Friday 9th August 2013…where were you?

This is going to be a long long post and mainly focused on hockey so you have been forewarned.

Before we get into that and my day..you all know about the gigantic stone heads on Easter Island

but did you know they have been doing excavations and uncovered not just the heads!!!

Amazing and thanks Larry for passing this along!!!

OK today was going to be another day I chose to be by myself I think I shall dedicate every Friday in future to this!!!

I had heard of a State park about 45 minutes away where the hiking was spectacular so I packed up lots of food and drink and with good directions set off on Little Blackie…boy this scooter has been good to me!

The ride was nice and enjoyable and after 40 km I came to the turn off

The road was paved first then cobbled

so who has the right of way??

Then the road rose for about 6 km and I came to a gate and paid my pesos entrance fee.

As you can see lots of trails to chose from and I decided on the one that would lead me to the top of the ridge.

In the valley is the campground and the double XX is where I am heading for lunch!!!

The trails were sort of marked and the accent was a bit hard as I believe the elevation here is around 7500 feet 1300 more than SMA….but it was a great hike and views from the summit quite stunning!!

The double white XX is where little Blackie is resting!!!

I then took a different path down and then along to a small mud pond

The wild flowers are quite lovely!!!

 

 

 

 

This is really a pristine and wonderful place to hike the air so fresh and clean and surrounding by hills, trees, scrub and also if you are really very lucky you will find what I found on the trail…

Nice find MR.P!!!

I then took a turn and followed a small trail covered in scrub as this photo shows

and passed through this cave

after going through here the trail ended at a small creek and a canyon on the opposite side rather than double back I decided to cross the stream and head up the canyon this was hard going through lots of bushes and no trail at all…I had climbed quite high when I realized this was a fruitless task all I was doing was getting further away from where I needed to be going so I turned around and eventually find my way back to the cave and the creek and then I decided that rather than double back I would follow the stream up hill and surely come out at the top of the canyon ..this path was a little tricky

The risks I take to get an adventure photo for you my readers!!!!!

After following this creek uphill for almost 30 minutes I stopped had something to eat and thought about my options and came to the conclusion that I was getting no where going this way  and to be the smart guy that I have been known to be a couple of times in my life and double back to the creek base and the cave and as much as I did not want to double back the way I came…..whilst I was thinking all of this I had company on the next rock!!

So I did return to the cave and the hard hike back up to the parking lot..it was a really wonderful time that I so enjoyed and I reckon I put in an extra 3 hours with the back tracks..certainly a place for future visits and Chris and Juan maybe a boon docking space for you for a weekend when you move here!!!

The ride back home was uneventful and I arrived home at 7pm and had travelled exactly 100km…what a special day.

It was a nice supper a really long soak in the tub and I won’t be much trouble to anyone tonight!!!

 

OK so that is my day now where we all know where we were on those fateful days when JFK and Martin Luther were so sadly taken from us but do you remember where you were on this day 25 years ago?????

The biggest trade in hockey history..

Gretzky’s statistical dominance over others has never been matched

On the 25th anniversary of Wayne Gretzky’s sale from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings, there’s an effort again to place him in the context of other athletes and other sports: Just how great was the Great One?

In this article, first published after Gretzky’s retirement in April 1999, I looked at statistical and cultural comparators for Gretzky. Here’s the article:

Wayne Gretzky retires not only as the greatest hockey player of all-time, but also as the greatest North American team athlete ever.

So say the statistics.

And while no North American athlete was more important to his nation’s culture than boxer Muhammad Ali was to America, the same can be said for Wayne Gretzky in Canada. He is the Canadian sportsman of all-time.

So say the experts.

“He’s the unassailable No. 1,” says writer Ken Brown, whose play Life After Hockey featured Gretzky playing God. “There’s just no comparison. It’s our beloved sport and he’s the best who ever did and ever will play the game.”

No Canadian sportsman was of greater cultural importance than Gretzky, says ex-Olympic middle- distance runner Bruce Kidd, now a University of Toronto historian and the author of a critique of professional hockey, The Death of Hockey.

Other sporting figures have been exceptional in their own right — people like rowers Silken Laumann and Ned Hanlan, runner Tom Longboat, track athlete Bobbie Rosenfeld, sprinters Percy Williams and Donovan Bailey, swimmer Marilyn Bell, hockey stars Bobby Orr and Maurice Richard — but few had the influence of Gretzky.

Gretzky’s importance to Canadian culture is that he set an example of healthy masculinity, Kidd says, an example which represented a dramatic change from the past.

While hockey’s always had coaches and players who advocated a beautiful, finesse style, the game was still dominated by what Kidd calls the Conn Smythe/Don Cherry school, one that focused on physical intimidation.

In that school, a man is someone who at every provocation drops his stick and gloves and starts to fight.

“Gretzky said, ‘This is dumb, I want to protect my head and my hands, which are my most valuable possessions. I don’t want to risk them in a stupid fight. I want to use them to score goals.’ “

Kidd says Gretzky’s style of hockey greatly impressed the educated American, who grew up watching hockey in high school and college. That kind of fan was appalled by the NHL’s selling of the game as thugs on ice.

“For this kind of fan, Gretzky was the cultural hero who connected their love of hockey to the National Hockey League.”

From a teacher’s point of view, Kidd says Gretzky set a great example in the way he rejoiced in playing.

“It’s not combat to him. It’s not war. It’s not a scramble to make bucks. He’s a guy who loves it. That is something that is too rarely displayed in the world of professional sports. There’s so much tension that the fun rarely comes through in the kind of highly visible mass media moments. But you always saw that in Gretzky. Even in his most tension-filled moments, you could see the twinkle in his eyes.”

All athletes can learn from this, Kidd says, from aspiring Olympians to aging joggers to little children.

“A lot of the messages we hear about physical activity are kind of twisted: work out so you’ll lose weight, work out so you’ll feel less stress, work out so you’ll get rich.

“I don’t want to judge people, but the message should be out there to work out because it’s just a tremendous pleasure of the flesh, and Gretzky exudes that.”

As for Gretzky’s ranking as the top Canadian and North American team athlete of all-time, it’s best to start with his dominance in hockey.

Last year, The Hockey News rated Gretzky as the all-time best in the publication’s authoritative poll of experts. The decision was hardly controversial.

A truly great player, whether he is the best man in 1925 or 1995, won’t just win the scoring title by a few points, he will annihilate his competitors, scoring 15 to 40 per cent more points than the second-place man. Gordie Howe absolutely dominated for four full seasons, 1950-54, outscoring the next best man by 30, 25, 34 and 21 percentage points, respectively. It was an unprecedented run, not approached again until Gretzky came along. But Gretzky overshadowed Howe. He dominated for seven straight years, 1980-87, and he reached a much higher peak than Howe. During his run, Gretzky outscored the next best man by 22, 44, 58, 63, 54, 53 and 69 percentage points, respectively.

The starkest proof of Gretzky’s superiority is the voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s most valuable player.

Gretzky won the trophy nine times, as much as Bobby Orr, Maurice Richard, Guy Lafleur, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy and Brett Hull combined.

Gretzky also compares well against other stars in other sports.

In basketball, Michael Jordan won five MVP awards and six team titles. Jordan won 10 scoring titles, the same number as Gretzky, but Jordan’s margin of victory was not comparable — less than 10 per cent better than his main competitors. Gretzky beat his competitors by an average of 40 per cent.

In football, Jim Brown is tops. Brown played nine seasons for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. He won the rushing title eight times.

In his best year, 1958, he outrushed the next man by 93 per cent. His average dominance margin was 36 per cent. In 1965, he outrushed the next best man 1,544 yards to 1,121, then retired before losing one speck of his greatness. Brown also led his team to one league championship.

In baseball, Babe Ruth played in 10 World Series. His teams won seven. There was no real MVP award in Ruth’s time, but Ruth, who started out as an excellent pitcher, led the league in homers nine years. In his 12 seasons as the slugging percentage leader, his dominance margin was as much as 34 per cent. It averaged 14 per cent. Ruth, Brown and Gretzky are alone at the top. Ruth gets points for his playoff record, his pitching and his home-run hitting, the most remarkable show of dominance at any one athletic skill in this century.

Ruth and Gretzky also dominated for longer than Brown. But Gretzky was more dominant overall than Brown and Ruth were, and Gretzkyalso came through in the playoffs, winning two playoff MVP awards and leading his team to four championships.

The Great One is the greatest one — in Canada and on the entire continent.

 

List of career achievements by Wayne Gretzky

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Good name for a trophy don’t you think named after ME!!!!

Replica of the Lester B. Pearson Award presented to Gretzky in 1982–83

This is a list of career achievements by Wayne Gretzky in the National Hockey League. Upon his retirement on April 18, 1999, Gretzky held or shared 61 National Hockey League records. These records include 40 regular season, 15 playoff, and 6 All-star records.

Gretzky set impressive records in both regular season and post-season play, holding the record for most career regular season goals (894), assists (1,963), points (2,857), and hat tricks (50). The next closest player in total points for the regular season is sometime teammate Mark Messier at 1,887 - thus Gretzky had more career assists than any other player has total points. Gretzky's point total including regular season and playoffs stands at an imposing 3,239.

His 47 playoff points in 1985 and 31 assists in 1988 are still records for a single post-season round, and he holds the record for career playoff goals (122), assists (260), points (382), hat tricks (10), and game-winning goals (24).

Here is a complete list of official records Gretzky held or shared at the time of his retired….

1. Most goals, including playoffs: 1,016 in 1,487 regular season and 208 playoff games
2. Most goals, one season: 92 in 1981–82, 80-game schedule
3. Most goals, one season, including playoffs: 100 in 1983–84, 87 goals in 74 regular season games and 13 goals in 19 playoff games
4. Most goals, 50 games from start of season: 61 in 1981–82 (October 7, 1981 to January 22, 1982, 80-game schedule) and 1983–84 (October 5, 1983 to January 25, 1984), 80-game schedule
5. Most goals, one period: 4 (Tied with 10 other players) February 18, 1981
6. Most assists: 1,963
7. Most assists, including playoffs: 2,223
8. Most assists, one season: 163 in 1985–86, 80-game schedule
9. Most assists, one season, including playoffs: 174 in 1985–86, 163 assists in 80 regular season games and 11 assists in 10 playoff games
10. Most assists, one game: 7 (tied with Billy "The Kid" Taylor) on three occasions—February 15, 1980; December 11, 1985; February 14, 1986
11. Most assists, one road game: 7 (tied with Billy "The Kid" Taylor) December 11, 1985
12. Most points: 2,857 in 1,487 games (894 goals, 1,963 assists)
13. Most points, including playoffs: 3,239 in 1,487 regular season and 208 playoff games. (1016 goals, 2223 assists)
14. Most points, one season: 215 in 1985–86, 80-game schedule (52 goals, 163 assists)
15. Most points, one season, including playoffs: 255 in 1984–85; 208 points in 80 regular season games and 47 points in 18 playoff games
16. Most overtime assists, career: 15
17. Most goals by a center, career: 894
18. Most goals by a center, one season: 92 in 1981–82, 80-game schedule
19. Most assists by a center, career: 1,963
20. Most assists by a center, one season: 163 in 1985–86, 80-game schedule
21. Most points by a center, career: 2,857
22. Most points by a center, one season: 215 in 1985–86, 80-game schedule
23. Most assists in one game by a player in his first season: 7 on February 15, 1980
24. Highest goals-per-game average, one season: 1.18 in 1983–84, 87 goals in 74 games
25. Highest assists-per-game average, career (300 min.): 1.321 -- 1,963 assists in 1,487 games
26. Highest assists-per-game average, one season: 2.04 in 1985–86, 163 assists in 80 games
27. Highest points-per-game average, one season (among players with 50-or-more points): 2.77 in 1983–84, 205 points in 74 games
28. Most 40-or-more goal seasons: 12 in 20 seasons
29. Most consecutive 40-or-more goal seasons: 12 from 1979–80 to 1990–91
30. Most 50-or-more goal seasons: 9 (tied with Mike Bossy)
31. Most 60-or-more goal seasons: 5 (tied with Mike Bossy)
32. Most consecutive 60-or-more goals seasons: 4 from 1981–82 to 1984–85
33. Most 100-or-more point seasons: 15
34. Most consecutive 100-or-more point seasons: 13 from 1979–80 to 1991–92
35. Most three-or-more goal games, career: 50 -- 37 three-goal (hat trick) games; nine four-goal games; four five-goal games
36. Most three goal games, one season: 10 (done twice) in 1981–82 and 1983–84
37. Longest consecutive assist scoring streak: 23 games in 1990–91, 48 assists
38. Longest consecutive point-scoring streak: 51 Games in 1983–84 (October 5, 1983 to January 28, 1984, 61 goals, 92 assists for 153 points)
39. Longest consecutive point-scoring streak from start of season: 51 in 1983–84; 61 goals, 92 assists for 153 points (October 5, 1983 to January 28, 1984

Well some personal history it goes without saying that I am a sports nut playing, watching whatever and my games growing up were tennis and soccer but in May of 1980 I emigrated to Alberta Canada and in October of that year I went to my first ever hockey game…this was the start of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty and after the first period of my first game I was hooked..they had this skinny scrawny kid 99 was his number and I was enthralled by him….. his sheer magic on the ice and later his off ice behavior which was always beyond reproach….the team went on to win 4 cups I actually met Wayne twice at sponsored lunches and have his auto graph but I also had his number and a replica of a hockey stick tattooed on my ……well you guess where it is??
not very clear after all these years!!

Anyway 25 years ago today I was behind the counter in my small grocery store in the little Ukrainian town of Smoky lake Alberta…..I had the store always fitted out with hockey paraphernalia(I have no idea what key I just hit to change the type) and I was the biggest fan in town and then there was a flash of news and to turn on the TV to see my beloved Wayne sold to the LA Kings I have no shame in telling you I cried!!!!!

He had provided me and all the fans and the people of the province with years of mastery, sportsmanship and sheer genius and then he was gone……he went on to have some more great years and to this day he is an icon in Canada and an ambassador for hockey.

My prize possession which hangs in the entrance to my Casita…an original signed 99 shirt!!!

 

Hope you enjoyed this blog today I sure enjoyed doing it all…

Yashi Koshi!!!

Thursday 8th August 2o13…the first medical issue!!!

Not mentioned because I have vowed to myself never to complain but I have been suffering the last week with what I am sure is tennis elbow…I keep icing and creaming and wearing my brace all the time but it is uncomfortable…. funnily enough the only time id does not bother me is when I am playing tennis which I did this morning for 2 hours…anyway I think I may need to see a professional and see what they say although I know rest is what they are going to suggest!!

After tennis went up to visit Linda and Guy and then before I came home decided it was time to take Little Bluey to the Spa…

the full treatment vacuum inside  and full wash only 50 pesos!!!

Came home and watched tennis and golf on TV for a couple of hours then decided to go into the canyons for a hike I always enjoy that.

Tonight it is supper, long hot soak and some TV.

A couple of little things but want to mention them especially after the social protocol lecture I attended on Tuesday….

I saw a young lady who is my friend’s Jaime's secretary walking down the street I know Victoria just a little but I stopped and asked her if she wanted a ride and she did so I gave her a ride and before she got out and thanked me she intentionally leaned over to me offering her cheek for me to kiss which I did.

Also today I think I counted at least 10 Mum’s with their babies and it just happened as I was passing the Mum’s were kissing their babies!!!

 

Yashi koshi!!

Wednesday 7th August 2013..the usual busy day!!!

My family heads the blog today from bottom right to left…My Brother Malc, Andy the middle son, Mark the oldest son, Claire who is Mark’s partner, Sam who is Malc and Janet’s daughter, her husband Darren, Janet my lovely SIL and Tom the third generation Pearson, son of Claire and Mark!!!!   A fine looking family!!

Another great sunny day and I went into the main jardin to meet a man who I had contacted and he was selling some Guatemala money….This country is in my future plans so nice to have some local currency on hand.

From there I went to pick up Paola I thought it would be nice for her and I to spend some time together and I brought her to my casita where her bike is and she biked around the neighborhood for over an hour!!!

My newly repaired mirror!!!

After I dropped Paola home I went to poker where this was not a winning hand

but I did have another good day winning 165 pesos!!!

Back home for supper and to get cleaned up and off to the play readers night…this is where for 20 pesos actors read their lines I love going here and tonight was a very funny comedy…..

So there you have it another day flies by!!!

Yashi Koshi!!!

Tuesday 6th August 2013…the day was like the weather!!!

Just a glorious wonderful warm sunny morning ideal for 2 hours of tennis…..I am having just a little twinge in my elbow but funnily enough not when I am playing so doing some home doctoring and wearing my brace hope it heals soon.

After tennis I met two ladies who I had met at a house party of Sunday..they have just bought a motor home and want to do some touring in Mexico so after 6 years of using the Church’s wonderful Mexican RV books I felt it was time to pass them on so I hope the ladies get as much use as I did from them.

Then came home and showered and changed and went downtown to the Rotary club meeting..the guest speaker was Warren Hardy who owns a Spanish school here and is a wonderful speaker the topic was Mexican protocol and what is important to Mexicans…it was a great lecture and very informative and brought home to me what I already know that the local people are so wonderful and family orientated… a great 2 hours….from there some chores in town and then back home.

Where will see a more beautiful church??

Ok this is a long story so maybe get a cup of tea and sit down……

Yesterday I was on little Blackie going into town when I came across a young lady walking down the street with a shoulder bag….she was a very attractive and a head turner…as I was coming up behind her a guy running towards her ran past her and snatched her bag and ran down the street…I turned the scoter around and gave chase after him…down a few alleys the wrong way down a one way street…across some open land and I caught up with him just as he was about he climb a fence…without any thought for my safety I ditched the bike and grabbed his legs and pulled him down off the fence…we wrestled around on the ground for a while but you know me…16 years of Police service…I got him into a choke hold and managed to subdue him until another guy came along who called the police on his cell phone and a few minutes later he was taken away…I had the ladies bag and went back to where she had been robbed and she was on the side walk sobbing…..like a knight in shining armor I produced the bag and she was so thrilled gave me a hug and a peck on the cheek and said how can I repay you???  Chivalrous as ever I said about dinner tonight?     So we are meeting later for dinner…..anyway when I ditched the scooter the left hand mirror got broken so here is my fix it man Silvestre and his son doing the repair work

he fixed it within an hour and the cost 40 pesos!!

Now there may be some skeptics out there who scoff at the above story wanting to believe that I actually fell off the scooter on a track behind my casita and thus breaking the mirror…you choose!!!!!

I quiet evening at home planned….life is good!!!!

Monday 5th August 2013…a crazy day!!!

After breakfast I went and picked up Paola and we did some errands in town and then went to the market and I let her pick some fruit to take home for the family she was cute she picked out fruit I did not even know what is was…we finished up with a big bag for only 80 pesos…..she starts school in about two weeks and is moving to another school where she will go in the mornings instead of the afternoon like she did last term.

At 1pm I went to the Institute where I had signed up for a class each Monday for the month of August..the class is about living longer and the implications of this….it was an interesting lecture there are 10 of us in the class with me the only male!!!

I came home for a few minutes when my cell phone rang and it was the lady that has rented the main house here in the compound she was due to arrive on Wednesday and I offered to meet her outside of town and direct her here..well Pauline arrived two days early so I buzzed into town to meet her and have her follow me home.

Then it was off to pick up some of my frozen diners that I have mad for me and because my freezer is full I went to L & G’s house and stored them in their big freezer…..Guy did not have a good day on Saturday but today was better.

So I finally was home after 7pm..the days just fly by!!!

 

 

The only reason I have included this article is that for once it would be so refreshing if one of these so called super stars had the guts to face the cameras and so..”I am sorry I messed up I apologize to my teammates, owners family and friends and want a chance to redeem myself”  He gets banned and within 20 minutes is on the field playing!!!!

 

 

 

Yankees star Alex Rodriguez in baseball doping ban

Alex Rodriguez has not played this season, while recovering from hip surgery

 

Baseball's highest paid star, Alex Rodriguez, has been suspended for 211 games, along with 12 other athletes, in the wake of a doping investigation.

Major League Baseball banned the 38-year-old New York Yankees slugger until the end of the 2014 season.

Rodriguez is one of a few players linked to a closed Florida clinic, Biogenesis, which allegedly supplied banned performing-enhancing drugs.

Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun was banned last month for the 2013 season.

The third baseman was accused of breaking drug rules and accepted a 65-game ban.

Other players suspended on Monday include the Texas Rangers' Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers, and Everth Cabrera who plays with the San Diego Padres. They each received a 50-game ban.

'Cover up'

Rodriguez, who is popularly known as A-Rod, said he would appeal the suspensions. He can continue playing while his appeal is being heard.

On Monday night, he was expected to take to the field for the first time this season after hip surgery. The Yankees are to play the Chicago White Sox.

Rodriguez' current 647 home runs places him at fifth for the all-time record.

Major League Baseball, the organisation governing the sport, said Rodriguez had been suspended for "his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple yea

Suspended players

• New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez
• Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz
• San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera
• Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta
• Philadelphia Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo
• New York Mets outfielder Jordany Valdespin
• New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli
• Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Montero
• New York Mets outfielder prospect Cesar Puello
• San Diego Padres pitching prospect Fautino de los Santos
• Houston Astros pitching prospect Sergio Escalona
• New York Yankees outfield prospect Fernando Martinez
• Jordan Norberto, a Minor League pitcher

Source: Major League Baseball

The statement also accused the player of "attempting to cover up his violations" by obstructing the investigation.

Rodriguez was accused of interfering with the Major League Baseball investigation into Biogenesis, resulting in a harsher penalty, correspondents say.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said on Monday: "Those players who have violated the programme have created scrutiny for the vast majority of our players, who play the game the right way.

"Despite the challenges this situation has created during a great season on the field, we pursued this matter because it was not only the right thing to do, but the only thing to do," he continued.

"We continue to attack this issue on every front."

Rodriguez previously admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while playing for a Texas team between 2001-03. He has denied using steroids since.

He was named Most Valuable Player in baseball's American League three times.

The divorced father of two's earnings this year total over $30m (£19.5m) according to Forbes. He stands to lose an estimated $36m if the suspension is upheld through the entire 2014 season.

He has previously been romantically linked to a string of celebrities, including pop singer Madonna and actresses Kate Hudson and Cameron Diaz.

The accusations against him emerged from a major investigation into a Florida drug clinic that is suspected of distributing performance-enhancing drugs to several professional baseball players.

After years of inflated batting statistics - and arm muscles - during what has become known as baseball's "steroids era", the extent of doping in the sport was laid bare in a 2007 report by former Senator George Mitchell.

Mr Selig subsequently strengthened the sport's drug testing policies and created an investigative branch to prosecute drug offences.

Many had hoped the changes would usher in a new, "clean" era for the sport.

Baseball legends such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were both accused of lying about alleged steroid use.

Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice, but Clemens was cleared of perjury.

The allegations left a cloud of suspicion over both stars' legacies

 

Sorry no photos my camera has a little glitch that I hope to get fixed tomorrow.

Yashi Koshi!!!

Sunday 4th August 2013……a very special lady!!!!

Was born this day in 1918….my MUM!!!!!

 

She was without a shadow of a doubt one on the most wonderful and special people to walk this earth…..always so caring and giving she was the light of my life and even though I spent all of my adult life thousands of miles away form her our bond and connection was a joy to behold.   Sadly Mum passed away way too early on Valentine’s Day 1995….she remains in my heart and I love you!!!

Bermuda in the 1970’s!!

Can you believe they put me in a dress??????

 

Thanks Vera for sending this to me!!

 

I'm off to get an ice cream cone!

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

One day I had lunch with some friends. Jim , a short, balding golfer type about 80 years old, came along with them---all in all, a pleasant bunch.

When the menus were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Jim who said, "Ice Cream, please. Two scoops, chocolate.
I wasn't sure my ears heard right, and the others were aghast. "Along with heated apple pie," Jim added, completely unabashed.

We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time. But when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy mine.

I couldn't take my eyes off Jim as his pie a-la-mode went down. The other guys couldn't believe it. They ate their lunches silently and grinned.
The next time I went out to eat, I called and invited Jim . I lunched on white meat tuna. He ordered a parfait.
I smiled. He asked if he amused me.
I answered, "Yes, you do, but also you confuse me.
How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible? He laughed and said "I'm tasting all that is Possible.
I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I should. But life's so short, my friend, I hate missing out on something good.

This year I realized how old I was. (He grinned) I haven't been this old before."
"So, before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I had ignored.
I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many trout streams I haven't fished. There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead.
There are too many golf courses I haven't played. I've not laughed at all the jokes. I've missed a lot of sporting events and potato chips and cokes. I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face.
I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace.

I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast. I want un-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the most.

I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain. I need to feel wind on my face. I want to be in love again.

So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner, then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner, because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire. I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired.."
With that, I called the waitress over. "I've changed my mind, " I said. "I want what he is having, only add some more whipped cream!"
This is my gift to you……. Live well, love much & laugh often - Be happy.


Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we like and respect. Remember that while money talks,
CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM SINGS!

Had a lazy morning and after breakfast did some outside yard cleaning and sorting and then went to pick up the kids for our regular afternoon visit to the water park

at the ticket office I decided to show my newly acquired Mexican senior card and was thrilled to get myself in for half price a savings of 55 pesos…pays to be old!!!

…they love coming here and we had lunch first

Paola putting lotion on Leonardo…they swam and messed around for three hours and even with all the kids in the different pools

I never heard one child cry or pout of fight I am positive this is a Mexican culture thing the kids are so well behaved.

Oh my word..I have NO IDEA how this got into my camera no idea at all!!!!

before we left the day would not be complete without….

We all had a wonderful time…..

Tonight I went to a small house party friends of Juan and Chris..as usual the house was so lovely and it was a fun evening…….

Yashi Koshi!!

Saturday 3rd August 2013…some Birthdays!!!

Today three of my family have Birthdays (good job I don’t buy presents anymore!!!!)

So first happy birthday to my great Nephew TOM!!!!!  have a wonderful day.

See all the Pearson’s are soccer crazy!!!

Also celebrating today is Daz hope you have a great day and that Sam spoils you….do not know what relation Daz is he is married to my niece Sam!!!!

Finally Peter is also celebrating today and I again I do not know what relationship…..Peter is married to my Cousin Shelia

Started my day with tennis but for a change it was 2 hours of singles with Loren….it was really good but a totally different game from doubles..we had a great time.

Back home watched a soccer game and then did some chores including laundry, sweeping the steps and patio, re potting some plants and tonight I went with Linda and Guy and Doris and Herb to the Texas longhorn for a great steak.

Linda sent this to me a bit funny yes???

A happy long weekend to all my Canadian readers!!!

yashi koshi!!

Friday 2nd August 2013……a day to myself!!!!

After the busy few weeks driving and bringing home Linda and Guy and the driving for the kids to their camps and classes I really needed a day to myself and today was that day.

I got up at 8am and had a nice cuppa whilst reading an old newspaper and at 10am I packed up lots of food and drinks on got on Little Blackie I was heading for a hike that one of my tennis buddies told me about it was a ways out of town but I had good directions.

The drive was lovely through beautiful scenery and I found the turn off and a place to park and X marks the spot where I have to climb ….

 

A closer view of the ridge

I really was in the middle of no where but the scenery was special…

From the top of the ridge.  A week free subscription to my blog if anyone can spot Little Blackie???

For just a small point and shoot camera the zoom is really good!!

A different trail back

It was a really pleasant hike and soon I was back at my bike and I found a place to stop for lunch with a view.

 

I went home  a different way I was on the trail they call the road of the little chapels…..stretch of dirt roads connecting these chapels!!!

I think I may have taken a wrong turn here!!!

I did not get home till after 5pm  a great day and 85 km on Little Blackie

My friend Robin sent me this…is it not the funniest tat you have seen??

Yashi Koshi!!

Thursday 1st August 2013..rabbits, rabbits rabbits!!!

My Mum told me if I said that the first chance I had on a new month it would bring good luck!!

Hope you like the header photograph it is one of the natural wonders of the world…no not me silly the rocks at Pamukkale in Turkey!!

Great two hours of tennis this morning I sure do enjoy starting my day off like that..came home and had the techie around again as my computer had a virus he is really a great and knowledgeable guy and fixed it all so now touch wood I have a good running computer and magic jack.

I then went and picked up Daniela from camp this was her last day I have enjoyed seeing her she is getting so tall.

Came home and then did something I have not done for a long time…nothing!!!  Lazed around with this and that!!!

At 5,30pm Adriano and his niece came around in his truck I had hired him and we went to the house where I was getting some lovely donated furniture for Paola as we were carrying everything down from the first floor using a spiral staircase some things had to roped down but it was not too hard I never thought we would get everything in the truck but we did!!

We then drove to Paola’s house and her Mum and brothers were there and they helped carry everything up to their place they are also on the first floor…they were all so thrilled for the stuff just beaming and the kids were great up and down the stairs carrying things!!!

I kept a few items aside for Rafael and his family so after saying goodbye to Paola we went to Rafael’s and dropped some furniture for him he also was so thrilled!!!

I was dropped home and Adriano charged me 350 pesos about 30 dollars for all the driving lifting and carrying a bargain and his niece got a nice tip too!!

It was just a thrill firstly to have a friend so kind to donate all the belongings and then to have two families so happy!!!!

So movie and tea time…blessings les