Hold on a minute............

who is that in the back of my car?

Yep, it's the Queen...............the Queen is riding in the "Queen's" car!!

I first saw this decal in the UK last September and fell in love with it then.  When I got home I discovered I could get one from Amazon; here's a link to it.  I have had it in my basket at Amazon for a while.  The other day I cashed in my Swagbucks for a $25 Amazon gift card and decided to buy it along with a couple of other things I wanted.

Why did I buy this you ask?  Well for three reasons:

1. Because I liked it.

2. Because it'll make it a whole lot easier to find my car in the parking lot at Wal-Mart.........or any other store come to think of it.  As believe me when I say I have never seen one on a car where we live...LOL

3. Because it will irritate the two children I gave birth too......a mother has to get her kicks from somewhere!!!  Both will whine when they borrow my car....

"A good workman never blames his tools.'

That's an old saying and so very true.

It's well known in our family that I have a lead foot when driving.  So the other day I was driving dh to do some grocery shopping.  The road we drive on goes from 70 to 60, to 50, down to 40 kmph.  Now be fair to me, I generally drive in each zone, with the first number corresponding to the right number.  The last number.............well that's debatable.

So we are driving along, and at the last minute I see a police car coming towards me.

Me: "blast, never saw him."

Dh, is rolling his eyes and smirking.

Me: "it's this car's fault, it goes too fast."

Dh, again rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

Me: "it is."

Dh: "A good workman never blames his tools."

Me: "I guess; then it must be my feet, they're too heavy."

Dh, just sighs and says: "Just don't use that excuse if you get stopped!!"

Highway driving.

On Wednesday I went to see dd and had to travel down two major highways/motorways.  The 400 and the 401.  The 401 goes across the top of Toronto.

With last weekend being a holiday weekend (Canada Day) a lot of people took this week off so the traffic wasn't too bad.  However it seemed to me that the "crazy drivers" forgot to take a vacation and were out in force!  As were the "rubbernecker's," you know the people who practically come to a stop, so they can look at the pretty flashing lights six lanes over on the other side of the road.......

Then of course we have to speed demon's who are going like a bat out of hell in the fast lane; then suddenly remember they have to take the exit so go flying across a minimum of three lanes, sometimes more, to get to the exit ramp.  God help anyone who gets in their way.  I had a large truck pull out right in front of me, no indicators or nothing.  Luckily we weren't going fast at that point as he jumped gears and practically came to a stop.

Truly I don't know how people drive those major highways, day in day out?  I guess you get desensitized to it all and accept it for what it is.  I am still at a point that the big highways don't bother me, despite me living in "the countryside."  There is just one part of the journey, where I leave one highway to go onto another highway where I get a little concerned.  I have to cross over half a dozen lanes to do it and you have to hope people will be kind enough to let you in.  Canadians are a very polite bunch but when it comes to driving, they are as selfish as the rest of the world!!!

It's been a while since I had posted book reviews on my book review blog; March in fact.  I posted four reviews yesterday here if you would like to read them.

We are in the middle of a heat wave again.  I feel so sorry for the people who have to work outdoors in this weather.  Poor dh is suffering as he works in a factory environment where there are huge welders so a lot of heat.  Add in the humidity and it's draining.  We desperately need rain here, not just for the gardens, but to dampen down the dust.  For me dust = allergies!!

Enjoy your Friday.

Cast off and ready to go.......with a few restrictions of course....

After spending a couple of delightful hours sitting in the the fracture clinic my cast was taken off.  Being able to take a shower without a plastic bag on my hand will be a delight.  I have not to lift anything over 10 lbs for the next month, but I am chomping at the bit to get out in the garden especially as I have seen my first bulbs flower:

There is nothing spectacular with the next two photos, just enjoyed a bit of colour in the sky:

I was looking North with both the sky shots and both were taken around 7:15pm on Thursday night:

I also wanted to thank you for the birthday wishes, it was my birthday yesterday.  Honestly though I was more excited about getting my cast off than my birthday.  As we have a couple of things planned for the weekend, I am having a "long" birthday over the next few days which is nice.  However so far I got some clothes, a new pair of wellies/rain boots, a $20 gift card for Chapters and a $100 gift card for the garden centre and some scratch and in my case NOT WIN cards, all from dh, I have been spoiled.  I will be celebrating with the kids on Sunday.

I have a busy ahead of me today as I can drive again.  My first priority though is to go and renew my drivers licence, as it has run out, so fingers crossed I don't get stopped by the police on the way to the licencing office!!!!  Wouldn't that suck...LOL

Interesting list and a quilt block.......

This list was published in the Toronto Star on Saturday and I thought it was interesting:

Ian Law - Better Driving

After 40 years and a couple of million kilometres of driving under my seatbelt, I have witnessed many transgressions committed by motorists.

Here is my list of the 10 worst motoring offences.

• Impaired Driving: whether it is by drugs or distraction, this is the leading cause of death and destruction on our roads. Alcohol, street drugs or some prescription drugs negatively affect four of the most important functions of safe driving ability: judgment, co-ordination, vision and reactions. Just as dangerous is being distracted by cellphone conversations, texting, chatting to passengers, day dreaming, entertainment systems, or any other distraction that prevents a motorist from focusing on driving.

• Running Red Lights: This is also one of the deadliest motoring mistakes. Running a red light for purely selfish reasons or due to distraction will eventually involve you in a serious collision. Saving that little bit of extra time is never worth the risk.
• Following too close: I am always amazed by how many motorists tailgate other vehicles. Each and every day I have drivers following much too closely behind me and I have to take action to avoid this threat to my safety. When I encounter a driver that is too close to my rear bumper, I will gradually slow down and keep right in the next available passing zone. Most motorists don’t even realize they are following too closely. At highway speeds, the average driver needs at least half a second to recognize a threat and then react. This equates to roughly 15 metres or five car lengths just to realize they need to start braking. With some drivers creeping up to within one to two car lengths of the vehicle in front, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that just isn’t enough time.

• Parking in handicapped spot: Too frequently, the driver is obviously not physically challenged at all. Most drivers who use these convenient parking spots genuinely need this convenience. Shamefully, some motorists have a permit that applies to someone in their family but they use it for their own benefit. It is these illegitimate users that make my radiator boil over. This is not only very selfish, but can lead to someone who really has difficulty walking, having to park much farther away because the few handicapped spaces are occupied by those not really in need of one.

• Left lane driving: It still boggles my mind that drivers will occupy the left lane on a multi-lane highway and then stay there regardless of how many vehicles are lined up waiting to pass. By now there has been enough press about this motoring indiscretion that you would think drivers would have clued in.
• Driving in middle lane: Too many motorists will poke along in the middle lane of a multi-lane highway at a slower rate than the majority of traffic when they should be in the right lane. Trucks too, are notorious for this and it leads to traffic bunching up as it tries to negotiate around the blockage with the resulting multiple-lane changes occurring.

• Failing to signal: Applies to both lane changes and turns. It is not wise to surprise other drivers with your next move and it is also disrespectful. Signalling lane changes notifies other motorists in all directions and is also a sort of an electronic “excuse me please” request to occupy the space in front of you. Not signalling is much like butting into line.

• Impatience: Each day as I commute in rush hour traffic, there are always a large number of drivers who need to get to work 10 minutes ago. They always zip out to the left lane, follow the other late drivers much too closely and then come to a screeching halt as the left lane soon becomes overpopulated. I seem to always catch up to these impatient drivers as I motor along in the much less stressful right lane saving fuel, brake and eventually insurance costs.

• Cutting off others: Most motorists will speed up slightly to block another driver from merging into the space in front. This only leads to frustration, possible retaliation and road rage. It never teaches the other driver to not pull in front of you.

• Fog lights: They’re frequently used on clear nights when there isn’t even a hint of fog. These lights are for a specific purpose and not to show off your cool German car. Fog lights are to be used in thick fog when your headlights become detrimental to illuminating the road. Some drivers say they like to use them to light up the side of the road. If so, when you encounter oncoming traffic simply turn them off.

It was a wet and miserable day on Saturday and I didn't seem to get much done.  However I did sew the black, white and red quilt block for the month of June.  It's called a Twist Block:

Now in the scheme of things I didn't think this was a difficult block to make, as the border is put together similarly.  Only two more months to go and then all twleve quilts blocks are done.

Oh and by the sound of it, all hell broke loose downtown Toronto with the protests, see here.  Once again like most things, a small group of people out to make trouble.......nothing else to say on the subject :0(

And it was my fault????

So on Friday I have to go to the city where we used to live, as my step-mum had her hip operation on Thursday, so I went to visit her in hospital. It's a brand new hospital and I have never been before, but I know the area, so no biggie.

I turn to go into the parking lot and there is a car in front of me, and you have to stop to get a ticket from the machine before it lets you in the parking lot. Well this guy in front of me couldn't reach the machine, so instead of opening his door and stepping out, he decided to reverse, and drive back in.

One tiny little problem, he didn't bother to check his rear view mirror and reversed into me, despite the fact I put my hand on my horn. I know I should have got out of the way, but I was sure he must have seen me.

So this nurse was passing and she says "he hit you," now to be fair I didn't feel him hit me, so I knew it couldn't have been much. He pulls into the car park, I yell at him not to go anywhere, and I go into the car park, and park next to him.

I say "you just reversed into me?"
He says, "it was an accident."

We check my car and there was no damage. I can't remember what I said next, anyhow, he says "well its your fault, as you were too close behind me."

EXCUSE ME??? I was a good distance behind him and if he had bothered to check his mirror, he could have reversed but not as far back as he did. So now I am NOT A HAPPY CAMPER. If I could have got my hands around his scrawny neck I would have throttled him.

How can it be MY FAULT that someone reversed into me?????

Maybe I am a rotten driver, as I seem to have had a run of bad luck. I pull my car into a parking lot, and the woman in the next space gets out of the car and bangs her door into my car.

I nearly get run off the road last week, this week a truck pulled out into my lane without looking, again a close call.

And now a guy reverses into me and tells me its my fault................I think I should just not drive and stay at home.

That's it.........I've had enough!!!!

I am not sure if I have talked about this before on my blog before but here goes and yes it is a rant.

So we move to the country for a slower paced, less stressful type of life. When we lived in the city the way people drove left a lot to be desired. Half the population had never seen snow, never mind driven in it. In case you think I am being prejudiced, I for one had never driven in snow before arriving in Canada. So of course when the first snow arrives, all hell breaks loose, as people either driven like lunatics, too fast, or drive like snails, which is just as dangerous. Then don't get me going on traffic lights. All I can think of is that we have a heck of a lot of colour blind people, as such a lot of people think the red light is the green light and accordingly drive through it...........YES I AM BEING SARCASTIC HERE!!!

Little did I realize that moving to the country means people drive like racing car drivers. I mean dh will tell you about people overtaking him on a country winding road, which has NO street lights on it, and he is doing over 100 km's an hour and this is at 4:45am. The road we live on is busy at times, and they drive like crazy people on it. The double yellow lines means nothing and they cross them regardless. I mean I am doing the speed limit which is 80 km's an hour and folk are just passing me however dangerous it is, or could be.

Friday was the last straw though. I was driving to town to get some groceries and was on a straight stretch of road. A person driving towards me wasn't going fast enough, so this black SUV decided to pass them. When I saw him pull out, I figured, they would pull right back in as they must have seen me; but no they carried on towards me. I slowed down to a stop; luckily there was no one behind me; and by God's grace they missed me.

I was shaking, and so angry that someone would be so irresponsible. So I called in at the OPP (Police Station) and complained. It seems to me that no one around here takes a blind bit of notice of how fast you should travel on these roads. As I pointed out someone is going to get killed, and if it is me, I AM NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY!!!! So he took my information and said he would log the complaint. A fat lot of good it will do, but I felt better complaining about it.

However, now I am going to have to go out and buy more hair dye, as I am sure another half dozen grey hairs popped up due to that horrible experience.

***UPDATE on Friday night there was a police car parked at the next concession/road catching speeders, so maybe my yelling session did some good?***

Hello from Hillsville, Virginia.......

Its been a long day, we set off at 6am, and I didn't sleep in this year, so dh was happy!!! It was a pretty uneventful drive, thank goodness. We crossed at Fort Erie into Buffalo and there were no line ups, the customs guy scanned our passports and off we went. We always use our passports even though we are Canadian citizens, as we have that accent thing happening, so it saves confusion and extra questioning!!!

It poured down all the way through Pittsburgh, after that though it cheered up, and by Virginia it was down right hot and humid. One highway we went on was US-19 and we stopped at a lookout and I took a couple of photos.




Now this plaque was at the same point, so it must have something to do with this person?



Now I have a question for those of you who are in the know...In West Virginia and Virginia we saw a number of crosses on the hillsides. There were generally three in a group. The middle and largest one was in a gold/yellow colour and the two either side of the larger one were silver/gray, what do they symbolize?

Tomorrow we only have a five to six hour drive so that is pretty easy. We try and do the majority of the driving the first day.

Now the funny thing about where we are staying tonight is that when we took the kids to Myrtle Beach a few years ago we stopped in the same hotel and went to eat at Shoney's, just like we are doing tonight, and it wasn't planned either time.

Oh by the way Daisy (GPS) was worth her weight in gold today, although we did turn her voice off, as she is pretty annoying after a while!!! Mind you if we get lost we want shooting, as not only do we have Daisy, we have a map printed out from Google, one from Map quest and a road atlas......talk about overkill....LOL

Can't wait until we get to Charleston!!!

Toys for boys, and how I really need to get a life.......

Last week Dh came in the house with one of those GPS systems for his truck. I said "oh, that's good," however honestly I couldn't have cared less, other than it kept him out of mischief for a few hours, while he played with it and read the instruction book.

Yes, I am married to one of those, the one that actually reads an instruction book/manual, I know they are few and far between, but yes I am married to one.

Anyhow back to this new toy of his. I personally couldn't care two hoots about this new toy of his, as one, I never go anywhere, and two if I am going somewhere that I have never been before I either go to Map Quest and print out the map, or better still get directions!!!

So fast forward to Saturday night when we had to go to pick up ds and his girlfriend from the airport, as they had spent the week in Las Vegas (they had a great time.) So dh set up the GPS thingy for my benefit, now I have to say I have been in a car before with a GPS so have seen it before.

So off we go and "Daisy" starts to talk to us. Now it seems "Daisy" wants us to go one way and dh wants to go another way???? So after about 10 minutes of driving and "Daisy" forever saying recalculating I say to dh "I feel sorry for that poor woman in that box, she has the patience of a saint."

Dh looks at me as though I have gone totally loopy and says "there is no woman in there?" I say "I know that, but just imagine if it was me in that box, I wouldn't be saying recalculating."

The first time I would be saying "okay fine, you want to go another way, here you go."

Second time" what the hell.......FINE....here you go."

Third time "bloody hell, why did you bother switching me on, if you don't listen."

Fourth Time "that's it stuff you, I have better things to do with my time, and they say women are indecisive!!"

We have a new stretch of highway, and it seems the poor GPS system doesn't know about it yet, so basically we are driving in no man's land for a minute or two, then all of a sudden it starts shouting out instructions and telling us to go here, there and everywhere, on roads I have never even heard of. A minute later it calms itself down and all is well again.

Now we are going to the States next month, so I guess "Daisy" will be chit-chatting away to us on our trip down. Mind you I may be having a quiet word to her, and tell her not to bother talking or giving directions, as dh never listens anyway!!!!

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