Snapped this January 13 while out Sunday driving. Best I could do under the circumstances, keeping hands on the wheel, eyes on the road … it’s a VW convertible with the top down in the dead of winter. The day before we hit 15° C setting a record. It even felt warmer, was a beautiful, bright, sunny day … today was pretty much the same in the temp. dept. … sans the extra warmth of the sun. Old man winter, gotta love him!! 😎
Pics, and a little lauding perhaps … maybe faint, but praise nonetheless … and this blog’s the only voice I got, so here I speak. I’ll start with some numbers … January 6, 1935 … 1935 – 2013 = 78 … 39 + 39 = 78 … 49 … 39 + 49 = 88 … 88 – 78 = 10 … yep, ten … now the pics, bunch of oldies and a single goodie …
the apple:
Jan. 5, 2013
the tree:
1952
1952
September 1953, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
1953 (with ??)
1954, Vancouver, B.C. (with Bill, best friend and cousin)
November 1956, Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C.
February 1957, at home … 16 years later, mere steps from where he stood … he’d draw his last breath.
Always fun getting my annual report, fellow bloggers – you know what I’m talking about. A few stats I’ll divulge are new posts: 262 and pictures uploaded: 443 … very close to danistrulytheman 2011 year in blogging numbers: 276 and 472 respectively. Got me thinking I should do a personal year in review giving a few shout-outs expressing my thanks and appreciation. And while it may not make complete sense to you, it does to me. Firstly I want to thank John, Jessica … and the third person in this group, I don’t think I even know his name, lol? Only his blog handle and the stories he tells … I do know it’s your birthday and you’re 48 to give you a clue, lol. I’m thanking these three for the same reason, although their blogs are completely different from each others … told ya, it’d make no sense, lol. The second group I want thank is Jason, Jennifer and Gee Gee ( … and Gee Gee is in a league of her own as she’s constantly and playfully reminding me … looking forward to seeing you at danistrulytheman‘s yearly subscription/followers invite only allowed, drunken and orgy filled appreciation soiree btw, last year’s was a blast, remember, lol?!) for a different reason as well. All of you have done something, inspired me, motivated me … difficult to explain, too hard to quantify, so I won’t try. Quick thought: now that I have publicly named six (all who receive my blogposts btw, so no excuses, lol), wonder how many will respond/acknowledge?! … I’m pretty sure I already know the answer, lol. And that’s ok, there’s one person who absolutely loves my blog … he laughs, he smiles … he constantly reads it over and over soaking in its wisdom, LOL!! Ok, so that’s entirely (not really, maybe 90%, lol) eyes-rolling, tongue in cheek, facetiousness, but there’s definitely something there. Ok, enough rambling … class dismissed. Happy 2013 to all … whether you read this, reply … or not!! 😎
last pic of 2012, taken morning of December 31
Where do I begin? For once, my giddiness has gotten the better of me … don’t have a clue, am somewhat stumped where to start, lol. But I’ll try. Sorry distracted, digressing … soaking it all in … got a woodie as an alternate post just popped into my head … whaddya think, lol?? Ok here I go, this all started/happened when the iPhone 5 was released, a week later I believe. Innocently placed my iP4 in the cupholder while driving and 20 minutes later when I stopped for gas noticed my glass back was cracked. As God as my witness, I did NOTHING … it JUST cracked. I was heartbroken, and when home taped it preventing further cracking, slapped on a case too … it’s been on ever since, hoping to keep everything tight, not compromising its operation. Let time pass without replacing it only to let the iPhone 5 hoopla pass … have you ever tried shopping at an Apple Store? Yep, nuts. Finally went in and quickly accessed I’d be stuck with the bill replacing it, which isn’t so bad but since I didn’t break it … didn’t drop it … nothing … and was hoping my pleas would fall on big-fat empathetic ears, but fearing they wouldn’t… AND I didn’t want my good luck winning streak, everyone seeing things my way coming to an end … not to mention the earliest Genius Bar appointment available was 2 days away. Are you kidding me? No thanks … fuck you Apple, I’m looking elsewhere, lol!! Eventually my search ended with Monolith … wood is good!! Love their exotics … and after great deliberation, went with the wenge. Placed my order November 29, arrived December 28 … one month later, exactly. Two thoughts; 1: Good things come to those who wait. 2: What the hell took so long? Now, that’s a motherfucking pick em, lol!! 😀
unwrapping patiently, proverbially pissing you know what with excitement
exquisite packaging, attention to detail
tell me that ain’t gorgeous
necessary tools included, German made – impressive
cracked culprit removed – tape bubbling, couldn’t bear it anymore
minutes later, slipped into place … perfect fit
brandspankingnew danistrulytheman, Merry Christmas motherfucker
… ya done good kid … still sayin’ & repeatin’ (capped out too) said aforementioned “WOW” to myself over and over … and OVER again. Greatest Christmas EVER … lots of fun family times, lots (… and lots, lol) of good food … a few silly family pics too, lol … and plenty of presents … but none more heartfelt than WonderBoy’s … think I mentioned this limited edition vinyl Sublime to him a millionmonths ago (can’t believe he remembered) … and then he went doubly LPLuvin’ me with Nirvana … WOW … NEVERMIND!! Yep, done good motherfucker, real good … muchluvson!!
➡ today’s 4:20 … thanks Sublime, lol. 😉
In the kitchen early in the a.m. making/baking pastizzi – a Maltese delicacy … these are ricotta cheese filled, the most common variety. It’s an annual holiday thing I do for Tiffany K to take to her work for their annual holiday thing that they do … from what I know, and I don’t know much since I don’t ask too many questions (better that way, lol), is that all staff contribute some food for a potluck of sorts. Last year everyone was raving about them (after repeatedly asking, “what are they?” “how do you say the name?” since they didn’t have a clue as to what they were), and who wouldn’t be – it’s cheese stuffed phyllo pastry for Chrissakes!! Naturally she (I) have to out do everyone else, so I order pastizzi from my secret pastizzi place (best in the city by far), drive outta my way to pick them up, and as I previously mentioned, rise and shine extra early (I know, things I do, lol) to bake three baking sheets full, two dozen total. Eight at a time is pretty much the max, you don’t wanna overcrowd them or they won’t puff properly, and at 35-40 minutes per sheet … AND with them having to be done and out the door by 8:00 … well you do the math … did I mention things I do?! 😀
tray #1 of tres
tray #2
tray #3
the perfect pastizzi
… as if I wasn’t already, lol?! Saw this (Lowe’s Black Friday flyer) yesterday on RedFlagDeals which caught my eye; Werner 6 foot step ladder priced at $74.98 on sale for $24.98 … are you shittin’ me?!?! Now I know it ain’t their top of the line highest rated load capacity industrial usage models, you’re talking big bucks ($$$$) for those, but for my puttering around the house purposes, and the price ($50 off), who cares … it’ll suit me just fine spank you very much!! An early morning online check confirmed the sale price was already in their system (although it didn’t discount scan when I self serve check-out attempted – no matter; customer service to the rescue and all was rectified. Have y’all been reading lately how much I LOVE LOWE’S, lol?) so I didn’t even have to wait till Friday to get mine, ALWAYS one step ahead of y’all!! 😉
on the shelf ready to be snatched …
regular price …
ready to be taken home …
All in came to $28.23 with taxes – I know, eh?! Still scratching my head in good-deal-disbelief!!😯
… /6/3/33 (as in the a.m. … and as in the time of posting) to be a bit more precise. Having some fun playing with my Aviary and my Camera+ apps … damn them jammies are hangin’ AWFULLY low … s’ok y’all, I ain’t bashful!! 😀
… gaining an hour. Wish we could keep doing that every day, lol. Always so much controversy regarding Daylight saving time … people love it, people hate it. Some countries use DST, some don’t. Canada does, but not the entire country … Saskatchewan doesn’t … neither does British Columbia’s Peace Region. I know, very confusing, lol. Don’t know what the perfect system is, don’t really give a shit either … all I know is that I love waking up with an extra hour’s worth of sleep in the tank!!
Yesterday’s sunny and unseasonably warm 19°C permitting a late October BBQ was just what the doctor ordered, the perfect cure for stopping the dizziness … getting off this spinning ride called life. Food truly is love, it soothes the soul … two Atlantic Salmon filets quickly marinated with olive oil, red onion, dill, parsley, sea salt & black pepper … skin side down on a water soaked (for a few hours) cedar plank and into my hot and ready Weber, shutting the lid and patiently allowing it to make magic. Squirted freshly squeezed grilled lemon juice after plating … a glistening finish. Almost gives the appearance of smoked salmon, but it’s VERY moist and tender … AND pink inside. Please folks, NEVER overcook it – it’s a sin against salmon. My planked salmon … kerplunked!!
folded newspaper protects the plate from the charred plank …
you can see that a little bit o’ that pink I’m talking ’bout …
saved the best for last … yep, def pink …
Honestly don’t know why I do this to myself? Subjecting myself to my over-the-top-analysis – maybe we all do it, I dunno?! Always feel I look like shit in pics (but please … feel free to disagree, lol) … the fuck’s up with the hair, lol?! And am only posting now because I didn’t earlier in my previous post … ooops, my lazy-ass bad. Btw … hello September, goodbye summer … happy Labour Day week-end y’all!! 🙂
Photo (unedited) courtesy: Tiffany K
… my favourite month!! If there’s such a thing picking one over the other eleven. It’s perfect, it’s sublime … typically the hottest month + it goes the distance in duration, giving us 31 glorious days, the most allotted in a month (’cause that’s the way we’ve been keeping track of things/time for hundreds of years on this tiny speck of interstellar dust I call home, lol) of sun, fun, beer, beach, bikinis, BBQ and beer (oops, ya caught me double-dipping, lol). June is good, but a wee bit early AND plenty unpredictable … and August is good as well, till you near the end and slowly start feeling summer slipping away. But not my July … it starts with a BANG right outta the gate – Happy Birthday Canada … WOOHOO!! And before the celebrations have a chance to subside … BANG again – Independence Day to my neighbours south … Happy 4th y’all!! Four days in and it’s been non-stop partying … and 10 days later let’s raise a glass of champagne and toast Bastille Day, and if you weren’t aware and didn’t commemorate the occasion, well mon ami now you do (know) … and I HOPE you do (celebrate) … commemorate away, lol!! July has always been a month long celebration for me, SO many school friend’s birthdays … I still recall a few names and the days … Diana-13, Garry-14, Randy-15, Chris-17 … and mine thrown somewhere into the mix, just ain’t sayin’ when (and we all shared the same birth year making it even more special) … and through the years many new friends have joined, too many to name. July has always been a month long celebration for me (and can pinpoint it further, specifically the middle of the month … from the 10th – 20th). A few other tidbits …this year’s Wimbledon famed fortnight concludes on the 8th, and the opening ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympics are on the 27th (the excitement never ends, lol). And who could forget the boys of summer? Not I. Always look forward to the home run derby, the All-Star Game (July 10), the family atmosphere/festivities. And last but not least, this year I have a personal celebration falling on the 30th … zees lips are zipped, lol!! What a way to finish!!
I know I’m posting prematurely … wanna give a couple days lead in, allowing it to marinate …
Uhmmm? Probably forgetting a few important days/occasions … can always comment later if I remember. Better yet … anyone think of anything I’ve omitted (y’all have fingers and a keyboard … least I hope ya do, lol) … chime in!! 😉
danistrulytheman 