What's with the price of gasoline???

Yesterday I went across the border and filled up my gas guzzling SUV paying US$2.49 a gallon.  I heard on the news the price of gas was up in the lower mainland but when I was driving home at the Esso station it was CAD$1.447 a litre!    Using my CA/US gas converter app it says US$2.49 a US gallon converts to CAD$.844 a litre!  That conversion takes into account the difference in the litre/gallon and the US/CAD exchange rate.  I haven't checked the math so can't say for sure it's 100% accurate, however, I just saved a lot!  Now why is gas $.969 in Edmonton?   I know we pay a transit and carbon tax but our gasoline prices are ridiculous!!!  I realize the price in the UK is much higher but the difference in this country is mind boggling!   This retail price chart pretty much says it all.

Wonderful fall weather!

Yesterday Cheryl had the windows open and lots went outside to visit!  Our weather has been terrific.  I commented earlier on the fall colours as they seem brighter this year.  I found out it's because the summer was so warm and fall came on at the right time, making our trees so gorgeous. White Rock is right beside where we live!  I'm off to enjoy another gorgeous day!

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary!

It's actually on Saturday, but today Cheryl had a nice get together at her home.  It was so nice to see everyone!  I said no presents, but my friends and relatives showed up with wine, flowers, plants, chocolates, a gift certificate for dinner and a beautiful gift basket!  Thank you all so much.

Black and White pictures, invitation, napkins, roses by Darlene and my wedding dress!

The food was delicious.  More roses from Darlene!

Cheryl and Carol.  Carol and I were neighbours on 45th Avenue!

My cousin Sharon with Frances.  Donald (France's husband) was our best man but is in hospital and couldn't make it today.

Cheryl reading congratulations from PM Justin Trudeau, Governor General Julie Payette and others
She never got a reply from our Premier or our MP!

Thank you Justin Trudeau!!!

Thank you Donna for bringing these pictures!

Brad speaking to Jean, my sister's best friend

It fit, almost.  I lifted up the skirt to show everyone my black knee highs!

Cards just made it on the mantle!  Thank you everyone for a wonderful afternoon!

Menopause the Musical!

Tonight Carol and I attended Live Nation's performance of Menopause the Musical at the Bell Center in Surrey.  It's nice they brought it out to the suburbs so we didn't have to go downtown.  It was so popular they added another performance.  The musical follows four women shopping for lingerie at Bloomingdale's sale sing 25 songs about chocolate cravings, hot flashes, loss of memory, nocturnal sweats and sexual predicaments.  The lyrics parody popular music from the baby boomer era.  The lyrics were hysterical!  We thoroughly enjoyed our "girls" night out. 

Fall colours!

We've done the Canada New England cruise to see the fall colours.  This year the colours here are incredible.  I think they've been here before but not as noticeable as our weather has been so nice.  Hard to believe I'm wearing a sweater when I go for a walk!  Here are some pictures around here.  I've seen so many nice trees but can't take a picture when I'm driving.

Front Gate

Halloween Movie and Boxed Lunch Party

A few months ago I joined the Red Hat Society.  I have been in a Red Hat group for a few years but they don't make it mandatory to join the National Association.  The reason I joined the national association is because they do a lot of things locally and unless you "carry the card" you can't join in.  My longtime friend and former neighbour Donna wanted to join a Red Hat group so we both joined the national organization.  I still belong to my former Red Hat group but I can go to these other functions.  In July we went to Harrison and had a "Hoot".  It was a "hoot" as we had lunch in the pub.  I was also invited to a "Hoot" at Tsawwassen Mills but unfortunately I couldn't attend that day. 

Today they organized a Halloween movie and boxed lunch party.  We went to the Hollywood Theatre that is only a ten minute drive for me.  The lady beside me was from North Vancouver and others came up from Bellingham.  I'm not good at estimating crowds but they almost filled the theatre.  Lunch was from Price Pro and it was great.   You had a choice to dress in a Halloween costume, red hat attire or the ugliest Christmas sweater. 

The movie was "American Made" with Tom Cruise.  A true story and I really enjoyed it.  At the end we had a 50/50 and I won a prize of Christmas cards.  There was a grab bag when we left and in it was a purple hat!!! 

Nice theatre, that's about half way down.

We paid $20.00  It included lunch, popcorn, a drink and the gorgeous hat below

Social Media, the good, the bad and the funny!

I spend a lot of time on Twitter and Facebook.  I rarely post any more on Facebook and take the news I read online with a grain of salt.  There is so much misinformation.  I've been really getting fed up.  I read people have passed away that haven't.  Politicians of every party saying things that are either misinterpreted or completely false.  However, I do learn things and find things out I never would have known.  This works for me and see if it works for you too!

The Cloverdale Reporter posted on Facebook this morning:

Shell Busey a former home improvement broadcaster is putting his name on a new thrift store for tools in Cloverdale's town center!  The shop is located at 5625 176 Street will raise money for the Surrey Hospice Society!   What a great idea and we have lots to donate.

As we come closer to our 50th wedding anniversary it is looking as if our best man will not be able to join us in our celebration next Sunday.  Donald Neibrandt is Cec's first cousin.  They have always been close.  Donald has battled diabetes for many years.  Earlier this month his leg was amputated.  He has a fantastic outlook and was doing very well.  However, he has now an infection with a super bug!  Donald lived in Ebenezer, Saskatchewan for many years farming and didn't move to Vancouver until the mid 1960's.  Between email and Facebook we have kept Donald's friends and relatives informed of his progress.  Sunday, just hours after Church was finished in Saskatchewan, a niece sent this to me.  She was in church and Donald's old neighbour was asking about him.  Here is their church bulletin:

Now to ignore the bad, Snope the questionable and enjoy reading the good stuff!  Back to Twitter!

Canada C3 Coast to Coast to Coast!

I was watching W5 a Canadian news program yesterday that featured leg 9 of the Canada C3 expedition.  The Polar Prince is a former Canadian Coast Guard research ice breaker.  It was an epic journey to Celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation.  A 150 day sailing journey from Toronto to Victoria via the Northwest Passage covered 23,000 KM's, 3 oceans and 3 coastlines.  If you didn't see it, try to find it on the CTV website.  They carried a variety of people including scientists, artists, Indigenous Elders, historians, community leaders, youth, journalists and educators.

They talked about satellite communication in the north.  The gentleman that fitted the ship with broadband satellite communication was on board.  The ship had better communication than the communities they visited.  He explained how instantly they can communication with the world.  The Franklin Expedition was lost for two years before word got back to Europe!  We've come a long way since the Franklin Expedition.

The Vancouver Sun had an article in yesterday's newspaper.  The Polar Prince is on it's way down the west coast with stops in Powell River last Friday and will be coming to Vancouver tomorrow! The expedition will end in Victoria on October 28.   The W5 production only covered one leg of the actual North West Passage and some of the remote northern communities.  I hope there is a documentary made of the entire trip as it sounds fascinating!

Tomorrow the Polar Prince will dock at 0800 at Canada Place and not sail out until late Tuesday. The port authority will facilitate presentations within the Port of Vancouver Discovery Center to various stakeholders and media.  Public presentations will occur within the Port of Vancouver's Discovery Centre on October 23 & 24, along with presentations to local elementary school groups, ranging from grades 4 - 6.  Visit the Discovery Center at 2 PM for a presentation by Canada C3 Expedition Leader Geoff Green.  The Port of Vancouver Discovery Center is located inside Canada Place.  There is an event for children tomorrow at the Vancouver Aquarium from 6:30 - 8:30 featuring Canada C3 expedition leader, Geoff Green and leg 15 participants.

What a fantastic experience!  Check out the pictures on their Facebook Page:
Canada C3 Ship t'Shore Show

Rainy day laughs!

I wish I had some personal stuff to post but I'm fighting something and I've been laying low.  Of course the monsoon that's happening outside for the last five days isn't helping.  Next week is super busy so I better get well soon.  Here are some laughs for a dreary day:

The best laugh of the week was my great nephew.  He did this to his mom's toilet.  He did it at Cubs and won a prize.  Now that's a great imagination for an 8 year old!

Retirement

How to Maintain a Healthy Level  Of    Insanity in RETIREMENT...     1.   At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on, point a hair dryer at passing cars and watch them slow down!    2.     On all your check stubs, write, "For Sexual Favors"     3.     Skip down the street rather than walk, and see how many looks you get.     4.     With a serious face, order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat.  I ask for decaffeinated water. ( no ice )     5.    Sing along at The Opera.   6.   When the money comes out of the ATM, scream 'I Won! I Won!'     7.   When leaving the Zoo, start running towards the car park, yelling, 'Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!'     8.    Tell your children over dinner, 'Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go....'     9.    Pick up a box of condoms at the pharmacy, go to the counter and ask where the fitting room is.     And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity: My Favorite...         10.    Go to a large Department store's fitting room, drop your drawers to your ankles and yell out, "There's no paper in here!"   Now send this email to someone to make them SMILE...  it's called 'therapy'!

Happy Friday!

ANIMALS THAT ACCIDENTALLY SAW YOU NAKED

I finally found it!

It really does exist!

I've been up it a million times but didn't know where it was.  It's in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 
Now if I could only find my paddle.

Gord Downie

                                                         RIP Gord Downie.  A music legend.  A great Canadian!