Old friends from AFAR

06:25 hrs.
27 Apr 15

     There are people that are a part of YOUR life who you always keep in touch with even if it is only a couple of times a year. It may be a phone call or a tag on Facebook or just the requisite Christmas card c/w the manditory family update letter.

    

     Here at The WAYWARD INN, we were blessed with visit from a dear friend of mine from years gone by. She is of the my parental units generation and has been a friend of mine since before I can remember. She is open and caring, practical and honest, opinionated and flies by the seat of her pants. Trust me when I say that she has no dufficulty in calling a spade a spade and a shovel a shovel. God bless her! It was only supposed to be a coffee klatch sort of visit but here at The WAYWARD INN an invitation to lupper was offered and accepted. So, while yours truly fired up the Flame Pit to handle the tenderloins, my LOBSTER whipped up all the side dishes. Everything was great. We even enjoyed a fine bottle of spiced mead from a local winery.

    

     In driving around the Valley I have seen a large number of new housing starts. There are town houses on Anderton (near Comox Ave.) that have sprung up as well as new residences popping up on streets that previously had just an empty lot or an old derelict building. Speaking of which, if anyone is driving on Knight Road going towards the airport take a quick look to the right just before you get to the roundabout or even better look left after exit the roundabout on Knight Road. That first property...who the hell lives in or owns that rat hole. I ask you, dear readers, that if you see properties like this one in your neighbourhood to report them  to your governing body and force the owners to Clean Up Their Bloody Mess!

    

    And don't let up either. A clean neighbourhood discourages vermin both four legged and two legged. Trust me, you don't want either.

 

 

 

 

The Eagles Have Landed

21:20 hrs.
22 Apr 15

     Yes, the Eagles have landed.
    

     My outlaws are here for a visit. Good people, salt of the Earth they are. And it gives us an excuse, as if I need it, to cook expansively and to play tour guide again.

     On the local front, the new townhouses on Anderton are quickly rising from the muck. It had been an old orchard /neighbourhood compost dumping ground for so long I'm amazed that it wasn't developed earlier. The other set of housing construction, the ones that are going up on Cliffe Ave., are banging up pretty quick too. Still no word on housing for the homeless though. From the local Cage Liner (www.comoxvalleyecho.com) it would appear that the CVRD wants to pass a homeless bylaw. During the last civic election, a non-biding referendum was held to determine if the populace would support taxation to aid the homeless. I am happy to say that the residents of The Valley indicated that they would support the homeless through direct taxation. Of the four local civic governments only the CVRD has begun to act. The new bylaw will provide the ability to levy the taxes but the CVRD does not yet have a course of action on how to end homelessness in The Valley.

     Also, from the Cage Liner,  is the proposed date for the operation of the new cable ferry operating from Buckley Bay to Denman Island.  In an effort to save monies, the BC Ferry Corruption, in its infinite wisdom, has built this highly contentious cable ferry. According to the Rag, by implementing this new system the Corruption will save $80 million over 20 years. However, there is a concern about the design of the cable system and the vessel itself. The concern is from a retired ferry captain, Capt Pete Kimmerly. You can read all about his concerns at www.sendintheclowns.info. I think it is very important to read the information posted on his website because if he's right you will then know why the new cable ferry you're riding on suddenly starts drifting down the length of Baynes Sound.

     As you can tell spring is quickly heading towards summer. Lawns are mowed and yard projects are in full swing. There will be a few things to be built at the WAYWARD INN as well. But this weekend there will be a Garage Sale for the 19 Wing Morale Maintainers. I hope everything is sold so our garage will be accessible again. For those of you East of the Rockies who have yet to experience any kind of warmer weather I'm sorry but there is no room currently available at the WAYWARD INN.

    

A quickie post.

5 things to know for Monday, April 20, 2015: http://www.ctvnews.ca/5things/5-things-to-know-for-monday-april-20-2015-1.2335294

Ahhellooooooo Out There!

05:45 hrs.
18 Apr 15

    Good Morning Dear Readers!

     I had to send a package to one of my Parental Units, it was just a birthday card really but in the envelope was something that could not be folded or bent without breaking it. So a naturally the post mistress has to attempt to pass the now bulging bubble package through the Official Canada Post Mail Sizing Device. You've seen it? That piece of plexiglass with all the slots of various sizes cut into it. Now, this device is the determining factor if a piece of mail is to be sent as a letter or a package. If it fits through the pladtic mail slot its a letter. If not its a package. Fair enough. There  has to be some regulations. You can't very well be shipping toasters or car parts  for the price of a letter. But when everyone in Canada is being forced to get their mail at a postal superbox; and that new mail pidgeon hole is now bigger a household mail slot, you would think that the Official Canada Post Mail Sizing Device would fall by the wayside. Not a chance! It cost me $15.00 to send a birthday card.

     Today is going to be an insanely busy day here at The WAYWARD INN. The first big item is that the final phase to the renovations is taking place. The new murphy wall bed is being delivered and installed at noon today (pictures to follow). And just in time too, as my BETTER HALF's parental units are arriving early next week. Also we will be hosting a raft of individuals prior to attending the opening night of the local roller derby league. That's right! I said roller derby. Our local team is the Brickhouse Betties who often compete against River City's team the Rink Minx. You can look for the Brickhouse Betties on Facebook and at www.brickhousebetties.com.

     I don't know how many individuals are going to be milling at THE WAYWARD INN  but my station will be on the flame pit cooking up brats and (ugh) veggie patties. The Loin Fruits are having some friends over too. Some of them will be joining us at the game and some will not. My LOBSTER is having a couple of co-workers join us as well. Besides searing meat on the flame pit there will be my BETTER HALF's world famous coleslaw and I will be making homemade pretzels.

12:25 hrs.

     The pretzles are done. And the workers have not yet shown up. Go figure. On another note, my LOBSTER's Travelling Relatives from River City popped in last week bringing a container of home made lentil soup. Really good stuff. In fact, I didn't share any of it and I probably have the cleanest colon in The Valley.

     For those of you residing here in The Valley, the one's who are not hard of hearing, that roaring sound eminating from the sky above you is the sound of Canada's eminent aerobatic demonstration team The Snowbirds accompanied by the CF-18 demonstrator. If you don't like the noise. Tough shit. Move to Port Hardy.

    

I've seen it ...but I wouldn't dare touch it.

22:55 hrs.
14 Apr 15

     In Seattle, deep in the bowels of Pike's Market lays something so hideous that you just have to see it to believe it. You will want to add to it but otherwise you would not touch it. Dear Readers, I give you.....

     THE GUM WALL ! ! !

It was Fast and Furious

20:30 hrs.
10 Apr 15

     So there we were.. in the middle Spring Break with only one Loin Fruit at the WAYWARD INN we headed off to the Emerald City - Seattle, Wa. Nice place Seattle.  The people are friendly enough. And why wouldn't they be? After all, their only British Columbians once removed. Its funny though because that that theory doesn't really apply to alot of Albertans (especially those driving on BC's highways) does it?

     Seattle really is a cool place. There are loads of things to do as tourists. This was our second time visiting. The first time we (meaning me) drove down, taking the I-5 from the Peace Arch border crossing. Never again. The traffic is way beyond my liking. So this time we (my BETTER HALF and I) decided to take the Victoria Clipper, a passenger only twin jet catamaran, from Victoria directly to downtown Seattle. The Emerald City public transit system is very convenient and effective so there was no need for us to take a vehicle.

     We really needed to get away from the WAYWARD INN and this was a celebration trip as well as Loin Fruit #2 had just turned 15 years old. Ever the worlds best trip organizer, my LOBSTER searched out venues and attractions that would keep us busy. An underground tour, a pinball museum, Star Wars costume exhibit, Utili-kilts, a Pompeii exhibit at the Seattle Science Centre. All of this was going to be a really cool trip.

     Another aspect of visiting a foreign city, even one as close as Seattle, is to see what is similar and yet different to where you live. One thing that I spotted was the anti-hoodlum devices installed in public places to deter the little bastards from being a nuisance.

From the Cage Liner...

15:10 hrs.
01 April 15

     I saw in yesterdays Cage Liner that there is soon to be a new lawyers office in THE VALLEY. Occupying the old Bonds Fish n' Chip shop on Cliffe Ave. is a trial lawyer. I'm not sure but I think the partners are named Dewey, Cheatum and How. Applicable names. They could also be Thresher, Mako and Blue - all sharks for sure.

     Farther down Cliffe, across the street from the defunct Future Shop/soon to be Best Buy, is a new Affordable Housing complex. Its going up fast too. I dare say it will easily be occupational by Christmas. The question is... affordable for who? Its on the outskirts of town. There is a bus route and as it is it would be faster to walk than take the diesel powered rickshaw service that BC Transit operates here in THE VALLEY.

     The new VIHA hospital on Veteran's Way is climbing higher too. Despite the weeks of set backs from blown electrical hoist motors on the two big cranes. Maybe Island concrete is heavier than Lower Mainland concrete. I dunno. But the jobsite has been plagued with breakdowns to the point that they are now weeks behind and everybody knows it. But of course, since it hasn't been published in the local Cage Liner its not official. There's more workers onsite now too. The northwest end of the Home Despot parking lot looks like a used truck sales lot with all models of Ford, GMC, and Dodge trucks parked through out the day. The Timmies location is probably making money hand over fist.

     For those of you in the still frozen parts will be happy to note that my lawn has been mowed.

     My Better Half and I have heard little from Loin Fruit #1. He's over in Italy on a school trip. A nice go for sure. But I doubt if he's going to appreciate it. I know we would have. The two of us haven't been away in quite some time (sans Couch Monkeys). So, for our 20th Anniversary, we will hopefully be able to utilize the monies from by book sales to go on a trip some place. Personally, I would love a cruise of the Med. Or a tour of the Distillery Trail in Scotland. Oche Aye, Laddie would ye laek some tatties and neeps?

     I have a Cuz'n getting hitched in Saskabush this coming September. Doubt if we will be able to make it as we (meaning I) could very well be deep in my cups or knee deep in Greek delicacies.

     I don't play a lot of online games. But, the one I love playing is WORLD OF TANKS. I doubt very much that anyone could not love driving a steel monster, shooting off your big gun and running over shit. How much fun is that? And, its FREE!  For all you ex-service guys and gals out there, I would highly recommend it.

     I spotted this this trailer parked near the Parksville interchange some time ago. I don't think its there anymore. A nice squatchy reminder. I thought it was pretty cool.