The Hilton Chronicle

What will people do now that there is no Hockey Night In Canada to while away the long, cold winter evenings? There's talk here of having games with some team called the Roadrunners. My bet is that there will be a mysterious baby boom in nine months because of all the guys with nothing else to do but spend time with their wives.

Posted 10:51 PM by Jeff

Monday, September 27, 2004

As you can see the futon is finally finished and installed into Dianne's office/study. This monster actually folds out into a queen size bed, although we haven't actually tried it yet, but I have a feeling it will take up most of the real estate in that tiny room. But no luxury is spared for those who dare to venture forth to visit us here in Tundraland.
With only 3 weeks to go till Cuba, I have been practicing as much as I can on the horn which is difficult here unless I have the house to myself. Many of the songs have been changed at the last minute and a few new, tricky ones have been added causing a slight panic to ensue. Just when I had the licks down on a song it's pulled and a more challenging one is in it's place. Well, one can only do so much and I suppose a little "faking it" is not completely unheard of in music circles.
And on a final note for this edition of the old "HC", looks like Coronation Street is drawing quite an audience here in the colonies, or at least the CBC would like us to think so. I've actually seen "Street" cast members doing on air program promos for upcoming shows on the Mother Corp. Is nothing sacred?

Posted 8:15 PM by Jeff

Sunday, September 19, 2004

Took the plunge yesterday and downloaded the new "Service Pack 2" for Windows XP, perhaps a little recklessly as I haven't read any reviews on it yet, but so far the computer is still running fine. Some of the enhancements are kind of neat and there doesn't seem to be any conflicts yet, so we'll see how it is in a couple of weeks.
The futon project has been put on temporary hold until I can get the time to work on it. We've had visitors (Dianne's Mom & Dad) all weekend and I have been working midnights so it may be some time next week before I can continue putting on the coats of Verithane. Hopefully it will be done by next weekend.
We are about 3 and a half weeks away from our Cuba tour and are in the process of arranging for the donated instruments to be shipped to Toronto for their flight to Havana. Then I will be winging my way south for the tour in mid October, all the while praying that the hurricanes have all blown themselves out.

Posted 9:34 PM by Jeff

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

"...Futon A Happy Face"

You will recall the tale of woe I describe to you a few months back about the ill fated hide-a-bed-that-wouldn't-fit adventure and the disappointment it caused. The alternative, as I mentioned at the time, might be in the form of a futon. Having mostly gotten over her dislike for futons, Dianne decided to give it a try and so last week we had one made that folds out to a queen size bed and has a lovely patterned cover that we think will match the decor of the room nicely. The frame comes in unfinished pine so now I have the arduous task of finishing it to fit the room. After disassembling it as far as I could go I stained it a nice red mahogany color and am now in the process of applying multiple coats of clear satin Verithane. This may take a while. But, I think it will look great and when finished I will post a picture for all the world to see.
Our faithful cat Chester the Chicken almost had a coronary yesterday as two guys invaded his territory to steam clean the carpets. As they neared his hideout behind the couch with their roaring and hissing monster he became a blaze of streaking fur as he raced up the stairs and hid, cowering, behind the sewing machine. He remained glued to that spot for the next hour and once the guys had gone, Chester would not show his face for the rest of the day.
Well, with exactly a month to go before the big trip we are starting to get final preparations in order. The plane ticket should be arriving any minute and we are in the process of compiling all the donated instruments that we will be shipping down to the Conservatory of Music in Havana. I have been scouring the internet for interesting touristy type things to do in Havana as it seems I may have a few extra days to linger there after the tour is over. I'm hoping to hit some of the hot Cuban jazz clubs. If things work out I am planning to try and update the blog from Havana, providing I can find an internet connection.

Posted 10:28 AM by Jeff

Friday, September 10, 2004

Pardon my tardiness in not posting for a while. I have absolutely no excuse. I've been spending much of my time practicing for the Cuba trip and trying to make arrangements for said trip.
We seem to have gone into a pre-winter mode here in Slushville. We've had temps teetering at freezing level and most people awoke to the shock of a lawn full of snow yesterday. If I remember correctly we are still in summer, aren't we?
It seems George Lucas is at it again. He is now releasing a DVD version of the Star Wars epic which, apparently, is not the "original" films or even the 1997 "Special Edition" but a newly tweaked version. In an interview he claims that the films have just taken over his life as he has spent the last 30 years filming and refilming the same boring stuff. George, let it go! Nobody but you is that interested any more.
And here is something that I found amusing. It is instructions on writing your own fantasy novel with a clear jab at the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy.

Posted 10:58 AM by Jeff

Thursday, September 02, 2004

Silly Fads

I think that I am not the only person who will be glad when the time comes for it to not be fashionable to pierce every conceivable part of the body. Earrings I can handle and perhaps the occasional tiny gem on the side of the nose, but I get turned off completely when I am served by a very attractive young thing in a store and she has shards of metal protruding from parts of her face that should only be reserved for less armor-like purposes. And then she gets annoyed because you are looking at her with revulsion or worse yet you are trying to totally not look at her. I saw a picture today of a woman who purportedly had around 1200 pieces of crap protruding from various dermatalogical surfaces and from the look of it most of it was in her head. I can only imagine where the rest of it is. I think if she ever removed all her hardware she probably would instantly lose about 30 pounds and would whistle when she walked from all those perforations. The only consolation with piercings is that if you remove them they heal. But once you get a tattoo they tend to be a bit more permanent, which is a whole 'nother rant!

Posted 9:13 PM by Jeff

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