My RoboCam is on

This time, as yet, without the robot bit. I am, however, presumably working on it.

Anyway, if you go here--

RoboCam Page

And click on the proper link for you:

The Javacam Push is for people using Internet Explorer

The Server Push is for people using Firefox/Netscape/Others

The FTP is for people who don't have the other two working.

Have a boo--as I stated, there's no robot making hte camera move around (yet). I'm trying to come up with something different. I'll get that up soon.

Hey, add a comment with your idea for a cool robot thing for the webcam!

Having a cold in the summer is really pathetic!

And I have one, and I feel like crap.

It's almost August and I'm sniffing and sneezing. Perfect.

Eh, the good news is that Sandy's pampering me beyond any reasonable level, and I truly appreciate it. Right now I'm sipping hot Neo-Citran and playing EQ--life don't get much better. Well, if I wasn't sick, it'd be better, but eh, there ya go.

Love ya, babe.

Before I find a lung in my hands, it's off to bed.

Here's the thing...

A father gives his kid 100 dollars--"Here kid--here's 100 bones. You may spend this money on things you need, but you have to account for every dime you spend."

The kid goes out for a while, comes back and wants more money.

"But son, I gave you 100 dollars and you've only accounted for 15--Why should I now give you more money when I don't know what happened to 85 dollars that I already gave you?"

This parable relates directly to the ffollowing situation. I won't name names or place places to protect the not-so-innocent, but here goes--

Due to recent US legislation, my company now has to have audit trails for, well, basically everything. Specifically for the IS department, we have to use 'access forms' to set up, change, and remove user access to various applications and system resources. Normally this wouldn't be a bad thing but when everyone gets busy, acting on the forms become exceeding low on the priorities (so it seems).

So here we get right into it--the first month--June--I received a bunch of user forms--I'll assign an arbitrary number of 100. I send these forms to the people that need to act on them--the folks that set up user accounts for e-mail, web access, etc. and then I wait until they let me know that they're done setting the users up. With me so far?

So that was June. We are now approacing the end of July. Many of the user access forms haven't been finished, and I have a pile of newer user forms, waiting to be started. I was called 'to the carpet' because there were user forms on my desk that haven't been put 'into the system' yet.

My point, beyond the lack of time I have to actually start getting these forms started in this wonderful new process, was that 85 percent of the ones I currently have 'in the system' haven't as yet been finished--why would I dump 100 more into the system?

I'm missing the point, so I'm told--if they're in the system, then it's not my fault that they're not being worked on and that I'm not the holdup--I'm holding up the system by not entering the pile of forms on my desk into 'the system'. Well that's all fine and dandy, except that I'm being held up by the 85 forms that are already in 'the system' in the first place.

There's a little more to it than that. I have, however, been told in no uncertain terms that all forms must be entered into 'the system' as I get them. K, so it is said, so it shall be done.

That said, I don't agree with it at all--why would you give the kid the next hundred dollars when he hasn't accounted for 85 from the first 100? Makes absolutely no sense to me. But I've been told to give the kid the next 100 dollars--I entered the next 100 forms into 'the system'.

So now I have 185 user access forms in 'the system' that I have to keep track of, instead of just 85.

Perfect.

I don't usually gripe about work (not too often anyway), but I think that there's something wrong with the air supply to any office that has the word 'Manager' or 'Director' on the door.

Seriously folks--

If you're sick, do not--I repeat DO NOT--go to work! Stay home and get over being sick so you don't spread your germs throughout the workplace and make other people sick.

I've said it before and I'll say it again--you're not doing anyone any favours by showing up at the workplace whilst you're sick. Your productivity isn't as good when you're ill, and there's a pretty high chance that your sickness will be passed onto others in the workplace.

Now this isn't directed to anyone in particular at this time--I'm not mentioning names--but I have a cold--IN THE SUMMER!!!!--because someone who was sick showed up for work. Those sicky germs were caught by someone else and then passed on to me.

Yeah, great.

Anyway, when you're feeling ill--fever, cold and a chill--don't go to work. Stay home, wear your fuzzy slippers and housecoat, watch Oprah, and keep your germs to yourself.

(not mine, necessarily)

There isn't much that can't be learned about life outside of watching 'Sports Night'. One of the many things gleaned (by me) from this fantastic show was the following--

Isaac: If you're stupid, surround yourself with smart people. If you're smart, surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you.

Now I'm unsure if the first part of that applies to me or the second--matters not. I have, without my even trying, surrounded myself with very intelligent friends and it is those same friends that I take heed.

For example, whilst staying home today due to illness, I found myself reading some Notes from a Byzantine-Rite Calvinist--a blog maintained by Redeemer University Colleges political science professor. Prof. Koyzis, whilst I attended Redeemer, became a good friend to me, helping me through some, so I thought at the time, pretty large personal issues (which we won't delve into at this time).

Anyway, Prof. Koyzis at one point in his blogging career, listed his Pet Peeves. I stumbled across 'em this very day and I thought they were worthy of note here. Now i'm not going to comment on most of 'em--you can read them yourselves if you so desire (and I heartily encourage you to do so), but I really appreciated a few of 'em.

Like 1 for example--Telemarketers. The bane of technology

7 - Body piercings--My plan is to leave this world with the same number of holes as I entered it

13 - Reality Television--this one's much higher for me--I personally think it's the biggest cause for shows like 'Sports Night' and 'Firefly' to be cancelled--reality TV is fast, cheap and appeals to the lowest common denominator--how do well-written and thoughtfully produced television series compete?

17 - (I'll paraphrase) reducing political discourse to sound bites and think it's the best form of debate. Actually, reducing anything to soundbites and thinking you've won the debate--whatever.

And 43? I think I'll leave that one alone for now.

Where I didn't agree with my esteemed former professor--

4 - Bacon.... MMmmmmmmmm.... bacon..... Gghghaghaghahghaghhhhhh... (Homer Simpson drool)

41 - Bolero -- I actually like this one, rightup until the last few stanzas--I think Ravel just tried to wrap it up too fast.

There are many many more that I think are worth the read and expatiation, but I'm sick and think I'll go for a nap.

I once wrote a list of 'Banes' (pet peeves, if you will). You can find 'em over on my 'Biography page'. The list is quite old and may need some updating, but there you are

If we were to get married, it'll more than likely be here

 The church at Westfield Heritage Village

So we're in the throes of planning--Sandy did a little research and found Heritage Westfield Village. What they do there is get all these old buildings and such around the greater Southern Ontario area and relocates 'em to their 300+ acres. The Hamilton Conservation Authority--wonderful folks!

  Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo 2-8-0

  

Westfield Heritage Village acquired an original 2-8-0 steam engine that once rode the rails between Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo. The TH&B line, coincidentally, runs behind our abode.

Waiting for her train to come in

 Would've made a very good pic if the camera focused on us instead of the weeds

       Butterfly!

     Wagon Wheels

     

Well, that's all the pics I have for now. The plans are in the works so there may be more pics at some hypothetical point in the future. As you can see, the place is perfectly suited for some sort of event picture taking, such as, say, a wedding.

Anyway, it's a start, and a good one at that.

It's not a video game--honest!

About a year ago, Joe, Leanne, Chuck and Dannielle coaxed me into playing a board game at the cottage.

Well, Settlers of Catan isn't really a board game--well, it is but it isn't. It's a little difficult to explain. You first have to put the board tiles together--all random like. In this fashion, no two games are alike.

Anyway, I really liked playing it, but to purchase said game was going to be very expensive--see, there's just not 'The Settlers of Catan'--there's also the 5-6 player expansion, and then the other add-ons--'Seafarers of Catan' (and 5-6 player expansion) and 'Cities and Knights of Catan' (again, with the 5-6 player expansion). So that's 6 different games you would have to buy if you want to play 'the big game'.

I didn't think about it much, until we went on vacation a few weeks back. Andrew brought his copy of the basic Settlers along, and we had a great time with 4 of us playing. That week got me thinking about the game again, and I decided to look into where I could throw my money down and walk out with 'em.

Well, turns out that not too many places actually sell this game. Certainly not Wal-Mart and Toys 'R' Us said they didn't carry it either. Rather odd, I thought, at the time.

I was at work when inspiration hit--eBay.

Boy wans't I surprised. Yep, many people wer selling Settlers and all expansions and add-ons--brand new even--for about 100 dollars US. Well sign me up! Purchased it, waited a week and a bit, and lo and behold, in my mailbox, a delivery notice saying I had a parcel at the post office.

Anyway, cut to the bottom of the page--I know it's a 3-4 player game (the basic Settlers), but Sandy and I just played it tonight with just the two of us--good times, people!

Now we're planning a day next weekend where we'll have friends come over for a Settlers marathon.

Oh, and for her first time playing, Sandy kicked my heinie--longest road, few cities, villages, and a few 'Victory Point' development cards--the dice weren't rolling for me, let me tell you!

Made you look!

So here I am hangin' with my French compadres in Montreal last week. Good times had by all--times that might get into a blog entry, but not right now.

During one of the many off-work conversations we had pertained to the various english words that didn't have a direct french translation, and vice versa.

Then Michel brought up a word that means something completely different en francais than it does in english and he was wondering if I had any info on it.

"I never understood this english word 'negligée'--in french it means 'unkempt'--how did that change into meaning 'sexy lingerie'?"

I mentioned to him that I really didn't have much experience with that word, or even what it refers to in either french or english. But I started thinking about it. I mean, it makes sense--the french meaning, that is--negligée. We probably derive the word 'negligent' from it. So how did a word that means 'unkempt', or a general uncaring towards ones physical appearence au francais become a descriptor for certain sexy undergarments?

I really have no clue. But I thought it was worth a note on my blog, so there you are

but only approximately 32 hours to go.

Finally, Friday evening is just around the corner and a certain someone will be returning home.

Then on Saturday we’re off to visit a Heritage Village - hypothetically speaking, of course.

Sometimes it leaves me blind!

I dunno. It just defies words...

and me without my camera

Remember the scene from Ferris--"This is where Cameron loses it..." "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuugggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!"

I didn't think I would use the camera when I left the hotel room this morning. But after the working day was done, I was taken out for dinner in 'old' Montreal, in a wonderful little outdoor restaurant. The better bit, besides the great food, was that this little bistro has a stage and a 3 piece jazz band played whilst we had dinner. Oh My Goodness!

Thinking that was about it, after dinner I expected to get back to the hotel. Well, my hosts for the evening--Mr. Michel Larocque (the general manager for the region) and Diane (the real power behind the Quebec branches) took me for a stroll around the area--and I didn't have my camera. I can think of no single time in my life when I missed one item so much.

So what I'm going to do here is put a brief description of the various things that caught my eye that I would have taken a picture of that may (or may not) have been placed in this very blog entry

Three piece jazz band

We walked by many little restaurants and boutiques. The interesting thing is that old Montreal has narrow roads made of cobblestone.

Many people enjoying the atmosphere of the old streets

There was a central avenue closed to traffic where vendors did caracitures, made balloon animals, and sold various trinkets, mostly relating to Montreal and Canada. There were various musicians here as well--some playing guitars, flutes, etc.

Guitar Joe

So we walked down to the river, where the boats were moored and people watched the ducks in the water. As we walked along, I noticed rising above the buildings two blue smokestacks from a ship. We rounded a corner and there it was--a ferry looking pretty rusty. On the side, the old 3 colour Ontario Northland Tourism diagonal stripes (see this pic for a fine example of the colour scheme of this moored ferry). Up until now I just sorta wished I had my camera with me. But now, seeing the Nindawayma just sitting there, rusting--well, my eyes got a little misty. Not as misty if I saw the Chi-Cheemaun (another link) sitting there, berthed and rusting, let me tell you.

The Nindawayma

You can still sort of see, even after that very sloppy paint job, the words 'Owen Sound' painted on the side. But life, as some keep on saying, goes on.

So we walked further, and a string quartet was playing there on the sidewalk. At first I couldn't peg the tune, but it was a tango. Then I remembered the last scene from 'True Lies', where Ahnold and Jamie Lee were actually dancing quite well to it. Now that I can place the scene, I just have to track dow nthe tune and find me a copy.

String Quartet

I was also reminded of my friend, Lisa, whilst listening to this quartet. I wonder how she's doing now with her viola.

As the sun was setting, the rays were glinting off the slate roofs. Normally I'm all about pictures of sunsets and this was no different, but as I may ohave mentioned--no camera.

We started walking back towards the car. En route, there was a pillar, a fountain, a few trees, and the cobblestone road between me and the sunset. Was it spectacular? I thought so. Eh, whatever.

Sunset in Montreal

Then Michel took us on a brief driving tour of Montreal. We passed the Montreal Canadien Hockey Arena. Surprise, there's a big red C with an inset H painted on the side of the building.

Hab Territory

Then we went 'cruisin' down the strip', where there were bars lining both sides of the street. Just bars and nothing else. People were mingling, trying to get into various establishments. Not necessarily my style, but to each his or her own.

At the end of it all, it was a magnificent time. If you ever go to a 'touristy' place, it really helps to go with someone who grew up in the area and can take you to all the highlights! Thanks to Michel and Diane for the wonderful evening!

My francais is tres rusty

But here I am in Montreal--well, not actually Montreal, but a little 'burb west of Montreal called Pointe Claire. I'm crashing at the Holiday Inn for a few days, doing the annual tradition of upgrading the systems at Laidlaw branches. Somehow this year I got roped into doing the eastern Ontario/Quebec branches.

I really don't mind--I talk with all the branch people throughout the year on the phone so visiting's kinda nice.

The drive here was uneventful, except for the thundershower just as I hit the Quebec border--couldn't see the end of the hood, yet alone the road. But that was a 5 minute heart race, which gradually dissipated as the weather let up.

I had a picture to show, but it's very poor quality--I saw the sign on my side of the highway--it's an off-ramp to a town at the very eastern edge of Ontario. On seeing the sign I wanted to take a pic but by the time the mighty DC 120 was able to take a picture, I was already past the off-ramp. So I stuck the camera out the window and got the pic of the sign from the other side of the highway. I'll hopefully remember to take the picture on the way home.

Very blurry sign along the 401

Me thinks it's almost time to upgrade to a higher megapixel camera.

I can't believe I just said that!

The tomato plants

  More pics of the garden

Actually, these pics are more for me when I'm on the road this upcoming week. I'm doing branch visits for work and won't see my abode until next Friday. I'll miss my garden whilst I'm gone so I put some pics up.

So there you are.

And then I reminisce

I was driving to Mr. and Mississauga on Sunday, going to a friends b-day party (bowling party!) and I tune in Q107. Every Sunday is Psychadellic Sunday, with the voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs--Andy Frost--as the host.

Well, Q107 is also known to play entire album sides every once in a while, and I was most surprised when I heard the opening twangs of a folksong.

I'm going to set this up a bit 'cause I wanna know how many people can guess what I'm talking about before I actually peg the song. So here I am, listening to Psychadellic Sunday on Q107, and Andy Frost puts on one side of a 'folk album'. To add more info, this one side of the album is only one song--one 16 minute 48 second long song. As well, it's one guy, one guitar, and one story--well, kinda two stories.

Anyway, before I actually name nams, I'm going to add some 'Dave History'--

Back in high school, as mentioned in a previous blog, I was a bit of a geek (not that much has changed). I did, however, have a pretty wicked ghetto blaster ('back breaking boom box', as some would say--like the alliteration--beauty, ain't it! )

Anyway, I loved this epic song with the 4 part harmony and the little orchestration so much that I had the idea that other people might like it as well. So at a little get-together amongst the friends I had at the time, the tape that had this song on it just happened to get into the blaster at some point in the evening.

Looking back at it now, probably wasn't the best idea I've ever had 'cause who really wants to listen closely to a 16 minute folk song at a high school get together. My problem is that I liked it and I thought others would as well. Turns out, surprisingly, that well, not so much, and the tape was turned off (rather forcibly, if I recall). Anyway, that kinda stuck with me. Not even years later, when I was camping with my buddies and Alisa actually said, 'Hey Dave, got that tape? I wanna hear it!', was the stigma of the turned off folk song removed. Yes, not even singing the song from memory with Dirk William was that incident put in perspective.

No friends, not until I heard this one song, this one album side, this one epic story with the 4 part harmony and the little orchestration played on Toronto's Best Rock station and introduced by one Andy Frost this past Sunday, did the trauma of the incident in high school miraculously evaporate.

So Kid, it really is true--it may take 20ish years, but in the end you can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant.

Well, mine anyway.

We've all heard the horror stories about interfering, trouble causing, you're not good enough for my child, in-laws - but I am one of the lucky ones. Yup, that's right, one of the lucky ones.

Last night, Dave and I, had his Dad and Dian over for a BBQ dinner. As usual, the night flew by with great conversation and tons of laughter. We try and get together with Dad and Di, on a regular basis, whether it is a quick pop-in to their place on the weekend, to BBQ dinners or movie night with Chinese food, regardless of the occasion or event, a great time is always had by all.

So, as we sat outside last night - using our new patio furniture for the first time - I again thought of how lucky I truly am. Not only do I have the best boyfriend in the entire universe, but I have the best in-laws.

From day one, I was welcomed so warmly into their home and they have always made me feel like I am part of the family. The running joke is - If Dave ever dumps me, Dad and Di will dump him and keep me. How great is that? Well, not the Dave dumping me part - but his parents keeping me. We can joke about the dumping because we know it will never happen. Plus Dave knows, "if you leave, I will find you" - A little inside joke there.

I can't forget to mention too that last night they brought over fresh fruit and vegetables from their garden for us. Fresh zucchini, onions, and lots of yummy RASPBERRIES! Mmmmm, raspberries!

Anyway, I just thought I would voice my feelings towards my in-laws because you always hear about the bad ones but never about the good ones and I DEFINATELY have good ones.

Cut it out!

Seriously, stop it!

So here I am on vacation with a bunch of friends last week at a wonderful little provincial park (Point Farms) on Lake Huron, but I couldn't help noticing a little bit of litter.

Sure it wasn't scattered everywhere--I did have a great time and all, and I wasn't tripping over junk 'n stuff, but, as with seemingly everywhere you look these days, there's some form of trash here, there, and everywhere.

As well, I've never been a big fan of public facilities--I'm not a stickler for clean, but when I'm using the facilities, I do want some sort of sanitary aspect. Again, for the most bit, the staff kept the washrooms as clean as they could, but then you get the morons who think it's amusing to leave a 'little mess' around the toidy and on the floor every once in a while.

Here's the thing, you idiots--someone has to clean up your messes.

Yes they do. At some future point of you making a mess o nthe floor with toilet tissue, or you dropping your empty smoke pack on the ground, or throwing that 'Natural Spring Water' bottle over your shoulder when you're done drinking it, someone else has to come along to clean it.

I'm sure you've heard people telling you many times over that 'you wouldn't do that in your own hose--why are yo doing it here?', but that's obviously not working.

So, just like the graffitti, I'm going to hit you where it hurts--your pocketbook.

You want to know why things are expensive? A contributing factor is that someone has to get paid to clean up your messes. And if someone is getting paid to clean up after you, that money's gotta come from somewhere. So the rates for the campground go up to pay for that person.

The next time you even have an inkling to yammer about how expensive things are these days--if you've ever thrown trash on the ground, you just better bite you tongue. If you've ever 'dribbled' around the seat of a public toilet, you keep your yap shut. If you think that the world is your dumping ground (everywhere but your private space) then my goodness--you are an idiot extra-ordinaire.

Yep, 'It's just a little gum wrapper--it'll cause no harm!'--doesn't cut it anymore. Look around you--look at all the other morons like you who believe the same fallacy.

The next time you think about littering or making a mess away from home, why don't you just pull a fiver out of your wallet and throw it on the ground. That's basically all you're doing--someone has to get paid to clean up your mess.

Save a step.

then to fade away...

So some say, anyway...

I was talking with a good friend the other day. We're both around 40 now and we were reminiscing about the people we knew in high school and where they might be now.

The thing is we both knew the ones who 'had it all' back in high school--had the clothes, the babes, the whatever--and how they didn't get much beyond that after graduation.

THen there were guys like us--basically the guys in the AV club--y'know, the geeks of high school who, at this time in our lives, have the pretty good paying jobs, and, at least one of us in the conversation has the wife and 2 kids--pretty much content with where we are now.

So we talked about that--how we felt in high school--like we weren't much and others were the 'epitome of coolness' and now, well, kinda the opposite.

Then I thought about this today--looking back at it now, seeing how high school was two decades ago, it really doesn't matter how other people fared after high school. I mean, I hope that everyone that I knew back then is healthy and happy wherever their own roads took them--I really don't have a clue what happened to almost everyone I knew in high school.

For the bottom line is that for my personal sense of worth and well-being, it really shouldn't matter where other people got to in life--it should matter where I got to and where I'm going. So I pretty much stayed focused on my happiness after high school, instead of being envious of others.

So if you take anything from this little convoluted story, wherever you are in your walk of life, don't look at others and wish you were in their shoes--don't think that 'the cool guys' have it all in high school and you are inferior. Rather, understand that 20 years from now it really dosn't matter what they had, or who they were--in your life travels in the future the only thing that's going to matter to you is who you were and what you did and where you're going.

Anyway, that's what I was thinking about so I wrote it down.

We had an early start with brekkie at 'The Egg and I'

And then on the road
    Setting up, kids making bubbles and other fun stuff--the water was a wee bit cold, though!
The first sunset
      Then a quick trip to check out the Bruce Grey Power Station
      Me on the beach, with the kites and the sandcastles
 Another spectacular sunset

That's it for the pictures (for now). It was a great camping week with friends--all of us had an awesome time! It was Sandy's first time camping 'with a boy', so I hope I wooed her enough to do more camping in the future.

Point Farms Provincial Park was wonderful--the campsites were a good size and had lots of trees and brush separating the campsites so we didn't feel like we were camping on top of our neighbours.

It rained the first night, but after that the sky was clear the rest of the week. The beach was perfect for building castles, and long enough for a good walk with the babe.

So there you are, our first camping forray together and we came home, pretty much unscathed (though a little sunburnt)

For the record, the Mighty Dodge handled the trip just fine.

The Mighty Dodge almost fully loaded

So it's with much anticipation that we look forward to our first real vacation together. The truck is all loaded up and early tomorrow morning we drive west! (Well, about as far west as Lake Huron...)

Every year for as long as my memory can recall, my friends and I try to go to some campground at least once a summer. This year I actually have a 'partner in crime' and we're off to Point Farms Provincial Park. Point Farms is situated on beautiful Lake Huron. We decided to forego the canoe this time--opting for the bikes.

Just giving y'all a 'heads up'--we'll be gone until Saturday, and I didn't bother setting up any time-delayed blog postings between now and then. You will just have to read the spammer's comments to keep you entertained until we get back.

When I do get back, however, I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to tell and pictures to show. None of them will be nearly as good as Greg Clark camping stories, but eh, whatrya gonna do? Probably foremost on everyone's mind is to answer the question --did the Dodge make it there and back???

We'll see... we'll see--Faith manages.

Bird in flight

  

  

  Wouldn't be a series of Dave pics without the bloomitjes The garden Another sunset through the trees...

That's two hundred and two, folks!

Thanks for the reading and replying! Much appreciated for the efforts.

May the next 202 be just as much fun!

(and no photos...)

So we just finished saying goodbye to the last attendees of the first annual Sandy and Dave Canada Day BBQ.

Wow! What a rush the whole day was!!

I won't bore youwith all the gritty details about the preparation of the 'Q--suffice to say that Sandy, the main ringleader, was absolutely phenominal with the organization and the preparation and such. SHe slaved in a hot kitchen last night, and last night was already hot enough!

We were also a little concerned that the weather might take a turn for the worse--the meteoroligists were predicting rain for Canada Day up until Tuesday or Wednesday. Thankfully there was absolutely no rain (except Aidan running around with a squirt gun) and the day was unseasonably cooler, so we were not all sweltering in the heat--all told, an absolutely perfect day to have a BBQ in the back yard.

So 21 of our closest friends showed up and partook in the festivities! As stated earlier, Sandy made the salads, and I had the spatula in hand at the 'Q. Burgers and dogs for the ravenous bunch!

And then the talking,and talking, and talking--people conversed the evening thru and it was wonderful!

Sandy and I really enjoyed putting on this little shin-ding that we want to do it again next year.

Thanks to Lynn for showing up early to help get thing in order, and Jeff and Jen for showing up early and making the punch. Rachel also deserves a thanks for the veggie tray. My good friend, Calum, made a really good apple pie, and Bill and Renita brought a rasberry loaf cake! Cindy and Scott showed up with chips 'n dip, which many people enjoyed.

If you didin't stick around until just after dusk, you missed seeing the fireflies. I personally thought that with the wind and the cool temperatures, the fireflies wouldn't be as active as they ave been on previous nights, but there they were, blinking away in the back woods.

As well, when saying 'night' to people that were leaving, I noticed that there was a pretty bright star that just might be a planet so I hauled out the telescope and we had a boo at Jupiter and four of its moons--always a good view, if you ask me.

All in all, a wonderful way to spend a holiday Friday. We're looking forward to doing this again next year.