Morning all:

Maybe it’s the fact that I am heading for Toronto in the morning that I resurrected a bit of memory dealing with Canada. Possibly it’s the fact that I had a birthday a week or so ago, and although I am far from drooling in my Jell-O in the old folks home reflecting on the past is becoming more commonplace. Anyway, while carefully measuring the scoops of my freshly ground coffee beans a few minutes ago, it was flashback time. Last year, while we were heading for Cummings Lake, and after having driven all across the empty and very flat Michigan U.P., I craved a great cup of coffee. I knew that there was a Tim Hortons (Canada’s best) restaurant near the Canadian Tire store on the outskirts on Sault Ste. Marie. Approaching the restaurant I first spotted that Canadian Tire store and amazingly here it was early July and they were having their annual late winter ice skate sale. Gawking at that sale signage I didn’t see that Tim Hortons was being rebuilt and that they were temporarily operating out of a little trailer whose drive I had just passed. Traffic being what it was, Marcia upset at my rubbernecking, I thundered on towards Thessalon—sans Canada’s best coffee. What I am currently drinking is not Tim Hortons.

This weekend Marcia and I just have to get organized, and although on the list of ‘to do’s’ is doing our taxes, this is still second. What is first on the list is getting our costumes prepared. Next Saturday we will be enjoying a Murder Mystery dinner. The theme is 1930s and 40s Hollywood. Marcia will be playing the part of Fi Fi Rosenbaum, desperate to re-start her fading career. I will be Larry Lens hopelessly looking to shoot the next blockbuster, or is it looking for the next bottle? It should be a great time. Possibly I should get my priorities straight and do our taxes first, nah!

Jason and Cathy are homeowners ‘par excellence’. I think that you’d be hard pressed to find any house in our town that has had greater attention given to weather proofing. I swear that a five-minute run of the furnace in the morning suffices for the rest of the day— even in the severest weather. This week they did one better and replaced their roof with a wonderful new steel one. So, while hunting for costumes, we’ll have to swing by and take a look.

Disney extended an offer that could not be refused. As I am writing this Derek, Vince, and Kirstin are floating on the Caribbean on one of Disney’s cruise ships. What I remember from having done this same cruise a few years ago is that the quarter-mile jogging track does not at all compensate for the caloric intake achieved at every meal. Derek should be having a fabulous time since their supervised children’s play program is bar none. Then, the timing is perfect since the expectant Kirstin probably shouldn’t do a cruise thing a few weeks from now.

For those of you keeping track, yes, Marcia is still packed—10 days and counting.

Make it a great week everyone.
Cheers,
Dirk

PS. “This Week’s” button below accesses a wonderful site – have a look.