#243 Parental RelaShawns

Well, after a week with the parents, it's now just Marcel and I and the dogs at the cottage. (Mom and Dad were here for the first week.)

For as much as we bitched and moaned about their slowness and creakiness and hardness of hearing and sketchy memory; the cottage is certainly missing something without them.

We are more than happy to have the place to ourselves for the following week, but it's a bittersweet moment when they left.  You're sad to see them go, but you kinda wish they'd stay too.

You don't pick your family,but in the case if my Parents I'm not sure I could have chosen any better.

#242 Friendly InteracShawn

Good Friends.

Good Food.

Wine.

...and Cards Against Humanity.

Had a wonderful evening with our friends Reg and Will.  Had a great meal and then ended the evening playing Cards Against Humanity.  Never has being Politically Incorrect ever been so much fun!

...it would have been MORE fun had I won the game, but Marcel did and I was only one point behind him, so, it wasn't a total loss... it was more of a Silver Victory. And that's just how I am going to remember it. 

In fact it was such a great evening, we're going to repeat it on Friday night here at the cottage.  Friends, Food, Booze and Inappropriate Humour. 

#241 Exquisite NutriShawn

Tonight was our annual Lobster Dinner with my Mom and Dad. They insist on taking us out each summer for a lobster dinner, to refuse them would be the ultimate insult.

The last few years we went to Fisherman's Wharf in North Rustico, but Marcel was wanting to go old school and go to one of the more traditional and original Lobster Dinner Halls they still exist on the Island.

We opted for the New Glasgow Lobster Suppers. This was a place our family used to go to years ago.  They started serving Dinners there in the Summer of 1958. When a place has been serving the same meal for more than 55 years, you know it's going to be good.

Limitless Steamed Mussels, Seafood Chowder and Salad and Home-made Dinner Rolls (I had 3 bowls of Chowder and 6 Rolls, on top of 2 Salad Plates and a couple dozen Mussels). And then the mail course of a 1.5 lb Lobster. And for dessert some old school, home made chocolate cake.

We rolled ourselves out of there. Satisfied and sated. 

#240 SocializaShawn

Today was social visit day.

We don't do social visits often. It's not that we're not social, it's just that we prefer to not be around people. :-) Okay, that's not entirely not true, we have friends... we visit them once a year when we're on the Island.  lol 

We had a great visit with our friends Reg and Will. Shootin' the shit. Critiquing such cinematic block busters as "Sharknado", "Fido", Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter" and so on... Then on to a discussion about anti-depressants and their side-effects, and then onto comic book stores and customer service. You know, the basics.

It was a good time and on Saturday Night we're going over to their place for dinner and a game of Cards Against Humanity.  Should be a good time... we have very little hope for Humanity so we should be naturals at the game.

#239 Rose PlantaShawn

'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'

Truer words, my friends. Truer words.

Every year when Marcel and I are at the cottage, my Mom asks us to weed the garden around the front deck. And by "weed" she means remove all new sod of grass that has grown in because she never plants anything. 

Well this year I told her "No. Unless something is planted we are not going to do all the work just to have nothing planted next spring and then have to do the same work again next year."

I told her point me in the direction of a good nursery where I can buy some old fashioned rose bushes and I'll do the work it takes to dig up the "garden" again and this time plant some perennials - Rose bushes and we'll be done with it.

One day later I now have 8 rose bushes, 2 sedums and 2 day lilies to plant.  Sure it's because I opened my big mouth, but I have to tell you  I LOVE old fashioned rose bushes, so I really don't mind. Only problem is we will have to wait a year to see any noticeable results...

#238 Parental Technology EducaShawn

Last summer, my Mom fell in love with our Nexus Tablets. Of course all she did was play Majong, but he was in geeky Techno Love.

So this spring Marcel and I talked about getting her one for Christmas this year. But given the learning curve, and to be honest, just the set-up we realized it was not a good gift since we'd not be able to walk her through it in person.

Well, this vacation she was again asking to use the tablet to play games. And she wanted me to go out shopping with her to get one.  Well okay... I guess I can do that. We finally found some at Target. And she was going to buy one but her bank card wasn't working, so I said let me get it and bam... a minute later I kissed her on the cheek and said "Merry Christmas"

Then as we left Target she said, "Okay, now I want to get an iPhone." I just did NOT have it in me to walk her though this.

The next hour was spent setting up her gmail account and prepping her table. And repeating the basics.  On. Off. Volume. Email. Face Book,  Download Games.  

And now I've guaranteed myself to endless calls of It doesn't work. What's Wrong. Fix it... all over the phone...  

And god forbid when I get my NEW iPhone in the fall and send my 4G to her... 

I have pretty much guaranteed myself a quicker path to the grave... the years this is going to take off my life...

Pray for me.

#237 Leash EmancipaShawn

I don't know what I love more...

... being on the beach with Marcel and the Dogs, or watching the dogs go mental, running about off their leashes.

As city dogs,  they only get to walk on their leash. And as they, well more specifically Santiago is a bit of a dick around other dogs, taking them to Dog Parks or Dog Runs is out of the question. So, this is their one time of year where that can go run amok and for the most part we don't have to worry.   

The first day they kind of spin their tires in circles at the initial joy of being off the lead. Then, on subsequent days, it's all about chasing the seagulls, sniffing the dead crabs and seaweed and just enjoying their freedom.

IT's really a win win. They get some great exercise, as do we, AND we also get to de-stress and chill with endless walks on the beach.

It's pretty much Vacation Perfection