Quiz?

If you are an e-mail junkie then you have probably encountered the Quiz about Getting to Know Your Friends and family. What you are supposed to do is copy (not forward) this entire
e-mail and paste it into a new e-mail that you'll send. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to your friends and family, including the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends and family that you might not have known! The result for me has been that you get the standard truthful, sombre, sober, responses than can put you to sleep. So to assist and help you out with this dilemma, here are some sample responses you can use and good luck. As the saying goes “get a life,” spice it up, avoid the circling buzzards from picking on your carcass!


1. What time did you get up this morning?
a) in time for breakfast.
2. Diamonds or pearls?
a). how about a sow’s ear
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
a) don’t know yet, I’m still going
4. What is your favorite TV show?
a) Rin Tin Tin (1954-59)
5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
a) What I had the pervious morning.
6. What is your middle name?
a) Disaster
7. What food do you dislike?
a) Rotten food
8. What is your favorite CD?
a) still playing LP’s, thinking about an MP3 player
9. What kind of car do you drive?
a) I drive a souped up, beater van.
10. Favorite sandwich?
a) Earl of ?
11. What characteristic do you despise?
a) Feline!
12. Favorite item of clothing?
a) The string Bikini.
13. If you could go anywhere on vacation where would you go?
a) Where you couldn’t find me.
14.What color is your bathroom?
a) from the throne, or the tub?
15. Favorite brand of clothing?
a) Cheap!
16. Where do you want to retire to?
a) to a bed.
17. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
a) when I contacted Alzheimers.
18. Favourite sport to watch?
a) women’s mud wrestling.
19. Furthest place you are sending this?
a) As Jackie Gleason use to say…….to the moon.
20. Who do you least expect to send this back?
a) Royal Mail.
21. Person you expect to send it back first?
a) Stephen Harper
22. Favourite sayings?
a) BULL_ _ _ _.?
23. When is your birthday?
a) sometime in the future..
24. Are you a morning person or a night person?
a) What would you like me to be?
25. What is your shoe size?
a) same as my mouth.
26. Pets?
a) one!
27. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?
a) If I had any, I’d be sharing it with The “Pope.”
28. What did you want to be when you were little?
a) BIG!
29. How are you today?
a) I have a medical appointment.
30. What is your favourite candy?
a) Floss.
31. What is your favourite flower?
a) For-get-me-not’s.
32. What is a day on the calendar are you are looking forward to?
a) the 34th.
33. What church do you attend?
a) The Upside Down Church of the Fallen!
34.What are you listening to right now?
a) Furnace fan.
35.What was the last thing you ate?
a) Haven’t passed away yet.
36. Do you wish on stars?
a) No, on my feet.
37. If you were a crayon what color would you be?
a) all the colours of the rainbow?
38. How is the weather right now?
a) mostly unsettling!

There are 25 additional questions, but I’m sure by now, you get my drift.
Enjoy, and as Red/Green says “keep your stick on the ice.”

Dave!

Just a stone’s throw north of Thornhill Manitoba lives a gentleman, who, since the day he was born, resides on a little piece of Paradise. He and his wife, Donna, are willing to share their Paradise with others, whether they are local people, or from far away. He calls this "Shannondale".
Dave was born, raised, educated, farmed, and raised a family, all within about an 8 mile radius of his yard site. In 1959, he took over the family farm from his parents , who had acquired it in the dirty 30’s. Dave never left this locale, except for one winter when, as a young man he was away. As was the norm in the 60’s and 70’s, Dave expanded his farm and seed operations. Then in 1997, after some 38 years of tilling the soil, Dave rented out his acreage.
I recall resettling in Morden at the time, and attending Dave and Donna’s farm auction sale with my brother Walter. Unlike the rest of the farm retirees rushing to town, Dave and Donna chose to remain on the farm. And why not? They had constructed a comfortable semi-chalet type home back in 1976, on the very edge of the ravine with a creek running some 150 ft below. They overlook boundless mature trees and a view of the valley that must encompass all of 40 acres or more. They are able to walk directly out into the natural woods from both the upper and lower levels of their home. From the front doorstep and stretching to the southeast is typical prairie landscape. A setting hard to match in any urban area!
After a bit of a respite, a few years later Dave rekindled his boyhood affection for recreation, only now with an emphasis on fitness and well being. Many a winter Friday, years back, the Thornhill school students entertained themselves on the Lumgair hills.

(Ski Run)

Dave, never accustomed to being idle, began the arduous task of creating an all season natural trail system for skiing, cycling, and hiking. The result, 20K of classic trails with a warming shack at the trail head. A Yellow trail that even beginners will enjoy, the Blue trail that is a moderate 10K workout, the Orange trail which is a 5K circuit with an option to go to 6K. The Orange tail also has 5 major slopes, along with many smaller slopes in the escarpment.

(Welcome Shack)

(Ski Trail Map)

Dave was courteous enough to take Terry Tichkosky and myself on a Ski doo and sled ride to view the scenic valley. It was like a roller coaster ride and we needed high speeds to get my weighty body to the top of the hills.

(Weighty Harold!)

Terry and I conceded that the whole area was just impressively breathtaking. I can only imagine what it would be like in the summer or fall, with a trickling creek running below. We also had the privilege of watching deer run across an opening. Many local skiers are regular attendants here, and individuals have come to visit from as far away as New Brunswick and Victoria B.C. Many groups, large and small, such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, come here for fund raising purposes.

(All Photos Courtesy Terry Titchkosky)

If you were ever going to apply the term “one tough old Scot" to anyone, then Dave, with his full head of white hair, a beard, and one knee replacement, with another to be scheduled, would definitely qualify. His lifestyle stresses the importance of being fit and doing exercises before knee surgery in order to have a faster post-surgery recovery.
Despite this, Dave continues to maintain these recreational trails mostly by himself. As Dave has stated, “Everyone should have fun and gain skills. "Fresh air is health care, Help yourself!"
So come on out to Shannondale.

Give me a break! OK?

There is that tiny bit of breathing space between Christmas and the New Year where you can do something normal, like catch a movie or something. I’m not talking about the "Alvin and the Chipmunks" movie caper either, although I personally know a mother who is totally enchanted by it. I took in an English adult script called "Atonement" - heady English stuff, but sorry, no review.
The thing that struck me was that prior to this movie commencing, was the change from years back. When T.V. and movies started to compete for a viewing audience, you could go to a movie and shut out the outside world. First you would view a cartoon, then possibly a Newsreel, a local theatre ad for popcorn and pop, previews (trailers) and finally, the feature presentation. All this for the sum of 25 cents and some years later as much as a dollar.
My theory is, at the time you didn’t begrudge paying this amount of money. With T.V. , you had those intrusive commercials, you had family or friends disturbing you, with some even changing the channel on you, depending on the pecking order, even if you only had three channels. So when you paid to see a movie that’s what you saw, as straight forward and uncomplicated as you can have it. But oh! no! not today, no sirree. First, we begin with movie trivia, then some supersized ads for the theatre concession, then wonder of all wonders, car ads, endless trailers for features due in March of 09, more ads, finally the main feature.
What a pile of unmitigated commercial rubbish, and what is the supreme insult ….. an $8.00 admission charge!