Walking in a winter wonderland

Hiking in the snowy trails above Storm Mountain on Christmas Day.

Walking in a winter wonderland

Yes, it is Christmas

At least it is in the Rockies, in a cabin deep in the snow at Storm
Mountain lodge.

Yes, it is Christmas

Waiting for catfish and alligator burgers

Waiting for catfish and alligator burgers

Jesus...

Met a Priest, Father Chris, fresh from a funeral ("running late today,
funeral ran long,... Had him in the ground but folks just kept on
talkin'...")

He videotaped me on his phone when I was playing washboard and offered
to email me the video. Now I am on a priest's mailing list...

Jesus...

After Sunday gospel mass

In Jackson Square with Don and Greg.

After Sunday gospel mass

Everywhere

Everywhere

Slave cabins at Laura Plantation

By law cabins had to be built 16' x 16' and housed up to four per
cabin. This plantation had 70 cabins stretching over two miles down
the plantation.

These cabins were occupied until the 70's with plantation workers who
were descendants of slave labourers.

Slave cabins at Laura Plantation

Laura Plantation

Restored Creole plantation home on the Mississippi near Vacherie,
Louisiana. The white antebellum style plantation homes you often
picture were owned by whites (defined as those with no more than
1/64th African heritage). Creoles of mixed European, West African and
Indian blood would paint their plantations in bright colours to
distinguish them.

Laura Plantation

Playing the washboard

With Waylon Thibodeaux at B&C Seafood roadhouse, near the Laura
Plantation on the Mississippi.

Playing the washboard

Amazing delicacies

A perfectly worded first sentence. B&C Seafood in St. James parish.
Mississippi levee in the background.

Had a spicy alligator burger and a bit of zydeco music with fiddler
Waylon Thibodeaux.

Thankfully, felines were not on the menu...

Amazing delicacies

Jazz Brunch at Arnaud's

They played How High The Moon for me as a birthday present at an
amazing brunch in the Quarter. Banjo, standup and sax.

Jazz Brunch at Arnaud's

Everywhere,,,

Everywhere,,,

Street musicians everywhere in the Quarter

Street musicians everywhere in the Quarter

Satchmo's childhood cornet

In the US Mint exhibit on the history of jazz in New Orleans,

Satchmo's childhood cornet

Cajun And Creole Cuisine

Amazing gumbo and drinks at the infamous Jacques-Imo's in Riverbend
neighbourhood, New Orleans...

Cajun And Creole Cuisine

Marie Laveau

Tomb of famed voodoo priestess Marie Laveau in the St. Louis cemetary.

Marie Laveau

Ovens

Famous above-ground family tombs in the historic St. Louis cemetery
off Basin Street. Multiple family members are added as they pass
away, with the minimum "year and a day" rule, after which the tomb can
be opened for the next member to add. The entombed will be reduced to
dust in about a year in the intense heat. You have to be Catholic to
be buried in a cemetary in New Orleans...

Ovens

Conversion

Converted slave quarters in the back of most house's courtyards
increase the selling price of homes in the French Quarter.

Conversion

French Quarter

Great Creole architecture in the View Carre.

French Quarter

BBQ!

An excellent early birthday gift from Mum and Dad. Three Rib Eyes for dinner with friends. Still a little tweaking to do, but: result!

BBQ!

Well, I'm doing it again. That's right.  Today is the cut off to register for the 2013 Ride to Conquer Cancer from Vancouver to Seattle in June 2013.

The picture above is of me and my friends who did it together back in 2010.

Please help me raise money for cancer research by donating at the link below.  I, and so many others, appreciate it.

Donate here: http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/hoto-p

Decisions, decisions

Decisions, decisions

Perhaps it's time

...To get a bigger cufflink box.

Perhaps it's time

Kids

Kids: 

Whatever you grow up to be, don't be a meter maid. 

You will be hated by everyone on the planet. It is a vile and parasitic vocation.  

Even your Grandma will hate you. And so will Jesus, Elmo and Thomas the Tank Engine. 

You will grow to hate yourself. You will live out your existence lonely, fat, loveless and in despair. 

You will eventually take your own sad pathetic little life, probably by eating your fat sorry-assed self to death.
.

Kids

OK team, it's time again for me to run the CIBC Run for the Cure to benefit Breast Cancer research.

I'm running on September 30, 2012, and would like to raise a lot of money.  I'm doing well, but need your support.  All I ask is for $20-$50 of your hard-earned cash.  You'll get a tax receipt and feel good doing it.

Click here to part with your money and help out a great cause:

http://www.runforthecure.com/goto/hotop

Favourites

On Andy and Nina's sailboat in False Creek, and a lovely picture of two of my favourite people: Don and Diane.

Favourites

Sailboat

A lovely way to spend a sunset in Vancouver.

Sailboat

The Missing Links

"An American monkey, after getting drunk on Brandy, would never touch it again, and thus is much wiser than most men."

Charles Darwin

The Missing Links

I miss Sandy already

I miss Sandy already

Nope

No no, our dog knows not to beg at the dinner table.

Nope

Ominous

Most people know that I love crows, but have to admit that this is an ominous painting to find hanging in the hallway of my lawyer's offices.

Ominous

A lovely morning on Lake Ontario

In town one night for business, and Southern Ontario wakes me with bright hot sunshine, clear skies and a cooling lake breeze.

A lovely morning on Lake Ontario

Toronto: Blue and Pointy

Toronto: Blue and Pointy

On way to Garden Bay

Spectacular ferry ride over to Gibsons for a weekend gig at the Garden Bay Pub, with the funkiest of bassists, Paul Freeman.

On way to Garden Bay

Taking Colin's bike for a ride

Taking Colin's bike for a ride

Campbell Lake

Riding the forestry road above Campbell Lake, late in July 2012. On a camping trip with the Harringtons and Bishops.

Campbell Lake

Poolside

At Cathy and Greg's House in Kelowna, August Long Weekend, with Shell, Cathy, Diane and Don

Poolside

Cheers, Baby

Cheers, Baby

Cheers Don

Cheers Don

Cheers Diane

Cheers Diane

Shell and Kaden

Out for a walk at dusk.

Koocanusa, Montana

Shell and Kaden

Trevor's Boy

Having a good time, and obviously unclear on the concept of Friend or Foe.

Trevor's Boy

My old desk

My old desk

Shell grew a monster lily

So beautiful...

Shell grew a monster lily

Rode out to the nuthouse

Tranquille Sanatorium.

Unfortunately for Shelley, they are not taking any more patients.

Rode out to the nuthouse

Measuring up

I have size 12 feet. That's my foot, and shoe, on the left.

Measuring up

Nom nom nom

Nom nom nom

Chocolate Mint fudge on the ferry

To Granville Island for a lunch break in the middle of recording.

Chocolate Mint fudge on the ferry

Sing sing sing

Brenna singing "Cry Baby"

Sing sing sing

Living Room recording

Getting set up to record Brenna in the living room.

Living Room recording

Results

The results from my first autocross racing experience, with Don. This
is a list of the top times posted by all 27 students in the class.

http://www.vcmc.ca/raceresults/results/2012/120602/stu_raw.htm

As you can see, Don is in a class by himself. He was the fastest
student of the day, and actually the 2nd fastest driver of the whole
day, including all the instructors!

I am pretty pleased with my finish in the top ten (just) for my first
time out, but Don has set the bar pretty high. It will be a lot of fun
trying to catch him!

Results

Bum Trumpeters

My sister and her son are seriously funny people.

Bum Trumpeters

Humility

... Is watching your old bandmates from your Steely Dan cover band...playing together with better musicians...in a Steely Dan cover band.

-----------------------------------------
Sent from my iPhone. Please pardon typos.

Humility

Commute

Busy today again.

Commute