The Creepy Side of Life

 Just passing through with a couple of pics that creeped me out or speak of death. These are all Sims-related.

 Ever wonder about that neighbour who just rubs you the wrong way?

Ever get that feeling that someone is watching you from a dark window?

Meanwhile, things are not going very well in the current family I'm playing. Poor Chad, fresh from his old job running the local Aleister's, decided to have a snack from the jelly bean bush.

Yeah, that went well, didn't it?

His ex-girlfriend Andrea pulled him out of Grimmie's grasp and put him to work cleaning cages.

Then Andrea found herself a Philosopher's Stone. Chad had some fun with it. Andrea got jealous and tried her hand.

Poor Andrea. Now only Chad and the birds remain.

I've had the jelly bean death before but the turned to gold death has never happened in my game. I was speechless for some time after it happened.

BYE.

 

A return to form (part 1)

      It has been a little while since I last wrote. This is going to be a return to form as I blather about some of the books I've been reading this summer. While I listen to my maniac cat chase a catnip mouse around the living room. Catnip's not really her thing but this mouse made out of compressed nip is really doing something. That or it could be the mouse's tail. She likes dangling things.

      At the beginning of July I was reading a biography of John Calvin by William J. Bouwsma. It was more of a meditation on his beliefs than it was a look at his life. The best thing I can say about this man (Calvin) is that he had flaws and virtues like everyone. I also think I need to read a proper biography. Can you believe this book was at my school? Any kids doing a study on John Calvin will not benefit from this book. What were the librarians of old thinking? This book should have been weeded quite some time ago.

      The next books of note are 'The child thief' and 'The joyous cosmology'. Dan Smith wrote 'The child thief' - a harrowing account of kidnapping, murder, and raw determination set in Ukraine during the dawn of the Communist movement. The late, great Alan Watts penned the second book - a treatise on recreational pharmaceuticals and on expanding the mind with said pharmaceuticals. It comes off a little hippy-dippy but considering Dr. T. Leary makes an appearance in the pages, how could it not?

      And finally, something a bit on the racy side. Any historical fiction about the notorious Borgias is going to be violent, corrupt, and a bit smexy. 'The serpent and the pearl' is a life of Giulia Farnese - Pope Alexander (Borgia)'s concubine. Weaving fictional characters with the real McCoy is not easy to do but Kate Quinn does a great job of it. Last but definitely not least, I read 'Wrapped and strapped' by Lorelei James. James taps the 'rugged dude and stubborn woman' vein and out comes a well-paced book full of smexy behaviour.

       I plan to work on part two of this entry soon. More books to come!

BYE.

I have to make an announcement

Now hear this!


      My cat is a brave and deadly hunter!

     For point of reference, this is my cat.

     She made a triumphant kill this morning around 4. Sadly, she had to wake me to do it. Trilling, meowing, chirping. I'm sure that's what woke me. At first I thought she was just being needy.

    I got the light on and saw her prey - a hapless moth that had somehow gotten into the condo. She jumped after it, swiping the air with her paws.

    After a momentous struggle she trapped it in the bathroom and devoured her prey.





     I managed a few weak cheers and went back to bed. Yeah, I am unappreciative of all her hard work in keeping us both safe from low-flying moths. Right now she's on top of the cupboards having a nap. A well-earned rest, no doubt.


BYE.

Gardener Genn

 Gordo was feeling sentimental that evening. Relations between him and the door remained hopelessly doomed but it was time to move on. He'd spent the evening before pondering his future and the things that had made him happy. Now it was time to act.

 He planted a seed he'd found on his doorstep (maybe a gift from his old flame?) and dedicated his time to caring for it.

 During the day, when people were out living their lives, Gordo would stay home with the plant and his newspaper. He read out the sports scores and gave the plant all the details about the Girl on Page 3.
Hard to tell who was blushing more by the end of it.

 At night, before he went to bed, Gordo would get into long monologues over the concept of life, plants, and the girl he'd read about during the day.

And then, it happened. His new companion began to put out lovely little flowers. Gordo rejoiced in his little room; secure in the knowledge that he had a new friend.




The End?

Genn still sorrows

 Another day, another reason to rage at the world.

 At times, Gordo's sorrow and desperation were so great that horrifically burned pancakes sent him into a frenzy of delight.

 Sadly, he paid for eating those pancakes later.

 Gradually, Gordo pulled himself up from the morass of his sorrow and sought wisdom and insight.

Gordo discovered old interests and found he had the energy to enjoy them. Now it was just a matter of making a decision.

The Sorrows of Genn

 "Intoned the crow.... Hmm, doesn't sound right. Maybe if I rework it."

 Gordo Genn felt a strange heaviness this morning. He sat on the floor of his kitchen and let his thoughts wander. Sometimes this helped. He'd been introspective since childhood but lately, something serious had been on his mind.

 "What's love, anyway?" he mused, staring forlornly at the cold wooden surface of his affection. "I loved this door. I installed her with my own hands... gave her the best shellac treatment I could afford... we had so much fun for so long. Now she stands there; cold and unfeeling."

To take his mind off of his lost love Gordo went for a long walk. His steps took him to a quiet pub. Drink in hand, he looked out the window and pondered. "So cold and sad outside... or is that just me?"






To be continued....

Not the sleeper hit of the season

 In a bleak and depressing world that cannot be blotted out by comforting illusions....

 A world where desperate people do unspeakable deeds to the innocent...

In this world with evil graffiti monsters and sad bare walls one angry woman in garish orange garb will rise up and wage war.

Wielding a deadly finger of doom this heroine will challenge the beast.











Not coming to your cinema for it's more likely to make you sleepy than be the sleeper hit of the season.


Also, hello summer vacation!

Hello and good evening

This is not Sims-related. 

Now for the news.

I don't often talk about work on here but matters are coming to a head and I really need to mutter a little. French Immersion is a crucial part of Manitoba's education system. My school division has been in dire need of a FI middle school and finally, this is going to happen next year. It's been taking place over the last two or three years as the Immersion program moves from my school (dual track) to the new school (completely FI) grade by grade. Next year all three grades will be in place and my school is going to be only English.

Over the last while I've been sending the French collection to the new school. This week I have packed the last two boxes and the courier will come to bring them tomorrow. All I have to do next week is clean out my office, do a last bit of cataloguing, work on notes for the library tech taking my place and... not sure what else.

Oh yeah. I'm joining my collection at the new school. The librarian goes where the books go? Well, it's a matter of wanting to keep my 100% position. The enrollment at my current school has gone down over the last two or three years and now the library position has gone down to 50% for next year. The new school, on the other hand, is in need of a full-time library tech. And a fully-bilingual library tech is a requirement. So I'm heading out, after 8 and a half years, to new digs. I am guardedly excited to say the least.

Oh, and you can disregard that first line of the post. 😊


Thank you and have a good evening.

It's time for a truth

I don't get political on this blog but...

Thank you and have a good day.

Boring and Unfinished

   As my literature horizons broaden my search for quality narrows and sharpens. Granted, romance novels are a crap-shoot but one girl and a pair of seemingly opposite identical twin brothers just seems so trite. Maybe they have a horrible secret and the protagonist should run for her life but the way this was set up I just lost all the interest. If either of you (my half-interested readers) want a new romance novel, have a look at 'Down to You'. I have no interest in reading it. Perhaps I may be interested later.

   I am moving to Richard Matheson's 'Haunted past reason'. I am going to read this cover-to-cover as Matheson is known for good pieces. Not that I have ever read any of this works. Now... for other creepy stuff.

    Actually, Imaginary Friends, when made visible, are not that bad. Meanwhile, the rain finally made an appearance and lasted all day. Miracles do happen.

BYE.

And here's the weekend report

     Hail to the weekend! Why the rain is giving my neck of the woods the slip I have no idea. It's pouring buckets and flooding either coast but leaving the middle alone. The wildfires are going to catch up with us soon, I fear. But enough fear-mongering. Time for the sports report.

     I am not a hockey fan. I prefer the pigskin over the puck and the Bombers over the Jets. This is the first time that I have ever been interested in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Pride in the 'Peg, I guess. By now, thanks to Toronto's loss, many Canadians are looking to Winnipeg to keep the Cup in Canada. The Jets have a ways yet but they may get there and hoist the Cup with pride.

    Meanwhile, in Winnipeg, this is our song. Sing it proudly.

      Yeah, it's Ace Burpee. Please don't judge. 😁

      Tomorrow the Jets wage war with Las Vegas and its Golden Knights while Washington does battle with Tampa Bay. Predators, we hardly knew ye. Enjoy the golf, guys!

      Now for news from the UK. Mares were musing over John Cooper Clark of late. Why he's still alive while others have fallen thanks to nasal activities. Well, my theory is that JCC found religion and that kept him going. In particular, he found the Honey Monster.

     Have 'Common sense' and bow down before the original 'Honey' Puff Daddy, ye fools!

    And now for some canine interest stuff.

That is all for now.

BYE.

To the Jedis, the future, and to hockey fans

Damn the midi-chlorians and May the 4th be with you all! 

Especially to the two Jedi Masters who keep coming to visit this forlorn and unloved blog.

Anyway, I am moving to new digs next fall and I am greatly looking forward to it. After 8 and a bit years at the same school I am moving down the road. My grasp on all matters Français has been a little slipping and the new digs promise more opportunities to speak the language. I will miss the teachers and students but I am ready for the new digs. I know a few of the teachers and most of the French collection. This should be a good few years.

The weather of late has been lovely and my cat's out on the balcony soaking up the dimming rays. We just need a good long soaking rain to wash away this blasted dust. Now, I don't often speak on matters hockey but with the Jets in the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Nashville Predators I've been following more closely than I normally would. A fact I gleaned from Wikipedia (which may be wrong) - the original cup was crafted in Sheffield. Here's to the fine folks in the UK's greenest city!

That's about all for now. I will have more Sims pics ready before long but for now,

BYE.

Aliens, Books, and something that starts with C?

Nah. I don't have anything worth talking about that starts with C but I was feeling alphabetic and I just wanted a title that kinda worked. Anyway, here we are on a fine Thursday evening. It's an inservice tomorrow and I should have two EAs helping me out at work alphabetizing the fiction collection. A novel idea, eh? Feel free to throw whatever squishy ammo at me that you have at hand. I love middle school kids - I can throw bad pun after bad pun and all they can do is groan. It's a fine gig if you can get it.

Aliens in TS2 are so easy to get compared to TS3. Just have a dude use the big telescope and E.T.'s yer uncle. TS3... alien nooboos are hard to come by. Those two fans of mine - if you have any suggestions for me to increase the chances please let me know. I just started messing around with mods (of the NRAAS variety) so if there's anything in there that might help I would love to hear about it.

So. Aliens.

Meanwhile, I just finished a lovely book about a family's year in Rome. One of the lib techs has as her signature the saying that Rome requires more than one lifetime to discover. Based on Anthony Doerr's delightful book 'Four seasons in Rome', I think the adage is correct. Not that I have the money or the time to make such a journey. I am also very Canadian (i.e. cheap). Anyway, I found the book slow going at first but loved it toward the end. Very highly recommended.

The weekend should be a little hectic but at least the weather is looking promising. We have finally reached double-digits in the temps. It had to happen one day, right?


BYE.

Books, the weather, and a question.

   Meet the Yorkshire Kid. Today he's got a message for Lauryl Park-West.

"You think you're that 'ard? Chinny reckon! Come 'ere and I'll gizza one good braying! I'll take tha missen wi' one 'and behind my back! I'll 'ave yer guts for garters! Come 'ere, pillock! Let's 'ave it owt and I'll get thee sorted! Won't be nowt left of thee after I've done thee up a treat!"



Okay, okay. Enough of that. Go to your room, Yorkshire Kid.


"No need to skrike at me, mate! Just 'aving a laugh. No need to 'ave a monk on wi' me. Tarra, Lauryl. Tha's a reet lass."




Ta, our Yorkshire Kid. Now for a semi-serious question for the Mares.

We all know about Lauryl but who's the blond dude she's always posing with? I've never seen a post explaining his place. Probably just a dumb blond or maybe a mysterious sibling Lauryl keeps hidden in the bunker. Just curious.


Meanwhile, the weather continues to be colder than it should be. April is here and May is not far away. This weather needs to start behaving itself. On the Literary Front, I blazed through a couple of books this weekend and am planning to start 'Black house' by King and Straub. I've known about this book for some time but have never read it. This being crafted by two of the big names in horror I think I will read it on what I call 'Stephen King hours'. Any later than 7 P.M. I stop reading.

That is all for now.

BYE.

Fowl Stuff

I got to thinking about something yesterday. North Americans love eggs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but for the most part it's always the chicken egg that ends up in the pan. Quail and duck eggs are finding their way across the pond (duck eggs are the thing in China, for instance) to our plates but for the most part, it's chicken, chicken, chicken!

When you consider how much turkey we eat in North America (4th most popular meat in Canada. says Modern Farmer) it should stand to reason that we could be sitting down to eggs benedict with the likes of Turkey Lurkey instead of the Little Red Hen. Why don't we eat turkey eggs anyway?

I spent some time with Google and turned up a few reasons why turkey producers never turned their turkey producers over to the egg market. For one, while turkeys lay larger eggs they also do not lay as many eggs as chickens and they take much longer to lay their eggs. So it's really all about price.

Once upon a time in the U.S. turkey omelettes were on the menu and the Hopi still consider the eggs a delicacy. It was a staple once; when wild turkeys were still a thing. Supply and demand, of course.

You might be asking why am I wasting blog space talking turkey? I can't really say. But it is quite an interesting egg to look at, eh?

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to listen to me go on and on about turkey eggs. Blame the Easter dinner I had on Sunday. All information I found came from the following sites.

https://modernfarmer.com/2016/11/dont-eat-turkey-eggs/
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/explainer/2012/11/why_don_t_we_eat_turkey_eggs_the_differences_among_chicken_duck_goose_and.html

Waterworks and Stuffs

      There was a time when I only cried at the occasional scene from the occasional movie. Today a group of 6s were in the library watching the Pixar/Disney animated film Coco (2017). I was fine until a particular part of the movie and suddenly them oculars were gushing. I don't want to spoil it for the two or three people who read my blog but the scene got me thinking about my Dad. This explains the waterworks, doesn't it?
      I wonder if I will ever get past that feeling of loss? Probably not. Any movie or show that makes me think of Dad has a chance of making my cry. Hard to believe that it has been a year and a bit since he passed. Elsewhere, Spring Break starts officially Monday but I am off starting today. I am reading a book from the Czech Republic which was translated into English. A pretty good book about... hmm. Hard to say what it is about but it is pretty good.
      So, that is about all for me. The next time I post it will be April or May.

BYE.

Old. So old....

       Okay. Not really. In another couple of years I will cross into truly methuselan realms but for now, I'm merely dangling on the razor's edge. I went to get my eyes checked today and all is well with them oculars. Well, at least for a few more years. Then Darth Presbyopia will pay its first of many visits and leave me with reading glasses and wondering where I left'em.
       My foray into Beckett stuff continues with 'Dream of fair to middling women'. So the story with this book is that Beckett wrote it in a white-hot streak while a young man and had the devil's time to get it published. Eventually he said "Bugger them! If they really want to read it, they won't get their chance until I'm worm food!" Then he passed in 1989 and this book got published three years later.
       I am more than halfway through this book and I have a few thoughts so far. Beckett wanted to emulate James Joyce when he wrote this so some confusion is acceptable. I also get a bit of Sterne while I'm reading this book. Tristram Shandy and his kin would have been a snug fit in Belacqua's world. But the strongest vibe I get hails from poor old Salvatore in Umberto Eco's 'Name of the rose'. Beckett calls upon so many languages it makes the head spin. The polymath Salvatore would have appreciated Belacqua's narration, I suspect.
      I will continue to read 'Dream of fair to middling women' and probably end up giving it a fair to middling rating.

Now for some ghostly shenanigans.

 In the summer one goes roaming

In the morning one does dining.

Business of Beckett and birthday

Just posting one picture today. A lovely pre-dawn scene.

Meanwhile, my obsession with Samuel Beckett continues. Blame Applemask if you want to blame anyone. If it had not been for him I would have never discovered Rockaby or NotI. I have never read or watching anything related to 'Waiting for Godot'. Maybe someday I will make that foray but for now I am happily reading 'Damned to fame' by Beckett's biographer James Knowlson.
I first came across Knowlson's work in 'Remembering Beckett; Beckett remembering'. 'Damned to fame' was mentioned a fair bit so I decided to give the main work a spin. I also checked out 'Dreams of fair to middling women' but have yet to read it.
So my birthday is this Monday. Weird thought this; being 38 and all. Makes all of my xtendeds feel old. :D Anyway, I of course have NO idea what I want for my birthday. Par for the course. I guess I should get back to reading.
BYE.

Misc. Post

      This is not sims-related. Just letting the two of you know. 😉 Anyway, February is almost over and the great month of March with its most blessed Spring Break is just around the corner. As always, I find myself wondering where this school year has gone. My mom's been in Texas since last Monday but she's back tomorrow night. I have to wonder how hot it was down there. It didn't look that hot on the forecast when she was packing her bag for the trip.
      I am currently listening to Lucinda Williams. She rocked it at The Fillmore and I have the two CD live arrangement. Call me old-fashioned but I like having something physical in my hands and in my disc drive. She reminds me of Neil Young for reasons that may be obvious. Maybe a bit of Jann Arden as well.

     Anyway, time to resurrect something that I have not posted for a long while. Also, did you know that it has been ten years since I started this blog? You two can boogie and get down at home. 👌 So, for my part, here is a blast from the past.

March 14, 1998 — morning

I have been an adult for two days now. What can I possibly say about being an adult? I shouldn’t pan adulthood, as I have only been one for the past two days. However, as everyone has an opinion, here comes my attack on the adult world. Life is all wrong; blame the mover and shaker adults, for they control our world. Unfair taxes? The politicians (adults) are to blame. Right now, we are hearing stories and things of rowdy, unruly, youths harming all. These youths had some direction by . . . adults. Of course, there are adults who do not cause pain. I respect a number of adults (who?) should be commended for their excellent duties in life. My parents and teachers from the past thirteen years. Showing me how to live and react properly. Blessed be my amazing parents and teachers! My interview was a disaster! Now, onto greener pastures. Cats are truly amazing creatures! Most independent and cool of the food chain, cats are clever and wise. Some stories proclaim that cats are telepathic. I don’t know if Mr. Schneider is telepathic. I do know that he is an amazing cat! I love cats, and I’m sure that Mr. S loves me and my family. Well, time to close for a spell. SYS! Mr. S. B is a cool cat!

     Twenty years or so. Where did all that wonderful time go? I knew there was a reason I kept my diary around. That is all for now.

BYE.

In Memoriam

     No, this isn't about Sims and it has nothing to do with my family. My Memère is 91 and is keeping pretty busy of late. Mom had to cancel her trip to Ixtapa after Pepère passed away but she is still going to Texas to spend time with an old friend. I am dealing with work as usual and life is not too bad. Still, I would love to win the lottery. Then again, wouldn't most people?
     The reason I am posting summat today has everything to do with this Monday. Louis Riel, our deeply religious and most forceful founder, got a holiday in his honour in Manitoba some time ago. It falls on the 19th of February this year. To this day, his life and death divide English and French Canada rather deeply. Manitoba has the second-largest French-speaking population in the country and has a very high concentration of Metis people. Louis Riel was their leader and voice. Well, there was Gabriel Dumont as well but sadly, I don't know all that much about him.
      In honour of this great man, his important cause, and in honour of Manitobans everywhere, I post this excellent Youtube video courtesy of Histoica Canada. Oh, and this video has a graphic ending. You have been warned.

     And Roy Dupuis is gorgeous. Have a good day.

Au revoir

      The last time I had something very sad to report was when Dad died in September 2016. That was a sad, surreal time if I recall correctly. Today I have other sad news to report. My Pepère passed away around 2 this morning. He was 92 and one of the greatest grandfathers I have ever known. The other greatest one passed away in 2011.

     Pepère and Memère had five children and 9 grandchildren. This past year they welcomed their second great-grandchild into the family. For years they owned a cabin at Wallace Lake, which is nearly three hours northeast of Winnipeg. I remember endless summer days of swimming, lazing around, and long walks in the evening after supper. Memère turns 91 this February. They would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this year.

     Pepère's brother had a cabin across the road and for years they went back and forth to play cards. I'd like to think Pepère is with his brother and other relatives playing cards right now. And fishing. Endless days on the lake with rod, reel, and minnows. That was where, I'd like to think, Pepère found his bliss.

92 is a long time but now it just doesn't seem like nearly enough.

Au revoir et merci, Pepere. Tu vas me manquer.

Feeling...

    I go back to work tomorrow. To be honest I don't have very much to say. The past two weeks were relaxing and great. Yeah, my car battery gave up the ghost over the New Year but that cold snap was heartless. CAA made great business in my neck of the world and I suspect various garages did all right as well. As it stands, I have tentative plans to trade in my ancient wreck for a sleek new set of wheels but that won't be until Spring Break.
    The weather should be lovely for a while but rest assured that there will be another cold snap coming before long. Best to count one's blessings and not worry. Anyway, this is not going to be Sims-related in the least. I am just wandering at this point. I may post a few pics one of these days but I am done telling stories for a while. I got tired of playing families for a while there - I was playing a fairy dude. He's on his way to becoming Emperor of Evil now. I had him adopt a couple of children - one got into crime as well while I moved the other out to start her own life.
     A wizard I was playing as well really got into the ice spell. I had no idea of what might happen if he used the ice blast spell a lot.

       Luckily, the unfortunate people he iced went back to normal on their own. I don't know if this spell can be used to kill anyone and I am not blood-thirsty enough to try.


      I got to see my Memere and Pepere over Christmas Week and today. They are 90 and 92 respectively so I treasure every day I know that they are well and still walking the earth. I lost my Grandpa and Grandma already so I treasure the grandparents I have left. This past year my Pepere's had issues with his heart and I know the end is coming. This is the wrench of hard realities - something Mom and my uncle and aunts have to deal with.
     During dinner on Boxing Day I listened to them as they talked and discussed the future. Memere and Pepere were too tired to attend. That was a scary absence. One day that will be a permanent absence. For now, just count the blessings and pray they last. Anyway, I'm going to stop before I start rambling and getting teary.
BYE.