Ch-ch-ch-changes

This past week marked three changes in our lives:

1. Patrick turned 30. He will now answer to names like Old Man Byck, Patricksaurus and Gantrick the Grey ... providing that he can actually hear people calling to him over the sound of his newly preferred television programs The Antiques Roadshow, Coronation Street and The Weather Network.

His friends and family generously came out Friday night to mark the occassion with booze, booze and more booze. The total bar bill had me thinking that we would have saved a bit of money if we had gone to an all-inclusive resort instead.

2. I have finally started to abandon old technology by getting rid of my VHS tapes and CDs.

MP3s and DVDs (which I'm sure I'll be tossing soon enough) have fully taken over. Since moving here nearly two years ago, we haven't even PLUGGED IN our VCR. So out they went to the island of misfit entertainment products aka our front curb. Within minutes it was all nabbed up. That's the neat thing about living here is that your junk is indeed someone else's treasure. It was a Denise-Austin-aerobic-tape pot of gold for some lucky scavenger that day.

3. And finally, all the i's are dotted and t's were crossed last week - and I am officially a home owner.

Or as Old Man Byck likes to say, I am a HOMO ... ner. On Sept 1, I will be in possession of a pair of keys that will open up a 1-bdrm + den condo on King Street. I'm pretty pumped about it. It needs some work (I'll be ridding it of its carpet and replacing it with hardwood, painting, some work on the closets) but it will be mine. The kitchen needs major reno'ing, but I'll have to wait a while before I tackle that bad boy. My new life partner and I are very excited.