#Driving School Hamilton Ontario

[internationaldriving]

Driving School Hamilton Ontario

At International Driving School we take driving seriously! All lessons are one on one with an extra emphasis on one! We want to ensure that your loved one is under safe hands.

[melissap321]

Navigating the Roads of Alberta: Understanding Alberta Driver's License Classes

Embarking on the journey to obtain a driver's license in Alberta is an exciting and significant step towards independence and mobility. However, navigating through the process can be overwhelming, especially with the various classes of licenses available. Understanding Alberta's driver's license classes is crucial for aspiring drivers, and G-Class Drivers provides valuable insights to simplify this journey. Let's explore the different Alberta driver's license classes and the key distinctions that define each class.

Navigating the roads of Alberta requires a clear understanding of the different driver's license classes and the specific requirements for each stage. G-Class Drivers, with its comprehensive training programs and expertise, serves as a valuable guide for aspiring drivers, helping them navigate the licensing process with confidence.

[royalcanadianrealty]

Houses for Sale in Burlington: Key Factors to Consider Before Making an Offer

Burlington, Ontario, is one of the most sought-after cities for homebuyers in the Greater Toronto Area, known for its stunning waterfront views, excellent schools, and diverse neighbourhoods. If you're exploring houses for sale in Burlington, you're likely excited about finding your dream home in this thriving market. However, before you make an offer, you must consider a few critical factors that will ensure you make an intelligent and informed decision. Understanding how to decide if a home is right for you is essential in this process. Here's a detailed guide to help you navigate the journey and make the right choice.

Choosing the Right Neighborhood

One of the first things you should consider when looking for homes in Burlington is which area best fits your lifestyle. There are several neighbourhoods in Burlington, each with distinctive qualities that meet various requirements and tastes.

Family-friendly areas: If you have a family or are planning one, neighbourhoods like Orchard, Millcroft, and Tyandaga are known for their excellent schools, parks, and community feel.

Downtown living: Would you rather be near the action? Lake Ontario is within walking distance of downtown Burlington's bustling stores, eateries, and cultural activities.

Commute considerations: Consider your commute every day. Burlington is an excellent option for people who frequently go to Toronto, Hamilton, or the nearby areas because of its convenient access to highways like the QEW, 403, and 407.

Evaluating the neighbourhood is vital to finding a home that aligns with your lifestyle and daily needs.

Setting a Realistic Budget

Setting a realistic budget is essential before you start touring houses for sale in Burlington. The housing market here can be competitive, so knowing your financial boundaries will help you stay on track and avoid overextending.

Mortgage pre-approval: First, you should get pre-approved for a mortgage. When you're ready to make an offer, this will clarify and strengthen your ability to afford.

Additional costs: Remember to factor in other fees like closing costs, property taxes, house insurance, and possible maintenance or remodelling expenditures. Even while Burlington's property taxes are often cheaper than those in other GTA regions, you should still account for them in your budget.

Market conditions: You understand current price trends, so conduct research or speak with a local real estate agent, as the Burlington real estate market is subject to fluctuations. Doing this lets you make a competitive offer without exceeding your spending limit.

Assessing the Property Condition

Once you've found a house you like, it's crucial to thoroughly assess its condition before making an offer. Appearances can be deceiving, and you don't want to be surprised by expensive repairs after the purchase.

Home inspection: Always hire a professional home inspector to evaluate the property. They'll look for foundation problems, roof damage, faulty plumbing, and outdated electrical systems. A home inspection can uncover potential issues that could cost you thousands of repairs.

Renovation potential: If the house needs updates or renovations, consider whether the costs of these improvements fit within your budget. Homes that require work may be priced lower, but extensive repairs could quickly add up.

A thorough inspection will give you peace of mind and leverage when negotiating the final price.

Understanding Market Conditions

Knowing the current state of the real estate market is essential when shopping for houses for sale in Burlington. Market conditions will impact how quickly homes sell, how much they sell for, and your ability to negotiate.

Seller's market: More buyers than available homes drive up competition in a seller's market. You might have to move quickly and offer above the asking price to secure a property.

Buyer's market: In contrast, a buyer's market gives you more negotiating power, as there are more homes for sale than buyers. This can lead to lower prices and more time to weigh your options.

Work with a real estate agent who understands the Burlington market and can help you make a competitive offer.

Long-Term Resale Value

Even if you plan to live in your new home for many years, it's wise to consider its future resale value. Burlington is a growing city, and purchasing a home in a high-demand area can be a wise investment for your future.

Location matters: Homes in popular neighbourhoods near parks, schools, and other amenities usually have higher resale prices. Additionally, homes on the sea or close to critical highways may appreciate faster.

Upgrades and improvements: Think about the potential for future upgrades. Homes with good "bones" that may need cosmetic updates are often a significant investment, as renovations can significantly increase the resale value.

Future developments: Research any upcoming infrastructure projects or developments in the area. New transit options, shopping centers, or schools can positively impact your home's future value.

You are considering resale value guarantees that your house will be a wise long-term investment in addition to meeting your present needs.

The Offer Process

After considering all the factors, you're ready to make an offer. It may be an exciting and nerve-racking procedure, especially in a competitive market like Burlington.

Competitive offers: In a hot market, your offer should be higher than the asking price or add fewer stipulations to make it more attractive to the seller. However, always stick to your spending plan.

Offer conditions: It's common to include conditions like financing approval, a satisfactory home inspection, or even selling your current home. These conditions protect you but can make your offer less attractive in a competitive market.

Negotiation: Be ready for talks or counteroffers. Throughout this process, your real estate agent can assist you get the best offer without sacrificing your needs.

Conclusion

Buying a home is an exciting journey, but it's important to consider all factors before making an offer on houses for sale in Burlington. From choosing the right neighbourhood and setting a realistic budget to assessing the property and understanding market conditions, each step plays a vital role in ensuring your home-buying experience is smooth and successful. Considering these factors will help you make a confident and informed offer, bringing you one step closer to your dream home in Burlington. If you need more guidance or have any questions, feel free to contact us for expert advice and assistance.

[preconstruction-info]

Experience the pinnacle of single-family living at Scenic Ridge! 🏡 Unveil your dream home in this picturesque haven. Your perfect blend of comfort and serenity awaits. Explore now! http://dlvr.it/T1jp9q #ScenicRidge #DreamHome #paris #singlefamilyhouse #realestate #preconstruction #newdevelopment

[wutbju]

Pastor Stuart B. Latimer, age 84, of Taylors, SC, went to his heavenly home on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

Stuart was born to George and Florence Latimer in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He was active in Youth for Christ in Hamilton during his teenage years. He graduated Valedictorian from Saltfleet High School and decided to attend Bob Jones University. Stuart met his wife Charlotte Polk from Frostproof, FL at Bob Jones, and they were married in 1962. He went on to receive his Master in Biblical Studies and completed post-master’s studies at BJU while teaching at the university.

Stuart became a USA citizen in 1971. He was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1972 and helped found Peoples Bible Church in Greenville, where he pastored for 22 years and had significant ministries to Furman and Clemson students. Stuart and Charlotte hosted thousands of college students in their home for meals and discussions throughout their ministry. Stuart was a popular speaker at family conferences, youth retreats, college retreats, and pastoral conferences.

Stuart lost his knee to a shotgun blast from a robber on a mission trip to Trinidad in 1994, but one of his former Furman students was able to save his leg. For the rest of his life, he was known for his walking stick with a carved turtle at the top which he called a “great conversation starter” (as though he needed one of those!). He joined the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination where he pastored Devenger Road Presbyterian Church for 15 years. After retiring, he continued to preach at multiple churches in South Carolina and Georgia, including regular preaching at Living Hope Presbyterian Church in Greer, SC. During the last year of his life, Stuart and Charlotte were encouraged by the television ministry of First Presbyterian Church, Greenville and by the in-home ministry of the pastoral staff.

He was an honorary cheerleader at Shannon Forest Christian School in the 1980s where his children attended, and he was known for the bellowing cry “Go Shannon Forest!” He was a huge Clemson fan and proudly wore a bright orange jacket wherever he roamed. His love for his children’s school and university is only surpassed by his love for their children. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, talking to them, joking with them, grilling them, and other assorted adventures with Papa. Stuart and Charlotte loved traveling together during their retirement years, including two trips driving to Alaska, all the way to the Artic Circle.

Throughout his life, Stuart wrote “Letters of Encouragement” (and later emails) to waiters, store clerks, baristas, friends, visitors, relatives, strangers on the street—anyone he had the opportunity to meet, even briefly. God gave him the gift of encouragement and a warm smile which he used to influence many lives. He believed the Bible is God’s love letter to us and wanted everyone to know that they were “worth more than the whole world put together.”

He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Charlotte; his daughter, Michelle, her husband Jay Case, their children Elena and Alexander; his son, Stuart Jr., his children, Grace Anne (Thomas) Henley, William, and Lewis; and his sister, Marion, her husband Dave Pyke, and their children and grandchildren. Stuart was a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather—he will be impossible to replace.

Services for Stuart will be held Thursday, September 14, 2023. Visitation at 12:00 pm followed by a Funeral Service at 1:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 200 W. Washington St., Greenville, SC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Foothills 390 Keowee School Rd. Seneca, SC, 29672 or to Samaritan’s Purse.

[rmkenvs3000w23]

Unit 4: Interpretation through Art

To answer the blog prompts for this week’s post, I will tackle them in reverse order.

Beck et al. (2018) defines The Gift of Beauty as instilling in the audience “the ability, and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings - to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation.” (pp. 85) This is a bit of a tall order, but it is also a key feature of enjoying nature, and getting people to care about it. For some people, many of us in this course included, there is an inherent beauty for nature as it is. We enjoy walks in the woods, hiking up a mountain, spending the day on the water, or on the trails, for the fact that we get to be out in the fresh air, surrounded by beautiful scenery as much as for recreation, if not more. I know personally, being in nature offers me a genuine sense of calm and security, the closest I get to spirituality, and makes me appreciate my luck in living in a place and in a time where I can have these experiences. To me, The Gift of Beauty is the ability to share that feeling with others by meeting them where they are, in this case through art.

In reflecting on the readings and on the prompt for this week’s post, I began immediately to think about how the topic impacts me and my chosen art, music. On top of being my favourite kind of art and media to consume, it is also one I have some measure of talent in. I sing, play a few instruments, and really enjoy performing. As long as I can remember, I have been singing to pass the time. In high school, I taught myself to play the ukulele, then the guitar and the bass, as well as the harmonica. I also played the tuba for six or seven years. More than any of that though, I have enjoyed listening to music, and above all, music that tells a story. As discussed in Chapter 10 of the Beck et al. (2018) reading, there are several ways in which music, as well as other interpretive arts, can tell stories and share messages relevant to natural interpretation and conservation, specifically through traditional folk music and more contemporary, youth based ensembles.While those certainly have their place, my mind went immediately to Stan Rogers. 

Stan Rogers grew up in Hamilton, Ontario but spent summers with family in Nova Scotia. From his experiences in the Maritimes came his love of celtic and folk music, as well as his first album, Fogarty’s Cove, which contains songs inspired by the region, specifically Rogers’ most famous recording, “Barrett’s Privateers”. Two later albums, Northwest Passage and From Fresh Water, were similarly inspired by the prairies and northern Canada and the Great Lakes respectively.

The title track of Northwest Passage is my favourite of Stan’s songs, and tells the story of the singer “driving hard across the plains”, harkening back to the Franklin Expedition and several other “explorers” involved in settlement of what is now known as Canada, and making specific mention of geographic features such as the Davis Straight, the Beaufort Sea, and the roaring Fraser River. While this song does omit any mention of the first peoples of the land and speaks to a wider issue surrounding the cultural fascination with those who “discovered” this place, it and many more of Stan’s songs engage the listener with a whole host of emotions, references, and points of view about the area most of us call home. If I were to use music to engage with my audience about environmental interpretation and conservation, to share The Gift of Beauty, I would want to do it in a way which emulated Stan’s sincerity, eye for detail and sense of humour, combined with messages that make the environment a character in the story, and give voice to those whose stories have not been told.

[jmenvs3000semester]

Paving the path from city to nature

When I picture an environmental interpreter, I imagine someone hiking the mountains in a National Park in British Colombia or Alberta, with a small group. As they hike, the interpreter is talking about the landscape, the kinds of vegetation and wildlife that live within it, and those that have inhabited it or continue to. However, I feel that I would want to be an environmental interpreter within a natural environment that is closer to an urban environment.

I would like to be in an environmental interpreter role where I can provide an opportunity to learn about and connect with nature and environmental topics to those that don’t have 24/7 access to it. For example, I live in Hamilton, Ontario where most of it can be considered urban, however, there are conservation areas, walking and hiking trails and lakeside beach areas about a 20–30-minute drive from the downtown area. It may not be within walking distance, but people can take a quick drive to a part of their city where they can take a break from the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives.

Mostly, I would like to be an interpreter for elementary and high school students who visit a conservation area near their city for a school trip. These students who live in urban settings may not always have the chance to get out and go for a walk or hike as they don’t have access to a vehicle (i.e., not having their driver’s license yet), or just may not have any desire to.  Therefore, when they come for a school trip, my job as an environmental interpreter is to make it as enjoyable experience as I can. I would want to educate them, while inspiring them and hopefully igniting a passion for the natural world.

While being the interpreter for these students, I would want to provide an overall experience that caters to all types of learners. For example, to appeal to active and visual learners, I would show an animal that typically lives in that environment. I would then explain what species the animal is, the role they play in the ecosystem, (i.e., niche) the different features they have that allow them to accomplish that role (i.e., a sharp beak to pick at tree bark to get small insects), and the overall importance of protecting the area and species. To keep the students engaged, throughout my presentation on the animal I would ask them questions about it to see if anyone knows anything already, or just wants to try and guess. As many teachers say, there are no stupid answers or questions, and I would want the students to feel comfortable and excited to engage with what I’m teaching them.

Having included tangible elements, such as wildlife, in my interpretation, I can connect them with an intangible meaning, just as David Larsen encouraged (Beck, Cable and Knudson, 2018). The intangible idea or feeling I can link to wildlife is love and empathy for animals. As many kids have family pets or have friends or family with pets, they understand the love they have for them. I can translate that to love for other animals and the importance of those animals to the ecosystem and overall, the environment.

Beck, Larry, Cable, Ted, and Knudson Douglas. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For A Better World. Sagamore Venture, 2018.

[melissap321]

Road to Success: Mastering the G & G2 Driving Tests

From city lights to country roads, every drive is a chance to escape and find a new perspective. But to safely drive on the roads of Canada you need to have a proper license. Getting a license in Ontario involves passing multiple steps. You have to follow the Graduated Licensing System (GDL) to get a standard license in Ontario. In this article, we will discuss what G & G2 Driving Test are and how to pass them.

What Is a Graduated Licensing System?

A graduated licensing system (GDL) is a structured approach to issuing driver's licenses to novice and young drivers, designed specifically to introduce inexperienced drivers gradually to the complexities of driving while building skills and experience stepwise. The system usually comprises three steps:

Class G1

Class G2

Full G Class License 

Various Driving School Hamilton provide services for obtaining a G class license. When it comes to a seamless booking process, GClass Drivers is a trusted choice. Before delving into the services offered by GClass Driving School Hamilton, let's first understand what a GClass license entails and how their expertise can assist you. Let's discuss the above in detail:

Class G1

Class G1 represents the first stage in the graduated licensing system and requires a learner's permit to practice driving skills under certain conditions. They must be supervised by a fully licensed driver with four years of driving experience at least and may face restrictions such as restricted hours for driving and other restrictions.

Class G2

Advancing in the graduated licensing system leads to obtaining your G2 license, granting you the opportunity to drive independently for the first time. While there are fewer restrictions compared to the G1 stage, certain limitations still apply. G2 drivers have fewer restrictions compared to G1 drivers, but there are still limitations, such as a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit and restrictions on the number of passengers during specific hours.

Full G Class License 

This marks the final stage in the graduate licensing journey. After holding your G2 license for 12 months, you become eligible for the full G license. With the G license, all previous restrictions are lifted, providing you with the freedom to drive at any time and anywhere. Enjoy unrestricted driving!

Should you encounter any challenges, don't hesitate to reach out to G-Class Drivers. We're dedicated to assisting you, offering quick and trouble-free G & G2 driving test booking. If you want to gain road test confidence, GClass drivers are your best option. Why wait any longer? Get in touch with us now!

Eligibility Requirements

Following are some of the eligibility requirements for GDL:

Age Requirement: Typically, GDL programs are designed for new and young drivers. The minimum age to enter the program varies, but it is often around 16 or 17 years old.

Learner's Permit: The first stage of GDL often involves obtaining a learner's permit. To be eligible, individuals may need to pass a written test on traffic rules and regulations.

Supervised Driving Period: GDL programs usually include a period of supervised driving with a fully licensed adult. During this phase, new drivers gain practical experience behind the wheel.

Driver Education Courses: Some jurisdictions may require the completion of a driver education or training course as part of the GDL process.

Restrictions and Graduated Stages: GDL programs are characterized by different stages, each with its own set of restrictions and privileges. Progression from one stage to the next may depend on factors like age, time spent in the previous stage, and successful completion of required tests.

Clean Driving Record: In many GDL systems, maintaining a clean driving record during the learner's permit and provisional license stages is a crucial criterion for advancing to the next level.

Passing a Road Test: The final stage of GDL often involves passing a road test to obtain a full, unrestricted driver's license.

Conclusion

In summary, the journey to obtaining a G class license in Ontario follows the Graduated Licensing System (GDL), progressing through Class G1, Class G2, and the Full G Class License. GClass Drivers in Hamilton offers seamless booking services to assist you through each stage.

Key eligibility criteria for GDL include age requirements, learner's permits, supervised driving periods, and a clean driving record. Success in road tests at various stages is crucial for advancement.

GClass Drivers is committed to supporting your journey, providing quick and stress-free G & G2 driving test bookings. Contact us now to gain confidence and enjoy unrestricted driving. Your road to a full G license starts here!

FAQs

What is the Graduated Licensing System (GDL) in Ontario?

Answer: The GDL is a structured approach to issuing driver's licenses, introducing new drivers gradually to the complexities of driving through three stages: Class G1, Class G2, and Full G Class License.

What are the eligibility criteria for GDL in Ontario?

Answer: Eligibility includes meeting age requirements, obtaining a learner's permit, completing supervised driving periods, and maintaining a clean driving record. Success in road tests is crucial for progression.

How do GClass Drivers assist in the licensing process?

Answer: GClass Drivers in Hamilton provides seamless booking services for G & G2 driving tests, ensuring a smooth experience throughout the licensing journey.

What are the stages of the GDL system?

Answer: The stages include Class G1 (learner's permit), Class G2 (independent driving with restrictions), and Full G Class License (unrestricted driving).

How long does it take to progress from G1 to a Full G License?

Answer: After holding a G2 license for 12 months, drivers become eligible for the Full G License, lifting all previous restrictions.

What support do GClass Drivers offer during the licensing process?Answer: GClass Drivers provides assistance in quick and hassle-free G & G2 driving test bookings, helping drivers gain confidence and navigate the licensing stages.

[cbdpureeoil-blog]

Best  Pure CBD Oil

CBD is promoted as giving alleviation to tension, discouragement and post-horrendous pressure issue.   pure cbd oil It is additionally showcased to advance rest. Some portion of CBD's prevalence is that it indicates to be "nonpsychoactive," and that customers can receive wellbeing rewards from the plant without the high (or the 12 PM pizza munchies).

 Similarly as hemp seedlings are growing up over the United States, so is the advertising. From oils and nasal splashes to candies and suppositories, it appears to be no spot is unreasonably consecrated for CBD. "The beast has assumed control over the room," Dr. Brad Ingram, a partner teacher of pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said pretty much all the wild uses for CBD now. He is driving a clinical preliminary into overseeing CBD to youngsters and adolescents with sedate safe epilepsy.

 "It's promising in various helpful roads since it's moderately protected," said James MacKillop, co-executive of McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research in Hamilton, Ontario.

 A year ago, the F.D.A. affirmed Epidiolex, a cleaned CBD extricate, to treat uncommon seizure issue in patients 2 years or more established after three randomized, twofold visually impaired and fake treatment controlled clinical preliminaries with 516 patients that indicated the medication, brought with different prescriptions, assisted with lessening seizures. These kinds of studies are the best quality level in medication, wherein members are separated by some coincidence, and neither the subject nor the agent realizes which gathering is taking the fake treatment or the medicine.

 While there is promise for treating different conditions with the plant separate, Epidiolex remains the main CBD-inferred tranquilize affirmed by the F.D.A. A large portion of the exploration on cannabidiol has been in creatures, and its present prevalence has outpaced science. "We don't have the 101 seminar on CBD very made sense of yet," said Ryan Vandrey, a partner teacher of psychiatry and social sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

[dreamofawonderfullife]

Timeline - Post Sochi So Far…

I just repost timeline of @balletfever89-deactivated201902 

********************** 2014 ********************

February 

(Feb. 24) — Moscow Gala

March 

(March 3) —RBC press conference as well

(March 3 ) — RBC Learn to Skate Event (w/ PChiddy and kids)

(March 4 ) — Co hosted Morning Show  — Breakfast Television interview

(March 4) — CP24 Interview with Stephanie

(March 8) —Hockey Game (Leafs) w/ fellow Olympians

(March 12) — Taping Strombo

(March 12? around this time) —Visited a Skating Club

(March 13) — ET Canada

(March 14) —Off the Record

(March 14) — KISS 92.5

(March 20) —Hockey Game Senators

(March 22) —Women’s Lifestyle

April 

(April 5) – Tessa and Scott celebrate medals at his grandparents’ house and attend a Detroit Wings game (Sheri Cara Charlie Sheri’s bf)

** Stars on Ice Japan Tour** (April 11 - 20) but they were there earlier

** Stars on Ice Canada Tour ** (April 25th - May 15th)

May 

(May 16) PWC event on Tessa’s birthday—Scott attends Hockey game (drama)

(May 21st) —Puck Drop — London Knights game

(May 22) —50 Most beautiful Gala (Tessa)

(May 22) —Heroes’ Hockey Challenge in Edmonton (Scott)

(May 25) —Toronto Blue Jays game ( first pitch)

(May 27th) — Office warming (apparently they were guest speakers)

(May 29)—Quebec SC (ACGM) event — Scott stayed for a couple more days after

June 

(June 2) —Post Olympic Excellence Series (just Scott)

(June 4)—Conference / BBQ/ Parliament / St. Gregory Catholic School in Ottawa

(June 6)—Champions Parade in Calgary - Gala + Twitter takeover

**********VACATION BREAK*************************************************

—Scott spotted at hospital (twitter)

(June 23)—Mark Lowry Memorial Drive for the Podium Gold Tournament (Scott with Patrick) —- FIRST OFFICIAL SCOTT APPEARANCE

—Scott attends wedding

July 

(July 5) — Tessa and Scott attend Calgary Stampede — FIRST OFFICIAL TESSA APPEARANCE

(July 11) — Tessa’s FIRST tweet *******

(July 12) — FC London Soccer Game (just Tessa)

(July 13) — Virtue & Moir 2nd Annual Golf Classic

(July 15-16) — Skating Seminar (Scott and Tessa)

**Artistry on Ice China Tour** : Beijing 7/25—Shanghai 7/27 —Guangzhou 8/1—Taipei 8/3

August 

(August 5) — Lucan Skating Club in ilderton (just Scott)

(August 6) — Rogers Cup in Toronto #Lindt (Scott and Tessa)

(August 8) — John Legend Concert in Toronto (just Tessa)

(August 10) — Rogers Cup Men’s Final (Tessa and Mom) - Prairie Jam festival in Winnipeg (just Scott w/ KLawes)

(August 12) — Tessa Virtue ALS Ice Bucket Challenge (Instagram Video)

(August 13) — Scott’s FIRST tweet ******* and responds to Tessa’s Ice Bucket Challenge (Instagram) in Ilderton

(August 16) — Tessa attends Jeffrey Buttle’s Wedding (Toronto) along with Katelyn and Joannie :)..and Scott??

(August 18) — CP Women’s Golf Open — Tessa and Mr. Moir as “caddie” extraordinaire ;)

(August 19) — Scott and Tessa spotted in Saskatoon

(August 20) — Mike Babcock Fore Prostrate Golf event (Scott and Tessa)

(August 23) — Tessa attends a Bachelorette party while Scott is spotted with Patrick golfing.

(Aug. 28 - Sept. 1-2) — Tessa vacations in Alberta, Canada while Scott is spotted in Niagara with KLawes

September 

(September 2) SCOTT’s 27th BIRTHDAY!!! 

(September 3 -4) — Tessa attends TIFF along with Ryan Semple and Elisha Cuthbert

(September 4) — Scott attends Skate Canada High performance camp and Tessa attends Wicked performance in Toronto

(September 5) — Tessa attends Skate Canada High performance camp (with Scott??) and then has a girls’ night with Elisha Cuthbert

(September 6) — Scott and Tessa spotted at a wedding in Toronto

(September 8) — Tessa “back to school” tweet

(September 9) — Tessa attends Bill Volk Golf tournament (right to play)

(September 11) — Tessa attends Lorde concert at Folkfest in Ottawa (with Ryan Semple)

(September 17) — Tessa and Scott film CanSkate video for Skate Canada in London, Ontario sportscenter

(September 22-23) — Radio interviews (Scott & Tessa ) announcing their plans for the 2014-15 season

(September 26) — Tessa attends Yoga class

(September 26-28) — Scott attends Ilderton Fall Fair

October 

(October 1) — Scott and Tessa — attend TWIINS event concussion research — Toronto Rehab Center

(October 3) — Tessa attends LetsBond event in Montreal

(October 6) — Scott — 2nd Annual Evening of Great Canadian Conversations

(October 10) — Tessa — photo shoot Real Style fashion

(October 15) — Scott TWEETS AGAIN!!! :DDDDD

(October 16) — Scott — Celebrity Men’s Fashion Show

(October 17) — Scott and Tessa — Tanger Outlets Opening — Ottawa, Ontario

(October 22) — Tessa — Fashion Blows (Toronto)

(October 27) — Scott and Tessa — IVEY business school speech

(October 30) — Scott and Tessa — Gold Medal Plates Dinner (Victoria) they are the MCs for the event

(October 31 - Nov 2) — Scott and Tessa — Skate Canada 2014 (commentators)

November 

(November 8) — Scott and Tessa — Tanger Outlets Opening — Cookstown,Ontario

(November 12) Scott and Tessa — Gold Medal Plates Dinner (Toronto) they are the MCs for the event

(November 15) — Scott and Tessa — TEDxYouth talk

(November 17) — Scott and Tessa — Gold Medal Plates Dinner (Ottawa)

(November 18-21) — Scott and Tessa — Training with Sam (Montreal)

(November 21) — Scott and Tessa — LIMITLESS2014 Gala (Toronto)

(November 24) — Scott and Tessa — Acura West photo shoot (London)

(November 25) — Scott and Tessa —IIderton Skating club (morning) + Raonic Race for Kids (evening - Toronto)

December 

(December 5 & 7) — *** Holiday on Ice Festival ***

(December 8 — 9) — Scott & Tessa in Montreal (with Marie France and Patrice) and friends

(December 17 - 19) — Scott & Tessa — Training with Sean Chessman for Art on Ice (Calgary, Alberta)

(December 28) — Scott & Tessa — Ilderton Skating Club (practice)

(Dec 30 - Jan 2) — Tessa spotted in Vancouver for New Years

********************** 2015 ********************

January 

(January 3) — Scott & Tessa — Ilderton Skating Club (practice)

(January 4) — Scott & Tessa - *late night* Ilderton Skating Club (practice)

(January 10 - 18) — SOI Japan

(January 22 - 23) —- Scott & Tessa — Cdn. Nationals (Kingston, ON)

(January 24) — Scott is groomsman at wedding

(January 27) — Scott & Tessa — FFWD Advertising Week (Toronto)

(January 30) — Skate Niagara Ice Show

February 

(February 1 - 14) — Art On Ice

(February 19) – Tessa at beach and Scott at Scotties

(February 25) – Tessa in Toronto

(Feb 26-March 6) – Tessa in L.A. for SOI costume fitting

March 

(March 8) – Tessa attends Western University Rowing Gala as a guest speaker

(March 11) – Scott visits special olympics athletes :)

(March 18) – Scott and Tessa (separate cities) radio interview with 570 News

(March 18-22) – Scott attends the curling Worlds Championships (Sapporo, Japan)

(March 20) – Tessa spotted with her girlies at her friend’s chalet (Ontario)

(March 23) – Tessa attends Pink Tartan Fashion Show (Toronto)

(March 24) – Tessa in a photo shoot (Toronto)

(March 25) — OWL Dinner in Waterloo (keynote speech for the Lauriel Golden Hawks)

(March 26) – Tessa attends Hilary McMilan Fashion Show with Elisha Cuthbert and sister (Toronto)

(March 28) – Scott attends heroes hockey game with Kaitlyn and Tessa attends fashion show (Toronto)

April 

(April 7-8) – Tessa in Ottawa // Scott seen with KLawes in St. Marys

(April 9) – Tessa & Scott rink practice

(sometime in this month of April) – Tessa skates at Canadian Ice Academy (Missisauga, Ontario)

(April 18) — Silver Blades Skating Club Ice Show (Corner Brook, NL)

(April 19) — Sparkling Blades Skating Club Ice Skating Gala (Windsor)

(April 21-25) — Stars on Ice cast train (Minden Hills)

May 

(May 1 — May 21) — SOI Canada : Halifax / Ottawa / Montreal / Toronto / Hamilton / London / Winnipeg / Regina / Edmonton / Calgary / Victoria / Vancouver

********** (May 6) – MANIFESTO SPORT announces Tessa ************

(May 17) – Tessa’s 26th Birthday

(May 20) – Lindt Master Class (Richmond, B.C.)

(May 25) – Tessa attends a close friend’s wedding :)

(May 30) – Tessa on shopping network (Hillberg and Berk)

June 

(June 1) – Tessa photo shoot for H&B (Toronto)

(June 8 - 22) — Scott and Tessa — Gold Medal Plates — Scotland Trip

(June 23 - July 3 ) – Tessa vacations with family (London, England)

July 

(July 7) – Lindt Master Class (London, ON)

(July 9) – Lindt Master Class (Toronto, ON)

(July 11) – Scott at Lucan Memorial Golf Tournament (Hamilton)

(July 14) – Lindt Master Class  (Halifax, N.S.)

(July 15) – Lindt Master Class (Ottawa, ON)

(July 17) – Scott attends Team Jacobs Charity Golf Event (Sault St. Marie)

(July 20) –Tessa hangs out during PanAm games (Toronto)

(July 21) – Tessa and Scott attend at beach volleyball game PanAm (Toronto)

(July 23) – Lindt Master Class (Edmonton, AB)

(July 24) – Tessa and Scott – Mike Babcock One Voice Fundraiser Dinner and Dance (Saskatoon)

(July 31) – Ice Show (Beijing, China) (went to see Wall of China)

August 

(August 16) – Tessa attends Rogers Cup in Toronto

(August 21 - September 7) – CNE Skating Show

(August 22) – Tessa and Scott – CP24 Breakfast Interview

(August 24) – Tessa and Scott (Ms Miku and Kaitlyn) – Soul in the City (Casa Loma, Toronto)

(August 25) – Tessa and Scott – dinner with Mike Babcock

(August 26) – Scott attends Chris Mabee’s bday celebration with Kaitlyn

(August 28) – Tessa and Scott – attend a Blue Jays game

(August 29) – Tessa and Scott – Spirit of the West concert (Jackson Triggs Winery, Niagara)

(August 31) – Scott spotted at Blue Jays game

September 

(September 1) – Scott spotted at Blue Jays game and Tessa celebrates Jeff’s birthday

(September 2) – Scott’s 28th Birthday

(September 4) – Tessa attends Zac Brown Band concert

///Sept. 7th//// END OF CNE

(Sept. 9) – Tessa attends TIFF Soiree (Toronto)

(September 13) – Virtue & Moir 3rd Annual Golf Classic

(September 15) – Tessa attends Bill Volk Celebration Golf Classic (Caledon Village, Ontario)

(September 16/17/18) – Tessa takes over H&B Instagram takeover

(September 18) – Tessa SnapChat takeover for Hillberg and Berk and LIVE on the Shopping Channel (Toronto)

(September 19) – Scott attends family wedding (Ilderton, Ontario)

(September 21) – Tessa and Scott – Lindt Masters Golf tournament (Halton Hills, Ontario)

October 

(October 2) – Scott attends Ilderton Fall Fair (judges an event?)

(October 6) – Scott spotted at Starbucks (London, Ontario) - TV x HB breakfast “sneak peek” (Distillery District, Toronto) - Tessa attends Madonna concert

(October 7) – Tessa and Scott spotted in Toronto and attend the Maple Leafs’ first game of the season (Toronto, Ontario) (+) flashmob

(October 8) – Tessa and Scott spotted at Blue Jays game (Toronto, Ontario)

(October 9) – Tessa says that her and Scott also took part in a flash mob this week (she posted on the 10th a sneak peek of a collab project with The Hair Gypsy and Medulla Co. which she worked on the 9th)

(October 11 - 12) celebrating Thanksgiving

(October 14) – TV x HB Launch at Cornwall Center (Regina, Saskatoon)

(October 15) – Scott night out at bar (London, Ontario)

(October 16) – TV x HB Launch at Kingsway Mall with meet and greet (Edmonton, Alberta)

(October 17) – TV x HB Launch (skating & meet and greet) at West Edmonton Mall  (Edmonton, Alberta)

(October 19) – Tessa and Scott with Sam Chouinard in the dance studio (Montreal, Quebec)

(October 20) – Tessa and Scott with Sam Chouinard in ice rink arena (Arena Sylvio Mantha, Montreal)

(October 22) – Scott attends Celebrity Men Fashion Show (London, Ontario)

Tessa attends The Great Jewelry Heist and Rudsak Premiere (Toronto Fashion Week)

(October 23) Tessa does photo shoot (Adidas?) (Toronto, Ontario)

(October 26) Late Night Tessa styling at Saffron Road (London, Ontario)

(October 27) – BBB Wes.Ont. Business Integrity Awards (London, Ontario) (+) and Taste of Gold - GCW Kitchens (London, Ontario)

(October 28) – Tessa and Scott spotted at rink (Exeter, Ontario)

(October 29) – Tessa and Scott spotted skating at a community center (London, Ontario) – Halloween themed photo shoot series released from the Hair Gypsy and Medulla Co. collaboration

November 

(November 3) – Tessa films for Ice Girls Movie (Sudbury, Ontario)

(November 5) – Tessa attends Gold Medal Plates (Toronto, Ontario)  -Scott attends concert at bar in London

(November 7) – Tessa shoots stuff for Paper Crown

(November 9) – Tessa attends Gold Medal Plates (Ottawa)

(November 11) – Tessa and Scott spotted at Ilderton Skating Club (+) travel to St. John’s

(November 12) – Tessa and Scott visit a school for Kid Sport (+) Tessa and Scott MCs at Gold Medal Plates (St. John’s, NF)

(November 17) – Tessa goes to gym and decorates the house (London, Ontario)

(November 20) – Tessa and Scott Gold Medal Plates (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)

(November 21) – Tessa and Scott Road to the Olympics CBC Sports (Toronto, Ontario)

(November 22) – Tessa and Scott shoot for CBC Sports at the Toronto Cricket Club (Toronto, Ontario)  -  Tessa shot stuff for Gaming Show IMPG

(November 23) – Tessa photo shoot at home for GCW Kitchens (London, Ontario)

Tessa and Scott midnight practice for Holiday Festival on Ice (Ilderton, Ontario)

(November 24) – Tessa attends AnaGolja collab with DDMCosmetics launch party (Toronto, Ontario)

(November 25) – Tessa is spotted at Union Square Train Station in Toronto (dance party on the train)

(November 27) – Tessa picked out new car at Acura West (London, Ontario)

(November 28) – Tessa attends the National Ballet’s “Romeo and Juliet”  (Toronto, Ontario)

December 

(December 1) – Tessa  and Scott have dinner with couple from GMP Scotland (St. John’s, NF)

(December 2) – Holiday Festival on Ice (St. John’s, NF)

(December 4) – Holiday Festival on Ice (Summerside, Prince Edward Island)

(December 5) – Holiday Festival on Ice (Kingston, Ontario)

(December 6) – First Dub Mash videos!!!

(December 9) – Tessa attends Olympic Excellence talk (Toronto)

(December 10) – Tessa attends dinner/art show with friends (Toronto)

(December 11) – Tessa attends dinner with friends (Toronto)

(December 12) – Tessa and Scott – CBC Road to the Olympics GPF coverage (+) GMP wrap party (Toronto)

(December 14) – Tessa and Scott begin to create new programs

(December 15) – Tessa and Scott with D/L and David Wilson (The Sports Village, Vaughn) (+) Toronto Maple Leafs Game

(December 16) – Tessa and Scott – Night Out with MF//Miss Miku and Husband

(December 17-18) – Last Day in Toronto

(December 18) – behind the scenes video released of their new Ex

(December 19) – Scott at Wedding (Paris, Ontario)

(December 21) – Tessa hangs out with friends (London, Ontario)

(December 22) – Scott spotted at Joe Kool’s (London, Ontario)

(December 24 – 25) – Holidays with Family

(December 26) – Off to Japan

(December 28) – Medalists on Ice (Sapporo, Japan)

(December 29) – Tessa hangs out with her girlfriends (will be a bridesmaid) (London, Ontario)

********************** 2016 ********************

January 

(January 2) – Tessa plays a canon doll for the Nutcracker (Toronto, On)

(January 6) – Tessa and Scott team bonding play hockey (Komoka, On)

(January 7) – Tessa and Scott spotted skating (YMCA in Komoka,On)

(January 13) – Tessa at Sorry Coffee Co. (Toronto, On)

(January 14) – Tessa and Scott spotted at a restaurant coming back from skating (Cambridge, On)

(January 16) – Tessa goes bride’s dress shopping with friend (+) dinner with family   -  Scott tweets again and is spotted at Junior Canadians hockey game in Lucan

(January 20) – Tessa and Scott travel to Halifax

(January 21) – filmed bits for TSN

(January 22) – CTV Morning Show

(January 23 - 24) – Canadian Nationals

(January 27) – Tessa and Scott support BellLetsTalk on Twitter

(January 30) – Tessa and Scott at a see-saw (Montreal)

(January 31) – Tessa at a spa (Montreal)

February 

(February 2) – Tessa and Scott hip hop workshop

(February 3) – Tessa and Scott creating new Ex with Sam Chouinard

Tessa and Scott Habs game (Montreal)

(February 7) – Tessa at home (London)

(February 10) – Tessa and Scott at a rink (Toronto)

Scott out to dinner with Brian Orser and Marie France

(February 11) – Tessa out to dinner with the Hair Gypsy and friends

(February 14) – Tessa and Scott eat at Evviva Restaurant (Vaughn/Toronto)

(February 15) – Tessa and Scott filming/photo-shoot (The Sports Village, Vaughn)

(February 19) – Video shoot with Natalie Robinson and OPC Productions (Toronto)

[ontarionewdemocrats-blog]

*4 beefy men break down your door and hand you a note, inside, you find your important news for June 5, 2019*

Families of patients with SMA meet with Ontario health minister, hope ‘miracle drug’ will get funded

https://globalnews.ca/news/5351193/spinal-muscular-atrophy-spinraza-ontario-drug-coverage/

TDSB ‘bumping’ of teachers not covered by attrition fund, minister says

https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/06/04/tdsb-bumping-of-teachers-not-covered-by-attrition-fund-minister-says.html

Air conditioners in every classroom? Not a chance. But TDSB has a plan to keep schools cool

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/06/03/air-conditioners-in-every-classroom-not-a-chance-but-tdsb-has-a-plan-to-keep-schools-cool.html

Ford’s plan to axe Beer Store deal could deter investment, warns business group

https://globalnews.ca/news/5350279/fords-plan-to-axe-beer-store-deal-could-deter-investment-warns-business-group/

Fedeli dismisses Chamber of Commerce concerns about canceling Beer Store contract

https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/06/04/fedeli-dismisses-chamber-of-commerce-concerns-about-cancelling-beer-store-contract.html

Ontario government’s plan to cancel Beer Store contract ‘alarming,’ says business group

https://www.thestar.com/ipolitics/provincial/2019/06/04/ontario-governments-plan-to-cancel-beer-store-contract-alarming-says-business-group.html

Who has the right to compensation in Beer Store dispute and who doesn’t

https://www.thestar.com/ipolitics/provincial/2019/06/04/who-has-the-right-to-compensation-in-beer-store-dispute-and-who-doesnt.html

Ontario PC MPPs sent to neighbourhood fridges with tweet templates in hand, leaked e-mail reveals

https://globalnews.ca/news/5349674/ontario-mpps-coordinated-social-media-campaign-alcohol-leaked-emails/

What alcohol coming to corner stores means when you’re an alcoholic

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/alcohol-corner-stores-1.5162031

Ford government to rewrite Toronto’s development plans to allow taller buildings in more of midtown, downtown

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ford-government-to-majorly-revise-toronto-development-plans-and-allow/

Ministry inspections of Fiera Foods left out a partner factory. Months later, another temp worker died

https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2019/06/04/ministry-inspections-of-fiera-foods-left-out-a-partner-factory-months-later-another-temp-worker-died.html

Cuts to Legal Aid Ontario mean asylum seekers are on their own, refugee lawyer says

https://globalnews.ca/news/5352782/legal-aid-ontario-budget-cats/

Costs of Ontario climate plan would be double Liberal carbon tax, raise household costs: report

https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/costs-of-ontario-climate-plan-would-be-double-liberal-carbon-tax-raise-household-costs-report

Ottawa throws lifeline to 50 Million Tree Program cut by Ontario government

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/50-million-tree-program-ontario-funding-1.5162571

Ontario government ready to work towards reconciliation, Ford says

https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/06/04/ontario-government-ready-to-work-towards-reconciliation-ford-says.html

Queen’s Park opposition parties ask government to pause passage of Bill 108

https://www.qpbriefing.com/2019/06/04/queens-park-opposition-parties-ask-government-to-pause-passage-of-bill-108/

TTC upload bill passes, new rules for drivers too

https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/ttc-upload-bill-passes-new-rules-for-drivers-too

BRAUN: Pride month more important than ever

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/braun-pride-month-more-important-than-ever

After Ford spurns Pride parade over police ban, Saunders says he’s focused on divide with LGBTQ community

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/06/04/after-ford-spurns-pride-parade-over-police-ban-saunders-says-hes-focused-on-divide-with-lgbtq-community.html

OPP laid more than 300 street-racing charges on 400-series highways in May

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/opp-dangerous-impaired-driving-charges-1.5161330

Residents turn in 380% more guns than last year during 2019 amnesty program: Peel police

https://globalnews.ca/news/5350593/peel-region-gun-amnesty-program-380-per-cent-more-guns/

Fourth stop proposed for already-costly Scarborough subway extension

https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2019/06/04/fourth-stop-proposed-for-already-costly-scarborough-subway-extension.html

Government outlines policy principles for smart cities

https://www.qpbriefing.com/2019/06/04/government-outlines-policy-principles-for-smart-cities/

Sidewalk Labs vote pushed back several months: Waterfront Toronto

https://globalnews.ca/news/5350928/sidewalk-labs-vote-pushed-back-waterfront-toronto/

Toronto unveils ‘resilience’ strategy to counteract future effects of climate change on city

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-toronto-unveils-resilience-strategy-to-counteract-future-effects-of/

New ‘tele-resuscitation’ tech helped ER doctors in different cities save Ontario child’s life

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/06/04/new-tele-resuscitation-tech-helped-er-doctors-in-different-cities-save-ontario-childs-life.html

Region announces important change to emergency alert system

https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/region-announces-important-change-to-emergency-alert-system-1.4451726

Lake Erie's water level hits highest point ever recorded

https://london.ctvnews.ca/lake-erie-s-water-level-hits-highest-point-ever-recorded-1.4452362

Ontario still committed to safe consumption site in London: mayor

https://london.ctvnews.ca/ontario-still-committed-to-safe-consumption-site-in-london-mayor-1.4451434

'Layoffs are coming' at Thunder Bay Bombardier plant

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-bombardier-layoffs-coming-1.5161673

Hamilton's Native Women's Centre hopes for local action on final MMIWG report

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/mmiwg-report-mcmaster-1.5160763

Missing building permit spurs Hamilton order against a second major tower development downtown

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/9409195-missing-building-permit-spurs-hamilton-order-against-a-second-major-tower-development-downtown/

All illegal pot shops now shut down in Hamilton, police say

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/pot-shops-1.5162002

Overdoses the deadly result of Hamilton’s opioid and crystal meth epidemic

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/9407732-overdoses-the-deadly-result-of-hamilton-s-opioid-and-crystal-meth-epidemic/

GOLDSTEIN: Ford making same financial mistakes as the Liberals, says Fraser report

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/goldstein-ford-making-same-financial-mistakes-as-the-liberals-says-fraser-report

EISEN: Globe and Mail understates Ontario’s fiscal challenge

https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/eisen-globe-and-mail-understates-ontarios-fiscal-challenge

LILLEY: Schools spend big on tech that doesn't help

https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/lilley-schools-spend-big-on-tech-that-doesnt-help

[nowitsdarkfic]

chapter fourteen (back to black... orchid, that is)

December 1, 1988. Oswego, New York.

It's a brand new day here back home upstate. I'm laying in bed all bundled up in my blankets and nursing every part of the warmth that's cradling me right now. I'm like a sleepy cat laying in the sun, except there's no sun at the moment as far as I can tell. Everything is soft, including myself. Who would've known a skinny boy could be so soft and warm.

On the other hand, I wonder Lars is doing right now. I haven't seen him in a while but it feels so long ago. I wonder how life is for him right now back in Portland. I think about his wife and how she acts toward him. I'm laying here on my back with the memory of her cursing him out fleeting from my own memory bank.

As if there are any more things I need to remember.

And then there's Marcia and Sonia. I wonder they're doing right now. And they've got the two of us invited to lunch, too!

I roll my head over the top of the pillow. I don't want to leave this warm feeling here, even with the tip of my nose and the edges of my lips turning cold. Everything is so gentle, just how I want it.

Well, that's not quite right. It'd be just how I want it if I had another two bowls full of that pasta from my aunt and uncle's house.

But I'm content here, laying here with the blankets pulled up to my ears and my hands resting upon my stomach.

That is until I feel something brush up against my knee. I open my eyes just part of the way and I see something moving on the ceiling overhead.

I open them a little more to make out the full shape of her body. Her long hair streams behind her as if there's wind right around her. Her skin shines like the snow under the light of the full moon. Everything about her is just how I want her to be in the ghost of a girl.

“Hello, my love,” I greet her in a hoarse voice. Nerissa drifts closer to me with her hand outstretched towards my chest. She runs two of her fingers over the surface of the blanket on top: her touch is so light that I don't even feel her. Her body is so full and sexy, and yet the blankets have such a snug hold on me that I can't even move.

She lands on her hip right there on the edge of the bed, right next to my waist. She strokes my chest again, and this time I feel her through the blankets. I show her my tongue as she leans forward, closer to my face.

“—slim and lush boy,” she whispers to me, and the tip of her tongue slithers out of her mouth as she comes in closer to mine. “Even more lush than ever.”

I hold still with my lips parted as she's right there right in front of my head. But instead of a kiss, she runs her fingers along my lips. The sensation sends chills over my skin. I open my mouth even more for her, but she vanishes right before my eyes before I can say anything to her.

I relax and let out a loud sigh.

“God—why.”

I know that's got to be my cue to get up now. And so I do. And I'm met with the whole place feeling colder than a refrigerator, so cold that I can't get into my flannel shirt quick enough. Well, at least I have things for breakfast now. I don't have to rely on those stinkin' Mike n Ikes again.

I'm outside of my room and looking to my right at the sight of Vera disappearing into nothing. At least Mrs. Snow isn't here at the moment.

At least I hope she isn't. I don't feel like lighting up a stick of incense at the moment.

What I do feel like doing is having something to eat and then going out to see if Barney and Billy are home. I also need to do something about those songs I have on that notepad there in the front room.

I'll have to ask around at some point. Surely someone has to have studio time at some point for me.

Once I've got a toasted English muffin with butter and a bit of coffee in me, I get dressed and head on out into this raw wintry morning. I think it's going to snow again so I'm glad I've got those leather gloves Ellen gave me. Speaking of Ellen, I hope that, if she's gone now, she was given a proper burial down in New Orleans. I hope that her family is aware of what happened to her. I'll have to come in touch with them.

But like there are more things I have to do at the moment. One thing at a time, Joe. One thing at a time. One day at a time.

The winds are extra cold this morning, and so I've got my scarf pulled up to my ears and over the tip of my nose and my lips. Bitter raw cold, from the heart of the incoming lake effect snow to my left. The last days of fall are waning away and winter is summoning upon us.

I remember those days when I was a young kid and I’d walk to school from my parents’ old house humming the Beatles songs to myself while the snow beckoned upon us. Eight days a week.

The House of Grey is looking quiet and buttoned down this morning with its darkened windows. I have a nagging feeling at that pit of my stomach but I’ll give their door a knock just to see what’s going on with my friends. I pad onto the doorstep and tap on the panel with my first two knuckles. That’s even colder.

Silence. Knock again. No one’s home. Damn it.

I don’t really feel like going back to my place and I can’t think of any numbers offhand. I don’t know if Marcia and Sonia are in today and the snow is coming so I don’t really wanna risk driving over to Rochester. There is one place I can go to, though, without crawling through a wormhole. I tug the scarf over the bridge of my nose and onto my cheekbones before doubling back onto the yard. I’m braving it and going on over to the bus stop. It’s quite the long walk, much longer than the one on the night I found Maya. Could be with this wind beating down upon me.

There’s that folder Angeline gave me the other night. I haven��t cracked it open yet just because I haven’t mustered the right state of mind as of yet. After quite the event of a dinner the other night, I haven’t been able to stomach anything pertaining to her. I really have no idea what to believe now about her. There’s just too many things going on, and too many variations and variables and whatnot that it’s exhausting every time I think about it. It’s like Lake Ontario itself with deep black waters that seem to flow against each other, obscuring the bottom.

I reach the bus stop and hold there for a minute before the bus itself lumbers up to the curb. I have some spare change in my pocket.

I take a seat at the front window behind the driver: I still have the scarf pulled up over most of my face even though I feel the blast of warm air from the heater upon my face.

Heading on to the backwoods outside of town. Towards that neighborhood near the country club, Denny’s, and the hockey rink. I ring the bell to get off once that one stop approaches even closer.

I climb off and I glance up at the darkening sky for a second before pressing onwards. The snow is coming. Once the bus pulls away from the curb, I stride the other way to the same spot I saw Death and then Maya. The feeling is different now as I cross the street to the sidewalk and continue onward towards the country club and then Black Orchid. The sign is still alight even in the daytime, such that it leads me to the front step once again..

I knock on the panel and wait a second. The door opens for me and I’m greeted by her short ‘do and her fitted black leather jacket and accompanying black lace fingerless gloves.

“There’s our mister!” Mrs. Hamilton greets me with a big beaming grin.

“Hey, Big Mama,” I return the favor to her from under my scarf.

“Come on in, Joey—you look so cold!” She leads me into the club and I shut the door behind me. I tug down the scarf so as to better feel the warmth around me. Lizzy emerges from the back room in a black top tied up around her chest which better shows off Jessica Rabbit and Betty Boop, but also an inkling of Jiminy Cricket on her side, right underneath her rib cage, and a considerably sized tattoo of Bettie Page surrounded by lilies and roses on her lower back. She shows me a smile as she approaches me with her arms open.

“There’s my walking art gallery,” I greet her and hold her close for a moment. She stands up on her toes so as to kiss my face.

“My goodness, your skin is cold,” she remarks.

“The snow is upon us, baby doll,” I tell her.

“Lili, we need to put him in a glass case so he doesn’t get frostbite,” Lizzy tells Mrs. Hamilton.

“I keep telling you, Liz, they’re too small for him and be careful with that Lili comment.” She wags her finger at her before doubling back to the stairs, and hitching up her skin-tight leather pants all the while. Louie skids into the room right then from the kitchen wearing some big heavy jewelry about her neck. Her face lights up when she recognizes me.

“Lupe!” she calls into the kitchen. “Lupe, he’s here!”

“Ladies, please,” I tell her and Lizzy, who’s still got her arm around my lower back. “I am not a specimen.”

“Bull,” Louie insists, tossing her black hair back from her shoulder so as to emphasize her collar bones. “That is complete bull.”

“You’re the finest regular specimen we’ve got, Joey,” Lizzy points out, her tongue running around her lips at me. Lupe then pokes her head out from the kitchen door with her black hair tousled onto one side of her head and those glorious hoop earrings dangling.

“The she-wolf senses it, too,” Louie adds.

“There’s my desert rose,” I say in a soft voice. “So let’s see, I’ve got Big Mama Hamilton, the Liz-meister, Louie Louie, and now the blooming one. I could ask where Gwen, Morgan, and Cindy Lou Who are because the more, the merrier but I’ll take this, though.” Lizzy runs her fingers up my chest: I feel her flat belly pressing against me. I look into her eyes and see that glimmer. That glimmer telling me she wants it. She’s another quiet one here, her and Cindy both. I like Lupe but I should probably give Lizzy a chance. She’s got those rad tattoos, too!

I open the top two buttons of my coat to better untie my scarf.

My neck is exposed for her. She’s about to kiss my neck when there’s a knock on the door behind me.

“It’s open!” Louie calls as she strolls on closer to me, on my other side. The door swings open right behind me and I tug Lizzy in closer to me to keep her warm.

“Joey,” a voice behind me declares. I shuffle around to see Spence huddled down inside of his heavy overcoat with his big black gloved hands covering his face.

“Spence!”

“Hey.”

“What's up? What's wrong?”

“Brick's back in the hospital,” he promptly says: I turn to see Louie and Lupe pressing their hands to their mouths. Lizzy meanwhile mouths the words “oh my God” at us.

“Are you serious?!” I gasp at him, and he nods his head so slow at me.

“Dead serious. Come on, I'll take you over to Syracuse. And I guess Lars and Sonia are there, too. I don’t know why but they are. Close your coat, too. It’s snowing like there’s no tomorrow out there.”

“We will be waiting for you, though, Joey,” Lupe assures me. I turn back around right as she kisses my neck: Lizzy follows suit, and then Louie finishes it out with a delicate one on my cheek. Mrs. Hamilton returns in time for one right next to the corner of my mouth. So many kisses. But I’m gonna need them for what I'm about to do.