Cortes

Summer Sunday Garden

2010-07-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

A Quiet Sunday in the Garden

No decent sports or movies on the tube, so time for a relaxing pint of home made beer in the garden. Nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Garden Escape

2010-06-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

Hello out there! I have not posted anything in months, and expect that most visitors to my site have forgotten I am here. But I have to post a few pictures of flowers from my garden. I needed a bit of a pick-me-up after the dismal showing by England today. Anyway, hope you enjoy.

Close Up Tuesdays

2010-01-26T16:20:00.000-08:00

Having seen the "Macro Monday" post by DBM, I thought I might check my photos to see if I had one or two shots that might qualify. My photographic equipment is not up to the quality that DBM has, but what I lack in equipment, I make up for in effort. Right.
Anyway, here is the only shot I thought might qualify. Sorry I cannot identify the little devil, but I am sure DBM will have all the answers, should you feel they are necessary.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

Another holiday season. Time to eat too much rich food and drink too many wonderful beverages (of the alcoholic variety, I suspect).

It is also a time to share your good fortune with those who have less. Time to share hugs and smiles with friends (although all of mine are now so far away that I doubt my arms will reach!). And time to reconnect with family.

Best wishes to all of you, and may you have a Merry Christmas and a safe a prosperous New Year.

Mushrooms

2009-10-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

Mushrooms, mushrooms everywhere!

Just outside our new offices, there is a small strip of grass between the parking lot and the Fraser River. This little strip of green is home to the biggest mushrooms I have ever seen. Some of these monsters measure up to 8" in diameter.

If some appear to be damaged, they are, as I forgot to look where I was walking.

The come in a variety of shapes and sizes, domes, cups, flat, big and small (although I suspect the small ones are just catching up). And different colors as well. I wonder if the vibrant color means "Don't dare eat me!" like it usually does with frogs, toads and numerous insects. How does one tell which mushrooms one can make into a soup or include in a steak and mushroom pie?

Perhaps the best thing is to leave them where they are, and purchase my veggies from the supermarket.

Summer Splendor

2009-08-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

Thought I should dabble a bit with the blog once again, if only to prove that I had not passed on to the great compost heap in the sky! Not just yet, I am still kicking and playing in the garden, where I must admit I have enjoyed some success. As a complete rookie at this, I am somewhat surprised that things have turned out as well as they have.

The question now is, are they ready, and what do I do next? Any advice?

Now, these little devils (hot peppers!) still have a way to go before they get plucked, but their fate is ordained. They will flavor many a dish of Chinese mixed veggies, rice noodles, sweet and sour pork and "multiple mushroom soup". I can hardly wait for their contribution.

And these lovely little cabbages are have only one fate: to become the main ingredient in a friends' special cabbage roll recipe.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my little vegetable garden. It has provided me with a purpose when I stand in the back garden, a lovely bit of beef on the BBQ and a pint of beer in one hand, because I now needed to move around and water the veggies with my free hand. Creating life, and exercising all at the same time. Life is grand.

Garden Success

2009-06-21T15:53:00.001-07:00

I have tried my hand at a bit of gardening this year. I have always liked puttering around in the back yard, but have always restricted myself to planting flowers. After all, I am not known to be a great lover of vegetables, so why bother?

This year however, Mr. DBM really decided to get into vegetable gardening, and kindly offered to supply me with some home grown plants that I could start in my own garden. How could I refuse?

My tomatoes are a bit small at this juncture, but my peas have been going great guns, and have been harvested once, and are now producing a second batch! Who would have believed this?

And my broccoli, although just beginning to peek out at the world, is showing some promise.

And lastly, because the cabbage and peppers and green onions have a way to go before I dare show them to anyone, here is my pumpkin. What the Hell am I going to do with a pumkin??

Munchies in the Middle Kingdom

2009-06-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am with a bit of time on my hands, watching the financial news on television, and feeling a bit better about the economy and the future - bloody optimist! So, back to reality, or what passes for reality in China.

Now don't get me wrong, if you visit that amazing country you will find grocery superstores that put anything here in Vancouver to shame, in terms of size and product diversity, and wonderful little shops that specialize in all manner of foodstuffs. But you will also find, if you go down some of the side streets, some of the most amazing little street markets selling the staples, fresh meat and veggies, and some truly bizarre items.

These markets can be small, comprising just one enterprising farmer, or they can be quite massive, stretching for many city blocks and offering foodstuffs and almost anything a small entrepreneur can manufacture. Many are obviously well established, and you can buy almost anything you might want, fresh (read live here) or fully cleaned and dressed. And everything is purchased through the art of bartering, so do not purchase if you do not have a local in tow, or you will definitely pay way too much!

I did inquire as to whether or not the sellers of fresh and processed meats were regulated, their product inspected, and the product safe to consume. The safety aspect was confirmed, but regulation and inspection was greeted with laughter. Oh well, given recent problems around the world lately with government inspected meat sold in refrigerated display cases in air conditioned supermarkets, I wonder if buying meat in this type of market is any more risky than what we "westerners" are accustomed to?

So, you can get a bit of a feel for what can be purchased in the markets. These are the ultimate farmer's market, although I suspect that this form of food distribution is much more common than I suspect, and is the norm rather than the exception in many countries. It's just that this is the first time I had been exposed to it.

One could spend many hours walking around these stalls (although the meat stalls soon become a bit odorous), but the veggies and fruits are great. I gave the specialty booths a bit of a wide berth, as I was not particularly interested in snake, bugs, turtles, live chickens etc. etc. One thing I did notice here is that the sellers are very composed and polite. No hawking or screaming at potential buyers. Unlike the sellers who after tourists, as they can be quite verbally aggressive, and very loud indeed.

That, however, is another adventure altogether.

X'ian China

2009-05-16T06:20:00.000-07:00

I have a few moments free this morning, so thought I would try to continue my posts on my not so recent trip to The Middle Kingdom. The second city visited was X'ian, southwest of Beijing, and a trip I was really looking forward to. The beginning of the adventure was not that auspicious, as we arrived at the Beijing airport in the middle of a snow storm. Two hours early for our flight, we were told by a very helpful agent that our flight might not leave due to the snow, but she could get us on the plane leaving in about 10 minutes, if we hurried.

Our luggage was taken from us and we literally ran through the airport, accompanied by two uniformed security guards, through security and to the gate. Onto the plane, pulled away from the gate, and then sat on the taxiway for 5 hours due to a shortage of de-icing facilities. Not happy! At any rate, we arrived in X'ian in late afternoon and were met by persistant rain. We checked into our hotel in the 'old city', and prepared to take in the sites the next day.

Our first side trip was to the Ming Dynasty tombs, which they wouldn't let tourists into, but the little museum and the local entertainers were both fun and informative. The weather had improved, now it was just misting as opposed to raining, so we spent the better part of the morning here.

Then it was back to X'ian for an afternoon of sightseeing. The city is one of the oldest in China, and was the site of the Qin Dynasty, the first Emperors of a unified China. It remained the centre of Chinese political and cultural life up until the time of the construction of the Forbidden City in what is now Beijing. In 1370 AD a new wall was constructed around the main city, and remains to this day. Obviously repaired and reinforced, we circumnavigated the top of the wall (about 12 km) and were able to see much of the ancient city. Although the ancient city has now been replaced by a very modern metropolis.

This is the entrance to the South Gate. From here we were able to get to the top of the wall, and begin our rather chilly and wet trip. We saw both the new and the old from the wall, a pub, an outdoor market (protected from the rain by tarps), the old buildings and the new.

This a photo of the outdoor market. These can be found almost everywhere in China, and are quite fascinating places to visit, if you can stand the crowds. Many times I had to step aside and find a little space to call my own, just to get my breath back. Whatever one is used to, I guess.

This of course is the pub, which unfortunately did not stock my brand of ale, but it sufficed!

Then off again around the wall. We did discover the X'ian Railway Station. Not a fun thing to find, as M. Cortes informed me that she had no interest in flying to Shanghai, not after our last experience from Beijing. We were going to go by overnight train! God Bless - I cannot even describe this experience. I suspect I am not one of those travelers who wants to immerse himself in local culture. I much prefer my human comforts. Anyway, by train we went. But Shanghai is another story. We still have to visit the Terracotta Warriors just outside X'ian. That is for another day.

Beijing

2009-02-20T15:39:00.000-08:00

To Duck, or not to Duck.

This is the original Peking Duck Restaurant in the heart of Beijing (although I must assume there have been numerous upgrades and minor renovations over the years). Quite the restaurant though, for both locals and tourists alike, and definitely in the five star category. Their ducks are worth their weight in Gold, and they charge accordingly. Apparently, there is one farm only that supplies the special birds to this restaurant, and on an exclusive basis. Definitely worth a look and a bite if you are ever in Beijing.

After a nice bit of glazed fowl, you must travel north of the city to see one of the wonders of the world: The Great Wall. We went by taxi, hired one for the day (which was not overly expensive) so that we had a bit more flexibility than we would have had a part of a tour group. You must travel north to Badaling, where the government has reconstructed and repaired a good portion of the wall for the purpose of tourism. This is an extremely impressive sight, and one which should not be missed.

If you take the trip by coach, you will enjoy a nice quiet ride (so I am told) in air-conditioned
comfort. If you hire a private vehicle, be well strapped in and grab hold of something. The road is a complete mess, the drivers pay no heed to the centre line (actually, there usually isn't a centre line), and everyone passes wherever they can - on the left, or the right, on corners and in the middle of intersections. Quite an experience.

Another of the "don't miss tourist attractions" has to be the Forbidden City. Directly across from Tiananmen Square and the Great Hall of the People, it is a work in progress for the Chinese Government. The "city" is massive. Much larger than I had ever imagined. Much of it is still under renovation, and although we enjoyed the finished parts, I wanted to search out all the little back alleyways and isolated parts. It was interesting to find these buildings, most of them unlocked, and open for exploration. And no one else around!

The original work in marble and wood and stone really is quite amazing, and you can quite easily imagine the grandeur and the pomp and ceremony that once existed within these walls. There are literally miles of walks with thousands of steps, and many singularly unique carvings and statues to see.We spent most of a day within the confines of the Forbidden City, and could have stayed longer had we wished to join the many queues that formed to enter some of the more impressive pavilions.
Rather than spend time standing in line, we went exploring.

Voyage to China

2009-02-15T06:06:00.001-08:00

It was December 5th, 2007, and I was off on an adventure. Going east, east to China. I was a bit apprehensive, but looking forward to it at the same time. What would it be like? How would I be received by the locals? Would I be the only white guy in town? Could I eat the local food
from the local shops? And survive? I was in for a few surprises.

There are at the bare minimum, two faces of China. There is the modern, upwardly mobile, trendy population, wealthy and extremely resilient. Then there is the traditional, the less than wealthy population, those who ride bicycles instead of driving Mercedes, BMW's and Volkswagens. I got to see both sides, and was impressed by each in their own way.

The photo above is from the Stanley Market just outside of Hong Kong. Here you can purchase Tom and Jerry's ice cream, or scorpions on a stick. You can sit at a seaside table and enjoy a slice of pizza and a German beer, or scamper down an alley for local dumplings and tepid tea. Either way, completely enjoyable.

The shopping is quite an experience. You can browse through the most modern shopping malls, seven stories high, with all the shops from England, France, Germany and Italy, with the REAL goods. Or, you can go to the Ladies Market in Hong Kong and find the same products at 1/10th of the cost. Hmmmmmmm!

Crowds, crowds, and more crowds. And something else, there is no concept in China for your "personal space". The idea simply does not exist. Shopping is a little like a two hour bump and grind. There were many times I simply had to escape, just to catch my breath, but the experience was so fascinating, I always plunged back in for more.

But I am getting ahead of myself, because Hong Kong was the last stop on our tour. I will be back to show you some photos from the other cities, some of the amazing sights. Too bad I cannot share the sounds and the smells as well. Let me leave you with one little photo that might give some inkling of what is to come.

Plains of Abraham

2009-02-10T17:52:00.000-08:00

Well, as I have stated many times in the past, I do not give a rats ass about being politically correct. I do consider the feelings and sensitivities of others, and carefully weigh these against my propensity for stating what I think. So far I win.

Now here we go again. In 1759 the British fought the French on the Plains of Abraham, above Quebec City, and the English won. Took them 15 minutes. Longer than most battles the French have been in. And the prize? British North America.

So why am I upset? Because the National Battlefields Trust of Canada wants to re-enact the battle for this summer, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Canada. But the separatists in Quebec do not want this. It is affront. It is an embarrassment. It is a provocation. They should have thought of this 250 years ago when they set the precedent for French arms sales worldwide: "Never fired, only thrown down once!"

To hell with political correctness. They lost. Re-enact the battle.

Photo Challenge

2009-02-07T17:37:00.000-08:00

I cannot resist a good challenge. I located a photo file of my trip to China, and the fourth album was from the city of X'ian, just a bit south southwest of Beijing. I went there to see the Terracotta Warriors underground, but as you can see from photo #4, there was a lot more to enjoy in this most ancient of cities. This is the South Gate in the original city wall (well, maybe fixed up a bit as it is more than 3000 years old).

Famous Last Words

2009-02-05T07:19:00.000-08:00

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda.

Famous last words for those who didn't, and now find it is too late. No regrets! But what if (more famous last words) I hadda? Hadda actually gone into archeology in University, like I wanted to? Would I now be in some far forgotten land, burrowing deep beneath the ground in search of some lost treasure, some link to mankind's murky past? Doubtful, I'm not built for that, the trench would have to be far too wide.

So I did not become an archeologist, or an architect, I became a teacher - then realized that "our little darlings" are only little darlings at home, and someone completely different when they are in a pack (as they are in the classroom). Simply could not stand the little buggers. Once I knew I was not made out to be a teacher (after 4 years in university!), I embarked on a checkered career of being a tailor; raising chickens; farming; selling life insurance; selling vaccum cleaners (God, I almost forgot that one!); selling office supplies, then office furniture, and now self employed, selling "pee proof" furniture for retirement homes! No regrets! I met some amazing people along the way.

But, what if I had become a riverman, plying my trade up and down some busy little water route, instead of driving around in an over-sized truck? I might relish the different sights and sounds, the unique smells of the river, the little bite-sized habitats I would have seen on a daily basis.

I wonder if that would have altered my outlook on life at all? Not that I need to alter my outlook on life, at least I don't think I do? What if I had taken that trip to Australia that I really wanted when I graduated from University? What if I had actually married my high school sweetheart? What if my first car had been a Ferrari instead of a 1964 Ford 500, column shift and with an engine too large for a 16 year old lad who had no fears at all.

This could go on forever. We can always look back and wonder "what if"?

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

Tomorrow is my 59th. I have great friends, great family, a good business, and regardless of my meanderings above, I am perfectly happy with my station in life. But I can't help wondering, from time to time......

WHAT IF?

Words and Phrases

2009-02-01T06:49:00.000-08:00

We are constantly assaulted by words and phrases we hate, and ones that are misused or abused by people for whatever reason. I don't know about you, but I would like to eliminate some of these from the English language, erase them from human memory, and make it a criminal offense to use them in print or in conversation.

I list my choices here for any comments you might have, and invite you to submit yours. Just putting mine on the list will make me feel better, I know it will........... OK, so, moving on..........

1. Moving on ....... (yes please, and don't bother coming back)
2. Going forward (where else? You can't go back)
3. D (It's defense! Don't be so bloody lazy!)
4. Funding (don't be afraid - say money)
5. Stakeholders (way too many of these around these days)

Well, now I feel better. I think this actually brought me some closure. Oooops, there's another one that we simply do not need.

Dreaming Away

2009-01-12T12:08:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I was channel hopping on the TV and got stuck on the Golf Channel. Big mistake. Now, all I can think about is golf, warm weather, the smell of freshly cut grass, the mumblings and the grumblings of fellow golfers as they watch their balls do things they are not supposed to do.
This idyllic sport will get me out of the current weather doldrums and into the sunshine. It will allow me to perhaps visit a friend in his new 'hood', share some good steaks and good beer, have a chance to get to know his new wife, and relax for awhile.

Then, no more of this!

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T05:48:00.000-08:00

And so ends another year, just one of many now, and they seem to be passing with much greater speed. Although 2008 is now in the history books, it created some memorable moments and witnessed some milestones:

- I became a grandfather again
- I relocated our small business to smaller quarters in response to the shrinking economy
- I opened my home office (not entirely sure this is going to work, I am so used to going into the office in the morning)
- I lost my best pub buddy, golf buddy and diving buddy to Toronto
- I was very fortunate to make a new friend who likes English football as much as I do (even if he does support the wrong club)
- I purchased my new camera, which I think will become a new and satisfying hobby for me, if I can ever learn how to properly use it (is anyone out there able to help me here?)
- I have few friends (by choice, I think), but the ones I do have are fantastic and precious
- I have learned to be more patient, less critical, and can still laugh at myself
- I have become closer to my family
- I am in a great relationship with a fantastic lady
- I started this blog, and have "met" some interesting and accomplished people through it

And finally, I am looking forward to 2009. No resolutions, just a general promise to try harder.

Happy New Year to all. May it bring you everything you wish for, as well as a few pleasant surprises along the way.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-21T04:55:00.000-08:00

Well, the day fast approaches, and I look forward to two weeks away from the office. Time to spend with family and friends, eating too much, laughing just enough, and sleeping whenever I want. The shopping is done, the baking yet to begin (I will post some photos and recipes once I get started, in a day or so), and the football is all planned for the TV. So, I take this opportunity to wish one and all a very Merry Christmas. Be happy and be safe. May 2009 bring you everything you wish for.

White Christmas

2008-12-14T12:26:00.001-08:00

Ok, it may be a little early to get excited, but Vancouver had a snowfall! It happens so rarely that everyone gets excited, or they get depressed, or angry, apprehensive even, but they get involved!

I grew up on the Prairies, and loved the winter. Loved the cold and the ice and the snow. I can take it or leave it now, leave it mostly, but it is beautiful when it first falls.

It means I don't have to water the flowers, or trim their growth. They do seem a bit surprised and somewhat pissed though! And another thing, how am I to use my Grillzebo? It did not keep the snow off my BBQ! Snow is much more creative than mere rain, it finds its' way into every little nook and cranny.

Oh well, off to do some shopping for my Christmas provisions. Need to think about baking my sausage rolls, molasses cookies, and whatever else fancy may decree. I do love a white Christmas though. Time to get out and enjoy.

Trainspotting

2008-11-27T07:21:00.000-08:00

My business sometimes takes me into the Fraser Valley, about 25 miles inland from Vancouver, where I have some of my furniture manufactured for clients. I have taken to bringing my camera with me wherever I go now, so when I drove out yesterday I was encouraged by a thick bank of fog and the rising sun. (I was driving east at around 7:30 am).

Near my suppliers facility, there is a river and a train bridge. I thought I might camp out there for a few minutes in the hope that I could catch a train passing over, and get a couple of shots. No such luck - no train. But the bridge could not escape.

When I was taking photos I heard some muffled banging and had to scamper out of the "no go" zone I was in. I had visions of being tossed about by burly Railroad Police, of being trussed up and transported to some secure area while they checked my camera and my heritage (just to be sure I was not some disturbed terrorist). No such luck!

All I found was a sport fisherman getting ready to enjoy a morning on the water. I wish I could have accompanied him for short while.

Steveston Harbor - Another Foot!

2008-11-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

Steveston Harbor is one of the tourist spots in the Lower Mainland, and lies just south of the City of Vancouver. It is popular due to its proximity to the ocean, the fact that you can buy seafood directly from the fishing boats, and it has a reputation for good fish and chips.

Until recently DBM and her hubby lived only a short bike ride away from this little gem of a community.

All in all, Steveston had any number of bragging points, but now, it will soon become notorious. As of this morning, another foot has washed ashore. This time on the shores of the Fraser River here in Steveston! The mystery continues. Where will it all end? Will it end?

I suspect that the discovery of another sneakered appendage will not adversely affect the tourist trade in this little community. People have long memories for things such as good fish and chips, but short memories for the more unpleasant things our society can sometimes throw at us.

English Bay

2008-10-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

Fall in Vancouver is splendid. The weather is mild, if somewhat wet, and the colors are vivid and warm. We rarely get snow, and most of the foliage is year round (pine, cedars etc.), so we never seem to turn brown, and even the lawns are green all year. In fact, they are usually greener in the winter than they are during the summer months. Anyway, one of the nicest areas is English Bay, in the downtown west end. The beaches, the walks, Stanley Park and the salt water. A great place to live and to come home to.

It can sometimes get a bit depressing, with it being dark when you head off to work, and dark when you sit down to dinner. But, with the new office, English Bay is only four blocks away, and on a sunny day, within an easy walk, even for someone such as myself. I think I will spend more time here over the next month or so.

Granddaughter Niobi

2008-10-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

I have just received a new batch of photographs of my new granddaughter. I'm not certain where I read the opinion that all newborn babies look like Winston Churchill, but I think Niobi certainly had an alarming resemblance to the past Prime Minister, at least for the first two weeks of her life. Things seem to have settled down a bit now, and she is definitely becoming a beautiful little bundle. At any rate, here she is.

I do hope the little fists unclench at some point, as little girls are supposed to be sweet and cuddly are they not? She does look confident though! Bring it on!

Grandad Again!

2008-10-04T05:45:00.000-07:00

A pleasant surprise when I arose this morning to catch my Premier League football matches; I had received a text message from my eldest son to let me know that I was a grandad again. His second daughter, Niobi Jean was born at 4:44 am October 4th. Seven pounds seven ounces, and 20.5" long (why do they measure length?).

I hope to have pictures soon, but will wait for a while before I introduce Niobi to this blog. As darling as newborns are, and such a joy to welcome into the family, they do tend to look a bit wrinkled when they begin life. I think she would appreciate having the time to smooth herself out a bit. Anyway, everyone is happy and healthy, and I can welcome grandchild number five.

Politicians

2008-09-20T11:36:00.000-07:00

The federal election is underway, and many of our aspiring politicians seem hell bent on racing into oblivion. Two New Democrats Party candidates (this is our federal Socialist Party) here in BC have had to drop out of the race because of videos showing them smoking pot. One did it whilst driving the Sea to Sky highway between Vancouver and Whistler (apparently he was also dropping a tab or two of LSD at the same time). A dangerous route even when totally sober.

A Conservative cabinet minister joked about the "death of a thousand cuts, a thousand cold cuts". Unfortunately, this was on the heals of the 17th death from listeriosis, blamed on a bacteria to be found in processed meats. Bad as it sounds, the man was (and still is) the Minister of Agriculture. Go figure.

The Liberal Party is captained by a man (university professor) who cannot speak English very well. They even use voice overs on his TV ads, although they do let him say something at the end of each one that contains the word Canada - I can't understand the rest.

There seems to be a wonderful prospect for fun in the upcoming Leaders Debate on the TV. We will have a Conservative leader pushing for greater tax cuts, promoting a balanced budget over jobs, and building more prisons to house all of the dregs of society he wants to put behind bars. (I do seem to remember a lady PM somewhere who steered much the same course). We have a Liberal leader no one can understand, pushing a Green Party agenda with a carbon tax nobody wants; a Green Party leader that seems to want to be a Liberal, pushing a socialist agenda; a Separatist leader (Bloc de Quebecois) who only wants one thing (guess what?), and who speaks much better English than the Liberal leader; and an NDP leader who can't see the issues for all the smoke left behind by his fast departing candidates.

I can hardly wait. I know this is similar to what happens to our neighbour to the south (they still speak of pit bulls, pigs and lipstick), but does this happen in any other civilized country? I wonder.

Shopping for a Washer

2008-09-18T16:22:00.001-07:00

I am one of those people who firmly believe that all machines are designed to perform a function, and that they have no business doing anything BUT what they were designed to do. That they should do it properly. That they should do it when asked, and that they should keep doing it until I want them to stop.

Notice that I refer to them as "they", and not "it"? The reason is, "they" are too complicated. I do not understand them. I don't know how they work, why they work, and then when they don't, I start looking for someone to help me make them work again. I certainly cannot do it myself.

And so, when the washer started leaking, I started casting about for someone to help. Problem is, in order to fix the complicated machinery of today, you need a professional, and they do not come cheap. So, rather than sink more cash into an aging washer that likely had seen it's last load of unmentionables, I decided to simply buy a new one. This time though, I had a choice (well, not really, as Ms Cortes would not likely agree to the model I thought might work best). So, simplicity eliminated, I decided to go for the most complicated piece of machinery I could find, in the hope that the less I understood it, the better it would work.

Time will tell I guess. It gets delivered on Tuesday. I hope they hook it up. Two hoses and a plug may be more than I can handle.

A New Election

2008-09-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

Well, here we go again. Not only are we inundated with the election coverage south of the border, we now have a federal election called in Canada.

In the US, the Presidential contest seems to be never-ending; a long drawn out process of finding the best candidate for each party, and then a quick slide into character assassination. Television ads that attack rather than promote. Negative campaigning, as opposed to laying out your policies and then winning or losing based on ideas and ideals. I wonder if the Canadian election will slide down this slippery slope as well? Time will tell.

And time will tell quickly, as the campaign is over on October 14th. We may not always do it right, but at least we do it quickly. So quick in fact, that DBM and Mr. DBM will miss it. Somehow I doubt that this will cause them to lose any sleep. They will also miss all of the municipal elections while they are gone, but thankfully, will return in time for the Provincial election in the early spring. Can't have them missing all the fun!

I am not sure I shall enjoy any of it. Time will tell, and hopefully the politicians will produce a laugh or two for us all. They seem to have a natural ability to do just that.

The Irreversible process of aging, and the articulated arm ......

2008-09-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

I have heard it said that the human body begins its' decline sometime around its' 25th birthday. Been there, done that (been there twice, actually).

I can attest to the fact that the process begins at some point, as I can notice one or two changes in my appearance. Some body parts are shrinking, some are expanding. Some have gone missing and are subject to an ongoing search and rescue mission I have undertaken ..... as an example, I have not seen my feet in a number of months, and am beginning to wonder if maybe they haven't turned up on a British Columbia beach somewhere. This afternoon I am off to my local hardware store to purchase a mirror with an articulating arm so that I can check to make sure all my bits and pieces are still attached!

But I digress ..... back to the aging process. I know it has begun, but what I cannot say with certainty, is when it started, or when I first noticed. I wonder if others noticed before it became apparent to me? I can't remember ..... this is another symptom of aging, or so I am told.

I wonder if this aging process is a gradual breakdown, or does it become exponentially faster as you move up in years? And why would you have to hit breakneck speed just when your bones turn a bit brittle, and the joints don't swivel, the eyes begin to go, and your judgement starts to falter? This is when you need all your physical prowess and mental faculties just to remain on your feet! No, it does not seem fair, but it can still be fun. We can turn the process of aging into a game, twist the negatives around to one's benefit, and have a bit of a laugh along the way.

I used to get annoyed at grocery clerks who rang up my sale, took one look at my white hair (it started to go white after my 16th birthday), and inquired "would you like some help out to the car?" Last time through I said "That would be nice" and a strapping young fellow carried my loaf of French Bread and six bananas out to the truck for me. I had a chuckle, he had a chuckle, and so did almost everyone else in the parking lot! I must admit that I won't do it again though.

Perhaps I will get someone to carry my articulating mirror out to the truck for me. If I can only be sure that I will remember where I parked it......

My First Attempt

2008-09-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

I am notoriously inept at things like this. I am not least bit mechanically inclined, to the point where I simply turn off the computer if it does not do what I want it to, being fully confident that such actions will "teach it a lesson" and improve it's cooperation the next time round. Rarely works though, but it is still my last resort.

At any rate, after many hours of playing, saving, deleting, and much muttering and wringing of hands, this is it. I finally got it up!

We will see how it goes, in which direction, and for how long.