The
Squamidian Report – Apr. 2/ 11
Issue #462
Including:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
I’ve been complaining about our cold wet long winter out here for a while now. And yes, spring has finally gotten under way but it’s a good month late and is still not really doing much. The ‘wet’ part of our past winter was snow up in the mountains. I’ve mentioned the deep snow and massive cornices that are visible from here as I look at the high ridges and peaks across the valley. Well, here are some interesting numbers. The north shore mountains, that’s the ones that are above North and West Vancouver and the Howe Sound areas, have received about 33% more snow than normal, keeping in mind that ‘normal’ is a lot of snow. The results are that the local ski hills on those mountains are going to be staying open a full month longer that usual. Because there is still no real warm up forecasted, they could well be open until into early June. The mountains over on Vancouver Island have received a whopping 66% more snow than usual. And they usually get an incredible amount, so this year they have had 66% more than incredible.
There is a lot of concern about what will happen when all that snow melts. If it were to melt fast during a heavy rain event, there could and would be flooding in low areas. On the other hand, with no real warm up expected, it could take a long time to melt and that would mean no flooding. Or, like last year, it may not all melt. We still had a snowpack in the higher forested areas that hadn’t melted from the winter before. So the most likely scenario is that there will be a constant supply of cold melt water feeding the mountain streams all summer and into the fall. That’s a good thing.
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Have I got the bike out yet? No! March came in like a lion, stayed like a lion and went out like a lion. Admittedly, we’ve had some very nice sunny days but they were few and far between. On those days our temperatures did manage to struggle up to ‘normal’, but there have been way, way too many days that were simply wet and dark and wet. Thursday was supposed to be cool and wet. Friday was supposed to be a nice sunny day with mid teen temperatures. So, I had intended to finally put insurance on the bike first thing Friday morning. However, Thursday afternoon turned sunny and warm making the thought of Friday all that more exciting. Then Friday came along and with it a brand new forecast of dreary and wet and unfortunately, they actually had that forecast right, it was dreary and wet, all day. So instead of rushing out to get my insurance I stewed and grumbled and had a nap. Not much else I could do. Now Friday’s original forecast had indicated the start of a nice sunny warm stretch of weather. Along with Friday’s revised forecast was the revised long range that was also down the toilet. Crappers! Spring was a month late and now the riding season is over a month late getting here. We’re into the first week of April. I should have long since burned through who knows how many tanks of our now almost unaffordable gas and should have worn at least another millimeter or so of rubber off of my bike’s tires. But here is my promise to me… I will be putting the insurance on to bike today (Saturday) come hell, high water, miserable rain, dishes to be washed, dog poo to be cleaned up and any other obstacle that seems to enjoy putting itself in my way. I wonder if I’ll keep my promise.
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I’m starting to think that the end may be in sight. As we go into our 10 year here I’m running out of things to say. The reason for the Squamidian was and still is, to share the adventure of living on the west coast with everyone. There have been a lot of really cool adventures to write about but we’ve reached the point where new adventures are just the same old adventures done over again in a different time or place. I’m not saying that I’m going to end writing just yet but I am starting to think about it as it gets harder to come up with something new or fresh. With that in mind, I’ve been experimenting a bit with our list of readers. Over the past couple of months I have quietly dropped about a half a dozen names, people who I’ve never heard from, and some of whom I don’t even know but were put on at the request of other, and so on. Interestingly but not surprisingly, no one seems to have noticed, including the ones I’ve dropped. So its given me something to think about. Don’t worry, you probably won’t suddenly just stop receiving your Saturday morning Email without any notice. So, business as usual for now but no promises.
doug
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THE ONTARION REPORT
Hello everyone!
Well, it looks like we’re in for another month or so of smut slinging by the political parties hoping to be elected as our Federal Government for the next few years! My question is, why don’t we just hold the election next week and get it over with? After all, we all know that the current Prime Minister will prevail only this time with a majority government! I know, I know, you’re not all in agreement with me on this one but I hope you’ll all be adult enough to admit that I was right when this is all over. After all, who in their right mind would vote in as Prime Minister a man who only a few years ago as a permanent resident of the USA declared his LOVE for the United States and had spent 25 years over there pretty much denying his Canadian heritage? In my eyes Iggy is a traitor and only came back to Canada when he could see a chance to have his ego boosted and prove a point, that he could win a federal election on this side of the border. With nobody worth a damn to step into the Liberal party’s leader’s shoes the lost sheep of that waning political group of money grubbers grasping at straws leapt at the chance to have a leader that really wanted the job (but for all the wrong reasons) and they were too blind to see that! Well, Iggy’s already heavy into the mud slinging in Prime Minister Harper’s direction but anybody with half a brain can see he’s just jealous of the fact that PM Harper has done a wonderful job of handling our country’s business through one of the most difficult financial times in history not to mention one of the most difficult periods of international political and military unrest! I doubt this card carrying Democrat could ever fill the shoes of Canada’s Prime Minister with anywhere near the success and expertise that Mr Harper has!
I for one will never forgive the Liberal Party for stealing billions of dollars from our federal tax reserve and laughing in the voters faces the last time they were in power! As I’ve stated before, the Liberal Party will NEVER get my support again and this includes on a Provincial level as well! I can’t wait to see McGuinty booted the hell out of Queens Park next fall. The only regret I’ll have at that point is that we have no way of reducing that fat pension he’ll receive once he’s gone. You know, the one he awarded himself before cutting the public employees pensions and pay raises last year? What a snake in the grass he is too!
Oh well, we’ll just have to take it one election at a time and with any luck we’ll be rid of any significant Liberal influence once they’ve been beaten to a pulp over the next 6 months and the following 4 years!
Of course, this is just my opinion and you’re free to disagree if you wish! As long as you vote Conservative that is!
That’s it for this week folks!
Thanks for tuning in and I look forward to preaching to you all again next week in The Ontarion Report! LOL!
Bye for now… Greg.
PS: Something To Think About>
I’d be more than happy to read with an open mind anything any of you would care to contribute to the Squamidian about Canadian politics in the near future.
This is just like the House of Commons, freedom of speech is welcome and we all have the right to express ourselves without prejudice.
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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.