Prairie Dog Blog

CTV.ca | Asian tsunami toll nears 125,000 confirmed dead

And it gets worse and worse. The Humanists Assoc. of Manitoba just made a donation to "Doctors Without Borders " in support of what is going on in the Far East...Tsunami and all. Terrible, just terrible...every day it just gets worse and worse.
You too can donate to this group on-line at www.msf.org
Canada has pledged 40 million while the (in Powell's words) really, really generous USA has pledged 35 million....oh and some troops of course, in case they should want to be democratized at the same time.

For New Years Eve we are going over to the Bertrand's place. There will be ten for dinner and I am sure......plenty of wine. The Bertrand's daughter Danielle is home from old Blighty with her new beau...they go back on Jan 3rd.

It is or has been snowing out! We got 23 (+-) CMS of the white stuff. I had to shovel and shovel and shovel ...just to get the snowblower out! Luckily it fired first crack and away I went up and down the street...did our driveway and the neighbours and 'old George's' because he is a little frail...he still wanted to come out in his PJS and an overcoat to help though! ...grizzled ole fart!, he's just got to be doing something all the time, but he's getting old....not a young bird like me!

I guess Gary and Carol must be in Washington, the land of the new Democratic Governor! How is the weather over there?..snow tires needed in California!
CTV.ca | Asian tsunami toll nears 125,000 confirmed dead

I guess Gary and Carol have left for parts south yesterday. I wish them a safe trip and BLOG OFTEN. We all can live vicariously through them and their travels! At least we can be with them in spirit. Yes, as Gary said in his blog, "blogging is an excellent way to communicate". It is so nice to hear what everyone is doing, especially those of you that are out of town...my town...er away. It doesn't have to be elaborate, even a quick note to say that you are OK and briefly what you are up to.

I am going to the museum for the second time this week and I am going there on Friday to do inventory...(stone-age stuff! no one does inventory anymore...whooweee). Anywise, Catherine got me a camera case for Xmas...she meant to get me a 'murse'..you know a male purse, kinda thingy. I can actually use to to carry my insulin and glucometer (and my passport, and wallet, and chewing gum, and Kleenex, and car keys and old movie stubs, etc.). With this new 'fast acting' insulin I need to test frequently because I can't let my blood glucose get too low or else I might pass out and that's not good ....I just have to be vigilent!...and vigilent I shall be! I am still taking the slow acting insulin and I am having much greater success in controling my diabetes. Sure, I could lose a few pounds too but if I lose anymore I'll be a willow!...Honest!

Well, couldn't sleep so I thought that I would get on the computer and surf. I think that I couldn't sleep because of all the visions in my head about the terrible 'quake and tsunami in the far east. Gosh, 60,000 dead so far and many more unaccounted for. I have always wanted to go to Thailand, but now I would have second thoughts, but then a thing like that could happen anywhere...except here...now tsunami threat in Winnipeg! I do worry about Margot and Joel though, and anyone else who lives in an earthquake zone! Don't jump around too much!

"Shaun of the Dead"... terrific movie! I love these low budget, no big star, type movie. Wonderfully written and acted.... the only actor I recognised was Penelope Wilton (plays Shaun's Mom). We also saw "Collateral" with Tom Cruise and Jamie Fox....also an excellent movie. Well acted, especially Cruise and superbly written and the camera work was wonderful. TWO BIG THUMBS UP FROM US!

Better go...keep blogging

Arvee; inventory; murse; willow; tsunami; zombies

Boxing day.......Americans say HUH? What the heck is boxing day. Well, its a day that follows Xmas and if you did not get what you wanted from anyone you would box them ....box their ears! Serves them right, the ingrates! Why I oughta........

No , really...Boxing day was a day in Jolly ole England where the servants of the rich would be given the day after Xmas off in order to see their own families....because you see, they would be busy making Xmas day just perfect for the 'igh mucky mucks. The elite would 'box' up food and gifts for the servants to take back to their families on this day. It is also another day usurped by the Christians called St. Stephen day...Stephen was one of the groupies who ate with the big guy, he was also the same
guy who got stoned after Jesus died on the cross. ...see the stained glass window depicting this at the Winnipeg Church of the Shivering Jesus (just off Rue d'eglise in St. Boniface) can I get an amen....

I just got back from Blockbuster; I rented "Shaun of the Dead" and "Collateral"....should be good. we will have to wait until after Mom leaves to watch them though. Mom is still here tonight and we will watch "the Ladykillers" with Tom Hanks...she will like that. I think.

Well, anyhow it is a bright sunny day and so was Xmas Day. Don't mind if it is cold, as long as it is sunny.

Well, I checked my e-mail and checked the news...terrible eathquake and tsunamis in Asia (Sri Lanka and Thailand etal). 8.9 on the rectum scale causing a huge tsunami on unsuspecting people on Phuket beach, Thailand 30 feet high! Don't that make your ass twitch!

Anywho, better go for now. REMEMBER KEEP BLOGGING !!!
Two more sleeps for Gary and Carol before they journey southward. I wish we could get away like that but we couldn't leave my Mom for such a long time....well, Carol knows what I mean because she went through that with her father. Anyhow, we still got the cruise to look forward to in June!
PEACE .

Merry Xmas, everyone! Just got off a Yahoo IM conference call with my two brothers Weak and Fuzzy....er, no Gary and Jack. It is so nice to hear them and see them at the same time. I just wish that we could get together one Xmas and celebrate it together. We saw Carolyn (with a bottle of wine!) and Jack's boys too, although they probably would have been happier playing their video games!

Sounds like Oklahoma has gotten some snow lately, but not enough to put your toboggan on your head and go touqing! bwahahahaha Still no snow in Victoria...don't know what they are missing.....a brisk, coolish walk in the snow...just enough to nip your nose!..... and freeze your ass if you're not careful!

Well, we had a nice turkey dinner with Catherine and Mom and me. Turkey with all the trimmings, yams (mmmm), corn, peas, taters, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, etc.

Margot and Joel sent Catherine and I a game of trivia. I think its about movies, comes with DVDs, etc.. Margot and Joel sent Mom (Nana) a little butterfly ring, a scarf, a real comfy pair of socks, and an album with pics in it of Margot and Joel. I thought that was real thoughtful of them. We got Nana a nice suitcase and a carryon bag. It may encourage her to travel more. Every year it gets harder and harder to figure out what to buy her!

Well better go...i think I know what is for supper for the next few days ....turkey soup, turkey sandwiches, turkey surprise.
keep on blogging
peace.





Xmasyahootoboggansockssuitcase

This is a real hoot. These are search engine queries that led to my blog...I like "Gay Granpas" and "Noni's cakes in hat boxes" bwahahahahahahaha
Yahoo: canadian tire - fibre optic tree
14 Dec, Tue, 00:08:48
MSN Search: kumadin
14 Dec, Tue, 00:10:09
Yahoo: the meeting place winnipeg new years eve
15 Dec, Wed, 00:57:14
MSN Search: carolina pathers purse
15 Dec, Wed, 10:38:54
MSN Search: Winnipeg Christmas Tree Lots
16 Dec, Thu, 01:44:52
MSN Search: voltaire "now is not the time to be making enemies"
16 Dec, Thu, 03:37:08
MSN Search: gay granpas
16 Dec, Thu, 23:59:53
Yahoo: "snow mobile suits"
17 Dec, Fri, 01:14:22
Yahoo: Christmas Birthday celebration invitation for Jesus's birthday
17 Dec, Fri, 08:56:17
Yahoo: the play,"The Diary of Ann Frank"
18 Dec, Sat, 03:21:02
Yahoo: "precious blood" school winnipeg
19 Dec, Sun, 03:03:08
Yahoo: everyday meals of people in winnipeg,on
20 Dec, Mon, 04:48:36
Yahoo: Noni's cakes in hat boxes
20 Dec, Mon, 05:34:18
Yahoo: cellulitus(right foot)
20 Dec, Mon, 22:40:47
Yahoo: saturn oil in antifreeze
22 Dec, Wed, 02:08:05
MSN Search: winter solstice winnipeg
22 Dec, Wed, 06:08:47
Yahoo: Adam Dupois
24 Dec, Fri, 05:43:20
Yahoo: bebe neuworth
24 Dec, Fri, 06:47:39
MSN Search: milestones bar coquitlam
24 Dec, Fri, 11:21:18
Yahoo: "French Meat pies"

Search engine queries that led to my blog

Sundogs, also known as mock suns or "parhelia", are a pair of brightly colored spots, one on either side of the sun. These sundogs occur only when it is cold enough for ice crystals to form in the lower atmosphere. The good news is that they are beautiful...the bad news is that you know when you see them that it is darn cold!

So sorry to hear about Helen Kirkwood's brother. It must be especially hard at this time of year. Our thoughts are with her and her brother.

Its -32 deg C!!! Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey! It is hard to describe how cold it can get to someone who doesn't experience it. You have square tires on your car, it takes forever to warm up the car, and you don't want to ever, never stick your tongue on a metal pole! That's a mno -mno takth ith fwom meh...it huths. I guess that you wetnecks on the West coast are sittin in the sunshine....at least when its not rainin. I see they got some snow out in THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE, IE: TORONTO. They will have to call out the army to clear the snow away!

Gary and Carol leave for their trip on the 28th. they were supposed to go to the Kirkwoods but that may change because it is a bad time for Helen Kirkwood. I am sure they are going to get to Arizona sooner or later in the new year. Better take along some Hippopotamus sweat. Oh its the latest rage for use as a sunscreen...hey, have you ever seen a hippo with a sunburn?!? Yep, slather on that hippo sweat if you go out into the hot Arizona sun but keep a good grip on your golf club elsen you might lose your grip and slap your balls into the woods. Not good.

Well, I spent three days this week at the Air Museum....yesterday they had 56 little children (about age 3) in for a visit. There was about 10 little groups....a group of bees, a group of fire flies, a group of robins and when I saw a group going out to the hangar I said "See you later Alliator!" and a boy turned to me, with a very disgusted look on his face and said, "We are not alligators...we are RACOONS!"

See you RACOONS later.....keep on blogging...Happy Holidays!

peace


Helen, balls, monkey, wet-necks, hippopotamus sweat, racoons

Its at this time of year, when expectations are so high, that i really miss the time when we celebrated the Holiday with family. We would sing songs...I especially remember Catherine's late brother Gordie singing 'The twelve days of ...Solstice" (er, Ok Xmas). I remember that when I was young we might not get any presents at all, but we had oranges and love. I remember the neighbour dressing up as Santa and waving to Margot (our daughter) through the kitchen window, just before ANOTHER Santa appeared in the street to challenge him. I remember the excitement of opening gifts on surprisingly quiet Xmas mornings with the sun streaming through the front windows. Margot would get so quiet as she reverently put out cookies and milk on the fireplace for Santa on Xmas eve. She would hush me by putting her finger in front of her lips, just in case I might jinx it and Santa would decide not to come. Oh yes, I long to get that feeling back.....

Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all;
Additionally,a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2004, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions have helped make our society great, without regard to the race, creed, color, religious, or sexual preferences of the wishes.

(Disclaimer: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.)

Holiday Greetings!!!!!!

"Shut the Puck up!" ...Yeah, that's a cute one. Doesn't look like there will be hockey this winter, though, NHL hockey that is. We have the World Juniors in Grand Forks and Winnipeg and that is starting on Dec. 25th in our spanking new Arena. Next spring you can get a look at the new Arena (the MTS Centre, though most everyone calls it the True North Centre) when Winnipeg plays host to the Junos.

Sounds like brother Gary is busy getting ready for the trip to warmer climes (Arizona, Mexico, etc.). They leave just after Xmas day. I believe they are going to be at the Kirkwood's place in time to celebrate New Year's Eve. They live in Washington State....Steilacoomb (?) or some such. I wonder if that is on the coast?

Mom hurt her foot the other day when she tumbled out of bed in the middle of the night on her charge to the bathroom. Her foot is Okay though but for the slight swelling and bruising. She is a spunky old girl and she had recovered enough by Thursday to make it to the Xmas dinner in the Dining room at the Manor. She will be coming to spend Xmas at our place.

Catherine and I went to see the movie "Lemony Snicket's -A Series of Unfortunate Events" with Jim Carrey, Billy Connally, and Meryl Streep. It is a wonderful movie and I would recommend it highly.........two thumbs up!! Our local movie critic panned it saying that Carrey was 'overacting' and 'stealing the scenes' but that is just the character that he is playing. This critic panned the movie Titanic too.....its time the Free Press hired a new critic, one who knows her ass from a hole in the ground. I am glad we didn't go see 'Oceans Twelve', sounds like Gary saw it and didn't think it was that good. I respect his opinion...he hasn't been wrong yet! I don't understand sequels...Oceans Eleven was a so-so remake of a good movie but Oceans Twelve sounds like an ocean too far. I liked the movie 'Dumb and Dumber' but 'Dumb and Dumberer'.....no thanks, I pass.

Well, 'tis the season to be busy.....fa-la-la-la-la, lalalala. We have been busy all week. Catherine booked the whole week off from teaching. She has been baking banana breads ( I saw 6 on their way to the freezer) and she has been making swedish meatballs. These meatballs are her specialty. They are deliscious. She gives them out to our friends. In turn we get tortieres ( french meat pies, deliscious) from Janine and cherry winks (chocolate covered cherries, mmmmm) from Pat.....love the Holiday season. Tomorrow we have a couple of parties to go to, our Humanist (Solstice) dinner party, and afterwards we have the annual Holiday tree decorating party at Pat and Paul's place. I shall buy a good cigar and smoke it tomorrow night. I haven't had a cigar since the last campfire at the lake in September. I shall have a couple of negnogs too, wahey! Here we come a wassailing!

Well, better go...must pack for the cruise.....keep blogging!

Looks like Bush put in as much thought into the nomination of Kerik as the US homeland security chief as he did on the Attack on Iraq. Turns out that I had more clearance in my job at Bristol than Kerik ever had as police chief of NYC and Homeland security grand poobah Nominee. The FBI apparently tried to get him to fill out the information forms that would allow them to do a background check but it appears that Kerik just did not return them much less fill them out. Looks like Bush Jr. just shoots from the hip...do it first and ask questions later.

A very ignonimous start to the American Star Wars Missle defence shield. See the news report here. The failed trial looks like a major set back for the Star wars system....a system that Bush said would be in 'elementary operation' by the end of this year. Upon his recent meeting with Bush Jr., Paul Martin said "If there is going to be an American missile going off somewhere over Canadian airspace, I think Canada should be at the table making the decisions." Personally I think that there should be no way that Canada can support a re-emergence of the nuclear arms race that the USA is embarking upon.....at least not with a nation that sees nothing wrong with pre-emptive strikes.

And now for something completely different! Mother has been complaining of a sore foot lately. Her foot is a bit swollen and it is preventing her from getting her shoes on. No shoes-no card playing..??? Catherine and I will be stopping in there this afternoon to drop off her groceries and have a look at her foot. Apart form that she is in high spirits and is looking forward to spending a few days at our house during the Holidays. Jingle bells, jingle bells...jingle all the way. We want to take her out to see the special lights display at the Red River Ex grounds, they say it is quite nice. The only worry is that around this desolate place you have to get back home early, before it gets too dark or the stragglers get picked off by the wolves!

There is a great article by Bill Moyers upon his on the occasion of Harvard Medical School's Global Environment Citizen award on Dec.1, 2004. You can read it HERE . For all of those that haven't read it, it is well worth taking the time to read.

Anyhow the Holidays are coming upon us,
slowly
like
mollasses
in
January,
can't
wait
for
the
presents.
But it seems like Solstice is becoming quite commercial though isn't it? I mean if the Christians hadn't invented the fact that Jesus was born on Dec 25th then Toys R US would have had to come up with something!!!

Better get ready as we are leaving soon.......Keep blogging

PEACE.

Well here it is Sunday. Catherine just finished trimming my hair (and no that is not a euphemism for something else!) and I just finished colouring hers. We do that every 6 weeks or so. Well it keeps us off the streets!

Big 'Survivor' finale tonight! I wonder who will win? Will it be Chris? Scout? Twilla? or Elisa? My money is on Chris. We'll see.


Well better go and do the NYT X-word puzzle! We haven't missed one in years. We used to do then on-line until the NYT priced it out of reach for us commoners. later. We also so the ones that brother Gary sends via email. Well, for now..... Keep blogging

The Republicans have taken out full page adds saying that middle America will shun Hollywood if Farenheit 9/11 wins the People's Coice Awards. VOTE AT THE LINK. I am sure that the Republicans would like to rename Hollywood, Holywood. EGADS SIR! We must all vote.

Farenheit 9/11 and the People's Choice Awards!

IMPORTANT PROGRAM! Next week will be Bill Moyers' last NOW program. He says that it will be the biggest story of our time: how the right-wing media has become a partisan propaganda arm of the Republican National Committee," says Moyers. "We have an ideological press that's interested in the election of Republicans, and a mainstream press that's interested in the bottom line. Therefore, we don't have a vigilant, independent press whose interest is the American people." The program NOW is broadcast by the PBS network. **What is the group that is the "tail wagging the dog?" The RepublicanNational Committee?

Important program!

I wish that I would have taken a course this fall. I don't know why I didn't. Taking a course keeps you going, learning. You can't slough off, you have to make it to class; but that is a good thing because it keeps you going, learning. After Solstice I will take.....a course, a course. (from Richard III...Richard I & II died because they had no horse, of course).

Catherine is subbing today. She is trying to get in a few days before the Holiday break. I spent the morning reading. I am reading a book about the Red River Settlement. It's all about life in the Red River valley between 1670 (the founding of the Hudson's Bay Co....the oldest company in North America) and the present. It is a book written in 1850 so it is written in a kind of Archaic english that is hard to read, but the information is there. It is something akin to the book I got called the Journals of Fort Langley....written in the same type of english or maybe worser.

The weather has been non too cold. There is snow on the ground and when it get up to zero C (32 f) it gets slushy. Today, at -5 deg C,it is just right for driving and walking. The slush is at a minimum. I could take this all winter but that is just so much wishful thinking.

Well, when Catherine gets home we will bugger off to the gym...so keep blogging!

A Course, a course, my kingdom for a course.

Yes...yes...here is a better picture of our vinyl, fibre-optic, glow-in-the-dark, massive, 4 foot tall! Solstice tree. We like to call it 'Thunderchild'.  

Five thousand, nine hundred and forty (5,940) kilometres. that's how far I have walked in the last 8 years (almost). That is about the distance from Dallas to Portland, OR.......and back. Woohoo. I am one lean, mean walking machine. Well, I am mean anyway...and I walk too.

I just finished my annual Solsitice (OK Holiday!) letter. It outlines what the Ousey's in Winnipeg were up to in 2004 and what our plans are for 2005. It went something like this...plane Victoria wedding,... car Vancouver visit Margot, Joel,... plane Saint John C's Dad, ...Winnipeg come Carol, Mom Victoria, Gary come, Jack, jamie, Andrew come, Lyn, Rachel come. Sounds like a travelogue given by Tonto! Ah, but in June 2005 we are going on a cruise with Gary and Carol...Royal Carribean, Alaska bound. Only 7 months away.....205 more sleeps!

we are looking forward to a huge Xmas dinner...we will have a turkey at our place and there will be just the three of us.....me, Catherine and Momsy. Oh well, more turkey for me!

Later....keep blogging





Huff, Huff, car, plane , car, 205 sleeps, turkey

Can't tell if this is Larry, Darryl, or Daryl! No wait it is Catherine/ she dug out the old snowmobile suit and my fur hat to take the dog for a walk. It's really not that cold out but she is just a big chicken! The dog has something against her rabbit fur mukluks!

hydrodaktulopsychicarmonica....The set of glasses filled with different levels of water used to make different musical tones. Remember this fact while you drink your eggnog, you may make music afterwards!

We rented a movie last night called "City of God" (subtitled). A story about the gangs in Rio de janeiro, Brazil. It was pretty good if depressing. Lives locked in survival, police, gangs and those that are neither. I recommend it.

Today we are going to the Health Sciences Centre for a Holiday celebration with the Diabetes Research Group. It should be fun. We went last year, they have this baron of beef which is ever so slowly cooked overnight...mmmm delish. They also have a lot of cakes, cookies,etc.....everything that a diabetic DOESN'T need...of course there is will-power (I have none!)

We hit the gym yesterday because we missed the gym on Friday.....just lazy, too tired to go. The renovation of the Reh-fit Centre is coming along nicely. Soon we will have a longer track, new lockers & showers for both men and women, a new lounge area, a new restaurant, etc. Should be nice when it is done.

Keep on blogging




hydrodaktulopsychicarmonica; Brazil; sugar; Reh-fit

Holy mother Mary of God......you must run and tell the others! Go out and rent the movie "Hero". Gone are the days of the colourless Chinese ...gone are hospital greens and chairman Mao olive drabs. Welcome to the Chinese movie called "Hero" ...... kaleidoscopic kung fu cool! A delightful movie brought to North America by Quentin Tarantino with splashy sets that you would think were designed by Cristo! True enough, I did sleep through part of it...I'll admit that but what I did see was a visual feast.
The word of the year last year was "BLOG". Ya got to love that. They say that blogs played a large role in the presiential election in the US. What next?..."blog off!"?
Keep blogging! ....blog your face off!


Ying Xiong; Mao; Christo; blog off!

Just got back from the endocrinologists Dr. Woo.....Dr Big Woo. He has put me on another fast acting, rapid reaction insulin to be taken 5 - 10 minutes before or immediately after dinner. It seems that my glucose goes up late at night, I can't see why...could be the cookies...mmmmooohahahaha! Anyhow, Catherine and I left early this morning in order to drop off Mom's groceries (the little store that was in the basement of her complex is gone....pppfffttt gone) so we had quite an armloadfull (?). Then Catherine dropped me off at Dr Big Woo's place and took off in the car to a lunch with friends....retired friends. I had to take the bus home! Horror of horrors...$1.80 not bad really, but I had to ride with...get this....OTHER PEOPLE. EGADS.....then I had to walk all the way from St. Mary's to our house.....a mile....orso. Its about 10 deg BELOW zero (about 10 deg f). The walk was hmmm....envigorating.
Tonight we have a meeting of the executive for the Humanist Assoc. We will have to get there early because the hotel has invited us to a wine and cheese thing at 5:00pm. *****must remember to tape 'Survivor'!!
I hope that Gary's tooth is OK. What the h-e-double hockey sticks is going on with capped teeth? I have had absysses in two of them and now Gary has had one. Not very good root canals...eh wot?
Mom just called to say that the post office just delivered two boxes from Gary....."Should I open them now?", says she....."NO", says I "Wait until Solstice!",....which happens to fall on Dec 25th, which was arbitrarily called the day of the birth of Christ ...or Christmas day. As if Solstice wasn't enough! Yule logs, singing , dancing, jokes, exchanging gifts, decorated spruce trees, yes Virginia, even eggnog!.......yar harharhar......
Well time for my nap.....keep blogging



eugene mirman; Dr. Big; the bus; caps; Christ!