Therapik - I'm a Believer

I interrupt this program with an important public announcement. I don't think I've ever endorsed a product on my blog before but there's a first time for everything I guess. What does the following image evoke for you?

Fear?
Disgust?
Pain?
Annoyance?
A sudden desire to scratch?

If you picked "all of the above" then you'll be interested in the following product!

I don't usually purchase gimmicky looking products like this but it was economically priced so I thought I'd give it a try - yes, there IS one born every minute or so I thought! I mean, who would really believe that by holding this device against a swollen red bump of a bug bite and holding down the magic button for 30 seconds you could get rid of the itch!?! Not me, that's for sure.

Well, I am now a reformed cynic! This funny little gadget really works!!!!!! (no number of exclamation marks can truly relate how excited I am by this product!!!!!!!)

I know that coming to live on the east coast means living with bugs...I get that. But gol'darn it I'm gonna give them a fight for their money (that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever!)

On my drive out to PEI a few days ago I was listening to a CBC program (thank GOD for CBC on cross country drives - putting in a little plug for them - the one radio station you can count on when you're travelling on the most god forsaken roads in this vast country) (there is a point in here somewhere!) and they were interviewing some folks who were at a bluegrass festival in Nova Scotia. They were talking about how they all pitched their tents together providing a common area for them to share food/drinks etc and then they started talking about how bad the mosquitoes were this year but they weren't going to let the bugs get them down, in fact, they said "WE LAUGH IN THE FACE OF MOSQUITOES!!! Fie on them, I say fie!!

Now I too LAUGH IN THE FACE OF MOSQUITOES!! I've tested the Therapik on at least 10 bites since I've arrived and after zapping them with some intense heat from my new best friend there IS NO MORE ITCH!!!

I've written before about how I am a "bug buffet" for mosquitoes and other biting bugs. Something to do with my luscious tasting blood I guess. Who knew? So to find something that actually "kills the itch dead" is like finding $1,000,000 in the ditch in front of my house so I could retire early and live happily ever after! Actually, even BETTER!! than that!!

So my friends, if you too live in mosquito infested areas like me invest in a Therapik and a 9volt battery - it'll be the best $15 investment you ever made. No more scratching, no more sleepless nights, no more running back into the house at the first hint of a familiar whine in your ear.

I saw a mosquito in my car today while I was driving to Summerside and do you know what I did??
YES! I LAUGHED IN ITS FACE!!!

Prince Edward Island Day ONE!

Hey there! I'm here in PEI aye-uh!  See, already I'm talking like an easterner.  My driving is done, my unpacking is done but my first bottle of wine isn't quite done....yet! (slurpppp) I had a truly wonderful odyssey  and never got lost once. That's mainly because there aren't that many roads out here - it's either this one here or t'other.

I did have one moment where I thought a red truck was following me rather closely and it kept changing lanes to stay right on my back bumper and even when I took an exit at the last second it veered across two lanes to stay behind me. But when I pulled over in the midst of heavy traffic after a sharp curve it had no choice but to keep driving and I took a U-turn and got back on the highway. Evasive Driving 101 - I knew watching all of those cop shows would pay off some day!!

I last left you in Edmunston, NB.  From there I took Hwy. 108, renowned for its wildlife and semis carrying lumber - I loved that road - I had one deer bound across in front of my car and one bunny rabbit. No trucks it being Canada Day the truckers probably had the day off.

You can see why they call NB the "picture province!"

I ended up in Bouctouche NB near to the lovely home of one of my fellow blogging friends Michelle (Blind Dog Chronicles). It was a splendid visit with lots of good food, (thanks Gary!) cold beer, and many a hearty laugh :) not to mention some treats!  I finally got my sour cherry jam Johanna!!  And Michelle and Gary I hope we can meet up again this summer - but until then - whenever I eat Smarties Michelle I'll think of YOU!

And whenever I use my "fairy lamps" I'll also think of you! I love them! They stay lit in the steady PEI breeze!

Then I was off on the final leg of my journey. Only an hour and a half later I was crossing Confederation Bridge onto PEI and one more hour saw me safely home to Crofters Lane. Since then I've been such a busy busy bee settling in. The good little house fairy, otherwise known as Gerald, had turned on my water and cracked open my windows etc - there was no mustiness or yucky surprises (no dead critters!) other than the usual dead flies.

Last night and today have been a whirlwind of cleaning, getting in supplies and unpacking. I've managed to snap a few photos here and there and did put my feet up late last night whilst drinking wine on my front porch magically lit with fairy dust. The moon was almost full and I watched entranced as cloud ships sailed across the face of the moon. I was home.

 Driving home - the view from Casumpec Bridge

Could any picture scream PEI more than this one?  Red dirt, blue heron, potato field all beside an oyster bed!

 My view last night.

Sunset over my forest last night.

I am loving the convenience of blogging from home with my Nokia internet modem flash drive thingamajig. Just pop it in my USB drive and away I go!

See you again soon!

Lovely Edmunston, New Brunswick

I'm just munching on a bit of dinner before I hop in the shower and go to sleep in my nice queen size bed...all alone boo hoo!  I'm more than half way on my journey to PEI and Michael will by flying into Charlottetown on July 9th. So I'm all tucked into my motel room writing to YOU so that you'll know I survived the first leg of my epic journey. I've been on the road since 6am and have thoroughly enjoyed myself, except for the hour I spent near Ganonoque where two tractor trailers collided yesterday and they're still cleaning up the mess. So I could have been here an hour earlier but at least I arrived in one piece!

Just after I arrived here the sun popped out (after 4 hours of torrential downpour) so I captured the gorgeous sunset as it was slowly slipping behind the famous New Brunswick hills.  Michelle, if you're reading this, breakfast starts here at 6am and then I'll be on the road to come and see you!! I'll keep you posted on my progress so TURN ON YOUR CELL PHONE!!


Here are a few photos to keep you amused while I go jump in the shower:

'Night all!

 Me looking perky at 5:45am this morning.

I saw the sunrise and set today!

Days Inn, Edmunston, N.B.

Thank you God, for this day.

Prince Edward Island - Here I Come!!

My countdown clock is a bit off - I think my original plan was to leave Friday, June 29th but I'm really leaving on Saturday, so only THREE MORE SLEEPS!!  Yikes, I just realized I'll be driving across the Confederation Bridge alone this year!!  I'm driving out by myself and then Michael is flying out on July 9th. He has an important event to attend on July 8th in Toronto and then I'll be picking him up at Charlottetown airport on the 9th. (A whole week to MYSELF!! - what a luxury!)

I don't mind driving on my own - I'm looking forward to it actually. The first day will be the longest part of the journey - about 13-14 hours of driving will bring me to Edmunston, NB where I will spend the night. The next day I'll be driving to Bouctouche, NB to visit a blogging friend :) !! That part of the journey will take about 4.5 hours.  And then another 2-3 hours will find me driving up the loooooooong laneway of Crofters Lane and I'll be HOME! I'm arriving in daylight this year and all I have to do is turn the water pump on and flip the switch for the hot water heater. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll have no trials and tribulations to work through upon arrival this summer!  It will be a long time before we forget about the fiasco with priming the pump and burning through the element in the hot water tank :(  At least we learned a thing or two in the process.

I'll be arriving on Canada Day - July 1st which is a Sunday.  My job that day will be to unpack the car and make up my bed. The next day is a holiday as it is a long weekend to celebrate Canada Day so I don't know if I'll find any grocery stores open. I may be eating out for a couple of days. Boo hoo...  My job that day will be to clean the house and get it somewhat organized for a summer of relaxation.

Here's a map of PEI - my place is about halfway between O'Leary and Tignish. It takes me about 40 minutes to drive to Summerside (nearest city) and about 1 hour and 40 minutes to drive to the big city of Charlottetown. My sister's place is over by Montague, about a 2 hour drive. Islanders think that is a long drive but when you're used to driving in Ontario that's just a short little jaunt.  And the scenery is worth every cent spent on gas.

This show the very northern tip of the island north of Tignish. I've walked on all of those pathways as well as those rocks in the bottom left corner that jut out into the water. Its a great spot for bird watching. Well, I must get busy - I have a very long list of things to do before I leave (plus I'm going to watch the Euro Cup soccer game this afternoon between Spain and Portugal - I pick Spain to win!!)

Ebony and Ivory.....

 "I'm sorry...can you forgive me?

 Awww....that's better...I swear, that dress DOES NOT make you look hippy!!!

"But don't tell my heart (slide to the left) ..my achy breaky heart...(slide to the right)...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh baby, I missed you so much....come to poppa!!

What the f--k? A handshake???

 That's better....show me some sugar baby!!  That's what I'm talkin' about!!

 Did you hear that?  I thought you said your wife wouldn't be home til tomorrow!!

Quick - hide in the shower!!

 Oh no!! She's coming up the stairs...what'll we do??

 Under the bed - hurry!!  Nope...don't think you'll fit!!

 Ackk!!! the closet, get in the closet!!

Wait, where is the closet??

To be continued.....

The End is in Sight

Hello my friends! Yes, the end is in sight, the end of June that is. June ends for me on Friday, June 29th - the end of the school year, PAYDAY and the day to pack up the car for Prince Edward Island! (I hope! There are a number of details concerning my leave from work to be attended to this week - my expectations are that they will all work themselves out and summer will proceed as usual - I am an optimist!)

I'm not sure how it happened but I still have some money left in my account. It was a somewhat spendy month what with Kazi's graduation yet I've paid for everything and still have money left over! Every time I check my account there is more money in it than I expect there to be. And whenever I check my credit card I find that everything is paid for. It's like the parable of the loaves and fishes - it seems that I just cannot get rid of my money - there's always more!  Even now there is more $$ in my account than my records show there should be...about $125 more! I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop but nothing happens. This is totally the opposite of what normally happens - I usually forget an expense or two or three and end up in the hole because of it so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my luck has changed at least for June.

I am going by MY records and will NOT spend that $125; if it's still there by Friday then it will give me a couple of FREE tanks of gas for my long road trip!

With the advent of July I am entering my higher paid portion of the year! Woohoo!  No union dues to pay in June and July and by August all of my CPP will be paid for increasing my paycheques yet again. Happy days are here again! Which is good because summer is always more expensive - lots of $$ spent on gas, a hotel stay or two while travelling, lots of eating out and various excursions.

In June I paid off my half of our new TV - about $440.  I also paid off the new fridge and stove I purchased for our PEI home - total about $1600 and paid all outstanding charges on my credit card from our weekend mini-holiday in Niagara Falls. I must confess to an impulse purchase however, which I will pay off from my extra funds in July - I just had to purchase tickets to see Neil Young and Crazy Horse when they come to London in October - he is my musical idol and worth every penny!  I also put $1000 into my PEI Maintenance account to handle anything I need for the house over the summer. I now have about $67 to get me through to next Friday which ain't much, I know, but I don't need to buy groceries, probably just some gas for the car.

July's savings will be divided up between my Christmas/Gift fund (totally funded with $1500) and I will start paying back my TFSA ($1000 - I owe it a whopping $15,000 from paying off my EX - Line of Credit!).

I might be able to save more but will be keeping a larger balance in my chequing account over the summer to handle all of the extra expenses so that's a big MAYBE!

If it sounds like I am wrapping up June a little early - I AM!!  And that's OK! Unless he who cannot be named shows up! Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

Jack Astors

First the good pictures she says ominously.....after convocation yesterday we had lunch at Jack Astors. Believe it or not I've never eaten there before and I was very much impressed!! From the Mango Icebergs...

(draft beer topped with an iceberg of FLAVOUR - also available in raspberry or lemon!) to the tart lemon milkshakes to the unique salads to...

 the thai chicken rolls...

to the chicken falafels everything was infused with different spices and flavours and yummyness and was muchly enjoyed by all, even me who payed (through the nose!)

Then there are the pictures from tonight's date night movie selection: PROMETHEUS!!
If you were not a fan of the Alien movies then stop reading NOW! 
Prometheus in conjectured to be a prequel to the Alien movies.  I really don't care as I'm sure it stands well on its own. Give me a sci-fi futuristic hideous alien filled movie and I'll be happy...very happy! If the story line holds together so much the better. Frighten me a bit with some suspenseful scenes and yeehaw!! Throw in a few good actors (Michael Fassbender) and some thoughtful dialogue and I'll be in seventh heaven....

 Now that face looks familiar!! Like an old friend....

Oooooh, I like this look....I bet Mark does too!!

What's on YOUR must see movie list???