Toronto Hotties Won't Let Hurricane Arthur Spoil Their N.B. Tanning Plans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1oOmfAo5j0&feature=youtu.be

Hurricane Arthur Batters Crackerjack Meteorologist Ian Varty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgMqMEbYH3I&feature=youtu.be

Deck Round

Yesterday Julian and I installed an eight foot round deck that we built in the wooded area of our property. As you can see, the deck is adjacent to the hammock. My idea was for the deck to provide a seating area in the shadiest part of the property, also allowing someone to socialize with the hammockites.

I made the deck round because I'm sick of all things square, rectangular, or with straight edges. I think it's my way of 'fighting' the squareness of the city. Rounded shapes feel more organic ad natural. Ultimately they're more pleasing to my eye.

I'll need to build some sort of step up to the deck, likely out of stone since I like the look of natural stone as an accent. That will have to wait for at least a day. This morning the scene outside my window is far less tranquil. The remnants of hurricane Arthur are passing through New Brunswick: gusty north winds, torrential rain, dark skies. Not a day to be doing anything outside, except perhaps windsurfing!

Julian Varty: Part-time Economist, Leisurologist, Musician, Windsurfer

Yesterday was a picture perfect windsurfing day for someone trying to elevate their windsurfing game from beginner to intermediate status.

Did someone say 'Julian'?

Yes, indeedy! Julian made some good progress yesterday on the windsurfer. He did a beach start, used the harness much of the time, and got planing with good speed (see today's first image). He got upwind with relative ease and only fell once, I think.

Here's a picture of Julian's wipe-out. If you look closely I think that you can see one foot. Everything else is underwater! It was a classic lay back wipe-out, quite different from the wipe-outs that Jason used to have. Jason always got catapulted over the front. Though not fun for the person getting catapulted, it made for great hilarity among the spectators and especially for the photographer! Julian was talented enough not to be catapulted (sorry, Jason).

Slow News Day

It occurred to me the other day that I hadn't seen a raccoon in our neighbourhood this summer, and then BAM, there it was! The granddaddy of all raccoons!!

Lessons Never Taught At Truck U.

As I was walking past these two trucks yesterday I was struck by how aggressive they look, at least at first glance. They're big and tall. They have menacing looking grills that seem to say 'watch out'. The push bar on the Dodge (left) says 'if you don't get outta my way, I'm a gonna push ya outta my way' with a blustery bit of Yosemite Sam swagger.

There is no question that the major truck manufacturers in North America (GM, Ford, Dodge) are building trucks that appeal to manly men. All real men drive trucks, right? If you want to be a 'good ol' boy', then you don't show up to the party unless you arrive in a truck. Note: a gun rack ups your rural route cred (formerly known as street cred) even if the only thing you ever hunt for is another roll of toilet paper to wipe your big, fat....ask anyone, it's true.

These trucks could eat my car for breakfast and burp me out like an afterthought. They could suck gas out of shale rocks themselves if they had a fracking straw that was long enough. They could impregnate a parking lot on a summer's evening. They are manly, but what's with all the chrome detailing? Chrome doesn't belong in the woods, Chrome doesn't like mud. Chrome isn't happy in a gravel pit. Chrome is for sissies. Chrome is for posers and pretty boys. Chrome isn't for real men.

Think about it. Did the sea captains of yesteryear tart up their fishing boats? Did the whaling fleets of New Bedford (MA) bling their bows? Do those brave (or stupid) enough to climb Mount Everest take anything along for the ride that isn't absolutely a necessity to ensure life? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding 'hell no'.

So why are the modern trucks of most modern men pretty? Is there an underlying message there? Does it say that men want to appear tough on the outside, but really we just want to be held? Does it say we want to be shiny and pretty? Does it say that we want to be noticed? I suspect that most women are oblivious to these pretty trucks, which insinuates or suggests that men drive tarted up trucks to attract the attention of other men. So what does that say?

I think I'll stop here....it's your turn to think it over. Trucks are built to perform heavy duty tasks like hauling three quarters of a ton of cinder blocks and scrap metal, so why all the lipstick?

Lady Merganser

Lady Merganser,
Ducklings at your feet,
Wonder how you manage,
To make ends meet.

I do wonder, except NO DUCKLINGS. Back in May Lady (Hooded) Merganser was courted by Drake (Hooded) Merganser. They did everything that a couple in love should do, I presume. He hung around for a week or more. She invited him up to the oak tree nest to 'see her etchings'...blah, blah, blah. He left. She stayed.

Houston, we have a problem. I've been waiting for weeks now to see some ducklings jump out of the tree onto our lawn. But NO DUCKLINGS. Lady Merganser faithfully tends the nest, but enough time has passed that I'm now wondering if something went wrong.

What could have gone wrong? I've compiled a list of possible scenarios....

1) Drake Merganser was a gay art enthusiast and was actually interested in her etchings, not her.
2) Drake Merganser is hetero, but impotent.
3) Lady Merganser was frigid.
4) Lady Merganser was impotent.
5) Merganser eggs take 3 to 5 years to hatch and I'm simply being impatient.
6) Lady Merganser lives in the nest but has decided, due to financial limitations, that now is not the time to raise a family. Note: her lackluster portfolio hasn't performed as was predicted by her financial adviser, who took his 2% cut anyway, leaving her no option but to wait until her R.O.I. improved.
7) The eggs froze in early June.

Any of these seven scenarios are possible. All I know is that 'I paid my five bits to see the high divin' act, and I'm a gonna see the high divin' act'! I really would  love to see the ducklings jump from the nest. I've seen it once, about 7 years ago, and it was amazing. It's a 20 foot drop from the nest to the ground, and the ducklings do it fearlessly. For now, I'm waiting, waiting, waiting....