The Squamidian Report – Dec. 16 / 06
Issue #238
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Hi All,
My luck ran out. I had thought that I’d be able to get out of putting up the outdoor Christmas lights this year because whenever I’d have the time, it would be too wet or too cold out or I had some other excuse. As it was, I had managed to procrastinate until well into Spring before I took them down, on the belief that at some point it would simply be that they were up extra early for this year. But the wife prevailed and down they had come although I never really got around to putting them away. The lights spent the summer in a big tangled pile in the back corner of the garage.
But then last Saturday morning much to my surprise and dismay, the sun came out. Here on the west coast that means all of a sudden it is warm out. So out came the jumble of lights and the ladder. It was after untangling a couple of strands that I realized the plastic hook things that are used to attach the lights to the exterior walls and eves had been destroyed by a few years of the hot summer sun. They were so brittle that just touching them made them fall apart. So that meant a quick trip to Canadian Tire for replacements. However, it seemed rather pointless to put up new plastic clips knowing full well that they would fall apart after a few seasons. There had to be something better I could be using.
My solution was both better and cheaper, I bought cup hooks. They come in all sorts of sizes and colours. I picked up the little stainless steel metal ones with the soft plastic coating over the hook part. They screw into the wood trim along the roofline by hand and it is easy to attach and un-attach the light wiring. Works like a charm. Now the fun will be in seeing how long I can leave the lights up before the wife wins again and I have to take them down.
*
We have been having wave after wave of Pacific Low’s pumping in off the ocean for the last couple of months. Kind of interesting watching how the topography dictates the effects of the weather systems. As an example, this last storm lashed the Island and parts of the Lower Mainland with rain and hurricane force winds. Here at the north end of Howe Sound the wind was not that big of a deal but the rain met with cold mountain air and progressively turned to snow. On the shore and down town it was mostly rain, leaving just an inch or so of wet sloppy snow. By the time you traveled as far inland as the Industrial Park there was about half a foot of slop. Up here at the top end of the Highland there was perhaps 8 inches of snow and then it turned to rain just long enough to turn that snow to slop. During the storm it was often raining at the bottom end of Thunderbird but snowing at the top. Elevation does that. Up at Swift Creek, Warren got dumped on with a whooping 20 inches or so.
Both Sue and I have long since reached the state where we are not all that sure that we will survive too many more heavy shoveling episodes, so we went out and bought a blower. I did the driveway twice on Thursday, once just after getting home from work and again just before bed. Each time was about 4 inches of heavy packing snow and it blew quite nicely. Another 2 inches came down during the night, mixed with rain and it was way too wet to blow, it would splash as you walked through it. As well, the plow went through during the night and left a windrow about 4 feet high across the end of the drive. So we tackled that with the good old scooper shovel. Those things are worth their weight in gold.
Another thing blew in with the storm…. Eagles. There has been the normal resident population around all year, and others have been slowly drifting in, but all of a sudden they are all over the place. I looked up as I was helping a neighbour clear her driveway and the sky was full of them, gliding quite low checking out the area. Perhaps looking for snow shovellers who had not survived. Perhaps not but anyway, you realize how big those birds are when they pass low overhead with wings outstretched. Kind of like small airplanes.
And of course the storm meant the highway to Whistler was closed, partly due to downed trees but mostly due to vehicle collisions. I will NOT use the word ‘accidents’ as car or truck crashes are not accidental in nature. They are driver stupidity and impatience. You don’t ‘accidentally’ take a curve too fast and slide into oncoming traffic of a rock face. You don’t ‘accidentally’ not run with proper winter tires on a winter mountain highway. And that was just our area, the GVA was left in chaos with power outages and trees down over roadways, again. Stanley Park is closed now for the foreseeable future because so many trees were damaged or downed. Weather is so interesting that it deserves that really neat name… meteorology.
doug
****
The time has come to clean up my Email address book a bit and I’m going to need your help in the form of a very tiny bit of effort on your part to do it. As you may or may not know, I have two lists of Squamidian readers that I send to, the group list that is aware of the others on the list, and a quiet list that consists of people who don’t want to ‘hear’ any extra chatter or who I have to put there to avoid Spam filtering. The names on the quiet list are each sent to as individual Emails, while the names on the group list are all sent to as a mass mailing. In order to clean up my address book lists and to avoid sending to anyone who doesn’t really want the Squamidian to turn up in their Inbox each Saturday, I would like each of you who do want to receive our little news letter to simply replay and let me know. That simple. Couldn’t be easier. Anyone who I haven’t heard from by the end of the year will be dropped from the list, simply because I do not want to be sending to anyone who doesn’t actually want to receive the letter.
I will repeat this message in the Squamidian issues until year’s end in case anyone misses this issue. Thanks for your help.
And one other thing, new Saturday is our Christmas issue. If anyone has something to add, please join in. We would all like to hear from you.
doug
****
More Winter On The Farm. When Teddy and I went for our walk this morning, it started me remembering other times. Last weekend we had some snow, by Monday morning everywhere the cars had driven was ice. Even the sidewalk where people had walked was bad. So we walked on the snowy grass beside the sidewalk. The trail was great though. By Tues. morning the sidewalk was bare but the trail was pure ice. If you know anything about gravel you will understand when it rains the frost comes up and turns to slippery wet ice. There was a couple of feet of grass on either side so I could walk fine and Teddy ran wherever he liked. I guess his toenails are sharp enough that he doesn’t need cleats.
In the 30’s we always got a winter thaw (usually in Jan.) and as all the roads were gravel, the only pavement I ever saw was the main street in Mount Forest. The roads were impassable. The regular shoes on the horses just slipped and slithered like our boots. Since Dad had to drive about 24 miles every day with the horse and cutter to deliver the mail, he had special shoes for his 2 drivers, ‘Dick and ‘Sifter and they soon learned how to walk so they didn’t slide. The shoes they had were lighter than most others and had very sharp cleats on both sides as well as the back and the toe. They put their feet straight down so they all caught at once. Horses move their back foot on one side and front foot on the opposite side at the same time but when it was icy they seemed to move one foot at a time so they didn’t start sliding. They were smart! Of course as kids we thought it was great fun to slip and slide on the frozen snow banks, as most fences were cedar rail we did get lots of snow piled up. If the ice lasted more than a day or two the people on the mail route would start phoning the post office, which had a little store., to send things such as yeast and sugar etc. along with my Dad to drop off with their mail. Often for days at a time Dad’s was the only vehicle that moved around those back roads. In those days the mail was delivered six days a week, but at the end of every month he got a check – and it was real money, which I am sure he was thankful for, as most jobs were barter. He would contract a wood lot, cut and draw home half the wood for himself and the other half for the farmer that owned the lot. So we were lucky, we always had lots of firewood. He did the same with the mill, he would take a load of grain bags with the sleigh and team to Mount Forest. The mill would take some of the grain in exchange for milling some into flour for us. He would bring home a load of groceries on his return trip to the store in Cedarville. The roads were never opened between Christmas and spring break up. That made for a long winter.
****
Hello
all,
My new
quieter job was supposed to include a nice gentle lead up to Christmas, but no
such luck. I spent this week in Cisco training, the tedious details of which I
will spare you. There are some interesting highlights though. For one thing,
the class crams about two semesters in to a week, based on the idea that the
students are experienced, highly motivated and very busy. Rogers paid the
school $8000.00 for me to be there for the week, plus whatever I was paid,
which is more than my college education. The purpose of the class is to prepare
students for a test. We are all required to pass the CCNA test at some point,
which makes us certified (certifiably nuts!). The teacher was good, and
explained that we need to buy a fat text book and study a lot before attempting
the exam. Each attempt costs $130. Rogers will be happy to pay for a successful
attempt. Most of my co-workers will take the class a second time. My argument
is that it's cheaper to pay me to come to work to study all day, rather than
going on the class a second time. I've wondered whether I'd be able to pass
without taking the class even once if it meant I could just keep the $16
000.00. Probably!
The
senior technician in my department refused to go so close to Christmas, on the
grounds that she wouldn't have time to study after the course. How wise she is!
So I've been doing the 16 times table in my head and generally exercising my
brain in unnatural ways instead of getting ready for Christmas. I scheduled
Thursday and Friday off just before the long weekend. But then one of my
coworkers pointed out that in this group I have to get someone to take my shift
for me. I wish I'd known that. But who wouldn't want to work late on the Friday
before the four day weekend? I really hope that I'll be able to get to
Kitchener on Friday evening, seeing as people will be at my Mom's, ostensibly
to celebrate my birthday! This had to happen a day early to accommodate
Christmas with the Cameron side of the family, which is on my actual birthday.
Christmas is supposed to be on Doug's birthday! I missed tobogganing at his old
place in Kitchener in order to be with the Camerons in the past. Now the day is
free and he's out in BC. I better make it for my birthday though, because it
would really be too much to ask people to celebrate my birthday, on the wrong
day, to accommodate me, and I don't even make it. Particularly when my actual
birthday is on a Saturday, which is just great for everyone. Maybe they'll just
let me go early.
I'm
not complaining though! Everybody gets busy this time of year. It's been warm
and green here, while the west coast just keeps being abused! I may give
everyone socks for Christmas, but I'll have at least fours days off, maybe
more. Others will work through the holidays, and I pity them. It'll be a great
Christmas! I certainly don't want my Squamidian contributions to fall in to
complaining about work again, so I must tell you about a few Christmas things.
I was lucky enough to get the chance to take UU to hear Grandpa and the Twin
City Harmonizers in a wonderful Christmas show in St. Jacobs. We met up with
the others there, and also went to a great Christmas party afterwards in
Kitchener. We were so busy seeing friends and relatives, having fun and
generally getting in to the Christmas spirit that I started to actually miss
just spending time with UU, even though she was with me! We went to A Celtic
Christmas at the Winter Garden Theatre on Yonge Street on Wednesday, which was
a lot of fun too. The Christmas party in Toronto Saturday was cancelled, but I
don't mind the break from it actually. All this is leading up to the actual
four or five days of Christmas. I haven't even had time to go to the gym this
week!
The
other thing that was different for me this year is the charity dinner at work.
That was interesting. I volunteered to help out at a dinner for families in the
area. This year they held it in the cafeteria at work. I was assigned to
"registration", which while not glamorous was not to bad at all.
There were lots of us who volunteered so it was never too much work. They gave
us lists with the names of families and individuals who were connected to two
of the local centres. There were a limited number of places and meals, so they
had to register before hand. Everyone needed to register to get a sticker so
that security would know them (all of us wear ID in the building). But this
meant that if people show up who are not on the list we have to ask them to
wait, to see if there would be room. Okay, I can do that.
The
first groups who showed up were counsellors with bunches of kids. Some of the
kids were not on the list. We wrote down their names and let them in anyway.
There wasn't much choice, they kind of had to stay together. Besides, none of
us wanted look at a kid and tell them they may not get to go up to the party.
It didn't help that it was cold out. I was really scared of explaining that to
anyone, particularly kids. I felt like it would have been worth a few extra
bucks to make sure they all ate. But it's just one night in their lives. In the
end it worked out fine. Some Dads didn't make it, sometimes people couldn't go,
and so the extra people balanced out with the no shows which was great. It was
a relief.
I have
to say they did plan a good time. It was more of a party for the kids, and
meals for everyone from Outback Steakhouse. It was good quality. There was
entertainment, and the kids were screaming and jumping around having a great
time after dinner. They liked the mascot from the Toronto Blue Jays. Rogers has
a lot of resources, and it was great to see it all mobilized and organized
well. The kids seemed to have a really good time, while the Mom's looked tired,
as though they were already thinking about how early they would be up in the
morning. They were good people. These were families who look like they are
trying hard to get by, and make a life for their kids. I don't think they were
homeless, more like working poor who could use the solid meal and a bit of fun.
The kids left with small treats and books for different age groups. They were
really cute.
One of
the fancy meeting rooms on the 17th floor was set up so that the volunteers
could have dinner, which was also provided. We had a tasty cold chicken salad
while they ate a bigger hot meal. It simplified everything, and was just right.
There were radio personalities there, and at the end of it a Rogers TV. camera.
The kids yelled "Thank you Rogers!" and "Thank you Outback
Steakhouse!" and cheered. I had mixed feelings about that part. But I
guess that is how it works. I think it must be hard for people to swallow their
pride and accept help sometimes. The thing that really stands out in my mind
was worrying that I wouldn't be able to find someone's name on the list, and
the relief when I did find it and when I realized that it didn't matter any
more. It was hard because the names were often totally foreign to me, and
sometimes were spelled incorrectly. The situation just made a connection
between us and I did not feel apart from them. I enjoyed meeting them, and I
think that in some ways the event did more for the volunteers than the guests.
Hopefully
I'll see many of you next weekend. Just in case, have a merry Christmas and a
happy new year. Have a great time, and don't get too swept up in the chaos!
Ewan
****
Hello
everyone!
Well it’s
getting close to the big weekend again. Christmas is just around the corner and
everybody should be busy planning and shopping once again. I know that we’ve
been busy doing just that. I managed to get a few hours yesterday afternoon out
on my own to shop for Carole. Of course since she reads this Ontarion I can’t
say what I found or didn’t find while out. I don’t tell anyone what I buy my
family each year anyway. I prefer to have the recipient of my efforts be the
first to see just what is wrapped in all that pretty paper under the tree. I
wouldn’t want everyone to know what I’m getting before I do, so I’m sure Carole
and Adam feel the same way. All that secret Christmas stuff is just between me
and Santa! Speaking of Santa, I hear he arrived early in the Squamish area and
none too soon too! He brought the D Brubacher’s a new snow blower and just in
time from what I hear from Doug. Now Sue will be able to get the new Harley she
bought for Doug up the drive and under the tree for Christmas morning without
clogging the wheels with snow!!! Ooops!
Sorry Sue, didn’t mean to give it away! I hope you can disguise the bike as a
fruitcake or something so Doug won’t know what it is under the tree till he
opens the box! LOL! I was talking to
Santa the other day and he told me a few of the happenings that the Brubacher
clan will be experiencing this season. He said that Vivyan is going to get a
full dog team and sled from Lorne so she doesn’t have to risk slipping and
hurting her knee again when she takes the pooch out in the snow. She can just
hop in the sled and ride along. I don’t know what Gale is laughing about, her
gift this year is a surprise from Ewan. Santa told me that Ewan is getting a
transfer to Kitchener so he can move home and live with Gale again for the next
20 years. Isn’t that nice? Great to have the kids home again eh Gale? You just
didn’t expect it to be permanent! LOL! I think Santa was only kidding when he
said those things. I doubt he’d tell me what anyone else is getting for
Christmas. He appreciates a surprise as much as the next elf and wouldn’t trust
me not to say anything I’m sure! LOL! We’ll all just have to wait till the big
day to see what’s in the packages under our trees. I’m sure we all appreciate
the fact that we have our family members close at this time of year and the
presents are just a bonus. I know that after so many years together, Carole and
I are at the point where we really don’t need much in the way of gifts. We are
to the point where being together and healthy is present enough and the wrapped
items are a bonus for sure. We always think of something for each other just so
we have a gift to open on Christmas morning. The years of “big” gift giving
have become a thing of the past. We try to be good to each other all year long
and that means buying what we need or want without waiting for a special
occasion. It’s just the way we operate. I guess we’re a tad spoiled that way
but what the heck, why not? LOL!
*
They say
we may just have a green Christmas this year. That may well be since BC seems
to have our weather and we theirs! That’s ok, it’s been since 1994 that our
lawn was green on Christmas Day. It’s about time it happened again! Besides,
Doug wants the snow out there so he can play with his new TORO snow blower. I
guess we can trade weather with him for one year!
*
I still
have a couple of gifts to shop for but I still have a week left to do that. I’m
not much of a shopper usually but around Christmas, I really don’t mind milling
through the crowds at the malls. It’s kind of fun to see everybody in the
Christmas spirit and watch all the pickpockets at work. LOL! They say this is
the most prolific time of year for that activity to go on. I guess the bigger
the crowd, the less people notice being bumped into. Makes it easier for the
pick pockets to work I guess. They can pick all the want, they won’t get my
wallet! I keep it in the inside pocket of my jacket and the jacket zipped up.
There’s now way I’m letting some thief get his or her hands on the $8.00 it
takes me all year to save! No way!!!! They can make their fortune off someone
else! LOL!
Guess I
should go for now. I’m heading out to do some of my shopping yet today.
I thank
you all for tuning in this week and I look forward to talking to you all again
next time in The Ontarion Report!
Bye for
now and Happy Shopping!
Greg.
PS:
Something To Think About>
How many
reindeer does Santa have?
(I say
10!) I’ll tell you why next week. But, in the meantime, if you think you know
the answer, write and tell us before then!
****
The Family and the Squamidian sites:
http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/ and http://www.thedougsite.ca
Have a good one..
the
doug
The Fine Print!
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