He made it!

06:50 hrs.
28 Mar 15

     Well, Toto...we're not in Kansas anymore!

     Our #1 Son has flown the coop. Not  permanently and not out of anger. He is, as I write this tome, in Rome, Italy. That's right. He finally got there and we, my LOBSTER and I, are hoping that he will truly enjoy himself by drinking in another culture other than that of the NASB - the North American Spoiled Brat.

    
     Yes, he and his classmates (and two chaperones) headed out Thursday morning. A half hour flight to Vancouver followed by nine + hour flight to Frankfurt, an eight hour layover before the final two hours to Rome. They will be in Rome for two days before heading to Florence, Venice, Verbania, Turin and Milan. Two weeks!  Will we miss him? Not right away.  He's been gone on scouting events lasting several days to a couple weeks. Let me put it this way. The absence of his presence will certainly change the dynamics within  the walls of THE WAYWARD INN. I wish him a safe journey and request that he lets go of his chains.

     Speaking of chains....I see in the local Cage Liner that the City of Courtenay is raising its property taxes by 3.18%. Is the service from the city increasing? How about their wages? Are the other towns in THE VALLEY going to raise their rates as well? I don't see where the economy has risen enough to  provide for pay raises in the private sector that can cover any tax increases.

     AND THIS JUST IN.....

     ALL FUTURE SHOP STORES IN CANADA ARE CLOSING!!!!

     HOLY CRAP!! I knew something was up. On Wednesday there was a request that three security guards be provided for a yet undisclosed major chain store that was closing immediately. The location would be provided on Saturday morning at 08:00 hrs. with the guards being on their post at 08:30 hrs. That's in an hour from NOW! That makes two big box chains that have over estimated the Canadian Market. But, here in the VALLEY,  with Target and now FUTURE SHOP closing that tosses a fair number of people our of work and our local economy is not all that strong as it is. What we really need is a couple of niche manufacturers to set up shop here. Some really high end mass produced artsy fartsy crap that a Made in the VALLEY sticker can be slapped on just to jack the price up by 200% for an out of province market.

     For those of you who are reading this and wishing you were staying at The WAYWARD INN, I'll let you know that the coffee is rich and the lawns need to be mowed.
 

Ah Wakey waaakeeeeey!!!

09:15 hrs.
22 Mar 15

     Do you have an alarm clock?
     I think I need a new one. The one I have only works on weekends which is precisely why I need a new one. I don't need one during the week as I am and always have been an early riser. And on the weekends, when I normally don't need to get up early and would rather canoodle with MY LOBSTER, it incessantly and repeatedly goes off.

     Yes! It is broken but I can't get rid of it despite the constant malfunctions. This alarm clock is orange, weighs in at nearly eleven pounds, stomps when he walks and has the most persistent morning personality. I give you Mr. Teddy Butt-Nuggets.

     His weekend routine begins at about 06:00 hrs. And, it is geared solely to get us up out of bed. Now, if I was to slip out out of bed to quietly enjoy a coffee and read a book there would be no problems but I don't always want to get up. Remaining snuggled in with your HONEY has its benefits too. But NOOOOOO!

    

It's about Bloody Time...

17:15 hrs
18 Mar 15

     It's about bloody time that I got off my duff and put something down on this blog.  Not that I've had any complaints that I haven't been keeping up with this extended diatribe. I wish someone would comment, either in the positive or the negative. At least then I would know if I'm reaching someone out there in the Ethernet.

     Well, as previously mentioned phases 1 and 2 of Operation Jericho have been completed. It took a little longer that expected but the main thing is that my BETTER HALF is happy with the results. Phase Three will be the installation of the Murphy bed. This will take place some time in early April.  Then the Fanneti Suite will be ready for guests. Which will happen about four days later when the Sages from the East arrive.  

     It seems that someone has finally realized that there is a rental housing shortage here in The Valley. Good God! How many people do we need to have couch surfing before those who control the building permits to allow some affordable apartments to be put up? Sure, a project of this magnitude needs monies and investors would rather put up more single living opulent landscaped residences because they go up quicker. Then there is the people behind the building permit regulators. The NIMBY's who don't want another Mex Hotel /apartment conversion filled with society's out on the fringe dwellers. Face it. There has not been a new rental apartment building built in the oast thirty years and it's about bloody time.

     In a little more than a weel Loin Fruit #1 will be off to Italy. I wish all the luck for an enjoyable safe trip. I wish I was in his shoes. I know I would HAVE A GOOD TIME! He'll be touring Rome, Florence, Venice, Turin and Verbania. Verbania is where Viola Finetti, the young student who stayed with us, lives. The town is on a great big lake. We've seen pictures and it looks prety touristy.

     We're planning a get away too. My BETTER HALF and myself, along with Loin Fruit #2 are heading to Seattle. Nice place with lots to see and do. Personally, I'm looking forward to this giant pinball museum. My all time favourite pinball game was a Bally table called Fire Power. An EXCELLENT game. I'll have to take a shit load of quarters with me.

22:30 hrs.
20 Mar 15

     It would appear that our new hospital is several weeks behind schedule. There had been troubles with the two giant lift cranes. Something about blowing the lift motors. So now, each crane is using a double cable lift to hoist the payloads. Completion date is supposed to be some time in 2017. It will be interesting to see how far they will be from the estimate.  River City is getting a new hospital too. No idea how far along they are. As my BETTER HALF's Cuz'n is out of town we have no info anout it.

     The local Cage Liner reported that some of the local hoodlums gave been out in force at the Comox Lake dam causing trouble. Shooting road signs, throwing flaming liquids into the air and torching a cart - by accident (more BULL  SQUIRT).

     Well dear readers, I'll put this post to bed. Five more sleeps til Loin Fruit #1 is headed to Spaghetti Land. I really hope he enjoys it.

Later

Have you heard the one about...?

13:50 hrs.
07 Mar 15

     It is half way to the Ides of March. AND, if you don't know what that is you obviously don't know your history.

     The Ides means the middle. Therefore, the Ides of March means the middle of March.  The date is significant as it was on The Ides, in the month named for the Roman god of war, Mars, when the emperor Julius Caesar was assassinated by members of the senate. So, in case you missed it, always tip your wait staff and never piss off the chef.

     Thank God for Netflix. I have found that all 200 episodes of "That 70's Show" is now available. I have always liked this show. In fact, I love it. Hey, I'm an old guy so this show is filled with the kitsch, the music, the slang and the societal stuff that I grew up with. And, it's funny. Seriously folks, if you can't watch this show without laughing then you have no sense of Ha Ha.

     Part One and Part Two of Operation Jericho have been completed. The walls are down, the electrical and ducting has been moved. The new doorway has been cut and the doors are on the rails. I have to put the secondary rollers in place tomorrow but it will take only a few moments. Part Three, the murphy bed, has been ordered. Delivery will be in early April just after we return from a short sojourn south of the 49th Parallel and before Loin Fruit #1 returns from across The Pond. AND just before my BETTER HALF's parents arrive for a Sping visit.

     So, what were you up to today? My LOBSTER and I did some shopping - tried to help our local failed Target store reduce the amount of holding stock, then it was time for lunch at the Early Bird Dinner. A nice place. Busy to be sure. Decorated in...a mid summer garage sale style of all sorts of bird stuff. Bird puzzles, bird mobiles and even a bird song clock. The food? We each had ordered the same thing, a variation of eggs benny, so I cannot give you a contrasted view. But the meal we ate was no better than what the chef serves at the WAYWARD INN. After lunch, we retired to our domicile to do a wee bit of gardening. I posted on Facebook that I was thinking of mowing the lawn and my Uncle Randy, who is still icebound in Saskatoon, quickly replied to tell me all about Sex & Travel.

08:10 hrs.
08 Mar 15

     Everything is quiet here at the WAYWARD INN. Loin Fruit #1 came home from the Klondike at nearly 22:00 hrs. He showered and the stayed up to 03:30 hrs  (with the time change). I think he was catching up on his social media. I'm gonna need his help today as I will be starting the de-winterization process of the W.I.M.U. The WAYWARD INN MOBILE UNIT.

 

And NOW FOR SOMETHING QUITE EXPECTED

05:55 hrs
03 Mar 15

     A funny thing happened yesterday on my way back home to the WAYWARD INN. I saw my neighbour out cutting her lawn. She's the new neighbour. She moved in last fall when the previous resident was posted to the Nation's capital.  He was all hot and bothered to go too. I bet he's not so hot now!

     Speaking of lawn cutting and other assorted yard work, as the resident Couch Monkeys are now a year older I will be expecting them to keep the yard weed free and the grass tightly trimmed. The negotiations will be nil. Its not like we have a vegetable garden like the Elders do. There is no excuse for them to be house bound. They are not invalids except in that they believe that Manual Labor is the president of Mexico.

     My BETTER HALF has put in for a different position at work. She has currently been at the same place for a decade. I really hope she gets the nod for a couple of reasons. First, she needs a new challenge as everything that she is doing now has become like an old hat. Nice, comfortable and boring. Second, my LOBSTER has become the Keeper of the Corporate Knowledge. This really the point where she needs to move on just to watch the busy bodies go into a three stage panic. Won't that be fun? You betcha.