Backwards or Forwards?

30 Dec 16
06:15 hrs

     Which way are you going to go?
     Press on?
     Or regress?

     I just saw a documentary, even at 0-Dark 30 you will find documentaries on the box, on how there has been a rise in white supremacists South of the 49th and how it is being likened to the social backlash upheaval in the 90's.  Church bombings, racial murders and federal government institutions being attacked. But this is 2016/2017. What the hell is wrong with people? And now, with an egotistical demigogue sitting in White House all bets are off for the next four years. If by chance there isn't a nuclear war we'll be lucky.

31 Dec 16
19:25 hrs.

     We are seated in the centre of Sid Williams Theatre to watch "Peter and the Star Catcher" this year's pantomime. Elric the Stalwart's eldest daughter is one of the lead actors. The play is excellent and she could have career in theatre.

Another Year Folks!

24 Dec 16
05:15 hrs

     Yes, Dear Readers it has been another year and a lot has changed since last year.   My Lobster pointed out that this Christmas will be the first that our dear friend Colleen Howard will not be gracing us with her presence on Christmas morning.  Colleen passed away in January. She had physical ailments and later we learned she had other issues that certainly did not help. She passed alone,  out of doors, succumbing to her illnesses and the elements. She will be missed.

     The Oma, is in the Golden Horseshoe visiting her Elder Daughter for Christmas.  Her husband, my Better Half's Father,  passed last January too. It's good that she is with family at this time of the year. Speaking of family. My Better Half's Travelling Relatives have moved yet again. They have gone south to the Capital. Which is actually where I always pictured them to be as they are a much more cosmopolitan couple and their former residence north of us, though visually beautiful, lacked the their level of sophistication. (If anyone is looking to buy a very nice condo in River City I'm sure I can get a deal for you since I know the owners.)

     Health has been a major concern this year especially the health of our friends and relatives. A number of them, on both sides of the family, have contracted some very serious diseases. Here at the Wayward Inn we hope and pray for a speedy recovery for all.

     Over the holidays the Christmas Menu at the Wayward Inn will include a spiral cut ham, mashed yams, spetzel (as requested by the Loin Fruits), glazed carrots. On Christmas morning we will have Wife Saver for breakfast to be followed by a roasted squash soup in the afternoon. This will something new for our Holiday meal traditions. There should be leftovers and you are welcome to join in.

     As for presents, some of us have gone over the top and will have to put in for a few more shifts to pay for it all. But, it was necessary. I only know of one thing that I am getting. Yesterday, my Lobster asked me to pick out a scotch as a Christmas present from her. I selected a 10 year Laphroaig. She has great taste. Ha ha! And speaking of smokey flavourings, we went tea shopping. She was looking for an afternoon English breakfast tea. I found something much more to my liking and I don't like tea as a rule. Too wishy washy. Too subtle. Not enough in your face. I found it. Russian Caravan. It is a tea smoked with pine boughs. My Lobster says the smell reminders her of sweat dripping off a saddle. Mmmm...good!

     As a purveyor of interesting stuff, I invite you to look for the movie Hyaena Road. A Canadian made flick about Canadians in Afghanistan. If you have ever watched any war movies ever you will notice a marked difference between it and the American Perspective Schlock. Another good one about the same conflict is WTF. Filmed from a female war correspondent perspective. It can be found on Netflix.

     I have been running a bit of an experiment of late. At Musicfest I bought a reversal cap that looks a lot like a Muslim cap. I wear it often, especially when it isn't raining. It's surprising the looks I get wearing this cap because physically I do not look middle Eastern. I have even heard what could be described as racist comments once my back is turned. Never to my face. Which is good because I would most certainly set the record straight to the uneducated asshole. It doesn't matter what I am wearing or if I am Muslim or not the issue is that person's attitude based on their ignorance. Sometimes spoiling for a fight  is a good thing.

     Around the Valley there is still a lot of construction going on. The shell of the  new four story apartment/condo is standing tall by the river behind the federal government access centre on 21st Street. When out on patrol I get to see a lot more changes than my Better Half.  Last night, while looking at Christmas lights, we drove through the Huband area. There were a couple of houses that had gone all out but also I showed her some new roads that had been built several years ago that she never knew existed. It's good to get out and see what's beyond your flat screen.

     Merry Christmas everyone.

Guests and Stuff

17 Dec 16
17:05 hrs

     It's been a busy time around the Wayward Inn. Illness and maintenance abounds plus a couple of guests too. Let's start with the illnesses.

     Both my #2 Loin Fruit and my Better Half are both under the weather. I think the Sr. Couch Monkey, who is home for Christmas from Higher Learning, is also not up to scratch either. Looking at 2016 as a whole all I can say heath wise is 2016 has been a hole. There is not one branch of the family, in either direction, that has not been affected by serious illness or death. We're hoping that 2017 will bring some sort of a respite.

18 Dec 16
07:05 hrs

     More of the white stuff was supposed to be hitting the ground last night and all day today. Looking out from the Wayward Inn the roads look wet but they are still bare. There is some snow still down in the Valley and much more Out in the Weeds. No where near the amount we lived with in the Peg where snow drifts would cover sidewalks, roads, fences and even cars.

     Our friends from Over the Hump came for an overnight stay. She was having a long awaited day surgery which was successful but painful now that the freezing is out. Her Better Half and I went to Nikkei Ramen-ya for lunch. I had to try a different type of ramen. Again, it was fantastic. I could eat there every day. I asked the chef if he was planning in using local seafood and he said maybe in the summer he might use some spot prawns but the prices would probably climb.  It would be expected. He refuses to use the industrialized suppliers. Good on him. After lunch we were headed back to the Ram when we spotted the workers up on the scaffolding nestled against the old McConnichies Furniture on Fifth Ave. It occupied the upper floor of the building that Leungs Grocery was in and had closed up shop quite some time ago. I wondered what was going on so I asked them. There will be 16 new apt/condos in that building bringing more life to the downtown area. Excellent. A person living there could walk to almost all the amnenities, except now Thrifties on 6th is moving into the old Safeway at 17th and Cliffe so walking for groceries might be a stretch. Now, if we can only the stores downtown to stop rolling up the door mats at 17:00 hrs. There is a Scouter who lives in an apartment above some shops in Comox. He has a great view of the harbour and readily walks to all of his needs.

     I'm not one for taking meds of any kind but last night I dropped a pair of Buckleys anti cough & flu pills. Damn near got 8 hours of sleep. Unprecedented. I don't know what time the Yard Apes went to bed. I think the older one was in bed before we were.

19 Dec 16
06:15 hrs

     Another rough night for my Lobster. I wish that she would take the time off to get better. But she won't.

     My father is under going cancer treatment. He has chemo about three times a month which will be followed by surgery in February. A friend of my in laws is quite elderly and has suffered a stroke. Her son, who is in his early 40's has developed some strain of leukaemia. I told you already that 2016 has been a shitty year.

     The only big thing to watch for if the Electoral College Vote going on South of the 49th Parallel. It is expected that they will vote in favour of putting the Donald into the White House as the Prez. I am truly worried that this yutz will have the world in a global conflict before long. Duck and Cover may enjoy a resurgence.

DISAPPOINTED!

11 Dec 16
20:25 hrs.

     My Lobster and I took a drive around town this evening. We had dropped our Junior Couch Monkey at his DND group and took a tour around to look at Christmas lights. The usual prize areas are lit up beyond belief. For example, if you drive down by Farqueson farm, at the bottom of 10th, you will see some amazing light displays. There are some other streets that have been lit up with Christmas spirit but, for the most part, the vast majority of the houses in town are devoid of lights, wreaths, inflatable Santas, or an thing festive. It makes me sad to see that it would appear that people are just waiting for the Boxing Day sale to use the gift cards they recieved for Christmas. Pure laziness.

     I have purchased all of the gifts that I feel my loved ones would like. And they are all squirreled away until I can wrap them.

     NO PEEKING!

     A little warning. If anyone discovers the stash before Christmas morning the items will be returned or donated. Fair warning. Would you take any similar actions?

     I know of one incident that was rather disheartening. It involves a child that was one of my cub scouts. He was only 8 or 9 years old and being an inquisitive child he found where the presents were and peeked. Now, the problem was not with the peeking but with the fact that his father was more focused on his new wife and their life together. (The boy's mom lived down east and was not in the picture.) After the Christmas holiday season we had asked all the cubs what they received from Santa. This one kid told us he got nothing and when asked why not he said it was because he had peeked. As punishment the presents (all of them) were being withheld.

     Okay. Fair enough. We, the cub leaders, figured that after a couple of days, after learning his lesson, he would get his presents. Nope. To really teach him a lesson the gifts were withheld one week for each gift he peeked at. That would be twelve. Not one gift returned each week for the next twelve weeks. No. They were all held for twelve weeks! The poor kid didn't get his Christmas presents until Easter.

     It was so sad. There was nothing we could do (non interference and such) except have the other cubs refrain from talking about their new toys. As much of a pair of asses his father and step-mom were from all indications the birth mom was worse.  That summer the family moved back east. They flew the boy to his birth mom so they could take a leisurely week long vacation drive to the new work location without the boy. Sometimes I wonder what ever happened to him.

It's time once again!

05 Dec 16
22:50 hrs

     I have been nudged.

     My Better Half's Travelling Relatives have contacted me and entry informed me that it was time for another blog. I suppose it is. And on the subject of...
Well let's just keep it a rambling kind of thing shall we.

     Our Senior Couch Monkey came to visit us the week before last. I headed out after work and picked him up. It went well. Arguments were at a minimum. Good thing because we may not be available to get him if his attitude is in the toilet. If you get my drift. We all know someone who has a piece of work teen or young adult in their home.

     Speaking of pieces of work, have you seen that sociopathic spoiled bitch on Canada's Worst Driver?  She holds the belief that as a Millenial she is entitled to TEXT and DRIVE. She says that she will never stop texting and driving. She lives in Edmonton and Alberta has private insurance so maybe she won't be able to get any coverage. You may call it a reality show but these loons are the reality that is operating on Canada's roads so pay attention. You may even pick up some driving tips or you may see the errors on the road that you are committing.

     Are you ready for Christmas? Every year I say I'm going to start my shopping in June. I have done that in the past but as the Loin Fruits grow up there is less that they need and what they want I'm not getting them. I certainly don't get what I want or need from them (and neither does my Lobster ) which goes to show you how  much they really know me (us). It doesn't have to be a purpose or a function or some ethereal representation of your bent perspective on society which would never adhere to since I am damn near three times your age and have lived two lives already, but it should something that I may enjoy using. How about sending us to a spa to have a massage? Or to Cuba? Your choice.

     If I was flush with cash, which I am not so don't ask for a loan I would send The Sage's on a trip to the Holy Land. By plane of course. Li'l Sis and I have tried to send them or pay for some kind of relaxing spa  therapy for them and we have been rebuffed every time. "Why would I go there? Why would I waste my time? Don't bother I can see all that on TV." However, in the very next breath they are slamming us for doing anything remotely for the shear pleasure of it. That's okay we have finally realized that for everyone's sanity we don't offer and we don't tell. Except,  Li'l Sis is escaping to El Grande Margarita in a week or so and The Sages found out. They tried to poo poo it but she didn't take the bait so it went no where.

     It has been almost a year since my Lobster's father passed. She has been back to the Nation's Capital several times since then to help her mom. Family in the area has certainly helped as well and I thank them for their support. You want to know a secret...I miss him too.

06 Dec 16
08:00 hrs

     I had recently mentioned on the Facebook page for this blog my visit to the Nikkei Ramen-ya restaurant of 5th Street. I don't know if you like ramen or if you've ever had ramen or if you would ever want to try ramen. I was thoroughly impressed. I will be going back. The depth of flavours in the broth was amazing.  The ramen itself is hand made. The gyoza wrappers are hand made too. It must be good because there were people, who you would figure by virtue of their cultural background would have no business being in a ramen shop consuming ramen like it was made by their own mother. If you haven't been there you got to go. Trust me.

     The sun has now risen on a surprisingly frozen wasteland here in the Valley. A brief skiff of snow and freezing rain has put everyone in a panic. I'm amazed they didn't call for a shut down of the schools. Bunch of weenies. Here's a couple of quick pointers.

     1) BUY SNOW TIRES!
     2) INSTALL THEM IN NOVEMBER!

     There is another pointer and that is to raise your wipers when your car is parked. This is so your wipers don't freeze to your windshield. Trying to scrape them off could damage the blades.

20:00 hrs

     It's quite dark out now. It was dark when I went to work and dark when I went home. I actually didn't get home. I had to drive down into The Valley to pick up a few things from a big box store. Traffic was stupid as no one in their collective memory has driven in snow. But hey, it's not all bad. You could have been one of the lucky 40 individuals who had the windshield or the roof of their car smashed in from ice bombs falling from great dizzying heights on the bridges over the Fraser river. And ICBC is covering the cost of this!

     BULLSHIT!

     The cost should be covered by the designers and builders of the bridges. It's their fault. Or how about the moron bureaucrats who approved them. First the nail you for a toll to cross over and then they launch projectiles in the hope of smashing your car. Who's going to pay for the funeral when someone dies from this stupidity?