Driver Refresher

Another Driver Refresher session will take place beginning at 6:30 on Monday, July 27, at the Community Centre. If you have not yet driven the course, please make arrangements with Charlene to do so. This is a mandatory refresher.

Wet. But, still summer, yes.

Well, here I am. It's Saturday evening and I've got no date. I had an offer, but I declined. Instead, I'm at the office doing the last bit of admin after a day on set shooting another video for Face a Face.

As you might have noticed, the last one we made for them did quite well. This one is part of a training module with some pretty nifty interactivity ... I should know because I'm building it.

The summer so far has been work and work. I occasionally meet up with Rob in the hours just before bed for a late-night dinner. We went to Anis et Marjolaine one night this week. It had been so long since the big guy and I had been there that the owner asked us what we were celebrating. "It's Wednesday!" we quipped, but it actually seemed like a great reason to go out to a nice bistro. Last night we grabbed a roti at our favourite spot for such things in Montreal. And, La Belle Province is a regular spot for us, being as how it's 132 steps from our door to theirs.

Eating out has been in and out of my good books. There are so many things that we can make at home, that I actually enjoy making, that I'm often disappointed in restos. For the moment, I'm indulging out of twin needs. First off: we've got no water chez nous.

The hot water tank was the first to go. Water, water everywhere. Just as we got that mopped up, the cold water, too. It started splurting from the one of the last bits of copper piping in the house. We're going to need to do a big plumbing job ... as soon as we can decide what should be included in the job. Water of all kinds is, obviously, the priority.

Here we sit in Riverside, NB, at Char's brother's place.

That brings me to the second part of the rationale for eating out all the time this summer. With the kids on their summer vacation in Cape Breton, the big guy and I are working a lot. Every day, pretty much, and long days at that. At the end of a day, meeting your sweetie and having someone else prepare you both something fine ... well, it's civilized and swell.

roadtrippin' to Deepdale via stopover in Moncton

Reports from the lads are that Deepdale is t-rriffic! The boys took the July 1st Holiday as their opportunity to skedaddle. The little red car took us all as far as Moncton, where we visited with James, Debbie, Donna, Nicolas, Jeremy, Pam, Bob, Kathy, Mark and his wife and daughter that I met for the first time. (Nicolas is getting married in September!) That night there were fire works, and the next day, the lads went East while the big guy and I headed West.

Swimming lessons are rounding out for another session. The boys' time in the ocean water will now be spent playing instead of learning.

Rumour has it that the lads' Bubba - that's grandfather to you - had a hand in building the raft

Last weekend, I said, "I'm going for a hike. Wanna come?" to my sweetie. He's always up for one of my wacky adventures. Hiking might not sound like much, but keep in mind that it's rained every damn day this summer. It's raining right now - even though the sun is shining brightly. That's just how it is, and a person needs to do summery stuff regardless.

We decided to do a sort of pilgrimage/hike up Mt. Rigaud to the chapel. The drizzle started on our way to Rigaud. Then, it rained. It poured. And, just as we made the top of the mountain, the thunder began. By the time we got into the chapel, lightning was all around us. Scurrying down the mountain, we looked like two wet sausages. Not that there were too many others braving the extremes of summer 2009. We had the picnic area just about to ourselves.

Cheers. To summer.