Brenda and Finnegin

 Photo taken in fall of 2020, just before Finn's eye surgery.

Last Day of Being 50-Something

 July 22, 2021

On the eve of my sixtieth birthday what do I have to say?

Yesterday Brenda and I celebrated our 31st anniversary. We went out for dinner and sat in a restaurant for the first time in a year and a half. We had a nice meal at the Radius Cafe on James Street.

First, I don't feel sixty years old. I don't feel a day over... thirty?

Adulthood has now worn a couple of lines in my face and I've got a little extra flab in a couple of places, but the face in the mirror is not a wrinkled mess. And despite my heart disease and some high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol which is being managed successfully with meds, and despite my recent commencement of drug therapy for hypothyroidism, well, I feel really good.

I'm learning the value of stretching out my back and hips thanks to my girls.

As I reflect on where each of us in the family are I can't help but feel happy and content. We have come through the Covid19 epidemic and are still in one piece. There may be some kind of "fourth wave" with the variant of the disease wreaking havoc on the unvaccinated, but it is sporadic. We are all doubly immunized and we are still taking precautions as the economy in Ontario slowly comes back to fully functional. Elinor is looking forward to starting at McMaster in September. Olivia will soon complete her Office Administration certificate. Ian is starting up his music teaching in September also after being out of it for over a year. And Brenda is looking forward to returning to some semblance of a normal classroom routine.

Tomorrow, on my birthday, the Tokyo Olympics will begin. How thoughtful of them to hold an Olympic Celebration on my special day!

Here's to sixty.

Covid19 Absurdity Theatre

These images came off a news video on June 28, 2021

Can you believe that somebody let this clown put on this getup and go on camera?

What the actual fuck?

Bully standing in front of idiot

Longview Road Names

This news makes me incredibly happy. I worked for about three months with Peter to determine the names of the roads at Longview. This motion represents the culmination of all of our work together.

Oven Baked French Fries

 That Dude Can Cook - Russet potatoes rinsed, then blanched for 10 min in brine, leave to air dry for a couple minutes. Pre-heat roasting pan, add oil, pre-heat with oil. Then bake at 400 C flipping to brown all sides.