MONDAY APRIL 8TH, 2013

HI HO, HI HO, IT'S OFF TO BLOG WE GO.  It's a pretty mild morning (about zero here) and it looks like our end of Orr Lake is open.  I guess the Alexander Henry (Old Icebreaker) opened things up overnight. Back in 1985 we were having a snowy cold Easter Week-end  with a minus 6 start to the day with a slight bit of new snow and a plus 2 on the day. 

CCGS Alexander Henry is a former Canadian Coast Guard Light icebreaker and Buoy tender in the Great Lakes. She is currently a museum ship preserved at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston, Ontario.







THE "MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR"


It was on this date in 1513 Ponce de Leon in his usual Poncey ways claimed Florida for Spain.
1854 was the year for the HOUR bell of Big Ben was cast.  It had a big a-peel to the locals.
Oleomargarine was patented in 1873 on this date in the U.S. in 1879, Milk was sold in Bottles for the first time. (before that you had to buy it in Cows.)
In 1913 China's first Parliament took place in Peking (now known as Beijing)
The LCBO was formed on this date in 1915 (not to be confused with the bad odour that came from the Bordens cow which was know as Elsie B.O.)
In 1946 "the League of Nations" assembled for the last time.
In 1956, The 20th Golf Masters Championship was won by Jack Burke Jr. shooting a 289.  The hunt for the Green Jacket is on this week of course. 

BUBBA Watson won it last year.  Tiger Woods hasn't won it since 2005.  He has won it 4 times as has Arnold Palmer.  Jack Nicklaus has won it 6 times and of course Canuck Mike Weir won it 10 years ago.

In 1969. the Montreal Expos played their very first major league baseball game at Shea Stadium in New York11-10 and 6 days later they won their home opener in Jarry Park against the Cardinals 8 to 7 in the first Major league game played in Canada. They finished last that season and despite a rich history over 35 years finished last in 2004 and were transferred to Washington for the next season.  
Still with baseball in 1974 Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th home run to break Babe Ruth's record.  He ended up with a total of 755 home runs which was eclipsed by Barrie Bonds with 762 (but of course that is sort of tainted because of the tainted blood scandal). 



Birthday Peeps....

Speaking of Gary Carter (who died in 2012) he was born on this date in 1954 and was a tremendous player for the Expos and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.  "Catfish Hunter" was also born on this date (1946-1999).  Mary Pickford was born in Toronto on this date in 1892 and in Wikipedia they call her a Canadian-American Actress because she became "America's Sweetheart".  Her real name was Gladys Marie Smith,  She died in 1979 at the age of 87.  

She was a Silent Movie Star and retired from acting in 1933 but continued to produce films for others including "Love Happy" with the Marx Brothers.  Pickford had become an American Citizen when she married Douglas Fairbanks in 1920 but towards the end of her life, made arrangments with the department of Citizenship to regain her Canadian Citizenship because wh wished to "die a Canadian" which was approved.

And while we're doing obits.... Britain's Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, dies this morning following a stroke.

Betty Ford was born on this date.(1918-2011), Patricia Arquette is 45 (married to Nicholas Cage) Julian Lennon is 50 (does this make you feel Old?) His birth was kept a secret so the Ladies would still like him and he was the inspiration for a couple of songs (Hey Jude and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds).  John Schneider was born on this date as well.

and finally...Always remember you are "unique", just like everyone else.

mornin' everybody Mornin


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