More Snow...DAMMIT!

30 Dec 21

10:30 hrs

     The year is almost done. And what a shit year it has been. The current weather is the least of what was shitty. The Beer Flu, extreme high temps with the forest fires and the loss of the Senior Sage to name but a few that were troublesome issues. All of this has started me thinking of my own mortality. 

     As I look back it has been forty years since I joined The Service where I gave twenty-seven years to Queen and Country. The last thirteen years were twice as hard. I am looking ahead to when I and my Better Half will finally be fully retired. What will we do? Where will we go? There is a guy I know from years past. He and his Better Half sold everything and purchased a huge Land Yacht (with a truck towed behind) and they cruise the Island from campsite to campsite. Nice idea put it's  some pretty tight quarters. The chances of going squirrely are pretty high. Then, there are health issues that may crop up ax well as the final curtain.

     At the Senior Sage's service a number of hymns were played for people to sing to and listen to as a slide show of photos scrolled by. I don't know a lot of hymns and I don't think anyone attending would believe for a minute that they would be the songs I would want to be played. I think I would choose songs that meant something to me as I grew up and aged - I would prefer to say mellowed but no one would believe that either. So in no particular playlist order....I give you my Ultimate Swan Songs

See you on the Other Side ... Ozzy Osborne

O'Malley's Break followed by 

Closer to the Heart ...            Rush - Time Machine album 2011

Wish you were here ...           Pink Floyd Pulse album

Stand Tall ....          Burton Cummings

Clap for the Wolfman .... The Guess Who (I want the place to be rockin')

31 Dec 21

06:30 hrs

     Happy New Year Dear Readers!

     Yesterday morning I had a call from the Sr. Loin Fruit. He had been on his way into work and got stuck in the snow on the Big Bridge. He was about four hundred metres from work when the lane he was his was blocked with snow. His low slung car was jammed into a wind row left by a plow. He tried digging out to no avail. He called the Auto Club and was given a place holder. He was Number 19. He also called work and informed them that he would be late.  Numerous people stopped to assist and he eventually got out of his predicament before the tow truck arrived. He did well. He did all the right things and it was a good learning experience. BZ.

     The Onion arrives today for the weekend. My Lobster will be picking her up. She's a delight that will brighten up the Wayward Inn. I wonder what she thinks of all the snow.

     My Better Half and I went to see the Old Brit. She has been in the hospital since September. When asked how she's doing she tells us she is just waiting to pass. At ninety million years old she is in constant pain, has experienced extreme weight loss and her body systems are slowly shutting down. It's sad to see. We have known her for more than a dozen years. She's still pretty feisty but is now slower with her comebacks. The Vultures and Hyenaes are all living deep in the Interior where they are keeping themselves warm dreaming of their inheritance. Screw them all my Dear and give it all to the SPCA or do some local shelter to aid our Residentially Challenged people.

     I spotted yet another Rabbit Hutch going up by the Big Box Store. Like all the rest they will be over priced for mear mortals to afford so question is who is moving into them? I know that neither of my Couch Monkeys can get into any new unit or even an old unit that comes available on the market. And yet the market is there. New Hutches and Warrens are going up at a steady pace. There must have been over a thousand in the last year or so and they're all full. 

     What will your New Year bring you? Our two Loin Fruit will be be going back to school. I know the pressure will be on and I hope they do well. It's part of my retirement plan. Stay safe Dear Readers and I'll see you in the New Year. 

T'is the Season

22 Dec 21

07:00 hrs

     Good Morning Dear Readers, 

     Today you will find me monitoring some contractors in a high security area. How secure? Well, if my phone is on in the area the alarms go off and the guys with guns will soon be enroute. So, no phones. But that doesn't stop me from reading and writing. Yup, I have brought my writing materials so I can pen more of the rough draft for my new tome. I'm already looking at this being a shorter book. Maybe about two hundred pages. My Better Half has mentioned that the directions for any recipes should be a larger font size than the written portions. A great idea that I'll have to play around with. The goal is to educate or guide the single person away from relying on drive through fast foods and delivery services for their meals. I will cover equipment, seasonings, meats, veggies, safety, as well as do's and don't. I don't know if I will have a separate section for the recipes or insert them inside the narrative. What do you think?

     The building that blew up at work last month is still standing. The roof of the centre section has started to collapse and it is unknown if the foundation was not compromised. 

24 Dec 21

23:00 hrs

     I just heard tbe door unlock. Our Jr. Loin Fruit has just come home from dinner at friends. At the Wayward Inn we made a spiral cut ham, mashed potatoes, roasted yams, string beans with shallots and red peppers. After supper our Sr. Loin Fruit assisted my Better Half in building three different wife savers for breakfast. One with meat, one with mushrooms and one vegetarian. 

     People have asked me what I want for Christmas and what I want no one can give me. I want time.  Either, more time to complete all the things I want or to go back in time so I can make sure I get everything done. I'm looking at my own mortality and with tbe passing of the Senior Sage - who I can't get back for Christmas either - my days are numbered. My bones creak more, it is more difficult to get up off of the floor and I'm finding myself more irritable. And the Beer Flu lock downs are wearing everybody down too. 

     L'il Sis made the drive from Cowtown to the Sage's. It took her two days as there was a pile up on The Pass. It was better for her to stay the night than drive it in the dark when it re-opened.

26 Dec 21

12:15 hrs

     Happy Wrestling Day. The day when morons decide to fight their way through crowds of other idiots to save a few bucks on shit they probably don't even need. 

     It is miserable here in The Valley. Temperatures in the negative and blowing snow. You'd think you were back on the Lone Prairie. 

     Well, that's about it Dear Readers. Take care of yourself and stay safe.

Snow!

14 Dec 21

06:45 hrs

     Good Morning Dear Readers,

There was some concern from some of you about the young boy I wrote about in my last blog. I must say that I was surprised by the feedback as I often do not get any. I will tell you again that I di not know what happened to him and as I was not a friend of his father I did not keep in touch. I suppose I could delve deep into the records, I would have to have someone else dotbe digging, and once tbe name was produced start a full blown investigation from out on the fringe. So, it is possible but - and that's a BIG BUT - the risk of OTHERS wanting to know why - and them thinking it's for the wrong reason - is not worth the trouble. I hope you understand. 

     There were a few flakes falling this morning. Nothing to be worried about. It was melting as soon as it hit the ground. Unlike the slope I drove through coming back from Hub City on the weekend. We - my Better Half, the Oma-nator and I - went south to visit The Onion, who has returned from Inja to complete her studies in the Great White North. We took her for brunch and gave her some Christmas gifts. Before going south I had purchased some weight for the back of the Ram. Nine concrete slabs weighing eighty-four pounds each. On the drive home from Home Despot I realized it was a bit excessive so I had the two Couch Monkey's remove three of the slabs. The remaining six will stay in place until February or until after I go to visit the Sage which will only happen if the roads to the Interior are rebuilt.

     Our Sr. Loin Fruit has given his notice in the Fish Department. He's been there for over a year and has done well in light of having to deal with tbe barrage of Anti-maskers along with all the other issues that come with a service industry job. He is still awning on going to start trade school next semester. He'll be commuting to the River City campus. I had asked him if he knew where it was and he said River City. I suggested that between now and the start of the course he should take a drive to check the place out. In my mind it would make things easier in the long run. Did you know that you can't buy Common Sense anywhere these days. Not even at your corner store.

15 Dec 21

06:45 hrs

     Today is Hump Day. Not only that, this is the Sage's Anniversary and although one of them is now gone he is not forgotten. So, it is the life they had built together that that is to be remembered. 

     It is also a miserable wet day. Typical for the Left Coast with wind and plenty of drizzle to go all around. 

     A couple of nights ago I went Down the Rabbit Hole and learned that Veterans and Serving Members residing in our central Prairie Province and in On-tari-ari-oh do not have to pay for a fishing licence. These two provinces have legislated that for their service to the country. Well,thank you very much. There is also a group in the Redneck Province asking their government to do the same. This may be something that I can push onto my legislative representative. It's worth a shot. All they can do is say no.

16 Dec 21

06:45 hrs

     Yesterday I learned that my first base has been anointed with its first female Commander. The base has been functioning for 80 years and finally there is a lady in charge. She is superbly qualified and it will be Interior see how the place functions. The question I have is what happened to the previous guy who was only in The Chair for little over a year. There has been no scandal that darkened his command that I know of that would cause his removal. Maybe, he was only a place holder until this new one had all the boxes ticked to fill the slot. Maybe, the last guy had to be promoted to replace one of the defrocked generals who were accused of an impropriety which dates back several decades. Whatever the reason this change is interesting as it is a brave new world.

     This January will see the final retirement an airforce work horse. The DHC Super Dash 5 - commonly known as the Buffalo. The aircraft has been in service for over 50 years - which is no surprise due to the aversion of mandarins in the Nation's Capital to purchasing new equipment for the military - and it started its career as an army aircraft not the airforce. It's replacement is the POS Kingfisher but that's a whole nother story. I have been informed that even though the Kingfisher will be the new Fixed Wing Sar platform it will not be up and running until 2025 and until then Hercs from 435 Sqn will be deployed here from the 'Peg to fill in the gap. 

     With the imminent departure the drivers are chomping at the bit to accrue as many hours as possible even if it's just to punch holes in the sky and toss some Cheezies out the back. I remember when my first squadron was closing in '84 and our aircraft - the venerable Voodoo - was to be retired. From 01 April of that year to the closure in June the pace of flight ops had doubled then trebled with the aircraft nearly spending more time aloft than on the ground culminating in the loss of aircraft CF-101007. The question now is when will the Hornet be replaced and with what? Will it be replace by another POS? Probably.

Gifts and Gifting

04 Dec 21

10:00 hrs

     With the Silly Season fast approaching I had a couple of thought about gifts.

1)  When you select a gift for someone do you look for something they need? Or, is it is something they want? 

2)   Are you selecting a gift of something that you already own and you think the recipient just cannot do without?

3)   Have you ever re-gifted? Or, hung on to a gift so long that you actually gave it as a gift to the person who gave it to you first?

4)   Did you ever give a gift to someone who is a co-worker that you do not like as a means to broker a peace? Have you received a gift from such a person for the same reasons?

5)   Have you ever received nothing but coal in your Christmas stocking? Did you deserve it?

     It's at this time of year that I start to think about some people who I had known and I wonder how they are doing. There was this kid who was in our boys cub pack. He came from a broken home and was in the care and custody of his father as his mother had left the scene. His father remarried and soon the couple was expecting a new child. From what we could piece together the father was so enraptured with his new squeeze that his son was relegated to the sidelines. If his homework was not up to scratch he was placed on restrictions. No TV no bike riding no friends no fun. Christmas was fast approaching and, as children might, he snooped and found the presents. And he got caught. For a punishment he was asked how long he should have to wait to open his presents. He said a week. Fine. A week it is. He had peeked at ten presents. So, he had to wait ten weeks before being allowed to open a single present. I,and the other Cub Scout leaders had figured that for the next ten weeks he would get to open one present and only one present. Nope. He got nothing for ten weeks. As leaders there was nothing that we could do eventhough I would dare to say that this and other incidents could be viewed as mental abuse. The following year his dad was posted to another place and we lost touch. But i always wonder what happened to him.

05 Dec 21

16:30 hrs

     The Eastern and Western CFL Finals are now over with the Ticats from the East and the Blue Bombers from the West winning their respective divisions and will now compete for the Grey Cup. The game will be held in the Great White North's Steel Town. I know which team my Friend from Over the Hump will be cheering for.

     This year selected people will be receiving cookies made by my Better Half and the  Oma-nator. Some will also receiving a bucket full of Chef Blaine's Spicy Nutz.

07 Dec 21

16:45 hrs

     I have acquired some new ink. When I was growing up my father would have to remove his shirt before I would go near him. He had an eagle head tattoo on his left shoulder. Once I saw it I knew who he was. After he passed away I promised myself that I would have it inked on my left shoulder. Working from photos I had the stencil made and the work was done this morning. Check the photos on the page.

Changes

29 Nov 21

04:45 hrs.

     It is the start of another week. A week of working at a job that I am really enjoying but is slowly wearing me out. I started in this field in 2013 and I want to complete twelve years and then pull the pin or at least reduce to part time or something.... That will give me the Corps equivalent of a service CD. I know it doesn't seem like much but it is a symbol of the accomplishment. 

06:45 hrs.

     Our Sr. Loin Fruit is setting aside the plan to move out for now. The stars are not aligned at this time and we are happy about that. We were looking forward for him to spread his wings and leave the nest but we, my Better Half and myself, could see that it was not a good time for him and are happy that he arrived at this conclusion on his own. Our Jr. Couch Monkey has his service entrance exams this morning. We have tried to tell him that they are just aptitude tests that will determine what trades he is best suited for but he viewed them as Pass/Fail exams and has studied like a madman for them. I've taken those exams and they are virtually impossible to study for because they determine what or who you are and not what you know. I'm sure that he will come through with flying colours. 

     The Christmas lights at the Wayward Inn are starting to be installed. It will take some time as my shoulder is still hooped. Not as bad as what it was in July but it is still an issue when working above my head. I'm aiming for a near Griswold house when I'm done.

     On Saturday Chef Blaine whipped up a Roadkill Chicken on the Flame Pit. It was best one yet. I've taken the last few pieces for work today. Speaking of work, I was on my way in this morning and driving through The Hollow, which is notorious for members of our local Bambi population to dash across traffic, there was a jogger - dressed all in black with just a flash of white cloth fluttering across the rump, heading up on the opposite side of the road facing traffic. No High Viz! Talk about taking your life in your hands just to get healthy. 

30 Nov 21

06:00 hrs

     Yesterday was a bust for work. I forgot to double check my email and found I didn't have to go in. No problem.  I went home and with the Sr. Couch Monkey's help put the finishing touches on the Christmas lights. Of course the Oma-nator thinks that I'm crazy for putting up such a display.

03 Dec 21

06:45 hrs.

     The day has started with diamonds. Diamonds of frost on everything.  Thank goodness it's not snow. Snow is fine but it should stay up on the peaks where it looks pretty. We don't need that slop down in the Valley.

     Our switch between phone/cable servers is now complete and, unfortunately, we had to purchase new phones too. Merry Christmas. It turns out that there would not gave been an issue if we had bought our old phones (only three years ago) with the new provider as there were features we would need. Those features were not present and could not be inputted with old provider. Let's hope this works or I'll really be pissed.

     On my way into work Julie Andrews was singing about her "Favourite Things". That lasted long enough for me to hear the first chorus. I hit the media button on the Ram and was immediately consoled with Pink Floyd's "The Thin Ice". Much better.