Chloe was relaxing in the backyard this morning.
Happy 80th Birthday Papa!
We celebrated Papa’s 80th birthday on Sunday.
Papa opening his present.
A great photo of Susan and Dad.
Papa learning to take photos with his iPad.
Everyone showing Papa how to do it.
Chloe wondering what all the fuss is about.
It was a good time, Susan did a terrific job on the food and Papa enjoyed the party.
Happy Mother’s Day
We headed down to the Blue Jays game on Mothers Day. It was Josh Donaldson Replica Jersey Day. The University subway line from Downsview to St Clair West was shut down for maintenance, so we had to park at Kipling.
R.D. Dickey was pitching.
Angle, Claudia and I had our pre-game hotdog outside the stadium.
The lineups were long and started early.
Angela and Claudia.
The girls before the game. We were sitting in section 204, in right field.
Happy Mothers Day to Susan!
For the second time in a row, the Blue Jays lost, this one was over in the top of the first when Dickey gave up four runs, including a three run shot to Mike Napoli. The box score for the game.
After the game we headed into Chinatown for dinner. We took the streetcar up Spadina.
Along Spadina Avenue. We went for dinner at Xam Yu for noodles, cantonese chow mien and shrimp balls.
Northern Quebec
Work had me up in Chapais, Quebec for the week. It is a flight to Montreal (YUL), a connection to Val D’or (YVO) and then a 4.5 hour drive north-east.
All of the snow was gone, except for the odd patches in the forests, but there was still ice on the lakes.
In Val D’or there was an Esso gas station with a sushi restaurant.
Not often you see that combination, maybe a Tim Horton’s or an On The Run, but rarely do you think I’m going for some gas and sushi.
The sunrise at the Val d’or Airport on Friday morning.
Bautista Bobblehead
We headed down to the Blue Jays game on the 19th for Jose Bautista bobblehead day. We got there at our usual bobblehead arrival time ~10:00am and the line-ups were longer than normal.
The Jays were playing the Atlanta Braves.
The roof was closed, and that always changes the way the game looks.
New Blue Jay Josh Donaldson went 0-4.
Jose Bautista.
Rookie and Mississauga native Dalton Pompey. He didn’t have a good game, a misplayed ball and an overthrown ball led to a few runs.
Rookie Daniel Norris started but only didn’t make it out of the third inning. Here he is getting the hook.
We were sitting up in the 500 section (520, row 10).
The Jays lost 5-2, here is the final box score.
We’re heading down on Mother’s Day for the game against the Red Sox. It is Josh Donaldson Replica Jersey Day.
Pacific Grove
I was down in California last week for a meeting. It was held at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula. Here is the sunset from the second night.
The large crowd of people were from the group I was with, the beach was only a five minute walk from the hotel.
The temperatures were about 20 degrees C, but we all know it’s 10 degrees colder by the lake (or ocean in this case).
We had good weather all week, just a little chilly.
There was some sort of photo shoot on the beach the one morning.
A sign on the path to the beach warning of mountain lions in the area.
There are not many meetings where there are deer grazing outside the meeting room.
The one evening while watching the sun set, the wind was howling, causing the sand to be whipped around, making it difficult to see at times.
One of my colleagues from Nova Scotia, when he left there was still three feet of snow on the ground back at home.
The view from the conference centre.
The conference centre started as a YWCA meeting place back in the early 1900’s. It is now part of the Asilomar State Park.
All of the meals were provided, but by the last night a few of us decided to head into Monterey for some seafood.
On the wharf.
There were seals hanging around.
Lots of fishing boat in the harbour.
There are three seals in this picture.
The one in the water made his way up onto the dock.
Grand Slam of Curling
The girls and I headed down to The Mattamy Athletic Centre at old Maple Leaf Gardens for the Grand Slam of Curling Players Championship. Gillian came in from school and we met her on the GO Train.
Our seats for Draw 7 were on the east side and the game closest to us was Kevin Koe against Mike McEwen.
The feature game (i.e. on tv) was Heather Nedohin against Eve Muirhead.
Eve Muirhead’s rink beat Nedohin 8-3.
Kevin Koe releasing the rock before the hog line.
Koe sitting three for the time being. He eventually fell to Mike McEwen’s rink 7-5.
Brad Gushue won his game.
We had to clear out before Draw 8. While we were waiting we hung out at the Loblaws and watched curling teams go in and out. For Draw 8, we were on the west side and the closest game was Jennifer Jones against Team Feltscher from Switzerland.
Anna Sidorova of Russia.
The feature game of Draw 8 started out as Rachel Homan against Val Sweeting, it only lasted five ends before Team Homan conceded. Then they switched to the Jennifer Jones game as the feature game.
Here are the girls with Jennifer Jones, she was all smiles after winning 6-5 in extra ends.
The girls with Jill Officer.
And Dawn McEwen.
And Kaitlyn Lawes.
Gillian with Rachel Homan.
After the game we had dinner across the street at Daio Japanese Restaurant. It was back on the GO Train and then we drove Gillian back to Hamilton.
Chloe All Cleaned Up
Chloe was overdue for a haircut. I had fallen behind on her grooming. As usual I started her week long grooming process.
I had her sides cut and there was long hair on her back, it looked like she had a cape on.
Today I finished her trimming and we gave her a bath. She looks good and is good for another couple of months.
Happy Birthday Angela!
Angela celebrated her 17th birthday. Here she is in the morning before school.
Angela with her shuttlecock googles. Angela is on the senior badminton team.
Celebrating with cake later in the evening.
Bedroom Upgrade
Susan and I took some time off in February to finally get around to re-doing our bedroom. It was long overdue. Here are some photos of the room during the preparation stage.
We painted, put down new flooring and new furniture.
I had more time to use up, so a couple of weeks later I painted the ensuite bathroom, and replaced the fixtures and the wall cabinet. I also finished the flooring in the closet, painted and re-organized the shelving. Next on the list is the main bathroom.