The Squamidian Report – Aug. 26 / 06
Issue #221
Also in this issue:
A Note From Ewan
The Ontarion
Hi All,
We were treated to an unexpected and rare treat last weekend. Warren and Janice had gone fishing and brought back a mess of trout. They invited us up for a trout breakfast. I think the last time I had fresh mountain trout was, never. While I have many family members and relatives who are avid trout fishermen, I’ve never learned to do it myself. For whatever reason or quirk of fate, when others went fishing I always seemed to be working. Probably explains why I’m such a grumpy old fart now. But needles to say, the trout were good eating. Not all that different from fresh salmon, firm, tender and tasty.
*
Something I’m quite happy about is the fact that we are getting a lot of use from my old Yamaha Virago this summer. Many of the past years saw the old girl sitting idle in the garage, unused and neglected. We’ve made an effort to get out on the bike a bit more this season and so far we seem to be doing it. Weekend runs to Whistler or the city, shorter evening runs just to enjoy the wind and scenery. Ryan and Emily have used it to scoot up to Whistler or into the city as well a few times.
Highway 99 is a biker’s dream. Having said that, it is a dangerous highway requiring full attention and respect. Not because of the actual road but because of the mix of drivers on it. The road itself is simply unforgiving. There is no room for error. But the highway is a blend of steep climbs and descents, twisting curves and turns and towering scenery. One of my favorite sections when on the bike is as you come out of Britannia Beach heading north. You cross the bridge over the creek while still in the 50-kpm section but as you round the curve to head up the long hill you enter the 80-kpm section. The mix of acceleration and leaning through the curves as you ascend is exhilarating.
There are a lot of sections along the highway where you really have to watch for holes in the pavement. There is a lot of construction happening as they re-build the highway and that means blasting. The blasting tends to bring large amounts of large rock chunks down onto the road surface. Problem is, the rocks don’t stop falling until they are several inches below the road surface. That tends to leave holes all over the place.
The blasting has created another kind of hole. In many places the highway passed through a narrow cut in the rock as it ploughed through any of the many narrow ridges that ran down to the water far below. As they remove the outer side of the cut to widen the roadway by blasting away the rock they are opening up wide views of the Sound. Even with the inconvenience of all the construction, the ride is becoming even better each time.
*
Looks like Whistler has screwed Squamish, again. Back when Vancouver was being granted the 2010 Olympics many of the venues were distributed to the outlying areas. Whistler gobbled up the ‘mountain’ events. There was some talk about placing the sled hockey event in Squamish but Whistler had a hissy-fit and insisted that all events outside of Vancouver be exclusively in Whistler. Well, guess what. Now that it is too late, Whistler has decided not to host the sled hockey event and not to build the promised arena. That leaves a whole lot of planning up in the air and is an insult to the handicapped athletes that would have competed in Whistler. No one really knows whether Whistler is being cheap or arrogant.
doug
****
A Note From Ewan
Hello
all,
This
time I'm not getting paid over time to write this, so I'll try to keep it
short! But I do have work related news. After a little over five years with the
Configuration Management Group of Rogers Wireless, I'm moving to the Custom
Data Help desk of Rogers Business Solutions. It would probably take several
hours to explain what all that actually means, and for most of you it would
mean nothing at all, but I'm excited about having a new job. It's on the same
floor of the same building, and it's still Rogers. The biggest difference will
be that for the first time since I entered the telecommunications industry
almost ten years ago I will be focused on something other than phone calls and
problems with phone calls. Wireless data can sometimes mean phone calls, but is
more often internet or other specific applications.
Anyway,
change is good. I didn't want to leave my current position but I've wanted to
learn more about wireless data for years, since college. It's been really
rewarding to look back at what I've been doing for all this time. I love to
sniff out problems, and I'm generally pretty good at it. I like finding
problems that few people can understand. There is an infinite supply of trouble
at a cell phone company this size. No one figures them all out! My boss told me
that I'll be sorely missed, and that was a big compliment because she meant it.
We went out for a goodbye lunch to mark the occasion, and everyone was happy
because Rogers picked up the bill. The best part is that I'll start the new job
when I get back from a couple of weeks of vacation.
This
is a time of change anyway. Both departments, and many others will be moving
from Toronto to Brampton next year. People are shuffling around between
departments. They're phasing out my beloved UNIX in favour of Windows, which is
sort of sad. Windows is a bit like having a secretary, my UNIX Sunstation is
like having an army of robots. I started using both systems at the same time.
After a few years UNIX is second nature to me. I don't mind Windows, and I
guess I'll like it better once I'm using it exclusively. It just seems so
cluttered some how. I think I've been spoiled by the fact that there are lots
of people to fix stuff for me, allowing me to focus on fixing the cellular
network. I never had to learn about how to maintain a computer (beyond Doug's
pointers). But we can't be stuck in the past, even when the past seemed closer
to the future than the present!
*
One
bad thing, I didn't reply to Emily and Ryan's wedding invitation! This always
happens to me. I always put stuff like that somewhere so I'll remember to mail
it, then find it again the day after the actual event. I sent him an e-mail and
I hope it isn't too late! If I were planning a wedding I'd hate people like me.
I better get them something good…
*
The
other interesting thing that I did recently was the Chinese Lantern Festival at
Ontario Place. I didn't expect much but it was really good. Ontario Place has
always seemed like a confusing haphazard sort of place, but it wasn't bad at
all for the festival. Lynn and I went on a week night and it wasn't enough time
to do it all. One of the reasons was that they had a couple of short movies playing
at the IMAX, and that took up a fair bit of time. We missed the dragon dancers
and some other entertainment but it was worth it. The movies were both really
interesting and entertaining history. One was set in the early 20th century and
was about panda hunting and the emergence of international animal protection.
The other was about the first emperor of China. One of the reasons why I
enjoyed that one was that they didn't paint him as "good" or
"evil." He was more like Caesar or Napoleon. Evil with redeeming
qualities, more historically interesting than anything else.
I
actually really enjoyed the travel and tourism promotional film that they
played before the movies. It really makes me want to go to China! I want more
of these movies! Good music, attractive women, beautiful dancing, cities,
temples, food and drink from every region. That was better than most TV shows!
I would like to go through a library of those films from many countries. I
wonder what Canada's is like? I'd like to see that, maybe that would encourage
traveling at home. I know they only show the good stuff and completely glaze
over the bad… but that's pretty much how I want to spend a vacation anyway. I
get enough reality the rest of the time! I actually own a book about Toronto
that makes me want to explore this place more. I'm always busy though, and I
like my end of town. For me the world can expand and shrink again just based on
laundry.
Anyway,
the lantern festival was lovely. After the movies, food and other stuff the
light displays themselves were great. It's nice to pay to see something and
then it isn't a pile of junk, very refreshing! It was a bit like going to see
the Christmas lights in Victoria Park in Kitchener or somewhere like that, but
at the next level. Some of the displays reminded me of a merry go round lit up
at night, but just to look at. It was a nice evening too, and the lights were
beautiful against the calm black lake.
It was
fun to do that with Lynn because she hadn't been to a lantern festival since
she was a kid. It's also fun to do other stuff for her which are traditions
from my own life and family but new to her. We had fresh sweet corn on the cob
from Hurley's in July. That's always good, but it's more fun to do stuff like
that with someone who's never done it before. It sort of makes it new again,
without having kids!
Hopefully
I'll see most of you in the next few weeks. We'll be at the wedding for sure,
and hopefully at the reception too!
Ewan
****
Hello
everyone!
Last
weekend was the big day to meet Karin at Vivyan and Lorne’s home. Carole and I
packed up the 20 lbs of roasted potatoes she cooked and grabbed a few bottles
of wind and headed for Old Chicopee Rd. Arriving around 4:30pm most of the
guests were already there and into the event. This time there were a lot of
different faces present. As we entered we were greeted by Karin who immediately
recognized Carole. After the formal intro and greeting, we settled in as we
usually do just visiting and yacking with the Squamidians as well as the new
faces that turned out to be Karin’s relatives. Once again the table was loaded
with food for everyone to help themselves to at their leisure. Throughout the
evening the cameras were flashing and there were many different conversations
happening at the same time. We had a chance to view Karin’s portfolio of art
that she brought along to show everyone. You certainly are a talented artist
Karin and Carole and I really enjoyed meeting you in person. The whole evening
seemed to zip by in a flash and before we knew it, it was time to head for
home. I have a folder of pictures that I took throughout the evening and I’ll
send a selection of them along with this Ontarion to Doug to be added to his
website. Carole and I thank Vivyan and Lorne for their hospitality and all who
contributed to the evening. Carol did most of the organizing and once again did
a bang up job. Thanks Carol! Also a big hand for Al who did all the BBQing. You
did a great job braving the weather and the mosquitoes while cooking Al, I give
you credit and thank you! The entire evening was a success and a good time was
had by all I’m sure. I hope Karin had a good flight home and I’m sure she’ll
have lots of material to choose from when she writes an article for the
Squamidian every week for the next year, won’t you Karin??? LOL!
I made it
out of Lorne’s driveway without backing into a tree this time so I consider the
evening a success from my driving point of view as well. LOL! It was really
nice of Lorne to have the driveway paved so I can tell when I’m on the level or
in the bush. This helps me avoid the trees lining the circle at the house end
of the lane. Good idea Lorne! Thanks for doing that for me!
I think
I’ll sign off a little early this week. I want to leave you all with good
thoughts of the special occasion honouring Karin, her 50th Birthday
and her visit to CANADA. Writing any more this time would only cloud the
memories of a good evening with good company and good food. I’m sure you won’t
miss more ramblings for one week. Once again, we had a fun time and I thank you
all for your friendship and hospitality and I hope to see you all again soon.
I look
forward to talking to you all again next time in The Ontarion Report.
Bye for now… GREG.
PS:
Something To Think About>
Why do
psychics have to ask you your name?
****
The Family and the Squamidian sites:
http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/ and http://www.thedougsite.ca
Have a good one..
the
doug
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