The Squamidian Report – June 11 / 05
For the ‘ON LINE’ version of this newsletter, go to:
http://www.thedougsite.ca/2005/june11.htm
Also in this issue:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
I must say, it is difficult writing about the adventures of living on the west coast when in fact I’m visiting Kitchener for the 60th bash. And on that line, don’t try to follow the link to the ‘ON LINE’ version of this letter until I’ve had a chance to go home and up-load it.
As an example of how difficult it is and how you have to scrape the bottom of the story barrel, many months ago one of the plastic ends on the tuning heads of my mandolin broke. These are the little flat things you hold between your thumb and finger so you can turn the shaft to adjust the string tension. So with great embarrassment I’ve had to resort to using wrench to tune one of the ‘A’ strings. I’ve also noticed that several of the other ends are cracked and in need of replacement. I’ve tried many local places in hopes of finding something that would work as replacements. Ryan even had the Long & Mcquade back in Waterloo try to find replacements. No one could find new ends.
I finally contacted Kelly’s Music on Kingsway in Kitchener where I’d bought the instrument many years ago. After a week or so of back and forth calls he finally came up with the idea that I may be able to purchase the whole tuning head mechanism from the manufacturer of the Kentucky mandolin but it would be expensive. So we tried to order new heads only to find they were out of stock. We tried third party parts but got nowhere. Finally, the secretary at the Kentucky company asked why we don’t just buy new ends. !!! That was what I was trying to do all along. She said they had a bag of 8 (the number needed to replace all the ends) sitting on the shelf and it could be popped into the mail that day and sent up to Kelly’s where it would be waiting for me when I got to Kitchener. Problem solved, finally. That was over a month ago.
So the first thing I did after getting to Kitchener was drop in on Kelly, and there it was, the bag of tuning head ends. Finally, the mandolin is back the way it should be. Now I can get on with life.
*
Anyway, this is the 60th bash weekend and I’m not home. I’m using Greg’s computer to put this letter together. Being doing a lot of guitar playing and visiting so far but as with all family things most of your time is not your own, you get pulled in all sorts of directions. And the weather is way too icky. This is the stuff I moved to get away from and I sure am glad I did. Wouldn’t be able to take much more of this Ontarible air.
d
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THE ONTARION REPORT
Hello
again my fellow Squamidians!
It’s been
a hot smoggy sweltering week so far for our visitors from either end of the
country. Doug said it has served to remind him that they’ve made the right move
to BC. His allergies have improved and his respiratory system thanks him every
day for living in the mountain air of Squamish. After spending the week in this
hazy acrid air we’ve been having I’m almost ready to join Doug and Sue on the
west coast. I know Carole would move in a minute but my feet seem to be crazy
glued to KW soil. I guess I’m a creature of habit and really not the
adventuresome type. We enjoyed the company of Doug, Sue and Ryan on Wednesday
evening for dinner. It was the first time other than at Lorne and Vivyan’s that
we have gotten together socially. Adam and Ryan knew each other before we
realized Ryan was Doug’s son. They had met through their dealings with their
music interests. They are both into recording studios and their operations. So
when we finally got together this week our sons enjoyed the evening visit as
well. They were able to do more than just sit and listen to the old folks talk
about the weather. After a good meal and some interesting conversation I even
talked Doug and Ryan into trying their hand or should I say feet, at walking on
my latest project. Earlier in the day I had told Doug about my new toys, a pair
of stilts and he happened to mention that he was once the “Old Chicopee Rd”
stilts champ. He bragged to me of walking to Highway Market on them just to buy
a popsicle when he was a kid. Now that’s a stilts feat! Or am I just making it
up? OK, OK I guess I stretched that one a little but he did say he was pretty
good at walking on the things when he was younger. SOOOOooooo out we went to
the sidewalk for a test run on the prototypes. After a quick explanation of the
new models, Doug was up up and away. He walked down the road about fifty feet
and up onto the sidewalk and back to our driveway. Not so much as a waver or an
oops did I witness. He really can walk on them like a pro! Ryan was next and
managed to make it approximately 10 feet before stepping down from the lofty
18” height of the footrests. They both enjoyed the moment and agreed that the
kids of today need something new to occupy their time. We put the stilts back
in the garage and went in to conclude the evening. Of course our conversation
included the wilds of BC and after only a few minutes Carole was ready to pack
up and head west. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and we hope to sometime
soon repeat it, only in Squamish next time. Thanks to Doug, Sue and Ryan for a
fun time.
*
Although
the weather has been muggy they are only predicting a 30% chance of rain so, it
looks like we’ll be able to party without fear of getting rained out. I hope
that Ed Mansz is feeling up to attending. Carole and I wish you a speedy
recovery Ed. I’m sure Evelyn will take good care of you till you’re back on
your feet. When you’re better, maybe I’ll get you up on the stilts for a spin
around the block. LOL!
*
Doug and
I spent the day on Wednesday touring KW and checking out the changes in the
area. We started the day off at Country Boy Restaurant on Fairway Rd. Doug,
Ryan, Warren, Sus and I met for one of their famous “Heart Attack On A Plate”
breakfasts. It was the first time that Sus, Warren and I met face to face. At
least now I’ve added two more Squamidian faces to my collection. It’s nice to
finally meet a few more members in person. I’m sure it’ll be the same on
Saturday.
After
breakfast, Doug and I headed out to Spring Valley Dr to take the usual drive by
the former residence of Doug and Sue. We were both surprised to see that a new
hole has been dug closer to the road to accommodate a new foundation. It seems
that the present owners are moving to accommodate the eventual expansion of
Highway #8 that will take place in the future. The old house will be demolished
and there will be no more need to take the annual cruise past the old
homestead. Sad, but time marches on! We toured the area around the base of the
Chicopee Ski Hill and it’s surprising how many new homes there are in that
section of town. During our tour, I noticed a phenomenon that had also occurred
at my own residence just this past weekend. I moved my BBQ out to the curb for
pickup Monday morning. I had received it from Adam for a Father’s Day gift
about 12 years ago and it had seen better days. Even the cover was not worth
saving. As we drove down some of the streets I noticed that there were other
BBQ remnants at the curb. I say remnants because there seemed to be only the
stands left at each home front curb. I remarked to Doug that 5 minutes after I
placed the BBQ out front, someone had stopped and removed the lid and also
taken the cover. I told Carole about it at the time and we walked out front as
we talked. To our surprise, in a space of another 5 minutes, the bottom of the
body of the BBQ had also been removed. I wouldn’t have minded so much but
whoever took it left the grills and a mess of briquetts piled on the driveway
for me to clean up. It appears that these BBQ Bandits have been cruising the
neighbourhoods looking for scrap aluminum and the body of the BBQ is fair game.
The least they could do is place the other parts in the garbage pail that
usually stands at the curb as well. I guess you can’t fault the enterprising
spirit of someone that bold. They probably make a decent buck selling the
aluminum for scrap. We continued our drive and the next stop was at the home of
a friend of mine and Clyde by the name of Frank Chatterson. Doug also knew
Frank from the old days at the Dairy Queen on Ottawa. Frank now lives next to
the Humane Society building at the top of Guelph St in Kitchener. As we stepped
from the Jeep in Frank’s driveway, Doug said to me that he’d be surprised if
Frank would remember him. Frank was standing in front of his garage and as Doug
approached him he held out his hand and said “Doug, how the hell are you?” They
shook hands and became reacquainted after 36 or so years. We were surprised
that Frank remembered Doug that readily. It’s cool to see old acquaintances
after so many years. From Frank’s place, we headed up to Waterloo and made the
mandatory stop at the local dirt bike dealer. They have some great new models
on display and Doug was temped to ship a couple home to BC.
Maybe
Carole and I will haul a trailer full of slightly used dirt bikes to BC for
Doug when we finally make the trip west for a visit. I’m sure he’d find buyers
for them out there. We’ll have to talk about that venture before Digger leaves
for home next week, one never knows, it just might be a worthwhile idea. From
the bike dealer, we decided to drop in on Clyde. We always spend a few hours
with Clyde when Doug is here. We talked with Clyde and had some good laughs as
usual. It was getting on to around 3:30pm so we decided to head for home. The
day was totally enjoyable! It’s only too bad the time is limited. At least when
we don’t see each other for a year, we have lots to talk about when we do get
together. We’ll do it again next time The Doug is in town I’m sure.
That’s it
for this week . We’ll see you all on Saturday and I look forward to talking to
you all again next time in The Ontarion Report.
Bye for now….. GREG.
PS:
Something To Think About>
Man
complicates simplicity and calls it… progress. Hmmm?
****
The Family and the Squamidian sites:
http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/ and http://www.thedougsite.ca
Have a good one..
the
doug
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