Sunday, August 16, 2020

A big ole slice of humble pie.....

Still waiting for the call to get back to work in the film industry. That means more afternoon cribbage battles with Ritsue. (....crib people, the score in the hand shown?..)
On this day it was our first crack at pork side ribs.......

.......nailed it!
 
.....but we were out done by the retirement centre across from me, they roasted an entire pig!!! (the show-offs!)
You know you've been off too long when beating 4 suit spider solitaire is the high-light of your day. (maybe week, maybe month.....)
The way I look at it is I'm one of the 1% ers.....
Woo hoo!, a dentist appointment, something to do!
......back in the condo garden, Ritsue's tomato plant continues to grow.......

Smile! We're on camera at Wal-Mart, busted! (busted by the fact we actually went in there....)
A rare cool foggy day this summer. (Today it's hovering around 33 C, atsui!)

Cotton Candy! A souvenir from her volunteer time at the Nikkei Centre summer festival.
Always up for something new. This day was my first taste of Konnyaku! (Yam cakes)

Next day was a little more traditional, ( At least what I'm used to.)
Ahhhhhh, now for the humble pie part. Last Sunday, I was called by Teamster dispatch to see if I wanted a 2 day gig driving a 5 ton for a show called Motherland. I had to wonder why myself and 5 others got the job considering there were so many senior members ahead of me.......
(The blue hospital like wrist band was to show you had had your temperature checked and gone through the Covid-19 protocol and orientation for the day.)
.......and there's my ride, actually it was supposed to be my ride. In the end I was one of 4 Teamster glorified.........
..........swampers! We had to move all of the wardrobe departments furniture and costumes from one warehouse to space at Vancouver Film Studios.
.......and hence why no one senior than me wanted it. Let's see, stay at home on the CERB benefit, or get a real sweat on for two days. (Actually, I didn't mind it, it was good to get out a connect with a few film people.)

.....because of Covid, we couldn't ride in the truck, so we had to use our own personal vehicles to and from the warehouse. Monday was 30.1 km, or 4 trips. (apparently we will be reimbursed for the mileage.)
Tuesday was a yellow humble pie day, and a couple of extra masks in case I sweated out my first one.
Still 4 trips, but only 24.2 km today, hmnnn.....
......let's just say it was a little warm in the ole warehouse...

......ahhhh, back to the unemployed life. Another free oldies but goodies concert at the retirement center. We've got the prime 11th floor balcony seats. I think this is the 5th or 6th one we have been able to enjoy this summer. 
It's been a month since we went for a hike along the Byrne Creek ravine trail. We were so excited to look into the tree to find ???????
...our beloved Japanese/Canadian Covid paint the rock project was gone!!!! (this pic was the last time we saw it alive...) Who would do that????
.......and now that shows are getting ready to start filming again, and things are still uncertain on the Good Doctor, I find myself in a situation I have not had to think about for 6 years. I booked into the Teamster dispatch system to make myself potentially available to other shows. Looking good as #1 on the group 2 list. (tbc.....)
....back in Summerland, junior is getting his playoff beard going, and he has his section as well.
Junior's getting pretty good with his iPhone camera these days.

.....but as of press time (my blog), I do believe they have come to an agreement. Let the filming of season 4 begin already!

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Rumors vs. Rumours


Month 6 since the whole covid thang started. I must say the crib games between Ritsue and I are getting pretty fierce these days!
What does this mean?
Another day, another Zoom seminar, this time with casting director Tiffany Mak. Very informative should I ever venture into the acting game again.

All her hard work on that one crazy cherry tomato plant is finally paying dividends!

Back on the balcony garden, man that's a big radish!

Same seed pack, but definitely not the same radish!

Nailed it! My cooking skills are getting more and more edible! (Although I needed Ritsue to be the flipper over person)
My omelette  combined with her blueberry jam was winner winner! (but not chicken dinner) 

Finally, it's warm enough to enjoy a cool crisp apple cider out on the balcony.

The moon rising over Mt. Baker, a different sight than I'm used to in the middle of the afternoon. (Look up, look wayyyyyyyyyyyy up)

....and then it happened........
My Teamster buddy Tracy showed up one morning and dropped off fresh shrimp and spot prawns that him and his fisherman buddy had caught the prior evening.
Score!

That night Ritsue turned them into this scrumptious, light and fluffy prawn stir fry. 

Meanwhile, back at the condo farm, the cherry tomato plant continues to dominate the garden.

More free time means still more cooking. Ritsue made this zucchini, egg, radish and enoki mushroom dish, very good.

Next day, I was a little skeptical about this block of tofu sitting in the fridge. (It turned out better than I was expecting, Doesn't mean I like the stuff, though....)

Meanwhile, back in Summerland, junior had stumbled upon some rock which contained some very cool fossils.
Ritsue and I went for some stay at home style fishing, very convenient and the price was right!

There she is, 11 floors down, working hard in the garden, while I'm , well, goofing off as usual. (I new I was good at it, but the covid shutdown has made me an expert!)

This time while the moon was rising over Mt. Baker........

It is true. Not all of the many persons, production companies and trade unions can agree on the covid testing protocols. Last Friday, the season 4 preparation was put on hold.....
.......I guess it will be even longer before we find out that answer to that question and many more....
Rumours? Rumors?.
.......in the meantime, things to keep us busy.........