BRINGING HOME A BARBERSHOP!!

PROTECTING THE GODERICH HARBOR

The thermometer in the Jeep told me it was 58F at 6:15 this morning as I headed into work.  The cool air just felt sooooo great for a change & added an extra few units of 'ooomph' to my recently charged overnight batteries.  The whole eastern horizon was aglow in a deep orange as the sun lumbered it's way up to the tree line.  I noticed old Sol & I had something in common this morning.  I too was aglow.....in my orange clam digger pants:))

NOT EVERYBODY GETS TO WEAR ORANGE PANTS TO WORK:))

In last night's blog I had a sepia tone picture of a log cabin on the grounds of the Goderich Museum.  Children can be seen sitting on some logs eating their lunch.  This is not an old photo.  I took the colored photo just after a couple of other photos showing a project the kids had just finished.  JERRY in Benson inquired about the photo & the sepia (old time look) effect.  Again, with just the click of a tool button in Picasa I was able to turn the color photo into an instant old time looking photo.  Total time it took me to do that was about 1 second.  Years ago I would spend endlessly long hours in my darkroom sepia toning prints by hand with trays of absolutely obnoxious & foul smelling chemicals.  (I remembered Jerry's question but have a nagging feeling I have forgotten some others)

Also in last night's Groaner's Corner I put in that piece about a man & his dog.  I should have put 'author unknown' at the end of that.  I did not write it:((

ANCHORED ON THE MAITLAND RIVER IN GODERICH, ONTARIO

Kelly & I slipped down to Mitchell this afternoon to visit with Uncle Harry for a couple hours.  Took him down a table for beside his chair.  He's doing well & loves his piped in TV music channels.

KELLY HELPING HARRY UNDERSTAND THE TV REMOTE

Slipped into Wal-Mart early this morning to buy myself a simple little electric hair trimmer for doing my beard.  Saw some on the shelf in my price range so grabbed one & away I went.  I don't spend any more time in retail stores than I have to.  When I got home & opened up the package I realized I had not only bought a hair trimmer.......but it looked like I had brought the whole darn Barbershop home!!

LOOKS LIKE I BROUGHT THE WHOLE DARN BARBERSHOP HOME!!

I knew our desktop computer was getting low on memory again despite adding more Ram last summer.  Was surprised to see we had only 2.26 GB's left.  Have used 78.2.  Not being too technically minded I would suspect we are in a 'critical' situation here with our desktop so I began moving photo files to our external hard drive & was able to recover about 18 GB's of memory.  Hopefully that will keep our aging desktop afloat for awhile longer.  Most of our computer space is taken up with photo files.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( 

THE ROOM WAS FULL OF PREGNANT WOMEN WITH THEIR PARTNERS. THE CLASS WAS IN FULL SWING.

THE INSTRUCTOR WAS TEACHING THE WOMEN HOW TO BREATHE PROPERLY AND WAS TELLING THE MEN HOW TO GIVE THE NECESSARY ASSURANCE TO THEIR PARTNERS AT THIS STAGE OF THE PREGNANCY. SHE SAID "LADIES, REMEMBER THAT EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR YOU. WALKING IS ESPECIALLY BENEFICIAL. IT STRENGTHENS THE PELVIC MUSCLES AND WILL MAKE DELIVERY THAT MUCH EASIER!" JUST TAKE SEVERAL STOPS AND STAY ON A SOFT SURFACE LIKE GRASS OR A PATH.

SHE LOOKED AT THE MEN IN THE ROOM, "AND GENTLEMEN, REMEMBER -- YOU'RE IN THIS TOGETHER --- IT WOULDN'T HURT YOU TO GO WALKING WITH HER."

THE ROOM SUDDENLY GOT VERY QUIET AS THE MEN ABSORBED THIS INFORMATION. THEN A MAN AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM SLOWLY RAISED HIS HAND.

"YES?" ANSWERED THE TEACHER.

"I WAS JUST WONDERING. IS IT ALL RIGHT IF SHE CARRIES A GOLF BAG WHILE WE WALK?"

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UN-AWAKENED"

It's not the concept of God I have a problem with.......it's his fan club!!

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/ (a work in progress)

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

A PLEASANT DAY & A TIRED 'GOODNIGHT'

The person I was to pick up with the mobility van in a neighboring town this morning was a 'no show' so my nice leisurely drive to Stratford Ontario was canceled for the day.

ONE OF THIS WEEK'S SUNRISES.........

Figured I might as well grab a small coffee at McDonald's before heading back & wouldn't you know it, the older drive-thru lady commented on the humid weather as she handed me my change & said, there you go 'dear:))'  Well, to say I drove out of there under a huge cloud of guilt about last night's blog would be an understatement.  Say, you don't suppose she read the blog do you??  Now that would be an awesome thought:))

    

A CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP OUTSIDE THE OLD LOG CABIN AT THE GODERICH MUSEUM

Another mobility van run materialized this afternoon taking me on a great 4 hour cruise through the countryside between a couple of hospital stops. 

A big thanks to Lisa & Bill for having the time & interest to add themselves to our Blog Follower's list.  You are brave people indeed.  With Chuck & Anneke's 150th you have come in as our 151rst followers & completed a final goal for me.  I thank you for that.

I have another 'Crack of Dawn' start tomorrow so that's it for me tonight.  My blogs have become waaaaaaay too long & waaaaaay to involved lately & I think my head, & yours, need a break.....................10-4 

In lieu of Groaners Corner tonight, I leave you with this.................

(Although our name is on this painting it is not ours)

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that his dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and his dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'

'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered. 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.

Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.

'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

'Excuse me!' he called to the man... 'Do you have any water?'
'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'

'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog.

'There should be a bowl by the pump.'
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.
The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to his faithful dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.

'This is Heaven,' he answered.
'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too..'
'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?  ''Nope. That's hell.'
'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that," the traveler said.

'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'

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NOPE, YOU CAN'T MAKE ME SAY........'THAT WORD!!'

OUTSIDE THE 'PARK HOUSE EATERY'

I wheeled an elderly lady in a wheel chair up to the reception counter at one of our local Hospitals this morning, handed the receptionist the ladies health card & awaited instructions as to where to take her.  She made a few entries onto a computer screen, handed me back the health card & said......."you can drop your wife off at the X-ray department first door down the hall on the left, Sir."  Did I mention this was a very elderly lady in the wheel chair!!  And I should also mention the last 5 minutes standing in the washroom staring at myself in the mirror wondering 'what happened' hasn't helped my once youthful ego either!!

MORNING BOAT RIDE ON THE MAITLAND RIVER

I had a few blocks of waiting time between the folks I transported around this morning so all photos in tonight's blog were taken in & around Goderich between wheelchair stops.

THESE TRACKS LEAD TO A.....SALT MINE!!

Ever notice how people say things to you without ever thinking about what they are saying.  And they will say the exact same thing to the person they meet before you or another person in line behind you.  I swung into the McDonald's drive-thru line this morning & ordered up a Burrito & coffee.  When I rolled up to the cashier window she said, "I must be dyslexic this morning."  She was half talking to herself as well as me as she seemed to fumble with a roll of quarters.  I wanted to reach out, put my hand on her shoulder & sincerely say, "thank you so much for an original greeting."  Doesn't it just bug  ya when people say, "Hello, how are you today."  It's a programmed response we all have that comes out as an automatic saying & do most people really care when they say that to a passing stranger.  If they did they would stop & wait for your response.  But they don't & just blow right by & lay the same saying on the next person.  Wouldn't you just like to turn around some time, grab hold of a person & say, "Soooo, you really want to know how I am today do you!!!!"

NICE OF THIS LITTLE SWALLOW TO POSE FOR ME ON A BOATS STURDY BOW ROPE

As I rolled up to the second pick-up window at the same McDonalds another lady fried my brain with the standard high pitched, "Have a nice day."  That decades old worn out insincere saying is like fingernails on a chalkboard for me.  It's another one of those habitual programmed responses that doesn't mean a hill of beans.  That busy window lady couldn't care less if I ate my Burrito backwards or drove over a flock of lost fish worms. 

OUTSIDE 'THE PARK HOUSE'

Have you ever been in the wrong lane at a grocery store & crashed your cart into somebody & have them tell you they're "sorry."  My fault, but they say they're sorry.  What's with that.  I'm the one who should be saying, 'sorry' but of course I never do because the other person has already apologized for my mistake.  No point in two of us standing there trying to out-sorry each other because before long somebody else would come along, bump into us & say......well, you know!!

THIS GODERICH HARBOR TUG TAKES FOLKS FOR RIDES

Rick made mention of a word yesterday in his blog that has been sticking in my craw for the last bunch of years.  When I saw it bugged him too I knew I wasn't the only one & it was time to write about it.  Behind the most used, abused & meaningless word in the English language, which I happen to think is 'SALE,' this other word is in fierce competition for second place if it is not banished from the Kingdom forever.  It has been used to describe a fly walking across a counter, paint drying, any piece of clothing designed since man first walked upright, any picture, photo or painting, regardless of who did it or how absolutely awful it was.  The word has been used with every noun known to man & will go into the history books as the most used adjective of all times.  Some would use the word to describe 'road kill' while others would use it to describe their best friends recent but totally horrible hair do.  Every thing from toenails to nose rings.  Horse radish to Squid lids.  Stuffed bikini's to brain salad soup.  It is a word I absolutely refuse to ever use whether writing it or saying it aloud.  A whole gaggle of stampeding Buffalo couldn't pull that word out of me.  Not even a last minute peanut butter & honey sandwich in front of a Mexican firing squad would entice me to use the word in describing my one ounce of upcoming lead poisoning.  In fact, this word bugs me so much I can't even tell you what it is now because I would have to type it in here & that would very surely cause me to throw up all over my keyboard.  So, I'm just going to let it go & simply say, "don't you just think this last paragraph has been simply...AWESOME!!"

AWWWWWW NUTS!!!!

(the pumpkin pic is not mine...got it on the net)

The humidity has totally knocked the stuffing's out of me again today.  I don't know how Kelly stands it over there at Deer Park.  No A/C in the office & she's generally outside helping people with BBQ problems, getting extra towels for people or fixing this or that, etc.  If I did half the work in this heat she does I would probably be cooling my heels in the local morgue by now.  She takes after her Dad, who despite how gravely ill he is at the moment, just refuses to take it easy. It is just not acceptable to him that he can't be out cutting the lawn or planting beans in his garden or something.  It is just not humanly possible for a person to be as sick as Kelly's Dad & still be alive.  I have never seen or heard of anyone having to endure the absolute cruel tortures of aging as much as this man.  Kelly's Dad is an incredible walking medical miracle.  And yet, something about all that daily suffering this man is enduring just doesn't seem right to me!!  But, that's another whole blog post some time.........................:((

AUTHENTIC LOG CABIN LIBRARY OUTSIDE THE GODERICH MUSEUM

I just got another 'bk or bx' error message when I tried to leave a comment on RICK'S BLOG about taking his Canon off it's auto setting so I will just add a comment here.........Auto settings on camera's generally do a satisfactory job for most people & the quality can be very acceptable.  But, if you want your already reasonably good photos to look better you are simply going to have to take the time to understand a little bit about basic photography before coming off 'auto.'  Just no way around it.  Read & understand your camera manual.  Lighting & composition are two of the biggies.  I see a lot of people's photos in blogs that are OK, but could be a lot better with just a little effort, interest, & understanding of their cameras, photography basics.....and Picasa:))  You just have to decide where your priorities are & how much time & effort you want to put into your blog photos.

Got another early morning start tomorrow whereupon my travels will take me through our wonderful rural countryside again:))

LARGE EARLY MORNING STRAW BALES

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Tales from the Doctors office.........................

Let me tell you about my doctor. He is very good. If you tell him you want a second opinion, he will go out and come in again.
He treated one woman for yellow jaundice for three years before he realized she was Chinese.  While he was talking to me his nurse came in and said, "Doctor, there is a man here who thinks he is invisible." The doctor said, "Tell him I can't see him."

Another time a man came running in the office and yelled, "Doctor, doctor, my son just swallowed a roll of film." The doctor calmly replied, "Let's just wait and see what develops."

One patient came in and said, "Doctor, I have a serious memory problem."  The doctor asked, "When did it start? " The man replied, "When did what start?"

I remember one time I told my doctor I had a ringing in my ears. His  advice: "Don't answer it."

My doctor sure has his share of nut cases. One said to him, "Doctor, I think I'm a bell." The doctor gave him some pills and said,  "Here, take these. If they don't work, give me a ring."

Another guy told the doctor that he thought he was a deck of cards. The doctor simply said,  "Go sit over there. I'll deal with you later."

When I told my doctor I broke my leg in two places, he told me to stop going to those places.  You know, doctors can be so frustrating. You wait a month and a half for an appointment, and he says, "I wish you had come to me sooner."

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UN-AWAKENED"

It's not the concept of God I have a problem with.......it's his fan club!!

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/ (a work in progress)

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.