Oooo... NO *SALES TAXES*, Today!

ah. LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN BUY..?

LOBLAWS had another one of Their "NO TAXES DAY" for TODAY and Yesterday - [which We didn't do as there were OTHER STORES that needed Going-To..] -- The "GAME PLAN", was to utilize Said *SAVINGS* by Stocking-UP on Regularly-NEEDED-Items, especially on Those that just *also* happened to be "ON SALE"...

AS IN, My Fav "Brand" of STORAGE CONTAINERS! - I got FOUR. However, there's also the DILEMMA of *Finding* a "SPOT" to PUT Them while I Decide on *WHAT* to Put *IN* Them! And THEN, FIND *another* SPOT to "STORE" Them for the long-haul..??

I was also, "in the market" for some LAUNDRY SOAP... That worked out! -- ON SALE *and* came with STORE-"POINTS"! - yay!

Meanwhile, several "FOOD"-SALES were also tossed in... I'd already thought that I'd gotten a GREAT DEAL on My CEREAL, however, I later *Discovered* that I'd gotten an even *BETTER* DEAL! Apparently, NICE-CHATTY-CASHIER-GIRL had *MISSED* Charging Me on One of the BOXES!

I will SAVOUR My *SAVINGS* over BREAKFAST, Tomorrow...

ANYHOO... We kept Our "TRAVELS" to the EAST. - Instead, of going to TRAINYARDS for a change...

A long-overdue VISIT to FABRICLAND was "in order"...

That Resulted in THIS BIT of "REMNANT-RESCUE"... IT's suppose to be "MIXED-FIBERS", although I Suspect more on the COTTON-side..? - whatever... IT's rather Thick and Sturdy.  - [2-YARDS] - Would be good for Heavily-Used ITEMS. - SEAT-CUSHIONS... PATIO-PILLOWS...

Anyway, the "Classic" Simplicity of IT appealed to Me... BTW, I "think" the STRIPES are an UMBER-BROWN..? - As, in *some* "LIGHTING-CONDITIONS, there's a *possibility* that IT could be a "VIOLET" Shade!

No matter... I like, BOTH!

***********************************************************

The YARN-"TOUR"-de-SHIPPING...

I'M GUESSING, NO ONE CAN GET *HERE* FROM "THERE"..?

The OTHER DAY, I "mentioned" that I had Bought some YARN. - ONLINE... My Fav PATONS "CLASSIC WOOL", at a *really* GREAT PRICE!! - Plus, FREE SHIPPING!

But, a bit of "BACKGROUND" first...

Apparently, in the Past Year, NORTH AMERICAN Yarn Companies PATONS, BERNAT, CARON, and LILY decided to "pool" Their MARKETING - [or Whatever] - RESOURCES together under a Site called "YARNSPIRATIONS", which is Based out of CANADA's primary Yarn-"Country" in The-MIDDLE-of-NOWHERE-ONTARIO...

I suppose IT works for Them... Although, *Personally*, there are aspects of this New-Arrangement that I'm not really all that *fond* of. - But, THAT's *My* "problem". So far...

Anyway... There's this BIG SALE going on, on "Select" YARNS... Thankfully, that included the CLASSIC WOOL! - However, *only* in a Handful of Colours... Otherwise, I WOULD have Bought a **LOT** More at THAT Price!!

So... I placed My ORDER on the 21st. Got an Order-Confirmation quickly enough - telling Me to Wait for a "SHIPPING"-Confirmation to Verify that EVERYTHING I "Ordered" was actually "IN STOCK"... However, Said "CONFIRMATION" didn't show up until the 26th! -- When IT did, I got a "TRACKING NUMBER" from a Major COURIER COMPANY and the notice that THE PARCEL had been *Sent Out* on the 24th!

okay.. That's all within *Reason*, considering that there's likely Lots of Orders since it was a BIG SALE.

Meanwhile though, due to "HIGH VOLUME", I had NOT been able to ascertain ANY further INFORMATION regarding THE PARCEL from the COURIER COMPANY other than the TRACKING NUMBER! - Until, THIS Evening [29th]...

Up until this point, I didn't even know from *WHERE* IT was being Shipped *FROM*!?

And, IF I'm reading it right, GRAND RAPIDS, "MICHIGAN" appears to be the "POINT-of-ORIGIN"... Where, IT's been SITTING for a FEW DAYS until being Sent to DES PLAINES, "ILLINOIS"!?? - Today! -- And, is Now suppose to be PASSED ON to a CANADIAN COURIER COMPANY..??


okay, EVERYONE, Grab a MAP of NORTH AMERICA. In particularly, of the area around The GREAT LAKES... I'll wait...


Find OTTAWA first - way to the EAST... Between TORONTO and MONTREAL. Now, DES PLAINES is a "suburb" of CHICAGO. Bottom WEST side of LAKE MICHIGAN - [the droopy Middle Lake] - and, GRAND RAPIDS is a third way up the EAST side of the LAKE... *IN* the "State" of MICHIGAN. Closer to DETROIT. Which, is *on* THE U.S.-CANADA BORDER!! -- Not to mention, to the *EAST* and also *CLOSER* than CHICAGO!?

PEOPLE! - IT's a Box of "YARN", *NOT* a "NEW CAR"!!

You know, DESPITE the Fact that I *still* don't HAVE THE PARCEL *yet*, that "FREE SHIPPING" part is looking better and better! -- Although, whether or not I'll end up having to PAY any "DUTY-CUSTOM"-FEES remains a Mystery!!

Anyhoo... I'll keep YOU ALL "Posted" on IT's *PROGRESS*...

*****************************************************************

so. If *Tomorrow* is "BLACK FRIDAY"...

DOES THAT MAKE *TODAY* "TOUR-quoise- THURSDAY"..?
-- Seeing as *Yesterday* was certainly "WHITE-OUT WEDNESDAY"!!

whatever...


Anyhoo... *HAPPY T-DAY!* to My AMERICAN BLOOGSTERS!

HOPE that EVERYONE *got* to WHERE They were Going. And, are managing to "DIGEST" WHATever They ATE..? - As well as, "SURVIVE" Their upcoming HOLIDAY-SHOPPING-SPREES!? - [Remember, *Leave* the KIDS at Home! But, not the BODY-ARMOR..]

MEANWHILE... NORTH-of-the-BORDER...

A SUNNY, *COLD*, Shovel-*LESS* Day, spent on *SOLO*-SHOP-FARI... Mostly, involving GROCERY-GETTING the LAST of "THIS"-Week's-SPECIALS. - However, not BEFORE a Leisurely-Tour of MICHAEL'S...

THEY had a ONE-DAY-SALE on some CONTAINERS that MOTHER wanted... Although, ALL I got - [for me] - was some BLACK RIBBON and a "HALF-PRICE-COUPONed" BALL of...

 [guess!!]

Otherwise, IT was just "ANOTHER DAY"...

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ohhh...My POOR-BABY-*SHOVELS*!

THEY'RE JUST NOT USED TO SUCH HEAVY *WET* SNOW AT "THIS" TIME OF YEAR!

sooo....

The "BAD" NEWS

yeah. We got *DUMPED-ON* by that BIG STORM Overnight! At least a FOOT-DEEP over the Laneway... Almost Twice that at the Roadside, "courtesy" of EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY!

BTW, This SEASON's "PLOW-POOP-MOUNTAIN" is off to an INcreasing-Start! - About a METER-HIGH when I last left IT. And, "SEWER-CANYON" has been neatly Carved out....

The "GOOD" NEWS

After 3-HOURS of FLAKE-FLINGING, I'm actually Feeling BETTER than I thought I would! - [huh..] - And, We appear to have MISSED the NASTIER bits of THE STORM..? - NO RAIN! - "Freezing" or Otherwise! - [seriously. I'll take SNOW over FREEZING-RAIN *Any* Day!!]

The "EXCITING-GREAT" NEWS

Remember FAIRY-T's Daughter - The *SCIENCE*-GRAD turned *JOURNALIST* - "COPY"-KAT? - [SEE 20FEB2013 POST]

well... GUESS "WHO" **WON** a Couple of *AWARDS* at the BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL Dinner-Thingy in COVENTRY, earlier Today..?!

So, if I've got all of This Correctly, She took SECOND-PLACE for Her DOCUMENTRY "WITHOUT A DIAGNOSIS"!!

And then, was Awarded "STUDENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR"!!

hmm... I think I might just have to Impose on Her "GENETIC"-SKILLS to "TEST" My *SNOW*..? - AS, I'm beginning to SUSPECT that IT's *actually* "FAIRY-DUST" from an *OVER*-ECSTATIC "FAIRY-MUM"!?! - [Those GLITTERY bits just get *EVERY* where!!]

*******************************************************************

?!? *NOW* What?!! -- okay. enough. I'm Blaming IT *ALL* on that DAMN COMET!!

yeah... yeah. THAT'LL WORK! - [something has to!!]

 

Then again, Those THREE *DIFFERENT* OAK LEAVES

- [btw, there are NO Oak Trees close by] -

in front of the Garage look mighty Suspicious...

 

 

So. Have You ever had "ONE-OF-*THOSE*-DAYS" when *EVERYTHING* around You just goes - [to put it "Politely"] - **AWRY**..??

 

-- ahh.. "WHERE" do I Begin..?

 

 

The ONLY "GOOD" THINGS that Happened...

• We ran into One of MOTHER's COUSINS - [Who's just a few years older than Me] - that We haven't seen in Ages!
• Had a FULL Tank of GAS!
• Actually had a BLANK-CHEQUE on Me. Although, *enough* CASH would have SOLVED *MUCH*!
• *THANK YOU!* little "SWISS ARMY" KNIFE!
• The POSTAL-LADY was Nice. And, DIDN'T *BLAME* Me!!
• I found a DIME...
• NASTY WEATHER held OFF...
• Long enough to Get HOME "SAFE & SOUND"!

 

 

"WHAT" *DIDN'T* - But, could very easily have - GONE WRONG...

• I didn't have to Shovel that little bit of Leftover SNOW on the Laneway.
• The PRECIPITATION held OFF *until* We got HOME.
• CAR-TRAFFIC was actually surprisingly "Moderate"!
• MOTHER didn't "b*tch" about being left on Her own at MICHAEL'S for so long.

 

 

*STUFF* that I'm going to Blame on THE COMET for... [seriously, "why not"? Has ANYthing *good* ever come from THE OORT-CLOUD?!]

• MOTHER had Decided to "come along" on MY "SHOP-FARI-DAY"! - [I could have Left at least 20-Minutes SOONER...]
• Granted, I would have MISSED out on seeing COUSIN-H, but, I also would've Saved another HALF-HOUR at COSTCO! - Despite the PARKING-LOT-TRAFFIC...
• My CHARGE-CARD was acting hinky There... [just the FIRST *OMEN* of Day]
• BTW, did I *mention* that there's a BIG STORM Coming..?
• And, that Tomorrow is "PENSION-DAY"..?
• hm. My OTHER CHARGE-CARD seems to have KILLED the CARD-READER at the MAIN POST OFFICE..?!
• Of course, a LINE of CUSTOMERS has just appeared out of NOwhere...
• For *over* 20-Minutes POOR-*NICE*-POSTAL-LADY has had to tear down the MACHINE to get at the Plug and then REBOOT...
• okay. THAT didn't work...
• NEITHER did the IDIOT on the Phone at TECH-"SUPPORT"!
• POOR-POSTAL-LADY is about to go "postal" with Her USELESS-CO-[non]-WORKERS, but, still LIKES Me! - [screwdriver-part on Knife was extremely Helpful!]
• "NEXT TIME" - I *will* bring CASH!
• nuts! - I DON'T have *enough* Money in That Account! - Hope She doesn't "cash" THE CHEQUE right away!?
• really? - Now the WALMART RECEIPT doesn't want to Print-Out... [hey! I used a DIFFERENT CHARGE-CARD!]
• The WEATHER is slowly "Starting"...
• There's "SOMETHING" at MICHAEL'S that I just KNOW that I'm "FORGETTING"...
• Only have Time for ONE more Store.
• great. The Shelf of the "ON SALE" MEAT I came for is EMPTY!? - [but, LUCKILY *more* was being prepared!]
• Can I get any *more* RED LIGHTS and STOPPING-SCHOOL-BUSES on the Way HOME..? - [got FUNDS to Transfer... And, to pee!]
• "WHY" is My SIDE-MIRROR hitting the PLASTIC-[thank you!]-TRASH-CANS in the Garage..?

 

 

 

Got ALL 7 of what was Left of THESE "LAVENDER" BALLS.
Not that I actually *need* Another BOX, but, I thought IT was CUTE and, IT was only $1.66!

 

crap!! - I just REMEMBERED that I had FORGOTTEN about SENIORS'-DISCOUNT-DAY!!
I could have SAVED a Few Dollars!!

aarrrgggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

 

**************************************************************

"..on HOLD.."..??

DID SOMEONE ACCIDENTLY HIT THE "UNIVERSAL-*PAUSE*-BUTTON"..?

-- 'cuz, EVERYTHING Today has either been...

• Running S-L-O-W
• or just NOT Running, period!
• BTW, *STOPPING* would be good, too!! - [just saying..]
• LATE in Coming
• IF IT comes at all...
• Outright DULL.
• Not Clearing-Up.
• Threatening to "HAPPEN"...
• maybe... or, not... whatever...
• Really not AS "Efficient" as *THEY* think IT "is"..?
• yeah...That "worked"... [NOT!]
• Screw IT! - I'm just going to REBOOT!
• nuts! - I forgot that I wanted to do some Laundry...
• MOTHER wants to do "WHAT" Tomorrow..?!!

 

 

MEANWHILE... When the "PLAY-BUTTON" starts up again Tomorrow, it'll be...

• good! FINALLY! The "SHIPPING" Confirmation!
• ..with the "TRACKING-NUMBER" that WON'T "Track"!
• For, the ITEM that will PROBABLY Arrive WHEN I'm out of the HOUSE
• ...in the IMPENDING-Weather...
• ...with MOTHER...
• NO Doubt, being CHARGED for Additional UN-mentioned *DUTY-FEES*!
• BTW, FATHER so does NOT *DO* "RECEIPT"-of-*DELIVERIES*!!
• ...especially, for LARGE Parcels of YARN that He *doesn't* KNOW about.
• YET!
• hmm... I don't think I've ever looked so *forward* in WANTING to *SHOVEL* before!

 

********************************************************************

oh-kaay... THAT's *NOT* "Normal"!!

IT'S "SUN"DAY. -- AND, IT'S **SUNNY**!!??

[Surely... A "Sign" of *THE APOCALYPSE*!?]

Although, seeing as the WINDCHILL was in the -13C range, there really wasn't a whole lot of SOLAR "melting" going on with the Remnants of Yesterday's SNOW. - I hadn't been OUT Today. BUT, I suspect that there's some "ICING" going on..?

whatever. - Meteorological "Semantics" aside, *VEGGING* with some STITCHINESS was the Primary "Order-of-the-Day"...

AS IN... More SQUARES on THE BLANKET. More ROWS on THE HATS...

********************************************************************

well. So much for THAT "New-Product-Line" Idea...

really!? FOR *ONLY* $2.40 EACH? -- HOW *DO* I COMPETE AGAINST THE "CUTENESS"..??!!

MEANWHILE, I'm sitting on a TROVE of *Quality* "RAW MATERIAL" just begging to be Transformed into NON-GLUE-GUNNED-HAND-HEWN-CREATIVE-CRAFTINESS that can be SOLD in the $5. to $10. Range, however, with $15. to $20. looking "Workmanship"! - AND, that will give Me enough "PROFIT" to cover THE ELVES' "PAYROLL"! -- Not to mention, Craft-Show-TABLE-Booking-COSTS, Sled FUEL...

oh. well...

HEY! *LOOK*!! -- SNOW SQUALLS! - AND, Me having to SHOVEL almost 2-Inches of IT before heading to THE MALL... ROAD-CONDITIONS were *not* Favourable enough to Venture over to TRAINYARDS.

BTW, did I "mention" the Part about having to *SHOVEL*..?!!

*********************************************************************

I think THE SUN just snuck off on "VACATION"... somewhere ELSE!

'CUZ, IT SURE AIN'T HANGING AROUND IN *THESE* PARTS!!

NOTE-TO-SELF:

Start *over-dosing* on the VITAMIN-D!

really? - Could IT be any *MORE* "Depressing" OUT there..? IT's been DRIZZLY-FOGGY-DAMP-and-*DARK* ALL Day!! And, the Future "FORECASTS" don't look all that much - [literally] - *BRIGHTER*, either...

Also, "Rumours" of SNOW for Tomorrow..??

MEANWHILE...

Some more SQUARES were completed on THE BLANKET. Along with, an additional *MYSTERY*-Colour! - In the "CLASSIC WOOL"... I'll leave it to You to GUESS "which" One!

And, since IT was too awkward to handle whilst UPSTAIRS - as I partook of My FRIDAY-NIGHT-TV-VIEWING - [I needed *SOMETHING* to "work on" during the "Commercials"...] - I Decided to get a "Start" on a Couple of *Promised* HATS for PRINCESS-TALL-TEEN and Her MOM.

Apparently, PRINCESSES'-MOM has been "borrowing" Her DAUGHTER's BLACK ONE much *too* often! And Now, She wants a PINK ONE..?!!

[..sigh..] -- PROGENY...

*****************************************************************

some times... I really WISH that I Lived NEAR My SISTER...

AS THERE ARE SOME REALLY GREAT "ANTIQUE" AUCTIONS IN HER AREA!!

I could sooooo *FILL* a HOUSE with ALL of the Fabulous STUFF that They've got for Sale over THERE! -- Not to mention, the Odd ART PIECE... Such as THESE TWO SMALL ONES...

THEY had been almost totally *obscured* by some OTHER OBJECT in the AUCTION-SITE-PHOTOS, however, I did manage to catch a tiny "glimpse"... Enough to pique My Curiosity... It was SISTER who Snapped These Pics...

I'm still trying to find out "HOW MUCH" They went for..? - I had given Her a "Price-Range", based *only* on the afore-mentioned Visual-"Fragment". -- It's still UNclear as to whether She took the initiative to slightly "exceed" My "Limit" - [which, upon These Pics, I would have approved] - OR, if They had gone for a *much* HIGHER Price..?

And, as much as She has a Passion-for-PAINT, including a GIFT for *certain* "STYLES" of PAINTING and ARTISTIC-EXPRESSION, Her "Scholarship" however, of ART "History", Commercial "Values", etc. is - [along with the "confidence" of Her "BIDDING" Skills] - somewhat *lacking*..?

SO, it's likely DOUBTFUL that She "Acquired" THEM... a shame really... As, They would have taken the *Quality* of My "COLLECTION" UP a Few-Notches!

***************************************************************

All *snug* in ITS New "HOME"...

THE SUN FINALLY CAME "OUT" IN NEW BRUNSWICK...

So, SISTER got around to taking a Pic of My Last "BABY" - "PLATINUM-BLACK" - [SEE 30OCT2013 POST] - settled onto ITS *Personal*-Chair in Her GUEST-ROOM...

Actually, there was probably a bit TOO much SUNLIGHT going on..? -- EVERYTHING is *suppose* to be GREY! - Not "TAUPE"!

*********************************************************************

hmm...25-Squares and Counting...

HOPE I CAN GET OVER "30"..?

nuts!? -- ah. *WHY* has My Right-WRIST suddenly "Broken-Out" in little Histaminic-Welts..? Was IT "Something" I Ate..? - Or, worse yet, some "FIBER" in This YARN that I'm *suddenly* ALLERGIC to..?!! -- I'd better *NOT* be!! - I really LIKE This Colour!!

*****************************************************************

okay. NO Worries! Everything "cleared-up" later on...

..coming along NICELY...

-- YESTERDAY'S "LITTLE"-EXPERIMENT THAT IS...

Managed to get over a DOZEN-SQUARES done between the usual "MONDAY"-Work after getting "UP" *really* LATE again... When I "VEG", I **VEG**!! -- Of course, I still didn't GET to Bed until 6am!

Besides, the *EARLY*-Morning-WIND-STORMING didn't "help", either! -- oh! And, did I "mention" the Part about it being *GARBAGE*-PICKUP-DAY..?? Along with "CANS-BOTTLES"-RECYCLING... Apparently, MOTHER kept Discovering OTHER-NEIGHBOURS' wayward BLUE-BOXES sliding down the Road...

WHAT can I Say..? -- *THIS* is "The BURBS". - We get Our "ENTERTAINMENT" *WHEREVER* We can FIND IT!

MEANWHILE... IT's *LATE* again and I've got SHOP-FARI-ing to DO "Later"...

So. *Later*...

********************************************************************

...about to Embark on a "Little" EXPERIMENT...

EVER SINCE I GOT *THIS* YARN "ON SALE" A FEW WEEKS BACK and, Finished that BLANKET for SISTER's GUEST-ROOM, I've been WANTING to *Start* This "Little PROJECT"...

"Normally", I'd still be "vegging" after My rather ARDUOUS Day Yesterday "AT-THE-*FIELD-OFFICE*", but the "CREATIVE-URGE" to get AT THIS, has been considerably OVERWHELMING! -- Besides, if I don't do *Something*, the ARTHRITIS in My RIGHT-HAND *will* "Freeze" IT up! - I *have* to keep IT *MOVING*!

...And, I've yet to CROCHET with *THIS* YARN... [temptation, temptation...]

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