Yes, I am a child of the Sixties. Which means I was a teen of the Seventies.

Which also means I grew up watching "Happy Days".

Which therefore means, at the tender age of 14, I fell in love with The Fonz. I watched that show every week, wishing desperately I was the coolest guy on earth's "main squeeze". I dreamt of holding tight onto his leather-clad torso as we peeled away into the sunset on his souped-up motorcycle.

My love of Fonzie didn't end with Happy Days. I laughed at "Night Shift", cried during "An American Christmas Carol" each holiday season, and tried to catch whatever else Henry Winkler happened to be in. To me, he is like a teddy bear; I just wanna hug the incredibly nice guy.

Instead, today HE hugged ME.

Oh and kissed me. Twice.

And during that long-awaited hug, he whispered into my ear, "Mmmmm. You smell good." In that SAME voice... oh my.

I was in heaven. It doesn't matter to me that I had to wait 36 years. It was worth it.

I told him I grew up with him. He responded with "And you grew up wonderfully..." in that smooth way that makes me melt....


No this wasn't a dream.

It was the World of Wheels car show, and he was the special guest. When I heard he was coming to town, I KNEW I had to met him. So I went early, and parked myself at his booth to wait the hour before he was scheduled to appear.

I was first in line... and found myself shaking with excitement and nervousness by the time he appeared.






Thank you Fonzie... you are still the coolest guy on this earth. And tonight you made my dreams come true.

During my childhood in the 60s, my parents graced us kids with a huge collection of board games; which meant that we spent many memorable weekends in spirited matches of Monopoly, Clue or even marathon sessions of Risk. Being the youngest of the brood, I frequently lost... and when I won, I dare say it was likley due to them "letting me win". Yes I have come to accept that fact now.

Except for one game I remember fondly. It couldn't be fixed and I loved playing it over and over.

For I was Aces at "Chop Suey".

Ideal manufactured this in 1967; a plastic bowl on a wind-up pedestal, with various plastic shapes dropped inside. As the bowl turned, the pieces jumped and hopped about - squares, cones, rings, balls, some nigh impossible to grasp, even when not performing their best imitation of a Mexican Jumping Bean. Each player attempted to retrieve the most shapes with plastic chopsticks before the bell rang and the bowl stopped turning. Simple, but challenging.

I won a lot.

But then again, I often played alone, my youthful OCD pushing me to continually beat my own best time and efforts.

Proof that I Reigned Supreme (it is a shame really, that the game never came equipped with a gold medal, crown, or other regal accoutrement; for I surely had earned it) is the fact that ever since, I am deftly able to eat asian food with chopsticks; even single grains of white rice end up in my mouth and not adorning my lap.

A feat I have tried repeatedly to demonstrate to hubby and daughter; sadly, to little success. After a few futile attempts they grab their tined forks, hunger limiting their patience to a few brief nanoseconds.

I should have kept that game.... not because I recently found one on eBay that sold for $35. No, perhaps if we still played it, my family would be able to keep up with my Superior Bamboo Stick Prowess.

But I highly doubt it.

I'll admit it.

I have been ignoring you, while spending time with another.

These past two weeks another obsession had taken hold; and while I was happy in that place, I kept thinking of you.

Thinking that I haven't been responding, communicating, visiting those that I love here; for you see, I have been keeping time with

MY OTHER BLOG

That's right. While I have let many of you down over here, I was over at my art blog; making merry with OTHERS.

Creating instead of answering your wonderful comments. (I adore each and every one, really I do!)

Colouring like a child instead of responding to your emails. (I am so sorry Perpetual Chocoholic! I will email you I promise!)

Making cards instead of visiting YOUR blogs! (JD! My prize arrived! Whoo Hoo! Thank you so much!!!)

I feel so ashamed.

So I, like many others before me, need to issue a formal public apology:

"I have let my blogging family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my blogging family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and will strive to be a better person and blogger my family and friends deserve. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology."

Whew. That feels better.

But now I have this weird desire to go golfing.

Two and a half months.

80 days to be exact.

We finally went to see Avatar last weekend.

Which sounds unbelievable if you know me - the Uber-Geeky-Sci-Fi-Nerd.

But something was always getting in the way of dedicating three hours to sit in a theatre. The holidays. Extremely cold weather. The Olympics.

At long last, hubby and I got our 3D glasses and along with a nearly full cinema, awaited the first showing Sunday. The movie was, in a word, amazing.

Unfortunately, my experience was hampered by another patron.

First, he took his seat right beside me mere seconds before the movie started.

Then he fidgited about, attempting to remove his jacket whilst balancing a huge bucket of popcorn on his lap. I was certain it was going to spill all over me. I inched as far away as I could for safety's sake, nervously eyeing his mega-drink perched in that tiny cup holder between our seats, as his elbow gently grazed it more than once.

Finally he settled down. Actually, he settled down so well I had to glance his way.

Yep. The unatural angle of his head gave it away even with dark glasses on, I could tell he was sound asleep.

How could someone fall asleep during Avatar? I was trying desperately to absorb every moment of the epic I could, entranced by the effects and tearing up at the story (oh yes, I will admit it).

The guy beside me woke up again, figited and slumped asleep once more.

I kept munching on my popcorn.

This routine went on for over two hours until the credits rolled, the lights went up and the crowd filed out; Sleepy Guy joining their ranks exiting out into the real world.

* Sigh * I want to go back and see Avatar again.

And hubby? Oh yeah, he can come along again too I guess. After all, he hasn't even seen it once yet.

First I must preface this post by stating unequivocally that I am not a Tim Horton's person.

Gasp you may (I heard you), but this Canuck prefers Starbucks. And not just because my daughter is a Barista (but it helps when you get your coffee and tea free). I was a fan of Starbucks before she was hired there over two years ago - I was so proud, * sniff *.

But I will admit the only time I DO go to Timmy's is during "Roll Up The Rim" time.

Although I really don't know why I bother. The last time I spent a fortune played, I went down to our small in-hospital Tim's on a daily basis for weeks on end, only coming out with three freebees. Two coffees and a donut, I believe.

Oh sure, you may say, "well, at least be satisfied you won something you ungrateful twit!". And you'd be right (except for the twit part), I SHOULD have been satisfied.

Until I heard that someone here won a car.

That someone was a doctor.

Damn you Timmy's.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go get my double-double.

I was trapped.

The first of the trio leapt up at my left.

Soon followed by a second agily positioning herself to my right.

Finally the last one took her place directly in front of me.

Then in unison they began to steathily inch ahead; reminiscent of their predator ancestors on the Serengeti.

I couldn't escape... the undivided attention of hungry eyes fixated on even my slightest movement.

Tails twitched.

Lips smacked.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Anticipating the signal, the time to attack.

They knew once I had downed that last bite of Shredded Wheat, they could pounce on what was left of the milk in my bowl.

I had better hurry, for I was outnumbered and surrounded.