Food, Glorious Food!

   Regular viewers will know from past posts that both my wife and I are pretty handy in the kitchen. All you'd need to do is take a look at my more than ample frame to know that. My wife is an incredible baker (her chocolate cake gets rave reviews), and I'm more or less the person producing a lot of our meals.
   Last year, I was asked by GX94's mid-day host Tonya Cherry to do an item from her Christmas Goodies Cook-Book, and I did a pork chop-suey stir-fry. Tonya's on maternity leave, so this year, her locum, Nick Kaczmar, is taking her place in selling them. Between Nick and Tonya, they convinced morning show host Danny Ismond to produce something. Danny dutifully did, bringing in chocolate cupcakes. Were they good? Yes.
   But during our chat this morning, that spun off onto a rather less than successful culinary adventure my wife took us on a number of years ago, called a 5-can casserole.
   I can't for the life of me remember exactly what was in it, but none of us could eat it. Sorry dear, it really was that bad.
   She got the recipe off the internet, which is where it should have stayed. The result ended up in the bin. Not that I haven't had food flops myself, but this one was memorable. For the wrong reason.

TTFN

A Time Change Oops!!

   This past weekend was "time change weekend" in most parts of the world, when clocks are set back an hour from Daylight to Standard time. Except in Saskatchewan, where we don't touch our clocks. And that's fine, since I always hated the twice yearly adjustment. But even though we're on the same time year round, the change can, and this morning did, play a little havoc.
   The weather service we subscribe to is in a different time-zone than we are, meaning they set their clocks back an hour. Which I was aware of. But I'm also used to seeing the forecast from them in my email in-box when I get in the door at 04:00. So, imagine my chagrin when the clock started getting close to 05:00, and nothing had come in (even though we don't actually need the forecast until 05:30, when both stations morning shows hit the air). So, a quick email to our service, gently reminding them of the change, which brought about (and very rightly so) a mild rebuke, and a reminder they have other clients as well, and they get it out as soon as possible.
   Lesson learned.

TTFN

Halloween Steps Back

   All the way back to November, 1971. That's when Led Zeppelin released their classic, and iconic, 4th album. And that's the genesis for my Halloween get-up this year. The image on the inner sleeve of the album is actually a tarot card, "The Hermit", but to Zeppelin fan's it's known as "Lantern Man"

   And that's what I decided to do this year

   It wasn't an easy decision, either. It wasn't until last month, when we were in a Halloween store in Regina, that the idea went "click". And it was the lantern that sparked the whole thing.
   Normally, I plan well in advance (usually starting November 1st), but this year had been a blank. Did I pull it off? Not really, although I did give it a good try. Although, looking at a side-by-side screen shot co mpiled by GX94 Morning Host Danny Ismond, I got closer than I thought!

   There is one very interesting aspect of the gear; the stick. I bought that years ago in Regina at the Cathedral Arts Festival. What sparked my interest in it was the head, which is a piece of antler. The artist somehow carved a cougar's head into it

   Which I thought was very cool. Now, I need to start planning for next year.
   Have a happy, and safe, Halloween!

TTFN

It's Almost Time

   Halloween is tomorrow, and all of us around the office are encouraged to get into a costume for the day. As mentioned in an earlier blog (Sept 19: Finally A Decision), I've got my gear together.
   Also in that earlier blog, I mentioned I came as the long lost relative (who hasn't been lost long enough) of G 'n R guitarist Slash.
   This year, I'm going to continue the rock 'n roll theme by going way back into the archives. Some 40 years, to be exact.
   All will be revealed tomorrow.

TTFN

Too Rich For My Taste

   That's the only bottle of a 50 year old, single malt Scotch being made available in Canada, and it was up for grabs in Calgary, Alberta yesterday. It's also one of only 128 bottles to be released worldwide.
   The whiskey was laid down in an oak keg back in 1963, and comes in a hand-blown glass bottle. The whiskey has a malty, toffee sweetness with hints of honey, vanilla and oak, and was produced by the Balvenie distillery in Scotland.
   That single bottle is selling at, get ready for it, $64,999.95. Canadian. Which means you could buy a thousand bottles of regular 12 year old Scotch for the price of the one bottle.
   I just hope whoever does buy it doesn't cut it with something like Dr. Pepper.

TTFN

Time To Re-Tire

   No, I'm not retiring. But it is that time of year to re-tire, and put the winter skins

   On my little Lancer

   It's been a fairly nice October, despite a nasty wind-storm with gusts of 95 km/h in Yorkton. And the forecast for the early part of this week calls for a high of 14 C tomorrow. But the steady march toward winter continues, and with it the need to change my tires over again.
   It was only after getting to Yorkton I actually started putting winter tires on. In Regina, I simply relied on my 3-season radials, and never had any real problems. But ever since, I've always switched over, and wonder why I didn't in years past.
   Not that winter tires are the cure-all for the upcoming season. They're not. I still have to use good old fashioned common sense while behind the wheel when the snow flies and the roads get slippery. But they do give an extra little sense of protection.
   When I re-tire again in the spring, I'll need new 3-season skins. The ones I've got on the car now are getting a bit thin in the tread.

TTFN

It Was Time

   For the past 2 1/2 years or so, I've been letting my hair down. Literally. It's been at least 30 months since I had my last haircut, but it was time for a change:

   There was no special reason I "freaked out", other than the fact that I hadn't had long hair in more than 40 years. And there was no special reason I decided to get it cut this week, other than the fact it was starting to get in the way of almost everything.
   The beard and 'stash will get trimmed as well, but not before Halloween! Facial hair is integral in what I'm doing this year.
   Will I ever let my hair get that long again? I doubt it. But "never say never", either.

TTFN