Before I say anything I want to be completely up front on this. I'm not complaining!!!
What is going on with the weather? Here it is mid-January when we should be seeing temperatures well below freezing, snow falling from the sky and me bitching and moaning about how miserable I am and how much I hate winter.
Instead, all of the snow we received over the Christmas holidays has all but vanished, rain has replaced the snow and the temperature is about 10 degrees above freezing. I actually saw people riding on motorcycles today.
As I said, I'm not complaining and I'm quite certain this little trip north by the jet stream will no doubt end soon. After all, February is typically the coldest month if memory servers me.
I'll enjoy this brief reprieve from having to scrape the ice off my car at six in the morning before I go to work. Not having to hold my hands up to the heater to thaw them out is something I know will happen again before Spring arrives, much to my dismay.
Of course I had to take full advantage of this amazing weather today. I grabbed my camera equipment and headed out to Presqu'ile Provincial Park and went for a nice long walk. There was snow back in the bush but most of the roads were clear for walking.
I came home with a few photos worth keeping including the one I've posted here. While I'm no birding expert, I'm pretty sure it's a Sharp-shinned Hawk. I was just getting ready to head home when he flew past me and landed on a feeding station nearby. I was able to snap four frames quickly before he spotted me and got out of Dodge. I was pretty happy with this one.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Happy 50th Anniversary
After months of planning and preparation the party for me parents 50th Anniversary was a pleasant success.
Despite all of the planning the one thing I couldn't control was the weather. And after two winters with very little snow, Mother Nature decided that this was the ideal time to dump a lot of white stuff on us.
With a light dusting of snow on Christmas Day I thought that wouldn't be too big a deal. Then two days before the party on the 27th we were hit with the biggest snow storm we've had in several years. Luckily my brother and sister-in-law were still able to fly into Toronto to attend.
Not a big deal since we still had two days to get the roads in shape for people to attend. Wrong! The day of the party another storm blew in making travel nearly impossible.
Needless to say many people from out of town that had planned to attend the party to surprise mom and dad were forced to cancel or turn back after trying to make it. It was the right thing to do. The last thing we wanted was for anyone to get into an accident.
Luckily a lot of local people that had been invited decided to venture out into the storm to see my parents and wish them congratulations.
After fearing that only a few people would make it, I was thrilled to see over 70 friends and family walk through the door to enjoy some good food and drinks and the opportunity to not only see my parents but other people they hadn't seen in quite some time. It turned out to be a very pleasant and successful afternoon.
My thanks to everyone who helped to make the day such a big success and a memorable and special day for my mom and dad.
Despite all of the planning the one thing I couldn't control was the weather. And after two winters with very little snow, Mother Nature decided that this was the ideal time to dump a lot of white stuff on us.
With a light dusting of snow on Christmas Day I thought that wouldn't be too big a deal. Then two days before the party on the 27th we were hit with the biggest snow storm we've had in several years. Luckily my brother and sister-in-law were still able to fly into Toronto to attend.
Not a big deal since we still had two days to get the roads in shape for people to attend. Wrong! The day of the party another storm blew in making travel nearly impossible.
Needless to say many people from out of town that had planned to attend the party to surprise mom and dad were forced to cancel or turn back after trying to make it. It was the right thing to do. The last thing we wanted was for anyone to get into an accident.
Luckily a lot of local people that had been invited decided to venture out into the storm to see my parents and wish them congratulations.
After fearing that only a few people would make it, I was thrilled to see over 70 friends and family walk through the door to enjoy some good food and drinks and the opportunity to not only see my parents but other people they hadn't seen in quite some time. It turned out to be a very pleasant and successful afternoon.
My thanks to everyone who helped to make the day such a big success and a memorable and special day for my mom and dad.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Merry Christmas
I just wanted to take a moment to wish all of my readers, friends and of course family a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season.
In years past I've sent out a Christmas letter via email to folks but I just didn't have the time or drive to put one together this year so this will have to suffice.
It's a very busy time this year not only with Christmas day approaching but I've also been putting the finishing touches on the planning of my parents 50th Anniversary party / open house on the 29th. For those planning to attend I look forward to seeing you there.
I hope everyone has a safe, healthy and happy Christmas and New Year's. All the best in 2013!
In years past I've sent out a Christmas letter via email to folks but I just didn't have the time or drive to put one together this year so this will have to suffice.
It's a very busy time this year not only with Christmas day approaching but I've also been putting the finishing touches on the planning of my parents 50th Anniversary party / open house on the 29th. For those planning to attend I look forward to seeing you there.
I hope everyone has a safe, healthy and happy Christmas and New Year's. All the best in 2013!
Monday, December 17, 2012
My 2012 Christmas Wish List
A quick check of the calendar has revealed to me that Christmas is upon all of us once again. Another year has crept passed us and 2013 is waiting to begin. That is of course if you don't believe the world is going to end as the Mayans predicted would happen this week.
Sadly this year has been very busy and my blog postings have dropped considerably because of this. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook then you can hear my mini rants and thoughts all year long but finding time to sit and write on my blog has suffered and it's my hope that I'll change that in the new year.
As I try to do every year I have compiled another Christmas Wish List. If past years are any indication, Santa obviously doesn’t have enough room in his sack for most things.
Traditionally the Bundy Wish List has included items of a more unrealistic or even humourous nature. These gifts range from a slight possibility of receiving to no chance in hell of seeing under my tree. It’s more of a “Not in Your Wildest Dreams Christmas List”. Of course there are a few which could legitimately find their way into my possession and in fact some on past lists have...just not the really really expensive items.
So, let’s have some fun shall we?
So there you have it. Not an overly long list but certainly a costly one.
Of course as I say every year, as long as I have my health and my family is all healthy and happy I'll be very satisfied. But it's nice to dream from time time and there's no better time than at Christmas.
I hope all of your Christmas wishes come true.
Sadly this year has been very busy and my blog postings have dropped considerably because of this. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook then you can hear my mini rants and thoughts all year long but finding time to sit and write on my blog has suffered and it's my hope that I'll change that in the new year.
As I try to do every year I have compiled another Christmas Wish List. If past years are any indication, Santa obviously doesn’t have enough room in his sack for most things.
Traditionally the Bundy Wish List has included items of a more unrealistic or even humourous nature. These gifts range from a slight possibility of receiving to no chance in hell of seeing under my tree. It’s more of a “Not in Your Wildest Dreams Christmas List”. Of course there are a few which could legitimately find their way into my possession and in fact some on past lists have...just not the really really expensive items.
So, let’s have some fun shall we?
Apple Airport Express Base Station
Cost: $100 (already purchased)
Apple iPad 4 with Retina Display
Cost: $600 (32GB)
Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display
Cost: $2800
Nikon D4 FX & lenses
Cost: $6000 (camera only)
Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8 Macro Lens
Cost: $900
Manfrotto Tripod
Cost: $700
Manfrottp Hydrostat Ball Head
Cost: $260
Sharp AQUOS 80" 1080p 120Hz TV
Cost: $4500
Bose Lifestyle V35 Home Entertainment System
Cost: $3500
Rendezvous with Ashley Hinshaw & Rebecca Blumhagen
Cost: A Guy Can Dream Right?
2013 Bugatti Veyron
Cost: $2.5 Million
2013 Bentley Continental
Cost: $200-thousand
Lakefront Home in Canada
Cost: $2.5 million est.
Waterfront Home in Florida
Cost: $4 million est.
Of course as I say every year, as long as I have my health and my family is all healthy and happy I'll be very satisfied. But it's nice to dream from time time and there's no better time than at Christmas.
I hope all of your Christmas wishes come true.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial
This past weekend was Remembrance Day in Canada and I hope everyone took a few moments to think about those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
I also think it's important to think of those who may be still alive but have served in the Armed Forces because just being in harms way in the wars and conflicts can cause both physical and emotional scars as well.
This past weekend in Trenton, Ontario, home of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, a new memorial was unveiled.
For those who don't know, the Trenton Air Base is the place where all service members killed in action overseas are repatriated (returned to their home country).
In all there have been 158 fallen service members returned to Trenton since 2001 before taking the journey down the Highway of Heroes.
The new memorial honours those who were killed during the Afghanistan conflict. The Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial consists of the silhouette of a soldier standing in front of a two large granite maple leaves. One of these leaves has the names of all of the fallen service men and women inscribed on it. It's really quite moving to see.
The unveiling ceremony on the day before Remembrance Day included a parade, a fly past, a wreath-laying ceremony and speeches by Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney and other dignitaries.
It was a very emotional service with many of the families in attendance.
In the photo I took that you can see here, the family of Cpl. Bryce Keller, who was 27 years old when he killed in a firefight with insurgents in the Pashmul District of Kandahar, Afghanistan, August 3, 2006, left his picture pinned to the memorial.
I also think it's important to think of those who may be still alive but have served in the Armed Forces because just being in harms way in the wars and conflicts can cause both physical and emotional scars as well.
This past weekend in Trenton, Ontario, home of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, a new memorial was unveiled.
For those who don't know, the Trenton Air Base is the place where all service members killed in action overseas are repatriated (returned to their home country).
In all there have been 158 fallen service members returned to Trenton since 2001 before taking the journey down the Highway of Heroes.
The new memorial honours those who were killed during the Afghanistan conflict. The Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial consists of the silhouette of a soldier standing in front of a two large granite maple leaves. One of these leaves has the names of all of the fallen service men and women inscribed on it. It's really quite moving to see.
The unveiling ceremony on the day before Remembrance Day included a parade, a fly past, a wreath-laying ceremony and speeches by Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney and other dignitaries.
It was a very emotional service with many of the families in attendance.
In the photo I took that you can see here, the family of Cpl. Bryce Keller, who was 27 years old when he killed in a firefight with insurgents in the Pashmul District of Kandahar, Afghanistan, August 3, 2006, left his picture pinned to the memorial.
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