bigugli

It has been a busy week in this household. So much that has to be done in advance of the feasting. Off to a specialty shop to get gravidlax, 3 types of sil, hard rye, and cheeses. Now in Finnish and Scandinavian households, All the best goodies are saved for this holiday. So we had to make cookies. bread A wee break for some early ice fishing more bread, Pulla And a mountain of more cookies. Along with that there was peanut brittle, turnip casserole, creamed onions, etc...... to be readied today. Takes a lot to be ready for 3 straight days of feasting and an open door to all who venture forth. I have my puolukka and elderberry brandy in good supply so I may raise a glass or more to you all and wish good health and a Merry Christmas to one and all. Hyyvaa Joulua

Was a wonderful little fella you have there. he looks so alert and happy.

Your right Mr B. Things aren't the same from Christmases past. We don't live in Mom and Dad'e house, the guests have changed, kids grown up. The flavour and tone of the season has changed. No more coming and going with a glass of cheer at each stop. There would be 40-50 people stopping at our home to avail themselves of some old fashioned hospitality and friendship on Christmas eve. There are no more carolers and "Sally Ann" bands on the street corners. Then there is all this politically correct bumpf. Long and short, regardless of the trivial and commercial nonsense, no matter what the year has dealt us, what matters most is how you keep Christmas in your heart. Gotta run. Still got a full day's Christmas baking to finish.

All the pics of me as a wee angler are with my mother. Here's a couple. Late 70's Fish cleaning duties in the early 80's A bit fuzzy taking pics of pics.

Great shots.

Not a lot of truly reputable tradesmen out there any more. The last subdivision I oversaw, we had to replace nearly all of our trades more than once in a 2 year period. The good ones don't work for cheap either.

Oh the joys of parenting. If asked to do it all again tomorrow, you wouldn't hesitate for a second. The grandkids are cute, by the way.

I'm just jealous

Lookin Good!

Have you given Nova Scotia Tourism a gander. They've a good site, complete with live chat. They usually will mail you a load of info to browse over as well.

How many here camped out at the Roxy on a Friday night. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ff0cOPSpVA Now that was wild.

Not like we didn't have musical theatrics in our heyday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYKjGvVSTGA With the exception of girl george, the music was far better. GAGA is no more than a cheap b grade soft porn to music, and I saw better shows working the old 212

His daddy wore fur all the time.

Speaking of Beatles. Only 2 albums ever really moved me as gotta haves. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGcVVIwRaEQ&feature=fvsr it contained some really new sounds for the time. The other is from my fave Beatle movie. amazing thing about growing up in the 60's and 70's was that music was a central part of every day life. And the music, for the most part, carried a good vibe.

Talk about bringing up old memories. Like watching the SOUUUUUUUUUUUUL Train Was a big fan of Billy, the 5th Beatle... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un63LEAN22E&feature=related

Winter of 76-77 was a great time for unique sounds. Boston, Kansas, Roderick Falconer, Al Stewart, Doc Buzzard, Songs in the key of life.....

Few ever listen to the flipside, which better exhibits his versatility. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayOjIaydQuQ

Johnny's version hands down.

Don't know if I like this version or Johnny Nash's cover. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKJShV_8urE

Sadly it is a risk the USN runs any time they visit a foreign port. It had happened back during one of their middle east interventions. Successfully bombing the USS Cole in the port of Aden in 2000.

It depends on the style of container. Most of the container cars up here are either single or double loads only. I believe Transport Canada has stricter load guidelines. Moot point, regardless. There are no rail lines running from Japan, China, europe, the middle east, etc... to continental North America. To OF's point, this mass container traffic speaks volumes about the loss of the manufacturing industries both in Canada and the States

couple more forgotten bands. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkREv_-iz4k

Some years everything else just has to get in the way. At least you got some quality time in. My year kinda went the same direction. Too many other things happening to leave time for fishing. You have a lot of talent my friend. It's good to put it to use.

I forgot, the USN did learn the lesson quite well. Standard reading for midshipmen at Annapolis; "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History" by A T Mahan, plus other texts extolling the same principles by the same author

Right through Nam, the USN rotated ships to Japan through the canal. In the Korean War, Canada also ran her carriers through there. If the United States Navy learnt anything from the RN it is this. A nation's economic and political interests are only as secure as a nation's ability to protect and assert those interests. Oil in Alaska and Venezuela are vital to the economic needs on the west coast. On an economic note, super container carriers carry as much as 15, 000 containers. That is 60 long trains in one load.