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.

     

Is this real?

17 Nov 21

05:15 hrs

     I just caught something on the news. There is this right wing anti-vax Whackadoo who now has the support of the Tangerine Tyrant - yes, he's still pushing the Big Lie - for an elected position in the Wolverine State who has, among other things, a Master's degree in Christian Apologetics. What the hell is that?

18 Nov 21

19:00 hrs

     Today will be a day in near infamy. Ar 09:00 a WHUUMPH was heard for over a klick and a CRRUUMPHH was felt for 400 meters. A natural gas explosion tore into two sides of a barrack block at CFB Lom Poc. In fact, it was the barracks that I first lived in back in '82. What iniated the gas leak and explosion is unknown but there were contractors working on the exterior of the building. Not my contractors but unattended contractors. Ten persons injured. One medi-vacced off base.

19 Nov 21

05:00 hrs

     If you have stopped paying attention to the crap happening in the Hugh-ess you had better start again. In just about every state there has been a persistent effort to redraw the voting districts to favour the Grand Olde Dudes and marginalize everyone else. This will put state and federal congresses into permanent control of the Republicans because these scared old white guys are afraid of anyone who is not like them. The real scary part is someone has suggested that after the 2022 mid-terms and if the Republicans take the federal House the plan may be to elect the Tangerine Tyrant as the Speaker of the House.

     The mayor of Abbie in the lower mainland has stated that the cost of repairing the damage from the flooding could be near a billion. And that's just one City. The infrastructure damage through all of the mountain passes will take many many months. The Royal Canadian Engineers used to be based in Chilli but a former PM had the country's military's bases closed, moved and combined to reflect the Aussie model with a number of Super-bases surrounded by smaller satellite bases. Great idea if you are an island and as large as Auss-land is - it is still an Island. The Great White North is not an island and as a result of the federal blindness there are no Combat Arms units based west of the cordillera!

     Our dear friend, the aged Brit ex-pat has been hospitalized since her house was sold, all of her family is north in the Interior. Since being hospitalized she has yet to get a meal that she has requested. Breakfast,  lunch and dinner. She has asked the staff to please ensure she gets what she likes and can/will eat. Nope. Nothing but excuses. Well, I have now taken up the fight to have soup and not chili for lunch. I will get this shit straightened out or die trying.

     One last point. I have reaffirmed that our Keystone province is the most backward - no, that's not right. It's the most antiquated behind the times place in the country. Even EPI is ahead of them.

The Onion is back!

05 Nov 21

22:00 hrs

     Yes!

     The Onion has landed on The Rock. And has been at the Wayward Inn since yesterday. On Sunday we (The Oma-nator,  my Better Half and myself) will take her back to Hub City where she has re-enrolled in university. We will be taking her and her stuff - that has been stored at the Wayward Inn for the past year or so.

 06 Nov 21

20:45 hrs

     This morning I fueled the Ram and headed over The Hump to visit my fishing buddy and his Lobster. It was a great visit which included watching Dodgeball - the movie. Always a good laugh. I got back to the Wayward Inn at about 17:30 hrs. The Onion is still sorting out her stuff yo take back to Hub City. 

07 Nov 21

14:00 hrs

     The Ram was on the road by 09:30 hrs, loaded with cargo and pax to return The Onion back to Hub City. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to build a LAPES type system for the Ram which would have made the deployment of her belongings really easy. If you know what that is you won't have to ask. Otherwise, simply Google " Hercules Lapes". 

      The temperature has dropped the past week and the torrent of precipitation has blanketed the Beauforts with snow. I've only caught glimpses of it of course due to the low ceiling level but one of these days the clouds will part and the mountains will be bathed in sunlight. The view from The Spit will be unobstructed and magnificent. 

     This Friday will be our Sr. Couch Monkey's twenty-third birthday and have no clue what to get him. After the Jr. Loin Fruit's accident we had dash cans installed in all of our vehicles. I installed the one in The Ram and in Jr.s car while my Better Half and the Sr. Couch Monkey had theirs professionally installed. 

     I know that this blog has come in fits and starts but I've been distracted lately. Nothing serious or worrisome. I've just been trying to find a direction to get some projects underway but the timing is never great.

     L'il Sis is still plugging away in Cowtown and The Sage is keeping busy at her place. My Lobster's relatives are all hunkering down for the coming winter too. Just think Christmas is less than two months away. Where has the time gone?

Oh Ho!

24 Oct 21

06:45 hrs

     ARRR! There is trouble on the high seas, me hearty!

     It would seem that one of the many giant container ships that come from Hither and Yon - this one is probably from Yon - to bring goods that we and the Hugh-ess really want but probably don't need has accidently dumped forty sea-cans into the sea strait between Capital City and the Hugh-ess. You will recall that the very southern end of The Rock is surrounded on three sides by the Hugh-ess.  Some of these containers were known to contain toxic chemicals and some may sink completely and some may not which makes them a hazard for ships plying the waters. This all happened two days ago. This morning I learned that the container ship is now on fire and the crew is being evacuated. All in all it is not a good situation. 

     The Wayward Inn has been decorated for All Hallows Eve. Well, mostly decorated as I still have the bats and faces to hang. I'm going to get one of the Couch Monkeys to lend a hand as it is still difficult to work above the shoulder with my left arm. The place looks good. My Lobster wanted the place decorated earlier this month but we didn't get to it. I know that right after Rememberance Day she'll be chomping at the bit to get the Christmas lights up. Speaking of Christmas,  I was at the Big Box Store the other day and they already have artificial trees and some lights for sale.

     Another thing happened last week that I had forgotten to write about was the fact that the Tree Hating Asshat behind us had the removal service at his place to take dow a couple more trees. But, it didn't stop on his property as trees were felled next door to him and behind him. That three properties out of the five that all join together at the back right corner of our property. Obviously there was some collusion happening. We know from the conversations with the Asshat that he wanted more sunlight for his garden and earlier he had quite a few trees removed for this reason. Now, the Redneck who had lived beside him removed a bunch of trees at the same time because he wanted to build a work shop. After removing these healthy trees he discovered that there was not enough clearance on his property for the new building so after being there for less than a year he sold the place. I don't know what the new owner has against trees but the arborists took some of his too. And why the third house removed their trees I have no idea except maybe the Asshat talked them into it and paid for the removal. All in all my Better Half is pissed. We used to have this nice quiet shaded grove where the sight lines to the neighbours was blocked and we had all sorts of birds hanging around. Now, its wide open and from our kitchen window we can see over the fence down through four or five yards. And that's just from ground level. If we had a two story home we would be able to see everything the neighbours are doing down the length of the block. I can envision planting some more trees this coming summer. 

     If I haven't mentioned, it our Jr. Loin Fruit has passed his final drivers licence road test. Good on him. And here's another shock...he's talking about forgoing the Queens's Cowboys and joining the Forces instead. Well, I wish him all the best. Today's military is not the same as the one I was in and is a million miles removed from the one my Friend from over the Hump had joined. But there is a constant and that is the camaraderie between members. It's not as prevalent now as it was when I served but as I pointed out to him some of the people he may meet could very well be true Brothers in Arms such as my friend from Over the Hump,  The Great Ghiz and Slam. 

     The Sensei and his Lobster are slated to come for supper tomorrow night. In preparation for the meal Chef Blaine has massaged the seasonings into two pork shoulders. It will be a plethora of pulled pork. He has also taken Timothy out, but that is for tonight.

26 Oct 21

10:30 hrs

     Well, last night Sensei and his Lobster Shar came over to the Wayward Inn. Chef Blaine had initially wanted to do both roasts as pulled pork but he was advised by Sous Irene that it would be too much when the sides were added in. By the time they left the number of dead soldiers and dirty tumblers and shot glasses would have impressed even my old crewmates.  

 14:45 hrs

     Another task done. Chef Blaine took a package of Italian honey garlic sausages and put them through the smoker along with one of those carver hams that I use for my lunches. The sausages are now hanging in the shop fridge to air dry. They'll be there a month before they are ready. I may share them.

27 Oct 21

05:15 hrs

     Another day. I'm down to one hearing aid. The other is in need of maintenance. Once in place all I could hear was snap, crackle and pop. I tried my best to clear the issue myself but to no avail. So I took it to the professionals. It'll be three weeks before I get it back and until then I will be hearing clearly only on one side of my head. 

     There has been some advancement in the pursuit of bringing justice against the Tangerine Tyrant. It would appear that there was much more behind his last big rally on Jan 06, 2020. Aides and associates have begun to spill their guts (to protect themselves before the investigation committee) and the tale they are telling is that elected GOP members knew exactly what was going to happen and they did nothing to stop it. Hang them all! Or, as the prisoner in Monty Python's Life of Brian said, "Nail them up. Nail some sense into them!" 

28 Oct 21

06:45 hrs

     It's a quick cup of joe before heading to the gym but this news item may be interesting to you. Remember the container ship I told you about - the one that lost some 40 containers and then caught fire? Well, it would seem that it was alot more than 40 containers. More like 106. And some of them have been found at the washed up on the northern tip of The Rock which happens to be over four hundred miles from the south end.

     And on a final note, I saw an advert on the telly from the Left Coast nurses union blaming the government for the loss of members from the profession because of the vaccine mandate for healthcare providers. What bullshit is this? And whose side is the union on? If they are backing the nurses who do not want to take the vaccine do they also back those nurses who did take the vaccine? Or is the union opting for a third direction by backing the freedom of choice by the member to vaccinate or not? I just can't understand how a healthcare provider who has faced patients who are suffering and dying from the Beer Flu and then they refuse to get vaccinated. Well, the union can say what they want but fact of the matter is that the law states that the employer can set the requirements of employment and since the government is paying their wages then they can legally state that if you are a nurse and you want to work then you must be vaccinated. And this situation is not just in the healthcare industry either. Where I work there are two individuals who have refused to get vaccinated and as a result the boss is scrambling to replace them because the company has made it a condition of employment no different than needing to have a first aid course. 

     

Good Morning Campers!

20 Oct 21

08:30 hrs

     Let's start with the weather shall we...

     The forecast is for rain! What did you expect? After all, as my dear Friend from over The Hump says, "This is a rainforest.  So get used to it." That being said I still have to pick up some rain pants for work. Something that has some Hi Vis reflective markings on it. They will make life nicer when I'm out in the wet.

     Okay, a quick sidebar. Why do we refer to garments covering our lower extremities in the plural? A pair of pants or shorts. Is it because you have to put both legs in them? A skirt or a kilt is singular. Panties and boxers are plural but jock strap is not. Something to think about.

     There is more snow on the White Whale. But, the snow that had fallen across the Beauforts has vanished for now. When the steady rains arrive and the temperature drops then there will be a very pretty mantle blanketing the peaks. As long as it stays there I'll he happy. I never really liked the snow too much. After fifteen years in the Peg I'm kinda done with it for as long as possible. There is a running joke about a guy who retired from the service and when asked where he was going to retire he said he was going to put his snowblower into the back of the truck and head south until he got to a place where someone asked him what was the contraption in the back of his truck and that was where he was going to retire.

     My Aunt D commented that she was happy to see that I was going to the gym. Thanks. In fact I went this morning. She said that she used to go, had stopped but easplanning on going again. Great stuff.  Even if you just go and walk on the treadmill it's a start and I think there is never a time not to start to do something. I know I feel better. I'm walking taller. My clothes are fitting better. I ache less. Other than my left shoulder. Sometimes when I'm walking through the neighbourhood I almost feel like Wolverine eventhough I probably only look like a well tone groundhog.

As God is my witness...

10 Oct 21

07:00 hrs

     Good Morning Dear Readers! 

     That's right. Here in the Great White North Happy Turkey Day is almost upon us - the folks down in the Hugh-ess are a month or so behind us and unless you were living in a cave during the 1980's then you should be able to recall when the title words of this blog were spoken by the General Manager of WKRP in Cincinnati. If you can't recall ever seeing this I am truly saddened at the fact that you haven't seen one of the funniest bits on a sitcom ever. It's almost as funny as Abbot and Costello's Who's on First?  I said amost as funny because in my opinion nothing can top that routine. So, Dear Readers, I want you you to go to your Googlemachine and type in the words "WKRP turkey drop". You can watch the the five minute video but for the full story i would suggest you watch the full version. 

     How are you celebrating Turkey Day? This is the second one since the Beer Flu hit the world and unfortunately some people didn't get the message about restricting the size of your holiday social gatherings and as a result the virus had the opportunity to spread exponentially wherever stupid people gathered to dine with others. This year the size of the gatherings will vary from province to province depending on the infection rate in each location. Here on the Left Coast we can have up to ten individuals sitting down to the feast and we have 82% of the population vaccinated. In the Redneck province next door and in Sa-hatchewan the rules are different. Up to twenty people next door and fifteen individuals at a private gathering in the Wheat Province. In both provinces almost 70% of their population has been fully vaccinated but it's the 30% who are hold up in their bunkers who are refusing to get vaccinated and it is these idiots who are being hospitalized when they get sick and are keeping the virus alive and putting their neighbours at risk by not getting vaccinated. I have no sympathy for those assholes who eventually, intubated in their hospital bed, will profess their ignorance before begging and pleading for all those who hear their message to take the shots.

11 Oct 21

05:30 hrs

     Today is our Turkey Day. I have been bringing a turkey breast and a couple of huge drumsticks for two days. They'll be going into the smoker at about 13:30 hrs for three and a half hours at 250 degrees. I may put the stuffing in the smoker too. We'll be having assorted veggies and yesterday I made a pumpkin roll for dessert. I gave the Oma-nator a sample and she gave her approval. 

     I have all but abandoned "Who let the Goats out?" as it needs a completed rewrite. I will get it done eventually but in the meantime I am focusing on my cook book. I have decided on the title "How to cook your way out of a wet paper bag". My Lobster doesn't like the title nut cannot come up with a different one. If you have a suggestion drop me a line. The original idea was to pass on the kitchen knowledge I have gained to those who a single and just starting out on their own. I would include some simple recipes - even family favorites - that would up the reader's game. I think my Better Half thought that this would be a family recipe cook book and that's why she feels that title doesn't fit. I am planning on placing some special family recipes in another book but the scope of this book is still aimed at the young adults who are striking out on their own.

15:00 hrs

     Out on my walk I spotted an elderly gentleman walking his cat on a leash. He said the cat was quite used to it as she was 18 years old. That's a long time to be on a leash. Mind you .....

     Today might be a holiday but the minions are busy working on the new rabbit hutches. Not all the workers are in. Those who are in are probably playing catchup so the rest of the crew can get a fresh start tomorrow. Of course, the stupid bridge project downtown is still dragging on and will continue for another couple of months. Some other changes have taken place in the Valley. A major car dealership has relocated to a place up the hill by the Big Box Store. There is talk that the former site may become another Rabbit Hutch. If its affordable for first time buyers I'm all for it. Another dealership is going to relocate to the bottom of the hill at the site of the former Crappy Tire store. It's about time. The place has sat empty for years.

12 Oct 21

05:00 hrs

     Snap, Crackle, and Pop! 

     You know you're getting old when these are the sounds you hear when you get up to go to work!

     In the news, if you haven't heard, our Illustrious Leader is still backpedaling and licking his nuts after his massive hypothetical faux pas last week. Good! Maybe this will show his Party's Faithful that he is just all smiles and empty promises. On top of that there is the additional scandal where the The Holy C was supposed to pay out some 25M to the survivors of the Rez Schools but didn't. The two other denominations involved scraped up their share and ponied up. It seems that in Sa-hatchewan The Holy C had a friend in the Courts who ruled that the instructions the gave to the Rez students was payment enough. The Feds appealed this decision because it was bullshit - and everyone knows it. But, less than a week into JT's previous term someone authorized some second grade numpty in the Justice(?) Department to quietly drop the appeal. It wasn't even brought to the attention of the Ministry. Why? Maybe because she's a First Nations person and would have wanted to pursue the case. Well, I'll tell you one thing that slowly numpty would not have done this on his own. Someone much higher up the food chain was calling the shots.

     Have you seen the Shit Storm building in the Hugh-ess? Ex-Presidents think and acting and telling every GOP zombie who will listen that he still is the Prez. These clowns are going to come out in force during the mid-terms in 22 and at the general election in 24. And when I mean in force I don't just mean at the polls. They will be armed and they may attempt to take the current administration by force. There are 120.5 guns for every 100 persons in the Hugh-ess. That's over 400 million privately owned weapons that the government knows about. They are owned by about 42% of the population who in all likelihood vote for the GOP.

     Have a nice day.