The Squamidian Report – March 22/03

 

Also in this issue:

North Nova News

The Ontarion

 

Hi All,

 

Have you ever rented a movie, only to get home and settled in front of the TV and then find that the movie inside the case is not the one that’s supposed to be there. Sue wanted to see that ‘Greek Wedding’ movie so we picked it and a pizza up and headed home. The film inside the case was about a Rat. It took me a while to realize that a rat movie and a wedding movie weren’t the same thing. Sue figured out we had the wrong one very quickly. However, the rental store switched it for us but it meant a second run into town.

 

The dogs were quite happy with the situation as it meant another ride in the van. Tracy usually sits between the two front seats, up front like the rest of us people. Yogi has to settle for the back area. When she can’t get past him she usually climbs onto the seat behind the driver where she can see out. This time Yogi squeezed his front half into the area between the seats, which blocked Tracy completely.

 

She is not steady enough to ride without either sitting or lying down. She solved the problem by backing up until her butt was on the edge of the back seat and sat there all the way home. It was like us trying to sit on a very high stool and have our front hands on the floor. Not very comfortable. You can see how she sits on things by looking at the picture of her on her web page, bottom left picture. http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/Tracy.htm

 

For those of you familiar with Shannon Fall just south of Squamish, you should have seen it early this week. The area on both sides of the falling water is usually bare rock that has been washed clean. That whole area was covered with white, raging water. Where it would hit a ledge it would shoot way out into the open air. Almost frightening.

 

Shannon Falls is the 3rd highest falls in BC and is 6 times higher than Niagara. It is a cascade type falls, meaning that the water bounces off the rock face on the way down rather than a straight fall. It is 1100 ft high. (The highest falls in BC is also the highest falls in Canada. It is Della Falls on Vancouver Island at 1440 ft.)

 

We had Warren and Janice over on Sunday evening to do some jamming. I think Warren’s true motive in coming was that he wanted in on any left over raisin pie that mom had made. I won’t tell him about the one that’s hidden in the freezer. Actually, Sue made one using mom’s recipe and it turned out pretty good. It was good enough to throw Warren off the trail, he doesn’t even suspect that there is still an ‘original’ stashed away.

 

This should cheer up Greg a little. It has been raining here non-stop since my parents were out. That’s not to say the sun hasn’t show, it has. It just sort of keeps on raining even if it’s sunny. Not sure how that works but it does. This is typical west coast rain forest spring conditions. Every morning the radio tells us that there has been another couple of feet of snow deposited up in the high country. This is what creates and maintains the year round snowfields and glaciers around here. This is the rain that lets trees live for hundreds of years and grow to hundreds of feet in height.

 

Sue drove in from the airport on Thursday on her way home from Edmonton. She reports that the streets are lined with pink blossoms. It’s really something to see.

 

Jackie and Jim just walked in. They are out here for a week of exploring and adventure. Ryan is dog sitting for them.

 

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North Nova News

      Well it’s past the middle of March and it is still very much winter here.  We haven’t enjoyed the mild temperatures yet that most of you have but I know in my heart it is coming. Patience is what we tell ourselves.  It could be worse.  We hear stories about living in Newfoundland where the snow has hardly left and it’s time for winter again.  The ferry has been stuck in the ice more than ever this past winter and parts of northern New Brunswick had walls of ice so high people were coming for miles around just to see it.  So living here is a piece of cake.

      A few years ago Peter and I decided to become a “Big Brother/ Big Sister” to a child.  It has become a very rewarding experience, one we wouldn’t have traded for anything.  We were matched with a boy named Zane and we met him on his 10th birthday. Our relationship just took off and we see him way more than the “required” (by the organization) time.  Sundays are our day to swim, bowl, sled, build things, fish, hike or bike, you name it.  He calls us almost everyday just to keep in touch and tell us what is going on in his life. Even as I write this Zane has called to tell us he has passed a safe boating test that will give him a license, which we are now required to have in order to steer any boat with a motor.  He has become quite interested in sailing on our boat.   Last Sunday we went to a sheep farm and helped the farmer clean stalls, water and feed the animals. Some of the young lambs needed to be bottle-fed.  Zane gets right into the work and I’m sure he wishes he had been born on a farm.  If any of you have ever thought of becoming a Big Brother or Sister, you would never regret it. 

     A few more words about the non-smoking by law:  One of our favourite pubs in New Glasgow is busier than ever since smoking was ruled out.  They have a very dedicated clientele and would never think of going anywhere else.  They also survived after making the decision a few years ago to loose the video lottery machines.  They were distressed to find young children waiting outside their doors for their gambling parents.  We found our customers at our hairdressing shop very understanding when we decided to go smoke free awhile back. 

 

Until next time,

Sus

 

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Hey, where is the Ontarion? I’m not sure if Greg forgot (he is an old retired fart you know) or if he has had a better offer from a more prestigious newspaper. Most likely, with all the nice weather that Southern Ontario has been having Greg is just out there having fun with his MG. I tried to get Virtual Sue to do a ‘pinch hit’ column for him but she preferred to go out grocery shopping. However, he did submit his ‘thought for the week’. Like everything Greg comes up with, it kind of makes sense.

 

Greg’s Thought for the Week

 

"You know the world's gone mad when the best rapper is a white guy, the best
golfer is a black guy, the Swiss hold the America's Cup, France is accusing
the USA of arrogance and the Germans don't want to go to war!"

 

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Have a good one,

the doug

 

 

Supplement 

Hey All,

 

Greg finally dragged himself up from the couch and submitted his column. I'm going to have to dock his pay and put a formal letter of reprimand in his file. Remember way back in school how the teachers would threaten us with statements like "this will go against your formal record", as if such a thing existed. Or mattered.

 

Jack and Jim are like excited little kids out here. They were up at 4am this morning looking at the stars and then watched the sun rise, lighting up the snow covered peaks. They headed for the Sunshine Coast after breakfast. A ferry ride and some very scenic roads will put them in Powell River this evening. They pass through Gibsons on the way. Many of you will remember the old Beachcombers TV series. It was filmed in Gibsons.

 

the doug

 

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THE ONTARION REPORT

March 23, 2003

 

Oops!

 

     Hello everyone! Sorry this is coming to you a day late. I must confess that I have been experiencing a very busy week and totally forgot to get my ramblings recorded. I hope you’ll forgive me!

 

     Well, I usually begin with comments on our weather here in the Big “O” so here goes. We’ve been experiencing above average temperatures for this time of year. It’s been nice for sure. Even though we’ve had a bit of rain, I understand that it’s been miniscule when compared to Squamish! Sorry for the cheap shot Digger! I must say though, after reading your description of the rain out in BC, if I were you, I’d be considering building and Ark! Hey, speaking of that, wouldn’t the fact that you told me that one of your neighbours is named Noah be some indication that you are living in a wet neighbourhood? LOL! I guess however when I think of the mainly vertical direction of flow of the bodies of water you have told us about, an Ark wouldn’t be of much use anyway, would it! Oh well, I guess it’ll dry up eventually.

     It’s been as I say, a busy week for me here in Kitchener. Carole and I have talked about remodeling our ensuite bath for some time now and this week I decided to get serious about it. Although I’ll be as busy this coming week as I have been, I promise to have a more in depth report for you for the next edition of “THE ONTARION”.

 

Until then, stay safe and have a great week.

 

Greg.

 

PS:   Something to Think About >

 

“Conscience can’t prevent sin, it only prevents you from enjoying it”!