What I did on my summer vacation.

or at least the last half of it!

Lets see, Monday i stayed home and cleaned the house. When Billy got home, we went down to finkles park with a box of chicken. The water was barely cold enough to cool off our sweating bodies but the wind was a definite bonus. We sat there for 3 hrs and certainly didn't want to leave. Tuesday was market day ... I took a side trip to my aunt's house and when I got home, I did the laundry, weeded the garden and vacuumed the entire house.

Wednesday was shopping day. I managed to score some awesome sales at the Cat Center and Cotton Ginny's. Due to the fact that I was already in the city, I decided to get my oil changed at COndies and see what can be done with my car predicament. After three hours, the service manager came out to tell me that the next time I bring my car in for an oil change, they will replace the intake manifold gasket as GM is now covering the cost of replacement due to an impending law suit in North America. Let me say, it certainly helps to put up a fuss and make the company aware of issues that you are not happy with. It has certainly worked so far in my case.

Billy came home early on Wednesday afternoon so we went for an early dinner at the Legion and then went for a boat ride around 3pm. We managed to make it out to the Jenna Lambert flotilla and as we watched this young disabled struggle to cross the lake, it certainly makes one put things in perspective. I wanted to jump in and swim with her however there were so many boats and people around her, we couldn't get close enough to even ask. Here is a zoomed in picture:

We took a side trip to Confederation Basin and found this huge ocean cruise ship docked in where the Island Queen usually is. My brother said this beast is over 200 feet long!

On the way home, we stopped in at John and Sues place. Their neighbour was there and decided to play photographer. So here is a picture of the four of us:

On Thursday I rested as I knew that I was off to the Krock Party Cruise with my hairdresser Joanie and some of her crazy friends. It was so hot that I was sweating after I got out of a cold shower. It was so funny to see all the people I knew on this cruise. Two girls I once worked with at Bell, one young man named Mitchell

that I met online and worked with for a short time, a bunch of people that I work with now, a guy I worked with for 3 months in 1996 at Altair Electronics and a lovely lady that I met online 8 months ago but had never met face to face till that night. Her name is Christine and I feel like we have known each other for ages. Here is a picture of us on the boat:

On Friday Billy took off for his deer camp to do some repairs and I got up late (as I didn't get home till 2am after driving 3 drunks females home) and got my music together for my radio show that night. I also took the afternoon to finish a book I had started back in May. So now I can say that I have (finally) read The DaVinci Code! We went to the Legion for dinner and I sat outside by myself as the guys sat inside and yapped.
Saturday was a rainy dreary day so I worked and cleaned all day long. I cleaned the basement and even vacuumed all 4 floors of the house. I decided I needed to be rewarded for this so I went to see James Mckenty and The Spades at The Merchant that night. I met up with my friend Tina there and she was kind enough to take a bunch of pictures for me and of me. Here is one of me and the band after the first set:


The place was packed and at one point in time I realized that Kirk Muller was standing right beside me and Paul Langois from The Tragically Hip was sitting right across the table from me. Even my favourite Prince Edward County girl Emily Fennel was in the house. I managed to have quite a conversation with her and I think we may be able to get her over to the Island for a show at The Lodge and/or a recording at the radio station. What a sweet lady she is....She even posed for a picture with me:

Here is a cool picture I took at 2 in the morning from the parking lot where my car was parked:

The next day I dragged my butt out of bed at 9 and we were on the water by 11am in the boat. It started off as a beautiful sunny day as we slipped over to the back beach. Billy washed the bottom of the boat and I swam around him in circles. The water was actually refreshing and I didn't want to leave. We went across the gap and took our time viewing the beautiful shoreline of Prince Edward County. We stopped for lunch and a quick drink and then took off again for a short time till the black clouds formed overhead and we were chased down the lake by a looming thunderstorm.
It certainly was a short week, even though it was 10 days long:) In three more days Billy and I will be on holidays and I certainly hope the time goes a bit slower.

Holiday Week #1 is now over 50% complete!

Its pretty bad when you cant get percentages out of your head when you are away from work for a week! However, I have had a great week weather-wise but not so great dollar-wise:) Last weekend Billy had to work all weekend doing inventory therefore I had to drive over to the cottage both Saturday and Sunday. It seemed weird not having our boat tied to the dock but I guess you make due with a lawnchair as your sunpad when the boat is not available.

On Saturday I stopped at the radio station just as Peter Truman was finishing his show with one of the local residents. It seemed weird to be in there when someone else was on the air:

When I got to the cottage, our friend LB was getting ready for his step-daughters wedding. Apparently he was the bearer of the shotgun therefore we thought we should get him ready by handing him the potato cannon:)

Our friends from Amherstview came over and left us with a lasting impression. What a couple of asses!!

On the way home Sunday night, my friend Warren (who is a captain on the ferry) invited me up to the wheel house! What a great spot to take some pictures:)

The wheelhouse is airconditioned and has a fantastic view up and down the channel. Here is a picture of Diane docking the boat at the Millhaven dock. The two toggles she uses are like operating an oldschool video game!

On Monday evening, Billy came home with a box of chicken from Dixie Lee and we packed up the cooler and the chairs and headed to Finkles Park. The sun was shining through the trees and the water was just a blessing in the sticky humid heat.

Tuesday and Wednesday were spent shopping and cleaning. And right now I'm waiting on mister c's arrival so we can finally go out in the boat...its been over a week!!!!


For some reason I have been compelled to shop every day for the last three days. Now remember, I am not a shopper therefore this is a once a year event! And it was an added bonus that all the sidewalk sales are on this week as well.

Rock Crew & The Golden Dogs!

My favourite band out of Toronto visited Kingston last Thursday night for the Rock Crew Productions 4th anniversary party. Unfortunately this was to be the last Rock Crew show as Chris M has made a career move to real estate. He will be missed and (IMHO) local rock shows will never be the same. Regardless, it was a night out for me and seeing as I was officially on holidays, it was going to be a late night for this cat. My 'boss' from the radio station wanted to get a quick interview with the singer from The Golden Dogs, so we snuck backstage before the show started and Tom started questioning Dave as I snapped pics. Its funny, Dave remembered me from my myspace page as well as all the Kingston shows they have played. (I'm always up front) The interview was cut short as the sweet sound of the Lady Racers crept into the room. Here is a pic of Dave and Tom:

The real reason *I* was there was not only to see the dogs, but I had never witnessed The Mudlocks...This band that only plays every two years or so consists of my friend Shayne on drums, Robbie G on lead guitar, Mike Perlin on bass and Morris on vocals/guitar. They sounded pretty good considering the time frame since their last gig!

The Slaves of Spanky came on next and I am happy to say that I was bopping and bouncing along with the crowd...not bad for an old gurl:) This rap band had the crowd on their feet immediately!! They managed to get Morris up on the stage to dance and sing with them and then BOOM, out comes the shaving cream and Morris ends up smelling like an old man (Old Spice) for the rest of the night!

And then the Dogs hit the stage and the crowd pushed to the front again. What a show these guys put on...everyone was dancing and singing to the top of their lungs. Sweat was flying everywhere. I certainly hope this entertaining band makes its way back to Kingston despite the fact that Kingstons greatest promoter has retired.

It was a good thing that I didn't have to go to work the next day as I didn't get home till 3AM!!!!

The second week of July !!

As we roll into the third week of July, I realize that the summer is running away from us in an alarming rate! We hid out from the crowds that invade our small village on Canada Day weekend. It's always a tradition for us to run away to Amherst Island and watch the crowds from a distance. Really, who would want to be walking around in the sweltering heat when you could be relaxing here?


Or even here, in Stella Bay:


The next weekend we started our Saturday off as tourists. We went to Morrison's Restaurant and then over to the market for some fresh veggies. Its weird, we have lived here all our lives and have never experienced breakfast at Morrison's. What a lesson in teamwork that place is. We managed to get a table right down by the kitchen and watched the waitresses race back and forth and shout their orders to the three men at the grill. Never once did I see a chit pass over to the cooks...they filled the numerous orders by memory. Damn, I wish I had that type of gift.
The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day to explore the newly cobbled market square. The colours were such a treat to the eye, and the camera lens.



That afternoon we hit the water for an afternoon of sun and fun. Being the chicken that I am, I decided to be the spotter/photographer for my friend Bert.

The ducks that have been hanging around the dock for the past 4 weeks are now eating out of our hands. How tame can they get?

As the sun slid down, the perfect photo opportunities always present themselves:

On Thursday at 430pm my supervisor told me that I could start my holidays early!!! What a treat, as I had already planned on going out that night and having the next day off was a real benefit. Thanx Helsby!