yuck! Such *crappy* Weather for those Poor VETs!

YOU'D THINK THAT THE COLD *RAIN* AND *WET* SNOW COULD HOLD OFF FOR A FEW HOURS AT LEAST..?!!

*RARELY* does the WEATHER "co-operate" around HERE on "REMEMBRANCE DAY"! - WHICH I'd imagine, is considerably bothersome for THOSE - [a good many ELDERLY and INFIRMED VETERANS] - attending the rather large *prolonged* NATIONALLY-"TELEVISED"-[Governmental-"PHOTO-OP"]-EVENT...

However, ALL *Necessary* CEREMONY aside, I really wish that ONE of these Days, "SOMEONE" would put up *some* Protective-Canopy for the VETS and ELDERLY... The area surrounding the NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL is somewhat "exposed" despite being in the heart of DOWNTOWN. -- I've often wondered about how *Many* of THEM end up "catching" some potentially FATAL AILMENT due to WEATHER CONDITIONS..?


Anyway...

**THANK YOU** to ALL of THEM

- PAST and PRESENT!!

Meanwhile, for Those of You on TWITTER, consider "Following" -- @WeAreTheDead
[SEE 11NOV2011 POST for LINK Details]

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*SORRY*! - SATURDAY'S-SCHEDULED-SHOP-FARI has been *CANCELLED*...

DUE TO **RAIN**! -- [well... sorta...]

yeah.. We'll just "skim" over the part where I didn't "get-up" until after 1:00... [hey! I didn't get TO Bed *until* 6am!!]

ANYHOO... IT was RAINING, **ALL DAY**!! - But, THANKFULLY, *NOT* any Heavy DOWNPOURS. At least, I didn't Notice any..? -- There's been this large - [cold-front] - SWATH of RAIN sweeping across the ENTIRE NORTH-EAST. We caught the Northern-EDGE...

COOLER TEMPS and perhaps some SUNNINESS, will show up Tomorrow? -- I hope IT "helps" for the Morning's "CANADA-ARMY-RUN" that CPL.TAT-MOM will be Participating in.

MEANWHILE... There was this "SENIORS"-Oriented TRADE-SHOW that MOTHER had wanted to Attend - [and I, *didn't*!] - so, She managed to Convince FATHER into Taking Her... About an HOUR *BEFORE* They were about to Close!! -- THEY were *successful* in "acquiring" Adaquate Amounts of FREE *PASTRY*, "TOTE"-BAGS and PENS! - [Their *Shared* "Collective"-Passion! -- don't ask...]

Afterward, THEY did a bit of GROCERY-GETTING... However, there was some ADDITIONAL ITEMS that I wanted to Get at THE MALL... So, upon THEIR RETURN, MOTHER was OFF with Me This Time! And, with another "HOUR"-DEADLINE!

I *HATE* going OUT on RAINY Days... Rather be PLAYING-WITH-YARN!!

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The Predictably of the WEATHER-Double-WHAMMY!

NOT TO MENTION, FATHER'S "TIMING"..?

So. "LABOUR-DAY-WEEKEND" - [BTW, "HAPPY" That!] - and, *Another* of OTTAWA's FEW Weather-CONSTANTS... "WHY?"

well... Because of the 4-Day GATINEAU - [IT's just across the River] - HOT-AIR BALLOON **FESTIVAL**, of course!! - Which, *IF* THEY're "Lucky", *might* get a HANDFUL of AIRTIME *BEFORE* the Usual-ANNUAL-*STORMY*-WEATHER comes through...

But, IT gets "better"... AS *Tomorrow* is **PAPER**-RECYCLING-PICKUP-DAY! -- IT *always* RAINS Overnight and/or ON the Morning of "PAPER-DAY"...

FATHER put IT "Out" during the MID-Afternoon, *after* doing some Yard-Work - instead of after SUPPER... Meanwhile, MOTHER was *about* to "Hang" a Load of LAUNDRY OUT - [yet another, Weather-Maker around HERE...], when FATHER Noticed the DARK CLOUDS headed THIS WAY! - [via *GATINEAU*!]

A Minute AFTER THEY came IN, a DOWNPOUR, LIGHTNING, THUNDER, *quickly* FILLING BUCKETS of SUDDENLY-*SOGGY*-YARD-WASTE-and-RECYCLED-PAPER!!

I *knew* He should of Waited until LATER... The METEOROLOGICAL-BIBLICAL-*ness* only lasted for about an Hour! - Just long enough to pretty much RUIN EVERYONE's Day!

As for Myself, I spent *most* of IT CUTTING-UP "PAPERS"! - My RIGHT-THUMB is somewhat NUMB from Scissor-USE! - Took Longer than I Thought IT would... I *had* "planned" on making an Assault upon "THE ROOM" in SEARCH of Needed YARN...

oh well...

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"DARTH" SHADOWS...

...MAY THE FLOWER BE WITH YOU...

When SISTER sent THIS TULIP PHOTO that She took the Other Day, the *First* Thought that popped into My Head was THIS - [LEFT] - "STAR WARS" Ad-Poster!!





Anyhoo... Speaking of "DARTH VADER", the Original Actor to Portray the Character - DAVE PROWSE - is *actually* HERE in Town THIS WEEKEND as a GUEST at The OTTAWA COMIC-CON!


I met Him once at another "Convention" about a Decade ago... Nice Man.



Anyway, Check-Out the Website for the CON, They have a rather Interesting Line-Up!

http://ottawacomiccon.com

MEANWHILE... Also OPENING "TODAY" and, until SEPT. 2nd -- is the "STAR WARS - Identities" EXHIBITION at The CANADA AVIATION and SPACE MUSEUM...

Which, just happens to be rather Close-By! Though, it's been Years since I've been THERE!
-- hmm... Guess I'll have to GO, *some* Time!

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..ahh...oh-kaay...sooo, Either "SOMEONE" real-ly, **REALLY** "Likes Me"..??

OR, "BLOGGER" WE HAVE A *STAT*-PROBLEM!!? -- Because, Honestly, I *ain't* THAT "Popular"!! NOR, have a Gazillion "FOLLOWERS" to *Explain* the over 160 "Views" I had around 5 a.m.!!??

And seriously, the Extra *Attention* is NICE and all, BUT, I'd really rather have "The CASH"!!
-- just saying...

ANYHOO... Like *CLOCKWORK*, the WEATHER did *not* Disappoint with ITS COOL-DREARY-DAMP-RAINY-MOMENTS on **PAPER**-RECYCLE-DAY!! -- oh! And, there was YARD-WASTE Pick-Up, too!

You know, IT kinda makes One "WONDER"..?? -- The "Fact" that there seems to be RAIN 4 out of 5 Times on PAPER-Pick-Up-DAY... *COULD* IT be some WEIRD-TWISTED-"ARBOREAL"-*CURSE* from the "PAPER's" long-dead *FAMILY-TREES*..?? - As in, those MANY "LOGS" that once FILLED Our Local WATERways..?!

OTTAWA began as a LUMBER-TOWN. -- I *still* Remember the sight of seeing COUNTLESS Logs floating in the OTTAWA RIVER just below the Cliffs of PARLIAMENT HILL. There used to be a *huge* SAWMILL on the Opposite Shore - [the QUEBEC Side] - Actually, One of My Late UNCLES made a SHORT-FILM-DOCUMENTARY on the Local "Industry" just before IT Died-Out...

whatever... I just can't help imagining that SOME of those DEAD-*SOGGY*-TREES are exacting Their "REVENGE" by WATERING-down Their *DESCENDANTS*!? -- yeah. *CRAZY*! I know... Then again, not nearly AS much as The WEATHER of Late. So. Who's to Say? huh?

MEANWHILE... Also got some "Expected"-GOOD-MAIL and a New DECOR-MAG in the POST. -- So, the DAY wasn't a Total-WRITE-OFF!

hmm... I wonder WHO will show up in My Next Bunch of "STATS"..? - Another MULTITUDE of ADORING-LITERARY-*FANS* or, just the Haunting PAPERazzi..??

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oh. right.. "TOURIST-Season"...

AND, A LONG WEEKEND COMING UP, TOO... Remind Me, to STAY-**IN**-THE-"BURBS"!!

So. As it happens, I had to spend This Lovely Day on a JOURNEY-to-the-CENTER-of-DOWNTOWN's-Touristy-HUSTLE-and-BUSTLE... IT's TULIP FESTIVAL MONTH Here in OTTAWA, so LOTS of VISITORS-Many-From-AFAR running about.

Going UP into TOWN for an Appointment - via BUSES - wasn't so cumbersome, however, the
"Return"-TRAFFIC past PARLIAMENT HILL was rather GLACIAL in ITS movement... I *probably* could have WALKED the Distance to the RIDEAU CENTRE in LESS Time!

Once There, I made a leisurely perusal of OLD NAVY... I have all of these 15%-DISCOUNT-COUPONS to USE! - I just ended up Purchasing a NAVY LINEN SHIRT - [a CLASSIC Colour and Fabric!].

Next, a Stop at THE GAP... ah. 30%-OFF... TWO "ON-SALE" Dark ROSE-Coloured T-SHIRTS and, *another* TURQUOISE SWEATER.

Alas, I finally made it THROUGH the MALL to grab a BUS Homeward to THE MALL. Where, I DID the "usual" Rounds... I would have taken the Local-BUS HOME, but, considering the
"Schedule", WALKING was the Quicker-Way to go! -- And, of course, "Healthier"-yadda-yadda...

Just, don't mind Me, WHEN I "decide" to SLEEP-IN-LATE, Tomorrow! -- I see *much* VEGGING ahead!


Meanwhile... The BEST Part of Today...

**HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, SISTER-S and MOUNTIE-MAN!!**

**HUGS**!!!

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GIRLS On the DOWNTOWN -- The SAGA of SHERPA SHAN

IT'S The NATIONAL WOMEN'S SHOW - OTTAWA Spring Edition! And, at the Recently Completed OTTAWA CONVENTION CENTRE. Very 21st Century on the Outside with all of IT's Facet-like Dark-Glass and Organic Shaping.

HERE's a "Money-Shot" from the 3rd Floor Gallery. That's the PEACE TOWER and PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS in the CENTER - Just a few Blocks away... The "Puddle" Area, is THE RIDEAU CANAL - which is flooded in Early Winter to freeze up as The WORLD's Longest ICE RINK. IT's finally been drained, semi-cleaned... IT'll be re-flooded soon again for the Summer Small Boat Traffic. A little Ways to the RIGHT, there's a LOCK-SYSTEM that goes Down to The OTTAWA RIVER.

So. Today was the First *really* SUNNY Day this Week! Was a tad Cool in the Morning, but got much Warmer later on.

The SHOW opened at 10am - however, unless You want to end up *behind* a few Thousand Other Women, and MISS OUT on getting one of The GOODIE BAGS, You HAVE to be There by 9:00 at the Latest!! Seriously, NO Joke. It's like Hundreds SUDDENLY "Beam-In" when You're not looking!

MOTHER and I left at 8:30 with a short Drive to THE BIG MALL. Parked The CAR. TOOK a Bus to DOWNTOWN. Found Our Way IN - quickie "plumbing" break for Her... Got Our Tickets - WooHoo, had a Discount Voucher! And, was Directed to proceed Down The RAMP to the End of the Line...

It was around 9-ish Then, and We were near the Bottom of The RAMP. I'm guessing there were perhaps 300 or so People AHEAD of Us... -- Ahh... *TIMING*... Within MOMENTS, there were a few Dozen more BEHIND Us! Shortly after that, the "Beyond The RAMP People" were moved to the other side of the Short Escalator to keep The Main Entrance clear.

Within the next 15 Minutes, at least 500 or *more* "appeared"! Then, at 10, We began to herd up
The RAMP, crossed over to the base of THE ESCALATOR where They took Our Tickets. Once,
"TOPSIDE" onto the 3rd Level, We received Our GOODIE BAGS.

Which, are actually rather nice looking This Year! [BELOW]

BUT, *NO* Time to "check" Them out, there's FOOD to be Sampled and STUFF to be "Acquired".

These BOOTHS were situated Outside of The SHOW ROOM along The GALLERY. And, after waiting around for So Long, One does start to get Peckish... Mind You, many of Us "Veterans" did notice that there weren't nearly as many Food Booths as have been in Previous Years. It used to be like going to a Grocery Store with all of the great FREEBIES back Then!

..oh, well...

After "BRUNCH", off We were to tackle The SHOW ROOM in Our "Mission" to Acquire FREE STUFF!!

FATHER likes *Free* PENS... We probably have enough Now to supply an Entire SCHOOL! Of course, that still doesn't Stop Us from getting *more*... Or, all of those Little NOTEPADS.

The "Trend" Item This Year, appears to be the TOTE BAGS... We got a LOT of Those! - Just MORE
BAGGAGE for Me to SCHLEP! -- OH! Have I mentioned that I spent ALL Afternoon wearing a Not-So-Light-KNAPSACK, and BOTH of the ABOVE Ever-Increasing-in-Weight BAGS..? That were filled with Additional *BAGS*!?

Hello..? MR. GRAVITY, *not* My Friend!

Three Hours LATER, We emerged from The "MOSH" ROOM with MOTHER in need of sampling the
"Hydraulics" once again. As for Me, a DROP ZONE was in immediate Order! -- Got a nice Spot by the Window, in the Shade, on the Carpet...

I had BOOTY to Re-BAG...

As I did, She went back to the FOOD BOOTH for "Lunch". Upon Her return - with yet, another BAG - some of the nearby Seating freed up and I moved Our TROVE over There...

BTW, I should "NOTE"... As lovely as This New Facility is, *considerably* MORE Benches - perhaps along the FIXED Walls, would be Convenient!! ...just saying...

Anyhoo. I parked Her on the Comfy Bench, whilst I took a few Moments for MY much needed Repast! - And, Yes, I came back *with* BAGgage...

Around this Time, MOTHER wanted to go Back IN to see THE SHOW's Head-Liner "Guest" - ERIC BRAEDEN - "Victor Newman" of the Soap Opera "THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS" -- At this Point, I was NOT up to having to HAUL Everything through the ESTROGEN MASSES, again!

I gave Her Directions and turned on Her Phone... I took Pics of the View, chatted with the odd Nearby Person, and worked on the Vitamin D manufacturing.... For a good Half Hour.

So, as it turns out... She didn't quite catch ANY of ERIC's Presentation - She got side-lined at some Booth..? However, when He was Back Stage doing some
"Autographs", MOTHER did get a fleeting glance and *managed* to "persuade" One of the "Security" People to take THIS Pic of Him.

Ahh... MOTHER.. and Her shameless *use* of the "Great-Grandmother-Old-Lady" Card!

Not long after Our "regroup", We LEFT!! Our Day was yet to be *over*...


It's LATE. I'm Exhausted! So, PART 2 of Our *Advanced* "MOTHER's DAY" Adventures, Tomorrow! -- FIND OUT about a few Other *Interesting* People We met at THE SHOW, and "What" bit of Fortune crossed My Path!!

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