Classic Lines

Last week was Heritage Week here in Ontario.  As proud members of of our local Heritage Committee, we celebrated by presenting certificates to those local businesses which have taken some extra effort (and expense) to maintain and restore their heritage properties.

One of the many businesses honoured this week was the Grand Theatre in Fergus.  The theatre received extensive renovations last year with more to come during the summer of 2010.  This theatre will continue to delight audiences for generations to come.

While we were presenting the award, I couldn't help seeing this imposing sight in the lobby:

I walked over and spoke with the woman in the ticket office.  The Grand Theatre went through a few decades as a movie house.  This item sat in the lobby during those years dispensing candy.  Yes, this is a candy machine.

If you click on the images, you should be able to see a lot of the details.

When the theatre reverted to use as a place for live entertainment, folks must have thought that a candy machine had no business being there and it was sold.  Well, according to the lovely woman at the ticket office,  the woman who purchased this machine recently moved into a retirement apartment.  As she was making preparations for the move, she asked the management of the Grand Theatre if they would like to have the machine back.  There was no hesitation - the answer was YES.

I am told the machine - and I don't like to call something so stylish and beautiful a machine, but that's what it is - will be restored and possibly refitted to once again sell candy.  Currently the mechanisms are all set to vend goodies for the low, low price of a handy beaver nickel.

Refreshing

Hey.  Take a look at this:



Now, I like Tiger Woods.  I'm more of a Phil Mickelson fan, but Mr Woods and his accomplishments have always been impressive.  With all the recent news of his many affairs and such, I found I wasn't overly interested in peering into golf's most famous son's personal life.  This, however, interests me.

What makes the above clip so interesting and refreshing?

Responsibility and ownership.  Think - when was the last time someone in the public eye - celebrity or politician - actually took responsibility for his or her actions?

In a world where the words "It was entirely my fault" spill from the lips of superstars, I think anything is possible.

Anticipation

Ever notice how some things build in the anticipation?  For Valentine's Day I wanted to try something new for the family which I figured they would all like.  I thought about it for a while and decided on a delicious, decadent treat.  For me, delicious and decadent equals New York Style Cheesecake.  


I've always been daunted by cheesecake.  The good ones are a real gold standard.  How many eggs?!!  How much cream cheese?!?A 10 inch spring form pan?  How the hell does a spring form pan work?  Well, I soldiered through a recipe and even added a few flavour hints of my own and when I popped the spring on that spring form pan - 


Perfection.  On my first try I made the best damn cheesecake I've ever had.


I also made crumpets this weekend.  You'll notice I'm not talking about them very much...


Speaking of crumpets, the Beynon family is UK bound.  In just a few short weeks we will be heading across the ocean to visit my aunt and uncle and  to discover a number of cousins only known from photos and Christmas phone calls.  We can hardly wait.


Yesterday was Family Day in Ontario and we celebrated by going skating.  I was on skates  - briefly - about six years ago on a friends cleared pond.  Before that it must have been twenty years since I was last on skates.  The skates I borrowed for the pond outing were two sizes too big.  I spent the entire time skating on my ankles.  Yesterday I laced on a brand new pair of CCM's and hit the ice.  It was an experience.  I could barely move and was frightfully unsteady.  I did, however, have excellent ankle support.  I slowly made my way around the rink and completed an entire single lap before I called it quits.  As I pulled the skates from my feet I had a thought.

Man, these things feel a mite dull.


I walked over to the Pro Shop and asked the gent if he could sharpen my skates.  He snickered.

"I'll bet you had an interesting time on the ice today."  He said.

"Why would you say that?" I asked.

"Well, these are chrome plated blades and they still have a layer of rounded chrome on the edges.  Look here."

He lifted the skate and showed me.  Dull as the kid who sat behind me in seventh grade.

After a few minutes of flying sparks he handed them back.  What a difference.  Will the sharpened skates make me a better skater?  Unlikely, but at least I'll be able to get up some speed for a spectacular ass-plant.