This is the only book I have ever read in one sitting. Wow! May I never whine about anything again. This was so sad and bleak. Even while you are reading and knowing that this world is done you keep hoping for something wonderful to happen because these two strive so desperately for it and the love they have for each other makes you feel that it will happen for them. I am sure it will be food for thought for a long time. Great book.

I am having problems this morning (to say the least) I have just spent a half an hour trying to replace my mug with a great shot from my camera as a new userpic. After taking forever to connect and do it I am very dissapointed with the outcome. The original pic is terrific. I will try and send it but don't hold out to much hope.
Update on my scanning. I spent a good deal of time trying to find and retrieve my 3 hrs of scanning that I lost the other day when the program froze. Although the search engine not only brought up every picture, jigsaw puzzle, wallpaper, frames from sims film for a total of over 40000 images it did not find my lost pics so I have started yet again. I will only do a box at a time and perhaps I will have more luck. I am 3/4 of the ways through and would hate to quit now.

Today I will get back to scanning my slides. This is a slow and tedious process but hopefully once scanned I can improve the pics with photo shop and then download them unto dvds for everyone. This is what retired ladies do so don't be in a real big hurry to get to this point boys and girls it just isn't that much fun.

I am, as I speak, blowing the cobwebs off this blog. I hope to put the blahs behind me (I can't go into winter like this) and get geared back into living. I spent most of this morning getting hal-ofagal onto my friends list, which has been no mean feat and has left me feeling very chuffed with myself. Was out Friday to see American gangster and thought it was very good. I have to say that whats his name (gladiator) was less than stellar and I felt he was the weak link in this pic. I now have all my Christmas shopping done and all I have to say is -- Bring It On--. I am so looking forward to all of us getting together. I must put my thinking cap on about a vegetarian dish that can cook while turkey is resting. Hal and I must discuss. Mom is getting more confused as time goes by, however, some days she is perfectly fine. Well that pretty much says it all about my doings -- and I wonder why I suffer from the blahs --- MUST GET DOING SOMETHING THAT EXCITES ME ---. I will go and think on it.

Out in the car the other day and noticed a sign at the corner announcing that the neighbourhood now has high speed inernet. A company called Northwind. Its funny, When we didn't have it in our area I felt I would have it if only it was available. Now that its here I don't know if I want to pay for something that won't make that much of a difference for me when I'm getting what I have free (thanks to dear mollusc). I haven't called but I'm sure it will be more than I want to pay.

On another front I want to get together a photo shoot of 4 generation of females and could have done it last night when we were all here except I looked like crap and didn't have a backdrop ready.

I have used my new toy to print off a coupe of photos. In my usual style I put the photo paper in wrong side up and have now got matte instead of high gloss finishes. Other than that the pics are nice. Today I will get the system hooked up to the computer. I like the fact that I can use it as free standing as well as from the laptop. I'm sure the trick now is to keep it in ink and paper.

I went out to Staples yesterday to price and buy a HP Photosmart. The price of course looked very good. Now add the extras and you have almost added a third of the price again. Once I bit the bullet and took this baby home I was happy (It was not to last). This morning I thought I would go ahead and unbox and set up my newest toy. Oh my chagrin to find there is no USB cable although it shows one on the sheet you are told to check to see if all components were packed. A phone call to Staples makes me aware of the fact that these no longer come with the Photosmart and did I not read the top flap of the box. Who reads the flap of the top of the box when the salesman has put the boxed system on the counter at the cash and who has also not mentioned this cable when getting me to buy all the other bits and bobs. This is an hour drive in total and the cost was $34.00. Stuff like this really bugs me and I think it makes people feel victimized.

To add to the day a T4Rif slip arrived. Apparently Scotiabank can't get these out any earlier. This wouldn't have mattered if I hadn't already telefiled my return.

Sorry - needed to vent it has been an Arrrgh day

Took my first macro pics. Someone brought us a plant months ago and it is producing clusters of little orange flowers (I think it is called kalakula or something which sounds close to that). I read some in my manual and took some pics this morning. It is nice to have the screen full of such little flowers. This afternoon I think I will screen them on Mom's TV .
All very exciting. I'm also doing laundry (not quite so exciting).

Now for the B words:
1) Birch trees: I don't remember not loving them and if I owned a house of my own the property would have clusters of them along with Aspens.

2) Bed: No lovlier place to be - whether alone or not - curled up with a book and a cup of coffee, especially if chores are done and nothing is pressing.

3) Birds: Everett's bird feeder could keep you watching them for hours. I especially liked the little chickadees, cardinals and gross beaks. They always seem happy to just be alive.

4) Bridges: Love the look of them and the sheer diversity of their types. The wonderful arched bridges throughout Europe to the big almost lacy looking bridges like the Golden Gate.

5) Birthdays: They are just plain fun especially if they are for small children. Their excitment is bearly contained and you feel they will burst from the sheer anticipation.

6) Books: A good mystery being my favourite. That being said just about any genre, other than romance, if it is well written. Agathe Christie when I was in my twenties, Margaret Atwood and Robertson Davies in my thirties. Since then a lovely mix a lot being passed my way by our own dear mollusc.

7) Blogs: A new pleasure for me. A great way to vent and exchange ideas. I have to say I didn't think much of the idea at first but it certainly has grown on me.

8) Bling: I have no desire to own shiny sparkly thinks but I love looking at this stuff in jewelry stores or on other people. It just seems so decadent (my catholic upbringing)

9) Boots: I can't wear them myself (not with these short squat legs). But long indoor boots in beautiful burgandy leather or soft supple suedes - fabulous and sexy.

10) Bagels: I have to agree with R. sesame seed with sour cream and sprouts - yummy

Ah the joy and relief of finally telefiling your income tax return. If I haven't done it wrong I hopefully will be getting a half decent refund (Must buy myself some little toy).

Out here by the river mom an I are watching the snow disappear. The lawn on the river side is just about snow free and the Gatineau hills are quickly losing their dusting of snow that makes them so appealing in the winter.

We await the family snowbirds who are all due back by the first week in April. It will be nice to have more visitors again although it is a little disconcerting looking at all those tanned faces when they first come back. Somehow it makes them all look foreign to me as they left looking as pale as the rest of us.

Went out to the road to get my paper this morning and didn't want to come in - absolutely fabulous. I have found myself going to the kitchen window and opening it just to watch the water dripping from the eaves and taking deep breaths of this wonderful spring dipped day. I can't go out, and don't know where I would go if I could, however the itch to get on the road with the window open is making settling down to something impossible. It is going to be a very long day.

Bedbug where are you? are you well? Your minions pine for you. You add zip to our day.
I would stand in for you but I have not the wit.

I have been listening to a wonderful story called "The Thrall's tale". Its about the first viking settlement in Greenland in A.D. 985. It is told in the beginning by the thrall or slave girl and then gradually other women's voices add to the ongoing story. One thing we learn very quickly is you would not want to have been a viking -- Yikes -- Hardship, inclement weather, brutality to name just some of what they dealt with. Judith Lindbergh the author spent ten years researching and writing this and her work has appeared in Archaeology magazine and in connection with the Smithsonian's exhibition Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga. I am only about half way through and am loving it.

I loved 'OUT'. Oh what we ladies are capable of - very scary stuff - Wonderful.

Next BOBBY GOLD -short stories. I really enjoyed these. Funny for the most part. Bobby Gold and extra large tough marshmallow.

I now have just started Salamander. To early to tell yet but I hope it is as good as the others. I haven't read this much in a long time. There is a lot to be said for living vicariously through books, especially when you are as shut in as I am. Downside is sometimes I come out to cook or clean and I feel I have to make a concentrated effort to touch base with my ho-hum reality. Some days it is quite a jolt.

I am recovering from a bout of vertigo. I think I am fighting a cold and it has screwed up the equilibrium in my ears. Awful sensation especially when laying down or getting up.

How exciting is my life. This is boring me to death. I think I'll get lunch and go read.

Dropped a heavy can on my big toenail yesterday and thought I would die.
The pain had me groaning for hours and awake most of the night. No matter what you hurt it always feel like nothing could be worse.

Took mom to have her cast off. Unfortunately the wrist is not healed yet and now she is in a splint. Drats she can't knit or much of anything else. We have to go back in a week.

Off to town tomorrow - can't wait.

Went out to get the paper this morning and was surprised at the mess that small amount of snow had made. The plow had been by so a very hard ridge at the end of both laneways and a high ridge of snow on the car. I suddenly realized my plow guy hadn't got in touch yet this year.

After I showered mom and set her hair I tried to get a hold of plow guy to no avail. Apparently he no longer works at the local butchery and his home number is no longer in service.

Panic and then on the web to see if I could find someone. I got a line on a landscape service close by who was nice enough to call and let me know he isn't plowing but gave me a line on someone who is. I called this Brian and he will come and take a look but told me up front that he charges 400.00 a laneway. I have two and they both need doing. Yikes, Yikes and Yikes. He said he'd take a look and maybe give me a break. We'll see. Life is just one problem after another. I know some thing this is what keeps life interesting I on the other hand could live without it.

Great book. Very interesting to see life through the eyes of someone who is sad, scared, safe, angry for competely different reasons then we would be. By the same token things that most of us hold important mean nothing to this teenager. He is extraordinarily bright but being autistic does not connect with the world and people in it in the same way we do. His need to take a train to the city of London becomes a frightening adventure of epic proportions.
Good read and very much an eye opener

My god they still have poor Ronnie Stewart strapped to the whipping post.

Even if I accept the fact he is guilty of everything they claim it is still very painful to witness his villification. Enough!!!! No more newspaper coverage with titles 'How little Ronnie Fell' I can't stand it.

Ronnie Stewart, Ottawa Roughrider extrodinare a cheating bad guy - I can't believe it. Lord knows I have no heroes today (I'm too cynical) but I almost cried when I opened the paper this morning and there he was being accused of overbilling taxpayers while inmates ombudsman.

When I was a teenager I loved football and he and Russ Jackson and Tony Gabriel were a dream team and seemed like such nice guys and not show offs like a lot today. Watching them play on a cold sunny afternoon they seem invincible and all that young men could be.

I guess being disappointed by our heroes is not their problem but ours but it hurts and instead of saying see you are too cynical,which would be wonderful, it says yeah you're right.

I'm really bummed

Harper has it through the house - THE HOUSE WILL RECOGNIZE THE THE QUEBECOIS FORM A NATION WITHIN A UNITED CANADA - yeahs 266 Nays 16

Fellow Canadians will we live to regret this. How can this simple prononcement open a can a worms we can never reseal. The possiblilites seem endless to me not just for the quebecois but for every other group who think they are special and therefor have more pressing wants and needs than the rest of their fellow Canadians. Yikes I think it is rather scary

On a lighter note I started my book and any story that begins with a dog found dead with a garden fork through him has got to pull you in. I will keep you posted

saw my book man yesterday (cough and all)..Lots of books for me to read but where to start.

Out - apparently I wont read anything scarier.

The curious incident of the dog in the night-time - life seen the eyes of an autistic child.

Salamander - Thomas Wharton's second novel promises lots of strange characters and takes place in the 1800's.

Kitchen Confidential - Adventure in the Culinary underbelly by Anthony Bourdain.

The Bobby Gold stories again by Anthony Bourdain apparently funny.

So where to begin. I'm leaning to the curious incident of the dog in the night-time. It intriques me.

I will let you know how they go.

Started my sewing project this morning only to find that I was speedy but extremely off my game. Sewed the tablecloth to the material, sewed the material to itself in the wrong place and then sewed a seam the wrong way round. I think I will quit for the day. I find sewing is a lot like any other creative task some days it is just better to step away from the work table. So daughter you may have to wait a little longer for this couch cover.

Hallelujeha!!!!!

We have sun. No heat but I'm not complaining. The view across the river is stunning and the water looks blue instead of a muddy grey. I feel almost giddy with the brightness. The paper has been read, puzzles done, breakfast cleared away, mom dressed and dishes done (all is well). I think I will sit here at the table and work on this book - it really is very good. Have a good day