A good bagel and coffee is a drawing card for me. We returned, to exactly the same place as yesterday and it was every bit as good. Different folk about; the weekend draws a less tortured population than the moneymakers on the Monday-to-Friday treadmill. And with food covered, we headed into the city centre by the tunnel system.
posted in travel | Comments Off on No need to ever see daylight | 341 words
Second day on our big city adventure. Many things aren’t like “at home”. First rule of thumb: bring money. Nothing free here. Not even the ‘net.
posted in travel | Comments Off on Crowded city streets | 307 words
Based on a limited test, I now know that reserving a taxi the night before results in a polite, conversant, retired from his real life driver arriving on time. The same driver actually knew a direct route between here and there, and within minutes we were waiting for the train. Waiting for a long time, because we had been too conservative in the estimate of time required, but that’s a minor detail. Today, I am on the iron road. The way of the worry free.
posted in travel | Comments Off on Seeking museums | 349 words
As the moment where I can stop working and start living not working draws closer, I do enjoy watching how the subject is handled elsewhere. I mean, thirty odd years into the employed thing has to be worth something. Not according to a provincial study group that claims more than 60% of my fellow citizens have no retirement savings. Scary! Going from “living pay cheque to pay cheque” to “living with no pay cheque” is tough. Of course, the richest man in the province, who retired one month ago from his paying gig, has been appointed to the provincial electrical authority. He will voluntarily work without pay. After all, it’s about the power!
posted in economy, technology | Comments Off on Hens age gracefully | 266 words
The local geek show on cable TV has suggested that I should be keeping my webcam covered up. Am I that scary to look at?
posted in economy | Comments Off on My fraud is bigger than your fraud | 274 words
Call came in, this morning, from the Montreal area. Someone wanting to apologize for their failure to start the videoconference at the expected time. Connection to follow. Except… there was nothing scheduled, another call was already in progress, and nobody at my end was waiting. After a round robin of messages, the simple truth came out. Montreal had mixed us up with another school board, and there was no missed anything. It’s nice when it’s not my fault.
posted in technology | Comments Off on Mixed up their calendar, for a change | 271 words
The dust is settling. About a minute ago, another Trudeau climbed into the driver’s seat for the Liberal party. This time around (according to others in the room), it won’t matter. I’m willing to wait and see. In the other opposition party, they’ve also held a convention. No new leader to sell , but the membership opted to drop the word “socialism”. Again, I’m willing to wait and see. We’re two (long) years away from a trip to the polls, and that’s when something like this becomes meaningful.
posted in politics | Comments Off on New leaders and new mottos | 267 words
I’m fighting fierce distraction to sit here and post. A Clint Eastwood marathon doesn’t come along often. Or rather, not often enough. The man has a lifetime of effort “in the can”, and it’s hard to find a title that doesn’t bear watching (over and over) again. Well, maybe that string co-starring an orange furred baboon, but everyone lets their attention stray occasionally. Clint doesn’t, often. Very focused man.
posted in education | Comments Off on Book shows and electronic ink | 287 words
Some weeks, the mundane overcomes the interesting. The dustbins have to go to the curb, and the paper guy comes for his monthly collect, and the laundry takes on a priority spot on the “todo” list. There’s no milk, so you have to head out in the snow storm (yes, even in mid-April, we keep our tuques and scrapers at hand). And after the last of the week’s food has been cooked and stored, and the kitchen cleared of the proof that people live here… it’s the weekend. For real. Only two days, but sometimes you have to settle for whatever is offered. That’s the mundane part.
posted in environment, pets | Comments Off on Mundane overcomes the interesting | 292 words
Family dining, in our neighbourhood, is evolving. This evening, our weeks and weeks of waiting were over. Finally. A chance to get our fill of the uncle, grandpa, mama, insufferable teen… a new A&W, within easy driving distance. The Quiznos monopoly (on that stretch of ring road) has ended. Pictures on the wall, of long, long ago. Huge (huge!! mugs of root beer. And in a nod to change, the cutest little fryer baskets, made of metal, to hold the onion rings. All the other fast-foodies are condemned to playing catch-up with their ketchup.
posted in food, humour | Comments Off on Fast, new (or is it new, fast) food | 275 words
