The
Squamidian Report – Sept. 29 / 12
Issue #540
Including:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
Funny how some things are taken for granted, and then when you can no longer do them, you kinda miss doing them. In this case the ‘them’ is actually and ‘it’. I spent most of my life taking for granted the simple act of standing out in a tomato patch with a salt shaker and enjoying the basic pleasure of munching into a ripe red tomato. That all ended over 10 years ago when we moved to the west coast. We have never been able to grow tomatoes because they don’t grow very well here, too cold and wet in the beginning of the growing season, then too dry, then back to cold and wet before they can ripen. Well, this year we tried again with several plants in big pots so we could move them around for optimum sun exposure. And now this year we finally have eatable tomatoes. Most of them are the small cherry type and one plant is the big type. Anyway, I’ve been harvesting a good sized handful every day now for a week and have had enjoyed the ultimate tomato pleasure of standing out in the yard with a salt shaker as I take that first bite. Gotta love it.
And speaking of ‘gotta love it’ type stuff, I was finally able to do what I was going to do a week ago but got weathered out. You might remember I’ve mentioned a neighbour with an old clunker Piper airplane. Well, he needed to do a flight to Pitt Meadows airport out in the Fraser Valley to have some minor repairs taken care of and I was offered the passenger seat. Needless to say, whenever I’m invited along on a flight in a small plane I jump at the chance. The cool thing about flying to Pitt Meadows is that the best way to get there is to fly through the Indian Arm Pass, below the mountain tops, and pop out over North Van. From there its and easy short flight to the Pitt airport with Vancouver off to the west. Its actually quite important to stay well clear of Vancouver because Burrard Inlet is one of the busiest float plane terminals in the country.
So we took off on Wednesday, late morning so that the fog out the Frazer Valley would have time to burn off. The flight east over the pass was fun with incredible scenery all around us. That’s one of the neat things about flying in the mountains, the scenery is ‘around’ you, not just below you. I couldn’t get any good pictures as we flew east because we were flying into the sun and into the haze that still hung over the Fraser River and out the valley. After lunch at the Pitt Meadows airport we helped the mechanic do some minor repairs to the airplane, then took off and headed back to Squamish. The Indian Arm Pass is easy to spot and easy to follow once in it. We stayed well below the mountain tops because that kept us out of Vancouver controlled air space. As we came out of the pass we banked left and flew behind the Chief, then circled out around the front and headed for the small airport. I managed to get some ok pictures whenever the sun was not washing out the subject and then are posted at the link below. We landed just fine. Can’t think of a better way to spend part of a day.
http://www.thedougsite.net/Pictures/Flying/IndianArm1.html
doug
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THE ONTARION REPORT
Hello everyone!
September is coming to an end and fall is taking hold once more. I can hardly wait till the leaves are in full colour once again and the smells of burning piles of them fill the air. I know you’re not supposed to burn leaves anymore but people still do in barrels in their back yards. When I was a kid there were always piles of leaves burning along the curbs of the different Wards here in Kitchener and it sure made for a lovely aroma on warm sunny fall days. There’s always a politician ready to spoil tradition by making it against the law to do such things as having an open fire in your back yard. I know and tend to agree that there are times when a back yard fire can be dangerous as well as annoying to neighbours but people still like to enjoy them just the same. When I was on the Fire Dept there were only a few people that were irresponsible when it came to having a campfire out back and they were the ones that spoiled it for everybody else. I guess it’s the old story about “One bad apple” isn’t it. Oh well, at least I still have the memories of living during the time when such back yard and curbside fires were common and legal!
On a sad note, I guess you all heard that Andy Williams passed away the other day. Well, he’s the root of another fond memory I have from my younger days. My mum was a big fan of Andy’s and we used to watch his TV show every week. His biggest hit Moon River was and still is a great and romantic song and it’s hard to believe that song was number ONE in 1961 (that’s 51 years ago) and it’s still a favourite of older people that remember every word of the lyrics to this day. When the airwaves are filled with the crap they call RAP these days it’s difficult to even think of a present day “song” that will be remembered the way such hits as Moon River has been all these years. In fact, I don’t think there are any writers who make an effort to produce such well-written ballads let alone performers these days that actually “sing” them as did back in the 50’s and 60’s. Once in a while I’ll watch one of the TV talent shows that supposedly focus on “New Singers” and I can’t believe the poor quality that the Judges pass as “WOW! That was amazing!” I’m not professional musician but I know a talented singer when I hear one! I guess the judges have to think of what will sell in today’s market when they pick the so-called singers to compete in these contests. If the youth of today is the main target of the “Record” industry and the youth are fooled into thinking that Rap Music is really music then, the “Record” companies have to feed that market to make a living. That means, if the buyers want Rap, then that’s what they’ll get! I just don’t happen to believe that the “Spoken Word” with a beat in the background and filthy language throughout qualifies as music! Give me a well-written ballad sung by a real vocalist that actually sings and I’m happy! Oh Andy, I just want to thank you for all the beautiful music you gave us and say……….Rest In Peace! There is now one more “REAL VOICE” in The Lords Choir!
That’s all for this week folks!
Thanks for tuning in and I’ll look forward to talking to you all again next week in The Ontarion Report1
Bye for now … GREG
PS: Something To Think About>
Jokes about German sausage are the Wurst!
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Have a good one..
the doug
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