next 2022/08 ― I had the pleasure to visit what is arguably the oldest university in the world. It is the University of Bologna, which was founded in 1088. I was in the room where medical students used to sit on the benches around a table on which the medieval teacher dissected corpses that had […]
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Vroom! Vroom!
next 2022/07 ― Vroom is the sound that this 74 Plymouth ‘Cuda made when I stepped on the gas. This model is super cool and I must say, it really blew my hair back. My brother Yvon, the owner, insisted that it had a 360 V8, bored and stroked to a 410 with an aggressive […]
Bike Ride
next 2022/06 ― Raymond hopped on his bicycle and went for a ride. Usually, he follows the Rideau canal, locks the bike at the Rideau Center and goes for a walk around the Byward Market.
Getting the Swing of it
next 2022/05 ― I’m starting to get the swing of this retirement life. My new favorite hangout is in the backyard where there are recently laid patio stones, a new deck and this freshly-assembled four-seater swing set. Here I am resting with a beer in hand after watering the grass.
Fighting Sri Lankan Corruption
next 2022/04 ― Raymond joined tens of thousands of protesters in Galle Face Green, Colombo to demand the resignation of the corrupt Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who bankrupted the country. The protesters have been camping in tents for over a week. The country is experiencing shortages of gasoline, electricity, food and medicine. GoHomeGota2022 #GoHomeGota […]
Eating Candy in Kandy
next 2022/04 ― In Kandy, Sri Lanka, I ate candy―with a Java coffee. I also drank a Java coffee when I was in Java, Indonesia. One day, I will go to Ireland and I will drink an Irish coffee, and when I go to Scotland, I plan to have a Scotch. When I went to […]
At the Piano
next 2022/03 ― As a child, I wanted to play the piano but I did not get that opportunity. Now, I started self-teaching from a book stored away in the piano bench. My dream is to learn Theme of Love Story and Beethoven’s Für Elise. If this works out, I might even add the violin […]
March for Ukraine
next 2022/02 ― On February 27, Raymond and Mayra marched to protest against Putin’s invasion. Thousands in Ottawa and millions around the globe came out to support Ukraine. They are such a brave nation. (Thirteen Ukrainian soldiers on Snake Island preferred death to surrendering to a Russian warship.)* A Ukrainian lady put sunflowers seeds in […]
Early Birds and Shadowy Rodents
next 2022/02 ― According to groundhog day folklore, if a groundhog sees its shadow, the next six weeks will bring wintry weather. Otherwise, there will be an early spring. On February 2, the groundhog representing Ontario predicted an early spring. Another mythology says that spotting a robin announces the arrival of spring. On February 7, […]
Bedazzled by the Glitter
next 2022/01 – I had never really paid much attention to jewelry before. This was the first time that I explored this world. Not all pieces spoke to me, but some pieces stood out. The gorgeous colors were sparkly eye-candy: a red ruby, a blue sapphire, a blue aquamarine, a yellow topaz, a green opal, […]