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The Squamidian Report – Dec. 16 / 17
Issue #812 Including: Russ From Karl in Australia North Nova News From Lorne The Ontarion Hi All, A very popular out door Christmas decoration around here these days are those 'blow-up' things. You know, they are snowmen or santa clauses or penguins (don't know what that has to do with Christmas) or any other cartoon character they come up with. When I say popular, I'm referring to with kids like our little grandchildren. For some reason, assumably TV adds and pier pressure, these things are almost mandatory. So, to that end we purchased an 8-ft tall santa blow-up and set it up on our front porch. The usual lights etc are where they normally go but this thing has now been added to the display. I didn't really want to put up a blow-up, giving in to even more consumerism and commercialism, but I was over ruled. Our front porch has a concrete pad that sticks out past the roof line by a couple of feet or so and this blow-up needed a bit more head room than the covered section provided so we set it out at the front against the railing and anchored it there. Our out door decorations are on a photo cell timer and when the sun goes down, the light go on. And so does the blow-up. It blows up. There is a small fan that inflates it and keeps it inflated until the power is cut when the timer shuts everything off. It looks sort of ok there, kind of silly as it guards the front door. When the power is shut off, it deflates. Usually these things deflate and simply sink into a blob of nylon that lays there until they are re-inflated. Because ours is anchored to the porch rail, instead of sinking into a blob, it ends up hanging over the rail, much like a very hung over santa might. I guess thats just a private little joke inside my head but I get a bit of a kick out of seeing it that way. At least these blow-up things are bright and colorful and benign. What isn't so good at least in my opinion are these laser light things that cast zillions of little lights on a house or whatever they are aimed at. In some cases the light pattern constantly moves around. My neighbor has that type of 'decoration' and one almost gets dizzy looking at it. As well, if the laser is poorly aimed and sends a beam skyward it can be a problem for pilots flying at night. A very real problem as they can temporarily blind a pilot. They must also be uncomfortable for anyone in that house, looking out toward those lights through a window. We won't be going that route, ever. *
As anyone intelligent enough to be a reader of this
letter knows, rivers by their very nature do not stay in their channels
forever. They meander around, taking new pathways as they eat away at
one bank, and lay sediment against another bank. We tend to try to tame
waterways by installing man made devices such as dykes and walls but
they only work for so long, and the river will eventually win. We have
3 rivers entering the valley here and 2 of them join the Squamish
before it empties into the Sound. One of them, the Mamquam, used to
have its own channel to the Sound. It emptied down from the ice fields
to the east and turned south as soon as it entered the valley, running
parallel to the Squamish, finishing its run out through what is now the
Mamquam Blind Channel. About a hundred years ago, during a major
flooding event it blasted its way right across the valley and ended up
joining the Squamish about 6 miles up stream for where the Squamish
empties into the Sound. During our endless rains of this past November
the Mamquam ran fast and swollen and began to eat away at its north
bank, just up stream from the highway bridge. It became most noticeable
when mature trees along the bank started to fall into the river. Once
that got the attention of the 'authorities', they took a look at what
effect the river might be having on the bridge and found that the
abutments at the north end of the bridge were in very imminent danger
of being undermined.That obviously created a problem, made more so by the fact that there are spawning salmon in that river and its a no-no to disturb the fish and their spawning beds. (I guess the river shifting around doesn't count). But repairs needed to be made as it would be a bit of an inconvenience to have the bridge on the only highway through the area become undermined and fall into the river. So for the last week or so a couple of excavators have been in there shoring up the shoreline and building rock protection around the abutments. One north bound lane of the highway was closed so trucks could bring in materials, and to protect the workers from the endless line of impatient drivers who refuse to slow down through construction zones. The bridge is no longer in danger of being washed away, at least for now, so the salmon can now carry on with what they do. *
Hard to believe but next week is our Christmas issue. It should be a good one. doug **** Russ Hey Doug & Greg! Today I’m grateful for at least three things; The temporary hold on cancellation of the Great Squamidian, the return of The Ontarian, and for 15cm of beautiful fresh snow! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Point Clark! Not much happens around here in Winter, but I want to share with your readers a strange little story about my “miracle Christmas tree” There will be no Christmas tree set up in my house this time, as my Daughter-in-law who has done my inside decorations for the past 7 years, is recovering from a very recent hip replacement surgery and is not having a Christmas tree this year so I can’t expect her to do mine. Why doesn’t this lazy old man decorate his own home you ask? Here is my excuse; diabetes has left my legs without feeling, so I don’t do stairs or climb ladders. However, I can get around with either two canes or a walker...either way, it takes both hands, so in order to free-up my hands, I must lean against some solid object. I am able to hang some lights on the front porch hand-rails, which I’ve done for several past Christmases, but there is a nice, well-shaped young pine tree in my back yard which has been tempting me to decorate, so this Christmas I decided to do just that. The plan was daunting; the tree is at the very bottom end of my rather large lot...some 150 feet distant from the nearest outdoor electrical outlet, so it took 3 extension cords coupled together to even reach the spindly sapling! One of the cords had a faulty connection which I needed to repair.....working bare-handed in the cold, and cutting my thumb in the process, I finally got power to the tree. ( I didn’t know I’d cut my thumb until I noticed blood on the handle of the fridge) Stringing the lights was another challenge.....the top is 10 feet high, I don’t do ladders, but crediting myself with genius, I took two long-handled floor mops, and taped them together, thus giving me a six foot pole to wrap the lights around in order to reach the very top of the tree. But this idea took two hands, and with nothing to brace myself against, and trying to walk around the tree with pole at high mast, I staggered around that tree like a drunken sailor!! If anybody had been watching they’d have thought....What’s that crazy old man up to now? So where does the “miracle” come in? I’m getting to that. The job, finally and with much difficulty, accomplished, I plugged in the cord and the lights came on. I left them lighted until bedtime, when I “pulled the plug” and was about to go inside, when I happened to look over my shoulder, and the lights were still glowing!!!?? It’s a MIRACLE! -------this can’t be! I’m losing it! So I went to bed “in a state of utter confusion” promising myself, everything would be OK in the morning. I’d like to leave the story here and report that there is a miracle Christmas tree in Point Clark....that glows without apparent power! But, I won’t. If you care for an explanation, read on, but if you would like to keep the memory of “The Miracle Christmas Tree” don’t read on. It seems my neighbour decorated an outdoor tree, about he same size and shape with identicle coloured lights, directly in line of view behind mine!! Yes, I feel let down too, but I think I’ve regained my sanity! Merry Christmas to all, and keep submitting stories to Doug and Greg’s Squamidian.
Russ **** From Karl in Australia HI Doug, First thank you and Greg for the many years of great stories and photos which I enjoy reading about ,Im not too comfortable with writing stories but I will give it a go ,as you may know when you guys are having your winter we are in Summer looking at your beautiful photos at the Gondola makes me want to be there ,I like that you put photos too the story ,We have had very hot weather here in Melbourne for the first day of Summer which is first of December ,I love taking photos and try to get in to the City at least 2 times a week so I take LOTS of photos, too see Xmas decorations going up 3 months ahead of Xmas wow,Its not the same as the WHITE stuff which I miss at this time of year ,walking around the City taking photos which I love mostly at night ,I belong to Williamstown Camera Club and we get out as a group on some interesting photo shoots ,but I like to get out on my own when ever I can there is so much to see here in Melbourne ,which is now the most Voted Liveable City in the world again for 7 years in a row ,I will add a couple of photos if that’s OK ,now I hope that the Squamidian keeps on going and get others involved If I can do It so can others and hope to do more story’s in the future ,so I will sign off from Australia and will try to think of a new story for next week. We had a few friends visit from Canada.
   Karl. **** North Nova News Its been awhile since I have written in to the Squamidian. I'm not a natural when it comes to writing an article, Doug and Greg do it so well. I've enjoyed reading their weekly reports so much. Its so great to hear from Greg again with all that he has been through. He is truly amazing. Life here in Nova Scotia has been very busy. This past year Dave and I have purchased and then renovated my parents 30 year old house and made it into our own little palace. The property was in dire need of attention and we gave it what it deserved. It was quite a challenge with long hours and many trips to the local hardware and building supply stores we are very pleased with the result. I know my parents would be proud! Another big change is purchasing a new car, a Honda CRV. Most definitely the best car I have ever owned and I deserve it after all these years!! Its quite a learning experience what with all the extras that come with it. So many safety features that my insurance didn't even go up in price. I'm still working part time hairdressing and still enjoying my clients who have been with me all these years. Well that's all for now, thanks for listening in. Sus
**** From Lorne To-day Dec. 14, we woke to a very cold -18 cel. The past week had highs of as low as -12 cel I have blown snow and I should again. The tractor did not want to start but finely did. It sits too long between uses. I should give it a run daily in this extreme weather or never shut it down. Less than 2 weeks ago we had the same numbers less he minus signs. To-day the sun is shinning with a high of -9 cel and some moderating predicted by Sunday. Enough about the weather, you fellow Ontarions know all about it. In other happenings, the basement room that the red squirrels took over and stored their winter supply of walnuts has been repaired or replaced with new ceiling floor and walls, even lighting and wiring as they chewed at that too. The renovator did a good job and stayed to his estimate which turned out to be not much more than a good set of hearing aids. Now the furniture will be cleaned and put in place. Some will not make it back. And the approach to the newly renovated room needs some upgrading such as reducing the pile of old stuff, not all mine, by the way, and perhaps painting the floor. So there! I've said it. Appendix: current wind chill at 1.30 pm, Thurs. Dec. 14, -28cel Lorne
**** THE ONTARION REPORT Hello everyone! Figured I’d give it another go this week. Spent some time at the Dr today and he actually said I’m making progress. Well, we’ve finally got our first decent snow on the ground and for the next month or so I won’t have to shovel or blow the sidewalks. Since the Dr won’t let me use either a snow blower or a shovel this winter. I guess it’ll be up to Adam to do the clearing of the walkways etc until I’m given the ok! I will indeed miss my regular exercise of walking behind the blower but I spend three sessions a day of 30 minutes each time on the treadmill so that more than makes up for the snow clearing. I personally can’t see the difference between walking behind the blower and walking on the treadmill. I guess having to move and reposition the blower is the reason I’m not allowed to do the blowing. Oh well, I guess one season of indoor exercise won’t hurt. The St Mary’s Hospital has a program for cardiac patients that I attended way back when I had my other two angioplastis done and they still have the same program up in an industrial mall in Waterloo. They sent me a registration letter to start the program on December 11th but with the ongoing fluid problems I’ve been having I had to postpone attending that program until January. I still have a few Dr’s visits to attend and once that’s all over with and the final carotid artery surgery is done I’ll be able to get back at the program. I won’t know until next weeks visit with the vascular surgeon just when the right carotid will be done in Guelph but it’ll likely be early in January. Can’t wait until all of this medical stuff is finished and I’m back to being my normal (Or should I say abnormal) self once again. It’ll likely be sometime in April or May before I’ll be close to the finish line! I made friends with a young Cardiologist up in St Mary’s. He took an interest in a British Sports Car magazine that I was reading and I showed him a picture of a 1979 MGB that looked identical to ours. He said he’d love to have a ride in it sometime and feel a “real” sports car. I told him that once I’m back in shape and the weather is good I’ll give him a call and take him out for a spin as well as let him drive it if he’d like that! It was like I’d offered to give him the car when I suggested that he drive it. He came back to my room about an hour later and handed me a business card with his number on it and offered to be my regular cardiologist once I’m all healed up. I thought that was very cool of him to be so friendly. On the other hand maybe he needs another patient so he can afford the $100,000.00 Sports Model Honda (Acura NSX) he said he would love to own. He told me he’s been eyeing that model for a couple of years but his wife won’t let him buy one! He laughed when I said, “Oh, you mean you want a “Doctor’s” sports car, not just a common old MGB like we have!” His name is Dr Ali Pourgebbar. I think he’s Asian but I’m not sure where he’s from. He had a white smock on that said UCLA Medical School so I guess he was educated in California. Anyway, he’s a very nice guy and interesting to talk to as well. He’s the Dr that discovered my carotid artery problem. It was he who realized that I couldn’t go through the Heart Surgery before having the carotid cleaned out. He said if it wasn’t cleaned out before the bypass surgery it could cause a fatal stroke, so, he did me a big favour by making the discovery of the blockage only 4 days before I was booked to have the bypass done. It was a lifesaver for sure, thanks Dr! I’m going to make sure that I keep my word to him and take him out in the MG this spring. He’ll be seeing me before then anyway to check out the success of my surgery and we’ll set a date then! Can’t wait to get the MG back on the road in the Spring! What a year this has been and thank goodness I’m still around to say that! LOL! Guess that’s about all for this week folks! 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> Christmas if just around the corner! Do you have your shopping done? ****
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. |