Look what gramma made

The snow banks are getting really high

Right now the banks are a little more than half way up the street signs!

See Darby!

I told you I could clear the first floor of Haunted Towers!  Where exactly are you stuck?  I'll explain how to get past where you are at.  Who's the king of video games?  that's right - I am!

Santa hook rug

Ella, your great grandpa made this

Join my Judy Moody Fan Club

Hi! I just joined the Judy Moody Fan Club and got this membership certificate, which I customized and printed out myself. You can join the fan club too! Just visit http://www.judymoody.com/

Winter is now officially here

The hot chocolate is out (with whipped cream!)

Fire

Decided to have a fire tonight. I love the smell.

Winter is here

Chicago!

Papa and Gramma have left for Chicago today to visit Aunt Kristine, Uncle Jim, Reilly, Emily and Jimmy. They be gone for a couple weeks.  Every second year your cousins come to Ottawa for Christmas, this is not one of those years and Papa and Gramma visit Chicago before Christmas the years they don't come.

Your cousin Jimmy's birthday is coming up.  Gramma brought her tablet to Chicago.  She sent you Skype requests so please accept her request so that she can call you and your cousins can talk to you.

Cookie Day

Black Sabbath

Its not definite, but it looks like for Christmas I might be getting a ticket to go see Black Sabbath with your Uncle Pete and possibly Bryan (he's undecided at the moment).  The concert is not until April though.

Logging

I took this while on the highway downtown.  No I wasn't driving!

One thing I noticed living in BC,  and not just in Powell River, because I used to live in Victoria as well, is that people don't realize that Ottawa was historically a logging town, a mill town.  In fact at one point in history Ottawa had one of the biggest lumber industries in the world.  There are still a few mills active in and around Ottawa - not just one!  I think people in BC think logging only happens in BC, but Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick have quite a few mills.

Ottawa's logging/lumber history was actually captured on the old one dollar bill (see below).  That's the Ottawa river used to move lumber in behind the Parliament buildings.  The old Ottawa football time was named the Ottawa Rough Riders as a tribute to the lumbermen who use to walk around on the logs in the river.

Can you see it?

I took this picture in late August.  I've been meaning to post it for a long time!  However, I know its a pretty crappy picture.  You have to look real hard to see the skunk!  Yep, that's right, there are skunks that wonder around here.  Do you remember how bad they smell?

The picture is crappy because its actually late evening when I took the picture.  The sun had gone down but it had not quite gotten black out - it was a very low light situation.

Homemade Chips

Gramma has figured out how to make awesome homemade chips!  They are better tasting than what comes in a bag AND better for you.  

Games I got recently

I got some new games for free recently.

On the 3DS, I got:

• Super Mario Land
• The Legend of Zelda (the original NES version)
• Metroid 
• Dillon's Rolling Western
• Kirby's Adventure 3D Classic
• Steamworld Dig (I think you'll all like this)
• Gunman Clive
• Super Little Acorns
• Sakura Samurai - Art of the Sword

These are all games downloaded through eShop.  Over half of them I got through Club Nintendo for FREE, the others I got using an eShop card I had from my birthday.

On the Wii, I got:

• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

I used Club Nintendo to get this one for free just the other day.

Here's the thing:  there are plenty of good cheap games available on the Nintendo eShop.  Though I don't know how good the games are on the WiiU I know it has a similar eShop.    Unfortunately for Christmas this year I will only be able to get you guys something small.  I was thinking an eShop card like I got for my birthday.   You can then decide to put it on the 3DS or your WiiU.   How does this sound?  I'm going to need to know soon.

Its snowing!

And its not too cold either!

Thanksgiving

Yum

Fwd: Photo

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Dennis Kealey <dennis.kealey@rogers.com>
To: Michael Kealey <michael.j.kealey@gmail.com>

Please send to kids.  Santorini  (part of Greece) is a volcanic island where the only way to reach the towns is by walking (several Kilometres) up the side of the mountain, switchbacks, etc.), by cable car (the civilized way, Grandma took this method) or by donkey.  I chose by donkey.

 

Dad

Senators vs Habs

Blog

RC Cola!

Found a treasure today

3DS

Ella,  Thank you so much for letting me visit your village today.  I made a new shirt for you for the next time I visit - I look forward to showing you!

I'm going to try and figure out why you guys can't visit my village without the systems crashing.  I now think its a problem with my network connection because some friends of mine tried to visit my town and the same thing happened.  Its frustrating because my town is awesome.

If you or  you brothers ever want to play Mario Kart 7 I'd like that too.

Remember the Wii!  Gramma wants to play Animal Crossing City Folk with all of you!

Other games we can play include: Mario Kart Wii, Mario Strikers Charged, Super Smash Bros Brawl, Goldeneye, CoD World at War and CoD MW3.  I suck at the last three though!

And on the 3DS remember we can also play Luigi's Mansion.

Lamb Chops

Highlight of my day was Papa putting some lamb chops on the grill - delicious - it had been a long long long time since I had lamb chops!

I found out Bryan is going for his drivers test next week.  Wish him luck.

Darby, I am not sure about Gmod - I'll look into it some more.

Wii

I'm extremely happy I got to play Goldeneye with Darby and Animal Crossing with Ella this weekend.  It was a good weekend.  Next time please let's not start so late at night and remember the time difference!

Love Dad.

Fireworks

Last weekend was a special event in Animal Crossing that I suspect you missed. It was a day to set off fireworks.  You got to submit designs for fireworksso I submitted a CM Punk Design!

There were also fireworks being sold that you could light yourself

I let them everywhere, in front of my house, the beach, ...

They were handing out sparklers and roman candles too.

I was giving the special bulb hat.

It would have been fun if your were virtually there with me in my village!

The Wolverine

Last night I went out with Jason again; we went to see The Wolverine.  It didn't suck nor was it was great.  Seeing it as a 3D IMAX Experience was a treat though;  the cinema we were at had reclining seats too which were pretty comfy.  I don't think it was as good as previous X-Men movies but it was still entertaining. Its a long film.

Gramma has been visiting Reilly in Animal Crossing: City Folk;  she'd like to visit you guys too!  as would I.

I cannot wait until I see you guys again.  I miss you.

WWE Allstars

Jimmy really enjoys wrestling now.

Turbo

I went with Gramma, Emily and Reilly to see Turbo.  While we were in line for popcorn the power went out. There was a very sudden storm with lightning and thunder and eventually hail later in the day.  Not big hail, hail the size of skittles.  The power outage didn't last more than 10 minutes and we did eventually get to see Turbo.  It was OK - it didn't suck nor was it great.  If I were I would wait to rent it or see it on Netflix.

I'm up to 160 StreetPass tags.  I get a new one every couple days it seems.  I was actually hoping to have more but I don't go out as much as I probably should.  Aunt Kristine and your cousins last day of their visit it tomorrow.


Oh, I forgot, Sunday's Mass would have interested you.  The Bishop of Guana was visiting and gave the homily: he spoke of witchcraft and dealing with African Tribal beliefs in his dioceses- extremely interesting stuff.

Hmmmm

Today Aunt Kathie, Uncle Peter and Bryan are coming for dinner that Aunt Kristine is making.  Papa invited someone over for brunch tomorrow - someone from Halifax who I never met.

I went out with my friend Jason the other night.  He's Declan's godfather who lives in Hong Kong.   He has been visiting his family the last couple weeks.  He was telling me since being in Ottawa he has seen Bjork, Mastadon, The Black Keys, Rush, and Weezer.  He apparently went alone to each one not knowing I was in town at the same time and I could have gone with him.  I'm not sure I would have gone to all those and would have picked just one - but I am not sure which one!  Truth is they were all outdoor concerts and I don't enjoy them as much as indoor shows - plus I am not liking crowds lately.  Still, seeing Mastadon would have been special (or any of the others).

Did I mention that Aunt Kristine and Aunt Kathie went to see the Tragically Hip a couple weeks ago too?   Big concerts happen all the time in Ottawa - especially in the summer when there are plenty of festivals.   Taylor Swift was here just before I arrived - Reilly and Emily are going to see her in Chicago in August.

I am looking forward to seeing the Gatineau Balloon festival this September - a festival that can be enjoyed from home!

New "More Stuff"

Today I uploaded some clothes for Animal Crossing and stored them on a page that you can access from the "More Stuff" Links.   Or you can just click this link: http://3636km.blogspot.com/p/new-leaf-qr-codes.html

Monsters University

I went to see Monsters University with your cousins yesterday.  The consensus was positive but only Emily thought it was better than Monsters Inc.  There is a Lego movie coming out next year that looks hilarious.

Today, I declined an invitation to go the Zoo.

I know you're camping for the next few days;  I'll still try to post stuff regardless.

The last few days

Hi Kids!

The last few days have been pretty "busy" here.  I cannot say I have done much because I have not; its just that there have been visitors three days in the row and this is the first day since Friday that there hasn't been. And I did nothing today, just tried to relax but the truth is I couldn't.  I have not been sleeping well.

On Saturday this house hosted the annual Turpin family picnic.  There were so many people here; though I know many of them there were still people I was meeting for the first time!  There was plenty of food - I actually found myself overwhelmed (and I had to find a quiet spot for myself to relax from time to time).  On Sunday, my uncle Erwin, cousin Chris, cousin Jen and her kids Mark and Amanda stopped by for most of the day - as did Kathie but I don't recall Peter and Bryan coming by.  Yesterday my cousin Jen and her kids spent the day here.   I know you guys often do not like to visit family, but you should try your best to enjoy them every time you get a chance - there will come a time when you want to see family and you cannot.

I was going to go to Monsters University with your cousins today but Jimmy's nap lasted too long - hopefully another day.   Lately going to cinema is all I am really up for.  They went to a Stars Wars exhibit today at the National Aviation Museum but I choose not to go.


I really want you to hook up your Wii.  Gramma is now addicted to Animal Crossing City Folk

Kingston

As I mentioned in a previous post, I went to Kingston with Papa.  Its on the Lake Ontario (which I think is the smallest of the Great Lakes).  Its also the last lake that feeds the St. Lawrence before being emptied into the ocean.   Its quite impressive.   I don't recall if you guys ever went to Kingston before or not.

This is an attempt to take a pic of Wind Turbines.  Clearly, my camera on the iPod is not the best quality because I think you 'll just have to trust me there are wind turbines in this picture.  Ontario has tonnes of wind turbines.

Beautiful beach on the fresh water lake.

 Lots of sailing going on today.

This is Murney Tower.

I believe this is Sir John A. MacDonald who is buried in Kingston - Canada's first Prime Minister.  Kingston was once briefly the capital of (Upper) Canada.

Downtown market.

I like the brick streets.

Kingston is not far from Ottawa - a very short trip - there and back in a day - just like Montreal.  However Toronto would be more of a weekend trip.

Calypso

Here are just a couple pictures of Calypso.  Its not exactly the best place to have a camera.

We'll start with the end of the day.  We're picking up Aunt Kristine and your cousins at the gate.

These are the "toilet bowl" slides - do you remember these.  These are the ones where you shoot out and spin aruond the rims until eventually you are flushed down the center.  Jimmy was hypnotized by these - there is an observation deck to just watch picture in the bowls.

This didn't exist when we went - this is the Kongo Adventure and specifically this is just Jimmy standing on the beach at the end of the trip.  Its basically like the lazy river but its tubing - there are rough spots where there are waves.  In fact at one point I was so scared because Reilly got swept away by a big wave and all I saw was her tube - I didn't see her - but she was alright.

Kingston Penitentiary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_Penitentiary

As I mentioned, yesterday I went with Papa to his MRI in Kingston.  I passed by the famous Kingston Pen (pictured above).  Creepy!  It was built in 1835 - its older than Canada.

I have other pictures I took in Kingston while Papa was getting his MRI done.  I will post them soon.

Love Dad.

Calypso

Was at Calypso with your cousins today.  I didn't burn this time but I still have trouble being outside in the sun - I didn't do much yet I'm beyond done.  I'm heading to Kingston tomorrow with Papa because he's going to have an MRI.  Look it up and tell me what MRI stands for.  (For the record, Papa is okay and its nothing to worry about, he is just having his back looked at because he's sore all the time lately).

More MarioKart fun!

Aunt Kathie is playin too

Well I guess something did happen today

Accomplished nothing

A day where nothing happened.  And it felt good!  However I didn't go to Mass this morning as I had so much trouble sleeping last night - I was waking up every hour or so it seemed.  I actually wanted to nap today but couldn't - but not for lack of trying.

I definitely want to start playing Animal Crossing: City Folk again.   Gramma has a character now;  Emily, Reilly and Aunt Kristine are back into it; they tell me that Uncle Jim plays as well.   I posted Friend Codes which you can find here or you will notice a link at the side under "More Stuff".   I want your friend codes to give to Gramma!  Also, the codes for the Judds (on their Chicago Wii) will have changed - that is, the ones you have no longer work.   When I get them I will post them for you.  

What I suspect is that you guys can now have two villages - one on your Wii and you can create a new one on your Wii U!  Please don't call the village the same name and think of something else - call it Hyrule or something funky - NOT RUDE. 

Of course I still play New Leaf and look forward to playing with you guys in your individual towns.

I was shocked to talk to you today Darby!  I wasn't expecting it at all as you told me you'd be gone for a couple days - and then to see you in a sling!   I still don't understand your story so please have your mom email the details.

Not too exciting

Gramma started playing Animal Crossing.  I will post her Friend Code soon.  (I actually don't know it)

And about the most exciting thing that happened to me today is that I got a new battery for my watch.  Woo hoo.  I was going to to go for a bike ride but it was really really really sunny - I couldn't find sunscreen I liked so I opted not to go - remember the last time I got a burn!  I hate the evil sun!  I just got back from buying sunscreen so I will go for a ride tomorrow.   Its been cloudy for the past couple weeks, I miss the clouds.

Actually, I shouldn't say nothing exciting happened: Papa made some Mongolian Stir Fry for dinner.

Happy birthday Gramma

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Darby and Ella!

I wish I was there to celebrate with you or that you were here - either one.   Its seems like forever ago we had the quintuple birthday party for Gramma, Me, Declan, Darby and Ella at my place in Powell River before I had to leave.   I hope you remember what Gramma (and Papa) and I got you for your birthdays!   - because I don't!  lol

I hope your day goes super and your birthday is full of friends and family.   Aunt Kathie, Uncle Pete, Bryan and Granny are coming over tonight for dinner and I think cupcakes afterwards.

I hope you enjoyed getting sung to by Aunt Kristine, Jimmy, Emily, Reilly and Gramma!

I will try to contact you again around 4pm your time.   Tracy said she would try to contact you as well but I am not sure when or if she'll be able to manage it.  After all this time I am still not sure how many time zones away she is.  I think it for Tracy you birthday is already over by the time I post this!

I miss you all.

Love Dad.

Interesting Yum

Well its triple birthday day and for some reason when I walked into the kitchen I saw this.  I had no idea this even existed.  Its snow cone making ingredients from the Jelly Belly company!   I'm not a snow cone fan but I just might have to give this a try.   I guess Gramma likes these on her birthday - I never knew.

Divine Infant

This is where you were baptized. All of you.

Do you remember?

This is the baseball diamond down the street from where I live/

This is the soccer field right next to it.

This is part of the park that is behind the French School.

There are plenty of basketball nets everywhere (see above and below)

In the distance you see the white fence?  that is not a white fence 

This is a water park next to the fire station and its right between thFrench school and Convent Glen Catholic Elementary.

This is the French School - Ecole des Voyageurs (That's also the street that I live on)

This Jimmy, Reilly and I think Emily is somewhere in this picture - its behind the French school.

Tonight I am thinking about going to a late late show - I am not sure I want to - There's a show on the IMAX 3D screen of Man of Steel at 10:50pm - I suspect no one will be there and I will have the cinema to myself.  At least that is my hope.  No, if you were here I would not be taking you - never to a show this late - when you're a teenager maybe you could go on your own to a show this late with your friends - MAYBE.  I would take you to an earlier show though.   The last movie I saw on an IMAX 3D screen was John Carter.  Do you remember that boys?  That was in Vancouver a couple years ago.  IMAX is the really really big screen that bends - its concave, not flat.