Rain!

05 Aug 25

08:00 hrs

     Hello Campers, 

     I'm sitting out in the Catio with Miss Mocha. She's our new adoptee and things aren't going so well with her. It's been well over a month and the integration with Mr. Wilson and Jack has not taken place. We've tried all of the normal methods and it is not happening. She'll put the run on both of them. And as much as Jack beats up on Wilson he tucks tail and hides under the Sr. Couch Monkey's bed. Mocha and Wilson will tolerate each other on the same space but if he runs she'll chase after him. We really don't know what to do. Jack is so stressed he's been crapping on the floor and not in the box.

     There is a very large wildfire beside the lake going to where our Friends Over the Hump reside. It is human caused and appears to have been started on or near the old rail bed on the North side of the lake. Over the past few days it has spread up the slope and properties on the opposite side of the mountain are threatened. As bad as that is, if the winds were to change direction a small section of Old Growth Protected forest would be in danger of burning to the ground. Cathedral Grove contains giant red cedars, fir and hemlock trees that are five hundred or more years old and are taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The province has been putting all available resources in not only battling the fire but in preventing the ignition of this stand of trees. To make matters worse the snow cap on the Beauforts has long since melted away and there has been no precipitation a month or more.  In town the lawns are brown and the tops of trees the leaves are beginning to yellow as they dry out. And that is with the limited amount of watering we are allowed. So, you can imagine what the forest is like. The good news is that we knew that rain would be coming. Not a huge deluge but a long slow drizzle. A big cloud burst would simply hit the ground and run off with no benefit. But a nice constant rain over many hours, even if it's only falling at 0.2mm per hour will have a greater effect by cooling the surrounding air and being absorbed by the foliage.

     My buddy Gordo and I have been monitoring the weather for another reason. We're working an alternating graveyard shift where one of us is on one week the the other is on the following week. The contractor is repainting all of the markings on the runways, taxiways and the apron. Plus rubber remediation. It's a huge project last will last nearly three months. To complete the project the hard surfaces must be dry so as much as the forest needs the rain the contractors do not. It rained for about thirty minutes this morning but in the afternoon it's supposed to start again and then drizzle through the night and all day tomorrow and tomorrow night. I hope the forecaster has got it right this time.

     My Lobster and I are planning a short trip to celebrate our 30th anniversary. We will travel to The Peg for a few days and see the old haunts plus a couple of friends and relatives. Then, we will jet to The Big Perogie see a couple more old friends before returning to The Rock. 

10 Aug 25

06:50 hrs

     Last night, we, the family plus one, we to Elric the Stalwart's home to aid in celebrating his 60th Birthday. His Lobster had asked him what he wanted for a meal. Roast beast, mashed taters and veggies. We said we would bring the Yorkshire puddings, so I made a couple of dozen of them. There was still some concern as to the amount of food as we has a plus one and they had a couple of students so on the way to their place we stopped off at The Big Box Store to pick up roasted chicken. At their house we all pitched in to make things easier for the hostess. Our Jr. Loin Fruit made the mashed taters and helped with the gravy my Better Half aided in setting the tables, I broke down the chicken, sharpened up a rather large chef's knife - which probably hadn't seen a steel in many years - and carved up this gorgeous piece of beef. After the meal there was birthday cake, fresh fruit and white port. By the time it was all over we were too tired to play cards so we chatted for a length of time before heading home to the Wayward Inn. 

     I'm back on graveyards starting tonight so I'm going to try to get some projects done for my Lobster today. Being on graveyards is not so bad if you live by yourself ecause you can sleep and rest up when you want. But, when you're in an active household it is up to you that has to find the work/sleep/obligation balance.

     Speaking of this project, about two weeks ago Gordo was with the contractors and part of the job was to remove two separate lines on the airfield. These particular lines are referred to as Hold Short Lines. They are like the big stop line you would see and an intersection which tells you where to stop. On an airfield it is a visual means for the air traffic controller to safely direct ground traffic, both vehicles and taxiing aircraft, around the aerodrome. So, two lines and a helipad were removed. So what, right? Well, the removal of one hold short was required because it was it was no longer needed to prevent vehicles or aircraft from encroaching onto the helipad when it was in use. But, one of the twits in the planning department figured that the other hold short line on the opposite side of the now non-existent helipad wasn't needed for the same reason and had labeled it for removal. Which it was! At the end of the night, Gordo informed the control tower that yhe helipad and the two hold short lines were removed. 

     Uh oh, Shaggy! No one had consulted with the air traffic controllers about this second line being removed. This particular second line was there to identify where vehicular traffic was to stop preventing them from getting out near the main active runway. Sure enough an incident occurred last week and by Friday morning the command structure was in a fast rotating spin cycle on how to get this issue corrected and fast. Sure enough, I get the call asking, almost pleading if, in the morning, I could escort a contractor out onto the airfield to put up some temporary indicators so traffic knows where to stop until the hold short line gets reinstalled. 

     Sure thing.

     I'm not saying that I was the hero. Both myself and Gordo and a couple of other former airfield qualified Cmres have had to go back in to work to assist in correcting someone's mistake. It's what we do. This particular mistake should never have happened and had the potential of being catastrophic.

     On another note, the wildfire near The Hump is still burning. The amount of rain that was received did help but not much. From last reports it's still spreading but headway is being made in curtailing its advance. Today is going to be another hot one - up to 30°C. We're going to hunker down, stay cool, play some games and stay put of the sun.

Summer Doldrums

15 Jul 25

06:15 hrs

     The summer heat is apon us. Every day in the Valley the morning begins calm. Peaceful. And then, the wind picks up. The cool of the night soon becomes a persistent hot push as if some unseen giant is using a massive hair dryer that builds in intensity throughout the day drying out the lawns, the crops and, most concerning, the forests. About a week ago, Environment Canuckistan had promised a fair amount of precipitation. I was working that day and the Valley recieved less than a misting while across the Strait i watched great sheets of rain sweep up the coast. Yesterday was hot. Today will be hotter. Not as hot as the Keystone province mind you but hot enough for us here at the Wayward Inn. The southern part of Ontari-ari-ari-oh has been suffering from a massive heat wave. It happens every year and every year the rest of the country has to listen to the populace whine. It doesn't bother me. I've learned to close out the noise from the Whine Country.

      My summer has been sown up with a large project at work. And a lot of it is night shifts. Specifically, graveyards. Gordo and I are alternating weeks on the project which gives us a break and flexibility to the Boss. 

     My Friend from Over the Hump is having a knee replacement done in the next couple of days. It's about time he gets some new parts. He turns 80 next year.

     The Catio Annex has been rebuilt. It is now smaller and more vertical. We also have a new tenant. Miss Mocha. We gave back the two fosters as they could not mix with our two fuzz balls. But, my Better Half decided we needed a third that would, hopefully with fingers double crossed, get along with Da Boyz. After the prescribed time and coordinated interactions we are back to square one with Da Boyz running and hiding the entire day whenever Miss Mocha is loose. If she spots them she puts the run on them so we end up sequestering our two and she gets the run of the house. Jack is a nervous wreck and Mr. Wilson finds a spider hole to crawl into for the day. Miss Mocha was a straight adoption. Not a foster to adopt, so I do not know what to do. 

     Despite the tariffs slowing down some construction in Canuckistan there are some mystery projects going up here in The Valley. Over towards the Big Box Store and Home Despot something is slowly taking shape. Everyone hopes it will be a new restaurant but some believe it will be another gas station. A restaurant would be nice as long as it's not another chain burger joint. We have enough of those. Unless of course, it's a Harvey's. A Harvey's burger is bloody amazing and if you have one in your neck of the woods I am envious. 

     There is also a new multi-purpose building going up about a klick or two from the Wayward Inn. I heard it will be a store front with apartments on the upper level. Time will tell. 

19 Jul 25

06:30 hrs

     Two days ago I quietly remembered my father's passing. I called the Sage and spoke to her. Both of us remembering him with great fondness. No one at the Wayward Inn said a word. Have they forgotten him already? I haven't  and will not.

We've been invaded!

29 Jun 25

17:00 hrs

     That's right Campers, we have been invaded. Not by persons untoward. Nor by some multitude of creepy crawlies. This particular invader is huge and airborne. 

     Close to the Wayward Inn is a patch of forest that has been home to the odd trash panda, a bambi or two, rooks, songbirds and eagles. This spring we began hearing something like ducks softly quaking. It sounded like it was coming from the MAGA Albertan's backyard. Wouldn't surprise me as he ripped out his back lawn three years ago and installed an ASTRO turf putting green with a water feature. We soon learned that it was not a duck or two puddling in a pond. A shadow crossed the lawn and then another followed by some very loud clacking in the nearby woods. This was soon followed by a cacophony of caw, screams, clacks and other sounds that I cannot even begin to describe. The sound continued all night. A couple of days later my Lobster spotted not one or two but four mysterious birds flying above forest. She called me outside to take a look at them. What I saw looked more prehistoric than anything else. By all accounts I was looking at a bona-fide pterodactyl. Long necked, long heavy pointy beak, wide tapered wings for soaring and a set of legs trailing aft. In the coming days the two pairs, likely mating pairs I might add, were discovered to be only a fifth of the squadon of aerial beasties. That's correct. Twenty or more likely ten mating pairs all squawking and screeching off and on throughout the day and night. I think someone should rename the patch of forest as Jurassic Park.

1,000

21 Jun 25

08:00 hrs

     That's right Kidlettes. The number is 1,000. One thousand reported cases of the measles have been reported in the Redneck Province.  And, according to the province's infectious disease specialists, "the virus is (now) impossible to contain" given to the level of protection. This is insane. Measles had been declared a dead virus because everybody had been vaccinated. But somewhere along the line, maybe twenty years ago, some new parents started listening to the Hollywood quacks who started peddling the Whackadoo notions that vaccines caused Downs Syndrome or women should squat over a steaming hot tea kettle for inner health and all sorts of other stupidity. Facts, science and common fucking sense blew right out the window right about the time when everyone, and I do mean everyone, started to rely on social media to deliver The Truth.

     When I look back at my own life I know there was a time, starting when I was born, that vaccines were manditory if you were wanted to live without being saddled with a life altering virus caused disease.  Shortly after coming out of the womb, babies from my generation were first inoculated against polio and slowly over time this horrible disease was eradicated.  It became a thing of the past. Then came the triple shot. The MMR vaccine. Measles, mumps and rubella. All childhood diseases that if they didn't kill you they would make the rest of your life a living hell. That was vaccine was delivered in stages. Just after you were born and then two booster shots. Nobody complained about getting the shot because it was for the common good. You simply lined up and got jabbed. I believe my last MMR booster was when I was in Grade 7 when the health nursing team came in to the school. "Roll up you sleeve, please. This may pinch a bit." Do you remember that?

     Science has investigated, identified, created and proven the use of vaccines against a whole range of some very horrible diseases. If you ignore the science you will not survive.

24 Jun 25

21:30 hrs

     Yesterday, MoMo flew back home. My Lobster and I took him to YQQ. He flew from here to YVR and then on to FRA before going on to BER. We may see him again someday as he wants to take  courses in Adventure Tourism. We know he will do well.

Troops in the Streets!

08 Jun 25

08:15 hrs

     Good Morning Campers, 

     First, I want to thank everyone who sent me BDay wishes. It was a pretty good day that was stretched over a week of activities. Dinner at the Wayward Inn and dinner out at a local tavern both with family and friends. A couple of gift cards, a bottle of fine single malt scotch, card games were played, a funny Tshirt from the Onion and a Squatch wind chime from Li'l Sis.

     Last night we hosted Elric and his Lobster for dinner. It was a planned event that was booked over a month ago. We knew that the menu had to incorporate carnivores, non-red meat eaters and vegetarians. Chef Blaine massaged a beef roast on the spit over the Flame Pit as well as marinated chicken on skewers and vegetarian sausages. Chef Irene created a Greek and a pasta salad, a tray of chocolate dipped strawberries, had Sous Blaine assist in building a homemade baklava and at the last minute baked a cream cheese bundt cake. In total, there were ten people dining and all were well fed.

     If you have been living in a cave over the past couple of days you should stick your head outside and take a look on the news. The Tangerine Tyrant has now sent troops into the streets in LaLa Land to quell the angry citizens. But he himself created the situation. LA County is a Sanctuary City which means that the local constabulary will protect immigrants, legal or illegal, by not assisting the federal immigration authorities. However, in recent months the Orange Shit-gibbon's administration has been making a concerted effort to remove persons, who may or may not be in the Hugh-ess legally and who, may or may not, be guilty of committing any criminal activities. It would seem the only preconditions for their arrest and deportation are to be non-white, speak a foreign language and have a dislike of the Tangerine Tyrant. A recent set of raids designed to snatch and grab suspected illegals in LaLa Land drew protestors. Go figure! For the most part the demonstrations were peaceful but in one area it did get a bit out of control with the local police using tear gas and other riot control methods. 

10 Jun 25

22:55 hrs

     Wouldn't you know it, the Tangerine Tyrant's movement of troops was and means to an end after he sent in the Icemen to gather up stray MAGA-undersireables knowing full well the citizens would stand up against it. Now he has a battalion of Jarheads protecting federal buildings.

     Listen up Kidlettes, if you haven't seen the movie Civil War that came out a couple of years ago I suggest you take a look on Netflix. Mark my words, this could very much happening the Hugh-ess. 

     Good Luck, ya'll.

It's Situation Normal at the Wayward Inn

14 May 25

18:00 hrs

     Hello Kidlettes, 

     It has been a whirlwind of activity here at the Wayward Inn. MoMo is still with us. Great kid. His class cometed a four day trek up Island to the very tip. All was good. No Yogies but they did have some sea wolves come very close to camp. By very close I mean about thirty feet. In my books that would be danger close. MoMo's grandparents decided to visit Canuckistan and so from Berlin they flew to the Golden Horseshoe and took in the Falls before flying to Capital City where they rented a car to tour the Island. My surprised me one day with info that they were coming for dinner not once but twice. So, Chefs  Blaine and Irene put their heads together and created two different main dishes plus sides plus apples and desserts for each sitting. I can report that all went well. Everyone enjoyed the food and many enjoyable games of Wizard were played afterwards. 

     Ah yes, Wizard. A delightful game. It's like Screw Your Neighbour, but on heavy steroids. If nothing else, it teaches you how to curse. 

     Our Wayward son, the Jr. Couch Monkey, is back home. It was quite a shock when we suddenly got an email on a Tuesday saying he could be here by Friday. All the alarm bells were triggered. Where would he sleep? Now, we'll have to start cooking vegetarian dishes again. Is his car good to go? A million questions and few answers. He's still recovering from his surgery through physio but instead of keeping him in St. Jean The Powers That Be posted him to the medical unit here at CFB LOMPOC where he will get some exposure to his trade. Eventually, he will have to go back East to finish his Basic Training and then go to his trades training. Since MoMo is occupying his room for the next month or so we have housed him in the guest quarters. 

     The other day my Lobster got a call from The Onion. She lives in Capital City now. She was waiting to get her security clearance for her new job and had a few days (the better part of a week) to spare so she called to ask if she could come for a visit? Of course. Let chaos reign at the Wayward Inn. With one son displaced out of his room by MoMo for another month, the other's girlfriend living here on weekends, the D&D group meeting in the Games Room/extra bedroom on Sunday night and my Cuz'n, with her Lobster, coming up to visit from Capital City sometime on the weekend (confirmed for Sunday) why the hell not?

18 May 25

08:15 hrs

     Good Morning Campers 

     We've had a couple of good days of rain here in the Valley. We needed it. There hasn't been a substantial amount of precip in many weeks. Sure, the snow pack is still slowly melting on the Beauforts but it's rain that will keep the rest of the Valley damp enough to prevent forest fires. I saw on the news that fires have already broken out in Northern BC, Manitoba and the Redneck Province. And some still deny climate change.

     Canuckistan has a new leader. Same political party. New leader. Justy had felt the overwhelming pressure to Exit, Stage Left and he took it. After the leadership race a general election was called which pitted everyone who could see the writing on the wall that one of the major opponents was a Great White North version of the Tangerine Tyrant and they banded together to put the replacement PM back in power with a Minority government. Time will tell how things turn out.

19 May 25

07:30 hrs.

     Howdy Folkes,

     I'm sitting at the dinner table with MOMO. He's having cereal. I'm on my second cup of java. Normally, ehen he has no school, he'd be sleeping in til noon. But today, he, and some school friends, are off to the Empire Days celebration in the Wild Wild West. They'll take public transit. Tonight, Chef Blaine and Sous Irene,  with some help from the Minions, will make a stir fry and attempt to make Crab Rangoon for supper. 

21 May 25

16:00 hrs

     The Rangoon turned out okay. Not really my cup of tea and not a job for a person with stubby fingers. 

29 May 25

12:00 hrs

     This blog has been dragging on for far too long. I'll have to start making them short and sweet for awhile. 

     Just as a note, another local winged denizen was either lost or had a death wish decided to access the Catio Annex where both Jack and Mr. Wilson were hanging out. My Better Half was alerted to the situation as soon as our two fur balls had perked up their ears. Quick as a flash the Orange Wonder Kitty grabbed the bird and ran into the house with my Lobster hot on his heels. Once inside, he dropped the bird in the living room and darted away. My Lobster was able to toss a small towel on top of it Mr. Wilson snagged it a second time. She took the bird outside where a miracle occurred. It rolled over, flapped its wings and took off. Since then I have given the Catio Annex the once over and laced up the last of the possible entry points. If any more birds make it into the Catio they'll be lunch.

     

     

Blogging! Blogging! Blogging!

27 Apr 25

19:35 hrs

     Well Campers, the trip up Island with the Mobile Wayward Inn went off without a hitch, so to speak. Our Sr. Loin Fruit and our new Homestay student, MoMo, came along for the experience. We all had a pretty good time and despite the weather we even roasted mushmellons on a campfire. It was a bit concerning that we may not have made the trip as the furnace crapped out when I tested it. The fan would run but the burner would not ignite. Gordo and I desnagged the issue as far as we could with no joy so I ripped it out and took it to the Pro's from Dover. That was t

Friday, a week before we departed. It was repaired by Monday at noon and reinstalled Tuesday. The other issue was a leak in the plumbing by the hot water tank. A seal on a valve was blown. So, once again Gordo came over and we desnagged the issue which ended up sending me to the Pro's once again. Yhis time for additional parts. All was completed and tested serviceable. We headed North Friday morning. The weather wasn't the best. Some rain at night and too windy most of the time for a campfire. But we took MoMo over to Sointula where we wandered the Island taking in the museum and a medieval armed combat competition. That was impressive to say the least.

     The trip North was good experience for MoMo as this week, starting Tuesday at 0dark30, he and some twenty more students will be heading to the northern most tip of this Island for some hard core hiking and camping. His pack weighs about 18kg. The distance from the drop of point to the campsite is about 18km. Shouldn't be an issue.

     Our Sr. Couch Monkey has started the third phase of his electricians course. I'm very confident that he will be near the top of his class. And our Jr. Loin Fruit is still down East keeping up with his physio and working out so he will be able to complete the Basic Training. The injury, surgery and recovery will probably set him back an entire year from his trades training. 

     His Holiness, Pope Frank, passed away this week. I am not of his faith but I held him in high regard nonetheless. He was the first Jesuit pope and it sure showed. Here's a question, who has more clout - the Dalai Lama or the Pope?

     I'm back to the grind tomorrow. A solid week of work. I hope. None of the really big multi-year projects have started yet. We know they're coming, we just don't know when.

     All of the Tangerine Tyrant's talk about The Great White North being the 51st State has thrown a wrench into so equipment purchases. It would seem that the first lot of 16 x F35 POSes have been paid for. The rest of the purchase is being reviewed and former condenders have come forward with deals even sweeter than the first go around. The Swedish SAAB Gripen E, the EurofighterTypoon, and my personal choice, the Raphael from France. One thing kind of sticks in my craw and that is with the Feds always helping out the Canuckistan aircraft industry and knowing that we have a desperate need for fighter aircraft. The last planes built in this country for our military was the CT-114 Tutor which was designed by Canadair who manufactured 212 units from 1963 to 1966. The only two countries to operate the Tutor was us and Malaysia. We used them as lead in jet trainers and for air demonstration. Malaysia had modified the aircraft with a belly cannon and wing hard points. They used them for close air support/ground strike. Yes, the RCAF purchased Dash 7 and then Dash 8 aircraft from DeHavilland but both were initially civilian passenger aircraft utilized for transporting military members. In the early 1990's there were four Dash 8's that were designed and manufactured for training air navigators. That trade has now been deleted from the military so I really don't know what the aircraft are being used for. 

     Well Kidlettes,  that's about all. But there will be more to come later.