August 4, 2004

August 4, 2004

DAY 48

 

 

I received a phone call this afternoon from Jeannette Pryor, my accountant's wife, in Ottawa. She was calling to tell me that the very large cheque that I wrote to her husband's company dated July 12, which she deposited to their bank on July 15, had been returned marked "not cleared". When I phoned the bank to "read them the riot act" for bouncing a cheque in error, they pointed out to me, with indignation yet, that "not cleared" is not the same as "non sufficient funds". I don't really give a right royal **** whether it's the same or not, the effect to both me and the recipient is the same ! ! ! We sorted the issue out quickly, because the bank's error due to ineptitude was obvious, but I'm still rather angry !

This week and next is Folklorama, Winnipeg's annual festival of cultures. There are about 45 different pavilions around the city, each representing a different country and culture. We decided to attend Folklorama tonight, with a short visit to the Carlson's beforehand. We dropped in to see Doug, Lorri, and the girls on our way to the Greek Pavilion. The visit was brief, and for me, it mostly involved holding the ladder for Doug while he cleaned out some gutters, followed by helping him haul their old dryer out of the basement and to the back lane for disposal.

The line up to enter the Greek Pavilion was about 30 minutes long, but worth the wait. We ate supper there as we watched their Greek Folk Dance presentation. Salata ( Greek salad ), gyros, moussaka, spanakopita, beira ( Greek beer ), baklava and galactobourico for dessert. It's surprising how many similarities there are between Greek Folk Dancing and Ukrainian Folk Dancing. In both cultures, much of the dance movements, particularly the males', must have been originally choreographed by drunks trying to outdo one another.

After the show ended at the Greek Pavilion, we drove over to the El Salvador Pavilion, at Holy Cross School, a block away from my childhood home. We watched the Folk Dancing Show at the El Salvador Pavilion, ate a chocobanano dessert ( chocolate coated frozen banana ), then drove all around our old neighbourhood, reminiscing. We drove by my parents' house on Enfield Crescent, Joanne's parents' houses on Lloyd Avenue and Bertrand Avenue, and our first home at 460 St.Jean Baptiste Street. It was interesting to see the changes that have taken place to each house over the years. It was even more interesting to see the things about each house that haven't changed in all these years.

Back "home" at the Danelak's, we watched the news and played with Lilly Kitty.

DSK