The Squamidian Report – Nov. 11 / 06
Issue #232
Also in this issue:
A Word From Vivyan
The Ontarion
Hi All,
The storms of November, they are just a part of life. Out on the prairies and further east they can mean snow squalls and storms as well as ice and rain. In the mountains of BC they can mean meters of fresh snow. On the coast they mean wave after wave of rain fronts pumping in onto the coast bringing anywhere from an inch to half a foot of rain per day. You tend to get used to it. Life simply goes on. If you don’t get used to it, you don’t live here very long. It is simply what happens here in November.
The rains are why we have rainforests and an incredibly amount of vegetation that grows to incredible sizes. After a long hot dry summer and early fall, people actually start to look forward to the rain. It is a part of their lives that had been missing for a while. You look forward to being able to look up at the mountains and see wild raging rivers spilling over high cliffs in the form of boiling white waterfalls. Mammoth Creek on the far side of the valley was all but unnoticeable for the last few months. It now highlights the slopes above the river with its power. Same with all the other creaks and streams that drain the high country, they have swollen into their November prime.
And there are rewards for all this rain. Much of the plant life turns vibrant green again, the vast schools of fish holding off shore begin their spawning run up-stream, and when the overcast breaks, the blankets of fresh snow covering the high country are breathtaking. And then of course there is the fact that you don’t have to wash your car, it gets washed daily by nature herself.
Now like I just said, large amounts of heavy rain are the norm for this time of year here and people just go about their normal activities, including working in it. However, we actually got rained out one day. Or, to be more accurate, we got shut down due to the effects of the rain. Half a foot of the stuff each day for three or four days made the road widening we are doing simply way too wet and unsafe. The term ‘way too wet’ actually means ‘under water’. So there wasn’t much we could do except enjoy a day off, and I’m always up for a day off.
And by the way, some of you may have watched on the news about the flooding in the Chilliwack area of the Fraser Valley. Well, to set the record straight, Squamish received a good 4 inches of rain more than they did during that same period.
*
We had some other excitement at work this week as well. I’ve been doing the excavating part of the road ridenings, which entails digging along under the existing overhead wires and over top of the existing gas mains. Well, in this business, ‘shit happens’. I’m given most of these types of digging situations to do because I am very careful, I don’t hit things. But as we were following along the one gas main on the last section we needed to dig, and with two laborers in the trench hand digging and spotting, I caught a small plastic side service and severed it. No big deal, I simply jumped down and crimped it over like you would a water hose. The line wasn’t shown on our layout drawing, and the locates we had hadn’t found it. No one knew it was there, and to make it worse, it looped up about a foot higher than the main if came out of so there really wasn’t much chance of missing it. Oh well, a gas repair crew got there pretty quickly and it was fixed, probably costing a couple of hundred bucks.
However, the next day one of our other operators was digging in light pole basses on another section of the site and nailed the main, a big line. This was a bit more serious and required the shut-down of the site, closing of the businesses and streets around it and attendance of the fire department, police and town officials. Cost of repair, over 10 grand, and we don’t know what other cost and claims will be coming our way. This operator is also very careful so it just proves that things like this happen, goes with the territory.
doug
****
After nine months of problems, I’m “finally” back in the land of the living. If I want to do something I don’t have to wait and see what time the nurse is coming. Even going for groceries had to be planned after the nurse would come, any time between 8:30a.m. and 3:30p.m. I broke my leg on January 24th, three weeks later I had an abscess blow upon my butt and I had nurses from then on. Don’t get me wrong. The nurses were wonderful. They tried their best to accommodate me but with so many other patients to look after they didn’t have it easy. I had two operations on the abscess and when it was almost healed it broke open again. On the 25th of October the nurse took off the last bandage – so nine months of 2006 were down the drain. For over eight months I had tape on my butt. They had a special tape so that I could even have a shower and they used something special on the skin so it didn’t get raw and sore. It’s great to be back “driving” and “walking” and even able to plan “when” I want to do something. Teddy got rather spoiled by all the different people that came and took him for walks but now he and I go out every morning for a half hour or so and he’s settling down quite well. This morning he got lucky. His 2 sisters both happened along at the same time so the three of them went wild in the yard for awhile. None of them went near the road so they were allowed to have a lot of fun.
We did manage to get up to the cottage over Thanksgiving and had a beautiful weekend as the weather was perfect. Cindy was able to flush my sore and put the new bandage on it. The nurse came early to look after it before we left and make sure I had the right stuff along. She then made me her last patient the day we got home. She did the same for me the weekend of Ryan and Emily’s wedding, which was the highlight of the year and I sure would have hated to miss it. At that point in time it had to be flushed and packed daily. I can’t say enough about how good the nurses were to me. We also got to the Barbershop Convention in Kingston 2 weeks after Thanksgiving. We went a day early and did some sightseeing on our way. It was a nice trip but coming home on the Sunday was horrible. It was a foggy rain so you just had to stay in your lane and follow the car in front. It was good to get home after that drive. It is also good to be back driving although the sitting is still a “sore” point. But it is getting better. Now I’m looking forward to an accident free 2007. It Can’t help but be better although it was wonderful to
Love to all,
****
Hello
Everyone!
I’d like
to start this report off with a word of dedication to the members of the
Canadian Armed Forces. I remember as a kid being herded into the gym at school
to take part in the Remembrance Day ceremony. The principal was always so
serious during that event as were the teachers. Of course this was within 10 to
15 years after WW II and the memories were still fresh in everybody’s mind.
Most of our parents either lived through the war here at home or were soldiers,
sailors or airmen and women that fought overseas for our freedom. My father was
a police officer and wasn’t required to enlist but had a brother who joined the
army and served overseas. He was wounded by shrapnel but fortunately recovered
fully. Uncle Herb passed away many years ago but I think of him every
Remembrance Day. I sincerely hope that he is the last member of our family that
ever has to don a uniform and fight for our freedom. His son Richard joined the
army many years ago in the early 60’s to follow in his father’s footsteps and
retired after 35 years of service without having to actively pick up a rifle
and participate in a conflict. He served for most of his career posted in
Germany. How lucky he was not to have to go to war during his career? I
personally am exceedingly grateful to the veterans that fought in the great
wars as well as those who continue to make the great sacrifice that enabled me
to live FREE and SAFE for over 50 years without so much as a whimper or hint of
actual conflict coming my way. Of course there have been other conflicts
elsewhere in the world, such as the Korean War that Canada participated in and
the Veterans of that war deserve just as much respect as those of the World
Wars. The Canadian “Peace Keepers” that have served abroad are included as
well, for their actions are the continuation of those perpetrated by their
predecessors to keep the world safe for every Canadian and democratic nation on
this earth.
Wear a
RED poppy over your heart on November 11th and if you get the
chance, shake the hand of a living Veteran and say “Thank You” or attend a live
service of Remembrance at your local Cenotaph. We owe our Vets a great deal! My
last words are for the men and women of Canadian forces that are currently
serving in Afghanistan. Our prayers are with you all and every Canadian will be
paying their respects to you this November 11th. God bless our
protectors past and present!
Greg.
PS:
Something To Think About>
Democracy
is a wonderful thing. Don’t forget to vote!
****
The Family and the Squamidian sites:
http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/ and http://www.thedougsite.ca
Have a good one..
the
doug
The Fine Print!
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