Crazy Twins

Thursday, April 23, 2009
Joanne Fortier has been in town from Ottawa staying with her twin sister Jean, so we took the BUG for a little drive for a big visit. Here's a shot of Jean, Chris, and Joanne celebrating Chris' latest acquisition. Its been great how excited everyone is for her.



Joanne has been coping very well with her ALS and has such a positive outlook. She is a great inspiration to be around. We had a ton of laughs recalling some of our antics when we were all down in Florida together.
Keep up the good spirits Joanne!! Chris and I laughed all the way home recounting all your stories.

Lunch with Baby Sister

Thursday, April 16, 2009
Got permission from Mama to have the "BUG" for awhile today and picked up the "Squirt" at Dofasco and took her for a spin and a bite to eat at Hutch's. (Thanks for lunch Judy).
It is very cool to drive a car that makes people smile.
Judy had already figured out that Chris & my "Cruise" has been moved up a couple of years, but screw it, LIFE IS TOO SHORT!!
I must be getting a little senile as I forgot my camera again today! Dang!!
Had a great chat and we both got caught up on the latest news and gossip.
Saw a few of the old guard when I dropped her off back at work. People were a little surprised to see Redneck Rog driving a "Chick" car complete with a Yellow Daisy and playing a few tunes from Mama Mia!!
I explained that I have discovered my inner self since returning from Sedona hahahahahaha!!
Discovered the "Sport" gearing today. That little bug can really boogy!!!! ..............shhhhhhhhh, don't tell Chris!!
Here's a couple of shots of Mae with the BUG. She absolutely loves it and finds it extremely easy to get in and out of.



Chris is still on Cloud 9 and I have to admit it is really growing on me too!!

A Dream Comes True!!!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sometimes the glass shoe fits!!!
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Last Wednesday Chris was coming in the house and saw this in the driveway.


By Monday it had turned into this!!


YeeHawwwww!!!! After 10 years Chris has finally gotten her Yellow Volkswagen!!!

It all started in 1998 when the boys rented a Yellow VW Beetle for Chris for the weekend for her birthday. We had owned two original "Bugs" and she had liked the New Beetle ever since they were re-introduced, but after that weekend it was a love affair that never faded.

The car arrived at Roseland Motors from London, ON on Thursday. We had to drop off my ownership from my old van to get the "NANA 24" plates transferred. We had Evan with us for a visit. He never realized that he was looking at Nana's "PunchBuggy"!


We picked it up on Monday afternoon complete with a Yellow Sunflower in the vase and a Red Ribbon on the car. The salesman, Craig Kovac was excellent!

The signs in the background help explain the purchase.

It is amazing how these things attract each other. We were hardly out of the parking lot and it picked up the scent of another one!

We are always watching for Yellow Volkswagens and rarely see them. We saw five others on Monday.

We then started the "Shock and Awe Tour". First stop was to Chris' Mom's place where she was very pleasantly surprised. The image of Chris and her Mom bombing around town in the "Yellow Bug" is easy to imagine!

Next stop was at Taylor Steel where Terry caught a glimpse of a Yellow Bug through a window up by his crane and noticed that the licence plate was NANA 24!!! He was already on his way out when I went in to get him.





Unfortunately, we missed Mandy and the Kids when we went down to their house (they will probably see it at Karate tomorrow night).

Today we stopped by Paul's house.


Rachel seemed to like it.

Paul took it out for a spin with Mom and put it through its paces.
Unfortunately, we missed Andrea who had to go into work.
Evan found out that he was the first person to actually see Nana's Bug last Thursday!

The boys were exceptionally happy for her and it was great to share the excitement with them.
The whole neighbourhood has been high fiving her as they've been hearing her say for years how much she would love to have a Yellow Volkswagen.

This is a scene that you may see go flying past you at any time!


And I'm thinking that I will never have to iron another shirt again!!! hahahahahaha



Enjoy it Baby!!!! You deserve it!!!

Who Are You???

Thursday, April 9, 2009
When I check my stats, I see that there are people reading this from all over, but I don't know WHO they are. In addition, if people post comments, I can't reply to them, because it comes from the Blog site and doesn't contain their email.
If you send me an email to baxterfossil@gmail.com I will add you to a list that automatically goes out every time a new post is made, saving you from checking all the time.
Thanks again for following my Blog and my retirement adventures.
Bassman

Congratulations Miranda & Maddy!!

Thursday, April 9, 2009
I went to the girl's Karate Lessons last night and it turns out that they were getting a surprise evaluation!!
The girls were in a group of 9 kids. You could see the concern on Miranda's face as she was waiting for her turn. The girls went through their routine (quite involved, I wish I knew what it was called) almost flawlessly! Actually, all the kids did very well.
After the evaluation, Sensei Robinson (8th degree blackbelt) handed out medals. She went in reverse order. Miranda finished 1st and Maddy finished 4th!! If you could only have seen their expressions!! Miranda was so proud of herself, as was Maddy. What a great confidence booster!
I was proud of them no matter where they would have placed, but it sure made it extra special!
Congratulations girls!!
And where are the pictures you ask?..............of all the nights to forget my camera!!! It killed me.

It Finally Happened...............

Wednesday, April 1, 2009
I have been putting this day off successfully for the last 39 years and would probably have still been successful if it wasn't for my former friend Barry!
The dreaded day came the other day when Chris said "Come on Hon, today your going to learn how to IRON!!"


Ha ha ha ha! You're kidding right?
"NO, I'm NOT!!
This is an April's Fool's joke, right??

"NO its not, now get over hear NOW!!

No, No, No, not that please, please, pleeeeease!!!! Not the dreaded IRONING!!!!

.........................................It didn't work.

Here is the picture worth a 1000 words!!


I did eight shirts and Chris said I did a GREAT job!!


Okay, been there done that. I now know how to iron, so there should be no more need for that nonsense!!
THANKS Barry!!

Here Kitty Kitty!

Thursday, April 2, 2009
Some of the boys from Bass Pro went to Dunnville the other day and Jason caught this.....


Last year they caught a bunch of 15 - 20 Pounders. They were going back today so I decided to join them. This is definitely NOT on my "50 Things To Do Before I Die" !! I never, ever thought that I'd see the day I would actually target Catfish, but then again............... I'm broadening my horizons!!!! 8O)
Simon is demonstrating the main technique. You get a long stout rod with heavy line and attach a 2 oz. weight above a swivel. You tie a 12-18" length of Fluorocarbon leader and attach a 6/0 Circle hook to which you add either a piece of cut meat (sucker) or a big gob of worms.


You cast the bait out as far as you possibly can, then you stick the rod in the ground and wait.............. and wait................ and wait................


Here's another setup that Thomas is demonstrating..... a Christmas Tree of worms.


and wait........ and wait................. and wait...........
The most entertaining part of the day was this yellow lab that was jumping into the frigid water for sticks and pestering everybody to throw it again.


And wait........ and wait......... and wait............
We also had a fire that was probably the most exciting part of the day.


Spent most of the day thinking about all the other things I could have been doing.
That was all we had to show for the whole day (unless they caught something after I left).
Been there done it, maybe again next year......................................

A New Acquisition

Sunday, March 28, 2009
Well in a further expansion of my mind and one of my "50 Things To Do Before I Die", I made a significant purchase on Sunday. I picked up the attached 8 ft. 8 weight fly fishing rod!
It is a saltwater fly rod (perfect for Bass & Musky) and was originally $239. It had been reduced several times and I picked it up for $34.06 after employee discount!!!!! I added a Hobb Creek reel for $26.99 (after discount) and now all I have to do is get it spooled and then get "schooled".



The guys in the fly shop are always joking with me and call me "BUBBA", so this was a real mind bend for them. It didn't help any when I asked them if I should spool it up with Power Pro or Trilene XT!! I have been having a good time with it.
My buddy Michael Wong in the Fly Shop is a National Fly Casting Champion and Certified Fly Casting Instructor. He has graciously agreed to try and tame the lion and teach an old Bubba Dawg a few new tricks!