IS IT ACTING....OR JUST AGING?

As we are fairly new to Netflix we have been catching up on all the BBC series that have been around for some time. The latest one that has caught our attention is Wallander staring Kenneth Branagh.

It is pretty gritty with lots of violence and gruesome dead people shots, but we find that Kenneth  - Wallander is such a tortured soul you just can't look away....sort of like rubber necking at a car accident - you know you shouldn't look - but you DO!

If Kenneth ever had aspirations of being the handsome leading man this isn't the role for him. He looks disheveled, to say the least, and at times you can almost imagine just what he smells like after days of sleeping on sofas, in cars or not sleeping at all.....except when he nearly nods off while DRIVING! The wardrobe for the show must have been pretty meagre because he seems to wear the same things for days on end.....in one episode his daughter gives him a hug and actually tells him he stinks. She does offer to go get him a clean shirt - really - you think a clean shirt is going to help???

As I said - it is gritty - and supposed to be Swedish, as in he is supposed to be Swedish, but he has this British accent (He is actually IRISH). As do the rest of the cast. It is quite disconcerting when they toss around names like Ystad, Olin,  Södra Änggatan while filming in the Swedish countryside. I am supposing they got a whopping great tax break for doing this because it just comes off as WEIRD at times. Not ONE Swedish person, not ONE Swedish accent...it's like all of Sweden has been taken over by the Brits.

He does clean up somewhat when he meets a new woman (of course he has been dumped by his wife because his job means EVERYTHING!) but by the beginning of Season Three he is back to his old self  drinking until he falls asleep in his chair...and his smelly clothes and just can't understand why NO ONE understands how immersed he is in his job. Okay....seeing several dead bodies every week will reek havoc with your relationships I suppose. But he never SHARES...just keeps everything to himself while the rest of the world looks on and wonders what the hell his is about. See - compelling!!!

Anyway, the show has caught on, thanks to Netflix I am sure, and a fourth and final season will be release in 2015.

It really is worth the watch if you can get two things out of your mind:

FIRST - The Swedish Chef from Sesame Street


AND SECOND ... this guy....

Gilderoy Lockhart. of Harry Potter fame....aka Kenneth Branagh


In Wallander our dear Kenneth looks like this:

SEE - told ya

*****

The bathroom renovation has been completed...six months but who is counting? It looks nice and clean, more modern, open, airy....and PLAIN. There is a wall where the towel rack presides, over top of the towel rack is an empty space and we keep thinking of things to put there....WHY? Why do we have this obsession of filling any available wall space with....."art" for lack of a better word??

Why do people need 'art' in the bathroom in the first place? Flowers, butterflies, schools of fish, tin creations, clay objects....really...why? They have nothing to do with the room....or it's purpose. Some don't even have a theme - just a bunch of knick knacks thrown together that take up space and need to be cleaned.

Art, I have read, is supposed to 'inspire a reaction'....well, one reaction in the bathroom.....is..........!!!! ...how do you decorated for THAT?

Our obsession with things hung up applies to our house down south as well ....I literally have no available wall space for one more thing to be hung.

We like it, but I am sure some people would walk in and say to themselves "What are they thinking?"

Well, I believe we are thinking...."Look an empty space - let's hang something there."

But at least there is a common theme from room to room...even the bathroom....the house theme is south western, cowboy, ranch, desert with a twist of Mexicana thrown in for good measure. I kid you not!

When we visited our cousin, Sigrun, in Iceland, her apartment was like an art store. The pristine white walls are covered in art. And by "art" I mean actual painted, drawn, original art.....as in....an artist completed the work and sold it. The apartment has a wall of lovely, paned windows and over top and underneath and tucked into every corner, even up to the ceiling is art. Some large, some small, some done by adult hands and some done by wee hands sold at a craft sale - artists to be! The place looks AMAZING! It works for her.

So, why do we feel the need to hang something in an open space? Why can't we just enjoy the simplicity of.....nothing?

Don't know.....and I am sure, eventually, we will come up with something to hang in this empty bathroom space and it will make us feel better....for some strange reason.

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Things I have learned this week:

My dear husband can plaster. He did an excellent job of covering up the destroyed wall in the bathroom. If you don't look to close....it is as good as new. Yeah!

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Some ladies in the city decided to have a night on the town and after running up at tab of about $160.00 they decided to...dine and dash.

The police arrived after being called by the restaurant and some time later one of the women returned....because she had forgotten her purse. Proving once again that you can't fix stupid.


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The Museum on Non-Visible Art, or MONA, houses a variety of non-visible works of art that can only be admired by reading the artist’s description. Sounds weird, but believe it or not, someone actually paid $10,000 for one of these ‘masterpieces’. I looked it up....it's an empty frame!!

This one is called "Fresh Air."

I think it should be called "More Money Than Brains"

AT SOME POINT WE WILL ALL GET THERE.....

As some of you may or may not know, my father in law passed away last December. In August we are having a family memorial and I have been pouring over all the old albums (about thirty of them!!) to find some pictures that will represent the life he lived. He was colourful, to say the least, so there is no shortage of THOSE kinds of pictures let... me... tell... you!!

It has been extremely time consuming but at the same time I have had a giggle or two over the hairstyles and fashions of the day....Geez did I really wear glasses THAT BIG??? .....and the fact that some people actually had hair at one time!!

So, I decided that apart from pictures of just my father in law, I would include those with him and other people. Family gatherings, he and the kids, he and his wife, he and his wife and kids, some close relatives and some who live far way and of course some good friends. While perusing these albums I am amazed at how many of the people in them have passed on. It brings how short life is to you when you look at a gathering and state.... "oh, there's so and so, he's gone, and she's gone.....and, um she's gone.." Thought provoking.

AND then I came across this one beauty! At first I thought:

"Oh, this is a nice one of the family. I'll include it in the memorial pictures."

and on second look I burst out laughing! It's one of those - what's wrong with this picture....?? kind of deal....but more importantly... what the heck is it doing in the album???

I have decided NOT to include it (along with some others that I have had second thoughts about) because this is supposed to be a somewhat serious memorial...AND YET...if you knew my father in law you would understand the trickle down effect genetics have on a family.

She actually grew up to be quite normal....

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Speaking of "old people".......The latest stats state there will TWO BILLION people over the age of 60 by 2050. (Chances are... I won't be one of them..not because I won't be old, because I will be dead.) That population is DOUBLE the number today! Shocking - you bet.

Because of this phenomena there is a new term being bandied about - Cashing in on the silver dollar. Yup - that's us. Us and our huge amount of money we have worked for and saved all of our lives and now want to spend by travel, health insurance and home renovations.

Just in the U.S. alone 7.1 TRILLION is generated economically by people over 50. So, naturally, all the youngsters out there want to get some of this coin by way of "improvements for the elderly." There is an App for a mobile that will offer medical and safety advice, or calls emergency services for you. Do these people have any idea the calls they are going to get??? I think not. Case in point:

The chief executor of the company , after canvassing the elderly, has discovered that they don't like to be called "old." Well, ya don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Therefore in their marketing they use words like 'freedom' instead of 'fear' and 'confidence' instead of 'vulnerability.'

I wish them well....I really do....but when this App comes along and a gazzillion OLD people get their hands on it and start calling to ask why their TV remote isn't working.....well, don't say I didn't warn you.

*****

I was browsing the local "swap meet" sight for a sectional and came across this great ad. I wouldn't buy this thing in a million years, but I can certainly appreciate the effort put into making the selling pitch a little more interesting than the usual:

"This DeFehr sectional in green is a beauty.
With the lazy susan that rolls open, you can easily hide stuff for when your parents come over ... True story.
A few kilometres on it, but still in good condition.
Non smoking house, and no pets. Especially cats, some studies are trying to prove that cats carry a bacteria that mutates your brain into making you love them...which isnt a bad thing, but for some they never have enough cats, which eventually turns you into a crazy cat lady. Sounds like science fiction, but have you ever known a crazy dog lady? I sure haven't.
Anywho, this thing is a giant, but can split up to any shape.
It is heavy like you would not believe, a "sure don't make 'em like that any more" piece.
So straight up, if you come and get this thing, we are shooting for a hundred bucks in return...or best offer.
But keep this in mind, it was $500 in 1968, and according to the inflation calculator it is $3200 in 2014... Crazy savings if you think about it like that."

I actually contacted them just to tell then I enjoyed their ad!!!


Things I have learned this week:

Sometimes having a lucky rabbits foot ...or two...isn't so lucky after all.

this is all that was left of the bunny found under my friends deck.

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NetFlix Canada has their knickers in a twist because Canadians have been able to get NetFlix U.S.A.   Oh My God!!! Construct a wall across the border, put a bubble over Canada - please don't allow Canadians to watch Sons of Anarchy when they aren't supposed to be able to get it....even though they can BUY it at WalMart.

Really guys - and by GUYS I mean our watchdog Government peeps - why don't you try and stop kiddie porn instead of blocking my innocent telly watching......

A KIND OF PING PONG BLOG......

I actually have something in common with the Queen, as in THE Queen, of England, not the musical group currently touring with Adam Lambert.

In common you say...with The Queen? Well, something apart from having a bit more than a few drops of English blood in me - not ROYAL blood, but commoners blood. After all - what is ROYAL blood but having ancestors who wielded the biggest stick??

Sorry, got off on a tangent there. The Queen and I both 'let' out our residences for money. You can rent my Arizona house for a modest weekly fee and you can rent a ROOM in Buck House or Windsor Castle for a, um, modest fee....I'm not sure exactly how much, but I am sure it is all relative. OR you can rent from Charles and Camilla. They have a lovely eco-friendly house in Wales that they are willing to share with those who have deep pockets.

If you want to stay in something with a lot of history you can arrange an apartment in the Tudor wing of Hampton Court or even in the Georgian House there.

I don't know if times are getting tougher for the Royals or they are just more willing to hitch a ride on this latest trend, but it will help buy some more kibble for the Corgi's.

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Ever wonder what happened to a certain movie star you saw and, at the time, thought - Wow - how the hell did THEY get that part???

Well Hayden Christensen springs to my mind. He was cast, unfortunately, in Star Wars,  Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith as the young Anakin Skywalker....who turned in to Darth Vader. I say unfortunately because he was about as good as an unlit lightsaber. In his next foray into moviedom he played a person in a coma...and he couldn't even manage that - even though, from his 'acting' in Star Wars I thought it would have been a snap.

George Lucas said that he chose Christensen because he "needed an actor who has that presence of the dark side." If you call wooden acting, brooding looks, whining and acting like you are five years old and having a tantrum....'that presence of the dark side' then I guess it worked.

Personally the guy just bothers me! AND it seems I have company. His performance in both Episodes II and III was met with generally negative reviews by critics.  Earning him the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor in BOTH films. Bet that doesn't show up on any resume!

Christensen appeared opposite Mischa Barton in Virgin Territory, which was released directly-to-DVD in North America. The film, based on The Decameron, is about a group of people who escape the Black Plague epidemic by hiding out in a Tuscan villa in Italy. Sounds like a keeper to me.....

So, I thought he had just become a very young has-been - but NO! He is still around and apparently people are still giving him parts in movies.

  What he looked like THEN as the 'dashing' young Darth



And NOW...geez Hayden....get some fashion advice! What is with those pants??



Or this...is this part of a straight jacket???

and the sad news....he's Canadian!!!

But THIS just may explain a lot about his fashion sense. Christensen has owned a farm near Uxbridge, Ontario since 2007. He noted in 2008 that he had been renovating the property himself and devoting time to learning about "livestock, crops and agricultural machinery". Hayden: A duck goes - quack, a cow goes - moo. In November 2013, Christensen teamed up with Canadian fashion chain RW&Co to release a men's clothing line inspired ..........by his farm.

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I love the good old U.S. of A. Really, I do. They amuse the hell out of me.

A Colorado restaurant named Shooters Grill has waitresses that carry.357 Blackhawk revolvers in  holsters on their legs. This is one of the states that lets you carry guns in public, so the owner has decided she should just embrace this law. 

"Guns are welcome on the premises. Please keep all weapons holstered unless a need arises. In such a case, judicious marksmanship is appreciated"  is the sign on the front door.  

The owner said she consulted her "Christian" friends about the name and they said it sounded like a bar or strip club. But, the name of the town is called Rifle so she went ahead and named the restaurant Shooters.

"We called it Shooters and started throwing guns and Jesus all over the place." 

Well Hallelujah and pass the ammunition. 

Things I have learned this week:

Death metal band Unfathonable Ruination (catchy eh?) is going to play a gig for ART.  Yup, here we go again. 

This is in London, on the street, inside a sound proof steel cube. They will be sealed in and perform until the oxygen runs out. I kid you not.

Well, that's one way to get them out of the gene pool.

*****

Dealing with the TD Bank, now that they are the ones in charge of our Aeroplan miles, is even more frustrating than a few weeks ago. I went online to sign up to get my VISA statements - paperless - as in emailed to me like I did with our old bank. Well, after an hour of run around, online and actually on the telephone, I thought I just about had it done. That is AFTER I also had to sign up for EPost (which is something to do with Canada Post....what the hell???). So.... close...and yet!!

Message in red letters: "Sorry - invalid card number." WHAT??

Okay - I guess that means that ALL the things that have been CHARGED to this INVALID card don't need to be paid.....right???

Dear husband says we will go down to the actual bank, talk to a real live teller and have her fix things.....or else we pull our money and start over with another bank.....sigh......

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J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame is writing...another....book....well - actually a STORY POST of 1,500 words. Apparently POSTED on her site Pottermore. This one is about the continuation of Harry's life. In it he is in his early 30's.

The headline connected to the story read: "Harry goes grey" AND for some strange reason I immediately thought .....Fifty Shades of.....WHAT? did Harry trade in his S & M (Spells and Magic) for the other kind of S & M....more whips than wand?

Turns out - No - that isn't it at all. Harry's hair has 'threads of silver' . Good Grief - at 34? J.K. What are you doing now???? Don't you have better things to do than sit around your castle and play with your book friends?

**

I am going to need some extra energy this August when our company arrives. I looked at my calendar and saw that I go from dinner for two one night, to dinner for four the next, 8 the next, 12 the next and then about 40 that night! Then I go back to ten for about three days........... so that should be easier!!! 

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Appliances in my house are STILL EVIL! I finally broke down and bought a new microwave/convection oven. Brought it home, heated up some coffee - yup it worked fine.

Last night I decided to try the oven part and cook a pizza. Dear husband says          " Why don't' we have a tubby (hot tub) before dinner?"  ( I KNOW - we are so abnormal!)

Anyway - For some reason I opened the oven door before turning it off and......was almost overcome by the white smoke pouring out of it. YES - the damned thing was on fire!!! Electrical smelling smoke just pouring out while I stood there with my mouth open  and dear husband going for the fire extinguisher!!

Dear husband quickly grabbed some oven mitts and carried the oven outside to cool down....and smoke on....and on.

The appliance centre where I bought it said they will order me in a new oven - ya think!!!

New dishwasher to be installed on Monday - I can hardly wait....or should I???....

IT IS WRITTEN.....

Back in my day if you REALLY wanted to be nasty to someone you would write on a bathroom wall:

"For a good time call Sally 555-5555" snicker, snicker....

Or something along that line. There really wasn't as much imagination put into bathroom wall writing as there is now it seems.

I actually looked up "bathroom graffiti " on The Google and you would be amazed at just how inventive people can be. I was, to say the least, impressed....and it provided me with a really good laugh.

Along with the usual pictures of a penis and balls, bad drawings of women with large breasts and profanity there were a few real gems.

First - You just can't seem to get away from people who think they are very clever....but can't spell.

I think the comment is priceless!

OR profound questions:

Staff with a great sense of humour:

Environmental awareness? 

Family pride:

 OR a VERY personal note:

From now on I am going to carry my camera with me at all times...because you just never know what you could come across in your local bathroom. Or, perhaps, I should just start carrying a sharpie in case I get inspired!!!

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I had to go to the optometrist last week. While I was waiting for over TWO hours, hidden in the full to capacity, back waiting room as opposed to the full to capacity, front waiting room where my husband sat.....good grief.....I watched the big screen television. Now you would think that something of interest would be broadcast on this television - but NO - instead they played (over and over) information ads on eyes....and ALL the things that could go wrong with eyes.

As I was there for a very long time, I got to hear them time and again. Couldn't escape...so I tried to just tune them out. Then I heard:

"This test is usually accurate, though inaccuracies may occur."

What the hell? Why even bother saying anything then?  Are any tests one hundred percent accurate all the time?

So, let me get this straight....I will subject myself to this test in the hopes that I am not one of the inaccuracies...but if I turn out to be....well, I have been warned.

Just askin' ....What else may occur?????

*****

Things I have learned this week:

William Shatner had a few lean years after making Star Trek. In 1977’s Kingdom of the Spiders, he appeared alongside hordes of angry tarantulas for his role as heroic, um, veterinarian Rack Hansen. Strange, I have never actually seen that movie......or heard of it!

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Someone really didn't want their lunch. Remember when you traded your lunches for something better at school....well, I don't know if that is what happened or this person was just not interested in eating what mom made but......

The perfectly preserved remains of a SANDWICH have been discovered in the bowels of a church organ - more than a century after they were put there.

The crusty bread, which had been wrapped in brown paper, was found sealed within the inner skin of the organ after it was dismantled to be sold for parts in Germany.

Church organist Kath Yates found the sandwich alongside a tattered 1896 copy of the Stockport Advertiser - the paper of the town where the organ was made.