Norbert

Today would have been my late brother's birthday and he (Norbert) would have been 57 if he had survived the event of early 1974.  I was fourteen months older than him.  This is a photo of us during the first Christmas in Canada in December 1957.  Norbert is in the foreground and I in the back.  I was able to suppress the emotions for years but since the last of our parents passed on in 1999 (mother), an event last year brought it all out and may have lead to the first of my two mini-strokes or may have been at the same time as the stroke.  Who knows!  I had been waiting for months for Brad to show up from the east coast.  When he didn't show up, I was scanning earlier photos of my brother and others.  The emotions came out and I wept for days in private as I was trying to make sense of everything.  I do not fault Brad  for anything.  I'm sure he had his reason and was dealing with his own demons!

Anyway, Norbert and I had spent most of his years sharing the same bedroom, so his passing was very difficult in the beginning.  Later as I was occupied with other situations and events over the years, the emotions concerning his death were pushed back in my mind.  The event of 2010 brought it all out again.  Such is life.  We take the good with the bad and make the most of it as best we can.  Its a difficult time of year so close to Christmas! - V

online

I slept in this morning and didn't get up until late.  It was after 11 am when I did.  Then I took a shower and slowly got dressed, and I do mean slowly, a T-shirt first and then more as time went on.  After brunch, I hit the computer.

I even had Brad on my mind for hours before I got up out of bed.  In cases like that, he's likely got me on his as well.  If he was here, we wouldn't be bored, not one bit!

After hours of online research on genetic mutations, mitochondrial DNA and related matters in the hope of finding the cause of my high blood pressure issue (well, one of many possibilities), I've decided to set that all aside and do something else to rest my eyes.

I may watch a movie or two.  I have enough of them on DVD when there's nothing of interest on TV.  So, what did you do on Boxing Day? - V

Merry Christmas!

Season's Greetings and all the best for the coming new year, 2012!  Have a safe and wonderful holiday season.

That's a photo of a small cypress tree I have on my dining room table.  Its foliage is of a lighter green than the tree in the dining room window.  That one needs repotting and is from last Christmas.  I'll do both of them in January or February.

Back east in southwestern Ontario I bought a little Italian Cypress tree before Christmas in 1999.  The foliage was a blue-green colour but I haven't been able to find that colour here on the west coast.  The tree ended up being repotted twice before it was left with the new owners of the house when I sold the property.  Anyway, before all that I had the tree outside the front door from the spring to autumn and brought it inside in late September (the winters were too cold to keep it outside).  It was set in the front bay window over winter and even dressed up a bit for Christmas.

So, this afternoon its off to get some laundry out of the way, three loads of it, and then I'll start supper, which today is duck leg with cabbage along with some potatoes.  I've had a German recipe for goose legs with cabbage since the 1980s (perhaps earlier) and use duck legs instead since they are easier to find unless you purchase a whole duck or goose.

I start off by softening finely diced onions in a large pan using olive oil (this time it will be butter since I'm out of the other).  Then I brown the duck leg with the skin side down first and then brown the other side.  Then I add diced green cabbage (I am using Savoy cabbage this time but you can also use red cabbage).  I add freshly boiled water to that, enough so it doesn't burn  and then slow cook it on low heat until done.  This time round I am also added some Riesling wine, a white from the Mosel River in north-western Germany.  If the wine is good enough to drink, its good enough for the stew pot!  I am also adding a bit of honey and some white wine vinegar to make the cabbage dish sweet and sour.  If I had more coming, I would add more duck legs to the dish but since its only me this evening, there is only one leg.  I use sea salt and freshly ground pepper to season the cabbage and have salted boiled potatoes with that when its all done.  The German dish its adapted from is called Gaenseschenkel mit Schmorrkohl.

Enjoy the season.  Have a safe and wonderful time! - V

Christmas wish

What I'd most like for Christmas is to have my favourite friend (Brad) with me even if its a short while.  I know things are a challenge at the moment for him to do so but I'm always hoping for the best and keeping my thoughts on the positive.  My cell phone is always with me, even at night.  Regardless, I hope you have your dreams fulfilled.  Have a wonderful Christmas! - V

Merry Christmas!

Regardless of where you are and how you plan to spend it, have a safe Christmas and enjoy yourselves!  I'll have some photos to post once they have been edited.  By the way, this image is one of a series that I took in Surrey, BC after a weekend snowstorm.  The header spot currently used is from the same time period (November 2006).  Have a wonderful holiday season, and spread that warmth and hospitality around!!! - V

winter is nearing but...

Although winter is nearing we haven't seen any snow on the ground here in the valley, well, anything that's going to stay that is.  This is how Queens Park looked like after a snowfall but this was a couple of years ago.  The best we can do now is a few frosty nights.  Well, we know Jack Frost has been busy!  The mountains on the other hand have had plenty of snow.

Friday evening after work I stopped by the pharmacy in downtown Vancouver to pick up the rest of my meds. Then it was a quick stop at Chapters before starting the homeward journey.  On the train I saw this cute blond-haired guy with green eyes sitting in the opposite row of seats, you know, a dark brown leather jacket, blue denim jeans and the hair swept forward.  I got off at Sapperton station to head over to the grocery store and he stayed on likely heading over to Lougheed station like a lot of other hotties!

Today has been spent taking it easy, not doing anything especially straining or stressful.  I bought another small tree to dress the dining room table for the season, a cypress with a lighter green foliage than the one I have had for a couple of years.  I once had an Italian cypress tree that was bought as a small 8 inch tree in 2000.  It had blue-green foliage and was re-potted twice before I sold the house and left it with the new owners.  I would leave the tree outside from early spring until late autumn (usually October) and then bring it inside for the winter to spent its time in the front bay window.  It was around 3 feet tall when I gave it away, like I did with my other plants, though I should have given some of them to my cousin, as I later found out.  He and his wife would have appreciated them.

So, how's your weekend been? - V

christmas and candles

Back in Germany in the mid-1950s we had a Christmas tree (Weihnachtsbaum) at Christmas (Weihnachten) which had candles. The candles were only lit when we were present and snuffed out when elsewhere, so it wasn't a case of leaving the candles burning on the tree and going elsewhere in the apartment or house.  That's a good way to burn the place down.  But I love the aroma of candles, especially when they are snuffed out and the little bit of smoke rises up along with the scent.

I still have candle holders for such an occasion but there will be no tree where I live currently.  Perhaps when I have a house of my own once again.  Have a wonderful Christmas but do remember to be safe about it all!  That time is not all that far away.  Time is flying! - V

P.S. - The top photo shows a Christmas tree in our apartment in Knittlingen, Germany.  The image below show me, a younger version, with my parents.  My younger brother was asleep.

another December image

Here's another photo I took in a series of shots from December 1988.  The scene is a second floor apartment in a house owned by a friend of mine from high school.  I shared the apartment with a friend from my high school days and a student from Newfoundland.  We all seemed to get along.  Then our landlord wanted to move into that unit because it had three bedrooms while his only had two.  His wife was expecting a child and the extra room was needed.  He offered his unit or another one for my friend and I but my friend wanted nothing to do with it, so no agreement was possible.  If I had known that from the beginning, I would have looked for another apartment.   As it was, this one was a short bus trip to work or a 20 - 25 minute walk away.  It was handy as far as the laundromat was concerned and shopping.  As with a lot of images, there are a lot of memories with this and the other one.

Like my previous image from the same period this one was taken on the second Advent in December, which in our case, that month is just around the corner.  My how quickly the year has passed.  I know the Christmas season will soon be upon us but have you made thoughts of what resolutions you might make for the coming new year, 2012? - V

candles and some thoughts

This photo was taken in December 1988 at the second Advent.  I love candles, especially at Christmas time.  Even during the winter months they add a certain atmosphere.  This is a scanned image from a colour slide that I took at the time.  In the background you see a rattan chair called  a "King Chair" and to the right of that is a calamondin orange tree that I had bought as a very young tree back in the 1970s.  Each year it would be full of flowers in the spring time and even later.  When it was outside on a patio or balcony, the bees would love it.  The tree has been gone a long time.  The ants that got into the root ball likely caused its demise.  Like all things, there is a beginning and an end!  Cherish the things that matter while they're around and we're there to appreciate them! - V

Merry Christmas and all the best!!!

Merry Christmas and the best of the season to all!!! Enjoy a safe festive season as we come to a close of yet another year. My how fast the year has gone!

Today, as on many of my days off, I slept in. After showering and getting cleaned up, I had a leisurely breakfast. In the afternoon I took the time to watch a dvd after getting caught up on my emails. The movie I watched was "The Bishop's Wife" (1947) starring David Niven as the bishop, Loretta Young as the bishop's wife and Cary Grant as the "angel." Its a lovely film but I don't want to give it away. I'm a big Cary Grant fan! Check it out if you have the chance!

After a short snooze this evening, I got back to checking out emails plus posting on Facebook and my blogs.

Merry Christmas - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noel!!!

Christmas 2010 nears

After work today I went into downtown Vancouver via SkyTrain to get the remaining grocery shopping out of the way. On the way I stopped in the Chapters store to get a few magazines, one of which was on the iPhone and its many applications (apps). That magazine alone set me back about 30 dollars. The reason why I bought that one is because I am leaning toward getting an iPhone4 in January. I love the features, so its on the top of my list. There was a bit of a line up at the cash but it seemed to move fairly well.

After that, I was off to the Marketplace IGA a couple of city blocks away. The line ups were not too bad there either. It should be a madhouse during the daytime tomorrow as people try to get the last minute shopping done. I'm working, so that's not an option for me. After work I'll be heading straight home to sort things away and rest my feet.

Have an awesome Christmas, guys! More coming soon, hopefully some scanned photos too! - V

Ethan

Now with Christmas fast approaching, this is one of the first photos I saw of Ethan Reynolds as he appeared in Instinct Magazine (2006?), and what a start that was. So while on the subject of the holidays to come, I'm planning to have a cornish hen for Christmas dinner and either a duck breast or leg with red cabbage later in the holiday period. What are your plans? Feel free to comment and let us know!

Meantime, its a full moon and a clear night ahead! - V

less than a week

Its less than a week till Christmas. I took it easy yesterday (Saturday) by recharging my laundry card (smartcard), having a light lunch and so on. I slept in until nearly 11 am. Supper consisted of spaghettini with tomato sauce along with some artichoke hearts added. Nothing too fancy. Otherwise, I sat down to watch some tv, in this case, Great Canadian Rivers on Knowledge channel. Check out knowledge.ca if you'd like to know more.

I also sat down to watch a French film called "Douches Froides", or Cold Showers in English. It stars Johann Libereau as Mickael, training for judo, who befriends Clement, played by Pierre Perrier. There's a lot more to this movie, so I don't want to give it away. Check out the trailer and then the movie itself if it sounds interesting to you. Its available on dvd.

After that, I watch a murder-mystery (British) before heading off to bed for the night.

Today, I slept in again ( I can only do that on my weekends or when I'm off work) with a late breakfast and then got laundry started. Now that its out of the dryer and folded, I plan to put it all away and then get off to the grocery store before dark.

The sun has even pulled a surprise by showing itself through the clouds. If there had been more sun, I'd have been out taking photos. Howe Sound has been in my mind lately. I hope you've had a great weekend, guys!!! - V

thoughts and ideas

Recently I've spent a lot of time thinking about my friend Brad, not constantly but often enough. They're all good thoughts. I haven't heard from him since early September and do miss exchanging emails with him. I even miss the chats we used to have when he did have ready access to a computer and I'm certain he misses all this too.

I'd most like to take him to Germany in the new year. I thinks what he sees in Germany and central Europe in general will open his eyes a lot plus it'll give us a chance to talk about various things that have been on his mind for a while. It'll give us both a chance to get to know each other better as friends, and more if he wants to! Being the greatest of friends will certainly do it for me know.

Having each of us wrapped in a warm embrace is but a memory if we don't see each other in person. For now its but a dream yet to be realized. All I hope for the moment is that he's happy and all is well. That is the best we can hope for all our family and friends plus people we encounter daily. To wish otherwise is a non-starter and a total waste of time!

I hauled out my Christmas CDs earlier in the week and today I found some of my Christmas themed DVDs to add to that, such as the black and white movie from 1947 called "The Bishop's Wife", starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven, "Prancer" (1989) starring Sam Elliott, Cloris Leachman and Abe Vigora, and "Creature Comforts: Merry Christmas Everyone!" starring Wallace and Gromit.

Tonight, though, I'm going to watch a few movies starring Christopher Atkins, such as "The Blue Lagoon" where he appears with Brooke Shields, "A Night In Heaven" with Christopher Atkins and Lesley Ann Warren, and "The Pirate Movie" where he appears with Kristy McNichol. Well, that's what I plan to watch tonight and over the weekend. I've got lots of movies to choose from with or without cable tv.

So, how's your weekend shaping up??? Have a good one, 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

aftermath

Friday, which was Christmas Day, I had little appetite. When I woke up this morning, I realized why this was the case: I had a cold! Since I take vitamin D tablets and otherwise take care of myself by eating right, this should be rather short-lived. That fact that a co-worker has taken up smoking again and that I am allergic to tobacco smoke, may have some contribution to the outcome but such is life! The fact that he was also sick with the cold should also be taken into consideration, don't you think?

So with this in mind, I am staying home over the long weekend (4 days) to recuperate and also minimize others from getting exposed to the rhinovirus, something that others may not necessarily consider. My thinking is that when we are considerate of others, others may be considerate of us. Its a tall order but we can think of an improvement in this regard. Here's to hope! With that, I'm off to bed soon. - V.

Christmas 2009

After I got home from work just before 7 pm, I went out to have a look at the Christmas lights that decorated peoples homes and apartment balconies. I was gone about 45 minutes but found some close at home that were the best I think. So, here are a few photos to brighten your Christmas!

Merry Christmas - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noel - Bon Natale and to all a safe and wonderful festive season!!! - V.

cards

As Christmas fast approaches, I've only received one card but that's not unusual since I get a lot of greeting via email. Then others I used to get cards from have passed on. That's the thing as we get older.

Last week I bought an Italian cypress tree (see photo above) to dress up the place for the season. The last such tree I had was bought in December 1999, the year my mother passed on, and a tree I kept repotting until I sold the house in southwestern Ontario in September 2005 when I left the tree with the new owners. It was brought outside and left on the front porch in the spring and then returned inside in the autumn to be dressed up for Christmas. It was about three feet tall when I left it behind!

My incense burner is out of its box where it had been packed for over a year or more. All it needs is some incense. Sandalwood is my favourite!!! - V.

Ready for Christmas?

For those of you that celebrate Christmas, are you ready? Each year I begin decorating my home slowly, building up to the approach of Christmas week. The ornament in the photo above used to hang near the fireplace on the family home. This ornament was made by one of my mother's friends years before my own mother passed away. A lot of ornaments can be made using simple, easily accessable things, such as in this case, pine cones, dried plants and colourful ribbons. For me, dressing up the place with ornaments, a tree and some aromatic and colourful plants or plant settings, such as holly and spruce or fir, probably goes back to the old celebration of Yule, celebrated by the Germanic and Nordic peoples before the introduction of Christianity. I'll have more about the Christmas celebration as we approach the day in question. - V.

Christmas lunch

Work concluded at 1 pm for us. We were off to the Hotel Vancouver for a department Christmas lunch. It was a buffet, so there was plenty of food to choose from. I was stuffed afterwards, returned to work to pick up my things and then return home. After reading the papers, emails and such (no supper as I was more than full), I got to loading the few photos I too at the event and resize them before posting one of them. The scene of the reindeer and the pointsettia plant is at the salad bar (just above it). Now its time for bed! I'm more than just a little sleepy!!! - V.