News Anyone?

24 Jan 19
17:25 hrs

     Hello Dear Readers!
     I apologize for not writing sooner and I have been notified by the great Facebook Gods that I have been remiss.  Surprisingly, none of my fans dropped me a line to say that you haven't heard from me.

     It's hard to shut out the circus from South of the 49th Parallel that continues to occupy majority of the media outlets. More and more individuals are being indicted by the Special Council and each of them - at least the smart ones - is cooperating to save their own hides. The Special Council is gathering all the evidence the will be necessary to string up the Tangerine Tyrant. The legal problem is that indictments have a shelf life and it is constitutionally difficult to indict a sitting POTUS. A way around this is to seal the indictment, which effectively pushes the pause button,until such time as the Tangerine Tyrant is no longer the POTUS. You can run but you can't hide.

     The Valley is going through another building surge. A major development is to revamp the old hospital grounds into a self contained Alzheimer's community with parks, shops and walkways. Unfortunately, it comes too late for our neighbour who was moved to Capital City by his family for this very condition. Would have been nice if he could have stayed in the area.

     Another multi-level residence being built along a main street will be all rental units. This is great as there are very few rental units in the Valley. The problem is that the suggested rent is $1800 a month - no idea if this includes utilities and I doubt it. If you are a college student or someone looking for your first residence after cutting the apron strings you would need a pretty big bankroll to afford the rent. Hell, for that price you might as well get a mortgage - if you had the down payment to qualify, which I doubt. There is an upside. Someone is developing an entire four floor building of single bedroom/bachelor suites out in the Wild Wild West. The hope is it will be on a bus route and the rent will be reasonable.

26 Jan 19
12:45 hrs

     I am sitting in a classroom.
     No, it is not Elder College, despite the urgings of the rest of the residents of the Wayward Inn. It is a writers conference. And, as I am a writer, I thought this might be a great way to make some connections and learn a few things as well. In the group there are poets, playwrights and personal novelists. Many of the attendees - and they come in all sizes, ages and persuasions including wiccan by their demeanor - have been published in some form or another - most likely the Annual Outer Island Lunar Barking Sea Lion Festival or the Guide to the Mushroom Gatherers Pilgrimage. It's all good and there is lots of room at the table. As I am now a member of the writing society I was allowed to place copies of my first work on the table for sale. It was my Better Half's idea to bring along the last three copies I had on hand. Thanks, Dear. I don't know if they'll sell but it's worth a shot.

     Tonight, my Lobster and I are going over to Elric the Stalwart's abode for dinner and cards. Another couple will be in attendance - Dave the Medic and his Lobster. We've met them before on numerous occasions. In fact,  Dave's Lobster once competed on Chopped Canada. She didn't win but I do believe she came on second which is something far better than what I could do.

27 Jan 19
08:00 hrs

     Last nights dinner went well. Elric had made chili,  Dave's Lobster brought a salad with an outstanding dressing and Elric's Better Half created a lovely fish chowder with coconut milk. My Lobster had used the bread maker a made a stunning braided loaf of bread. For dessert Elric served up a chocolate raspberry mousse torte that he and his Couch Monkeys had created. It was the best dessert I have had in a very long time at any venue - either private or commercial.

16:45 hrs.

     We are all bloated. We attended to A Chain Restaurant that recently opened her in the Valley. They had re-opened in a husk of a former Chain Restaurant that had lasted only a couple years after which it had been sitting empty. We were celebrating the Sr. Couch Monkey's belated Birthday. The Jr. Couch Monkey, in all his Vegetarian coolness watched as I constructively deconstructed and consumed a gigantic half rack of ribs. Deep down I think he was jealous. It was delicious as was the pint of Guinness. Ribs and beer - a perfect combination.

29 Jan 19
05:35 hrs

     It's the second day of another week of working with The Ratz. This position is available as a permanent spot and I have applied for it. Stability is a nice thing. If I get it I will simply have to keep my head down and my nose clean for a couple of years or more until its is time to permanently pull the pin.

     The information that I learned over the weekend at the writer's conference has given me the tools to complete my latest tome. Now I just need to find the time.
    

Drawing to a Close

13 Jan 19
08:00 hrs

     The Oma-nator will be heading back to the Nation's Capital soon. It has been a great visit with nearly 80 games of Trouble played. All good. We took her to three shows at the local stage theater.  The last one was the Comic Strippers, an all male improv troupe, which entertained the audience - mostly female - with borderline sexually suggestive scenarios. Our whole family went, including the Couch Monkeys and our friend Gail. It was a most enjoyable evening.

20:00 hrs

     We have now surpassed 80 games of Trouble. Quite an achievement. As tomorrow is The Oma-nator's last day my Better Half is taking the day off. I have not been tasked with anything so far. I had been working in a different unit over the past couple of weeks and a full time position in that unit has opened up. But, at this point I don't feel like I would be a good fit. Of course, I still have tasks to complete around the Wayward Inn. A new set of taps to install, a workshop to try and tidy up, a wooden spoon to sand down, a Long Duration ( Audio) Recorder to build plus other things as well

     We went out for brunch to what used to be Mar's on Main out in the Wild Wild West. It's now called The Four Quarters. The menu has been pared back but the product could still be tweaked a bit. Seasonings, etc. Overall it was fairly good. We gave it a review on Trip Advisor.

14 Jan 19
07:00 hrs

     It's still dark out and I am sitting in the dark having my coffee. I am using a bluetooth type device hooked to the TV broadcasting to my hearing aids. The only person hearing the TV is me. I am watching Rush: Time Stands Still. It is for me to enjoy, alone.

     The Jr. Couch Monkey is awake. He assists in teaching/coaching Improv at his former high school and then he'll be off to his college classes. He is wearing a tshirt that reads - "Wanted Dead and Alive: Schrodinger's Cat".

     Speaking of high school, the other day I learned of the death of a former classmate. I had known her since Jr. Highschool. She was taken from us by a cancer of one kind or another. She was a teacher and had even taught the offspring of other class members. Afterwards, I was added to my highschool alum group on Facebook and I learned of the passing of some more classmates. One was murdered in the Hugh-ess, one died of some weird liver disease, one was beaten to death outside a pub, and more have passed from various health ailments. It's a sure sign that we are aging but now that the Grim Reaper is picking off your friends it makes it personal.

     You can't fight the end so live life to its fullest and help others along the way.

A Change in the Wind

03 Jan 19
08:45 hrs

     Happy New Year Dear Readers!

     Yes, it is the start of another year. A year that will certainly hold some angst and frustration for the Tangerine Tyrant.  To get a clearer picture on what has been happening in the Hugh-ess I worked my way through Bob Woodward's book Fear in the White House and I am close to finishing Madeline Albright's book Fascism: A Warning. Both are excellent and I highly recommend them.

     Unfortunately, my new tome has hit a bit of a wall with the formatting. I am trying my best to get it right but without the training it's a crap shoot.

04 Jan 19
07:00 hrs

     If you have been following the happenings in the Hugh-ess, and how can you not, the Rational People have now taken control of half of the Government and now provide a means to balance out the power held by the ruling Sycophants. The Rationals have a lot of work ahead of them and I am sure that they have a working road map that will guide them to their destination of deposing the Tangerine Tyrant. Let's just hope that they will be able to educate some of the masses along the way. Of course, it will be some tough slogging ahead because when a member of the right wing Base says "Good Morning" he's probably told you everything he knows. Now, I wouldn't say that the Base is a bit thick between the ears but it isn't a stretch to say that most of them, in my opinion  have the mental agility of a small dirty soap dish.

     And then there is Robert Mueller - correctly pronounced mule-er not mull-er - who has been stoically amassing and documenting the evidence from all of the Tangerine Tyrant's fart catchers. Now that the Rationals are running the House it will only be a matter of time before he tables his findings. However, I don't think it will happen until the trail of evidence turns cold.

05 Jan 19
21:00 hrs

     The Oma-nator,  my Lobster and myself went on a roadtrip to a place south of Hub City. We went to visit a long time friend of my Better Half. Her house is set back back in the Weeds at the foot of a very squatchy mountain and had lost power for five days after the last wind storm. When we arrive I saw that half her driveway had been lost when a very large fir tree had toppled, falling away from her home. Seven large trees had dropped, none of which hit her house. The Gods were certainly smiling on her that day.

     On our return trip north we stopped in Hub City at a major shopping emporium. After a spot of lunch I went on a quest in one direction while my Better Half, along with her mom, went the other way. I completed my task first and went to the parking lot to wait. Now, I don't know if any of you Dear Readers have ever taken up the passive sport of people watching put it can be quite enjoyable.

     So as I was waiting for my Better Half to return, I watched the parking lot. The place was packed and new vehicle arrivals circled through the lot searching for an empty spot. Naturally, the drivers were all looking for a place close to the building because Heaven forbid they might park towards the back of the lot where there was space and actually walk 100 feet. I watched this young, 20-ish, mom and her young child cross the lot to her car that was five spots down from ours. Another lady in her mid 40's driving a BMW suv spotted the imminent departure and hurried over, parked with her turn signal on -as is the correct protocol - indicating to other parking spot stalkers that she has laid claim to the prey. But, the intended victim would not move and so for the next five minutes Beemer Lady sat waiting while Young Mom entertained her child. It was obvious to this observer that she was waiting for another passenger and wasn't about to give way. Beemer Lady couldn't wait any longer and drove past in a huff pausing just long enough to give Young Mom the finger. Outrageous!

     Beemer Lady spotted an opening farther down and cruised over to the next lot but when she got there it was now filled. She circled back to where I was standing and as she exited kn lot for the next two vehicles departed right behind her. She tried to reverse but was blocked by traffic.

     Karma! You gotta love it .

Over the Holidays....

26 Dec 18
20:00 hrs

     This fall a next door neighbour to the Wayward Inn was moved (by his family) south to Capitol City. He had been diagnosed with having dementia and Alzheimer's last year November and it wasn't getting any better. The Couch Monkeys and I were there when his family came north to pack him up. It was troubling to see him decietfully placed in a vehicle with some of his belongings and taken away. This man had been a serving member of the Queens's Cowboys for damn near 30 years and to see him diminished was - and is - troubling to me. Of course for insurance purposes someone must be looking after the residence. I had informed the neighbour's daughter that we would keep an eye on the place for them. She and her brother countered that they would pay me at which I refused payment. That's where our Jr. Couch Monkey comes in. I taught him how to carry out a proper security check of the premises and they are paying him as he needs the monies for schooling.

     The other day I was helping him carry out a walk through and he asked me this question: "If you have dementia is the make-up of your personality still the same? Are you still you locked inside your mind?

     Pretty heavy questions I would have to say.  But it comes to mind as there is a dear friend of mine, the mother of a high school chum, who is also suffering from the same conditions. She and her partner had been married 50 or more years. He was a naval veteran she had been afflicted with polio and had survived. Her early life was a torturous one that I will not divulge but now as the final curtain drains near her husband has passed from cancer several years ago and she is in a care home due to her Alzheimer's.

     It is quite sad really. Whe I was in high school she had been as a second mom to many kids when things were bad at home and her house was akin to the Wayward Inn. Things were prim and proper. Respectful, if nothing else. Oh, one guy did take financial advantage of her good will and later did the same to her eldest son. But for the most part there was never any issues.

     Things are different now. The last time I went to visit the Sages I made a point of going to see her. I may have even blogged about it but I haven't checked. Regardless,  the Jr. Couch Monkey's questions got me thinking about her. I know that I did not send her a Christmas card this year as she would not be able to connect the dots so what was the point in sending one.

      Her son and I have not spoken in quite a few years ever since I had taken it upon myself to chew him out for not being there for his parents. Not that we had been on speaking terms before but ever since my faux pas he has ignored all my  attempts to contact him.

     This brings me back to my Loin Fruit's question as one of the Sages has been going through similar symptoms. Is this individual still the same inside his/her mind? In the discussion with my progeny I used the analogy of a computer wher the subject's brain is the hard drive and the disease is a virus that is allowing the CPU to access the ROM - long term memory - but cannot process the RAM - short term memory. This leads to frustration and angst as the virus slowly eats the ROM as well. Individuals on the outside looking in can only gain access to the ROM when an icon in the form of a scent, a photo or a song snippet makes mysterious connection. All this being said, I think what makes the individual who they are is still they same but they cannot come out for us to enjoy because of the deterioration caused by the affliction.

28 Dec 18
07:15 hrs

     The Oma-nator has been knitting up a storm. Her current task is to make pussy hats. At first she was confused the process so Elric the Stalwart came over to the Wayward Inn to lend assistance. Elric the Stalwart is a Knitting Master and was able to set her on the correct path. Would I wear one of her hats? Not a problem. I care not a wit what people think of me. In fact it's fun to poke their sense of right and wrong. I once had a local Redneck tell me to go back to where I was born when he spotted me wearing a kuffi cap. He had taken offense when he thought the hat indicated that I was a Muslim. I pulled out my birth certificate and showed the mutt that I was born in Saskatoon and as it was the middle of winter I had no intention of moving back to the frozen prairie - EVER!
Fun and games

     Well Dear Readers that's all for now. The New Year will soon be upon us and the only thing I am going to do is wait for the fall out from the Special Council investigation of the Tangerine Tyrant.

     Enjoy!

Updates

20 Dec 18
18:00 hrs

     The Oma-nator has been at the Wayward Inn for a week and we have played 13 games of Trouble this far. We are looking to break the previous record of over 50 games during a visit. All in good fun.

     Yesterday,  I walked about five miles and went nowhere. I had to keep track of a contractor who was plotting over 1000 GPS survey points. Back and forth through the muck and weeds. The only good point was the winter weather held off until the end of the day. The contractor has an extreme type A personality. Trying to keep a handle on him would have been easier with a leash.

     Mount Washington has received more than enough snow to open for this years ski season ...if you have the money. Its definitely not a cheap sport that's for sure.

     Construction throughout the Valley has continued at a record pace. Houses and some businesses as well. Kelly O'brien's is opening up in the old Applebees. There is also a new 72 seat pub that has opened up near the Wayward Inn and another that is under construction. All good  I just have to convince my Lobster that we have to check them out.

     The premier fiddler Ashley MacIssac will be performing in the Valley in February. We watched him at MusicFest several years ago and he truly is amazing. I consider it to be a date night and I have tickets for the two of us and one hanger-on. Surprisingly, the Sr. Loin Fruit has decided to join us. I think the three if us should hit the Cornerstone before the show. A couple of drinks and some appies will go well with listening to a rock and roll fiddler.

     The Sages are doing well. Life is simpler now that they down sized several years ago. Not down sized like the movie although I recently read that scientists at MIT have discovered that it may be possible to do so.

22 Dec 18
09:15 hrs

      When I was in the Service there are a great many things that we had to do -  exercises, discussions, courses, etc - to work towards having a more cohesive unit. Team building they would call it. The directives always came from on high from some Nonner driving a desk in Air Command or NDHQ who used us as guinea pigs for his Master's Thesis. The one thing those clowns never realized was we were already a cohesive group but we had to now learn all the new the buzzwords and catchphrases. More often than not it was a waste of our time, a waste of their budget and if anything drove a wedge of resentment between the Ringmasters and the Circus they created.

     My Lobster and I work pretty well together,  especially in the kitchen. For us, our team building exercise takes place when we make a weekend brunch. The menu varies but the dishes are divied up and we subconsciously coordinate our efforts to create a fine repast. It is while we cook that we discuss a host of topics and issues.

     Dear Readers, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Take care and there will more scribblings in the near future.

OH, the weather outside is...

11 Dec 18
05:30 hrs

     That's right Dear Readers. The weather outside is crap here in the Valley. High gusting winds and lots of rain. The temp is at about 6°C which means it going to be a boat load of snow up on the Beauforts. It will look real pretty when the clouds finally disappear and our local ski hill will more than likely be open. They say they need at least a metre for a base and when the conditions are right they can get that in one night. Sometimes by the end of the season they have had well over ten metres of the white stuff still covering the ground. As long as it stays up there I'll be happy.

     Did I happen to mention that the Oma-nator is coming to visit for Christmas? That's right,  the Eagle will land in a couple of days. It's all good. It will take a couple of days for all of us to adjust but overall she is a joy. Just no onions!

     It is exam season for our Jr. Loin Fruit. He is in the midst of his finals for his first college semester. He's been studying hard not hardly studying and we expect him to do well.

     My friend from Over the Hump will be returning from a double ended cruise through the Caribbean. He and his Better Half are both long time cruise fanatics and the embarked on this latest sojourn to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. Impressive to say the least. I must tip my hat to them. My Lobster and I took the Couch Monkeys on a repositioning cruise from LA north to the Pearl of the West. It was fun but I found that the ship was a wee bit confining.

12 Dec 18
04:45 hrs

     It's now the second night of this work project. The weather has been most cooperative with clear cool skies and no precipitation. One more night and the job should be completed.

     A friend from long ago  who now lives in the Valley, makes a regular pilgrimage with her Lobster to warmth of the desert in the Hugh-ess for the winter months. She was hanging Christmas lights on their mobile residence and fell off a ladder breaking an arm. She sought out local medical attention and despite having travel insurance she learned that she would require surgery which was not covered by the insurance. Oh, she could pay for the operation but it was cheaper to rustle up a set of airline tickets - at a moments notice - and fly back to the Valley to have the operation carried out for nothing with socialized medicine. I think she traveled alone unless of course they left their fur baby in the care of a neighbour. Once she is able to travel she will have to return to their desert hideaway to retrieve their mobile residence.

13 Dec 18
15:15 hrs

     In a little more than two hours the Oma-nator will be here at the Wayward Inn. We have not yet put up the Christmas tree as we want her to be a part of that tradition. It's been quite some time since she has enjoyed many of the Holiday festivities. I know I'm looking forward to it as is my Lobster and the Couch Monkeys.

     There was a bomb threat at a local rv dealership. The threat arrived via email. Interestingly enough the Hugh-ess was also hit with a number of emailed bomb threats today. I wonder if it is from the same Whackadoo. Bomb threats are no laughing matter and they must be taken seriously. The local Constabulary is on the case.

     It rained all night here in the Valley and it will continue to rain as there are many systems pounding against the Left Coast. This means lots of snow up on the Beauforts which we need.

     I've been making lots of spoons lately. In fact a lot of people will be receiving them as gifts. I hope they enjoy using them.

     Well, Dear Readers this tome is done.

Crap!

02 Dec 18
22:45 hrs

     Is your part of the Great White North looking good for the coming Christmas Season? To tell you the truth the Spirit hasn't taken hold of me just yet and I don't know if it will even reach me this year. There are those who are making a big deal out things but so far I am not feeling very festive.

04 Dec 18
05:33 hrs

     Last evening my Lobster and I were entertained by a traveling improv team. We had been given a pair of tickets from Elric the Stalwart's Better Half. It was kind of a friend of a friend who couldn't attend sort of deal. Not to put down improv - as our own Jr. Couch has been practicing the craft for years - but these two were really on the ball. Or - out to lunch - depending on your view of improv. Now, I've seen Robin Williams and Jonathon Winters do improv and the guys I saw last night couldn't touch them with a ten foot imaginary pole. At least they tried.

11:45 hrs

     There was frost on the Ram this AM and I had to teach the Jr. Couch Monkey how to defrost the Kiddie Kar. Really? Yeah, really.

     I'm at work at the new FWSAR building that's going up on Base. The manufacturer of the new SAR aircraft is constructing the training building. The idea to provide a training facility was first proposed by the other aircraft manufacturer so these guys had to sweeten the pot by saying they would provide a similar facility. In the end, in my opinion, the wrong aircraft was selected. But that's my opinion. You can (should) do your own research.

     With the frosty weather that has settled into the Valley I would ask anyone who is reading this blurb to take some time to aid our presidentially challenged persons by providing some gently used winter clothing. Or, if you are at WallyWorld Christmas shopping for your Better Half, pick up a bag of thick woolen socks and drop it off at Dawn to Dawn, or your own local assistance agency. They do a great job teaching out to those in need.

     I just read that a new Seniors complex is proposed to be built between the local Constabulary and a Prime restaurant.  This is great as we have been growing a bumper crop of seniors every year. It will have 140+ residences. I would hope that some non-gouging property developer would build a shitload of bachelor and single bedroom apartments for our young kids trying to strike out on their own.

22:45 hrs

     This just in...from The East Coast...the ongoing trial of Mr. Oland, accused of bludgeoning his father to death, has heard gruesome testimony from the coroner/pathologist who stated that due to the number of sharp and blunt force blows (45 of them) to the head and neck of Mr. Oland Sr. he could not have survived more than a couple of minutes.

     Sleep that.