Pet Cemetary

Pet Cemetery

If you go from PetValu on the northeast corner of Gordon and Claire to the PetSmart on the northwest corner, the differences are stark. Tony Stark. PetValue is in a converted Becker's store (ya, no one under 50 knows what that means any more), crammed full, two staff, looks busy. PetValue is in the old SDM location and has forty foot ceilings, 10,000 square feet, giant Costco style racking and you can throw a cat (literally, because they have cats there) two hundred feet in any direction and not hit a customer. I shop at both but have gotten to know them a bit at PetSmart, so I finally asked the manager: "are you guys doing OK? Every time I come in, it feels like there are six of you in a great big empty rental property with two unmotivated customers inside? I'm one of them. She laughed and said you only come in the daytime. Come one evening?. All these homes around us are stuffed with dogs and cats. They shop here and our numbers are good. I was glad to hear it as we are getting Maddie and Milo groomed again and PetSmart pricing does not make my nose bleed.

Perhaps not doing so good is Angelino's Italian Grocery near me on Stevenson. These little micro-grocery stores used to be all over Guelph. One of the very best aspects of Guelph's rich immigrant heritage. A last holdout from the huge Italian influx to Guelph in the 50's and 60's. You'd walk over, get what you needed for tonights' supper, talk to your neighbours while travelling in both directions. Catch up the latest gossip with an old friend out in front. You can see these strange little buildings, supplanted within old subdivisions all over the east side of town. Angelinos was one of the very best and has hung on the longest. Having said that, my spidey sense is tingling (again). The deli counter has been cut way back. I routinely see four or five staff serving two people. I know they do a lot a catering so it is to be hoped that a lot of food is going out the back door. It's not going out the front. I used to go in once a week for these giant radishes they carried, then hit the deli counter. No more. It's progress I suppose. It's expensive in there. No reward points, limited selection. Perhaps, when you lose an institution, it's only the last one disappearing that you miss? Drop in to their little take out counter if you get a chance around 11:00 any week day. Get the veal on a bun, with roasted peppers. The best in Guelph. I could have this wrong, but when and if it happens, I suspect, our little corner of Guelph will miss Angelino's. The Petro-Canada / Waypoint convenience store they put there ... will just feel wrong.

Also going to be missed is Royal City Chinese Food. I have ordered from them probably once a month since moving to Guelph thirty-four years ago. You just know that building is haunted with the ghosts of ten million cockroaches. All good takeout food comes from places like that? Don't kid yourself. Those Orkin and Rentokil trucks you see very day are on a loop. Every restaurant in your town sees them once a month. That includes The Keg. What the best thing they make? It does not make any sense? Chicken wings. Why are the chicken wings so good there? My guess is the oil is infused with flavour from the chicken balls, deep fried shrimp, spring rolls, etc. No sauce or anything else I can detect. they just deep fry them and they are amazing! I see it went up for sale last week. 1.5 for the property, 250 for the business. It has a new roof but I suspect would still need half a million for a refresh. I can't see anyone throwing a couple of million at what has become a very competitive business?

I Am Reading

The Door Into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein. 4 of 5 stars
Just a little beauty written some 71 years ago. I read this as a teenager when devouring all the RAH I could get my hands on. It has aged but not in a bad way. Of course the technology seems dated (and he is an inventor) but that does not take away from his irascible characterization of a thinly disguised Lazarus Long. His protagonists are usually just different version of the same character over and over again. I should give it three stars for the cliche filled plot with the absent minded inventor blindly signing paperwork so his fiance and best friend can steal his company? He is so .... trusting. Don't let that stop you. This book will put a smile on your face all the way through. The scene where she is a drunken old hag and he is still young and perdy is particularly satisfying.
N.B. - Sorry about the format here. Something about widgets on Goodreads having it out with Ghost trying to stop them from setting cookies. I am working on it.

We Are Watching

In The Grey - Big stars, Guy Richie's name all over it, sucked the bag!

Pressure - Difficult decisions during the D-Day invasions. You think it might be exciting? Not so much.
Twisters - It is the same movie as the original. Did you know Bill Paxton died?Anyway, substitute the drive-in theatre scene with a rodeo, have two competing storm chasing crews going at it, and make the leads prettier. It's OK. Make popcorn.
World Cup - Lots of diving. The one by Kane for a slimey England win made me sick to my stomach. Go Norway!
... and the sputtering Blue Jobs. For god's sakes Schneider, when you get a lead and your starter is in trouble, change pitchers! Jeesh.

Our Optimum Week

I did two of the seven LO's (longterm continuity offers), had quiet week and still managed 50K in points. Your mission this week (should you choose to accept it) is to grab as many of those July 15th LO's as you can. There is a restock opportunity for a few staples (burgers, pork chops & butter) so I upped those counts a bit. That "air you can wear" weather finally decided to reproduce at an alternate location. Backyard layout is done, I will post pictures next week. Here is your list:

BTW - Golfers know what a good golf swing looks like. Network golf coverage has been showing it to us in slow-mo for thirty years. If you are making a commercial and want to show someone swinging a golf club, for god's sakes, get a scratch golfer. I know whoever you picked is a model, but it is not that hard to find someone who can golf? Start the interview with: show me your handicap? I am suspicious that if you can't figure that out, then you probably can't manage whatever it is you are selling. Just saying.

Mitch & Maddie