Adjustments

26 Nov 19

08:30 hrs

     The Oma-nator has been at the Wayward Inn for almost three weeks and the adjustments in our living arrangements are still evolving. For myself, I can no longer wander about the Wayward Inn with just my BVD's on. Try to tell that to our Sr. Couch Monkey. She's going to get a heck of a shock if she spots him creeping down the stairs in just his gitch. 

     The Christmas lights on the house are pretty much complete. I'm going to add a couple more strings to brighten it up some more.

     My Sister from Another Mother celebrated a birthday yesterday. She and her Lobster had supper at the Sage's house last night. Myself and Li'l Sis are really happy that she is able to check in on the Sages as we live farther away.

     I have a new qualification for at work. I had to go get certified to work in a restricted area. I had worked there back in '82. My Friend from Over the Hump said that I shouldn't have to be requalled because if they dusted the place for prints mine were probably still there.

     Work on my third tome is progressing nicely. Rewrites and editing. I had to change it from nonfiction to fiction as the Powers that be are afraid I'm  going to put them in a bad light or something. Personally, I think they are afraid of being sued. Typical corporate mentality. 

     So how about the Tangerine Tyrant? Looks like everything is closing in on him. If you want a really good laugh look for Randy Rainbow on YouTube. He does a great job of poking fun at the POTUS. In fact all of the late shows hosts have barely had to write any material with that idiot in the White House.

16:00 hrs

     My Better Half is home from the salt mines. She found me in the Oma-nator's suite keeping her company. She has almost cometed knitting another dish cloth in about four hours. Crazy! While I was sitting with her she was watching some mindless talk show that features a bubble head host who must be from somewhere south of the Mason Dixon line as she referred to the audience as a collective "yawl" and then "axed" her guests some questions. The only thing worse would have been watching Dr. Phil or - God help me - Dr. Oz who isn't even a fricken doctor. Oh, he's board certified awright...a certified self centered fraud.

     I had my shingles vaccine shot yesterday. I don't think it was the inoculation but I'm cold and grumpy. Tired too. No, it's not a man cold. I don't get those. Maybe once every three or four years I'll be laid up for a couple of days. Other than that I'm pretty healthy. But I do intend to nap more in the future.

27 Nov 19

20:45 hrs

     Last night I was as cold as hell. Couldn't get warm if I tried. So right after supper I showered, threw my wool campfire blanket over my side of the bed and racked out with side one of Pulse playing on my headset. My Better Half came to bed three hours later and I never heard or felt a thing. Nine hours later I woke up. 

     I saw something interesting today. Actually, it was two things. First, there was a moving van at the home of the ultra Redneck down the street. The house only sold three weeks ago so that's a pretty fast possession date for the new residents. Good luck and goodbye. Secondly, the Greycup was won by the team from the Keystone province and with that the first female name will be engraved on the chalice. She is the team's vice president of team marketing or something. That's crap because for years teams have had cheerleaders who are just as much a part of the team as any linebacker and none of them have ever been scribed on the cup. I'm sure that the pep squad works much harder than some desk jockey. I think this is just crap!

It's been One Week...

17 Nov 19

15:30 hrs

     It's been One Week since the Oma-nator arrived at the Wayward Inn. She loves the room but is still in the mindset that home is back in the Nation's Capital. 

     Uh, no. It's not.

     Do you know of someone who just demand your undivided attention 24/7/365 look at me Look At Me LOOK AT ME! 

     It's understandable if this person is a child looking for approval from a parent and it's pretty bad if it's a risk taker looking for their next adrenaline high. But there is another individual that has appeared in everyone's lives. Now, don't deny it because I'm sure you, Dear Readers, either know of this person or you're related to this person. This is the individual who has to announce every little detail of their lives on Social Media. From the time they wake to the time they crash out all the sorted details of their daily ablutions are posted with all the colors of the rainbow. 

     Look Kidlettes...I really don't give a rats ass what your dog ate and then threw up. I definitely don't care to know about every little drippy booger hanging out of your kids head and you certainly don't have to forward the photos. If you step in dog shit don't tell the world about it unless of  course you have never stepped in dog shit before or you can make it worth my while by describing the experience as eloquently as Pushkin. And hey, if any rational adults don't respond its probably because you're just wasting their time with your inconsequential issues. Nuff Said!

     The Eastern and Western football finals are on. It would appear that the East will be represented by the boys from Steel Town and the West will be the Blue Machine.

19 Nov 19

07:30 hrs

     If you have been living in a cave you probably haven't heard of the inquiry into the Tangerine Tyrant's misdeeds. All I can say is that with each witness the coffin is being nailed shut on his presidency.

     It's a clear and windy day here in the Valley. Behind me I can see the glacier that overlooks the Valley. There is a lot of fresh snow up there. It is unfortunate if you've never seen it. It looks fantastic. If you didn't know the melting snow from the glacier is the source of our drinking water. 

     I had a reply from a major book store in Capital City. I had taken them a copy of my latest book to see if they would like to carry it. After some time they rejected it. Their loss.

21 Nov 19

04:45 hrs

     I'm up early as I'm headed to a new job site. Yesterday I also went to work to gain some new qualifications and then spent the majority of the day going up and down a ladder putting Christmas lights on the Wayward Inn. The Oma-nator said "Why so many lights?" 

     Because, my Lobster wants it!

     Some loser south of the Valley was convicted of cruelty to animals and failing to provide the necessities for an animal. Part of his sentence states he can never own an animal and cannot reside anywhere there is an animal. Dear Readers, if you see a neighbour whose pet is chained up all the time with no one paying attention to it simply put yourself in its place. Would you want someone to check on your health? Well, what are you waiting for?

The Eagle is landing...Permanently!

08 Nov 19

16.00 hrs

     Yes, the Eagle is on approach and is expected to land near midnight. It's a long time in the making but finally the day has arrived and with it our lives at the Wayward Inn will change again. For centuries many cultures have had multi-generations living under the same roof. It has only been the the advent of the post war nuclear family where this has not been so prevalent. You can blame the push for higher education, the increased ownership of personal vehicles and the demise of the small town manufacturing base. All of this has contributed to young adults being able to readily move away from where they grew up to set down their own roots and in doing so leaving their parents behind. Trust me when I say that this has not always been a good thing.

     Meanwhile...

     The new Rabbit Warren is nearing completion. Twenty-four newly squashed townhouses on a plot of land devoid of trees and with just a strip of grass between parking spots. Even though it is located along a busy thoroughfare the noise on the ground floor will be partially blocked by the concrete fence. Upstairs will be a different matter. Not to worry the new modern residents will relax inside their heat pump filtered homes while tuned to Netflix and Amazon tv. I don't even think they have room for their own Flame Pit.

09 Nov 19

10:15 hrs

     The Oma-nator landed at 00:15 hrs this morning and by the time everyone racked out it was after 01:00 hrs. I was awakened by Mr. Buttnuggets and the Rental Cat at about 05:30. Feed me Seymour! 

     I put them off until 06:30.

     The Oma-nator is now awake and beginning to unpack. She brought a carry on and two suitcases. She knows that she was coming to the Wayward Inn for at least four months before the final move. One suitcase has clothes and the other has stuff. I guess a shopping trip is in her future. Heck maybe she planned it this way so her daughter can help her shop for clothes. I wouldn't put it past her as she's kinda cagey. 

10 Nov 19

07:00 hrs

     The Oma-nator got her wish last night. BBQ'd cheese burgers. The Sr. Couch Monkey did the cooking and it was pretty good too. My Better Half made up a bunch of sides and I drank whiskey. Today I'll be prepping ribs for tomorrow.  They're going into the Smoke box. I'll do two kinds as the Oma-nator will not like the garlic or star anise. If there is any left I will send some to Elric the Stalwart. 

     Tomorrow is Remembrance Day. Please attend a ceremony and think of not just those who died for your freedom but those who are serving today. As the military is very much a closed society the vast majority of the public has no clue as to the issues Service Members have to address. If you know of a military person why don't you stop and chat with them. It might be an interesting conversation. 

     A former co-worker of mine has had a bad go of it this past year. He and I worked together in the Centre of the Great White North for a number of years. He's a great guy. Hard working, dedicated, enjoys a good joke, concerned for his fellow crew mates. Last year he was thrown into a pit of despair when his world suddenly crumbled under his feet when his Lobster died. It wasn't a prolonged illness it was like they went to sleep healthy and in the morning she didn't get up for Cheerios. Since then my friend has been been through all the emotions and probably some of them at the same time. I'm sure he's recieving some counseling- at least I hope he is. I've tried reaching out to him. He has my number and will call when he's ready. If I lived closer I'd be knocking on his door just to keep him company.

     Listen up Kidlettes. It's time for you to put on your adult pants and start helping one another. Put aside your petty differences and get the jobs done. It is the successes that move us forward as a team. No one strives for failure. 

The Countdown has begun!

03 Nov 19

07:45 hrs.

     By the end of this week the Oma-nator will be here at the Wayward Inn. Her new residence has been completely remodeled by my Better Half - with the assistance of myself and our Sr. Couch Monkey. New paint, window shutters were replaced with curtains, two comfy chairs, two small tables, an adjustable bed, big number button phone, a 43 wall mounted flat screen, dimmable floor lamp, etc. It has been quite the transformation.

04 Nov 19

04:00 hrs

     I am watching the news - I know that I'm up way too fricken early - and I'm seeing that 10% of the students at twelve alternative schools in the Golden Horseshoe are exempt from being vaccinated for measles for religious or other reasons. Maybe the parents are anti-vaxxer Whackadoos. Whatever the reason these people have to be educated that they are threatening the health of others. Some jurisdictions insist that all students be inoculated or they cannot attend the school. Or maybe, have one big school for all the unvaccinated so they can infect only themselves. 

     We drove Over the Hump on Saturday to see our friends. It was a good drive. It's been quite a while since we had been there. Their town is always a conundrum. The main industry for the area is all but dead and many others have been reinvented over and over again. The fact that it is Still Standing is a testament to their tenacity.

     Something to watch for in the news is the term Wexit. This is the reference for members from the four western provinces who are tired of the Easterners leeching off of the benefits of the West. One such benefit is the unequal distribution of the federal equalization payments. This programme was designed to take monies from have provinces and given to have not provinces. So for years monies were funneled from the two provinces to our east only to be handed over unconditionally to two provinces holding the largest population. However, when the western provinces needed financial assistance not only were monies not provided they continued to be bled off for the east. When a pipeline needed to be built to deliver oil to the refineries on the Right Coast the Sticky Province became a bunch of NIMBY's. Oh, they're still receiving oil but instead of it being oil from the Great White North it's oil subsidized by the Feds from the Mid-East Sandbox.

05 Nov 19

06:00 hrs

     And one last thing before I dash off to the Salt Mines. In the province on the other side of the rocks 500 individuals have signed a petition to form a new federal political party. Dubbed Wexit Alberta its purpose is to promote (read demand) better treatment for its citizens and if necessary the separation from the Great White North. Hey, if the Blockheads can do it why not them?