The Squamidian Report – Dec. 13 / 03
Also in this issue:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
It’s that time of year again. We put up our outdoor lights last Sunday. I actually did two things smart this time. First smart thing was actually last winter when I took them down. For the first time in my life I took down the lights in an organized way and stored them nicely and neat. So putting them up was a breeze instead of a jumbled tangled puzzle. Then we picked up a timer with a photo eye so they turn themselves on at dusk and stay on for the length of time we set. No more forgetting to turn them on or off. I couldn’t count the number of times in the past that our lights were left either on or off for days at a time because I simply forgot about them.
Drove Sue to the airport on Monday morning. Sue usually drives herself and uses Park & Fly but now that things have slowed down it gives us some time together. Vancouver is sure different than Toronto to drive to and through. As long as you don’t hit Van at 8 AM or 5 PM you can practically sail right through. And this time of year there are no tourists on the highway during the week so it’s no problem. Different story on the weekends when half of the city is headed for Whistler. Then it’s bumper to bumper from Horseshoe Bay on up. Half of that traffic seems to think they should be able to shoulder their way ahead of everyone else and the other half is white knuckled and scared s---tless on the hills and curves.
Interesting thing, there are thousands of eagles wintering in the valley as usual because of the climate and abundant availability of food. There are salmon spawning all winter. So there is so much food for the eagles and any other fish eating birds that they get picky about what parts they eat. Seems the ‘best part’ of the fish is the eyeballs. All the dead fish along the rivers have had there eyes sockets cleaned out but the rest of the body is untouched, left to decay back into nothing. Life goes on.
I’m guess this is a sign of being old, or being around for a long time but I have actually warn out my metal key ring. I’ve had it right from the first time I owned a key (it would have been a car key as I kept my motorcycle key on a leather cord that only left my wrist when it was in the bike). The metal has actually warn right through, gone, vanished. I may be going into shock now.
As long as I’m babbling about silly random thoughts, here’s another. Somehow, Yogi seems to know when it’s Friday evening. Way back when Tracy was still with us the two of them had managed to get ‘Friday evening Dairy Queen’ written into their collective agreement contract. Yogi still holds us to that and insists on his ice cream cone. So we head down to the local DQ and Sue and I go in an order two small cones and one baby cone. No one has ever inquired as to where the ‘baby’ is or if it is alone out in the car. Maybe it’s just me but that seems strange. And if you aren’t careful, Yogi will eat his whole cone in one gulp.
Oh, by the way, for anyone interested, I will be popping back to Kitchener for my annual visit in January. If I haven’t screwed up the bookings, I’ll be flying into TO on the evening of the 16th and flying back to Van on the morning of the 25th. Last year I almost got stuck in Saskatoon for 24 hr because I didn’t read the dates close enough. I think Sue will be back for a few days near the end of February.
By the way, if you are wondering why I’m wearing my toque in the house, it’s because I’ve finally gotten around to getting my semi-annual haircut and my head is cold!
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THE ONTARION REPORT
December
13, 2003
Hi everyone! It’s been one busy week here in KW. I’ve
been trying to squeeze in my Christmas shopping and I still don’t have it
completed. I’m sure you’re all in the same boat. That is, unless you’re like my
Carole. She’s one of those people that has her eyes open all year round for
gifts for the next Christmas. I on the other hand usually do my shopping within
the 2 weeks preceding the big day. I get it done but I must say it is still a bit
of a rush. I don’t know how anyone could do their shopping Christmas Eve and
find everything they want. Although after 31 years you’d think we’d be at the
point where there’s very little we need or want for Christmas. People our age
should pretty much have everything we’ll ever need. Actually we are at that
point in our lives. However it’s still nice to think of something your wife or
husband would appreciate and use and surprise them with it for the occasion.
Every year, I start with the intention of keeping my ears open and making note
of items that Carole points out to me when we are out shopping. She’ll say
things like “Oh I really like this, don’t you Greg?” and if I’d only think at
the time to go back and get whatever it is she’s remarking on and keep it
hidden I’d have my Christmas shopping done well in advance. However, I tend to
say “Yes it’s nice or No I don’t like it” and either she’ll buy it right then
or leave it behind. I’m going to have to make a point of sticking to this plan
for next year for sure and surprise the heck out of Carole come Christmas.
It’ll be so nice to surprise her with a gift or 2 or 3 or so that she’s
completely forgotten about next year. Giving is a nice feeling for sure and I
don’t like to take a stab in the dark. There’s nothing like opening a gift only
to find that it’s not something you like or need.
I know that the giving and
receiving of gifts isn’t the primary theme of Christmas but if we are doing
this for our loved ones and friends, we might as well do it right. Nobody likes
being put in the position of having to say that their gift isn’t something that
they like or need but sometimes it happens. All we have to do as husbands is
listen once in a while and it’s an easy thing to get right. From this time on I
promise to make notes of the items my wife points out to me through the year
and use them as a source for gifts for special occasions. It’s a foolproof way
of hitting the nail on the head when a gift is needed and time is short. One
can’t possibly go wrong if he buys and item off this list! I myself am now and
have been for a long time at the point where I don’t need or have a strong
desire for much for Christmas. I guess when we can just go out and buy whatever
it is we need or want anytime of the year we tend to minimize the list of gifts
anyone can buy for us for any special occasion. Just to have something to open
on Christmas Day is a nice feeling but it’s a nicer feeling to see the joy on
other’s faces when they open their gifts. It really doesn’t matter what the
gift is that one opens, it’s the feeling one gets just knowing that someone
cares enough to think of them at Christmas or on any other occasion for that
matter. Well, it’s Saturday morning and I still have some shopping to do. I’ve
promised to go out with Carole to run some errands so if I’m lucky and pay
attention I just might pick up a hint or two from her today. Wish me luck and
I’ll talk to you all next week.
Have a good week and thanks again for tuning in.
GREG.
PS: Something to Think About>
There is one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as
your neighbours!
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Note to Greg: I'm a master at doing any necessary Christmas shopping on the afternoon of Dec. 24. By about 4 in the afternoon I start to feel a bit motivated.
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Have a good one..
the
doug