Lunedi Lunacy

Having just renewed my subscription to the orchestral season 2012-2013 at the National Arts Centre - how's that for optimism???? - I thought maybe I'd share a few musical lunacies. Most of them passed on by my very musical friend Cathy.

March 19 - 1895 – Auguste and Louis Lumière record their first footage using their newly patented cinematograph.

Wish We Were There

Since Vin started running the Roma Marathon I believe this is the first time we haven't been on the side lines with Larry cheering him on.  And it was always such a thrill to see him coming out of the crowd at the end wearing his medal and announcing his time.  Unfortunately today we could only be with him in our hearts.

The Marathon starts at the Arch of Constantine beside the Colesseo and goes for 42.195 kms through the city.  The runners go as far West as San Paolo and cross the Tevere five times  to Parco di Villa Glori in the East and back to the Colesseo.  We always waited at various points in Centro to urge him on - leisurely walking from one to the other, I might add, no running for that group.

Larry always has a bouquet of flowers waiting for Vin at the end of the race - and there was one year if memory serves a Pooh Bear balloon.   This year Vin completed the race in 3 hours and 35 minutes - which I believe (though they might want to correct me) beat last year's time.


Caro Vin I only wish we could have been there to shout: Vai Vai along the route and offer complimenti at the finish.  And then join you and Larry at Valentino's for a celebratory lunch.

18 March - 1850 – American Express is founded by Henry Wells and William Fargo.

Taking the P**s Out of the Whole Thing

Yes I have an Irish passport and I'm proud of my heritage but on a day like today any true Irishman, or woman for that matter, simply hides themselves away until the rest of the world has pissed out their green beer.

So by way of celebration I offer these two, to my mind at least, highly appropriate little gems - one visual, the other written:

And just a click away is "8 Insulting Ways to Act 'Irish' On St. Patrick's Day".

Enough said!

17 March - The Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946) is proclaimed

OH CANADA!

Since August I have frequently joked with friends, saying that I left Canada in their care for four years and came back to a country I am having a hard time recognizing. Sadly it seems to be less and less a joke.

As the circumstances surrounding the last election are revealed and more and more irregularities are brought to light - and not it would seem just with one political party - I am both appalled and ashamed of what is happening in my country.

Of course there has always been election jigging - that's one of the reasons the sale of liquor was banned on election day for many years. And there has always been dirty politics - given the nature of the game and the people playing it there always will be. But I honestly haven't seen it as blatantly exposed and at times almost flaunted in the face of the electorate by certain parties as it is now - and I've been a voter for the past 47 years.  

Given the revelations of the past weeks I question why the sitting Governor General has not exercised his constitutional powers to dissolve parliament and call another election.   It is obvious that there has been dishonesty and unlawful tampering beyond what we would expect even of our current sorry crop of politicians.  In a truly "just society" these law makers would be treated as the law breakers that they are and their parliamentary privileges revoked.

Seeing what is happening here I wonder how we can have both the audacity to lecture other countries on their election processes and to send "monitors" to oversee a "fair and democratic" election when we cannot guarantee one within our own borders.

For the first time in my life I cam ashamed of my country and of being a Canadian. 

13 March - Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, the man who gave his name to the tea blend was born.

Lunedi Lunacy

A conundrum - no I didn't say curmudgeon that would be me - from my friend Vicki that is easily solved:

You are driving in a car at a constant speed. 

• On your left side is a 'drop off'  - the ground is 18-24 inches below the level you are travelling on.
•  and on your right side is a fire engine travelling at the same speed as you. 
• In front of you is a galloping horse , which is the same size as your car and you cannot overtake it. 
• Behind you is a galloping zebra . 
• Both the horse and zebra are also travelling at the same speed as you.

What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation ? 

For the answer, click and drag your mouse from star to star.

*Get off
the merry-go-round, you're drunk!*

Jubilee!

For some reason when I saw this photo today in the Daily Telegraph a song from Monty Python's Spamalot popped into my head.  I believe its called "I'm Not Dead Yet!".

11 March - 1708: Queen Anne withholds Royal Assent from the Scottish Militia Bill, the last time a British monarch vetoes legislation.