View from the Escarpment

Happy New Year

2006-01-01T11:51:00.000-05:00

Well it's now January 1st, 2006....

What a year this has been!!!! From the lowest of lows one year ago, to the highest of highs.....

Sharing New Years with my Lover, my Sweetheart, my Partner, my Best Friend, my Everything......

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!!

Larry

Photobucket

2005-08-30T12:00:00.000-04:00

This is a test post from Photobucket.com

Wedding Pics - Part 2

2005-08-22T13:17:00.000-04:00

We finally got the pictures that my sister Jenn took at the wedding, and they turned out GREAT....

Here are a couple more pics from the wedding, I hope you enjoy them.

This is my Mom and I. Doesn't she look great!!!

This is the 'Dream Scene', taken from the bridge.

And this, is us by the Tree, as Husband and Wife. I like the sound of that!!

The Wedding Pics

2005-08-08T22:33:00.000-04:00

Saturday was such an awesome day......

We had my sister Jenn, manning the 35mm SLR and she went through 3 rolls of film, that we will be getting developed this week.

We also had a number of people taking digital pictures for us; my daughter Cara, Deb's daughter Stephanie, my best friend David from Montreal, and my Dad.

As Stephanie was using my camera, we have those shots back already, and Cara sent me two taken on her camera.

So, here are a few shots of our wedding day.........

During the service with Rev. Otto Seegers.

Rev. Otto did such a wonderfull job of the cememony. On of the highlights for us was when we included all the children in the cememony. We gave each of them a bamboo arrangement with three stocks to represent Deb, myself and the child, standing together as we build our new family. I have two children from my first marriage, and Deb has four, plus a wonderful grand-daughter.

This is Deb and I just after we were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Larry Walsh.

The Wedding

2005-08-08T10:40:00.000-04:00

Just a QUICK update......

Deb and I got married on Saturday.....

It was a GREAT day, the weather was PERFECT. The DAY was PERFECT, the WEDDING was PERFECT....

Everything was PERFECT.....

I will post more details later as well as some pictures that were taken during the Wedding.....

That's it for now.....

Larry

Sudoku's

2005-07-27T15:26:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Kel over at Kelwhy's Place, Deb and I both have become addicted to these puzzles.

What is a Sudoku you ask???

You can visit the link on my side bar to get your very own DAILY SUDOKU.

Now isn't that a DEAL????

Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dare I say 'Damn You Kelwhy!!!'

The Wedding Plans

2005-07-17T16:17:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe....But as of TODAY, July 17th, it's 20 days until Deb and I are married.

This past week we;

Got our Marriage License.
Booked Centennial Park with the Town on Grimsby. We are having an outdoor wedding with a Family Picnic. We're inviting family and a few very close friends as well.
Created and printed our Wedding Invitations, Deb did an absolutely brilliant job with the invitations.
We met with the minister and planned out the wedding
We went and picked out and picked up our Wedding Rings....Matching rings with white and yellow gold with a diamond, simple yet very elegant.
Picked up a Ring Chest to place the Rings in during the Service.
Decided what to do for food at the 'Family Picnic' part of the Wedding.
Decided on a very special ceremony that we will include in our wedding to include each of our children; Rachelle, Stephanie, Natasha, Cara, Robert and Mary and well as our grand-daughter Destiny.
We picked up something to use at the front during the ceremony to make it look 'Like a Wedding'. I'll take pictures later to show you all.

So as you can see, everything is falling into place, and rather quickly.

It's not that we are in any rush, it's just, we are so ready for this commitment. We want it to be today, and have it official, Husband and Wife.

Here and Now
and
Now and Forever

BBQ Time

2005-07-14T09:39:00.000-04:00

Hello,

With the hot summer weather, surely we are all looking forward to juicy BBQ dinners. If your grill has gone on the fritz, here is a low cost replacement option for you, available at the following retailers for just one quarter: Fortinos, Canadian Tire, Zellers, Wal-Mart and many others. This grill is also available in the States at various retailers, to be announced shortly.

See picture attached, models may vary slightly depending on retailer.

Happy summer grilling. . .

Regards,

The BBQ Man

Kitto

2005-07-13T14:41:00.000-04:00

Kitto was my dog, my friend, my buddy.......I have now lost Kitto again....But this time is forever......

Let me explain......When I was married, we as a family got Kitto. Kitto was a Blue Merle colored Sheltie, which had grown 'oversize'. Being oversize, the breeder could no longer show or breed Kitto, so he got him for a very good price.

Let me tell you about Kitto...... Kitto was the best dog I ever had.....

He was fully trained when we got him. When we walked him, he never left your side, even if another dog came by.

The first summer we had Kitto, we had gone to my friend David's place north of Montreal. We had to do some shopping in town, so we had left Kitto in the 'Stables', which is the building we were saying in. While we were in town, Kitto got out and bolted. We spent the WHOLE weekend tryign to find him. I must have drove 500 km, back and forth, forth and back.

Nothing...He was gone.....

Then on the Monday morning Kitto appeared out of nowhere....it was awsome....

Well, Kitto really became part of the family.......Camping.....going back to Montreal....he really was the best.

When I split from my wife, I decided it would be best if Kitto stayed with her and the girls, as I was going to be living in an apartment and perhaps would not be home all the time. I missed Kitto when we first split up, but I knew Kitto was happy. Kitto ended up going to live with my ex-wife's Aunt and Uncle, in Trenton. Ron really, really, really loved and took care of Kitto.

I understand Kitto really enjoyed his new home. Ron would take Kitto EVERWHERE. He got brushed EVERYDAY (OK, I admit, I never brushed him every day). Ron and Kitto did everything together. Kitto was living it up for the last two years ago.

I got I call Monday, that Kitto had a heart attack and passed away.......I was in shock....I'm still in shock......

Kitto had fallen on Sunday and from what I understand broke his hip, and then on Monday when they went to the vets, Kitto had a heart attack and died.

I miss Kitto. I miss that I never got to see him again. I'm so thankful to Ron and Easter for taking care of Kitto the way they did for the last two years.

THANK YOU!!

Ron, I'm sorry that you also lost your little buddy.....Kitto.....

(I will post a pic of Kitto as soon as I can find one)

We will ALL miss you Kitto...........

Getting 'UP'

2005-07-07T09:43:00.000-04:00

Lovers of the English language should enjoy this one...:)

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is "UP."

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?

At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?

We call UP our friends and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.

At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special. And this UP is confusing:

A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.

We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.

We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions .

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth.

When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.

One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so.............

Time to shut UP.....!

Oh...one more thing: What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night?

U P

The Gala - Post Script

2005-07-06T08:18:00.000-04:00

Ok....Perhaps I was a little upset by the events of the Gala. I'm only a human who has emotions and I ended up venting a little....

Marilyn does do a lot and did do a lot last year and deserved the President's Award.

I guess I remember why I do what I do at the theatre.....

I love working on the sets.....I love pulling the sound together.....I love doing the lighting design...I love the Stage Manager role.....not because I think I'm going to get an award....but because I love doing it.....I love hearing the people say what a good job WE ALL DID bring the play to the public.....

And THAT'S what its all about......And THAT is a 'View From the Escarpment'

The Gala

2005-06-28T21:56:00.000-04:00

We had the year-end 'Gala' for the Caledon Townhall Players last Saturday. Alot of my friends for the theatre were there; My sister Jenn and Jane, Andrew and Stacey, Brian, Mike, Elizabeth, Pam, Dennis and Irene, and the list goes on. And Dale got there as well....Poor Dale is still laid up with his broken leg, and got there just as the dinner was starting.

We all found our tables, mingled and had cocktails. Then we had a wonderfull buffet that included roast beef and potatoes and then we moved upstairs to the theatre for the awards presentation.

Here is a nice pic of Jenn and Dale.

The awards were a blast, hosted by Barb and her husband Tom. Tom was in Arsnic and Old Lace with me.

Jane was awarded for the Set of the play 'Things We Do For Love'. This was the set that Jane and I built basically single-handly.....Jane did acknowledge from the stage that it was her and I that built the set.....That was very nice Jane....thank you Jane.....

Jenn won an award, Dale reviewed an award, Andrew was presented with the award for the best production which was for 'Things We Do For Love'. Andrew was the producer for the play. this was the play that I was also the stage manager, sound design, light design and lighting operator...heheheh...

SO that was pretty cool that we won for Best Production. I admit that I would have liked to received 'something' for that....

Then there was the President's Award. This was a new award this year for someone outside the executive for going above and beyond...based on the three plays that I was involved in this year, I thougt wow....I might be up for this.....this explained how the winner of this award has gone way above the call....it sounded like me.....for this last play, I was asked to step in as stage manager at the last minute, which I did......I stepped in to create the sounds effects for the play...no problem....and I was over looked.

Please don't get me wrong.....I do the stuff I do cause I wanted to.....not for some award....this is a new award, so I didn't even know this was an award......

Am I pissed?????? Yes........Why.....Cause I put my personal life on hold for the sake of the play...especially this last play.....and I feel that I was slapped in the face by the president.....Thats just the way I feel.....

And thats the 'View from the Escarpment'

OK...so I think we have a 'DATE'

2005-06-17T14:56:00.000-04:00

I know EVERYONE is asking......so when is it????

I can now spill the beans and say........

AUGUST 6th, 2005

So let the COUNTDOWN begin.......

My Site Counter

2005-06-16T21:58:00.000-04:00

Boys will play........

So I was playing with my Bravenet Site counter, playing with the style and stuff. Being cautious, I created a second counter to play with....

I really didn't like the new one, so I THOUGHT I would delete it....so WHAT do you I deleted??

Yeap, DUMP ASS me, deleted my counter.....so now I starting over with my counter stats....lolololololol

Send ALL you friends by.....I have to get back up there....lolololololololololol

One Day Older

2005-06-16T10:19:00.000-04:00

Today is the 'Day After'......
So I'm One Year Older + One Day.....
How Do I Feel???????

Yesterday I felt kinda, I don't know how to really describe it, but I kinda felt alone....that something was missing.....

And that was my daughters; Natasha and Cara. Then to my surprise, I got a MSN message from Cara saying 'Happy Birthday' and then we chatted for a while. We will be getting together next week and Cara will get to meet Deb and her kids for the first time.

I am so excited.......I was so happy when Cara sent me the message......I can't wait for next week...Deb is excited, Deb's kids are all excited.....

We are planing a picinic dinner at a park in the Burlington area down by the lake......Now we just need the weather to hold out.....

To make it 100%.......I hope Natasha will come around........I now she will....She just needs some time.....

I LOVE BOTH MY GIRLS........

This Day in History....

2005-06-15T09:49:00.000-04:00

June 15th........

Other then being MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Canadian - U.S. Border Established
June 15, 1846

Representatives of Great Britain and the United States sign the Oregon Treaty, which settles a long-standing dispute with Britain over who controlled the Oregon territory. The treaty established the 49th parallel from the Rocky Mountains to the Strait of Georgia as the boundary between the United States and British Canada. The United States gained formal control over the future states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, and the British retained Vancouver Island and navigation rights to part of the Columbia River.
In 1818, a U.S.-British agreement had established the border along the 49th parallel from Lake of the Woods in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west. The two nations also agreed to a joint occupation of Oregon territory for 10 years, an arrangement that was extended for an additional 10 years in 1827. After 1838, the issue of who possessed Oregon became increasingly controversial, especially when mass American migration along the Oregon Trail began in the early 1840s.
American expansionists urged seizure of Oregon, and in 1844 Democrat James K. Polk successfully ran for president under the platform "Fifty-four forty or fight," which referred to his hope of bringing a sizable portion of present-day Vancouver and Alberta into the United States. However, neither President Polk nor the British government wanted a third Anglo-American war, and on June 15, 1846, the Oregon Treaty, a compromise, was signed. By the terms of the agreement, the U.S. and Canadian border was extended west along the 49th parallel to the Strait of Georgia, just short of the Pacific Ocean.

Magna Carta Sealed:
June 15, 1215

Following a revolt by the English nobility against his rule, King John puts his royal seal on the Magna Carta, or "Great Charter." The document, essentially a peace treaty between John and his barons, guaranteed that the king would respect feudal rights and privileges, uphold the freedom of the church, and maintain the nation's laws. Although more a reactionary than a progressive document in its day, the Magna Carta was seen as a cornerstone in the development of democratic England by later generations.

John was enthroned as king of England following the death of his brother, King Richard the Lion-Hearted, in 1199. King John's reign was characterized by failure. He lost the duchy of Normandy to the French king and taxed the English nobility heavily to pay for his foreign misadventures. He quarreled with Pope Innocent III and sold church offices to build up the depleted royal coffers. Following the defeat of a campaign to regain Normandy in 1214, Stephen Langton, the archbishop of Canterbury, called on the disgruntled barons to demand a charter of liberties from the king.

In 1215, the barons rose up in rebellion against the king's abuse of feudal law and custom. John, faced with a superior force, had no choice but to give in to their demands. Earlier kings of England had granted concessions to their feudal barons, but these charters were vaguely worded and issued voluntarily. The document drawn up for John in June 1215, however, forced the king to make specific guarantees of the rights and privileges of his barons and the freedom of the church. On June 15, 1215, John met the barons at Runnymede on the Thames and set his seal to the Articles of the Barons, which after minor revision was formally issued as the Magna Carta.

The charter consisted of a preamble and 63 clauses and dealt mainly with feudal concerns that had little impact outside 13th century England. However, the document was remarkable in that it implied there were laws the king was bound to observe, thus precluding any future claim to absolutism by the English monarch. Of greatest interest to later generations was clause 39, which stated that "no free man shall be arrested or imprisoned or disseised [dispossessed] or outlawed or exiled or in any way victimised...except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land." This clause has been celebrated as an early guarantee of trial by jury and of habeas corpus and inspired England's Petition of Right (1628) and the Habeas Corpus Act (1679).

In immediate terms, the Magna Carta was a failure--civil war broke out the same year, and John ignored his obligations under the charter. Upon his death in 1216, however, the Magna Carta was reissued with some changes by his son, King Henry III, and then reissued again in 1217. That year, the rebellious barons were defeated by the king's forces. In 1225, Henry III voluntarily reissued the Magna Carta a third time, and it formally entered English statute law.

The Magna Carta has been subject to a great deal of historical exaggeration; it did not establish Parliament, as some have claimed, nor more than vaguely allude to the liberal democratic ideals of later centuries. However, as a symbol of the sovereignty of the rule of law, it was of fundamental importance to the constitutional development of England. Four original copies of the Magna Carta of 1215 exist today: one in Lincoln Cathedral, one in Salisbury Cathedral, and two in the British Museum.

Well Today is the 'DAY'

2005-06-15T09:14:00.000-04:00

For some reason, this morning I don't know how to feel......

I'm sooo happy I awoke in the arms of my sweetheart......

But once I got to work....it kinda started to sink in.....

Damn!!!! I miss MY GIRLS!!!!

Plain and Simple.

What Military Aircraft Am I???

2005-06-15T07:38:00.000-04:00

What military aircraft are you?

F/A-22 Raptor

You are an F/A-22. You are technologically inclined, and though you've never been tested in combat, your very name is feared. You like noise, but prefer not to pollute any more than you have to. And you can move with the best.

Click Here to Take This Quiz
Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Did you Ever?????

2005-06-14T08:59:00.000-04:00

So I was over at Gemmak's and saw this.....and then I thought to myself....

Well if SHE can steal it from someone.....So can I....So HERE it is..

As a child.... did you ever...?

(x) sneak out of the house
(x) get lost in your own neighbourhood
(x) see a shooting star
(x) get into a fist fight
(x) laugh so hard you had milk/coke come down your nose
(x) have an imaginary friend or pet
(x) push all the buttons on an elevator
(x) skip school
(x) gotten stitches
(x) gotten the chicken pox
(x) done the splits
(x) played spin the bottle
(x) cheat on a test or exam
(x) deliberately ignore your curfew
(x) go out in public in your pajamas
(x) shoplift
(x) have a crush on a teacher

As an adult ....have you ever...?

(x) been to any other countries.
(x) had a serious surgery
(x) kissed a stranger
(x) hugged a stranger
(x) been arrested
(x) skipped work
(x) been in love
(x) been to a casino
( ) been skydiving
(x) skinny dipped
( ) scuba dived
(x) been fired
( ) had a crush on someone of the same sex
(x) had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back
(x) gone on a blind date
(x) lied to a friend
(x) lied to a significant other/spouse
( ) celebrated Mardi-Gras in New Orleans
(x) been married
(x) gotten divorced
(x) had children
(x) seen someone die
(x) had a close friend die
(x) driven over 400 miles in one day
(x) been on a plane
(x) seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) met someone in person from the internet
( ) lost a child
(x) gone to college/university
( ) graduated college/university
(x) fired a gun

Wanna Have Some FUN ??? (wink...wink)

2005-06-13T13:54:00.000-04:00

You scored as A Slave To BDSM. Admit it, you like being tied up and being told you've been very naughty. You like teasing your partner and making them squirm, and not letting them be able to do anything about it. Some people think what you do is sick and disgusting, but you know it's all in good fun.

A Slave To BDSM

88%

Sex God

78%

A Romantic

33%

Virgin

15%

How are you in bed
created with QuizFarm.com

Jenn's Birthday

2005-06-13T08:51:00.000-04:00

Well, TODAY is my kid sister's birthday......Today she is ........What you think I would tell everyone that she's 35 today!!!! Not me!!!!! It's not for ME to tell the WHOLE WORLD thats she's 35 today!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you LOTS and LOTS and LOTS......

Your Birthdate: June 13

Being born on the 13th day of the month should help make you a better manager and organizer, but it may also give you a tendency to dominate people a bit.
You may be more responsible and self-disciplined than you realize.
Sincere and honest, you are a serious, hard working individual.

Your feeling are likely to seem somewhat repressed at times.
You are apt to be much more practical, rational, and conscious of details.
Your intolerance and insistence on complete accuracy can be irritating to some.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

The Official Interview Game

2005-06-13T08:39:00.000-04:00

Good Monday Morning All!!!!

I got this LAST week from Gemmak, but with the play and everything else happening last week, I couldn't get to it till this morning......So here we go..........

This was fun!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Where in the world that you have already visited would you like to visit again and why?

I have gone to Erlangen in Germany for work twice about 4 years ago, and it is a lovely area. But when you are on a work related trip, you never really get to see anything. I did stay over a weekend on one trip and saw some of Nuremberg, but I would like to visit for 2 or 3 weeks and really take in the area.

2. If you were to change career in the next six months what would you choose to do and why?

Proberly something completly out of the Computer Software related area....I have been supporting Human Resources software for about 17 years now.....A change would be nice.....Believe or not sometimes a have thought about driving a truck.....or have you ever seen those HUGE contruction cranes.....WAY...WAY up there.....I think that would be sooooo much FUN.....you know...Boys and their TOYS.....

3. Do you think Michael Jackson is guilty as charged and what are your reasons for believing as you do?

hmmmmm.....Have I REALLY thought about it....To be honest, I have really not followed the case.....If he did what they claim he has done, then he should be help accountable for it....But I really don't know what to think.....I know he is JUST PLAIN WERID, in my books.......but that doesn't make him guilty, just beacuse I think he's werid.

4. If I gave you $2000 to spend as you like but only on one item what would it be?

That would be an easy one RIGHT NOW. I would take a trip with Deb donw to one of the islands and get married on the beach at one of the resorts....Now THAT would be a trip....

5. What do you consider to be your greatest personal achievment to date?

That's an interesting question...My greatest PERSONAL achievment.......Without a doubt, my two girls Natasha and Cara.....If you can call then a 'personal achiement.....Otherwise it could be the status as a Senior Official with Swim Ontario, or my recent activities with the Theatre group that I'm with, Caledon Townhall Players.

The Official Interview Game Rules
1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying 'Interview me"
2. I will respond by asking you five questions, each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Pretty Easy Eh!!!!!

A Puzzle For Some Fun

2005-06-06T20:58:00.000-04:00

I just love these type of word puzzles...

Post your answers in the comments.....

I will post the answer to this puzzle later this week....

At a recent Pets Anonymous reunion, the attendees were discussing which pets they had recently owned. James used to have a dog. The person who used to own a mouse now owns a cat, but the person who used to have a cat does not have a mouse. Kevin has now or used to have a dog, I can't remember which. Becky has never owned a mouse. Only one person now owns the pet they previously had. Rebecca kept quiet throughout the meeting and nobody mentioned the hamster.

Can you determine who owns which pet and what they used to own?

The Play.....The Things We Do For Love

2005-06-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that the show has just finished it's second week.

The show is 'The Things We Do For Love', presented by the Caledon Townhall Players.

I started off with helping to build the set with Jane, and then I also took on the responsibility of creating the lighting design and running the lightboard for the run of the play. When Andrew had to step to take Dale's role, as Dale's leg was not healing as fast as was expected, I took over Andrew's job of creating the Sound Design for the play.

Dale is STILL in his cast, though he can take it off now and then, man THAT must suck......He did come see the play on Saturday, which must have been hard for him.

So, lets see....Jan and I built the set, I did the lighting AND the sound design for the play, I'm running the lightboard for the play.........

AND......................................................

Our beloved Stage Manager, Kay, got called out of the country!! YES, country, she was sent by her work to SOUTH AFRICA for three weeks and will miss the entire run of the play. So what does that mean???

Yes!!!! I'm also playing the role of Stage Manager......

I love this so much......

So, If you're local, and you want a fun evening out.....There are tickets available for this weekend. Visit the Caledon Townhall Players website for details.

The Movie Quiz

2005-06-01T21:15:00.000-04:00

OK, so I stole this from April....

1.) Total number of films I own on DVD/Video

DVD's - 150
Video's - 100

2.) The last film I bought on DVD

The General's Daughter

3.) 5 films I watch alot or mean alot to me: (in no particular order)

a. SWAT - This is the movie the Deb and I saw on our first date.

b. A Knights Tale - A classic movie that is just FUN to watch....and I just happen to love the soundtrack.

c. Armageddon - A great movie with Bruce Willis and who dosen't like Liv Tyler??

d. Saving Private Ryan - I just love war movies, and this is right at the top of the list.

e. Aladdin - Robin Williams at his best.

Transition

2005-06-01T20:52:00.000-04:00

Today is June 1st, 2005, but you can already see that from the posting date.

This is the day of official transition from the 'View from the Penthouse' to the 'View from the Escarpment'.

What is the 'Escarpment'???

You see, I am now fully, 100% moved from Brampton to Grimsby. Grimsby sits at the base of the Niagara Escarpment, hence the new name for my blog.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be posting a new header picture, one the truly shows the beauty of this area I love and now call home.

I also have a brand new look today as well. I want to thank my Blog Design Expert; Gemmak, who's without help, I would not be sporting this new look. I have to admit, I REALLY REALLY REALLY like the new look. I will be tweaking it over the next week, as I play with some new fonts and 'toys', under the direction of Gemmak of course........Yes a 'LITTLE' bit of knowledge is a scary thing!!!!!

So I hope you like the new view..........

So onto the FIRST post from the new view........

Today It's Official.......

2005-05-30T07:26:00.000-04:00

Today is the FINAL moving day......

Yep....It is finally here...the MOVING day when finally EMPTY my old apartment in Brampton and move EVERYTHING here to Grimsby.

It hard to believe that it has already been three months since I moved down here with Deb and the kids, but it has....

Sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday, and yet at other times I felt Deb and I have been together for years.....

Talk to you all later.....next time will be from the ESCARPMENT not the PENTHOUSE....

2005-05-25T14:34:00.000-04:00

Me at Port Dalhousie

50 Things About Me

2005-05-25T14:04:00.000-04:00

OK, So I have never done the '100 Things About Me' thingy but as April has just posted 'More Stuff About Me', I thought I would go half way and post '50 Things About Me'

1. Your name spelled backwards: yrral Sounds like I'm from down south...heheh
2. Where were your parents born? Mom - Toronto, ON Dad - Liverpool, England
3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? Gel - Collective Soul
4. What's your favorite restaurant? Mother's Marketplace
5. Last time you swam in a pool? 3 months ago
6. Have you ever been in a school play? No
7. How many kids do you want? I had two, now I have a blended troup of SIX!!!!
8. Type of music you dislike most? Rap
9. Are you registered to vote? OF COURSE
10. Do you have cable? No and I hate the monopoly.
11. Have you ever ridden on a moped? Yes - Got my FIRST ticket on a moped!!!!
12. Ever prank call anybody? Yes
13. Ever get a parking ticket? Yes
14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? Yes - both
15. Farthest place you ever traveled? Germany
16. Do you have a garden? No
17. What's your favorite comic strip? Dilbert
18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem? Um, who doesn't? Of Course, but only the ENGLISH version!
19. Bath or Shower, morning or night? Shower, Morning
20. Best movie you've seen in the past month? Saharh
21. Favorite pizza toppings? MEAT....MEAT....and yet MORE MEAT
22. Chips or popcorn? Chips - Miss Vickies - The BLUE bag
23. What color lipstick do you usually wear? HELLO!!! I'm a GUY!!
24. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? PEANUT SHELLS?? What are YOU smoking???
25. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? See # 23
26. Orange Juice or apple? Orange
27. Favorite type of chocolate bar? Mars Bar
28. When was the last time you voted at the polls? 2004?? Provincial Election?
29. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato? Yes
30. Have you ever won a trophy? Yep!
31. Are you a good cook? I THINK so! Ask my WIFE!!
32. Do you know how to pump your own gas? Um, this is scary. Who doesn't?
33. Ever order an article from an infomercial? Yes.
34. Sprite or 7-up? Sprite
35. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work? Yep!
36. Last thing you bought at a pharmacy? My Heart Meds
37. Ever throw up in public? Yep
38. Would you prefer being a millionaire or to find true love? millionare
39. Do you believe in love at first sight? Yes
40. Ever call a 1-900 number? nope
41. Can exes be friends? mmmmmm.....perhaps....
42. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital? My Mom....She was in for almost 10 months
43. Did you have a lot of hair when you were a baby? Not really.
44. What message is on your voice mail? Funny enough....I am the VOICE of the Voice Mail system where I work....It's not a Silicon Sally....it's ME
45. What is in your briefcase? EVERYTHING...and WHICH briefcase???
46. Favorite thing to do before bedtime? Watch TV and THEN have sex!!
47. What is one thing you are grateful for today? My children
48. What is the first concert you ever went to? RUSH
49. Have you ever been in a play? Yes, I've acted in 'Arsnic and Old Lace' and have been involved in numerous other plays with the Caledon Townhall Players
50. Do you enjoy doing these lists? This wasn't THAT bad....perhaps NOW I will do a '100 Things About Me'.

And....You Know You're From Toronto When...

2005-05-25T12:31:00.000-04:00

You Know You're From Toronto When...

A really great parking spot can move you to tears.

You can recommend about 3 good body piercing parlours.

You make well over $100,000 and you still can't find a nice place to live.

You realize there are far more rainbow flags in the city than Canadian Flags.

When the temperature rises above zero degrees, you yell "Woohooo! Patio weather!"

You enjoy watching channel 47 multicultural TV

You're guaranteed to know at least one person on every episode of Speaker's Corner.

You haven't been to the CN Tower since you were six, but still have nightmares about that damn turbo elevator.

You've had at least 3 bicycles stolen in the past 10 years.

You've partied with at least one of the members of The Kids in the Hall

You've fantasized about having sex in Casa Loma

At least 3 of your friends have moved to Vancouver

You turn your nose up at any establishment frequented by the S&M crowd. (Scarborough and Mississauga)

You never, never, never swim in the lake

You know "The Beaches" are really called "The Beach", but still say "The Beaches" just to annoy all the nitwits who live there

You ever had a birthday party at the Organ Grinder or The Mad Hatter

You can say "world's tallest freestanding structure" ten times fast

You know the correct answer to "Where do shopping carts go to die?" is "The Don River"

You speak better Chinese than French

The word "cabbagetown" doesn't strike you as particularily amusing

Castle Frank subway station remains one of the great mysteries of the universe for you.

You know what the bathrooms in the First Canadian Place are REALLY for

You don't know where Fort York is, but have a vague recollection of being there in a past life

You know the Demic's song "I Wanna Go To New York City" was intended as sarcasm, not a weekend getaway suggestion

You know where to find Dim Sum, Sushi, Curry, Pad Thai and a dildo at 3 am on a weeknight

For the last time, it's pronounced 'TRONNA'!

You consider eye contact a sign of hostility and an invasion of your privacy.

It takes you half an hour to get to work by TTC and you are the envy of all your friends.

You mourned the death of the Spadina Bus.

You know someone who went to high school with at least one member of The Barenaked Ladies or RUSH

You laugh heartily at people who refer to highway four hundred and one.

You've taken the vomit comit.

You can manuver your bike across Queen st. without getting caught in the streetcar tracks.

You know the difference between souvlaki, moussaka and spanakoptia.

You can name at least three locations of The Beer Store that are open till 11 PM.

You have NEVER been to the Hard Rock Cafe

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Toronto.

Get Your Own "You Know You're From" Meme Here

More cool things for your blog at
Blogthings

You Know You're From Ontario......

2005-05-25T12:21:00.000-04:00

You Know You're From Ontario When...

"Vacation" means going to Barrie for the weekend.

You know several people who have hit deer more than once.

You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.

You use a down comforter in the summer.

You think of the major food groups as deer meat, fish, and berries.

There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at the Canadian Tire store at any given time.

Your provincial capital calls in the army to help clean up after a snow storm.

Your $400,000 Toronto home is actually a dump

You, and you, alone decide who will win the federal election

You're in the only province with hard-core American-style crime

MuchMusic's Speaker's Corner - rant and rave on national TV for a dollar

Baseball fans park on your front lawn and pee on the side of your house

You know there's no such thing as an Ontario Seperatist

Your grandparents sold booze to the States during Prohibition

Lots of tourists come to Toronto because they mistakenly believe it's a cool city

Have a new/better hint if someone is from this province? Send it in at the bottom of this page.

You have enough French vocabulary to get by some of the day in Ottawa without them thinking that you're a completly incapable American.

You find -40C a little chilly.

You voted Liberal in the last election.

You understand the Labatt's Blue commercials.

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Ontario.

Get Your Own "You Know You're From" Meme Here

More cool things for your blog at
Blogthings

Tag....Here we GO !!!!

2005-05-24T08:44:00.000-04:00

So, I go vist my good friend April's blog, Only to find that she has started a game of....

TAG

As I'm a good sport, I'll play along......

And remember....NO TAG BACKS.......

Dale - and YES Dale...I will take the tag from YOUR site tonight...hehehehe

Sha - She has the coolest header on her site.....

Jennefer - my little sister...hehehe

Gemmak - the blog template setup queen!!!!! heheheh

Lets have some fun.....

Notice Anything????

2005-05-19T10:15:00.000-04:00

Ok...OK.....

So I was bored last night.....after being in front of my laptop for over 10 hours.....

I got the BRIGHT (stupid) idea to YET AGAIN change my template...

R O T F L O L

This will be a work in PROGRESS......

If only I can figure out why my sidebar titles are not in the funky font and underline....hmmmmm

Perhaps later today at WORK.....lololol....NOT....no time today...

Oh!!!! Have I mentioned the NEW play I working on???? WHAT??? I HAVEN'T????

More to follow.......

YEAH.....YEAH....What a TEASE.....

THAT'S ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tag....I've been BOOK TAGGED

2005-05-16T15:08:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Repochyk......I've been TAGGED......

So....here you go.....I will start it know....and complete it tonight when I get home....

BOOK TAG

1. Total Number of Books I've Owned: is that own CURRENTLY or over the years in TOTAL....Currently - Probably 300 plus-Deb and I have just packed them...OK DEB just packed them.

2. Last Book I Bought: SAHARH by Clive Cussler

3. Last Book I Read: Currently reading SAHARA by Clive Cussler

4. Five (5) Books that I have read and REALLY enjoyed:

The Bible-I think everyone at sometime in their life should take the time to read the Bible - or whatever book your faith treats as it's Bible.....Was that politically correct enough?
Ice Station by Mattew J. Reilly - I read this book a couple of years ago and could not put it down. This would be an AWESOME movie.
Book 3
Book 4
Book 5

Ok-I think that I'm supposed to pic 5 people to do this;

The Next Birthday to Happen....

2005-05-16T13:59:00.000-04:00

Ok....Ok....

So who's next in the birthday game of tag.......

It's Jenn....My sister Jenn....June 13th....

(I GOOFED on Jenn's Birthdate....it's the 13th....My finger hit the WRONG key.....That's my story and I sticking to it....)

Then it's ME on the 15th!!!!!!!!!

The countdown is on.....lololol

Happy Birthday Deb!!!!!

2005-05-15T08:19:00.000-04:00

What a nice way to wake up this morning.....in your arms....and you in mine....

Happy Birthday my Sweetheart.....

and THIS is what your Birthday means today....

Your Birthdate: May 15

With a birthday on the 15th of any month, you are apt to have really strong attachments to home, family and domestic scene.

The 1 and 5 equaling 6, provide the sort of energy that makes you an excellent parent or teacher.

You are very responsible and capable.

This is an attractive and an attracting influence.

You like harmony in your environment and strive to maintain it.

You tend to learn by observation rather than study and research.

You may like to cook, but you probably don't follow recipes.

This number shows artistic leanings and would certainly support an talents that may be otherwise in your makeup.

You're a very generous and giving person, but perhaps a bit stubborn in ways.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

My Blog SUCKS

2005-05-13T23:02:00.000-04:00

I have to call in the BIG GUNS

GEMMAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

May 15th...My Sweetheart's Birthday

2005-05-13T22:51:00.000-04:00

So Sunday is Deb's Birthday.....See the countdown counter at the right....

This Is How LITTLE of the World I have Seen

2005-05-12T13:25:00.000-04:00

Man....I suck....lol

create your own visited country map

And THIS is Where I Have Been in the US

2005-05-12T13:23:00.000-04:00

create your own personalized map of the USA

How much of CANADA have I Visited???

2005-05-12T13:14:00.000-04:00

create your own personalized map of Canada

May 12th....If THIS is YOUR birthday....Happy Birthday!!!!

2005-05-12T09:10:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to send a silly little 'Happy Birthday'

Your Birthdate: May 12

Being born on the 12th day of the month (3 energy) is likely to add a good bit of vitality to your life.

The energy of 3 allows you bounce back rapidly from setbacks, physical or mental.

There is a restlessness in your nature, but you seem to be able to portray an easygoing, sometimes "couldn't care less" attitude.

You have a natural ability to express yourself in public, and you always make a very good impression.

Good with words, you excel in writing, speaking, and possibly singing.

You are energetic and always a good conversationalist.

You have a keen imagination, but you tend to scatter your energies and become involved with too may superficial matters.

Your mind is practical and rational despite this tendency to jump about.

You are affectionate and loving - but very sensitive.

You are subject to rapid ups and downs.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

What Does Your Birthdate Mean??

2005-05-10T17:13:00.000-04:00

This is kidda cute and fun. I got this from a fellow bogger; Life's Laundry

Enjoy!!

Your Birthdate: June 15

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!

2005-05-05T16:25:00.000-04:00

Today is my baby's birthday.

Ok, so she's not a 'baby' any more, she is now a young woman....an adult....

Yes, my little girl turns 18 today......

I LOVE and MISS her very, very, very, very much.....and I hop she knows this....

So....HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY PUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Daddy

The World is a Changing......

2005-04-24T16:57:00.000-04:00

Just thought I would drop a quick post to the blog.......

With ALL the changes happening....I thought I would give the site a spring cleaning as well.....

At the same time I'm flirting with learning HTML.....not just cutting and pasting pieces from here and there, but actually understanding what I'm doing.....

So I will start with some small changes, but even just changing my TEMPLATE takes a fair amount of time, as I ahve added a crap load of extras into my sidebar section....

Now if only I can get my spacing and underlines and all straightened out.....

Oh Well.....Back to the Geek Room I go.....

So...What Monty Python Character Are You??

2005-04-18T15:57:00.000-04:00

You are the Minister of Silly Walks

What Monty Python Sketch Character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

So...What Do You Speak???

2005-04-18T15:45:00.000-04:00

Your Linguistic Profile:

55% General American English

20% Yankee

15% Upper Midwestern

5% Dixie

5% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

It Offical When..........

2005-04-18T14:19:00.000-04:00

You know how there are those sayings like.....

If you...........You might be a redneck....

Well...along that same line.....

You all know how Deb and I are planning to move in together.....Well.....I HAVE been living there for about 3 weeks now.....

HOWEVER, this past weekend brought a NEW TURN...

So here it is.......

You know it's OFFICIAL when 'You wake in your OWN bed, but your bed is now in THEIR (OUR) bedroom.....

rotflol.....

or....You are watching YOUR TV sitting on THEIR couch.

I have to admit it......I LOVE BEING 'OFFICAL' about THINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE YA BABE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

April Shout Out

2005-04-11T14:32:00.000-04:00

This is a SHOUT OUT to APRIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HEY APRIL!!!!

Now is this to the month or the person.....or BOTH???

So Like What's NEW????

2005-04-11T14:22:00.000-04:00

Ok, I have been amiss.....

Amiss you say, well not 'a miss', as I am a 'mr'....a male....but amiss in not posting.....

Well.....

Friday was the 2 month aniversary for Deb and I 'officially' going out..... I say officially going out because we were kinda 'seeing' each other for about a month...but we weren't really 'committed' to each other....

I keep asking myself, 'Has it really ONLY been TWO MONTHS?' It feels like more then two YEARS.....

Why years???? Because Deb and I are so much in love and in sync......We know more about each other, and what we are feeling and thinking then most married couples of years and years....

Two months and counting till we join house-holds.....we can hardly wait.....to share in EVERYTHING.......

Deb........I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Easter 2005

2005-03-27T22:26:00.000-05:00

I have started to post a number of times over the last week, but I have not been happy with the posts I had started. There are a number of different things that I want to blog about, however I have not been sure how to write about these things.

Easter itself is a very emotional time for most people. I watched the 'Passion of the Christ' again on Saturday night. This is a very graphic movie protraying the last hours of Christ's life.

Easter is also a difficult time for me, as it was two years ago that Brenda asked me for a divorce. I realize now that I did not fight for my marriage of 19 years, I just agreed to the divorce and basically walked away.

My girls and I have a difficult journey in front of us. I hope I can earn their trust and respect back.

I also want to stand on the mountain top and tell everyone about Deb and I. I can honestly say that I have been in love, really in love four times. Once before I was married, Brenda who I was married to for 19 years, Christine, and now Deb.

Deb and I have decided to move forward in our relationship and move in together in either June or July.

I have also asked Deb to marry me. Why, because I want to be with Deb, I want to give Deb my total devotion and dedication of my love to her.

Easter, it truly is a time of rebirth.

2005-03-08T08:47:00.000-05:00

Andrew, Pam and I.

2005-03-08T08:45:00.000-05:00

The cast from Arsenic and Old Lace

2005-03-08T08:33:00.000-05:00

This is Andrew, Ginny and I.

2005-03-08T08:32:00.000-05:00

This is the set from Arsenic and Old Lace

That's All She Wrote

2005-03-08T08:25:00.000-05:00

Well..........

It's over, it's finished, it's done with........

The play 'Arsenic and Old Lace' that is. This was the last weekend for the play that I was in. We had our final performances this weekend; Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Saturday night, which was the FINAL performance, was AWESOME. There was a buzz in the air, you could tell it was the last night. The energy was higher that night, everyone was pumped for the final performance. We had a great audience that laughed in all the right places. Even Kathy and Alfred, two of the partners from work were able to make it to the final performance. Everyone was so on!!!

The perfect end to the whole production for me was that Deb was there for opening night and the closing night. Deb has actually seen the production 4 times now, what a trooper!! Earlier that day she presented me a gift to celebrate my acting debut, it was a picture frame containing the show's program and her tickets from opening night. There was also the picture she took of me in costume as well as my bio from the program. Kinda like a framed scrapbook of the play. It is awesome and so thoughtful!!!!

After the production, we had our cast and crew party and pot luck, which is always alot of fun. There was food galore and we really had a chance to strengthen our friendships with each other. We had our gift exchange, which is always a blast. We had picked names, and you had to buy a gag gift for that person, based on the character they played. It is always fun to see how creative some people get with their gift ideas.

I guess we stayed still about 1-1:30 when we all started to leave, we all had a really fun night.

Sunday started out really lazy and we had Eggs Benidict. I just LOVE Eggs Benidict!! We then headed to Dixie Value Mall and looked around for a while before we went and picked up Deb's kids from her daughter's. We ended the day by going to the Empress Gardens in Hamilton for Chineese buffet.

What a perfect end to a perfect weekend!! I don't think that it gets much better then this.......

And THAT is the 'View from the Penthouse'

Closing Weekend

2005-03-04T08:21:00.000-05:00

Well, its hard to believe but the run of 'Arnsic and Old Lace' is coming to an end. We are entering the last weekend of our three week run.

Last night's performance went very well. We had a great audience, who laughed like crazy, which always helps to pick you up a notch.

But I think a couple of us, I know I was, were feeling tired last night.

After the show last night, I just wanted to go home and crash. Did I want to drive down and see Deb? You bet, but I was just so tired and spent that I had to say those dreaded words....'Not tonight Hun, I have to go to the apartment and just crash.' I put a movie in the DVD player and I honestly think I only saw about 3 min of the movie. Next thing I knew it was 6:30 am.

I feel good, really good this morning. I'm looking forward to tonight's performance, and I looking forward to seeing Deb after the performance. To cuddle into each other's arms and fall asleep, together. Can it get any better then that????

I ask myself the question this morning....'Do I want the play to end this weekend?' Yes and No. I enjoy the friendships that I have built during the run; John, Pam, Steve, Cody, Jim, Andrew, Liz, Kay, Irma, Ginny, Tom, Vlad, Dave, Mike and the rest of the crew. I enjoy being at the theatre, but it does take a lot of your time. Time that I would like to spend with my girls and with Deb.

I was asked to do the lighting design and lighting for the next performance in May/June. And what do you think I said????

Of course, count me in!!!!

I can't wait till Saturday Night, the FINAL PERFORMANCE and the CAST PARTY!!!!!!

My Favorite Things....

2005-03-03T10:55:00.000-05:00

Ok, Time for yet ANOTHER silly quiz, one of those 'Get to Know Me Better' thingys...lolol

1. My favorite color: Light Blue.
2. My favorite TV show: The Amazing Race.
3. My favorite movie: Rocky Horror Picture Show.....'Its just a jump to the Left.....'
4. My favorite drink: Rum and Diet Coke.
5. My favorite cookie: Oatmeal Rasin - The SOFT ones.
6. My favorite candy bar: Mars Bar.
7. My favorite potato chip: Ms Vickies - Chilli Pepper - The BLUE bag.
8. My favorite hamburger: Harvey's Double Cheese - Only available in Canada - Sorry.
9. My favorite vehicle: My Suzuki - XL7.
10. My favorite author: Cilve Cussler.
11. My favorite song: Which genre? What day is it??? Today - Hard Road.
12. My favorite singing group: Again, what genre and what day is it??? - Today - Sam Roberts.
13. My favorite food: Mexican.
14. My favorite pet: Dog.
15. My favorite musical: "Mama Mia".
16. My favorite male movie star: Harrison Ford.
17. My favorite female movie star: Angelin Jolie.
18. My favorite male TV star: David James Elliott.
19. My favorite female TV star: Catherine Bell.
20. My favorite clothes: Jeans, Golf Type Shirt.
21. My favorite computer: Dell.
22. My favorite internet service: Rogers Cable.
23. My favorite kiss: Any kiss with Deb.
24. My favorite web site: www.debsnail999.blogspot.com and http://www.repochyk.blogspot.com/
25. My favorite religion: Christianity.
26. My favorite religious flavor: Alliance.
27. My favorite hobby: Camping, Canoeing.
28. My favorite wild land animal: Cougars.
29. My favorite wild sea animal: Dolphins.
30. My favorite political party: Conservative.
31. My favorite Congressman: Ok, we have MPs in Canada - Shelia Copps.
32. My favorite president: Only Prime Ministers in Canada - Trudeau.
33. My favorite national park: Algonquin Provincial Park.
34. My favorite national monument: Do we have these in Canada....lolol.
35. My favorite vacation spot: Anywhere Canoeing.
36. My favorite exercise: Walking or swimming.
37. My favorite sleeping position: With Deb in my arms.
38. My favorite time of day: Very early morning....wink...wink.
39. My favorite sexual position: mmmmmm.......If I told you I would have to KILL you....lol
40. My favorite pickup line: Hi!
41. My favorite charity: I don't have one.
42. My favorite blogger: Deb and April
43. My favorite newspaper: The Toronto Star.
44. My favorite cartoon: Dilbert.
45. My favorite superhero: Mighty Mouse. "Here I come to save the day!"
46. My favorite person: I really have THREE...My Daughters Natasha and Cara...Deb.
47. My favorite plant: Rose.
48. My favorite Star Fleet Captain: Jean Luke.
49. My favorite blond(e): ok...ok...I will tell you.....April
50. My favorite saying:No Shit Sherlock

Here and Now

2005-02-24T14:01:00.000-05:00

How do I feel about 'Here and Now'?

Now for some of you, you will now this could be a very cryptic question and then again it may not be at all.....lolol

I am very very very much in love with my life , 'Here and Now' and everything that is in my life, 'Here and Now'.

I want to spend the rest of my life, 'Here and Now'.

OK, enough already......

Deb is my 'Here and Now'!!! We are together 'Here and Now'.

I have been through some hell in the past four months, and it has been Deb that was standing there, holding my hand as I climbed higher and higher.

Deb believes in me 100 percent, I believe in her, and we believe in each other. We have the most open communication between two people, that I have ever seen.

I have known Deb for almost two years, and we have become very, very close friends over that time. Now that friendship has evolved, turning into a deep and mutual love and respect for each other.

I look forward to coming home, to Deb, after work. And I look forward to the time when we will share that home together.

I love you Deb, 'Here and Now' and forever........

Officer O'Hara

2005-02-21T09:01:00.000-05:00

This is Officer O'Hara from the play 'Arsnic and Old Lace'. Deb took this picture for me after the performace on Saturday Night.

The Morning AFTER Opening Night

2005-02-18T08:25:00.000-05:00

WELL!!!!

Last night was Opening Night for our play 'Arsenic and Old Lace'. I got there rather early to make sure that all the last minute technical issues were resolved, even though I'm not on the technical side of this play, I'm acting, but I have been helping out.

Just when you think everything is going to be OK, we lose one of the lights for the celler. This light is very important to a number of scenes, so we starting running like crazy to find out what the problem is. We changed the blub, we checked the leads running to the light. We find out that there is a lose wire INSIDE the light itself, and it will have to be re-wired today.

Deb and her Mom drove up from Grimsby to watch the opening night, that was so amazing that they would do that. Its about and hour and 15 min trip.

So, the play starts.....I don't come on till about midway through the second act, so I have about an hour wait.....

We are pacing back stage, running lines with each other, making sure we look just right.

Then I get my cue.....2 pages.....

I take my place by the front door, and I hear my cue.....I ring the door bell, the door opens and in walks Officer O'Hara, 'Hello Miss Abbey'.

Miss Abbey responds, then O'Hara starts again 'I saw your lights on and I thought........'

It was amazing!!!! Every line was there!!!! No hesitation!!!!!

Remember this is from the guy who as a teenager stuttered so badly that I could not talk in front of 1 or 2 people.....

Thoses days are long behind me.......

I had soo much fun with my part last night. I'm REALLY looking forward to the run of this play...

And Deb, THANK YOU !!! To you and your Mom for making my opening night so special!!!!

Larry

Opening Night

2005-02-17T16:19:00.000-05:00

Well here it is!!!!!

OPENING NIGHT!!!!

I didn't think we would make it, but we are here. The set looks AWESOME. The lighting setup was tweaked last night. The sound effects, which my sister Jenn is running, is ready to roll.

The actors are all ready......and I am ready!!!!!!

Lets go break a leg!!!!!

I'll post in the morning!!!!!

Footprints

2005-02-16T21:53:00.000-05:00

I have started my journey across the snow covered meadow with my friend. No, this is not just my friend, but my partner, the person I choose to take this new journey with.

The snow does not make the journey any more difficult, but rather just makes it easy to see where we have been.

Have you every noticed that when two people walk side by side in the snow, there are the two sets of footprints, but the strides are different. People stride differently, its a fact of life.

HOWEVER, when I look back into the snow, I see the two sets of footprints, but they are perfect sync, side by side, step by step, together as one.

Two people in perfect harmony.

We stop, look into each others eyes and we embrace. I'm am so gald you are on this journey with me.

I Love You.

My Mountain Top

2005-02-15T11:57:00.000-05:00

Some parts of one's journey are better not shared with others, but then other parts of a journey are meant to be shared and should be shared with those you call your friends.

Two weeks ago, I spoke of being on a journey that had taken me into a valley. Valleys can be said to be a number of different things. A valley can be beautiful, or it could be rather dismal.

My valley was a beautiful journey, however the climb out was rather difficult at times.

Today, I stand at the top of the mountain, and stretching out in front of me is a vast plateau covered in virgin snow. There are a number of paths set in front of me, each covered with light snow. So I can see the 'outline' of the path, but not the path itself. Again, kinda like life.... We sometimes can see certain avenues that we can travel, but we can never know exactly what will be in store for us.

So as I reach the plateau, a hand is waiting to take my hand into theirs and stand by my side. I have had a number of hands help me climb this mountain. At times I thought I would never leave my valley, but I knew it was now time for me to leave this valley.

I now stand hand in hand with my friend, a friend that has been there every step of the way.

I look at each of the different paths before me, I examine each one, then I take my first step down one of the paths, into the fresh virgin snow. I then noticed that my friend is still holding my hand. We are walking this new path together.

We stop often, looking around to see where this path is leading. We may not be able to see all the curves in the path, but we do know that this is OUR PATH, and we are walking it together, step by step. Not running headstrong down the path, but rather walking slowing together. Stopping to enjoy the views at every chance we get.

Where will this path lead in a month, two months, six months??? Don't know...But I do know that right know, I'm enjoying this new journey and I will take my time to fully explore the path that lies at my feet....

Perhaps, we can stop to make 'Snow Angels' along the way to mark our passage...

Fresh Snow

2005-02-10T09:25:00.000-05:00

It's been lightly snowing in the GTA for about a day now, its started yesterday and it's been off and on all night, and its still lighting snowing in Brampton this morning. It really does look very pretty out, OK, the roads kinda suck.

When I was driving in this morning, I noticed all the bare trees and I recalled how I always think about how bare they look in the winter ..... stripped of all their leaves ..... Open for everyone to see EVERY detail that would normally be sheltered from view by the leaves.

Its kinda like how we are with our lives ..... We often hide everything from the people around us. At times we may loose our 'leaves' and let someone see those details.

What really struck me this morning was how beautiful the bare trees looked with the light covering of fresh snow. Still exposed, but yet just showing enough to let the inner beauty still show through. Again, just like people, some people are the most beautiful will they share their inner thoughts, perhaps not every single thought, but sharing is one of the most beautiful things of a relationship.

The real irontic thing of this post is that the song 'EVERYTHING' by Alanis Morissette JUST finished playing on KoolFM.....OMG.....

That's the 'View from the Penthouse' this morning.......

Have a GREAT day everyone!!!! I know I will!!!!!!

Arsenic and Old Lace Update

2005-02-09T10:07:00.000-05:00

Well......

Opening night is now just a week tomorrow (Feb 17th) away.....

The set is ALMOST complete, there is a crew going in tonight to do some work; painting and finishing trim. I won't be able to be there tonight, as I had already told my Dad and Diane that I would come to their house for dinner.

Rehearsal last night was really good......Yes, we got side tracked.....Changing the blocking as we go...lolol....

Then came my entrance.....

'Hello Miss Abby'..............................

I'm having soooo much fun with this part.....the wanabe playwrite.... hehehehe

I HAVE NOW BECOME Officer O'Hara!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So that's the QUICK update.......if you're local......I'd LOVE for you to see the play.....17, 18, 19 for 3 weeks

A Day to Remember

2005-02-09T07:30:00.000-05:00

I actually think I will always remember this whole past weekend. I rediscovered my intense fondness for a very chilled Chardonnay.

This post has taken me two days to write. I want to write so many things in this post, but I have decided to keep it very short, but I feel I must post something.

I talked with a friend the other night for almost 4 hours, we talk about so many things, I have never had such a conversation with such honesty, we talked and we talked, we laughed and yes, cried together. That night when I got home, I replayed our conversation over and over in my mind.....remembering every word...every detail ...I did not sleep that night at all.....

I am so gratefull for my friend to take the time that night and talk with me. I will always remember that day.....and every word we exchanged.

And when I said 'I will always be your friend.', NOTHING was changed.

I will ALWAYS be your friend.

The LAST Survey

2005-02-07T16:30:00.000-05:00

This'll be fun too! "The Last" Survey

Ok, so I stole this from another blogsite I was reading at lunch today. And I do believe that this person also admitted to stealing it from another site she visits.

According to Trixe this is what's called a "meme," which means an idea lifted from one blogger and scattered among others for nearly simultaneous discussions.

My answers are included. Feel free to lift and post on your own blog with your own answers.

The "Last" Survey

Last Cigarette: My last cigarette was over 20 years ago. However, I had a cigar over the weekend with a drink.....Now I remembered why I quit smoking. Even though cigars are different, the little then ones dripped in rum or something....NOT those BIG, SMELLY ones....lolololol

Last Alcoholic Drink: I had a couple glasses of a Jackson-Triggs Shiraz last night.

Last Car Ride:
With me driving? This morning coming to work.
With me as passenger? Friday night, going grocery shopping with a friend.

Last Kiss: Um, what TYPE of kiss????? lolol Last night.

Last Good Cry: This morning about 2 am this morning.

Last Library Book: What's a LIBRARY BOOK???.

Last Book Purchased: "Trojan Odyssey" by Clive Cussler.

Last Book Read: "Depection Point" by Dan Brown.

Last Movie Viewed in a Theater: Racing Stripe, I took my nephew to see it. Cute movie.

Last Movie Rented: hmmmm...."Friday Night Lights".

Last Profanity Uttered: Probably "****".

Last Beverage Drank: Tim Horton's XL black coffee.

Last Food Consumed: Roast Beef, mashed potatoes, steamed carrots and salad. It was soooo good!!!

Last Phone Call: About 1pm, work related phone call.....Boring!!!

Last Time Showered: This morning.

Last Shoes Worn: My black slip ones from "Aldo".

Last CD Played: "Room Service" by Bryan Adams.

Last Item Bought: (Other than groceries) A couple bottles wine; Jackson-Triggs Shariz.

Last Download: "Hard Road" by Sam Roberts.

Last Annoyance: Not knowing how to answer THIS question!!!!

Last Thing Written: This SURVEY!!

Last Key Used: My car key.

Last Words Spoken: "I'll work on that RFP this afternoon"

Last Sleep: 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. today.

Last Ice Cream Eaten: I don't remember.

Last Webpage Visited: Trixie's http://trixieshome.blogspot.com/ That's where I got this!!

A Silly Little Quiz

2005-02-07T10:24:00.000-05:00

1. What time did you get up this morning?

hmmmm...which time.....3:25am

2. Diamonds or pearls?

as a guy....Diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

Racing Stripes

3b. What is your favorite all time movie?

Few Good Men

4. What is your favorite TV show?

Amazing Race

5. What did you have for breakfast?

Tim Horton's XL Black Coffee

6. What is your middle name?

Manning

7. What is your favorite cuisine?

Indian

8. What foods do you dislike?

is there any????

9. What is your favorite chip flavor?

Ms. Vickie's....Sweet Pepper....the one in the blue bag...lolol

9b. What is your favorite alcoholic beverage?

Red Wine - Back Opal Shiraz or a WELL chilled Chardonnay

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?

Bryan Adams - Room Service

10b. What is your most favorite CD ever?

The CD I made of the Top 30 Songs from 2004 from Kool-FM

11. What kind of car do you drive?

Suzuki - XL7

11b. What kind of car do you wish you could drive?

No idea

12.What is your favourite sandwich?

Fried egg on an English muffin

13. What characteristics do you despise?

not being honest with ones self and other people

13b. What characteristics do you admire in others?

honesty and compassion

14. Favorite item of clothing?

my 'hard rock cafe' pullover...Kinda like a sweat shirt with a collar and zipper.....very warm

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?

Australia

15b. Where is your most favorite place that you have been?

The Dominic Republic

16. What color is your bathroom?

It has a colour???? hmmmm.....Apartment beige

17. Favorite brand of clothing?

What's a brand???

18. Where would you retire to?

Retire???? To my car???? lololol

18b. What is your ultimate job?

Doing nothing and getting apid

19. Favorite time of day?

Late at night

20. What was your most memorable birthday?

My 40th, my mother arranged a surprise birthday party for my when I was camping at Killbear Prov Park. All the friends we camped with had this party at a friends cottage that is not far from Killbear, on an island.....its was an awesome day...

21. Where were you born?

Toronto, Ontario

22. Favorite sport to watch?

Swimming

23. Who do you least expect to send this back to you?

hmmm...... I don't know

24. Who do you expect to be the first to send this back to you?

Deb

Now, if you want....you can POST YOUR answers as a comment, if you don't have a blog......or email them to me if you don't want anyone to see them..

lwalsh59@hotmail.com

Coffee

2005-02-06T20:36:00.000-05:00

Ok...So like I didn't get my ACT together for coffee....

Should I try again???

Coffee and Super Bowl Sunday

2005-02-06T07:49:00.000-05:00

Well.......

I did get my act together last night and went and I had a coffee, then I went out and played darts at my dad's, that was fun!!! And yes, I won two games to zero!!!!! I ROCK!!!! hehehe

Today I have a full play rehearsal where we are going to run the play from start to end, and do what is called 'PLAY POLISHING'.

The play, 'Arsenic and Old Lace' is really starting to come together. We finished the major set construction yesterday and all that is left now is the painting and final trim. The next major task for the play is the lighting design. Mike B and I are working on that together and Jenn my sister will be the Lighter Operator for the run of the play....

I know this will be a LONG day, and I know that by the end of the day I will want another coffee....

Perhaps I will get my ACT in gear again for coffee at 8......

Decisions...Decisions...

2005-02-05T07:53:00.000-05:00

Well.....

I have come to the conclusion that I REALLY like RED wine...lolol

The are a couple reds that I enjoy and I tend to lean towards the Shiraz's. Trius, the Yellow Tail Shiraz, a Spanish one, translated that means "Blood of the Bull", but my current all time favorite red is Black Opal Shiraz from Australia.

However I STILL enjoy a good Chardonnay....

Now for today's decision...I feel like seeing a movie at the Galaxy TONIGHT.... and my choices are

ARE WE THERE YET? 7:05 9:20
BOOGEYMAN 7:20 10:05
COACH CARTER 6:40 9:40
HIDE AND SEEK 7:00 10:00
HOTEL RWANDA 6:45 9:45
IN GOOD COMPANY 6:50 9:50
MEET THE FOCKERS 6:35 9:35
MILLION DOLLAR BABY 6:30 9:30
SIDEWAYS 6:55 9:55
THE WEDDING DATE 7:10 9:25

So what should it be??????

If you have a suggestion....text message me at lwalsh59@hotmail.com

Thx

WHAT???? TWO Posts in One Day!!!!

2005-02-01T22:29:00.000-05:00

You ever have one of those days??

Not those days, but THOSE DAYS..........

The type of day where you JUST CAN'T STOP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, that is the day I've just have had!!!!!!!!

From my earlier post today I said I was starting to come out of the valley......well you know what?? I haven't stopped climbing all day.

Tonight, when I arrived at rehearsal I had a smile from ear to ear, and everyone said "Larry, you look different tonight". I haven't felt like this for a long time, today I was HAPPY.

I am happy because because I have FINALLY realized that I CAN DO THIS!!!!!

Tonight, I NAILED my part as Officer O'Hara, I AM OFFICER O'HARA!!!!!!!!

It felt so right, I had FUN with it, and I'm still smiling.

I just want to stand here, at the top of my mountain, because believe me IT WAS a long and tough climb, and SHOUT AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'M BAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Lighter Side of Life.....

2005-02-01T08:46:00.000-05:00

OK, I admit it!!!!!!!

Lately I've been rather down and was writing almost only about being down. But I think, NO, I KNOW, that I'm coming out of that valley, with the help of some VERY SPECIAL and DEAR FRIENDS and FAMILY.

I could name you all here, but I KNOW you KNOW who you are......I just want to thank each of you for standing there with me, and helping me see that there is light and life at the end of the day.

There is ALWAYS a TOMORROW, and then TODAY becomes YESTERDAY. Yes, it is our YESTERDAYS that our memories are made of, but our dreams and hopes are built on our TOMORROWS.......

I am now starting to look forward to my TOMORROWS!!!

Well......Anyway......What ELSE is happening from the Penthouse.

Some of you may know that for the past year and half, I have been involved with the Caledon Townhall Players, a community based theatre group in Caledon, Ontario. I have been doing the technical 'stuff', lighting, sound, set construction and I was the Stage Manager for two productions.

Well, we are currently doing the play 'Arsenic and Old Lace' and for this play I will be putting on my acting hat. YEAP!!!! Larry will be acting....I AM SOOOO NERVOUS!!!!!

I'm playing the part of Officer O'Hara, a Brooklyn Cop who is a wannabe playwrite. We have been rehearsing since mid-December, and at one point we thought the play may be cancelled or postponed because we lost our director. But as they say, 'The show must go on!!' So we have a new director, thanks Pam, and we are still on track.

The play runs February 17, 18, 19 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) for three weeks. The Website for the Caledon Townplayers is HERE for more information about the play or tickets.

I'm getting really exited about the play. The set is really coming together, which I have also been helping to build. I will be helping with the lighting design for the play which will be fun, as there are a number of lighting and mood changes in the play, that will be a challenge to create using the theatre's limited lights.

And the play itself is REALLY starting to come together. If you would have asked me a week ago.....I would have said we are so far way from being ready. But Pam has believed in us and after Sunday's rehearsal, I can feel it coming together. Tonight, will be the first rehearsal when we do of the complete play, beginning to end.

I'm so busy with the play as rehearsals are Tuesday and Thursday nights, and then Sunday afternoons. Saturdays have been taken up with set construction, leaving me little time for other things, which I guess has been a good thing for the past month.

This week is also the annual HRPAO Conference and Trade Show in Toronto. This show is for the Human Resource Professionals of Ontario, and our company, HRWARE will be there in the exhibit hall. So if you are in Toronto on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, you should drop on down to the Sheraton Centre and stop by the booth!!!

Oh well....Gotta run....Time to drive downtown and set up the booth for the show.......

Well....Thanks for dropping by.....Hope you can make the trade show, or even the play!!!!!

I guess that's for my 'LOCAL' friends....hehehehheh

So that's the 'View From the Penthouse', pretty nice view this week, if you ask me.....

Baring Ones Soul

2005-01-28T14:07:00.000-05:00

This post started as a return comment to "Anonymous". I felt it was important for me to say the following:

I need my friends to know that I am starting to move forward and I understand what everyone has been saying to me for the past almost 2 years, and more importantly the last 3 months.

Anonymous said:

"Hey Lar;

Nice words....too bad you didn't feel this way about your marriage breaking down oh so many years before and too afraid to communicate your feelings!!!!"

Let's just say.....It IS too bad I didn't feel this way during my marriage. I ignored all the signs, and I have only recently now admitted this to my ex-wife. I think it was one of the hardest things for me to admit. That I didn't fight back for my marriage of nineteen years. That I didn't fight back for the love of my wife, who was always there for me, and I didn't fight back for the love and respect of my two girls, now 15 and 17.

How does that make me feel now????? If you KNOW what was happened, then you know how I NOW feel about this. I fought back harder for the love of my girlfriend of 14 months then I did for my marriage of 19 years.

Now both are over.....I am ONLY NOW starting to understand what I have done, or not done, in both of these relationships.

Do I wish I could go back and change what happened in my marriage? YES!! But I understand that if can NEVER be that way again.

Do I wish I could change the way my relationship ended with my girlfriend? YES!! It really hurts; no it's much deeper than hurt, that it ended the way it did. It NEVER had to end that way!!!

So YES, they are 'Nice Words'.... But it has taken some MAJOR soul searching and time alone, and believe me I'm not done yet, to be able to admit what I'm saying here today.

I was NEVER good at communicating my feelings, I ALWAYS bottled then up.

Brenda.....I'm sorry we didn't communicate the way we should have as husband and wife, as partners.

Cara and Natasha.....I'm sorry for not being there as a Dad when you needed me most. I will be there now. Now is not too late to be the Dad I can be. The Dad you both need.

And to 'C', I'm sorry it had to end the way it did.

That's it.....'The View From the Penthouse'

Relationships

2005-01-25T14:43:00.000-05:00

Today, I was visiting a fellow bloggers site and they posted the following blog about RELATIONSHIPS. I found that I really, really related to this post today. I have printed, and posted it beside my monitor here at work and have read it over and over today.

I then posted back to Jen, and asked if I may put her post on my site, and of course credit it back to her. She said she would be honored, so here it it.

Here is the link to Jen's Site

It hurts to realize when a relationship is changing, when you are on the down curve of what once was an incredible emotional high.

I believe all good relationships happen for a reason and they take the course they need to take if we allow them. It’s listening to what the relationship is trying to be and allowing it to go where it will. It’s knowing that every one of them is distinctive, every relationship is designed to fill its own purpose. They don’t all have to be forced onto this path of what society says it should be, they don’t have to be on a trajectory to “forever.” They can be just what they are. You can love, yes love, and love for what it is.

People enter your life at the right time. Often, they can be just what you were looking for whether you even realized what you were looking for or not. You both fulfill a need within the other with passion and understanding. And what happens when the need is fulfilled? When you have done the growing that you needed to do to become the person you presently are?

With twisted tension we grow. Apart. We change shape, each the other and the relationship itself changes. We no longer fit like we once did. We claw at each other trying to get what the other doesn’t have to give.

You realize you have been chewed up in the machinations of the other’s raw emotions and flaws.

And you realize that you are moving apart like a train that is trundling along when the tracks switch and take it another direction instead of straight ahead. That’s when you readjust your course. It’s not like some terrible emotional tragedy. You simply talk it out and redefine your boundaries and rebuild your walls.

Relief. You can breathe out again, the monster off your chest.

What you are handed instead is a friend. A very good one.

I cannot give what I do not have,
and I cannot take what I do not have.
I can't take it.
Too many things held precious,
too many things held dear;
that's what I hate,
that's what I fear.
Too much to ask for
may leave me feeling lonely.
Too little leaves me nothing, nothing.
It's over, it's over, it's over
it's over, it's over.

[And then you realize perhaps it's not so easy and your face
crumples and your body shakes with dry heaves when you
curl up to sleep.]

(posted by Jen on Jan 24, 2005 @ 10:22 PM)

Thank you Jen!!! Those words are so powerfull!!!!

Larry

Is there Something To This???

2005-01-24T13:54:00.000-05:00

I came across this in the Toronto Star today and thought it was kinda funny for today......

Welcome to Jan. 24, the most depressing day of the year, according to a British psychologist.
Cliff Arnall, a specialist in seasonal disorders at the University of Cardiff, Wales, has devised a mathematical formula that pinpoints today as our lowest point.

The calculation for this day of misery reads: [W +(D-d)] x TQ divided by M x NA.

W is the weather, D is debt minus the money (d) you earned in January. T is the time since Christmas and Q, the time since you lapsed back into your bad habits. Divide that by M — your low motivational level — and NA, the need to take action.

So it all adds up to the fact that it's a month since Christmas, the bills have rolled in without the money to pay for them, the weather is dark and cold and by now, you've thrown away the nicotine patch, which adds a sense of failure to your lack of energy.

Well there you have it, PROOF that today is a crappy day......actually I thought Saturday the 22 nd was the crappy day......My math has ALWAYS been off a tad!!!!!!!!!

Ciao!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday

2005-01-22T16:11:00.000-05:00

Today is a very special friend's birthday. I know they won't see this or even know that I'm saying Happy Birthday, but never the less......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

BUDDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday Feast

2005-01-21T11:44:00.000-05:00

Appetizer - What is one quality you really admire about yourself? My loyality.

Soup - What kind of shampoo and conditioner do you use? You asuming that I have hair and use shampoo and conditioner. lol

Salad - Describe your favorite movie scene. You know, the one that just gets to you every time you watch it. hmmm....What day is it today??? This can change so easily based on my mood, but for ONE right NOW.....xxx rated hehehe

Main Course - If you were a veggie, which one would you be, and why? I would be cucumber....From the kids program Vegie Tails.....They is a 'Larry the Cucumber'!

Dessert - If you could take a weekend trip within 100 miles of your current residence, where would you like to go? I would go to the FallsView Casino in Niagara Falls.....and do the WHOLE PACKAGE......lololol

When it Rains.....

2005-01-19T21:50:00.000-05:00

You ever have one of those weeks????

You think you're FINALLY getting ahead of the game and then WHAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With all the STUFF that has happened over the last little while.....

I was getting gas on Monday night and I was behind this GMC SUV ready to pull out of the gas station onto Hurontario to go south, which is the ONLY way you can turn from this exit. Then without warning this JERK puts it into reverse and backs up right into my front end...
B A N G !!!!!!!!!! I had left about 1/2 car length between us and I was laying on the horn!!!

So we get out.....My bumper is all cracked to hell, I guess cause it was sooo cold on Monday night. He's an older guy, late 50's or so and he all sorry....."I didn't see you" he said, "I didn't look before I stated to back up" I was pissed.....

We exchange information, then I went and reported to the police....I FINALLY get ahold of the guy tonight, and because he has NO DAMAGE and it happen IN the gas station he is now denying it.

So Now I'm suck with the bill...... I went and had an estimate done today......$850.00.....

MAN!!!!!! WHAT ELSE CAN GO WRONG NOW????

I could REALLY use something NICE to happen for a change. I wish I could get hold of my old friend, we haven't talked in so long and I wonder how their doing.

Oh well.....that's it from the Penthouse. I hope it doesn't snow too much tonight....I have a demo in Guelph tomorrow afternoon.

Three Things

2005-01-17T16:25:00.000-05:00

This has been posted by lots of Blog Friends, but what the heck....lololol

3 Names You Go By:

Larry
Lar
Mr. Walsh (lololol)

3 Screen Names You Have:

lwalsh59 - MSN
lwalsh59 - Yahoo
Ranger905

3 Things You Like About Yourself:

The 40 pounds I have lost since Nov 1st
That I have 2 GREAT daughters
That I am FINALLY getting over IT

3 Things You Hate/Dislike About Yourself:

That it took me THIS LONG to get over IT
How weak I was
That I'm bad with money

3 Parts Of Your Heritage:

English
Canadian (New Brunswick)
and I think if you go back a bit......Pennsylvania Dutch lol

3 Things That Scare Me:

Not being with my two girls
Having a heart attack
Losing my self respect

3 Of Your Everyday Essentials:

Coffee
Blogging / Emails / MSN
Riding my Bike

3 Things You Are Wearing Right Now:

Black Dockers
Grey T-Shirt
Brown Short Sleeve Shirt

3 Of Your Favorite Bands/Artists (Subject To Change At Any Time):

Bryan Adams
DeFault
Big and Rich

3 Of Your Favorite Songs at Present:

All She Wrote - DeFault
Flying - Bryan Adams
Holy Water - Big and Rich

3 Things You Want To Try In The Next 12 Months:

Acting in a play - It opens on Feb 17th lol....does this count????
Go soloing in my canoe again
Track down a friend from 22 years ago and make amends

3 Things You Want In A Relationship (Love Is A Given):

Respect
Honesty
Hot Sex (Who wouldn't???? lol)

2 Truths And A Lie (No Particular Order To Keep You guessing):

I once weighed over 300 pounds
I am a romantic by heart
I want to move

3 Physical Things About a Love Interest That Appeal To Me:

Eyes
Smile
Their neck

3 Things You Just Can't Do:

Stop thinking about my two daughters
Pay bills on time
Not go online at least once during the day

3 Of Your Favorite Hobbies:

Blogging
Playing Pool
Playstation 2

3 Things You Want To Do Really Badly Right Now:

Give someone a piece of my mind
Have a glass or two (or three) of Black Opal
Go on a vacation with my daughters

3 Careers You're Considering:

Can't really say I am thinking of changing.....

3 Places You Want to Go On Vacation:

Dominic Republic
Mexico
UK

3 Kids Names (Either Boy or Girl):

Natasha
Cara
Christopher Jordon (CJ)

3 Things You Want To Do Before You Die:

Earn my daughter's respect again
Go to the UK
I'll think I'll keep this one to myself for know.......

3 People Who Have To Take This Quiz Now:

Jennefer
Andrew
Dale

I hope you all enjoy this little quiz......Maybe I should do the 51 or 101 things about me next!! lol

Larry

Music

2005-01-15T22:42:00.000-05:00

Music has always been something that I have enjoyed in my life. My tastes in music can change like the weather has done lately in Southern Ontario. It was 18 on Thursday and tonight's it is close to -10.....Go figure.

I enjoy all types of music; Rock, Country, Jazz, Gospel even some Metal.

I have also recently REALLY started to listen to the words of songs, lyrics are so very strong to me. One day I can listen to a song, and I will enjoy the song and that's about it. Yet another day I can hear the same song, the the emotions that are invoked can de so different.

Not long ago I herd the song 'Flying' by Bryan Adams for the first time, and I emotionally, completely lost it, and I just ball. That is such a beautifully written song; the part of the chorus that goes

Lets just make love - all night
Lets just hold on - so tight
Lets make it last - for life

Is so powerfully and moving. It's so touching.

I also herd another song just the other day called 'All She Wrote' by Default. This is another song with some very powerfully lyrics. I want to post the whole song, but I won't because of copy write laws, however a few lines are

Today was that day
It was that time
And that was all that she wrote for me
You fell away
I don't know why
And that was all that she wrote for me
Something's wrong with your mind
It won't think of me anymore
Was it all a waste of time

I want to acknowledge the artists that create these songs, that write the powerful words, the dramatic music that when combined together can invoke such powerful and at times overwhelming emotions.

Music, it can stir so many different emotions; Joy, Sadness, Happiness, Heartbreak.....

So as I sign off tonight, I'm listening to 'Everything' by Alanis Morissette, yet another song with amazing lyrics.

And that's the 'View From The Penthouse'

4 Simple Words

2005-01-14T16:39:00.000-05:00

Today, I Move On...........................

Warning!!!!!!!!

2005-01-13T22:00:00.000-05:00

I want to yell and scream today......

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

WHY YOU ASK??????

Because I WANT to, and because I CAN because this is MY BLOGSITE.......

You have arrived at this web address because your fingers typed a VERY particular pattern of keystrokes or you have been to my blogsite before, and you bookmarked the site because you WANTED to come back at some time.....It's not like you ACCIDENTALLY typed in this address.

So, lets admit it, you are here because you wanted to read what I'm posting, and I am very honoured that you would visit and read my site, and perhaps comment if you are so inclined.

HOWEVER......

If you don't want to read my site, why are you visiting MY blogsite.........

Thats the 'View From the Penthouse' during a storm.......(Its snowing out pretty good)

Thursday Sunrise - Jan 13th

2005-01-13T07:37:00.000-05:00

As I was watching the sunrise this morning...Ok....Maybe it was just getting brighter outside, as it is very overcast this morning....I was wondering.....

Why are some people so cruel, mean and even vindictive to other people. While some people are the truest and best friends a person can ever have?

I know sometimes there may be a reason for certain behaviors, but sometimes these can come completly out of left or right field without any warning but most times there is some type warning, but only if you ONLY LISTEN and FULLY UNDERSTAND the message. This is the COMMUNICATION part that is so important in any relationship.

But why must people act in a manner so cruel and vindictive??? I don't think they would like to be treated in that manner at all.

You can be with a person for 19 years, 1 month, or even 12 months and you may never really know that person, untill one day........

Today.......I have stopped, smelt the Roses and now I have kept on walking...

I can't wait to see the view from the Penthouse tomorrow, and the next day.......I forgot how interesting and different the views can be......

And that was a 'View from the Penthouse'

2005-01-10T12:27:00.000-05:00

Natasha and Cara at Dinner with Dad. This was a fun little night when the girls and I went to Swiss Chalet for dinner...

2005-01-10T09:40:00.000-05:00

Larry

A Statement

2005-01-10T08:59:00.000-05:00

Last week I posted a blog that I really didn't think would get read. But it was read and commented on. I then deleted that post, which I now wish I did not delete.

This is MY PERSONAL BLOGSITE. I will write things on my blog that I decide to write about. That is the nice things about Blogs. You CAN write about what you want and how you want, and if people don't want to read your comments, they can leave the site.....

So, If you are visiting my blog, Welcome and I hope you enjoy the 'View from the Penthouse'.

If you are here for some other reason, I would ask that you move on

Janaury 7th

2005-01-07T11:28:00.000-05:00

Its looks like my blog will have to take a new view....

My main focus will now be my two girls Natasha and Cara. I have to let them know that THEY are the MOST importmant thing in my life and not ANYONE else.......

I LOVE YOU GIRLS!!!!!

New Beginnings

2004-11-28T22:22:00.000-05:00

Today is Sunday, a day of new beginnings and energy.

Ken, my stepfather, passed away on Saturday, November 27 at 1am. Ken had been in a nursing home in New Brunswick for some time now.

There is a lot of anger towards Ken, but I am saddened by his death. I am sorry he died the way he did, alone in New Brunswick. We had basically left him there to die, at least I did.

I can't really remember the last time I talked to him. It must have been when Mom and Him were living in Cookstown....My that seems like such a long time ago now.

I wish I had a chance to say good-bye to you. I had put you behind me, when you were put into that Nursing Home.

You were my step-father, and you did bring me up during my teenage years. I have been thinking back to the times we shared and there were some fun times, but there were also some very deep pain. That pain will heal, I know that, but I still remember the pain.

I read Jennefer's letter to you http://jenneferdavis.blogspot.com/2004/11/to-my-dad.html and her letter has really helped me deal with my anger toward you.

Ken, I wish you Rest, Peace......Good Bye....

I'm Sorry

2004-11-19T08:34:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry today for a NUMBER of things....

I have been feeling so sorry for myself since breaking up with 'C', that is driving me crazy. There are so many raw emotions there, and I am having the HARDEST time dealing with them.

I understand in my head, EVERYTHING that 'C' says and I AGREE with her, but my STUPID heart can't follow through on a SIMPLE request to not contact her for a week.

I'm am so used to talking to her EVERY DAY, either on the phone, email or online chat....I WAS smothering her... You shouldn't have to talk to a person that many times in one day.... But we did.....

I starting ramble on.......

I also sorry to my blog friends, for not keeping up my Blog. I visit each one of your sites daily and enjoy each one of your sites and posts....

I will try to be better on my end.....Both in keeping my Blog up.....and with dealing with 'C'

Larry

Saturday

2004-11-13T10:52:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone.....

Just popping in for a quick visit this morning......

Well I have already cleaned the apartment this morning...I have gone down and done 4 loads of wash, folded AND put away!!!!

And now I'm getting ready to leave for the play, as we are doing two performances today.

I feel GREAT today..... It's a beautiful day!!!!!!!!

And I OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you all......

Larry

Tuesday...What a Evening

2004-11-10T15:19:00.000-05:00

What started off as such a nice day.....When I woke up, I felt good about the new day, and I rode the 'bike' for 10 mins this morning. I'm starting slowly and will build it back to to the 1/2 hour that I used to ride every morning. Heart Rate was in zone limitations, and I ENJOYED it.

I even dressed more business like then I have in quite some time, I used to ALWAYS wear dress pants and a dress shirt or a smart golf type shirt, but lately jeans, cargo pants and tee shirts, unless of course a client was coming it.

So I was having a very good day at work, being very productive and getting on with the things at hand......AND........I was seeing Cara, my youngest daughter tonight and we were going to the the new Vaughan Mills shopping center to wonder about. My x-wife called last night, and asked me if I was sure I sure that I was ok to be going to this mall as its SOOOO BIG!! And of course I said., "I'M FINE!!"

So we walk this mall, and it's HUGE!!!! We spent almost 2 hours just walking the circle of the mall and going into a couple of stores....the Outdoor Store is AWESOME and the BOWLING LANES....Way Cool....then we had something to eat. I that time I started to fell a bit weird...pain in my upper shoulders, but I thought it was from carrying my heavy leather jacket for some 2 hours....some pain down my right and then left arm....a little bit numbness in my hand, left and then right....

Each one of these things is not much, but they started to add up, and me being me....I don't listen well to my body!!!! We finish dinner and then we head home....

The first thing I noticed was I couldn't find my car....that is NOT like me. I ALWAYS know where I part my car.....so Cara yells back to me....Hey Daddy!! you passed it 3 rows ago !!!!

We get in the car and start the drive back to Brampton, and I start to get the odd pain in my temples....so I just turn the radio down a bit. I drop Cara off at home and head back to my apartment. My arms are starting to feel weird / numb again and I have this very weird head ache, and I NEVER get a head ache. So I fire a shot of Nitro....Note to self....DON'T take Nitro and Drive!!!!

So I get home and I went to the computer and sat down, noticing that a few friends where on-line....I sat there, not really there but I was there.... I took a couple more shots of the Nitro Spray.....Come On!!!! Kick in you stupid stuff!!!!!!!!

I don't know much much time passed, but then 'C' sent me a message, asking how I was. It was all I could do to read and understand the message. I knew I was in trouble and something wasn't right. I typed to 'C', but I was having a hard time concentrating on typing. She wanted me to call the ambulance, but I didn't want to go. I HATE the hospital...

'C' asks me to please go, and I agree to call 911. I call and then she calls my cell untill they arrive.

When they arrived, I couldn't remember how to open the door downstairs....

so to make a LONG story short, I was taken to the hospital when I was kept overnight and released at 5 am this morning with NO SHOES or COAT. I had to call a cab and get home by myself with NO SHOES and COAT..

I should have asked for a phone to call either Jenn or 'C' to tell then what was happening, say about midnite or so.....but I wasn't thinking last night.....I have never felt soo detached in my life....My body was there, and I had NO control of it. I felt so out of control last night.

Well, the tests didn't show anything last night, that's the good thing, and that's why I was sent home.....However.....something is amiss and we will have to find out what it is.

I will keep you all updated on what's going on.

and thanks to all the wonderful people that care about me. You ALL know who you are...

Larry

Step by Step

2004-11-09T01:51:00.000-05:00

I had planned to retire early tonight, rather then stay up later and play on the computer....I was all ready to call it a night at 11, I thought I would check email before crashing....

I'm feeling much, much better this week. I did ALOT of thinking over the weekend, and I was able to discuss some things with C and that was very important for me. I understand that we BOTH need time, and I will respect her request for some space.

I worked out this morning, I know it was only 5 mins on the bike, but its a start.

Step by Step, Day by Day things will get better, I'm NOT ALONE, yes I LIVE ALONE, but I'm NOT ALONE, and now that I understand that, I know I will be OK, and I don't have to be scared.

Tomorrow is Tuesday and I'm going out to the new Vaughn Mills with my youngest daughter in the evening....My oldest will not be able to go out with me this week....Perhaps next week the three of us can go out for dinner...

Well...Its now after 1 am, so I REALLY should sign-off and get some sleep....

Nite All........................

2004-11-08T06:48:00.000-05:00

This is from a couple of weeks ago, while I was driving to Guelph. I was amazed at the colours of this tree.

2004-11-08T00:36:00.000-05:00

Sunset from the Penthouse

The Changing View

2004-11-06T07:37:00.000-05:00

First, I would like to thank all my Blog Friends that have sent me posts of encouragement and support concerning my health and my relationship with C.

You really don't know how much those posts meant to me......Thank You all again!!!!

It's Saturday morning, and I fell asleep on the couch yet again!!! One of my very bad habits!!

You see last night was the second night of our play 'Caught In The Net', which went very well. You can read Dale's blog for an account from Opening Night, and Jennefer's blog about last night, our Second Night. But I was very tried when I got home.....I'm getting some small chest pains, that when I take a dose of Nitro, subside. So, I must carefully monitor these pains, and if they get worse off to the hospital I go.

Last night I talked to my two girls, and I told them about the change in my health and the change of the relationship with C. This was one of the first times that I could recount the story without crying. I could tell the girls were concerned about my heart, I love them soooo much.

When I got home, I logged into the computer to check email and read up on some blogs that I have been putting off, and I noticed that C had just logged in. I wanted so much to talk to her, ask her how she was, but I was going to honor her request for space. Well, much to my surprise C messages me, to ask how I am doing.....We chatted for a little while and she told me she fell down some stairs and thinks she might have broken her wrist. I wanted to run over there right away and comfort her.....Larry.....Step Away.......

I still have to go to her house and put my canoe under her deck and get my bike to bring back to the apartment. C has said I can keep my canoe and camping gear at her house, but this weekend is still to soon. I think I understand this.

I don't know if C is going to continue to read my Blogs, in a way I hope she does.

I enjoyed our chat last night, and I hope your wrist is not broken. I will always be your friend.

The sun is starting to come up and the View from the Penthouse is looking much brighter this morning.

A New Day

2004-11-04T09:23:00.000-05:00

Today is one of the hardest days of my life as I woke up....Not that I really slept well last night.

For those that have followed my limited blogs, you know that I have been involved in a relationship with a woman who I love with all my heart.

We have ended our relationship as "Boy Friend and Girl Friend" on Sunday. I have never felt so lost in all my life. Even when I divorced my wife after 19 years, I did not feel this loss.

I am writing this blog today to help me deal with this change in our relationship. I understand, after talking to her last night, that she needs time to understand what she needs in her life.

She asked me last night if I can still be her friend. I want to be her friend....Her best friend.....And perhaps on day in the future, if that's what the cards deal.....We can be back together...

I understand that she has to be the one that wants that.....So I will step back and be her friend.

Then I was at the annual cardio checkup yesterday and found I have a condition called Atrial Fibrillation. My doctor is very worried as they don't know how long I have been suffering from this, but I have been very sluggish and tried for about 1-2 months. I thought it was all the running with the play and everything, but nothing like this.

So this is a New Day

Day 1 of a new friendship and whatever that brings I will accept, as I will always love and cherish the times we had together.
Day 1 of starting to look after myself.....I love my two girls Natasha and Cara

2004-10-13T07:28:00.000-04:00

Sunrise From the Penthouse
Jenn had asked me to put another pic on my blog. The pic in my title bar was from a strom last year, and its actually 3 pictures combined together into a single picture. So here is the 'View From the Penthouse' this morning.

Thanksgiving Weekend

2004-10-13T01:54:00.000-04:00

Well……I’d be lying if I said the Merry-Go-Round stopped or even slowed for the holiday weekend…..lol

However, I had a FANTSTIC Thanksgiving this year.

I was at Christine’s for the weekend, and we started to build new stairs for the front of her house, which is some 90 years old. So Larry, now Carpenter Boy, says ‘I can build those…(Famous Last Words).

Saturday morning starts with me arriving at Christine’s place where Christine tells me her vision of the stairs. Four stairs down from her poach and then a landing of sorts, about four foot by four foot and then a left turn and down the final two stairs to the driveway. I so glad that I had the SAME vision as her, so I already had a plan of attack in my head. So the layout is confirmed and then I make the list of lumber that we will need IN MY HEAD. Never, did I say NEVER, do this. Write it down and CHECK your sizes and number of boards you will need.

So next we go to the Lumber store and buy $ 300.00 worth of lumber and materials, I thought MAYBE $ 250.00 would do it….We get all the lumber back to the house, and now we have to dig the post holes for the landing. Christine goes and rents one of those power post hole diggers and off we go. It was a RUSH….I think Christine had more fun with that then I did, but then I, yes ME, cuts the PHONE LINE. But we had a utility locate done and the only thing they located was the overhead hydro wires which I COULD SEE MY SELF!!!!

Anyway……

The deck gets started and then next thing you now, it’s dark. But before it got too dark I realized that I measured WRONG, and I’m SHORT about 6 2x6’s and 4 2x6’s AND the lumber store is now CLOSED!!! So we quit for the night and get a movie to watch at her place.

Sunday morning I wake up, and head to the lumber store for 10am when they open, and buy the lumber we are short….Yet another $ 100.00. Christine will have a bird….these stairs are now up to $ 400.00. I get back and start working again for an hour, only to have to stop and get ready to go to my Dad’s in Mississauga for Thanksgiving Dinner, which is about an hour drive from Guelph.

We get to Dad’s and have a GREAT time. Diane’s, my dad’s wife, I guess that’s what to call her as they have been living together for 20 years now, two kids (in their 30’) where supposed to join us but they were sick and didn’t want anyone else to get sick, so they didn’t come. It would have been fun for ALL of us to be there, but the good side was MORE FOOD for us!!! But not really, as Diane made plates up for Jen and Chris so they could also have Thanksgiving Dinner. We had such a good time. Oh yeah….I found a new favourite wine…BLACK OPAL….an Australian Red, therefore Christine drove home!!! LOLOLOLOL!!!!
We get home and Christine’s son, Ben, is now home from his Dad’s. Christine and her ex-husband co-parent, and they have alternate weeks with Ben. We get a movie for us all to watch and we both DIE….It was such a LONG day and I’m sore from building the stairs. Oh yes, did I mention that Christine has her Dad, step-Mother and her sister and husband coming for Thanksgiving Diner on Monday!!!!

I have mentioned the Merry-Go-Round????

Now it’s Monday, and I have to finish the stairs so the ‘company’ can get to the front door. I’m building away outside, Christine is busy inside preparing for Thanksgiving Dinner and dealing with the issues of running a house as a single mother with a son 11 and a daughter 18. Next thing I know its 4:30 and Christine’s sister and husband arrive. Is it THAT time ALREADY I wonder ??? YEAP!!!!

Now it’s panic mode for me……put the last screws in the decking, cleanup all the mess and put the tools away….well that was they plan, but Christine’s Dad and Step-mom arrive as I was putting in the last 4 screws. DAMN, I TRIED TO GET IT FINISHED!!!!

But I think they were impressed!!! So I make the LAST saw cut and clean up just as dinner is on the table.

GREAT bottle of red wine again, this time from Spain, ‘Blood of the Bull’ is the English translation, GREAT dinner, GREAT evening…..(Am I liking Red Wine lately??)

At the end of the night, Christine, her sister and I do the dishes and put everything away, while Jessica, Christine’s eighteen year old daughter and her uncle play on the guitar and Ben plays on his game boy.

After everyone leaves and I’m ready to drive back to Brampton, Christine and I are standing on the stairs; I’m holding Christine in front of me, I’m standing one stair up from her. I lean forward and whisper in my sweetheart’s ear…….Thank you for today, Thank you for this weekend, Thank you for letting me help you with your stairs and Thank you for letting me into your life, I Love You…..

I DO LOVE MY LIFE……Yes, I do miss my girls, Natasha and Cara, but I do love my life.