The Squamidian Report – Aug. 22 / 15
Issue #691
Including:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
There's a reason we don't go anywhere near the Gondola on the weekends.
They are mind boggling busy. Last Sunday they had 3,800 visitors. Yup,
3800. Not all at the same time of course, they were spread out over the
day but thats 3,799 more tourist type people than I'm comfortable being
around. Week days are bad enough but as long as you get there right
when they open and are out of there before noon they are not too bad.
End of the summer and therefore end of tourist season should bring some
relief from the maddening hordes. That will be a good thing, for me at
least. Part of the reason for so many tourists, not just at the Gondola
but all over the place around here is the low dollar. We can't afford
to buy didly-squat but the visitors from the States and elsewhere can
take advantage of the dollar difference and purchase everything
'cheap'.
Not sure how I got talked into it but I'm currently building a small
deck on which a playhouse will sit for the grand daughter. Once the
deck is finished I'll have to start the playhouse, or at least design
it so I can figure out the materials needed etc. I enjoy building stuff
but my old body sure complains. Sore back, sore knees, sore arms and so
on. There was a time I could bend over all day working on something.
Now when I bend over I have to figure out how to get straightened back
up. But that aside, you know what really helps with back yard projects?
Cordless tools. They've been around for years and just keep getting
better. No cord to plug in and unplug, no fuss, no mess. Just easy to
use convenience. Modern drills and saws and sanders are lite, tough and
fun. Modern batteries last a long time and recharge quickly. Its the
only way to go.
Funny thing is, this project started out with just the intention of
creating a flat spot for the playhouse. Then we decided it really
should have some kind of floor. That meant it would have to be level
and solid. Bummer. It didn't take long before it morfed into a full
blown raised deck with railings and a small set of stairs for access
due to the fact that where it ended up being would put it 2 ft off the
grass down on the lower lever. It sits over near the back corner,
against the fence and fitted along the rock face. The steps are for
access from the lower lawn and a 'climbing rope' will permit small kids
to 'scale' the rock to get back up onto the main back lawn should they
decide not to go the way they came.
But you know, my back hurts, I'm tired, and I really can't think of anything of interest this week so thats it for now.
doug
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THE ONTARION REPORT
Hello everyone!
It’s no surprise that we’re getting near the end of summer since we’re
seeing all the ads on TV about back to school as well as hearing more
about the teacher’s contract negotiations on the News! Sounds like
Kathleen Wynn is taking all the credit once again for making some
headway with the teachers. I’m sure when it’s all over she’ll be
bragging about how she saved the taxpayers of Ontario millions of
dollars by depriving the hard working and important teachers of a
decent raise. Too bad the upcoming election isn’t a provincial one or
we’d have a good chance of kicking her sick ass down that road she jogs
on in her self-loving TV commercials! Oh well, her time will come! Once
again, I’m getting a kick out of the political campaign commercials now
showing for the federal election. Surely the PC’s can come up with
something more than Trudeau’s hair to criticize him for! He’s actually
getting more and more like his dad every time I listen to him speak and
that scares me more than anything! It’s like listening to a recording
of Pierre when you don’t look at the face. On well, every party has a
right to fight for a position in Ottawa and right now unfortunately
Harper has to defend himself at every turn. I hope the voters remember
the amazing job he and his PCs did to bring Canada through the
recession as well as the fact that it’s not their fault that things are
shaky at the moment, not because of the present government but because
of the global economy! I’m sure things will turn around in the not too
distant future and I’m hoping Mr. Harper will be given one more term in
office to finish what he’s started. Maybe by then we’ll have a better
selection of party heads and an improvement in party policies to choose
from in the next election!
*
With Doug talking about his bike trip last week, it
made me wonder if I should get my motorcycle out once again. I’ve still
got it for sale and have only had one bite on it! It’s been for sale
for 12 months now and I’m surprised that it hasn’t sold. With so many
people getting into motorcycling these days I would have thought it
would have sold in the first few weeks I had it on line for sale. Oh
well, all I can do is keep on trying! I’m sure someone will come along
with the cash and hopefully before I have to store it for another
winter.
Speaking of winter, I read where the Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting
that this coming winter is going to be a very treacherous one indeed.
Guess they must know something we don’t! Maybe the squirrels are
gathering their nuts sooner than usual or the polar bears fur coats are
thicker than usual but whatever, there must be some indicators the Old
Farmer’s go by that remain a secret to the rest of us. Guess we’ll just
have to make sure we’re prepared for the worst. I’m sure we’ll have a
few months before the poo hit’s the fan so for now, I for one am going
to continue to enjoy the beautiful weather we’ve been having and
hopefully will have for a while yet.
I’m going to call an end to this week’s Ontarion early since the ideas
just aren’t flowing as well as usual! Thanks for tuning in and I’ll
look forward to talking to you all again next week in The Ontarion
Report!
Bye for now … Greg
PS: Something To Think About>
Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with!
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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.
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