Greetings

A couple weeks ago, I was in the grocery store perusing the greeting card section, searching for a nice card to send Ri's hosts in Québec (a story I have neglected to fill y'all in on, but will; I promise). I found a couple of cards with cute pictures of golden retriever puppies for her new French friends. And then, because I have a thing for greeting cards, I continued looking. Of the thousands that I picked up, one made me laugh. Out loud. Alone. Well, unless you count the woman a few sections down who probably thought I was a nut. I read a few more 'cause that's what I do and then came back to the one that made me laugh. I read it again and guess what. I laughed again. Out loud. Alone. In the grocery store aisle. Well, except for the woman, a few sections down. I left the grocery store, smiling, with two copies of the card.

The other day I was back in the same grocery store. I made a point of steering my cart down the greeting card aisle...and I left, grinning, with another three cards. Because, really, you never know when you'll need to send out a thank you card. Would you like a chicken?

Calling People Names

Kathy, my pal at work, and I, call each other names a lot. She's been known to send me an email addressed to Carol and signed Vicki *. I'll respond with Dear Alice...Sincerely, Vera. Or, Hey Thelma...From Louise. It's the little things that get you through the day.

For my birthday a couple years ago, Kathy gave me a subscription to Herb Quarterly. Once every three months a magazine arrived in my mailbox addressed to Marcia Thackeray. I'm not too big to admit - I thought they delivered it to the wrong box, four out of four times. And then, slowly, the light would go on. (A little dim, I know.) It was from my pal, Jan. 

This year at Christmas, as every Christmas, we exchanged a gift or two. We don't open them in front of each other, rather we take them home and the wee treasures go into our stockings. Chocolate. Hand cream. An ornament for the tree. Little things that bring big smiles. But this year, this year I received what may have been the funniest gift ever. Dear Marcia...

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia

...Love Jan. It sits proudly on my desk at work.

It's hard to believe I count a nut like Jan as my friend, isn't it? I know.

Hey Pinky! Here's to a happy 2012. Be healthy, girl. Your pal, Joannie.


* Okay, so I started watching Carol Burnet videos and ended up wiping tears from my face I was laughing so hard. There hasn't been a show since, that has made me laugh like that. 'Shame, really.

Smiley

Every now and again, the artistic side comes out in me. You know, the one beyond stick people and colouring outside the lines. (I'm getting better.) Yesterday's lunches just didn't cut it so, grab a few carrots, place them just so, and a cheese bun is magically transformed. It was so artsy, I'm told, that Riley showed the whole class. That's right. Just call me Pablo.

This magnificent piece is on display now at the Art Gallery of Ontario

Leaf Nation

Alright, Leaf fans - I know you're out there. Now, now, don't be shy. Well, okay, can't blame you for being shy. What's that? You don't really follow hockey? Right. I wouldn't publicly admit to being a Leafs fan either. But, hey; no worries. I'm sure this year's gonna be great! Let's face it - things can't really get any worse. Hmmm. 1967, eh? That was the last time the mighty Leafs won the Cup, right? Well, chin up, Leaf Nation. This one's for you...obviously you can take a joke...  

Go Flames, go!

The Front Porch - Seventh of Seven

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then the porch is it's arms - outstretched and ready to embrace. Whether friend or stranger, all are welcomed here. And on a quiet Sunday morning, there's no better place than this to relax in a Muskoka chair, with a hot cup of coffee, good conversation, and chickens, eating bugs.

The porch shelters the wood that warms us on those cold winter nights. Sticks - lacrosse and hockey - are stored here, ready for action when the passion strikes. It supports the swing that kids snuggle with Mum on, as they glide back and forth, retelling the stories of the day. Neighbours wander by and settle in, sharing a beer...and their time. And, always, a smile.

Finding shelter from those pesky hawks.

Can I Just Keep One?

If you haven't seen this before, you've got to watch it. And, if it has crossed your path before, watch it again anyway. Guaranteed to make you say 'awwww'. No doubt you'll wear a big goofy grin, too.

Thanks, Marian, for sharing. Awww.  ;-)

Oh Ya...

Pinch and a punch
It's the last of the month
And no returns...

Gotcha.

The Henhouse

There was a surprise waiting on the front porch when I got home today. Enos is something of a woodworker and Paul had asked him awhile back to make a little something for the chicken coop.

There's a fair likeness, don't you think? As an old coworker of mine used to say, who has more fun than people?

Week at the Improv

The family actress is in her glory this week. Uh no, that would not be me. Hard to believe, I know, however, you'll not find me up in front of people, by choice and, gulp, speaking.

*sweat beads across her brow*

No, we're talking about Ri and her thing for acting. She's in an acting camp again this summer, this time at PAPA, in downtown Peterborough. And she is loving it. The folks who run the academy live down the road from us and are even picking her up in the morning and dropping her off at the end of the day. Talk about customer satisfaction.

My dear girl hasn't given me much detail (have to go see the play Friday afternoon for that) but apparently she's playing a director's daughter who is a bit of a girlie-girl (that'll take some skill to pull off) and a snob. Her classmates have also been given their parts (drawn from a hat) and are learning three songs - something by the Beatles, a piece from the movie Enchanted and this one by the Proclaimers. (Or for my fellow Canucks - remember this?) They're going over some ideas and the rest is improv. I'm gonna be so nervous.

Today they had a little talent show where they could stand up and tell a joke or riddle. Ri, proudly wearing her "I have issues" tshirt, took the spotlight and asked, "Did you hear about the kid who took the train home? The police came and told him to take it back" or "Why did the chicken cross the playground? To get to the other slide." I don't know where she comes up with this stuff either.

So, two more days of this fun and maybe we'll look into some classes in the fall. It's nice to see her so excited.

Oh, hey. Did you hear this one? 

How many Alzheimer's patients does it take to change a light bulb?  
~ To get to the other side!

Alright. She may come by it honestly.

This Spud's For You

I was reading the Domesticated Bohemian earlier and was reminded of good ole Stompin' Tom. This one's for you, Philip. ;-)




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Wake Me Up Before You Glue It

Eons ago, Dorito, Cookie and I saw Wham! at the Ex. The Pointer Sisters opened. Yes. It's a little embarassing to admit. And what's more embarassing is that I sat outside overnight waiting for Ticketmaster (or whatever it was back then) to open at the old Knob Hill Farms. But, wahoo - we ended up with 19th row floor.

Last year, I came across a birthday card with a picture of George Michael asleep in a car. There's a headline in there somewhere. I picked it up and sent it to Dorito for her birthday. And then, in December I received this Christmas card from Dorito...

Last week I found a couple of envelopes with familiar handwriting in my mailbox. I opened them up and there were two Easter cards from Dorito. So, with a cut of the saved Christmas card here and a snip of the Easter cards there and a little glue around the edges, I came up with a lovely Easter card for Dorito. She received it the other day...


Looking forward to my birthday.

A Gift For You - Laughter

Cookie sent me a video a couple of weeks ago that I have to share with you. I laughed 'til I was crying...at work, no less, with head phones on. And I knew exactly when each person in the office opened the link that I had forwarded because of the pockets of laughter around the building. Oh, laughing is good for the soul. Enjoy.




Calvin and Hobbes © Universal Press Syndicate