What I’ve Learned In My Life So Far

I’ve learned that...

You don’t have to agree with someone’s opinion, lifestyle, politics or religion (or lack of) to appreciate, respect and befriend them.

Indeed.

Every single person I know is different in their own way. Some are very liberal like me, others are conservative. Some are religious. Some are spiritual. Others are atheists or agnostics. Some support certain causes, others oppose them. Some are pro this and that, others are anti this and that. Makes no difference to me. I care about this mosaic of individuals and get along with all of them. Because as long as they live peacefully with everyone they share this world with, and respect their differences, it’s all good.

After all, wouldn't this world be terribly dull if we were all the same? It’s the incredible diversity that makes it such a fascinating place. And we can all live harmoniously, side by side, if we recognize, accept and celebrate those differences.

Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend!

Bikes and Sights: By The Lake

“Bicycling unites physical harmony coupled with emotional bliss to create a sense of

spiritual perfection that combines one’s body, mind and spirit into a single moving entity.

Bicycling allows a person to mesh with the sun, sky and road as if nothing else mattered in the world. 

In fact, all your worries, cares and troubles vanish in the rear view mirror while

you bicycle along the byways of the world: you pedal as one with the universe.”

- Frosty Wooldridge -

Because bikes can cover a lot of ground in a relatively short period of time, the most amazing man in the world and I were able to jump on our bikes right after supper and ride over to Lake Ontario whenever we wanted to. Sure we could have driven over, but where’s the fun in that?

The photos below are from one of those invigorating outings. Come for a stroll along the lake and relax...

We parked and secured our bikes.

Taking a stroll in a very quiet area is a great way to unwind after a busy day.

The view is always spectacular.

There is no place I'd rather be than near the water.

It was an overcast day that threatened rain, but the rain never came.

It may have been overcast but it was quite warm.

Kick back, relax and let your mind wander.

Peaceful. Breathtaking. Rejuvenating. I can't wait till spring returns.

I am always happiest by the water and I’m so grateful to be surrounded by so much of it in this lovely city.

A wonderful day to all of you!

Naptime In A Bottle

For when a parent needs a much-needed break from tantrums and kids that are out of control.

Horrible and hilarious. But mostly hilarious.

(There is a parody infomercial about this fictional product. For anyone interested in seeing it, click here.)


Have a beautiful day!

Question Of The Day

There have only been a handful that I've liked enough to watch more than once, and this is one of them:

Great movie and great performances, particularly by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. And, of course, some memorable lines like "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” and “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

I've watched The Godfather several times. And I've no doubt I'll watch it again. And again.

How about you?

Chuckles and Chortles

Happy Monday, blogging pals. How was your weekend? Good, I hope. Ours was pretty laid back, which is pretty much how it usually is this time of year. We spend most of our time indoors, especially during the months of January and February. I don’t handle the cold well. I shiver from head to toe during the winter, and as I get older, it gets worse. I shouldn’t be here! I’m not made for this type of climate with my Mediterranean roots. Beach and sun and warmth. I’m built for that. I could do that. That’s where I belong.

Oh well, I’m here, so I may as well make the best of it. And what better way to do that than with some laughter...

Thank goodness for modern medicine...

A wonderful day to all!

Interesting Sightings

“I am not interested in shooting new things – I am interested to see things new.”

- Ernst Haas -

It’s been a long time since I shared some of the interesting, unusual, fascinating and even entertaining things I see when I’m out and about on biking and walking adventures. And so I end my blogging week with a few of those types of shots; the majority of which were taken during the warmer months of the year.

And so I did... "Cheese"

Lucky for her this cannon is no longer in use.

Artistic steps spotted in Ottawa. Aren't they cool?

Why you should always have a carry on you. Always.

I loathe ironing and I think this is exactly where an ironing board belongs.

Baby trains happen when you leave adult trains unsupervised.

A baby muskrat. First time I've ever seen this animal. So darn cute.

Okay, is it just me or does this name bring a brothel to mind?

Kock knock... Seen at the Casa Loma in Toronto, which I will write about soon.

After a few drinks, some clown may very well bring more than just cigarette butts here.

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

There Are Two Kinds Of People

Over.

Which one are you?

Bikes and Sights: Downtown Kingston

“There is nothing, absolutely nothing, quite so worthwhile as simply messing about on bicycles.”

- Tom Kunich -

You don’t need to venture far to enjoy an adventure. Sometimes the best times are enjoyed closest to home. The photos below were taken while riding around the downtown area in the month of August. Remember warm days?

On this particular day there were sailing lessons going on.

Ducks enjoying a nap by the water on this very warm day.

There is always something interesting to see if you shut down the electronics, particularly the smart phones.

This is a city that enjoys water activities.

Kingston is a very old city made up of old and new, which makes it wonderfully scenic. The old forts are fun to explore and to photograph.

Across the downtown area you'll find the grounds of the The Royal Military College of Canada.

We decided to ride across and explore a little bit.

Many displays like this one can be found as you ride or walk along.

Take a guess as to who always dumps the bike on the ground.

There is no end to the interesting photos you can take on these grounds.

You can see Fort Henry from here. It's not very far from the college but we didn't visit it on this particular day.

Oh, look...a secret passage. Let's check it out and see what lies up ahead.

OHMYGOSH...

It's an alien. In shorts, no less! Well, it was very hot that day.

And how did we end this biking adventure? Like every other...

...with a scoop of ice cream!

Thank goodness for photographs taken during the warmer periods  that we can look back on during the bleak months of winter. They give us hope that there are better days ahead. It’s just a matter of time until they get here.

Have a lovely day, everyone.

You’re Probably Around My Age If...

...you know what these are.

Bonus points to those who have ever used them.


(January 21: For those of you that guessed these are (old) flashes for a camera, you are right! The one on the left if a "Flashcube" and the one on the right is a "Magicube".)

Chuckles and Chortles

Happy Monday, everyone. Was the weekend good to you? I sure hope so. It was a very lazy one for us and we loved it. Sometimes you need to enjoy doing absolutely nothing. We won the gold medal for extreme nothingness for both Saturday and Sunday. So there’s nothing to report. That being said, let’s get right to the humour and kick start the day with a smile or two, and maybe even a few chuckles and chortles...

A great day to all!