Luv2play

Isn't Roosevelt Island there?

Franklin spent the winter of 1775/76 in Montreal where he conversed with the locals in French and concluded they were not interested in joining with the American Revolution to liberate themselves from the British. At the end of the 18th century, Germans were the third largest ethnic group in the US. This was many decades before the Irish, Russians, Polish, and other European races emigrated to America.

I did not write this.

I take it he feels the same ambivalence about himself.

Actually bilingualism is the official policy for all federal institutions across Canada so it applies everywhere in that sense. And national unity has always been and will continue to be THE top priority of any federal government when it comes right down to it, although many Canadians ignore it except when the s**t hits the fan, as it did in 1995 with the referendum that almost went the wrong way and could have led to the fracture of the country. For historically minded people, there was a strong annexation movement in Canada when it was struggling to remain independent of the United States but that suffered a grievous blow when the Americans had their civil war. The feeling became, who would want to join that mess. It's interesting to note that where the English language is threatened in the US, they have moved to make English the official language. So it seems when push comes to shove, they are acting just like Quebec has done for their French language

It might in my bed. I have a footboard. It's a 19th century French antique bed, massive Brazilian Rosewood.😊

I find it strange that the CEO of Air Canada has been able to remain in his job for 14 years and not speak French. As one who worked in the government as a diplomat, I was required to learn French sufficiently to get by at work. My French was never perfect but even today I can carry on a conversation. When I was working I had to be able to function at a relatively high level. I have no sympathy for this guy.

Here in Canada my experience has been that hotels ae offering excellent rates on their rooms, at least in the big cities. Most are only partially occupied and they're hungary for business. Before the pandemic it was difficult to get a room at a popular hotel at the last minute unless you took a suite that was double the price of a room. Which I had to do once because it was Pride Weekend.

I've been staying at the OMNI hotels in downtown Montreal and Toronto recently and they give you the option of foregoing housekeeping during a short stay of a couple of days and they will donate money saved to hunger programs. So I have opted for that. They will still provide extra towels on request which I take advantage of since each night I have providers who like to clean up with me, which is another form of room service I enjoy. I still leave a $20 tip after a two day stay since the chambermaids still have to do the rooms before and after I am there. I always pack a couple of extra sheets in my luggage to lay on top of the hotels' sheets so that I have a clean play surface for each encounter. I did that anyway before the pandemic.

Yes, the beaches of Ipanema and Cococabana come to mind. Never felt threatened in those crowds.

Absolutely. I remember this horror show back when the pandemic started and this Canadian couple got stuck in Lima, Peru in a quarantine type situation. There for weeks as I recall.

I think the pressure will be on governments both here and in the States to drop the requirements for tests for fully vaccinated people now that the borders are opened both ways as of yesterday. People are used to going across land borders for just a day visit to shop or see friends and relatives. Now with a $200 test in order to take such a trip people will just defer such travel. And businesses will still suffer. The requirement is for a PCR test which must be taken with 72 hours before the trip. Doesn't make sense for a day trip.

Just last week, an escort asked me several times "am I too heavy?" and I replied " no, keep doing what you're doing" lol.

I don't mind a guy bearing down on me but not if there are spiky things under my back poking through me. Now in a cushy bed, bring it on.😈

I also avoid these large gatherings. Ever since I was at Parliament Hill in Ottawa for the July First (national holiday) celebrations years ago when a crowd of easily over 50,000 was leaving after the event. The security was terrible and the police had actually erected barriers making it difficult to exit the site. People started pushing and I was afraid I would lose my footing. This guy beside me was walking his bike and I thought great, just what I need to fall on and be crushed by someone falling on top of me. I never attended another event on Parliament Hill.

My recollection is that the deaths at Woodstock were drug related. A 50,000 attendance at a concert tells me that $millions of box-office receipts are involved. So where is the problem in having adequate protection provided? Fans went crazy at Beatles concerts in the 60s which were just as large. Nobody died. This is not rocket science. But cutting corners with security is easy if no-one is bothering to look.

There is something wrong about having music concerts where people die. Reading the accounts of the Houston Astrodome disaster,I was struck by the oft quoted remarks by veteran concertgoers that "you expect people to pass out". Really, this is considered normal and acceptable? And now I suppose people will say " you expect some will die". This is craziness. It's something that happens regularly in third world countries like at religious festivals. But the United States? I expect there will be changes made as a result of this disaster. To me it is unacceptable that concert promoters can get away with this type of situation.

This is just so much hassle. I'm staying in my country until all this passes.

Of course everything in moderation. A few years ago we had a tragedy here when a middle-aged guy was driving very fast and I believe somewhat intoxicated with a young man in his early 20's late at night on a curving country road. He missed a corner and hit the stone pillar at the end of a driveway, the car exploding in flames. I knew the older man's cousin and asked about the victim and she just shrugged and wouldn't say anything. They had last been seen at a country club and were going to the older guy's home.

I would not hire a provider who is not vaccinated. For various reasons but primarily because I am over 70 and while fully vaccinated, breakthrough cases can occur. Vaccination is not a sure guarantee but it's better that both parties be so if they are going to be intimate for an extended period.

How would they know if one was smoking on the balcony. Especially if care was taken to throw the butts on the balcony below?

I like cars that are fun to drive yet reliable. That's why I have had a Mercedes since the 1980's except for a few years when I went domestic and was let down on reliability. My current Mercedes is over 20 years old and has a small but very responsive supercharged engine (Kompressor). My other two cars are a sports and SUV. I keep telling myself I don't need 3 cars but don't know which one or ones to get rid of.

I'm such a babe in the woods. I have never taken a Lyft or Uber ride. On the rare occasion I can't drive myself, I take a taxi, which I've been doing for over 50 years.

In Quebec, the saying is "Gros moto - petit pipi"