Smog

Was in Toronto on Friday last week.....

Smog Alert....

No Kidding!!

Bragging Rights

I bought mom's car in October.... October the 6th, to be exact, was the first full day of inspecting with this car.....

The mileage that day was 144,028 ....

Tonight when I parked out front, it was 200,521 .... 56,400 in just under 8 months.....

at least you know where I spend my time ( and money! ) .....

it sure is comfortable though... my home away from home

Time

Time in a Bottle.......




















Thyme in a Flower Box

Sleeper

I spent the day in Cambridge today, at a seminar for "High Value" home evaluations....

My boss, and 3 of the guys drove down this morning from Lindsay area.... I went from Brantford..... 35 minutes it took me; THEY left Little Britain at 6:40... and beat me to the seminar.... shut up Storey!!!

The morning session started late, because there were 4 people from Grenville area ( near Cornwall, I think ) who were on a tele-conference link thingy........ except that they couldn't hear...... about every 3 minutes, they'd interupt us and say " WE CAN'T HEAR YOU" ... it was pretty annoying actually!

After 3 or 4 interuptions like that, one of them said : Is there any way to make it so we can hear better?

I leaned over to my boss, and said... "take a car, fill the tank with gas, AND DRIVE HERE ...." I felt that would have done wonders to help them HEAR ....."

sigh.. I'm so cynical....

Eventually, they hung up and went home mad ( no wait, they were already HOME ) .....

anyway... things got going a little better once they hung up!! however, after a while, the morning session dragged on and on.... most of the material was so basic, that we could have taught THEM.......

Lunch time came and we were pretty relieved, figuring that the afternoon session would be more helpful and more interesting... boy were we wrong!!

After a great lunch of MSG SOAKED chinese food, we began a two hour session on high end art appraisal, which unbeknownst to us ( is unbeknownst even a word ? ) had nearly NO benefit for loss prevention at all.... yawn

There were about 30 or 40 people in the afternoon session.... all of whom, for the most part, fidgeted, giggled, snoozed, blinked, nodded, did just about anything to stay awake.... all the while, wondering " WHY AGAIN did we pay $$ to come here for this????????"

In the middle of the session, I felt a creative surge hit me...... and put my pen to paper and wrote a poem..... you KNOW it must have been boring..........

here's what I came up with....

+++++++++++++++++++

I'm stuck here on this afternoon
just like I was in school
I think the MSG's kicked in
I just began to drool!

I am not sure just what I'll do
with all this "ART" info
If only I was near the door
to BRANTFORD I would go!

I've tried to pay attention,
but here is my excuse :
Since every one is sleeping,
I ask you... Whats the USE?

I'm working though, I'm taking notes
and writing more and more
but find it quite distracting
since my boss began to snore!



If you happen to know anybody that is hiring, please let me know!!!

Weekend....

Well, my weekends seem to go by SOOO fast, when I have the kids.... this past weekend was a blur.... but a good blur!!

Friday afternoon, I left Port Perry just before 1 pm.... and was home before the weekend traffic got out of hand.... Friday night, we rented pizza and ate a movie..... ( based on the heart burn I had, it FELT like that was what we did!!! ) ....

we watched Night at the Museum.... I'm not much into fantasy movies, but this one was really neat.... it's one that I would like to buy someday....

Around 8:30 Friday night, Anna and I ran over to the mall to get her some track pants ..... then took her home, and ran Taylor over to Moose Winooskies to meet some of his friends.... I picked him up at 11:00 .. only cause I'm OLD and can't stay up til all hours on the weekends like I used to!! ( he WANTED to stay out til midnight...) sigh.. it sucks to get old!!

Saturday morning, we headed out around 10:30 to go to Muskoka Baptist Conference.... Carol invited me ( and the kids ) to come along with their praise team to help with the worship on Sunday.... It was a taxing two services for Carol... I didn't know several of the songs, and I'm an old fart, really.... no, wait... STICK IN THE MUD..... and I have this "SCOWL" look on my face when I'm uncomfortable about something.... I think Carol aged 20 years this weekend, thanks to me!

The kids had a wonderful time with their cousins.... and we got to see quite a few people we knew at MBC ... so it was a fun weekend.... thank you Carol!!!

Monday, we left Huntsville around 10:30 ... got home just before 2.... we went home for a bit, then went out to see Shrek 3 ... what a fun movie..... WE LOVE SHREK at our house.... it was a fun time....

After the movie, we made a mad dash to Ted and Ang's house in Simcoe for a BBQ ... we rolled in there around 6:30 and were gone within an hour.. nothing like dine and dash eh??!!!!

It was really hard to take the kids home and then go back to work... I dropped them off just after 8, and by 9:30, I'd been home, had the garbage and recycling out, car packed, house tidied up ( ok, we weren't home long enough to MESS IT UP! ) and back on the road to Peterborough... got to Peterborough just after 11:30 .... sigh... I love weekends... I HATE when they're over!!!
Here are some photos of the weekend.....

Reflections

Friday morning, I was inspecting on Scugog Island.... Saw this reflection after my second stop... pretty eh?

ITCHY

ever since Mother's day of 1999, THIS stuff gives me the HEEBY JEEBIES ...........

we planted 250 white pine trees right through a huge patch of poison ivy at the farm in Blessington..... the sad part is this:

The only trees that survived were mowed down by the lawn mower and I have been scratching for 8 years............

I know, TMI!!!

Sign

this made me laugh!

Across the River

Our family lost another friend yesterday.... Shirley Shaw died early yesterday morning... she and Hank are close friends of my mom and dad.... their son Kirk was a good buddy of mine when I was growing up.... Their daughter Karen is married to Hal York, pastor of mom and dad's church....

sigh........ in the last year, 6 of my close friends growing up, have lost a parent, 4 of them from mom and dad's church in Belleville..... it is starting to hit close to home....

Yesterday as I was driving in my dad's car, this song came on a cd he'd left in the car..... God's timing is pretty neat....

sigh....

Across The River
Triumphant Quartet

I've often prayed for God to heal a loved one
and I've pleaded for his touch upon their life
I've rejoiced with every prayer I've seen Him answer
But at times I've had to watch and wonder why

Why would God not choose to send His healing
to a precious saint, in their time of need?
Oh but I believe that just across the river
He's performing miracles I cannot see!

Chorus

Across the river, there is no sickness
across the river, there is no sorrow on that shore!
All the pain will be erased with one look on Jesus' face
across the river, we'll be healed for evermore!

If I live, I live because of mercy
just to serve Him with each borrowed breath of life
Oh but if I die I'll still receive a healing,
Waiting for me, over on the other side!!

Across the river, there is no sickness
Across the river, there is no sorrow on that shore
All the pain will be erased with one look on Jesus' face
across the river, we'll be healed for evermore!

Spring in Peterborough

One of the things I LOVE about spring is Lilacs.....







This is the view east from the top of Armour Hill ....












This is the world famous Peterborough Lift Lock..... Lock # 21, in the Trent Severn Waterway canal system.. ( Click here for Wikpedia's entry on this lock ) this thing is like a gigantic car lift in a garage.... it's unique for this day and age.. it was earth shattering when it opened in 1904.

Most locks rise 6 or 8 feet; this one lifts boats nearly 65 feet into the air... incredible!! I'm gonna get on an air mattress this summer and go UP the thing!!!





This is the Westclox Tower, just at the top of Armour Road.... Western Clock company began manufacturing clocks in Peterborough in 1919.... They became Westclox in 1922 and built this building that year.....
Production stopped, from what I've read, in the early 80's ....











Ok then.. enough of the History lesson for today....

Tomorrow, we are going to discuss Science and Math ( should be a short lesson!! )

More Photos

Mother's Day Poem

The pastor shared this today at church... it's very fitting!

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.....
..............Is The Hand That Rules The World

Blessings on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace,
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;

Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mother's first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow--

Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission
Here upon our natal sod!
Keep, oh, keep the young heart open
Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages
Are from mother-love impearled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky--

Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

William Ross Wallace

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

I got to spend yesterday afternoon, and night, and today with my mom ( and dad ) .... it was really nice.. and quite relaxing. We met Carol and her kids and Bruce/Tanya and their kids, at the Lumber Mill Restaurant in Stirling.... it was very nice.....


Today, I went to church in Belleville and got to sit beside my mom in church.. that hasn't happened in a while... it is exciting that mom is out to church!


The pastor spoke on II Tim 1 -

5 Contributions of a MOM in the home.


[1] Transparent Tenderness ( Compassion )

[2] Genuine Faith ( Real Spirituality )

[3] Inner Confidence ( Inherent Strength )

[4] Self-less Love ( Loving even when it hurts )

[5] Self Control ( Putting first things first )


The more I listened, the more I realized that my mom embodies all of those. The pastor told about some Biblical Scholars, who were debating which translation of Scripture was best.... the one notable answer was when one of the scholars said : " I like my mom's translation best; she translated it into Real Life."


cool eh?!


the one thing from that list above that stood about about my mom is her tender spirit. If ever, in the last 44 years, I needed a shoulder to cry on, it has been my mom that I turned to.... She not only has a very soft understanding spirit, but she has been through a lot of hurt in her life, and all of it without a complaint....it's easier to seek "understanding" from someone who's been there....


anyway... I love you lots mom! Thank you for continuing to be there in spite of all of the difficulties you have faced.


here are some pics from last night and today....

Nestleton

Pretty view from the top of the hill, east bound on 7A last night on my way home....

boring week for photos EH?!

Gayle, Andrew and me ......

Mom sent this picture to me today.... Pretty funny HEY GAYLE??

and would you LOOK at the expression on your face...........

sheeeeeeeesh!! I'm not sure what I'd done or said.. but you didn't seem to appreciate it......

and your face isn't much happier than Andrews.... !!

Oh, and check out expression on Kathy's face.... I think what she was shocked at... was the speedos Andrew and I were wearing!!!!!

funny eh? I still have the same hairline!!

Thursday

have had a snakey couple of days... long days...

Got rained on today but not bad... stood in a drive shed for a while, til the rain let up...

The clouds after the rain were really pretty... so in keeping with my penchant for clouds..... here you go!!

After the rain, there was this neat mist in the air... spooky kinda... but sure was nice

Tory Hill Post Office

The Postal Code:

K0L 2Y0

The Address :

18663 Highway 118 West

The Building:

Weekend

well the weekends seem to go faster and faster.... This past weekend went by like a whirlwind....




Friday night, we ordered pizza and did VERY little.... watched some tv, and went to bed early... Taylor had a job interview Saturday morning at Sobeys in Paris... he applied for a job there a few weeks ago, and finally got an interview.......I think I was more nervous than he was!! He will hopefully hear from them this week ....


Saturday around lunch time, the girls left to go to a bridal shower for their cousin in Cambridge... so after they left, Taylor and I went to see Spider Man 3 ... what a good movie.... lots of far fetched fantasy, but hey.. it was still good!


Saturday after the movie, I dropped Taylor at home, and left to go to the Gaither Concert in London... it was quite good... I've been a few times to Gaither concerts... this one was smaller, in terms of group names that came.... Gaither Vocal Band, Signature Sound, Jeff & Sherry Easter, Gordon Mote, Linda Randle and Ben Speer were the "group" ....

I met my friends Steve and Pam Mortley there, had supper with them, and rode with them to the concert.... After the concert, my friends Randy and June Davidson came to stay at my place... I left a few minutes early, so i could get home and make the bed up... ( I am proud to say that I had clean sheets on and last years' EASTER candy ( 2006 ) on the pillow before they arrived!! The towels, though, were still in the washing machine and were dry just in time for Sunday evening church! ugh!! )





We all went to church at BCC Sunday.. my friend Jenny and her mom came over for lunch with all of us... it was really neat to have my kitchen full of people again!!











We were short one chair... Randy, being the servant type, offered to sit on the stool..... cracked us RIGHT up, the way his chin rested on the table!!!!











I had to leave just before we had dessert to go pick Anna up (* she'd been at a friends for a sleep over ) ... when I got back, the kitchen was spotless... this was the clean up gang in my kitchen... sigh!


YOUZ GUYS ( I hate the plural YOU ) ... should come over and clean up my place more OFTEN!!








anyway... I came back to Peterborough late last night... got in just before midnight....





.... and am back at it again....





I can't wait til I'm old enough to retire... at this stage, I'm going to be 117 by the time I have enough saved to retire....





I think I might take a second job to save for retirement....I'm practicing up for that.... here's what I have memorized so far......








"Do you want fries with that??!"

Over and Over again

I got to go to the Gaither concert last night.... Jeff and Sherry Easter sang, among others...

they sang this song... made my spine tingle... bought the track.. can't wait to sing it!!!



Over and Over



I’ve stood on the bank of a wide raging river
Trusting that I’d get across
I’ve made my way through some valleys and deserts
Believing I’d never get lost
I’ve been at the foot of what felt like Mt Everest
Knowing I’d have the strength for the climb
Through every trial, each test and temptation,
One thing is sure every time

Chorus

Over and over, again and again
God is faithful!
Over and over, again and again
Through it all He’s made me able
To stand and survive,
To come through alive
When it sure looked like I couldn’t win
Jesus is with me
So I’ll claim the victory
Over and over again!


If you ask me why I have no hesitation
God does what He says He will do
I’d simply say every battle has taught me
There’s nothing He won’t see me through
So why should I dwell on the hardships and struggles
When I look just beyond them I see
The way this will end is with great celebration
And deep in my heart I believe!!

Al My Pal

Have I ever told you about my friend Al ??? Al and his wife Rhonda have been friends .. good friends, since 1990 something er other.... Al ran the second cup coffee shop in the plaza for a while, then he worked for Corporate Tim Hortons for a while.. then he ran Al's Diner ... ok, RHONDA ran it, but Al cooked!



anyway... In January, Al my Pal left to go to Kandahar to run, among other things, the Tim Hortons on the base there... is that cool or what?









anyway... It is morning in kandahar now.... he got up way early to call back to his family who live in Madoc.....

At about 9:30 Ontario time tonight, on his way back from the payphontes to his uh tent!....this is what he saw.....



COOL or what?!?!?!?

Abby's Track Meet

Monday Abby participated in a Track Meet at CBA ... It was bittersweet... cause it's the last track meet any of our kids will be in, at Central Baptist Academy....

Kind of hard to imagine that my youngest will be graduating from Public School and be going to high school in the fall....


Anyway, at the track meet, she signed up for 5 events :
Standing Long Jump
Shot Put
Soft Ball Throw
100 Metre
1500 Metre


Keep in mind, the 1500 is MORE than a kilometre... 1.5 kms, to be exact!! Anyway, Abby started out pretty well on the 1500, but by the 2nd half of the 2nd lap, she was having a really hard time breathing..... I walked with her for the last 1 1/2 laps.... cause I was really afraid she'd have some sort of Asthmatic attack... At one point, she was pretty sure she should lie down on the track and rest up!!! I told her she could if she wanted but I would pick her up and carry her the rest of the way if she did!!! Bless her heart... she finished the race!!

I was sooo proud of her!!


Here's a few pictures from the meet....

Tuesday

I am at my folks again.... the food is good!!
( well it's BETTER.... mom's back in the kitchen.. no offence dad.. but we missed you mom!!! )

anyway, I'm here to sing at a funeral today for Ernie Belch ... Ernie was the pastor at mom and dad's church for several years.... he and his wife Evelyn became very dear to me.....

I came down last night, for the visitation, and am heading out shortly to meet with a pianist to practice ..... nothing like last minute eh? you'd think I'd learn!

So this morning, while having coffee with my mom ( I was chugging black coffee, hoping it would soften my vocal chords.... ) ... mom was walking down the hall ( which she does at break neck speed with her new wheels : click HERE to see ) ....

anyway.. I wanted to make sure I looked ok for the funeral..... so as Mom headed down the hall, I said do her.... " Does my hair look like it needs to be cut?"

and without batting an eye lash, mom looked at me and said : WHICH ONE???

she's BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!