The Weekend Last

Especially long ones.

Cynora and I accomplished quite a bit this weekend. The lawns got moved, deadwood was pruned from the apple trees (which are currently in bloom, and let me tell YOU, they're gorgeous), I removed dead branches from the willow where I could, and we actually dug a few square feet of garden for the tomato plants.

We had a tree doctor guy come in to give us a quote on some work. It looks like the Russian olive in the front may need to be cut, which would be unfortunate, but if such is required, c'est la vie.

The work on the willow still remains to be done. The Horticulturist told us that damage on the willow was the result of a lightening strike; he showed us the path down the tree, where back was singed off.

He suggested we may wish to use Round Up to remove grass from around the trees, so as to remove competition for nutrients and water. Good idea. I consider the use of sand or gravel under the willow so as to allow for the bench placement that has taken root in my brain.

The garden is going slowly. We use a sod cutter to mark a space and remove the grass as best we can, then we mix up the dirt (which is rather clay-ish) with a garden claw and then mix triple mix into the soil with the claw. Then the veggies go in. At this point, we've got nine tomato plants in, with a cilantro bush and some peppers waiting to go in. It's the start of a good curry.

Yesterday was a nice grillage. I use the term (which I made up, although it means something in French) because, technically, what I do isn't BBQ, because of the whole direct/indirect heat. Anyway, had a half dozen folk over, much fun was had, and I drank enough Barqs to keep me up until 4 am. Feh. Side dishes were a delicious bulgur with zucchini and tomatoes, epic potato salad, and a delightful Greek salad that was just a liiiiiittle bit not as good as mine, but that is no fault of the creator.

And tomorrow, back to the salt mines. But I am content.

Oh, yes. I have more questions to post regarding the Hoo'd win from yesterday. Thanks to everyone who participated.

A flashback

In keeping with the 10 year policy, here's my old house when I was living in Ottawa going to The Gonk.

The summer of that year was an ugly one. To be honest, I should have gone back to napanee and redid the Puppy Patrol job. But, no. To the best of my knowledge, I was unemployed that entire summer. I think. Really, it's pretty darn vague. All I remember was an unpleasent trip to Quebec City (but, really, is there any other kind?) and working on CanCon.

CanCon was my first convention experience. God knows it should have warned me away from them all, but such was not to be. Eh.

Admittedly, it was fun. I got to sit beside Judith Merrill as she did a reading at the Rideau Centre, which was an honour for me.

But, on the subject of readings at the Rideau Centre: Christ wearing tennis shoes, who thought that was a good idea? Really, now. SF writers reading in a mall? It got downright embarassing sometimes.

CanCon is also where I met the Luminous Angel of Canadian Fantasy for the first time, beginning a love affair that would echo through the ages.

Don't tell my wife. Or hers.

I was also at the time a member of the CanSF Imagineers writing group, which was also the CanSF Imagineers eating group and Trivia Association. There was also a guy named Ross whom I regularly wanted to kill. But that's another story.

In addition (yes, I forget things) I played Axis & Allies at mr_weasel's house repeatedly that summer. Gabe, Wes, Marty mr_weasel's roommate at the time; the non Amway one) and I. I often got Russia, which means I was often fucked up the ass, strategically speaking.

We played another game Marty owned about the North Africa campaign, a tactical game that involved moving a bunch of pieces around a board. He'd gotten it at a game store in the states for $5, and it was a good deal. I think it was an old TSR game.

I miss Ottawa still. Really, I miss the old days when there was nothing better to do than play A&A until it was time to go home (or crash on the couch, at least). Ayep.

Hoo'd Win: Followup

WRT Dr. Who & Batman, my favourite thing about Hoo'd Wins is that it's usually assumed the competition/conflict will be a physical one. A real twist can be thrown in by using a non-traditional sphere of conflict.

noondaypaisley and kinra both had good ideas vis a vis the fact that a conflict between the two of them would likely be a non-physical one. I find it difficult to figure out what, exactly, that would be, but I'd give the advantge to the time lord.

I also find it likely that any confrontation between the two would not be dissimilar to the final confrontation in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey.

One last bit before bedtime.

"Driving with him is like a religious experience."

"Really?"

"Oh, yes. The entire time, you're going 'Oh, God, Oh, God, Oh, God'."

[rimshot]