The Squamidian Report – Dec. 28 / 13
 
Issue #605

Including:
The Ontarion

Hi All,

Last Saturday was the winter solstice, that time of year with the shortest day and longest night when measured in light and dark. Obviously, the actual 'day' is its normal length of close to 24 hours. Now, the daylight part of the day is getting longer again. Thats a good thing. I'd like to take full credit but since I had absolutely nothing to do with it I guess I wouldn't get away with that for long.

Funny, but this is one of the most quiet and at the same time hectic weeks of the year. The quiet part is good. The hectic part not so much. It is interesting and sickening the way we are bombarded with adds and commercials and flyers that stoke the hectic part, convincing people that they need all sort of things just because they didn't get 'whatever' for Christmas. Personal greed becomes even more acceptable. In fact retailers are counting on the purchasing public to get whipped into a feeding frenzy. I'll stick with the quiet part, nice and laid back. No hurrying, no purchasing, the way it should be.

Also interesting is the different 'take' various people have on the events that effect them this time of year. As an example, there was a roll-over crash in the Lower Mainland at the beginning of the week. The vehicle ended up nose first into a deep drainage ditch. Other drivers stopped and pulled out the occupants before emergency responders got there and before the occupants could drown. These people have no complaints, they are very happy just to be alive. On the other hand, there was an item on the TV news about how the weather caused many shipping companies to be late delivering parcels. One family was feeling so sorry for themselves and how life was treating them like shit because their expected parcels didn't get there in time for Christmas that they were in tears. What a crock. Even if I had absolutely nothing to do, I wouldn't have time for people like that.

This is a nice, short, last one of the year, Squamidian. By choice there is not much going on of interest, and for that matter, not much going on on non-interest. So, Happy New Year.
doug
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THE ONTARION REPORT

Hello everyone!

We’re on the countdown to 2014 so it won’t be long now and we’ll be into the start of another 52 Squamidian/Ontarions!

It sure was nice to hear from the Squids who say they are still enjoying the columns every week. It got to the point where Doug was thinking that at least I enjoyed his writing and I was thinking that at least Doug enjoyed what I wrote! Hahahaaaa……. Sometimes life gets lonely when you’re a senior citizen columnist! LOL!

Well, Christmas came and went and for many people in Ontario the ice storm of 2013 was a bigger event than Christmas this year. We got totally lucky here in our neighbourhood as we had no blackout at all and our phone service was working right through the worst of the storm! The biggest cost to me caused by the storm was a bag of ice I had to spread on our walkways and drive as well so nobody landed on their keester!
We had a lovely Christmas but a quiet one here at our place. There’s just the three of us and Bailey the poodle to celebrate the occasion. We had a beautiful turkey dinner and a couple of really good steak and eggs breakfasts (and bacon) to fill our tummies. Not to mention the Christmas cake, cookies and chocolates etc etc …. ! I’ve been out a few times to clear the snow with the Toro as well as my shovel. I’m likely going to have to buy a new shovel for next year since my plastic one is wearing quite badly from rubbing on the concrete. I guess nothing lasts forever!

As usual, Boxing Day and Friday were taken up with the dismantling of all the Christmas decorations on the inside of the house. Maybe the outdoor ones will be taken apart on Saturday and Sunday. We have a tradition of always having all the “old” put away before the “New” comes in with January 1st each year. It’s apparently bad luck to have any of the old year sitting around when the new one Rings in at midnight on the 31st! I’m sure it’ll all be accomplished before the deadline!

We’ve had a nice week with Adam here for a couple of days over Christmas and we enjoyed a couple of quiet evenings and afternoons watching movies and enjoying an array of snacks. We’re not drinkers so there were a couple of pots of hot tea and some hot chocolate to be had as well. As usual, there was an abundance of good food at hand if we felt like eating anytime during the day or evening. Well, I should get out and clear the snow one more time before tackling the removal of the outdoor decorations!

I sincerely hope all of our Squamidian group members enjoyed their Christmas and of course that they also enjoy the upcoming New Years Eve celebrations!
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 Report!
Bye for now … Greg

PS: Here’s wishing all of you a Very Happy New Year!
PS: Something To Think About>
When was the last time you built a snowman?
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Have a good one..
the doug
http://www.thedougsite.net
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