Souvenir Photo Studio, by Al Bourassa: June 2015

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Tuesday June 30, 2015 Ootanaboot

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Tuesday June 30, 2015

I am meaning "out and about", but some people seem to think that Canadians say Ootanaboot... maybe Scots or Irishmen do, Canadians don't.

Since the accident on Friday I have basically stayed in hibernation to let my body heal and to keep my bandage clean. Then I had a real busy day...

I did not sleep all night, don't know why, so I gave up and got up just after 5am and did my photo uploads.

Then on the way to Spanish class I saw the city lawn care group in full motion so I dug out the little camera. The sun was blazing and there wasn't a cloud in the sky at that moment and all the flowers looked so inviting too. Then a whole troupe of schoolkids added to the cuteness quotient.

We have a temporary Spanish teacher but we did accomplish a lot.

Then I did a badly needed grocery run and picked up all the necessities that I had let run dry before I had left for Canada. Coral is such a handy and reasonable store for me.

Next was a trip to the Emergency room at the IESS hospital down the street to get my elbow re-bandaged properly, etc. They ended up cleaning it off really good again and advising me NOT to bandage it, to let the air at it so it can scab properly. So I am back to short sleeves for a while. It is a good thing that the sun finally decided to make an appearance today.

Then I packed up my Mr Coffee coffeemaker and my tiny electric fan and headed to my old neighborhood to see the electricity wizard who speaks English. He checked both and they weren't cheaply repairable (Mr Coffee was 13 years old at least) so I paid him for his time and continued on.

Our old buddy Segundo and his family is almost next door to the electric shop so I popped in. I was actually surprised to see Segundo there in the daytime. I normally see his wife and many of the 17 kids they have between them.. We had a nice visit and he wants me to stop by more often. He always wants to practice his English.

Then I decided that I might as well try to find a bike lock for the scooter and I found a short one at the second place I stopped. Then I began the long walk home so that I could stop in at Coral again and pick up a coffee maker with an automatic shut-off. They did not have any small fans like I had... that will be hard to find.

I got wind of a gathering tomorrow noon for Canadians at Black Olive Bistro (run by ex-Montrealer Melissa), since it will be July 1st. I will see how I sleep tonight before I will commit to going.

I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al

There must be a dozen or so in this crew with weed-whackers

It looks like they are making repairs

What a gorgeous sunny morning

Sign on Spanish teacher's scooter - Keep your distance...

Pink flowers

Did I say that it was a gorgeous morning?

Wash day for this family

Red flower

Yellow flower

Some kids showed up outside

Then more kids..

They really are well-behaved here

Friday, June 26, 2015

Friday June 26, 2015 Scooter

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Friday June 26, 2015

OK, this wasn't one of my better days. Another dull and rainy day where I should just have stayed in bed.

I got an email back finally from my insurance man. First, he still doesn't have the refund on my car insurance (apparently they wanted to phone me about something but I was away). Second,, he says that he needs a few days to find me motorcycle insurance!! The ridiculousness of Ecuador never ceases to amaze...

I went to my main bank and withdrew enough to bring over to my other band where all my automatic payments are deducted for health, cable, and utilities, about $150 per month. The security guard got his jollies feeling up my backpack, because they have to feel important.

Then I went to pick up the new Fatty scooter and was not surprised that my salesman was not present. I was also not surprised that the cleanup consisted of a pressure wash spray job while I watched. Of no surprise either was that the gas tank read "empty" when I had asked the salesman to be sure it was full ($1.70 value...). What did surprise me was that the storage compartment would not even hold the helmet that I had chosen. I didn't want to wear that helmet, I had brought the smaller one I had bought at Coral but now I was forced to wear it. The mechanic went through the checklist and briefly showed me the warranty book with the first servicing at 300 kms. He gave me the warranty and of course that was different than was promised too. The salesman finally showed up and laughed off the gas issue. I just had to leave there before I punched someone.

I had worn my leather jacket and hiking boots, and had brought my other helmet and gloves but those two things stayed in my backpack. I should have at least put on the gloves....

I filled up the gas tank and made it to my neighbourhood with little trouble. The bike is not very powerful, barely getting up to 60 kph but I never really had the opportunity to open it up for a while.

I spotted my buddy Raul at the corner to my street and I hollered at him as I was turning in. My head was turned and I didn't see the patch of gravel on the road. The front end slid away and I embarrassingly took a tumble in front of Raul, my neighbours, and a whole bunch of people at the bus stop. My new bike now has less than 10 kms on it and it is already scraped up a tad, not to mention my right palm, elbow and knee, plus my bruised ego. My ankle and ribs are sore, but nothing serious. Strangely, the leather jacket only seemed dusty... I guess that I should be made of leather...

Raul helped me limp home where I washed off the blood and dressed in my gloves and other helmet, and got right back on (like the adage about falling off the horse). I was determined not to let the fall scare me so I took off south towards El Valle, to see how the bike would do, carrying me up the mountain. I soon became aware of how much practice I need to control it properly, and how much I need to watch the road constantly. A little squall was brewing so I cut the ride short and came back home and parked in the garage.

Next came the alcohol cleaning (exterior only) and the ointment. I am bruised and chastened, but I will live to ride another day.

I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al

Fatty is in the garage

It survived the fall really well. I was impressed.

My shiny new plate

My elbow received the worst of the fall

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Thursday June 25, 2015 Garage

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Thursday June 25, 2015

For some reason I am waking up around 5am every morning. I wonder if a neighbour is doing something that is waking me?? No matter what time that I go to bed, I still wake up at 5.... I know it is not the sun.....

Spanish class was missing Roxy & Sol so it was pretty small in class with just Tracy, Elliott and me. But I must admit that I am learning a lot, and realize how much that I have forgotten.

On the way home I decided that a quick haircut wouldn't hurt, but right now it is so darn cool that I am beginning to regret it. Where did the sun go??

My project for the day was to close off the garage even more to eliminate as much wind and dust as possible by making the chloroplast coverings reach to the top. My hands feel like hamburger from cutting the chloroplast with scissors. The next time I see a reasonably priced jigsaw, I will add it to my meager tool collection. A jigsaw could have helped me with so many projects already.

Closing off the garage is a prelude to bringing home the scooter tomorrow and also re-opening the possibility of using the garage as a dining room again. Time will tell what I decide.

That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al

We accomplished a lot with a smaller Spanish class today.

This was the covering on the garage door since I had the car, last Sept.

Now the covering extends right to the top to reduce dust and wind

It adds a lot more privacy from the outside too

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Tuesday June 23, 2015 Scootin'

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Tuesday June 23, 2015

Last night I had a visit from my buddy Oswaldo, catching up on the gossip and picking his brain about buying a scooter. It is better to be informed when acting on anything here.

I am still a little jet-lagged, can't sleep in enough to counteract it yet, too many things on the brain, and the brain is small....

I got up early enough to do laundry before Spanish class which was productive in itself. I am actually learning some useful conversation pieces.

Then I had lunch with my buddy Raul and caught up on his views of the city and the world. He dropped me off near the bus terminal so that I could check out some scooters. Yamaha was still trying to sell 125cc 2013 scooters for $2500 with a 1-year warranty. I took Oswaldo's suggestion and checked out Multimotos on the next corner and his favourite 2015 Motor-1Fatty scooter. I haggled a little and then had to check out the dealer I had seen before I left for Canada, over on Remigio Crespo. My memory said that they were selling the same scooter for less. It turns out that it is a different scooter, Viper, and the warranty was only 1 year, not 2 years as the salesman told me a month ago.

So back I went to Multimotos and haggled some more. I ended up getting the 2015 Fatty Scooter 150cc (fat and bigger tires for a smoother ride), with registration, license, and helmet for $1,750. It has a 15,000 km or 15 month warranty, plus the dealer has his own shop with factory parts. They didn't have a white one like I wanted so I settled for a bright red one. They need 3 days to get the paperwork done and to prep the bike so I pick it up on Friday. Then I will have a new toy to outfit so that it will be functional and practical, ...just like me...

I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al

Elliott, Tracy, Priscilla, Sol and Roxy in my Spanish class

This will be my new toy/project

I would like to put a larger rack on the back (with backrest?)

A pretty bike with nice, big tires

Strong enough for me, I hope

Yup, she is brand-new

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Saturday June 20, 2015 Cars

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Saturday June 20, 2015

A busy day today as I joined Lou to go view a Classic Car Show just a couple of blocks away. Our favourites were a red Parisienne convertible and a white Mercury Park Lane ragtop with a monstrous continental kit.

Then we went to Yvette & Lou's daughter Shari's boyfriend George's place in Burlington for the afternoon and evening.

There was a lady on the corner who was doing a street business of taking pet photos. She had really nice photo equipment, flashes, reflectors and props and really did some nice work.

George and Shari treated us to a lovely Greek salad and Beef or chicken kabobs, while Yvette & Lou had supplied decadent Macaroon Madness (from M & M's) for dessert.

We got to watch Al the Pirhana (I was not offended) attack his weekly meal to get us in the mood for eating.

Then we played our version of Rook (with cards) for 5 players, my favourite card game. Lou and Yvette had played this before and I think we got new converts in Shari & George. Lou was the big winner.

Then we had a drive back to Vineland to catch 4 hours sleep before heading to Toronto Pearson International Airport the next morning to arrive before 6:30am (where I am writing this missive). I depart at 9:30 for my long trek home to Cuenca with a long layover in Panama City. Maybe I'll head for the beach for a few hours, lol. Darn airport wi-fi wouldn't upload this.... Ugh.
4pm Sunday update. I have made it to Panama with no problems. Now for the long layover before leaving about 9 pm....

I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al