So, This is new...

21:00 hrs.
29 Dec 15

     Usually I do the vast majority of my blogging with my phone but tonight I am writing this little piece on the laptop, which is much easier to manage the spacing, inserting of photos and all the rest of that stuff. I know that I do have a small dedicated group of individuals, mostly relatives and some close friends, who consistently follow my musings, rants and positions. But I never see any comments. If we, my Lobster and I, visit a restaurant and I blog that it is good or a piece of shit, it would be nice to know that my opinion mattered. If you read it here and it was of assistance or if you have a difference of opinion then please bloody well tell me. I would like to engage with my audience. No audience is not the right word as the word audience leaves me with the image of a group  placidly digesting what is being fed to them. I want more than an audience. I want a caucus. A group of like minded individuals actively discussing a given topic. Can we do that? Actively discuss a topic? The topic would normally be the contents of the blog itself but I am open to discussing or blogging about a topic that is suggested by you. Whaddya think?


     A bit of Valley construction news update.
     The strip mall building to the immediate south of the 17th St. bridge is being re-purposed for a VIHA Mental Health unit. The old Pizza Hut will become the tanning salon that was part of the strip mall. Cuts and Curls has pulled out that location and is now out by Wally World. I had spotted the inside of the Wendy's restaurant having been torn apart and I was under the impression that it was possibly moving into the old Pizza Hut, which when you think about it wouldn't have worked as there is no drive thru. I was wrong it was simply a whirlwind remodelling during which the interior portion of the restaurant was not available but the drive thru was still up and running.

 

    

     I am sure that you have seen pics like this sent unrequested to your Facebook page. Some of them I like and I hang onto for future use, such as now. I kinda like this one but despite the fact that stupid people make a lot of people angry, you still have to manage your anger. It doesn't matter how but you have to manage it, That doesn't mean you're not allowed to get angry, you most certainly are but take a look at what you are getting angry about. Is it really worth me getting pissed that someone didn't complete his paperwork at the office? If it was his responsibility then no. If I am his supervisor and if I have asked for his paperwork to be in and it isn't then there will be disciplinary ramifications.

    

     Just let shit go. Hey, if your Loin Fruit doesn't take out the trash don't sweat it. Hang onto it and next time they're free and about to do something they want to do something with their friends tell them, "Sure, Right after we do the dump run!" This is my better Half's solution which is better than mine which would be to do one of the following:

• Pile it up in his room.
• Make him bag it all and pay for the extra garbage tags for the pick up on the following week.
• Pack it into the truck, do the dump run myself but save the receipt and collect from him later.
• Bag it all and make him carry it to the dump. 

     Whaddya think? Any of these strike a cord with you? What are some of your ideas? Please share them!  I know that I can come up with a million and one ways to make an individual's life a living hell but the object is to gain compliance without the anger as anger leads to disharmony. And, I certainly don't want that. It's kind of like my job. Compliance through education. But in the end, if buddy continues to be an asshole and ignore the law I can issue a fine in the hundreds of dollars. I can't fine the Yard Apes.

 

 

    



Did you get what you asked for?

07:50
26 Dec 15

 

     So, it's the day after Christmas and there are probably an equal number individuals here in the Valley, and across the globe, who are either happy with the gifts they received or unhappy with the gifts that they received. Well, I hate to disappoint these opposing factions but the point of Christmas is not in the gifts received but in the gifts given. You and I both know that the number of people who attend church on a regular basis is far less than when we were kids. Couple that with the exponential increase in the commercialism of Christmas and the meaning behind the "Christmas Gift" has been perverted. People are now wondering what they will get and sometimes demanding what they want.

 

    

     Wake up people!

    

     Christmas is about Christ.  Specifically, the birth of Christ. Yes, I know that the celebration of His birth was arbitrarily changed to December by the Church because it needed a winter celebration to counter the pagans Winter Solstice dance party. The original Christmas gift was in the giving His Son to us. It wasn't something we asked for. It wasn't something on our list, right after a new flat screen and the X-Box. It was something that He figured that we needed and would benefit from. That's it. The point behind a Christmas gift is in the giving. An unselfish act in providing something that somebody may need and may benefit from. Here ended the Lesson.

 

     Yes, there is snow on the ground in the Valley.  Not a lot, hardly a couple of inches but its enough to make driving difficult because no one knows how to drive in it or on it.  It's like...Holy shit! There's snow on the road so I'll close my eyes while accelerating and turning the wheels wildly from side to side. Idiots. Almost all of them are idiots and the majority of the remainder are nose picking dolts. Plan your shopping trips and your driving routes to avoid these people.

 

     I am looking forward to the New Year. Hopefully, my employers will have picked up the contract for the adjacent jurisdiction. I have only been hounding them to do it for the past couple of years. The time is right as the place has been going to the dogs and the residents would certainly benefit from our expertise. But, if my employers don't act now the residents will be chasing their own tails for at least another year.

 

     Sometime in the New Year construction will begin on the new road and bridge across the Tsolum River. Traffic on the current roadway should not be hindered during the construction which is supposed to concluded in late 2017, the same time as the opening of the new hospital. In fact there is lots of new stuff being built around the Valley.  Unfortunately, there is lots of old shops that are left empty and unused. You know that the rent must be exorbitant when it's cheaper for a business to move into a brand new building that continue paying some business slum lord rental payments that are continually jacked up every year without benefitting from any building maintenance.

 

 

00:30
27 Dec 15

 

     Did any of you brave the Boxing Day Sale insanity? Here at the Wayward Inn we shuttered ourselves in from the snow and the mobs. Instead, we scavenged a brunch from leftovers, played some PS2 golf and watched Roger Waters-The Wall. A good day, for the most part. We are still hopeful that Elric the Stalwart, along with his clan, will join us for New Years but plans always change.

 

     It is almost years end which means the next thing to contemplate will be the paying of the taxes. It is my hope that I have sold enough copies of my book to dump those monies into the RRSP and thereby deferring the increase in reported income. I have to claim it because if I don't it would be just my luck to be audited. Of course, my record keeping is not up to Li'l Sis's standards but I can fill in the blanks quickly if I have to. My goal is to complete the book I am currently working on and eventually one more. If properly marketed they could be a nice addition to the more regular means of income.
 

Guests at the Wayward Inn

17:30
19 Dec 15

     The Holiday Season is fast approaching. In fact, it is right in top of us.  If you have completed your shopping by now it is too late for any thoughtful gifts and unfortunately any intended recipients will probably be receiving items grabbed off of the aisle end - caps of the nearest GasnGo. And, if you have a pet, there is no amount of wrapping paper that will cover up the scent of Jack Link's Jerky.

     We've had a few guests here at the Wayward Inn. My Cuz'n and her Lobster,  formerly of River City, stopped in after a Soiree. It was good to see them and to see how well they are doing since moving back to the Capital Region. Now we'll have a place to crash when we head down south. Recently, my Better Half held one of her Ladies Movie Nights which, due to the weather, was not as well attended as she had hoped. Doesn't matter much to me as I try to make myself scarce, retreating to the confines of the other side of the Inn. This time I had company, Elric the Stalwart, was accompanying his Lady to the Inn. The two of us, plus the Junior Loin Fruit, hid out in the bonus room and watched the movie "Dutch". In my opinion this is the best Christmas movie ever right after "A Christmas Carol" starring Alistair Simms. If you haven't seen it and want a laugh or two take a look.

     Yesterday, we had the pleasure of entertaining B&B. They're a young couple just starting out. I've known her through Scouting and he has been her significant other for a number of years. When I hear of how rough life is for someone of the current crop of YAW's (Young Adult Whiners). Having to do homework or take out the trash or eat at the table with their family without checking the damn smart phone every ten seconds while worrying if someone has liked their post more than someone else's post. It's then that I just have to think of the extreme difficulties this young lady has had to overcome and despite it all graduated with a pocket full of bursaries that she didn't even apply for. It is at that point that I really enjoy pointing out to the YAW's that Sympathy to their plight can be found in Webster's Dictionary between Shit and Syphilis.

     Today, my Better Half's Travelling Relatives came to the Inn for brunch. It's always great to see them. A conversation with other adults is such a delight. For brunch we served up two crust less quiches, one veggie and one seafood, with a side salad. For dessert there was their fantastic coffee cake along with our apple snow. Our entertainment was a challenging game of golf (cards) played out with my Lobster being the victor. Ha Zaaa!

     We are planning to have even more guests at the Inn. On Christmas Eve we will be sharing our repast with Elric the Stalwart and his family. It will be a first for us, having people in from outside the family during the Holidays. But you know what? That's what the holidays are all about. Sharing what you have. Providing shelter and good will to others without any reservations.

    
     Speaking of reservations, have you ever seen the movie "No Reservations"? Came out a few years ago. Stars Catherine Zeta-Jones who plays a high end chef. A great story line too. Again, you should check it out.

     If you have seen my Facebook page you will note that I have been gifted with a beer advent calendar. Today is day 19 and thus far there have been no doubles. I have noticed that friends from afar have been posting pictures of the ales, stouts and ipa's that they are imbibing. Good on ya.
    

One Never Knows...

18:05 hrs.
09 Dec 15

     Who knows when their number is up? Do you? I am sure that if you happen to be a risk taker, and all of us are to some extent, then you must realize that the greater the risk level the sooner you number will be called. As well as the greater number of risks taken increases the number of times your number may be called. This is just a general rule but sometimes your number gets called simply because some other individual is shooting with loaded set of dice. Take those killed by an impaired driver. Years ago, when I was just a youngun,  I had a Cuz'n killed by an impaired driver.

19:09 hrs.
11 Dec 15

     It's the end of the week. Thank goodness. A week of work that contained hurricane winds, a death and a funeral. And now. ..The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. An old Don Knotts movie. Pure brain candy. No thinking required. And pure fun too. If you can't chuckle at Don Knotts there must be something wrong with you.  I think it's good to watch some of the old movies and the like. Abbott and Costello have always cracked me up ..."two tens for a five?" My youngest Loin Fruit actually caught one of the Sage's with that one.

     News around the Valley? 
     Well, the Courtenay River is running high and fast with all the rain that has fallen in the past week so stay the hell away from it. I would dare to guess that there has been a couple hundred millimeters of rain and since the freezing level is near 3000ft the precip is more rain than snow. And speaking snow...Mount Washington is open for business as of today. As previously written Fun on the Slopes has become another pastime for the wealthy. The Wendy's is either moving or undergoing massive reno's but supposedly the drive thru is still open. I don't know what the hell is going on at the strip mall by the 17th Street Bridge. All new facings which looks good but at the same time more businesses have packed it in. Cuts n Curls is now in a new location by Wally World. The local PC gamers paradise, Games and Grounds, recently moved from behind the old Ptomane Lo's Garden to 4th Ave.

     Christmas is two weeks away. I have all but two stocking stuffers done. Not bad two evenings of trudging through the stores and I was done. All that's left to do is the wrapping.
    

And Once Again...

22:05 hrs.
02 Dec 15

     If you have not heard the news of the day there has been another mass shooting South of the 49th.  This time in southern California. The last count had fourteen dead and seventeen injured. The attack was carried out by multiple assaults with long guns (rifles) and handguns. Is anyone shocked by this? Obviously not. One report has shown that since the beginning of Prez Obama's  second term there has been one mass shooting, where two or more persons are hit with gunfire, per week. Pure insanity! And the right wings (NRA,TEA PARTY, & REPUBLICAN PSYCHO'S) insane response will inevitably be "if the staff at the facility were armed they could have defended themselves and there would have been less victims".  More stupidity. One political cartoonist that I follow has pointed out that in light of the continual gun carnage it would appear that the US Administration is more afraid of the NRA than they are of ISIS. Think about it. If the people of the US really wanted gun control reform they would move forward with the appropriate legislation.

     If this is true, and apparently it is, why would the 'Merican politicians not bring about changes that would save lives? Well, the antiquated 2nd Ammendment gives them the Right to keep and Bear arms. And, more importantly, MONEY. The NRA and it's associates are huge financial  donors to the right wing political base. The fat cats in Congress would rather see the loss of red stuff as opposed to green stuff.

     Another post spotted, this time on the CBC website, questions whether or not Canadians will be as generous with our First Nations as we are with the incoming Syrian refugees. Is the reporter actually questioning this? First of all the Syrian refugees are fleeing their country  because the odds are they will be killed by one of a half dozen militaristic factions that includes the current ruling regime. And so, they seek out a better life in a safer place. They have nothing!

     Now, compare that to the First Nations of Canada who consistently receive tax free monies, live on lands devoid of chattles, can attend post-secondary education for next to nothing and can aspire to be anything they want to be. But regardless of all of these benefits a large majority of our First Nations live in abject poverty because their own leaders are corrupt. The data shows that there has been more than enough monies handed over to the country's Band Councils to lift them out of their rut but where are they living? What is their education level? What is their percentage of employment? A lot of what is given to our First Nations is squandered and yet they come back for more. So, do not ask me if the people of Canada will be as generous with them as we will be with the Syrian refugees. I say the First Nations with the Syrians should swap living conditions for a year, a month or even a week AND THEN we will see if they will appreciate what the people of Canada provides to all of its citizens regardless if they have lived here for 100 generations or they just arrived at a re-settlement location.

06;00 hrs.
04 Dec 15

    
     There's a new addition at the Wayward Inn.  I have replaced the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with a 2014 Ram 1500 5.7l Hemi. Why? Well, the Ford was showing it's age. Not in the body but in a lot of little things that would need fixing. Sticky door locks, jambing windows, winter ignition issues. Don't get me wrong. I really loved the Sport Trac. When going Out In The Weeds I could pack enough stuff into that truck for three expeditionairies, slog through swamps, forde swollen creeks and climb hills that would make a billy goat puke. I'll surely miss it.

     Now the new truck...well, time will only tell. Driving it places me higher up off the road increasing my traffic sight line and I take up more of my traffic lane. The cockpit controls are pretty much stock as this is not a higher end version -  read less stuff. I know there is more room in the box and when Out In The Weeds there will be much more room for the Big Swede and Youngblood. In fact, there will be enough space for the three of us, our gear and a couple of Newbies. Can't wait until I can go out 'squatchin again.
    

What to do?

07:50 hrs.
24 Nov 15

     Christmas is getting closer and I have no idea what to do. Rather, I have no idea what to get my loved ones. I'm sure it will come to me. In the mean time there are other things afoot here in the Valley.

     With the former Bonds-Fish and Grease shop now long since demolished the new lawyers office of Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe is well into construction. Two floors. Pitched roof. Parking in the rear. Should be some nice digs for a legal team. What do you call a fifty passenger bus full of lawyers going over a cliff with an empty seat? A crying shame. A cruise ship sinks in the South Pacific and everyone gets eaten by the sharks except for the lawyers. Why? Professional courtesy. Actually, if I hadn't joined the military I should have gone into law. Any of you know me you would agree that it would have been a wise decision. But, looking back I would not have traded my service to Canada.

     The weather has certainly turned here in the Valley.  Cold and clear. And windy. Of course, if there is no precip there is a lack of snow on the mountains. But it will happen. If there is one thing we never lack on the Left Coast is precip in the winter. We just need it to be colder than 7°C in the Valley for it to be snowing on the mountain.

15:40 hrs.

     I have finished reading "A Walk in the Woods" (Bill Bryson). An excellent book for anyone who is unafraid to laugh out loud. I highly recommend it, especially if you have done any hiking at all. My Lobster wants to give it a read but she is currently engaged with a different tome so I have passed it on to a friend who is suffering from a serious medical issue and is in the need of a good chuckle. I have started a new read. "Mother Nature is trying to Kill You" (Dan Riskin, PH. D.) It is yet another pragmatically funny book. It won't take me long to plow through it so if you have any suggestions for me please pass them along.

     As far as books go, my new book is slogging along. I haven't really hit my stride with it yet but if I keep plugging away I hope to have it done by next summer. I wonder if my Better Half 's Travelling Cuz'n will be up to the challenge of editing it for me? I know it will cost me but in the long run what's a few home cooked meals and a couple bottles of wine while visiting the Wayward Inn? At this point I don't know how many pages it will be as I don't even have a rough draft done. I'm thinking about 400 pages or so. But, it will be costlier if I am to include colour photos. I do plan on utilizing the same company in the Valley to upload it to Createspace (Amazon).

22:25 hrs.

     My Better Half and I had to shuttle the Loin Fruits about this evening and in transit across the City I spotted that the Wendy's burger place had been gutted out. The place was an empty shell. I think it is going to be relocating at the old Pizza Slop location at the corner of 17th and Cliffe. If this is true, the burger joint will do better because their original location had to be the shittiest site in the world. Zero parking because of the strip mall and a drive thru built by (and for) VW sized cars did not make things easy in attracting customers. The Couch Monkey in the back seat spotted a Pet Value outlet had moved into the deserted Taco Del Mar restaurant by the Bulk Barn. Things are certainly a ' changing here in the Valley.

    

How much does your fun cost?

18:15 hrs.
19 Nov 15

     So there I was, cruising down the road in the work truck, when I heard in the radio (CBC 1) that the price for a lift ticket at Whistler is $125. I think Mt. Washington is $85 a day. Now, add to that your gear, fuel, food and possible accommodations and is it any wonder that only the Uber Rich can afford the sport? And what kind of sport is it? Stand on top of a tall slippery slope with sleds on your feet and slide down. Big deal. You want a sport? Try not to or Go Up! Wow! Look at that bastard go up that mountain.

     Rumour has it that construction will soon begin on the the new road from Headquarters to Dove Creek including a new two lane bridge. This will eliminate three 90° corners. Time for completion is to coincide with the opening of the new hospital in 2017. Too bad the Blue Bridge in Victoria won't be completed by then. Cost over runs and time delays have pushed that project back to 2018. It was a two part project. The design and the construction. Sounds simple enough but some moron decided to source the steel from China - because it would save money. Right. So, with no quality control in place the first batch of components arrive and guess what? It's all a load of shit.  Back to the drawing board. Get rid of the steel. Convince the manufacturer that there must be an on site QA inspector (I bet that made someone crap in his rice bowl) or the steel would be sourced elsewhere and then start the assembly process all over again. Crazy. If what I heard is true the project is damn near a million score over budget.

     Next week the Loin Fruits will be getting their report cards. Will I be grousing about them? Not a chance. If they don't pass they don't graduate and if they don't graduate they will end up flipping burgers for the rest of their lives. And once they are 19, we, my Lobster and I, just might downsize to a motor home.  Heading for Arizona. See ya later kids. The fact that you spent your time gaming instead of studying is not my problem so get out and find out what life is really all about.

     I have been informed that a great many teens nowadays are suffering from all sorts of anxiety disorders. What the hell is that all about? What have you got to be anxious about? The Cold War is over! Interest rates are in the single digits! Knowledge and communication is literally at your finger tips! I just don't get it. Maybe it's the infectious political correctness society that we live in. It would make sense. Try buying a set of Christmas lights. Can't be done. Holiday Lights or Seasonal Lights.
BULLSHIT!

     If you want to put lights on your house at Christmas time they are called Christmas lights. Would you have the Israelis change the name of the menorah because it looks more like half a candlabra and the Jewish state will tell you to take a flying leap off of the Wailing Wall. It's time to get real people and everyone has to learn to live with just a skosh of unpleasantness. The world is not perfect so stop trying to live a life of rainbows and butterflies because when that truckload of manure lands on your doorstep it will be game over. Maybe it's the drugs. Not the recreational kind. The pharmaceutical type. Prozac to be specific. Maybe the school system is handing out free Prozac. Think about it. As long as they're on Prozac they have no worries but when they're off they can't even tie their bloody shoelaces without worrying if someone is watching them. Think about it.

     Have you seen any good movies lately? My Senior Couch Monkey went to see the new Bond movie. He said it was good except for the gratuitous Bond sex scene. It's Bond. Lay off the Prozac and get over it.