What now!

24 May 17
18:45 hrs

     Just what I frickin need.
     More cats.
     To quote Opus, "I need (more) cats like I need butt implants!"

     Yes, we are fostering three rescued feral kittens. Not my idea. But it may be good for some members of the household to have a bit of responsibility. As if we don't have enough to do already.

25 May 17
19:00 hrs

     For me the week is done and I found a new beer. A dark ale brewed in Vancouver.   It's not too strong or thick like some ales. Quite enjoyable really.

     I heard of a new store on 5th Ave. Bigfoot Donuts. With a name like that I'll have to check it out.

     One of my favourite cartoonists has been threatened with legal action by a lawyer representing the Tangerine Tyrant for using his likeness and that of his wife in the comic strip, Bloom County. What a thin skinned Ass-Hat! As a public figure you would think that he would roll with the punches.

28 May 17
16:05 hrs

     We took the Mobile Wayward Inn south to a FOB. We knew we would be safe because the Zombie Response Unit was camped nearby.

     On Saturday we deployed from there to the Capital City, meeting up with my Lobster's Travelling Relatives. They have located themselves three stories above the 5th fairway. Nice digs, including a large galley type kitchen. I tried to garner some editing assistance but there were no takers. While in the Capital City we went to a high end book store where they actually had books you would be interested in purchasing as opposed to the large chain bookstore in Hub City which is loaded with books, none of which you want to read.

     The drive down and back was like a dream. The Ram,  with the 5.7l Hemi, has no issues towing the Mobile Wayward Inn. It's like towing the big tent trailer behind the Sport Trac.  Sometimes you have to look just to make sure it's still behind you because you certainly don't feel it.

     The summer heat is now upon us. The kitties are lounging outside. Mr. Butt Nuggets is on his harness and Miss Baggy Bits simply stares and contemplates the life of a day lily. Can life be any more enjoyable. Our Jr. Couch Monkey has gainful employment over the summer months and we are hoping that Loin Fruit #1 finds something as well.

Time is FLYING BY...

17 May 17
09:30 hrs

     Yes, time is flying by. Half the year is nearly gone. Have you noticed? Probably not. Especially with Circus Circus operating at full tilt South of the 49th Parallel. Insanity at its best. Oh, you won't pledge your undying fielty to the You-all Czar. YOU'RE FIRED! I wouldn't be surprised if he is impeached or dies of lead poisoning that is inserted at a high rate of speed from a long distance. Just saying. Either way the general populace will wake up one day and figure out they have been bamboozled. Time to take out the trash.

     Listen to any new music lately? How about old music? Try Hemispheres, Side one. It's all one song. Cygnus X-1 Book ll. It's not for everyone but I find it enjoyable. I'm really impressed with our Second Loin Fruit's taste in music. I'm sure I have mentioned it before but he ranges from the 50s to R&B to prog rock and everything in between. The Premier Couch Monkey has similar tastes but looks to the darker side of the spectrum.  Go figure.

     I think spring is finally here in the Valley. The leaves are out and the weeds are growing with wild abandon. We have added a couple of new trees at the Wayward Inn.  A palm and a couple of golden beech. If the rain let's up I'll prime the in ground sprinklers. I saw a notice that Vancouver is moving to water restrictions already. With all the rain the Left Coast has recieved you can't tell me the reservoirs aren't full. Maybe the snow pack is light? That's a possibility.

     I saw the pilings being driven in for the new Tsolum River Bridge.  Completion is still timed to the opening of the new hospital. It'll be a Two-Fer. There is a snag though. The floors of the new parkade are sagging. Not enough column supports or the slabs are too thick or a combination there of. I don't know which, but the engineers (the guys who can design a widget, can describe it's intended purpose but don't know how to implement it) are scrambling for a quick fix. What I do know is I won't be parking on it any time soon.

     As you know we have a huge new Crappy Tire here in the Valley. But, it's on the other side of the Bridge so it's not conducive to run in and get anything. It's not that it takes a long time to get over there it's just a pain in the ass and with all the local construction along the roadways it takes even longer. Add in the crazy drivers who should all move back to Cowtown and you may start to get the picture. Once again the notion of a third bridge comes to mind. Right down 29th Ave and across the estuary.  Bang zoom. And build it north of the Ko'mox tribal lands. Something has to be done and two of the four towns in the Valley will have to be the ones footing the bill. So start setting funds aside. Start by doing the little things like build a new harbour in Royston and move the leaky old derelict boats out of the basin across from the RD office. The pitiful little airfield downtown can be relocated too. Somewhere up on the bench above Royston would be nice. It should have been closed years ago too.

     I have been working 12 out 14 days for months now. Oh, the pay is great. In fact, I had a greater net income than my Better Half. Not bad for a semi retired guy. But it's all about the deductions. If one source of income deducts the right amount and the second income deducts nothing you are screwed. Even if both income sources deduct what they are supposed to it won't be enough when the two sources are combined.

23:00 hrs

     We have a guest at the Wayward Inn.  He's up from Hub City on an annual Whack-Dammit excursion. While he is here there will be no discussion of the Tangerine Tyrant as we are diametrically opposed on the subject. Best to the sleeping clowns lie.

19 May 17
18:05 hrs

     Twenty-three nineteen! 
     We have a TWENTY-THREE NINETEEN!

     My Better Half and I were just at Costco where we saw this physically challenged young woman in front of us accidently get knocked down. She was standing very close behind her mom who suddenly stepped back knocking her down. She bounced off our cart and then to the polished concrete floor. We immediately swung in to render aid but the mom, directing her daughter to a table, informed us that it happens often. Within seconds the COSTCO CYA TEAM, complete with medicsl bags and radio communications, arrived to make sure all was A-OK.

By the Short & Curlies

02 May 17
05:25 hrs

     Yes, it is that time of year again. And if you are reading this and you have not paid your taxes I hope that you don't owe yhe government any money.

      I owe them.

     It's my own damn fault. This past year I worked a shit load of hours, up to 50+ some weeks, and all that over time looks great in the bank. The problem arises when you have two or more sources of income with their own levels of taxation. However, all income is added together and is taxed at the combined level. Trust me when I say that if you have more than one job there is never enough taxes taken off. You would think that I would have learned this lesson when ar one time I was submitting six T4 slips for one taxation year. That's six jobs, actually it was five part time jobs and a pension, but it's still six sources of income and all of them were taxed at their own minimum level. Once they were added together, I was royally screwed.

     The same crap happened this year. One line of tasking took off deductions and the other took off less than a pinch of 'coon shit. So, I am paying again. Starting this month I will have to tithe some to my RRSP.  It's the only way I am going to break even. Especially, when every second week I'm racking up 50+ hours of work. It adds up pretty damn quick.

02 May 17
19:15 hrs

     Today was the first day of the Sr. Loin Fruit's practicum in his chosen field. By all accounts it went well. He came home really stoked at the experience. Well, it was only the first day. Let's see how he feels after 120 hrs. The worm may still turn.

03 May 17
12:50 hrs

     It's a very grey day here in the Valley. Low clouds and misting precip. A bit of a rotten day. On a good note the advanced polls are open and as a citizen of Canada I am asking, nee demanding, that if you are over the age of eighteen to get your ass out and vote. I am not going to tell you who to vote for nor am I about to tell you which party I am going to vote for. The point is that you must vote. I recently found out that Australia has a law whereby if you don't vote you can be fined. It's a nominal fine of only $20 ausd but you will have broken the law. We don't have that law in Canada but I would direct you to a conversation I had years ago with an individual stated that she never voted because she didn't think it would make a difference. Maybe so, I countered,  "But, if you don't participate in the process you have no right to complain about the results!"

18:00 hrs

     Tonight was Loin Fruit #2's turn to make supper. Home made gourmet mac and cheese. From scratch, including the bechemel sauce. I can't wait and I'm sure Chef Blaine will be impressed too.
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