Souvenir Photo Studio, by Al Bourassa

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Wednesday August 5, 2026 Rose

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Older Blog: https://cuencaupdates.blogspot.com/

Please see my best artworks for sale at my websites:

http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/

or https://pixels.com/profiles/al-bourassa

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Wednesday August 5, 2026

Yesterday, I had a delicious chicken supper with my niece Dawn, and my bottle of wine topped it off nicely. I could get really spoiled with regular full meals.... I have a lot of good meats in my freezer waiting for a good chef to cook them properly...

We watched a bit of the Canada game at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament being played here in Edmonton. Dawn's daughter was at the game in the scouts' box with her boyfriend. We were shocked that the place was barely 10% occupied, and tickets are relatively cheap!! It makes me wonder if the Gretzky-Trade-Gambling-Trump episodes are causing others to boycott Mr Wayne like me....????

Then I read one of her James Patterson "Women's Murder Club" series books cover to cover, 341 pages,.. and got to bed much too late.

Today, I had to pick up one Brad Thor, "Scot Harvath" series book that I had on hold at the Library. I was waiting for a few others to be put aside for me too, but it wasn't happening.... I went upstairs and found 6 other books sitting on the shelves!!! Grrrrrrr Now I am questioning my faith in their system.....

My rosebush in front of the Regal surprised me today by opening fully, in all its splendour!!!! Then a bee was doing its thing in the Creeping Bellflowers nearby. Gotta love nature.

And the weatherman has again severely changed his 7-day forecast to include more rain, including today, and dropping all temperatures to the low 20'sC.... Sheesh....

I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.

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If you want to borrow a picture to share with family and friends, Facebook or whatever, at least PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

The first rose opening, yesterday

vs Today's beauty

A busy Bee

Monday, August 3, 2026

Monday August 3, 2026 Feeling lucky

PLEASE bookmark this page and check daily.

Older Blog: https://cuencaupdates.blogspot.com/

Please see my best artworks for sale at my websites:

http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/

or https://pixels.com/profiles/al-bourassa

******

Monday August 3, 2026

Last Friday I spent a lot of time on Artspace AI sharpening photos. This is such an amazing tool to bring out the pictures the way we saw them, sharp and clear.

Friend Bernie finally came and paid off the balance to buy Bob's Gio Tron. It only took over 3 months, but at least that headache is now removed.

Saturday was a warm 31C with occasional showers. I drove over to cousin Jeanne's to baby sit her old dog Suki while she and Meng went to the Jubilations Dinner Theatre production of The Golden Girls. I am sure glad that I brought a book to read for the 5 hours because her TV was sure lacking anything interesting... Suki and I took 3 walks when it cooled off after the rains and the winds were decidedly cold. Meng and Jeanne definitely enjoyed their night out and I was glad to help,... and to get my doggie fix....

Sunday was a very windy and cool 16C so the temp change was very noticeable, with occasional showers again.

This week is supposed to be mostly between 20C and 24C and the forecast has been downgraded since yesterday, and showing rain over next weekend... I refuse to complain, as it is infinitely better than oppressive heat or forest fire smoke....

Today, Dawn returned from Calgary and we had a very long talk about many subjects touching us both. Her commuting to see her Doctor in Calgary has finally worn out its appeal. He has reputable classmates here that can look after her, and her doctor is still a sounding board. That will save her so many dollars and that horrible commuting stress.

We also had a long chat about scams being perpetrated against people we know and how these scammers force unusual, and sometimes unlawful, practices from normally honest, trusting, kind-hearted persons. Too much exposure on social media is one of the major causes as these scammers are so darn slick and believable... The slickness of AI just makes it even worse, especially to the lonely, trusting people. It is not enough to tell people to avoid all contact with any people they don't know.

Below, you will see a couple of photos that please me greatly as one of the four rosebuds near the Regal begins to open up.....

I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.

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If you want to borrow a picture to share with family and friends, Facebook or whatever, at least PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

On Jeanne's fence

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Thursday July 30, 2026 Beauty

PLEASE bookmark this page and check daily.

Older Blog: https://cuencaupdates.blogspot.com/

Please see my best artworks for sale at my websites:

http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/

or https://pixels.com/profiles/al-bourassa

******

Thursday July 30, 2026

Monday, I had received a second letter from Service Canada stating that they needed the annual July renewal information that I had already sent them May 21st and that they were suspending my Guaranteed Income Supplement as of this month until it was resolved.... You know how I LOVE (read HATE) Government bureaucracy...

So, Wednesday, I re-did copies of everything, and included two informative letters, my Notice of Assessment, and even my Marriage Certificate.

I took all this down to the Service Canada office at Canada Place (where I had dropped off the original documents May 21) and waited to speak to someone to investigate the problem....

A very helpful gay man named Cam found that the main office is generally 4 months behind, so they had not yet had time to process my prior submission, Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......

And, I had received the original request April 21, (but had to delay to get Cristina's signature on the form), so 4 months = AUGUST.... !!!! So this is just more Government BS to hang on to our money and take the interest.... Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Sure enough, my total pension cheques received yesterday were considerably lighter this month. Grrrrrrrrrrrr

Today, the lumberjacks were back with another fancy saw to attack the big stump left from chopping down the big fir tree.

I took some photos of the glorious flowers planted by volunteers out front of our building. My 3 rosebuds are still waiting to burst by the Regal.

Then I again made my pilgrimage to The Common for the $12.99 fish'n'chips.... I took more photos of more celebrity photos on their wall and my restorations are below. See if you can recognize all of them...

Cristina told me she had picked up a baby stray puppy that was sick and took it to 3 vets who told her that even an operation would not help the poor little thing. So the sweet unfortunate girl has been humanely euthanized and will be interred next to her namesake, Princesa, in our back garden.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.

******

If you want to borrow a picture to share with family and friends, Facebook or whatever, at least PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.