Can't be bought in a store

My best friend Jenn's tumour has shrunk from 5x4cm to 3x3cm with only 3 chemo treatments.

She's kickin' cancer's butt!

I couldn't have asked for a better birthday gift.

Repitition

Scene: Entering our friends NY beach house to meet their two kids.

6 yr old: Excuse me RJ.....Do you like OJ?

RJ: Yes, I do.

6 yr old and 4 yr old together -giggle giggle giggle giggle-

Parents: They have been practicing that question all week.

Grandparents: ALL week.

RJ and the OJ Gang.

Wedding 1 Photos - Long Island, NY

Off to JFK.

In love, Sue and James.

Lookin' good! Mike, James, RJ. Relaxing at our friends Beach House. A walk to the shore. Looking for sea glass. And away we go. Minus RJ's Wallet. But that's another story.

Wedding Weekend Warriors

Back to back weddings starting this weekend. Good times!

H & K

After a little break.....we're back!

Our Photoblog

My friend Helen and I have started a daily photoblog. Check it out here.

A Grand Time

Last Sunday afternoon was too nice to be inside after a few consecutive days of rain. We needed to get moving and shake the cobwebs from out of our heads. So we drove down to St. George to meet up with our friend Jo and her dog Molly (Bauer's girlfriend) and take a walk along the Grand River. The trail was perfect for strolling and sniffing for the pups. There was a small look-out where we could see the river and take a short rest on a bench.

Can we go now?

After an hour of marking every blade of grass Bauer and Molly decided it was time to play. Molly ran ahead with Jo and on their way back Bauer crouched down and stalked her return. 1 second after this photo was taken they were rumbling in the trees.

Celebrity Encounter

Scene: Jen and I are waiting in line outside of the Elgin Theater to pick up our tickets for the Toronto International Film Festival showing of The Informant.

Celebrity Lady: Excuse me, is this line to pickup tickets?

Jen: Yes.
Celeb: How far back does it go?
Jen: Not that far.
Celeb: OK, thanks.
Jen: No problem.

pause - raised eye look between us

Me: Was that...
Jen: Yes....

pause - look around and Celebrity Lady 5 feet away

Jen: You think she would have 'people' to do this for her.
Me: Yeah, or have the tickets delivered to her hotel.

pause - I take a good look at Celebrity Lady.

Me: That's really...
Jen: Yes.
Me: Huh. It looks like she's going to the back of the line. Kudos to her.


We proceed to get our tickets and go to the end of the ticket holders line.

Jen: This is moving quickly
Me: I bet she doesn't have to go to the end of this line. They'll sneak her in.
Jen: Yeah. I wonder is she is in a moving that's showing or if she's just here for fun.
Me: I don't know.



We walk around the corner (it was a long line).


Me: Okay! Can we just say it out loud. That was Dana Delaney right?
Jen: Yes, right.
Me: Good, just wanted to make sure.
Jen: Why? Was it not obvious?
Me: It was my first thought, but honestly, she looks fabulous! I thought for sure I was getting her mixed up with someone younger. Don't you think she looks great?
Jen: Very good, but short. Why is everyone on TV so short?
Me: I don't know, but we'd be giants in their world, no one would hire us. I guess we should stick to the jobs we have.
Jen: Lucky us.
Me: Yeah. Lucky.

I am weak

I have given in to the quilting bug. I've struggled with it for years and until recently had been able to stand my ground and find a list of excuses not to get started down that hand-stitched path. But then the stars aligned. I got a sewing machine. I found time and a reason for a starter project. And once I was surrounded by all those beautiful fabrics I went weak in the knees and dove right in.

Luckily I have an experienced seamstress near by ready to teach me the basics and step in if necessary to finish my small blanket in exchange for free babysitting. Oh, did I not mention that I have only given myself 2 weeks to complete the blanket? Yes I am in denial as well.I choose the above fabrics for a baby blanket for my co-worker. It's perfectly their style, modern and not too baby-ish. I have dreams of grandeur that it will become their little boys favorite blankie. Just adding a little more pressure to the project. Amy, the seamstress, does a good job of keeping me grounded. As I was packing up from our Sunday morning tutorial she smiled and said "I love watching someone else struggle though it".

I see a few nights of babysitting in my future.

Coffee Pubs, the final frontier.

As Jen and I were heading out of Stratford Saturday night, I saw the sign for William's Coffee Pub. Jen and I have gone a few times to the one in Waterloo and enjoyed it. I had recently found out that the first 'Williams' was in Stratford, so I thought I'd share this with her.

K: Look there is Williams Coffee Pub.
J: Did you want to stop for coffee?
K: No. But did you know that the first one originated here is Stratford?
J: That's cool.
K: Yeah. It's explains why it's named 'William'.
J: Yeah, William Shatner.
K: William Shatner! What !?! No!!
J: I didn't mean Shatner, I meant Shakespeare.
K: I don't know Jen. I think your inner-Trekkieness is starting to seep out.


(Jen told me last week that she is a big Star Trek fan. I didn't know this. She watched all the Star Trek series and while she doesn't have any visible Trekkie characteristics, obviously Cptn. James T. Kirk is on her mind a lot more that she realizes.)

A Funny Thing

Jen and I went to Stratford last weekend to see the Stratford Festivals performance of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" . We decided to make a day of it and wander around the town. It's such a pretty little place. Wonderful shops and delicious food. This big guy was in the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. He still has his hibernation weight. Who wouldn't living in a sweets store?

Then there was The Barkery. We looked around but since both our animals are on a 'weight watch', we passed on the many delicious looking treats.

We had dinner at Othello's. The Service wasn't great (I think they were short staffed) but the pizzas were very tasty and we both enjoyed our wine spritzers. I don't think I've ever noticed wine spritzers on a menu before. But Stratford does cater to a lot of 'older' folk. Huh, so what does that say about our drink choice? Who cares, when in Rome, spritz away!
After dinner we went for a walk along the river.This is the Festival Theater. The main productions are performed there. It's much prettier at night. The roof is trimmed in lights.

There are a lot of ducks.

We caught a glimpse of a swan and her young baby. He could barely hold up his neck he was so young. Papa swan was around but he was hissing at all the people walking by.

There is a small bridge by the Festival Theater. Do you notice anything odd about this picture?No, it's not Jen's "Be glad I'm not giving you the finger smile". She doesn't realize I have a high tolerance for annoying people (RJ and Bauer) while taking their picture. Back to the bridge. It's half painted. And in a different way than I would have expected. To each his own.

And finally the play. It was very well done. A lot of laughs.I snuck a quick picture before the performance started. I was so nervous I didn't take the time to select a particular setting on the camera. (ie: the Museum setting would have worked well). I was relieved when the flash didn't go off. Nothing says frisk me to a power-hungry usher like a camera flash.

Dear Nic,

I always get a little flutter of nervousness when we first meet. Will I still know the person in front of me? There was a time we couldn't go 24 hours without talking to each other. But now our daily lives are so far apart and so different, what will we have in common? Have we changed too much? Will our friendship have withstood time and distance? The answers, of course, are yes.

Your unique spirit constantly amaze me. Every time we meet you are a better you (if that's possible :o) ). You are courageous, intelligent and strong. You tell it like it is and cut out the BS. In one moment you exude confidence and in the other compassion.

You are so much fun to be around. Your wit and laughter are contagious and your 'crazy' life supplies endless amounts of adventure stories. I am envious.

But afterwards we fall back into our ‘daily life’. How quickly it consumes us.

I will remember the laughter and tears, the hugs and smiles. Our lives comfortably intertwined for that moment. These memories will warm my heart until we meet again.

You are a truly a special friend, a sister. Someone with a key to my heart that unlocks our past, present and future.

Love you,
K

"In the end, it’s our friendships that live in the spaces between our biggest life moments. It’s our friendships that hold the divide between life and love, fear and compassion, doubt and courage. And it’s our friendships that crack open our hearts to the light within ourselves waiting to be seen, to be born." Kelly Rae Roberts

Just one?

Scene: Drug store parking lot in Brockville. I went in for shampoo while Jen stayed in the car with Ollie. When I got back Jen commented on the full bag I came out with.

J: That looks like a lot of shampoo.
K: I got a few other things. Most importantly Mini Eggs. One for you and….
J: Oh no! I can’t.
K: Oh, don’t give me that Lent excuse. It’s almost over.
J: Karen!! I have gone 38 days without chocolate or candy. You are not going to make me cave now!
K: Ya, I can tell.
K: Fine, we’ll save them until Sunday.
J: Fine. Good. Ok.

J: How many did you get?
K: Just the two.

K: Ok, you can have mine as well.

Barsby Flashback

I was rummaging through old photos this weekend and came across this one of Allie and I at Nic's Mom's house in the fall of 2002 (I think?)It reminded me of the this picture from last summer. July 2008 at The Farm.

Both times (Allie at 2 and 7) crawled into my lap wanting hugs.

These pictures are also proof that my hair reverts back to the same style every 5 years. Mark it on the calendar folks, August 2013, be prepared for the same look.

Although, 12 year old Allie probably won't want hugs then. *Sigh*

Where are you Mr.CN Tower?

Yesterday Jenn and I went to the HomeShow in Toronto. I like going into TO. We've been gone for 3 years but I still feel comfortable being downtown. However, I noticed quite quickly that things had changed since we left. There are new condo buildings everywhere. So many that while walking to the trade show building I was amazed to see that the CN Tower was partially blocked. I wish I had a 'Before' picture to compare it to.

Breaking the Silence

I'm jumping back on posting wagon with Breaking News in the world of chocolate. This image is brought to you by my friend Cherrie who is on top of all chocolate news.

That's right ladies and gents Christmas Cream Eggs. I haven't seen any yet but I will keep an eye out for them. Nic, let me know if you see them!

On the Bucket List

Scene: Calling Jen Wednesday night to see if we are going to swim The Lake Thursday morning

K: Hey it's me. So what do you think? Are we a go for tomorrow.
J: I guess. It's up to you.
K: Well that's nice. make me decide.
J: Have you even BEEN in the water?
K: No. I was just going to do it. No prep. Just go.
J: It's cold. I was in with the girls earlier.
K: So we shouldn't do it then? I don't think it's going to warm up in 12 hours.
J: I'll do it if you want to.
K: Do you have people there?
J: No, just John and Dianna
K: Are you drinking? because you seem aloof and distracted?
J: No. It's really up to you.
K: I wish there was a thunderstorm to blame it on, like last year.
J: Yeah.
K: We could start swimming and when we get to my place gut check-it, do we stay or do we go.
J: Sure. It's up to you.
K: I'm really not liking your casual attitude to all this. We won't do it if you're not into it.
J: No I'll do it. You decide.
K: We could just swim around Green Island. When is that swim?
J: Yeah I guess we could do that. Hannah is swimming to Hawthorn's Island tomorrow and if she makes it she doesn't have to wear her life jacket on the island anymore.
K: Cool, so we could swim with Hannah?
J: Yeah. But it's cold.
K: Yeah. Well, The Lake will be here next year. It's not like its going anywhere.
J: True. We will eventually do it.
K: Right. I'll let you go.
J: Okay, later.
K: Bye.
Hang up.

James: So are you going to do it?
K: No, the water is too cold and Jen turns blue in the frozen food section of the grocery store. We'd never make it.


Afterwards there was much discussion about swimming The Lake and how long it would take and I heard a few people pipe up that they thought they would like to swim the lake too. Maybe it should be a family event? That's right Uncle Donnie, I heard you say it's on your Bucket List.

KW Rib and Beer Fest

When RJ heard about the KW Rib and Beer fest there was no hesitation about what we would have for dinner Friday night. When we got there we started checking out our options.

It's always important to check out their trophies. Hopefully some are recent.Then check out the BBQ-er. Serious looking, lots of wood near by, not afraid to use the sauce.After ordering there is a bit of a wait. You can't hurray the smokin' process. The girl in the white shirt behind RJ (3rd in line) ordered the Veggie special. I was quite surprised that any true-to-the-craft rib place had a Veggie special. After looking around I spotted this sign: RJ's first sample: Not bad but they weren't fall off the bone good.

All this happened before our friends Cam, Amy and little Brooke joined us. Once they arrived we grabbed a table, more beers and the boys went for more ribs. We had to purchase commemorative beer tasting glasses. They were the perfect size for Brooke, so while the boys were away the girls played.

She looks incredibly comfortable holding that beer Cam.

"Can I get another 5 here?" A sign of the future?

"Wait a minute, I no feel so good." Light weight.

RJ was pretty happy with the second set of ribs from Boss Hogs. The meat fell off the bone. But no time for smiling, eating now.

Yummy Bribes

Nicole and the girls were in town recently. I visited with them at The Farm (post to come later) and when I left there was a slight possibility that I might get to see them a second time. In preparation I made these:

Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I've sent these cookies via a care packages to Nic during her first year out West. I don't know how intact they arrived (a Ziploc bag full of bite-sized crumbs and smeared chocolate was probably not very appetizing) but they left injected with love and happy thoughts.

Nic's schedule is always packed when she's here, so a second visit wasn't possible. What happened to the cookies you ask? Are they on there way to B.C.? Nope. Sorry Nic, but my 'homemade choco-chip cookie deprived husband' and I ate them. All of them. Gone. You can get the recipe here. I'll send the love and happy thoughts for you to add.

Father's Day 10K

For the third time we took to the streets early Sunday morning for the Father's Day 10K. This year RJ's sister Jo and her husband Steve joined us and so did RJ's friend Craig. It was really great weather, not hot and muggy like the first year. Jo and I stayed in the stadium with the puppies and waited with cameras in hand.

Here are 'The Runners Three' at the start.Craig was the first to run by smiling and waving. He's always smiling.Steve was next. No time for waving, Steve is a professional. But I got the thumbs up!And closely after was RJ. He knows the drill when it comes to photo opts, turn to face the camera, smile and wave. I've taught him well.A great race by all three. And of course there was the annual nap-fest that afternoon.