The Squamidian Report – Jan. 17 / 15
 
Issue #660

Including:
The Ontarion

Hi All,

For those of you who don't want to hear anything about the gondola, let alone anything 'more' about it, (and yes, I know who you are), just hit delete and go do something else. For the rest of you, hopefully you will find this interesting. You may remember that both 'The Wife' and I were mentioned in their website blog as the customers who visit the most. They did a little write-up about us with a few pictures. Well, a reporter for the local newspaper, the Squamish Chief, picked up on the blog story and decided to follow it up a bit. To that end, she got our contact info from the media person at the gondola and emailed for permission to phone and ask a few questions, sort of an interview. She then made arrangements for us to meet with one of their photographers at the gondola and let him tag along with us as we rode up, puddled around and so on. It was fun, embarrassing but fun. The reporter had talked to a couple of the lift attendants, including one of the young girls who was quite giggly about the whole thing. She was down right embarrassed when we insisted that she be in one of the pictures. Unfortunately, that picture didn't end up in the newspaper story. Most of the staff knew what was going on as we wandered around with photographer in tow. Hard to believe, but the photographer had never been up there. His working hours tend to be so long that he'd never had the chance. He now intends to take his wife up and show her around. He lives in Whistler and is just getting used to the fact that in fact there are things of interest in Squamish. Thats a hard concept for Whistler residents. Its a hard concept for a lot of people in the city as well. Squamish has always been just an inconvenient place along the highway where drivers heading back and forth between the city and Whistler were required to slow down a bit.

Anyway, it was kind of weird but I guess thats our 15 minutes of fame being stretched out to 17 minutes. The article is in this weeks Chief, in the lifestyles section. I was expecting perhaps one paragraph of miss-information and errors but for the most part its close enough. I don't like how they have focused so much on me because its the both of us and I don't like being called 'the king of the gondola'. We are just one of many very enthusiastic customers who make use of and enjoy the establishment. But, now we are stuck with being celebrities, although that will wear off pretty quick which is just as well.  To see the newspaper article on-line if you haven't already seen in via Facebook, just follow this link.
Article in The Chief
*
I looked out early Wednesday morning this week, just before dawn, expecting to see Jupiter in the western sky. For a moment I thought my eyes were either playing tricks or I was seeing double or some such thing. There were two Jupiters. Then I realized that one was moving, west to east. It was the International Space Station. That thing is incredibly bright. I guess if you have a smart phone with one of those space station finder apps, you would always know when the station is passing overhead. I don't, and therefore don't. So, I do it the old fashion way and simply look up once in a while. At the other end of the day, on Wednesday evening, Venus and Mercury were visible and very close together visually, appearing to be almost side by side low in the south west. Always cool to see.


doug
****


****

THE ONTARION REPORT

Hello Everyone!

I was just sitting in the living room this morning enjoying a cup of tea with Carole when I realized that I could see a good portion of each vehicle as it passed our house. It occurred to me that at this time last year if I were sitting in the same spot I’d only be able to see just the very top of the roof of passing SUV’s and most regular cars were totally hidden by the snow banks on the boulevard. Kind of freaked me out when I realized the difference in the amount of snow we’ve got this year when compared to last winter! This year we’re experiencing extremely cold temperatures but very little snow when you make the comparison! I’m not sure which I’d rather have to put up with, tons of snow or c c c cold temps! I guess the lack of either one would have its advantages wouldn’t it! With warmer temps and more snow, the heating bills would be lower than if we had less snow and much colder temps. With the snow however comes much more effort with having to clear the snow off the walkways and driveways so which would I rather spend, physical energy or money?
Since I actually enjoy clearing the snow most days, I’d say expending physical energy has it’s benefits over spending money! With that said, bring on the snow and raise the outdoor temperatures for the rest of the winter!

Other than the weather, there hasn’t been much to get excited about around KW lately. We’ve had a couple of robberies reported in the region and of course a few motor vehicle collisions to remind us to drive carefully in this weather but for the most part things have been very quiet! I think one of the most pressing discussions that has had our new city council members all in a dither is the suggestion that they ban tobogganing on the hills of our city parks and school yards. Some brain surgeon on council has decided that the city may find themselves in court with a law suit if a child gets hurt while tobogganing on city property and brought forth the idea of banning the sport/past time! What the heck will they think of next, banning children walking to school under their own steam? One of the best past times we had as kids was the fun that tobogganing afforded us every winter. Of course the local parks and school yards were the source of some of the best hills to play on with the toboggans and sleighs we received as Christmas gifts! When I was a kid in the North Ward, we used to head over to Prueter Public School after supper most winter evenings dragging our sleds and toboggans to spend a couple of hours on the playground hill at the back of the school. The school board even had floodlights mounted on the school to illuminate the hill for this very purpose! I can’t remember anybody getting seriously hurt while tobogganing on that hill. Of course there many bumps and bruises but that’s all part of being a kid and if you sustained a dandy of a bruise or a broken limb, heck, that just gave you something to show the kids at school the next day! Nobody’s parents jumped on the nearest phone to get a lawsuit going. That seems to be the first thing on the minds of our American counterparts but hopefully it’s not something that will rub off on us more common sense Canucks! If you fall and get a bloody nose, stuff a Kleenex up your nostrils and get back on the sled! You’re losing daylight and precious tobogganing time!

I think the city council has more important things to worry about than spoiling our kid’s winter fun!

That’s it 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: Something To Think About>
The earth gets 100 tons heavier every day due to falling space dust! So, maybe it’s not all-automotive exhaust we’re choking on! ??
 
****

Have a good one..
the doug
The Fine Print!
The articles in these issues are the sole property of the persons writing them and should be respected as such.