May 27, 2005
Bed with no bugs
Sunny and warm spring weather has lulled me into complacency to some degree. That and a new bed that is so much better than our old one it has everybody is sleeping longer and deeper.
I didn't think it could make that much of a difference, but it really has. Even the canines are acting the same way... more relaxed and deeper sleep. The mattress company needs to film a commercial with all of us in it.
May 21, 2005
Google Gallery
For some time now I have wanted to put a gallery together of my favorite pictures from this site... and realized in the shower this morning that Google Images has already done just that.
Looking at them in this way also reveals my limited range of subject matter... its mostly little white dogs, flowers and Mark.
Click here to see what I mean.
May 20, 2005
Late Bloomers
Everything seems slow to bloom this spring, which is really no surprise considering how cool the weather has been. Today is the start of a long weekend here in Canada and the forecast is for warm sunny weather for most of it... so I am hopeful a few fragrant vases of these lilacs can be brought inside very soon.
May 19, 2005
Checking the Plumbing
Previously I modeled my custom made carpal tunnel splints here... and now it seems that was in vain, as my neurologist reports that there is no nerve damage in either of my wrists. Yippee! No carpal tunnel for you.
Insert shoe dropping noise here...
High blood pressure? Risk of stroke? Too much stress?
In our effort to look at these issues, my doc has put me on a low dose of high blood pressure medication and scheduled some tests. The first one was yesterday where I found myself in a "Regional Stroke Prevention Clinic" near our house, having an ultrasound scan of the arteries in my neck.
I could see the screen for the first half of the test. The technician put some conductive jelly on me and held a sensor against my neck. She zeroed in on certain areas and I could see and hear the blood rushing through the carotid arteries. I tried to read her face as she worked, but she was like an Easter Island statue; completely oblique.
May 17, 2005
Looking Glass
Sorting through an old hard drive reveals arguably the best picture of me ever taken, even if the scan is pretty crappy. I need to ask Michelle where the other shots from this day are... and what they look like now.
And since it has been a few thousand years we might need Egyptologists to investigate, especially for the overt King Tut-esque vanity.
Still. This pout got me laid a few times for sure.
Unsigned Mail
Yesterday the morning mail was delivered as usual, and Mark opened an envelope addressed to him that didn't have a return address on it; nor was the stamp canceled.
Inside was a clipping from a newspaper circular with an ad for a table top "bark control" device with an arrow pointing towards it... and the phrase "Respect thy neighbors" written in the kind of scary block lettering, as you can see below in the scan I made this morning.
To be fair, we have had other dogs visiting over the past couple of weeks, and Luigi can go a little ballistic if he sees a cat or raccoon lumbering either on the fence or in a neighboring yard. But why not talk to us directly about this?
I hope they don't mind when I get a BB gun and start picking off the cats on the fence in my bathrobe early next Sunday...
May 13, 2005
Friday the 13th
Amazing how if something hits the fan on a day like today it makes all the difference, but otherwise... it is simply a dodged bullet. Today you get to blame bad news on something real... sort of.
The next few months are sure to involve substantial changes in my life... and it is about time, because this fruit is a little rotten.
May 11, 2005
Podded
He has been a complete pod head for some time now; but when the first one went on the blink he bought a mini version, and then eventually replaced it. I didn't think I needed another gadget, even one as wildly popular and successful as the Ipod. Then he offered it to me to use as I wanted and...
Flash forward a couple of weeks where I have our friend Rob, who happens to be a DJ here in Toronto, digging through old dance music to find my favorites from my club days in the 80s. Of course I went through all of my CDs and loaded all my favorite albums as well.
If you happen to see me waiting to cross the street these days I am most likely to be tapping my feet to some old disco remix. Turn the beat around indeed.
May 10, 2005
No Italy for you!
My Aunt and Cousin are in Italy... on one of those "see everything" type of trips and I am so envious. Who wouldn't want to see Italy?
I love to travel, but at this stage of my life the focus is at home. A little too much focused on home actually...
Luigi, however, doesn't seem to mind at all.
May 5, 2005
May 4, 2005
May 3, 2005
Overheard
Today was a relief... things overheard can lead to things more clearly said. But only if you are honest with the joke can that work out completely. Summary; it was a tough day at work.
But when I drove up the driveway this evening and got out of my car, I saw that the pool was uncovered. I actually yelled with joy and please don't tell anyone about it...
Despite a clinging and claustrophobic winter, the inevitable return of spring has turned our patio into a little bit of West Hollywood in Ontario yet again.
May 2, 2005
May Day
Is May Day a real holiday?
From the dark recesses of the memories of my youth all I can recall is video from the Kremlin where May Day celebrations were shown to be mostly large parades of military vehicles rolling past those pasty stoic faces of the USSR's leadership. Surely there must be a place where little wood nymphs dance around May poles and giggle... eh?
And even though this picture looks springlike... it's from last year. Today walking in downtown Toronto I was pelted with hail for a bit... as the wind shrieked. Spring frequently comes too slowly in Canada... alas.