Now That's Entertainment

We've haven't had much of a winter this year. Actually, it's pretty much sucked. A little snow followed by mild temperatures and rain pretty much sums up the season. Until today, that is. 

They'd been calling for about 10 to 15cm of snow up in these parts - more than we've seen in a single dumping this year. In the end, we got close to ten. The roads weren't great, so I stayed in at lunch even though I'd forgotten to bring something to eat. By afternoon, I had a headache and we were all thankful that it was Friday. What we needed was some entertainment to see us through to the weekend.

Around 2:30, maybe 3 o'clock, two guys with snow shovels walked through the field across the road. I watched them, kind of puzzled as to where they'd be going with these shovels. The City takes care of the sidewalks and the roads and they'd come from the parking lot of an empty factory. Halfway across the field, they dropped their tools and each started rolling a snowball. In no time, they had a couple of huge white balls. After trying to lift the smaller of the two on top of the big one, they gave up, broke it and put it in place. From there, they added snow and soon they had a pretty darn good sized snowman. Around this time, a camera person from our neighbours at CHEX TV arrived and started filming.

The guys disappeared for a bit and then reappeared with branches.  Soon, two more people with a bag of goodies joined the scene. Out came a carrot for a nose, a cucumber for a mouth and some unknowns that became eyes and buttons. Cars drove by honking and giving them thumbs up. Once finished, the snowman-crew left and CHEX reappeared.  They had a bit more filming to do.

Tonight, at 6 o'clock, the kids and I watched the local news and, sure enough, there were our friends, back to entertain us. Best snowman I've seen in a long time. 




(Be sure to watch right through so you can see how the snowman turned out.)

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.

Bat, Man

Last year, Paul built a bat house and we've yet to find a bat anywhere near it. Turns out we may have been trying too hard. As I opened the door at work this morning, I looked up and there she was - hanging from the door. Pretty cool, in a batty, cover-your-neck kind of way. 

Just hanging around, catching a few winks. Wonder where Alfred is.

Hard Working Boys

Cleaning up the trailer. I'll save the story of the tire for another time.
Happy Victoria Day, all!

Back to Work

Paul called me at work this morning with some good news. He'd just got off the phone with someone letting him know that he's back to work as of Monday. I could feel a bit of that weight fall off my shoulders. It's been an awfully long year with lots of downtime, uncertainty and no work since the truck plant closed in May. On Monday he'll be reporting to the Camaro plant where there's only one shift running; for now he'll be working steady days. Wow. A little more of that weight fell - steady days means a little less juggling, although I wasn't about to complain. And despite tough times, the Camaro is selling. Believe it or not, they're even scheduling overtime. I think we'll be tucking any extra money under the mattress...for future rainy days.

Jack

You know, it's not every day that you go to work and share your office with politicians. At least, I don't. Today, a roundtable discussion was held in our boardroom with community members and the leaders of the provincial and federal NDP, newly-crowned Andrea Horwath and Jack Layton. Why our office? Well, it just so happens that our fearless leader, affectionately known as Mr. Big Stuff, is also head of the riding association. And, as he told me earlier, "it was just easier to have it here."

Yesterday, the office was a hub of activity as archived files were finally wheeled away, burnt out bulbs were replaced and furniture was moved. The office hasn't looked so good since Santa came through a few months ago. (There's a joke in there somewhere.)

Anyway, it was kind of exciting to share space and shake hands with the leader of a Federal party. And I like this one, too.

~Liz