Summer's Approaching

23 May 20

08:00 hrs

     Things are certainly shaping up here in the Valley despite the threat of the Beer Flu. Buildings are being constructed, infrastructure is being maintained and people are starting to come out of their shells. The snow is melting on the Beauforts at an increasing rate. We've had rain too which is good as it will keep the threat of wild fires to a minimum. 

24 May 20

06:00 hrs

     We did some work around the Wayward Inn yesterday. The Couch Monkeys sifted and sorted a barrow full of earth taking out the stones and weed roots. We planted a clumping bamboo to block the view of the neighbour's houses. I tidied the shop, just a bit, nothing too crazy. I also tried out my new archery target. At fifteen yards I'm still grouping inside of a coffee cup. Well, mostly inside a coffee cup. The target itself stood up well to the twenty-four rounds I put into it. I'll have to try the compound bow next. I'll have to make sure I'm on target or I'll be sinking holes into the siding of the shop.

     Everyone else at the Wayward Inn is doing well and are chomping at the hope that things will get back to normal. It's not that we are so isolated but are more insulated from all things outside. Only one of us does the shopping at a time as opposed to my Better Half and I strolling through a grocery store. Specialty shopping is pretty much at a standstill. 

     The Tangerine Tyrant has demanded that places of worship be opened despite the fact that the state governors have said no. Some beaches and boardwalks have been opened for the Hugh-ess Memorial Day weekend. They have over 100,000 dead and more than 1.5 million reported cases of Beer Flu. Our numbers in the Great White North are not as bad except in la Belle Province and Ontariario. The numbers are still climbing in a spikey kind of way while across the Bald Prairies the numbers are starting to drop even in the Red Neck Province. 

     On a personal note, a long time friend of the Oma-nator has succumbed to the Beer Flu and his spouse has also contracted it as well. Both of them are in their nineties. When my Better Half and I were first informed of their diagnosis last week we knew that the countdown had begun.

08:45 hrs.

     The Wayward Inn is waking up. I'm reading a novel and listening to a radio station out of the Left Coast Pearl. It's a well established rock station. Queen's "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions" is playing. A great song. Freddy sounds fantastic. But, I have to wonder is it only my generation that appreciates the current classic rock? I like the original classic rock, stuff from the 50's and 60's. It was current music when the Sages were kids and was the classic rock when I was a kid. Now the rock tunes I grew up with is the new classic rock. The funny thing is that the really old classic rock tunes from the Stones, Who, Doors, Guess Who, Led Zeppelin and other leaders in the field have stood the test of time and are now being enjoyed by the new generation of listeners. Take note that disco music is no where to be found and techno pop music, created without the aid of an actual musician or an instrument, is no where to be found as well. This makes my heart sing.

     The Left Coast Premier has asked the Yellow Yahoos from the province next door to avoid coming here for the long weekend as we do not need another spike in the Beer Flu. It was a polite way of saying, "Stay Home Assholes!". One individual, probably from Cowtown, who owns property near where the Sage's reside griped that Left Coasters should be grateful because so many Redneckers vacation on the Left Coast boosting its economy. He went on to say that as a land owner, albeit not a resident, he should be entitled to travel to his property whenever the hell he wants, Beer Flu or no Beer Flu. He added that if the Premier is going to be so rude then he will be looking to sell his vacation property immediately.  

     Sounds like some butt munch living south of the 49th in a big mausoleum. See ya later Chuckles.

26 May 20

21:00 hrs

     Today my Friend from over the Hump and I went back out to try our luck and once again the Merc ran for ten minutes and then died. This left me growing into the wind for forty minutes to make landfall. We loaded the boat and headed back to town. We dropped the Merc off at a Merc mechanic for him to have a look see. I got word back that it will need a carb job. I am also going to flush the fuel tanks and lines. Starting from scratch.

     Big news here in the Valley. Our old hospital will be converted into a dementia village. It will be the first on the Island and the second on the Left Coast. This is really great as it repurposes an older building, well at least part of it. I haven't seen the plans or an artists rendition but from what I have learned a dementia village is a gated town unto itself with facilities and activities for the residents. They can wander about inside the village but cannot get out. L'il Sis says that's good because now the Sage's can move closer to me.

Just another piss off!

17 May 20

07:30 hrs

     The other day my Friend from Over the Hump and I went fishing at our favourite spot. Prior to going out I had prepped the boat, serviced the engine and put in fresh fuel. I even ran the engine in a barrel and it started on the first pull. Once we got out to the lake we found our regular launch site was closed. Shuttered because of the Beer Flu. It was supposed to have been opened as of the 14th but the hosts were nowhere to be found. There will be more on that after I make a few phone calls. 

     So, my friend and I head over to another launch site where we find some - ten or so - young adults with tents and loud Contorted Rage Against the People muzak. We launched the boat, fired up the engine and set off. After zooming for about ten minutes I throttle back and slip it into neutral so we can rig our lines and that was it. The motor would not start. I checked everything I could think of. I thought maybe it was flooded and so we waited. No matter what we tried the motor would no catch. But we had come to fish. So, we cast our lines in the water and I rowed us about for a while. We left the lake an hour or so later. In the coming days I'll have to start with the basics and desnag the problem. 

09:00 hrs

     Chef Blaine is making scones with fresh rosemary.  He purloined some from the Jr. Loin Fruit's larder.. Tomorrow he's making cookies and is looking for something to cook in the smoker.

22:45 hrs

     The day is just about done. Chores were completed, meals made and consumed, my Better Half and I took the Oma-nator for a big push through the neighbourhood. 

We went all the way down passed the duck pond and back. A round trip of 45 minutes.        

     Nğf.nhýýýğń

18 May 20

07:30 hrs

     It's quite obvious that I should not be trying to work on my blog before going to sleep. 

     On another note, the sun is shining brightly her in the Valley. It is a day to try and get some stuff done. Obviously, the motor will have to be looked at but I also want to finish off the archery target for the backyard and maybe clean up some of the shop. I'm sure that alone will make my Better Half happy. 

     One other thing I need to do is to start making boxes for Mr. Teddy Buttnuggets and Miss Maggy Baggybits. Both are currently in good health but one day they won't be. Before we adopted these to fuzzballs we had another Great Orange Beast. He was my Lobster's pet from when she lived in the Nation's Capital. He had fallen ill and had lasted well over a year longer than what the vet had predicted. But I knew what was coming and had built a box for him. He is probably still burried unless the current owners of our last residence have found his resting place.

     I was hoping to make some pork char sou. Basically, Chinese bbq'd pork. I have a pork shoulder that can be thawed out. Then, it will be into the dry rub and then glazed while being smoked. Mind you I might hold off and do it before I am to head out into The Weeds in a couple of weeks. I'm sure the boys from PBR STREETGANG will enjoy it. 

     It looks like it's time for another cup of joe. Take care Dear Readers and if you have a chance try this cookie recipe.

Peanut Cereal Stacks

smooth peanut butter                 1/2 cup

granulated sugar                         1/2 cup

evaporated milk                           1/4 cup

cornflakes                                2 1/2 cups

Mix and blend the first three ingredients until smooth. Add the cornflakes and coat evenly. Drop onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake at 375° until browned - about 6 minutes.

Note - The original recipe says it makes 21/2 dozen cookies. That's bullshit. In my books a cookie should take at least two bites to eat so count on maybe 18 cookies if you're lucky. I always make a double batch. 

          - I also add shredded coconut, vanilla and sesame seeds just to shake things up.

What have you read lately?

11 May 20

07:30 hrs

     Hello Dear Readers, 

     Yes, the question for today is what have you read lately? Due to my working conditions of late I am able to monitor the contractors and read at the same time. My Better Half has tracked the titles of all the books she has read since completing her degree. She's gone through 190 books. As you know I'm an avid reader as well but I tend to read new books and then reread some of my old faves - I read Jaws when I was in Grade 7 - such the earlier Jack Ryan series by Tom Clancy. Recently my Lobster has set me onto Michael Connelly's Bosch series and Robert Crais novels. They take me about two or three days to read from cover to cover. If you were to look on my Facebook page you will find articles that I have shared from The Atlantic, The Washington Post and other notable literary sources. Take a look as you might enjoy them too.

     Chef Blaine has made a Jamaican jerk sauce and has applied it liberally to a spatchcocked chicken. Tomorrow it will be going onto the Flame Pit where it will he slow roasted and smoked. The Jr. Loin Fruit has asked if the sauce could be applied to his tofu. Sure thing son. Of course the Oma-nator took one look at the sauce and was very concerned that the entire chicken was coated with it. 

     "I don't want none of that stuff. Just give me a plain chicken leg,'" she moaned.

     Not to worry. Chef Blaine will wrangle up some plain old chicken parts and cook them so blandly that you will think you had died and gone to One Note Taste Bud  Heaven. 

     Has there been a rebellion by the Wayward Inn kitchen staff? Or more of a revolution? Or a bit of both?

     I want him to take some small scallops and thread them on a skewer before toasting them on the Flame Pit or turning an entire pork roast into some tasty char shui. Food with depth and flavour.

12 May 20

06:45 hrs

     Both my Lobster and I are off from work today. The Beer Flu has affected her schedule more than mine  but she is thinking that it won't be too long before she is back to the office five days a week. The one thing that both of us are looking for is the lifting of some of the restrictions so we can actually go out and do something. Anything. Anywhere. I'm sure all of you and your loved ones are in the same boat as we are. SQUIRREL!!

     At this point the three ring circus taking place south of the 49th Parallel in the Hugh-ess Capital is ramping up even higher. With more than 80K dead the Beer Flu has finally touched inside the Big House. I bet that gave the Tangerine Tyrant a time to pause at least for a moment before deflecting attention from his many failures.

     If things work out I'm going fishing with my Friend from Over the Hump. It will be an escape for the two of us. I'm sure that we don't care if we catch anything.  

     

The Cycle...

02 May 20

07:30 hrs

     Everything moves in cycles. Even cycles move in cycles. Have you noticed this at all Dear Readers? Let's go to the examples shall we...

     Everything that is animated on this solar orbiting orb has a cycle. The basic cycle is - BIRTH, EXISTENCE, DEATH. Of course this basic cycle can include the subset or tangent of PROPAGATION within the EXISTENCE portion of the loop. The death of some creatures are nearly part of the life cycle of another creature as in the hunted and hunter. Even the hunted plays a part in the cycle of the scavengers and whatever is left over goes back into nutrients for the plants benefit which in turn aids the hunted. And so on and so on. 

     People can get caught up in these cycles too. Remember when you were young or at least younger and you would hold back and toe the line all week until the weekend - or your shift days off - and then it was like monkeys escaping from the zoo. Party time! Over indulging in all the excess vices. Damn that felt good didn't it! As you drag your sorry ass back to work at the start of the following week. And as physically, mentally and possibly emotionally wrecked as you are the following weekend you'd be right back at it. Given'er till you dropped. 

     And some did. Come Monday ya look around at work and notice that Curtis or Mary didn't make it in to work. That's funny 'cause the last time you saw him/her it was when the party was just winding down...

     This Beer Flu has everyone operating in a new cycle and as maddening as it is - and trust me it is extremely maddening - and to quote Russel Buffalino, "It is what it is." Not in the context that he meant it, but you know what I mean. You have to protect yourself and those around you by following the advised protocols and you really have to really hope that your neighbours, your co-workers and all the people you come in contact with are doing the same. BE SAFE!

10:00 hrs

     It's raining here in The Valley, which is good as last month had been the driest in a dozen years. The rain is not needed for the lawns but for the forests.

03 May 20

06:45 hrs.

     Yesrerday, we bought some plants to brighten things up in the front and back of the Wayward Inn. Especially the front as the Oma-nator likes to sit out on the front stoop and watch the world go by. Knowing this my Lobster decided to put some splashes of colour out. Don't ask me what they are. They are plants that make the bees happy and the deer don't like to eat. A couple are viney climbing plants that are positioned to take advantage of the trellis I constructed last year. When it fills in it will shade the front stoop quite a bit.

     I just caught a bit on the news about some guy over in DimSum Land who has been jailed fifteen years for speaking critically about the Government on his blog. Wow! 

     Two quick points - 

     1) He should have known that he would be in trouble as ALL media platforms in that country are strictly monitored.

     2) Thankfully our government hasn't started hauling the critics in or I would be gone.

     Notice that I didn't say - I'm glad that our government is not monitoring our media platforms. I have no doubt that given just cause the duly elected democratic governments of the Western World can and do eavesdrop on our conversations. I would hope that's the case in the Great White North but have heard of long standing rumours that the National Snooping Agency in the Hugh-ess monitors all media traffic just like in some of the world's totalitarian countries. So, be careful of what you say about the asshole profiteers who are running your country because they may just be listening in.

11:00 hrs.

     Pah-puNK

     Pah-puNK 

     Pah-puNK 

     That is the sound the pop-o-matic makes when you are playing Trouble at the Wayward Inn. I lost the first game and kicked butt in the second game. Playing two games at a time is the norm unless I get my ass handed to me. Then, I just bail out. 

     The sun is out but more rain is expected today and tomorrow. The precipitation sure doesn't stop the construction of new hovels in the Valley. Since there has been no reason for any of us to cruise around town a lot of new builds have gone unnoticed. There appears to be four or five new multi-family units just on the edge of the downtown core. In another location a duplex has been built where a single family home went up in flames. Even on the site of a huge fire (suspected to be Jewish lightening) that took out a multi-million dollar home a new residence is now nearing completion. 

     Pah-puNK!

     

Old Sage's Day

22 Apr 20

05:30 hrs

     Today is the Old Sage's birthday. I'll give him a call after I get to work. 

     I've been up for about two hours already. The orange beast decided to hack up a hairball and after cleaning it up I couldn't go back to sleep. My ten hour work day will be a real bag drive. The only things I have to look forward to is rationing my coffee till the end of the day and my salmon sandwiches. And possibly some rain.

08:45 hrs

     It's raining pretty steadily. This the first precipitation that the Valley has had in many weeks and it will do wonders for all things growing. Yesterday, after I got home,  I looked out from the kitchen at the Wayward Inn and saw that my Saskatoon berry bushes were blooming. Outstanding! I'll have a small crop this year. At least enough for me. Now, if I had enough for a pie then I would share.

22:15 hrs

     Another day is done with only one more work day to go for this shift. Friday the Ram goes in to get the rubber turned and the anchors inspected. Then it will be off to the Big Box store for a supply run. Almost makes me feel like a Bin Rat. The Jr. Loin Fruit has his final exam tomorrow for his higher learning.  

24 Apr 20

06:00 hrs

     For those of you who follow the news coming from south of the 49th Parallel I sincerely hope that you caught the Tangerine Tyrant spouting off about his latest and completely unfounded notions for a cure for the Beer Flu. He says that if you shine UV light on or in the patients body or if you wipe or injecting the patient with household cleaners could be a possible cure.

     As this advice came from the current POTUS....DON'T DO IT!!

     Have you ever heard of something so ludicrous as this. Drinking draino. Well, that will cure you for sure because you'll be isolated six feet from the rest of the world underground in a pine box. I think that one of the reasons this Orange Buffoon spouts all of this bullshit is because he can. If he was a private citizen he could be liable for injuries or even deaths caused by his nonsensical clap trap. However, as the POTUS he can spew lies and sell snake oil until the shit pile is taller than the DC Obelisk and even if dozens of his fart catchers were to follow his directives, and they do, only to succumb to Darwinism, and they have, the surviving relatives cannot seek restitution because the POTUS cannot be personally sued.

      Well, enough of that shit. How's your belly for spots? Got any?

     The number of new orreplacement hovels being built here in the Valley is inspiring. It's always good to see new construction happening. To a point of course. Wouldn't want the city fathers to come to their senses and permit the construction of a building, any building taller than four storeys off the ground.

17:45 hrs

     I drove through downtown today and noticed a few business on the main drag have been emptied. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the Beer Flu keeping people at home. That may have been part of the reason. The other is the fact that the absentee owners keep jacking the rent each and every year. I'm amazed that anyone can afford to have a shop on the main drag. Then, add to the fact that the entire town closes its doors and rolls up the sidewalks at 17:00 on weekdays. So even if you wanted to go shopping after you get off work you can't because everything is shuttered.

      The Oma-nator has probably played about 8 million games of Trouble with us by this point. I'm starting to hear the pop-o-matic in my sleep. But, it's all good as the Couch Monkeys like to play as well.

21:00 hrs

     I just woke up from a three hour power nap. I must have been bagged because I slept right through the raucous Trouble game going on three feet beside my head. After supper I had hit the Lazy-Boy, Mr. Buttnuggets jumped into my lap and I was out like a light. 

     I learned that a former co-worker, Mean Jean, has sold her place here in the Valley. She and her Lobster had a Class A motorhome, it was a bus, that they used to migrate to a Hugh-ess snowbird desert community for half the year. In doing so the cost of putting their Class A on the Left Coast boats was probably the same as three months of mortgage payments. So, to lighten the load and still enjoy the trip south they sold the bus and bought a park model in situ, sold the house here in The Valley and moved to the mainland. This way they save the cost of taking the BC Navy twice a year and the fuel cost of taking the land yacht back and forth over the border. Surprisingly, they have purchased a new home in the same area as the Sage's. Small world.

A Blogging we will go...

11 Apr 20

14:45 hrs

     On this date, fifty-five years ago, the Oma-nator, her Better Half and the Voodoo Priestess of the Golden Horseshoe (she was but a wee babe then) arrived in the Great White North from across the pond. 

     Yesterday, while I was in the salt mine, my Lobster directed the two Couch Monkeys in doing a little yardwork at the Wayward Inn. As a result of their actions I now have series of divots that could swallow a cat and in case a horde of army ants swarms across the yard they will have to span the moats surrounding the the paving stones.

12 Apr 20

07:00 hrs

     The Wayward Inn is quiet. Except for the Oma-nator. I can hear her in her princess suite. She's still asleep but I can hear her. The Jr. Loin Fruit asked me yesterday if I had ever just sat and did nothing. I think it was another of his nonbinding social higher plane existential questions to which he already knows the prescribed answer. 

   

     "Sure. I've just sat and read a book. Or, people watched on a beach. Your mom and loved doing that on our vacation to Big Sugar Island."

     "Ah, but then you were not doing nothing. You were doing something. You were reading or people watching."

      What the hell does this kid want from me? Or is he trying to teach me something? Well, this old dog is too old to learn new tricks. It's not that I can't learn new tricks it's that I don't want to learn new tricks. Maybe he's trying to show me the path to better enlightenment to ease my conciousness. Hell, I'm closer to the graveside than the curbside and all I'm trying to do is milk as much enjoyment out of this plane of enlightenment as I possibly can before I'm gone.

     Yesterday Chef Blaine smoked another turkey. This was for Easter. Sous Irene made schwarties hashbrowns and carrot. Homemade savoury stuffing - sans onions for the Oma-nator - was also made. I'm going to ask Chef Blaine not to cook anymore smoked turkeys unless we have a full house. I want enough people at the table to have no leftover turkey. That doesn't mean I don't want him to use the smoker. Far from it. Eating supposedly carcinogenic foods is what I enjoy so I'll ask him to make some smoked brisket or maybe some char sui pork.

13 Apr 20

06:30 hrs

     Some late night messages coming from the Tangerine Tyrant indicates that he is growing increasingly frustrated that the Hugh-ess economy has tanked. Despite everyone's objections he wants to kick his country back to work and as usual he is thinking about punting out those who disagree with his unfounded statements (lies). His current target is none other than the infectious disease medical expert whose sound advice has saved lives while running directly opposite to the Tangerine Tyrant's. 

     This just in...a large number of seniors in a long term care facility in la Belle Provence have been found dead as the care workers walked away abandoning their charges. I would believe that would be murder, would it not? Round them up and get a rope.

     Some of my go to places for shopping places are no longer open for walk in service, Crappy Tire is one of them. Purchases can now be made on line or over the phone with self pickup or home delivery available. Looking at some items that I had my eye on, in case they went on sale, I see that they are no longer on the shelf. Some of these items could be considered to be tools for gathering sustenance in a quiet manner - as to not disturb your neighbours. If you think I'm wrong then take a look in the grocery stores. People are sticking with the basics and they are stocking up when they shouldn't have to. I would strongly suggest that if a person is going to acquire more foods than one can use immediately then that person should learn how to preserve the excess for long term storage - other than freezing - and that includes foods grown or harvested.

15 Apr 20

05:45 hrs

     Yesterday I braved the lineup at The Biggest Box Store for all the necessary bulk supplies. I got there at 09:30 hrs and the que was already wrapped around to the rear of the building by the dumpsters. At least it was in the shade. With only 125 customers being allowed in at a time it was about 45 minutes before I got through the doors. There were extra staff inside designated to monitor the physical distancing of the customers. Kinda reminded me of the Frat Police that separated boys and girls at school dances.

     My Lobster informed me that the Tangerine Tyrant has now pulled support from the WHO because...? Because, he's a fricken idiot, citing an inequality between what the Hugh-ess gives to the WHO and what they recieve from the WHO. I swear that he acts just like a little brat in a school yard kicking the sand box when he doesn't get his way. He needs a good slap upside the head. Don't spank him though because I heard he likes that kinda thing.

     The Great White North Broadcasting Corp. has revealed that privately owned senior care homes on Ontari-ari-ari-oh have had less government oversight (regulations and inspections) since Dougie the Hash Dealer came to power. The reduction was brought about by the industry lobby groups and owners who petitioned the government to remove the controls. One of these owner/board chairs is none other that former premier Harris who heads up the Chartwell group. The current provincial government has suddenly realized that this is not a good thing as a number of these facilities have seen Beer Flu deaths in the double digits. Are these deaths from the lack of lack of onsite cleaning/sterilization procedures or is it from the staff who have to work at multiple facilities just to earn a living wage. Maybe both. But since Dougie the Hash Dealer allowed the reduction in government oversight I lay alot of those nursing home deaths at his feet. 

     The question is this: a facility where you have a large number of residents - nee patients - who have a wide range of medical ailments and who are extremely susceptible to any kind of minor infection, which could quite easily be considered to be a hospital as it is a privately owned seniors care home, why would you allow the health maintenance standards to lax in the for profit facility? Simply that, to allow f profits to increase when costs are reduced. Except the costs now include the early deaths of those in your care.

     On that note I'll sign off.

It's going to get really scary really fast!

31 Mar 20

07:00 hrs

     All kidding aside Kidlettes, the projections about this Beer Flu is far worse than what had been expected. The egg heads who can figure this crap out have said that by August there could be 82,000 people dead in the Hugh-ess. This number may sound crazy but the dead is supposed to be piling up at a rate of 2,000 a day by mid April. The You-All Powers That Be are now beginning to be concerned about the security of their national food supply. Of course this is playing right into the hands of the preppers. 

     Now, I think that there are two kinds of preppers. You've got your Right-wing anti-government NRA hillbilly with enough guns, ammo and food buried in his underground vault and to survive the apocalypse the only thing he has yet to secure is a breeding population that is not on four legs. The other kind of prepper is the guy who may or may not own firearms but he knows how to use one. He knows how to build a fire, a shelter, can perform first aid, can procure food. He can look after his family and those who need assistance. (I'm using the term "he" but "she" can be substituted at any point.)

17:00 hrs

     The Oma-nator went for a walk today - with her walker of course - all by herself. She just announced that she was going for a walk, got dressed and headed out. I'm pretty proud of her. I'm also proud of my Jr. Loin Fruit who smelled something a bit odd coming from the drain in his sink. So, after asking for directions he dismantled the drain, cleaned and reassembled it all by himself. Hell, he's almost 20 years old. There maybe some hope for the world after all. Now, if he'll harvest and clean some small game for the larder then I'll really be impressed.

01 Apr 20

07:30 hrs

     Today is the 37th anniversary of the greatest April Fool's prank I ever committed. It was so well planned that a portion of my home town was rooked as well to the point that five years later people were still falling for it. Maybe, someday when you and I are sitting around a campfire having a beer I'll tell you about it.

     I'm just finishing watching a movie on Netflix called Taking Lives. It stars Angelina Jolie and is filmed in Montreal.. don't let the rating fool you its pretty damn good.

     Its Eggs Benny Day at the Wayward Inn and then Chef Blaine, with the assistance of Sous Irene, will make some curried lentils for supper. They're going to take some food over to the Onion who has been having a pretty rough go of it lately. It's the right thing to do.

     Yesterday, I had a call from a squatchin buddy of mine. Last year we had a bit of a falling out and he called to apologize for his actions. He said that our friendship was more important that petty differences of opinion. 

     We've been doing some spring cleaning at the Wayward Inn. I've pressure washed the front and back seating areas and the chairs have been put out. I noticed that my solar lights around the Flame Pit are not working so I may have to replace them too.

     Take care of yourself and others near you.  Stay home and stay safe.