Not dead

 Just busy with work and life. Reading continues, as does gaming. Hope you are all well.

BYE.

Um... okay

 Did I get unnaturally popular for some reason? The last entry has been well-visited. InZoi fans? People who like cats? It was not a major post. Just summat related to my life and stuff. Meanwhile, Thanksgiving was great. My brother-in-law's family welcomed me for great food and great conversation.

 Hmm. Maybe I just looked at the entry in a desperate ploy to boost my stats. So I started reading about Hildergard of Bingen. She was a renowned saint and mystic from the 11th century. I'll let you know how it goes. I read a self-help book that showed great promise but very quickly got on my nerves.

 So, if it was due to many visitors, I bid you all welcome and hope you are all doing well. That's all for now.

BYE. 

Mmmmmmmm

 This has been one of the most productive summers I've had in a long while. Hit the two targets by the end of July. New wheels, new bathroom faucet, and plenty of great books conquered. All in all, life has been wonderful. The inner arsehole keeps muttering about stuff going wrong. Why do we, as the rare thinking species, worry and doubt so freaking much?

 By rare thinking, I'm saying that humans have a massively developed prefrontal cortex. So we worry and doubt. But... it's a lovely day! So I'm thinking about further targets and goals. So optimistic. Meanwhile, I hope ye my few followers are having a wonderful summer.

BYE.

2 days left for me

 The heat's been brutal in Europe but it's been beautiful here. I've been reading and pondering. The kids have one day left before the summer vacation. I have plans for this weekend. Bastard squirrels keep partying on my balcony and leaving their gifts of 💩 for me to be disgusted o'er. Bastards.

 Rainy weekend in the forecast? I guess I'll break out the bleach and soak the 💩 away next week when the weather's nicer. Got plans to test drive a couple of vehicles at some point next week as well. Canada Day is supposed to be stupidly hot. Well, I guess the summer temps had to show up some time. Maybe the cooler weather will return at some point.

 All is well with me and with my fam. I hope ye few and fab are doing well. To thems in Europe, I hope you are keeping cool.

BYE.

Happy thoughts

 Death cults, horrific human experimentation, and the transorbital lobotomy. This is what I dwell o'er when I watch too much Joe Scott. Yeah, another doomy-doomy Youtuber. This dude's from Texas and he's great. Anyway, there are now 4ish weeks to go before the end of the school year.

 Scorching temps over here. I'm reading a prequel to the Godfather book. Pretty good thus far. Oh, and now I want to read about cults. I hope my viewers are doing well and keeping cool.

 BYE.

Sad Day

 Mi gato sobrino has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He had been ill for a while. Mi hermana was inconsolable yesterday. Took a walk around the mall today just to get out of the house. Most of the kitty paraphenalia has disappeared. We had lunch, chatted a bunch, took in the changes at the mall. I haven't seen the place since 2024.

 Back to work tomorrow. Six weeks to go. Mi hermana and I discussed the benefits of NOT having a cat. Do these benefits outweigh the lasting loss? One day, it will be my cat's turn to cross that bridge. My turn to be inconsolable. Hopefully, that day does not come for a while. Time will do its thing.

 That is all for now.

BYE. 

Spring, are you finally here?

 Inquiring minds wanna know. I've been more productive these days than usual. With the school year winding up in 7 weeks or so, I might as well be productive through what's left, right?

 Came across some urban wildlife the other day.

Zoom-in for the wildlife. Cobra chickens...

 Anyway, I am still playing 'Hades' but I don't much feel up to it right now. I keep walking into projectiles. Yeah, I know that ain't smart. 7 weeks or so left before the end of the school year.

BYE.

Escape

 All is well on the tax front. Felt pretty good about the good news. Meanwhile, I'm making progress on "Hunchback of Notre-Dame". 1400s Paris was full of horrible people, wasn't it? A heartbreaking character and a heartbreaking ending. Nothing like Disney's take on things, right? No, I haven't watched the movie. I haven't seen any media relating to the book.

 The vet wants Neko to come in for a visit, so we're going there next week. Five minutes of screaming bloody murder, half hour to an hour of being good as gold, and five minutes of screaming bloody murder. I already brought out the carrier. She's pretty nervous about the carrier being out. I keep promising her that she's not going anywhere... yet.

 There was talk of snow but nothing has happened. Nothing will happen, I expect. Come on, the winter needs to end. That's all for now.

BYE.

More snow?

 So an Alberta Clipper is going to slap us with more snow. At least it won't stick around. Spring Break was productive. Haircut, car wash, laundry, stubbed toe... it's a full rich life. So I'm back to work. Had a weird sad dream last night. A meandering dream of sodden cellars, ditches, and a sepia-tone graveyard to finish it up. No idea what it meant.

 I yawned all day... because of the dream? Because of my cat bothering me when I was awake? Anyway, it's evening and my cat is yammering. It's almost feeding time. So now the final grind begins. Summer is too far away to count. Nothing else to say.

BYE.

Getting political

 Nahhhh. I'm not posting my thoughts on matters political. Nobody reads this blog but better safe than sorry. Anyway, today was all shamrocks and luck o'the Irish. I don't think I have very much Irish blood. Explains why I don't have that much luck. No real troubles, either. Ooh. Got political there for a moment. My bad.

 Here comes Wednesday. Spring Break is closing in. It cannot come fast enough. Snow and blowing snow is whirling around. Last night, I was taking the garbage out and I saw something wonderful. 

 Glad it let me get close enough to take a picture. Anyway, that's what's going on with me. Ugh. Blowing snow.

BYE.

Hey...

 I figured I should post something. My birthday approaches. Already booked the day off. Mi hermana and I are supposed to meet for lunch. The awesome brother-in-law might be with us too. Hard to say. Anyway, the freezing rain came down thick last week; which has made things iffy and frustrating. Now I'm moving cautiously because of this messed-up situation.

 I'm reading 'Tsarina' by Ellen Alpsten. I remember reading a Russian folk tale where the ruler was called Czar. Must be the Americanized version of the term. Visceral stuff thus far. Pretty good. So Spring Break approaches. Not sure what my plans are. Also not sure where we're meeting for lunch on the big day. Nothing expensive, honestly.

 Been thinking about Dylan's 'The times they are a-changin'. Because of my advanced age? Anyway, that's all for now.

BYE.

Salutations 2026!

 Going back to work this week. Nice weather these days. I've been doing a fair bit of reading these past two weeks. No doorstops, however. I just finished reading a book that was more talk than action. I love detail and world-building but climactic action is welcome as well. No climax in this book. Yawn. However, the next book on my horizon looks promising.

 Short stories set in Cornwall. I have great respect for the British southwest. Especially for some of the folk out there. That's all for now.

BYE.

2026 in 2 km

 Exiting 2025, folks. 2026 at the next off-ramp. Not planning a grandiose final post tomorrow. I'm nit one for grand gestures. Dinner with family tomorrow. Board games and so forth. Martinelli's vitaminized carbonated apple juice. Here's where I bid 2025, one of the most difficult years ever, a heartfelt farewell.

  Not at all sure what 2026 will look like. My youngest cousin is going to be a father in 2026 and my grandmother turns 99. Stuff to look forward to. I don't know if my sister is going to sell the house in 2026. I haven't asked her. I'm rereading "What dreams may come". I guess, in light of events earlier this year, it makes sense.

  Here's to you, 2026. And a glass raised in salute to my followers. May the five of you have nothing but prosperity and boundless joy.

BYE.

Week and a bit

 La neige, la neige! Enfin la neige tombe! Now I can get into the shopping mood. Urgh, shopping for stuff. Not my jam. I'll never fall prey to living beyond my means at this point. I'm too old for lifestyle creep. Anyway, the snow's falling nicely. The roads were cleared recently, which is good.

 Here comes Friday. I feel pretty good for some weird reason. Hope you, my several followers, are doing well.

BYE.

Dismember

 No, this isn't going to be a horrific post about dismemberment. If I recall correctly, Piers Anthony would gaffe months on purpose in his author notes for the Xanth novels. Used to love those novels until they became more painful pun than proper and potent prose. I don't blame the guy; his fans keep throwing pum suggestions at him. A vicious cycle.

 Okay, almost made a circle joke. I love puns but the newer Xanth books go overboard to the point they're drowning in puns. Okay, that's all. The winter hit with a vengeance. -19 with a windchill of -29. Indoor recess? Probably. My vehicle is plugged in. And I'm doing battle with a head cold. Lovely way to spend a Wednesday.

 That's all for me. I hope my viewers are doing well and are keeping warm.

BYE.

They lied?

 Bringing you up to speed. Flat tire. Assured by one dude that we could get away with buying only obe tire. Assumed the tire was going on today. Another dude vetoed the plan. Four tires. Somebody lied to me. If the first dude contacts me tomorrow or Friday and we go back to the original plan, I'll leave my review of the place unchanged.

 If I don't hear anything, that review changes drastically. Lying jerk... no, a one star review won't bother that inbred jerk at all, but it might make me feel better. Besides that, things are okay. Hope my readers are well.

BYE.

The end of November

 Yeah, yeah. One more week before December's arrival. Anyway, I've been reading as usual. 'The last duel' recounts a fascinating tale of violence, justice, and a heart-racing duel between powerful, influential men. Did the attack happen? I'm on the side of "yes, it happened". I hope we actually get snow this weekend

  There's whispers of it in the forecast, at least. My latest journal is almost full. I will be glad to put it on the shelf. The journey in this journal has been a rough one. I'm looking forward to the new one and 2026.

BYE.

Cloudy day

 Overcast at 11ish. It's been overcast since I woke up. Thanksgiving was a good time with my brother-in-law's family. No sign of snow yet but it's going to fall. Inevitable. I had plans to buy a new winter coat but that will have to wait for a couple more weeks.

 Nothing new on the horizon. Still playing Inzoi. Not bad. Nothing worth telling from mountain heights. I hope my followers are doing well.

BYE.

So much to speak on

 So my new desktop (brother-in-law is a prince btw) compy is fully functional and looking great. I bought the reason for the new compy and have been playing it for a couple of days. No, my soul does not belong to InZoi (yet) but it is a beautiful game. Truth and Reconciliation was Tuesday and my brain's schedule got a little messed up as a result.

 It does not feel like Friday. Anyway, mi hermana shared some amazing news with me today. I'm still chuckling about it. About damn time, if I'm honest. Place like that don't stick around if they serve poor quality food and show disrespect to the customer. The decor wasn't great, either. Anyway, life is wonderful.

 Respect to the people reading this blog. I wish you all well.

BYE

Urgh

 The laminator, according to a report, is completely jammed up at this time. Well, it would happen during my lunch break. Looks like I'm going to be busy this afternoon. Cutting, tugging, reversing, and hoping. Monday, amirite? Anyway, tomorrow is Truth and Reconciliation. No school and most businesses on reduced hours.

  I did not sleep well so I'm tired and grumpy. Again, we're talking pretty straightforward for Monday. At least it's nice outside. 30% chance of rain, it is said. Anyway, all the best to the folks following this blog. Hope yer day goes better than expected.

BYE.