Prairie Dog Blog

Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.
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SNL Weekend Update came up with this gem......

Tina Fey: "A recent poll showed that 66 percent of Americans think that President Bush is doing a poor job on the war in Iraq -- and the remaining 34 percent think Adam and Eve rode dinosaurs to church."

LOL

Where's Osama?

Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.
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If there were only four people in 'The beginning'. And Cain killed Abel and then left the family to start a life of his own and got married ......just who did he marry? I'm only asking.
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We had a fine Skype/yahoo conversation with brother Jack yesterday. Seems Jack has a lady friend by the name of Josie (as in Josie and the Pussycats, HA), she seems real nice and we were very happy to meet her. She is majoring in Psychology(?) at SOSU (I assume) and Jack had better watch himself or he will end up as a case study. HA We missed seeing the kids and their new glasses. Both of the boys are going out for Halloween dressed as Darth (and Garth) Vader. I would guess theat Goblins and Witches aren't popular costumes down there in the Bible belt.....too edgy?.

Well this is the last day of Gary and Carol's visit. They go home tomorrow and we shall miss them. We have a chance to go to stay at Gary's place at Christmas but that depends on Carol's brother Lewis.....Seems he has first dibs on the place, as he goes there year after year after year.... It would be nice to spend Christmas with the nieces and nephews and their kids as we haven't done so for a loooooong time. We would have a chance to visit with Margot and Joel too.

We are going to pick up Mom soon and she is taking us out to supper at Dal's....Mom likes the perogies there! Catherine is out to get groceries and she is going to pick up a sweater at Winner's that is to die for. So I'd better go.....blog sometime....Peace.
Cain skypes Darth the pussycat......yahoo

What we need is a rebirth of satire, of dissent, of irreverence, of an uncompromising insistence that phoniness is phony and platitudes are platitudinous.
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We still have company, Gary and Carol are here until next Tuesday. We are having a fun time of it, Gary is coming with me to the Museum tomorrow AM. He especially wants to see the new (well 1929 new) Fokker Super Universal that we finally finished restoring and was delivered to the museum about a month ago.

Tonight we watched "Shawn of the Dead". There were a few graphic scenes where Carol had to avert her eyes but all in all it is a good picture. A scary adventure comedy of the first order.

Well I am up blogging because I can't sleep.....but getting sleepy now g'nite Peace.
Meet the Fokkers, Shawn.

Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.

Wow ...Scotter Libby indicted. Along with Tom delay and Bill Frist and maybe Karl Rove going to jail or on their way....so much for the hollow promise of Dubya in the last USA election of integrity in government. This has to be the worst government in 130 or so years. Corrupt from the get-go. Right from Karl Rove spreading malicious rumours about John McCain, thusly allowing Dubya to get the GOP nomination...right to the Karl Rove orchestrated neocon evengelical right pushing the the last election towards Dubya and a victory. I blame Karl Rove,Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, and
Richard Perle for the corruptness in American politics. And I personally think Dubya is a dope and is being used. These guys have to go....next election....they are losing in the polls now and they don't have the support anymore of the rabid right radicals who supported Dubya at all costs and against all criticism. Swift-boat veterans indeed! Trash a Vietnam Vets heroic career, including purple hearts and make Dubya sound like a patriotic war hero when he never even left the safe confines of Texas and his Papa's lap.

Well. that was my Rant Du Jour MY OPINION!......and now for something completely different....

We had a Jeannies cake to celebrate Carol and Mom's birthday. It took a while but we finished it today. Catherine made some delicious lasagna for the main course. Gary and Carol spent the day raking and pulling weeds while Catherine and I went to the Legislature to protest the lack of promises in the government concerning cost of living increases in the COLA clause of the pensions. Unlike other provinces, Mantiboa teachers gave up the right to strike and long term disability for the COLA clause. And now the Government is underfunding it so that the retired teachers only got a .4 % COLA raise this year. Read the artcle.......

Retired teachers show up angryBjornson booed on pension issue
Fri Oct 28 2005


MORE than 500 retired teachers booed Education Minister Peter Bjornson on the steps of the legislature yesterday when Bjornson wouldn't promise government money to boost their pension plan.
"As a teacher (in Gimli), I shared the concerns of teachers across the province," Bjornson told the rally.
He said the Doer government is working hard on the long-term stability of the pension plan -- to sarcastic cries of "When?". Bjornson said the government spends $114 million on the teachers' pension plan each year, which brought yells of "Still not enough!" and "How are we doing on COLA?"
"We remain committed to addressing the issue. It is not a matter that can be addressed overnight," Bjornson said -- bringing a crowd-wide chant of "Action! Action! Action!"

They shouted down Manitoba Teachers' Society president Brian Ardern when he wouldn't commit active teachers to huge pension contribution increases to give the retired teachers a cost of living adjustment (COLA) on pace with inflation.
And they listened politely to Tory leader Stuart Murray say his caucus supports the teachers, but got no answers when they called out for Murray to get specific about money.
At the retired teachers' protest, Vaughn Wadelius of The Pas, president of the Retired Teachers Association of Manitoba, said. "We are not here to poke fingers of blame,"
Wadelius said he did not see much concrete help yesterday.
Retired teacher Dee Dee Rizzo said she has watched the value of her pension fall below inflation so that $1 when she retired in 1999 is now worth 93 cents: "I've watched the buying power of my pension collapse. Half of one per cent (cost of living); who could ever imagine this would happen?" Rizzo said.
The average pension is about $23,000.
The pension's funding formula was developed when there were seven teachers paying into the pension plan in the classroom for every retired teacher, but as teachers retire younger and live longer, that ratio is at 1.4-to-one and heading for one-to-one.
There are about 15,000 active teachers in Manitoba, and 9,500 retired teachers. Active teachers and the province fund the plan..
In an interview, Murray would not commit any potential future Tory government to putting more money into the teachers' pension plan, but said he would create an actuarial working group to analyse the plan.

The fact is that any other government worker including Public servants and all of the Armed Forces get (and deserve) their COLA automatically and without question. It's the nurses and teachers that always get it in the neck. I got a hunch that it is because most of their ranks are made up of women and are easily taken advantage of. The teachers paid in to their own pension plan to the tune of 4 to 6 hundred dollars a month and if those that complain about teachers making too much in retirement had put 4 to 6 hundred dollars a month of their own money away for say 35 years, well they would have a nice pension too! Fact is that most people don't think ahead to pensions and they begrudge others who do.

Well, anywho have a nice day! Peace

VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS BLOG ARE THE OPINION OF THE BLOGGEE ONLY AND ARE NOT MEANT TO DEMEAN OTHERS OR CHANGE THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT.

A man named SCOOTER will get a pension much larger than a teacher.

We took a trip up to Gimli on Sunday. We took in a walk on the wharf and we ate at the "First Avenue Restaurant". Carol had a pickeral dinner and enjoyed it very much. We also went to see the trailer and it is in fine shape. We let Gary and Carol peek inside. Carol said "I could live here!" so I guess she really liked it.

On Monday we had a turkey dinner, with punkin' pie and apple pie......mmmmm. We saved the Jeannies cake until...mmm, today I think.

This morning Gary and I took Mom into the doctors for a followup. It took us an hour and a half just to get into see him. Gee that is tiring. We stopped at Chapters on the way back and got Mom a puzzle book.

Hey Jack blogged...see it here.

The weather is here; wish you were beautiful

I suppose that it had to happen sooner or later! A baby named Google.

Well here it is Sunday and Gary and Carol have been here for three days. We have been having a good time. Thursday we took it easy. Gary helped out by taking Mom to the denturist to adjust her teeth....again. Gary bought a digital camera for $9.00 and it turned out to be a crappy little thing that didn't work very well, so he took it back. Friday Catherine was doing a teacher's workshop for "Numero". She had three classes with about 25 in each class. I went with her and manned the booth, selling decks of the cards, instruction books, etc. We sold about $700.00 worth of stuff, but the main goal was to introduce as many teachers as possible to the game and in that it was a success. Catherine even convinced two 13 year old boys to give up their day off and get up at 7:30 AM and come to the conference and demonstrate the game for her. Good boys they were and I took them to lunch....any McDonalds they wanted! And today We treated Gary to a play ("Crowns") and dinner at the Inferno. Both Gary and I had Bison ribs....mmmm good. We ended up with everyone coming back here where we chatted and eventually played men against the women challenge Trivial Pursuit. Of course the men won.....was there ever a doubt?? And, tomorrow Gary and Carol want to take a drive out to Gimli for a pickeral meal at the First Avenue restaurant and they also want to see our trailer as they have only seen it in pictures. I would love to show it to them too! Should be fun.

I have been taking my antibiotics for my cellulitis and today, with the play and all, I forgot to take it until we got back home and the darn things keep me awake...so here I sit at the computer at 3:00 AM...blogging. Better go and get some sleep. nitey nite. Peace
Antibiotics were doing a 'numero' on my 'Crowns'

Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre? (Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me?)
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Went to see the Doc today. Still a weeks worth of antibiotics left to go. I'm getting tired of this.

Gary called me while I was whiling away the time until Catherine could get me in the white chariot. I was bored out of my skull in the kitchenware department of the 'Real Canadian Super Store'. I was seriously looking at a new travel mug when a voice said to me, " If you get another travel mug, you will seriously rue the day!"...and the voice sounded like Catherines....hum. Anyhow, the phone rang and it was Gary, just finalizing details about his excursion to Winnipeg like, Will I get to meet Brad Pitt (he is here shooting a movie!) and will we have dinner with Michaëlle Jean (Canada's new Governor-General who is here to start off her first Canadian tour!)....Oh turkey on St. Michaels......ummm. Anyhow, it looks as though they wont get to meet Brad Or Canada's new GG, but they will have us, now won't they!

Anyhow, better pack an extra pair of socks because it may be warm in the sun of the day but she shonuff get cold at night the daze in these heeah parts. See you at the airport guys.......PEACE
Doc's mug looks like Brad Pitt the Turkey...in a toga.

Update from the eartquake zone in Kashmir:
-Latest death toll estimate: 54,000
-Estimated number of homeless: Two million
-Tents distributed in earthquake zone: 29,000
-Tents still needed: 100,000
-Blankets distributed in earthquake zone: 118,000
-Items still needed: syringes, painkillers and antibiotics.
-No longer needed: Fresh water is sufficient in most affected areas.
-Major problem: Roads remain closed because of landslides, probably for several more weeks in some areas, making it impossible to truck in supplies. Soldiers have rescued some villagers in the cut-off regions by carrying them to safety on their backs.
-Major problem: Bad weather. A storm-related helicopter crash yesterday killed six soldiers. U.S. helicopter missions were suspended for today. Pounding rain in Kashmir added to the misery of quake victims. Temperatures dropped to 6 degrees C and high winds drove the rain.
-Additional problem: Many people whose houses were weakened but not destroyed have refused to inhabit them, fearing aftershocks.
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40 million to sent the DART team over there and they don't need water anymore....that was the big thing about the DART system...it's ability to produce cleanwater....sheesh. 40 million would buy a lot of tents and medical supplies like syringes, pain killers and antibiotics. What kind of assessment did they do?....Did they do an assessment at all or is this just politically motivated. The most important part of the DART system is the 200 soldiers......we could have sent those a lot sooner even before the assessment!
DART poor response

Lalalalala. Bored...I'm bored. I am still hobbled by the cellulitis and not able to get around much. The reason why it is hard to walk is because the cellulitis is in my toes, right from the piggy who went to market to the one that went whee all the way home, and I can't balance myself if it hurts to put my toes down (It also hurts to put shoes on, and I can't go around without shoes!). It seems to be clearing up but the antibiotics is making my blood glucose high.....very high. For example, this morning I got up and took a reading with my glucometer and it was 10.5 (normal is <7.8 ) so I took 70 units insulin, three hours later it was 16.5 ....yeech, so I took another 30 units of 'rapid acting' insulin. Normally I would take 50 units (long acting) in the morning and be done with it until supper. I hope this tapers off as my body gets used to the antibiotics....
The antibiotics are taking a toll on the rest of my body as well. It plays havoc with your digestive system. When I discreetly pass a little gas it smells like smoke...what the hell is that about? My butt on fire??? For a time I was accusing Catherine of smoking again and I would smell her clothes. heeheehee

Well, enough of that, I shall be right as rain by the time Gary and Carol get here! Only thing is that I might accuse Gary of smoking!....no chance of that, eh Gar? BTW, I spoke to Mom yesterday and she tells me that Jack phoned her but he didn't mention anything about coming and she didn't ask him either! She said that she didn't want to put pressure on him........??? Anyhow, he got his new (to him) house now and gee that only took about 4 months....things move slow in Tishamingo......yup.

Well, better go and put my feet up.....say, who is smoking?!?! Peace
this little piggy....was SMOKIN'

Transcript for October 16 - Meet the Press, online at MSNBC - MSNBC.com:

Here is the transcript of today's "Meet the Press" Condi admits that it was the plan all along to make a regime change in the middle east. Invade Iraq....take out Saddam and effect a regime change... A Preemtive War...whose next? who else is in the line of fire of George Bush and his cronies Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Cheney, and Richard Perl and others. Let's see, Bush says, How can you dishonour those soldiers that have died by pulling out the soldiers now?"Well, how can you dishonour soldiers who died for the cause when you lied to them about the aim of the war in the first place?
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From MSNBC:

"MR. RUSSERT: Let me share with you some attitudes of Americans towards the war in Iraq, and here's our latest Wall Street Journal-NBC poll: 51 percent say removing Saddam Hussein was not worth it; 58 percent said we should reduce the number of U.S. troops; 56 percent feel less confident the war will be successful. Majorities now raising huge anxieties, expressing huge anxieties over the war in Iraq.

SEC'Y RICE: I'm quite certain, Tim, that when the American people see every day what they see on their screens, which is violence and, of course, the deaths of Americans and coalition forces, it's very difficult to take. We mourn every sacrifice. But the fact of the matter is that when we were attacked on September 11, we had a choice to make. We could decide that the proximate cause was al-Qaeda and the people who flew those planes into buildings and, therefore, we would go after al-Qaeda and perhaps after the Taliban and then our work would be done and we would try to defend ourselves.
Or we could take a bolder approach, which was to say that we had to go after the root causes of the kind of terrorism that was produced there, and that meant a different kind of Middle East. And there is no one who could have imagined a different kind of Middle East with Saddam Hussein still in power. I know it's difficult, but we have ahead of us the prospect, and I think the very good prospect of a foundation for a democratic and prosperous Iraq that can solve its differences by politics and compromise, that becomes an anchor for a Middle East that is changing. "
I guess that they were lying all along; surpirse, surprise

Today my cellulitis in my feet is better. Still a bit hard to walk but I'm on the mend! I had this in the fall of last year and it was hard to shake. I got to get better...I got a tour on Monday at the museum.

My Doc gave me a prescription for an automatic Blood Pressure monitor. I investigated and found that Blue Cross will pay for one. I did some research and found one that will be good for both Catherine and I ...an omron HEM - 773 ACCAN with an AC adaptor and a two person memory recall. Its got a special cuff that fits both Catherine and myself (she at the lower dia. size and me at the upper). I take medicine to keep my blood pressure under control and since Catherine's blood pressure is all over the place since her operation, I thought that getting one was a good idea. ........besides, it's a gadget. It works real neat.

What is it.......4 days until Gary and Carolyn arrive? ....Better get cleaning. Peace

Top Ten Thoughts Going Through George W. Bush's Mind At This Moment

10. "This should make up for me waiting a week to respond to the hurricane"
9. "Dang, this is fun--I should bring a hammer to cabinet meetings"
8. "Why won't they let me handle the power tools?"
7. "Great, another thing I'm not good at"
6. "This is the kind of thing we should be paying Halliburton 800 bucks an hour to do"
5. "Do I get to keep the hard hat?"
4. "It's Hammer Time!"
3. "I've got to finish pretending to build a house so I can go pretend to comfort people"
2. "Georgie's gonna need another five weeks off"
1. "Only thing Clinton ever nailed was that hefty intern"
Letterman's top ten list

In a conversation with PM Martin, Bush said that he wants Canada to negotiate a settlement on the softwood lumber issue. Here is the thing....It has already been settled in the NAFTA trade courts. The USA has been putting unfair tariffs on Canadian lumber for years and THREE times now it has been settled in Canada's favour. The US is wrong to be imposing tariffs which over the years has amounted to over 5 billion dollars CND. What is there not to understand, Mr Bush?...You have lost it in the courts! Americans want our cheaper softwood lumber......and they would save approx $1,000.00 per house. Mr Bush, let our countries use NAFTA as it was intended. If you have a trade dispute, settle it in the courts and if you lose, don't carry on like a bully.
Rant du Jour

Here Canada goes with the DART team again. Christ by the time they got deployed into tsunami destroyed Sri Lanka and started pumping out water it was three weeks too late.... Who's toy was this DART team anyway? Send some bottled water and medical tents and medical supplies for goodness sake...a few airlifts of Hercs oughta do it!
It costs $10,000,000.00 to send the damn thing, and an NGO can do the same job for $600,000.00. I am not complaining because doing something is better than doing nothing but can' t all these funds be utilized more practically? I mean we pay a fortune just to airlift it over there in the Antonov AN225 Mriya
Canafa prepares to send DART team to Kashmir

The Democrats seem to be basically nicer people, but they have demonstrated time and again that they have the management skills of celery. They're the kind of people who'd stop to help you change a flat, but would somehow manage to set your car on fire. I would be reluctant to entrust them with a Cuisinart, let alone the economy. The Republicans, on the other hand, would know how to fix your tire, but they wouldn't bother to stop because they'd want to be on time for Ugly Pants Night at the country club.....Dave Barry
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I just got finished talking to Gary & Carol on SKYPE. What a wonderful program....and it costs nothing. Everything is good there. They are getting ready to (1) come to Winnipeg for a visit, and (2) leave for points south in the ole RV (Yuma being the first point). They are meeting Ken and Helen Kirkwood for a month in (or near) Yuma. I would love to meet Helen sometime, she sounds like she would be a lot of fun to talk to.

I went to the doctors yesterday because I had a flare up of cellulitus again. I had a flare up about this time last year....is this a pattern? The difference this time is that it is in both feet which makes it hard to hobble around. Since we tried 4 different antibiotics last time and the first three did not work, he prescribed the last one which did work....'Tequin'. I also got the Doctor to check again that it is not gout. I have to go back to see him next Tuesday, so we'll see what he says then. Well, at least I slept well last night; the night before I got virtually no sleep at all. The only way I could get comofortable was to try and sleep sitting up on the couch, because everytime I tried to elevate my feet, they began throbbing. Hopefully all goes well and this clears up by the time Gary and Carol arrive.

Catherine is feeling a lot better these days. She has taken to not wearing a bandage over the scar on her neck because that just draws attention to it and she is getting tired of having to explain it. With a turtleneck sweater on, one can hardly see it. Other than a little depression caused by worries about her future health, she is one tough lady. Margot's coming to be with her Mom at the time of her operation meant so much to her that I am sure that it makes it easier for Catherine now. I am proud of Catherine and Margot too.

Better go and take my antibiotic. Ciao.....peace
Cuisinart,Conversation,Cellulitus & Convalescence

It was, simply put, a hall of fame game from a hall of famer. Oh, and a 44-23 Bombers victory, although it's unfortunate the brilliance of the performance was on a stage devoid of suspense, at least in terms of playoff ramifications.
Still, what amazing grace. And to think it all began with a burst of anger. "I don't cuss, but I was about to go over there (to the coaches) and say something," Stegall reported, while the paint on his masterpiece was still drying. "The play before my first touchdown (late in the second quarter) I was running down the field wide open, too, and I came back and said, 'Look for me.' "
Boy, did Glenn ever.

The next play: A 54-yard strike that pulled the Bombers into a 14-14 tie. Then a 10-yard TD strike to Milt late in the half that propelled Winnipeg into a 21-16 lead.
Nothing special, right? Stegall with two touchdown receptions. So elevated is the man's game that a pair of first half TDs -- he's got 128 in his career for goodness sake -- hardly raises an eyebrow.
BOMBERS 44 BC 23

Christian Fundamentalism: The doctrine that there is an absolutely powerful, infinitely knowledgeable, universe spanning entity that is deeply and personally concerned with my sex life.
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Mother Superior calls all the Nuns together and says to them: "I must tell you all something. We have a case of Gonorrhea in the convent."
"Praise the Lord, " said an elderly Nun at the back, "I'm so sick of Chardonnay."
-Victoria Secular Humanist News
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Yesterday it was a beautiful and sunny day....around 19 deg c. We pciked up Mom and took her for a ride out to the St. Francois Xavier area and we stopped at the Assiniboine Conservatory for a late lunch. I had a Bison burger and I am still burping buffalo. Mom seemed to enjoy the outing.

This AM Catherine and I went to a meeting for retired teachers. They were discussing the COLA clause in the pension. It seems that the funding is not there to pass on the entire cost of living allowance to the pensions. I think the CPI this year was 2.4 % and all the teachers got was a .4% increase and its getting worse. They are having a rally about it in front of the Legislature on the 27th Oct. between 12:30 and 1:30 PM. I hope that Gary and Carol will come and support it........since they will be here. bwahaha

Catherine went to see her Doctor today and the results of her blood tests show an increase in liver enzymes and she wants to redo some of the tests before she prescribes Lipitor or Crestor....the wonder drugs.

Well, 9 days until Gary gets here. Peace


Fundy Bean Chardonnay and buffalo burgers

Here is a cute post about blogging!

“Hi, my name is Fred.”Everyone then clapped. I was warmly welcomed to B.A., which is also known as Blogoholics Anonymous. The group was large; I counted 30 people. From what I understand, groups are forming all over the country. People are joining B.A. for many reasons; here are a few that were shared in my group:
-calling in sick to blog
-reading and responding to blogs more than four hours a day
-checking your blog every five minutes to see if you have another comment
-leaving spam in your comments to pump up the number of total comments
-changing your template once a week
-hitting the “next blog” button just to make friends
-signing in as “Anonymous” to leave a comment on your own blog
-having more than one blog
-telling your partner “ I have a headache” so you can blog
-blogging while you’re at work
-thanking spammers for posting a comment
-skipping meals so you can blog
Yes, the signs are unmistakable. It’s painful to admit; intervention is often needed to finally admit you’re hooked. In my case, it started when the cable modem broke. It happened Tuesday morning. For some reason, it couldn’t be fixed. I started getting nervous. Wednesday. Nothing. Thursday. Nothing.I fell apart. I finally realized I couldn’t comment on other blogs. Worse, I couldn’t see if anyone was commenting on mine. Arggggg! I needed help. Fast. The cable guy told me who to call. (No, not Ghostbusters.) Seems every time a modem is busted for an extended period of time, he’s been trained to recognize the symptoms. “Here, Fred”, he said, “Call B.A. right away; they’ll help you get better.” I went today after work.And sure enough, they did help. They had computers set up all around the room, but we weren't allowed to touch them. I was shaking – I wanted so bad to read and respond to your posts. Worse, the Blogger home page was on every computer. It was calling me. I felt horrible. "Tough love", I was told.I was one of the lucky ones. I only had minor withdrawal symptoms compared to others in the group. Even better, I received word that the modem was back in service while I was there. Everyone cheered. Ultimately, I was released from the session with a group hug while tears were streaming down the cheeks of my new friends. We all sang Kum-Bay-Ya while we rocked back and forth and held hands. It was moving.The group leader gave me some literature, and sent me on my way with the “all clear” to respond to my blog buddies tomorrow.See you then. In the meantime, I promised the group I would add to the list of symptoms. Any you can think of?
Blogoholics Anonymous....BA for short

Fall is the time for raking leaves or as the neighbour across the street calls it, "the time to start up the bloody noisy leaf blower so that I can wake the dead time!" who the hell invented leaf blowers anyway? The guy ( I shall call him Gordie) has to blow every leaf off his lawn while above him thousands of leaves are still ready to fall...but OOO...OOO I get to do it all over again when they do fall! Ever heard of a rake Gordie???? Guys got a machine for everything...compressor to wash his car (that makes a lovely whine!), a roto-tiller for his 12 square feet of garden, a RIDING Lawnmower for his 60x120 lot (of which a double garage covers most of it....well he has to house his machinery!), snowblower, a couple of small lawnmowers, and a gas grass trimmer that sounds like its ready for take-off. Machine head...bah!

Give me a good ole rake every time! ....and a doggie to help.

Our beagle Suzie woke me up at about 7 this AM, pawing at the bedroom door. I got up and let her out and she rushed towards the back entrance flinging open the door to the kitchen with her nose, she could barley contain herself . I let her out and she rushed to the corner of the yard looking back at me as she did so and then promptly threw up. The poor little doggie was spent as she came back in and she went straight back to bed as if nothing had happened.

I trust everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Since I was under the weather we had a very low-key day. Today is quiet too, just lazing about tyring to work on the computer (with this crazy whining, bloody leaf blower noise in the background!), both Catherine and I on our respective computers, catching up on stuff....things for the newsletter, emails, blogs, etc.

Margot called yesterday to say that she was going to a turkey dinner today at the Rain City Grill that is being put on by the restaurant for the employees. Sounds good.....turkey and no cleanup!

Well better go. Later....peace.
rake,whirr,bleech, taptap, mmmmmm

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers football practice was delayed nearly two hours this morning after a player reported finding an unknown white powdery substance on the practice field. Practice was suspended while police and RCMP agents were called to investigate. After a complete analysis, RCMP forensic experts determined that the white substance unknown to the players was the goal line.

Practice was resumed today after special agents decided the team was unlikely to encounter the substance again.
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Hot Flash!!!

I was sick yesterday. I don't know what it was but I ran a fever and just felt achy all over. Today I feel fine....well maybe 90%. I was too ill to make it to the Museum OR for the dinner meeting. Catherine went alone to the dinner meeting and she tells me that it was a real good meeting. A fellow spoke who recently gave up on being a minister in the Anglican church to become a Humanist......he saw the light! I wish I could have been there.


Looks like we will be unable to have Mom over for Thanksgiving dinner as I don't want to risk giving her whatever it was that I had. Catherine bought a fresh turkey and some PUNKIN pie....mmmmm. We will have the pie and save the turkey for when Gary gets here.....then we can have a family dinner here! Of course we will have too get another pie!...or a Jeannies cake? Hey, just a week and a half until Gary arrives. Must clean out the third bedroom! By the way it is my understanding from Mom that she offered to pay for Jack's airfare to come to Winnipeg while Gary is here. That still is no guarantee that he will come however. Well, we will see.

Anyhow...better go rest...HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!! And PEACE
turkey lurkey and punkin pie

Black Gold vs. Black Angus : Radar Online:

"With the price of gas through the roof, we thought we'd take a look at what a few other liquids cost by the gallon." RADAR online...it's a hoot
Black Gold vs. Black Angus : Radar Online

Always a threat in New York. Credible?......not usually. Keep them in fear....positively! A population in fear is easily lead. Raise the alert level from elevated to high or is that high to elevated.
Bertrand Russel said, "Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." Creating fear......isn't this how one country, person, or religion, can demonize another country, people or religion?

Well, the weather is still cool, in the 6 deg c range. It is supposed to warm up for the weekend., we'll see. After a shift at the museum this AM I spent the rest of today puttering around the house...fixing things, successfully I might add. A new tap nozzle in the kitchen, fixed up the furnace humidifier, replaced some incandescent bulbs with compact flourescent bulbs.

Here is a story that I got a kick out of....revenge of the goose! The guy spent two days in bed after this!

Fri Oct 07 2005
Hunter cold-cocked by 'vengeful' Canada goose.....STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- A Swedish hunter spent two days in bed after being knocked unconscious by a Canada goose that landed on his head moments after his son shot it dead, news reports said Wednesday. The goose had been flying about 20 metres up in the air when it was shot by Carl Johan Ilback, who was hunting with his father, Ulf, along a stream in eastern Sweden in August. When the goose dropped from the sky, it hit Ulf Ilback in the head and knocked him out, he said. "It wanted to extract its revenge, I assume," Ulf Ilback told a local newspaper. "If it had gotten a better hit, it could have broken my neck." Ilback spent two days in bed with severe headaches before returning to work. During this month's moose hunt, he may wear a helmet. -- Associated Press

It is estimated that around 500,000 geese, ducks, egrets, pelicans, and cranes will be passing through here on their way down south on the annual fall migration. It's been a good year for geese especially with an increase in the order of 50,000 birds over last year. No reports of geese falling on hunter's heads though! hee hee


We had a Cessna 208 Caravan crash here very early yesterday morning. The pilot radioed in to the tower saying that she had ice on the wings and she could not maintain altitude. The very astute government crash investigators suggested today that ice MAY have been a factor. DUH. Looks like the old 'pilot error'. The conditions were 'medium risk for ice' and she took off anyways and got about 7 miles to around the Forks and landed along the CN main line. She missed buildings, power poles, and cars, landing at a very steep angle right on the tracks. It was reported nationally because there were two vials of viruses on board, one of influenza 'a', and one of a herpes strain. Both were supposidly incinerated in the crash. It seemed strange this morning at the museum because one could always see that Caravan in it's FEDEX colours parked so as it was easily seen from our windows.

Well, better go, it's back to the museum for a shift in the morning and we got a dinner meeting in the evening. so TATA and PEACE
Fearless geese and a caravan crash

Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it.
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Men are from Earth; women are from Earth.....Deal with it.
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Too bad Carol can't make the play. I will get 0ne more ticket for you Gary and you can join us as we go out for dinner afterwards, it won't be a fowl supper but it should still be good....How about a fillet Mignon and some wine and some good conversation?

They asked me at the Museum if my "Brother from Victoria will be coming to help set up the tables and chairs for the 'out of the Blue' Dinner again this year." I said definitely not. I will not be going either, it's someone else's turn. HAHA That's not to say that we will not be going to the museum to meet the Fokker!

Yes, the big blow is over. Still snow on the ground, though. It will be gone by this afternoon. And yes, they had a 'Nor-Easter' on the Lake and it whipped up 3 meter waves some of which were topping the dock at Gimli, the retaining wall of which stands about 15 feet higher than the normal water level. Seems that the sand-bagging was a good idea after all. I am sure that it has saved a few cottages from flooding damage. But who'da thunk that a freak storm like this would hit? It tore through Montana and the Dakotas and eastern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba dropping as much a s 25 cms of snow and closing highways right throughout the area.

Gee, bears on display painted by local artists.....Where have I heard that one before? hmmmmm. Of course I think that the cancer Society in Winnipeg heard of the 'painted orcas in BC and that is what inspired them to do the painted polar bear thing here. Good idea. It's been a real draw here.

Yes, get over your colds before you fly....I have flown with a cold and it is no picnic...My ears took several days to pop!

better go and get ready....Catherine is out to lunch with friends and will be back shortly and we must go do some shopping. Later.
Fowlet Mignon floods Gimli, bearly. Glass of wine?

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
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There was this Colorado Clipper see.......nyaw nyaw. and it blew in from...from...Colorado see. It brought snow to Winnipeg today.......yeechie-poo. Miserable. The snow is melting but still cleaning the car every time ya go out is crapola. Too early for snow...me no like.....but I guess it was inevitable. Gary and Carol better pack their mukluks.


I went to the museum this AM and it was pretty quiet. I left early to pick up Mom up and take her to the oncologist for a follow-up. Everything is well and good. "Looks like it wasn't cancer." says the Doc, " but there ARE cancers that can appear and disappear like that." "But in this case I think that it was not cancer at all, I don't know what it was though." Crap....if it's not cancer then what the H-E- double hockey sticks was it for Petey's sake but no they don't know. "But watch your head and if any other bumps appear let me know. " Yeah sure......so I guess we just forget that it ever happened and carry on.

I see that the new supreme court nominee in the USA is a born-again Christian....surprise, surprise. I don't know how anyone could be even considered for the supreme court that doesn't have experience as a judge....but wait, she is a born-again judge......all the difference in the world. I wonder if she supports free choice?, stem cell research?, christian charities getting federal monies?......hmmmm

well, Canada has it's own problems.....David Dingwall. The guy quits his job and the mandarins in Ottawa want to give him a severence package, they just don't know how to JUSTIFY it. Let's see they have to give him severance according to the law....what law...there is no law covering severance to people who quit. But the geovernment is different.... they have their own laws I guess, the one right after the "cover your ass law". They can think of more ways to waste money and they are not being held accountable.

well better go have a nap. Catherine has Tai-chi tonight and I have to drive her....but first clean the snow off the car....peace.
Colorado Clipper

Four more blogs after today and I will have blogged 700 times. At say, 250 words per entry that would be 700 x 250 = 175,000 words. A small novel. A History of the World in 175,000 words!

Today was "Meet the Fokker" Day. The official opening of the Super Universal CF-AAM. All the 'igh Mucky-Mucks were there, the Richardsons, the councellors, the legislators, the aviators, and me. I spent most of the time selling tickets for the 'out of the Blue' raffle......travel for two anywhere Air Canada flies. I sold quite a few.

Criminy!....Gary Arrives on the 19th. Holy smokers. Time travels fast when it travels. By the way big Bros....Catherine and I have tickets to a play on the 22nd of Oct. Its called "Crowns" and we will probably do dinner after with Al & Janine and Pat and Paul. How about it? I can buy two more tickets, our treat. Let me know. It would be fun. Also, on (I believe) the 21st Catherine and I have to be away all day at a conference trying to sell Numero cards. Catherine is doing a couple of presentations for teachers on that day. Uh, and lets see, I think that is all for now but we are trying to keep as much time as possible free during the time you are here. I shall have to get some wine, too. woohoo

Catherine is out for dinner with her old buddies from King George V school; they meet for dinner a couple of times a year. Catherine taught today, the first day since the operation . Actually she taught at one school this AM and I picked her up and drove her to another school for the PM. She said that she felt OK and she looked OK too.

I had a 'Hungry Man...MANHANDLER' TV dinner. How do ya handle a Hungry Maaaaan?....MANHANDLER! I guess I had good memories about TV dinners because I anticipated the darn thing but was sorely dissappointed in the result....three little sad chunks o' chicken, a couple of tablespoons of instant mashed, a tablespoon of corn and some indescribable red stuff on top of a crust that was supposed to be dessert. Bleeeeeech. the thought was way better n the actual thing......mighta guessed.

Well, better go. Amazin Race is on in 5. Later...oh and Peace
The Fokkering Manhandler Crown affair

There is something sadly ironical and a tad hypocritical about governments such as The BC government getting readied to sue cigarette manufacturers. After all they saw nothing wrong with collecting all those 'sin' taxes every year and never refusing to collect them. All that extra money collected in cigarette taxes was to be used for smoker related diseases wasn't it? ....well that's what we were told. Seems like a cash grab, the government gets the money on the taxes and gets to sue them for billions more.

Margot is a blogging maniac. she has blogged 5 or 6 times since she returned from her trip to River City! She writes that she and Joel rented 'Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy" but they both fell asleep after 20 minutes and by the looks of the first 20 minutes they weren't too impressed. That's like passing judgement on a book like 'A Tale of Two Cities' by reading a few pages and deciding that it is just a story about two metropoltan areas and closing the book. The movie is much more than that.....but you have to watch it......all.


and remember Don't Panic.


Gee whiz, on Friday the temperature got to 27 degs C. And while it was nice yesterday, it is supposed to get to 26 degs today. Don't tell me this isn't global warming....nyuk nyuk

Well better go and get some groceries....Mom needs some too so we will go and drop them off, unless someone else??...nevermind. Later Peace OUT.
Ode about a green ball of clay found in my armpit on a summer's day

Sitting here blogging while eating a cadbury 'bubbly' chocolate bar.....Bad Dog!

Catherine performed her first ever wedding ceremony this afternoon and she made a $100.00 for doing it. (cheap) of course we had to go out to the Inferno Bistro for dinner to celebrate....steak for me and salmon for her, mmmmmmm. With a little Chilean Chardonnay and it was very nice, and afterwards we stopped and bought a DVD of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"......not much left of the $100.00 but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Without flowing wine
How to enjoy lovely
Cherry blossoms?


C'mon now end the strike, I miss my Peter reading the news!


Better go ...time to watch 'Hitchhiker's Guide' ...later...Peace
Bad dog....Bad dog