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Issue #997
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From Nova Scotia Sus
From Russ
The Ontarion

Hi All,

As you probably know, the west, and the west coast, have been scorched by an unbelievable heat wave. This has been going on for 2 weeks now and I’ve never felt or endured heat like this. In all my years of working outdoors on constructions sites etc, as hot and uncomfortable as they could be at times, nothing compares to this. Standing outside in the shade is like having a physical pressure pushing against you. Standing in direct sun is painful. We are having problems with the highway buckling in some places. The Chief mountain has been closed because the heat is causing sections of rock face to expand to the point where it explodes right off the cliff. Our ‘normal’ temperature for this time of year is 22c. Last Sunday hit 44c. Thats 111f for those of us who are bilingual temperature wise. Normally at night it would cool off nicely, dropping to 12 or 14c. For the last week or so it has not dropped below 24c at night. The house can’t cool down, and we, like most places around here, do not have A/C. Its never been needed before. Most heat waves in the past brought temperatures that hit the high 20’s or during extreme times, the low 30’s, and only lasted a few days. This current heat wave is simply off the scale.

Besides roads and cliffs buckling, many areas are having to deal with flooding. We came out of winter with a record breaking snowpack in the mountains. Blowtorch heat is melting that snow at an incredible rate. The rivers and streams are raging high and fast. The Upper Squamish Valley is flooded, stranding many campers and land owners. Parts of the Pemberton valley is flooded. Many homes have had to be evacuated.

Another side effect of the heat has been horrific vehicle crashes on the highway. Idiots are driving way too fast at a time when they are groggy from the heat, inattentive from the heat, irritated and angry because of the effect of the heat, determined to be first to some over heated, over crowed camp site. And, they are in even worse condition on their way back to the city. The local highways are a dangerous place to be during these conditions.

And for anyone wondering why the people in the town of Lytton didn’t see the fire that destroyed their town coming, well, its because it didn’t come as a forest fire advancing across the countryside. It started, or was started, right in their town.

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Ok kids, this is issue number 997 of this world wide famous newsletter. The count down is counting down. How’s that for a rather subtle hint?

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For this week’s musical distraction I’ve pulled out a very old Emmy Lou Harris song from way back called ‘Two More Bottles Of Wine’. The only reason I know and or remember this song is because back in the early 80’s I was in a little band with cousin Sus of Nova Scotia fame. She used to sing this song in that band. Now, I’m singing it for you (I’m so thoughtful that way). Enjoy, or at least be somewhat temporarily entertained.

Small Size Video
Two More Bottles Of Wine

doug

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From Nova Scotia Sus

It looks like all across Canada everyone is experiencing hot temperatures, even here in Nova Scotia. We could use more rain for our gardens and just as I was writing this we heard thunder and then came some heavy downpours. Just a very welcome passing storm. We are always hoping for a few tropical storms to come our way bringing rain. Luckily most of the hurricanes by the time they reach us are either downgraded or go out to sea.

We have been eating loads of asparagus, in total so far 20 lbs. I swear you could sit and watch them grow. Everyday we practically pick it clean and the next day they have shot up again. We have proven you can eat all you want with no issues. Luckily the deer do not like asparagus or garlic and so far the onions and potatoes have not been touched.

Lately a bear has been hanging around our green bins, tipping them over and scrounging for food. It looks like part of its jaw is missing. We heard a gunshot fired one night and wonder if someone had hit this bear. It uses one of its legs to push food into its mouth. We have secured our bins and covered the insides with leaves to be less attractive. Hope he moves on soon.

Our meat birds are now 3 weeks old and eating frantically like meat birds do. By 8 weeks they will be off to the butcher. Our little laying hens are helping to keep the meat birds active for their short lives.

Thanks Doug for all your time and effort in keeping the Squamidian going all this time. Keeping us all together! Also thanks to all that contribute on a regular basis and those who contribute now and again. The world is a much smaller place when we can touch base with each other. I have learned so much.

Sus

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From Russ

What's new?

It's called PICO*7 "Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System". I never heard of it until last Monday (June 21st), when a Specialist decided she'd try it on my heel ulcer that refuses to heal (It's now three years of age and still "oozing")

Let me briefly describe what PICO looks like - Picture a Hoover "Canister" vacuum cleaner, the one you had to drag from place-to- place, because it had no wheels - just 'skids'. The dirt was 'sucked' into a bag which when full was removed, tossed, and a new one installed. They were a good, little machine at the time, and we had one - used it for years until something (a mouse?) got stuck in the hose and was impossible to remove. The vac was equipped with several fittings which were secured on the suction end - the fitting I'd like you to picture is the one for getting into the corners of things - shaped like a triangle. How handy - insert the hose in one end, it would suck - insert the hose in the other end - it would blow! Of course, dummy you had to plug the electrical cord into a wall plug, then turn on the power. (Shush!)

OK, now that you have the picture, here's how PICO is used (at least, in my case). After cutting away all the dead skin from around the ulcer on my right heel (using what looked like a "Stilletto knife"), and smearing the stuff onto a 'sponge' at the kitchen table where I eat most of my meals, she stuck the negative pressure head onto the ulcer ensuring an air-tight seal.

The unit comes with a "power Pack" using two double A batteries (which, she says will last 7 days). The control is 'pocket-size', contains a pump and has 4 buttons with lights that blink showing various problems that may occur, and a 'start/stop' button. Inside the sucking head is a material that soaks up the liquid from the ulcer, and this patch must be changed by a qualified nurse once weekly. She quickly explained what each light was for (knowing full-well I didn't understand a word she said), adding,

"You can always read the printed instructions that come in 17 different languages if you get stuck". (I was stuck trying to read only the English one - the print was so small I had to use a powerful magnifier). But, I did learn a few things about the "system" - It must run 24-7; don't get it wet; don't pinch or knot the tiny plastic tubing, and above all, be careful not to 'break the seal'. These rules make for awkward sleeping; more awkward dressing/undressing, and even more awkward bathing! Oh, yes, I nearly forgot. When asking how long I would have to wear this contraption, she quipped,

"Until the wound heals, or you die - whichever comes first", then she laughed. (Was she kidding?)

It's been 38 hours - it doesn't hurt, the OK light has kept blinking - except for the time I accidentally pulled the tubing from the control - then, it kept blinking orange, as the seal had been compromised, until I turned the unit 'Off and On, and it's been blinking 'OK' ever since. (Wheeoh!)

There's supposed to be a VON come today to change the bandage. If she has no prior experience with this new System I'm supposed to go to Emerge. Bummer! It could be worse - I could have this "Sucker" attached to my butt ulcer!

Patiently waiting for "The End".

Uncle Russ.

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THE ONTARION REPORT

Hello everyone!

There seems to be lots of new construction in the down town area of Kitchener or at least it’s planned for the near future. The city council is working on whether or not to allow a company to erect two giant office and condo towers in the downtown area. The first of which is at the corner of Duke St and Frederick St across from the new court house building. That one is supposed to be 27 floors in height! The second project by the same company will be at the corner of Joseph St and Victoria St and will reach a height of 32 stories! There are people in these areas that are objecting due to the large shadows that these building will cast to block out the sunshine these people are used to having on their homes! I can see why they would object! Who wants to live in the shadow of a giant building? Also these buildings will change the whole character of the downtown area of Kitchener! It’s becoming more and more like Toronto every day as it is! Right at the moment, the city of Cambridge (Galt area) Is facing the same dilemma with two new proposed sky scrapers facing their council as well. The citizens of that area are objecting to their construction due to the fact that the quaint look of their downtown will no longer appeal to the movie industry and that organization brings a lot of money into the town! If their downtown is allowed to change to look more modern then that will definitely make it less appealing to the film industry!

Change isn’t always good if you ask me! I wish at this point that I’d taken my camera years ago and searched the early look of Kitchener for all the buildings that I remember as a kid and taken photos of them for nostalgia sake! There are so many old buildings that no longer exist and the loss of them has really changed the look of Kitchener and not necessarily for the better! For instance, the original city hall was a thing of beauty, especially at Christmas time when it was all lit up with colourful lights and decorations. It was replaced with a monstrosity called The Eaton Centre that was of course in the first place named after the first store to occupy it known as Eaton Department Store. Of course that store no longer exists and now that “centre” no longer has a main occupant. Most of the commercial small stores in that building stand empty so it’s become a White Elephant for the city of Kitchener. At least the original Eaton store that stood at the corner of King and Water Sts was turned into Condos and is fully occupied for the past many years since it’s change of use.

If the city council wasn’t so anxious to grab the tax dollars from all this new construction we might still have more of our heritage to enjoy! Oh well, I’m sure that every council member wants to leave their mark on the city and that’s what caused all these changes. In most cases, it seems that the council that’s in at the time doesn’t give a darn what the citizens think, they just go ahead and approve any new construction that they think will make that mark while they still have a job on council. One of the biggest changes to this area in the past 10 years is the LRT rail system and so far it’s not making any money for the city! In my eyes, it’s a monumental flop for the council that approved it! It’ll take the next 50 years for the tax payers to pay down that debt I’m sure! It leaves me wondering what will come next that they can think of to waste our tax dollars on! Guess I’ll just have to wait and see!

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I have what came as good new for us this past week! Our neighbours beside us who I’ve told you have little or no concern for the look of their front yard and garden have finally hired a fellow to remove their lawn or should I say “Weed Field” and replace it with so far, good looking green sod! I’ll be interested to see if they care for this new lawn better than they did the past one! I’m sure they’ll neglect it like they did the previous one. The lady of that house told me the other day that they are planning on Cutting down either one or two of the giant 60’ pine trees that stand next to our driveway and are constantly dropping sap and pollen all over our drive and cars! I had a talk with her about two weeks ago to express to her how I’d appreciate it if they would have the trees in their back yard trimmed to no longer put pressure on our fence back there. I erected the fence before they moved into that house 20 years ago and now their trees are pushing my fence in causing damage to it! She told me that they were planning on having them trimmed and also that they were thinking of either trimming or removing the two pine trees out front. That was all good news at the time but so far, nothing has come of what she planned. I hope they do decide to remove both of the Pines and that will solve the mess on my driveway and on the cars.!

Some people have no consideration for their neighbours let alone their own property and how it looks! Fingers crossed, she’ll keep her word and remove the trees!

That’s about all I have to say 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>
It’s only 6 months till Christmas!

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Take Care And Be Safe
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The articles in these issues are the sole property of the persons writing them and should be respected as such.