Three weeks ago, after responding to an ad on social media, I cast caution aside and order what was clearly a gadget. Something that didn’t cost much, so I was willing to accept less than value for my money (hey, it’s Canadian; we do that all the time). In this case, an assist for my lack of visual acuity, up close.
Read the rest of this entry »posted in economy | Comments Off on Here in my virtual candy store | 256 words
Now that I know, I feel better about delaying our next road trip. My package (containing a long aluminum bar) has arrived in Moncton, which bodes well for delivery tomorrow afternoon. I really dislike it when purchases get lost in transit. I know, it hasn’t happened often, but I still dislike it. It puts the whole “shop at home” model into that zone of discomfort which could see me heading back to local retail (yeah, right!)
Read the rest of this entry »posted in economy, politics | Comments Off on In the absence of a stress test | 259 words
Among the missives captured in today’s email trawl, an invitation. A chance to attend a supper, celebrating the retirement of some of the “names” from my former workplace. I sent my regrets, realizing that this week marks five years that I’ve been out of the office, permanently. May those who are about to taste freedom enjoy the feeling (as much as I do)!
Read the rest of this entry »posted in economy, humour | Comments Off on Look what I (may have) bought | 279 words
Another day, another trip to a neighbouring area. For food. The summer was relatively free of restaurant visits, but the fall is picking up. With our overnight visitors, we went for chowder: OK, not great, take it and move along.
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Another power bump. Apart from the nuisance of resetting clocks, this serves to remind me that our grid is a carefully balanced affair. When a tree falls in the forest, I don’t have to hear it; the restart of a dozen electrical devices gives me all the notice I need. I do hope that we get power back (across the whole province) before much longer, but the wind forecast came with a warning: more trees will come down, and more repairs will be required.
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For those who pay attention to such things… yesterday, a large group of potential candidates from one of the major political parties left the fold. They actually declared their new loyalties to lie with a different party. Today, half of them are back with the original party, after receiving some convincing that their choice was ill-founded. Sounds like something a bike club might do.
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Please note that my local general store will be closed tomorrow. That is exceptional; other than the usual Christmas closure, they’re there, always. Tomorrow, however, is an exception. The baby girl in the family is getting married! My congratulations to the couple, their families, all the cousins; may this be for a long time and a good time.
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Another school year begins. Proof that I’m, by times, a slow learner? I went into a stationery store at the same moment that frantic parents were filling their shopping carts with all matter of student related paperwares. Nothing like standing in line while the clerk processes a pile of pens, scribblers, etc. under the gaze of a child, the mother AND the father. Every time, I swear that I’ll know better; every time, I don’t. If ever there was a need for an express checkout, this is it.
Read the rest of this entry »posted in economy, ham radio | Comments Off on Wrong moment to shop near stationery | 283 words
When life is as strange as a comic book story: the US Congress has voted to require a detailed report on whether “weaponized ticks” were used, years ago. I couldn’t make up a story like this. Seems that there is evidence that disease-bearing insects were considered for use as a battlefield vector. Now the elected watchdogs want to know if any might have escaped into the world at large. Check the dog, please.
Read the rest of this entry »posted in computing, economy | Comments Off on Regarding bugs | 285 words
The shipping container for our TV had started to seem like a fixture around here. I mean, if ever I decided to ship the screen back to the Orient, as part of an attempt to achieve trade balance, it was there. But finally, egged on by the flow of other refuse out to the curb, I decided to be proactive.
Read the rest of this entry »posted in economy, environment | Comments Off on Goodbye, big boxen | 300 words
