My boys

Byron and Morgan looked so cozy this morning.

They used to sleep together when they were kittens (they were foster brothers and we got them together) but it's rare that they sleep this close to each other now.

Book ~ "Bad Move" - Linwood Barclay (2004)

From Goodreads ~ In the too-quiet town of Oakwood, only the lucky die of boredom... and new homeowner Zack Walker isn’t feeling lucky. Whoever said the burbs were boring will think twice after reading Linwood Barclay’s hilarious debut mystery, in which Dad learns the hard way that he doesn’t always know best.

Zack wouldn’t blame you for thinking he’s safety-obsessed. True, he masterminded a plot to trade his family’s exciting city lifestyle for one of suburban tranquillity. True, even after this strategic move, Zack still has issues with family members who forget their keys in the front door, leave their cars unlocked, or park their backpacks at the top of the stairs — where you could kill yourself tripping over them. Just ask his wife, Sarah, or his teenage kids, Paul and Angie, who endure their share of lectures.

Zack knows that he needs to chill out and assume the best for once — but we know what happens to those who assume.

When Zack realizes their two-faced developer sent a petty thief to fix their leaky shower, he starts fighting hard to ignore the fact that Oakwood isn’t the crime-free paradise he was hoping for. But his brief state of denial comes to an abrupt end when, during a walk by the creek, he stumbles across a dead body. Even more shocking, Zack actually knows who the victim is — and who might want him dead.

With a killer roaming around their neighborhood and Zack’s overactive imagination in overdrive, he’s sure things can’t get any worse. But then another local is murdered — and Zack’s paranoid tendencies get him implicated in the crime. While his wife is trying to remember why she married him in the first place, and his kids are considering whether it’s time to have him committed, Zack decides there’s only one thing he can do. To protect his family — and avoid being busted for a crime he didn’t commit — he’s going to have to override his safety-first instincts, tap into his delusions of machismo, and track down the killer himself.

With reading this book, I've finished the series of four "Zack" novels by reading the first one last. Ha! There had been small references in the next three books so now I know what they meant.

This was an enjoyable read as I've gotten to know and like Zack, Sarah and their kids. I found the first part of the first chapter a bit slow but it picked up very quickly after that. And just when you think the book is over, it's not.

I'd definitely recommend this book and the series if you are looking for a mystery that isn't too heavy. The characters are likeable and the style is funny and sarcastic, which I enjoy.

Casey's Restaurant, Toronto, ON

My aunt, Sandra, was in town for the weekend from Kingston. We met for lunch today at Casey's (I had a delicious prime rib sandwich!).

I hadn't seen her in a while and it was good to catch up!

She is my mother's youngest sister and is just five months older than I am!

Snowbound

I was supposed to go out for supper tonight with the Boxing Babes but we cancelled because of the storm.

Instead I spent the day watching movies on TMN:

Starter for 10 (James McAvoy) - Not a good movie at all but I usually enjoy English movies so stuck it out.

The Number 23 (Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen) - Boring ... I never made it to the end.

Vacancy (Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) - I wasn't expecting much so found this one not too bad. It was weird to see Wilson in such a dramatic role, though.

Grilled - Though I hate Ray Romano, I don't mind Kevin James. This sucked big time and I didn't make it to the end of this one either.

Blades of Glory (Will Ferrell and Jon Heder) - We had seen it in the theatres when it first came out. It's a good timewaster the second time around.

Perfect Stranger (Bruce Willis and Halley Berry) - Not a great movie but it has an interesting twist at the end.

Titanic (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) - This wasn't on TMN. I tend to watch it whenever it's on. I saw it in the theatres on Christmas Eve 1997 in the old Runnymede Theatre (which is now a Chapters bookstore).

Good luck, Gord

Gord is heading to Chicago to kick some American butt!

There is a fencing tournament there this weekend and he is in two events. I think he said that he is the only Canadian entered.

I was going to drive him to the airport but, because we are currently having yet another snow storm(!!), he took a cab instead.

Gord loading his gear into the cab

It's hard to see him waving goodbye!

Our street

I've been checking the airline's website and his flight hasn't been cancelled or delayed.

Update: Gord just called (3:45pm) to let me know he made it okay. The skies in Chicago are blue and there's very little snow.

Book ~ "Lone Wolf" - Linwood Barclay (2006)

From Goodreads ~ Newspaper writer, family man, and reluctant hero Zack Walker has stumbled onto some dicey stories before, but nothing like what he’s about to uncover when a mutilated corpse is found at his father’s lakeside fishing camp. As always, Zack fears the worst. And this time, his paranoid worldview is dead-on.

While the locals attribute the death to a bear attack, Zack suspects something far more ominous—a predator whose weapons include arson, assault, and enough wacko beliefs to fuel a dozen hate groups. Then another body is discovered and a large supply of fertilizer goes missing, evoking memories of the Oklahoma City bombing. But it’s when he learns that his neighbor is a classic Lone Wolf—FBI parlance for a solo fanatic hell-bent on using high body counts to make political statements—that Zack realizes the idyllic town of his childhood is under siege. The fuse is lit to a catastrophe of unimaginable terror. And with time running out, Zack must face off with a madman.

This is the third in Zack Walker series by Barclay. I enjoyed it as much as I did the others.

The writing style is funny and quick. Though I figured out some of the twists ahead of time (like Zack, I got one backwards), it was still an enjoyable read that I would recommend.

Lone Star, Toronto, ON

I had a fun supper tonight.

Gord and I met Catherine, Jen, Laura, Julie, Eric and Charles at Lone Star. I worked with them for three years (until last March) and have stayed in close touch with them. They were great to work with and I miss them!

I had a delicious burrito! Yum! Yum!

Antigonish

I went to St. Francis Xavier University (St. F.X.U.) in Antigonish. I ended up staying on here after I graduated in 1983 because I had met my first husband (who was from there).

I haven't been back for a while so drove down for a couple days.

I had lunch with Joyce. I was in a dart league and bowling league with Joyce and we went to bingo quite often. She was my matron of honour for my first marriage.

Joyce and Teena

Then I headed to Darlene's for a visit. Darlene is a sister of my first husband. She bundled up her two younger kids and we headed out to visit her mom (she wasn't home).

Carson, Devon, Darlene and Striker

Then I went to the university and bought some X wear.

Then I checked into my hotel room. Pauline and Diane soon arrived. Diane and her husband, Paul, moved to Toronto around the same time I did (late 1980s) and we hung out together there. They had two kids and moved back home to Antigonish. I hung out sometimes with Pauline and her husband, Perry, when I lived here. And Joyce arrived shortly thereafter.

Pauline, Joyce and Diane

It was great to catch up with them!

What 40 looks like

So here's Sister Sarah, the birthday girl, at the end of a busy fun day with Shadow giving her some loving!

Walls of rum

You know how much Gord and I like dark rum?

I find the liquor stores in Halifax have an amazing selection.

So after supper, we stopped in to pick up some that we can't find in Toronto.

There were three (yes, three!!) walls of rum!

Birthday supper

To celebrate Sister Sarah's birthday, we had supper at The Dragon Buffet King Restaurant.

Sarah and Joey

Winter surfin'

They were surfing in Lawrencetown Beach as we drove by!

Keep in mind that there is lots of snow on the ground and the temperatures are below freezing. Brrrrr!

It reminded me of Driving Minnie's Piano: Memoirs of the Surfing Life in Nova Scotia by Lesley Choyce which I read last year. He lives down that way and surfs. Maybe it was him!

Fisherman's Reserve

Heading back to Halifax, Sister Sarah and I stopped in at Fishermen's Reserve in Seaforth. There are fishing huts there ... deserted now but active in the summer.

There are homeless kitties living there. We brought a bag of cat food to feed them (people are encouraged to).

There were just a couple kitties hanging around when we arrived ... but that soon changed once the kitties realized that we had lots of kibble for them.

If you are ever in the area, please stop in and feed the kitties.

West Jeddore

Sister Sarah and I took a drive to West Jeddore (about an hour away) after lunch. We lived there about 35 years ago.

It's a rural area and there was a beach across the road in front of the property.

Sarah (the house we lived in is behind her on the hill)

Sarah

Teena

Sarah

Teena

Sarah

Teena

It was a lot colder on this beach than the one we were on a couple weeks ago!

Lunch

Sister Sarah and I started our day with lunch at Rogue's Roost (downtown Halifax). Good wings, disinterested service.

Then we took a drive to the Waterfront and bought a couple teeshirts.

Teena

Sarah

Furry company

I woke up this morning and I wasn't alone.

Sunny was at the end of my bed. What a handsome boy!

Happy birthday, Sister Sarah

Sister Sarah is 40 today!

Go on over and wish her a happy birthday!

Celtic Corner, Dartmouth, NS

For supper, we went a pub across from the theatre that Joey likes called the Celtic Corner.

There was a fiddler and a pianist playing Celtic tunes.

And while we were there in walked Donna and Torin!

It was fun to spend the next couple of hours catching up with Donna as I haven't seen her in about ten years.

Joey, Donna, Sarah and Torin

Donna and Toren are going to spend the summer in Stratford. Gord and I usually go see a couple of plays during the Stratford Festival so I hope to catch up with them there!

"Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart", Dartmouth, NS

Sister Sarah, Joey and I saw Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart this afternoon at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth.

A Matter of Heart is a theatrical celebration of the songs and stories of Canadian Music Legend Stan Rogers. Featuring over 35 of his best loved songs, A Matter of Heart is sure to please young and old diehard fans and a new generation.

It was a lovely collection and stories of Stan Rogers.

While reading the playbill, I noticed that the Stage Manager was Donna MacMillan ... my ex sister-in-law! So during the intermission, I asked to see her. Sister Sarah and I spent a few minutes with her and her fiance, Torin (the Production Manager).

Teena, Donna and Torin

After the show, we posed next to Elizabeth the Mermaid.

Sarah and Joey

Sarah and Teena

Sister Sarah's Birthday Party

Sister Sarah was throwing herself a 40th birthday party tonight (her birthday is Monday) at a bar called the Red Fox. She celebrated my 40th birthday with me so I thought I should do the same!

But I didn't tell her I was coming! Hee hee hee!

I flew down to Halifax (a two hour flight) and arrived about noon. Her party started at 6:00. So I had a lot of time to kill. I had lunch. I saw Be Kind Rewind (it sucked!).

When I showed up about 6:20, there were quite a few people already there, even though it was storming.

Sarah having her first of four shooters. Go, Sis, go!

She had a very yummy cake!

Sarah and her husband, Joey

Joey and Sarah

Teena and Sarah

There was a good band called Da Rock from Newfoundland

Jerry and Annette (who came up from Sydney) and Jennifer

Linda and David

Joey and Sarah

Karen, Sarah and Joey dancing

The birthday girl is getting silly!

Sarah and Joey dancing

Sarah and her friend, Karen

Joey and Sarah at home