Live from Cobourg beach

Ut is a busy day. This morning we painted the kitchen. It looks good. It will take another cot before it is done. Michele picked the colour: corkscrew.
Since all the appliances are unhooked, we went to a Chinese restaurant for a great lunch.
Michele is exhausted, so she lied down. Emily and I decided to come to the beach for a swim.
She is loving it
We hope to get a final coat on the walls before the day is over.

Library

We cane to the library today so Emily could focus on her book report. It is also air conditioned, so it is a nice place to work. We are participating in the TD Summer Reading program. The children read six books in six weeks. We are trying to get Emily to read every day, but it is a challenge. Too much like school, I guess. Most days, when she got home from camp, the energy is not there. So, she has fallen behind. Hopefully, she can read two books this week and get caught up.
Michele went down to the sidewalk sale to look around. I got Paisley a doggie backpack. It will be great for carrying water and a collapsable water dish. This will really help when we go on those longer walks for a couple of hours.
Michele also picked up a bathroom accessories kit that she was eyeing a few years ago. It was a fantastic price, about a quarter or less of the original price.
Sorry you are less than optmistic about your new job. Sounds like it will be an interimstep while you look to move on to something better.

Sky high

We took a quick trip to Whitby to see the new Disney film Sky High. It is well done and has many of the great vaules included in those fantastic movies we used to watch as kids on Sunday night. It was neat to see Kurt Russell playing the role of the father.
Emily really enjoyed it. So did Michele.
I had some fun last night. My friend Milne and I cobbled together a simple web site about James Cockburn, he was the first speaker of the House of Commons and the MP from Northumberland. It is extremely basic, but we wanted it up in time for the civic holiday. In Cobourg we celebrate James Cockburn Day.
Emily won her baseball game Thursday, defeating the toughest team in the league. She helped by batting in a RBI and got a run herself. Yaeh!
Glad to see you are settling into your new job.

Our first major hit and run

Emily just hit an amazing double,bringing in a run. Then, she got a run herself as the next batter hit a triple. Hooray!

Roseneath revisted

Once again, we face our archrivals Roseneath, who beat us for the championship during the recent tournament.
Emily said this morning she did not want to play. But she changed her mind.
Slowly, the material for York is coming together. Found out today, when I was talking with the admissions office, the school's director had already laid the groundwork for my application.
Michele finished am amazing watercolour painting of a red pepper still life. It is wonderful and will take a spot on the kitchen wall
Fianlly, Emily finished camp today. She has enjoyed her time with Avril Bull-Jones' art camp.

Catching up

After a few very busy days, there is a chance to catch up. Emily's last day of camp is tormorrow. She has enjoyed this week. But it is clear she is tired. I think her stamina is wearing out.
Michele seems tired, too. She has taken up a crusade to remove all the clutter.

A quiet day

Finally, a lazy day. After a gruelling day of baseball, it is nice to take a day and relax.
We all went back to bed this morning. Feeling slightly refrshed, we did a few chores. This afternoon we are going to go see Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
It is nice to not be racing around. Tomorrow, we gear back up. Emily returns to art camp. I have quite a bit of writing to do and Michele continues to reorganizing things. She calls it decluttering.

Another victory

We won, again. After defeating the Crushers 9 to 1, we are on our way to the championship game. There is another competition involving catching. Then the fianl game.

Getting serious

Emily is serious about baseball. I have never watched her be like this. She comes to me between innings asking to practice batting. She won't break. I say, “let's take a rest.” She syas, no. It's amazing. When she look down the pitcher. She has a look of dertermination on her face. It is wonderful.

Game 2 - Orange. Crushers

This is one of the best teams in the league. Emily only got to abt once during the last game. She also committed one eroor in right field.
There was a base running relay between games. Emily's team won. Yea!!!

We won!

Our first game was great. We won 7 to 6. Hooray!!!

Baseball tournament

It is Emily's first baseball tournament. We arrived at the diamond at 8:40 a.m. With th sun shining brightly and the heat building.
It promises to be less humid. Nah.
We play the Red Socks in our first game.
Emily practiced hitting yesterday. Let's hope is bears some fruit.
Updates will follow

Home

Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz was right. There is no place like home.
We arrived home this afternoon. There is a sense of relief. We had a ggod time. Emily made a goblet and a dragon. The items will be fired and glazed.
Michele finished reading Harry Potter tuesday morning. I completed it yesterday. You have to read it.

Pinch pots and special guests

Emily enjoyed her pottery class yesterday. She made a dragon and a goblet.
There was a special event at the library. The Indian River Reptile Zoo brought its travelling display. Emily got to pet a python she saw a turtle, a tortoise, and a baby aligator. Wow.
Tony Quan, a respected tai chi teacher from Toronto, did an intensive workshop at the Stratford group's facility. There ere 96 people, a huge crowd by any standard. It went for four hours and was very enjoyable.
The good news around your job has everyone smiling.

A busy day in Stratford

A day passes quickly when having fun. Emily went to her first day of pottery class. The teacher appeared to be a nice woman. There are 15 in the class. They made pinch pots. Emily turned her pot into a purse.
Michele went shopping. But first, we went to the Olympia restaurant for a snack. It is a wonderful diner with furniture and fixture from the fifties. Original stff. Not bought at an antique store. It has never been changed.
In the afternoon we had a quiet time. Emily and I went swimming at the Lion's pool. Then, we went to the King's buffet for dinner.
I went to a tai chi class. It turns out one of the top instructors is holding a special workshp tonight. I hope to attend.

Hot in stratford

And yet another day of extreme temperatures, despite thuderstorms last night. Weather. It is all Canadians ever talk about.
Emily started her pottery lessons this morning. She was very excited and nervous. She was quietly telling herself to relax as we walked toward the studio.
The studio is located in an old factory near the indstrial side of the city. It iz called the Amazing Clayworks. We hope Emily enjoys herself.
Mom is being herself. Nuff said.
Michele is looking around stores in the downtown. We are currently in the Christmas store.
It was tough sleeping last night due to the heat.
This afternoon Mom has an appointment at 3:30 p..m. Who knows what we will do this afternoon.
I am hoping to get to a couple of tai chi classes,too.

Catching up

It has been two very busy days. Yesterday, after the Harry Potter celebrations, we had lunch at DQ and decided to look for a new mattress. Our current one is pretty much gone after 15 years.
Once we got home, Emily and I went swimming with friends at the pool downtown. It was really nice.
Then, last night was spent preparing for our trip to see grandma.
We rose at 5 a. m. To get away before it got too hot we are having another day of extreme temperatures.
The trip took three hours. We ran into some pretty heavy rain, more like severe downpours. It was tense driving for a few kilometres. Whew, we made it.
Lunch was lovely. Now, it is nap time. And then, on to grocery shopping.

Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince

We are going to the library this morning to enjoy the celebrations around the launch of the new Harry Potter book. It is going to be another day of hot, humid weather. We may try to find our way to the beach.

Diabetic cat

Well, I am no longer alone. Bailey was diagnosed with diabetes. She displayed all the symptoms I showed a year ago. She was peeing a lot, lost weight, sick when she ate, etc. She is taking insulin. I am going to be giving her a needle each day. I still can't believe she is diabetic.
Emily won her ball game last night. She made an excellent hit. She also made a couple of great throws from the outfield. Today there is no camp. We are hanging out. Right now, we are in the mall listening to a local folk singer playing. It is nice.
Tomorrow is the Harry Pottrer book party at the library. We will be buying our copy and watch a magic show. Then, Sunday we are off to Stratford.

Grandpa comes to a game

Another hot day, but a few drops of rain from a thunderstorm that passed by left us with cooler air.
Grandpa and grandma are here from Scarborough. It's a beautiful night for a baseball game.

Back at the splash pad

Yet another sweltering day and we seek refuge at the kids splash pad in Victoria Park.
Kids of every shape, size and age are here. Heck, yesterday I even to on it for a few minutes to get cool.
Art camp is going well. This week's thme is pre-historic times. They learn about cave painting and pictograms. They also learn about pottery. The group crated its own cave painting on a huge piece of wallbaord cut out in the shape og a cave wall. It is too cool. Emily created at deer. It's all very wonderful.

Another day of extreme heat

I now know hell. While some may believe hell is a state of mind, I can tell you, it is a summer day in Ontario. It is hotter than Hades. I would swim in the river Styx for relief.
We are at the library waiting for Emily to give her report for the summer book club. We do this every year. It is sponsored by TD Bank. The kids read six books over six weeks. Each week they report to the children's librarian they get a treat and at the end there is a draw for several huge prizes. Emily ejoys it.
Stay cool

Some good news

Well, we are back at it. Emily started her second week at the art camp. Today, they did clay sculpting Emily made a ladybug.
I wrote two editorials for an agriculture publication, the Pioneer country edition. Then, I had my own column to write.
I got some good vibes from an editor of a local high-end magazine about a proposal for a regular column. It's a great opportunity. I will see her tomorrow to discuss details.
I also got an expression of interest on a book proposal. They have asked me to answer a few question onmy submission. That is a good sign. But, there is a long row to hoe before + get a contract.
Finally, I got word this afternoon that I am accepted into the MA program at York. It is like a pre-approved mortgage. The director said I am in. Now, I just need to fill out all the paper work. So, that will start in the fall
I am pleased. There were two more jobs open this spring. Both require an MA. If I have any hope of staying in the teaching field, I need this degree.
Emily is with me at the splash pad. She is enjoying herself as she cools down. Life is simple. At least for her. Her idea of joy is being cool in all this heat. I should have brought my swim trunks

Scorching hot day

It is becoming a really hot day. I was sweating while watering the plants this morning at the garden centre. I think we will retreat to the beach to swim this afternoon. With any luck it won't be too crazy. If it nuts maybe the YMCA.
Stay cool.

Another day at the garden centre

Boy, it was busy. No time to stop and sit. Amazing he number of people who are still buying flowers.
Had lots of fun yesterday. Bought Emily her first baseball bat. She needs the practice. Going to be back at the garden centre in the morning.

A fantastic day

The highlight today was going to see the Fantastic Four at the movie theatre in Whitby. We saw the first show on the first day. I don't think any of us hae ever done this before.
The movie was wonderful. Michele said she liked it. This is a huge endorsement. She does not always like this genre. We saw Batman Begins. She hated it. She loved both Spiderman flicks. She hated the Hulk.
Emily loved. Her favourite character is the Human Torch.
Of course. I loved it, too.
Back at the garden centre tomorrow.

A league of our own

Emily looks like Geena Davis in the movie A League of Our Own. She is so cute.

Emily is backcatcher

Oh no. Emily has volunteered to be catcher tonight. The team is short. Good luck to her.

Live from Sinclair Park

This is coming to you live from Emily”s baseball game at sinclair Park.
We are waiting for the game to start. Michele is at home waiting for a friend to pick her up for an evening out.
Having two games in a week is a big deal. Emily feels good.
After the baseball game we are going to Dairy Queen for a treat. Wish you were here.

A quiet day

Sitting in the basement is a cool alternative than going upstairs where it is terribly hot.
Emily is enjoying her last day of camp this week. There is an art show at 3 p.m.
She is visibly tired. It has been a busy week she has another baseball game tonight

Working at the garden centre

My boss at the garden centre decided to take the day to visit friends in the Guelph area. It means I am all alone to run the shop. It is quite a bit of work. Water, water, water. That is the order of the day. With all the heat and wind, the plants dry out quickly.
It is aslo pretty steady, as customers trickle in. It is never an onslaught or dead. Constant.
Emily played baseball last night. The team got hammered. It was an away game in Roseneath, about 30 minutes north of Cobourg. The team was awesome for a group of kids. Emily made a solid play in the last inning. She was playing left field and chased down a line drive and threw it in without hestating. Considering the rest of her game, it was a nice play. I think she is starting to get it. It is wonderful to watch her learn the game.

Improving health care

Just spent 40 minutes waiting for a blood test. The drawing of blood takes 30 seconds. One vial ia all. But the local lab has a monopoly. Some people waited an hour this morning for test. There was a man in a wheelchair, who had been fasting nearly 18 hours. He was not given priority despite his handicap and his fast.
The lab also has rules regarding early morning tests. No non-fasting test done before 9. It's crazy.

Busy vacation

It is a myth. Vacations are not about resting. It is a time to do other things. It is the old adage: a change is as good as a rest.
Yesterday was a perfect example. The day began with Emily going off to camp. She had a great day painting, doing paper mache, and clay creatures. The theme is Under the Sea. Emily is working on a paper mache octopus and painted an undersea landcape. She made a snail out of clay. She also made a clay cinnamon bun. Food is never far from her mind.
After camp, we went to the beach for a swim. There was a wicked algea bloom. It was not very nice. The pristeen beaches we see in the vacation brochures are not the same ones we see when you arrive. Emily got algea everywhere. When she showered afterwards, the algea was inside her bathing suit. It filled every crack in her body. I felt for her.
Michele and I spent the day shopping. Having been so busy last week finishing up school and working at the garden centre over the long weekend, this was the first opportunity to get groceries.
We also took the chance to buy Michele a new set of dishes she has eyed for the last few months. She is really pleased. They are square. They cool.

First day of camp

Emily's first day of camp is today. She is very excited. She is dressed, with her teeth brushed, and hair brushed more than 30 minutes ahead of time. On a normal school day it would be a battle.
She is enrolled in an arts and crafts day camp for young children just north of Cobourg in Hamilton Township. She has been here before.
We are all excited for Emily. New friends. Having fun. It is the stuff of summer.