The Squamidian Report – April 10 / 04

For the ‘ON LINE’ version of this newsletter, go to:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/doug_b2/report.htm

Also in this issue:

The Ontarion

Hi All,

I had everything all worked out, right down to the last board. We had done that stairway – deck project last fall but the sagging old fence beside it made it look kind of shabby. So we decided it was time to replace a couple of the fence panels. I went into the local buildall store to see what material was available and to price it. Came home and worked out exactly what we would need to build new panels. That was a couple of weeks ago. We went back in last Saturday to pick up the building material we needed.

Even though their computer said they had lots of 1x6x8 ft treated fence boards, they didn’t have any. Their computer system said they had lots of 1x4x8 ft cedar strips, they didn’t have any. Their computer did say they had negative 341 pieces of some other boards that we didn’t need. We were going to be cutting some of the 1x6s into 4 ft lengths and cutting the rest of them lengthwise to make strips. Now I had to re-design the whole thing in my head based on what they actually did have out in the yard.

Next problem was getting the stuff home once we’d figured out what we needed. The rear door on the van still won’t open so that meant tying the 8 ft lengths of lumber onto the roof rack but we now had 50 pieces of 4 ft 1x6 cedar that wouldn’t sit on the roof all that well. That meant poor Yogi had to share his passenger space inside with a pile of boards. There is a guard at the security gate that checks every vehicle leaving the lumberyard to be sure they have the right materials. When we opened the van’s sliding door so he could count the cedar boards all he could see was Yogi sitting there. He decided to take our word that we had the right number of boards.

It took the rest of the day for Sue and I to build the fence panels. I had taken down the old ones ahead of time. We couldn’t pre-build them as they had to be custom fit into the side of the deck stairway. Nice straight, level fencing sure looks better than dilapidated, rotted old sections that were falling apart. Of course, there are two more old panels along that side before the fence drops down to the back yard’s lower level and the new panels made then look that much worst. So during the week I had to go back and get some more material and replace them.

I was out stargazing (again) and remembered something from many years ago. Way back in the mid 70s we lived on Blackhorne Cr in Kitchener and I used to go outside on cold clear winter nights to look at the stars and planets. Saturn was getting harder to see as it was sinking closer to the horizon as the months went by. I did some research and found that it’s orbit was taking it to a position where it would be above the horizon only during daylight hours from the prospective of the northern hemisphere, therefore no longer visible to us. Now here’s the kicker. It would be 20 years before it was visible to us again. I remember thinking that was not fair at all. 20 years was an unfathomable time period, who decided this stuff?

Anyway, almost 30 years has slipped by without anyone noticing and Saturn has been visible again for years now. I’m not even sure what point I’m trying to make but the whole concept of passing time and celestial clockwork is rather fascinating.

Went to Grouse Mountain with Warren to help him set up some scaffolding. He is doing another phase of statue restoration. The scaffolding acts as a platform to work from as well as a framework over which to place a tarp. The tarps will keep out any weather as well contain any flying debris when he sandblasts the statues.

The place is crawling with tourists. It’s also kind of funny to be working away in T-shirts as people walk by in ski boots. It is summer at the bottom but the ski slopes are still in use up at the top. Of course, there is an endless stream of people inquiring as to why we are covering up the statues. My answer that they are being looked so much that it’s wearing them out just gets blank stares.

****

****

THE ONTARION REPORT

April 9, 2004

Hi everyone!

Easter is once again upon us and it’s with great anticipation that we all look forward to the “informal” part of the occasion. Once the church services are over we usually head home to do the “Easter Egg Hunt” thing. We really haven’t done this since Adam was a little boy but we do celebrate it in one form or another. This year we are having friends of ours over on Good Friday evening for a nice dinner prepared by our private Chef (Carole). She is without a doubt the best cook I know. I’m not just saying this because I’m married to her, she truly is a wonderful cook. She has always asked Adam and I to be totally honest and tell her what we think of her meals. She is one person that likes to cook and also to try new recipes. I’m being honest with you when I say that I can count on one hand the number of dishes she’s prepared over the course of our marriage that I wasn’t fussy about. I’m a pretty good eater and there are only a few foodstuffs that I don’t like. I don’t like cucumber, lamb of any kind or anything cooked or seasoned with cinnamon. Other than these few items, I will pretty well try anything. I tell a lie………..I have tried a little corner of a sushi roll but raw fish is also something that does not appeal to me. This year’s Easter meals I’m sure will be every bit as enjoyable as always. With such a small family, it’s an opportune time to invite friends of ours to join us. We’re expecting their arrival at 4pm today and look forward to a pleasant evening. I must get busy and lend Carole a hand around the house. I’m not much in the kitchen so Carole finds other tasks for me to perform in preparation. We wish each and every one of our “Squamidian” friends a very Happy Easter!

Thanks for tuning in again and I’ll talk to you all next week.

GREG.

PS: Something to Think About

“You cannot plough a field by turning it in your mind”

****

For low speed dial-up connections, just the basics:

http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b2/

For high-speed connections, a little more fancy:

http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/

Have a good one..

the doug

All offers void where prohibited by law and in the Province of Quebec!