For those of you...

20 Apr 18
15:55 hrs

     Good Afternoon Dear Readers!

     For those of you still stuck in the frozen wasteland that still grips the majority of the Great White North you should know that here on the Left Coast the cherry blossoms are already starting to fall. There is a large big leaf maple tree in our neighbours yard and yesterday it was so nice and warm that you could almost see the leaves unfurling. If you've never seen a big leaf maple they tend to grow in wet cool swampy places here on the Left Coast. Their leaves can be the size of a dinner plate. From the kitchen window at the Wayward Inn you can see the Saskatoon berry bushes that we planted last year. They too are pushing out new growth. Now, if you have never had a Saskatoon berry pie I truly feel sorry for you. For those of us who have enjoyed this dessert it is a delight. In fact, I would give my Sr. Loin Fruit's right arm for a Saskatoon berry pie. I doubt that after this season we will have enough berries for a pie but they will be great on ice cream.

     Elric the Stalwart and his Better Half will be attending the Wayward Inn for dinner and some games. It's been a while since we've done that. Chef Irene wants to put together a egg plant and zucchini lasagna. We've made it before and it is pretty damn good. Tonight, we will be heading to the Church Street Bakery for a  couple of wood fired pizzas. It's a late celebration for our Jr. Couch Monkey's birthday.

18:05 hrs

     Supper is done. The five of us, the Jr. Loin Fruit's Main Squeeze was with us, enjoyed two wood-fire pizzas, drinks ( ales and sodas) and a dessert. Something was missing though and that would be a thank you from the Main Squeeze. And this is not the first time, where what should be, the proper etiquette has not been offered. Maybe I missed it. Maybe the thank you given by the Jr. Couch Monkey was meant for both of them. I heard his. Hell, she heard his. I also heard my Better Half's and the Sr. Loin Fruit's gratitude for picking up the tab but I did not hear hers. This will irk me for some time.

     It's one of those little things. The pleasantries that makes life easier as opposed to the burr under the saddle blanket that rubs you the wrong way for the entire ride. Call it a pet peeve if you will. Like people using an "Oh" in place of a "zero". There are no "Ohs" in a phone number! If your phone number is 604-820-3009 it is pronounced as six zero four eight two zero three zero zero nine. It is not six oh four eight two oh three oh oh nine. And did you ever notice that the low brows mispronouncing their digits will only use the oh if it's in the middle and not if it's at the start or at the end. This would make it sound like this: six oh four eight two zero three oh oh nine. Such poor language skills drives me crazy.

21 Apr 18
07:35 hrs

     It looks like it will be a gorgeous day here in the Valley. I really should be out chasing puppies but I've used up all my hours this week, unless I get called out of course. I don't think I've talked much about my employment and I can't really as it it is out in tbe public eye. This also means that you can do a great job and receive a ton of accolades (aka Attaboys) but if one there is but one complaint (aka Ahshit) you are in tbe frickin dog house. But, I love the job. I work pretty much on my own, travelling the length and breadth of the District, helping people and sorting out their animal control issues. I think I do a good job. Those who I help think I do a great job. But, in any job you cannot please everyone. Someone will always  complain and that complaint will shoot straight to the top of the heap where it will turn into a ball of shit that will grow as it tumbles down hill to land on me. If my managers had any clue as to what my job entails they would step up and hear both sides before rendering a decision. Nope! In their myopic view, the complainant is always right regardless of the facts. The result is I am treading lightly, not extending myself and deferring anything and nearly every little thing for my managers decision. Eventually, I hope,  they will get tired of it and let me do my fucking job.

     This coming week the Mobile Wayward Inn will be de-winterized in the hope of getting out this weekend. I have to get the boat ready to go fishing with my buddy From Over the Hump. I don't think I even got out last year. The amount of taxes I'm paying does not indicate that I am semi retired. I am earning just about the same amount as I did in 2003 but with nowhere near the amount of time off to do stuff.

     It's a double edged sword for a lot of people. Working gives you a wage. Wages gives you food, security and other things but at the same time - Money isn't everything. If you are constantly working and cannot have something for yourself do something creative for yourself. You can be the wealthiest person on the block and still burn out from working yourself into an empty shell.