A New Beginning...

01 Jan 25

16:30 hrs

     It is now the New Year. Our Jr. Loin Fruit is still with us for a couple of days. He will be leaving Friday at Oh-Dark-30. We have enjoyed his company and his baking. I remember when I was in the Service and I would head home to see the Sages for the Holidays. To tell you the truth I never thought how it would affect them when I left after visiting for a couple of weeks. But now I know. We missed having him around. We have no idea when we will see him next. We think that after his surgery he may be able to return home and carry out his physio at CFB LOMPOC instead of BFC Le Bouef. It would be nice but we will gave to see what the Doc says.

02 Jan 25

21:30 hrs

     Well, he's all packed. At least I hope he is. Today we played a bunch of games and my Better Half took some photos of us and the boys. Memories.

     Today we had a gift delivered to us. I was getting my multi-tool, from my work pants to mark the Jr. Couch Monkey's battery pack, when I spotted a dead sparrow laying on a recyclable shopping bag in our closet. Obviously, one of our two wannabe hunters, Jack or Mr. Wilson brought it in from the Catio.

04 Jan 25

16:30 hrs

     Our Jr. Loin Fruit arrived at BFC LaBouef this morning. He actually got in town yesterday but due to the rulz he was not allowed on Base so he racked out in a hotel that my Lobster had booked for him. He'll be back to his own personal grind bright and early Monday morning. He made sure he packed his parka and the  new winter boots he received for Christmas. He also took a suitcase full of books to keep himself occupied on his down time. 

     We still have the two rentals. That's the term the Oma-nator would call the foster cats. We tried to integrate them with our clouded - that's what a group of cats is called - but it has been difficult as one of the two is a real shithead chasing not only Mr. Wilson but Jack as well. Hopefully they'll be adopted soon.

     It would appear that the Royal.Mail is moving once again. The Sage called to let us know that she got our Christmas card. We've only had four or five show up at the Wayward Inn. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people didn't even send out cards because of the postal strike. Who can blame them. Unfortunately, we had ours signed, sealed and ready to go when the strike started so they were sent out late. If you're on our list it should be there soon.

     Flipping through the channels the other night I saw a movie that I hadn't seen in some time. Finding Forrester, starring Sean Connery, F Murray Abraham and Rob Brown as Jamal. A great flic where the establishment snob(s) gets put in their place. I lime movies like that. Another interesting same genre is Scent of a Woman. Al Pacino won an Oscar for his performance. 

     On the small screen, if you can call a 64 inch flat screen small, we have loved the Big Bang Theory ever since it first came out. Last night we saw the episode where Sheldon and his new bride Amy go on their honeymoon. Their hotel room number was 2112. I don't know if the number was chosen on purpose or if it was just an accident. 2112 is the title of a Rush album. If you had ever heard it on vinyl or cassette you would know that all of Side One is just one song. Yes, I know that the band's early concept albums were either loved or hated, despised and/or loathed by the unknowing but it's a pretty impressive piece of work for a three person band.

     Monday will see me heading back to work, finally. Shifts have been scarce for months. I know that there are some very major projects are going to happen. It's just a matter of when.

     

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

19 Dec 24

07:30 hrs

     Good Morning Dear Readers, 

     For those of you who are of an age to remember the Olden Times I would like to turn the clock back to when Justy's old man, Uncle Pete, was running the show in the Capital of the Great White North. Now there was a very well educated calculating and savvy politician. And here's some background about Uncle Sneaky Pete that you may not have been aware of...

Did you know...

     Uncle Pete was the only PM who served in the military during a time of war. He was a cadet at a military college but was not deployed overseas. 

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     He served as the Minister of Justice before becoming Prime Minister and as a result he knew of the coming issues in La Belle Provence. As the PM He reduced the Cdn military in Europe and positioned many of them across the river from the impending troubles which manifested itself as the October Crisis. When asked if he would enact the War Measures Act and deploy troops to the streets of the Great White North Uncle Pete replied, "Just watch me!"

     What balls he had!

     He brought home our own Constitution. 

     In my opinion, he was one of the most political savvy politicians in our history. For example, he held the opposition chair when Joe Who had a Minority mandate. For some unknown reason Joe asked Uncle Pete for some advice...Should he raise the tax on gasoline? To which Pete said sure thing. Joe's mandate fell to a vote of non-confidence lead by Uncle Pete. An election was called and Pete's party won a majority and the first order of business was to promptly raised the gasoline sales tax!

     Justy is definitely not the politician his father was.

22 Dec 24

10:30 hrs

     I read that yesterday that fifty-one federal MP's from Ontari-ari-ari-oh held a zoom meeting to discuss Justy's tenure. It wasn't an issue of if he was staying as the Party Leader but when when be the most opportune time to ditch him. Now, he could step down for a change in leadership which could allow a new leader to rally the troops in time to win the inevitable election. Or, face a vote of non-confidence, lose the House and let the wolves run the country for a number of years. As I see it, those are the only two options. Time will tell.

     The Wayward Inn is all ready for the Holidays. The Couch Monkeys and their Significant Others have been back and forth. The Senior one has been working between five different job sites. He had surgery to fix a deviated septum that had plagued him forever. It was highly successful and now he has full use of both nostrils. Junior has been maintaining the physio regimen that was prescribed to strengthen his knee prior to surgery next month. He will have to go through rehab and more physio before proceeding to his trade course. Once again fate has thrown him a curve ball.

     My Lobster has now retired from Federal Service. She is looking at doing more puzzling, reading, learning Thai Chi and keeping me in line.

     The weather on the Left Coast has been extremely miserable. A series of low pressure systems have been striking the Island with increasing regulatory. The temps have been just about right with snow at the higher elevations and lots of liquid sunshine at the lower levels. I'm happy when I have no snow to shovel.

     The Beltway Circus, lead by the Tangerine Tyrant, is going to be insane. NASA is to be lead by some billionaire space tourist? Really? Is that a smart thing to do? You might as well have some twice indicted convicted sexual offending fraudster run the most powerful in the world! Oh, yeah. Idiots! 

     It's panini night at the Wayward Inn. Our menus are planned out for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. No turkey. We normally cook a big ham and with the leftovers we make our Christmas Morning Wife Saver, a delightful breakfast casserole that can be adapted for those who are of the vegetarian persuasion or who are mycelium phobic.

25 Dec 24

06:35 hrs

     Merry Christmas Campers!

     Just a short note to all of my friends, relatives and anyone else who finds time to read my blah blah blah. I would like you to remember that the holiday is not about the commercial gifts or the tables weighted down with food and drink or the participation of various religious rituals. I believe that at this time of the year it is time to think of those less fortunate individuals who are in need of food, shelter and the other basic needs in life and how we have assisted them not just during the Holidays but throughout the year. If we could just donate some time (and if not time then funds) to better their predicament the maybe, just maybe, there may be light at the end of their tunnel.

I guess it's about time...

30 Nov 24

11:30 hrs

     Hello Campers!

     I know that I have been off the air, so to speak, for some time. I've had to sit back to digest and reconcile the fact that quite possibly the vast majority of the Hugh-ess voting population must be brain dead. I say this because no-one in their right mind would ever put a corrupt racist fascist Tyrant in power for a second time! 

     GADZOOKS! 

     I was severely mistaken. The highly uneducated populace was duped enmasse placing the Orange Shit-gibbon back behind the Resolute Desk surrounded by his fawning Acolytes who will shank one another for the privilege of changing their leader's diaper.

      Now, if we are very careful, we will only be singed as the Hugh-ess burns to the ground. And, that is all I will say on the topic. Film at eleven.

     The Jr. Loin Fruit Saga continues...

     As you know the Big K headed off to Basic Training at the end of September. In his 7th Week he stretched a ligament in a knee. This has set him back several weeks in his training and required him to be moved from CFB BOREDOM to BFC CHEESE CURDS. He's been there for a week and will be coming home on Saturday for the Christmas Break. In the New Year he will go back and hopefully be able to complete Basic. At this time we don't know when his Trades Course will start. There is also the possibility that he may have to under go surgery to fix the ligament. He will know more tomorrow when he is scheduled for an MRI.

05 Dec 24

07:30 hrs

     I have been listening to a CBC podcast on Spotify called Someone Knows Something. It's a true crime investigation of cold cases. Missing persons, murders, etc. Pretty interesting and, I hate to say it,  addictive. The last one was of a murdered 15 year old girl in Thompson, Mb. Very gripping.

07 Dec 24

06:45 hrs

     Today is the 83rd anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. It is also the day when our Jr Loin Fruit comes home for his Christmas Break. To say we are excited is an understatement. We have been busy, my Lobster and I, wrapping presents, prepping rooms, prepping foods and cleaning the Wayward Inn as if royalty was visiting.

11 Dec 24

05:45 hrs

     Our Jr. Couch Monkey made it home on the 7th. His flight was delayed coming out  of the Pacific Pearl for four hours. On top of that his journey started three hours earlier than it had to because some knucklehead he was sharing a cab with was super paranoid that he would miss his flight. His body is now adjusting to the time change. We are all happy that he's home for the Holidays. It's only for a month so we are enjoying every minute of it.

     Yesterday our Sr. Loin Fruit underwent surgery to fix a deviated septum. It's been an issue since he was a kid. It couldn't be corrected until he was at least eighteen. At one point, several years ago, he was slated for surgery but life got in the way. He finally followed up with the ENT specialist had the procedure done. If all went well he'll be back pulling wires in a week.

     My Lobster has only two days of work left and then she will be retired from her current job. It's been a long haul but she is looking forward to turning the page and doing some fun stuff. More puzzles, volunteer work, Thai Chi, who knows. I'm happy for her. 

     The Great Mail Strike of 2024 is still ongoing. We have prepped our Christmas cards but like everyone else in the Great White North nothing is moving. Even letters to Santa. Down Island some ladies in a neighborhood decided that it was very important that the local kids letters to the Jolly Olde Elf were delivered, or at least appeared to have been delivered so they set up a number of Santa's Mail Boxes,  kind of like book houses, in their neighborhood. They have been reading and answering the letters as best as they can which I am sure will bring a smile to some little tots and relief to some parents too. Bravo Zulu.

     What did you ask Santa for?

     On the other side of the globe a dictator's regime has fallen and he has fled the country taking up asylum with another dictator. He was ousted by "rebels", who could be one any of a dozen factions who opposed his regime. It's good to see him gone as he was an extremely evil individual. And, since the new rulers are busy trying to consolidate power while eliminating any remaining leadership a neighbouring country has seized the opportunity to remove any military infrastructure  - ships, bases, supply depots, communication suites, etc - that could be used against them in any future engagements. The whole area has been extremely volatile for the past 50 years with no end in sight. Some pundits are saying that this latest dust up could be the start of WWIII. Let's hope that cooler heads prevail.

Almost at the Turn

03 Nov 24

07:00 hrs

     Good Morning Dear Readers, 

     It is referred to as a turning point in history. It's that definitive moment when something happens in one's life or in a company's progress or in a nation's growth. On your way to work you turned right instead of left and later learned you missed being involved in an vehicle accident or some manager didn't ensure that the delivery vehicles had regular  maintenance and as a result the goods cannot be delivered on time and if a portion of the electorate does not take the time to research their choice of candidates could push back their country more than 80 years.

     If you refuse to learn from history you are bound to repeat it!

     Recently, the Tangerine Tyrant held a rally in the Big Apple where the misogynistic leader along with the racists and the homophobes were out in full fascist force. History shows that in 1939 the American Nazi Party held a rally in the very same place and railed against the very same issues. In 1945 World War Ii ended when the Allies defeated the German National Socialists (Nazis) and in the following years showed the world the horrors they had committed to maintain their racial purity. In today's political arena, the Tangerine Tyrant has spoken of building internment camps, of rounding up illegal immigrants and of going after the enemy within all of which was done during the German Nazi regime. 

     I really don't know what of world history is taught in the Hugh-ess. I do know that the focus is primarily of their own internal history and how their country was involved on the global stage. But, now even that history is being skewed in some GOP  areas as The PowersThat Be want to remove anything and (it seems) everything that:

a) reflects badly on them or their party

b) promotes independent thinking

c) anything they don't understand

d) any challenge to their authority 

e) anything that is different from them.

     What is happening in the Hugh-ess is not happening in the Great White North. Or, is it? Recently, one of the candidates running for the leadership of the Left Coast made it abundantly clear that if elected he would repeal the provincial act requiring consultation with First Nations before any construction takes place because their needs don't need to be considered. Sounds pretty racist to me.

     If you think 'Merican Nazism is not much of a thing I beg to differ. If you want to hear some deep background research stuff I ask you to look for "Ultra" on your podcast. It's by Rachael Maddow from MSNBC. There are two seasons. Start with S1E1 and be prepared to be stunned.

     North of the 49th all we can do is hope that good will triumph over evil. And it will be evil if the Orange Shit-gibbon is re-elected especially since the Supreme Monkeys has given him unchecked carte blanche clearance to do whatever the hell he wants. In order to ensure a safe and fair election Hugh-ess vote some counting centres have been beefed up with perimeter steel fencing topped with barbed wire, rooftop snipers, bi-partisan scrutineers and multiple security check points. Over $10m has been spent just at one counting centre. And all in the name to safeguard their voting freedom. 

Looking Beyond the Obvious

31 Oct 24

06:30 hrs

     Happy Halloween Campers! 

     Is your house all dressed for the fun? This year we added a 6x6 foot illuminated spider web littered with dolls purchased from the Sally Ann wrapped in gauze. Do you get lots of kids yelling Trick or Treat? We get about a couple hundred with some in some really good costumes. What's your favourite Halloween movie? Last night we watched the original Amityville Horror and The Omen. Outstanding movies.

     I know that some of you have been keeping a watchful eye on the happenings South of the 49th Parallel. And don't try to deny it. Hugh-ess politics has a direct impact on the Great White North so I'm sure you're paying attention. Now, regardless of which news station you watch they all tend to cut to some "expert" who explains some point of view so even the brain dead public can comprehend it. And it doesn't have to be a political point. It could be a disaster story or a puff piece because the "news" needs a pro to validate the network's position. What I find interesting is what you can see behind the the commentator. Especially, if the interview is taking place from an office or a room in a home. What's sitting on the bookshelf? Or, hanging on the wall? I'm pretty sure that the pundit has personally staged the background with items that he/she wants the observer to see. Items that are important to them, may speak for them and will reflect on them. Favoured books, authored books, children's drawings, awards recieved and funny baubles. Just about anything can be in the background but rest assured, that prior to being aired, the staff of the news organization has probably looked through the lens to see if anything in the background will not be offensive to their viewers.

     Our Jr. Couch Monkey has now completed five weeks of his Basic Training at CFB Boredom. He has told us that several people requested a voluntary release within the first couple of weeks. I guess they didn't like the military life. But then again, what the hell did they expect. It's the military. Comedian Robin Williams,  in his role as the Air Force DJ Adrian Cronauer, asked what was the difference between the army and the boy scouts? The boy scouts doesn't have artillery.

     The Ram is going into the shop. I think I had mentioned this before. Maybe not. Anyways, the Ram is a stock vehicle. No bells. No whistles. Just after i bought it I realized that I needed some off-road lighting, map lights and fog lights. My Better Half said I should get them installed. Well, there is only one place in The Valley to get the job done and the price quote was prohibitive. So, I decided to do the job myself. With the help of my Friend from Over the Hump, three sets of lights and the switches were installed. They lasted about a year or so and abruptly quit. Try as I may I could not de-snag the issue. There was no choice but to take the Ram back. A pre-inspection survey of the wiring job I had done proved that a professional would have done a much tidier job. In my defence, the lights were functional which is what I was aiming for in the first place. So, the plan is to leave the lights in place and build a new wiring harness.

The winter weather is hitting The Rock. Rain most days and if it's not raining it's pouring. The hope is that the temperature will drop to less that 7°C here in The Valley so the snow pack will start to build. The bigger the snow pack on the Beauforts the less likely of a forest fire in the summer. 

Soon the spooky decorations will come down and the Christmas boxes will come out. My Lobster has written the annual letter and as soon as the boxes are opened the cards will be mailed. We'll be expecting a full house, of sorts. Both boys and their Significant Others will be here as will be our friend The Onion. Oh Happy Days!

The Wayward Inn Word of the Day

15 Oct 24

22:00 hrs

     This is a new feature of my blog. Odd words that occasionally come up in conversation at the Wayward Inn. 

     "Table scab" - the slightly convex, dried button-like object that resembles a week old gravy/ketchup/chewed food spittle droplet that refuses to be wiped away and must be flaked off.

     Origin ..... Your's Truly nearly lost an eye when my Better Half flicked something off the table and hit me. I asked "What the hell was that?" And she replied, "That was a table scab!"

     

Happy Turkey Day

14 Oct 24

09:00 hrs

     Good Morning Dear Readers, 

Have you celebrated Thanksgiving yet? What was your main course? Turkey? Chicken? Ham? A roast of some kind? Or, did you cheap out and order Chinese food? Did you dine alone or with family? Did you invite non-family friends to your table? And, more importantly, what did you give thanks for? We celebrated the holiday with our Sr. Loin Fruit and his Significant Other as well as our Jr. Couch Monkey's Significant Other. As Jr. is away at Basic Training we have invited his S.O. over several times for meals and card games. He enjoys the invites and is always welcome.

     Speaking of Jr's Training, we got a surprise phone call from himwhen we had gone to the Pacific Pearl to watch a CFL game. His phone had called and he was borrowing someone's phone. From what he told us all is well. His bed was tossed at least once for non-conformity. He sent us the rest of his snail-mail address and we shipped him a care package consisting of his rain jacket, a spare phone, a couple handfuls of loose Cherrios and a piece of his homemade two year old hard tack. We know the package arrived on Base but haven't heard from him this week so we don't know if he has the package is in his hot little hands. 

     My Better Half was talking to a good friend from her college days. She attended our wedding and we have all gotten together whenever we can. I've always liked her for her ability to see through the bullshit and call a spade a spade and a shovel a shovel. 

     I'm feeling the need to get the trail cameras and the audio recorders Out in the Weeds. My Big Hairy Friends should be looking to stock up on food for the winter and maybe, just maybe, I'll be able get some evidence. This will also be an attempt at developing my own Base Camp. Here's hoping.