Winter is worse, elsewhere. Although we had nothing, this morning, schools were closed province wide. The photos from social media showed a real storm in the city, and the number of homes without electricity climbed dramatically overnight. Let me repeat: here, nothing.
posted in humour | Comments Off on A rave necklace | 256 words
As the dog and I headed down the highway, there was a certain satisfaction. This is tax installment day (a day early, actually) and we’re still solvent enough to make the payment without stress. The dog was along if the government decided to request additional funds; he would be a hostage. I jest, but with the mismanagement of funds by legislatures across the land, one must be prepared.
posted in economy | Comments Off on The inevitable hiccup | 252 words
Enough. Time to go home. With the assistance of son #3, who stayed the night with one of those magic pass cards that hotel employees keep around, we were up before daylight and had the car completely packed without a hiccup. On the road by 05h30. At that hour, you have the full attention of the desk staff.
posted in travel | Comments Off on Forced darkness, for some | 273 words
After four days of bleeting horns and associated brouhaha, I’ll be happy to put union activism behind me. The gang at the hotel down the street are loud (and allowed). Inside our hotel, better than a block away, through doubled windows, peace is compromised.
posted in food, travel | Comments Off on Done with the sandwiches | 259 words
Although the calendar shows that there are still a few shopping days remaining, we decided to play the “flexible schedule” card. Our family Christmas was today. No tinsel tree or turkey. Simply a gathering of our family.
posted in food | Comments Off on Advanced holiday dates | 251 words
In part due to a lack of opportunity, I never had that perfect communion of spirit that comes about with the “take your kid to work”. My sons attended school; why bother tagging along with Dad?
posted in technology, travel | Comments Off on Take your father to work | 258 words
Certain simple actions are more complex, as soon as you tether yourself to the dog. We’re in the city center, and the traffic levels are impressive. Both vehicle and pedestrian; I spent a good part of our time avoiding collisions. Getting a sandwich (takeout) required finding a proper dog hitch; missing the resto I wanted and going in elsewhere doubled the effort.
posted in economy | Comments Off on Dog goes shopping | 258 words
Eleven hours is long enough to set my clock back an hour. This was a travel day, in the real sense.
We packed our bags before going to bed, so the backfill of the car trunk was easy, even in the dark. Out of the driveway by 05h45, almost a record for us.
posted in travel | Comments Off on On the road | 250 words
Authorities go to great lengths to maintain control over speed limits. I might have found a method.
Today, I ran a small test. I noticed a Mountie car directly behind me, when I turned homeward from the bypass. Through a series of speed limit changes: 70 to 60 to 70 to 80 to 90. You know, I must have provided good example or something, because the officer was able to respect the limits for more than 25 km. Never exceeded. Never lagged. By extrapolation, all we need to do to keep things “right” is to provide a model for those who pilot the “government race cars”.
posted in technology, travel | Comments Off on Maintaining control | 263 words
Where do you draw the line between “things you know how to do” and “things you know you have never done”? I’m a byproduct of an education system that puts great stock in learning by example, and after watching a demonstration of a technique, I’m considered to have received sufficient instruction. But, how to test the premise?
posted in education | Comments Off on Digging holes and patching pails | 248 words
