LJ gathering; Cloey's party

[vaneramos]

Glen Allan and the Conestogo River


Friday I drove through rain and heavy traffic to Toronto to see roosterbear and quillon, visiting from Rhode Island, and schillerium. We dined at Zelda's, then met rfmcdpei at O'Grady's for the evening. I had an overnight liaison with djjo before returning home for the Rainbow Chorus's annual general meeting.

Organizational meetings always leave me in a bad humour.

Then came a party I was dreading, because two friends had backed out during the week. It was Cloey's party, and I felt it would be rude for me to back out, too. So I went, expecting not to know anyone. Cloey lives in the heart of Ontario's Amish country with three teenaged children who know her as dad (the kids stayed at their mom's last night). Several friends turned up after all, and the new acquaintances were mostly pleasant.

Apart from one individual who, within 30 seconds of striking up conversation, declared himself single and available. I smiled and nodded politely. Equally pathetic was the drunken city queen who, seeing us seated around a bonfire, squealed, "It looks like a prayer meeting out there."

I'm still an inveterate country guy.

Cloey is building a two-seater airplane in her over-sized garage.

Comments

[paulintoronto.livejournal.com]

Two quick comments: I know it can be annoying when someone comes on so strong on a first meeting, but, based on the photos I've seen of you and the personality that emerges from your writing, I can't say I blame the guy....

As usual, I greatly appreciate the photographs you post. This one in particular delighted me -- and reminded me of a painting in the Louve by Ruysdael, one of my favourite painters. Here is a link. (I wish I knew how to do the fancy coding in comments so that it wouldn't be so long and unaesthetic.

http://www.louvre.fr/llv/oeuvres/detail_notice.jsp;jsessionid=Dt6b3JTjnYcT371LBhPkyJHBfvYYGQtTdx7V9mHxZghqz8Fp0MnD!-34013690?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673225637&CURRENT_LLV_NOTICE%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673225637&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723696500813&fromDept=true&baseIndex=138&bmUID=1127086813162&bmLocale=en

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Fascinating connection. The scene actually made me think of Canadian artist Homer Watson. I used to pass his home and gallery all the time when I attended Conestoga College, but I never visited or even wondered who he had been. Last fall when visiting the Tom Thomson Gallery above The Bay (that collection has since been donated to the AGO) I was startled to encounter this painting:

The Old Mill

Oscar Wilde called Watson the Canadian Constable, and I also see a connection with Ruisdale, but the landscape is distinctively Southwestern Ontario. I was delighted, because the Group of Seven didn't pay much attention to this part of the province where I've lived my entire life.

As for the other comment: thanks for the compliment! I ought to mention I had met that individual on several occasions, in fact he dated a close friend several years ago. He hardly spoke to me then. I believe his interest Saturday night had nothing to do with who I am, but with his search for The One.

I hope we can connect face-to-face in Toronto soon.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Sorry, my party left early. Hopefully we can reconnect when I have some spare time in Toronto.

[queenmomcat.livejournal.com]

"It looks like a prayer meeting out there."
[winces]

I hope the weekend as a whole was enjoyable? Did Cloey seem to enjoy the party?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It turned out to be fun, but man was I tired yesterday. Cloey's place is out-of-the-way and I don't think she had held a party like that before. She seemed happy just to have a group of her friends there.

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

It's a puzzle! *laughs*

Okay, the story: We get this stupid magazine called Country Living that my grandmother (who has no clue) subscribed for us last year. WELL, the fall issue came out and there's pretty pictures in there. My wife opens up this beautiful panoramic scene of fall colors and she says, "There's a puzzle if I ever saw one."

I nodded my head.

Sorry the weekend was awkward for you. HUGS!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Well, it wasn't bad, just a little hectic. And organizational politics drive me around the bend.

Do you like puzzles? susandennis has a page of online puzzles that features a few of my photos.

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

Love puzzles...especially virtual ones!