Of all the horrible and despicable things Trump has done, and they are legion, the one thing I can never forgive him for is permanently damaging the United States relationship with Canada.
Canada is our best neighbor and ally.
Canada and the United States are the only countries in the world who have never been aggressive towards one another......until now.
Trump, who views anyone or country who is nice as a weakness in his mob mentality mind, has chosen to bully Canada. Of course Canada cannot and will not be bullied, especially by a fake bully like Trump.
Since I met Pat I have visited Canada several times. Every time I visited I felt the pressure of hate release. Canada has a very diverse population. One thing I noticed right away (and I wasn't looking for it) was the absence of glares from so many white people of others who looked different and were dressed differently than they were. Especially the Muslims with their 10th century gowns that so many of them still wear. I can just imagine the hateful stares a Muslim would receive at a Home Depot of Lowes should they appear in that garb.
Since I married Pat, some people have asked me "Why didn't you move to Canada?" Great question! Believe me, I thought of it seriously. However the main reason I cannot move to Canada is the reason I'm in Delaware.....taxes. Canada has high taxes. I moved from Pennsylvania to Delaware because I could no longer afford to pay the high school and real estate taxes in Pennsylvania. I loved living in Philly but I couldn't afford those taxes either. Philly's sales tax is 8%. Canada's is 15%......on everything including groceries and clothing. At least Pennsylvania doesn't charge sales tax on those items.
Another reason I wouldn't move to Canada is because I'm an American and I refuse to be run out of my own country by Trump and his thug Republican enablers.
I still believe in the basic goodness of Americans even though so many have been revealed to be Trump supporters, which I will never understand as long as I live. That they can't see the con man who is destroying America is beyond my comprehension. Maybe in my Afterlife that answer will be revealed.
But for now I'll weather the storm that is the Trump Disaster.
I have some great news that I'm going to share with my faithful blog followers today.
Pat has decided to move down here with me in Delaware!
He decided all on his own without any pressure from me. I was totally prepared to have a distance relationship. I know how much he loves his home in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I also know he loves Palm Springs.
Over the past year we have discussed what path to take to get him to Palm Springs. As you know I made a mistake and went through the K-1 VISA application process, not knowing that once he got to the Canadian-American border that he would be told he couldn't go back. Not forever, but at least sixty days.
We were hesitant to apply for the other VISA that would allow him to travel freely between the U S and Canada. That VISA application would be even more expensive to both of us and accomplish what? Nothing, that's what. So Pat is going to use his K-1 VISA application forms when he visits me this coming March.
He's going to sell his house in Hamilton, even though the market is poor now. He was going to wait but the housing market in Canada could take years to recover. In the meantime I could be dead.
I am so relieved. Not only do I need help now, I am very lonely in my home now. Oh I know I was looking forward to the freedom of living alone, but I'm finding I'm just lonely. Of course Pat and I living together will take some adjustment but we both agree we can handle that minor inconvenience.
This is a video of my trip to visit Pat in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. A warning, it is long (eighteen minutes plus) but interesting. At least I think it is interesting. The reason I say this because whenever I post one of these compilation videos I receive no comments. Boring Ron! That's okay folks, I post this blog for my therapy and for history. I like to think that someone like me two hundred years from now will see this video I'm posting on this blog and say "Wow! Look at how weird they lived in the two thousands!" I realize folks that videos like this probably have about as much appeal as sitting down and watching your neighbor's photo albums of their kids or your elderly neighbor's slides of their summer vacation in Europe, which I actually did once when Bill and I lived in Philadelphia. Oh I'll never forget THAT experience. Our neighbors George and Flossie Kehrer, the nicest folks but oh man, SO BORING sitting through an hour of their visit to Germany, especially when George got stuck on one city "I think this is Cologne, or was it Koblenz Flossie?" After he batted that around for about five minutes Flossie said (thank goodness) "It doesn't matter." Oh well, it was a beautiful pictures of a cathedral in one of those German cities but I digress.
This video is of my trip from Delaware (my ride to the Philadelphia International Airport) to the Buffalo New York airport where Pat picked me up and took me over the border to Canada to Hamilton, Ontario where he was living at that time in a condo at the Royal Connaught Hotel. You'll see me and Pat at a party his neighbors who lived in a penthouse above him, invited us to their soiree. Also visits to various vegan restaurants, IKEA and his friends Paul and Deb who lived in nearby Port Dover. Pat and I never do anything dramatic but we always have a good time together because we ARE together. Never bored when I'm with Pat.
Again, this video is over eighteen minutes long. You've been forewarned.
Pat's neighbor Samantha who lives on the other side of his squatter neighbor has started a petition to get the Hamilton, Ontario City government to DO SOMETHING to remove his squatter neighbors.
Even though readers of my blog don't live in Pat's neighborhood of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada I'm sure they can sympathize with Pat and his neighbor Samantha who have a squatter neighbor living right in between their two small adorable houses right in downtown Hamilton. The obviously criminal activity that their squatter neighbors are engaged in is bad enough but the eyesore of their property is the stuff of nightmares of having someone like that for a neighbor.
Pat's neighbor Samantha is trying to gather enough signatures on her petition to get the attention of the Hamilton City government. Please consider signing this petition. Click HERE.
That Pat and his neighbor Samantha and the rest of the neighborhood have to live with squatters in their midst and obvious illegal activity (drugs, stolen goods, noise in the middle of the night) is a damn shame. One would think that the city government of Hamilton's responsibility would be to at least enforce their laws. Pat and his neighbor Sam have been trying for over a year now to get the Hamilton city government to do something. Perhaps this extra pressure of a petition with finally ignite them into protecting their law abiding tax paying citizens and get those squatters out of there and condemn that property. I know I have an international following on this blog. Help me out folks! Help Pat and his neighbor Samantha.
Last year Pat moved from his Royal Connaught Hotel penthouse condo to a nearby small (tiny) home in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Little did he know he would be entering into a Nightmare Neighbor situation.
At the time bought his house, a 564 foot house, the house next door to him was unoccupied. Apparently an elderly man owned it who had died. The house was unoccupied until a few months after Pat moved into his house. Then next door a young homeless couple took advantage of the unoccupied middle home and moved in. Apparently the woman is a relative (granddaughter?) of the deceased man whose estate still owns the house. After they moved in then began a daily stream of unsavory characters all during the day. Thus began Pat's nightmare and his other neighbor ("Sam") who owns the house on the other side of the three tiny houses (see photo).
Last month I visited Pat at his home (my photo at the begging of this blog). Pat loves his home. Pat is a minimalist. His home is perfect for him. What a shame that his peace and tranquility is destroyed by the squatters who took advantage of the abandoned home next to him.
I was schedule to visit Pat for a week. I could only stay one night at his home. The noise during the night from his next door neighbor (banging on the wall, screaming at her boyfriend, etc) kept me awake all night. The next day I went up the street and booked a room at the Hampton Inn at a total cost of almost $1,000. I had no choice, I couldn't go a week without sleep. Hell, I can't go a day without my afternoon nap.
I could visit Pat during the day because apparently his neighbors are vampires, they sleep during the day (no jobs of course), but they arise at dusk and thus begins another nightmarish evening of noise for Pat from his squatter neighbors. What a nightmare for Pat!
Pat has called the city of Hamilton numerous times along with his neighbor on the other side of the squatter couple. The city does nothing. NOTHING! Except maybe perhaps collect their salary, which they collect whether they do something or not.
I'm not a religious person (far from it) but I do thank God (or whoever) that I now live in a quiet neighborhood. Oh I've had bad neighbors over the years. Homophobic neighbors who send their kids on the border of our (me and Bill) property and yell "Fags get out!" for hours on end on a peaceful Saturday morning (I took care of that). Then I've had the noisy neighbors. The trashy neighbors. The nosey neighbors. But here, in southern coastal Delaware I have the best neighbors I could ever hope for an even better, this neighborhood is always quiet except for the occasional summer time "concert" across Route One in Hudson Fields which sometimes gets carried away with itself and goes into the night with loud speaks at full blast shouting the "MF" word (that hasn't happened for a couple years now).
Out of frustration Pat and his neighbor "Sam" (Samantha, who is also a caregiver to her husband in addition to her full-time job, she needs the sleep) have contacted the local radio station and newspaper to publicize the lack of city action against their disruptive neighbors who don't even pay to live there or taxes. Isn't that the way it often is? Good, law abiding citizens have to have their quality of life destroyed by those members of our society who are too lazy or self indulged to care how their life affects their neighbors. And what is government for anyway than to protect us not only our physical safety from crime but also out quality of life that Pat pays very high taxes? Pat is seventy-five years old but he still has to work to keep up with the expense of living in his home in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The squatters next door? They pay no taxes and disturbed the whole neighborhood. What is even worse is that Pat's city government does nothing. NOTHING! What a shame! Eventually Pat will move down here to Delaware to live with me, an old man who is rapidly failing but in the meantime this is what Pat has to put up with. Maybe this newspaper article in his local Hamilton newspaper will be the beginning of a change. Hopefully.
Yesterday someone left a comment on one of my blog postings that I hadn't posted much about my recent trip to Canada with Pat to visit him at his new home. I am going to correct that oversight now. Here is a taste of my five day stay in Pat's hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
The video above is us driving through upper New York State among all the wind turbines, which I didn't know existed in such abundance in New York. The last time I saw this many wind turbines was when Pat and I entered Palm Springs, California. I hadn't expected to see that many wind turbines in upper New York State near the Canadian border.
First let me say I am so glad I decided to take this road trip back with Pat to his new home on Hess Street in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Pat though I would be worn out from the nine hour drive but actually it was quite a pleasant drive. Probably because we had such a comfortable vehicle, a Ford Edge SUV.
We didn't actually take a nine hour drive. Instead of leaving directly from my home here in Southern Delaware, we left a day earlier to visit our friend Don McK. in Philadelphia, thus cutting off two hours of our trip to Canada. We always haves a good trip to Philly and visiting our friend Don, even if we were only there overnight. Usually we stay for a week.
On Friday, March 22nd, we took off for Canada. The weather was nice driving out of Philly but the traffic very congested. Pat decided to take the scenic route, meaning no toll roads. We wanted to see the back country of Pennsylvania and New York. And that we did, only stopping once at a Burger King to feed our faces.
Once we got to upper New York State we encountered snow and the wind turbines. I like seeing wind turbines on the landscape. This time with snow and not palm trees like we do when we drive into Palm Springs.
Here we are entering Canada during the snowstorm. Pat said this was first significant snow Canada had this winter. Lucky us! There was an accident further down the road on the QE2, which held up traffic for over an hour.
We finally got to Pat's small home on Hess Street in Hamilton, Ontario.
Pat's home is the unit on the left with the yellow door. The one in the middle is occupied by the noisy squatters. Probably selling drugs because there is often a steady flow of people in and out of that unit. The house on the right side is occupied by a normal person.
I had never been to Pat's home before and was curious. His home (the yellow door on the left) is attached to two other homes. Unfortunately for Pat the home in the middle is occupied by squatters which often keep him up at night with their loud arguments and hammering on their shared wall. Pat says they sleep during the day. I think they're vampires. Pat's home is adorable but not big. I like space. The first night there his next door neighbors were particularly noisy. I got very little sleep.
Fortunately a new Hampton Inn
was built just up the street from Pat. I decided to book a room there with a king sized bed and spend the rest of my visit with Pat sleeping in luxury at night. No more drug addled screaming and hollering and banging on the wall right next to where I was sleeping at Pat's house. I got a got rate at the Hampton Inn because I'm a Hilton Honors member (and former employee if that counts for anything).
Pat and me with the Hampton Inn behind us, just up the street from Pat's house
I talked Pat into staying with me at the Hampton Inn. He asked me "Why did you get a king sized bed?" Pat, ever the minimalist. I told him "When you reserve a room at a hotel you always get a king sized bed." I'm a fitful sleeper and Pat knows very well I've tried to push him out of bed during some of our previous Air B & B stays. Bill had the same problem with me. I don't remember doing this because I'm asleep but it's probably from my youth when I had to share a bed with my two younger brothers until I was fifteen years old.
Me getting ready for bed, one of my brothers (Isaac) is already in bed. My other brother (John) took this picture as a joke because I'm in my underwear. A moment of big embarrassment in the Fifties to be caught in your underwear for a teenager. I hated that bed and sleeping with my brothers. Three in one bed, almost like the Walton family. Photo was taken about 1954.
Yes, fifteen years old, believe it. I told my Mother I wanted my own bed and even better my own bedroom. She got me a cot the next Christmas which I put in the corner of my shared bedroom with my brothers. But I digress. The king sized bed worked just fine, a fact that Pat can attest to now because I didn't try to push him out of bed once. I think I now have Pat convinced to book a room with a king sized bed when staying at a hotel.
Me and Pat relaxing in our lovely room at the Hamilton, Hampton Inn which was just up the street (a block and a half) from Pat's home
Sometimes one can take this minimalist thing too far. But knowing Pat he would be just as happy sleeping in the back of a pickup truck.
During our five day stay in Hamilton we visited several excellent vegan food restaurants. At night we watched all three of the Denzel Washington "Equalizer" movies. One day we visited Pat's friends in Port Dover and had lunch with them.
Lunch in Port Dover with Pat's friends Deb and Paul
I wasn't much of a vegan until I met Pat. But I have to say since I met Pat I've enjoyed many a vegan meals at some really good vegan restaurants. There was one in Hamilton called "Happy Holligan's" that I really enjoyed. I always ask what the soup of the day is. This day they told me it was "Dill Pickle Soup." What? Now that was a new one. Always the one up for a new taste adventure (except anything connected with seafood), I ordered the dill pickle soup. Guess what? It was delicious!
Dill pickle soup at Happy Hooligan's Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Me at Happy Hooligan's before the dill pickle soup
When Pat and I go on holiday together, perhaps to others what we do may not seem interesting or exciting but to us, we always have a good time. Just being together with this wonderful man, wherever we go, is a major treat for me. For my whole adult life, until I met Pat, I traveled alone. Some years ago I decided not to travel alone any more, just not the same as traveling with a friend or friends. Oh I've traveled with a friend and friends but those "friends" were more interested in looking for sexual encounters than they were with being with me. Interesting fact, they're all dead now. Coincidence? For me, all the years I visited Provincetown, I enjoyed getting away to a nice location where I was free to be myself. But even though Provincetown was gay friendly, I was never truly happy there being by myself and even worse when I went and/or took friend with me. They disappeared shortly after we landed at the airport, only to show up at the day of departure. Pat is interested in being with me. How novel. But I digress again. I am so fortunate at this time of my life to have a friend like Pat who I can travel with and we enjoy each other's company. Can you imagine one of my other friends of the past enjoying a grocery shopping trip like the one below?
It's almost comical isn't it? No wonder they ditched me as soon as we landed. Dull Ron.
Some other exciting things we did was shop at Home Depot. Every time I talk to Pat on FaceTime I see that hanging plant pot behind him with a dead plant. I was determined to get a nice philodendron to put in that pot. I did have to almost force Pat to go to Home Depot but I got the plants.
Me shopping at Home Depot for Pat's hanging plants
Another one an ivy plant for his other hanging plant, this one I couldn't see on my FaceTime calls with Pat. I am a Plant Guy. However, I have calmed down since my peak in the Eighties. I had my workplace at the bank a regular forest of hanging plants. Talk about excess.
Of course I could never visit Canada without a visit to Toronto, the Glass Canyon City. Pat used to live in Toronto. He moved several years ago to Hamilton because he said Toronto, with all those glass encased skyscrapers was becoming a city without character. Depersonalized. I like Toronto but I understand what Pat means. He loves Hamilton. I like Hamilton too. I think the comparison is like New York City and Philadelphia. New York is cool but Philadelphia is really cool. Philadelphia is livable. New York, for both of us, is too depersonalized.
Then, too soon as always, it was time to depart Canada. I'm always sad when I have to leave Pat but especially now since I'm coming home here to an empty house. I always had Bill waiting for me before, not that he's gone it is especially sad for me.
Pat took this short video of me going through the TSA Pre Check line at the Buffalo Airport.
You can catch a glimpse of me right at the end with the hat and my black jacket.
Before I forget, I did something this trip I always meant to do but never did. I traveled light and I mean light. I didn't have a change of shirts or pants. Only two sets of underwear and socks and my medications and my chargers for my Apple Watch and iPhone. I managed! I will do this on future trips.
The flight back was on time but there was a hitch. Isn't there always? When we arrived at Philadelphia International Airport we couldn't deplane because the JetWay didn't work. The Jet Way is that connector to the airplane at the airport that we passengers get into the building. That was a forty-five minute delay. Other than that delay, I had a wonderful trip. This trip was perfect because it got my mind off of the loss of Bill. Always when I returned from holidays like this I would share my experiences with Bill. Now there was no one here at Casa Tipton-Kelly to share my memories of my trip to Canada with Pat. Except all of you of course, my faithful blog readers.
This is a video taken today by my friend Pat F. in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It is of Harold Siroonian, otherwise known as "The Hamilton Dancing Man." I've posted videos of Harold dancing in previous blogs. However, for the past two years Harold has been missing from the scene because of COVID. In fact Harold caught COVID but survived which is somewhat amazing because he does have medical issues and is now eighty-nine years old.
Pat has sent me several videos of Harold dancing which I find great pleasure in viewing. Harold was a scientist by occupation. Of course he's been retired many years now. He is a widower and has two grown children. He is of Armenian heritage.
I did have the privilege of meeting him in person a couple of years ago, while he was in the hospitable. Of course he was a gentleman of great class. Humble and interesting. He has inspired others to street dance. Even me (once in Palm Springs!).
I often watch his videos when I want to relieve my stress. And things have been stressful around here lately caregiving for Bill which is why I haven't posted for awhile. I'll catch you up on that part of my life in future blog postings. But for now, I'm enjoying watching this video of this classy man enjoying life by doing what he likes to do.
Here it is folks! The slideshow you all have been waiting for, my annual trip to Canada to visit my friend Pat and his friends. I think this is my fifth annual trip. I always go at the end of summer. My first two trips were to Pat's former home in Toronto. These last three trips are to Pat's new home in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. Pat lives in a classic historic hotel that is being converted into luxury condominiums.
I fly into Buffalo, New York (once I flew into Pierson International in Toronto, NEVER AGAIN) where Pat picks me up. First we stop at Wegmans (oh how I miss Wegmans) for lunch. Then we go over the border into Canada. When we arrived in Hamilton we attended a condo warming of Pat's friends Verna and Sharon, who had just purchased a penthouse condo right above Pat's junior penthouse condo. The rest of the week during my visit was very productive. We visited "Harold, the Dancing Man" who was in the hospital after surgery. Harold is a very nice man. I was privileged to meet him. Hard to believe he is 87 years old and does all that dancing. Perhaps you saw my movie "Hamilton Dancing Guy" that I produced of a compilation of videos that Pat surreptitiously took of Harold dancing last summer. Unfortunately I didn't get to see Harold dancing in person this time. Pat and I also visited Pat's favorite restaurants, vegan and carnivore. We also witnessed a gigantic tanker arrive at the fabled Hamilton steel mills. Pat always wanted to see the "drawbridge" on the canal raise. We saw it. Very impressive. Too soon my Canadian holiday was over and Pat drove me over the Canadian border back to the US via Buffalo. Again we stopped in Wegmans for lunch and I was on my way home. Next up I meet Pat in Philadelphia for our annual Christmas stay at my friend Don's co-op in center city Philly. Then in only two short months Pat and I will take off to balmy Palm Springs, California in February. My one regret of this trip is that I didn't get to see Harold, The Dancing Guy in Hamilton, dance in person. He is the gentleman Pat and I visited in the hospital. He was recovering from surgery and wasn't able to do any dancing this trip. However, we did meet several of his friends who he has inspired by his free hearted dancing. Harold is truly an amazing guy, hard to believe he is 87 years old! I hope to see him dance in person next year when I visit. Below is an example of his dancing prowess. Enjoy as Harold enjoys life and as I try to every day.
Waiting for the flight that seemed like it was never going to take off
Here I am in Canada! Today I begin my third day of my weeklong stay at my Canadian Travel Buddy's luxurious 14th floor condo in downtown Hamilton. What a time I had getting here! My ride (Jimmy Carter) from Lewes picked me up early Sunday morning to take me to the Philadelphia International Airport for my 11:45 AM one hour flight to Buffalo, New York. I fly to Buffalo where Pat picks me up and takes me over the boarder to Canada. A lot less complicated than flying directly into Pierson International Airport in Toronto. Did that once and will never do it again. Three levels of security and actually more mileage to travel. It was good that Jim Carter picked up up early, we beat the Sunday tourist traffic returning to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Getting to the airport was the easy part. Now for the hard part. I have TSA pre check. That's my "free" pass to bypass the security line where you have to take your shoes off, belt, get scanned, felt up and other indignities. In the past this has worked fine. Not this time. Oh no, not this time. First thing I had to find the TSA pre check line. After asking several airport help I was directed to another terminal. Yes, ANOTHER terminal. WTF? So I take the long walk to the other terminal. There is a line. Not too bad but a line none the less. People are catching on to this pre check convenience. Well, today it wasn't so convenient. I approach the line. Place my small carryon suitcase and shoulder bag on the conveyor belt. I also place my iPhone in the bowl and surrender them all to the conveyor belt to undergo the security scan. I am directed to walk through "the arches." "BEEP! BEEP!" Oh no, something is setting off the alarm. I'm asked if I completely emptied my pockets. Well, no actually. I have a pen (purple) and a semi-used tissue in my shirt pocket. "Put it in the bowl!" I hold my wad of cash in my hand. No way am I putting hundreds of dollars in the bowl. Too tempting and, of course untraceable, to some of the less honest going through or working the TSA security line that day. I am again directed to go through the arches. I do so and, yes "BEEP! BEEP!" "Step aside sir." Off goes the belt. "Do you have any metal joint replacements?" Uh no but I do have seed implants for my prostate treatment of years ago. They should be dormant. Again I am directed to the arches. "BEEP! BEEP!" "Step aside sir. We'll have to pat you down." Can you believe this? First of all I'm over seventy-five years old. I should be waved through security like I have many times in the past. But not today. Today I'm getting the full "treatment." Before the pat down though I have to go in the full body scan, the one where they see everything you own (and don't tell me they don't). I didn't pass that one either. I think they need to get new equipment. The body pat down was next. Wasn't too bad, they guy patting me down did manage to not jostle the family jewels, thank goodness. Finally I passed. Phew! I can't remember the last time I went through such a rigmarole in security. And remember I have the TSA pre check "convenience." Now the fun was really going to start. My flight as I said before was scheduled to leave at 11:45 AM. I arrived at my gate at 8:30, almost three hours early. Well, at least I was on time. I settle down to kill time. I was lucky in that I had went to the bathroom before I got to the airport. That's always a worry of mine when I go on these trips, that a bowel urgency will strike in between points of departure. At my age I can't hold it in. When I have to go, I have to go. Fellow blog readers who are in my age group understand completely what I am talking about. I always fear having an "accident" on the way to the airport. And I have no desire to use the airport bathrooms for any sit down "activity" or encountering a Republican Senator in his gay closet with a wide stance in the next booth but because those bathroom stink. They literally smell like shit. When I got to my gate I settled in for a long wait. I'm good at killing time so that wasn't a problem. The problem began though as the time of departure approached there began a series of delays of which I was notified on my iPhone.
I lost count after five notification beeps. The departure time kept being changed. Then the departure gate was changed. Man oh man. This was torture. Seemed like every five minutes I was receiving a notification on my iPhone. But at least we weren't sitting in a plane on the tarmac for hours or circling above for hours all of which I have experienced in the past during my limited flying experience. Has anyone ever had a flight both out and back on time? I haven't. Finally at about 1:30 PM boarding began, almost two hours later. This was going to be a full day of travel. This plane was a puddle jumper. Meaning the cabin was toothpaste tube size. Alright, so I exaggerate but that airplane tube was narrow. Thank goodness I elected a single seat on the left side of the tube. Me and the rest of the passengers squeezed into our seats. We taxied on the runway and were off. The little over an hour flight was the easiest part of the trip. Sunny skies, pleasant trip. I arrived at the Buffalo airport a little over an hour later and there was Pat, waiting for me. Always good to see Pat in person after so many hours, days, weeks and months of communicating with him by FaceTime. As is our usual tradition we stopped at Wegmans in Buffalo for lunch.
Me and Pat at Wegmans on Dick Street (can you believe it?) in Buffalo. The Wegmans in Downingtown, we we often ate is located next to Dick's Sporting Goods store. What are the odds? We had a nice lunch (as we always do at Wegmans), oh how I wish there was a Wegmans in Lower Slower Delaware but I'll never see that in my lifetime or my next lifetime, and we progressed towards the border to Canada. Traffic was heavy. We don't know what that was all about or "aboot". When we arrived at Pat's hometown we immediately went to an open house one of his neighbors was having. Pat lives in a historic hotel in downtown Hamilton that has converted into luxurious condos. His friends were having a house warming in this million dollar penthouse a few floors above Pat's condo.
As we walked down the hallway to their penthouse we could hear the loud chatter and laughter. Oh no, I was so tired and now I was going to have to pull the Charming Ron rabbit out of my magician's hat.
Pat and Veena, the Lady of the Hour
We stayed for about an hour at their condo warming. Veena and Sharon had their affair catered. Free flowing drinks and scrumptious looking hors d'oeurvres were displayed prominently and begging to be consumed. I partook of a vodka and ginger ale but passed on the hors d'oeuvres. I had only a bowl of cereal in the morning and wanted a proper meal. Pat and I ate at a new delightful restaurant that Pat discovered in downtown Hamilton called the "Bread Basket". We met a delightful American couple from Connecticut traveling through Canada to visit their son in Michigan. The lady photo bombed my obligatory restaurant picture that I always have taken when Pat and I eat at a new restaurant. In fact when I eat with anybody at a new restaurant I have a picture taken to memorialize the event. I know, I know. I am one of THOSE boring people. When Pat and I finally got back to his condo I was EXHAUSTED. The time was nearing 6:30 PM, almost twelve hours after Jim Carter picked me up in that morning for my ride to Philly International airport. Pat and watched a movie but I was just too tired. I went to bed, thus ending the first day of my annual journey to visit my good friend and travel buddy to our friendly neighbor to the north, Canada. Today I am relaxed and ready for more adventure. I always enjoy visiting Canada and seeing Pat in person Although Pat and I talk several times a day on FaceTime, in person is always better. And he's in person now folks. We'll visit more friends today. Photos and videos will follow!
Pat with my carry on luggage at the Buffalo airport yesterday
Early yesterday morning I left sunny Canada for the hour ride to the Buffalo airport. Yes, my week long stay in Canada had come to an end. Pat drove me to Buffalo for my flight to Philadelphia. The traffic was light. That was good. We had no problem crossing the border. That was good too. I went through the TSA pre check line again at the Buffalo airport. I am so glad I took the time last summer to go to Dover and complete my TSA security pre check information. My flight out of Buffalo left on time, unlike my flight out of Philadelhia which was almost an hour late because of mechanical difficulties. Small plane again. This time I had a big guy in the seat next to me on the plane. He overflowed into my space. I think he felt bad about it. Oh we'll, it was only a hour flight. I arrived in Philadelphia under cloudy and misty rain. My ride to pick me up was stuck in traffic on Route One. I didn't mind waiting. Ironically the last time he picked me up he was stuck in traffic. It all evens out though because he's picked me up in the past where my flights have been delayed. I didn't mind waiting. I arrived home yesterday at about 3 o'clock. Bill was very glad to see me. I was exhausted. Flying is a chore. It was so nice to sleep in my own bed last night. I love my quarterly trips with Pat but I do like coming home. Then I get to look forward to another trip. Our next get together will be in Philadelphia a week after Thanksgiving. I won't have to take a flight on that trip. Now to get back into my daily routine. Another successful trip which I will share via photos and videos in future blog postings. Have a great day everyone!
Me and Pat at a new restaurant discovery, Sagarmatha Curry Palace in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Today is my last day in Canada. This is always the bad part of my holidays with Pat, they end too quickly. Tomorrow I will arise early for my two hour ride to Buffalo, New York for my 10:36 am flight to Philadelphia. As you can see from the paucity of my blog postings since I've been in Canada, I've been very busy. We have been very busy. Always something to do on our holidays together. We don't plan anything special, just let the days flow but they're always full. I think yesterday (the days run together) we took the bus to Toronto and explored the massive underground shopping area. I've never seen anything like that in my life. Sure does beat Philly's homeless sleeping, urine stink Concourse. Philly has come a long way since I've worked there in the 80's but they have a long way to go. The weather has been perfect during my whole stay. Yesterday was a near tornado but even that was fun. No one got hurt. As we are wont to do, we discovered a few new vegan restaurants. One we especially like is an Indian/Nepalese restaurant called Sagarmatha, which is understand is Nepalese for Mt. Everest. Vegan food was very tasty, inexpensive and we had a cozy corner table. Sevice was a little slow but I'll give them a pass on that. Well, I hear Pat rousing in the bedroom. Soon we will be off on another day of adventure. Rest assured I will catch up on all the doings here this past week, photos and videos included. And by the way, a good blogger friend of mine who also visited Canada this week posted that we wouldn't "bore" his readers with photos and videos of his trip. Wow, that's not me folks. Be prepared to be bored. I don't consider a trip worthwhile unless I take a ton of photos and videos. And if anyone is bored, which I am sure there are a few who have short attention spans or have other interests, they don't have to stop by here for a visit. I for one like to create permanent memories. Can you imagine life without photos or videos to relieve old memories? I can't but then that's old boring me.
Poster from Steel City bar and restaurant, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada - how did I ever miss this movie?
This time tomorrow I'll be in line to board my flight from Philadelphia International airport to Buffalo, New York. My Canadian Travel Buddy will be waiting for me in Buffalo to complete the final leg of my trip to his luxury condo in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This is fifth annual trip to Canada to visit Pat. Packing for my trips are always a challenge for me. I'm one of those people who packs for "all occasions" and I always end up not wearing most of the shirts I've packed. Every trip, looking at my packed to the gills carry-on luggage I vow to pack less. Usually I take way too many shirts and pullovers. This is what I'm packing this trip:
5 sets of underwear (T-shirts, underwear)
5 sets of socks
1 pair of shorts
1 light windbreaker/rain jacket
3 pullovers/colored T-shirts
3 plastic see-thru plastic packets of toiletries including prescriptions pills
chargers for my iPhone, Macbook and Bose speaker
This is what I'm packing in my overhead bin carryon luggage. In my personal shoulder briefcase: Macbook DVD's (first season Game of Thrones) Passport TD Bank checkbook There, I think I've covered everything. I'll take a last check before my neighbor picks me up tomorrow morning at 7:30 am for the two hour trip to Philly International for my hour flight to Buffalo. Oh, I forgot! Plane tickets! I'll download those later today from my computer. I print the tickets and I also have the tickets on my iPhone. This is the first time I'm using my TSA pre-check app that I got last year. Let's see if that works. Sure would be nice to breeze through TSA security. I'll try to keep you all updated during mystery stay in Canada. Won't have as many photos to post though, I can only do that from my iMac here. No matter how many trips I take, I always get nervous. I got that from my Mother. Not nervous because of being afraid of flying, I've never had that fear. My nervousness comes from all the connections I have to make to finally arrive at my destination. Once I arrive in Canada, I actually feel at home. How about that? I feel the same way when we visit California and Philadelhia. I'm finally living the life I always looked forward to all those years I used to schlepp to work at my banking job in Philly. Like another blogger friend of mine I often thought "Can't wait until I retire so I can do what I want to do." I'm very lucky folks because I am retired now (my part-time job at the hotel funds these trips) and am doing what I want to do. And how lucky I am to do it with such a great guy like Pat?
Pat and I having breakfast at John's restaurant in downtown Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Two weeks from this Sunday I will be making my annual trip to my northern neighbor Canada.
I am taking a flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Buffalo, New York. Pat, my Canadian Travel Buddy, will take the forty-mile trip from his home in Hamilton and cross the border to Buffalo to pick me up. I fly to Buffalo because it is cheaper and a LOT LESS stressful than flying into Toronto’s Pierson airport. And now that Pat lives in Hamilton, the mileage to Buffalo to pick me up is less than if he had to drive to Toronto to pick me up.
Pat and I waiting for the bus to the Toronto airport last year
This is my fourth trip to Canada to visit Pat. The first two years I visited Pat at his home in Toronto. Last year I visited Pat at his new home in downtown Hamilton. Pat sold his home in Toronto and bought a fantastic condo, with spectacular views of downtown Hamilton, at the historical Royal Connaught hotel, which is in the process of converting to luxury condos.
Pat and I get together four times a year. Every quarter.
At the end of December Pat and I meet in Philadelphia. I rent a suite at the co-op of my longtime friend and former co-worker Don McKenzie. I used to live and work in Philly and love visiting and reliving old memories. Pat loves Philly. And we both like Don very much.
Don, Pat and me at Marathon restaurant on Spruce Street in Philadelphia, PA
In February Pat and I take a two-week trip to California. One week in West Hollywood where we make another try to get on “The Price is Right”. We spend a second week in Palm Springs. I’ve always wanted to punch a hole in the winter cold by spending a few weeks in warmer climes. Now that Pat and I together, I can realize this long-held dream of mine. Pat brought a condo in Palm Springs last year. He has it rented out for two years but after that rental obligation is up we may stay there in the future. I would love to spend a winter month in Palm Springs. Another dream of mine I hope to realize some day.
In the spring Pat takes a bus from Toronto to Philly. He rents a car in Philly and drives down here where I live in lower slower Delaware. We spend a couple days here, visiting Bill and our favorite restaurants in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, then we both make the trip back to Philly and that rental suite of our friend Don.
I am so happy that I can make these trips with Pat. Many years ago, when I was young and full of energy I used to make trips to Provincetown, Massachusetts. I started out one week in the summer, but when I ended going up four times during the summer. The last time I visited Provincetown for a three week stay (1986), I returned to my job to find out I was job eliminated. I haven’t been back since. I hope to return at least one time before I check out, with Pat. There are no furniture stores in Provincetown, but they have a great Tea Dance and fabulous restaurants. Now to figure out how to convince Pat to add a fifth trip to our annual adventures.
Me at Pat's countertop in his fabulous new condo in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Folks! I'm here! I really am! Oh my, so much going on in my "retired" world. Just this morning I finished updating and mailing the minutes of our homeowners' association board committee meeting. Yes, I HAVE been roped into the position as (acting) secretary. I hardly have enough time to do all my other activities and yet here I am, SECRETARY to our homeowners' association. A subject worthy of several blog posts, which you know I WILL do. "Marie", one of my faithful blog followers left a comment about seeing enough of that Harvey Weinstein photo I left for you all to see for days on my last blog post. For that I do apologize folks. That wasn't my intention. With this blog post that offensive image of Harvey the Pig will go away. Marie and others have asked for more blog posts about my Canadian vacation of which I fully intend to oblige. I have many photos and videos to share. What's holding me back though besides procrastination is that I was going to use You Tube's Video Editor, but they discontinued it! Now I have to use iMovie on my iMac and that's another whole time consuming activity what I have been procrastinating getting into. But, I will. Last Sunday Bill and I made the two and a half hour drive to Pennsylvania to attend my 58th high school class reunion. More photos and videos taken there too folks of which I intend to share, hopefully after I make some cool video collages in iMovie. By the way, this was my first class reunion that Bill attended with me. For about forty years I've been asking him to go with me to my high school class reunions and he finally does when he's 89 years old. My classmates think I took up with an OLD MAN. Thanks Bill (smile).
Bill (center) at my class reunion with two of my classmates.
So folks, that's where I am now. Still trying to get my act together and wondering where all the hours go in a day. And to think I used to work full-time and do so much in addition to my work and commute time. How did I ever do that? Maybe because I didn't take daily two hour afternoon naps like I just did today. Have a great day!!! Note: the header photo on this blog I took of the lobby of the Royal Connaught Hotel in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. That is Pat in the green T-shirt soaking in the luxuriousness of the lobby. Some lobby Pat!
