The Voice Of Reason

My neice sent me this today. I mostly don't post or repost cutesy pics that are all over the net because everyone sees them over and over eventually but i wanted to make sure i didn't lose this one. I love it! It's cute but more so, it's a great idea, making doggies out of cupcake icing.

Have also uploaded three photos from tonight Here in the LJ pics area :)

It's very interesting that overwhelmingly people think the first, black and white passport photo was more likely to get me through customs than the colour one that actually looks more like how i do on a daily basis. I always think that a photo on a document like a passport or driver's license should reflect how you look if someone was to compare it to your face on the spot without saying "put on/take off your glasses/hat/whatever". On the other hand, the unflattering, baggy eyed look of the B&W would probably be closer to how i look upon arrival after an overnight or really long flight ;) My driver's license picture is really bizarre because my hair was really long and curly. It looks very little like me lol I remember that i got my hair all cut off quite short about a week after that was taken. It doesn't expire until early 2007 when i will get a new photo done. No point paying extra to get one done now. It's only hair.

Anyone locally know where you can get the pieces of pictures frames that you can put together? There used to be a craft store in Burnside (before Crafts Canada) that had the pieces in various sizes so you could snap together a wooden frame in a custom size. I made the mistake of buying a canvas to paint that is 9x12 which is an awkward size and you just don't get ready made frames that size. Buying the four sides as separate pieces would be ideal because it makes transporting the painting to the UK much easier than having it in a frame already. I can construct it once i'm over there. I'd prefer to get the frame here as giving someone a painting and then having them have to find a frame is a bit tacky. There aren't as many craft stores around it seems. I will check Loomis Art supplies since i'm already downtown and a lunchtime walk up there is always nice when the weather is good. blueberrymoon?

The CAO of HRM is going to be the CEO of the Ambulance services. That's going to be quite a challenge but if anyone can do it, he can. Well done, Mr. MacLellan but their gain is our loss. He's probably the best CAO we've had though Don Murphy ran the City of Halifax really well too.

Elsewhere in the news, the woman that has been appointed the next Governor General of Canada is coming under fire as there are hot rumours that she is or has been in the past a Quebec Separatist. If true, it's not really a good thing to have someone representing the Queen who espouses the breakup of the country (Quebec separatists want the province of Quebec to be it's own sovereign state which would effectively cut the country of Canada in two parts). However it might also be a smear campaign because i can't imagine the Prime Minister not making sure everything was above board with the appointment. I feel bad for the woman, Michaelle Jean, who must be very hurt by it all and it must really take the excitement out of the prestigious job for her. It's a lot of controversy and even if it's not true, i have a bad feeling that they're going to rescind it because of all of the bad publicity.

OKA, a trio from Australia are playing at the Panhandler Buskerfest and luckily i happened upon them 5 minutes before a show. One of the songs on their newer cd is the title of this post and also the title of the cd. They played it, combined with another song i think, techno percussion and sounds mixed with Native American flute, Yadakie (aka didgeridoo), a traditional log drum, and some vocals echoing down the didge. Fantastic! I bought a cd last year and bought another one this year. They sold quite a few i think during that hour playing in the sun.

Matt and Stu
Chris on flute

The waterfront was jam packed though, buskermania has barely begun. ERghhh the crowds are even worse on the weekends and later in the evenings. Ah well, i guess we should be glad it's bringing the tourists in and money into the economy. Funny, i didn't mind the crowds around the Tall Ships nearly as much. This one guy, Silver Elvis was cute. Two buckets at his feet said "Cash activated" and if you tossed a coin in a bucket he'd move around and "robot" dance to taped music.

I went on a photo quest after work, to find the last four "Lobsters in the City" for which i will probably manage to get photos. Two right in the mall, one in the Metro Center box office made of all beer caps and one more at the Brewery Market. Full gallery of my photos (plus i think one or two that i didn't actually take) here.

Another hot perfect summer day. Sunny, breezy. It's cool in my apartment and i've got a cuppa and some watermelon. I'm ready for the weekend. :)

Last chance at a computer before i get home on Saturday so.. quick update.

Where was i?
Did i tell you about cooking a veggie lasagna for Graham and his good mate Malc on Saturday?

How about meeting up with a couple of my friends for Sunday lunch and going to the museum called Urbis...

yes ok, i did tell you all that... sorry...

Well Sunday night we had dinner next door with his Dad who put on a lovely spread, big plate of dinner at 7:30 and then brought out a bite to eat about 11.

Monday we took the bus to Newton Heath where his good mate Dale and his family including their German Shepphard Saxon. Quite the hugest GS i've ever seen and he's like a big puppy! We had a lovely visit and a meal and we lucked out and got the bus back that takes us right here instead of having to take one into the city center and back over to Salford. Good timing there.

I've developed a cold but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse than a bunged up head at the moment. I imagine i will run it's course. It's definitely *not* like what i had the last time so though i may be a bit 'poorly', i'm not going to be seriously ill.


Today we went back into the city center (they don't call it 'downtown' like we do). I wanted to go on the observation wheel and the weather, though it rained this morning, cleared up so there were good views. We had lunch and then did some shopping. I got some digital prints done and a roll of film developed though i wanted the digital files onto a cd, they got it mixed up and put the roll of film on the cd instead. I'll just wait until i get home now and put it all on cd for graham. I brought the memory card reader but his computer doesn't recognize all the 'drives' or memory slots and the one mine is in, isn't the one it does 'know'.

I got some more Lush stuff.. face cream...and i got new dress boots (not winter type boots really ). We sat in a very noisy Starbucks for an hour killing time and then took the bus out to Chorlton for a pub quiz, meeting my friends John, Nikki and Annie. But the quiz wasn't on because there was a football game on (soccer that is). We had a good visit anyway though and are just back here, having a late snack. I am pretty much all packed up again and we're off to London tomorrow morning. I'll see some of you tomorrow night and the rest of you Saturday when i get home :)))