Twas a couple of Days before Christmas...

23 Dec 22

07:00 hrs

     Good Morning Campers,

     Are you ready for the Holidays? Have you bought all your gifts? Has your chef planned out the menu?

26 Dec 22

15:30 hrs

     Hello Dear Readers, 

     I'm really going to try to make an effort in completing my daily drivel. It's not that I have a lot to write about or rant about but I'm sure that some of my more faithful fans would like to see more consistent entries than of late. Anyways, on with the Holiday News.

     The Wayward Inn had two guests for the holidays. One, our Jr. Loin Fruit's companion stayed the night on Christmas Eve and left late on the 25th and the second was our long lost (sort of adopted daughter) The Onion,  who was driven up Island from Hub City by a friend. We haven't seen her for quite some time and she hasn't been here in more than six months. She is now on her third year of her BA degree and as a foreign student her fees are close to $22K per semester.  Crazy shit. And this is for the privilege of attending a mid-grade college/university. Can you imagine if you were from outside the Great White North and you wanted to attend McGill or Carlton or Guelph. UBC is chock full of foreign students and I cannot imagine how much money in fees they are raking in. 

27 Dec 22

10:45 hrs

     Well, the Holiday Season is just about over for another year and I'm just about done with all of it. Maybe I'm getting old. Hell, I am old. It's the hype, the rush and all the effort put forth to satisfy some distant need. And then you read about some Hugh-ess governor sending some illegal immigrants, wearing nothing but summer clothing, across the country during one of the worst winter storms on record only to be dumped off at the VP's doorstep. How's that for the Spirit of Christmas? 

     This year my Better Half baked enough cookies to feed half the Valley. Together we created several massive meals and where each meal had to be tailored three different ways to satisfy everyone's dietary desires. Our Jr. Couch Monkey did some baking, which was a highlight. Garlic and plain bread knots as well as homemade pop tarts, which were absolutely incredible. His partner had created a low calorie chocolate hazelnut spread that was used to fill the pop tarts. I had envisioned that Nutella crap but this was nothing like that commercial crap. I'll have to steal the recipe.

     Our cold snap has broken and now we are facing an atmospheric river of rain and wind. Typical winter weather for the Rock. It's the mainland that is now facing potential massive flooding what with king tides, wave action and winter run-off. 

     Come the New Year my Lobster will be heading back to work. It'll be part time and work from home but the important thing is that she'll be able to focus on something other than the daily domestic stuff. This also means the Loin Fruits and myself will have to step up a bit more to fill in the gap. Shouldn't be a problem. Our Sr. Loin Fruit is leaving a position and is looking for something more in his field and our Jr. Couch Monkey has only two more courses before he graduates. He achieved all A's in his last term and is expected to graduate magna cumme laude. 

     As for me, I'm hoping to get out fishing more than what I did last year. Maybe, get some squatching in and find time to finish the cookbook.

It's about time for another edition.

10 Dec 22

07:55 hrs

     Good Morning Campers!

     Have you completed all of your gift shopping? How about the wrapping? Are you a traditional wrapper- paper, ribbons, bows? Or, do you hide multiple gifts in one big box, add bells or rattles to confuse the recipient, or set up a treasure hunt to find the gifts? I lean towards the second type. Ya gotta have fun.

     It looks as if the Wayward Inn will be busy and crowded this Season. Not only will the five of us be here, the Couch Monkey's significant others will be in attendance. The Onion will be coming to stay for a few days too. Now, supposedly she has a sort of boyfriend from the Mainland and my Better Half has invited him as well. Now, add to that a couple more of the Sr. Loin Fruit's friends and yours truly will be spending the Holidays with a bottle of scotch and a bag of gummies. 

     

     How is it that your colon and/or bladder knows exactly when you park in your driveway? Asking for a friend.

     If you have kept up with the news you will know that the Tangerine Tyrant's Christmas is really going to suck. The Courts are closing in ever tighter. Recently the T. Corporation was found guilty of a tax fraud scheme that had been carried out over 15 years. The sentencing has not taken place as of yet and there are more trials in the near future. All I can say is that it's about fricken time. 

11 Dec 22

07:45 hrs

     We've had snow here at the Wayward Inn for the past couple of weeks.  And by that, I mean there is snow on the ground and not just on the Beauforts. The worst issue is that many of our Valley residents have no clue on how to drive in the white stuff. I know that I have mentioned it before but the ineptitude of local drivers  became evident when the Great Ghiz was in town for work when the snow fell. He was totally shocked when he witnessed the systemic apoplectic seizure of local traffic. He called me to say that he was in town but the conversation started with, "Doesn't anyone know how to drive in this town?" I didn't know that he was coming out so it was a pleasant surprise, as always. If you haven't kept up with this blog you should know that the Great Ghiz and I have known each other for more than 40 years. So, time is always set aside for at least one get together when he is in town.

     Li'l Sis texted me that she has received the Christmas parcel we had sent. Besides gifts my Better Half put in a can of homemade cookies. Sometimes, Li'l Sis doesn't open the parcel until a week later and my Lobster wanted her to see if the cookies survived the trip. Three hours later, and under the influence,  I texted her back asking her to "Let me know if the fresh shrimp made it okay. The dry ice should just about run out." Li'l Sis didn't see the text until tbe next morning and in a panic she raced to the package tearing it open to discover that there were no shrimp at all. Expletives ensued. 

     I don't know if any of you, Dear Readers, are old enough to remember the loss of life when a 747 airliner was downed by a terrorist bomb on 21 Dec 1988 over Lockerbie Scotland killing 243 pax and 16 crew. After all these years the case has remained open and now the bomber has finally been arrested and is in 'Merican custody. Good. Let justice be done. 

     Just for your info, three years earlier a Canadian group of Sikh terrorists developed and tested a bomb on the Island. Two bombs were planted on Air India flights, one headed east and one west. The eastbound aircraft was destroyed at 31,000 feet AGL 120 miles off the Irish coast killing all aboard and the other detonated prior to the flight at Narita International killing two baggage handlers. Although the perpetrators were found only one admitted to building the bomb and was sentenced to fifteen years for manslaughter. Another was convicted of obstruction of justice and perjury.

     

     

Are you ready for the Christmas Season?

25 Nov 22

06:00 hrs

     Good Morning Dear Readers, 

     And isn't it a lovely morning? Well, maybe it is and maybe it isn't. Some of us may have to head into the Olde Mill and some of may be able to sit back sip hot cocoa while contemplating their navel as the world drifts slowly by outside the window. Navel contemplation, or even navel gazing for that matter, can be very cathartic and very Zen. If you haven't tried it maybe you should give it a shot. But, on to more pressing matters.

     Here at the Wayward Inn, we are slow in our Seasonal decorations this year. My Lobster has completed the annual Christmas letter (#28) but hasn't printed it yet. The tree is not up and to tell you the truth it may not go up this year as Mr. Wilson and Jack will most likely turn it into another play/Battle Cat War Zone. We will test their reactions by attempting to set up the tree with no decorations. I'm pretty sure that everyone in the house has completed purchasing their gifts. Everyone but myself that is. I'm hoping to take care of that today. I have ordered some gifts online but I need to go across the bridge to look for those special things that I want to give.

27 Nov 22

07:30 hrs

     Over the past couple of days our Sr. Loin Fruit assisted in putting up the start of our Christmas lights. If the weather holds I'll get more up today. Yesterday I was out at the Valley's tourist building looking for gifts and stuff. The merchandise has begun to focus on local artists. My Better Half contacted a friend,  an artist who lives south of us, to tell her to take some samples of her work for consideration. I offered copies of my two books and they said that they would get back to me. It would be great if they would carry my books. 

     Speaking of books, I'm going to have to put a limit on the number of recipes going into the cook book because I could keep adding and adding until it is more than anyone would want. I have to try and keep it focused on the target of assisting young adults to cook nutrious meals after the leave the parental nest.

     Seen any good movies lately? I watched Polar on Netflix. Be warned than it is graphically violent,  akin to the John Wick movies, but there is some humour as well and just enough plot twists to keep your mind guessing. As for books, I finished the Dr. Bindernagel bio and have moved on to a Robert Crais, a familiar and trusted read. We have always encouraged and promoted reading by gifting books to our boys at Christmas and their birthdays. I don't know what it is that sparks a child to read independently but we have seen first hand the difference in children who learn to read for pleasure and those who don't AND how that may be one of the factors that shapes their lives as an early adult. I have wondered if another possible factor is how these individuals, who may not read for pleasure, are so fully involved - nee addicted - to video games - because I have witnessed those who seem to have the drive to personally excel are readers and those who are consistently drifting through dead end positions would probably have to watch a YouTube video on how to make toast. Is it the parent's fault? What about the twelve plus years of teachers who supposedly taught the child? Someone dropped the ball. Hey, I realize that not all people like to read but I think successes in life requires some kind of drive and the desire to read new books may an indicator of that drive.

You know your old when...

08 Nov 22

07:45 hrs

     Good Morning Campers 

     The other day my Lobster had commented that, "You know you are old when you wear off your thumbprint scolling down your phone to locate your year of birth on a website." This morning I realized that I'm definitely in the Olde Boat" when, after coming home from work at 03:00 hrs and racking out four hours, I was up to feed our cats - we now have three, made tea and coffee, took out the garbage and headed out to pick up a lab req for a blood draw to have my blood sugar checked. It's that drive to get up and get going that I don't see in people half my age.

09 Nov 22

22:45 hrs

     Back at work. Graveyards. The one good thing is we have no wind tonight blowing over the airfield. And, once the runway lights are off it's kind of pretty with nothing but stars overhead. We have some high clouds tonight but some stars may be poking out. By the time I get home at 0dark30 I will not get to see the snow that has blanketed the Beauforts like a great emine cape. A couple of days ago my Lobster and I had to go to the other side of the bridge. As we were driving along the Duke I could see the accumulation of the white stuff. Really pretty. Just as it stays up there. If we get it down in the Valley it is best advised to stay off the roads because half of the drivers do not have winter tires on their vehicles and more than half have no clue as to operate said vehicle in the snow/slush/wet gunk. Sometimes when the mainland gets whacked with a ton of snow I wish I had the finances to own an apartment on top of a long steep hill where I could stand with a hot toddy and watch the traffic sliding past. I'm sure you've seen on the news these fair-weather drivers trying to negotiate the roads while at the mercy of the weather. Honey, pass the popcorn.

     My job is to safely escort contractors to and from high security locations while interacting with other stakeholders. Sometimes this means I must physically be in a room with them or sit in an overwatch position to simply monitor their work progress. For the most part those us doing this job work alone. This gives me plenty of time to read. I have often finished a Michael Connolly novel in two days. Last night I finished re-reading Peter Maas's 1973 book Serpico. If you are not Olde you probably wouldn't know what the book is about. Look it up. Last year was the 50th anniversary of Frank Serpico being shot while on the job. Time marches on. Tonight, I'm starting sasquatch Discovered - The biography of Dr. John Bindernagel. It was penned by John's friend Terrance James, PhD. John was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and wanted a legacy of his work to be recorded so the two of the met several times a week for talk with James taking notes. I'm really looking forward to the reading about John's life.

15 Nov 22

07:00 hrs

     It's really foggy out. Looking outside I can see about 200 feet at the most. I've seen it thicker where you can barely see your hand in front of your face. As long as the snow stays up on the mountains I'll be happy. 

     I made a stew last night.  We thought that the Jr. Loin Fruit had to go to the dojo and we rushed the meal to the table and as a result it wasn't as thick as I would have liked. Additionally, the taste was a bit short due to the lack of aromatic vegetables. In other words,  it was made Oma Friendly. No onions. No garlic. No leeks. No turnips. Nutritious, yes. Made with love? Sadly, no.

     I'm sure you've observed the midterm election in tbe Hugh-ess. I'm not too concerned. Power is now divided so neither party has real control so maybe some meaningful progress will be completed. But here in the Great White North two provinces are making a very bd stand against the Feds and the green  environmental hypocrisy that has been over taxing the producers and users of fossil fuels on the Left-side of the country while importing foreign oil to supply the Right-side of the country and then depositing the crippling carbon taxes into a general revenue slush fund instead of using it to invest in real green initiatives. 

     I'm still plugging away at the cookbook. I'm trying to add basic recipes that are tasty eat and fun to make. Hopefully I'll get it done early in the new year. I'll give a copy to each of the Couch Monkeys and for any parents or grandparents, whose grandmunchkins have a habit of burning water whenever they try to cook, you can contact me for a signed copy.

     Well Kidlettes, it's time to sign off. I've delayed getting this blog far too long. I must be getting old.

Hello there...

25 Oct 22

06:45 hrs

     Good Morning Dear Readers, 

     It is is I, your faithful scribe, bringing you the news and views from the Left Coast. A bunch of stuff has happened in tbe past couple of weeks. So let's get to it, shall we?

     Last week my Lobster and I took a sojourn to the far side of The Rock for a much needed break. The two of us hadn't been away together, just the two of us, for several years and when the ability to do so appeared before us we jumped at the chance. My Better Half had learned that we could get respite care for the Oma-nator at a local facility where she had attended for a supper club and a day program. We, meaning she, talked it over with her and we, meaning the whole family, worked at alleviating her fears (primarily of what the menu would encompass). So, last Tuesday the Oma-nator was shown to her residence for the week and we boarded The Ram for our trip. First we drove Over the Hump, with a shopping stop at Goats on the Roof, to stay at our friends place. We stayed the night and late the following morning we wound our way through road construction and Sutton Pass to the far Left Coast. The trip was good with only a couple of minor delays due to the road construction. 

     Overall our trip was great. We walked trails, beaches and around the two towns that anchor the ends of the peninsula. The place we stayed at has a kitchen so we brought  some food and purchased some other stuff. And, we brought the crib board, naturally. Our trip home took just shy of three hours including a stop at the Port for some growlies. The following day we retrieved the Oma-nator and brought her home. She said her stay was enjoyable except for the food, which is not surprising but she was happy to be home.

26 Oct 22

23:00 hrs

     I'm back into work. Graveyards. Last night I did 11.5 hours and when I got back to the Wayward Inn it was time for a shower and bed. I got up at 19:00, ate supper, made a lunch, a pot of roof tar, played a game of crib with my Lobster,  got dressed and left at 22:00 to refuel the Ram and get into work. Two more nights. Tonight and tomorrow night. Friday I'm off. On Saturday my Friend from Over the Hump is joining my in attending the 1st Annual Bindercon. It is a sasquatch conference taking place here in the Valley to honor Dr. John Bindernagel, a biologist who had studied sasquatches for many many years who had passed away several years ago. He penned two books on the subject, the second of which was aimed directly at his peers who, like most scientists, refuse to give accreditation to the existence of such a creature. 

     John had attended the expedition I hosted in 2007. It was the first time I had met him. The expedition was successful with numerous Class B incidents. If you would like to learn what a Class A or B incident is you can go to www.bfro.net or read Wood Knocks and Tossed Rocks, available on Amazon. At the conference John's son will be bringing parts of his father's collection of footprint casts and there will be other guest speakers. I have not been invited to speak eventhough I have been an investigator since 2006. I believe the organizer does not know me. But,  I think there will be an open mic so I may have an opportunity to talk about the subject.

     Winter has arrived here in the Valley. While we were away the temperature dropped shocking the trees to start shedding their leaves. Now we are expecting not one but two atmospheric rivers to hit The Rock. We will receive a small amount of rain but other side of the Island is going to get 100+mm of the wet stuff. From the rain we have has over the past couple of nights the Beauforts have began gathering snow. The local ski hill, sitting at 5300 feet, has its first dusting but the glacier at 6430 feet is now covered in a brilliant white blanket. The word is this winter will be colder and wetter. I may have to invest in a snowblower because I'm not getting any younger and the Couch Monkeys will not be living with us forever and there goes my labour force. 

     Well Kidlettes, that's about all that have for you. If you have any comments or questions please drop me a line.

Spooky

16 Oct 22

09:30 hrs. 

     I don't know how many of you have ever seen the series "Dead Like Me". It was on in the early 2000's and starred Mandy Patinkin. The actors were portraying  people who had died and because they did not have enough "points" to get into Heaven they had to work as reapers - taking the soul of the newly dead and ensuring that it was on the right Path to the Pearly Gates. To perform this feat the Reaper mearly has to brush their hand on the soon to be departed arm or shoulder or body part that is convenient. Once the "accident" takes place the spirit arises and is directed in the right direction. It truly was an interesting series that unfortunately lasted only two seasons. 

     Anyways, when my Better Half and I play cribbage and I am cutting the deck for the turn card, she reaches across and runs her hand down my arm and over my hand that is cutting the deck. The question is twofold: Is she stroking my arm to impart some luck? Doubtful. Or, is she slowly reaping my soul one game of cribbage at a time?

Happy Thanksgiving!

08 Oct 22

13:45 hrs

     Happy Thanksgiving Dear Kidlettes!

     That's right it's that time to plan out your holiday feast. We are not having a whole turkey this year. We may be having some guests at the Wayward Inn but not enough to consume most of the bird and we really didn't want leftover turkey for the following fortnight. Instead we are having a small ham and a stuffed turkey breast. On the side there will be carrots, broccollini, two kinds of Schwartie hashbrowns (one of which was friendly to the Oma-nator), a casserole dish full of homemade stuffing and a pumpkin roll for dessert. The Sensei and his Lobster are attending as is the Jr. Loin Fruit's companion. It should be fun.

14 Oct 22

07:30 hrs.

     If you haven't been following the legal squeeze the Tangerine Tyrant is in? The Jan 6th Committee has reconvened and has issued a subpoena for the Orange Shit-gibbon to appear before the committee. If you think he's going to show up I've got a bridge to sell you. It will be cour challenge delays all the way to the Hugh-ess Supreme Court. I suppose they could issue a warrant for his arrest and drag his far ass in, which would be really nice to see but that would probably be the pre-emptive call to arms for all of his Sycophants. 

16:00 hrs.

     Well, the potatoes have been mashed and the onions have been sautéed avec ail. The beets have been peeled, diced and are waiting to be simmered. That's right! It's beet soup night. An acquired taste for sure but my family grew up with this. In fact, a couple of weeks ago my uncle posted a picture of the delicous bowl. It didn't take long for many family members to chime in saying that it has been far too long for them. What can I say, it's comfort food. Now normally there is bacon cooked with the onions but since the Jr. Couch Monkey is still a quasi-vegetarian the bacon was left out for his benefit. The Oma-nator will not be sampling the soup for two reasons. First, there are onions - so, she's out. Second, I don't think she has ever peeled, cooked or eaten a beet - either standard red or golden variety. My Lobster says beets taste like dirt. I actually enjoy eating beets. Washed, peeled, seasoned, wrapped in foil and roasted till soft on the Flame Pit....you can beat them.

     The weather on the Left Coast has been very dry. We have not had any appreciative precipitation for several months. There was some but it was up on the Beauforts which is good. The rain will be here soon enough.

16 Oct 22

07:31 hrs.

     The days are now much shorter and the nights are growing longer. The solar lights above the Flame Pit are no longer lit when I make coffee in the morning. And this morning the sky has an odd tinge to it. Not pink or red but a muted brown. There are forest fires over on the mainland. The cities there experiencing a spate of poor air quality rivaling Beijing or Delhi. That smoke may have been pushed over to The Rock causing the sky to look so weird.

     The leaves are changing colours now, as well. Here on the Left Coast we do not have the hardwoods like they do in Ontari-ari-ari-oh. Looking at the Beauforts there are splotches of colour showing the maples, aspens, alders and birches. Most of these also show where the rivers, creeks and lakes reside. It also shows where prior logging has occurred as these deciduous trees grow much more quickly than the replanted fir and spruce.

     The Jr. Couch Monkey has been writing his midterms and the results have been astounding. The Sr. Loin Fruit is still hopeful that he will find an apprenticeship. We are all hopeful because he needs to gain experience before he can attempt the next phase of his training. 

     My Lobster and I are taking a mini vay-cay. She has found a week of respite care for the Oma-nator who is concerned that they will be serving her onions with every meal. They won't, we have informed them of her dietary concerns. I'm sure that she is also worried that we will not retrieve her when we come home. Nothing is further from the truth.

     Have you seen Stanley Tucci's program on CNN Sunday evening? Food to die for. Basic food. Created in this manner for generations upon generations. It makes me think that we, North Americans, have forgotten what is good as we demand for all things, especially our food, to be over the top. Imagine a simple spaghetti dish made with only four components one of which is vegetable stock. Looks pretty damn good. And, one could easily substitute penne or spirals for the spaghetti eventhough those pasta shapes were designed to be accompanied with a type of sauce. This particular dish has no sauce. Just the four ingredients and some seasonings. Amazing. I'll have to get Chef Blaine give it a whirl. Come to think of it I should talk to my Better Half's Travelling Cuz'ns and see if they have had this dish before.

     I just say something on the news where in the Hugh-ess the food prices have risen so much over the past couple of years that a large number of people have been relying on food banks. In January 2020 one church in Atlanta they would aid thirty cars per week and now it's three thousand cars per week. And it's getting worse. Look after after your family and friends.