more pics of Ethan Reynolds

You know we're almost halfway through the month of November with December and Christmas not far behind. The time is flying by. Wouldn't it be awesome to received a gift, plain or nicely wrapped, to make it a high point during the holiday season? Its a yummy thought but we can dream. Sometimes our most cherished dreams even come true. So, what are you hoping for this season? Feel free to comment! Meantime, here are a few more pics of Ethan Reynolds to give us some inspiration!!! - V
P.S. - I also love having the colour red in a photo. Gets your attention, doesn't it? And whether blond or his natural hair colour, Ethan always looks great!

photo scanner

On my way home this evening I finally got around to purchasing a photo scanner which also happened to be on sale! I bought an Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner. I plan to set it up over the weekend and then do a few test scans using some photos I have accumulated over the past 40 or so years. Remember I started taking photos at around age 10 in the early 1960s. The best results will be posted. That's the plan anyway and some from the trip to Europe in 1972 will be one of the first to be posted, especially for Brad's sake. I think he should find those images quite interesting! Look for some awesome shots! - V

the mountains and other stuff

On the way in to work this morning I noticed that the nearby mountains, the Coast Mountains on the north side of Burrard Inlet, have received a good dusting of fresh snow. The sun was out in all its brilliance and the sky was a clear blue. It was a beautiful setting to see the mountains in an otherwise green landscape. Surprisingly there is still plenty of autumn colour to be seen here in British Columbia's the lower mainland despite it being well into the second week of November.

Its Remembrance Day tomorrow, Thursday, a day to remember the armed forces Veterans on the 11th day of the 11th month of the year. As honourable this is, WWI was to be the war that ended all wars and here we are still fighting each other in various parts of the world. If we removed greed for money and power plus avarice from the picture, and allowed people to live their lives in peace we'd have a much greater world but the reality is that people are no different than countries: they get in each other's business! Instead we have unrest and war over resources, water and who knows what else. I think you get the picture.

You've probably heard it before but often we have to learn the hard way as opposed to the easy way. When mankind is totally sick of it and fighting and gets back to its senses, we'll have an end to war! Meantime, it continues with the next world bully stirring the pot to foment more of the same as if we've learned nothing at all from the last two world wars! That's enough on that subject and we'll move to something more positive.

So it looks like rain on Thursday, so I'll likely get some laundry out of the way and do other work that needs doing around the apartment, like cleaning the kitchen and bath! The reason why I have a day off work is because where I work is a financial institution and all of them are closed on statutory holidays, which is what Remembrance Day is classed as. So what are you doing that day?

The Italian Stone Pine I bought the other week is doing quite well. I even can see some beads of resin oozing out on some of the branches on the crown. The plan is to re-pot it in the spring something that needs doing with a number of other plans in the apartment. The pine will spend most of its time out on the balcony and only be in the apartment for Christmastime! The poinsettia that I bought last Christmas is also doing quite well and is the longest I've had one live past the holiday season and here we are closing in on another Christmas. Hope things are well! - V

more Scott Herman by Joseph Smileuske

To start off the work week here's another hot photo of my friend Scott Herman by photographer, Joseph Smileuske. Get motivated and work on those muscles! I know you've got it in you. Enjoy, and have a great week!!! - V

autumn time change

Remember to turn your clocks back one hour before heading off to bed tonight so you aren't up an hour too early Sunday morning or at a meeting or work one hour too soon. The official time for turning the clocks back one hour is 2 am in Canada and the United States. I realize that there may be some differences locally, so check the status before doing so. My clocks are turned back, so I'm all set. Are you? Have a good night, guys!!! - V

year end musings

On my way home yesterday evening (Friday) I stopped at the grocery store across the street from home to get groceries, like fruit, cheese, cookies and such, but I also purchased an Italian Stone Pine (Pinus pinea) to decorate for Christmas. We're getting well into the month of November, so that season is not all that far away. This particular pine is native to southern Europe from Spain to Greece and as far north as central and northern France. Its got another name too, the Umbrella Pine, which is a suitable name as the older, well-established trees look just like that, an umbrella. If you ever seen photos or movies set in Italy as a example, you may have seen them, or perhaps you've been to southern Europe in which case, you've probably seen them first-hand. The one I have must be at least ten years old which would account for the price of 30 dollars! Anyways, it makes an excellent Christmas tree that will live year after year and become an even better specimen as the years pass.
Back in southern Ontario I bought an Italian Cypress tree one Christmas, December 1999 I believe, a tree I still had when I sold the house in the summer of 2005. The tree had blue-green foliage and spent its time outside on the front steps before being taken inside in the autumn to be set in the front bay window. In December it would be decorated for Christmas. In the spring I would put it outside once again to start the cycle once again. I also had a trailing Majorcan Rosemary plant that spent the summer outside, again to the side of the front steps, and then would be in bloom with light blue flowers by the time I took it inside in September. That one would be in flower all winter in the front bay window. Those plants remained with the new owner of the house. I hope they've been well cared for!
Here in British Columbia's lower mainland, I did purchase an Italian Cypress tree for last Christmas but it only has green foliage. I find the blue-green foliage and its varying shades much more appealing. Its almost a year past and its still growing strong as is the Pointsettia that I bought last Christmas as well!
So you must be wondering what's with all these hot guys and their well-developed muscles? Well, they're reminiscent of the hot, dry climate of southern Europe, so they're rather suitable, don't you think? I'll let you guess who the last guy might be. I'm sure you can come up with an answer, so let me know your thoughts! Meantime, have an awesome weekend!!! - V

Ethan Reynolds update

I've been exchanging messages with my friend Ethan Reynolds lately. Brad is a big Ethan fan too. Ethan has started a new site so you might want to check it out here. Its called iamethanreynolds.com, so be sure to have a look and leave a comment. He has also allowed me to share some photos with you, so here they are in all their glory. Since winter is soon upon us in the northern hemisphere, I thought I'd post some that will take our minds off the cold weather and on to something much, much warmer, and the photographer has done an admirable job! Enjoy and feel free to comment! There'll be more in the near future. - V