As for the local weather, this past spring wasn't to bad. The weather over the last week or two has included a lot of fog, and that has been annoying. I believe that there is an extremely high tide this week, and wanted to get a photo of the water as it comes up behind the house. The photo may not have been that interesting though, especially if all that the viewer sees is water and fog. Each time that the tide was up and I went to take the photo, the fog was to thick, so I didn't take the photo. The weather on Canada Day was nice and sunny but it got foggy again as the tide came up.

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As for work, I'm still working at Novi Boat Brokers and am enjoying that. At present I mainly deal with data entry for a lady that works in the office. I sort of have two bosses. They're both cool though. (LOL) I also deal a bit with the real estate part of the business, in that I do all of the calculations when it comes to giving people cash back. If someone buys or sells a house (or some land) through Novi Realty, then the company offers the person some cash back for going through our company. (See the ad on the right for more information.) So if you're looking to buy or sell, contact Novi Realty at 902-742-7207. (You'll have to hit the proper extension for Novi realty.) At the office, I also deal a little bit with the guys from Latitude Publishing. Those are the folks that are responsible for the Commerce Magazine which is published every two months, and is placed in various locations of Southwest Nova. They also publish the Novi Directory, which is a small publication where the boats and licenses that Novi Boat Brokers has for sale are advertised. There is also a list of wanted boats and license in there, as well as some short stories that are usually related to fishing. My only complaint about the job is that I'm stuck working on a computer, and my legs tend to get a little sore from sitting most of the day. Being on a computer at the office all day, I find that I'm not in any rush to go on the computer at home once I return from work. That's partially why it took me a little while to get this newsletter typed up and published. I also hadn't been on Instant Messenger very much, but have been on a bit lately, for reasons which may be explained later on. ;-)

As for my volunteer activities, I'm still involved with most of the activities that were mentioned in the previous newsletters. Since I'm not working at the school on Saturday mornings anymore, I don't find myself going to the SPCA as much as I used to. If I have a reason to go to town, then I'll stop into the shelter for a bit. However if I have no reason to go to town, then I'll usually remain at home.

As I had mentioned in the previous newsletter, the Wedgeport & District Fire Department is in the process of doing some fund raising in order to be able to buy a newer vehicle. (As our equipment van will soon need to be replaced.) If you live in South West Nova Scotia and want to help out, we have the following activities coming up:

July 06, 2008 - Firemen's Picnic at the Wedgeport Fire Hall, Time: 10 AM to 3 PM July 26, 2008 - Car Wash & BBQ at the Wedgeport Fire Hall, Time: TBA September 14, 2008 - Firemen's Breakfast at the Wedgeport Fire Hall, 8:30 AM to noon October 11, 2008 - Cake Walk at the Wedgeport Fire Hall, 2 to 4 PM (This event may be canceled.) November 16, 2008 - Firemen's Breakfast at the Wedgeport Fire Hall, 8:30 AM to noon

On April 20, 2008, we had a firemen's breakfast. We had some nice weather on that date and had a good turnout on that day. On May 10, 2008 we had a Rappie Pie & Chowder sale, and I think we were able to sell all but 3 bowls of the chowder. We also had a few rappie pies left, which I believe were donated to some businesses in the community. On June 14, 2008, we had a car wash, BBQ and yard sale, and it turned out to be a nice sunny day. We sold out of all of the hot dogs that we had, and I also managed to get a bad sunburn while helping to wash some cars. (The first car that I washed belonged to an attractive gal that I knew, and I must have wanted to make a good impression, as I scrubbed like crazy. LOL) Speaking of sunburns, I've got to remember to wear some suntan lotion when I work at the parade this coming Sunday.

For anyone that is interested in the Firemen's Picnic, the parade usually leaves the church at 1 PM, and goes to the new fire hall (on the Black Pond Road) from there. Any businesses or families that want to be in the parade should be at the church at noon, or shortly after. There isn't a theme for our parades, so you can decorate however you wish. Any fire trucks from other departments in the county are also invited to participate in the parade. Before and after the parade, there is rappie pie available at the fire hall, and there will also be some craft items on sale inside the area where the fire trucks are usually parked. After the parade, there are games at the hall for the kids and musical entertainment for the adults. (The band is "Rough Edges.) Just a reminder to those that plan on coming, parking at the fire hall is limited. Unless you're disabled or have a medical condition, you'll have to park at the credit union, or in the small field across from Glen Surette's driveway.

Some of you may know that I volunteer with the Emergency Services part of the Red Cross. The Kent Building Supplies store in Yarmouth has asked the local Red Cross group to host a BBQ as well as a car wash on Saturday July 12, 2008 from 11 AM until 2:30-3:00 PM or so. So if you want some food or your car washed, come visit Kent's. I believe that they have some sort of sale on that weekend as well.

As for the pets, they're still fine. The dog seems to be getting a bit grayer than she was before, so she is starting to age a bit. She's still as playful as usual though, and she and my father usually growl at each other a bit before it's time to go to bed. As for (my cat) Tyson, he's fine as well. If you've seen my facebook profile, you've seen that I have photos of him in my profile. The account that I had set up with www.myphotoalbum.com, has been suspended, due to a lack of payment. That's fine with me though, as I can share my pictures for free through facebook.

As for the love life, I haven't been in any great hurry to get into a relationship with someone else, but was available in someone took an interest in me. (That may make it seem like I was lazy about the love life, but that's not the case. I simply wanted to be a little bit better in shape before I went looking.) I have had a gal show some interest in me, (She is why you may see my on Instant Messanger more than I have been in the past few months.) but I'm taking my time as I don't want to do anything foolish like I may have in a previous relationship. I also want to take the time to be friends with the gal first, instead of rushing into things as I did with the previous gal that I dated. (I can just imagine that gal's comments, if she were to read that previous statement.) As I'd mentioned in my previous newsletter, I was considering shaving my head again, and did so probably the week after publishing the previous newsletter. Some of my extended family still hasn't gotten used to the bald look. But like I've said before, I've had more compliments about my appearance when my head was shaved, so I may want to remain bald all year.

Speaking of the extended family, we had a loss in the family on June 01, 2008. My grandmother on my mother's side of the family passed away after undergoing surgery at the hospital in Kentville. After the surgery she had a heart attack and... I'm not sure what else to say about that. I've included a photo of her as well as the obituary below this paragraph. After she had passed away, I found myself going to the cemetery each day after work, for about three weeks. Those of you that have me as a friend on facebook can see more images of my grandmother via the photos on my profile. I have some photos from the cemetery there as well. Click here to see them if you don't have me listed as a friend on facebook. (After clicking on the link, you'll have to click on my grandmother's name to see the photos.)

My grandmother, fixing a cup of tea at Uncle Randy's house

BOUDREAU, Florence Rosalie – 75, Forest Street, Yarmouth, and formerly of Brooklyn, Yarmouth Co., passed away on Sunday, June 1, 2008 in Valley Reghional Hospital, Kentville. Born February 19, 1933 in Yarmouth, she was a daughter of the late Henry Harrington and Margaret Clairmont. She was a retire waitress, having worked at Harris’ Seafood in Yarmouth, as well as having worked as a cook in the Tusket Islands. She enjoyed her family, gardening, cooking, going to the beach and playing cards. She is survived by children, Joseph Boudreau (Lorna Amirault), Pubnico; Nancy (Gary) Hansen, Wedgeport; Margaret “Peggy” (Timothy) Swim, Brooklyn; Michael (Angela) Boudreau, Chegoggin; James (Theresa) Boudreau, Halifax; Debbie (John) Boudreau, Yarmouth; Charlotte (Randy) Churchill, Yarmouth; Randall “Randy” (Della) Boudreau, Melbourne; Brian (Deborah) Boudreau, Overton; 20 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; brothers, Fred Clairmont, Goose Bay, Lab.; Howard Harrington, Wedgeport; Nathan Harrington, Ontario; sisters, Vivian Corporon, Yarmouth; Jean Doucette, Yarmouth; Anita Hazelton, Ontario. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Thomas John Boudreau; a son, Gerald Boudreau; a brother, Clarence Harrington; grandchildren, Florence and Trevor. Visitation will take place from 7 to 9 on Tuesday, with prayers at 8 PM, both in H. M. Huskilson’s Funeral Home, 29 Albert Street, Yarmouth. The funeral will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, June 4 from Saint Ambrose Cathedral, 43 Albert Street, Yarmouth, Rev. Mr. Stephen Bourque officiating. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Calvary Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Nova Scotia Heart and Stroke Foundation or to a Niemann Pick foundation. You may sign the online guestbook at www.huskilson.net

As for my mother and father's health, they are doing fine (as far as I know). On the weekend before Canada Day, they went off to Ellenwood (which is a local provincial park with a campground), but were still going to work each day. No offense to them, but that would be a waste of time to me. Sure, they have some time away from home, but have a longer drive to work each day. Hopefully they'll be able to take a real vacation this summer, and take the bus to either Keji (National Park) or to other parts of the province where they can relax and not have to worry about driving to work each day. As for the business, our main cook has left the business and we're now looking for a new cook. As for payment, the person is paid a wage and also a profit sharing bonus for what goes through the restaurant and also the bakery part of the business. My mother was working with someone today, but the gal is only part time as she also works at the restaurant in Zellers. Mom wants someone who can work full time. If anyone is qualified and interested, let me know and I'll give you the contact information for my parents.

As far as I know, everything is going all right for my sister. I know that she's been busy working at the store, but I'm not quite sure what else she's been up to. Those of you that also have her as a friend on facebook may know more than I do at this point.

Anyway, I've got to get over to facebook and post a link to this newsletter, and also post a notice in the Wedgeport Fire Department group, to remind people of the upcoming events. Have a good one, and you should see the next newsletter at some point in the fall.