Ashley - Thats All I Need to Say

Modern Red Neck Family

Some Treasures, Some Tears, but Mostly Good Memories

So the big job while Dad was home was to tackle the basement.

Which was emotional, gratifying and back-breaking.

My little dust-mask (trying saying that three times fast)

I had to say it slow everytime I said it!

... already distracted ! My dust-mask was a lifesaver!

So Friday started with me arriving (doesn't it always - haha)

in the Mills at around 7:30.

Dad and I went to the Co-op in Whycocomagh for groceries.

Its a liquor store as well - and it was 20 minutes to closing time.

Safe to say, we waited in a small line up.

Saw John Kay there. (why is he called that?) - Kay's son?

Anyway, he told us "He was running out of gas, he had to come

and re-fuel". Meaning the liquor store part.....

It was great to see him though. He's not changed a bit.

We saw John Leonard... maybe ?? .... Barry's friend. Dad knew him.

Obviously, I didn't.

Oh! Then we saw Dorothy Cummings. Looks just like Doris.

Only with velvet leggings on ... and flowered Crocs.

Back home now - I started a little bit of the clean up that night

but truthfully, it was very overwhelming. And after working a

46 hours already that week, I wasn't up to the task !

HOWEVER, Saturday arrives - as it always does ...

And who needs to set an alarm or have a rooster when you

have a chainsaw.

At least this time, Dad held off until 7:17 am....

Though not as conditioned as before, the human fell asleep

again and woke up at 8:30 - showered, breakfasted and donned

my faithful little blue mask and set to work.

We un-earthed so many wonderful memories, lots of junk - like

record players and rolled paper fax machines ...

And from the archieves ....

Somebody's highchair - Barry's? Ramona's? Mine?

Ramona's Handiwork. Note the Woolco bag in the background.

Barry's Nubody's card from '89.

Mark's jack-knife holder

Dad's old cologne bottle

Letter from Ruthie

A r-e-a-l-l-y creepy cat. It looks so sad, I just had to take its picture.

Uncovered by boxes ... If I recall, this was Dad's workspace.

Mo left him a message ...

That's all for this post. It was quite the weekend. Lots of fun

with Jonah and Nate. Never a dull moment.

Favorite Pastime Passed Down

Remember?

Trying a step higher every time?

So cool that another generation is doing this.

Let's just hope Jonah skips the

"Dunking the Imaginary Basketball on the Landing"

part, right Mom?

Just a Thought .....

Do not condemn the judgment of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong. ~Dandemis

Hey, I Can't Help That We're Amazing ....

Sooo ... I was offered the chance of a lifetime
yesterday!
My friend was in from Toronto and had an
extra ticket to the Canada USA game.
It was an amazing opportunity, Adam was
away on business, so I decided I'd go.
"Babe, you'd be crazy not to" was the blessing
I went with ....
I've posted some shots. They aren't great
quality, as we were behind a net.
Great seats !!
About 8 rows from the ice with rabid fans
surrounding us.
It was so neat to be there, amid this frenzy
and a sea of red jerseys, painted faces, wacky
head gear, and paper helmets. It was incredible
to be part of it.
My two directors were a little bitter at me. They
were at a pub watching it ...

Shift Change

Lanny MacDonald (not from Cape Breton,
much to my dismay - as the smirk I was met with
when I exclaimed "Lanny! He's from Cape Breton....
..... isn't he?" told me, in fact, he's not!
He just has a Cape Breton name.

He, along with Bobby Orr and some others were
honored. I was too late getting my camera out for
some shots of them.

Look who was in my row!
Chris McQueen! Had a baby boy 8 weeks
ago. Ryder.
I wanted to marry him ... in grade 5!
so hilarious!

Our Wonderful goalie (though he let
a few silly ones in... don't tell him I
said that) He won MVP or something ...

Shot of the Crowd

Great Save !

We're winning ....

We're tied .....

But we won! 5-4 with less than 40 seconds left
in regulation !!! Very Very exciting !
The video below is taken right after ... I don't
think our neighbours to the South liked our
victory too much ... there was a little scuffle on the
ice ...



This video is just a sample of the crowd.

I Was Mistaken for a Dog

Characters:
Adam
Jeff (Adam’s roommate)
Me (known to Adam and Jeff as L.A.)
Ellie (dog)
Background: Ellie is being bred again and had 'the surgery' last week and was staying at Adam’s place.

Here's how a conversation between Adam and Jeff went on Friday:
Adam: Hey Jeff, do you mind keeping an eye on Ellie for me tonight? I’m going out for a bit. She’s pretty stoned and tired. Can you just check on her every once in a while and later, take her out for a pee?
Jeff: Why? Is she not feeling well?
Adam: Well, she just had that surgery this morning.
Jeff: OH! ELLIE! I thought you said L.A.

Yup, Jeff thought I had to be taken “out to pee" and that I was stoned.

We’ve all had a good laugh over this one !!

I Changed My Mind

Here’s a little tale of humanity
Up the street from my place is a pizza joint.

And to go anywhere, I need to pass by it.
On any given day, I walk by it at the very least 4 times.
Sometimes up to 8.
And every time I walk by, there are people
standing around (the owners?) either smoking, hanging out
in their vehicles with the doors open and music blaring,
playing hackey-sack, Frisbee, Catch, Football.
Inside my head I judge them. (I’m just being real here)
I think they are kind of creepy and frankly, kind of loserish.
(which isn’t really a word)
(seriously though, do you need 6 guys to operate a pizza
shop that has one delivery guy, and is so small that only two
people can stand inside the store to order?)
Just makes me wonder.
They are always polite and give a courteous hello,
and they stop their play to let me pass.
Ok. So here’s where the change takes place.
If you read a few entries ago, there was an assault on the street
next to mine. So I vowed to call a cab when I come home from Opa after my shift.
BUT …. Cabs cost money …. I am a bank card user … I never have cash …. It’s a pain in the neck to wait for one…. It’s only a 5 minute walk home …. The list goes on.
So last night, I was walking home at around 10:00. I ran to McD’s for some (yummmo) grilled wraps. There were lots of people around, extremely busy city because of Worlds (Hockey). And I felt safe. But I turned down my street and I could hear two guys in the next parking lot, swearing,
talking really loud and crass about women, using derogatory terms to describe them etc.
I’m not easily scared and for some reason, this made me really nervous.
So I stopped by the pizza place. (as expected, someone was on the doorstep)
And I started to explain that I was nervous because of recent events blah blah… I didn’t even have to finish.
It was no problem. He would walk me home. No questions asked.
I felt silly because the offending factors turned down another street.
Better safe than sorry.
And one thing I’ve learned in life is TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!
And my new friend ‘Chris’ assured me that he’d rather walk me the 5 houses to mine than see me nervous or hurt.
Funny. I don’t think they’re losers anymore.
And am ashamed I ever thought that.
Lessons Learned.
Everyday.
I guess that’s life. Isn’t it?