Short words
Pros at Scrabble embrace many obscure, and highly questionable, two-letter words. We've taken an if you can't beat 'em, join 'em approach and now play with a chart of two letter words in front of us. This has definitely raised our scores.

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  posted by John : 5:00 AM

 
A Few Photos
Playing cards at the cottage...



The house we lived in when I was born - now the office and restrooms for a little golf course...



Here's the house I grew up in. For many years after we moved it was a pizza shop. (map of these two houses)



I'd heard the knife-sharpening truck driving around lately, the driver clanging his bell. This morning the timing was right to take advantage of his old-fashioned curbside convenience. He has a special jig inside for old-style push-lawnmowers - ours is there getting sharpened. I got a few knives done and mom's German scissors and an old Swedish knife are as good as new...


  posted by John : 3:47 AM

 
WWII
Summer is nearing its end. Time to shed some lbs. I've decided I've got 10 or 15 that need to go, so will get back into weekly weight-watchers classes while we're here in Toronto. The class leader here is really good - very funny and 'real'. As opposed to all the people we met in Texas who seem very fake in their role, trying to pretend they give-a-shit. Mainly its about writing down the points (calories) in the things I eat all day. Adhering to that ritual pretty much did the trick last year. And today was kind of in the sights as a starting day - so I really enjoyed the non-documented beers and bacon at the Buskerfest yesterday.

  posted by John : 8:38 AM

 
Cooking with Marcello
The stranger-than-fiction trial of SCTV alumnus Tony Rosato is really provoking. This blogger summed it up well when the story broke - its a very sad situation. Here's the latest news of Rosato's trial which is shaping up to be a tragic comedy featuring disorganized, bickering lawyers and an impatient disciplinarian judge.

  posted by John : 8:02 AM

 
Blogging from an iPhone
I want one!
  posted by John : 7:27 PM

 
August
Time to write something here...

I'm on strike. While my company negotiates the agreement for the next phase of work with IBM South America, I've been on vacation. At some point they'll resume operations and I'll probably travel there again. Have to finish the scuba course I started last time. And I need a haircut!

A bunch of us spent several glorious days at the cottage. Perfect weather in the air and in the water. Nothing better than jumping into a fresh-water lake at this time of the year. Taught the neighbors yellow/golden lab to swim - she had had a traumatic experience in the water as a pup, being stuck under a dock. Now she'll swim out on her own and go halfway across the lake to fetch a stick.

The August long weekend is starting. We'll stay in the city - which should be quiet as nearly everyone leaves to go swim in a northern lake.


  posted by John : 8:43 AM