Two Dogs in Loreto

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

She nudged her sister with her cold wet nose.

Molly, rolled over. “Hey, what’s the idea…I just got back to sleep…those damn roosters woke me up hours ago.”

Frida cocked her head. “What roosters? I didn’t hear anything.”

“I don’t suppose you heard the loud music either, coming from the all-night party at the beach?”

“Oh, that. It woke me up but I just rolled over and went back to sleep. Our people sure do like to play it loud…I swear I felt the ground shaking when I woke up.”

Molly shrugged. “Yep, that’s the way it is here…they party every weekend like that. Welcome to Mexico, kid.”

Frida glanced at her empty food and water bowls. “Do you think they’ll feed us today?”

‘Doubtful, I’m sure they’re all hungover and sleeping in. You didn’t like the bowl full of ant-covered rice, yesterday?”

“The rice wasn’t bad but the ants kept crawling up my nose. Yours looked better, Molly, …tortillas and poblano peppers. Do people really eat that kind of stuff?”

Frida started barking, and made a run for the gate but she reached the end of her rope and got yanked back. “The humans are coming…the humans are coming.”

“When will you learn, girl, they keep you tied up so you don’t leave the yard and get run over by a car.”

She looked at Molly. “How come you get to run free?”

“Cuz I’m older and smarter than you. Oh-oh…don’t look now but here comes Blue. He must know it’s breakfast time.”

Frida cowered. “I don’t like him; he bit my face and almost broke my jaw. He’s mean.”

Molly looked over at her sister. “You seem to be healing, thanks to the humans. You know they’re Canadians, eh?”

“How do you know that?”

“Cuz they’re polite and nice and take care of us…not like grandma, the old lady in the house.”

Frida glanced at the back door. “How old do you think she is?”

Molly shook her head. “Probably 800 in dog years. At least you didn’t get lockjaw from the infection when you got bit.”

“Yeah, but I think I’ve got dogjaw.”

Molly was puzzled. “What’s dogjaw?”

“Come closer and put your ear to my jaw.”

Frida barked, “woof, woof, woof!”

Molly jumped back. “What the hell was that?”

Her sister rolled around in laughter. “Gotcha.”

“You’re an idiot. Now try and behave, here come the nice Canadian ladies in their crazy looking aprons.”

“Why do you think they were those ugly things, Molly?”

“Because you act like a kangaroo and jump all over them. Take it from me, kid, you’ll get fed faster without all the theatrics. But I’ve got to admit…it gets you fed first.”

“I’m so hungry…I’m glad they’re here to keep Blue from stealing our food.”

The blonde lady put Frida’s food bowl in front of her and she scarfed it down.

“Whoa! Look Molly, I just threw up all my breakfast.”

The elder sister shook her head. “Kids, when will they learn. Don’t worry girl, just slow down and eat it all again…before Blue beats you to it.”

Molly affectionately brushed the leg of the darker haired lady and patiently waited for her breakfast.

The two girls licked their bowls clean and then lapped up some fresh water to wash everything down. Of course, Blue tried to stick his face in the water bowl to see what he was missing.

Molly’s ears perked up. “Oh, no, here comes Blanco…have you seen the size of the schlong on that mutt?” She took cover behind the women. “He’s not sticking that thing in my butt.”

Frida cocked her head. “At least you can’t get pregnant now…after they sewed up our lady parts. Do you think that was fair, Molly?”

“Why, do you want kids…who’s gonna feed them…surely not anyone around here. And those Canadian ladies won’t be around forever.”

“You don’t think they’ll take us home with them?”

“No, sister, they have their own animals at home. A few get lucky, like cousin Mucho…he hung around the RV park and someone finally took him in.”

Frida looked sad. “Can’t we do that?”

Molly shook her head. “Where do you think I’ve been going in the afternoons? I put on my best pouty face and go sniveling around the dark-haired woman’s trailer. She really likes me but there’s a brown man, who’s her boss and doesn’t want me hanging around.”

Frida looked distraught. “I’m scared, Molly, who’s gonna take care of us when the nice Canadian women stop coming around?”

Molly nuzzled up to her little sister. “Don’t worry kid, I’ll take care of you. I heard the women telling grandma they’re leaving us some dog food. If the numskulls here forget to feed us, I’ll go in the house and drag the bag outside. It might not be the greatest place to live but it beats living on the street.”

Frida stuck her nose under her sister’s chin. “You’re the best sister ever, Molly. I love you.”

Helping Hands in Loreto

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn TravelLeave a comment

Alison Wardlaw and I have given our hearts to Frida and Molly, two neighbourhood dogs, near our winter home at Loreto Shores RV Park. Frida is a 10 week old shepherd and Molly is a 1 year old lab mix.  These innocent pups live with a less fortunate Mexican family.  Both girls needed medical attention that the family cannot afford.

Frida was bitten and had a minor jaw fracture, an impacted tooth, and an eye infection. Molly was also bitten, with a gash on her face, and she was under-nourished.  Together, Alison and I paid for X-rays, stitches, medication and food to nurse these sweet little puppies back to health.

Luckily, we found a free Spay/Neuter clinic in Loreto, where both dogs were spayed and looked after very well. What a heart-warming experience helping our pups, holding them while they were given anaesthetic, watching them fall asleep in our arms, and then gradually wake up after surgery. Thank goodness for clinics such as this; they help to control the pet population in towns like Loreto.

The Mexican family is extremely grateful for all we have done for Frida and Molly.  Each day we visit the pups and medicate them. We have noticed the family is creating a better living environment for their dogs. Alison and I are educating them on how to properly care for their animals and hope they will continue to do so.  I know, some people say, “you can’t help them all.” But together, we’re helping to make a difference, starting with these two dogs.

Prepping Freda and Molly for Surgery

True Blue – David Baldacci

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True Blue by David Baldacci (Goodreads Author)

Edmond Gagnon‘s review – Feb 23, 2026  

I rarely give a book five stars but I think David Baldacci deserves every one of them, for True Blue. Being retired law enforcement, I can easily relate to the various roadblocks police have to negotiate while trying to solve crime. The two protagonists (sisters) played well off each other, along with a lawyer for one of their sidekicks.
The story move quickly, with a plot that kept me guessing (almost) most of the time. The police procedural action was believable and pretty accurate, and the behind the scenes government corruption came as no surprise to me.
In my opinion, there are way too many secret government investigative organisations, with way too much power.
True Blue is a great read for crime fiction fans.

Standoff – Sandra Brown

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Standoff


bySandra Brown (Goodreads Author)

Edmond Gagnon‘s review Feb 18, 2026  

Not a page turner for me…instead, I struggled to pick it back up and finish the book so I could see how it ended. It was painful getting there, with way too much fluff and backstory and detail for me. In my opinion, the last chapter was the best and I enjoyed the ending.
Perhaps it is my personal opinion of investigative reporters who put ‘getting the scoop’ above anything else.
Thankfully, unlike so many other hostage stories, Standoff puts a completely different spin on things.

Death in the Jungle – Diary of a Navy SEAL

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Death in the Jungle, Diary of a Navy Seal
by Gary R. Smith, Alan Maki

Edmond Gagnon‘s review – Jan 14, 2026  

A well written account of what U.S. soldiers and especially the Navy Seals went through in Viet Nam. I wasn’t aware of their role in that war. Their elite training obviously contributed to their survival rate, where many other ‘trained’ soldiers weren’t so lucky.
It’s completely insane, reading about how they spent hours and even days in waist deep muck and swamp water, waiting to surprise the enemy. They had to endure mosquitos, snakes and even crocodiles, while trying not to be discovered by an enemy who often outnumbered them.
The authors do an excellent job in describing the Seals dangerous missions as well as their every day life stationed in a hostile country on the other side of the world.

Reading Progress

The Winter in Loreto, Baja, Mexico

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn TravelLeave a comment

Cathryn and I left Melaque, Jalisco, Mexico last year in search of a new winter home where it’s sunny and warm every day. We have lots of good memories from the Costalegre but it was time to move on. Our journey took us up the Pacific coast through Puerto Vallarta to Mazatlan. From there we drove another four hours north and took a ferry across to La Paz, on the Baja peninsula.

Looking for our next winter home, we explored Baja California Sur (south), spending three days in each of the towns, San Jose Del Cabo (where we visited Todo Santos), La Paz and Loreto. We really liked La Paz but found it a bit too big, busy and more expensive than we liked. We only spent a short time in Loreto but liked the vibe and decided it would be our next winter nest.

Fast-forward to January this year and we’ve now been in Loreto for about ten days. We like small town Mexico and with about 20,000 inhabitants plus some expats and seasonal tourists, Loreto fits the bill. It’s a very walkable town with no giant resorts, brand name restaurants or fast food chains. The town sits on the Sea of Cortez/Gulf of California, which includes a national marine park with whales, sea lions, dolphins and world class sport fishing.

We opted for an Airbnb for three months. The beautiful 3 bedroom casa offers a sea view and is only a stone’s throw from the beach. The sun shines every day, with temperatures between 60 and 77 degrees fahrenheit – a tad warmer than or weather back home right now. We had a few drops of rain one day but not enough to wet the ground. The Baja is mostly desert so there is no humidity here (yeah).

It’s always a challenge settling in to a new town, when it comes to buying groceries or dining out. There are no Costcos or Walmarts here but my personal shopper has managed to bring home the goods and we’re not going hungry by any means. We’ve also found great seafood at a nearby restaurant and scored the best burrito ever, last night at a little hole-in-the wall place where they cook on a mesquite grill right in the restaurant. The super burrito was the size of my forearm.

Many have described Loreto as a hidden gem, a Mexican location that will no doubt keep growing inpopularity among tourists and snowbirds. Giant cruise ships have recently discovered the town and come in about once a week during high season. But for the most part, we’ve found Loreto to be a pretty sleepy town with no reservations required or lineups to get in anywhere.

The people are friendly and take pride in keeping their town clean – unlike many other places in Mexico. There is plenty of culture, with many historical landmarks that include 300 year old Spanish missions. There are miles of beach that are walkable and easy to access. Prices on everything from accomodation, to food and booze are about 30 percent cheaper than home.

The jury is still out on whether or not we will return to Loreto next year, but so far we are thoroughly enjoying our time here.

Boston Blue

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

Good news Blue Bloods fans! Executive producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Donnie Wahlberg have teamed up to bring us Boston Blue, a spin-off to carry on the Reagan family tradition. The pilot opens with Sean Reagan as a cop in Boston, who gets injured while running into a working fire. His father, Danny Reagan, visits him in the hospital and inserts himself into the investigation.

Sean is played by a new actor but another Reagan makes an appearance, as well as Danny’s New York partner (look for the love connection). The rest of the cast is new but similar to the Reagan clan, with family members in policing and the DA’s office. It’s hinted from the start that Danny Reagan is in Boston to stay, where he can keep an eye on his son.

The story is filmed on location in Toronto and Boston, and from what I’ve seen, promises to be a continuation of the Blue Bloods legacy. Call is Boston Blue Bloods if you will.

It’s on CBS but we’re steaming it on Paramount +

Bruce Springsteen – Deliver Me From Nowhere

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

If you’re expecting a movie full of musical action and a cross selection of Springsteen songs to see and hear on the big screen, don’t bother. Wait to stream it. This film is more about how the Boss battled with his demons – an alcoholic father and his own ongoing depression. In my opinion, the back story made the whole movie slow and depressing.

On the upside, Jeremy Allen White gives the performance of his life – not only mimicking Springsteen’s mood and mannerisms but he kick’s ass when singing his songs. His rendition of Born in the USA actually gave me goosebumps. It was the highlight of the movie, for me.

Bruce is a talented songwriter and performer, and even though his unorthodox recording of the Nebraska album wasn’t accepted by record producers, he held fast and demanded the vinyl be released with no media fanfare, tour, or even his picture on the cover.

The flick was a bit deep and dark for me but Cathryn enjoyed it. There should have been more music. She gave it an 8 out of 10. I’m giving it a 6 but a 10 for White’s performance.

The Detroit Shoemaker

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The Detroit Shoemaker
by Barbara Reaume Sandre

Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Aug 28, 2025 

This book took me completely by surprise. Not usually a genre I read, I was quickly consumed by the story of a French family who emigrated from France, settled in Montreal, and then helped to establish the cities of Detroit and Windsor.
The author’s research is extensive and meticulous, tracing her family’s roots back several generations.
The story delves into Canada’s fur trade and French migration south along the St. Lawrence Seaway to the birth of Detroit, in the form of Fort Pontchartrain.
The level of survival skills and determination of our pioneering ancestors is nothing short of amazing.
Every local history buff should snag a copy of this book.

Support Your Local Authors

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book Reviews, EntertainmentLeave a comment

In this day and age of Elbows Up and buy Canadian, please consider supporting your local authors. There are at least a hundred in Southwestern Ontario that I know of and probably another hundred or so that I don’t. I’ve met several of these writers over the years and am amazed at the talented people that surround us.

Many of us can be found on giant websites or bookstores such as Amazon or Indigo but you can also find certain local authors in your neighbourhood bookstores like Biblioasis, Juniper, Riverbooks and StoryTellers.

We’ve recently added a new bookshelf at StoryTellers, stocked full with various titles from your local authors. It’s just inside the front door so be sure to check it out on your way into the store. Linda, the owner, can tell you about many of our books along with hundreds of other titles from other more famous authors she has in stock.

Please support your local author.