Bringing You Up to Speed

03 Nov 25

17:15 hrs

     Hello Kidlettes!

     As some of you may know my Lobster and I trekked out to the Prairies to celebrate our 30th Anniversary. First, we winged our way to Winterpeg where we were booked into a hotel near the airport. After dropping off the luggage we took our rental car to visit a friend and former co-worker, Cpl. Dan Marche. He has been resting at Brookside Cemetery since February 1991. Next, we drove over past both of our former residences for a look see and eventually made it to my Aunt Dee Dee's for a visit with her and her son, Sean. We had a great visit and a fantastic supper. I had last seen my aunt at my father's Celebration of Life in the Interior and his internment in Sa-hatchewan. The last time I had seen Sean was when we were living in the Peg. The one thing, or rather two things, that caught us by surprise was Sean's pet dogs. A mastiff and a mastiff-pitt cross. Both big dogs. Both built like a tank out of solid muscle. Both totally loveable.

     The next day, Friday, my Lobster and I had a simple breakfast and cruised around looking at long forgotten sights and the changes that had occurred since we had left. Sometime about 10-ish we arrived at the South end of the city. We had gone to see The Sage's brother, my uncle and his wife for a brief visit. I hadn't seen them either since the trip to Sa-hatchewan four years ago. Again, the visit was great and,  after saying our goodbyes, our adventure continued to see Museum of Man and Nature. My Better Half used to work there just after we were married. I've always liked that museum with its many exhibits and galleries. While we were there my Lobster asked about people who had worked there with her. Low and behold several were still working there and one was in the building at that very moment. It was a wonderful reunion when they saw each other. 

     Saturday, 27 September,  was our 30th Anniversary. We had breakfast in the hotel and waited to be picked up by my Li'l Brother and his Lobster. We were off to a tailgate party and then a Bombers football game. We had pre-ordered food which was waiting for us in the parking lot at the stadium. We met more of Nick's inlaws,  nice bunch of football fans, and then it was time for the game. It really wasn't much of a game. The Bombers scored a touchdown in the first 15 seconds and by the end of the fourth quarter the score was 40 to 3 for the home team. Oh well, time to eat. Nick drove and found a restaurant on the way back to our hotel. It was a little more top shelf so the food was all the better to cap off our anniversary. 

     Sunday morning we finished packing, returned the rental car and flew from the Peg to the Big Perogie where we were met by the Nurse and her Lobster. Years ago the Nurse had worked with my Better Half here at CFB LOMPOC. They picked us up and took us to their house as guests for the next four days. On our arrival at their place we were greeted by the fantastic aroma of home-made pasta sauce. Our hosts eldest son is quite the chef/baker who treated us to all sorts of goodies. Over the next few days we toured about the city and played cards at night. 

     Our next stop was to Slam and Em's place. They taught us how to play Mexican Train dominoes which I found gets easier the more rum you consume. Go figure. Em asked us if there was anything in particular that we wanted to see and started listing local event. One thing that caught my Better Half's attention was an Indigenous Burlesque show. Sounds great! Book the tickets! Well, three of us enjoyed the show which was all in good taste and very powerful. We returned home to little fanfare from the Couch Monkeys but secretly I'm sure that they we happy to see us.

     Thanksgiving was fast approaching and the Sage was coming to the Wayward Inn! Before going on our trip to the Prairies my Lobster and I had discussed the idea of her coming to visit. In my pitch to her I explained that both boys were home and it would be a good time to see them and their Significant Others. We'll, the Holiday went off without a hitch. The Sage flew in, we picked her up and brought her to the Wayward Inn. Over the next few days we ate hearty meals and played many games of cards. Fun was had by all.

     Christmas is just around the corner.

     

     

Wrapping Up and Preparations

14 Sep 25

12:25 hrs

     Hello Campers, 

     I'm outside taking Mr. Wilson for a walk. He really likes being out in the yard. He likes the Catio 2.0 but he isn't able to sniff the grass and chase bugs so we put him on a harness. Sometimes he gets spooked and heads for the house in a full blown panic. We had rain last night and this morning. It wasn't much but the birds are very much appreciative. And our furry friends are watching with a hunter's eye.

     A couple of weeks ago we had to take Jack to the vet.Tooth, rather teeth issues. Some cats are very prone to gum disease and they will actually reabsorb the teeth as a means to combat the pain. Jack must have been in a lot of pain. The four small teeth between the lower canines had already been absorbed and the vet ended up removing all but the lower canines as well as three or four extra that he had been born with. He's feeling much better now. 

     Mr. Wilson and Miss Mocha have become acclimatized to each other. We are working on Jack and Miss Mocha.

22 Sep 25

12:30 hrs

     Dear Readers, life has gotten busy and I have forgotten about you. I'm sorry. 

     The Big Project I was working on has been completed. So, no more graveyard shifts for the time being. I'm working today and tomorrow. Then I'm off Wednesday and on Thursday my Lobster and I are winging our way to the Peg to celebrate our 30th Anniversary, followed by heading to the Big Perogie to visit some friends before returning to The Left Coast. 

     The National Sarex competition has started here at CFB LOMPOC. Some of these pilots are crazy. (I just had to move the Ram to avoid being run over by a CC-138! For some reason, it's painted the standard dark military grey, which is kind of weird for a SAR - Search and Rescue - aircraft.) There are SAR teams from across the country and the Hugh-ess along with observers from other countries that also operate the C-295. Albeit, theirs are an older version than our RCAF CC-295 Kingfisher. I had participated three times in the competition. Twice as a team member and once as a Ramp Rat doing general servicing duties. A great time was had by all.

     How about the psychosis that has gripped Hugh-ess? A bunch of posers acting as immigration forces stalking court houses, big box stores and lage vegetable farms through the country rounding up anyone who isn't white and then shipping them off to places faf far away. Then, the sinking of several open speed boats that are suspected of carrying drugs so far from the continent that they could reach it if they tried. And the weapon of choice? A cruise missile! That's right! The AGM-84 lists at $3 million per unit. A bit of overkill I would say. And how about the ongoing Orange Shit-gibbons connection to the Jeffrey Pedo-files? Nope, nothing to see there especially since Donny's name has been heavily redacted. The victim's testimony? Oh, they're mistaken. It's a hoax. At sometime in the future someone will eventually grow a pair, stand up and shout "ENOUGH!" The lies are piling up even higher and all of the Administration Sycophants in up to their necksas they try to keep their glorious leader above the cesspool. I'm betting on Patel to be the first to fall. The various committees are chewing him up pretty good. That gravel voiced HHS guy is so loopy that he can barely recite the alphabet without invoking some criminal conspiracy theory when he gets it wrong.

25 Sep 25

05:35 hrs

     My Lobster and I are currently sitting in the departure lounge awaiting to head off to the Pacific Pearl and then onto the Peg. Our in country vacation has begun.

     

Civil War 2.0?

20 Aug 25

07:30 hrs

     Good Morning Dear Readers,

     If you have seen any news from South of the 49th Parallel you are well aware that the Orange Shit-gibbon has sent armed troops into the streets of major Hugh-ess cities under the pretense of protecting federal buildings from the the destructive rampage of the radical left Woke mobs! 

     BULLSHIT!

     Deploying troops to LA was just a test for further muscle flexing and testing of the publics resolve. The Tangerine Tyrant has now placed Guardsmen in the streets of their Nation's Capital and at least four GOP states have pledged to send Guardsmen to bolster that contingent. Donny nationalized the DC police force and sent troops into DC's streets to clean up the rampant crime. 

     MORE BULLSHIT!!

     Well Campers, the general population of the Hugh-ess, including a growing number of MAGA-holes, is not staying quiet. People are holding rallies across the country and more importantly they are confronting members of Donny's Gestapo (ICE) when they suddenly show up to snag someone with brown skin. They're always claiming the individual is an illegal immigrant but in reality they have no clue who the person is but, since he has brown skin and does a manual labour job he must be.

24 Aug 25

06:55 hrs

     Yesterday, my Lobster and I watched the Pride Parade walk down 5th Street. Our youngest Loin Fruit was proudly wearing his military uniform while walking in the parade with his partner. How times have changed. And, for the better! 

     Inclusion saves lives. 

     Inclusion educates. 

     Inclusion is safe, not dangerous.

     And, it saddens me when i hear of what is not going on South of the 49th Parallel. The close-mindedness of the Olde White Christians (sic) who are currently ruling (ruining) their own nation because of their unfounded blind bigotry and racial hatred. If you read between the lines you will discover scraps of hidden legislation placed to bully and torment people who have done nothing but be different from their cast iron model of humanity. How about this one little nugget? Not only are trans-sexual individuals being kicked out of the Hugh-ess military (they can leave voluntarily), those individuals are being denied pensions or access to Veterans Affairs programs or a pension (if applicable). 

     Say what?

     So, here's the scenario. You are a Hugh-ess citizen and you want to serve your country by putting your life on the line for your fellow countrymen. Good on you. During your career, the laws change and trans people are allowed to serve in the military. You decide that now you can stop hiding and really be yourself if you fully transition. All good and as difficult as it is for some knuckle draggers to understand that for reasons that do not pertain to them you are no longer Mike but now are Michelle. Nothing really has changed.  You're still the same person with the same commitment to your service, et al. 

     However, here comes the Holier Than Thou Crowd wearing their Biblical Blinders spouting selective scriptures to enrage and rally the uneducated masses to their cause. Quick as a flash the rules of the game have changed once again. Not only what was allowed made not allowed it was deemed a crime! And since it is now a crime to be......whatever they have deemed to be a crime.....you will be punished. In the case of a trans service person, regardless of your service career, you will be dishonourably discharged which means no pension (if you were entitled to one) and no Veterans benefits. 

     And, it's not just trans service members that are being given the boot. This edict from the Orange Shit-gibbon applies to all federal government employees. The really sad part is the rulers of the Sycophant States are now applying this bullshit to their own corner of the Hugh-ess. 

     This, and all the other Presidential Orders, have regressed their country not just fifty but a hundred and fifty years and it will take just as long to undo all of the hate that has been blindly applied to make the weak feel safe and strong.

     Nuff said!

     There is only two weeks of summer left before the Kidlettes and Couch Monkeys start dragging themselves back to their local Learning Institutions. We have one just around the corner from the Wayward Inn. The massive addition to the school is not complete. My Lobster and I went for a walk to take a look and guage how large it really is. It is two stories tall and from the exterior size we figure there are at least a dozen classrooms plus multi-purpose spaces. We could see through the window openings that the interior walls are up which means the electrical, plumbing, wall boarders, painters, flooring and hvac contractors have yet to get started. There is no way it will be ready for the start of school. By Christmas, maybe.

27 Aug 25

21:30 hrs

     We are awaiting the arrival of our Sr. Loin Fruit. He is returning from his first work road trip with a new company. He was hired at the end of last week and was off to Capital City for three days of 12 hour work days. Accommodations, road mileage - or at least wages while traveling and lunch delivered to the worksite. It appears that the job is not quite finished and most of the crew has to divert to a project Over the Hump. The boss ask our Sr. Couch Monkey if he could return to Capital City on Friday to help him finish this project.

     Hmmmm.....

     This is where most people would consider the request for more assistance TO BE A TEST!!!!! 

     Of course, our dear boy is not thinking clearly. If he wants to get ahead and maintain employment he had better learn that unless you are due in court, are having a medical emergency, have bodily fluids gushing out of every orifice, have lost more than one limb in less than 24 hour then you, as an apprentice are at the boss's beck and call. Failing to do so could mean termination before the probation period. And in a small employment area like the Valley it's better not to start burning bridges.

     My Lobster and I will discuss it with him tomorrow. 

     Goodnight all.

Rain!

05 Aug 25

08:00 hrs

     Hello Campers, 

     I'm sitting out in the Catio with Miss Mocha. She's our new adoptee and things aren't going so well with her. It's been well over a month and the integration with Mr. Wilson and Jack has not taken place. We've tried all of the normal methods and it is not happening. She'll put the run on both of them. And as much as Jack beats up on Wilson he tucks tail and hides under the Sr. Couch Monkey's bed. Mocha and Wilson will tolerate each other on the same space but if he runs she'll chase after him. We really don't know what to do. Jack is so stressed he's been crapping on the floor and not in the box.

     There is a very large wildfire beside the lake going to where our Friends Over the Hump reside. It is human caused and appears to have been started on or near the old rail bed on the North side of the lake. Over the past few days it has spread up the slope and properties on the opposite side of the mountain are threatened. As bad as that is, if the winds were to change direction a small section of Old Growth Protected forest would be in danger of burning to the ground. Cathedral Grove contains giant red cedars, fir and hemlock trees that are five hundred or more years old and are taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The province has been putting all available resources in not only battling the fire but in preventing the ignition of this stand of trees. To make matters worse the snow cap on the Beauforts has long since melted away and there has been no precipitation a month or more.  In town the lawns are brown and the tops of trees the leaves are beginning to yellow as they dry out. And that is with the limited amount of watering we are allowed. So, you can imagine what the forest is like. The good news is that we knew that rain would be coming. Not a huge deluge but a long slow drizzle. A big cloud burst would simply hit the ground and run off with no benefit. But a nice constant rain over many hours, even if it's only falling at 0.2mm per hour will have a greater effect by cooling the surrounding air and being absorbed by the foliage.

     My buddy Gordo and I have been monitoring the weather for another reason. We're working an alternating graveyard shift where one of us is on one week the the other is on the following week. The contractor is repainting all of the markings on the runways, taxiways and the apron. Plus rubber remediation. It's a huge project last will last nearly three months. To complete the project the hard surfaces must be dry so as much as the forest needs the rain the contractors do not. It rained for about thirty minutes this morning but in the afternoon it's supposed to start again and then drizzle through the night and all day tomorrow and tomorrow night. I hope the forecaster has got it right this time.

     My Lobster and I are planning a short trip to celebrate our 30th anniversary. We will travel to The Peg for a few days and see the old haunts plus a couple of friends and relatives. Then, we will jet to The Big Perogie see a couple more old friends before returning to The Rock. 

10 Aug 25

06:50 hrs

     Last night, we, the family plus one, we to Elric the Stalwart's home to aid in celebrating his 60th Birthday. His Lobster had asked him what he wanted for a meal. Roast beast, mashed taters and veggies. We said we would bring the Yorkshire puddings, so I made a couple of dozen of them. There was still some concern as to the amount of food as we has a plus one and they had a couple of students so on the way to their place we stopped off at The Big Box Store to pick up roasted chicken. At their house we all pitched in to make things easier for the hostess. Our Jr. Loin Fruit made the mashed taters and helped with the gravy my Better Half aided in setting the tables, I broke down the chicken, sharpened up a rather large chef's knife - which probably hadn't seen a steel in many years - and carved up this gorgeous piece of beef. After the meal there was birthday cake, fresh fruit and white port. By the time it was all over we were too tired to play cards so we chatted for a length of time before heading home to the Wayward Inn. 

     I'm back on graveyards starting tonight so I'm going to try to get some projects done for my Lobster today. Being on graveyards is not so bad if you live by yourself ecause you can sleep and rest up when you want. But, when you're in an active household it is up to you that has to find the work/sleep/obligation balance.

     Speaking of this project, about two weeks ago Gordo was with the contractors and part of the job was to remove two separate lines on the airfield. These particular lines are referred to as Hold Short Lines. They are like the big stop line you would see and an intersection which tells you where to stop. On an airfield it is a visual means for the air traffic controller to safely direct ground traffic, both vehicles and taxiing aircraft, around the aerodrome. So, two lines and a helipad were removed. So what, right? Well, the removal of one hold short was required because it was it was no longer needed to prevent vehicles or aircraft from encroaching onto the helipad when it was in use. But, one of the twits in the planning department figured that the other hold short line on the opposite side of the now non-existent helipad wasn't needed for the same reason and had labeled it for removal. Which it was! At the end of the night, Gordo informed the control tower that yhe helipad and the two hold short lines were removed. 

     Uh oh, Shaggy! No one had consulted with the air traffic controllers about this second line being removed. This particular second line was there to identify where vehicular traffic was to stop preventing them from getting out near the main active runway. Sure enough an incident occurred last week and by Friday morning the command structure was in a fast rotating spin cycle on how to get this issue corrected and fast. Sure enough, I get the call asking, almost pleading if, in the morning, I could escort a contractor out onto the airfield to put up some temporary indicators so traffic knows where to stop until the hold short line gets reinstalled. 

     Sure thing.

     I'm not saying that I was the hero. Both myself and Gordo and a couple of other former airfield qualified Cmres have had to go back in to work to assist in correcting someone's mistake. It's what we do. This particular mistake should never have happened and had the potential of being catastrophic.

     On another note, the wildfire near The Hump is still burning. The amount of rain that was received did help but not much. From last reports it's still spreading but headway is being made in curtailing its advance. Today is going to be another hot one - up to 30°C. We're going to hunker down, stay cool, play some games and stay put of the sun.

Summer Doldrums

15 Jul 25

06:15 hrs

     The summer heat is apon us. Every day in the Valley the morning begins calm. Peaceful. And then, the wind picks up. The cool of the night soon becomes a persistent hot push as if some unseen giant is using a massive hair dryer that builds in intensity throughout the day drying out the lawns, the crops and, most concerning, the forests. About a week ago, Environment Canuckistan had promised a fair amount of precipitation. I was working that day and the Valley recieved less than a misting while across the Strait i watched great sheets of rain sweep up the coast. Yesterday was hot. Today will be hotter. Not as hot as the Keystone province mind you but hot enough for us here at the Wayward Inn. The southern part of Ontari-ari-ari-oh has been suffering from a massive heat wave. It happens every year and every year the rest of the country has to listen to the populace whine. It doesn't bother me. I've learned to close out the noise from the Whine Country.

      My summer has been sown up with a large project at work. And a lot of it is night shifts. Specifically, graveyards. Gordo and I are alternating weeks on the project which gives us a break and flexibility to the Boss. 

     My Friend from Over the Hump is having a knee replacement done in the next couple of days. It's about time he gets some new parts. He turns 80 next year.

     The Catio Annex has been rebuilt. It is now smaller and more vertical. We also have a new tenant. Miss Mocha. We gave back the two fosters as they could not mix with our two fuzz balls. But, my Better Half decided we needed a third that would, hopefully with fingers double crossed, get along with Da Boyz. After the prescribed time and coordinated interactions we are back to square one with Da Boyz running and hiding the entire day whenever Miss Mocha is loose. If she spots them she puts the run on them so we end up sequestering our two and she gets the run of the house. Jack is a nervous wreck and Mr. Wilson finds a spider hole to crawl into for the day. Miss Mocha was a straight adoption. Not a foster to adopt, so I do not know what to do. 

     Despite the tariffs slowing down some construction in Canuckistan there are some mystery projects going up here in The Valley. Over towards the Big Box Store and Home Despot something is slowly taking shape. Everyone hopes it will be a new restaurant but some believe it will be another gas station. A restaurant would be nice as long as it's not another chain burger joint. We have enough of those. Unless of course, it's a Harvey's. A Harvey's burger is bloody amazing and if you have one in your neck of the woods I am envious. 

     There is also a new multi-purpose building going up about a klick or two from the Wayward Inn. I heard it will be a store front with apartments on the upper level. Time will tell. 

19 Jul 25

06:30 hrs

     Two days ago I quietly remembered my father's passing. I called the Sage and spoke to her. Both of us remembering him with great fondness. No one at the Wayward Inn said a word. Have they forgotten him already? I haven't  and will not.

We've been invaded!

29 Jun 25

17:00 hrs

     That's right Campers, we have been invaded. Not by persons untoward. Nor by some multitude of creepy crawlies. This particular invader is huge and airborne. 

     Close to the Wayward Inn is a patch of forest that has been home to the odd trash panda, a bambi or two, rooks, songbirds and eagles. This spring we began hearing something like ducks softly quaking. It sounded like it was coming from the MAGA Albertan's backyard. Wouldn't surprise me as he ripped out his back lawn three years ago and installed an ASTRO turf putting green with a water feature. We soon learned that it was not a duck or two puddling in a pond. A shadow crossed the lawn and then another followed by some very loud clacking in the nearby woods. This was soon followed by a cacophony of caw, screams, clacks and other sounds that I cannot even begin to describe. The sound continued all night. A couple of days later my Lobster spotted not one or two but four mysterious birds flying above forest. She called me outside to take a look at them. What I saw looked more prehistoric than anything else. By all accounts I was looking at a bona-fide pterodactyl. Long necked, long heavy pointy beak, wide tapered wings for soaring and a set of legs trailing aft. In the coming days the two pairs, likely mating pairs I might add, were discovered to be only a fifth of the squadon of aerial beasties. That's correct. Twenty or more likely ten mating pairs all squawking and screeching off and on throughout the day and night. I think someone should rename the patch of forest as Jurassic Park.

1,000

21 Jun 25

08:00 hrs

     That's right Kidlettes. The number is 1,000. One thousand reported cases of the measles have been reported in the Redneck Province.  And, according to the province's infectious disease specialists, "the virus is (now) impossible to contain" given to the level of protection. This is insane. Measles had been declared a dead virus because everybody had been vaccinated. But somewhere along the line, maybe twenty years ago, some new parents started listening to the Hollywood quacks who started peddling the Whackadoo notions that vaccines caused Downs Syndrome or women should squat over a steaming hot tea kettle for inner health and all sorts of other stupidity. Facts, science and common fucking sense blew right out the window right about the time when everyone, and I do mean everyone, started to rely on social media to deliver The Truth.

     When I look back at my own life I know there was a time, starting when I was born, that vaccines were manditory if you were wanted to live without being saddled with a life altering virus caused disease.  Shortly after coming out of the womb, babies from my generation were first inoculated against polio and slowly over time this horrible disease was eradicated.  It became a thing of the past. Then came the triple shot. The MMR vaccine. Measles, mumps and rubella. All childhood diseases that if they didn't kill you they would make the rest of your life a living hell. That was vaccine was delivered in stages. Just after you were born and then two booster shots. Nobody complained about getting the shot because it was for the common good. You simply lined up and got jabbed. I believe my last MMR booster was when I was in Grade 7 when the health nursing team came in to the school. "Roll up you sleeve, please. This may pinch a bit." Do you remember that?

     Science has investigated, identified, created and proven the use of vaccines against a whole range of some very horrible diseases. If you ignore the science you will not survive.

24 Jun 25

21:30 hrs

     Yesterday, MoMo flew back home. My Lobster and I took him to YQQ. He flew from here to YVR and then on to FRA before going on to BER. We may see him again someday as he wants to take  courses in Adventure Tourism. We know he will do well.