboy


Monday, December 17, 2018

Friday, December 14, 2018

Post 3816 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day Ten

Day ten, already? What? Are you kidding me?

No. I am serious. Deadly serious. Serious as a hangnail on date night, folks. That serious.

Meet my friend Frank Sabean. I first met him a couple of years ago, at the McDonald's on Quinpool Road. I had just ordered some breakfast and looked over past the garbage cans. This older man was looking over in my direction.

And I paused.

I thought I was looking at a ghost. This man, who was wearing a hat, looked for all the world like my father, who had died in 2010!



My jaw dropped open. I shook my head. I rubbed my eyes. I turned away and looked back again. But, nope. The man was still looking in my direction.

After I got my food, I wandered over to this man and apologized for staring at him. I told him who I was and why I was behaving that way. He asked if my father had passed, and I said he had. The ice broken, I introduced myself. He did the same thing.



Since then, we have had a sporadic, but pleasant, series of altercations. We run into each other at that particular McDonald's, including this morning. Patricia has met him quite a few times, too, and remarked on the similarity in his appearance with Dad's.

I met Frank during a vulnerable period in my life. It was a year after my mom had died. I was growing used to being estranged from the remainder of my family. Seeing this man I suppose reminded me of the family I no longer had. It was a strange feeling, but I have grown used to it.



Frank is a good man, with a grown family. He was a working man like my father was. I am honoured to have met his acquaintance and to see him from time to time.

And he bought me a coffee this morning!!

Merry Christmas, Frank. See you soon, sir.

And I will see you soon, too, my lovelies.

Bevboy







Post 3815 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day Nine

Welcome to day nine, ladies and gentlemen!

This one was special. My friend Brad Dryden at Mix 96.5 in Halifax reached out to me on Facebook and invited me to drop by the studios for a quick chat and a Christmas tie picture or three. I also would have the pleasure of meeting Natalie Fournier, his co-host.




How could I say no?

So, mid morning on Thursday, I drove to the studios, about a five minute drive from my work. I presented myself to the receptionist, who called Brad to fetch me, and who then gave me an authentic Mix 96.5 pen. Not one of those fake Mix 96.5 pens you may have heard about that explode in your face once you push that little button. This was the genuine article!



They came and got me. Natalie was even nicer than I had heard, by the way. They took me into the studios. I had last been there back when Griff and Caroline were still at the former KOOL FM. Since they were let go in 2013 and are now at ... an opposing station, and the station changed format also back in 2013 to Radio 96.5. Many, many, many changes in staff later, they threw in the towel and morphed to Mix 96.5, which I think we can all agree is an improvement.



In studio, we chatted about radio, and some recent developments in the market. It is a conversation I enjoy having. Some people like to talk about sports. I like to talk about the comings and goings in local radio markets. And local unsolved murders and missing persons cases. Sue me.

After that, we posed for some pics. After I asked, Natalie said it was okay if I put my arm around her, and thanked me for asking. Just seems like the thing to do, before I put my arm around someone I don't know.



About 10:25, I left Brad and Natalie and grabbed a sub at the nearby Subway before returning to work. I took a shorter lunch hour to make up for the extra time I was gone.

Brad, my friend, it was a pleasure to see you again. I regret that I hadn't kept more in touch when you returned. And, Natalie, what a distinct pleasure to meet you yesterday. I hope our paths cross again.

Day nine is down and out. What happens in day ten? Wait a few minutes and you'll find out!

Bevboy











Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Post 3814 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravagazna 2018 - Day Eight

Well, hello there, handsome!

Day eight. My goodness. Where has the time go?

You know that I love my hair. It is the best hair ever. I have the best hair.

But I will let you in on a little secret.


I have help.

I used tea tree-based products, shampoos and conditioners.

Here is proof.




See you tomorrow.

Bevboy




Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Post 3813 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day Seven

I eat too much.

Most of this year's entries are focused around food. I am sorry about that.




Here is another example. After breakfast at the Subway on Argyle Street this morning, the lovely manager, whose name I keep forgetting even though she has told me several times, agreed to pose with me.



She posed with me last year or the year before.

Like I said, I eat too much.

See you tomorrow.

Bevboy

Monday, December 10, 2018

Post 3812 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day Six

And, the beginning of week two.

On the way home we decided we were hungry and wanted soup. We were driving through Fairview. Rather than go to our go-to place in Lakeside, we went to Best Choice Chinese Food. A dear friend, now deceased, used to work there and give me some food that would otherwise be thrown out. I developed a hankering for the place.

The portions are huge. The prices are good. The menu options are such that one can spend an hour regarding all the items before selecting something, and even then you'll second guess your selection.

Anyway, here I am, enjoying some wonton soup.


And, as a bonus, here is Patricia also enjoying a hot, steaming bowl of wonton soup!



Good times. Good times!

See you tomorrow.

Bevboy


Sunday, December 9, 2018

Post 3811 - Sunday Night Stuff

Welcome to Sunday night, the end of yet another weekend.

I had some work to do this morning. After I got home, Patricia and I (mostly Patricia) did some cleaning up around the house. Mid-afternoon, we transported some stuff to the storage space I rented last week, after which we bought a Christmas tree, which Kent is selling for 20 bucks.

This evening we watched a couple more episodes of "Outlander".

The highlight of the day for me was when Patricia found something I misplaced nearly a year ago: my digital camera, which was in a protected camera case. I couldn't find the bloody thing all year. Finally, she found it, and I was so happy. The batteries in it were dead. The spare batteries were too. So I pulled some fresher batteries from storage and put them in. And the camera sprang to life. It had even kept track of the date and time after all these months. So very pleased.

I know that most of the time for most pictures, I just use my camera phone; but if I want to take a better quality picture, I need this camera. And now I have it again.

Another work week beckons. I should probably turn in so I am fresh as a daisy.

See you tomorrow.

Bevboy


Saturday, December 8, 2018

Post 3810 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day Five

What? Day Five already? What are you talking about? Get on with your bad self?

A long day at work. Still getting over the euphoria of my hair cut on Thursday at the hands of Helen. Nothing is better than chilling out on the chair in the living room.



Or is it?

See you soon.

Bevboy



Post 3809 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day Four

What? Day four already? Get out of here!

Yeah. Still playing catch up.

Thursday morning we went to Smitty's in the downtown. We both had the Salmon Eggs Benny. I think the appeal of that place for breakfast is behind us. The coffee is on repeat. You can drink as much of it as you want for one price. But the coffee tastes such that you're a hero in my book if you can finish one cup. And the salmon was salty in a way that I cannot express in polite words. I don't think we're going back.




I look pretty happy, don't I?

We had a party after work, so a bunch of us hied over there to the Dooly's pool hall on Kempt Road. Place is like the Tardis inside. Seems so small from the outside. Huge and sprawling inside. We had pizza and finger foods and allegedly some prizes. I bugged out of there just past 5:30.

Helen's hair place is pretty much next door. I needed a bit of a trim so I went in, and here is what happened:







I swear Helen cut a lot of hair off me, but Patricia couldn't notice the difference. I was a little hurt.

Helen washed my hair after cutting it, running her expert fingers over my scalp with such passion and ferocity that I felt like a rag doll in the jaws of a bear. I decided to let her have her way with me, to go along for the ride, to see where this would go. At one point, my foot started pounding the floor, as if I were a dog whose back is getting scratched. I may have shouted out the pin number to my bank card while reaching for my wallet. It is possible I asked her to marry me. I can no longer remember. I was not responsible for my actions.

All too soon, after buying scores of unneeded hair care products and leaving a mighty fine tip, I found myself outside, and alone, my nose pressed up to the window, waving to this magnificent woman, who had moved on to her next... client. I felt used and used up and made my way back to the car, where I could cry in peace.

Sigh.

Day four in the 2018 Christmas Tie Extravaganza was history.

What would happen next?

Wait a few minutes and you'll know.

Bevboy


Post 3808 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day Three

Did you miss me?

Sorry I haven't written the last few days. Work. Sleep. Repeat.

Anyway, let's play catch up!

Wednesday, day three. After work, I went to the Frank bunker and worked for a couple of hours while Patricia was trying to get out of one of those escape rooms that have taken root in the city, and which sound like a blast.

Frank grunt/scribe Paul Hutchings was delighted to pose with me. Can't you tell?







Seriously, can't you tell?

See you in a moment!

Bevboy


Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Post 3807 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day Two

What? Wasn't it just like five minutes ago when you wrote last time, Bevboy? Are you favouring us with two posts in one day? 


Yes. Yes, I am. Judge me not.

Tuesday night at Casa Bevboy. Newbie was on my lap. I grabbed my phone and figured out how to point the camera back at myself. I hear this is known as "selfie" mode, but don't quote me on that. This computer stuff is so new to me.




Hard to get the little so-and-so in the picture along with my glorious tie. But I managed somehow.

Tomorrow... day three!!

See you then.

Bevboy


Post 3806 - Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza 2018 - Day One

Come on. Come all. Welcome to the 2018 edition of Bevboy's Christmas Tie Extravaganza.

This is year 12 I believe for this special event. My goodness. Do I have nothing better to do?

Well, apparently not. I will put up two posts this evening. I didn't have a chance to put up yesterday's pictures, yesterday.

We went to dinner at the Swiss Chalet in... hmm, is it Bayer's Lake or Clayton Park? Or sort of between the two places, on Lacewood Drive? You tell me.

At any rate, here I am about to chow down on this year's Festive Special. It was a taste treat.



Patricia saw me eating the chicken with great gusto and remarked that she still remembered the time when some people from her part of the province came to the big city of Halifax, where they were fed a chicken dinner. Nix nix on the utensils. They picked up that chicken and jammed it into their faces until every bit of nourishment was from that poor bird. They would look at me aghast, using a knife and fork.

More in a bit.

Bevboy


Sunday, December 2, 2018

Post 3805 - Sunday Night

My weekend is over.

Friday morning I rented a storage facility here in the city. I went from there to the Valley house, where I stayed over night.

Friday night, I called the son of a man who was murdered in Halifax long ago. He is tentatively amenable to speaking to me as long as his siblings are on board, too. If they are not, then I am in a bit of a pickle.

I returned to the city Saturday morning, putting some stuff in the storage facility that I had rented the day before. I went to the Mission Mart nearby and got a wide screen computer monitor for seven dollars. They put the price sticker right on the screen. I had to squirt just a bit of WD-40 on it. After about 10 minutes, the sticker peeled off.

In the afternoon, after a quick nap, we went to downtown Halifax. Patricia was taking a calligraphy course at the NSLC on Clyde Street, and I had some research to do at the library.

My research was very successful.

I was able to get a good photocopy of an excellent article about a long-ago murder in Halifax,which had been written about in a supplement to the Toronto Star in 1971. They won't make a PDF for you, just paper copies. I scanned in the document last evening, so now I have a really good PDF of that old article.

This article was part of a series on vintage unsolved murders and missing persons cases. Against all odds, the library had the other four parts in that series. I have photocopies of all of those articles.

After Patricia's course, we had dinner at Mexicali Rosa's. Fajitas. They do a good job of them there. We returned home. I did the scanning in that I mentioned and turned in for the evening around 10:30.

I didn't really get up until noon. And, by 1:30 or so, I took a nap.

Today was one of those days when I was going to do a lot and did very little indeed. Now, now, here it is 10:30 and I am facing the end of another weekend and a return to work in the morning. Where do these weekends go?

I am off my sleep pattern like crazy. But I really should make an effort to get yet more sleep.

See you tomorrow.

Bevboy