M&M Monday - Happy Valentines

Valentine's Day = chocolate = cakes = birthdays.  Let me first wish all my followers a Happy Valentines Day.  I am a bit tired from yesterday's road trip but I did not want to miss posting because I have been doing good with my everyday blog.  During our first stop at a gas station, I was looking for a snack that was a little different.  And there it was, a new package of M&M and it was called M&M Coconut.  I bought it, shared it and ate the rest - all of 22 pieces.  Yummy.  Have you tasted these other kinds of M&M?  These are my favorites - what's yours?

What if your birthday falls on the same day as Valentines Day?  Would you get two gifts or just one?  Do celebrate your birthday in the morning and valentines in the evening?  Well, I have two very special friends who are both celebrating their birthdays today.  What better way to send my birthday wishes to them through my blog.   Hope they get to read it.

I met Marty sometime in 1985 when we lived in Whitehorse.  We met through our line of work.  We move to different cities but somehow kept in touch.  There were some years that I would meet him for lunch while I was visiting relatives in Edmonton.  The last time I saw him was in Ottawa when my best friend had a going away party for me.  It meant a lot to me that he was able to rearrange his very busy schedule to be there.  Happy birthday Marty and may you have many many more happy years to come.

Her name is Sue and it's also her birthday today.  We met at work in 1988 when I moved to Ontario.  Even with all the movement for work, we still manage to keep in touch.  She was not only a friend at work but also outside of work.  She is caring, thoughtful, friendly, trustworthy and is great fun.  Happy Birthday Sue, may your year be filled with happiness, good health, and memorable moments.

Sweet Sunday - Pre Valentines Day

As much as I love Valentines Day,  I don't like the part about going out in the evening where everyone is having dinner with their loved ones.  There's always waiting in line, waiting for your food and it's too loud you cannot have a conversation.  So last night we opted to just do a little celebration.  Our dinner was very simple - LOW CARB BURGER aka Bun less Burger.  For those of you who have not tried it, it's really simple.  Start with a lot of lettuce on the bottom, a little mayonnaise, couple of slices of cucumber, grilled lean burger, mustard or ketchup or both, a slice of your favorite cheese, couple slices of tomato then top it with more lettuce.  The trick is not to put it down, just hold it in your hand so it stays together.  So this is what it looks like.

 

We ate our dinner in our backyard deck around the fire pit.  After dinner we listened to some music and enjoyed the evening.  There was a song that reminded us of Dominican Republic (La Vida Es un Carnaval) so we got up and did a little salsa and continued dancing to the different songs that was being played: Let's stay together,  No woman no cry, and September. You cannot get any more romantic than dancing under the moonlight skies.   

Simply Saturday - Sponge Bob Squarepants

Such a simple game played over and over brings so much joy to our grandson, Gamble who had a sleepover last night.  The game was called Sponge Bob Squarepants Dominoes.  I am sure you know how to play this game but if you don't know the characters it's a little difficult.  Gamble would ask if I have a Gary which is really a snail - I did not know this.  Then he would ask if I have a Sandy, Squidword, Plankton and Crabs.  The only one I recognize is Sponge Bob and Patrick.  So as you can see, I learned all the characters last night, thanks to Gamble.  He was a good sport because he would be OK when he loses and does not jump up and down when he wins.  The only thing we had to explain to him was the double tile to start the game.  I think I got really lucky because I won a few of the rounds.  Every now and again, he would say, "what OLA wins again?

Sponge Bob, Gary, Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Crab, Plankton, Squidword

We were planning to make a couple of Valentine's card today so Gamble can give it to his parents when he gets home.  Last night before going to bed he was a little scared because he saw the smoke detector.  We are not sure why all of a sudden he was afraid of it.  He had been sleeping in the same room when he stays over but it started the last time he was here.  He said he cannot sleep with the lights off because he still can see the WHITE STUFF.  So I let him lay down in the couch beside me and within a few minutes he was sound asleep. 

Finally Friday - a nice surprise

The car I am driving had a recall so I had to bring it to the dealership for the part to be replaced. Instead of waiting for the car to get done, I opted to take a walk to check out some of the stores around the area.  After half a block, there it was a small plaza with a Michael's store.  I new that I could spend a few minutes at that store but before I got there, the third store on my left had the flashing neon lights - EYE BROW THREADING.  There was no decision making here, I opened their door ask if she is free and how much it was.  The answer I got was pretty good so I sat and got it done.  The salon is called IMAGE and the young woman that did it was very polite, friendly and she did a great job.  So after 6 months of searching, now I have a great place to go.

It was getting close to lunch so I checked out a place called DIM SUM KING.  It's a take out place with a small section for seating.  You can order a lot of different variety of dim sum but the good part is you can order one, two or three pieces.  I tried to get a taste of what I like and it was all good.  It was inexpensive, a lot of flavor and very fresh.  The other benefit is you can seat on the outside patio and enjoy your lunch while getting some warmth of the sun.

After spending most of my morning at the car dealership, I figured I need to do something fun.  Well, I am sure by now you know what I would do on a beautiful afternoon.  That's right, I stopped by my favorite fun course.  I met a couple of new seniors and our fourth one is another senior that I met on one of my other visits with Jeff.  I think his name is Shah and he got a HOLE in ONE on the 8th hole.   When we were walking towards the green, he keeps saying that he knew his ball was on the green and may have rolled to the back.  We helped him looked for the ball and couldn't find it.  When I walked to the flag, there it was, Mr. Shah's ball.  That was a nice surprise. 

T Time Thursday - Tea or Tee

Tea for two or Tee time for four.  Same sound, different spelling, different meaning but same satisfaction.  Drinking tea is relaxing after a meal and golfing after a hard days work is also relaxing.  When it is a nice warm day, ice tea cools you.  Being out on a golf course on a warm sunny day is cool when you get a bit of a breeze.  Herbal tea is comforting if you are having an upset stomach.  Hitting golf balls on the driving range eases the anger you might have been bottling inside.  I would like to share some of my favorite type of Tea and some of my favorite golf accessories.

• Fujian Green Tea
• Nottingham Green Tea Mango
• Tazo Organic Chai Tea
• Celestial Sleepy Time

Come and share a pot of tea, my home is warm and my friendship's free. - Emilie Barnes

 
The friends you make on the golf course are the friends you make for life. - Jessica Anderson Valentine, Scottish golfer.

Washboard Wednesday - Wish List

Today is a bit wishy washy because I was stuck without a topic. Whaaatttt?? I've only been blogging for 1 month and 9 days and already running out of ideas.  Wait, maybe this one is not a bad idea.  It's sort of a take from my daughter's post at the end of January.  No more waiting here's my top favorite washboard list. 

 

Washboard, 6 pack, great abs, all means the same.  But what is my wish?  It really has nothing to do with the above.  My wish list is not for material things but just little things that makes our life on earth memorable - not a big list, just 9 wishes:

• a moderate climate for all
• a healthy aging process
• a little break for those in need
• a safe travel for everyone
• a lot of understanding between friends
• a simple solution to world problems
• a bit of happiness for those who are still grieving
• a cure for deadly incurable disease
• a universal peace 

When you least expect it,  you might get really inspired by the simple things I want in life.  Before I publish my posts, Jeff usually tell it like it is when he reads the post.  But this time,  it cracked him up and brought tears to his eyes.  I think his idea of simple things is very different from mine. 

Timely Tuesday - Happy Birthday PJD

Today is a special day because my very dear friend is celebrating his ?? birthday. At first I thought that I would wait and feature him on my SPOTLIGHT section.  But since today is timely Tuesday, what would be a better day to feature my friend, that's right, today is the day.  Let me take you back one summer day in 1989, my girlfriend Anna took me to have dim sum for lunch at a Chinese restaurant on Burnhamthorpe Road, Mississauga, Ontario.  We were on our way out when we bumped into a couple and Anna introduced me to Percy and Edith. He was a very young man who was working with same department as I am but different location.  I never knew then that this man would become a very special friend who I can honestly say is like my own brother.  In fact on one occasion, one of our close friend mentioned that we could be mistaken as brother and sister. Maybe it was because we were both wearing an all black outfit.  Through the years, I have seen him grow up from that young man to becoming a father, a colleague, an instructor, a supervisor, a partner in crime, but most of all a true best friend.  We have gone through a lot in our own world but somehow supported each other in whatever way we can.  There are so many things that I would share to let you know how special he is but this page is not going to be enough.  Let me just list a few of the things that makes him an amazing friend:

• we have an arrangement that when it comes to our birthdays, I will be the DD when it's his birthday and he will be my DD when it's my B-day.
• when it comes to my health issues - he knows exactly what to do and this is great when I use to travel with him and when we go out with friends.
• anytime I need some assistance when it comes to medical/hospital appointments where I cannot drive myself, he's always there, even if he has to take a time-off
• if I am having a tough day at work, somehow he knows how to help me get through the day.
• when I got the tragic news about my son, he was at my house within 12 minutes of my call.  He was there for me, throughout the rest of the process, and continued to offer emotional support when I returned to work.

What is the best way to describe my friend aka BROTHER?  Attentive, big-hearted, caring, diligent, entertaining, friendly, good, helpful, interesting, jovial, kind, loving, memorable, natural, observant, perceptive, quick, real, sincere, thoughtful, understanding, vigorous, willing, xtra special, young and zealous.