Update from the Man Cave

Well the man-cave is again at capacity, (actually it has been for over a month, I’m just slow on reporting) which means the BBQ sauce and pickles are piling up in the fridge again and Grey’s Anatomy is being replaced with Ice Road Truckers. The new tenant is actually the old tenant – turns out B-rad just couldn’t stay away. He tried camp life for a while but it wasn’t really his thing. Actually he had a name for it…I can’t remember what it was, but it rhymed with Auschwitz! Someday in the near future I will do a camp post – sure, maybe it’s not the most desirable places to live, but it definitely makes life easier for the people working at site and saves them having to commute 2 hours each way. I find the whole concept of camp really interesting –  some of the camps have 5,000+ workers living in them; it’s basically a whole town stacked in portable buildings out in the bush. And some even have perks like driving ranges, Tim Horton’s and stating rinks. I’ll have to do some homework and report on this another time. (I feel like I’ve said that before?)

Christmas Trees

Well I tried to set up Special K’s Christmas tree - which had been sitting untouched in the basement for 3 years - but it was just too big and awkward, so instead I put it on Kijiji! Haha! But first I scavenged three loose branches, wrapped the ends in a dish cloth and stuffed it in a glass: and voila, three mini-christmas trees are born. We have the red & gold tree, Kirt’s Christmas past tree (decorated with ornaments made for him over the years by his aunt), and the burned out lightbulb tree.

The light bulb decorations turned out pretty good actually and it only cost me a can of spray paint. You have to use your imagination a little bit, but picture a full size tree full of gold painted sparkly light bulbs with gold ribbon and twinkly lights. Next year, when I have more than 6 light bulbs I am going to try that! 

Update from the Man-cave

Well we have gained one and are losing one. Rob the Australian moved in this week and Steven just bought a house so he’ll be moving out at the end of August. Rob lives in camp most of the time but on his off days, when he’s not traveling around the world, he’ll be hanging his hat here and enjoying the fine unfinished basement accommodations at Chez Laing.
Steven’s new digs are only a bike ride away, so I’ll still be seeing lots of him - whether he wants to or not.

Man Down!

The men in the man cave are dropping like flies around here! When I first moved in, there were four dudes and now there are two. Actually one at the moment, as Special K has gone to Illinois for a week. B-Rad is the latest to permanently vacate; he took a new job and is now living in camp a couple hours away. And I must say, the living room just isn’t the same without him relaxing in the lazyboy at 9am, Jack & Coke in hand! ;)

So, that means it’s down to the boyfriend and the brother now – stay tuned to find out who’s next!

(jokes, jokes - I don’t want either of you two to go anywhere!)

Hucksters New 'Do

I finally found a place that would groom the Huckster sans medication and for under $300. Seriously, that’s the best I could find until this new pet store “The Bone & Buscuit” opened up this week. The groomer did an awesome job, which I didn’t even think would be possible because she’s such a spaz. (the cat, not the groomer).
Anyway, not only is there less hair everywhere, it has completely changed her personality. Suddenly she’s all friendly and nice and wants to be pet all the time. And, the weirdest part is that every night since, instead of meowing at the door to go outside, she’s been curling up beside me or sleeping right on my pillow, which has never happened before. I think she’s trying to thank me!

Somebody turn off the lights!

It must be summer because it stays light out now for most of the night. It’s 3:30 am as I write this, and I can see the glow of sunrise between the houses across the street and the sky is blue. Blue! I don’t think it ever really gets completely dark anymore, hence the reason I’m up at 3 in the morning! Maybe I’ll go mow the lawn or something.

All good in the man-cave

The house is nicknamed the man-cave because up until 3 weeks ago it contained only dudes and all their dude things. Including, but not limited to: a gun case in the living room, truck parts in the utensil drawer, dirty magazines in the bathroom and a TV programmed to record all episodes of 1000 Ways to Die and Two and a Half Men.
I guess this shouldn’t surprise me, it is a man-cave after all!
But despite their taste in TV, their hatred of dusting, and half a fridge dedicated to barbeque sauce and pickles (see actual fridge door pic.), they are pretty darn easy to live with. So I can happily report that all is well in the man-cave! phewf.
(They might not say the same for me though, as I have since remedied several of the above infractions. Oops!)

My ally in the man cave

It just occurred to me that I have an ally here in the man cave...Huckster! Here she is, looking very relaxed after a hard day of doing exactly this.

I have never been a fan of housecats, but I must say this one is growing on me. Plus, she makes me look good - she's way moodier, she holds grudges, she bites and her hair really is everywhere.