Thursday 15 December 2016


You can't see it from this still picture, but he was also tapping his foot on the empty fish bucket.

[Custom is if the fishermen catch a small fish, they give it to whomever is near - or on! - the fish bucket.]

Sunday 11 December 2016

Dang He's Good


With all the talk of Trump cosying up to Russia's Vladimir Putin, a photographic perspective of the man is in order....



Putin Hunting


Putin Riding



Putin Swimming



Hey, How About Putin On A Shirt

Tuesday 6 December 2016

Not Any More


I guess Hernando's Hideaway is no longer Toronto's oldest Mexican restaurant.

Sunday 4 December 2016

Missed It By That Much


Did a fun trip to the southern most part of the US the other week - Key West.  Heard it had a fun reputation.

So sidled into a seaside tavern at noon and figured there likely might be a Happy Hour going on.

I said to the barmaid, Miss Vicki, "What have you got for Happy Hour? Set me up."

She said, "It's over."

I said, "You mean it hasn't started yet?"

She said, "No, it's over."




I was there at 12:05.

Next time I know where I'm coming for breakfast!

I LOVE AMERICA!

Thursday 10 November 2016

Tell Ya What - We Don't Want 'em!


Miley Cyrus, Bryan Cranston, Barbara Streisand,  Jon Stewart, Lena Dunham, Amy Schumer.  The list goes on.

Miley Cyrus said; "Honestly f---this s---I am moving if this is my president! I don't say things I don't mean!"  

Honey, first of all that is the height of hubris thinking that just because you want to, you could just move to Canada.  Secondly, there is no way in Hell we would let you and your scrawny ass in.

In fact, I'd rather take in 10,000 more Syrian refugees that any one of them.  [No offense to the Syrian refugees, lumping them in the same sentence.]

Wednesday 9 November 2016

Hey, The Americans Just Elected Rob Ford


They laughed at us,  Now we can......

But maybe not so fast.

First the Brits with their Brexit.  Now the Yanks.

Who's next....?

Regardless, fasten your seat-belts, it's going to be a bumpy night.

And amazingly, Trump won - but the sun still came up this morning.....

Sunday 23 October 2016

I Think This Girl Is Quitting


I think this girl has sung her last national anthem.

[Stolen from Inspired by Mr. Boffo by Joe Martin]


Thursday 20 October 2016

TBT

A long time ago in 1989 I taped a Jays game that we went to see in Cleveland - way before my thoughts were Arnotti.

Here is a snippet.  [Thanks to Big Joe for digitizing.]

See if you recognize anyone.  Hint: Big Joe is there and so am I. Unfortunately, the great guy on the right is no longer with us.....


Younger readers - under 50 - likely won't understand Buck Martinez's "must be Bob Uecker friends" line.....

Regardless, the game went 15 innings - but they cut off the beer after 7 innings - and we wore the wigs the entire game.

The umpire, Richie Garcia, even gave each of us a ball after the game.  Because we were good boys.

One of the fellows - who will remain nameless, but can digitize VHS tapes - pretended he was David Wells at one of the post game event and lost his ball by autographing it for an unsuspected young lady.

Those were the days........

Wednesday 19 October 2016

Incredible


I was browsing the paper today and came across a fantastic story about an 103 year old woman in a dance contest.

Then I thought, she looks familiar.  And I was right - that's Kitty Cohen.

The Arnotti connection?  Click A Great Lady to find out.

My Mom is gone, but Kitty is a great reminder of good days past.......

Friday 22 July 2016

And I Thought My Life Was Boring

Out for a walk when I came across a bunch of people standing in a field.

I went, no way.

But way!

They were all Pokemon'ing, or whatever it is.

Then, as we continued on - like your eyes get adjusted to the dark - we saw them everywhere. Even middle aged suburban women!

I tried communicating with some of them ("There's one on my leg!  Get it off!") but they were having none of it.

I'm guessing there must be at least a million dollar prize for who ever kills/eats/liquefies (?) the most.

My life's looking no so pathetic......



Thursday 30 June 2016

Hey, They Forgot The Best Part




And by that I mean, the rest of the state motto:


Those Marketers, always taking short cuts.

Saturday 25 June 2016

Exactly My Reaction......

 ...when my dentist told me I needed a root canal.



And then last month, more good news!



Dentures?
Let's get the party started!

Tuesday 21 June 2016

My Favourite

Went to very nice American, family style restaurant for breakfast yesterday.




They serve breakfast, lunch and - my favourite meal - diner.

And in keeping with the family style theme, one of our group had been in for breakfast the day before.

When the waitress took his order, he said "I'll have the same as yesterday."

She said, "And how would I know what that was?"

He replied, "Because you served me."

She said, "Well, honey, I've done a lot of drinking since yesterday."

Just like Mom would say.


[Thanks to an eagle eyed reader for spotting the sign.]

[And future thanks to the other eagle eyed reader for wanting to write a song about it.]

Wednesday 15 June 2016

Good News

Came across a good sign yesterday.

And that good sign is a good sign - that the good old El Mocambo is not going the way of the Dodo Bird.

This is the Palm Tree sign to which they are referring.

The El Mocambo is, of course, a famous bar in downtown Toronto.



None the more famous for an impromptu appearance by the good old Rolling Stones back in '77.

I think that is Maggie Trudeau (Captain Sunshine's Mom) in the second row.


Monday 13 June 2016

Coincidence Or Convenience?

Hospital.....


Funeral Home....


Across the street from one another......

Yikes!

And this is the hospital I was born in.

Saturday 11 June 2016

I Dare Ya!


Oh yeah?  I double dog dare ya.

For any six year olds out there, what comes next.......

Tuesday 7 June 2016

A Lovely Day In The Neighbourhood

What seems like just an ordinary day walking down a city street.....

...turns into something unexpected as you are crossing the street.


It's a freakin' castle!

[There beyond the bridge.]


And looks like it is a favourite landmark on old Dupont Street.



And this castle has a looming presence everywhere.

Another innocuous street scene.


Until you see the damn castle again.

But for those of you in Toronto, this is not just any castle.

This is Casa Loma!

A project of early 1900's industrialist and military commander Sir Henry Pellatt.

And he built this in a very tony, very expensive and buttoned down Toronto neighbourhood in the 1910's.

Now, today, people get upset when someone builds a "monster home" next to them.  Maybe a 5,000 square foot behemoth.

Can you imagine what the neighbours were thinking when word got out about the plans for this young, brash industrialist's home?

[You can see the "regular" homes in the neighbourhood at the top of the picture.]

Well outrage is what greeted young Henry.  Tempered outrage, of course, as this is Toronto The Good we are talking about here.

But let me tell you, Letters to the Editor were frequent and biting.  A real bun fight ensued.

But all to no avail.


Construction was soon underway - employing countless scores of stone masons and other skilled tradesmen.



When it was finished, from this picture, you could almost envision angry neighbours, with pitch forks and torches, storming up the path.

Well that didn't happen.  But more Letters to the Editor did!


Today, it stands as testament to a Quixotic dream of a failed industrialist.

Failed, because he went bankrupt before he finished it and it has been languishing in various hands ever since.

And he died in virtual poverty.  But thousands of people lined the streets to witness his funeral and he was buried with full military honours.

He was a larger than life figure that will be remembered by Torontonians for years to come.







Wednesday 1 June 2016

Picked The Wrong Day To Stop Sniffing Glue


Hate to wake up and see this coming!

This is a (big honking) dust storm approaching the coast of Australia.



With apologies to Lloyd Bridges and the cast of Airplane.



Sunday 29 May 2016

Another From The "Bus Shelter Doctor" File


Not sure I'd want to be basing all my future prospects on these come the Judgement Day.....

"Our guarantee; almost exactly what Jesus said."