The Squamidian Report – Dec. 19 / 09
Issue #395
Including:
Merry Christmas from Vivyan
A Message from Carol
The Ontarion
Hi All,
I guess we all know what time of the year it is and what we are less
than a week away from. That’s right, we are only about 2 or 3 days away from
the so called shortest day of the year and that means that starting the next
day, the days will be getting longer. And longer days mean shorter nights which
means less dark and more light. Even the grumpiest of us like longer daylight.
No point in being grumpy if no one can see it.
The seemingly endless darkness of November and December can be a bit of a drag for most people so the promise of more daylight tends to be quite uplifting. Almost puts one into a Christmas mood. And that comes just in time because the other thing that is less than a week away is Christmas. Time to do some shopping and merry-making and entertaining.
We don’t actually do much merry-making. It’s just not in our nature and besides, we are almost seniors now. And we don’t do much entertaining because we don’t know anyone we’d want to entertain that would actually show up. The up-side is that our grocery bill stays low, we don’t have to buy all sorts of fancy food. So getting ready for Christmas is actually pretty easy for us, a little bit of shopping, put up a scrawny tree and that’s about it.
In a slightly similar but totally unrelated vein, I had a pleasant surprise the other day. The wife was hunting through an old chest we have looking for something and came across my old stash of cartoon books. You know, those big thick masterpieces about Dilbert, Herman, The Far Side and Calvin & Hobbs. I lost track of my 2-ft high pile of comic genius years ago and had pretty well forgotten about them. Now they are found and I intend to re-read every one from front to back.
Dilbert so wonderfully exposed the mind-boggling baffle-gag and policy of big business. Herman pointed out the ‘dolt’ in everyone. Gary Larson’s sharp, absurd humor in The Far Side jabbed at each of us in places we didn’t expect. Calvin & Hobbs captured the brilliance of the imagination.
Finding these old cartoon books is like getting an old best gift all over again. They will be sitting there beside ‘the thrown’ from now on. What better place can there be for digging into the past?
*
We had our first snowfall of the season this week. The mountain tops and up Whistler way had received massive amounts during the November rains but the coast and coastal valleys had been snowless until early this week. The city was supposed to get dumped on and the news and weather broadcasts were busy getting everyone all worked into a frenzy. Only just like happens so very often, their storm didn’t happen. They got a dusting at best and then some freezing rain even though freezing rain is almost unheard of around here. Howe Sound and the Squamish area weren’t even included in the snowfall warning but we ended up with over half a foot. It came down over night nice and white and fluffy and didn’t turn to rain until the end of the day.
Not many people around here bother to shovel their driveways. They figure the ice and snow will melt off at some point so why bother. I had my first chance to use the blower this season and the people who do shovel their drives always look on in envy. I don’t know why they don’t just go out and get one of their own. Those poly plastic skid runners that I made for the blower were a bit of a disappointment. They slid along very nicely but they wore down very, very fast. I had worn a good 1/4-inch off of them by the time I was done. So that’s just not going to work, can’t re-adjust them every 15-minutes or so.
I did some hunting on the Internet and found that good old MTD out of Kitchener, Ontario has universal fit poly plastic runners made from the right kind of plastic and they retail for just over $20 a pair. Problem is, they can’t sell to the general public, only to retailers. However, they did give me the Canadian Tire part number for them and even though our local CTC does not carry them, they are willing to order in a pair. So, I’ve ordered a pair that should be here in a couple of weeks. Until then the ones I’ve made will do, especially if I don’t have to use the blower much in the mean time, which shouldn’t be a problem because since the snow turned back to rain we have been inundated with torrential tropical downpours.
*
I mentioned our scrawny little Christmas tree… the term ‘scrawny’ is generous at best. The poor thing can barely hold up one strand of lights. Its trunk is so small around that the clamps in the stand couldn’t screw in far enough to reach so I had to wrap the trunk to make it thicker. But it’s a cute little guy. It is obviously a real tree just like last year, and just like last year we got it from the Boy Scouts. So it is basically a charity tree. They go out and cut trees from under the power lines here they grow fast and out of control. Only problem is the trees all look more like brush and spindly shrubs than trees. However, they all have that ‘Charley Brown’ character look and that’s what makes them so nice.
Merry Christmas everyone.
doug
****
Hi and merry Christmas to all.
I've been very remiss at writing lately, but I have certainly been thinking of everyone. Thank goodness for the telephone so I do manage to keep in touch with some of you. I hear from Doug every weekend and now with Tim and Heidi in Saskatchewan, we call on Sundays also. At least that way, I hear their voices. I think we'll be missing a few at Christmas, but our thoughts will be with everyone.
Heidi left her cat 'Socks' with us and she and Teddy get along great, but she stays down in the basement most of the time. This time of year we keep a fire in the wood stove, so Socks likes to curl up in front of it and she has the loudest purr and she keeps her motor going.
Beth's little Vivienne just celebrated her 1st birthday on Dec. 3rd. She sure is a cutie. So if the weather behaves, we should have three young ones to celebrate with us at Christmas. I'm looking forward to seeing Ella and Ian as we don't see them very often. Of course, Tara and Anton and everyone else.
I had a bunch of tests done about 10 days ago, but I don't see the doctor until 7th, but his staff told me I don't have cancer as I've had a lot of stomach pain, I couldn't help but wonder. At least he's pretty thorough. The Barbershoppers had their Christmas Shows the other weekend. It was good as always, and this past weekend we got together with a bunch of friends from Barbershop It's always fun to get together in smaller groups. I've a laddies meeting at the church this afternoon, so I had better get some lunch on the go.
For those of you further away, yes we do have snow. It came and it stayed. Not deep, but all over. Everything is white. As long as we don't get more snow until after Christmas, we'll be all set. We are lucky because Gale comes over and vacuums for me and Carol and Al help with a lot of things, especially the wood. Lorne has a barbershop friend that keeps the tractor running and the right implement on it. We are getting too old to do some jobs especially if it means lying on the cold ground under a tractor.
Everyone have a great Christmas and happy new year.
****
First I wish to thank Doug and Greg for taking the time each week to write their columns for us. Al and I look forward to receiving the Squid each week and open each like the gifts they are. We love it also when an extra submission comes from one of you other readers. I could never come up with something interesting week after week. Thank you guys, please don't stop.
Have you ever stopped to think about why Christmas can be so magical? It certainly isn't the reason shown in those sappy TV specials about Santa being real and somehow all the bad things in life are straightened out in time for Christmas Day, although those movies perpetuate the myth that you too will find the perfect Christmas. I don't think Christmas can be magical for anyone who has an impossibly idealized vision of the perfect Hallmark Christmas in their mind they are trying to recreate. Attempting to find the perfect gift, make the perfect meal, create perfect harmony among disparate family members, meeting all the extra demands etc. is more a recipe for disappointment then Christmas magic. I suppose everyone is also trying to relive, or recreate for their own children & grandchildren those memories of our own childhood excitement and wonder. We tend to forget that those cherished Christmases of yore were viewed through the eyes of childhood innocence and we weren't bombarded with all the commercials for expensive high-tech gadgets etc. we see today. The gift of the holy birth, the message of peace and love were also emphasized more way back when, not only at church but at school also. We didn't look for the magic - it found us.
The magic is in a child's laughter and wide-eyed excitement. The magic is there when we stop rushing and view with a child's eyes and enjoyment the music, the lights, the smiles on the people passing by, the snow, the coming together. The magic is there when we stop thinking about what we will receive but how we can give back. The magic is there when we start counting up, not the presents under the tree but the important gifts of family, love, health, warm beds, enough to eat, appreciation of the fact that the "Christ" in "Christmas" is part of all 365 days, not just one.
Much as we have enjoyed the music of Dad's annual Barbershop Christmas show, the Carols at church and the children's special Christmas service we do not get that excited about Christmas anymore. Al and I talked about that and felt that because we count our blessings most everyday, and thank God for them, we do not need to get excited because we have Christmas everyday! We have 2 beautiful daughters and their spouses, 2 wonderful step-grandsons, our cherished grandson and that perfect delight of a granddaughter, Vivienne. We both still have, at our age, our parents alive in relatively good health (and as a bonus they are fun to be around). Al loves my siblings as much as I do, ditto our nieces & nephews & other relatives, and we have "adopted" into our family wonderful extra siblings, children, a mom who we also love. We may not have a very large income but it meets our needs as we don't have large wants. Best of all that "warm bed" is even warmer because we have each other to keep us warm, to love and support each other. And we don't have to ask Santa for anything because with each other and our family we have the very best already.
So this Christmas we wish for each of you to discover, and appreciate, the gifts in your lives that you already have. I know that some are out of work or away from loved ones or struggling financially and that can be even harder to handle at Christmas. So don't worry about trying to create a "Hallmark" Christmas, just enjoy whatever Christmas does come your way and remember your fellow Squids are just an e-mail away.
God bless,
****
Hello everyone!
Only one more week until Christmas! I hope you’ve
all got your shopping completed already. I know that Doug won’t have that
accomplished until Christmas Eve but that’s OK, he’s got that down to a science
after all these years anyway. Besides, what do you buy the woman that has
everything? We’ll have to wait and see!
It really is hard to know what to buy your spouse
after so many years together. Once you’ve been collecting /purchasing stuff for
37 years there’s not much left to choose from. Probably the best thing to do is
start replacing things that are worn out I guess. The problem is that we just
do that throughout the year anyway. If it needs to be replaced, go out and get
a new one! Kind of takes the need to do that out of Christmas doesn’t it? Oh
well, I’m sure we’ll all think of something cool to buy or guys and gals for
the occasion. I don’t think any of us have done without much at Christmas time
in the past so there’s nothing to worry about this year either.
I’ve actually got most of my shopping done. All
that’s left is a few items to be used as “stocking stuffers” and it won’t take
long to procure those!
This time of year is always fun. We used to enjoy
taking Adam down to the mall to have his picture taken with Santa but for the
past few years he’s resisted sitting on the old guy’s knee. I guess at six foot
four and 33 years of age I can’t blame him for saying no! Hahaha…..! Actually
we gave up on that a long time ago and now do it with our poodle Bailey. He
gets taken to the Pet Smart and sits on Santa’s knee. The problem is getting
him to smile and getting Santa to look at the camera rather than at Bailey. I
guess when you’re that cute you tend to attract a lot of attention. Bailey is
the centre of attention whenever we take him anywhere. My single brother in law
used to ask to take him for walks because he said “Bailey is so cute he makes a
great Chick Magnet”! Hahaha….! I guess Bailey likes the attention as well. This
year Carole put pictures of Bailey on Santa’s knee on several of the Christmas
cards we sent out. It’ll be interesting to hear from the recipients as to what
they thought of the card. It actually did make a nice card for the occasion.
We still don’t have any where near the amount of
snow that we had at this time last year. As long as we have a white Christmas
I’m ok with not having heaps of the stuff. From what I hear on the weather
reports, the area around Gravenhurst and Huntsville etc got hit with about four
feet of the stuff last week and then another 15cm per day for the past few
days. I guess Jackie and Jim will be included in that snowy area as well. Did
you get hit with all that snow Jackie? I hope you keep the snowmobiles gassed
up and dug out! You’ll sure need them if you’re having such a heavy winter this
early. I’ve only had to use the snow blower twice so far and the amount we’ve
had hasn’t been all that much. I guess it’ll come sooner or later. We usually
do get lots of snow here in KW and having the blower is certainly worthwhile
most years. I still like to shovel by hand as well though. I did the driveway
and walkways the other day by hand and we had about 3” of light snow at the
time. It’s good exercise using a shovel and of course you’re not polluting the
air with a gas engine either. Guess that’s a bonus!
After Doug mentioned the skids on his snow blower
being worn down to nothing last week, I checked the ones on my Toro. They are
still in very good shape and all I did was adjust them a little to raise the
blade up off the sidewalk an eighth of an inch so they won’t catch on the
cracks. Leaving a skim of snow on the walkway is ok. It gets packed nice and
hard and makes for a good smooth surface for the blower to slide on. Last year
the stores were sold out of blowers early in the season but this year, I’ve
noticed that they all have a large number in stock. I guess they’re hoping for
a snowy year like last year so their blower sales are a moneymaker. We’ll soon
see! After all, Canada is the Winter Wonderland!
Carole, Adam and I want to wish all the members of
the Squamidian clan a Very Merry Christmas!
Thanks for being loyal readers all these years and
enjoy your holiday season!
That’s it for this week!
Thanks for tuning in and I look forward to talking
to you all again next week in The Ontarion Report!
Bye for now… Greg.
PS: Something To Think About>
From a height of three kilometers it takes a
snowflake 30 minutes to reach the ground!
The word for snow blindness is “niphablepsia”!
(nif-a-blep-sia)
****
Have a good one..
the doug
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