My sisters and their hubbies made it home from Mexico safe and sound. Considering the four Canadian tourists who have been killed down there in the past year, it is a concern.

I don't have a damn thing to write about. Let me think, let me think ... okay, I'm reading Nora, the real life of Molly Bloom, who was a character in James Joyce's Ulysses; the character was modelled largely upon Joyce's wife Nora.

Why, oh why, does the author insist on telling me way more than I want to know about Joyce's fetishes? He was fascinated by the solider output of the human body's bottom end. It turned him on. There's a name for such an interest but it slips my mind at the moment.

How do we know about this fetish? Because James Joyce and Nora wrote back and forth for a while, about what they would like to do to each other. This was after they'd already lived together for several years and had two children. I wonder if it ever occurred to them that some day the whole world would know what they did in the bedroom. It's enough to make me clean up my diaries REAL GOOD, because you just. never. know.

A general idea would have been more than enough for me. There is a point beyond which I don't want to know more. Certainly not the "dirty" details.

Not that there's anything wrong with that ... as they'd say on Seinfeld. But EWWW... please, don't make me picture it!

Life goes on; I go on walking down the road past the dugout and creek, both frozen now.

2:43 p.m.
About to bolt out the door and drive cross-country with a hot roasted chicken, to attend a second birthday party for Scott's grandmother, who turns 98 next Sunday. She is the loveliest gal, always gracious and interested in everything going on around her.

Everett has asked to stay home, and Grandma Lowndes will be sure to notice and to ask about him, even though the houseful at her daughter's will number at least 20 people, many of whom will be children.

If I'm not mistaken, these are lumps thrown on top of the ditches by the snowplow, after the blizzard.

While I was making a fire in the woodstove this afternoon, Everett told me more than I ever wanted to know about the Star Wars movies. He gets very enthusiastic about such things. I nod and say "mm hm" once in a while; occasionally I ask a question, which he is invariably happy to answer.

~ Salt 'n' Pepper? ~ enjoying the sun by the barn ~

When I called Dad yesterday morning he was about to give Trinket some breakfast after she'd spent the night at his place. This week her parents, Joan and Gary, are frolicking on the Mayan Riviera with my other sister, Karen, and her husband. Apparently Karen was swimming with dolpins and after hearing that I smiled every time I thought of my two sisters down there. Swimming with dolphins is something Karen has wanted to do for a very long time.

**

Yay, it's Friday! You'd think I worked in an office or something, the way it feels like the beginning of a holiday weekend. Wait, I DO work in an office! It's just that it's the most casual office in the world. It's 9 o'clock and I'm still in my housecoat and about to eat toast at my desk.

I am an admirer of the actress Emma Thompson, and also of the actor Colin Firth, so when the movie Nanny McPhee came on the movie channel early this week I videotaped it to watch with the boys tonight and am looking forward to it.

**

Stopped in to see Grandma yesterday around 4 and she had just lain down, she said, after an afternoon of bingo-playing. She looked under the weather, was blowing her nose. I called just now and she sounds spry, had just come to her room from breakfast and was about to make her bed.

She got the shirt you sent her, Reta, and pointed it out to me twice while I was there. She also said she wasn't sure where she had to go to get her supper, which as you know is right down the hall. So I don't think she was firing on all cylinders.

**

We are finally going to Saskatoon next week to take Emil to the ear/nose/throat specialist, and he is asking me where we'll stay. He is requesting that he be permitted to stay with our cousin, Judy, "even if you don't stay there, Mom." I wonder what it is that he likes so much about being at Judy's place. The first time we visited there she might have served spaghetti for supper -- could that be it? Could it be all the tiny tots that start showing up at her home for daycare at 5 a.m.? Emil isn't able to tell me what it is that's special about Judy's place, but it sounds like he wants to move in there. Funny.

Hi Cath,

Got hold of Jacenta, got my invitation yesterday, and Scott plans to come to Regina with me if we can find someone to spend the two nights with the boys. It'll do Scott good to get away, he's been so crazy-busy I don't know how he stands it. We have advance tickets for a concert in Wadena (Matt Anderson, guitar blues) on Sunday afternoon so had best come home sometime Saturday. I did call Jo to let her know not to include us in Saturday night plans.

I am still sitting here in my red flannel pyjamas, been working at the computer since 8:30 and it's 12:30 now. Today's my goin'-to-town day so I'd best bath and dress and pack my grocery list and hit the road. It's a full afternoon by the time I get mail, go to the bank, the recycling depot, the library, the grocery store, and finally to visit Grandma at the seniors' lodge. Everywhere you go you run into someone you know so none of these stops are quick ones. I aim to drive the six miles into town only once a week (doing my small part to fight global warming, eh) so by the time I've squeezed in all the errands I come home beat.

Have a mixed bean chili in the slow cooker, will steam a pot of brown rice when Everett (his piano lesson is today) and I get home, and that will be supper.

It looks like a gorgeous day out there, sunny and hovering right around 0 Celsius.

Hope you're having a fine day yourself, looking forward to seeing you. Is the reception fancy-dress or is casual attire going to be looked at askance? Wouldn't want to embarrass one of the two honoured guests!

X's and O's, babycakes,
Kathy

Somebody has been playing in my office.

Sun 14 Jan 2007

I hope some of you checked out Sonia Mascaro's webpage from Brazil after she posted a comment the other day. Recently she posted photos of some interesting sculptures and street art, well worth the download time.

Sonia, I don't have access to your email address right now, as it is on my old computer and its monitor has quit on me. Grrr! Anyway, I was reading down the page at your website and noticing the "Gross" competition and thought "Hey, I wonder if she knows who Paul Gross is."

Paul Gross is a goodlookin' Canadian actor ... ooh la la! He became well-known via his portrayal of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in the American sitcom Due South, and appears in the theatre drama Slings and Arrows as a gifted but half-insane (if you don't believe in ghosts) artistic director. The show can still be seen on TV. He also starred in the Canadian-made curling movie Men With Brooms alongside Leslie Nielsen, who was born in the same Saskatchewan city as I was, Regina.