And, Good Morning...

09 Feb 23

07:45 hrs

     Hello Kidlettes,

     How's the weather in your neck of the woods? Here on the Left Coast we have rain, which is to say, it's a typical winter day. Not having any precip would be both odd and a blessing. But, if the temp is cool enough (7°C or cooler) in the Valley then the Beauforts will continue to gather snow on their shoulders which means a much less chance of a forest fire in the summer. And you know it's kind of nice come June, July and sometimes into August to look up and still see pockets of snow hiding in the shadows. 

     We have some construction plans for the Wayward Inn. My Better Half has implored me to build a Catio onto the house. We hashed out some ideas and the simplest thing would be to screen in the back deck with another door to access the rest of the yard and the Flame Pit. We are also looking at extending the roof from above the back deck to cover a portion of the lower deck. This would provide some  additional shade in the backyard. The first project will not need a building permit. The second one will. Additional projects include some landscaping a repairing or replacing the back fence. 

     I think I have all of the recipes needed for the cookbook. I'm still working on the scratch copy and rough draft. I have no real time frame but I'm hoping to get it out sooner than later. There were two other book projects that I had initially started but I may have to drop. One was about the lessons learned from one's parents. It has been shelved as I couldn't any input from my relatives. The other has to be totally rewritten as a fictional book to appease the Powers that Be. There is no sense in getting sued when you don't have too. 

     My Lobster's BDay is this coming weekend. Awhile back I had asked her what she wanted and she replied that I had bought her a copy of the new book in the series that she likes and some of the scented soaps and lotions that she enjoys. I didn't know I was so dialed in. On another note it will be the Oma-nator's 90th BDay on the 24th of this month. My Lobster had sent out an appeal to all of the relatives and close FB friends to send a card. We are withholding the cards until the 23rd when we will give them all to her at once. There is also a plan to have a bit of a surprise party with people that she has known. 

23:30 hrs

     It's almost time to go to ground. The day has been productive. I made breakfast for the Elders of the House and a huge pot of banana rice pudding with cardamom. 

19 Feb 23

16:00 hrs

     Time to catch you all up. My Lobster had her 57th Bday last week. We all went out for brunch at the premier golf course. The two Couch Monkeys brought their Significant Others along and yours truly picked up the tab for the seven of us. It was nice. Not much better than what Chef Blaine can do with a good Sous running the kitchen at the Wayward Inn. 

     We are still prepping for the Oma-nator's 90th. We have received over a couple of dozen cards for her already. Some from the Nation's Capital and some from relatives overseas. She sure will be surprised. 

     There are some new accommodations being built a few streets over from us. At one time it was a single house on a REALLY BIG lot. Now, there are four multi-unit townhouses being built. One of the Loin commented that the developer will make out like a bandit. Even if the original plot of land cost $1m, after construction each individual unit will probably sell for $500k each or more and there has to be sixteen or twenty units. Not too shabby.

     We've had a pod of orca hanging around the coast line lately. These are transient orca who feed on seals, sea lions and dolphins. Our resident orca feed mostly on salmon. 

     I've been invited to speak at the Nicola Valley Bigfoot Conference. I feel kinda honored. I'll bring a whack of books to sell and some gear to display. I've contacted the Big Swede and Lance, from the PBR Streetgang, and asked if the would attend. I'm really hoping that this will be a good event. And after it's over I'll make my way to the Sage's place for a visit and to do some repairs for her.

20 Feb 23

08:15 hrs

     Yesterday my Better Half and I made some coconut macaroons and after they were chilled we dipped the base of each cookie in chocolate. They will not last long. As a twist, she had suggested putting a piece of fresh pineapple inside each cookie. It would kinda be like a Pina Collada cookie. It's something to think about. 

     I drove by the Dimentia Village the other day. It's still under construction. The facility is to be named "Providence Living Space, Together By The Sea". It will have twelve individual suites, one hundred fifty-five beds and thirty-two senior/junior day program interactive spots. My Lobster is wondering if she can reserve a spot for me now.

22 Feb 23

07:00 hrs

     It's cold out. Not 'Peg or Sa-hatchewan cold but cold for the Valley. It's winter's last chance at asserting some authority before spring bursts out. We could end up with some snow too. But, it'll melt so there is nothing to worry about. The mountain passes will take a hit. The Mainland is gonna get whacked too. This last storm system is so large that the Prairies and the Golden Horseshoe will feel it as well. Good. I love to hear people in Southern Ontari-ari-ari-oh bitch about the weather. It's like listening to a robin chirping in a tree. It's amusing for a while and you can simply close the window if it becomes annoying. Click.

     How's your health Dear Reader? Are you maintaining an even keel? Guard your health. Physical, mental and spiritual. If those three are doing well you have it made. And, I'm serious about this. If your not feeling right seek help. Don't let things fester because an illness can turn to rot and then you're hooped. See a doctor. Talk to a friend or a P-shrink. Clear your mind and see the world that surrounds you. 

Take care.

Watching and waiting.

22 Jan 23

15:45 hrs

     Have you had enough of the liquid sunshine? The month is not over and we have already had 16 days of precipitation.  Some days it's been just a misting of a couple of millimeters and other days you would dare to drive off of a hard surface because you would be up to your axles in mud.

23 Jan 23

07:30 hrs

     Back to the grind. 

     And, a Happy Lunar New Year!

     There has been another mass shooting in the Hugh-ess. Are you shocked? I'm not. I haven't checked the stats but they'll probably show that this year is no different than any other. I did see that there are now 120 guns for every 100 citizens in the Hugh-ess. Crazy. Now, here in the Great White North, the Feds are planning on banning certain guns (some types of shotguns and hunting rifles) simply because they are semiautomatic and could be loaded with a magazine that holds more than 5 rounds. Look, I can understand removing rifles, mostly military style of weapons, than can be modified to be selected for automatic fire. I can full appreciate this. There is no need for anyone, outside the police and the military, to own one of these. But, what makes these weapons a military style? I think that it may be a pistol grip type stock, which means that I may be screwed. Back when I first moved to The Peg I bought a semiautomatic hunting rifle and then I had a custom pistol grip stock built and mounted. Beautiful job. 

25 Jan 23

07:00 hrs

     Good Morning Campers, 

     Yesterday was the surviving Sage's birthday. Unfortunately,  neither myself or Li'l Sis were able to get to there for her birthday. However, I saw a lot of well wishes were sent on social media from friends and relatives. I had called her at ODark30 and my Better Half, along with the Couch Monkeys, talked to her before I got home from the salt mine. 

     I'm providing security on another portion of the massive infrastructure project at CFB Lompoc. It's now going into the 4th year of a three year project. I figure it will take another year before all of it is done. Maybe.

     There was yet another mass shooting in the Hugh-ess. Yes, you read that right. And, a recent study indicates that since 20+ years ago almost all of these incidents are carried out by individuals who are directly related to the victims.  Domestic violence and work place disagreements are the two main reasons. I would say that stupidity and the 2nd Ammendment are leading factors as well.

     So, enough of the doom, gloom and sadness. 

     We are gaining daylight Kidlettes. Enough that the solar yard lights at the Wayward Inn are operating again. Which is good, since it's dark when I'm going to work and dark when I head home. I remember when I was in the Peg and not only was it dark before and after work, I was working in a shop that was incased in concrete with no windows. So, if you wanted to see the sun you would have to go outside and with the daytime high averaging around -20C why in the hell would anyone do that?

     It's still the wet season here on the Left Coast. Alot of the ground is fully saturated. Going off of a hard surface is not advised even if you have 4 wheel drive. I watched a large front-end loader slowly sink into the soft soil and was just barely able to walk out of it. Kudos to the operator. I notice that the Golden Horseshoe is getting nailed with another winter storm. Good. Teaches them some tolerance. Many towns and cities use road salt to combat the ice and snow on the roads. In the GTA an average of 150,000 metric tonnes of salt is spread over 5,100 kilometers of roadways. Doing the math, that's about 29.5 tonnes per kilometer. Pretty crazy isn't it?

     The Sr. Loin Fruit has made some inroads into gaining his apprenticeship. A former classmate mentioned my son's name to his boss and a position may be in the offing. Fingers crossed. The Jr. Couch Monkey is still at the best Ramen shop in the Valley and completing his degree. Onward and upward. It would be great, and also a bit sad, if they could both launch by the end of the year. I say sad because, believe it or not, I will miss their presence at the Wayward Inn. I should ask the Sage how she felt when I departed for Basic Training. 

     Well Folkes, that's about it for now. Take care of yourself and in the immortal words of Dr. Sidney Friedman, "Have some fun. Just pull down your pants and slide on the ice!"

Happy "Circus" Year

04 Jan 23

10:45 hrs

     Do you have your popcorn ready? You should as the Big Top has settled on the Hugh-ess capital in a big way. I'm sure many of you probably don't give a Ratz Ass about politics. I can understand that and maybe appreciate it a little as well. Well, if you have any idea on how a government work and you're looking for some midday entertainment take a look at the Three Ring Antics south of the 49th. Looks like the GOP couldn't organize a donut eating contest in a police station. And if you thought they were in a pickle before now they're swimming deep in the vat.

     And, how was the Holiday Season? Eat too much? Drink too much? Too much of the gummies, perhaps? As long as the Queens's Cowboys were not involved it should be all good.

06 Jan 23

07:00 hrs

     Happy Anniversary. 

     The Insurrection Anniversary. And the fallout of the attack on the Hugh-ess Capital is still on going with the House Speaker Shit-show. Eleven times. They have voted eleven times and the Whackadoo impasse is still firmly in place. The weasel looking to be the Speaker has sold his soul, if he had one, to the Gang of Twenty and if he ever gets elected he will be their marionette. Entertaining isn't it.

     Speaking of entertainment, have you seen Night Hunter on Netflix? Pretty gritty. Sir Ben Kingsley and Stanley Tucci star in it. Riveting to say the least.

08 Jan 23

13:30 hrs

     Hello Kidlettes, 

     On Friday, I was at work and it was just your normal drizzly winter day. Not much happening, just watching contractors collect water samples. Another Commissionaire came over to talk to me. All was well and suddenly I was woozy and felt nauseated. I told him to step back and bolted out of the Ram and went to the back of the truck where hacked, coughed and spit up. Over the next hour I sipped a bottle of water and then I had to bail out again. This time whatever I had inside of me roared out over and over again. I don't know what it was but for the rest of the day I was hooped. Saturday was better. No vomiting. Ran some errands and went for a walk with my Lobster to the local store. I had to pick up some ingredients for supper. Since I wasn't feeling well and the Sr. Couch Monkey was truly sick, I made a large pot of Man Cold Soup. That hit the spot. Today, it was oatmeal with diced apple for breakfast. After my chores I napped out. Wilson joined me for awhile.  It will be early to bed as I have a full week of work ahead.

09 Jan 23

05:00 hrs

     After five hours of sleep the stomach clock could not be denied. An apple to start. Coffee. A breakfast wrap in an hour. 

     Anyone want to go to Mexico?

     Not a chance!

     Another headline showed how the Hugh-ess is dissing the Great White North. It's not the whole country that their kicking to the curb. It's that himming and hawing Piece of Weasel Shit living at Sussex Drive that no one can stand. And of course we'll never get rid of him because just over 50% of the eligible voting public takes an interest in who runs the place. That's for a federal election. Those numbers slide even more for provincial and municipal elections. Just a heads-up there could be another election this fall. 

     The Royals are at odds. The Spare has a Tell All that is driving the wedge ever deeper between the family members. Hey, family business is private but it's this all consuming need for the public to know and the paparazzi gives it to us. Personally, I hate the paparazzi. Not the press. That has a job to do. It's the assholes with the mile long lenses chasing limos on motorcycles and taking pictures of dying celebrities instead of rendering aid in order to make a few shekels. Those bastards should have a bounty placed on their heads. But, it would do much good when some celebs work the grimy camera toting vermin just to increase their own popularity. The two sides deserve each other. 

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.