Very Impressive

Although Canmore may be Banff's poor cousin, there is still lots of dramatic scenery there.

Even from a hotel room window.




I was going to do the previous three knitted together into a glorious panorama view. But based on the one of the Air Canada counter, will continue to work on that technology.



Here is a shot of a brown bear I was able to capture.

And it is a myth that these beautiful creatures are dangerous. When this one raised its head, sure, it startled me, but it exhibited no other aggressive behaviour.

And I also came virtually face to face with a Grizzly bear! My heart was racing, but it, too, was very docile. Almost sounded like it was saying "Moooo". No time for a picture, though. I'm the Urban Cowboy, not the Urban Dumboy!

It's A Freakin' Sleigh Ride, Okay?

Selected the wrong line when we had a group outing one afternoon.

Assumed it would be a nice mix of girls and guys going on a sleigh ride around beautiful Lake Louise.

Wrong.

Seven middle aged guys, all in black leather jackets and sunglasses, average weight pegged at about 230 (from the looks in the horses' eyes anyway) being carted along the hiking path all by ourselves.

Even the driver was shaking his head.

Before we got on, as he brought the sleigh down the path towards us, he wasn't slowing. I gestured and said, "Yo, we're your four o'clock."

He just kept on going.

And from the looks of everyone within fifty feet, the usual patrons are grandmothers and little eight year old girls in colourful snowsuits.

Now the worst part was, as we were on the hiking path, hiker's - mainly Swedish models - would have to step down off the path to let us pass.

We could see them smiling as they looked at the horses. Then the smiles changed - okay, vanished - as the seven of us lumbered into view. I kept pulling my red shawl up over my face, trying not to be embarrassed.

But again, dramatic scenery all along the trail.



Here our guide, trying to pretend he's not really with us, stops us in front of a frozen waterfall.

Others were climbing this with ice picks and mountaineering boots. We just pulled our shawls tighter.

So although I don't recommend this activity, the seven of us did feel a lot closer afterwards.

But only in the most manly, masculine sort of ways, of course. What ho!

L'il Piece Of Paradise

Where else can you get this privacy living in downtown TO?

This cosy balcony is also just around the corner from me.

But I don't think the the fellow that punks himself on this chair wil be shopping at the aforementioned Maserati dealer down the road.

But with such a lovely retreat, why would you want to go anywhere......

He Did It Again

The Condo Critic has taken aim at another condo in my neighbourhood.

He must be getting soft, because this is also a good review.

This is a condo at Av & Dav; Avenue Road and Davenport. A funky little enclave just west of me.

Breakfast at The Avenue Diner is always an interesting experience, as anyone who has been served by their one, colourful waitress will attest.

And I think she's been serving there since 1944.

Many beautiful buildings, that have remarkably avoided the wrecker's ball.

Which is good news for the little guy.

Although some of these classics are not so little.

And with a Jaguar dealer in the area, likely not so cheap.

Okay, the Ferrari & Maserati dealer seals it that I have now strayed from my neighbourhood.

But a cool walking tour nevertheless.......

Maybe the condo guy will feature mia casa next.

Gulp............

Is That Like When We Used To Meet The Svenson Twins Behind The High School?

Well, I was never asked, but I heard......

Yay!!

Boooo!
Oh well, it won't be long now. This course opens April 1st.

Although I haven't golfed in over five years, I doubt if there will be any appreciable change in my game.

The upside (only?) of being a duffer.

But the course is breathtaking, gently nestled under Highway 401.

And like most exclusive courses, like Augusta National, the overhead expressway provides shade on those muggy summer days.

And if doesn't, there is always a cool beverage waiting on the patio.

I think that's the patio.

Or a house waiting for demolition.

I'll report back in a couple of months.

Get A Life

What kind of loser is reading this?

Oops, gotta go. My copy of Modern Drunkard just got here......

My Evening With Gord

It was raining last night, so drove over to the pub instead of walking.

Obviously started off with some nice beverages.

Wait a second, that's not right.

Okay. Obviously started off with some nice beverages.

And wound up the evening listening to an excellent guitar player.

Who remembered us from last year's pub crawl.

Which is what any good musician expecting a tip would say. "You guys are from Tennessee, aren't you?" He should have quit with the "I remember you guys".

Sorry no video this evening. Going to keep those for special occasions. Like lunch in a bar.

My Afternoon With Gord

Can't a couple of guys try something a little different once in a while?

And Then It Got Very Cold

The next few shots didn't turn out well at all.

Crossing the Bow River in Calgary as the ice starts to break up.

Now I've rafted on the Bow in summer, but would not want to try it now.

Well, actually, I'm not sure there is much difference.

We rafted on a 30+^o day in July. We were like little potatoes frying in a pan in that raft. So about half way along our three and half hour tour, I popped over the side.

Ahhhhhhh......

But about five seconds later, as my body went numb, it changed to AGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Apparently that glacier fed river water never really gets too warm.

And I think the raft store woman was having second thoughts about renting us the raft after meeting me. After explaining the safety rules, etc. I asked hopefully, "Can we bring beer on the raft?"

She said, "I can't tell you that. I can't tell you to tie a string around your six pack and drop it over the side."

"Why can't you?"

My friend punched me in the arm and said, "Let's go, Einstein." I cottoned on later to the secret code in which she was talking. Message received.....

[To take a walk - or raft - down memory lane, try "Floatin and Boatin" Or, on the right there, click "2007", "July" and go to July 22 to follow along.]

Or, for you lazy sons of guns;

"Big Daddy"
"Rafta Disasta"
"Not Here"
"Ahhhhh"
"Alls Well"

[P.S. The skinny guy in the photos is not me. That's rafter #3.]

Make Up Your Mind!

The City of Toronto has just spent over five million dollars installing these count down traffic signals all over town.

That's a great idea. "The devices provide a numeric count down display that indicates the number of seconds remaining for a pedestrian to complete their crossing of a street" according to the City of Toronto web site.

It was a great idea til the police got wind of it.

I suspect as a result of a dozen pedestrian fatalities in the first two weeks of the year, police began fining people crossing on the flashing red hand. They did a blitz for several days.

Rather than ticketing the cars running people over, they took the easy route.

Many people very plenty upset.

Police said the rule is, as soon as the flashing red hand comes on, you cannot cross the street. You must stop. If you've already started okay. But if you see it, you must stop or pay the consequences.

So why spend five million dollars to install all the count-down timers, if you can't use them? If it comes on once you are in the intersection, it's of no value. Are you going to turn back?

But if it comes on and displays "15", the obvious reaction is "I can make it in 15 seconds" and away you go.

But if you are not supposed to cross once it is on, what possible value is it? Except for the police to hike their revenues.

The left hand doesn't know what the the right hand is doing.

Sounds like the government hard at work.

[P.S. I didn't get one of those tickets. I'm just a whiner....]

Hey! The Condo Critic (Must) Read My Blog

So a week after dissing the building outside my office, (see "Last Week's Slagging") probably because of my snooty comments, the Toronto Star condo critic took aim at my neighbourhood this week.

Although the title sounds like he also slagged us - and there is lots to slag - he said this was actually a good example of a building fitting in to the neighbourhood.

The developer kept the historic building, TeatrO VerdE , and built over & behind it.

And it is a Home & Garden store now.

An expensive Home & Garden store, as I awkwardly found out.

But although this is a good example of fitting in, what is that crane farther down the street silhouetted against the sky?

Let's get a little closer.

A little closer....

Oh oh....

Ah ha!

Now that's the stinking behemoth I love to hate.

55 stories, starting at one million dollars, 2,000 square feet and up. The one that knocked down all those little guys I posted earlier.

I'll be interested to read his take on this hunk a junk once it's completed.

[Ed note: to see some earlier rants on this same topic, may I suggest "So Long, Yorkville" or, "Still Hanging In"]

I'm Thinking More "Related" Products Are Sold

I'm not sure exactly what these related products are, but I think they're very popular.....

Not Something You See Every Day

I was sitting in my apartment when I started to hear loud music coming from somewhere. I looked out the window and saw people, taking pictures of me in my bedroom.

Right on, I thought. You know where Action Central is.

But then I noticed they were aiming a little lower (get your minds out of the gutter).

So I went outside and looked over my balcony.



These kids were dancing and grooving to Micheal Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel."

I yelled out, You darn kids go home.

But first took some pictures.

I know it looks like they are just standing there.

But they were cookin'!

To get a better feel for the action, scroll up and down over these three photos quickly over and over again.

Okay, so it's not Avitar. But not bad.

Ugh!

This is what I look at out my office window everyday. A big honking, blue condo.

I watched them build this thing all last year. I kept on waiting for them to peel off what I thought was the blue cellophane over the windows.

But they never did.

Maybe it's just me, but man, that is ugly.

So in Saturday's Star, I found out it wasn't just me.



The Star condo critic, Christopher Hume, did up a review. Scathing, I should add.

And he gave it a C-, lowest grade I've seen him give.

So maybe it isn't just me railing at all these ugly condos going up.

Good. I'll get back on my horse.....

Go Figure!

Gee, I buy maps all the time.

Wait, no I don't.

I wonder how long these guys waited before they pulled the plug?

They probably feel like the guy who invented the can opener watching a pop top can open for the first time. It must be magic!!

Or Swiss watch makers laughing at the Japanese and their LED crystals. Or like Kodak? Or...or...or.....

(G)Oh Canada!

Golden goal!

Obviously I knew exactly when it would happen, as I snapped this as Sid The Kid put the golden biscuit behind a shocked Miller.

Or....I knew when to watch the replay. Your call.

Here come the boys of the bench! Whoo hoo!

The obligatory yelling of "Oh Canada".

Although one fellow is thinking, Geez, get your hand off my wife.

The mad butcher is thinking, darn guy didn't let me touch his wife.

And the mad buctherettes busy serving the grub.

The Pouesers.

No one's buying it. Pretending to be Canadians for a day.

Just kidding! You guys are true blue. Errrr, true red and white.

Excellent game. Excellent day. Excellent two weeks.