Monday, December 29, 2008

Furniture Dents in your Carpets- How to get rid of them

This is so cool. Did you know you can get rid of those horrible furniture dents in your carpets with a Tea Towel and a Steam Iron?

Just put the cloth over the dent or dents and get your Steam Iron on Hot and Steamy. ( Sounds like an XXX rated film) LOL.

Leave the Iron on the spot for a few moments depending on the size and depth of the dent. Make sure that you have it over a Tea Towel.

And Presto no more dent. The Steam from the Iron softens up the compressed dent and it springs back to normal.

It works like a charm. Of course you could always put down Hardwood or Laminate instead of carpet that works too.

This is a lot cheaper. :))

Happy New Year everyone.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

A Family Christmas Tradition




This has become one of our Favorite Christmas Traditions at our House. Ginny and I have for many years used the same Christmas Cards and we just write a new verse on it to sum up the year. It is fun to look back over the years and the memories of past time, friends and family that comes back to the heart and mind.

This is the card that I recycle each year for Ginny. I haven't thought of a verse yet but will sit down and compose it prior to tomorrow night. Her Card and Love are the only real gifts that I need each year. The rest is only material stuff.

The Following is a verse I put in for 1995.

Each Year a snappy greeting, to think of gets hard.
To share my thoughts without buying a new greeting card.
So I recycle the old, but my love for you will never grow cold.
Thank you for everything.
Love Don xxx


What special things do you guys do for Christmas?


So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our home to yours. There is always an extra place set at the table in case you happen along.

Friday, December 19, 2008

It pays to complain to the Person in Charge at the Marriott Harbourfront Hotel in Halifax NS

Mermaid's Grandmother always said "If you want something done, go to the top."

A case in point that happened today. Ginny and I decided that a nice relaxing night away from the Condo was in order and it would be nice to go somewhere romantic. So we decided that we go and book a room at the Marriott Harbourfront Hotel in Downtown Halifax.

I realize it is only across the Harbour from Dartmouth where we live anyways. Here is a picture of the Pool and our Room opening onto the Pool.



We wanted an extra large room and with slide out doors to the pool. So as we couldn't go to Cuba for Christmas we would go here and just pamper ourselves. Have a few glasses of Bubbly do a little swimming and just laze around the pool. As we were not going to cook the Traditional Christmas feast but have a few nibbles and some Fish Chowder and spend the day with dear friends Frank and Shirley.

So I called up the Reservations desk at the Marriott and booked a Pool side room with parking and a gas card for 149.00 plus tax for Xmas Eve. I even got a nice confirmation number and was assured that we would have a pool-side room for the 24th at the Harbourfront Hotel. Now you must understand that there is nothing open after 5pm in Halifax Christmas Eve except for a few Pizza places, the Bars are closed and the Casino next door closes early as well. So we wanted the ability to just pretend we were on a warm beach somewhere.

So, I called up the Hotel today to check on our reservation and was told we had none. In fact we were booked into another Hotel and not the one we asked for. So, the man at the Reservation desk said " It is not my fault and if you want a Pool-side Room without parking it would be 204.00 plus tax and an extra 23 for parking." I explained that we would have gone to the Harbourfront Hotel and expected a room at the Inn and found none. ( A very important event like this happened over 2000 years ago. Things worked out very well on that occasion. Which is the Reason for the Season.)

I wasn't going to get an apology or any incentives because of the mix up from the Marriott . Even though they quoted us the wrong rate and put us in the wrong Hotel to boot. It was tough Titty to us. Bah, Hum Bug.......So I called Ginny and told her what happened and we decided to cancel our plans. So I cancelled the Reservation on line. We were both disappointed at this point as we were looking forward to this.

I then decided that we were owed something. So I called and asked to speak to the General Manger, who is a nice guy by the name of Dave. I explained the situation and told him that the "Grinch of the Marriott Hotel" had ruined our getaway and possibly our entire Christmas. He agreed that it was a good thing I called up before hand than showing up on Christmas Eve and finding things were "Grinched."
So, He agreed to honour our 149.00 price with free parking and a large Pool-side Room to boot for Christmas Eve. As I pointed out that The Hotel would not be overly booked for Christmas Eve and it was the Reservation Desk who made the mistake.

Merry Christmas. So on Christmas Eve were ever you are. Remember to raise a glass in a toast to Friends present and absent. We will set another place in case anyone of you happen along to visit. So if you come to Halifax, please stay in the Marriott. I give it 5 stars. Thanks Dave.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

SAD CHRISTMAS NEWS FROM OTTAWA




There will be no Nativity Scene in Ottawa this year!

The Supreme Court has ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in Canada's capital this Christmas season.
This isn't for any religious reason. They simply have not been able to find Three Wise Men in the Nation's capital. Nor could they find a virgin.




P.S. There was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Two Tails of One Kitty



This is a picture of my Cousin Bob and Lois with Ginny and I on Holiday together in May of 2008.


Well My Cousin Bob who lives in Hope, BC. They have this Cat named Mercedes Benz the reason for the name was Bob always wanted to have a Mercedes Benz Car. So one Christmas his family told him they got him a Mercedes Benz out in the Garage for him as a Christmas Present. So Bob blind to the fact that they can only just afford the gas in his SUV staggers out in to the Garage looking for this fancy present. So He walks into the Garage turns on the light and no car but this little furry Kitten is laying in a box that has drawn on it a car with a little note. Here is your Mercedes Benz. The Cat is now 8 years old and still living with my Cousins.

Well, several years ago. I went out to help Bob Paint his new store. They were going to expand the business from a little run of the mill Jewelery Store come Junk Shop on it's last legs. He was getting the OK for a Sears Outlet Store with Appliances, TVs etc and a real chance to turn things around. So As my Uncle Joe and Aunt Mildred are getting up there thought I kill two birds with one stone and went out for two weeks. Well I stayed at Bob and Lois's Place and was sitting in a Wooden Rocking Chair having a Beer, I only just got there about 2 hours. This rather large Cat came in the front door and immediately jumped on my lap, stood up and put it's paws on my shoulders and started to kiss my face then promptly sat on my lap and went to sleep.

( My friends and Family call me the Cat Whisperer as strange cats seem to come up to me.)

Bob and Lois were thunder struck as this cat doesn't like to be petted and avoids strangers and never show any sort of affection unless it wants to be fed. They hadn't seen Mercedes for 3 days as they live right at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and he goes off hunting for days at a time.



This is the view from Bob's back door at his place.


Well for the two weeks, I was there this cat was my constant companion. He came down and slept in my room right on top of my blue suitcase which got covered in cat hair. I always have a glass of water to drink during the night. One night I woke up and heard a lap, lap,lap, lap right beside my head. I turned the light on and the damn cat was drinking from my glass. So for about 10 days or so I was drinking water with Cat's Spit in it, unbeknown to me. So I stopped drinking water in a glass and now have a covered plastic water bottle. The Cat still follows me around when ever we visit my cousins.