| NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2001 |
 |
| HOME |
| The last 2 months of the year were unusually quiet for Ron and I. Perhaps it was a hang-over from 9/11 or perhaps it was, as Tommy my son told me jokingly, - "Dad, you're almost 72, you are just becoming an old fart." That comment at least got us out of the house long enough to go to Niagara Falls to try our luck at the great Casino there. However three days later, we came home, having had a good time, but a lot wiser and with a lot emptier wallets. After spending Christmas on our own, we had made plans for Pierre and Brian and Bill Banks to come from Toronto to spend New Years Eve with us. We were going to go to our local Rainbow New Years Eve dance. We were all looking forward to it, however the dance was cancelled just 4 days before New Years because of low ticket sales. Then, to make matters worse, all three of our friends took sick with the flu and we were forced to stay home. Consequently, Ron and I spent another New Year's Eve watching TV. It all got me thinking. I wonder if Tommy was right. Maybe I am becoming an old fart. P.S. The jury is still out! |
| Anyway, Old Fart or not, we have once more made plans to drive down to Florida. We will leave here on Wednesday Feb 6th and return about March 12th. I really don't know how long we will be able to afford these annual trips. The exchange rate on the Canadian dollar is getting worse every year. This year we will be paying over $1.60 for each American dollar. This makes our stay down there extremely expensive. It use to be that most items purchased were cheaper in The States. Now, however, the prices for most items are the same or more in Florida than they are here in Canada. In otherwords, groceries that may cost $50 U.S .down there, can be bought in Canada for approx $50.00 Cdn. The problem is of course, we have to pay 60% more to get the American dollar in the first place. Someone needs to carry out an enquiry as to why the American dollar is so inflated compared with other currenceies. It sure isn't because their economy is stronger!!!! However, enough of my bitching. The minute Canada has hot sunny beaches in the middle of February, we will stay home to vacation. Until then, we consider ourselves very lucky to be able to go to sunny Florida at all. And to spend a month with the many really good friends we have made down there over the years, makes the cost worth it. (Of course, if the dollars were equal, we could probably afford two months. Ha!) |
 |
 |
| JAN TO FEB |
 |
| One thing that did happen in December that we got a kick out of. Our favourite Canadian country singer, Michelle Wright, happened to be part of the opening ceremony for a new hardware store not far from our house. We couldn't resist going to see her and get her autograph on one of our CDs of her hit songs. She signed the CD to Ron and Tom - The 2 ROQ. She asked what the 2 ROQ stood for, so I told her and she just howled and told everyone in the place then dedicated a song to us. Of course I insisted we also had to have a picture of Ron and I with her. What a couple of Hams!!! |
| Michelle Wright, Ron and Tom |
|
|
|