Outdoor life

We hadn't used our backyard much in the past couple of years.  We had debris there, I was cutting wood at the back.  It was a workshop/construction zone.  We even had a brick house back there that I had to huff and puff and tear it down.

But I always manage to trim the vines, and keep it tidy.  I can't recall the last time i pulled this teak folding table out for use.  But  a lightbulb went off as i was sitting out on the back patio drinking a cold one thinking, "hey this is nice".  So i looked at the back of one of our TV receiver.  It's wifi so no coax needed.  I looked at the audio outputs.  Hmm.  This is could work if my old RF speakers still work.  After a bit of checking connections, we were quickly in the outdoor patio entertainment business.

Watching the Tour de France or something on Netflix and enjoying the weather under the grape vines.   Usually i'm by myself watching this and after a short while i'm nodding off into zzzzZZZZ-land.  But sitting outside in the open air keeps me awake, having supper, snacks, espresso, cappuccino and the beer fridge is closer, and best of all I'm not by myself.  We even had an ice cream cake!



Just make sure you don't get crapped on by the robins in the corner nest there.

Vine Tenants

People say it's good luck to have birds nesting in and around your house.  I don't mind having a birds nest in our grape vines.   Every year we seem to have 1 tenant.  It's kinda neat and so cool.  Being nature and all.  And they're not hurting anyone.  But when they grow, guess where they go take a crap. On our back patio.
Ya that part sucks.
We've had doves make nests and they seem to be more fearless of humans trimming vines.  This robin was squawking at me when i had my camera poking around through the vines getting some video of what was going on in the nest.  It's impossible to see from the upstairs window because of the leaves.  And I think that's what makes our vines so desirable for nests. The visual protection from predators. (Although I have seen Kevin roaming around.) Which is why I try to trim them back to reduce the curb appeal to birds.

I was thinking that I would see eggs in the video, but they've already hatched and they look kinda gross.  But when you're parent is sitting on top of you squashing you this is pretty much what you'd look like too.  Pink and flat almost like road kill.

It's not always rosy.  One year the nest was empty, but i think there was a dead chick in it.  Ya that's not a good luck inducing thought is it?  And who has to get rid of it. ME.  But I didn't want to go up there and touch the nest so I power washed it out of there.  Hands free.

But hopefully these little ones live and grow up and fly away quick and not crap so much. We've been seeing the mother swoop in with worms.  So I guess the chicks are doing okay.


There's a professional clown in this video too. He's just missing his red nose, red big hair and yellow outfit.

Here's what they look like 2 days later.
It took us 3 tries to get a glimpse of the chicks, because these aren't normal robins.  They are PREDATOR robins.  They'll squawk at you and swoop down at you like you are a worm.
Both mama and papa robins were pissed at me trying to get video of their babies.  And my faithful 11yo sidekick was hiding around the corner ensuring that there was at least me between him and the angry robins.

You can see their shadow in the video flying around.  They then swooped into the trellis squawking at me loudly.  And whenever i approached they would look at me.  Seeing what I was doing.  Giving me the evil stare.

But after 3 attempts I quickly got a good video glimpse of the 3 chicks after 2 days.  They have grown quickly.  Still haven't opened their eyes but looking less like something from a chinese restaurant marinating in soy sauce and looking more natural.

Kona rust

I've been bugging this guy for almost 2 months to go riding in the Don.  Kept telling me he's gonna do it, but needs to bring his bike in cuz it's rusted from being in the condo garage for 2yrs.
Finally he brought it over to my place.

It didn't seem bad.  But the front derailleur was seized, luckily taking it off the bike and oiling it got it working again.  The cable adjusters for the brake levers were seized and one cable housing was rusted stuck in the barrel.

Rusted brake cables.
Junk in the bottom bracket.
Filthy chain.

The only thing I couldn't resolve was the rusted rear wheel axle.  Luckily the tire wasn't flat, but if he were to get a flat.
That won't be my problem.

But that was pretty much it.
minor stuff.
like a spring tune up after many skipped ones.
You know - like hey your warranty is void now since you were too lazy to bring it in after many reminders.

And i didn't have to touch the shifters.  I just cleaned the pulleys and chain and cassette.
It all runs pretty smooth now after some TLC.

Not sure what a bike shop would have charged.  But the chain wasn't stretched. I didn't take a close look at the cassette, but if the chain doesn't slip it's good to go.

I'm sure they would have replaced the gear & brake housings & cable, chain, cassette, and who knows what they would've charged to un-seize everything.  But judging from what my cousin said they were gonna charge her for a bottom bracket maintenance on her swap fest bike, I'm sure it would have been more than the cost of a bucket of KFC and green coleslaw.

When I was at a bike shop, the cost to replace a chain was 60.00 + the chain which was 30.00.  That's what I overheard when this couple came in.
Plus tax!  I thought.  wow that's a lot.  But a business has to make money.

But if you don't know how to do it.
Well you can either try and learn for yourself, but then you have to have the tools.  So if you aren't going to be doing this often.
I would suck it up and pay the LBS to do it right.
Because it'll cost you more to do it yourself initially and to fix a mistake.

And then  you get to enjoy yourself on the Don Trails.
Keeled over and sucking wind cuz you're out of shape,
walking your bike?

C'mon man you can ride that part!

The Unwanted Tree

We got a tree planted in our front yard a few weeks back.
We didn't plan on putting another tree in our little yard.  It's funny because I saw the City Forestry guys backing up there truck to the end of our street, when i was doing a little lawn maintenance that morning.  But I didn't think anything of it since I wasn't expecting it.

I was in the garage when they came into my yard and planted it.
I said. "Hey, what are you doing?"
The younger worker said "you should've gotten a notice about this City Canopy project and if you didn't want the tree you needed to call."
"What notice?  I never received a notice"

So I called 311, and they said we have notification that a notice was delivered to all the houses on your street on March 4.  I said I never received one.  I check each and ever piece of mail.  And there was no notice.  I asked if I could remove the tree myself.  I was ready to go bobcat all over that tree and repair my lawn that i was just working on before they dug a hole in. But the city said no. And i read that if i removed the tree myself.  It would be a $500.00 fine. And to request it to be removed would be $300.00.  NICE.  But in reality i was uttering a different 4 letter word.

I discovered that they didn't put it in the mail slot, but in the door handle.  Two neighbours called because they're retired and saw the notice in their door before it blew away.  But just the other day Kieran and I were walking along our street and there were 6 houses that had no trees yet no tree was planted.  I knew the two neighbours that called.  Yet these other homes didn't get one?  The city processes are at best messed up.

But our in house politician in training and a series of emails to our Councillor seemed to do the trick.  It took about 2 weeks but the unwanted tree is now on a truck with what i heard were other unwanted trees.  I didn't want to kill the tree.  Although I was going down that path before we went away on vacation. But It's a living thing.  It didn't harm any one. However our yard is already small and we already had a large tree.  It made no sense to put a second one that would eventually grow into the power lines.

But when we got back.  The tree was GONE!  Now i had a patch to repair and I was okay with that.  I was just happy I didn't have to pay to have it removed.  And I didn't have to make the tree suffer.

The Longest Birthday drive

Coming back home from Hilton Head.  It didn't seem so bad.  Almost 18hrs of driving.
It was more driving than shopping.  That's why it didn't seem as long.  With the US exchange being about 1.34CAD to 1USD.  It wasn't really worth it.
Well not to me, but to someone else you might know who lives in the house.  A sale is a discount and worth every last US penny.

You know I didn't even go into the Nike outlet in Hilton Head or in Washington PA.  That's a first.  But there wasn't anything I wanted or needed.  Well I knew I needed/wanted a suit.  I have only one suit that fits. So I got another from Saks.  And it was majorly discounted for a Zegna.  Can't say no to Italian wool.

Actually there were two Zegna suits.  The second one was on sale even more just because it had been on the floor a little longer.  And so it was nearly 1/2 the price of the other one that was already at 60% off.  So that's what I got.   it's uber nice.  And It's black.  my other suit that fits is a really dark blue.  So I think I'm good until I gain some weight and I can fit into my older suits again.  Sooner or later it'll happen.  It's inevitable.  Just like the Borg.

It was hot and humid for the week we were down there.  I heard it was hot and humid here in TO too.  And thunderstorms.  Pretty much the same except that we had a beach and ocean waves and 5 rounds of golf.  But i think next year we may cut it down to 4 with a break in between.  By the 5th round, I was tired.  Still played okay.  But I was getting more inconsistent.

I even got to take a shower after our round at Harbor town GCC.  Man is it ever nice in there.  Toured the locker room and saw all the pros lockers.

And far as food goes we didn't redo last years massive cholesterol spike with the 96 eggs or adobo 3 times a day plus ice cream to cap off a distended belly.  We had the Grocery Police checking every grocery list twice and no list, no buy.  You go to grocery jail! Skip a turn.

It was way better this way.  We had less waste.  And nearly all the food was gone.  We still had a bit of ice cream and bread.  But better than eating 8 dozen eggs - scramble, fried, boiled, over easy on top of adobo, with a side of ice cream.

I didn't take very many photos.  I did however took a lot of videos with my Gopro camera.  It was a lot of fun and helpful.  But i don't think too many people would be interested in watching me hit a golf ball, but the antics afterward were funny to watch.

We analyzed our golf swings in the evening and recorded it the next day.  It's pretty cool.  But my swing is pretty consistent and technically sound.  But I could see lots of places for improvement.  And I was learning still.  But considering I only play these 4-6 rounds a year in Hilton Head.  I have no expectations, except to enjoy myself and not lose to many balls.

I really enjoy this week with the family and we actually have a lot of fun playing golf.  Because as a kid playing golf with my dad.  I didn't really enjoy it.  To be honest.  I liked going to the range but didn't like the golf course, unless i was with my brother and we were goofing around on the greens and then we got in crap. Ha.

I also used the Gopro in the ocean.  it was hilarious.  it was so much fun.  The camera is in a case that water proof and don't really have to worry about it except to make sure it's on.  But it's a blast to watch later.

We did 3600 km round trip.  That includes all the shopping visits to Tanger 1 through 10.  TJMaxx, Kroger, Target, Nordstrom, Walmart....wherever there's a discount for Tresa.

It was an okay drive home.  A bit of traffic, but that's consistent every year.
No one got sick.  Everyone was safe.
And we all had a good time.

Hilton Head 2016

Live long and Prosper Juice Lady

She may look like an 800 year old Vulcan T'Pau but this smiling white haired lady knows a thing or two about Vegas and she's probably heading there as soon as it's not as hot as an oven.
When made our first trip to Vegas, she told us about a free bus that goes up and down the strip.

It's the Deus Bus (pronounced joose bus).
In any case it's free but it's slow  as mud cuz it's picking up all the other cheap ass people that want to save their pennies for the penny slots. And there are penny slots.

Well she is retiring. Or is now retired.  She retired before we left for Hilton Head.


Kieran and I made this card for you that Karmen wanted but couldn't figure out how to do it easily.
It's easy.  That's cuz WE did it.  No printer.  Just flyers, scissors and glue.  It's called LOW-tech.

Live long prosper Joose Bus lady.
The crew will miss you, because the mgmt will hire someone who shouldn't be hired and Karmen will complain. Every day.

Karmen's Union Pics

85 is the new 65

I'm not really sure how old J-Z is but it's around there.
It's like retiring all over again.  Like every day.
Sometimes you forget what year it is.

I test rode this bad boy, just before we went to visit Godmother for her birthday.  It was awesomely quick and nimble.  Carbon front triangle, alloy rear.  27.5.  It was nice.

But I'll be retiring before I get one.
Ah...maybe not.

We met up with the rest of the Kranjec klan.
It's almost like we photo bombed the table.

Although it was the cake that looked like it was going to blow!