The Squamidian Report – Mar. 12 / 05
For the ‘ON LINE’ version of this newsletter, go to:
http://www.thedougsite.ca/2005/mar12.htm
Also in this issue:
Gale’s Deer
From Karin
The Ontarion
Hi All,
There is a branch of Tom Lee Music in North Vancouver on Capillano Rd just up from Marine. Working out of the basement is a music instrument repairperson that seems to be able to set up or fix just about any problem that might arise with stringed instruments. Many years ago, probably close to 30, I had purchased an Aria 12-string guitar from Trev Bennett music in Kitchener. That guitar played around a lot of bonfires, at a lot of parties and at a lot of gigs. It had a light mellow sound. It had an amazingly slim neck for a 12-string. Long before we move away from Ontario it had been put into its case and tucked away to be semi forgotten about. Well after we moved to here I had taken it out of its case and found that the neck was pulling away from the body. The neck was still true, just pulling away. The bracing under it inside the body had dried out or broken letting the neck rotate upward. At the time I simply loosened off the strings and put it away again, forgetting about it.
For some reason back in January I decided to dig it out and take it to the repair guy. He took a look at it and said he could fix it without too many problems, set up the action and put a new set of strings on it as long as I wasn’t in too much of a hurry. It had been broken for a couple of years now so time really didn’t matter. This past week one of the guys from our jam session was going to be taking a guitar in to be set up and volunteered to pick the guitar up if it was ready. This guy, Chuck, is a retired dentist, he was forced to retire because he lost most of his left thumb, and the first two left finger to a table saw so now he plays mandolin with the two remaining fingers and a stub. But that’s another story.
So my old Aria 12-string is back, the neck is as true as ever and it sounds as great as it ever did. The repair cost just under $140 which I figure was a pretty fair price. I probably paid less than that for it when it was new but I sure couldn’t replace it for that.
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I’ve spent this week doing the ground prep for a skateboard park. Squamish is one of those typical small towns that desperately need things for its young people to do and places they can hang out. Local businesses and the youth groups and schools have all pooled their energies to raise the funds to build a world-class skateboard park. The town has supplied the site and some of the engineering. The local gravel pit has donated the gravel. And so on.
We needed to remove any organic materials from the site and then build up the area with clean gravel, lay a pad of drain rock and then build a 6 foot high pre-load on top of that. Out here, because of the soil conditions, large piles of fill are placed where structures will go to pre load the soil and force any movement to take place before building. In this case, the pre-load material will end up acting as the structure. The ramps, hollows, bumps and other features of the park will be carved into the pile. The whole thing will then be sprayed with concrete.
There is one very large downside to a project of this scale being done by volunteers and donations. (I’m not a volunteer, we are simply the excavation contractors although the boss may be donating some of his time, but not likely). Every official in town want to be associated with the site, engineers from Vancouver want to be associated and on and on so we have more big wigs wandering around pocking their noses into every little detail than you could hope to put up with. Can get a bit trying at times.
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Well, its another warm sunny Saturday morning out here in Lotus Land, marred only by the fact that we are 3 weeks into tree pollen season so I’d better get out there and enjoy it.
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I may be too late with this because it just happened but it is worth sharing just to give suburbia its' due. Today I went into school ( even though it is March Break) to organize for the next week or two. The school, by the way, is Lackner Woods which is in the subdivision behind the parent's place. Anyway, I looked out the window and saw a herd of deer in the field beside the school. This herd was frolicking and chasing each other and generally having a great time. This herd had NINETEEN deer - just the size of my JK classes. It may not be the mountains and it may not be the wide open spaces but it was definitely a thrilling sight! - and I didn't even have to go through one radar trap to enjoy it! I wish I had had a camera with me but who would have "thunk"!!!!
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From
Karin
I just got this story from an old acquaintance, by the name of Billy Bones. Karl and I met him many years ago in Waterloo, where he was competing at a barbecue cook-off. We tried some of his awesome barbecued ribs and got to talking with him. Can't remember what we talked about, but those ribs were so delicious, that we bought some of Billy's barbecue sauce on the spot, and then wanted to know if it was possible to order a whole case of the stuff. It was that good. Well, turns out that he didn't have that many there, since he was only visiting from the US, but he offered to drop some off next time he was in our area.
Well, not long after, he did drop by the farm with a case of barbecue sauce. He was in the area for a golf tournament.
Billy is one interesting character. He is a big fellow, kind of a mix of Santa Clause and Texas millionaire (jolly and bighearted). His trademark is a big Stetson, and a full beard. I couldn't find a picture on his website, but his image is on his barbecue sauce lable.
Years later- we were now living in Australia - I decided to check on the Internet to see if Billy Bones barbecue sauce was available in Australia. That's how I came accross Billy Bones website. I wrote him an email, and was surprised that he remembered us. He has kept in touch ever since, through the occasional newsletter which he sends to friends on his mailing list.
Anyway, this is a story he sent recently. I thought it quite charming, like the man himself. I thought you may want to include it in your next Squamidian or just enjoy it for yourself.
Cheers Karin
Here's the story by Billy Bones:
YOU MIGHT OWN A HOUSE OR
YOU MIGHT OWN A WATCH, BUT NO ONE, OWNS AN IRISH
SETTER. BIG RED AND I
GREW UP TOGETHER, SHARING SIMILAR ATRIBUTES.. WE BOTH WERE SLIGHTLY
LARGER THAN THE REST OF THE
LITTER.
DAD OFTEN SAID WE WERE SLOW TO "FEATHER OUT". OLE RED. HAD
LARGE PAWS (FOR HIS AGE) AND I WORE "BUSTER BROWN" OXFORDS FOR BOYS
WITH HIGH ARCHES. OFTEN DESCRIBED AS FEET, BIG, FOR HIS AGE!
I LEARNED TO WOLF DOWN MY FOOD WITH A WARNING GROWL TO MY LITTER MATES AND
SLURP COOKIES AND MILK LOUD ENOUGH TO SCARE HORSES IN THE PASTURE. YUP
"OLE RED" TAUGHT ME TO EAT IN A HURRY AND GIT BACK TO IMPORTANT STUFF
LIKE CHASING BUTTERFLYS AND SCARING FROGS FROM THE POND. WE WAS GOOD AT IT
TOO. MY DAD, WORKED
IN A BUTCHER SHOP WHEN OTHER JOBS WERE NOT TO BE HAD AND IF A NEW LITTER
PUPPIES NEEDED SOMETHING TO CHEW ON, DAD, WOULD BRING A LARGE LEG BONE HOME FOR
THE PUPS TO TRY THEIR TEETH ON. WHAT FUN,
WATCHIN THEM FALL ALL OVER THEMSELVES, SNARLING AND GROWLING JUST AS IF
THEY WERE ADULTS. I REMEMBER OLE RED OFTEN JUST SPRAWLED ACROSS THE BONE '
TAKING FULL POSSESION" JUST CAUSE HE COULD. IRISH PUPPIES ARE
USUALLY A DISAPPOINTING BLOND COLOR ESPECIALLY IF BRED FOR HUNTING RATHER THAN
SHOW. "SHOW IRISH" ARE DEEP RED
WHEN MATURE AND SOME THOROUGHBRED HUNTERS HAVE THAT SAME TRAIT BUT IT ISN'T
NECESSARY FOR FIELD DOGS AND DADS "FIELD" PUPS WERE A
DISAPPOINTING BLOND COLOR RIGHT UP TO TEEN AGE PUPPY HOOD WHEN THEY SUDDENLY
TURNED "MAHOGANY RED". EXCEPT OLE RED BOY , HE WAS KINDA
STRAWBERRY BLOND, WHICH IS KINDA RED, NO MATTER , HE WAS BEST DOG I EVER KNEW,
NO MATTER WHAT COLOR HE WAS. . DAD AND I TRIED TO IGNORE THE
FACT THAST OLE RED BOY WASN'T BRED, TRUE TO TYPE. DOGS
THAT GREW , OUTSIDE OF ACCEPTED , BREEDING STANDARDS WERE, SOMETIMES, PUT DOWN,
AND BIGGER THAN NORMAL, EXTRA LONG LEGGED AND EARS DROOPING TO BASSET LENGTH,
WERE NOT STANDARD FOR IRISH SETTERS. DAD'S BIG HEART AND
KIDS, TOO FOND, OF THAT OLE MISFIT, GUARANTEED RED WAS GOING TO BE AROUND
A LONG TIME , EVEN IF HE WAS SHUT IN THE GARAGE WHEN, OUT OF TOWN,
BREEDERS, CAME TO VISIT. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW RED MANAGED TO
RECONCILE BEING PUT IN THE GARAGE WHEN ALL HIS LITTER MATES WERE LET OUT TO
PLAY BUT THATS THE WAY IT WAS, EACH TIME, A PROSPECTIVE BUYER CAME
TO THE FARM. (P) THERE CAME A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I FELT THE NEED TO OWN
AN AUTOMOBILE AND RED BOY FOUND A SEAT, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE,
FRONT SEAT. MUZZEL OUT THE WINDOW, LONG EARS BLOWIN' IN THE WIND,
EYES SHUT AND SOMETIMES A LITTLE SLOBBER FALLING FROM HIS LIPS. EVEN THO
OLE RED DIDN'T WORK TOO WELL WITH THE PINK AND WHITE "TWO-TONE" COLOR
PATTERN OF THAT CONVERTABLE , HE DID SEEM TO ATTRACT A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM
THE NEIGHBOR GIRLS AND THAT WAS FINE WITH ME. RED WOULD
LET THEM GIRLS MAKE OVER HIM, AND THEN HE WOULD SEEM TO INTRODUCE THEM TO ME BY
LICKING THEIR FACE THEN LICKING MINE.
WHILE MUTUALLY ENGAGED WITH DRYING OUR FACES I FOUND THAT WE WERE SOON
DEEP INTO CONVERSATION, AS TO WHO, WAS GOING WITH WHO,
TO THE FRIDAY NIGHT
DANCE.
SEEMS LIKE I DID A LOT OF DANCING IN THOSE DAYS AND OLE RED ..WELL, HE JUST
ENJOYED MUSIC FROM THE
RADIO. RED'S
FAVORITE D.J. WAS A GUY NAMED "RANDY" SPONSORED BY
"ROSE'S POMADE" OF NASHVILLE TENNESSEE, COMING TO YOU, ON
THE LATE NIGHT RADIO............RANDY USED TO PLAY REDS FAVORITE TUNE
"YOU AIN'T NUTHIN BUT A HOUN DOG'...SO WHY THIS STORY ABOUT OLE RED
BOY? WELL HE IS GONE NOW BUT MOST OF LIFES FUN EXPERIENCES,
INVOLVED THE THINGS, OLE RED BOY AND I EXPERIENCED TOGETHER. IN
FACT IF YOU SHOULD HAPPEN TO SEE AN OLD PHOTO OF THE "GREAT,
ENTHUSIASTIC, BILLY BONES BBQ TEAM" YOU WILL OFTEN SEE OLE RED
BOY, IN THEIR SUN REDDENED FACES, EARS BACK, EYES SHUT, AND JUST A
HINT OF SLOBBER TRAILING FROM THEIR BIG OLE LIPS...THATS HOW GREAT IT IS
TO WIN A BBQ COMPETITION...THATS WHY MOST OF US STAY THE COURSE . WE ALL KNOW
THAT A DOG, TIRING DAY IN THE SUN IS BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN
LIFE. WHEN IT IS OVER, A BIG OLE TOOTHY SMILE IS IS,
IT'S OWN REWARD. ITS REALLY FUN RUNNING WITH THE
BIG DOGS EVEN IF YOUR BIG FEET KEEP TRIPPIN YOU UP. EVEN IF YOUR EARS GET IN
THE WAY, EVEN IF YOU DON'T WIN ...ITS A GREAT TIME JUST BEING IN THE
RACE...LOVE YA ..BILLY PS. ID LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR RACE IN THE SUN
..AT BILLYBONESBBQ@AOL.COM
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THE ONTARION REPORT
MARCH 12, 2005
Hello everyone!
Well today was another sunny day in KW. I enjoy the sunshine but it would be nicer if the temperature would rise a bit with the sun. It seems and I guess it’s true that the clearer the day in the winter, the colder the temps. I guess we can’t have it both ways until the spring actually arrives. I’m jealous of the warm temperatures that are happening in BC right now. I believe the BC interior had the warmest temperature in the country today. Canada AM said they would reach a high of 21c by mid day today (Thursday). I think I saw a high of – 4c here in our neck of the woods and that was around 1pm. At least the snow has cleared off the driveway enough that I can now see the horrible oil stain that Adam’s company truck has made over the winter while sitting on the drive. I hope I can get some solution that will remove it once the nice weather sets in. Concrete isn’t that easy to clean. Our driveway has a stamped pattern on it and is sealed with a clear coat. I think it’ll clean up ok.
Adam was off work today so we decided to go computer component shopping to buy some upgrades for my system. He had given me a new printer that requires a newer operating system than my Windows 98 to work. I’ve decided to go with Windows XP and that also requires more Hard Drive space than my system had. We went out and purchased a new 20 gig Hard Drive and two new 256 meg RAM chips. Adam spent a little time installing the new parts and sometime this weekend he’ll install XP and a few other programs to get us under way with the new printer. It’s an Epson Stylus Photo RX500. It is a printer (photo quality), a photocopier and a scanner all in one. Produces pro quality photo prints. I can stick the card from my camera directly into the printer and select and print pictures without going through my computer or I can choose to open them in my computer and do some editing before printing them. It’s an amazing unit and I’m looking forward to making good use of it once we get it online. I’m sure it’ll be sometime this weekend that Adam will have everything working. Should be fun!
I’m not much of a computer person so I rely on Adam to keep things working and updated for me. Clyde is a wealth of information and assistance when it comes to this as well. Not to mention that Doug is another great source for technical knowledge. I’d be lost without the 3 of them! Thanks guys!
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Well, it was a sad for Canada today. The service and tribute paid this afternoon in Edmonton to the four Mounties was indeed impressive. It was amazing to see 15,000 international police officers gathered to pay their respects, not to mention thousands of civilians. I sincerely hope that this situation and subsequent undertaking will lead to more effective laws and greater support for our law enforcement agencies when dealing with drug offences in the near future.
Thanks for tuning in once more to the Ontarion Report. Have a great week!
GREG.
PS: Something To Think About>
Beware of short men with bad tempers!
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Blame courts, ex-RCMP chief says
MAYERTHORPE, ALTA. (Mar 8, 2005)
The former RCMP commander in the town where four slain Mounties are being mourned said yesterday he understands some of the second-guessing across Canada about how the force handled the killer.
But Kim Connell, a 29-year veteran who spent his last 10 years in the Mayerthorpe detachment, also said he's directing his anger and frustration at the justice system that gave James Roszko so much freedom.
Roszko was a convicted pedophile who spent 2 1/2 years in prison. But he managed to avoid jail over the years on numerous other charges ranging from assault to weapons offences.
"When these people show these violent natures, put them in jail,'' said Connell.
"After two or three times it's obvious they're not going to be rehabilitated. Why are they out there?''
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The Family site and the Squamidian site:
http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/ and http://www.thedougsite.ca
Have a good one..
the
doug
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The articles in these issues are the sole property of the persons writing them should be respected as such.